Possum, put that up, now. 2
Our Heavenly Father... 3
bless this meal and those who are about to receive it. 4
Make us thankful for your generous bounty and your unceasing love. 5
Please remind us, in these hard times... 6
to be grateful for what we have been given... 7
and not to ask for what we cannot have. 8
And make us mindful of those less fortunate among us... 9
as we sit at this table with all of thy bounty. 10
- Amen. - Amen. 11
Turn your plate over. 12
Put your napkin in your lap. 13
Frank, you want to take some... 14
- okra and pass it to your pa? - Yes, ma'am. 15
Forgot to tell you, we got a letter from your Aunt Gladys. 16
She was hoping we could come to Oklahoma and visit them... 17
during your vacation. 18
But, I don't know. I was hoping we could paint the house. 19
I'll get it. 20
Thank you. 21
- Frank, one biscuit. - Yes, ma'am. 22
Right on my biscuit. 23
Excuse me, Mrs. Spalding. The sheriff home? 24
He is, but we just sat down to dinner. Can't this wait? 25
No, ma'am. It seems like we got a problem down... 26
It's all right! I'll be right there, Jack! 27
Sorry to bother you, sheriff, but there's a drunk Negro by the track. 28
- I thought you ought to... - Yeah, yeah, yeah. 29
- Where are you going? - With Pa. 30
Royce? 31
No one excused you from the table, young man. You stay here. 32
I won't be gone long. 33
- Who'd you say it was? - That Wylie boy, sheriff... 34
Hey, boys, get on back now, you hear me? You hear? 35
Wylie! 36
Wylie! 37
Howdy, Mr. Royce. 38
Nice day. 39
Wylie, you're drunk as a skunk. 40
I sure am, Mr. Royce. 41
You know better than that. 42
I'm sorry, Mr. Royce. 43
- You ready to come with me now? - Just a minute. 44
Wylie, are you done? 45
Royce... 46
Frank! 47
Frank! 48
Frank, give me my doll! 49
Frank. Possum. 50
- Give me my doll! - Frank. Possum. 51
Come here. 52
Come on. 53
Something's happened to your pa. 54
- What do you think? - Get her out here. 55
Ma? 56
Ma? 57
Never you mind, hon. Don't you look. 58
Come on. 59
For pity's sake, what do you think you're doing? 60
You get out of here. Right now. 61
- Right now, Glen. I mean it. - Guess we can go now. 62
Oh, sis. 63
Rosalie, you go down. 64
Go inside, both of you. 65
Oh, sis. 66
Sis, I'm so sorry. 67
I am so sorry. 68
I don't want anybody to see me. 69
- I don't want anybody to see me. - I'm not gonna let anybody see you. 70
Nobody's gonna see you. 71
We would have been married 15 years this October. 72
We had two children. 73
And I never knew till just now Royce had a scar right there. 74
I never knew that. 75
I was afrai... 76
I was afraid you wasn't gonna make it. 77
Just don't worry about anything. 78
Darling, I'm sorry. 79
I just heard. I got here as fast as I could. 80
You all right? Come here. It's all right. 81
It's all right. 82
Oh, honey, everything's gonna be all right. 83
I'm here now. 84
I know how bad you feel. 85
There now, there now. I'm sorry. 86
All I could think of... 87
when I saw that poor man in there... 88
was what would I do if it was you? 89
What would I do if something was to happen to you? 90
Ain't nothing gonna happen to me. 91
I'm too ornery. 92
I don't think I could live without you. 93
Oh, I love you. 94
I love you so much. 95
I love you too. 96
Sorry to hear about it. 97
Thank you. We appreciate it. 98
- Wayne. - Viola. 99
- Where's Edna? - She's in the kitchen with Margaret. 100
All right. 101
Hi, Buddy. 102
Hello, Wayne. How you doing? 103
- How's Mrs. Spalding? - She's all right. 104
Excuse me. 105
Vi... 106
You want to take this for a minute? I'll be right back. 107
Here, sug. 108
Come on, you gotta eat something. 109
Marie Thornton made that. 110
It's real good. 111
Margaret. 112
What's gonna happen to us? 113
I can't support this family. 114
I haven't the least idea how to go about it. 115
It seems... 116
like I have never done anything all my life... 117
but raise kids... 118
and take care of this house. 119
Royce paid all the bills. 120
I never even knew how much salary he made. 121
What's gonna happen to us? 122
And thou shalt eat the herbs of the field. 123
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread... 124
till thou return unto the ground... 125
for out of it wast thou taken. 126
For dust thou art... 127
and unto dust thou shall return. 128
Amen. 129
Lord, I thought those people would never leave. 130
- Margaret, let me get this now. - No, you go on and rest. 131
I'll get that. 132
Evening, ma'am. 133
Excuse me, but I was wondering if you have any work around here? 134
No. There's nothing here. 135
You go on now. Shoo. 136
What is it? 137
I was just asking if you had any chores I can help with. 138
Oh, no, there's no work around here. 139
I can make you a plate of food. 140
Thank you, ma'am. 141
You wait out by the gate. 142
Yes, ma'am. 143
Excuse me! 144
Morning! 145
I thought I told you last night you can't stay around here. 146
Well, I seen you was almost out of firewood... 147
so I thought I'd chop some for you. 148
I could fix you some breakfast, but after that, you got to go. 149
