Cross Creek Page #2

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- Is that clear?

- Yes'm.

Miss Rawlings,

you be wantin' beaten

biscuits with your lunch,

or spoon bread?

Beaten.

[Water pump squeaking]

Oh, my.

Good morning.

Mornin'.

He's beautiful, Ellie.

My Pa says to put this on your rash

3 times a day.

Oh, thank you.

My Ma says we're gonna have

a pound party next Saturday.

She'd be most proud if you'd come.

I'd be delighted to.

What is a pound party?

Everybody brings a pound of something.

Sugar or butter or cake.

Cake would be fine.

Do you know how to bake a cake?

I certainly do.

What's his name?

Oh, I call him Flag.

On account of his tail.

Kinda looks like a flag.

Well, that's a good name for him.

My Pa don't believe in keeping pets.

But Flag's special.

He's real smart and knows his name.

He likes you.

Why does your father

not believe in keeping pets?

Milk's sometimes scarce.

But I don't need milk now.

So Flag gets my share.

Do you go to school?

My Ma taught us how to read,

and I'm a pretty fair shot.

It must get lonely out here.

Used to be.

But not since Flag.

I'll come show you the way Saturday.

All right.

[Knocking] Mornin'.

Mornin'?

Miss Rawlings is busy workin'.

Mornin'.

Like to go for a little spin?

I have work to do.

I thought you'd like to try her out.

Mr. Baskin, I don't really

have time for games.

Well, I figured that you

might be needing a car.

It is a long walk into town.

So, I brought one out for you to try.

I can't afford a car.

You can afford this one, Miss Rawlings.

Put your shoes on, I'll show it to you.

'Course, it's not what

you'd call a formal car.

So if you'd like to come as you are,

that'd be fine.

It's all right if I clean up now?

Yes. Thank you.

And if you want to put on a summer dress

and pack a nice picnic lunch,

that'd be fine, too.

You don't want to turn it down

before you look it over.

- Mr. Baskin...

- Norton.

I appreciate your concern,

but I can't possibly afford a car.

So if you'll just excuse me...

No ma'am, I certainly do not excuse you.

Now, I've considered

that you're new here,

and that you're nervous

about starting out.

But you're being pig-headed.

I didn't come to sell you a car.

I put 2 and 2 together,

and as far as I can tell,

you don't have anybody to depend on.

I'm perfectly capable of taking...

I don't care how perfectly capable

you may think you are.

The fact is that you don't have

a means of transportation.

Now, maybe I'm out of line,

but I took it upon myself

to fetch that old jalopy of yours.

It doesn't run.

It does now.

Oh.

So how much do I owe you?

I brought it out here as a gift.

If that offends you, I'm sorry.

But I sure as hell didn't come here

to take nothin' from you.

Mr. Baskin?

Would you like a cup of coffee?

[Screen door creaks]

Oh, my goodness.

It looks brand-new.

All it needed was

a little love and affection.

I'd like to pay you for whatever

it cost you to do that.

[Laughs]

Are all writers stubborn,

or is it just you?

Is it a deal?

Well, seeing as how

we're in business together,

you could do me a favor.

I'm gonna need a lift back to town.

[Both laughing]

Marjorie:
The party was

a welcome respite

from my work.

I looked forward to seeing Ellie again.

She stood on the threshold of womanhood.

Clinging to her Fawn

as if he were the last

of her youthful dreams.

[Piano music playing]

Mama...

Miss Rawlings here.

How lovely of you to come.

I expect the other guests

will be here momentarily.

And this is for you.

Oh, thank you.

How sweet of you.

Please, sit down.

[Chickens clucking]

It'll help keep the mosquitoes off you.

Feels like rain.

The children picked

blackberries all afternoon.

We had a blackberry patch,

but my husband's hogs

just helped theirselves

till there wasn't

anything left.

I enjoy picking berries.

Floyd, blow some for our company.

Mary.

Floyd talks to the animals.

They come callin' for him every mornin'.

[Plays camptown races on harmonica]

Did Mary dance?

No, ma'am.

Mary.

I believe the others have been held up.

Billy, Preston?

You may bring out the refreshments.

Yes, ma'am.

[Water pouring]

Thank you.

[Children talking]

No, I get her. I get Flag.

Ellie:
Taste good, doesn't it, Flag?

Ma, Ellie said I could play with Flag.

Ellie:
Tastes good, huh?

Y'all havin' a good time?

[All talking at once]

Hello, Miss Rawlings.

- Hey, Bubba!

- Hello.

I brought you a nice

soft-tailed critter, here.

He should be tied behind the house.

But he's so small, Bubba.

I'm scared a Wildcat might get him.

Cake's as light as a feather.

Go on, now.

I saved you a piece, Bubba.

Go on, now.

Could Flag stay in?

Just for tonight?

He belongs in the woods, you know that.

Yes, sir.

But seeing it's a special day,

you can leave him be.

Oh, thank you, Bubba.

We're having a wonderful party.

Threat of bad weather

kept the other guests away.

We had a lovely conversation, didn't we?

Yes.

I'm gonna send Mary over

with some dresses.

I'll be taking Miss Rawlings home now.

I had a lovely afternoon, thank you.

It was a pleasure.

Good-bye.

Ellie, now you come

help me with the dishes.

All you children...

[continues indistinctly]

[Children talking]

I want lace trim on the sleeve.

Stitch it nice and small,

so the thread doesn't show through.

[Piano playing]

She was a visitor.

She came to a local square dance.

I couldn't keep my eyes off her.

Shoulda let her be.

Heh.

She'll be sending you clothes to mend,

dresses to sew.

Well, I'm afraid that...

I haven't any need to...

Aw, she's good-hearted.

Don't pay her no mind.

She's slipping away from us.

She's found herself

a more peaceful world.

This creek's hard on folks.

Particularly women.

I'm not afraid

of living hand-to-mouth.

[Laughs]

Well, that's what it'll be.

I guess you'll make out.

Folks around here have

to scratch and scramble.

The people that love it,

they stay here till they die,

and if they don't, they move on.

Are we lost?

This here's the River Styx.

But I live at Cross Creek.

Don't worry, I'll get you

there, Miss Rawlings.

Somebody I want you to meet.

Got a gator hole right here.

You don't want to step in it. Heh.

You're not even afraid

of gators, are you?

Ever been bit by one?

- Not recently.

- Ha!

Watch your step, now.

Wouldn't want to fish you out.

This here's young Paul.

We call him "P".

This is Miss Rawlings.

She's looking for a hired man.

I could start on Monday.

Well, I'm not sure that I can afford...

Oh, he'll work out. He's a good 'un.

Give you more time with your writing.

Oh, I like this batch, "P".

- Well...

- Good!

It's settled, then?

Would you like a little taste of this?

Oh, thank you.

Here's to you.

Ah, that's good.

[Slurps]

How'd you... how did you know

I was a writer?

Wildcat's not the only thing

that prowls around in the dark.

[Spits]

I seem to have very little say

about who I will and will not hire.

That's the way it is

at the creek, ma'am.

'Scuse me.

I do intend to write

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