All language subtitles for night.Mother.1986.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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(SIGH)NOW THEN...

Recording: AT THE TONE,
THE SHELBY COUNTY SAVINGS TIME

WILL BE 6:05
AND 20 SECONDS.

(TONE)

(RING)

Woman: SUBSCRIPTIONS.
MAY I HELP YOU?

YES. HELLO. I WANT
TO CANCEL MY NEWSPAPERS.

NAME, PLEASE.

CATES. JESSIE CATES.

DAILY AND SUNDAY?

NO, NOT SUNDAY.
JUST DURING THE WEEK.

CATES?

THAT'S RIGHT.

HAVEN'T YOU BEEN PLEASED
WITH OUR SERVICE,
MISS CATES?

OH, YES. I'VE BEEN
VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE.

I'M JUST NOT GOING TO
BE READING IT ANYMORE.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

BYE.

BYE.

(CAR APPROACHING)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

Woman: WON'T YOU COME IN
FOR JUST A MINUTE, AGNES?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

OH, AGNES,
THAT'S CRAZY.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
OR NOT, THELMA,
BUT I AIN'T COMING IN.

UP TO THE DRIVEWAY--
THAT'S AS FAR AS I GO.

(STARTS ENGINE)

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
IN THERE?

HI, MAMA.

JESSIE, IT'S
BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE.

DID YOU HAVE A NICE TIME?

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

JESSIE,
WAIT TILL YOU SEE
WHAT I BROUGHT YOU.

THANKS, MAMA.

(HUMMING)

JESSIE, IT'S
THE LAST SNOWBALL, SUGAR.
PUT IT ON THE LIST, OK?

AND WE'RE
OUT OF HERSHEY BARS.

AND WHERE'S
THAT PEANUT BRITTLE?

YOU GOT ANY OLD
TOWELS, TOWELS YOU
DON'T WANT ANYMORE?

HOW ABOUT
THIS SWIMMING TOWEL
LORETTA GAVE US?

BEACH TOWEL--
THAT'S THE NAME OF IT.

YOU WANT IT?

I HATE IT WHEN THE COCONUT
FALLS OFF. WHY DOES
THE COCONUT FALL OFF?

AND A BIG PIECE OF
PLASTIC, LIKE A RUBBER
SHEET OR SOMETHING?

GARBAGE BAGS WOULD DO
IF THERE'S ENOUGH.

DON'T GO MAKING
A BIG MESS, JESSIE.

MAYBE AN OLD BLANKET

OR TOWELS WE GOT
IN A SOAPBOX SOMETIME.

I SAID
DON'T MAKE A MESS.
I KNOW YOU HEARD ME.

YOUR HAIR'S
LIGHT ENOUGH, HON.

IT'S NOT FOR MY HAIR,
MAMA.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Thelma: JESSIE, COME
LOOK AT THESE BEGONIAS
BEFORE IT GETS DARK.

I TOLD AGNES YOU COULD
GROW BEGONIAS HERE.

LOOK AT THESE.

Thelma: JESSIE!

JESSIE, I CAN'T FIND
MY GARDENING GLOVES!

YOU DON'T THINK
I LEFT THEM OUT HERE

AND SOME RACCOON
OR SOMETHING
ATE THEM, DO YOU?

I THOUGHT I BROUGHT 'EM
IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW YOU LIKE ME
TO BRING THEM
IN THE HOUSE.

HERE THEY ARE.
I WASHED THEM.

THANKS, HON.

IT'S STILL NICE OUTSIDE.
WANT TO COME SEE?

NO, THANKS.

OH, JESSIE.
I'M THE MOST DANGEROUS
THING OUT HERE.

I'M FINE, MAMA.

(CAR HORN HONKS)

JESSIE, IT'S DAWSON!
AND KENNY!

AND LITTLE MELODIE!

COME GIVE GRANDMA
A KISS. OH, MY BABY. OH,
I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.

HIYA, DAWSON!

HI, MA.

HELLO, LORETTA.

HELLO, THELMA.

Thelma: LOOK
WHAT I BROUGHT YOU
FROM THE FAIR.Kenny: OH, THANKS!
THANK YOU!

Melodie: HOW'S
AUNT JESSIE?

SHE'S JUST FINE.

SHE WANTS
TO COME SEE YOU.
SHE'S JUST SO BUSY.

Jessie: NO.
THAT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT.

(VOICES OUTSIDE)

Kenny: I DID NOT!

Melodie: YOU DID.

DID NOT.

Melodie: YES, YOU DID!

Kenny: STUCK UP.

(MELODIE GIGGLES)

Melodie: WE CAN'T
GO IN THE HOUSE.

AUNT JESSIE'S
IN THERE!

I CAN GO
WHEREVER I WANT TO.

YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS
OF ME.

(SIGH)

NO. THAT'S NOT RIGHT,
EITHER.

(LORETTA LAUGHS)

(VOICES CONTINUE OUTSIDE)

THERE YOU GO, DADDY.

Dawson: KENNY CATES,
YOU GET IN THIS CAR
RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

Loretta: THELMA,
I BROUGHT YOU
A CASSEROLE.

COME ON, NOW.

YOU DON'T WANT ME
TO LEAVE YOU HERE, DO YOU?

MELODIE, KENNY,

LET'S GO, NOW.
LET'S GET IN THE CAR.

VERY GOOD, KENNY.

GOOD-BYE, MY BABY.

OH, THEY'RE
GROWING UP SO FAST.

NOT FAST ENOUGH,
IF YOU ASK ME.

KENNY CATES,
WHEN I CALL YOU,
YOU COME THE FIRST TIME.

DON'T MAKE
YOUR DADDY MAD.

DON'T MAKE
YOUR TEACHERS
ANGRY, EITHER.

BYE-BYE, EVERYBODY!
BYE-BYE!

THANKS FOR COMING!

MY BABIES.
BYE-BYE! BYE-BYE!

TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELVES.

BE VERY GOOD
IN SCHOOL!

Kenny: SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK!

THANKS FOR THE CASSEROLE,
DAWSON!

BYE!
BYE!

BYE!

BYE-BYE!

NOW.

Thelma: JESSIE!

JESSIE!

LOOK WHAT LORETTA
BROUGHT YOU FOR DINNER.

DO I HAVE TO?

NOW, JESSIE, WHAT WOULD
YOU EAT IF IT WEREN'T
FOR LORETTA?

I DON'T KNOW, MAMA.
WHATEVER I WANTED,
I GUESS.

WELL, I JUST LOVE
A SATURDAY.

I GOT YOUR MANICURE
ALL READY, MAMA.

YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME,
AREN'T YOU?

WHERE'S DADDY'S GUN?

JESSIE, THEY'RE GOING
TO BUILD AN EXPRESSWAY
THROUGH HERE.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE
TO FLORIDA.

WHERE'S DADDY'S GUN?

IN THE ATTIC.

I LOOKED IN THE ATTIC.

WELL, YOU DIDN'T LOOK
GOOD ENOUGH, THEN.

ONE OF HIS SHOEBOXES,
I THINK. YES. THERE
WAS AN EMPTY BOX

FROM THAT PAIR
HE WORE TO THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN HE DIED, THEY SAID
I COULD HAVE IT BACK,

BUT I NEVER DID LIKE
THOSE SHOES.

FOUND THE BULLETS. THEY
WERE IN AN OLD MILK CAN.

DAWSON TOOK THE SHOTGUN,
DIDN'T HE?

DAWSON BETTER NOT HAVE
TAKEN THAT PISTOL.

DAWSON CAN HAVE WHATEVER
HE WANTS, JESSIE.

MAYBE KENNY WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE THAT TOY CHEST

WITH THE LITTLE HORSE
ON IT

CECIL MADE FOR RICKY.

AND DAWSON COULD EVEN
PAINT IT

IF HE WANTED TO.

OR MAYBE LORETTA COULD
ANTIQUE IT LIKE SHE DID
THAT OLD WASHSTAND

AND GIVE IT TO MELODIE.

MELODIE LIKES HORSES,
I THINK.

I KNOW SHE LIKED
THAT LITTLE SKIRT
LORETTA MADE HER

WITH THE LITTLE
BROWN HORSE ON IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DAWSON COULD PROBABLY
USE SOME OF THOSE
CLOTHES UP THERE.SOMEBODY OUGHT TO
HAVE THEM.

YOU OUGHT TO CALL
THE SALVATION ARMY

BEFORE THE WHOLE ATTIC
FALLS IN ON YOU.

IT'S PLENTY SAFE,
AS LONG AS YOU
DON'T GO UP THERE.

I'M CAREFUL.

WHAT DO YOU WANT
THE GUN FOR, JESS?

PROTECTION.

YOU TAKE THE TV
WAY TOO SERIOUS, HON.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
A CRIMINAL IN MY LIFE.

THIS IS WAY TOO FAR
TO COME FOR WHAT'S
OUT HERE TO STEAL.

NEVER SEEN A ONE.

EXCEPT FOR RICKY.

RICKY IS MIXED UP.
THAT'S NOT A CRIME.

GET YOUR HANDS WASHED.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

AND GET THEM REAL DRY.

YOU DRY YOUR HANDS
TILL I GET BACK, OR IT'S
NO MANICURE, ALL RIGHT?

I THOUGHT DAWSON
TOLD YOU NOT TO GO
UP THOSE STAIRS.

HE DID.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA
OF A GUN, JESS.

WHICH SHOEBOX?
CAN YOU REMEMBER?

BLACK.

THE BOX WAS BLACK?

THE SHOES WERE BLACK.

THAT DOESN'T HELP MUCH,
MOTHER.

I'M NOT TRYING TO HELP,
SUGAR.

WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ANYBODY
WOULD WANT, JESSIE.

I MEAN,
I DON'T EVEN WANT
WHAT WE GOT, JESSIE.

WE'LL JUST
HAND IT OVER TO THEM
WHEN THEY COME,

WHATEVER THEY WANT--
THE CRIMINALS.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, MAMA.

(WHISPERS)
Daddy...

Thelma: YOU COME
DOWN FROM THERE
BEFORE YOU HAVE A FIT.

I CAN'T COME UP THERE
AND GET YOU, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW.

RICKY WILL GROW
OUT OF THIS AND BE
A REAL FINE BOY, JESS.BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU,

I WOULDN'T WANT RICKY
TO KNOW WE HAD A GUN
IN THE HOUSE.

There it is.

I FOUND IT.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING
RICKY'S GOING THROUGH.

HE'LL GET BACK IN SCHOOL
OR GET A JOB,

OR ONE DAY,
YOU'LL GET A CALL,

AND HE'LL SAY
HE'S SORRY FOR ALL
THE TROUBLE HE'S CAUSED

AND INVITE YOU
OUT FOR SUPPER
SOMEPLACE DRESS-UP.

DON'T WORRY.
IT'S NOT FOR HIM.

IT'S FOR ME.

I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D
SHOOT YOUR OWN BOY,
JESSIE.

I KNOW YOU FELT
LIKE IT.

WE'VE ALL FELT LIKE
SHOOTING SOMEBODY,
BUT WE DON'T DO IT.

I JUST DON'T THINK
WE NEED--

YOUR HANDS AREN'T
WASHED. DO YOU WANT
THAT MANICURE OR NOT?

YES, I DO.

WELL, THEN WASH YOUR HANDS.

DON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE
ABOUT RICKY.

THOSE 2 RINGS
HE TOOK WERE THE LAST
VALUABLE THINGS I HAD,

SO NOW HE'S STARTED IN
ON OTHER PEOPLE,

DOOR TO DOOR.

I HOPE THEY PUT HIM AWAY
SOMETIME.

I'D TURN HIM IN MYSELF
IF I KNEW WHERE HE WAS.

YOU DON'T MEAN THAT.

EVERY WORD.

WASH YOUR HANDS,
AND THAT'S THE LAST TIME
I'M TELLING YOU.

I SHOULD'VE GOT YOU TO
BRING DOWN THAT MILK PAN.

AGNES FLETCHER SOLD HERS
TO SOMEBODY WITH A FLEA MARKET
FOR $40 APIECE.

THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA
MAKE LAMPS OUT OF THEM.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT?

YOU COULDN'T GIVE ME
ONE OF THOSE LAMPS.

YOU KNOW THEY'D STILL
SMELL LIKE MILK, DON'T YA?

W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THE BARREL HAS TO
BE CLEANED, MAMA.

OLD POWDER,
DUST GETS IN IT.

WHAT FOR?

I TOLD YOU.

AND I TOLD YOU, WE DON'T
GET CRIMINALS OUT HERE.

AND I TOLD YOU...

THE GUN IS FOR ME.

WELL...

YOU CAN HAVE IT
IF YOU WANT.

WHEN I DIE, YOU'LL
GET IT ALL ANYWAY.

I'M GONNA
KILL MYSELF, MAMA.

VERY FUNNY, VERY FUNNY.

I AM.

YOU ARE NOT.
DON'T EVEN SAY
SUCH A THING, JESSIE.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW
IF I DIDN'T SAY IT?

WANT IT TO BE
A SURPRISE? YOU'RE
LYING IN YOUR BED

OR MAYBE JUST
BRUSHING YOUR TEETH,

AND YOU HEAR A NOISE
DOWN THE HALL.

KILL YOURSELF.

SHOOT MYSELF...

IN A COUPLE HOURS.

MUST BE TIME
FOR YOUR MEDICINE.

I TOOK IT ALREADY.

THEN WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?

NOT A THING.
I FEEL FINE.

YOU FEEL FINE,
YOU'RE JUST GONNA
KILL YOURSELF?

WAITED UNTIL I FELT
GOOD ENOUGH, IN FACT.

DON'T MAKE JOKES, JESSIE.
I'M TOO OLD FOR JOKES.

IT'S NOT A JOKE, MAMA.

THAT GUN'S NO GOOD,
YOU KNOW.

HE BROKE IT RIGHT
BEFORE HE DIED,

DROPPED IT
IN THE MUD ONE DAY.

SEEMS OK.

