All language subtitles for The.Glass.Castle.2017

Rich city folk
live in fancy apartments,

but their air's so polluted,
they can't even see the stars.

We'd have to be
out of our minds

to trade places
with any of 'em.

...and I have four
sources saying that it is.

And what did he say?

He said, "Jeannette walls,

"you are nothing
but a bottom-feeder

"with a silly little
gossip column.

"If you print this story,

"i will have my lawyers
crawl so far up your ass

"that you will taste their ink
in your mouth."

Oh, my gosh!
What did you say?

I thanked him for
the perfect kicker quote

and hung up the phone.

The whole office gave her
a standing ovation.

And you ran it?

Oh, heck, yeah, I ran it.
Where I come from,

you never miss an opportunity
to serve a bully

a slice of humble pie.

Could you box this up for me?

And maybe yours, too,
if you're not gonna eat it?

Yeah.

She's just kidding.

No, I'm not.
I never joke about food.

So, where
are you from, miss walls?

I think I detect a slight
twang in there somewhere.

Jeannette grew up in Virginia
surrounded by trees

and fields of wild flowers.
If we could all be so lucky.

Mmm. I own a mining company
near Richmond.

Your folks still there?

Ah, yep, they are. They have

a little house there on a hill
overlooking a river

and they love it, yeah.

And what do they do?

My mom is an artist.

My dad, um, is an engineer.

He's developing
a technology that'll burn

low-grade bituminous coal
more efficiently.

Wow.

You have him give me a call
when he has that figured out.

I sure will.

And what do they think of you

hitching up
with this big city boy?

Well, I haven't told them yet.

Well, Tiffany still hasn't
told her parents about me,

and we've been together
over a year.

Well, you better hurry up.

Who knows how much time
he's got left?

That was unbelievable.

I can't believe he gave you
the account on the spot.

I know.
This is huge for the firm.

I'm taking you with me
to all of these from now on.

I'm gonna be home soon.

I just wanna have
everything ready for him

to sign in the morning.

All right.

Hey, when it comes
to my family,

let me do the lying. Okay?

You got it.

Hey, don't forget
your leftovers.

See you at home.
Love you. Bye.

You in a hurry?

Come on, man!

You need to get out
of the street.

Hey!

Hello?
Hey, Lori.

Hey, Jeannette.
What's goin' on?

I just saw mom and dad diggin'
through the trash downtown.

Did mom find
any new treasures?

I didn't stop.

What? Why not?

I don't know.

Are you okay?

Jeannette...

Mom, are we gonna
have any lunch?

Go outside and play
with Brian and Lori.

But I'm hungry.

Would you rather me
make you some food

that'll be gone in an hour,

or finish this painting
that'll last forever?

Go on. You know how to do it.

How many do you want, mom?

Two, please!

Rex!

Jeannette,

can you tell miss Kelly

why you were cooking
hot dogs all by yourself?

I cook all the time.

You know, the address
that your parents gave us

doesn't seem to be right.

Where do you live?

All over. Dad says our home
goes wherever we go.

And where do you go to school?

That's how gray wolves
call for their family.

Mountain goat,
where the hell are you?

I'm in here!

Oh, sorry, doc,
just havin' a little fun

gettin' those healing
endorphins goin'.

Mr. walls, I'm doctor Taylor.

No offense, you got a lot
of sick on that hand.

Uh, this here is miss Kelly.

She's our resident
social worker.

These guys treatin' you okay?

There's so much food here.

You can eat
as much as you want.

Maybe I should break my arm.

Me, too.

What happened here?

He fell off the couch

and cracked his head
open on the floor.

He's fine.

There was blood everywhere.

You should check him in.

One kid in the hospital
at a time is enough.

Besides,
Brian's head is so hard,

I think the floor took
more damage than he did.

Mr. walls, I don't find
any of this very funny.

Any of what, doc?

These children
need proper care,

and you're making
a joke of it.

- Rex...
- Dad!

A veteran
of the U.S. air force

brings his little girl in here
so you can wrap

her in a band-aid
and hand him a bill

for more than a pilot
makes in a year.

Now, my family won't eat
for three months

so that you can
drive a Cadillac.

You're part of a system
that is gettin' rich

off of the human need
to survive, doc.

You call that "proper care"?

Mr. walls, can we have
a moment, please?

Dad's in trouble,
mountain goat.

We'll be back.

Come on, kids, time to go.

Okay.

In order to pull this off,

every fiber in your being
has got to believe

that this is real.

If you can
convince yourself,

then you can convince them,
too. You got it?

Good.
Let's see that poker face.

Regular face. Poker.
Regular. Poker.

Regular. Poker.
Regular. Poker.

Incredible. Let's go.

Mornin', sunshine.
You ready to skedaddle?

Ready to go!
Brian, wrap it up!

Bye!

I've been lookin'
into this new solarban glass.

It lets in the light,
but blocks the radiation.

It will drastically reduce
our energy demands.

Is it still gonna have glass
walls and a glass ceiling?

Of course! How else we gonna
see the stars at night?

You think my room can have
glass stairs goin' up to it?

That's a great idea.
Uh, baby, take the wheel.

Structurally, we could
make that work

if it was a spiral
with a steel stringer.

That way all the weight
pushes in toward the middle.

Just don't let it block
any light to my studio.

I need full exposure.

Oh, I like full exposure
from you, dear.

You really think
we'll build it?

Of course.

When?

You know, this running around
is only temporary.

We just need
the perfect location,

and then we can get
to work on our castle.

- Okay, now who needs a book?
- Me!

Me!

You can drive.

Here's a new
Zane grey adventure.

And, oh, look...

You'll love this one,
Jeannette.

Black beauty.

It's like uncle tom's cabin
but for horses.

Doctor Taylor said

stayin' home and reading
books on our own

isn't a well-rounded
education.

Mmm. Really?

He said we should be goin'
to a real school.

A real school, huh?

He's gonna kill us!

Everyone out!

Come on!

Look at this!

All those Juniper
and Joshua trees

have adapted to survive

on only five inches
of rainfall a year.

That inselberg was formed
from cooling magma

over a hundred million
years ago.

Pretty soon the sun's comin'
down, we'll be watchin'

Orion and aquarius
and horologium

rotate through the night sky.

This is as real
as it gets, kids!

And don't let no dumb-ass
doctor tell you different.

You learn from living!

Everything else is a damn lie.

Oh! Look at that!

What is it, baby?

That is the most beautiful
tree I have ever seen!

Someone get my canvas!

Looks like we'll be
sleepin' here tonight, kids.

This is actually great
for your posture.

You know, the Indians
never use pillows either,

and look how straight
they stand.

Why that one?

The wind's been
beatin' that tree down

since the day it was born.

But it refuses to fall.

It's the struggle
that gives it its beauty.

Dad.

Dad?

Huh?