Thank you, ma'am. 150
You know, ma'am... 151
you got a nice henhouse over here. 152
Of course, it's about ready to fall down. 153
A mighty good-looking milk cow. 154
She sure need taking care of, though. 155
There must be close to 40 acres out back. 156
I reckon with the right kind of help... 157
you'd make yourself a handsome living just farming cotton. 158
All you need is somebody like me... 159
who knows most everything there is to know about farming cotton. 160
I was thinking that maybe... 161
I could work around here for food and a place to stay. 162
No. I can't give you any work. 163
I could fix you some breakfast, and then you've got to leave. 164
- No such thing as a job, nowadays. - I'm sorry. 165
I'll fix you a nice plate of food. 166
You go wait out there and I'll bring it to you, okay? 167
Yes, ma'am. 168
I can mend this fence with no trouble at all, right after breakfast. 169
Oh, that'd be fine, just fine. 170
Okay. I'll be right out here. 171
Good afternoon, Mrs. Spalding. 172
Mr. Denby. 173
I hope I'm not bothering you. 174
- No. Won't you come in? - Oh, thank you. 175
- Please. - Thank you. 176
Mrs. Spalding, on behalf of everyone down at the First Farmers Bank... 177
if there's anything we can do in this hour of need, please ask. 178
Thank you. 179
Mrs. Spalding... 180
I don't know how much your husband told you about his business. 181
But at the close of banking hours yesterday... 182
you had a balance of $116.72. 183
However, when your husband bought this place... 184
he did borrow money from the bank. 185
At the time of his death he still owed... 186
$3681, to be paid twice a year. 187
What that means, Mrs. Spalding, is... 188
come October 15th, you will owe the bank $240. 189
We were wondering if you had any idea how you were gonna make that payment. 190
Yes. 191
Matter of fact, I do. 192
I was thinking... 193
Rilla Langsford and her sister have that nice little gift shop... 194
and, well, I thought I could do the same thing. 195
I could get some pretty little things, and I could set them out... 196
Mrs. Spalding, why would someone come all the way out here... 197
when the Langsfords' place is there on the square? 198
Oh. 199
Mrs. Spalding, what we at the bank suggest is that you sell this place. 200
Now I know times are hard... 201
but maybe we can pay off the loan and have something to tide you over. 202
But where would we live? 203
I believe you have a sister that resides here. 204
No, Margaret couldn't take us in. 205
She couldn't afford it, and besides, she hasn't got room. 206
Mrs. Spalding, when tragedies like this happen... 207
sometimes we have to face up to things that are real hard. 208
Sometimes it's necessary to split families up, temporarily. 209
I believe your husband has some family up in Oklahoma. 210
I'm sure they could take one of your children. 211
I can't talk about this right now. 212
If you'll excuse me, you can let yourself out. 213
I think that just about does the trick. 214
That'll be... 215
75 cents. 216
I'll see you in a couple weeks. 217
Right. Thank you, Ruby. 218
I didn't know you were busy. 219
That's all right. I was just leaving. 220
- Bye, Ruby. - Bye-bye. 221
- Kids, come on in. - Hi, Aunt Margaret. 222
Don't touch anything, Possum. 223
Watch your sister. Don't let her touch anything. 224
Mrs. Parks offered to buy five pounds of tomatoes from us. 225
So we thought we'd come by and say hello. 226
Where's Rosalie? 227
I'm sorry. She's gone off with her daddy. 228
But if you go in the kitchen, I got some Coca-Cola in the icebox. 229
- Can we, Mommy? - Yeah, you can. 230
- Frank, split one with your sister. - Okay, Mom! 231
It's all right. You can each have one. 232
- What do you say? - Thank you, Aunt Margaret. 233
Margaret, I've been thinking. 234
Maybe I could work for you. 235
I don't know much about this work, but I could learn. 236
I'm a real good worker. 237
Oh, hon. 238
I hardly got enough customers these days to support me and Wayne. 239
I understand, Margaret. Don't you even think about it. 240
Kids, come on. We got to go. It's getting dark. 241
- Here, I got $28 saved. - I don't want that. 242
Take it. Wayne will just spend it on some fool thing. 243
I don't need it. 244
Come on, kids! 245
- Bye, Aunt Margaret. - Goodbye, Aunt Margaret. 246
I swear you are just like Daddy. 247
You'd think he was sawing off his leg to ask for the least thing. 248
I'll talk to you tomorrow. 249
I'm sorry to bother you so late. 250
We caught this nigger with a bunch of things I think might belong to you. 251
Found him down by the tracks. 252
He claimed he was working for you... 253
but it looks like he was leaving town. 254
No, he's working for me. 255
I needed somebody to help out around here, and so I took on... 256
Moses. Moses Hadnot. 257
I took on Moses to do some chores until I could get straightened away. 258
Mrs. Spalding, are you sure? 259
I mean, I found all that silver on him. 260
Oh, it's Mama's, and Margaret wanted to borrow it. 261
