Where the Red Fern Grows

Take me back like a child to see

Faces lost in the memories

If I could only go back again

Stop it. Come on, get out of there.

Stop it.

Hey, hey!

Get outta here. Get.

Hey, fella.

How you doing?

He hurt you there?

Oh, good dog.

That's a good boy.

That's a good dog.

It felt like forever|since I'd held a dog in my arms.

No creature could live in my heart|like those dogs of mine so long ago.

This place is far away|from the wilderness I came from.

Forever. and a thousand miles away.

Here you go, boy.

I was a little boy growing up|deep in the Ozark mountains.

with my mom and dad|and my two little sisters.

and woods in all directions.|as far as the eye could see.

My ma was part Cherokee,.

and there was a legend in those parts|that a little Indian boy and girl

got lost in a blizzard and died.

When they found them in the spring,

a beautiful red fern|had grown up between them.

And that spot was sacred forever.

- Howdy.|- Howdy.

- Morning.|- What can I do for you?

- You Will Coleman?|- That's right.

Well, this is Hud Bellington,|and I'm Ben Kyle.

Good to meet you.|That's my wife, Jenny.

- Howdy, ma'am.|- Howdy.

And my daughter, Sarah.

Alice, hiding behind the post.|And there's my son, Billy.

We're up from Tulsa.

Oh, really?|We got some kinfolk up there.

We know that. Your uncle Fred's|the one that sent us out here.

Says you got the finest|coon-hunting in the Ozarks.

How about that? You hear that, Jenny?|Uncle Fred sent 'em down here.

How's he doing?

Feed and grain business|doing right good.

Says he wants to sell,|move back East.

Yeah, we heard about that.|We were hoping to...

Hoping to make him an offer sometime.

Boy, that sure would be|a fine thing for a family like yours.

'Course, it'd be mighty tough|giving up country like this, too.

- You'll stay for supper?|- Why, that's mighty kind of you, ma'am.

Well, if we're going|to get any hunting done,

we're going to|have to set up camp before dark.

That is, of course,|if we have your permission.

Oh, that'd be fine.

There's a nice spot|just down the river,

called Dripping Springs.

Well, this road'll take you right to it.

With hounds like these,|you're bound to tree a few.

Well, they're the best|in Mr. Bellington's kennel.

They're sure fine ones, mister.

- They're champions.|- Yep.

Won the coon-hunting competition|three years running.

Is that right?

Hey, you got any hounds|of your own, son?

Well, ain't that a shame?|All this fine hunting...

It's getting late, Kyle.|Maybe we ought to go.

Sure thing, Mr. Bellington.|It's mighty nice meeting you folks.

Yeah, y'all take care, now.

I'm out back, son.

Thank you, Billy.

I was down at Grandpa's|store yesterday, and he said

that old man Stanton's|collie's about to have pups.

- And I'm sure he'd be glad to-|- Pa?

I don't want no collie.

I want hunting dogs.

I know what you want, son.|But hunting dogs cost money.

Right now there's a bluetick pup outside|Grandpa's store. It's going for $35.

Can I go see him?

Did you hear what I said, boy?|I said $35.

Can I at least go look at him?|Please, Poppa?

- Did you finish stacking that cordwood?|- Yes, sir.

Well, I guess it won't hurt nothing.

Be back by noon. You gotta|fix that fence down by the south end.

OK.

Every town has its characters.|and every boy has his nemesis.

Mine was the Pritchards.

We didn't have no train|running through our neck of the woods.

and no train tracks. neither.

But if we did. the Pritchards would|definitely be on the other side of 'em.

I don't know. $35 is a lot|to pay for a dog like that.

- He ain't worth more than 20, Pa.|- Hey, Billy. How you doing?

Not even that much.

Well, if you don't like the price, you better|talk to Chet Parker. It's his hound.

I'm just trying to sell it for him.

All right. We'll take it.

It ain't no $35 dog.

But I promised these boys a hound, I'm|gonna get 'em one. Even if it is a poor one.

Now, there's five, 25, 35.

Come on, boys.

I sure seen better dogs in my day.

It'll be hard,|but we'll make something out of him.

Guess it's better than no dog at all.

Well, that's a real shame.

And, sure as I'm living, that's dog's gonna|end up being just as mean as they are.

Bootleg money, that's for sure.

Well...

Oh, Billy.

I wish I could have|bought him for you myself,

but I ain't much better off than your pa.

Don't you worry, son.

You'll have|your own hound before too long.

I don't know, Grandpa. Sometimes|I think God don't want me to have any.

Well, maybe that's 'cause|you ain't doing your fair share.

- What do you mean?|- Ah, Billy.

If God was a-minded to get you a dog,|that'd be easy as cutting lard.

But then he'd be doing all the work.|That ain't good for your character.

I don't want character. I want dogs.

I know.

And if you want dogs bad enough,|you're gonna have dogs.

But if you want God's help,|you gotta meet Him halfways.

- What does that mean?|- What, about meeting Him halfways?

Well...

Why don't you think about that? OK?

You can feel the rhythm|coming from the alley

Down around the corner|near the vacant lot

It'll get inside you|the moment that it finds you

Everybody's talking|about the Southside Stomp

Mommy's on the trashcan.|Daddy's on the drainpipe

Johnny's jamming hard|on an old crate box

You can hear the backbeat.|even from the back streets

Everybody's checking out|the Southside Stomp

If you want to feel alive

Shake loose what's locked up inside

Do the Southside Stomp

Southside Stomp

you want to just let go

Stir up something in your soul

Do the Southside Stomp

Southside Stomp

Toes are tapping. things are heating up

Everybody's dancing, putting on a strut

We're working the scene.|smoking up the blacktop

Everybody's doing it.|the Southside Stomp

Come on, stomp

If you want to feel alive

Shake loose what's locked up inside

Do the Southside Stomp

Southside Stomp

If you want to just let go

Stir up something in your soul

Do the Southside Stomp

Southside Stomp

- Thanks.|- Take care, now.

Where in blue blazes|did that come from?

- I saved it.|- You saved it?

So I can buy two hound pups.

Will you order 'em for me?

- How long you been saving up, boy?|- A long time.

I did what you said,|about meeting God halfway.

He's the one that helped me.

- Your pa know you have this?|- Pa needs a new mule real bad.

But I want them dogs real bad, too.

Oh.

Hmm.

You must have worked|real hard for that.

Earned it.

That there is your money.

You want them dogs,|you're gonna get them dogs.

I'll guarantee that.

Billy?|You done your schoolwork?

I'm doing it now, Ma.

I want you|to understand something, Billy.

I love this place. It was my mother's land,|and her people before her.

And it'll break my heart to leave,|and it'll break your father's heart as well.

But I know we gotta go to where|my children can get a proper education.

Better than I can give you here.

Now, finish your schoolwork.

Hey, Billy.

- Need some help with that feed?|- No, I got it.

I was just down at Grandpa's store.|He said he's got something for you.

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