Original subtitles

♪ All too often ♪

♪ I set my life aside. ♪

♪ All too often. ♪

♪ My dreams went sailing by. ♪

♪ A chance of freedom. ♪

♪ A chance of faith. ♪

♪ A chance I'll take. ♪

♪ Knowing it all will disappear. ♪

♪ It ain't anywhere but here. ♪

♪ All too often. ♪

♪ The dreams I dreamed have died. ♪

♪ All too often... ♪

My mother made an amazing amount of noise

when she ate her food.

It was as if she was trying to taste the entire world.

Sometimes I just couldn't stand her.

Sometimes I hated her.

Sometimes I thought she was ruining my life.

What kept me going was knowing that one day I would leave her.

♪ I'll find it anywhere but here. ♪

♪ Come on, baby, surfin' safari. ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm gonna take you ♪ ♪ surfin' safari. ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm gonna take you ♪ ♪ surfin' safari. ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm gonna take you ♪ ♪ surfin' safari. ♪

♪ Let's go surfin' now. ♪

♪ Everybody's learnin' how. ♪

♪ Come on a safari with me. ♪

♪ Ba la la la la la la. ♪

I hate this song.

I love this song. It's the Beach Boys.

I hate the Beach Boys.

Honey, how can you hate the Beach Boys?

Nobody hates the Beach Boys.

They're too happy and sunny.

Well, you're gonna have to learn to like happy and sunny,

because that's what California's all about.

Oh, next stop, Salt Lake City. Yes!

Salt Lake City, Utah. The capitol, right?

I don't care.

Oh, yes, you do care.

Come on, don't mumble. You care.

You're very good at capitols.

Idaho.

Come on, pooh bear, Idaho.

Stop calling me pooh bear.

But you are my little pooh bear. Come on.

Come on. Idaho.

Boise! I don't want to play.

Ok, now you do one for me.

A really hard one.

I said I don't want to play.

Oregon.

Portland. Too easy.

Salem.

It's Salem?

I don't want to do this anymore.

I don't want to be in Utah.

2,000 miles between us and Bay City. Ok.

I want to be back in Bay City.

This is like being kidnapped.

You don't understand that, do you?

I wish somebody had kidnapped me

when I was your age.

So do i.

Grandma always said that my mom was a strange child.

Oh, this is absolutely moribund.

Gwen Purvis has cancer.

That's worse.

I didn't give it to her.

You didn't give it to her.

That's funny, Aunt Adele.

You're gonna die one day, too, Mom,

just like the rest of us.

But not in this town.

My mother never wanted to stay in Bay City.

I think she married my step father Ted

because he was so nice and so clean.

Being an ice skating instructor made him seem cleaner.

She missed my real father, who was Egyptian,

dark, and romantic.

One Christmas Eve I heard my parents arguing.

I didn't know anything until he was gone.

He drove away in our brown Valiant.

I'm sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

You're awfully quiet.

You said we'd see an Indian reservation.

When we get to one, we will see one.

Sweetie, don't mumble.

How are you gonna be an actress if you can't speak clearly?

I don't want to be an actress.

I bet we won't even stop in Las Vegas, will we?

Ah, now, that's what's bothering you.

You said you had a number on him.

I said we would look him up, ok?

When you were 4 years old,

your father left you just in the middle of the night.

So, what? You left my stepfather

in the middle of the afternoon.

I miss Ted.

Nobody misses Ted. He's boring.

Then why'd you marry him?

That's none of your business.

Besides, he was running around with other women.

That's not true. You made that up.

You wanted him to so you could catch him

and take him to court and get all his money.

You little snoop.

And Ted is not a homosexual.

I never said that.

Yes, you did.

Oh, no, I did not.

Oh, yes, you did.

Maybe I inferred it, but I never said it.

"Light in the loafers"

is not exactly the same thing.

All right, Mother.

Ted said he loves you,

and that he was worried that you were seeing other people,

which you probably were.

All right, that is it. I have had it with you.

If you miss Ted so much, you go find Ted.

Go on, get out of the car. Out! O-up-t, out!

You said we'd see buffalo in Nebraska.

There were no buffalo.

Tough shit! Get out of the car!

Ted is going to be an ice skating instructor

for the rest of his life.

Your cousin Benny is going to be a garage mechanic.

Lolly is never going to leave the bank.

Your cousin Hal's already drinking liquor.

And Sylvia and the baby can barely breathe.

They're gonna suffocate back there,

but I now have a job teaching

in the Los Angeles school system.

I have an M.A. in early education

which I have just thrown away

in that dink junior high school back there,

so you forget about the buffalo

and the goddamn Indians.

You are a beautiful girl with great potential.

I'm not gonna see your future as some nothing girl

in a nothing factory in a nothing town.

You are 14 years old,

you've always had enough to eat,

you've always had a roof over your head,

and if you stick with me, you always will,

because I am your mother,

and I know what is best for you

because that is my job.

Plus you're gonna go to school in Beverly Hills,

which is only the best school district

in the United States.

And you'll be a child actor

while you're still a child.

You don't have a job in the Los Angeles school district.

I will have.

I have an interview and a great outfit.

Are you hungry?

Excuse me.

I don't know.

Great. So am i.

So...

Will you look at that car?

Is that the most beautiful automobile

you've ever seen?

No. I hate that car. I miss the Plymouth.

Baby, nobody misses the Plymouth.

It's your color.

Yeah, it is, isn't it?

Oh, look at this.

It's so beautiful.

How does it feel?

Sublime.

Mom, we can't afford this car.

We have some money in savings,

and I can dip into the teachers' retirement fund.

This car does not belong in Bay City,

and neither do we.

We're going to drive to Beverly Hills

in this car.

Mom, this place looks expensive.

I'll worry about that, ok?

Now that we're in Beverly Hills,

maybe you should change your name to Heather.

Mmm, it smells so nice here.

How much is the room?

It's 1,200.

A night?

Yes.

I don't know that it's large enough.

Do you have any villas?

There are no villas available right now.

Mom, I'm tired.

Where are we gonna sleep tonight?

Sweet pea,

you are just as pretty as these girls on TV.

In fact, I think you're prettier.

Sweetie, are you all right?

'Cause you've been in there for over an hour.

Ok, well...

I'm gonna go to sleep now.

And I think maybe you should soon,

because you need your beauty rest, ok?

Ok. Good night.

I miss everyone in Bay City so much.

I don't know how I'm going to survive

without my cousin Benny.

And my best friend,

good little Mary.

Serious Mary, Benny, and i.

We were inseparable.

Benny!

I made this for you.

Say good-bye to your cousin!

It's tin and painted on one side with gold dust.

Not real gold dust.

Ann!

We're ready to go!

Where do you want the cookies and the sandwiches?

Oh, Mom, thanks. I'll take them.

You didn't give her all the cookies, did you, Lillian?

Don't forget to call us from the road.

You're gonna come visit.

I'm gonna find an apartment that's got 3 bedrooms.

She doesn't even have a place to live.

Stop worrying about it, Mom.

If you knew for sure there was a job out there...

She's got the school job.

Oh, she has no such thing.

She talked to somebody on the telephone.

When are you gonna start having some faith in me?

When you begin to see things as they are.

Don't take any wooden nickels, Adele.

Right, Jimmy.

Ok, thanks.

Sorry, Ted.

I'll write.

Ann, come on! I'm gonna leave without you!

Benny!

Ben!

I hope you destroyed those pictures

you took of me in my underwear.

I did, Mary, I promise.

Ok.

