Do you have any idea
what the next assignment is yet?
Nope.
Do you have any idea
where we're supposed to be going?
No, not really.
Do you have any idea of how long
it's gonna be until we get there?
Till we get where?
To wherever
we're supposed to be going.
I told you
I don't know where we're going.
- Then how are we gonna get there?
- The same way we always get there.
You're testy tonight.
What's the matter, are you tired?
Why should I be tired?
Only been driving for ten hours.
Hey, look, if you're tired,
why don't you just say so?
- We'll pull in somewhere.
- I'm not tired.
There's a roadhouse ahead.
You can get something to eat.
I am not hungry.
I just wanna know where it is
we're supposed to be going.
They serve ribs.
They do?
And barbecued chicken.
Chicken?
Hey, Jonathan.
What?
I don't know about you,
but I just got my assignment.
- There you go, one more bowl of ribs.
- Great.
You sure you don't want
anything else?
I didn't think there'd be
anything else left.
I know what you mean.
- Will that be it?
- I'm fine.
Okay, we've got two barbecued
chicken with all the trimmings,
three pecan pie
and nine bowls of ribs.
- Thank you.
- Nine bowls of ribs?
What you got over there,
a banquet party?
Would you believe it, Gabe,
that's all for one guy?
- Gabe?
- One human guy?
Mister, whoever you are,
the pig farmers of America
ought to get down on their knees
and pray you live a long life.
I can't believe it. It's him.
- Gabe. Gabe Wilson?
- Yes, sir?
I gotta tell you something.
I haven't heard music
like you played tonight
since, oh, , years ago
in a little place called
the Chit Chat Club in Oakland.
You sounded better tonight
than you did then.
Well, I appreciate it.
Bless your heart.
I liked it myself.
Chit Chat Club, huh?
You don't mind
if I ask you a question?
No, go ahead.
Did you use to be black?
Because you sound like
you're white to me now.
But if you were in the Chit Chat Club
years ago and you weren't black
and you're still alive, you must be
a big, ugly cop named Mark Gordon.
- How are you?
- How are you? Oh, man.
- How you been?
- I've been up and I've been down.
The main thing is I'm still around.
That's all that counts, you know?
Right. Hey, listen,
I want you to meet a friend of mine.
- Jonathan Smith.
- Gabe Wilson.
It's a pleasure.
How'd you recognise him
after all this time? Just by his voice?
Oh, no, his voice
didn't have nothing to do with it.
- I recognised the nine bowls of ribs.
- That sounds more like it.
Gabe? Gabe, are you all right?
Yeah. Just a little tired.
It's funny, you don't even feel it
till the music stops, you know?
Why don't we go outside
and get some air?
Yeah, sure. Come on.
That's better. Back to nature.
You know what's funny?
I was riding along
about ten years ago
and all of a sudden they started playing
one of your records on the radio.
- That was more than ten years ago.
- You still cutting records?
Mark, did you go blind too?
I mean, does it look
like I'm cutting records?
Was somebody
playing a joke on me?
Was I playing the Fillmore
or Hollywood Bowl,
or was that a barbecue joint
back in there?
But it's okay, you understand.
See, when I first started out,
all I wanted to do was play
and get paid for it, that's all.
I mean, back then,
getting paid anything was a luxury.
Then the kind of music I was playing
got discovered, you understand?
They started paying me lots of money
to play the way I was playing before
when they wasn't paying me nothing.
Yeah, I made a lot of money
for a lot of people.
I just wasn't the one
that got to keep it, that's all.
- What happened?
- Well, things change.
Tastes change.
For a while, they had some white guys
that started to play the way I did.
Most of those guys
are out of work now too.
Some of them are dead.
Which makes for a very dull act,
you understand?
I guess one of the nice things
about being blind is,
big house or little house,
they all sound the same to me.
Main thing is how it sounds.
- Great. You sound better than ever.
- My feelings exactly.
I guess we'd better get back inside.
I got another set to do.
But maybe you could give me a lift
to the bus station.
I got a gig tomorrow night
that's miles from here.
Hey, you got it.
Gabe, you all right?
Yeah, yeah. Must have ate too much
of that barbecue in there.
