♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (Auntie singing) ♪ He rose... ♪ [hatchet striking log] whump ♪ He rose... ♪ [hatchet striking] whump ♪ He rose ♪ from the dead.

♪ [hatchet striking] whump ♪ He rose... ♪ [hatchet striking] whump ♪ He rose... ♪ [hatchet striking] whump ♪ He rose ♪ from the dead... ♪ [hatchet striking] whump, whump ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Get out my way, chicken.

♪ I'll put you in de pot.

[chuckles] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [fire crackling] [wood clunking] [fire crackling] [fire crackling] [cat meowing] mraaaow Auntie> Where you been all the night?

Got yourself all wored out like that.

♪ [carriage rattling] Who dat?

[rattling] ♪ ♪ [rattling] Leroy> Ho, ho, hooo.

Looks like a good site all right, Rydell.

Rydell> Yep.

Neighbors say there's a fine spring right over there.

[rooster crowing] Rydell> Mornin', Auntie.

Auntie> Good mornin', suh.

♪ We're just lookin' around a little.

Auntie> Yes, suh.

Leroy> Sure must be a healthy place, Rydell.

That old woman looks like she's a hundred years old.

[laughing] ♪ [rooster crowing] ♪ Leroy> The Negros were right about this spring.

Rydell> Yeah, fine spring.

All the water me and mine'll ever need.

Leroy> Take this out in here.

Rydell> Right, now, I'd like for the house to kinda look to the south there.

You know, get the afternoon sun?

♪ Rydell> Want to stake her out today, Leroy?

Leroy> Sure, if you give me a hand.

[rooster crowing] Rydell> Think you can have the boys here tomorrow mornin'?

Leroy> First thing.

♪ Rydell> All right, Leroy.

We can put that back corner there.

I'll walk out this next one.

[mallet striking stake] pum-pum, pum-pum ♪ ♪ Yeah, right there.

Leroy> That 20?

Rydell> Yep, 20 feet.

I'll get the front wall now.

Okay, here we go.

You finish up here.

I've got some other business to take care of.

♪ You go buy yourself some tobacco with that, Auntie.

Look here, Auntie.

I kind of hate to tell you this, but... I reckon you're gonna have to move somewhere else.

See, I done bought this place.

I'm gonna build my house right here.

You understand what I'm sayin'?

I'm going to build a house here.

You gotta move!

Auntie> Yes, suh.

Rydell> They gonna be here first thing in the morning to start building and I don't want you getting in their way, now.

You hear me?

Leroy> Come on, Rydell, let's get on back to town.

Rydell> Hold your damn horses, Leroy.

We'll get there!

Well, you take care now, Auntie.

♪ ♪ [engine groaning] [engine groaning] >> That's good; hold it right there!

How you doin'?

[chickens clucking] >> Where you want it stacked, JD?

JD> Over by that shack over there.

Now, look out for that old woman, now.

Buford> How you doin', Auntie?

We gonna have this house built faster than you can spit!

>> Don't set it on the durn bush, Buford!

Buford> When you movin' out, Auntie?

We got to have that cabin for a storeroom.

>> Come on, Buford, we don't need no storeroom.

Buford> I thought Rydell said that cabin was gonna be empty.

>> It don't make no difference.

Now come on.

>> What y'all doin' over there?

Let's get this thing unloaded.

[hammer pounding, saw scritching] [pounding and scritching] [pounding and scritching] [indistinct muttering] [pounding and scritching] Auntie> You just keep on growin'.

They ain't gonna stop de sun.

[pounding] [scritching] ♪ [pounding] [scritching] ♪ [chickens clucking] (Auntie) Who dat 'bout d'edge?

Missy> It just me, Auntie.

Auntie> What you doin' up so early, child'?

Roamin' 'round like a plateye.

[chuckles] Missy> The well water don't taste right.

Rose sent me out fo' get some mo'.

Auntie> Bring dat bucket along to the house, honey, and tell me how your folks doin'.

Missy> Well, baby sis got the t'rush so bad and the mouth became red, just cry all de time.

Auntie> Poor lil' creetuh.

