Crimes of the Heart

- The damage to the spinal column's not yet been determined,

but his breathing's stabilised and his liver's been saved.

Oh, well, that's good news.

- None of this is good news, Lenny Magrath.

It's all a gruelling nightmare.

And you mark my words, those responsible will pay dearly.

Thank you.

- Etty may, you be sure to defrost that chicken for supper.

And there's a can of Vienna sausages

in the cupboard for your lunch,

and you give peanut butter and jelly to those children.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm gonna smash you.

Lenny!

Yoo-hoo, Lenny!

Well, this is just too awful.

How I'm gonna continue to hold my head up high

in this community, I do not know.

Did you get those pantyhose I asked you?

In the sack.

Daddy has called me twice already.

He says we got to get ourselves to town to help out with

this thing with Babe before they change their simple minds.

- I was sort of hoping that Meg would call. - Meg?

- Yeah, I sent her a telegram about Babe. - A telegram?

Couldn't you just phone her up or something?

- Well, no, I couldn't because her phone was out of order.

Out of order?

That's right, it was disconnected.

I don't know.

Well, now, that sounds just like Meg.

What all did you say in this telegram that you sent?

Well I just told her to come on home.

To come on home?

Lenny, have you lost your only mind or what?

Babe is going to be incurring

mighty negative publicity in this town,

and Meg's appearance isn't gonna help things out one bit.

These are awful snug.

Did you get my right size?

Well, let's see.

I think they're, size extra-petite.

- Well, they are scrimping on the nylon material.

Anyway, Meg is known all over

Copiah county as cheap Christmas trash.

Well, the her sordid dealings with Doc Porter,

leaving him a cripple.

A cripple?

He's just, he's got a limp!

He just kinda barely has a limp.

- His mother was gonna keep me out of the ladies'

social league because of that.

Oh, Chick, please, I'm sorry,

but you're in the ladies' league now.

That's right, I am.

But quite frankly, if Mrs. Porter

hadn't developed a tumour on her bladder the way she did,

I wouldn't be in the ladies' social league,

much less a committee chairman.

Anyway, I want you to stay right here

and wait for Meg to call so that

you can convince her not to come home.

How's my hair?

Fine.

It's not pooching out in the back is it?

Oh, no.

All right, then, I'm on my way.

Oh, I almost forgot!

Here's a present for you.

Oh!

Oh!

Happy Birthday to Lenny from the Boyles.

Well, thank you, Chick.

It's so nice of you to remember my birthday

every year like you do.

- Oh, now, you know that's just the way I am.

That's the way I was brought up to be.

Go ahead, open it.

Oh, all right, all right.

It's a box of candy, assorted creams.

Candy.

That's always such a nice gift.

Oh, well, speaking of which,

remember that that little polka dot dress

you got for P.K. on her birthday last month?

Yes, the red-and-white one?

Yes, that's the one.

Well, the first time I put that in the washing machine,

and I mean the very first time, it just went all to pieces.

Those little dots just dropped right off into the water.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

I'll just get her something else, then.

I'll just get her a nice little toy or--

No, no, no, no, no.

I just wanted you to know

so that you wouldn't spend any more

of your hard-earned money on that make of dress,

you know, those inexpensive kinds?

They just don't hold up.

My word, that's Doc Porter.

Whoo-hoo, doc!

Whoo-hoo!

Hey.

How in the world are you doing?

Fine.

I can't stay.

I have people waiting on me.

You know, it's this thing with Babe.

Yes.

Well, good-bye, farewell.

Nice seeing you.

Hey.

Hi.

Hi.

Uh, Lenny?

Yes?

Oh, here's some pecans for you.

Why, thank you, doc.

I just love pecans.

- My wife and Scotty picked them up around the yard.

Why, I can make a pie.

Like, a nice pecan pie with 'em.

Lenny, I got some bad news for you.

You do?

Yeah, last night Billy boy died.

Oh, he died?

Uh-huh.

He was struck by lightning.

- He was struck by lightning in that storm yesterday.

That's what we think, yeah.

Gosh.

Gosh, I've had Billy boy for such a long time, you know,

ever since I was 10 years old.

Well, he was a mighty old horse.

Mighty old.

Hey, today's my birthday, did you know that?

No, happy Birthday!

Thanks, doc.

Oh, Lenny, come on now.

Hey, now, come on.

You know I can't stand it when you Magrath women cry.

Oh, sure, you mean when Meg cries.

Meg's the one you never stand

to watch cry, but not me, oh, no.

I could just fill me up a great

big old pig's trough, couldn't I?

Lenny, come on, now, stop it, Jesus.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what's wrong with me, doc.

It's this thing with Babe,

and now granddaddy's gotten worse in the hospital

and I can't even seem to get in touch with Meg at all.

Is Meggie coming home?

Who knows, she hasn't called me.

She still living in California?

Yes, she is, out there in Hollywood.

Well, give me a call if she gets in.

I'd like to see her.

You would, would you?

Yeah, Lenny, sad to say, but I would.

Okay.

Lenny?

Meg?

Lenny?

Meg!

Meggie, is that you?

Yeah!

Meg, why didn't you call?

I've been trying to get you.

Oh, Lenny!

I'm so happy to see you.

We're getting so old.

Oh, I called.

Of course I called.

I never talked to you.

- I know, I let the phone ring right off the hook.

As a matter of fact,

I was out most of the morning seeing to Babe.

- Yeah, now, what is all this business about Babe?

Lenny, how could you send me such a telegram about Babe?

I know.

And Zackery?

You say somebody shot Zackery?

Yes, they have.

Well, good Lord, is he dead?

No, but he's in the hospital

and they shot him in the stomach.

In his stomach?

Yes.

Oh, how awful.

I know.

Do they know who did it?

Do they, Lenny?

Well, who?

Who, who shot him? Who?

Babe! They're all saying Babe shot him

and they even took her to jail.

Good Lord, jail!

Yes!