Original subtitles

Woman: Ruth! Hope you got your butt out of that bed!

Where is everybody?

Out here, gram.

Are you up?

I'm up.

Oh, come on, up and at 'em.

Nasty can lay around, but we've got things to do.

Not before breakfast.

How do you want your eggs?

Scrambled but not runny.

Ha ha! In five years you ever get runny eggs?

How about I rent a movie?

Yeah, I thought maybe some porno?

( Pans clatter, crash ) Okay! Okay!

How about some Sci-Fi?

Gram? You break something?

Grandma?

( Cat meows ) Grandma?

Unh!

( Phone rings ) ( Phone ringing )

Hello.

Ruthie-- oh, Ruth. Look, I can't

talk right now, I got the kids' breakfast on.

Aunt Evelyn, grandma's dead.

Oh, my god.

Well-- well, why didn't you let us know?!

She's in the kitchen.

Oh-- well, uh, look, ruthie, you just stay put

and Tom and I will be over there just as soon as we can,

soon as he's had his eggs.

Easy, Evelyn, don't exhaust yourself with grief.

( Click ) Bye.

( Click ) Bye.

Oh, gram.

Man: Lewellyn is a skilled nursing facility serving both

mentally and physically challenged individuals.

Evelyn: Ruthie, take your sunglasses off.

We try to work with the families of our people, so that

the payments don't become burdensome.

Lewellyn maint-- oh. Uh-- lewellyn maintains a full-time

staff, along with our many volunteers, of course.

Our doctors are on call 24 hours a day, so basically we

can handle just about anything.

How about a small explosion?

Ahem.

We like our people to stay as busy as possible.

Is there anything in particular you're interested in studying?

Arson?

Evelyn: Ruthie!

Please! Please call my husband!

Lady! Get off of me!

Call my husband, please!

Please call him! He doesn't know where I am!

Now, Mrs. Honeywell, you know you live here. Nurse!

Help me! Please!

Veronica, please.

Mrs. Honeywell, come along.

Mrs. Honeywell is one of our oldest residents.

Just give me a shovel, I'll Bury her myself.

We also house people with cognitive problems and head

injuries, and we house a number of the developmentally

challenged.

Hey.

Welcome to freak city.

You want a tour?

Come up to my room, I'll give you a little tour.

Ruth: You're not seriously gonna do this?

Evelyn: Ruthie.

Tom: Shut up, Ruth.

Miss Ellison, it appears that before he died, your father gave

your aunt a durable power of attorney for your healthcare

and your property.

She can't do this!

Mrs. Lissard is responsible for acting in your best

interests, including your placement here at lewellyn.

I promised your father you would be taken care of.

You're sure taking care of me, aren't you, Evelyn?

Is this your signature?

Yeah.

Apparently when you turned eighteen you yourself

authorized this.

Yeah, but I didn't read any of that shit.

Evelyn, look.

Listen, I'll work for you, okay?

I'll clean! I'll baby-sit!

Now, ruthie, maybe it will be just for a little while.

Life, Evelyn, is just for a little while.

Look, I gotta use the bathroom.

She'll be all right.

She's a fighter.

Shit!

Are you sure we're doing the right thing?

Evelyn, we've been through this. She can't live alone,

but she can't live with us.

No ramp?

Shit!

Whoa.

( Music box plays melody ) Woman: Hi.

Hi.

Hi!

Hi!

Who the hell are you?

Cassandra.

You're my roommate.

Oh, god in heaven, take my now.

Have to eat breakfast now.

You're a gimp.

Gimps get help.

I tell you what... you and I are gonna get along great

if you just don't talk to me.

Madonna's the queen of rock and roll.

Nurse: Good morning, doll.

Hi! Ooh, I like them sounds,

girl.

Ellison, I am jan.

Time to haul 'er up!

Man, fuck you!

Unh-unh. Wash and dress, that's the name of the game.

I said fuck you.

Okay, then.

Ain't you unpacked yet?

I hope you brought clean undies, 'cause I do not work

with dirties.

And I see you didn't make jammie call last night.

Okay. I got a schedule to keep.

Let's make it. Put your arms over my shoulders--

are you deaf?! I said fu-- okay. I'll give it to you

this way: You can get your ass up and get it to breakfast,

or you can sit there, and I'll come around with

a nice, warm enema.

