All language subtitles for Family Secrets (1984) Melissa Gilbert TV Movie

No other tie -up reported, but traffic
is starting to build on this Friday

afternoon. The beginning of the weekend
also brings Chicago its first sign of

spring, rising to 68 at 3 o 'clock.

Skies are clear with no sign of
precipitation, and we look forward to...

They're

scoring the music at 4 today, so I'll
have a tape to play along with the

storyboard. Mm -hmm.

Linda, make a note. I want a mnemonic
effect.

What? Every time they spray the product,
something that clicks.

Sticks in the mind.

Spray, click.

I'll get on it right away. Get it down
pat.

Yeah, we'll have a final rehearsal
tomorrow and do the full presentation.

Good. Then do it again Sunday morning.
It's got to be smooth.

What kind of clients meet on a Sunday
anyway?

Nervous ones.

Well, they can't be more nervous than
me.

I wish you were staying for this
meeting, Jessie.

You'll be fine, Barry, I promise.

Besides, the client's already bought the
campaign.

This is just the follow -up.

Now, I know this is the worst of all
possible times to leave you both, but

there's nothing I can do about it. I'm
sorry. It never is a good time, and

you've put in enough hours.

We'll be fine, won't we, Barry?

How can you leave?

Aren't you afraid I'll take your job?

Sure.

Give them hell, Barry.

Have a terrific weekend.

Thanks, you too, and don't forget.

You're pretty jumpy.

Well, I thought you were a cop.

Oh, yeah, well, you're lucky I'm not.

There's no parking zone, you know.

I'm not parking. I'm waiting for
somebody.

Yeah, well, why don't I just wait with
you?

I've got a better idea.

Yeah, what?

Why don't you take that bike and go park
it in the lake?

You're pretty cute. Come on, why don't
you give me your number?

Come on.

Sure.

Four.

Creep on a motorcycle?

That creep was not my friend. Oh?

In fact, he asked me for my number.

And? I told him four.

Cute.

I thought so, too.

I think you should be more careful who
you talk to.

I didn't talk to him, Mother. He talked
to me.

He's not exactly someone I'm dating.

Let's hope we can beat the traffic.

Enough to get there before dark.

Mag's called just before I left the
house. Again?

I guess she's real anxious to see us.

Terrific.

We only have this weekend to get her all
packed up.

The movies are coming first thing
Monday, and we have to have everything

How can you eat that garbage?

Want some?

Now, don't expect to watch television or
go running off with your friends.

Packing up a house is an enormous job.

We have to orchestrate this move very
carefully.

If we plan everything out, we can
eliminate a lot of wasted effort.

You make it sound like an ad campaign.

New, easy, pack mom off cream, non
-greasy.

It's not a bad idea for an ad.

Give me a bite of that.

It's so beautiful here, isn't it?

Boring is the word I had in mind.

Mom, let's cut to the campus.

We don't have time, Sarah.

Please.

All right.

Can we drive past the stadium?

Maybe they're having practice.

And then we can go by the mall.

We don't have time for a tour.

what I need.

Come on!

I know we shouldn't have come this way.
This traffic is horrendous.

Not the traffic. You always get uptight
before we get to the house.

I'm taking the dorm road.

I want to get out of this place.

I hope you and Maggie can get along this
weekend.

What a novel idea.

Mom, will you please try?

Sarah, I always try.

Let's just get through the weekend,
okay?

What?

What's going on?

I don't know.

Oh,

wait a minute. It's finals week.

Everybody takes ten minutes to open the
windows and scream.

It's sort of like a primal thing.

Well, come on. Let's scream back.

It's not for you, sir.

It was for you. I had no choice. My dad
was the dean.

You're going to a college that's going
to be good for your career.

By the way, that reminds me.

What is my career?

Mr. Palloway, I presume.

Get over here.

How was your trip?

It was long and boring, but it's worth
it to see you again.

Well, Mother, we're here.

Well, here you are.

Did you have something to eat?

Lots of junk food.

Sarah, come and give me a hand with
this.

Get all this stuff out and we'll get
started.

Now, Mother, I know this whole thing
seems overwhelming to you, but if we

out a plan, we can get it all done.

I thought we'd start with Dad's books
and papers. Then we can move up to...

Mother, you didn't tell yourself...
Well, I thought I'd better get started.

You should have waited for us.

Oh, don't worry.

There's 40 years of living in this
house.

Plenty of cartons to fill, my dear.

Home.

Jesse, you're in the guest room, all
right?

Sure.

Where else?

God, I'm going to miss this room.

I always forget I have all these neat
books here.

Make it a good one.

Well, that's up to you. They're yours.

I thought you'd like to take them back
to Chicago with you.

Yeah.

Why don't you take them to your new
condo? That way I have something to read

when I come visit.

Do you remember when we'd sit together
and read this book and we'd be crying?

Grandpa'd come in and he thought
somebody had died.

Weren't they great, the times we had
here?

You and me and Grandpa.

And Mom.

All settled?

Yeah.

How would you like some of my special
hot chocolate?

Terrific. I'll unpack.

Desi?

I had to do this room first. I knew it
would be the toughest, and it was.

Emotionally? No, it was just such a
mess.

That's what I liked about it.

I could always be as messy as I wanted
to in here, and he'd never complain.

Well, your father was a brilliant
scholar, but he wasn't famous for

It seems so sterile.

