Original subtitles

Where grows the learning tree?

By rivers that flow in the night

Winds that blow after sundown

That's what a boy should

know

flies and restless stars in tall fields

of corn where all June bugs are born

in the due time

that's where a boy

should

with two dogs

by his side

and a nice girl

to know

where bluebirds can sing over here

in the spring afternoon down

there

Well, maybe he's with Jack.

Now, don't start worrying, sir.

I'll find him, Mama. Hurry, Pete!

No!

No!

Take it easy. Take it easy. I can't find him, Papa!

Did you drown the swimming hole?

No! Well, then do it!

Better go with him, Jack. I can manage.

me, boy, or I'll kill you! Go to hell, you old drunk!

Who's that coming?

It's Papa and Pete.

Come on, Newt.

Look at Savage, kicking his kid out in a storm like that.

That poor boy.

No mother and a father like that.

So, come to the table, Rob.

You can help me.

I still give the orders around here, Miss Prissy.

He's going straight to bed after supper.

Church tomorrow.

This town must really be messed up now.

Place is due for some punishing.

All the sinning going on around here.

Newt, you can help me with the dishes tonight.

Percy, that's enough.

Bless us, O Lord, for this food we're about to receive.

And we thank thee, O Lord, for saving us from the storm.

Lord, may the storm you brought upon us... Leave us repentant.

Let those of us who survive give thanks to your goodness.

Soften the hearts of those who oppress us.

Spare us the violence and hatred that visits our daily lives.

Deliver our young from cigarettes, from dancing, from drinking,

from lipstick and flapper skirts.

Yes, Lord, deliver us from all evil.

And finally, O Lord, help us to live our lives as you would have us live

them. This we ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Before the services end, I'd like the congregation to meet the wonderful

family that's come to us from way up in Canada.

Brother Jefferson, would you, your wife and daughter, please stand?

Thank you. Be seated.

This marks the end of our services.

God be with you till we meet again.

Hey, I'll see you guys later. You know where.

Okay, Newt.

You feel pretty good for a boy who just got hurt in the storm.

That Jefferson family looks real nice.

Oh, so that's it.

Hey, Newt.

Oh, hi, Jappy.

Hiya.

Heard about you and Big Mabel.

Didn't caught in the storm.

What all did you hear?

I hear you ain't got no cherry no more.

How'd it feel, Newt?

How'd what feel?

Oh, come on. I ain't gonna snitch.

Look, I don't want to talk about it.

Oh, come on, Newt.

Big Mabel got you, huh?

How'd it feel, Newt?

Come on. I ain't gonna snitch.

We was wrapped up in a gunny sack together.

Make it.

Make it.

Boy, boy, boy. What else?

You gonna do it again, Luke? Oh, shut up. I told you everything.

Come on, fellas. Get the lead out.

Ah, what's the hurry?

Where you guys headed?

Where you going, winger?

I'm going swimming.

Old man Kiner's apples are good and ripe. And I'm for going there first.

Anybody against me?

Feel like apples, Beansy? Oh, I could eat some, I guess.

How about you, Jappy?

It's okay with me.

Well, then, let's go.

Those boys are stealing our apples.

Ho, ho!

There's all mankind.

Buzzard pushed his luck too far.

What do you think they'll do?

I don't give a damn what they're gonna do. You all saw him hit me with that

whip first.

You didn't have to beat him like that after he was down.

Well, fellas, ain't that something?

Winger sticking up for the poor white trash.

A peck of wood over one of his own gang.

Mr. Kiner ain't that bad.

He gives us just as much work as he does white folks.

How about all that cornmeal he gave Beansy's pa last winter? To hell with

last winter. He hit me today.

Wasn't we stealing his apples?

Look, Winger, all I want to know is you with us or not.

I'm always with the fellas here.

You don't like nothing I do when you're nothing. You're always against me.

I don't know what you mean.

Yeah, you know what I mean.

You know exactly what I mean. Just keep it up. You'll see what I'm getting at.

Just keep it up.

Where's Newt?

Swimming at the river. I specked.

You specked?

You don't know for sure? Yes.

What is it?

I'm hunting Newt and that gang of his.

They stole Jake Kiner's apples and beat up on him.

Newt might have stole apples, but he sure didn't hit Jake Kiner.

Well, Mary Kiner says different.

And Jake is damn near dead in the hospital. Watch your tongue, Kirky.