( Cassandra moans ) Mm-mm.

Nobody lifts me. Got it?

Nobody touches my chair-- ever.

Fine by me.

Oh...

And fuck you too, sweetheart.

Was you born a gimp?

Were you born retarded?

Not retarded-- I'm mentally slow.

I got born, and my doctor got my head out with giant tweezers.

Maybe he thought you were a giant splinter.

Was you born a gimp?

Man, you are nosy.

I know, but was you born-- no, I was dropped by

a mentally slow person!

Well, it wasn't me.

( Low chatter ) Hi!

Hi.

I sit at the goon table.

You go to the gimp table.

Goons?

You're new here, aren't you?

You eat over there where the regular chairs won't

get in your way.

(Sighs) Okay.

Bye.

Stick with me, grandma.

Something wrong with this table?

What makes you so special, huh?

Uggh. I know when I'm being fed shit.

( Laughter ) Well, if there's anything

Special that you do need, I'm sure I can help you out--

for a price.

How much do you charge to disappear?

Ooh.

( Laughter ) Man: Yeah!

Sorry.

Nice work, man.

What are you laughing at, tough guy?

What are you laughing at, tough guy?

Hey.

Who?

You. There's a \"no smoking\" sign next to you.

Really? I haven't seen it.

Nurse: Okay, Eleanor.

( Eleanor muttering ) You stay here till

miss manmouth comes out.

Can I have one of those?

Uh...

I wouldn't.

Why not?

It pisses them off.

You're new here, right?

They dumped me here.

You?

I was sent to the principal's office.

Why?

Smoking.

Okay, who's next?

Well, Lenny, I know why you're here.

New girl. In here.

Beware the mammoth.

I'm Mary manmouth.

I'm your social worker.

I've been reviewing your file.

It doesn't say who your case worker is.

My what?

You must have been given a case worker when you were

diagnosed seven years ago.

Slipped through the cracks, hmm?

I'm just that kind of gal.

I understand that lewellyn is not your choice.

We can discuss options later, but in the meantime you gotta

play by the rules.

You tried to take off yesterday.

If something had happened, we'd be responsible.

So we are delaying your outside privileges until you've

stabilized.

It's entirely up to you.

As far as I'm concerned, I've been hijacked.

I'd prefer that you not smoke.

\"prefer\"?

Nobody asked me what I'd prefer when they dumped in your

little twilight zone here.

I can only tell you, Ruth, that the state hospital, which

is where you'd go from here, isn't very pretty.

Is where you'd go from here, isn't very pretty.

( Crying ) ( Exasperated sigh )

Shit!

Fuckin' payphone's out of order.

Watch your mouth, young lady.

That's the nurses' phone.

I need to make a phone call!

Next time try asking permission.

Hello, is this my favorite durable power?

It's Ruth.

Ruthie, Evelyn.

I'm fine, yeah, lovely.

How's nasty doin'?

Well, make sure he's eating his dry food--

do you mind?

Uh, well, I just thought maybe we could hash over

some of this stuff.

Yeah, I know. But I think I am able to decide for myself

what's best for me.

Well, that was a long time ago.

You don't really know any-- I was very responsible with

grandma, so don't-- look, Evelyn--

yes, I guess I was a shit, but-- it's not my attitude that needs

changing, it's my life.

My life is completely ruled by assholes!

( Click, dial tone ) Hello?

Oh, shit.

Problems?

Yeah, I'm down-wind of you.

( Opera plays on stereo ) Who?

Uh, Ruth.

From manmouth's office?

I was lookin' for a smoke.

Oh, gee, I wouldn't.

Neither would I.

Go ahead.

I knew there had to be a human being in this place

somewhere.

Nice typewriter.

Braille.

Records. Wow.

What are you doing?

Apartments.

For the blind.

You movin'?

Oh, yes.

Very cool.

( Turns up volume on opera ) (Types on braille typewriter)

Well, sinner, welcome to the tenth circle.

Tenth circle?

Yeah...

Of hell.

Lovely.

Yeah, lovely, indeed.

We haven't met.

I'm Cal Jackson.

I liked your style with Dennis.

Thanks.

According to Dante, saints and sinners mingle

in hell before they go in opposite directions.

