All language subtitles for Pinky (1949).eng

Ripped, painstakingly & lovingly corrected,
completed & synched by Fingersmaster.
Enjoy!

Good morning, ma'am.

Sure is a fine day today,
ain't it, ma'am?

Getting this washing up.

Should've had it up
long ago too.

If it's Aunt Dicey Johnson
you're lookin' for, ma'am,

here I be.

Pinky?

Pinky, child?

Yes, Granny.
It's... It's me.

Pinky.

My Pinky.

Thank you, Lord,
for bringing my child back to me.

She'd be such a far piece
and long journey,

and this be the morning
of her return.

Amen.

Granny.

No frettin', honey.
'Cause you're home safe and sound.

Come on in and let Granny
scare you up a mite of breakfast.

Come on.

Come on, sugar.
Come on.

Oh, me. It sure do me good
to see you standin' there.

Just think. My Pinky baby
all growed up

and come home
to her old granny.

How did you know
I'd come back?

That's why I sent you away, sugar,
so you'd come back.

Come back and help the sick,
the halt and the needy.

Remember what I say
the day I put you on the train?

I said, "Pinky, baby,
no matter how far you go

"how much you learn,

you gotta bring it all
back with you.

"That's why I'm sending you.

Because the Bible say,

"A little leaven
shall leaven the whole lump."'

Granny...

Granny, did you ever think
I might wanna stay up north?

There's some things
we gotta trust the Lord about, Pinky,

some things we can't do ourself.

We gotta depend on him.

Everything just like
you left it, sugar.

What is it, Pinky?

Oh, I wish you'd
never sent me away.

You mean, you wish
you'd growed up ignorant,

no-account good-for-nothin'?

You wish you'd never learned
to read and write

- and make your way in this world?
- Oh, no, but...

don't you see?

Yes, Pinky, I do see.

Let me say something
once and for all

and never again.

Why is it you write me less and less
as time go by?

Why is it after you go to the hospital,
I get no letter at all?

No.
You don't need to say nothin'.

You think I don't know.

You think poor old
ignorant woman like me

livin' in a shack like this
don't know nothin',

but you're wrong, Pinky.

I do know.
And I know what you done.

And you know I never told you
to pretend you is what you ain't.

I didn't mean to, Granny.

It just happened.

But that's a sin before God,
and you know it.

It was a conductor on the train.

He put me back in another car,
the white one.

But he knowed who you was.

- I put you where you belonged myself.
- No. No, no.

It was after that,
when they changed conductors.

Then why you ain't tell
the new conductor?

Granny, I don't know.

I was only a child.

Then what about school?
What about that?

Other children talk
about their kinfolks, don't they?

What you say when they
asked you about your'ns?

You tell 'em who your granny is?

Oh, shame,
shame be on you, Pinky.

Denying yourself like Peter
denied the good Lord Jesus.

Here. Get down.
Get down.

That's where you belong.

Now you tell the Lord what you done.

Ask his forgiveness
on your immortal soul.

Come on out and get your breakfast.
I don't wanna hear another word from you

about what you done again
as long as you live.

Tom.

Tom.
Tom, please.

Please, Tom.
Tom.

Tom.

Tom!

Good morning, honey.
You up, I see.

Yes, Granny.

You do this much every day?

Ain't missed a day 'cept the time
I was down sick with pneumonia

three years ago.

Here. I'll help you.

I ain't sent you away for you
to come back and take in washing.

Granny, I was awful glad
when you stopped sending me money.

What you mean?

I didn't want you
breaking your back for me forever.

Stopped? I ain't never missed once.
I give Jake Waters that money,

just like I been doin' every week
since his pa died.

I gotta see Jake about that.
Kind of superstitious about him.

I'll go see Jake.
I'll get it back for you.

How much do you get
for a wash like this?

Oh, they don't count,
far as money goes.

You mean you're not paid for it?

'Course not.
They're Miss Em's.

Yeah. I can see it's Miss Em's.

You mean to say
she doesn't pay you for it?

Not in cash money.

Miss Em ain't got no cash money.
Besides, she's old now, old and sick.

She has a house full
of valuable antiques, hasn't she?

But they're family things.

Can't sell them.

Besides, why are you
so set agin Miss Em?

She ain't never hurt you.
Look at her house.

Slave-built, slave-run
and run-down ever since.

I went through that gate
in her garden once,

just once,
when I was a little girl.

She ordered me out,
and I'll never forget it.

Oh, Miss Em ain't never liked
children traipsin' around in her garden.

Why, when she had that boarding school,
she made them girls play

on the other side of the house.

Guess I'll look in on her now

like I do every morning
to see if she's all right.

Tom. Tom.

I'll send him a telegram.

Western Union.

I want to send a telegram.

Yes. Straight wire.

"Dr. Thomas Adams.

"St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
Boston.

"Darling.
All a terrible mistake.

"Returning by the first train.

"Meet me at the station,
please.

"I love you,
love you, love you, love you."

Get up there.

Come on, you lazy devil you.
Come on.

Can you tell me where
Jake Waters lives?

Right down on the corner.

Thank you.

- Hi, Tommy.
- Hi.

This where Jake Waters lives?

You're Jake Waters,
aren't you?

Uh, yes, ma'am, I am.

This is my house here.

I'm Patricia Johnson.
Who?

You know Mrs. Dicey Johnson, don't you?
Well, I'm her grandchild.

Pinky?

Well, what do you know?

Come right in, Miss Pinky.

I'm mighty glad to see you.

Mighty glad. Yes.

I've come to get the money
my grandmother gave you to send me.

Oh, the money!
Come on in.

I've been tryin' to get over
to see your granny,

but every time I start over there,

something happens to stop me.

Yes, sir.
Mighty busy these days.

Mighty busy.

This won't take long.

I shan't ask you why
you held back the money

- so long as you return it.
- Oh, sure, sure.

Don't worry about it.

Sit down.

Oh. You know,
you've been away a long time.

What about the money?

You'll get it. You'll get it.
Every cent of it.

Sit down.

Why'd you come back, Miss Pinky?

Never figured that you would.

Why shouldn't I?
This is my home.

Don't give me that, Miss Pinky.

Jake's smart.
He sees things.

Man most likely, huh?

White man?

Couldn't tell him and
couldn't not tell him, huh?

- Look, Jake, I haven't got all...
- Of course.

Didn't mean to be nosy, Miss Pinky.

Jake's your friend.
He only wants to help you.

Well, he could help me by
giving me back my grandmother's money.

Oh, yes. The money.

Well, I never keep
much cash money on me.

Keep it all in the bank, Miss Pinky.

Is it far to the bank?

Bank's closed today, Miss Pinky.

Saturday.

Very well. You can give me
whatever you have on hand

and I'll tell my grandmother
you'll pay her the rest on Monday.

Well of course,
I never keep much money

- around the house.
- Look, Jake, would you mind

just giving me what you have?

Just a minute.
I'll look around.

This every bit of money
I got in the house.

A ten and a five makes $15.

I'll tell my grandmother
you'll give her the rest on Monday.

- Monday. Sure.
- You be sure and come by Monday.

I'll be there, all right.

Jake, what's she doin'
with my money?

- Rozelia, you know I didn't...
- What you doin' with my money?

Rozelia, you know who that is?

- I don't care who it is.
- Miss Pinky.

Well, Miss Pinky,
that happens to be

- my money.
- Let go of me!

Come high, don't you?
Drop that.

