The Long, Hot Summer

It was him! He did it.

Then his hog got in my corn again.

He had no fence that would hold it, so I put it in my pen.

I told him he could have his hog back when he paid me a dollar pound fee.

What did he say to that? "He didn't say nothin'."

But yesterday I got his answer, all right.

My barn burned!

A barn burner is the meanest, lowest creature there is.

I can't find against you, Quick. There's no proof.

But I can give you some advice.

Leave this county and don't come back to it.

You're the judge.

That'll do. Take your belongings and get out before dark.

The long

Hot summer

Seems to know every time

You're near

And the touch of a breeze

Gently stirs all the trees

And a bird wants to please

My ear

The long

Hot summer

Seems to know what a flirt

You are

Seems to know your caress

Isn't mine to possess

How could someone possess

A star

But you may long for me

Long before the fall

Long before the winds announce

That winter's come to call

And meanwhile

I'll court you

And meanwhile

I'll kiss you

Meanwhile my lonely arms

Will hold you

Strong

And meanwhile

The long

Hot summer

Slowly moves along

Oh, so slowly

Moves along

Moves along

" "

" " " "

You like a lift to town?

Never walk when I can ride.

Just push 'em out of your way. Thank you, ma'am.

I went shopping in those Memphis stores this morning and just went wild.

Alligator bag, figured print, summer shoes.

Which is all a laugh considering we live in Frenchman's Bend...

and nobody's gonna see 'em but redneck farmers and immediate family.

I don't care though. I got my morale to keep up.

Are you two country girls? Country?

Are you two country girls? Country?

Our little town's the most nowhere place in the state of Mississippi.

You can believe me when I tell you it laces you in tight as a corset.

And as far as social amusements are concerned, there are none.

Well, that's all right. I'm a quiet-livin' man myself.

I only know one reason for living quiet.

That's if you're too old to live any other way.

In other words, you two girls just take your fun where you can find it?

Don't jump to any conclusions, young man.

We're giving you a ride, that's all. Where are you headed?

I go as far as you go, ma'am.

You sound free as a bird. Doesn't he sound free as a bird, Clara?

Clara's wondering what kind of a bird, aren't you, Clara?

If you aren't a mind reader.

Clara here's a schoolteacher and mighty finicky about her reputation.

She didn't want to pick you up.

I said,"Why not? There's two of us and one of him."

She said,"'Cause he looks mean and dirty."

I'd say that lady is a real fine judge of character.

You've got no regard for the safety of your person...

the way you drive this Lincoln car. " "

I'm getting a fallen kidney joltin' around this countryside with you.

Looks like Varner's the man to see around here.

You can find him over at our house most any time.

You two girls belong to Varner?

We two girls most particularly belong to Varner.

How does a man make a living around here?

Honest or dishonest? Let me hear what's open.

Now, a fella that's hardworkin' and clean-livin'...

can plant cotton in the bottomland...

corn along the edge of the hills.

If he ain't particular, he can make whiskey in a homemade still.

And what he don't drink, he can sell.

Well, what happens if a federal man comes by?

Ooh, they've been known to come by.

Also been known to disappear.

Hey, um, not entirely.

No, not entirely.

Missing man's shoes might show up, or his hat...

maybe even his suspenders.

'Course somebody else is wearing them.

You a federal man?

Well, let's say I'm a farmer, Dad.

Uh-huh. Let's just say so.

If you was to follow that road over there, you'd come to a tenant farm.

You could work if you have a mind to.

Belongs to a fellow named Varner.

What doesn't?

What's your name, boy?

Quick. Ben Quick.

Quick?

Sure now. So that's him?

Heavenly days! There's Agnes Stewart.

She called up all nervous and fluttery this morning to say she was comin' over.

I forgot to tell you about it. Jody!

Jody, I'm home! And I spent all your money!

Well, looks like you sure had a busy day, honey.

Just wait till you see what I have for you.

Bought you a red-and-white pure silk tie and a box of brown sugar pralines...

and some maroon felt bedroom slippers.

I bought you all kinds of other things too.

Whole bunch of new records and some sport shirts.

All sorts of things! Honey, it ain't my birthday.

I just wanted you to know you was in my thoughts up there in Memphis.

You just sit down and close your eyes. I'm gonna model my purchases.

You wanna know something, honey?

I hate this house when you're not in it. Well, I'm in it now.

And I'm gorgeous!

Wait till you see this new dress!

They show the same one in theJune"Vogue" magazine...

only without these little bows in the back.

Salesgirl said to me, "Miss Varner...

that dress was made in heaven for you."

On account of I'm so long waisted.

She said five customers had that dress on...

and I was the only one did anything for it.

You like it?

What I like is you, honey.

"There's more." There sure is.

And all of it mighty pretty!

Ooh! Oh, now.

You come to your daddy. Come on now. No!

Come to your daddy! I got you!

I got you! Jody!

What in the world's going on up there?

We don't go in much for stately quiet around here.

Where did you get so much energy on a day like this?

That party has been going on since Papa left for the hospital.

I don't see how you can stand all that hootin' and hollerin' and carryin' on.

It would turn me into a nervous wreck. They're young and in love.

"They're young."

For your information, we're still on the green side of 25 ourselves...

for all the good it does us.

Oh, Clara, that baby brother of yours is like a five-year-old kid.

You know what we were doing in there? Having a pillow fight.

I hit him so hard, I knocked the wind smack out of him.

Hello, Agnes sweetie. Hello, Eula.

You sure do look calm and collected on this hot day.

Well, I'm not. I'm damp and cranky.

I know what you mean. I'm going straight into a bubble bath myself.

Agnes, you bring a beau by one of these nights, and we'll cook up a party.

Hey, Eula?

Oh, if I'm not mistaken, that's my master's voice.

"Bring a beau by."

My phone rang just one time last week.

Just one time.

And this man with a deep, beautiful voice says...

"Can I interest you in the"Encyclopaedia Britannica?"

Let's go upstairs, and I'll give you a permanent. That'll cheer you up.

Clara, you've given me three permanents in the last six months.

All my ends are splittin'.

Oh, Clara, it's unnervin' havin'all this time on my hands.

I wanna rush home and fix supper for some big, handsome man...

and put kids in a bathtub and broil steak and crank ice cream...

and... think about what the night's gonna bring.

Why aren't there enough men to go around?

There's no shortage. Just of the right kind.

Ooh, I'm not fussy on that subject. Neither am I.

Tell me just one thing. Have you ever, in your life, been proposed to?

"I have." And you let him go?

No, I didn't let him go. I watched him get scared off.

Hmm, he came to call on me, and then he met my father.

Then he didn't come calling on me anymore.

Speaking of your father, when's that august personage coming home?

Tomorrow, and the forecast...

is storm and thunder.

Well, you come on over to my house for supper.

Alan's been askin' about you.

He's sick in bed, bein' fed milk puddin'...

all dreamy with temperature.

Thoroughly enjoying himself.

I'd give something to know what goes on in my brother's temperature dreams.

I know what goes on in mine.

Uh, don't swivel around.

There's someone comin'. Someone young.

It's probably a sewing machine salesman.

Yes, well, even if it is, don't say no right off. Let's at least talk.

Morning, ladies. Fine, warm day, isn't it?

Yes, indeed. Pretty as a picture.

My, my. You all look like two butterflies lit out on the grass.

Hello again, Miss Clara.

If it's work you're looking for, you can see the foreman at the gin.