Original subtitles

Subtitles: Lu�s Filipe Bernardes

All right, Samuel, you're next.

You can get out now, Timothy, you're all through.

Why didn't you change the water? I'm changing the water.

But the boys only get half clean water and half dirty.

Brand new regulation.

Papa says...

You complain to Papa and I'll wring your scrawny little neck, Samuel.

Aren't you gonna heat the water? You heated it for Timothy.

It wasn't so hot.

It's heated. You wanna scald yourself today?

Mama heats it for real.

Well, Mama's gone to the minister's funeral, Mama and Papa.

And I'm in full charge. Now you start scrubbing yourself.

How come ministers die?

They just do. Despite Mama and despite Papa.

Well, why does God let them die?

Cause they're the best people there are, Sarah.

My name is not Sarah. Now, I told you that.

I changed it. It's Salome.

Why do ministers die? Because they can't wait to go to heaven.

Don't they like it in Pine Alley? Don't they like it in Texas?

No. It ain't big enough for them.

Is it big enough for you, Sarah?

What did you call me? I called you Salome.

Well you just better.

Pine Alley's a million years behind the rest of this world.

Population 1100 extinct mammals and one human being.

Me. That's big enough for someone called Sarah.

Sure it is.

But not for anyone called Salome.

Are you longing to go to heaven? Not right away, no.

Chad, how can you be here?

I don't know. With your papa...

With my papa dead!

Do you wanna know why I'm not at that funeral?

There's plenty of folks down there. Plenty of folks to cry for him.

I never thought my mother could manage any tears

but even she's not doing too bad.

The bucket's full, Chad.

Yeah, it sure is.

You shouldn't hate your papa, not when he's dead.

I got scars he gave me. Some real scars. You want to see them?

For hanging out with niggers down at Deep Elem.

Do you wanna see them? Here.

Sure I hate him, Salome.

He was worth hating. I'll say that much for him.

I figured if you can cry than you oughta be at his funeral, but if you can't, well...

You gotta love your family.

Like you love yours?

Sure I love them. Do you?

Well, I wanna kill them all the time. That's only natural.

But sure, I love them.

Are you gonna be down by the lake tonight?

Oh, Chad!

It's Saturday night. There's dancing, Salome.

You shouldn't be near any dancing.

I'll meet you down there.

Somebody might see you.

I ain't gonna cry.

Aren't we gonna say grace?

There ain't time tonight. Just eat.

Maybe God'll be mad at us if we don't say grace.

It's an emergency. He'll understand. What's an emergency?

When you got a sick friend. Do you have a sick friend?

Uh-huh.

I seen Chad out back. He didn't look sick to me.

You just shut up and eat.

It's all cold.

Well, that's too bad. That's just too bad.

If you don't get out of the house before Papa gets home, he won't let you go.

That's why it's an emergency. So eat!

Papa!

Oh, Sarah. The Lord made you beautiful, don't you understand that?

You think you can improve in his handiwork? Papa, you'll wake up the kids.

I'll speak very quietly, Sarah.

What is that device at which you were sitting?

I made it. I made it myself.

I made it yesterday. And what is it you call it?

Well, Papa, I don't call it anything.

It's a vanity table.

It's two old orange crates and an little old piece of cheese cloth from the store.

After he'd sold the oranges and sold the cheese I just kinda figured

why not, Papa.

Why are you angry with me?

Do you mind if we move out of this room?

Do you mind if we don't wake up the kids?

Do you mind if I don't have to put them to sleep again?

Why are you in a state, Sarah? Am I in a state, Papa?

Where are you going? Are you going out? Oh, Joshua, please!

Where does any decent girl go at this hour of the night?

She's only seventeen.

She's going for a walk. She's been in the house all day.

Just going for a walk, Joshua. Is that true, Sarah?

Yes. Are you lying to me?

Look! Look, my hands are red, Papa.

From scrubbing the kids, from making dinner, from cleaning the dishes...

from pumping the water. I've got blisters.

Did you notice how clean, clean, clean everything is?

You've noticed that. Come down into the kitchen and notice that.

Sarah, Sarah! Did God make my hands beautiful papa?

Well, maybe he did, but they're not beautiful now.

Sarah, hush, baby, hush!

May I go out, Papa? May I go out and meet Chad Bixby?

I want to. Please!

He's in a state of torment.

And I could talk to him.

No, Sarah. You may not go.

You may not see him ever again.

I'm very sorry to hear you say that, Papa.

I've always obeyed you and I've always respected you.

But I just happen to be in love with Chad Bixby.

And when you fall in love...

well, I guess you stop obeying your papa.

And I can run faster than you can, papa.

I can run faster.

You're scared, Salome.

You're just scared to death.

Sure I am. There's folks that know you. Folks that know your mama.

Folks who've come right down here from your papa's funeral.

He had a big congregation, Chad, a great big one.

And it's only members of the family are supposed to mourn all day and all night.

You're out of your mind.

I like you and you know it, but you're out of your mind.

And you still won't dance with me. No!

You think we'll get struck by lightning if we do?

What are you drinking?

Corn liquor.

You're a fool.

If I thought we'd be struck by lightning, I'd dance with you.

That might be fun. But it isn't that.

It's everybody in town we'd get hit by.

Does that matter? Chad!

Are we gonna stay in this little old town?

Well, I'm not. And where are you gonna go?

How do I know?

Anywhere you wanna go, Salome.

Well, I got 13 cents for train fare. How much you got?

Now, ain't that an ugly thing to say?

Sure it is. You want to get struck by lightning, don't you?

That'd make everything just dandy for you.

