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(shrieks)

WOMAN:My family summered in Vermont.

I was a doctor's daughter from New York City.

Very sophisticated, I thought I was,

with my college degree, and my well-to-do suitors.

Bill Wilson was a local country boy

who had never been beyond the Green Mountains.

I was four years older than h.

An unlikely pair, my father said.

But we had found one another,

and how blessed and lucky we knew ourselves to be.

It's perfect.

Exquisite.

I just want one look.Just one look.

No, he can't see you. Lo.Lois.

Lois...Lo, we have to get

your veil on.

Reverend...Thank you. I appreciate it.

It's bad luck. Now, Lois...It is. It's bad luck, Lo.

It's said that, on average,

no fewer than four people

are pulled into the vortex of an alcoholic.

When I think back to my wedding, I find seven.

There was my mother, who only wanted me to be happ.

Elise was my most trusted friend,

and I was certain nothing could ever come between us.

Beautiful.

Sweetheart, I cannotget this corsage...Frank.

There was Frank, Elise's husband.

Oh, oh, oh, sorry. Here...(laughs)

(women laughing)

(wedding processional playing)

There was my father, Dr. Clark Burnham, who was convinced

that the war was no reason to rush headlong into marriag.

Ebby Thatcher, our friend,

who was already sick himself.

My trusting younger brother Rogers,

and I, whose life was evolving just as I had hoped.

I was marrying Bill Wilson, man of my dreams,

and we were going to start a family.

I believed, with all of my heart,

that any trouble we faced

in the future would be conquered by love.

(explosions in distance)

BILL:My darling Lois...

On June 27, at 10:00, look for the moon.

Here in France, I'll be watching it set before dawn.

I'll hold it in my gaze,

as I would hold you in my arm.

(gasps)

Bill! Oh!

(laughing)

(metal rattling)

Hi.Bill!

Hey, Lo.Hey.

Hey... Bill,

you're home early.

How are you?

Hello.

Are you hungry?

Yeah. I suppose I could eat.

How was your day?

Well, I quit my job.

Oh?

Yeah, I'm just not cut outfor bookkeeping, Lo.

Anyway, something betterwill come along.

Always does.

Why don't you giveElise's husband a call?

Frank admires you.

He might know of a position.

Yeah, I don't know.

Ebby works with him.

I asked him the other daywhat he thought of his job

and he saidWall Street's a racket.

So I don't know.

I was transferred today.

Out of maternityinto the psychiatric ward.

The extra pay mightgive us some leeway.

Are you gonna be safe in there?

I think so.

It's terribly sad.

It's mostly justpsychotics and drunks.

There's not a lotthat can be done for them.

I'll be fine.Don't worry.

All right.

(both laughing)

You know what?

Frank is a smart guy.

He is.

And he makes atrainload of money.

He does.

I think I'm gonnagive him a call.

Good.

Nothing wagered,nothing gained, right?

Right.

I'm gonna go put dinner on.

All right.

(doorbell ringing)

Lo.

Oh, you doll. Thank you.

Green vasein the pantry.

ELISE:Frank, look who's here.

Oh, Bill is so excitedto be working with you.

Thank you so much.

I'm lucky to have him.

Good-bye.

Bye.

Bill has exactly the kindof optimism Frank needs.

Come see Emma.

Hello.

Say hi to Auntie Lois.

Emma, darling.

Hello, angel.

Hello.

May I kiss you?

May I? May I?

There, I've done it.I've kissed you.

I can't tell youwhat this means to me.

Lo, I've done nothing.

Elise, I thinkI'm pregnant.

Oh, darling!

Can you imagine?

Here we are.

Here we are.Here we are.

MAN:Otis Elevator Company: 128 and one half.

Standard Gas and ElectricCompany: 55 and seven eighths.

American Steel Foundry:46 and one half.

Chrysler Corporation: 56.

Standard Gas andElectric Company:

56 and one quarter.

Reed Ice Cream Corporation: 58.

Otis Elevator Company:

129 and seven eights.

International Shoe Company:172 and three quarters.

Loews, Incorporated...

You're a bald-faced liar.(laughing)

I said that to youthe first day.

I said that I sawright through it

and it's nothingbut a numbers game.

The fact is that nobody knowswhat these companies are doing.Nobody.

Can we have ginger ales, please?Thank you.

Who's walkingthe production line?

Who's kicking the tiresof these companies?

Nobody has a clue

how these companiesare run.Nobody.

No, no.

That's because you've gotto read 'em between the lines.

You know, ba-ba-ba-ba.

Lo, is that allyou're going to eat?

No, I had my soup.

You gotta be eating for twowith the baby.

I'm not hungry, honey.

Well, you'rein luck, Ebby,

because I got an idea for you.

This is...I have an idea.

Why don't we leave?

It's late.

All right then.

Good night, Ebby.

Oh, good night, Lois.

Good night to you.

Sorry.

I got that.

We will continue this.

To be continued.

Listen, Ebby and Iwere just big-talking.

I want you to be proud of me.That's all.

I am proud of you.

I just don't like it whenyou get sloppy and stupid.

You think I'm stupid?

No, I just, I don't like itwhen you drink like that.

You're just different.

All right, fine.

I'll-I'll quit.

Honey, I'll quit for you.

That's easy.

Honey, I'll quit, all right?

(groans)

I can, I can quit

the booze for ya.

Ow.

What? You don'tbelieve me, honey?

(groans)

What, honey? What?

Ow!

What? What honey?

Are you okay?

Call my father.Lo?

Call my father!

Okay, okay.All right.

(pained gasping)

Operator?Operator!

Brooklyn, New York!Get me Dr. Clark Burnham!

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Shh.

It's okay.

We'll have so many children.

We'll have a big family, Lo.

(sniffling)

(whimpering)

Bill?

Bill?(laughing)

Welcome to your new home.

What have you done?

It's a tent.

Do you like it?

I... (stammers)

Well, I've been thinkingthat we need a fresh start

and uh, get awayfrom the noise,

get out of the cityfor a while, so this is it.

