All language subtitles for The Spitfire Grill (1996).en

[Indistinct talking,
typing, phones ringing]

[Talking, typing,
ringing continue]

[Phone ringing]

[Ring]

Maine tourist office.
How can I help you today?

Yes, ma'am,

I can connect you
to the Alagash hotel.

[Typing]

[Phone ringing]

Just between us, it's awful
busy that time of year.

The pine tree
in Dawesport

is just a skip
up the road...

For hardly
half the price.

Me, ma'am?

I guess I come up here to stay
goin' on 5 years now.

And I don't believe
I could leave Maine now

if I wanted to.

Oh, no, ma'am.

There's nothing else
like it nowhere.

When the sugar maples
turn scarlet...

And the hickories
go all gold,

it's like--

it's like seeing
the colours of paradise

come back to you,

even if it don't last
but a week.

[Phone ringing]

You're welcome, ma'am.

It's been real nice
talking to you, too.

Have a nice day.

"Like seeing the colours
of paradise come back to you."

[Laughs] where you get
that shit from, Percy?

Girl, all you seen of Maine
is the inside of this prison.

Most people would rather
hear a good lie

over the truth
any day, Jolene.

Now that you gettin' out,
you best watch that lyin'.

[Phone rings]

Maine tourist office.
How can I help you today?

[Women arguing]

[Arguing continues]

Don't say I told you,
but I was there,

and that's
what she said, Sarah.

What's this?

[Distant dog barking]

[Barking continues]

[Man] Shelby!
Shelby!

Didn't I say this morning

my blue shirt needed
washin'?

I did all the white ones,

but there wasn't full enough
for a coloured load.

I'm showin' the quarry
tomorrow, Shel.

I told you,
I need the blue shirt.

[Barking continues]

Warden Minton
said he was gonna call.

Yeah, he called, all right,

about someone lookin' to start
fresh here or something.

Truth be told,
I didn't take him serious.

Nothing much starts
in Gilead these days.

But here you are.

Yes, sir.

Well, tell me
why you chose Gilead.

Is something wrong
with this place?

No, I wouldn't say that.

Well, if you give any account
to the Indian legends,

it was just around here--

well, the story goes...

That when the gods heard
how beautiful the land was,

they left heaven
to see it for themselves.

[Door bell jingles]

I mean, it does have more
Pegmatite rock formations...

Than just about any other
county in the country.

Is that right?

[Percy]
yes, sir.

I had a caller once

who wanted to know
all about stuff like that.

Hmm.

You lost your last
waitress this winter,

and with your hip
and all--

[scoffs]

Another body in here ain't
gonna cure my hip, Gar.

[Sheriff] well, Hannah, I mean,
it don't have to be permanent.

You've got
that empty room upstairs.

And you need the help.

And, Hannah...

You'd be doin' me
a big favour.

I don't owe you
no favours.

Bathroom's at the end
of the hall.

There's hot water enough,

but not if you dawdle
while you're washin'.

There's extra blankets
and sheets in the sideboard.

I give you
breakfast at 6:00.

Work starts
right at 6:30.

Anything else
you need to know

can wait till then.

Lamp's
on the right.

[Bird squawking]

[Slicing continues]

Wood's gotta come in
for the stove.

Leave the tendin'
of the fire to me for now.

Water's gotta be set to boil
for the cereal.

Greens gotta come up
from the root cellar.

And if there ain't a gallon of
coffee out there in 15 minutes,

I'll hear about it
for the rest of the day.

You got that,
have you?

Yeah.

And I don't allow no smoking
in the kitchen, either.

[Water running]

Get that hair out of your face,
workin' around food.

[Door opens, bell jingles]

[Water continues]

I ain't open yet, Effy.

I know what time
you open, Hannah.

Just come to see

if there was something
you needed from the store.

Well, I don't.

And her name is Percy.
You happy now?

[Water continues
running]

[Continues slicing]

Don't turn around,

but she's comin' right down
there at his table.

What can I bring for you?

Hannah knows what I'm havin'.

That one's been
popular today.

You gonna want coffee
with that?

[Effy softly]
She's gonna pour his coffee.

I saw her last night.

I was on the phone
with Sarah.

[Effy softly] Let me tell you
something about this girl--

[man #1] What's she
doin' here anyway?

[Man #2]
Don't know and don't care.

[Rings bell]

[Sighs]

When she came in
on the bus last night,

I saw her comin'--

say, Hannah,

did I forget to mention

that I've been
in prison down in Windham

for the last 5 years?

And I only got sent
to solitary 3 times.

Imagine that.

[Diners murmuring]

[Hannah] Percy.

Percy!

[Putting out cigarette]

[Bell jingling]

Evenin' to you, Hannah.

Brought you some supplies
back from bethel.

Got you a box of them
new scrubbin' pads.

New scrubbin' pads?

Yeah.

I ain't had no complaints
about the old ones.

Had another chat
with those fellas

about the quarry again
today.

They'll be comin' over
to look at it any time now.

Well, you let me know
when the rush starts.

Percy.

I'm Nahum Goddard.

Hannah there's my aunt.
You'd be--

Perchance Talbott.
Percy will do.

I've got that
real estate office

across the street there.

Where you come from,
Percy?

Ohio.

Ohio, huh?

I had some clients
from Ohio once.

They didn't
sound like you.

I wouldn't mind
comin' from some place else

if that doesn't suit you.

[Laughs]

Well...uh, I sort of
look after Hannah now,

so you're apt to be seeing
quite a bit of me.

[Bell jingles]

[Gasps in pain]

[Nahum] how much do you
really know about this girl?

Well...
you've met Henry Minton,

the warden up there
at Windham.

Minton.

Short and stout,
kind of balding?

He called...

And asked if I could
lend her a hand.

That's all it is.

Well, just the same,

I think you'd been
better off

to talk to me
about all this.

Hannah's a grown woman.
She's got a mind of her own.

She's gettin' on, Gar.

I can't say I'm warm
to the prospect

of some criminal
living there with her.

Who do you suppose is gonna
keep an eye on this girl?

