Original subtitles

Hey, Mr. Bartender.

I'll see you.

- Come here, darlin'! - Read 'em.

- Sheriff! - Evening, sheriff.

- Pleasure doing business...

Sheriff!

- Mama, it's getting late.

- Come here by mama.

- Do you think...

Pa and Kathy are watching over us?

- Yes, sweetheart. I do.

Is there anything you want to say to them before we go?

- I love you,

and I miss you every day.

- Why don't you go on ahead?

I'll be there in a minute, ok?

It seems wrong to leave you here, Willie...

And I know that you and Kathy will look after each other.

And no matter how far away I am,

you will always be in my heart.

I'll see you again.

- Pa and I are going to Pennsylvania

to see my sister and her husband.

Who are you going to visit?

- We're not visiting anyone.

We're going to live with my grandpa and grandma.

- You're leaving home?

- My pa was the sheriff of Tedsford junction.

He got himself killed a couple years back.

- Gosh, I'm sorry to hear that.

- Oh, look, Mattie.

- Ho! Whoa!

- Hey! Hey! - Hey, pa!

- Come here. I missed you. - Oh, I missed you so much.

- Come here, young man. - Grandpa!

Go ahead.

- Grandma!

- My, my, my, Mattie. How you have grown.

And looking more like your father with every year.

- You really think so, grandma?

- I really do, sweetie.

I bet you're hot and thirsty.

There's fresh-churned buttermilk inside.

All right!

- Mm.

Welcome home, missie.

- It's good to be home, mama.

I just wish...

- I know, I know.

- All right, let's see what you do now.

Your move.

- Yeah, right. King me.

Somebody's been practicing.

- Yes, I have.

- Your father found you a house in town.

It's small, and it needs some work,

but it's near the school, and the rent is reasonable.

- Good. On my teacher's pay, I can't afford much.

- I really wish you'd reconsider staying with us,

at least for a little while.

- Do you need the help, mama? - No.

- I really appreciate you and pop wanting

to help me and Mattie.

But I need to stand on my own two feet right now.

Mattie needs to see that even though his daddy's gone,

he still has one parent strong enough to take care of him.

The other day, Mattie asked me

what color his father's eyes were.

Couldn't remember.

- Mattie might forget details like that,

but he won't forget the things his father did with him

or the things Willie taught him.

- I'm starting to forget little things about Willie too.

Like that last morning,

when we said goodbye,

did I kiss him?

I...I think I did, but I don't remember.

It's only been three years, mama.

- Just like with Mattie,

you'll remember the things that mattered.

Like how much you and Willie loved each other.

- No one will ever love me that way again.

And I will never love anyone else.

I can't imagine being truly happy again.

- That's how I felt when my first husband died.

And then I met your father.

- See, I feel if I were to love someone else,

that I would be betraying Willie in some way.

- Willie would want you to be happy.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's going to take a little bit of work,

but I can help you out with that, missie.

- That's all right, pa, it's going to be just fine.

Mattie...

Look what I found.

It's our Christmas star.

I promise you, Mattie,

I will make this into a nice place.

- It won't be like home, though.

- Do you know what makes a house a home?

- No.

- Home is where you'll always have a place,

where you will always feel loved,

and where you will never, ever be alone.

It might not seem like it now, Mattie,

but this place will come to feel like home.

Come here.

- O lord, how manifold are your works.

We thank you for the sun and the rain

which help nourish the crops

and help them grow into sustenance

for our minds and bodies.

In wisdom, you have made them all.

- Amen. - Amen!

- I have an announcement.

I received this notice from

the children's aid society of New York.

And it says:

"Wanted, homes for children.

"A company of homeless children from the east

"will arrive on Friday.

"These children are of various ages and of both sexes

"having been thrown friendless upon the world.

"We seek good homes with decent families

who will love them as their own."

Distribution of these children will take place

right here at the church.

I know I can count on all of you to open your hearts

to these precious children of god.

God bless you all.

- Pastor Joe. Excuse me. Hi...

- Well, I've heard a lot about you, missie.

- Oh, all good, I trust?

- Your father thinks the world of you.

Seems we're neighbors.

My husband and I are just two farms away from your new house.

- All right, see you tomorrow morning.

- Pastor. - Ah, Mrs. Pettis.

- Morning, sheriff. - Sheriff.

- We missed you at Sunday services today.

- Come on, now.

Clara... - He should be coming, honey.

- Well, that's his choice, now. - I know, I know.

- We'll see ya. - Bye-bye.

- Sheriff Tyler couldn't be bothered to attend church...

Again.

- Well, he's pretty busy keeping the peace.

- Every Sunday...

- We should be going, Mrs. Pettis.

- Well, it looks like your husband had a reason

for not showing his face in church as well.