Why, you... I'll split you open
if you don't give me my money.

Hey there. What's up?

What's goin' on here?

Nothin' at all, Captain.

Everything's all right now.

They been botherin' you, ma'am?

Pull your dress up, girl.

- Got a knife, Chief.
- Okay. Get it.

Well, I reckon it's just as well
we come up when we did.

Uh, just what was the trouble, ma'am?

I don't care to make any charges.

Just a minute,
if you please, ma'am.

I reckon you're a stranger
in this part of the country, but...

this fella Jake,

did he molest you
in any way, ma'am?

No. No.

And the girl.
What about her, ma'am?

She even so much as
thought of threatening you,

we wanna know about it,

or if she give you
any of her impudence.

Shut up, girl.

Excuse me, sir,.

but why are you two white men
"ma'am-ing" her?

She's nothin' but
a low-down colored gal.

Tried to steal my man.

Make him stop!
Make him stop!

You heard what she said.

He's got to slap her down,
unless it's true.

Yes, it's true. I'm colored.

My grandmother's Mrs. Dicey Johnson.

Mrs. Dicey Johnson!
I oughta slap 'em both down, Chief.

Nah. Hold it.

- Why, I think I'll be going now.
- Go?

You ain't goin' anywhere till I tell you.
Get in that car.

You mean, I'm under arrest?

- What do you think?
- On what charges are you holding me?

You heard what I said.
Get in that car.

Don't worry. I'll fix it.
I know the judge.

Let me handle this.

It looked like there was
gonna be some trouble,.

and I searched her.

Then I took this knife off her,
Judge Walker.

It was in her garter.

So I just brought 'em all in.

Is this your knife?

She's the one started all the trouble,

- comin' takin' my money.
- That'll do.

Find anything on the other one?

I didn't search her.

Nothin' there, Judge.

She had plenty time
to throw it away.

Rozelia, I could send you up
for this knife business.

- Yes, sir.
- And I will...

if I hear one more word
about this matter

about a knife or razor
or any other kind of trouble.

- Is that clear?
- Yes.

- Now, go.
- Thank you, sir.

As for you, Jake...

Yes, sir. I was just...

You've been in this kind
of trouble before.

After this, keep your hands off
other people's money.

No, sir. Never touch a nickel
that ain't mine, sir.

That so, now?

I'm going to let you off this time.

Thank you.
Much obliged, Judge Walker.

But next time will be the last.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Now it's to you, Pinky.

If Jake owes you money
and doesn't pay it,

you let me know.
I'll see that he does.

Thank you.

I remember years ago,
after your mother died.

I remember when Dicey
sent you away to school.

Aunt Dicey's a good woman.

I've always thought highly of her,

and I'd like to be able to think well
of her grandchildren.

I've done nothing, Judge Walker,
and I'm telling you the truth.

I'm not saying you aren't, but...

But because I'm colored,
you don't believe me.

You're not sure.
That's it, isn't it?

How'd you make out up yonder?

I graduated,

then I took three years' training
as a nurse.

Oh, I didn't know.

You managed to do all that
on what Dicey could send?

Yes.

I won scholarships.
I worked, waited tables. I got along.

Oh, that's good. That's very good.

All the more reason

you should keep on being a credit
and comfort to your grandmother.

You've had advantages which are denied
to most members of your race,

people like Jake and Rozelia,
for example.

Just try to keep out of trouble.
That's all.

Thank you, sir.

- Pinky.
- Yes, Granny?

Why don't you try and...

Going somewhere, honey?

No. Just for a walk.

Evenin', Sister Johnson.

Come in, Jake.

Stop sneakin' in here
behind me like that too.

I told Miss Pinky I'd drop around,

so here I is, man of my word.

Good. Pinky gave me
the $15 you give her,

said you'd be here
to give me the rest.

I guess she was kind of riled
after that little run-in.

Run-in?
What you mean, run-in?

Oh, nothing.

You workin' mighty late,
Sister Johnson.

Oh, I reckon I'll die
with the shoes on my feet

and that old smoothin' iron
in my hand,

good Lord willing.

You're a worker
from way back yonder.

Yes, sir.

I always admire a good worker.

Look who's talkin'!

Well, there's work
and then there's work.

My biggest work,
I do with my brain.

Liable to get top-heavy
overworking that brain, eh, Jake?

That's the way to rise up in the world.

No more being the skim milk
for Jake Waters.

He's gonna be the cream on top.

Cream gotta be cream
first before it rise.

Where you goin', Sister?

I gotta take this wash
back to Miss Em's.

Give me that.

Don't you want me
to read it for ya?

Give it back, I say.

- It's mine.
- I can see...

- I can see that.
- Give me that letter!

Not gonna read
this letter to nobody.

Well, you burned it up, didn't you?

That ain't gonna stop nothin'.

I got a feeling that a fast letter
coming like that

is a shadow moving before.

Think so, Jake?

Folks is coming,
they come treadin' on their shadows.

Course, I can stop him.

I got his name and address
right here in my head.

Didn't I tell you
I worked with my brain?

I can write a letter back to him.

Say, I never seen no colored man
write like that.

With two stamps on the letter

and his name and address in the corner
with "M. D." after it.

That means "doctor".

You think you'd be doing right?

You wanna keep Miss Pinky, don't you?

I'll send him a telegram.

That'll stop him just like that.

Don't you worry, Sister.
Jake's gonna take care of everything.

Course, telegrams cost money,

and I like to doeverything
business-like.

That'll be a deductible item
from what I owe you.

Evenin', ma'am.
Can we give you a lift?

No, thank you.

Excuse me, ma'am.
You must be a stranger around here.

We can't let no white girl walk by herself
through this here nigger section.

- I live in this section.
- You what?

I said I live here.
Now, just let me alone.

She lives here?
Well, what do you know?

Who'd ever figure that?

Man, that's the whitest dinge
I ever saw.

Look at that little swamp rabbit go.

What do you say,
let's go get her?

Boy, let's go now.

We ain't gonna hurt you, baby.

Now, don't be afraid, baby.
We ain't gonna hurt you.

We just wanna have
a little fun, baby.

Take it easy.

Come here, honey.

No! No! Stop! Stop!

Please! Don't! Don't!

What a build on her.

Let's see your face, baby.

Hold up your face.

Oh, you're pretty. You're pretty.

You're real pretty.

What's the matter, baby?
You want a drink?

Hey, Al, give me that bottle.

Come back here, gal!
Come on back here, gal!

Ah, let her go.

Pinky?

Pinky?

- Pinky?
- Granny?

Yes.

What you got the door locked for?

Granny, what is it?

What's wrong?
Tell me, Granny.

It's Miss Em.
Miss Em, honey.

What's the matter with her?

Oh, Doc Joe say
it's her heart again.

Her heart give out.

It happened while I was puttin'
the linen in the closet,

talkin' to her
when she took her spell.

So I run down to the corner
fast as I could,

phoned Doc Joe.

He picked me up on the way back.
He come that fast.

Her heart?
How old is she?

Oh, a year or two older
than me maybe.

Course, she never
allow that to my face.

Lord, I kinda hoped you'd take me
before you took Miss Em.

I kinda hoped you would.
Thy will be done.

Everyone has to die, Granny.

You're right, baby,

but the least we can do
is ease their passin'.

I'm so glad you're here.

Seems like the Lord sent you here
out of pure goodness.

Me?

I say, "Doc Joe..."
I say, "Never you mind."

And was I proud to say it.