I think maybe I saw
something out there.

All right.
Did you get
a good look at it?

Not really.

Was he a big ol' hairy
son of a bitch

with the damndest lookin'
teeth and claws?

Maybe.
Mmm-hmm.

And, uh,

did it have pointy ears and
evil eyes with fire in 'em?

You've seen him, too?

Oh, yeah, yeah. I been
chasin' that demon for years.

Where'd you see him?

Ow!

We gotta get that off you.

It's okay.
Fire can't get you here.

We're just gonna let this
wound breathe a little. Yeah?

Now, I want you to just
hold this puppy right there.

You see the top of the flames

where the yellow dissolves
into the heat?

That zone is known in physics

as the boundary between
turbulence and order.

It's a place
where no rules apply.

Or at least they haven't
figured 'em out yet.

That's all life is,

bunch of molecules bouncin'
off each other at random.

So there's no point in tryin'
to find a reason or pattern

for why you were born
at a certain time

and why you got
bit by that fire.

You just got a little
too close to the chaos is all.

You understand?

I'm not sure I do either.

There. How's that feel?

Jeannette?
Yeah?

I've got a surprise
for you in here.

Okay!

You... you said it was fun.

No. I said it was funny.

Okay, well...
And it's very overpriced.

It's Italian, that's why.

Just sit down in it.
Enjoy the chair for a second.

Just wiggle around in it
a little bit.

You're not wiggling...
There you go.

I'll take it back.
That's fine.

No, no, it's fine.

Don't worry about it.
I'll take the chair back.

It's not about the chair.

I...

I'm gettin' lunch
with my mom today.

I didn't tell you 'cause
i didn't want you to worry.

Are you gonna tell her
about us?

I'm gonna have to tell her
at some point.

Okay.

Okay.

Just please try to not let her

dump her crap
on you this time.

That's what parents are for.

Can you just try, though?

Of course I'll try.
Thank you.

Mom...

Yeah, your dad said
he saw you pass by

in a cab the other night.

Acted like
we weren't even there.

You shouldn't be ashamed of us
just 'cause we choose

a different lifestyle
than you.

Being homeless
in New York City

does not count
as a lifestyle choice.

Well, if we heard
from you more,

you'd know
that we found a lovely place

on the lower east side.

Lori says you're squatting
in an abandoned building.

That does not sound safe, mom.

When did you lose
your sense of adventure?

I have a little bit
of money now.

I can help you if you want.

Mmm-mmm-mmm.

We're fine.
You're the one who needs help.

Look at you.
Your values are all confused.

Mmm.

So what did you
want to talk about?

I'm gettin' married.

To the accountant?

David is a financial analyst.

Well, I...
I don't mean to be rude,

but isn't he a little...

Mom, David is good for me.

You mean he's got money.

I mean I'm in love with him.

Hmm.

Can I see that again?

Hmm. Well...

I just hope you've got
a good plan

for telling your dad,
because this

is gonna kill him.

Shh, it's okay.
I'm right here.

Everything's gonna
be okay, Maureen.

I'm gonna take care of you.

Let's go, kids!

Time to pull up stakes and
leave this hell-hole behind!

- What's going on?
- Feds are on our tail!

Really?
He means the bill collectors.

Truck leaves in 15 minutes!

Now, there's
not enough room in the cab,

so you guys are
in for a real treat.

You get to ride in the back.

What?

Hey, it's not
an ideal scenario for anyone,

so we'll just try
to make the best of it.

It'll be kinda like
that rotor ride at the fair.

Except without
any lights or oxygen.

Oh, don't be so dramatic.

It'll be an adventure.

Be careful.

There you go.
Okay, scoot back.

How long
do we have to be back here?

Don't worry.

This'll be the last time
you have to do this.

Welcome to the oldest
mining town in Utah.

I thought that was
the last town.

Me, too.

That one was
the oldest in Nevada.

People been
strikin' it rich here

for a hundred years.

They must've all moved
somewhere else

to spend their fortune.

Has a real
frontier quality to it.

Think we might be able to
stay here for a while?

Hmm, I got a good feelin'
about this one.

I got it.

The kids are tired
of movin' to a new town

every time you lose a job.

They'd love it
in West Virginia.

I just think
it'd be good for them

to see where
their daddy grew up.

Mountain goat, let go!
Try floatin' a little!

We're fine where we are.

Taking showers
at the public pool?

I'll get the water
turned on this weekend.

You said that two months ago.

Okay, Brian, don't be shy.

Everyone here
is the same as us.

They just got
different complexions.

Go on. Go play.

If we went, your parents

could help us out
with some money.

I ain't moving back to Welch.

What are you so afraid of?

I ain't afraid o' nothin'.

Hey!
Quit clingin' to the side!

Don't be scared. I got ya.

Come on. Yeah.

Kick your legs.
That's not so hard.

It's all about
movin' the water. Yeah?

Move your arms, go ahead.
Move 'em in the water.

Push the water, push it.

Push it with your arms.
That's good.

It's not so bad, is it?

Good. 'Cause you're gonna
learn to swim today.

Catch your breath.
Catch your breath. All right.

Okay, all right.
Breathe. Nice.

Why'd you do that?

Okay. Okay.
Now, sink or swim!

Rex!

It's okay!
She's already gettin' it!

Pretty soon she's gonna be
doin' the backstroke, right?

No.
Yeah?

Okay.
I wanna go back.

You did it, baby!

You were swimmin'!

Hey!

Mountain goat!

Mister,
you're wrong for that!

Come on, kids. Let's go.

Stop, no!
Hey! Hey!

Don't touch me!
You tried to kill me!

Hey. I would never let
anything bad happen to you.

But I can't let you
cling to the side

your whole life
just 'cause you're scared.

If you don't wanna sink,

you have to learn
how to swim. Understand?

Hey, you were swimmin'.

You were swimmin'.
I'm so proud of you.

Hey! Everything okay?

She's fine.
Mind your own damn business.

What happens in my pool
is my business.

Oh, so this is your pool?

As far as you're concerned,
yeah.

Oh, so you're the one
who limits the black families

to an hour in the mornin',

so that the whites can swim
the rest of the day?

That's been
a federal offense since '64.

Does he always act like this?
Or just when he's drunk?

Dad, don't!
Rex!

I can't let you
talk to me like that

in front of my daughter!

Let go!
Now tap out!

Was that a tap?
I couldn't tell.

Was that a tap?

Rex! Will you stop!

Come on, man!

You're goin' to jail, asshole!

Get in the car.

We're leaving
with or without you.

I'd rather be in hell
with my back broke

than live in
that godforsaken town.

Yeah, you should've
thought of that before

you got every policeman
in town looking for us.

I'm not gonna let 'em
take our kids away.

We cannot live
like this anymore.

Like what? This is freedom!

Freedom?
You call this freedom?