- There is much work to be done on a farm,

and we can't afford hired help.

If my husband doesn't do the work,

we don't eat come winter.

- Good day, ma'am. I'm sheriff Tyler.

- Hello, sheriff. I'm Mrs. Lahaye.

- Yes, I know.

Small town. Word gets around.

I heard about the new teacher.

- Oh, what else have you heard?

- Well, your folks are Clark and Marty Davis,

and you have a little boy.

- Mattie.

- Mattie.

Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Lahaye.

- Mm. - Can I have some more, grandma?

- Mattie.

- It's all right, missie. Sure you can.

- You spoil him.

- Of course I do. It's my job as a grandma.

So tell me more about this orphan train

pastor Joe was talking about.

- Now, Marty, you know you're not well enough

to be chasing after a child.

- I will be soon.

- Well, for now, we're going to have to let other people

handle that responsibility.

- Would you consider taking in one of those children?

- Yeah, mom!

Then I get to have a brother or sister.

- No. - But all my friends have

a bunch of brothers and sisters.

But since Kathy died, I've had none.

I'm sorry, mama.

- It's all right, Mattie.

It's good to talk about her.

We don't want to forget her, right?

- Right.

Here they come.

- Don't stand so close.

- But I'm scared, Lindy.

- I told you. Get away from me.

Folks don't want a brother and sister.

- Whoa.

- Oh, look he's so cute. Don't you think?

- You mean the one on the right or on the left?

- Yeah. - Good day, Mrs. Lahaye.

- Oh, sheriff.

- You going to take one of these kids?

- No.

I was just passing by,

and I thought I would stop in and see how it was going.

- Good day.

- Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming today.

These children are putting their faith

in the kindness of strangers like you.

Let's begin with Alice Moore.

Alice, you want to come up here next to me?

- Go on.

- Alice is 7 years old.

She was orphaned when her parents died

in an influenza epidemic.

- Oh, Paul.

She's the same age as Lily was when we lost her.

Do you think that we could...

May we take Alice aside and get acquainted with her, pastor?

- You certainly may.

Why don't you go with these nice folks?

Jonas Sikes is 9 years old.

His parents were killed three years ago in a fire.

- Well... - Oh, he's such a nice boy.

- Come on.

- Ruth Linda is 5 years old.

She was left on the doorstep of the battery park orphanage

as an infant.

- Well, I'm sure certain. Let's do it.

- Hello.

- Next is Belinda Marshall.

She's 14 years old.

- We need a boy.

- The boy's too young and scrawny.

She's older.

She looks like she could handle herself on a farm.

I'll look her over, pastor,

see if she might do.

Open your mouth.

- Why?

- I want to make sure you're healthy.

Spirited, huh?

That's all right. It means you're tough.

You'll be a good worker. We'll take her.

- I'm not going with you!

You smell. You probably haven't had a bath for a year!

- Watch your mouth, girl.

- Ow! Jesus!

- She's incorrigible.

- He looks healthy enough. We'll take him.

He looks like he'll grow into a good farmhand.

- That isn't the point, Hank.

- I thought the point was to find homes for these young'uns.

Anyone else here want 'em?

- If he comes with us, he gets a decent home

with plenty of good food.

And I'll see he comes to church.

- The choice is yours, Jacob. You don't have to go with them.

Would you rather go back to the orphanage?

- No.

- All right, then. Sign a paper, sheriff.

- Come here, boy. Come on.

Let's go. Come on.

- Come on.

- I'm sorry, child.

Looks like you'll have to get back on the train.

- Unless someone can find room for her?

- My house is small.

There's barely enough room for me and Mattie.

I'm missie lahaye.

I'm the school teacher here,

and I have a little boy.

I can't offer you much,

no fancy dolls or store-bought dresses,

but if you come to live with me, I'll treat you kindly.

Ok?

I'll take that as a yes.

Welcome to your new home.

Mattie, this is Belinda Marshall.

She's going to be living with us.

- For how long?

- Just 'til I'm old enough to leave, not a day longer.

- Let's just say for the foreseeable future,

and we'll leave it at that for now.

You can put your things over here.

Um, I'll make up a bed over here,

a...and I'll hang some curtains around it for some privacy.

- I'd rather sleep in the shed.

- Oh, no.

It's too dirty,

and there's lots of broken-down old furniture and stuff.

- I don't care. I'll fix it up myself.

- Mattie, will you go over to Mrs. Hudson's

and ask her if we can borrow her spare mattress

just for a while?

Belinda, I would like for you to stay in the house

with me and Mattie.

- Why? - Because this is your home now.

Belinda, we're your family.

- You're not my family.

I've got a papa back in New York.

He'll be coming for me as soon as he gets a job.

I won't be staying here long.

So, don't think I will.

This should do for now.

At least until it turns cold.

