All language subtitles for b s g llll

- Paul Weevo.
- Yes, sir.

- Can you hear me?
- Yes, sir, Mr. Archie.

- Can you find the holes?
- Yes, sir, lots of them.

Make sure you get the big ones.

Yes, sir.

Uncle Pleasant, ain't you got
nothing to do?

Not a thing.

- Ain't you going to help him?
- I'm retired.

Baby Doll.

Archie Lee, you're a mess.

Do you know what they call such
people?

Peeping Toms!

Hey, there's no need for a woman
that sleeps in a baby's crib...

...to stay away from her
husband.

I'm gonna plug that hole
with chewing gum.

If I ever catch you poking a
knife

through it again to peek at me
in my sleep...

...I'm moving in
to the Kotton King Hotel.

And would you please
keep your filthy old dogs off my

furniture.

Let me talk to you.

- I wanna talk with you.
- Spare your breath.

Save it to drum up some business
for your broken-down cotton gin.

Close the door, so I can get
into my clothes.

Get in your clothes.

Not till you get on the other
side of that door.

Today is the fifth day of
November,

tomorrow is the sixth day...

...and the day after that
is November seventh.

And you know what day that is,
don't you?

November seventh is your 20th
birthday.

Ain't that sweet of you to
remember.

Where's my birthday present?

Oh, you'll get your birthday
present.

Providing you haven't forgotten
the agreement between us...

...which comes due on that day.

Oh, the agreement?

Yeah, the agreement. Which you
swore on a Bible to keep.

Providing you kept yours.

Have I touched you since we were
married?

Yeah, often. And got slapped.

Have I? Have I ever, Ever once
forced myself on you?

As your husband by law?

But don't the law mean nothing
to you.

How about your side of the
agreement?

You talked big, mighty big when
you was courting me, big shot.

You told my daddy you was gonna
put me in the grandest house.

I put you in Tiger Tail.
I bought it and I put you in it.

And Tiger Tail is the grandest
house in the county.

Yeah, the biggest old wreck of a
place in the whole delta.

You told my daddy you was gonna
restore this place.

Exactly like it was when the
Dobines owned it, only better.

"Make a show place," you said.
Yeah, a freak show.

I've got a boy on the roof I got
my man on the roof right now.

- Can't you hear the hammer?
- Is that a hammer?

Why, I thought that was
a king-sized termite.

Doggone, if you ain't
the most ungrateful little...

I have mortgaged myself
to satisfy your demands.

You told a mouthful of lies to
my daddy in order to get me.

Get you? I ain't got you yet.

No, and you ain't about to
either.

Now, I'm telling you that if the
Ideal

Pay As You Go Plan Furniture
Company...

...removes those five complete
sets

of furniture from this house...

...then that agreement you just
spoke about

is automatically canceled.

And now, would you kindly go
back in your own room?

I'm gonna get me a good-paying
job

while I'm in town today.

Just in case.

Just in case.

Admiring yourself in the mirror.
Yeah, just look at yourself.

You're not exactly a young
girl's

dream come true, Archie Lee
Meighan.

♪ There was an old witch
Named Granny Crow

♪ Wherever she spit
No grass would grow

That old witch must've spit
right

on the top of your head, Archie
Lee.

Thank you. Thank you.

You're not a woman.

You're a woman not grown,
therefore I make allowances.

Aunt Rose Comfort screams
every time that phone rings.

Why does she do a fool thing
like that?

She says phone-ringing scares
her.

Aunt Rose,
why don't you answer the phone?

- Aunt Rose?
- My word...

Aunt Rose?

Aunt Rose Comfort!

Aunt Rose Comfort!
Why don't you answer that?

I can't catch my breath, Archie
phone give me such a fright.

Answer it.

Hello? This is Miss Rose Comfort
McCorkle speaking.

No. The lady of the house
is Mrs. Archie Lee Meighan...

...daughter of my brother
who passed away.

They don't wanna know that.
Who is it? What do they want?

I don't hear very well, can you
please speak a little louder?

Oh, the Ideal Pay As You Go
Plan.

Give me that phone.

Now, what is this, boy?

Yeah.

Today? Oh, no, you gotta give me
a little more time.

Well, you see, I've had a little
setback in business lately.

The Syndicate Plantation built
their own

cotton gin and I've lost their
trade.

It's gonna take me a little more
time to recover from that.

Then take it out.

Take it out! Out! Out!

You're never gonna get my
business again, no never.

Archie Lee, you all aren't gonna
lose your fine furniture...

Will you shut up
and get on back in that kitchen.

Don't you speak a word you heard

if you heard a word, to my wife.

Don't holler no more in this
house, don't cackle no more.

I guarantee, I'll pack you up.

I'll pack you and haul you off
to that county home at Sunset.

What did you say, Archie Lee?
Did you say something to me?

Yeah. I said, shoot!

What made her holler this time?

How do I know what made that old
woman holler this time...

...the last time or the next
time she hollers.

Last time she hollered was cause
you throwed something at her.

What I ever throw
at Aunt Rose Comfort?

A glass of water and for singing
church hymns in the kitchen.

Water?

Why, this much water,
I barely sprinkled her with it.

- Well, she don't hear nothing.
- I know.

Well, you gotta do something to
get

the old woman's attention, don't
you?

Yeah.

Hey, hey. Put me down!

Get your...

Get your hands off me!
Take them off!

I'm...

I'm gonna...

I'm moving to the Kotton King
Hotel...

...the very next time
you try to break our agreement.

The very next time.

Baby Doll!

Baby Doll!

You come on down here if you're
going into town with me.

I gotta be at the doctor's
10 minutes ago.

Baby Doll!

If you're so impatient,
just go ahead without me.

Just go ahead. I've got plenty
of ways

of getting downtown without you.

That's the truth.

You come on!

You get your cotton-picking tail
down here.

Take your time.

- Morning, Sam.
- Ma'am.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Oh, now, come on, get into the
car.

I will get in the back seat of
that boat

when you get out and walk
around...

...and open the door for me
like a gentleman.

Well, you're gonna wait a long
time

if that's what you're waiting
for.

Well, I declare. My father would
turn over in his grave.

I never saw your father get out
and open the car door for any

woman especially not your
waddle-legged mother.

Now, get on in!

Hey, Sid!

- Hey, Sid, come here.
- What are we stopping here for?

- What are you doing here?
- Vacarro's got me working for

him now.

For him? You're working for him?

What else could I do? Syndicate
shut my gin down tight.

What's going on?

Oh, it's a party,
a celebration of some kind.

Why shouldn't the Syndicate
celebrate?

It's got every last bit of
business in the county.

Including every bit of what I
used to get

and every bit of what you got.

He's got an up-to-date gin,
not like that old pile of junk

you got.

When are we getting out of here?

Would you mind moving your arm?

Happy anniversary.

She sure growed up.

I am just as fond of Aunt Rose
Comfort as you are,

but I'm in no position to feed...

Look here, big shot. The day
Aunt Rose Comfort is unwelcome

under your roof, her and me is
moving out.

Well, she can't cook...

If you don't like Aunt Rose's
cooking, get me a servant.

You don't think, I am gonna cook
for a fat, old thing like you.

- Quit saying "fat, old thing."
- Get young and thin, then.

All right, but I am serving you
notice.

