Wish You Well (2013)

[bunniefuu]

When I was ten,

and my brother, Oz, was seven,

our lives changed.

Our lives changed

in the blink of an eye.

Forever.

Wish You Well

I assume you're our driver?

We're here to take you

to the farm.

In this?

This is unacceptable.

We require a proper ambulance.

After that, I'll need

to inspect the accommodations

to ensure that

they're acceptable and uh-uh--

Hello children.

I'm Louisa.

- And I know you go by Lou and Oz.

- This is filthy.

Welcome to Virginia.

This here's my friend, Eugene.

- Excuse me, madam.

- Hm-hmm.

You can't expect us

to ride back there.

No, I checked the fare back.

There's enough right here to get

you on the first train out.

Perhaps you don't speak English

that well.

I'm coming with you.

Perhaps you don't understand

how folks around here feel

about trespassers.

We take it very seriously.

And I've never

fired a warning shot in my life.

Come on now.

Amanda, it's Louisa.

I'm so glad we finally get

to meet.

Hmm. That's Hell no.

What you looking at?

Hop in, Diamond.

Come on, Jeb.

Come on. Come on.

Who's that?

Howdy y'all.

I expect y'all

being Ms. Louisa's people.

Folks around here

call me Diamond.

My daddy say

that's how hard my head be.

I'm Lou. This is Oz.

Sorry to hear about

your momma being hurt.

She's going to get better.

Are we here?

Oh no.

Hell No's just dropping me off

at the river to go fishing.

His name's Eugene.

Folks around

here call him Hell No.

Why?

Well, when Hell No was a baby,

his daddy left him.

Folks asked, "You gonna

come back and get him?"

He said, "Hell, no!"

John Jacob Cardinal.

Dad.

Not now, Amanda.

We can't live off awards, Jack.

I said, not now, Amanda!

I wish you'd

stop doing that.

It's not going to help.

Your problem is

you don't believe in anything.

And your problem is you

believe in everything.

Everything all right?

What is that for, Oz?

A way to help mom.

Lou doesn't believe it.

Well,

believing in something is

a lot better than having

an empty heart.

What smells?

Well, that'd be manure.

Oh you'll get

to love that smell.

Now come on over here.

Whoa.

- Eugene's gonna show you how to plow.

There you go.

- Easy.

- Louisa: Now Mable here

is about as strong as anything

in the world.

I read an animal book.

They have to show them

who's in charge.

Whoa!

- Uh.

- Oh.

I guess Mable didn't read

that book.

Louisa.

Lou, Oz, I want you

to meet Cotton Longfellow.

He's one of the finest lawyers

around here.

Well,

seeing as I'm also one of the

only lawyers around here,

that is a dubious distinction.

Oz.

Lou.

Oh.

Lou fell in manure.

That's why she smells.

Oz!

I don't know a farmer worth

his take

who hasn't fallen in manure

at least once.

I want to say how sorry I am

for your father's passing.

He was one of the

greatest writers

this country has ever had.

Lou, I think you might

get along right well with

Mr. Longfellow.

Are you related

to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow?

I am indeed.

He was a great writer, too.

I live in the shadow

of greatness.

Can be a little difficult

for some family members.

Well, Mr. Longfellow and

I have things to talk over,

so you--

you best go get cleaned up.

You go help your sister.

It's nice to meet you, Oz, Lou.

So what'd you find out, Cotton?

Well, there is no money...

in Jack Cardinal's estate.

And...

there are a lot of unpaid

hospital bills for Ms. Amanda.

Hmm.

Well, we'll, we'll get by,

we always do.

What exactly is wrong

with Ms. Amanda?

Mental trauma...

is what the doctor

in New York wrote me.

Say she may not get better.

It's up to her.

Hmm. Maybe up to God.

Well,

mental trauma can

sometimes be overcome

by mental stimulation.

Ah.

What better way to stimulate

somebody than to read to them,

particularly something that

they are very familiar with.

My eyes ain't what

they used to be.

But...

Uh,

I would be honored

to read to her.

- Hmm.

- Good.

Wake up, Lou.

Lou. Wake up, Lou.

Breakfast is ready.

Eugene's gonna

take you to school.

It's all right. Go ahead.

Lou.

Can anybody tell me

where the second and

fourth grade classes are?

Sure. Come on.

Right over here.

Of course,

that's just for Yankees.

Class,

I'd like to introduce Louisa Mae

and Oscar Cardinal.

Louisa Mae and Oscar,

will you stand up please?

My name is Lou.

Their father was Jack Cardinal,

- a famous writer

- Yeah...

and my former student.

