And then we got out of the car
and we got swept down the stream.
And we caught on a tree.
And my father-in-law lost his footing
and asked me to grab the little girl.
And she... I grabbed for her, and I went at that time.
The little girl, too.
And shortly after that, the little boy, he went.
And... And it wasn't far after that
that my wife and father-in-law and the baby, they went, too.
(STAMMERS)
The three children that were lost, their ages...
The oldest was six years old,
and the middle one was four, and the baby was three.
They haven't found the baby and the oldest boy yet.
The little girl we have, and that's all.
NARRATOR: To stop the devastation, the waste,
the loss of life caused by the Tennessee River at flood,
the Congress of the United States on May 18, 1933,
created a vast new agency called the Tennessee Valley Authority
or TVA, and authorized it to build a series of dams
at chosen points along this river.
At the same time, the Tennessee Valley Authority
had to buy up all the land along the shore of the river
and all the islands in the course of the river.
There were some people who had lived on this land for generations.
There were some people who refused to sell
under any persuasion whatsoever.
Garthville!
Hi. I'm Chuck Glover.
Oh. I'm Betty Jackson. I was Mr. Biggs's secretary.
Oh. Do I inherit you, too?
Well, I don't know.
Mr. Biggs left so sudden, he didn't say a thing.
You're inherited. How do you do?
What... What desk should I use?
Well, that was Mr. Biggs' desk.
Thank you.
What's the matter?
I just thought they'd send an older man.
No, they sent a younger one. Shall we get to work?
I'll get the folder on Garth Island.
(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)
I gather getting the old lady off is quite a task.
Well, you're the third one they've sent down here.
None of the others could get around her.
Ella Garth versus Washington. Thank you.
Poor old Mr. Biggs was really disgusted when he quit.
I'll bet he was. Maybe...
It could be he went about it the wrong way.
That man did everything anybody could do.
He begged with that old woman.
He pleaded with her, but she just won't budge an inch.
That is the American way of life.
Rugged individualism is our heritage.
Three thousand people sell, and Ella Garth won't sell.
We applaud that spirit. We admire it. We believe in it.
But we've got to get her the hell out of there.
The dam is finished, and once they close those gates
and the water starts to rise...
Well, we've not only got to get her out of there,
we got to get the land cleared,
the houses down, the trees down.
Be careful.
I guess I'm not telling you anything you don't know.
Betty, what... How would you go about getting her off the island?
I'd let her drown.
Well, that's one way.
How many...
Is that the island?
Look at it. Every one of them bought up except that one.
How many Garths are there on the island?
Oh, there's a whole mess of them, but that old woman, she's it.
And all of them have been told
that water is gonna cover the island?
About a million times. That's all. Mmm-hmm.
Well, I guess I go out and talk to her.
You do that.
Well, it's not that I think I can talk any better than the others,
but I do think we often underestimate the intelligence of people.
We can talk to them, and they will listen.
Well...
Well, what?
Let's just see how you feel about it in a few days.
Well, I'm off to see the mayor.
He is in charge of clearing the land, isn't he?
That's right.
Wish me luck.
Have your cards and your stamps in your hands and be ready.
Sorry I'm late.
We've been waiting for you, Mr. Davis.
Excuse me. Could you tell me where I can find the mayor?
In the barbershop.
Thank you.
(SINGING) Sing, baby, sing...
Is the mayor still in there?
Yeah, sure.
Oh, shut up, dandy.
(MAN VOCALIZING)
Uh, Mayor Maynard?
Be with you in just a minute.
Oh.
Right.
The only way you'll ever get her off the island
is take the U.S. Marshal out there and put her off.
Except, Mr. Maynard, we can't use force.
We're having trouble enough in Washington as it is.
Some senators are even against
any appropriations at all for these dams.
Hey, Tom, how long you gonna be?
I can't take you before tomorrow, Jack.
And we got to get those Garths off that island.
Bottled it Friday.
With no dispossess, no marshals, no shotguns
and no incident that might get into the papers.
You'll never do it.
I'll do it.
I mean, uh, I'll try to do it.
There must be some way. Don't you think?
Stay where you are.
There'll be 20 feet of water right there.
We're a little behind in our clearing,
but we'll make it just before the winter rains, I hope.
Well, if you're behind, why don't you get more men?
Can't, unless we use colored.
Well?
You use colored, and the whites would quit.
For a minute there, I forgot where I was.
Here we are.
There's the island.
It looks deserted.
It's not deserted. They're there.
They know you're here.
I suppose that means me.
Nobody else.
Well...
Here I go. Good luck.
Thanks. After all, what can they do to me?
Just pole yourself over.
And let me know how you come out.
I will.
(MOUTHING)
MAN: (SINGING) Every time I
Feel the spirit
Movin' in my heart
I'll pray
Hi, men.
Who that? I don't know.
(SINGING)... in the pines Where the sun...
(CAN CLATTERS)
Good afternoon.
I'm from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
And...
Uh...
I saw your sign.
Unfortunately, I had to disregard it.
I'd like to talk to you.
Would you give me a few minutes?
If I was you, I'd go now.
Would you give me a few minutes?
I have a problem.
See, we've just... We've just built this big dam downriver.
And pretty soon this whole place will be water.
Everywhere, it's gonna be water.
Well, that's wonderful.
What's your name?
Barbara Ann.
How old are you? Five years old.
You're what? Five years old.
You're not five. You're six if you're a day.
No, honest, I'm only five.
CAROL: Barbara Ann?
Yes, Mama.
Barbara Ann, uh, where are the men working?
Barbara Ann, you come in here.
