[rousing music] [people cheering] - Throughout the world, throngs of people hail the end of the war in Europe.

It is five years and more since Hitler marched into Poland.

Years full of suffering and death and sacrifice.

Now the war against Germany is won.

A grateful nation gives thanks for victory.

Hundreds of thousands crowd into American churches to give thanks to God.

[gentle music] - I always prized this ink pen that Poppa brought back to me from the first war.

He bought it in Paris, France.

Oh, you always wanted to draw your pictures with it when you were little, but I gave you a stub of a pencil instead.

I thought that a person needed at least one thing that was theirs and nobody else's.

Your sister and I miss you.

Oh, listen.

Savannah is tough and determined these days.

The war changed her, too.

But I know she still hurts.

Ah, I can't bring myself to leave the place, thinking that somebody might come or call to tell us that it's all a mix-up, and you'll be coming home soon.

I know Mattie and Savannah worry about me.

And poor Hope.

Oh, she is still in a daze.

She's lost without you, and can't seem to find her path.

You always gave her direction.

It's hard for her.

It's hard for her being away from her people.

But I think it's better for her and for the children to be here with us.

I would trade this pen and a hundred like it to see you sitting on that porch or coming through that door.

Sometimes I wonder why I keep writing to you.

But I always wrote to you and Savannah when you had to go.

I guess I feel closer to you when I write.

Maybe this will be the last letter.

- Let me go check these clothes on this line before they stiffen up too much.

- Mattie, they are not gonna stiffen up.

- Oh, stiffen up as we speak.

- Oh, I declare.

That woman!

- You wouldn't stand a chance without that woman, Momma.

- But she always has to have the last word.

- Well, somebody's got to.

Might as well be Mattie.

[telephone ringing] - Oh, I wonder who that could be.

- Well, you won't know until you answer the phone.

- Mattie!

- Vannah, we really gotta get your momma out of this house.

- I know.

I know.

- It ain't good for her, honey.

For the last two years, she haven't been off this property, but to, what, go to church or to a funeral?

- Well, she did go to the doctor.

Oh no.

Dr. Anderson came here.

- Now, you know he did, Savannah.

It ain't healthy.

She got to at least get to town.

- I know, I know, but I don't have a clue how to do it.

You know she listens to you more than she does me.

- Well, chile, then we do have a problem, 'cause you know I will take her- - He's made it to Memphis!

He has made it to Memphis!

- Mr. Mazilli?

- Yes!

That was him on the phone.

- When's he due in?

- Oh, tomorrow.

Sometime tomorrow.

He said he would see us tomorrow.

- Oh, should we try and meet him by the siding?

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

He said he'd find us.

Come on, Mattie.

We have got things to do.

- I don't know if we should be here, is all.

- Hope, honey, I think you should be here when Mr. Mazilli comes.

- I don't know.

It might be too hurtful.

I'll just take the kids to visit Momma and Daddy while that man's here.

I don't think they should be here.

- Honey, that man was with your Murphy when he died.

- It's gonna be hurtful for all of us, Hope.

And we need to be here as a family.

He's come all the way from New York.

- I don't know about Little Murphy and Sissy.

- Oh, I agree.

They're probably too young.

- Well, Little Murphy might wanna know more about his daddy from somebody who was right there with him.

- Well, maybe so.

Why don't we talk about this later?

Hope, honey, why don't you go in and take the kids upstairs and read to them?

It's about time you read 'em a story.

[chuckles] Remember, it is very important to read to them.

Murphy was a smart little boy 'cause I read to him.

And we want little Sissy and Little Murphy just as smart.

Now, don't we?

- Yes, Momma Grace, we do.

- Well, I think Little Murphy should meet Mr. Mazilli, even if Sissy doesn't.

- Oh, honey, I said we talk about it.

- Okay.

So, where's Mr. Mazilli gonna stay when he comes?

- What do you mean?

- Well, he can't sleep here.

Not in the house with the kids and Hope and all.

- Honey, what happened to you during the war?

You don't trust anybody.

- Momma, we don't know him.

- Murphy did.

- Yeah, you're right.

- I tell you what.

Why don't we let him stay in the cabin?

[both laughing] - Yeah, that'll work.

That'll work just fine.

[engine rumbling] [upbeat music] - Hey, you must be Mr. Mazilli.

I'm heading to the Hodges' place.

You want a ride?

- Uh, yeah.

How'd you know who I was?

- Hell, son, everybody in the county knows who you are.

Harley.

Harley Dawson's my name.

Grace has been expecting you.

She's pretty excited to have you down here.

She told me all about your letter.

You know, I know everybody around here, and I don't know you, so you must've been Mr. Mazilli.

- I look forward to meeting Murphy's family.

- So from New York, huh?

We don't get a lot of folks from New York down here.

- Ha!

I bet.

- You ever been this far south before?

- Nope.

First time in Dixie.

- Eh.

You might just like it.

I hope I can fit in.

- Well, you won't.

[chuckles] Now, I'm from the Delta over by the river, and they still call me a Delta flatfoot.

- You just moved here?

- Yeah, I just moved here 27 years ago.

It takes a while to be a local, if you know what I mean.

So the Yankees gonna do much this year?

- More of a Brooklyn fan.

- Brooklyn, huh?

Hmm.

St. Louis Cardinals myself.

- Hey, that's right.

Wasn't a Murphy a big Cardinals fan?

- Yeah, we all are.

- Birds got much this year?

- Ah, who knows?

I suspect we'll be facing the Yankees or Boston in the World Series once we get past Brooklyn.

- Well, good luck on that.

- We don't need luck, son.

We got Stan Musial.

[engine rumbling] Well, here we go.

- Oh!

Much bigger than I imagined.

How much is something like this worth?

- I don't know how you put a value on a family farm.

I suspect they don't think much about it, really.

Yeah, their people pretty much settled all this property up here.

That's probably why they own most of it.

- Really?

- Yeah.

I think they politely asked the Indians to leave.

[bright music] - There's Mr. Harley, and he's got somebody with him!

- Mrs. Grace, may I present Mr. John Mazilli from New York City.

Special delivery.

- I am so glad to meet you.

[laughs] - I am very happy to meet you too, Mrs. Hodges.

