[ Footsteps Shuffling ]
[ Objects Clattering ]
$$ [ Humming ]
[ Man ] Deborah?
Where you been? I'm sorry. I'm sorry, T.
Are you cheating on me? No, no! I'm not cheating on you.
What— Stop it! What are you doing?
T.! Stop it! You ain't leaving me!
Who is it? Nobody! It's you! I hate you!
T. Ray, just let me go!
- [ T. Ray, Indistinct ] - No!
T. Ray, damn it! Get off me!
Lily!
[ Gunshot ]
[ Lily Narrating ] I killed my mother when I was fouryears old.
That's what I knew about myself.
She was all I wanted, and I took her away.
Nothin' else much mattered.
[ Buzzing ]
[ Buzzing Continues ]
[ T. Ray Snoring ]
T. Ray! What?
There's bees in my room! Hundreds of 'em! You've gotta see!
What is it?Jesus Christ, Lily. They're in my room! Come see.
What?
Goddamn it, Lily. This ain't funny.
But they were here. They were flyin' everywhere.
You wake me again, I'm gonna get out the grits.
You hear me?
Goddamn it.
[ Lily Narrating ] The bees came the summer of '64—
The summer I turned 1 4 and my whole life went spinnin' off into a whole new orbit.
Lookin' back on it, I wanna say they were sent to me.
I wanna say they showed up like the Angel Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary.
I know it's forward to compare my small life to hers,
but I have good reason to believe she wouldn't mind.
So, um, my birthday is tomorrow.
[ Utensils Clatter ] Most girls want...
one ofthem little silver charm bracelets they have down at the mercantile.
But I wasjust thinking you could tell me about my mother instead.
All you ever said is she's from Virginia and she's an only child like I am.
I don't even know what her favorite food was...
and what she liked to do and— nothin'.
You wanna know about your mama?
Mm-hmm.
She used to spend hours lurin' roaches and whatnot out ofthe house with graham crackers and marshmallows.
[ Chuckles ] Swear to God.
She was a lunatic about savin' bugs.
[ Door Closes ]
Here you go.
Hey, Lily! Nice ass! [ Laughing ]
Oh!
Gotcha.
Rosaleen. Look at this thing fight.
What you doin' with that? Catching bees to show T. Ray.
He thinks I'm making it up.
Get yourselfstung, don't come cryin' to me.
Come fix this. For the future— [ Indistinct ]
What'd they do? Drop the atom bomb or somethin'? Hush.
It does say that there are those who are equal before God...
shall now also be equal in the polling booths,
in the classrooms, in the factories...
and in hotels and restaurants and movie theaters— Holy shit.
and other places that provide service to the public.
[ Man ] Today, July the 2nd, 1 964,
PresidentJohnson signed the Civil Rights bill into law.
Fifteen, 1 6, 1 7, 1 8,
1 9, 20, 2 1 , 22.
When's my hair gonna look like yours?
I bet mine used to drive you crazy the way it goes off in 1 1 wrong directions.
I bet you used to brush it a hundred times a dayjust to get it to lay down.
I bet you did.
[ T. Ray ] Lily! [ Panting ]
Lily!
- Who you out here with? - What?
- Who's out there? - Nobody. There's no one here but me. It'sjust me.
Get up from there.
Get in here.
No! You think you're grown? Huh?
Out there doing God knows what.
You'll get yourself pregnant and then what? Huh?
Huh?
[ Panting ]
[ Bottle Cap Falls To Floor ]
You can go.
Mornin'.
How long your dad keep you on these grits?
Hour.
[ Sighs ]
Look at ya.
Happy birthday.
I didn't know you made me a cake.
Ofcourse I did. It's your birthday.
How big a piece you want? Real big.
[ Door Closes ]
You should be in the stand already.
It's a big peach day.
- Takin' her to town with me. - What for?
She needs a training bra. She gots to get measured.
How much something like that cost?
Happy birthday.
[ Lily ] So what's in town anyway?
I'm registerin' to vote.
Rosaleen, news said a colored man in Mississippi was killed for doing that.
Good thing we ain't in Mississippi then.
I saw you scribblin' one ofyour stories in the stand yesterday.
Go on. Tell it.
All right.
But she blocks the oven and she says, "I'm the lead singer, and it's done when I say it's done."
So I don't know what to do. The Supremes are having a fight in my kitchen.
- But then suddenly we hear-- - Hey.
Ain't you Terence Ray's little girl?
Yes, sir. Lily.
Daddy know you out here with her?
Rosaleen works for us.
Whole lot of niggers been coming through here today.
You wouldn't be going to that secret meetin', would ya?
Well, hell, we ain't gotta worry about this one.
Can't register to vote ifyou can't write your own name.
Tell me, Lily. She a smart nigger or a dumb nigger?
- Please, mister, we really need— - Answer me, girl.
R-O-S-A-L-E-E-N.
No! [ Screams ]
Rosaleen! Stop! [ Screams ] Put her there!
[ Grunts ]
- Apologize! - Rosaleen, just apologize!
- Help! - Apologize!
Somebody help! [ Sobbing ] Quiet.
- Can somebody help? - Your black ass gonna apologize one way or the other.
Thank you, Sheriff. You have to help her.
- Get in the goddamn truck. - I ain't restin' till your nigger apologizes.
I'm sorry, Frank! I promised her!
Get in the goddamn truck.
She dumped snuffjuice on a white man—
on Frank Posey, for Christ's sake.
I wouldn't be surprised if he flat-out kills her.
You don't mean that. He wouldn't really kill her.
Sheriff's gonna take her to the hospital. She'll be fine.
Goddamn it. What the hell were you thinkin'?
Don't you leave this room, you hear? I gotta settle payroll with—
You don't scare me.
- What'd you say? - You're a coward.
My mother would never let you touch me! [ Screams ]
That goddamn woman give a shit about you.
She loved me.
[ Laughs ] I hate you!
Now you listen here.
Truth is, your sorry mama, she ran offand left you.
