Original subtitles

I know you're out there.

Go on.

Go on.

Yeah.

Get out.

Lorna is Brighton.

Hello, Mother.

I tripped on that crack in front of

Ketchum's place.

You know how many times I've tripped on

that?

You think in 21 years they'd get it

fixed.

I tore a dress on that once.

That blue one.

You remember that dress?

Oh, I'm tired.

May I have some tea?

Where's the tea?

Where do you keep the tea, Mother?

I saw Mrs. Brighton when I was walking

down from the bus stop.

She must be in her 90s.

I saw Mr. Willis, too. I can't believe

he's still around. Does he still have

that same horse and wagon?

Yes.

I remember he he had that huge

white horse, it always looked so dirty.

Buster.

That was his name, Buster.

Remember the first joke I ever told?

Want to hear a dirty joke? A big white

horse fell in the mud puddle.

Well, it wasn't very funny then, either.

You You've been doing those long? The

puzzles?

What's this one? Yeah, it looks

complicated.

Beginner's luck.

Not in any hurry to finish.

Just have to start another.

Well, it looks like fun.

Fun?

Uh

Figuring out where all the pieces go,

getting together so you can see what it

looks like.

I know what it looks like, the picture's

on that box.

Well, wouldn't it be easier if if you

kept the picture up where you could see

it?

Why?

Well, then you could match the color of

the pieces with

They didn't look real like that, you

know. They They looked like a bunch of

ruffians. I read that somewhere.

I read that he he had ivory teeth. Most

people think they were wood.

Did you know they were ivory?

You're looking well.

You've kept fit.

For my age.

I know how old you are.

I know how old you are.

You look like I thought you would.

Oh, that That trip down from Boston was

a long one.

Bus must have made 2 million stops.

I didn't sleep so well last night.

I wasn't sure if you let me in.

Okay, I'll unpack then.

I don't want you here.

Do you hear me? I don't want you here.

You're going to throw me out?

I don't know why you came back, and I

don't care.

I won't be any trouble.

I'm not going to let you hurt me.

Not anymore.

I want to stay.

You don't matter to me, Abigail.

Do you understand? You don't matter.

I want to stay.

You're not welcome.

But you'll do what suits you.

You always did what suited you.

I can't remember the last time I had

brown bread.

You think living in Boston I'd have it

all the time, but I didn't. Don't know

why.

God, I'd forgotten how quiet it is here.

The place I lived in Boston was awfully

noisy. But you learn to tune out most of

it.

You know what always got to me?

Silence. Every time I heard one my skin

crawled.

I'd wonder who got shot or robbed or run

over.

I'd wonder who had a heart attack or

whose house was burning down.

I'd wonder how close it was.

Till it started to fade away, I'd wonder

if they were coming for me.

Well, it's like getting a telegram or or

a call late at night. It scares the hell

out of you.

You should have stayed in Boston.

What happened to Renfroe's? They have

some kind of canvas bag store there now.

I saw it when I was walking down.

I used to get all my shoes at Renfroe's.

So did you.

You should have stayed in Boston.

I don't want to talk about it.

You brought it up.

Yes, I'm sorry.

Always sorry. Sorry.

That's right.

Did what you pleased, and then you were

sorry.

I'm not going to defend the past.

Yes, you are.

You are if you stay here.

I'm going shopping in the morning. If

you'll give me your list, I'll I'll pick

up anything you want.

I'll get my own.

I have money. I want to contribute.

You still shop on Tuesday?

I'll get my own.

Okay, I'll go with you.

Suit yourself.

Well, there's some things I'd like to

get. I

I like to have a drink in the evening.

You used to like a drink once in a

while.

I told you to do what suited you. Do it.

But don't make me any part of it.

Please, I'll help.

Let me drive.

I won't be a burden.

I won't give you the satisfaction,

Mother. I want to help, and I will.

You don't know how to help.

You don't know what it means.