Is that your family Bible?

Is it something your parents gave you?

- No.

We each got one at the orphanage.

- Have you read much of it?

Maybe we could read a passage tonight after supper.

- No.

- What grade are you in, Belinda?

- No grade.

- I mean, in New York,

what's the last grade that you finished?

- First.

- That's as far as you've gotten in school?

- I had work to do. There was no time for school.

- Belinda...

Can you read?

- And...what if I can't?

Doesn't matter.

Don't need to know how to read to sweep a floor

or bake biscuits or wash clothes.

- But books open up a whole world to you.

They teach you things, like...

How much an African elephant weighs

or how Betsy Ross came to make the first flag.

- Why would I need to know any of those things?

- Well, it's not just facts and history.

There are stories that touch your heart

and make your imagination soar.

And books can take you anywhere.

You could go to China

or be in the court of queen Elizabeth.

- I'm going outside.

- Grandma! Grandpa!

- Hey! - Hey, sweetheart.

- Hey there.

Mama, papa, this is Belinda.

- Welcome to the family, Belinda.

- We hope that you'll come to think of us

as your grandparents.

- I'm not your granddaughter.

- We're not trying to take the place

of your other grandparents.

We just think a child

can't have too many people who love her.

- Do you have grandparents back in New York?

- No. And I don't need none, either.

- Hmm.

- Well, I think it's just about time to sit down to supper.

- Belinda. - What?

- We say grace first, Belinda.

Do you know what that is?

- Of course I do.

We had to pray over our food at the orphanage.

I don't know why.

- Well, it's important.

We're very fortunate. A lot of people go hungry.

- Bet I know that a lot better than you do.

- Mm.

Let's bow our heads and pray.

Dear lord, we thank you

for everything that you have given us,

especially for the new member of our family, Belinda.

Amen. - Amen.

- Amen.

- Amen.

- Yeah! - Let's go!

- We're going to go play with the puppies now in the barn.

Do you want to come?

- No.

- Well, if you change your mind,

you're more than welcome to join us.

Ah, getting big there, boy.

Come here. - I'll beat you to the barn.

For the life of me,

I don't know what possessed me to take in that child.

I sure didn't need any more responsibility.

- Then why did you?

- Well, I didn't intend to.

But when I rode past the church that day,

something stopped me.

And then when I heard pastor Joe say,

"will someone take this child?"

It was as if another voice came out of me saying, "I will."

- Maybe it was another's voice.

- You think god was speaking through me?

- I think god knew that Belinda needs you.

And maybe, for some reason that you don't understand yet,

you need her.

- Oh, look, they're playing.

- Little snowball. - He's so cute.

- I think he makes a nice hat.

Snowball.

- There you go.

- Come here, boy!

Come over here! Get over here!

What are you doing, huh? What do you think you're doing?

Sneaking around, trying to get away?

Is that it? You're trying to get away?

Answer me! Huh? Come here, boy.

Come here! Get over here!

You think you can just run away

because you don't like your chores?

Huh? I can make you work as hard as I want.

Don't you run away! Get in here!

- No! - Take what's coming to you!

- Get!

- Well, that's rising nicely.

- If I get the berries,

can I use your oven to bake some pies?

- Pies? Of course.

Is that one of your favorites? Berry pie?

- Not mine. My mother's.

- Belinda's going to bake us some fruit pie.

- That's nice.

- What's the matter, Clark?

- I've got to take care of something

for the Fletcher widow.

Go back inside, Belinda.

- What are you going to do? - Something I have to.

- I'm coming with you.

- The Fletcher widow's horse broke loose.

He fell in a gully and broke his leg.

She asked me to put him down for her.

- You're going to shoot an innocent animal?

- Because it needs doing.

Now, please, go back inside.

- What if the horse's leg can be fixed?

Shouldn't you at least try?

Why is everybody so cruel? Why doesn't god stop you?!

Please don't kill it! Please!

- Child, listen to me. I'll check his leg.

If I can save his life, I will, but if the bone is shattered,

would you rather I leave him out here to be eaten alive

by coyotes and wolves?

Wait here, child.

- Belinda, your food is getting cold.

What's the matter?

Can I?

Lindy?

I brought you some food.

- Mattie? - Yes?

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- So, do you think this is enough berries for a pie?

- Not hardly. Don't you know nothing?

- I know a bunch of things.

I just don't know how to make a pie.

- Well, we need a lot more berries.

So, quit talking, and start picking.

- Which ones are the better? Squishy ones or the hard ones?

Ah! - Mattie!

- Ah!

Ow! - Mattie!

- Mattie, are you ok? Oh, my gosh.

- No. My arm hurts real bad.

- We have to get you into town.

Can you stand? Can you stand up?

- What happened? - I fell.

- Well, I can see that. Here.

Oh.