And his pipes.

And his papers that were always falling
off the desk.

That old gray sweater on the couch.

It's almost as though he never lived.

I didn't know what to do with that
sweater.

It had to be 20 years old at least. I
didn't know whether to keep it or give

to someone. I even thought of burying it
with him.

That would have been a kick.

What did you do with it?

Well, I put it with his other things and
gave them all to the fire department.

The fire department?

They were collected clothes.

They keep them on hand for people who
get burned out. I thought it was a

cause.

Sure.

I guess that wouldn't have cared where
his clothes went after he was dead.

Lord knows he didn't care about them
when he was alive.

Sometimes I think you spend as much time
in here as he did.

Well, it was an easy room to be in.

Did you know there was a time when your
father decided to be neat and efficient?

He read an article somewhere that said
the trick was to keep the top of your

desk clean at the end of the day. So he
did it.

And the next morning he came in and sat
down at this perfectly clean, organized

desk and it paralyzed him.

He couldn't for the life of him figure
out how to get started.

I'll just have a look.

I think he just swept everything into
the top drawer.

I'd like to keep his desk.

His desk? Yeah.

You know, it's actually in pretty good
shape. All those papers protected it all

those years.

Jessie, I stole the desk.

What?

Well, it was too big for my new
apartment. I didn't need it. What about

Well, I didn't think you'd want it.
Well, who did you sell it to? I'll buy

back. No, I don't know who used
furniture, Peter. I don't believe this.

You sold my father's desk to a stranger.
You didn't even... Act me if I wanted

it. Jessie, be reasonable.

Now, how could I know? You never said.
Your apartment is that, what is it,

High tech.

But anyway, what difference does that
make?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I did something to upset you.
Of course, I knew that I would.

I just wasn't sure what it would be. I
never dreamed it would be selling the

desk.

I'm sorry, too.

Friday's never a very good night for me,
and I'm exhausted.

I promise that I will wake up tomorrow
with a smile.

It's just that I've been working my tail
off on this new campaign, and I haven't

had a weekend off in months.

So if I seem a little testy, that's the
reason.

Is that the reason? You're overworked?

And what about the other times you come
home? You don't see anyone, you don't go

anywhere, and you can't wait to leave.

Okay.

I guess I don't like coming home very
much.

It's sad. Now that Dad's gone, I... I
don't feel very comfortable.

Not comfortable in this house.

It's not this house, Mother.

It's here, this place.

I never think about it until I come
here.

Oh, that's nonsense.

You shouldn't feel that way.

Well, maybe I shouldn't feel that way,
Mother, but I do.

It's like coming back to the scene of my
crime.

Your crime?

Mom?

Okay, everybody, don't say anything
important. Sarah's here.

We weren't saying anything important.

Is that right, Mom?

Mother said it.

Mother's always right.

Good morning, darling.

I love your robe.

Well, you should. You gave it to me for
Christmas.

Meg, what are you doing with these kinky
cereals?

How can cereals be kinky?

Captain Energy and Space Wheel. Oh, I
don't know. I got them with the coupons.

Would you like orange juice or
grapefruit juice?

Jet tomato?

No, and I don't have orange either.

No, have grapefruit.

We shouldn't have to leave.

Why can't you just stay here?

I don't want to stay here. It's too big.
It's too expensive.

Too much work.

And it's lonesome without Grandpa.

Okay, now give me a good reason.

And I like where I'm going.

Everything's brand new.

If anything breaks, I just call the
manager. He comes up and fixes it. It's

efficient. And there's an extra bedroom
for you when you come and visit.

Whenever that'll be.

I'm going to be thousands of miles away,
stuck up in Bryn Mawr.

Well, I hardly call that stuck.

I wish I'd gone to Bryn Mawr. It's a
good, good school.

I'm not going because it's a good
school.

I'm going because it'll be good for my
career.

And what is your career?

How should I know?

Does your mother always sleep this late?

It's almost nine o 'clock. I don't call
that getting a head start on the

weekend. Well, Mom's really dragging
herself lately.

All she does is work on this new
campaign and then meet with her lawyer

the divorce.

Oh, good morning.

Morning.

Good morning.

Here you go.

Don't drink yet. May I get you any
sweetener?

Have some brown sugar.

Sugar? Oops, you said the magic word.
Mother, you're not eating sugar.

But sometimes I have honey in my tea.

Well, that's just as bad. You're getting
yourself wide open with diabetes.

You shouldn't be drinking coffee.

Sugar is the world.

And salt.

I hope you're not eating salt.

Only when I eat.

Okay, go ahead.

Joke all you want.

I'm only trying to prolong your life.

Oh, Jessie, we've heard this song
before, and I'm way ahead of you.

I brought both my children up on good,
wholesome food, and I'm happy to say

are both strong and healthy.

Both your children?

You mean Sarah and me?

Okay. It's probably for her.

Hello?

Hi! It's for me.

How could it be for her? She just got
here. It's probably one of those boys in

Chicago. She's on the phone incessantly.

And the apartment's always filled with
boys.

How's your divorce going?

As well as any divorce.

Oh, Jessie, please. Not before
breakfast.

You know, Mother, I think I'm going to
throw in the towel after this one.

I like Bert.

Everybody likes Bert.

Just a problem.

Another woman?

Several. Different sizes, different
shapes.

A very interesting apartment.

