 This here is a little souvenir, picture of my best pal, Sam Tucker and his folks. Believe me, they don't come no better. Only when old Sam gets an idea of that hard head of his, ain't no room for nothing else. This is Nona, Sam's wife. And here's Sam's ma, a widow woman. Moyn's so young, but her heart's still full of fire. Army here ain't no Tucker, just a good friend. If he looks kind of sheep-eyed, it's cause he's all lit up with that flame in Moyn's heart. These are the youngest of Tucker clan, Sam's kids, Daisy and Jotty. And here's Sam's granny, she didn't like having her picture taken either. This one's me, I'm a town man myself, only come home for fairs and weddings and such. That's how come I cherish these pictures so, makes me feel close to my friends to look at. Sam. Not Uncle Pete. It's awful hot. Hey, Nona. It's a mortar. It's Matando hot. Yeah. You just lie here, Uncle Pete. I'll finish your rope, are you? I gotta take my cotton back now, aren't you? I'll take care of Uncle Pete. Yeah, Uncle Pete's sick, Clyde. I'm gonna finish his rope. Have to crop soar. If they're gonna might stay here, get me a bulldozen job. Where are you going? Well, I think I'm going north, Nick, here. Oh. Good. Go ahead and sit down. I'll tell her. He ain't so good. I'll raise him a tombstone. But got money. You can't get mixed up with no copperheads. Already wearing one crooked toe, one of them scoundrels ruined. Daisy, leave a few for the next filler. I thought you was a pair of snakes. I am. But that ain't no sign I got to starve to death, is it? You know that old San Pedro place down near the river? I heard of it. I ain't never seen it. Well, it belongs to the boss, too. Oh, Lodge at the commissary was telling me it's for rent. It's been laying out there now for three years. It should be as rich as mud. In the old days, old man Corinth used to raise the best crops in the country on it. It's been laying out all that time. It'll take a whole year to clear it off. Yeah. Don't you be always teasing Granny? I reckon I could ask old man Hewitt for his mules. He don't ever hardly use them know-how. Pay him with a bit of the crop. And as for seeds and fertilizer, I bet I could make a deal with Harmy. And as for a plow, there's that old one who has been laying out in Mo's backyard ever since he died. He ain't been used for nothing but roosting chickens on. I'm going to ask the boss about it. Ask and don't do no harm. No, ask and no work either don't harm a man. After all, the boss is a pretty good guy. We all have been friends. It's okay with me, Tucker. I ain't interested in that piece of land. It's too far away from my other property. But just remember this. Satisfied with the way you'll break that contract anytime of like. You're a good hard worker. And that's why I'm bothering to warn you. And I'm telling you again, if you're working for a big outfit, maybe you don't get rich. But you still get your pay even if the crops is bad. But the little guy who's growing his own, if his crops is ruined, he's got nothing left. See, you made up your mind. Got some way of moving you things? Yes, sir. Carillo said I could borrow his truck. Okay. Good luck, Tucker. To the river, honey. Oh, I'd rather live back there in that dirty old camp than in a heap of junk like me to go into that grubby place. My speed, it don't let me no more if I was a yellow dog. I always hoped we could have a room to ourselves someday. Oh, we can have. When summer comes, let Granny and the kids sleep in here and move our bed out on the porch. And have everything real nice. Oh, Sam, the house don't seem like nothing extra. Seems like extra one thing. Pretty darn extra bad. I reckon I was thinking too hard about the land. I plum-forgot about the house. It sure be some patching to do. More than a little. What about the well, Sam? Crazy to think we could live in this place. Why did it take me at least two weeks to dig this well again? Without even talking about the money the planks and beams had cost. Take much of a man that brings his babies and his women, folks, to soak and freeze and no such simple as this. Maybe she's right. Water from that river for the kids, it'd be just like serving them up a dish of typhoid. Take much of a man. Still go back to the camp if you want to. The boss couldn't have known how bad the place is. I could talk to him again and still maybe get my bulldozing job for the winter. Well, how's the ground? Oh, it's good earth, all right. You know, if dirt like this fella could raise the best crop in the country, it's been laying out all these years. But it's kind of like men, you know. It needs a rest every once in a while. Maybe that's the reason the Lord invented sending. But Sam, how about all this brushing Johnson grass? You'll kill yourself getting rid of it for the planting? I ain't all alone, honey. I ain't like Uncle Pete. I might get plum more out of thinking about you and Jolly and Daisy, and I ain't quite so tired no more. Oh, Sam, I just never could get along without you. Me too, honey. I