"Dream, little one, dream" "Dream, my little one, dream" "Oh, the hunter" "In the night" "Fills your childish heart" "With fright" "Fear is only a dream" "So dream, little one" "Dream" "Now, you remember, children, how I told you last Sunday... about the good Lord going up into the mountain and talking to the people... and how He said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"... and how He said that King Solomon in all his glory... was not as beautiful as the lilies of the field?" "And I know you won't forget, "Judge not lest ye be judged"... because I explained that to you." "And then the Good Lord went on to say..." ""Beware of false prophets... which come to you in sheep's clothing... but inwardly they are ravening wolves." "Ye shall know them by their fruits."" "Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five... forty, forty-five, fifty, fifty-five, sixty, sixty-five, seventy... seventy-five, eighty, eighty-five, ninety, ninety-five, one hundred!" "Here I come, ready or not!" "What's wrong?" "Hey!" "Hey!" ""A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit." "Neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." "Wherefore, by their fruits, ye shall know them."" "Well, now, what's it to be, Lord?" "Another widow?" "How many has it been?" "Six?" "Twelve?" "I disremember." "You say the word, Lord, I'm on my way." "You always send me money to go forth and preach Your Word." "A widow with a little wad of bills hid away in a sugar bowl." "Lord, I am tired." "Sometimes I wonder if You really understand, Lord." "Not that you mind the killings." "Your book is full of killings." "But there are things You do hate, Lord." "Perfume-smelling things, lacy things... things with curly hair." "There are too many of them." "You can't kill a world." "You driving a touring car with a Moundsville license?" "Harry Powell, for the theft of that touring car... you'll spend 30 days in the Moundsville Penitentiary." " Preacher Harry Powell." " A car thief." "Picked up where you were?" "A man of God?" "Harry Powell." " Hold Miss Jenny still." " Stand still, Miss Jenny." "There." "What's so hard about that?" "Daddy!" " Where's your mom?" " Out shopping'." " You're bleedin', Dad." " Listen to me, John." "This money here" " We gotta hide it before they get to me." "There's close to $10,000." "Where?" "Under a rock in the smokehouse?" "No." "In the bricks in the grape harbor." "No, they'd dig for it." "Sure." "That's the place." " That's him." " He probably still has that gun." "Listen to me, son." "You've gotta swear." "Swear means promise." "First, swear you'll take care of little Pearl, guard her with your lif e, boy." "Then, swear you won't never tell where the money's hid, not even your mom." " Yes, Dad." " You understand?" " Not even her?" " You've got common sense." "She ain't." "When you grow up, that money will belong to you." "Now stand up straight, look me in the eye and raise your right hand." "Now swear, "I'll guard Pearl with my lif e."" "I will guard Pearl with my lif e." ""And I won't never tell about the money."" "And I won't never tell about the money." "You, Pearl, you swear too." "Ben Harper." "I'm going now, children." "Good-bye." "Drop that gun, Harper." "We don't want the kids hurt." "Just mind what you swore, son." "Mind, boy." "Don't." "Don't!" "Dad." "Ben Harper, it is the sentence of this court... that for the murder of Ed Smiley and Corey South... you be hanged by the neck until you are dead." "And may God have mercy on your soul." " It's mine." " Where, Ben?" "Where?" ""And the little child shall lead them."" "Come on, boy." "Tell me." "Ben, I'm a man of God." "Trying to make me talk about it in my sleep." "What'd I say?" "What?" "What?" "You was quotin' the scripture, Ben." "You said, "And the little child shall lead them."" " You killed two men, Ben Harper." " That's right, preacher." "I robbed that bank 'cause I got tired of seein'... children roaming' the woodlands without food-- children roaming' the highways in this era of depression-- children sleeping' in old abandoned car bodies and junk heaps." "I promised myself I'd never see the day when my young 'uns would want." "With that $10,000, I could build a tabernacle... make that Wheeling Tabernacle look like a chicken house." "Would you have free candy for the kids, preacher?" "Think of it, Ben." "With that cursed, bloody gold." "How come you got that stick knif e hid up in your bed blankets, preacher?" "The Lord blinded mine enemies when they brought me into this evil place." "I smuggled it in right under the noses of them guards." "I come not with peace, but with a sword." "You, preacher?" "This sword has served me through many an evil time, Ben Harper." "What religion do you prof ess, preacher?" "The religion the Almighty and me worked out betwixt us." "I'll bet." "Salvation is a last-minute business, boy." "Keep talkin', preacher." "If you let that money serve the Lord's purpose, He might f eel kind towards you." "Keep talkin', preacher." "Now, don't you think the Lord might change His mind if you was to" "Lord, You sure knowed what you was doing... when You put me in this very cell at this very time." "A man with $10,000 hidden