If you had gone straight there and back, you wouldn't have this trouble. 262
Yes'm. 263
Mrs. Spalding, are you sure you're all right? 264
Well... 265
good night. 266
Good night, Jack. 267
Ma'am, I appreciate what you've done... 268
How much could I make if I was to plant cotton? 269
Cotton? 270
Well, last year cotton fetched six cents a pound. 271
You got, say, 30 acres here, you figure... 272
That's 300 and some dollars. If you take out... 273
You sure you can do it? 274
Ma'am, I been chopping cotton since I was 5 years old. 275
I know all there is to know about cotton. 276
All right, you stay in the shed beside the barn. 277
Ma'am, I wanted to say that I appreciate... 278
If you ever steal from me again, I'll shoot you myself. 279
You understand that? 280
Thank you. See you next week. 281
Good to see you. 282
- Good morning, Mrs. Spalding. - Thanks. 283
Hello, Mrs. Spalding. It's nice to see you again so soon. 284
Won't you come right in here? 285
Why don't you take a seat right over there? 286
Mr. Denby... 287
I was wondering if you would... 288
show me how to fill out a check? 289
I never did it before, and I'd best learn how. 290
Certainly, Mrs. Spalding. It's just the simplest thing in the world. 291
Now up here, this is where you put the date. 292
Mr. Denby... 293
I'm thinking it won't be necessary for me to sell my farm after all. 294
Of course it's necessary. I explained all that to you yesterday. 295
- Down here... - I was thinking... 296
if I was to plant cotton... 297
Mrs. Spalding, you don't know a thing about cotton farming. 298
- Yes, I know, but Moses says... - Moses? Who's Moses? 299
He's this Negro man. 300
I don't know any Negro around here named Moses. 301
He was just passing through, and I gave him a job doing some chores. 302
You're telling me you let some Negro hobo talk you into planting cotton? 303
Did you ever hear of the Depression? 304
Now... 305
you see these? 306
These are all foreclosures. And that's just in the last three months. 307
White men who've cotton-farmed all their lives and can't make a go of it. 308
And you listening to some no-account nigger. 309
You'll excuse me, Mrs. Spalding... 310
but that's just about the most ignorant thing I've ever heard. 311
Mr. Denby... 312
I'm not ignorant... 313
and I'm not selling my land. 314
And I'm not giving my children over to anyone else to raise. 315
I'm going out and I'm buying $15 worth of cottonseed. 316
So I'd appreciate it if you would show me again how to write a check. 317
Okay, Mrs. Spalding, that's... 318
Let's see, 450 pound of cottonseed at .03 cent a pound. 319
That comes to... 320
$13.50. 321
- $13.50? - Yes, ma'am. 322
Load up Mrs. Spalding's wagon. 323
- Miz Spalding? - Yes. 324
That ain't the seed you're paying for. 325
He's charging you for grade-A seed, but that's gin-run quality. 326
Something wrong, ma'am? 327
Mr. Simmons, I think maybe you gave us the wrong seed? 328
Well, so I did. 329
That's just an honest mistake, isn't it, boy? 330
Isn't it, boy? 331
Yes, sir. 332
Now you idiots gave Mrs. Spalding the wrong seed. 333
We're lucky her nigger caught it. 334
That's a smart nigger you got there. He's a credit to his race. 335
Why did you have to go shoot off your big mouth in front of that white man? 336
I swear, you ain't never gonna learn nothing. 337
You just got yourself into a carload of trouble. 338
This ain't your land. You just passing through. 339
That white woman ain't nothing to you. 340
These people ain't no reason to get yourself killed. 341
Howdy. 342
Howdy. 343
What's your name? 344
Moses. 345
My name's Frank. 346
- My pa was killed. - I heard about it. I'm sure sorry. 347
He was shot. 348
It was a nigger killed him. 349
How old are you, child? 350
Nine, and 4 months. 351
You mean to tell me you got to be 9 years and 4 months old... 352
and nobody told you it's bad luck... 353
to rock a rocking chair with nobody in it? 354
Don't do no good now. The damage is done. 355
I knew a man who rocked a empty rocking chair. 356
Before nightfall, he got run over by a cotton wagon. 357
Here, take this rabbit foot. 358
And you do what I do and say what I say, you understand? 359
First thing is you turn around three times. 360
One... 361
two... 362
three. 363
Next thing is you walk backwards. Seven, six... 364
five... 365
four... 366
three... 367
two, one. 368
Thank you, Lord Jesus! Amen! 369
Thank you, Lord Jesus! Amen! 370
Give back my rabbit foot. 371
Got too much to do around here to go around saving your life all the time. 372
If you're just gonna stand around, you might as well be of some use. 373
Fetch me some of them nails over there. 374
What are you thinking about? 375
I grew up in a place just like this. 376
Boy, I hated it. 377
I used to run away every chance I got. 378
I'd sneak out of the house... 379
go out behind the barn. 380
Then I'd... 381
head out across the pasture and down to this grove of elm trees. 382
And right in the middle... 383
was this little spot where I used to go and sit all the time. 384