Then you'd never have to think about train fare.

I love you, Salome.

Oh, Chad.

Chad.

That horse can't go no faster, Chad boy. It ain't been liquored up like you have.

How come you got a horse that's not a drinking horse, Darl?

One of us gotta know how to get home to Deep Elem when I'm incapacitated.

Chad, isn't it too late?

Huh? Isn't it too late to go?

To go where? Down to Deep Elem.

No, mam. You've never been there, Salome.

No, mam! Deep Elem's awake all night.

Ratcheting up a good time. Special service for crazy folks.

Hah!

What, Chad? Well, I don't know.

Chad!

You won't leave me tonight.

I mean, you'll stay with me until the sun comes up.

How can I?

I never told anybody.

What? Well...

You know how I'm like a kid and...

well, you'll laugh, you won't believe me.

I'll believe you.

Well, before we go in and start singing and drinking...

I want to tell you, I don't know why...

What?

How I'm scared of the dark, like a kid.

I mean...

Well...

That's why you gotta stay with me tonight.

Tonight especially.

My papa said...

Well, he said I was a fool to be scared of the dark.

Maybe I am.

Okay, now. That's all for now.

Chad, baby. Rose!

You poor little baby, your papa's gone.

Oh, come on, now, Rose.

Rose, this is Salome.

Why, she's so skinny.

A lady's supposed to be fat and men skinny.

How do you do, honey?

Fine, thank you. Aw, just listen to the two of you.

Just like two little skinny boys.

Yeah, well, she ain't, Rose.

Well, I can see now.

Come on, Chad. Quiet, everybody!

Quiet!

Turn off that sick piano, Red.

Let's have a little peace and quiet so we can think sad thoughts.

Chad here's gonna blow sad tunes of his own making.

No, Rose, I can't play tonight.

All of Chad's tunes are original, heart-breaking and composed on the spot.

Ain't that the truth, Chad?

He's gonna tell us what he feels.

And then he's gonna play us what he feels.

Just like he's been doing down here since he was seven.

Mel, bring this boy a horn.

No, I just can't play tonight, Rose.

Oh, you got to. You got to play all the time, honey.

Sadness and joy.

Now you can start, Chad, baby.

Now.

This is how strong my father was.

You gotta be awful strong not to love anybody.

Cause the world gets colder every year.

Summer and winter every year.

Now...

this is the love I had for my father and...

and couldn't tell him about.

And these are my tears.

Chad, baby...

What's the matter with you children?

You don't applaud this kind of playing.

You weep, that's what you do. You weep.

Come on, I'm gonna buy you the biggest gin in Deep Elem.

Hi there.

My name's Tony McDowall.

I'm just home. Just home for the holidays, for the summer, I mean.

I'm a Yale man. I mean, I'm still in college.

You are one of the girls here, aren't you, honey?

Oh, my God!

Stop it, Chad.

I can't run anymore.

I can't. That's all right.

We were getting home too fast anyhow.

And uh...

you promised to stay with me till the sun comes up.

I didn't promise.

Sure you did.

You don't listen to anybody except yourself, do you, Chad?

I think I do. Well, maybe I don't.

Stay with me till the sun comes up.

Oh, Chad,

when I get home...

what will my papa do?

He's already mad. Yes.

Well, he can't get much madder.

No, he can't.

Oh, Chad.

What? We shouldn't.

Why? Because we can't afford to?

You're the most beautiful person I know, Chad.

I love you.

But you scare me.

You're always so sad inside.

I'll always be frightened.

I love you.

But what do you do nights that makes you so tired, Tony?

I really don't understand. Do you, Mr. Larkin? No.

What would I be doing now, Mama? There isn't very much to do in Dallas.

Except to poke around the countryside and fraternize with the underprivileged natives.

There are no underprivileged natives in Texas and there never were.

You didn't use to think Dallas was so very dull, Tony. Did he, Mr. Larkin?

In fact I didn't think at all, Mumsie.

Whatever it is that's come over you going to college.

You used to be a much nicer boy, wasn't he, Mr. Larkin?

And I hope that you know that, Tony. Yes, I know that, Mom.

I hope that you do.

Well, I hope you do know what it means.

If you don't come to Galveston with me, it means our family is gone.

Means the whole family was buried out there with your father.

You're putting a knife into me.

You know that. What are you?

We have to be out by the end of the week.

The new preacher's moving in on Monday.

Where can we go except to my sister's?

You should be working, but do you have a job? No, you don't have.

Sometimes I think you never will have.

No wonder your father was impatient with you.

Where will you go?

I can't live off your relatives.

I can't.

Maybe I am no good, just like papa said, and, boy, he said that a lot.

Don't say that, Chad, it's not true.

There's twenty dollars downstairs under the Bible.

It's for you.

And if you ever want to write, then you write to me.

And if you want to come and see me, then...

I love you, Chad.

Well, sure I love you, Daddy-o, but that doesn't mean that I...

It doesn't mean what?

It doesn't mean that I'd cut my wrist if your Texas oil would gush out.

Son, what exactly do you plan to do?

Well, I've got two more years at Yale. And then?

Well, why do I have to decide now?

Boy, when I was twelve years old I was supporting myself, do you realize that?

Sure you were, Daddy, but let's face it, you weren't rich and I am.

Oh, now, look! Sir, why don't you let me enjoy it?

I can't be like you, Daddy.

I can't be like you, Ada.

I'm not gonna have a baby every winter of my life.

I'm not.

Look just how old you are, Ada.

You've gotten so thin. It isn't right.

You've got to apologize to your father.

I can't.

It isn't good this not speaking to each other.

