Original subtitles

(lighthearted piano music)

(thunder booming)

- We can stop in Hastings in about three minutes.

So in that case, we better drop our flaps

and start our descent.

- Aren't you the guy that's never happy

unless we're clicking along?

- That's me, Skipper, only this is submarine weather.

And how would it look if we ran into a well?

There's another town here.

It looks bigger, at least, the print looks bigger.

Called Sparrow Falls.

It's about 20 minutes away.

- What comes after Sparrow Falls?

- You got about two hours of desert.

What's the matter with Sparrow Falls?

You ever been there before?

- No.

= [Buzz] So?

- Something ever tell you not to do something?

- Yeah, my conscience, but I try never to listen to that.

- Some inner voice says just keep going.

Crazy, huh?

- Well, that's when I'd stop right in the middle

of Sparrow Falls, and I'd get out and I'd walk around.

- [Tod] In the rain.

- In the rain, and I'd yell, now what, Mr. Inner Voice?

- And that's when you'd get hit by the whale.

(laughing)

♪ Rock of ages, cleft for me

♪ Let me hide myself in thee

(thunder booming)

♪ Let the water and the blood

♪ From thy riven side which flowed

♪ Be of sin, the double cure

♪ Cleanse me from its guilt and power

(thunder booming)

- Brother, sisters, the forgiveness of God is unconditional.

What man has been, God can cleanse

if that man truly repents.

Only when we're seized with the certainty

that we have been forgiven can the fire of God's love

burn within us and light our way in the darkness.

This is the greatest experience that can happen to a man.

It transforms everything.

Then we discover the strengthening angels of the Lord

that are all around us.

And where do we seek these angels?

Here, brothers, sisters.

Here, in this word of God.

Here, if we believe, we can come to know the angel of pardon

the angel of peace, the angel that keeps the gates of heaven

One who can testify is Sister Evelyn.

Sister Evelyn,

(water trickling heavily)

- No, No!

(scary music)

(tires screeching)

Close the door and please take me away from there

as far as you can.

Please keep going.

- Mommy, mommy, mommy!

- I've prayed that whatever was calling your mother

would leave her in peace but it hasn't.

- Mommy!

- When a rider relinquishes herself to the bolting horse,

there is nothing to be done.

Nothing but wait and keep on praying.

(ominous music)

(dramatic music)

- Anybody got a comb?

That bad?

- No, me I like girls in their natural state

but my buddy here Todd, he likes them combed out.

- Hooray for Todd, girls are supposed to be combed out.

Hey does that radio work?

- Yeah, you wanna listen to the Russian dogs barking

in outer space?

- Look maybe you two can sit here and chit-chat all night

but me I gotta know things like, who are you?

What is this jazz?

What is this thing you're wearing?

Where are you going?

What do you want from our lives?

- Where's you dig him up?

- Him?

Oh I just carry him along to ask the questions.

That's because we both like the answers.

- Oh, who am I?

I'm a gypsy.

I ran away because I don't wanna grow up

to become a fortune teller.

Where am I going?

From pillar to post.

What do I want from you?

A full tank of gas and as much distance

from back there as I can get.

You're thinking maybe she is dangerous or something,

maybe she's carrying a gun?

You wanna search me?

- What do I look like a police woman?

- Where are you headed?

- West and then north.

- Doesn't that tie you down?

- No, we don't follow any schedule, we just go.

Right now what we need is some food and a drink.

Especially a drink.

You know we could have left you back there on the road

like a wet Persian rug.

- I've been stepped on before.

- Ooo, self-pity.

- Oh I can't even spell uncle let alone cry it.

I just face the facts.

The world is split up into two camps,

them that buy and them that get bought.

- You know I smell smoke.

Old grudges may be burning.

- You know you and I could get to be a danger to each other.

- Buzz, up ahead, can you make it out?

- Still have that premonition?

- My psychic geography was about 20 miles off.

I had a hunch something was gonna happen

but it happened in Hastings not in Sparrow Falls.

- My inner man thanks your inner man.

Now let's find some place where we can stop and eat

where all those truck drivers do

and then we'll ask the owner where he eats.

