Amy (1981) Movie Script
(CAR HORN HONKING)
So many ways to speak
So many ways to hear
Those things that hide inside the heart
That words cannot make clear
So many words are wrong
When silence says so much
You teach that gentle lesson well
To every life you touch
Oh, Amy, within your glow I see
Those sunny dreams
that hide behind the clouds above
Let me know you
Let me glow, too
Let me show you
The many ways to love
Oh, Amy, within your glow I see
Those sunny dreams
that hide behind the clouds above
Let me know you
Let me glow, too
Let me show you
The many ways to love
Here we are.
Could I get you something to eat?
No, thank you.
Well, you know where my office is.
If there's anything at all you want,
you just give me a holler.
Thank you.
You'll have six students to start with.
Believe me, I realize
how difficult your task is going to be.
There are those
who believe passionately
that the deaf
can never be taught to speak.
I'm afraid you're going to meet
some opposition to your work.
But I believe we've got to give it a try.
We have 20 blind children and 40 deaf.
And as you'll discover, they don't mix.
The life here is hard, Miss Medford.
Most of these children
come from poor mountain folks,
some from the coal mining country.
And if it weren't for this school,
some of them might face
a life shut up in a dark room.
So, between that and hard,
hard is better.
(GROANS)
BOY: Just George. Just George.
Just George, this way.
I'm sorry,
I don't understand sign language.
I was explaining who you are
to Henry Watkins.
Uh, he wants you to know that
his name sign is "H" on the eyes.
What does that mean?
Well, the "H" stands for "Henry."
Owen Corner, who teaches carpentry,
gives all the deaf children
and their teachers their name signs.
For example, mine is "F,"
as in "Ferguson," on the forehead,
because as superintendent,
that's as high up as you can go.
Why "H" on the eyes?
I don't know, really.
Perhaps it's because he's the only
deaf child that plays with blind children.
And defends them, too, as you can see.
He wants us to go
to Owen Corner's shop
so that he can give you his name sign.
Okay.
Owen, I'd like you to meet Amy Medford.
The new speech teacher.
Owen says he's happy to meet you.
Henry is saying that he would like
Owen to give you a new name sign.
He said, "'A' on the lips
because you're the speech teacher."
Henry's saying that, if you like,
it can be "A" on the lips for you,
but for him, it will always be "A" pretty.
ALL: Bless, O Father,
this food for our use,
and bless us for our service
in Jesus Christ's name.
Amen.
Amen.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
You been working
with deaf children long, Amy?
For a while.
Sure is interesting,
you teaching deaf children to speak.
I always sort of figured they couldn't.
Where did you get your training, Amy?
In Boston.
At the Horace Mann School.
Oh, you taught there?
Well, not exactly.
I was more like an assistant.
This is my first job.
Well, you certainly are qualified to teach
what even the experts say
is totally unteachable.
Malvina, let's not get into that.
I know you're not an oralist.
Amy, we're not expecting you
to work any miracles.
No, of course not.
My name is Amy.
I am here to teach you to speak.
I don't understand sign language,
so in the beginning,
Miss Dodd will explain to you what I say.
I want you to watch my lips.
I will only speak when you look at me.
I am going to teach you
to understand what I say
by reading my lips.
I am going to teach you to speak,
just the way I do.
When I speak,
you can feel the vibrations on my cheek.
You can feel the vibrations.
Feel the vibrations on my cheek.
You can feel the...
Please, I'm not going to hurt you.
Please, no!
Please, help me!
No.
Can't you help me, please?
It's all right. No.
All right! I'm not gonna hurt you.
Stop. Stop, stop! No, she won't hurt you!
Go and sit down. Go on.
Sit down. Sit down.
What does Malvina Dodd
have against me?
Oh!
Well, she's not a bad person, really.
She's been here a long time, Amy.
She's devoted to the children.
When the deaf children come here,
none of them knew how to sign.
She taught them.
I think she just doesn't believe
any of them can ever be taught to speak.
I'm not even sure I can teach them.
Now, don't you be discouraged.
When I first come here,
I was supposed to be
teaching these children Braille,
and most of them didn't know
a raised dot from a wart on a hog's nose.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Ah, this here's Wesley Moody.
He's our youngest child here at Parker.
AMY: Hello, Wesley.
Mr. Moon said on my birthday,
when I'm five, my eyes will open.
Then, I'll be able to see
as good as anyone.
Well, you and Mr. Moon
hustle on off to class now. Hurry it up.
CLYDE: Here, Wesley.
Wesley believes that all children
are born with their eyes closed.
Pretty soon, they open,
just like baby animals.
But eventually,
he'll have to learn the truth.
That he'll always be blind.
But he believes in it so hard,
none of us have the courage
to tell him the truth.
WAMBACK: What kind
of a woman is she?
She's delicate, really.
She often took to bed,
like most women, I suspect.
She's not the sort that would do things
for herself. She depended on me.
That must've been quite a burden.
Not at all.
You've had no word? A letter? Anything?
Nothing, other than the note
I showed you.
Was she happy?
Of course. I gave her everything.
This is a book.
Look at the book.
Please don't.
If you keep signing, they'll never learn.
I am holding a book.
This is a book.
(DOOR SLAMS)
We read from this book.
All right, next word.
Opportunity. Dwayne.
-O-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y.
-(BOTH MOUTHING)
Afraid not. Walter Ray.
I don't feel so good, Miss Gibbs.
I think I'm sick.
Do you want me to
take you down to the nurse?
I can take him, Helen.
You keep on with your class.
Wait. You better take Just George, too.
They never go anywhere
without each other.
Wesley.
O-P-U-R...
(CHILDREN CHUCKLING)
(GROANING)
Walter Ray, where does it hurt?
Down here.
You better fetch the doctor, Hazel.
Amy, there's no doctor here.
Amy, we have no funds for a doctor.
Except in an emergency.
We have no funds for proper heating.
We have no funds for repairs.
Our chapel burned down.
We have no money to build another one.
We give the children
food that's barely nutritional.
Not having a doctor
is just one of our problems.
Now, if it's a matter of life or death...
(SIGHS)
(PANTING) Mr. Pruett,
where's the nearest doctor?
Nearest doctor?
That'd be Doc Corcoran.
Over to Elkins in Randolph County.
Mr. Pruett,
we've got a very sick child here.
Can you help me?
Well, of course.
So, you see,
Prince John had no friends at all.
Oh, people bowed to him
and made a fuss over him.
Many people respected him
because he was so smart.
-But no one really liked him.
-(CAR HORN HONKING)
MEN: (SINGING)
Ho, ho, ho, you and me
Little brown jug, how I love thee
(BEN LAUGHING)
BEN: You're sure you can
drive that thing, huh?
PRUETT: Well, if I can't,
I'm in big trouble,
'cause I'm too drunk to walk home.
(MEN CHUCKLING)
(SINGING) Little brown jug,
how I love thee
Well, the Royal Wizard
cast a spell on the Prince
that took away the sight from one eye.
He had to wear an eye-patch,
which he could only take off
after he learned
to care about other people
and perform good deeds.
Oh.
Of course,
it wasn't easy for Prince John.
He wasn't used to being nice.
But after a while, he started to change.
Like, being polite to his parents.
Picking up his clothes.
Pretty soon he started
doing nice things for others,
and it wasn't long before he began
to be known as a good-deed-doer.
And do you know what happened?
What?
All the people in the kingdom
were so happy about what he was doing,
they all decided to wear eye-patches
until each one of them
performed a good deed.
But, of all the people
wearing an eye-patch on his eye,
there was one who wore
an eye-patch on his mouth.
Which is where it deserved to be,
I can tell you. And who was he?
(IN IRISH ACCENT)
Why, he was none other
than me highly esteemed,
but rather talkative,
great, great, great-grandfather,
Sean Shamus Corcoran.
And I, I am none other
than the equally talkative,
but far more handsome,
charming, and intelligent,
Benjamin James Corcoran, M.D.
-You are the doctor?
-(CHUCKLING)
(IN NORMAL ACCENT) At your service.
Well, now what's this I hear
about a sick boy, huh?
-What's your name, lad?
-Walter Ray.
Walter Ray, huh?
Well, we're going to find out
what's been troubling you so much.
I think you ought to have some coffee.
May I suggest, dear lady,
that you leave the practice of medicine,
at which I am quite competent, up to me,
and go about your business,
whatever that may be.
I'd like to stay, if you don't mind.
Well, I do mind.
All right.
Thank you.
-Green apples.
-I beg your pardon?
Your emergency.
It seems our little blind friend
sneaked into the kitchen last night
and got himself
into a barrel of green apples.
He didn't tell anyone
for fear of being punished.
-Are you sure?
-(BEN CHUCKLES)
A stomach full of green apples
can make you feel so bad
you think your appendix
is going to burst.
-No, he'll be fine by tonight.
-I see.
Okay. Everybody in. Let's go. Come on.
I'm sorry to have bothered you.
I'll pay you for your trouble.
I'll send you a bill.
Okay. Here we go. Everybody up.
Okay, come on.
Come on, darling.
Here we go, sweetheart.
This is for you. Now, wear it.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh, Dr. Corcoran. Dr. Corcoran!
Oh, my dear Miss Dodd.
And how are you this fine day?
Very well, thank you. And you?
(IN IRISH ACCENT) Oh,
all the better for your asking, dear lady.
Doctor, the children are not allowed
to leave the premises
-without proper authorization.
-But a little ride.
Now, wouldn't that
do the children some good?
Well, if we start
changing the rules for one...
Ah, you are right as always, Miss Dodd.
You are right.
You're right. Now, Amy,
you must always listen to Miss Dodd,
so you can learn the rules. Hmm?
As for me, since I don't know
what the rules are around here,
I really can't break them, now can I?
Well, okay. Good day, ladies.
(STAMMERING) No...
