July 22, 1990
RAMBLING ROSE
Screenplay by Calder Willingham
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
While taking a plane back to his southern home town, middle-aged WILLCOX "BUDDY" HILLYER runs into DAVE WILKIE, an angry, elderly man who he knew in his childhood. Wilkie married someone named "Rose" whom they both knew years ago, but she left him. He refers to her as a nympho, but Buddy defends her honor.
Flashback to 1935, the Hillyer household consists of FATHER, MOTHER, daughter DOLLY ABOUT 11, little brother WASKI about 5, and of course BUDDY who is about 13. The household takes in a young woman named ROSE as their housekeeper. She has had a troubled past, having been raised on a dirt farm and almost recruited into prostitution before she was "saved" by the Hillyers. She is a beautiful, sweet gal, but craves love which she frequently satisfies with sex. She falls in love with Father and tries to seduce him, but he remains strong and exhorts her to remain pure. Later that night, she goes to Buddy's bed for solace and allows him to have sex with her. Worried of her job, she pleads with him not to tell on her. He comes through for her and takes a punishment rather than tell on her. On her days off, Rose dresses up and goes out on the town looking for MR. RIGHT. What she attracts is a bunch of fellows just looking for sex. Father gets annoyed with all the strange men creeping around the house and wants to fire her, but Mother won't let him. Father is further provoked when she is arrested for biting a policeman during a bar brawl. Father is ready to fire her, but she comes down with pneumonia and is hospitalized. Father is suspicious of the kind DOCTOR's gracious behavior towards her. Father finally fires her when he finds a young naked man in her room. But Rose stays on in the household as she is unable to find work. Father finds her work in Tennessee in a dairy farm, but Rose announces that she is pregnant. The Doctor finds out that she has a cyst which needs removal and offers to remove both of her ovaries to reduce her promiscuous behavior. At first Father agrees, but Mother firmly rejects this. Rose recovers and goes out to find Mr. Right again. She gets Dave Wilkie, the policeman she had bit, to fall for her. They are married. Buddy cries to have lost her.
Back to the present, Buddy goes to visit his aged, widowed father who tells Buddy that Rose has died of cancer. They celebrate her life and what it taught them.
Summary Criticism: The plot may appear simplistic, but the well-drawn characters bring charm and vigor to this involving story. While I enjoyed the authentic flavor of these mill town characters and their dilemmas, the ending seems a bit forced.
Rambling Rose (1991) - imdb
Rambling Rose (1991) - wiki
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