Driving Miss Daisy Page #5

something, ain't she?

- You fixing to ruin it.

- What are you talking about?

You got the chicken too close

together and the fire is too high.

Mind your business.

It's your chicken.

Thank you, Hoke.

Now you enjoy it.

Amen.

Who is it?

Morning, Miss Daisy.

What in the world...?

I learned how to drive on ice when

I delivered milk for the dairy.

Ain't nothing to it.

Other folks are banging into each

other like they're in the funny papers.

I figured your stove was out, so

I stopped by the Krispy Kreme.

I know you got to have

coffee in the morning.

How sweet of you, Hoke.

We ain't had any good coffee

around here since Idella passed.

I can fix her biscuits.

We both can make her fried chicken.

But nobody can make Idella's coffee.

Ain't that the truth?

Idella was lucky.

I expect she was.

Where are you going?

I'm just going to take these things off.

I don't know what you can do here

today, except keep me company.

Then I'll see if I can make us a fire.

Eat anything you want

out of the ice box.

It will all spoil, anyway.

And wipe up what you

tracked onto my floor.

What do you think I am, a mess?

Mama, I'll be right out...

...when I can get down my own driveway.

Stay home, Boolie.

Hoke is here with me.

How'd he manage that?

He's very handy. I'm fine.

I don't need a thing in the world.

Hello? I have the wrong number.

Mama's saying loving things about Hoke.

I didn't say I love him.

I said he was handy.

Honestly! Are you trying to irritate

me in the middle of an ice storm?

Thank you, Wellborn.

Thank you all.

I am deeply grateful to be

chosen 1966 Man of the Year...

...by the Atlanta Business Council.

An honor I've seen bestowed

on mighty fine fellows.

And one I never expected

would come to me.

I'm afraid that my loss up here...

...and my gain down here...

...have given me an air of

competence that I don't possess.

I will tell you that I wish my father

and grandfather could see this.

About 72 years ago, they leased

an old mill up on Decatur Road...

...with I believe 25 looms in operation.

They managed to grow with Atlanta.

And Werthan Industries believes that

what we want is what Atlanta wants.

And this award proves

that we were right.

I thank you.

Well?

What is it? What took you so long?

I couldn't help it.

There's a big mess up yonder.

What's the matter? I might as

well not go to temple at all!

No, ma'am, you ain't going to get to

the temple this morning, Miss Daisy.

Why not? What's the matter with you?

Somebody has bombed the temple.

What? Bombed the temple?

That's how come

we stuck here so long.

I don't believe it!

That's what the policeman just said.

Oh, my God. Was anybody there?

Were people hurt?

I don't know. He didn't say.

Who would do such a thing?

You know good as me, Miss Daisy.

It always be the same ones.

I remember one time back

down there in Macon.

Lord, I couldn't've been more than

I had this friend named Porter.

One day there his daddy

was hanging from a tree.

Now just the day before, we'd

all been pitching horseshoes.

Laughing and carrying on and

talking about how me and Porter...

...was going to have strong

right arms, just like him.

Lord, there he was.

Hanging up yonder in the tree.

Had his hand tied behind him.

Flies was all over him.

I tell you, I threw up

where I was standing.

You go on and cry.

I'm not crying.

Why did you tell me that story?

Lord, I don't know, Miss Daisy.

That mess back there

put me in mind of it.

Ridiculous! The temple

has nothing to do with it!

Yes, ma'am, if you say so.

We don't know. Maybe that

policeman wasn't telling the truth.

Why would he go and lie

about a thing like that?

You never get things right!

Miss Daisy, somebody done bombed

that temple and you know it!

I don't want to hear anymore about it!

- You the boss.

- Don't talk to me!

- Where are you?

- Up here!

Hello, Mama. How are you feeling?

Not a good question to

ask somebody nearly 90!

Well, you look fine.

It's my ageless appeal!

Miss McClatchey gave me your message.

Florine is invited, too.

Thank you.

I guess Hoke should drive us.

There'll be a crowd.

Mama, we have to talk about this.

About what?

About the feasibility of all this.

I believe Martin Luther King has

done some mighty fine things.

If you don't want to go,

why don't you just say so?

I want to go! You know

how I feel about him.

Of course, but Florine...

Florine has nothing to do with it.

I still have to do business here.

I see. Werthan Bag will go out of

business if you attend the King dinner.

Not exactly. But a lot of men I do

business with would not like it!

They might...

...snicker a little.

Call me Martin Luther

Werthan behind my back.

Maybe I wouldn't hear

about meetings at the Club.

Old Jack Raphael at Ideal Mills, he's a

New York Jew instead of a Georgia Jew.

All the really smart ones come

from New York, don't they?

Some might throw their business to Jack

instead of old Martin Luther Werthan.

I don't know.

Maybe it wouldn't happen.

And sometimes that's

the way things work.

Anyway, if we don't use those

seats, somebody else will.

If we do not use those seats?

I'm not supposed to go, either?

You can do whatever you want.

Thanks for your permission.

Can I ask you something?

When did you get so fired up about

Martin Luther King?

Why, Boolie!

I've never been prejudiced

in my life and you know it.

Then ask Hoke to go with you.

Don't be ridiculous. He wouldn't go.

Ask him and see.

All right!

Boolie said the silliest

thing the other day.

What did he say?

He was talking about Martin Luther Ling.

I guess you know him, don't you?

King? No, ma'am.

I don't know him.

I was sure you did.

But you've heard him preach?

Yes, Ma'am, same way you have.

On the TV.

I think he's wonderful.

- What you getting at?

- It's so silly.

Boolie says you wanted to go with me

to this dinner. Did you tell him that?

No, I didn't.

I didn't think so. What'd be the point?

You can hear him whenever you want.

I think it's wonderful the

way things are changing.

Now what you think

I am, Miss Daisy?

What do you mean?

The invitation to this dinner...

...came in the mail a month ago.

Now, if did be you wanted

me to go with you...

...how come you wait 'till we in the

car on the way before you asked me?

What? All I said was Boolie

said you wanted to go.

Next time you want me to go

somewhere ask me regular.

You don't have to carry on so much.

Let's just leave it alone.

Honestly!

Talk about things changing.

They ain't changed all that much.

I'll help you.

Thank you, Hoke, I can help myself.

...can see that the South

has marvelous possibilities.

Yet in spite of these assets...

...segregation has placed the South...

...socially, educationally, and

economically behind the rest of the nation.

Yet there are in the white South

millions of people of good will...

...whose voices are yet unheard...

...whose course is yet unclear...

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