Are you sure?

Mother, he made it very easy.

Lipstick on the collar, hotel keys, hang
-ups on the telephone. Really boring

clues.

Well, did you talk about it?

What was there to talk about?

It's as if he wanted to be caught.

Well, that's what I mean.

He was probably trying to get your
attention.

You were probably preoccupied with your
office.

That's right, Mother.

It was probably my fault.

I am only suggesting that if you want to
save a marriage, there are steps you

can take. There are things you can do.

Things I could do?

I wasn't the one that was fooling
around, Mother. Okay. Talk to you soon.

Bye.

That was both.

Imagine him calling me long -lost.

It's better to raise her lower.

Thank you.

What's a boog?

Exactly what it sounds like, only
shorter.

Mom doesn't approve of boog. She thinks
we're sleeping together.

Would you like some eggs for breakfast,
dear?

I think you've just shocked your
grandmother.

No, I just can't handle salacious
conversation before breakfast.

I'll get it. No, I'll get it. It just
might be for me.

Hello?

I did not say I thought you were
sleeping with books.

I said I hoped you weren't.

Well, do you want to know?

I'll tell you if you want to know.

Please.

Get some cartons and I'll get started
inside.

Mom, I hate doing that. Why?

They don't want them. They just throw
them out.

Hi. Did you get the boxes?

Mm -hmm, they're in the car. Good.

Now get one head of lemons.

Hi, Lowell.

Hey, how you doing?

You don't remember me, do you? Yeah.

Maybe.

What's your name?

Sarah Calloway.

Right, right.

You still don't remember me, do you?

I hate these guessing games.

I hate guessing games. No, I don't. You
look familiar, but I don't know you, no.

We met at a party last Christmas.

Party?

You were the one I took home.

No.

I'm the one you spilled potato salad on.

What's your name again?

Sarah Calloway.

From Chicago.

Yes, you remember.

You're looking great, you know.

Thanks. So how are you doing? You still
working at Smitty's?

No, no, I quit that. I'm looking for
something else.

How long are you in town for?

Just a weekend.

I'm visiting my grandma.

Just a weekend?

Well, maybe we can get together. What do
you think?

Sure. I am kind of busy, though. I'm
helping her pack up the house. So is my

mom. In fact, she's here. She's right
over there.

That's your mom. You're kidding me.
Nope.

Come on.

Mom, I'd like to introduce you to a
friend of mine, Laurel Judson.

Hello, how are you?

Um, I'm fine, thank you.

You will excuse me, won't you? We have
shopping to do. Yeah, I gotta go.

Listen, I'll give you a call.

Sarah, right?

We're the only Calloways in the book.

Calloway.

Who was that creep?

He's not a creep, Mommy. He's my friend.

Oh? Since when?

Since I met him at a party last
Christmas break.

Some kind of party?

Are those the kind of friends you hang
out with when you're here?

Mom, why do you have to find something
wrong with every boy I know?

Do you want fish or chicken?

Why do you always ask me that?

I hate fish, and I'm getting to hate
chicken, too.

Why can't we have something daring like
roast beef?

Do you really think I find fault with
all your boyfriends?

Mm -hmm.

Well, if that's the case, then I will do
my best to find the more positive

qualities in your friends.

Great.

You taking that magazine?

This garbage?

Certainly not.

Go now, Mom. One of your mother -in
-laws is over there.

Oh, no. Did she see us?

Yes. And you've seen her.

Who's going to start the act first?

Jessie, how are you? Mother Fenwick,
hello.

There she is.

Oh, boy.

Okay, let's see the charm.

Stop it.

How nice to see you.

How nice to see you. Jessie, you look
marvelous.

Well, thank you. So do you.

We're just here for the weekend.

Mother sold the house. She's moving into
the Bunker Hill condo.

Bunker Hill?

Isn't that the one for senior citizens?

No.

That's the one for all citizens.

How is Marshall?

Couldn't be better.

His boys are in prep school.

No, they were just born.

Farrah's going to college in the fall.

Really?

Bryn Mawr.

How nice.

Well, Jessie, you must bring us up next
time you come to town.

Marshall and his wife would love to see
you.

Oh, I'm sure they would.

Give them our best regards, won't you?

Bye -bye.

Oh, that pompous cow.

Oh, it's a surprise.

It's just so irritating. She is such a
snob.

That's news to you?

She's always hated me.

Don't be so melodramatic, Sarah.

She doesn't hate you. She resents me for
marrying her son.

Clearly, he was meant for better things.

Well, she doesn't approve of me.

You may have married her son, but we all
know he wasn't my father.

So what's that got to do with the price
of AIDS?

Well, after all, I am a bastard.

I would hardly call you that.

Well, what would you call it? An
accident?

A love child? Or how about good old
illegitimate?

I call it a child.

I had you, I loved you, and I raised
you.

You raised me?

That's news.

Okay. I guess it's time for another one
of our talks.

We've had this all out before, Sarah,
but I'll say it again.

I won't have you going through life
believing I didn't raise you. I was nine

years old when I finally got to live
with you.

Count them. Nine years. You were a baby
when I married Marshall.

He wanted to go off to the Peace Corps.

Four years in the jungle was no place
for a child.

I would have managed.

I took you with me when I got home.

Not quite.

You came home, you divorced Marshall,
and then you split for Chicago.

Where I went to find a job.