Let's go. We'll call from the road.

I'll miss you, too, Grandma.

Take care of yourself.

Ann, here. Just in case you find

a skating rink out there.

Thanks, Ted.

I love you. You're the best step-dad a girl could have.

♪ You'll always be with me. ♪

♪ Always be with me. ♪

♪ Part of my heart. ♪

♪ Once I'm where I'm going. ♪

♪ Look away. ♪

♪ Even if it's just in my mind. ♪

Oh, here's a good one.

"Pool, walk-in closets, security,

vaulted ceilings."

Vaulted. I love it.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry. I couldn't help but overhearing.

I thought I might help you.

I'm Gail Letterfine.

Westside Realty.

Oh.

So, what are you looking for?

Something in Beverly Hills.

I'm Adele August. This is my daughter Ann.

Hi.

Hi.

She's not awake. We just moved here from Wisconsin.

Wisconsin?

I don't know anyone from Wisconsin.

I'm awake.

You live in Beverly Hills?

No. I live in Santa Monica. Formerly from Bel Air.

Formerly Brentwood.

I've had a lot of formerlys in my life.

I'm fine now. I'm single, I'm free,

and I love it.

Most of the time. Yeah.

Excuse me.

She wants to be an actress.

Don't they all?

Operator.

Just tell her it's a collect call from her granddaughter Ann.

Just one moment.

Tell her I'll pay her back.

Look what we have along Beverly Vista.

Beverly Hills adjacent.

That's not the posh part of Beverly Hills,

but it is still within the school district.

Sweet pea, what you doing? Are you ok?

Mm-hmm.

Gail found something for us. What a woman.

She is raising 3 teenagers by herself.

Husband ran off with an accountant,

and she can't get a dime out of him.

Come with me while I pee. Come on. Also...

she didn't say so, but...

I think she has a glass eye.

You know...

it makes somebody interesting.

You know what I mean? Interesting in a mysterious way.

Interesting in a kind of a...

Hey, you want a ride?

Ann, there you are. Your mom's looking for you.

I saw her.

You know, I think that we might have found a place.

Honey, I know that it's hard at first, making changes,

but you have to get used to it.

Life is full of them.

Ann, where did you go?

I was in there talking and talking to you.

I come out here and you're gone.

♪ Your love. ♪

♪ Is better than ice cream. ♪

♪ Better than anything else ♪ ♪ that I've tried. ♪

♪ Your love. ♪

♪ Is better than ice cream. ♪

♪ But everyone here knows how to cry. ♪

♪ It's a long way down. ♪

♪ It's a long way down. ♪

♪ It's a long way down. ♪

♪ To the place where we started from. ♪

You didn't get the job.

It's in the bag, baby.

Come here, you.

Serious?

Yes!

I hate my hair.

It's one of your strongest assets.

I'm gonna cut it off.

Over my dead body.

Ok.

Ok. Let's go.

Can you believe that?

They look like they're going to the beach.

The intelligent girls are inside.

Bab...

I hate you.

We'll talk about that later, sweetie. Good luck.

How about good luck for me?

How do I i-look?

Why don't you just back off?

Punk!

Come on, let's go!

Everybody,

this is our new speech pathologist, Adele August.

Adele is from Bay City, Wisconsin.

America's dairyland.

Ah, Wisconsin.

Yes.

George Franklin, history.

George. History.

Room 12 is to the right, right?

Let me show you.

Follow me.

Thank you so much.

Not exactly Bay City,

but you get used to it.

Mmm. Is that... Did they throw out that furniture?

Is that garbage?

Mm-hmm.

Unbelievable.

Honey, don't scratch the car.

On our days off we would drive to relax.

We drove just anywhere.

My mother was in awe of the homes

and the palm trees

and real movie stars on public sidewalks.

She was in love.

In love with Beverly Hills.

Oh, I like that one.

Over there, with the circular driveway.

I want the room in the corner. I can climb out that window.

I'll take the one in the back,

overlooking the pool.

Mmm. That one's a beauty,

with the cute blue shutters.

Oh, look at this house.

This is the house I want.

That is beautiful. Come on.

Mom, it's by appointment only.

It's all right.

It says, " Do not disturb occupants."

Just smile. We'll be fine. It's ok.

I appreciate it. Please think about it.

You're the realtor.

Hi. How can I help you?

Look at this sweet... Oh, he gave me a kiss.

This is Callie.

Hi, Callie. And you must be the owner.

My baby. Yes, I am.

Well, I'm Adele August. Hello.

And this is my baby, Heather.

Hi.

Excuse me. Can I help you?

I know we should have an appointment,

but my husband will be practicing medicine at UCLA.

That's just a few minutes from here.

Exactly, so we were driving by,

and we just had to stop.

I would be so grateful

if you would let us see the house.

Do you mind?

Not at all. Please, come in.

Here's my card.

Here's a setup on the property.

Thank you.

The house was built originally in the 1920s,

so it maintains all its original integrity.

You also have a wood-burning fire place here.

There are 7 in the entire house.

There is so much light. Look at this light.

It's a very happy, happy house.

- So happy, isn't it, Heather? - Happy.

And here we have a beautiful bright bedroom.

And you can see the pool from here.

Oh, it's a lovely master suite, isn't it?

No. This is my daughter's bedroom.

She's away at college now.

Oh. Where is she going?

Back East. Princeton, actually.

I want to go to college back East.

You must miss her terribly.

But we're so very proud.

Well, Daddy will be here next week.

I really want him to see this house.

Let me show you the master bedroom right now.

It's got a great his-and-her walk-in closet.

It also has a fantastic Jacuzzi tub.

I love a Jacuzzi.

Hello.

What's up, pervert?

Who is this?

It's hot stuff.

Ann.

Hey, Benny.

Where are you?

Making a highly illegal phone call in somebody's bedroom.

What are you doing right now?

Hauser's taking us to the park.

He got that new truck.

Why are you whispering?

Where are you?

How's Grandma?

Fine. What did you mean you're in someone's bedroom?

I'll tell you when I write you another letter.

You get my last one?

Yeah, yeah, I got 'em all.

I like the one where she kicked you out of the car.

She really did that?

She's crazy. She still is.

I think I might kill her in her sleep.

Heather.

I have to go.

Heather Ann.

Oh, that was so much fun, wasn't it?

Why'd you tell that lady that we'd buy the house?

I said we might buy the house.

That my father's coming, that he's a doctor.

Cardiologist.

I couldn't believe you.

What were you doing

up in the daughter's room all that time?

Calling Benny.

What?

Ann!

I had to tell her that your father

the doctor was coming because a woman like that

who gets all of her money from her husband, she's not gonna believe

a woman like me can afford a house like that.

A woman like you can't afford a house like that.

You can't even afford the bathroom to that house.

♪ Be optimistic. ♪

♪ Don't you be a grumpy. ♪

♪ When the road gets bumpy. ♪

♪ Just smile, smile, smile. ♪

♪ And be happy. ♪

Morning, Adele.

Morning, George.

Grand Coolie Dam. Ever been there, Adele?

Nope.

Hoover Dam?

No.

I'm not really into dams.

I am gonna get a lawyer

and sue her for invasion of privacy,

so get your nose out of my diary, Mother.

That's so cool. I'd never think of that.

Did she say anything?

She played dumb, but she never did it again.

I wish my parents would just leave me alone.

I love being alone.

I can't wait for the house to be empty.

Hi.

Hey, Peter.

You run good. Got good form.

Yeah.

There's not a cloud in the sky today, huh?

