All language subtitles for Butterflies.Are.Free.1972.PROPER.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG

(ENGINE REVVING)

(HONKING)

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)

** Open up my spirits wide

** And let them go

** I will take
tomorrow's wings and fly

** Nothing's gonna keep me

** Off that glory road

** When that wild wind blows

** I'm gonna ride

** Let the heavens
open in the morning

** I'll be up before
the dawn and singing

** Let that highway wind
carry me

** Ooh

(GUITAR STRUMMING)

(MAN SINGING)

** I knew the day
you met me

** I could love you
if you let me

** Though you touched
my cheek and said

** How easy you'd forget me

** Da da da da da da

** Da da

** Doo doo doo doo

** Mmm-hmm

** On that velvet morning

** When our love was forming

** I said it wouldn't hurt me

** If you left me
without warning

(HUMMING TO MUSIC)

(MAN CONTINUES SINGING)

** Da da da da da da

** Da da da da da da

(CONTINUES HUMMING)

(MAN CONTINUES SINGING)

** Doo doo doo *

(GUITAR MUSIC STOPS)

Mmm... Hmm.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

I'm fine, thank you.
How are you?

It's warm here.
How's it in Hillsborough?

(CONTINUES RINGING)

Well, it's warm here, too.

Hello, Mother.

MRS. BAKER:
How did you know?

DON:
When you call,
the phone doesn't ring.

It says, "'M' is for
the million things

"she gave you. 'O' is..."
I forgot what "O" is for.

You seem to have forgotten
a lot of things lately.

How are you feeling?

I'm fine, thank you.
How are you?

MRS. BAKER:
Very well. How's the weather?

It's warm here.
How's it in Hillsborough?

MRS. BAKER: Warm.

Well, it's warm here, too.

How's the apartment?

DON: Uh, great. I love it.

What did you do
last night?

Last night?
I didn't do anything.

I mean, I didn't go out.

Uh, I had some friends in.

(MUFFLED)
It was just
a little party.

I don't know
how many people there were.

Do you have to have a number?

MRS. BAKER: Is it a secret?

Twelve and a half.
How's that?

Did they stay late?
DON: No,
they didn't stay too late.

I'd like to come by
and see you.

No.

Donny, I'm coming
into town tomorrow anyway.

I have to go to Saks.

I said no, and I mean it.

(MUFFLED)
I don't give a damn.
I said, no.

Because we have
an agreement, that's why!

(CROWD CHEERING OVER RADIO)

We agreed to two months.

I've got one month left,
and I want every minute of it.

Donny, you are so irritating,
I could absolutely cry.

DON: What?

(CHEERING CONTINUES)
What is that noise?

It's coming from next door.

MRS. BAKER:
Who lives next door?
A girl.

What's her name?

I don't know.
I haven't met her yet.

Look, I can hardly hear you.
Call me tomorrow.

(HANGS UP PHONE)

(FUNKY MUSIC
PLAYING OVER RADIO)

(KNOCKING)

DON: Hey, will you please
lower your television?

I can't hear you!
Wait a minute!

(CLICKS OFF RADIO)

Sorry.
I couldn't hear you.

DON: I said, "Please lower
your television."

You don't
have to turn it off.
Just lower it down.

JILL: It's not a television.
It's a radio.

Whatever. These walls
are like paper.

I know.
You can practically
see through them.

No, not really.

Hey, how about
a cup of coffee?

DON: No, thank you.
Just had some.

I meant for me.

Yeah. Sure. Come on in.

Okay.
(DOOR CLATTERING)

(KNOCKING)

DON: It's open.

Hi. I'm Jill Tanner.

Don Baker.

Would you mind... Oops...
Zipping up my blouse.

Can't reach back there.

Hope you don't mind me
inviting myself in.

Not at all.
Water'll be hot
in a minute.

Your living room's
much bigger than mine.

Oh, nice.

How long
have you
been here?

A month.

Except that's not
the living room.

That's the whole
apartment,
plus a bathroom.

I've got three rooms,
if you count the kitchen.

God, you're neat.

Hmm.
Everything's so tidy.

It's easy
when you haven't
got anything.

I don't have anything,

but it manages
to wind up
all over the place.

Hmm.

I'm afraid I'm a slob.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, hey,
I like your skylight!

I don't have one.
What's this?

What?
This thing on stilts.

That's my bed.

Your bed!

Wow!

This is wild!
You like it?

Oh, it's the greatest bed
I've ever seen,

and I've seen
a lot of beds.

Did you build it?

No. Some hippies
lived here before me.
They built it.

Suppose you fall out?

Ooh, gee, you could
break something.

You could break something
falling out of any bed.

That's true.

I could've had
your apartment,

but I took this one
on account of the bed.
Cream or sugar?

Hmm.

Oh, just black,
thanks.

Here you go.
Oh, thanks.

This coffee'll
save my life.

(SIGHS)

I bought flowers
and dumb things

like dish towels
and paper napkins,
but I forgot coffee.

(SLURPS)

Do you need any dish towels
or paper napkins?
No.

I've lots of
light bulbs, too.

May I ask you
a personal question?

Yeah. Sure.

Why don't you want
your mother to come here?

Well, now,
how'd you know that?

Well, if you can
hear me,
I can hear you.

I guess the sound
must come right out
from under that door.

What's that door for,
anyway?

Your apartment and mine
were once one apartment.

And when
they converted it
into two,

they just locked that
instead of sealing it.

You didn't answer
my question.

I forgot
what you asked.

Why don't you
want your mother here?

It's a long story.

No,
it's a short story.

It's just been going on
for a long time.

She didn't want me
to leave home,

because she thinks
I can't make it
on my own.

Anyway,
finally we agreed

to letting me try it
for two months.

She's to keep away
from me for two months.

I've got
a month to go.

Why'd you tell her
you had a party
last night?

(CHUCKLES)
You don't miss anything
in there, do you?

Very little.

I always tell her
I had a party
or I that went to one.

She just wouldn't
understand why
I'd rather be alone

than keeping her
and the cook company.

She's gonna
hate this place.

She hates it now
without even seeing it.

She'll walk in and say,
"I could absolutely cry."

Does she cry a lot?
No.
Just threatens to.

Well, if she really
wants to cry,

send her in
to look at my place.

At least you're neat.

You know,
you're old enough
to live alone.

I'm 19. How old are you?

As far as
my mother's concerned,
I'm 11 going on 10.

(GIGGLING)
We must have the same mother.

My mother would love for me
to stay a child all my life.

So she won't age.

She loves it
when people say to her
we look like sisters.

And if they don't say it,
she tells them.

Have you got
a job?

No, but I play guitar,
and I got a few prospects.

I know.

I heard you
last night.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, no, it was good.
Really, I thought
it was a record

till I kept hearing it
over and over again.

Well, I can't read music,
so I gotta learn by ear.

I'm trying
to put together
an act.

Then what?

Well, then I'll try
to cash in on a few
of those prospects.

I know one thing.
I ain't a-goin' back
to Hillsborough.

What's Hillsborough?
You don't know
Hillsborough?

No, I don't know much
about any place up here.

I'm from Los Angeles.

I've never been north
of Big Sur.

Hillsborough is about
ten miles from here.

Is that
where you live?

No. I live here.
It's where
I used to live.

Oh, right.
(CHUCKLES)

What'd you say
your name was?

Jill Tanner.

Technically, I guess,
I'm Mrs. Benson.

I was married once
when I was 16.

Sixteen?

How long
were you married?

(SIGHS)
Seemed like weeks.

(SIGHS)

Actually,
it was six days.

What was he like?

I'm sorry. I really
don't wanna
talk about him.

Well, then don't.
I'm sorry I asked.

No, I will talk about him.

Once in a while,
you should do something
you don't wanna do.

Cleanses the insides.

Jack was wild-looking,
sort of adolescent.

Girls mature faster
than boys, don't they?

Anyway, we met,
and it was like
fireworks, rockets.

Every day was like
the Fourth of July.

And the next thing I knew,
we were standing in front

of the Justice
of the Peace
getting married.

How long
had you known him?

Oh, I don't know.
Two, three weeks.

But, I mean,
there we were
getting married,

and I wasn't even out
of high school yet.

And I had two exams
the next day,

and they were
on my mind, too.

And then I heard
the Justice of the
Peace saying,

"Do you, Jack, take Jill to be
your lawfully wedded wife?"

(LAUGHING)
Can you imagine going through
life as "Jack and Jill"?

And then I heard him say,
"Till death do us part."

(EXHALES)

Suddenly it became
more like a funeral service
than a wedding ceremony.

Oh, Jesus.

Oh, it was so morbid.
I hate anything morbid.

Yeah, but as long
as you were married,

why didn't you
try to make it work?

I did. I did.
I tried.

For six days
I tried, but I knew
it was a mistake.

Were you
in love with him?

In my way.
What's your way?

I don't know.

Well, just 'cause
you love someone

doesn't necessarily mean
you wanna spend

the rest of your life
with them.

And Jack loved me.

I mean, he really, really
loved me, and I hurt him.

And that's just
what I can't stand.

I just never
wanna hurt anybody.

Marriage is a commitment,
isn't it?

And I just
can't be committed
or involved.

Can you understand?
Yeah, I can understand,
but I don't agree.

Well, then you really
don't understand.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

Wow.

(EXHALES)
I thought
I was sloppy.

What do you mean?

Unless you know
something
I don't know,

like ashes
are good
for the table.

Is that why
you keep dropping
them on there?

Did you move
the ashtray?

It's right here.
What are you? Blind?

Yes.

What do you mean, "yes"?

I mean, yes,
I'm blind.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, you're putting
me on.

Don't do that.

No. I'm blind.
I've always
been blind.

You mean, really blind,
not just nearsighted?

The works.
I can't see a thing.

(SIGHS)

Oh, God.

Oh, I hope
I didn't say anything.

Now, wait a minute
Don't get self-conscious
about it. I'm not.

Why didn't
you tell me?
I just did.

But I...
When I came in?

You didn't ask me.

Well, why
would I ask you?

I don't walk
into somebody's
house and say,

"Hi, I'm Jill Tanner.
Are you blind?"

