Original subtitles

[theme music]

Why me?

What did I do to you?

Come on, Mark, why do you always blamed the boss

for life's little distractions?

Because, because I always stick up for Him,

and then He goes and pulls a stunt like this.

He didn't do that.

You haven't put water in that radiator for weeks.

So I didn't out water in the car,

don't you think He could cover for me once in a while?

Oh.

What's wrong?

I busted my toe.

I suppose you're going to tell me that's not His fault either?

Of course, it's not, you're the one that kicked the car.

Do you know how many times I've kicked that car?

I've kicked that car 100 times.

Never broke my toe.

I tell you it's Him.

He loves doing that to me.

And I'm telling you it's not the boss.

What else you got for me.

You going to strike me with lightning.

[thunder]

That was the boss.

Well, what the heck, it's just a car, right?

Why don't we walk, Jonathon?

It's a nice day for a walk.

Excuse me?

Excuse me, can you tell us how to get to Rose Court?

Rose Court?

Sure, I live at Rosa Court.

If you're heading back that way,

we can just tag along with you.

Why, sure.

I never minded the company.

Hey, but, you're young fellow, I don't walk so fast no more,

you know?

That's all right.

My friend isn't walking too fast lately, either.

Come on.

My name is Guido.

Guido Liggio.

I'm Mark Gordon.

This is Jonathon Smith.

How you doing?

Hi.

Aye, California, huh?

That's why me and my friend move out here, you know?

The winters got to be too much for us.

When did you come out?

Oh, five or six months ago.

Hey, you know, my friend's wife, she die, everybody dies,

so we come out here.

We live next door to each other, and we play cards

and we go to ball games.

It stinks, what can I tell you?

You got any family out here?

No.

Oh, I have a wife, but she run away with a captain

of the bowling team.

Shame, too, because after he left,

the whole team go to hell.

Not to mention that guy had a 2-10 average, too.

Hey, here we are, Rose Court.

So what building you need?

Number 14.

14?

That's my building.

Who you looking for?

Mr. Michael Clancy.

But that's my friend.

That's the guy I talk about.

Hey, who are you guys?

What's going on here? - No, no.

Nothing's going on.

We just want to talk to him, that's all.

You guys cops or lawyers?

Come on, what he do?

I kill that bum.

No, no, he didn't do anything.

Ah, you see, not do nothing.

I know that guy for 40 years, he's salt of the earth.

Mr. Liggio, we're with the International

Refugee Relief Committee.

Oh, you're looking for donation.

Well, that's no good, boys, because he's

the biggest cheapskate around.

Really, we just want to talk to him.

Refugees, huh?

All right, come on.

Look, I'm going to go up and talk to him first,

maybe I'll squeeze a couple of bucks out of him.

In the meantime, you put me down for $15,

because I know what it's like to be refugee, you know?

Hey, Clancy, where are you?

In the kitchen.

Hey, what are you doing in the kitchen?

Learning tap dancing.

What do you think I'm doing in the kitchen?

I'm making dinner early so we can see the game.

But tonight's my night to cook.

That's why I go to the store.

Tuesday's my night to cook.

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday.

It's Wednesday.

Get out of here.

I cook on a Wednesday.

Here.

Here.

Tuesday.

See, Tuesday?

Wednesday.

Where's Wednesday?

Get your glasses.

I don't need my glasses.

What's this from, today?

Wednesday.

Well, what's this here?

That's yesterday's paper.

Today is Wednesday.

I thought it was Tuesday.

Boy, you're going to be the poster

boy for Alzheimer's disease.

So I thought it was Tuesday.

Who won the game?

The Dodgers, they lost.

Yeah, those bums.

What do you expect?

They can't even play on the right day.

What happened to Tuesday?

You fall asleep.

Oh, hey, there's two guys out in the hall.

They want to see you.

What two guys?

The two guys in the hall.

They come from some relief organization.

I'm going to give $15.

I pay anybody $15, they're better give me relief.

It's for the refugees.

I don't need no refugees.

Refugees need the money.

[non-english]

So you give.

I give.

So you're a chump.

I'm a chump?

That's right, you're a chump.

I'm a chump and you don't even know what day it is?

I may not know what day it is, but I don't stick my teeth

in no garbage disposal either.

