Original subtitles

[music playing]

MAN: Paul?

PAUL: In the bathroom Dad.

Be out in a minute

MAN: Well, this is it, kid.

Last game of the season.

PAUL: Last game of my career.

From here to eternity.

MAN: I'm proud of you son.

PAUL: All state shortstop.

MAN: Great at anything he tries.

143rd in his class.

PAUL: Could spent been a few years bumming around

with a local Major League team, but he

turned down the Dodgers scout and went

to Wonderland Computers.

MAN: You made the right decision.

PAUL: Sure I did.

Here's George.

How are you, George?

Your brother's going to hit a home run for you today.

Aren't you Paul?

Paul, tell your brother you're going

to hit a home run for him.

I'm gonna hit out there for you, kid.

It's the last game.

Right Georgie?

I'm late.

Batting practice, last batting practice.

I'll see you at the game.

Bye bye.

I don't know what gets into him.

It's not easy for him.

He loves baseball.

Baseball.

He'd never make a living.

Maybe, maybe not.

But, he did give up a dream to help us with George.

He's moving out.

He's a man.

He's got a very nice girl.

Just a girl.

She's a very nice girl.

He's got a job.

He's going to be all right.

I'm very proud of that boy.

We don't have to worry about George.

Not with that boy around.

I'll get the car, and you get George.

Time for the ball game, George.

[cheering]

You got it Paul!

He looks great out there, doesn't he?

Nice to have a star in the family.

He promised George he's going to hit one out for him today.

These peanuts are stale.

Sure ain't the Major Leagues.

College ball loses me.

What are we doing here?

I don't know yet.

You don't know?

Why couldn't we not know what a Major League game?

You can't even get a hot dog here.

Eat your peanuts.

Nice, nice, nice.

Not Major League, but nice.

Paul's up.

I'm going to do the cheer.

No, I'll go.

Let's go Paul!

Come on, root.

Your man's at the plate.

Come on Paul!

That's more like it.

This is it George.

Your brothers up.

Let's go Paul!

[cheering]

You did it Paul!

See George, your brother said he'd hit one out there for you

and he did!

[suspenseful music]

It's going to be all right, George.

I know how you feel.

But, we'll be here.

We'll always be here to take care of you, George.

I love you, son.

[humming]

There you go, George.

You want the bathroom light on?

OK.

Just a few minutes.

You should get your sleep.

I'll see you in a few minutes.

He wants the bathroom light left on.

He's upset, he's scared.

That's why he wants the lights on.

Yeah, he really acts upset.

Games, games, games.

How long are you going to play these games, mom?

They're not games.

He doesn't know what's going on.

He doesn't even know dad's dead.

I'm sorry.

I'm still moving out.

Move out.

I got a job.

I'm going to be able to support myself.

I asked Jessica to move in with me.

She's thinking about it.

And I think she'll say yes.

Oh, she'll say yes.

Why wouldn't she say yes?

I want my own life.

A separate life.

I'll write you letters.

It's five blocks.

It's only five blocks from here.

Did I say anything?

I didn't say anything.

You brought it up.

Mom, I want to live a little.

We all want to live.

Your brother wants to live.

I'll see that he lives.

You'll see?

It's time you had a life.

Your father is dead.

Now you want me to live?

You can't handle George by yourself.

I'll be all right.

I'll get help.

He should be in an institution.

You should be in an institution.

It doesn't have to be awful.

They're not all awful.

Your father would love this.

Boy was he wrong about you.

We don't have to worry about George, not

with that boy around.

Move out!

George will be fine with me.

He'll be just fine.

[suspenseful music]

That's Jessie.

I've got to go, mom.

Are you going to take George?

No, I'm not.

Oh Paulie, come on.

You know how George loves to go in the car.

Mom, it's a date.

Jessica's found an apartment.

I've got to make a decision.

But, George wouldn't disturb you.

He'd just sit-in the car.

Jessica's got a new car.

It's only got two seats.

She got a car with two seats so she

wouldn't get stuck with George.

Come on mom, please.

It was a present from her father.

See you later.

Who wants to go with them anyway?

Do you want to watch some TV?

Or, I know, you want mom to read to you.

OK then, I'll get a book.

Well, how do you like it?

Paul?

Will you be quiet for a minute?

Sorry.

Your mom?

Yeah.

I tried to talk to her about finding a place for George.

It's no use.

She lives in this dream world where

George knows what's going on.

God, he wouldn't even know if he was in an institution.

What are you going to do?

She can't manage alone.

I don't know.

What the hell?

Pull over, I'll take a look.

Can you see anything?

Yeah, you got a water hose split wide open.

Any way to fix it?

You need to replace the hose.

They must have a phone I can use in there.

Let's go.