And I don't
meet someone and say,

"Don Baker,
blind as a bat."

Well, I still think
you should've told me.

I would've told you.

I wanted to see
how long it would
take you to catch on.

Oh, God.

Oh, and I saw you
standing at the window
all that time.

Well, it's the coolest
spot in the room.

Oh.

I thought
you were a Peeping Tom.

(LAUGHS)

Well, now, that's
what I call
positive thinking.

You know,
I nearly
called the police.

Suppose I had?

Well, they'd have
locked you up.

Y... You're so cool,
so adjusted.

No, I'm not.
I never had to adjust.
I was born blind.

It'd be different
if I'd been able to see,
then went blind,

but for me,
blindness is normal.

I was six years old
before I found out

everybody else
wasn't blind.

And by then,
it didn't make
any difference.

So let's relax, okay?

You know,
if we can have
a few laughs,

so much the better.

A few laughs?

About blindness?

No, not about
blindness.

Can't you forget that?

Well, you're the first
blind person I ever met.

Congratulations.

It's too bad
they don't give out
prizes for that.

Well, I mean,
I've seen blind men
in the street

and everything,
with dogs, but...

Why don't you
have a dog?

They attract too
much attention.
I'd rather do it myself.

Well, don't you have
trouble getting around
San Francisco?

I mean,
it's tough for me.

No. I manage
very well
with my cane.

And I know exactly
how many steps
to the laundry,

to the drugstore
and to the delicatessen.

Where's the laundry?
I need one.

Near the
delicatessen.

Go out of the house,
turn right,

and it's 44 steps
from the front door.

I didn't see it.
I'll show you.

You'll sh...

Wow.

Hey, what about
your apartment?

I mean, don't you
bang into things?
You could hurt yourself.

I memorized
the room.
Here.

Bed.

Guitar.

(GUITAR STRINGS SOUNDING)

Bathroom.

Jacket. My cane.

Front door.

Bookcase.

Wine. Glasses.

Chest of drawers.
Linen.

What are these books?
Braille.

Dining table.

Bathtub.

Kitchen.

Ketchup, oil, salt,
pepper, sugar, coffee.

Gee.
Now, if you'll just
put the ashtray back.

Oh.

Voila.

As long as you don't
move anything,

I'm as good as
anybody else.

Better.

(EXHALES)

I can't find anything
in my place.

If you really
wanna see chaos,
come look at...

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm so... I meant...
I mean that...

Oh, I know
what you mean.

Look, I'm no different
from anybody else,

except I don't see.

The blindness
doesn't bother me

as much as
other people's
reaction to it.

If they'd only
behave naturally.

Some people
want to assume guilt,

which they can't,
because my mother
has that market cornered.

So just be yourself.

Well, I always thought
that blind people were,

well, you know,
kind of spooky.

But of course.

We sleep all day,
hanging upside down
from the shower rod.

When it's dark,
we wake up and fly in
through people's windows.

That's why they say,
"Blind as a bat."
(LAUGHS)

Come on.
I'm serious.

Now, be serious.

Don't blind people
have a sixth sense?

No. If I had
six senses,

I'd still
only have five,
wouldn't I?

I mean, my other senses,
hearing, taste and touch,

might be a little
more developed
than yours.

That's just 'cause
I use 'em more.

I'll show you
something.

Spin me around.

No, I mean
really spin me.
Okay.

There's something
in front of me.

The window.

That's wild.
How'd you do that?

It's called
shadow vision.

What's shadow vision?

Uh, it's being
able to sense

that there's
a solid object
in front of you.

You can feel it.
It's kind of a warning.

Sighted people
can do it too,

but blind people
can do it better.

I wanna try it.

(THUDS)

Ouch! My...
(LAUGHING)

Oh... Ouch.

There are advantages
to being blind.

(SNIFFLES)

Oh, I think
it's so great
you're not bitter.

You don't seem to have
any bitterness at all.

I know I'd be
terribly bitter
if I couldn't see.

I know I'd be
disagreeable.
I doubt it.

Oh, no,
I couldn't be
cheerful like you.

I don't have
any of those
marvelous qualities

like courage
and fortitude.

Oh, neither do I.
I'm just naturally
adorable.

You're a lot more
than that.

You're a very
superior person.

Oh, yeah.
I'm fantastic.
(CHUCKLES)

I would not go gently
into that good night.

I would rage against
the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas?
Who?

That's a line
from a poem
by Dylan Thomas.

It is?
Mmm-hmm.

You mean,
I can quote
Dylan Thomas?

How 'bout that?

I've never
even read him.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)

I don't know where
I learned it.

I can quote
Mark Twain.
Mmm-hmm.

My favorite
quotation's
by Mark Twain.

Wanna hear it?
Go.

"I only ask
to be free.

"The butterflies are free.

"Mankind will surely
not deny to Harold Skimpole

"what it concedes
to the butterflies."

(SIGHS IN RELIEF)
I identify strongly
with butterflies.

You like it?
Yeah. Very much.

Except,
it wasn't written
by Mark Twain.

Why not?
It was written
by Dickens.

Are you sure?
Yeah.

Harold Skimpole is a character
in Bleak House , by Dickens.

Oh.

I never read Dickens.

Actually,
I've never read
Mark Twain either.

But I always thought
he wrote that.

Have you read...

(SIGHS)
Oh, God.

(MOANING)
Oh, God.

I have read Dickens
and I've read
most of Mark Twain,

and stop
falling apart
at every word.

They're published
in Braille.

(GASPS)
That's awful to ask
someone who's blind

if he's read
something.
Not at all.

As a matter of fact,
I read very well
with my fingertips.

Just ask me
if I've felt any
good books lately.

(STRUMS GUITAR)
Does anybody ever
read to you?

Yeah. Magazines
and newspapers.

Could I read
to you sometime?

If you feel like it.

What kind of magazines
do you like?

Oh, Time, Newsweek,
the Berkeley Barb.

I like to know
what's going on
in the world.

Yeah, I should
read those, too.

I never know
what's going on. I guess
I don't really care.

Now, don't say that.

Even animals care.
Vegetables don't.

You have to care
about something
or you're nothing.

Food.
Food?

I care about it
deeply.

I'm hungry.

Well, what about freedom?
You care about
being free, don't you?

Freedom?
It's the most important
thing in the world to me,

after I've eaten.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Help yourself.
Okay, thanks.

My appetite
embarrasses me.

(CONTINUES STRUMMING GUITAR)

You have to know
a lot about things
to care about them.

I don't know much
about anything.

Oh, you don't
like yourself
very much, do you?

Why do you say that?
'Cause you're always
putting yourself down.

Let's say I know
my limitations.

I think you have
a lot more potential

than you give yourself
credit for.

Just keep
telling me that.

No, Just keep
telling yourself that.

(STRUMS GUITAR)

** I knew the day
you met me

** I could love you
if you let me **

** Though you touched
my cheek and said

** How easy
you'd forget me

** You said

** "Butterflies are free"

** And so are we

(EXCLAIMS)
That's wild.
(CHUCKLES)

That's that song
you keep singing
all the time.

You like it?
Oh, I love it.

I wrote it.
(CHUCKLES)

I could never get those
last lines right,

but I really like
that thing
about butterflies.

(DON SINGING)

** Butterflies are free

** And so are we

** Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

(HUMMING ALONG)

** Yeah, yeah
yeah, yeah, yeah

** Mmm-hmm-hmm, mmm-hmm *

Oh, that's fantastic.

I know a little bit
about music.

I studied it
in school.

Did you finish school?

I finished
high school.
Just.

(CHUCKLES)
(GIGGLES)

My mother wanted me
to go to college.

I was gonna go
to UCLA, but I couldn't
find a place to park.

(CHUCKLES)

Listen. You oughta
make a record
or an album.

No, I'm waiting
to be discovered.

Well, after you get
discovered and you're
playing somewhere,

you gonna dress
like this?

I hadn't really
thought about it.

Is something wrong
with my clothes?

Well, they look as though
your mother bought 'em.

That bad, huh?
(CHUCKLES)

Well, I guess
it depends on
where you're playing.

I mean, they're fine
if you're gonna play
in a bank.

You oughta wear something
a little more liberated.

My mother
does buy my clothes.

Oh, I'd love
to pick out something
really wild for you.

Yeah? Like when?

I don't know,
whenever you like.

How about now?
Right now?

Yeah.

Okay. I don't have
anything to do.
Come on.

Aren't you gonna
take your cane?

No, I'm gonna take your arm.
You can see, can't you?

Oh, yeah.
Wait a minute.

Wait right there.

I gotta get my bag.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

(DOOR SHUTS)

(CHUCKLES)
Oh.

Oops.
Be careful.

(SOFTLY)
Thirty-one, 32,
33, 34

thirty-five, 36,
37, 38, 39

forty, 41, 42,
43, 44...

Hey, you're right!
It's 44 steps
to the laundry.

What made you
come here?

I just thought
I'd like to try
something different.

Do you think
you'll stay?

I don't really
think about it.

I'll see how it goes.

I may be an actress.
I say, "I may."

I'll know tomorrow.

I'm auditioning
for a part
in a new play

with a little theater
group called
the Cosmic Workshop.

It's about this girl
who gets all hung up

when she marries
a homosexual.

Originally,
he was an alcoholic,

but homosexuals
are very in now
in movies, books, and plays.

So they changed it.

Are...
Are you homosexual?

No, just blind.

Careful.
There's a step!
Ah! Up or down?

(GIGGLING)
(LAUGHING)

JILL: One of my
best friends is gay.

Dennis.
He's a designer.

He's good too.
He made this
blouse for me.

I'm sure it's
very pretty.

(SIGHS)
(CHUCKLES)

Actually,
he made it
for himself,

but I talked
him out of it.
(GIGGLES)

Dennis,
so campy
and funny.

I don't like lesbians.

They're so heavy
and humorless.

The director's a friend
of mine, and he thinks
I can do the part.

I just have to
be approved
by the author.

Who's the director?
You wouldn't know him.
His name's Ralph Santori.

He's from LA.

He's done a lot
of little
theater there,

but never had a hit,
so he came up here

because he got a job
with the Cosmic Workshop.