Well, if she's workin'
at the spitfire...Who won't?

Hey, Nahum,
did you know that...

We've got more Pegmatite
formations around here

than any other county?

Pegmatite.

Mm-hmm.

No.

I just know we got about
a million ton of granite

down there in that hole.

Ain't gonna
dig itself out.

[Scrubbing]

Uh, what's that
you're readin'?

"And rosy-fingered dawn
came upon the sleeping sailors,

and they woke to resume
their long journey."

Uh, I don't think
I know that one.

[Laughs]

It's a pretty old story.

[Continues scrubbing]

Uh, my name is, uh--

Joe.

Yeah.

I was here when Hannah
set you to work, remember?

And I'm just guessin',

but I bet you already heard
mine more than once.

Percy.

Listen, I was thinkin'

I might take a ride
over to Millfield later on.

You're welcome
to come along if--

what they got in Millfield?

Nothing much really.

Just...it's some place
besides Gilead.

That's all.

I don't know.

I gotta finish a letter
to someone.

I could talk
to Hannah for you if--

it's not like
she owns me or something.

I know.
I know that.

I guess this place is startin'
to push in on me some.

All right.

* I grew up
under a falling sky *

* tryin' not to make waves *

* tryin' to fly *

* long summer days
wound up so tight *

** [continues]

** [rock blaring]

** [continues]

**

like I said,
it ain't Gilead.

** [continues]

**

hey, Joe.

Hey, Gordy.
How ya doin'?

[Joe opens door]

I think I want to stay here
for just a minute.

Oh...all right.

Th-that's fine.

You, uh--I could run in
and get something for us.

Okay.

Yeah?

I'll be right back.

**

[Gordy]
where did he find her?

Come on, Monica.

What's wrong
with tonight?

Cliff, you're drunk.
Get off me.

Do it for me tonight.

Come on.
Will you let--

just like old times.
Come on, honey.

Let go.
Cliff, get off of me!

Damn!

**

wait a minute.
Come back here.

What?

What are you doin'?

She just wants to be alone.
Go back inside, will ya?

Go. go on.

[Opens door]

[Sighs, closes door]

Here you are.

This kind be okay
for you?

I wouldn't know
the difference.

No, I guess--

you sound like you're
from the south somewhere.

Your accent, you know?

Well, things ain't always
like they sound.

I know.
Of course,

just about every place
else is south from here.

Flatlanders.
that's what we call 'em.

You still got family
down there anywhere?

Make a list of all
your damn questions,

and I'll answer 'em
when I got the time.

I'm, uh--
what's goin' on?

What are you--

manslaughter,
all right?

That's why I was in Windham,
for manslaughter.

Now you got something
you can tell all your friends.

You can take me back.

[Beer bottle shatters]

Can we go?

Sure.

[Starts engine]

[Shifts gears]

[Bell jingles]

[Crying]

No, I don't want you
to touch me.

Just--just go get help,
and don't touch me!

I said I don't want you
to come near me.

I heard you, Hannah.
I caught Joe.

He's bringin' the truck
around back now.

We gotta get you
to the hospital in Lewiston.

Just don't touch my leg!

It's the only place
in 100 miles

got a doctor
can fix that!

Stay away from me!

You want to fight me,
old woman, have at it!

But come hell or high water,
that's where you're gonna go!

All right.

[Panting]
thank you.

Shh.

[Hannah] it don't take
a parade, you know,

just to get me
into bed.

Easy now.

Shoo, both of you.

Yeah, we got it.
Thank you.

All this plaster
on my leg,

it sure ain't
goin' anywhere.

Now, you care to tell us
what happened here?

Well, she didn't
push me down the stairs,

if that's what you're thinkin'.

I was climbin' up on a chair,
and my hip spasmed on me.

Hmm.

Well, just the same,
I think it'd be best...

For Percy to go now.

Go where?

I guess I should
probably get going.

I'm heatin' some coffee.

Uh, no, no.
That's all right.

My father will get to worryin'
if I don't show up pretty soon.

Thanks for helpin' me get
Hannah into the hospital.

No. you're the one who
should be gettin' the thanks.

You done all right
for her, Percy.

A-and...

Look, I won't tell anyone
why you were at Windham...

If that's what you want.

Time will tell.

Yes, it will.

Coffee's hot.

We don't know the first thing
about this girl, do we?

So we just ship her back

to Henry Minton
at the prison?

That'll be a fine "thank you"
for gettin' me to Lewiston.

I'm gonna need someone around
here until I'm back on my feet.

Shelby can look after
the grill and--

Shelby?

Yeah.

You're the one that's always
carpin' on how numb she is,

so Shelby will just
cure everything, I'm sure.

[Sighs]
ever since Eli--

I'm responsible
for you now, Hannah.

Well, that's queer.

'Cause I don't recall
askin' you or anyone else

to take over my life for me.

So until
I forget my name

or start droolin'
at the mouth,

I'll thank you to allow me
to make my own decisions.

I'm not gonna be
in this bed forever, you know.

Until then...
Percy can manage things.

[Grill sizzling]

Sorry.

Hannah,
I was gonna head up.

Anything I can
get you before I go?

No, I'm fine.

But glacier and I both are
havin' trouble imaginin'...

Just who exactly it was
taught you how to cook.

Well, I never really
had much more

than fast food
growin' up,

and if any of that
was really cooked,

you could have
fooled me.

I know I'm makin'
a mess of it.

Well...if it weren't
for the food,

they'd still find something
else to complain about.

[Sighs]
good night then.

Percy?
Percy?

There might still be
one thing that needs doin'.

You'll find a canvas sack
in the office.

It needs to have these
canned goods put in it

and then...Placed outside
near that stump.

Then you can go on to bed
and get your rest.

Think you can just do that?

I'll see to it.

Not to worry.

Percy?

Make sure that the axe
goes in the stump...

Before someone steps on it
and gets hurt, eh?

Sure.

[Grill sizzling]

'Mornin'.

'Mornin'.

Uh...

This is Molly.

I'm afraid Nahum didn't exactly
think of all the details...