couldn't live without you. The thing to be good about is we could always work together. When you did the plowing, I could lead the mules, and when you cleared up this brush, I could burn it for you. And in the summertime, we could lie in the grass and watch the kids swimming in the river. Yeah, that'd be fine, honey. But what worries me is that busted well. Oh, Sam, we could truly borrow water from the neighbor yonder. Ain't nobody refuses water. Yeah, I hear he's got a good well. Sam, I reckon we ought to stay. You really mean that? You ain't just saying that to make me feel good. I'm saying it because I believe you're as good as any man, and it's right for you to be your own boss. Darling. Hey, you two. You ain't all alone here, you know. Awesome topic. Give me a hand. Just, sister, mind you, I can say it being I'm a lady. All right, old lady, but you better be down before mornin', or you'll go right back to camp for this truck. No man career might not like it so much, neither. Grandson gone crazy as a bedbug. Pure plump crazy, I tell ya. And here we're done head. And if he thinks he's gonna stick his old granny in a trash box like that, but he's stickin' for nothin' more than killin' me, sure. Ain't exactly a veranda, honey, but to me it supports it makes the house a home. Sam, I think I got the stove working. Oh, did you? All lighted together. The house. Yeah. Sure made a good job of that stove, honey. Won't be long before we'll have a good hot cup of coffee. You get some water, Sam. Here's some honey, granny. Honey. You're not only let me die of the cold, but they hide out the goodies on me. Fire going is nice and warm in here. It'll make us a good dinner. This one to devour is that neighbor hours down the road with a good well. That little one in the buckets for us. Aren't you gonna put on dry clothes? Oh, I'll dry off walking over. Won't be gone long. You better keep Soonie here. This one ain't so big, honey. Come on, Jody. Soonie? Well, I'll catch us another one tomorrow. A big one. We'll keep it. He's my uncle. He's over yonder in the shant. Fish hook you're fixin'. I ain't no grabbler. Is it in this river? Aim to use it any place I feel like it. Filly! I'm Becky Desmond. Yes, I'm. We're the Tuckers. We're the folks next door. It's lonesome here. What are you doing here? I didn't send for you. But I thought... You don't have to think. Get that fish and go back in the house. That thing's a real fine thing. Now you get your wash and finish. It was seemed to borrow some of your well water. So that's what you come for. I could have told you that. What about that water? Why don't you get your water at the river? Because river water ain't no good for kids to drink. This is plenty of water. You'll have to make other arrangements, though. When summer comes, it gets pretty weak when the weather's dry. We'll take turns about replacing the wore-out rope. A mile down the road. You're going to fix your own well, ain't you? If you're retting, you must have some savings put aside. I got two good arms. It's worth more than savings. Talk. You think there can be farmers just like that with the bare hands. Got any tools? A tractor? No, I ain't got no tractor. But I got two mules and a good old plow and a friend of mine's lending the seed. Rust and furnish is the fertilizer. Don't need much for good muddy land like that. And he gives the poison for the weevils, pays the cotton pickers, even lets you draw grub from his commissary after you get the ground broke. Yeah, he just furnishes about everything with the sweat. And if you get by the year, he generously lets you take your share of the crop. Ain't that right? Well, I asked me. He seems like you know it already. Didn't think the first time he's getting a piece of land cleaned off for nothing. Until you get your plowing started. Aim to fish and hunt varmints and sell a few skins. There are lots of folks like that live around here and plenty more than it before. And how about you? How'd you get started? Of course, my whole crop, it was run by the hail. Next year, black leg got my cow and pig that I'd spent all my savings for. My wife caught cold and she died. Two years later, one of my kids, the boy, he died from spring sickness. Maybe I lost them both, my woman and my kid, because I didn't have no money for doctrine. And here I am with a farm. A good one belongs all to me and worth lots of money. Only I can't forget what it cost me. So when I see young folk like you with their proudness, noses stuck in the air just makes me laugh. Well, much obliged for the water. And good luck with your fish hunt. Hey, Finley. What's that big old fish you're uncle's fixing up there? Is there a whale in this river? That's for Lead Pencil. Lead Pencil, what's that? A catfish. He's got chin whiskers like Lead Pencil. It's the biggest during catfish you've ever seen in the river. Hey, hey! Get that water! Right away, Uncle Henry! Thank you, man. Must be the wind. It's more the signs. For days now, the moon's been moving closer and closer to