"(CLANKING)" " MAN:" "Po' Lazarus." "(CLANKING CONTINUES)" "MEN: (SINGING) Well, the high sheriff" "He told the deputy" "Won't you go out and bring me Lazarus" "Well, the high sheriff" "He told the deputy" "Won't you go out and bring me Lazarus" "Bring him dead or alive" "O Lord" "Bring him dead or alive" "Well, the deputy" "He told the high sheriff" "Well, I ain't gonna mess with Lazarus" "Well, the deputy told the high sheriff" "Said I ain't gonna mess with Lazarus" "GUARD 1:" "Pick up that hammer there, boy." "PRISONER:" "Thank you, boss." "He's a dangerous man" "Oh, Lord" "He's a dangerous man" "GUARD 2:" "Come on, get it." "Let's go." "(MAN HUMMING)" "(DOGS BARKING)" "(TRAIN CHUGGING)" "(PANTING)" "EVERETT:" "Say, any of you boys smithies?" "(GRUNTING)" "Or if not smithies, per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts" "before straitened circumstances..." "(SCREAMS) ...forced you into a life of aimless wandering'?" "Jesus!" "Can't I count on you people?" "Sorry, Everett." "Well, all right." " If we take off through that bayou..." "PETE:" "Wait a minute." "Who elected you leader of this outfit?" "Well, Pete, I figured it should be the one with the capacity for abstract thought." "But if that ain't the consensus view, then hell, let's put her to a vote." "Suits me." "I'm votin' for yours truly." "I'm votin' for yours truly, too." "Okay, I'm with you fellas." "(DOGS BARKING)" "(SQUEAKING)" "EVERETT:" "Mind if we join you, old-timer?" "Join me, my sons." "Join me." "DELMAR:" "You work for the railroad, Grandpa?" "I work for no man." "PETE:" "Got a name, do ya?" "I have no name." "Well, that right there may be the reason you've had difficulty finding' gainful employment." "You see, in the mart of competitive commerce..." "You seek a great fortune, you three who are nigh in chains." "You will find a fortune, though it will not be the fortune you seek." "But first, first, you must travel a long and difficult road." "A road fraught with peril, mmm-hmm." "You shall see things wonderful to tell." "You shall see a cow on the roof of a cotton house. (LAUGHS)" "And, oh, so many startlements." "I cannot tell you how long this road shall be, but fear not the obstacles in your path, for fate has vouchsafed your reward." "Though the road may wind, and yea, your hearts grow weary, still shall ye follow the road, even unto your salvation." "EVERETT: (CHUCKLING) The treasure's still there, boys." "Believe me." "DELMAR:" "But how'd he know about the treasure?" "I don't know, Delmar." "The blind are reputed to possess sensitivities compensating' for their lack of sight, even to the point of developin' paranormal psychic powers." "Now, clearly, seeing in the future would fall neatly into that category." "It's not so surprising then that an organism deprived of its earthly vision..." "He said we wouldn't get the treasure we seek on account of our obstacles." "What the hell does he know?" "He's an ignorant old man." "Jesus, Pete." "I told ya I buried it myself." "If your cousin still has this here horse farm, and a forge and some shoeing' impediments to restore our liberty of movement... (GUN FIRES)" "Hold it right there!" " You men from the bank?" "PETE:" "You Wash's boy?" "Yes, sir." "Daddy told me I'm to shoot whoever's from the bank." "DELMAR:" "Well, we ain't from the bank, young feller." "Yes, sir." "I'm also supposed to shoot folks serving' papers." "DELMAR:" "We ain't got no papers neither." "I nicked the census man." "DELMAR:" "Now, there's a good boy." "Is your daddy about?" "Hello, Pete." "Who are your friends?" "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Hogwallop." " My name's Ulysses Everett McGill." "And I'm Delmar O'Donnell." "How you been, Wash?" "Been what, 12, 13 years?" "Yep, (SNIFFS)" "I expect you want them chains knocked off." "WASH:" "They foreclosed on Cousin Vester." "He hanged himself a year come May." "PETE:" "And Uncle Ratliff?" "The anthrax took most of his cows." "The rest don't milk." "And he lost a boy to mumps." "Where's Cora, Cousin Wash?" "Couldn't say." "Mrs Hogwallop up and" "R-U-N-N-O-F-T." "She must've been lookin' for answers." "Possibly." "Good riddance, as far as I'm concerned." "I do miss her cookin' though." " This stew's awful good." "WASH:" "You think so?" "I slaughtered this horse last Tuesday." "I'm afraid she's startin' to turn." "MAN: (SINGING ON RADIO) You are my sunshine" "My only sunshine" "You make me happy when skies are grey" "You'll never know, dear how much I love you" "Please don't take my sunshine away" "PAPPY ON RADIO:" "Well, that winds up tonight's" "Pass the Biscuits Pappy O'Daniel Flour Hour." "This is Pappy O'Daniel, hopin' you folks been enjoyin' that good, old-timey music." "And remember, when you're fixin' to fry up some flapjacks or bake a mess of biscuits, use cool, clear water and good, pure Pappy O'Daniel flour." "Well, guess I'll be turnin' in." "Say, Cousin Wash," "I suppose it'd be the acme of foolishness to inquire if you had a hairnet." "Got a bunch in yon bureau." "Mrs Hogwallop's, matter of fact." "Help yourself." "I won't be needin' them." "(DOG BARKING)" "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "All right, boys!" " How's my hair?" "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "It's the authorities!" "We got ya surrounded!" "Damn!" "We're in a tight spot!" "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "Just come on out a-grabbin' air!" "And don't try nothin' fancy!" "Your situation is purt nigh hopeless!" "Damn!" "We're in a tight spot!" "DELMARI What in the Sam Hill..." "Pete's cousin turned us in for the bounty." "PETE:" "The hell you say!" " Wash is kin!" "WASH:" "Sorry, Pete!" "I know we're kin, but they got this Depression on." "I got to do for me and mine." "I'm gonna kill you, Judas Iscariot Hogwallop!" " You miserable, horse-eatin', son of a..." "(TOMMY GUN FIRING)" "Damn!" "We're in a tight spot!" "Damn his eyes!" "Pa always said, "Never trust a Hogwallop"." "Come and get us, coppers!" "You boys are leavin' us no choice but to smoke you out!" "EVERETT:" "Damn!" "We're in a tight spot." "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "Light 'er up!" "EVERETT:" "Hold up, boys!" "Ain't you never heard of negotiating'?" "Maybe we can talk this out!" "I hate fire!" "PETE:" "You lousy, low-down, yellow-bellied skunks!" "We gotta speak with one voice, here." "Careful with that fire, now, boys!" "(TOMMY GUN FIRING)" "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "That's enough, sir." "(SCREAMS)" "EVERETT:" "I hate fire!" "Gapped-toothed, carpetbaggin', motherless spawn of hell!" "Holy Saint Christopher!" "Get away from that vehicle, chaps!" "She's lickin' fire!" "(BULLETS EXPLODING)" "Take cover, boys!" "That ain't popcorn!" "(HORN HONKING)" "Scatter, boys!" "Get in, boys." "I'm gonna R-U-N-N-O-F-T." " Come on, boss!