Ooh. Let's take you over to Mrs. Lahaye's.

- What happened?

Mattie, are you ok?

- Apparently, he fell.

- I tore my clothes. I'm sorry, mama.

- That's all right, sweetheart.

Will you take him inside? - Sure.

Come on, little fella.

- Come along, Belinda.

- I don't think it's too bad. He bled a lot,

but it's not broken.

Thank you, sheriff. Oh, I didn't do anything.

She managed to get him into town.

- Thank you, Belinda.

- I'll go get a towel and a bowl of water.

- Oh, sweetheart, does it hurt?

- Yeah.

- What is it?

- Nothing.

I'd best be going.

- Oh. You're a very brave boy.

- Missie told me about how you took care of Mattie.

How did you know how to get the bleeding to stop?

- My mama taught me stuff.

She used to be a midwife,

so she knew all about fixing people.

At the orphanage, there were 300 kids and only one nurse.

So, I helped out.

- Did you like doing that?

- Yeah.

It made me feel good.

- Belinda, have you ever thought about becoming a nurse?

- Me, a nurse? I don't think so.

- Why not?

- Someone like me can't do something like that.

- What do you mean someone like you?

- You know...Poor.

- Plain old poverty can't keep you

from doing something you really want to do.

Only poverty of spirit can do that.

- My mama always wanted to be a nurse.

But she never got the chance to.

- Your mama was never able to pursue her dream.

I think she'd be very proud

if you were able to do something she couldn't.

- No matter how early we leave, we are always running late.

- Is that why we're always running?

- What's the matter with you, boy?

We ain't got money to go wasting on your clumsiness!

- Hello, Mr. Pettis.

- Mrs. Lahaye.

- Jacob only tripped. It was an accident.

- Money's tight, Mrs. Lahaye.

A couple more accidents might well put me in the poor house.

And you might want to keep an eye on your own young'uns.

Let's go.

- Ready, set, go!

- Go! Go! Go!

- Can I play?

- Of course not.

- Why not?

- Nobody likes you, that's why.

You're just a no-account orphan.

- You take that back, liar!

- All right, that's enough.

Hey!

- Get up.

I said that's enough.

Now, someone want to tell me what happened here?

Why don't you and I go over here and talk?

- But it wasn't my fault! I didn't start it!

- I know that Stevens boy well enough

to be pretty sure he did or said something mean.

You want to tell me what that was?

Must have been pretty bad if you don't want to say.

- He just...

He wouldn't let me play, is all.

- It's hard being the outsider.

In fact, I imagine

your whole life's pretty hard right now.

But you can't give up, Belinda.

- I can run faster than all of them.

- I bet you can!

Why don't you go back there and show 'em? Go on!

- I can outrun any of you.

- No, you can't. You're a girl.

- Yeah, and you're a stupid bully,

but I can still outrun you.

- You want to get beat bad?

Come on in.

- Once around the old oak.

Ready, set, go!

Come on!

- Recess is over! Everybody back inside.

- Next time, I want you on my team, ok?

Good job.

- Why do I get the feeling that something just happened

and you were a part of it?

Nothing I couldn't handle, ma'am.

But if I were you, I'd keep an eye on that Belinda.

If she does run, you're not going to catch her.

Hey, Mr. Bartender.

I'll see you.

- Come here, darlin'! - Read 'em.

- Sheriff! - Evening, sheriff.

- Pleasure doing business...

Come on.

I brought food.

- Smells really good.

- You've got to hide it from him.

- I'll put it under my bed.

- I'll try to bring something better tomorrow night.

- I hate it here, Lindy.

He hits me, and she yells at me.

I don't want to stay.

Can't I come live with you?

- I don't know how Mrs. Lahaye would feel about that.

Even if she were ok with it,

Mr. and Mrs. Pettis probably wouldn't let her take you.

- I miss you something awful.

Let's run away from here right now.

- Jacob, you know we can't leave.

Even if we could leave, how would papa find us?

At least this way, the orphanage can tell him we were sent here.

I promise I'll get you out of here, Jacob.

It just can't be tonight.

- You're going to leave me again?

- I'll never leave you longer than I have to.

I'll be back tomorrow, ok?

- At least you're safe. Thank god.

Look, it is late, and we are both exhausted.

So we will talk about this in the morning.

Now, go to bed, Belinda.

- Last night wasn't the first time you sneaked out,

was it?

I want to know where you went

and why you stole food.

- Members of a family need to trust each other.

- So?

- I don't understand.

What do you want?

- I have to stay here.

If you don't want me, I can find work somewhere.

I'm a hard worker. All I ask for is food and a bed.

- Belinda, I want you.

My family wants you.

And I'm not going to send you to work

when you should go to school and be a child.

- I haven't been a child for a long time.

- I'm worried about her safety.