Hello! 385
Watch your step here. 386
And another one. And a little step up. 387
Mrs. Spalding? 388
Yes, Mr. Denby, I'm in the back yard! 389
I'll be right there. 390
Now put that thing away. 391
This woman may not like people smoking in her house. 392
Now, please, for once in your life, try and make a good impression. 393
Good afternoon, Mrs. Spalding. How are you? 394
I'm just fine. 395
I don't believe you know my brother-in-law, Will. 396
How do you do? 397
Mind if we come in? 398
No. No, not at all. 399
Poor Will, here, lost his sight in the big war. 400
It was the Battle of the Somme, wasn't it, Will? 401
He was a real war hero. Weren't you, Will? 402
Will, he doesn't like to talk about these things too much. 403
- Do you, Will? - No. 404
Will's been living with his mama until she passed away... 405
and since that time he's been visiting with my wife and me. 406
Now then, Mrs. Spalding... 407
in spite of the fact that I have great doubts about... 408
this misguided attempt of yours to hold on to this place... 409
as a Christian and deacon of the church, it's my beholden duty to... 410
reach out the hand of charity to a human being in need. 411
And I got to thinking, now what better way to help out this poor woman... 412
than if she took in a boarder. 413
Someone who could move in here, and by paying a modest rent, help her out. 414
What if my brother-in-law was to move in here and rent a room from you? 415
Move in here? 416
Will makes a living caning chairs and making brooms, so don't you worry. 417
Oh, Mr. Denby, I'm... 418
I so appreciate your thoughtfulness. 419
This just isn't a good time. 420
Sit down, Will. 421
Will? 422
Mrs. Spalding... 423
speaking on behalf of the bank... 424
we'd take it as a sign that you're trying to provide for your family. 425
When would you like your brother-in-law to move in? 426
As a matter of fact, I have his things out in the car right now. 427
Anything special you like to eat? 428
I'm not a very good cook, but I'm willing to try. 429
I don't want me to be here any more than you do. I won't be any trouble. 430
And all I'll ask in return is to be left alone in peace and quiet. 431
- I thought... - I know what you thought. 432
But I don't need your help, and I don't need you to feel sorry for me. 433
Honey? 434
I'm in back, darling. 435
Where you been? We're real late for the dance. 436
Old man Wilson ought to put that Studebaker of his out to pasture. 437
Not a week goes by without something going wrong with that fool thing. 438
And the trouble is, he thinks he can fix it all by himself. 439
So he goes in there and messes everything up... 440
and makes it worse than it was in the first place. 441
I think he does it on purpose, just so I'll come out and talk to him. 442
You know that carburetor I fixed for him last week? He... 443
Where's Rosalie? 444
She's over at your mama's. She's gonna sleep there tonight. 445
You ought not to eat that. You'll get fat. 446
What about you? 447
- A lot you'd notice. - I'd notice. 448
Wayne, we gotta go. Everybody's waiting. 449
Wayne, you got to... 450
Hi! 451
Howdy. 452
Let's go inside and dance. 453
Come on, let's go dance. 454
I'll get it. I'll get it. 455
Thank you, baby. 456
- You warm enough? - I'm fine. 457
You sure? 458
- Want my coat? - No. 459
That's a nice table. 460
Hey, Wayne! 461
Howdy, Hank. 462
I sure am glad Rosalie took that little trip tonight. 463
Why are you saying that? 464
Where were you two? We were getting worried. 465
- Where you been? - Hi, you guys! 466
- Hi, Buddy. - Come here. I'll buy us a drink. 467
We're getting a bottle of good-for-what-ails-you. 468
Be right back. 469
Just be a minute. 470
- How you been? - I been just fine. 471
Hey, I hear you... 472
Where were you two? 473
Put that down. Come on. 474
Frank, are you craz...? 475
That man catches us in here, he's gonna skin us alive. 476
I got something important to show you. Do you want to see it or not? 477
Recordings for the Blind presents: 478
Trent's Last Case, by E.C. Bentley. 479
Chapter one, "Bad News." 480
Between what matters and what seems to matter... 481
how should the world we know judge wisely? 482
When the scheming, indomitable brain of Sigfried Manderson was scattered... 483
Frank! 484
Possum! 485
Coming, Mama! 486
Ten minutes later, he's driving a new Buick. 487
- You through? - Yeah. 488
Vi and me are gonna dance. 489
I don't want to dance, Wayne. 490
Don't say no. You have to dance. Come on. 491
Haven't danced all night. Excuse me. 492
You look pretty tonight. 493
Let's go up to Dallas this weekend, all right? 494
Take in a picture show... 495
then have supper out just like an old married couple? 496
You can tell Buddy you're visiting that aunt of yours up in Dallas... 497
- No. - Why not? Nobody will know. 498
- Wayne, I can't go on like this. - Honey, just be patient. 499
I'll work everything out, don't worry. Just give me a little bit of time. 500
I'll think of something, all right? 501
What's the matter, Vi? We'll be fine. Just trust me. 502