Yes, Ma.
Uncle Hamilton and Uncle Cal are in the slough.
You mean you get catfish bigger than that?
HAMILTON: Some are bigger. Some are smaller.
Uh-huh.
Well, uh, about what I came down here to talk to you about.
Why don't you get out of here, mister?
We don't want any trouble from you.
Why should there be trouble?
You're from the federal government, ain't you?
Yes. Yes, I am.
Why don't you go on about your business?
My business is with you.
Ma says we wasn't to talk to you.
Well, you have to talk to me.
We do?
Look.
You know as well as I know that you've got to get out of here.
TVA has offered you a fair price.
They've offered to get you a new place just as good.
What do you... What have you got against the new place?
Too much work.
Well, you work here, don't you?
No, sir. CHUCK: Who does?
You mean, you don't do any work at all?
No, sir.
How do you manage that?
Just never started.
Mister, Ma owns this property, and she ain't gonna sell it.
Well, I... Certainly I can understand how a senile old woman
would have sentimental attachment
to a place and not want to leave it.
Perhaps she doesn't understand what it's all about.
Ma understands what it's all about.
Well, if she understands what it's all about,
then what is she doing? These floods down here...
Ma knows all about these floods down here.
Well, then I really don't understand.
Now you just quiet down, mister. You hear? We ain't stupid.
I didn't say you were.
Been reading your mind.
Mister, Ma ain't selling.
Well, it's up to you to make her sell.
What's the matter? Are you all afraid of her?
Joe John.
Don't say nothing agin Ma, mister.
What am I saying against her?
I am saying that if your mother is senile,
it's up to you to make her understand
she's got to leave this place.
But Ma ain't gonna.
She is gonna. You know that as well as I do.
Joe John. Mister, you'd better go now.
Not until I talk to your mother.
Come on. Take me up there.
What's so funny? (CHUCKLES) What's senile?
Crazy.
He says Ma is crazy?
I never saw so many men afraid of one woman in my whole...
Whoa, man, what are you doing? Hey! Hey, hey!
Let go! Let go of me!
(SPUTTERING)
MRS. SLEDGE ON RADIO: Wake up, Mr. Penner. (MR. PENNER SNORING)
MR. PENNER: Huh? What time is it, Mrs. Sledge?
October, and you haven't got a job yet.
Is that so?
(LAUGHING)
Wanna buy a duck? I'll sell you goo-goo-cheap.
(RADIO PROGRAM CONTINUES)
I've been swimming.
MRS. SLEDGE: You'll probably starve to death.
MR. PENNER: I'm starving already.
I'm so hungry, I could eat the grapes of wrath.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello? Hello. Hello, Glover?
Well, you sure got her off in a hurry.
Now start getting the land cleared.
What do you mean, I sure got her off... Oh.
Well, what's holding you up?
Look, I've been here exactly one-half day.
Yes, except for the possibility that Biggs was right.
The only way to get her off may be by force.
Well, we can't use force. What?
I'm sorry. I can't... I can't hear you.
There are a couple of senators up here
who've really got their teeth into us.
They're just waiting for something like this
to put on the docket, and we're through.
Yes, I know that. Um...
Why don't I call you in a couple of days?
Right. Good-bye.
You wanted to see me?
Too bad what happened this afternoon.
Old Joe John's real unpredictable.
What do you want?
Ma says you got an apology coming to you.
Ma says she's sorry about what happened today.
Cal's sorry. Joe John's sorry.
Carol, she's sorry, too.
And me, I'm all busted up about it.
Ma says if you was to come tomorrow, she'd talk to you.
You better hang them things up.
They're gonna get all crinkled lying down there.
What time tomorrow? Anytime. We don't go no place.
Well, they say that President Roosevelt's got
some kind of new government, you know.
It's called the New Deal. Now, what do you think of that?
You know anything about Mr. Roosevelt, son?
Yes'm. Yes'm. Well, I'll tell you.
Mr. Roosevelt is gonna flood this island.
This island here, you say? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
He's gonna take the best piece of land in these here parts
and put it right smack under the Tennessee River.
Well, you know these politicians.
They... Oh, they got to get the votes.
Yes, they got to... They got to get the votes somehow.
So, the President, you see, he sits up there
in that big white house, and he says,
"This country," he says, "is just going to the dogs."
And the only way that he can figure to do anything to stop it
is to put my island underwater.
Now, what do you think of that?
Now, I'm telling you this
because our friend
in this end cabin here just sneaked off last night.
Yes, sir, he...
He just left out with his family
in the middle of the night last night.
I ain't blaming him, mind you.
I ain't blaming him
because nobody wants to be put underwater permanent.
But I'm telling you, all of you right now,
don't go sneaking off in the middle of the night.
Now, any of you wanna go?
Any of you wanna leave out, too? Huh?
Well, the ferry is right down there waiting for you
just anytime you wanna go.
Well, there ain't nobody keeping you here.
Hi.
You go off and join the government.
As I understand, they're gonna put you on relief.
Well, now you just go and get yourselves relieved
anytime you want to.
Me, I ain't going.
(DOG WHINING)
Sam?
Yes, Miss Ella. How...
How is Old Blue running these days?
He's milling, Miss Ella. Uh-huh.
Well, you know what, I decided I'm gonna buy Old Blue, Sam.
What's that, Miss Ella?
You heard me. I said I wanna buy Old Blue.
Now, uh, how much you want for him?
Oh, I wouldn't wanna sell Old Blue, Miss Ella.
Well, I didn't ask you if you wanted to sell him, did I?
I said I'm gonna buy him.