It just isn't good, Sarah.

I'm speaking to him. He just isn't speaking to me.

Three weeks of silence is just more than I can bear.

Six kids screaming day and night and you talk about silence?

You must be out of your mind. The Lord said honor thy father and mother.

Only...

He didn't know the difficulties involved.

Sarah, don't you believe in God?

Does he believe in me?

Is there any reason why he should?

No.

No, I suppose not.

Does he love women, you suppose?

Oh, Sarah, Sarah!

I wanna be loved by him.

I wanna be loved by someone.

I need to be.

Ada...

Ada.... how can a girl tell?

Well, how can she tell if she's in trouble?

Oh, my darling!

Oh, my darling.

Oh, My darling Clementine...

You are lost and gone forever

You're a fool, Tony McDowall.

Of course I am, honey.

I mean you're a fool if you don't think I'm the most beautiful girl in Texas.

But you're my sister.

I'm merely asking you whether you have any powers of observation.

I guess I don't look at you very much, Catherine.

Even upside down there aren't many faces like mine in Texas.

Well, I'm going up North, Cathy bun.

I think it's shocking that Mommy and Daddy

want to send me off to Miss Kaiser's again this year.

I mean...

I practically wrecked the academy for girls last year.

Now why do you suppose Mommy and Daddy are so...

are so sedentary?

Are so what?

I just don't know why mothers and fathers all over the world

filter down to the bottom of the river like silt.

Is that a word?

I mean, like mud.

I am going to run away from the academy.

That's what I'm going to do.

And go to Yale with you.

You'd only spoil the fun, Catherine.

That's what I like to do.

I like spoiling the fun.

You're gonna be a fascinating woman, Catherine.

Of course I am. If I could only find a man who deserved me.

I just wish you understood that problem, Tony.

Why, anybody worth beans today is bored.

I mean bored.

But how can you explain that to Mommy and Daddy?

Well, there you are, Reverend.

When you fix it up a little, I'm sure you'll like it.

Everybody always has liked it.

How did you know I was here?

Oh, I didn't know. I didn't sleep all night and...

I just saw you standing there.

Let's walk, Chad. I don't want Papa to see you.

Where are you going?

Oh, I don't know. I guess I'm going down to Deep Elem for a while.

I don't know where I'm going.

Chad, I wanna tell you something.

I'm gonna have a baby.

Salome!

Yes.

But walk, Chad! Walk with me!

Look, Salome!

We don't have to walk. I love you.

We'll get married. I'm glad.

You're not glad. And we're not getting married.

You're about as glad as if you'd had your throat cut.

Honey.

I'm sorry, Chad.

But that's true and you know it. It's not true!

Now look at me, look at me! I don't wanna look at you, Chad.

We got to get married.

For what? So we can learn to hate each other?

For what?

So we can raise a tribe of squalling kids?

Kids we can starve to death,

kids we can beat the daylight out of when we're unhappy?

Show me your scars, Chad, show 'em to me! Stop it!

Now stop it!

I love you, Chad, but I wish I'd never seen you.

Now tell me something.

How much money have you got?

Twenty dollars.

All right, then. Give it to me.

What are you gonna do?

How do I know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna run, and run, and run.

I'm gonna save myself. Well, doesn't it matter?

What? That I love you?

That it's my child No!

Chad, now, I want you to take care of yourself.

I didn't lie when I said that I loved you.

I do.

I really do.

Sometimes when I look in your eyes

it just makes my heart stop dead.

I know that I'm mad.

But I know that you are too.

And I know that you want me to go.

Goodbye, Chad.

It's you, isn't it honey?

You're that boy.

Now you look here. I know what you're thinking.

What you think I am. Well, I'm not.

I didn't mean that you were... I know what you meant.

I mean we've met before down in Deep Elem.

Anybody can make a mistake.

Would you like to have dinner with me?

Madame?

Well... yeah, I think.

Maybe I would.

I don't know where I'm going.

You see? I knew you wouldn't believe it.

Now listen.

Oh, I guess I was kind of upset or something.

And so I just ran down to the railroad station...

and I got on the train...

because the train was there. I guess I'm running away.

You know, I'm not even sure I should run away.

You should always run away when you feel like running away.

While you're still young enough.

Do you believe that? Sure.

You're not very good-looking, are you?

Well, I pass.

I don't know, I guess maybe I'm a little ugly.

Oh, I didn't mean it like that.

I just mean...

Well, you're not beautiful.

Well, are men supposed to be?

Well, not if they got money, I suppose.

Do you all have a lot of money? Well, the family does, and...

I get my share, you know.

Boy.

That must make it real nice for you.

You have nice eyes.

I like your eyes. Why, thank you.

Are you shortsighted?

No, I mean, there's lots of people with wonderful eyes...

who are a little bit shortsighted, you know.

I can see you quite clearly.

You can?

Tickets.

Oh.

How far will $20 take me?

How far are you going, young lady?

I asked you.

The lady's going to New York.

And then possibly on to New Haven.

I'll take care of it.

Hmm.

Why won't you tell me how many women you've...

You know...

picked up like this.

I can't remember.

Well, think back.

You're the first.

Fat chance I'm gonna believe that.

Do you like me less now?

Salome.

I hope you don't.

I really hope you don't, Tony.

Are you crying?

I don't know if I'm crying.

Yeah, I am.

Do you think I'm... What?

Do you think I'm...

kind of stupid?

I mean, simple-minded or something?

Just getting on the train and...

No, I don't think you're simple-minded.

Do you think I am?

Well, maybe you are. I mean, just a little bit.

Don't laugh.

I mean, I like it.

Tony...

