Original subtitles

[theme music]

[sighs]

Have you any idea what the next assignment is yet?

Nope.

[sighs]

Do you have any idea where we're supposed to be going?

No, not really.

Do you have any idea of how long it's

going to be until we get there?

Until we get where?

To wherever it is we're supposed to be going.

I just told you, I don't know where we're going.

Then how are we going to get there?

The same way we always get there.

Boy, you're testy tonight. What's the matter?

You tired or something?

Why should I be tired?

I've only been driving for 10 hours.

Hey, well, look, if you're tired,

why don't you just say so, and we'll pull in somewhere.

MARK: I'm not tired.

There's a roadhouse up ahead.

You can get something to eat.

I am not hungry.

I just want to know where it is we're supposed to be going.

They serve ribs.

They do?

Mm-hmm and barbecued chicken.

Chicken?

JONATHAN: Mm-hmm.

Hey, Jonathan.

What?

I don't know about you, but I just got my assignment.

[laughs]

[music playing]

There you go.

One more bowl of ribs.

Great.

You sure you don't want anything else?

I didn't think there'd be anything else left.

I know what you mean.

Will that be it?

We're fine.

OK, we got two barbecued chicken

with all the trimmings, three pecan pie,

and nine bowls of ribs.

Thank you.

Nine bowls of ribs?

What you got over there, a banquet party?

Would you believe it, Gabe?

That's all for one guy.

Gabe?

One human guy?

Mister, whoever you are, the pig farmers of America

ought to get down on the knees and pray you live a long life.

I can't believe it.

It's him.

Gabe?

Gabe Wilson?

Yes, sir.

I got to tell you something.

I haven't heard music like you played tonight since oh, 20,

25 years ago in a little place called

the Chit Chat Club in Oakland.

You sounded better tonight than you did then.

Well, I appreciate it.

Bless your heart.

I liked it myself.

Chit Chat Club, huh?

You don't mind if I ask you a question, do you?

No, go ahead.

Did you used to be Black because you sound

like you're white to me now?

But if you were in the Chit Chat Club 25 years ago,

and you wasn't Black, and you're still alive,

you must be a big, ugly cop named Mark Gordon, huh?

How are you?

How are you?

Oh, man.

How you been?

Well, I've been up, and I've been down.

But the main thing, I'm still around.

That's all that counts, you know.

Right.

Hey, listen, Gabe, I want you to meet a friend

of mine, Jonathan Smith.

Gabe Wilson.

Hey, pleasure.

How did you recognize him after all this time?

Just by his voice?

Oh, no, his voice didn't have nothing to do with it.

I recognized the nine bowls of ribs.

That sounds more like it.

[coughs]

Gabe?

Gabe, you all right?

Yeah, just a little tired.

It's funny, you don't even feel it till the music stops,

you know.

Why don't we go outside and get some air?

Yeah, sure, come on.

Ah, that's better.

Back to nature.

You know, it's funny.

I was riding along about 10 years ago.

And all of a sudden, they started playing one

of your records on the radio.

More than 10 years ago.

Are you still cutting records?

Mark, are you-- did you go blind, too?

I mean, does it look like I'm cutting records?

Was somebody playing a joke on me?

Was I playing the Fillmore, or Hollywood Bowl,

or was that barbecue joint back in there?

But it's OK, you understand.

See, when I first started out, all I wanted to do was play

and get paid for it.

That's all.

I mean, back then, getting paid anything was a luxury.

Then the kind of music I was playing

got discovered, you understand.

They started paying me lots of money

to play the way I was playing before when

they weren't paying me nothing.

Yeah, I made a lot of money for a lot of people.

I just wasn't the one that got to keep it, that's all.

What happened?

Well, things change.

Tastes change.

For a while, they had some white guys

decided to play the way I did.

Most of those guys are out of work now, too.

Some of them are dead, which makes for a very dull act,

you understand.

Well, I guess one of the nice things about being blind

is big house, little house, it all sound the same to me.

The main thing is how it sounds.

Sounds better than ever.

Those are my feelings exactly.

I guess I better get back inside.

I got another set to do.

So maybe you can give me a lift to the bus station?

I got a gig tomorrow night that's 400 miles from here.

Hey, you got it.