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "(PIG SQUEALING)" "PETE:" "What are you doin' here?" "You oughta be in bed, crumbsnatcher." "You ain't the boss of me!" "(ALL SCREAMING)" "You candy-butted, car-thievin' so-and-sos!" "I curse yer names!" "Go back home and mind your pa." "What's the damn problem?" "I can get the part from Bristol." "It'll take two weeks." " Here's your pomade." "EVERETT:" "Two weeks?" " That don't do me no good." "Nearest Ford auto man's Bristol." "Hold on, now." "I don't want this pomade." "I want Dapper Dan." "I don't carry Dapper Dan." "I carry Fop." "Well, I don't want Fop, God damn it!" "I'm a Dapper Dan man." "Watch your language, young fella." "This is a public market." "Now, if you want Dapper Dan, I can order it for you, have it in a couple of weeks." "Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity." "Two weeks from everywhere." "Forget it." "A dozen hairnets." "Well, it didn't look like a one-horse town." " But try finding a decent hairjelly." "Gopher, Everett?" "And no transmission belt for two weeks neither." "They dam that river on the 21 st." " Today's the 17th." "Don't I know it." "We got but four days to get to that treasure." "After that, it'll be at the bottom of a lake." "We ain't gonna make it walkin'." " EVERETT:" "That's right." "Gopher, Everett?" "But the old tactician's got a plan." "For the transportation, that is." "I don't know how I'm gonna keep my coiffure in order." "How's this a plan?" "How we gonna get a car?" "Sell that." "I figure it can only have painful association for Wash." ""To Washington Bartholomew Hogwallop," ""from his lovin' Cora"." "(READING IN LATIN)" "EVERETT: it was in his bureau." "I reckon it'll fetch us enough cash for a good used autovoiture and a little left over besides." "H00!" "You got some light fingers, Everett." "Gopher?" "You miserable, little sneak." "You stole from my kin!" " Who was fixin' to betray us." "You didn't know that at the time!" "So I borrowed it till I did know." "That don't make no sense!" "Pete, it's a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart." "(PEOPLE SINGING)" "What the hell is that singing?" "Appears to be some kind of a congregation." "Care for some gopher?" "No, thank you, Delmar." "A third of a gopher would only arouse my appetite without bedding' her back down." "You can have the whole thing." "Me and Pete already had one." "We ran across a whole gopher village." "ALL: (SINGING) O brothers, let's go down" "Let's go down." "Come on down" "Come on, brothers, let's go down" "Down in the river to pray" "As I went down in the river to pray" "Studying about that good old way" "And who shall wear the starry crown" "Good Lord, show me the way" "O fathers, let's go down" "Let's go down." "Come on down" "O fathers, let's go down" "Down in the river to pray" "As I went down in the river to pray" "Studying about that good old way" "And who shall wear the robe and crown" "Good Lord, show me the way" "O mothers, let's go down" "Come on down." "Don't you wanna go down?" "Come on, mothers, let's go down" "Well, I guess hard times flush the chumps." "Everybody's lookin' for answers." "There's always... (SINGING CONTINUES)" "Where the hell's he goin'?" "Thank you." "Well, I'll be a son of a bitch." "Delmar's been saved." "Well, that's it, boys." "I've been redeemed." "The preacher done washed away all my sins and transgressions." "It's the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting's my reward." "Delmar, what are you talkin' about?" "We got bigger fish to fry." "The preacher said all my sins is washed away, includin' that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo." "I thought you said you was innocent of those charges." "Well, I was lyin'." "And the preacher said that that sin's been washed away, too." "Neither God nor man's got nothin' on me now." "Come on in, boys." "The water is fine." "OFFICER:" "Come on, boy." "That a boy." "Good dog." "We got the scent!" "The preacher said it absolved us." "For him, not for the law." "I'm surprised at you, Pete." "I gave you credit for more brains than Delmar." "But there was witnesses seen us redeemed." "That's not the issue, Delmar." "Even if it did put you square with the Lord, the State of Mississippi's a little more hard-nosed." "You should've joined us, Everett." "It couldn't have hurt none." "Hell, at least it would've washed away the stink of that pomade." "Join you two ignorant fools in a ridiculous superstition?" "Thank you, anyway." "And I like the smell of my hair treatment." "The pleasing' odour's half the point." "Baptism. (LAUGHING)" "You two are just dumber than a bag of hammers." "Well, I guess you're just my cross to bear." "Pull over, Everett." "Let's give that coloured boy a lift." "You folks goin' past Tishomingo?" "Sure." "Hop in." "How ya doin', son?" "Name's Everett." "These two soggy sons of bitches are Pete and Delmar." "Keep your fingers away from Pete's mouth." "He ain't had nothin' to eat for 13 years, except prison food, gopher and a little greasy horse." "Thanks for the lift, sir." "My name's Tommy." "Tommy Johnson." "How ya doin', Tommy?" "Say, I haven't seen a house out here for miles." "What are you doin' out in the middle of nowhere?" "Well, I had to be at that there crossroads last midnight to sell my soul to the devil." "Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking'?" "Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved." "I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated." "DELMAR:" "This ain't no laughin' matter, Everett." "What'd the devil give you for your soul, Tommy?" "He taught me to play this here guitar real good." "Oh, son." "For that, you traded your everlasting' soul?" "Well, I wasn't using' it." "I've always wondered..." "What's the devil look like?" "Well, of course, there are all manner of lesser imps and demons, Pete, but the great Satan hisself is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork." "TOMMY:" "Oh, no." "No, sir." "He's white." "He's white as you folks with empty eyes and a big, hollow voice." "He love to travel around with a mean, old hound, that's right." "And he told you to go to Tishomingo?" "Well, no, sir." "Why, that was my idea." "I heard there's a man down there, he pays folks money to sing into his can." "They say he pays extra if'n you play real good." "Tishomingo, huh?" "How much he pay?" "All right, boys, follow my lead." "Hello?" "Who's the honcho around here?" "I am." "Who are you?" "Well, sir, I'm Jordan Rivers, and these here are the Soggy Bottom Boys out of Cottonelia, Mississippi." "Songs of salvation to salve the soul." "We hear that you pay good money to sing into a can." "Well, that all depends." "You boys do negro songs?" "Uh..." "Well, sir, we are negroes, all except for our... (STAMMERING) The fellow that plays the guitar." "Well, I don't record nigger songs." "No, I'm lookin' for some old-timey material." "People can't seem to get enough of it since we started broadcasting' it on the Pappy O'Daniel Flour Hour." "So, thank you for stoppin' by." "Sir, the Soggy Bottom Boys have been steeped in old-timey material." "Heck, we're silly with it, ain't we, boys?" " That's right." "That's right." " We ain't really negroes." "All except for our accompanist." "(TOMMY PLAYING