Gave me heartburn. But I'm okay.
- You're sure?
- That barbecue gives you heartburn?
Yeah, I'm sure.
I'm sorry,
but you'll have to wait outside.
He's an old friend of mine.
I'm sorry, but no one is allowed
in the treatment area.
We're awfully busy tonight.
So if you'll just have a seat outside,
the doctor will see you
as soon as he's had a chance
to examine your friend.
Jonathan, is he gonna--?
I don't know.
Come on, buddy,
let's let the doctors do their work.
Mr. Wilson? Mr. Wilson?
Can you hear me, Mr. Wilson?
Ellie. What are you doing here?
Mr. Wilson.
Can you tell me what happened?
Can you play
"Sweet Georgia Brown"?
What?
You're the doctor. I'm the musician.
You tell me what happened.
He's going into cardiac arrest.
Half a milligram of epinephrine.
Let's get the paddles on him.
Clear.
Clear.
Are you Mr. Wilson's friends?
That's right. How's he doing, doc?
Well, we're taking him
to Intensive Care.
Now, he's had a heart att*ck.
We're trying to stabilise him.
Is he gonna make it?
Is he gonna be all right?
We won't know that for a while.
And he was calling out
for someone named Ellie.
Does he have any family?
I haven't seen him in a lot of years.
Over at that club where he was
working, they said they didn't think so.
Is there anything we can do?
Well, if you believe
in that sort of thing, you can pray.
Trust me, doc, I'm a believer.
You don't happen to know if there's
a church close by here, do you?
I know the boss can hear you
anyplace, but it might help.
The boss?
Just take care of Gabe,
will you, doc?
We'll do our best.
There's a storefront church
just a couple blocks from here.
Hi, Mama.
Okay, I know I'm late.
I'll just get changed.
It won't take a second.
Where have you been, Vanessa?
We're gonna be ten minutes late
for prayer meeting.
- Just with some friends.
- What friends?
- Just friends.
- Musician friends maybe?
The kind of friends that are talking
about starting a band?
Now, Mother Washington told me
her grandson saw you
down at that record store
with some young people
who don't belong to this church
and I doubt if they belong
to any other church.
And they had amplifiers
and they had electric guitars
and I don't know
what other kind of tools of the devil-
They aren't tools of the devil, Mama.
They're just musical instruments.
And we were just
making music together, that's all.
Mother Washington told me that
they're talking about starting a band
and they're looking for a singer,
a singer.
Mother Washington sure gets around
for an old lady.
I will not have you disrespect
one of the saints of the church.
Now, look, I don't want you
to change the subject either.
Now tell me,
is this what you're planning to do?
Are you planning on running off
with some kind of band?
I'm here now, Mama.
And I can either argue with you
about something
Mother Washington got third-hand
from her blabbermouth grandson,
who doesn't have anything better
to do in this life
than run around
badmouthing people
who never had any trouble
with the law, which is more--
Don't you talk like this to me
in my house, I won't have it.
I won't have my own daughter
disrespect me, I won't have it.
I don't mean any disrespect, Mama.
I just wanna know what you want.
Now should we argue or should I
get dressed for prayer service?
You are just stubborn and rebellious.
That's what you are.
You are just stubborn
and rebellious.
I am so glad
your father is not alive to see it.
Bless his soul.
Mama, Daddy always said
that I had a gift.
Your father
was the best preacher I ever knew
and he was the best husband to me
that ever walked this Earth.
But where you were concerned,
he was so soft-headed.
But I can understand it.
You could wrap that man
around your little finger.
Look at the time.
If I don't get downstairs,
they're gonna elect a new preacher.
But we haven't finished
with this conversation yet, Vanessa.
No, ma'am, we haven't.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his spirit
Washed in his blood
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Saviour all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Saviour all the day long
Now,
I want you to remember
my sermon tonight.
- Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.
- Yes, ma'am.
And stubbornness
is as iniquity and idolatry.
- And I don't care who does it.
- Amen.
Whether it's your husband
or your wife,
your brother or your sister,
your son or your daughter.
- Amen.
- Amen.
Now that concludes
this evening's service.