Gabe, you all right?

Yeah, yeah.

I just must have ate too much of that barbecue in there.

It gave me heartburn. But I'm OK.

You're sure?

This barbecue gives you heartburn?

Yeah, I'm sure.

[music playing]

I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait outside.

He's an old friend of mine.

I'm sorry, but no one's allowed in the treatment area.

We're awfully busy tonight, so if you'll just have a seat

outside, the doctor will see you as soon as he's had a chance

to examine your friend.

Jonathan, is he gonna--

I don't know.

Come on, buddy.

Let's let the doctors do their work.

Mr. Wilson?

Mr. Wilson?

Can you hear me, Mr. Wilson?

Ellie, what are you doing here?

Mr. Wilson, can you tell me what happened?

Can you play "Sweet Georgia Brown?"

DOCTOR: What?

You're the dancer.

I'm the musician.

You tell me what happened.

He's going into cardiac arrest.

Half milligram of epinephrine.

Let's get the paddles on him.

Clear.

Clear.

[music playing]

Are you Mr. Wilson's friends?

Yeah, that's right.

How's he doing, Doc?

Well, we're taking him to intensive care.

Now, he's had a heart attack.

We're trying to stabilize him.

But he's going to make it.

Is he going to be all right?

We won't know that for a while.

And he was calling out for someone named Ellie.

Does he have any family?

I haven't seen him in a lot of years.

Over at the club where he was working,

they said they didn't think so.

Anything we can do?

Well, if you believe in that sort of thing, you can pray.

Trust me, Doc.

I'm a believer.

You don't happen to know if there's a church close by here,

do you?

I know the boss can hear you anyplace, but it might help.

The boss?

Yeah.

Just take care of Gabe, will you, now?

We'll do our best.

There's a storefront church just

a couple of blocks from here.

Hi, Mama.

OK, I know I'm late.

I'll just get changed.

It won't take a second.

Where have you been, Vanessa?

We're going to be 10 minutes late for prayer meeting.

Just with some friends.

What friends?

Just friends.

Musician friends, maybe?

The kind of friends that are talking about starting a band?

Now, Mother Washington told me her grandson saw you down

at that record store with some young people who

don't belong to this church.

And I doubt if they belong to any other church.

And they had amplifiers.

And they had electric guitars.

And I don't know what other kind of tools of the devil they had.

They aren't tools of the devil, Mama.

They're just musical instruments.

And we were just making music together.

That's all.

Mama Washington told me that they're

talking about starting a band.

And they're looking for a singer.

A singer!

Mother Washington sure gets around for an old lady.

I will not have you disrespect one

of the saints of the church.

Now, look, I don't want you to change the subject, either.

Now, tell me, is this what you're planning to do?

Are you planning on running off with some kind of band?

I'm here now, Mama.

And I can either argue with you about something Mother

Washington got third-hand from her blabbermouth grandson,

who doesn't have anything better to do in this life than run

around badmouthing people who never had any trouble

with the law, which is--

Don't you talk like this to me in my house.

I won't have it.

I won't have my own daughter disrespect me.

I won't have it.

I don't mean any disrespect, Mama.

I just want to know what you want.

Now, should we argue, or should I

get dressed for prayer service?

You are just stubborn and rebellious.

That's what you are.

You are just stubborn and rebellious.

I am so glad your father's not alive to see it.

Bless his soul.

Mama, Daddy always said that I had a gift.

Your father was the best preacher I ever knew.

And he was the best husband to me that ever walked this earth.

But where you were concerned, he was so soft-headed.

But I can understand it.

You could wrap that man around your little finger.

Look at the time.

If I don't get downstairs, they're

going to elect a new preacher.

But we haven't finished with this conversation yet, Vanessa.

No, ma'am, we haven't.

[music playing]

(SINGING) Ever salvation, virtues of God.

Born of the spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story.

This is my song.

Praising my savior all the day long.

This is my story.

This is my song.

Praising my savior all the day long.

Now, I want you to remember my sermon tonight.

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

Amen.

And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

And I don't care who does it, whether it's

your husband, or your wife, your brother, or your sister,

your son, or your daughters.

Amen.

Amen.

Now, that concludes this evening's service.

Choir practice tomorrow at 8 o'clock.

