Songcatcher Page #6

of looking out for myself.

Oh, don't worry.

I'd beat that snake up for fun

any day of the week.

I have never heard such...

...such singing.

I never met an outlander

who likes music as much as you do.

I have never been anywhere

where the music is as much

a part of life as it is here.

It's like the air

you all breathe.

It's beautiful.

I would like to discuss

something with you seriously.

Serious?

What is it?

It's about my work.

Actually, it's about my book.

I believe...

that you could win public

sentiment over with your music.

- Public sentiment?

- Yes.

Let me tell you something,

we're not really interested

in what you people out there

think about us.

- Well, you should be.

- Oh, yeah?

What I'm trying to say

is when my book is published,

I believe the mountain people

will be seen

in a very different light.

Oh, what is that light,

may I ask?

Well, the common view

is that there is

no culture here,

and that the people

are dirty, ignorant and savage.

You forgot illiterate

and inbred.

The only way to preserve

our way of life up here

is to keep your way

of life down there.

That is the way you kill something,

by shutting it out...

You know what?

You just don't understand,

and you never will.

We just want

to be left alone, see?

Then the mountain ways

will die.

We'll see.

I don't want to fight with you.

Me neither.

We just keep getting off

on the wrong foot, don't we?

Good night.

Can I take my wrong feet

and walk you home?

No, I can find my own way.

Thank you.

I promised... Miss Elna.

Well, in case you hadn't noticed,

I am the big sister...

not Elna.

O-ho-ho, I noticed.

I noticed.

(singing)

(piercing shriek)

(shriek)

(growling and clothes tearing)

(shriek)

(shriek)

(gasping)

Tom:
Whoa! Whoa!

- Whoa.

- (Lily laughing)

Here you go.

Why won't you admit it was you?

Give me that.

- It was you.

- But it wasn't me.

It had to be the panther.

Either that or maybe you...

- maybe you imagined it.

- I did not imagine it.

It was as real

as you and me.

Ooh...

Why aren't you married?

Why aren't you?

I've been married.

Twice.

My second wife died

of lung fever.

I'm sorry.

I'm a jinx for a woman, Lily.

I'm not your average woman.

No, you're not, are you?

Deladis:

(music) O holiday, O holy day (music)

(music) The first day of they ear (music)

(music) Little Matthy Groves

to church to goes (music)

(music) Some holy words to hear (music)

(music) Hear some holy words

to hear. (music)

Come on, Doc,

you know this one.

Both:
(music) He spied some women

dressed in black (music)

(music) As they came into view (music)

(music) Lord Daniel's wife

was gaily clad (music)

(music) The flower of the few (music)

(music) Few, the flower of the few (music)

(music) She stepped up

to Little Matthy Groves (music)

(music) Her eyes cast

on the ground (music)

(music) "Oh, please,

oh, please come with me (music)

(music) Stay as you pass

through this town (music)

(music) Town, as you pass

through this town." (music)

- Deladis...

- Hmm?

You are officially

my assistant now,

and it's going to say so

in my book.

(music) "O what is this?"

Said Little Matthy Groves (music)

(music) As he sat up in bed (music)

(music) "I fear it is

your husband's mad (music)

(music) And I will soon be dead (music)

(music) Dead, I will soon be dead" (music)

(music) But Little Matthy Groves

he laid back down (music)

(music) And soon fell off to sleep (music)

(music) When he woke up,

Lord Daniel (music)

(music) Was standing

at his bed feet (music)

(music) Feet, standing

at his bed feet (music)

(music) Saying, " How do you like

my snow white pillows?" (music)

(music) Saying, " How do you

like my sheets? (music)

(music) How do you like my pretty

little woman (music)

(music) That's a-lying

in your arms asleep? (music)

(music) Sleep, lying

in your arms asleep?" (music)

(music) The first swing

that Little Matthy made (music)

(music) It hurt Lord Daniel sore (music)

(music) The next swing

that Lord Daniel made (music)

(music) Little Matthy hit the floor (music)

(music) Floor, Little Matthy

hit the floor (music)

(cocking)

What do you want?

Uh...

Parley Gentry sent us.

My name is Lily Penleric.

We are looking

for Uncle Cratis.

What for?

I'm a song collector.

Parley says

Uncle Cratis knows

about every

love song there is.

We're making a book.

Cratis got religion.

He don't do no singing no more.

Well, perhaps

if I spoke with him...?

Cratis!

(music) Uncle Cratis. (music)

You gonna burn in Hell,

Josie Moore.

Mr. Kincaid?

Do I know you, woman?

I'm your wife's friend.

You all go on.

We got no songs here.

Your family needs you,

Mr. Kincaid.

Reese belongs here with me.

Go on.

Alice:
How can I thank you?

Alice, you don't have to.

I've barely been able

to keep body and soul together

since Reese left again.

People have been helping out

the best they can, but...

Lily:
Well, now that...

Clementine McFarland

is collecting your paintings,

others will as well.

Maybe I should take the children

down to Asheville.

I mean, if what you say

is true,

I could provide for us

in a big town.

Hello, Alice.

- Daddy?

- Reese?

Daddy.

Well, he y, big man.

Hey, little bit.

- Hey.

- Hey.

You look pretty today, Alice.

You remember, Dr. Penleric,

don't you?

Mr. Kincaid.

(grunting)

Hey, Del.

Hey.

Hey, Del.

Fate:
"It is..."

"It is dep..."

What are you doing

reading other people's writing?

"It is deplorable...

that the literature

of the ballad

has attracted

so much more attention

than the music.

The two elements

should never be disassociated.

The music and text

are one and indivisible,

and to separate one

from the other

is to remove the processed gem

from its beautiful setting."

Oh, Lord.

What are you laughing at?

She's just saying our songs

are finer than frog hair.

You're going soft

in the head, Tom.

- Yeah, maybe.

- (women laughing)

Tom:
Ladies.

Hello.

What are you doing here?

U h...

I brought you something.

Come on.

- You shouldn't have.

- Well, I did.

- It's warm today, huh?

- Yes.

Elna:
Tom...?

Why don't you

advise my sister

to join us at the picnic

this afternoon?

I haven't had any luck.

Perhaps you might.

What, and leave her work?

Deladis, are you ready?

U m...

I ain't going.

It's too hot and muggy

for a picnic.

All right, suit yours elf.

Let me show you this here.

A noter.

A what?

Noter.

Take that in your left hand,

and you play these strings.

Let's go for a walk.

Ah, yes.

We'll leave you two

to your music lesson.

Tom:
You know, it ain't

none of my business...

Miss Harriet and Miss Elna...

theyre...

What?

Sweethearts,

I guess you call it.

(women giggling)

Don't be ridiculous.

Listen, it don't bother me none.

It would rile most people,

but it don't bother me none.

I'm sure it's only because

theyre so isolated.

Who else would they be with?

Well, certainly not

a mountain man.

(giggling)

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