You're a cheapskate.

I don't want to have no more to do with you.

That's fine, because I want nothing

more to do with you either.

Fine.

Then fine.

Finito.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

What time we eat?

Half an hour.

If you're late, I throw it away.

Oh, Mr. Liggio--

And don't slam the door.

Mr. Clancy, I'd like to--

[door slams]

Mr. Liggio, what happened?

You talk to him.

I can't.

He don't even know what day it is.

One of life's little distractions.

Don't let it get you down.

Actually, my toe is feeling better.

That's cute.

That's cute.

Yeah?

Mr. Clancy, my name is Jonathan Smith.

This is Mark Gordon.

We're with the International Refugee Relief.

Yeah, well you go see my former friend, Mr. Liggio,

across the hall.

He's the chump, not me.

You're a cheapskate.

You can't squeeze no blood from a pig's ear.

I'll give you a pig's ear.

Will you guys knock it off?

We're not here for a donation.

You're not?

No.

How come you was going to take my money?

Because it's a scam.

I told you that before.

Mr. Clancy, Mr. Clancy, it is not a scam.

Now what I have to say to you is very personal and very private.

I'd rather not do it out here in the hall.

You got something to say, say it.

It's about your son.

Could we come inside and sit down?

My son.

Hey, wait a minute.

What are you guys are trying to pull here.

Clancy's boy, he got to killed 13 years ago.

I know that, Mr. Liggio.

You recognize this?

Well, yeah, that's my boy's St. Christopher.

His mother gave it to him when he

was shipping out for good luck.

Where'd you get this?

From the woman he gave it to.

Mr. Clancy, can we come inside?

I want you to tell me what this is all about,

and I want you to tell me right now.

It's about a boy named Michael Clancy Nguyen.

He's your grandson.

Mr. Clancy, is that a picture of your son?

Yeah.

That's my boy.

That's Mike.

We have some letters that the woman in that photograph says

were written to her by your son.

Is that your boy's handwriting?

Yeah, it looks like it.

So what?

What's it got to do with me?

Your son was killed in April.

In July, the girl in that picture

gave birth to a baby boy, your grandson.

They're in Thailand in a refugee camp.

They want to come to the United States,

but they need a sponsor.

You go to hell.

What?

What?

I was speaking English, wasn't I?

Go on.

You get out of here.

But, Clancy, if it's your grandkid--

You stay out of this.

My kid's a lonely GI, so he latches onto some broad

over there who's probably been sleeping with half the US army,

and she plays him for a chump.

And he thinks it's his.

I'm no chump.

You hear that?

Mike Clancy ain't nobody's chump.

Mr, Clancy, she didn't work in a bar.

She was a student, and she was in love with your son.

We have letters he's written to his commanding officer

asking if he could marry her and bring her over.

I'll leave the file with you.

You can go over it.

The boy's name is Michael.

She named him after your son.

I said get out.

Come on now.

You get out.

I've left the address of where we're staying.

Please read the file.

You're the only one they have.

Goodbye, sir.

Mike Junior always wrote so tiny.

You know, I told that kid, if I told him once, I told him

a million times, write bigger.

Write bigger, you know?

Where's my glasses?

I can't ready this thing. - Here.

Here.

Dear Lan--

Lan?

What's Lan?

Maybe it's the girl in the picture.

Don't worry about the baby.

Everything will work out.

I'm getting a lot of static from the army,

but when I get back to the States,

my folks will help figure out a way to get to you over here.

My dad can be a real jerk sometimes, but he loves me

and I know that once he meets you,

he will love you and the baby too.

He was a real chump.

He was a sweet kid, you know?

Why'd they have to go and kill my boy, Guido?

Huh?

What the hell kind of God lets that happen

to a sweet kid like that?

Why'd they kill my son?

Lan?

I'm Jonathan Smith, one of your caseworkers.

Hello.

And you must be Michael.

Michael, this is your grandfather.

I can never repay you for what you

have done for me and my son.

Thank you.

Yeah, well, hey, you don't want to be doing that.

I'm not any bishop or anything.

Anyway, welcome to America.

Let's get your stuff and let's go.

Are you really my grandfather?

Well, that's what your mother says.

Mr. Clancy.

What?

Nothing.