Here we go.

Welch is gonna be fun.

We'll live in the mountains

with the squirrels
and the chipmunks.

And you'll get to meet

your grandma
and grandpa walls,

who are genuine hillbillies.

We don't need him.

Rex!

Come on, dad!

You're the head
of this family!

Are you coming?

Negative.

Mountain goat, you know,
your mama has convinced you

that we need to go

because she's
in a state of fear.

Now, what you need to do
is stand your ground.

You see,
that's what I'm doin'.

This is a very important
lesson for you.

You don't look
like a very important
lesson to me.

Come on.

Can I hold your ankle?

No.

Just for stability?
I feel like I'm about to fall.

You're on the ground already!

All right, let's do it!

I got him!

He's alive!

Oh, thank god!

Oh, watch out!
Don't squish Maureen!

Move over, baby. I'm driving.

Come here, give me some sugar.

Oh, Rex...

Jeannette?

Can I have another tissue,
please?

Oh, jeez. David!
I need another tissue.

You're sweating
through your shirt!

Please don't point it out.
You know

when you point it out,
it only makes me sweat more.

I'm sorry. You have nothing
to be nervous about.

Your dad
already hates me.

When he finds out
we're getting married,

he's gonna throw me
through a window.

Hey, he's not gonna do that.

He might kick you
in the stomach, though.

It's too real to be funny.
I'm just not there yet.

Okay.

He's gonna try to make me
get drunk with him again.

No, he's not.
You know he is.

David, just tell him
that you don't want it.

Maybe... maybe I will do that.

You know, I'm not
to be bullied by him.

I know you're not.
I will not be bullied.

Hey...

We're getting married.
We are getting married.

We can get through this.
This is nothin'.

Okay.

Hey, dad!

Oh, come on.

Hey, dad.

Oh, so you're acknowledgin'
my existence now?

Well, you're not exactly
the easiest man to ignore.

Well, I wanted to get this
done before you got here.

I don't know
who designs this junk.

Mechanics are all wrong.

Look at you.

Fancier every time I see ya.

Good to see you, Mr. walls.
How are you?

Did you win
that wet t-shirt contest?

Nice nips.

Cut it out.

It's really hot in the car.
It's the humidity.

Humidity?

Okay, well, just try not to
drip on my marble floor.

Grab that toolbox,
if that's not
too much for ya.

Okay.

Just finished hookin'
every squat in the building

to an insulated cable

that I hot-wired
off the utility pole

down the block.

Now the other squatters want
to make me mayor of the place!

Your mama's
traditional yellow door.

Still gotta get
hinges for this thing.

This is my friend Eddie.
Does he live here?

Hello!

Oh! There she is!
Hey, sweetie.

Mom.

Oh!

Look at that! Food!

What a place! Anyone else feel
like they're back in Welch?

I keep thinking
we're gonna see

our yellow poop bucket
somewhere.

Their bathroom's
not that far off.

Maureen!

She's our new roommate!

Oh. I thought that you were
livin' with that photographer.

Hmm. That was months ago.

She just broke up with
rum tum tugger from cats.

What?
Yeah.

David,
you get started on this,

and I'll grab you a dry shirt.

I'm okay.
I'm not gonna drink tonight.

Take it.

Yes, sir.

Rose Mary, grab a shirt

for Jeannette's sweaty
boyfriend, will ya?

So did you hear
officer walls

made his first arrest
last week?

What?

Drug bust.

Whoa, really?
Was that scary?

Well, actually,
you got alopecia.

Not as scary as those two.

What about you?

Lori spilled the beans.

Lori!
I'm sorry.

Yeah. Uh, we are doin' it.

What?

Why aren't you
wearing the ring?

Because I haven't
told dad yet.

Told me what?

That Brian
made his first arrest.

Oh, goodie.

Got a son in the gestapo

and a daughter
who writes gossip.

Never thought I'd see the day.

Never thought I'd see you
livin' in New York.

Well, somebody's gotta
keep an eye on you.

Have fun.

Hey, dad.

Actually, I have somethin'
that I wanted to tell you...

So how long
is this phase gonna last?

What do you mean?

I mean...

He's a nice guy and all,

but he ain't got an
interesting bone in his body.

No.

He's got no fight.
David's not a phase, dad.

Which is what
i wanted to
talk to you about.

Can you honestly tell me
that you're happy right now?

Yes, I am.

No, you're not.

But hopefully, couple more
of these will loosen him up.

Maybe that stick'll fall
out of his ass.

David, here's your drink!

Welcome to Welch, everyone!

Gosh, things have
gone downhill a bit.

But I bet there's no other
artists to compete with.

My career
could really take off.

Welcome home, son.

Hey, there, Rex.

Hey, pops.

Thanks for lettin' me

see my grandchildren
before I die.

This is your uncle Stanley.

Hi.

All right, here ya go.

- Can I have more?
- No.

This one looks
just like his daddy.

Only his hair was more curly.

You hated them curls,
didn't you?

Used to wet his hair down,
stand out in the snow,

see if he could
freeze 'em straight.

Yep, that's your daddy.

Stubborn as a mule,
dumb as a pigeon.

Ow!

Hey! Don't hit my brother,
you dumb witch!

Hey!

Show your grandma
some respect.

You listen
to your daddy, girl.

That wasn't a good simile.

Pigeons are
very smart animals.

Dad?

What are you doing?
Hey.

Oh...

Put in your spiral staircase.

Wow.

We're finally gonna build it.

Really?

This is why we're here.
It's our chance to start over.

First thing tomorrow,

I'm gonna search
this whole town

for the perfect place
to lay our foundation.

We're gettin'
the hell outta here.

Now, it's not
exactly palatial,

so there's gonna be
a lot of togetherness.

And it's a little
on the rustic side.

How rustic?

Welcome to
93 little Hobart street.

50 bucks a week,
and in two years,

we'll own her outright.

Hard to believe one day
this'll all be ours.

Hey, she may not
look like much,

but wait till you see
what I have in mind.

Come on.

We're gonna tear all this down

and replace it
with your game room,

- ping pong, pool, foosball...
- Trampoline?

Oh, yeah, trampoline
goes right over there,

and then all these walls
are gone,

replaced with
three-inch glass,

glass, glass, glass.
This can stay.

Doesn't that look lovely?

Yellow stands for
happiness and creativity.

This place doesn't have any
running water or electricity.

Ignore her.
She was born without vision.

Since we're on the north face
of the mountain,

enclosed by these two hills,

we ain't gettin' much sun,

so I'll have to do
some serious

reconfigurin' to increase
the size of our solar cells.

But before
any of that can happen,

we need a good foundation.

Pick!
Yes, sir.

Good man.
Here.

Make some noise, kids.
Make some noise.

Once it's deep enough,
i can pour the slab,

and we can start
framin' this damn thing.