I say, "Never you mind, sir.

"My Pinky's here,
and she's a good nurse."

So he's sittin' there
waitin' for you right now.

- You told him I'd nurse her?
- Course, honey.

Doc Joe say everything
depend on good nursin'.

He say she gotta
have a trained nurse,

and he can't lay his hand
on one for love or money,

if Miss Em had the money,
which she ain't.

Then tell him to keep right on looking.
I'm not interested.

- But she'll die.
- Then let her die.

Pinky!

I didn't mean that, but, Granny,
try to understand my side.

I only came back here
because I hadn't anywhere else to go.

I'd forgotten what it was like.

I've been away a long time, Granny.
I've known another kind of life.

I've been treated like a human being.

Try to understand, Granny,
like an equal.

Don't you see I can't go back
into that house?

Haven't I had enough without that?

Pinky.

I worked long and hard
to give you an education,

and if they done educated
the very heart out you,

everything I've worked
and slaved so hard for is wrong.

Now, hear me!
You're goin' up to Miss Em's!

You're gonna take good care of her,
like the nurse you is,

or I swear on the Holy Bible,
I'll rip the livin' daylights out you!

Yes. I'm going away.

I should never have come back here.

Here. Let me help you.

Kind of wrinkled.

Reckon I'd better run
the smoothin' iron over it

before you pack it.

Kind of pretty too.

Must take a heap of studying,
learning to be a nurse.

The course is three years,
as you know.

Miss Em didn't have no training at all.

Why should she?

Her kind never learns anything useful.

Didn't stop her from nursing me, though,
when I was down

sick with pneumonia,
fixin' to die.

Miss Em nursed you?
I'd like to see that.

Where you been living, child?

What sort of stuff
they teach you up yonder?

Have I put in all my work on you

for you to turn out to be
nothin' but low-down trash?

Yes, Pinky.
Miss Em did nurse me.

If you don't believe me,
ask Doc Joe.

Miss Em stay here,
sleep in your little room.

She cook for me,
feed me with a spoon,

wash my poor, tired body.

Even emptied my slops
like she was my loving servant.

Now she's fixin' to die

and my own grandchild
done hardened her heart agin her.

Doctor.

Oh, yes. Glad you could come.
She's at pretty low ebb.

Under the hypo right now.

No fear of disturbing her.

Oh, yes. Pinky, isn't it?

A nurse. Of course.

Your granny's talked a lot about you,

but I didn't realize that...

Uh, some things
I've jotted down here for you.

Really not very much
we can do right now.

She's reached the age
where the mechanism begins to slow down.

If she has another attack...

Have you ever given a hypo?

I'm a graduate nurse.

Yes, yes, of course.

Well, I'm very glad to leave Miss Em
with a graduate nurse.

No phone in this house,
and I'm pretty hard to get hold of,

so it'll be a matter
of using your own judgment.

I understand, Doctor.
Your hat.

Oh, no. Here.

Yes. Thank you.

You know, of course, that Miss Em
can't afford to pay for a trained nurse.

- Or do you?
- I know, Doctor.

Might be, though,
that some of her old pupils

could pay you something.

- Most of them still live...
- No, Doctor.

It isn't a question of money.

I'm doing it for my grandmother.

Well, I'll look in
tomorrow afternoon.

Good night, Doctor.

Who are you?

I'm your nurse.

Dicey's girl, Pinky,
aren't you?

- Yes.
- Why didn't you say so?

Come over here
and let me see you.

You didn't call yourself Pinky
when you were off up yonder, did you?

No.

Speak up.
What name did you go by?

Patricia.

Pinky's better.

What are you doing there?

Dr. McGill left some pills for you.

You didn't think
I'm gonna take any more

of Joe McGill's stupid dope?

They'll relieve the pain, Miss Em.
You are in pain?

Course I'm in pain.
What do you think?

That you die in ease and ecstasy?

What's this thing on my feet?

Hot water bottle.
Your feet were cold.

Take it away.
I won't have it.

Brick's much better.

Over there on the hearth.

Put it in the embers.

Go to the wardrobe.

Open the door.

Look on the second shelf.

You'll find a bit of blanket
to cover the brick.

Take your hands out of there!

I said the second shelf.

Miss Em, I'm not dishonest,
if that's what you're implying.

Furthermore, I don't have to do...

Miss Em?

Miss Em!

Miss Em.

Now, make tracks, y'all.

Don't wanna see
hide nor hair of ya

till tomorrow.

That you, Pinky honey?

Yes, Granny.

Miss Em ain't...

No. She's better.

Praise the Lord.

Dr. Joe's with her now.

He said for me to come on down
and get some rest.

You're supposed to sit with her
for the rest of the afternoon.

Then you get some sleep, honey.

I don't feel like sleeping.

What you doing with my clothes?

With you being so busy and all,
I reckoned I'd unpack for you.

Put them back.

They can stay packed
till I leave.

It's only a matter
of a few days, at the most.

Doc Joe say that?
A few days?

I can see for myself.

Oh, for heaven's sake, Granny,
it's only a mean old woman.

She's been driving me and nagging me
ever since she woke up this morning.

She do that?

That's good.

What's good about it?

Then she do feel better,
sure enough.

Miss Em start feelin' better,
the more "coniferous" she act.

Pay no attention to her
worrisome ways, sugar.

She don't mean nothin' by it.

She means to put me in my place
and keep me there

just as she's kept you
all these years.

Oh, Pinky child,
when folks is real friends,

there ain't no such thing as place.

Hello?
Anybody home?

Miss Johnson?

I beg your pardon.
You're Miss Pinky Johnson?

Yes, sir.

You're looking for me?

I'm Dr. Canady
from over in Leesburg.

How do you do, Doctor?

My wife and I heard you were here.

We'd like you to come over
to the house to dinner.

- Well, that's...
- If you'll just set the date,

any night that's convenient.

I'm on a case now,
and after that, I'm going away.

When you come back then.

Your being here is the best news
we had in a long time.

We had some girls over in Leesburg,
high school graduates,

with no chance for regular training.

With your help,
we can set up a real nursing school.

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid
it's out of the question.

- You see...
- Excuse me.

How are you and your family
these days, Doctor?

Fine, thank you, Aunt Dicey.

You see, I...

I'm not planning to come back.

I see.
I have never been north.

I took my M.D. at Meharry.

I was tempted to go, of course,
but I felt my job was here.

These girls
I was telling you about,

it's gonna be kind of hard
to disappoint them.

I'm sorry,
but my plans are all made.

Well, good luck to you,
Miss Johnson.

Thank you.

Get the feet.

Mind that candlestick!

My great-grandfather bought that

when they sold
Thomas Jefferson's things.

Things...

They last longer than people.

This furniture was made
to present to Henry Clay

if he was elected,

but the voters thought different,

and Grandfather
bought it at auction.

Look what you've done.
My best brooch.

Well,

you've looked at it long enough.

What do you think of it?

It's very nice, Miss Em.

Don't be evasive. I want the truth.
What do you think of it?

It's one of those rather clever imitations

one can buy in the chain stores
for a dollar.

Ninety-eight cents.

Any fool would know that.

Now, go dust that center table.
Bring me a pitcher of water.

Miss Em, I've already done those things,
and you know it.

- Don't be impudent.
- It isn't impudent to say what's true.

I'm a trained nurse,
and I won't be spoken to like that.

If you don't like it here,
why did you come?

Because my grandmother said

she'd whip the living daylights out of me
if I didn't.