Even met President Roosevelt.

And I hear that Louisa Mae

is also a writer.

Well,

we welcome you,

Louisa Mae and Oscar.

My name is Lou.

Why, it's Miss Louisa Mae.

You've been up to see

the President, too?

Are you always

this scintillating?

You call me a name?

Didn't you call us Yankees?

You're living with that old

woman and that crippled colored.

Pa said she ain't

keeping that farm going.

Not with three more

mouths to feed.

I don't care what your Pa says.

He got a wad a cash

as big as my fist.

Then maybe he should

spend it on his family.

You best take that back.

Make me.

sh**t.

I ain't hitting no girl.

You're going to have to.

Unless you can take that back.

What have we got here?

I guess you ain't much

of a writer.

She is too a writer.

Dang you,

you no good stinking blue blood.

Stop it!

Hey! You stop it, now!

Get off of me.

Now you apologize to each other!

You can go straight to hell!

Stop your nonsense, Billy.

Louisa Mae, come back here!

Ma'am, her name is Lou.

Glad to see you made such a nice

first impression, Lou.

They called us Yankees.

Oh good Lord, ain't that evil.

The boy said we were going

to lose the farm.

It'll be okay, Oz.

I got this for my last birthday.

I want you to have it.

Birthday presents

are special, Lou.

But I want to help.

This land has provided

for me all my life.

I think it'll provide

for us now.

I know it's a lot with three

more mouths to feed, but...

I wouldn't trade it for all

the money in the world, honey.

Hi, Cotton.

Hey, Cotton.

What are you doing here?

Ah, well,

I'm gonna read one of your

father's books to your mother.

Our dad already read

all his books to her.

Besides,

she can't hear you anyway.

Lou, go change your clothes and

help Eugene with the chores.

Go on.

Reading to mom is a good idea.

Thank you Oz.

I will do my best.

Good afternoon, Ms. Amanda.

My name is Cotton Longfellow.

And it will be my pleasure

to read to you.

What you working on there,

Ms. Lou?

A story.

What it be about?

I don't know, Eugene.

Anything else we can do, Eugene?

Uh, firewood's got to go inside.

I'll do it.

What are you going to do now?

Ah, more chores.

Can I help?

Come on.

"The dirt lane

nudged over to the north,

"as it cleared a rise.

"Here the land splayed out into

a broad valley of simple beauty,

"green meadows were

bracketed by vast forests

"of every wood

the state boasted.

"Next to the meadow were

cleared patchwork fields

"that yielded to--

"weathered gray,

and wrapped with naked

rambling rose vines..."

Cotton was reading

my father's words.

Words about this place.

The fields he used to play in.

My only memories of my dad

had been in New York.

But now,

now I was starting to

feel him all around me here,

in this place, too.

- All right. Good boy.

- Good boy, Jeb.

Hell No, come here. Throw it.

Give it a whirl, huh.

Diamond told me about

Eugene's daddy leaving him.

That is a darn lie.

Eugene's daddy did not

leave him,

he was k*lled in

a logging accident.

And then after his

Auntie passed on,

I took him in.

So why do people call him

that awful name?

Because they're ignorant,

that's why.

Memories are a funny thing.

People like to change

the past so they can remember

what it is they

want to remember.

All right, good boy.

Good boy, Jeb.

How'd you learn

how to toss like that?

Your brother's

got a really good arm.

Yeah.

What'd you do for

fun in the city?

Ever go skinny dippin'

in a gravel pit?

There aren't

gravel pits in Brooklyn.

I haven't met a boy

like Diamond before.

He lived all by himself

on the mountain.

His mom had died

when he was born

and his dad died during

a mining accident.

The whole mountain

had fallen on him.

Louisa said that Diamond

and I were like family.

We're distant cousins.

I never knew I had

so much family here.

This here well, it's magic.

What do you mean?

There was a guy and a gal,

they want to get hitched,

but their families

wouldn't let them.

So, they made a plan to run off.

Only something happened,

and the fella,

he thought the gal

done got k*lled.

So

he come down here

and he jump in.

That gal, she found out,

she come down here

and she jump in, too.

That sounds like

Romeo and Juliet.

Who?

What makes it magic,

Diamond?

Ah. Well,

them two people,

dying for each other,

that's what made the well magic.

Anybody have a wish, they

come down here, it'll happen.

- There's just one little catch.

- What?

You got to give up the most

important thing you got,

just like they did.

But how do you know if it works?

Well, this here bucket,

swing from left to right.

- Lou, maybe we can--

- No, Oz.