Towery services Thursday evening.

And may the Lord bless and keep you.

Amen.

Amen.

Good evening.

May I help you gentlemen with something?

A friend of mine is in the hospital.

And he's pretty sick.

I just wanted to say a prayer for him.

Well, bless your heart, brother.

Mark Gordon.

This is Jonathan Smith.

Hi.

Well, you're both welcome here this evening.

There's members of our congregation

that can take a lesson from you.

You don't go putting your faith in fancy doctors, Amen.

Let the trouble come, and you want to come

to the house of the Lord.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm Mother Livingston.

I'm the pastor of this church.

And you and your friend are welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[sirens]

Well, boss, I know Gabe ain't no angel, you know.

But he ain't had a very easy life, either.

I mean, when he had that accident that left him blind,

he never got bitter.

He never got bitter.

He-- he never blamed anybody.

The fact is I--

I don't think Gabe ever said a bad word about anybody.

He's a good guy, boss.

And he's all alone right now.

And he needs you bad.

I guess all I'm saying is I hope you help him.

He's worth it.

That's it.

Thanks for listening.

Amen.

[music playing]

How are you doing?

I'd be doing a lot better if they had some barbecue

in this hospital, man.

I want to thank you for bringing me in.

You and your friend saved my life.

Hey, well, that's pure selfishness.

I don't know anybody who plays music as good as you.

GABE: Ain't that the truth?

Gabe, is there anybody you want us to call for you?

Anybody to call?

No.

I'm what you want to call footloose and fancy free.

Hmm.

The doctor said when you were in the emergency room,

you called out for somebody named Ellie.

Ellie?

Oh, that figures.

Must be 30 years since I've seen her.

But there hasn't been a day gone by that I

haven't thought of her.

She smelled of a sweet smelling soap.

I remember.

Probably the only one that I ever wanted to marry.

Not the only one I ever said I wanted to marry,

you understand.

I'd probably have done it with her.

No probably about it.

What happened?

Well, bless her heart.

She wanted someone who would be home.

And I can understand that.

But I could either be home and unemployed or on the road

getting paid what I know how to do best, and that's make music.

Speaking of which, when are they gonna let me out of here?

I got some gigs to get to.

Listen, Gabe, the doc said you're

going to have to take it easy for a while, which means

no road travel for a while.

Mark, like I said, I can either

be in one place unemployed or on the road getting paid.

I can't take it easy, man.

Gabe, why don't you concentrate

on getting out of here?

Then we'll worry about the rest.

Things have a way of working themselves out, you know.

Yeah.

I guess they do.

Look, the doc said for us not to stay too long.

You look like you could use some sleep.

I'm just sure I'll wake up.

I've got some gigs to play.

Don't worry, Gabe.

You're going to wake up.

You guarantee that?

Yeah.

Yeah, I guarantee it.

You heard the man.

Good night.

I can't tell you how much we appreciate

this, Miss Livingston.

Well, there's not much to appreciate.

You and your friend, you need a place to stay,

and we need the repair work done.

Besides, you'll have your hands full cleaning up this place,

making it fit to live in because we've

been using it as a storeroom.

We'll have it fixed up it in no time.

Lord knows we can use it.

We don't have much of a congregation left.

We're having to start all over again.

So what happened?

We used to have three times as many people as we have now.

And they're backsliders, all of them, every one of them.

They say, Mother Livingston, she's too hard on them

because she won't stand for them wearing

their skirts up to the belly button like a lot of them

wants to do.

And she won't let them go dancing at night in discos,

and smoking cigarettes, and going to the movies.

Now, I tell the same thing to my daughter, Vanessa.

But somehow, I don't think it's going

to do any good because she's just rebellious and stubborn.

I don't know.

She seems like such a nice young woman.

Nice young women are grist for the devil's mill.

That friend of yours, the one you said that's coming out

of the hospital, now, if he can play the piano as good as you

say he can, he can stay here, too,

until he gets up on his feet because Lord knows,

we can use a good piano player.

Now, I don't know if you have heard Mother Washington banging

on that piano downstairs.

Yes, ma'am, we've heard her.

Well, I'll let you get started.

I swear, whole congregation full of colored people and not

one of them can play the piano.