Rose got some salve to put on de gum?

Missy> She say it so little, it can't stand no strong treatment.

She don't know what fo' do.

Auntie> I wonder do Rose know dat somebody where he never look on he daddy face can cure this here t'rush right good.

Missy> Fo' true?

Auntie> If somebody where they ain't never see daddy face take his finger and run 'um 'round all in the baby mouth every morning, that'll do the baby all de good.

Missy> But I don't remember my daddy face.

Every since I live with Rose, I ain't seen he face.

Auntie> Then you try dat, Missy!

It ain't goin' ta hurt nothin fo tryin <Yes'm.> [chickens clucking] Missy> Who goin' live at that new house, Auntie?

Auntie> Po'buckruh, dat's who.

[pounding] I 'fraid dey goin' stop bloomin' now.

[pounding] You stay right dere.

I show you something nice.

[pounding] [pounding] [pounding] How you like dese new shoes I get from the sto'?

I goin' wear dem for church.

Missy> Oh, dey real nice!

Auntie> I been want a slim 9, but I had to take a wide 8.

But de man ain't had nothin' else!

Missy> What you goin' do when that White man move in he house, Auntie?

Where you goin' live?

[pounding] Auntie> Jesus know dat, honey.

Your ol' Auntie ain't know 'um.

[pounding] You get long now, 'fore Rose wonder where you is.

Missy> Yes'm.

[pounding] Auntie> Don't you worry 'bout me, child'.

Lord goin' find a way.

[pounding] Mind where you goin' now!

[carriage rattling] [rattling] [rattling] Rydell> Ho, ho, whoa, whoa.

[horse snorting] Now look here, Auntie.

I thought you'd been gone by now!

My people are gonna want to move in next week, and you're gonna have to move!

I done told you that a long time ago.

If you was young enough to work, it might be different, but you ain't able to do nothin'.

Anyhow, I need your house to put the cook in.

I don't want to tell you again, now.

If you ain't gone by day after tomorrow, I'm gonna get the sheriff after you.

You hear me?

Rydell> Clk-clk!

[rattling] ♪ ♪ ♪ [fire crackling] [match hisses] [cicadas chirping] (Auntie voice-over) He say dis he place now, and I have to go away.

Where to goin'?

Who can tell me dat?

Rose and Missy house too small.

Chillun all gone.

They ain't no place for go.

No place.

[cicadas chirping, whip-poor-will calling] [fire crackling] Dear Massa Jesus.

Help me fo' know what fo' do.

I ain't got no place fo' go.

I ain't got nobody fo' tell me.

I don't have to tell you de trouble I got.

You know.

I ain't got nobody fo' help me but you.

I know you Massa goin' help me.

I ever did been do de bes' I can.

Maybe sometime I fail, but Jesus God, I know you couldn't have de heart to see me suffer with no place to lay my head.

Do give me a sign fo' tell me what fo' do!

Please, suh, do, Massa Jesus!

♪ ♪ [door creaking] Yes, suh, Massa Jesus.

I understand you, suh.

♪ You say it ashes... ashes and de fiery cloud.

[birds chirping] I know what you tell me fo' do now.

♪ [fire crackling] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [fire crackling] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [windflaw noise] ♪ Jesus, long way.

♪ [rattling] Whooaaa.

Auntie> Son, you can tell me which-a way de sheriff live?

>> Yes'm.

Dat's de place; de sheriff live right dere.

Auntie> God bless you, son.

>> Giddy-up.

[rattling] ♪ Sheriff> Who is she?

>> I don't know, suh.

A old woman, come a long way, out of breath.

Sheriff> All right.

Don't you take my coffee!

[chair scraping] [footfalls] Good morning, Auntie.

What can I do for you this mornin'?

Auntie> Cap'n Sheriff, I too troubled, suh!

I don' know what you goin' do wid me, suh.

I reckon, you goin' haffuh put me on de chain gang.

And I done so old too.

Sheriff> What have you done now?

Auntie> A po'buckruh man the one done it, suh.

He de one.

I live all dis time.

I never do nobody a harm thing in my life, not till dis mornin'.

