Original subtitles

The practice of Cursive Writing in the handwriting system

known as the Palmer Method

will be one of the most important things

you will ever learn.

In basic loop practice, we embody a balance

between control and relaxation.

Success in the execution of Palmer loops

demands that you locate the beat of your inner drummer.

The heartbeat that guides your handwriting.

Silence!

It's this class called Art Without Boundaries.

It's where people that are differently-abled

create together.

Mm-hmm.

I want to photograph folks with verbal challenges

as they make art.

As Valedictorian, you know, you got a real opportunity here.

You know, your thesis is going to be heavily scrutinized.

I'm just not sure taking pictures is really enough.

And for the literary connection to your class

well, maybe we can use Ginsberg's American Sentences?

From class?

And I was hoping you'd be my advisor.

Ahh.

My grandmother had Alzheimer's.

We used to be really close before she got sick.

Towards the end, she didn't know any of us.

I'm just sorry I didn't find out more about her.

"Who tells the stories of people who have limited or no language?

Is there a way to help such people tell their own stories?"

Up, down, and around. Up, down, and around.

Palmer Method Cursive Loop practice has been shown

to light up little-used

or even failing connections in the brain.

Up, down, and around.

Up, down, and around.

Up, down, and around.

Up, down, and around.

Up, down, and around.

Up, down, and around.

Up, down, and around.

Bravo.

Please, she often thinks she's back teaching at our school.

If people can just let her have that story.

Goodbye, Sister.

Ciao.

Goodbye.

God bless.

We will see you again soon.

S?, si.

This is your new room, Giorgia.

See? All your things are here.

No.

Look, look, look.

Your pillow is there.

See?

Charles, stop avoiding me.

Call me back.

We need to talk about Cody, Charles.

Charles, just call me back.

Ta-da.

Do you like my dress?

It's new.

It's from Frederick and Nelson's.

Your father bought it especially.

When is Catherine coming?

Soon.

God, would you look at all those kids.

Pew, pew, pew.

Oh honey, you forgot your button.

Why don't we have more kids?

Phrase it properly, Charles.

I think what you mean to say is,

Why don't you and Dad have more children?

Well, why don't you?

Because God knew I could only be a good mother to one child.

Like Mary.

Mr. and Mrs. Marlow,

I know this may not be what you want to hear,

but I'm hoping you're open to the idea.

I believe we should try medication.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

have proven efficacious

for some children with Cody's...

behaviors.

Now, you would have to take extensive notes

on how Cody's mood might shift.

But we can start as early as this week.

Aspergillus, Cladosporium,

Stachybotrys, Penicillin, are most likely.

Hopefully we're just dealing with standard

run of the mill black mold.

In which case, the protocols are clear,

and have proven to be very effective.

I don't know why we didn't think about this before.

Black mold.

Yes, in the crawlspace.

I mean, we're probably all sick

and don't even know about it, right?

That's quite possible, I'm sorry to say.

And of course, a child's immune system...

Is so much more vulnerable.

Precisely.

Is he toilet-trained?

He can write his own name.

Well, some recent studies have linked immune responses

to Sick Building Syndrome.

And to the Autism Spectrum, actually.

Umm...

No... No one has mentioned Autism before.

We'll do whatever it takes to make it better.

Is he tantrumming more than usual?

You could say that.

And he has lost his words?

Alison.

I believe we are dealing with Sick Building Syndrome.

As caused by biological contaminants.

We can't move.

I mean, that's the only home that Cody has ever known.

And he loves the trees, he loves...

That is of course your decision.

We are going to bind our arms to our rulers.

The cloths are to be wrapped and tied in three locations.

First, around the palm of the hand,

between the thumb and forefinger.

Then, around the wrist.

And finally, around the forearm just below the elbow.

Any questions?

Okay, let's get this done.

Mm, ugh.

Please keep your talking to a minimum.

Please sit up straight.

Position yourself properly.

Take up your pencils, and begin

your one-minute timed loop practice, now.

Come on, Dana, you can do this.

Take your pencil.

Come on.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Dana McGucken, that's enough!

Calm down!

Take it off him.

I'm sorry, Dana.

I'm very sorry.

It's all right,

it's all right.

You won't have to do that again.

Mrs. Braxton, your nose is bleeding.

Let us continue.

Please begin your one-minute bed spring oval practice, now.

Good morning, Cody.

Oh boy, a new day.

A new chance for Cody to earn lots of stickers.

Okay now, Cody, time to get up.

Where's Cody?

Where's Cody?

Where did he go?

Ah! There he is!

Okay, now.

Here are your slippers.

Let's see if you get your first sticker.

Good job.

Now let's go to the bathroom and see how you did.

I sure hope you get a sticker.

This way and a little bit.

Let's try.

Let's try again.

One more.

One more.

And then you get a sticker for breakfast.

Come on, come on.

Here, let me help you.

There you go.

There you go.

That's it.

Good job.

Good job.

Cody?

Your dad is here.

It's your dad.

And look, he's got a grocery bag.

Hey, Pal.

How you doing?

Brought you something.

Have fun.

Hey!

Hey, Cody, Cody, give that back to Raisa right now!

Cody!

He sure does love playing with those noodles.

- Too rough! - No, it's okay.

My fault.

Your hurt your father!

After he bring all those noodles for you.

I set timer now.

Ten minutes.

- No more. - That's right.

You want a sticker, you have to put those noodles away

the very second that timer goes off.

No fussing.

Are you okay?

Giorgia?

Shh, Giorgia.

Giorgia?

It's okay, it's going to be okay.

Giorgia?

Giorgia!

It's going to be okay!

It's going to be okay, Giorgia.

Calm down now.

Calm down now.

Okay, all right, we're almost done, Honey.

Then we can go get your sandwich.

The... the entire floor is going to have to be concreted.

We need Visqueen.

We need additional venting.

- They're... - Visqueen?

Venting?

Daddy, I know you think this is a lot, but I...

No, no, no.

Not if you're staying here.

But your mother and I think you should consider moving,

not renovating.

There are some nice places near the canal.

We checked.

