-Somebody will steal the town. -Where is everybody?
Asleep. Everybody that's got sense.
Why'd Sam close the café?
Y'all been gone, ain't you?
Gone to Mexico.
-You don't know about it. -What?
Sam died yesterday morning.
Died?
Quite a blow.
Keeled over one of the snooker tables, had a stroke.
Sam the Lion?
Sam's dead.
He was quite a fellow.
He had his own way of doing things, that's for sure.
They found his will. Craziest thing you ever heard.
He left you the pool hall, Sonny. What do you think about that?
He left Genevieve the café.
That's the only thing he done that made any sense.
Left the picture show to old Miss Mosey.
Hell, she's too far-gone to even run a popcorn machine.
And the craziest thing of all...
...he left $1 000 to Joe Bob Blanton, the preacher's boy.
Beats all I ever heard of.
He could just as easily left that to me.
I deserve it at least as much as that ignorant little bastard.
Anyhow, it's done.
They're burying him tomorrow.
Come in.
I love you too.
Oh, Duane, hurry.
What's wrong, honey?
I don't know.
That tickles. I can't stand to be tickled.
Aren't you going to do it?
I don't know what's wrong.
How could anything be wrong? Just go on and do it.
What's the matter with you?
I don't know. Something's happened.
Get off a minute! You might fall and mash me.
I don't know what happened.
It was Mexico. No telling what you got down there.
I hate you! I don't know why I ever went with you.
I don't know what happened.
Put your clothes on.
You think I want to sit around and look at you naked?
I knew you couldn't do it. Now I'll never not be a virgin!
What will we say? The whole class knows.
I want to cry. You're the meanest boy I ever saw.
My mother was right about you.
I don't know what happened.
Don't go out there! We haven't had time to do it.
I don't want one soul to know. You better not tell!
You just pretend it was wonderful.
I'm sorry. I don't know what happened.
If you say that again, I'll bite you!
Tell us about it, Jacy. What was it like?
I just can't describe it.
I just can't describe it in words.
Texas, our Texas
All hail the mighty state
Texas, our Texas
So wonderful, so great
Largest and grandest
Withstanding every test
O empire wide and glorious
You stand supremely blessed
Jacy? Jacy?
I can do it now. I know I can.
That you may grow In power and worth
Throughout the ages on
Quit prissing! I don't think you did it right anyway.
Come on.
It's your graduation present. Hope you like it.
I never seen one as nice.
What's on your feeble mind?
Same as it's been. I want a date.
Why don't you just go back to Mexico?
I guess girls are easier to please down there.
Just go with me one more time.
You can at least see me.
Find somebody else to pester. Got a new boyfriend.
-I can't talk to you. -Who?
Bobby Sheen, of course.
-You crazy? -I certainly am not.
I guess I wanted to go with him all along and never realized it.
Maybe we'll see you in Wichita sometime.
Goddamn it to hell!
I hate to see you go.
Not a goddamn thing to stay for.
Roughnecks say you can get a job in Odessa anytime.
Come on back if you don't.
You hear they busted up, let me know.
Didn't hear you.
Gene home?
No, he and Mama went to the club.
Why are you home on a Saturday night?
Bobbie Sheen ran off and got married.
Annie-Annie Martin.
Want me to turn the TV off?
No, I'm going to play pool. Tell your dad that well came in okay.
I wish I could go to the pool hall. I've always wanted to.
It's terrible, the things girls aren't allowed to do.
Well, hell, come on. I'll show you the pool hall.
Aren't there people there?
If there are, they'll be in back asleep now.
Won't bother us. Got my own key.
Okay, I will then.
Goodness, it sure is dark in here.
What a night! I never thought this would happen.
How about hopping out?
He's just awful! Why do you fool with him?
-Daddy's nicer than him, isn't he? -He sure is, beautiful.
Your daddy's a very nice man.
I ought to give Abilene hell instead of him.
Bobby was the last one. I'm just going to be an old maid.
That's just the way it goes. You win a few, you lose a few.
What do you do?
Nothing's ever the way it's supposed to be.
You're right. Come on.
I want to tell you what I've done has not worked out too well.
I think maybe we better think of something else for you.
I guess Ruth Popper's got about as good a setup as anyone.
Why, sure. Sonny's reasonably good-looking and he's young.
Don't you know? It's been going on about six months.
-I thought you kids knew everything. -That's silly!
She's 40 years old.
So am l, honey. It's kind of an itchy age.