We kind of made it
together for a while,

but then
he wanted
to get married,

and I just couldn't
face that again.

Were you in love
with him?

Uh, I don't really think
I've ever been
in love with anybody.

I don't wanna be.
It's too confining.

Somebody
always gets hurt.

Hey, let's go in here.
They've got wild things.

There's steps.
Up or down?

Up.

(GIGGLES)
I can't think
of everything.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Hi.

You need any help?
No, thanks.
We're just looking.

Where are we?
Shirts.

Oops.

How about this?

No, that's not for you.
That's for Dennis.

It feels nice.

I'll buy it.
I'll buy it
for you.

No, I don't
want you to.

Please let me
buy it for you.
No.

(CHUCKLING)
I really wanna
buy it for you.

Okay. Okay.
(GIGGLING)

Here,
hold this up.

Yeah,
it's not bad.

Can we do better
than "not bad"?

Okay, wait.

Mmm.

Hey. Yeah.
Try that on.

Your jacket.

You can take
my shirt too.
Okay.

Found
anything yet?

Don, this is
Mr. Asparagus.

Hi.
No, my name
is Roy Stratton.

The shop
is called Asparagus.

Oh.
I named it that

'cause I always think
of asparagus as being
a friendly vegetable.

I mean, you might see
one potato or one onion
or one corn,

but you never
see one asparagus.

They come in bunches.
They're involved.

You never
see one pea.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Well,
I don't like peas.

Hey. This will
look great with it.

Here,
try it on.
Yeah.

Give me
your other arm.

(CHUCKLES)
Okay.
Oh, oh!

Yeah. Now,
that's together.
I like that.

Mmm-hmm.
Sweet.
I love it!

Does it look
like an album cover?
Yeah.

Hey, but what
you need is a hat.

Hats are big now.
What kind of a hat?

Say, baby,
we got everything
here. Over here.

How about
a Confederate cap?

We sell
a lot of these.

Yeah, I've seen
a lot of 'em.

Now, I like
this one.

What do you think?

No, I don't
think so.

Okay.

Oh, just
a minute.

Hey, how about
this?

A Tirolean hat.
(CHUCKLES)

A Tirolean hat?
Well...

Yeah,
that looks good.

I like that.
Take a look
at yourself.

Oh. (CHUCKLES)

What do you
think?
No. (CHUCKLES)

It makes me look
like Heidi.

(SNAPS FINGERS)
(CLAPS)

Got just the thing
for you now.

It's one of a kind,
if I can find it.

Here it is.

How about that?

What is it?

It's a cap
from the French
foreign legion.

I love it.

Perfect fit.

Man, you were born
with that hat on.

Hey, take a look
at yourself.

No,
in the mirror.

(QUIETLY)
Hey, is he...

Yes, he is,
and stop
whispering.

Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't...
Oh, why?
It's not your fault.

Don't make
a big thing
out of it.

We don't.
How much is the hat?

It's on the house,
a souvenir.

How much is it?
How much is it?

And the shirt
and the vest
and Jill's blouse?

Hey, they've got
the Berkeley Barb.

We'll take one
of these, too.

Do you have
any dirty books?
No.

Uh, too bad.
That's the only thing
they don't publish in Braille.

I guess
it was the idea
of someone blind

asking for
dirty books.

No more.
(CHUCKLING)

You mean, it would've been
all right if I were sighted?

I don't know.

Anyway, you sure
threw 'em into shock.
(GIGGLES)

What about you?
Me?

I've been in shock
since I met you.

Well, do you think
you could
come out of it

long enough to have
dinner with me tonight?

For dinner,
I'd come out
of a coma.

Are you sure
we got enough
for dinner?

That's salami,
cole slaw
and potato salad.

All my favorites.

Can I do something?

Uh, tablecloth
in the chest of drawers.
You can set the table.

Oh, let's not eat
at the table.

I mean, salami
and potato salad
and stuff,

that's not table food.

Let's eat on the floor
and have a picnic.

I've got a better idea.
Let's go to the beach.

The beach?
Yeah, I know
a little stretch of sand

where hardly
anybody ever goes.

Where?

Over there
by the dining table.

You can see it better
if you're blind.
Oh, really?

Then how come
you didn't notice
the tide came in?

I see a much
better place.

Where?
By the bed.

Perfect.

(HUMMING)

Is blindness
hereditary?
I never heard that.

Can your father see?

I doubt it.
He's been dead
for six years.

Up till then,
he didn't have
any trouble, though.

JILL:
Bet you miss him.
Yeah, I do.

He was really
the only friend I had
when I was growing up.

We were very close.

It's been
rough on Mom
since he died,

because she's had to be
both, you know,
mother and father,

and sister
and brother,
Yeah.

...and doctor
and lawyer...
Okay.

...and congressman...
Yeah.

...congresswoman,
rabbi, priest, padre... Ow.
(LAUGHING)

Oh,
I'm sorry.

Do knives
go on the left
or right?

On the right.
Okay.

Why were you
born blind?

Did the doctor
say why?

Well, they said
it was a virus
in the womb,

which means
they don't know.
(CHUCKLES)

You know,
I've heard that
women with syphilis

give birth
to blind babies.

Could your mother
have had syphilis?
(LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY)

You meet her,
then tell me
what you think.

When will that be?
Uh, in a month.

Hmm.

I got a month to go
before she comes down here
to see what's going on.

As the clock strikes
a month, she's gonna
walk in that door.

You may have heard of her.
She wrote some books.

Her name's Florence Baker.
Um, no.
It's not familiar.

But you can't
go by me.

I may even be
quoting her,
and I wouldn't know it.

She wrote a series
of children's books.

Guess what
they were about.
Children?

They were all about
a blind kid named
Little Donny Dark.

Little Donny Dark?

That's me.

Oh, you'll say anything
to get attention.

No, it's true. I swear.
I hate that name, Donny.

Ta-da!

Tell me when I hit
the beach.

Stop! Oh.
(GIGGLING)
(CHUCKLING)

This is the first time
I've ever eaten
on the floor.

It's so practical.

You can sit
in so many
different positions.

You can even
lie down if you like.

Tables are so
confining.

Like love?

Yes.

And I never knew
what to do
with my elbows.

(SIGHS)

Something's missing.

I know.
Where are you going?

You'll see.

Oh...

(DOOR CLOSES)

Flowers.
(CHUCKLES)

I thought it would
add just a touch
of elegance.

(EXHALES) Now,
tell me more about
Little Donny Dark.

It might curb
my appetite.

Donny's
12 years old.

He was born blind
like me,

but that's no handicap
to Little Donny Dark.

No. He can drive cars.
He flies planes.

Because, you see,
his other faculties

are so highly developed
that he can hear a bank
being robbed a mile away.

He can smell the Communists
cooking up a plot
to overthrow the government.

He's a diligent fighter
of crime and injustice.

And at the end
of every book,

as he's being given a medal
by the police or the FBI,

he always says,

(SQUEAKY VOICE):
"There are none so blind
as those who will not see."

I'm taking
some more
of your salami.

Since when do
the police and the FBI
give out medals?

Since my mother
says they do.
Oh.

Mmm.
Let's have a drink.

All I've got is wine.

That's all I drink.

With salami?

With everything.

Did children really
read those books?

Shh. I'm counting so I don't
step in the picnic
on the way back.

Mmm. You have just
finished your salami.

Does your mother
still write 'em?

No, she wrote six
of 'em when I was a kid.

They were no Mary Poppins,
but pretty popular,

unless you happened
to be blind.

Didn't exactly
tell it like it is.

Ah...

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

I guess they were...

They were a projection
of what she hoped I'd be.

Sort of a sightless Superman.

Did you have to go
to any special school
or anything?

I went to
regular school.

When I finished there,
nothing much happened
till about a year ago.

What happened
a year ago?
Hmm.

A family
named Fletcher
moved near us,

and their daughter
Linda used to come
and read to me.

She was the first
close friend I had.

She was fantastic
and wild.

She used to drive me here
all the time and take me
to all kinds of parties.

Linda gave me something
that nobody else had thought
to give me, confidence.

It changed
my whole life.

I mean,
she talked me
into leaving home.

She found
this apartment
for me.

At first, I was scared
to death. (CHUCKLES)

But I did it.

Maybe it was
a mistake.
I don't know.

No! No, it wasn't.

You'd have to
do it sometime.

What's happened
to Linda?

Well, she...
She flipped for a painter
we met at a party

and went to live
with him in Mexico.

I wish she were here.

It would make it
a lot easier.

Well, I'm here.

I'm right next door.

Anytime you need me,
just knock.

You don't even have to knock.
You just have to whisper,
and... And I'll hear you.

(CHIMES RINGING)

Hey, you know what?

Why don't we
open that door?
Which door?

That door
to my apartment.

There must be a key.

Let's unlock it.

And then we can go
back and forth

without having to run
down the hall.

The janitor
probably has a key,

but I don't think
we oughta ask him.

No, I don't think
we should do that.

Why not?
We're friends,
aren't we?

Yeah, but we'd be
practically
living together.

How would it look?

(LAUGHS) Who cares
how it looks?
I can't see anyway.

I'll bet we could open it
with this sharp knife.

We have to move
the chest.
Okay.

Move it towards you.

(SQUEAKING)

There.
That's fine.
Okay.

Oh. No hole.

Oh.

Damn it.
(GRUNTS)

(SIGHS) Oh,
I'm going to have
to call the janitor.

Let me try.

You did it!
It's open!

Oh! Don't look!
It's an absolute
pigsty!

Oh, I won't.

Oh, God.
Oh, God.

I'm sorry.

I'll get
the hang of it.

I just
don't know when.

Oh, let's
leave it open.

Okay, but tell me
if you close it,
so I don't break my nose.

Do you wish it were Linda
living there instead of me?

I hadn't
thought about it.
Why do you ask?

I just wondered
if you were still
in love with her.

Did I say
I was in love
with her?

If I get too personal,

just tell me
to shut up.

I get
carried away.

Were you in
love with her?

Are you?

I think every man
should have some
mystery about him,

and that'll be mine.

What's she like?