- Choir practise tomorrow at : .
- Amen.
- Tarry servicesThursday evening.
- Yes.
And may the Lord
bless and keep you.
- Amen.
- Amen.
Good evening. May I help
you gentlemen with something?
A friend of mine is in the hospital
and he's pretty sick.
- I just wanted to say a prayer for him.
- Well, bless your heart, brother.
- Mark Gordon. Jonathan Smith.
- Hi.
Well, you're both welcome here
this evening.
There's members of our congregation
that could take a lesson from you.
You don't go putting your faith
in fancy doctors. Amen.
Let the trouble come
and you wanna come
to the house of the Lord.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm Mother Livingston.
I'm the pastor of this church.
And you and your friend
are welcome.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Boss,
I know Gabe ain't no angel,
you know.
But he hasn't had
a very easy life either.
I mean, when he had that accident
that left him blind,
he never got bitter.
He never got bitter
and he never blamed anybody.
Fact is, I don't think Gabe
ever said a bad word about anybody.
He's a good guy, boss.
And he's all alone right now
and he needs you bad.
Well, I guess all I'm saying is,
I hope you help him.
He's worth it.
That's it.
Thanks for listening.
Amen.
- Gabe?
- Mark.
Come on in.
How you doing?
I'd be doing a lot better
if they had some barbecue
on this hospital menu.
I wanna thank you
for bringing me in.
You and your friend saved my life.
Hey, well, it's pure selfishness.
I don't know anybody
who plays music as good as you.
Ain't that the truth?
Gabe, is there anybody
you want us to call for you?
Nobody to call, no.
I'm what you wanna call
footloose and fancy-free.
The doctor said
in the emergency room,
you called out
for somebody named Ellie.
Ellie?
Well, that figures.
It must be years
since I've seen her.
But never been a day gone by
that I haven't thought of her.
She smelled of sweet-smelling soap,
that I remember.
Probably the only one
that I ever wanted to marry.
Not the only one I ever said
I wanted to marry, you understand.
But I probably would have
done it with her.
No probably about it.
- What happened?
- Well, bless her heart.
She wanted someone
who would be home.
And I can understand that.
But I could either be home
and unemployed
or on the road and getting paid
for what I know how to do best,
and that's make music.
Speaking of which,
when will they let me out of here?
I got some gigs to get to.
Listen, the doc said you're
gonna have to take it easy for a while.
Which means no road travel
for a while.
Mark, like I said, I can either be
in one place unemployed
or on the road getting paid.
I can't take it easy, man.
Why don't you concentrate
on getting out of here?
Then we'll worry about the rest.
Things have a way of working
themselves out, you know?
Yeah, I guess they do.
Look, the doc said for us
not to stay too long.
You look like
you could use some sleep.
As long as you're sure I'll wake up.
I got some gigs to play.
Don't worry, Gabe,
you're gonna wake up.
You guarantee that?
Yeah. Yeah, I guarantee it.
You heard the man. Good night.
I can't tell you
how much we appreciate this.
Well, there's not much to appreciate.
You and your friend
need a place to stay
and we need the repair work done.
Besides, you'll have your hands full
cleaning up this place
and making it fit to live in.
Because we been using it
as a storeroom.
- We'll have it fixed up in no time.
- Lord knows we can use it.
We don't have
much of a congregation left.
- We're having to start all over again.
- What happened?
We used to have three times
as many people as we have now.
They're backsliders, all of them,
every one of them.
They say, Mother Livingston,
she's too hard on them.
Because she won't stand for them
wearing their skirts
up to their belly button
like a lot of them want to do.
And she won't let them go dancing
at night in the discos
and smoking cigarettes
and going to the movies.
Now, I tell the same thing
to my daughter, Vanessa.
But somehow, I don't think
it's gonna do any good,
because she's just
rebellious and stubborn.
I don't know. She seems like
such a nice young woman.
Nice young women
are grist for the devil's mill.
That friend of yours, the one you said
is coming out of the hospital.
Now if he can play the piano
as good as you say he can,
he can stay here, too,
until he gets up on his feet.
Because Lord knows
we can use a good piano player.