Go and get your papa from the barn.

That

Marcus

cut my pants off.

Look what he did. Did the same thing to mine.

Boy, they sure are having a good old time over there at that crap game.

Come on, Dice, make it comfortable.

Come on, Tuck, you're better now. Let's go.

Knock them, Dice.

Hey, there's Kirky.

Tuck, Tuck, Kirky's coming.

You didn't have to shoot, Doug.

Well, now you can see what happens to criminals.

Especially the kind that goes around beating up on white folks and running

from the law.

Chuck didn't beat up nobody.

Well, but you young hyenas did, didn't you?

Huh?

Now, where's that nigger Marcus?

Jake said he's the one who did the dirty work.

Is that so?

What do you mean, nigger?

I'm asking you if he's the one who did the beating, boy.

You all better tell the truth or I'm going to lock all of you up.

Mr. Kiner was beating him first.

Kiner should have killed him. That's what he should have done.

Now, you all stay here.

I'm going to get some help and drag that criminal out of there.

And don't you all try escaping like he did.

That's it. About in there. This way a little bit.

You feel anything?

No.

What's the matter now? You giving up?

You don't think we can get him dragging? I know we can't.

Haven't had any luck.

Hey, you all come down here a minute.

I bet he wants us to dive for tuck.

Come here. I want to talk to you a second.

I just figured a way I can go easy on you fellas.

And you make yourself two bits apiece, besides.

How's that?

All you gotta do is dive down there in them shallows and undo Tuck's body so we

can haul him in.

Not for no two bits we ain't.

Listen, I got a lot on you kids. I can... Okay, half a buck.

No less than six bits apiece. Look, I'm doing you a favor. I could lock you up.

Okay, okay, six bits, six bits.

After.

Go back out.

We're gonna dive for him.

Go back out over the spot.

The water's pretty dirty. I don't know if you'll be able to find him or not.

Shake that down tight, won't you?

There it is. They got him.

I'm little niggers as good swimmers.

What about our money?

Yeah, yeah.

Six bits apiece.

We're short a quarter.

There's a cold lady and her son brought these flowers.

You want to see them?

That'll be all right. Ask him to come in.

Hello, Jake.

Mary? Sarah?

I'm sorry about what happened, Jake.

We didn't think Marcus would do something like that.

Mama baked you a pie.

That savage boy is going to get the rest of you in trouble. Now you watch my

word.

Ain't there something else you want to tell Mr. Kiner?

I'd like to work the summer for you for nothing.

Sort of make up for things.

You mean that, Newt?

Yes, sir.

All right, Newt.

I'll be expecting you weekends.

Is Saturday and Friday all right?

Mama's against Sunday working.

And Sunday's stealing.

It's all right with me, son.

Well, hello, Sarah.

Newt. Hello, Timothy.

Evening, darling.

You feeling better, Jake?

Oh, fair to middle of the town. We ought to be going, I guess. Oh, thank you,

Sarah, for the flowers and the pie.

Goodbye now.

I'll give you a ride, Sarah. I'm going your way.

All right, Timothy.

I'll be back, Jake.

Say, that pie looks awful good.

Ought to be.

It's my apples.

Good night, Jack.

Good night, Sierra.

Right check!

Check!

Bad dream, son?

Yeah, Mama.

What about?

About Captain Tuck.

And death.

Death's a long way from you, son.

Tuck's gone.

Resting in peace somewhere.

I keep seeing him turning over and over in the water.

Tuck liked you, son.

He wouldn't hurt you, not even in death.

I'm scared of death, Mama.

I'm afraid of death.

Go back to sleep, son.

Good morning, Mrs. Jefferson.

I'm Sarah Winger. Good morning. Pleased to meet you.

Saw you in church Sunday.

This is my son, Newt.

My, what a nice-looking boy.

Hello. And this is my daughter, Arcella.

Say hello, Arcella, darling.

Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Winger. Pleased to meet you, Arcella.

Coming to the picnic, I hope? Hope so.

Arcella's starting piano lessons today.

We're going for sheet music.

How nice.

It was an awful storm.

Oh, it was just terrible. Bye-bye.

Just terrible.

Judge, can I talk to you for a minute?

You ought to go easy on Marcus.

Paul is not so much with him as it is his father.

Poor boy grew up without a mother.

No one's given him an ounce of love since he's been born.

Ought to be something we all could get together and do for him.