Want an orange?
I don't believe it.
Sonny's always wanted to go with me.
Pretty easy shot, sheriff.
Sheriff, we got trouble.
Goddamn you, Monroe! You made me scratch.
Sorry, Sheriff, but Johnny Clarg's little girl's been kidnapped.
They say the preacher's boy put her in his car two hours ago.
What the hell? Maybe Joe Bob just give her a ride home.
Be doing her a favor in this hot weather.
Who'd want to kidnap Molly Clarg?
I just know she's not home.
They was seen headed toward Olney.
Mrs. Clarg's afraid that Joe Bob might be...
...going to molest her or something.
You and some of these boys come with us.
If that's the way it is, no telling what we'll find.
Molly!
Get him! Ain't you going to?
Here's my little girl.
He's the one that done it. Why don't you get him?
If my husband was here, he'd kill him dead.
What'd you do to that child? We know you done something.
Come on.
Filthy!
Here now, grab her. None of this goddamn frenzy.
It's the Lord's justice, son.
You'll suffer with the murderer and the thief.
Sonny, drive that Plymouth to town. We got to get this man to jail.
-Doctor said he didn't do nothing. -Never had the guts.
Sheriff figured he done something.
lsn't it terrible, Sonny? Did you see anything?
Weren't nothing to see except Mrs. Clarg.
If she had a gun, she might have killed us all.
Joe Bob didn't do nothing.
He must've done something. It scares me to death.
Never can tell when something terrible is going to happen.
It's okay. They got him now.
I called you before.
You did?
I felt lonesome.
Thought you might want to drive around.
Well, I'm supposed to be someplace.
I'm still a little scared. Please take me riding.
Where will we drive?
Ever hear from Duane?
Got a postcard.
I really feel sad about that.
He's making 320 a month. Said he bought a car.
I'll always be a little in love with Duane. We had too much against us.
It wasn't easy being the one to break up.
What?
Not here.
I'm too old for screwing in cars.
I don't like to hurry.
Why don't we go to Wichita and get a motel room?
I'm afraid to. My folks are watching me.
They know I don't want to go to college.
They might think we'll run off and get married.
We'll do it when it's safe.
We got all summer.
Hey, buddy!
You turned roughneck.
Got to make a living so I can keep the pool hall open.
When did you get in?
About 2. I thought I'd surprise you.
Is this yours?
How about that? 38,000 miles and she runs like new.
-Do you want a beer? -Not me.
That's all I eat for breakfast anymore.
Sure is a nice car.
I like to drive it so much, I thought I'd just drop home for the weekend.
You can't take too good care of a car like this.
I wash her every week.
It looks great.
Hear about Joe Bob?
I always knew he was crazy.
He didn't do nothing but get her to take her underpants off.
He's out of jail now.
Are you still screwing that old lady?
No. Yeah. I've been kind of busy.
I seen old Leroy last week.
Said you and Jacy been going together.
We have, a little.
She's been bored, so sometimes we go eat Mexican food.
I hear that ain't all you been eating.
Whoever told you that don't know what he's talking about.
I been going with her. Why not?
I never said I blamed you for it.
I never thought you'd do that. I thought we was friends.
We are. What you so mad for? I never done nothing.
Screwing my girl ain't nothing?
I ain't.
-Hell, you ain't! -Well, I ain't.
-She's not your girl. -She is!
You don't even live here anymore.
That don't make no difference! I'm getting her back.
She'll marry me someday.
-She won't. -We're meant to get married.
She's off to college soon.
I doubt I'll get to go with her myself, once she gets off.
I never saw what it could hurt to go with her this summer.
-She'll never marry you. -Don't tell me she won't!
She'd never let you screw her.
I was just seeing how honest you was.
Jacy'd never let you screw her. You ain't that good a cocksman.
You never even screwed Charlene all that time.
Course I didn't!
You know why?
Because you had the pickup all the time Saturday night.
Nobody could've screwed in the time I had.
I could've screwed her in five minutes. I wouldn't need no pickup.
She only went with you because you was in the backfield...
...and I was in the line.
What you talking about? We was in love.
You was. She likes me as much as she ever liked you.
That's a lie.
I'll stay with her all night too.
-She promised. -You won't.
Why shouldn't l?
She told me you couldn't do it that time in Wichita Falls.
What happened?
There's a lady in the waiting room. She sent you this.
Could you tell her I'm asleep?
Please?
All right.
That too cold?
No, it's great.
I hear Duane joined the Army.