We're not moving.

Sweetheart?

Why beat a dead horse?

So, when does she plan on making the big ask?

After dessert?

Oh, the...

God, don't play innocent with me, Charles.

I'll be surprised if she hasn't catered the entire meal.

Hired a Master of Ceremonies.

Wish someone would tell her she doesn't have to treat us

like we're potential corporate sponsors.

I haven't been entirely truthful.

It is a fact that I've never seen one of Cody's

full-blown fits, but I've sensed something.

Nothing I could put a finger on.

Just a feeling that things weren't quite right.

I love my daughter dearly.

But she has a tendency to let hope outlast the truth.

I believe in modern day psychological terms

this would be known as denial.

He's lost all his words.

What do you think is wrong with him?

There his is.

There's my snuggle bunny.

Sweetheart!

Hello, darling.

Eskimo kiss.

Horse kiss.

Butterfly kiss.

What I believe, Charles, doesn't matter.

Not in the long run.

It's what you and Alison believe that's important.

Hi, you've reached Charles.

Leave a message.

Charles, I know you're there.

It's a school night.

Pick up.

Pick up, Charles.

Bartending exam. One.

Name ingredients in a Moscow Mule.

Correct. Two.

What is the proper glass in which to serve a Bacardi Buck?

How do you make sense of the fact that

you're working as a bartender?

Designated driver?

Designated Sherpa.

Alison Forch�.

It's nice to meet you, Charles.

With, um, with whom are you on expedition?

My brother Aiden is the drummer.

Here, have a seat.

We made a deal, I promised that I would haul his gear

around this weekend, if he promises to haul my books

across Manhattan in four months.

What happens in four months?

I'm graduating, moving, and then I am starting my internship.

Oh, wow, well, groovy.

Have you thought about my question?

- Well... - I'm sorry that I inundated you

with all of these, it's just that the groom's mother

wanted me to toss them, and I couldn't bear to.

They're just so lovely.

Alison! I need you!

I'll be right there.

I gotta go.

Why get rid of them?

The napkins?

Oh, because of the typo.

See? Li... live will keep us together.

Oh, is it a quote from something?

Okay.

Not a big fan of popular music.

Not really, no.

Well, it's been fun.

- Yeah. - A promise is a promise.

I should help my brother.

I would like to see you again.

I'll say goodbye before I leave.

No, I meant like get a coffee...

I know what you meant.

I'm thinking about it.

Plus, I fly to New York tomorrow.

Okay.

I prefer written correspondence to telephone conversations.

And though you are under no legal obligation

to return this, this is my favorite.

So, use it, re-gift it.

Whatever you do, please do not throw it away.

Goodbye, Charles.

Before June 10th, I will be at Columbia University

School of Law at this address.

After June 10th when I graduate, my law books and I

will be living on West 10th, at this address.

It was a pleasure meeting you, Charles.

You are an excellent bartender.

Nevertheless, I do hope that you'll give some thought

to that question.

Best wishes, Alison.

P.S. I'll want to have children right away.

May I help you?

Hello? Hi.

I'm wondering if Alison Forch� lives here.

One moment.

Hello?

What are you doing?

Marry me.

Come back to Seattle and marry me.

Today, tomorrow, in a year, soon.

Yes! Yes!

I have a surprise for the two of you.

Oh yeah?

Your father and I are taking Cody for the next four days,

so the two of you can get away together.

I know his routine and rules.

He can't be touched on the neck, especially when eating.

No, Mother. No, no, no.

We can't... we can't possibly get away

with everything with going on.

- I'm sorry, this is not... - I've reserved three nights

at a B&B in La Conner.

Three?

Three nights?

There's absolutely nothing to worry about.

Go and pack.

If you get on the road in the next

ninety minutes or so,

you'll arrive in time for dinner.

I made a reservation at a phenomenal restaurant.

Mother.

This is insane!

- What's insane about it? - You!

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Well!

Where's Cody?

He's upstairs.

He's with his therapist.

Fine, I'll stay until his lesson is over.

And I can pack his things while I'm waiting.

Thank you, I mean that's...

Your father and I have all sorts of lovely activities planned.

- We'll have a wonderful time. - Okay.

I just don't think that you and Daddy understand

how complicated our life is, I mean...

I understand perfectly Alison,

and that's exactly why you and your husband need to get away.

All right, class.

Present arms.

And begin.

Notice the evenness with which Charles writes.

The steady pressure he puts on the chalk.

Notice how he keeps his arms relaxed.

Look at how consistent he is.

Quite exceptional.

Textbook perfect.

- Quite exceptional. - Perfect.

Bradley! Mitchell!

Shall I send you to detention?

Go!

All right, class.

Let us resume with a series of lower case A's.

Charles will continue to lead, and I will call out a rhythm.

Present arms.

And up, down.

Up, down.

Up, down.

Up, down.

Dana, quiet please.

Yes, Dana? Do you have something to contribute?

That boy, that Charlie Marlow.

He do good work with those, those Palmer loos.

He do good work with that.

No, no!

I'm sorry, Sister Giorgia.

I don't know.

Non avete il diritto!

Leave Romy alone, or I will take you outside

and put you on the bus.

Stop.

You all right?

Have you come to help me?

Thank you.

Thank God who has sent you.

Good work.

Good, Cody.

Cody, Cody.

My sweet Cody.

It's bedtime, all right?

Can you put that away, sweetie? Hmm?

It's been ten minutes, I think that's long enough.

Come on.

Here we go.

Here we go, Cody.

Sweetheart.

Hey! Hey!

No, no, no!

No.

Shh.

Stop it.

Shh.

What's it going to take, Alison?

A broken nose?

Knocked out teeth?

I've got this under control.

I can see that.

Have you looked in the mirror lately?

I don't know if when I come home,

I'm going to find the police waiting for me

with a domestic abuse warrant,

or you lying comatose on an ambulance gurney.

Don't be ridiculous, Charles.

What do you tell your friends?

About the bruises, the bite marks, the bald spots?

Do you think I'm the only one paying attention?

Alison...

it's just not working.

You've done everything possible.