the North Star. The animals don't like that, they hide out. Crazy to go against the signs, but what can you do? You've got to get fresh food. Daisy, honey, why don't you and Sonny get into bed? It's nice and warm there. Come on, Daisy. Go to bed, Johnny. Have a nice day at school, sister? She didn't go, Sam. Why not? It's too cold. She ain't got no coats. She'll catch her death at cold. But Daisy's got to go to school. Just because we're having hard times right now don't mean we've got to stop nothing. Well, we've got to keep going. Once we give up, we won't have the courage to get ourselves back to good times. And I see it ain't going to have no dinner again tonight. Never you mind, Granny. For breakfast, we'll have a nice big bowl of cornmeal mush. And you all look down on my cold dead face in that cowdy pine box. You'll be sorry then, maybe. You keep on promising, Granny. You don't never deliver the goods. Cush your mouth. You can't talk to me like that. You ain't even a real tucker. Hey, honey. Daisy's got to be coated. You've got to go to school. Don't you touch my blanket, Sam Tucker. Don't you touch my blanket. Get out of here. Sam's got hate that you keep punishment. Granny, ain't you got no heart? You want Daisy to catch her death? There'll be enough blanket to keep you warm. I like a big cashew, Sam Tucker, my bitch blanket. That's my gift. Sam Tucker's the boss here. He can cut up whatever he likes. He's the boss. You hear me? That does work. Take on the song. I think I know where there's a nice swarm of wild bees. Maybe tomorrow I'll go out and get you some honey. Maybe. Wild bees. Wild bees don't care for folks coming and helping yourselves, you know. Now, don't you worry. I'll get your honey. No need. You know, I guess you're right. You're a tucker after all. It's Sam of yours. He's most as good a man as my fit yet. My best blanket. Yes, sir, your hat'll just about bring the price of a pair of silk stockings for Lona. Nice and shiny. Now, folks. Much obliged, Lord. Looks like the tuckers are going to make the great after all. First, because she's the eldest. Then comes Jottie, because he's the littlest. Papa, because he caught possum. This one's for Zuni, because he helped him. Last of all, Daisy and me, because we're the women, folks. Vegetables in winter? If you don't. That must be spring sickness, Sam. Well, it's vegetables that causes spring sickness. That's when you get it along about the time you start eating vegetables. I ought to know. I lost three of mine from it. Your Uncle Walter, Aunt Beth and Sue. And not one of them was over six. Sharks, look at them. Anything a body likes as fit as that couldn't be bad for them. Ain't that true, no? Working and plugging away, and I gosh, we done good. Start planting our cotton round about the twin days. And our crop will really get started. You see those little green woolly worms falling out of that tree down together. Some folks might think that they're what lead pencils act to. But they'd be wrong. Because he's after something else. He ain't interested in no worms. Well, lead's a pretty smart old guy. Wouldn't hardly live to be as old as he is if he wasn't. I'll bet your old lead waits for his dinner right over yonder without their drift. It's like a trap. That pencil's got his cupboard. Would no better than me. It's already lost sweet. I see no reason to bother you, Doctor. It was just a little sore. Sonny ain't ever been sick. But it grew and grew. Now it seems like it's just fun gonna possess him. You see, Doctor, it's like some evil crawling worm eating up our baby. Can't stand to watch it no longer, Doctor. You gotta do something to stop it. Have a cow, do you? No, son. You better tell Sam to get one. How can we get a cow? Borrow one. Let Sam raise a heifer for somebody. Or borrow some milk anyway. A pint a day. Or better still a quart. Any neighbor with a cow could spare you then. I'll try, Doctor. What medicine? Undress the boy. What vegetables you've been eating lately? Vegetables. Couldn't grow vegetables in winter. You got any money? Yes, Doctor. I got your two dollars. And Sam's got a dollar and 35 cents more. Keep it. You take all your money and spend it all for vegetables and get some lemons. Give him a glass of lemonade twice a day and get that milky here. If you don't give him milk and vegetables, anything that I can do will be just plum wasted. And with the milk and vegetables? I think he's got a chance. He's right close to shadow theory, the old Colonel. He brought us all together. And he said, he said, young men in civilian life never brag about your conquest, whether they be love or war. Shut up, young fella. I'm telling you, I know. Ten cents, Sam. Ain't he gone up? He used to be a nickel. No, ma'am. Old Z could be mighty pleased with him, ma'am. Tim just came back to show off his city clothes. Yeah, just take a look at that fancy tie. It seems like in the city, dollars grow faster than beans in the field. Don't pay no mind to them, Yoko. Sam, I've been looking all over for you. Let's