When he asked me
in here.

Uh, I brought
a playpen for her,

and she shouldn't
be any bother.

Is that okay
with you?

Hell, this gotta be a lot
more your place than mine.

Sit her wherever you like.

Thanks...

Percy.

I'll just be a second.
There we go.

There we go.
Put this down.

[Shelby sighs]
Okay.

Bacon.

Mmm.
damn, this is good.

That's nothin' special.

It's a far sight better than
the way Hannah makes it.

You just don't know
any better.

Anything's gotta taste good
after eatin' food--

[sniffs]

I'm...sorry.

I shouldn't have
said anything.

I didn't exactly
make a secret

of where I been, did I?

Not exactly.

You know, you saved my bacon
in here today, Shelby.

After things got sorted out,
it went pretty good,

didn't it?
Yeah.

You can say that twice
and mean it.

[Laughs]

I better get goin'.

Nahum will be waitin'.

[Molly fusses]

That's a good girl.

Good night.

Good night.

[Bell jingles]

[Owl hooting]

[Hooting continues]

[Percy whispering]
Wait! Wait!

[Panting]

I don't mean you no harm.

I just thought maybe you want
something different in the bag

for a change.
That's all.

I know what's it like eatin'
the same thing every day...

Till you can't hardly stand
the sight of it no more.

Would you like that maybe?

Something different
in the bag next time?

Okay then, it's a deal.

We'll try something new.

Maybe next time,
we won't be so rushed.

We'll have a chance to chat.

That would be okay,
wouldn't it?

Well, it's late,
so I'll be gettin' back.

[Rustling]

[Dishes clattering,
women talking]

Hi, mom.

[Shelby]
hi, sweetheart.

You're right on time.

Take a look over that.
I'll be with you in a minute.

Yeah.

[Shelby]
what you got for me today?

Hi.

No lack of odd ducks
around here, is there?

You can say that twice
and mean it. [Laughs]

Put your napkin
in your lap.

Shelby, the "for sale"
sign in the window,

is Hannah really
sellin' this place?

Did I say
something wrong?

Meet me on the back porch.

We're gonna need some more
potatoes for supper.

Sorry. I shouldn't
be so nosy.

Oh, no.

It's not that.
It's just--

[sighs] I don't know if
it's right for me to say.

But I can't see
how it's wrong, either.

You see...

[Sighs]
Hannah had a son.

Eli.

Right from the first

it was pretty clear
he was something special.

Tall, strong, sweet.
[Giggles]

All-state champ
4 years runnin'.

Somehow it just seemed
like Eli

brought out the best
in this town,

like, as long
as he was here,

somehow everything would
turn out all right.

And then the war
in Vietnam came.

Did he get drafted?

Oh, no, no.

He enlisted.

His dad, James, had been
a big hero in world war ii.

I guess that's why they named
this place the spitfire.

So when it came Eli's turn
to serve, he was rarin' to go.

I can still remember

walkin' up the hill
to the bus stop...

With the whole town
to see him off.

That was the last time
we ever saw Eli.

Hannah never told me
what the official story was,

but after a few years,
it was pretty clear...

He wasn't comin' back.

His dad James
took it real hard.

I guess his heart
just gave out from it.

A couple years
after James died,

Hannah put the grill
up for sale...

And asked Nahum to see
if he couldn't find a buyer.

That was almost
10 years ago.

You know, if Hannah still really
wants to sell this place,

she might could try running
one of them essay contests.

Contests?

When I was working
at the tourist office,

there was this big fuss
about some folks down

in center Lovell who had
an inn they couldn't sell.

So they ran an essay contest
to raffle it off.

Come out with a fair piece

more than they ever could have
sold that place for.

Sounds crazy, huh?

[Hannah]
Percy.

Percy!

[Ringing]

What's wrong?

We must be runnin'
well short

of supplies by now.

Supplies?

Damn, from the sound of it,

I thought your hair was
on fire or something!

Well, it ain't.

Now, I want you to drive

down to the discount
mart in bethel.

I got a list all
made out for you here.

You can drive,
can't you?

Well, I've driven some.

But you want me to go?

Well, it's warmin' up
a little.

I thought maybe you
could use the fresh air.

Besides, the way
your cooking's improved,

I think it's high time

we give Shelby a turn
in the kitchen, don't you?

I'm sure
she'd welcome the chance.

Here's the list.

There's $300 here
in the drawer...

And the key
to the truck.

You won't have any trouble

findin' your way back,
will you?

No, ma'am.

All right.

What do you think,
glacier?

Hey, mister,
you all right over there?

Hey, what y'all doin'?

[Man]
nothin'.

Y'all from Ohio?

'Cause I'm from Ohio.
I'm from Akron.

[Door shuts,
engine starts]

[Sighs]

Is it startin' to ache
bad again now, Hannah?

No, not as much
as tryin' to figure out

what part of me
is gonna give out next.

Oh, Hannah, don't.

Spare me your milksop,
Shelby.

It's not a question
of "if" anymore.

It's just a question
of "when."

It's high time Nahum
got on the stick

and found me a buyer
for this place.

You can tell him
I said so, too.

Oh, I'll tell him, Hannah.

But with the real estate market
being like it is--

I don't know.
You might--

might what?

You might want to try

one of those essay contest
things to raffle it off.

Some folks in center Lovell

came out real well from doing it
with an inn they had.

Essay contest? What kind
of nonsense is that?

Nothin'.

I was just talkin'.

So...how would
one of them

essay contest things
work anyway?

You mean like the one
in center Lovell?

Well, I don't know.

You're the one that
brought it up.

Well,
the way I heard it,

first, they set a deadline
3 or 4 months from the start.

Then they asked people
to send $100 or so

with an essay sayin'
why they wanted their inn.

They promised if they got
at least 2,500 essays

by the time the deadline
rolled around,

then they'd pick the essay
they liked best

and give the inn
to whoever wrote it.

And they got that many?

Even more, I think.

That would be more
than $250,000, wouldn't it?

This is all legal?

It must be
if they did it already.