GUITAR)" "(SINGING)!" "Am a man of constant sorrow" "I've seen trouble all my days" "I bid farewell to old Kentucky" "The place where I was born and raised" "The place where he was born and raised" "For six long years" "I've been in trouble" "No pleasure here on earth I found" "For in this world" "I'm bound to ramble" "I have no friends to help me now" "He has no friends to help him now" "Maybe your friends think" "I'm just a stranger" "My face you'll never see no more" "(MUTTERING)" "But there is one promise that is given" "I'll meet you on" "God's golden shore" "He'll meet you on" "God's golden shore" "(WHOOPS)" "Hot damn, son!" "I believe you did sell your soul to the devil!" "(WHOOPING)" "Boys, that was some mighty fine pickin' and a-singin'." "I tell you what." "(CLEARS THROAT) You come on in here, and you sign these papers here," "I'm gonna give ya $10 apiece." "(STAMMERING)" "Okay, sir, but Mert and Aloysius will have to just sign "X's"." "Only four of us can write." "That'll be fine." "(ALL WHOOPING)" "Hey, mister, I don't mean to be tellin' tales out of school, but there's a feller in there who'll pay you $10 if you sing into his can." "I'm not here to make a record, ya dumb cracker." "They broadcast me out on the radio." "That's Governor Menelaus "Pass the Biscuits, Pappy" O'Daniel." "And he'd sure appreciate it if you ate his farina and voted him a second term." "Finest governor we ever had in Mississippi." "MAN:" "In any state." "ECKARD:" "Lord, yes." " Every parish or precinct." "MAN:" "He was makin' the bigger point." "Ain't you gonna press the flesh, Pappy?" "Do a little politic:kin'?" "I'll press your flesh, you dimwitted sumbitch." "You don't tell your pappy how to court the electorate!" "We ain't one-at-a-timin' here." "We're mass communicating'!" "MAN 1:" "Oh, yes." "That's a powerful new force." "PAPPY:" "Shake a leg, Junior." "Thank God your mama died giving' birth." "If she'd a-seen ya, she'd a-died of shame." "Hi, there." "How you doin'?" "TOMMY: (SINGING) on, damn you, Lily" "Where you goin'?" "Ain't it harder than it's ever been before" "And the people are drifting" "Door to door" "Can't find no heaven I don't care where they go" "Said you had money" "You better be sure" "These hard times will drive you from door to door" "(VOCALISING)" "Let's bed down here for the night." "Yeah. it stinks in that old barn." "Suits me." "Pretty soon, it'll be nothin' but feather beds and silk sheets." "$1 million." "$1.2 million." "$500,000 each." "$400,000, Delmar." "Pete, what are you gonna do with your share of the treasure?" "Go out west somewhere, open a fine restaurant." "I'm gonna be the maTtre d'." "Greet all the swells, go to work everyday in a bow tie, tuxedo." "And all the staff'll say, "Yes, sir", and "No, sir"" "and "In a jiffy, Pete."" "And all my meals for free." "What about you, Delmar?" "What are you gonna do with your share of that dough?" "Gonna visit them foreclosin' son of a guns down at the Indianola Savings and Loan, slap that money on the barrelhead and buy back the family farm." "You ain't no kind of man if you ain't got land." "PETE:" "What about you, Everett?" "What'd you have in mind when you stole it in the first place?" "(CLEARS THROAT) Uh..." "I didn't have no plan." "Well, that hardly sounds like you." "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "All right, boys, it's the authorities!" "Your situation is purt nigh hopeless!" " Damn!" "They found our car!" "(DOGS BARKING)" "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "We ain't got the time and nary inclination to gentle you boys any further!" "Damn!" "We gotta skedaddle!" "EVERETT:" "I left my pomade in the car." "Maybe I can creep up." "Don't be a fool, Everett." "We gotta R-U-N-N-O-F-T." "(MEAN LAUGHING)" " EVERETT:" "Where's Tommy?" "Already lit out." "He's scared out of his wits." "Let's go)!" "The hell it ain't square one." "Ain't no one gonna pick up three filthy, unshaved hitchhikers, and one of 'em a know-it-all who can't keep his trap shut." "Pete, the personal rancour reflected in that remark," "I don't intend to dignify with comment." "But I would like to address your general attitude of hopeless negativism." "Consider the lilies of the goddamn field." "Or hell, take a look at Delmar here as your paradigm of hope." "Yeah, look at me." "Now, you may call it an unreasoning optimism." "You may call it obtuse, but the plain and simple fact is that we got close to three days before they" "dam that river." "Is this the road to ltta Bena?" "PETE:" "Uh..." ""ta Bena'?" "Isn't it..." "EVERETT:" "Stay on this road..." "PETE:" "No, that ain't right." "I was thinkin' of..." " Take this road..." "No, that ain't right." "It seems to me there's a road, a cow road that used to lead all the way, well, most of the way to..." " That ain't right either." "Hop on in while you give it a think." "Delmar." "Any of you boys know your way around a Walther PPK?" "Well, see, that's where we can't help ya." "I don't believe it's in Mississippi." "Friend, some of your folding' money has come unstowed." "GEORGE:" "Just stuff it down that sack there, will ya?" "You boys aren't bad men, I take it?" "Well, it's funny you should ask." "I was bad till yesterday, but me and Pete here been saved." "I'm Delmar, and that there's Everett." "George Nelson." "It's a pleasure." "(SPITS)" "Grab the tiller, will ya, buddy?" "Hand me that chopper. (CHUCKLING)" "Say, what line of work are you in, George?" "(LAUGHING)" "Come and get me, coppers!" "You flat-footed, lame brained, soft-assed sons of bitches!" "No one can catch me!" "I'm George Nelson!" "I'm bigger than any John Law ever lived!" "I'm 10 and a half feet tall and ain't yet full growed!" "(LAUGHING)" "Cows." "I hate cows worse than coppers!" "(MOOING)" "Oh, George, not the livestock." "Come on, you miserable, salaried sons of bitches!" "Come and get me!" "(LAUGHING MANIACALLY)" "(HORN HONKING)" "(TYRES SCREECHING)" "Come on, boys." "We're gem' for the record." "Three banks 'm two hours." "(CACKLING)" "Okay, folks, hold the applause and drop yer drawers!" "I'm George Nelson, and I'm here to sack the city of ltta Bena!" "He's a live wire though, ain't he?" "All the money in a bag!" "What are you lookin' at, grandpa?" "Pardon me, George." "You got a plan for gettin' out of here?" "Sure, boys." "Here's my plan." "(LAUGHING)" "They ain't never seen ordnance like this." "Thank you, folks." "And remember," "Jesus saves, but George Nelson withdraws." "Go fetch the autovoiture, Pete." "(WHISPERING) That's Babyface Nelson." "Who said that?" "What ignorant, lowdown, slanderizing son of a bitch said that?" "My name is George Nelson!" " Get me?" "Mmm-hmm." "She didn't mean nothin' by it, George." "George Nelson, not Babyface!" "You remember, and you tell your friends!" "I'm George Nelson, born to raise hell!" "(PLAYING COUNTRY MUSIC)" "Well, that was some fun though, wasn't it, George?" "Yeah." "Almost makes me wish I hadn't been saved." "Jackin' up banks..." "I can see how a fella could derive a whole lot of pleasure and satisfaction out of it." " It's