Original subtitles

♪

Once upon a time, there was a sad-looking

Roogla monster.

People were scared of him.

The Roogla monster didn't have any skin or a voice or eyes.

In the daytime, everybody ran away from him, even his father.

The Roogla father left 'cause he didn't know how

to be a monster dad.

But the monster didn't care, 'cause at night,

he'd take his skinless self out and rescue people.

(children shouting)

Curb.

Now, here's a truck, Tony, I'm just going to go get

some soda pop, okay?

Stay here.

Watch him.

(children laughing)

He thinks it's raining.

Tony loves the rain.

Any time it rains, just like the Roogla monster,

he takes his skin off.

(sighs) (clock chiming)

Janice?

The sheriff's outside.

He says he wants to see you right away.

Tony's got himself in a pickle again.

How's the poor little thing doin'?

The "poor little thing" is fine.

How's "poor little George"?

Still flunkin' out of arithmetic?

Courtney, this is dispatch.

Please call down on Tack 2.

That's Tack 2.

I've had it with Tony and his problems.

He needs to be locked up with people like he is.

He's blind, not crazy.

Well, he just did a striptease right out front

of Mrs. Jenkin's market.

He was stark naked, Janice.

I bet it did wonders for business.

The boy don't act right in the head.

He don't say boo when you talk to him.

Well, maybe he doesn't feel like carryin' on a conversation

with you, Henry.

Your attitude is what... My attitude will change

just as soon as you release my boys!

Janice!

Courtney, unlock that door!

You hear me?

Unlock it right now!

...still in the garage.

You'll have to ride with Billy again tomorrow.

The sheriff says next time he's puttin' us in handcuffs.

And I will, too.

I guess I should be grateful you didn't put them in

the electric chair.

Those boys need a man in the house.

You proposin', Henry?

You gonna warm our bottoms, Mom?

Tony, listen to me.

Runnin' naked in public is against the law.

You hear me?

I've got to go back to work.

Now, y'all go down to Marvelle's and get yourself a burger.

I'm sick of boogers.

Go on now.

Booger sandwich, booger pie, boogers and fries.

I'm depending on you, Ray.

(sighs) Booger.

Say booger.

Tony, move your mouth.

Just 'cause you don't have eyes doesn't mean

you can't talk.

C'mon, Tony, we'll surprise Mom.

Hi, Marvelle!

Hey, boys!

Y'all comin' to have a little lunch?

Uh-huh.

I'll see you inside, then.

(wind chime tinkling)

Tony, did you hurt your hand? Huh?

It's okay, I don't mind havin' a backwards for a brother.

What, you want that dumb, old wind chime?

You weren't hungry anyway, huh, jerk?

Aah.

Ma, I'm worried about Tony.

He misses Daddy.

He does, huh?

That's why I put the tail on his cane.

Holdin' it makes him feel better.

'Cause he's always wondering stuff.

What kind of stuff?

Like how come Dad ran away.

He didn't run away, honey.

When Tony was born, he just kind of crumpled.

It was too hard for him havin' a boy that was different

than everybody else.

Well, how come he didn't wait till after I was born?

I'm like everybody.

He was afraid you'd be like Tony.

Well, couldn't you write him, Ma, and tell him my eyes

turned out good?

Gypsy eyes!

Just like mine!

(both laughing) Yahoo!

Aah.

(Tony moaning)

I know there's somethin' goin' on in that head of yours.

If you ever want to share it, you just say, "Mama, I'm here."

You understand me, baby?

It's singin' for ya.

♪ Twinkle twinkle ♪ Little star

♪ How I wonder ♪ What you are ♪

Don't you go arguing with me.

I know you were thirsty.

When I say I'm gonna pick you up at 3:00, that means you're

suppose to sit there.

Not go across the street for soda pop, I mean it.

Now hurry up, I'm late.

Chair, Tony.

Sit down.

Here's your form fitter.

Here's somethin' for you.

Don't you dare budge.

I've got to go.

("Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" playing on the piano)

Mom, are you mad 'cause we budged?

Pinch me, honey.

I want to see if I'm dreamin'.

I'm telling you, Jay, it's just a case

of you being overtired.

No, Marv.

Yes. Anyone can make a noise on a piano.

It wasn't noise.

Even Tony.

It was music.

People have been tryin' to throw him away ever since

he was born.

Those doctors tried to pull the plug on him, remember?

Said his retinas detached themselves, made him blind.

Said his brain wasn't any good.

I remember you askin' them, "Now, who put oxygen

in his brain?"

And they said, "Oh, we had to...

to save his life."

They were wrong, Marvelle.

He saved his own damn life.

All one pound, eight ounces of it.

He lived because he chose to.

And today he played the piano.

Wake up and smell the jalapenos, Jay.

The heat is gettin' to you.

Pin-o.

Did he talk?

Pi-a...

Pi-a...

Pi-a...

Pi-a...

Piano. Piano.

Say it. Piano.

Piano.

Yes!

Piano.

Yes, piano.

Piano.

Piano, piano.

Piano.

(music playing)

Hey, buddy.

Janice, I told you, I can't have those kids in here.

Get yourself a babysitter to watch 'em.

I ain't puttin' up with this.

I'll get a babysitter as soon as you give me a raise,

you two-bit piker.

Here's something to play with.

Do not move from here.

Do not get anywhere close to that bar.

The sheriff will close me down.

Janice, I swear, you and your boys are gonna

get me busted yet.

(whispering) Piano.

Ano, ano.

Bench.

(playing tune on jukebox)

Well, I'll be damned.

He plays by ear.

That's what you call it, "playin' by ear."