You can ask anybody about me, suh.

Sheriff> Who are you, Auntie?

Auntie> Dis den me, Hannah Jeems, suh.

I's one o' old Massa Richard James' niggahs, suh.

Sheriff> You walked all the way here from the Jeems' plantation?

Auntie> Dis how it been, suh.

A po'buckruh man come and buil' he house right in muh front yard.

He say it he place now, and I haffuh go 'way.

But I been live dere ever since I been grown.

Old Cap'n sell de plantation, but he tell me fo' stay where I is.

Den dis po'buckruh man come and tell me fo' go.

Where I goin'?

All my people dem gone.

Most of dem layin' in the graveyard.

Last night, I call on Him up yonder.

I beg Him for tell me what fo' do.

I wrassle wid Him till he give me a sign.

And He give me one, suh.

Ashes, suh.

Ashes and fire.

I put fire to de man house.

I burn 'um down same like Jesus tell me fo' do.

Den I come right here for tell you I done 'um.

Sheriff> Did your house burn too?

Auntie> No, suh.

Jesus blow de spark de other way.

Sheriff> Now, you know I'm gonna have to investigate what you just told me.

We'll ride out to your house sometime after breakfast.

Auntie> Yes, suh.

♪ [engine rumbling] [horn honking] ooo-gah Sheriff> Howdy, Jim.

Jim, I hear one of your neighbors had his house burned down last night.

Do you know if he had insurance on it?

Jim> He sure did, Sheriff; wa'n't he lucky to have it?

Sheriff> Does he know how it caught fire?

Jim> He don't have any idea, 'less it caught from a spark out of Maum Hannah's chimney.

She was gone off for the night, I hear.

Sheriff> That's right; came in to me, lookin' for a place to stay.

As a matter of fact, I'm taking her up there now to look it over.

Do you think he's gonna build that house back?

Jim> I don't believe anybody'd build there again.

That's a bad luck place, always has been.

Sheriff> Well, it sure seems that way.

Well, I'll see you later, Jim!

Jim> See ya, Sheriff.

[engine sputtering] ♪ ♪ [chickens clucking] ♪ Sheriff> You know, uh... it's best not to talk too much, Maum Hannah.

Auntie> Suh?

Sheriff> Do you...you believe in the Bible?

Auntie> Yes, suh.

I can't read 'um, but I believe 'um.

Sheriff> Well, did, uh... did you ever hear where the Bible says not to let your right hand know what your left hand's doin'?

Auntie> Yes, suh.

Sheriff> You know what that means?

Auntie> Praise God.

Thank you, suh.

[engine sputtering] Sheriff> Well, you come back and see me if you get in trouble again.

Auntie> I thank you kindly, Cap'n Sheriff, but I ain't never risk gettin' in trouble no more.

I too old for dat.

Sheriff> Well, you take care, Auntie.

Auntie> Yes, suh.

[door slamming] [engine sputtering] [engine sputtering] [chickens clucking] Missy> Auntie?

Auntie> What you doin' back dere, child'?

Missy> I scare' you done got burnt up in de fire!

Auntie> Oh.

I ain't goin' burn in dis life, honey.

[chickens clucking] How dat baby gettin' on?

Missy> Sis all well now.

I done what you tell me, and de mout' all well now.

[sobbing] Auntie> Oh, there, now, honey.

There now.

[quiet sobs] Look here.

Them roses goin' be red as dey can be.

Ashes is de best thing ever was for roses.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [newspaper crinkling] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [engine humming] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [knocking] rap-rap-rap-rap-rap ♪ ♪ ♪ [knocking] rap-rap-rap-rap-rap ♪ ♪ [man wolf-whistling] ♪ [engine rumbling] ♪ [horn honking] beep-beep ♪ >> You're Jim Mitchell's girl, aren't you?

Honey, you don't know me, but your father does.

Tell him if anything happens to that boy of his tomorrow, we're ready to set things straight.

Ellie> I'll tell him.

[engine humming] ♪ [footfalls] ♪ [can clattering] ♪ ♪ Ellie> Good evening, Mr.

Paul!

Mr.

Paul> Hey, who's that?

