The Southerner Page #4

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Ain't you new here?

What'll it be?

OK, big-shot...

2 bottles of beer.

Sure is hot in here...

what about a beer for me?

I'm mighty thirsty.

Why don't you ask your papa here...

He gets it wholesale.

Oh, him! This ain't one of his good days.

Must've got out of bed

on the wrong side!

Well I got out on the right side...

Bartender... another beer.

Handsome... ain't I seen you

some place before?

Nuh... what'd you say?

I asked you... ain't I ever seen you

some place before?

Could be... I don't know.

You in town all alone?

Oh, no ma'am...

Like you see, I'm with my friend here...

And my wife's waitin' for me

at Harmie's store.

- So you got a wife?

- Yep... I got a wife.

There's some that got wives

and they're still nice and... friendly.

I'm sorry, ma'am,

I was studyin' about somethin'.

Let's go down the end of the bar, pal...

we can't talk here.

Excuse me, ma'am.

I ain't got no wife waitin' for me, baby...

How about a date tonight?

You big pig!

You know what you can do

with your date.

OK... OK, baby...

We'll talk about it later.

To your kid, Sam!

Seven bucks a day, eh?

So it's "yes"... you'll come?

Don't rightly see how I can, Tim...

I made a deal with Ruston...

I already got some credit

from his commissary.

At $7 a day it wouldn't take you long

to pay him back.

Yeah, but I'm tellin' you Tim...

This is the first time I been able

to farm my own crop...

Just like I always wanted to.

Ain't somethin' I can give up,

just like that.

Well, how much can you get

on your credit.

Man, with that there ground I got...

it'll be the finest crop

in the country.

What does that mean...

"The finest crop in the country"...?

With any luck at all I can make

2 bales an acre.

How much does that make for you?

More 'n 50 bales.

No, I mean how much money?

Do you know that on that ground

that I been workin' on now...

Old man Corinth made a fortune

in the last cotton boom... a real fortune.

So that's the idea!

All you farmers is just the same...

Gamblers!

That's what you all are...

to a man.

Year after year

you starve yourself to death...

and hope that some fine day...

Well... I think you're loco!

Me, I'd rather be safe, first.

Me... I'd rather work in my field.

I feel better that way...

I feel more free.

Free?... Free?

Man, with money in your pocket,

you're as free as the wind.

With this... you want a good meal...

you go to a restaurant.

Good room... you go to a hotel.

All you gotta do

is flash your greenback...

You get anything you want.

You call that free,

sweatin' from mornin' 'til night?

In the bakin' hot sun,

workin' in them fields!

Oh, I'll allow as how

it's sometimes pretty hard.

What I mean is, being able

to decide things for myself...

To know I can choose my

own time about plantin'

and ploughin' and

harvestin' the crop.

That I can do it all in my own way...

and don't have to answer to nobody.

I mean for me alone

being accountable for it.

Whether the weevils strip you clean...

or you get the best price.

Instead of all that baloney...

that means no?

Afraid so, Tim.

Well, pal... I think you're

makin' a big mistake.

Hey, bartender... where's my other $4?

What $4?

I gave you a $5 bill.

Oh, no... Lizzy... you seen that was a $1.

Of course I did.

And the pretty boy

who's goin' home to his wife...

He seen it, too.

Well I'll be doggoned!

So that's how it is!

Nothing but a hicky old farmer...

and yet the girls fall for you

like a ton of bricks!

What the heck have you got

that I can't buy with my dough?

Give me my $4, you big double-jointed son

of a skunk, or I'll tear this joint apart!

Outside!

OK brother... but I hope it's gonna

be worth the $4 to you.

What do you aim to do?

I ain't asking you to help, Sam...

you got a family.

I wouldn't start any more trouble, Tim.

Don't stay here, Sam.

This'd have to cost you

more than $4.

I'm asking you as a

friend not to stay here.

Milk and greens...

That doctor man done said about Jotty.

I'd like to see some of them

damn vegetables to grow.

Where he figure we're gonna

get that there milk from.

Out of the sky... just like that!

Seems like Sam ain't the only

pig-headed one around here.

That ma of his!...

Thinks she can cure the Spring Sickness

with fresh air!

A widow-lady her age

ought to have better sense.

Me? I say that baby 'll just catch

its death in this here wind!

I'm gonna get that milk.

Poor Sam!

Men in this here Tucker family

just ain't strong.

No sir... it's just like

I told you Tucker...

I don't need no extra help.

I got Finlay and my girl Becky.

Too bad about your boy...

I know how what that is...

Sick kid is pretty sorrowful.

Pitch it in Becky!

Like I told you before, it's wrong for

a man to get too big for his breeches.

When you got no money,

you work for them what's got it...

That there's the rule.

Why don't you go back to Ruston...

get your 6 bits a day...

Some milk for your chap...

and maybe some doctor, even.

About the milk, like you see,

I can't rightly spare a drop.

Me? I got no milk for m'self...

It's all for the pigs.

Pour the rest in, Becky.

Finlay... bring the drain.

Your cotton? Coming along?

Not too many bugs?

I seen you the other day in field...

You were shavin' the cotton

so close to the ground with the plough...

You scared me!

Still that's the best way

to get rid of the bugs...

Rolls 'em right out in the sun...

The heat kills 'em...

Better than any poison!

But you gotta have a good eye

and a steady hand.

You're a good worker alright, Tucker.

If I was you,

I wouldn't think twice...

I'd go back to work for Ruston.

If I wanted to give up,

I wouldn't have to go back to Ruston.

Got somethin' better?

Yeah... lots better.

But like I already done told you...

I want to grow my own crop...

and I aim to do it.

Well, if you're so sure of yourself...

why are you always coming around

asking your neighbours for help?

I never asked you for anything.

Likely, some old-fashioned idea

I had about neighbourliness...

Take good care of them pigs.

That's sure what I'm gonna do.

See that that black hog eats

all his dinner, do you hear?

So long, Devers.

Sam! Sam!

Here... take this...

It's for Jotty.

Thanks, Becky.

I can get you some more

if you want some more.

My daddy won't have to see.

I'm much obliged, Becky...

and I'll take it, coz my

boy's really bad off.

But I'll pay you for it.

Becky... I seen ya...

I seen what ya done!

I feel just like breakin'

somebody's neck today.

I'm gonna tell your pa

you was stealin' his milk!

I knowed you was hackin' after this

fella... I saw you lookin' at him, before.

I'm gonna tell your pa!

What did you do that for?!

I'm never going to speak to you again.

If I see you talkin' to HIM again...

you'll be sorry!

Yes, Finlay?

Don't fret, Becky...

You're a good gal.

Thanks just the same.

Honey...

Nona...

Nona...

I can't listen to him cry no more!

Oh Lord, how come you put the sky up there

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