Just a minute, Miss Medford.
I...
I think we'd better get
a few things straight.
You're an outsider.
You don't know how our people are.
Now, these children
don't need your experiments.
They don't need your words.
They need to know how to cope,
and they need simple skills.
But learning to speak
can only benefit them.
You know they will never
be accepted into society.
They need to stay with their own kind.
Now, that is their reality.
Words will give them nothing
but frustration and heartache.
It will give them false hopes,
and I don't want my babies to leave here
with hopes that can never be realized.
Well, don't you have anything to say?
Or are you as mute as your students?
Amy, do you ever get lonely here?
I mean, well, there's not much to do here
once classes are over.
I made up my mind when I came here
that loneliness was something
I would have to face.
I can't understand
why you're wanting to leave Boston.
Why, you could've married
any man you set your mind to.
If I had your looks, I'd have married
the first rich man who asked me.
I did.
Marriage doesn't
take away from loneliness.
I was lonelier there than here.
You weren't happy?
Do you know,
for all the years we were married,
my husband complained because
I left the cap off the tooth powder.
(CHUCKLES)
He must've yelled at me
every day for 10 years,
and I kept apologizing and forgetting.
Do you know, it's only occurred to me
since I've been here
that I could've had
my very own tooth powder.
Why'd you marry him?
I don't know.
There was something about him,
a kind of brilliance, I think.
He always did what he set out to do.
He could always make me do
whatever he wanted.
I could never say no to him.
What happened?
I realized that I was always apologizing
for things that I wanted.
I just couldn't do that anymore,
so I left.
Weren't you scared?
I was terrified.
Didn't he try to stop you?
He doesn't know where I am.
Oh, Lordy!
Does Mr. Ferguson know?
Nobody knows.
Kite. This is a kite.
We are going to fly the kite.
We are going to fly the kite
high in the air!
Well, if determination
could make a kite fly,
yours would be soaring by now.
Oh, no, you see, the trouble is,
you're going in the wrong direction.
May I? Thank you.
See? Simple principle of physics.
Uh-huh. Got it. Here we go.
-Got it.
-What are you doing here?
Well, what kind of a question is that?
I came by here to see my patient.
Your patient is doing fine.
Well, then,
maybe I came back to see you.
You could've saved yourself the trouble.
(CHUCKLES) Oh, no. No trouble at all.
Any Irishman worth his salt would
drive 100 miles to see a beautiful lady.
In your case, make that 200.
I'm trying to teach a class.
Oh, well, here. Go right ahead.
Please go away.
WAMBACK: What was
their relationship like?
Mr. Medford pays me
to take care of the house,
not to discuss the family.
I'm trying to find Mrs. Medford.
Anything you tell me
might help bring her back.
Now, do you have any idea
why she might've wanted to leave?
Isn't Mr. Medford a loving husband?
Mr. Medford's a good provider.
He's what I would call a perfectionist,
both in his work and at home.
He's very critical if things aren't
just the way he wants them.
And Mrs. Medford?
Mrs. Medford is a warm, kind person.
She was devoted to the child.
Took him every day
to that special school.
After he died, she was never the same.
He never told me there was a child.
(SCOFFS) I'm not surprised.
Between you and me,
I think he was ashamed.
Why?
Well, the boy was deaf.
Kite.
Ga.
Kite.
Ka.
Kuh. Kuh.
Ki...
Kite.
Kite.
Yes. Yes!
Yes. Kite. Say it again.
-Again. Yes!
-Kite.
-Kite. Kite.
-(AMY EXCLAIMS)
-Mr. Ferguson.
-Amy, I think you need to learn to knock.
Kite.
He can speak.
He can say a word.
Kite.
Kite.
MALVINA: One word.
Do you really think one word
is going to do him any good?
One word will lead to more.
Don't you see?
Walter Ray, Just George.
Yes, ma'am?
What are those things on your ears?
It's an eye-patch.
Eye-patch.
But don't people usually wear
eye-patches on their eyes?
Yeah.
Yeah, their eyes.
Only we can't see,
so we wear them on our ears.
Like Prince John in the story you told us.
And when we do a good deed,
we get to take ours off, too.
(CHUCKLING)
"And Grandma and Grandpa
send their love, too.
"When we can, we'll take the train
to visit you some weekend.
"I'm sending you 50 cents
for your birthday.
"Love, Aunt Ulla."
That's all, Wesley. Here's your letter.
And your 50 cents.
I'll put it in your pocket.
What's a weekend?
It's when we have fried chicken.
Oh.
CARUTHERS: And the articulation
program, how's that coming?
FERGUSON: Fine. Of course,
it is a very slow process.
CARUTHERS: How much
can the children speak?
FERGUSON: Well, it's too soon
for them to actually speak.
Though there is a boy
who has one word.
CARUTHERS: One word?
This program has been going on
for two months,
and you tell me one child
has learned only one word?
Well, in my opinion, Mr. Caruthers,
whether it's one word or 20,
it won't make any difference.
FERGUSON: Malvina, please.
I feel obligated to be completely honest.
-Go on.
-MALVINA: Quite frankly,
I feel subsidizing an articulation program
is like throwing money away.
Learning to speak,
whether a little or a lot,
will not change a deaf child's world.
Mr. Caruthers, you have to understand
that for a long time
a furious battle has raged between
the manualists and the oralists.
The state board is not interested in
theories nor in disputes, only evidence.
Mr. Ferguson, I want a full report
on precisely how the program is doing.
And I want Miss Dodd's comments.
Uncensored.
(SIGHING)
ALL: Amen.
Where's Helen?
One of Helen's children took sick.
He came down today,
all of a sudden like.
What's the matter with the child?
I don't know, but Helen said
he's burning up with fever.
(SIGHS) The joints are swollen.
What does that mean?
Rheumatic fever.
How bad is it?
(SIGHS)
It's bad.
Hello, Wesley. How are you feeling?
On Tuesday, I'm gonna be five.
That's a wonderful age to be.
Do you know what Mr. Moon said?
No. What?
He said on my birthday, when I'm five,
my eyes will open.
That's real fine, Wesley.
At home, we had a dog named Rusty.
And she had babies once.
And their eyes were closed,
just like mine.
But after a while,
their eyes opened and they could see.
So Mr. Moon said,
when my eyes open on my birthday,
I'll see everything.
Then, I'll get to go back home.
MISS HANCOCK: She brought him here
every day for...
Oh, I'd say two years.
And then he started
getting these episodes.
What do you mean, episodes?
Was he an epileptic?
He'd get faint.
His lips would turn almost blue.
I felt the child needed
medical care of some kind.
She meant well,
but she wasn't very realistic about him.
Do you have any idea
where she might be now?
No. I wish I did.
(GROANS) Oh, no, no.
Oh, I can't.
No, I can't. Oh, please!
Please!
Oh!
-Amy. Amy. Amy!
-(SCREAMS)
-What is it?
Dear God!
(SLEEPILY) Oh, Mr. Moon.
BEN: In one minute, then out.
We wait three, then we repeat. Hmm?
Okay.
I'll boil these linens.
Burn them.
Last year, we had an epidemic
of influenza.
There wasn't a family in these
mountains that didn't lose someone.
Children not yet walking. Old folks.
People in their prime.
And if it's not influenza,
then it's smallpox or scarlet fever,
or something we don't
even know the name of.
We don't have enough information,
we don't have the right medicines.
We're fighting dragons
we can't even see.
I need some more sheets,
some more towels, another blanket,
and some rubbing alcohol.
You get yourself something to eat.
All right?
Hazel?
No!
No.
Amy, he's dead!
No! Don't say that!
It's over, Amy. He's gone!
Let me go!
(CRYING) No. No! No! No!
(SHUSHING)
Do you want to tell me about it?
It's all right, Amy. It's all right.
I had a child.
Oh, Ben,
he was so beautiful, so sweet.
But what happened?
He was nearly two
when they found out he was deaf.
I think I loved him even more.
I worked with him.
I taught him.
Then they said he had a heart defect,
that he had been born with it.
They took him away from me,
sent him to an... (STAMMERS)
Institution.
Who did?
My husband and the doctor.
Did you have any other children?
My husband
said that I wasn't capable
of having normal children.
Oh, dear Jesus.
I understand how you feel, Mr. Grimes.
It's a pity your son
never had any schooling.
It's just that
we never take anyone over 16.
But I heard tell that you was
able to help them, to teach them.
Well, we can teach deaf children,
when we get them young.
It's just that 19 is...
Well, it's just,
we can't take anyone that old.
Well, Mervin here ain't
much more than a baby.
His mama never did
let him go nowheres.
This here's the first time
he was ever out of the hills.
But you see,
when his mama took sick, like to died,
I knowed one day she would,
and so would I,
and how's he ever gonna
take care of hisself
with his mama and me both gone?
I'd like to help you,
but our children are so much younger.
I'm not even sure
he could make the adjustment.
I know he's big,
but he never would hurt
one of them young 'uns. No, sir.
That's one thing Mervin knowed,
he ain't never to touch no child
younger than him.
You sure we can handle a boy like that?
(SIGHS) No, I'm not sure at all.
I just don't have the heart
to turn him away.
There's nowhere else for him to go.
Mr. Grimes,
Mr. Pruett will show Mervin to his room.
So, I think this would be the best time
to say goodbye.
I reckon it'd be best if I just go.
Yeah.
Well,
goodbye, Sonny.
Play.
Play.
Puh, puh.
I have a new challenge for you, Amy.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Did you know your wife spent time
at the Horace Mann School?
She took our son there for a short time
when he was six.
Then, I sent him away to school.
He died shortly thereafter.
When was this?
About three years ago.
Were you aware that your wife
worked at the school as a volunteer
during the last year?
No, I wasn't aware of that.
Is there any possibility that Mrs. Medford
would want to continue
the same kind of work elsewhere?