Oh, honey, I got this idea thatnobody is ready to back me on

'cause they can't see it,but it's a good one.

I want to go out andinvestigate the companies

that we're sellingto the public.

Give them an honest,independent account

of how things are running,

where they're puttingtheir money into,

and I figured you are myGirl Scout extraordinaire,

that we could just campacross America

and live off the fatof the land, honey.

I could just putmy theories to the test.

Bill...Yeah?

what about my job?

Well, you should probablygive your notice tomorrow.

Bill, what aboutour apartment?

What about your job?

Listen, Lo, if this worksand we pull this off,

they'll be moving me upto an executive office.

We'll be buyingour own place uptown.

But that's not whywe should do it.

This will be a secondhoneymoon for us.

On the cheap.

Just you and me.

What could be betterthan that?

What could be betterthan that, pal?

Open road, Lo.

Whoo!

Hit that throttle.

Open her up!Open her up!

(Bill whooping)

(Bill laughing)

Well, thank you kindly.

MAN:It was nice talking to you,

Lois.Yeah.

You folks take careon this thing, yeah?

Oh, we will. Itwas a pleasure, Tom.

Well...

It was a bust.Mmm?

Management's not talking.

Well, that one overthere in the blue--

that's Tom, and that's Winstonand his brother Jim.

Tom pours the molds,and they finish the tools.

I knew there was a reasonI brought you.

MAN:"To Frank Shaw, stop.

"Management shakeup at Miggon Tool & Dye, stop.

"GE strong development. Recommend buy. Stop.

Await your reply."

(engine sputtering)

We're stuck.

Honey, hop on,I'll give her a push.

All right.

Ready?

No. No. Hang on a sec.Go?

(shouting)

(coughing)

(Lois laughing)

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Kill it.

(laughing)

(engine stops)

Cripes.(laughing):I'm sorr...

(laughs):What are you doing?

Ah! Here, you want...I'm sorr...

(laughing):I'm sorry!

No! No! No!Come here, you.

I'll give you some...William Wilson!

Yeah, how do you like it?No, don't you dare!

(laughing)Don't you dare!

(both laughing)

(sighs)

(thunder rumbling)

Oh.

(coughs)

(thunder rolling)

(laughing)

Ah.

(sighs)

(both laugh)

Well, I suppose I should walkinto town, find a mechanic.

See if Frank'swired us back.

All right.Let me get my gloves.

No, no. You stay here.

Huh?Keep warm, Lo.

I'll be back soon.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

(Lois laughs)

All right.

It's nice.

I love you, pal.

All right. Love you, too.

I'll see you soon!

(sighs)

MAN:Come on, guys, open up.

Hey. Hey...Open it.

Hey, open up!

Oh, yes, hello.

I'm-I'm looking for my husband.

He's tall, covered in mud.

Lo!Bill!

I've been waiting for you!Lo, I just ordered champagne.

No, we don't want that.We can't afford that!

Yeah, yeah, you know we do.Come. Come here.

Why are you drinking,Bill? What...?

I bought itso we could celebrate, Lo.

Look at this.Read it.

"Bill, we're soldon your concept.

"Welcome to the team.

Frank Shaw."We did it, Lo!

(Bill laughs)

This is our ticket, honey.

This is our ticketto an executive position

with the best firmon Wall Street.

Will you...Will you toast with me?

Hey, I want a toast!

To my girl, who beteverything on me.

Ooh!

(Lois laughs)

(both laughing)

You picked a winner, Lo.

Mmm! Ah!

LOIS:Just as Bill had predicted, we moved uptown

and we were living the life of our dreams.

Rogers.Hey, you.

Hi, sis.

So, what do you think?

Oh, my goodness!

Very handsome.

It's beautiful.

Not bad, sis.

Oh.

You think Bill wouldinvest my money?

(laughing):Oh, you're in noposition to gamble.

Would you look at this.

I know.

(laughs)

(clears throat)

(plays whimsical tune)

(whispering):Three years ago,

Bill didn't have two penniesto rub together.

Look at him now.

He's a genius.

Oh.

Bill's given me carte blancheto decorate the whole place.

The only thing he insisted onis the chandelier.

He's just mad about it.

It's from France.

Hmm. Did he robVersailles?

(laughs)

When will Bill be home?

Oh, he's at the officeday and night.

He works so hard.

Oh, good for Bill.

Oh, I wantto show you something.

This... is thebaby's room.

Darling.

Yes.My sweet girl.

My dear.How far along?

Six weeks,I think.

I haven'ttold Bill yet.

I just... Idon't want him

to be disappointedin-in case...

Darling, you'll be fine.

Oh.

Hey, sweetheart.

Hello.

Your parentscome by?

Mm-hmm.

What'd they thinkof the place?

Oh, they loved it.

Yeah? And mychandelier?

They were dumbstruck.

(both laugh)

You look tired.

I am tired.

Why don't youcome home early?Oh.

I'll stop by Windsor's,buy you a steak.

Okay.

And I have a bottle of winestashed away we can open.

(tsking)

You know it's Prohibition.

I'm gonna haveto turn you in now.

(both laugh)

I'm home!

Bill?

Oh. Bill?

(sighs)

Bill!

(coughs)

Oh! Bill!

What? Hey, what youstomping around for?

Cut it out.

Bill!Bill, what?

Get up!What?

Just get up.You're drunk!

(coughing)You passed out witha lit cigarette, Bill!

What?

You're drunk again.

I'm not drunk!

I'm tired. I'm beat.

I had four hours of sleepthis week.

You could have killed yourself.

You could have killed our baby!

What?

What did you say?

I'm pregnant again.

Bill, I'm pregnant.

Lo.

Lo... honey.

So you're shaking, huh?

(breathing loudly)

I'm gonna be a papa.

Honey.

Oh, Lo.

Oh.

Thank you, honey.

My...

razor's dull as a spoon.

I know you wantto stop drinking, Bill.

I know how hardyou're struggling with it.

(sighs)

I want you to make a pledge.

Not to me, but to God.

Lo.

This can't continue,

not with our baby coming.

I know, honey.

I want you to pledgeon this Bible that you'll stop.