okay." "DELMAR:" "H00, doggies!" "Well," "I'm takin' off." "You boys might as well keep my share of the riches." "DELMAR:" "Well, where are you goin', George?" "GEORGE:" "I don't know." "Who cares?" "Now, what do you suppose is eatin' George?" "Well, Delmar, they say that with a thrill-seekin' personality, what goes up must come down." "Top of the world one minute, haunted by megrims the next." "Yes, sir, it's as if our old friend George is an alley cat, and his own damn humour's swingin' him by the tail." "I wouldn't worry, Delmar." "He'll be back on top again." "I don't think we've seen the last of George Nelson." "(HORSES SNUFFLING)" "(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)" "STOKES ON SPEAKER:" "Don't be saps for Pappy." "Homer Stokes for governor." "Let's sweep this state clean." "Vote for Stokes, bubba." "(CONTINUE PLAYING COUNTRY MUSIC)" "Shh." "Hang on." "I'm gonna slap one on here." "Folks, here's my cousin Ezzard's niece, Eudora, from out of Greenwood, doin' a little number with her cousin Tom-Tom, which I predict you gonna enjoy thoroughly." "Now, what can I do you for, Mr French?" "How can I lay ahold of them Soggy Bottom Boys?" "Soggy Bottom." "I don't precisely recollect them." "They cut a record in here a few days ago." "It was an old-timey harmony thing with a guitar... (STAMMERING)" "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah." "I remember them!" " Coloured fellas, I believe." "Uh-huh." "Yes, sir, they're a fine bunch of boys." "They sang into yonder can and skedaddled." "That record is just goin' through the goddamn roof." "They're playin' it as far away as Mobile." "Whole damn state's goin' ape." "Well, it was a powerful air." "Hot damn, we gotta find them boys and sign 'em to a big, fat contract." "Hells bells, Mr Lunn." "If we don't, the goddamn competition will." "Oh, mercy, yes." "We got to beat that competition." " Yes, sir." "Yes, sir." "(WHOOPING)" "(LAUGHING)" "Do you have the Soggy Bottom Boys performing Man of Constant Sorrow?" "No, ma'am." "We got a new shipment in yesterday." "Sorry, but we just can't keep it on our shelves." "(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)" "(PLAYING BANJO)" "(PLAYING BANJO)" "Shut up, Delmar." "(WOMEN SINGING)" "(MUFFLED SCREAMING)" "Pull over!" "Pull over!" "I guess 0l' Pete's got the itch." "WOMEN: (SINGING) Go to sleep, you little baby" "Go to sleep, you little baby" "Your mama's gone away and your daddy's gone to stay" "Didn't leave nobody" "But the baby" "Howdy do, ladies." "Name of Pete." "Go to sleep, you little baby" "Everybody's gone in the cotton and the corn" "Didn't leave nobody but the baby" " Ain't you gonna introduce us, Pete?" "I don't know their names." "I seen 'em first!" "You sweet, little baby" "Honey in the rock and the sugar don't stop" "Gonna bring a bottle to the baby" "Don't you weep, pretty baby" "Don't you weep, pretty baby" "She's long gone with her red shoes on" "Gonna meet another lovin' baby" "Ladies, my name is Ulysses Everett McGill." "Well, you three ladies are about the prettiest..." "You and me and the devil makes three" "Don't need no other lovin' baby ...water lilies I've ever..." "Corn liquor." "Go to sleep, you little baby" "You and me and the devil makes three" "Don't need no other lovin' baby" "Go to sleep, you little baby" "Go to sleep, you little baby" "Your mama's gone away and your daddy's gone to stay" "Didn't leave nobody but the baby" "Go to sleep, you little baby" "Go to sleep, you little baby" "Come, lay your bones on the alabaster stones" "And be my ever-lovin' baby" "Everett." "Everett!" "My hair!" "Look at this." "(SHOUTING) Pete, where the heck are ya?" "Pete!" "We ain't got time for hide-and-seek!" "We ain't got time for your shenanigans!" "Sweet Jesus, Everett." "They left his heart." "(CROAKING)" "(SCREAMING)" "Delmar, what the heck's got into you?" "Can't you see it, Everett?" "Them sirens did this to Pete." "They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad." "Pete!" "Pete!" "Pete!" "Pete!" "Pete!" "Pete!" "Pete!" "Pete, it's me, Delmar." "It's me, Delmar." "Everett." "What are we gonna do?" " I'm not sure that's Pete." "Of course it's Pete." "Look at him." "We gotta find some kind of wizard can change him back." "I'm just not sure that's Pete." "EVERETT:" "You can't display a toad in a fine restaurant like this." "Why, the good folks here would go right off their feed." "I just don't think it's right keeping' him under wraps like we's ashamed of him." "Well, if it is Pete, I am ashamed of him." "The way I see it, he got what he deserved, fornicating' with some whore of Babylon." "These things don't happen for no reason, Delmar." "It's obviously some kind ofjudgement on Pete's character." "Well, the two of us was fixin' to fornicate." "(CHUCKLES)" "You're gonna have to excuse my rusticated friend, unaccustomed as he is to city manners." "I guess we'll have ourselves a couple of steaks and some gratineed potatoes, and we'll wash it down with your finest bubbly wine." "(GROWLING)" "And I don't suppose you have any nits or grubs back there." "No, just bring us a couple leaves of raw cabbage." " Yes, sir." "Thank you." "That kind of barnyard..." "I don't believe I've seen you boys around here before." "Allow me to introduce myself." "Name of Daniel Teague." "Known in these precincts as Big Dan Teague, or to those who are pressed for time, Big Dan toot cort." "How you doin', Big Dan?" "My name's Ulysses Everett McGill." "This is my associate, Delmar O'Donnell." "I detect, like me, you are endowed with the gift of gab." "I flatter myself that such is the case." "In my line of work, it's plumb necessary." "The one thing you don't want is air in the conversation." "Once again, we find ourselves in agreement." " What kind of work you do, Big Dan?" "Sales, Mr McGill, sales." "And what do I sell?" "The truth, every blessed word of it, from Genesis on down to Revelations." "That's right, the word of God, which, let me tell you, there is damn good money in during these times of woe and want." "People are lookin' for answers, and Big Dan sells the only book that's got 'em." "And what do you do, you and your tongue-tied friend?" "We..." "We're adventurers, sir, currently pursuing' a certain opportunity, but we're open to others as well." "I like your style, young man, so I'm gonna propose you a proposition." "You cover my bill so I don't have to run back upstairs, get your waitress to wrap your dinner picnic style, and we shall retire to more private environs, where I will tell you how there are vast amounts of money" "to be made in the service of God Almighty." "Why not?" "Nothin' else, I could use some civilised conversation." " Don't forget your shoe box, friend." "Languishin'!" "Goddamn campaign is languishing'!" "We need a shot in the arm." "Ya hear me, boys?" "In the goddamn arm!" "Election held tomorrow, that sumbitch Stokes would win it in a walk!" "Well, he's the reform candidate, Daddy." " Yeah?" "People like that reform." "Maybe we should get us some." "I'll reform you, you soft-headed