somewhere... and a widow in the making." " Any trouble?" " No." "He was a cool one, that Harper." "Never broke." "Carried on some, kicked." "They say he left a wif e and two kids." "I never heard." " He never told about the money?" " No." "What do you figure he done with it?" "He took the secret with him when I dropped him." "That you, Bart?" "Supper's waitin'." "Mother, sometimes I think it might be better if I was to quit my job as guard." "You're always this way after a hanging." "You never have to be there." "Sometimes I wish I was back in the mine." "And leave me a widow after another blast like the one in '24?" "Not on your lif e, old mister." "Hing, hang, hung See what the hangman done" "Hing, hang, hing, hang Hing, hang, hung" "See what the hangman done" "Hung, hang, hing See the robber swing" "Hing, hang, hing, hang Hing, hang, hing, hang" "Hing, hang, hung Now my song is done" "Hing, hang, hung See what the hangman done" "Hung, hang, hing See the robber swing" "Are you going to buy it, John?" "Oh, so your mommy's keeping you out of school these days." "How is your poor, poor mother?" "She's at Spoon's Ice Cream Parlor." "Did they ever find out what your father done with all that money he stole?" "Pearl and me, we have to go." " You better not sing that song." " Why?" "'Cause you're too little." "Can we get some candy?" "Willa Harper, there are certain plain facts of lif e that adds up... just like two plus two makes four, and one of them is this" "No woman is able to raise growing youngsters alone." "The Lord meant that job for two." "Icey, I just don't want a husband." "It ain't a question of wanting or not wanting." "You're no spring chicken." "You're a grown woman with two children." "It's a man you need in the house, Willa Harper." "Tell me a story, John." "Well, once upon a time... there was a rich king who had himself a son and a daughter." "They all lived in a castle over in Africa." "And one day, this king got taken away by some bad men." "And before he got took off... he told his son to kill anyone who tried to steal his gold." "And before long, the bad men came back and" "Leaning" "Just a man." "Good night, Pearl." "Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite." "Good night, Miss Jenny." "Don't let the bedbugs bite." "Leaning" "Leaning on the everlasting Arm" "She don't put in here no more, but she still blows as she passes." "Come on in and have a cup of coff ee, boy." "Ain't nobody stole Dad's skiff." "Ain't nobody gonna, neither, long as Uncle Birdie's around." "First day my joints is limbering' up, I'll go and give her a good caulkin'." "Ain't seen ya in a coon's age, boy." " I've been minding' Pearl." " Shucks, ain't it a caution... what a woman will load onto a man's back when he ain't lookin'?" "Excuse me, Cap, while I sweeten' my coff ee." "Dead and gone these 25 years, and never takes her eyes off me." "A man of my years needs a little snort in the mornin', heat the boilers." "Yeah." "I was talkin' to this stranger up at the boarding' house." " He knowed your dad." " Where did he know Dad?" "I'll not hide it from you, boy." "He knowed in the Moundsville Penitentiary." " I gotta go now, Uncle Birdie." " Well, you just got here, boy." "I told Mom I'd be back to Spoon's for Pearl." "God works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform." "Yes, I was with Brother Harper right up to the end." "Now that I'm no longer employed by the penitentiary... it is my joy to bring this small comfort to his loved ones." "It's a mighty good man would go out of his way... to bring a word of cheer to a grieving' widow." " So you ain't with the state no more?" " No, brother, I resigned yesterday." "The heartrending' spectacle of them poor men was just too much for me." "Ah, little lad, you're starin' at my fingers." "Would you like me to tell you the little story of "Right Hand, Left Hand--"" "the story of good and evil?" ""H-A-T-E."" "It was with this left hand that old Brother Cain... struck the blow that laid his brother low." ""L-O-V-E." You see these fingers, dear hearts?" "These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man." "The right hand, friends." "The hand of love." "Now watch, and I'll show you the story of lif e." "These fingers is always a-warrin' and a-tuggin' one again' the other." "Now watch 'em." "Old Brother Left Hand." "Left Hand hates a-fightin'." "It looks like Love's a goner." "But wait a minute." "Wait a minute!" "Love's a-winnin'." "Yes, sirree." "It's Love that won... and old Left Hand Hate is down for the count!" "I never heard it better told." "I wish every soul in this community could get the benefit." "Oh, you've just got to stay for our picnic Sunday." "No, I must wend my way downriver on the Lord's business." "You ain't leaving' in no hurry if we can help it." "John, mind your manners." "Take that look off your face." "Act nice." "Why, he don't mean no impudence, do you, boy?" "Do you, boy?" "Many's the time poor Brother Ben told me about these young 'uns." "What'd he tell you?" "Why, he told me what fine little lambs you and your sister both was." "Is that all?" "Why, no, boy." "He told me lots and lots of things." " Nice things, boy." " Thank