- There is a better place in the next town for dinner.

- Oh no, that's two hours away.

- We could make time stand still if you wanted to.

- Look baby I don't like aggressive women.

- Please don't stop in Sparrow Falls.

- Why not?

- I'll tell you why we're gonna stop.

First of all, we're thirsty.

Second, we're hungry.

Third, if we don't get you in some dry clothes,

you'll catch a cold, and fourth,

we're gonna find a bus station and deposit you in it

because this is a two-seater.

- Remind me never to dance with you.

You not only like to lead, you step all over

other people's feet.

- You're shaking all over.

See you got the chills already.

(ominous music)

- You'd better come in with us.

We'll try and find you some dry clothes.

- No, you get your food and your drinks.

Forget about the clothes, I'll wait for you here.

Please hurry.

(thunder clapping)

(lively music)

- Guess who?

- My mother!

Just passin' through Sheriff,

we left our shootin' arms outside.

- Eastern kids huh?

- Yeah all around the town.

- I can tell from his accent.

I'm good at accents.

I can tell any man I've ever met right where he's from.

Just let me here five or six words

and I can tell every time.

(speaking French)

(laughter)

- Have a drink Sheriff.

- New York!

- Hey Sheriff, doesn't anybody ever eat in Sparrow Falls?

- Not after six o'clock.

- Where can we get some clothes for a girl?

- You've got one without clothes?

- She got caught in the rain.

She's outside in the car.

- Stores close after six too.

- Everything closes up at six huh?

- That way to you.

Hey Teddy, I have a couple of smart city kids for you.

- Do you think you could rustle us up a couple of steaks,

rare?

- The only steaks here, they come straight or with soda.

(light music)

(thunder clapping)

- Can it be an angel?

Not it can't be.

It hasn't got wings.

But it's white and it glows in the dark (laughs).

Howard old man, you gotta stop drinkin'.

(ominous music)

oh it's not an angel no sir.

It's the next best thing, a pretty girl.

Come on hunni, I'll get a better look at ya.

You don't have to hide over there.

Don't be afraid of old Howard.

(grunting and hollering)

My, Lottie Montana!

- You shut up!

- Lottie Montana come back!

That's Lottie Montana.

- Please, take me away from here.

(dramatic music)

- The rain stopped.

That drunk back there called you Lottie Montana.

Is that your name?

- Not everybody has a state named after them.

- Would you open that window please?

Oh look at it now.

Daniel says it's a measureless black board.

Stars are punctuation marks put there

by the angels kept after school writing

god's name 500 times.

Thank you for helping me.

I don't deserve it.

(police siren wailing)

- I'm not even doin' 50.

- Alright come on out with your hands in the air.

- Alright out.

- Sheriff, don't you remember us?

- Yeah, the smart set from big town.

Alright turn around.

Come on turn around!

Feet apart, lean forward hands on the car.

- [Deputy] Alright you do the same.

- [Sheriff] Welcome home Lottie.

- Do you mind if someone lets us in on it.

- Don't worry, you're in over your head.

Okay Tommy, you ride in with this one.

- I'll take eastside/westside with Lottie and me.

Come on march.

(dramatic music)

(ominous music)

- Hi fellas.

- Come on dad, sit here and give us the lowdown huh?

- Ahh, she won't say anything.

All night long she just stared right back at the sheriff

and said nothing except that those two young fellows

that are with her, they just picked her up.

- Oh come on!

- Now wait a minute, the sheriff confided in me.

She'll confess.

- Hey Lottie!

What do you say I smuggle myself in jail

and keep you company huh?

(laughter)

how about it Lottie?

- You don't play ball little lady I could maybe,

just let you loose, just open this cage and set you free.

Those are old friends out there Lottie.

They all got a very special interest in your case.

You see Al was the most popular guy in town

and he left a lot of friends.

Yes sir a lot of friends.

- Look Sheriff I know enough about the law

to know that she doesn't have to say anything.

- Look son I got all the time there is.

Here, let me show you somethin'.

See here?

January the 19th, eight months back,

eight months since she killed Al.

You think she could stay away?

No sir.

They all come back.

Sooner or later they all come back.