We're gonna have the nicest
house in the county.

You ain't just whistlin'
Dixie there, little lady.

You know, we got
the highest property

on the mountain,
which means

that the heat can't
burn us in the summer,

and the floods can't
touch us in the winter.

We're just glidin' right in
between all those extremes.

Things're gonna be different
this time around.

I'm hungry.

Try that.

It's good?

What are you eating?

Butter and sugar.

Tastes kinda like frosting.

We haven't eaten
in three days.

Maureen's so hungry,
she's eating butter.

You ate the butter?

I was saving that
for the bread.

We have no bread!

Well, I was thinking
of baking some.

The gas is turned off.

What if it gets
turned back on?

Miracles happen, you know.

We're hungry!

Hey, watch that tone, girl!

You said things were
going to be different.

Can't we just get some eggs?

Or beans, or something?
Nothing fancy.

I don't see why not.

What you got?

What about the other one?

Okay, I'll be back
in an hour with a feast

you can tell
your children about

your children's children,

your children's
children's children,

and your children's
children's children's

children's children's
children's...

He probably just got stuck
talking to someone.

For ten hours?

Dad?

Hey, kiddo.
What are you doin' up?

What happened?

Oh. I got into a fight
with the mountain.

Mountain won.

Dad, that looks really bad.

Yeah. That don't look good.

What can I do?

Don't worry about me.

I'm so thoroughly pickled...

I won't feel a thing.

Here.

Okay, go ahead.

Go on.
I can't do it.

Sorry.

It's okay. It's all right.

We'll do it together. Okay?

It's all right.
Come here.

Squeeze it together.
That's it.

Now, push it through.

Yeah.

Good. Just push it
right through.

Good.

Oh, that's good. Brave.

You are amazing.

Ah...

Push it right through, go on.

That's it. Yeah.

Oh, my god, that's beautiful!
Oh, jeez!

You don't have to tug
quite so hard on it.

It's not like tug-'o-war.

Okay.

One more. That's good.

Wow.

That's some
mighty fine handiwork.

I swear...

There are times I think that
you're the only one around

who still has any faith in me.

You know I'd do
anything for you, right?

Anything.

All you got to do is ask.

Do you think...

You could maybe
stop drinking?

It's just...

When you drink,
you can't take care of us.

Must be awfully ashamed
of your ol' man.

No!

I just think
we'd have money for food.

Maybe even some extra
for the glass castle.

You can do it
if you want.

You're stronger
than anyone.

If you don't mind, honey...

I think I'd like to just...

Sit here by myself a while.

Dad?

For the next few days,

I'm gonna be keepin'
to myself upstairs.

And I, uh...

I need you kids
to steer clear of me.

Take your brother
and sisters outside,

do somethin' fun, okay?

And no matter what happens,

if I ask for a drink,

you can't let anyone
give me one.

Not a drop. Okay?

Can you do that for me?

Yeah.

You promise?

That's a good girl.

You think
we could start

building the house soon?

Probably.

Oh, please!

Ah! Ah, god! Make it stop!

Please make it stop!

Just breathe, honey.

Rose Mary!

God, help me!
Shh. It's okay. It's okay.

Help me, please!

Oh, no!

Dad?

Oh, my god.

Please get me a drink.

I'll get you some water.

No, no, no. There's some

whiskey under the sink.
Go fetch it for me.

Jeannette...

I'm dyin'.

If you don't get me a drink,
I'm gonna die.

That is a scientific fact.
Understand?

You don't want me to die?
Do you want your daddy to die?

I can't, dad. I promised you.

I don't care
about your stupid promise!

Go get me a drink right now!

You better go get me a drink!

Jeannette!

Foundation looks
pretty good.

We're almost ready
to start buildin'.

I missed you.

I missed you, too.

How 'bout that?

Look.
That's wonderful.

Dad's leaving for work!

Stop! I'll help you
put your hat on.

All right,
make sure it ain't faulty.

Oh! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Okay, okay, that's fine.

Oh, thanks, bill,
merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Rex.

Merry Christmas, ladies!
You, too.

The foreman forgot
his toolbox, and so I had

to use this macaroni noodle

to insulate
these crosswires,

and now I got
every damn person at work

tellin' me that I really know
how to use my noodle!

I couldn't find
a good one for you,

so you'll just have
to write your own.

Careful. You might change
the world with that thing.

Hmm?

It's so pretty.

Mmm, beautiful.

Rich city folk live
in fancy apartments,

but their air is so polluted,
they can't even see the stars.

We'd have to be
out of our minds

to trade places
with any of 'em.

Go on, pick out
your favorite one.

It's yours for keeps.

You can't give me a star.

It's your Christmas present.

No one owns the stars.

Well, that's why
you gotta claim 'em

before anyone else does.

Like Columbus claimed America
for queen Isabella.

Claiming a star for your own

has just as much logic.
Maybe more,

because you don't have to kill

and subjugate
millions of people to do it.

So go ahead,
pick out any one you want,

'cept for betelgeuse
and rigel

because Lori and Brian
already laid claim to them.

I want that one.

The bright one?
Yeah.

That's Venus. She's a planet.

Kinda dinky
compared to real stars.

She just looks brighter
'cause she's closer to us.

I like it anyway.

What the hell. It's Christmas.

You can have a planet
if you want.

You know, her atmosphere

is a lot like the earth's,
only, uh...

500 degrees hotter.

Really?

So when the sun
starts to burn out

and the earth turns cold,

everyone might wanna
move to Venus to get warm.

And now they're gonna
have to get permission

from your descendants first.

I love you, kid.

Love you more.

I really like David.

You really what?

Yeah. He's not that boring.

I think he'd be
a nice addition to the family.

Oh, by the way,
i just found out

my brother is planning to sell
his half of mom's land.

Uncle Jim?
Yeah, and it's a real shame.

My father always taught me
you never sell...

Free market, my ass!

The whole thing is a rigged
game, and you know it!

It's a system created
by all you fat cats

to make yourselves richer

and keep the poor
where they are.

It's nothing more
than legalized larceny.

Admit it, David.

On behalf of all the fat cats,

I'm not going to admit
to something that's not true.

David...

Jeannette, it's fine.
We're just talking.

Yeah, we're just talking.

You know what, Rex?
Let's just agree to disagree.

On behalf of the 90%
in our country

workin' for $4.75 an hour,

I will do no such thing!

How very noble of you.
A real champion of the people.

How drunk are you?

How 'bout
we settle this the way

they did in ancient Rome,

with a good old-fashioned
arm wrestlin' match?

Pretty sure that's not
somethin' they did in Rome.

Dad, enough.

Come on, mountain goat!

David's gonna
fight for your honor.

This is ridiculous.

Yes, it's ridiculous.
We are going home.

What?
You're giving up already?

You're gonna
just wander outta here

with your tail
between your legs?