Lo, I just...I have to have a...

a drink now and again

with the boys.

Bill.Do what I do.

It's part of the job.

I need you to promise.Well,

I have promised.

Lo, I...

I do promise you.

I won't get drunk anymore.

Well, then, I want youto write it here

and make that pledge,and with God's help and grace...

I... don'thave time.

...you'll keep it.Bill! Bill.

Lois, I don'thave time,

honey, to discussthis right now.

You...We will talk aboutthis after work.

(sighs)

I love you.

(women laughing)

I'm so nervous.

Nonsense. You'll bethe best mother in the world.

The best mother.In the world.

In the universe.LOIS:Oh.

We're going to throwa shower for you.

A magnificent shower.

An extravagant shower.

Oh, no, no, no.Yes, yes, yes!

My dear, you're officiallya Wall Street wife,

and therefore, you have to...

WOMAN:You must suffer

the consequences.WOMAN 2:Now's a wonderful time

to spoil you.

Just give us an invitation list,and we'll take care

of the rest.

All right.

(women laughing)

(playing lullaby)

(metal clattering)

(music stops)Shh! Shh!

(men mumbling, clattering)

(laughter)

Are you okay?

Are you okay?

MAN:Hi. (clears throat)

Hi, Lois.

We-We came in the back door.

Hope youdon't mind.

Just drop him down there,please.

Get you down here,big fella.

Okay, there we go.

Okay.

That's Clint.

Uh, uh, we...

(sighs)

Now...

Bill thinksyou're gonna be mad,

but you're... but you'renot mad, are you, Lois?

You're not mad.

We-We were just

celebratinghis impending fatherhood.

I'm going to bed.

You're gonna...

It's big.

You're-You're in trouble.

Quiet.

(laughing):You're in so much trouble.

Really...

This is my last drink.

I got to prepare to be a papa.

Oh, I love this one.

(gasps)

This would be perfectfor a boyora girl.

I think Bill will love it, too.

Oh, good.

Oh, it's beautiful.

Darling, this isan awkward subject,

really.

There are rumors--just...

rumors, mind you--

that members of our firmare appearing

quite drunk

in public, andFrank is worried.

Have you...?

I've noticed it, too.

It's...

It's just...It's all that social drinking.

Um, I've spokento Bill

about it,and he's promised to stop.

It's really quite awkward.

It's absolutely

right to set things straight,and they are,

at least in this home.

Good. Thank you.

(vacuum whirring)

(groans)

(moans)

(moaning)

(breathing laboredly)

Bill Wilson, please.

(groans)

Please tell Bill Wilsonto call his wife

as soon as possible.

(gasps)

(groans)

Bill?

Your father and I are here.

Bill will be here soon.

Tell me.

You're gonna be fine.

Dad... tell me.

The fallopian tube burst.

(crying):Oh, no.

The only choicewas a hysterectomy.

BILL:Lo!

(sobbing)

Honey?We've been tryingto find you for hours,

and now you show uplike this?!Lo. Lo!

My daughter almost died!

Do you understand me?

Thank God she reachedme before she...Bill.

Lo?

Honey?

Honey?

Bill.

(crying):Bill.

Bill.

(crying):Honey.

Bill.

Lo.

Oh, Lo.

(crying):Honey.

(footsteps approaching)

(sniffling)

Honey, won't youtalk to me?

(under breath):Oh, Bill.

I know you blame me.

It wasn't your fault.

I want to make a pledge for you.

Before you and before God.

(sighs)

To my beloved wife...

...who has endured so much.

Let this stand...

...as evidenceof my pledge to you...

(crying)

...that I've finishedwith drink...

forever.

(sobbing):I'm so sorry!

I need you to havefaith in me, Lo.

(sobbing):I do have faithin you, Bill.

(sobbing)I have faith in you.

Mr. Brown, Mr. Phillip,we'll meet you out front.

Hey, big shot, we're gonnagrab a few at O'Mally's.

Oh, hi, Lois.

Hello.Picnic, huh?

Look at this. Well, well, well.

You two have a lovely lunch.

And if there are any leftovers,kindly leave them on my desk.

See you later, Ebby.Bye.

(whispering):We'll catch up later.

I'm here.

Yeah, you are.

(whispering):I love you, Lo.

Love you, too.

I've opened that drawera dozen times today

just to look at it.

There's another onein the box there.

About three hoursfrom now,

Clint and Ebby will be by

asking me to have a few before

we head home.

Why don't we just get outof New York for a while?

Well...

Remember our trip?

Remember how happy we were?

Yeah.

Yeah, I could swing something.

I was talking to Frankthe other day

about this steel companyin Canada.

Another fact-findingmission.

(chuckles)Yeah.

All right. Why not?

Why not?

What I do isa-a soup-to-nuts report

on a companysuch as yours,

and I-I-I release iton the wider market in the U.S.

And I'll tell ya, the investorsflock like flies to honey

and everyone profits.

Well, we already publisha biannual statement

for investors.

Sure, but the question is,is it real or imaginary?

Right? Because a thirdof the companies out there

are-are-are smoke and mirrors.

They're magic acts, you know?

They release, uh, false claimsand fake charts and graphs.

Listen, I want to buy a horse,I'm gonna go look at that horse,

see if it's healthyand check her teeth,

and feel her legs,that sort of thing.

Well, Bill,don't feel my legs.

(men laugh)

BILL:I was tight as a drum back there, Lo.

And they saw it, too.

I was talking horses; everyone else was talking English.

Didn't make a lick of sense.

LOIS:You tried your best.

No, honey.

You know, Frank's not paying me

for a polite reporton Canadian steel.

I'm gonna getsome cigarettes.

I'll be...I'll be back.

Oh, honey.

I passed a storea few blocks back.

Take me five minutes.

(bell clanging)

(clanging continues)

MAN:Hey, sweetie pie.

MAN 2:Hey, toots.

(lewd laughter)

MAN:Get off of there!

Get out of here!

All right,he's out, he's out.

(groans, grunts)

Oh, yeah...?(angry grunting)

BILL (slurring):Get off me!