Looks like your blind boy ain't such a dummy after all.

Nobody taught him anything.

He just listened and picked it up.

You're singing inside yourself, aren't you, Tony?

What if I was to bring him in every afternoon to practice?

Janice, no minors allowed.

You know that.

He wouldn't count.

He'd be an entertainer.

I can't do it.

We'd come in at happy hour.

Think of it, free, live music.

No.

Tony'd split his tips with you.

Hell, now we got ourselves a practice piano and all

the peanuts we can eat.

Peanuts!

Ray, did you hear how Tony played?

Maybe he can make a little salary someday.

Like how much?

I don't know, five bucks an hour.

That's nothin'.

Baseball players make a trillion dollars.

Five dollars, jerk!

Tony, stop that pullin' now!

It's okay, Mom.

I'll make enough money to take care of you and Tony.

All's I need is a baseball bat.

Thank you, honey.

Piano! I want piano!

New words, Mom.

Ray, on your way, take these books back to the library, okay?

Tony, Tony.

Tony, it's okay.

Tony! Oh, Tony.

(playing recorder)

Now, you listen to me.

If you're gonna talk, you talk nice.

You hear me?

Say please.

Come on, say please.

Please.

Good. Tomorrow.

You play piano tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Yes!

Tomorrow!

Yes, yes!

Yes!

(sighs)

Oh, the table looks lovely, Janice.

Now, I need the silver on the sideboard polished,

I need two more flower arrangements in the library,

and the parlor floors have got to be buffed.

I'll be back by 6:30.

I need the silver polished now, Janice.

But I... My guests are

arriving at 7:00.

Tony's happy hour.

You are in and out of here, draggin' those boys

all over creation.

Ever since this piano playing, your work...

I can't let my son down.

Well, Janice, you really don't leave me

any choice, do you?

♪

He's good.

(cheering and applause)

Take a bow, honey.

Fired?

Shoot, girl, sit down.

He could have missed playin' here one day.

You gotta pay your rent.

Jobs do not grow on trees around here.

You needed that second job.

I know.

That boy is a young Ronnie Milsap.

He sure is.

For the first time since he was born, they're treatin'

him like he's a person.

Ma, who's Ronnie Milsap?

He's a blind piano man, just like your brother.

How come piano players don't ever have eyes?

I gotta get back to work.

Come here.

Come here, little man.

How long's Tony been playin' here, Janice?

Not long, two months.

Two months?

It won't do.

It's just temporary till I can get us a piano.

An education is what he needs, Janice.

He oughta be in some kind of school for the blind

instead of sittin' on the back row of Miss Brady's classroom

twiddlin' his thumbs.

I know that, Henry.

I'm not gonna have to watch another Johnston waste

their potential, am I?

No, sir.

We got to find out the name of that school.

Why?

Because it's the best in the country.

He'll learn Braille, arithmetic, everything there.

I think that school's back East, Jay.

I don't care if it's in Timbuktu, we're goin'.

Why?

Wash your ears out with soap, Ray Johnston!

You heard your brother play.

He's got talent.

I've got to get Tony an education.

Back rear door, Tony.

That's where Helen Keller went to school.

I think that's all the way in Boston.

Fine, we'll go to Boston.

Boston.

Now, you ain't never set foot outside of Texas.

Boston's gonna swallow you up.

Then Boston's gonna get a bellyache, 'cause I'm goin'.

I think you're makin' a big mistake, honey.

Probably, but I won't know till I do it, will I?

Enjoy it!

You think two hundred bucks was enough for my old war horse?

I just can't believe you're leavin'!

I just can't believe it.

Well, believe it.

Sir, there's more in the house.

You got your mail order degree now.

You could stay on and get a decent job.

Lookit, you and Tony are doin' just fine now.

You've worked as hard on him as you have on yourself.

The more music he plays, the more he talks up,

so there's no reason for you to go to that damn Perkins

School for the Blind.

Marvelle Samuel, you don't give up.

You've been naggin' me for six years.

Because I don't want you to go.

I think I'll take this as a memento.

Ma...

I want to stay here.

You and Tony can to to Boston.

I'll live with Marvelle.

Come on over here and sit down and tell me why, honey.

This is home, Ma.

But there's no opportunity for you boys here.

Besides, Boston's the home of the Red Sox, isn't it?

No...

I'm still not goin'.

But in Boston, you two will get a real education.

They've got experts at Perkins that'll teach Tony

how to go out on his own.

Well, he's got us, Ma!

He doesn't have to go out anywhere.

Ray, I'm not like that old oak tree out front.

I'm not gonna live forever.

That's why I've got to get you a real education.

I don't want Tony dependent on anyone.

Maybe people will pay him to play the piano and he'll

have a checking account and an apartment and learn

how to look out for himself.

Good.

You can take Tony, but I'm stayin' home.

Ray, I'll tell you a little secret.

I'm scared stiff of this move.

I'm not exactly a world traveler, you know?

I don't want to leave home either,

but we're a family...

and family sacrifice for their own.

This time it's for Tony, but next time, it'll be for you.

I promise.

Now, think about it, honey, 'cause we won't go without ya.

Ray?

Ray?

What?

Roogla monster story.

No.

Why?

I forgot it, that's why.

You'd tell all the time when we were little, Ray.

Remember, Ray?

You ever not gonna be mad at me, Ray?

Well, it's your fault, dummy!

Don't you get it?

We get to leave home so you can go to the miracle school

and be special.

All because you play piano.

I... I like you more than music, Ray.

(sighs)

He's "special," all right.

He can't even find his way home.

You'll feel better if you talk about what's botherin' you.

Not in the mood, huh?

It's like me and strawberries.