Oh great, I have the car for two days.

Don't worry, we'll fix it.

Excuse me.

Yeah?

My car broke down out front.

I was wondering if I could use your phone.

Oh sure, there's a payphone down the end of the hall.

You need some change?

No, I've got some.

I'll be right back.

OK.

You want some coffee while you wait?

Sure.

Right over here.

How do you take it?

Black.

There you go.

Nice place.

Yeah, it is nice.

And a real great staff too, that's

the most important thing.

Yeah.

Do you get any younger people?

I mean, is it just old folks?

No, no.

We get some of the younger ones.

Are you a doctor?

Me?

No, speech pathologist.

Sounds interesting.

Yeah, it is.

I work along with an occupational therapist.

A lot of people have problems with their speech

after things like a stroke.

Some of them can't speak at all.

So, it's our job to determine just how

bad the damage is, and then see what we can

do to help them communicate.

I see.

So, you could check somebody out,

and be able to say whether or not they understand

what's going on around them.

Oh yeah, sure.

Look, could we sit down and talk somewhere?

Yeah, my office is right over there.

OK, great.

Let me just get Jessica.

I want her to be in on this.

So, did you and your lady friend find a place?

Nope.

I'm going to look again tomorrow morning.

In your two seater.

Can you sit down for a minute, mom?

I want to talk to you.

Please?

I was talking to a man today about George.

He's not leaving here.

Ma, let me finish.

This man works with people who have problems.

He can tell us whether George understands anything.

I don't need anybody to tell me that.

He understands.

Then let this man see him.

No!

I don't want any doctors around George.

Ma, he's not a doctor.

He's a therapist who can tell us.

I don't need anybody to tell me anything.

When are you going to stop being afraid to hear the truth?

Doctor told you 35 years ago and you called him a liar.

That was the end of it.

He was a liar.

All right, then let this man tell us that.

If he does, I'll never talk about sending George anywhere.

Ma, look at me.

Mommy, look at me.

Are you sure George understands?

I'm sure.

Then prove it.

Prove it.

All right.

Be here at 3 o'clock tomorrow.

[somber music]

The owner said he would supply the drapes

with a two year lease.

What about changing the carpet?

It's kind of dull.

Let me see what I can work with.

PAUL: Jessie, honey. Come on in here.

Excuse me.

Honey, look at this place.

This is the perfect sized bedroom.

I love this.

Look at this view, look at it.

It's a street.

But, what a street.

It's a great street.

I love this place.

I love you.

God, honey, in a few hours a weight is

going to be lifted off of me.

I feel so good.

It's going to be hard on your mom, finding out the truth.

I know.

I know that, but when she accepts it

it's going to be a whole new life for her too.

Let's get married.

I thought we were going to.

I mean, sooner.

When we find a place for George, and maybe get my mom

to a nice little apartment.

She's not going to want to stay in that house all alone.

What do you say, kid?

Yes, again.

You have such beautiful hair.

You have your father's hair.

Paul has invited someone to meet you today,

and we want to look our best, yes?

George looks a little pale to me.

I think he looks fine.

I know my son better than you do.

He's upset, I can tell.

He knows what you're trying to do to him.

Mom, the man is coming to look at George.

That's all.

To look, to recommend.

You have no feeling for George, have you?

Mom, please try and keep an open mind.

Have to be a nice place.

A nice place.

He's never been with strangers, now you want

him to live with strangers.

He'll be completely and utterly lost.

How can you do this to him?

That boy loves you, he idolizes you.

Mom, stop it.

Can't you read his eyes?

No.

I'll get it.

How you doing, Paul?

I'm a little early. - It's all right.

Come on in.

Thanks.

He's in here.

That's my mother.

Mom, this is Mr. Smith.

Nice to meet you.

Hello, please sit down.

Thank you.

I don't know what kind of tests

you're going to be doing on George,

but he's not been feeling very well today.

And I'm not sure how he'll do.

He'll do the same as he's done every day.

I'm trying to explain something to Mr. Smith.

Well, Paul told me that George hasn't been to a doctor

since his birth.

Except for various vaccinations.

That's right.

He's been well, thank God.

Mom doesn't have much faith in doctors.

With good reason.

Well, I'd like to meet George.

George, this is Mr. Smith.

Hello George.

Hello Mr. Smith.

Mom.

Mr. Smith said hello, George says hello.

George, can, can you see my hand?

That's it, George.

You see, he knows.

He understands.

JONATHAN SMITH:

When something's in front of him, his eyes move.

What does that mean?

I don't know, maybe we should find out.

All right George, I want you to look at my eyes.

My eyes, George.

Look up.

That's it.

Right, I want you to close your eyes.

Close them.

Open your eyes, George.

That's it, that's it.