I'll keep a close watch over her, of course,

but I can't stay up all night, every night.

And if she's determined to sneak out,

she's going to just do it.

- Instead of trying to stop something you can't stop,

just let her go...

- Let her go?

Have you lost your mind?

- You didn't let me finish. Let her go, and follow her.

See what this is all about. It may be nothing.

She could be sneaking out just to prove

she doesn't have to stay with you, or...

- Or, it could be something serious,

something dangerous even.

- There's only one way to find out.

Shh, shh.

What are you doing here?

Same thing you are.

Finding out what that little girl's doing.

- I brought peaches.

- Oh, boy! Ain't had nothing like this in a long time.

- How are you doing?

- He hit me again.

I didn't do nothing.

I just didn't move fast enough

when Mrs. Pettis told me to fetch something.

- Jacob, I'll get you out of here just as soon as I can.

- I hope that's soon, Lindy.

- Goodnight, Jacob.

Oh...

- Belinda, why have you been sneaking out to see Jacob?

And why are you bringing him food?

- We need the truth now, Belinda.

It will be better for you to get it all out.

- Jacob looks thinner than when I saw him the last time.

Are Mr. and Mrs. Pettis treating him right?

- We need the real story.

- It's not a story! It's true!

They're being real mean to Jacob.

- What's Jacob's last name?

Is it "Marshall"?

- Is Jacob your brother?

Belinda, why did you keep this a secret?

- At the other towns the train stopped at,

I saw brothers and sisters having a real hard time.

Most folks only want one kid,

and others feel bad about breaking up families.

They don't take any kid.

- I would have taken both of you, Belinda.

- You say that now,

but you know you wouldn't have wanted more than one kid.

Jacob had a better chance on his own.

- Why?

- Because he's younger.

Folks want younger kids.

Once you get to be around my age,

it's harder to find people to take 'em.

- You need to go to bed.

But I promise you, Belinda,

we will go over there

first thing tomorrow morning, and I will talk...

- Ms....ms. Lahaye, may I speak to you outside, please?

- Go to bed.

Why did you stop me?

I was going to tell her

that we'll go get her brother out of there.

- That's why I stopped you.

I didn't want to get her hopes up.

- So you think that I won't do what I said?

- No, I know you'll try to do exactly what you said.

But when Mr. and Mrs. Pettis took Jacob,

they got legal guardianship,

and unless we can prove that he's being seriously hurt,

no court will interfere.

- So you're not going to do anything?

- Oh, I'll go over there tomorrow

and check the situation out.

But I've got to be careful how I handle this.

I don't want to make Hank so mad

that he takes it out on Jacob.

- Well, I'm going over there with you.

- No, you're not. - You can't stop me.

You be at my office at 8:00, sharp.

I won't wait a minute longer.

- I'll be there.

Belinda Marshall,

you are an amazing girl.

And I love you very much.

- Just want to see the boy, Hank.

- We know you've been mistreating him.

- You watch your mouth, young woman.

- Let us see the boy, and we'll leave.

- Come on out here, boy!

You just stay right here.

- Jacob, I'm sheriff Tyler, and this is Mrs. Lahaye.

- Lindy's foster mama?

- Yes. Your sister is very worried about you, Jacob.

She believes that Mr. and Mrs. Pettis

aren't feeding you enough

and that they're working you too hard.

- Is that true, Jacob?

- Don't be afraid of him. We won't let him hurt you.

- Has he laid a hand on you, Jacob?

- Are they feeding you enough?

You said you were going to bring him to church.

Why haven't you done that?

- That's enough.

You got your answers, sheriff. Now, get!

Hya!

- I wanted to ask them

why they aren't sending Jacob to school.

- Well, no law says they have to.

- But... - Even parents,

let alone guardians, don't have to send their kids to school.

- That's just wrong.

Jacob needs an education

if he's going to have any kind of future.

- Unless we can persuade pettis of that,

Jacob's future's on that farm.

- You don't understand how desperately

Belinda and Jacob love each other,

what it means to be separated

from someone you love that deeply.

I don't think you've ever felt that way

about anyone in your life,

or else you wouldn't let that happen.

Ho!

- Did you see Jacob? Is he ok? Is he going to come live here?

- Belinda, I'm sorry.

Sheriff Tyler and I talked to Mr. Pettis,

but Jacob's going to have to stay there for now.

- Our papa's going to come for us someday.

And he's going to get Jacob away from that terrible man.

And he's going to take both of us home with him.

- For those of you in the second grade primer,

please open your books to page 13.

For the rest of you,

you can continue doing your multiplication tables.

Belinda?

Will you open your book to page 13?

I would like for you to read aloud.

- "The ta...

"Tales

"of Pete...

Peter Rab... Rab..."

- Rabbit.