If that old woman dies on my
place, I ain't

gonna get stuck with the funeral
expenses.

I'll have her burned up.
"Cremated" is what they call it.

I'll pack her ashes
in an old Coca-Cola bottle...

...and I'll pitch that bottle
into Tiger Tail Bayou.

Mr. Meighan, you are late
for your appointment.

The doctor's gonna see you
anyway, I don't know why.

Oh, hey.

Well, hi.

- Are you the dentist?
- Yes, ma'am. I'm the dentist.

Well, I was scouting around for
a job and I noticed your sign.

And I thought I might help you
out.

What are you doing, John?

There was a fellow in here just
a little

while ago beat me at playing
checkers.

And I still can't figure out
why.

Well...

What do you do? Can you type?

No. No, I don't do no typing.
But...

...well, I print a real good
hand.

I don't know whether
we can use that, though.

You're awful young to be a
dentist.

Yeah, I'm just getting started.

Well, what's the matter with
you?

- I haven't been myself, John.
- In what way?

Well, you know, Archie Lee,
you're not an old man...

...but you're not a young man
neither no more.

That's the truth, John. That's
no lie.

- How long you been married now?
- Just about a year now.

Well...

- She's pretty, though.
- Yeah, I guess so.

Youth, huh?

You've been under some strain,
ain't you?

No. No strain at all.

- You look mighty nervous to me.
- I'm not nervous...

Well, you'd have to know typing.

It's typing.

- Awfully nice talking to you.
- Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Meighan, come back in here.

The doctor's gonna give you a
prescription.

Archie Lee, all I think you need
is

some kind of a little harmless
sedative.

You take this down to old man
Hogan, tell him to fill it.

Take it according to directions.

Here you are.
Don't forget your sweater.

It's not gonna help
what's wrong with you one bit.

- How doing?
- He knows what he's doing.

I'm ready to go now. I spent
just about

the whole day sitting on Main
Street.

Why didn't you bring me a double
dip?

- How long we gonna sit here?
- Gotta wait for my prescription.

- I'm bored.
- What the sam hill is so funny?

Even the Chinamen.

You know, people know
the situation between us.

Yesterday on Front Street,
a man called out to me and said:

"Hey, Archie Lee, has your wife
outgrowed the crib yet?"

Three or four others ha-ha'ed at
me.

Public humiliation.

Private humiliation is just as
painful.

There's no torture on Earth to
equal

the torture a cold woman
inflicts on a man.

There's no torture to compare
with it.

I've staked out a lot in hell.
A lot with a rotten house on it

and five complete sets of
furniture not paid for.

What you done is bit off more
than you could chew.

Archie Lee, is that our
furniture?

No, no. No, it isn't. No.

They're taking away our stuff!
Why are you just standing there?

I gotta wait for my
prescription.

- Your prescription? Mr. Hannum!
- Look out now.

- Come here!
- Wait!

Let's get on home before they
get the rest.

I'm going. Don't you...

Baby Doll!

Don't you dare take my
furniture!

- You best go get her.
- Yeah, I guess I better.

- What would you do?
- Get tough with her.

Yeah, easy to say. Come on.

Look out, here comes trouble.

- What we do about those people?
- Just keep loading the truck.

Get out of my chair!
Go on, get out!

- They have all my furniture.
- Baby Doll, honey.

Are you crazy, that's my mama's
lamp.

Honey. Honey!

She better not hit me again.

- Hey, you put that back!
- Better not hit me.

I thought I heard something
rattling around in there.

Baby Doll.

Leave me alone in here. I don't
wanna be in a room with a man

that would make me live with no
furniture.

Oh, honey, I...

My daddy would turn over in his
grave if he knew.

If your daddy turned in his
grave

as often as you say he'd turn in
his grave...

...that old man would plow up
the graveyard.

Look at your Aunt Rose she's out
there picking roses in the yard

just as if nothing at all
happened in here.

I'm moving to the Kotton King
Hotel.

I am moving to the Kotton King
Hotel!

I'm gonna get me a good-paying
job.

The manager of the Hotel helped
carry my daddy's coffin.

He'll give me work.

What sort of work
do you think you could do?

- Curl hair in a beauty parlor.
- Oh, I can see that.

I reckon that I could be a
hostess.

Second floor's all clear now.

Smile at people coming in a
place.

- What place?
- Any place.

I could be a cashier.

Oh, now, you can't count change.

Well, I could pass out menus
or programs or something.

- Say hello to people.
- Oh, my Baby...

I can say hello.

Sign here.

Kotton King, this is Mrs.
Meighan.

I wanna reserve a room
for tomorrow morning.

I wanna register under my maiden
name

which is Baby Doll Carson
McCorkle.

My daddy was T.C. Carson
McCorkle,

who died last summer when I got
married.

And he was a very close personal
friend

of the manager of the Kotton
King Hotel.

You know.

What's his name?

Archie Lee, look at these
flowers.

Poems of nature.

When we gonna gin out
some more cotton, Mr. Archie?

Oh, my.

Oh, my.

- Come on!
- Good, I got you.

- I bet he don't make $2.
- Yeah, all right.

That's the stoutest brandy water
ever wet my whistle.

It must have come right out
of Tiger Tail Bayou.

Young man? Mr. Vacarro?

A mighty fine party you're
throwing here

tonight in honor of your first
anniversary...

...as the manager of the
Syndicate Plantation and Gin.

Just a minute there, sonny, hold
it down.

I got a little something I ought
to get off my chest.

Don't forget your point.

Us good neighbors appreciate
this...

Just a second, sir.

Gentlemen, an announcement:

There'll be a fish fry Saturday
night.

Catfish, hush puppies, dancing.
Bring your ladies.

Oh, you go right on, sir.

I just want you to know that we
appreciate your achievement...

...in bringing in the biggest
cotton crop

that ever was picked on this
blessed soil...

...of Tiger Tail County.

Hey, senator, my old dad once
said:

"Blessed is he who has nothing
to say

and cannot be persuaded to say
it."

A couple boys there
don't look happy.

They got no reason to be.
You put them out of business.

Man, they got plenty good liquor
yonder.

I'll drink my own.

Now, when you first came here...

...I admit that us old-timers
were a bit standoffish.

We didn't know you all that well
at first.

Naturally.

A thing is profitable to some,
is unprofitable to others.

As the fellow says, "One man's
meat

is another man's poison."

We all know that some folks here
have suffered financially...

...due in some measure to this
man's

success with his Syndicate
Plantation.

But as a whole, the community
stands to reap a nice profit.

Hey, senator, next time run on a
Republican ticket,

we'll get the nigger vote out
for you.

- Silva! Mr. Silva!
- Mr. Silva! Mr. Silva!

Fire!

Mr. Silva! Mr. Silva!

Move the wagons! Move them!
Get that cotton moving!

Get that cotton moving!
Get those wagons!

Mr. Silva, where are you?

Kerosene can.

Marshal, what you're doing about
finding the man who burned it?

Well, what makes you so sure
your gin was set fire to?

Look around.

Did you ever see so many happy
faces?

Looks like a rich man's funeral,
with his relations attending.

I'd hate to have to prove that.

I'd hate to have to depend on
you to prove it.

I can't honestly imagine If it's
a case of arson, who done it?