I'm not gonna arm wrestle you.

Oh, okay, so you admit it?
I'm right and you're wrong.

Okay.
Uh-uh.

What the hell.

Atta boy!

No, David.

This is a bad idea.

Babe, it's gonna be fun.

Babe, it's gonna be fun.

Babe, it's gonna be fun.

Dad, please.

Come on.
Don't you wanna give him

a chance to prove me wrong?

Yes, Jeannette,
let me prove him wrong.

Okay. You guys
wanna be idiots...

Yes!
Yes, yes, yes!

- Here we go!
- Come on, Rex.

Put 'em up. All right.

- Let's do it.
- Ready...

- Straighten up.
- Set...

Go!

Come on, Rex!
Come on, David!

Yay! Yay! Come on!

Come on.
Give him what you got.

How's that feel, boy?

Pick it up, David!
Come on!

You got it!

You're gonna lose
to an old man.

Come on, honey!
Bring it home!
Bring it home!

Let out the wild man!
Come on, Rex!

David, come on.
You're stronger than this.

Come on. Let's go, David.

What'd I tell ya? No fight.

Come on,
David! Kick his ass!

Stop helpin' him!

- Take him down! Murder him!
- Come on!

Murder him, David!

Honey, don't lose this!
Come on!

Murder that old dirty bastard!

Take him down! Take him down!

Go, go, go, go!

Yes, yes, yes!

Yes!

Whoo!

Dow Jones will live
to see another day!

Left-handed rematch!
I want a left-handed rematch!

No, dad.
Don't be a sore loser.

You ready
for a lefty rematch?

I'm ready for whatever you
wanna throw at me, old man!

Oh!

What the hell, dad?

- Jesus!
- Shit.

Well, you heard him.
I mean, he said he was ready

for whatever
i wanted to throw at him.

I think he broke my nose.

It's not my fault.
I have a soldier's reflex.

I seriously thought
you were ready.

Tell your boyfriend
that he needs to be careful

about sayin' things
he doesn't mean.

He's not my boyfriend, dad.
He's my fiance.

Let's get you home.

It's not stopping.
I don't know

where all the blood
is coming from.

Please, I don't want that.

Why do you still have
all these stupid boxes?

David, you're drunk.

Just drink some water.
Let's go to bed.

He punched me in the face,
Jeannette.

I know.
You told me not to worry,

and then he punched me right
in the middle of the face.

Everybody was shouting,
it was so loud...

And you screamed at me.

You said "murder him,"

shouted it right in my ear.
Like a madwoman.

Please just drink some water.

This is serious, Jeannette.
Your dad is a total nut-job.

Hey, I can call him that,
not you.

Your mom is delusional.

Poor Maureen. She's gotta be
out of her mind that she's

choosing to live
in that dump with them.

This is my family
that you are talking about.

I know!
And they are totally insane!

Jeannette, I...

I want to spend the rest
of my life with you,

but if we're gonna try
and do that together,

I can't have any more
of whatever that was tonight.

I...

I gotta... I gotta go pee.

I'm gonna pee.

Don't worry. It's about
a 20-hour drive to Texas.

I can do it in under 15.

We'll be back
before you know it.

How did grandma Smith die?

My mother was an old woman.
Old women die.

Did she leave you anything?

What kind of question is that?

Why can't we come with you?
I don't wanna stay with erma.

Your dad hasn't had a drink
in two months.

I think we deserve
a little vacation.

But erma hates us.

Don't blame her
for her misery.

It's all she knows.

She's a dumb witch.

Actually, she's very smart.

That's where your dad
gets it from.

...he painted a self-portrait

with a bandaged ear.

Van gogh.

- Who is Van gogh?
- That's right.

You eat
what I put on your plate.

You spit that out,
you're gonna eat that, too.

No runnin' in the house,
no shoutin', no whinin',

no openin' the windows
or the curtains.

Edgar bergen.

- Who is Edgar bergen?
- Edgar bergen is right.

It's so weird that dad lived
here when he was our age.

Yeah, I thought we had it bad.

Look at this.

You think dad really
wrote all this?

Listen to this.

"There might be more than
this blanket of black dust,

"the stench of the tug,

"the crunch
of the coal-stained snow.

"More than the sound
of her cackle,

"the cracks
in her calloused hands.

"And there might be more,
but I won't ever know

"because it's impossible
to breathe

"when you're drowning in..."

He cusses.

"It's impossible to breathe
when you're drowning in shit."

Keep it down!

This is gonna be a fun week.

You bring a sharpener?

Yeah, in my bag downstairs.

Okay.

- Stop worrying.
- No, erma, please.

- You do what I tell you.
- Stop it!

Just be quiet, boy.

Listen to your grandmother.

- No, stop it!
- Where are you going?

Hold still!
Hey!

Get away from him! Lori!

The boy's britches
needed fixin'!

I know what I saw.
She's a pervert!

You little bitch...

Hey, hey, hey!
Let's just calm down, okay?

Come on,
hold her down!

Stay the hell off of me,
ya little beasts!

Nobody messes
with our brother!

No! No! Put me down!

Dad,

we were just
protecting ourselves.

Erma was grabbing his...
Shut up!

I don't wanna hear
another damn word

about whatever did
or didn't happen!

It don't matter!

Brian's a man.
He can take care of himself.

Can't you?

Let's go.

Are you comin'?

Come on, kids.
Let's go inside.

Come on, guys, let's go.

Come on.

Get out.

Not if you're gonna drink.

You promised.

I'm not going.

Wait, wait.

Don't! Please, dad!

You...

See what you do?

It was one damn drink!

That's a lie,
and you know it!

I can smell it
on your sweater!

Come on, let's go.

You a bloodhound
all of a sudden?

Why don't you go sniff
your own butt for a change,

'cause that ain't smellin'
too pretty these days!

That's very funny!

You're supposed to be
at work right now!

You're gonna lose another job!

Why don't you go get a job

instead of wastin'
your time on all this crap!

What the hell is this anyway?

Abstract expressionism!

Well, here's some realism
for you!

Wow.
You're just like your mother!

Don't you touch me!

Get back here,
castrating whore!

- Get off me!
- Come here!

Maureen, you wanna jump rope?
Yeah.

Ready?

Go.

No! No!

- Come on!
- No!

- Get up here, god damn it...
- Mom!

- Rose Mary!
- Hold on!

- Mom!
- Help me!

Help! God, help me!

Don't let her fall!

What did you do to her?

I didn't do anything!

Get your hands off me!

I don't think you want me
to let go... ow! She bit me!

- Pull me in!
- God damn it!

He tried to kill me!

Mom, are you okay?
I'm okay.

What do you mean, is she okay?
Am I okay? She just bit me!

Well, why did you push her?

I didn't push her! She jumped!
I swear to god!

You know, she's crazy!