Sort of like lewellyn.

So...who's who?

Well, in the first six circles you have the gluttons,

the lustful, the unbaptized, the virtuous pagans.

The less your brain can do, the lower your circle in hell.

Look out, here comes the leaning tower of babel.

Man: Ha ha! Babel!

Cal: Seventh circle: The violent sinners.

( Crash ) ( Cheers, applause )

Aide: That's enough.

Cal: And Eleanor sorrell-- a perfect seven.

We're talking real violence-- against art, nature, god, self--

she tried to kill herself when she first got here.

What happened to her?

Head-on car crash.

She was some sort of big deal musician.

Now she's a gink, but a lucky one.

What's that?

She can't match her words to her thoughts.

But there's a good chance she'll recover.

Huntin' up a little Booty, Cal?

Kind of futile, isn't it?

Eighth circle: Thieves, flatterers,

hypocrites.

Lenny! Over here. It's Ruth.

Teacher put you in the corner?

( Laughs ) You know Cal?

(Flat) Yeah.

Hello, Leonard.

Catch you later, Ruth.

Ninth circle: Traitors.

Judas, brutus, my father, and Lenny stanapolous...

Aide: Lenny. Lenny!

...all people you should have been able to trust.

Aunt Evelyn.

Hmm?

You said there were ten?

Ah. So you were listening.

( Chuckles ) Well, tenth circle--

it's mine, not Dante's-- is reserved exclusively

for poor, hapless suckers in wheelchairs.

( Both laugh ) Yeah.

( Laughs ) ( Sighs )

See? I told you.

You got a gimp.

Her name is Ruth.

Wyatt is my boyfriend.

Hi!

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm trapped in pee-wee's playhouse.

Don't flirt, Wyatt.

I'm not.

Where'd you go all day?

Work.

Work. Where?

In the kitchen.

What do they pay you?

No.

I asked them for work.

They let me.

Great.

( Sighs deeply ) What did you do all day?

Oh, man, I don't know how to do this.

Oh, man, I don't know how to do this.

Mister roar will help you.

He likes to be friend.

No, thanks.

I don't need any dumb toys.

Mister roar is not dumb.

I'm sorry.

Look, it's nothing personal, okay? I just...

I just...

I want to be home, watching TV and having a beer.

Uh...

Yeah. Legal aid?

Yeah, social services said I should call you.

I want to talk to somebody about a screwed-up durable

power thing that's illegal.

Uh-huh.

(Disconnects phone) I don't recall you asking.

Damnit, Veronica!

Do you want a quarter?

I got serious business.

And good manners are serious business to me.

Damn this place.

This one.

This one.

I can't find your work-ups for the last five years.

Car trouble.

Miss Ellison, what do you know about multiple sclerosis?

Bullshit of the nervous system, messages from the brain

not getting through to the body.

At fifteen your x-rays showed signs of lesions

in the cerebellum.

Start with the arms.

Any numbness or tingling?

Fatigue?

No weakness at all?

Grandma handled most of the heavy stuff.

Any slurring of speech?

No.

Bladder control problems?

Nope.

Watch my finger.

Blurry vision?

I can see when I'm being set up.

You're very lucky.

Symptomatically you're at a good plateau that could last

for months, even years.

I want to see how you react to a new medication for

the muscle spasm.

That tickles.

And it's particularly helpful if we can avoid stress.

Then what \"we\" need to do is get me the fuck of this place.

(Sighs) When the bad days come, miss Ellison, I hope you

still have your sense of humor.

( Door opens, closes ) Cassandra: Two...

Three...

Five..

Six...

(Knocks) Delivery.

Eight...

Eleven...

Thirteen...

Seventeen...

Thirty-two...

Twenty-five...

Thirty-two...

Ho ho ho ho ho ho!

You're kidding me!

Oh, my god!

This is so great!

Oh...

Mm.

Mmm...

Anyone who can do this can shake my hand.

( Giggles ) Pretty smart?

Obviously.

You got a picture.

My grandma. She died.

My family died, and I cried.

If I did that, I wouldn't stop,

so I don't.

I will be your family, Ruth.

Hug!

Oh-- (kissing sound) Two...

Three...

Ruth: Hi!

All: Hi!