Hey, you ever read T.S. Eliot?

What?

4 Quartets, It's really good.

Why do you run with a book?

I don't know. Balance, I guess.

Here's the Kariba Dam.

It impounds the Zambezi River,

forms Kariba Lake.

- It's nice. - Hmm.

I went there.

After college. I painted a picture of it.

You painted pictures of dams?

Mm-hmm.

That was my dream... To travel the world

and paint pictures.

Hmm. What happened?

Hmm. I don't know.

One damn thing led to another damn thing.

Ha ha!

I don't know.

I don't know. I became a history teacher.

But one of these days, I'll...

One of these days...

Oh, my God. Get away from my car!

Oh, my God, look what he's doing!

Hey. Hey, hey, hey!

No! Stop it!

Oh, my God. Look how deep this scratch...

Look what he did to my car.

Mom, it's just a scratch.

Just a scratch?

Do you know how much it's going to cost

to fix "just a scratch"?

Oh, I can't work at this school anymore.

I can't talk to you anymore, either!

No sympathy.

The tiles are all cracked...

and chipped.

I'm sinking here,

and I'm the one that has to keep us afloat.

Every time I think I'm trying so hard,

it's getting better,

and we're starting to get somewhere,

just, everything falls apart.

Aah! Jesus!

Nothing works in this apartment!

- Mom? - Aah!

It's just a scratch on the car.

Maybe if you got yourself

a little after-school job,

you'd know what I'm talking about.

People your age have no idea

how much things cost, how to manage money.

What is that now?

You didn't pay the bill again, did you?

I did pay the bill! I did pay it!

Well, maybe I won't even pay the bill again.

Maybe we'll just...

Ha! We could live...

in the dark

like little...

bears in a cave, huh, pooh bear?

Hmm?

Just...

Ok, let's go to Denny's.

Ann?

Ann, where are you?

I'm going to bed.

I really thought I paid that bill.

I really think I did pay it.

So, I love you and say hi to Benny for me

and Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Carol and...

Ok, I love you. Lots of kisses.

Bye.

Hi, Mom.

How are y'all doing?

What isn't fair?

Well, I put her on because what's fair

is for your grand daughter to have a decent home

to live in, and we can't do that

unless we have some cash for a down payment.

What I need from you

is some help.

Well...

sell my land, that's how.

It's the land that Daddy...

She hung up.

Grandma hung up on you?

Yeah.

Let's get dressed up and go out to dinner.

What?

You love that little French restaurant.

That's... That's just what we need.

We need a bed for me. We need a desk.

We need sheets. We need towels.

We don't need to go out to eat to a French restaurant.

Oh, honey.

My daddy always used to say,

"When life gets rough

and you only have a dime in your pocket,

go get your shoes shined."

Get dressed.

Hmm.

Seems they raised their prices.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't the two of us...

Good afternoon. Would you like to hear our specials?

I don't think so. We know what we want.

I'd like to hear the specials.

Thank you.

Ok. We have the veal St.Jacques

and a lovely coq au vin...

I think we'll have 2 small garden salads

and share the veal St.Jacques.

Don't you think, honey?

You know what? I don't really want to share.

I'm kind of hungry, so...

Why don't you have the veal St.Jacques,

and I'll have the duck l'orange, please.

And would you like an appetizer?

- I don't think so. - Yes.

I'll have the shrimp

in the garlic sauce.

And anything to drink?

Just water.

Bottled. A big bottle,

please. Thanks.

Ok. Thank you.

You know what? I'm really hungry,

and it's not like we're at Denny's,

so if someone comes in

and sees me eating duck l'orange,

who knows what effect it'll have on my life.

Sit up straight.

You're slouching.

I took out an ad in the newspaper once...

"15-year-old seeks home...

Neat, pretty, good student."

I got 79 replies.

I never opened them.

I was afraid the temptation would be too great.

Passion.

It was our first Christmas away from home.

Do you customize scents?

No? Oh, that's a shame.

You should do that.

My mother paid enough of our bills

so that we could buy presents for everyone.

That's pretty cute.

Lavender. What do you think?

Uhh.

- Yeah? - Mmm.

We didn't buy too much,

considering I love that store.

I don't know what to get Benny.

What did you get me?

Come on, you got me something.

I didn't get you anything.

Oh, yes, you did.

What'd you get me?

I got you lots. I'm dying to show it to you.

No. Don't show me.

Ann, hi.

Isn't it obscene, all this money being spent?

- Yeah. - Hi.

Hi, I'm Janice Pearlman. I'm in Ann's homeroom.

I'm Ann's mother.

She's my mother.

Hi.

You... You look alike, you two.

- No. - Oh, thanks.

No, we don't. I look like my dad.

Just his chin.

I like your chin. I do.

Anyway, listen, I got to go,

because my mother's waiting over there,

but Christmas Day, we're having a party at the house

from 4:00 to 8:00.

Will you come, both of you?

It's our annual thing.

- I... - Thanks. That's sweet.

Really? Well, please.

I'll tell you more at school. Everybody's going to come, though.

- See you later. - Bye.

Hi.

Everybody likes her.

She's on student council,

and her brother's the editor

of the school newspaper.

What does her father do?

I think he's a doctor.

Huh. Well, it might be fun.

You want to go?

Do you want me to go?

I guess it'll give us a chance

to kind of show ourselves off,

and the car is looking great again.

Great.

Her mom looked...

very elegant.

You're elegant, Mom.

We both are.

We've got taste, huh?

That's one thing... People look at us, and they say,

"Look at that great-looking mother and daughter."

Where do they live?

Mom, why are you doing this?

Which one is it, honey? Point it out.

That one.

Now let's go home.

Oh, my God.

It goes all the way around the block.

Yeah. We're going to a party tonight.

Yeah. Mom and I are both going.

Do you want to talk to her again?

Just say merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to everybody.

I love you. Give a big hug to Benny for me.

Ok. Bye-bye. Love you. Bye.

I'm going to go get dressed

and try on my new necklace.

Mom, it's 4:00.

Are you going to get dressed?

It takes you an hour to get ready. We're...

The party's going to be over by then.

I thought you said you wanted to go.

Honey, what I want

is to get all of these pine needles

and vacuum those closets.

They're filled with dust.

And maybe wash the kitchen floor,

because I realized, sweetheart,

that the thing that's going to make me most happy

is to just look around this place

and see that it is spick-and-span.

But it's the one fun thing we can do for Christmas.

Well, then, you should go. You should definitely go.

I mean, all your friends are going to be there, right?

And that boy Peter... Is that his name?

He'll be there, right?

What are you going to do? It's Christmas.

Oh, don't worry about me.

I've just got a million things

that I'm going to do.

I want our first Christmas

in Los Angeles to be perfect.

Aren't things... Aren't things bad enough here?

I don't know why you're doing this to me.

You're right. I'm sorry.

Want me to drive you there?

- Want me to drive you? - No.

- No. - Yeah.

No. I can walk.

All right, well, then, go.

Go ahead.

Otherwise, we're just going to hang around here all day

talking about our silly little lives, huh?

Oh, gosh, I just had the...

strongest memory of my father.

I'm going to go. I'm going to be late.

I'm sorry that you never really got to know

your grandfather or your father, for that matter,

and I know it means something to you

to find your father,

sweetie.

I promise.

We will.

- I'm going. - Ok.

I'm going.

And maybe we can, um...

We'll talk about your father when you come back.

I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere.

I'll wait.