Murphy told me so much about you.

[gentle music] - Savannah, come and introduce yourself.

- Hello, Mr. Mazilli.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

- Well, don't leave me out.

I want a hug for Murphy's friend, too.

- Oh, Hope had to run some errands.

We didn't know what time you would get here.

She is so anxious to meet you.

- Will the children be with her?

- Oh yes.

And you'll meet everybody tonight at supper.

We're just having a few friends over.

- Nothing special for me, I hope.

- Mr. Mazilli, you're probably tired.

- Please, call me John.

- All right, John.

Oh, we have not had a chance to make up your room yet.

So before supper, why don't you lie down in the parlor on the divan?

- Thanks.

That would be great.

- Ah, good.

[gentle music continues] - Ha.

[gentle music continues] This smells good.

- Let us bow our heads.

Lord, bless his food lovingly laid before us, and bless our friends here with us tonight.

And Lord, thank you for leading John here, that we may receive him with the same depth of love and friendship that he shared with our Murphy as they fought to protect us from our enemies.

This we pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

- Amen.

- Well, John, how long will you be able to stay with us?

- I think I have to be leaving in a day or two.

- Oh, so soon.

- That won't do.

We'll just have to lock him up in the town jail if he tries to escape.

- James!

[chuckles] Don't pay any attention to him.

He's always joking.

Well, I don't think New York is gonna change too quickly.

Why don't you relax a few days?

- Um, now, Mr. Mazilli, were you born in New York?

- Yeah, I was born and raised in in Hell's Kitchen.

Oh, um, excuse me.

That's just, that's the name of the neighborhood.

- Well, that sounds like a mighty tough neighborhood.

- Now, is that in New York?

- Yeah.

- Did you ever get to see any Broadway shows, Mr. Mazilli?

- I've seen a few.

You know, I don't get to go often.

- Oh, I just love those Broadway shows.

I'd love to actually see them one day, you know.

I get to hear 'em sometimes on the radio from Memphis, but I haven't seen one yet.

Can I have another roll, Mrs. Foote?

- Hope's got a beautiful voice.

I bet she could sing in one of them shows.

- Jefferson, I can't sing that good.

- Oh, honey, this girl can flat sing.

- You oughta hear her.

Sings as good as anybody on the radio.

- Oh!

- I would love to hear you sing someday.

Maybe you'll make it to Broadway, and I'm gonna be right up there in the front row, Hope.

- Mr. John, did you ever see Babe Ruth play?

- Oh, I sure did.

I was a little older than you when my dad took me.

It was the bottom of the ninth inning.

Lazzeri had just scorched a liner all the way up center field.

It was a worm burner.

It almost knocked the pitcher off the mound.

Anyway, it Lazzeri's on first.

And the Babe, he walks up.

He steps to the plate.

Man, you shoulda heard the crowd.

It's the bottom of the ninth.

The Yanks down by one.

Two out.

So the Babe, he steps up.

And that pitcher, he runs a three-two count on him.

Well, the Babe, he steps out of the box.

He picks up some dirt.

He puts it on his bat and he steps back in.

That pitcher made the biggest mistake of his life.

He challenged the Babe.

Yeah, he scorched one right down at the center of the plate.

You know what the Babe did?

He smoked it right back out, all the way over to center field.

- Wow!

[everyone laughing] The Yankees won?

- Oh yeah, you betcha.

You like baseball, Murphy?

I know your daddy, he loved the Cardinals.

- Yes, sir, but I'm just learning.

- Well, you know, we get a chance, we could play catch tomorrow, if you got a glove.

- That boy's got an arm on him.

We've been playing lots of catch.

Ain't we, little man?

- Yes, sir.

I've only got one, but it's my daddy's old one.

- Well, I don't need one, unless you're gonna burn me out.

[everyone laughing] - Mr. John, you don't have to do that, really.

- I would love to play catch with Murphy's son.

And maybe we could get your mom to sing the national anthem before we start, huh?

[everyone laughing] - Now, wh- wh- what's his name again?

- Mazilli.

It's Italian.

- Mazilli.

Sounds like Missouri to me.

- Well, it ain't.

- Would anyone like some coffee?

I was gonna make some to have with the cake.

- Yeah.

Coffee would be nice.

- I don't see how you can drink coffee this late.

Woo, I'd be up all night, nervous as a cat.

- Meow!

- Oh!

Oh!

I swear.

That girl and her coffee and her cigarettes.

Now, ever since she got that from Pascagoula- - I can hear you, Momma!

- Well that's good, 'cause I'm speaking for you to hear me!

- Mr. Mashiri, when- - His name is Mazilli, Jefferson.

My goodness.

- That's okay.

- When did you, uh, join up in the Army?

- It was '42.

- Jefferson here tried like the dickens to get in.

Didn't you, son?

But that infantile paralysis- - Yeah, I- I- I couldn't serve because of polio was a kid.

- Oh, that- that must've been tough.

- Jefferson here, he took care of so many of the scrap drives in the county during the war that he got himself elected to the county commission last year.

The youngest man on that commission.

- Well, congratulations.

- He's got his own parking place down at the courthouse, and he might run for state legislature next year.

Senator Jefferson Daniels.

- It would be Representative Daniels.

It's in the House.

- And he's a cutie, too, don't you think?

Look at him.

Ain't he a cutie, Mr. Mazilli?

- Well, uh... - When did you and Mrs. Grace get in touch with one another?

- You know, I've been looking in the back of the "American Legion" magazine for over a year now.

Murphy's name was never there.

Then it was like, out of the blue, I get a letter from Mr. Mazilli.

- Well, I knew where Murphy was from, and I just took a chance.

I sent it general delivery.

Savannah, you were where during the war?

Pasca... - Pascagoula.

The shipyards.

- Savannah was a Rosie Riveter.

- Well, everyone did their part, didn't they?

- Yes, I suppose.

John, what have you been doing since you got out?

- Savannah, I think that's Mr. Mazilli's business and not ours.

- Ah, it's okay, Mrs. Hodges.

- You better start calling me Grace.

- Yes, ma'am.

[Grace chuckles] As for getting back to work, I plan on looking for a job as a policeman.

But, uh, I have something that I wanna do before I get too serious about a job.