MAN:All right,get out of here.

MAN 2:Let me at him.Move.

Let me at him!He's had enough.

(Bill yells)You stay away.

Handle this. Handle this.You stay away from me.

All right...

Hey, Lo!

(sighs)

Hey, honey.

(panting)

Honey, hang on.

Hang on, honey.

Lo, hang on.

Where are the keys?Give them to me!

Hey, stop it!

I'm-I'm driving.You stop it!You stop it!

I'm driving!

You stop it.You swore on the Bibleyou weren't gonna drink again.

I said we weren't gonnaspeak on that.

You left mewithout the keys

for hours!Shh!

All you could think about wasgetting another drink in you.

I don't want to talkabout it anymore.That is sick!

I am done!

That's sick!

You're sick!Not another word.

Not another word.You're sick!

That is sick!Shh!

Yeah, I'm sick!

I'm sick and tiredof your harangue-atanging

and caterwauling

and henpecking.

(groans)(sighs)

I'm sick and tired!

I want you to swear to me...

on a Bible.

Swear to me.

You stop all the backbiting.

Oh, Lo.

LOIS:I struggled with both guilt and anger,

a swing of emotion that kept Bill the center of my life.

I left him with the belief that it would make him stop.

MATILDA:I don't see how leaving him will help.

Patience and prayerare the only answers.

You made a vow, Lois,before God:

in sickness and in health.for richer, for poorer.

You know he loves you.

It's not enough, Mother.

Darling, it's all there is.

I mean, none of us knowhow long we have.

Well, what doesthat mean?

Why waste any timegrandstanding

with the personthat you love?

When he's sober,I'll come home.

(children playing)

Yes, hello, this is Mrs. Wilson.

Are there any messages for me?

No one's called?

All right.

Okay. Yes, thank you.

(sobbing softly)

(knocking)

Bill...

Lo, I know I can lick this.

But I can't do itwithout you, pal.

I need you, honey.

Oh, Bill.

Bill...

I know what's wrong.

(sniffles)We wanted to have children

and I couldn'tgive them to you.

But we could adopt.

We could adopt a child.

This little one has anotherfamily waiting for her.

Now, for your adoption,there's a whole procedure...

We... Here you are.

Hello. May I?

Oh, well, hello.

We'll need a full historyof both of your families,

your work historyand salary,

and, of course, thenecessary recommendations

to assure us of yoursuitability as parents.

Of course.Of course.

Oh...Oh.

Lo, my heart is melting.Oh, I know.

BILL:Yeah, well, a dip like this, Ididn't want you to miss out on.

Yeah, now's the time to buy.

Yeah, all right.

Yeah, I'll call youfrom the office.

All right, then.Toodle-oo.

Honey, don't let me forget.

I promised RogerI'd get him in on this deal.

And try to convinceyour father to stop

putting his moneyunder his mattress.

What? What's the matter?

Why haven'tthey called yet, Bill?

Why hasn't the adoptionagency called?

Do you think it'd seem too pushyif I went down there and...?

No, honey.

Listen, don'tbe so worried.

Listen, our littleMatilda's probablyjust being born, you know?

We'll be changing diapers andwarming up bottles in no time.

Okay?All right.

All right.

Here. Wave that underyour brother's nose.

Tell him to call me.

Love you.

See you tonight.

(door opens, closes)

(babies cooing)

Mrs. Wilson?Yes.

Please.

(clattering)

Hey, Lo.

Twelve hours ago you saidyou were coming home.

Twelve hours ago,

I wanted you to take mein your arms

and tell me thatit wasn't too late.

No, don't!

You disgust me!

You disgust me!

Anyone stupid enoughto trust you is betrayed

again and again!

I know that you...

you blame me for...not getting the baby.

You're right to think thatyou'd be better off without me.

Lo, I shouldhave called ahead.

No, no.I'm glad you're here.

They wouldn't let mehave the baby.

They wouldn't even tell me why.

I'm so sorry.

This is a very bad time.

I'll make some tea.

I've come to warn you.

I, uh, wanted to bethe first to tell you.

Frank's under a great dealof pressure

from his partners to fire Bill.

He gave himhis final warning.

Today, there was an episodeat the partners' lunch.

Bill was... quite drunk.

I knew he was slipping.

I could feel itthe last few days.

The last few days?

Darling, it's been years.

At least three years.

Maybe this is justwhat Bill needs, a jolt.

"A jolt"?

Lois, he needs help.

He needs professional help:a sanatorium, a specialist.

But there must besomething I can do.

It can't be hopeless.

For God's sake,

you can't control it.

You'll never control it.

I grew up with a drunk at home.

(cries):And I could never

wish that on any child.

And it breaks my heart...

It breaks my heartto tell you this.

I had to do it.

What?

And you still don't understand.

I told the adoption agency

about Bill's drinking.

I had to tell themthe truth. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I want you to leave.

(sniffles)

Please leave my home.

(sobbing)

(door closes)

WOMAN:He's not here,Mrs. Wilson.

Um, do you knowwhere he is?

Lois...

If you've read the papers

you know we're in a bitof a crisis at the moment.

Just tryingto iron it out.Yes.

Uh, Bill's...He's not here and,

and he won't becoming back.

We, uh...

I, I had to let him go.

Do you know whereI might find him?

The nearest speakeasywould be my best guess.

Lois.

I need help.

Bill hasn't beenhome for days.

I've checked everywhere.

I've been to the police,to the morgue.

He's disappeared.I'd disappear, too,

if I were him.

Thanks to Bill,half of New York is broke,

including me.

Most certainly you.

Well, it'll go up.

It always does."And now's yourchance, Roger.

"You want to be a big shot,you got to bet on margin."

Why are we even talkingabout this now?

Mother's in trouble.

She got a bad report.

What are you talking about?

For months now,she's been in pain.

Of course, she never

said anythingto anyone.

She never complained.

She has cancer.

Oh, no.

Mama?

(mumbles)

I love you, Mama.

I'll be fine.I'll be fine.

Don't worry.You okay?

Mm-hmm.

Bill...