- But--

- It's just like your stupid necklace, it won't work.

Mom's never coming back.

This morning's lessons

we will practice our letters.

Please take out your books and

write each letter five times.

Lou,

is something wrong?

No.

I'm gonna whoop you.

Go get 'em Will,

go get 'em!

Fight!

What the hell is going on here?

Billy got in another fight,

George.

Sorry pa.

I was working in the

damn fields, boy.

Now get up.

Did that damn girl

do that to you?

I ain't through with you, boy.

- George, you leave him be.

- Get off of me.

Next year,

no more damn school for you.

- You hear me? Huh?

- Yes, sir.

Why don't you let Billy

decide that?

He a boy, he do what I say.

Well, I see me a fine young man.

He ain't a grown man.

Yeah, but you are, so you keep

your hands off of him!

You got that big colored

living in your house,

don't ya?

God gonna strike you dead.

God gonna strike

you down for that.

Got that Injun blood in ya.

You don't belong here,

old woman.

If you ever lay a hand

on him again,

you'd better pray to whatever

God it is you counsel with,

that I don't find you,

George Davis.

Hey?

Do you know who you're

messing with, old woman?

Yeah,

I know who I'm messing with.

Your daddy beat you bad

and he starved you

and your sisters.

Many a time I tried

to come between ya's.

And now you've grown up

to be just like him.

Well,

Billy's not gonna be like that.

Billy. Wake up, come on.

Come on.

You're gonna

hear from me, woman.

Don't you worry, Ms. Louisa,

that man ain't

gonna touch you

or the children

while I'm around.

Come on, children.

Why did George Davis say

you don't belong here?

Well,

my daddy was part Cherokee

and some folks around

here don't like that.

Me, I'm proud of it.

So you got Native blood in you,

too.

I think that's pretty special.

You should've seen Billy's face

when he opened that lunch pail.

It was so funny.

Oh look.

Wild grapes.

They're all around here

if you know where to look.

Chestnuts on the ground,

wild onions underneath.

We can get a whole meal

out of this land

'out even lifting a finger.

They're amazing.

Tell me, Lou,

did you see any food

in Billy's pail?

No.

You see,

what I find funny is that

some children feel

they ought to be ashamed

when their daddy doesn't

see fit to give them anything.

So ashamed that they had

to haul a pail to school

and pretend to eat,

so nobody would catch on

that their daddy

gives them nothin'.

Do you find that funny, Lou?

- No.

- No.

You see,

you had a fine daddy

who loved you very much.

And I know that makes it harder

now that he's gone, but...

the thing is,

Billy Davis has to live

with his daddy every day.

And I pray with all my heart

that he survives it.

Why didn't my dad

ever come back here?

You never know what's in

someone else's heart, Lou.

No matter how hard you try.

I wish that my mom

would wake up.

Hey, come on!

I gotta show you something.

Get your brother.

- Where are we going?

- Come on.

We're gonna go see God!

Diamond said

every time he came here

God will send him an angel.

He thought he had a right

good regime of 'em.

This is where

God touched the earth.

Maybe someday

they'll name it after me.

Put 'er there. Come on, boy.

What are they doing?

George Davis,

he has a still up here.

So the sheriff won't catch him

making moonshine.

Jeb!

- Jeb!

- What's that?

You come back here!

Diamond, look out!

- Diamond!

- Billy, go see what that is.

Run, Oz!

Hey, you! Get over here!

- Lou!

- I'm gonna get ya!

Oz!

Where you runnin', boy?

Help, Lou!

Hey, who told you

you could come here?

Let him go!

- Stop!

- What are you doing?

Daddy, no!

Ew, aw! Ow!

Come on.

Get up! Run, y'all!

What the hell, Billy?

What's wrong with you? Get up!

Don't you ever touch

my g*n again, you understand?

Never, boy!

You busted up my still!

Don't you dare!

Them little devils tore up

my property.

And I'm here to get paid.

Well,

why don't you show the sheriff

what they done to your still

and he can tell me what's fair.

You know I can't do that, woman.

Well, then you can find your way

off my property.

Now get off before I lose

patience and you lose blood.

I'll pay

you George Davis.

You little vermin.

My head still burns from

where you clocked me

and I don't appreciate it

at all.

You lucky then, 'cause

I could've hit you harder.

You close that trap, you don't

smart mouth me, you boy.

You want your money or not?

Money?

You ain't got no money.

Got a silver dollar right here.

It's a 100 years old.

Man in Tramont, he told me

he'd pay me 20 dollar for it.

Diamond, don't.

What a man do?

You got to have consequences.