At another school?
(PLAYING UPBEAT TUNE)
Your mother's coming to visit.
Mother.
Rose, hasn't his mother
ever come here before?
They never had the money.
You want to learn how to say "mother"?
Ma.
Ma.
Now, you try it.
Ba.
AMY: Let's try this now.
Watch my mouth.
My tongue is in between my teeth.
-Mmm.
-Hmm.
No.
The vibrations.
Mmm.
Mmm.
Good.
Again.
Muh.
Ma.
Now, put it all together.
Mother.
Ma-der.
That's wonderful!
Oh!
FERGUSON: We thank thee then, Lord,
for all thou hast given us.
But more particularly, for thy love,
which makes us to fear nothing
and which makes us,
who return thy love, truly whole.
We thank thee for all this
and for so much more.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
The church services are ended.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
All the best to you, Amy Medford.
Well, you look quite fine today,
in spite of Lyle Ferguson's
pedantic preaching.
I notice you weren't in attendance.
Oh, now don't scold me
on such a grand day.
Look, hop aboard. I'm going to take you
for a drive and a picnic lunch.
I'm with the children.
Well, I knew you would be. In.
I've brought enough food for an army.
(EXCLAIMS)
(DUCKS QUACKING)
It's getting late. I must go back.
-I'll gather up the children.
-Fine.
Henry.
Where's Henry?
BOY: Hut! Hut!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(BOYS CHATTERING)
Hut! Hut!
(BOYS SHOUTING)
Hey, gimme the ball, kid.
Hey, do you want to play with us?
I said, do you want to play with us?
What's the matter with him?
Is he crazy or something?
AMY: He can't hear you.
Thank you.
BOY 1: Boy, what a dummy.
BOY 2: Yeah.
BOY 3: Deaf and dumb.
(BOYS LAUGHING)
What do you think he's saying?
BOY 1: Hike, 41.
BOY 2: 41.
BOY 1: Ten! Hut! Hut!
I think he wants to learn to play football.
Huh?
(BOTH GRUNTING)
Understand? Good.
-How do you feel?
-Oh!
(INAUDIBLE)
Mackler, I want you to contact
the schools for the deaf,
both state and private.
Orphanages, schools for
the handicapped, even the asylums.
Mrs. Pray,
I want you to check out newspapers
from all the surrounding states.
Anything that has to do
with deaf children.
And check the obituaries.
BEN: Henry. Henry,
you'll be the quarterback, huh?
Chester, you're gonna be
the left halfback,
and, Jens, you will be right halfback.
(AMY GROANS)
Are you sure this is
how it's meant to be done?
(LAUGHING)
(BOYS CHEERING)
They're doing better.
Great Caesar's ghost.
What are you all up to now?
Football.
-Ben learned to play in college.
-(SIGHS) Lord help us.
I think he has. (CHUCKLING)
-Isn't it a bit unorthodox?
-Completely.
Oh, I just don't know.
Look, Virgil. Our kids are kept apart.
Everyone treats them in a special way.
Yet, except for their hearing,
they're just as normal as your boys.
I don't know. The village children
have never mixed with your children.
I'm not sure it would work.
-It's just a football game, Mr. Goodloe.
-Hendricks boys against Parker's.
Oh, your boys can't compete with mine.
They're good. They practice every day.
They'd beat the pants off your boys.
Then, you haven't got anything
to worry about.
But, Lyle, the parents would have a fit.
You know how people around here
feel about the deaf.
You can't mix them.
People just don't know how to act.
Virgil, it's our children
who are taking the risk, not yours.
You're putting me in a bad spot, Lyle.
Please, Mr. Goodloe. Take a chance.
-What in the world will I tell the parents?
-BOY: Hut, hut!
(CROWD CHEERING)
BEN: All right. That's it. Keep going.
Go ahead. Come on, Henry.
(BEN CONTINUES SHOUTING)
-Yeah! Go! Go!
-Whoo! Go!
AMY: No, no, no.
HELEN: This way.
AMY: Oh, no.
BEN: What are you doing?
Here, Mervin.
(BOTH GROANING)
Now what?
Tell Henry to try
shift reverse play number three.
Okay.
PRUETT: I think they got it.
That's right. Give it to them.
Give it to them.
Attaboy. Okay. Here we go.
Oh, they're shifting,
but they don't know what to do.
And... That's right.
REFEREE: Okay, boys.
BOY 1: What do those
hand movements mean?
BOY 2: I don't know what to do.
BOY 1: What is this?
WOMAN: Come on, Parker, run!
Run, that's it!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(ALL CHEERING)
All right, we're still ahead.
Okay. All right.
HELEN: Come on, now.
AMY: Isn't this exciting?
REFEREE: Okay, let's go.
HELEN: Come on,
let's make that kick now.
REFEREE: Let's go.
MAN 1: Let's go now.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(MAN 1 GROANING)
MAN 2: Oh, what a beautiful kick.
MAN 3: Let's get them. Tackle him.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
REFEREE: Parker has possession.
First down.
-We got it. We got it.
-Go! Go!
All right, all right. Defense. Defense.
REFEREE: Thirty seconds.
I've got a secret weapon
I've been saving.
-Secret weapon?
-Yeah. It's something new.
What are you gonna do?
Let's try the shift reverse pass
number four, huh?
All right. All right.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Play some defense now. Hold the line.
Amy...
(WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY)
REFEREE: Okay, boys, let's go now.
BEN: Go, Mervin, go!
Go, Mervin, go! Go!
-PRUETT: That's it, Mervin.
-(BEN SHOUTING)
(ALL CHEERING)
Mervin! Attaboy!
(GUN FIRES)
Oh!
(CHEERING)
(ALL CHEERING)
WAMBACK: Well, what do you think?
It's her.
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
(BEN CLEARS THROAT)
Whoever guesses which hand it's in
gets the prize.
That one.
You win.
-What's the prize?
-Dinner,
with me.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
You, uh... You are very beautiful.
You're always looking at me.
(CHUCKLES) Well,
you're very good to look at.
I like looking at you.
What do you see when you look at me?
When I was very young,
we had a summer house by the sea,
and there was a walnut grove.
A walnut grove
that led from our house to the water.
I spent much of my time there,
in that grove.
The trees were thick,
and warm, and brown.
Like your hair.
And through the leaves
you could see the sea.
Sometimes green, and sometimes gray,
and sometimes very blue,
but always glistening.
Like your eyes.
You must've been very happy there.
I used to wish that I never had to leave.
And is that where you fell in love
for the first time, when you were a boy?
You're very perceptive.
Yeah, I was 11,
and I fell madly in love forever.
What happened?
I grew up.
It was a lovely dinner.
Mmm. Put together
with a lick and a promise.
A promise?
Promise to do better the next time.
I must get back. It's late.
Amy, stop running.
I have a husband.
It doesn't matter.
How can you say that?
I see what's in your face, in your eyes.
I shouldn't be here.
Amy, whenever we start to get close,
you walk away, you change the subject.
You don't want to face
what you're feeling.
Please.
Amy, you can't keep running forever.
It's wrong, Ben.
The only thing that's wrong
is to deny how we feel.
We are going to look at a new sound.
Uh. Run.
I've come to get Henry.
Your mother and father are here.
Run.
(ENUNCIATING) Mother.
Mother.
Henry?
Is that my Henry?
Henry?
Talking?
Oh, praise be, he's talking!
HENRY: Mother.
Oh, thank God.
HENRY: Mother.
MRS. WATKINS: Thank God.
Amy, come with me, please.
-What's this all about?
-Henry's mother is blind.
She's stone blind.
That's why he feels so close
to the blind children.
That's why he wants so badly to speak.
Until now, they've had no way
to communicate with each other.
-(SOBBING) Oh, Henry, my Henry.
-Mother. Mother.
That's why he's "H" on the eyes.
MRS. WATKINS: Oh!
I've never heard my son speak.
Superintendent Ferguson, we feel
we have been more than generous
with your demands,
many of which, we feel, are excessive.
But when we see what you do
with our funding.
Playing games, ugly publicity,
calling attention to your asylum...
School.
We feel unanimously that
the funding for your special program
should be terminated.
You have abused
your position, Superintendent.
You have set yourself and this board
up for ridicule.
FERGUSON: Mr. Caruthers,
football games are a normal activity
in many schools.
They provide our youth
with the opportunity to...
Your school does not deal
with normal youngsters.
Parker School was founded
to provide education and work skills
for deaf, dumb, and blind children.
Not ball games.
Sir, these children are normal.
It's only their hearing, or their sight,
that is impaired.
We do not need you to tell us
what sort of children
are sent to your school.
We, here, are well aware.
Running a school for these children
requires more than
just the bare necessities.
It is unpardonable that we do not have
a doctor there on a regular basis.
We lack the standard equipment
that schools for hearing and
sighted children have without question.
-And as for teaching speech...
-You know that's impossible.
We have a letter from Miss Dodd,
your matron, to that effect.
And now, it's obvious what
your misguided ideas have done
with the appropriations.
You talk about these children
as though they were lepers.
This is a closed board meeting,
as you well know.
As for teaching speech,
I have brought with me
our teacher, Miss Amy Medford,
who will give you a demonstration.
With her is Henry Watkins,
a boy of 14, who was born deaf,
which this document will confirm.
You certainly cannot bring
such a child in here.
Your people will have to
remain in the waiting room
until this meeting is adjourned.
If you will just listen for a few minutes.
Ferguson, this is highly unorthodox.
Henry, tell them your name.
It's all right.
Tell them your name.
This is an outrageous
display of theatrics.
This child is being used, not helped.
If you will just wait one minute.
Madam, for 34 years
Parker School has survived
within the framework
that this board has set up,
and no variation is going to be allowed.
You are frightening the child
with your display of anger.