Wayne, we're not gonna see each other anymore. 503
- What? - Not like we have been. 504
- Why? - This is goodbye. 505
Mrs. Spalding? 506
Mrs. Spalding? 507
Mrs. Spalding? 508
Yes, Mr. Will. I'm right here. 509
Mrs. Spalding, believe me... 510
if I had anyplace else to go tonight besides... 511
the State Home for the Infirm, I'd gladly leave right now. 512
When I came here, all I asked was to be left alone. 513
I am not some kind of freak that is here on display... 514
for the amusement of those hooligans you call children. 515
- I will not... - What? 516
...have them vandalizing my personal property. 517
Don't come in my house and talk about my children like that! 518
They are not hooligans or vandals! They're well brought up children! 519
- You can't walk into my house... - Fine! 520
Fine. 521
Whatever they are, you just keep them out of my room. 522
That's all right, I'll get it. 523
The door's on your right. 524
Thank you. 525
Good night, Mrs. Spalding. 526
Good night, Mr. Will. 527
Ready, ma'am? 528
Get along, mules! Get along! 529
Now get along, mules! 530
Hah! Hah! Get along there! Hah! 531
Keep them straight, ma'am. 532
That's fine. That's just fine. 533
Right, Spalding. You don't know the first thing about smoking. 534
I do so. I been smoking since I was little. 535
- Then how come you can't inhale? - I can so. I can inhale real good. 536
Mr. Will! Mr. Will! 537
Frank got caught smoking in school and the teacher told Ma... 538
and Frank's gonna catch it! 539
Frank, I'll see you at school tomorrow. 540
Well, young man? What would your pa do if he were here? 541
He'd spank me, I reckon. 542
I guess that's what we got to do, then. 543
Frank, what's she gonna do to you? Frank! 544
- Ma, what are you gonna do to him? - It's okay. 545
Ma, what you gonna do to Frank? Are you gonna spank him? 546
Can I watch? Can I? 547
Possum! 548
Frank, when your pa did this, how'd he do it? 549
Most times... 550
I'd lean over the table, grab hold, and he'd let me have it. 551
How many times? 552
Pa would be mad over something like this. 553
I reckon he'd give me 10 good licks. 554
I'm ready. 555
Ma? 556
I'm ready. 557
What's wrong? 558
Frank's getting a licking. 559
Did it hurt? 560
Come on. 561
Let's let old Frank be by himself for a bit. 562
Tell you what, why don't you help me with my chores? 563
Mrs. Spalding? 564
I won't do that again. Ever. 565
Are you all right? 566
God, I miss my husband. 567
Lord, I can't hardly see my hand in front of my face. 568
Feels like rain. 569
- Must be coming up a real storm. - Sure is. 570
Help me wash dishes. 571
Now don't be mad, baby. You're a good baby. 572
I made each of you some cookies too. 573
Come on, boy. Let's git. 574
Come on, git! Git! 575
Git on, git on! Come on! Come on! 576
We got to get inside, ma'am. Storm's coming from over there! 577
Git on! Git on, boy! 578
Come on! Let him be! 579
Come on, boy! 580
Come on, won't you? 581
Let him go! Come on! Run! 582
Girls, get in the schoolroom. 583
Boys! Robert, let's go! 584
Come on! Come on! No dawdling! 585
Sally! 586
Come on! Come along! Be careful getting up these stairs. 587
Everybody get inside! 588
- Where's Frank? - I don't know. 589
Let's go! 590
Toby! 591
All right. 592
Get the windows open before the house blows! 593
You get the dining room, then get on the floor! 594
I'll get these in here! Hurry up! 595
You're a little baby. 596
Possum! 597
Here! Give me him! 598
Possum! 599
- Possum, it's okay. - Mr. Will! Mr. Will! 600
It's okay. 601
Step down! Step down! 602
Step down! Step down! Step down! 603
Frank Spalding! There's a tornado coming! 604
Get on in here! You'll get yourself killed. 605
I can't! I gotta get home! 606
Here! 607
I got him, ma'am! 608
Come on, Mr. Will. 609
It's all right. It's all right. Get in now. 610
Mr. Will! Step down! Step down! 611
Watch your head! 612
Ma! 613
- Ma! - Oh, my God, it's Frank! 614
Frank, stay there! 615
Frank, come on! 616
Now, come on, we got to get inside. 617
Come on, hurry up! 618
Get him in! Get him in! 619
Okay! Come on! Get in there! 620
Hurry up! Get inside! 621
Get off...! 622
It's okay now. 623
It's all over now. Come on out. 624
It's all right. It's all... 625
Vi? 626
Hey, baby, it's okay. 627
It's okay now. Everything's gonna be all right. 628
Oh, darling, I was so scared. 629
I was so scared something would... 630
I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you. 631
Come on, ma'am. 632
Here, give me your hand, Mr. Will. 633
How bad is it? 634
Everything's a little bent, but it's still here. 635
Come on. 636
- Come on, Vi. - Oh, Bud, let's leave this town. 637
There'll always be tornadoes. Everybody'll always be poor. 638
Nothing can work out here. 639
I want to move, Buddy. Please. I want... 640
Sure. 641
Hold me. 642
- Good morning, Mr. Will. - Morning. 643
- Morning, Mr. Will. - Good morning. 644
- Good morning, Mr. Will. - Morning. 645
- In Chicago yesterday. 646
Cotton held steady after dropping to a record low... 647
