All language subtitles for Away.from.Her.2006.WEBRip.x264-ION10

[Man]
She said,

"Do you think it'd be fun
if we got married?"

[Woman]
And what did you say?

[Man]
I took her up on it.

I never wanted to be
away from her.

She had the spark of life.

[no audible dialogue]

Careful.

When did we last
wash that sweater?

Right after the war.

[chuckling]

Christmas.

In the '50s sometime
or the '60s.

[laughing]
Shut up.

I'll go make the fire.

"You climbed
the bank and said,

"'This is how you touch
other women,

"the grass cutter's wife,
the lime burner's daughter.

"And you searched your arms

for the missing perfume
and knew--"

Don't worry, darling.

I expect I'm just
losing my mind.

Shh-shh.

"What good is it to be
the lime burner's daughter,

"left with no trace

"as if not spoken to
in the act of love,

"as if wounded without
the pleasure of a scar.

"You touched your belly
to my hands in the dry air

"and said, 'I am
the cinnamon peeler's wife.

Smell me.'"

When I look away,
I forget what yellow means.

But I can look again.

Sometimes there's something
delicious in oblivion.

I think you're
supposed to be able

to put your fingers
inside the curled petal

and feel the heat.

[Man]
Well?

I can't be sure.

I can't be sure
if what I can feel

is the heat
or my imagination.

The heat attracts the bugs.

Nature never fools around
just being decorative.

[car beeping]

[knocking]

Yes?

I don't quite know
how to introduce myself.

I used to see your husband
at Meadowlake.

I'm a regular visitor
there myself.

Those are lovely flowers.

I've never seen
those purple ones before.

Hmm.

The earth there must
really appeal to them.

[chuckling]

What?

You could just
open the drawers.

Remind yourself.

What?

Maybe
all the labels and lists

are defeating the purpose.

If you stopped
thinking about things

the moment
you write them down,

maybe that's the end
of your need to recall.

I heard a story
at a dinner party

about the German soldiers
on border patrol

in Czechoslovakia
during the war.

I heard it from that
Czech student of yours.

Veronica.

We spoke once
at a dinner party.

Don't be nervous.

It's a good story.

She told me that each
of the German patrol dogs

wore a sign saying "hund."

"Why?" said the Czechs.

And the Germans replied,
"Because that is a hund."

It was one
of those craft shows

where you look around
and wonder that the laws
of supply and demand

can allow for the production
of so many macramé ducks.

[laughs]
Oh, God, those things
are everywhere.

What do you do with them?
Oh, come on, Phoebe,
you've got one of those.

You use it as a--
what do you call it--

a light fixture holder
or som--

I do not.
Phoebe, in the...

Oh, yes.
Wait a second, I do.

Fiona gave it to me.

Yes, I did.
[chuckling]

Would anybody
like some more?

Mm.

Ween...

Wai-- Wain--

No, but I'll have
a touch of wine.

Yeah, Fiona,
that would be lovely.

Some more wain.

The thing is...

half the time
I wander around

looking for something
which I know

is very pertinent.

I can't remember what it is.

Once the idea is gone,
everything is gone.

I just wander around

trying to figure out
what it was

that was so important
earlier.

I think I may be
beginning to disappear.

[Woman]
And what year is it?

2003.

Fiona, if you found
a letter on the street,

addressed,
with a stamp on it,

what would you do with it?

I'd mail it.

And where would
you put it to mail it?

And if there was a fire
in a movie theater,

and you were the first person
to spot that fire,

what would you do?

Well, we don't go
to the movies much anymore,

do we, Grant?

All those multiplexes showing
the same American garbage.

Have you seen my coat?

There it is, dear.

It's on your chair.

Oh, yes.

Fiona, would you mind

if I asked you
a few more questions?

Would you mind
taking a seat?

I was just feeling
a little cold, that's all.

[baby burbling]

[sotto voce]
What an ugly baby.

When did we move
into this cottage?

Was it last year
or the year before?

[sigh]

No.
It was longer than that.

It was when I left
the university,

20 years ago.

Hmm.

Well, that's shocking.

[chuckle]

Let's just see how it goes,
shall we, hmm?

Hmm?

[Grant]
How is your husband doing?

Okay.

He and my wife struck up
quite a close friendship.

I heard about that.

So, uh,

I'd like to speak to you
about something.

If you have a minute.

My husband did not
try to start anything
with your wife,

if that's what
you're getting at.

He did not
try to molest her.

He's incapable of it.

And anyway, he wouldn't.

From what I hear,
it was the other way
around.

No, uh,
that isn't it at all.

I didn't come here
with any complaints.

Oh.

Oh, well, I'm sorry.
I thought you did.

Maybe you should come in.

It's not as warm a day
as it looks.

[Fiona]
"Never let a person
make you feel guilty

for your anger with God."

Hmm. Random.

I can't even see
what the point is.

We can't be certain
this is what--

You're far too young.

"Should the patient
afflicted with the disease

"remain at home...

the caregiver
will very often
be the spouse."

"The caregiver must preside
over the degeneration

"of someone he or she
loves very much,

"must do this
for years and years

"with the news always
getting worse, not better,

"must put up sometimes
with deranged

"but at the same time
very personal insults,

"and must somehow learn
to smile through it all.

"Caregivers must
be able to diagnose

"a wide variety
of ordinary ailments

"under extraordinary
circumstances.

"Imagine the person
you love the most

"suddenly upset
about something,

"but completely unable
to communicate the problem

or even to understand it
himself."

Sounds like a regular marriage.

[chuckle]

[sigh]

Hello, there!

[shivering]
Oh!

Hello, there.

We are at that stage,
Grant.

We are at that stage.

[sigh]

Well...

if we do think of it...

if we do...

then it must be as something
that isn't permanent.

A kind of experimental
treatment or...

a rest cure of sorts.

All right.

All right.

We can think
of it that way.

We have to sit in the kitchen,
where I can hear Aubrey.

Well, you might as well
have a cup of coffee.

Thank you.

My son put him on
the Sports Channel
a year ago Christmas.

I don't know what
we'd do without it.

Must be a struggle.

Well, you know.

You know what
struggle is by now.

You're sure?
I'm sure.

You don't want
to just get a sense
of the place?

I don't want to make
this decision alone.

What place?

Just kidding!

Fuck off.

You're not making
this decision alone, Grant.

I've already
made up my mind.

Okay.

[Woman]
It's time to go home now.

[Man]
No, no.
Mrs. Taylor--

Hi. Is this your son?
Yeah. I'm her son.

Hi. I'm Betty.
It's time for your bath.

Bath.
Yeah.

You have to have
a bath now.

Mama.

Mr. Andersson?
Madeleine Montpelier.

I'm the supervisor
here at Meadowlake.
Hi, there.

I'm just going to take
you on the quick tour
of the facility,

and then we can sit down

and discuss
Mrs. Andersson's condition

and the appropriate time
for admitting her.

As you can see, we get
a lot of natural light.

Yes,
I can see that.

This
is my favorite room.

Look, over there,
as you can see,

they have
a puzzle on the go.

They always have
a puzzle on the go.

This works.
You know, it's real
important to us here

that our residents
maintain social function,

so a lot of our activities
and our whole layout

is really geared toward--

Hello, there,
Miss Madeleine.

Hello, Michael.

Now, as you can see,
we're coming into
our common room,

and again, we're really
emphasizing everybody
being social.

So you can
bring the family.

Everybody
can come and visit.

We have
a state-of-the-art
entertainment system

so the residents
can gather
and watch together.

Hi, Madeleine.
Hello, ladies.

Hello, Madeleine.
I got a Christmas sweater.

Aren't you festive!

And this
is our quiet corner

for crafts and reading
and reflection.

We have a lot of activities
for physical activity.

Balloon badminton
and sit and fit.

And here we have our
lovely new dining room.

We can accommodate
any dietary preferences
or restrictions.

We're just serving up
a little Christmas dinner
early for the families.

The old Meadowlake
is just next door,

and that's a day center
now, but, um...

this for the permanent
residents.

This is
brand-spanking new.

So let's go upstairs,
shall we?

Just taking my tea
for a ride.

Oh, look at this one,
Flo.

He's a real charmer,
isn't he?

Would you say,
are you a charmer?

I think you could say
I was kind of a charmer.

[chuckles]
You're a rascal.

Mr. Andersson is here
about his wife, Eliza.
Behave yourself.

Ahh.
I should have known it.

At this age, it's--

What do the kids
call it, Flo? It's--

It's a real clusterfuck.

All the charmers are taken.

Or dead. Mostly dead.
[elevator dings]

You're kind of charming
yourself, sweetheart.

Shall we?

This is our second floor,
the extended care wing.

The elevators, of course,

have the lockdown system,

and this is where
the patients can move to

once they become
more progressed.

Interesting choice
of words.

Why don't I show you
some of the rooms here,
while we're at it?

Then we can go back down
and see the regular rooms

where Mrs. Andersson
will be living.

No, that will not
be necessary.

My wife will not be
progressing to this floor.

All right.

♪ [Muzak]

Who chooses the music?

I'm sorry?

I'm assuming
it's not the residents.

I don't see any of them
singing along.

Yeah, well. You know the rooms
on the regular floors all have
their own stereo systems

so the patients can listen
to whatever they like.

How kind.

Now, we don't admit anyone
during the month of December,

so Mrs. Andersson will
have to wait till January

to make the big move.

Just December, Christmas,
you know, too many
emotional pitfalls.

Right.
Sorry to interrupt,
Madeleine.

I'm looking for
those documents
on Aubrey Burke.

Sure. Go ahead.

Mr. Andersson,
this is Kristy,
our new managing nurse.

Against some people's
better judgment.

Now, now.
[chuckles]

Mr. Andersson is here
about his wife,
Mrs. Andersson,

who will be
joining us in January.

Hi, there.
Hi.

We also have a policy,

which I'm sure you saw
in the brochure,

that our new residents
are not allowed visitors

or receiving phone calls
during the first 30 days,

just to give them
a chance to settle in.

What sort of visitors?

Everyone.
Even close relatives.

I couldn't just
leave her here.

We understand,
it is very difficult

to leave a loved one
in a new environment
for so long,

but most people need
that time to settle in.

Before we had
this rule in place,

residents would forget
again and again

why they were being
left here.

Whereas we find,

you give them the month
to settle in,

and they're happy as clams.

And after that,
a little visit home
every now and then,

perfectly fine.

We'll take good care
of her, I promise.

Knock-knock.
Oh, no! Not again.

Knock-knock. Boo.

[general chatter]

She's bringing two babies.
Two babies?

She's got a new baby,
four months old.

♪ [guitar]

Smells good.

I was going to go
for a ski, but I thought
I shouldn't chance it,

what with the Alzheimer's
and all.

Why didn't you wake me?

What are these, Grant?

Those are the documents
you're supposed to sign

if you decide
to go to Meadowlake.

That is exactly
what I have decided.

You were to go an sign these
and leave them there.

I wouldn't be allowed
to visit you for 30 days.

30 days isn't
such a long time

after 44 years.

I don't think
I like the place.

I don't think we should
be looking for something
we like, Grant.

I don't think
we'll ever find that.

I think all we can aspire
to in this situation

is a little bit of grace.

Hmm?

♪ Come a little bit closer ♪

♪ Hear what I have to say ♪

♪ Just like children
sleeping ♪

♪ We can dream
this night away ♪

I suppose I'll be
dressed up all the time.

It will be sort of like...
in a hotel.

How do I look?

Just like always.

Just as you've
always looked.

And how does that look?

Direct and vague...

sweet and ironic.

Is that how I look?

[on radio]
♪ Because I'm still
in love with you ♪

♪ I want to see you
dance again ♪

Oh. Remember?

Surprised, Grant?

No, I'm not surprised.

I'm just grateful
you can remember that.

I'm not all gone, Grant.
Just...

[sigh] going--

There are things
I wish would go away.

But won't. You know.
Things we don't talk about.

You never left me.

You still made love to me,

despite disturbing
demands elsewhere.

But all those sandals, Grant.
All those bare female toes.

What could you do but
be a part of the time
you were a part of?

All those pretty girls.

Didn't seem like anyone
was willing to be left out.

I think you did all right,

compared to some
of your colleagues.

Those who left their wives.

And the women who
wouldn't put up with it.

I think people
are too demanding.

People want to be in love
every single day.

What a liability.
And then that silly girl.

That silly girl Veronica.

Girls that age
are always going around

saying they're going
to kill themselves.

But that was that.

Promised me a new life.

We moved out here,

that is exactly
what you gave me.

How long ago was that?

20 years.

[shuddering]

God, that's shocking.

So you see, I'm going...

but I'm not gone.

♪ And we were lovers ♪

♪ I loved you
with all my heart ♪

Fiona.
Grant.

Don't go.

That's what is happening,
Grant.

It's happening...right now.

Fiona.

Hello.
I'm checking in today.

My name
is Fiona Andersson.

Yes, Mrs. Andersson.

We have your room
all ready for you.

Perfect.
We'll have our supervisor,

Mrs. Montpelier, show you.

I'll go fetch her.
She's expecting you.

Thank you.

Fiona.

Grant.

I can't go away
from you like this.

We had nothing
to tie us down, Grant.

You could have
just driven away
and forsaken me.

But you didn't.

I thank you for that.

Mrs. Andersson.
Oh, hello.

How do you do?
I'm Madeleine.
Hello.

Should I give
you two a moment?

No, thank you.
Yes, please.

All right, then, well,
we'll get you settled
in your room,

and then I'd like to give you
a tour of the facility.

That'd be lovely.
Thank you.
Right this way.

So, as you can see,
we get a lot
of natural light.

Here we go.

Yes.
This'll do just fine.

Good. I'm so glad
you like it. Now, is--

is this all you brought
with you today?

For now.
We'll see how it goes.

Well, if you need any
help arranging things,
you just let me know.

Thank you,
Mrs. Montpelier.

Now, if you wouldn't mind,
I-I'd like to say good-bye
to my husband.

We haven't been
apart for a month
for the last 44 years.

It could be quite something.

Please, Fiona.

[sigh]
Grant.

Fiona--

You know what I'd like?

I'd like to make love,

and then
I'd like you to go.

Because
I need to stay here,

and if you
make it hard for me,

I might cry so hard
I'll never stop.

Go now.

Go now.

[Woman]
"All of the officers

"were from outside
the local area,

"and it probably had not
entered their minds

"that almost all of us
were named McDonald.

"Nobody moved except for
the shuffling of feet.

The red roo"-- Hey.

Hello, there.
Kristy.
We met on your tour.

How's Mrs. Andersson?
Has she settled in?

I'm wondering
if I could have

a moment of your time
to ask your advice?

Oh, sure. I was just
reading to Mr. Burke here.

Maybe when we finish
this chapter,

I can come find you
in the dining room?

Sure. That's fine.

Mm-- "The red roof lights
revolved in the afternoon sun,

and even the dogs were
temporarily quiet."

Hi, there, Mr. Andersson.
Now, how can I help you?

Going down the center
of the dining room--

That's Frank. He used
to be the play-by-play guy
for the Winnipeg Jets.

Really?
Yeah.

He loved his job
too much to retire.

Frank's
on the second floor.

I just--
My wife has always been

sort of a different
sort of person.

I've been told
that Alzheimer's can't be
confirmed until after--

And on our way here today,

we passed
this conservation area

where we went
for a walk last spring.

And there were these
gorgeous flowers.
The skunk lilies.

Oh, those are
beautiful, aren't they?

Yes, they really made
an impression, see?

And even though the whole
place was covered in snow,

she said, "Oh, remember?"

Now, that was--
that was...quite recently.

And isn't
the short-term memory

the thing
that goes first?

Well, yeah,
but not all at once.

And what's comforting

is the long-term memory
sometimes stays

for quite a long time.

Yeah, her long-term memory
seems quite intact.

But when she mentioned that,
about the skunk lilies,

it was all I could do not
to turn the truck around.

What if this is just her
just being herself?

She's far too young to--

She is young.

And it is hard.

No doubt about that.

A month is
a real long time.

I mean, between
you and me, I don't know
about the policy myself.

I think it makes it
easier for the staff
is what I think.

Look. I'll give you
my pager number.

You can call me
whenever you want.

You can call me every day
if you feel like it.

I don't know what to do.

Mr. Andersson, your wife
wrote you this note,

and she asked me
to pass it along.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

[no audible dialogue]

[Grant reading]
"Throughout much of
the thinking brain,

gooey plaques now crowd
neurons from outside
the cell membranes."

"And knotty tangles

mangle microtubal transports
from inside the cells."

"All told, tens of millions
of synapses dissolve away."

"Because the structures
and substructures of the brain

"are so highly specialized,

"the precise location
of the neuronal loss

determines
what specific abilities
will become impaired."

"It is like a series
of circuit breakers

in a large house,
flipping off one by one."

That's a great-looking
coffee maker.

I always meant
to get one of those.

I saw they had them on sale
at Canadian Tire.

They gave it to us,
my son and his wife.

They live in Kamloops, B.C.

They send us more stuff
than we can handle.

Wouldn't hurt
if they spent the money
to come see us instead.

I suppose they're busy
with their own lives.

Not so busy they couldn't
go to Hawaii last year.

I mean,
you could understand it

if there was someone
in the family closer at hand,

but, uh...
he's the only one.

People do get lonely,

especially when
they're deprived of seeing
someone they care about.

Fiona, for instance.

My wife.

I thought you said
you went and visited her.

I do.

No, that's not it.

[Kristy]
She's really settling in well.

Good. Good.

Looking forward to
seeing you tomorrow,
Mr. Andersson.

Right. So I'll see you
tomorrow morning, then.

Now, remember, she may
be a little surprised
to see you.

Don't be shaken by that.

Just-- She hasn't
seen you in a while.

She's sort of
settled in here.

[Grant]
I understand.

There you are. I'll
walk you down to her.

Wow. Narcissus
this early.

You must have spent
a fortune.

We brought it back here.
Hi, Mr. Andersson.

It's great to see you.

I'm gonna help you find
your sweater, Mrs. Albright.

All right. Here we are.
There is her room,
right over there.

You remember from last time
you were here, don't you?

Her nameplate's
right on the door.
I'll leave you to it.

There she is. Now you just
go over and say hello,

and try not to startle her--
Remember, she may not--

Well, just go ahead.

Bridge.
Deadly serious.

Quite rabid about it.

I can remember being
like that at college
for a while.

My friends and I
would cut class

and sit
in the common room
and smoke

and play like cutthroats.

One's name was Phoebe.

I don't remember
the others.

Phoebe Hart.

Oh, you knew her, too.

Can I get you something?
A cup of tea?

I'm afraid the coffee's
not up to much here.

I don't drink tea.

Oh.

I brought you some flowers.

I thought they might do
to brighten up your room.

I went to your room,
but you weren't there.

Well, no, I'm here.

So you've made a new friend.

Oh, that's just Aubrey.

The funny thing is I knew
him years and years ago.

He used to work in the store,

the hardware store where
my grandpa used to shop.

He and I were always
kidding around,

but he never could get up
the nerve to ask me out.

Until the very last weekend,
he took me to a ball game.

But my grandpa showed up
to drive us home.

I was up visiting
for the summer.

Visiting my grandparents.

They lived in a cottage
on a lake.

Fiona, I know where
your grandparents lived.

It's where we lived.
We live.

Really?

I'd better go back.

He thinks he can't play
without me sitting there.

It's silly. I hardly
know the game anymore.

I'm afraid you'll have
to excuse me.

Will you be through soon?

We should be.
I mean, it depends.

If you asked that grim-looking
lady over there nicely,

she'll get you a cup of tea.

No, I'm fine.
I can leave you, then?

You can entertain yourself?
Must all seem strange to you.

But you'll be surprised
how soon you get used to it.

You'll get to know
who everybody is,

except that some of them
are pretty well off
in the clouds, you know?

Hmm. Can't expect them all
to get to know who you are.

Hey, I've been thinking
of dying my hair.
What do you think?

Do you think I'd look
good with red hair?

You caught her at
sort of a bad moment,
involved in a game.

She isn't even playing.

Well, but her friend's
playing, Aubrey.

Now, who is Aubrey?

That's who he is,
Aubrey.

You know, they get
these attachments.

That kind of takes over
for a while.

Best buddy kind of thing.

Sort of a phase.

Does she even know who I am?

No, she might not.

Not today, and then,
tomorrow you never know.

Things change
back and forth
all the time.

You'll see
the way it is

once you get used
to coming here.

You'll learn
not to take it
so personal.

Learn to take it
day by day.

[inaudible dialogue]

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'll have to go
and fix that now.

[Man, TV]
Here's Yung Menenikenaha,

desperately clinging
to his one-stroke lead.

Here's the swing.

It doesn't look good.

Looks like he's pushed it
out to the right.

It lands 25 feet
from the green.

This must be disappointing.

It doesn't look good
for Yung Menenikenaha.

He was three strokes
on the happy side of par

until these last three holes.

Look at you,
Mr. Andersson.

I think you might
be one of our most
frequent visitors.

Hi, Fiona.

Oh, you are persistent,
aren't you?

I brought you some books.

They don't seem to have
an awful lot around here.

Letters from Iceland
by Auden.

We always meant
to read that together,
didn't we?

Do you think
it'd be possible
to talk alone?

Well, I don't know.

Um, Aubrey's card game
starts in a few minutes,

and then we usually
go walking,

and then he does
his drawing--

Or perhaps you can find
a bit of time later on.

Um, I'll stay here.

Or I'll come back
in a few hours.

Oh, you are persistent,
aren't you?

[Man, TV]
Up comes Kapanen--
Boy, oh, boy!

[Frank]
Here we are at the Spectrum
in Philadelphia.

It's sudden-death overtime.
They're tied 2-2.

Here are the Leafs again,
led by Andreychuk.

He carries it
over the blue line,

winds up a shot right on!

The bounce, the rebound
comes back behind the net.

McCabe couldn't get to it.

It goes back
on the left wing

and here come the Flyers
led by Roenick again.

Roenick and Mitchell,
what a twosome
this two has been.

A shot right on!
Oh, it just went wide.

Go for it, Frank.
Over to the right side.

Here we go again.
The Leafs again.

Here's Sundin carrying it
up over the line.

Can't get a shot away
and it's cleared away
by Philadelphia.

A loose puck
grabbed by Philadelphia
over on the left wing--

I just came down to say
Aubrey is having his nap

if you'd like to, um, talk.

Oh, sure.

Can we go somewhere
a little more private?

[Frank]
...the side with Mitchell.
He shoots, he scores!

If-- If you'd like.

[Frank]
And Philly wins this series

by a score of 3-2.

That's it this season
for the Leafs.

Look at Phil Hitchcock.
Is he a happy coach.

Philadelphia wins 3-2.

The game is over
in sudden-death overtime.

Y-You said you had
some books for me?

This.

Letters from Iceland.

Yes, yes.
You said by Auden.

Yes. That's right.

Now...where is Iceland?

Well, Iceland
is in the middle
of the Atlantic.

It's an island.

Youngest country
in the world.

It's constantly erupting.

Volcanoes, earthquakes.

It's always
shaking itself off.

Wouldn't it be nice to come
from a young country?

You do.
That's where you're from.

That's where
your people are from.

They immigrated here
in the late 1800s.

But that's where
you're from, Fiona.

And I teach-- Well, I taught
the myths from there.

Norse mythology.

I-I must have
been there, then.

Have I been there?

[sniffs]

No.

Oh.

Why not?
Wasn't I curious?

You were very curious.

Very curious.

You always said
there ought to be one place

that you knew about
and you thought about

and maybe even longed for,

but you did never did
get to see.

Did I say that?

Yes, you said that.

Well, I'd better
go and see to Aubrey.

He'll be wanting a little
walk around, I suppose.

It was nice chatting.

You'll be back again
tomorrow, I suppose?

Fiona, what are you doing--

What are you doing
with Aubrey?

He doesn't confuse me.

He doesn't confuse me
at all.

Well,
it's been nice chatting.

I'll see you again
tomorrow, I suppose.

[door opens, closes]

[Grant]
These affections
between residents,

do they ever go too far?

[Kristy chuckles]

Well, that depends
on what you mean.

The problem we have here,
it's funny.

It's actually
often the ones

who haven't been friendly
with each other at all.

I mean, they maybe
don't even know each other

beyond knowing, like,
is it a man or is it a woman?

And you'd think
it'd be the old guys

trying to crawl in bed
with the old ladies,

but half the time
it's the other way around.

It's the old ladies
going after the old men.

It could be they aren't
so worn out.

[chuckling]

Now don't get me wrong.
I don't mean Fiona.

Fiona is a lady.

She's a real lady.

I sometimes wonder--

You wonder what?

I wonder if she isn't
putting on some kind
of...charade.

A what?

Some kind of act.

Maybe some kind of punishment.

Why would she do that?

Oh.

[Fiona]
Are you getting tired?

[Aubrey]
No.
[Fiona]
Are you certain--

Excuse me.

Yes, Mr. Andersson?

How can I help you?

Fiona's wearing
someone else's sweater.

[Madeleine]
Well, it's pretty,
isn't it?

No, it's not pretty.
It's tacky.

She would never wear it.
Well, I'll tell you what.

You can talk
to the duty attendant

on Mrs. Andersson's
wing.

Boy, it's a marvel, really,

the way she's getting him up
and out of that chair.

Can you manage?

Will you be all right?

I'll
be back in a second.

Fiona,
I'm your husband.

Fiona, it's Grant.

We've been married
for 45 years.

Look at me, Fiona.
That is not your sweater.

We had a good life
together.

Those are your words,
Fiona, not mine.

That is not your sweater.

[Aubrey groaning]

It's all right.

It's all right.
It's all right.

I'm coming
straight back.

I'm coming
straight back.

It's going to be
all right.

I'll see you again
tomorrow, I suppose.

Please...

don't.

Please, please don't.

You're very persistent,
aren't you?

I wish I--

Wish I knew what--

[sniffles]

We'll see you again
tomorrow, I suppose.

You're not doing
too well, are you?

Well, no big surprise.

What we're handling
isn't so easy.

I thought
when I married,

I'd be with someone
to the final stretch.

I'm betting
you thought the same.

Well, didn't work out.

[Aubrey groaning]

So, I, uh, think
you're here for a reason.

I'm the kind of person
you can say things
flat out to, so shoot.

[sigh]

I wonder if you would
consider taking Aubrey
back to Meadowlake,

maybe just for a visit.

Or I suppose
I could take Aubrey
out there myself.

I wouldn't mind that at all.

[sigh]

Homemade.

Really?

No. No, I can't do that.

And the reason is
I don't want to upset him.

But wouldn't he understand
it was just a visit?

He understands everything.

Now, if I go
to all that trouble,

I'd prefer to take him
someplace that'd be
more fun, hmm?

It would make more sense
to take him to the mall

where there are kids
and whatnot.

And then I'd have to
get him all ready,

maneuver him
into the car.

He's a big man.
He's not that easy
to manage.

Even if I agreed to do it?

You couldn't do it.
You don't know him.

You couldn't manage him.

And he wouldn't stand
your doing for him.

And after all that,
what would he get
out of it?

Uh...

Hmm.

Smoke?

No. No, thanks.

What, did you never,
or did you quit?

I quit.

How long ago?

Oh, 30 years,
maybe more.

I quit quitting.

Just made a resolution
to quit quitting,
that's all.

So your wife's
depressed, huh?

What's her name again?
I forget.

Fiona.

[Kristy]
And how old were you
when you met?

She was 18.

Holy, that's pretty young
to get married, eh?

[chuckling]

Wasn't my idea.

You mean
she proposed to you?

Well, that's lovely,
that's what I think.

How'd she do it?

She hadn't planned it
necessarily.

We were in Tobermory
waiting for the ferry
to Manitoulin,

and it was miserable
and rainy,

and she was in a good mood.

She didn't want any part
of my sour mood.

[chuckles]
And what'd she do,
what'd she say?

Well, she said,
"Do you think it'd be fun--

Do you think it'd be fun
if we got married?"

And what did you say?

I took her up on it.

I shouted yes.

I never wanted
to be away from her.

She had the spark of life.

[Kristy]
You know, nothing
can take away

what's happened to you
and what you've experienced.

I don't think so, anyway.

Even if it goes away somehow,
it's still there.

It's still what you are.

[Grant]
It's curious.

What's curious?

All of that
"madly in love" business.

The beginning.

I hear myself tell the story,
and it all sounds so crucial.

I suppose it is.

But compared to what
we ended up with,

until recently...

all of that seems
so superficial somehow.

[chatter,
plates clinking]

♪ [heavy metal]

Not such a fun place
to visit, eh?

Excuse me?

Not such a fun place
to visit.

Fucking depressing.

No offense.

None taken.

No one came
to visit you, huh?

That must suck huge.

Well, it would suck huge,
but I don't live here.

I'm just visiting someone.

Who? Which one?

Beautiful woman
with the shock of hair.

The one sitting
with her husband?

You might say that.
Why wouldn't you?

I wouldn't say that
because I'm her husband.

So why aren't you
sitting with her, then?

Just learned to give her
some space.

She's in love with that man
she's sitting with.

I don't like to disturb her.

I just like to see her,
I suppose.

Make sure she's
doing well, you know?

I suppose that must seem
rather pathetic.

I should be so lucky.

Come on.

[chuckles]

She's not here.

She's sick.

He's not here, either.

[laughing]

[knocking]

I brought you a book.

It's all about Iceland.

Thought you might like
to take a look at it.

Why, thank you.

[crying]

Oh, what is it,
dear heart?

[Aubrey sniffling]
What is it?
Oh, I see.

Here. Here.
Here.

Here, here, yes.

Do you by any chance have
any influence around here?

I've seen you
talking to them.

Oh.

We'll get to see each other.

[groans]
You'll see.
We have to.

I'll come and see you,

and you'll come
and see me.

You know,
I just wish his wife

would hurry up
and get here.

I wish she'd
get him out of here

and cut the agony
short.

Should I stay?

Don't worry.
She's not sick,
you know.

To keep her company.

Well, they have to learn
to get over these things
by themselves.

They've got short memories,
and that's not always so bad.

Okay?

[Woman]
Fiona. Her name is Fiona.

And what's yours?

I don't think
I was ever told that.

Oh, I'm sorry.
It's Grant.

Hmm.

Hello, Grant.

I'm Marian.

Well, now that we know
each other's name,

I can
tell you straight out
what I'm thinking.

I don't know if he's still
so stuck on seeing your--

seeing Fiona.

I don't ask him,
he doesn't tell me.

But I don't feel like
putting him back in there

in case it turns out
to be more than that.

I don't want him
getting hard to handle.

I don't have any help.
It's just me here.

I'm it.

It is very hard for you.

Did-- Did you ever consider
his going in there for good?

No. I'm keeping him
right here.

Well, that's very good
and noble of you.

Oh, you think so?

Well, noble is not
what I'm thinking about.

No, but it isn't easy.

No, it isn't,
but I don't have a choice.

If I pay to put him in there,
I won't hold on to the house,

and the house
is the only thing
we own outright.

And it means a lot to me,
this house does.

It's very nice.

Well, I guess it's all right.

I've done a lot on it,
fixing it up, keeping it up.

Yes, I can see
that you have-- you do.

I don't want to lose it.
No.

I'm not going to lose it.
I see your point.

See, the company
left us high and dry.

In the end, they said
he owed them money.

What do I think?
Well, he was pretty stupid.

[sigh]

But I'm not supposed
to ask, so I shut up.

You've been married, huh?

I mean, you are married.
You know what it's like.

And then, in the middle
of all this,

he gets sick from this virus,
and he goes into a coma.

So that pretty much
takes him off the hook, hmm?

It's bad luck.

It's, no, just life.

Can't beat life.

No.

[knocking at door]

Oh. Hello.

Perhaps you'd like me
to read to you.

I don't have any books.

Oh, there are some.

Letters from Iceland.

"Isn't it true,
however far we've wandered

"into our provinces
of persecution,

"where our regrets accuse,
we keep returning

"back to the common faith

"from which
we've all dissented,

"back to the hands,
the feet, the faces?

"Children are always there
and take the hands,

"even when they
are most terrified.

"Those in love cannot
make up their minds
to go or stay.

"Artist and doctor
return most often.

"Only the mad will never,
never come back.

"For doctors keep
on worrying while away,

"in case their skill
is suffering and deserted.

"Lovers have lived so long
with giants and elves,

"they want belief again
in their own size.

"And the artist prays
ever so gently,

"'Let me find pure
all that can happen.

"'Only uniqueness is success.

"'For instance,
let me perceive
the images of history.

"'All that I push away
with doubt and travel,

today's and yesterday's alike,
like bodies."

[George W. Bush]
To all the men and women of
the United States Armed Forces

now in the Middle East,
the peace of a troubled world

and the hopes
of an oppressed people

now depend on you.

How could they forget Vietnam?

[Woman]
The air strike started again
at 5 A.M. this morning

and lasted for three hours.

Roadside explosions
have killed

eight Iraqi civilians
and one U.S. soldier.

Hmm.
Hmm.

Here you go.

Next time you do it,
just go pick it up, okay?

Her muscles
are deteriorating.

If she doesn't
improve soon,

we're going to have to
put her on a walker.

I keep trying
to get her walking,

but she doesn't seem
to want to go anywhere.

But, you know,
once they get on a walker,
they start to depend on it,

and then they don't want
to walk much anymore,

just get wherever it is
they have to go.

You're going to have to
work at her harder.

Try and encourage her.

Sorry.

Here you go.

Mrs. Andersson.

How would you like
to go on a field trip?

They've kept it
so like it was.

Who has?

The people who live here.

But everything...

Everything
just reminds me of him.

It wasn't enough,
I suppose.

Who, Fiona?

Who does everything
remind you of?

I'd like to go home now,
if you don't mind.

[Madeleine]
Now, as you know,

we don't do extended care
on the first floor.

I mean, we do it temporarily
if someone isn't feeling well.

But if they progress
too far,

we have to consider
moving upstairs.

[sigh]

Do you happen to have
Aubrey's address?

I'm sorry?

Aubrey and his wife.

Where do they live?

[Marian]
Well, it was
probably a mistake

putting him there
in the first place,

but I wasn't going
to get another chance

to get away,
so I took it.

Well, so...

[chuckles]
Now I know better.

Did your husband ever
work in a hardware store

in the summers
when he was going to school?

No, I never heard
about that.

But I wasn't raised here.

No. I didn't think so.

Thank you very much
for your time, Miriam.

It's Marian.

Sorry.

[sigh]

What a jerk.

Hmm.

[car engine starts]

Yeah, maybe someone
could just drop in on her,

like, if the nurse
is around.

All right.

No, I don't think
there's much to it,

but I'd like you
to call me back.

Okay.

Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.

Hey.
Hi.

[punching keypad]

Uh...

I think I want to ask you
about the second floor,

just to know
a little more about it.

Well, it's for people
who've really lost it.

What do they do, then?

What happens after that?
After they've...lost it?

You don't really
want to know.

But, you know,
sometimes they get it back.

They go into their room
for a year, they don't
know you from Adam,

and then one day,
it's, "Oh, hi.
When are we going home?"

I mean, all of a sudden,
they're back to normal.

But it doesn't
last for long.

You think,
"Oh, wow, back to normal,"

and then they're gone again--

[snaps fingers]
like so.

I haven't even asked you
about yourself.

You married?

Well, technically,
yeah, I guess.

Got three kids.

Their dad lives
in Alberta, I think.

He's making it rich, maybe.
I wouldn't know.

Must be quite a struggle.

It, uh...knocks the wind
out of you every now and then,

but you just pick yourself
back up like everyone else.

I suppose our lives
must seem easy to you.

We got through life
without too much
going wrong.

What we have to suffer
now, when we're old,

hardly counts,
I suppose.

That's
what you must think.

Well, how would you
know what I think?

To tell you the truth,
I'd rather be

the one that stayed
than the one that left.

I'll bet you weren't always
the doggedly devoted husband.

Am I right?

I mean, you said
that you wondered

if maybe she was punishing
you for something?

I'll bet you had something
pretty specific in mind,
didn't you?

You know, you see a lot
of things in this job.

You see the end of things
all day long.

And in my experience,
at the end of things

it's almost always
the men that think

that not too much
went wrong.

I wonder if your wife
feels the same way.

I wonder that, too.

I bet you do.

[phone ringing]

[answering machine beeps]

[Marian]
Uh, hello, Grant.

I hope I got
the right person.

I just thought of something.

There is a dance
here in town

at the Legion
on Saturday night,

and I am
on the supper committee,

which means I can
bring a free guest.

So I wondered
whether you would happen

to be interested in that.

Call me back
when you get a chance.

555-3457.

[click]

[answering machine beeps]

[Marian]
I just realizedI'd forgotten
to say who it was.

[chuckles]

Well, you probably recognize
the voice, the accent.

It's Marian.

I'm still not so used
to these machines,

and I wanted to say
I realize you're not single

and I don't mean it
that way.

I'm not, either.

But it doesn't hurt
to get out once in a while.

Anyway,
now I've said all this,

I really hope
it's you I'm talking to.

It did sound like your voice.

If you're interested,
you can call me.

And if you are not,
you don't need to bother.

I just thought you might
like the chance to get out.

It's Marian speaking.

[chuckling]

I guess I already said that.

Okay, then.
Good-bye.

[Grant]
"The desires of the heart

"are as crooked
as corkscrews.

"Not to be born
is the best for man.

"The second-best
is a formal order.

The dance's pattern:
dance while you can."

Fiona?

Is there any way
to let this go...

do you think?

If I let it go,
it'll only hit me harder

when I bump into it again.

Okay.

"Dance, dance,
for the figure is easy.

The tune is catchy
and will not stop."

[Grant]
"Dance till the stars

"come down
from the rafters.

Dance, dance, dance
till you drop."

[phone ringing]

[Marian]
Yes?

Hello, Marian.

So...

There you are.

Here I am.

Thank you.

♪ [slow jazz]

What are you thinking?

Not an awful lot, really.

Skiing.

Downhill?

Cross-country.

I'm more a thrill-seeker,
I guess.

What are you thinking?

I'm thinking
you never know

how things are going
to turn out.

You almost know...

but you can never
be quite sure.

Mr. Andersson?

Mr. Andersson?

Now, as you know,
we're, uh,

we're going to have to
think about moving

Mrs. Andersson upstairs
fairly soon, I'm afraid.

She hasn't been
out of that bed
for two weeks now, and--

I'm quite aware
of your policies.

I'm more than aware
of your bloody policies.

[Frank]
Well, once again,
Nurse Kristy is taking me

back to the second floor.

The area to my right
are the elevators,

and as we go on
down the hall,

there's a man
with a broken heart,

broken
in a thousand pieces.

Well, we'll go
to Madeleine's office,
past the lunchroom.

Hopefully,
they're serving right now.

The cannelloni
was cold yesterday,

but let's see
what it's doing today.

Let's have-- I gotta have
some Cokes again.

That's what I'm
going to do.

Wouldn't it be better
if...

when we go out again,

to put Aubrey
back into Meadowlake?

Just for a day?

What do you think?

I'm thinking
that sometimes you...

just have to make
the decision to be happy.

Just decide.

Things aren't ever
what you hoped they'd be.

Not ever, for anybody.

The only thing
that separates

one kind of person
from another

is there are some
who stay angry about it

and there
are some who...

accept
what comes their way.

And which kind
of person are you?

I was pretty mad
about it.

But now...

looking at what
came my way...

I think I could be
the other kind of person.

Quite the philosopher,
huh?

Look, why don't you
pull over here?

Just...
pull over, could you?

Ahem.

I know what you're doing.

It would be easier for me

if you could pretend
a little.

Do you think
you could do that?

Now, what were
we talking about?

She was the only one
in her family

who bothered to learn
sign language.

Now she can't remember how,
or maybe even who she is.

Her daughter?

Yeah.

It's left her
pretty stranded.

Marooned.

You know,
I thought of you
the other day.

You know that billboard
out in front

of the United Church
in Bradford,

they post all that
biblical-type stuff?

The other day, it said,

"It's never too late

to become what you
might have been."

Doesn't sound
all that biblical.

Well, maybe they're
getting creative on us.

[ding]

[ding]

See you soon, Aubrey.

Oh, yeah.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Would you mind
if I had a moment alone

before you come in?

To explain things to her?

I found this beautiful book
about Iceland.

You wouldn't think
they'd leave valuable books
lying around.

People who stay here
aren't all necessarily honest.

And I think they got
the clothes mixed up.

I never wear yellow.

I seem to remember you
reading this to me.

You were trying
to make me feel better.

You tried so hard.

You're a lovely man,
you know?

I'm a very lucky woman.

Fiona?
You've been gone
a long time.

Are we all checked out?

I have a surprise for you.

Do you remember Aubrey?

Names elude me.

I'm happy to see you.

You could've
just driven away.

Just driven away
without a care in the world

and forsook me.

Forsooken me.

Forsaken.

Not a chance.

♪ [folk rock]

[Woman]
♪ There is a town
in north Ontario ♪

♪ With dream, comfort,
and memory to spare ♪

♪ And in my mind ♪

♪ I still need
a place to go ♪

♪ All my changes were there ♪

♪ Blue, blue window ♪

♪ Behind the stars ♪

♪ Yellow Moon on the rise ♪

♪ Big birds
flying across the sky ♪

♪ Throwing shadows
on our eyes ♪

♪ Leaves us helpless,
helpless, helpless ♪

♪ Helpless, helpless,
helpless ♪

♪ Baby,
can you hear me now? ♪

♪ The chains are locked
and tied around my door ♪

♪ And, baby, will you
sing with me somehow? ♪

♪ Helpless, helpless,
helpless ♪

helpless ♪
♪ Helpless, helpless,

helpless ♪
♪ Helpless, helpless,

♪ Helpless, helpless ♪

♪ Blue, blue windows ♪

♪ Behind the stars ♪

♪ Yellow moon on the rise ♪

♪ Big birds
flying across the sky ♪

♪ Throwing shadows
on our eyes ♪

♪ Leaves us helpless,
helpless, helpless ♪

♪ Helpless, helpless,
helpless ♪

♪ Helpless, helpless ♪

♪ Helpless, helpless,
helpless ♪

helpless ♪
♪ Helpless, helpless,

Closed-Captioned By
Burbank, CAServices, Inc.