"Make sure that's tied down." "All right, folks." "Let's get a move on." " Got room for one more?" " Yeah." "You riding with me?" "Don't." "What?" "Let's just let them go, just let them drive off." " Yeah, that would be good." " No, I mean it." "I can't." "There's something I need to do, and it's out that way." "We could've gone anywhere." "She is willful." "So willful." "She shows absolutely no remorse... only arrogance and hubris." "It is unseemly." "It's ungodly." "I am a man of God." "But I am also her brother, Norman." "This woman has devoted her life to me... and my ministry." "Late at night, I lie awake... and I struggle with the path I have chosen." "I am a man of God." "I am a man of God." "Only through sacrifice comes redemption." "She must learn." "She must learn." "All right, I'm a "B."" "Are you a famous actor?" "No." "No, I am not Lionel Barrymore." "I'm just saying." "That fight was a week ago." "Shouldn't you have gotten the payoff by now?" " Are you a famous singer?" " I don't know what the holdup is." "No, I am not Mildred Bailey." "Can't you just call that bookie?" "I called Bud." "He'll wire me the money by Monday, don't you worry." "Are you a famous liar?" " I thought you didn't want to play, Mama." " It just popped into my head." "You might have me there." "I can't think of any famous liars." "No?" "I can." "So what is it you need to do?" "I'm looking for someone." "My pa." "He's out this way somewhere." "If I met my father, I'd kill him dead." "He raped my ma." "That's why she hates me." "She didn't hate you, Sof." "How could anybody hate you?" "What the hell?" "Jones, God damn it." "What the...." "Shit, Christmas." " What happened?" " Them sons of bitches torched us out." " Who?" " Fucking Daily Brothers." "Rat-fucks burned the place down for the insurance." "Sure as hell." "That Samson?" "Charlie Lewis." "Yes, sir." "Long time." "Long time." "Where's everyone else?" "Most of them scattered out." "Rest of us ain't got but a few busted trucks... and maybe $13 in change between us." "Damn, if it ain't a lucky thing you come by." "I'm going to see what's going on." "You coming?" "No, I'll wait." "Let's go." "I want to set up the circle right around over there." "Get some sidewalls off there, Hickman." "Set up a tent over there, all right?" "Watch the potholes." "Let's go, come on." "Come on, now." "Listen, set up the cook tent, and maybe one of the other tops, all right?" "Tell Possum to get some chow going, too." "Let's go." "Watch the potholes." "We'll get you some supplies." "That's it, just circle around." "Good." "Take a load off." "Hey, Stitch." "Sabina." "You ain't just gonna leave us here, now, are you?" "What does it look like?" "I thought the plan was to be in Damascus by dark." "What are we supposed to do, just keep going?" "We got a code." "You okay?" "Sweetie?" "You lost?" "Every prophet in her house." "Mother." "You all there?" " We're pitching camp here." " What happened?" "A fire." " Did anybody die?" " No." "Not a one." "They was all real lucky." "Might be more comfortable in your trailer." "I'd rather stay here." "I should go help out or Jones will skin me." "Sure you're all right?" "You're shaking." "I'll be fine." "Make haste, dear Lord, to deliver me." "Make haste to help me, my dearest God." "Let them be ashamed... and confounded... those who seek to take my soul." "Let them be turned backward into confusion... those that desire my hurt." "Let those that will say...." "Turn them back as a reward for the shame." "Make haste." "Make haste, dear God." "Make haste to deliver me." "Here you go, boss." "Well!" "You folks look to be mighty flush." "We do all right." "What circuits you all been on?" "I'm just asking 'cause, you know, the Daily Brothers had a hard summer." "Real hard." "I heard y'all lost a few acts." "Now that's got to be tough." "You looking to hook up with us?" "We might be persuaded." "Forget it." "Howdy." "Bert Hagenbeck, nice to meet you." "It's mighty Christian of you to lend a hand." "That is the worst damned he-she I ever did see." "When did you ever see a good one?" "Never." " I brought you some grub." " Thanks." "You know, you don't have to keep me company." "I know that." "I can do without all the jibber-jabber." "It's bad enough we had to drive stakes here for the day." "What's the rush?" "It's not like you really know where your father is." "I've got a pretty good idea." " Where?" " Damascus." "I've been to Damascus." "Want to know what's in Damascus?" "A whole lot of pig shit and no one to shovel it." "Maybe." "And what if he is there?" "What difference is it gonna make?" "People like you and me, we don't have nice little families." "You're not gonna find anything good there." "I know that." "But I still got to find him." "I'm leaving." "There's nothing left for me here." "You could come with me." "I don't care what you say... you don't belong here, no more than I do." "Belonging has got nothing to do with it." "It's just... my lot, that's all." "It doesn't have to be." "Yeah, it does." "Everything's in place." "Folks are already staking out seats for your sermon tonight." "I've arranged for a public address system with a loudspeaker outside... for the overflow." "And the authorities?" "I've contacted the county