Now look,

- if I give you this

- Huh.

You ain't coming back

to Ms. Louisa for nothing.

You got to swear.

Sure. Sure, I swear.

Come on, give it to me, I swear.

Now get you gone, George.

All right, Louisa.

But next time,

my g*n don't miss.

Ever.

Thanks for the coin.

Oz, why don't you go in

and get cleaned up.

And Diamond, you go in the barn

and milk the cow.

Take that dang dog with you.

Now if you run off like that,

and you take your little brother

with you,

he'd cross through fire for ya.

I'm ashamed of you.

I'm really sorry.

If you ever pull another thing

like that,

you're gonna feel my hand

across your skin.

And believe me, it's something

you ain't ever gonna forget.

Hey Billy.

What's the matter, child?

Ma's baby coming.

She sent me to get you.

She don't feel right.

I'm gonna drive you.

Well, you can drive me,

but I'll walk home.

I don't want you staying

around George Davis.

I'm coming with you.

- No, this is no place for you.

- I want to help.

Billy, is your pa there?

Mare gonna drop its foal.

He's staying in the barn 'til

it come.

I'll get my things.

Hi!

I brought you a present.

And here's one for you.

And one for you.

Hey.

Hey.

We still have some time here,

you can go on outside,

I'll call you.

How many have you delivered?

Huh. Forty two in 47 years.

I remember 'em all.

And they all lived?

You go on outside now.

I'll let you know when.

Breathe, Sally.

Just deep breaths.

That's good.

That's good.

I'm sorry about putting

that snake in your pail.

I did it to you first.

My pa k*ll a man

that done it to him.

You're not your dad, Billy.

If I tell him

I'm fetching Ms. Louisa...

he'd be mad.

We're here to help your mother.

He can't have a problem

with that.

Is that right?

How's your foal, pa?

Dead.

What's she doing here?

Huh?

I got them to help ma.

Ms. Louisa's inside right now.

That woman's inside my house?

It's time.

Come on. The baby's comin'.

Listen, you got no business

being here, old woman.

Sally needs help.

Are you gonna do it?

Come on.

If it's a girl,

you let her die, you hear?

Don't need me no more

damn girls.

He looks like you.

What will you be naming

your new baby boy?

They call you Lou.

That be your name, girl?

Well, sort of.

Then it be Lou.

I have a brother, Lou.

Billy,

when the crops are in,

you come see me, all right?

Okay, Ms. Louisa.

Why did Billy's mother marry

a man like George Davis?

Well, 'cause he owned

his own land and livestock.

She could've left the mountain.

Well, this mountain is all

she's ever known.

It's hard to leave that.

Have you ever thought

about leaving?

No, I never have.

Me and this land get

along right well.

Like family.

I think we'd both be lost

without the other.

And when I'm gone,

it'll belong to you and Oz.

I've never owned anything.

Well,

you don't exactly own land, Lou.

You and the high rock just kinda

take care of each other.

Did you have any other children

besides my grandfather?

I, uh,

had me a little girl...

named Annie.

She was so pretty

when she was born.

I knitted her a pink cap.

It fit her head real good.

What happened?

Her little chest rose and fell

and rose and fell.

Then it forgot to rise again.

Doesn't seem fair, a momma

don't get to see her baby's eyes

at least once. Hmm.

My dad died in that accident,

'cause he and my mom

were arguing.

Well, Lou,

people pass

when it's their time.

We can't forget 'em,

but we got to go on living.

And the folks we still have

with us,

they deserve all the help

we can give 'em.

I think it's time I showed you

something. Come on.

These are the letters

your mother wrote to me.

I didn't know she did that.

There might be a lot

you don't know about her.

It's time you learned.

Lou/Oz: Cotton!

Hey, Cotton, Cotton! Cotton!

Ah, well, look who's in town.

What are you doing here?

My office is

in the courthouse here.

What are you doing here?

Louisa gave us the day off.

Oh, nice.

Well hey, what's say

you give me a couple of hours

and I'll take you all to lunch?

We don't have a watch.

Well,

my father, he gave me this

when I first moved here.

He told me I would have a lot

of time on my hands.

I guess he wanted me

to keep track of it, huh?

How about you keep track of it.

Two hours. All right?

Have fun.

And Diamond, you keep

out of trouble, you hear?

How much for a slice of pie?

A nickel.

Hey you get them dirty fingers

away from my pie.

Where you from boy?

The mountain?

No, I'm from the moon.

You just march yourself

on away from here.

Get back up the mountain

where you belong.

Hey, get! You little...

Atta boy, Jeb.