Now, I don't know if you've heard
Mother Washington
banging on that piano downstairs.
- Yes, we've heard her.
- Well, I'll let you get started.
I swear, a whole congregation
full of coloured people
and not one of them
can play the piano.
A freak of nature.
This is a perfect idea, Jonathan.
Great gift for Gabe,
couple of jazz tapes.
I'm glad you approve.
Excuse me. You work here?
- What can I do for you?
- I'm looking to buy a couple of tapes.
- Where's your jazz section?
- Right down at the end of the counter.
Right in front of me. Thanks.
Hey, guys, you know,
I got a great idea.
You know, for that track
that you did that riff with--
Hi, Vanessa.
I'll be right with you.
Mr. Smith.
- How are you?
- Fine.
Look, Mr. Smith, my mama
didn't send you down
to find out if I was here,
by any chance, did she?
No. Why?
Nothing. Just--
- Well, could I ask you a favour?
- Oh, sure. Like what?
Well, like just don't say
that you saw me down here.
I mean, if she asks you,
I'm not asking you to lie.
But if it doesn't come up,
I'd appreciate it
if you just wouldn't mention it.
There's no reason why I should.
I guess it's not always easy
being a preacher's daughter, is it?
Tell me about it.
Can't do this and can't do that.
What would people think?
Your mother doesn't strike me
as the person who does things
because of what people think.
Oh, no. She does what she does
because of what she thinks.
I just wish she'd give other people
credit for being able to think too.
That's part of being a mother.
Ever watch a mother when
her baby's trying to learn to walk?
She goes through more struggles
than the child does.
But she knows that baby's not gonna
learn unless she lets go of him.
She loves him so much,
she wants to protect him from the fall.
Hey, Vanessa.
You gonna talk or rehearse?
Don't worry, I haven't seen you.
Thanks.
Church? Oh, man.
Not that I have anything
against them, you understand.
It's just I ain't been in one
for a long time. It's just not for me.
Gabe, listen to me.
The doc says you gotta
take it easy for a while.
Which means you cannot be
sitting up all night playing in clubs.
This is a way so you don't have
to worry about expenses
or a place to live,
and you can get your strength back.
I ain't got no strength,
so there's none to get back.
I'm at the end of it and I know it.
I just wanna finish the way I started,
playing my kind of music
the way I know how.
At the end of it?
That doesn't sound like
the Gabe Wilson I knew.
Well, the Gabe Wilson you knew
didn't have a heart att*ck yet.
Look, Gabe, you go back on the road,
you're gonna last about three months.
You do what the doctor says,
you can be playing your kind of music
your way for a long time.
Why don't you start
using your head?
All right, children, let's go get holy.
I started out in church,
might as well end up in one.
- How you doing, Vanessa?
- Hello, Mr. Smith.
I want you to meet Gabe Wilson.
He's gonna be playing piano
for the choir.
How you doing?
I'm real well, thank you.
You mind if I take a look
at your piano, get a feel of it?
No, not at all, Mr. Wilson.
It's right over here.
There's a step up.
Yep, sounds like a church piano.
Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said
And it still is news
Mama may have
Papa may have
But God bless the child
That's got his own
That's got his own
Yes--
Vanessa. What kind of music
is that you're singing
in the house of the Lord?
That is the devil's music.
No, it isn't, Mama.
It's just music, that's all it is.
It's "God Bless the Child."
It's my fault, ma'am.
I'm Gabe. Gabe Wilson.
- Gabe?
- That's right.
But you're blind.
Well, don't worry about it.
It's not catching.
I take it that you're
the young lady's mother.
Yes.
What's wrong, Mama?
Is something going on here
that I don't know about?
Mr. Wilson, we used to know
each other a long, long time ago.
I'm Eleanor Livingston.
Before I got married,
my maiden name was Marcelle.
But I don't think
you would remember that.
- Ellie?
- Yes, Gabe.
Ellie?
You can share this
with Mr. Smith and Mr. Gordon.
There's not much room,
but it is a roof over your head.
Well, looks okay to me.
I don't believe in joking
about disabilities, Mr. Wilson.
I don't have any disabilities, Ellie.