That Dicey. Nobody like her.
Did she really say that?

That's the sort of answer
you want to hear, isn't it?

No.

I prefer the truth.

You forgot that fire screen.

Don't be so upset.
I'll be dead soon

and you'll be free
to go back north again.

Going to give up your nursing
when you get back up yonder?

Nursing's my profession.

In certain places,
a nurse is treated with respect.

Nobody deserves respect

as long as she pretends
to be something she isn't.

How I live my life
is my own business, Miss Em.

Course it is.

It isn't your husband's business
or your children's.

You can go now, Pinky.

I'll be all right
till your grandmother comes.

You can't dismiss me like that.

As you did when I was a child

and you drove me out of your garden.

Oh, you remember.

Yes. Very clearly.

What do you want me to do,

stay here and live this sort of life

when I don't have to?

Just prove you're addicted to the truth,
like you pretend.

Wherever you are, be yourself.

What am I then? You tell me.

You're the ones that set
the standards, you whites.

You're the ones that judge people
by the color of their skins.

By your own standards,

by the only ones that matter to you,
I'm as white as you are.

That's why you all hate me.

What should I do? Dye my face?

Grovel and shuffle?

Say "yes'm" and "no'm"?

Marry some man like Jake Waters?

Carry a razor in my stocking
so I won't upset you?

Nobody hates you, Pinky.

Don't just stand there.

When you leave the room,
go quickly.

I hate dawdling.

Pat!

- Oh, darling.
- Oh, if you only knew

- what I went through finding you.
- Oh, darling.

What's wrong? What got into you,
running off like that?

How did you find me?

I got your old address
from the nuns' school,

and then that crazy telegram came,
signed Pinky Johnson.

Why "Pinky"?

I didn't send you any wire.

Come on.
Come on up to the house.

What's it all about, Pat?

I can see you're working,
but why here?

Why didn't you want me to know?

What are you doing,
charity work?

No. I live here.

Is that it?

Is it because you were
ashamed of telling me

you lived in a place like this?

I often wondered why you never spoke
about your home and family, but...

Don't you know who lives
in this kind of house?

Come on in.

Come here, Tom.

There's an old colored woman

who can't read or write,

a washerwoman
people around here call Aunt Dicey.

There's the basket
she carries her clothes in.

There's the ironing board she uses.

And those are the heavy irons
she heats on that old wood stove.

Year in and year out,
she's washed and ironed

and carried her clean clothes
to people's back doors,

through rain and cold
and the heat of summer.

And she saved her money

and lived on the scraps
white people gave her.

Why? For me.

So she could send me off to school,

so I could learn to be a nurse.

So her granddaughter would be spared
the kind of life she's had to live.

Her granddaughter?

Yes. Her granddaughter.

Me.

Now you understand.

Pat...

My name is Pinky.

She's coming.
Tom, please, please go.

- I don't want her to find you here.
- No. I've got a car outside.

- We'll take a drive.
- No. No. Please.

Not until you tell me the whole story.

I'm entitled to it.
Come on, Pat.

And then, that day at the hospital,
I met you for the first time.

At first, I tried to keep you away,
even to the point of being rude.

That's true, isn't it?

Remember?

But you wouldn't give up.

And then, I thought I could take the chance
of seeing you, being with you.

I'd never been in love before.

I never dreamed
it would ever be serious.

When I found it was,

a kind of daring came over me,

with your love.

So I thought
I could have everything.

For a few weeks
I believed it,

until you wanted
to get married right away.

Remember? You said
I'd have to make up my mind sometime.

Then I realized
what my decision would have to be.

So I ran.

Poor Pat...

I'm not looking for pity,
and don't try to tell me it doesn't matter.

I couldn't stand that.

I won't lie to you.
Of course it matters.

It makes... Makes problems,
important problems.

But let's try and face them
like rational people.

Rational.

What's rational about prejudice?

I don't think I'm prejudiced.

I'm a doctor and I hope
enough of a scientist

not to believe in the mythology
of superior and inferior races.

It is a tricky business, though.

You never know what exists
deep down inside yourself.

I want to be absolutely sure
nothing like that exists inside of me.

You'd be so easy to hurt, Pat.

In this case, too much kindness
could easily be misunderstood

and hurt worse than cruelty.

A man should be able to lose his temper
and cuss out his wife

once in a while without her
misunderstanding the reason.

That's why I didn't give way to my impulse
when you first told me.

I wanted to sort of hold myself
under a microscope a little bit longer,

till I could be sure I was right.

What do you mean?

I've got two reservations on the plane
North from Birmingham tonight.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Come on, Pat.
We've got an hour to catch our train.

No, no. Wait. Wait.

- Darling, I love you.
- Tom, we can't...

Wait...

- I couldn't help myself,
- I don't know.

- even if I wanted to.
- I don't...

That's the important thing.

The rest of it we can work out
between ourselves.

It'll be our secret.
Nobody else will ever know it.

Here.

Come on. We'll stop at your house
and pick up your things.

- Tom, I can't go with you now.
- Why not?

- Not now. I'm on a case.
- Let them get somebody else.

This isn't just a case.
It's a debt that has to be repaid.

- That's the true reason?
- Oh, I swear it is.

I'm through with running away.

You're being honest with me?
You promise you'll come as soon as you can?

I'll wire you the very minute
I'll take the next train.

If you don't,
I'll be here wanting to know why.

Oh, I will!

George,
you still drive too fast.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, shut off the engine.

About time.

Oh, so you're the one.

I'd heard you were light,
but I'd no idea you were...

Well, you're practically white.

What is it that you want,
please, ma'am?

I'm here to see Miss Emma.

I'm sorry.
She's not supposed to receive visitors.

I'm her cousin, Mrs. Wooley.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Wooley.

Well, if you'll wait down here,
I'll see if Miss Em can see you.

How is she?

She's improving.
Won't you have a chair, please?

Miss Em, I'm afraid...

I know. Let her come up.

But don't leave me
alone with her.

She'll wanna be alone with you, Miss Em.

Well, I don't.

How is my dear Cousin Em today?

Well, I'll find out.

Sit in that chair.

If I knock over the bell,
tell her I have to have

an enema or something.
Get rid of her.

But Miss Em, I've just
started your luncheon.

Do what you're told, honey.

Oh, Mrs. Wooley,
Miss Em can see you now.

I know. I can hear.

Cousin Em, what do you mean,
gettin' sick like this?

When you're 80 years old,
you expect to be sick.

- Sit down.
- Now, now. Naughty, naughty.

Eighty years young
is what we say.

I don't.

It's old,
and I won't have it minimized.

Takes a lot of livin' to get there
and pure, cursed endurance.

Eighty years young indeed!

Yes, yes, Cousin Em.
Of course.

That's all now.
I'll be sitting here with Cousin Em.

Stay there, Pinky.

She's a trained nurse.

I want her there
in case I have a spell.

Now, tell me, dear.
Are you being taken care of?

What can I do for you?

Nothing.

Jeffers and I
have been away on holiday,

and we didn't know a thing
about it until yesterday.

I said to Jeffers last night,
"I'm gonna see Cousin Em tomorrow

no matter how busy I am.

"I just have to know
whether she's getting

every single little thing
she needs."

And Jeffers said to me,
"Melba, that's just like you.

You can never rest till you know
you've done your duty.

"And if you can take
a little sunshine

into the life of that
poor old soul, you'll..."

Cousin Em?

She's nappin'.