Like salmon gotta swim upstream,

they gotta come back.

Okay Tommy, you can turn them two loose.

- [Buzz] We'll stay.

- Now look boy, Sparrow Falls takes care of its own.

You drove her in, no more, no less.

Now you drive yourself out.

- Is there something we can do?

- Sure, next time a girl tells you there's a better place

for dinner down the road, listen to her.

Goodbye Buzz, Todd.

- Look, we feel, there's gotta be something we can do.

- Yeah, keep going west, then north.

(sad wistful music)

- Well Lottie, you gotta get yourself in the right frame

of mind for this.

For instance, you've see how it is around here

the opening day of the deer season.

All the boys with their rifles all cleaned and oiled

and their new fur caps, just champin' to shoot themselves

their first deer.

That's feeling only a man gets to feel.

Now you can taste it.

It's like bitin' down on a penny.

But there's that other feelin'.

The other side of the penny,

what the deer feels.

Oh it's gotta be like, well like cotton in the mouth,

a whole mouthful of cotton, chokin' ya.

That's what you feel now Lottie, isn't it.

(skin smacks)

(dramatic music)

Ain't it Lottie?

- Get off there.

- We got no quarrel friend.

As a matter of fact, we got plenty in common.

Lottie Montana.

(engine revs and tires squeal)

(grunts)

- Don't do that.

- He wasn't expectin' that.

- Well surely you must realize he was expecting something,

I mean after what he said.

Maybe he wasn't expecting it just that way

but well that's life.

You'll go along with that won't you?

(light playful music)

(engine revving)

(dramatic music)

(door pounding)

(frightful horn blare)

(water smacking)

(dramatic music)

- This is where it happened Lottie, remember?

There was a storm that night like last night,

thunder and lightening.

Your kid was sleeping in the other room and you were here.

Turn around!

Now Lottie, come to call.

Now!

How about it Lottie?

Ain't that how it happened?

(crying)

I've waited a long time to hear you say yes.

I rented this place for eight months.

I kept it just like it was that night

because I knew you'd be back

and I knew I'd get to here you say yes.

Say it Lottie, let me hear you say it!

- Yes.

Yes, yes, yes.

- Why are you crying?

I've done all there is little lady,

all the cryin' there is.

What do you think I feel, losing a fine boy like Al?

Losing my kid brother to trash like you!

(suspenseful music)

- Do you really think she killed somebody?

- They think so.

- Why doesn't she say something?

Admit it, deny it, something.

- Think back Buzz.

She didn't really tell us anything last night.

You kept asking her all those questions,

she just talked between the lines remember?

She has a way of not answering right out,

just keeps looking at you like,

like she's straining to hear something that hasn't been said

I don't see how we can just drive away and forget her,

do you?

- Why not?

Who is she, what is she to us?

I never knew a kid with so many friends.

All the wrong kind.

Do you suppose if we went back to where we found her,

we could find some of her people or family

or somebody that might take over and try to help her?

- She was running last night remember?

You don't run from friends, not the right kind of friends.

- What do we do?

(upbeat orchestral music)

(playful music)

- Why me?

- Well there are only two other attorneys in town

and they're both a lot older than you are Mr. Crown.

We felt this was a young man's problem.

- More precisely a young woman's problem.

I'm sorry but at this point, there doesn't seem to be

much anybody can do for Lottie Montana.

80 years ago, she'd be hanging from a lamppost by now.

In our day, it'll take the county a little bit longer

than that, but not much longer.

They sheriff has friends in, well I believe

the correct phrase is, influential places.

- So what?

- So you don't tie leaves onto a dead tree gentleman.

- Look if she did kill a man, she must've had a good reason

or been driven to it.

- Why, because she's attractive,

because she has dark hair and insolent shoulders?

- What's that got to do with it?

- Well what do you know about her?

I mean really know?

Now you two, from what you've told me,

you're living life on the wing.

Everyday is a wonderful fantasy.

That's fine as far as it goes.

It makes life seem more endurable.

And me, I've stopped running, faced up to the fact

that most people are victims of their own low standards,

no matter where you look.

I've learned to think the worst of people,

particularly myself.