I'm gonna give you... Oh, I'll give you $15 for him.
What's the matter? He ain't worth more than that, is he?
No.
No, ma'am. He ain't worth nothing, but I ain't gonna sell him.
Well, you gotta sell him, Sam, because I'm gonna buy him.
Now, how am I gonna buy him lessin' you sell him?
I don't know, but I ain't gonna sell him.
Sam Johnson, you're selling him, and that's that.
No'm, I ain't gonna sell him. Old Blue is mine.
And I ain't gonna sell him even to you.
You ain't got no right to make me.
Well, now that's true, isn't it, Sam?
Come to think of it, I don't have the right, do I?
You see, young man, Sam and me, we don't sell.
Sam don't sell his dog, and I don't sell my land
that I poured my heart's blood into.
Joe John.
Now, Joe John is real sorry for what he done yesterday.
Ain't you, Son?
That's all right, Joe John.
Mrs. Garth,
uh,
sometimes it happens that we can't remain true to our beliefs
without hurting maybe a great many people.
And I'm afraid this is one of those times.
You're the only person who hasn't sold in this valley.
Well, that's all right with me.
CAROL: Grandma? Yes, Carol.
What?
Huh?
Nothing.
Young man, do you know anything at all about land?
I believe so, yes. That's why I was sent down here.
Oh. Well, when you go back down to that ferry,
you just pick up a handful of that soil.
That's real bottom.
And thousands of tons of it are being washed away every year.
(SIGHS)
Mrs. Garth, you don't love the land, you love your land.
You know the Tennessee River has been a killer for years.
Year after year, it's taken God knows how many lives.
Isn't it just plain common sense to want to harness it?
And do you know what that will mean?
Today, 98% of the people in this valley have no electricity.
The dam will bring them the electricity.
I expect that's what you call progress, isn't it?
And you don't? No, sir, I don't.
Taking away people's souls,
putting electricity in place of them
ain't progress, not the way I see it.
We're not taking away people's souls. Just the opposite.
We're giving them a chance to have a soul.
And it isn't just dam. It's dam after dam after dam.
We aim to tame this whole river.
You do? Well, I like things running wild.
Like nature meant.
There's already enough dams locking things up.
Taming them.
Making them go against their natural wants and needs.
I'm agin dams of any kind.
Oh, you can get me off by force, I reckon.
It won't take much force.
But it will take some.
And that's the only way you'll ever get me off of here
because I ain't a-going against nature.
And I ain't a-crawling for no dang government.
Mrs. Garth, we don't want to put you off by force.
What is going to happen to you?
Me?
I'll show you.
You just come with me, and I'll show you.
Now, read it out.
(CHUCK READING)
Now that one.
(CHUCK READING)
I stay right here in this land.
The water would never come up this far, would it? Hmm?
No.
Young man,
my husband come down this river in a flat-bottom boat
when he was nothing but a boy.
There wasn't even a road anywhere hereabouts then.
He was looking for an island, you know.
And he took this one.
Why, that near field there was all trees, you know.
That one down there, nothing but a dang swamp.
Well, he cleared it.
He drained the fields. He cleared the brush.
He cut down them trees.
He worked hisself to death just to make these fields.
And he told me never to get off.
And I ain't.
I ain't.
I'm getting a little tired.
Good-bye.
How come you haven't gotten her off? You know what's coming.
Don't look to me, mister.
I was born on this place. I know what she's talking about.
You better believe it. If she has to leave this island, it'll kill her.
People don't die as easy as that,
not when you come right down to it.
There's some people who's like that.
We'll get her a nice house.
She'll have a radio. She'll have a modern kitchen.
You don't know her.
You love her, don't you?
And you are afraid of her.
Not really.
You know, I think if anyone has a chance of reaching her,
it would be you.
Was that your little girl?
I have a little boy, too.
One of those men isn't your husband?
My uncles.
Where is your husband?
I'm sorry.
How long have you lived here with her?
Since my husband died.
Jim and I lived on the other bank in a little white house.
Did you notice?
Yes, I did. Yes.
Well, when he died,
I just locked the door
and took my two babies
and come over here to Grandma.
How old were you when he died?
Nineteen. Nineteen?
And you had two children?
I just plain gave up.
But Grandma wouldn't have it. She doesn't believe in giving up.
Yes, I kind of gathered that.
She gave me what little money she had.
Sent me on down to Jennings College
to better myself.
I tried it a whole year, but I just couldn't keep my mind on it.
So, I come back here,
and I've been here ever since.
Well, certainly...
Certainly you've got a fellow.
Somebody who cares. Oh, yeah.
Yeah, I got a fellow. Well, then.
"Well, then." What's that supposed to mean?
I mean, if you do have a fellow...
Oh, yeah? That's the answer to everything, if you have a fellow?
I gather you don't care too much about him.
I'm gonna marry him.
But you don't love him.
My children.
Everything's so confused. I don't...
Well, I can't wait much longer.
He's getting sort of impatient.
If you don't love him, I wouldn't marry him.
You wouldn't?
You're a real romantic, aren't you?
I'll walk you to the ferry.
Come on.
CHUCK: You can't let a tough break ruin your whole life.
CAROL: I know you can't.
It's like they say, you got to snap out of it.
You got to take an interest in things.
I know you do.
The most dangerous erosion is not to land.
It's when your capacity for living gets eroded.
What you looking at, Sam?
Just measuring, Miss Carol.
The water won't rise, Sam, until they close the gates of the dam.
How do they get the electricity?
Is it in the water all the time
and they just sort of squeeze it out somehow?
Uh, no, Sam. It's the fall of the water.