Come on Oz, let's go.

Hey, uh, why you leaving?

Because,

we're from the mountain, too.

That's some mighty fine eatin',

Cotton.

Yeah, I agree Diamond.

It's good food.

Thanks, Cotton.

John!

Hello, Mr. Cotton.

What's going on?

The coal business is gone.

I lost my job at the mine.

You didn't sell

to Southern Valley, did you?

Yes sir, I did.

Me and most of the people on

this side of the mountain.

Well, take care.

- Good luck.

- Thank you.

Your parents were nice looking.

Yeah, they was.

Why didn't you tell me

about them?

Why should I?

Because we're friends.

I never knowed my mom, but...

I try to think of

what her voice would be like.

It's hard not having parents.

You still got a momma.

No, I don't.

Don't you ever give up

on a breathing body, Lou.

Ever.

You're good at telling stories.

Maybe you should try writing.

sh**t.

I don't know no big words except

for Hallelujah.

Thanks.

You're a good friend.

You're like family.

My daddy say that there are

two things in life you die for,

friends and family.

Sometimes

they're one in the same.

Maybe they are.

What's that, Lou?

Nothing important.

"The wind ride on tree limbs,

"the underbrush was thick with

sounds of stealthy movement

"and the tall grass seemed

to clutch

"at the boy's pant legs.

"The little boy was certain

that regiments of hobgoblins

"were roaming nearby in full

terrifying splendor.

"Yet something inside him

"had clearly risen superior

to these horrors.

"For he did not once think

of turning back.

"Well,

"maybe once,

he admitted to himself.

"Or perhaps twice.

"He ran hard for a while,

making his way over the knolls,

"navigating crisscross gullies

"and stumbling through

the jungle of dense woods.

He cleared one last grove of

trees, stopped, stooped low..."

There's a diamond in here.

A diamond?

Yep.

Chip a little piece off it

every day,

and before you know it,

it'll be the purtiest diamond

anyone ever saw.

Maybe you could sell

that for a lot of money.

I ain't need no money.

Got everything I need,

right here on this mountain.

What's going on over there?

Well, coal company's

got all the money,

now they want all the land.

You want to sell your property,

that's my price.

Come on down...

It seemed

everywhere I looked,

there were signs going up.

Sold to Southern Valley Coal.

Diamond never forgave

the coal company

for what they did to his

father.

Or for what they were doing

to the mountain.

Don't you even think about it,

Diamond Skinner.

I be seeing you!

What was that all about?

Nothing you have to worry about.

Who was that?

Judd Wheeler.

He owns a coal company

that k*lled my dad.

Y'all know about the stars?

Yeah.

That's Big Dipper and Pegasus.

Ain't heard of those, but...

there's the Bear

that's missing one leg.

And over there,

that's the stone chimney.

You sure do know a lot

about stars, Diamond.

Well, when you're up here in the

mountains, you're closer to 'em.

You get to see 'em better

than other folks.

There's coal in that there rock.

Pickaxe can't do job.

You gotta use dynamite.

Is it dangerous?

No. Done it myself.

If you ain't careful,

you can blow yourself up good.

You know, after it blows,

maybe I could take you in,

show you around.

You should think about coming

to live with us.

You could be my big brother.

Maybe I will.

Jeb! Jeb, stop!

Come back here!

- Jeb! Diamond!

- Jeb, come here!

Come back here, Jeb!

- Diamond, wait now. Stop!

- Diamond.

- Diamond. Don't!

- No. Lou, no!

- Hey. Wait here, Ms. Lou.

- Come back! - Diamond!

- Come here, boy!

- I'll get him.

- Jeb, come back!

- Come out of there!

Come on now! Come on!

Diamond!

Eugene!

Eugene, where is he?

Where is he? Where's Diamond!

Eugene, where is he?

Sorry, Ms. Lou.

Diamond!

Diamond!

Ms. Lou.

Okay.

It's okay.

People pass and it's natural,

the old making way for the new,

but when a child dies,

it just turns everything

upside down.

I don't know much,

but I do know that

Diamond's up there

right now, telling God a story.

And God is laughing.

And that's all any of us

need to carry in our hearts

about this young man.

? Your hand ?

? In mine

? I

? I'll leave

I can close my eyes and wish

and wish,

but you are never coming back.

Where you going?

Going to send a letter.

In your nightgown?

A lot to take to market.

What do you want?

Hey, Billy.

Hey,

you know you're just in time.

I was just saying what are we

gonna do with all this food?

Come on over here

and take this home.

Uh, Lou,

put this one on Billy's cart.