I haven't been wrong yet.

Now take Lottie Montana.

She's got a couple of nice lookin' young fellows like you

completely taken in.

You're willing, you're even anxious

to overlook one irrevocable fact,

she did stab a man to death in her apartment

earlier this year.

- That wasn't proved.

- Then why did she run?

Why in the middle of the night did she take

her young daughter and disappear completely

these last few months?

Despite an intensive police search?

Now you two, who know nothing about her,

and very little about the circumstances,

complete strangers, you walk in here and insist

that I take the case?

- I'm sorry we bothered you.

- [Crown] Now where are you going?

- To find an attorney for the defense.

- Did you hear me say that I wouldn't defend her?

I just wanted you to know what you're up against.

Now I'm no Clarence Darrow but,

now we can walk to the city jail gentleman.

It's one of the advantages of practicing law

in a small community.

(hopeful music)

- Back here.

Lottie, visitors Lottie.

- Tell them I'm not in.

- You heard her.

- Let me talk to her.

Lottie, they're saying you confessed.

Is it true or did someone beat it outta you?

- There's a lot of things I don't like.

The thing I dislike most is saying goodbye twice,

but I'll say it.

Goodbye, twice.

(metal clanging)

- My name is Richard Crown, Mrs. Montana.

I'm an attorney.

I'd give you my card but we don't use cards in Sparrow Falls

These gentleman have asked me to defend you.

I'd like to talk to you alone.

I can appreciate the emotional strain you're under.

Suppose I come back say later this afternoon?

- She knows it's over Mr. Crown.

She come apart for good like a wet bladder.

Now and then we get one like her.

They make model prisoners because they're already dead

and they know it.

- Everyone gets his day in court sheriff.

She is a long way from dead.

I'll be back Mrs. Montana.

(rousing)

- Now you men are gonna wait here

before the sheriff comes out.

This aint no circus.

- What is all this, that is all this?

- They want to see Lottie.

- You'll see her when she comes to trial

and that'll be as fast as we can empanel a jury.

Now I want you all out of here right now.

(men yelling)

Now I'm getting' sick of seein' you two around here.

It's an hour's drive to the country line

now you make it sooner.

Business must be real slow Dick.

- Why don't you wait outside Todd?

- Why don't we both go outside?

- Look, Crown said we didn't know enough about Lottie.

- Yeah so?

- So, I'll do some checking.

- What checking?

- Look why don't you wait for me at Crown's office?

It won't be long, yeah hmm?

(mysterious music)

- Forget it son.

I'll break every bone in your head.

- Yeah? Maybe.

- What do you think Tommy?

- I think maybe it will clear the air a little bit.

- Yeah, yeah that's how I see it.

Now it was your idea kid, remember?

If that don't hold up, I'll say your jumped me

and I had to defend myself, okay?

- I don't care how you cut it up.

I'm gonna teach you not to hit girls, you thick necks

(fighters grunting)

- Put it away.

(glass crashing)

(intense music)

I never liked you much Tommy

but I never knew why before.

You're an alley cat, jumpin' a man from behind like that.

- He was cuttin' you up.

- I've been cut up before and I'll be cut up again

but I'll never hit a man from behind.

Alright, put him in a cell back there

until he gets around,

and then keep outta here until I kick him outta town.

If he finds you before he goes,

I'm gonna let him teach you a lesson.

(ambivalent music)

- It's a hard push getting into some people's jails.

- Why'd you come back?

- I knew you didn't have a comb.

- Open the door, my hands are full.

Come on it's not locked.

You need patching.

- Yeah?

How's your nose?

- Busted.

- Sorry.

- It's been busted before.

How's your head?

- I think he let some air in.

- Sit down.

Ehh, you turn loose awful hard

but I'm the same way so I figured you and me,

we can talk man-to-man.

Now she aint worth defending,

no more than a dog you have to whistle for.

Came in here to Sparrow Falls four years ago

with a cardboard suitcase and a scrawny chin.

Came in here to pick the peach crop,

you know one of them migratory workers.

After that first season's crop had been canned and shipped,

she stayed on, got herself a job at the Silver Dollar Club

waitin' tables.