Well, I can't send the father to the reformatory for something the son did.

It was a brutal act by a brutal boy.

I just don't think that's the answer. Take it from me, sir, he'll be much

better off at Spitz Reformatory where he can learn discipline.

Good day, sir.

Chauncey?

Chauncey, you all right?

Chauncey!

Chauncey!

You better come to, boy, and get that girl out of there before your father

gets here for lunch. You hear me, boy?

Okay, okay.

Quit hollering, Sarah.

You two shut that door.

Newt, come here.

Want to see something?

Marcus, this thing you did to Mr. Kiner brought disgrace to your people and to

our town.

I ain't got no people.

This town don't want me, and I don't want this town.

Boy, that ain't no way to talk.

You got a nerve telling me what's right.

I've just committed you to Spitz Reformatory for six months.

I hope for your sake that you can rid yourself of this evil in you before you

come back.

Because if you don't, you're going to rot in jails for the rest of your life.

I ain't rotting nowhere but in my grave.

Get him out of here, Kirky.

Come on.

Get right in here, black boy.

One of these days, it's gonna be me and you, you hairy peck of wood.

And remember that. You tell that winger bastard I'll be thinking about him, too.

Be sure and tell him, peck of wood.

I'll be remembering, boy.

Don't you worry none about that.

Good day, sir.

Good day, Silas.

Mama, can I ask you a question?

Sure, son.

What is it?

Is there a heaven?

I don't rightfully know, Newt.

Maybe there ain't no hell either.

I believe God made us and expects us to do good here on Earth.

Can't say if God's his real name.

All my life I've been told about a better world somewhere beyond this one.

It's awful hard at this late date not to believe.

I'm gonna hate Diane.

None of us will like it, son.

The important thing is to be ready when the time comes.

You mean be a Christian?

In a way.

But there's more to it than that.

It's being able to love when you feel like hatin'. To tell the truth when you

feel like lyin'.

Are we going to live here all our lives?

Don't you like it here, son?

I don't know.

I ain't been no place else.

Well, I hope you won't have to live here all your life.

It's not all good place.

Not all bad place either.

Sort of like fruit on a tree.

Some good, some bad.

Understand?

No matter if you go or stay.

Think of Cherokee flats like that till the day you die.

Let it be a learning tree.

Uncle Rob, this is Arcella.

Arcella, this is my Uncle Rob.

Miss Jefferson, girl?

Pleased to meet you, sir.

Well, I'm pleased to meet you.

Now you children enjoy yourselves.

See you later.

Newt, don't you want to eat now, son?

No, we'll get something later.

Newt's got to go!

Oh, look, Newt. A garden of daffodils.

They're even too pretty to pick.

Then don't.

Let's just sit and look.

That would be silly, wouldn't it?

I don't think so.

All right.

Just for a minute or two, and then we go back, okay?

This could be our private little garden.

Would you like to come here sometime?

Maybe.

Who knows?

When?

Oh, I don't know.

Why don't you come by after my piano lessons tomorrow and we can talk about

it then?

Okay?

Okay.

They'll be shooting off fireworks when it gets dark.

That should be lovely.

Hey, look, they caught our black boy.

Well, come home, Marcus.

Hell of a way to spend a Christmas Eve.

Chasin' after a runaway nigger.

Mama? From all of us.

Merry Christmas. Thank you, darling.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Beautiful, just beautiful.

Newt Winger and the gang sent you this present.

Let us pray.

Oh, almighty God, we ask for the soul of this young sinner.

Wash him in the white snows of thy holy Christmas.

Bring peace to his tormented soul and let him leave this place a better young

man someday.

Oh, God, show him the light.

Show him.

Shut up. Shut up. Get the hell out of here.

I don't want no Uncle Tom's praying over me.

You don't know what you're saying, son.

I know about as much as what I'm saying as you do. Just get the hell out.

Read the scripture on the back, son.

Pray to the Savior.

He'll help you.

I don't want no part of your poor white trash. God, he ain't gonna do nothing

for me.

And he ain't gonna do nothing for you, as long as you stay black.

Why don't you tell Crapper to stop beating on us nigger boys?

Yeah, that's what he calls us. Nigger, nigger, nigger.

Tell him, Crapper.

Tell him what you're gonna do to me when I leave. Tell him.

Son.

Don't son me.

Just get going so Crapper can bribe me about you niggers coming to pray over

me.