I had to try and start some sort of a
career so I could afford to have you

and live with me.

I worked my butt off to give you what
you wanted.

I wanted you.

And you weren't there.

I was stuck in an apartment with a nanny
while you were at your damn office.

Don't lay that guilt trip on me, Sarah.

My mother was home all day.

And it didn't keep me from growing up
neurotic.

I'm here for you now.

Okay?

Huh?

There is something I want to talk to you
about.

Anything.

I want you to take me to your
gynecologist.

My gynecologist?

Is something wrong?

No.

Then what?

I want to get birth control pills.

Well, Mom, I am 18 years old.

Oh, sure.

Hi there. Did you have any adventures?

It's like a cold wind blew in from the
north. What happened?

It, uh... Turns out my daughter resents
me for working.

Never mind, I worked around the clock in
order to give her everything she wants,

including an Ivy League education.

Don't make a total horror story out of
it. After all, you enjoy working.

I do have to work, Mother. You will give
me that, won't you?

I had to figure out some way to support
myself and Sarah.

And why do you think I married Bert?

In order to give Sarah a father. You
can't blame Sarah because your marriage

Bert didn't work.

I'm not blaming Sarah.

Well, it doesn't matter.

I just realized how much I like the two
of you are.

I spent the first part of my life
worrying about your approval. Now I'm

spend the rest of my life worrying about
hers.

Now, Jessie, hold on.

If Sarah's taking you on for working,
it's normal.

A girl's got to pick on her mother for
something.

That's not the only thing we talked
about.

She asked me to take her to my
gynecologist for birth control pills.

Well, aren't you shocked?

I'm not sure.

I suppose it's better than getting
pregnant.

Like I did.

I didn't say that.

It's a miracle.

You see, we weren't going to have this
kind of weekend.

You're never going to let me forget it,
are you?

It's forgotten, over and done with.
We've discussed all this before.

Oh, yes, we've discussed it. That's all
we ever did was discuss it.

When I came to you, five months pregnant
and scared to death, all I wanted you

to do was put your arms around me and
say, there, there, but you wanted to

discuss it.

You're right, Mother.

I don't like coming home.

I can't wait to leave.

we don't please

Take everything downstairs and sort it
out down there. I don't think there's

much furniture.

Of course, I haven't been up here in
years.

Let's get some light in here.

Mother, does this bulb have some
sentimental value?

Well, I never did my heavy reading up
here.

Open the curtains and we'll see what
we've got.

It could be worse.

Now, Jessie, whatever you do, promise
you won't throw anything out without

showing it to me first. I might need it.

Do you think you need these check stubs
from 1963?

Let me look. I may have written
something on the back of them.

All right, I'll tell you what we'll do.

We will take all of this downstairs.

Just don't throw anything out.

We won't.

Fetching.

Open the window here, get some air.

And if she plays another operetta, I'm
going to jump.

Mom? What?

Look at this.

What is that?

Nitroglycerin.

Where did you get this?

I found it in Mag's medicine cabinet.

I didn't know about this, did you?

No.

Is it serious?

Well, it doesn't have to be.

Let's go ask her about this. I don't
think we should both ask her, Mama.

she'll get embarrassed.

All right.

You ask her about this.

But get an answer. Don't let her off the
hook.

Here.

Let's... Pull this out. Okay.

What hidden treasure do we have here?

Wow. What is it?

I don't know. I've never seen it before.

Look.

He kept them.

Who?

They belong to my father.

Well, they're not bad.

They're not great, but they're not bad.

I'll go show Mags. No, no, don't.

Why not?

Just put them back where you found them.
I'll get rid of them.

Oh, wait a minute. If they belong to
Grams, they belong to Mags too, right?

Sarah. Well, then who do they belong to?
Can't you just once do what I ask

instead of making a federal case out of
it?

I just want to know why I can't show
these to Mags.

Because you can't.

Okay?

It's not bad for 40 years.

16 garbage bags and half a ton of
newsprint.

Now, Mother, this is all throwout. Oh,
let me look. Let me look. It's garbage,

promise you.

You're not throwing out my Ken doll.

What in the world are you going to do
with a Ken doll?

Well, I don't know what I'm going to do
with it, but I am going to keep it.

Will you look at this?

I haven't seen this in must be 30 years.

What is this?

A Ouija board.

Don't you remember Ouija boards?

Does it work?

It didn't then. I don't suppose it does
now.

Well, Mother, I would never expect you
to throw out a 30 -year -old Ouija board

that never worked.

I'd like to give some of this stuff to
the retired teachers home.

I figure when I wind up there, I'll be
with my own thing.

Sarah, let's get some of this stuff out
front.

I'll get it later, Mom.

Never mind, I'll do it.

You go help your grandmother.

Oh.

My old girl's got them.

I'm sorry, dear. Did I hurt you? No, no,
you didn't hurt me at all.

What were you standing there for?

Let me help you with that. It's all
right, honey. No, no, I've got it. No,

got it, baby.

Would you mind telling me why you've
attached yourself to my hip?

I don't want you to leave, that's all.

I can't stand packing up this house, and
I don't want you to go. Well, I've had

enough of this house.

But I haven't, not nearly enough.

I'm not going very far. It's less than
20 minutes, though.

And I told you there's an extra bed for
when you come and visit.

Well, what is it?

Out with it.

I cleaned out your medicine cabinet
today.

It's full of little bottles of pills.

Is that what's bothering you, my pills?
It's nothing.

And these?

Also nothing.

Oh, come on, Max.

Whenever I'm tired or I have a little
pain in my chest, I put one under my

tongue.

People need medicine when they get
older, that's all. Nothing.

I'll be around a little while longer,
dear.

I couldn't stand it if you weren't.

Well, there will be a day I won't be
here.

No! I don't want to hear that!

And life will go on, Sarah.

And you will go on.

And we'll both be the better for
everything we're doing now.

For every minute we're spending
together.

This is what counts.

Not what happened yesterday or what's
going to happen tomorrow.

This. Here.

Now.

I have something very important to ask
you.

What?

Do you think you could possibly pull
yourself together and whip us up a fancy

dessert for dinner?

Something flattening and bad.

Good night.

Find the positive.

How are you doing? I'm doing fine,
Lowell. How are you doing?

I'm doing great.

Sarah around?

Yes, she's in the house. Would you like
to go in?

I just came to ask her something. Could
you give her a yell for me?

Give her a yell?

Yeah, sure.

I'll give her a yell.

Sarah!

There's someone out here who wants to
see you.

Yeah. Hi, Law.

What's going on? How you doing?

Fine art of conversation.

Bunch of us going out of the lake. You
want to go along?

When? Today? Yeah, today. Now that
they're already. I just came by to see

wanted to go.

Come on. I'll bend.

I've got a lot to do.

It'll be fun.

It's a picnic. We've got sandwiches and
beer.

It's fun at the lake.

Sarah!

Would you give me a hand here when
you're finished?

I've got a lot to do still, but maybe
I'll come by later. Well, I can hang

around and wait for you.

No, if I can get away, I'll drive
myself.

Okay.

I'll see you later.

See you later.

What do you want me to do?

Sarah, I know you said I'm critical of
your friends.

And I don't want to be.

But I don't like that boy.

Mom, he's not a boy. He's in his
twenties.

Oh, so he's a man.

So why do you think he wants to take you
to the lake?

I don't know. Maybe he wants to go
swimming.

Oh, that's cute.

That's very cute.

Mom, get off my case.

Sarah, wait a minute. I'm talking to
you, young lady. You know, for a modern

career woman, you're pretty uptight.

I'm uptight because I don't want you to
go running off with some redneck

Casanova. Mom, every time I walk out of
this house, you make me feel like I'm

running off to the back seat of a car to
some sleazy motel.

I like to date.

And if I like a guy, maybe I want from
him what he wants from me. What's wrong

with that?

Everything's wrong with that. I know
what kind of a boy he is. He is not a

Whatever the hell he is.

Let me tell you something, Mother.

If you keep looking hard enough, one of
these days you're going to find

something.

What's the matter? I can't talk to her,
Mother. I cannot communicate with her.

And I've got to stop her. Stop her from
what?

That boy, that man she calls her friend
Lowell. It's Hal Listings, Mother.

Jessie, what are you talking about?

It's Hal all over again. I recognized
him the first time I saw him. He's a

carbon copy, and he can't wait to throw
her into the sack.

Jessie, stop this. Sarah can take care
of herself.

No, she cannot, Mother. No more than I
could at that age. Jessie. Every time I

come back here, I remember all those
students going to their proms and their

parties, loving their college, while I
sat at home having morning picnics. That

was your experience, not Sarah's. Well,
it's not going to happen to her, Mother.

I won't let it.

Mother! I cannot talk to you when you're
like this.

Very elegant.

The old china, the silver, and the
crystal.

Very impressive, Mother.

Okay.

You look very nice, Jessie.

Hello.

Thank you, Mother.

So do you.

I'm just going to freshen my drink.

Can I make you one?

We're having lunch dinner.

Jessie, I think... I said we're having
wine with dinner.

Well, you don't mind if I have a drink,
do you, Mother?

If you must.

Is there anything I can help you with?

No.

Everything's under control.

Well, you might help Sarah with the
serving.

Let me help Sarah.

All right, Mother.

Bye -bye.

We'll be back.

Lowell?

Lowell.

You wanted me to go out to JoJo's with
you tonight.

You're not going.

Of course I'm not going, Mother. I told
them I couldn't make it.

It's my last dinner in this house.

So?

Let's eat.

It's a line of products we've had for
years and years.

I was just struggling to find a campaign
that would make it new and fresh.

That's what we pitched last week. What
was the product?

Floor wax.

Floor wax?

It's hardly worth giving up your
weekends for floor wax.

Oh, Jessie, you haven't touched your
meat.

I just don't eat red meat anymore.

I read an article about meat.

Mom, please don't tell her.

More potatoes, Sarah.

Have you ever noticed how sleepy you get
after a beef dinner?

Would you pass me the salt, dear?

Sure. You're not going to have salt and
meat.

I know it's terribly reckless of me, but
I like salt.

Well, it's your liver. I like liver,
too.

Mmm, sauteed with shallots and butter.

Salt, Sarah?

Yes, thank you.

I'm just trying to point out that you
are what you eat.

Well, I would rather be a roast beef
than a tuna fish sandwich.

Very funny.

Well, you should talk.

Go and smoke another cigarette.

I want to remind Sarah of the importance
of proper nutrition.

But it is tedious at the dinner table.

She is my daughter, Mother.

I would like to propose a toast.

To what?

Three generations of Calloway women.

To the Calloway house and our last
dinner in it.

I'll drink to that.

Jesse.

All right.

It's time for my surprise.

A surprise?

It's a surprise for you, Mother.

A very carefully concealed family
secret.

Secret? Oh, Jesse, you're making
something up. I have no secret.

My life is one long, boring, open book.

Not quite.

Well, what is it?

It's a little something I found in the
attic.

Great, the watercolors.

No. What watercolors? Never mind.

You explain this, if you can.

Oh, my Lord.

Where did you find that? Careful, Mom. I
think it's alive.

Who did it?

Where did you get it?

And most of all, what is it?

Well, goodness, I think it means... A
good bath.

What is it?

I'll never tell.

Oh, come on, Mags. We won't let you away
from the table until you spill it.

Well, I got it in college.

It's so silly.

We're waiting.

Well, every year the senior class put on
a musical extravaganza. And our class

put on our version of the Floradora
Girls. Only we called ourselves the

Girls.

and we were carrying gladiolas and our
feather boas, and we lined up and did

high kicks.

I don't believe it.

My mother, a high kicker?

Sarah, your grandmother was a chorus
girl.

Only in college.

I always said you had great legs, Mags.
Come on, Mother, give us a

demonstration.

Let's put this away now.

It's full of dust.

Oh, Mother, come on.

Sarah's never heard of the gladiola
girls. It would be educational.

It's time for our dessert.

Is it music you want?

I'll get some music.

I'll handle everything.

I hope you have something better than
naughty Marietta.

Let's see what's in here.

Shall we have our dessert in the living
room?

I'll go get it.

Hey, wait a minute, you two. Where are
you going?

What about our musical interlude?

I've got it.

Mother, you take the boa.

I will get the camera and we will
immortalize this moment on film.

Jessie. What?

No.

No?

Does that mean you're not going to dance
for us?

Shall we go back to the table?

I just thought it would be fun.

Well, we don't have the right music
anyway.

If Dad were here, it would have been
fun.

Will you bring in your dessert?

If Dad were here, we would have had a
wild little time with it.

Oh, I miss him.

We all miss him.

The other day I was made vice president.
They took me to restaurant to tell me.

I got so excited.

I ran to the telephone to call dad.

I put the money in the telephone.

I dialed his office.

And I realized he wasn't there.

I didn't know you were made vice
president.

Why didn't you call me?

Oh, Mother, I really didn't think you'd
care.

I'll bring in the coffee.

You

promised me.

You promised me that you wouldn't argue
and that's all you've done from the

minute you got here.

Sarah, I hardly think that's fair.

Fair?

Do you realize what she's going through?

Her husband is not dead six months and
she's got to pack up and leave a house

that she's lived in for 40 years.

My godmother, don't you have any
feelings at all?

I'll bring in a damn souffle.

Can I help?

It's all right. I can manage.

Well, Mother, I guess this weekend
proves we're not going to make it as

roommates.

It's because you don't try, Jessie.

I don't try?

I've been trying all my life.

I'm still trying.

I have to be the best at everything.

The best student, the best mother, and
the very best executive.

And all for your approval.

At least when Dad was here, I had
someone on my side. I had a buffer.

A buffer?

He was so easy to be with, so warm.

You know something?

He once told me that he thought he was
too emotional to be Dean.

He was a great Dean.

He was perfect.

Your father was a man, not a god.

He'd be the last person on earth that'd
want you to think he was perfect.

You were lucky, Mother.

You had a wonderful husband.

Do you think it just happens?

Do you think you get married and
everything falls neatly into place?

There's nothing neat about it. It's a
struggle. And you struggle and adjust

until you find 30 years have passed.

And you look at each other and you say,
well, what do you know?

We made it.

Not everybody makes it.

Not everybody tries.

So I made a mistake with my marriages.

People make mistakes. I don't want to
hear about your mistakes.

Will you please stop it?

People do make mistakes, Mother. Even
Dad made one, but that wasn't what

killed him. It was you.

You and your impossible standards.

Killed who?

Are you talking about my husband?

Never mind. It doesn't matter.

No, go on. Don't stop now.

You're determined to tell me something.
Go ahead.

Or are you having second thoughts?

Did you bite off more than you can chew?

Do you recognize these?

No, you tell me.

You're running this little show.

The name of the artist is Claire Loomis.

That's all for the name of Dad's
mistress.

I don't know when they met or how long
they were lovers.

I learned about it when he was trying to
break it off.

But she wouldn't let him go.

She said she would destroy him.

It wouldn't look very good for the
eminent dean to be embroiled in a love

affair. It would have killed his career
and his marriage.

And it very nearly killed him.

I was... cramming for funds.

I came downstairs to get a glass of milk
and he was sitting there in the dark.

I turned on the light and he yelled at
me.

So I turned it off again.

But in that one moment, I saw the gun on
the table.

He told me to go away, but I wouldn't
go.

I waited.

And finally he broke down and told me
how desperate he was. He couldn't dare

tell you.

I was the only one he could share a
secret with.

And so I went to see her.

I'll never forget it.

Sitting there in that green wing chair,
overstuffed French provincial, and she

stuck out her pointed chin and she said
to me that she'd never let him go.

But in the end, my visit did have an
effect.

Because soon after that, she was gone,
and Dad was his old self again.

The wing chair wasn't green.

It was blue.

It was overstuffed English, not French
provincial.

But I agree with you about the chin.

It was very pointy.

I told her if she didn't let him go, I
would make her life unlivable in this

town.

She was strong.

I was stronger.

Are you satisfied?

You were stuck at home with your family
and couldn't get out.

Yeah, well, I got out.

What did you do to your hair?

I had it cut.

Do you like it?

It's wild.

I know.

But do you like it?

Yeah, I love it.

So is Lowell here?

Oh, yeah. He's in the back. Come on.

Hey, Mom.

She goes, people pay money to keep their
hair from looking like this.

She goes...

Only my daughter would pay someone to
uncomb her hair.

Oh, go have Chicago. Do you love it?

It's okay.

I'm leaving it, though.

I'm going to go to Bryn Mawr.

Oh, honey.

Well, you got out.

I was looking for you.

Well, you found me.

Want a

drink?

Oh, I'd like a ginger ale. Well, go get
one.

Want a fan? No, thanks.

Come on.

Could we go someplace?

Yeah, I got a table right where we can
go in here. No, not here.

Let go of the light.

Yeah, sure.

You like beer?

No.

It's funny, isn't it?

What?

You didn't even remember me from the
Christmas party.

Well, you're a little different than you
used to be.

How?

Taller.

You always carry a blanket in your
pickup truck? That's right.

You never know when a cold sample hit.

I'm glad you decided to come out.

What did you do that for?

I like it.

Don't you?

I don't know.

It kicked me to snogging the wood I
thought I was in.

Well, have a beer.

It'll relax you.

Don't rush me.

What is the matter with you?

Do you know that I'm illegitimate?

Yes, so?

Well, this is where it happened.

I've heard the story hundreds of times.

Well, forget the story.

I don't want to forget it.

Doesn't really bother me, though.

I was born. There's not much I can do
about it now.

I may not have had a father, but I had
two mothers.

Do you hear that?

Two mothers, both at the same time. What
are you doing? And it's driving me

crazy.

What, are you ripped or what?

Me?

What the hell is up with you?

I mean, you dragged me out of JoJo's.
You tell me to take you to the lake. You

come on to me.

Now you tell me the story of your life.

Well, what's the big deal? I didn't have
a father either.

You didn't? No.

My old man split when I was a kid. My
mother and I never saw him again.

I'm not going to yell at the lake.

I'm not going to cry about it either.

Are you?

I mean,

I chase after you all day. I call you
five times. I come by your house.

And this is what I get for my trouble.

Well, I don't give up easily.

No.

I just... I can't.

Okay.

Well, listen, what do you want to do?

I want to talk. Talk to me?

Yeah, why not? You do talk, don't you?

I'll tell you this much, Sarah. This is
the first time that a girl's ever asked

me in length to talk.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to beat you up.

Let's just go back.

No.

Let's talk.

What is it? What are you doing? It's two
o 'clock in the morning, Mother.

Sarah's not home yet.

Where are you going?

I'm going out to get her.

This is just how it happened, Mother.
Don't you remember?

This is exactly how it happened.

You and I had an argument at dinner. I
got upset and I ran out and found Hal

Listing. Jessie, she knows this town
better than both of us. She's probably

some of her friends.

She's upset, Mother.

It's happening.

Everything I ever dreaded is happening.

Jesse, please, leave her alone.

I'll see you.

Where have you been?

Mommy, we're talking. I needed someone
to talk to. And Lowell was a perfect

person to go to for advice.

I didn't want advice. I wanted somebody
to listen to me.

Okay, I went to the lake.

I asked him to go with me. I don't know
why.

I've been playing the part everybody
wants me to play. I haven't had a chance

decide what it is I want to be.

And you figured it all out at the lake.

With Lowell.

Well, maybe I didn't figure out what I
am, but I figured out what I'm not.

I'm not the peacekeeper in this family.

All right, Sarah, I can appreciate that.

Listen to me, Mother.

We're not going to make it.

You don't need me. I'm just in your way.

What are you talking about?

And I have to be honest with you. I
don't need you either.

Oh.

Mom, I can't live your life.

And I can't fulfill your dreams.

And if I make mistakes, they're going to
be my mistakes, not yours.

I'm perfectly capable of making my own
decisions.

And I made some.

I'm not going back to Chicago with you.

And I'm not going to go to Bryn Mawr.
That's your dream, not mine.

I'm not sure of what my dream is.

Or my career.

So I'm going to take a little time and
I'm going to think about it.

And I'm going to do my thinking here
with Mags.

I think we'll both be better off.

She's been out there all morning.

What's she doing?

Can't you guess?

I told her I wanted to stay with her.

She said it's up to you.

We planted that tree at the end of the
war.

We had a party out here.

The men would come home.

Your father was one of them.

We planted this tree for our students.

The boys that didn't come home.

We watched the world change from this
house.

It's a whole lot different, this new
world.

I'm not sure I'm too crazy about it.

You planted those azaleas when you were
born.

And the roses for Sarah.

I found out about the affair when he was
trying to get out of it.

I'm glad I didn't know about it when he
was happy with it.

So his solution was to kill himself.

How sad.

I came out here the night you told me
about the baby.

I was so unprepared. I had tried to
figure out...

How much you knew about sex.

It wasn't something I could bring up at
the dinner table the way people do now.