People always did for you, and the only

time you did for them was when you

wanted something for yourself.

What do you want now, Abigail?

Would you believe I just came for a

visit because I missed you?

No.

I didn't think you would.

Well,

nothing changes.

Here, let me help.

I'll do it.

The back wheel's stuck.

Where?

On the gate. It always gets stuck on the

door.

Yeah, well, just push it back a little,

Mauston.

I said I'll do it.

It'd be easier if I helped you.

I've done fine without you.

Well, you don't have to anymore.

Here, let me

I'll pull it. I always do.

Well, you don't have to.

I want to.

Well, I want to help.

Oh, leave me alone.

Put some

Put the water wagon

You're not conceding anything by letting

me help.

What? What the hell?

Oh,

for God's sake, take it.

You're going to drive me crazy with your

pestering.

If I'm in, I'll pull you.

Are you going to stop?

Okay, I'm sorry.

Lucy Mauston.

Oh, Christ.

Going shopping, Lucy? I'm going

shopping, Grace. It's Tuesday. I saw you

walking by and I said hello. I know you

did. I was working in my garden. I saw

you. Why didn't you say hello?

You said hello first.

Who's this with you? Looks like Abigail.

It is. I said hello yesterday, but you

didn't hear me.

I thought you ran away.

I thought she ran away. I came back.

Isn't that nice? Children can be such a

comfort in our old age if we let them.

She's prettier than you were, Lucy.

Have a nice day, Lucy. Well, she hasn't

changed.

But you can't pay attention to people

like that.

She's not the only one. Only one what?

Do you let people like that bother you?

Leave me alone. No, I want to know. Stop

trying to run my life.

Tend to your business and I'll tend to

mine.

I said I'd pay my share, though.

I insist.

I'll send it.

Please, Mother.

We eat together all the time. Shared

expense. I'm not having anything you

bought.

I should have counted. Why? You cheat

me?

You're unbelievable.

I want to go to the library. Go where

you like. Come with me? I'm going home.

There's nothing to spoil. I always go

home after shopping. Well, you don't

have to. Want to.

Okay, could I use your library card?

Don't have one.

You used to.

Don't anymore.

Well, could I use your address to get

one of my own?

If it suits you.

It suits me.

Well, then do it.

Okay, I will.

What are you doing there?

Ugh, this garden looks like hell. It's a

jungle.

Just leave it the way it is.

How are you supposed to hate to work in

it, but I sure did love those tomatoes.

Leave it.

I thought we could plant a few things.

There's plenty of time. There's still a

lot you can put in before the end of

June.

I don't want you touching this or

anything else. Nothing here is yours.

Didn't say it was mine.

Just because you grew up here does not

make it yours.

I'm just weeding.

It is not yours to weed.

Nothing here is yours.

Nothing ever will be.

You think you can come back now and take

over? Well, you can't. You won't even

get it when I'm dead. You hear me? Not

even when I'm dead.

I'm leaving it to my sister's children.

My sister's children. I don't even know

my sister's children.

Do you know what you did to me?

Do you hear me?

Give me back what you took.

Give me back the years.

You took part of my life. I want it

back.

It was my life, too.

Your father never forgave me. Our lives

were never the same.

I couldn't help that.

Every time he looked at me, I could see

him thinking I was the reason he lost

you.

It wasn't just you. It was everything.

It was this place. It was our lives

together. There wasn't anything we could

do about it.

You wouldn't let him forget.

Daddy's little darling. You hauled after

him when you started growing up.

I never did such a thing.

Daddy this, Daddy that, Daddy

everything.

No. No.

You wanted him to yourself.

I never asked him for anything. I never

asked him to visit me. I never asked him

for money.

How did you know where to find you

unless you told him?

I know you wrote. I know you tried to

take him away from me.

Well, he had to have someone to talk to.

He had to have some place to go away

from you.

That is not true.

You never gave him any peace.

He was just trying to get you to come

back.

He was just doing what he thought was

right. He was your father.