You're doing very well. Go on.

- I can't read it.

- You can try.

- I don't want to.

- All right, class, that's enough for today.

We will pick up tomorrow where we left off.

You're excused.

She doesn't want to be part of a family.

She really resents me, maybe even hates me.

- You and I didn't take to each other at first, remember?

And I am so ashamed about how I resented you.

- It's perfectly natural.

You'd lost your mama and didn't want me to take her place.

Just like with your papa and me.

I'd lost my husband,

and I didn't want Clark to take his place.

- But then you fell in love with papa,

and things changed.

- I fell in love with both of you.

- But Belinda has so much anger in her.

She's had it much harder than I did.

- Which is exactly why she needs you.

Even if she's not ready to admit it right now,

she needs what you have to give.

- But I have so little to give.

I can barely keep enough food on the table for Mattie and me.

Those other parents that adopted those children,

they have so much to offer.

- You will leave Belinda a legacy of character

and of a love for others

and of faith.

- That's a beautiful legacy.

- That's the kind of legacy that lasts.

- Well, we've gone through all the books at school

and all the books here,

and you can't seem to find anything

that you're interested in.

There must be something that you want to be able to read.

- Well...

When my pa dropped me and Jacob off at the orphanage,

he pinned this letter to my dress.

I was supposed to give it to him,

but I kept it. - Why?

- These are his last words to us.

They're important.

I just know it's going to say how much he loved us

and wanted to keep us

and how he'll come back for us someday.

Will you read it to me?

- Oh...

Belinda, this letter is private.

It's between you children and your papa.

I can teach you how to read it.

- Ok, I'll learn how to read,

but will you just read it to me now?

- All right.

"To whom it may concern:

"This is to certify that the biological father

"and only legal guardian of Belinda and Jacob Marshall

"freely and of his own will

"requests that the children's aid society

"provide a home for his minor children

"until they are of age.

"Samuel Marshall promises...

"Not to interfere

"in any arrangements the children's aid society

"may make for them.

Sincerely..."

Your father put his Mark.

- Is that all?

- I'm so sorry, Belinda.

I know it must have been very difficult

for your father to give up you and Jacob.

- Last one to the swimming hole's a rotten egg.

- Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Mrs. Lahaye, what's wrong?

- I lost my locket.

The chain must have broken.

- Is it valuable? - Yes.

I'm sorry, it's just that my mother gave it to me

a long time ago,

and it is very dear to me.

- Let me help you look for it.

- Thank you.

- You know, it's starting to get dark out here.

We can look again tomorrow.

- There's no point.

It's gone.

Mmm. That sure looks good.

- Big piece of cake. - Uh-huh.

- Some of this?

- He asked for the biggest piece I could get.

- Mabel made this. Oh, I'll see you in a bit.

- All right.

- You ought to be out there, sheriff.

- Oh, I'm not much of a dancer.

- It's not how good you are.

It's just an excuse to wrap your arms around a pretty girl.

- Why don't you ask her to dance?

- You're just all right, ma'am.

- Well, you're a little bit all right yourself.

- Well, maybe I will.

- And I love that cobbler. I'll see you later.

- Mrs. Lahaye, may I have this dance?

- I...

- Mrs. Lahaye, I...

That's...

A peddler came through town the other day,

and I got this for you.

I know it won't replace the one your mother gave you,

but I thought maybe it might make you feel better.

- Zach, this looks like real gold.

- Well, if it isn't, I got taken.

There's enough room for two pictures...

Mattie's and Belinda's.

- I can't accept this. - Well, it's just a gift.

It doesn't mean anything.

- That's just it.

I could only accept an expensive gift like this

if it did mean something,

if it came from the man that I love.

Could I be such a man?

No.

- I know, sweetheart.

- I just never wanted to feel this way again.

It was so much easier when I didn't feel anything.

- Oh, unfortunately, it doesn't seem like god

put us on this earth to have it easy.

But he did put us here to love one another.

- I'm so ashamed of myself.

I have two children at home to think of,

and I'm acting like a child myself.

- You're not acting like a child.

You're acting like a woman in love.

I have to get home to the children.

- If there's anything your father and I can do to help...

- Thank you, mama.

Thank you.

- Mrs. Lahaye?

There's something I... I need to tell you.

You asked me a while back

why I care so much about Belinda.

You see, she reminds me of someone.

- Someone you loved?

- Eleanor. Ellie.

We grew up together.

Her daddy was the town drunk,

and when he wasn't passed out,

he was just full of meanness.

And he took it out on her.

- Nobody did anything?

- No.

Then when I finally got big enough,

I stood up to him.

- What happened?

- Well, let's just say he didn't hit her again.

- Did you marry Ellie?

- I was going to.

- What happened?

- Bank robbery.

She wasn't a threat in any way.