Every poor man you put out of
business was right there.

One wasn't. I know one that
wasn't.

Naming names that sound
suspicious is risky business.

I didn't name a name.

It looks like whoever did it
forgot to take this with him.

Marshal, as your deputy, I'll
take this can

I'll examine it very carefully.

See if there's any basis for
thinking

it's you who started the fire.

I had to run through fire to get
this can, I mean to keep it.

Lock it up in the pickup truck.

Hey, Gina, sing us a song.

What you gonna do about ginning
out the rest of your cotton?

I'll truck it over to Sunset.

Collins will gin it out for me.

Collins got his own cotton to
gin, fella.

Then I'll truck it over to
Bolivar County.

Ain't nobody around here
gonna gin it out for me.

Silva!

Rock?

- Give it...
- It's me, Rock.

- He got the can, boss.
- What? Who? Who?

I don't know, it was somebody.
Jumped me from the rear.

Just stay back. Stay back.

Boy, take the advice of an
old-timer

who was born and raised in this
county.

Knows every nigger, every hound
dog, every toadstool...

...and every tree stump
for 50 miles around you.

My advice is for you not to make
any more reckless charges.

Being a foreigner, you already
got strike one and strike two...

I want no advice, no law,
no court in this county.

I come from a country where it's
tradition

for each man to make his own
justice.

Like bootlegged liquor, private,
in secret,

because there was corruption
there too.

And if justice was executed,
it was executed by each man

himself, alone.

I mean, Biblical justice.
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.

Let's go, Rock.

Don't notice this, I got to.

I hadn't noticed a thing.

Which one did it, Rock, do you
know?

They were all there in the shed,
all except one.

The one that wasn't there,
I figure he did it.

Well, he's the one that's gonna
gin out my cotton.

Get her up.

The furniture's coming back
today.

- Have mercy.
- Come on, get, get.

Don't say a word. A little bird
told me you'd be bringing

those wagons of cotton to my
door.

I want you to know
that you're a very lucky fella.

- How come?
- I mean, that I am in a

position to hold back the other
orders and give you a priority.

Get out of that truck
and have some coffee with me.

- What's your price?
- You remember, it's the same.

Equipment hasn't changed either?

A-1 shape.
You ought to remember that.

I remember you needed a new saw.
You got one?

I can't find one on the market
to equal the old one yet.

Come on. Have some coffee with
me. We're all ready for you.

I guess when you saw my gin
burning down last night,

you must've figured you might
get a good deal of business

thrown your way in the morning.

You wanna know something?

Always glad to know something,
when there's something to know.

I never did see that fire of
yours last night. No, sir.

No, sir. Come on.

Come on in my house,
have some coffee with me.

You, you come too. Come on.
Come on, man.

No, sir. I never did see
that fire of yours last night.

We hit the sack after supper
and I didn't know until

breakfast your cotton
gin burned down.

Oh, Baby Doll? Come out here.
Come here. Come here, Baby Doll.

I want you to meet Mr. Vacarro
from the Syndicate Plantation.

- What's your first name Vacarro?
- Silva.

- How do you spell it?
- Capital S-I-L-V-A.

Sure enough? Like a silver
lining?

Well, every cloud has got a
silver lining.

Oh, what's that from, the Bible?

No, the Mother Goose book.

That name sounds foreign.

It is, Mrs. Meighan.

I'm known as the wop that runs
the Syndicate Plantation.

Don't call yourself names, let
the other folks call you names.

Well, you sure are a lucky
fella, Silva.

Gold- or even nickel-plated.
Oh, you sure are lucky...

...that I could take a job on
of your size right now.

You're my neighbor and I believe
in the good-neighbor policy.

You do good and I do you a good
Mr. Vacarro.

Tit for tat and tat for tit is
the policy we live on. Yes, sir.

Aunt Rose? Aunt Rose Comfort!

Oh, Baby Doll. Baby Doll.

Baby, get your daddy's sister to
bring out a pot of coffee.

- Get her yourself.
- Honey.

Honey. Honey! Honey!

Now, I want you to entertain
this gentleman.

Oh, look. Look, look, look.
Oh, look at her blush. Look.

Look at her blush.
Oh, this is my baby.

Oh, this my little girl. Every
precious ounce of her is mine.

Aunt Rose? Aunt Rose Comfort!

Excuse my yawn but we was up
awful late last night.

So you're a wop.

No, I'm a Sicilian, Mrs.
Meighan.

A very ancient people.

No, "Sic." Sicilian.

I'm from Corpus Christi.

Oh, how unusual.

Honey!

At noon, take Mr. Vacarro to the
Kotton King Hotel for a dinner.

Sign my name.

It's only when bad luck hits,
Mr. Vacarro...

...you find out who your friends
are, I mean to prove it.

Baby, I want you to entertain
this gentleman in the house.

It's a good-neighbor policy,
tit for tat and tat for tit.

You do me a good turn and I do
you a good turn in the future.

That's right. Come on now.
Come on, Baby Doll, come on.

Now, make those wagons move now.
Get them rolling.

There ain't nobody comfortable
in that house.

Like if you can find a chair
to sit down on.

Do you want coffee?

No, just a cool drink of water.
Thank you, ma'am.

Well, the house water runs warm.

But if you got the energy to
work that old pump over there...

...you could get a nice cool
drink from that there cistern.

I got energy to burn.

Dump their garbage in the yard.

Ignorance and indulgence and
stink.

I thought young Mrs. Meighan
smelled pretty good.

You keep your nose to the
cotton.

Sometimes water comes,
sometimes it don't.

Well, this time it will.

Bring me a drink of that nice
cool well water, please.

"So you're a wop."

I don't have strength anymore in
my arm that I used to...

...to draw water out of that
well.

Would you like a cool drink of
water?

How do you do?
I'm Aunt Rose Comfort McCorkle.

My brother was Baby Doll's
daddy, Mr. T.C. Carson McCorkle.

I've been visiting here since...

Well, just now I can't remember
just when it was since.

I hope you don't mind
drinking out of a gourd.

Oh, thank you.

Excuse me, please.

That old hen Fuss has got back
in my kitchen again.

I can think of worse ways
to spend a afternoon...

...delivering cool well water
to Mrs. Meighan.

You stay with the cotton, Go on,
stay with the cotton.

There's such a difference in
water.

You wouldn't think so,
but there certainly is.

I take it you've not had this
place long, Mrs. Meighan.

No, we ain't had it long.

Don't you have garbage
collectors on Tiger Tail Road?

Oh, well, it costs a little bit
extra for them to come out here.

And Archie Lee...

Oh, I don't know.
I almost give up sometimes.

Did I understand you to say you
got a bunch of

unfurnished rooms in this house?

Five complete sets of furniture
hauled away by the Ideal

Pay As You Go Plan Furniture
Company.

When did this misfortune fall
upon you?

Yesterday.

Ain't that awful? Yesterday.

Both of us had misfortunes
on the same day.

You lost your furniture,
my cotton gin burned down.

Oh, yeah.

- Quite a coincidence.
- What's that?

I said, it was coincidence of
misfortune.

Oh, why, sure. I mean, what can
you do

with a bunch of unfurnished
rooms?

Well, we could play
hide-and-seek.

Not me, I'm not athletic.

Yeah, well, when I arrived
in this county...