On the day she died, she come back for the rest of her things— not you.
That ain't true.
It's not.
[ Door Opens, Closes ]
[ Vehicle Door Closes ] [ Engine Starts ]
[ Vehicle Departs ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Woman On P.A. ] Dr. Cash, please call the page.
Dr. Cash, please call the page operator.
[ Door Opens ]
Rosaleen.
They beat you again?
We gotta get you out of here.
I can't get out of here. I'm in jail. You shouldn't be.
That's gotta go.
Rosaleen.
[ Sighs ]
This is crazy. Oh, it'll be all right.
[ Sighs ] It'll be all right.
[ Man Clears Throat ] Shh.
[ Woman On P.A., Indistinct ]
A white girl come by here? Uh, no, sir. Nobody. I ain't moved from this spot.
[ Man ] $ When I was born $
$ My daddy said I was broken $
$ Beginning ofthe end $
You gals be careful now. $ The life I hadn't chosen $
$$ [ People Vocalizing ]
$$ [ Fades ]
Let me get this straight.
You got us goin' to Tiburon...
'cause your mama got a picture with that town written on the back?
That's it?
T. Ray said my mother left me way before she died.
Well, it's not true.
He only made it up to punish me. I know he did.
Knowing your daddy, he could do a thing like that.
And my mother could never do what he said she did.
Huh.
I get it.
You ran off 'cause of what he said, didn't you?
It ain't had nothin' to do with me being in jail.
And here you got me worrying myself sick about you getting in trouble 'cause of me.
So what you fixin' to do? Go door-to-door askin' folks about your mama?
That's your bright idea? I don't exactly have a plan, all right?
Well, you sure had one back at the hospital.
Comin' in there and sayin', "We gonna do this, and we gonna do that."
And I'm supposed to follow you like some dumb nigger like they said.
Well, you are dumb pouring your spit on that man's shoe like that...
and dumber not to say you're sorry ifsayin' it will save your life.
That man was gonna come back and kill you or worse.
And I go and I get you out ofthere, and this is how you thank me?
Well, fine.
[ Water Splashing ]
Are you all right?
I feel like I've been beaten with a stick.
You have been beaten, remember?
But not with a stick.
I know you can't understand.
Apologizing to those men would'vejust been a different way ofdyin',
'cept I have to live with it.
If I can find someplace open, I'll buy us some food.
What we gonna do for beds?
Find a motel, I guess.
Lily, there ain't gonna be a place that'll take a colored woman.
Well, what about the Civil Rights Act?
Ain't nothin' but a piece of paper.
[ Horn Honking ]
[ Chattering ]
Excuse me, sir. Are you serving food today?
Oh, yes, ma'am. We have a Sunday plate special: barbecued pork.
Um, we'll take two ofthose, please, and two Cokes.
I don't believe I've seen you before.
I'm not from here. I'm— I'm just visiting my grandmother.
[ Woman ] Your daddy's gonna be so proud ofyou.
Afternoon, Carol. Hi.
Why, don't you two look smart. When we get home—
You come on in, and I'll wrap those up foryou to go.
[ Bell Jingles ]
[ Door Opens ] [ Bell Jingles ]
Miss, you change your mind?
Where did you get those? Oh, I know what you mean.
Virgin Mary's pictured as a colored woman.
But, see, the woman that makes the honey is colored herself.
Best honey in South Carolina.
What is her name?
August Boatwright.
Do you know where she lives? [ Chuckles ]
Darnedest house you ever saw. Painted like Pepto-Bismol. Your grandma's probably seen it.
[ Chattering, Laughing ]
[ Lily ] What do you think's goin' on?
[ Sighs ] Look like they dressed for church.
Bye-bye! [ Lily ] You think one ofthem's August?
[ Horn Honks ] Whoever she is, I hope she make honey better than she picks out paint.
I like it.
$$ [ Cello: Classical ]
Now, don't go gettin' your hopes up, all right?
They got nowhere else to go.
$$ [ Stops ]
[ Footsteps Approaching ]
Yes?
Are you August Boatwright? No.
I'm June Boatwright. August is my sister.
You came to see her? Hi. I'm May Boatwright.
I'm August's sister too. [ Chuckles ]
Is she expecting you?
Um, I just saw some honey at the store, and the man said that—
You come for honey?
Why didn't you say so? Come into the parlor. I'll go get her.
Then after that she gonna go get September and October.
[ Door Closes ]
Who we got here?
I'm Lily and this is Rosaleen.
We need a place to stay.
You see, my mother died oftularemia when I was little, and my daddyjust got killed in a tractor accident...
on our farm in Spartanburg County, so me and Rosaleen— she's our housekeeper--
we're on our way to Virginia to stay with my Aunt Bernie.
'Cept I don't have money for a train ticket or a motel, and not that anyone would take in a Negro woman,
even though it's a violation ofthe Civil Rights Act.
- Looks like you've been beaten. - She fell down some steps when we were leavin'.
Must've been a lot ofsteps.
$$ [ Humming, Whimpering ]
[ Crying ]
May, honey, go on out to the wall and finish your crying.
[ Sobbing ]
Is she all right?
I'm sorry. We can't help you.
We can't have 'em living on the side ofthe road.
Why don't you call your aunt, see about her sending you some train fare?
I would, but she just had a real big operation and she's still stayin' in the hospital.
So maybe Rosaleen and I could just work for the money, and then just be on our way.
Well,
I guess Rosaleen can help May in the kitchen,
and you can help me and Zach with the bees.
August.
We have the cots in the honey house.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
I hope y'all like the smell of honey. [ Door Opens ]
It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll get used to it. [ Door Closes ]
Zach and I sleep out here come in December when we harvestin' honey round the clock.
It can get hot out here, so you wanna keep that on.
You'll have to use the bathroom in the house. We never lock the door, so just come on in wheneveryou need to.
There you go. This ain't charity. I'll pay you back for it.
Oh, yeah, you can work it off.
I imagine y'all two wanna rest up.
