Over the Hill Page #4

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The police caught him

with his car full of liquor.

I don't believe you! I can't believe you!

My Johnny is in his room!

- I'll show you.

- I'll go, Ma.

In the attic bedroom.

He's brought disgrace upon us.

Having liquor in your car

is no disgrace.

It's only a small fine.

It isn't even serious.

An officer was shot!

That's serious, isn't it?

Isaac, no!

My Johnny wouldn't hurt anyone.

- Ma! Ma!

- Yes?

Ma, he's not upstairs!

And his bed hasn't been slept in.

Pa! Pa!

Did you hear?

Johnny's been arrested!

He's in jail!

Why don't you do something?

- Why don't you do something?

- Ma! Ma!

- You've got to take it easy.

- Johnny!

- Tommy, how much money you've got?

- None, to speak of.

It's gonna take a lot of money

to bail him out of a charge like that.

- How about you, Isaac?

- Be sure, your sins will find you out.

Now, you let us help.

Listen, everything's going to be alright.

- She's fainted.

- Give her a glass of water.

Are you alright, Ma?

Are you alright?

Can't you see?

There isn't anything I can do about it.

But Johnny, you're not trying

to do a thing.

Why don't you talk to the lawyer?

- I haven't anything to say to him.

- Johnny, you're shielding someone.

- You're crazy.

- I can't understand it.

Did you do it to pay for this?

Well, it didn't pay for it, did it?

I'll take it back.

- I'm sorry about that.

- It doesn't matter.

Sitting on top of the world...

It sounds sort of foolish now,

doesn't it?

Johnny, I don't believe you did it!

I won't believe it!

They caught me with the goods.

There's no doubt about that.

Of course, it wouldn't have been

so bad, only they took the car

and don't belong to me.

Fine chance I'd have with that company now.

Or any other company.

Listen.

Don't you gamble your future on me.

Don't wait.

There're plenty of other boys

in this town with good jobs.

They could be crazy about you.

I don't want you to come here again.

I don't want to see you.

Johnny.

Johnny.

Good morning, Pa.

Well, they've done it.

They've convicted him.

Three years, Isaac.

Three years!

Come inside, Pa.

We've got to do something.

We've got to!

We can't do anything now.

Johnny should have thought of that

before he comitted the crime.

- We've got to help him.

- He never listened to me.

I couldn't tell him anything.

I always say:

"As ye sow, so shall ye reap".

You can keep them old bars.

I don't want them where I'm going.

You keep them old dice too.

You all ain't got

enough juice around here.

Where they're gonna take me, they're gonna

make some electricity experiments on me.

Hi, young fellow, let's go.

I'll stay with Ma Shelby.

Can I talk to my boy?

Just for a minute.

Make it snappy.

Johnny.

Johnny.

Pa, pull yourself together.

You can't go on like this.

I've got to, it's killing me.

I can't eat, I can't sleep.

I'm not going to let you take

the blame for me.

- I'm gonna tell the truth.

- Pa, you promised!

You've got to think of Ma,

and the other kids.

Come on, Pa.

Cheer up!

This little time I'll be away

won't mean a thing.

I'll be back before you know it.

Johnny.

Pa, does the noise

of the machine bother you?

No, Ma... no.

Isabelle!

Isabelle!

Here I am.

You had a nice, long sleep.

Where is Ma?

She's gone to visit Johnny.

She should be back soon.

I've heard the train coming

just a little while ago.

Isabelle, you don't believe

Johnny is guilty, do you?

I know he isn't.

You'll always love him,

stand by him, won't you?

Always.

Isabelle, tell Ma...

When she comes... I want to see her.

Something I've... got to tell her.

Yes, dear.

I'll have to fix Ma Shelby some lunch.

She'll be hungry.

You're alright.

Ma Shelby, you must have walked

very fast.

Isabelle, I have so much to tell you.

- How is Johnny?

- Honestly,

that boy gets better looking

everytime I see him.

Did he ask you about me?

Well, now, let me see...

- I think he said something...

- Ma Shelby, tell me.

He sends you...

- How is Pa?

- He had a long rest.

He's asked about you several times.

He wants to see you.

And I have so much to tell him

all about Johnny.

Pa!

Isabelle!

I manage to keep busy.

Sometimes it's awfully hard

to realize that Pa's gone.

Poor Pa.

The only luck he ever had... was bad.

He was so good and kind.

If I had my life to live over,

I'd marry the same dear man.

Of course you would.

Ma,

why don't you go and live with some

of the other kids till I get back?

I couldn't bring myself

to give up the old home.

I don't mind working, I like it.

Besides, it's good for me.

You're swell.

How is Isabelle?

That girl is prettier everyday I see her.

Do you know she and her Ma beg me

to come to live with them

till you come home?

Why don't you?

I couldn't do that.

As much as I love them...

- Johnny?

- The kid himself.

- How did you get out so soon?

- Good behaviour.

Why didn't you let me know?

I'd have waited at jail all night.

That's just why I didn't let you know.

Besides, I thought it would be

kind of nice to surprise you.

Where are you going, Ma?

I must tell Isabelle,

she'd never forgive me.

Come here! I telephoned her,

she knows I'm home.

Let me set this pillow for you.

Ma, this is all the pillow

I'll ever need.

- Can I get you another cup of coffee?

- I'm full right up to here.

I've never eaten so much in my life.

I was so hungry I thought

I had hollow legs.

Johnny, I haven't laughed so since...

That sounds sort of encouraging.

Wait a minute, sweetheart.

Here, take it easy.

What's the matter, honey?

Did I say something?

- Of course not, Johnny.

- But you're crying.

I can't help it.

I don't know what's the matter with me.

Johnny, you haven't changed a bit.

- No fooling?

- No fooling.

You know,

now stop me if I'm wrong,

but I've got a hunch that you two

are sort of glad to see me.

Now once more.

I must fix your room.

Wait a minute, Ma. You can't run out

on us like that. Can she, Isabelle?

- I should say not.

- I'll be right down in a moment.

And you two must have a lot

to talk about.

Johnny, I left the rest of that

apple pie in the cupboard. In case!

Really I ought to be going home.

Isabelle, can't you stay all night?

Would your Ma care?

- I told her that I might.

- Why don't you say that in the first place?

- Don't ask so many questions.

- Come here.

Now that's all settled.

I want you to listen

to a little straight talk.

Johnny, you home!

Listen, honey, I've got

some great plans.

I've been promised a job out in Seattle,

and my railroad fare too.

Looks like a great chance.

It won't be any time at all before

I'll be able to send for you and Ma.

- Johnny, why your mother...

- I know.

That's the tough part of it.

I don't know how to tell her.

- Why can't you stay here?

- I've got to go.

Somewhere else, start over.

When I got off the train

and walked up the street,

everybody looked the other way.

Fellows I used to go to school with

ducked in the stores,

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