Ruby Gentry

If you should walk down to the waterfront

in the coastal town of Braddock in the state of North Carolina,

you'd probably hear a story told about one of the skippers

in the fishing fleet that makes this port its home...

for this skipper is a woman... A strange, gaunt woman...

And you can tell even at first glance

that she is living somewhere in the past,

as if even now, she were suffering in atonement

for all the tragic consequences of her willful acts.

There was a time when Ruby was beautiful and alive,

and I believe it was this spirit of life and love

that caused so much envy and resentment

to be voiced against her by the narrow,

class-conscious citizens of our town.

For Ruby was born on the wrong side of the tracks,

and though she struggled valiantly to overcome this stigma,

the townspeople never let her forget it.

I'd been in Braddock over a year and was still an outsider.

They called me the new Yankee doctor.

And then I met Jim Gentry, Braddock's richest man.

Jim's wife was an invalid.

I guess he'd tried 50 doctors before he got to me.

And somehow, right away, Jim Gentry and I became friends.

On that bright September evening,

Jim was taking me out to a hunting party

at Jud Corey's hunting lodge.

To a young and ambitious doctor,

that should have been the main thing on my mind.

But strangely enough, it wasn't.

Does Jud's daughter live at the lodge?

Oh? You know Ruby?

Well, no, I've seen her in town.

You couldn't miss seeing Ruby if she's anywhere above the horizon.

Trouble was, I couldn't figure any way to meet her.

This is gonna be a mighty lively hunting party

with you all set to launch a campaign for Ruby,

and Boake Tackman just home from South America.

Ruby used to be real gone on him.

Sounds like they've already got a head start

on Jud's sour mash whiskey.

Don't let it shake you, Doc. It's just anatomy.

I never saw anything like it in dissection lab.

Oh, Jim, it's you.

Don't butter me, honey. I know you're disappointed.

You're blushing, sugar puss.

Mr. Ginter sent your gun.

Oh, boy... finished it real soon.

Ginter's usually slow as tar.

This gun's a hand-me-down from Pop.

I had Ginter make me this new stock.

Oh, Ruby, this is Dr. Manfred.

Only he'll like it better if you call him Saul.

- Hello there, Saul. - Hello.

Saul took one look at you and got that... look...

That glazed codfish stare.

I told him it was just anatomy.

- And what did he say? - Oh, nothing much.

It was all good, Ruby.

He thinks you're cuter than a speckled pup.

Here, Mrs. Gentry sent you some sachets.

Oh, bless her head.

- How is she? - Oh, about the same.

Sachets!

Did you ever!

My wife set her head on making a lady of Ruby.

She didn't hold with the saying

about making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Honey, if you're a sow's ear...

When you come right down to it,

what would anybody want with a silk purse, huh?

Mr. Gentry, sir!

We've been expecting you.

- This is Dr. Manfred, Jud. - How do, Doctor?

- Hello, Jud. - You're real welcome.

Leave those things right there. I'll take care of them.

Come in, come in.

Jewel!

Yeah, Pa?

Fetch those things off the porch.

- Corner room suit you. - Fine. Hello, Jewel.

I have to put you in one of the rooms outside,

but it'll save you five dollars.

Ma Corey!

Best cook in Carolina, Saul... Her food's pure sin.

Hello, Ma.

Get some glasses and ice.

Tell Jewel to bring in some more liquor.

Gentlemen, this is Dr. Manfred.

Doc, the big moose is Clyde Pratt.

- Hi, Doc. - Neil Fallgren over here.

And Cullen McAuliffe.

Any money you put in Cullen's bank, you can kiss good-bye.

Jim's been doing a lot of bragging about you, Doctor.

Oh, that's real nice.

I want you to see this stock Ruby's got on her thirty-thirty-.

Isn't that a dandy?

Burled walnut... a beautiful hunk of wood, Ruby.

I got it off the gatepost at the old Tackman plantation.

I figured finders keepers.

Must be the only thing out there that isn't underwater.

Why, I'd give my eye teeth for this stock.

- Looks like everybody's here. - Yeah.

Go ahead, Dad. I'll take the rest of this stuff.

All right.

Ruby?

Where are you?

Hi, stranger.

You look just about the same to me.

You have me at a disadvantage.

I can't see what you look like.

But I can imagine.

Give me that light.

Let's see what I've been missing.

I'll bet you filled out some.

Keep your hands off.

Keep your hands off me.

You little devil!

That's what Boake tells me, especially when he uses

a bullet developed by Brenneke.

That's that ballistic man from Leipzig, Germany.

That's right.

Here's our guest of honor!

- How are you? - Just like old times.

Jud's been telling me some grand things about you, Boake.

Somebody get Boake a drink.

- Let's see that cartridge belt. - I got that in Brazil.

Dr. Manfred, Boake Tackman.

- How are you, Boake? - Doctor.

Home for good or just visiting?

I'm home for good this time. I'm going to trump on your heels.

Got yourself some notion?

Real harebrained one.

Claims he's gonna drain our old plantation.

Well, why not?

Wet or dry, it's not worth a nickel.

- It's full of salt. - Salt's no problem.

300 acres of bottom land is a fair start

That's more than you had.

I started out with two hands and a tough hide-.

Gonna raise cotton?

I'm gonna produce quick cash crops, produce I can ship north,

because the plantation's only the beginning.

Like you started out repairing tin lizzies-.

You got too much energy for a Carolina boy.

Wears me out just listening to you.

In South America, did those señoritas stir up your bloodstream?

Yeah, how about it, Boake?

I hear they're real hospitable.

I can't say they exactly cold-shouldered me.

Dinner! Dinner! Come on!

But I never found one of them who could cook.

That's why I came home.

I saw a lot of it in South America, Dad.

After they drain the swamps, they plow in chemicals.

You can't eat this rich food without whiskey to cut it.

Nitrates.

I've been shipping plenty to Panama.

I figure I'm getting it from you.

Might have to get some of it on credit.

I suppose we can work that out.

Jim starts out by selling you something on credit,

and before you know it,

you're running another Gentry enterprise.

Mmm. Smell that.

Ma turns out the best there is.

No doubt about it.

First time I've seen you waiting on a table, Ruby.

Maybe the last time, so take a real good look.

I do that anyhow.

Ma said it was time she was learning to do a woman's work.

And maybe you'll sell me your thirty-thirty-.

You got no more use for it.

Don't you just wish? It's bagging me a deer tomorrow.

Dad doesn't seem to think this plan's gonna work, though, Jim.

I can't sell him on it.

I raised Ruby like she was a boy.

Something sure must have got out of hand.

Look at her, except for those pants she wears.

Hear that, sugar?

Mr. Pratt wants you all over fluffs.

Boake's got a sound enough plan.

Once the land's drained, he'll have collateral.

But he'll need capital to buy the pumps and equipment.

Boake's already talked to Cullen about getting a loan from the bank.

Oh, he did. Cullen go for your notion?

He seems to.

He said to drop in any time next week.

We could talk the whole plan over.

- You little... - Trying to brand him, Ruby?

Sprinkle some hair on her and she'd pass for a bobcat!

- Ruby! - I'm in your corner, Ruby!

Ruby! What's going on?

Huh? Nothing, Pop.

You're chasing after Boake Tackman again, ain't you?

Inviting damnation for your soul.

- Dry up. - Hell leave you flat!

Same as before.

I learned a few things in five years.

Don't you think he's learned plenty, too?

He ain't no kid no more,