I just can't see.
But then I don't waste much money
on light bulbs either.
- Here, let me take your bag for you.
- Just tell me where to put it.
First bed on your left.
You know, Ellie,
my eyes are the only things
about me that don't work.
The rest of my parts
function just fine.
Matter of fact, you be surprised
at some of the advantages
of being a tactile kind of a man.
I see you've got the same mouth
after all these years.
- Yes, ma'am, I believe it's true.
- I put dinner on the table at
and it's gone by : .
So if you want to eat,
you'd best be on time.
Which, as I recall, wasn't one
of your strong points either.
Seems like you don't remember
just what my strong points were, Ellie.
Mr. Wilson,
I want to tell you a thing or two.
I'm not one of your -year-old girls
whose head you can turn
with fancy notions and gutter talk.
I am a saved Christian, amen,
and the pastor of this church,
praise God.
Preach it this morning.
And this is my house
you'll be sleeping in.
- This is my house you'll be eating in.
- Amen.
And I will not stand for your mockery
and your blaspheming.
Just having fun, Ellie.
Didn't mean to offend.
And, Mr. Wilson,
you are not to call me Ellie.
You will call me Pastor Livingston
or Mrs. Livingston
or Mother Livingston.
And you will treat me with respect.
Lord, if that's the effect you have
on women,
you and me better have a little talk.
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Now, that was beautiful.
Now, that was really beautiful.
We want to welcome Brother Wilson
to the congregation tonight.
Yes, the wine of the Lord can sanctify
even the most profane vessel.
- Hallelujah.
- Amen.
And may the Lord God
bless and keep you.
And may he turn his face
towards you
and let his holy countenance
shine upon you and grant you peace.
- Amen.
- Amen.
- Vanessa, I got news for you, girl.
- What's that, Mr. Wilson?
You're a singer.
What you do with it is up to you,
but you're a singer.
The talent is there.
It needs work, but it's there.
To the glory of God it is, amen.
And she's doing with it just what
she's supposed to be doing with it.
Praising her Lord. Amen.
Nobody said the Lord
didn't like music, Ellie.
I expect that's why he gave it to us,
because he knew we'd like it too.
Amen.
Let's go, Vanessa.
It's past your bedtime.
Good night.
Good night.
And good night to you,
Mother Livingston.
Mr. Smith, may I have a word
with you outside, please?
Certainly.
Don't worry about this paint.
We'll have this mess cleaned up
in time for your service tonight.
It's not the paint I'm worried about.
Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith,
I know that man is a friend of yours.
- Mark?
- Mr. Wilson.
I know the man is a friend of yours.
From what I understand, he was
a friend of yours, too, at one time.
That was almost years ago.
The only thing I feel for him now
is a Christian sense of fellowship
and a pity
at the way he's turned out.
I don't think Gabe feels any need
for your pity.
Mr. Smith, I know Mr. Wilson
has fallen on hard times
and it is my Christian duty
to lend a helping hand.
But as soon as that man
gets completely fit,
I want him out of my house.
Do you mind if I ask you why?
Has he said or done anything?
He hasn't done anything, because
I won't give him the chance to do.
And it's not so much what he says
but the way he says it.
Now, I have a young,
impressionable daughter
and he is not the kind of man
I want in my house.
I can't believe Gabe would say
anything out of line to your daughter.
He hasn't yet. But he's a musician.
And the less she sees of those kind,
the better off she will be.
Let me see if I understand this.
You let Mr. Wilson stay here
so he could play piano for the choir.
That's correct.
Now you want him out
because he's a musician?
That's correct.
But he is a skirt chaser.
Any woman at all, it doesn't matter.
Even the pastor of a church.
Oh, Mrs. Livingston,
there I know you're wrong.
When Gabe was
in that emergency room,
just one step away from death,
he called out a woman's name.
But it wasn't just any woman.
It was your name, Ellie.
- Is that true?
- Yes, ma'am, it's true.
It is unseasonably hot
for this time of the year, huh?
Well, Mr. Smith,
I'm glad we had our little talk.
I want you to tell Mr. Wilson
that I expect to see him tonight
at choir on time.
- Oh, I'll tell him.