He understands simple commands, that's for sure.

Your name is George, right?

I want you to close your eyes, and open them

again if the answer is yes.

That is good, George.

Real good.

What are you doing this afternoon?

Nothing.

All right, we're going to take George

down and test him, and find out what's

going on in that head of his.

Test are over.

You can come on in.

Now, they're right back here.

I'm sorry it took so long.

Well, how did it go?

It went fine.

Just fine.

Please, sit down.

Mrs. Germain, we already knew that George could breathe

out, and blink his eyes.

What we were looking for was any other kind of movement.

Any kind of control of a muscle.

But, even if we didn't find one, we could

attach a switch to his thumb.

A switch?

A switch.

We've got all kinds of switches.

And we can adapt.

And switches run computers.

And computers mean communication.

Well anyway, we found out that George can move two fingers.

Not a lot, but enough.

Can he control them?

I've seen them move before, but I thought it

was just nerves or something.

No, he controls them.

Watch.

George, move your second finger.

All right George, now move your third finger.

Move your third finger, George.

You give us two controllable fingers, we got the world.

That means he can move himself from place to place.

How?

MARK GORDON: In a motorized chair with a specially

designed switch.

I can't use the idea that George can think.

George can do more than just think.

How much, we don't know yet.

But one thing for sure, he can read.

You're out of your mind.

Now, somewhere, somehow that boy taught himself to read.

It's not possible.

It may be impossible, but I guarantee you he can read.

Paul taught him.

When he was learning to read, he used to bring his lessons home.

You used to sit with him for hours,

and teach him what you learned.

Mom, I was six, seven.

I was pretending.

I didn't think he was learning anything.

MARK GORDON: That's it, he's been reading.

I bet you read him what was under the pictures.

We've always read to him.

I read to him every day.

You point to the words.

Yes, I wanted to believe he could understand.

MARK GORDON: Well, he did.

I mean, do you realize the brain that's in this boy's head?

[phone ringing]

Hello?

PAUL (ON THE PHONE): Jess?

Oh Paul, I tried to call you all day.

PAUL (ON THE PHONE): Yeah, we were out.

We had to take George down for more tests.

How'd it go?

PAUL (ON THE PHONE): It's a long story.

Can you come over for dinner?

Sure.

Is everything all right?

PAUL (ON THE PHONE): Yeah, yeah everything's fine.

You mind driving over?

I'm helping mom with dinner.

No, that's fine.

PAUL (ON THE PHONE): So, I'll see you in about an Hour

Yeah, OK.

PAUL (ON THE PHONE): I love you.

I love you too.

This turkey is delicious.

Best yet, mom.

Well, it's George's favorite.

Has been ever since he was a little boy.

You know gentlemen, you are the first guest we've head

over to dinner here in years.

It's the first bottle of wine I've had in years.

Well, why not?

It's a celebration.

PAUL: Wednesday George gets his new chair.

Little switch moves it with his fingers, and off he goes.

Little George is just like an astronaut, right George?

I don't know how to thank you both,

all you've done for George.

It's like a miracle isn't it, honey?

Yes, yes it is.

Here we go.

Nice piece of white meat, and some dressing.

George loves his turkey and dressing.

Mr. And Mrs. Jannis called.

They want to know when we're moving in.

I didn't know what to say.

Paul can't make that decision at this moment dear.

We've got a lot going on here with George.

They want a deposit.

Well, can we get it back?

I don't know.

Do we want it back?

Well, no.

But, I mean, there is so much going on right now.

Maybe we shouldn't rush it, you know?

Sure.

Excuse me.

I'll be right back.

[knocking]

PAUL: Jess?

Honey, come on.

Don't do this.

Don't do what?

All I asked you was--

It's not going to work, Paul.

Were dead in the water.

Jess, honey, nothing's changed.

I'm going to move out.

It's just going to take a little more time, that's all.

Come on, can't you feel happy for George?

I am happy for George.

I'm scared, that's all.

Honey.

Don't.

Tell you what, here.

We'll put the deposit down.

You move in early, and you get the place all ready for us.

OK?

OK.

Let's go back to dinner.

We're supposed to be celebrating.

OK.

MARK GORDON: Way to go, George.

You look like you've been driving

that thing all your life.

JONATHAN SMITH: As you can see, we've attached his lab computer

to the chair, and then adapted the controls

to the chair control.

It all works off the same switch.

Yeah, same switch.

Mark there is a genius.

So, the computer will scan the letters,

and when George sees the one he wants, throws the switch.

And to make conversation easier,

he's programmed sentences into the machine.

I bet he's put 15 sentences in there already.

That's amazing.

This is what George has been waiting for.

Come on, let's show them, pal.

You are right mom, turkey and dressing is my favorite.