go over to Siemens and I'll buy some beer and tell you all about it. Brother, I'm with you any time you'll buy me a beer. Well, Army, Nona and Jott over at Doc White's. When they come over, tell them I'll be back in a minute. What do you mean? When you're drinking beer with old... How much for this pair of garlands? Is that Nona and Jotties over at Old Doc White's? Yeah. What's wrong, Sam? You know what I'm saying, Alan? Granny says it springs sickness. Yeah, poor Nona. If a sick kid, she don't hardly get a wink of sleep. Yeah, it's tough, man. When Momol came out to my place yesterday to help, Army brought her out in this truck. Now, that's kind of a relief. I'm working the factory with me. Are you crazy? What would I do in the factory? I'm a farmer. Well, they just opened a new plant and they're just crying for men. Don't even have to be skilled. I know the foreman. Seven bucks a day. Two bottles of beer. Beer for me. Mighty bestie. Well, why don't you ask your sweet papa there? He gets it wholesale. Oh, him. They say he wanted his good days. Must have got out a bit on the wrong side. Well, I got out on the... I've seen you someplace before. No? What'd you say? Well, yes, sir. Ain't I never seen you someplace before? Could be. I don't know. You in town all along? Like you see, I'm with my friend here and my wife's waiting for me at Army's store. Oh, so you got a wife? Yep, I got a wife. Well, someone's got wives and they're still nice and friendly. I'm sorry, ma'am. I was studying about something. Let's go down to the end of the bar, pal. We can't talk here. Excuse me, ma'am. I ain't got no wife waiting for me, baby. How about a date tonight? You big pig. You know what you can do with your dates. Okay, okay, baby. We'll talk about it later. Bucks a day, huh? So it's yes, you come? Well, don't write, let's see how I can, Tim. I made a deal with Rustin. I already got some credit from his commissary. Man, with seven bucks a day, it wouldn't take you long to pay him back. Yeah, but I'm telling you, Tim, this is the first time I've been able to farm my own crop, just like I always wanted to. That ain't something I can give up just like that. Well, how much can you get on your crop? Man, without that ground I got, it'll be the finest crop in the country. Well, what does that mean, the finest crop in the country? Then, in luck at all, I can make two bales an acre. Well, how much does that make for you? More than 50 bales. No, no, I mean how much money? Do you know that on that ground that I've been working on now, old man Corinth made a fortune in the last cotton boom, a real fortune? Oh, so that's the idea. All you farmers is just the same. Gambler. That's what you all are, too, a man. Year after year, you starve yourself to death and hopes it's some fine day. I think you're local. Me, I'd rather be safe first. Me, I'd rather work in my fields. I feel better that way. I feel more free. Free? Free? Man, with money in your pocket, you're as free as a wind. With this, if you want a good meal, you go to a restaurant. A good room, you go to a hotel. All you gotta do is flash your greenbacks. You get anything you want. You call that free sweating from morning till night and a bacon-hot sun working in them fields? Oh, I love how it's sometimes pretty hard. What I mean is being able to decide things for myself. I know I can choose my own time about planting and plowing and harvesting the crop and that I can do it all in my own way and don't have to answer to nobody. I mean, for me alone to be accountable for it, whether the weave will strip it clean or whether it's a best crop. Well, only that means no. I'm afraid so, Tim. Well, pal, I think you're making a big mistake. Hey, Bart, you ever workin' my mother for dollars? What for dollars? I'll give you a five-dollar bill. Oh, no. Lizzie, you've seen that was a one. Of course I did. That pretty boy that's going home to his wife. He sees it too. Well, I'll be dogged gone. Nothing but a hecky old farmer and yet the girls fall for you like a ton of brick. What in the heck are you got that I can't buy with my dough? Ha-ha-ha! Double-join your son of a stunt! I'll tell his joint! I'm sorry! Okay, brother. But I hope it's gonna be worth the four dollars to you. I ain't askin' you to help, Sam. You've got a family. I wouldn't start no trouble, Sam. I don't stay here, Sam. This is apt to cost you more than four dollars. I'm askin' you please not to stay here. I'd like to see him get the invention he wants to grow. Where'd you figure we were gonna get that there milk from? Out in the sky, just like that. Get more sickness with break-near. A wigger lady hurray jointed him better since. That baby will just kick you to death in this year, will ya? It wasn't this year, Tucker family just ain't strong. It's just like I told you, Tucker, I don't need no extra help. I got Finley and my gal Becky. Too bad about your boy. I know what that is, a sick kid, pretty sorrowful. What's your name, Becky? But I told you before it's wrong for a man to