We will get our things.

Now, this is for you.

You two will have to share this.

This is our room?

Yeah.

I don't know what you expected, but I ain't no millionaire,

you know?

I mean, that's what there is.

You take it or leave it, you know?

Mr. Clancy, my son has been raised

in rooms with 14 other people, and they were not really rooms.

They were tents and tin shanties.

He was not complaining.

He has never known such luxury as a bed

in which only he sleeps.

We are both very grateful.

Yeah, well, OK then.

There's a bathroom there.

Can I see it, Mother?

Ask your grandfather.

May I, Grandfather?

Yeah, sure.

Listen, don't call me Grandfather, huh?

Just call me Clancy, OK?

But why?

Because I know I'm Clancy, I don't

know I'm your grandfather.

Mr. Clancy, I appreciate very much what you have done for us.

My son has not had anything in his life.

The only things he has had are my love

and the knowledge of who he is.

Rooms we can do without, bathrooms we can do without,

and food we have done without, but I will not let anyone

try to rob my son of who he is.

Not even his grandfather.

Mr. Smith, can I talk to you alone here for a second here?

Sure.

Mark, why don't you take Lan and Michael down to the beach.

They'd probably like to see that.

Would you like that?

I'd rather see the bathroom.

Later, Michael.

Let's go with Mr. Gordon down to the beach.

Yeah. You're going to love it.

OK.

What's on your mind?

Listen, Smith, this ain't going to work out.

I was willing to help out because my son had

feelings for this woman, but I won't

put up with this in my house.

Put up with what?

I mean, she's got some mouth, don't she?

I thought these women were supposed to be, you know,

bowing, and, yes, sir, and, no, sir.

She didn't come here to be your maid, you know?

She's not here to talk to me like that in my own house

either.

She ain't going to pull the wool over my eyes

with all that highfalutin talk.

I know exactly what kind of woman she is.

Are you through, Mr. Clancy?

Yeah, I expect that's about it.

Then let me tell you something.

She gave birth to that boy after the fall of Saigon.

That child was living proof to the North Vietnamese

that she had committed the most unpardonable of sins.

She consorted with the enemy.

The boy was marked mixed blood, but she wasn't marked.

All she had to do was give up that child

and she could have lived a much easier life,

but she didn't because she loved her son and she loved your son.

And that's the kind of woman she is.

Here.

Where's Mark and Michael?

Michael wanted to see an American bathroom

and the neighbor--

I don't remember his name.

Guido.

Guido.

He let him in and let him flush the toilet.

My son is very impressed with toilets that flush.

It's going to be all right.

It's going to be all right.

Yes.

Yes.

Forgive me.

Hey, come on, there's no reason to forgive anything.

I should not be crying on such a day.

We are in America finally.

This is not a day to be crying.

We are very grateful.

Lan, I know you're grateful.

I also know what Mr. Clancy said to you upstairs was very cruel

and it hurt you very much.

I thought it would be different.

I was foolish to think that.

He's very much like my own father.

It would shock him how much he is like my father.

What do you mean?

According to my father, All-American

GIs were exactly alike, just out to use Vietnamese girls.

He thought of Michael in much the same way

as Michael's father thinks of me.

Ironic, isn't it?

Where is he now?

Dead.

He told me I must choose between my American and my family.

I never saw him again.

Later, in the camps, I heard he, my mother, my sister all dead.

Lan, I don't think Mr. Clancy's a bad man.

I think he just needs a little time, that's all.

I don't know.

In the camps, no matter how bad it was outside,

when we were in our hut, my son and I, there was as much love

as there was hatred outside.

We could survive the hatred because of the love

we had at home, but if the hatred is not

outside anymore, but in our own home,

how will my son survive that?

How?

Hey, kid?

You.

I'm talking to you.

You're a new kid, right?

Yes.

That's why I'm going to let you off easy this time.

Let me off?

That's right.

You didn't pay no tax this morning.

Everybody got to be tax, man.

Which tax?

The tax so I don't thump on your head.

$1.50 every morning.

That's what you pay.

But I don't have such money.

Hey, man, don't lie to me.

I seen you on the lunch line.

You got the money.

You're getting from your old grandpa Clancy, right?

See, word travels fast in this neighborhood.