I'm just gonna grab my bear.

Bye.

Wait. Wait!

Can I come with?.

Ruth!

Where you going?

To pay a visit.

Yeah, you can come.

Whee!

Hey-- oh. Sorry.

Ruth?

Woman: Cassandra.

What are you doing here?

Mister roar has to leave now.

Bye-bye.

Lenny.

Mom, this is Ruth.

Yeah. Uh...

I was just...

Taking some laundry.

Well, I'm glad to see Lenny's finally making some friends.

You're new, aren't you, Ruth?

Yeah.

Mom...why don't you tell Ruth what you're doing here?

Oh! ( Laughs ) It's really nothing.

It's...

Well, Lenny doesn't have a window, and it's so dark.

Not that it matters to Lenny.

But it depresses me, so I'm putting up some nice curtains.

Then everyone will think it's dark because his curtains

are drawn and not because he doesn't have a window.

( Laughs ) Well, that's really...

Nuts.

Isn't it?

Yes, well, I guess I'm just a nutty old lady.

Hmm.

Well...

Uh, laundry. Bye.

Hey--h-h-hey!

Sorry.

It's all right.

Hey. Hey.

Doing a little reading for the blind?

Mrs. Honeywell: Please!

Please!

God, she gives me the creeps.

Miss honeywell?

She's harmless, just a little loony.

Well, if I stay here, I'm gonna end up just like her,

only not so harmless.

I'm gettin' out.

Fall. State university.

You're kidding.

Don't look so surprised.

I had a 3.8.

I'm getting an apartment-- with a friend.

Well, don't let anyone stop you.

I hate that.

What?

When they stare like that.

Stare back.

I gotta get out of here.

Hey, Cal, I think we have a few things in common.

Yeah, but you have arms.

Maria? Guess who.

Ruthie. Yeah.

I know, I know, way too long, amiga.

My grandma, you know....

Thanks.

No, no, I'm great.

Listen, remember a long time ago you said your granddad had this

apartment that he rented out?

Really?

I could talk him down, right?

Tell him I'll fix it up.

Fifth floor is great-- I'd love a view!

No elevator.

Oh.

Please, let me talk to him.

What are you doing? Go-- let me talk to him!

No, I'm on the-- he doesn't know that--

hello? Darling?

Hello? Are you there?

Hello?

He's not there.

Okay, Ruth, I'm tellin' ya, you gotta do this right, so

let's just start, shall we?

After I get it down on the brailler, we can just transfer

it to a regular typewriter.

Okay.

( Typing ) \"regarding legal aid.

To whom it may concern.\"

now...

Um... okay.

\"in terms of me getting a free lawyer...

I was told to write to you...

Uh, I was told to write to you--\"

shit. I don't know what to say.

Lenny, let's get Cal in here.

I bet he's good with this stuff.

Cal won't come in here.

What's with you guys, anyway?

We took off last year.

And Cal...Panicked.

And I saw it.

And he has never forgiven me for seeing.

That's a joke, right?

Cal wouldn't do that.

You don't know much about him.

Bullshit. He's going to college next year.

Oh. He talks a real good game.

What about you, huh?

How many applications have you sent out?

(Opera playing on stereo) Hey, cass.

Look.

No window!

( Both laugh ) ( Knocking on door )

Oh, geez, Jefferson, I'm sorry.

Is it still too loud?

My hearing also sucks.

Um-- who?

It's...

N-Nice.

Nice.

Ruth: Eleanor, right?

Uh, your--your mm-- muh-mother--

my mother is nice?

No.

No. It's okay, just breathe.

Your...

...muh--your--m-m-- oh. She likes your Mozart.

Yeah.

M-Mare...

R-Ridge-- marriage.

Oh, \"marriage.\"

it-it-- marriage of figaro.

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

Most...b-beaut-iful...

It's very nice.

Hey, we workin' here or not?

Yeah. (Turns down music) Oh. Uh...

Can I, uh, listen?

Can--can i--?

Yeah. Yeah. J-j- don't move around a lot,

because--it's very confusing.

Your roommate is a gimp.

I know.

Mister roar likes her now.

\"I like her now.\"

go get a wheelchair or something.

That's not very nice.

♪ Cassie is a gimp ♪ Cassie is a gimp

you're mean!

