Skylark

Photographer: Caleb, you look right at me.

No, Caleb, stand up on that stump.

That'll be a very nice picture.

Very nice. All right.

Everybody, stay real still.

All right.

Everybody, look right here.

Right here.

Your aunts will like that picture.

Ah, they hardly know what I look like anymore, the aunts.

I hardly know what they look like anymore.

It's, uh, Maine you come from, isn't it?

Yeah.

She lives here now.

That she does.

Hey, you know what I bet?

I bet Maine is green.

Ah, we could sure use rain.

Jacob: We sure could.

You know what I remember?

Those can go right in that box there.

I remember back when I was a little boy--

And you remember this, Jacob--

It didn't rain for months.

Months!

And, uh...

then the winds came.

All the crops dried up.

Leaves of the corn just felt like dust.

That goes right next to the camera.

My grandfather packed up his family and just left.

Caleb: Did he ever come back?

Never did.

Could be rain.

Now, young man, you want to come with me

or you want to hop down?

Thanks.

No, sir. No, no, no, no.

You pay me

when I bring the pictures back.

Thank you, Joshua.

Thank you.

See you soon, now.

Sarah: Bye.

Ma'am.

Papa, will you worry if it doesn't rain?

Yeah, but we'll manage.

We always have.

Imagine having to leave.

That won't happen, Sarah.

We'd never leave.

We're born here.

Our names are written in this land.

I'm writing Sarah's name here.

You can't even spell.

Papa, your boots.

: Thank you.

Could be the last washing for that floor.

That's a mixed blessing.

Don't feed her too much, Caleb.

She's getting fat

with your food.

I think she's something more than fat, Sarah.

What?

What does Papa mean?

Kittens.

He means kittens.

She ever had kittens before?

No. Never.

Could we keep them all?

When will she have them, Papa?

I don't know, Caleb.

It'll be just like having a baby.

Like Maggie.

Onlylotsof babies.

Kittens.

Anna.

I didn't mean to frighten you.

Someday I will marry

and move to my husband's land.

That's what Papa says.

Oh, he does, does he?

Well, that's what you did, Sarah.

You came from Maine to marry Papa.

Yes, I guess I did.

You fell in love with us.

Oh, I did that.

Your letters, then you.

Did you fall in love with Papa's letters, too

before you knew him?

Yes.

I loved your papa's letters.

But it was what was between the lines

that I loved the most.

What was between the lines?

His life...

that's what was between the lines.

Sometimes...

Sometimes Papa is not good at words.

Yeah, sometimes.

But when I read your papa's letters

I could see the farm and the animals

and the sky and you.

You know, sometimes

what people choose to write down on paper is...

more important than what they say.

Jacob: Caleb! Anna!

The cows!

You.

You rascal, you.

Woman: So, how are you all?

Any news?

Caleb: Seal's having babies!

Lots of them!

Woman: Oh, big news!

Come to think of it

I've seen Seal at our house.

With Sam, in fact.

The orange cat.

So it's Sam, is it?

I'm surrounded by motherhood.

The calf is due, then kittens...

Caleb! Anna!

Time to go!

Church well's down a foot.

A foot?

Yeah.

That's more than ours.

Tom... are those clouds...

in the west, Tom?

Right there.

Maybe.

Maybe it'll rain, eh, Tom?

Hush, hush, hush, hush.

We'll be home soon.

What if it doesn't rain, Papa?

It will rain.

Yes, it will.

Sometime.

It's just the time before it rains that is hard.

It always is.

Sarah: Bye.

Bye-bye!

Good-bye.

Come on.

Jacob: Sarah!

I need you. Hurry.

Jacob?

Over here.

It's the calf. It's turned.

Mame.

What can I do?

Try and keep her quiet.

Okay. Good girl.

That's a girl.

Shh... Shh...

There now. There now. Shh...

Shh... it's okay.

Is she all right?

Mame's all right.

Can't tell about the calf.

But it'll happen soon.

It's okay.

It's okay, girl.

Hold on to her.

Shh... Shh...

It's all right. Okay.

Shh, shh, okay.

Shh, girl. Shh, girl.

It's okay, girl.

It's okay, girl.

It's all right. It's all right.

Jacob: That face...

pale as the winter moon.

To think...

Anna says sometimes you're not good with words.

Sometimes... words are not good enough.

Shall we wake the children?

Not yet.

Why didn't you wake us up?

When was he born?

"She." Eat your breakfast.

Ah!

Eat your breakfast.

Does she have a name yet?

No.

Anna: Hurry, Caleb. Eat faster.