No one could have done more.

You've been amazing.

But we just have to start facing the fact

- that maybe there's another... - No, no, no.

I will not accept that.

I will not.

I will not hand my son off to some strangers.

Alison, do you want him to kill you?

Stop it, Charles.

Please.

I can't...

...quit, I can't stop trying.

I'm not asking you to stop trying.

I'm just saying that there might be a place

where he could be better cared-for,

and our family could be safe.

He is our family.

And he's only six years old.

Sweetheart, we love our son.

And we can still see him every day,

safely.

Who's going to take care of him when we're gone?

Falling does not equal failing.

Douche.

You ready?

Come in for me.

You grab my wrist.

Here's where you went, to the inside.

But you're supposed to go to the outside of the elbow.

Twist in. You feel that pressure?

Yeah.

Come here.

Force them to the ground.

- You're falling. - Yes.

- Right? - Right.

Here's something interesting.

In Aikido, falling doesn't equal failing.

See, we practice Ukeme, which is the art of falling.

It's not passive falling or just giving in.

If you're stiff and you're inflexible, then you...

- Hi. - Hey.

Umm, you cannot receive properly.

Which means that we could potentially get hurt

or disillusioned in any sort of difficult situation.

- Does that make sense? - Yeah, yeah.

So, so much, so much sense.

Honey, would you like to try?

Bruce is a great teacher.

He came all the way down here, so maybe...

It's just not for me, sweetheart.

But I'm glad you're enjoying it, really.

Well, are you sure? It's easy.

It's not hard.

I'll just check on our son.

Hello? Anyone home?

I'm here.

Did you see your snack?

Yes, thank you.

- Did your father call? - No.

Were you worried?

No.

Your father won't be home.

He's at a Jaycees Meeting,

for the Shriners, or Elks, Caribous,

one of those.

So, it will just be you and me.

And a couple of TV dinners.

Aren't we lucky to live in such an age of convenience?

Isn't all this just a dream come true?

Lucky, lucky, lucky.

Well, I'm going to start making dinner.

Okay.

We've got Salisbury Steak and Fried Chicken, Mexican.

And now this very special award.

The certificate of merit

for Palmer penmanship goes to...

Charles Simon Marlow.

Yay, Charlie!

Congratulations.

Charlie!

Charlie Marlow!

Yay!

Charlie Marlow!

Charlie Marlow!

Yay!

The retard loves him.

The retard is his girlfriend.

Charlie!

Charlie Marlow! Charlie!

Dana, that's enough.

I'm sure we're all very proud of Charles.

Charlie Marlow!

Dana McGucken, quiet down now.

Charlie Marlow! Charlie Marlow!

Dana McGucken! Silence!

Now!

Oh, you just had to have one drink!

One drink, you said and now look at you!

- You can't even stand up! - Would you just relax?

It's not a big deal!

- Oh, it's not a big deal? - I'll take care of it.

I'll take care of it.

Oh, how are you going to take care of it?

I'll go to the liquor store right now.

Oh that's a great idea, you're drunk as a skunk

you can't drive, you can't even stand up!

- Look at you! - That's a nice dress, Honey.

- Get out of here! - All right, all right.

- Okay, okay, okay. - Go take a nap!

I took a nap already. You woke me up.

- I'm going to go cut the grass. - Cut the grass?

- What are you talking about! - I'm the only one who does

- any work around here anyway! - Does any work around here?

You don't even have a job!

Hey, Charlie.

Don't worry, I didn't cut my foot off.

I just tripped.

Hey, make me a drink, will you?

Now that your mom's gone.

CHARLIE Okay.

Bloody Mary.

It's a new one, okay?

Step one.

Salt on the rim.

Use that first, otherwise it'll all spill it every...

Celery.

Vodka, or gin.

Vodka.

Okay?

That's good.

Thanks, Pal.

Needs some tomato juice too.

And olives, it's got olives.

- Hey. - Hi. You ready?

No, thank you.

I ate.

I'm extending an olive jar.

- And I'm okay. - Okay.

Thank you.

What's with all the boxes?

What?

- The boxes. - Oh, um...

Just doing a little purging.

I might have a yard sale.

Oh, well, if you find anything belonging to me,

just get rid of it.

Oh, really?

If I haven't used it in a decade,

it's nothing I need.

You sure?

What about, um...

...this?

Come on, I thought you looked gorgeous in it.

We should probably get going.

So, you've made up your mind already?

We're building our own group home?

No, that's not true.

Let's just not waste time pretending

that there's some kind of a collaboration

- going on here. - Oh, I see.

So, finding a home for our son to permanently live in

is a waste of time.

- Is that right? - No, that's not...

It's fine, really. Just...

Let me know what you decide and we'll go with that.

Okay.

Hi, Charlie.

Look, look at this.

It's loo.

Loo.

Um, oh, okay, I'll open it for you.

No, Charlie.

See, it's loo.

Oh.

Loops.

You say it.

Loooooooooops.

Yeah.

I like to peel them off sometimes.

Do you ever do that?

No.

Show.

Okay.

Well, you gotta go real slow.

Like this.

Or else they break.

Hey, you did it!

Atta boy!

Yeah!

Atta boy, me!

Show me those Palmer loops.

Uh, um...

Oh.

Well?

Hm.

I mean, that was... that was pretty close to perfect,

wasn't it?

The fact that the Youngs and the Gurnees

are willing to pitch in on this,

and Miles and Robbie don't even age out for another year.

I mean, Cody is nearly 18,

and if he ages out of state support,

we're in so much trouble.

The weather is really something, isn't it?

Have you been drinking?

- Have I been drinking? - All right, look, I...

Would that be a problem if I was drinking?

I'm not accusing you of anything, Charles.

Okay, so there's no need to bristle.

I'm not bristling.

Point of fact, I did have a few glasses

of the Cab Syrah blend earlier

while I was grading papers.

How's school?

It's good.

What are you and your students doing right now?

We're actually working on "First, Middle, Last."

Oh, okay, good.

I like that game.

Any especially good ones?

Yeah.

