Tennessee Johnson

There.

See that?

We didn't see nothing, stranger.

I see'd you sewing, though.

First time I ever see a man sew like that.

I done tailoring.

How much you want to sew the seat in a pair of britches?

I don't want work here.

I'm going west.

I don't, uh,

aim to take something for nothing.

I'll... I'll patch them britches.

Pretty square tailor, ain't ya?

Sit down till I get my garment.

Where you coming from, stranger?

East.

Where you heading?

West.

What do you want out there?

Land.

Don't talk much, do you?

Not unless I get something to say.

- Here she is. - Uh...

It might take a week of filing.

I-if you get your nippers, you could...

You're a fugitive.

- I'd be aiding. - You, uh...

I...

I was, uh, I was bound to a tailor

back in Carolina.

Runaway apprentice?

You don't look young enough for that.

You think I'm lying.

Well, here.

Read this.

When an apprentice lights out and gets caught again

he's got to serve out his time, don't he?

- Miss Eliza! Miss Eliza! - Look!

Well, where'd you get that?

Howdy, Miss McCardle.

Oh, good day, Blackstone.

- Hello, Sam, Mordecai. - Howdy, Miss McCardle.

- McCardle. - Hello, Mrs. Fisher.

Good afternoon.

You know those new boxes of books that came?

I figured out how much shelf space is wanted, see?

If you could bring some boards and a hammer and some nails...

I'll be right up to the library, Miss McCardle,

as soon as I get Mrs. Fisher's mule shoed up.

- Hello, Sheriff. - Good afternoon, McDaniel.

Mordecai, who is he?

Says he's apprentice what lit out.

That what it says there?

Yes, but they can't touch a runaway apprentice

here in Tennessee, across the state line.

Forget what I asked you, I'll patch your britches,

as pay for this file here and be getting down the road.

Never mind the britches now.

Come here.

Put your foot up here.

This might hurt some, tailor.

Huh, hurts worse where it is.

What the Sam Hill?

Well, that's like spring steel.

Yeah. Get... get your hammer and chisel.

But it'll half-kill you.

It's been too long I got this thing on.

I'm warning you, you might lose your ankle.

Will you get your chisel?

Go on, get it!

He wants to be mule-headed...

Speaking of mule..

Gram of White Mule might help some.

I... I can't touch that stuff.

It makes me sicker than a hound dog.

You know, this town could maybe use a man like you.

Don't talk much, don't drink, lots of spunk.

Ain't been a tailor hereabouts

since ol' Finney got drunk and sewed his finger

to a leg of the parson's pants.

I ain't looking to do tailoring, ma'am.

Man what can get to own land don't get chained up.

Man who can sew like you could soon buy an acre here.

Lots of folks here ain't got no basement nor britches.

Brace his foot.

Good morning!

- Morning, Miss McCardle. - Morning, Miss Eliza.

Oh, that's a fine job, Mordecai.

I'm getting a pair of brand-new britches for doing this.

Well, I thought those old ones of yours

would be too much for any tailor.

Well, Mrs. Fisher!

Them cobwebs ain't been swept out

since the Grangers lit out west, Miss McCardle.

And I'll be choking and spitting for weeks

to get the dust out of my lungs.

Well, aren't you a good neighbor?

I ain't been messing about in there to help that mule head.

I'm a-gettin' paid.

I'm gonna have the first new dress

since the one I wore the day the parson tied me up.

Good morning, Mr. Johnson.

Morning.

We haven't exactly met before.

I'm Eliza McCardle from the library across the street.

Yes, miss.

Everyone's so pleased to have a tailor here again in Greeneville.

Thank you, miss.

I-it saves so much trouble

not having to take my cloak and dress down to Nashville.

Am I your first customer?

Oh.

It was you left that?

I guess you are, then, miss.

Is my work ready?

Oh, you shouldn't be about on that foot.

It does a man's foot good getting a shackle knocked off it.

Yes, of course.

Everyone's talking about what happened at the blacksmith's shop.

What happened at the blacksmith's

ain't nobody's business!

Mr. Johnson.

Forgot myself, miss, don't...

don't pay no mind.

I'll take my clothes now, if you please.

There ain't nothing been done to them clothes, miss.

Those clothes.

But the instructions are plainly written.

I know, miss, but...

I can't read.

"Will you please lengthen the dress two inches at the hem

and mend tear in cloak."

I'll have it fixed tomorrow.

Oh.

How much will it cost?

I ain't asking no favors from anybody, but...

a fair bargain's a fair bargain.

I don't understand.

You... you know about books?

A little, yes, but...

I asked you how much my work would cost.

And you... you speak nice.

"Them clothes," I said.

Oh, I corrected you.

It... it just slipped out.

It was forward of me, I'm afraid.

No, miss.

I-I got to learn to speak right.

You speak about the nicest I know of.

Miss McCardle,

I'll sew you all the clothes you can bring me, homespun,

if you'll learn me to read and write.

Your proposal, Mr. Johnson, seems rather unusual.

Miss McCardle.

I'll think it over.

I...

I'm making you a fair offer.

I-I never had no chance to learn. Will you learn me?

I have never had a chance to learn.

Will you teach me.

Will you teach me?

"There is a lady sweet and kind",

was never face so pleased my mind,

I did but see her passing by

"and yet I love her till I die."

Please go on.

It's past time to close the library.

Got to get home and read something besides poetry.

Andrew.

You've learned to read almost as well as I.

You've made so many new clothes for me, it's almost sinful.

Why do you want to go on with the lessons?

Is this the...

Words, I read somewhere,

are verses the heart sets to music.

Eliza, there's...

music inside me that almost drowns out my thinking.

But I'm a poor man

and the law says a white man without property

is nothing but a mudsill

for other men to wipe their boots on.

Why, no law says that.

It don't have to say it, it's true, ain't it?

Your people owned a house and land.

How did my father get a house and land?

By cobbling shoes for 20 years.

My father was nothing but a mudsill, and he died one.

Poor white trash, that was him, and that's me.

I'll be going now.

Andrew.