[Pot lid rattling]

Shelby, see to that pot.
It's about to boil over.

Percy...why don't you
go on up to bed?

Shelby and I
will finish up here.

Good night then.

[Hannah]
good night.

Did I do something wrong?

What do you really think
of this contest idea?

I don't know.
Maybe you better ask Nahum.

When I want Nahum's opinion,
I'll ask him.

Right now I'm askin' you.

You still got a mind,
don't ya?

Yes, Hannah, I do.

Well, then?

Well, then,
I can't see that...

You stand to lose
anything by tryin'.

[Sighs]

That's what
I've been thinkin', too.

Of course, I can't imagine

that there's 50 people
would want this place,

let alone 1,000 or more.

But I suppose
anything's possible.

Do you think you could...

See to all the details
of it for me?

I don't know.

Yes or no, Shelby?

Yes.

All right.

Then it's settled.

But you make sure
they know it's for cash only!

I don't want to be foolin'
with out-of-state checks.

All right.

All right.

"Small diner that seats
about 40, with house attached."

How does that sound?
Awful, huh?

It's okay, I guess.

But if I was gonna
gamble $100,

I'd want it to be
for some place,

you know, special.

It's not just the spitfire
they'd be gettin'.

They'd be gettin' Gilead,
too.

Well, there's nothing
very special about Gilead

that I can see.

Maybe not.

You could say there's
enough country around it

to lose yourself in...

And not so many people
you'd ever feel lost.

Oh, I don't know.

No, no, I like that.
Keep going. What else?

You could say...

It's a place
with roots so deep

nobody could tear 'em out
from under you.

And customers so loyal

they'll keep comin' back
even if your cookin' stinks.

[Laughing]

Loyal customers.

You know what else?

Nahum told me we got more
pegmatite rock formations...

Than any other county
in the country.

Did he now?

But we can't put that.

Oh, I know.

Why don't we write something
about the Indian river?

They've got all kinds
of history there.

Yeah.

Maine tourist office.
Can I help you?

Jolene?

Hey, it's Percy.

[Jolene]
Percy?

I got Percy!
How you doin', girl?

I'm all right.

Listen, Jolene, you remember
that essay contest thing

we had all them calls about
a while back?

Yeah.

The woman who owns the diner
I wrote you about,

she wants to try one.

I was hopin' you
and the other girls

could help me out...

By callin' some of the papers,
help me get the word out.

Hey, you just tell me
how you want it to read,

and I'll make it my business

that by this time
next month,

whole damn country's
heard about it.

How's that?

[Laughs]
bless you, Jolene.

Okay, you got a pen?
I want you to write this down.

We want all the entries
to go to Hannah Ferguson,

care of the spitfire grill.

That's in Gilead, Maine--

[footsteps approaching]

[Joe] hey.
Hi.

Hi.

Hannah said you was
out for a walk.

[Sniffs] yeah.

Tryin' to get
a little peace...

Before the dishes get
to rattlin' in my head.

Oh, yeah.

You like the woods,
do you?

My mama said my people
come from the mountains.

Closest I ever been was
a city park in Akron.

You are from Ohio.

Yeah, when the coal mines
in Kentucky gave out,

my people went north
lookin' for work.

Didn't do much good.

We still just poor white trash
up there too.

Had us our very own slum
and everything.

I may talk country,

but the only hills I ever seen
have been in magazines.

You ought to take a ride
out to my land sometime.

We got trees out there
as far as the eye can see.

Yeah?

Oh, yeah.
Yeah.

[Shelby]
Percy!

What?

Come quick.
Something's happened.

Where are you
pullin' me?

I got something to show ya,

and I wanted some place
extra private.

What? in here?

Don't worry.
Nobody comes here anymore.

Since the quarry closed,
we got no money for a minister.

If you want to go to church,

you gotta drive
at least to bethel.

I'm the only one
that comes now.

Why?

Oh, for some place when...

I need to be
by myself where...

It's quiet.

I never told anyone
about this before,

but I won't mind

if you want
to come here...

Sometimes
by yourself, too.

So what's this
good news you got?

Look.

"Restaurant raffle.

Want the spitfire grill?
Cash only."

New York. Chicago.
San Francisco.

We got an article
in each one of 'em.

Queen Jolene!

Oh, you gotta bake her up
something real nice

we can send her.

[Laughs]
you betcha!

[Ringing]

Gilead Realty.

County clerk's office?

Oh, yes, yes, I did call.

Uh, yeah.
Perchance Talbott.

Yes.

Ah. and what was
the conviction for?

I see.

I see.
Thank you.

[Engine starts]

[Joe] hi.
Come on in.

[Percy]
hi.

Did you find us
all right?

Yeah.

Good.

[Game show playing on TV]

Uh, dad, this is, uh,
my friend, Percy Talbott.

Percy, this is
my father, Aaron.

[TV continues]

Um, I'm just gonna
go grab my jacket.

[TV continues]

What you watchin'?

[Contestant #1]
Moby dick?

You are correct!

[Audience clapping,
TV host talking]

I work down at the spitfire.

You should have Joe
bring you by sometime.

It's fun.

[Contestant #2]
Benjamin Franklin?

Yes!

[Door opens]

[Bells ringing,
audience clapping]

You all set?

Sure.

[Contestant #2]
I can't believe it!

Bye.

Look at 'em all.

If that ain't beautiful,
I don't know what is.

Yeah.

But it's a shame
that's all they are.

About 80 years ago,

before anyone knew
any better,

they clear-cut through here,
took down everything.

This is the stuff
you get back.

It's no good for lumber.

It's not even good enough
to pulp for paper.

This is all just worthless.

I don't know nothin'
about trees, but,

if they was mine,

you couldn't drag me away
with a runaway train,

no matter how worthless
people said it was.

[Sighs]

You just roll it out
gentle.

That's right.

You can put some more
flour on the pin

if you need to.

[Sighs] cut the butter
in just to pea size.

Let the milk sit
before you start.

Take the eggs out first--

you know I'm never gonna be
able to do this on my own,

don't you?

