The Pride of Jesse Hallam (1981 TV Movie)

Johnny Cash: Jesse Hallam

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Quotes 

• Parker : [Mr. Parker tries to restore order in the remedial reading class, which is near pandemonium]  Would you please turn off that radio and take your seats?

  Jesse Hallam : [Jesse gets up and sits each student down himself, grabs the radio and shuts it off. After everyone is quiet, he turns to address the class]  You want to do what I've been doin' all my life - runnin' away from words? Well, that's up to you, but you got to know... it's a poverty trade. And right here and now you could be diggin' youself a hole in the bottom of a mountain that you're never goin' to climb back up out of. Well, not me - and not my boy. We're goin' to high school and we're goin' to graduate and nobody or nothin's goin' to stop us. We're going to learn to read.

• Jesse Hallam : [Jesse has just returned home, to Ted]  So how's the report card?

  [Ted lowers his eyes] 

  Jesse Hallam : That bad, huh?

  Ted Hallam : They flunked me out. I told you, Daddy... at least I tried after the last meet. Runnin's all I got goin' for me. It's just like it was when we first got here... they say I gotta go back to ninth grade. Hey they don't have to know about this down in Muehlenberg, do they? I'm scheduled to be a junior back there.

  Jesse Hallam : Now hold on. Hold on, Ted. The principal said you might not get promoted, but puttin' you back? What'd you do, get all F's or somethin'?

  Ted Hallam : No, I got an A in gym, and a D in math.

  Jesse Hallam : I don't understand it... I've seen you in your books.

  Ted Hallam : It's all a bunch of gobbledygook anyhow, Daddy. And who cares about history? Anyhow, we're going back to Muehlenberg...

  Jesse Hallam : Wait a minute. You got a D in arthmetic, correct? But in biology, geography, history, english, everything you gotta know how to read for, you failed! Sit down... go on, hop to it!

  [Ted and Jesse sit, he hands him a heavy book] 

  Jesse Hallam : Your mama's Bible. Now find me the 40th Psalm.

  Ted Hallam : What for?

  Jesse Hallam : Don't argue, just do it. Read it to me.

  Ted Hallam : Daddy, you know I can read.

  Jesse Hallam : Just read it.

  Ted Hallam : [stammering]  I waited... puh, puh, puh...

  Jesse Hallam : Patiently. I waited patiently for the Lord.

  Ted Hallam : and uh, he... in, in, increased...

  Jesse Hallam : Inclined... you're puttin' words in the Bible that are not there. Read on.

  Ted Hallam : [nervously]  and, and, and heard... my cry. He... brought me up... also... out of... a horrible pit... out of the... me uh, my...

  Jesse Hallam : He brought me also up out of a horrible pit, out of the mirey clay, and he set my feet upon a rock.

  Ted Hallam : 'Cause you got it memorized!

  [throws Bible on end table and storms off] 

  Jesse Hallam : You bet I got it memorized! Now come back here!

  Ted Hallam : Why should I? You can't read for beans, anyway!

  Jenny Hallam : He can too! He reads to me all the time!

  Jesse Hallam : How long have you known?

  Ted Hallam : Always... I thought I did. Mama did the farm books, and you paid cash for everything because you couldn't, wouldn't write a check. Lotta folks down home figured it out that way.

  Jesse Hallam : Well, we fooled ourselves all my life, all the lies.

  Jenny Hallam : But you do read to me, Daddy.

  Jesse Hallam : Just lately, honey. Before that, I couldn't. The truth of the matter is, I've been takin' readin' lessons ever since we came up here, workin' harder at it than anything in my whole life. And I swear, in two months... in just two months, and I read better than you do! You think it's shameful going back to that junior high school? The shame of it all is that they would even take you back in the ninth grade, reading like you do. Maybe you lost a lot of respect for your daddy up here, and maybe you don't look up at me like I'd like for you to. But I tell you one thing... I'm gonna fix it, so you can always look up to yourself.