You're my mother.

Why didn't you ever come?

You didn't even come to the funeral.

I wanted to.

You didn't care.

I tried.

Crap.

I wanted to see you.

Crap.

I needed you.

When did you ever need me?

Now.

You left here 21 years ago, and in all

that time, never exchanged so much as a

word with me, and now you tell me you

need me.

And you expect me to believe it?

No.

I was a good mother.

Don't you say I wasn't.

It wasn't my fault you left.

Well, you didn't want me here.

How do you know what I wanted?

Who gets what they want?

I got married. Have you?

The war came. There was you.

There were bad times. There was you.

There was always you.

What about the good times? We were happy

once, the three of us.

What difference does it make what I

wanted? I never got it.

Oh, you never left me alone. You had

something to say about everything I did.

Who I went out with, what I wore, where

I went, what I wanted to do. If mother

gave me something, it only made it

worse. You acted as if I'd taken

something away from you. Well, I hated

it, and I hated you.

You got everything, Beth.

I got what was given to me.

You took, and you took, and you took,

and you never gave anything back.

I don't owe you anything.

The hell you don't.

Oh, God.

Look,

I know what I was.

I can't help that.

I I I can't change it. I can't change

what you were, Eve.

I don't even like you anymore. I just

want us to get along.

Why should we?

Why shouldn't we?

Why should I give a damn about you?

Because I'm back. Because maybe enough

time has passed for us.

You failed. That's why you came back.

You failed.

You don't know anything about my life.

He never said anything to you. He told

me.

I wouldn't let him. If you didn't see

fit to talk to me, I was not going to

hear it from him.

My life in Boston was my own business.

It couldn't have amounted to much.

It was terrific.

Then why did you come back?

If your life was so wonderful, why did

you come back?

Why didn't stay where you were? Why

don't you go back now? Why don't you

leave me alone?

Evening.

And to you.

Nice night.

Good as it gets.

There were some kids at the door.

They ran when they saw me.

They ring the bell. One of these times

I'll

catch them.

They'll be sorry when I do.

Was one of them the Spencer kid?

They're down the street. He and his

sister are always

in trouble.

Where were you?

Out.

Aren't you going to ask me what I was

doing?

Nothing.

Come on, open it.

Come on, just just rip the It's more fun

that way.

I love presents,

even when I give them to myself.

It's a present, Mother.

Why?

Because I want to give you something.

Is that so hard to understand?

Too many pieces.

It's not.

Listen, you're going to be finished with

old George one of these days. You're

going to need another

Here, got one for myself. It's a view of

the Thames.

It's a river in London. I always wanted

to go there.

Yours is Mount Rushmore.

I'd be happy to trade with you if you'd

rather have the river.

This one will do.

I thought it might.

I mean four presidents in one picture.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

What are you doing?

Good morning, Mother.

Why are all the curtains drawn back? I

like the light.

Shows off the dust. Well, then we're

just going to have to clean it once in a

while. Don't care to. Then I'll do it.

I suppose it's all right. Come on, admit

you like it.

I said it was all right.

I'm going to do the back room, too.

And do it.

I don't need to know about it till it's

done.

Those damn kids ignore them.

Oh.

They don't mean any harm.

They don't mean any harm.

Didn't you ever do anything like that

when you were a kid?

I did not.

I did.

I know what you did.

Not all of it.

More than you know.

Do you want a cookie, sweetie?

Now, aren't you glad I came out and got

you, huh?

How about you, little bit?

There you go.

You, I don't even have to ask.

You like these?

Nope.

You.

Like peanut butter cookies better.

He does not.

If you don't like the cookies, don't eat

them.

If I ever catch you ringing my bell

again, I am going to take my broom to

you.

I think they ought to be able to ring it

all they want to.

You answer it.

Okay.

Okay, guys.

Bye.

See you.

Bye.

Come on.

Bye. Bye.

Bye.

Well, well, we made a deal.