Well, I finallydid it, Lo.

We're broke.

We're worsethan broke, honey.

I'm done with the booze.

But I don't haveyour faith.

I don't have your faithand I... don't know how.

I don't know how.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey, Rog.Bill.

Hi.

Oh, thanks.

This is hardly the time

for Mother and Fatherto take on another burden.

We won't bestaying long.

I'm not talking about you.

We're just hereuntil Bill finds work.

And I don't thinkit's such a bad idea

for me to be hereto help Mother

when she gets homefrom the hospital.

How long will youkeep pretending?

You can bet everythingyou have on Bill,

but you don't have to follow himto the glue factory.

That is a horriblething to say.

He is my husband.

My love.

We all love Bill.

We all believedin Bill.

When does he ever thinkabout anyone but himself?

He is devoted to us, Rogers.He loves us.

Not nearly as muchas he loves his liquor.

He wants to quit.

He is trying to quit.

And I have to believehe can do it.

That's my choice.

Whether it's for extra seatingat the holidays,

or just a simplegame of bridge,

the party tableis your answer.

You can set it upwithin seconds,

and each leg locksinto position,

with scuff-proof tipsto protect your floors.

Um, it's got

an easy-to-clean surfacethat you can decorate

with your favorite tablecloth.

(whispering):Are you all right?

I want to talk to Lois.

I haven'talways given you

the wisest advice.

No, Mama.

Anything good in me,I've learned from you.

I admire youfor standing by Bill.

We all pray for him,

and you help himas you can.

But, Lois,

you must find your own life,

what makes you happy.

Otherwise, I fear, one day,

you'll be filled with bitterness

for being robbedof that life.

Don't let that happen to you.

I won't.

(playing piano)

LOIS:Piece by piece, we sold off our lives.

All I had left was a determination to save us.

I remember this piano.

I used to come herewhen I was a kid.

Your father used topay me to wax it.

How is the doctor?Is he okay?

He's very well.

He moved to Bostonand remarried.

Oh, that's good to hear.

Well, you remember me to him.

I will.

Thank you.

EBBY:Hold on there, partner.

BILL:Put me down.

I can't put ya down.

I'm gonna be sick.

You're gonna...you should be sick.

(Bill laughing)

Hang on there.Careful. Careful.

Careful.

Mrs. Wilson, could youkindly put on the coffee?!

Mr. Wilson's hadsome bad whiskey.

How did you get here?

Did you drive, Ebby?

Drive? No, no.

No, ma'am.No, ma'am.

My Bentley's gone.

Put me down.I'm gonna be sick.

(laughing)I drove it into a house.

I drove it right...

Bill.right into a wall, andit ended up in the kitchen.

The lady was just in shock.

Bill!And I justlooked at her.

Bill!And she's just beautiful.

And I say, "You're lovely."

(crying):I knew at that pointEbby!

I was never seeingthat person again.He's not breathing!

Oh, no! Bill!

Bill!

And she was trying to get out.

Ebby, do something!

Speak to him.

Bill, can you hear me?

(teeth chattering)

Bill?

I thought your love for mewould make you stop,

but if you can'tstop for us,

then stop becauseyou'll die if you don't.

I will fight for youwith everything I have.

I will fight for you,but I need you to help me.

I need you to fight with me.

We have to do thistogether, honey.

I'm right here, Bill.

I'm right here.

Bill?

Bill?

I'm home.

(Bill screaming)

Bill?

Bill?

Open the door.Let me in, Bill.

Help me!

Bill?

Help me!(cries out)

(screaming)It's me. It's me, Bill.

Bill?

(Bill screaming)

No, no.

No, no, Bill...

Shh...No!

It's just me.I'll jump out this window!

It's your pal.You stay back!

I will jump!Shh.

You're just hallucinating.Sweetheart.

No one's here.You're hallucinating, honey.

No one else is here.

Come...

with me, sweetheart.

(sobbing):It's not safe.

It's not safe.It's not safe.

Shh. I'm right here.

I'm right here.

(grunting)

Please don't...

Don't tell themwhere we are.

No. We're safe here.

In here.

No one will find us.

Don't-Don't tell themwhere we are.

I won't. I won't.

Shh.

Mrs. Wilson?

Yes?

Have you finished inventory?

No, not yet.

I'd like a word with youat the end of your shift.

Of course.

Bill?

Hi, Lo.

(sighs)

How are you feel...?

(groans)

Where'd you get the moneyto buy this?

I don't know.

Where?!

I found some extra buckslying around.

Lo?

This was all the money we had.

I-I'm sorry, honey.

I just got puton final notice.

I'm late every other day.

I can't do a thing right.

Lo, as God is my witness...

As God is your witness?

As God is your witness?

"To my beloved wifewho has endured so much,

"let this stand as evidenceof my pledge to you

that I have finishedwith drink forever."

October 20, 1928.

Six years ago.

Second entry.

"My strength is renewed

a thousandfoldin my love for you."

And four years ago:

"To tell you once morethat I am finished with it."

Do you knowthat I've stopped praying?

My prayers arelike ashes in my mouth.

No, Lo.

No.

No!

I want you to see for yourself

how pathetic and ridiculousyou are when you drink.

No, no.No!

No. Honey, no!

(gasping)

No! If you...

If I can't make you stop,then you can't make me stop.

You can't make me stop, Bill!

You're just gonnahave to take it!

(sobbing):No! No.

You're just gonnahave to take it!

(sobbing)

(gagging)

(coughing)

(Ebby speaking indistinctly)

And, so, if you can findthe spirit, it heals you.

You shouldcome along.

It would begood for ya.

We're meeting againnext week.

Good to see ya, Ebby.

I'll be seeing ya, Bill.

Ebby! So help me,

if you've brought moreliquor in this house...

No, no, no.No booze, Lois.

Just news.Look at me.

I'm sober.

I joined a fellowship--the Oxford Group--

and, uh, God releasedme from alcohol.

I came to giveBill a hand up.

I hope he tellsyou about it.

It's-It's goodto see you.

Do you believe that?

Coming into my house,

selling me on hisbig preacher talk.