I HAD CECIL'S ALL READY
IN THERE

JUST IN CASE I COULDN'T
FIND THIS ONE, BUT I'D
RATHER USE DADDY'S.YOUR DADDY'S BULLETS
ARE AT LEAST 15 YEARS OLD.

THESE ARE
FROM LAST WEEK.

WHERE'D YOU GET THOSE?

FEED STORE
DAWSON TOLD ME ABOUT.

DAWSON?

I TOLD HIM I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT PROWLERS.

HE SAID HE THOUGHT
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.

HE TOLD ME
WHAT KIND TO ASK FOR.

IF HE HAD
ANY IDEA WHAT--

HE TOOK IT
AS A COMPLIMENT.

HE THOUGHT
I MIGHT BE TAKING
AN INTEREST IN THINGS.

HE GOT THROUGH
TELLING ME ALL
ABOUT THE BULLETS,

AND THEN HE SAID,
"WE OUGHT TO TALK
LIKE THIS MORE OFTEN."

AND WHERE WAS I
WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON?

OUTSIDE, I GUESS.

ANYWAY, I ASKED DAWSON
IF HE THOUGHT THEY'D
SEND ME SOME BULLETS,

AND HE SAID HE'D JUST
CALL FOR ME

BECAUSE HE KNEW
THEY'D SEND THEM
IF HE TOLD THEM TO.

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
HERE THEY ARE.

HOW COULD HE DO THAT?

HE WAS JUST TRYING
TO HELP, MAMA.

AND THEN I TOLD YOU
WHERE THE GUN WAS.

SEE? EVERYBODY'S DOING
WHAT THEY CAN.

YOU TOLD ME IT WAS
FOR PROTECTION!

IT IS. I'M STILL DOING
YOUR NAILS, THOUGH.

YOU WANT TO TRY THAT
NEW CHINABERRY COLOR?

WELL, I'M CALLING
DAWSON RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL JUST SEE
WHAT HE'S GOT TO SAY
ABOUT THIS LITTLE STUNT.DAWSON DOESN'T HAVE
ANY MORE TO DO
WITH THIS.

HE'S YOUR BROTHER.

AND THAT'S ALL.

DAWSON WILL PUT A STOP
TO THIS. YES, HE WILL.
HE'LL TAKE THE GUN AWAY.

IF YOU CALL HIM,
I'LL JUST HAVE TO DO IT
BEFORE HE GETS HERE.

SOON AS YOU HANG UP
THE PHONE,

I'LL JUST WALK
IN THE BEDROOM
AND LOCK THE DOOR.

YOU WILL NOT!

THIS IS CRAZY TALK,
JESSIE.

DAWSON WILL GET
HERE JUST IN TIME
TO HELP YOU CLEAN UP.

GO AHEAD. CALL HIM.

THEN CALL THE POLICE.

THEN CALL
THE FUNERAL HOME.

AND THEN CALL LORETTA
AND SEE IF SHE'LL
DO YOUR NAILS.

I SAID NO.

THIS IS PRIVATE.
DAWSON IS NOT INVITED.

JUST ME.

IF DAWSON COMES OVER,

IT'LL JUST MAKE ME
FEEL STUPID FOR NOT
DOING IT 10 YEARS AGO.I THINK WE BETTER
CALL THE DOCTOR.

OR HOW ABOUT
THE AMBULANCE? YOU LIKE
THAT ONE DRIVER, I KNOW.

WHAT'S HIS NAME? TIMMY.

I'LL GET YOU SOMEBODY
TO TALK TO.

I'M THROUGH TALKING,
MAMA.

YOU'RE IT. NO MORE.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO
SIT AROUND LIKE EVERY
OTHER NIGHT IN THE WORLD,

AND THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO KILL YOURSELF?

YOU'LL MISS.

YOU'LL WIND UP
A VEGETABLE. HOW
WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?

YOU KNOW
WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID
ABOUT GETTING EXCITED.

YOU'LL COCK THE PISTOL
AND HAVE A FIT.

I THINK I CAN
KILL MYSELF, MAMA.

THANKS.

IT'S A SIN.
YOU'LL GO TO HELL.

JESUS WAS A SUICIDE,
IF YOU ASK ME.

YOU'LL GO TO HELL JUST
FOR SAYING THAT, JESSIE.

I DIDN'T KNOW
I THOUGHT THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY
KILL THEMSELVES, JESSIE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE,
UNLESS YOU'RE RETARDED
OR DERANGED,

AND YOU'RE AS NORMAL
AS THEY COME, JESSIE,
FOR THE MOST PART.

WE'RE ALL AFRAID TO DIE.

I'M NOT, MAMA.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.

IT'S DARK AND QUIET.

SO'S THE BACKYARD,
JESSIE.

SO QUIET,
I DON'T KNOW IT'S QUIET,

SO NOBODY CAN GET ME.

DEATH MIGHT NOT BE QUIET
AT ALL, JESSIE.

WHAT IF IT'S
LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK
AND YOU CAN'T WAKE UP

SO YOU CAN'T
SHUT IT OFF, EVER?

DEAD IS EVERYBODY
AND EVERYTHING
I EVER KNEW, GONE.

DEAD IS DEAD QUIET.

YOU CAN'T USE MY TOWELS.
THEY'RE MY TOWELS.

I'VE HAD THEM
FOR A LONG TIME.
I LIKE MY TOWELS.

I ASKED YOU IF YOU WANTED
THAT SWIMMING TOWEL.
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T.

AND YOU CAN'T USE YOUR
FATHER'S GUN, EITHER.
IT'S MINE NOW, TOO.

AND YOU CAN'T DO IT
IN MY HOUSE.

OH, COME ON.

NO, YOU CAN'T.
I WON'T LET YOU.
THE HOUSE IS IN MY NAME.

IF I GO IN MY BEDROOM
AND LOCK THE DOOR BEHIND ME,

THEY WON'T ARREST YOU
FOR KILLING ME.

THEY'LL PROBABLY TEST
YOUR HANDS FOR GUNPOWDER
ANYWAY, BUT YOU'LL PASS.

NOT IN MY HOUSE!

IF I'D KNOWN YOU WERE
GOING TO ACT LIKE THIS,
I WOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU.

HOW AM I
SUPPOSED TO ACT?

TELL YOU TO GO AHEAD?

"OK BY ME, SUGAR.
MIGHT TRY IT MYSELF.
WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?"

THERE'S JUST NO POINT
IN FIGHTING ME OVER IT,
THAT'S ALL.

YOUR BIRTHDAY'S
COMING UP, JESSIE.

DON'T YOU
WANT TO KNOW
WHAT WE GOT YOU?

YOU GOT ME
DUSTING POWDER.

LORETTA GOT ME
A NEW HOUSECOAT--
PINK, PROBABLY.

AND DAWSON GOT ME
NEW SLIPPERS.

"TOO SMALL, BUT THEY
GO WITH THE ROBE,"
HE'LL SAY. RIGHT?

I'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Thelma: I STARTED TO,
BUT I DIDN'T.

I DIDN'T CALL HIM.

GOOD. THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT,
JESSIE?

ABOUT?

WHAT'D I DO?

NOTHING.

WANT A CARAMEL?

YOU'RE MAD AT ME.

NOT A BIT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU,
BUT I'M GOING TO DO
WHAT I CAN BEFORE I GO.

I'M NOT JUST GOING TO BE
SITTING AROUND TONIGHT.

I MADE
A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS.

WHAT THINGS?

HOW THE WASHER WORKS,
THINGS LIKE THAT.

DID YOU GROW UP
WEARING DIRTY CLOTHES?

NO.

I KNOW
HOW THE WASHER WORKS.

YOU PUT THE CLOTHES IN,
YOU PUT THE SOAP IN,
YOU TURN IT ON, YOU WAIT.

OK. WHERE DO WE KEEP
THE SOAP?

I COULD FIND IT.

SEE?

IF YOU'RE MAD ABOUT
DOING THE WASH, WE CAN
GET LORETTA TO DO IT.

OH...

NOW, THAT MIGHT BE
WORTH STAYING TO SEE.

SHE'D NEVER IN HER LIFE,
WOULD SHE?

NO.

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH HER?

SHE THINKS SHE'S BETTER
THAN WE ARE.

SHE'S NOT.

MAYBE IF SHE DIDN'T
WEAR THAT YELLOW
ALL THE TIME.

THE WASHER REPAIR NUMBER
IS ON A LITTLE CARD

TAPED TO THE SIDE
OF THE MACHINE.

LORETTA DOESN'T
EVER HAVE TO COME
OVER HERE AGAIN.

DAWSON CAN JUST
LEAVE HER AT HOME
WHEN HE COMES.

AND WE WON'T EVER
SEE DAWSON, EITHER,

IF HE BOTHERS YOU.
DOES HE BOTHER YOU?

SURE, HE DOES.

BE SURE YOU CLEAN OUT
THE LINT TRAY EVERY TIME
YOU USE THE DRYER.

BUT DON'T EVER PUT
YOUR HOUSE SHOES IN IT.
IT'LL MELT THE SOLES.

WHAT DOES DAWSON DO
THAT BOTHERS YOU?

HE JUST CALLS ME
"JESS" LIKE HE KNOWS
WHO HE'S TALKING TO,

AND HE'S ALWAYS WONDERING
WHAT I DO ALL DAY.

I MEAN, I WONDER THAT
MYSELF, BUT IT'S MY DAY,

SO IT'S MINE
TO WONDER ABOUT, NOT HIS.

THAT WAS JUST ACCIDENT,
JESSIE.

IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL,
HON. THEY DON'T MEAN
TO GET ON YOUR NERVES.THEY DON'T EVEN MEAN
TO BE YOUR FAMILY.
THEY JUST ARE.

THEY KNOW TOO MUCH.
ABOUT WHAT?

WELL, THEY KNOW THINGS
ABOUT YOU,

AND THEY LEARNED IT
BEFORE YOU HAD

A CHANCE TO SAY
WHETHER YOU WANTED THEM
TO KNOW IT OR NOT.

THEY WERE THERE
WHEN IT HAPPENED,

AND IT DON'T BELONG
TO THEM--IT BELONGS
TO YOU, ONLY THEY GOT IT.

LIKE MY MAIL-ORDER BRA
GOT DELIVERED
TO THEIR HOUSE.

BY ACCIDENT.

ALL THE SAME,
THEY OPENED IT.

THEY SAW
THE LITTLE ROSEBUDS ON IT.

CHEWY MINT?

WHAT DO THEY KNOW
ABOUT YOU?

I'LL TELL THEM NEVER
TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.

IS IT RICKY OR CECIL?
OR YOUR FITS?

OR YOU DRINK
TOO MUCH COFFEE,

OR YOU NEVER
GO OUT OF THE HOUSE,
OR WHAT?

I JUST DON'T LIKE
THEIR TALK.

THE ACCOUNT
AT THE GROCERY

IS IN DAWSON'S NAME
WHEN YOU CALL,

AND THE NUMBER'S
ON A WHOLE LIST
OF NUMBERS

ON THE BACK PAGE
OF THE PHONE BOOK.

WELL, NOW WE'RE
GETTING SOMEWHERE.

THEY'RE NONE OF THEM
EVER SETTIN' FOOT
IN THIS HOUSE AGAIN.

IT'S NOT THEM, MAMA.
I WOULDN'T KILL MYSELF

JUST TO GET AWAY
FROM THEM.

YOU LEAVE THE ROOM
WHEN THEY COME OVER
ANYWAY.

I STAY AS LONG
AS I CAN.

BESIDES, IT'S YOU
THEY COME TO SEE.

THAT'S BECAUSE
I STAY IN THE ROOM
WHEN THEY COME.

IT'S NOT THEM.

THEN WHAT IS IT?

THE GROCERY
WON'T DELIVER
ON SATURDAYS ANYMORE,

AND THEY WON'T DELIVER
LESS THAN $15 WORTH.

WHAT I DO IS TELL THEM
WHAT WE NEED

AND TELL THEM
TO ADD ON CIGARETTES
UNTIL IT GETS TO $15.

IT'S RICKY.
YOU'RE TRYING
TO GET THROUGH TO HIM.

IF I THOUGHT
I COULD DO THAT,
I WOULD STAY.

MAKE HIM SORRY
HE HURT YOU, THEN.

THAT'S IT, ISN'T IT?

I'VE HURT HIM.
HE'S HURT ME.
WE'RE ABOUT EVEN.

YOU'LL BE TELLING HIM
KILLING'S OK WITH YOU,
YOU KNOW.

WANT HIM TO START
KILLING NEXT?

"NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
MOM DID IT."

ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
ANYWAY, MAMA,

AND WHEN THE CALL COMES,
LET DAWSON HANDLE IT.

OH, HONEY, NOTHING SAYS

THOSE CALLS ARE ALWAYS
GOING TO BE SOME NEW
TROUBLE HE'S INTO.

IF YOU CALL
THE SWEET TOOTH BEFORE
YOU CALL THE GROCERY,

THAT SUSIE WILL TAKE
YOUR FUDGE NEXT DOOR
TO THE GROCERY,

AND IT'LL ALL
COME OUT TOGETHER.

RICKY COULD
COME OVER, YOU KNOW.
WHAT IF HE CALLS YOU?

IT'S NOT RICKY, MAMA.

ANYBODY COULD
CALL, JESSIE.

NOT SATURDAY NIGHT, MAMA.

THEN WHAT IS IT?
ARE YOU SICK?

IF YOUR GUMS
ARE SWELLING,

WE COULD GET YOU
TO THE DENTIST
IN THE MORNING.

NO. CAN YOU
ORDER YOUR MEDICINE,
OR DO YOU WANT DAWSON TO?

YOUR EYES
DON'T LOOK RIGHT.
I THOUGHT SO.

IT'S JUST
THE RAGWEED, MAMA.
I'M NOT SICK.

EPILEPSY IS SICK,
JESSIE.

IT WON'T KILL ME.

IF IT WOULD,
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

NO, I DON'T. THAT'S
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

WELL,
I WON'T LET YOU!

IT'S NOT UP TO YOU!

JESSIE!