- Really?

What's that?

- Well, I got this crazy idea.

Try to have a monument built up in Washington for the members of- of my, well, our company, 79th Infantry.

Kind of a lasting memory to them, you know, with the names of all the guys.

Maybe a special star next to the guys who didn't make it.

I'm sorry.

This was probably not the right time.

- No, that's all right.

Sounds like a wonderful idea.

And Murphy's name will be on it.

- Yes, Mrs., uh, Grace.

And there's one other thing.

Well, it's something I wanted to tell you all in person, and it's the reason I came all the way down here.

[somber music] Murphy, he saved my life when we were over there.

- How'd that happen?

Well, I don't know if I should, uh... - Uh, I'm all right.

Go ahead.

- Well, me and Murphy were out on watch.

It was quiet.

And I'd done something that I shouldn'ta done.

I lit a cigarette.

They told us not to do it.

I mean, you light up and the enemy can see that little light from far away.

Oh, one minute I'm smoking a cigarette, and the next Murphy is shoving me down to the ground right before we heard that rifle shot.

I asked him about it later.

He said he had a feeling.

Huh.

If he hadn't had that feeling, I wouldn't be here today.

So that's the kind of guy we- we knew him to be, and I wanted to come down and- and thank you for raising him the way you did.

- Was that my daddy that got shot?

- No, no, he didn't get shot, Little Murphy.

Well, not that night.

- How did my daddy die?

- Savannah, I told you he was too young to be hearing all this, and look what you've done.

Come on, baby.

Let's get you to bed.

Come on, Sissy.

- Momma, I was just asking.

- It's okay, baby.

We'll talk about this later.

Now y'all say good night to everybody.

- Good night.

- I'm sorry.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- This monument, John, that sounds like a mighty fine plan.

- Well, that's gonna take a bit of time.

- Now, how much does something like that cost?

- It'll be several thousand dollars, but we're getting there.

- Hmm.

A lotta money.

- Yeah, there's several members of our outfit who are pitching in.

And, uh, it's still gonna take a bit of time, but we'll get it done.

You know, we beat those Germans.

I think we could build a monument.

I don't remember seeing such dark.

It's pitch black out here.

- Not even during the war with all those blackouts?

[cicadas buzzing] - That was such a different place.

I try to forget about it.

[cicadas buzzing] What's that sound?

- Oh, that's the cicadas.

People call 'em locusts, but they're really cicadas.

They say if you listen close enough, they'll tell you how hot it is.

- I don't think I need any help there.

[gentle music] You really do some riveting?

- Yep.

I actually did.

It was a riveting crew, really.

Four of us.

- Did you enjoy it?

- I'd love to be there still.

Or in New Orleans doing anything, but... - But?

- Poppa died.

Murphy got killed.

Momma needs help to run a place like this.

And, well, Momma just needed family, you know?

And you can't just up and leave.

- How would you wanna be anyplace else?

You got your family.

Looks like you guys are doing great.

A lotta people want what you have.

- Well, there's more to it than land and money.

- A lotta people will kill for what you've got.

- Only people who never had anything.

We didn't get a lot of letters from Murphy toward the end.

What was it really like for y'all?

- You sure you wanna hear about more stuff?

I mean, after- - Listen.

I'm not my momma, and I'm sure not Hope.

I know my brother's dead.

I thought that's why you were here.

- Okay.

Well, our infantry division was engaged mostly throughout Northern Holland.

It wasn't till the last few months that the push came hard.

I guess Eisenhower, he wanted to crush any resistance.

We pushed.

We pushed.

We lost a lotta men.

So did they.

Lotta old men.

Lotta young boys.

I guess the Germans, they wanted every ounce of blood outta us while we pushed them back home.

That's when Murphy was killed.

It really did happen fast.

It was shrapnel that caught him.

They say a bullet's got your name on it, but shrapnel just needs your general delivery address.

That's enough.

We buried guys for days.

It's very hard to bury someone when you'd just eaten a meal with 'em the day before.

- We didn't hear from him at all that last month.

And... And then we heard about him.

It was so hard for Momma.

What's it look like where he's buried?

- It's beautiful.

Now, Holland can be beautiful.

Were you already back home by then?

- Um, no.

Don't tell mom this, but I'd already left my job at the shipyards.

I had a little money saved.

I was thinking about getting a job in New Orleans.

I mean, after- after the war.

But... - Things happen, huh?

- Yeah.

Things happen.

- Where's the lights in this place.

- Where they've always been.

- Oh.

[chuckles] - I keep telling Momma to get a line strung out here, but it'll never happen.

She just got electric in the house last year.

She likes lamp lights.

Says electric lights are too loud.

- This is fine.

- Well, I think you'll find everything you need.

- Murphy hang out here?

- Yeah, this was, uh, this was his hideout when he got old enough.

I think he was about 15 when Mom and Dad let him move out here.

They knew he wanted to.

He was kinda like that.

He loved to be by himself a lot, and loved to read late by lantern.

Well, I hope you rest well, Mr. Mazilli.

- All right.

Thank you.

- Oh, and, uh, the privy's out back.

But remember it's summertime in Mississippi, and the snakes are crawling.

[gentle music] [birds twittering] [foreboding music] - Ah!

What the hell?

- Howdy.

The name is Pete.

I like your night shirt.

- It's just an undershirt.

- Murphy gave me these patches.

- Yeah, those are nice.

Let's see.

You got the, uh, the 3rd Mechanized.

Whoa, You even got the 99th Fighting Squadron from Tuskegee.

And the 101st.

I'm impressed.

There's your 79th Infantry.

- You got something you can give me?

- What?

- Patches.

- I don't have any with me.

But, uh, yeah, sure, pal.

I'll get some to you.

Except, you already got the 79th.

- And I gotta go help Mr. Moses get the cows up.

See you get me them patches.

[foreboding music] - Patches?

Geez!

- So.

I see you met Pete.

Be nice to him.

Something bad happened to him when he was just a boy.

- Something bad?

- Stuff happens in the country, John.

Pete loved Murphy.

- Yeah, it seems like just about everybody did.

- Especially Pete.

He really loved my brother.

Almost as much as he loves patches.

Maybe.