get too big for his britches. When you got no money, you work for them what's got it that there's the rule. Why don't you go back to Ruston, get your six bits a day, some milk for your chap, maybe some doctrine even. About the milk like you see, I can't rightly spare a drop. Me, I got no milk for myself, it's all for the pigs. Throw the rest in, Becky. Finley, bring the grain. Your cotton. Comin' along, not too many bugs. I seen you the other day in the field, you were shavin' that cotton so close to the ground with a plow, you scared me. Still, that's the best way to get rid of the bugs, rolls them right out in the sun, he kills them better than any poison. But you got to have a good eye and a steady hand. You're a good worker, all right, Tucker. If I was you, I wouldn't think twice. I'd go back to work for Ruston. If I wanted to give up, I wouldn't have to go back to Ruston. Got something better? Yeah, lots better. Like I already done told you, I want to grow my own crop and I aim to do it. Well, if you're so sure of yourself, why y'all is coming around asking the neighbors for help? I don't know why I've asked you for anything. Likely some old-fashioned idea I had about naveliness. Take good care of them pigs. That's sure what I'm going to do. Finley, see that, that black hog eats all his dinner, you hear? So long, Devers. It's for John. Thanks, Becky. I can get you some more every once in a while. My daddy won't ever see you. Now, let's oblige, Becky, and I'll take it, because my boy's a really bad dog, but I'll pay you for it. Becky, Becky, I've seen you. I've seen what you've done. I feel just like breaking somebody's neck today. I'm going to tell your father you were stealing his milk. I know he was hankering after this fella. I've seen you looking at him before. I'm going to tell your father. Oh! What did you do that for? I ain't never going to speak to you again. If I see you talking to him again, you'll be sorry. Get Finley. Don't fret, Becky. You're a good talent. I ain't just a saint. I can't listen to him cry. You put that sky up there in this old mud down here. It made it so pretty if you didn't want us to work it and to love it. You want me to give all this up, move in town with Tim, and work with him in a factory under a roof that hides your sky and puts out your light. Tell me, Lord, help me to know. You have a good trip to me. Yeah. You know, army of cars is the only thing I love in the country that I miss in the city. Believe me, you me, that sweet old gal, so I'm more gentle, look, I'm not lessy, I'm something more. Father, can I go tell him now? Of course you can. Wagon in one of these days is a bull constrictor. I wouldn't be one might surprised. Vegetable garden? That's Finley and them devils cattle. In the house, honey. Go on back in the house. Not by yourself, but we both know who did. Come on, we're going to your place. Look, I said, why'd you do it? What do you mean why'd I do it? You can't prove nothing. Lord, call it an act of God. That's for your garden. You can plant it again, can't you? Plant it again? Or did you come to borrow some seed? I wouldn't borrow from you. Wait a minute. Speaking of borrowing. This rope's plum root. Remember what we agreed on when you first come and asked for water? You mean about replacing it? Yeah, about replacing it. It's time for you to do it now. I don't aim to use this one no more. And I'm sick and tired of you coming around here and asking for water. And now devils, I'm going to break your neck. I'm mighty glad you started this, Tucker. Especially what Finley is, a witness. That makes two of us can talk to the law. The first time you come to ask for water, just don't like to see folks trying to be better than they are. In this world, there's got to be them what gives orders and them what takes them. And you figure you was made to give them and me to take them. Is that right? Why? Because I worked hard all my life. I worked hard too. You know that? Well, why here, not someplace else? Before you come, I was alone in this place. Everything was mine. I was thinking on buying your farm. It was cheaper then. But now if this goes on like this, everything's going to be on. All I ever see is you everywhere I go. In the woods, killing the farm and at the river catching the fish. Even Finley told me you set a line for lead pencil. And McGalbecky, you hear what she said? Don't bother about me anymore. His whiskers is as big as lead pencils. That's my fish. Whatever too, huh? Well, maybe the law will call my hook and line an act of God. You give me the fish and swear never to say you caught it and I'll give you a dollar. I don't want no dollar. My folks likes fish. All right, let me take it. Keep it for a day or two and show it at the store. And then you can have it back. Folks likes fresh fish, Debra. Well, let me take it and I can use out of my garden. What happened, Sam? Becky told me. Oh, honey, it ain't nothing. I was just helping Debra say I pulled this big old catfish out in the river. He done caught lead