you." "My, that fudge smells yummy." "It's for the picnic." "And you don't get a smidgen of my fudge unless you stay for the picnic." "Bringing in the sheaves Bringing in the sheaves" "We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves" "Sowing in the morning Sowing seeds of kindness" "Sowing in the noontime and the dewy eve" "Waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping" "We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves" "Bringing in the sheaves Bringing in the sheaves" "We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves" "Bringing in the sheaves Bringing in the sheaves" "We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves" "Don't he have the grandest singing' voice?" "John, Pearl, run along and play, you two." " Where?" " Down by the river." "My goodness!" "That f ella's just achin' to settle down with some nice woman... and make a home for himself." "Icey, it's awful soon after Ben's passing." " If ever I saw a sign from heaven." " John don't like him much." " Pearl dotes on him." " The boy worries me." "I know it's silly, but it's like there's something still between him and his dad." "What he needs is a dose of sauce." " No, there's somethin' else." " What?" " The money." " I declare, Willa Harper... you'll let that money haunt you to your grave." "Icey, I would love to be satisfied... that Harry Powell don't think I got that money hid somewhere." "You come right out and ask that man of God." "Mr. Powell!" "Clear that evil mud out of your soul." "John!" "Pearl!" "Come along here, get some fudge." " I don't want no fudge." " You do what you're told!" " You go sit down by the river." " Oh, Icey, I'm a sight." "Get along with you." "You!" "That young lady better look sharp, or some smart sister... is gonna snap him up right from under her nose." "She's not the only fish in the river." "Now, you two stay put." "Shilly-shallying around." "A husband's one piece of store goods you never know... till you get it home and take the paper off." "Did Ben Harper ever tell you what he done with the money he stole?" "My dear child, don't you know?" "She's moaning' about Ben Harper." "That wasn't love." "That was just flapdoodle." "Have some fudge, lambs." "When you've been married to a man for 40 years... you know all that don't amount to a hill of beans." "I've been married to my Walt that long, and I swear in all that time..." "I just lie there thinkin' about my canning." "A woman's a fool to marry for that." "That's somethin' for a man." "The Good Lord never meant for a decent woman to want that." "Not really want it." "It's all just a fake and a pipe dream." "John, Mr. Powell has something to tell you." "Well, John, the night before your father died... he told me what he did with that money." "That money's at the bottom of the river... wrapped around a 12-pound cobblestone." "Thank you, Harry." "I f eel clean now." "My whole body's just a-quiverin' with cleanness." "John, come here." "Your tie is crooked." "Along the river shore" "Birdie Steptoe was a pilot" "In the good ol' days of yore" "Now he sets in his ol' wharf boat" "All the big boats heave a sigh" " When will Dad's skiff be ready?" " Can't hear you, boy." "They blow for Uncle Birdie and" "The times that ere gone by" "When will the skiff be ready?" "Have her ready inside a week, and then we'll go fishin'." " How's your ma?" " Oh, she's all right." " How's your sister Pearl?" " Just fine." " You leavin', boy?" " Yep." "Gotta watch out for Pearl." "Well, good night, boy." "Come again anytime." "And mind, boy, I'll have your pa's skiff shipshape inside a week." "Is somebody there?" "Anybody there?" "Anybody here?" "Good evenin', John." "I had a little talk with your mother tonight, John... and your mother decided it might be best for me to let you know the news." "Your mother told me she wanted me to be a daddy to you and your sister." "We're gonna get married, boy." "Did you hear what I said, boy?" "Married." "We're going to Sisterville tomorrow, and when we get back" "You ain't my dad." "You'll never be my dad." "When we get back, we're all going to be friends... and share our fortunes together, John." "You think you can make me tell, but I won't, I won't, I won't!" " Tell me what, boy?" " Nothin'." "We're not keeping secrets from each other, are we, little lad?" "Well, no matter." "We've got a long time together, boy." "Raise your hand!" "Great sakes!" "Now you wait here while I get your night things." " Now can I tell?" " Hmm?" "Mr. Powell's our daddy now." "Can I tell him about" " You swore, Pearl." " John, don't." "You promised Dad you wouldn't tell." "I love Mr. Powell lots and lots, John." "Men." "Fix that window shade." "I was praying." "I'm sorry." "I didn't know." "I thought" "You thought, Willa, that the moment you walked in that door..." "I'd start to pawing' you in that abominable way... that men are supposed to do on their wedding' night." "Ain't that right?" "I think it's time we made on thing perf ectly clear, Willa." "Marriage, to me, represents a blending of two spirits in the sight of heaven." "Get up, Willa." " Harry, what" " Get up." "Now go look at yourself yonder in that mirror." "Do as I say." "Look at