I told them they could ring the bell if

they do it so we'd know it was them.

They'll ring it twice quickly and then

run. That way, they can have their fun

and we don't have to answer. Want to

bet? I have bribed them with promises of

cookies and milk.

You're crazy.

Oh.

Come here, Abby.

Come see this. Oh, don't you want to see

what I've done?

I've got four pieces to fit

right here in the stern of the boat.

Look at it, Abby. The damn boat is

finished. Do you know how long I've

worked on that?

I'm going to get this whole thing done

one of these days. Isn't that something?

Now now now leave me alone. I'm on a hot

streak.

What's going on, I said.

Are you all right?

I

I just uh

I couldn't sleep. I came down

to take a pill.

You came down in an awful hurry.

Well, I stumbled.

Well, I better get used to it. You never

were very quiet at night.

Let's go up.

You get up.

Ugh, that stinks. Ugh, it's horse

manure.

And you got to take a might more.

He smells as bad as the manure. He

always has. I didn't notice that when I

was a kid.

Oh, yes, you did. You used to make fun

of him.

The kids still do. Oh, I wish I hadn't

made fun of him.

Oh, no harm was done.

It doesn't seem right.

Oh, he doesn't mind. He thinks we're

taxed for living the way we do. He

tolerates us.

Well, you don't look a bit older, Mr.

Willis.

Than what?

Than you used to.

Uh I'm not.

You got to turn it over real good.

Yeah, we will.

I grow near anything.

Used to.

You and Mr. Mason had a right garden.

How would you like a nice cold drink?

Water, thank you.

You're planting them mighty late.

It was her idea.

You walked like a father.

She wanted to all tomatoes.

And they'll come in late.

Well, I talked her into adding other

things.

Must be good to have her back.

Once my oldest boy came up from New York

with his family.

Stayed the day and went back.

He was ashamed of how we lived. When I

understood what he was feeling, I I

rubbed it in.

Shouldn't have done that.

They all go away and do what they want

and expect to come back when they feel

like it.

Don't want her going again.

She can do as she pleases.

So can we all, Lucy.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Oh, and this.

Thank you.

I got to go.

Say hello to Sandra for me.

You're welcome to visit with us anytime.

Good day, Abigail.

Bye, Mr. Willis.

He won't take extra.

I'm telling you you're planting them too

close together. My father plants them 2

ft apart in his garden.

Then go bother your father.

They ain't never going to grow.

Neither will you. You don't close your

mouth.

Oh, yeah?

Oh, Louise.

I love it.

Wow.

Abby.

Are you all right?

I'm just out of shape.

Well, I can finish it.

No, I'm fine. I'll rest a while.

Why don't you go boss in your hut?

Well, I was just trying to

Well, don't.

You're a mess.

Well, look who's talking.

I would like to propose a toast to the

first ladies of horse.

Abby.

Manure. It's all right to say manure,

isn't it?

Manure.

Manure.

I think that when two great ladies such

as you and me have spent the afternoon

shoveling manure,

that they deserve to relax.

I am relaxed.

Oh, so am I.

It's going to be a good God.

Yes, it is.

Smaller than it used to be, true, but

good.

True.

You never told me where you spent that

night.

Oh, ho.

My dear,

what this town needs is a good hotel.

Rose's guest cottage was full, so I had

to go out to the motel.

Do you know that they have rooms to rent

by the hour up there?

They're busy, too.

I wouldn't know about that.

Not easy to get a night's sleep there,

I'll tell you.

I know

I know what we need.

What are you doing?

You'll see.

Take it off.

You don't like it?

I don't want it.

You used to play that all the time.

I want it off.

What's the matter with a little music in

our lives?

It's my music.

I'm sorry.

What?

You heard me.

I am going to teach you a little known

trick of the magic trade.

I used to date a short order cook.

The first time your father spoke to me,

I thought I'd

laugh in his face.

He came into the store where I was

working

in Providence.