Anyway, I just wanna let you know, you're invited to breakfast, about 10 minutes.

- Can I go wash my face and then I'll walk back at you?

- Sure.

Did you sleep all right?

- Yeah, yeah, fine.

- Did you have to use the, uh, facilities during the night?

- Uh, well, yeah.

- See any snakes crawling about?

- No.

I just, uh, stood on the porch.

Savannah.

- Uh, I'm sorry, what?

- I said I- I used the facilities off the porch last night, so as to avoid the snakes in the grass.

- Yeah, good plan.

- I hate the snakes.

- Don't we all?

- Okay.

Think I'm about ready.

- Well, how do, Mr. New York?

- What?

Is this too much?

- Oh, no.

Momma's gonna love it.

- You sure?

- Oh yeah.

So, uh, Mr. Mazilli, do you like polenta?

- Yeah.

What Italian doesn't love polenta?

Are we having polenta for breakfast?

- Nope, we're having grits.

Come on.

- Oh, Southern cooking.

[gentle music] - John, I cannot tell you how much it means to me to have you here.

- It's my pleasure.

Really, Murphy was such a great guy.

I just wanted to come and say thank you to the people who raised him.

- And you did that last night.

- Well, maybe it never can be said enough, really.

- No.

It has been said.

Son, this, uh, memorial statue, that is a mighty nice thing.

When do you think you'll really get started?

- Well, as soon as I raise the money.

With the hard times and all, it might take a while.

- How much do you think it will take?

- I wasn't entirely honest with you last night at dinner.

I didn't want to talk money with your friends here.

Well, it's gonna be more like $5,000.

I know that it might take years, but we gotta do it right.

It's that important.

- That is a lotta money.

But we wanna do it right, don't we?

- Yes, ma'am.

[engine rumbling] [car squeaking] - Well, hey, Miss Savannah.

Don't you just look pretty today?

- Oh, hush up, Benny.

Why don't you go play in the creek?

A bath'll do you some good.

You smell like Tarzan's cheetah.

[Benny imitates monkey] Strange little fella.

- Huh.

The right age.

- Yeah, I guess you were a little monkey up in New York, weren't you?

- I guess.

- Come on, let's go in.

- You know what, I think I'm gonna wait outside, if that's okay.

- Okay.

Whatever you like.

- Oh, John!

John!

Hey, you.

What are you studying so hard?

- Oh, just checking my schedule.

- Well, where's Savannah?

- Inside.

- Why don't y'all run inside and see if Aunt Savannah will buy you something?

Maybe some Sugar Babies.

But Sissy, don't you get yourself a Popsicle.

You'll get it all over your nice clean jumper.

Well, I am glad I ran into you.

I was just wondering, are you gonna be joining us for church tomorrow night?

- You have church on a Wednesday night?

- Mm-hmm, yeah, of course Wednesday, every Wednesday.

Well, I mean the Baptists, they call it a prayer meeting, but we just call it church.

I mean, it's just like Sunday church, except everybody brings a list and we pray for 'em.

It could be somebody who's sick or the elderly or a shut-in.

- What's a shut-in?

- Oh, somebody who can't get out of the house to come to church anymore, so we pray for them, too.

Or somebody who's lost.

- Lost?

- Yeah, you know, somebody who's given up on the Lord and turned to sin.

I might be singing a solo.

Can you?

- Can I?

- Can you come, silly.

I didn't mean sing.

- I thought you might want me to.

♪ Figaro, Figaro, Figaro, Figaro, Figaro ♪ - Shh, you're making a scene, silly.

Anyway, it's a Methodist church.

What are you?

- I'm Catholic, but- - Oh my goodness.

I have never talked to a Catholic before.

We don't have those here.

I mean, we don't have a church that's Catholic.

They do have one, though, over in Jackson, though.

I know because I went there last summer to visit my cousins, and they live right in Jackson off Capitol Street.

You know where it is?

- No, I've never been to Jackson.

- You've never been to Jackson?

Oh, it is just about the craziest place you've ever seen.

It's loud and there's cars and there's people everywhere, and it's just, oh, it's just, it's just too much, really.

Anyway, so I'm Methodist and we can do pretty much anything.

But I was raised Baptist, which can't dance.

My brother, well, he's married to Irene, and she's a Holiness, and they can't dance or wear makeup or play music in the church.

- Okay.

- Okay, then.

Oh, and will you be coming to our little party tonight?

- What party?

- Savannah didn't tell you about it?

Oh, well, you just ask her, and she'll tell you all about it later.

Shame on you, Savannah, for not telling little John here about our party tonight.

Come on, kids, y'all ready?

Let's go.

MoonPies?

Hurry up, Murphy.

- What's this about a party tonight?

- Well, Momma wanted to have a few people over.

It was supposed to be a surprise party.

- Ah.

Not for me.

- Well, yeah, kinda.

Momma's been planning this ever since she got your letter.

- No, really, not for me.

I don't want a p- I didn't come here for a party.

What was last night?

- Well, that was just a little welcome supper.

I thought you liked it.

- I did, but I just don't want to party.

You don't gotta go into all that trouble.

- John, Momma wants this.

- Okay.

- Well, okay, then.

Tonight you jitterbug with us Mississippi folk.

And then, tomorrow night's Wednesday night.

That is to say, prayer meeting night.

And then you just get to wash your sins away.

- Hey, you!

Come back here and pay for that!

- Just put the monkey food on my tab, Faro.

- You sure, Coach Barber?

- You betcha.

Hey, Savannah.

- Hey!

- And this has got to be Mr. Mazilli.

- Yes, sir.

John Mazilli.

- Roscoe Barber.

My wife and I heard of your plans about the memorial, and we think it's wonderful, wonderful.

- Yeah, well, it's something I feel I need to do.

- Yeah.

- Especially for those guys- - You know, I've been teaching school here about 30 years, and I coached Murphy in baseball.

He's a pretty good second baseman.

Team captain and all.

- Yeah.

- Well we- we talked baseball quite a bit.

- I mean, there were better players on the team.

- My, he's a nice-looking man, Savannah.

He's from New York, right?

- Yeah.

Just got in yesterday morning.

- There wasn't a better person I ever knew.

I mean, even among the men in this town.