- Thank you.
I can't understand
what happened to my daughter.
- She didn't say anything to me.
- Oh, I forgot.
She asked me to tell you
she was gonna be late for dinner
and for you not to worry.
Did she tell you
where she was going?
No, ma'am.
I don't know
what's gotten into that girl.
I don't think
there's anything to worry about.
Here, let me help you
clear these dishes, huh?
I'll give you a hand.
Oh, Gabe,
Vanessa found one of your old albums
today at the music store.
You're kidding. You sure
she wasn't in an antique store?
The music store.
That's where she went, with that band.
Mr. Wilson, I want you to talk to her.
- Me?
- Yes.
I want you to tell her the kind of toll
that it takes on a person's life
to make the wrath of God
come down on them.
Well, I wouldn't know much
about that.
How can you say that?
You think I want my baby
to end up like you?
I didn't mean that
the way it sounded.
I don't regret a day of my life, Ellie.
And I don't know anything
about any wrath of God.
God and me are just fine.
How can you say that
when he struck you blind
to show you the error of your ways?
He didn't strike me blind, Ellie.
It was a drunk in a ' Chevy.
It was the will of God.
What do you think, Ellie?
That God bought him a six-pack?
I expect God has
a lot more to do in this life
than going around striking me blind.
And blind isn't the worst thing
you can be in this world.
And there's more than one way
of being blind.
And what's that supposed to mean?
It means you shut me out
and wrote me off years ago.
And from the way it sounds,
you're getting ready to do
the same thing to your own daughter.
I've loved you for years, Ellie.
I still do, but you won't let me in.
And you're shutting her out.
I want you out of my house.
You can't talk to me like that
in my house. I want you out.
I'm going, Ellie.
Don't shut the door on her
like you did on me.
I don't believe the Lord
is gonna give you another years
for her to come back.
Vanessa?
Vanessa, you missed service tonight.
Now, I won't have it anymore.
You hear me, girl?
Where's Mr. Wilson?
I need to talk to him.
My daughter has run off
and I think he knows where she is.
He left some time ago,
Mrs. Livingston.
- With Vanessa? Was she with him?
- No, Mark took him to the hotel.
What hotel? I need to talk to him.
He knows where she is.
He put her up to it.
- No, he didn't.
- Yes, he did, don't tell me no.
My daughter wouldn't just run off
like this.
- He put her up to it. He did it.
- That isn't true.
It is. I heard him.
I heard him filling her head,
telling her she was a singer
and the rest was up to her.
I need to find her.
Why?
Because her place
is here with the Lord.
The Lord's everywhere,
not just here.
She's not gonna find him
in some h*nky-tonk.
She doesn't have to find him.
He's not lost.
And I don't think
your daughter is either.
She's just left home, that's all.
Well, she's making a mistake.
All right, children make mistakes.
That's how they learn.
But I'm not talking about
just some mistake.
This could cost her her salvation.
She cannot do this to the Lord.
To the Lord or to you?
I don't know
what you're talking about.
Are you angry at your daughter
because she left the Lord
or because she left you?
All these years you've been angry
at Gabe because he left God
or because he left you?
Because she's left
the path of the Lord.
And if she does,
if she's left this house,
daughter or no,
this door will be closed to her.
I think you'd better
start taking a good look
at how many people
you're closing your door to.
Two-thirds of your congregation,
Gabe.
You thr*aten to do the same thing
to your daughter
because she won't live her life
the way you think she should.
Mrs. Livingston,
she's a -year-old girl.
She's got her own life to lead.
And all you can do is love her.
Goodbye, Mrs. Livingston.
Jonathan.
Take me to Mr. Wilson.
He knows where she is.
I know he does.
Take me to him, please.
All right.
Well, what are you
gonna do now, Gabe?
Well, seems like every years,
I have to let that woman kick me out.
Guess I'll go back on the road.
But do you know what's really funny?
No, what?
That woman still loves me.
I know she does.
She loved me years ago,
she still does.
So that's why
you're going back on the road?
Well, she just doesn't wanna
have anything to do with me.
The female of the species, man,
you figure it out.