prosecutor." "He'll be there personally." "I'm sorry." "Sorry?" "I know this must be very difficult for you." "Yes." "Yes, it is." "But my ministry must come first." "That's what makes you a great man." "She'll be all right." "We'll get a good lawyer." "She'll never see the inside of a courtroom." "No?" "She's a woman." "They don't hang women in California." "There you go." "Olga Moreno?" "I know her." "Met her in Anderson, Indiana a while back." "Olga Moreno's a cow." " And that beard of hers?" "It's gaff." " No!" "Horse hair." "I'll tell you one thing:" "I am sick of the road." "Me and Felix, we been looking into one of them alligator farms down in Florida." "Yeah, I heard of them." "You got to show them off to tourists, raise them for skin." "Yeah." "And the meat." " And the milk." " Milk?" "Gator milk has twice the vitamins and minerals as cow milk." "It's what you call an investment opportunity." "Come on, sugarpuss." "That's our song." " Bert, honey." " All right." "We'll be right back." "We'll be right back." "Dance?" "Oh." "I forgot." "How much is it for a dance?" "Two bits?" "Four?" "I mean, with your clothes on." "Leave me alone, Burly." "You come and dance with me, little girl." "Come on." "Get your hands off of me!" " That's enough." " Fuck you." " Get him out of here." " All right." "Come on, Burly." "Let's get out of here." "Come on." "You okay?" "I ain't much for dancing." "Sounds like they're having a party over there or something." "Want to go see?" "I feel safer here." "You go." "I'm okay." "Baby?" "What?" "You know that $400 I gave you?" "Yeah." "I was thinking... with that big win you had at the fight... maybe we could make a down payment on that place in the Keys." "Sure, put a down payment, get a new car... get you some new clothes, or... a trip to Niagara Falls." "That's a mighty big payoff." "How much did you say it was?" "$1,400." "I thought you said it was $1,200." "$1,400." " What?" " You can't stay in this truck all night." "I can't." "Sure you can." "I've seen you dance." "You're pretty good." "Me, I ain't no Fred Astaire, but I like this song." "Me, too." "I'm sorry, Alexi." "I can't give you what you want." "What is it you think I want?" "Remorse." "Regret." "And I would do it again for you." "Isn't it beautiful?" "Good God." "Who...." "Hi, elephant." "How are you doing?" "This dress will be just darling on you." "Course, you may have to take it in in the bosom... but this blue will be just swell with your eyes." " Ain't this a dear?" " It's yours." "And I thought that you and Felix might be about the same size." " I do like this hat." " Well, of course you do!" "Look at that." "That's good, right?" "Hey, hey, that's my favorite thatch." "I use that in the show." "Thank you much." "What the hell you doing, woman?" "Well now, Felix, these people just about lost everything they got." "It's only right that we give away a few of our old things." "Now, that...." "God damn it, that is a new tie." "I ain't worn this but twice." "Felix, these people are in need." "Where's the charitarian in you?" "Besides, we got that big windfall coming." "Buy ourselves a whole new wardrobe." " All right." "That's enough of that." " No, I don't think so." "That's enough of that." "God damn it." "Come on." "Y'all just get going, now." "My wife's not feeling well." "Felix, I'm feeling just fine." "You go on, and keep everything you got." "God damn it, are you out of your gourd?" "God damn!" "Who cares about these clothes, Felix?" "We're gonna be rich, ain't we?" "We're gonna buy ourselves an alligator farm... and a new car, a brand new car... and go on vacation, right?" "Ain't that what you said?" "Yeah." "Fine." "I lost it." " All of it?" " Yeah." "Rita Sue...." "Give me one of those." "Oh, honey." " You always had a beard?" " Ever since I was 13." "Me, too." "You come by later, dark and handsome." "I'll show you something else I've had since I was 13." "Sofie." "No!" "She's there!" " Who?" " My mama!" " I don't see anything." " She's there." "She's right there!" " How can you not see her?" " It's the fire." "It's making you crazy." "What if she's gone?" "What did you do?" "I don't know." "...two, and back." "I'm getting better!" "You're a good student." " You're a good teacher." " Thank you." "Yeah, you're welcome." "Just... put your hand..." " right here." " Right here?" " Yeah." "A little lower, maybe." " All right." "How am I doing?" "Get your hands off my baby!" "Stumpy, just take it easy, all right?" "Daddy!" "God damn it, my little girl ain't for sale!" "Stumpy, let's just talk about this, all right?" "Let's calm down here." "I won't let this goddamn screw-worm infest my family again." "Stumpy, if you're looking for a fight, I ain't gonna give it to you." "Put them up, Jones." " Put them up!" " No, I ain't" "Come on!" " Just stay out of it, girl." " God damn it, stay out of it!" " Get him up." " Get up." "Come on." "You son of a bitch!" "The first time I saw you I knew you were different." "I remember." "You were sitting on the bus, watching." "I was." "You ain't really gonna leave, are you?" "Stop them!" "Rain." "Stay down, Stumpy." "God damn it!" "You fucked my... wife." "You fucked up our family." "I'll be goddamned... if you're gonna fuck my little girl." "Let's get back inside." "He