...to take over the management
of the Syndicate Plantation...

...this house was empty.
I was told it was haunted.

Oh, yeah, it was haunted. That's
why

Archie Lee got it for almost
nothing.

Sometimes I don't know
where to go or what to do.

Well, that's not uncommon.

People enter this world without
instruction.

I said...

Is that your breakfast, Mrs.
Meighan?

I said, people come into this
world without

instruction of where to go or
what to do.

So they wander a little
and then go away.

Drift for a while and then
vanish.

And so make room for newcomers.

Old goers...

...newcomers...

...going and coming, back and
forth. Rush, rush.

Permanent...

...nothing.

Anything living...

...that lasts long enough
to take it serious...

What's this?

This is that old Pierce-Arrow
car, belong to Mrs. Dobine.

The lady that used to own this
house and haunts it now.

Where to, madam?

We're gonna play chauffeur.

Yeah, goodbye now.

Hey. Drive me along the river
with all the windows open

to cool me off.

The chauffeur sits in the front
seat.

- Front seat's got no cushion.
- Oh, yeah.

Come on, men, get on your big
feet, let's go! Come on!

Oh, let's gin some cotton.

Come on, men. Get on those big
feet. Let's get in here.

Oh, let's cut some cotton.

It's hard to find a place to sit
since...

...the Ideal Pay As You Go Plan
Furniture Company lost patience.

- To sit in comfort...
- Hard to sit in comfort when...

...the Ideal Pay As You Go Plan
people lose their patience...

...and your gin burns down.

- Would you move your leg?
- But it's cool here.

Comfortable to sit in.

- What's this here?
- That's my charm bracelet.

My daddy gave it to me.

Them's the Ten Commandments.

- And these here?
- My birthdays.

How many charming birthdays
have you had?

As many as there are charms
on the bracelet.

- Mind if I...?
- Count them.

Fourteen, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

That's all.

I'll be 20 tomorrow.

Tomorrow is election day
and my birthday...

...and the day that Mr. Franklin
Delano

Roosevelt was elected for his
first term.

It's a great day for the country
for both reasons.

Oh, he was a man to respect.

Well, you're a lady to respect,
Mrs. Meighan.

Me? No.

I never got past the fourth
grade.

Why'd you quit?

Well, I had a great deal of
trouble with long division.

Yeah?

The teacher would send me
to the blackboard...

...to work on a problem
in long division...

...and I would go up
to the blackboard...

...and lean my head against it
and just cry and cry and cry.

Would you move your leg?

Do you wanna move my leg?

Yeah, otherwise I can't get out.

Okay.

Well...

...I would just cry and cry and
cry.

Well, finally I left school
and...

Oh, a girl without education
is a girl without educ...

Mr. Vacarro?

Just picking up a few pecan
nuts.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, Mr. Vacarro, but I
wouldn't dream of eating a nut

which a man had cracked
in his mouth.

You've got many refinements.

Thank you.

Now, I don't think you need
worry

about your failure at long
division.

After all, you got through short
division.

Short division's all a lady
ought to cope with.

Yeah.

Well...

...I ought to be going in now.

But I get so depressed going
through all them empty rooms.

All the rooms empty?

All except the nursery and the
kitchen.

The stuff in them rooms is paid
for.

You have a child in the nursery?

Me? No.

I sleep in the nursery myself.

I let the slats down on the
crib.

Why do you sleep in the nursery?

Mr. Vacarro, that's a personal
question.

Well, I ought to be going in
now.

You know, there are rooms in
that house that I never been in.

Like, for instance, the attic.

Most of the time I'm scared to
go in that house by myself?

You take like last night,
when the fire broke out.

I sat here for hours and hours
and hours

waiting for Archie Lee to come
home...

...because I was scared to go
in that house by myself.

It must've been scary without
your husband to look after you.

Oh, I'm telling you.

The fire broke out and lit the
whole sky with crazy shadows.

We didn't have a Coke in the
house.

I was mad at Archie Lee.

You were mad at Mr. Meighan?
What about?

He went off and left me
without a Coke in the house.

Went off and left... Without a
Coke, did he?

He did. He certainly did.

And he didn't get back until way
after the fire had broken out.

And I got smoke in my eyes,
in my nose, in my throat.

I was in such a worn-out,
nervous condition, I cried.

Finally, I took two teaspoons
of paregoric.

Sounds like you passed
a very uncomfortable night.

Oh, sounds like. But it was.

So Mr. Meighan, you say,
disappeared after supper?

You say Mr. Meighan left the
house for a while after supper?

Oh, yeah, for a moment.

Just for a moment, huh?

How long a moment?

What are you driving at, Mr.
Vacarro?

Driving at?

Yes, you're looking at me so
funny.

How long did he disappear for?
Can you remember, Mrs. Meighan?

Well, what difference does it
make? I mean

- what does it matter to you?
- Why should you mind my asking?

You make it sound like
I'm on trial for something.

Don't you like to pretend
like you're a witness?

- Witness of what, Mr. Vacarro?
- For instance, a case of arson.

What's arson?

The willful destruction
of property by fire.

What?

Well, about... About my husband
leaving after supper,

I can explain that.

- Can you?
- Oh, sure I can.

Well, good. Now, how can you
explain it?

What's the matter, Mrs. Meighan?
Can't you collect your thoughts?

Your mind's a blank on the
subject?

You find it impossible to
remember just what

your husband disappeared for
after supper?

You can't imagine what kind of
errand he went on, can you?

But when he returned...

...well, let's see, the fire had
just

broken out at the Syndicate
Plantation.

I can't imagine what you could
possibly be driving at.

No?

You're a very unsatisfactory
witness, Mrs. Meighan.

Well, shall we drop the subject?

- Oh, I sure do wish you would.
- Well, sure.

There's no use crying
over a burnt-down gin.

Besides, like your husband
says...

...this world is built
on the principle of tit for tat.

What do you mean by that?

Nothing specific.

- Would you mind if I...?
- What?

Sit down.

- It strong enough to support us
- Well, I hope.

Now, let's swing a little, huh?

You seem all tense.

Motion relaxes people.

It's like a cradle.

A cradle relaxes a baby.

- They call you Baby, don't they?
- Oh, that's sort of a nickname.

Well, in a swing you can relax
just like in a cradle.

Well, I don't like to swing.
It shakes me up.

I'm relaxed enough,
as much as necessary.

Oh, no, you're not.
Your nerves are all tied up.

- Well, you make me nervous.
- Just swinging with you?

- No, not just that.
- What else, then?

All them questions you asked me
about the fire.

I was only inquiring
about your husband.

About his leaving the house
after supper.

There's no reason why I should
have to explain things to you.

No.

Should we just relax?

Would you move over
and make a little room?

- Is that enough room for you?
- It's enough for me.

How about you?

It was a lovely remark
your husband made.

The good-neighbor policy, I
mean.

"You do me a good turn
and I'll do you one."

That was the way he put it.

- There now.
- Thanks.

There's a lot of fine cotton
lint floating around in the air.

I know there is.
It bothers my sinus.

Well, you're a very delicate
woman, Mrs. Meighan.

Delicate? Me?

There isn't much of you,
but what there is, is choice.

Delectable, I might say.

You are fine-fibered.

Soft.

Smooth.