Megan Merry McCormick had

Mellifluous Magnanimous Mammoth,

which I thought was nice.

Well, that's not fair.

I mean, she's got three names that start with M.

All right, let's go.

Alison Nancy Forch�.

Absurdly Narcissistic...

Mm.

...Friend.

Mm!

For you, I would like...

Cursed

Salacious, uh,

Minotaur.

Amorphous, Nagging, Fantasy.

Okay.

Callous...

Sarcastic...

Madman.

And we're here.

Hi, Cody.

Miles.

Robbie. Hi!

How are you guys? How was school?

Oh my goodness, Raisa, this smells amazing.

Thank you.

This is Cody's spoon.

Okay, honey.

Look at that.

These mashed potatoes look so good.

Come on.

I think I might have to steal some of them from you.

Hmm?

Are these my mashed potatoes, or are these...

oh, okay, there we go.

How 'bout a bite?

Yeah?

Oh, that bite is mine.

I want that bite.

Ahh!

Ahh! You tricky tricky.

Here we go.

Okay, this one's mine.

I know it. I can feel it.

Mom's gonna win this one.

Let me have it.

Ohh!

Miles, did you see that?

You taught him that, didn't you?

I'm gonna win this time.

I know I'm gonna win.

I'm gonna win. This one's mine...

This one's mine.

Yes.

Wow.

Thank you, sweetheart.

Here, baby.

You just have a little bit on your face, okay?

Good job.

Good, good.

Look, you did so good.

Dessert, okay?

Guess what?

Here, let me have this.

I, um... I brought somebody with me today.

Someone that I think

you're gonna be really excited to see.

- Hey, pal. - Look, Cody.

Sweetheart, it's Dad.

- How are you doing? - Honey.

Oh, Cody. Cody.

Somebody really likes their dessert, huh?

Come here, baby, don't do that.

Let's get you a new bib.

No, no, no, no, no!

It's okay, baby.

It's all right.

I'm here.

Do not touch his scars ever!

You didn't tell her that!

Hi.

How was it?

It was a long day.

How did he do on the drive over?

Fussed a little,

but he's been great since we got home.

Look, Cody.

It's Mom.

Hi, honey.

So, uh... what have you guys been up to?

Nothing much. Just hanging.

We made pesto for dinner, didn't we, pal?

Huh?

Just like they've got at the group home?

Hey, Cody.

Cody, sweetheart.

Are you having fun visiting, baby?

Cody?

Mom's talking to you, son.

Can you... you take a break?

Honey?

Okay, all right.

Let me have this, baby.

Seriously, Charles.

- Just let me take care of it. - No, no, no, no.

Please, no.

Don't bother.

Are you going to tell me how long

you've been letting him stim?

I don't know.

I'm sorry.

I fell asleep.

I don't understand why it's so hard

for you to comply with the rules.

To comply with the rules?

What are we talking about?

I do this one thing, Charles.

This one thing for myself.

The Aikido.

It takes up all of your free time.

But that's... it's fine.

And it is not as though I haven't logged

just as many hours as you.

But when I am here, I am present.

I keep him engaged.

I don't just let him stim for hours and hours.

Alison, it helps him.

It helps him.

I honestly... I don't see what's wrong with that.

I don't know how I can trust you.

How you can trust me?

You don't get to just say that and walk away!

I just...

I just want a straight answer, Charles.

How long did you let him stim?

Why can't you just accept him the way he is?

The way he is is sick.

He is sick, Charles.

Would you say that if he had cancer?

You would just shrug your shoulders

and you would say, "Oh well"

- It's not the same. - "We should just accept him

- the way he is." - Alison, it's not the same.

- You know that. - Cody needs us to fight for him.

I want him to be able to move home someday.

- Do you? - So do I.

Of course. Of course I do.

Do you? Do you?

And I work just as hard as you do with him.

Really?

- Yes. - Because all I see

when I come home is you just lying around,

and he's sitting in a corner smashing noodles.

You call that working with him?

Yes! Everything doesn't have to be so hard for him

all the time, Alison.

Why can't... why can't he just have some down time,

like any other kid?

Why can't he just do things that make him happy

when he gets home?

Because as long as he's happy,

sitting in a corner with his version of a pacifier

jammed in his mouth,

then he's manageable.

Of course, he never grows, he never advances.

But then that's just like you, now isn't it, Charles?

He is a mirror image of you.

No cares.

No challenges.

Just hours and hours of solitude.

- And then... - You're so spoiled.

You're so spoiled.

Excuse me?

If you couldn't constantly ask Daddy for this or for that,

then we'd have to do it together.

Instead, you're always bringing home some new miracle cure.

- Wait. Quiet. - No.

- Quiet. - Alison, you actually need

- to listen to this now. - Quiet!

Do you smell that?

You cannot touch him on his scars!

You can never touch his scars!

Didn't... you didn't tell her?

Nobody told her!

Cody, sweetheart, come here, come here.

It's all right, baby. Come here.

No, no, no, no, no.

Hey, Cody, it's all right.

Mommy's here. Mommy's here, baby.

Let's go. Let's go.

Come on, sweetie, come on.

Why did you guys not ever mention anything to her?

Get some towels!

Be useful! Get some towels!

Come on. Breathe, Miles.

Breathe, breathe!

Oh, leave that, Mr. Marlow.

You go on.

There is this new movement called "photo-lanthropy."

Photography that draws attention to a cause or issue.

You make yourself invisible.

Let the camera do the work.

Or "photojournalism."

Never mind.

Um, how's it going with...

Sister Giorgia.

Oh, I thought I told you.

She and, uh... is collaborating with another artist.

She's calmer now.

And The Seattle Times wants to interview me.

And maybe you.

And maybe even print one of the pictures?

They can interview you.

No.

No.

Si. Ahh!

That one's beautiful.

Si. Bella.

Where do you think this should go?

Hmm.

Remember?

You're going to take this picture,

the ones we cut out?

You're going to glue them like this.

To make a new, bigger picture.

A collage.

See?

Si.

Perfecto.

Hey, guys.

Colla.

Cody.