♪ I wish for a place. ♪

♪ Where the earth doesn't shake. ♪

♪ And if the earth won't be still. ♪

♪ Then you and I will. ♪

♪ Mmm. ♪

♪ Mmm. ♪

I'm sorry.

I thought I could go, but...

I couldn't.

You know what we need?

Some sugar in our blood.

You want to get some ice cream?

I don't want ice cream.

Sure, you do.

Is that what I want, Mom?

It would cheer us up.

Ok, Mother, let's get our sugar.

And they've got a new flavor.

Great.

Let's go.

I'll get your jacket.

Just one little...

No, no, no, no, no. We close early today.

Nothing? It's Christmas.

Ay.

Christmas.

Oh, my God.

Merry Christmas, Officer.

You're not working today, are you?

You see that red curb, ma'am?

See that " No Stopping" sign?

- Oh. Oh. - Give me your driver's license, please.

I'm so sorry. I had no idea.

Did you see...

I was just here to get her an ice cream.

- She needed an ice cream. - Don't blame it on me.

I'm just explaining to the officer, sweetheart.

- I hate it when you do this. - What?

You always do this to me. You always...

I was explaining to him it's our Christmas tradition...

I didn't even want ice cream. She wanted ice cream.

Ann, where are you going?

She'll be back.

Excuse me. She won't be back.

Hey, hey, hey. You stay by the car, ok?

Ann?

Lady, wait by the car!

All right.

Ann, come here.

Ann.

Wait.

It was her idea to park there.

I told her not to park there.

I didn't even want any ice cream.

Your mother's trying to beat a ticket.

Give her one. She already has a drawer full of them.

Now, now.

Don't talk to me like a little girl.

I'm not a little girl.

You don't even understand.

I'm going to leave her one of these days.

I'm sure you will,

but not today.

Why not today?

Well...

you should leave her when you're calm...

when you're rational.

You leave her when you're ready not to come back.

You understand?

You from Wisconsin?

How do you know?

Well, your plates.

- You living here now? - Yes.

- Hey, Ann. - Lady, I want you to register that car.

Yes, sir.

I want you to get a California driver's license.

From now on, start paying attention to the signs.

Yes, sir.

I'm going to be rolling by in another 2 minutes.

I don't want to see that vehicle out there.

Yes, sir.

Good.

Merry Christmas, Ann.

Let's move up here.

Did he just wink at you?

That's an unusual law enforcement officer.

What did he say to you?

He said not to ever do that to me again.

He said that if you do,

he'll have you taken off to prison

and locked up,

and you'll never, ever see me again,

and you'll have to eat ice cream on your own.

You went too far with the ice cream business.

He did not say that.

- Yes, he did. - No, he did not.

And he wants to adopt me. He finds me very attractive.

That is not funny.

You do not do this again.

Don't you do this again.

No, don't you do this again.

No, it's you.

Look...

I was just trying to get out of a parking ticket.

Well, you didn't get one, did you?

Thank you, Ann. Thank you, Ann,

and your fiancé will be back here in 2 minutes

to see if we've moved the car.

I will always love that policeman.

That was all me.

He told me what I needed to know.

I will always carry a soft spot

for the Los Angeles Police Department.

I wish he had adopted me.

Grandma told me in a letter

that my father got remarried

and was living in Reno.

How many Hisham Badirs could there be in Reno?

Hi. Do you have a number for...

for a Mr. Hisham Badir, please?

B-a-d-i-r.

Residence.

H-i-s-h-a-m.

Thank you.

Ok. Thank you.

Bye.

When I was younger,

my mother always hummed one of my father's tunes

before we went to sleep.

He wrote my mother love songs.

Sometimes, I would imagine my father

showing up to rescue me.

Hi, Ann.

Hello, Peter.

You got that isosceles triangle thing straight?

Mm-hmm.

That baffles me.

Hey, I got a new trumpet. You want to see it?

I'm working, Peter.

Right. Sorry.

Your mom's really pretty.

I'll tell her.

What's your dad do?

He's a songwriter.

Really? I write some songs.

Yeah. You want to hear one?

Not now, Peter.

You want to feel my pulse?

It's beating really fast.

Ba-bum,

ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum,

ba-bum, ba-bum.

Really fast.

I don't understand.

I have been telling you for weeks

that the tiles are chipped.

There's no water pressure.

The handles are coming off of the cabinets.

Now, you don't have a life. What's the problem?

Can't you... Hey! I am talking to you.

Hey! Hey!

Mom, your pants.

I can't talk to you like this, Mrs. August!

Listen, I'm telling you that...

It's not just that the tile is chipped.

The carpets are filthy. They're filthy.

I've got a fungus on my foot from those carpets.

Who was living here before, a hockey team?

I cannot live like this!

You can't live like this,

but you can live in an apartment for 6 months

with just a mattress on the floor?

Ohh!

Damn it!

Ohh!

Turn it down!

God, I hate this place!

I hate my job! I hate my foot!

Uhh!

You're not having sex with anybody, are you?

What?

You know.

No, I don't know.

We have to get out of here.

We can't. We have a lease.

What do you mean, am I having sex with anyone?

We moved anyway.

Shh, shh, shh.

Over the next year,

we moved a lot.

We got used to it.

Oh, honey, let me help you.

Here.

That's a girl. Ok. It's apartment number 8?

Yeah, number 8. Ohh.

At least this one had furniture, thanks to Miss Letterfine.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Gail and Mom have become good friends.

Cheers.

It's so colorful. Look.

My mom dragged me to an audition.

- Hello. - Hi.

She would not give up on her fantasy of me becoming an actress.

What's your social security number, sweetheart?

Uh...

Ann?

We did our work

and kept healthy.

And exhale.

Draw your navel to your backbone.

And when summer came, we went to the beach

and felt sorry for everyone back home.

Where are you going?

I think right over there.

There's no people over there.

I know. I need some peace and quiet today.

You just want to be near that beach club.

Yes, please.

I'm open. I'm open.

He's over there.

Yo, Nick.

Here's a good spot.

There you go.

You guys feel like playing some middleman?

Sweetie, you have a cute little body.

You should show it off more.

You should show off your body.

I plan to, but... Where are you going?

Japan.

- Heads up. - Aah!

Sorry about that.

That's ok.

Ooh!

You're strong.

Wild thing.

Hey, Josh, I'm open.

Aw!

Oh, shame on you.

Oh, Ann.

Ann, come here, sweetie.

This is Dr. Spritzer.

This is my daughter Ann.

Ah, a big girl.

Oh, yes. We're more like sisters.

So, you're the actress, I hear.

Oh, no, not me. Her. My mom's the actress.

Oh, silly girl. Don't be shy.

Dr. Spritzer's an orthodontist,

and he works with the actresses.

He did Heather Locklear.

Her teeth.

I was telling the doctor that just this morning,

we were discussing your overbite.

See what a great smile she has?

The bottom is just a little strange.

They don't look so strange to me.

Josh!

Come on!

Ahem.

Be right there.

Adele.

Yes, Josh.

You play good ball.

You, too.

Take care of those two-fers, now.

An actress has to keep smiling.

See you.

See you.

That's probably his wife.

Why'd you have to talk about my teeth?

It won't last long.

Mom?

- Mom? Mom? - Ann?

- Mom, guess what. - What?

Benny's coming.

Yes!

Ohh!

Oh, it's so good to see you.

Come on, come on, come on, my turn.

Oh, how are you doing?

♪ I was just out of high school. ♪

So what do you think so far, Benny?

You've got more Mercedes cars on one street

than we've got in all of Wisconsin.

Benny wants to see a movie star.