I want to tell you something.

I've never done this kind of thing before.

And I just wanted you to know that.

I mean, even if we never see each other again.

I'd just like you to know that.

Darl! Darl!

I got to have some kind of light.

I got to have some kind of light, Darl.

Chad, I don't have no kind of light, no light at all. I can strike a match for you.

No! Chad, it's almost sunup.

Is there anyone at Rose's place?

There's always somebody. I gotta go down there, Darl.

I just got to.

You think I'm a fool?

Just had a nightmare.

Do you think I'm a fool?

I think most men are fools, white boy.

And most women.

Need a drink?

Yeah.

I never seen a woman drink like that.

Tell you the truth, I never seen a man drink like that before.

Stick around, white boy, you're still young.

Aren't you? Do I look young?

My name's Chad Bixby.

It's a pretty name.

Don't you have a name?

I don't have anything anymore.

I gave that man everything I had.

I gave that man... What?

Everything I had! I just told you!

You sure are drunk.

I wanna stay that way.

What was your name?

My name was Ruby Jones.

Hey, you're Rose's sister.

You're the singing gal.

I ain't nothing at all. Yes you are, too.

You're the most celebrated singing gal in the South.

You're Ruby Jones. Everybody in the South knows who you are.

Yeah, they know me in the North too.

I'm the most celebrated singing gal in New York.

What they don't know is that Ruby Jones is dead.

They don't know I died.

Almost two months ago.

They don't know that Ruby Jones will never sing anymore.

Want me to sing for you?

A rhapsody of reelings...

a tearing undertow.

A fantasy of feelings

that chills me with a glow.

I loved that man that played horn for me.

I loved him deep and wide.

Love was the cause, the cause of it all.

Picks you up and lets you fall.

I gave him everything I had. I told you that.

I gave him money. He was spending it on another gal.

Respectable and educated.

And he married her.

Almost two months ago.

At just the exact time...

that Ruby Jones happened to die.

It's the oldest...

the newest...

the coldest...

the truest...

the doggonest feeling...

ever.

It's the sharpest...

the plainest...

the suffering vainest...

the doggonest...

I can't sing anymore.

I'll never sing anymore.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Ruby.

A gal like you drinking the way you're drinking.

For what? For a no good man with a no good horn?

He played a good horn.

No, he didn't play such a good horn.

Not like you do.

Hey, can I really play the horn?

Sure you can.

Could I make money?

Sure you can make money.

You know something?

I never made any money.

None at all.

Hey, Ruby...

Ruby, would you take me to New York or someplace like that where I could make money?

I'll take care of you, I swear I will.

I'll make you forget that no good man who didn't deserve you anyhow...

And you can take care of me. I don't carry on with no white boys.

I wasn't asking you to carry on with anybody.

I'll stretch you up on a great big mountain of marble...

and you can look down and I'll look up.

That'll be just fine.

Will you do it?

I wish I was a kid.

I wish I was a kid just like you...

that nothing ever happened to.

Oh, don't say that to me! Don't ever say that to me!

You two fighting again?

We're fixing up a deal, Rose. I think we're fixing up a deal.

And remember, remember... Remember, you idiots!

It's a secret and nobody knows we're married.

Nobody even knows I rented a house.

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen...

Nobody knows the sorrow...

Oh, my Lord, it's Catherine. It's my sister, Salome.

What are you doing here?

Is this Yale? Of course it is.

Wow. It's not very much like Miss Kaiser's Academy for girls.

What? I said it's not...

Never mind. What in the world are you doing here?

Come on, come this way.

Tony... Tony, what's going on?

Well, I don't know exactly. It sorta got out of hand.

What's got out of hand? Well, uh...

You'd never believe it. It's a secret more or less, but...

Well, I got married.

Married? You're out of your mind. Of course I am.

Did you marry anybody in particular?

Oh, you don't know her. I know that.

Her name is Salome Davis.

That's a joke. Nobody's really called that.

Well, what are you doing here?

I?

I came to your wedding. You didn't know anything about it.

I just got bored, Tony, that's all.

Guess I'm like you.

Hey...

Hey, maybe I could meet someone called John the Baptist Davis and marry him.

I just ran away, Tony, that's all.

And that's a secret too.

Mother and Daddy are probably going wild.

I just couldn't stand the academy.

Baby...

Baby. Anyhow...

Anyhow, you've got to take care of me for a while.

And not tell Mother or Daddy that I'm here.

I guess you've got two girls on your hands.

Not me. I wouldn't be pregnant for the whole world.

And I'm older than you are.

I mean, just think what we'd do to our parents.

I mean, you're just bringing into the world

well, your own executioners, as the old saying goes, that is.

Hey...

do you notice that I have more of a Texas accent now

than I did when I came North?

Yes, I've noticed that.

Well, I just can't help it.

Do you know, just to spend the winter with you and Tony...

I had to convince Mother that I would commit my very own suicide

if I didn't have my way?

Well uh...

that kind of thing puts a considerable strain on a mother.

I mean, you know she really believed me?

I mean, I wouldn't be caught dead in a Christmas party looking like you, Salome.

Not that you're not the most beautiful girl in the world, but...

well, how can you dance that way?

Tony says that it's just that my beauty is more delicate than yours.

But I'd rather look like you.

Cause your face just knocks men over.

I'm more classical.

But I think that classical is out of date, don't you?

Oh, not that I have any trouble, naturally.

How long does it take Tony to dress?

I don't know, Catherine.

Why don't you ask him?

Maybe I can go up and help him put his garters on.

Yes, why don't you do that?

I loved him first, Salome.

Did you?