I eat buckets of them, and then just like that,

I won't touch 'em.

It's just a mood.

It never lasts.

How come he's forgettin' how to talk, Ma?

It'll come back.

It has to.

♪ Some people look and find ♪ The sunshine

♪ I always look ♪ And find the rain

♪ Some people make a winning ♪ Sometime

♪ I never even make a gain ♪ Believe me

♪ I'm always ♪ Chasin' rainbows

♪ Waiting to find a little ♪ Bluebird in vain ♪

♪ I'm always ♪ Chasin' rainbows

♪ Waiting to find a little ♪ Bluebird in vain ♪

♪ Twinkle twinkle ♪ Little star

♪ How I wonder ♪ What you are

♪ Up above the world so high ♪ Like a diamond in the sky ♪

I don't know, Janice.

It's like the music just up and left him.

Ma says they got a river in Boston.

Maybe we could row a boat.

No.

Why not?

'Cause you'd be mad at me.

Look, I've been thinkin'.

See, the trouble with Texas is it's got a sky that's all blue.

What's blue?

I don't know, I can't explain it.

But maybe we need a different sky now.

Yeah?

Like...

Right!

Exactly!

Rainbow sky.

Chopin.

Jay!

Jay! Jay!

Don't run over me!

Jay! Oh!

Oh, I can't believe you saved these.

I just wanted you to have a little piece of Haley High.

Oh, my God.

I'll miss you so much.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Good luck.

Bye.

You write me.

I'm gonna write you, I promise.

I'll write you, too.

Okay.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Bye.

Be careful.

Okay, wait, don't go.

Don't go.

Bye!

Well, we're goin'.

Y'all ready?

Boston. Boston.

Jay? Jay?

Boston.

Bye!

Good-bye.

Tony, step down.

Boston smells like pizza.

Oh, brother.

Very loud.

You'll get used to it.

157 Hill.

Now where is 157?

There's 153, so...

Yeah, right there, Ma, the green building.

Step up, Tony.

Ma, the green building.

Hey, Tony, they got fire escapes!

Where?

Ma, the ad says "Quaint neighborhood,

charming old building."

$675 for that?

Well, they got the old part right.

Here you are.

Over here a nice kitchen, a fireplace, and, uh...

we also have...

a river view.

Oh, yeah.

You know in Texas, we had a whole house for 250.

Lower your voice.

In the ad it says there's a bedroom.

Is that the way to the bedroom?

Yeah, let me show it to you.

$675.

We'll take it.

Good.

(bell tolling)

Boston makes us more poor, Mom?

Don't you worry about that.

Excuse me, I'm Janice Johnston.

I've come all the way from West Texas to see

the principal about my boy going to school here.

Mm-hmm.

Do you have an appointment, Mrs. Johnson?

Johnston, uh, no, ma'am.

I've written over the years.

It took us a while to get here.

Okay.

Well, if you'll fill this form out,

we'll call you.

No, ma'am, you won't.

You see, we don't have a phone.

So we'll just wait right here.

Mr. Martin, I need you to come outside, please.

Okay, a form to fill out.

It'll be fine.

Oh, uh, Olivia?

There she is.

It's Mrs. Johnston.

Mrs. Johnston, I'm Principal Martin.

Hello.

Oh, I'm afraid today's out of the question.

But I see that our receptionist has given you the preliminary

forms to fill out.

Would you please excuse me?

I'll be happy to show her around.

Oh, certainly, certainly.

Mrs. Johnston?

My classroom is right down the hall.

Okay.

Ray, hold this.

Don't you budge.

Texas?

Excuse me?

Tornadoes, vast blue skies.

Have you been there, Mr., uh...

DeBlois.

DeBlois.

No, uh, no.

I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure.

Well, you're a bonus.

This brochure talks about learnin' Braille and writin'

and important things like that.

But it doesn't say a thing about your music room.

Ah.

My son is extraordinarily gifted.

He is destined.

Yes.

Perkins is a private school.

That's fine.

No, you misunderstand me.

Uh, fees have to be paid.

It says here you have scholarships.

Yes, and they're usually paid by the city or the state

where the student resides.

Oh, yeah, I tried that, but they gave me the run-around,

just like you're tryin' to do right now.

No.

No, I'm not.

It's just that, well, you've missed the deadline

to apply.

Can't you bend your rules a little bit?

I mean, my son's had kind of a spotty education.

We have a lot of catchin' up to do.

This is Boston, Mrs. Johnston.

I know that.

I'm afraid that, well, we're rather rigid.

Well, that's gonna have to change, Mr. DeBlois.

You know that Perkins is not the only school

for the blind in Boston.

No, it isn't, but it's the best.

And that's why I chose it.

I hear you worryin'.

I'm not worryin', thinkin'.

You know what I think about?

No.

How to have a real brain.

You got a real brain, Tony.

Not like yours.

No, mine's just average.

Must be nice.

Average?

It's okay.

Better than Ma's, though.

Chair.

What kinda brain has she got?

An upside down one.

(laughing) She can't even talk

like people here.

Ma has sunshine in her throat.

Well, she oughta talk soft.

I mean, the lady downstairs is all whispery.

Wears cashmere sweaters, too.

I bet Ma doesn't even know what cashmere is.

What is it?

See!

You know what we are?

Deprived.

I mean, back home, everybody lived like us.

But in Boston, we're deprived.

Come on, Tony.

Bend down.

It's the bed.

Ma wants you at the miracle school.

Maybe they teach different.

Be like you, normal.

Good night, jerk.

Jerk.

Night, jerk.

Your previous employment has been in the domestic area.

This is an accounting firm, Ms. Johnston.

