The 1986 film "The Trip to Bountiful" is based on the 1953 stage play of the same title by by Horton Foote who also wrote the screenplay for the film. The film is set in Houston, Texas and then in the fictional town of Bountiful. The time period is around April 1947. Elderly Mrs. Carrie Watts lives with her son Ludie and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae. Carrie would like to visit Bountiful, the small town on the Texas Gulf coast where she grew up. The town is gone as the residents have left years ago. Carrie had tried to visit the town before but her family stopped her as they were worried about her travelling alone due to her age. One day Carrie manages to sneak out of the house with some money and buy a bus ticket to the area. Several US coins are shown when Carrie buys the bus ticket including Standing Liberty quarters and Mercury dimes.

Mrs. Carrie Watts lives with her son Ludie and his wife Jessie Mae.

Carrie and Jessie Mae do not always get along and the couple sometimes discuss mother.

Carrie has become nostalgic for the small Texas Gulf coast town of Bountiful where she grew up. She would like to visit the town but her son and his wife have kept her from going as they are worried about her travelling alone. Carrie doesn't know or doesn't want to know that Bountiful has disappeared a long time ago when the residents moved away. Carrie plans another trip. She receives a Social Security check every month and takes the most recent one with her.

Fortunately for her, her son is at work and her daughter-in-law has gone to town for some shopping.

Carrie heads for the train station.

The railroad clerk tells Carrie that the train to Bountiful doesn't run any more. Carrie leaves and goes to the bus station.

The clerk tells her that buses do not run to Bountiful and sells her a ticket to a nearby station.

The one dollar bill is a Federal Reserve note which is an anachronism as they were manufactured starting in 1963. One dollar bills in 1947 were silver certificates with a different design. Several Standing Liberty quarters are on the table along with two Winged Liberty Head or "Mercury" dimes.

A United States Standing Liberty quarter:

The Standing Liberty quarter was minted from 1916 to 1930.

Carrie gets on the bus and meets Thelma, a young girl travelling alone.

Carrie tells Thelma about growing up in Bountiful and about her relatives. The bus drops Carrie off at a small station where she spends the night on a bench. The station agent calls the sheriff who comes over and questions Carrie.

Carrie tells the sheriff her story and he offers to drive her to the remains of Bountiful.

The sheriff and Carrie pass a sign marked "Bountiful" and then arrive.

The pair wander around the abandoned buildings with Carrie describing who used to live in them. Meanwhile, Ludie and Jessie May have driven their car to Bountiful.

They locate the family house and then Ludie arrives.

They talk a while while Jessie Mae waits in the car, then Jessie comes over and the three talk about their family problems.

Carrie is happier as she has finally seen Bountiful.

The three drive off in Ludie's car.

Geraldine Page as Mrs. Carrie Watts
John Heard as Ludie Watts
Carlin Glynn as Jessie Mae
Richard Bradford as Sheriff
Rebecca De Mornay as Thelma
Director: Peter Masterson
Writers: Horton Foote