Ifyou get hungry, there's some sweet potato biscuits on the stove. They're May's specialty.
Thank you again, Miss August.
[ Door Closes ]
I'm sure sorry to hear about T. Ray. Aunt Bernie too.
I know it wasn't right to lie, but I didn't have a choice.
How come you ain't say nothin' about your mama or show that picture? Ain't that why we're here in the first place?
Ifthey knew I ran away, they'd have to call T. Ray to come get me.
Then they'd find out you a fugitive and they'd have to call the police.
I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. I really do.
I just need some time to figure out why, so don't say anything.
Your secret. You do what you want with it.
They're so cultured.
I never met Negro women like them before.
-Just us dumb ignorant ones. - That's not what I'm sayin'.
Guess I never met Negro women like them neither.
- How much land did she say they got? - Twenty-eight acres.
It's like it's got its own spot in the world, where the outside don't come in.
Well, that's a good thing.
We'll be safe here, right?
$$ [ May Humming ]
[June ] This is bullshit.
You know she in some kind oftrouble.
Well, who's gonna take 'em in ifwe don't?
No one around here. $$ [ Continues ]
So what ifthat trouble follow 'em?
I need to do this, all right?
[ Woman ] $ I went down to the water $
$ All night long $
$ I put my feet in $
$ All night long $
$ And I went down $
$ To the water $
$ All night long $
$ And I put my dreams in $
$ All night long $
$ And what you did to me $
$ I $
$ I can't take no more $
$ I'll take these bad things $
$ And I'll $
$ Lay them at the shore $
$$ [ Vocalizing ]
$$ [ Fades ]
- [June ] You gonna break my car? - [ Man ] No, I'm not gonna break your car.
I'm just askin', 'cause you're lookin' a little confused. $$ [ Singing On Radio, Indistinct ]
It is hotter than a pot of rice here, and you got nerve to give me a hard time? Give me that wrench.
No, you get it. Not gonna play, June Bug?
You gonna play?
Come here. No. What?
Come here now. What are you doing?
You know what we doing. I don't dance.
Oh, you're dancin' now. No, I don't. I don't dance.
No, no. Get off. Come here. [ Laughs ]
- Come on,June. - Don't you pick me up. [ Laughing ]
Stop it.
$ Place a beehive on my grave $
$ And let the honey soak through $
$ When I'm dead and gone $
$ That's what I want from you $ Oh, thank you.
$ The streets of heaven are gold and sunny $
$ But I'll stick with my plot $ [ August ] Mornin'.
- Mornin'. - You sleep all right?
Yes, ma'am. Come on. Grab yourselfa chair.
- Okay. - Hey.
- This one's yours. - Thank you.
- So, who's that man out there? - [ August ] Oh, that's Neil.
He teaches at the school where June teaches music.
- He's sweet on her. - It seems like she's sweet on him too.
Yeah, but she won't say so.
He tried every which way to get her to marry him, but she won't.
How come? Too scared.
[ Scoffs ] May,June might think that's a little personal.
Hell, I'll tell any folk that'll listen I threw my man out.
Put his brain in a bird and the bird'll fly backwards. [ Laughs ]
[ May ] Mmm.
How come y'all got names from a calendar?
Our mama loved spring and summer.
We had an April too, but...
she died when she was little.
$$ [ Sobs, Hums ]
[ Sobbing ]
You ain't gonna fix that car. I'm gonna fix it.
- What set May off? - [ Water Running ]
She upset 'cause you won't marry Neil.
See that? You should go on and marry me and quit upsettin' your sister.
Get out of here.
No, woman, you promised me pancakes, and I ain't leavin' till I get 'em.
You must be Rosaleen. Neil.
And you must be Lily. Yes, sir.
- What's burnin'? - [ Sizzling ]
Don't worry. We'll just make you another one.
- [ Clattering ] - Or how about some grits?
No. Thank you. That's— That's all right.
I'm just not really hungry.
Then let's get to work.
Check on May.
I'm going to the N.A.A.C.P. offices. We're canvassing voters this morning.
Uh, wait. What about my pancakes?
The batter's right there by the griddle.
Now how could beauty be so evil?
I've been stung so many times, I have immunity.
They barely even hurt me.
But since you don't, you need to know beeyard etiquette.
Beeyard etiquette? You see,
the world's really just one big beeyard.
The same rules work in both places.
Don't be afraid, as no life-lovin' bee wants to sting you.
But don't be an idiot. That's why we wear long sleeves and long pants.
And don't swat. Don't even think about swattin'.
And above all, send the bees love.
[ Bees Buzzing ] Every little thing wants to be loved.
Let's go.
[ Vehicle Approaching ]
[ Buzzing ]
Now, we'll constantly be checking the hives.
We have to make sure the queens have enough room to lay their eggs, otherwise we get swarms.
What do you mean, a swarm?
When you get a queen and a group of independent-minded bees...
that split off and look for another place to live, then you get swarms.
And I lose my bees.
So, what we have to do is...
take out the frames filled with honey...
and put in empty ones.
Now, the smoke, it calms the bees,
and it masks the alarm scent released by the guard bees.
Why, you ain't scared a lick, huh?
I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.
All right.
Easy movement.
See right there, Lily?
That's the queen— the large one.
[ Chuckling ]
That wall behind the house—
Why does it have little pieces of paper in it?
Oh, well, that's May's wall.
She made it herself.
I guess you noticed she a little different, huh?
She sure gets upset easy.
She had a twin sister, April.
The one who died. Mm-hmm.
It's like the two ofthem were one soul sharing two bodies.
IfApril got a toothache, May's gum would plump up red.
One time my father used a belt strap on April.
I swear, welts rose up on May's legs too.
[ Chuckles ]
When April died, it was like the whole world became May's twin sister.
And we tried foryears to get her help,
but the doctorsjust kept telling us to put her away.
SoJune and I come up with this idea ofthe "wailing wall."
What kind ofwall? The "wailing wall," like the one in Jerusalem.