The force of water coming down from the mountain.
Maybe someday you'd like to come over to the dam, and I'll show you. Okay?
Yes, sir.
What are all of you gonna do when the water starts covering the island?
Let the white folk work.
We all gonna drown?
Of course not, but you've all got to get off.
Who's gonna look after us?
Who looks after you now?
Miss Ella. She looks after us good.
Wouldn't you rather look after yourselves?
I've got an idea.
Why don't all of you come down
to the TVA office in the morning?
We can talk about it.
Miss Ella won't like us coming over there.
Well, think about it.
I'll be in the office all morning.
I wanna thank you, Mrs...
I don't know your name.
Carol. Okay, Carol.
Don't worry. Everything's gonna turn out all right.
Will it?
Sure. If we help a little.
(MAN 1 EXCLAIMING) MAN 2: There we go!
Do you mind if I come with you? CHUCK: No.
(EXCLAIMING) Do you mind? Do you mind?
No.
I haven't talked to anyone in so long.
I know.
The current will carry us across.
Slowly.
WOMEN: (SINGING) And he walks with me
Slowly.
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
What's that song?
It's just some old hymn.
(HUMMING)
(SINGING) And he walks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
You know, I think it might work.
What?
What you was talking about.
Will you come with me? I wanna show you something.
Sure.
Would you get me the key? Sure.
MAN: (SINGING) Hurry on sundown
See what tomorrow brings
Hurry on sundown
See what tomorrow brings
(MAN CONTINUES SINGING)
Oh, my.
You all right?
I'm all right. Thank you.
This is... Is this the first time you've been back?
Oh, my. Oh, my.
I had someone come in and straighten up in here a few weeks after.
But since then... Oh, my.
There's that river out there.
Grandma loves that river.
Oh, maybe she could just come here
and set here and just look at it.
How come you never suggested it to her?
I just thought of it coming over on the ferry.
You never thought of that before?
I never thought I'd get through that door again.
You really loved your husband, didn't you?
Jim.
Oh, yeah.
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
Well, when I told you about Walter...
About who?
Walter Clark, the man who wants to marry me.
Oh, yes. Yes?
Well, you said that I shouldn't marry him if I didn't love him.
Yes, I said that, but as a sort of...
You know, sort of a general rule.
Is he a nice person?
Oh, yeah.
Well?
And I like him.
But...
(SIGHS) Oh, I...
Well, maybe I'd get to love him after I was married to him a while.
Do you think it ever happens that way?
(SIGHS)
No.
But still, if I married Walter,
I could come and live here with the children.
And then maybe Grandma would come.
Oh, God, she won't. I know she won't.
She'll never leave that island.
Oh. I don't know what to do.
I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
I just don't know.
Getting dark out.
Don't go. Please don't go.
Don't go.
CAROL: (SINGING) And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I don't understand.
You say you're behind in clearing the fields
and yet here you have 12 able-bodied men who want jobs.
They wanna work.
I also said that we...
Tom... Not now, Jack.
I also said that we can't hire Negroes. The whites would quit.
That is a chance we have to take.
Let's go out back.
I suppose you figure that if you take all the Negroes off Garth Island,
you'll leave the old lady stranded,
and she'll have to get off, too.
Is that it?
Well, Sheriff, it might work out that way.
I'm afraid you're heading into trouble
with some of the townfolk if you do this.
The custom here... Look, this is TVA.
We're new. We don't have any customs yet.
I'm gonna hire those men
and every man, black or white, gets paid the same.
Well, Mr. Glover, I predict your next visit will be from a Mr. Moore.
We'd like a few words. My name's Sy Moore.
Mr. Moore.
Come on in. What can I do for you?
Thank you.
Now, Mr. Glover, we've come here to help you.
Mr. Todd here is president of our bank. Just fine.
And Mr. Thompson, he's our undertaker.
Also runs the furniture store.
Very highly thought of.
I'm just a plain businessman.
Won't you sit down? Well, thank you.
Telling you all this just so you'll know
who you're having this little chat with.
We're all, what you might say, the responsibles of the town.
I see.
And you're here to tell me that if I...
If I hire Negroes, the whites will quit.
Is that it? Why, not at all.
What could possibly make you think that?
Sorry.
Just a matter of keeping them in separate gangs.
Of keeping them...
In separate gangs.
(SIGHS) All right, all right. I will do that.
I'll do that. MOORE: Well, we were sure you would.
Now, Mr. Glover, how much you plan to pay these men?
What do you mean? Well, I mean, you're not planning
to pay them same as a white man?
They're gonna do the same jobs.
Now, Mr. Glover, you look like a reasonable man.
You do.
So, just think, after this project of yours is over,
we can't go on paying these boys
the same money a white man gets.
It would ruin our whole economy down here.
Uh, the federal government can't make such distinctions.
MOORE: Well, just the same, we'd a whole lot rather
you paid these boys what they're used to getting.
How much you pay a white man for the job?
$5 a day.
Well, now, you're not talking about paying one of these darkies $5 a day?
I'll go out myself for $5 a day.
I'll get you any number of the biggest, strongest,
best-looking bucks in this country for $2 a day.
Now, we're all for the TVA, Mr. Glover, and we wanna help you.
So if you'll just go along with us on this one little point,
I'm sure everything will be satisfactory.
And if I don't go along with you?
Well, now...
As I said, we're the responsibles of this town...
But there are other type men here. Yes, there are.
Men who aren't so responsible.
We can control them only to a point.
For instance, old Bailey, he...
He runs the gas station.
Yes, he's a very good boy. Bailey wanted to come over with us.