Oh, you will too.
[Chuckles]

The way to
a man's heart

is still
through his stomach,

or at least somewhere
in that vicinity.

Who said I wanted a man?

Oh, I guess
it wasn't you

that went over to
Joe Sperling's farm.

Well, ain't you the busybody?
You been taking gossip lessons

from Effy?
[Laughs]

I don't need Effy to see

that Joe's got more than
just a little thing...

For you, miss Talbott.

Yeah, right.

That boy's just plain lonely,
that's all.

You tried talking
to his father lately?

Haven't had so many laughs
since they locked me up.

[Laughing]

Serious.

Whatever you say.

But it doesn't take
an Einstein

to picture
you and Joe...

Juggling a truckload
of kids someday.

What? did I say
something wrong?

[Softly]
no. no.

[Sighs]

What is it, Percy?

[Sighing]

When I was readin' up
on this state,

I come across this story,
you know.

There was this Indian squaw,

and she was rowin' a canoe
with her baby in it.

A couple sailors
who were liquored-up

caught sight of 'em
on the river.

[Sighs, lights match]

They'd heard this story that,

uh, Indian babies knew
how to swim from birth,

so they decided
to test their theory out.

They capsized the canoe.

And the baby went straight
to the bottom.

The story didn't say
what happened to the mother.

But I figure it's probably
best if she just...

Drowned, too.

Don't you think?

[Sighs] I forgot, Hannah doesn't
want me smokin' in the kitchen.

Percy.

[Door opens, closes]

[Sighs]

I guess you got
that food all right.

Shelby sure can work magic
with flour and butter,

can't she?

[Leaves rustling]

My name's Percy Talbott.

Well, Percy, at least.
Talbott ain't my real name;

belonged to my stepdaddy.

Don't know who
my real daddy was,

so I don't know
what my name should be.

Maybe it weren't ever meant
for me to have one.

What about you?
You got a name?

Maybe you don't have
a real name, either.

Still, it would be nice
to call you somethin'.

Hey, the Indians had a story
about a magic giant,

lived in the woods.

Called him Gluskap,
'cause he looked out for 'em.

Would that be
a good name for you?

I can't imagine anyone
wantin' to be called Gluskap.

How about Johnny B.?
How'd that be for a name?

Johnny B. Never knew
what hit him.

Wouldn't surprise me none

if something like that
happened to you, too.

So, unless you tell me
something different,

that's what I'm gonna
call you:

Johnny B.

Johnny B.!

Johnny B.,
you there?

[Sighs]
oh, Johnny B.

[Crying]

[Bell jingling]

Effy.

A letter come
for you this mornin'.

Yeah?

"Hannah Ferguson,
care of the spitfire grill."

Who do you know
from Chicago?

I'm sure
I have no idea.

[Gasps] $100.

[Shelby, Percy
laugh quietly]

"Dear Mrs. Ferguson,

"I saw the article
about your contest last night

"when I couldn't sleep.

"I was sick of watching TV,
so I picked up the paper.

"The reason I can't sleep

"is because my family
is falling apart.

"My wife walked out
last year...

"And left me with
our 2 high school boys.

"I don't think her leaving us
was all my fault,

"but they blame me
for it anyway.

"The way they're acting now,

"I'm afraid if I don't
do something soon,

"they may leave me, too.

"Maybe if I could
take us all off

"to some place
like yours in Gilead,

that won't happen."

[Groans]

[Sighs]

If they're all gonna
sound like that,

then
to hell with it.

It's just
the first one.

Might work better
if you let me do it.

I suppose it might.

[Sighs] here.

Just don't press too hard.

[Groans, sighs]

Still pretty tender
in there, huh?

Sore enough, seeing as how
the doctor keeps tellin' me

how well I'm healin'.

Do you suppose
if a wound goes real deep,

the healin' of it
can hurt almost as bad

as what caused it?

Might be.

[Bell jingling]

Detroit. New York.

Kansas City.
Boston. Memphis.

Now, as postmistress,
I've got a legal right to know

if the mail service is being
used for any irregular purpose.

So are you gonna tell me
what goes on here, Hannah,

or do I have
to open these myself?

Well, not that it's
any of your business, Effy,

but I'm runnin' a contest
to give away the grill.

A contest?

What kind
of contest is that?

Some kind
of essay thing.

You know Hannah.

You don't know what
she could be up to.

Something about
an essay or something.

$100 and a letter.

Why would you even want to
try such a thing, Hannah?

'Cause no one else
was buyin'.

Where would my aunt Hannah
get an idea like that?

From me.

Is that right?

[Chuckles]

I just hope
this finally makes...

An old sour apple
like you happy,

Hannah Ferguson!

Holy Moses.

[Bell jingles]

Holy mackerel.

Holy shit.

[Laughing]

"And I believe in time...

"I can expand
the spitfire...

Into a national chain
of restaurants."

[Percy]
wait. listen to this one.

"The reason I need
to have your diner...

"Is because that's
where the aliens told me

"to wait for them
until their ship comes

to take me to--"
[Garbling]

I can't even
read that word,

but I'm guessin'
it's another planet.

We're gonna send
that one back tomorrow.

You read one,
Hannah.

All right.
Let's see.

"Dear Hannah,

"I've worked as a cook
all my life,

"but hard as my husband
and I have worked,

"we've never had more than
2 nickels to rub together.

"We talked about having our
own little place someday,

but that don't put
bread on the table."

Well, that's for sure.

"But now my husband's...
Pretty sick.

"The doctors say

"there's not much more
that they can do for him.

"I'm sure there's a lot of
deserving people out there.

"But it would be a true
blessing if my husband...

"Could spend what's
left of his days...

"In a place like Gilead,

"and I could have
something to sustain me

when he's gone."

Hmm.

Maybe you should
hold onto that one.

Yeah.

But I don't know

that we should pick
someone out of pity.

Well, what sort of person
would you want in here, Hannah?

I don't know.

But I've always thought

it should be
someone younger.

Someone more your age
than mine.

Yeah? 'cause I always figured
it would be somebody like you.

[Scoffs, laughs]

[Shelby]
me, too.