sumbitch!" "How are we gonna run reform when we're the damn incumbent?" "Is that the best idea you boys can come up with?" "Reform?" "Weepin' Jesus on the cross." "Eckard!" "You may as well start draftin' my concession speech right now." "Okay, Pappy" "I'm just makin' a point, you stupid sumbitch!" "Give me back that hat!" "Hurry up!" " Pappy's just makin' a point." "Shut up!" "Thank you, boys, for throwin' in that fricassee." "I'm a man of large appetite, and even with lunch under my belt," "I was feelin' a might peckish." "Our pleasure, Big Dan." "Thank you as well for the conversational hiatus." "I generally refrain from speech during gustation." "There are those who attempt both at the same time." "I find it coarse and vulgar." "Where were we?" "Makin' money in the Lord's service." "You don't say much, friend, but when you do, it's to the point, and I salute you for it." "Yes, Bible sales." "Now, the trade is not a complicated one." "There are but two things to learn." "One being where to find the wholesaler, the word of God in bulk, as it were." "Two, how to recognise your customer." "Who are you dealin' with?" "It's an exercise in psychology, so to speak." "And it is that which I propose to give you a lesson in right now." "Why, I like to think I'm a pretty astute observer of the human scene, too, Big Dan." "No doubt, brother." "I figured as much back at the restaurant." "That's why I invited y'all out here for this advanced tutorial." "(GRUNTS)" " What's goin' on, Big Dan?" "it's all about the money, boys!" "That's the answer!" "Dough," "FE, mi!" " I don't get it, Big Dan." "(YELLS)" "I'll just take your show cards" "(BOTH YELLING)" "and whatever you got in the hole." "What the..." "It ain't nothin' but a damn toad." "No, you don't understand." "That's Pete." "You know these things give you warts?" "(SILENT SCREAM)" "End of the lesson." "So long, boys." "(CHUCKUNG)" "See ya in the funny papers." "Y'all seen the end of Big Dan Teague." "(SOBBING)" "(WHIPPING)" "SHERIFF COOLEY:" "Where are they?" "Talk, you unreconstructed whelp of a whore!" "Where they headed?" "(SCREAMING)" "Your screams ain't gonna save your flesh." "Only your tongue is, boy." "Where they headed?" "(MEN LAUGHING)" "Lump, l.O." "Sweet summer rain." "Like God's own mercy." "Your two friends have abandoned you, Pete." "They don't seem to care about your hide." "Okay." "Stairway to heaven, Pete." "We shall all meet, by and by." "God damn it!" "God, forgive me!" "Believe me, he would've wanted us to press on." "Pete, rest his soul, was one sour-assed son of a bitch and not given to acts of pointless sentimentality." "It just don't seem right diggin' up that treasure without him." "Maybe it's for the best he was squished." "Why," "he was barely a sentient bein'." "(MEN SINGING)" "As soon as we get ourselves cleaned up and get a little smell'um in our hair, we're gonna feel 100% better about ourselves and about" "life in general." "Must be near Parchman Farm." "Sorry sons of bitches." "Seems like a year ago we busted off the farm." "Pete got a brother?" "Not that I'm aware." "Heat must be gettin' to me." "WOMAN: (SINGING) Oh, the storm and its furies rage today" "Crushing hope that we cherish so dear" "The cloud and storm will, in time, pass away" "And the sun again will shine bright and clear" "Keep on the sunny side" "Always on the sunny side" "Keep on the sunny side of life" "It will help us everyday" "It will brighten all the way" "If we'll keep on the sunny side of life" "If we'll keep on the sunny side of life" "(CROWD APPLAUDING)" "That was wonderful." "Now, I know the Sunnysiders would agree with me when I say that the great state of Mississippi cannot afford four more years of Pappy O'Daniel, four more years of cronyism, nepotism, rascalism and service to the interests." "Now, the choice, she's a clear 'un." "You have Pappy O'Daniel, slave of the interests," "Homer Stokes, servant of the little man." " Ain't that right, little fella?" " He ain't lying'!" "And, ladies and gentlemen, the little man has admonished me to grasp the broom of reform and sweep this state clean!" "It's gonna be back to the flour mill, Pappy!" "The interests can take care of theirselves." "Come Tuesday, we gon' sweep the rascals out." "Clean government is yours for the asking'." "Folks, now the little Wharvey gals." "Wharvey gals?" "Did he just say "little Wharvey gals"?" "Come here, girls." " What y'all gonna sing for us?" "In The Highways." " God damn it all." "You know them gals, Everett?" "(SINGING) In the highways, in the hedges" "In the highways, in the hedges" "In the highways, in the hedges" "I'll be somewhere a-workin' for my Lord" "I'll be somewhere a-workin' I'll be somewhere a-workin'" "I'll be somewhere a-workin' for my Lord" "I'll be somewhere a-workin' I'll be somewhere a-workin'" "I'll be somewhere a-workin' for my Lord" "(CROWD CHEERING)" " Hey, girls." "GIRLS:" "Daddy!" "Daddy!" "Daddy!" "(EVERETT LAUGHING)" "Daddy?" "He ain't our daddy." "The hell I ain't." "What's this Wharvey gals?" "Your name's McGill." "No, sir, not since you got hit by that train." "What are you talking about?" "I wasn't hit by any train." " Mama says you was hit by a train." "Bloomey!" "Nothing left." "Just a grease spot on the LN." "Damn it, I wasn't hit by any train." "That's right." "Now, Mama's got us back to Wharvey." "That's her maiden name." "You got a maiden name, Daddy?" " No, Daddy don't have a maiden name." "See..." "GIRL 1:" "That's your misfortune." "That's right, and now Mama's got a new beau." "He's a suitor." "Yeah, I heard about that." "GIRL 1:" "Mama says that he's bona fide." " Hmm." "He give her a ring?" "Yes, sir." "A big 'un." "GIRL 1:" "Got a gem." "GIRL 2:" "Mama checked it." " It's bona fide." "He's a suitor." "What's his name?" " Vernon T. Waldrip." "Uncle Vernon." " Till tomorrow." "Then he's gonna be Daddy." "I am the only daddy you got." "I am the damn paterfamilias." "But you ain't bona fide." "Where's your mama?" " She's at the five and dime." "Buyin' nipples." "(SINGING) Angels wait to take me home" "Kiss me, Mother" " Daddy!" "Hello, sugar!" "(BOTH LAUGHING)" "How's my little girl?" " Who the hell's that?" "Starla Wharvey." "Starla McGill, you mean." " How come you never told me about her?" "'Cause you was hit by a train." "That's another thing." "Why are you tellin' our gals I was hit by a train?" "Lots of respectable people been hit by trains." "Judge Hobby over in Cookeville was hit by a train." "What was I supposed to tell 'em?" "That you were sent to the penal farm, and I divorced you from shame?" "I take your point, but it does put me in a damned awkward position, vis-a-vis my progeny." "VERNON:" "Hello, Penny." "This gentleman bothering' you?" "You Waldrip?" "Uh-huh." "That's right." "(SNIFFS)" "You been using my hair treatment?" "Your hair treatment?" "Excuse me." "I got news for you." "In case you hadn't noticed, I wasn't hit by a train." "And I have travelled many a weary mile to be back with my wife and my six daughters." "ALVIN ELLE:" "Seven, Daddy!" "That ain't your daddy, Alvinelle." "Your