In which case, the conversation
would have been a whole lot different.
MOORE: Well, we said to Bailey... Didn't we, Fred?
We said, "Let us go over and talk to that boy."
TODD: Give him a chance.
And that was all right with him.
We made it all right with him.
We wanna help you, but Bailey...
He's a hard boy to reason with.
Yes, he is. And there are a whole lot just like him in this town.
Really?
We want you to know just how we feel about it, Mr. Glover.
I understand how you feel about it.
I'd like to think it over.
Betty, would you ask them to come in, please?
Y'all come on in.
Come on in now.
CHUCK: I'll be right with you.
Hi, Sam.
Well, here we are, boys.
Jerry, I think this ought to do for you and your family
at least until you find something of your own.
Sure.
(LAUGHS) Who in the world ever thought of that?
MAN: Yes, sir. We'd have trouble coming up through that mud tonight.
I'll say.
Thank you. Thank you.
Good night. Good night. I'll see you in the morning.
I got them all jobs.
They're leaving in the morning. They're leaving the island.
Carol?
It's beautiful here.
When it rains, too.
I don't blame her for not wanting to leave.
You're shivering.
It's October.
I hate to see the summer go.
Look at the leaves falling.
Chuck.
Don't. Don't. Don't, don't.
I don't wanna kid myself or you.
I believe maybe I'm in love with you.
Didn't think I'd ever be in love with anybody again.
But pretty soon all this business here will be over and you'll be leaving.
I got to protect myself, Chuck.
I sort of feel like living again now.
I don't wanna be hurt anymore.
Not by anybody.
Yes.
You wanna come in a minute?
Oh, I've been working in here all day. And you know what?
I'm gonna paint every room a different color. Look. Look.
Oh, that's all Jim's stuff.
Them boots and that old shotgun.
I don't know what to do with it.
Look, Chuck.
Look at this old sweater Grandma knit.
Doesn't it look like something I'd knit?
And these silly old socks.
Just stop walking around in front of me, would you?
Just don't walk in front of me.
(SIGHS)
I'm sorry.
You know what? I'd like a drink.
Oh...
I'll look.
(EXCLAIMING IN PAIN)
What's the matter? Wait a minute. Let me see. Don't move.
(KISSING) Oh.
CAROL: Don't. Let go. Please.
Don't! Don't.
No.
I'm gonna go.
(PULLEY CREAKING)
(AXES CHOPPING)
(WAGON CLATTERING)
(EXCLAIMING)
(SPITS)
Carol?
Did you...
Did you know about this?
Hmm?
I had hints. Hints?
Carol, you remember that yellow cat we had?
Come her season, you know, we used to let her out at night.
It was dawn when she'd come back.
Now, a cat is really quiet.
But I could hear her at dawn,
sneaking back into the house.
I know I'm doing wrong.
I know it. I know. I know.
How long has Jim been dead now?
Three years.
Well, that's a long time.
I remember when I was a woman.
It's a long time.
But I just... I just can't understand going over to the enemy.
Grandma, he's right. You can't stay here any longer.
Stop looking at me that way, Grandma. People saying you're crazy.
Come with me. I fixed up my house. We can take the children.
We can't stay here any longer either.
Then you better go, too.
Grandma! No, I want you to go!
No. Tonight!
I won't. Git!
All right, I'll go, but I'm not going far.
I'm going over there to that little house of mine
and I'm gonna wait for you.
Jim Junior, Barbara Ann.
Well, what are you setting there for?
Just resting my bones.
Well, rest them, then, and get going.
I changed my mind. I ain't going.
Get up.
Get up!
Look at you.
Never did have no brains, did you, Sam?
Don't you know what's coming?
Yes, ma'am.
You get going, Sam.
I want you to go.
I ain't going.
Well...
The ferry pole.
Oh, Grandma.
We'd better go get some groceries.
One gallon, Mr. Bailey.
That'll be eight gallons at 18¢. $1.44.
Bailey, how's Alice?
Why, Carol. Why, she's just fine.
(HORN HONKS)
Oh, do you two know each other?
R.J. Bailey, Chuck Glover.
So you're Bailey.
R.J. Bailey.
No, I haven't had the pleasure.
I'm happy to meet the gentleman.
My, that's a nice, ready-made family you got, Mr. Glover.
"Glover."
(JACK SINGING)
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
Hey, did I read that right? Carol Garth?
That's who I believe I saw, too.
You think Walter Clark knows somebody's getting in his nest?
Well, I heard he knew about it.
What do you expect he'll do about it?
Well, now, he's so scared of what Carol thinks of him,
he just might not do nothing.
On the other hand, he might appreciate
a little help in this situation.
And as for those jobs that Mr. What's-His-Name is handing out...
(CAR ENGINE TURNS OFF)
Mmm. They had a hard day.
Give them their supper and put them to bed.
(SIGHS)
What's the matter, Chuck? Afraid you're getting in too deep?
I don't want you to marry me. Does that make you feel better?
You see... Well, that is it.
I understand how you men have to watch every step.
Can't be caught saying anything permanent sounding.
I'm not out to tie you down. You don't even have to say you love me.
No, it's... It's not...
Now, will you come on in?
(SIGHS)
It's just that I've... I don't know.
I've been taking a good look at myself...
And you decided that you're not the marrying type.
No. No, it's not...
You got so much to do before you saddle yourself with a wife?
Don't. Please.
Besides, let's tell the truth.
We're different people, Chuck, aren't we?
You're, I don't know, everything different.
(SIGHS)
You ever really need anybody?
(INHALES)
Shut up.
Come here.
Don't.
Chuck.