Or is she doped?

Just tired.
She's been very ill.

Well, I'll just sit here
till she wakes up.

Oh, Pinky, I do believe
I forgot to tell George

to put the brake on my car.

Go down there
and make sure it's on.

Cousin Em...

I never nap,
and I'm not doped.

My goodness,
she's whiter than I am!

Prettier too.

Well, it just gives me the creeps.

Seriously, Cousin Em.

I gotta talk to you alone.
It's important.

I came in to warn you
about this girl, Pinky.

My new maid, Rozelia,
knows all about her.

Now, Melba. I'm not gonna soil my ears
by listening to kitchen gossip.

But for all you know, lyin' up here in bed,
she's stealin' you blind.

Oh, Melba.

I think I left my brooch
over there on the bureau.

See if it's still there.

Well, I certainly will.

I most certainly will.

That's just what I been talking about.

Is this it?

Yes.

Well, thank goodness,
it's still here.

Mrs. Wooley, George says
your brake is still on.

What do you think of the brooch?

Oh, it's lovely, Cousin Em.

Priceless. A real antique.

Why do you ask?

Oh, I know you like jewelry.

Just wanted to be sure.

I was thinkin' of makin' my will.

Oh, Cousin Em,
you mustn't think of such a thing.

Why, it isn't as if
you had a lot of relatives.

Jeffers and I are the only two
you got in the whole world.

And I know how strongly you feel

about keepin' things in the family.

What an idea to make a will!

Why, you'll live years and years, dear!

Pinky's a nurse.

She graduated from one
of the best hospitals up yonder.

Let's ask her.

Think I should be makin' my will?

Well, if you were ever
gonna make a will, Miss Em,

it's time you were getting it done.

There, Melba.
There's a nurse's opinion.

Very sensible,

especially as it agrees with my own.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Wooley.
Miss Em must rest now.

Well, she looks fine to me,

and besides, we haven't finished
our little visit yet, have we, dear?

I do feel a little queer.
Maybe I have another fit comin' on.

- Fit?
- That's the way they start.

Then I go clean
out of my head.

Well, in that case, I guess
I had better be on my way.

Oh, you going?
But you'll come back, won't you?

Oh, yes, dear.

I'll be in first thing next week.
I certainly will.

And no more nonsense

about making a will,
you naughty girl.

No more nonsense!

Stop that.

I won't have you laughing
at my relatives.

Sorry, Miss Em.
She's not a blood relative, is she?

No. She married my cousin,
Jeffers Wooley.

He's my first cousin,
once removed.

He nearly removed himself
clean out of the family

when he married her.

Jeffers never did have much sense.

His father wanted him to study law.
Didn't have the brains for it.

Took up insurance.
Tried to sell me a policy.

Life insurance, he called it.

I asked him if it would insure

that I should live one day longer
that the Lord allows.

He said it didn't, so I said,
"Well, call it death insurance.

"You oughta be ashamed

mentioning it to one
of your own family."

Why are you standing there for?

Do you want tea or milk
with your lunch?

Coffee.

Miss Em,
you know the doctor said...

I said coffee,
and make it strong.

Yes, Miss Em.

And, Pinky,
when you bring my tray

bring me paper, pen and ink.

When you've washed the dishes,

you can take the rest
of the afternoon off.

I don't like to leave
you alone, Miss Em.

Then send Dicey over.

She can't stay long.

This is her afternoon
to take the wash into town.

Don't argue.

Do as I say.

Don't want you back
here till after 5:00.

Yes, Miss Em.

Make that coffee strong.

I want the spoon
to stand up in it.

Yes, Miss Em.

Miss Em!

Miss Em! Miss Em.

Why am I in bed for?

Thought I was sittin' in a chair.

You've had another attack.

You've been up
and doing too much.

Whose business is it if I do too much,
I'd like to know?

Nobody's at all
if you want to shorten your life.

Flat on her back.

No. No. Prop me up.

Give me some pillows.

I'm not gonna lie flat
until I'm laid out.

Be soon enough now.

Might as well let her
have her own way.

That's all I ever wanted,
to have my own way.

Here.
Open your mouth.

What's that? Dope?

Open your mouth.

I want some fresh water.
It's stuck in my throat.

No, I said fresh water.

Close the door behind you.

There's a draft in here.

I don't want that girl
knowin' my business.

Now, go over there
and look on the second shelf...

in that book.

No, no.The other end.

The other end. There.

Now, open the book.
There's an envelope in it.

Get the envelope.

Bring it here.

That's my will,
and I want you to witness it.

Of course. Surely.

No. You don't have to read it.
I just want you to sign it.

Here. You'll have to sign it
again in my presence.

You know my signature.

Sign it again, please.

These things have to be done
legally.

Oh, lawyers have more
fool rigamarole than doctors.

There. Now,
put it back in the envelope.

Seal it up.

Put it away.

Who's your executor?

- You are.
- Me?

Isn't Judge Walker your lawyer?

He's retiring.

Aren't you my friend?

No.
Never mind that now.

I don't need it.
It's gone down.

You didn't think
I'm plannin' to die this minute?

I'll be up to meet my classes
right after holidays.

My school...

What'll the girls be doin'
with me in bed?

Don't you worry, now.
You'll be up and around in a few days.

Try to get some sleep now.

A fine woman.
One of the old school.

Never afraid to speak her mind
or take a stand

for what she thought was right.

How long, Doctor?

Can't tell.

Extraordinary vitality,
but the last attack...

Perhaps a week.
Perhaps only a few hours.

Isn't there anything...

There, now.
You did a good job.

I might even say
a devoted job.

Well, I'll stop in
first thing tomorrow.

- Good night.
- Good night, Doctor.

Twenty cents, please.

Somethin' for ya, ma'am?

Yes. Do you have any
mourning veils, please?

Right this way, ma'am.

This is our best quality, ma'am,

2.98,

and the last we got in stock.

Yes. That'll be fine.
I'll take it.

I'll allow you're goin' to
Miss Em's funeral, ma'am.

They say she had a lot of friends.

Miss Viola.
Come wait on me, please.

Sorry, Ms. Wooley.
Just a minute, please,

and I'll be right with ya.

Where's Mr. Goolby?

Excuse me, please, ma'am.

- I only meant I was still busy
- Mr. Goolby!

waitin' on someone.

- I only have to wrap this
- Mr. Goolby!

and get the change.

Why, yes, Mrs. Wooley,

what can I do for you today,
please, ma'am?

Since when has it been your policy

to wait on nigras
before white folks?

Why, I... I'm sorry, Mrs. Wooley.
I'm...

I'm sure that Miss Viola just...

Just didn't see you.

Miss... Miss Viola.

Well, I'm...
I'm sorry, Mrs. Wooley.

I should think you would be.

Now, Mr. Goolby, I'll repeat...

- Since when has it been your policy...
- Now, just what would you be

interested in this morning?

We have some nice new broadcloth.

- We also have some...
- What's that?

Well, that's the money,

the money, ma'am,
she gave me,

$5.00.

Is that Miss Em's money?

No, Mrs. Wooley.

Would you mind tellin' me
where you did get it?

I don't care to say
where I got it, Mrs. Wooley.

Well, that's all you'll get away with.
You can rest assured of that.

Charge this.

What's going on?

I'll take my veil now,
Mr. Goolby,

unless you don't sell
to colored people.

I'm in business to sell goods,

and your money's as
good as anybody's.

if it's honest money.