And, hey, Reverend, you can tell that winger bastard I'll be giving him a big

greeting soon as I get out of here.

Now you got a black god.

Merry Christmas, nigger.

You know, old lady McLintock asked Jappy if he was gonna take physics next term.

So Jappy looks at her real stupid-like, and he scratches his head, and then he

says, Mom gives us castor oil for things like that.

Hi,

Newt. Hi, Chauncey.

You want a ride home?

No, thanks.

It's okay.

Why not?

Yeah, might as well. I'm going the same way.

I'll buy the two of you a Coke at the drugstore.

Well, I guess it's okay if you want to.

Three coats, Bert.

With plenty of ice, huh?

Three.

To go.

Now, three, Bert.

Three.

You never told me where you found this pretty girl, Newt.

She's been around pretty.

Quite a while now.

He didn't just find me. We met.

Oh, I see.

He just met.

Well. Okay, buddy.

You and your girl have to drink outside.

What do you mean, Bertie?

They're friends of mine.

Well, then go outside and drink with them if they're such good friends of

yours.

I ain't going anywhere.

I'm paying for this stuff.

And we're gonna drink it right here.

It's okay.

We have to go anyway.

You slob.

Here.

Taking these with you?

Wait for me outside.

I got a C about this mark she gave me.

Okay, don't be too long.

Yes, young man, what is it?

I think I should have better than a C on this paper.

Are you telling me how to grade?

No, I'm just saying that I think I should have a better mark.

Well, what you think and what I know are miles apart.

Now, you got a C, and a C it will stay.

And that brings me to another point.

I was going through your records yesterday, and I was amazed to notice

that you've signed up for a college preparatory course.

That's right.

I plan on going to college.

Are you serious?

Yes.

Well, let me tell you something.

Very few Negro students go to college.

They just aren't college material.

And the few who do go wind up as cooks and porters in any case.

Now, I just think that's an awful waste of money and time.

That's not gonna happen to me whether I go to college or not.

Now, Newton, don't get upset.

I'm here to advise you.

And I advise you to take a general course.

It'll be much easier for you and wiser for you.

You just hate us colored kids, don't you?

Well, we hate you too.

Every last one of us. Young man, you and I are going to the principal's office

right now.

Come on.

Newton, you sit right there and wait.

Looks like you're in hot water.

Looks that way.

Sit right there.

Miss McLintock tells me you sassed her.

Well, you accused me of downgrading you.

That right, Newton?

Well, that's not all there was to it.

Well, out with it. What are you trying to say?

Miss McLintock and I don't see things the same way. Miss McLintock happens to

be your instructor as well as your guidance teacher.

I just don't like the way she wants to guide me.

And that caused you to tell her you hated her?

Well, I didn't say... Don't lie. You know you said it.

I didn't say I hated you alone.

I said all the colored kids hate you.

And we do.

Why do you say such a thing?

She's always telling us the same thing.

Don't go to college.

You're just gonna be porters and maids.

Is this true, Miss McLintock? Do you tell the Negro students such things?

Mr. Hall, I have been class advisor here for over 20 years. I tell them what I

was instructed to tell them. Who? Who instructed you?

Mr. Hornsby, the principal before you.

Oh, I see. I see.

Miss McLintock.

Well, that will be all.

I would like to talk to you.

to explain Miss McLintock.

One would have to go back to a tragic time before either you or I was born.

And although she must share the blame for this awful wrong, Miss McLintock is

somewhat a victim herself.

She thought it was right because it was a situation that existed for so long.

Mr. Hornsby has more to blame than she.

So was his father.

And my father.

And millions of others.

Now, there are still things at this school that I don't like, Newton.

The fact that you boys can't play on the football and basketball teams, that you

can't attend the school dances and parties, were left up to me and a few

others who care. All this would stop, but there are...

Still too many Mr. Hornsby's left around.

But, well, maybe someday.

You can go now, Newton. I intend to have a long talk with Mr. McLintock and a few

of the other teachers when the board meets next.

I'm sure that their attitudes and thinking...

They'll be different.

Oh, Newton.

You're to show Miss McLintock the highest respect.

Jappy, where's Arcella?

Oh, I thought she'd be home by now.

I had to stay. We had to stay late.

Oh, she said something about going to the library before it closed.

Oh, I see.

Well, I'll tell her you boys stop by.

Oh, Newt?

