I Saw the Light Page #6

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that you have struggled with alcohol.

I didn't know you were

in the rumor business, Mr. Dolan.

I'm not. I don't mean to offend...

But since you obviously are,

why don't you say they're all true,

- every single one of 'em?

- Because that's not what I do.

You can do whatever you want to do,

but I'm done doing this.

Hunt 'em up, now. Hunt 'em up.

There you go, Zeke.

Hunt 'em up.

Here we go. Hunt 'em up.

Hunt 'em up.

Sit.

- Try gettin' birdy.

- Sit.

- God blessed!

- Birdy.

- Damn it!

- You're supposed to shoot 'em,

- not scare 'em off.

- Yeah, I'm trying.

Whoa, Zeke.

He's onto something.

Sh*t.

It's a coon.

Hank?

Hey, Hank!

Oh, God.

What are you doing down there, man?

- Here.

- No...

Give me a second, Burr.

Oh...

My back is f***ed.

Mr. Williams?

Your back's not broken.

Well, I couldn't feel it if it was.

Yes, you've got quite a bit

of morphine in your system.

Have to get the recipe from ya.

How much do you know

about your condition?

Always had that bump.

Docs early on didn't want to

do much about it.

Well, there's a name for that.

It's called spina bifida occulta.

It means your vertebrae

aren't completely closed.

Now, people with the mildest form

of this type of spina bifida

often don't even know they have it.

Well, now I know it's got a name.

It's chronic, Mr. Williams.

It'll never go away.

Now, we can operate,

try and alleviate the pain

as much as possible.

Cure me or kill me, Doc.

I can't go on like I've been doing anymore.

Hey.

How you doing?

I suppose you've been out

with your friends, huh?

Mmm-hmm.

At a joint?

No, I was at a house.

Drinking?

Yeah, a little bit.

Exactly how sick would I have to be

for you to stick around

and provide a little comfort?

Well, a little comfort

is something that runs two ways.

Not in your case.

Damn.

Screw you, Hank.

Come over here and you can.

Oh, yeah, I doubt that.

Professional like you,

I'm sure it'd be no problem.

You son of a b*tch.

All you do is you go out on the road

and you sleep with

a different woman every night,

and then you finally get home

and criticize me?

Well, you want it all, don't you, baby?

- You want to whore around...

- Uh...

...and still be Mrs. Hank Williams.

You know what?

You can keep your great Mrs. Hank Williams.

I'll give it back to you.

Baby, what are you doing up?

Come here. Let's get you back to bed.

I know I can't make D.C. or Baltimore, Jim.

Now, why can't we just

tell them the truth and live with it?

I'm sorry, Hank,

but I think we got to do it this way.

You're not hearing me.

I don't want to do it!

And I sure as hell don't want

Audrey standing in for me,

- or anybody else at the show.

- Hank,

I don't see a way around it.

It's simple.

I can't make it 'cause I'm laid up.

Now, I get the boys as soon as I can.

I go down there on my own money.

I'll make it right.

Connie Gay is putting these shows on.

Now, he and I go back forever.

Now, there's nobody else available.

I mean, I got the Opry spread

all over on New Year's Eve.

Toledo, Baltimore, Raleigh.

Says one every three hours.

I figure three every hour

ought to be that much better.

You good to go?

- Hell.

- Yes, sir.

Look,

you don't show, everybody will think

it's the whiskey talking,

and Connie Gay will be stuck bad.

And whether you like it or not,

I represent the Opry.

And as fond of you as I am,

if you want to stay a part of this,

you got to do it.

You need to record this.

We'll play it that night.

You always been a son of a b*tch, J.D.

Well, that may be,

but it's 'cause I have to be.

But I always been solid by you.

Give me a pen.

I think I can write my own damn apology.

I'd really been looking forward to

visiting you folks in Washington today.

But, well, a couple weeks ago, I...

I had to have an operation on my back.

Fact is, I been in bed a couple weeks,

and, well, I sure am sorry

I couldn't be there tonight.

I hope y'all enjoy the rest of the show.

And thanks for buying my records.

Audrey,

I should've gone straight home.

No, it's fine. We'll just have a drink,

and they will just have to deal with it.

If you say so.

Yeah.

Hank?

Hank?

Why don't you two wait in here,

and I'll go see where he is.

Hank?

Doesn't appear

anyone's here to greet Mommy.

Yeah.

Where the hell is he?

What is he doing?

What the hell are you doing?

Killing bottles, waiting for

my loving wife to come home.

Okay, well, I'm home now.

Chri...

Hi, ladies.

Hello, Hank.

What are you... Are you drunk?

Are you?

Do you think that you could

wait till we're alone

before you start acting up?

You really have no couth, do you?

You son of a b*tch.

I suppose you're right, dear.

Now die, you God-awful tiki wiki sh*t!

Hank Williams,

I will never live another day with you.

Never.

That's when he moved in with Ray Price.

Ray was a bit younger,

and innocent in many ways,

and he really looked up to Hank,

as a lot of the guys did.

And the house was a nice place

in the Natchez Trace area in Nashville.

One thing's for sure.

Ray wasn't ready

for what Hank was bringing.

I've got something

to shout about

A whole lot of lovin'

to talk about

My baby's comin' home

And that's what's

knocking me out

She's so sweet

and she's so fine

...likes everyone...

Hank, can you believe

I was gonna be a veterinarian?

- Hey, Ray?

- Look at me now.

I got the best party on the block.

- Look at you now!

- I should write a song

- called Look At Me Now.

- You should write...

Look at me now...

"His conduct was intolerable.

"He became abusive, cursing me,

"and even striking me

on numerous occasions."

- That's a damn lie, Ray.

- I'm sure it is.

Why'd she have to go that far?

Well, Hank, that's divorce in this country,

as far as I can tell.

This says I made 92 grand last year.

Hell, I didn't make that.

House at 55 grand, three Cadillacs.

"In the past months,

defendant has been enjoying

"a life of wild extravagance."

Hey, Bobbie, come here.

Come on, get a seat.

I'm rich.

And I'm dangerous.

Well, I guess there's worse things

you could be.

Says that I had an affair

with a highway patrolman

when he was on the road.

Mmm, and look at this.

I insisted on singing with him

when I had neither a voice

or musical ability.

How you doing up there, cowboy?

Just can't believe this place is yours.

For about another hour.

Was gonna build a house

over by that pecan grove,

but that ain't happening now.

Well, you'll get another

one somewhere else.

Somewhere else.

I've been there before.

And it ain't much better.

You know, sometimes I wish

I was back at WSFA making $12 a week,

and knowing who my friends were.

- Hey, you know this man?

- By telephone only. He's okay.

I bet he's never heard one song.

You gentlemen may go in now.

- Thank you, ma'am.

- Thank you, ma'am.

Fred!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

- Welcome, welcome.

- How are you, Dore?

I'm fine, Fred, you know.

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