It's honest money.
My grandmother earned it

by harder work
than selling goods over a counter.

Do you wish to sell me the veil?

4.98.

Very well, Mr. Goolby.

My change, please.

When are you fixin' to leave, honey?

In the morning.

There's a train at 9:00.

Then, in that case,

I'm gonna fix ya a nice,
hot supper tonight.

Oh, Granny,
please don't trouble yourself.

I don't...

- Howdy, Aunt Dicey.
- Howdy, Doc Joe.

- Howdy, Pinky.
- Here. Have a chair, Dr. Joe.

Somebody sick out this way?

No. Nobody's sick.

I got some news for you,

and I thought the sooner
you knew it, the better.

Copy of Miss Em's will.

She left her pa's law books
to her cousin, Mr. Wooley.

Family portraits too.

And her jewelry to Mrs. Wooley.

Good, 'cause Mrs. Wooley sure likes
all kinds of geegaws and fixin's.

"To my faithful servant and friend,
Dicey Johnson, colored,

"I leave all personal clothing
of which I died possessed."

Bless her heart. Sometimes I think
she always get her shoes extra big

'cause when these fit her just right,
they pinch my bunion.

And I'm mighty proud
to have her clothes too.

Miss Em left you the house, Pinky,
and everything in it.

The land too, about 20 acres.

"The remainder of my estate
I give and bequeath

"to the aforesaid Dicey Johnson's
granddaughter, Pinky.

"This bequest being an expression
of my genuine regard for her

"and my confidence in the use
to which she will put this property."

That what the paper say?

Here.
Read it for yourself.

It say it for a fact, Doc Joe?

That's the way she wrote it.

But if I were you,
I wouldn't count on it just yet.

You see, the Wooleys,
Mrs. Wooley in particular,

figured on gettin' all that stuff.

Hear they've already hired a lawyer.

You mean, they're gonna contest it?
On what grounds?

Undue influence, I suppose,

question Miss Em's sanity,

that sort of thing.

There's already been some talk.

So that's why Mrs. Wooley
and those men in town...

Don't you think
Miss Em was sane?

Far as I know, she was.

That last night, her mind
wandered a bit, but...

that's not unnatural.

You just keep that
if you want to look it over some more.

But I don't believe
I'd count on gettin' it.

Better wait and see.

I don't know how the folks around here
are gonna take this.

I wonder why she did it.

Ain't you gonna finish
your fried chicken, honey?

Oh, I'm sorry, Granny.

I wonder why she did it.

Well, Miss Em had grown
powerful fond of you.

But she should've known better.

Pinky, I've lived in this world
a long time,

long enough to know for sure

that if it's somethin' white folks
don't want you to have

or somethin'
they want for their self,

you might as well
forget all about it.

But she meant me to have it.

"Expression of my genuine
regard for her

"and my confidence in the use
to which she will put this property."

What did she mean?

That don't mean nothin'
where the white folks is concerned.

'Sides, you goin' back up yonder,
so why stir...

Jake.

Evenin', Sister Johnson.
Evenin', Miss Pinky.

Hello, Jake.

Well, I just started uptown,

and I thought I'd stop by
for a while.

Well, Miss Pinky, I hear as how
you got some property comin' to ya.

What else have you heard?

Well, the white folks are sayin'

you kept Miss Em doped
all the time.

They say she must have been
out of her head,

and that you must've
stood over Miss Em

and made her write that will.

It's nonsense,
and they know it.

Well, is or ain't,
I don't know.

But it sure spell trouble
for somebody.

If I was you, Miss Pinky,
I'd stick close to the house for a while.

She's leavin' first thing
in the morning.

Goin' back up north?

- Yes.
- That's good.

That's mighty good.

Then Ms. Wooley get the property
by default.

Everything's fine,
no trouble for nobody.

- Is that the law?
- Default?

Well, unless you get a lawyer
to file an answer.

Of course, me, I've had considerable
dealings with the law, but...

I ain't licensed.

But even if I was licensed,

I wouldn't touch your case

for a stack of hundred dollar bills
that high.

I got a nice house
and no fire insurance.

And I'm glad you decided
to be sensible about this thing.

Because if you hadn't,
I was gonna make reservations

across the state line and go fishin'
for three or four weeks.

Oh, Pinky. What is it?
What is it, child?

Pinky.

Pinky, tell me.
What are you fixin' to do?

I'll be staying on for a while,

till this business is settled.

Miss Em meant me
to have the house

and I'm not gonna give it up
to please Mrs. Wooley

or anybody.

Granny.

Can't do it, Pinky.
You know that I'm retiring.

As judge, yes, sir.

But that leaves you free
to take my case.

Frankly, I don't want
to get mixed up in all this.

There's too much feelin',

too many tales around
about you and Miss Em.

They're not true, sir.

Possibly they're not, but...

Say, perhaps you could compromise,
settle it out of court.

I'm sure Mrs. Wooley would be generous.
With my property?

Court'll decide whose it is.

It won't even come up
before the court,

unless I can induce
a lawyer to act for me.

But you don't want a lawyer
who thinks the will

was ill-considered
and a mistake, do you?

All right, sir.
Good-bye.

Judge Walker,
Miss Em was your lifelong friend.

Whether the will
was a mistake or not,

wouldn't she expect you
to help carry out her wishes?

- I'll take your case, Pinky.
- Thank you, sir.

Of course,
I'll pay the customary fees.

Oh, no. There'll be expenses
you'll have to meet,

but there won't be any fee.

I'm a fool to take your case
and the only one who can win it for you

but if I'm gonna get into a fight
with half the town,.

it'll be on clean ground.

Come see me tomorrow.

But it was Miss Em
who owned the property,

and she wanted this girl
to have it.

But that isn't the point. Doc.
It's the principle.

Dr. Joe?

Come on.
See ya later, Doc.

Be seein' ya, Doc.

Dr. Joe, could you help me,
help me to find a job?

I only need a few days

to help cover the court expenses

and I can't ask Granny.

She's been ill lately,
hasn't been able to work at all.

Might as well face it, Pinky.

I couldn't possibly
get you a job now.

A lot of the folks even down on my neck
about this thing,

blamin' me for puttin' you
over there in the first place.

If it isn't too much,

- I could advance you...
- Oh, no, Doctor.

Thank you.
I'll find a way.

Good-bye.

Hello.

Pinky?

Yes, Granny?

Tom.

Darling, come here.
Granny.

Granny, this is
Dr. Thomas Adams.

How do you do?

Pleased to meet you, sir.

I reckon you got things
to talk about.

Why on earth are you doing this?

I needed some money.
Granny was sick.

- Could've asked me for it.
- No, Tom.

This is something
I have to do by myself.

I still don't know
what it's all about, Pat,

or why you think it's important enough
to change our plans.

Quite a stir in the papers up north,

Negro papers in particular.

Got ahold of some
clippings for you.

I read in one of 'em
the trial was set for tomorrow.

Read them.

"Negro Heiress
Defies Lynch Law."

Yes, there...
There was a reporter here,

but I didn't tell him anything.

"Negro Girl Fights
To Hold Her..."

I had no idea
they'd make so much of it.

Why go through with it? What for?
It isn't too late to back out.

- The trial's tomorrow.
- Let it go by default.

We don't need the house.
I got plenty for both of us.

Now be sensible, darling.
Pack your clothes,

- and let's get out of here.
- I can't do that, Tom.

What are you fighting for,

a run-down house
and a few acres of worthless land?