If I irritate you...

you can imagine how I irritate myself.

I'm what's known as spoiled.

Yes, you are.

I'm not going! Say that I had a fit. Say that I'm in labor!

Say that I can't dance!

But...

But someone has to take me to the party.

You don't seem to understand, Catherine.

I love Salome.

I always will.

You don't seem to understand, Tony.

She doesn't love you.

I know it's cold outside.

That's snow out there, you know it.

But I can't let you buy me clothes, you crazy gal.

You got underwear, white boy? Sure I got underwear, I told you.

I'll wash it out at night.

And sometimes they ain't dry in the morning.

Look in the bowl on the table.

I know what's in there. That's a bowl full of checks...

that you ain't had the brains to put in a bank.

What do I need money for when I've lost my man?

Why don't you spend it?

You wanna go play for my agent looking like that?

This is the only way I'm gonna go, Ruby.

You got a coat? I told you, no.

This is the only way I'm gonna go. Okay, white boy.

Put on the coat you don't have and we'll go.

Hey...

That man that played the horn for me just happened to leave this coat.

Put it on, just for this trip.

Let me do things for you, Chad.

Let me.

There's not much left of me.

I still haven't even paid you the train fare.

Chad!

I gotta have someone to do something for...

for a little while and then it'll be over.

Thank you, Ruby.

What can I do, tell me, to get you to work again?

I'm through, Sammy, I told you, I'm through.

Ruby, I love you. Did you come all the way down here to break my heart?

No.

What's he wanna do?

I wanna make some money.

That's for laughs? He plays the horn, Sammy.

He describes his feelings. He plays the horn.

He's got no class, I can tell right off. He's got no class.

This is a high-class agency. What's he done?

He hasn't done anything.

Look, sonny,

Come back here when you've done something, get yourself a name...

Sammy, have I got to fool around here or don't I?

Ruby, I love you... Have I got it.

All right.

What's his name?

Then what do I say?

How do I know? I mean, they're your folks, Tony.

Ruby...

Huh?

How come it's so hard to write to your mother?

Don't know.

Never had no parents.

I wouldn't know what to do with any.

I just don't know why I have to write Mother and Daddy.

They just want to know if you're alive, Catherine.

Well, I'm not. I'm just not.

Oh, God, oh, God...

Salome.

I'd like you to meet my very dear and close friend...

so to speak,

who I met tonight at the most marvelous party.

Putney...

what is your name?

Tinker. Putney Tinker.

This is Mrs. McDowall.

Well, it's very nice meeting you.

Whose record is that?

That's a boy named Chad Bixby.

He's just a sensation in New York.

Do you know him?

Thank you, thank you.

Now... now I'd like to introduce you to a great lady.

A lady you all know.

A great singer.

Ruby Jones.

Ruby.

Sing for us.

I can't, Chad.

I can't.

Honey, for me.

You've done so much for me, Ruby.

You've done for me more than a mother or father would do.

Now, please, Ruby, will you, please?

I can't... Come on, Ruby, sing for us.

I can't do it. Come on, Ruby, give us a song, huh?

He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh

When they know little Joe's passing by

Sometimes my cabin's gloomy

and my table is bare.

But when he'll kiss me

it's Christmas everywhere.

Troubles fly away...

Troubles...

Troubles...

Where can I be headed for...

the blues crawled in my door...

to lick my heart once more.

Love lives in a lonely land

where there's no helping hand

to understand.

Why...

why does this bring an ache to me?

Why, Lord, don't ask me why.

Cause I only know misery.

It's got to be a part of me.

I never hoped to count on love,

to be a partner of

that heaven up above.

I never hoped to understand

Love is a barren land.

A lonely land.

Them that's got shall get

Them that's not shall lose

So the Bible says

and it still is news.

Mama may have

Papa may have.

But God bless the child that's got his own...

that's got his own.

Yes, the strong gets more

while the weak ones fade

Empty pockets don't ever make the grade.

Mama may have

Papa may have

But God bless the child that's got his own,

that's got his own.

Money, you got lots of friends crowding round the door

When you're gone and spending ends, well...

they don't come no more.

Rich relations may give

a crust of bread and such

You can help yourself

but don't take too much.

Mama may have

Papa may have

but God bless the child that's got his own,

that's got his own...

his own.

Ruby... That's the end.

I've sung. I sung for you, Chad.

And I still wanna die.

Tell me why you're laughing, Peter?

Come on, tell me why you're laughing.

You can tell why that's a happy baby. Cause he has a happy father.

Babies are happy because they don't know any better.

They're not smart enough to be bored.

They just get bored, but men don't, now do they, Peter, huh?

With you around I'll never get to another glass, come on.

Thank you, Miss Macklederry. Thank you.

You know, I read in a book...

how I'm supposed to be depressed after having a baby.

Are you listening to me, Tony? Sure I am, honey.

Well, I am depressed. Sure you are.

Well?

Well, I'm sorry, honey. I mean, how long are you supposed to de depressed for?

Oh, Tony!

Can't we... can't we do something?

Sure, we can do anything you wanna do.

No, I mean it now.

What do you want to do?

You know my whole life, Tony.

I've only seen two little old towns.

I mean, besides the ones I saw through the train window.

I mean, I've only seen Pine Alley.

Not even Dallas really.

And I hated Pine Alley.

Well, I like New Haven...

but it's kinda dinky and I thought...

maybe we could go to New York.

Sure, if you wanna.

Do you remember the night we met? I mean down in Deep Elem?

Obviously you do remember. Salome!

Never mind.

Anyway, remember that boy down there?

He was playing the trumpet?