They didn't have to kill her.

But they did, and they got away with it.

They're alive and...

And Ellie is dead.

Just no rhyme or reason to it.

- Oh, Zach, I'm so sorry.

I understand your bitterness toward god.

I felt the same way once.

My husband, Willie, was the sheriff

in the town that we lived in.

He was killed in the line of duty.

- How did it happen?

- It was stupid, really.

- Men in a saloon, they got into a fight.

Willie went in to break it up.

Should have ended with nothing worse

than a black eye or two and a broken nose, but...

One of the men pulled out a gun.

He was dead by the time I got there.

I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye.

- I'm so sorry, missie.

You must have loved him very much.

- With all of my heart and soul.

- We're just about done.

Sure goes fast when you're not doing it alone.

- Grandma! Mama! Come quick!

One of the puppies won't wake up.

- Oh...

Poor little thing.

- Can I hold him for a minute?

- Yeah.

You're all right now. You're all right.

- Belinda!

How did you do that?

Belinda?

- Belinda. Oh, Belinda.

You just did an amazing thing.

What's the matter?

- Mama didn't only have Jacob and me.

There was a baby girl.

Jenny.

- I'm so sorry, honey.

I tried to take care of baby Jenny

and to keep her warm

and to get her milk,

even though we didn't have much money.

- How old were you, Belinda?

- Eight.

- That is far too big a responsibility

for a little girl.

- There wasn't anyone else to do it.

- What happened to Jenny?

- She got sick.

And we couldn't afford a doctor.

So...one day, she just...

Stopped breathing and...

And I tried to do what mama told me to do,

like with the puppy,

but it didn't work.

It's all my fault Jenny died.

- Belinda, listen to me.

Sometimes things happen, terrible things,

and there is nothing that we can do about it.

You don't understand.

- Yes, I do.

- How can you?!

- Because I lost a baby, too.

Her name was Kathy,

and she was so very precious to me.

- What happened to her?

- She just stopped breathing.

I don't know why.

One minute she was in her cradle asleep,

and then, the next, she...

- It wasn't your fault. - I felt like it was.

I felt like there must have been some way

that I could save her,

just like you thought that you could save Jenny.

But we couldn't.

It was out of our hands.

It was in god's hands.

- I couldn't save Jenny.

And you couldn't save Kathy.

But we can save Jacob.

- I'm going to bring you and Mattie home now.

- And then what?

- Then I am going to get Jacob.

- Sheriff!

- What is it? Is something wrong?

- I think Mrs. Lahaye might be in trouble,

and it's all my fault... I made her go out there.

- Go where? - To get Jacob.

But she's all alone, and that man is so mean.

I'm afraid he might hurt her!

- You go on home, Belinda. - But...But, sheriff...

- I'll take care of this, but I can't worry about you too,

so go on home and stay there.

- If anything happens to Mrs. Lahaye...

- Nothing's going to happen to her. I won't let it.

- All right, what is it this time, Mrs. Lahaye?

- Where's Jacob?

- None of your business, that's where.

- Let him come with me.

He needs to be with his sister.

Surely you can see that, Mr. Pettis.

- All I know is, I got a good hand.

- You can hire someone.

A grown man can do much more work

than that little boy can.

- Men don't work for nothing.

That boy does.

- Search your heart, Mr. Pettis.

I know that somewhere deep inside,

you must feel something for him.

- Well, now, that's where you're wrong, Mrs. Lahaye.

You are a cruel and selfish man,

and I am not going to let Jacob spend

one more day in your power.

- And just what do you think you can do about it? Huh?

You come onto my land threatening me.

I'm within my rights to do whatever I want to you.

Even the law can't say otherwise.

- Let go of me! - Let her go, Hank.

- Nobody tells me what to do on my own land.

- You let her go.

You can't arrest me for defending myself

on my own property.

- If we weren't on your property,

you'd be heading to jail right now.

Either way, you shoot anyone here

or anywhere else, I will arrest you,

let the courts decide whether it's right or wrong.

Ms. Lahaye, come on. - But what about Jacob?

- Can't do anything about him right now.

Whoa. Ho.

He shot at you. Why didn't you arrest him?

- Well, that was just a warning shot.

If he wanted to hit me, he would have hit me.

You were trespassing on his land, missie.

By law, you should have been the one arrested.

- Where's Jacob?

- I'm sorry, Belinda.

But we couldn't get him away. - Why not?

- We don't have the legal right.

- What about Jacob's rights?

- Look, I am not giving up.

I promise you that I will get Jacob back.

Ho!

- Hey, mama.

- Where's Belinda?

She came in, grabbed her stuff

and left through the back door.

- Oh, no. Stay here.

Belinda! Belinda!

She's gone. She took all of her things,

and she's not coming back this time.