And if your daddy say

anything about this

you tell him to come talk to me.

Before long, Ms. Louisa,

I won't care what my pa says.

It's not fair.

George Davis sells his crops

and we feed his family?

I'll tell you what's fair,

a momma and her babies

having food to eat.

That's what's fair.

You remember that.

What are those?

Just some old letters from mom.

Would you read them to me?

All right. Just one.

"Dear Louisa,

I hope you are doing well.

"Oz is over the whooping cough

and is finally sleeping

through the night."

Me! She wrote about me!

"Your great

granddaughter is amazing."

Your great granddaughter

is amazing, Louisa.

Her mind is so quick.

And I'm afraid she finds me

a little boring.

I know she wants

more than anything

to be a writer like her father,

but she needs to understand

that

every writer has to

find their own voice.

But when Lou opens up her heart

and lets the words

pour from her

I know the world

will have another

- mighty fine writer...

- "Mighty fine writer

named Cardinal."

That was a good letter.

Good night, Oz.

Night, Lou.

I guarantee you

it's going to be a Jim dandy

of a Christmas now,

I'm telling you.

With the gas

we're gonna get out of this,

this hole in the ground here

everybody's gonna have money to spend.

- Hey!

Let me go!

- George!

- Please! Please!

What is going on up there?

What--

What is going on here?

Louisa's kin.

Think she heard?

Don't know.

Ms. Cardinal.

I'm Judd Wheeler,

President of Southern Valley.

He pays you to steal

other people's land.

You're a little bit

of a problem now, aren't you?

- If you were my daughter--

- Well, she's not!

Now let's calm damn,

folks.

It's just business.

Well, then it's good I've got

my lawyer here, isn't it?

Ms. Cardinal,

I'm happy to offer you

fifty thousand dollars

for your property.

Well,

that offer is for the underlying

mineral rights only, of course.

No. I've got bigger plans

for her property.

It's the perfect location.

I don't see one negative.

Well, except I ain't

sellin' it to you.

My company is looking to make

a substantial investment here.

Now how can you stand

in the way of that?

On my own two feet.

Louisa, you'd be rich.

No, I wouldn't.

I'd just have a whole bunch

of money I don't need.

Louisa, you's crazy.

Well,

then you sell him your land.

They can't get to my land

without crossing your property!

Well, that's not my problem,

is it?

Fool woman!

You get goin' now.

That was a lot of money.

Well,

one thing you got to remember

about these coal people,

and I told this to your daddy,

too,

they got one job on this earth

and that's stealing the sun.

Because once they get

through destroying our land,

there gonna be

no need for no more sun.

Well, thank you, Myrtle.

Oh. Land doesn't look nearly

as free on paper, does it?

Huh. No, Ms. Louisa, it don't.

But George Davis was right,

he's land locked.

They gotta cross your land or

he ain't gonna get nothin'.

That damn coal company is not

gonna get my farm

and destroy the mountain

and ruin the land.

Not while I'm--

You all right?

Is there a chair?

There you go.

- Thank you.

- Mm-hmm.

Those children are

gonna need you.

I-I ain't know how to take

care of Lou and Oz.

Oh sure you do.

You've been taking

care of me for years.

They need their momma.

No, no, no, they just

need someone to love 'em

and take care of 'em.

Even if I could take care of

'em,

ain't nobody gonna let me do it.

Eugene, when I took you in,

you were just a little boy.

Scared of his own shadow.

Look at you now.

What a fine human being you are.

You're gonna show 'em the way.

What are you doing here?

You tell that old woman

she better sell this place.

Get off our land! Now!

Oh. Ah.

You leave my sister alone!

You damn b*stard. Come here!

Come here you little b*stards!

Hell No.

You touch a white man, boy?

You know that ain't

never been my name.

It be Eugene Randall.

Don't you never call me

nothin' else.

Thank you, Eugene.

Go on now.

I want to read you one

of my stories.

"It was a pretty fall day

"and the leaves

were yellow and red.

"A little girl was running.

"At last, she could see

the big house on the hill.

She didn't live there,

but she always wanted to."

Lou! This came for

you from the magazine!

Okay, Oz.

Louisa!

Louisa!

Louisa, look!

A hundred dollars?

Oh, I am so proud of you.

- Congratulations, honey.

- Thank you.

Woo! A hundred dollars

is a lot of money.

It sure is.

Here you go.

That is a mighty fine story,

Lou.

Diamond would have been

real proud.

Plus,

you get to pay a few bills, huh?

So how does it feel

to sell your first story?

I was wondering how my dad felt.