What you say, girl?

Ellie> How are you?

Sara said she'd be late; she has work at the restaurant.

Mr.

Paul> Huh...guess she couldn't help it.

Reckon they needed her again.

Hey, you people ready down there?

You still gonna let him go tomorrow?

Ellie> Last I heard this morning, we're still lettin' him go.

Mr.

Paul> Don't reckon they'll hurt him.

Hope he don't mind bein' spit on, though spittin' ain't like cuttin'.

They can spit on him, and nobody'll ever know who did it.

(laughs) Ellie> Good-bye, Mr.

Paul.

[laughing] [dogs barking] [thunder booming] ♪ [radio playing "Heat Wave" ♪ by Martha and the Vandellas] ♪ ♪ Can't keep from cryin'.

♪ ♪ Tearin' me apart.

♪ [distant yelling] ♪ Heat wave.

♪ ♪ Ooohh-ooohh-ooohh.

♪ ♪ Oohhh...heat wave!

♪ [music fades] [thunder booming] [thunder rolling] [door rattling] Ellie> Will somebody please let me in?

Dad> The door's open; come on in.

Ellie> The door is not open.

You know we stopped leaving it open.

Dad> Yeah, I forgot.

[footfalls] I forgot.

Ellie> Hi, Daddy.

Dad> Hi, hon.

Ellie> Daddy, you look so tired!

Dad> They pilin' it on at the plant, but I'm all right!

Ellie> Good evening, everybody.

>> There's something here I think we've overlooked.

Dad> Your mother probably needs help.

[footfalls] Dad> Let me see the route again.

[indistinct chatter] Ellie> I'm home, Mama!

[footfalls] [men chattering] Dad> But it's no back roads!

>> It's all in a populated area.

Dad> It's a back road right here.

Ellie> Where is everybody?

Mom> Miss McAllister's keeping Teenie and Helen.

Your brother's spendin' the night with Harry.

Tommy's in his bedroom readin' that "Uncle Wiggily" book.

Ellie> He only reads that book when he's sad.

[potato peeler scraping] [sighs] [paper crumpling] They had to wait for that moment, didn't they?

It's so mean!

[paper slams] Is there any aspirin in here?

Mom> On the windowsill.

[pills rattling] [peeler scraping] Did you see anybody on your way home today?

Ellie> Saraline at the restaurant.

[silverware clattering] Mom> What are you lookin' for?

Ellie> The knives, are they all dirty?

Mom> No, baby, look in the next drawer.

[drawer clattering] Ellie> Any more come today?

Mom> Seven more.

Your daddy has 'em with him.

[letters rustling] Ellie> Same old thing?

[sighs] Mom> Same old thing.

I truly wish the school board hadn't given Tommy's name to the newspapers.

If only somebody else had transferred with him.

Ellie> Nobody else lived in the district, Mama.

Mom> I know.

That's what they said.

[chair scraping] Ellie> Remember when we got that first letter, how Daddy burned it up in the ashtray?

Mom> They told us to save 'em case we needed them in court.

>> I know how you feel; it's your boy.

Ellie> Who is that White man in there with Daddy?

Mom> He's a friend of Lawyer Belk's.

He's a pastor of that church that's on television every Sunday.

Mr.

Belk seemed to think that having him around might do some good.

>> It's not that hard to get to.

Dad> It's not gonna work!

>> We could work some more, but I think it's best... [quiet sobs] Mom> He's so little!

[shuddering exhale] Ellie> Mama, why don't you go lie down?

I'll clean up and get Tommy in bed.

[paper crumpling] ♪ Ellie> Tommy.

Come on and get ready for bed now!

Whatcha readin', Tommy?

Mmm... School starts tomorrow.

Don't you think it's time to go to bed.

Tommy> Aw, Ellie, do I have to?

Ellie> Aren't you about finished with the book?

Come on!

You're a sleepyhead.

Tommy> When are Helen and Teenie coming home?

Ellie> Tomorrow.

After you get home from school, they'll be here.

Tommy> Look.

Mama got this for me to wear tomorrow.

Ellie> Oooh, don't get too high-hat on me now!