Well, he was kind of a friend of mine.

His papa was our minister.

And he's become... oh, I guess kinda famous or something.

Catherine says he's at some night club in New York.

And I thought maybe we could go up there.

I mean, I didn't know him too well.

And he probably wouldn't even remember me.

But I thought, because he was from Pine Alley...

Which you hate.

We can go any place you want to, honey.

Fine.

What's the matter?

Sometimes I think that you're completely indifferent to me now that the baby's here.

That's not true, you know that.

Will you tie my tie for me?

You know you tie it better than I do.

I love you.

Do you?

Will you tie it for me?

Why do you love me, Tony?

Shouldn't I?

You're so young, really.

Sometimes I think I'm fifty years older than you are.

Salome?

Salome's already passed out.

Or passed on. She doesn't need it.

You're at your own party, aren't you, Salome?

I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

Do you suppose you can drink as much as when you're out of college

as when you're in college? I mean, when you're young and really concentrating?

That depends, Putney, on whether you want to make a career out of it.

I know.

But in another year the Ohio Bonding Company, that's my father,

will fall right on top of me.

You know, business can be very sobering.

I could cry when I think about that.

You are potted, Putney.

Are you all right, Salome?

What?

Oh, yes, of course I am.

You look so pale.

No, I'm all right.

Good evening.

I don't know why you folks come here.

To hear sad songs? Not if I know New York, you didn't.

We all got friends who are dying fast and slow.

You'd kinda rather a person did that in private and not bother you.

Isn't that right?

Well, I'm gonna bother you with a friend of mine.

This is for Ruby Jones.

I want you to listen to her pain.

You folks are in for a surprise.

I'm not sad anymore.

I see a fresh face.

I see a non-New Yorker.

I see a cat come up out of the Texas jungle.

This is that cat breaking loose now.

Yes, I think the truly wonderful thing about the United States of America

is that just anybody, if... well, if they've got your kind of looks,

and your kind of talent, and your kind of... well...

energy, Mr. Bixby,

I mean, Chad...

Well, I mean that they can make as much money

as our dreary old daddy makes digging holes in the ground, for instance.

Of course, I love my daddy. I love my daddy too.

But I wish he'd die.

Putney!

I love my daddy, but Texas is an endless...

well, bore.

It also happens to be your home, Catherine.

Hmm, Tony.

Ever since Tony became a daddy he sounds exactly like our daddy.

When Tony was still young, less than a year ago as I remember,

Well, you wouldn't believe it, Chad, nut he was the very life of the party.

Isn't anybody going to dance with me?

No...

I mean you, Chad.

Yes, sure I will.

I hope you're not terribly bored by me.

I think that's the worse anybody can be.

No, I'm not bored.

I suppose you knew Salome terribly well.

Yeah, I know her.

Tony will be as jealous as a cat.

Well, he needs to be. It'll put some life back into him.

Of course, I hate Salome.

But that's only because I have the feeling that so many men are attracted by her.

I would be much better off if they were attracted by me.

Of course that's a one-sided view.

Maybe you don't like me to talk while we're dancing.

No, I like you to talk.

Do you think you might want to kiss me?

Yeah, I think maybe I would like to.

The boy I'm with is a terrible bore.

He is?

You could rescue me if you wanted to.

Now how could I do that?

Well, what if we just left?

I mean, right now.

All I'd lose is a fur wrap and I'm sure Salome will pick that up for me.

Anyhow, I could afford to lose it.

Yeah, I bet you could.

Do you think I'm very forward?

I mean, fast?

Aren't you?

Yes.

I suppose I am.

Well, we might as well go. That's what we might as well do.

They're not coming back, that's for sure.

You know, I've been...

I don't know what I've been.

I hate Texas.

Yes, let's go, Tony.

All right, old man, everybody up.

I think I'll bring this along. It's kind of a souvenir of tonight's misery.

Yes, do bring it along.

Of course I knew Chad. I told you that.

I didn't know him that well.

I just know that he isn't the type of person Catherine ought to be with.

I mean, you know how wild she is.

And, well... Chad is too. I'm not worried about Catherine.

Well, you ought to be! Are you worried about her?

What do you mean, Tony?

I don't know, Salome, I don't know.

What? I don't know how to ask you this.

What?

Were you ever in love with Chad?

I don't know what you mean.

We were kids when we knew each other.

We were both just kids.

We were starved and we were kids.

We didn't have 13 cents between us.

I only asked if you were in love with him. No!

No, I wasn't. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry.

Well, maybe you did, Tony.

Maybe you just like to row me up.

For anything I've done that's annoyed you, well, I apologize.

I do. Salome.

I do.

Will Ruby be asleep now?

She doesn't sleep really.

Not anymore.

What does she do?

She's dying, that's all.

One night I guess I made her sing it all out and now she's dying.

She doesn't leave the apartment anymore.

She doesn't even leave her bedroom, not unless she has to get another bottle.

That isn't funny.

She's dying of love.

Can you die of love?

Yeah... well, I don't know. Anyway, she can.

Could you?

I don't know.

I want you to.

I want you to.

Love me.

If you're going to say something terrible and mean, say it now.

I'm very tired and I'm going to bed.

Why do you hate me, Catherine?

I don't hate you.

Where's Tony?

Is he on patrol too?

Putney had a very bad hangover.

They went to a steam bath together.

How blissful.

Good night.

Catherine.

I said good night.

What?

What do you want to know?

Yes, I'm mad about him.

I may even get him to marry me.

I'm going to try.

Are you jealous?

Are you?

You're behaving like a two-year-old.

Last night I said that Tony had begun to sound like my daddy.

