Original subtitles

Vincent: This is where the wealthy and the powerful rule.

It is her world,

A world apart from mine.

Her name... Is catherine.

From the moment I saw her, she captured my heart

With her beauty,

Her warmth and her courage.

I knew then, as I know now,

She would change my life...

Forever.

Catherine: He comes from a secret place, far below the city streets,

Hiding his face from strangers,

Safe from hate and harm.

He brought me there to save my life.

And now, wherever I go, he is with me in spirit.

For we have a bond stronger than friendship or love.

And although we cannot be together,

We will never, ever be apart.

(subway cars rumbling)

Man: "thou makest me sad,

"and makest me sin in envy

"that my lord northumberland should be the father

"to so blest a son--

"a son who is the theme of honor's tongue.

"o, that it could be proved

"that some night-tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle-clothes

"our children where they lay.

Then would I have his harry and he mine."

It's a very moving speech.

It didn't make me sad.

Yeah.

Something about it trouble you, zach?

Well, yes.

You said that the king loved his son.

So how come he wanted to trade harry

For someone else?

The king was a leader of men, samantha.

He bore an obligation he knew was sometimes greater

Than what he owed his own family.

An obligation...

To his people.

But what about love, michael?

Vincent always says

That love is more important than anything.

Michael: It's true,

But none of us lives in a world

Made up only of loved ones.

Harry's father loved him,

But he knew one day

Harry would have to lead a nation.

He never really wanted his son traded away.

He just wanted him better prepared for his destiny.

Excuse me.

May we interrupt for a moment?

Please. Come in.

We have some wonderful news to share.

Really? What?

This just came from catherine.

Because michael scored so highly

On his scholastic aptitude test,

Brayfield college has agreed to waive the usual

Application requirements

And to admit him to the freshman class

Of the winter term.

All right! All right!

Yeah!

Yeah!

(applause continues)

I'm very proud of you.

This is an auspicious beginning.

It's terrific, michael,

But I just can't picture it here without you.

This is quite an honor.

You've done us all very proud.

Thank you, father.

(subway cars rumbling)

(exhales loudly)

(overlapping voices)

Michael: The voices--

They sound like what's going on inside my head.

(overlapping voices)

Vincent: Are you apprehensive about leaving?

I know it's a great opportunity.

I just don't know.

(overlapping voices)

Tell me.

Tell me what you're feeling.

I'm just not sure about it.

This is my home.

I've been happy here.

(overlapping voices)

Michael...

You're a part of us.

You always will be,

Wherever you go,

But there are times when you must go.

When the greatest possibilities cannot,

In good faith, be denied.

The world above has so much to offer you--

Gifts of the imagination

And learning.

And you have the mind

And the heart to cherish those gifts.

You're on the brink of a wondrous adventure,

But...

Every adventure must...

Begin in farewell.

Some adventures don't end happily.

(sighs)

All we can do is... Proceed

With the faith that they will.

It's not even the unknown that worries me.

It's what I know is up there.

You're thinking of your other life above.

It wasn't long ago, I swore I'd never go back.

Seven years ago,

And it was the oath of a child.

I still feel the pain.

But this time, you won't be alone.

Catherine will be there,

And you will have friends.

I want to do this for you.

No, michael.

You must do this for you.

(low, overlapping voices)

This is your journey.

Vincent: Perhaps I've done him a disservice.

By encouraging him to embrace his future?

By assuming that was what he wanted.

Vincent, he's come this far because of his desire,

And because you believed in him.

I always believed michael would want this opportunity.

You dreamed he could have what you couldn't have.

It's a little frightening

When our dreams begin to come true.

Yes.

We mustn't forget how michael came to us.

The loss he suffered.

His mother's death?

Yes.

And his father's rejection.

Was he abandoned?

We only know when we found michael wandering the streets

That he begged us not to contact his father.

He only said that the man wouldn't want him.

Then he lost both parents.

He lost his sense of hope.

Michael blamed not only his father,

But a world that would allow

A young child to be alone in grief.

Then michael must come back to that world,

To face those disappointments,

To make his peace.

Yes.

Well, you know I'll do everything I can to help him.

He'll need a friend.

Don't worry, vincent.

Michael comes above with a great advantage

Over almost everyone else up here.

He has your faith in him.

Honestly, I can't see what's wrong with this.

You ladies were chattering

About nostalgia in fashions today,

Old styles coming back.

Not that old, father.

Maybe that's what I need--

The distinguished look.

What are you doing, brooke?

That thing is hideous!

You're dressing him like a ten-year-old.

I see lots of topsiders wearing things like this.

Father: Oh, I agree with mary...

He looks like a ruffian in that outfit.

I'll fit right in up there, father.

Well, I'm gonna put this suit in.

Oh, father, come on.