Come here a minute.

I thought I ought to tell you.

Arcella's birthday is the 27th of next month.

Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.

Arcella's sure enough at the library.

What's it to you where she's at?

It's okay. It's okay. I just asked.

I gotta go.

Hello, Newt.

Hello, Arcella.

You want to go for a little walk?

No.

I'm sorry.

I have to get in the house and do some homework and a few things.

I could help.

No.

No.

You want to go to the show tomorrow?

I'm sorry, Newt. I can't.

Is something wrong?

Wrong?

No.

Why did you say that, anyway?

It's nothing. I just asked.

I'll be going now.

I told your mother you went to the library.

Hiya, son.

Nobody told me you was getting out today.

You his old man?

That's right.

You have to sign this here paper.

What's all this for?

He's on probation.

That means we turn him over to you. Sign it right here.

Hell, boy, that ain't no signature. That's an X.

How old's a man gotta be before you people stop calling him boy?

Now, if it's my signature, you want as you call it.

That's it.

Take it or leave it.

He can't write.

You better keep your ass out of trouble, boy.

Next time, we're gonna throw away the key on you.

Boy, that's all those people know.

They'd call Jesus Christ, boy, if he was black.

Got so I hate the sight of a white man.

It ain't much.

I'd done better if I'd heard you was coming.

Well, come on, boy. Get something to eat.

How'd they treat you up there?

I meant to come to see you, but things got busy around here.

Well, you're glad to be back, ain't you?

Did they beat up on you?

Sons of bitches.

I'll kill me a pecker with sure as hell one of these days.

Dirty, lousy...

What's

the matter, son? You hurting or something?

What's Doc Craven's car doing here?

Mama came home from work with a dizzy spell.

Is she real sick?

Don't think so.

Doc ought to be out soon.

You worried about Marcus coming home?

No.

You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

How about a few bucks and this?

What for?

Oh, just for the fun of it. Come on. Come on.

Now, right up, elbow down.

Now, left, left.

Throw it. Now, throw the right. Throw it.

Now,

let that teach you.

Never leave your belly wide open like that again.

See that she gets two of these every four hours, Jack.

Call me if you need me.

Thanks, Tim.

Hiya, Newt.

You look all tuckered out.

How's Mama?

She's all right.

Just needs a couple of days quiet.

Come on in the house, boy. I want to talk to you some.

between you and that Jefferson girl?

Nothing.

She's acting kind of funny.

I want the truth, boy. You hear me?

It's nothing serious, Pop.

Nothing serious?

Her pa was here this afternoon saying she's gonna have a baby.

Ain't that serious?

Jack, is that news?

I want the truth, boy. You hear me?

What's going on down there?

Sarah, you shouldn't be bothered with this. I wanna know what's going on.

Well...

I might as well tell you.

Jefferson was over to see me about his daughter, Arcella.

What's wrong with her?

Says she's gonna have a baby.

Think Newtie had something to do with it.

Oh, my Lord.

Son.

Mama.

I didn't do nothing like that.

You sure, son?

I'm sure, Ma.

I love Arcella.

He's telling the truth.

I'm sure he's telling the truth.

We just have to face the girl with him and then see what she says.

Sarah, you have to stay in bed. I'm going, Jack. I'm going with him.

Sarah.

Mom. Sarah, don't worry about nothing.

I'll go with him to see the Jeffersons.

Speak up, girl.

Is this boy responsible or not? No, Papa, why don't you listen?

Then who was it? Who was it?

Bob, Bob, do you want to tell the whole neighborhood?

Marcella, baby, tell mother.

I'll help you, honey.

I'm sorry Papa got you mixed up in all this.

And I'm sorry for what has happened.

I guess that's all I can say.

You will try to forgive me, won't you?

Papa, you wanted to know who it was?

Well?

It was Chauncey.

Chauncey Cavanaugh.

Oh, my Lord.

Oh, my Lord.

Uncle Rob, why do white people do so many awful things?

Is a white boy responsible for a seller?

Yes, sir.

Chauncey Cavanaugh.

Newt, I've been blind for 30 years.

I don't know what color people are anymore.

If somebody does something, good or bad, I don't figure his color into it.

I figure his deed.

Do you remember what it was like before the explosion?

What color the sky was?

Things like that.

Oh, at times, at times, Newt.

Sometimes the colors do come.

And I think they're much brighter in my darkness than in your light.