It's a freak of nature.

This is the perfect idea, Jonathan.

Great gift for Gabe, a couple of jazz tapes.

Glad you approve.

Excuse me, do you work here?

Yeah, what can I do for you?

I'm looking to buy a couple of tapes for a friend of mine.

Where's your jazz section?

Right down at the end of the counter.

Right in front of me.

Thanks.

Hey, guys, you know I got a great idea.

You know, for that-- that track that you did that riff with,

you know--

JONATHAN: Hi, Vanessa.

I'll be right with you.

Oh, Mr. Smith.

How are you?

Fine.

Look, Mr. Smith, my mama didn't send

you down to find out if I was here by any chance, did she?

No.

Why?

Oh, nothing.

Just well, could I ask you a favor?

Well, sure.

Like what?

Like, just don't say that you saw me down here.

I mean, if she asks me, I'm not asking you to lie.

But if it doesn't come up, I'd appreciate it if you

just wouldn't mention it.

There's no reason why I should.

I guess it's not always easy being a preacher's daughter,

is it?

Tell me about it.

I can't do this and can't do that.

What will people think?

Well, your mother doesn't strike me

as the kind of person who does things because

of what other people think.

Oh, no, she does what she does because of what she thinks.

I just wish she'd give other people credit

for being able to think, too.

That's part of being a mother.

You ever watch a mother when her baby

is trying to learn to walk?

She goes through more struggles than the child does.

But she knows that baby's not going

to learn unless she lets go.

She loves them so much, she wants

to protect them from the fall.

Hey, Vanessa?

You going to talk or rehearse?

Don't worry, I haven't seen you.

Thanks.

[music playing]

Church?

Oh, man.

Not that I have anything against them, you understand,

it's just I ain't been in one for a long time.

There's just not for me.

Gabe, listen to me.

The doc says you got to take it easy for a while,

which means you cannot be sitting

up all night playing in clubs.

This is a way so you don't have to worry about expenses

or a place to live.

And you can get your strength back.

I ain't got no strength.

So there's none to get back.

I'm at the end of it, and I know it.

I just want to finish the way I started, playing my kind

of music the way I know how.

At the end of it?

That doesn't sound like the Gabe Wilson I knew.

Well, the Gabe Wilson you knew didn't have a heart attack yet.

Look, Gabe, you go back on the road,

you're going to last about three months.

You do what the doctor says, you're

going to be playing your kind of music

your way for a long, long time.

Now, why don't you start using your head?

All right, chillum, let's go get holy.

Start out in church.

Might as well end up in one.

How you doing, Vanessa?

Hello, Mr. Smith.

I want you to meet Gabe Wilson.

He's going to be playing piano for the choir.

How are you doing?

I'm real well.

Thank you.

Mind if I take a look at your piano, get a feel of it?

No not at all, Mr. Wilson.

It's right over here.

There's a step up.

Yeah, it sounds like a church piano.

[music playing]

(SINGING) Them that's good shall get.

Them that's not shall lose.

So the Bible says.

And it still is news.

Mama may have, Papa may have.

But God blessed the child that's got

his own, that's got his own.

Yes--

Vanessa, what kind of music is that you're singing

in the house of the Lord?

That is the devil's music.

No, it isn't, Mama.

It's just music.

That's all it is.

It's "God Bless the Child."

It's my fault, ma'am.

I'm Gabe-- Gabe Wilson.

Gabe?

That's right.

But you're-- you're blind.

I know.

Don't worry about it.

It's not catching.

I take it that you're the young lady's mother?

Yes.

What's wrong, Mama?

Something going on here that I don't know about?

Mr. Wilson, we used to know each other a long,

long time ago.

I'm Eleanor Livingston.

Before I got married, my maiden name was Marcel.

I don't think you would remember that.

[music playing]

Ellie?

Yes, Gabe.

Ellie?

Ellie.

[music playing]

You can share this with Mr. Smith and Mr. Gordon.

It's not much room.

But it is a roof over your head.

Well, looks OK to me.

I don't believe in joking about disabilities, Mr. Wilson.

I don't have any disabilities, Ellie.

I just can't see.

But then I don't waste much money on light bulbs, either.

Here, let me take you bag.