Really? Who do you want to see?

I don't care. I just want to see one.

How about the babes in Baywatch?

Yeah.

♪ Chotee. ♪

♪ So young, so confused. ♪

♪ What was I to do? ♪

♪ I'm so sorry, Chotee. ♪

Look it's a perfect fit.

Yeah, me, too, with Donald.

Look, guys.

Smile.

Let me take it. Let me take it.

Maybe you can come back for a visit?

I'll teach you how to drive the truck.

I'd like that.

You know what?

What?

Your boobs are getting big.

Shut up.

Mary Girling and Julie Eastman...

Gettin' really big ones.

Don't be gross.

Oh, boobs aren't gross.

Boobs are beautiful.

Shh.

Ew!

You are so gross.

You are so gross.

You got a boyfriend?

Maybe.

Who?

Do you go to bed with him?

Mm-hmm.

3, maybe 4 times a day.

What about you?

You gettin' laid, Benny?

Susie?

Shh.

Ew.

You put the wood to Susie Goodman?

Uh-huh.

3, sometimes 4 times a day.

Shut up.

And tell your mother that next summer, everybody comes out.

We've got our eye on this cute little house not far from the water.

Ok.

And tell her how brown Ann and I are.

We don't look bad, do we?

No. You look real brown.

And you tell her, well, how healthy we are.

Well, you've always looked healthy, Aunt Adele.

Yeah, but not this healthy, right? Huh?

Here, this is for you.

And have a great flight, sweetie.

Bye.

Ok. Bye.

Bye.

Thanks.

Say hello to Ted for me.

Thank you.

Is he seeing anybody?

May we have your attention, please?

Thank you.

This is a security announcement.

All persons are reminded

not to leave their baggage unattended at any time.

Ann?

Ann?

Ann?

Ann?

I can't find my daughter.

She was right here, now I can't find her.

- Mom? - Where did you go?

I was right here.

I was looking all over for you.

I couldn't find you anywhere.

It's ok. I was gone for 5 seconds.

Don't you ever do that again.

I couldn't find you.

Shh, shh.

I didn't know where you were.

It's ok, Mom. I'm here.

I'm right here. I'm right here.

It's all right.

You get it.

You get it.

You get it.

Tch.

Hello?

Just a minute.

- For you. - Who is it?

Who's speaking?

Josh Spritzer. Josh Spritzer.

Oh, God.

The guy from the beach, the orthodontist.

Hi.

Yeah, of course I remember.

At the beach. Uh-huh.

I've thought of you, too.

I'm surprised that you tracked down my number.

Oh, I wrote it on the football.

Ha ha ha ha!

Oh, that's so naughty of me.

Oh.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Separations can be so painful.

Oh, yeah.

When I broke up with my ex,

I mean, I could barely breathe.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Well, tonight?

No, tonight's not good.

How about, um... tomorrow?

Uh-huh. I love the place.

7:00.

Great. I'll see you then.

Ok.

Me, too.

I've been feeling it all day.

It has been in the air all week.

Oh, my God.

What to wear, what to wear,

what to wear.

Focus. Shoes.

It would be tragic to be wearing the wrong shoes

when you meet the right guy.

I'm gonna go shopping.

Rob Roy.

Thank you.

Martini straight.

Thanks, man.

Olive?

I love olives.

Cherry?

Yeah.

Pooh bear?

Sweetie?

Sweet pea?

Hi.

Hi.

You ok?

Where were you?

Finding out I didn't die in Bay City.

Oh.

"Oh" what?

I don't know.

What time is it?

5:00.

Mmm, we just clicked.

We just clicked, sweetie.

Let's go watch the sunrise.

I need to sleep.

I'm starving.

I have to go to school, Mom.

Come on, I'll tell you all about him.

It's the middle of the night.

He's more than just a dentist.

He's writing a screenplay.

Come on. Hmm? Come on, sweetie.

Just this once. Come on.

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

That's a girl.

Did he say he loved you?

Well, grownups

don't really say things like that right away,

especially if they've been married before.

You know, it takes a little time.

But... he did do something that...

grownups do sometimes that shows...

that they really care about you.

What did he do?

Well, honey, it's something that...

It's something that...

adults do in bed.

Sometimes.

I mean, not everybody.

I... especially in Bay City, but...

Ted never did it?

Oh, please. I was lucky if I could get Ted

to take off his ice skates.

Did my father do it?

Let's not talk about this now, sweetie, ok?

It's just something that...

just shows that you're really serious.

You just don't...

You don't do it with every woman.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, it's difficult for you when I feel something,

isn't it?

You know, I had that dream again.

You cut off your feet, and you couldn't move,

and I couldn't get you to leave the room.

Oh, sweetie, I'm never gonna leave you.

Don't worry.

You don't have to cut off my feet.

I understand.

I'm not a doctor of psychology for nothing.

You're not a doctor of psychology, Mom.

I wonder what time it is.

I really want to hear his voice again.

Oh, sweetie, we made the right choice, didn't we,

by coming here.

I know that it was hard in the beginning,

but look at us. Look at us now, huh?

And look at this day,

look at this place, and look at you, and...

You're gonna be getting braces soon, and...

when your teeth are straight,

your face is gonna be just perfect.

Hmm?

Good morning.

It's me.

Adele.

I didn't wake you, did I?

I just wanted you to know that I'm still...

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. You are sleeping.

Go back to bed, yeah.

I'll... Call me later?

Ok.

Oh, and, Josh,

I'm really looking forward to Sunday.

The opera?

Oh, I... I must have misunderstood.

I thought you said you had tickets.

Uh-huh.

Oh. No, you don't have to apologize.

I... I totally understand.

Yeah. Ok.

Go back to bed.

Call me later.

Oh, and you know what?

This has been super special for me, Josh.

Yeah.

All right.

Go back to bed. Talk to you later.

Sweet dreams.

I love you.

Hello?

Hello?

Mom? Mom!

What do you think, darling?

Is it too much for the opera?

You're going to the opera?

- Ha! Yeah! - Great!

So, when are you going?

Well, Josh said that they're playing

a couple of times next week.

He hasn't told me what specific date.

Which do you think?

The red scar for the white scarf?

I don't know.

You have talked to him? He did call, didn't he?

Pumpkin, he's going to call.

He said he would. He'll call.

He's a Beverly Hills dentist. They're busy.

What do you think?

Low-heel? High-heel? Hmm?

Ooh.

Hello?

Is it him?

Oh, Jesus.

What is it?

Where's Mama?

Is she in the hospital?

Is Carol with her?

Well... Well, we will. Of course we will.

Who was that?

It was Uncle Jimmy.

Grandma's had a stroke.

Oh, no.

Is she gonna be all right?

I don't know. Maybe.

Oh, honey.

There was an accident.

Benny was killed riding home

in Jay Brosek's truck.

I'm sorry.

♪ I will remember you. ♪

♪ Will you remember me? ♪

♪ Don't let your life. ♪

♪ Pass you by. ♪

♪ Weep not for. ♪

♪ The memories. ♪

♪ I will remember you. ♪

♪ Will you remember me? ♪

♪ Don't let your life. ♪

♪ Pass you by. ♪

♪ Weep not for ♪

I felt so sad.

I had lost Benny.

But I was also losing something

that was once the only place in the world for me.

♪ The memories. ♪

Now the streets weren't as wide.

The trees seem lower...

and the house is smaller.

You look real good.

But you're different.

How?

I don't know.

Just...

You seem different, too, somehow.

I'm bigger.

I can speak some German.