I see blue and... green and yellow, coming and going in all directions.

They seemed to soften the black.

Strange.

I don't remember white at all.

But sometimes I have a little fun, like

imagining you were green with...

Pink ears, blue nose, purple hair.

Oh, sometimes I fill my world with all kinds of colors.

Really, Uncle Rob?

That's right, boy.

And I think sometimes if all the people in the world were made up of colors

instead of just black and white, it'd be a happy world.

A wonderful world all mixed up with wonderful colored people.

Nobody being the same as anybody else.

Maybe your world is a lot prettier than mine, Uncle Rob.

I gotta be going now.

Goodbye, Uncle Rob.

God bless you, son.

Could I see this?

Is it for your girl?

Yeah.

Could you wrap it up like a present?

We have one already gift-wrapped.

Do you have birthday

cards?

Here's a real pretty one, specially made to go with the violet water.

Hey, kid, when did you get back to town?

Tuesday.

Hey, come here a minute. I want to ask you something.

Yeah, what do you want?

What do you aim to do now?

I don't know.

Want a job here?

Doing what?

What I want you to do, that's what.

Something to keep you out of trouble.

Come on in.

Hey, how much do I get?

Five bucks a week in your grub when you're working.

When do I start?

Right now.

Now, this is my room.

I want you to clean it up.

Come away from that, boy.

I don't want you touching nothing near but this bed, the floor, and this wash

basin.

I want you to wash that every day.

Come on with me, and I'll show you the rest of the place.

Now I want two towels under every pillow in every room.

Is this here a whorehouse?

Well, talk like that, you won't be around here long, boy.

You just change the bed, sweep the floor, and mind your own business.

Go ahead and clean up the place.

Damn.

Hell of a joint.

Hey, boy.

Hang this picture right over there on the wall.

About right here.

You are now eyeballing Princess Celia, the fabulous bearded lady.

Everybody come right on up and see what the show is about.

Simple ain't not do it. It'll be seven of y'all fighting in the ring for ten

bucks a day. The last two standing keep swinging till the other one falls.

The winner gets four bucks and the loser gets one.

What happens to the other five?

Smart boy, ain't you? Yeah, who'll get the rest? Old Spiker, the promoter.

Every fight's got to have a promoter. I got to pay for the ring, I got to pay

for the winner and loser, I got to pay for everything.

Give us a minute to think about it, huh?

Okay, okay, take your time. But hurry up now because the crowd's there.

Nobody has to get hurt.

We came upon the other three guys to let Luton Jacket win. Then we split the five

up.

Okay, come on. Let's go.

All right, we'll do it. But where's the other fighters?

Don't you worry about that. You let old Spiker take care of that. Now you boys

get right ahead and take your shirts off and start warming up now.

Old Spiker take care of that, Deb.

We can get rid of them real quick, fella.

I need one more young buck in the 135-pound class.

Just one more.

Right here. I'll do it. Right here.

Yeah,

you and me, Winger. We'll be the very last.

I'll take that big black buck up there. He looks tougher than the rest of them.

I'll bet on that black one with the big behind.

I'll take that bet.

Them little greasers look scared, don't they? All right, fellas, once you put on

a good fight, no spiking. No rabid punching. All right, fellas, we're all

ready to start here now.

Once you remember, no, no rabid punching. Put on a good fight, no

spiking. When you fall, keep right off the platform.

And when I fire this here pistol, start swinging. You ready?

Keep shoving them up.

Morning, Jake.

Storing your booze away, huh?

Morning?

It's past noon and you're tanked up again.

Just a little spirits.

Here's your pay. I won't be needing you no more.

Wait a minute, Jake. You can't do that to me. Get out and stay out.

You old drunkard.

You stay up there.

This here's a day short.

You ain't got one. One cent coming for the day. Now go on, get out.

Get out!

Wow!

Gotta cook this stuff long or it'll taste like panther pee.

Yeah, yeah, I bought it.

Big Mama Maybel. Don't do that again, Clint.

You'll get a chilly shampoo.

Damn, looks like you ran into a bear.

What happened to you?

My baby's gone.

She didn't say where.

She didn't say why.

I'm so blue. Sure wish I'd be that liquor bin of his.

Where do they keep his booze? Right there in that damn barn.

He's got gallons of it.

You know something?

He comes into town to market on Saturday mornings.

Oh? Yeah.