As a young fella, you could tell, Murphy was special.

He had integrity, just like his daddy.

I do believe he'd have been the team captain even if he batted cross-handed and didn't know which hand to put his glove on.

[laughs] He was a good boy.

I think Murphy really understood the most important lesson I ever tried to teach.

Be honest as the day is long.

That about say it, wouldn't it son?

- Yes, sir, it would.

- How long is he staying here?

- I'm not too sure.

He says he's gotta get back to New York, but we'll see.

- He applied himself, and we were proud to have him.

- Well, he is a good-looking man.

- You understand that?

- Oh.

- Yes, I do.

- Ever been part of something like that?

- Come on, Roscoe.

We gotta get.

- All right, Momma.

We're getting.

- Bye now.

Let's go get a cup of coffee.

- Great.

That guy is huge.

[upbeat music] - Thank you.

- Thank you.

- I suspect that our little gathering tonight is not gonna be quite the party you might find in New York.

You know, uh, this is a dry state.

- Dry?

- No alcohol.

- None?

- Well, there are a few juke joints around and about.

And over across the street, over at Faro Belz's store, every Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, Sister Jones comes by for her "package."

Well, that's what the respectable folks do, at least.

There's other places for the not-so-respectable folks to get a toddy.

- New York to the heart of Mississippi.

It's human nature.

- And, uh, speaking of nature, Hope seems to have some hungry eyes.

- What?

Nah, she's just being friendly.

- Please.

She's been oozing out of her skin ever since she set eyes on you.

It's kind of in her nature.

The Scope family.

That was her maiden name, Scope.

- Her name is Hope Scope?

- Hope, Hannah, Harry, and Henrietta Scope.

Wasn't that cute?

- Uh.

[Savannah chuckles] - Anyway, the Scope family has always been kind of coarse, if you know what I mean.

I suppose that could be attractive or fetching to young men.

I think that's what happened to Murphy.

She is pretty, and she wasn't about to let him go.

And then it was a kid, followed by another kid, and then the war.

He never had a chance.

Murphy had so much more that he could've... - Well, it is family, right?

- Um, I suppose.

Just, sometimes that girl just drives me... John, do you have family in New York?

- My mother's still living.

- And your father?

- He died when I was six.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- He died in a factory fire.

- Oh, that's horrible.

- I was young.

I guess you get over it.

- So you don't remember him well?

- He's all I wanna remember.

You know, he came from Italy.

He came over here with nothing but a cousin.

No English.

Hell, when I learned to read, he was learning to read right alongside me.

- Well, it must've been tough after that.

- I- I suppose, you know.

It was no harder than it was for some of the other kids that I knew.

- I thought he took you to see Babe Ruth hit a home run?

- You know, that was my Uncle Joey, and I guess I always thought of him as my father.

Hey, you ever... You ever thought about going to New York, living there?

- No.

- Well, I'll tell you something, Savannah, New York is a magnificent place.

- I don't know.

it just seems so big.

Too big.

And I confess, and don't tell Momma or Hope I said this, but it's a little scary.

- What?

You scared?

You were a Rosy Riveter.

- Oh, funny man.

- Seriously, New York, magnificent.

When I was a kid, my dad used to take me over to the Hudson River.

We watched the ships come in.

He put me up on his shoulders.

I mean, you got the, you got the Empire State Building.

That's the tallest building in the world.

You got the zoo.

Central Park, they got a zoo.

They got polar bears there.

I mean, that's from the Arctic North.

You know, they got... You got Times Square.

You could read a paper at night from all the lights.

You got Broadway.

- Oh, well, now you sound like you're talking to Hope.

- I'm not talking to Hope.

I'm talking to you, Savannah.

You're the kinda person who would love New York.

You would understand New York, the history, it's meanings.

It's got everything.

- Oh.

Well, too much, maybe.

I don't, I don't think I could ever get used to it.

- I'll tell you what I can't get used to.

The quiet, and the dark.

sitting on the porch last night, it's so quiet.

It's like I'm too alone there.

Too much time with my thoughts or something.

You can hear everything.

That's pure spooky.

- Big New York City man, scared?

- I'll tell you what, okay?

I won't tell Hope that you're afraid of the big city, and you don't tell your mom and Hope about me with this place.

- It's a deal.

- Deal.

- So when are you gonna play catch with Little Murphy?

- Well, maybe this afternoon.

- Well, seems like you made at least one friend.

Or should I say two?

- Huh.

Only two?

- Well, let's see.

There's Little Murphy and Hope.

You're right.

Three, or maybe four.

I think Harley and Brother Foote have taken a liking to you.

- What about your mom?

- Oh, she doesn't count.

She loves everybody.

She takes her Jesus seriously.

I think you ought to be careful.

- About?

- About Hope.

We may talk slow, but we think fast.

And some of us can move pretty fast.

This town's got eyes, and I think we both know who's got a couple of big ones when it comes to you.

- Come on.

- All right.

- Speaking of Hope, remind me to get 10 cents from her when we get home.

She was a bit too engaged in conversation with you to take care of her own children.

- What, you need a dime?

- No, I need my sister-in-law to look after her kids.

[gentle music] [people chattering] [gentle music continues] - Ooh, Savannah, honey.

You sure look pretty tonight.

Why don't you let me help you with that hair of yours?

- Oh, I don't know why I bother sometimes, Mattie.

I don't know who I'm doing it for.

- Mm- hmm.

[laughs] - And what's that supposed to mean?

- Nothing, honey.

Turn that head back around, chile.

I can't rightfully fix the back of it when the front of your head's looking at me.

- All right, thanks.

- You got a lot going on.

You gonna be going places.

You just got to figure out when and where.

- You really think so, Mattie?

Sometimes I think I should just... - Just what?

Stay here?

Ooh!

Oh, baby, that's not you.

Your momma knows it.

We all knew it when you came home.

I saw it.

Your momma saw it.

Even Hope saw it.

You just got to decide when and where.

- Well, I guess the when should be now.

And the where should be the yard to welcome our guests.

[Mattie laughs] - I'll be back shortly to help you, baby.

[upbeat music] [people applauding] - Okay, hush up, y'all.

I got a new song here I wanna sing for y'all tonight.