Chuck. Chuck. (SHUSHING)
Hold still. Hold still. Hold still.
Anyway, now it's wonderful. Right now.
You can't get enough of me right now, can you?
Tell me. Tell me.
I can't get enough of you.
(MOANING)
Let's put the kids to bed.
(CHUCK BREATHING HEAVILY)
Let's put the kids to bed.
Jim Junior. Wake up, honey.
Hi, Jimmy.
Hi. I love Chuck.
Little rabbit?
Little white rabbit?
Wake up.
Chuck, will you carry me in? Yes.
(CHUCKLING)
Jimmy!
(EXCLAIMING EXCITEDLY)
You got close, my loving boy.
You got close.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Huh?
(LAUGHING)
Walter Clark. What you doing here?
Just thought I'd help on the cleaning up.
Hello, Jim Junior.
Well, aren't you going to introduce me to Mr. Glover?
I'm Walter Clark, Mr. Glover.
Oh, I brought some eggs, and milk, and some bread,
and some good coffee for breakfast.
You didn't have anything here.
Oh, we... You didn't...
You see, Mr. Glover? She takes all that for granted.
No word of thanks. CAROL: Oh, thanks, Walter.
WALTER: Oh, you don't have to thank me.
It's a natural thing looking after the girl you're courting.
Carol. You better get those kids to bed. They look awful tired.
They slept in the car.
They look awful tired.
Will you sleep with me, Chuck?
You going back to town?
Yes.
Would you drive me in? I'll leave my car here for her.
She'll need it in the morning.
Do you mind?
No, not at all.
Well, then. Say good-bye, and let's go.
Good night. Good night.
You get some rest, too, Carol. You look tired.
As soon as this Garth business is settled,
you'll be leaving here, won't you?
Yes.
And it ought to be settled pretty soon, oughtn't it?
It has to be.
That's right. It has to be.
I'll tell you. You just drive me in to your hotel.
I'll walk home from there.
You do have my thought by now, don't you?
I have your thought.
(CAR DOORS CLOSING)
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
You eat your cereal.
(CAR DRIVING AWAY)
(DOG BARKING)
Well...
Which did you say your room was?
I didn't say. It's next to the end.
You left your light on.
Well, good night.
And I want to pay you a compliment.
Carol... Carol could do worse.
(DOG WHINING)
MAN ON RADIO: Yowsa, yowsa.
Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we open the jolly festivities
by singing the praises of dear old Red Seal.
Good old Red Seal, that gives you the most of the best.
Hello, G-Man.
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
What's the matter?
Don't go up there.
How many of them are there?
Just one. He said he had to see you, and I...
Go on home. Go home.
(BUZZER SOUNDING)
Turn on the light.
There is only one of you.
Well, I didn't figure I needed anyone else.
What do you want?
If you've forgotten my name, it's R.J. Bailey.
I run that gas station.
Yeah, I remember.
I also work 400 acres of cotton just outside of town here.
I'd have come to see you sooner, Mr. Glover,
but we just begun picking our cotton. Mmm-hmm.
Yesterday, one of my best hands, Ben, real nice boy,
he took off and he joined that new gang you started, $5 a day.
When I heard about it, I went back of the house
and I cut me a stick about so long,
about that thick.
And I went down to where that boy was working.
I didn't even get out the car. I didn't wanna shame him.
I called him over and said, "Ben, get in the car."
When we got home, I took him back of the barn
and went after him with the stick.
Oh, he's all right now.
I mean, his thinking's all right now.
Of course, he couldn't work yesterday. He couldn't work today.
Had to hire another boy to do his job for two days.
Mmm-hmm.
So, I figure you owe me what I had to pay that extra hand.
Two times $2 a day, $4.
Uh-huh.
Yep. Mr. Glover, you owe me $4.
I don't see it that way.
(WRAPPER RUSTLING)
Well, you need some time to think it over.
I don't need time to think it over.
You think it over. Here. Do you want one?
You see, Mr. Glover,
if you go on stealing our best field hands at $5 a day,
you're gonna be dealing with a lot of my friends, too.
What's keeping you here anyway, huh?
(BLOWS)
They tell me you're down here to get an old woman off an island?
(SCOFFS) Man, there's nothing to that.
I'll go down and get her off there for you tomorrow.
I'll just go down. I'll pack her up. I'll get her off.
I'll do that for you tomorrow. Would you like me to?
I want you to mind your own business.
Oh.
Now, I figured, since you been mixing in mine
that you wouldn't mind if I just mixed in yours a little bit.
But you're like me, Mr. Glover. You do mind.
Well, fella, how about it? $4.
No.
Now, if you don't give it to me,
I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take it away from you.
You may have some trouble.
(SIGHS)
Oh, man.
Good night, Sully.
(BLOWS STRIKING) (CHUCK GRUNTING)
(GLASS SHATTERING)
Was you there, Charlie?
Then the air was full of hamburger meat.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Our friend up in Number Three needs change for this here 10.
CLERK: I think I have it.
I think you'll get your girl all right now, Walter.
And I think maybe our friend upstairs will be leaving town soon.
This is his change.
Now, I want you to take this $4 of mine
and send that boy up the best bottle of white lightning you can find.
He needs it.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Okay, I am stubborn, but I can't get it out of my head
that there isn't some way to reach that old woman.
After all, people are human, aren't they? I mean...
People are human, right?
I don't know if you could call Ella Garth human.
I don't care what you call Ella Garth. She was born, wasn't she?
She's gonna die, isn't she? All right. She's human.
CHUCK: Mrs. Garth?
Mrs. Garth?
Mrs. Garth!