I'll squeeze it in just in case he needs to look distinguished.

Zach! Zach! Here.

Thought you could use this up top.

A compass.

Believe me, I'll be needing this.

Thank you. Good luck.

This is for your notes and stuff.

I made it myself.

Wow!

Thank you, samantha.

The first thing I'll write in it is a letter to you.

Don't forget.

I won't. I promise.

Now listen to me, michael.

There are some very pretty girls up top

Who'll act friendly to you, but that doesn't mean

That they like you the way we do.

If you take my advice, you won't even talk to them.

Girls as pretty as you, brooke?

I can't believe it.

(laughs)

(distant clanking)

(subway cars rumbling)

I remember going away to college.

My first day on my own

In new york.

I found myself

Walking down broadway,

Swept along by the Saturday evening crowds.

Oh, I was under a spell.

I remember being drawn into a dance hall

Where they were playing dixieland jazz.

It was louis armstrong.

I'll never forget that day.

It opened a door to a new world of experience for me.

A new way of...

Seeing things.

I'm not going to say good-bye, michael.

Just... Savor

Every moment.

Godspeed.

This is where she lives?

Right above us.

Do I go up to meet her?

No.

Hello.

Catherine, you remember michael.

Of course I do.

Welcome, michael.

I'm very grateful to you for everything.

I'm happy to be able to do it.

How can I thank you?

You already have.

I'm going to miss you.

Go now.

The world awaits.

(horns honking)

(siren wailing)

I... Don't have a guest room,

But this couch happens to be great for sleeping.

Oh, that's great.

It's nice.

Michael...

If there's someplace you want to go

Or something you want to do,

Just tell me, all right?

Or if you want to be left alone.

I want you to feel comfortable here.

(sighs)

It's been a long time

Since I've been in a place like this.

I thought maybe we could go out and get something to eat.

That sounds good.

Let me get my purse.

Catherine: It's something, isn't it?

It is.

You must have missed it.

At least a little.

There's a lot of ugliness behind those lights.

Maybe,

But to me, they always promised something.

Hope, I guess.

Vincent says something like that, too.

I don't know.

Why don't we take a walk?

Okay.

Catherine: Suddenly you're above...

Sitting in a restaurant

Trying to decide what to order.

This all must seem pretty strange to you, michael.

Strange and familiar.

I used to live not far from here.

There used to be a toy store down this street.

My mom would take me to it.

After dinner, we could go by, see if it's still there.

That's all right.

In new york, your memories become a part

Of your everyday life whether you like it or not.

My high school sweetheart broke up

With me on a corner about two blocks down.

I bet he's sorry.

(laughs)

Catherine, why doesn't anybody help him?

It's a terrible problem.

There are so many like him.

I think it just overwhelms people.

Makes them feel like there's nothing

Any one person could do to possibly make a difference.

Michael, wha...

(music playing)

What the hell are you doing?

I've got enough problems keeping them

Away from the door.

The food is for the paying customers.

Excuse me.

He was trying to do something decent.

Can you understand that?

Now, if you would let us get back to our meal.

He's embarrassed my patrons.

I'm not running a soup line here.

I'm sorry. (scoffs)

An act of generosity embarrasses your patrons?

Well...

I don't think I want to be counted among them.

(laughs)

I can't believe you did that.

I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

Are you kidding?

It was fun.

I wish I had your nerve.

I just couldn't help myself.

Vincent would have done the same thing.

Do you want a hot dog?

Sure.

Two.

(man mumbling)

(mumbles)

Michael.

Now you hold on to this hot dog.

I'm not buying you three dinners tonight.

(overlapping voices)

(thunder rumbling)

(phone ringing)

Hi.

Hi.

How's your day going?

Great. It's, uh, it's raining.

I see.

I went to the metropolitan.

I wanted to see van gogh's sunflowers.

Isn't that wonderful?

Only van gogh could paint a sunflower

That makes your heart pound.

That museum is mind-boggling.

I know.

I used to get lost in the egyptian section.

So, are we still going to lunch?

Yeah.

Just finishing up.

Joe: Hey, radcliffe.

I'm reading this deposition you took on the willis case.

Where are you going with this line of questioning

About where he does his shopping?

Who cares?

The death threats came from a pay phone at a grocery

About three blocks from willis' apartment.

Oh, yeah.

That's good.

Joe, this is michael richmond.

Michael,

Meet my boss, friend and chief tormentor joe maxwell.

Hi, michael, how you doing?

Nice to meet you. Michael's a friend from out

Of town.

He's come here for college.

Gee, you know, for a minute there,

I thought maybe your life had taken a new turn, radcliffe.

Well, I won't say anything to spoil your fantasies.

Come on, let's have

Some lunch.

(horns honking)

Hi.

Hi.

So much energy out there.

(sighs)

Is it different than you remember it?