[Laughing]

Well... whoever gets it...

Is gonna have their work
cut out for 'em...

Tryin' to run this place
without you two.

Hannah, have you been thinkin'

what you're gonna do
with all this money now?

Hmm.

I've been thinkin'
about that

since the day I first put
the grill up for sale.

Almost gave up hope...

But now--

where's that jug?

That Applejack ain't doin'
us any good in the bottle.

Oh, well, maybe just
half a glass...More.

[All giggling]

"If I were only
one inch tall,

"I'd sleep in a slipper
in the hall...

And dream all night
of being tall."

I'm back.

That's beautiful.

And it's bedtime
for you, sweets.

You go on upstairs.

I'll be up in a minute.

Okay.

[Sighs]

Hmm.

[Giggles]

Hmm, looks like that contest
turned out all right.

You must be real proud.

Oh, I'm just glad
for Hannah, that's all.

Hmm, but it was your idea.

You're the one
deserves all the credit.

We all worked
on it together.

"We" means Percy,
don't it?

She did her share.

If anyone deserves
thankin', it's her.

Like for mentioning what
happened in center Lovell...

While you were rubbing elbows
in the kitchen?

[Laughs]
well, what if she did?

What would be so terrible
about that?

Nothing.

Except I knew this could
never have come from you.

Why not? Why couldn't it
have come from me, Nahum?

'Cause you're just plain
not smart enough, Shelby.

That's why.

[Sighs]

If you want a clean shirt
for yourself for tomorrow,

you can wash it yourself.

[Man]
$100 for this place?

[Chuckling]
not from me.

[Woman] I wouldn't
take it for free.

Meeshack, you havin'
the special today?

I win somethin'
if I do?

Yeah, but you gotta
talk real pretty,

and it'll cost ya.

All right, that's it.

You're all so worked up
about this damn contest.

Be my guest.
Jump right in.

I got more readin' here

than I can get through
in a month of Sundays.

Here, you take those.

Effy,
I know you're always

readin' everyone's mail
anyway. There.

Meeshack,
you get back to me

with the best
of this bunch.

And then maybe,
just maybe,

I might put up with
your smart-ass remarks.

[Owl hooting]

[Hooting continues]

I guess it answers one thing.

[Gary] what's that?

What that Percy Talbott
really came here for.

[Typing] Nahum,
ain't that dog died yet?

Shelby told me
this whole thing was her idea.

What's to say it's not
some scam she cooked up

with all her prison friends?

If it'll make you
feel any better,

I ran her records.

There's no history
of fraud or robbery.

No, she went to prison
for manslaughter,

didn't she, Gar?

Nahum, she paid her debt.
It's all said and done.

There's gotta be
well over $200,000

in Hannah's safe by now.

I'd like to think I'm not
the only one around here

to take that seriously.

[Man pounding gavel] Let's
bring this meeting to order.

[Man #2]
I say it's Hannah's place

to do with as she pleases.

Yeah.

It'll ruin
this place.

Ruin it?
From what?

We got strangers
crawlin' all over us now,

and more coming every day.

[Crowd continues
chattering]

Hey.

Their bark's a lot worse
than their bite, you know.

It's not like I came here
lookin' to start trouble.

No, I know, but--

they're just not used
to change. That's all.

It scares 'em.

They'll just
shout it all out,

and that'll be that.

You know, it's not
like there's a law

you gotta stand around
here and listen to it.

Is there?

[Chattering continues]

[Sighs]
no.

Well...you want
to get out of here?

Sure.

Yeah.

[Percy] so what do you
want to show me?

[Joe] just these.

The worthless trees?

Maybe not anymore.

I come upon this fella
out here the other day.

Turns out he's some sort
of a research scientist.

He said he'd been looking
all over the north

for this special
medical compound...

That can only be found
in the bark of trees,

if you can believe it.

Now, he was figurin'
that it had to be only

in first-growth trees,
but he couldn't find it.

Then he come up here
and saw these.

Turns out, this compound
he's after

only happens in stump
growth like this,

when the tree tries
to regenerate itself.

He said
he could kick himself

for being so stupid.

Hold on.
This scientist fella,

what's he look like?

Uh, had a beard,
sort of scrappy lookin'.

Drivin' a tan
compact car?

Uh-huh,
yeah, that's him.

I seen that guy,
sniffin' on trees

and chewin' on their bark.

I thought he'd gone
clear off his rocker.

Well, if he has,
I'm goin' with him.

He works for this
drug company, right?

He's talking about setting up
a project out here

to harvest all the bark

and, uh,
to stimulate more stump.

Yeah?
yeah.

You know, it's all still
in the talking phase,

of course,

but, if the numbers
they're talking about

even add up by half,

uh-huh...

This could keep
Gilead on the map.

Well, I'd call that real
good news for y'all.

Real good news.
Yeah.

Yeah, and, uh,
I think, maybe,

it could be good
news for us, too.

"Us"?

Yeah. don't ask me
to explain this,

but, that first night,
when you come into town,

mm-hmm.

I had this feelin'

that something really
good was gonna happen.

And I'll be damned...

If it isn't sittin'
next to me right now.

I don't know what
kind of crazy talk--

no, no, listen.

Listen. these trees here
and this land...

Well, you're a big part
of that now.

What do you mean?

I don't know.

How about you and me
gettin' married?

[Softly]
what?

You don't want
to be marryin' me, Joe.

I don't care what people
think or what they say--

it's not that.

Well, what then?

You gonna want kids?

Well, hell, yes.

Hell, yes,
as many as you want.

I can't have kids
no more, Joe.

I'm--

we don't--
we don't need to have--

please.

Joe, there's a woman that's
meant to be your wife.

I know it.

It's just not me.

Johnny B.!

You there?

[Gasps] this is where
you live, ain't it?

Can I go in?

You know,
you should've told me.

I'd have made you
somethin' special.

I can bake a cake now.

Look at all
your birds.

[Leaves rustling]

You there?