You saw, she just bit me!
I think she broke...

Jesus!

You are one hell of a woman,
you know that?

And you're a stinking,
rotten drunk.

But you love this stinking,
rotten drunk, don't you?

Oh, Rex...

Hey, sweetie.

You have to leave him.

You know, when your dad
first met my mother,

he asked her
why she didn't have

any of my paintings
on her walls,

and she said
she didn't want to encourage

a habit with no future in it.

He looked her right in the eye
and said,

"to hell with the future!

"Masterpieces like these

"should be on display
right now."

So he took down
all her paintings

and put up mine.

He's never going to change.

You have to leave him.

I can't.

Maureen,
do you have any queens?

Go fish!
Brian, do you have any nines?

Go fish!

We don't need them.

They're never
going to take care of us,

so we have to do it ourselves.

We'll all go to school
and start saving up

so we can move out
when we're old enough.

If we're going to
make it out of this,

we have to do it together.

Deal?

We are getting the heck
out of here.

Miss bivens asked me to be
editor of the paper next year.

What? That's amazing!

I swear,
by the time you graduate,

you're gonna have every school
in New York fightin' over you.

They're here.

Don't worry about us.
We'll be fine.

Yeah.

Hey...

I left five bucks in there.

Start savin' up. You're next.

Dad's in the backyard.

I think it's clear.

I love you guys!

Love you.

- All right, bye!
- Okay, bye!

Love you!
Love you!

Lori, we need to go!

Hey! Where the hell
you think you're goin'?

Guess it wasn't clear.

-Hey! Lori!
-Talkin' to you, girl!

Get your ass
outta that car now!

Drive, go!

You know why she left?

Huh?

Brian? You know why she left?

Maureen?

You gonna leave, too?

Answer me.

Answer me!

- Rex...
- Shut up!

No, sir.

Somebody take out
the damn trash!

- Lori?
- Coast clear?

Yeah. He's passed out.
How is everything?

Well, last night
at the restaurant

I met a writing professor
from barnard.

I told her you were gonna
apply to her school,

and she was
really nice about it.

She said she'd be happy
to read your stuff.

Are you serious?

Yeah. She said to call her
when you get up here.

That's amazing.

How's the escape fund looking?

Oh, it's getting close.

I think I've baby-sat every
demon child in Welch by now.

You wanna hear?
Mmm-hmm.

Sounds like freedom.

She sounds fat.

Oh, you're really
gonna love it here, Jeannette.

It feels like you're breathing
for the first time.

I don't think
he's gonna let me go.

Hey, come on.
Don't even think about that.

It doesn't matter anyway.

You can do whatever...
What was that?

Hold on. Can you call me back?

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Erma died.

Do you think erma ever
did something to dad?

Like what?

Like what she did to Brian.

You can't think
about things like that.

It'll make you crazy.

I'm gonna meet you
back at home.

Dad... I'm sorry about erma.

When it's time to go, you go.

I'm not talkin' about that.

"It's impossible to breathe
when you're drowning in shit."

Ready to lose
that 40 bucks?

You can pay me now
or pay me later.

You still believe
in your ol' man?

Do you wanna help me
hustle this guy?

Make some money?

Yeah, okay, so...

Long as you stroke his ego,
he'll keep playin'.

I'll pull the plug
the second we've drained him.

You know the drill.

Robbie!

Hey, Rex.

Jeannette?

Name's Robbie. I didn't know
ol' Rex had a daughter.

He has three.

Rex said you like to dance.

You like livin' in this town?

It's all right.

It ain't all right,
and you know it.

We're all mudbugs
in a boiling pot,

don't even know
we're being cooked alive.

I'm headin' off to Chicago

soon as I can afford up
savings for it.

What about you?

I'm savin' up to move
to New York City

to be with my sister.

All right. Big apple.

I like that city.
I been there a couple times.

You're gonna love it.

Yup.

Robbie!
Do somethin' worthwhile

with those
damn hands of yours.

Get over here, play me a game.

Well, all right.

...side pocket.

You sure
about that, Rex?

Ooh! Damn!

That's four games
in a damn row.

That'll be 80 bucks unless you
wanna go double or nothin'.

No. Take it all.
You deserve it.

Here you go.
Wash down that humble pie.

To your daughter

and her big move
to New York City.

New York City, huh?

Can't believe
i let that old fart take me.

I don't know
if I'm ticked or impressed.

Now, you know
my apartment's right upstairs.

Got a bunch of records
ain't on that jukebox

if you wanna come up
and listen a bit.

Thanks, but I can't.

Rex, you mind if I bring your
daughter upstairs for a bit,

listen to some records?

She's a big city girl now.
She can handle herself.

Holler if ya need me.

You know, I can't stay long.

That's all right. Just wanna
play you a tune or two.

I think you're gonna
like this one.

Hmm.

Where were we?

Think for dancing
it's sorta like this.

You tryin' to sniff my hair?
No.

What are you doin'?

Oh.

That's what
i was tryin' to do.

Oh. I'm not that kinda girl.

Well, we'll just dance, then.
All right?

Whoa! How'd that happen?

Okay.

Robbie, what are you doing?
This.

Stop.

I just wanna see
what you got under this dress.

Robbie, stop!

Easy. Take it easy.

Robbie...
It's all right.

Hey, hey!

Let me show you.

Mmm.

Okay. There you go.

Oh.

Mmm-hmm.

When I was a little girl,
i lit myself on fire.

It gets worse down there.

I'm gonna go now.

I knew you could
handle yourself.

It's like that time
i taught you to swim

and you thought
you were gonna drown,

but I knew you'd do just fine.

Okay, here.

Here's your cut.

Take it or not.

Might come in handy
for the big move.

I don't care
what erma did to you.

It's no excuse.

I am movin' to New York,

and there's nothin'
that you can do about it.

You okay?

I need to get
the hell outta here.

Somebody sure gutted
your piggy, didn't they?

Any suspects?

That money was mine.

Why are you
doin' this to us, dad?

New York magazine.
This is Jeannette walls.

Hey, big shot.

Maureen?

How's your fancy life?

Just gettin' ready
for my fancy engagement party.

We're excited to see you.

I can't make it tonight.

Why not?

'Cause I'm movin'
to California.

You're not serious?

Maureen, you can't
go to California.

That's the other side
of the country.

We have to stick together.
We always have.

That's not true.

I gotta go. I love you.

Why would she
go to California?

It's as far away
from them as she can get

without swimming
to Hawaii.

It's our fault.

We should have
never left her
alone with them.

She would have
hated this anyway.

David sure doesn't.

Thank you so much for coming.
Who needs more bubbly?

We do!

Hi, handsome!

Did you invite them?

Oops.

Look who's here. Oh!
Hey.

Okay, okay.
Whoa! Thank you, thank you!

This'll be interesting.

Let's get this party started!