daddy was hit by a train." " Penny, you stop that." "No, you stop it." "Vernon here's got a job." "Vernon's got prospects." "He's bona fide." "What are you?" "I'll tell you what I am." "I'm the paterfamilias." " You can't marry him." "I can, I am and I will." "Tomorrow." "I gotta think about the little Wharvey gals." "They look to me for answers." "Vernon can support 'em and buy 'em lessons on the clarinet." "The only good thing you ever did for the gals was get hit by that train." "Why, you lyin' unconstant succubus." "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "You can't swear at my fiancée." "Oh, yeah?" "Well, you can't marry my wife." "(BABY CRYING)" "(CRASHING)" "Who is that man?" "He's not my husband." "Just a drifter, I guess." "Just some no account drifter." "And stay out of the Woolworths." "I'll bet she does imitations, too." "EVERETT:" "Deceitful, two-faced she-woman." "Never trust a female, Delmar." "Remember that one simple precept and your time with me will not have been ill-spent." "Okay, Everett." "Hit by a train." "The truth means nothin' to a woman, Delmar." "Triumph of the subjective." "You ever been with a woman?" "Well, I..." "I gotta get the family farm back before I can start thinkin' about that." "That's right." "If then." "Believe me, Delmar, woman is the most fiendish instrument of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man." "Everett, I never figured you for a paterfamilias." "Oh, yes." "I have spread my seed." "And look what it's..." "What the hell's..." "(BLOWS WHISTLE)" "(CHAINS RATTLING)" "(BLOWS WHISTLE)" "Okay, boys, enjoy your picture show." "(MOVIE RESUMES)" "MAN: (IN MOVIE) I have no money, honey." "(SINGING) How can I change?" "PETE:" "Do not seek the treasure." "Do not seek the treasure." "It's a bushwhack." "They're fixin' an ambush." "Do not seek the treasure." "We thought you was a toad." "We thought you was a toad!" "Do not seek the treasure!" "GUARD:" "Quiet there!" "Watch the picture!" "PAPPY:" "I signed that bill." "I signed a dozen agriculture bills." "Everyone knows I'm a friend of the farmer." "What I gotta do, start diddling' livestock?" "We can't do that, Daddy." "We might offend our constituency." "We ain't got a constituency." "Stokes got a constituency!" "Well, it's a well-run campaign." "Midget and broom and whatnot." " Devil his due." "Hell of an organisation." "Say, I got an idea." "ECKARD:" "What's that, Junior?" "We can hire us a little fella even smaller than Stokes's." "You slump-shouldered sack of guts!" "Why, we'd look like a bunch of Johnny-Come-Latelys braggin' on our own midget." "Don't matter how stumpy." "That's the goddamn problem right there." "People think Stokes got fresh ideas." "He's au courant, and we the past." " It's a problem of..." "Perception." "That's right." "The reason why he's pullin' our pants down." " Gonna paddle our little behinds." "Ain't gon' paddle it." "Gon' kick it real hard." "MAN:" "No, I believe he's gonna paddle it." "ECKARD:" "I don't believe that's a proper description." "MAN:" "Well, that's how I'd characterise it." "ECKARD:" "I believe it's more of a kickin' situation." "(THUNDER CRASHING)" "(WHIMPERING)" "God, forgive me." "I could not gaze upon that far shore." " Pete." "(SQUEALS)" "Hold still!" "Can't stand much longer." "(STAMMERING) It was a moment of weakness." "Quit your babbling', Pete." "We gotta skedaddle." " DELMARI That's all I got." "(THUDDING)" "They lured me out for a bathe, and then they dunked me, and trussed me up like a hog and turned me in for the bounty." "Should've guessed it." "Typical womanly behaviour." "Just lucky we left before they came back for us." "We didn't abandon you, Pete." "We just thought you was a toad." "No, they never did turn me into a toad." "Well, that was our mistake, then." "And we was beat up by a Bible salesman and banished from Woolworths." "I don't know, Everett, was it the one branch or all of 'em?" "Well, I ain't had it easy either, boys." "Frankly..." "Well, I..." "I spilled my guts about the treasure." "DELMAR'." "Huh'?" "I'm awful sorry I betrayed you fellas." "Must be my Hogwallop blood." "That's all right, Pete." "It's awful white of you to take it like that, Everett." "I feel wretched, spoiling' your play for $1.2 million." "It's been eatin' out my guts." "That's all right." "You boys are true friends." "You're my boon companions." "Pete, I don't want you to beat yourself up about this thing." "PETE:" "I can't help it, but that's a wonderful thing to say." "(SOBBING)" "Pete," "the fact of the matter is, damn it," "there ain't no treasure." "Fact of the matter is, there never was." "So, where's all the money from the armoured car job?" "I never knocked over no armoured car." "I was sent up for practising' law without a license." "But..." "Damn it, I had to bust out." "My wife wrote me she was gettin' married, I gotta stop it." "I had two weeks left on my sentence." "I couldn't wait two weeks." "She's gettin' married tomorrow." "With my added time for the escape," "I don't get out now until 1987." "Now, I am sorry about that." "I'll be 84 years old." "I guess they'll tack on 50 years for me, too." "Boys, we was chained together." "I had to tell you somethin'." "Bustin' out alone was not an option." "I'm sorry." "Eighty-four years old." "Well, I'll only be 82." "YOuI" "You ruined my life!" "You ruined my life!" "I do apologise about that, Pete." "Eighty-four years old!" "I'll be gumming' pabulum!" "(BOTH GRUNTING)" "DELMAR:" "Now, boys, boys..." "(MEN CHANTING)" "(RINGING)" "(CHANTING STOPS)" "(SINGING) O Death" "O Death" "Won't you spare me over to another year" "Well, I am Death." "None can excel" "I'll open the door to heaven or hell" "O Death, someone would pray" "Could you wait to call me another day?" "EVERETT:" "It's Tommy." "They got Tommy." "DELMARI Oh, my Lord." "A noose." "Sweet Jesus, we gotta save him." "I'll fix your feet till you can't walk" "I'll lock your jaw till you can't talk" "I'll close your eyes so you can't see" "This very hour, come and go with me" "The colour guard." "And if I come to take the soul" "Leave the body and leave it cold" "O Death" "O Death" "Won't you spare me over to another year" "Brothers!" "Oh, brothers!" "We are forgathered here to preserve our hallowed culture and heritage from intrusion, inclusion and dilution of colour, of creed and of our old-time religion!" "We aim to pull evil up by the root before it chokes out the flower of our culture and heritage." "And our women!" "Let's not forget those ladies, y'all!" "Lookin' to us for protection, from darkies, from Jews, from papists and from all those smart-ass folks say we come descended from monkeys." " That's not my culture and heritage." "ALL:" "Yes!" " Is that your culture and heritage?" "ALL:" "No!" "And so, we gonna hang us a negro." "(KLANSMEN AGREEING)" "(KLANSMEN CHANTING)" "TOMMY:" "I ain't never harmed you, neither of you gentlemen." "(SNIFFS)" "(GRUNTS)" "I ain't never harmed nobody." "_D _ ELMAR." "Hey!" "Hey, Tommy!" "Huh?" "It's us." "We come to rescue you." "That's