• Parker : [last lines... Parker calls roll after the class has settled down]  Hallam, Jesse.

  Jesse Hallam : [proudly]  Here.

  Parker : Hallam, Theodore.

  Ted Hallam : [proudly]  Here.

• Jesse Hallam : [Jesse has been pulled over for running a stop light]  I'm sorry, officer. I saw the light too late.

  Policeman : [beckoning]  Out.

  Policeman : [Jesse gets out of the truck and hands the policeman his wallet, getting it slapped from his hand]  Don't want your wallet... license only!

  Policeman : [Jesse bends down to retrieve his wallet]  You Kentucky briars come up here, you don't know how to drive, you don't know anything. Make-work... that's all you are.

  Jesse Hallam : You got no right to talk to me like that.

  Policeman : [Policeman grabs Jesse and puts his hands over the hood of the truck]  Get over there! And spread 'em!

  [he searches Jesse and finds nothing] 

  Policeman : All right, turn around. Now give me your license.

  [Jesse pulls it out and hands it over] 

  Policeman : Might've known... out of date, seven months.

  Jesse Hallam : [helplessly as the officer writes a citation]  My wife always took care of that.

  Policeman : You can see for yourself. You've been driving illegally in Ohio and Kentucky.

  [scoffs] 

  Policeman : Old man, you're not worth the jail space. That's 95 bucks for the double violation. Here, sign it... you can mail it in.

  [Jesse signs it] 

  Policeman : And don't let me catch you driving without a valid license on this side of the river again. Next time I won't be so easy on you.

  Jesse Hallam : Where do I get it? I mean, an Ohio license?

  Policeman : [snidely]  Read all about that in the driver's handbook. You can get one at the license bureau.

  [gets back in his cruiser and leaves] 

• Jesse Hallam : [Jesse returns to his apartment, he finds Ted walking in the same direction]  Ted?

  Ted Hallam : Daddy, what're you doing home so early?

  Jesse Hallam : What about you? I thought you had practice.

  Ted Hallam : I got kicked out... out of school and off the team.

  [throws his track shoes down on the steps] 

  Jesse Hallam : Hey come back here. Ted, what did you do? Don't you know better than to cause trouble in a new school?

  Ted Hallam : I didn't, Daddy! It was them dumb tests... they say I can't read good enough. I gotta go back to ninth grade... that's junior high. That's a different school, Daddy!

  Jesse Hallam : [nods]  And you're from Kentucky. Well, I've been gettin' it too... but not my boy. That principal keep hours after school?

  Ted Hallam : I guess so.

  Jesse Hallam : Get your track shoes and let's go.

• Marion Galucci : Mr. Hallam, I'd like to introduce you to the principal of Harding High, Mr. Schofield. Excuse me.

  [she leaves] 

  Jesse Hallam : [Schofield extends his hand but Jesse crosses his arms]  I want my boy back in here. Now what do you people expect? He comes to your new high-tone school here and take a bunch of tests the first week, he's scared to death...

  Schofield : [interrupting]  Mr. Hallam, I'll explain if you'll listen a moment.

  Jesse Hallam : [referring to Galucci]  She just did. Talkin' about 'the whole child', it's not enough that I have to take the boy out of the only home he ever had, bring him to a strange place, he's just getting used to it. And you want to throw him out. It's two months till school's out, Ted would make it if you give him half a chance.

  Schofield : [nods]  All right, but if Ted doesn't measure up back he goes.

  [they smile] 

  Schofield : At least the track coach will be pleased.

  Jesse Hallam : Well, Ted sure can run.

  [turns to leave] 

  Jesse Hallam : And he'll do his schoolwork. I'll see to that.

  [returns to office lobby to Ted and Galucci] 

  Jesse Hallam : Hey Ted! You're back in.

  [Ted smiles] 

  Jesse Hallam : Don't give me all the credit. You're some runner, you know.

  [turns to Galucci sarcastically] 

  Jesse Hallam : Ma'am.