Oh, congratulations, honey!

What does an investment banker
use as birth control?

His personality.

All right, one more.

What's the difference between
a bag of manure on

your lawn
and an investment banker?

Can I speak with you
for a second?

I'm in the middle
of a punchline.

Okay,
hold that thought, gents.

Who is that guy?

Swanky. But I don't see
one of your mama's paintings.

What are you doing here?

Just networking with
all these fantastic people.

Every time someone leaves,
you act like a child.

You'd think you'd be
used to it by now.

What's that supposed to mean?

It's not a surprise, dad.

Maureen left
because your bullshit
drove her crazy.

You really wanna talk
about bullshit right now?

Look around! This ain't you!

You ain't like those pawns,
and you know it!

Don't turn this on me.
You're a walls.

You were born
to change the world,

not just add to the noise.

You cannot marry that fool!
You're better than him!

And you're better than that
goddamn gossip column!

You're a real writer!

I like my life, dad.

Then why is all your crap

still packed up
in those boxes?

What's goin' on, guys?

We don't
want to upset David.

Why do you care so much
about David all of a sudden?

Well, he's like part of
the family now. Right, honey?

This is not the time, okay?

Well, when's the right time?
Not right now! Okay?

Look, there were
three more offers today.

So you can
wait till tomorrow...

I have to tell her!
Tell me what?

Trust me,
now is not the time!

Tell me what, mom?

Let me talk!

You know how I was telling you
about my brother

selling his half
of mom's land in Texas?

Well, now that
you're gettin' married

and you have
all these nice things,

we were thinkin'
that maybe we could

borrow the money to buy it.

So the only reason
why you're being nice to David

is because you want his money?

No, it's not the only reason.
I'm also just a nice person.

You are a nice person.
Thank you.

We wouldn't ask
if it wasn't urgent, honey.

How much?

No, let's not get into...
About a million.

A million dollars?

A little under.

A little under...

If uncle Jim's land
is worth that much,

then yours is, too.

Well, I don't know.
I've never had it appraised.

My father taught me
you never sell land.

- Good advice.
- Right.

Grandma Smith died
when I was 11.

Have you been
sitting on a million dollars

since I was 11?

No, no! It appreciates
over time. It escalates.

You knew about this?

Do you realize what we could
have done with that money?

I don't want my kids
raised on a goddamn handout!

What the hell?

What the hell
is wrong with you?

Oh...

Nice, rose.

Hey, mountain goat!

Don't ever call me that again!

Uh, Jeannette...

David, please...

Come on. I know you're
upset. But let's just go back

and talk about this. Come on.

Dad, why do you think
all of us ran away from you?

We were drowning.

I still don't understand
why you followed us here.

We wanted to be
a family again.

We were never a family, mom.
We were a nightmare.

Your mom and I did everything
we could for you, okay?

We looked after you,

and it was a happy family!
Bullshit! We did it!

We took care of each other

because you were too drunk to!

It was your job to protect us,
and you didn't even try!

That ain't true, okay?
It is true.

You got some kind of weird
revisionist history goin' on.

You were a happy kid!
Stop it, dad. Stop talking.

And they were happy kids!
And we looked after you!

Stop talking!
Talking is not trying!

You talked
my whole goddamn life!

And I believed you.

Don't!

Hey, don't do this.

I don't want you in my life.

Jeannette,
you do not mean that.

I don't want you
to call or write

or show up out of the blue.

I don't want another one
of your bullshit stories.

I don't wanna see you anymore.

I gotta go.

See you soon, little sister.

I think I figured out
how to deal

with the lack of sunlight
on the hillside.

We just need to install

specially-curved mirrors
to all the solar cells.

See, what I was thinkin' was

you don't have
to go right away.

You could just...
Dad...

You could
finish school here

and get a job
at the Welch daily news,

and I would help you

write those articles.
I am going.

Remember how
we used to do that?

You remember that?

You are never going to
build the glass castle.

Oh, I am.
You're not.

I am. I got it right here.

And even if you do,
it doesn't matter.

I'm gettin' on
the first bus outta here.

Well...

If the bus breaks down,
I'm gonna walk.

I am gonna
finish this thing...

I will hitchhike
if I have to, dad.

I can guaran-goddamn-tee it.

Build it if you want,
but don't build it for me.

Hey, hey, hey! Jeannette...

Mountain goat!

Okay, so I'm gonna pick you up
after work,

and we'll head straight
to the restaurant from there.

Where?

We have dinner with
Mr. lehocky and his wife.

Jeannette, remember
i told you about this?

Furniture designer?

This guy's got more money
than he knows what to do with.

He made the chair
that you're sitting in.

Right, the furniture designer.
I got it.

Jeannette, please?

This is
a very big account, okay?

This'll be huge for us.

I said I got it.

Okay. Can you get that?
I gotta go.

Mmm-hmm.

Jeannette, it's me, sweetie.

It's been too long.

You can't ignore us
forever, honey.

I just really need to talk to
you about somethin'. Okay?

Have you been to the Picasso
retrospective at moma yet?

Mom...

Don't waste your time.

He really didn't do
anything worthwhile

after his rose period.

All that cubist stuff
is so gimmicky.

Mom, I have to
go back to work.

Why are you here?

I need to sit down.

You know how I am with

sentimental situations
like this.

It's just...
I don't know what to do.

What's goin' on?

Your dad's sick.
And he's not gettin' better.

He stopped talkin' last week.

Well, what does that mean?

He was rantin' about
that night at David's,

all that stuff you said
about his drinkin'

and how talking isn't trying,
and whatever else you said.

Then he asked me
if I think he talks too much,

and I said, "yeah,"
'cause he does.

And then he just stopped.

Hasn't said a word since.

Won't get out of bed.
Barely eats.

The silence is awful.

He's dying, Jeannette.

You have a right to be angry.

You think I don't know that?

Of course you do.

Look, I don't wanna tell you
what to do ever,

but I know you love him,
and I just think

you'll regret it if you don't
come home and say goodbye.

Mom, I said goodbye
a long time ago.

Jeannette...

The doctor told him a month
if he stops drinking,

which he won't,
so who knows?

What exactly is it?

Pretty much
everything you can get

from four packs
of cigarettes

and two quarts of booze
every day for 50 years.

He doesn't look good.
You have to go see him.

No, I don't.

You're right. You don't.

But you kind of do.

He's done
a lotta shitty things,

but he's had his moments.

Man in the hall!

Does anybody know
where Jeannette's room is?

Oh, thank you kindly, ma'am.

What are you
snot-slingin' about?

What are you doing here?

I thought I'd finally
come check out

this high-fallutin'
college o' yours.

I gotta say, for the tuition
i expected a bit more.

Your mom says that
you're jumpin' ship.

What happened to
all your fancy scholarships?

It isn't enough.