Just tell me where to put it.

First bed on your left.

You know, Ellie, my eyes are the only things

about me that don't work.

The rest of my parts function just fine.

A matter of fact, you'd be surprised

what the advantages of being a tactile kind of a man.

I see you got the same mouth after all these years.

Yes, ma'am, I believe it's true.

I put dinner on the table at 6:00.

And it's gone by 6:30.

So if you want to eat, you best be on time, which as I recall,

wasn't one of your strong points, either.

Seem like you don't remember just what

my strong points were, Ellie.

Mr. Wilson, I want to tell you a thing or two.

Now, I'm not--

Uh-huh.

--one of your 18-year-old girls

whose head you can turn with fancy notions and gutter talk.

I am a saved Christian, Amen, and the pastor

of this church, praise God.

Preach it this morning, sister.

And this is my house you'll be sleeping in.

And this is my house you be eating.

Amen to that.

I will not stand for your mockery and your blasphemy.

Just having fun, Ellie.

Didn't mean to offend.

And-- and-- and Mr. Wilson, you are not to call me Ellie.

You will call me Pastor Livingston, or Mrs. Livingston,

or Mother Livingston.

And you will treat me with respect.

Lord, if that's the effect you have on women,

you and me better have a little talk.

[music playing]

Now, that was beautiful.

Now, that-- that was really beautiful.

We want to welcome Brother Wilson to the congregation

tonight.

[applause]

Yes, the wine of the Lord can sanctify

even the most profane vessel.

Hallelujah.

And may the Lord God bless and keep you.

And may he turn his face towards you,

and let his Holy countenance shine upon you,

and grant you peace.

Amen.

Vanessa, I got news for you, girl.

What's that, Mr. Wilson?

You a singer.

What you do is up to you.

But you are a singer.

The talent is there.

It needs work.

But it's there.

To the glory of God, it is, amen.

And she's doing with it just what

she's supposed to be doing with it, praising her Lord, amen.

Nobody said the Lord didn't like music, Ellie.

I expect that's why he gave it to us because he

knew we'd like it, too.

Amen.

Let's go, Vanessa.

It's past your bedtime.

Good night.

Good night.

And good night to you, Mother Livingston.

Mr. Smith, may I have a word with you outside, please?

Certainly.

Don't you worry about this paint, Miss Livingston.

We'll have this mess cleaned up in time for your service

tonight.

It's not the paint I'm worried about.

Mr. Smith?

Mr. Smith, I know that man's a friend of yours.

Mark?

Mr. Wilson.

I know the man is a friend of yours.

From what I understand, he was a friend of yours,

too, at one time.

That was almost 40 years ago.

The only thing I feel for him now

is a Christian sense of fellowship

and a pity at the way he's turned out.

Well, I don't think Gabe feels any need for your pity.

Mr. Smith, I know Mr. Wilson has fallen on hard times.

And it is my Christian duty to lend a helping hand.

But as soon as that man gets completely fit,

I want him out of my house.

Mind if I ask you why?

Has he said or done anything?

He hasn't done anything because I won't

give him the chance to do.

And it's not so much what he says, but the way he says it.

Now, I have a young, impressionable daughter.

And he is not the kind of man I want in my house.

Mrs. Livingston, I can't believe Gabe

would say anything out of line to your daughter.

Well, he hasn't yet.

But he's a musician.

And the less she sees of those kind,

the better off she will be.

Let me see if I understand this.

Now, you let Mr. Wilson stay here so he

could play piano for the choir.

That's correct.

Now, you want him out because he's a musician?

That's correct, but he is a skirt chaser, any woman at all.

It doesn't matter, even the pastor of a church.

Mrs. Livingston, there, I know you're wrong.

Look, when Gabe was in that emergency room,

just one step away from death, he called out a woman's name.

But it wasn't just anyone.

It was your name, Ellie.

Is that true?

JONATHAN: Yes, ma'am, it's true.

Woo.

It is unseasonably hot for this time of the year, huh?

Well, Mr. Smith, I'm glad we had our little talk.

I want you to tell Mr. Wilson that I expect to see

him tonight at choir on time.

Oh, I'll tell him.

Thank you.

[music playing]

(SINGING) Keep smiling.

Keep shining.