Uh, she's very pretty.

How do you know?

I can feel
a person's face
and get a good idea

what they look like.

And I can tell
by shapes
and textures.

Do you wanna know
what I look like?
Yes.

I'm gorgeous.
Really?

I wouldn't lie about
something like that.
(CHUCKLES)

I've always thought
if I could see
for just half a minute,

that I'd like to see
how I looked.

I'll tell you.

Cute,

and very sexy.

Your hair's
very soft.

It's very long.

Jesus!
Oh. Oh,
don't be frightened.

What happened?
Nothing. It's, um...

It's called a fall.

It's a long
piece of hair
you attach to your head.

It's not your hair?

It's not even my fall.

I borrowed it
from Susan Potter.

I do have my own hair. See?

I mean, feel?

Uh.

Oh, God! Now what?

Uh, it's just an eyelash.

You don't
have eyelashes?

Of course, but, um,

these just
make my eyes
look bigger.

They're longer than mine.
Didn't Linda wear 'em?
No.

She probably
had naturally-long
lashes. I hate her.

Well, go on.

This is scaring
the hell out of me.
(SIGHS)

Don't worry.
It's all real
from now on.

Am I not the image
of Elizabeth Taylor?

I've never felt
Elizabeth Taylor.

We look exactly alike,

especially
if you can't see.

That's my breast.

All mine.

Both of them.

(EXHALES)

What's the matter?
What do you
think's the matter?

Well, I wouldn't ask
if I knew.

Why are you doing this?

I mean what is it, "Be Kind
to the Handicapped Week"
or something?

You've been feeling
sorry for me

ever since you came
in here this morning.

"Take the poor
guy out shopping.
Show him a good time.

"Get him into the sack,
and that'll take care
of my social work

"for the next six months."

Well, thanks a lot,
but don't patronize me.

And don't you feel
sorry for me.

Well, let me tell
you something,
big mouth.

I don't do anything
for anybody I don't want to,

and I'll be goddamned
if I'm gonna feel
sorry for any guy

who's gonna
go to bed with me.

(BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE PLAYING)

(DON SINGING)

** I knew the day you met me

** I could love you
if you let me **

** Though you touched
my cheek and said

** How easy you'd forget me

** You said,
"Butterflies are free" **

Jill?
(STOPS STRUMMING GUITAR)

JILL: I'm in here.

DON: What are you doing?

I'm looking
for something.

Oh, here it is.

Good morning.

What have you done
to your hair?
I just combed it.

Well, I'll fix it.
(LAUGHING)
What's wrong with it?

It doesn't go
with your new clothes.

I have a present
for you.

(CHUCKLES)
It's in here.

Beautiful wood.
And mother-of-pearl.

I take this
with me everywhere.

Everything
that's important
to me is in here.

(CLANKING)
This is a piece
of the moon or a star.

I found it
in the desert.

And I showed it
to this geologist,

and he said he'd never
seen any mineral
like it on Earth,

and that it probably fell
from the moon or a star.

Feels like a rock.
(CHUCKLES)

Well, it isn't.

(RATTLING)

And this is
one of my baby teeth.

(GIGGLES)
Thank you.
(CHUCKLES)

And this is my
birth certificate.

And this is a picture
of me when I was
in The Mikado in high school.

(SCOFFS) It's not
very good anyway.
Oh, no. Let me see.

You were
chubbier then.
Yeah.

Can you feel that?

Oh! (GIGGLES)
I believed you.
(CHUCKLES)

I always believe you.

And this is
my last will
and testament.

Your last will
and testament?

And the instructions
to my funeral.

My entire estate
is to be divided
equally among

whoever are my four
closest friends
when I die.

Names will be
filled in later.

I thought you didn't
like anything morbid.

But it isn't morbid.
That's the point.

Funerals
don't have
to be morbid.

I know just how
I want mine.

In a big church.

And I want
all the pews removed.

And nothing but
big, big cushions

for people
to lie around on.

And I don't want
anybody dressed in black.

I just want 'em
in gay, bright colors
and far-out clothes.

And they should
all be drinking

or smoking pot,
or whatever they want.

And I want Salvador Dali
to paint the walls

with lots of groovy pictures.

And I want flowers.

(INHALES)
Tons of flowers.

Not funeral wreaths,
just tons of wildflowers

strewn everywhere.

And butterflies.

Yes.

Lots of butterflies.

And other animals
can come, too.

And I want music
playing all the time.

And I want
Neil Diamond
to write me

a special memoriam
and sing it.

And I want
the Stones to sing,

and Simon and Garfunkel.

And the Vienna Boys Choir.

And me.

(STRUMMING GUITAR)

(DON SINGING COUNTRY ROADS)

** Country roads

** Take me home

** To the place I belong

** West Virginia

** Mountain mama

** Take me home

** Down country roads

** Take me home

** Down country roads *

(BOTH LAUGH)
Definitely you.

Now, what is so morbid
about that?

Nothing. It's like being
buried at Disneyland.
(GIGGLES)

Here it is.

Present for you.

What is it?
What does it
feel like?

It feels like
a necklace.
(CHUCKLES)

They're love beads.

I wore 'em when
I was a hippie

and I want you
to have them.

They look
groovy on you,

especially when
I fix your hair.
Come on.

(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)

Sit right here.

Come on.

I don't wanna
look too wild.

No, you won't look
wild at all.

You'll look beautiful
and romantic,
just like Lord Byron.

What did
he look like?
I don't know.

God,
I'm hungry.

There should be
a couple of apples
in the fridge.

Good.

There's an awful lot
of lettuce, which is not
what I'm dreaming of.

There's only one apple.

Then it's yours.
I'm not hungry.

Mmm.

Now, relax.

This won't hurt
a bit.

When were you
a hippie?

Oh, years ago.
When I was a kid.

I guess it was
right after
my marriage.

We used to hang around
the Sunset Strip

and smoke pot
and spit at the cops,
the whole bit.

I only did it 'cause
everybody else
was doing it.

And then I stopped
doing it 'cause everybody
else was doing it.

I was losing
my individuality.

(SIGHS)

Hmm.

The main thing,
of course,

was to protest
against my mother,

which didn't work.

I mean,
I walked in one day

with long, stringy hair
and dirty sandals

and freaky clothes.
And she loved it.

The next day, she comes in
with long, stringy hair

and dirty sandals
and freaky clothes.

So how do you protest
against somebody

who's doing
the same thing
you are, right?

(CLICKS TONGUE)

(SIGHS) So then...

I went the other way.

And I joined
the Young Republicans.

Another mistake.

(IMITATES BUZZING NOISE)

Phew!
There's no such thing
as a young Republican.

(BLOWING)

(BLOWS) Great.

(GIGGLES) There.
You look terrific.

Doesn't look too wild?
No! It doesn't
look wild.

It gives you
charisma.
Charisma?

Pizzazz.

Star quality.

I mean, you don't
even need talent.

If you have charisma,
they'll line up
for blocks to see you.

Wow.

(SIGHS)

You're beautiful.

You're a beautiful person
inside and out.

Well,
I like you too.

Yesterday,
when I took your hand
and put it on my breast,

were you shocked?

Sort of.
So was I.

I don't mean
from the standpoint
of morals or anything.

I was just sort
of surprised to be
feeling a girl's breast

when I wasn't
expecting to.

Well, I'd hate
for you to think

that I go around putting
men's hands on my breasts.

No, I don't think you
go around doing that.
(CHUCKLES)

Well, I don't.

I mean, if I want
to go to bed with a guy,

usually I have
this little smile

that lets them know
I'm interested.

Yeah?

Smile that smile.
I want to feel it.

That's it?
No. (GIGGLING)

I can't do it now.

You're making me laugh.

I'll do it later.

But I did have to

use a different
approach with you,
didn't I?

Anyway, I didn't
want you to think
I was terrible.

(CHUCKLES)
I didn't.

And I don't.

(SIGHS) Oh,
I hate talking
about sex.

But I did want you
to know that last night,

you were...

You were really...

Like the Fourth of July?
Yeah. Like the
Fourth of July.

And like Christmas.

Now where are you going?

I thought
I'd make
some coffee.

Great. We'll have
breakfast in bed.

(DOOR HANDLE TURNS)
(DOOR OPENS)

(CLOSES DOOR)

Hello, Mother.

I'm glad
I found you in,
Donny.

Jill, this is
my mother.

Your mother?

Have I been here
a month?

DON:
Mother, this is
Mrs. Benson.

How do you do?

How do you do,
Mrs. Benson?

Are you
living here,
too?

Oh, no.
I live next door.

Um, I just came in
for a cup of coffee,

uh, yesterday,

and, um, see,
I had trouble
zipping up my blouse.

So I see.

Where is your blouse?

Oh. Now,
let me see.

It must be
around here
somewhere.

Oh! Here it is.

See, I have this
long zipper,

and it's hard
to do up alone. Oh.

Here.
Put your things on.

Mother, what...
What are you doing here?

We had an agreement.

MRS. BAKER: I was in
the neighborhood.

You were at Saks,
which is halfway
across town.

I bought you
some shirts,

and I thought
you'd have them

so much sooner
if I brought them myself.

I don't need
any shirts.

You just brought them
as an excuse
to come down here.

Would you mind

zipping me up?

Thank you.

And this is what
you left home for?

DON: This is it.

It isn't Buckingham
Palace, is it?

No. It's
the Taj Mahal.

Is this where you eat?
On the floor?

That happens
to be a beach.

Where did
this furniture
come from?

Some of it came
with the apartment,

and the rest
I picked up
at a junk shop.

Well, don't tell me
which is which.

Let me guess.

What in God's name
is this?

DON: I don't know
what you're looking at.

I can't describe it.

It's my apartment.

Have you ever thought
of hiring a maid,
Mrs. Benson?

I can manage.

I might be sloppy,
but I'm not dirty.

There's a difference
between sloppy
and dirty.

I'm so glad
to hear that.

Has this door
always been open?

No. It's always
been locked.

I opened it last night.

What on Earth is that?

Now what are
you looking at?

That's what
I'd like to know.
It's your bed.

It's my bed.

Isn't it terrific?

You actually
sleep up there?