No.

If I should back out now,
I'd be letting Miss Em down.

I can't do that.
I can't let her down.

I can't let myself down
or...

my people.

They're not your people, Pat!

- What?
- Not really.

There'll be no Pinky Johnson
after we're married.

You'll be Mrs. Thomas Adams
for the rest of your life.

Tom, you can change your name,

but I wonder if you can change
what you really are...

inside.

What's behind all this?
You haven't really told me.

I don't know.

I'm not being heroic.
I'd hate that.

I just know I have to go
through with it to the end.

You see, they're trying
to steal the property,

steal it from Miss Em
as much as from me.

They'll probably get away with it.

But I'm gonna make them
do it out in the open,

right out in court
for everyone to see and hear.

It won't be pleasant, Tom.

They'll lie.
They'll try to humiliate me.

They'll try every trick
of prejudice.

But I just...

All right, Pat.

I'll be there.

I understand.

We also propose to show,
Your Honor,

that the defendant,
Pinky Johnson

colored,

is of a violent nature,

quarrelsome,
a troublemaker,

that she is capable of executing
the scheme I have described to you

and that she had every opportunity
of doing so.

The deceased was
unquestionably senile.

The fact that she signed the will twice
is evidence of a confused mind.

She was unduly influenced
by the defendant

as I have outlined to you.

And she was under
the influence of drugs,

administered by the defendant.

Furthermore, this will
was written at a time when

reliable witnesses will prove
she was of unsound mind.

May I see that will again, please?

In view of these things,
we therefore ask

that the will be set aside

and the property inherited
by the next of kin.

I yield to you, Judge Walker.

Your Honor.

I agreed to act for the defendant
in this case

because I feared an injustice
was about to be done.

Your Honor, apparently
my fears were well-founded.

Counsel for the plaintiff
has made it perfectly clear

that my client in effect
is to be tried

because she is a Negro

and because a Negro
cannot be permitted

to inherit property
in this community.

That is a harsh fact,
but we must face it.

Though many of us
may criticize this bequest,

I do not believe any of us
who knew Miss Em,

and most of us knew
and loved her,

can accept the contention
that she was insane.

I do not believe counsel
for the plaintiff can prove

that undue influence
was exerted by my client.

I think most of us know
how difficult it was

to influence Miss Em
in any respect.

We need not look too far
for a motive in making this bequest.

She was a proud woman
who'd leave no debt unpaid.

This was a real obligation.

She took the only means open to her
of paying for my client's services,

through the provisions of her will.

The expressed wishes of the dead
should not be set aside

to gratify the greed
or the prejudice of the living.

Your Honor,
this is a small country town.

We've always thought that
what happened here

was our own private concern.

This is no longer true,

just as it is no longer true
that our country as a whole

can exist entirely to itself.

What is done in our courts
in cases such as this

has become a matter of moment
in the eyes of the world.

Let us examine our conscience.

Let us look into our attitude
and our tradition.

Let us take care,
lest it be said of us that here

there is neither law nor justice.

Your Honor, we're all anxious
to get to the bottom of this

as quickly as possible

before the temperature of this room

reaches the boiling point.

Fortunately,
there is one witness

who is qualified to testify

on the only matters of pertinence
to this hearing,

the question of Miss Em's sanity

and the question
of undue influence.

Incidentally, he will be
the defense's only witness.

He was Miss Em's physician,

in constant attendance
during her last illness.

He was also her confidant,

witnessed her will,

and is the executor of her estate,

Dr. Joseph McGill.

Your Honor, I disagree
with my esteemed opponent's notions

of what is or isn't
pertinent to this hearing.

But I am perfectly willing
to have Dr. McGill

take the stand at this point.

Very well, then.
Call Dr. McGill.

Do you think that's...

Oh, let him put
his witness on first.

We'll close with ours.

Dr. Joe doesn't seem
to be here, Your Honor.

Well, take a look in the corridor.
See if he's there.

He ain't out here,
Your Honor.

Well, that bein' the case,

we'll have to proceed
with the plaintiff's witnesses.

- Are you ready, Mr. Stanley?
- Yes, Your Honor.

Better find Dr. Joe wherever he is
and bring him here.

Yes, Judge Walker.

Money and a man,

I believe,
is what caused the trouble.

The usual thing.

Well, we picked 'em both up,

along with the man
they was fightin' over.

Judge Walker heard the case.

That's all I know about it.

Yeah, money and a man.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Chief Anderson,

what was the final prison sentence

imposed on my client?

Why, Judge Walker,
you know there wasn't any.

So she was cleared
of all charges,

is that correct?

Well, I wouldn't
exactly say that.

You wouldn't?

You generally always let 'em off
with a good talkin' to,

like you give her.

You know how it is.

If you put them niggers in jail
every time somethin' like that happens...

That'll do.

Your Honor,
I think this witness's testimony

should be ignored
and stricken from the record

as totally irrelevant
to the hearing.

- Your Honor, I object!
- Just a minute!

The court is capable of deciding
any questions of relevancy.

Motion denied.

Call the next witness.

Well, for one thing,
on my last visit

this girl simply wouldn't
leave the room.

And I could see
that Cousin Em

actually didn't dare
to dismiss her.

Then Cousin Em began
to talk about makin' a will.

Well, I tried to cheer her up,

but she turned to this Pinky
and said, "What do you think?"

as if... as if she didn't dare
to make up her mind alone

which was never
like Cousin Em, never.

What did the girl say?

Oh, she spoke up,
bold as you please,

and said Cousin Em

had better make a will
if she was ever goin' to.

That's the part
I mentioned to you.

Impudent, yes,

but the way she said it,
a threat too.

And I'm just glad that Cousin Em
was allowed to die

a natural death in her bed.

I think everyone in this courtroom

understands what you mean, ma'am.

Did you notice anything peculiar
about her condition that day?

Oh, yes.

She closed her eyes
while I was talkin'.

She kept droppin' off
in a stupor.

She was doped!

And then she told me
she was subject to fits,

that half the time
she was clean out of her mind.

Poor soul. Poor soul.

Thank you, Mrs. Wooley.

Your witness.

Mrs. Wooley,

you have testified that
my client's tone

was threatenin'.

Now, Miss Em must've made
some sort of reply

if she was threatened.

What were Miss Em's next words?

I don't remember.
She was doped.

Didn't she say she thought
Pinky's opinion was very sensible

because that's agreed
with what she thought herself?

Were you there, Judge Walker,

or are you just bein' primed
by that girl over there?

Did you ever hear such...

Uh, answer the question, please.

Isn't that what Miss Em said?

I'd certainly remember it
if she had.

Mrs. Wooley,
do you know the penalty for perjury?

I object!

Your Honor,
I object to this attempt

to intimidate the witness!

She's answered the question.
She doesn't remember.

And now, if my opponent
will stop putting words

in the mouth of the dead...

No personalities,
gentlemen.

It's hot enough
in here as it is.

Will Your Honor please
rule on my objection?

Objection sustained.

Thank you!

Didn't I tell you
he's a good'n?

So, Aunt Dicey,
you were there in the room

when she was writing her will.

Yes, sir.
Sittin' right there,

like I always done
when my Pinky's out.

And Miss Em was still writin'

when I left to take
the wash uptown.

'Cause Judge Walker
and some is mighty particular

when they gets their wash.

I understand, Aunt Dicey.

You know what
a hypodermic is?

Yes, sir.

Did you ever see
your granddaughter

stick one of those things
into Miss Em?