(breathes deeply)

What's different is me.

The things that frightened me then

Are beginning to excite me now.

Maybe that's because you're no longer blinded

By your disappointment.

I owe that to you.

(laughs quietly): No.

Are you thinking of seeing your father?

Today, I went by the house where I used to live.

I don't know if he still lives there.

How did it feel?

It brought back everything.

Feelings more than memories.

Feeling alone

And helpless.

For a minute, I didn't think I could deal with it.

But... I could

And I did.

And...

Things started to sort of make sense.

I mean, I, I guess my father,

He did what he had to do,

But maybe he was feeling helpless and alone, too,

And I tried to understand that.

(sighs)

I even...

I even tried to forgive him.

I think I'm finally ready to see my father again.

Good.

(sighs)

I brought chinese.

Come on.

On tuesdays and thursdays,

You'll have oriental philosophy

And this mythology- folklore class.

Mm-hmm.

God, I am so jealous.

Can I fit in modern architecture?

Uh-uh, that meets the same time as philosophy, remember?

Mm.

How about this?

Italian lit.

You'll get to read the divine comedy.

I've read it.

Huh.

Well, you need a two-unit course.

I can't believe this.

Fertility dances of polynesia.

Is that really a class?

Look.

(laughs)

(chuckles)

Nothing wrong with having a little fun in college.

All right, all right.

If we drop english history,

Then I can take albanian folk dancing.

I said a little fun.

(laughing)

Here's to the beginning of a great time in your life.

I'll never know how to thank you.

Mm.

You don't have to.

Just watching you begin to open up

And accept life is really wonderful.

Yeah, but it never would have happened without your kindness.

You deserve it.

I feel very lucky to know you.

You do?

Mm-hmm, I really do.

Um, I found this today

In-in the bookstore.

I wanted you to have it.

Blake?

I love blake.

Oh, he's one of my favorites.

"to catherine, who showed me the sky."

Thank you.

Read this one.

"to the evening star."

"thou fair-haired angel of the evening,

"now, while the sun rests on the mountains,

"light thy bright torch of love;

"thy radiant crown put on,

"and smile upon our evening bed.

"smile on our loves;

"and, while thou drawest the blue curtains of the sky,

"scatter thy silver dew

"on every flower

"that shuts its sweet eyes in timely sleep.

"let thy west wind sleep on the lake.

"speak silence with thy glimmering eyes,

"and wash the dusk with silver.

"soon, full soon, dost thou withdraw.

"then the wolf rages wide,

"and the lion glares through the dun forest.

"the fleeces of our flocks are covered with

"thy sacred dew.

"protect them with thine

Influence."

Oh.

You read that so beautifully.

Yeah, it's one of my favorites, too.

It's beautiful.

Well, you have a big day, tomorrow, and I have to be

Downtown for a deposition at 8:00,

So we better call it a night.

Thanks again, catherine.

Sleep well.

(subway cars rumbling)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(crackling thunder)

(roaring)

(roaring)

(roaring)

(roaring)

(gasps)

(panting)

Michael?

(subway cars rumbling)

Samantha: "piping down the valleys wild.

"piping songs of pleasant glee.

"on a cloud I saw a child.

"and he laughing said to me,

"'pipe a song about a lamb.'

"so I piped with merry cheer.

(distant clanking)

"'piper, pipe that song again.'

"so I piped,

He wept to hear."

Michael!

You're back.

Hi, michael. Michael.

Michael!

Michael. How you doing?

(subway cars rumbling and clanking)

They miss their teacher.

I needed to get something from my chamber I forgot.

(distant clanging)

So, how are you finding it so far?

You...

Aren't unhappy, are you?

No.

Has catherine been helpful?

Yes.

She's a rare person.

You couldn't have a better guide.

Yes, that's true.

Michael,

What's troubling you?

(exhales through nose)

Nothing.

Uh, it's just, uh, just...

School, I guess.

You know, all-all the new courses,

Decisions, people.

It's a lot to think about.

(sighs)

To leave a safe place and...

Find your way among strangers

Is a difficult passage for anyone.

Yes.

Yes, I know that.

Is it the past?

No.

(sighs)

I don't know.

Michael?

Fear...

Makes our enemies loom larger and larger.

Go back above.

You'll find your way.

Trust yourself.

Michael.

Hi.

Where were you this morning?

I woke up, and you were already gone.

I forgot my journal. I went down to get it.

Oh. Well, we better hurry

If we're gonna make the orientation party.

Uh, catherine, you don't have to go to the party.

I thought I might even skip it myself.

Don't be ridiculous.

I won't let you skip it.

You have to get oriented, michael.

Too many people go through college disoriented.

Besides, we have a date!

Catherine: No, beth!

Last I heard, you were teaching in chicago.