TheJewish people go there to mourn. See, they write their prayers on tiny pieces of paper,
and then they tuck 'em in the wall.
And that's what Miss May does.
Those bits of paper are all the heavy feelings May carries around.
Seems like the only thing that helps her.
Poor Miss May.
Yeah. Poor Miss May.
That's Zach's car. He must be in the honey house.
Why don't you go in and say hello.
All right, this one's dedicated to all my honeys.
Oh— Don't worry. You my honey too.
[ Laughs ] $ Baby, I need your lovin' $
$ Got to have all ofyour lovin' $
$ Baby, I need your lovin' $
$ Got to have all ofyour lovin' $$
[ Chuckles ]
I w— I wasjust singin'.
I'm Lily.
I'm staying with Miss August and them for a while.
Oh. Well, um, I'm-I'm Zachary Taylor, her godson.
Zachary Taylor was a president.
[ Chuckles ] Yeah, so I heard.
Come here. Look.
See? "Zachary Lincoln Taylor."
Uh, Miss August told me about you bein' here helpin' out.
She didn't mention anything about you being white.
Maybe she didn't notice.
$$ [ Tuning ]
$$ [ Classical ]
Ooh.
Mmm, mmm. Just put it in.
Miss August, you know I got stung today, right?
Did you? Where?
Right there. Probably can't see it much.
[ Chattering ]
No, I'm telling you that they don't intend on voting.
[ Neil ] But you gotta see it from the other side.
[ Woman ] $ The time is right $
$ I'm gonna pack my bags $ [ Sniffles ]
$ And take thatjourney down the road $
Go. Let it go. $ 'Cause over the mountain $
$ I see the bright sunshine $ [ Giggling ]
$ But I want to live inside the glow $
$ Yeah, yeah, yeah $
$ I wanna go to the place where $
$ I am nothing and everything $ [ Whispering, Indistinct ]
$ That exists between $
$ Here and nowhere $
Hear the poppin'? Yeah.
It's from capping. Now you try. $ Time has no consequences $
Whoa. Whoa. I'm sorry.
$ The sky opens to my prayer $
$ I wanna go to beautiful $ Put the uncapped frames in the spinner.
$ Beautiful $ Pushes out all the honey.
$ Beautiful I wanna go to $
$ Beautiful, beautiful $
Miss August says you can run like Wilma Rudolph. [ Zach Laughs ]
Yeah, in a championship game I was running everywhere like—
Uh, hey, hey. [ Laughs ] Oh, no!
$ Beautiful, beautiful $
$ Beautiful I wanna go to $
$ Beautiful $$
Hmm.
You want me to light your candle? Yes, ma'am.
You all enjoy.
Thank you, Miss May.
She calls it a candlestick salad.
She's been making 'em for me since I was little.
It looks like— Yeah. Yeah, I know. I know.
[June ] May?
So, what's your favorite subject in school?
English. I was plannin' on being a writer.
I don't really think I got much of a future now, being an orphan and all.
Don't writers, like, just imagine things you don't see?
You should imagine yourself having a future.
That's what I do.
Playing professional football? [ Sighs ]
Why do white people always think sports is the only way we could be successful?
I wanna be a lawyer.
I'm sorry. I just thought 'cause you were good at it.
I've never heard ofa Negro lawyer.
You never heard of Thurgood Marshall?
No. Forget it.
All right. I'm picturing you as a lawyer.
Take the case ofa girl who's wrongly accused of hurtin' somebody.
At the very last minute, you get the truth by trickin' the real bad guy on the witness stand.
You bust his ass with the truth.
Yeah.
Zach, the ass-bustin' lawyer.
[ Laughs ]
Oh. Thank you, May.
Here. No gravy.
Smells good. Mm-hmm.
So how are things coming with you, Lily?
Things are coming fine, MissJune. Thank you.
I made banana daisy— You've been here almost a week now.
Your aunt must be worried.
Ifyou want us to leave, me and Rosaleen will be on our way.
Oh, heavens to Betsy, Lily. Nobody wants you to leave till you're good and ready.
Why do you put a Negro Mary on your honey?
You mean why is she black,
or why is she on the honey?
I guess both. [ May ] Tell her, August.
I'm Sugar Girl. I'm Cressie.
I'm Doll. And I'm her daughter, Violet.
And I'm Greta, Zachary's mama.
Mmm, I love Sundays.
What the hell kind ofchurch is this?
It's been a while since we told the story of our Mary. Mm-hmm.
And since we have visitors here who've never heard it, I thought we'd tell it again.
That's right. Tell the story. Mm-hmm.
[ August ] Back in the days ofslavery,
our people would go to the praise house on Sunday...
and ask the Lord to send them rescue.
One day a slave named Obadiah was loading bricks onto a boat,
and he saw somethin' that had washed up on the shore.
Movin' closer,
he saw that it was the wooden figure ofa woman. [ Women Affirming ]
Her body was growin' out of a block ofwood.
A black woman— [ Affirming ]
with her arm lifted up and her fist balled out.
- Mmm. - [ Affirming ]
- And to his shock he heard her voice clear as day. - Mm-hmm!
- She said, "It's all right." - "It's all right."
"I'm here." "I'm here."
"I'll be taking care ofyou now." [ Affirming ]
And Obadiah knew at that moment that God had sent her.
Now, everyone knew the mother ofJesus' name was Mary, and that she was strong—
- Come on. - and constant and had a mother's heart.
[ Affirming ] And here she was,
sent to them across the same waters...
that had brought them there in chains.
- Seemed like she knew everything they suffered. - Everything!
And so the people went up one at a time...
and touched their hand to her chest,
wantin' to grab on to the solace in her heart.
- Mary filled their hearts with fearlessness. - She filled their hearts!
And ifthey ever grew weak,
they had only to touch her heart again.
[ Women ] Touch her heart!
- Touch her heart. - [ Women ] Touch her heart.
$$ [ "Amazing Grace" ]
[ Deborah's Voice ] Touch her heart.
Lily.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
- [ Voices, Indistinct ] - No!