[Humming]

[Continues humming]

* there is a balm in Gilead *

* to make the wounded whole *

* there is a balm in Gilead *

* to heal the weary soul *

* there is a balm in Gilead *

* to make
the wounded whole *

* there is a balm
in Gilead *

* to heal the weary soul *

* there is a balm
in Gilead *

* to make
the wounded whole *

* there is a balm *

* in Gile...Ad *

* to heal the weary soul *

* there is a balm
in Gilead *

* to make
the wounded whole **

[door closes]

Sorry I'm late.

I went out
and lost track of time.

Where you been?

Went for a walk.

What for?

Nothin'.

You don't go sneakin' off
at the crack of dawn

for nothin'.

Now, what were you
out there for?

Tell me.

I went for a walk
with Joe, all right?

You liar!

I just sent Joe off
not 10 minutes ago!

You were out chasin' him,
weren't you?

No, it's not like that.

Shut up!
You just shut up!

I should've known better

than to trust a piece
of lyin' trash like you!

I ain't done nothin' bad.

You scared away the only
hope I had, damn you!

If you choose to live
with that hope,

that's your fault,
not mine--

"choose"?
[slaps Percy]

I lost my son!
You think I chose that?

You've got no idea
what that's like.

[Crying]
how the hell would you know?

You didn't kill your boy,
did ya?

You didn't let
your baby die!

You don't know nothin'!

[Door opens, closes]

I think it's time you stopped
workin' at the grill.

But I like
workin' there.

And, anyway, this is
really about Percy,

isn't it?

You've had it out
for that girl

ever since she
got here, Nahum.

Because she has
no business here.

Never did.

She may have pulled
the wool over your eyes

and Hannah's both,

but that doesn't mean
that the rest of us

can't see what's going on.

Or maybe you still believe

that she helped
fill that safe

out of the goodness
of her heart.

God's sake. For your
information, Nahum,

Percy is taking Hannah
into Lewiston

first thing
tomorrow morning

to put the money
in the bank.

[Exhales]
oh, good god.

What?

Good god.

Is it gonna take finding
Hannah dead in a ditch...

For you
to see the truth?

Shelby, don't you know that girl
went to prison for murder?

Her coming here has been
a godsend for Hannah

and for me.

That's the real reason
you can't stand her.

You best watch your words.

No, I won't watch
my words!

Why should I
watch my words?

You have got that same
chip on your shoulder now

that you did
when Eli was alive.

The whole town
looked up to him.

Now that anybody sees some
of that same thing in Percy,

you hate her for it

just the same way
that you hated him.

But she is doing
something, Nahum,

that you could
never do.

And you are just plain
jealous of that girl!

[Softly] god.

[Door slams]

[Shouts]
Gary?

[Distant dog barking]

[Sniffling]

[Bag dragging
across floor]

[Continues setting cans
on table]

[Softly]
okay.

Morning.

What's wrong?

It's gone.
[Sniffling]

Went to get it out
of the safe this morning.

It's all gone.

Where's Percy?

[Sniffling]
no, I checked her room

and all around the house.

She's gone, too.

No, I don't believe it.

Something must
have happened.

What could
have happened?

Don't matter now what happened,
just what's left to be done.

What do you mean?

What are you
going to do?

Where are you going?

[Bell jingles,
door slams]

Don't you want some--

[door opens]

You here
or there now?

I just came back
to get the car.

What goes on,
Shelby?

[Door slams,
footsteps approaching]

Sorry to barge in
so early, but, uh,

Hannah tells me the safe's
been cleaned out,

and there's no sign
of Percy.

What's going on?

Nothing that concerns you.
Go on back to your store.

I'll go back
when it suits me.

I don't care what it
looks like, Gary.

Percy didn't take
that money.

This is past you now, Shelby.
Just stay out of it.

No, not this time!

So help me, Nahum,

if you condemn that girl
without proof,

I'll quit you for good.

I swear.

Well, when I was out walking
last night, I saw Percy

bring a sack out
on the back porch

and then sit there like
she was waiting for someone.

When I looked again this
morning, the sack was gone,

and there were fresh tracks
leadin' into the woods.

Well, you better go back
to the office with me.

Sounds like we need
to organize a search.

Effy, will you watch
Molly for a minute?

I'm gonna go find Percy.

Shelby! Shelby!

[Door slams]

Here's the situation.

I've got Fred and Willy
comin' down with their dogs,

and I got Tom coming over
from Cumberland.

If you could send me
a couple troopers,

that would be a great help.

Yeah. great. Thank you.

[Shelby]
Percy.

I thought in some place small
like this,

there might just be
a chance, you know?

But after what I done,
it don't matter where I go.

What have you done,
Percy?

Well, I killed somebody.

Mason Talbott.

Seemed like he was set
on having me

not a week after
he married my mama.

I was 9.

I guess she was just
too afraid of losin' him.

She'd just slap me
and tell me shut up about it.

I was 16
when I got pregnant.

And I hated
what he done to me,

but I found myself lovin'
that life inside me.

Feelin' it grow,
move even.

I got to callin' it
Johnny B.

For that song, you know?

Johnny B. Goode.

I figured that'd work
for a boy or a girl.

And I swore to god
that when that baby came,

I was gonna protect it...

From the likes of Mason,
no matter what.

I figured since I was pregnant,
he'd finally leave me alone.

The more I stayed away
from him, the madder he got.

One night, he was drunk.

He come after me again.

I tried to fight him.

And he took to me
with his fists so bad.

The baby just--

I was in the hospital
for better than 2 weeks,

and all I could think about

was how I hadn't kept
my promise.

I knew there was no way god
would ever forgive me for that.

Mason must have been
afraid of the police

or something...

'Cause he come and took me
from the hospital

before it was time.

And I don't know
where we was goin', but...

It seemed like I was in the back
of that car for days.

We were in some motel somewhere.
He had a bottle.

He was into it real good.

And he started talkin',

started sayin' how it was right
that my baby died,

that it weren't never
meant to be...

And all he needed
was another mouth to feed.

And I don't think
I said nothin'.

But I recall seein'
the straight razor he had

sittin' on that chest
of drawers in there.

And it was still too late.