yourself." "What do you see, girl?" "You see the body of a woman, a temple of creation and motherhood." "You see the flesh of Eve that man since Adam has profaned." "That body was meant for begetting' children." "It was not meant for the lust of men." "Do you want more children, Willa?" "It's the business of this marriage to mind those two you have now... not to beget more." "Yes." "All right, you can get in bed now and stop shivering'." "Help me to get clean... so I can be what Harry wants me to be." "Meanest, orneriest, sneakiest critter in the whole river, boy." "The gar." " Here's your can of hooks." " P'shaw, boy." "Ain't a hook in the land strong enough to land Mr. Gar." "What a f ellow needs is a mother wit and a horsehair." "Golly, won't it bust it, Uncle Birdie?" "No, horsehair'll hold a lumping' whale." " You mind my cussing', boy?" " No." "Well, the reason I ask-- Your step-pa bein' a preacher and all." "Never was much of a one for preaching' myself." "I don't know what's wrong up at your house... but always remember, cap... if you're ever in trouble, holler and come a-runnin'." "Uncle Birdie's your friend." "There!" "You slimy, snag-toothed, bait-stealin' so-and-so!" "Amen!" "You have all sinned!" "Which one of you can say, as I can say... that you drove a good man to murder?" "Because I kept a-houndin' him... for perfume and clothes and face paint." "And he slew two human beings... and he come to me and he said..." ""Take this money and buy yourself the clothes and the paint."" "But brethren, brethren... that's where the Lord stepped in." "Yes!" "He said, the Lord to that man..." ""You take that money and you throw it in the river."" " In the river!" " In the river!" "Now, you're John and you're Pearl." "You'll get awful mad, John." "I done a sin." "I didn't tell no one." "It's all here." " Oh, yes?" " What are you doing, boy?" " Gettin' Pearl to bed." " What's takin' you so long about it?" "Nothing." " What's that you're playin' with?" " Pearl's junk." "Mom gets mad when she plays out here and don't put it away." "Come on, children." "Off to bed with the both of you." "Come here, John." "Your mother tells me you tattled on me." "She said you told her I asked where that money was hid." "That wasn't very nice, boy." " Have a heart." " Yeah." "Well, it doesn't matter." "It's your word against mine." "It's me your mother believes." "Were you impudent again to Mr. Powell, John?" "Mom, I didn't mean it." "What were you impudent about?" "He asked me about the money again, Mom." "John, you always make up that lie." "There is no money." "Why can't you get that through your head?" "That boy's as stubborn and as mulish as a sheep." " It's a shame." " Good night, Icey." " Good night, honey." " Good night, Walt." "Good night, Willa." "Plan on a longer visit next time." "You hardly get settled before you're fretting' to get home again." "I'm needed to keep peace and harmony betwixt them." "It's my burden, and I'm proud of it, Icey." " Where is the money hid?" " I don't know." "She thinks that money's at the bottom of the river." "But you and me, we know better, don't we, little lad?" "I don't know nothin'." "Well, never mind, boy." "Summer's young yet." "Come here." "John's a f ellow that likes to keep secrets." " I'll tell you a secret." " Yes?" "I knowed your daddy." "And do you know what your daddy told me?" "He said, "You tell my little girl Pearl... that there's to be no secrets between her and you."" " Yes." " All right, now it's your turn." "What secret shall I tell?" "Oh, uh, what's your name?" "You're just foolin'." "My name's Pearl." "Well, I reckon I'll have to try again." "Where's the money hid?" "Pearl, you swore you wouldn't tell!" "You swore!" "You swore!" "You hit Daddy with a hairbrush." "Now, you see, we just can't have anything to do with John." "You and me'll go on down to the parlor, Pearl." "John is just plumb bad, through and through." " John's bad." " Yes, John's bad." "Tell me another secret about my dad." "Oh, no." "Your turn." "Well, like, what secret shall I tell?" "Where's the money hid?" " John's bad." " Where's the money hid?" "Tell me, you little wretch, or I'll tear your arm off!" " Icey, I'm worried about Willa." " How do you mean?" "Well, I'm figurin' how to say it so as you won't get mad." "Say what, Walt Spoon?" " There's somethin' wrong about it." " About what?" "About Mr. Powell." "All of it." "Now, Mother, a body's got a right to their f eelings." "May the Lord have mercy on you, Walt Spoon." "Mother, I was just" "Amen." " Are you through praying?" " I'm through, Harry." "You were listening outside the parlor window." " It ain't in the river, is it, Harry?" " Answer me!" "Ben never told you he throwed it in the river, did he?" "The children know where it's hid." "John knows." "Is that it, Harry?" "Then it's still here amongst us... tainting us." "You must've known about it all along, Harry." "But that ain't the reason why you married me." "I know that much." "Because the Lord just wouldn't let it be." "He made you marry me... so you could show me the way and the lif e... and the salvation of my soul." "Ain't that so, Harry." "So you might say that it was the money that brung us