Mr. Vacarro, our conversation

certainly is taking a personal
turn.

You make me think of cotton. No.

No fabric or cloth...

...not even satin or silk
cloth...

...and no kind of fiber...

...not even cotton fiber...

...has the absolute delicacy
of your skin.

Well, what should I say,
thanks or something?

Now, you just smile, Mrs.
Meighan.

You've got an attractive smile.

- Dimples.
- No.

Oh, yes, you do. Come on now,
smile, Mrs. Meighan.

There, you see? You do.
You do have them.

Don't touch me. Please don't
touch me.

I don't like to be touched.

Well, why do you giggle?

Because you make me feel
kind of hysterical, Mr. Vacarro.

I do?

- Mr. Vacarro?
- Yes?

I think I'll go and make us
some lemonade.

What did you do that for?

I don't wanna be deprived of the
pleasure of your company.

Not yet.

Oh, Mr. Vacarro, you certainly
are getting familiar.

Don't you have any fun-loving
spirit about you?

Well, this isn't fun.

Well, why do you giggle, then?

- Because I'm ticklish.
- You're ticklish?

Don't be so skittish.

All right, I'll get up, then.

Go on.

I feel so weak.

My head is buzzy.

Buzzy?

Fuzzy and buzzy.

My head is swinging round.

Must have been that swinging
that done it.

- Is there something on my arm?
- No.

Well, then cut it out, it feels
funny.

- How does it feel?
- It feels funny all up and down.

- Quit switching me, will you?
- I'm just shooing the flies off.

They don't hurt nothing.

Now, cut it out or I'm gonna
call.

You're gonna call who?

- Boy on the road.
- Well, go on, call then.

Boy!

Can't you call any louder?

- Oh, I feel so...
- Can't you call any louder?

I feel so funny. What's...?

- What's the matter with me?
- You're just relaxing.

- Give in, now. Stop fighting it.
- Oh, I'm not...

I'm not fighting it, but it's
you...

...and your suspicions... about
my husband. Suspicions...

Suspicions? Suspicions such as?

That he burnt down your gin.

- Well?
- Well, he didn't.

- Didn't he?
- No, he didn't.

He... He didn't.

I'm going in the house now.

You believe in ghosts, Mrs.
Meighan?

I do. I believe in the presence
of evil spirits.

What evil spirits you talking
about?

Spirits of violence and
cunning...

...malevolence, cruelty,
treachery, destruction.

Them's just human
characteristics.

The evil spirits that haunt the
human heart

and take possession of it...

...and spread from one human
heart to another human heart...

...the way a fire goes
springing from leaf to leaf...

...and branch to branch in a
tree

till a forest is all aflame with
it.

You just got fire on the brain.

I see it as more than it seems
to be on the surface.

I saw it last night as an
explosion of those evil spirits.

I fought it. I ran into it,
beating it,

stamping it, shouting the curse
of God at it.

They dragged me out suffocating.
I was defeated.

When I came to,
lying on the ground...

...the fire had won the battle.

And all around was a ring
of human figures.

I looked up. They were
illuminated.

Their eyes, their teeth were
shining like this.

- Yeah, like this. Like this.
- No, don't scare me.

- Please don't scare me.
- The faces I saw were grinning.

And then I knew.

I knew the fire was not
accidental.

And you know it was not
accidental too.

It was an expression,
a manifestation of the need

to destroy.

And so I say I believe in
ghosts...

...in haunted places...

...in places haunted by the
people that occupy them...

...with hearts overrun by demons
of hate and destruction.

I believe his place, this house,
is haunted.

- Aunt Rose. Aunt Rose Comfort!
- This house is haunted.

I think I'm going around the
back door

and make us some lemonade.

- Archie Lee.
- Archie Lee, huh?

Archie Lee.

Yeah, let's go see Archie Lee
now.

Archie Lee.

- What's going on up there?
- Contraption broke down.

You better stay away from Mr.
Archie, he's fit to be tied.

It's stuck. Give me the wrench.

Come on, give me the wrench,
man. Give...

Archie Lee, I got something to
tell you, you big slob.

- What are you doing here?
- You left me there.

I tell you never to come here
when niggers are working here.

You know what you left me
with...?

How's progress, Mr. Meighan?

Fine, fine. Great, great.

Personally, I can't hear
the gin running at all.

Big shot!

- What's holding up?
- Nothing.

- Rock?
- The cylinder is busted.

It figures. Meighan, I inspected
your

equipment before I put in my
own.

I put up my cotton gin because
this equipment was rotten!

- Take it easy.
- Was rotten and still is rotten.

- It's quarter past 2.
- Don't get hysterical.

You got wagons out on the
runway.

- Never mind about "we Italians"!
- Take it easy.

You get a new saw cylinder and
get this contraption running.

If you can't get one in town,
go to Rosedale.

- This contraption...
- If you can't get one there...

...get across the river and go
to Little Rock.

I'll get one.

One more crack out of you and
the only

cotton you'll see will be in a
drugstore.

Now you better haul, brother.

He'll go to Rosedale.

I got something to say to you,
big shot.

Please, I ain't got

Big shot, big shot, big shot!
This gin!

Boy, he's getting her again.

Yep, we got a saw cylinder like
this in our commissary.

Sure enough.

Go bring it here, get Hank to
help you.

And get this contraption running
again.

He's not gonna get a new one in
town. don't wait for him.

Rock.

I'll leave the pickup truck with
you stay close to the house.

Stay there till I come out.

Hey, Archie. Archie Lee!

Archie Lee! Archie!

No, don't touch me.
Please don't touch me.

Aunt Rose. Aunt Rose Comfort.

Gotta go see a mighty sick
friend in county hospital.

You might as well shout at the
moon as that old woman.

You don't want her to go?

Well, she's got no business
leaving me alone here.

But she has a passion
for chocolate candy, though.

She watches the newspapers
just like a hawk...

...to see if anybody she knows
is

registered at the county
hospital.

- The hospital?
- Yeah.

They pass out candy to the
patients

at the county hospital, you
know.

Friends and relatives send them
flowers and candy.

Aunt Rose Comfort goes to visit
them

and eats up all the chocolate
candy.

Last week, an old lady friend
of Aunt Rose Comfort's...

...was dying at the county
hospital.

And Aunt Rose Comfort
went to visit her...

...and ate up all her chocolate
candy.

All?

Right while the old woman was
dying,

she ate it all.

I like old people. They're
crazy.

Mrs. Meighan, do you mind
if I ask you a personal

question?

What, Mr. Vacarro?

Are you really married to
Mr. Meighan?

Mr. Vacarro, that is a personal
question.

All questions are more or less
personal,

Mrs. Meighan.

Well...

See...

...when I...

When I got married, well,
I wasn't ready for marriage yet.

I was only 18.

But my daddy was practically
on his deathbed...

...and he wanted to see me took
care of

before he died.

And old Archie Lee had been
hanging

around like a sick dog for quite
some time.

And the boys around here are a
sorry lot.

They ask you to the movies and
take you

out to the old stone quarry
instead.

You gotta get out of the car
and throw stones at them.

I've had some experiences here
with boys

that would curl your hair if I
told you.

The experiences
which I've had with boys.

Oh, but...

...old Archie Lee, you know,
he was an older fella.

Well, his business was better
in those days.