Like a baby.

What happens
if you fall out?

I go to the ladder
and climb up again.

Where are
your clothes?
In the bathroom.

And where
is the bathroom,
under the bed?

That's right.

(SOFTLY)
Oh, my God.

Oh.

(GIGGLES) Wow!
Were you ever right.
About what?

She never
had syphilis.

I'm surprised
she had you.

(BOTH LAUGH)

How come
you introduced me
as Mrs. Benson?

It made you sound
more important.

(TOILET FLUSHES)

(WHISPERS)
What's she doing?
Uh, testing the plumbing.

(LOUDLY)
She's a nut
about plumbing.

Quiet. Quiet.
(CHUCKLING)

Hey, how did you know
it was your mother?

I mean, when she came
in here, she didn't
make a sound.

Smell.
It's called
"Numero Dix".

She uses
half a bottle
at a time,

and I always know
when she's around.
(CHUCKLES)

Mmm. It's like having
a bell on a cat.
(BOTH LAUGH)

Now what's she doing?

(LOUDLY) Checking
to see I've got enough
socks and underwear.

No, what she's really doing
is gathering evidence
to hit me with,

and try to make me
come home.

She's changed
tactics though.

She should have
walked in and said,

"I could
absolutely cry."

She'll say it?

No. I know
all her routines.

(WHISPERS) I know
when she'll say it.

I'll make you a bet.
How about
dinner tonight?

Now, if she
doesn't say it,

then I lose, and we eat
in my place and I pay.

But if she says it, then
we eat here and you pay.
Okay.

Here she comes.
Quick.

Well,

that's
some bathroom.

No wonder
you hide it
under the bed.

Gee, I thought
you were gonna
say something else.

I haven't finished.
I haven't even started.

Well, say it
and get it
over with.

There's only
one thing to say.

Perhaps
it's a blessing

that you can't see
what you're living in.

Mother, I count
that blessing

every time
I walk
in the door.

Donny,
can I be honest?

Can you?
This is it.

I am shocked
and appalled.

Oh. I lose.

At 7:30, okay?
Perfect.

There's no tub
in your bathroom.

It's under
the dining table.

(BANGS TABLE)

I could
absolutely cry.

(LAUGHS)
Ha, you win. You win!
(JILL LAUGHS)

Hamburgers, all right?
Okay, yeah.
But at least two each.

I'm not just
talking about
this rat hole, Donny.

I'm talking about
you, too.

Look at you.
What is that thing
on your head?

French foreign
legion cap.

Oh, have you enlisted?
No, I was drafted.

I'm not
just talking
about that.

You have lost weight.

I haven't
lost anything.

I'm the perfect weight
for my height, 6'1",

and my age, 11.

Well, I'd just
like to see
what you're eating.

Why, there's nothing
in here but lettuce,
and an apple.

Where?

Behind the lettuce.

DON: Yeah, I knew
there was another one.

Tell me,
where is Mr. Benson?

Who's Mr. Benson?

I assumed
he was your husband.

Oh, you mean Jack.

I don't know. Last time
I saw him, he was standing

outside the Hamburger
Hamlet on the Strip.

Why?

I was curious about
your marital status.

I haven't any.

DON: Jill's divorced,
Mother.

Well, how old are you,
Mrs. Benson?

Nineteen.

Nineteen,

and you've already
been married and divorced?

Yeah.

How long
were you married?

Six days.

And on the seventh day
you rested?

No, I split.

I gotta change now.
I have an audition.

Audition for what?

A play at the
Cosmic Workshop.

I was speaking
to Mrs. Benson.

A play at the
Cosmic Workshop.

Then you're an actress.

Well, yeah.

Might I have
seen you in anything,
besides your underwear?

Um, not unless you went
to Beverly Hills High School.

I was in The Mikado.

I played Yum-Yum.

(CHUCKLING)
Yes, I'm sure
you did.

Does your mother know
where you are?

Sure.

And does she approve
of the way you're living?

What "way"
am I living?

Mother,
are you conducting
some kind of survey?

You're asking
for it, Donny.
Ho-ho.

I'm sure Mrs. Benson
doesn't mind answering
a few questions,

do you, Mrs. Benson?

Well, I have
this audition--
What does your father do?

Which one?

How many fathers
have you?
Four.

One real
and three steps.

Your mother's
been married
four times?

So far.

We live in
Los Angeles.

Aw, then you come
from a broken home.

Several.

Why does your mother
marry so often?

(SIGHS) I don't know.
I guess she likes it.

I mean, she likes
getting married.

Obviously,
she doesn't like
being married.

Now I think I'd better
get started, okay?

Okay.

Ciao.

Don't forget.
7:30. Here.

What happens
at 7:30, here?

Jill and I are having
dinner together.

Mrs. Benson?

Just the
two of us, alone.

Mrs. Benson...

I think you've
forgotten something.

What is it?
Susan Potter's hair.

JILL: I'm closing
the door.
I don't blame you.

(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)

Did you have to be
so goddamn rude?

Was I rude?

(SCOFFS)
All those questions.

What are you,
the attorney general
of Hillsborough?

I think I have a right
to know something
about my son's friends.

Rights?

Let's talk
about my rights.

You're not supposed
to be here
for another month.

Why'd you have to
come today?

Since when do you
speak to me like this?

Since when do you
come sneaking
into my room like this?

I didn't sneak in.
The door was unlocked.
You could have knocked.

I thought
it was a raid.
It should have been.

Why don't you
lock your door?

Because until I knew
my way around,

it was easier for me
to let people
come in on their own.

But I assure you,
it will be locked
from now on.

(IMITATES LOCK LATCHING)

Well...

I thought
my coming here today

was going to be
a pleasant surprise
for you.

Had I known I'd be
treated like this...
You'd have come anyway.

And I'm glad I did.

My worst fears
have been realized.

Thank heaven for that.

My worst fears were
that your worst fears
wouldn't be realized.

Can you imagine if you
came in here and liked it?

We'd have nothing
to talk about.

Did you have to choose
such a sordid neighborhood?

To me, it looks
just like Hillsborough.

I'd be terrified to live
with the type of people
around here.

They've been
nice to me.
I'll bet they have.

Yesterday you told me
you didn't even know
Mrs. Benson's name.

That was yesterday.

Well, you certainly
became friends
in a hurry, didn't you?

Yeah. She's a very
friendly girl.

Yes, I can see she is.

May I ask you
a personal question?
No.

Have you slept
with this girl?

(LAUGHS)
I thought you'd never ask.

Yes, I have.

As if I didn't know.

Well, if you know,
then why do you ask?

Now I know why
you were so anxious
to have a place of your own.

Oh, I know you, Donny.

You've got that
Linda Fletcher look
on your face again.

You're going
to fall in love
with this girl, too.

And if I do?

Does it bother you
I'm heterosexual?

Mrs. Benson is not exactly
the girl a mother
dreams of for her son.

I'm not interested
in the girl
of your dreams.

She's got
beady little eyes,
like a bird,

and a figure
like a flagpole.

Ah, you've just
described the girl
of my dreams.

Oh, Donny, you can't
see the difference
between good and bad.

I can. I can look
into people's faces,

into their eyes.
You can't.

But I can see
past their eyes
and into their souls.

Leave us not forget
Little Donny Dark
and all that vision.

I wish you did have
some of that vision.

I'm sure you do,
Mother.

Deep, deep down,
haven't you always been

just a little ashamed
that you produced
a blind child?

There's nothing
to be ashamed of.
Embarrassed, then?

You have never
given me reason
to be embarrassed by you.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Come on in.

I hate to bother you.

What is it?
Just another zipper.

Hang in there.
I think
you're winning.

Thank you so much.

(DOOR CLOSES)

She'll be a big help
to you. She can't even
dress herself.

Well, that's where
I can help her.

Donny...
I have a wonderful idea.

You come home with me.

I'll have
your bed raised.

There's a ladder
in the garage...
Nice try, Mother.

It just
wouldn't be the same.

All right.

If you insist
on staying here,
I will not support you.

What are you doing?
Calling the Chronicle.
What a story.

Florence Baker
refuses to help
the handicapped.

I'm serious, Donny.

Oh, well,
then I'll call
the New York Times.

What are you going
to do for money?
(PUTS PHONE DOWN)

The little you saved
must be gone now.

I can always walk along
the streets with a tin cup.

Now you're
embarrassing me.

No, I'll keep away
from Saks.

You just stop
all this joking

and tell me
what your plans are.

I plan to sing
and play the guitar.

I'm pretty good.
You said so yourself.

Well, I had no idea
you were planning
to make a career of it.

Have you any idea
of the competition
you're facing?

I have just
as good a chance
as anybody else.

Better.
I have charisma.

May I ask how you arrived
at this brilliant decision?

It was elementary,
my dear Mother.

By the simple
process of elimination.

Hey, I made a lengthy list
of all the things
I could not do, like, uh...

Like commercial
airline pilot.

I doubt that TWA
would be too pleased
at having me

flying their planes,
nor United or Pan Am.

Photographer?
Mmm, definite out,

along with ballplayer
and cabdriver.

Matador?

Didn't strike me
as too promising.

Honestly.

Well, I have considered
becoming an eye doctor,

but then that would be
a case of the blind
leading the blind.

That was
a little joke, Mother.

I said it was little.

I suppose Linda Fletcher
put this guitar idea

into your head.

You might say
she was instrumental.

Oh, boy.

That was another joke.

Look, you're gonna
have to start laughing
at something,

or people are gonna think
you're a lesbian.

You have certainly
picked up some colorful
language, haven't you?

You learn everything
down here.
Yes.

Well, I think, young man,
you have learned
just about enough.

I hardly recognize
my own son.
What are you doing?

What I should have done
long ago. I'm taking you home.

Forget it, Mother.
There's no way.

You cannot stay
down here alone.

I'm not alone.
I have friends.

You haven't fooled me
with these parties.

There are no parties.
You have no friends.

I have now.
I have Mrs. Benson.

You'd be better off
with a seeing-eye dog.

DON: They're not as much fun.

Besides, I've got
a seeing-eye mother.

That's right.
And she's
taking you home.

