Wild Faith

Life wasn’t easy when I was a boy.

It was ten years after The Great American War.

My Pa was one of the lucky men who returned.

But he came back a different kind of man.

Some of the wounds still evident.

The rest buried in his soul.

Got worse when mama died from a fever.

We were alone.

Pa even said ‘God must’ve forgotten about us.’

But he was always a man of his word.

He kept his promise to a dying soldier.

That’s how miss Haddie and Grace

came to stay with us.

That changed everything.

But his kindness wasn’t much appreciated

by the towns’ folk.

Including my Grandpa.

Course, Pa wasn’t one to pay no mind to what others thought.

When he knew what was right.

And that’s about when things got interesting.

Lieutenant!

Let's go!

Fire!

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Aim, fire!

Pa's back!

What'd you get?

- Did you get your chores finished?

Gracie doesn't have to.

- Gracie ain't my boy, do as you're told.

Gracie!

Get on over here and help me with these clothes.

Yes, mama!

No luck with the traps?

Luck ain't never smiled at me.

Guess not.

Whoa!

Look at that!

Isn't that a lion?

Yes!

- I hope we get to see it. - Kids, let's go.

Are we gonna see the circus?

Probably.

I hope we see a double horse.

Hey, Pa.

You think we'll see grandpa today?

It's Sunday already?

- Now Gracie, stay close, don't run off.

You hear me?

Yes, mama.

- Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her.

- Putting a lot of eyes on her.

- Grandpa wants me to go to school there.

- Your grandpa wants a lot of things.

You don't need none of that here schoolin'.

- You don't need any of that here schoolin'.

- Alright kids, line up, line up, one by one.

Here we go.

What is whispered in the wind gets carried to the trees.

- Oh, they can't hear us from here.

- What you're saying doesn't need words.

Alright, alright, here we go.

Pa, can we go inside?

Yeah.

You kids behave.

We will.

- What kind of candy do you like?

- I hear the new schoolteacher's alright.

- It all starts with what they hear at home.

- Well, and what they see with their own eyes.

Thank you.

I saw that.

- Emmett, can I have a word with you?

Emmett!

Candy?

Um, lemon,

cherry.

What's that one?

Good morning, Miss Haddie.

It's good to see you.

Thank you.

- I see you got a list all ready for me.

I sure do.

- I'll bet you two would love some of my new maple candy.

Can we, mom?

No harm in a few.

Okay.

- I think we've got everything you want.

I'll get it all together for you.

Thank you.

- Now, Emmett, don't be mule-headed!

Listen!

Look, the word says that if any man

doesn't provide for his relatives,

especially members of his household,

that he has denied the faith

and is worse than an unbeliever.

Pardon my ignorance, Reverend.

But isn't it Saint James that says pure religion

is to take care of the widows and

the orphans in their affliction?

- And to keep himself undefiled by the world.

Emmett,

them Negroes living up under your roof--

Haddie and Grace!

That's their names, Edmund.

Use 'em.

- People are talking, Emmett, the whole town is talking!

You've got a single woman of color

living in sin with my former son-in-law.

- The only sin being committed here

is bearing a false witness.

- My daughter would be heartbroken

to see what come of her family.

Don't you dare

use my wife's memory to spread your ignorance!

She knew more about loving her enemies than you ever will.

You can twist the words of God

around to suit yourself, Emmett!

He'll be the one to judge you in the end.

- You know, that old boy tried to steal my pig.

- Go get some tobacco from the store.

Why me?

- I think there's something wrong with it.

'Cause I say so, that's why.

- He was screaming like a wild man.

You don't say?

- Yeah, had to catch him with my rope.

But when I did, did I ever lay a whooping on him.

I think the dog even felt sorry for him.

Emmett Murphy.

Jacob.

Good to see you lad.

You, too.

- Where's that old geezer, McKinney?

- Yeah, he's taken ill a little bit,

but I came by to get his black medicine to go.

Alright, be right back.

You know, I hear that southern

black barley's the best medicine for you.

Better than red, yellow.

- It's fresh as the morning dew.

- And any fine white-necked boil.

What do I owe you?

What you got there, lad?

Fair trade.

What you think, Mr. Murphy?

It's that black bourbon keeps you so healthy, isn't it?

That be enough ribbing, Cal!

What's your real business here, boy?

Apologies.

I reckon I have to retract that last statement.

Appears it can't be all that good for you.

It seems it makes you go deaf.

You hear me?

I said, it makes you go deaf.

It's not worth it, lad.

Told you it made him deaf.

Can we help you?

Need some tobacco.

So, you must be that Negro they're all talking about.

I don't know what you mean.

Pretty.

I see why he likes you.

You know, I almost had time with

one of your kind down in Virginia.

Look at this tasty little chocolate.

Don't touch her!

Hey, why don't you just take

your tobacco, pay up and leave!

What if I'm not done shopping?

You're done shopping!

Now listen, I can either ask you to walk out

of here real nicely, or I'll throw you out!

You ain't the law around here.

Wrong answer!

- Don't start what you can't finish, old man!

Old man?

Gerald!

What?

I asked him to leave nicely.

- Where'd you learn to tussle like that?

Learned a long time ago.

Folk like that, their bark's usually worse than their bite.

You okay?

Thank you.

- Now you folks don't get into town--

The old shopkeep's gone mad.

- Here, a little something extra.

Thanks.

- That Negro and her kid are over there.

I'm just fooling around.

He got the jump on me.