Beth: That was ages ago.

I'm going on my fifth year here.

I just got tenure.

Michael: Oh. What classes do you teach?

It doesn't matter. Take her. She's fabulous!

Mainly, the nineteenth century romantics.

Oh, well, that figures.

Hey, the nineteenth century is the only place

You can find it these days.

I don't know about that.

Hi.

Oh, hello.

I'm tina.

Uh...

(wiping hands)

...Michael.

(laughs)

Where are you from, michael?

I'm from out of town.

Me, too.

I'm from indiana.

Oh, yeah? That's interesting.

Not really.

(loud, overlapping chatter)

So, nice to meet you, michael.

Nice to meet you, too.

See you around? Mm-hmm.

How's it going?

Fine.

It seems so.

You're gonna do just great, michael.

Woman: Oh, hi, carl.

What is it?

That man at the doorway

In the maroon scarf-- that's my father.

Catherine: Your father? Here?

Yes.

Are you all right?

Would you like to leave?

No.

I, uh...

I want to talk to him.

I want to tell him I'm back.

Is there anything I can do?

Wait here...

And wish me luck.

(whispers): Good luck.

(loud, overlapping chatter)

Sir?

Do I know you?

You used to.

I'm michael.

I'm sorry.

Michael.

Michael, your son.

Rose's boy.

Is that who you are?

Good god.

Didn't you understand what your mother told you?

She told me you understood.

What's the matter?

Have you already spent the money?

I didn't want the money.

I never touched it.

You don't want the money?

What are you doing here?

What do you want?

I want...

What I've always wanted.

I want to be your son.

Damn it.

You can't be.

It was all an accident.

And it's been settled for years.

I wish you good luck.

I really do.

I understand.

Michael...

Michael!

Tell me what happened.

Catherine, it was a lie.

And I knew all along.

I never should have let myself hope.

Michael, whatever happened, it wasn't your fault.

No, you don't understand,

Catherine.

It is my fault!

I lied!

I lied.

To you, to vincent, to myself!

What are you saying?

He isn't your father?

He is my father, but my mother,

She wasn't his wife.

She worked for him.

She was the housekeeper.

Oh, michael.

Oh, what have I done?

I'm a fool.

Michael, you listen to me.

Don't ever think that!

What you did took courage.

Catherine, I...

It's all right.

I'm here. I'm here.

Michael...

I'm sorry.

What have I done?

You haven't done anything.

Michael, wait! Michael!

Michael, come back!

(panting)

Michael?

♪ ♪

(subway train passing in distance)

Catherine: Go to him, vincent.

He needs you.

No.

What do you think happened?

Nothing...

Happened.

I know that.

Then?

You must leave.

No.

Leave now.

Why do you want me to leave?

Because what I'm feeling--

My thoughts--

Shame me.

Tell me.

Tell me what you feel.

You mustn't see me like this.

Please don't send me away.

My thoughts are poisonous.

Tell me these thoughts.

(subway train passing in distance)

What you shared...

I envied.

(whispers): Vincent...

I betrayed michael, I betrayed you,

Everything I hold dear.

How did you betray us?

I know what it is to love you, catherine.

I love michael like, like a brother, like a son.

But his life has been such a struggle.

He needed to be healed by your tenderness.

Yet...

I was unwilling to share your love with anyone.

Don't be ashamed

Of those feelings.

Violates everything I believe.

Don't you think I have those feelings, too?

Sometimes, I envy father

And others in your life who receive your love

And your care every day.

I know those feelings.

They are ugly.

But...

All of those feelings come from love.

They are the other side of it.

To turn away from them is to forget where they come from.

Catherine...

The better part of me would rejoice

To see you find love with someone

As fine and as good as michael.

You have so much love to give.

Because of you!

What we share must always be so measured, so limited.

We don't know what the limits are.

You deserve a life without limits.

There is no life without limits!

Vincent...

If this is my fate,

I accept it, gratefully.

You must believe that.

Don't be afraid to want it.

Even only for yourself.

Don't be afraid to deserve it.

You deserve everything.

(overlapping voices)

Stay away, vincent.

Michael...

Stay away, vincent!

No.

I failed, vincent!

I failed you!

I ruined everything!

That's not true.

You don't know, vincent! I do.

You don't know what I did! I do.

You don't know what I thought!

Stop judging yourself.

Vincent, I betrayed you!

(sobbing)

What you felt was true.

You're entitled to love...

And to be loved.

That's part of your destiny as well.

Vincent...

And how could anyone...

Not love her?

(sobbing)

Michael.

Hi. Remember me?

Sure-- tina.

Hi. Hi.

Uh, where you going?

Uh, english history.

Me, too. We must be in the same class.

We must be.

Well, we better hurry.

The lights are so beautiful tonight.

Yes.

♪ ♪