mighty kind of you boys, but I don't think nothin's gonna save me now." "The devil's come to collect his due." "PETE:" "Don't be crazy, Tommy." "You don't wanna get hanged." "No, I don't reckon I do, but that's the way it seems to be working out." "EVERETT:" "Listen, Tommy, I got a plan." "(KLANSMEN GASP)" "(KLANSMEN GASP)" "The colour guard is coloured." "Who made them the colour guard?" "Run, boys!" "(KLANSMEN YELLING)" "(ALL EXCLAIM)" "STOKES:" "No, no, son!" "Can't let that flag touch the ground!" "ALL:" "Ooh!" "PAPPY:" "Take your hands off me." "I can do this myself." "Get away from me." "I'm saying we should hire this man away." " That's a good idea, Pappy." "Hell of an idea." " Can't beat 'em, join 'em." "Have him join us." "Run our campaign." "Steal that egghead's." "Enticements of power, wealth, et cetera." " No one says no to Pappy O'Daniel." "Oh, gracious, no." " Not with his blandishments." "Powers of persuasion." "What's his name again?" " Campaign manager?" "Yes." " Waldrip." "Vernon Waldrip." " Vernon T. Waldrip." "Hmm." "EVERETT:" "It's an invitation-only affair." "We'll have to sneak in through the service entrance." "Hold on." "Wait a minute." "Who elected you leader of this outfit?" "Since we been followin' your lead, we got nothin' but trouble." "I got this close to bein' strung up, and consumed in a fire, and whipped no end, and sunstroked and soggied..." " Turned into a frog." "He wasn't turned into a frog." "Almost loved up, though." "So you're against me now, too?" "Is that how it is, boys?" "The whole world, God Almighty, and now you." "Guess I deserve it." "(SIGHS)" "Boys, I know that I made some tactical mistakes." "But if you just stick with me, I got a plan." "Believe me, boys, we can fix this thing." "I can get my wife back, and we can get out of here." "(HORN HONKING)" "Goddamn disgrace!" "Made a travesty of the entire evening." "What I wouldn't give to get ahold of those agitators." "I mean, whoever heard of such behaviour, even amongst the coloured?" "Well, mulattoes, maybe." "I suspect some miscegenation in their heritage." "How else you gonna explain it?" "Usin' the Confederate flag as a missile!" "This is crazy." "No one's ever gonna believe we're a real band." "It's gonna work." "I just gotta get close enough to talk to her." "Takin' off with us has got more future than marrying' some guy named Waldrip." "I'm goddamn bona fide." " I've got the answers." "DELMAR:" "Everett, my beard itches." "(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)" "In The Jailhouse Now, fellers." "Neighbourhood of B." "(BAND PLAYING)" "Psst." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "It's me." "No." "(SINGING) I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob" "He used to steal, gamble and rob" "He thought he was the smartest guy around" "We're leavin' the state, pursuing' opportunities in another venue." "L 90'!" "big plans." "Not minstrels." "This here's just a dodge." "I'm gonna be a dentist." "I know this guy who'll print me up a license." "He's in the jailhouse now" " Well, I told him once or twice -(MUTTERING) to stop playin' cards and a-shootin' dice" "He's in the jailhouse now" "(YODELLING)" "Bob liked to play his poker" "Well, that is an improper suggestion." "I can't switch sides in the middle of a campaign, especially to work for a man who lacks moral fibre." "Moral fibre?" "Why, you pasty-faced sumbitch." "I invented moral fibre." "Pappy O'Daniel was displaying rectitude and high-mindedness when that egghead you work for was still messin' his drawers." " EVERETT:" "Honey." "Go away." "I want to be what you want me to be." "I want you and the gals to come with me." "DELMAR:" "I told him once or twice to stop playin' cards and a-shootin' dice" "What are you doing here, Pappy?" "I guess someone let on we were givin' out liquor. (LAUGHS)" "You'll be laughin' out the other side of your face come November." "ECKARD:" "Pappy O'Daniel will be laughin' then." "Not out the other side of his face, though." "Oh, no, just the regular side." "(YODELLING)" "They're my daughters too, Penny." "Ain't you ever heard of... (SINGING) In constant sorrow" "All through his days" "(AUDIENCE CHEERING LOUDLY)" "I am a man of constant sorrow" "I've seen trouble" "Hot damn!" "It's the Soggy Bottom Boys!" "I bid farewell to old Kentucky" "The place where I was born and raised" "The place where he was born and raised" "Holy moley!" "These boys are a hit!" "But Pappy, they's integrated." "Wait a minute." "Well, I guess folks don't mind they's integrated." "You's miscegenated." "All you boys is miscegenated!" "Give me a microphone!" "Give me a microphone!" "Give me a microphone!" "These boys is not white." "These boys is not white." "Hell, they ain't even old-timey." "Look, I happen to know, ladies and gentlemen, that this band of miscreants here, this very evening interfered with a lynch mob in the performance of its duties." "It's true!" "See, I belong to a certain secret society." "I don't believe I gotta mention its name, you know. (LAUGHING)" "MAN 1:" "Let 'em play!" "MAN 2:" "Hush him up!" "And these boys here, they trampled all over our venerated observances and rituals." "Now, this here music is over." "All right?" "(AUDIENCE JEERING)" "Boo!" "Folks, listen to me." "These boys desecrated a fiery cross." "(WHISPERING)" "MAN 3:" "Y'all having a good time?" "And they's convicts, folks!" "Fugitives escaped off the farm!" "Now, folks, these boys gotta be remanded to the authorities!" "Criminals!" "And I have it from the highest authority that that negro sold his soul to the devil!" " Oh!" "(AUDIENCE BOOING)" "STOKES"." "Wait a minute, now, folks." "It's true!" "It's true!" "Wait a minute, folks." "ls you is or is you ain't my constituency?" "ls you is or is you ain't my constituency?" "(MICROPHONE CUTS OUT) ls you is or is you ain't my constituency?" " Oh!" "Come on, folks!" "WOMAN:" "Shut up!" "It's Homer, now!" "Come on." "I'm the friend of the little man!" " QAUGHWG) {CHEERS)" "(BOOING CONTINUES)" "(AUDIENCE CHEERING)" "(SINGING) It's fare thee well" "My own true lover" "I never expect to see you again" "For" "I'm bound to ride that northern railroad" "Perhaps I'll die upon that train" "Perhaps he'll die upon that train" "Goddamn!" "Opportunity knocks!" "Get out of my way!" "I'm just a stranger" "My face you'll never see no more" "But there is one promise that is given" "I'll meet you on" "God's golden shore" "He'll meet you on" "God's golden shore" "That's fine!" "That's fine!" "Ladies and gentlemens," "Ladies and gentlemens, here and listenin' at home, the great state of Mississippi," "Pappy O'Daniel, governor, wants to thank the Soggy Bottom Boys for that wonderful performance." "(ALL CHEERING)" "Now, it looks like the only man in this great state who ain't a music lover is my esteemed opponent in the upcoming', Homer Stokes." "(AUDIENCE BOOING)" "Yeah, well, there ain't no accountin' for taste." "Sounded to me like he was harbourin' some kind of hateful grudge against the Soggy Bottom Boys, on account of their rough and rowdy