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