Good place for him too.
He didn't mean to hit me with the bottle.
That boy's always had meanness in him.
Jacy's the kind of girl that brings out the meanness in a man.
She's just like her grandmother.
I hadn't ought to talk about them. We was all good friends once.
Dan roughnecked with Gene Farrow.
He and Lois used to live in this one-room place...
...over the newspaper office.
Lois couldn't afford a flour sack, much less a mink.
I've always had a soft spot for her, though.
I wondered a lot of times what would've happened...
...if my Dan had made the strikes that Gene made.
They offered that rig to him first.
Dan Morgan never took a chance in his life.
Do you wish y'all had made it?
Sure, I wish we'd made it.
I guess the Army won't take me now, I just got one good eye.
You want to go to Korea and get killed?
You ain't got your senses back yet. What few you ever had.
The café won't run itself. You rest up now.
Here's for the cheeseburger.
I'll bring your change when I bring your supper.
Come on in.
I was so worried. I just had to see you.
I've been missing you.
And I'm a lot better than I was. Here, sit down.
You can't believe how famous we are. We're all anybody talks about.
Yeah, I guess so.
I want us to get married.
I really do.
Get married?
As soon as you want to. Don't you want to?
The town will be knocked for a loop. They'll never forget it.
Ain't you going to college?
I don't care. I love you, and that's more important.
You were so dear to fight for me.
My folks won't like it but we'll run off.
-They'll kill us. -No, they won't.
-They'll kill me. -They'll get over it.
You're working for Daddy now anyway.
Pretty soon, they'll love you just as much as I do.
Can we?
Sure, I just hope I can see to drive.
Don't you worry. I can drive.
Don't do that, Sonny.
Why not?
We're man and wife now. We can do anything.
Not while I'm driving. I might have a wreck.
Wouldn't it be awful if Mama and Daddy got the police after us?
-They don't even know where we are. -I had to leave them a note.
So they wouldn't be worried out of their mind.
You shouldn't have done that.
I figured they'd have to know sometime.
Well, what could they get us for?
We got a right to get married. Ain't we?
I guess so.
I wish you didn't have that stupid eye patch. It's really creepy.
I can take it off pretty soon.
About two hours will be Lake Texoma. Have a room to ourself.
My goodness! You're sitting so close, I can barely drive.
Oh, goodness.
-What part of Texas y'all from? -Anarene.
Newlyweds, ain't you?
Y'all better follow me in. Somebody's looking for you.
We got a right to get married. How can you arrest us?
I ain't arresting you. I just want you to come with me.
I don't know what your rights are.
I guess we better follow him.
I'll be heartbroken if my folks have done this.
You think I worked hard so my daughter'd end up in a pool hall?
-We was going to get an apartment. -I'll bet!
Where are your car keys?
It's a hell of a note!
-Shut up and take her home. -You bet I will!
You take her car. As far as I'm concerned, he can walk!
Not much of a wedding night, huh?
Not much of one.
Have a little drink of bourbon. lt'll pick you up.
Take all of it. I'm going to drive.
You won't believe this...
...but you're lucky we got you clear of her quick as we did.
You'd have been better off staying with Ruth Popper.
Does everybody know about that?
Course!
Sounded like a good deal to me. Shouldn't let Jacy turn your head.
Well, she's prettier.
I guess I shouldn't have, though. I guess I treated her terrible.
Guess you did.
Sure weren't out of Texas very long.
Oklahoma's not much of an improvement.
It's not the same now.
Nothing's really been right since Sam the Lion died.
No, it hasn't.
Oh, God.
I get sad if I think of Sam for long.
Did you know he had beautiful hands?
I guess you liked him, didn't you?
I guess everybody did.
Well, I'll tell you, it was different with me.
I loved him.
He loved me too.
Are you the one he'd take swimming...
...out at the tank?
He told you about that?
Yeah, I was the one.
I guess if it wasn't for Sam...
...I'd just about have missed it. Whatever it is.
I'd have been one of them amity types that thinks...
...that playing bridge is the best that life has to offer.
Old Sam the Lion.
Nobody knows where he got that name. I gave it to him.
One night...
...it just came to me.
He was so pleased.
I was 22 years old then.
Can you imagine?
It's terrible...
...to only meet one man in life that knows what you're worth.
Just terrible.
I've looked too.
You wouldn't believe how I've looked.
Well, now I know why Sam liked you.
Loved me.
Loved you, I mean.
Do you?