And you are an impudent woman.
You are turning this meeting
into a circus.
Everyone knows that
the deaf cannot speak!
Yes, I can.
What?
We need your help, please.
Mervin, what is today?
(BOY GIGGLING)
(GRUNTS)
That's not today anymore.
That's finished.
Henry, can you show him?
Very good. That's today.
Let's write that on the board.
Stop that!
Please.
This is it.
What?
I'm going to teach you how to drive.
(LAUGHING)
You're joking.
I'm Irish. The Irish have
no sense of humor whatsoever.
But I don't want to learn how to drive.
Of course you do.
Now, every modern woman
needs to know how.
Well, then, maybe I'm not very modern.
Well, I can teach you that, too.
AMY: How am I doing?
Oh, no!
(EXHALES)
Oh, you're doing fine.
Fine.
Well, at least that should
keep the cows in.
-Come here.
-What is it?
I've something very important to tell you.
What?
(LOUDLY) I love you, Amy Medford.
I'd love you even more if I could find you.
(LAUGHS) I love you, too,
Ben Corcoran.
I'll catch you.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I love you, Amy Medford.
Amy, this letter came today.
It's from the Bookman Detective Agency,
inquiring if we know the whereabouts
of the wife of Elliot Medford.
I think you better tell me about it.
He, uh...
He's my husband.
Why didn't you tell me
you were married?
I didn't want him to find out where I am.
You mean, you left him?
Yes.
But what about
the letter of recommendation from
-The Horace Mann School?
-I forged it.
When I saw your letter
on the bulletin board,
looking for a speech teacher,
I knew I had to have that job,
so I made everything up.
They never knew I applied for your job.
Amy, we can't afford a scandal.
-If the state board finds out...
-I never thought that...
I never thought he'd find me here.
Please, he'll make me go back.
I couldn't bear that.
FERGUSON: Perhaps if you wrote
to him, explained how you feel.
(SIGHS)
I never have been able to
tell him how I feel.
He never listened to me.
But since you've been away,
perhaps he'd realize.
I was just something that he owned,
like a painting or a stamp collection.
A useless ornament.
And he wanted me that way
because it made him feel
like more of a man.
-Amy...
-I know what you're going to say.
That I have no business here,
that I don't belong.
Well, maybe you're right.
But I'm not going to give up,
no matter how much you want me to.
I've got to succeed.
Otherwise nothing in my life,
or my child's life, makes any sense.
(SINGING) O, little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Amy, what are we gonna do with this?
(STUDENTS CONTINUE SINGING)
-Ben.
-(LAUGHS) Oh!
Amy!
Top.
The ornament that goes on top.
-What goes on top of the tree?
-It's a little angel.
If it's not in the box,
maybe it's still in the storage room.
-Want me to get it for you?
-No. I'll get it. It's all right.
O, holy town of Bethlehem
(STUDENTS CONTINUE SINGING)
(WEEPING)
(AMY CONTINUES SOBBING)
It's Just George.
Yes?
-Miss Amy?
-Yes.
Don't be sad.
Soon it's going to be Christmas.
(SNIFFLING)
You're right.
Come on, I'll take you back.
I've been wondering.
How did you get the name
of Just George?
Well, I growed up
at the county poorhouse.
See, I didn't have no folks.
Well, I guess I did, once,
except they throwed me away
by the side of the road.
Well, at the poorhouse,
they started calling me George.
Then one day,
they said I had to have a last name.
I said, "No, I'm just George."
I didn't come with no last name.
I think Just George is a wonderful name.
Thank you kindly.
Just George, when are you gonna
take that eye-patch off your ear?
Well, like you said,
when I do a good deed.
Only, I ain't been able to find one to do.
Yes, you have.
Look at what you gave me.
-You're smiling.
-Yes.
You gave me that smile.
Not everyone can do that, you know.
It's a very special gift. Thank you.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
(MERVIN GROANS)
(MERVIN CRYING)
(CHILDREN EXCLAIMING)
-(WHOOPING)
-You won.
That's wonderful, Henry.
Now, you're the champion.
Champion. That means
you're the winner.
Now, off to bed. It's late.
Wait.
Here. I want you to have this.
It used to belong to my little boy.
Now, it belongs to you.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Come in.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
(LAUGHING)
What in the world are you doing here?
I have brought you a Christmas present.
But it's not Christmas yet.
Oh, yes, it is. In Australia.
(LAUGHS)
(CLEARING THROAT)
"The sun's bright blessing
sanctifies the land
"with flowers, fawns, and mountains,
wide and wild.
"Yet all this glory pales,
and cannot stand
"before the radiant magic of your smile."
That's beautiful.
Is it Yeats?
Well, I'm flattered. No, it's Corcoran.
(BELL JINGLING)
(SINGING) Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
-A...
-Merry...
-Christmas...
-To...
-Every...
-One.
(ALL EXCLAIMING JOYFULLY)
BEN: Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas.
Ho, ho, ho, ho. Ho, ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas.
You all want to stand up?
BEN: Oh, look at all the pretty little girls.
-Ho, ho! What's your name?
-BOY: Goodie, goodie, goodie.
BEN: Oh, let's see what we have for you.
And here's something for you,
young man.
BEN: Hazel, get me
some cold compressions.
MALVINA: What's happened?
What's happened?
(ALL CLAMORING)
BEN: Now, don't panic, everybody.
I don't think it's very serious.
He's going to be fine.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING
IN THE DISTANCE)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Excuse me, madam.
Is this the Parker School?
Yes, it is.
Is there an Amy Medford here?
-I beg your pardon?
-I'm looking for her. I'm her husband.
Uh, I'm sorry. No.
There's no one here by that name.
Do you work here?
-I am the matron for the deaf.
-I see. Thank you.
Malvina, did you find...
Amy.
I'm sorry.
Hello, Elliot.
Is that all you have to say?
Amy, I've been so worried about you.
I'm fine, Elliot.
Is there a place where we can talk?
-This is where you've been living?
-Yes.
Why, Amy?
Do you have any idea
what I've been going through?
I'm sorry if I've caused you pain.
Pain?
My God, I think you don't even realize
what you've done to me.
I'm the subject of gossip, reproach.
My parents are disgraced.
My law partners, my clients,
the way they look at me,
even the servants.
-Where are you valises?
-Elliot, I can't.
Amy, you're my wife.
We have a very good marriage.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
The day I left, I had reasons
why I couldn't stay with you anymore.
But now, my reasons are different.
My life just has
nothing to do with you now.
Amy, I can give you anything you want.
I have my work, I have my friends,
and the children who need me.
You've met another man.
It has nothing to do with a man.
It has to do with
what I want to do with my life.
It has to do with feeling worthwhile.
You don't discard a marriage
like you do last year's dress.
I tried it your way, Elliot, for 10 years.
Now I have to try it mine.
Amy, I can change.
I know you don't think
I'm capable of that, but I can change.
It doesn't matter.
We could have another child.
Please.
Amy, I need you. We could try again.
Tell me that you will try again.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Amy, Henry's run off.
We think he might be trying to
run after Mervin.
We can't find him anywhere.
Amy!
(DOOR SLAMS)
I can't answer that question,
but both the boys are gone.
They could get lost very easily at night.
Where do you think they went?
Well, my guess is that
Mervin's trying to find his way home,
and that Henry's trying to stop him.
But does he know his way home?
It's hard to tell what he knows,
except that he's from
the other side of Hendricks,
down by the railroad tracks.
My God!
They could be running down the track,
but neither of them can hear the train.
-You'd better get Ben.
-Oh, yes.
(HONKING)
(GROANS)
(TRAIN HONKING)
(SCREAMING)
Malvina was right.
What difference does a word make?
Life here is hard, Amy.
I told you that.
I can't take it anymore, Ben.
I can't stay here
and watch children die,
and feel helpless.
Amy, you can't play God.
There's nothing you could've done.
MR. GRIMES: Whoa, boy.
Whoa. Easy now.
All right, Mama. Watch your step.
Steady.
Oh, oh. Oh!
Mmm. Lord.
(CRYING)
It were for nothing. Oh, for nothing.
Now, Ma,
they said they could teach him.
All for nothing.
Deaf can't be teached.
Friend.
My friend.
You from that there school?
I'm the superintendent.
-Is he one of your'n?
-Yes, he is.
Tell them your name.
My name is Henry Watkins.
I go to Parker School.
-Is he deaf?
-Totally deaf.
He's learning to speak.
Now, you see, Ma?
I told you they could teach them.
This here's my baby, Pearl.
She ain't never heard nothing
in her whole life.
You take her, and you...
You make her talk.
Like him.
Malvina, will you take care
of Pearl here, please?
Come on, sweetheart.
Everything costs something, Amy,
but only you can know if it's worth it.
I packed your things.
I'm not going back with you, Elliot.
Of course you're going back with me.
You just don't listen to me, do you?
For a long time I blamed you for that.
I blamed you for taking our son away.
I blamed you for always criticizing me.
For treating me like a child
who could never do anything right.
I don't blame you anymore.
I allowed you to do those things to me.
I'm not going to allow you
to do that anymore.
Amy, come on.
AMY: I taught him that.
He taught me something, too.
He taught me I had value.
Because, when I came here,
I was more handicapped than he.
Don't talk nonsense. You're my wife.
We belong to each other.
Amy, I won't let you do this.
If you fight me,
if you make it impossible
for me to stay here,
I'll find another school,
and another,
until you finally hear me
and realize that I mean what I say.
Amy,
you belong to me.
I belong to myself.