You can't sit at goon table if you not be a goon.

I'm a goon!

Goon! Goon!

Good-bye!

Let's go.

Ruth: Wait a minute.

So you're telling me-- I-I don't know, I have

a problem with this story.

Cal: Why?

Well-- ( Laughs )...

Nobody would just walk into hell.

I mean, come on!

That's totally whacked.

No. It depends on where you think you're starting out.

Look.

Okay, you're Dante...

And you're lost in the woods.

But then you see this far-off mountain, and you want to go

there more than anything.

Do I go?

Well, you have all these wild animals in your way.

Right. Uh, the panther.

Mm-hmm. And a lion...

And a wolf.

The lion is pride, the wolf is greed.

What's the panther?

Lust.

Anyway, um, Virgil, Dante's guide,

says, \"I'll show you a different path.

I'll take you through the forest.\"

Cassandra: Can I sit with you?

Ohh. What's the matter?

I gotta go.

No! Cal, you don't have to go, this'll just take a--

Tammy and Wyatt are mean!

Why?

Because you're my friend, and they told me,

\"go eat at the gimp table.\"

this isn't the gimp table.

Well, what table is this?

It's our table.

Yeah. Our table.

Ruth Ellison?

Whatever it is, I didn't do it.

I'm Leo berman, from legal aid.

They got your letter, and I've been assigned to represent you.

Far fuckin' out!

I think we have a case.

Are you kidding?

But listen, before we can do anything, you have to get me

all your records: School, medical, welfare.

In order to terminate their durable power of attorney,

we need to prove you didn't know what you were signing,

you're self-sufficient, and you're here against

your wishes.

That's easy.

Also Evelyn lissard isn't actually related

to your deceased grandmother?

No, sir.

Evelyn is dad's sister, grandma was my mom's mother.

Grandma always said she wanted me to have her house.

What do you mean, \"self-sufficient\"?

Excuse me?

What does that mean?

Oh, no, I wasn't-- no, you seem to be doing fine.

Um, so Evelyn is your dad's sister.

Yeah.

Ruth: Have you seen Cal?

No.

Who's that?

Eleanor's got a family.

Husband, huh?

Jan: Mm-hmm. There's little Josh, that ought to

cheer her up.

Is Eleanor a mover or a keeper?

Well, if she keeps getting better, she'll probably

move out.

Hunky husband, perfect kid-- what's not to get better for?

Hunky husband is divorcing her; Couldn't take it.

And she may be losing custody of her kid.

Hey.

Ooh.

Oh...

You big...

Big boy.

You said that the last time.

Yeah....

Yeah.

Y-You want...

Ice...

Chest--no-- ice--

ice cream.

( Laughs ) Ice...

Oh.

( Laughs ) ( Crying )

Eleanor?

You're...

Missing dinner.

Cou-- could-

couldn't-- what?

Couldn't...

Re-rem...ember...

S-Son's...

Name.

Why don't you come to the cafeteria?

Couldn't...

F-Find it.

You know what I do?

I follow the smell.

When the stench becomes overwhelming...

You're there.

Here we go.

You were born, each and every one of you,

was born giving voice.

Yeah? It's your birthright.

Here's a story.

In the beginning there was the vowel.

\"aaaaaaa....\"

let me hear that.

All: \"aaaaaaa.\"

\"ooooooooo.\"

can you look at each other and do that?

\"eeeeeeee.\"

hey, Cal, is that a good story?

There's a pretty good story going on here too, ya know?

Go on, look at somebody, look at your neighbor and...

\"eeeee....

Ooooooo...\"

and then one day somebody woke up and invented

the consonant.

Because the vowels are all about the feelings.

Huh?

And the consonant was invented to contain those feelings

and put them in a box.

So we we have \"buh-duh-zee-buh.\"

let me hear that.

(All making consonant sounds) Buh-booh-bah.

Bah-boo. Bee-boo.

Bah-bee-bibbibee.

Biddy-bah, biddy-boo.

Guh-guh-taa-umm.

Guh-guh-buh-duh-umm.

Guu-ba-dah!

(Rhythmically) Guh-ba-dah...

Tick-a-boom.

Boom-ticka-boom...