With every man in town wearin' his Sunday best

on Saturday night, ringin' her doorbell.

It started bad and ended worse.

Well, that' cold water there.

You soak that towel in it and wrap in around your neck.

It all helps.

Oh by the way, your friend's waiting outside.

You want me to tell him anything?

- Yeah, tell him I'll be out in a minute,

and thanks.

Who's Daniel?

Last night when you looked out of the window,

you looked up at the sky and you said Daniel said,

that's god's blackboard, only for angels to write on.

Who's Daniel?

Where's your daughter?

- Safe.

- And your husband?

- Ancient history.

- And Daniel is not your husband?

- Oh no.

- I mean, why'd you kill a man?

- You wouldn't believe me if I told.

- Todd, me, I got the lumps to prove it.

- You ever seen a bullfight?

- No.

- I did once in Tijuana.

It made me sick but I figured out why.

I identified with the bull.

Hey Toro, I'm Toro that's me.

Men making passes, two Veronicas, three vicotes.

But they all dream of a bull charging straight,

a bull on wheels, one that won't hook or falter,

one that'll charge in straight for the kill.

But sometimes, toro gets the matador just like I got Al.

Any more questions?

- Yeah, why did you kill him?

- He wouldn't leave me alone.

He thought he had a private claim on me.

There's a time and there's a place

but as far as I was concerned there never was a time.

- That's no excuse.

- He broke in on me.

He was drunk, he came in after me right into the bedroom

right in front of my daughter.

I fought him, I broke away,

I ran to the living room.

I grabbed the scissors.

- Well if that's the way it was,

why did you you run away?

Why didn't you come back, tell your side of the story?

- My word against his dead body?

They'd have lynched me.

- Not if you'd had a witness.

Where was your daughter when all this was happening?

- She was asleep.

- During all that ruckus?

- Now she knows nothing, she saw nothing.

- Yeah?

(defiant music)

- You come back here!

Come back!

Buzz, you come back!

You come back!

(suspenseful music)

- Reverend Daniel Y will welcome the people of River Rock

into the kingdom of heaven Wednesday

and Thursday nights seven thirty.

- River Rock, we passed through there last night

just at dark.

(suspenseful music)

- Well this explains much to me.

I guess it was about eight months ago

I was holding services in Hastings and there was a storm

like last night.

After all the congregation had left,

two people remained behind, sitting just about there,

a woman Sister Evelyn and a child Theresa.

I remember the way they were clutching each other's hands.

- And she told you her name was Evelyn?

- Evelyn Jones,

but you tell me it's Lottie Montana?

She told me she'd been deeply moved by my sermon

and that she'd decided then they ought

to consecrate her life to Christ.

She begged me to let her join our group of Christian workers

This was not uncommon.

If it were, I wouldn't feel that my work was succeeding.

So I agreed to take her in.

She worked diligently but she always seemed

to be under some kind of cloud.

After a few weeks, I asked her if she didn't wish to speak

to our congregation and tell them how she found Christ.

The idea seemed to terrify her.

She said no.

She wanted only to work in the background

as she has all these months until last night

when she asked me if she could speak to the congregations.

She said that she'd come to a decision.

She wanted to go before god with witnesses

and tell them what was in her heart.

So I introduced her.

Suddenly she ran out into the storm.

- And we drove her straight to jail.

- Reverend.

- Mrs. Fox thank you.

I'll bring her back in just a moment.

Theresa, these are the two gentlemen

that came by last night when your mother went outside.

- Mommy wasn't in an accident, was she?

- No Theresa.

- But you were.

If you were with her, then she was hurt too.

- She's fine, missing you but just fine.

- Now Theresa, you heard me say what lies are

and what truth is.

Truth is a candle against the darkness and lies?

- Are the breath of the devil blowing out

the candle of truth.

- You wouldn't tell a lie, would you Theresa?

Your mother has told us about what happened

that night in Sparrow Falls with the man,

all about the accident.

- She did see it.

- Tell me the truth Theresa, did you see the man?

- Yes.

I saw two men.

- Two men?

- The one with Mommy and the one outside in the hall,

watching.