Well, I'm sure he felt

exactly like you feel right now.

How about I treat you to lunch?

Well, I'd be honored.

You finish your homework?

Yeah.

What?

I need to know why my dad

never came back here.

This is your daddy's

father and mother,

my son, Jacob,

and his wife, Susan.

Susan run off and left Jacob.

And when your daddy

was just a...

a young'un

I guess the mountain

didn't agree with her.

I can still hear your daddy's

voice calling her

over and over.

"I want my mother!"

And Jacob,

he just never got over

her leaving.

Your daddy and I watched

a man we both love

die... a little bit every day

until there was just...

nothing left of him.

It was hard...

watching my,

my son die.

But it was harder on-

on your daddy,

losing first his mother

and then his father.

You know, I loved your daddy

as much as I loved anything

in this whole world,

but I understand why he didn't

wanna come back here,

the place where...

all that sorrow

got a hold of him.

I tried to help him,

I really did,

but...

I failed.

I just-- I just failed him.

No.

He, he named me after you.

And this.

My dad's last book.

Open it to the first page.

"To Louisa Mae Cardinal,

"the one who showed me

light from the dark."

Oh.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey, Billy!

Ah!

- Ah!

- Come here!

Come here, you! Get.

Come on!

Oh!

The next one that touches

Eugene is dead.

Hang on a second.

Crazy woman.

Thank you for coming to tell us.

What?

Louisa, what's wrong?

- Louisa!

- Ms. Louisa!

Ms. Louisa!

She's resting now,

but she's had a stroke.

It'll be fine.

She'll be fine.

Afternoon, Wheeler.

What can I do for ya?

Oh coal's run out.

Town's going to hell.

Well,

every lick of coal and gas

could disappear from this earth

and Louisa will be just fine.

I'm, uh, raisin' my offer.

I assume you have

power of attorney.

No, I don't.

Anything else?

Consider yourself served.

The coal company was trying

to declare Louisa incompetent

so that they

could take her land.

But her mind was still with us.

Even if she couldn't speak,

her eyes were telling me

not to be afraid.

- Good luck.

- Well, thank you, Lou.

You ready to have a go at this?

As ready as you are.

I seriously doubt that.

Judge.

Judge, George Davis

has a vested interest

in the outcome of this case.

Oh, uh,

- George?

- Yes?

Can you keep a fair

and open mind about this case?

Sure, Henry.

Sure I can.

Me and Louisa,

we're like good friends.

We get along good.

He's lying!

- Oz, sit down.

- Oz.

Oh, he's a sweet boy.

Doctor Ross, can you state your

fine credentials for the jury?

I'm chief of the

psychiatric department

at the county hospital.

And I've handled more

than 500 cases like this one.

And what,

in your expert opinion,

is Ms. Cardinal's condition?

She should be institutionalized.

No further questions.

Mr. Longfellow.

Doctor,

how many of the people

that you have examined

have you found

to be incompetent?

A hundred percent?

Ninety five?

Ninety five sounds about right.

That is a lot of crazy people.

I just call 'em like I see 'em,

lawyer.

Yeah, I'm sure that you do.

How many stroke victims

that you have examined

have you found

to be mentally incompetent?

None that I can recall.

So even though one

may not be able to talk or move,

she may fully understand

what is going on.

In fact, over time, Ms. Cardinal

may have a complete recovery.

I doubt that.

Since you yourself admitted

that you are not an expert

in stroke victims,

I would like that last statement

removed from the record.

You are hereby instructed to

disregard that last statement

of Dr. Ross.

No more questions.

Uh, Judge, uh,

Ms. Cardinal,

when she gets better, can

take care of her own affairs.

She won't have any land left.

Well, I think she can take

comfort in the

hundred thousand dollars

that Southern Valley

has offered her.

Judge,

Judge, he has just--

just as good as bribed

this jury and the whole town.

I withdraw the statement.

"Three cows lay in the

grass in one protected space

"while a Rhone

horse grazed alone

"in a small snake rail corral.

"And rising high above all this

were the Appalachians."

Ms. Amanda,

you need to come back to us.

For more reasons than you know.

Memories

are a funny thing.

People like to change the past

so they can remember what

it is they want to remember.

Not now, Amanda!

We can't live

off awards, Jack,

unless we move to Virginia.

Leaving New York?

- Not now, Lou!

- I don't want to move!

I said not now!

It wasn't your fault

that dad died.

It was mine.

I love you.

She's gonna lose the farm,

isn't she?

Well,

sometimes you can't get justice

even in a court of law, Lou.

I think I just got my miracle.