That's " How's the weather today?"

I like that.

So...

Do you think you'll come back?

I don't know.

Now that I'm here...

I don't know.

You know what I think?

I think if you were to stay,

sooner or later,

you'd be just like your mom...

Always wanting to go away.

I'm calling long distance.

Would you tell him that I called again?

Well, has he gotten my messages?

Mm-hmm.

Ok. Well, tell him that I'm out of state.

Tell him again.

And that, um...

I'll be home on Sunday.

Thank you.

Mary Girling was right.

We were different.

But some things always stayed the same.

Got a light?

Yeah.

There was anger that had been around

as far back as I can remember.

It was God's way.

Shut up about God's way.

Jimmy, don't.

I'm sorry, Reverend.

Maybe we should, um, start dinner.

Sit down, Sylvia. I'm gonna barbecue.

Then why don't you start it, honey?

My uncle Jimmy was ready to explode.

I could feel it coming.

So, Adele...

do you like California?

Oh, yeah. Very much.

What's your day like, Adele, back there?

Hal.

Well, I, uh...

work a full day at school with my students.

And, uh, we live in Beverly Hills,

so it's quite a commute.

I have to be in the car for at least 2 hours.

Let me tell you something, Adele, we all work.

That wasn't necessary.

Anyone want another drink?

Jim.

Of course you work, Jimmy,

but you've also got Mom's house now and the RV.

Could we not have any fighting today?

Your life is not that difficult, is it?

Well, maybe if I had had half the help from the family

that you were lucky enough to come into, Jimmy.

You come here a second with me.

I wanna show you something, Adele.

You don't have to talk to her like that.

I want to show you the deed

and the mortgage to the house

that I've been paying on, that I'm still paying on!

Damn it, get out of the house.

You know who helped me

when I was by myself with a child,

all by myself? Nobody.

Nobody helped me, Jimmy.

I'm gonna show you the deed.

You take a look at it. Either you look at it

or you shut your damn mouth from now on.

Nobody talks to me like that, Jimmy, not even you.

Come on, Ted, take me to the Holiday Inn.

Make your phone calls there, too, not here.

I know you need to get laid back in Beverly Hills,

but can't you hold off a little bit...

Adele. Adele!

Your sister's boy is dead.

Please, everyone just stop this.

God damn it.

Back off.

Come on. We're going.

Ann.

We're going!

You can stay here if you want, honey.

I'll make up Benny's bed for you.

Benny would love that.

Ann.

Not again, mother.

Get me the telephone.

Get it yourself, if you even paid the bill.

Please hand me the phone.

He doesn't want to talk to you anymore.

Don't you get it, mother?

Aw.

Jesus Christ.

Ready?

♪ You gotta scrape me from the floor. ♪

♪ Everything around me is changing. ♪

Mom? Rise and shine.

It's time to get up.

It's 7... 7:40, Mom.

I have to get to school. You have to get to work.

Come on.

You have to get out of bed, Mom.

You've been in bed all weekend.

You can't do this.

Ok. I'll drive. I can drive.

Get your big ass out of bed!

♪ But isn't this always what I wanted? ♪

♪ Isn't it just what I always wanted? ♪

Go away.

Hey, Adele.

George, this is your chance!

Put down the sign and go. Go.

Go paint a dam somewhere!

No money, no work!

No money, no work!

No money, no work!

No money, no work!

No money, no work!

No money, no work!

Ah, girls.

- Hi. - Hi, Miss August.

Hi.

You went shopping?

I thought you had to picket or something.

I can't work at that school.

I resigned.

I'm a woman of leisure now.

Let's celebrate.

You can't quit. We won't have any money.

Honey, they did not pay me enough to carry a sign.

That's why you carry the sign, isn't it?

You get more money if you carry the sign.

No.

They carry the sign because...

they like to struggle.

Some people need to struggle.

Struggle, struggle, struggle...

That's what someone taught them.

Get out there and struggle...

That's what somebody said to them.

But we... did not come to Beverly Hills to struggle.

We need to pay the rent.

Yup, that's true.

So maybe you're just gonna have to get a little after-school job

instead of bringing the gals home

to do their nails all afternoon.

We're studying for a French test.

Oh.

And you shouldn't have quit your job.

- I am your mother, am I not? - I guess so.

Well... ta mère has something

she would like to say to you en anglais,

"Auditions.

Caucasian, female. 12-16.

Hostile, withdrawn loner."

You can handle that, can't you, baby?

Why are you doing this?

You could do a little scene from Terms of Endearment

or Clueless!

Yeah.

I bet you all could do a scene from Clueless,

like totally!

That would be cool.

I don't know those scenes.

I don't want to be an actress.

I don't know how to act. I don't know anything.

I don't know why I'm here

and neither do you.

And what would you have rather done,

stayed back home and been one of those little girls

who sits longer than the others on the porch

straining to hear the sounds of the trucks on the highway?

You're acting crazy again.

One of those little girls

who has the names of cities in her head

but has never been to one?

Who dreams of hotels and has never sat in a lobby?

Is that what you want?

Ann, we're gonna go.

Where are you going?

I'll see you later, ok?

I'll call you, Ann.

Bye, Miss August.

Call me.

Ciao.

All right.

Where, where is it? Where do you want me to go?

All right.

Circled it for you, and I can call them for you.

I'll do it myself.

They're gonna want you to do some improv,

but it should be related to the material, ok?

Ok.

Yes?

- Hello. - Hi.

I'm Heather Ann August's mother.

- Hi. - Hi.

So, um, has she finished her audition?

Oh, she's in there now.

- She is? - Yeah.

Can I see? Can I watch her?

No. We can't interrupt.

Just a little, tiny bit.

Uh, excuse me?

She'd really like for me to watch.

I'd rather you didn't.

- Ok. - Ok.

Thanks.

I need Karen.

Karen?

Karen?

Karen Scarborough?

Mmm.

Mmm.

What a man.

What a meal he made of me

during that thing that adults do in bed.

Not many men know how to do it, but...

when they do it...

it means they...

really love you.

They wouldn’t just do it to any woman.

It means they'll buy you a big house

with blue shutters and...

make life easy for you.

He's going to take us to the Music Center.

The opera.

I love the opera.

He never returned my call.

I didn't understand.

Oh, God, life is so shitty.

The whole world is so shitty.

Beverly Hills, what a bummer.

But...

so what?

Like my daddy always used to say...

Be optimistic.

Don't you be a grumpy.

When the road gets bumpy.

Just smile, smile, smile and be happy.

Don't wear a long face.

It's never in style.

Be optimistic and smile.

Mom?

Mom?

I'm sorry, but you have to understand

I was just doing an audition.

It just came out. I didn't plan it.

I didn't do it to hurt your feelings.

You weren't supposed to be there.

I told you not to come.

I didn't even want to go to the audition.

You embarrassed me in front of my friends.

I don't know what to say.

It just... It just happened.

They wanted me to...

Nobody would even know it was you.

I wake up and I don't even want to be here.

Who would want to be with you?

You’re just a crazy, middle-aged,

unemployed school teacher

with... with a child to support.

Why can't our lives just be normal?

You know, I get so scared sometimes

I want to go find my father.

You should find your father.

Maybe he can give you a normal life.

Hi, Miss Letterfine? It's Ann August.

I'm all right.

Um...

I'm sorry to disturb you so late,

but is my mom there?

Oh.

No. I...

Well, she left a little while ago

and I was just wondering.

Never mind.

I'm so sorry to bother you.

All right.

Bye.