Every Saturday morning.

Cause nothing's right when my woman's away.

It rains all the time. The sun never shines.

Nothing left for this poor fool to say.

My baby's gone.

My baby's gone. My baby's gone. My baby's gone.

My baby's gone.

My baby's gone.

My baby's gone.

My baby's gone.

My baby's gone.

My baby's gone.

Thank you.

You drunken bum.

Get off my property before I throw you off. That ain't fair, Jake.

Dan, if I leave before you pay me. I'm warning you for the last time.

I've come to get what you owe me. Now, come on, Jake, do to me.

What'd he got me cuffed to the bed for?

You know that as well as I do.

Jake Kiner's dead and you killed him.

Jake's dead?

You heard me the first time.

Now, why don't you just tell me why you did it?

He must be loony.

Why'd I do something like that?

You should have asked yourself that before you clobbered him with that

crowbar. Crowbar?

What crowbar? I ain't seen no crowbar. Why don't you just tell me the truth?

All right, that's enough, Kirky.

If you have more questions, you can come back tomorrow morning.

I didn't kill nobody, Doc.

I didn't kill nobody.

Did Mary kind of take it hard?

Yeah.

Saddest funeral service I've ever seen.

Old woman's loaded down with grief.

So glad our black man didn't do it.

Hurry up, Newt.

Sit.

Yeah?

What did Papa mean by there'd be trouble if the Negro had killed Mr. Kiner?

It meant just what he said.

It could be real trouble, like they had over in Bottsville a couple of years

back. Freddie Seale shot a white man who hit his sister.

What happened?

Well, the whites lynched Freddie and burned down half the Negro homes.

I'm glad you don't know nothing about it. That way you don't have to open your

mouth, understand?

Yeah.

The witnesses and brutal evidence will bring home to you more than any

statement of mine the vileness of this offense against heaven and all humanity.

And there, gentlemen and ladies of the jury, there sits the beast who is

responsible for this... Your Honor, I object to such reference to the

defendant.

Objection sustained.

Watch your language, Counselor. Sorry, Your Honor.

We intend to prove that the defendant did with premeditation and willfulness

murder the deceased with this crowbar.

Circumstantial evidence isn't always enough.

We beg you to judge this defendant's guilt or innocence.

solely upon the events uh presented in this case

with that i place the fate of the defendant

in your hands thank you because of the late start

court will adjourn until one o'clock we can expect to hear from the state's

witnesses at that time council we shall be ready your honor court is dismissed

That kid lawyer.

Old Silas really jumped when McCormick slammed that crowbar on the table. Silas

ain't got a sucker's chain.

What else did you see other than the deceased and the defendant lying on the

floor?

A hoe and a whip and that crowbar laying over there.

It was between Jake and Silas.

What else do you recall?

He was saying, I'm gonna get my money from that old skinflint or die trying.

And something about over my dead body.

To whom was he saying this?

To Booker Savage in Chappy Logan's place.

Thank you, young lady. That will be all.

He said he was going back for his day's pay.

He told me that all right.

Did he seem angry?

Oh, he was fussing some.

Thank you. That will be all.

I got something to tell you. What's troubling you, son?

Silas didn't kill Mr. Kiner.

I saw the whole thing.

It all happened so fast.

Go on, son.

Finish it.

I was up in the hayloft.

Go on. And then Mrs. Kiner came in.

She was screaming and everything.

And then she went out, I got down, I went home.

I guess that's all.

This is incredible.

Newt, have you told anyone else about this?

Just Mama and Papa.

Sarah, Jack, it would be wrong for me as the judge in this case to divulge this

information. You'll have to do it.

And the man who should get this information is Harley Davis, Silas's

attorney.

Are you willing to do that?

If that's what you want.

Now, Newton here will have to take the stand and testify.

It's gonna be rough on the boy, but there's simply no other way.

I think you'd better go and have a talk with Mr. Davis just as soon as possible.

He's staying at Jenny Brighton's boarding house.

Thank you, Judge.

Jack, could I speak to you and Sarah for just a minute?

Go ahead, son.

How about Chauncey and the Jefferson girl?

I'll personally say to it that Chauncey takes care of the baby.

I... I'm sorry.

You may call your witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Would Newton Winger please take the stand?

Please stand and raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

Yes, sir. Be seated, please.

Would you tell the court your full name?

Newton. Newton Buchanan Winger.