Gabe, do you remember the movie
Gone With the Wind?
Babies, I don't know nothing
about birthing no babies.
Right, right.
Well, what happened when Scarlet
O'Hara shut the door on Rhett Butler?
You tell me.
Well, he didn't go back on the road,
I'll tell you that.
He kicked the door in.
Now, listen, if you love that woman
as much as you claim to love her,
you wouldn't let her shut the door.
You can't make somebody love you.
Well, according to you,
she already does.
- Is Gabe here?
- Yeah. Come on in.
Mark here was just leaving.
Yeah, I was.
I'll see you later, Rhett.
Have a seat.
Mr. Wilson--
You were calling me Gabe there
for a second there.
Yes, yes, I guess I did.
Gabe, do you know
where Vanessa is?
- Vanessa?
- Yes.
She left a note
saying she went off somewhere
with that band of hers,
that they went on some road tour.
Well, then that's where she is.
I don't know any more about it
than you do, Ellie.
You'd tell me if you knew, though?
You wouldn't lie to me?
I've never lied to you, Ellie.
And I wasn't lying to you
when I told you that I loved you either.
She's left me, Gabe.
Well, of course she's left you, honey.
That's what children do.
There's nothing to cry about.
Come on.
You're too pretty to cry like that.
- Don't talk like that.
- Like what?
Calling me pretty
like I'm some dumb young thing.
I'm not pretty, Gabe, I'm old.
I'm old, Gabe. I'm an old woman
and I got nobody and nothing.
You are pretty to me.
You look the same way you did
years ago in my mind.
Nothing can change that.
That's one of the advantages
of having a blind husband.
You don't have to look your best
for him all the time.
I'm being serious, Gabe.
So am I. If you'd been listening
instead of feeling sorry for yourself,
you would've heard,
I said husband, Ellie.
I'm asking you to marry me.
I love you, Ellie. I wanna marry you.
We're too old to be talking like that.
I don't feel old. I feel good.
And you feel good.
Oh, you feel good.
You notice how warm it's getting?
Now, I'm not saying I won't go back
on the road, now, mind you,
because a man's gotta work,
but I wanna come home to you.
I expect I won't be on the road
half as much as I used to.
And I could play
with that choir of yours.
Yeah, it wouldn't k*ll me
to play in church.
Gabe, what do you think
people would say
if they saw a pastor on the road
with you in some h*nky-tonk?
They'd say,
there goes Mother Wilson.
She took that old sinner Gabe
and now he's spending
half his time in church.
Since when did you start to worry
about what people say?
Come on, what do you say?
I won't stand for no drinking,
no blaspheming.
- I won't stand for no profanity--
- Come on, Ellie.
Stop telling me what you won't
stand for and answer me.
Yes.
Nuts.
I thought you said you got the car
tuned up this morning.
I did. I don't understand it.
The car was running fine.
Some way to start a road tour.
Hey, I'm doing my best, all right?
Hello, Vanessa.
Mr. Smith,
did my mama send you out here?
No, your mother doesn't know
where you are.
She told me about the note.
I'm not going back, Mr. Smith.
I never asked you to.
I'm an adult.
I've got my own life to live.
Yeah, well,
you didn't handle this like an adult.
Adults don't leave notes
and run away, children do.
Don't you think your mother deserves
a little more than that?
But you can't talk to her.
What would I say?
Just tell her you love her.
And to try not to worry
about you too much.
Come on, Vanessa, it's your mom.
What do you say?
I can't believe it. It started by itself.
I didn't even touch it.
Come on, let's go
before it quits on us.
We have to go by my place.
I have to see my mom.
- Vanessa.
- Hello, Mama.
I am so glad you came back.
Mama, I'm--
- I'm not staying, I just-
- I know, who said you had to?
I just didn't want you running off
without knowing.
Knowing what, Mama?
That Gabe and I...
Are you joking?
No, I'm not joking.
Oh, Mama.
Hard to believe, a preacher woman
who can't stand h*nky-tonk musicians
ends up with two of them
in her family.
Now, if you're gonna be my husband,
you'd better shut your mouth.
A request if I ever heard one.
I love you, Mama.
I love you too.