I'm your husband! Lily!
...and blessed is the fruit ofthy womb, Jesus. [ Deborah's Voice ] Just let me go!
- [ Voices, Indistinct ] - No!
[ Women ] ...pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
- Amen. - Lily!
- $$ [ Stops ] - [ Gasps ]
- [ Gunshot ] - No!
June, what's gotten into you?
Oh! [ Women Murmuring ]
Lily.
Girl, since when you started faintin'?
Could I get some water?
Of course. Wait. Um,
Rosaleen, could you get it, please?
This your room?
Blue is my favorite color. Mine too.
Birds of a feather.
Sorry I messed up your church. Oh, that's all right.
We go on all day if somebody don't stop us.
I just hope you all right.
I think it was the heat.
Felt like it was 90 degrees in there.
Yes, the heat.
[ T. Ray Grunts ]
[ Grunts ]
$$ [ Radio: R&B ]
[ Woman ] $ I've made my reservation I'm leaving town tomorrow $
$ I'll find somebody new and there'll be no more sorrow $ [ Exhaling To Beat ]
$ That's what I do each time but I can't follow through $
[ With Radio ] $ I can't break away though you make me cry $
$ I can't break away I can't say good-bye $
$ No, I'll never, ever break away from you $
$ No, no No, no, no, no $
$ No, no, no, no No, no, no, no $$
[ Turns Off] Who can think with all that?
Well, that's your problem— You think too much.
Try going with your feelings once in a blue moon.
You won't believe what people in town are sayin'.
Sayin'Jack Palance is coming to Tiburon, and he's bringing a Negro woman with him.
[ Laughs ] What in the world?
- Who'sJack Palance? - He's a movie star— a white one.
I ain't never heard— I— I have never heard of him.
They say his sister lives here. He's comin' to visit her,
and he intend to take this woman to the theater on Friday.
- White folks talkin' about standin' guard outside. - [ August ] That'sjust talk.
- And these idiots are determined to fight this law till they— - Shh, shh, shh. Shh.
$$ [ Humming ]
Miss May? Mm-hmm?
I saw how nice you did Rosaleen's hair,
and I was wonderin' if maybe you could help me with mine.
That'll be easy.
Hmm. [ Sniffles ]
It's ironic how white people hate us so much...
when so many of 'em been raised by black women.
$ Place a beehive on my grave $
- $ And let the honey soak through $ - Ooh.
You think somethin' bein' an impossibility makes you think about it even more?
Like what? I don't know.
Like... kissin'.
That ain't impossible.
When I was 1 5, I made a 7UP cake for this boy.
After that, he kissed me all the time.
What'd it feel like?
Like I was gonna burst.
Miss May, I know you get real sad sometimes.
My daddy never feels.
He never felt anything.
I had rather be like you.
A worker bee weigh less than a flower petal,
but she can fly with a load heavier than her.
But she only lives four or five weeks.
Sometimes not feelin' is the only way you can survive.
[ Ball Hits Backboard ] [ Grunting ]
[ Laughs ]
You want me to help you make a 7UP cake?
[ Bees Buzzing ] Hold that.
It's purple. Yeah.
When the weather turns hot, the flowers, they start to dry up.
The bees, they start sucking on that elderberry.
That makes purple honey.
There. See?
People'll pay two dollars a jar for purple honey.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Chattering Softly ]
$$ [ Radio: R&B ]
[ Woman ] $ I'm so lonely $ You all right?
[ Chattering, Arguing ] [ August ] She'll be fine.
[ Chattering, Arguing Continues ]
[ Neil ] Because. [June ] No. Why?
Why does it always have to come back to this? Because I love you and you love me.
Neil, I don't wanna get married. I don't wanna get married. That's what people, when they in love, do.
I don't wanna be married today or tomorrow or ever. It's about that time!
What are you so scared of? I'm not scared of anything!
Then you are the most selfish bitch I ever met.
What?
What did you just say to me?
Oh, Lord. What did you just call me?
How dare you call me that, Neil. Neil, I'm talkin' to you.
You better turn around and listen to me right now.
You better come back here and apologize right now!
Don't you ever plan on comin' back then! I don't even need you in my life!
How dare— Don't come back!
- [ August ] Don't worry, May. - [ Grunts ] Don't come back!
[ Lily ] I bet they'll be back holdin' hands on the porch swing tomorrow.
I don't know, Lily. Some people rather die than forgive.
And June is one of'em.
She still hasn't forgiven me for paintin' the house, and that was 1 0 years ago.
Well, how come, ifyour favorite color is blue, you painted the house so pink?
[ Sighs ] That was May's doin'.
She was with me the day I went to the paint store,
and she latched onto this sample called Caribbean Pink.
Said it made her wanna dance a Spanish flamenco.
I thought it was the tackiest color I ever seen in my life.
But if it could lift May's heart, then I guess she ought to live in it.
Well, that was sure nice ofyou.
Well, some things don't matter that much, Lily.
Like the color ofa house and whatnot.
But liftin' someone's heart— now that matters.
Were you ever in love? [ Chuckling ] Course I was.
But you didn't love him enough to marry him. Well, I loved him enough.
I just loved my freedom more.
I can't think ofone thing I'd rather have than somebody loving me.
Where are all the bees?
[ Buzzing ]
You hear that?
They're coolin' the hive.
That's the sound of 1 00,000 bee wings fannin' the air.
People have no idea about the complicated life goin' on inside a beehive.
Here. Let me help you with that.
See, bees have a secret life we don't know anything about.
[ May Screaming ]
[ Screaming Continues ]
[ Laughing, Screaming ]
[ May ] Yeah!
[ August ] Well, ifthis ain't the livin' end.
Now come over here. You gonna get wet. [ Screams ]
[ Screaming, Laughing ] Oh, Lord, Lord!
[ All Screaming ]
- Would you keep it down? - [ Laughing ]
- Keep it down! I'm practicin'. - You come over here, you gonna get wet.
[ Shrieks ]
- Oh, damn it to hell! - Run, Lily!
