The Southerner (1945)

Zachary Scott: Sam Tucker

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sam Tucker : I was so plumb wore out for awhile I didn't seem to believe in nothin' no more. But, now my clothes are startin' to dry and I'm beginnin' to believe again. I guess that's the way the Earth feels when she's wet. But, the Sun will start dryin' her out and she'll start callin' to me again, just the way Nona does sometimes.

• Nona Tucker : I wish we could raise him a tombstone.

  Sam Tucker : As for hopes, I've got many.

• Tim : Hey, would you be interested in coming to work in the factory with me?

  Sam Tucker : Are you crazy? What would I do in a factory? I'm a farmer.

• Nona Tucker : I reckon we oughta stay.

  Sam Tucker : You really mean that? You ain't just sayin' that to make me feel good?

  Nona Tucker : I'm sayin' it cause I believe you're as good as any man and it's right for you to be your own boss.

• Sam Tucker : Jus' cause we're havin' hard times right now, don't mean we gotta stop nothin'. We gotta keep goin'. Once we give up, we won't have the courage to get ourselves back to good times.

• Nona Tucker : [bringing the cooked possum to the dinner table]  Easy, you'll all get your share.

  Sam Tucker : Hold on, everybody. There's gonna be a blessing. Much obliged, Lord. Looks like the Tuckers are gonna make the grade, after all. Amen.

  Nona Tucker : Granny! Granny gets the first, 'cause she's the youngest.

  Granny : I'd taken the Lord to be a stranger in this house.

  Nona Tucker : Then comes Jotty, 'cause he's the littlest. Then comes Papa, 'cause he caught the possum. And this one's for Zoolie, because he helped him.

  [delivers a portion to the dog] 

  Nona Tucker : And last of all, Daisy and me, 'cause we're the women folk.

• Harmie : Tim just came back to show off his city clothes.

  Townsman : Yeah, just take a look at that fancy tie. Seems like in the city, dollars grow faster than beans in the field.

  Tim : Don't pay no mind to those yokels. Sam, I've been lookin' all over for ya. Let's go over to the Seamen's and I'll buy us a beer and tell you all about it.

  Sam Tucker : Brother, I'm with you anytime you'll buy me a beer.

• Sam Tucker : When they come over, tell them I'll be back in a minute. Will ya?

  Harmie : Yeah, I know what a minute means when you're drinkin' beer with ole Timmy, there.

• Bar Girl : Ain't I ever seen you someplace before?

  Sam Tucker : Could be. I don't know.

  Bar Girl : You in town all alone?

  Sam Tucker : No, ma'am. Like you see, I'm with my friend here and my wife's waitin' for me at Harmie's store.

  Bar Girl : Oh, so you got a wife.

  Sam Tucker : Yep, I got a wife.

  Bar Girl : Well some guys got wives and they're still nice and - friendly.

• Sam Tucker : Them machines of yours, and they're fine, I realize that, but, you sure can't eat 'em. Once in awhile you gotta have a hunk of beef and few ears of corn to fill up your belly. Oh, you city folks are mighty smart. But, I'm afraid without us farmers, you'd get kinda skinny.

  Tim : And without us workers, I just wonder what'd happen to you all. Your plow, she sure didn't grow on no tree. And your gun that you feed your bunch with in the winter, you didn't plant no seeds to get that. Someday like, I hope you get you a tractor. Where do you reckon that'll come from? Believe me, friend, it takes all kind to make up this whole world. You love your farm. It's right you stay. I like to work in a factory.

• Sam Tucker : Every time I get plumb wore out, I think about you and Jotty and Daisy, and I ain't quite so tired anymore.

  Nona Tucker : Aw Sam... I just never could get along without you.

  Sam Tucker : Me too, honey. I couldn't live without you.