Songcatcher Page #3

(music) He took out his sword (music)

(music) And cut off her head (music)

(music) And kicked it

against the wall (music)

(music) And he kicked it

against the wall. (music)

have you got it?

One more time, Viney.

I thought

you've done this before.

Viney.

Oh, Tom!

Is the day gone already?

Sure is.

Corn is coming up fine

in that back field.

Oh, this is Dr. Lily Penleric.

She's Miss Elna's sister.

H m.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Viney:
Lily is a doctor

of music.

She's catching

my old love songs.

She says theyre important.

Important?

Important to who?

I'm going to publish them

in a songbook.

No, you're not.

Nobody's gonna publish

my granny's songs.

This is my grandson,

Tom Bledsoe.

He's been to the other world

and he thinks he knows

a whole lot.

Mr. Bledsoe,

I am a collector.

My intention is to exalt

the fine music of these mountains.

Exalt?

Yes, it means "to lift up."

You mean exploit.

It means "to steal."

I am a musicologist,

not a thief.

My work is to preserve

musical culture.

First it was the coal and lumber

companies coming in here

now they want to take

our music, too.

These songs are

of great interest

to anyone who studies

musical heritage.

You're gonna get paid for it,

ain't you?

- Yes, I am.

- See, Granny, let me handle this.

I can assure you

it will not make me rich.

- U m-hmm.

- And frankly,

I'm the one who's going

to all the trouble

and expense

of collecting the songs

and I'm the one

who has the expertise

to write them down

and categorize them properly

and scientifically.

Oh, you do, do you?

What's in it for my granny?

Her name will appear before

each one of the songs

which I include in the book,

as the source from which

I have collected it.

"By Viney Butler,"

that's what it's gonna say, Tom.

Well, you can't collect

from my granny,

unless you pay her.

I have offered.

She refused.

You refused?

How can I take money

for singing?

My mama used to sing

those songs

rocking the young-uns to sleep

and leading the cows home.

Doctor, I'm asking

you kindly...

to leave.

Viney:
Tom!

I can give my songs

to anybody that I want to.

- No, you can't.

- Yes, I can!

Besides, it's supper time

and Lily's joining us.

U h, no, thank you,

Mrs. Butler.

Really, I should be

heading back to the school.

You're gonna take my songs

and refuse

the hospitality of my home?

Well, I never.

My man's father built this place

when he settled here.

Ive raised nine children

in this cabin,

only two of them still living.

I'm sorry.

Oh, one's working the coal mines

up in Virginia

and one's in Missouri.

(belching)

That was good, Granny,

(tuning)

Tom's a fine musician.

Really?

U m-hmm, he plays the banjo

like nobody.

Oh, Tom!

Tom, what's that thing called?

- That thing?

- It's a guitar, Granny.

How many times

do I got to tell you?

He got it in Cuba,

Tom did,

in the Spanish War.

It's a lovely instrument.

Mmm, he is the only one

in these parts

got one of those things.

He makes up songs on it, too.

Do you play music, Doctor,

or do you just steal

other people's?

I am a pianist, Mr. Bledsoe.

A pianist?

I heard of them!

Tom, come on, play some

banjo tunes for Lily here.

Come on! Come on!

please, I would like that.

(fast picking)

(Viney clapping, laughing)

(door bangs open)

Hilliard, you almost

s cared me to death!

Sorry, Viney.

You coming, Tom?!

I'll be right there.

Mr. Bledsoe, where did you

learn to play like that?

I taught him.

I would like to re cord you

on my phonograph sometime.

No, thank you.

I make music to please myself.

(door slamming shut)

N ever mind Tom.

He's like most

of those fellows

who went to the other world

and come back...

he just never seemed

to be the same.

they just can't seem

to settle down

and be happy.

Would you show me

how to play this?

H mm.

Well, it's all in the picking.

(up tempo tune)

Fate, did you see to Alice

and her young-uns?

Yes, ma'am, I caught them

a couple of rabbits.

- We had a fine supper.

- Good.

Oh, we have all to do

tomorrow,

these old songs

are coming back to me now.

Well, I'm looking

forward to it.

Oh, Lily...

Listen, if you hear

a strange cry,

like a woman screaming,

that's the panther cat.

And you're gonna be dead

if it gets you.

What you do is pull off

your clothes one piece at a time

and run real hard.

And then the panther cat

will stop

and tear up the clothes

that you dropped in its path

to shreds!

And that will save you!

Viney, that is ridiculous.

Lily:
Oops.

(owl hooting)

- What was that?

- Just an owl.

Are you sure?

You'll know the panther cry

when you hear it.

- (rifle cocking)

- Fate!

Damn near got your fool head

blown off.

I didn't know you had

a still going here.

What about her?

What about her?

Go on, get,

both of you.

- Fate.

- Yes, sir.

Eleanor? Eleanor?

Eleanor...

I have had the most

remarkable day.

(gasping)

Oh, no.

Lily, I'd like

to talk with you.

I'm very tired.

I don't want to talk.

I think we should talk.

(sighing)

How could you, Eleanor?

You sound so like Father.

I'm not a child.

You're teachers!

What kind of an example

are you setting?

You're disgusting.

She's the finest person

I have ever known.

And I suppose...

Harriet is a lot older and...

more experienced

than you, so...

I suppose it's her fault.

It's nobody's fault.

We're in love.

Viney:
(music) She drew

her little pen knife (music)

(music) And stabbed him

through his heart (music)

(music) She cried out

with a very loud cry (music)

(music) There's a dead man

in my house, house (music)

(music) There's a dead man

in my house. (music)

We came to see the machine

that sings the songs

back to you.

I'm not using it

at the moment.

See, you got to save it, Polly,

or it will wear out.

My brother's a songcatcher.

That's very nice, but I'm afraid

he's a bit too little

to be a reliable source.

Come on, Tommy Lee,

you can sing for me.

Girl:
Oh, shotgun.

Man:
What songs you know?

- (cocking)

- Girl:
Come on.

Get the hell out of my yard,

Earl Giddens.

I've been hearing this excitement

about the songcatcher,

I came to see for myself.

Tom told you we're not selling.

He also told you

he'd shoot you on the spot

if you came round again.

Viney, it's that kind of talk

gives city folk

a terrible impression

of us hillbillies.

- Isn't that right, miss?

- Doctor Lily Penleric.

Doctor!

Well, Earl Giddens,

McFarland Coal Company.

Very pleased to make

your acquaintance, Doctor.

It's fine to see

an outsider appreciating

the charm of our local music.

For myself however,

there is nothing like

the elegant perfection

of the compositions

by Mr. Johann Sebastian Bach.

I don't think such comparisons

benefit either tradition.

they are apples and oranges.

Are you a musician?

No, ma'am.

- Oh.

- I've been down the mountain.

I had the privilege

of education.

Bachelor of Sciences,

University of North Carolina.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes