Sweet Bird of Youth Page #3

I found this button.

Yes, sir. I'm president of the

Finley Youth Club, and I'm proud of it.

But I don 't know nothing about

no book burnings or...

This thing, it could be dropped

accidentally on purpose...

...you know what I mean?

- But to date, there has been no probe...

... no police action, no arrests.

- Why?

- Shut that contraption off.

These are the fruits

of Boss Finley's rise to power...

How can a Christian TV network

tolerate those filthy, black lies?

- Right here, in the heart of America.

- Why, they ought to be...

Thank you, honey.

- Horsewhipped and shot.

And if I wasn't mayor and against

violence, I'd do it myself.

Well, if that TV report lied,

why not sue them for libel?

If they lied?

You know, you surprise me, Ben.

For a man who's smart enough

to run a big daily newspaper...

...you sure surprise me.

Can't you recognize New York...

...Red propaganda when you see it?

Do you call that TV newsreel fair?

Now, Maribelle,

we're all on the same side.

- Are we, Ben?

- Fair, you mean?

Well, your father's going

on the same network.

Same time, same freedom of expression.

I'd say that was pretty fair.

A lot fairer than burning books and...

You accusing me, Ben?

Why, Tom Jr. Hasn't got

a mean bone in his body.

He might be a hot-blooded

buck like his daddy...

- Now, Mrs. Norris.

...but he'd never resort to violence.

Never. And you have my personal

guarantee that whoever did do it...

...justice will prevail.

- Right, sheriff?

- Certainly.

What in tarnation are you laughing at?

Nothing, Pa. Nothing at all.

Then shut up!

- Yes, sir.

- Only idiots laugh at nothing.

- Yes, sir.

- When I was called from...

...the clay hills where I was born...

...barefoot and hungry, called by

the voice of God, which I was...

Will somebody pick up

that damn phone!

I ain't never forgot

what I was called for.

I didn't build a land

of milk and honey to see...

- Where you going?

- Get something for that cough.

Sit down! I've hawked

and spit all my life...

...and I'll hawk and spit

till the end of my days.

You can bet on that.

When I answer those charges

on TV tomorrow night...

...I expect you to be there.

- Why, you know me, Tom.

I expect you and your

Daughters of Dixie to be there.

God bless you, honey.

And I expect you to be there too.

I'll be there, Mr. Finley.

At the press table.

You'll be on the platform,

at my side, in my support.

No, sir. Not so long as you support...

...a gang of juvenile delinquents

called Youth Clubs...

- With a free hand to commit mayhem.

- Hold it!

Now, maybe you're right.

And maybe, just maybe...

...the Finley Youth Club

was mixed up in that shindig.

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