Hello, Sister Giorgia.

Hey, Cody.

You see that collage she's making?

You'll get to make one too.

Hey, Cody, where you going, big guy?

Hey, give those to me.

Come on, you know the rules.

It's okay. It's okay.

He can have all of those if he wants.

I have plenty.

Ga.

Ahh.

Ahh.

Ahh.

Yes, please. Yes.

I think you need more.

You should not see the bottom of that glass.

You are in charge of that.

There's a few more bottles tucked away.

So whose idea was it to build our own group home?

Uh, that was me.

- Not him, right? - No, no. Of course not.

Yeah, that's right. Yeah.

Well, I don't know about you, but I need some more wine.

I'll take some, out of the bottle.

Out of the bottle?

I wouldn't do it that way.

Have you ever wondered why?

Why our children?

I mean, I'm curious.

Where do you all stand on the issue of God?

Sorry... God?

Are you folks practitioners in any kind of organized...

organization around all that?

You mean church?

- Well, yeah. - Charles, this may not

be the time.

Have you found it helpful?

Found what helpful?

Your belief in God.

I mean, I'm sorry, maybe I'm misinformed here.

I always thought people who went to church believed in God.

We're Unitarians.

Oh.

I'll spare you my repertoire of Unitarian jokes.

We've probably heard most of them.

- Probably. - I'll bet you have.

I'm just wondering, like, have you found it a comfort?

Membership in the... what do Unitarians call it?

The "Good Some Call God" club?

Charles...

- Yes. - Really?

Yes, really.

We don't go to church that often.

But it isn't out of any kind of lack of faith

or religious belief.

But we were both raised with that.

It's really about time, actually.

How we spend our Sundays.

So it's a matter of convenience?

Well, when you put it like that...

I'm just curious because Alison has actually decided

to go full tilt in the religious direction.

Have you told your friends about that, honey?

Um, n-no, I haven't.

I, uh...

I am in the process of converting to Judaism.

- Really? - Wow.

That's wonderful.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Isn't that something?

Isn't it?

If nothing else, it's going to do amazing things

for her sense of humor.

Well. L'Chaim.

L'Chaim!

Alrighty, thank you, guys.

I'll see you later.

Have a good weekend. Bye.

That was nice.

I can't believe you did that.

You ambushed me, Charles.

You embarrassed me in front of everybody.

And on a day that was supposed to be a celebration.

What?

Me bringing up the religion thing?

What, are you embarrassed about it?

I-I'm not embarrassed about it.

When I told you that I was converting,

you promised me that you would not make fun.

What you did right there,

that was spiteful.

Okay, don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit?

- No. - No?

I'm reacting.

And my reactions are perfectly appropriate.

Touch�, darling.

And I cannot be responsible for your reactions.

You promised.

I prefer written correspondence to dramatic exits.

You promised too.

Hey.

Hi.

By the way, where's your, um, where's your friend?

He could probably help out a little here.

My friend?

Yeah, Mr. Aikido.

What's his name?

Barry.

Bruce.

Bruce!

He's in California now.

Okay.

I must begin, Mrs. Marlow,

by saying what an absolute delight it has been

having Charles in my classroom this year.

Charles is a great help to me.

Charles, I have selected you to be part of a pilot program

in our school.

An experimental curriculum called Language Arts.

Only the best and brightest fourth-graders

will leave their classroom each day

and meet with me in the Language Arts room.

This new curriculum, rather than diagramming sentences,

gives the children a chance to experience and absorb

the mechanics of English in an intuitive manner.

By reading excerpts from literature...

I liked diagramming sentences.

It was more direct.

Well, thank you for your time, Mrs. Braxton.

Um... I'm glad that Charles is doing well.

There's one last thing I think you should know.

Yes?

Charles has taken on quite an unusual and heroic role

in our classroom.

Charles.

- Heroic? - Oh yes.

Without any prompting from me,

Charles has become quite a help to Dana McGucken.

I'm... I'm sorry.

I don't... I don't understand.

Oh, you haven't said anything.

That's very like you Charles, to be so humble.

Dana is one of our special children,

Mrs. Marlow.

Thanks to Charles' attention and friendship,

Dana has made tremendous improvement.

You have a lovely boy there, Mrs. Marlow.

Yes.

Yes. Well...

Thank you again for your time, Mrs. Braxton.

Of course.

Goodnight.

Where the hell is your goddamn father?

And who is that boy your teacher was talking about?

Hello, Charlie.

Look. Look at this boy.

It's Charlie Marlow.

Come on, Mom.

Say hi.

It's very good to meet you, Charles.

Dana's told me so much about you.

Hello.

It's Charlie Marlow, Mom.

We make loops.

How do you do?

- Sylvie McGucken. - Hello. Rita Marlow.

Charles has been such a wonderful friend to Dana.

He talks about him all the time.

Me and Charlie make loops.

Well, that is... that is nice.

Oh, we don't want to keep you, so, uh...

Goodnight.

All right, Dana.

Say goodbye to Charlie and his mother.

We have to go see Mrs. Braxton.

Okay.

Bye, Charlie.

Bye, Charlie mom.

That boy you were talking to.

That... that Dana?

Oh, God.

Is he really a friend of yours?

Yeah, kind of.

Well, I would be careful if I were you.

About spending time with him.

I mean, a boy like that, ugh.

You know that's... that's really nice about that, um...

that... that... that Language Arts thing.

That is really something.

I'm proud of you, Charles.

Really, I am.

I mean, who knew that I gave birth to a genius?

Although I shouldn't be surprised, since your father is

such a goddamn smarty pants.

Where the hell have you been?

Where the hell have you been?!

I've been right here at home waiting for some damn dinner!

Why were you at home?

We had the parent-teacher conference today,

and I had to talk

- to that woman by myself... - Oh, jeez, it's like

I'm supposed to keep track of every little thing

on your calendar! Hi, Charlie.

What am I supposed to do?

Am I supposed to read your mind!

- We're going in here! - Okay, let's go in there!

Yes, you're supposed to watch the calendar!

Yeah, let's do this!