Now I think you sound just like my mother.

You certainly are old married folks, aren't you?

Doesn't take long not to be young anymore.

Stop it! I am going to be young forever.

I decided that a long time ago.

You're going to be stupid forever, I can tell you that!

I'm bored.

I'm just a little bit bored with this conversation.

I think you'd better go now, Mother.

Do you want his phone number?

Look him up under Ruby Jones.

Plead with her.

See if he hasn't forgotten you, Mother.

Just see if he hasn't.

Hello.

I know it's you, Salome.

You see, I thought you'd phone.

All right, I know that.

I know I don't have any right to ask you to do anything.

But I'm asking you anyway.

I never should have come to New York. I never should have let you know that I was alive.

Why did you? I don't know.

I just couldn't stop myself.

Oh, Chad, don't punish me.

Don't use Catherine that way.

Why can't he walk, Daddy? Why can't you carry me for a while?

Bobby, I told you. He's not old enough to walk.

Didn't you punish me?

How?

How?

How?

By running away. Running away with my child.

Mine, Salome.

I didn't believe you'd go.

I didn't believe it.

How? You said you loved me.

Why did you come to New York?

If you're gonna give my child to somebody else then why don't you just stay away from me?

I don't know.

What's he look like?

Oh, Chad.

What does he look like?

What are you trying to do to me?

To you?

Salome, what do you want me to do?

Just tell me.

Do you...

Do you want me to tell you that I want you?

I do.

Will you leave him?

Will you come back to me?

Or do you just want me to disappear?

I won't do that.

If I can't have you, then I wanna hurt you.

And I will.

I can't leave him. Why?

He loves me.

I love you too.

He thinks it's his child.

But it's not.

Do you want me to kill him?

No. I'm an easier victim.

Pick me.

Well, I certainly think it's weird. Which is a word I scarcely ever use.

Why don't you just watch the fireworks, Mother?

I am watching.

To receive such a telegram from one's only daughter.

First Tony gets married without ever telling us until it's all done.

Excuse me, but that's true, Salome, as you well know.

Oh, my dear, that was a burst, wasn't it?

Now my only daughter does the very same thing.

A bugler, no less.

A nightclub person, without ever letting us know until it's all done.

Oh, Mother, will you please. What did I do to deserve this?

I will not, I tell you, I will not stand up at an informal...

at an informal gathering and say

I have just received a telegram from my only daughter

who, on Independence Day,

has just declared her own independence.

Her independence of me.

I will not do it and that's final.

All right, Mother, then we won't do it.

Oh, Tony...

Honey, what... I'm sorry.

I'm just not feeling well.

You never are feeling well these days, are you?

Well, that's not my fault. Well, whose fault is it?

Oh, Tony. What? Oh, Tony, what?

We can't just make love when you want to.

I mean, we both have to want that.

Great, and when do you think that might be? Next week...

next month, maybe next Christmas?

Where did it all go to, Salome?

Where did it suddenly all go to?

Is it Chad? Are you in love with him?

No!

Oh, Tony, I don't know.

I wanna love you...

I want so badly to love you.

Just give me time.

Just give me a little bit of time.

There is no time. There never will be.

Either you love me or you don't.

Obviously you don't.

Chad.

I can't sleep with that light on.

I want you to know that.

Well, I can't sleep with it off.

That's childish and idiotic.

Your mother just spoiled you when you were a baby.

Yeah, I guess she did.

Well, I'm turning it off!

You're not turning it off!

Chad...

Don't you even like me?

I can be in the dark when I'm with somebody.

But when I'm alone I gotta have a light burning.

My mother did spoil me.

It made up for hating my father.

That light's my father.

And when you're with me you're alone.

Why don't you answer me?

Was it a question?

You want one?

Yes, anything.

I'm drinking to you, Chad.

I love you, Chad Bixby, I love you!

I don't expect you'll ever believe that I love you.

I believe you.

We just gotta get out of this apartment, Chad. It drives me wild.

Why don't we get ourselves a great big new apartment where decent people can live?

Why didn't you take me to Europe on our honeymoon?

Decent people can live here.

They can live anywhere.

There's nothing but niggers.

There's a nigger dying in the next room.

Don't you call her a nigger. Don't you ever call her that.

She's better than both of us.

She's honest. I'm honest too, Chad.

I wanted you and I went after you.

I still want you.

I'm very honest.

Look to yourself, Chad. Just you look to yourself.

So we're gonna live like rich folks, Ruby.

You know how I hate to do that.

How I hate to leave you.

But I gotta try to give her something.

We got the biggest apartment you ever saw.

Maybe I can get lost in it.

Really lost.

Don't worry about me, Chad.

There's folks who'll take care of me until it happens.

I'll come over. I'll come over almost every day.

You come when you want to.

And Chad...

Chad, take me back to Deep Elem when it's over.

That's the only place they know how to give a lady a proper funeral.

And those checks and money scattered around...

that's for my sister Rose.

Why is it Ruby you're the only person I've been able to love without hating too?

Because you're only a kid.

You've never grown up yet.

Stop it, Chad, stop it!

You're out of your mind. Yes!

I won't let you whip a horse that way.

Any horse. I'll kill you before I do.

I hate you! I hate you!

My papa cut me up better than that.

You've seen my scars. Think you can match them, huh?

No, I can't match anything you've had.

I can't match your father and I can't match Salome...

and I can't match Ruby Jones.

So tell me what you want me to do! Tell me!

I want you to leave me alone. I want you to go away.

I married you because I wanted to hurt Salome.

It isn't your brother's child. It's mine.

And I want you to know that.