I WANT TO HANG
A BIG SIGN AROUND MY NECK

LIKE DADDY'S ON THE BARN--
"GONE FISHING."

YOU DON'T LIKE IT
HERE.

EXACTLY.

I MEANT
HERE IN MY HOUSE.

I KNOW YOU DID.

Thelma: YOU NEVER
SHOULD HAVE MOVED
BACK IN HERE WITH ME.

IF YOU'D HAVE KEPT
YOUR LITTLE HOUSE

OR FOUND ANOTHER PLACE
WHEN CECIL LEFT YOU,

YOU'D HAVE MADE SOME
NEW FRIENDS AT LEAST,

HAD A LIFE TO LEAD,
HAD YOUR OWN THINGS
AROUND YOU,

GIVE RICKY A PLACE
TO COME SEE YOU.

YOU NEVER SHOULD HAVE
COME HERE.

MAYBE.

BUT I DIDN'T FORCE YOU,
DID I?

IF IT WAS A MISTAKE,
WE MADE IT TOGETHER.

YOU TOOK ME IN.
I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE
ANY BUSINESS BEING
BY YOURSELF RIGHT THEN,

BUT I CAN SEE
HOW YOU MIGHT WANT
A PLACE OF YOUR OWN.

A GROWN WOMAN
SHOULD HAVE--

MAMA, I'M JUST NOT
HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME,

AND I DON'T HAVE
ANY REASON TO THINK

IT'S GOING TO GET
ANYTHING BUT WORSE.

I'M TIRED, I'M HURT,
I'M SAD, I FEEL USED.

TIRED OF WHAT?

IT ALL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I CAN'T SAY IT
ANY BETTER.

WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO
SAY IT BETTER

BECAUSE I'M NOT LETTING
YOU ALONE TILL YOU DO.

WHAT WERE THOSE
OTHER THINGS? HURT?

YOU HAD THIS ALL READY
TO SAY TO ME, DIDN'T YOU?

DID YOU WRITE THIS DOWN?

HOW LONG YOU BEEN
THINKING ABOUT THIS?

OFF AND ON, 10 YEARS.

ON ALL THE TIME,
SINCE CHRISTMAS.

WHAT HAPPENED
AT CHRISTMAS?

NOTHING.

SO WHY AT CHRISTMAS?

THAT'S IT. ON THE NOSE.

SEE WHERE ALL THIS IS?

RED HOTS UP FRONT.

SOURBALLS AND HOREHOUND
ARE MIXED TOGETHER
IN THIS ONE SACK.

NEW PACKAGES
OF TOFFEE AND LICORICE
RIGHT IN BACK THERE.

GO BACK TO YOUR LIST.
YOU'RE HURT BY WHAT?

MAMA.

OK. SAD ABOUT WHAT?
THERE'S NOTHING REAL SAD
GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IF IT WAS AFTER
YOUR DIVORCE OR SOMETHING,
THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

NOW, THIS DRAWER
HAS EVERYTHING IN IT

THERE'S NO BETTER
PLACE FOR--

EXTENSION CORDS,
THE BATTERIES
FOR THE RADIO,

EXTRA LIGHTERS,
SANDPAPER,

MASKING TAPE,
ELMER'S GLUE,

THUMBTACKS,
THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THE MOUSETRAPS
ARE UNDER THE SINK,

BUT CALL DAWSON
IF YOU'VE GOT ONE
AND LET HIM DO IT.

SAD ABOUT WHAT?

THE WAY THINGS ARE.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
WHAT THINGS?

OH, EVERYTHING--
FROM YOU AND ME

TO THE MAN
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

I THINK WE CAN
LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS.

I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.

I READ THE PAPER.
I DON'T LIKE
HOW THINGS ARE.

JESSIE, STOP READING
THE PAPER.

THERE'S JUST
MORE OF IT ON TV.

SELL THE TV.
YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT.

I WOULD TOO.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO
ALL DAY?
SING.

YOU WANT TO WATCH?
I'LL SING TILL MORNING
TO KEEP YOU ALIVE, JESSIE.

PLEASE.

NO. IT'S A FUNNY IDEA,
THOUGH.

WHAT DO YOU SING?

YOU'VE GOT
A GOOD LIFE HERE.

I CALLED THIS MORNING
AND CANCELED THE PAPERS,

EXCEPT FOR SUNDAYS
FOR YOUR PUZZLES. YOU'LL
STILL GET THAT ONE.

NOW, DON'T TAKE
THE PILLS ON THE CARDS.

TAKE THE PILLS
IN THE BOTTLES.

I JUST MADE THESE
LITTLE PICTURES SO
YOU'D KNOW WHICH ONES.

YOU NEED SOMETHING
TO TAKE CARE OF, JESSIE.

I'VE HAD YOU, MAMA.

YOU DO TOO MUCH FOR ME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANOTHER THING IN THIS HOUSE
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO
TAKE CARE OF ME, JESSIE.

I KNOW THAT. YOU'VE JUST
BEEN LETTING ME DO IT

SO I'D HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO, HAVEN'T YOU?

OH, WELL, I DON'T DO IT
AS WELL AS YOU.

I JUST MEAN...
IF IT TIRES YOU OUT
OR MAKES YOU FEEL...USED.

MAMA, I KNOW YOU USED TO
RIDE THE BUS.

RIDING THE BUS,
AND IT'S HOT AND BUMPY

AND CROWDED
AND TOO NOISY,

AND MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE IN THE WORLD,
YOU WANT TO GET OFF,

AND THE ONLY REASON
IN THE WORLD YOU DON'T
GET OFF IS IT'S STILL

50 BLOCKS FROM WHERE
YOU'RE GOING.

WELL, I CAN GET OFF
RIGHT NOW IF I WANT TO,

BECAUSE EVEN
IF I RIDE 50 MORE YEARS
AND GET OFF THEN,

IT'S STILL
THE SAME PLACE
WHEN I STEP DOWN TO IT.

WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT,
I CAN GET OFF.

WHENEVER I'VE HAD
ENOUGH, IT'S MY STOP.

I'VE HAD ENOUGH.

YOU'RE FEELING SORRY
FOR YOURSELF. YOU'RE
NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME.

WHOEVER PROMISED YOU
A GOOD TIME?

DO YOU THINK
I'M HAVING A GOOD TIME?

I THINK YOU'RE
PRETTY HAPPY, YEAH.

YOU HAVE THINGS
YOU LIKE TO DO.

LIKE WHAT?

LIKE CROCHET.

I'LL TEACH YOU
TO CROCHET.

THERE ARE EXTRA
LIGHT BULBS IN A BOX
IN THIS CLOSET,

AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE
OF PACKAGES OF FUSES
IN THE FUSEBOX.

THE CANDLES AND MATCHES

ARE IN THE TOP
OF THE BROOM CLOSET,

BUT IF THE LIGHTS GO OUT,
JUST CALL DAWSON
AND SIT TIGHT.

GOOD TIME DON'T COME
LOOKING FOR YOU, JESSIE.

YOU COULD WORK SOME PUZZLES
OR PUT IN A GARDEN

OR GO TO THE STORE.

LET'S CALL A TAXI
AND GO TO THE A&P.

I SHOPPED YOU UP FOR
ABOUT 2 WEEKS ALREADY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO NEED TOILET PAPER
TILL THANKSGIVING.

YOU'RE ACTING LIKE
SOME LITTLE BRAT, JESSIE.

YOU'RE MAD, AND EVERYBODY'S
BORING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO,

AND YOU DON'T LIKE ME,

AND YOU DON'T LIKE
GOING OUT, AND YOU
DON'T LIKE STAYING IN,

AND YOU NEVER TALK
ON THE PHONE,

AND YOU DON'T WATCH TV,
AND YOU'RE MISERABLE,

AND IT'S
YOUR OWN SWEET FAULT.

AND IT'S TIME I DID
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BUT NOT SOMETHING
LIKE KILLING YOURSELF!
SOMETHING LIKE--

"NOT SOMETHING
LIKE KILLING MYSELF,
SOMETHING LIKE--"

BUYING US
ALL NEW SHEETS.
I'D LIKE THAT.

OR MAYBE THE DOCTOR
WOULD LET YOU GET
A DRIVER'S LICENSE NOW.

OH, I KNOW WHAT.
YOU COULD GET A JOB.

I TOOK THAT
TELEPHONE SALES JOB.

I DIDN'T EVEN
MAKE ENOUGH TO PAY
THE PHONE BILL.

AND I TRIED WORKING
AT THE GIFT SHOP
AT THE HOSPITAL...

AND THEY SAID
I MADE PEOPLE
REAL UNCOMFORTABLE,

SMILING AT THEM
THE WAY I DID.

YOU COULD KEEP BOOKS.
YOU KEPT YOUR DAD'S BOOKS.

YOU KNOW
I COULDN'T WORK.
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

I'VE NEVER BEEN
AROUND PEOPLE
MY WHOLE LIFE

EXCEPT WHEN I WAS
IN THE HOSPITAL.

I COULD HAVE A SEIZURE
AT ANY TIME. WHAT GOOD
WOULD A JOB DO ME?

THE KIND OF JOB
I COULD GET WOULD JUST
MAKE ME FEEL WORSE.

JESSIE!
IT'S TRUE!

IT'S WHAT YOU THINK
IS TRUE.

THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S WHAT
I THINK IS TRUE.

BUT I CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT!

NO, YOU CAN'T,
AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING,
EITHER--ABOUT MY LIFE,

TO CHANGE IT,
TO MAKE IT BETTER,

MAKE ME FEEL BETTER
ABOUT IT, LIKE IT
BETTER, MAKE IT WORK.

BUT I CAN STOP IT,
SHUT IT DOWN, TURN IT
OFF LIKE THE RADIO

WHEN THERE'S NOTHING ON
I WANT TO LISTEN TO.

IT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE
THAT BELONGS TO ME,

AND I'M GOING TO SAY
WHAT HAPPENS TO IT,

AND IT'S GOING TO STOP,

AND I'M GOING
TO STOP IT.

SO LET'S JUST
HAVE A GOOD TIME.

HAVE A GOOD TIME.

WE CAN'T GO ON FUSSING
ALL NIGHT.

I MEAN, I COULD
ASK YOU THINGS I'VE
ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW,

AND YOU CAN MAKE ME
SOME HOT CHOCOLATE--

THE OLD WAY.

IT TAKES COCOA, JESSIE.

I BOUGHT COCOA, MAMA.

AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE
A CARAMEL APPLE

AND DO YOUR NAILS.

YOU DIDN'T EAT A BITE
OF SUPPER.

DOES THAT MEAN I CAN'T
HAVE A CARAMEL APPLE?

OF COURSE NOT.

I MEAN...

OF COURSE YOU CAN HAVE
A CARAMEL APPLE.

I THOUGHT I COULD.

I MAKE THE BEST
CARAMEL APPLES
IN THE WORLD.

I KNOW YOU DO.

OR USED TO.

AND YOU DON'T GET
COCOA LIKE MINE
ANYWHERE ANYMORE.

TAKES TIME. I KNOW.

SALT'S THE TRICK.

IF IT'S TROUBLE
OR ANYTHING--

IT'S NO TROUBLE.
WHAT TROUBLE?

YOU PUT IT IN A PAN
AND STIR IT UP.

ALL RIGHT. FINE.

CARAMEL APPLES,
COCOA. OK.

WELL...

SO...

HOW WAS THE FAIR?

IT WAS SILLY.
COUNTRY FAIRS ARE SILLY.

NOBODY FROM THE COUNTRY
EVEN COMES.

WHY DID YOU GO?

AGNES LIKES IT, I GUESS.

AND YOU LIKE AGNES.

NO, JESSIE.
AGNES IS CRAZY.

BUT AGNES
DOES HAVE A CAR.

IS AGNES REALLY
CRAZY, OR IS SHE
JUST SILLY?

SHE'S REALLY CRAZY.

MOTHER.

MM-HMM!

JESSIE, AGNES FLETCHER'S
BURNED DOWN EVERY HOUSE
SHE'S EVER LIVED IN.8 FIRES, AND SHE'S DUE
FOR A NEW ONE ANY DAY NOW.

NO.

MM-HMM! WOULDN'T
SURPRISE ME A BIT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME THIS BEFORE?

THE HOUSES THEY LIVED IN,
YOU KNEW THEY WERE GOING
TO FALL DOWN ANYWAY,

SO WHY WAIT FOR THEM?
IT'S ALL I COULD EVER
MAKE OUT ABOUT IT.

AGNES LIKES A FEELING
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

GOOD FOR HER.

NOW, THEN, ONE CUP OR 2?

ONE.
NO MARSHMALLOWS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE
MARSHMALLOWS. THAT'S
THE OLD WAY, JESS.

2 OR 3? 3 IS BETTER.

3, THEN.

HER WHOLE HOUSE
BURNS UP? HER
CLOTHES AND PILLS

AND EVERYTHING?

I'M NOT SURE
I BELIEVE THIS.

WHEN SHE WAS
A GIRL, JESS.
NOT NOW, A LONG TIME AGO.

BUT SHE'S STILL
GOT IT IN HER.
I'M SURE OF IT.

SHE WOULDN'T BURN
HER HOUSE DOWN NOW.

WHERE WOULD SHE GO?

SHE CAN'T GET BUSTER
TO BUILD HER
A NEW ONE.

HE'S DEAD.

HOW COULD SHE
BURN IT DOWN?

BE EXCITING, THOUGH,
IF SHE DID.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU DO TOO KNOW, MAMA.
SHE WOULDN'T DO IT.

I GUESS NOT.

WHAT ELSE? WHY DOES SHE
WEAR ALL THOSE WHISTLES
AROUND HER NECK?

WHY DOES SHE HAVE
A HOUSEFUL OF BIRDS?

I DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD
A HOUSEFUL OF BIRDS.

SHE DOES...
AND SHE SAYS THEY
JUST FOLLOW HER HOME,

BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT
SHE'S STILL PAYING

ON THE LAST PARROT
SHE BOUGHT.

"YOU GOT TO
KEEP YOUR LIFE
FILLED UP," SHE SAYS.

SHE SAYS A LOT
OF STUPID THINGS.

IT'S ALL THAT OKRA
SHE EATS.

YOU JUST CAN'T
WILLY-NILLY EAT OKRA
2 MEALS A DAY

AND EXPECT
TO GET AWAY WITH IT.
MADE HER CRAZY.

SHE REALLY EATS OKRA
TWICE A DAY?

WHERE DOES SHE GET IT
IN THE WINTER?

WELL, SHE EATS IT A LOT.
MAYBE NOT 2 MEALS, BUT--

MORE THAN
THE AVERAGE PERSON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OKRA
THE AVERAGE PERSON EATS.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OKRA
AGNES EATS?

NO.

HOW MANY BIRDS
DOES SHE HAVE?

2.

THEN WHAT ARE ALL
THE WHISTLES FOR?

THEY'RE NOT REAL WHISTLES,

JUST LITTLE PLASTIC ONES
ON A NECKLACE SHE WON
PLAYING BINGO.

AND I ONLY TOLD YOU
ABOUT IT

BECAUSE I THOUGHT
I MIGHT GET A LAUGH
OUT OF YOU FOR ONCE,

EVEN IF IT WEREN'T
THE TRUTH, JESSIE.

THINGS DON'T HAVE
TO BE TRUE TO TALK
ABOUT THEM, YOU KNOW.

WHY WON'T SHE COME
OVER HERE?

WELL, NOW,
WHAT A GOOD IDEA.

WE SHOULD HAVE
HAD MORE COCOA.
COCOA IS PERFECT.

EXCEPT YOU DON'T
LIKE MILK.

I HATE MILK.
COATS YOUR THROAT
AS BAD AS OKRA.

THERE'S SOMETHING
JUST DOWNRIGHT
DISGUSTING ABOUT IT.

IT'S BECAUSE OF ME,
ISN'T IT?

NO, JESS.

YES, MAMA.

OK. YES, THEN.
SHE'S CRAZY. SHE'S
AS CRAZY AS THEY COME.

SHE'S A LUNATIC.

WHAT IS IT, EXACTLY?
DID I SAY SOMETHING
SOMETIME,

OR DID SHE SEE ME
HAVE A FIT AND IS
AFRAID I MIGHT HAVE

ANOTHER ONE IF SHE
CAME OVER, OR WHAT?

I GUESS.

YOU GUESS WHAT?
WHAT'S SHE EVER SAID?

SHE MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU
SOME REASON.

YOUR HANDS ARE COLD.

WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES THAT MAKE?

"LIKE A CORPSE,"
SHE SAYS.

"AND I'M GOING TO BE ONE
SOON ENOUGH AS IT IS."

I THOUGHT SHE
DIDN'T LIKE ME.
SHE'S SCARED OF ME.

SHE'S CRAZY.

WELL, HOW ABOUT THAT?
SCARED OF ME.

WHEN I'M IN THE HOSPITAL,

DOES SHE COME
OVER HERE?

HER KITCHEN'S
JUST A TINY THING.

WHEN SHE COMES OVER HERE,
SHE FEELS LIKE...

WELL, WE ALL LIKE A CHANGE
OF SCENE, DON'T WE?

SURE WE DO.
PLUS, THERE ARE NO BIRDS
DIVING AROUND.

I HATE THOSE BIRDS.
SHE SAYS I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THEM.

WHAT'S THERE
TO UNDERSTAND
ABOUT BIRDS?

WHY AGNES LIKES THEM,
FOR ONE THING.

WHY THEY STAY
WITH HER WHEN THEY
COULD BE OUTSIDE

WITH THE OTHER BIRDS,

HOW MUCH WATER
THEY NEED, WHAT
THEIR SINGING MEANS,

HOW THEY FLY, WHAT
THEY THINK AGNES IS.

WHY DO YOU HAVE
TO KNOW SO MUCH
ABOUT THINGS, JESSIE?

THERE'S JUST NOT
THAT MUCH TO THINGS
THAT I COULD EVER SEE.

THAT YOU COULD
EVERTELL, YOU MEAN.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO LIE
TO ME ABOUT AGNES.

I DIDN'T LIE.

YOU NEVER ASKED ME
BEFORE.

YOU LIED
ABOUT SETTING FIRE
TO ALL THOSE HOUSES

AND ABOUT HOW MANY
BIRDS SHE HAS

AND ABOUT HOW MUCH
OKRA SHE EATS

AND WHY SHE WON'T
COME OVER HERE.

IF I HAVE TO
KEEP DRAGGING
THE TRUTH OUT OF YOU,THIS IS GOING TO
TAKE ALL NIGHT.

THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I'M NOT A BIT SLEEPY.

MAMA.

ALL RIGHT. ASK ME
WHATEVER YOU WANT.

HERE.

DID YOU LOVE DADDY?

NO.

I DIDN'T THINK SO.
WERE YOU REALLY 15
WHEN YOU MARRIED HIM?

THE WAY HE TOLD IT?
I'M SITTING IN THE MUD,

HE COMES ALONG, DRAGS ME
IN THE KITCHEN, "SHE'S
BEEN THERE EVER SINCE"?

YEAH.
NO.

GOD, THIS MILK
IN HERE.

THE COCOA HELPS.

NOT ENOUGH, THOUGH,
DOES IT?

YOU CAN STILL
TASTE IT, CAN'T YOU?

IT'S PRETTY BAD.
I THOUGHT IT WAS
MY MEMORY THAT WAS BAD,

BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S THE MILK, ALL RIGHT.

IT'S A REAL WASTE
OF CHOCOLATE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO
FINISH IT.

THANKS, THOUGH.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
NOT TO MAKE IT.

I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T
LIKE IT. YOU NEVER
DID LIKE IT.

YOU DIDN'T
EVER LOVE HIM,
OR HE DID SOMETHING

AND YOU STOPPED
LOVING HIM, OR WHAT?

HE FELT SORRY
FOR ME.

HE WANTED A PLAIN
COUNTRY WOMAN,

AND THAT'S
WHAT HE MARRIED,

AND THEN HE HELD IT
AGAINST ME THE REST
OF MY LIFE,

LIKE I WAS
SUPPOSED TO CHANGE

AND SURPRISE HIM
SOMEHOW.

LIKE I REMEMBER
THIS ONE DAY,

HE WAS STANDING
ON THE PORCH,

AND I TOLD HIM
TO GET A SHIRT ON,

AND HE WENT IN
AND GOT ONE,

AND THEN HE SAID
REAL PEACEFUL
BUT TO THE POINT...

"YOU'RE RIGHT,
THELMA. IF GOD HAD
WANTED FOR PEOPLE

"TO GO AROUND

"WITHOUT
ANY CLOTHES ON,

THEY'D HAVE BEEN
BORN THAT WAY."

HE DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING
BY THAT, MAMA.

HE NEVER SAID
A WORD HE DIDN'T
HAVE TO, JESSIE.

THAT WAS PROBABLY
ALL HE'D SAID TO ME
ALL DAY, JESSIE,

SO IF HE SAID IT,

THERE WAS SOMETHING
TO IT,

BUT I NEVER DID
FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
WHAT'D THAT MEAN?

I DON'T KNOW.
I LIKED HIM BETTER
THAN YOU DID,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HIM
ANY BETTER.

YOU LOVED HIM ENOUGH
FOR BOTH OF US.

YOU FOLLOWED HIM
AROUND LIKE SOME...

JESSIE, ALL THE MAN
EVER DID

WAS FARM AND SIT

AND TRY TO THINK
OF SOMEBODY TO SELL
THE FARM TO.

MAKE ME A BOYFRIEND
OUT OF PIPE CLEANERS

AND SIT BACK AND SMILE
LIKE THE STICK MAN
WAS GOING TO DANCE

AND WASN'T I GOING TO
GET A KICK OUT OF THAT?

SIT UP WITH A SICK COW
ALL NIGHT

AND LEAVE ME A CHAIN
OF SLEEPY STICK ELEPHANTS
ON MY BED IN THE MORNING.

OR JUST SIT.

I LIKED HIM SITTING.

BIG OLD FADED BLUE MAN
IN THE CHAIR...

QUIET.

HE COULD HAVE HAD
THAT "GONE FISHING"
SIGN AROUND HIS NECK

IN THAT CHAIR.

I SAW HIM STARE OFF
AT THE WATER.

I SAW HIM LOOK
AT THE WEATHER
ROLLING IN.

I GOT WHERE I COULD

PRACTICALLY SEE
THE BOAT MYSELF.

BUT YOU--YOU KNEW
WHAT HE WAS
THINKING ABOUT,

AND YOU'RE
GOING TO TELL ME.

I DON'T KNOW, MAMA.
JUST LIFE, I GUESS.

HIS CORN, HIS BOOTS, US,
THINGS, YOU KNOW.

NO, I DON'T KNOW,
JESSIE.

YOU HAD THOSE
QUIET LITTLE
CONVERSATIONS

AFTER SUPPER
EVERY NIGHT.

WHAT WERE YOU
WHISPERING ABOUT?

WE WEREN'T WHISPERING,
MAMA. YOU WERE SITTING
ACROSS THE ROOM.

WHAT'D YOU
TALK ABOUT?

WE TALKED ABOUT WHY
BLACK SOCKS ARE WARMER
THAN BLUE SOCKS.

NOW, IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU GO TELL MOTHER?

YOU WERE JUST JEALOUS

BECAUSE I'D RATHER
TALK TO HIM THAN WASH
THE DISHES WITH YOU.I WAS JEALOUS
BECAUSE YOU'D
RATHER TALK TO HIM

THAN ANYTHING.

IF I'D HAVE DIED
INSTEAD OF HIM,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE
TAKEN YOU IN
LIKE I DID.

I WOULDN'T HAVE
EXPECTED HIM TO.

THEN WHAT WOULD YOU
HAVE DONE?

COME VISIT.

OH, I SEE. HE DIED
AND LEFT YOU
STUCK WITH ME,

AND NOW YOU'RE MAD
ABOUT IT.

NOT ANYMORE.
HE DIDN'T MEAN TO.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO
COME HERE.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.

MAYBE YOU THINK
IF I'D HAVE LOVED HIM
MORE--OR AT ALL--

HE'D STILL BE ALIVE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT.

HE FELT SORRY
FOR YOU, TOO, JESSIE.
HE SAID YOU WERE A RUNT,

AND HE SAID IT
FROM THE DAY YOU WERE BORN.

HE SAID YOU DIDN'T
HAVE A CHANCE.

I KNOW HE LOVED ME.

WHAT IF HE DID?
DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

DIDN'T HAVE TO.
I MISS HIM.

HE NEVER REALLY WENT
FISHING, YOU KNOW.
NEVER ONCE.

HIS TACKLE BOX WAS FULL
OF CHEWING TOBACCO,

AND ALL HE EVER DID WAS
DRIVE OUT TO THE LAKE
AND SIT IN HIS CAR.

HE'D COME BACK
FROM FISHING, AND ALL
HE'D HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT

WAS A WHOLE
PIPE CLEANER FAMILY.

CHICKENS, PIGS...

A DOG WITH A BAD LEG.
IT WAS CREEPY STRANGE,

MADE ME SICK TO LOOK
AT IT.

AND I HID
HIS PIPE CLEANERS
A COUPLE OF TIMES,

BUT HE ALWAYS HAD
MORE SOMEWHERE.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE
BETTER FOR YOU
AFTER HE DIED.

YOU'D BREATHE BETTER,
CHANGE SOMEHOW.

INTO WHAT? THE QUEEN?

A CLERK IN A SHOE STORE?
WHY SHOULD I?

BECAUSE HE SAID TO?
BECAUSE YOU SAID TO?

I WASN'T HERE
FOR HIS ENTERTAINMENT,

AND I'M NOT HERE FOR YOURS,
EITHER, JESSIE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M HERE FOR, BUT THEN
I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT I BET YOU WOULDN'T
BE KILLING YOURSELF
IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE.

OH, THAT'S A FINE THING
TO FIGURE OUT, ISN'T IT?

IT'S NOT TRUE.

OH, NO? THEN
WHAT WERE YOU ASKING
ABOUT HIM FOR?

WHY'D YOU WANT TO KNOW
IF I LOVED HIM?

DIDN'T THINK YOU DID,
THAT'S ALL.

FINE, THEN.
YOU WERE RIGHT.
DO YOU FEEL BETTER NOW?

FEELS GOOD TO BE RIGHT
ABOUT IT.

IT DIDN'T MATTER
WHETHER I LOVED HIM.

IT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME,
AND IT DIDN'T MATTER TO HIM.

THAT DIDN'T MEAN
WE DIDN'T GET ALONG.

IT WASN'T IMPORTANT.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

TAKE ALL THESE POTS
OUT TO THE PORCH!

JUST LEAVE ME THIS ONE PAN,

ONE KNIFE, ONE FORK,
ONE BIG SPOON,

AND THE CAN OPENER.

AND PUT THEM OUT
WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!

DON'T DO THAT.
I JUST STRAIGHTENED
THAT DRAWER.

THROW OUT ALL
THE PLATES AND CUPS.

I'LL USE PAPER.
LORETTA CAN HAVE
WHAT SHE WANTS,

AND DAWSON
CAN SELL THE REST.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M NOT GOING TO COOK.
I NEVER LIKED IT ANYWAY.

I LIKE CANDY,
WRAPPED IN PLASTIC
OR COMING IN SACKS.

AND TUNA. I LIKE TUNA.
I'LL EAT TUNA, THANK YOU.

WHAT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
APPLE BUTTER? YOU CAN'T
MAKE APPLE BUTTER

IN THIS LITTLE PAN.

WHAT IF YOU LEAVE
CARROTS ON COOKING AND
YOU BURN UP THIS PAN?

I DON'T LIKE CARROTS!

WHAT IF THE STRAWBERRIES
ARE GOOD THIS YEAR

AND YOU WANT TO GO
PICKING WITH AGNES?

I'LL TELL HER
TO BRING A PAN!

YOU SAID YOU'D DO
WHATEVER I WANTED!

WELL, I DON'T WANT
A BUNCH OF PANS

CLUTTERING UP
MY CABINETS I CAN'T
GET DOWN TO ANYWAY!

THROW THEM OUT!
EVERY LAST ONE!

I'LL PUT THEM
ALL BACK.

I'M NOT TAKING THEM
TO THE PORCH.

IF YOU WANT THEM,
THEY'LL BE HERE.

YOU'LL BEND DOWN
AND GET THEM LIKE
YOU GOT THE ONES

FOR THE COCOA.

IF SOMEBODY ELSE COMES
OVER HERE TO COOK,

WELL, THEY'LL HAVE
SOMETHING TO COOK IN,
AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.

WHO'S GOING TO COME
COOK HERE?

AGNES.

IN MY POTS?
NOT ON YOUR LIFE!

THERE'S NO REASON WHY
THE 2 OF YOU COULDN'T
JUST LIVE HERE TOGETHER.

IT'D BE CHEAPER
FOR BOTH OF YOU. IT'D
BE SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

AND IF THE BIRDS
BOTHER YOU,

WELL, ONE DAY
WHEN AGNES IS OUT
GETTING HER HAIR DONE,

YOU CAN JUST TAKE
THEM ALL FOR A WALK.

OH, I SEE. YOU THINK
YOU CAN REST EASY IF YOU
GET ME A NEW BABY-SITTER.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO LIVE
WITH AGNES. I BARELY WANT
TO TALK WITH AGNES.

YOU DON'T GET OFF
AS EASY AS THAT, CHILD!

OK, THEN. IT'S
JUST SOMETHING
TO THINK ABOUT.

I DON'T LIKE
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!
I LIKE THINGS TO GO ON!

I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT DADDY SAID TO YOU
THE NIGHT HE DIED!

YOU CAME STORMING
OUT OF HIS ROOM.

YOU SAID I COULD
WAIT IT OUT WITH HIM
IF I WANTED TO

BUT YOU WERE GOING TO
GO WATCHGUNSMOKE.

WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO SAY TO ME, JESSIE.

THAT'S WHY I LEFT.

IT WAS HIS LAST CHANCE
NOT TO TALK TO ME,

AND HE TOOK
FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT!

I'M SORRY
YOU DIDN'T LOVE HIM.

SORRY FOR YOU,
I MEAN.

HE SEEMED
LIKE A NICE MAN.

READY
FOR YOUR APPLE NOW?

SOON AS I'M THROUGH
HERE, MAMA.

YOU WON'T LIKE
THE APPLE, EITHER.

IT'LL BE JUST
LIKE THE COCOA.

NOW, YOU KNOW
THE MILKMAN COMES
ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

AND HE
LEAVES THE ORDER BLANK
IN AN EGG BOX,

AND YOU GIVE THE BILL
TO DAWSON ONCE A MONTH.

DO THEY STILL MAKE
THAT ORANGEADE?

MAMA, THE ONLY THING
ORANGE ABOUT IT
IS THE COLOR.

I'M GOING
TO GET SOME.

I THOUGHT THEY
STOPPED MAKING IT.

YOU JUST STOPPED
ORDERING IT.

YOU SHOULD DRINK MILK.

NOT ANYMORE I'M NOT.
THAT HOT CHOCOLATE
WAS THE LAST.

HOORAY!

I TOLD HIM TO
KEEP DELIVERING
A QUART A WEEK,

NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAID.

I TOLD HIM YOU'D
RUN OUT OF COKE
AND HAVE TO DRINK IT.

I TOLD HIM I KNEW
YOU WOULDN'T THROW
IT ON THE GROUND.

YOU TOLD HIM
YOU WOULDN'T BE
ORDERING ANYMORE?

I TOLD HIM I WAS TAKING
A LITTLE HOLIDAY
AND TO LOOK AFTER YOU.

THEY DIDN'T THINK
SOMETHING WAS FUNNY
ABOUT THAT,

YOU WHO DOESN'T GO
TO THE FRONT STEPS,

YOU WHO ONLY
SEES THE DRIVEWAY

LOOKING DOWN
FROM A STRETCHER,
PASSED OUT COLD?

THEY SAID IT
WAS ABOUT TIME,

THAT WHY DIDN'T I
TAKE YOU WITH ME?

I SAID I DIDN'T THINK
YOU'D WANT TO GO.

THEY SAID, "YEAH.

EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR
OWN IDEA OF VACATION."

I BET YOU
THINK THAT'S FUNNY.

YOU KNOW, THERE NEVER
WAS ANY REASON

FOR YOU TO CALL
THE AMBULANCE FOR ME.

ALL THEY EVER DID FOR ME
IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

WAS LET ME WAKE UP.

I COULD HAVE
DONE THAT HERE.

NOW, I'LL JUST
CALL THESE OUT,

AND YOU SAY YES OR NO.

I KNOW YOU
LIKE PICKLES. KETCHUP?

KEEP IT.

WE'VE HAD THIS SINCE
THE LAST FOURTH OF JULY.

KEEP THE KETCHUP.

KEEP IT ALL.

ARE YOU GOING TO DRINK
THE KETCHUP OUT OF
THE BOTTLE OR WHAT?

HOW CAN YOU
WANT YOUR FOOD

AND NOT WANT YOUR POTS
TO COOK IT IN?

NOTHING I EVER DID
WAS GOOD ENOUGH
FOR YOU,

AND I WANT
TO KNOW WHY.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

AND I WANT
TO KNOW WHY

YOU'VE LIVED
HERE ALL

THESE YEARS FEELING
THE WAY YOU DO.

YOU HAVE
NO EARTHLY IDEA
HOW I FEEL.

WELL, HOW COULD I?

YOU'RE REAL FAR
BACK THERE, JESSIE.

BACK WHERE?

WHAT'S IT LIKE
OVER THERE
WHERE YOU ARE?

DO PEOPLE ALWAYS
SAY THE RIGHT THING

OR GET WHATEVER
THEY WANT OR WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

WHY DO YOU
READ THE NEWSPAPER?

WHY DON'T YOU
WEAR THAT SWEATER
I MADE FOR YOU?

YOU REMEMBER WHAT I
USED TO LOOK LIKE,

OR AM I JUST
ANY OLD WOMAN NOW?

WHEN YOU HAVE A FIT,
DO YOU SEE STARS
OR WHAT?

HOW DID YOU FALL OFF
THE HORSE, REALLY?

WHY DID CECIL
LEAVE YOU?

WHERE'D YOU PUT
MY OLD GLASSES?

THEY'RE IN
THE BOTTOM DRAWER
OF YOUR DRESSER

IN YOUR OLD
MILK OF MAGNESIA BOX.

CECIL LEFT ME
BECAUSE

HE MADE ME CHOOSE
BETWEEN HIM
AND SMOKING.

JESSIE, I KNOW
HE WASN'T THAT DUMB.

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD
WHY HE HATED IT
SO MUCH

WHEN IT'S SO GOOD.

SMOKING'S
THE ONLY THING
I KNOW

THAT'S ALWAYS
JUST WHAT YOU THINK
IT'S GOING TO BE,

JUST LIKE IT
WAS THE LAST TIME,

RIGHT THERE
WHEN YOU WANT IT,

REAL QUIET.

YOUR FITS MADE HIM SICK,
AND YOU KNOW IT.

SAY SEIZURES,
NOT FITS.

SEIZURES.

IT'S THE SAME THING.

A SEIZURE IN THE HOSPITAL
IS A FIT AT HOME.

IT DIDN'T
BOTHER HIM AT ALL,

EXCEPT HE DID FEEL
RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

IT WAS HIS IDEA TO
GO HORSEBACK RIDING
THAT DAY.

IT WAS HIS IDEA
I COULD DO ANYTHING

IF I JUST
PUT MY MIND TO IT.

I FELL OFF THE HORSE

BECAUSE I DIDN'T
KNOW HOW TO HOLD ON.

CECIL LEFT
FOR PRETTY MUCH
THE SAME REASON.

HE HAD A GIRL, JESSIE.

I WALKED RIGHT IN ON THEM
IN THE TOOLSHED.

OK...

THAT'S FAIR.

WAS SHE VERY PRETTY?

SHE WAS AGNES' GIRL--
CARLENE.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.

I GUESS YOU AND AGNES
HAD A GOOD TALK
ABOUT THAT, HUH?

I NEVER THOUGHT
HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH
FOR YOU.

THEY MOVED HERE FROM
TENNESSEE, YOU KNOW.

WHAT ARE
YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU LIKED HIM
BETTER THAN I DID.

YOU FLIRTED HIM OUT HERE
TO BUILD YOUR PORCH

OR I'D NEVER EVEN
HAVE MET HIM AT ALL.

YOU THOUGHT MAYBE HE'D
HELP YOU OUT AROUND THE PLACE,

COME IN, AND GET SOME COFFEE,
AND TALK TO YOU.

GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU THOUGHT.
ALL THAT CURLY HAIR.

HE WAS THE BEST
CARPENTER
I EVER SAW.

THAT LITTLE
HOUSE OF YOURS WILL
STILL BE STANDING

AT THE END
OF THE WORLD.

YOU DIDN'T NEED
A PORCH, MAMA.

I WANTED YOU
TO HAVE A HUSBAND.

AND I COULDN'T GET ONE
ON MY OWN, OF COURSE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO GET A HUSBAND,

NEVER OPENING
YOUR MOUTH TO
A LIVING SOUL?

I WAS QUIET.
SO WHAT?

SO I SHOULD
HAVE LET YOU
JUST SIT HERE,

SIT LIKE YOUR DADDY
SIT HERE.

MAYBE.

WELL, I DIDN'T
THINK SO.

WELL, WHAT DID YOU KNOW?

I NEVER SAID
I KNEW MUCH.

HOW WAS I SUPPOSED
TO LEARN ANYTHING
LIVING OUT HERE?

I DIDN'T KNOW
ENOUGH

TO DO HALF
THE THINGS I
DID IN MY LIFE.

THINGS HAPPEN.
YOU DO WHAT YOU
CAN ABOUT THEM,

AND THEN YOU
JUST SEE WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT.

I MARRIED YOU OFF
TO THE WRONG MAN.
I ADMIT THAT,

SO I TOOK YOU IN
WHEN HE LEFT.
I'M SORRY.

HE WASN'T THE WRONG MAN.

HE DIDN'T LOVE YOU,
JESSIE, OR HE
WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT.

HE WASN'T
THE WRONG MAN, MAMA.

I LOVED CECIL SO MUCH,

AND I TRIED TO GET
MORE EXERCISE,

AND I TRIED
TO STAY AWAKE,

AND I TRIED TO LEARN
TO RIDE A HORSE,

AND I TRIED TO
STAY OUTSIDE WITH HIM.

BUT HE ALWAYS KNEW
I WAS TRYING,
SO IT DIDN'T WORK.

HE WAS
A SELFISH MAN.

HE TOLD ME ONCE
HE HATED

TO SEE PEOPLE MOVE
INTO HIS HOUSES
AFTER HE BUILT THEM.

HE KNEW THEY'D
MESS THEM UP. HUH.

I LOVE THAT BRIDGE
HE BUILT OVER THE CREEK

IN BACK OF THE HOUSE.

IT DIDN'T
HAVE TO BE MUCH.

A COUPLE OF BOARDS
WOULD HAVE BEEN
JUST FINE.

BUT HE USED THAT
YELLOW PINE, AND HE
RUBBED IT SO SMOOTH.

HE HAD
RESPONSIBILITIES HERE.

HE HAD A WIFE AND SON
HERE, AND HE FAILED YOU.

THAT BABY BED
HE BUILT FOR RICKY,

I TOLD HIM HE DIDN'T
HAVE TO SPEND
SO MUCH TIME ON IT,

BUT HE SAID
IT HAD TO LAST.

THE THING
ENDED UP WEIGHING
ABOUT 200 POUNDS.

I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE IT.

I SAID, "HOW LONG
DOES A BABY BED HAVE
TO LAST, ANYWAY?"

BUT MAYBE HE THOUGHT
IF IT WAS STRONG ENOUGH,

IT'D KEEP RICKY A BABY.

RICKY IS
TOO MUCH LIKE CECIL.

HE IS NOT.

HE'S AS MUCH LIKE ME
AS ANY HUMAN BEING CAN BE.

WE EVEN WEAR
THE SAME SIZE PANTS.

THESE ARE HIS,
I THINK.

THAT'S JUST
THE SAME SIZE.

THAT'S NOT YOU'RE
THE SAME PERSON.

I SEE IT IN HIS FACE.
I HEAR IT WHEN HE TALKS.

WE LOOK OUT AT THE WORLD,
AND WE SEE THE SAME THING--

"NOT FAIR."

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN US IS

RICKY IS OUT THERE
TRYING TO GET EVEN.

HE KNOWS NOT
TO TRUST ANYBODY.

AND HE GOT THAT
STRAIGHT FROM ME.

HE KNOWS NOT
TO TRY TO GET WORK.

GUESS WHERE HE GOT THAT.

AND HE WALKS AROUND LIKE
THERE ARE LOOSE BOARDS
IN THE FLOOR.

AND YOU KNOW WHO
LAID THAT FLOOR? I DID.

RICKY ISN'T
THROUGH YET.

YOU DON'T KNOW
HOW HE'LL TURN OUT.

YES, I DO.
AND SO DOES CECIL.

RICKY IS THE TWO OF US
TOGETHER FOR ALL TIME

IN TOO SMALL A SPACE.

AND WE'RE TEARING
EACH OTHER APART,

LIKE ALWAYS,

INSIDE THAT BOY.

AND IF YOU
DON'T SEE IT, THEN
YOU'RE JUST BLIND.

GIVE HIM TIME, JESS.

OH, HE'LL HAVE
PLENTY OF THAT.

5 YEARS FOR FORGERY,
10 YEARS FOR
ARMED ASSAULT.

STOP THAT.

JESSIE, CECIL MIGHT
BE READY TO TRY IT
AGAIN, HONEY.

THAT HAPPENS
SOMETIMES.

THEN YOU'LL
BE HAPPIER.

MAYBE HE SEES THINGS
DIFFERENT NOW.

CALL HIM UP
RIGHT NOW.
HE MIGHT BE HOME.

AND SAY WHAT?
"NOTHING'S CHANGED, CECIL.

I'D JUST LIKE
TO LOOK AT YOU,
IF YOU DON'T MIND"?

NO.

HE LOVED ME, MAMA.

HE JUST DIDN'T KNOW

HOW THINGS FALL DOWN
AROUND HERE LIKE THEY DO.

I THINK HE DID
THE RIGHT THING.

HE GAVE HIMSELF
ANOTHER CHANCE,
THAT'S ALL.

BUT I DID BEG HIM
TO TAKE ME WITH HIM.

I DID TELL HIM
I WOULD LEAVE
RICKY AND YOU

AND EVERYTHING
OUT HERE I LOVE

IF ONLY HE
WOULD TAKE ME
WITH HIM.

HE COULDN'T, AND I
UNDERSTOOD THAT.

I WROTE THAT NOTE
I SHOWED YOU,

NOT CECIL.

I WROTE IT.

I SAID,
"I'M SORRY, JESSIE.

I CAN'T FIX IT ALL
FOR YOU."

I SAID I'D
ALWAYS LOVED ME,

NOT CECIL.

BUT THAT'S
HOW HE FELT.

THEN HE
SHOULD HAVE TAKEN
YOU WITH HIM.

MAMA, YOU DON'T PACK
YOUR GARBAGE
WITH YOU

WHEN YOU MOVE.

YOU WILL NOT CALL
YOURSELF GARBAGE, JESSIE!

JUST A WAY
OF SAYING IT.

THINKING
ABOUT MY LIST,
THAT'S ALL.

WELL, A LITTLE MORE
THAN THAT.

I WAS TRYING TO SAY...

IT'S ALL RIGHT
THAT CECIL LEFT ME.

IT WAS A RELIEF
IN A WAY.

I NEVER WAS WHAT
HE WANTED TO SEE,

SO IT WAS BETTER

WHEN HE WASN'T LOOKING
AT ME ALL THE TIME.

I'LL MAKE
YOUR APPLE NOW.

NO, THANKS.

YOU GET YOUR
MANICURE STUFF.
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

JESSIE, I THINK
YOUR DADDY HAD--

GARBAGE NIGHT IS TUESDAY.

PUT IT OUT
AS LATE AS YOU CAN.

THE DAVIS' DOGS
WILL GET IN IT
IF YOU DON'T.

AND KEEP ORDERING
THE HEAVY BLACK BAGS.

IT DOESN'T PAY
TO GET THE CHEAP ONES.

AND I'VE GOT ALL
THE TIES IN THERE

WITH THE HAMMERS
AND ALL.

TAKE THEM OUT OF
THE BOX AS SOON AS
YOU OPEN A NEW ONE

AND PUT THEM
IN THAT DRAWER.

THEY'LL GET LOST
IF YOU DON'T.

AND RUBBER BANDS
OR SOMETHING ELSE
WON'T WORK.

I THINK YOUR DADDY
HAD FITS, TOO.

I THINK HE
SAT IN HIS CHAIR
AND HAD LITTLE FITS.

I DON'T THINK YOU
WANT THIS MANICURE

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING
FORWARD TO.

I READ THIS
A LONG TIME AGO
IN A MAGAZINE--

HOW LITTLE FITS GO,
JUST LITTLE BLACKOUTS,

WHERE MAYBE THEIR EYES
DON'T EVEN CLOSE,

AND PEOPLE
JUST CALL THEM
"THINKING SPELLS."

I WASHED THE COVER
FOR THIS SOFA,

BUT IT'S GOING
TO TAKE BOTH OF US
TO GET IT BACK ON.

I WATCHED HIS EYES.
I KNOW THAT'S
WHAT IT WAS.

THE MAGAZINE SAID SOME
PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHEN THEY'VE HAD ONE.

DADDY WOULD
HAVE KNOWN IF
HE'D HAD FITS, MAMA.

THE LADY IN THE STORY
KEPT TRACK OF HER FITS,

AND SHE'D HAD
80.000 OF THEM IN
THE LAST 11 YEARS.

THE NEXT TIME
YOU WASH THIS COVER,

IT'LL DRY BETTER
IF YOU PUT IT ON WET.

JESSIE,
LISTEN TO WHAT
I'M TELLING YOU.

THIS LADY

HAD ANYWHERE BETWEEN
5 AND 500 FITS A DAY,

AND THEY LASTED MAYBE
15 SECONDS APIECE,

SO THAT OUT OF HER LIFE,

SHE'D ONLY LOST ABOUT
2 WEEKS ALTOGETHER.

AND SHE HAD A FULL-TIME
SECRETARY JOB

AND AN I.Q. OF 120.

YOU WANT TO
TALK ABOUT FITS.
IS THAT IT?

YES, I DO.

WELL--

I WANT TO SAY--

MOST OF THE TIME
I WOULDN'T EVEN
KNOW I'D HAD ONEEXCEPT I WAKE UP
WITH DIFFERENT
CLOTHES ON,

FEELING LIKE
I'D BEEN RUN OVER.

SOMETIMES I FEEL
MY HEAD START
TO TURN AROUND

OR I HEAR MYSELF
SCREAM.

SOMETIMES THERE IS

THIS DIZZY
STUPID FEELING
A LITTLE BEFORE IT,

BUT IF THE TV'S ON,
IT'S EASY TO MISS.

I CAN TELL WHEN YOU'RE
ABOUT TO HAVE ONE.

YOUR EYES GET THIS BIG.

WHAT DO THEY
LOOK LIKE--
THE SEIZURES?

DIFFERENT
EACH TIME, JESS.

OK, PICK ONE, THEN,

A GOOD ONE.

I THINK I
WANT TO KNOW NOW.

THERE'S NOT
MUCH TO TELL.

YOU JUST...

CRUMPLE IN A HEAP,

LIKE A PUPPET
SOMEBODY'S CUT
THE STRINGS ALL AT ONCE

OR LIKE THE FIRING SQUAD
IN SOME MEXICAN MOVIE--

YOU JUST SLIDE DOWN
THE WALL, YOU KNOW?

YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS?

HOW COULD YOU NOT
KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?

MY HEAD
TURNS AROUND,
AND I FALL DOWN,

AND THEN WHAT?

WELL, YOUR CHEST
SQUEEZES IN AND OUT,

AND YOU SOUND LIKE
YOU'RE GAGGING,

SUCKING AIR IN AND OUT
LIKE YOU CAN'T BREATHE.

DO IT FOR ME.
MAKE THE SOUND
FOR ME.

I WILL NOT.

IT'S AWFUL SOUNDING.

YUP, IT FELT LIKE
IT MIGHT BE.
WHAT'S NEXT?

YOUR MOUTH BITES DOWN.

I HAVE TO GET YOUR TONGUE
OUT OF THE WAY FAST

SO YOU DON'T
BITE YOURSELF.

OR YOU.
I BITE YOU, TOO,
DON'T I?

YOU GOT ME ONCE
REAL GOOD. I HAD
TO GET A TETANUS.

BUT I KNOW WHAT
TO WATCH FOR NOW.

THEN YOU TURN BLUE,

AND THE JERKS START UP
LIKE I'M POKING YOU
WITH A CATTLE PROD

OR YOU STICKING
YOUR FINGER IN
A LIGHT SOCKET

AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

FOAMING
LIKE A MAD DOG
THE WHOLE TIME.

IT'S BUBBLING, JESS,

NOT FOAM, LIKE
THE WASHER OVERFLOWED,

FOR GOD'S SAKE.

IT'S BUBBLING, LIKE
A BABY SPITTING UP.

I GO GET
A WET WASHCLOTH,
THAT'S ALL.

AND THEN
THE JERKS SLOW DOWN.

AND YOU WET YOURSELF,
AND IT'S OVER.

2 MINUTES--TOPS.

HOW DO I GET
TO THE BED?

HOW DO YOU THINK?

I'M TOO HEAVY
FOR YOU NOW.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?

I CALL DAWSON.

BUT I GET YOU CLEANED UP
BEFORE HE GETS HERE.

AND I MAKE HIM LEAVE
BEFORE YOU WAKE UP.

YOU COULD
JUST LEAVE ME
ON THE FLOOR.

I WANT YOU TO WAKE UP
SOMEPLACE NICE, OK?

BUT, JESSIE--
AND THIS IS THE REASON
I EVEN BROUGHT THIS UP--

YOU HAVEN'T HAD A SEIZURE
FOR A SOLID YEAR,

A WHOLE YEAR.
DO YOU REALIZE THAT?

YEAH. THE PHENOBARB
IS ABOUT RIGHT NOW,
I GUESS.

YOU BET IT IS.
YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE
ANOTHER FIT EVER.

YOU MIGHT BE
THROUGH WITH IT
FOR ALL TIME.

COULD BE.

YOU ARE. I KNOW YOU ARE.

I SURE
AM FEELING GOOD.
I REALLY AM.

THE DOUBLE VISION'S
GONE AND MY GUMS
AREN'T SWELLING.

NO RASHES
OR ANYTHING.

I'M FEELING AS GOOD
AS I'VE EVER FELT
IN MY LIFE.

I'M EVEN FEELING
LIKE WORRYING
OR GETTING MAD

AND I'M NOT AFRAID
IT'LL START A FIT
IF I DO IT.

I JUST GO AHEAD.

OF COURSE YOU DO.
YOU CAN EVEN SCREAM
AT ME IF YOU WANT TO.YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT
LIKE YOU'RE JUST
VISITING HERE, JESSIE.

THIS IS YOUR HOUSE, TOO.

THE BEST PART IS
MY MEMORY'S BACK.

YOUR MEMORY'S
ALWAYS BEEN GOOD.

YOU'RE ALWAYS
REMINDING ME THAT--

WELL, I MAKE LISTS
FOR EVERYTHING.

NOW I REMEMBER
WHAT THINGS MEAN
ON MY LIST.

I'D SEE
"DISHTOWELS,"

AND I USED
TO WONDER WHETHER

I WAS SUPPOSED TO
WASH THEM, BUY THEM,
OR LOOK FOR THEM

BECAUSE I COULDN'T
REMEMBER

WHERE I PUT THEM
AFTER I WASHED THEM.

BUT NOW I KNOW
IT MEANS
"WRAP THEM UP.

THEY'RE A PRESENT
FOR LORETTA'S
BIRTHDAY."

YOU USED TO GO LOOKING
FOR YOUR LISTS, TOO.
I'VE NOTICED THAT.

YOU ALWAYS KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE NOW.

LORETTA'S BIRTHDAY
ISN'T COMING UP, IS IT?

I MADE A LIST OF
ALL THE BIRTHDAYS
FOR YOU.

I EVEN PUT YOURS
ON IT

SO YOU CAN CALL
LORETTA
AND REMIND HER.

LET'S TAKE LORETTA
TO HOWARD JOHNSON'S

AND HAVE
THOSE FRIED CLAMS.

I KNOW YOU LOVE
THAT CLAM ROLL.

I WON'T
BE HERE, MAMA.

WHAT HAVE WE JUST
BEEN TALKING ABOUT?

YOU'LL BE HERE.
YOU'RE WELL, JESSIE.

YOU'RE STARTING ALL OVER.
YOU SAID IT YOURSELF.

YOU'RE REMEMBERING
THINGS.

I WON'T BE HERE.
IF I'D EVER HAD
A YEAR LIKE THIS

TO THINK
STRAIGHT AND ALL
BEFORE NOW,

I'D BE GONE ALREADY.

NO, JESSIE.

YES, MAMA.
ONCE I STARTED
REMEMBERING,

I COULD SEE WHAT
IT ALL ADDED UP TO.

THE FITS ARE OVER.

IT'S NOT
THE FITS, MAMA.

THEN IT'S ME FOR
GIVING THEM TO YOU.
BUT I DIDN'T DO IT.

IT'S NOT THE FITS.

YOU SAID IT
YOURSELF.

THE MEDICINE
TAKES CARE
OF THE FITS.

YOUR DADDY GAVE
YOU THOSE FITS,
JESSIE.

IT'S NOT
MY FAULT.

SO WHAT IF HE
HAD LITTLE FITS?

IT'S NOT INHERITED.
I FELL OFF THE HORSE.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

THE HORSE WASN'T
THE FIRST TIME,
JESSIE.

YOU HAD A FIT
WHEN YOU WERE
5 YEARS OLD.

I DID NOT.

YOU DID. YOU WERE
EATING AN ICE CREAM,
AND DOWN YOU WENT.

HE GAVE IT TO YOU.

IT'S HIS FAULT,
NOT MINE.

WELL, YOU TOOK
YOUR TIME TELLING ME.

HOW DO YOU TELL THAT
TO A 5 YEAR OLD?

WHAT DID THE DOCTOR SAY?

HE SAID
KIDS GET THEM
ALL THE TIME.

HE SAYS THERE WASN'T
ANYTHING TO DO

EXCEPT WAIT
FOR ANOTHER ONE.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE
ANOTHER ONE.

YOU MEAN TO
TELL ME I HAD FITS
ALL THE TIME AS A KID,

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL
I HAD A FIT WHEN
CECIL WAS LOOKING

THAT ANYBODY BOTHERED
TO FIND OUT WHAT
WAS THE MATTER WITH ME?

IT WASN'T ALL
THE TIME, JESSIE.

AND THEY CHANGED
ONCE YOU STARTED
TO SCHOOL--

MORE LIKE
YOUR DADDY'S.

THAT WAS
SOME SWELL TIME,

SITTING HERE WITH
THE TWO OF YOU

TURNING OFF AND ON
LIKE LIGHT BULBS
SOME NIGHTS.

HOW MANY FITS
DID I HAVE?

YOU NEVER HURT
YOURSELF. I CAUGHT
YOU EVERY TIME.

BUT YOU DIDN'T
TELL ANYBODY.

IT WAS NONE OF
THEIR BUSINESS.

YOU WERE ASHAMED.

I DIDN'T WANT
ANYBODY TO KNOW,

LEAST OF ALL YOU.

LEAST OF ALL ME?

OH, RIGHT.

THAT WAS MINE TO KNOW,
MAMA, NOT YOURS.

DID DADDY KNOW?

NO. HE THOUGHT
YOU WERE--

YOU FELL DOWN A LOT.
THAT'S WHAT HE THOUGHT.

YOU WERE CARELESS.
OR MAYBE HE THOUGHT
I BEAT YOU.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE THOUGHT.

HE DIDN'T THINK
ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE YOU
DIDN'T TELL HIM.

IF I TOLD HIM
ABOUT YOU,

I'D HAVE TO
TELL HIM ABOUT HIM.

I DON'T LIKE THIS.
I DON'T LIKE THIS
ONE BIT.

DIDN'T THINK
YOU'D LIKE IT.

THAT'S WHY I
DIDN'T TELL YOU.

IF I'D KNOWN I
WAS AN EPILEPTIC,

I WOULDN'T
HAVE RIDDEN
ANY HORSES.

MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE
A FREAK. IS THAT WHAT
I SHOULD HAVE DONE?

JUST GET
THE MANICURE TRAY
AND SIT DOWN.

I DON'T WANT
A MANICURE!

NO, IT DOESN'T
LOOK LIKE YOU DO.

MAYBE I DID DROP YOU.
YOU DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU SAY
YOU DIDN'T,
YOU DIDN'T.

MAYBE I FED YOU
THE WRONG THING.

MAYBE YOU HAD
A FEVER SOMETIME,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT
SOON ENOUGH.

MAYBE IT'S A PUNISHMENT.

FOR WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW.
BECAUSE OF HOW I FELT
ABOUT YOUR FATHER,

BECAUSE I DIDN'T
EAT RIGHT WHEN
I WAS CARRYING YOU.

IT HAS TO BE
SOMETHING I DID.

IT DOES NOT!

IT'S JUST
A SICKNESS,
NOT A CURSE.

EPILEPSY DOESN'T
MEAN ANYTHING.

IT JUST IS.

I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE FITS
HERE, JESSIE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
THIS KILLING YOURSELF.

IT HAS TO BE ME
THAT'S THE MATTER HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID,
BUT I DID IT, I KNOW.

THIS IS ALL
MY FAULT, JESSIE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO ABOUT IT NOW.

IT DOESN'T
HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH YOU.

EVERYTHING YOU DO
HAS TO DO WITH ME,
JESSIE.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING--
WASH YOUR FACE OR
CUT YOUR FINGER--

WITHOUT DOING IT TO ME.

THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL
KILL ME AS YOU, JESSIE.

IT'S THE SAME THING.

THIS HAS TO DO
WITH ME, JESSIE.

THEN WHAT
IF IT DOES?

WHAT IF IT
HAS EVERYTHING
TO DO WITH YOU?

WHAT IF YOU'RE
ALL I HAVE AND
YOU'RE NOT ENOUGH?

WHAT IF I COULD TAKE
ALL THE REST OF IT

IF ONLY I DIDN'T
HAVE YOU HERE?

WHAT IF THE ONLY WAY
I CAN GET AWAY
FROM YOU FOR GOOD

IS TO KILL MYSELF?

WHAT IF IT IS?
I CAN STILL DO IT.

DON'T LEAVE ME, JESSIE.

NO!

I HAVE
A BOX OF THINGS

I WANT PEOPLE
TO HAVE.

I'M JUST GOING TO
GO GET IT FOR YOU.

JUST...JUST REST
A MINUTE.

JESSIE, HOW CAN I
LIVE HERE WITHOUT YOU?

I NEED YOU.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO TELL ME TO
STAND UP STRAIGHT,

SAY HOW NICE I LOOK
IN MY PINK DRESS

AND DRINK MY MILK.

AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO GO AROUND
AND LOCK UP

SO I KNOW WE'RE SAFE
FOR THE NIGHT.

AND WHEN I WAKE UP,

YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE OUT THERE
MAKING THE COFFEE.

AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO HELP ME DIE
WHEN THE TIME COMES.

I CAN'T DO THAT
BY MYSELF, JESSIE.

I'M NOT LIKE YOU.

I HATE THE QUIET,

AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

AND I DON'T WANT
YOU TO GO, JESSIE.

HOW CAN I GET UP
EVERY MORNING,

KNOWING YOU
HAD TO KILL YOURSELF
TO MAKE IT STOP HURTING

AND I WAS HERE
ALL THE TIME,

AND I NEVER EVEN SAW IT.

AND THEN YOU GAVE ME
THIS CHANCE TO CONVINCE
YOU TO STAY ALIVE,

AND I COULDN'T DO IT.

HOW CAN I
LIVE WITH MYSELF
AFTER THIS, JESSIE?

I ONLY TOLD YOU SO
I COULD EXPLAIN IT,

SO YOU WOULDN'T
BLAME YOURSELF.

THERE WASN'T
ANYTHING
YOU COULD SAY

TO CHANGE MY MIND.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO SAVE ME.

I JUST WANTED
YOU TO KNOW.

STAY WITH ME
A FEW MORE YEARS.

I DON'T HAVE
THAT MANY MORE
TO GO, JESSIE.

AND AS SOON AS I'M
DEAD, YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER YOU WANT.

MAYBE WITH ME GONE,

YOU'LL HAVE
ALL THE QUIET YOU WANT
RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE.

AND RICKY
WILL BE MARRIED BY THEN.

AND HE'LL BRING
YOUR GRANDBABIES OVER,

AND YOU CAN SNEAK THEM
A PIECE OF CANDY

WHEN THEIR DADDY'S
NOT LOOKING

AND THEN BE REAL GLAD
WHEN THEY'VE GONE HOME

AND LEFT YOU
TO YOUR QUIET AGAIN.

DON'T YOU SEE, MAMA?

EVERYTHING I DO
WINDS UP LIKE THIS.

HOW COULD
I THINK YOU
WOULD UNDERSTAND?

HOW COULD I THINK
YOU WOULD WANT
A MANICURE?

WE COULD HOLD HANDS
FOR AN HOUR,

AND THEN I
COULD GO SHOOT
MYSELF?

I'M SORRY ABOUT
TONIGHT, MAMA,

BUT IT'S EXACTLY
WHY I'M DOING IT.

IF YOU'VE GOT THE GUTS
TO KILL YOURSELF, JESSIE,

YOU'VE GOT THE GUTS
TO STAY ALIVE.

I KNOW THAT,

SO IT'S JUST
A MATTER OF WHERE
I'D RATHER BE.

LOOK, MAYBE
I CAN'T THINK OF
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THERE ISN'T SOMETHING
THAT WOULD HELP.

YOUFIND IT.
YOUTHINK OF IT.
YOU CAN KEEP TRYING.

YOU CAN GET BRAVE
AND TRY SOME MORE.

YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GIVE UP.

I'M NOT GIVING UP!

THISIS
THE OTHER THING
I'M TRYING.

AND I KNOW THERE'S
SOME OTHER THINGS
THAT MIGHT WORK,

BUT MIGHT WORK
IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
ANYMORE.

I NEED SOMETHING
THATWILL WORK.

THIS WILL WORK.
THAT'S WHY I
PICKED IT.

BUT SOMETHING
MIGHT HAPPEN,

SOMETHING THAT
COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.

WHO KNOWS WHAT
IT MIGHT BE?

BUT IT MIGHT
BE WORTH WAITING FOR.

TRY IT FOR 2 MORE WEEKS.

WE COULD HAVE
MORE TALKS LIKE--

NO, MAMA.

WE WOULDN'T
HAVE MORE TALKS
LIKE TONIGHT

BECAUSE IT'S
THIS NEXT PART

THAT'S MADE
THIS LAST PART
SO GOOD, MAMA.

NO, MAMA!

THIS IS HOW
I HAVE MY SAY.

THIS IS HOW I SAY
WHAT I'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT IT ALL,

AND I SAY NO...

TO DAWSON
AND LORETTA

AND THE NEWS ON TV

AND EPILEPSY.

AND RICKY AND CECIL

AND YOU

AND ME

AND HOPE.

I SAY NO!

JUST LET ME
GO EASY, MAMA.

HOW CAN I LET YOU GO?

YOU CAN BECAUSE
YOU HAVE TO.

IT'S WHAT
YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE.

BUT YOU ARE MY CHILD.

I'M WHAT BECAME
OF YOUR CHILD.

I FOUND AN OLD
BABY PICTURE OF ME.

AND IT WAS
SOMEBODY ELSE,
NOT ME.

IT WAS SOMEBODY
PINK AND FAT...

WHO NEVER HEARD
OF SICK OR LONELY,

SOMEBODY WHO CRIED
AND GOT FED

AND REACHED UP
AND GOT HELD...

SLEPT WHENEVER
SHE WANTED TO

JUST BY CLOSING
HER EYES,

SOMEBODY WHO MAINLY
JUST LAID THERE,

LAUGHED
AT THE COLORS

WAVING OVER
AROUND HER HEAD

AND CHEWED ON
A POLKA-DOT WHALE

AND WOKE UP KNOWING
SOME NEW TRICK

NEARLY EVERY DAY...

ROLLED OVER
AND DROOLED
ON THE SHEET.

FELT YOUR HAND
PULL THE QUILT
BACK UP OVER ME.

THAT'S WHO
I STARTED OUT...

AND THIS
IS WHO'S LEFT.

SO, THAT'S WHAT
THIS IS ABOUT--

SOMEBODY I LOST,
ALL RIGHT.

MY OWN SELF...

WHO I NEVER WAS

OR WHO I TRIED TO BE

AND NEVER
GOT THERE...

SOMEBODY
I WAITED FOR...

WHO NEVER CAME...

AND NEVER WILL.

SO, SEE, IT
DOESN'T MATTER MUCH

WHAT ELSE GOES ON
IN THE WORLD

OR IN
THIS HOUSE, EVEN.

I'M WHAT WAS
WORTH WAITING FOR.

I DIDN'T MAKE IT.

ME...

WHO MIGHT HAVE MADE
A DIFFERENCE TO ME.

I'M NOT GOING
TO SHOW UP...

SO THERE'S
NO REASON TO STAY,

EXCEPT TO KEEP YOU
COMPANY,

AND THAT'S NOT
REASON ENOUGH

BECAUSE I'M NOT
VERY GOOD COMPANY,

AM I?

NO.

AND NEITHER AM I.

I HAD THIS STRANGE
LITTLE THOUGHT.

WELL, MAYBE IT
WASN'T SO STRANGE.

ANYWAY,
AFTER CHRISTMAS,

AFTER I DECIDED
TO DO THIS,

I WOULD WONDER
SOMETIMES

WHAT MIGHT
KEEP ME...

WHAT MIGHT BE WORTH
STAYING FOR.

AND YOU KNOW
WHAT IT WAS?

IT WAS IF MAYBE

THERE WAS SOMETHING
I REALLY LIKED,

LIKE MAYBE IF I

REALLY LIKED...
RICE PUDDING

OR CORN FLAKES
FOR BREAKFAST

OR SOMETHING.

THAT MIGHT
BE ENOUGH.

RICE PUDDING IS GOOD.

NOT TO ME.

AND YOU'RE NOT AFRAID?

OF WHAT?

I'M AFRAID OF IT
FOR ME, I MEAN,

WHEN MY TIME COMES.

I KNOW
IT'S COMING, BUT--

OH, YOU'VE GOT
PLENTY OF TIME LEFT.

I FORGET WHAT FOR
RIGHT NOW.

WHATEVER HAPPENS.

I DON'T KNOW.

FOR YOUR
GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
WHEN THEY'RE BORN

OR DAWSON LOSING
HIS HAIR.

OH, JESSIE,

I CAN'T JUST
SIT HERE AND SAY,

"OK, GO AHEAD.
KILL YOURSELF
IF YOU WANT TO."

SURE, YOU CAN.

YOU JUST DID.

SAY IT AGAIN.

HOW DARE YOU.

JESSIE, HOW DARE YOU.

YOU THINK YOU
CAN JUST LEAVE
WHENEVER YOU WANT

LIKE YOU'RE WATCHING
TELEVISION HERE?

NO, YOU CAN'T, JESSIE.

YOU MAKE ME FEEL
LIKE A FOOL FOR
BEING ALIVE, CHILD,

AND YOU ARE SO WRONG.
I LIKE IT HERE,

AND I WILL STAY HERE
UNTIL THEY MAKE ME GO,

UNTIL THEY
DRAG ME SCREAMING,
AND I MEAN SCREECHING,

INTO MY GRAVE.

AND YOU'RE REAL SMART
TO GET AWAY BEFORE THEN,

BECAUSE, I MEAN, HONEY,

YOU'VE NEVER HEARD NOISE
LIKE THAT IN YOUR LIFE!

WHO AM I TALKING TO?

YOU'RE GONE ALREADY,
AREN'T YOU?

I'M LOOKING
RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

I CAN'T STOP YOU BECAUSE
YOU'RE ALREADY GONE.

I GUESS YOU THINK
THEY'LL ALL HAVE TO
TALK ABOUT YOU NOW.

OH, YEAH, EVER
SINCE CHRISTMAS,

YOU'VE BEEN LAUGHING
TO YOURSELF

AND THINKING,
"BOY, ARE THEY ALL
IN FOR A SURPRISE."

NOBODY'S GOING TO
BE A BIT SURPRISED,
SWEETHEART!

THIS IS
JUST LIKE YOU!

DO IT THE HARD WAY.
THAT'S MY GIRL,
ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW
WHO THEY'RE GOING
TO FEEL SORRY FOR?

ME. HOW ABOUT THAT?

NOT YOU, ME.

THEY'RE GOING TO
BE ASHAMED OF YOU.

YES, ASHAMED.

IF SOMEBODY
ASKS DAWSON ABOUT IT,

HE'LL CHANGE THE SUBJECT
AS FAST AS HE CAN.

HE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH
HE HAS TO PAY TO PARK
HIS CAR THESE DAYS.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

IT'S THE TRUTH!

I SHOULD HAVE JUST
LEFT YOU A NOTE!

YES!

NO.

NO.

I MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT

OF ALL THE THINGS
YOU'VE SAID.

(SOBBING SOFTLY)

IT'S OK, MAMA.

(WATER RUNNING)

I REMEMBER YOU
LIKED THAT PREACHER

WHO DID DADDY'S,

SO IF YOU WANT
TO ASK HIM TO
DO THE SERVICE,

IT'S OK WITH ME.

WHAT?

PICK SOME SONGS
YOU LIKE,

OR LET AGNES PICK.

SHE'LL KNOW
EXACTLY WHICH ONES.

OH, AND I HAD
THAT DRESS CLEANED

YOU WORE TO DADDY'S.

YOU LOOKED REAL GOOD
IN THAT.

I DON'T
REMEMBER, HON.

AND IT WON'T BE SO BAD

ONCE YOUR FRIENDS
START COMING TO
THE FUNERAL HOME.

YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE
PEOPLE YOU HADN'T
SEEN FOR YEARS.

BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT
WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY

TO GET OVER THAT
NERVOUS PART WHEN
THEY FIRST COME IN.

TAKE THEM UP TO SEE
THEIR FLOWERS.

THEY'D LIKE THAT.

AND WHEN THEY SAY,
"I'M SO SORRY, THELMA."

JUST SAY, "I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING, CONNIE."

ASK THEM HOW
THEIR GARDEN
WAS LAST SUMMER

OR HOW
THEIR CHILDREN
ARE DOING.

I DON'T THINK I
SHOULD ASK ABOUT
THEIR CHILDREN.

I'LL TALK ABOUT
WHAT THEY HAVE ON.

THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

AND I'LL HAVE SOME
CROCHET WORK WITH ME.

GOOD.

AND MAYBE IF
CONNIE RICHARDS
DOES COME,

I CAN GET HER
TO TELL ME WHERE SHE
GETS THAT IRISH YARN,

AS SHE CALLS IT.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T
COME FROM IRELAND.

I THINK IT JUST COMES
WITH A GREEN WRAPPER.

AND AGNES
WILL BE THERE,

SO YOU MIGHT NOT
HAVE TO TALK AT ALL.

NOW, BE SURE

TO INVITE
ENOUGH PEOPLE
HOME AFTERWARD

SO YOU
HAVE ENOUGH FOOD
TO FEED THEM ALL

AND HAVE SOME LEFT
FOR YOU.

BUT DON'T LET
ANYBODY TAKE
ANYTHING HOME,

ESPECIALLY LORETTA.

LORETTA
WILL GET ALL THE FOOD
SET UP, HONEY.

IT'S ONLY FAIR WE

LET HER HAVE
SOME MACARONI
OR SOMETHING.

NO, MAMA.

YOU HAVE TO BE
MORE SELFISH
FROM NOW ON.

NOW, SOMEBODY'S
BOUND

TO ASK YOU
WHY I DID IT.

AND YOU JUST SAY
YOU DON'T KNOW,

THAT YOU LOVE ME

AND YOU KNOW
I LOVED YOU

AND WE JUST SAT
AROUND TONIGHT

LIKE EVERY
OTHER NIGHT
OF OUR LIVES,

AND I CAME OVER
AND KISSED YOU,

SAID,
"'NIGHT, MOTHER."

THEN YOU
HEARD ME CLOSE
MY BEDROOM DOOR,

AND THE NEXT THING
YOU HEARD WAS
THE SHOT.

WHATEVER REASONS
I HAD,

YOU GUESS I JUST
TOOK THEM WITH ME.

IT WAS SOMETHING PERSONAL.

GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD, MAMA.

THAT'S WHAT
I'LL SAY, THEN.

PERSONAL, YEAH.

IS THAT WHAT I TELL
DAWSON AND LORETTA, TOO,

WE SAT AROUND,

YOU KISSED ME,

"'NIGHT, MOTHER"?

THEY'LL WANT
TO KNOW MORE.

THEY WON'T BELIEVE IT.

WELL, THEN TELL THEM
WHAT WE DID.

I FILLED UP
THE CANDY JARS.

I CLEANED OUT
THE REFRIGERATOR.

WE MADE SOME
HOT CHOCOLATE

AND PUT THE COVER
BACK ON THE SOFA.

YOU HAD NO IDEA...

ALL RIGHT?

I REALLY THINK IT'S
BETTER THAT WAY.

IF THEY KNOW WE
TALKED ABOUT IT,

THEY REALLY
WON'T UNDERSTAND.

I GUESS NOT.

IT'S PRIVATE.

TONIGHT'S PRIVATE.

IT'S YOURS AND MINE.

I DON'T WANT
ANYBODY ELSE
TO HAVE ANY OF IT.

OK, THEN.

NOW, WHEN YOU
HEAR THE SHOT,

I DON'T WANT YOU
TO COME IN.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU
WON'T BE ABLE TO
GET IN BY YOURSELF.

BUT I DON'T
WANT YOU TRYING.

CALL DAWSON...

THEN CALL
THE POLICE...

AND THEN CALL AGNES.

THEN YOU'LL NEED
SOMETHING TO DO

UNTIL SOMEBODY
GETS HERE,

SO WASH THE
HOT CHOCOLATE PAN.

YOU WASH THAT PAN

UNTIL YOU HEAR
THE DOORBELL RING,

AND I DON'T CARE
IF IT'S AN HOUR,

YOU KEEP
WASHING THAT PAN.

I'LL MAKE MY CALLS,
AND THEN I'LL JUST SIT.

I WON'T NEED
ANYTHING TO DO.

WHAT WILL
THE POLICE SAY?

THEY'LL DO
THAT GUNPOWDER TEST,

AND THEY'LL ASK YOU
WHAT HAPPENED.

AND BY THAT TIME,
THE AMBULANCE
WILL BE HERE,

AND THEY'LL COME IN
AND GET ME.

YOU KNOW
HOW THAT GOES.

MAYBE AGNES COULD
COME STAY WITH YOU
FOR A FEW DAYS.

I'D RATHER BE
BY MYSELF, I THINK.

YOU WANT ME
TO GIVE PEOPLE
THOSE THINGS?

I WANT LORETTA

TO HAVE MY
LITTLE CALCULATOR.

DAWSON BOUGHT IT FOR
HIMSELF, YOU KNOW,

AND THEN HE SAW ONE
HE LIKED BETTER,

BUT HE COULDN'T
BRING BOTH
OF THEM HOME

WITH LORETTA
COUNTING EVERY PENNY
THE WAY SHE DOES,

SO HE GAVE
THE FIRST ONE TO ME.

IT WOULD BE FUNNY

FOR HER
TO HAVE IT NOW,
DON'T YOU THINK?

AND ALL
MY HOUSE SLIPPERS

ARE IN A SACK FOR
HER IN MY CLOSET.

TELL HER I KNOW
THEY'LL FIT,

AND I'VE NEVER WORN
ANY OF THEM, AND...

MAKE SURE DAWSON
HEARS YOU
TELL HER THAT.

I'M GLAD HE LOVES
LORETTA SO MUCH,

BUT I WISH HE DIDN'T
THINK EVERYBODY
HAD HER SIZE FEET.

OK.

NOW, THIS LETTER'S
FOR DAWSON,

BUT IT'S MOSTLY
ABOUT YOU,

SO YOU CAN READ IT
IF YOU WANT TO.

THERE'S A LIST
OF PRESENTS FOR YOU

FOR AT LEAST
20 MORE CHRISTMASES
AND BIRTHDAYS.

IF YOU WANT ANYTHING
SPECIAL, YOU BETTER
ADD IT TO THIS LIST

BEFORE YOU
GIVE IT TO DAWSON,

OR IF YOU WANT IT
TO BE A SURPRISE,

JUST DON'T READ
THAT PAGE.

THIS CHRISTMAS
YOU'RE GETTING

MOSTLY STUFF
FOR THE HOUSE
AND NEEDLEWORK.

BUT NEXT CHRISTMAS,

YOU'RE REALLY
GOING TO COST HIM
NEXT CHRISTMAS.

I THINK YOU'LL
LIKE IT A LOT.

YOU'D NEVER
THINK OF IT.

YOU THINK
HE'LL GO FOR IT?

WELL, I
THINK HE'LL FEEL
LIKE A REAL JERK

IF HE DOESN'T,

ME TELLING HIM TO
LIKE THIS AND ALL.

THIS NUMBER'S WHERE
YOU CALL CECIL.

I CALLED IT
LAST WEEK,
AND HE ANSWERED,

SO I KNOW HE
STILL LIVES THERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO TELL HIM?

TELL HIM WE TALKED
ABOUT HIM...

AND I ONLY
HAD GOOD THINGS
TO SAY ABOUT HIM.

BUT, MAINLY, TELL
HIM TO FIND RICKY.

TELL HIM WHAT I DID,

AND TELL RICKY YOU
HAVE SOMETHING
FOR HIM

OUT HERE FROM ME
AND TO COME GET IT.

WHAT IS IT?

MY WATCH.

HE'LL SELL IT.

THAT'S THE IDEA.

I APPRECIATE HIM NOT
STEALING IT ALREADY.

I'D LIKE TO BUY HIM
A GOOD MEAL.

HE'LL BUY DOPE WITH IT.

THEN I HOPE HE
GETS SOME GOOD DOPE
WITH IT, MAMA.

AND THE REST
OF THIS...

IS FOR YOU.

WHEN DID YOU
DO ALL THIS?

DURING MY NAPS, I GUESS.

I GUESS.

I TRIED TO BE QUIET
ABOUT IT.

(RATTLE)

THOSE ARE JUST
LITTLE PRESENTS

FOR WHENEVER
YOU NEED ONE.

THEY'RE NOT
BOUGHT PRESENTS
OR ANYTHING.

THEY'RE JUST THINGS
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT
LIKE TO LOOK AT--

THINGS YOU
THINK YOU'VE LOST,

THINGS YOU DIDN'T
KNOW YOU HAD, EVEN.
YOU'LL SEE.

I'M NOT SURE
I WANT THEM.

THEY'LL MAKE ME
THINK OF YOU.

NO, THEY WON'T.

THEY'RE...
THEY'RE JUST THINGS,

LIKE A FREE
TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE

I FOUND HANGING
ON THE DOOR ONE DAY.

OH.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

WELL, MAYBE THERE'S
ONE NICE PRESENT

IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

THERE'S
GRANNY'S RING
SHE GAVE ME.

I THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT LIKE
TO HAVE IT,

BUT I DIDN'T THINK
YOU'D WEAR IT

IF I GAVE IT
TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

NO...

PROBABLY NOT.

I'M READY FOR
MY MANICURE, I GUESS.

YOU WANT ME TO
WASH MY HANDS AGAIN?

IT'S TIME FOR
ME TO GO, MAMA.

NO, JESSIE.

YOU'VE GOT
ALL NIGHT.

NO, MAMA.

IT'S NOT EVEN 8:00.

LET ME GO, MAMA.

I CAN'T.

YOU CAN'T GO.
YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

YOU DIDN'T
SAY IT WOULD BE
SO SOON, JESSIE.

I'M SCARED.

I LOVE YOU.

LET GO OF ME, MAMA.

I'VE SAID EVERYTHING
I HAVE TO SAY.

YOU SAID YOU WANTED
TO DO MY NAILS.

I CAN'T.
IT'LL BE TOO LATE.

IT WON'T BE
TOO LATE.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO

WAKE DAWSON AND LORETTA
WHEN YOU CALL.

I WANT THEM TO STILL
BE UP AND DRESSED

SO THEY CAN GET
RIGHT OVER.

THEY WAKE UP FAST,
JESSIE, IF THEY
HAVE TO.

THEY DON'T
MATTER HERE, JESSIE.

YOU DO. I DO.

WE'RE NOT
THROUGH YET.

WE HAVE
A LOT OF THINGS TO
TAKE CARE OF HERE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE MY
PRESCRIPTIONS ARE.

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME

WHAT TO TELL
DR. DAVIS
WHEN HE CALLS

OR HOW MUCH
YOU WANT ME
TO TELL RICKY

OR WHO I CALL
TO MOW THE LAWN.

DON'T TRY
TO STOP ME, MAMA.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

I CAN TO.

I'LL STAND IN THIS HALLWAY,
AND YOU CAN'T GET PAST ME.NO, JESSIE!

JESSIE, I'LL
KNOCK YOU OUT COLD

BEFORE I LET YOU DO...

JESSIE!

'NIGHT, MOTHER.

JESSIE!

JESSIE.

JESSIE, YOU LET ME
IN THERE.

DON'T YOU
DO THIS, JESSIE.

JESSIE, I'M NOT GOING
TO STOP SCREAMING UNTIL
YOU OPEN THIS DOOR.

JESSIE!

JESSIE!

JESSIE!

WHAT IF I DON'T DO
ANY OF THE THINGS

YOU TOLD ME TO DO?

I'LL TELL CECIL WHAT
A MISERABLE MAN HE WAS

TO MAKE YOU FEEL
THE WAY HE DID,

AND I'LL GIVE
RICKY'S WATCH TO DAWSON

IF I FEEL LIKE IT,

AND THE ONLY WAY
YOU CAN MAKE SURE
I DO WHAT YOU WANT

IS YOU COME OUT HERE
AND YOU MAKE ME, JESSIE.

JESSIE, STOP THIS!

I DIDN'T KNOW.

I WAS HERE WITH YOU
ALL THE TIME.

HOW CAN I KNOW
YOU WERE SO ALONE?

JESSIE, PLEASE!

(GUNSHOT)

JESSIE.

JESSIE, CHILD...

(SOBBING)

HELLO.

LORETTA, LET ME TALK
TO DAWSON, HONEY.

THELMA,
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

HOLD ON A MINUTE,
THELMA.

I'LL HAVE TO FIND HIM.