Mrs. Benson will just
have to learn
how to dress herself.

Put the suitcase away.

Donny, you're coming
home with me!

Give me that suitcase.

(SHOUTING)
Where is it?!
Give it to me!

Give it to me.

(SUITCASE CLATTERS)

Mom?

Now, please
stop worrying
about me.

I'm gonna be all right.

If the music
doesn't work out,

I can always
study law
or technology.

There are lots of things
blind people can do today.

Now, please,
stop worrying.

I've gotta go.
(LAUGHS)

Thanks for dropping by.

Where are you going?

Shopping.

I told you, I'm having dinner
in tonight with Mrs. Benson.

Just the two of us,

ah, alone.

Well, I'll just wait here
until you get back.

I don't want you
to wait.

Have a nice trip home.
I'll call you tomorrow.

Now, please...

I don't want
to smell you here
when I get back.

And after dinner,
I suppose an orgy?

I hope so.

At last,
the sinister truth
is revealed.

Little Donny Dark
is just a dirty old man.

Mrs. Benson.

Yes?

Oh, Mrs. Benson,

might I speak to you
for a moment, please?

Well, I have
an audition,

and I-I should be
leaving soon.

I don't know this town.
I always get lost.

Don't worry.
I'll see that you
get off in time.

Please, come in.
Sit down.

I thought we might
have a little chat.

You know,
just girls together.

Can I get you
coffee? Tea?
No, thank you.

But if that apple's
still there...
I'm sure it is.

(INHALES)
Where's Don?
Shopping.

You must be so careful

to wash fruits
and vegetables
today, you know.

They spray
those insecticides
all over everything.

I'm not sure
that the bugs
aren't less harmful.

I like apples to be
nice and shiny.

This reminds me
of something.
What is it?

I have no idea.

You handing me
the apple

nice and shiny.

(SNAPS)
I know.
Snow White.

Remember when
the witch brought her
the poison apple?

(CLICKS TONGUE)
I'm sorry.

I didn't mean that
the way it sounded.

I know you're not
a witch.

Of course not.

And I know
you're not
Snow White.

Yes. Well...

I certainly have enjoyed
our talk, Mrs. Baker,

And I wish I could
stay longer, but I do
have my audition.

Listen. My car's
right downstairs.

I'll drop you,
and we can talk
on the way.

Oh. You're too kind,
Mrs. Baker.

I wouldn't dream
of imposing.
Oh, you're not imposing.

I'm free
the whole afternoon.

No.
Thanks, anyway.

I have...
I have to have
my lunch first.

I'd love
to take you
to lunch.

I know the most wonderful
little restaurant.

They have the best food.
Oh, no, that's...
(CHUCKLES)

No, thanks.
Do you like lasagna?

(EXHALES)
Is the sky blue?

Well, they make
a lasagna with eight
different cheeses,

and the sauce
is a state secret.

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)

MRS. BAKER:
How do you manage to keep
your figure, Mrs. Benson?

I wish you'd
stop calling me
Mrs. Benson.

That is your name,
isn't it? Mrs. Benson?

But you don't say it
as though you mean it.

I'm sorry.

Suppose,
I call you Jill?

That's more friendly,
and I'll try to say it
as though I mean it.

Now, Jill,

you were telling me
about your childhood.

I was?

It must have
been interesting
having so many fathers.

Well, yes,
actually,
it was.

But why don't you
get to the point,
Mrs. Baker?

I know what
it is, anyway.
You do?

Well, I know you didn't
ask me to lunch
to discuss my childhood

or to tell me
how pretty I am.

I was interested
in seeing

what you and Donny
might have in common.

He likes you
very much.

Well, I like him
very much.

He might even be
the most beautiful
person I ever met.

Just imagine
going through life
never seeing anything.

Not a flower
or a painting,

or even
a Christmas card.

Wow!
I'd wanna die.

But he wants to live.
I mean, really live.

He can even
kid about it.

(SIGHS) Wow.
He's fantastic.

Then you would want
what's best for him,
wouldn't you?

Ah-ha. Now we're
getting to it.

I knew this lunch
wasn't free.

Like, maybe I should
ask him to give up
the apartment

and go home
with you,
is that it?

Donny was happy at home
until Linda Fletcher

filled him with ideas
about a place of his own.

You know, I think that
you believe he can
only be happy with you.

Well, "There are none
so blind as those
who will not see."

There. I can quote
Dylan Thomas

and Little
Donny Dark.

You constantly
astonish me.

Well, we women
of the world do that.

It's funny how like
Linda you are.

Donny is certainly
consistent with his girls.

(SPOON CLATTERS)

Oh, my God.
It's after 3:00.

Oh, I'll get
the check.
Waiter?

Waiter, please.

I hope you won't
tell Donny that
we had lunch together.

Okay.
But if he asks,
I won't lie.

MRS. BAKER: He won't ask.

Why do you
call him "Donny"?

Well,
that's his name.

Don't I say it
as though I mean it?

He hates
being called Donny.

He's never
mentioned it.

Of course he has.
You just
don't listen.

There are none
so deaf as those
who will not hear.

You could make up
a lot of those,
couldn't you?

There are none
so lame as those
who will not walk.

There are none
so thin as those
who will not eat.

(GIGGLES)

Do you really,
honestly think

it's a good idea
for Donny to live
in that place alone?

Yes, I really,
honestly feel

it's a good idea
for Don to live

wherever
he wants to.

Anyway, he's not alone.
I'm right next door.

Oh, for how long?

Do you have a lease
on that apartment?
No.

Then you could
move out tomorrow
if you wanted to.

That's right.

You couldn't sustain
a marriage for more than
six days, could you?

My marriage
doesn't concern you.

It didn't concern you
much either, did it?

As a matter of fact,
it did.

(HORN HONKING)

Have you thought
about what marriage
to a blind boy might be like?

Not even your mother's
covered that territory.

Just leave my mother
out of this!

I'm sorry.

I didn't know you were
so touchy about her.

I'm not touchy
about her.

I just don't want
to talk about her,
okay?

All right, we won't.
We'll talk about you.

You've seen Donny
at his best, in that place
that he's memorized.

He's memorized how many
steps to the drugstore,
to the delicatessen.

You were probably
very impressed by that.

But I've seen him
in strange surroundings

where he didn't know
I was watching him.

I've seen him lost.

I've seen him panic.

He needs someone
who will stay with him,

and not just for six days.

Stop worrying,
Mrs. Baker.

Nothing serious
will develop
between Don and me.

I'm not built
that way.

Donny is built
that way.

Oh, please!
We're just having kicks.

Kicks?

That's the way it started
with Linda Fletcher.

Just "kicks."
But Donny fell
in love with her.

He'll fall in love
with you.
Then what happens?

I don't know.

Well, I do know.

Stop it now,
before you hurt him.

What about you?
Aren't you
hurting him?

I can't.
I can only
irritate him.

You can hurt him.

The longer you stay with him,
the harder it will be
for him when you leave.

And you listen to me.
You let him
come home with me,

and you go have your kicks
with someone who won't
feel them when you leave.

I'm not so sure
you can't hurt him.

Maybe more than anybody.

I think you deserve
all the credit you can get

for turning out
a marvelous guy.

But bringing up a son,
even a blind one,

is not a lifetime
occupation.

Oh, you don't know
what you're talking about.

Now, the more
you help him,
the more you hurt him.

It was Linda Fletcher,
not you,

who gave him
what he needed most,

confidence in himself.

(HORNS HONKING)

You're always dwelling
on the negative.

Always what he needs,
never what he wants.

Always what he can't do,
never what he can.

What about his music?

Have you heard
the songs he wrote?

I'll bet
you didn't even know
he could write songs.

Well, you might be
dead right about me.

I'm not
the ideal girl
for Don,

but I know one thing,

neither are you!

And if I'm going
to tell anybody
to go home,

it's gonna be you,
Mrs. Baker.

You go home!

(HORNS HONKING)

(HONKING CONTINUES)

(CLATTERING)

What are you doing?

I am looking
for some wax paper
to wrap this meat in.

There is no
wax paper, Mother.

This meat
looks terrible.

Nobody asked you
to look at it.
(SLAMS DOOR)

What time is it?

(CLICKS)

It's twenty of 10:00.
(WATCH CLICKS SHUT)

Twenty of 10:00?
I know. She's unreliable
and undependable.

What else is new?
You did say 7:30.
I heard you.

Why don't you
change your shirt?

Put on one
of the new ones
I bought you.

Because I like
this one.

Listen, you don't
have to hang around,
you know?

Oh, I'll just
wait here until
she gets back.

I'm not going
to interfere
with your orgy.

I told you that.
No, I told you that.

(GUITAR STRUMMING)

(DON SINGING ON TAPE)

** I knew the day
you met me

** I could love you
if you let me

** Though you touched
my cheek and said

** How easy you'd forget me

** You said

** "Butterflies are free" *

Please turn
that off, Mom.

Is that the song
you wrote?

** So are we *

Yes.
How'd you know
I wrote that?

I didn't.
I just asked you.
Oh.

It's good.

Pretty.
(TAPE CLICKS OFF)

You mean,
it's pretty good?

No.

I mean,
good and pretty.

(CHUCKLES) Wow.

Where do you
suppose she is?

She's probably
still auditioning.

For eight hours?

I'm worried about her.
You're worried
about Jill?

Well,
aren't you?

Something's come
over you.

I mean, first
you like my song.

Now you're worried
about Jill?

And you haven't mentioned
my coming home for hours.

Are you all right?

Don't I seem
all right?

No!

You're not behaving
like Supermom.

Next thing,
you'll be telling me
you like Jill.

I don't dislike her.

I just wish that
she were a different
sort of girl.

She is a different
sort of girl.

That's what
you don't like
about her.

When I was her age,
punctuality
meant something.

DON: What did it mean?

It meant if I was going to be
three hours late for dinner,
I'd call and explain.

You'd never be
three hours late.

No, I certainly
would not.

You'd be
a month early.

Maybe she's lost.

She said she always
loses her way
around San Francisco.

Any cabdriver
can bring her home.

She never said
she loses her way
around San Francisco.