(ominous music)

- Lottie.

- They told you.

And you let them see Theresa.

- Yes.

- Why?

You had no right.

- You left her.

She told us about another man Lottie, a witness.

- There was no other man.

That's part of her nightmare about that night.

- Well both those young men took the sheriff with them

and they've gone off to do some checking.

- There couldn't have been another man.

- She said he was on the outside in the hall.

- I didn't see anybody with him.

- You weren't seeing very clearly that night were you?

- Oh god.

God forgive me, I took Theresa out of there.

I made a promise never to talk about anything

she'd seen that night.

I caught the bus.

I passed your tent and something told me to go in there.

I got off at Hastings and walked back in the rain

and I told you I'd been converted.

- You were Lottie, not that night.

But last night, when you asked if you could speak

to the congregation.

- I meant to go back to Sparrow Falls and give myself up.

First I wanted to tell the people

that something had happened, that I wasn't afraid anymore,

that I could look out and up.

Then this thunder came and,

and I looked up and I saw not the face of god

but the rain like the tap water

when I tried to wash the blood off the scissors.

And I knew I wasn't good enough for god, that I had lost him

so I ran away.

- Lottie, you've heard me say that the forgiveness of god

is unconditional.

Jesus did not forgive the woman of the street

who bathed his feet in her tears

in the house of the pharacey.

He said, thou art forgiven,

not I forgive but, thou art forgiven.

The state of her mind and the ecstasy of her spirit

are proofs of what had happened within her.

It's only by being forgiven that we can come to know

what it is to love god.

Love him now Lottie.

Reach out for him.

(soft contemplative music)

Oh god, in whose wisdom we learn the meaning of life

and in whose love, we find the strength to live,

help us to seek the in the morning of our years

so that we may not lose thee in the evening of life.

We thank thee for the laughter of little children,

for the dreams of youth and for the hopes of age.

Help the lowliest of us to feel that each life is precious

in my sight.

Help the lowliest of us to know that someone cares.

Make us good soldiers of thy son Jesus Christ

so that in his service we may help

to win a better world here and live with him hereafter.

We ask this in the name Jesus Christ our lord, amen.

- The sheriff just double-checked his brother's time table

the night he was killed.

He left the Silver Dollar at ten o'clock.

He left with you Mr. Crown.

- And you stayed with him.

- Straight up, that's how I want it Dick.

- We spoke to your wife.

She remembers the night very distinctly.

You came home late, you said you'd been drinking

and you walked out into the country

because you never wanted her or the kids to see you drunk.

- You went up there with him didn't you?

And you saw it happen.

And you ran just like Lottie ran

except nobody was chasin' you.

- Nobody?

Only the worst hunter of them all, my conscience.

It's true Sheriff, I did go up there with Al.

He said no little peach picker was ever going

to turn him down.

And she wouldn't let us in,

so Al kicked the door open.

By that time I was too drunk to move.

I was too numb to even think clearly.

So I stayed out in the hall.

I guess I was already a little ashamed.

I saw it happen.

He started to drag her toward,

well she kept fighting him.

Then he knocked her down.

And that's when she went for the scissors.

There wasn't anything else she could do.

He acted insane, he would've killed her.

See I love my wife and my two children.

I love them so much and so protectively that,

I've been willing to destroy myself inside

just to keep them out of it.

How could I admit that I'd gone up there with Al

to take part in what he had in mind without destroying them?

How could I do that?

- I don't know Mr. Crown.

I don't know how you could do any of it but you did.

- More important, what are you gonna do about it now?

- When I accepted Lottie Montana's case this morning

gentlemen I'd already made my decision.

Even though I knew it would be my last case.

(dramatic music)

Coming sheriff?

(slow jazz music)

- What can I say?

- You can give me my comb back.

Why don't you keep it, as a reminder of us?

Okay Toro?

- Okay matador.

- What's with all the bullfight stuff?

- Oh it's a family joke.

Goodbye Lottie, good luck.

(engine revving)

(light playful music)

- [Announcer] This has been a Screen Gem Stone presentation

from Columbia Pictures.

Herbert B. Leonard, executive producer.