Oh, damn it to hell!
How dare you! [ Laughing ]
[June ] You out ofyour mind? All right now, June.
[ August ] Come on, June.
[ Both Laughing ]
[ Crying ]
[ Sniffles, Moans ]
Where you goin', June? June?
Come on back. [ Laughing ]
Oh. Miss May.
Got thirsty.
[ Refrigerator Opens ] [ Liquid Pours ]
I saw a roach.
The roaches will follow this right out the door.
Works every time.
Miss May?
Did you know a Deborah?
Deborah Owens?
She's a white woman from Virginia.
It would've been a long time ago.
Oh, yes.
Deborah Owens.
She stayed out in the honey house.
She was the sweetest thing.
[ Sniffs ]
$$ [ Humming ]
Think I'll go out to the wall for a while.
[ Laughing ]
[ May ] Zach! Come back here.
Thank you.
Hey. Lily, come ride with me.
Uh, I gotta drop some honey offto Mr. Forrest. I want you to meet him.
Oh, I gotta talk to Miss August. You know where she is?
Uh, she went to Columbia to go pick up a new blade for the spinner.
Oh.
$$ [ Radio: R&B ]
Thought a new notebook might help you start writin' again.
Whoa.
My mother stayed in the honey house, just like me.
What? When?
I don't know. I don't know anything about her.
Maybe it was before I was born. Or maybe she left me like my daddy said.
So, wait.
You mean to tell me,
all that stuffabout your aunt...
and— and just passin' through—
You made that up?
Why notjust tell the truth?
'Cause I'm afraid the truth is gonna wreck everything.
$$ [ Continues ]
[ Man ] There he is.
And who might this pretty young lady be?
This is Lily. She's stayin' with Miss August.
- You stayin' in her house? - Yes, ma'am.
Well, Miss August is a good friend of mine. I hope you're enjoyin' yourself.
Yes, sir.
Look what he gave me. I'm startin' my law library.
That's nice.
[ Exhales ] Hey.
Lily, I know you're scared the truth is gonna wreck things.
Findin' out the truth is only half of it.
It's what you do with it that matters.
Right?
[ Sighs ]
When's the last time you seen a movie?
I don't remember.
Come on. We gonna go see SurfParty
But what— But nothin'. Come on. Let's go.
[ Chattering ] [ Car Horn Honking ]
One adult, please. Here you go.
[ Man ] It can't hurt, you know?
[ Man #2 ] One adult and one child.
[ Man On Screen ] Everybody waxed up?
This is a surfboard. [ Woman ] You're kidding.
This is the nose. The sides are called rails.
Thank you.
The first step is— [ Man ] Come on!
Hey, boy!
- We're gonna teach you a lesson, boy! - Hey! It's not his fault!
Let him go!
Shut your mouth, nigger lover!
- [ Woman ] Where are they takin' him? - Get him in the truck.
- [ Man ] Just trying to gather up all the pieces. - You're wastin' time!
- You know who took him. - Is that right?
Yeah, that's right. All right. Now hold on here, folks.
Soon as we know anything, we'll get back to you.
Neil, counselor, ladies. Come on. Let's go.
I'm gonna get some men together. We'll look ourselves.
Ifyou'll have me, I'm willin' to help.
[ Engine Starts ]
May doesn't need to know about this.
[ Engine Starts ]
[ Sighs ] Nah, it'll be too much.
[June ] Black boys don't come back, August.
[ August ] He's gonna be found, and he's gonna be all right.
[June ] How could you say that? I have to.
Please let him be okay.
Lily's gonna look so pretty in this.
$$ [ Humming ]
August, where are your scissors?
Uh, in my room.
Hey, Greta. Hey, May.
You been to see Mary?
[ Crying ] Zach is still missin'.
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
We have to pray, May. You understand?
We got to pray, May.
[ Crying ]
[June ] Who was at the door? May, was somebody at the door?
Greta.
No news on Zach.
Why didn't you tell me?
You all right?
[ Inhales, Exhales ]
May?
May!
Answer me, May. You all right?
What's happened to her? I never seen her like this.
- May? - May?
May.
I'm all right.
Glad to see you can talk.
Come on, Sister.
We gonna run you a nice hot bath.
I need to go to the wall.
May?
Where's May? Her bath is ready.
She's still out there.
May?
May!
May?
May!
May? May!
[June ] Come on, May.
May?
June?
[June ] May!
June! June! [ Gasping ]
May! [ Shrieking ]
- Oh, my God. - Oh, my God! August!
[ Both Gasping ]
August.
No! [ Sobbing ] Oh, no!
Oh, May.
[June ] We gotta get her out. We gotta get her out.
[ Retching, Coughing ]
[ Sobbing ] May!
Why you do that?
Sweet Mary.
Zach!
Zach. [ Sighs ]
Oh.
I'm so sorry.
Miss May did what she did 'cause of me.
Come on, now. It was May who did it.
[ Sighs ] It's all right. She wouldn't want you blaming yourself.
Oh. It's gonna be okay.
It's good. It's good.
[ May's Voice ] Dear August and June,
I'm sorry to leave you like this.
But I know Zach is okay.
My heart is telling me so.
I hate you bein' sad,
but think how happy I'll be with April, Mama and Papa.
I'm tired ofcarrying around the weight ofthe world.
I'm just gonna lay it down now.
It's my time to die,
and it's your time to live.
Don't mess it up. [ Chuckles ]
Love, May.
$ I saw Mary $
$ She was walkin' on the water $
$ Smilin' at me $
$ Hummin' her river song $
$ And I tried wavin' $
$ But she was walkin' away $
$ She said that she'd been waitin' on me $
$ All day long $
$ I tried to call her and said Please come back $
$ 'Cause I didn't mean to make you sad $
$ She said $
$ Well, don't you worry 'cause I'll see you again $
$ But I hear my mother call $
$ And I have to go $$
$ Place a beehive on my grave $
$ And let the honey soak through $
$ When I'm dead and gone $
$ That's what I want from you $
$ The streets of heaven are gold and sunny $
$ But I'll stick with my plot $
$ And a pot of honey $
$ Place a beehive on my grave $
$ And let the honey soak through $$
Hmm.