You know that you can always count on me, for sure.

That's what friends are for.

For good times and bad times.

I'll be on your side forevermore.

That's what friends are fore.

I can't understand what happened to my daughter.

She didn't say anything to me.

Oh, I forgot.

She asked me to tell you that she

was going to be late for dinner and for you not to worry.

Did she tell you where she was going?

No, ma'am.

I don't know what's gotten into that girl.

I don't think there's anything to worry

about, Mrs. Livingston.

Here, let me help you clear these dishes.

I'll give you a hand.

Oh, Gabe, Vanessa found one of your old albums

today at the music store.

You're kidding?

You sure she wasn't in an antiques store?

The music store, that's where she went with that band.

Mr. Wilson, I want you to talk to her.

Me?

Yes, I want you to tell her the kind of toll that

takes on a person's life to make the wrath

of God come down on them.

Well, I wouldn't know much about that, Ellie.

How can you say that?

You think I want my baby to end up like you?

I didn't mean that the way it sounded.

I but regret a day of my life, Ellie.

And I don't know anything about any wrath of God.

God and me are just fine.

How can you say that when He struck you blind to show

you the error of your ways?

He didn't strike me blind, Ellie.

It was a drunk in a '57 Chevy.

It was the will of God.

What do you think, Ellie, that God bought him a six pack?

I expect God has a lot more to do in this life

than going around striking me blind.

And blind isn't the worst thing you can be in this world.

And there are more than one way of being blind.

And what's that supposed to mean?

It means you shut me out and wrote me off 30 years ago.

And from the way it sounds, you're

getting ready to do the same thing to your own daughter.

I've loved you for 30 years, Ellie.

I still do, but you won't let me in.

And you're shutting her out.

I want you out of my house.

You can't talk to me like that in my house.

I want you out.

I'm going, Ellie.

[music playing]

Don't shut the door on her like you did on me because I don't

believe the Lord is going to give you another 30

years for her to come back.

[music playing]

Vanessa?

Vanessa?

You missed service tonight.

Now, I won't have it anymore.

You hear me, girl?

[music playing]

Where's Mr. Wilson?

I need to talk to him.

My daughter has run off.

And I think he knows where she is.

He left some time ago, Mrs. Livingston.

With Vanessa?

Was she with him? - No.

Mark took him to the hotel.

What hotel?

I need to talk to him.

He knows where she is.

He put her up to it.

No, he didn't.

Yes, he did.

Don't tell me no.

My daughter wouldn't just run off like this.

He put her up to it. He did it.

That isn't true.

It is.

I heard him.

I heard him filling her head, telling her she was a singer,

and the rest was up to her.

I need to find her.

Why?

Because her place is here with the Lord.

The Lord is everywhere, not just here.

She's not going to find him in some honky tonk.

She doesn't have to find him.

He's not lost.

I don't think your daughter is, either.

She just left home, that's all.

Well, she's making a mistake.

All right, children make mistakes.

That's how they learn.

But I'm not talking about just some mistake.

This could cost her her salvation.

She cannot do this to the Lord.

To the Lord or to you?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Well, are you angry at your daughter

because she's left the Lord or because she left you?

All these years of being angry at Gabe because he left God

or because he left you?

Because she's left the path of the Lord.

And if she does, if she's left this house,

daughter or no, this door will be closed to her.

You know, Mrs. Livingston, I think you better

start taking a good look at how many people

you're closing the door to.

2/3 of your congregation, Gabe, now, you

threaten to do the same thing to your own daughter

because she won't live her life the way you think she should.

Mrs. Livingston, she's a 20-year-old girl.

She's got her own life to lead.

And all you can do is love her.

[music playing]

Goodbye, Mrs. Livingston.

Jonathan?

Take me to Mr. Wilson.

He knows where she is.

I know he does.

Take me to him, please.

[music playing]

All right.

Well, what are you going to do now, Gabe?

Well, it seems like every 30 years,

I have to let that woman kick me out.

I guess I'll go back on the road.

But you know what's really funny?

No, what?

That woman still loves me.

I know she does.

She loved me 30 years ago.

She still does.

So that's why you're going back on the road?

Well, she just doesn't want to have anything to do with me.

The female of the species, man.

You figure it out.