And they don't cut breaks

for poor little country girls
with big dreams?

You can't say
i didn't warn ya.

Did you come
all the way here from Welch

just to rub it in my face?

You were right. Okay?

I never should've come here.
Now I'm droppin' out.

The hell you are!

That's $950.

And, uh,

that there
is genuine 100% mink.

Should be able to pawn that
for at least $50.

Where did you get all this?

New York City
is full of poker players

who wouldn't know their ass
from their elbows,

and your mom said I finally
had a good reason to gamble.

You did this for me?

Since when
is it wrong for a father

to take care
of his little girl?

So it turns out Mrs. lehocky
is actually a fan of yours.

She reads your column
every week.

Rich, white and old
is our target audience.

I heard your mom's message
on the machine.

Something goin' on?

It's just mom bein' mom.

You know, whatever they want,
please don't give in.

You've been so much better
without them.

Have I?

We've been
a team for so long,

it's hard to tell
who does what anymore.

But Ollie's always been
a master craftsman.

And I'm more
of a visual person.

Vi's the real artist
of the operation.

I just make sure they don't
fall apart when you sit down.

But when we were your age,

we didn't think any of this
was going to happen.

We'd have been fine
making chairs

out of a tiny garage
for the rest of our lives.

Just do what makes you happy.

You may make some money at it,
you might not.

Don't matter either way
if you're doin' what you love.

And what about you, Jeannette?

Is this what you've
always wanted to do?

Uh... no, actually.

I was once
a political science major.

I was very eager to write
stories that actually matter.

Your stories matter to me.

Thank you.

I don't know, it's just...

This is not where I thought
that I was gonna end up.

Well, maybe
you're not at the end yet.

Jeannette's dad is developing
a technology to burn

low-grade bituminous coal
more efficiently.

Well, isn't that nice.
Where is your dad now?

Uh...

I'm sorry. Would you excuse me
for a second?

There. How's that feel?

It's so ugly, daddy.
I look like the demon.

Hey, there's nothin' ugly
about you, you hear me?

One day, I promise you,
you're gonna look at this

as just another sign
of how strong you are.

You're a walls, mountain goat.

We ain't like other people.

We got a fire burnin'
in our bellies.

And that there is
goddamn proof of it.

Now...

This knife is specially
designed to hunt demons.

It's very sharp.

Don't take it out
unless you see him.

You can borrow it
for the night.

You know,
all monsters are the same.

They like
to frighten people,

but the minute
you stare 'em down,

they turn tail and run.

I love you, mountain goat.

My parents are squatting

in an abandoned building
on the lower east side.

Jeannette...

They were homeless
for three years before that,

which is pretty much
how they raised us.

My dad is not developing

a technology
for bituminous coal,

but he could tell you anything

that you want to know
about it.

He is the smartest man
that I know.

He is also a drunk,

never finishes what he starts,
and can be extremely cruel.

But he dreams bigger
than anyone I've ever met.

And he never tries to be
somebody that he's not.

And he never
wanted me to, either.

I'm sorry,
but I have to leave.

Go.

You ready to
go get that demon?

Let's go!

I'll go get some air.
Leave you to it.

Hey, dad.

Do you remember
when those grape-pickers

in California
went on strike,

and the vineyards
had to sell everything

for a nickel a pound?

You stuffed the car so full

we couldn't see
out the windows.

Brian found some in his pocket
two weeks later

that had turned into raisins.

Or when you let me
pet that cheetah at the zoo?

She was lickin' that
popcorn butter off your hand.

Those other parents
wanted to chop my head off.

They were just jealous.

Remember when
you made your own braces?

They were a goddamn feat
of engineering genius.

It was a hanger
and a rubber band.

Well, by god, it worked.

Look at those
gorgeous choppers.

Mom says you haven't
been talkin' lately.

Sort of takin'
some time to think.

Here.

What's this?

It's every story you've
written since eighth grade.

Thought maybe you could
start addin' to it for me.

I spent my whole life

huntin' for those demons
in the wild.

And the entire time

they were hidin'
inside my own belly.

Sad state
to spend your life in,

bein' afraid of your own self.

I know it...

Wasn't easy on you kids.

Got a lot to regret
about my life.

Dad...

Never forget

how beautiful you are,
mountain goat.

And smart...

And creative and strong...

You're so strong.

No little girl
should ever have

to carry her daddy
on her back.

You ain't like me at all,
mountain goat.

You're not afraid.

I am like you.

And I'm glad.

We had some good times,
didn't we?

Never did build
that glass castle.

No.

But we had a good time
plannin' it.

Hi! Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving.
Something smells good!

How's life as a freelancer?

I'm still gettin' used to it.

Yeah?
You like bein' poor again?

Thanks, Brian.

Careful with my child.
Hey.

Maureen...

I like the new place.

How's California?

It's really nice and sunny.

Here's your
housewarming present.

I thought
you'd like one of him.

I didn't do so well
with the hair, but...

Do you like it, honey?

It's perfect.

What? What?

I never told you about this?

No, you didn't.

He didn't have money
for presents,

so he takes
each of us outside,

and says that we can just
pick out our own star.

Seriously?
Yeah, yeah, any one we want.

So I took rigel.

It's that little blue one
on the foot of Orion.

What was yours, Lori?

And I chose betelgeuse

'cause it was
this pretty shade of red,

and then later that night
dad told me

it was only that color
because it was dying!

Yeah! You got the dud!
You were so mad!

Yeah, because he wouldn't
let me pick a new one!

"'Cause there's no return
policies in outer space."

"Well, that only works for
plastic toys made in Japan."

But he also said,

"when everyone else's junk
is broken and forgotten,

"you'll still
have your stars."

Yeah.

Jeannette,
what's goin' on?

You okay?

What are you
thinkin', sweetie?

I just...

I feel really lucky...

Let's make a toast to Rex.

Life with your father
was never boring.

All these
here are portraits of people.

I have a whole box
of flowers back there.

Down here
people like my flowers

better than
they did in New York.

You know, Jeannette's story

about how he
gave her a star,

what a difference between
Lori's and Jeannette's.

Jeannette: "I got a star.

"Oh, daddy,
you're so wonderful.

"I love you."

And Lori says,
"you goddamn son of a bitch,

"you didn't have
enough money."

The star story.

Dad loved grand gestures

that preferably
did not require

a whole lot of follow-up.

And he did it twice.

I've made this
all by my own free choice.

So I haven't regretted it.
It's been an experience.

I've gotten a lot out of it.

Even if I go down the drain,

I have still
come out the winner.

Still come out a winner.

Any idiot

can see that this is
a goddamn land-grab

by the city officials

using taxpayers' money

to tear down the buildings
so that they could

give away the property
to the goddamn developers,

so the developers will
pay 'em off under the table.

It's not new, but it has gone

as far as
we're gonna let it go.