In your opinion,

what makes a character heroic?

Who are the heroes in your life?

Do you consider yourself to be a hero?

What does it mean to be a dreamer?

What does it mean to be a doer?

Which are you?

A protagonist is someone that we root for.

"Pro" equals "for, in favor of."

An antagonist is the protagonist's enemy.

"Anti" equals "against, opposed to."

- Oh! Oh! - Mm-hm?

Why isn't it "anti-agonist?"

What a good question, Astrida!

I can't say I know the answer to that.

Oh well.

You children will learn that the English language

is full of idiosyncrasies.

But what's our story supposed to be about?

Well, one thing that we can all agree on

is that good stories feature

an extraordinary protagonist.

So begin there.

What do you do?

Huh?

That class.

What you do in that class when you go with Astrida?

Oh, you mean Language Arts.

Yes.

That class you go with the other smart kids.

I'm not smart.

Yes, you are smart, Charlie.

You best at loops.

Better than Brax the Ax.

We're supposed to write a story.

Story about what?

I don't know.

That's the problem.

A hero.

Somebody that you root for.

Hmm.

I can't think of anything good to write about.

You'll think of something good to write about your story.

You'll think of hero.

I root for you.

How many people?

- Did you tell the neighbors? - I told Peggy.

She saw all of the bottles in the trash can!

What was I supposed to do?

"In Arizona, Mrs. Sherri Finkbine

heard that her unborn child would be cheated

of its arms and legs.

Thalidomide.

Deformity.

Phocomelia.

Seal limbs.

Stumps.

Some people think that the babies should be

mercifully killed."

Ow!

You keep your damn mouth shut!

Keep your goddamn hands off of me!

Yeah! Huh?

You like that?

"Things like fingers extrude from odd places."

I promise I won't tell anybody! I'm sorry.

All right, all right, all right.

Just shut up. Just... all right.

All right, Buddy.

Here you go.

Scramble and toast.

Not touching.

Do you want some coffee?

Your mom's, uh, not feeling well this morning.

Got a touch of the flu,

so it's just going to be you and me at Mass, okay?

Okay.

There's a Rainiers game tomorrow.

You want to go?

Yeah? All right.

Get something on the third-base line, maybe?

- Yeah, sure. - Good seats.

Can you find his comforter, Charles?

I think it's in that box.

How's that girl's project coming along?

Which girl?

The one with the photos.

Haven't you seen the pictures?

Yes, some.

She's actually showing them at the fundraiser in May.

They're writing an article about her or something

- in the Times. - Oh wow.

You could come if you want.

To the fundraiser.

You used to like them.

We'll see.

I brought wine.

- You want a glass? - Yes.

Yes.

- It's a nice room. - Oh, Charles.

Will we ever be able to die?

Excuse me?

I just mean, will we...

will we ever be able to let go as long as he's like this?

Of course not.

Well... in that case...

...immortality it is.

You know, what this place needs is an endowment or something.

So that they'll be okay if something happened to us.

Cheers.

Maybe I'll call the Northwest Autism Foundation

and ask about it.

That's not a bad idea.

You still wear this?

Of course I do.

I forget sometimes how sentimental you are.

Cody, Cody.

Cody, come here, come here.

Cody.

- Cody. - Honey.

Honey, come here. Come here, baby.

Come here.

Look at the TV.

Come here, son. Come here, baby.

Look at this TV screen.

Come here, honey. Cody, grab Mommy's hand.

See?

You're going to see a picture of your baby brother

or baby sister.

Would you like to know the sex?

- Yes. - No.

Yes, we would.

The baby's floating.

And that's just like you when you're swimming.

- And you know what else? - Mm?

When the baby comes out,

you and the baby are going to get to go swimming together.

Isn't that great?

Let's get a nice picture for you.

Everything looks totally normal, by the way.

No cause for worry.

Oh, I'm not... oh!

Is it okay if our son touches the screen?

Gaa...

gaa...

We are gonna miss you so much.

It's okay.

We understand that you can't stay with us.

Maybe we'll see you again.

No one really knows how that works.

Gaa...

Gaa.

Hey.

You're home.

You sick?

- No. - What's wrong?

Oh...

I'm just a little... tired.

I'll start dinner.

It's okay. You don't have to fix me anything.

I'm not hungry.

What's with all the boxes?

Those are just some things

I was going to take to the thrift store.

I meant to drive them over this afternoon.

What?

No.

Why would you give this away?

We're not having any more babies.

Well, we haven't talked about that.

You... you don't know that.

No, we're not going to talk about it, Charles.

Where's the rest of it?

Okay.

You didn't.

Alison, tell me that you didn't.

No more babies.

I got a tubal ligation.

No, no.

No.

Because Alison, that, surely,

you would've spoken to me about, right?

Do you regret it?

Regret what?

Our marriage.

Our life together.

Charles, how can you ask that?

Well, it hasn't been easy.

I don't think you can regret anything once you have a child.

How do you mean?

I mean, everything you've done up until this moment.

Every detour.

Every choice.

It all led to them.

So to regret anything, to wish for any of it changed...

...would mean a different outcome, wouldn't it?

I need to go.

I'm sorry.

- No, it's fine. - It's good. It's fine.

Umm... thank you, though.

And I'll take a rain check on that wine.

Take care.

I win!

Look, Charlie.

I did it again.

- Atta boy, me. - I see, Dana.

You try, Charlie.

No, that's okay.

You win.

I'm going to work on this for now.

What's this?

Show.

You know, maybe later, um...

Here, you can have this back.

I'm gonna show you when I'm done.

Okay.

You show me when you done.

Faggot.

Queer.

Retards.

Huh, hm.

Up and down and around, again.

Up and down and around, again.

Up and down and around, again.

Hey, spaz.

Come make Palmer loops with us.

Hi, Charlie.

Dana, come out of there now!

No, Charlie, it's fun.

Up and down and around, again.

Up and down and around, again.

Yes.

Thank you for calling.

Goodbye.

So, what is this story about?

The one that you wrote for your Language Arts class.

That was Mrs. Braxton.