- Well, she won't leave without Jacob.

I'll go to the pettis place.

- I'm coming.

- No. Go home and wait for her.

- If my husband sees you, he'll run you off again.

- I think Belinda might have come for Jacob.

- You're wrong.

He's in the barn feeding the cow.

- Well, I'd like to check, if you don't mind.

- What are you doing back here?

- The boy's run off.

- All right, everybody, let's gather around.

I have no idea where these kids might be going,

so we'll go in different directions.

I'll go north. Clark, you go east.

Anderson, you go south. Missie, you go west.

Pastor, if you don't mind, go back to the church

in case the kids seek refuge there.

Let's everybody meet back here by sundown.

- Let's go, boys.

Hya!

- Belinda!

Jacob!

- Belinda!

- No one found them?

We have to go back out.

- No. - But they can't stay out there.

Not in the dark alone in the storm.

- Zach's right, missie.

It's too dark to look for 'em now.

We have to wait until dawn.

- Belinda's a smart, tough little girl.

She'll find shelter for her and Jacob.

- What if there is no shelter where they are?

What if there's a wash?

They don't know that it's not safe because of flash floods.

- No, it will be no help to them if you get lost, too.

Mattie needs you. Stay with him.

- I'll talk to more parishioners,

arrange for a search party to go out in the morning.

- We'll stay with you tonight, missie.

I'll stay with you.

I'm so scared, papa.

- All right, let's go, boys.

All right, Clarence, you ready?

- Right behind you. - Let's go.

- Hya!

- Jacob! Right there! Come on!

- It's ok, Jacob. It's all right.

We're just going to stay here until the rain stops.

- What do we do then? Where do we go?

- Don't worry, ok?

I've got a plan.

- Belinda!

Jacob!

Belinda!

Jacob!

- Let's pray.

Dear lord, please give those little children

the strength and the courage

to make it through this dark night,

and give us the faith to accept your will.

Amen.

Amen.

- I don't know if you can hear me or not, god.

I'm not sure I even believe in you.

But I know I can't find those children without you.

Hear my prayer, lord.

I'm so cold.

- Jacob?!

Belinda!

- We're over here! We're over here!

- Keep talking, Belinda!

I'll follow your voice.

- Over here! We're over here!

- Sheriff Tyler? - Yes.

You're safe now. I'm going to get you back.

- Back to Mr. Pettis?

- No, son. Home. To Missie's.

- Why don't you come inside?

Zach, there are no words

that can begin to describe the depth of my gratitude.

- None are necessary, missie.

- So, what happens now?

Does Jacob have to go back to pettis?

- No.

No, we talked on the ride back,

and he admitted to me that Hank's been beating him

and practically starving him.

I'm going to tell Hank

if he doesn't voluntarily give up

his legal guardianship of him,

I'll arrest him.

I don't think that Belinda and Jacob

should be separated again.

I would like for him to come and live with us.

- Well, I think the children's aid society

will go along with that.

- I can't believe that you found them in that storm

all by yourself.

- Hmm.

I wasn't alone out there, missie.

- What do you mean? I thought that you rode out by yourself.

- Yeah, I searched for hours,

calling them over and over again.

It got to the point where I felt hopeless.

I knew I would never find them on my own.

So I prayed to god for help.

- Oh...Zach.

- And then I was absolutely silent,

and in that silence,

I heard what I couldn't hear while I was riding,

calling them.

- What?

- A child crying.

The thing is, is, even standing still,

I shouldn't have heard that little voice over the storm.

- Maybe it wasn't Jacob's voice you heard.

You spoke to god,

and he answered you.

- With a miracle.

- When did you start coming here, pa?

- When your mama died.

This is where I said goodbye.

- How do you do that?

How do you let go of someone you love?

- When we love someone,

that love doesn't die when they do.

It stays in our hearts forever.

But we do have to say goodbye to the life we shared with them,

go on with a new life,

a chance at happiness.

- Willie would want me to be happy.

- Mm-hmm.

- I know that.

- He'd approve of Zach.

He's a good man.

- Hmm...

But it feels like a betrayal.

- It isn't.

And it doesn't matter how I tell you that.

You're going to have to feel it, missie.

I think I'm going to go on back to the house.

You want to sit here for a while?

- Hmm.

I will always love you, Willie.

But I am finally ready to be happy again.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

Do you still have that locket?

- Why yes, right here.

- If you still want to give it to me,

I'll take it.

- But you said you couldn't accept a gift like that.

- Unless it came from someone that I loved.

Will you put it on me, Zach?

- Gladly.

- There's something else I couldn't do

unless it was with the man I love.

- Bye, darling! - Bye-bye!

- I love you! - Come on, you guys.

Come on, let's go!

Bye!

- Bye! Be good!

- Bye-bye!

I'll miss you.