It's real special, so I hope y'all enjoy it.

[upbeat music] ♪ Well, if I said all the things that you wanna hear ♪ ♪ If I whispered kinda sweetly in your ear ♪ ♪ Would you love me ♪ ♪ Oh, honey, would you love me ♪ ♪ And when I'm worried 'bout you, baby ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're out somewhere ♪ ♪ And I'm sitting home thinking that you just don't care ♪ ♪ Do love me ♪ ♪ I'm wondering if you love me ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you tired running around ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be right here ♪ ♪ Now, I'm the kinda gal who wants to settle down ♪ ♪ But you don't wanna hear it when you come around ♪ ♪ But I love you ♪ ♪ I know you know that I love you ♪ ♪ One of these days you're gonna make up your mind ♪ ♪ Don't worry 'bout it, sugar ♪ ♪ I got plenty of time ♪ ♪ 'Cause I love you ♪ ♪ Take it easy 'cause I love you ♪ ♪ When you're finished with your rambling around ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be right here ♪ ♪ If you wanna pop the question ♪ ♪ Well, I won't say no ♪ ♪ You know how much I want you ♪ ♪ 'Cause I told you so ♪ ♪ I'll fix your supper and I'll wash your clothes ♪ ♪ And cuddle up beside you with the lights down low, uh-huh ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be right here ♪ [people applauding] Okay, everybody, I'm gonna go get me some tea while these boys do a little instrumental.

[upbeat music] I've been waiting for a dance, John.

Going to oblige?

- Well, I guess we could do that.

I'm not sure I could keep up with this kinda music.

- That's okay, sugar.

You keep up with me and I'll keep up with the music.

- That may be the problem.

[Hope laughs] - Pretty good out there, huh?

- Yeah, Mr. Mazilli sure seems to know how to dance, all right.

- And Hope has always had the moves.

- What?

- You know, dance well.

- Oh, yeah.

She really can dance.

[people applauding] - Okay, everybody, be quiet for a minute.

Folks, hold it down.

Pete, if you don't stop clowning around down there, I'm gonna come get you.

[people laughing] Now, as most of you know by now, we have a special visitor with us from New York.

[gentle music] Mr. John Mazilli was a good friend to our own Murphy Hodges during the war.

[people applauding] I can't believe old Murphy got to be good friends with a Yankee.

Such things happen, I suppose.

[laughs] Well, Mr. Mazilli let it slip just last night at supper that he had hoped to raise some money for a memorial statue to be placed up there in Washington, DC.

Well, it didn't take long for that to get around, what with Harley spreading the word on his route and the local businessmen of this community coming together.

[people applauding] Well, we've got a little gift for you, Mr. Mazilli.

Now, this here is just a token of our appreciation for what you're trying to do.

He better come up here and get this cash before old Pete out there grabs it and has a hundred more patches made for that goldurn coveralls he's wearing.

Hey, it's good to see you, son.

Now, before I ask Mrs. Grace Hodges up here on stage, there's a few other folks that wanna add a little something to the offering plate.

And there's one more, I think.

Evelyn Morgan of the Busy Bee Sunday School class.

Evelyn, where in the world are you?

- I am here, you blind bat.

[people laughing] [people applauding] - We'd have a lot more in here if we had some more time.

Never let it be said that the merchants of this town don't stand behind the boys who gave their lives for the rest of us.

[people applauding] - Here you go, son.

And if we had more time, there'd be a whole lot more for you.

[people applauding] - Well, sir, as captain of the baseball team, I'd just like to give this to you now.

[people applauding] - Thanks, son.

- Mrs. Grace?

- Okay, now, I'm not gonna interrupt your dancing and your music for long, but I have something to say.

[chuckles] It's been on my heart.

And I wanna say something to Mr. Mazilli.

John, it has been a real honor for us to have you here with us.

It says a lot about a person who will put their own life on hold to do for those who cannot do for themselves.

You have been a gift from God.

This idea of a memorial statue, oh, that is a wonderful thing.

And I wanna help.

So, with a little help from Mr. Childress at the bank, and Mr. Lowenstein, who's had his eye on that bottom piece of land on my property for years now, we have struck a deal.

Well, this is a surprise to my family and all.

Oh, Savannah.

You were my one baby that came back to me after the war.

So, Mr. Mazilli, I want you to take this check to keep our Murphy's memory alive.

It's for $4,600.

- Thanks.

That's all I wanna say.

[people applauding] This is too much.

I think I need to take a walk.

- Uh, you should stay a while.

There's still some people who haven't met you.

Can you believe, Momma?

- This is too much.

I need to walk a bit.

- Okay.

I'll walk with you.

- No, no.

I'm just gonna walk alone, I think.

Yeah.

Mr. Harley, I don't wanna hurt anyone's feelings.

I'm bushed, so you can explain that to Hope.

- Sure, John.

Sure.

- John, John, wait!

Where are you going?

- Where are you going?

You know you got to be putting the kids to bed a few minutes.

It's just not right for you to be running after Johnny like this.

You've known that man for one day.

And how do you think Jefferson feels out there with you dancing and carrying on like that?

He's gotta be mortified.

- Leave me alone.

This- this is not about Little Murphy and Sissy.

This is about you, Savannah.

You want him and you can't stand that he might just like me.

He likes singing, he likes dancing.

He likes life, Savannah.

And I am not about to be stuck in this town, on this farm, for the rest of my life, like you and Momma Grace.

If this is all you can get, then fine, but it's not all I can get, and it's not all I want.

[slap thwacks] [Hope yells] Oh!

How dare you?

- Stop this!

You stop this immediately!

Stop it!

Hope, you go take those children to bed right now.

Go, go!

Savannah!

Savannah!

[gentle music] - Jackpot.

[brooding music] - How you doing, Hope?

- I'm all right.

I'm sorry about last night, Momma Grace.

I just...

I guess all the singing and the dancing got the best of me.

- I know, honey.

- It's just that I get lonely sometimes.

And I watch Little Murphy out there playing, and I cry that his daddy won't ever see him.

I don't know, I just, I get lonely.

- Hope, honey.

Murphy is watching him.

- You think so?

- Oh, baby, I know so.

- Yeah, I tell him that sometimes when he is acting bad.