That night, I knew that I had failed
you.

I felt so guilty. I didn't know how to
comfort you. All I could do was tell you

that it was all right.

It was all right, Jesse.

How could we have loved you any less?

Mom, you've got a phone call.

I'll call them back.

It's your office.

He said it's important.

Go on. It's important.

Hello?

Oh, hi, Barry.

How'd it go?

Mm -hmm.

Mm -hmm.

What?

That's impossible.

They can't do that to me.

Well, didn't you show them the research,
the figures?

The damn product's been selling right
off the shelf.

Don't tell me to take it easy. Do you
know how hard I've been working?

I haven't had a weekend off to myself in
months.

How dare they do this without me? I
didn't have a chance to fight.

What do you mean, what can we do now? I
don't know what we can do now. We can't

do anything.

I can't talk about it anymore, Barry.
I'll call you later.

They didn't buy the campaign?

No.

What?

We lost the account.

They took it away from me. From us, the
agency.

They made the decision months ago. They
were waiting for their board of

directors, maybe.

Oh, Mom, and after all the work you did?

Sit down, Jessie. I'll get you some tea.

Tea?

We've blown breakfast, Mother.

It's past lunch. Let's have a drink.

Sarah, you go get the ice out.

Margarita, Mick.

And tequila.

Put the ice in the blender.

I'll make them.

Oh, that's good.

It's a little early for drinks, isn't
it, Mom?

It is never too early for margarita,
Sarah.

Little lesson you can learn

Don't

look so gloomy it's only another failure
I'm good at them

You have to be able to bounce back in
this business.

Resilience. That is the name of the
game.

I think you're absolutely right, Jessie.
I'll have one with you.

Good, Mother.

We'll make it a little party.

How about some music?

Music it is.

All right, Sarah.

Here. Here's yours. I really don't want
any more.

Fake it.

It's a celebration.

What are we celebrating?

Your decision.

Let's drink to it.

Mom, let me make you an almond or
something. You haven't eaten.

I really do think you've made the right
decision, Sarah.

You should stay here with Meg.

I don't know where I packed my records.

They're by the front door.

You like this town.

You like the college.

You have friends here.

Besides, it's...

Probably better for me as well.

I obviously cannot be a mother and
manage a big account at the same time.

One of the other stuff is for it,
probably both.

Here's your drink, Mother.

Let's drink to my failure.

Another day, another failure.

Cheers.

You were right, Mother.

Again.

I've lost my perspective.

I've given up my days and nights, my
life, to make some big company bigger

some rich people even richer.

That was an achievement for you, Jessie.
They made you vice president.

Fool me.

That's just some strokes they give you
to keep you working harder.

And work harder I did.

Oh, boy.

Through sickness and in health. But
nobody could be sick. No, no. Not even

Sarah. Because that wouldn't be
convenient.

I had meetings.

Very important meetings.

Mom, look.

I don't believe it.

She's doing it.

She's doing it.

You think you know that until you ain't
seen nothing yet.

Meg, you're terrific.

Of course she is. She's a gladiola girl.

Come on, Jesse. You can do this.

Okay. Here we go.

What do we do? Well, we'll do the
Charleston.

Come

on, Sarah.

Join us.

Oh, no. Not me. I'm not doing it. Oh.

That's because she doesn't know her.

Oh, sure she does.

Wait a minute. I'll get her.

Come on.

Go on.

Okay.

Here you go. Okay.

Ready? Ready?

Ready? Let's go.

You're clean already?

Can't we play it again?

No! That's hard work. Oh, you have to be
in condition to be a gladiola girl.

What's that, Mother?

I forgot to cancel it.

Didn't you make a list?

Certainly, but I forgot to look at it.

Where's Sarah?

Oh, she's probably still in the room.

Didn't you see her?

No. Oh, well, let me call her. No, no,
no, Mother, don't.

But you won't say goodbye.

I... I don't think so.

I'll call you both when I get to town.

Jessie. It's all right, Mother.

Sarah's a woman.

I have to let go.

Will you go straight to the office?

No. I don't think I can handle that
right now.

Well, what then?

I don't know. I'll just finish the
divorce and maybe take a trip.

Maybe you and Bert.

Could work it out.

I don't think so, Mother.

I don't either.

Well?

You did a grand job here.

We all did.

What time are the movies coming?

Half hour ago.

Are you going to be all right?

Well, of course.

I'm not out to pasture yet. I have some
money. I have friends.

I have my books, my records. I'm looking
forward to this new phase of my life.

I'm not the least bit despondent.

You know, what people always say, I know
I'm old, but I don't feel any

different.

I missed it, didn't I?

I always missed the family I didn't
have.

Now I know I miss the family I have.

I do love you, Jesse.

You need to.

Oh, I'm not a bit surprised.

I think we should stick together.

But I thought you... Oh, I'm not going
back on what I said.

I am old enough to make up my own mind.

But I'm also old enough to change my
mind.

And I don't want you to leave without
me.

Why?

Well, I have to be perfectly honest with
you.

I do need you.

Besides, who's going to get you back to
the office this afternoon?

I don't think I want to go back to my
home.

Oh, yes, you do.

Resilience, remember?

The name of the game?

We've got to pick up the pieces and
start all over again.

All right.

Come on, you two.

Get going, get going. I have a lot to
do.

Get out of here.

One for the road.

Bye -bye.