She wants to enter it into some kind of contest

and needs my permission.

What kind of contest?

Something that the Seattle Times is sponsoring.

You didn't know about it?

So, what's it about?

Your story?

Just a kid who goes on a trip.

That's it, really.

Well, can you tell me the title at least?

"Flipper Boy," by Charles Marlow.

Once upon a time, in a small town

in the land of sky blue waters,

a boy was born to a husband and wife.

They named him Kennedy.

At first, Kennedy was like every other boy in the town.

He liked eating Hostess CupCakes and watching TV

and swimming and reading comic books.

He had no brothers or sisters, or even any pets.

One night, Kennedy heard his parents

outside his bedroom door arguing about pets.

His mom said, "It would mean so much to him."

And his dad said, "I don't want a filthy animal in the house.

Who do you think is going to take care of it?"

And that was when Kennedy felt something funny about his toes.

He fell asleep and forgot about it.

But in the morning,

when he went to put on his sandals,

he saw that his little toes had shrunk tiny.

Every night his parents fought or told a lie,

some part of Kennedy's body got smaller or deformed.

But one day, when his mother, who had been crying,

put his tuna sandwich down in front of him,

she looked into his face and screamed.

"Mom, what is it?" Kennedy asked.

But she didn't answer, because she had fainted.

But when their sight was restored,

and they saw the gold crucifix around his neck,

they recognized Kennedy.

Not as the crippled wheelchair doctor

that had saved them,

but as their long lost son.

They fell weeping into one another's arms

and lived happily ever after.

The end.

Yay, Charlie!

Yay, yay!

Yay, Charlie!

Yay.

I like that story.

Hi, Charlie.

We're playing new game.

We're playing Cowboys and Indians.

I thought we were playing Damsel in this Dress.

No.

You really like making those Palmer loops, don't you?

Huh.

You know what?

Now that Charlie's here,

I think we should do some Palmer practice!

But wait, it's a special challenge.

You have to make Palmer loops

without holding the pencil in your hands.

How do we do that?

How we make loops without hands?

Well, you could put the pencil in your ear like this.

You funny, Mitchell.

Or you could put it in your mouth.

Or in your nose.

Or you could do it another way.

- What way? - Stop!

But he wants to know, don't you, Dana?

I do, I do.

Do you know, Charlie?

Do you know where a pencil can go,

besides your ear or your nose or your mouth?

- Stop! - Maybe you want to show him.

- Gross! - Charlie sick.

So, which one of you is gonna do the special challenge?

Me. I make loops.

- Charlie sick. - Okay, Dana.

Atta boy.

Dana.

Get on your knees.

Now bend over.

That's right.

Just like a dog.

Shit, Mitch.

Are you sure?

You sure you should do that?

Don't be such a faggot.

Didn't your mommy ever take your temperature

when you were a little bitty baby?

Get over here and help me.

Spread his butt cheeks.

What are you waiting for?

Get to work, retard.

- How? - You tell him, Charlie.

You're the teacher.

What?

Or maybe you want to do the challenge, too.

Brad, get another pencil.

- No! - Tell him.

If you tell him, I'll untie you.

- Charlie, how? - Tell him faggot,

or you're next!

Dana, make loops.

You said you were gonna untie me!

Hey!

Someone's coming, you better quit that!

You need to get out of there right now!

- Shit! - Untie them.

- Shit! - Move.

Shit.

Charlie.

Charlie Marlow.

Oh, my God, he's burning up.

Hello?

Yes, this is Mrs. Marlow.

Yes?

Are you saying that Charles was involved?

I see.

Thank you for calling.

That was your principal.

She said you were in some kind of fight during Field Day.

Why didn't you say anything?

What happened, Charles?

One of your classmates, that Dana fellow,

was very seriously injured.

He's in the hospital in intensive care.

They said that he even might...

Were you involved in any of this?

No.

Not exactly.

What do you mean, "not exactly"?

Some boys, they...

did something to Dana.

Did you see what they did?

Did you try to stop them?

Charles!

That's good.

That's good.

You might have been very seriously injured

if you had tried to intervene.

I'll make you another snack.

Oh.

Charles.

I'm so glad I ran into you.

Dana is at Children's Hospital,

and I'm sure he'd love to see you before...

I couldn't protect him, Charles.

But you have been such a wonderful friend.

Goodbye, Charles.

Please, God.

Don't let Dana McGucken die.

Please, God, don't let Dana McGucken die.

Please, please, God,

just don't let Dana McGucken die.

Please?

Charles, I hope this letter finds you well.

I was delighted to read in the paper

that you are a famous teacher.

I'm not sure if you will remember my son, Dana.

He was in your fourth grade class.

I have thought of you often over the years.

I remember well how kind you were with Dana.

I'm sure your life is very full,

but if you would ever care to meet,

I would be delighted to offer you some coffee or tea

at your earliest convenience.

I wish you and yours all the very best.

Sincerely yours, Sylvie McGucken.

Hello, Charles.

Please come in.

Welcome.

Do you take milk?

No, thank you.

That was such a nice article about you in the paper.

It was.

That student in the article in particular

is quite special.

I'm sure they look up to you.

Oh.

I don't like to talk about him with everyone,

so I keep these out of sight.

But please, have a look.

Charles, are you all right?

This picture.

- Is this... - Yes!

That's Dana.

He must be, oh, maybe 17 there.

Charles?

I thought... I thought that...

You thought he died?

Oh.

No.

Dana recovered from those injuries.

I thought you knew.

I called your mother to tell her in case you were worried.

You told my mother?

- Well, yes, I... - You told my mother

that Dana was all right?

Yes.

I'm really so very sorry that you didn't know.

I kept Dana at home for a while after what happened.

But then, a school opened up on Shaw Island.

A school for special children,

run by an order of Benedictine nuns.

Dana lived there until he was 18 years old.

And those were very good years for him.

Here's a picture of him there.

And then he moved back in with me.

If you don't mind my asking...

He died at home.

He was 27 years old.

He just... fell asleep.

- I'm so sorry. - Oh.

As brief as Dana's life was,

it was very rich.