[June ] I see you liked yours.
Mm-hmm. It's the last one. Mmm.
- Mmm, girl, you did all right. - [ Rosaleen Laughing ]
Aw. I'm the eldest.
- And the slowest. - I'll make some more.
- You hear that,June? - Hmm.
Think we might need to change your name, Rosaleen.
From now on, we gonna call you July.
Hmm. I concur.
Some more ofthese. [ Chuckling ]
Mmm. [ Indistinct ]
Sure you gonna be all right in here by yourself?
I don't mind sharing May's room.
Just wanna be near her spirit.
I'll be fine.
See you in the mornin' then.
[ Door Opens, Closes ]
Hey, Lily.
This is my mother.
[ Sighs ]
I know, honey.
Your mama was Deborah Fontanel Owens.
You've known all this time?
I knew she had a daughter. But I thought it couldn't be you.
But one look at you, all I could see is Deborah at your age.
You knew her when she was little?
I took care of her.
Why didn't you tell me?
Somethin' told me you wasn't quite ready to know about her.
I just wanted to give you a chance to get on solid ground first.
T. Ray—
he told me that my mo—
He told me my mother left me and ran away.
I don't have any memory of her, but...
I know he's lyin' 'cause some things aren't possible.
Children just don't have two parents who refuse to love 'em.
Is that what made you leave? [ Shuddering ]
I know what I did was wrong. I just seem to do all the wrong things.
I don't mean to be a bad person, but I just can't help it.
So that's why I gotta go. I brought the outside in here.
And what happened to Zach and Miss May—
If I'd never come here, it would've never happened.
Lily— Lily, that wasn't your fault. I wreck everything.
Yes, it was.
They were fightin' and screamin' and— [ Bawling ]
She grabbed a gun, and he took it away from her, and I just wanted to help her.
I just wanted to give it back to her.
And I killed her. Who, Lily?
My mother. I killed my mother.
I'm unlovable.
Oh, Lily.
You listen to me now.
That's a terrible, terrible thing foryou to live with.
But you're not unlovable, child.
There's love all around you.
Gimme your hand.
I started takin' care of Deborah when she was nine, back in Virginia.
Over seven years.
Till my grandmama died and left me this place.
That's whyJune resented you at first.
She never got over me workin' in your mama's house.
So my mother came to Sylvan, met T. Ray and got married.
That's right.
But what I don't get is why she married him.
[ Chuckles ] I think Deborah liked the fact that he was decorated in the war.
She thought he was brave.
Said he treated her like a princess.
It's not the same T. Ray. I can tell you that right now.
You know, Lily, people can start out one way,
and by the time life get through with 'em, end up completely different.
I mean, I don't doubt that he started off lovin' her. Fact, he worshipped her.
But after about six months or so, her love wore off.
But ifthe love had worn off, why did she marry him?
Honey, Deborah was pregnant.
That's why.
She called me soon afteryou were born.
I got letters and phone calls, mostly about you.
How you were sittin' up and takin' your first steps.
[ Chuckles ] Playin' patty-cake.
But then the letters start comin' less and less.
And one day she called me up,
and she said she was leavin' T. Ray.
Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
[ August ] When I picked her up from the bus station,
she didn't even look like herself.
She had gotten so thin.
I was with her when you picked her up from the bus station, right?
She brought me along, didn't she?
No. She came by herself, honey.
[ Sighs ] Why?
Why didn't she bring me?
[ Sighs ]
All I know, Lily, is she was fallin' apart.
Depressed people do things they wouldn't ordinarily do.
It was easy for her to leave me 'cause she never wanted me in the first place.
Lily.
After she was here for a few months...
and started feelin' better, she— she start talkin' about how much she missed you.
Then she went back to Sylvan to see you.
She wasjust comin' for her things.
- I believe she came back foryou. - I'm goin' to bed.
Lily!
Now your mama made a terrible mistake.
But I believe she tried to fix it.
Good night.
[ Sighs ] Damn it, Deborah.
[ Breathing Heavily ]
[ Screaming ] I hate you!
I hate your guts!
[ Grunting ]
Why didn't you love me?
[ Sniffles ]
Tiburon.
[ August ] Hi.
I brought some ofyour mama's belongings.
It'sjust a handful ofthings your mama left when she went back to get you.
Been in this box...
1 0 years, I guess.
You really loved her.
It was complicated. But, yes, I did.
How was it complicated?
I was her nanny.
Things were different in her world than mine.
We like to think that love is pure and limitless.
But love like that can't exist in a hateful time.
[ Chuckles ] But she made me love her anyway.
There is no perfect love, Lily.
Your mama's pocket mirror.
Ifyou look in here, you see your mama looking back at you.
[ Sighs ] Well, I'll be.
She was wearin' that pin the day she got here.
There'sjust one last thing.
Hey.
[ Sighs ]
What happened to you? What about it?
It changed you, didn't it?
Sometimes, Lily, I—
I get so angry.
I just want to kill somethin'.
The men that took you—
they're angry like that too.
Makes 'em mean.
You have to promise me, Zach, that you won't be like them.
I don't want to.
Me either.
No way I'm not becomin' a lawyer now.
I'm gonna be one ofthem drum majors Dr. King talks about.
I know you will.
And... 1 0, maybe 1 5 years from now,
we'll be at your book signin'.
So don't forget our story, all right?
I won't.
[ Clears Throat ] I have you know I am now a registered voter.
- Really? - I'll be castin' my vote for Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey.
I love you, Miss Rosaleen.
Neil. Hello, ladies.
Hi.
Didn't you call me here to talk? I'm a little busy.
- You ain't the only one who's busy. - I'm just supposed to stand here and watch how busy you are?
No.
[ Sighs ]
I was—
I was wonderin' ifyou'd be willin' to ask again.