didn't fuck up your family." "What the hell are you doing?" "I'm just defending... my family's honor." "That's a good one." "Come on." "Look alive!" "We got to batten down!" "Hawkins!" " I'm sorry." " Go." " I got to go." " Go." " Hallelujah, brothers and sisters..." " Hallelujah." " ...and amen." " Amen." "Amen, brothers and sisters." "Please be seated." "I have an important announcement to make." "One that will profoundly affect the future of this ministry." "As you know, our congregation... was born from the ashes of an unspeakable tragedy..." " Yeah!" " Vagrants!" "...a tragedy that still cries out for justice." "One year ago... six innocent children and their matron were murdered... cruelly consumed in the hellish flames of an arson fire... cruelly consumed in the hellish flames of an arson fire... a crime for which no man has yet to face judgment." "Since that terrible day..." "I have made it my personal mandate... to see to it that the monster that committed this abominable act... be captured, tried... and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the laws of man." "Brothers and sisters, I stand before you to report... that the investigation undertaken by this ministry... has at long last borne fruit." "Amen." "A perpetrator has been identified, and a confession has been signed!" " Hallelujah!" " Yes!" "But wait, wait, brothers and sisters." "This is not cause for jubilation." "No, but for lamentation." "Yes, lament, brothers and sisters." "Lament, for the killer is not a stranger but one of our own." "A trusted leader in our ministry... masquerading as a member of our family in Christ." "Mr. Dolan?" "Good evening, brothers and sisters." "My name is Tommy Dolan." "Many of you know me from the radio... and the work I've done on behalf of this great ministry." "As Brother Justin said, this congregation... was born of tragedy." "I pray only that it isn't torn asunder... by what you hear tonight." "I'd like to now read from a signed statement." ""On the evening of September 8, 1934, I entered the Dignity Ministry..." ""poured gasoline on the floor of the basement..." ""and set fire to the orphanage." ""My motive was to get an exclusive story so that I might advance..." ""my career"?" "He's the one." "He killed them kids." "No, it was Iris." "She confessed." "She signed it!" ""I fell under a shadow." ""It preyed upon me." "It needed to be done."" "Signed..." " I don't believe this." " Oh, my God." "Tommy Dolan... by the power vested in me by the county of San Benito..." "I hereby place you under arrest." "This is ridiculous!" "I didn't do anything, it was her!" "She killed those kids." "You set me up!" "Oh, Tommy." "You son of a bitch!" "Save it!" "And now, ladies and gentlemen, lend a kind ear... as we bring you Brother Justin's Saturday evening Church of the Air." "Whom are you struggling with?" "Certainly not God." "God's mind was made up long before the foundation of earth was laid." "Let the wicked man forsake his ways." "When?" "In a month?" "A day?" "No, now." "The instant you yield, God's plan of salvation is thrown into gear." "You will be saved before you even know it... like a child being born." "Charlie?" "Come on in, sugar." "Don't be shy." "Don't worry, I won't bite." "Unless you want me to." "Where's the boy?" "Samson." "I'll give you 5% of the receipts on the tenner, your meals... and gas for the truck." " Twenty percent." " You out of your mind, woman." "You know what kind of a draw I am." "Ten percent." "Now, that's my final, top offer." "Fifteen, and not a jot less." "Ray and Dil Daily gave me that, plus $50 a week." "Yeah, well, Ray and Dil Daily burned down their ten-in-one and left you high and dry." "I'm thinking I look mighty good next to that." "What about Bert?" " What about him?" " I ain't coming without him." "He's my husband." "You married that bird?" " Anything he gets is coming out of your cut." " Fine." "By the way, who told you Ray and Dil burned us down?" " They did, didn't they?" " Don't know." "There was a bald-headed fellow nosing around." "There was a bald-headed fellow nosing around." "Had a badge, but he weren't no cop." " He's ahead of us?" " Apparently so." "Bound to be miles ahead by now." "Looking for a fellow named Scudder." "She thinks that this bald-headed fellow torched the Daily Brothers' outfit?" " She does." " How did he get ahead of us?" "I don't know, but you'd best get ahead of him." "If he gets to Scudder first... something tells me there ain't gonna be much of him left." "I'm heading out, then." "Faster on my own." "We'll meet up in Damascus." " You sure about that?" " Unless you got any better ideas." "I'll tell him." "This Scorpion gal, why should we believe her?" "She ain't lying." "I mean, she lied about plenty but she ain't lying about this." "How do you know that?" "We was married for nine years." "That's right." "Oh, that's right." "Didn't I tell you boys the best way to follow somebody is to get ahead of them?" "That's enough airing out for you two." "I've got to get you two boys in a hole." "You're stinking up the Dodge." "How could you?" "How could you do that to me?" "What, dear?" "Penance." "Only with sacrifice comes redemption." "Mother is dead." "Much obliged." "Okay, children." "Let's shake some dust."