I was on my own the age of 20.

Living and working and

dreaming about the future.

It was something in those days for a

girl to leave home like that. My family

didn't want me to, but I did.

I wanted to do something with my life,

Abby.

We all set out to do something.

Well,

there he was.

Up from Little Compton, he said.

He had the worst twang I've ever heard

from a Rhode Island man.

My name's Alfred Mason. I'm a fisherman,

own a boat, need a present for my

mother.

All that in the first minute of

conversation with a man I'd never met

before.

I don't know where people get the idea

that New Englanders don't like to talk.

They just need something to say.

Well,

that was just the beginning.

He came back once or twice a month, took

me to dinner and the movies.

Once he took me dancing over at

Cranston.

Rose on the Pawtuxet. Huh?

Oh, it was a grand place.

All the All the big bands came there.

The Glenn Gray and Casa Loma Orchestra,

Glenn Miller.

They all came there.

Oh.

The man couldn't dance to save his life,

but he tried.

Oh, how he tried.

Your father never could quit something

once he started.

Asked me to marry him for 4 years.

Looked for a month for

the baby carriage wheels for your

soapbox racer. Oh, two orange crates, a

board, four wheels, and a rope to steer

it by.

Well, you remember how I wanted a

steering wheel? Your father was more

upset about that than you were.

Not his fault the axle broke. Said he

should have built it better.

That wasn't Auntie. Just happened.

Always blamed himself when it had to do

with you. Whatever went wrong with you,

it was his fault or or somebody else's

fault, but never yours.

It wasn't like that.

You always blamed himself.

Sometimes he blamed me.

No, that's not true.

I I knew what I had when I married you.

I I knew I

I never had a lot.

But something

something for God's sake.

But

nothing. Not for me. I wanted a dress.

He got you one.

You remember that blue dress.

I'm not going to listen to this. It's

not fair.

You always came first.

If I made a fuss,

he called me selfish.

He was the selfish one.

He did what made him happy.

Oh, can't you ever stop?

Why did you do it?

Why did you keep taking from him?

Knowing what he was doing to me.

Please.

Does the truth hurt?

It's not the truth.

Maybe not yours, but it's the way it was

from the time you started getting older.

I'm not going to listen to this.

All those years with him wasted because

of you.

Then why didn't you leave him?

There was always a chance.

Thought he'd get over it.

I'm going to talk to his mother.

I think they're just having fun. After

all, it is the 4th of July.

Hello there, Lucy.

I was just coming over to you.

For what?

Well,

for one, say hello to Abigail there.

Not right to have her back without

saying hello.

Very nice of you, Mr. Meacham.

Saves me a trip.

You're coming out so we can talk.

Well, if that's all, I'll be going back

in.

I

I had in mind to

ask you to the picnic.

And the dance.

They got the whole band again this year.

Oh, we'd like that.

Wouldn't that be fun, Mother?

Mother?

Well,

it's the same every year.

Since my sister died, I've been asking

her.

She's been saying no.

I couldn't ask before that.

Her and my sister didn't get along.

Didn't get along.

My sister

said good myself.

Well,

I'll be leaving in a bit.

If if you can change your mind.

Well,

I'll work at it.

Mother!

Let's dance.

I remember you used to dance pretty

good.

I did not.

Well, Alfred always said you were a

dancer.

My husband didn't know one foot from the

other.

Well, we'll talk over old times.

I don't care to dance with you or

anyone, Wally Ball.

Come on, you. Come on, Alf.

Come on, Mum.

Come on, Mum.

Make a picture of Alf. Come on.

I don't go asking Alf for anything.

Come on.

Oh.

Stop fooling with it. Why?

Because I said so.

There's no water in it.

One of the Mitchells should have fixed

this.

Well, the man at the hardware store said

we could do it ourselves.

how he sells hardware.

Uh, it's better to fix things if you

want them done right. You can't get

people to take the time anymore.

I found that out the hard way in Boston.