ELLA: Who's there?
It's me, Chuck Glover.
Who's that with you?
Who's that? That's my friend, Walter Clark.
Been putting away a little of that corn liquor, ain't you?
I acknowledge I... I had a drink, yes.
Appears to me you can hardly stand up.
Mrs. Garth, we've come here...
(STAMMERS)
We wanna talk to you as one human being to another.
Walter. Yes, ma'am?
You'd better take this lunatic home.
I'll take him home in just a minute.
But first, there's something I want to say.
I understand you, Mrs. Garth.
I know exactly what you're fighting for.
It's your dignity.
I know.
I'm right? It's your...
It's your everlasting, ever-loving dignity.
It's your dignity.
That's it. It's your dignity.
He's...
Yeah, he sure is.
(ELLA SCOFFS)
He looks smaller than I thought.
That's right. They're going to close the gates of that dam Monday.
You've got exactly two weeks to get that island leveled
before the water starts rising.
But we haven't even got the old lady off yet.
Take the U.S. Marshal out there
and put her off just as soon as you can.
Or sooner. And get to clearing that land.
But I thought you were so anxious
to avoid the publicity. What about that?
Publicity, he's worried about. It'll be a lot worse publicity
if she starts getting wet.
Yes. I'll get to it right away.
(SHUDDERING)
(SIGHING)
Why don't you have another cup of coffee?
Mr. Glover. Not now, please.
It's about Ma.
What's happened?
This here's Mr. Armstrong, our lawyer.
Mr. Glover, we feel that Mrs. Garth
is no longer really fit to handle her own affairs.
And we feel it's only right for me and Cal
to declare her senile and sell the property ourselves.
CAL: You said yourself she's incompetent, mister.
You know, anybody stays out there
when they know that water's coming up must be crazy.
All the rest of us done got off.
Joe John and Mattie got off yesterday.
And under the law, we can have her declared incompetent.
I'd rather have her put off at the point of a gun.
I'll have the papers ready in the morning.
I've known Miss Ella since I was a boy.
I sort of hate to do this.
You hate to do it?
I guess it all goes under the general heading of progress.
Yeah, that's what they say.
I heard you had a little trouble last night. Any complaints, Mr. Glover?
It all goes under the general heading of progress.
Mrs. Garth?
I apologize for the other night.
First and only time I ever liked you.
Mrs. Garth?
Hamilton and Cal came to my office with a lawyer.
They plan to prove you are of unsound mind
and consequently unable to negotiate the sale of your property.
Worthless.
Can you hear me?
They was always worthless.
They may be able to prove it. And if they can, they can sell it.
This whole island will be flooded in two weeks.
This house is coming down.
You can't stay here any longer, Mrs. Garth.
Are you listening?
Marshal Hogue has issued an order
for your eviction, and tomorrow...
Tomorrow, it will be executed.
Come with me now.
Mrs. Garth?
What are you trying to prove?
Sam. All this is gonna be underwater.
(URGING HORSES)
(INAUDIBLE)
I said a house with a porch.
It's got to have a porch.
So, keep trying, will you?
ALL: (SINGING) When other helpers fail
And comforts flee
Help of the helpless
Oh, abide with me
Jimmy learned a new one.
Will you sing it for me, Jimmy?
(SINGING) Jesus loves me
Yes, I know
For the...
Oh. (JIMMY LAUGHING)
Hey. Hi.
Hi, Chuck. JIMMY: Hey, Chuck!
How is it? Hi.
Huh? Oh.
Okay.
You look tired.
What you been doing all day?
Trying to find a house with a porch.
JIMMY: (SLEEPILY) Good night, Chuck.
Good night.
Oh. Frances, just put him down for me, will you?
Come on, Barbara. Let's get to bed, honey.
When I first came down here, I thought,
"How could any one person go against
"what's happening in this country?"
There she's been, sitting there for, I don't know, 80 years,
and I was gonna get her off the island in one day.
I was even looking forward to it. (SCOFFS)
Imagine.
And now, I have to make sure I get her off alive.
Good night, honey.
Good night.
You're getting awfully human, aren't you, Chuck?
I was always human. Wasn't I?
Then you'll be leaving soon, won't you?
Not for a couple of weeks at least.
But I have to wait until the land is cleared first, and stuff like that.
A couple of weeks?
Maybe more. Maybe a little longer.
A little longer.
I'm going now, Miss Carol.
Oh, yeah, good night, Frances.
Good night, Frances.
Good night, Mr. G. Here you are.
(WIND BLOWING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Chuck? Yes, dear?
I hate to say this.
Say what?
I wanna say something I hate to say.
What?
When you go,
take me with you.
One day soon, you're gonna come to me
and you're gonna say, "Carol, I have to go."
And there won't be time to talk or to think or anything.
And there'll be a car waiting and then a plane.
And you'll say, "Carol, honey, I have to go."
Isn't that right?
Yes, that is right.
Take me with you.
(SIGHS)
Did I tell you what happened the other night
after Walter took you back to your hotel?
No. No.
Well, he come back here in the middle of the night
and he nearly broke my heart.
How?
I kept saying to him, "Stop looking at me.
"I have nothing, nothing special, nothing to give any man.
"Except if I love him, I have a lot to give him."
And? He kept saying,
"He'll leave the first day after his job's done down here.
"But I'm forever and forever."
He's right. And I told him that...
Oh, I wish you hadn't said that.
Oh, why did you say that that way?
I know it's true, but why?
Oh, I know it's...
(SOBBING)
I know.
I know
that.
I'm leaving here with you or without you.
But I want you to know something.