♪ Dum-dah-dah-doo ♪ doo-doo-bahm-too

great. Again. Some more.

♪ Dum-dah-dah-doo ♪ bom-doo-doo

( scatting rhythmically ) ( Scatting continues )

What? What is going on?

I have a surprise in my pocket.

( Both laugh ) No, in the right

inside pocket there's, like, there's a letter.

In there? Yep.

Uh-huh, there really is a letter.

Yeah.

(Gasps) You got in?

Yeah.

You're in college, man!

That rocks!

Yeah. I still have to get money for attendance.

Oh, well, you probably won't get it.

( Laughs ) Guess what I got.

What? A lawyer.

Can you believe it-- I have a lawyer?

Why don't you give me a kiss for luck?

Scared?

( Both laugh ) I'm sorry.

No, it's okay.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

( Groaning ) ( Groaning continues )

My leg. Sorry.

Cal asked me to go to his room with him tonight.

You mean...

To do it?

Yeah.

Did you do it?

No. Now he's pissed.

I haven't been with anyone since, like, high school.

And even then...

You didn't know if guys liked you or they just

felt sorry for you.

Ya know?

Wyatt told me how gimps do it.

Do you want me to tell you?

No.

Wyatt is my boyfriend...

And Cal...

(Teasing)...is your boyfriend.

( Laughs ) We're alike, me and Cal.

He sees all the bullshit.

Cal killed his girlfriend, drunk driving in his car.

Oh...

Ruth: Leo berman, please.

Yeah, it's Ruth Ellison from lewellyn care.

Hi, Leo. It's been three weeks.

I was wondering-- oh.

Yeah, uh...

I forgot.

I know. I screwed up.

Leonard. Leonard.

Feeding your Dante crap to Ruth?

She doesn't deserve it, you know.

First floor?

Yeah.

( Elevator door closes ) Oh, Cal, you jerk.

(Woman singing in distance) ( Singing continues )

( Loud clatter ) ( Singing stops )

I'm sorry.

I-I didn't--i didn't mean-- I-I just wanted to

find out who-- who's there?!

Listen, you-- you're very good.

Don't--don't you know that playing hide-and-seek with

a blind man is no fun?

You'll make me feel very foolish if you pretend you're not there.

Well...

Hey.

Hi.

You have some...Egg.

( Laughs ) That's me-- egg on my face.

How are you?

Just fine if you take the egg off my face.

Oh.

Aw. (Kissing sounds) They're staring at us.

Stare back.

Come sit with us.

What, stanapolous?

He told me what happened with you guys.

(Angry) Did he tell you that he was afraid to

cross the street? Hmm?

Did he tell you that he was too afraid to take the bus?

Come on, Ruth, seriously, you hang out with him,

all you're gonna learn is how to be scared.

Maybe I am scared.

No. Remember? No mercy.

Remember? And no fear.

Do or die. Yeah.

Can't we have a little in-between?

I can't.

You're very quiet.

Trouble in paradise?

( Sighs ) You know, having a relationship in this

place is like farting in a fucking fish bowl--

everybody sees the bubbles.

Thank you, Emily Dickinson.

( Sighs ) What?

I'm supposed to get this stuff for my lawyer...

I don't know what I'm doing.

Even if I get out of here, I don't know what I'm doing.

When I get out of here, I'm gonna let my hair grow.

No more mommy cuts, huh?

Little hint: No more mommy shirts, either.

Why?

Here.

Wear these, grow your hair out-- very cool.

Hey.

Jan: There they are, missus s.

Leonard, I thought we were having lunch.

What time is it?

You're not wearing your braille watch?

First I find you two love birds out here...

What are those?

What?

Ha! Now my son has turned into ray Charles.

No, leave them on if you like them.

I think they make him look sort of cool,

sort of...Bono.

I don't know about cool.

They make you look like a blind man.

He is a blind man.

Well, he doesn't have to show it off.

You don't want to be judged by your affliction.

Here. No.

I don't want them.

I'm not taking 'em.

You two are busy.

I'll just take this back to the kitchen.

No, no, mom, you don't have to do that.

Let's just have lunch. (Sighs) Mother: Leonard.

Let's just have lunch. (Sighs) Mother: Leonard.

TV (football): Throws it.

Wide open. Oh, got it!