Besides, it's fun. Now, as I see it,

why do they call this a ballcock?

Ballcock.

How in the hell would I know a thing

like that?

Well, I'm interested, aren't you?

Okay.

I think you can lift it out now.

Oh.

Thank you very much.

Oh, it's nothing. Could I have a towel,

please?

Okay.

All right.

Now,

this thing

goes

down there.

This is right.

Goes here.

Okay.

Turn it on.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Turn it

off! Turn it off!

You did

You did that on purpose.

No, it's just that I'm tired of waiting.

There.

Now,

turn it on.

Oh, no, no, you don't. It's your turn.

Okay, here it goes.

There it is.

Would you care to do the honors?

Oh, I went out to the cemetery.

When we were first married,

your father took me out there.

Told me the history of every Mason in

the place.

I honest to God thought he was

introducing you to them.

I went through a lot after he died.

I missed him.

Sometimes on a Saturday night,

when he came in from fishing,

I'd meet him at the boat.

I remember that. And we'd have a beer

and talk.

Oh, those were good nights.

We did that even after you left.

But we didn't talk much then, not about

anything that mattered.

It was the worst when he came back from

seeing you.

He wouldn't talk at all for

two to three days.

I didn't want it that way.

But I didn't do anything about it.

Have you really come to stay?

It's something, isn't it?

Here I was,

old lady alone,

figuring I'd die that way.

And her daughter comes home to keep her

company.

Oh, not that I'm in any hurry to depart

this world.

Not yet.

We're a tough lot,

especially on

my side of the family.

The women generally get into their 80s

and some near 100.

Your great-grandmother Sarah did that.

You're not in any trouble up there in

Boston?

No.

No trouble.

Nothing to take you back?

Nope. Nothing.

Mr. Meacham.

Mr. Meacham.

I'm here.

It's Lucy.

And how's Lucy today?

Fine, and you?

Still here.

Would you have time to come over and

take a picture for me?

What kind of picture?

A picture of Abigail and me.

You got a camera?

Well, it's a nice day for the picture.

How are you, Abigail?

It's fine. How are you?

Hey, Alfred's old one. I remember it

right enough. He used it on practically

everybody.

He sure liked taking pictures. I

remember he was always lining you two up

and trying to talk you into smiling.

What I had in mind was something by the

garden.

You're looking younger every day, Lucy.

mind that.

I don't know.

What's the matter?

Looks awfully glum.

You're going to face it against the

wall?

Done.

I got it. I got it. Don't let it sit so

long this time. Make sure it's too

strong.

Okay.

All right, okay.

Be all right. Okay, okay.

All right, all right.

I don't know why they do that.

Make pieces look like they'll fit, and

they won't.

It's hard enough to do them

when the pieces look different.

You're better at this than I am.

You've done more on yours since you got

home than I have done on mine in months.

What's your secret, Abby?

You can tell me. I'm your mother.

Abby?

Abby!

Oh my god.

Oh.

Oh. Oh,

oh god.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Abby.

Dr. Blodgett says you're all right now.

All you need is a few days rest.

I'm dying, Mother.

Soon.

He didn't tell me that.

I wanted to tell you.

I wanted to tell you before, but I

I couldn't take the chance.

What are you talking about?

I knew I was sick, but I I didn't do

anything about it.

I was scared, I guess.

There were days I just didn't care.

When I finally went to the doctor,

I had good doctors.

They just couldn't do anything.

They had me in the hospital for a while

to try out those experimental drugs.

My hair started to fall out.

That was about all.

I mean, nobody likes a bald lady.

You're using me again.

You came back here to die because no one

else would have you.

Please try to understand.

I don't want to.

I want to stay here.

I want to be with you.

I am not going to watch you die.

I thought we could get to know each

other, you know? I thought we could

After 21 years, you're insane.

Just the way we are.

Just the two of us.

You selfish

Taking, taking, always taking. You're

not going to cheat me again. It's too

much.

I haven't anything more to give.

Go somewhere else to die.

How dare you do this to me?

How dare you come back and make me care?

Why didn't you tell me?

It was for her to tell you.

She told me all of it.

She's handling it the way she sees fit.

I'll mess up.

Handle it is okay?

Well, it is not okay.

I want her better.

I want you to make her better.

Stop it, Lucy. It won't help.

Make her better or I'll find someone who

will.

There isn't any.

It's all been done.

I'll get you bed in the hospital. I'll

borrow it.

I'll see if I can get somebody in to

help you.

Don't you start telling me what to do.

You'll have to do something.

I'm not having any hospital bed in my

house. I am not going to go through that

again. It is too much to ask. Too much.

Going to be a good garden, Abigail.

Yeah.

Yours is going well?

Oh, same over here.

I used to pick my cucumbers.

Used to pick them and eat them right off

the vine.

I I recall Lucy chasing you out of that

garden a thousand times. I remember once

she chased you clear out to the street.

There wouldn't have been any for the

rest of us if I hadn't.

Afternoon, Lucy.

What brings you over?

Just visiting.

You're looking a mite peaked, Abigail.

It's the heat.

I keep telling you to slow down.

Got to work the city out of her.

Come by again, I may.

Take care of yourself, Abigail.

Won't these damn tomatoes ever be ready?

Not if you don't weed them better than

that.

You better hurry, Mother.

I'm coming.

Don't want to be late.

The taxi is waiting.

What are you gawking at?

You're beautiful.

You said no remarks. You promised.

Beautiful isn't a remark.

It sounds like a remark to me.

Too expensive.

Will you stop complaining?

I'll complain if I want to.

And I'll take you to an expensive

restaurant if I want to.

Too much to choose from. Will you stop?

I don't know how a person decides. Just

get what you'd like.

What are you going to get?

I haven't decided yet.

Neither have I.

Well, this is good.

I can say that for it.

I'm sure they'll be very happy to hear

that in the kitchen.

I think I'm going to bust a gut.

Don't eat anymore.

At these prices?

Have you lost your mind?

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to

you. Happy birthday dear

Lucy. Happy birthday to you.

It's your birthday party.

It's not my birthday.

Well, it will be in 5 months. It doesn't

matter. Make a wish.

The handkerchief was my mother's.

Your father gave me the locket on our

first anniversary.

I never did care much for jewelry.

I always meant

for you to have it.

Let me see how it looks on you.

I can't eat another bite.

But I'm going to have some of this cake

just the same.

I

I think we'd best drag it.

Yeah.

Always preferred it myself. It's the

best room in the house. So much light.

Okay.

Here goes nothing.

That's not funny.

What are you laughing at?

Oh.

Okay.

Here goes.

You got it?

Yeah.

What the hell are you doing?

Resting.

Resting?

Okay.

Okay.

You first.

First.

Watch your step.

What do you say?

Okay?

Okay?

Let's go. Go.

Let's get out of here.

I want to go somewhere where I can

breathe.

An old fisherman he was. Always a way to

make a buck. He didn't want our first

run.

He didn't last night.

Just taking our parties helps.

Yeah.

Harry.

You remember the summer when you worked

on a boat with your father and me?

I do.

First night she cleared a net.

Crab bitter. She shrieked the whole

thing over. Her glove went with it.

Did you use a drink?

I could.

I want three. Thank you.

Ah.

You used to play music on that thing.

I'm a little rusty.

Well, aren't we all?

Not as rusty as I thought.

Thank you.

Come on.

Let's do it again.

Well,

that should do it.

I don't know.

Maybe Mr. Meacham was right.

Maybe it ought to face the wall.

There's nothing wrong with this picture.

You're sure that's where it belongs?

Yeah, it's fine.

Long as no one sees it.

Abby,

it's exactly right. It's perfect. Well,

it's us.

Thank you.

You never asked me about Boston.