together." "The rest of it don't matter." "Walt, come quick!" " What's wrong, Mother?" " Shhh!" "He's in there." " Who?" " Mr. Powell." "Willa has run away." "Just went?" "She took off some time in the night in that old Model-T." " Oh, is he hit pretty bad?" " All to pieces." "Well, there's a little peach brandy in here" " A man of the cloth?" " Well, just a sip." "Walt Spoon, that's for sickness in the house!" "What can we do, Mother?" "I thought if you went and talked to him." "Now, Mother, please." "I'm no good" " Mr. Powell." " A strange woman is a narrow pit." "She lieth in wait as for pray and increaseth the transgressors among men." "My dear, dear friends, whatever would I do without you?" " Mr. Powell." " Well, if there's anything" "No, it's my shame, my crown of thorns." "I must wear it bravely." " What could have possessed that girl?" " Satan." "Didn't you have no inkling?" "Yes I did, from the very first night." " First night?" " Our honeymoon." "How's that?" "She turned me out of the bed." "No!" "Well, what do you figure to do?" "Do?" "Why, just stay right here and take care of them kids." "Maybe it was never meant for a woman like Willa to taint their young lives." "That's mighty brave of you, preacher." "Oh, I reckon it was just ordained that way, Brother Spoon." "Didn't she leave no word?" "A scrawl, on a notepaper on the bureau." "I burned it." "Tore it up and burned it, it stank so strong of hellfire." "Amen!" "The pitcher has went to the well once too often, friends." "Oh, she'll come dragging' her tail back home." "She'll not be back." "I reckon I'm saf e in promising' you that." " Maybe she just run offon a spree." " Oh, no." " Well, there's no harm in hoping." " Ain't no sense in it, neither." "I figured something' like that was brewin' when she went to bed last night." "How?" "Well, she tarried around in the kitchen after I'd gone up." " When I went to see what was wrong" " What?" "Well, she'd found this jar of dandelion wine... that the husband, that Harper, had hid somewhere in the cellar." "She was drinkin'." " I tried to save her." " I know you did, Mr. Powell." "I know how hard you tried." "But the Devil wins sometimes." "Can't nobody say I didn't do my best to save her." "Leaning" "Saf e and secure from all alarm" "Leaning" "Leaning on the everlasting Arm" "Children!" "Careful." "Why do we have to hide, John?" " Where's Mom?" " She's gone to Moundsville." " To see Dad?" " Yes, I reckon that's it." "Now, listen to me, Pearl." "You and me is runnin' off tonight." "Why?" "If we stay here, somethin' awful will happen to us." " Won't Daddy Powell take care of us?" " No." "That's just it." "No." " Where are we going, John?" " Somewhere." "I don't know yet." " I'm hungry, John." " We'll steal something to eat." "It'll spoil our supper." "I can hear you whisperin', children, so I know you're down there." "I can f eel myself gettin' awful mad." "I'm out of patience, children." "I'm coming to find you now." "Yoo-hoo!" "Mr. Powell!" " Well, well, Mrs. Spoon." " Where are the children?" "They're down there in that cellar playin' games." "They won't mind me when I call them." "I'm at my wit's end, Mrs. Spoon." "Shake a leg!" "Well, well, well." "What's that?" "Just a little hot supper I fixed for you and the children." "It seemed the least we could do." "I won't have you worryin' poor Mr. Powell another minute." "Just look at you." "Dust and filth from top to toe." "Want me to take 'em up and wash 'em good?" "No, thank you, dear Icey." "Thank you." "I'll tend to them." "Don't be too hard on them, preacher." "Poor, motherless children." "Remember now, Mr. Powell, don't be afraid to call on us." "Good-bye, Mrs. Spoon, and thanks again." "Now, weren't you afraid, little lambs, down there in all that dark?" "They'll think it was me." "They'll think it was poor old Uncle Birdie." "Oh, if you could've seen her, Bess." "Down there in the deep place... with her hair waving' soft and lazy... like meadow grass under floodwater." "And that slit in her throat... like she had an extra mouth." "You're the only human mortal I can go to, Bess." "If I go to the law, they'll hang it on me." "Sweet heaven, save poor old Uncle Birdie." " I'm hungry." " Sure." "And there's fried chicken, sweet potatoes, corn bread and apple cobbler." " Can I have my supper, please?" " Naturally." " Can I have milk too?" " Mm-hmm." "But first we'll have a little talk about our secrets." " No." " And why not, pray tell?" " 'Cause John said I mustn't." " Never mind what John said!" "John's a meddler." "Now, stop that sniveling'." "Here." "Do you know what that is?" "Want to see something cute?" "Now look." "How about that?" "This is what I use on meddlers." "John might be a meddler." "No!" "No, little lamb, don't touch it." "Don't touch my knif e." "That makes me mad." "It makes me very, very mad." "Now just tell me, where's the money hid?" "But I swore, I promised John I wouldn't tell." "John doesn't matter!" "Can't I get that through your head, you poor, silly disgusting wretch?" "There, now, you made me lose my temper." "I'm sorry." "I'm real sorry." "Just tell me, where's it hid, honey?" " I'll tell." " I told you to keep your mouth shut." "It ain't