Ebby's sober, Bill.

Sober?

I wouldn't give you a pennyfor a trainload of that garbage!

Big preacher, big talk, Lo!

You've been had!

You've been had.

I've been had?

I don't know what you two gotcooking up, Lo,

but you poisoned him against me.

Making me outto be some kind of bum.

Well, I'm a man,

and I'm the headof this house,

and I'll be the judgeof whether or not

I can handle a drinknow and again.

I don't know whatyou're looking for.

You've pawned everything.

There's nothing left, Bill.

Yeah, well,I'm sick of it!

You hear me?!

I'm sick of livingwith somebody

who can't respect me!

I'm done with it!I'm sick of it!

You are nothing

but a drunken sot!

And every time

you get drunk,Ifeel guilty

like it's my fault.

Like I'm not a good enough wife.

I couldn't have children.

But I don't have to livelike this anymore.

(voice breaking):I don't have to lieand cover for you anymore.

I should have put youin a sanatorium

a long time ago

like my father told me to

because that's where you belongbecause you're crazy!

I'm not crazy.

I amnotcrazy!

I am not crazy!Yes, youarecrazy,

and you're making me crazy!

No! You disappearfor days and days,Lois!

and I wait and I worrythat you won't come back,

and I think maybethis time you won't come back

but you don't even havethe decency to die!

(sobs)Oh, no!

(Bill yells)

(phone rings)

Hello?

ROGERS:Hi, sis.

Rogers.

I just wanted you to knowBill's in the hospital again.

He admitted himself, and he saidthat I would cover the bill.

I'll take care of it.

Can you manage this?

Yes. Yeah.

Thank you.

And thank you for calling.

Good-bye, Lois.

Thank you.

(footsteps approach)

Hey, Lo.

Last night I hit the bottom...

as low as I could go.

I was suffocating

under everything I've ruinedbetween us.

But you know I...I didn't want to die alone.

I couldn't bearthe thought

of not living my lifeout with you.

Honey, I rememberedwhat Ebby told me:

that I couldn't do it on my own,

that I was powerless...

and so I cried out.

I just cried out for help.

I don't know howto describe it, Lo.

It sounds crazy,I know.

Maybe I am.

But a light filled this room...

and I feltthe presence of God, Lo...

And it just liftedall the weight.

I feel free

for the first timein my life.

Free of it all.

BILL:And I was at rock bottom...

LOIS:My husband had indeed stopped drinking.

BILL:I just cried out...

Cautiously, I let myself believe

that our old life could be restored.

BILL:I just said, I'll do anything.

I don't go for that.

Nice talking to ya.

(sighs)

They don't want to hear it.

They just lookright through me

with their hardboiled eyes,

and all they hear is preachingthey've heard before.

Look at them, honey.

Two drunks sitting there tellingeach other their sob story

and both of themare too drunk to listen.

You know,they'll, they'll swear

to high heaven they'll quit,

but neither of themwill stay sober.

Well, it seems justby talking to them

is keeping you sober.

Yeah, but I'mno different than them.

I'm-I'm still a drunk

who hasn't had a drinkin four months.

And 27 days.

(laughs)

And 27 days.

You're gonna do fine.

Better than fine.

I've just been out of workfor so long, Lo.

I suppose theywouldn't ask me

to lead their proxy fight

if they didn't thinkI could do it, though.

They'll see youfor who you are:

a man with a superior senseof business

and a level head,

and before you know it,we'll be back on our feet.

Yeah.They wouldn't have hired youif they didn't believe in you.

You'll call me as soonas you get to Akron,

and you'll write meevery day.

Yes, ma'am.

(kisses)

I love you, pal.

I love you, too.

Yes, hello. I've been trying

to get throughto Mr. Wilson's room.

Bill Wilson.

Yeah, well, I've been leavinghim messages for four days.

Are you sure he's gotten them?

All right, thank you.

(sighs)

(phone rings)

Hello?

BILL:Honey, it's me.

Bill...

where have you been?

Listen, honey, I'm fine.

So much has happened here.

The business deal fell through.

It doesn't matter.

Just come home.

No, I can't. Not yet.

Listen, something elsehappened here.

You remember, honey,when you told me

that if I, if I talked to drunksit would keep me sober?

Well, listen, I held onto that,

and when the deal fell through,

I was standing in the middleof the lobby and I, honey,

I remembered that they had thelist of preachers in the hotel,

and-and I-I called one of them,

and I said to him,"I need to speak with a drunk."

And he put me onto this doctor, honey.

His name's Dr. Bob.

Dr. Bob?

Yeah, he's another drunk,and I swear, honey,

he saved my life out here, Lo,and I-I reckon

I saved his.

(flatly):That's wonderful.

What's the matter, sweetheart?

Lo, I'm sober.

(firmly):I'm sober.

I didn't know if you were deador alive or hurt somewhere.

I've been worried sickabout you, Bill.

I'm sorry, honey.

I just, I miss youand I love you

(voice breaking):and I want you to come hereand be with me in Ohio.

I'm gonna send you a ticket,

and you come hereand you be with me,

and I will explain everything.

Lo, honey...

pal...

BILL:They're good folks, Lo.

You're gonna like them.

You'll see.

They can't waitto meet you.

That's Annie there.

ANNIE:Bob!

That must beDr. Bob.

Yes, indeed!

BOB:There they are.

Lois.

Hello.

Oh, Lois!

LOIS:Yes.

(Annie laughing)

Hello.

What a pleasure.

It's nice to meet you.

Hello, Lois.Hello.

I'm Bob.

It's nice tomeet you, Bob.

Nice to meet you.Come on in.

Thanks to your husband, I'm sober,

which seems like a miracleafter all these years.

I'm gratefulnot just to Bill here,

but to you, Lois.

Without you and Annie,

Bill and I would be in

drunkards' gravesor locked up

in some crazy bin by now.

Now, that's justthe plain truth of it.

Thank you.

Honey, last few days

we've been workingthrough things together,

and we realizedthat we might

actually understanda few things

about how to keepother folks sober.