Your ad said you wanted somebody good in organization.

I've been raisin' two boys, puttin' myself through college,

scrubbin' other people's floors.

I got us from Texas to Boston without a hitch.

Now, if that's not organization, Ms. Holdrith, I don't know

what is!

But...

are you computer-literate?

There's nothin' I can't do.

I sent you that scholarship form over two weeks ago.

The committee only meets every four months.

Mr. Martin, I came 2,000 miles so my son

could go to this school.

I just want you to hear him play.

He's never had a lesson in his life, but he hears

a song and he plays it right off.

Now, if that's not special scholarship material,

I don't know what is.

That's all very interesting.

But as I told you before, we are not a musical school.

We... we have certain standards.

The doctors say he's autistic.

But when he plays, he's not autistic or blind

or anything like that.

When he plays, I swear to you, he's an angel.

Come on, it's okay.

Maybe if I'd have explained it better.

Nobody hear you.

This was a mistake.

What?

Coming here, all of this.

Ma, are you crying?

No, baby, it's just the rain.

♪

Very nice, number 219.

Now, remember, today's winner gets a free piano.

Very nice job.

Next up, number 220.

Number 220?

That's us.

Hi, um...

One step up, Tony.

This... this is, uh, this is a piano-playing contest.

Maybe we could... Don't you worry.

Uh, miss, I don't... I don't think you understand.

This... this is a contest.

Seat.

I'd be happy to offer him a lesson or something...

Go on, baby.

Let me... let me offer him a lesson or something

another time.

We don't have to... If we...

Tony is gonna play the rainbow song.

♪

(applause)

Whoo!

It's on it's way up, jerk!

Boston gives away pianos.

I'll be.

Chopin.

C sharp minor waltz, beautiful.

Hello.

Mr. Martin.

I thought it might be a good idea to hear Tony play.

Forgive us for barging in, Mrs. Johnston, but you don't

have a telephone, and, uh, well, time is of the essence.

Ma, principal says I'm going to miracle school to learn

to read with hands.

Really?

Yes, this should be quite an experience.

Mr. DeBlois was correct... never say no

until you're absolutely certain of what you're saying no to.

We're gonna find a way to let your son in our school.

Extraordinary.

Quite extraordinary.

Thomas gave him the article about Tony winning

the competition.

Then he found the thing that you had filled out

at the school.

So then Thomas said that... Thomas?

Thomas DeBlois, Ma.

He's gonna be Tony's new music teacher.

Hello.

Hi.

Again.

Shh. Be quiet.

I wanna thank you for taking an interest in us,

goin' out of your way and all.

I had to.

Why is that?

Mrs. Johnston, your belief in your son was so strong that

I just had to meet him.

I was curious, curious to see if Tony had talent.

And?

Speak up, Mr. DeBlois.

I won't bite ya.

What now?

Oh, Ma's smilin' at him.

Is that good?

What do you think?

I've always been intrigued by tornadoes.

We don't have them in Boston.

They're unpredictable, Mr. DeBlois.

I realize that, Ms. Johnston.

That's why I find them fascinating.

I'm looking forward to working with your son.

Now he's getting in his car.

So long.

He can teach me to drive.

He teaches piano, jerk.

I already play piano.

Time for learn to drive.

Hmm.

(music playing)

Tony, have you ever heard that piece before?

No.

Would you like to try to play it for me?

Huh?

Yeah.

All right.

Let's give it a try, then.

♪

That's amazing.

My job is not just to teach you notes, but to protect this...

this part of you that loves music, you understand, huh?

Yeah.

♪

Yeah!

Tony, tell your mother what you tackled today.

Jazz, bebop, home runs!

I've already got one baseball player in the family.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, he should have some other hobbies.

He's going to Carnegie Hall, not Fenway Park.

You know, they do play jazz pieces at Carnegie Hall

these days.

No bats at the dinner table, Tony.

Thomas, listen up.

I pitched today and coach says I got a real good pitching arm.

You know, I thought as much.

Hey, what do you say, after dinner, we go

and play some catch?

We can use the new mitt you gave me.

Me, too, I be catcher.

Excellent, the three of us, we'll go hit a few balls

around, huh?

Yeah.

I hit, too.

You'll be practicing.

Watch that Thomas gave me says time for ball.

6:32 P.M.

No.

Ma.

I don't see why not, do you?

He'll be busy practicing his music.

♪

(chattering)

So you married, Thomas?

Married? No.

You have a girlfriend, right?

Nope.

You must get lonely.

Actually, no.

Teaching is quite time-consuming.

I think maybe it's time you should start thinking about

getting a wife.

You know how to throw a split-finger fastball?

Uh-uh.

I'ma show ya.

All right.

Hey, Ma, Thomas has got the best pitching arm.

He showed me this thing called a, uh, breaker...

what is it called?

Splitter.

Splitter.

You go on to bed now.

Don't disturb your brother, he's practicing.

Okay.

Thanks for the glove, Thomas.

Thank you for dinner.

Well, you've been spending so much extra time with Tony,

the least I could do is make sure you don't starve.

Mm.

Shouldn't that be peppier?

Are you a music scholar?

No, but I think it'd be... Janice, you fought hard

to get Tony into Perkins.

Now, I'm the teacher, let me teach.

Well, I'm the audience, and I like more zip.

Hey, tell me about your ex-husband.

Maybe you better just listen to the music 'cause I think

that's awful depressing.

It's the "Moonlight Sonata."

It's about angst.

Not when my boy plays it.

♪ (whistling)

♪

God, it's such a mystery.

What is?

Tony...

to play so effortlessly.

And yet he's...