[music playing]

What are you doing up?

I couldn't sleep.

Keep thinking about George.

He's working on his computer.

He may never go to bed.

[laughter]

I was so wrong about George.

So was I.

What do you mean?

You're the one who always said he understood.

I didn't believe it.

You were right, that's why I never

let another doctor near him.

We've been his jailers.

We've kept him locked inside himself.

He's got a new life now.

What did you say to Jessica?

About what?

About not moving out.

Well, we've done a terrible thing here.

We have to make amends.

Mom, please don't start with the guilt trip again.

Really.

But, George needs you now.

More than ever, Paul.

Mom--

[beeping]

It's George, I'll get it.

What do you need, George?

I'm thirsty.

Water please.

You've got it, champ.

That's enough?

All this time you never told me you could blink,

never told me you could move your fingers.

What other secrets are you keeping from me?

I love you, Paul.

[somber music]

I went to Robinson's today.

They had a sale.

Uh-huh?

I saw the cutest love seat.

You'd never believe it.

$150, $10 down.

Pretty good deal, huh?

Sounds good.

They're bringing the drapery samples tomorrow.

I wish you could be there to see it.

George wants to become a writer.

They've attach the printer to his computer, he's all excited.

They're giving him a switch box.

Calling it environmental control.

He's going to be able to turn on the TV, turn the radio,

open the drapes, even open the refrigerator.

That's wonderful.

Of course, when he opens the refrigerator,

someone still has to take something out of it for him.

Everything's changed with George,

but some things don't change, and never will.

Paul?

I can't ask my mom to send him someplace.

OK.

What about what we talked about, getting

someone to live in the house and help take care of George?

It's a possibility.

Have you talked to your mom about it?

Jess, listen to me.

All my life I've taken care of George.

And I've always kept a secret with me all that time.

Way down there I didn't love him.

I didn't love my brother.

I mean, there was this living thing.

It was like a stupid replica of a human being,

except it didn't seem to do anything.

And we played games and pretended it did something.

It lived its life in our own image

of what we thought it was.

We pretended for so long that we didn't realize

we didn't have to pretend.

He gave up on us years ago.

He stopped paying attention.

Became what we thought he was, nothing.

See, I've just found my brother, and I owe him something.

I see.

Come live with us.

No.

For a while.

It won't just be for a while.

Once we get started, it'll be forever.

I have this one life of mine to live.

When I signed on, George was not part of the package.

You may choose to be your brother's keeper.

But, I have a right not to choose that.

I do not choose to live your mother's heartbreak

even though I love you.

It's George or me.

[somber music]

There you go, George.

Brand new voice for you.

State of the art.

Come on, why don't you try it out?

Is it or is it Memorex?

[laughter]

JONATHAN SMITH: Hey, anybody home?

Jon, you got to hear this.

George's new voice.

Oh yeah?

Let's hear it.

Pull up a chair and sit down.

That's great.

Listen George, I want to talk to you about your brother.

OK.

Paul is going to come home soon with some news

for you and your mom.

And I felt you should hear from me first.

[music playing]

You got to be kidding, turkey again?

It's your brother's favorite.

You heard him say so himself.

It's so strange to hear myself say that.

You heard him say so himself.

Well, you'll have to teach me how to make it

so I can help you out more often.

For a little while anyway.

I'm not moving out, mom.

Are you telling me the truth?

Yes, I'm telling you the truth.

Have you told your girl?

Yeah, we broke up.

It's OK.

It's like you always say, it's what's meant to be.

Oh, Paul.

Let's go tell your brother.

OK.

He will be so happy.

George, your brother has some wonderful news for you.

Just wait one second, he has something

he'd like to tell you first.

He's almost ready.

I can't wait, it's such good news.

I'm ready.

Paul, I want you to move out of the house.

George.

Paul, let him finish.

You love Jessica, and she loves you.

You have your own life to lead, and I have mine.

For the first time I can express all the thoughts and feelings

I have inside.

I want to spend my time putting these feelings on paper.

I no longer have any limits.

Outer limits perhaps, but no inner limits.

I spent years feeling sorry for myself.

I don't want to spend the next years feeling sorry for you.

Mom, I want you to get someone to help take care of me.

I am a writer now, and you know how temperamental they can be.

I would rather be cranky with an outsider

than I would with my mother.

For the first time in your lives,

you'll really know what I want.

So, please don't argue.

Do as I ask, blink once if the answer is yes.

Now, go call your girl, little brother.

Big brother has work to do.

OK champ.

Don't mention it.

The turkey, mom.

JONATHAN SMITH (VOICEOVER): George was as good as his word,

and more patient than anyone I've met.

Before or since.

It took him two years, but he finished the book.

It was worth waiting for.

[music playing]