of 3.5 cents a pound over the last four days. 648
Poultry and eggs were down to a seasonal low. 649
Corn remains unchanged. Soybeans gained... 650
So let me see. At 3.5 cents a pound... 651
30 acres, that would be... 652
That comes to $175. 653
Think there's any chance cotton prices'll go back up? 654
How much money you got left in your account? 655
Twenty-four dollars. That's all. 656
- It's not enough for your payment. - I know. 657
I was wondering... 658
What I made from my cotton would cover most of the payment. 659
Could you all... 660
maybe, wait for the rest? 661
That's something only the president of the bank can decide. 662
- You shouldn't get your hopes up. - Could you ask? 663
There ain't no chance you'll ever get that prize money. 664
- It won't work. - It's a hundred dollars. 665
And that plus a crop would be enough to make the payment. 666
You cannot begin to get that cotton picked on time. 667
Why? Moses has said that it's ready. 668
Moses always says things. 669
- It's not always true. - I said cotton comes in early here. 670
But in a couple days... 671
the pickers will get up to this county. 672
They pick it fast as you can say Jack Robinson! 673
- Then we'll start right now! - You got 30 acres to pick. 674
The kids can help. 675
That won't be nearly enough. 676
- I'll pick 24 hours a day. - Did you ever pick cotton? 677
After an hour, the hulls start cutting your fingers. 678
By noon your hands is bleeding. 679
Later your fingers start to swell. 680
Later there ain't no feeling in your hands. 681
I ain't even speaking about what it does to your knees and your back. 682
Get that through your head. Once and for all, we can't do it. 683
Stop thinking about it before you kill yourself! 684
Now you listen to me. 685
If we lose this place, you're going back to begging for meals. 686
They'll put you in a state home. 687
I'll lose what's left of my family. 688
I won't let that happen. 689
I don't care what it takes. I don't care if it kills me. 690
I don't care if it kills you. I won't give up. 691
And if the two of you do, you can go straight to hell! 692
Careful with that now, hon. 693
I bet she isn't ready. 694
All the time we been coming here, she's never been ready. 695
I'm here. I'm coming. 696
I start out an hour early, I always end up a half-hour late. 697
Okay, what can I do to help? 698
Get the cards on top of the chest of drawers. 699
- That looks good. - Want me to do something? 700
Set up the table, would you, Buddy? 701
Let me help you with that, Margaret. 702
Can you find them? Here, let me get the light. 703
Right here. 704
Come on. 705
You want my peanuts, honey? 706
I'll take your six, honey. Discard and rummy. 707
I don't believe you. 708
Thirty-two here. 709
Thirty-two. What's the damage, Margaret? 710
Seventy-three. 711
Seventy-three? 712
Listen, you two. Vi and me got a little announcement. 713
Next time you want to play cards with us... 714
you'll have to go to Houston. 715
I got an offer from an oil company down there... 716
too good to pass up. 717
You've lived here all your lives. 718
Well, don't look at me. It was Vi's idea. 719
You know how hard it is to change her mind once she gets it set. 720
We'll miss you, Margaret. 721
It's just such a wonderful opportunity for Bud. 722
We just can't pass it up. 723
We'll miss you a lot more than you'll miss us. 724
Congratulations. 725
Congratulations, Buddy. 726
We're real happy for you. 727
Thanks. I'll get another drink. You want one? 728
It's my deal. 729
Whatever happened between you and Vi, I don't want to know about it. 730
I don't ever want to hear about it. 731
Am I right? 732
Am I right? 733
Yes. 734
I'm not the same dumb beauty operator you married eight years ago. 735
What are you gonna do? 736
I don't know. 737
I got the shop. 738
Rosalie and me can get along without you. 739
I'm never going to see Viola again. 740
- It's over between us. - It's too late for that. 741
I don't think I can live with you anymore. 742
I don't think I love you anymore. 743
Please don't say that. 744
Lord, this ain't gonna work. 745
Ain't no way we gonna get all this cotton picked... 746
and yet you sent us out here anyway. 747
I swear, sometimes I don't know what's gotten into you. 748
Mr. Will, you gotta talk to that woman. 749
She won't pay me no mind, but she listens to you. 750
It won't do any good. 751
We only picked 2 acres today. Should've done at least 4. 752
And that's when we're fresh. What's it gonna be in a week? 753
How many pickers would it take to get the cotton in on time? 754
Nine or 10, at least. 755
Okay. We better hire them. 756
- Hire pickers? - With what, Mrs. Spalding? 757
You said yourself you only had $24 in the bank. 758
That ain't near enough to hire 10 pickers. 759
I'll pay them out of the first bale. 760
And what happens if you don't get the first bale in? 761
Then I'll pay them out of the money I get from the gin. 762
If you do that, you'll have hardly any money left. 763
I'll take that chance. 764
We ain't got much time before them pickers in the South... 765
