The Burning Bed

It was like I was watching myself.

And I told the kids to get in the car, told them to wait.

It was March 9th, 1977, in Dansville, Michigan.

What's happening?

What the hell is going on?

Hey!

- Hey, there! - There's kids in there.

- Is there people in there? - Please, don't!

My boy is in there! I think my boy's in there!

Where's Fran?

Mrs. Hughes, my name is Aryon Greydanus.

The court has appointed me to be your attorney.

It's sort of ironic. I used to work in a prosecutor's office.

A few months ago, I would have been prosecuting this case.

Mrs. Hughes, I've been told that you committed murder.

Is that correct?

I've been told that you confessed to committing murder.

Is that correct?

If the information I have been given is accurate,

this will be an extremely difficult case to defend.

It will be impossible if you won't help me.

Please answer me, Mrs. Hughes.

Yes.

Yes? Yes what? Yes, you did kill him?

Mrs. Hughes?

Last night I dreamed that he...

He was here.

He came into the jail, and keys were dangling.

He came into my cell, and sat down, and said,

"Everything will be all right. I'm sorry."

I loved him.

I did.

Who's that guy over there?

- Who? - The one smoking.

That's Mickey Hughes. He's older.

Isn't he cute?

He's really wild, too, I think.

Let's get something to drink.

- Come on. - Francine!

You're one of the Hughes boys. I heard about you.

What'd you hear?

Why aren't you dancing?

Ain't found anybody I want to dance with.

Want one?

No.

What's the matter, you afraid it'll stunt your growth?

I'm not afraid of anything.

- Am I gonna see you Friday? - Maybe.

Faster! Faster, Mickey!

Hey! Okay! All right!

Okay!

Don't.

Don't, Mickey.

What's the matter?

Come on, you've got nothing to be afraid of.

I know what I'm doing.

You wouldn't believe what happens at the night shift at the nursing home.

Mickey.

They got these two nurses, and...

Hey! Come on, you guys, knock it off.

I just love it when you say my name.

You'd try to convince me of anything.

Yeah, I could, if you'd just close your eyes.

Mickey, don't! Don't.

You can hear what's going on in the backseat, can't you?

I want to do it right, not in the front seat of a car.

I want to wait until I get married.

Right. Okay, so let's get married.

- When? - Right away.

What's the hurry?

I can't believe you!

Dinner's ready.

Why don't you two come on in and sit down?

You sit right here.

Thank you.

Mickey says your folks are mountain people, too.

- I guess you've got some manners. - I hope so, ma'am.

Well, I wasn't no older than you when Berlin and I got married.

Well, I guess I've got something to say about that, right, Mickey?

Would you cut the roast, Daddy?

Francine, I really can't believe you don't want to see him anymore.

Don't be so hard on him. Why don't you take him back?

- Because I need some time to see if... - Why?

He just... I don't know.

He won't leave me alone. He's always talking about getting married.

- What's that color? - Pinkissimo.

I like it.

He said I'll destroy him if I make him wait any longer.

Doesn't sound so bad to me.

He really loves you.

Francine, come in here and help me, hon.

Just a minute.

- He does, doesn't he? - Yeah.

He's sitting home alone, listening to records and crying.

That's love.

Yeah, it's real...

I don't know. I think I should finish school,

maybe get a job, just get out of here.

You're everything to me.

Nobody ever said that to me before.

Well, I never said that to anybody.

I told him over and over that I wanted to wait,

but he wouldn't take no for an answer.

I didn't know what to think. I mean, nobody ever loved me like that.

It was real powerful.

I'm such a lucky guy.

Marry me, Fran.

Marry me. Make me happy. Make yourself happy.

I want to.

I don't know anymore.

It's such a beautiful night.

Do I look any different?

No. Why?

Look at me. Look in my eyes. What do you see?

Same thing I see every day, pupils.

- I'm serious. - So am I.

- What are you talking about? - Want a donut?

I'm taking a donut.

- Am I walking any different? - No.

Come on, I give up. What's the big deal?

I did it.

You what?

My God, Francine, that is a big deal.

- Are you okay? - I think so.

Think anybody will be able to tell by looking?

- Don't look. - No.

I hope not.

I hope I'm not pregnant.

He didn't have any...

My God.

Well, did you like it?

I don't know.

Where were you?

- Where else? - Oh. Yeah.

- I guess you'll marry him, huh? - I guess.

That one's $93.

Ma, I'm gonna need a little help.

How much help?

$93 worth.

You can buy it on time if you have credit. You just make monthly payments.

I'll make good on it.

Hell, you ain't gonna get married every day, now, are you?

Not on your life.

You like being married?

I like it a lot.

We're home, newlyweds!

Come on, my zipper!

God, I can't wait till we get a place of our own.

- I want some soda pop. - Me too.

I'll get it.

Fran, would you help out?

Of course. Stop it!

Can't wait, huh?

Lover boy.

You'd best be looking for a steady job now.

I'm working on it.

We'd been married about a year,

but we were still living with Mickey's parents.

I was trying to fit in the best I could. We were hoping Mickey would find a job.

Now, here's Mickey when he was six.

Quiet little thing. Never used to make a bit of fuss.

Sure hope he likes this.

- I think you look real pretty. - Thanks.

Thought you pulled the head on this thing.

- Did you get a job? - Nah.

Weren't for bad luck...

Yeah, you got it.

Awful early in the day to quit looking, isn't it?

What do you think?

- Got a beer? - Me, too.

Well, what do you think?

Where'd you get that?

Kmart, on sale for a dollar.

Take it off.

- Mickey. - Take it off. Get me a beer.

I'll get it.

- Get it yourself. - Hey!

Well, that's different, ain't it? That's real sassy.

Make a fool out of me, sassing me in front of my family!

You're crazy!

Hey, let me in!

Promise you'll be good.

Don't you ever no lock no door on me, ever! Ever!

- Give me that! - Don't!

You know how to behave!

Fran!

Come on.

Look...

It's just that you look so good in those things. They're too sexy.

I only wanted to look good for you.

Yeah, I know.

It wasn't so wrong to look pretty before we were married.

- Why is it now? - It's not. It's not.

Look, it's just that I love you so much,

I can't stand to think of you dressing up for anybody else.

Mick, I'm sorry.

This came for you.

Mrs. Hughes, we're just wasting our time.

If you can't learn to trust me,

then perhaps you would be better served by another attorney.