He was ginning out lots of
cotton.

That's before you put up your
cotton gin,

you remember?

Yeah, I remember.

Well, I told my daddy
that I wasn't ready for

marriage...

...and my daddy told Archie Lee
that I wasn't ready for it...

...and Archie Lee promised my
daddy

that he would wait until I was
ready.

Then the marriage was postponed?

Oh, no, not the wedding.

We had the wedding.
My daddy gave me away.

- But you said Archie Lee waited.
- Yeah, after the wedding, he

waited.

For what?

For me to be ready for marriage.

Well, how long did he have to
wait?

Oh, he's still waiting.

We had an agreement, though.

I mean, I told him that
on my 20th birthday, I'd be

ready.

That's tomorrow.

And are...? Will you be ready?

- Well, that all depends.
- What on?

Whether or not the furniture
comes back.

I guess.

Your husband sweats more than
any man

I know, and now I can understand
why.

Well, let's see.

Well, I declare.

I'm sorry. I...

There. Now you wait right here.

I'm gonna make lemonade
and serve it on the porch.

- Yes, ma'am, right here.
- You wait right there.

- Now, you wait right there.
- Yes, ma'am, I'll wait.

Yes, ma'am, I will stay right
here.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm gonna get me a Frigidaire
one of these days.

Stupid old thing.
Forgot to light the stove.

Mr. Vacarro?

Oh, my goodness. We'll be having
lemonade

in a minute now.

Here, how'd you get that pretty
dress

all wet?

What a mess.

Mr. Vacarro, now, you wait right
there.

Archie Lee, is that you?

It needs something.

Who's in there?

Get out of my house.
What are you doing in my house?

Get out of my house.

Mr. Vacarro, I know that's you
and you're making me very

nervous.

Oh, yeah! I'll get you!

- Help! Help! Help!
- Oh, you!

- Open sesame.
- Game's over. I quit.

No, you gotta play
hide-and-seek till you're it.

Now, Mr. Vacarro, would you
please

go back downstairs...

...so that I can unlock this
door

and come out?

This attic is in awful weak
condition.

You want me to call the fire
department

to catch you when you fall
through?

- No, there wouldn't be time.
- I don't suppose they'd get here

on time.

Any more than last night when
they come

to put out the fire that burnt
down my gin.

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna slip pencil and paper

under this door...

...and all I want is your
signature

on the paper.

- What paper?
- You might call it an

affidavit...

...legally stating that Archie
Lee Meighan

burned down the Syndicate Gin.

Mr. Vacarro! This floor's about
to give out right underneath me.

- Any minute. What do you say?
- Just leave it right there...

...I'll be happy to sign it
and send it to you.

Mrs. Meighan, I'm a Sicilian.

You know, we're a very old race
of people, an ancient race.

And ancient races aren't
trusting races by nature.

You're either gonna sign this
piece of paper

or I'm gonna break this door
down.

Do you hear me?

I gather you don't believe me.

Now, you're either gonna agree
to sign this thing...

...or I'm coming out here...

...and my additional weight...

- What am I gonna do?
- You're gonna do what I tell.

No?

No, don't hurt me.
I'll do anything, only hurry.

- What do you want me to do?
- You can write your name.

Go ahead.

You can come out now.

Need my descending footsteps
on the stairs?

Hear my footsteps on the stairs?

Oh, Mr. Vacarro!

You hear my descending footsteps
on the stairs?

Mr. Vacarro?

- Mr. Vacarro.
- Okay, you're home free and so

am I.

- Bye-bye.
- Wait a minute, where you going?

Back to my little gray Quonset
home

in the west...

...to take a peaceful siesta.

Well, I want to...

I want to...

Was that all that you wanted?

Me to confess that Archie Lee
burnt down your gin?

What else did you imagine,
Mrs. Meighan?

Well...

Mrs. Meighan, I...

You're a child, Mrs. Meighan.

That's why we played
the game of hide-and-seek.

It's a game for children.

Well, you don't have to go
all the way home to take a nap.

You could take a nap here.

I mean, it's gonna rain anyhow.

All the furniture's been removed
from the house.

Not the stuff in the nursery.

There's a small bed in there, a
crib.

You could curl up...

...and let the slats down.

I'll be happy to accept the
invitation.

Come on up and sing me to sleep.

My daddy would turn over in his
grave.

- Sorry.
- No, come on. I'm good for it.

- I got orders.
- I'll take my trade...

- No credit.
- I'll take it somewhere else!

- Look. Listen, my daddy's watch.
- Cash.

Here. The letters of his name
instead of numbers, huh?

I'm gonna leave this watch
with you.

- Cash.
- Give it to him and get him out

of here!

Thank you, sir.

I'm much obliged to you, sir.

Will you get this thing going?
Come on, now.

- Come on, now, will you?
- Shut up.

We're going as fast as we can.

You all must have done
some mighty fast repairs.

No repairs. Put in a new saw
cylinder.

From where?

Boss and I had one at our place.

Why wasn't I let in on this
information before I left?

I just about killed myself
getting that.

Where's that wop, Vacarro?

I wanna get some explanation of
this.

Vacarro!

Where is he?

- You seen the boss man, Norm?
- No, sir.

You seen the boss man, Moose?

- No, sir.
- No, sir.

Where are my men?

Oh, I sent them home.
I mean, they're useless.

Well, you keep operating.

Hey! You know, this isn't a bad
old gin.

Hey, anybody living here?

Anybody still living in this
house?

It's Archie Lee.

What happened here?

- I said, what happened here?
- The plaster broke in the attic.

Well, how? How did...?
How'd that happen?

How did anything happen?
It just happened.

Haven't I told don't walk
around in a slip?

Haven't I told don't walk
around in a slip?

Supper almost ready now.

Breakage in that kitchen

would ruin a well-to-do man.

You go on up and wear
some decent

clothes on you. Then come back
down here.

You know, there's a new bureau
in Washington, D.C.

It's called the UW Bureau.
You know what UW stands for?

It stands for "useless women."

They got secret plans to put
the...

To rounding them all up and
shoot them.

That's what...

Shoot them.

Now, you heard me. I said, shoot
them.

How about men that's
destructive?

Ain't they got some plan to
round up

destructive men and shoot them?

What destructive men
you talking about?

Men that blows things up
and burns things down...

...because they're too evil
and too stupid to get along

otherwise.

Because their competition
is too much for them.

So they turn criminal.

They do things like arson...

...the willful destruction
of property by fire.

- Who said that to you?
- Hey, look what's up there on

the porch.

Light the light,
there's men on the road.

Never mind, now.
Who said arson to you, huh?

Who spoke of this "willful
destruction"?

Why, you never knew them words.
Who said them to you?

Sometimes, big shot...

...you don't seem to give me
credit

for very much intelligence at
all.

I've been to school in my life.

And I'm a magazine reader.

Who gave that whistle?

Don't you give a wolf whistle
at my wife!

You just stay on that side
of that fence, do you hear?

Right on that side over there!

Men from the Syndicate
Plantation,

white and black mixed.

Headed for Tiger Tail Bayou
with straw gigs and rubber boots

I just hope they turn
downstream.

I just hope they trespass across
my property. I hope they dare.

I'll blast them out of the bayou
with a shotgun.