All right, ma'am. You got what you asked for. 766
Have they had breakfast yet? 767
I doubt it. 768
Governor Johnson appealed to President Roosevelt today... 769
for emergency relief due to the failure of the WPA program... 770
to get started in Dallas. 771
The governor had asked the administration... 772
for $1,000,000 in direct relief yesterday. 773
Texas was allotted $500,000 instead. 774
Governor Johnson said the situation was becoming critical. 775
Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge... 776
Huey Long's last legislative measures, 37 of them... 777
took a fall last Tuesday, as the administration he left behind him... 778
pushed its investigation of his assassination 10 days ago... 779
by Dr. Carl A. Weiss, Jr. 780
The Chicago Cubs retained their lead in the National League pennant race... 781
by defeating the New York Giants 8-3... 782
before a crowd of 29,740... 783
at Wrigley Field in Chicago. 784
It was the Cubs' 13th straight victory. 785
Second place St. Louis Cardinals beat Brooklyn 1-0... 786
The Giants are now 4 1/2 games behind the Cubs. 787
The weather in central Texas today will be clear, no sign of rain. 788
Over here, Mr. Will! 789
- Moze, the pickers are here. - How you know that? 790
I heard 11 trucks pass by the house... 791
and from the direction they were headed... 792
they were going out to the Rapp place. 793
- How much land the Rapps have? - Four hundred acres. 794
That means we got three days left. 795
We ain't got no time to waste! Let's get to work! 796
Git along there! 797
Git along now. 798
You ain't no more tired than I am. Git along! 799
Morning, ma'am. 800
Mrs. Spalding, I hate to be the one to tell you this... 801
but that sister of yours doesn't have a natural talent for cooking. 802
I got to thinking, if we all weren't gonna die of ptomaine poisoning... 803
I'd have to do something about it. 804
So I'm fixing us some green beans like my mother used to make. 805
Mrs. Spalding? 806
Mrs. Spalding, are you okay? 807
I was remembering a dream. 808
What day is this? 809
It's Friday, ma'am. 810
When do we have to be at the gin? 811
Tomorrow morning. 812
Recordings for The Blind presents: 813
Trent's Last Case, by E.C. Bentley. 814
Chapter one, "Bad News." 815
"Between what matters and what seems to matter... 816
how should the world we know judge...? 817
You all right? 818
The end. 819
Ma'am? 820
Miz Spalding. 821
Hey, Miz Spalding! 822
We're finished. 823
We done it. 824
He'll be here any minute. Get this straight. 825
He'll try to charge you for ginning the cotton. 826
I'll tell him no, do it for the seed. 827
He'll say he'll take all the seed. 828
I say he can only have half. 829
No, we offer a third and settle for half. 830
We gotta get 31/2 cent a pound, even with the prize money. 831
You gotta remember that... 832
Here he comes. 833
- Howdy, Mrs. Spalding. - Howdy, Mr. Simmons. 834
Nice load of cotton. You ought to be real proud. 835
Let's go into my office and see if we can do some business. 836
Well, look who's here. 837
Go on and have a seat. 838
I ought to explain to you how things work around here. 839
I gin the cotton for a fee, then I buy your cotton if we agree on a price. 840
For ginning, it's customary to charge $5 on the ton. 841
Excuse me. 842
I was told that you sometimes gin the cotton for the seed. 843
Yes, that's another way of working it. I gin the cotton and keep the seed. 844
The way it was explained to me, you're supposed to keep... 845
a third. 846
I'll tell you right now, I won't pay that. Excuse me. 847
A little too much sun. 848
Out of respect for your late husband, I am prepared to go 50/50. 849
Fine. 850
I expect you realize the bottom dropped out of the cotton market. 851
I'm pretty much doing you a favor, taking it off your hands. 852
Mr. Simmons, I want 41/2 cents a pound for my cotton. 853
You don't want me, you want Santa Claus. 854
I'll pay you 2.75 and not a red cent more. 855
Four? 856
Maybe you haven't heard about the Depression. 857
I can't pay that or anything close to that. 858
Three cents a pound, take it or leave it. 859
You know what your trouble is? You're the victim of unbridled greed. 3.5. 860
Ma'am, that is the honest price. 861
That's it. 862
I did my best. I tried to help. 863
You can't blame me. I can't do no more for you. 864
Go on down to the square and see how much you get for your cotton. 865
Mr. Simmons? 866
It just occurred to me. I was looking at the pictures here on your wall. 867
I remember how much store your daddy set... 868
on ginning the first bale of cotton each year. 869
This'll be the first year since I don't remember when... 870
that y'all aren't first. 871
I guess Mr. Wheeler at Wheeler's Gin will be pleased to meet my price... 872
just so he can show off all next year at the Masons. 873
Mrs. Spalding... 874
come back and sit down. 875
- Thank you. - Thank you. 876
Let's get this wagon to the loading bay. 877
Well? 878
What happened? How much did you get? 879