Well, I figured you'd tell me what you

wanted me to know.

Well,

there's not so much to tell.

I was married

twice.

Once to a a a

dear, sweet man

named Norman.

He was 10 years older than me.

He was very nice.

I was 19 when we got married. We worked

at the same place.

Oh, it was it was really wonderful for a

while.

You know, getting an apartment and

buying the furniture, being Mrs. Norman

Slater.

Then I got pregnant.

I thought I was too young.

I didn't want a baby.

You know, not before I'd lived myself.

So, I uh

I had an abortion.

Then when I wanted children, I couldn't

have them.

It was my fault that the marriage broke

up.

He would have taken me back.

He would have forgiven me anything.

I never told father any of it.

He didn't come to see me that often.

And that's good.

When he did come, all he wanted to talk

about was you.

Getting me back.

He stopped coming when he realized it

was no use.

It's silly, isn't it?

All those years apart.

Over nothing.

At least it seems like nothing now.

I've thought about the day I left so

many times.

I didn't mean you to stay away.

Part of you did. Part of Part of me

wanted to stay away. It was anger.

It was a thousand little things that

that they grew into one great thing.

That weekend was just the last of them.

You could have come back anytime.

I wanted your father to take me to see

you.

I I wanted to know

where you were, what you were doing.

I wanted to

ask you to come home.

But my pride kept me from doing it. My

stupid, foolish pride.

Well, that makes us two of the same,

doesn't it?

I wanted to come home.

But, I couldn't.

The longer I stayed away, the harder it

got.

Till it just isn't possible.

I'm so sorry for what happened.

I'm sorry that I was the cause of so

much unhappiness.

It was me as much as you.

Maybe more.

My life with your father could have been

different.

If I tried.

The three of us

could have shared what we had together.

Instead of fighting over it.

I could have been a better mother.

Anyway,

it's all behind us now.

And we have each other.

Did I tell you that I liked Boston?

I lived in the building once with a

doorman.

Who wore a uniform.

Old Fritz. He was He was very nice to

the ladies.

I'm just trying to think of interesting

things to tell you.

I lived very well for a while.

I was taken care of.

That's how I was able to live in a

building with a doorman.

I had fun sometimes. I had I had

friends.

I had a bad time, too.

A time when I'd wake in a man's

apartment and

I wouldn't even know his name.

You don't have to do this.

I went to night school for a year.

I took the I took the course in

fashion design. Got a certificate in

draping and um

pattern making.

But all I ever really learned to do was

make pleats and cut on the bias.

Hey, you don't need any pleats do you?

Oh, I had one really terrific job. I was

I was an office manager for a company

for 3 years.

I had my own secretary and everything.

And they went broke. That was not my

fault.

It was good in Boston.

I was reading books.

I

I went to the art museum.

If you can believe that.

I was alone.

And

it was okay. I didn't care.

I

I even got liking myself.

I wanted you to know something about

I know all I need to know.

Wasn't so much.

What?

Hey, aren't you ever going to finish

that thing?

Am I?

I'm not in any hurry not with

Mount Rushmore waiting to be done.

Too many pieces.

It's not

too complicated.

You'll manage.

I expect I will.

Some of those tomatoes are going to stay

green. I'll make relish out of them.

The others will start turning soon.

Any day.

I can't do this.

Yes, you can.

What do I do now?

Pull the wire through the plug.

Uh-oh.

Now what?

Attach the stripped end of each wire to

a screw.

Well, which one goes in which?

It It says it It doesn't matter.

Now I imagine I tighten them.

Yes.

Okay, plug it in.

Well,

here it goes.

Will you stop that?

Doesn't work.

I told you it wouldn't.

We're not meant to do these kinds of

things.

Turn the thing.

Turn the lamp on.

Ah.

Bravo! Bravo!

I love you.

It's not such a terrible thing to love

your mother.

Please, Abby.

Look at me.

I love you.

I love you.

Mhm.