pencil. He was about to tell you. Yeah, we've probably forgot. You tell him, honey. Well, we're going to get married someday. I was thinking I'll bless those tug-as-o's. I can't help wondering why. I get the man I want. Jottie's cured and happy once more. Daisy's so good at her booklining she's going to get a prize at school. Sam's grown the best crop in the county. Maybe he's going to buy his own place with what he makes often. I keep studying why Almighty blessed us tug-as-o's so generous. But I reckon I know. It's because of Sam and the way he worked that farm he is. That crop he done grown must be just the way the Lord wanted it. You're sure right. Only if Sam is like he is, it's because he's got such a good mark. I got something to say, too. I can't think of nobody a drother had than Harming from a paw. Hey, son. He ain't a baby no more. Leave him alone. I think he's mine now. Oh, she's yours. Who do you think you are? Just think of him. I'd stop that tomorrow. Oh. But it ain't tomorrow yet. Come on in here. He says it doesn't. When our ship comes in, I want us to get one of them talking machines and a lot of sacred records. I want to sit on the gallery and I'm going to drink lemonade with ice in it. I want to see your Bueller land, you know. We're on the highest mountain of the way. Say, Harming, you're sure you didn't catch cold the night you made that, huh? Don't you know this is just to keep you warm? Hey, Harming, weren't you feared of the law? You kidding? Law was right there waiting for the finished product. Hey, Sam. Come on. I'll show you something. Silly stuff, Sam. Sam is drinking them hot-shot nightclubs. Lay your nose on that. Smell it, Sam. Smell it. Ain't that something? Oh, it sure is. Three bucks a quart? Can I square dance, huh, folks? Oh, I gotta find a good hiding place for this. Oh, you're very nice, man, but thanks just to say. After the dance, we could go outside, honey. I got some money so I'm drinking liquor in my car. Well, thank you, man, but I got a partner. How about a dance with me, honey child? Man, if the dance will go up your car. What happened to our cotton? Better get it along back inside. Don't do no good for us. You stay here with the rest of us. Because you're trapping me like you always do. Let's switch. On back to the house, we got work to do. But I just gotta find her, Tim. Pass you down there, but the river's all underwater. Well, why don't you wait until the water goes down? Brother, this river will never stop rising. Okay, boy. I'll get a hand. Okay, boy. Okay, I'm swimming along. Oh, yeah, and I'm going on with you. You better stay here. Okay, Tim. Okay, boy. I've got a bunch of friends that's left and pack up my whole bunch and get out of the river. I just can't look at them no more. I give them everything I had to give honest and what they give me back, nothing but trouble and misery to stick in no longer a fellow other than when he's beaten. When he ain't wanted on the place, ain't nothing for him to do but to pack up and get out. It's about the things, too. Most of Jottie's vegetable jars are still whole. Of course, the picture's got kind of broke, but once I get him hanging straight on the wall, they won't look so bad. Well, I gotta back up again, and I think it'll work all right now. How do you like that, Sam? I like it fine, honey. It's much worse. Much worse if the engine had taken us. Yeah, I said it. You said it, but you ain't coming now, huh? I was a plumber out for a while. I didn't seem to believe in nothing no more. But now my clothes are starting to dry and beginning to believe again. I guess that's the way the earth feels when she's wet. Let the sun will start drying her out and she'll start calling to me again just the way Nona does sometimes. I noted all along you'd never leave this place. If there was only one farmer left in this earth, that'd be you. Quit your kidding, town. Well, their machines are yours, and they're fine. I realize that, but you sure can't eat them. Once in a while, you gotta have a hunk of beef and a few ears of corn to fill up your belly. Or you said if folks are mighty smart. But I'm afraid without us farmers you'd get kind of skinny. As workers, I just wonder what had happened to you all. Your plow. She sure didn't grow on no tree. And your gun that you feed your bunch with in the winter. You didn't plant no seeds to get that. Someday like I hope you get your tractor. Who are you reckon that'll come from? Believe me, friend, it takes all kind to make up this whole world. You love your farm. It's right you stay. I like to work in a factory. And that's why I come here to take you back with me, Sam. Well, you know what I'm talking about. I don't mean no harm. I'd just like to help you. Yeah, I know, Tim. Thanks. Good drink, Noni. I'll be tickered. As if we'd ever get through with the plowing. I'm going back to the house and just sit and wait for my call to glory. Spring's gonna come a little early this year, honey. I reckon we can start our seeding even before the twin dates.