( Crowd cheers ) ( Knocks )

( Turns off TV ) Well, hello.

Hey. I have a question.

Too late?

So, what's Beatrice got going with Dante?

(Chuckles) Tell me more.

How come you only talk about Dante in hell and you never

mention the fact that he gets to heaven totally in love

with this babe Beatrice?

Ruth's excellent adventure.

( Both laugh ) You left out the best part!

You know, I wonder what we'd discover about miss Ellison

if we just cut through all the tough talk.

Nothing much.

Yeah, smart. Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, very.

What else us under there?

Hmm, girl's pajamas?

Deep? Nice, even?

I don't know about that.

I wouldn't tell anybody.

Mm-mm.

( Door latches shut ) What are you doing?

( Exhales ) I want to see all of you.

I'm scrawny.

Yeah, and I'm paralyzed.

But there's...

But there's music being played.

And we're dancing...

Very close...

Moving together, just...

Just touching.

You feel that?

Yes.

What do I smell like?

Sweat.

Mmm.

Well, I'm a hot date.

And...

Spicy?

Yeah, that's my Cologne.

Mmm...musky.

Mmm. That's me.

That's my smell.

Oh, god, your hair.

What?

And your perfume.

Oh, man, drives me crazy.

Good.

And your skin...

Mmm. It's so soft.

And your shoulders are bare...

Yeah.

Come on.

Come on, tell me.

You-- oh.

Oh....

Mmm, it's very soft there.

Yeah.

I want you.

I want...

Mmm.

Mmm....

Do you feel me?

Yes.

Yeah?

Mmm. N-No.

No? Mm-mm.

No?

No! No.

What? Come on.

No! It doesn't matter-- I just want to talk!

Cal.

( Sighs ) Jesus.

I can't.

I can't.

I-- don't be mad.

( Bitter chuckle ) I'm not mad.

( Sighs deeply ) ( Exhales )

Uh, Tom, it's Ruth.

I need to talk to Evelyn.

I just want to-- I'm sorry.

I guess I woke you up.

No, they don't-- ( Sighs )

Evelyn, listen.

Why do we have to fight, huh?

You're the only family i-- ( Dial tone )

Hey, hey, Ruth.

You should have come out with us. You missed some

great brew. ( Belches ) Hey, listen, I got--

I got one for you here.

Who am I? Huh?

Who am I?

Cal Jackson at a strip joint.

Hey, come on, it was a fucking joke, huh?

You want a fucking joke?

( Overlapping shouting ) Dennis, get out of here.

Go on.

Have you lost your mind?

Dennis!

( Slams desk ) ( Sighs )

Just give me a few more days.

But you told me you'd get the records last time.

I can't petition a revoke without showing just cause.

They don't pay me to babysit you, Ruth.

How are you, Leo?

I'd like to see you in my office when you're through here,

please, Ruth.

Call me when you're serious about what you want to do,

but don't wait too long, or you'll lose your

grandmother's house.

I thought you didn't permit smoking in your office.

Drinking in your room.

Arguing with the nurses.

Throwing telephones in the middle of the night.

Wait a minute!

Ruth, you don't need to fight!

What I need is to get outside the gates.

Play ball with me.

I can get you a pass.

You don't want to get me a pass. You want to

Bury me here.

Damn it!

Is that what you think?

You're gonna go down fighting, aren't you?

Ruth, if you could just stop long enough, you'd see that

there are people all around you who don't want you to go

down at all.

I just...

I want to get out while I can still hold a beer

in my own two hands.

( Laughter ) You look very good, though,

I must say.

Good night, carlin.

Dennis, you sphincter, I'm outta here.

See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!

( Indistinct question ) Yeah.

Hey, Cal.

I got a pass. I'm going out.

You want me to bring you something?

It doesn't matter what we do, okay? I just--

I want to be with you.

Yeah? Then why are you going out?

I finally got a pass!

You think going out makes your life any different?

It only makes it worse.

Then let me find out for myself.

Come on, Cal.

\"Beatrice turned on me with a pitying sigh.\"

Jefferson.

Do me a favor and mail this.

It's very important, for my lawyer.

We're out of here.

Yes!

Curfew is ten P.M.

Don't wait up, man!

Cassandra: I'll be here!

Vámonos!