Until I met Dr. Bob, I was,I was talkingatdrunks,

bullheaded likeI always was

when I was drinking,

and, honey, I swear it issomething that we're onto

that is making allthe difference.

They're going to the hospital.

They talk to the drunksthat come in.

Sometimes they bring 'emback here.

(chuckles)I've seen it myself:

lost causes brought backto life.

Gosh, Annie, I'm ashamedto admit this,

but when Bill met meat the station,

and I saw how wellhe was doing,

I was angry.

I mean, how could a strangerin Akron make such a difference

when I've been tryingfor 17 years?

Oh. We reallyarerelated.

(whispering):I felt exactly the same wayabout Bill at first,

and then I began to think,

"Maybe Bob does needsomeone else to talk to.

Maybe I'mtoo close."

I can't tell youhow wonderful it is

to talk to someonewho understands me.

Yeah.

I guess being soberhas its own challenges.

Oh, yes.(chuckles)

Yes, it does.

You're right.

They really arewonderful people.

Yeah, they are.

You know,Bob and I were talking tonight

about startingour own group.

No dues,no hierarchy to the thing.

Just-Just a fellowship,you know?

I was hopingwhen we get back to Brooklyn

that you might consider

letting me bring some folksinto the house.

There's somany drunks, Lo,

that want to get soberall over the city,

and hospitals,

places like Bellevue,

they just don't knowwhat to do with them all.

I know it's a lot to ask, honey.

(man laughing)

MAN:Come on now.

(laughing)

Would you pleaseget off my stoop?

What's yourproblem, buddy?

(laughing)

(indistinct conversation)

Father.

Oh, hello, Lois.

It's so good to see you.

It's good to see you, too.

Father, this is,uh, Charlie,

Wes, George,and Hank.

This is my father,Dr. Burnham.

It's an honor, sir.

Dr. Burnham!

It's good to seeyou again, sir.

Yes, hello, Ebby. It'snice to see you, as well.

Lois, what in God's nameis going on here?

Father, let me make yousomething to eat.

Lois.

We can-we can clear a room.

Lois, I can't stay.

Have you turned our homeinto a boardinghouse?

These men areour guests, father.

One drunk wasn't enough?

You might as wellbe living

in the alcoholic wardat Bellevue.

Where's Bill?

He's down at the mission,helping drunks.

Talking to themhelps him.

He's sober.

Good for Bill.

You and Bill haven'tbeen keeping up

with themortgage payments.

I received a noticefrom the bank.

They're threatening eviction.

We'll take care of it.

We will. I promise.

You deserve better than this.

(door closing)

The day things changedfor me was the day

that I became willing enoughto allow my Creator

to ease my burden,take away my sins,

root and branch.

MAN:Mm-hmm. Yep.

And I haven't had a dropto drink since.

You know, that's not to sayit's been an easy road

because it has not.

Lois can attest to that.

It's the first thingthat's worked for me.

I don't knowhow it works.

But it'sworking.

How you feeling, Wes?

WES:Pretty good.

Well, I'm gladyou're here.

Hey, sweetheart.

I need to talk to youabout the house, Bill.

Yeah, all right.

We got anotherforeclosure warning.

I'm just, uh, a little late

for the group meeting.

Your meeting.

I got ten minutesto get there.

Lo, can we talk about thiswhen I get home?

No, I want to talk about it now.

Lo, I promise we can talk

when I get back fromthe meeting, honey.

Damn your meeting!

You've been with meall these years,

and you have no ideawhat I've been through.

You're my husband,

and I can't dependon you at all!

I have prayed

and I have fought for youlike no one else.

Why wasn't my love enoughto make you stop?

When is it gonna be my turn?

When are you gonnabe there for me?

(chattering)

Hi, honey.

Do you feellike talking?

No.

All right.

So, I've beenthrowing around the idea

of putting a book together

with some of the, uh,recovery steps

we've been working in on here.

I figure, uh, you know, we couldhelp some other folks, like us.

And...Thanks, Lo.

Maybe, uh,it'll pay a few bills.

MAN:Yeah, that would helpthings out a lot.

MAN 2:Yeah.

MAN:How do you startthat kind of thing?

BILL:Well, I've been tradingphone calls with Dr. Bob

and we're sort of, you know,putting together a few ideas.

And I figure we-we would, uh,put together a manuscript,

and then, uh...

Excuse me.

Um, do you know someonein the meeting?

My husband.

Oh, mine's inthere, too.

Would you liketo come in?

I wouldn't wantto inconvenience you.

It would be notrouble, really.

Um, I couldmake some tea.

I could actually use someoneto talk to tonight.

We came all the wayfrom Westchester County.

I'm Anne Bingham.

Anne, I'm Lois Wilson.

If I don't drive him here,

I can't guaranteethat he'll make it,

so I make the drive.

For years, I used

to hide the keysfrom my husband.

I was afraid he'd kill himself

or someone else.

Exactly.

I don't know whyI never gave a thought

as to how all these mengot to these meetings.

Should weinvite them in?

Let's do that.

Excuse me.

Do you know someonein the meeting?

Yes.

Well, I'm Lois Wilson,and it's my house.

Would you like to come in?

All right.

Great.

Yeah.

Oh my... Dora!

Lois?

I had no idea.

(laughs)

Please, come in.

Hello. I'm Lois Wilson.

Just straight downto the kitchen,

straight down the hall.

Just-justdown the hall.

Hey.What's going on?

Oh, this is for us.

Go back to your meeting.Okay.

Okay.

He'd cuss me out

for wasting good money,

but it was my moneyhe was stealing to buy it.

I know that one.

For a while, the only way Icould tolerate the situation

was to drink myself.

Sure. My husband's drinkingdrove me to drink,

but when I saw what it didto the children, I quit.

If I can stop,why can't he?

That's just what they'retrying to do in there,

aren't they?

Not that I'm so understanding.

I threw a shoeat my husband today.

I whopped mine with a shovel.

(all laugh)

I had the police haul mine away.

Four times.

(all laugh)

But why would I lash outnow that he's sober?

Resentment.

Pure and simple.