Yes, sir.
I see her do it twice.

What happened?

Miss Em talked
to herself for a while.

You mean raved?

Kind of mumbled, like.

Then she go off to sleep
like she a little baby.

Now, just one more question,
Aunt Dicey.

What makes you think
it was her will

that Miss Em
was writing that day?

I know it was, sir.

Well, you see, Aunt Dicey,
this is a court of law,

and you're sworn
to tell the truth before God.

Some of us think this will

may have been written
at some other time

while your granddaughter
was present.

Did Miss Em tell you
she was writing her will?

No, sir, Mr. Stanley.

But you were sitting
where you could see the paper

she was writing on, weren't you?

Yes, sir, Mr. Stanley.

Well, now,
didn't you see enough of it

to know what it was?

He's going to trap her.

He knows she can't read,
and she'll never admit it.

From Dr. Joe.

Come, now, Aunt Dicey.

Let's have an answer.

You know, sir,

as well as me,
it ain't manners

readin' what ain't meant
for you to read.

Then how can you swear before God
you knew it was her will?

Now, Aunt Dicey,
you answer me the gospel truth!

Couldn't this will have been written
at some other time?

- Couldn't it? Couldn't it?
- Yes, sir...

Couldn't Pinky have helped Miss Em
make a will when you weren't around?

I reckon she could, sir.

Your witness!

Your Honor,

we'll waive cross-examination
of this witness.

All right, Aunt Dicey.
You can step down now.

I have here a note from Dr. Joe

in which he says
he's going to be delayed.

Now, on the basis of this note,

I petition for a brief recess.

May I see this note, please?

Do I have your permission,
Judge Walker,

to read this to the court?

You certainly have.

"Sorry. Mary Picken's baby
jumped the gun.

"When it gets here,
I'll get there.

"Joe McGill."

Seriously, Your Honor,
I object to this petition

or to any legal strategy

intended solely to drag out
this unfortunate affair

which should have never seen
the light of day anyway.

Judge Walker had as much time
as we did to summon witnesses

and to make sure
they'd be here!

As for this note,
it's easy to read between the lines.

Naturally, Dr. Joe didn't want
to hurt his old friend's feelings here

with a direct refusal
to appear as a witness

in this unpleasant case.

It's obvious, however,
that bountiful nature

and the ethics of his profession

have come to his aid.

Oh, this is going to be
a long confinement!

He's not asking for a recess,
Your Honor.

He's asking for a postponement!

Petition denied, Judge Walker.

Thank you, Judge Shoreham.

Any more of that,
and I'll have the room cleared.

Have you any
further witnesses?

No more, Your Honor.

I agree with counsel
for the plaintiff.

There's no point
in dragging this out any longer.

Thank you.

The court has heard all the facts
and is ready to announce its finding.

Thank you, sir.

I do not intend to defend
the wisdom of this bequest

nor do I intend to base my findings
on the conclusions of the witnesses,

nor on the hearsay evidence
admitted here today.

This will is a legal document.

I have examined it,
and I see no reason to doubt

that it was written by a woman

in full possession of her faculties.

Moreover,

plaintiffs have failed to establish
that any undue influence

was exerted by the defendant.

The will is therefore declared
to be good and valid

and the executor shall carry out
its terms as written.

But Judge Shoreham!

I want it clearly understood,

any attempt to interfere
with the defendant or her property

will be answerable to this court.

Court is now adjourned.

Quiet! Quiet, please!

Judge Walker,

I don't know how to thank you.

Well, Pinky, you won.

You got the house and the land.

And you got justice.

But I doubt if any other
interests of this community

have been served.

Come on, darling.
Let's go.

All right, Tom. All right.

Big old houses like this
are a drug on the market.

We'll find a good real estate man
and turn it over to him.

We'll auction off the furniture
and the silver separately.

You know, some of those pieces
down there look valuable.

We'll sell them all in your name,
so you'll be independent,

just in case you decide
to run away from me again.

This is...

it's quite a room.

Yes.

Oh, say, isn't this
a beautiful fire screen?

Miss Em was proud of that.

Martha Washington is supposed
to have done the embroidery.

Oh, we can't let this
get away from us.

We'll have it sent out
to Denver.

Denver?

Didn't I tell you?
I...

I've accepted a position...

in a clinic there.

But all your ties
are in Boston,

your family.

But the...

The publicity.

Oh, it's partly that,

but I've always thought
about moving out west.

Besides, too many people
in Boston know, or...

they might find out.

Pat, you'll love it in Denver.

Some friends of mine
are starting this clinic.

They want me to go in with them.

I can't sell the house, Tom.

That isn't why she left it to me,
to sell,

or why I went through with the trial.

She said, with confidence in the use
to which I'd put the property.

Let's be practical.
Her lawyer had it straight

when he said she was merely,

merely trying to pay off
her debt to you.

- Now, if you'll let me...
- No, that wasn't her reason.

She'd have left it to Granny.
She owed her far more.

Miss Em accepted service as her due.

No, she had some purpose,
something she wanted me to do.

Come on now, Pat.

I know she was a wonderful
old woman and all that,

and she made a deep
impression on you,

but she's dead.

Your own life is much more important
than her purpose,

- if she had one.
- It's my life she was thinking of.

She told me once to be myself
wherever I was.

- Well, that's pretty good advice, but...
- But you said yesterday,

there'd be no Pinky Johnson
after we were married.

How can I be myself
if there's no Pinky Johnson?

It was only a figure of speech.

Now, come on,
let's get out of this place.

You're letting all that dirty business
of the trial get under your skin.

- Will you forget it, darling?
- You mean run away from it, Tom.

This time to Denver,

running away
for the rest of our lives.

Perhaps you're all confused.

No. I'm just beginning to understand it.

She didn't want me to go.
She didn't want me to pretend.

We talked about it.

Pat...
That's why she wrote the will.

She thought the house
would keep me here.

But she was wrong.

That's why she wrote it.

She was wrong, wasn't she?

Wasn't she?

I can't go with you.

I'm sick of lying, Tom.

We wouldn't be happy,
either of us.

What do you expect to do,

crawl into a closet and live there
for the rest of your life?

Close the door and lock it,
lock everything?

Pat, look at me.
Look at me!

Will you come to your senses?

You've got to make a break,
get away from it!

I don't want to get away
from anything.

I'm a Negro.
I can't forget it, and I can't deny it.

I can't pretend
to be anything else,

and I don't want
to be anything else.

Don't you see, Tom?

No, I don't.

You can't live without pride.

I'm sorry, Tom.

I'll never forget you
or what you tried to do.

But please go now.
Don't say anything.

Just go.

What did you mean,
Miss Em?

Tell me.

Come here a minute.

I'm sure you will.

Miss Pinky, you have to do something
about Aunt Dicey.

What is it this time?

She's been at that new sterilizer again.

Every time I sterilize the sheets,
she puts 'em back.

Says they ain't white enough.

I'll speak to her about it,
but I doubt if it'll do much good.

Lunch is laid out, Miss Pinky.

All right.
I'll get them in.

- Good morning, Miss Pinky.
- Hello, Teejoe.

Teejoe is gonna do a little flying.
That right, Teejoe?

Yes, Dr. Canady.

- Well, Pinky.
- Hello, Dr. Joe.

- Mornin', Doctor.
- Mornin', Doctor.

Uh, thought I'd look in
on the Freeman boy.

He's in the old dining room.

-- English --