fair to make Pearl tell when she swore she wouldn't." " I'll tell." " Well, I declare." "Sometimes I think poor old John might make it to heaven yet." "All right, boy, where's the money?" "In the cellar, buried under a stone in the floor." "It'll go hard if I find you're lying, boy." "I'm not lying." "Go look for yourself." "All right." " Come along." " What?" "Go ahead of me, the both of you." "Down those stairs." "You don't reckon I'd leave here, do you, boy?" " Don't you believe me?" " Why, sure, boy." "Sure." "Where, now?" "Mind, no tricks, now." "I can't abide a liar." "Yonder." "Oh, no, you don't." "Now, where, boy?" "Where?" "Under the stone on the floor." " This is concrete!" " John made a sin." "John told a lie." "The Lord's a-talkin' to me now." "He's a-sayin'..." ""A liar is an abomination before Mine eyes."" "Speak, boy." "Where's it hid?" "Speak!" "Speak, or I'll cut your throat and leave you to drip... like a hog hung up in butchering' time." "Pearl, Shut up!" "Pearl, You swore!" "You could save him, little bird." "It's on my doll!" "The doll!" "Why, sure." "Last place anybody'd think to look." "Uncle Birdie Steptoe." "Open that door, you spawn of the devil's own strumpet!" "Uncle Birdie!" "Hide us, Uncle Birdie!" "He's a-comin' with his knif e!" "It's me." "John Harper and Pearl." "You told me to come." "Oh, please!" "Please wake up!" "I swear on the Book, I never done it." "I never" "There's still the river." "The skiff is under the willows." "Children!" "Once upon a time" "There was a pretty fly" "He had a pretty wif e" "This pretty fly" "But one day she flew away" "Flew away" "She had two pretty" "Children" "But one night" "These two pretty children" "Flew away" "Into the sky" "Into the moon" ""Dear Walt and Icey, I bet you've been worried... and gave us up for lost." "Took the kids down here with me for a visit... to my sister Elsie's farm." "Thought a little change of scenery would do us all a world of good... after so much trouble and heartache." "At least the kids will get a-plenty of good home cookin'." "Your devoted Harry Powell."" "Now, ain't you relieved, Walt?" "Sure." "But you was worried too, Mother." "Takin' off with never a word of good-bye." "I got to figuring' maybe them gypsies busted in and done off with all of them." "You and your gypsies." "They've been gone a week." "Sure." "But not before one of them knif ed a farmer and stole his horse." "Never caught the gypsy, nor the horse." "Such times when young 'uns run the roads." "Go away, children." "Hungry, I suppose." "Well, I can't spare you more than one potato apiece." " Where are your folks?" " I ain't got none." "Oh, go away." "Go away." "An ungrateful child is an abomination before the eyes of God." "The world is fast going to damnation... because of impudent young 'uns flying' in the face of age." "I make soup out of them... but I wouldn't know how to go about getting him open." "We're gonna spend the night on land." "Hush, little one" "Hush" "Hush, my little one" "Hush" "Morning soon" "Shall light your pillow" "Birds will sing" "In yonder" "Willow" "Hush, my little one" "Hush" "Are we going home now, John?" "Rest, dearest one" "Rest" "Rest here" "On my breast" "Little child" "With heart so brave" "Angel hosts" "Will keep you saf e" "Rest, my little one" "Rest" "Rest, little one" "Rest" "Leaning" "Saf e and secure" "From all alarm" "Leaning" "Leaning on" "The Everlasting" "Arm" "What a f ellowship" "What a peace is mine" "Leaning on" " The Everlasting Arm" " Don't he never sleep?" "What a blessedness" "What a joy divine" "Pearl!" "Wake up!" "Come on!" "Pearl!" "The Everlasting Arm" "Leaning" "You two youngsters get up to me this instant." "Get on up to my house!" "Mind me, now!" "I'll get me a switch." " Don't you hurt her!" " Hurt her, nothing." "Wash her's more like it." " Ruby!" "Clary!" "Mary!" " Yes, Miss Cooper?" "Bring your baskets." "Nicely picked, Clary." "Mary, put the big ones on top." "Ruby, most of them ain't fit to go to market." "Well, put your baskets down." "Ruby, run to the house... and f etch the tub and put it by the pump." "Clary, Mary, run up and f etch a bar of laundry soap." " Yes, Miss Cooper." " And a scrub brush." "Come on up to the house, children." "Gracious, if you ain't a sight to beat all." "Where are you from?" "Where are your folks?" "Come on." "Speak up, now." "Gracious, so I've got two more mouths to f eed." "Howdy, Miss Cooper." "What happened to our milk supply?" "Price of milk what it is, not on your lif e." "Do better makin' butter with the cream." "Sell it retail." "Make smearcase for the children." "Feed what's left to my hogs." " She talks to herself." " All the time." " Your ma's funny." " She ain't our ma." " We just live at her house." " Where are your folks?" " Someplace." " My daddy's in Detroit." "Good morning, Miss Cooper." "Guess what?" "I'm savin' to buy you a charm bracelet." "Never mind the talk." "Don't forget your visit Sunday." "Come to church with us." "See you Sunday, love." "Take your baskets in, children." "Reminiscent fools." "All of 'em." "Look there." "She'll be losing her mind to a tricky mouth and a full moon... and like as not, I'll be saddled with the consequences." "Here's