Lilies of the Field Page #3

- Thatta way?

- I'm leaving.

Schwester Gertrude, schnell!

Hurry up! Schmidt will

take us to Northfolk!

- You take us to Northfolk.

- You got bus fare?

- Back?

- We'll get back. Don't worry about us.

Amen!

Well... it's been interesting.

Not profitable, but interesting.

Schmidt, where do you go?

I don't know. West?

LA, San Francisco.

Maybe I'll swing on up to...

So... goodbye.

- Schwester Gertrude.

- Leben Sie wohl.

Hey, boy.

Are you Schmidt?

Well, that's what they call me.

My name is Homer Smith.

Are you the fellow who's supposed

to build a chapel? They must be kidding.

- Why?

- They tell me you're their contractor.

- So?

- Are you a contractor?

- What's wrong with that?

- Well, what kind of contractor?

Independent.

You local?

I don't remember doing business before.

- I'm out of State.

- How did they get mixed up with you?

- How did they talk you into it?

- Nobody talked me into anything.

They conned me out of some adobe brick

and some lumber.

I figured I could write that off, but

if you're their contractor, like you say,

tell her to take her business someplace

else. My terms are strictly cash.

- You understand, boy?

- I understand. Hey, boy!

- You need a good man?

- A good man.

- I can give you two days a week.

- Doing what?

- Moving earth. Those.

- You got any experience?

I can handle any earth-moving

equipment you've got.

What are you gonna be doing

the rest of the time?

What have we been talking about?

I'm gonna build me a chapel.

OK, contractor. I'll pay you the going rate

for labour on the job you're assigned.

Seven o'clock, Thursday morning. But if

you're snowing me, you'll be out at 7.15.

Just a second.

- Goodbye, Schmidt.

- Get in the car.

- We go to the bus stop.

- Don't be cute.

I don't want him to think

we're having a fuss.

- Fuss?

- Yes. Fuss.

You don't fuss with your contractor.

We can do it, Schmidt.

There are three ingredients to a job

like this. First, you need a plan. Check?

Two, you need labour.

But, three, you need materials.

That's for openers. You're gonna need 10,

20, 30, 40 times as many bricks as that.

Can you get them?

Ja!

OK.

OK. Let's get to work.

You still listening, Lord,

would you mind putting

a little meat on the table? Please?

The work goes well.

The problem is money.

I request to your organisation...

which is renowned for its...

- Philanthropics.

- Was?

Philanthropics.

- Was machen Sie da, Schwester?

- Das Mittagessen fr Herr Schmidt.

Lesen Sie mir das Ganze noch mal vor.

"The Maximillian Fund,

sieben elf, Fnf Avenue, New York City.

"Highly honoured

and respected gentlemen,

permit me to an appeal

for financing assistance... "

No. Wait. A better word.

Dollars!

- The Lions.

- Ja.

- The Elks.

- Ja.

- The Order of Moose.

- Ja.

Kiwanis. What kind of animal is that?

Americans.

Schmidt! You make knocking.

Like I told you.

- We saved for you supper.

- No more bread and milk.

A nice potato soup.

Oh, and that'll make me

nice and fat and strong?

- Ja.

- And you love me fat and strong!

Ja.

Oh, Schnuller!

Hey, hey. You like that.

What now?

Look your hands. Dirty!

Go wash your dirty hands and face.

OK, I will.

Then I come and give for you

the English lesson. Nein? Ja!

Ja!

Danke dir Gott, fr diesen Segen.

Ah, how about thanking me too, eh?

No. I thank Him.

You, you couldn't help yourself.

Oh, boy.

# Wrapped in the manger

- # Amen

- # On Christmas morning

- # Amen, amen, amen

- # See him in the temple

- # Amen

- # Talking with the elders

- # Amen

- # Who marvel at his wisdom

- # Amen, amen, amen

- # Down at the Jordan

- # Amen

- # Where John was baptising

- # Amen

- # And saving all the sinners

# Amen, amen, amen...

- Come with us, Schmidt.

- No, ma'am.

- I'm gonna go feed my Baptist stomach.

- Come.

Good people of Piedras,

you have seen this man

who brings us now to the mass,

but you did not know who he was,

what he was.

I tell you now.

His name is Homer Schmidt.

He is not of our faith,

but he was sent to us by our God,

who is the God of all faiths.

He is building us a chapel.

It is true! And so we will

all see it. A miracle!

Hey, Mother!

- I laid my last brick.

- A good start.

- And I ran out of board.

- Everything works out.

- I'm ready to keep going but...

- Everything works out.

Yeah, you said that.

- Tomorrow you for Ashton work?

- Tomorrow and the next day. Why?

Then we see.

- Look, we had a bargain. I kept my end...

- Everything works out. It's God's will.

- That we get brick or that we don't?

- Whatever.

You would have made a great lawyer,

you know that?

Bobkin.

Sherman.

Good night.

Smith.

- Tell me, how's the contracting business?

- It's all right.

Just out of curiosity,

what are you using for materials?

We're expecting a new shipment.

No bricks?

Why do you buy things to eat

we do not need?

Now just a minute.

You are very large on religion

but you don't know

how to accept a gift from somebody

without making them feel small.

Small! You follow?

Poor man. His feelings is hurt!

I'm not twisting your arm for any big

thank-yous, but I'm through feeling small.

I got all the patience in the world!

Then why do you work on the road gang

when you should build the chapel?

Where are the bricks?

They will come. Maybe not tonight, but

there is other things you could be busy.

Raking and planting trees.

We had this contract.

You failed to keep your part.

I failed because I put my faith in people

instead of in God!

Forget it.

It was an invisible contract anyway.

- I don't believe you any more.

- Who are you not to believe me?

Hm?! Somebody

passing through thatta way?

Me, I come 8,000 miles to this place.

You cry about a few bricks

which are not here when you want them!

Do you know what we went through

to get to this place?

You will not

stand in the way of this chapel.

No. It will be done.

Well, good luck, Charlie,

and you deal me out.

Yeah. That stuff you wear,

you think it's a uniform

that makes you some kind of cop,

laying down the law,

throwing your weight around.

You sound like one of them

old war movies. A regular Hitler!

Well, you get yourself another boy.

Mutter Maria! Hat der Schmidt

seinen Hammer daeglassen?

Nein! He left nothing. Nothing!

Das haben wir ntig gehabt.

Zuerst beten wir fr ihn, dann kommt er

und dann shickt sie ihn weg.

Nothing.

- You haven't heard anything from Smith?

- Nein. Nothing.

- It's been three weeks.

- We thought at least he write postcard...

Schweigen Sie, Schwester.

He will return.

You're sure of that? Well, I wouldn't

get too upset about it, ma'am.

He's shiftless and irresponsible,

you know the type?

If he should come back,

tell him I'll hold his job open for a while.

He's a pretty good man with a bulldozer.

Smile at the people.

But don't say anything.

Go get your breakfast.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Such a beautiful morning.

Business Sunday morning

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