- Small dogs have a large bark.
- No one's gonna insult no woman

of mine.

You take a lot for granted
when you say "mine."

I came to you today for
protection.

And what did I get?

Slapped. Sent home.

I'm telling you that the
agreement between us is over.

You darn tooting it's over.
In just three hours...

Three hours, the terms of our
agreement

will be settled for good.

- Don't count on it.
- Sharp at midnight.

Too much has happened here
lately.

Well, my credit is wide open
again.

And so is the jailhouse door
if the truth comes out.

Are you threatening me with
black...?

Heigh-ho, Silva!

Archie Lee, Mr. Vacarro says
that

he might not put up a new cotton
gin...

...but might let you gin out his
cotton

for him all the time.

Ain't you pleased about that?

He's gonna come tomorrow
with lots more cotton.

And while you're ginning it out,
he's gonna have me entertain

him.

Make lemonade for him.

And it's gonna go on and on,
maybe even till next fall.

It's the good-neighbor policy in
practice.

How long you been on the place?

All this unusually long fall
afternoon

I've imposed on your
hospitality.

- Where you been here?
- Taking a nap on your only

remaining bed.

The crib in the nursery
with the slats let down.

Something sad about it,
know what I mean?

Sad about what?

An unoccupied nursery in the
house...

...and all other rooms empty.

That's no problem of yours.

A good-neighbor policy
makes your problems mine and

vice versa.

Supper ready, children.

Well, didn't you all hear us
called in to supper?

You gonna eat here tonight?

Mrs. Meighan asked me
to stay for supper.

But I told her I better get to
hear

the invitation from the head of
the house...

...before I'd feel free to
accept it.

So, what do you say?

Stay for supper.

Well, you'll have to take
potluck.

I wouldn't be putting you out?

Excuse me, I better get into my
clothes.

Oh, yeah. You better.

Did I understand you to say
that...

That...

...you wouldn't build a new gin
but would leave your business to

me?

- If that's agreeable with you.
- I don't know about that.

Well, I gotta consider the
matter.

Financing is involved.

Such as new equipment and...

Let's go in and eat now.

I got a pain in the belly.
I got a sort of...

...heartburn.

Hey.

Hey, one more place at the
table.

Mr. Vacarro from the Syndicate
Plantation

is staying for supper.

I had no idea company was
expected.

Just let me change...

Another place is all that's
called for.

Have you been here all day?

Were you in the house
or did you ride to the

hospital and eat more candy?

I visited a friend in the
hospital.

Then you were out while I...

I worked like the hammers of
hell!

I come home,
the attic floor has fell

through...

...my wife's bad-tempered and
insulting

and a supper of hog slops!

I suppose you've got...

Sit down. I've gotta make me
a phone call.

Hello.

I want the Bright Spot, Miss
Hopkins.

Give me the Bright Spot.

I can't think of the number now.
You give it to me, you hear?

Hello, Bright Spot.

He's on the phone about
something.

If I was you, I would leave.

I got the ace of spades.

And I'm gonna get his autograph
on it too.

Don't count on the law court.

Justice here is deaf and blind
as that woman.

I do my own justice.

Get Eddie, Beetle, Boots,
Rhodes,

any one of them.

I'm advising you,
go while he's on the phone.

You don't know his friends.

- They're rough.
- I've seen them.

I find you different this
evening

in some way.

Never mind that.

Just go while he's still
on the phone.

Grown up suddenly.

I feel cool and rested
for the first time in my life.

That's the way I feel.

Rested and cool.

And there's no place
he can run to in this county.

Well, you can say that again,
boy.

You can't leave the place,
well, then you send someone.

But you send someone to find
him,

you hear me?

I'll call you...

- Poems of nature. If I had...
- Never mind the poems of nature.

Goodbye, I'll call you later.

If I had known company was
expected...

Put some food on the table.

- Just take a minute.
- We ain't gonna wait no minute.

Bring out some food.

Is that what they call a ♪Mona
Lisa♪ smile

you got on your puss?

- Put some food on the table!
- Don't pick on Aunt Rose

Comfort.

Gonna have a talk with that old
woman right here tonight.

She's outstayed her welcome.

What a pretty blue ribbon
you're wearing tonight

Mrs. Meighan.

Why, thank you, Mr. Vacarro.

There's so many shades of blue.

- What particular shade is that?
- It's just baby blue.

Brings out the blue of your
eyes.

Food!

- Food!
- Immediately. This instant.

This sweater was part
of my trousseau.

I got all my trousseau...

...at various department stores
in Memphis

where my daddy was known.

What is this stuff, grass?

It's greens. Don't you know
greens

when you see them?

Big department stores on Main
Street.

- This stuff is greens?
- Archie Lee dotes on greens.

- Don't you, Archie Lee?
- No, I don't.

You don't?
You don't dote on greens?

- Well, somebody did.
- Somebody probably did.

Sometime, somewhere,
but that don't mean it was me.

Eat your greens, big shot.
Greens put iron in the blood.

I thought Archie Lee doted on
greens.

All these likes and dislikes
are hard to keep straight in

your head.

- Archie Lee is easy to cook for.
- Take this slop off the table.

I'll cook you some eggs
Birmingham.

These greens didn't cook enough.

I played a fool trick with my
stove. I...

I forgot to light it.

When I went out to the store,
I left my greens on the stove.

I thought they were boiling.

When I came home,
I discovered my stove wasn't

lighted.

Why do you say "my stove"?

- Why is everything "mine"?
- Archie Lee, I think you've been

drinking.

You stay out of this.
Sit down, Aunt Rose.

- What was that, Archie Lee?
- Sit down.

Where?

Sit down.

I'm gonna ask you a question.

What sort of plans have you
made?

What plans, Archie Lee?
What sort of plans do you mean?

Plans for the future.

Archie Lee, I don't think this
discussion

is necessary in front of
company.

Mrs. Meighan, when someone
feels uncomfortable over

something...

...it often happens he takes out
his annoyance...

...on some completely innocent
person.

Now, Aunt Rose...

...you've been here since
August.

And that's a mighty long stay.

And it's my honest opinion
that you're in need of a rest.

You've been cooking around here
and

cooking around there for how
long now?

Well?

How long you been cooking
around people's houses?

I helped out my relatives, my
folks,

whenever they needed me.

I was always invited,
sometimes begged to cook.

When babies was expected
or somebody was sick...

...they called Aunt Rose.
And Aunt Rose was always ready.

Nobody ever had to put me out.

Will you gentlemen excuse me
from the dinner table, I...

I'll run up and pack.

Miss Rose Comfort, wait.

I'll drive you home.

- I don't have nowhere to go.
- Yes, you do.

I need a cook.

I'm tired of my own cooking.

And I am anxious to try those
eggs Birmingham you mentioned.

Is it a deal?

- Well, I...
- Sure it's a deal, Aunt Rose.

Mr. Vacarro will be very good to
you.

And you never can tell
about things in the future.

Well, I'm gonna pack my things.

Is there anything else around
here you

wanna take away with you,
Mr. Vacarro?

- Well, is there?
- Why, yes, Archie Lee.

Mr. Vacarro noticed that the
house

was just full of furniture.

And he'd like to borrow
about five complete sets of it.

Colored folks call this pot
liquor.

I love pot liquor.

Good?