"You know your daddy's watching you."

He gets real quiet.

- Well, I hope you tell him that sometimes when he's being good.

His daddy loved him so much.

But he never did get to see the little boy.

Only the itty-bitty fella.

Hope, honey, I don't, um, I don't want you and Savannah fussing anymore.

We are family.

Uh, how are things between you and Jefferson?

Now, he's a good man.

- I don't know, Momma Grace.

It seems like I think about Murphy at all the wrong times, and I know it's not right, but I just, I can't help it.

I compare him to everybody else, and I... - Ah, um... Oh.

- Oh, Jefferson, we were just talking about you.

- Oh.

I hope it was all good.

- Oh, you know, it was.

- Um... Can we talk?

- Momma Grace, will you excuse us for a minute?

- Oh, sure, honey.

You go on and talk.

I've got plenty to do.

- Where were you last night?

- What do you mean?

- I mean, af- after the party.

I helped Momma Grace and Savannah put some things up, and- and- and- I, [sighs] I turned around and you were gone.

- I don't know, Jefferson, I just, I just needed some time alone, so I went walking.

- Where'd you go, walking?

- I don't know, Jefferson.

I just, I just went walking.

I mean, can't a girl go walking if she wants to?

- Did you go walking alone?

- What?

- Did you go walking alone?

- What?

Yes.

Yes, Jefferson, I went walking alone.

And who do you think you are coming in here accusing me of something- - Momma!

Murphy's nose is broken!

- Oh!

Oh my God!

- Momma, Murphy got hit- - You all right?

- by a baseball!

- You okay, little guy?

- Oh my God.

Oh my God!

- His nose is broke.

- Are you okay?

Baby, are you all right?

- I turned the throw, and he turned his head, and I couldn't stop.

- Oh my God, baby.

You're gonna be okay.

- Goodness!

Somebody go and get a cold rag!

- Hurry up, Sissy.

Come on, let me look.

- I'm very, very sorry, Little Murphy.

- Can we play catch again tomorrow, Mr. John?

[Hope laughs] - Oh, baby, you gonna be all right.

Come on.

- Hey.

- I am so sorry.

- Please, John, you didn't mean to do it.

It's not your fault.

It's baseball.

- I just, I hope I didn't break his nose.

- It'll be all right, and don't you worry about it.

Besides, we got church tonight.

And can pray for all your sins then.

- Going to the doctor, let me go with you, and I'll just at least hold the rag, okay?

- All right, Momma Grace.

- Oh, oh, John, do you mind staying around the house for a bit by yourself?

I mean, I'm expecting a phone call, very important one.

Savannah should be home very soon.

Do you mind?

- Oh, it's fine.

I'll be fine.

Just take care of that little guy, okay?

- Okay, Momma Grace.

- Come on, I'll drive you.

- No, I can drive.

[foreboding music] - What happened?

- He got hit with the baseball.

- You hit him with the baseball?

- I think he's gonna be okay.

- But you hit him.

- I don't think his nose is broke.

- A lot more than noses can get broken in a little town like this.

I don't trust you.

And I'm gonna find out about you, John Mazilli.

I got friends in Washington, DC, too.

[foreboding music continues] [door bangs] [telephone ringing] - Hello?

Oh, hey, Mr. Childress.

Yeah, yeah, it was a bit of a surprise.

But my momma's right.

Yeah, I know Murphy would wanna help.

Okay.

Well, I'll let her know.

Thank you, Mr. Childress.

Bye-bye.

Well, hey.

Where's Momma?

- Oh, well, Murphy got hurt when we were playing catch.

- Well, is he all right?

- I hope they took him to have his nose checked out.

Everything okay?

- Oh, yeah.

That was just Mr. Childress at the bank letting us know that the closing date on the property had been set.

- Savannah, I... - I know.

Momma wanted to do this.

I didn't realize that she was gonna sell part of the property, but she's right.

Murphy would've wanted to help.

[solemn music] - You know, it's been a blessing having you with us, John.

- Yeah, I don't know.

- This town, this church was so much to Murph and his family.

Having you here this week has done so much for so many people.

♪ Oh, what peace we often forfeit ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ What needless pain we bear ♪ ♪ All ♪ ♪ Because we do not carry ♪ ♪ Everything to God ♪ ♪ In prayer ♪ - Amen.

And now Ms. Hope Hodges will sing "Love Lifted Me."

Number 92.

And let's all sing the chorus with her.

[upbeat music] ♪ I was sinking deep in sin ♪ ♪ Far from the peaceful shore ♪ ♪ Very deeply stained within ♪ ♪ Sinking to rise no more ♪ ♪ But the master of the sea ♪ ♪ Heard my despairing cry ♪ ♪ From the waters lifted me ♪ ♪ Now safe am I ♪ ♪ Love lifted me ♪ ♪ Love lifted me ♪ ♪ When nothing else could help ♪ ♪ Love lifted me ♪ ♪ Love lifted me ♪ ♪ Love lifted me ♪ ♪ When nothing else could help ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Lifted me ♪ - That was some might fine singing, Hope.

And now to our lesson.

It's good to see you here tonight, John.

"Then he said, 'A certain man had two sons.

And the younger them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me."

And he divided unto to them his living.

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

[foreboding music] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And when he came to himself, he said, 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."'

And he arose and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

The father said to his servants, "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

And bring forth the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again."'"

- No!

No!

No!

- And have compassion [indistinct].

Let us be merry.

Amen.

[door slams] - Amen.

- Amen.

[melancholy music] - Hey, there you are.

You okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah.

That just happens sometimes in a group.

People who have been to war, people who've seen things that they shouldn't have seen.

- Well?

What'd you think?

- About?

- About my singing.

What'd you think?

- Oh, it was nice.

- Just nice?

- What more, huh?

It was real nice, okay?

What more do you want from me, Hope?

- This is what I want.

- No.

No, no more.

- John!

John, Murphy would want me to be happy.

Even Momma Grace said so.

- I don't care what Murphy would want, or Momma Grace.

I'm telling you no.

[upbeat music] - Well, are you the fella from New York?

- Yeah, that's me.

- Shouldn't that be, "That would be I"?

- What?

- Nothing, honey.