Gabe, you remember the movie "Gone with the Wind?"

Babies, I don't know nothing about birthing no babies.

Right, right.

Well, what happened when Scarlett O'Hara

shut the door on Rhett Butler?

You tell me.

Well, he didn't go back on the road, I'll tell you that.

He kicked the door in.

Now, listen, if you love that woman

as much as you claim to love her,

you wouldn't let her shut the door.

You can't make somebody love you.

Well, according to you, she already does.

[knocking on door]

Is Gabe here?

Yeah, come on in.

Mark here was just leaving.

Yeah, I was.

I'll see you later, Red.

Have a seat.

Mr. Wilson.

You called me Gabe there for a second there.

Yes, yes, I--

I guess I did.

Gabe, do you know where Vanessa is?

Vanessa?

Yes, she left a note saying she went off

somewhere with that band of hers,

that they went on some road tour.

Well, then, that's where she is.

I don't know any more about it than you do, Ellie.

You'd tell me if you knew, though?

You wouldn't lie to me?

I've never lied to you, Ellie.

And I wasn't lying to you when I told

you that I loved you, either.

She's left me, Gabe.

Of course, she's left you, honey.

That's what children do.

It's nothing to cry about.

Come on.

You're too pretty to cry like that.

Don't talk like that.

Like what?

Calling me pretty like I'm some dumb young thing.

I'm not pretty, Gabe.

I'm old.

I'm old, Gabe.

I'm an old woman, and I got nobody or nothing.

You are pretty to me.

You look the same way you did 30 years ago in my mind.

Nothing can change that.

That's one of the advantages of having a blind husband.

You don't have to look at your best for him all the time.

I'm being serious, Gabe.

So am I. If you'd been listening

instead of feeling sorry for yourself, you would have heard.

I said husband, Ellie.

I'm asking you to marry me.

I love you, Ellie.

I want to marry you.

We're too old to be talking like that.

I don't feel old.

I feel good.

And you feel good.

Oh, you feel-- you feel good.

You notice how warm it's getting?

Now, I'm not saying I won't go back on the road,

never mind you, because a man's got to work.

But I want to come home to you.

I suspect I won't be on the road half as much as I used to.

And I can play with that choir of yours.

Yeah, it wouldn't kill me to play in church.

Gabe, what do you think people will say

if they saw their pastor on the road with you

in some honky tonk?

They'd say, there goes Mother Wilson.

She took that old silly Gabe.

Now, he's spending half his time in church.

Since when did you start worrying about what people say?

Come on. What do you say?

I won't stand for no drinking, no blaspheming.

I won't stand for no profanity.

Come on, Ellie.

I won't stand--

Stop telling me what you won't stand for and answer me.

Yes.

[music playing]

Ah, nuts, ah.

I thought you said you got the car tuned up this morning.

I did.

I-- I don't understand it.

I-- the car was running fine.

Some way to start a road tour.

Hey, I'm doing my best, all right.

Hello, Vanessa.

Mr. Smith, did my mama send you out here?

No, your mother doesn't know where you are.

She told me about the note.

I'm not going back, Mr. Smith.

JONATHAN: I never asked you to.

I'm an adult. I've got my own life to live.

Yeah, well, you didn't handle this like an adult.

Adults don't leave notes and run away.

Children do.

Don't you think your mother deserves

a little more than that?

But you can't talk to her.

What would I say?

Just tell her you love her and to try not

to worry about you too much.

Come on, Vanessa.

It's your mom.

What do you say?

I can't believe it.

It started by itself.

I didn't even touch it.

Come on, let's go before it quits on us.

We have to go by my place.

I have to see my mom.

[music playing]

Vanessa?

Hello, Mama.

I am so glad you came back.

Mama, I'm--

I'm not staying.

I know.

Who said you had to?

I just didn't want you running off without knowing.

Knowing what, Mama?

That Gabe and I--

[playing wedding march]

Are you joking?

No, I'm not joking.

Oh, Mama.

Oh.

Hard to believe.

Preacher woman who can't stand honky tonk musicians

ends up with two of them in her family.

Now, if you're gonna be my husband,

you best shut your mouth.

A request if I ever heard one.

I love you, Mama.

I love you, too.

[music playing]