Paper Moon

Say, it's only a paper moon

Sailing over a cardboard sea

But it wouldn't be make-believe

If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky

Hanging over a cotton tree

But it wouldn't be make-believe

If you believed in me

Without your love

It's a honky-tonk parade

Without your love

It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a Barnum and Bailey world

Just as hollow as it can be

But it wouldn't be make-believe

If you believed in me

Rock of ages, cleft for me

Let me hide myself in thee

Let the water and the blood

From thy wounded side which flowed

Be of sin the double cure

Safe from wrath and make me pure

"Judge me, oh Lord,

"for I have lost in mine integrity.

"I have trusted also in the Lord,

"therefore I shall not slide.

"Examine me, oh Lord, and prove me.

"Try my reins and my heart,

"for Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes

"and I have walked in Thy truth.

"I have not sat with evil persons.

"Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

"I will wash mine hands

"in innocency.

"So will I compass Thine altar, O Lord,

"that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving

"and tell of all Thy wondrous works..."

Howdy.

Loggins' funeral.

Yes, ma'am.

- You ain't related, are ya? - Related, ma'am?

We're looking for the child's kin. Thought I saw some resemblance.

No kin, huh?

None we know of, 'cept out in Missouri someplace.

- Missouri... - Seems you got the child's jaw.

No, ma'am, just a friend of her mama's, just passing through town.

If ever a child needed a friend.

"...will I bless the Lord.

"Amen."

Amen.

Amen, Essie Maye. I just know your ass is still warm.

Would you like some water, Addie?

We'll get the child some water.

Bless you child, I just want to pay my respects to your mama.

Well, I'm going to have to be going. It's a long way to St. Louis.

- St. Louis? You mean in Missouri? - Yes, ma'am.

I... I sell the good book, ma'am.

Just moving through the country with the Lord's good news.

Addie, child, don't you have your Aunt Billie living in St. Joseph?

St. Joseph, Missouri.

It's her poor mother's sister.

- The child's only known relative. - That so?

You're driving your chariot to Missouri, sir. You could deliver this child to her kin folk.

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it a chariot, Reverend.

- I'll write the women a letter tonight. - Hold it, hold it.

I have to think upon this, you know, uh...

I mean, I may have to make a few stops along the way.

I never travelled with no child before.

- But you're going that way. - The child's got no place to go.

Well...

The eyes of the Lord... Expect I have no choice, do I?

- Hallelujah! - God works in mysterious ways.

Don't he now?

Come on, Addie. Better get your things together.

This nice man's going to take you to your aunt.

- How come you're taking me? - Huh?

How come you're taking me?

Because I'm going that way, honey.

Although, I do want to make just one stop before we leave town.

Got a little business to take care of.

- You know my mama real good? - Oh, pretty good.

You just stay out here till I come for you.

Don't you say a word unless I ask you to.

Mr Robertson?

- That's right. - I'd like a minute of your time.

- Not buying today. - Oh, not selling.

Just want you to meet somebody, Mr Robertson. Only take a second.

So what?

- Tell him your name, honey. - Addie.

- Addie what, honey? - Addie Loggins.

You done real fine. I'll be out in a minute.

Ain't she a sweet child?

No, she ain't a sweet child.

Well, maybe she don't seem sweet right now. That's because she's sad.

That is with her mama being dead,

what with your brother getting drunk and driving into that tree like that.

What are you trying to pull? Get out of here!

All right, I'm going, but let me tell you where I'm going to go.

I don't care where you're going to go.

I'm going to go see Mr J.T. Faraday.

Now, you know who Mr J.T. Faraday is?

He's one of the biggest lawyers in Kansas.

And he don't favour the man with the money, he favours the man without it.

And you know what's gonna happen to your brother?

There's gonna be a lawsuit against him. You know what happens then?

Everything's gonna be just tied up in knots, just sitting there.

That's his banking money, his house, everything he owns.

Including half this plant.

Now, don't think that poor child ain't entitled, 'cause she is.

I was thinking...

couple a thousand dollars would be acceptable.

Couple of thou? I'll give you 200.

$200?

$200.

It's a deal.

There you are.

That'll be, uh, $67.54.

You sure these tyres are new?

$67.54.

Now, we'll have you to St. Jo in no time.

What time's the next train to St. Joseph?

St. Joseph? Let's see here.

That'll be the 4:14.

Change trains in Kansas City, and that'll put you into St. Jo at 9:52am.

I want one child's price ticket.

That will be $11.45.

I want you to send this here telegram to Mrs Billie Roy Griggs,

Cosmo Road, St. Joseph.

Train arriving 9:52am,

and bringing love, affection and $20 cash.

Oh, make that $25 cash.

And sign it just Addie Loggins.

Ten words, that will be 85 cents more.

That will be 12 and 30.

12 and 30, huh?

Uh, you better say in that message there,

love, affection and $20 cash.

Love, affection and $20 cash.

Now, here's your ticket, and here's $20 for your Aunt Billie.

Well, we got till 4:15.

I don't suppose you can wait here by yourself, can you?

You hungry?

You want a Nehi and a Coney Island?

- Ain't you gonna eat it? - I ain't hungry.

D'you worry about going on the train? You'll like the train. Don't worry about it.

Before you know it, you'll be asleep in your aunt's house, all your troubles will be over.

- So eat your Coney Island. - She don't even know me.

- She's going to know you now. - She ain't gonna want me.

What are you making trouble for? She ain't even seen you, yet.

- She never even cared for my mama. - Nobody didn't care for your mama.

- And she was her sister. - Your mama was a fine woman.

Everybody said she weren't.

Well everybody don't know your mama, do they?

How good you know my mama?

Good enough to know you can be real proud of the happiness she give to people.

Now, eat your Coney Island.

You meet my mama in a bar room?

Where would you get a question like that?

I hear Miss Ollie talking, the neighbour lady. Says one of you's my pa.

Well, don't the world have a wild imagination?

Eat your Coney Island.

You my pa?

Of course I ain't your pa.

I'll get you some relish.

A Coney Island ain't no good without relish.

Look, I know how you feel. I lost my ma, too. I even lost my pa.

I don't even know where my sister is.

I wish I could tell you I'm your pa, but it just ain't like that.

You met her in a bar room.

Just because a man meets a woman in a bar room don't mean he's your pa.

Eat your Coney Island.

Well, then, if you ain't my pa, I want my $200.

What's that?

I want my $200.

I heard you through the door talking to that man.

It's my money you got, and I want it.

Now, you... you just hold on a second.

I want my money. You took my $200!

- Will you quiet down, you hear? - I want my $200!

Hold on, now, just hold on.

Let me explain something to you.

It ain't as if you was my pa. That'd be different.

Well, I ain't your pa, so just get that out of your head.

I don't care what those neighbour ladies said.

- I look like that. - You don't look nothing like me.

You don't look any more like me than you do that Coney Island.

Eat that damn thing, you hear?

- We got the same jaw. - Lots of people got the same jaw.

- It's possible. - No, no, it ain't possible.

- Then I want my $200! - All right!

All right, maybe we got the same jaw, but same jaw don't mean same blood.

I know a woman looks like a bullfrog, but that don't mean she's its mother.

- You met my mum in a bar room. - For God's sakes, child!

You think everybody gets met in a bar room gets a baby?

It's possible.

Anything is possible, but possible don't make it true.

Then I want my money!

Will you quiet down?

You know what the trouble is with you? You got no appreciation.

All right.