[Crying]

Turns out,
that motel was in Maine.

Hey, frank. Guess you heard
we got a little trouble here.

Sure did.

[Nahum]
Shelby's car.

One second,
I'll be right back.

[Frank] okay.

Oh, Percy.

I knew you didn't
take that money.

What money?

Hannah's money?

[Door opens]

I am not gonna let you
arrest her, Gar.

Shelby, calm down.

Nobody's getting
arrested.

I just want to talk
to Percy alone.

[Shelby] but, Gary--

the sooner you let it go,

the sooner I can find out
what's really going on.

Percy, would you come
with me, please?

Percy,
just go with them

and answer
their questions,

and everything
will be all right.

I promise.

She hasn't run off
with anything!

She was over there
in that church

damning herself...

For a past that would've
killed you or me.

Hannah, you can't turn your back
on that girl for no reason.

What happened here?

We had a fight.

I slapped her.

Why? what in god's name
could she have done

to bring on that?

Stop it!
Just stop it!

You've got
no right!

No, you stop it!

You've got no right!

I've said all
I'm gonna say about it!

The money is gone!

It's out of my hands!

When--

when Percy told
what happened to her,

there was a child?

Yes.

[Siren blaring]

Mr. Boggs. Meeshack.

Look, I got some crazy
message from Shelby.

What is going on?

That Talbott girl
took Hannah's money,

give it to some partner
in the woods.

We're splittin' up now
to go out after him.

[Bell jingles]
Shelby? Shelby...

What is happenin'?
What is this about Percy

havin' some partner
in the woods?

I don't know.

Nahum said something
about her leavin' a sack

on the back porch
for someone last night.

Wait! that can't be who
they're all runnin' after!

From what I hear,
yeah, it is.

Oh, no! No!

[Dogs barking,
[Tires squealing]

[Sirens blaring]

Where's Percy?

Have they taken her
somewhere?

I don't know.

She was just up
at Gary's before,

but I don't know
where she is now.

[Whimpers]

[Sirens continue]

[Hannah]
where's Percy?

I need your help.

I can't help you,
woman!

Just leave me alone!

[Sirens continue]

But--

[crying]

It's happenin' again.

I'm tryin' to save him,
and I can't.

[Dogs barking]

[Men chattering,
dogs barking]

Come on, fellas.

Come with me.
We'll go to the right.

I tried everything
I could to find him.

But short of takin'
the food I put out for him,

he'd never let me near him.

See, I thought
if I sold the grill,

that I could use that money
to get help.

But you--
you've seen him,

haven't ya?

Is that who they think
I gave the money to?

Yes.

They're goin' after him?

Yes! and I'm so afraid
of what's gonna happen!

I know I could find him,
Hannah. I know I could,

but they ain't gonna
let me go now.

Yes, they will.

Are you on the river road?

She's got to get
out of here right now.

Unless you're gonna shoot me,
that's what's happenin'.

Now hold on, Hannah!

[Dogs howling]

[Men talking,
dogs barking]

[Dogs barking]

[Percy]
Johnny B.!

Johnny B.!

Johnny B.!

[Percy]
run!

They're comin' after you!
Run!

[Gasping]

Yeah!
it looks like the money!

[Sputtering]

Hey!
you stop now!

[Gasping]

No! Johnny B.!

Eli.

[Organ plays]

[Clears throat]

If anyone's got anything
to say about Percy,

now would be
the time to do it.

I, uh--

I never knew Percy Talbott.

Um, I only thought I did.

I, uh, thought
she was a stranger...

Who could bring
no good to my aunt,

to my family...

Or to this town.

And I thought
I knew her so well...

That I took that money
out of the safe...

To keep her
from stealin' it.

I thought I knew
her so well,

and more than anyone...

I am responsible
for her death.

I thought I knew
Percy Talbott,

but I was wrong,
as wrong can be.

I never knew
Percy Talbott.

[Sighs]

[Sighs, sniffling]

You know,
today was the...

Official end
of the contest.

You still gonna
go through with it?

Seems only right to let
the spitfire go now.

Are you leaving
Gilead?

I don't know about that.

[Sniffling]

With this new tree business
coming to town,

maybe I'll open
a hardware store

right across the street,

just to rankle Effy.

Are you sure you don't want me
to stay with you, Hannah?

Just for a little while.

I'll be all right.

I'll see you
tomorrow.

You go on home
to your girls.

[Door opens,
bell jingles]

[Door closes]

Glacier?

Glacier?

Glacier?

We're closed.

Eli.

[Sobs]

[Sobs, sighs]

[All chattering]

[Joe chuckles]

Let's go see your mom
for a second.

Fine. these beans
are good. All right.

[Hannah]
is anybody hungry?

How are ya?

Fine.

[Woman's voice]
"Dear Mrs. Ferguson,

"I never wrote no essay before,
so I don't know if this counts.

"I put what I could
in the envelope,
but it's nowhere near $100.

"I guess I'll just be
sending you the rest as I can.

"Did I say my name
was Clare yet?

"Truth be told, I didn't
really take it to mind

"when Mrs. Traynor--
she's my night school teacher--

"first told me
about your contest.

"It's really more
for Charlie than me anyway.

"Charlie's asleep now.

"That's about the only time
I can sit quiet

"long enough to do
much of anything.

"'Cause the way that boy
goes when he's awake,

you'd think he came
with an extra motor.

He's a real spitfire
all his own, my Charlie is."

Welcome to Gilead.

Thank you so much.
So good to be here.

Everybody, this is Clare,
the winner of the essay contest.

Well, do you want to
see your new grill?

Yeah.

Shelby, look.
It's Clare.

Hi, Clare.

[Clare's voice]
"I don't pretend

"I'm ever gonna amount
to much myself.

"But even before
I held him in my arms,

"I swore,
no matter what it took,

"I was gonna do right
by this child.

"I just gotta find
some place

"to give my boy a chance,
Mrs. Ferguson.

"That's all he really needs,
just a chance.

"And from readin'
what you all wrote,

well, I got to wishin' maybe
your town could be that place."