How old are you, Newton?

Fifteen.

Would you speak just a little louder, Newton?

Did you know the deceased, Jake Kiner?

Yes, sir.

And what was the last day you worked for him?

June the 14th. On the day that Mr. Kiner was killed?

Yes, sir.

Now, Newt, I want you to tell the court in your own words exactly what happened.

Well, I was eating my lunch up in the hayloft, and I heard some noise down

below. What kind of noise?

Well, somebody was ripping off the door to where Mr. Kiner keeps his peach

brandy and cider and stuff with a crowbar.

And what happened then?

Well, Mr. Kiner and Mr.

Newhall came in fussing about something.

Mr. Kiner got real mad.

He started hitting Mr. Newhall with his whip handle.

Mr. Newhall tried to grab the hoe, but Mr. Kiner knocked him down before he

could get a blow in.

And then he saw this other man, but the other man hit him in the head with the

crowbar, and he kept beating him after he was down.

Newt, I want you to...

Tell the court why you didn't come forth with this information before.

Well, I was scared.

Scared of what?

I thought it might cause some trouble between the white folks and the colored

folks here.

Now, Newt, I want you to look around this room very carefully and tell the

court if you see the man, the one who broke into the room and beat Mr. Kiner.

It's him.

The man with the red shirt on.

Booker Savage.

He's lying!

He's lying!

Order! Order!

Proceed, counsel.

That's all new.

Cross-examine.

Prosecution waived.

You may step down.

Your Honor, the defense requests that this man, Booker Savage, take the stand.

Officer Kirking, will you please escort Mr. Savage to the stand?

Back to your seats.

Back to your seats.

He shot himself dead.

Well, Counsel, it looks like your move.

Your Honor, in view of all that has taken place here before us today,

the state wishes to withdraw.

all charges against the defendant Silas Newhall, if the court will permit.

The court will permit.

I now order the defendant released.

This case is closed.

But I would like to say this.

We have a judicial system in this country that gives every man the right

to a fair trial when accused.

You who shouted so viciously... frightened Booker Savage out of that

right. You pulled the trigger.

You decided that he had killed a white man.

So you judged him, and you executed him.

Have you forgotten that it was a black boy who saved a white man's life here

just a few minutes ago?

It took courage to do that.

A lot more courage than you have.

It was what he feared from you that kept him from revealing what he knew.

And your actions justified that fear.

This moment should haunt your minds forever.

This court is dismissed.

It was a good thing you did, Newt. A brave thing.

We're both thankful to you.

Thank you, Newt.

Thank you.

No matter what you're thinking, son, you did the right thing.

You're sorry about Booker and Marcus.

Oh, Jack.

Newt, get Dr. Craven.

Marcus. Yeah?

There's some bad news for you.

Your pa's dead.

He just shot himself over at the courthouse.

Why?

Why'd he do that?

Turns out he killed old mankind.

It all happened just now.

The trial.

What happened to my old man?

He shot himself with my gun. That's what happened to him.

He didn't kill old man Kiner, and I know it.

But Newt Winger says different, and he saw it all, every damn bit of it.

I'm gonna kill that bastard.

Jack?

You'd better come up.

Sarah's asking for...

Mama?

Mama?

Newt, your mother's gone.

I ain't afraid, Mama.

I ain't afraid anymore.

This is the last resting place of Sarah Winger to await resurrection in the Lord

Jesus Christ.

Sarah Winger, who gave of her love, her hope, understanding, and devotion to

her family and to all who knew her.

Sarah Winger knows God's love.

Step down Uncle Rock.

How far from the road?

Just a little way.

what are you doing that gun boy come back kid maybe he's going after the

winger kid call kirk

I don't know.

I'm gonna miss my friends.

Well, it's best for you.

Better schools and everything.

You got a chance up there.

That's what your mama always wanted for you.

Yeah, I know.

Well, I'll talk to you before you leave tomorrow.

Okay, Uncle Rob.

Thank you.

I ought to kill you.

But I can't.

Kirk, you'll kill me. Let me up. Let me up.

Where's he at?

Where is he?

He went in the woods.

William, you can rest easy now.

Don't be bothered with him no more.

Aren't you gonna try to get him out?

No hurry about that. He ain't going anywhere.

Cut deep?

It's okay.

Get on the back. I'll give you a lift home.

I can make it by myself.

Okay by me, boy.