He's what?

You say he's autistic.

I didn't say it, the doctors said it.

They claim brain damage made him that way.

Ah.

They also said he wouldn't like being hugged.

They were wrong.

He loves being hugged.

Janice, I want your permission to have Tony

tested by Dr. David Lionel.

He's not sick.

Well, Dr. Lionel doesn't look at sick people.

Have you ever wondered why Tony can't tie his shoe laces?

Why he doesn't know the difference between up and down?

He's confounded by abstract concepts but not by Mozart.

Not by Bartok, not by Beethoven.

Listen to him play.

But I just wonder how truly he understands the music.

Your son's a mystery.

He's a wonderful mystery.

Like you.

♪

How many more days of this?

Not many.

You oughta be a politician, Thomas.

You don't know how to give a straight answer.

Janice, suppose Tony doesn't wanna be a concert pianist?

Of course he wants to be a concert pianist.

I don't know where you get these crazy ideas.

What about you, Thomas?

When am I gonna get to see you perform?

Uh... some musicians choose the limelight,

others don't feel the need to perform.

I teach.

That's what I love.

It's a pretty good life, except certain things

are missing.

Mrs. Johnston, we've made a very exciting

discovery.

Your son is a remarkable young man.

I know that.

That's why we moved from Texas to Boston.

The work you have done with him is extraordinary.

Tell me, do you know anything about the "savant syndrome"?

Not really.

Well, we used to refer to them as, uh, idiot savants.

An idiot has an IQ of under 25, and Tony's is far above that.

Tony has been identified as... Idiot, me idiot.

You can forget the idiot part.

Ma, Ma, I... I good idiot.

Seat, Tony.

Today he's... well, shall we say

a musical savant, a genius.

Genius.

That's more like it.

There are very few musical savants in the entire world,

and Tony is one of them.

We want to take Tony to New York.

New York?

That's where Carnegie Hall is.

Carnegie Hall, baby.

New York.

The more music he plays, the more ability he has

to communicate.

He is proof that the human brain has

a structure that processes music quite separately

from language.

As we study his progress as a musician, we'll make more

discoveries... not just about Tony, but about all of us.

Wait a minute, you don't want my son

for just a few weeks.

Well, it... it would require a certain

extended length of time, but we could arrange for visits,

uh, family outings.

Believe me, Mrs. Johnston, the things that we could learn

from Tony would make it well worth your sacrifice.

I don't know if that's one I can make.

New York.

New York.

♪ (playing boogie woogie)

Dr. Lionel... Dr. Lionel gonna take me to New York.

Ma hasn't made up her dumb mind yet, Tony.

New York.

Good, go.

Then maybe Mom'll have some time for me.

In New York, I drive.

They don't have cars in New York, dummy.

They have subways.

Not dumb... genius.

Oh, yeah?

Well, can you play computer games?

No. The only thing you'll ever be able to play is Chopin.

Maybe the doctors can fix me.

You're not like us.

Make me into a normal.

(sighs) What do you wanna be such a

normal for, huh?

(computer game blooping) So I can be like you.

Janice, I can't imagine Boston without you.

I don't know if I can uproot Ray again.

You brought the elements.

The forces of nature.

Hurricanes, electrical storms.

I knew it.

I knew you were a man who couldn't hold his liquor.

Oh, no, this isn't the wine talking.

(sighs) Gushing, Thomas, not talking.

Gushing.

I'm talking, and I'm telling you that you are magnificent.

Well, if I'm so magnificent, why can't I figure out what to

do about Tony?

New York is out of the question, you know.

And why is that?

Because I'd be lost without my Texas woman.

What?

Sky-blue eyes...

Southern drawl.

Are you flirting with me, Mr. DeBlois?

Yes.

Yes, I am, Miss Johnston.

Well, then would you shut up and do something about it?

Thanks very much, and a Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you.

♪ (piano playing) Do you hear it?

I thought you said he only played classical music.

He does, only it's changing.

See, tonight he's feeling really good, but sometimes

I can just hear his music crying.

So why don't you go knock on his door?

No. No, no, no, I do not think so.

He's just a keyboard, Julia.

No, he's beautiful.

Heh, he's probably ancient.

Ancient and beautiful.

(laughing) Come on.

♪ (piano playing continues)

That doesn't sound classical to me.

Anthony... what is it?

We've been exploring 20th Century harmonies.

Duke Ellington.

I'm impressed.

Berklee would be impressed.

Berklee College of Music.

Am I missing something, Thomas?

It's my old alma mater, and it's the finest music school

in Boston.

It is?

Could be a substitute for New York.

Just thought it might appeal to you.

Well, I've always been attracted to fine things,

Thomas.

We'd have to send some tapes of Tony playing.

Playing what, Thomas?

Rolling Stones?

Hey, jerk, listen up.

Then we'd set up a serious audition.

It won't be easy, but we can do it.

What kind of school, Ma?

Blind school?

Nope.

It's a college for musicians.

Normal school?

Normal music school?

Hmm?

(chuckling)

Y'all, we did it!

We did it!

We're gonna audition at the Berklee College of Music.

Me, too, Ma?

"Anthony Johnston is being assigned a partner for a

ten-minute duet.

He must also bring in a composition of his own."

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Ma, don't tell them I'm blind.

Are you nuts?

They got eyes, jerk.

Uh, Ma, don't... don't say Tony savant.

What's a composition, Ma?

It's a little song, honey.

Tony'll write a little song.

You'll compose something for me.

(giggles) He doesn't write music.

He plays it.

The team I have assembled in New York includes some of

the most prestigious specialists in the country.

I'm keepin' Tony with me.