I'm crazy about pot liquor.

- Good.
- It's good.

- Good.
- That's good.

That old hen was coming in like
she'd been invited to supper.

You listen to me.
Now, you all listen to me.

Now, you quit giving those...

Those looks back and forth
and listen to me.

Why, you think I'm deaf...

...and dumb and blind or
something,

do you?

Well, you're mistook.

Oh, brother.

Oh, brother,
but you're much, much mistook.

I know. I know, I guess I look
like a...

I guess I look like...

What do you guess you look like,
Archie Lee?

Yeah, some sweet little innocent
Baby Doll of a wife, huh?

Oh, not ready for marriage, huh?
Oh, no, not ready for marriage.

...but plenty ready to go out...

Wait a minute now,
I see how it's funny.

It sure is funny, isn't it, huh?

But there's one little
teensy-weensy

thing that you've overlooked.

I got position.

I got position in this county
where I was born and brought up.

- Stop it!
- I hold a respected position.

Lifelong member of every
organization

in the delta!

On my side are friends!

Friends.

Long-standing business
associates,

and social.

You see what I mean, huh?

You ain't got that advantage,
have you, mister?

Well, have you, huh? Have you?

Come on, speak up.

Ain't you a dago or something?
Excuse me, I mean, Italian or

something?

I was a medical corpsman in the
Navy.

- You've an unhealthy look.
- I just gotta get on the phone...

Call an ambulance.

I don't have to make a call.
I can handle the situation

myself.

- What situation do you mean?
- Situation I find here under my

roof!

Look here now.

Oh, I'm not such a...

Such a marble-missing old fool
that I couldn't size it up.

I sized it up the minute I seen
you was still on this place...

...and her...

Oh, her...

Her with that sly smile on her.
And you with yours on you.

I know how to wipe off those
sly smiles.

Meighan!

You know and I know and I know
that you know that I know...

...that you set fire to my
cotton gin last night.

You burned down the Syndicate
Gin.

And I got here in my hand
a signed affidavit...

...a paper signed by a
witness...

...whose testimony will hold up
even in

the law courts of Tiger Tail
County.

That's what I come here for
and that's all I got.

Whatever else you suspect,
well, you're mistaken.

Isn't that so, Mrs. Meighan?
Isn't your husband mistaken...

...in thinking I got anything
but this signed affidavit...

...which was the purpose
of my all-afternoon call?

I'm foreign, Meighan...

...but not revengeful,
at least not more than is

rightful.

Now, we got a workable
good-neighbor policy between us.

It might work out. Anyhow, I
think it deserves a try.

Now, as to the other side of the
situation,

which I won't mention...

...well, all I can say is
a certain attraction exists.

Mutually, I believe.

I needed a little shuteye
after last night's excitement.

And I have a faint recollection
of being sung to by someone.

A lullaby song that was sweet...

...and a touch of cool fingers.

- Think I'm gonna accept this?
- But that's all, absolutely.

- You think I'm gonna put up...?
- With this situation?

You went to whole lot of risk
and trouble to get my business.

- Cool.
- Don't you want it?

- Yeah, cool.
- It's up to you, Archie.

- Very cool.
- It's up to you.

- You just fixed your wagon.
- Yeah.

With this smart talk,
oh, you just fixed your wagon.

I'm gonna wipe that grin off
your greasy wop face for good.

Oh, you just... You watch.

Is my wop face greasy,
Mrs. Meighan?

That's the last time you're ever
gonna lay

your hands on me again, you
stinker!

You stinking stinker! Stinker!

Look out, Silva!

Rock?

Rock, where are you?

Where are you, Vacarro?
Where are you?

Where you hiding, wop?

Oh, if you're under there,
you ain't getting out.

Look, my husband's got a gun,
and I just don't know...

Hey, wop!

Oh, you yellow-bellied wop.

Get that gun!
Get that gun away from him!

Help! Help!

Where's that wop?
You can't get away!

Go away from me!

Get away!
Where are you, Vacarro?

Right here, neighbor.

There you are.

Oh, it's you. Excuse me.

Silva?

Here. Here.

Where are you, Vacarro?

Come on.

You yellow-bellied wop!

Baby Doll!

Where are you, Vacarro?

Where are you, Vacarro?

Vacarro!

Come on out, Vacarro!

Now, you put that gun of yours
away!

Baby Doll!

Baby.

Baby Doll.

Baby Doll.

Baby Doll.

Baby Doll.

Oh, Vacarro, where...?

Where are you, you wop?

Baby Doll.

No. No.

No, Baby Doll.

Baby Doll. No, no, no.

No, no, no.

No. No, no, no.

Baby Doll.

Hurry. All ready to go.

Now, who is that?

What's the matter, Sandy?
Is something wrong?

I'm running for town marshal
for the 25th term, and I want

your vote.

- You got my vote, Sandy.
- Let me see your gun, fella.

Let me see it.

Doggone, man. You're too old
for a job like that.

I'm 20 years younger than you
and I wouldn't run for a job

like that.

Age is a factor calls for
recognition.

I hope you recognize the fact
it calls for recognition.

You know...

...a man grows old suddenly.

Not gradual, just all of a
sudden

he's old.

Hey, now, wait a minute,
where you guys taking me?

You're acting as though
I'm under arrest.

- Well, you been shoot...
- There he is!

Come on! Come on!

Get off! Get off me!

Come on. Come on.

Hey, how about me?

Put the handcuffs on him.

Okay. Okay.

Put me in that stinking black
calaboose.

I ain't a white man?

No, I ain't a white man,
so throw me in.

But don't you leave
my Baby Doll here with him.

Don't you leave him here with
her.

Sandy...

...listen, you're a married man.

You understand how I feel,
don't you, Sandy?

Please, as one white man to
another.

Just for tonight,
don't leave him on the place.

Just tonight, Sandy.

Scratched my leg
on the bark of that tree.

- Vacarro, come here.
- Excuse me.

Now, what you got on your mind?

Listen, fella, we ain't got
nothing

to hold that old boy on.

He's been shooting up his yard.
But he tells

us a varmint's been catching his
chickens.

His chickens?

I got a signed confession by a
material

witness that amounts to an
affidavit.

- Let's see.
- Not till it's witnessed by

others.

We'll have it witnessed.

I don't need or want anything
from you.

I'm going to the county sheriff.

- Rock!
- Here, Silva, here.

- Hey, Silva, how about me?
- Now?

Well, I'll be coming back
tomorrow

with lots more cotton.

I'll be back tomorrow
with lots more cotton!

I'll be back tomorrow
with lots more cotton to gin.

Early in the morning
with lots more cotton.

Early in the morning
with lots more cotton.

- Well, he's gone.
- What happens now?

Well, he sure enough got hisself
a signed confession from your

wife.

We're gonna have to go through
this thing

for appearance's sake.

I don't mean that, I mean...

...what happens tomorrow?

Well, the town marshal has no
control

over tomorrow.

Today's my Baby Doll's birthday.

Your friend forgot me.

Well, Archie Lee,
it looks like the celebration is

over.

Let's go.

He's coming back tomorrow
with more cotton.

He's coming back?

Well, let's go in now.

We got nothing to do
but wait for tomorrow.

And see...

...if we're remembered
or forgotten.

Oh, my. Oh, my.