But that is my lunch money.

Yeah, well, from now on, you're on a diet,

because if you don't pay, we're going to have

to thump on you a little.

And if you think that your old man can protect you,

maybe we thump on him, too.

You got it?

I said, you got it?

Yes.

Hey, man, don't take it so hard.

Everybody got to pay tax.

It's America, right?

Here you go.

Oh good.

Did you get everything on the list?

Yeah, I think so.

Boy, I've been waiting to start this stew all day long.

I am really getting sick of eating fast food.

They just sit there.

Who?

Lan and Clancy and Michael.

What do they got to do with my stew?

What's your stew got to do with our assignment?

I'm talking about Lan and Clancy and Michael.

No, you weren't.

You may have been thinking about them,

but you weren't talking about them.

I was just talking about them.

I just told you, they just sit there in the apartment.

Lan and Michael sit in their room,

and Clancy sits in his room.

They don't even talk.

You forgot the oregano.

What?

The oregano, and there's no chili pepper

and there's no bell peppers here.

I mean, if you're not going to get everything on the list,

why don't you say so? Could have gone myself.

Oh, come on, what are you mumbling about?

I am mumbling because I'm hungry.

I always mumble when I'm hungry.

I am not an angel.

I have a human stomach.

Yeah, well, that's your opinion.

Oh, that's cute, Jonathon. That's cute.

Hey, look, I'm sorry.

Yeah, me, too.

You know what?

What?

You and ma right now, we are sounding like Clancy and Guido.

Is that what it's going to be like 20 years from now

when we really get old?

Hey, speak for yourself.

I'm as old as I'm going to get, remember?

I forgot that.

Hey, maybe that's it.

Maybe that's what?

Well, we've been trying to get to Clancy through his grandson.

Maybe we ought to be going through his friend.

Guido?

Yeah.

Yeah, Guido.

[knocking]

You want to apologize, come in.

If not, take a hike.

Guido?

You should be--

Oh, I thought you was that bum Clancy.

You cheapskate.

Is it all right if I come in?

Oh, sure, sure, sure.

Come on in.

Come in.

I'm kind of stir crazy, you know?

Excuse, but it's no good to be all alone all the time,

you know?

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

You and Clancy had another fight, huh?

Oh, yeah, just because I give the kid, Michael,

you know, I give the kid a backpack for school, you know.

And every kid should have a backpack, you know,

just like I see all the kids around here.

Oh, Clancy, that bum, he say, hey, how

much you pay for that backpack?

I say, who cares?

He said, oh, he cares.

He say I owe him $10 from the pinnacle game

and before I buy backpack, I should pay up.

I say, hey, if you wasn't such a cheapskate,

I would not have to buy him what he should buy him, you know?

His grandkid.

Listen, Clancy's not get along too well with the kid either,

you know?

Yeah, I know, but it's not my business, you know?

Well, maybe it can be your business.

What do you mean?

Well, you see, part of our job, Jonathon and me,

is to see that the kid gets kind of adapted to American culture.

So?

So, Clancy is sitting over there like a lump.

Because he is a lump.

You jerk.

Right.

But see, none of that's doing the kid any good or the mother

either.

I mean, they don't know anybody around here.

I mean, she's off all day long looking for a job,

the kid is at school, he comes home

and he just stays in his room.

So we figure it would be better for him if he could get out,

you know, have a little bit of fun.

You know, toss a ball around.

Maybe go to the pier.

Ride a merry go round.

So why don't you take him to the pier?

I would, but they need something else right now.

They both do.

I'm their case worker.

What they've got to have right now is a friend.

Hey, I got the news for you, friend.

Everybody needs a friend.

Hey, it stinks to be all alone, you know?

So?

So what?

So what's stopping you?

I don't think Clancy would appreciate that, you know.

So what?

So what?

So what?

Yeah.

Yeah.

So what?

Right.

Oh.

[knocking]

Who is it?

Guido.

Guido who?

Guido, the welsher?

You come to apologize, you better

had 10 bucks in your mitt, otherwise, get lost.

I'm not coming to see you.

I come to see your grandkid.

Oh, you want to go out and play?

Yes.

Something like that.

Excuse me.

Hello, Mr. Liggio.

Guido.

Can I come in?

Sure.