So many ways to speak
So many ways to hear
Those things that hide inside the heart
That words cannot make clear
So many words are wrong
When silence says so much
You teach that gentle lesson well
To every life you touch
Oh, Amy
Within your glow I see
Those sunny dreams that hide behind
The clouds above
Let me know you
Let me glow, too
Let me show you
The many ways
To love
So many ways to speak
So many ways to hear
Those things that hide inside the heart
That words cannot make clear
So many words are wrong
When silence says so much
You teach that gentle lesson well
To every life you touch
Oh, Amy, within your glow I see
Those sunny dreams
that hide behind the clouds above
Let me know you
Let me glow, too
Let me show you
The many ways to love
Oh, Amy, within your glow I see
Those sunny dreams
that hide behind the clouds above
Let me know you
Let me glow, too
Let me show you
The many ways to love
Here we are.
Could I get you something to eat?
No, thank you.
Well, you know where my office is.
If there's anything at all you want,
you just give me a holler.
Thank you.
You'll have six students to start with.
Believe me, I realize
how difficult your task is going to be.
There are those
who believe passionately
that the deaf
can never be taught to speak.
I'm afraid you're going to meet
some opposition to your work.
But I believe we've got to give it a try.
We have 20 blind children and 40 deaf.
And as you'll discover, they don't mix.
The life here is hard, Miss Medford.
Most of these children
come from poor mountain folks,
some from the coal mining country.
And if it weren't for this school,
some of them might face
a life shut up in a dark room.
So, between that and hard,
hard is better.
(GROANS)
BOY: Just George. Just George.
Just George, this way.
I'm sorry,
I don't understand sign language.
I was explaining who you are
to Henry Watkins.
Uh, he wants you to know that
his name sign is "H" on the eyes.
What does that mean?
Well, the "H" stands for "Henry."
Owen Corner, who teaches carpentry,
gives all the deaf children
and their teachers their name signs.
For example, mine is "F,"
as in "Ferguson," on the forehead,
because as superintendent,
that's as high up as you can go.
Why "H" on the eyes?
I don't know, really.
Perhaps it's because he's the only
deaf child that plays with blind children.
And defends them, too, as you can see.
He wants us to go
to Owen Corner's shop
so that he can give you his name sign.
Okay.
Owen, I'd like you to meet Amy Medford.
The new speech teacher.
Owen says he's happy to meet you.
Henry is saying that he would like
Owen to give you a new name sign.
He said, "'A' on the lips
because you're the speech teacher."
Henry's saying that, if you like,
it can be "A" on the lips for you,
but for him, it will always be "A" pretty.
ALL: Bless, O Father,
this food for our use,
and bless us for our service
in Jesus Christ's name.
Amen.
Amen.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
You been working
with deaf children long, Amy?
For a while.
Sure is interesting,
you teaching deaf children to speak.
I always sort of figured they couldn't.
Where did you get your training, Amy?
In Boston.
At the Horace Mann School.
Oh, you taught there?
Well, not exactly.
I was more like an assistant.
This is my first job.
Well, you certainly are qualified to teach
what even the experts say
is totally unteachable.
Malvina, let's not get into that.
I know you're not an oralist.
Amy, we're not expecting you
to work any miracles.
No, of course not.
My name is Amy.
I am here to teach you to speak.
I don't understand sign language,
so in the beginning,
Miss Dodd will explain to you what I say.
I want you to watch my lips.
I will only speak when you look at me.
I am going to teach you
to understand what I say
by reading my lips.
I am going to teach you to speak,
just the way I do.
When I speak,
you can feel the vibrations on my cheek.
You can feel the vibrations.
Feel the vibrations on my cheek.
You can feel the...
Please, I'm not going to hurt you.
Please, no!
Please, help me!
No.
Can't you help me, please?
It's all right. No.
All right! I'm not gonna hurt you.
Stop. Stop, stop! No, she won't hurt you!
Go and sit down. Go on.
Sit down. Sit down.
What does Malvina Dodd
have against me?
Oh!
Well, she's not a bad person, really.
She's been here a long time, Amy.
She's devoted to the children.
When the deaf children come here,
none of them knew how to sign.
She taught them.
I think she just doesn't believe
any of them can ever be taught to speak.
I'm not even sure I can teach them.
Now, don't you be discouraged.
When I first come here,
I was supposed to be
teaching these children Braille,
and most of them didn't know
a raised dot from a wart on a hog's nose.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Ah, this here's Wesley Moody.
He's our youngest child here at Parker.
AMY: Hello, Wesley.
Mr. Moon said on my birthday,
when I'm five, my eyes will open.
Then, I'll be able to see
as good as anyone.
Well, you and Mr. Moon
hustle on off to class now. Hurry it up.
CLYDE: Here, Wesley.
Wesley believes that all children
are born with their eyes closed.
Pretty soon, they open,
just like baby animals.
But eventually,
he'll have to learn the truth.
That he'll always be blind.
But he believes in it so hard,
none of us have the courage
to tell him the truth.
WAMBACK: What kind
of a woman is she?
She's delicate, really.
She often took to bed,
like most women, I suspect.
She's not the sort that would do things
for herself. She depended on me.
That must've been quite a burden.
Not at all.
You've had no word? A letter? Anything?
Nothing, other than the note
I showed you.
Was she happy?
Of course. I gave her everything.
This is a book.
Look at the book.
Please don't.
If you keep signing, they'll never learn.
I am holding a book.
This is a book.
(DOOR SLAMS)
We read from this book.
All right, next word.
Opportunity. Dwayne.
-O-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y.
-(BOTH MOUTHING)
Afraid not. Walter Ray.
I don't feel so good, Miss Gibbs.
I think I'm sick.
Do you want me to
take you down to the nurse?
I can take him, Helen.
You keep on with your class.
Wait. You better take Just George, too.
They never go anywhere
without each other.
Wesley.
O-P-U-R...
(CHILDREN CHUCKLING)
(GROANING)
Walter Ray, where does it hurt?
Down here.
You better fetch the doctor, Hazel.
Amy, there's no doctor here.
Amy, we have no funds for a doctor.
Except in an emergency.
We have no funds for proper heating.
We have no funds for repairs.
Our chapel burned down.
We have no money to build another one.
We give the children
food that's barely nutritional.
Not having a doctor
is just one of our problems.
Now, if it's a matter of life or death...
(SIGHS)
(PANTING) Mr. Pruett,
where's the nearest doctor?
Nearest doctor?
That'd be Doc Corcoran.
Over to Elkins in Randolph County.
Mr. Pruett,
we've got a very sick child here.
Can you help me?
Well, of course.
So, you see,
Prince John had no friends at all.
Oh, people bowed to him
and made a fuss over him.
Many people respected him
because he was so smart.
-But no one really liked him.
-(CAR HORN HONKING)
MEN: (SINGING)
Ho, ho, ho, you and me
Little brown jug, how I love thee
(BEN LAUGHING)
BEN: You're sure you can
drive that thing, huh?
PRUETT: Well, if I can't,
I'm in big trouble,
'cause I'm too drunk to walk home.
(MEN CHUCKLING)
(SINGING) Little brown jug,
how I love thee
Well, the Royal Wizard
cast a spell on the Prince
that took away the sight from one eye.
He had to wear an eye-patch,
which he could only take off
after he learned
to care about other people
and perform good deeds.
Oh.
Of course,
it wasn't easy for Prince John.
He wasn't used to being nice.
But after a while, he started to change.
Like, being polite to his parents.
Picking up his clothes.
Pretty soon he started
doing nice things for others,
and it wasn't long before he began
to be known as a good-deed-doer.
And do you know what happened?
What?
All the people in the kingdom
were so happy about what he was doing,
they all decided to wear eye-patches
until each one of them
performed a good deed.
But, of all the people
wearing an eye-patch on his eye,
there was one who wore
an eye-patch on his mouth.
Which is where it deserved to be,
I can tell you. And who was he?
(IN IRISH ACCENT)
Why, he was none other
than me highly esteemed,
but rather talkative,
great, great, great-grandfather,
Sean Shamus Corcoran.
And I, I am none other
than the equally talkative,
but far more handsome,
charming, and intelligent,
Benjamin James Corcoran, M.D.
-You are the doctor?
-(CHUCKLING)
(IN NORMAL ACCENT) At your service.
Well, now what's this I hear
about a sick boy, huh?
-What's your name, lad?
-Walter Ray.
Walter Ray, huh?
Well, we're going to find out
what's been troubling you so much.
I think you ought to have some coffee.
May I suggest, dear lady,
that you leave the practice of medicine,
at which I am quite competent, up to me,
and go about your business,
whatever that may be.
I'd like to stay, if you don't mind.
Well, I do mind.
All right.
Thank you.
-Green apples.
-I beg your pardon?
Your emergency.
It seems our little blind friend
sneaked into the kitchen last night
and got himself
into a barrel of green apples.
He didn't tell anyone
for fear of being punished.
-Are you sure?
-(BEN CHUCKLES)
A stomach full of green apples
can make you feel so bad
you think your appendix
is going to burst.
-No, he'll be fine by tonight.
-I see.
Okay. Everybody in. Let's go. Come on.
I'm sorry to have bothered you.
I'll pay you for your trouble.
I'll send you a bill.
Okay. Here we go. Everybody up.
Okay, come on.
Come on, darling.
Here we go, sweetheart.
This is for you. Now, wear it.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh, Dr. Corcoran. Dr. Corcoran!
Oh, my dear Miss Dodd.
And how are you this fine day?
Very well, thank you. And you?
(IN IRISH ACCENT) Oh,
all the better for your asking, dear lady.
Doctor, the children are not allowed
to leave the premises
-without proper authorization.
-But a little ride.
Now, wouldn't that
do the children some good?
Well, if we start
changing the rules for one...
Ah, you are right as always, Miss Dodd.
You are right.
You're right. Now, Amy,
you must always listen to Miss Dodd,
so you can learn the rules. Hmm?
As for me, since I don't know
what the rules are around here,
I really can't break them, now can I?
Well, okay. Good day, ladies.
(STAMMERING) No...
Just a minute, Miss Medford.