Tommy> I won't.

Ellie> Put your shoes out, maybe Daddy'll polish 'em.

[men chattering] [water dribbling] [water sloshing] Ellie> Tommy, Come on now before the water gets cold.

[sloshing] [sloshing] [sloshing] Tommy> Is Dad still in there with those men?

Mama made me be quiet so I wouldn't bother them.

Ellie> Yes, he is.

[water dripping] [water sloshing] Tommy> Let's play, Ask Me A Question.

Ellie> Okay, who's gonna be it?

Tommy> I am; ask me a question!

Ellie> Is it bigger than a breadbox?

Ellie> Tommy> Same size, kind of.

Ellie> Can it talk?

Tommy> People talk?

Ellie> Any kind of talk!

Tommy> Uh-huh.

Ellie> Um...does it bite?

[silly gobbling noises] [angry chatter] Tommy> Ask one more question!

[laughing] Ellie> I can't think of one!

What is it?

Tommy> It's a duck!

[laughing] Ellie> A duck?

I never thought of that!

Come on, stand up.

A duck.

I thought it was a kangaroo.

Tommy> Ellie?

Ellie> Uh-huh?

Tommy> Are they gonna get me tomorrow?

Ellie> Who's gonna get you?

Tommy> I don't know; somebody, I guess.

Ellie> Nobody's gonna get you.

Who wants a boy who gets bubblegum in his hair, anyway?

[giggling] But us?

Put your pajamas on while I get your bed turned down.

[thunder booming] Come on, now, say your prayers.

Tommy> Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Amen.

Ellie> Amen.

[sheets rustling] Goodnight, now.

Tommy> Ellie?

Ellie> What?

Tommy> Do you think Uncle Wiggily wears shoes?

[laughing] Only when he goes someplace important.

Goodnight, now.

Tommy> Ellie?

Ellie> What?

Tommy> What's that?

(thunder claps) Ellie> What do you think?

It's Uncle Wiggily on the roof.

Goodnight.

Tommy> Goodnight.

[thunder booming] [men chattering] Mom> I'd rather you stayed home from work tomorrow and went with Tommy and your dad.

I don't think I'll be up to those people tomorrow.

Ellie> I don't mind.

Mom> Daddy's goin', Lawyer Belk, Reverend Davis, and that White man will probably go.

Ellie> They may not need me.

Mom> Tommy will!

(men talking in background) Dad> I'm not worried about vicious!

I'm worried about stupid.

>> Jim, that's why we're here.

Going over it step back step.

[dishes clattering] Ellie> Mama, I think he's scared.

Mom> I know, baby.

He's been that way all day.

I told him that he wasn't going to school with Bobby and Jakie anymore, but that he would be meeting some other children who are just as nice.

Ellie> I already told Mrs.

Ingraham I wouldn't be able to come out tomorrow.

She didn't say very much.

Mr.

Ingraham said we're gettin' "right crazy."

But even he didn't say anything else.

It's almost time for the cruise cars to begin.

Mom> Yes, I know.

They're supposed to make us feel safer, but everytime they go by, I feel something's wrong.

Ellie> How long before those men gonna leave?

>> We'd better let you get some sleep, Jim.

Dad> Yeah.

I think we all better get some sleep.

(laughing) Ellie> I didn't mean to run them away!

(laughing) Dad> Ellie.

Ellie> Yes, Daddy?

Dad> I'm going to fold out your bed, now.

Ellie> That's all right, Daddy, I'll sleep in Helen and Teenie's room tonight.

Dad> Suit yourself.

[car engines humming] Dad> How's Tommy?

[chair scraping] Dad> I keep wonderin' if we should send him.

No tellin' what these fool whites will do.

[dishes clattering] Mom> Sometimes I wish the other children weren't so much older than him, Teenie and Helen even.

Ellie> That's so unfair, sending him there by himself like that!

Everybody keeps asking me why the MacAdams didn't apply for their children.

Dad> Eloise.

We aren't answerin' for the MacAdams.

We tryin' to do what's right for your brother.

He not old not enough to have his own say so.

You and the others could decide for yourself.

