I Saw the Light

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1

Roy Acuff, as you know, has been a big star

at the Opry here for quite some time.

We have a company,

a music publishing company.

But, yeah, I liked Hank right off.

I think it's 'cause he didn't give a darn

if you liked him or not.

I tried so hard, my dear

To show that you're my every dream

Yet you're afraid each thing I do

Is just some evil scheme

A memory from your lonesome past

Keeps us so far apart

Why can't I free your doubtful mind

And melt your cold, cold heart

Another love before my time

Made your heart sad and blue

And so my heart is paying now

For things I didn't do

In anger unkind words are said

That made the teardrops start

Why can't I free your doubtful mind

And melt your cold, cold heart

You know what ti me

I get up every morning, Hank?

No idea, sir.

4:
45.

Sun don't never ever beat me.

Then know what I did at 6:15?

Listen to my radio show?

- On WSFA?

- Uh-huh.

Nope. I had my breakfast.

Well, fair enough, I guess.

We ain't that big

or we wouldn't be singin' at that hour.

Nah, I was just kidding around.

I listen to your program

every now and then.

- You do?

- Yeah.

- What do you think?

- That's pretty good stuff.

Well, pretty fair.

All right, now.

Just a couple more

little Justice of the Peace details.

So, this is your license

and divorce decree, Miss Guy?

Well, I'm Miss Sheppard now.

Guy was Erksine's surname.

But these divorce papers

are in order, right?

They definitely are.

Mr. Guy and I took care of that.

You'll take notice that

it's been notarized as well?

Yeah, I see that.

- Just 10 days ago, huh?

- Yeah.

Well, to the business at hand.

Just because these ceilings aren't vaulted

and the windows aren't stained glass

doesn't mean this union is any less sacred.

Audrey Mae Sheppard,

do you take Hiram King Hank Williams

to love and honor in all duty and service,

to live with him and cherish him

according to the bonds of marriage?

I sure will.

And do you, Hiram King Hank Williams,

have this woman, Audrey Mae Sheppard,

to be your wife?

And will you promise faithfulness in all

love and honor and all duty and service

to live with her

according to the bonds of marriage?

I will.

Then by the authority vested in me,

from the County of Covington

in the state of Alabama,

I declare you husband and wife.

I've tried and I've tried

And all night long I've cried

But I can't get you off of my mind

All right, folks.

Now I'm gonna play a little tune for ya.

It might make sense to y'all.

Tonight or this mornin',

whatever the hell it is.

Don, don't screw it up.

- I'll try not to, bub.

- Let's roll.

When you are sad and lonely

And have no place to go

Come to see me, baby

And bring along some dough

And we'll go honky tonkin', honky tonkin'

Honky tonkin', honey baby

We 'll go honky tonkin'

'round this town...

How much you got there, Miss Lillie?

I'm under no obligation to you.

Well, that goes both ways, huh?

Call me up, sweet mama

And we'll go steppin' out...

He's drinking like a fish tonight.

You think so?

Honky tonkin', honey baby

We'll go honky tonkin' 'round this town

Thank y'all, folks.

Now, I'm gonna invite up here

my precious wife, Audrey.

Audrey, get up here.

Don't worry, Lillie.

Hank will hand it over to me

before we even get home.

Get up here.

She is a hell of a singer.

Say hi, Audrey.

Hi.

Hi.

Now we're gonna sing a little song here

called Blues Come Around.

Boys, let's roll.

Once I was happy as I could be

But I let a man make a fool of me

And ever since he let me down

The blues come around

When the sun goes down

As long as the sun is in the sky...

Hey, Williams!

You sound like a billy goat,

and so does she.

Sit down!

Sit down, you horse's ass.

When the sun goes down

Oh, the blues come around...

You skinny little sh*t!

When my wife wakes up,

she listens to you on the damn radio.

If she's listening tomorrow morning,

I'm gonna beat the hell out of her.

Well, partner, why don't you

just turn the damn thing off?

That's why they put knobs on it.

Wait, no!

Get off him!

- Get off!

- Get off!

Get off! Get off!

You need to control yourself, sir!

Damn.

Are you okay?

I'm fine, I'm fine.

I'm good.

You are late.

No, no, no.

No.

I know I birthed you, Hank.

I was there.

But where you came from

and how you got what you got

and why you got it,

I swear, nobody knows that.

Except maybe the Lord.

Maybe.

She's gonna be pissed about this.

You think I care?

Shoot. I'm doing everybody

at the station a favor.

That woman hasn't got a clue

who the star is around here.

And I haven't been driving you

all over the state for 10 years,

booking joints and schoolhouses,

to see her swoop in

like she is the Queen of England.

Know why you and Audrey don't get along?

One of you is afraid the other's gonna

beat her to my pocket when I get drunk.

That's a hurtful thing to say, son.

Yeah, I'm just whupped, that's all.

I wish that was all.

When's the last time you ate?

Can't recall.

Is your back sore?

It's fine.

If you want to be sure

you're getting the tops in quality

when you buy gas...

Hi, Laura.

Hey, Hank.

- How you doing?

- Good. How are you?

Now, you never write, you never call.

- What'd I do?

- Look, Hank, I got to get these to the office.

You got to go? Well, I'll see you soon.

Bye, Hank.

I'll miss you.

Hi, boys.

- Morning, boss.

- Howdy, Hank.

How are y'all?

I am moving slow today.

Well, where's the missus?

She ain't here.

Williams!

Where you get off

wasting 12 minutes of airtime?

That sh*t ain't gonna work.

And you smell like a damn still.

All of ya.

Why, I'm sorry, Mr. Pill.

Yeah, well, that don't mean nothing to me.

I'll boot you, I swear to God I will.

We're running a business here, a**hole.

Oh, I surely know that, Mr. Pill.

Count him off.

Three, two, one.

Hey, a fine, very early good morning

to all you friends out there.

This is Hank Williams

and the Drifting Cowboys.

We're awful sorry we're

getting a late jump,

but last night, we got jumped ourselves

out on Highway 31.

Oh, yeah.

There's one more thing.

This looks like it's gonna be

our last program here at WSFA.

So, if any of you out there have enjoyed it,

we'd sure like to hear from ya.

You just write us and let us know.

Hey, Lycrecia, don't you love this book?

That's her cowboy.

I dreamed about you, baby

Even though...

Oh, bless you, honey.

You let me go

- Look at his hat.

- Honey, what you think?

I'd like a hat like that.

How long's it been

since Lycrecia saw her daddy?

Well, he's gonna stop by next week

when she's at Mom and Dad's.

Oh, my heart is oh so heavy

And these tears

No longer glow

Come on. Eat-up time.

I'm done dreaming

About you, baby

All because you let me go

So?

It's fine, baby.

It's fine?

Yeah. Fine.

Well, how's the stew?

It's fine.

Everything's fine, then, huh?

Just fine.

You know, if it's fine,

it doesn't need any ketchup.

But it isn't that fine.

The food or the song?

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