I...
I think we'd better get
a few things straight.
You're an outsider.
You don't know how our people are.
Now, these children
don't need your experiments.
They don't need your words.
They need to know how to cope,
and they need simple skills.
But learning to speak
can only benefit them.
You know they will never
be accepted into society.
They need to stay with their own kind.
Now, that is their reality.
Words will give them nothing
but frustration and heartache.
It will give them false hopes,
and I don't want my babies to leave here
with hopes that can never be realized.
Well, don't you have anything to say?
Or are you as mute as your students?
Amy, do you ever get lonely here?
I mean, well, there's not much to do here
once classes are over.
I made up my mind when I came here
that loneliness was something
I would have to face.
I can't understand
why you're wanting to leave Boston.
Why, you could've married
any man you set your mind to.
If I had your looks, I'd have married
the first rich man who asked me.
I did.
Marriage doesn't
take away from loneliness.
I was lonelier there than here.
You weren't happy?
Do you know,
for all the years we were married,
my husband complained because
I left the cap off the tooth powder.
(CHUCKLES)
He must've yelled at me
every day for 10 years,
and I kept apologizing and forgetting.
Do you know, it's only occurred to me
since I've been here
that I could've had
my very own tooth powder.
Why'd you marry him?
I don't know.
There was something about him,
a kind of brilliance, I think.
He always did what he set out to do.
He could always make me do
whatever he wanted.
I could never say no to him.
What happened?
I realized that I was always apologizing
for things that I wanted.
I just couldn't do that anymore,
so I left.
Weren't you scared?
I was terrified.
Didn't he try to stop you?
He doesn't know where I am.
Oh, Lordy!
Does Mr. Ferguson know?
Nobody knows.
Kite. This is a kite.
We are going to fly the kite.
We are going to fly the kite
high in the air!
Well, if determination
could make a kite fly,
yours would be soaring by now.
Oh, no, you see, the trouble is,
you're going in the wrong direction.
May I? Thank you.
See? Simple principle of physics.
Uh-huh. Got it. Here we go.
-Got it.
-What are you doing here?
Well, what kind of a question is that?
I came by here to see my patient.
Your patient is doing fine.
Well, then,
maybe I came back to see you.
You could've saved yourself the trouble.
(CHUCKLES) Oh, no. No trouble at all.
Any Irishman worth his salt would
drive 100 miles to see a beautiful lady.
In your case, make that 200.
I'm trying to teach a class.
Oh, well, here. Go right ahead.
Please go away.
WAMBACK: What was
their relationship like?
Mr. Medford pays me
to take care of the house,
not to discuss the family.
I'm trying to find Mrs. Medford.
Anything you tell me
might help bring her back.
Now, do you have any idea
why she might've wanted to leave?
Isn't Mr. Medford a loving husband?
Mr. Medford's a good provider.
He's what I would call a perfectionist,
both in his work and at home.
He's very critical if things aren't
just the way he wants them.
And Mrs. Medford?
Mrs. Medford is a warm, kind person.
She was devoted to the child.
Took him every day
to that special school.
After he died, she was never the same.
He never told me there was a child.
(SCOFFS) I'm not surprised.
Between you and me,
I think he was ashamed.
Why?
Well, the boy was deaf.
Kite.
Ga.
Kite.
Ka.
Kuh. Kuh.
Ki...
Kite.
Kite.
Yes. Yes!
Yes. Kite. Say it again.
-Again. Yes!
-Kite.
-Kite. Kite.
-(AMY EXCLAIMS)
-Mr. Ferguson.
-Amy, I think you need to learn to knock.
Kite.
He can speak.
He can say a word.
Kite.
Kite.
MALVINA: One word.
Do you really think one word
is going to do him any good?
One word will lead to more.
Don't you see?
Walter Ray, Just George.
Yes, ma'am?
What are those things on your ears?
It's an eye-patch.
Eye-patch.
But don't people usually wear
eye-patches on their eyes?
Yeah.
Yeah, their eyes.
Only we can't see,
so we wear them on our ears.
Like Prince John in the story you told us.
And when we do a good deed,
we get to take ours off, too.
(CHUCKLING)
"And Grandma and Grandpa
send their love, too.
"When we can, we'll take the train
to visit you some weekend.
"I'm sending you 50 cents
for your birthday.
"Love, Aunt Ulla."
That's all, Wesley. Here's your letter.
And your 50 cents.
I'll put it in your pocket.
What's a weekend?
It's when we have fried chicken.
Oh.
CARUTHERS: And the articulation
program, how's that coming?
FERGUSON: Fine. Of course,
it is a very slow process.
CARUTHERS: How much
can the children speak?
FERGUSON: Well, it's too soon
for them to actually speak.
Though there is a boy
who has one word.
CARUTHERS: One word?
This program has been going on
for two months,
and you tell me one child
has learned only one word?
Well, in my opinion, Mr. Caruthers,
whether it's one word or 20,
it won't make any difference.
FERGUSON: Malvina, please.
I feel obligated to be completely honest.
-Go on.
-MALVINA: Quite frankly,
I feel subsidizing an articulation program
is like throwing money away.
Learning to speak,
whether a little or a lot,
will not change a deaf child's world.
Mr. Caruthers, you have to understand
that for a long time
a furious battle has raged between
the manualists and the oralists.
The state board is not interested in
theories nor in disputes, only evidence.
Mr. Ferguson, I want a full report
on precisely how the program is doing.
And I want Miss Dodd's comments.
Uncensored.
(SIGHING)
ALL: Amen.
Where's Helen?
One of Helen's children took sick.
He came down today,
all of a sudden like.
What's the matter with the child?
I don't know, but Helen said
he's burning up with fever.
(SIGHS) The joints are swollen.
What does that mean?
Rheumatic fever.
How bad is it?
(SIGHS)
It's bad.
Hello, Wesley. How are you feeling?
On Tuesday, I'm gonna be five.
That's a wonderful age to be.
Do you know what Mr. Moon said?
No. What?
He said on my birthday, when I'm five,
my eyes will open.
That's real fine, Wesley.
At home, we had a dog named Rusty.
And she had babies once.
And their eyes were closed,
just like mine.
But after a while,
their eyes opened and they could see.
So Mr. Moon said,
when my eyes open on my birthday,
I'll see everything.
Then, I'll get to go back home.
MISS HANCOCK: She brought him here
every day for...
Oh, I'd say two years.
And then he started
getting these episodes.
What do you mean, episodes?
Was he an epileptic?
He'd get faint.
His lips would turn almost blue.
I felt the child needed
medical care of some kind.
She meant well,
but she wasn't very realistic about him.
Do you have any idea
where she might be now?
No. I wish I did.
(GROANS) Oh, no, no.
Oh, I can't.
No, I can't. Oh, please!
Please!
Oh!
-Amy. Amy. Amy!
-(SCREAMS)
-What is it?
Dear God!
(SLEEPILY) Oh, Mr. Moon.
BEN: In one minute, then out.
We wait three, then we repeat. Hmm?
Okay.
I'll boil these linens.
Burn them.
Last year, we had an epidemic
of influenza.
There wasn't a family in these
mountains that didn't lose someone.
Children not yet walking. Old folks.
People in their prime.
And if it's not influenza,
then it's smallpox or scarlet fever,
or something we don't
even know the name of.
We don't have enough information,
we don't have the right medicines.
We're fighting dragons
we can't even see.
I need some more sheets,
some more towels, another blanket,
and some rubbing alcohol.
You get yourself something to eat.
All right?
Hazel?
No!
No.
Amy, he's dead!
No! Don't say that!
It's over, Amy. He's gone!
Let me go!
(CRYING) No. No! No! No!
(SHUSHING)
Do you want to tell me about it?
It's all right, Amy. It's all right.
I had a child.
Oh, Ben,
he was so beautiful, so sweet.
But what happened?
He was nearly two
when they found out he was deaf.
I think I loved him even more.
I worked with him.
I taught him.
Then they said he had a heart defect,
that he had been born with it.
They took him away from me,
sent him to an... (STAMMERS)
Institution.
Who did?
My husband and the doctor.
Did you have any other children?
My husband
said that I wasn't capable
of having normal children.
Oh, dear Jesus.
I understand how you feel, Mr. Grimes.
It's a pity your son
never had any schooling.
It's just that
we never take anyone over 16.
But I heard tell that you was
able to help them, to teach them.
Well, we can teach deaf children,
when we get them young.
It's just that 19 is...
Well, it's just,
we can't take anyone that old.
Well, Mervin here ain't
much more than a baby.
His mama never did
let him go nowheres.
This here's the first time
he was ever out of the hills.
But you see,
when his mama took sick, like to died,
I knowed one day she would,
and so would I,
and how's he ever gonna
take care of hisself
with his mama and me both gone?
I'd like to help you,
but our children are so much younger.
I'm not even sure
he could make the adjustment.
I know he's big,
but he never would hurt
one of them young 'uns. No, sir.
That's one thing Mervin knowed,
he ain't never to touch no child
younger than him.
You sure we can handle a boy like that?
(SIGHS) No, I'm not sure at all.
I just don't have the heart
to turn him away.
There's nowhere else for him to go.
Mr. Grimes,
Mr. Pruett will show Mervin to his room.
So, I think this would be the best time
to say goodbye.
I reckon it'd be best if I just go.
Yeah.
Well,
goodbye, Sonny.
Play.
Play.
Puh, puh.
I have a new challenge for you, Amy.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Did you know your wife spent time
at the Horace Mann School?
She took our son there for a short time
when he was six.
Then, I sent him away to school.
He died shortly thereafter.
When was this?
About three years ago.
Were you aware that your wife
worked at the school as a volunteer
during the last year?
No, I wasn't aware of that.
Is there any possibility that Mrs. Medford
would want to continue
the same kind of work elsewhere?
At another school?