He was loved.

He had friends.

And as to the fourth grade incident,

it didn't change him in the least.

But then, Dana had a gift for...

...for happiness, you know?

He was kind of an angel, I think.

At least to me.

Now I've gone on and on about my family.

How rude of me not to ask about yours.

Did you marry?

Um, yes, I did.

Children?

These are Dana's letters to me

from his time on Shaw Island.

Oh.

He wrote these?

- Every one. - No.

These are yours to keep.

Mrs. McGucken, thank you, but no, I couldn't.

Please don't worry.

Dana wrote lots of letters.

I just wanted you to know that you taught him well.

He made those wonderful loops right up until the day he died.

- Your mother. - Mhm.

Is she still alive?

No, she... no, she passed a long time ago.

Don't be too hard on the dead, Charles.

It's not easy for them to say they're sorry

or ask for forgiveness.

Although I do believe they try.

- Romy. - Hi, Mr. Marlow.

Congratulations.

- Thanks for coming. - Of course.

Have you met Sister Martha and Sister Frances?

No.

Okay.

This is my teacher, Mr. Marlow.

- Ah. - Oh, how do you do?

Nice to meet you.

Sister Frances, Martha?

- Martha - Frances.

Frances, Martha, okay.

Mr. Marlow's son, Cody, is the one who collaborated

with Sister Giorgia on the collages.

- Oh, yes, of course. - Oh.

Lovely boy, beautiful work.

We'd love to come meet him sometime.

I'm afraid we must be leaving.

- We have to catch a ferry. - Oh, yes.

So good to meet you.

- You too. - It was such a pleasure.

- Take care. - God bless.

I hope you don't mind.

I was already taking lots of photos of him,

so it wasn't like I chose him because he's your son.

What do you mean, "chose him"?

I only got to exhibit five pictures,

and the best were of Sister Giorgia and Cody.

Romy, um, this is...

- Cody's mom. - Yes.

Excuse me, I should get back.

See you on Monday, Mr. Marlow.

- You bet. - Nice to meet you, Mrs. Marlow.

Oh, yes, well,

it's very good to meet you, too, Romy.

- And good luck. - Thank you.

Yes.

So, where's Bruce?

California.

Ah.

Come on.

Stop it.

It's tempting.

Oh.

Wow.

He made these?

Can you believe it?

How...

Apparently the 10-minute magazine rule

- has been revoked. - Right.

And look at this one, look.

And I guess the ramen noodle grinding thing is kaput, too.

"When memory fails, cast the truth aside

and then unbind the body."

"You babblers may well rule the earth,

but Heaven is the kingdom of the mute."

I've been meaning to ask, how's it going?

How's what going?

The conversion thing.

The conversion thing?

It's going fine.

Good.

I think about you sometimes.

- Yeah? - Oh, well, in class.

You know, there are certain aspects and ideas of it

that I think you'd really like.

Like what?

Like not confining It.

You know, Him, Her, whatever, to a single name like "God."

Does that make sense?

It does.

Maybe it's about finding the right name for It.

Like a name that you can live with,

maybe that's another way of getting closer to belief.

I don't know.

What do I know?

But you're a believer now?

I don't know.

But I know that it's okay to seek comfort.

To ask for help.

Because even just saying that

implies that Something is listening.

And sometimes even just saying it

is comfort in itself.

Are you comforted?

Yes.

It was good to see you here.

I'm glad I saw you.

You too.

There's another picture over there you should look at.

We'll talk soon?

Okay.

"Speak in tempests of torn paper,

I will answer in flurries of loops."

How much?

Take 'em.

What?

How about a quarter each?

Oh, okay, sure.

Come back tomorrow, everything's gonna be half off.

Thanks, Buddy.

Here you go.

Okay.

Thanks very much.

Have a nice day.

Uh, hey there!

I was wondering.

What size are these?

Like a six and a half.

How much?

Seven.

Just the boots only, right?

No, the skis too.

- Here. - Seriously?

Take this. Yeah.

Here you go.

You're welcome.

I promise you, babe, you are going to love Cross Country.

- Hi. - Hi.

Hey, pal.

Whatcha got?

Oh, um...

I hope you still like carnitas.

- Hello! - Hello!

Hi.

I hope you don't mind us stopping by.

- No, welcome. - We came to the mainland

to take Sister Giorgia to Mass,

and we did so want to meet your son, the artist.

- Of course. - Sister Giorgia,

this is Charles Marlow.

Oh, oh, oh.

I am so sorry.

Sister Giorgia!

Come back here.

This house is like a fairy tale.

Oh, che cucina.

Dear Heavenly Father,

thank you for that which I am about to receive.

Amen.

Let's not take those things out of there.

At last, my tools.

Sister Giorgia,

what are you doing in nice Mr. Marlow's kitchen?

Bread.

We need bread.

You've got so much mail

that you haven't even gone through yet.

Do you have salt?

You have salt, right?

- Oh, you do? - Yes, it's a miracle.

I'm Jewish.

Are you Jewish?

So was Jesus.

You don't want to stop

till it feels like a baby's butt.

Okay!

Okay, okay.

Perfecto!

The war is over,

and the bakery is open.

Come, let us eat.

Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts

which we are about to receive.

No, no.

No, no, no.

We're missing the most important part.

Vino. Per favore.

Per favore.

The most important part.

Mmm, smells good, huh?

This is what Heaven smells like.

Grazie.

Not too much for her.

Thank you.

It smells good, huh?

Evviva!

- Evviva! - Evviva!

Evviva!

That's my best friend.

Dana McGucken.

When we were young.

I knew there was something special about you, Signore.

I knew it when I first saw you,

and this house.

And now here is the proof.

You and our sweet Dana.

He was pure blessing

while he was in our school on the island.

A joy.

We remember him, always.

And you, Signore.

You were his hero.

His teacher.

His friend.

He roots for you, Charlie Marlow.

Addio, bello.

Ciao.

Hey, pal, you ready to go?

Come on, Cody.

Dad's tired and Mom's gotta get you home, okay?

Please, Cody.

Ah.

What is it?

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