what you owe me." "One, two, three, four, five." "Where's the other basket?" "Where's Ruby?" " She went." " John, you go find Ruby." "Big Ruby's my bothersome girl." "She can't gather eggs without busting' 'em... but she's got mother hands with a young 'un, so what are you to say?" "How about tonight, Ruby?" " What gives?" " The old lady's around." "How about Thursday?" "The old gal thinks she comes in for sewing lessons on Thursday." "Miss Cooper wants you." "And will you show me your dolly, little lady?" " I see you got two more to your brood." " Yeah..." " and ornerier than the rest." " How's your own boy, Miss Cooper?" "Haven't heard from Ralph since Christmas." "Don't matter, though." "I've got a new crop." "I'm a strong tree with branches for many birds." "I'm good for something in this world, and I know it too." "Now, old Pharaoh... he was king of Egypt-land." "And he had a daughter." "And once upon a time... she was walkin' along by the riverbank, and she seen somethin'... bumpin' and scraping' along on a sandbar... down under the willows." " And you know what it was, children?" " No." "Now, it was a skiff washed up on the bar." " And who do you reckon was in it?" " Pearl and John." "Not this time." "There was only one young 'un-- a little boy babe." " And you know who he was, children?" " No." "It was Moses, a king of men." "Moses, children." "Now, off to bed with you." "John, get me an apple." "And get one for yourself too." "John, where are your folks?" " Dead." " Dead." "Where you from?" "Upriver." "Didn't figure you'd rode that skiff all the way up from Parkersburg." "Tell me that story again." "Story?" "What story, honey?" "About them kings." "And the queen found down on the sandbar that time in the skiff." "Kings?" "Why, there was only one king, honey." "I mind you said there was two." "Well, shoot, now." "Maybe there was." "Yes, come to think of it, there was two." "Must be Thursday." "Here comes Ruby." "Here I go." "Why, you're Ruby, ain't you, my child?" " Can I have this?" " Surely." " I'd like to talk to you, my dear." " Will you buy me an ice cream?" " Of course." " Watch out, Preacher." " Why, Preacher!" " Shut your dirty mouths." "Ain't I pretty?" "You're the prettiest thing I've seen... in all my wanderin'." "Ain't nobody ever told you that, Ruby?" "No one never did." "There's two new ones out at your place, ain't there?" "Uh-huh." " What's their names?" " Pearl and John." " Is there a doll?" " Only they never let me play with it." "Did you ever see such pretty eyes in all your born days?" " Don't let him get away, sugar." " He ain't like you all." "Next time I won't even ask him to buy me an ice cream." "I's been bad." "Ruby, you didn't have money to buy this." " You'll whip me." " When did I ever?" " This man at the drugstore, he gave" " The drugstore?" "Miss Cooper, I never been to sewing lessons all them times." "What you been up to, Ruby?" "I've been out with men." "Child." "You were looking for love, Ruby, in the only foolish way you knew how." "We all need love, Ruby." "I lost the love of my son." "I found it with you all." "You're gonna grow up to be a strong, fine woman... and I'm gonna see that you do." "The gentleman weren't like them." "He just give me a book and buy me ice cream." " Now, who was this?" " He didn't ask me for nothin'." " What did you talk about?" " Pearl and John." "John and Pearl?" "Is he their pap?" "I don't know." "Wonder why he hasn't been to the house." " Miss Cooper!" "Miss Cooper!" " What?" "The man!" "The man!" "Good mornin', ladies." " How do?" " Why, you're Miss Cooper, I take it." "It's about that John and that Pearl?" "Oh, them poor little lambs." "To think I never hoped to see them again in this world." "Oh, dear madam, if you was to know... what a crown of thorns I've borne in my search for them strayed chicks." "Ruby, go f etch them kids." "Oh, madam, I see you're looking at my hands." "Would you like me to tell you a story... of left hand and right hand, the tale of good and evil?" "It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow..." " that laid his brother low." " Them kids is yours?" " My own flesh and blood." " Where's your missus?" "She run off with a drummer during prayer meeting." " Where's she at?" " Down the river somewheres." "Parkersburg or Cincinnati-- one of them Sodoms of the Ohio River." "She took them kids with her?" "Heaven only knows what unholy sights and sounds... them innocent little babes has heard... in the dens of perdition where she dragged 'em." "Right funny, ain't it, how they rode all the way upriver in a ten-foot boat?" " Are they well, Miss Cooper?" " A sight better than they was." "Gracious, gracious, you are a good woman, Miss Cooper." "How you figuring' to raise them two without a woman?" "The Lord will provide." "The Lord is merciful." "Oh, what a day this is." "And there's little John." " What's wrong, John?" " Come to me, boy." " What's wrong, John?" " Didn't you hear me, boy?" "John, when your dad says come, you should mind him." "He ain't my dad." "No, and he ain't no preacher, neither." "Just march yourself yonder to your horse, mister!" "March, mister!" "I'm not foolin'!" "All right, but you