I guess I just thoughtonce he stopped drinking,

everything would be lovingand happy and it's not.

That's because of allthe things they did.That's why.

I mean, you can't forget.

(men laughing)

Listen to them out there,having a good time

while we're in here stewingfrom all their garbage.

Yeah, I think they're in theretrying to get well

while we're in herefeeling sick.

I've had enough.

Good night.

Good night.

I think our husbandsare doing the best they can

for themselves.

And so should we.

LOIS:Bill devoted himself to the program

and a book that outlined its principles,

while we, the wives of alcoholics,

began our own meetings.

Hello, Lois!Hello.

Welcome.

Bill.

Oh, Wes, howare ya?Good.

Listen, I, um...

I don't knowhow I feel about this.

What's that?

The wives in there havinga big gossip session about us.

You think they're gonnalearn something

they don't alreadyknow about us?

Wes, they're just tryingto climb out

from underneath thewreckage we caused.

That's all.

They're in there trying toget well just like we are.

But if drinking like they do,

the way they do, is an illness,

aren't we foolish

to think that we can doanything about it?

Well, maybe that'sjust it.

Thinking that we can dosomething about it

is our problem.

You know, our-our own obsession

with-with what they're thinking,what they're feeling.

Are they tempted?

Is he gonna slip again?

When's the next disaster?

I thoughtif I was more...

only better, he wouldn't drink.

There were times I thoughtit was my fault.

I couldn't have children.

(murmuring sympathetically)If there's healingfor them,

there must be hope for us.

Lois, you're right.

(all chuckle)

Hey.

Can I show you something?

Come on.I want to sort this.

Come on, sit down.Come on, sweetie pie.

Bill, you finished it.

Well, I wishI could have

finished it before the banktook the house, but,

listen, honey, we got friendsall over the city.

They're gonna put us up as longas we need, so we'll be fine,

and-and, you know,maybe we'll sell this

and get back onour feet, so...

LOIS:"Here are the steps we took,

"which are suggested as a program of recovery.

"Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcoho,

"that our lives had become unmanageable.

"Step 2: Came to believe

"that a power greater than ourselves

"could restore us to sanity.

"Step 3: Made a decision

"to turn our will and our livs

"over to the care of God as we understood him.

"Step 4: Made a searching and fearless

"moral inventory of ourselves.

"Step 5: Admitted to God,

"to ourselves, and to another human being

"the exact nature of our wrongs.

"Step 6: Were entirely ready

"to have God remove all these defects of characte.

Step 7: Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings."

Hey, you.Hey, sis.

LOIS:"Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed

"and became willing to make amends to them all.

"Step 9: Made direct amends

"to such people wherever possible,

"except when to do so would injure them or others.

"Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory

"and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

Lo.

Elise.

It was a wonderful surpriseto get your letter.

We hear aboutBill's good work.

Thank you for meeting me.

I just... I wishI had more time.

There's so much to dofor Emma's wedding. It's...

I'm so happy for you,for the whole family.

Thank you.

Elise,

I'm so sorry

for the unkind thingsI said to you

when I last saw you.

No. That was years ago.

When you were warningthe adoption agency

about Bill,

you were protecting a childfrom a disastrous upbringing.

I respect you for being honestwith me and for...

for doing the hard thing.

I want you to know

that I am so, so sorry

for my behavior

and that it caused a riftbetween us.

I've never had a friend

as kind as you.

And I've missed youso very much.

LOIS:"Step 11:

"Sought through prayer and meditation

"to improve our conscious contact with God

"as we understood him,

"praying only for knowledge of his will for us

"and power to carry that out.

"Step 12:

"Having had a spiritual awakening

"as the result of these steps,

"we tried to carry this messae to others,

"and to practice these principles

in all our affairs."

(indistinct chattering)

LOIS:Bill and I lost my family's home.

We lived out of suitcases and depended on our friends

to see us through.

We slept on floors and in living rooms--

51 places in two years.

What kept us going

was the knowledge that the steps were working.

People's lives were improving.

Still, I longed for a place

to call home.

Lois Wilson?

Yes.

Hello. I'm Helen Griffiths.

Oh, hello, Helen.

A very dear friend of mine,

who shall go unnamed,is part of your program.

You and Bill have done morefor her

than you could ever know.

Well, we all helpone another here.

That's the way it works.

I heard through the grapevine

that... you're homeless

just at the moment.

Oh, no, no.We're never homeless.

We always have one friendor another that puts us up

each night.

Well, I have a home

in Bedford Hills.

Not far,

but in the country still.

I never go.

If you like it,you could live there

and pay me as you can.

Oh.

That's so kind of you. I...

It's beau...beautiful, but that's...

The addressis on the back.

There's my number.

I...

No.

You keep that,

and you call me.

Bill?

Uh-huh.

I want to ask foryour forgiveness.

For what, honey?

I enteredour marriage

with such an arrogantsense of my own goodness

that...

No.

You were good, Lo.

Youaregood, honey.

You weren't arrogant.

But...

I was arrogant.

I was the king,

prince and pope of arrogance.

I'm talking aboutme now, Bill.

(woman talking over P.A. system)

Bill?

Yeah, it's thisway, honey.

No.

Come on, Lo.We're gonna be late.

What? What'sthe matter?

I want a home, Bill.

I know, honey. I...

For all these years,

I have lived and breathedand hoped in Bill Wilson.

I've been as addicted to youas you were to booze.

I'm going to Bedford Hillsto stay for a while.

I love you,but I-I have to do this.

I'm sorry.

Lo!

(man talking over P.A. system)

(birds singing)

LOIS:I think what I've learned

from my journey

and from the supportof all of those

who've traveled the same roadthat we've traveled

and from all of your stories

and all of you here is that

there is hope and there is a way

to find our way back to sanity

and to focus on living our livesto the fullest.

Shall we pray?

ALL:God grant me the serenity

to accept the thingsI cannot change,

courageto change the things I can

and wisdomto know the difference.

See you soon.

(car door closes)

(car engine starts)

(horn beeps twice)

There's my pal.

Oh, here I am.

Here I am.