Your Honor,

I call Eugene Randall.

Cotton found his miracle.

He put Southern Valley on trial

for Diamond's death.

How many times do you reckon you

used dynamite in that mine?

Fifty times or more.

Well, I'd say

that makes you an expert.

And after you set the dynamite

what did you do?

Uh, well the, the shaft curves

in a couple of different places

so I-I usually just

wait around the curve

or go outside.

When the dynamite exploded,

where were you?

Forty feet in.

Not even to the first curve.

Throwed me ten feet.

And where did you

set the dynamite?

Well, past the second curve.

Two hundred twenty feet in.

And where did you find

Diamond's body?

Uh,

another 40 feet in.

And in your expert opinion,

do you think that

there is any way

that that dynamite could have

thrown Diamond's body that far?

No, sir.

Thank you, Eugene.

Nothing further.

You ever been to school, boy?

There ain't no school

for colored here.

Mm-hmm.

And yet you're up here

testifying under oath

to all these precise distances.

Yes, sir.

Now how can that be for an

uneducated colored man

who has never even

added one plus one

under the eyes of a teacher?

Ms. Louisa taught me.

And I handy with saw and hammer.

Now you cut a three foot board

to fill a four foot space

what exactly have you done?

But in a dark mine

how can you be

so sure of the distances, boy?

I painted the walls in that mine

in ten foot parcels

over 400 feet in.

You can see 'em as clear as day.

And you can put down

what I done said here

as the word of the Lord.

Are you done with the witness?

I have no further questions,

your Honor.

You're excused, Mr. Randall.

The court thanks you

for your expert testimony.

You heard Eugene testify.

Now under those circumstances,

is there any way that

that dynamite charge

could have caused

those injuries to Diamond?

That would have been impossible.

Have you ever seen injuries

like that before?

There was an expl*si*n at

a manufacturing company,

12 men were k*lled.

And what caused that expl*si*n?

Natural gas leak.

Natural gas leak.

Nothing further, your Honor.

You found natural gas

on Ms. Cardinal's property,

didn't you?

Yeah, that's right.

And why didn't you post signs saying that there was gas in there?

We,

we didn't want people to know

what we were doing up there.

Because you wanted

to buy her land

for a lot less

than it was worth.

Why didn't you come forward

when Diamond Skinner was k*lled,

sir?

Answer the question.

Why didn't you come forward

after Diamond Skinner

was k*lled?

Why didn't you come forward--

I didn't want the boy

to die like that!

It was--

It was just business.

Well, he did die.

Just like that.

Let me give you

good folks the...

legal side of this case

and it's not complicated.

Like a good birddog,

it points in one direction

and one direction only.

Southern Valley k*lled

Diamond Skinner.

And now they seek to use

the tragedy of Louisa Mae

to take her land.

The law clearly states

that one cannot profit

from one's misdeeds.

Now if what Southern Valley did

does not qualify as a misdeed

then there is nothing

on this earth that does.

You can pull the gas

out of the mountain,

but in time,

just like the coal,

it will be gone.

And so will Southern Valley.

You want a savior?

Then look to yourselves,

rely on each other,

just as Louisa Mae has been

doing her whole life.

For her, the resources

of the land are never exhausted

because she never

tried to tear its soul out.

And her reward

is to live a decent, honest life

for as long as she desires.

I want to say something.

You know she would

never sell her land

'cause that land

is like her family.

It may not seem like much

to those who want to destroy it,

but it means everything

to the people who call

the mountain home.

The reason I came here

was because of my dad,

but I want to stay here now

because of you.

I found this in your closet.

I thought you'd like to have it.

All rise.

Be seated.

What say you?

We find for Southern Valley.

Hallelujah!

Well done, counselor.

We will appeal.

Don't worry.

That was, that was really good.

Real good.

Well, thank you for

your vote of confidence.

Thank you.

I will always believe

that Louisa gave her life

so our mother could

come back to us.

And maybe it didn't hurt

that a little girl told

her mom she loved her.

With our mother back,

we didn't have to sell the farm.

And Cotton sued Southern Valley for Diamond's death.

Since we were the only family

he had, the money went to us

and Diamond still lives here,

in a place I know he loved.

My mother and Cotton were

married a year later.

They spent four wonderful

decades together

and died within a

week of each other.

Like my father,

I left the mountain,

but I came back.

I married and

raised a family here

and I started writing novels

just as my father had.

And though I never won the

sorts of awards he did,

my books tended to

sell a little better.

It's a true comfort to know

that I will die here

on the high rock

and I will fear my

passing not at all,

for the view from here

is so very fine.