All right, suppose he's not accepted to Berklee?

Of course he'll be accepted.

You said he was a musical genius.

Tony has lived in a protected, sheltered environment

all his life.

What happened to the other ones?

I beg your pardon?

The other savants, the other musical geniuses?

That's hardly the point.

Any of them famous?

Any of them at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall?

In my opinion, you are making a grave mistake.

He is a fragile soul.

This world you want to put him into could destroy him.

His future's not with you, Dr. Lionel.

It's with his music... and me.

♪ (piano playing) No.

No, Tony, that is Bach.

Huh?

♪ Ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-da-ba ♪ Ba-ba-bam ♪

Bach.

Hey, improvisation is not the same as composition.

Why? Why?!

A composer finds his own theme.

This piece has got to reflect your heart and soul.

You play composition, Thomas, and I play it good.

No, it doesn't work that way.

Whatever you play, it's gotta come from here.

No composure in my brain.

Well, we'll just give it some time, huh?

If it's in there, we're gonna get it to come

through here...

and out here.

Okay?

If it's not there, don't tell Mom.

(chuckling) All right, don't worry

about Mom right now, okay?

Ma, truth. Am I ugly?

Ugly, no.

Escalator.

Don't hold my hand at school.

I won't.

I'd rather fall.

You're gonna be just fine, baby.

Don't say "baby," Ma.

My name's Tony.

Call me Tony.

Tony.

Down.

Last one. Down.

Good.

Oh, Tony, this room is wonderful.

There's a stage over there on the left with drums, and there's

two pianos.

Seat.

(sighs) I'm sure he'll be here

any minute.

Ma, bye.

I think I should wait, just in case.

No.

But... No!

Are you sure you're gonna be all right?

Uh-huh.

Okay. I'll pick you up at the subway stop in two hours.

Subway stop.

Are you positive you can find your way there?

Ma, I can find my way in Beethoven, I can find my way

to a stupid subway stop.

Okay, baby.

Good luck.

(sighs)

Bye, Ma.

Bye.

(indistinct chatter) Oh, I'm sorry.

It's okay.

♪ (faint piano)

♪

You're late.

It's you.

Oh, no... a girl.

You're blind.

Sorry, I'm... I'm... I mean, nobody told me.

You smell like peppermint.

It's gum.

You want a piece?

Thanks.

Do you live on Hill Street?

Hill, uh-huh.

Who's favorite?

What?

Favorite.

Beethoven, Chopin?

Satie's cool.

Satie. Cool! Yeah!

I like him a lot.

Let's play.

So, what do you wanna do?

Huh?

You know we have to choose a piece, a duet.

What's your name?

Julia.

Julia. Pretty.

My favorite name.

Mine Tony.

Do you have a preference, Tony?

What?

Our music.

No.

For you. You pick.

♪ (playing delicately) Pretty.

♪ (begins to play) Schubert.

(giggles) Concentrate.

This is my audition, too.

♪

Yeah, we really need to work on the adagio.

The allegro sounds fine, but the adagio really needs

perfecting.

So when should we practice again?

Every day, all day.

(chuckling) I can't practice all day.

How come?

'Cause I have things to do.

What things?

Things... school, friends.

Things.

Boyfriend?

None of your business.

Why?

We're partners, Julia, friends.

Well, it doesn't mean that I've gotta tell you stuff.

We'll meet Wednesday at 4:00, okay?

I'll sign up for the rehearsal though... okay?

It's too far away, Wednesday.

No, it's not.

Your voice is mad at me.

It's just how I talk.

It's pretty, except for the mad part.

You want a different partner, Julia?

No.

Normal partner?

You're a really good pianist, and I'll see you Wednesday.

Okay, Tony?

Okay?

(strikes keys)

Alphabetical order, Thomas?

Well, I wouldn't mind if they weren't.

Oh.

Well, aren't you neat as a pin?

My life is nothing if not orderly, but all of that's

about to change.

Look at your flowers.

Even your flowers are standing at attention... not a leaf

out of place.

Oh, the hell with the flowers, Janice.

I didn't bring you here to discuss botany.

That's it, take a good look around.

So do you think the boys'll like it?

I want to convert the... the den into a second bedroom.

Thomas...

Yes?

Was that a proposal?

Yes. Yes, it was.

(screams) (laughing)

I have fallen in love with a Texas whirlwind.

Hang on, Thomas, this place will never be the same!

Mmm.

♪

(music ends)

We can probably stop now.

Don't you think?

Are you scared of me?

No.

Yeah, you... you're scared because of how I am.

No... when you play piano, Tony, you see the music.

You see it more than I ever will.

I'd rather see you.

What are you doing?

Tony, you're the best partner I've ever had.

When I make a mistake, you... you always... you fix it.

You turn it into something beautiful.

Tony...

Do you want me to walk you to the subway stop?

No.

I practice now so I can fix mistakes.

(sighs)

♪ (piano playing)

Is that a real diamond, Ma?

Oh, well, I guess I better check it out, huh?

So are you officially engaged?

Yes, I am.

I can't wait to tell Marvelle.

I was hoping that you and Tony would be my best men.

Sure. Can I wear a tuxedo?

I can't be best.

Why not, baby?

I play piano for wedding.

Put me in dark corner so nobody sees me.

Why on earth would I wanna do that?

Too ugly!

People laugh.

Ugly piano person.

You are not ugly, Tony.

Lie!

I know who I am.

Roogla monster still! Always!

(glass shatters) Tony, listen to me!

No, I go to my room now!

Tony!

Ugly!

Too ugly!

(horns honking)

(indistinct chatter)

You wanna talk about it, honey?

Tony, you listening?

