Bound for Glory (1976)

Jan Burrell: Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene

Quotes 

• Woody Guthrie : Oh, but I ain't really a doctor.

  Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene : Well, she ain't sick, exactly. Her oldest girl died of the dust pneumonia almost a week ago .She ain't drunk a drop of water since; she just can't swallow.

  Woody Guthrie : I don't see how there's anything I can...

  Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene : Now look, some fortunetellers have got the gift: healing, laying on the hands, discerning of spirits,

  Woody Guthrie : I ain't really a fortuneteller.

  Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene : Poor little thing, we just can't let her waste away. Go on, go on.

  Woody Guthrie : [Woody enters the house]  Ma'am? Do you have faith that you'll be cured?

  Woody Guthrie : [Woody sits next to the sick woman]  Well, look... Your daughter, don't you believe she's up in heaven?

  Woody Guthrie : [the sick woman nods silently]  Well, uh... that means you believe in God. And if there is a God, then it was Him gave you your mind. Well, everybody knows, mind's the boss of the whole body. Just tell all the nerves and muscles what to do, your arms and hands and back, throat.

  Woody Guthrie : [Woody holds up the sick woman's chin]  You don't want to die, do you? Leave your husband and your kids all alone? Your husband wants you to talk to him, don't he? And your kids to boot.

  Woody Guthrie : [chuckles]  Ain't no two ways about that. Can I have some water here? Away all that monkey business, just send a message straight down to your throat... mouth... and tell them to just swig down this here water, thank you. Just try it, just do it, and afterwards you... tell me how dandy it was.

  Woody Guthrie : [the sick woman drinks a glass of water, and some of it runs off her chin afterwards]  Now, you swallow it, now swallow it.

  Woody Guthrie : [Woody chuckles and the woman starts to giggle and smile]  Hey, it was easy. You did it, you can do it some more. Now, next couple of days, I want you two ladies just to pour water down this here lady's throat. Why, you can have a water drinking contest every now and then. You just talk to her now about... everything, talk to her. You'll be okay.

  Woody Guthrie : [the ladies offer him money as he heads out the door, but he declines]  All right. See, you don't... you don't owe me nothing.

  Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene : Bless you, Mr. Guthrie.

  Woody Guthrie : [walks to the front porch, sighs in relief]  Did it... I think.