I'd be a good wife for you, a damn good wife.
I'm smarter than you in some ways,
and I know what's good about you
and I know what's bad, and I'm not afraid to tell you.
I have two children who love you.
They love you, and I love you.
And you're not easy to love, but you do need someone.
And I love you.
I love you. I love you.
It stopped raining.
Don't say anything.
Don't say a thing.
I'm afraid of what you might say.
(STAMMERING) I don't know what to say.
Oh, God. That says it all.
That's not what I meant.
It's what you really meant.
What you finally figure out to say isn't what you mean.
I heard you. I asked you, and you said no.
I heard you.
Oh, Chuck!
Anything! Anything!
What do you want? What do you want from me?
I'll do anything. I'll do anything. (FOOTSTEPS CLATTERING)
Walter Clark! What are you doing?
I'm sorry to break in this way.
I told you not to come back. I owe it to him!
You've got no business...
Carol. Carol. (VEHICLES APPROACHING)
What is it?
There are men here.
(MEN LAUGHING)
He's in there. See him?
BAILEY: All right. (SHUSHING)
Turn off those lights. Elden?
Yes, sir. Give me that rifle.
(SCREECHING)
(ALL SCREECHING)
Whose truck is this, buddy? Walter Clark's.
Get out!
(SCREECHING CONTINUES)
They'll break...
I don't know what's happening.
(MEN SHOUTING)
Mama!
CAROL: I'm in here, honey. I'm in here.
MAN: (CHANTING) Round and round she goes Where she stops, nobody knows!
(EXCLAIMING)
I got to pull down that shade.
(GUNSHOT)
CHUCK: Walter! Walter! (YELLING)
Walter, what happened?
Are you all right?
BAILEY: Chuck! It's your old buddy, Bailey!
(CHATTERING JUBILANTLY)
Come to give you a farewell party!
Got you all packed.
(ALL CHEERING)
What are they doing with my car?
Get away, Barbara. Don't you dare go out there.
BAILEY: Got your ticket bought all the way to Washington!
Got your traveling mate! How'd you like to go to Washington, boy?
What do you think? They're just having some fun.
There she goes!
(ALL CHEERING)
BARBARA: Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!
Did you see that?
What are you doing in my pickup?
Get out of there! Get out!
Bailey, you damaged my house, and you're gonna get the bill for it!
Time to go, Mr. Glover.
Bailey, you shot at me! You shot at me!
BAILEY: I shot at the lamp.
WALTER: You shot at me!
Well, old buddy. Sure is nice to see you.
Mr. Glover, it sure has been mighty fitting to meet you.
When are you going home?
How's Eleanor up there?
Who's Eleanor?
Eleanor Roosevelt.
(ALL CLAMORING) ...that pickup! You did! You did!
I'll see you to the train.
I'll see that he gets there. (BAILEY SHOUTS)
(CLAMORING STOPS)
Watch it, Chuck.
Bailey. There's no way to scare me out.
I came down here to do a job, and I...
CAROL: Oh!
Carol!
(ALL CLAMORING)
Bite his ear off!
Carol, let...
Bailey, what's the matter with you? What are you doing?
No, no! No, don't!
I'm gonna kill that...
(PEOPLE SHOUTING)
You know what you just did? Don't hit a woman.
BAILEY: I don't want a word out of you! You just hit a woman!
I don't want a word...
Time to go beddy-bye.
You just knocked a woman right on the ground!
Don't hit a woman. Don't hit a woman.
Who else is gonna say a word?
Go on! Another word! I wanna hear another word out of someone!
Just say one word!
Sheriff. How you getting along?
Oh, all right, I guess.
I'm a little tired.
Why don't y'all go on home?
(CAR ENGINES STARTING)
Anything I can do for you, Miss Carol?
Get off my place now.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
You know,
(CAR DRIVING AWAY)
I wish someday I could win maybe one fight.
You were wonderful up there.
I don't care if you ever win a fight.
Marry me?
I know I'll probably regret it.
I'm sure you'll regret it.
But...
Go get your hat.
Get a coat. Wash up.
All right?
All right.
And now, by the authority invested in me by the state of Tennessee
as a justice of the peace,
I now pronounce you as man and wife.
And what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
$5, please.
Anyway, it's got a porch. I hope she likes it.
"...and it further appearing to the court
"that you have failed and refused to vacate said property,
"you are therefore hereby commanded to immediately and forthwith
"vacate the real estate, buildings,
"outbuildings and appurtenances
"designated as Tract C49647, and this you shall in no wise fail to do
"under the fear and penalty of the law.
"Signed, Allan R. Nealy, District Judge."
Well, that's it.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Hmm?
(CHOPPING INCREASES)
(BOAT ENGINE STARTING)
MAN: There she goes!
CHUCK: Well, this is it.
Grandma, you look... You look kind of tired.
Don't you wanna go in, lie down a minute?
Carol.
Yes, Grandma?
(SIGHS)
I owe Frank Zachary
16¢ for two pounds of sugar.
You see that he gets it next time you go in.
Yes, Grandma.
That's all I owe
anybody.
Chuck?
Oh.
Well, here she goes.
Grandma just died.
You had it to do.
There was nothing you could have done different.
Looks like we're ready to go, Mr. Glover.
Go ahead.
Yeah.
Okay, Jerry, go ahead.
MAN: Truly, truly, I say to you,
she who believeth hath life eternal.
(SINGING) In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun never shines
And we'll shiver
When the cold wind blows
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun never shines
And we'll shiver
When the cold wind blows
CAROL: Barbara Ann.
(INAUDIBLE)
ENGLISH - US - PSDH