Oh, yes.
She said it to me.

Well, if she'd have
said it to you,
I'd have heard it.

Oh, well, I guess
it was after
you went out.

Was she in here
while I was out?
It seems to me she was, yes.

Why?
The usual.

She wanted
her dress
zipped up.

You did that
while I was
in here, Mother.

She just dropped by.
She was only here
for a minute.

What did you
talk about?
I don't remember.

(YELLS) You remembered
she loses her way. What else
did you talk about?

What does it matter?
(SHOUTS) If it doesn't matter,
then would you tell me!

Donny, please
don't shout at me.

We talked about
Snow White.

Snow White?

And the... And the
Seven Dwarfs?
That Snow White?

Is there any other?

Why were you
talking about her?

What difference
does it make

why we were talking
about Snow White?

We didn't say anything
bad about her.

I don't want you
talking to my friends

when I'm not around.

I'll make
a note of that.

Donny,

did Linda Fletcher
give you confidence?

You know damn well
what Linda gave me,

so don't try
to be funny.

I wasn't trying
to be funny.

Did she also
give you confidence?
Yes.

Didn't I?

(SIGHS)
You gave me help.

I always thought
one led to the other.
Not necessarily.

Why didn't you ever
tell me that you don't
like to be called Donny?

I told you
a thousand times.

I'd certainly remember
something I've heard
a thousand times.

Well, maybe
it was only 999.

What's wrong
with Donny?

Reminds me
of Little Donny Dark.

What's wrong
with that?

You work on it.

What would you like
to be called?

I'll try to remember.

Don. Donald.

You can call me
Sebastian or Irving...

I don't care.
Anything but Donny.

I'm certainly
not going to call you
Sebastian or Irving.

I'll try to remember
to call you Don.

(MAN AND WOMAN TALKING)

She's back.

She'll be in,
in a minute.

You can go now, Mom.

There's a man
with her.

Stop listening
at the door.

I can't hear
anything.

They must be
in the living room.

But there's
a man with her.

It's probably a radio.

Why would she be laughing
and talking with a radio?

Would you please
come away from there?

I am away
from there.

(KNOCKING)

DON: Come in.

Hi. I'm back.

I brought
Ralph Santori
with me.

Oh, Mrs. Baker,
you're still here.

Uh, Don,
this is
Ralph Santori.

I told you
about him.
He's directing the play.

Glad to
know you, Ralph.
Hi, Don.

And, uh,

this is, uh,
Don's mother,
Mrs. Baker.

How do you do,
Mrs. Baker?
How do you do?

Don, I told Ralph
all about you.

He's dying to meet you.
Hey, Jill told me,
you know, how, uh...

How with it
you are.

How, uh, adept you are
for someone who's...

Well, for someone
who can't see.

You can say
"blind," Ralph.

It's in
my vocabulary, too

I should have known.
You know, Jill told me...

(SHOUTING) She said
how you have no hang-ups
about this thing!

Ralph, you don't
have to shout.
(CHUCKLES)

Mr. Santori,
my son is not deaf.

Oh. Sorry.
No. It... It happens
all the time.

People think if you
can't see, you can't hear.
(CHUCKLES)

He can hear a lot
better than we can.
Really?

No, I can't.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)

And what a sense
of smell.

Can I fix you
something
before I leave?

Oh, we've already
had dinner.

I wouldn't mind
a little cup
of coffee.

You were expected here
for dinner, Jill.

Oh, Don.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.

Everything's
so beautiful.

Candles,

and our flowers.

(GIGGLES)
Well, that's me for ya.

I completely forgot.

We went to this party
after the audition
to celebrate,

and we drank
a whole bottle
of champagne,

or whatever
that was.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)

It was
sparkling Burgundy.

Then, you got
the part?

Um, yes and no.

I'm not playing
the wife.

What are you playing,
the homosexual?

No.
(BOTH LAUGH)

His secretary.

It's a small part,
but I have
one good scene.

She gave
a great audition.

Man, was I
proud of her.
(CHUCKLES)

DON: Were you nervous?

Was I!

JILL: Uh, it wasn't
the reading or anything,

but can you just imagine
having to stand there

in front of
all those people
completely naked?

(CUP BREAKS)

I'm sorry.
I broke a cup.

Can I help you?

No, thank you.
(CLATTERING)

It's already broken.

MRS. BAKER: Um,
how many coffees?

I-I don't
want any.

None for me.

(WHISTLES)

(CLATTERING)

Why did Jill have to be
naked for the audition?

Well, because there's
a lot of nudity
involved in this play.

We had to see
the actors' bodies.

You see,
the visual here
is very important.

I hope
you don't mind
my saying that.

(CHUCKLES)
No, not at all.
Not at all.

How do you take
your coffee,
Mr. Santori?

Just black.

You know,
I don't think anyone
could call me a prude.

I'd like to
see them try.

Well,

at first, I hated
the idea of getting
completely undressed.

But there were
like, uh,

twenty or 30 actors there
all around me, all naked.

And I was
the only one
with clothes on.

How would you feel?

Warm, all over.

RALPH: I was out front
with my writer
and my producer.

And the minute
we saw Jill naked,

we knew
she wasn't right
for the lead.

Tell me,
Mr. Santori,

is there any story
connected
with this play,

or is that too much
to hope for?
(CHUCKLES)

There's a very
dramatic story,
Mrs. Baker.

I die in the end.

Pneumonia?

Jill's scene
is gonna be
the wildest thing

they've ever seen
on any stage.
(CHUCKLES)

I can do this thing
better than anyone
in the business.

She'll be
lying there

naked

dying of
an overdose

of heroin.

Now,
she's in agony,

and she's writhing
across the stage,
on her back

delirious,

screaming.

Do you think
the public
really needs this?

Are you kidding?
They're dying
for it.

I'm talking about
the thinking public.

Not all those giddy little
tight-ass matrons
up in Hillsborough.

Have I said
something wrong?

Pick anything,
Mr. Santori.

Ralph,
Mrs. Baker lives
in Hillsborough.

(CHUCKLES)

Well...
(CHUCKLES)

Present company
excepted.

Isn't that
the rule?

I don't wish to be
excepted, thank you.
(CHUCKLES)

Tell me,
what is the name
of your play?

It's called
Do Unto Others.

Oh, I must make
a note of that too.
(CHUCKLES)

You might like it,
Mrs. Baker,

if you just
gave it a chance.

You know, saw it
with an open mind.

(DON LAUGHS)

Mom hasn't liked anything
since The Sound of Music.

Well, I think we just
might be able to make it

without the support
of Hillsborough.

Good. Because I wouldn't
count on the support
of this "giddy little matron."

I do not intend to pay money
to see nudity, obscenity,
and degeneracy.

(CHUCKLES)
Mrs. Baker, these things
are all a part of life.

I know, Mr. Santori.
So is diarrhea,

but I wouldn't
classify it
as entertainment.

I think we'd better
get going.

How long
will it take you
to get packed?

Oh, not long.
I only have
two bags.

RALPH: I'll pick up
some food downstairs

while you're packing,
and I'll meet you at the car.

You going somewhere?

Didn't I tell you?
I'm moving in with Ralph.

I thought
I mentioned it.

MRS. BAKER: No,

you didn't.

JILL:
Well, this place
is so tacky.

And Ralph thought
it'd be a good idea

if I moved in
with him.
RALPH: It was your idea.

It really
doesn't matter
whose idea it was.

It was a good one.

Hey, Ralph
has a terrific
studio apartment.

Wait'll you see it.
And we want you
to come over,

you know,
whenever you like.

If you're alone
or anything,

you just come on over.
Right, Ralph?
Right.

I told you
you'd like Don.

Hey. We'll have
groovy times
over there.

And you'll
love Ralph.

He's one of us.
I wish you could
see him.

He has a great face.

In fact...
Ralph, let Don
feel your face.

(CHUCKLES)

He can tell
what you look like
by feeling your face.

Go ahead, Don.
(SNIFFLES)

He doesn't want to.

Well, it's been
great meeting
you, Don.

See you soon,
I hope.

RALPH:
It was nice meeting you,
Mrs. Baker.

I apologize
if I offended you.

MRS. BAKER:
That's quite all right,
Mr. Santori.

I can assure you
it won't happen again.

RALPH: Jill?

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

I'll stop in
and say goodbye
before I leave.

Mom?

Mom, are you here?
Yes.

I have something
I want to tell you.

Is it something awful?

No, you'll like it.
But you better sit down.

I'm sitting.

I want to go home.

You get the car
and I'll pack.

Did you hear me?

Yes.

DON: Then why don't
you say something?

I intend to.

I'm collecting my thoughts.

Well, do that
while you get the car.
I'll only be a moment.

Just a minute.

I think we should
talk about it.

Talk about it?

Isn't that
what you wanted?

Isn't that why
you came down
here today?

To bring me home?
Yes.

Well, then what's
to talk about?

We've been
at this all day.

You said it isn't
Buckingham Palace.

You said I'm living
in a rat hole.

And you said
it's the Taj Mahal.

Are you saying you don't
want me to come home?
Oh, no.

I'm simply saying,
I think we should
talk about it.

Now,
put the bag down.

I'm coming home,
Mother.
Put it down!

Please don't
misunderstand me.

I think this place
is dreadful.

I doubt that I will
ever like it,

but I didn't choose
to live here. You did.

You couldn't wait
to get a place
of your own.

You rushed into this.
Now you want to rush out.

I think we should
talk about it.

Isn't it funny
how you and I
think exactly alike

except never
at the same time.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

I can't make it, Mom!

I just know
I'm not gonna make it.

Why?

Because a girl
has walked out on you?

Two girls.
Let's don't forget Linda.

And it could be
ten girls.

Girls walk out on
sighted men too,
you know.

Is that supposed to
make me feel better?

Well, it's supposed to
make you stop feeling
sorry for yourself.

You have
never felt sorry
for yourself before.

Please don't
start now.

Oh, Donny, you are
going to meet
so many girls.

And one day
you'll meet one

who's capable
of a permanent
relationship.

Jill isn't.
She knows this
herself.

I, uh...

I really think that
you're better off

staying here
for right now.