We the ones that have to do for him.

[footfalls] Ellie> Those the new ones?

What'd they say?

Dad> Let's don't talk about the letters.

[footfalls] Let's go to bed.

[engine rumbling] Ellie> They're early.

[loud boom] [screaming] Dad> Tommy, get down!

[crying] Tommy> Daddy!

Dad> Stay still.

I'm gonna check on Tommy.

Tommy> Mama!

Ellie> Mama!

[siren wailing] Mama, are you all right?

(Mama, whispering) I'm here, baby.

[siren wailing, dogs barking] [women sobbing] [siren wailing] Dad> His cheek is cut.

Keep him quiet.

Ellie, get a candle.

[sirens wailing] Mama> It's all right, baby; don't be scared, baby.

Mama's here.

Mama's here.

Don't cry, no, no, baby, don't cry.

No, baby, no.

[quiet sobbing] Tommy> Mama, I'm scared.

Mom> Oh, baby.

Ellie, get me a wet cloth and some Vaseline for his cheek.

No, baby, no, baby, baby.

Mama's here; you all right.

[siren wailing] [tires squealing] [Mama humming] Ellie> Here, Mama.

[siren wailing] Tommy> I don't wanna go to bed, Mama; I'm scared.

Mom> It's all right, baby, you don't have to.

Ellie> Is he all right, Mama?

Mom> Yes, he's fine.

Dad> The power's off.

[siren wailing] Ellie> It's Sergeant Kearns, Mama; I know his voice.

[glass crunching underfoot] [siren wailing] Sgt.

Kearns> Looks like it landed out there in the front yard.

That's why it only got the front porch, I reckon.

Hot damn, look what it did to that sofa.

[shuddering gasp] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [glass crunching underfoot] [muffled police radio chatter] [indistinct chatter] ♪ [engine rumbling] [glass tinkling] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [police radio chatter] ♪ [soft gasp] ♪ Officer> We'll be parked outside, right out here for the rest of the night.

[dogs barking] ♪ ♪ [sniffing] Ellie> Mama?

[birds chirping] Hey, Daddy.

[chair creaking] [cans clattering] You want some coffee?

[water dribbling] [spoon tapping] tap-tap-tap, tap-tap-tap [spoon clattering] You reckon everybody knows by now?

Dad> Somebody was here last night from "The Observer."

Guess it'll make the front page.

[footfalls] Dad> Sergeant Kearns say they'll have the whole force out there tomorrow.

Ellie> Today.

[footfalls] Mom> Jim, what are we going to do?

Dad> I keep thinkin' the police will be wit' him all day, and they couldn't hurt him inside the school without hurtin' some of their own kind.

Mom> But he'll be there all by himself.

A hundred policemen can't be a little boy's only friend.

Dad> I keep tryin' to tell myself somebody got to be the first one.

And I just think how quiet he been all week.

Mom> Jim, I can't let my baby go.

Dad> Maybe it's not in our hands.

Reverend Davis and I were talkin' the day before yesterday about how God tested the Israelites.

Maybe he just tryin' us.

Mom> God expects you to take care of your own.

Dad> Tommy is not gonna understand why he can't go to school.

He gonna wonder why.

How're we gonna tell him it's because we afraid of them?

He gonna be fightin' them all his life.

He got to start sometime.

Mom> He's not on their level.

Tommy's too little to go around hatin' people.

He's our child.

Whatever we do, we gonna be the cause.

Dad> God knows we tried.

I guess it's just no use.

Maybe...things will get back to normal, we'll try it again.

[car horn honking] honk, honk Ellie> Mama, you want me to start setting the table for breakfast?

You wanna wake up Tommy, or you want me to?

Mom> No, let him sleep.

And when you get ready, you go on up the street.

Tell Teenie to keep up with the children after school.

and I want to do something to this house before they get here.

[knocking] rap, rap, rap Mom> You go out there and tell those people we're sorry.

We tried as hard as we could.

♪ ♪ ♪ Hand me the oatmeal.

♪ [water sloshing] ♪ When he does wake up, he'll need something hot.

♪ ♪ ♪