My partner, she doesn't like me.

Oh, that's just your imagination, honey.

No, Ma, I can see.

I see her.

She says my name, and it sounds...

It sounds what?

Sounds bad.

Makes me sad.

You know, Tony, there are a lot of people that I call

"the walkin' blind."

Oh, they're walking around with their eyes wide open,

all right.

They don't see you.

They won't give you half a chance.

Why?

'Cause they're afraid.

You remember when you were little?

How scared all those people were till you showed them you could

play the piano?

They were really scared, and you were only a little child.

My daddy was afraid.

Yes, he was, baby.

And he missed out knowing somebody so beautiful.

And it's not just because of your music.

It's your soul.

Even if you never played a note, your soul would just

come shining through.

You gotta be strong.

You understand?

Mom?

Yeah?

Wednesday is a scared day.

We will make it through this.

I promise.

Ohh, I could wring her neck.

Who?

That Julia.

She's got him tied up in knots.

What if he can't compose?

What'll he be then, the piano player in some cheap bar?

Janice, he's gonna be just fine.

I should've let those doctors take him.

They'd know what to do.

They wouldn't team him up with some girl with his hormones

popping like that.

Sure, they'd understand him scientifically, but he would

still have to grow up and face his own demons.

They can't protect him from that, and, Janice, neither

can you.

Tell me the truth, Thomas.

Do you see any signs...

any signs that he'll be able to compose?

I'm trying to give him the proper tools.

That's a no, isn't it?

I can't play a duet by myself, Tony.

My fingers don't have music today.

They do so.

Don't.

Last night, I went over to Hill Street.

How come?

(chuckling) To eavesdrop.

On who?

Oh, don't be dense.

Who?

On you, who else?

Why?

Because I missed your stupid Chopin, okay?

Because...

I don't know.

Because I wanted to see you.

You do... Wednesdays.

Are you doing this on purpose?

I just thought that we could meet here a couple of days

a week.

Wednesday's enough.

No, it's not!

This audition is important!

I fix your bad notes.

Why won't you practice with me?!

Blind people better.

They don't talk inside out.

I am trying to apologize.

You feel sorry for me.

I feel sorry for the way that I behaved.

I don't like how your voice sounds now.

It's better when you're mean...

when you tell truth!

Go, get out!

You are an idiot!

Idiot?

Yeah, I'm... I'm an idiot!

And now you're Julia again!

And I'm an idiot.

(banging keys) Hate Julia!

Hate Julia!

This is you, Julia!

This is you!

Argh! Agh!

(banging piano keys)

Thomas, wait a minute.

Let me spice that up.

You know, Tony is gonna make it through this.

She's tearing him apart.

He can't even think about composing.

Well, he wanted to be normal, he wanted to do the things

that... He didn't want this.

This is reality.

This is Tony's reality.

And what am I supposed to do, Thomas, stand around and

watch him get kicked in the face?

(sighs) Maybe we should take a little

trip somewhere...

take his mind off things.

What do ya think?

I think I should call that school and get him a new

partner.

No.

This is his struggle, not yours.

He doesn't even listen to that Jerry Lee Lewis of yours.

Yeah, well, I mean, that's the point... it's my Jerry

Lee Lewis.

He's gotta find himself, find his own music...

his own friends.

If he can do that, he'll grow up.

And then one day he's gonna take a bow and make an exit.

That's what kids do.

(swings squeaking) (children laughing)

You know, Thomas, this "cuckoo van" chicken's

not so bad.

Right. That's "Coq au Vin."

Mm-hmm.

Okay, y'all, let's go.

Tony's gotta practice.

Mom...

(watch) 4:21 p.m.

4:00, picnic time, not piano time.

Hate piano, want to drive.

You can't.

Yes, I can.

No, you can't. Steps.

Down.

Want to drive.

Want to drive!

Can you see the lines on the road?

Yes.

No, you can't.

Hate piano, want to drive!

If my boy wants to drive, he's gonna drive.

(engine revving) Great, Tony!

I'm driving, Ma!

Wonderful. You can do it!

I'm doing it.

All right!

That's terrific!

Ma, I'm... I'm driving.

Okay.

You're driving good, jerk.

All right, now the other way.

Turn the other way now.

Go, Tony!

Yeah.

All right.

Yeah.

You're doing great!

Yeah.

You're doing so good.

That's it!

Yeah!

Go!

Yay, Tony!

I was driving, and I made the boat go so fast.

The wind cried, the lake water rained on us.

Is that why you were late today?

I'm the best captain, Ma says.

Any time I want, I can drive.

Any time... I'm that good.

I thought you weren't gonna show up.

I was busy speeding.

Lucky there was no policemen, or I would've gotten a ticket.

Your mouth is curling up, huh?

You wanna see?

Soft.... just like I thought.

Your hair curls up like when you smile.

Smells like you.

What color are your eyes?

Blue.

Tears come out of them a lot, huh?

How can you tell?

Now your eyes are getting bigger, because I'm seeing you.

Yeah.

I thought you dumped me.

I figured you asked for another partner.

No... never.

Why not?

Because when we play Schubert, we're friends.

We're friends now...

even without Schubert.

Friends.

(chuckling)

I can't tell you how proud we are of you, Janice.

Congratulations.

You've earned it.

Good luck.

(blows)

(cork pops) (Janice screams and laughs)

See?

Now, don't spill anything.

Come on, Thomas.

No, no, no... ladies first.

You boss, Ma?

Not quite yet, baby.

Man, you know, this is the kind of place people live in

forever.

Thomas...

Thomas, the house is great.

Thomas, how did you know that Ma liked you?