haven't heard the last of Harry Powell yet." "The Lord God Jehovah will guide my hand in vengeance!" "You devils!" "You whores of Babylon!" "I'll be back when it's dark." "Leaning" "Saf e and secure" "From all alarms" "Leaning" "Leaning on" "The Everlasting Arms" "What a f ellowship" "What a joy divine" "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" "What a blessedness" "What a peace is mine" "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" " Leaning on Jesus" " Leaning" "Saf e and secure from all" "Alarms" " Leaning on Jesus" " Leaning" "Leaning on" "The Everlasting Arms" "Shame on you, Ruby, mooning around the house after that mad dog of a man." "Merciful heavens!" "Ruby, go get the children out of bed and bring them down here." "Women is such durn fools." "It's a hard world for little things." "Now, there was this sneaking no-account, ornery King Herod." "And when he heard tell of little Jesus growing' up, he figured..." ""Well, shoot." "There won't be no room for the both of us." "I'll just nip this in the bud."" "But he wasn't sure which of all those babies in the land was King Jesus." "So that cruel old King Herod figured... if he killed all the babies in the land, he'd be sure and get little Jesus." "And when little King Jesus' ma and pa heard about this plan..." " what do you reckon they went and done?" " They hid in a broom closet." " They hid under the porch." " No." "They went a-runnin'." "Well, now, John, you're right." "That's just what they done." "Little King Jesus' ma and pa saddled a mule... and they rode all the way down into Egypt-land." "Yeah." "And that's where the queen found them in the billy rushes." "Oh, no." "That wasn't the same story at all." "That was little King Moses." "But just the same, it did seem like it was plague time for little ones." "Them olden days." "Them hard, hard times." "Figured I was gone, huh?" "Run!" "Hide in the staircase!" "Run quick!" "Ruby, get!" " What do you want?" " I want them kids." " What do you want them for?" " That's none of your business, madam." "I'm givin' you till the count of three to get out of here, then I'm shootin'!" "Miss Booher?" "Rachel Cooper." "Get your state troopers out to my place." "I got something trapped in my barn." " I'll go see to Pearl." " I'll make coff ee." "She's all right." "John, you know, when you're little, you have more endurance... than God is ever to grant you again?" "Children are man at his strongest." "They abide." " Why didn't you call us before now?" " Didn't want your dirty shoes..." " tracking' up my clean floors." " Is that him, ma'am?" "Yes." "Mind where you shoot, boys." "There are children here." "Harry Powell, you're under arrest for the murder of Willa Harper." "Drop that knif e." "Don't!" "Here, here, take it back!" "Take it back!" "I don't want it, Dad!" "It's too much!" "Here!" "Lynch him!" " Bluebeard!" " Twenty-five wives!" "And he killed them all!" " If the people of Marshall County" " Bluebeard!" "Will you identify the prisoner?" "Please, little lad, won't you look yonder and tell the court... if that is the man that killed your mother?" "It's all right, Mrs. Cooper." "You can take the little f ellow away." "Merry Christmas to you and yours, Mrs. Cooper." "And what's Santa Claus going to bring you for Christmas, little man?" "Bluebeard!" " There's Pearl!" " Get your coats." "Them's her orphans!" " Where's Ruby?" " She went." "Them poor little lambs!" "Them is the ones he sinned against, my friends!" "Go out the back door!" "Ain't we goin' to the bus depot?" "Draggin' the name of the Lord through the evil mud of his soul!" " String that Bluebeard up to a post!" " He's Satan hiding behind the cross!" "Come on!" "I love him." "You think he's like them others." "You were so mad, you shot him!" " Hey, Bart." " Yeah?" " We're savin' this bird up for you." " This time it'll be a privilege." "I'm glad they didn't send me nothin'." "Whenever they do, it's nothin' I want... but just somethin' to show me how fancy and smart they've come up in the world." " Can we give you your presents now?" " Shoot." "You don't mean to say you got me a present." "Shoot, now." "A potholder." "And it's much neater than last year, Ruby." "Another potholder!" "Now, ain't that thoughtful." "I'm always burning my hands." "This doesn't look basted." "This looks made!" "And you finished the edge with a chain-stitch." "Oh, that's just dandy, Clary." "Another potholder?" "Oh, now, did you two make this together?" "You helped us some." "That's the richest gift a body could have." "And your presents are in the cupboard under the china closet." "This is yours." "Lord, save little children." "You'd think the world would be ashamed to name such a day as Christmas... for one of them and then go on in the same old way." "My soul is humbled when I see the way little ones accept their lot." "Lord, save little children." "The wind blows, and the rains are cold." "Yet they abide." "That watch is sure a fine, loud ticker." "Be nice to have someone around the house who can give me the right time of day." "This watch is the nicest watch I ever had." "Well, a fellow can't just go around with run-down, busted watches." "They abide and they endure."