I don't want you
coming home
discouraged and defeated.

You've got
your music.
You've...

Christ!
Once and for all,

will you get it
into your head that
I'm not Little Donny Dark?

You're goddamned right
I'm discouraged.
I am defeated.

It's over.

Do you remember
the first Donny
Dark story?

No.

You were five years old.

We were spending
the summer
at Lake Tahoe.

Dad took you out
into the lake,

and it was the
first time that you'd
ever been in any water

that was deeper
than your bathtub.
You were terrified.

They could
hear you screaming
all over California.

Dad brought you in,
and I put you to bed.

You trembled for hours.
That night
I told you a story

about a little blind boy
who could swim
the seven seas,

who could talk
to dolphins...
And the dolphins told him

about the
enemy submarines

that were coming
to destroy the
United States Navy.

And Donny Dark swam ashore
just in time to save them.

What a lot of crap.

The next day,
you learned to swim.

Listen...

I didn't write
those stories

hoping for
a Pulitzer prize
in literature.

I wrote them because
I found a way
of helping you.

Whenever you were
discouraged or defeated,
I told you another story.

You tried
a little harder,

and you did
a little better.

Shall I make up
a story now

or are you man enough
to handle the situation
yourself?

A month ago,
you didn't think
I was man enough.

You said I wasn't ready
to leave home.
Why have you changed?

I don't know
that I've changed.

You're not the boy
who left home
a month ago.

I came down here today
hoping that you were.

You know, Donny,

it's not easy to

adjust to

not being needed anymore.

I can do it now.
And you get on
with your own life.

I'd like to see
you have some...

Some decent furniture...

Some dishes
and some glasses.

I'll send some up.

Okay.

And linens.

Bigger ashtrays.

You know, if you'll

fix this place up,

it might not be so bad.

Could I help you
fix it up a little?

Sure.

I'll call you in the morning,
and we'll talk about it.

Mom?

I'm glad you came.

I love you, Don.

I know, Mom.

(SNIFFLES)
I know you do.

How're you doin'?

JILL:
I'll be right in.

Well... I guess
I got everything.

Listen, I left
my new dishtowels

and some light bulbs
in the kitchen,

if you want 'em.

Thanks.
I don't need 'em.

Well, let's not have
any big goodbyes
or anything.

I'll be in touch
with you.

Can't you stay
a minute?

Well, once I'm going
somewhere,

I like to get going,
you know what I mean?

Sure. I'm the same way.
But I was just going to have

a corned-beef
sandwich on rye.
Do you want one?

Well, once I'm going
somewhere,
I like to get going,

unless somebody offers me
a corned-beef sandwich on rye.

Um...

I locked the door
from the inside.

Will you give the key
to the janitor for me?
Sure.

I'm putting it here
on the table.

(KEY CLATTERS)

I guess you better have him
lock up that door again.

No. I'll wait and see
who moves in.

It might be
someone groovy.

Oh, yeah.
I hope so.

DON: You want a beer?

Yeah.

The candles
are still lit.

I'm very religious.

Where's Mama?
She went home.

What was the verdict?

She accepted
my declaration
of independence.

You're kidding?
No.

I must say,
she put up
a great battle.

Maybe she should
have won.

I mean, maybe
you'd be better off
at home.

Now, that's a switch.

Well, I've been
thinking about it.

Come on, girl.
It took me
a whole day

and three pints of blood
to convince my mother.

I don't want to
have to start on you.

Well, I like
to have things
done for me.

Well, then give up
Ralph and the play
and move in with my mother.

Uh, I'm out
of mustard.
I don't care.

What did you think
of Ralph?
(CLANGS)

Where are you?

I'm on the sofa.
Huh.

I couldn't tell where
your voice
was coming from.

You always
could before.

I wasn't
concentrating.

He seemed very nice.

Who?
Ralph.

Oh, you didn't
like him, did you?

I said he seemed
very nice.

No, I could tell
you didn't like him.
You were a little uptight...

I'm always uptight
when there's more than
one person in the room.

I have to figure out
who's speaking, and if
they're speaking to me.

I guess you didn't
like him 'cause
he was rude.

Was he rude?
Well, you know, putting down
Hillsborough and your mother.

That was an accident.

I'm sorry you think
he's rude.

I don't think
he's rude.

Well, you said it.
I didn't.

Or is there
someone else here?

Well, I know
he comes off
as a little conceited.

Tell me, Jill,

do you like Ralph?

(LAUGHS)

And what kind
of question is that?

Well, I'm moving in
with him, aren't I?

Why would I move in
with a guy
I don't like?

That was
my next question.

Well, I'd better
be going.

Ralph's waiting, and...

Come to think of it,
I guess I don't like Ralph.

I knew it all along.
But why?

Like you said,
he's rude and conceited.

No. I knew
that's what
you thought,

but he only
seems that way.

I really hoped
we could
all be friends.

Did you really?

Well, thanks
for the sandwich.

I better get going.

I'm gonna tell you something.
You don't like Ralph Santori.

Oh, God!

I just packed two bags,

sitting right here,
so I can move in with him.

I don't care
if you've got 13 trunks.
You don't like him.

You really are something.

I mean, you think
just because you're blind,

you can see
everything.
That's right.

And that sixth sense
we've got tells me

you don't like
Ralph Santori.

How about that?
Spooky, isn't it?

No,
it's just stupid.

I packed two big bags,
sitting right over there.

Tell me, Jill...

With Ralph, is it like
the Fourth of July
and like Christmas?

Not exactly.

Uh, he has
a kind of strength.

With him,
it's more like
Labor Day.

Do you think
he's a beautiful
person, too?

In many ways, yes.

Do you love him?

Why should I
answer that?

No matter what I say,

you've already made up
your own mind about it.

Go ahead.
Answer it.
Do you love him?

Yes. In my way.

Yesterday, you told me
you couldn't love anyone.

Well, that was
yesterday.

Look, I'm not
the worldliest human
being on the block,

but I know
when you're rushing
into the arms of a man

you love, you don't
stop for a corned-beef
sandwich on rye.

Was it something
my mother said?

Was what something
your mother said?

The reason...

(CLATTERING)

The reason
you're leaving?

The reason
you didn't show up
for dinner?

And I know
you didn't forget.

Was it something
my mother said?

You don't even
listen to your mother.
Why should I?

Well, then,
why are you leaving?

Don't give me
any of that crap
about loving Ralph.

(SHOUTING)
I'm leaving because
I want to leave.

I am free,

and I go when
I want to go,
all right?

I thought it might
have something
to do with me.

It has nothing
whatsoever
to do with you.

Okay.

You're scared to death
of becoming involved,
aren't you?

I told you
all about that.

Oh, that's right.
You told me.

No responsibilities.
No commitments.

It's just that
I have to be able
to get out, uh,

if I get tired...
Tired of me.

Of anybody.

What if I got
tired of you?

Of me?

Doesn't anyone
ever get tired of you?

Well, I don't know.
I don't hang around
long enough to find out.

Oh, and with Ralph,
you could walk out
anytime you feel like it.

But it might be a little
harder walking out
on a blind guy, right?

The blindness
has nothing
to do with it.

You know
goddamned
well it has!

You wouldn't feel a thing
walking out on Ralph,
or Sebastian, or Irving.

But walk out on
Little Donny Dark,

and you might hate yourself,
and you wouldn't like that,
would you?

Well, hate me or love me.

But don't leave
because I'm blind.

And don't stay
because I'm blind.

Who are Sebastian
and Irving?

(EXHALES)
Nobody.

(SIGHS)

Sometimes I just
don't understand you.

I mean, we really
don't think alike,

and I know
I'd only hurt you
sooner or later.

And I don't want
to hurt you.

Why not?

You can do it to others.
Why am I an exception?

Becau...

Well, I just
don't want to be
another Linda Fletcher.

She hurt you,
didn't she?

Yes, but she
helped me, too.

She was there
when I needed her.

Well...

I can't
promise that.

(SOBBING)
I don't know where
I'll be when you need me.

Oh, girl, you need me
a hell of a lot more
than I need you.

I don't need anybody.
I never did,
and I never will.

I have to go now.

I'm glad you said,
"have to"
and not "want to."

Well, I finally said
something right.

I'll be seeing you.

Yeah, I'll be
seeing you.

(SOBBING)

I'll think about you
for years. (SNIFFLES)

And wonder if you ever
made a commitment.

(INHALES)
If you ever
got involved.

I hope not.

(GASPING)

Don't worry.

It won't happen.

It can't,

because you're emotionally
retarded. Did you know that?

That's why
you couldn't
face marriage.

That's why you can't face
anything permanent,
anything real.

You're leaving now because
you're afraid you're going
to fall in love with me,

and you're too adolescent
for that responsibility.

You're going to stay that way
for the rest of your life,
thinking you're free.

Oh, God.
I feel sorry for you

because you're crippled.

I'd rather be blind.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(YELLS) Taxi!

RALPH: Hey, Jill!

Come on.

(HONKING)

(TAPE RECORDER SWITCH CLICKS)
(DON SINGING ON TAPE)

** I knew the day you met me

** I could love you
if you let me

** Though you touched
my cheek and said

** How easy you'd forget me

** You said
"Butterflies are free"

(DISHES CRASH)

(STRUMMING ON GUITAR)

** And so are we

** On that velvet morning

** When our love was forming

** I said it wouldn't hurt me

** If you left me
without warning

(GLASSES CLATTERING)

(CHAIR CLATTERS)

(THUDS)

(GROANS)

(PANTING)

Who is it?

Who's there?

The news is good.

It's not
your mother.

What are you
doing here?

What are you doing
on the floor?

I was just about
to have a picnic.

Without me?

I didn't know
I had a choice.

You're going to be very
proud of me when I tell you
what just happened.

What?

Shadow vision.

What do you mean?

Well, I can do it.

I just did it.
It was incredible.

I came
within one foot
of this obstacle,

and I stopped cold.

What was it,
a lamppost?

No.

It was Ralph.

I have
a confession
to make.

I cheated
just a little.

My eyes were opened.

(BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE
PLAYING ON GUITAR)

Well,
it's about time.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

(BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE ENDS)