(PLAYING UPBEAT TUNE)
Your mother's coming to visit.
Mother.
Rose, hasn't his mother
ever come here before?
They never had the money.
You want to learn how to say "mother"?
Ma.
Ma.
Now, you try it.
Ba.
AMY: Let's try this now.
Watch my mouth.
My tongue is in between my teeth.
-Mmm.
-Hmm.
No.
The vibrations.
Mmm.
Mmm.
Good.
Again.
Muh.
Ma.
Now, put it all together.
Mother.
Ma-der.
That's wonderful!
Oh!
FERGUSON: We thank thee then, Lord,
for all thou hast given us.
But more particularly, for thy love,
which makes us to fear nothing
and which makes us,
who return thy love, truly whole.
We thank thee for all this
and for so much more.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
The church services are ended.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
All the best to you, Amy Medford.
Well, you look quite fine today,
in spite of Lyle Ferguson's
pedantic preaching.
I notice you weren't in attendance.
Oh, now don't scold me
on such a grand day.
Look, hop aboard. I'm going to take you
for a drive and a picnic lunch.
I'm with the children.
Well, I knew you would be. In.
I've brought enough food for an army.
(EXCLAIMS)
(DUCKS QUACKING)
It's getting late. I must go back.
-I'll gather up the children.
-Fine.
Henry.
Where's Henry?
BOY: Hut! Hut!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(BOYS CHATTERING)
Hut! Hut!
(BOYS SHOUTING)
Hey, gimme the ball, kid.
Hey, do you want to play with us?
I said, do you want to play with us?
What's the matter with him?
Is he crazy or something?
AMY: He can't hear you.
Thank you.
BOY 1: Boy, what a dummy.
BOY 2: Yeah.
BOY 3: Deaf and dumb.
(BOYS LAUGHING)
What do you think he's saying?
BOY 1: Hike, 41.
BOY 2: 41.
BOY 1: Ten! Hut! Hut!
I think he wants to learn to play football.
Huh?
(BOTH GRUNTING)
Understand? Good.
-How do you feel?
-Oh!
(INAUDIBLE)
Mackler, I want you to contact
the schools for the deaf,
both state and private.
Orphanages, schools for
the handicapped, even the asylums.
Mrs. Pray,
I want you to check out newspapers
from all the surrounding states.
Anything that has to do
with deaf children.
And check the obituaries.
BEN: Henry. Henry,
you'll be the quarterback, huh?
Chester, you're gonna be
the left halfback,
and, Jens, you will be right halfback.
(AMY GROANS)
Are you sure this is
how it's meant to be done?
(LAUGHING)
(BOYS CHEERING)
They're doing better.
Great Caesar's ghost.
What are you all up to now?
Football.
-Ben learned to play in college.
-(SIGHS) Lord help us.
I think he has. (CHUCKLING)
-Isn't it a bit unorthodox?
-Completely.
Oh, I just don't know.
Look, Virgil. Our kids are kept apart.
Everyone treats them in a special way.
Yet, except for their hearing,
they're just as normal as your boys.
I don't know. The village children
have never mixed with your children.
I'm not sure it would work.
-It's just a football game, Mr. Goodloe.
-Hendricks boys against Parker's.
Oh, your boys can't compete with mine.
They're good. They practice every day.
They'd beat the pants off your boys.
Then, you haven't got anything
to worry about.
But, Lyle, the parents would have a fit.
You know how people around here
feel about the deaf.
You can't mix them.
People just don't know how to act.
Virgil, it's our children
who are taking the risk, not yours.
You're putting me in a bad spot, Lyle.
Please, Mr. Goodloe. Take a chance.
-What in the world will I tell the parents?
-BOY: Hut, hut!
(CROWD CHEERING)
BEN: All right. That's it. Keep going.
Go ahead. Come on, Henry.
(BEN CONTINUES SHOUTING)
-Yeah! Go! Go!
-Whoo! Go!
AMY: No, no, no.
HELEN: This way.
AMY: Oh, no.
BEN: What are you doing?
Here, Mervin.
(BOTH GROANING)
Now what?
Tell Henry to try
shift reverse play number three.
Okay.
PRUETT: I think they got it.
That's right. Give it to them.
Give it to them.
Attaboy. Okay. Here we go.
Oh, they're shifting,
but they don't know what to do.
And... That's right.
REFEREE: Okay, boys.
BOY 1: What do those
hand movements mean?
BOY 2: I don't know what to do.
BOY 1: What is this?
WOMAN: Come on, Parker, run!
Run, that's it!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(ALL CHEERING)
All right, we're still ahead.
Okay. All right.
HELEN: Come on, now.
AMY: Isn't this exciting?
REFEREE: Okay, let's go.
HELEN: Come on,
let's make that kick now.
REFEREE: Let's go.
MAN 1: Let's go now.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(MAN 1 GROANING)
MAN 2: Oh, what a beautiful kick.
MAN 3: Let's get them. Tackle him.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
REFEREE: Parker has possession.
First down.
-We got it. We got it.
-Go! Go!
All right, all right. Defense. Defense.
REFEREE: Thirty seconds.
I've got a secret weapon
I've been saving.
-Secret weapon?
-Yeah. It's something new.
What are you gonna do?
Let's try the shift reverse pass
number four, huh?
All right. All right.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Play some defense now. Hold the line.
Amy...
(WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY)
REFEREE: Okay, boys, let's go now.
BEN: Go, Mervin, go!
Go, Mervin, go! Go!
-PRUETT: That's it, Mervin.
-(BEN SHOUTING)
(ALL CHEERING)
Mervin! Attaboy!
(GUN FIRES)
Oh!
(CHEERING)
(ALL CHEERING)
WAMBACK: Well, what do you think?
It's her.
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
(BEN CLEARS THROAT)
Whoever guesses which hand it's in
gets the prize.
That one.
You win.
-What's the prize?
-Dinner,
with me.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
You, uh... You are very beautiful.
You're always looking at me.
(CHUCKLES) Well,
you're very good to look at.
I like looking at you.
What do you see when you look at me?
When I was very young,
we had a summer house by the sea,
and there was a walnut grove.
A walnut grove
that led from our house to the water.
I spent much of my time there,
in that grove.
The trees were thick,
and warm, and brown.
Like your hair.
And through the leaves
you could see the sea.
Sometimes green, and sometimes gray,
and sometimes very blue,
but always glistening.
Like your eyes.
You must've been very happy there.
I used to wish that I never had to leave.
And is that where you fell in love
for the first time, when you were a boy?
You're very perceptive.
Yeah, I was 11,
and I fell madly in love forever.
What happened?
I grew up.
It was a lovely dinner.
Mmm. Put together
with a lick and a promise.
A promise?
Promise to do better the next time.
I must get back. It's late.
Amy, stop running.
I have a husband.
It doesn't matter.
How can you say that?
I see what's in your face, in your eyes.
I shouldn't be here.
Amy, whenever we start to get close,
you walk away, you change the subject.
You don't want to face
what you're feeling.
Please.
Amy, you can't keep running forever.
It's wrong, Ben.
The only thing that's wrong
is to deny how we feel.
We are going to look at a new sound.
Uh. Run.
I've come to get Henry.
Your mother and father are here.
Run.
(ENUNCIATING) Mother.
Mother.
Henry?
Is that my Henry?
Henry?
Talking?
Oh, praise be, he's talking!
HENRY: Mother.
Oh, thank God.
HENRY: Mother.
MRS. WATKINS: Thank God.
Amy, come with me, please.
-What's this all about?
-Henry's mother is blind.
She's stone blind.
That's why he feels so close
to the blind children.
That's why he wants so badly to speak.
Until now, they've had no way
to communicate with each other.
-(SOBBING) Oh, Henry, my Henry.
-Mother. Mother.
That's why he's "H" on the eyes.
MRS. WATKINS: Oh!
I've never heard my son speak.
Superintendent Ferguson, we feel
we have been more than generous
with your demands,
many of which, we feel, are excessive.
But when we see what you do
with our funding.
Playing games, ugly publicity,
calling attention to your asylum...
School.
We feel unanimously that
the funding for your special program
should be terminated.
You have abused
your position, Superintendent.
You have set yourself and this board
up for ridicule.
FERGUSON: Mr. Caruthers,
football games are a normal activity
in many schools.
They provide our youth
with the opportunity to...
Your school does not deal
with normal youngsters.
Parker School was founded
to provide education and work skills
for deaf, dumb, and blind children.
Not ball games.
Sir, these children are normal.
It's only their hearing, or their sight,
that is impaired.
We do not need you to tell us
what sort of children
are sent to your school.
We, here, are well aware.
Running a school for these children
requires more than
just the bare necessities.
It is unpardonable that we do not have
a doctor there on a regular basis.
We lack the standard equipment
that schools for hearing and
sighted children have without question.
-And as for teaching speech...
-You know that's impossible.
We have a letter from Miss Dodd,
your matron, to that effect.
And now, it's obvious what
your misguided ideas have done
with the appropriations.
You talk about these children
as though they were lepers.
This is a closed board meeting,
as you well know.
As for teaching speech,
I have brought with me
our teacher, Miss Amy Medford,
who will give you a demonstration.
With her is Henry Watkins,
a boy of 14, who was born deaf,
which this document will confirm.
You certainly cannot bring
such a child in here.
Your people will have to
remain in the waiting room
until this meeting is adjourned.
If you will just listen for a few minutes.
Ferguson, this is highly unorthodox.
Henry, tell them your name.
It's all right.
Tell them your name.
This is an outrageous
display of theatrics.
This child is being used, not helped.
If you will just wait one minute.
Madam, for 34 years
Parker School has survived
within the framework
that this board has set up,
and no variation is going to be allowed.
You are frightening the child
with your display of anger.
And you are an impudent woman.
You are turning this meeting
into a circus.