Ask what?
This supposed to be funny?
June Boatwright, will you marry me?
Yes.
Yes?
Yes? Yes?
Yes.
[ Laughing ]
She said yes.
Oh, my God. Good for you.
Come on. We're goin' to thejewelry store right now,
pickin' out a ring before you change your mind, all right? What? You don't already have one?
Girl, come on.
How come you don't have one?
[ Knocking On Door ]
[ Knocking Continues ]
Well, well, well. Look who's here.
Won't you come in?
Well, all right, goddamn it.
You wanna pretend I'm making a social visit, we'll pretend.
I'm gonna take you out of here nice and quiet or kickin' and screamin'.
Don't matter which one to me.
Have a seat ifyou want to.
So you been here the whole time?
With colored women?
Jesus Christ. How'd you find me?
That map on your wall.
Came here, started askin' around. Some old lady secretary at the law office was more than happy to fill me in.
- Where's Rosaleen? - She took offa long time ago.
Where'd you get that?
Miss August gave it to me. Don't you lie to me.
I'm not lyin'.
She said it belonged to my—
I gave that pin to your mama on her 22nd birthday.
Now you tell me right now.
How'd this August woman get it? You gave this to my mother?
Answer me. You did?
This is where my mother came when she ran away from us.
She was wearin' it the day she got here.
Miss August used to take care of her when she was a little girl.
[ Sighs ]
I looked for her everywhere I could think.
And she was right here.
Jesus Christ, she was right here.
Goddamn you, Deborah!
You ain't leavin' me again!
[ Gasps, Shrieks ] Get back here!
T. Ray, it's me, Lily!
Daddy!
You— You look like her.
My whole life's been nothin' but a hole...
where my mother should've been.
It left me always achin'.
But I never thought about what it did to you.
- We're goin' home. - I'm stayin' here.
You think I'm gonna walk out of here and leave you?
I don't even know these damn people.
I know them.
And August Boatwright is a good person.
Now, what makes you think she'd even want you here?
Lily can have a home here as long as she wants.
Lily said you'd run off.
Well, I guess I'm back now.
Well, I don't really care where you end up,
but Lily's comin' with me.
[ Footsteps Approaching ]
Everybody all right?
We all right.
This is Mr. Owens,
Lily's father.
He came here for a visit.
Mr. Owens,
you'd be doing Lily and us a big favor by leavin' her here.
I made her my apprentice beekeeper. She learnin' the whole business.
We love Lily.
We'll get her started in school.
We'll take care of her. I promise you that.
Well,
good riddance.
[ Engine Starting ]
Stop! Stop!
The day my mother died, you said she was only comin' back for her things.
Is that true?
No.
No. She was comin' foryou.
Why did you lie?
'Cause she didn't come for me.
[ Lily Narrating ] I still tell myselfthat when T. Ray drove away that day,
he wasn't sayin', "Good riddance."
He was sayin', "Lily, you are better offthere with all these mothers."
I have more mothers than any three girls offthe street.
They are the moons shinin' over me.
I guess I have forgiven myself.
Although sometimes in the night, my dreams will take me back to sadness,
and I have to wake up and forgive again. [ Praying ]
But Mary is always there.
I feel her at unexpected moments.
She will suddenly rise.
And when she does, she does not go up into the sky,
but further inside of me.
$ Ifyou think the sky is falling $
$ Comin' undone $
$ Hmm $
$ All the pieces crumble $
$ You're on the run $
$ All the wrong you've taken $
$ All the rules you're breakin' $
$ Don't you know the solid truth is $
$ It comes back to you $
$ Don't you know the sky is blue $
$ Can't you see the sun is breakin' through $
$ Have a little faith in you $
$ Don't you know the sky is blue $
$ Huh $
$ Every time you walk out that door $
$ Cursin' the sky $
$ Feelin' like you've been cheated $
$ Ripped from inside $
$ Don't you know the sky is blue $
$ Can't you see the sun is breakin' through $
$ Have a little faith in you $
$ Don't you know the sky is blue $
$ Come on $
$ Mmm $
$ Mmm, yeah $
$ Now you know $
$ Hmm $ [ Chuckles ]
$ Uh $
$ Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah $
$ Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah nah, nah, nah $
$$ [ Continues ]
$ Hey $
$$ [ Continues ]
$ Don't you know the sky is blue $
$ Have a— Have a little faith in you $
$ Don't you know the sky is blue $
$ Hey $
$ Don't you know the sky $
$ Sky $
$ I'm telling you $
$ The sky is blue $
$ For me but whoo-hoo $
$ Don't you know the sky $
$ Sky $
$ Hey $
$$ [ Women Vocalizing ]
$ Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah $
$ Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah $$
$ Oh $
$ Well, there's nothin' you can do $
$ Well, there's nothin' you can say $
$ 'Cause everything just ain't gonna go your way $
$ Ifyou're feeling kind ofstrange $
$ And you want to lay it down $
$ And it's hard foryou to keep your feet on solid ground $
$ You gotta keep on $ $ Keep, keep marchin' $
$ On $
$ Keep marchin' on $
$ You just gotta keep on Oh, yeah $ $ Keep $
$ Keep marchin' $ $ Keep marchin' on $
$ Keep, keep on $ $ Keep marchin' $
$ When a poor girl shine $
$ And a rich girl cries $
$ And the clown is wearin' no makeup $
$ You got to get up and run $
$ You got to get up and strive $
$ You got to put all your pride into makin' it $
$ You gotta keep on $ $ Keep, keep marchin' $
$ On $
$ Keep marchin' on $
$ You gotta keep on Come on now $ $ Keep $
$ Keep marchin' $ $ Keep on marchin' now $
$ Keep marchin' on $
$ We gotta keep on $ $ Keep, keep marchin' $
$ You gotta keep on $ $ Keep marchin' on $
$ This is something we gotta do today is keep on marchin' $
$ On $ $ Keep marchin' on $
$ Don't let nobody tell you no different $
$ Oh, no $
$ Keep on marchin' $