3.75 cents per pound. 880
That's more than market price. 881
If we'd planted the other 10 acres in cotton, think what we would've made. 882
We would've been dead. 883
- Mr. Estes is selling 12 acres. - Have you taken leave of your senses? 884
- We'd have almost 60 acres of land. - You can't afford that! 885
We only need one crop of cotton. 886
Just one good crop, and we could afford to buy us a tractor. 887
A tractor. 888
I always wanted to have a tractor. 889
I always thought if I had a tractor, ain't no telling what I could do! 890
Mrs. Spalding? 891
Could I trouble you for a cup of tea? 892
Of course. I'll put the water on for you. 893
Do you mind if I wait in here? 894
Not at all. 895
Trying to fix Frank's shoe. It's got a big hole in it. 896
Mrs. Spalding, can I ask you a question? 897
What do you look like? 898
I have long hair and I tie it up in the back. 899
And I have brown eyes. 900
I always wanted to have blue eyes, like my mama, but... 901
Margaret got those. 902
And my teeth stick out in front a little... 903
because I sucked my thumb a long time when I was a little girl. 904
I'm no real beauty. 905
I'm all right. 906
Thank you. 907
Your tea's ready. 908
All right, friends... 909
one of our all-time favorites: "A Golden Dream." 910
Mama? 911
May I please have this dance? 912
Frank Spalding... 913
I'd be most pleased. 914
One... 915
Twenty-five dollars. 916
Miz Spalding give me $25. 917
She ought not to have done that. 918
She can't afford to go around... What's the matter? 919
I thought I heard something. 920
Course you did. You heard me talking. 921
You ought to speak with her. If she goes around spending money... 922
Moze, there's somebody out there. 923
I don't expect so, but I'll go see, just to make you feel better. 924
Light's on in the barn. Be right back. 925
Get him! 926
Moze! 927
Hold him! 928
I'm gonna hit him again. Get hold of him for me. 929
Give me him! 930
- Grab him! Come on! - Goddamn nigger son of a bitch. 931
Get him! 932
Moze! 933
Keep out of this. It's none of your business. 934
You move away from him right now. 935
Put that away, Mr. Will, before you hurt somebody. 936
Goddamn! 937
Now! 938
Hold it, Mr. Will. We don't have any quarrel with you. 939
Mr. Thompson, why are you doing this to him? 940
You got the wrong man. That ain't Thompson. 941
That's Mr. Thompson. I've been selling him brooms for years. 942
As sure as you're Mr. Shaw. 943
And that's Mr. Simmons over there by the barn. 944
All right, boys, let's go home. 945
All right, nigger. 946
But I ain't through with you yet. 947
- Want a Coke? - No. 948
Would you rather just go on home? 949
Want to dance with me? 950
I guess. 951
You sure? 952
- Howdy, Wayne. Margaret. - Hi, Mr. Cheeves. 953
- Good evening. - My, don't you two look nice together. 954
Thank you, ma'am. 955
Been a long time since we danced together. 956
That dress sure looks pretty. 957
It's new. 958
The color. I really like the color. 959
What do I have to do to tell you I'm sorry? 960
He's out in the shack. 961
Moze! 962
Yes, ma'am. 963
Ma'am, I'm gonna have to be moving along. 964
Won't be long before that bunch comes back, and I'd best be gone by then. 965
What am I gonna do without you? 966
I'd appreciate it if you say goodbye to Frank and Possum for me. 967
I'd soon as not have them see me like this. 968
I been making on this doll for Possum. 969
If you could give it to her, I'd be most grateful. 970
And old Frank, he had his eye on this rabbit foot of mine for a spell... 971
so I expect he might as well have it. 972
Here. 973
This is for you. 974
It's a handkerchief belonged to my mama. 975
I thought maybe you could use it. 976
I reckon I got a bit more attached to this place than I intended to. 977
Well, Miz Spalding... 978
I'm gonna miss you. 979
Yes, ma'am. 980
You took a no-account piece of land... 981
and people that didn't know what they were doing... 982
and you farmed that land better than anybody could... 983
colored or white. 984
You brought in the first bale of cotton this year. 985
Don't you ever forget that. 986
Yes, ma'am. 987
Reckon I did that. 988
I reckon I did. 989
This morning we take our text from First Corinthians... 990
the 13th chapter, verses one through eight. 991
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels... 992
and have not love... 993
I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 994
Though I have the gift of prophecy... 995
and all knowledge and have not love, I am nothing. 996
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and have not love... 997
it profiteth me nothing. 998
Love is patient, kind. Love is not jealous or boastful. 999
Love never ends." 1000
On the night before his crucifixion... 1001
our Lord gathered with his disciples. 1002
He broke the bread and blessed it... 1003
saying, "Take, eat. This is my body." 1004
And he took the cup and said: 1005
"Drink. This is my blood which I shed for thee." 1006
Peace of God. 1007
Peace of God. 1008
Peace of God. 1009
Peace of God. 1010
Peace of God.