Ah, that's easy.

She, uh, straightened my tie twice.

Now, when a lady straightens your tie twice, a fellow knows

he's done for.

(gasps) Is that a fact?

Yes, ma'am, that's a fact.

Thomas, what do you do after the tie part?

What do you do for the girl then?

Then?

You buy the girl a pizza.

No... you concentrate on what's important... music...

...and composing.

Don't you go getting smart-alecky on me, mister.

How much money for a pizza?

Too damn much.

You wanna impress somebody, you march right into Thomas's

living room, and you sit right down at his piano and remember

how it sounded at the lake, and you play that sound.

Play how it felt driving that boat.

You do that, for you and your mama.

You hear me?

Pizza easier.

(traffic noise)

Thanks.

(giggles) It's not a pizza.

I know.

(laughing) Come on.

Did you finish your composition?

No.

How come?

Bad song.

Ugly.

No, that is one note you can't play.

"Ugly."

I'm gonna dry this out and put it in my diary.

Why?

So I don't ever forget.

I...

I don't need a diary to remember you.

Me, either, Tony.

(onlookers cheering) You can do it!

Keep your eye on the ball!

(all cheering) Get a home run!

Run! Whoo hoo!

Come on, get it, Jay, go!

Go!

Come on!

Go all the way, son, come on!

Safe!

Yippee! Yay!

All right!

All right!

(cheering and applause) Go, Ray!

Hey! Hey, hey, Tony!

Hey!

Tony!

Home run.

Grand slam! Whoo!

(cheering continues) Uh, Janice, why don't we

sit this one out, huh?

Whoo!

Oh, yeah! Whoo!

Grand slam!

All right! All right, Ray!

PA: Next train, downtown express.

(PA continues indistinctly) Tony?

Next train, downtown Tony...

Ma, too early.

Hi, Julia.

Hi.

Ma, these are my new friends.

Peter plays the trumpet, and Maria plays the flute.

That's nice.

Ma, Julia can go on the subway with me.

I live past Hill.

I don't know.

Well, it's not out of my way or anything.

Ma, tomorrow, Julia and my friends, we go get pizza,

and then we go home... alone.

Julia, can I talk to you a minute?

Why?

(PA) Green line local.

Stopping at...

No, it's okay.

It's fine.

(PA continues indistinctly) You don't like me, do you,

Mrs. Johnston?

It's not that, it's just that Tony thinks he's in love

with you.

Well, it's the same for me.

But he's not gonna grow up and mature like you will.

I like how he is.

You like it now, but what about later?

I can't let you break his heart.

He's just a child.

Well, that makes it worse for me, doesn't it?

Children get tired of things.

You've heard his music.

Nothing can get in the way of our audition.

He's destined and you know it.

To be alone?

The subway was busy today.

Oh, I'm sorry. Last step.

There's a curb here, too.

I smell pizza.

Julia, I'm not hungry.

Me, neither.

My stomach hurts.

Mine, too. (chuckles) How come?

'Cause we're on a date.

We are?

(giggles) I thought dates were fun.

Why do people date if it hurts?

I don't know, I guess it's like practicing...

it gets easier later.

Hope so.

(giggles)

Does it look cool now?

Yeah, way cool.

Always smell like Julia.

That means I'm grown up now.

I wish I could stay here forever.

Now you're gonna have to do the rest.

I'm scared.

Me, too.

(giggling)

(both laughing)

How could you let him go out?

Since when is pizza off limits?

It's almost Friday.

He has nothing to show.

He should be working.

Ma, does Tony have a girlfriend?

No! Go back to bed!

It's 9:00... where are they?

Well, they're out on a date.

Maybe they stopped at the rehearsal room.

Growing pains.

I know what he's feeling.

I've been an adolescent.

Not Tony, you.

These are your growing pains.

Promise you won't run away.

It has a bad name.

A bad name?

What's it called?

"I Hate Julia."

♪

Liar.

That's not hate.

It's love.

I'm writing it for you.

A song for my Julia.

(sighs) (Janice sobbing)

I never heard Ma cry before.

You?

(whispers) Here.

(distant traffic noise) No.

She hates my song.

Why?

'Cause she knows I'm gone.

(scoffs) Tony, you don't make sense.

I'm a boy.

You've been a boy ever since you were born, jerk.

This music's tangling you all up.

I'm bigger.

All she wants you to do is play your music so you

guys'll get famous and stuff.

No.

She'd rather have the "boy" Tony.

When I was him, it was easy...

just practice piano.

Now, inside, jazz.

Jazz song.

My music, not Ma's.

No more compose.

Never!

♪

If you're hiding a song in you, you play it.

I don't care what it sounds like or... who it's for.

'Cause music belongs to you, Tony.

You hear me?

You're gettin' so grown up.

It's time for someone else to guide ya.

That's your job.

(chuckling) I don't know about that.

(applause) I love you, sweetheart.

You're on your own now.

Julia.

(woman) Anthony Johnston.

(applause) I'm on my own now.

It's a good place to be.

You look great.

I feel great.

(giggles) (whispering) Okay...

Good luck.

(kiss)

"Julia's Song"...

by me, Tony, Janice Johnston's piano-playing son.

♪

From cleaning lady to office manager?

That old oak tree's come a long way.

I didn't tell you that story so you could call me old.

(chuckling) You're gonna have to put up

with me for a good long time.

♪♪

He really can play, huh, Ma?

Of course, he can.

He's special.

All us Johnstons are special.

Every damn one of us.

(chuckling)

(whispers) Yeah.

(song ends) (applause)

Take a bow, honey!

(applause continues)

Mom, this one's for you.

♪

Yes!