We didn't speak.

We've never spoken about that day.

Now my mother was trying to cover up her feelings

with orange paint.

I felt so alone.

I miss Grandma.

I miss Benny.

I never stop missing Benny.

Go on. Just call.

You know you want to.

You've had his number forever.

You have a perfect right to call your own dad.

I bet he's a really nice person

and just feels guilty

and hasn't had the nerve to contact you.

Do something.

After all, he did give you that rabbit's foot

to remember him by.

I'll do it.

No.

It's ok.

I'll dial and you talk, ok?

Ann, just get it over with.

Don't worry.

It's gonna be ok.

I'm sorry.

It's ringing. Don't hang up.

Don't hang up! Ann!

Don't hang up.

Hello?

Hello?

Mr. Badir?

Yes?

Is this... Is this Hisham Badir?

Yes. Who is this?

This is Ann.

I'm sorry?

Your daughter Ann.

Hello?

Wow. Ann.

How are you?

I'm ok. A little taken by surprise.

I'd really like to see you.

Ohh...

Dad?

I wasn't exactly ready for this.

Do you think I could see you?

I heard you were married again.

Where did you hear that?

Someone in Bay City told Uncle Jimmy.

Do you have any children?

Yes. A daughter.

I have a sister?

What's her name?

Tamara.

She's... She's 9.

So, uh...

Does Tamara know about me?

Do you ever think about me?

Ann...

do you need me to help out in some way?

What?

Do you need some money?

That's... That's a terrible thing to say.

I... I just wanted to talk to you.

You're my father, and...

I thought maybe I could see you.

I thought perhaps your mother asked you to.

My mother didn't ask me to do anything.

Why would you say that?

You know your mother.

Yes, I do know my mother, and this isn't about your money.

She has nothing to do with this.

Ann...

I don't know what to say.

Look, I'm in the middle of something.

- Can i... - You don't...

You're not even glad that I called, are you?

You don't care if you ever see me again.

You don't give a damn about me, do you?

Why don't you give me your number?

I'm sorry I called you.

Listen, Ann...

You're better off without him.

Write him off. Who needs him?

Sue the bastard for child support or something.

Hello?

Hello?

Ann?

Yeah, Peter?

I want to kiss your lips.

What for?

I don't know.

Well, if you can't think of a better reason than that...

What?

I thought of another reason.

I'm wild about your warm lips

and I want to squeeze...

I want to squeeze you tight.

I want to be one with you.

Yeah.

I want to part your lips with my tongue.

Yeah, and then what?

Tell me. Then what?

I don't know.

Well, come on over.

Is your mom home?

No.

So...

Maybe we should go out some night.

No.

Come in.

So, what about that stuff

you were saying on the phone?

Where'd you learn that?

It's just in a book.

Why don't you take off your clothes?

All right. Um...

Don't you want to talk first?

It's not even dark outside.

So?

Music? Do you want to put on some music?

All right.

Are those initials on your underwear?

Yeah. My mom has that done.

Initial freak.

Take them off and bring them to me.

I want to kiss you.

Ok.

Ok.

Wow.

That summer I turned 17...

and I started planning my escape.

My mother finally found a job she liked

at a convalescent home.

She was good at what she did.

Here, look at yourself.

At last she had a captive audience.

That was a good one. Good. Good.

Waltz.

And where's that tongue going on the "I"?

Waltz.

It would help if we had

a little bit snazzier lipstick here, Jack.

Ha ha ha!

Ok, Jack? We gotta get her some perky lipstick.

Make that pucker. Let's try it again.

"Wuh."

Waltz.

I appreciate how you are with my mother.

How you are with everybody.

She's coming along all right.

I'd like to talk more about this. After work?

I could take you out to lunch or dinner some time?

Uh, thanks.

Tell you all about the carpet business.

Yeah, sometime.

Bye, guys. Bye, Ann.

Must have bagged a zillion groceries today.

You must be so tired.

I really appreciate you going with me.

I just couldn't deal with it by myself.

Every time this guy looks at me and asks me out,

it's just so sad.

He's so... nice.

When my wife died, I started eating out all the time.

How was the pot roast?

Nice. It was nice.

Think you'll ever go back to Wisconsin?

- Not for anything in the world. - Yeah.

Well, is it that bad?

It was a dead end. That's why we left.

I sometimes think about

just picking up and leaving, too.

Whenever a new shipment of carpets comes into my store,

I believe that somewhere in the pile

there's one that flies.

It's been put there for me.

Some beautifully handwoven 16th century Persian rug

from A Thousand and One Nights,

and I sit myself down on it

and I wave good-bye to everybody in the store

and fly right out of the front door.

When I graduate this year,

my carpet's gonna fly me back East to college.

You better tell your carpet to drop you at UCLA.

I'd like to go back East.

Since when?

I've been thinking about it.

Well, independence. Sounds like her mother.

She's not going back East. She's going to UCLA.

No, I'm not.

Honey, the hourly wage

bagging groceries at the supermarket

is never going to pay for an eastern college.

But I'm saving and I can apply for financial aid

and Grandma said she'd try to help.

Your Grandma knows about this?

She said when the time comes

maybe she'll be able to help out a little.

I'd like to go away to college.

Why?

Because I want to get away.

You wanted to get out of Bay City, didn't you?

I want to get out of Beverly Hills.

I'm sorry I brought this up.

You're gonna end up back in Bay City?

I didn't say that.

After all this time?

After all that I've sacrificed?

Um...

have you two ever been down to the grunion run?

No, Jack. I have to say we have not been

to the grunion run.

What is a grunion?

It's a little coastal fish.

It comes up on shore every once in a while

during high tide and lays its eggs in the moonlight.

And then it dies.

It's yet another example of a mother

giving her life for her child.

Well, some of them die. Not all of them.

Sounds really interesting. I'd love to see that.

Well, I'd like to take you.

Great.

I like him.

He gets on my nerves.

He likes you, and if he asks you out again,

I hope you'll go.

He asked me to go to Las Vegas for the weekend.

Good. You should go. You might have fun.

He is not my type.

He's not my idea of fun.

Go to Vegas, Mom. Take a chance.

You don't have to fall in love with him.

I'm not asking you to even sleep with him.

Oh, thank you.

You could win the jackpot even.

All right, I will go to Vegas.

Fine. Just stop it.

But you are going to UCLA.

It's a state school, it's all that we can afford,

and I do not want to hear another word about it.

"Jackpot."

My mother didn't know it,

but I'd already applied to Brown University in Rhode Island.

Peter tried to talk me into going to Berkeley,

but my heart was set on the East Coast.

My grades were really good,

and I thought I could get a full scholarship.

I like the part about the noble soul,

but do you really read Nietzsche?

I mean, I read Nietzsche.

I don't really read Nietzsche.

He'd be a crazy friend to have, don't you think?

Mm-hmm.

Besides, I think people who read Nietzsche,

like really read Nietzsche, are kinda...

I don't know. Kierkegaard, though, he said that...

Where's the mail?

Where's the mail?

Right there.

You opened it.

Well, how else am I going to know

how you're planning your life?

After all, I'm only your mother.

Why would you confide in me, thank you very much.

Go ahead. Open it.

I'm sure you'll be very happy.

Providence, Rhode Island?

Could you have gotten any farther away from me?

Look, I just don't understand.

After all these years, after all our hard work,

would it have killed you to just stick around a bit

and show some respect and appreciation

to the people that have worried about you

and loved you

and have sacrificed everything for you?

I'm not going anywhere!

If you're going to read my mail, read it carefully.

They're giving me some money for tuition and fees,

but not all of it, and we have to pay part of it.

And we don't have that.

Read it. " Parents' contributions."

God, I wanted it so bad.

Oh, pooh bear, it's not the end of the world.

It is the end of the world!

Maybe not for you, but it is for me.

We could get an ice cream.

No!

Can’t you understand? I want to go away to college.

I want to be on my own and you on your own.

And I know you're scared to be without me,

but I can't help that.

And I feel bad about that,

but I don't want that job anymore.

Let me live my own life. Let me go.

Ohh.

Good afternoon.

You went through that stop sign back there.

I need your driver's license and registration, please.

You want to take the driver's license

out of this, please?

Oh, my God.

What?

You're the one who ran after my daughter Ann on Christmas.

You winked at her? Do you remember?

Oh, yeah. I remember you two.

I know what you told her, and she hasn't been the same since.

I'm sorry. Can I have the driver's license?

You might have been right.

It hasn't been perfect, ok?

Hey, nobody's perfect.

Exactly. I make mistakes. That's what I was saying.

Sometimes maybe I'm a little bit selfish.

Maybe sometimes I'm a little bit irresponsible,

and the lights go out sometimes.

But I'm trying. That's the point, right?

I am trying. It's not easy.

I'm sure it's not easy for her, either.

If I could get the driver's license from you?

I know I should have helped her find her father,

but I knew that he would disappoint her,

and she's better than that.

So I tried to find her another father.

That's completely impossible.

I'm sure it's very difficult for you.

Did she tell you any of the good things that I did?

'Cause I did a lot of good things.

I just need the license...

She's always had a warm home, food...

- Lady... - Clothing...

Lady...

The best school system. Did she tell you that?!

No, ma'am. Gimme that license, please.

All right!

Thank you.

You know, she could have been an actress,

instead she wants to go away to college.

She's telling me that I have to let her go.

Well, it's always been just the two of us,

and that is very hard.

I don't get it.

Doesn't she know I... I would do anything for her?

I mean, I love her.

She is the reason I was born.

Doesn't she understand that I would do anything for her?

Then you know what to do.

Yeah.

I'll tell you what.

This is what I'm going to do for you.

I'm gonna let you go.

Ok.

Ok? Here's your driver's license.

Thanks.

Watch the signs, please.

Ok?

And have a nice day.

You, too.

Mmm, it's beautiful.

It's your color.

It is, isn't it?

It makes you look so thin.

Oh, God, well, that's good.

Call me.

Oh, honey.

What are you doing?

You're home early. I wanted to surprise you.

God, this is a beautiful automobile.

Janet just bought our car.

You're selling the car?

Sold. Ha ha!

This is my daughter Ann, you know, going to Brown.

I was telling her all about you, sweetie.

Yeah. I love this car.

I was out with a girlfriend in her car,

and I see your mom driving past.

When I saw that "for sale" sign in the window,

I am telling you, I heard a voice in my head saying,

"You have to have that car."

I mean, I can't even really afford it,

but it's, like, the car that I see in my dreams.

Mom, why are you doing this?

What do you mean I'm going to Brown?

Sweetie, we can afford it.

I worked it out.

I saved a little money in the bank,

and now with the money from the car...

I'm applying to UCLA.

Sweetheart, UCLA is for surfers and wanna-be starlets.

She's a serious student. Go to Brown.

You can't sell the car.

Honey, we're gonna make it work.

At least for this year.

We'll worry about next year next year, right?

I mean, we're good at that, aren't we?

Ok. Gonna drive it away now, girls.

You can't drive it away. That's our car.

That's our Mercedes. It changed our lives.

Good luck, Janet!

Good luck to you, Adele! Thank you again!

So I'll come see you at Christmas.

And in the spring when you come,

I'll make sure I have that little house at the beach.

At the end of Carbon Beach with the blue roof?

- Ok. - Ok.

You bring... You bring somebody home with you.

Somebody that I don't know.

Somebody that I'll like.

Ok. I will.

United Airlines flight 166 to Boston.

All passengers...

I have to go.

Should now be on board at gate 18.

You look elegant, Mom.

Oh, look at you.

Ohh...

You never were a small-town girl, honey.

Thanks for knowing that, Mom.

And wear your seat belt, ok?

Mm-hmm.

Ok. Ok.

And... And make a list of all the books

that you're reading so I can keep up.

Ok.

I love you.

I love you, too, sweetie.

Bye.

♪ Be optimistic. ♪

♪ Don't you be a grumpy. ♪

♪ When the road gets bumpy. ♪

♪ Just smile, smile, smile. ♪

♪ Be happy. ♪

Go! Go ahead!

Even if you can't stand her,

even if you hate her,

even if she's ruining your life,

there's... there's something about my mother.

Some romance...

some power.

And when she dies...

the world will be flat.

Too simple, too fair...

too reasonable.

Ooh! Gosh, you pack quite a wallop.

Oh, excuse me.

Are you ok?

Are you ok?

I'm fine. Thanks.

♪ Free to find where I belong. ♪

♪ Free to find my way. ♪

♪ I know at times ♪ ♪ I act a little crazy. ♪

♪ And I made mistakes along the way. ♪

♪ But I can see the silver lining. ♪

♪ It's about to bring a change ♪

♪ I have been waiting for. ♪

♪ Yeah. ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm free. ♪

♪ Free to find where I belong. ♪

♪ Free to find my way. ♪

♪ Free to find my way. ♪

♪ I want to be free. ♪

♪ Di di dit di di dit di doo. ♪

♪ Sometimes. ♪

♪ Time comes along. ♪

♪ When it's time to. ♪

♪ Time to move on. ♪

♪ You can't stay there. ♪

♪ No matter how much you want. ♪

♪ Tears flow. ♪

♪ Sad words are said. ♪

♪ But in my heart. ♪

♪ The story won't end. ♪

♪ You'll still be there. ♪

♪ In everything that I do. ♪

♪ And wherever I go. ♪

♪ I'll remember you. ♪

♪ Leaving's not leaving. ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm not leaving you behind. ♪

♪ You'll always be with me. ♪

♪ Always be with me. ♪

♪ And part of my heart. ♪

♪ For all time. ♪

♪ Where I'm going. ♪

♪ You're going. ♪

♪ Even if it's just in my mind. ♪

♪ Leaving's not leaving ♪

♪ I'm not leaving you behind. ♪

♪ Moments. ♪

♪ Share them with you. ♪

♪ They're the best times. ♪

♪ That I ever knew. ♪

♪ They'll still be there. ♪

♪ When good-byes are all through ♪

♪ I'll remember those days ♪

♪ I'll remember you. ♪

♪ Leaving's not leaving. ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm not leaving you behind. ♪

♪ You'll always be with me. ♪

♪ Always be with me. ♪

♪ Part of my heart. ♪

♪ For all time. ♪

♪ Where I'm going. ♪

♪ You're going. ♪

♪ Even if it's just in my mind. ♪

♪ Leaving's not leaving ♪

♪ I'm not leaving. ♪

♪ You behind. ♪

♪ Leaving's not leaving. ♪

♪ Not leaving you behind. ♪

♪ Not leaving you behind ♪

♪ I'm not leaving you ♪

♪ I'm not leaving you behind. ♪

♪ No, no, no. ♪

♪ No, no, no ♪

♪ I'm not leaving. ♪

♪ Leaving's not leaving ♪

♪ I'm not leaving you ♪

♪ I'm not leaving. ♪

♪ You behind. ♪