past." "(BOOING)" "Looks like Homer Stokes is the kind of fella wants to cast the first stone." "Well, I'm with you folks." "I'm a forgive and forget Christian, and I say if their rambunctiousness and misdemeanorin' is behind 'em..." "It is, ain't it, boys?" "Yes, sir, it is." "Well, then I say, by the power vested in me, these boys is hereby pardoned!" "(CHEERING)" "And furthermore, in the second Pappy O'Daniel administration, these boys is gonna be my brain trust." "(AUDIENCE CHEERING LOUDLY)" "What's that mean, Everett?" "Well, Delmar, it means that you and me and Pete and Tommy are gonna be the power behind the throne, so to speak." "Oh." "Okay." "So, without further ado, and by way of endorsing' my candidacy, the Soggy Bottom Boys is gonna lead us all in a chorus of" "You Are My Sunshine." "Ain't ya, boys?" "Governor, it's one of our favourites." "Son, you're gonna go far." "(SINGING) You are my sunshine" "My only sunshine" "You make me happy when skies are grey" "You'll never know, dear how much I love you" "Please don't take my sunshine away" "(CHEERING)" "I guess Vernon T. Waldrip is gonna be goin' on relief." "Maybe I can throw a little patronage his way." "Get him a job digging' ditches or rounding' up stray dogs." "So, is the marriage off then, Miss Wharvey?" "mcgill." "No, the marriage will take place as planned." "Little change of cast." "Me and the little lady are gonna pick up the pieces and retie the knot, mixaphorically speaking." "You boys are invited, of course." "Hell, you're the best men." "Already got the rings." "Where's your ring, honey?" "I ain't worn it since our divorce came through." "Must still be in the roll-top in the old cabin." "Never thought I'd need it." "Vernon bought one encrusted with jewels." "Now's the time to buy it off him cheap." "We ain't gettin' married with his ring." "You said you'd changed." " Honey, yours is just an old pewter thing." "Ain't gon' be no wedding'." " It's just a symbol, honey." "No wedding'." "We'll go fetch it with you, Everett." "Shut up, Delmar." "It's just a symbol." "I've spoken my piece and counted to three." "She counted to three." "God damn it." "She counted to three." "Son of a bitch!" "You have any idea how far that cabin is?" "(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)" "(LAUGHING)" "George?" "Hello, boys!" "Well, these little men finally caught up with the criminal of the century!" "Looks like the chair for George Nelson!" "Yup!" "Gonna electrify me!" "I'm gonna go off like a Roman candle!" "(LAUGHING MANIACALLY)" "Twenty-thousand volts chasing' a rabbit through yours truly." "Goddamn!" "Gonna suck all the power right out of the state!" "Gonna shoot sparks out the top of my head and lightning from my fingertips!" "I'm George Nelson, and I'm feelin' 10 feet tall!" "Looks like George is right back on top again." "WOMAN:" "COW killer!" "(SNIFFING)" "At least you boys get to see the ancestral manse, the home where I spent so many a happy day in the bosom of my family." "A refugium, if you will, with a mighty oak tree out front and a happy little tyre swing kinda..." "Where's the happy little tyre swing?" "End of the road, boys." " Now, wait a minute." "Let's go, boys." " It's had its twists and turns." "Wait a minute, now." "Now, it deposits you here." "Wait a minute." "You have eluded fate and you have eluded me for the last time." "Tie their hands, boys." "You can't do this now." "Didn't know you'd be bringin' a friend." "He'll just have to wait his turn." "Share one of your graves." "You can't do this." "We just got pardoned by the governor hisself." "It went out on the radio." "Is that right?" "Well, we ain't got a radio." "God have mercy." "(SINGING) You" "QOt t0 g0 to that lonesome valley" "ALL:" "YOU" "(VOCALISING)" "It ain't fit." "It ain't the law." "The law?" "The law is a human institution." "Nobody else can go there for you, no" "Perhaps you should start making your prayers." "Got to go" "Oh, my God." "Everett." "Tommy, I'm sorry we got you into this." "Good Lord, what do we do?" "BY yourself" "Lord, please look down and recognise us poor sinners." "Please, Lord," "I just wanna see my daughters again." "I been separated from my family for so long." "I know I been guilty of pride and sharp dealing'." "I'm sorry that I turned my back on you." "Forgive me and help us, Lord." "For the sake of my family." "For Tommy's sake." "For Delmar's and Pete's." "Let me see my daughters again, Lord." "Help us." "Please." "(RUMBLING)" "GRAVEDIGGER 1 I YOU" "QOt t0 g0 to the lonesome valley" "GRAVEDIGGER 2:" "Yes, sir!" "You" "901'" "to go there" "DY yourself" "Nobody else" "Nobody else can go for you" "You" "901' to go there" "DY yourself" "A miracle!" "it was a miracle!" "Delmar, don't be ignorant." "I told you they was flooding' this valley." " No, that ain't it." "We prayed to God, and he pitied us." "Well, it never fails." "Once again, you two hayseeds are showin' how much you want for intellect." "There's a perfectly scientific explanation for what just happened." "That ain't the tune you was singin' back at the gallows." "Well, any human being will cast about in a moment of stress." "No, the fact is, they're flooding' this valley so they can hydroelectric up the whole durn state." "Yes, sir, the South is gonna change." "Everything's gonna be put on electricity and run on a paying' basis." "Out with the old spiritual mumbo jumbo, the superstitions and the backward ways." "We're gonna see a brave new world where they run everybody a wire and hook us all up to a grid." "Yes, sir, a veritable age of reason, like the one they had in France." "Not a moment too soon." "Not a moment too soon." "Hey, there's Tommy." "Tommy, what you ridin' there?" "Whoa." "Roll-top desk." "GIRLS: (SINGING) My latest sun is sinking fast" "My race is nearly run" "All's well that ends well, so the poet said." "That's right, honey." "I don't mind tellin' you I'm awful pleased my adventuring' days have come to an end." "It's time for this 0l' boy to enjoy some repose." " That's good." "You were right about that ring, too." "Any other wedding' band wouldn't do." "This here were foreordained." "Fate was a-smilin' on me, you just have to have confidence..." " That's not my ring." "What?" "That's not my ring." " Not your ring?" "That's one of Aunt Hurlene's." " You said it was in the roll-top desk." "I said I thought it was in the roll-top desk." " No, you said..." "Or under the mattress." "Maybe my chiffo-robe." "I don't know." "Well, I'm sorry, honey." "We need that ring." "Well, that ring is at the bottom of a pretty durn big lake." "Uh-uh." " A 9,000-hectare lake." "I don't care if it's 90,000." " That lake was not my doing." "Of course not." " I counted to three, honey." "No, wait, honey." "Finding one little ring in the middle of all that water is one hell of a heroic task." "ALL: (SINGING) And gives me victory" "Oh, come" "Angel band" "Come and around me stand" "Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings to my immortal home" "Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings to my immortal home"