Excuse me.

Listen, kid, you and your momma want

to come with me to the pier?

We go ride the merry go round?

Merry round?

You never seen a merry go round?

It's a horse, wood horse, and it go round in a circle.

Oh, it's more fun than a barrel of monkey.

It has monkeys?

[speaking italian] God bless you.

Come on, are we going to have fun.

Can we?

It's very kind, but--

But what?

Come on with Uncle Guido.

Well, I suppose.

All right.

Come on.

Grandfather, are you coming too?

No.

You want to go somewhere go.

If you don't wish us to go, we will not go.

Hey, it's a free country.

You can come and go as you please, You know?

The voice of charm and culture has just spoke.

Come on.

[music playing]

You think my grandfather will like the bear I won for him?

I don't know about bear, but a stuffed rat

would be more his style.

Listen, why don't you two come in?

I got some ice cream, and--

Look, I no have this much fun for years,

and I don't want to see it end.

We should invite Mr. Clancy.

I would rather chew a razor blade,

but, hey, if that's what you want, OK.

Come on in.

I go get him, huh?

Hey, Clance, what are you doing here?

I was just coming to--

Hey, what are those?

Both of you guys are such pals,

you buy the kids backpacks, stick

him on the merry go round, both of you guys is immigrants.

Well, you got to stick together.

So you be responsible for them.

You take care of them, because I want nothing to do with you.

Not any one of you.

I don't need nothing from anyone, you hear?

I don't need anybody.

It's about Michael Nguyen.

I understand you're his caseworkers.

Anything wrong?

Some of the teachers have noticed

Michael going through the garbage can at lunchtime.

The garbage?

I did some checking, and it seems

that he does this every day.

He either scrounges around through the trash can

or he just doesn't eat.

Now, what's his guardian like?

This Mr. Clancy?

I'm sure he gives the boy lunch money.

Yeah, he's tight, but he's not inhumane.

Well, something's happening to the money.

I tried talking to him about it, but he wouldn't say a word.

If you'd like to try, you can catch

him before tomorrow morning.

We'll do that, thank you.

Look, don't you worry about it.

I know Clancy for 40 years.

He's-- but he cool off.

No.

He doesn't want us.

He hasn't wanted us from the beginning.

But why?

Why is he like that?

Because he's a jerk because that's why.

I mean, I love the guy but I can't stand him.

Get your things, Michael.

We'll find a place.

No.

Wait.

Look, I got a room.

You take my room.

I sleep on the daybed.

No.

That's very kind, but we will make our own arrangements.

I don't do this out of no kindness.

I have a fun day.

It was nice, and I never had no kids before.

I want the kid, but I never had one.

Mr. Liggio.

Guido.

Guido, I don't say these things to offend you,

but my son and I are not a burden to be transferred

from one man to another.

Mr. Clancy cannot give us to you.

Lan, I don't do this out of pity, or because Clancy

gave you both to me.

I know I'm not blood relation, but I

figured it takes more than a blood

connection to make a family.

I'm a lonely man.

All I have until you come was card games with Clancy.

We fight all the time.

Only because we're both lonely old men.

Only he's too hard of head to admit.

I had fun today, and I figure we can have more fun if we go out

and eat together, go to ball games,

play checkers, be friends.

I know we're not family, but we could be almost like family.

You ain't got nobody, I ain't got nobody.

But people got to have somebody.

So, why don't you give it a try, two, three days, please?

Cam we, Mother?

I had fun too.

You did?

Yeah, I had fun.

As soon as I get a job, we'll pay you for the room.

Good.

Good.

And for what we eat.

Sure.

Sure.

All right.

I had fun, too.

What do you want?

Here.

What's this?

The kid's lunch money.

How are you doing, Michael?

Hello, Mr. Smith.

Mr. Gordon.

Michael, did you just give your lunch

money to those kids over there?

No.

Look, Michael, you're living in a free country now.

Those kids have no right to take your money.

And if they do, you don't have to be afraid to ask for help.

Who will help me?

We will.

Today.

What about tomorrow and the day after that?

You'll be gone, they'll be here.

You can tell your teachers.

And if they can't stop it, you can always tell the police.

I will tell no one.

I don't want troubles, and I don't want

my grandfather to have trouble.

