Cross Creek

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1

Marjorie:
My journey to maturity

began in New York in 1928.

I was married to Charles Rawlings,

a newspaper man and yachting enthusiast.

I had been trying to write stories

that I thought would be

most likely to sell.

Gothic romances were extremely popular,

and I had written dozens.

I was desperate to express myself.

Even as a child, I had been consumed

with a desire to be a writer.

[Ragtime music playing]

Man:
Car, please, Norris.

[People chattering]

Marjorie.

Max rejected my short story.

Max Perkins isn't the only editor

in the world.

I know.

I thought your story was damn good.

Except for the pretentious parts.

Let's take a ride upstate tomorrow.

We'll make a day of it?

It looks like I'm gonna have

a hangover tomorrow.

[Sighs]

I have arrangements to make, Charles.

What kind of arrangements?

I don't think we should discuss it here.

Why not?

Well, public scenes embarrass you.

You bought that damn orange grove.

What in hell possessed you

to buy a place sight unseen?

I wasn't consulted.

You didn't for one minute

think about me.

Oh, that's not true.

All you cared about

was you and your desire

to write the great American novel.

Do you seriously expect me to move

to some hick town and grow oranges?

Is this your vision of an artist?

I... I'm not a kid.

I can't just pick up and leave.

Why not?

Fine.

Take your typewriter

and go to Cross Creek.

Just don't expect me

to share in your simple life.

Charles...

You're my husband.

And I love you, Marjorie.

Couldn't you come with me?

No.

[Radiator hissing]

[Engine sputtering]

[Turns engine off]

[Hissing]

Marjorie:
After 30 years of urban life,

I was totally unprepared

for this small Florida town.

[Dog barking in distance]

[Birds chirping]

Excuse me,

uh, is there a taxi available?

You want the hotel.

Oh, thank you.

You want Norton Baskin.

Just ask for Norton, he'll help you out.

Thank you.

[Swing music playing on radio]

[Rings bell]

Mr. Baskin?

Mm-hmm.

I... I'm looking for a taxicab.

[Laughs]

I'm going to Cross Creek

and I need a ride there.

If you just could tell me

where I might find a taxi.

There's not much business here.

If you can wait a minute,

I'll run you down.

No.

It's too bad about your car.

You ain't gonna get her running again.

No, sir.

You gonna have to get yourself

another one.

Something in a clean blue might be nice.

I don't need a car.

Well, if you're partial to dirty blue.

No, I don't have any use for a car.

- Oh, I see.

- I like walking.

Ha. That's nice.

I intend to walk a lot.

Those your hiking shoes?

Heh.

You ain't gonna get too far in them.

I'll manage.

Baskin:
Up there is Simmons'

turpentine still.

And over that way is orange lake.

It's good fishing.

If you don't mind the gators.

So you say you're a writer?

What do you write?

I'm working on a novel.

Mm. Mm-hmm.

Hold on, now.

You all right?

I'm just fine.

Hmm.

So you write love stories?

I'm writing a Gothic.

You do say.

I don't believe

I know what that is.

It's a type of writing

a classic Gothic novel

has a castle as its setting,

and a governess or

a gentlewoman in distress.

Like you.

You won't be meeting

too many intellectuals out here.

It might get a little lonesome.

I've come here to work, not socialize.

Well, this is Cross Creek.

How many people live in Cross Creek?

Now, let's see...

There's never been more than...

Say, uh...

A dozen families.

You got to be a little crazy

to live out at the creek.

Ah, no offense, ma'am.

The way I look at it is,

if an attractive woman wants to hike

herself out into the middle of nowhere,

it is her business.

[Animals chirping and calling]

There she is.

Your new home.

Place here looks slightly run down.

I guess you'll be wanting me

to take you back into town.

That won't be necessary, thank you.

Here, let me.

How much do I owe you?

Not a thing.

That's ridiculous.

I'd like to pay for my ride.

Ha. The way I look at it,

you're a potential customer.

After a night out here,

you'll move to the hotel

gladly.

I'll, uh...

Get a room ready for you.

I won't be needing it.

Careful, now.

That thing is liable to give out

any minute.

I'll look in on you tomorrow.

I'll be perfectly fine, Mr. Baskin.

Of course you will.

I'll come around noon.

I'll be working.

It's no trouble at all.

Mr. Baskin...

I'll get the rest of the luggage.

It's nice to meet you, Miss Rawlings.

Marjorie:
My plan had been to live

off my orange crops,

but the grove had been long untended.

And as I had filed for divorce,

I was too proud to accept

any money from Charles.

[Frogs croaking]

[Owl hooting]

[Clock ticking]

[Generator starts]

[Typewriter keys clacking]

I hear tell you lookin' for a girl.

Take me.

Well, I come for the job.

I can't pay very high wages.

Any wages is better than nothin'.

I got to get work.

I got use for my pay.

I don't think that you'd be satisfied

so far from town.

Oh, town ain't nothin' to me!

Oh, you don't know.

I don't do no courtin'.

I don't want no man around me.

I'm sure that it wouldn't suit you.

If I don't suit you,

you can cut my throat.

This porch floor ain't been scrubbed.

You got to have clean things.

I'll be here tomorrow.

I gotta go fetch my things!

Wait, I don't know anything about you.

I don't know your name,

or where you came from.

I be Geechee.

You don't need to know

no more than that.

Man:
Hello? Hello?

Hello!

Hello?

I'm Marsh Turner called.

This is my daughter Ellie.

Mornin'.

You can do better than that, young'un.

Pleased to meet you, ma'am.

I'm Marjorie Rawlings.

Yes, ma'am.

We're just wonderin' whether you had...

had a comfortable night.

Yes, I did. Thank you.

No troubles?

No. None at all.

Sometimes, city folks

think they hear things

at night.

Bears or gators.

I slept very well, thank you.

Looks washed out.

Sure could use some paint.

That's exactly what I intend to do.

You gonna fix it yourself?

Yes.

Well, that roof leaks real bad, now.

Well...

I'll just have to fix that, too.

[Duck quacks]

That's a real enterprising woman.

You get to patching that roof,

and you fall off and break

a leg or something,

you give us a holler.

We'll come fetch you.

That's what neighbors are for.

Good day to you, ma'am.

Some sage and lily root

will ease up on that rash.

Hey...

Didn't mean to scare you.

There's a Cottonmouth.

Deadly.

[Reading aloud, indistinctly]

Where I be puttin' my things?

In the room back of the kitchen.

Nobody been caring

for things around here.

Geechee...

We'll set that right.

I'm not sure that

this is gonna work out.

You see, I'm a writer.

And my privacy is essential to me.

Nobody be botherin' you,

don't you worry.

I'm working, and it's difficult

to concentrate when

there are people around.

You just write, I'll clean up the house.

Yes, well...

We'll try that.

Listen.

I don't care if the roof falls in.

I don't want to be disturbed

unless it's a life or death emergency.

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