Everyone knows that
the deaf cannot speak!
Yes, I can.
What?
We need your help, please.
Mervin, what is today?
(BOY GIGGLING)
(GRUNTS)
That's not today anymore.
That's finished.
Henry, can you show him?
Very good. That's today.
Let's write that on the board.
Stop that!
Please.
This is it.
What?
I'm going to teach you how to drive.
(LAUGHING)
You're joking.
I'm Irish. The Irish have
no sense of humor whatsoever.
But I don't want to learn how to drive.
Of course you do.
Now, every modern woman
needs to know how.
Well, then, maybe I'm not very modern.
Well, I can teach you that, too.
AMY: How am I doing?
Oh, no!
(EXHALES)
Oh, you're doing fine.
Fine.
Well, at least that should
keep the cows in.
-Come here.
-What is it?
I've something very important to tell you.
What?
(LOUDLY) I love you, Amy Medford.
I'd love you even more if I could find you.
(LAUGHS) I love you, too,
Ben Corcoran.
I'll catch you.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I love you, Amy Medford.
Amy, this letter came today.
It's from the Bookman Detective Agency,
inquiring if we know the whereabouts
of the wife of Elliot Medford.
I think you better tell me about it.
He, uh...
He's my husband.
Why didn't you tell me
you were married?
I didn't want him to find out where I am.
You mean, you left him?
Yes.
But what about
the letter of recommendation from
-The Horace Mann School?
-I forged it.
When I saw your letter
on the bulletin board,
looking for a speech teacher,
I knew I had to have that job,
so I made everything up.
They never knew I applied for your job.
Amy, we can't afford a scandal.
-If the state board finds out...
-I never thought that...
I never thought he'd find me here.
Please, he'll make me go back.
I couldn't bear that.
FERGUSON: Perhaps if you wrote
to him, explained how you feel.
(SIGHS)
I never have been able to
tell him how I feel.
He never listened to me.
But since you've been away,
perhaps he'd realize.
I was just something that he owned,
like a painting or a stamp collection.
A useless ornament.
And he wanted me that way
because it made him feel
like more of a man.
-Amy...
-I know what you're going to say.
That I have no business here,
that I don't belong.
Well, maybe you're right.
But I'm not going to give up,
no matter how much you want me to.
I've got to succeed.
Otherwise nothing in my life,
or my child's life, makes any sense.
(SINGING) O, little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Amy, what are we gonna do with this?
(STUDENTS CONTINUE SINGING)
-Ben.
-(LAUGHS) Oh!
Amy!
Top.
The ornament that goes on top.
-What goes on top of the tree?
-It's a little angel.
If it's not in the box,
maybe it's still in the storage room.
-Want me to get it for you?
-No. I'll get it. It's all right.
O, holy town of Bethlehem
(STUDENTS CONTINUE SINGING)
(WEEPING)
(AMY CONTINUES SOBBING)
It's Just George.
Yes?
-Miss Amy?
-Yes.
Don't be sad.
Soon it's going to be Christmas.
(SNIFFLING)
You're right.
Come on, I'll take you back.
I've been wondering.
How did you get the name
of Just George?
Well, I growed up
at the county poorhouse.
See, I didn't have no folks.
Well, I guess I did, once,
except they throwed me away
by the side of the road.
Well, at the poorhouse,
they started calling me George.
Then one day,
they said I had to have a last name.
I said, "No, I'm just George."
I didn't come with no last name.
I think Just George is a wonderful name.
Thank you kindly.
Just George, when are you gonna
take that eye-patch off your ear?
Well, like you said,
when I do a good deed.
Only, I ain't been able to find one to do.
Yes, you have.
Look at what you gave me.
-You're smiling.
-Yes.
You gave me that smile.
Not everyone can do that, you know.
It's a very special gift. Thank you.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
(MERVIN GROANS)
(MERVIN CRYING)
(CHILDREN EXCLAIMING)
-(WHOOPING)
-You won.
That's wonderful, Henry.
Now, you're the champion.
Champion. That means
you're the winner.
Now, off to bed. It's late.
Wait.
Here. I want you to have this.
It used to belong to my little boy.
Now, it belongs to you.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Come in.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
(LAUGHING)
What in the world are you doing here?
I have brought you a Christmas present.
But it's not Christmas yet.
Oh, yes, it is. In Australia.
(LAUGHS)
(CLEARING THROAT)
"The sun's bright blessing
sanctifies the land
"with flowers, fawns, and mountains,
wide and wild.
"Yet all this glory pales,
and cannot stand
"before the radiant magic of your smile."
That's beautiful.
Is it Yeats?
Well, I'm flattered. No, it's Corcoran.
(BELL JINGLING)
(SINGING) Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
-A...
-Merry...
-Christmas...
-To...
-Every...
-One.
(ALL EXCLAIMING JOYFULLY)
BEN: Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas.
Ho, ho, ho, ho. Ho, ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas.
You all want to stand up?
BEN: Oh, look at all the pretty little girls.
-Ho, ho! What's your name?
-BOY: Goodie, goodie, goodie.
BEN: Oh, let's see what we have for you.
And here's something for you,
young man.
BEN: Hazel, get me
some cold compressions.
MALVINA: What's happened?
What's happened?
(ALL CLAMORING)
BEN: Now, don't panic, everybody.
I don't think it's very serious.
He's going to be fine.
(CHILDREN CHATTERING
IN THE DISTANCE)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Excuse me, madam.
Is this the Parker School?
Yes, it is.
Is there an Amy Medford here?
-I beg your pardon?
-I'm looking for her. I'm her husband.
Uh, I'm sorry. No.
There's no one here by that name.
Do you work here?
-I am the matron for the deaf.
-I see. Thank you.
Malvina, did you find...
Amy.
I'm sorry.
Hello, Elliot.
Is that all you have to say?
Amy, I've been so worried about you.
I'm fine, Elliot.
Is there a place where we can talk?
-This is where you've been living?
-Yes.
Why, Amy?
Do you have any idea
what I've been going through?
I'm sorry if I've caused you pain.
Pain?
My God, I think you don't even realize
what you've done to me.
I'm the subject of gossip, reproach.
My parents are disgraced.
My law partners, my clients,
the way they look at me,
even the servants.
-Where are you valises?
-Elliot, I can't.
Amy, you're my wife.
We have a very good marriage.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
The day I left, I had reasons
why I couldn't stay with you anymore.
But now, my reasons are different.
My life just has
nothing to do with you now.
Amy, I can give you anything you want.
I have my work, I have my friends,
and the children who need me.
You've met another man.
It has nothing to do with a man.
It has to do with
what I want to do with my life.
It has to do with feeling worthwhile.
You don't discard a marriage
like you do last year's dress.
I tried it your way, Elliot, for 10 years.
Now I have to try it mine.
Amy, I can change.
I know you don't think
I'm capable of that, but I can change.
It doesn't matter.
We could have another child.
Please.
Amy, I need you. We could try again.
Tell me that you will try again.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Amy, Henry's run off.
We think he might be trying to
run after Mervin.
We can't find him anywhere.
Amy!
(DOOR SLAMS)
I can't answer that question,
but both the boys are gone.
They could get lost very easily at night.
Where do you think they went?
Well, my guess is that
Mervin's trying to find his way home,
and that Henry's trying to stop him.
But does he know his way home?
It's hard to tell what he knows,
except that he's from
the other side of Hendricks,
down by the railroad tracks.
My God!
They could be running down the track,
but neither of them can hear the train.
-You'd better get Ben.
-Oh, yes.
(HONKING)
(GROANS)
(TRAIN HONKING)
(SCREAMING)
Malvina was right.
What difference does a word make?
Life here is hard, Amy.
I told you that.
I can't take it anymore, Ben.
I can't stay here
and watch children die,
and feel helpless.
Amy, you can't play God.
There's nothing you could've done.
MR. GRIMES: Whoa, boy.
Whoa. Easy now.
All right, Mama. Watch your step.
Steady.
Oh, oh. Oh!
Mmm. Lord.
(CRYING)
It were for nothing. Oh, for nothing.
Now, Ma,
they said they could teach him.
All for nothing.
Deaf can't be teached.
Friend.
My friend.
You from that there school?
I'm the superintendent.
-Is he one of your'n?
-Yes, he is.
Tell them your name.
My name is Henry Watkins.
I go to Parker School.
-Is he deaf?
-Totally deaf.
He's learning to speak.
Now, you see, Ma?
I told you they could teach them.
This here's my baby, Pearl.
She ain't never heard nothing
in her whole life.
You take her, and you...
You make her talk.
Like him.
Malvina, will you take care
of Pearl here, please?
Come on, sweetheart.
Everything costs something, Amy,
but only you can know if it's worth it.
I packed your things.
I'm not going back with you, Elliot.
Of course you're going back with me.
You just don't listen to me, do you?
For a long time I blamed you for that.
I blamed you for taking our son away.
I blamed you for always criticizing me.
For treating me like a child
who could never do anything right.
I don't blame you anymore.
I allowed you to do those things to me.
I'm not going to allow you
to do that anymore.
Amy, come on.
AMY: I taught him that.
He taught me something, too.
He taught me I had value.
Because, when I came here,
I was more handicapped than he.
Don't talk nonsense. You're my wife.
We belong to each other.
Amy, I won't let you do this.
If you fight me,
if you make it impossible
for me to stay here,
I'll find another school,
and another,
until you finally hear me
and realize that I mean what I say.
Amy,
you belong to me.
I belong to myself.
So many ways to speak
So many ways to hear
Those things that hide inside the heart
That words cannot make clear
So many words are wrong
When silence says so much
You teach that gentle lesson well
To every life you touch
Oh, Amy
Within your glow I see
Those sunny dreams that hide behind
The clouds above
Let me know you
Let me glow, too
Let me show you
The many ways
To love