I can kind of see what he saw in you too.
Nope. I'll just go on home.
Go on. Get out.
Think I could learn to drink?
You might. Better keep on practicing.
That Logan boy's a quarterback, ain't he?
Boy, we've finally got us a team!
Didn't back in your day, did they?
No, we wasn't much good.
You just never learned the fundamentals.
You know, blocking and tackling.
Not like this team.
-When was it you graduated? -Last year.
You don't mean it.
Seems longer than that since you and Duane played ball.
I seen Duane a while ago.
He's home on leave, wearing his uniform.
I ain't seen him yet.
-How are you, Chester? -Fine, coach.
See if we can't stretch that goddamn thing a little.
You know a man never ought to cheat, unless it's for a good cause.
He's a good old boy, ain't he?
Anarene High School We love you
Love you Oh so grand
We will always be so loyal
Loyal to the end
Whether in defeat or victory
We will e'er be true
Hi, Mrs. Jackson.
Duane here?
That's his car out there, ain't it? He's here if he ain't walked off.
Hi, how you been?
Pretty good.
I been thinking all week that I'd run into you.
I heard you was going off to Korea.
Thought I'd get over here and see you before you got off.
Glad you did. I'm taking the bus in the morning.
Want to go to the picture show?
Miss Mosey has to close it. Tonight's the last night.
Yeah, might as well go.
Hate to miss the last night. Take the Mercury.
Be the last chance I'll have to drive it for a while.
Ready, Matthew?
All ready.
Take them to Missouri, Matt.
That was a good movie.
Seen it here before once.
Why don't we run over to Wichita and drink a little beer?
Okay. I got lots of time till morning.
Sure.
So long, Miss Mosey.
Sorry you're closing the show.
Nobody wants to come to shows no more.
Kid baseball in the summer, television all the time.
Sam had lived, we could have kept it going.
But I just didn't have the know-how.
Won't be much to do with the picture show closed.
Well, so long.
You watch out now, overseas.
Sure weren't no women around.
I guess the next piece of ass I get will be yellow.
I wish I was going with you.
Why don't you take care of the car for me?
Your ma don't need it?
I wouldn't want her driving it.
You might help her take the groceries home sometimes.
You ever....
You ever hear from Jacy?
No, not a thing.
She don't get home much. Ain't been back to town since August.
I guess she stays in Dallas all the time.
Yeah, probably does.
I guess there's lots to do in Dallas.
I ain't over her yet, you know.
I ain't over her yet.
It's the damnedest thing.
That's the only reason you and I got into it that time, you know.
Reckon she likes Dallas?
Hard to say. Maybe she does.
Reckon you and her would've got it straighted out if I hadn't butted in?
No, they'd have annulled me too, even if we had.
Y'all never even got into the motel?
Better get on before we both freeze.
Here are the keys.
So long, buddy.
Be careful.
I'll take care of the Mercury.
See you in a year or two if I don't get shot.
The sand was blowing.
I never noticed him.
Figured nobody'd be in the street.
What was he doing out there?
He weren't doing nothing. Just a simple-minded kid.
-Never had no sense. -Wasn't your fault.
Hell, no! I can see that.
Just a dumb kid.
Didn't know enough to keep out of the cold.
Let's go to the café. Ain't had breakfast.
I'd like to know what he was doing with that broom.
He was sweeping, you sons of bitches!
He was sweeping!
Y'all got some crazy kids in this town.
Could I have a cup of coffee with you?
I guess.
I'm sorry. I'm still in my bathrobe.
What am I doing apologizing to you?
Why am I always apologizing to you, you little bastard?!
Three months I've apologized to you without you even here!
I haven't done anything wrong! Why can't I quit apologizing?!
You ought to be sorry!
I wouldn't be in my bathrobe if not for you. I'd have my clothes on.
You're the one made me quit caring if I got dressed or not!
Just because your friend got killed...
...you want me to forget what you did and make it all right.
I'm not sorry for you.
You'd have left Billy, just like you left me.
I bet you left him plenty of nights, whenever Jacy whistled.
I wouldn't treat a dog that way.
You thought I was so old and ugly, you didn't owe me any explanation.
You didn't need to be careful of me.
There was nothing I could do, so why be careful of me?
You didn't love me.
Look at me.
Can't you even look at me?
See?
Shouldn't have come here.
I'm around that corner now.
You've ruined it.
It's lost completely.
Just your needing me won't make it come back.
Never you mind, honey.
Never you mind.