Seeking to be available to help his mentally-challenged best friend, a deaf-mute engraver (Alan Arkin) boards with a family in a small Southern town. As he becomes steeped in the sad lives of their teenage daughter (Sondra Locke) and many of the locals, his own ability to cope is compromised. Affecting adaptation of the Carson McCullers novel co-stars Stacy Keach, Percy Rodrigues, Cicely Tyson. 123 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.