Did I cut them deep enough, Chad?

Did I...

Hello.

Chad!

We've come to see Catherine Bixby.

I didn't know what to do so I phoned you.

I mean, I didn't know what to do about...

About your mother and father, I mean...

She'll probably be okay now, I don't think they ought to know, you know...

Nurse! Nurse!

Pretty frightening place.

I just don't want her to wake up here, but you just can't get her out of here.

I mean, I don't know how to.

They say it's a criminal offense and they gotta be sure that she won't try to do it again.

Is she gonna be all right? I think she's gonna be, I don't know.

They've been giving her blood.

We don't have the same kind of blood

so they've been taking my blood and then they give her somebody else's.

It's a city hospital, I got a nurse with her.

Boy, it's hard to get a private nurse. I mean, even to come here.

But I got one.

Can we see her?

Yeah, if you want to.

She's in here.

I just wish we could do something so she doesn't wake up here, you know?

You might as well go home and get some sleep.

She's sleeping. There won't be any change until morning.

I she all right?

She's all right.

Nothing you can do.

I'm hungry! I'm hungry!

You hush up now. Can't make noise in the middle of the night.

I didn't eat any dinner.

You should have had your dinner. I couldn't.

She's right. Think you might just as well get some sleep.

I'll give you the keys to our apartment. There's plenty of room there.

What about you?

I'll just hang around till the doctor comes round at midnight.

Then we'll see what he has to say.

I think she's gonna be all right.

Maybe we should stay too.

I think you ought to go, I really think you ought to.

Maybe she'll be better by the morning.

Here.

Will you come back to the apartment?

Yeah, it's 695 Park Avenue. Yeah, I'll come back.

We should try to get her out of here. I mean, before she comes to.

But...

I'd really rather you'd go.

You'd better go with him.

I don't know whether this is my fault or yours.

But you'd better go with him.

You I really don't want here.

You can leave me if you want to, Salome.

Just let me have Peter, let me have my son and you can leave.

Your son? Yes, my son.

I don't think you even love Peter.

I don't think your passion for Chad gives you very much time to think of either of us.

If you love each other you should be with each other

and not torture me, not torture Catherine.

Don't you think I know why Catherine did this?

He's very rich...

I wonder if I should tell you the truth.

Truth? What truth?

I did love him.

I lied to you about that.

I did love him.

And I would have married him...

but I ran away from him.

Cause he was poor.

Well, you can see how rich he is now.

And I would still run away from him.

He would still frighten me.

I needed somebody.

I needed you, Tony.

I lied to you about more than that.

About what?

It's his child, Tony.

Peter is his child.

And now anything you want...

I'll do, Tony.

I can love you.

Oh, Tony.

I can love you.

Oh, God.

Don't let me have done this.

Don't let me have done this.

Help Catherine.

Please help her.

None of us deserve help.

Cause we have really sinned.

Hi, baby.

Tony?

Baby.

Tony...

Do you know about...

I know about Peter, yes.

I didn't do a very good job, did I?

I seem to make a mess of everything.

I tried to do it...

I tried to kill myself.

I didn't want to be just a silly woman...

hysterical.

Chad isn't here.

Is he?

He was with you most of last night.

But he isn't here.

I don't know where he is now, Catherine.

Ruby.

Ruby.

Ruby.

Ruby.

Oh, Ruby.

Hello, Mother.

Stuck your knife in anybody lately?

When you grow up, Mother,

it's likely that you're gonna be a fascinating..

an ugly, ugly person.

Even I won't be sorry for you.

Oh, Tony,

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Why don't you play something?

Play what you feel.

Play it, brother, while I pat my foot.

I don't suppose you care.

But Catherine's all right.

Tony moved her this morning to another hospital.

I know he did.

I've been back to Bellevue.

I think you're a louse.

Sure you do.

I think I'm a louse too.

There was never any doubt about that.

I think you'd better go on drinking and that I'd better go on drinking too.

I hate... What?

I hate people who have to drink.

I'm not even twenty years old.

You look a lot older.

Thanks.

I told Tony everything.

I told him about Peter.

I guess now he hates me.

I guess he always will.

I guess I'll never see him again.

You wanna know a funny thing?

You wanna know a very funny thing?

I love him.

I love him.

I told him the truth.

I stuck a knife into him.

And now... I love him.

Who are you?

I don't even know who you are, Chad Bixby.

Why are you laughing?

It's less painful that way.

Where are you going, Chad?

I'm going down to Deep Elem.

I'm gonna see that Ruby Jones has a proper funeral.

You know who she was?

She was the only decent woman I've ever known.

Well, maybe Catherine was a decent woman.

And I never gave her a chance.

Chad.

Can't we...

at least forgive each other?

What's forgiving mean?

We were two kids and we loved each other.

But we're not kids anymore.

I did love you.

And that was something.

Free at last, she is Free at last, she is

We thank God she's free at last.

Free at last, she is Free at last, she is

We thank God she's free at last.

Papa.

Sarah.

Is it all right for me to come home?

Why, of course it is, Sarah.

This is your home.

Always will be.

Is that my grandson?

Come on. Come here.

Why, he's a blessed child.

A blessed child.

Catherine.

You're out of your mind.

I know that, Chad.

I...

I've left you a light burning.

Every night.

You don't have to love me, Chad.

Just say that you do.

For a little while.

I love you.

And we'll be less lonely.

I love you.

Are you frightened?

I'm always frightened.

We'll leave the light burning.

Till you're not, Jack.

I want you back.

And I want Peter back too, Salome.

My name is Sarah.

Subtitles: Lu�s Filipe Bernardes