They sure have been talking about you.

So what year did you hang the moon?

- I finally got that thing hung up just right last week.

What's your name?

- Sherrene.

And you're Mr. Mazilli, right?

- Yeah, the one and only.

John "Gold Heart" Mazilli.

Am I everything you expected?

- Hell, the way they've been talking about you, I was expecting Gary Cooper or something.

- Maybe they've been talking a bit too much.

- Maybe so.

You want me to stop talking?

- No, no, baby.

I love the way you talk.

- Well, ain't you smooth?

But I don't see nothing spectacular.

Not so as I can tell right now.

- Nothing spectacular?

Well, maybe and maybe not.

- Everybody's got their warts.

I bet even Gary Cooper's got warts.

- I got more than my share, Sherrene.

- Well, don't go and get all blue on me, sugar.

You wanna dance?

- Yeah, sure, we can dance.

Let me ask you something.

- Shoot.

- The people down here, are they always so nice?

I mean, Lord.

- Well, sure we're nice, honey.

It's proper Southern manners.

Now, how about that dance?

- Southern manners never stop, do they?

- No, sugar.

We just keep on giving and giving.

Now, you wanna dance, or what?

- That's not what I wanna do.

We could dance.

[sultry jazz music] - SOB!

[punch thwacks] Stay the hell away from Hope!

[everyone yelling] - Settle down!

Settle down, both of you!

- You're not a war hero!

Come here, punk!

- Settle down, you bastard!

- Punk!

- Are you okay?

Come on, sugar, let's get outta here.

- He's crazy.

- Come on.

Let's just go.

- Come on, let's go.

- Crazy.

[sultry jazz music] [ominous music] - Get the hell outta here!

Bartender thinks you might've lost something last night.

Let's see.

"Murphy Hodges, 79th Infantry, died March 24th, 1945 in Holland from massive chest injury.

Family lives in Magnolia, Mississippi.

Widow: Hope Scope Hodges.

Mother: Grace."

Oh, what?

Oh yeah.

Don't forget the damn patches.

I want you outta here.

[suspenseful music] And I want that check.

- Listen, Savannah, I didn't want- - No!

[indistinct] Please just get outta here!

You tried to kiss Hope last night.

Jefferson was right.

You're no hero.

If you don't get outta here right now, somebody's gonna hurt you bad.

- Just take it.

Take it all.

- That's not all.

I want you outta here.

And I don't want Momma to know anything about this.

She's been hurt enough already.

[melancholy music] [birds twittering] [gravel crunching] [engine rumbling] - Mr. Mazilli, you heading out?

Come on.

I understand that somebody got into a tussle last night.

- What can I say, pal?

- The Cardinals got rained out last night.

- Is that right?

- Not a cloud in sight here.

I guess it only rains in St. Louis, huh?

[pensive music] - Stop.

- What?

- Stop.

[somber music] It was all a lie.

- What are you talking about, John?

- The whole thing.

I never knew Murphy.

I wasn't in the Army.

I was never gonna build a monument.

I'm a conman.

Mrs. Hodges, that's what I do.

It was a lie.

It was all a lie.

- No, I'm- I'm confused.

You said you knew Murphy and that he saved your life, and that you wouldn't... Oh my goodness.

Oh my goodness.

How could you do that?

Why would you do that?

Pretend to know a dead soldier, for what?

For money?

Why would you wanna hurt people like that?

So many people wanted to believe in you, wanted to think someone would want to remember Murphy.

- It's what I do.

That's what I've done since forever.

I take people's money, and I lie for money.

- It wasn't all a lie, John.

You helped me to believe.

And I wanted to believe.

Murphy has been more alive to me these past two days than he has been for the past two years.

You want lies, John?

I have been writing to Murphy for the last two years, waiting for him to come home.

I have been lying to myself.

Those were lies.

My son is dead.

He is not coming home.

Your lies were nothing compared to those.

And your lies, they brought my son back.

I don't know.

[chuckles] Maybe you need a lie to see the truth.

Did you see all of those people out there the other evening?

Oh, they loved my son.

Murphy was out there the other evening.

I know it.

He loved all those people, and they loved him.

Maybe not like his momma, but they loved him.

And that wasn't a lie.

John.

You go home now.

You go home to your people.

[birds twittering] - Hey, Mr. John, wanna play catch?

Mr. John, where are you going?

- I'm going home.

- Oh.

[upbeat music] - Momma Grace, did you ever hear anything back from Mr. Mazilli?

- Oh, no, Hope.

I imagine he's about his own business now.

- Would anyone like some coffee?

- I'll have a cup.

- You grow up first, you little monkey, then we'll talk.

- What do you think about all this?

- I don't think I've ever seen Savannah happier.

- Me either.

And you know, I am lighter myself somehow, just knowing she's happy.

As long as I have these children and you near, I'm fine.

- We're here, Momma Grace.

- Savannah, honey, why don't you take the good car?

We've got the other one.

We don't need two.

- Well, you may not now, but someday real soon, these two are gonna be needing a car, huh?

[everybody laughing] - Vroom!

- Oh!

Anyway, they got plenty of streetcars in Memphis, Momma, and I'll be working downtown.

- Well, I guess it'll be all right.

- It'll be fine.

- Memphis is a big city, and it can be pretty mean.

- I'll be fine.

- Tell you what.

Why don't we drive to Memphis on Labor Day, huh?

How about that?

- Oh, won't that be exciting now?

- That'd be great, Momma.

[upbeat music] - Hi, where you been at?

Jail?

Good to have you back, John.

- I've been on a business trip.

- Do good?

- Better than I had a right.

- Huh.

Who looks good today?

- Huh?

The "Racing Form."

Who looks good today?

- Stonewall Jackson in the fourth at Aqueduct.

- Stonewall Jackson.

Ain't he a Confederate general?

- Yeah.

- They were losers, John.

- Don't you believe it.

You might just be surprised.

Thanks.

- Huh.

- Hey, Frank, you know where there's Army Surplus around here?

- Yeah, there's one on Broadway, just up from 12th.

Are you thinking about getting some gear?

- Patches.

Patches and a baseball glove.

- Huh?

- An old friend wants some military patches, and a young friend needs a baseball glove.

[gentle music]