You know how you survive, Mr. Smith?

You keep quiet.

So I will keep quiet.

I have to go to school now.

Let's go rip the lips of those kids.

No, hold it, he's right.

Let's face it.

What happens when we're gone?

Can't just let him get away with it.

I know that.

Come on.

Why don't you let me, just one time?

Mark?

Yeah, I'm coming.

[knocking]

Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.

Hold your water.

Not interested.

Interested or not, you're going to talk to us.

I finished with those two.

You want to talk about them, go see Guido.

I gave them to him.

What are you talking about you gave them to him?

That's right.

I kicked them out.

Just like I'm kicking you out.

Now, go on, amscray.

Mr. Clancy, are you aware that every day

your grandson goes through the trash cans for his lunch?

Trash cans.

What are you talking about?

I gave the kid his lunch money.

And every day a gang of kids take it away from him.

Why didn't he say something?

Why doesn't he fight back?

Because he's afraid.

I'm not responsible if the kid's a coward.

He wasn't afraid for himself.

He didn't fight back because the kids said

they'd do something to you.

He was afraid for you.

He'd rather eat garbage than have them hurt his grandfather.

I'm not his grandfather.

Let me ask you a question.

How many people in your life ever loved you as

much as that little boy does?

Wes, my son, did.

Well, your son's dead.

Your grandson's alive.

And after everything you've done to him,

he still loves you that much.

And you gave him away.

What makes you so sure he's going to show up?

I got his Irish up.

See what I mean?

Michael?

Grandfather?

Where's the kid that's been taking your money?

No one takes my money.

Don't lie to me.

I won't have any grandson of mine eating garbage

on account of some punks.

It was these guys, wasn't it?

No.

And you're not my grandfather.

You even said so, so just leave me alone.

You listen to me.

I am your grandfather, and I don't

want to have you lying to me.

Now it was them, wasn't it?

Yes, but it doesn't matter.

Please, don't--

You stay here.

I'll take care of this.

You.

You give that little kid his money back, you hear me?

Hey, man, get your finger out of my face before I cut it off.

Listen, I said you--

Come on, let's go.

No, no.

Let's wait.

Old man, you going to get hurt.

You leave my grandfather alone.

Get your hands off my grandson.

What happened?

The boss give them the stuff?

No, I did.

I didn't think he'd mind this time.

I like your style.

Yours too, of course.

Michael, you OK?

Yeah, are you?

Yeah.

How did we do that?

I don't know.

I mean, maybe it's like, you know, those stories you hear.

A mother sees her kid trapped under a car,

and she loves the kid so much, she

gets this superhuman strength and just lifts the car off.

Maybe that's what it was?

No.

Why do you say that?

Because you said such strength comes from love.

Yeah, I did say that.

Michael, I've been mad at you.

I've been mad at everybody, but it's not because of anything

you've done.

You see, I loved your daddy more than anything in the world,

and when he got killed over there,

it was, well, I acted like you got to get over it and move on.

But you can't get over something like that.

It's a pain and it never leaves, so I

tried to block everything out.

And then you and your mom came along,

and it made me remember him and all that pain came back,

and I didn't want to feel it.

So I didn't want you around, because every time I looked

at you I could see my Michael.

You know, you remind me an awful lot of him, kid.

And when I look in your face, it's like I could

see Michael looking back at me.

So I tried to shut you out, because if I didn't do that,

I'd probably love you.

But it hurts so much to do that.

You understand?

No.

Oh, neither do I.

That's nice, you know?

Reminds me of that line in that movie.

What movie?

The one with Ryan O'Neal, where he says,

love means never having to understand.

Say you're sorry.

For what?

It's the line in the movie.

Love means never having to say you're sorry.

That's the stupidest thing I ever heard.

Grandfather?

Yeah, kid?

Can Uncle Guido live with us, too?

Uncle Guido?

That bum?

Yeah, that bum.

I don't know.

We'll think about it.

Maybe it would be cheaper to get one big place.

We'll talk it over with your mom.

That bum Guido still owes me 10 bucks.

He said you cheated him.

I cheated him?

Yeah, he says you always cheat at cards.

He's senile.

That's what he said about you.

Me?

He's the one who put his teeth in the garbage disposal.

[laughter]

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