Whoo!

( Indistinct happy chatter ) Lenny: Okay. All right.

Male vocalist: ♪ this here is

♪ the place where ♪ I'll be staying

♪ there isn't a number ♪ you can call the payphone

♪ let it ring... Ruth: That works for me.

All right, we've got a stool coming up empty on your right,

here.

♪ Let it ring some more ♪ ohhh

which way are we facing?

Bartender: What'll it be?

Uh... brewskies all around, whatever's on tap.

And a gin and tonic.

On the rocks. With a twist.

Very cool.

( Laughter ) Eleanor: Nice.

Lenny: Thank you.

Ruth: Oh, I feel good.

Excuse me.

Everybody staring at us?

Oh, yeah, everyone.

Well, only at you, really.

Well, I'm handsome.

In.

( Coins drop ) Ooh.

Okay.

Push.

Lights.

Music.

( Music playing ) Vocalists: ♪ hey!

( Laughter ) They're gettin' down.

♪ Two bad boys ♪ just out here makin' noise

♪ lookin' for enlightenment ♪ and cravin' for excitement

♪ bad boys ♪ two bad boys

♪ just makin' noise ♪ two bad boys

♪ two bad boys ♪ two bad boys

♪ two bad boys ( Laughter )

Lenny: Great!

I got a fuck for a duck, a duck for a fuck,

and two bucks for a fucked-up duck.

Hey, how do you torture a blind man?

How? I give up.

You move all his furniture around.

( Laughter ) Yeah, I know, it's fucked.

Or you could just introduce him to my mother.

All: Ohh!

That would be worse.

That would be worse.

You know, according to Darwin's theory of

survival of the fittest...

None of us should be here!

( Laughter ) Can I have another

One of these?

Cass, you want another one?

Mm!

Just in time!

Good. More adult beverages.

Eleanor.

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Farts.

This is not a knock-knock.

No, wait! Listen!

Shh!

Why is it that farts smell?

Okay, why, cass?

So deaf people can enjoy them too!

( Laughter ) Yes!

Ohh!

Excellent fart joke!

Excellent.

Vocalists: ♪ ride the roller coaster

♪ ride the roller coaster I got you.

What?

No.

No, no, no, no. No, no.

I don't dance.

I don't dance.

Go on, Lenny.

♪ Ride the roller coaster ♪ ride the roller coaster

♪ ride the roller coaster ♪ ride the roller coaster

♪ it's movin' ♪ groovin' and soothin'

♪ ain't no better way ( Plunks piano keys )

And I'll have a piano in the kitchen,

just a small one, and I'll tell you

what I won't have: There'll be no curtains,

anywhere.

Yes.

You can do it, Lenny.

You know, if you and me pooled our social security together,

we could get a place.

Let-- let's do it, Lenny!

Yeah. You gonna run my life now?

( Sweeps keys ) Make more music, Eleanor.

Eleanor.

How 'bout a song?

No.

I never would have known.

Known what?

The first time...

No, no, no!

...i heard you in the basement. Come on!

No!

Please!

No. Over.

Finished.

What's going on here?

So... why were you practicing, then?

Why even bother?

Knock-knock.

( Sighs ) ( Plays single note )

( Plays haltingly ) No, no, no. Come on.

( Plays tentatively ) ♪ when

♪ sunny gets blue ♪ her eyes get

♪ gray and ♪ cloudy

( clears throat softly ) ♪ then the rain

♪ begins ♪ to

♪ fall ( Strikes firm note )

♪ Pitter-patter ( Strikes firm note )

♪ Pitter-patter ( Strikes firm note )

♪ Love is gone ♪ so what can matter?

♪ No sweet lovin' man ♪ comes to call

♪ when sunny ♪ gets blue

♪ she breathes ♪ a sigh of

♪ sadness ♪ like the wind that stirs

♪ the trees ♪ wind that sets

♪ The leaves to swayin' ♪ like some violins

♪ are playin' ♪ weird and haunting

♪ melodies ♪ people used to love

♪ To hear her laugh ♪ see her smile

♪ that's how she got ♪ her name

♪ since that sad affair ♪ she's lost her smile

♪ changed her style ♪ somehow she's not

♪ the same ♪ but memories

♪ will fade ♪ and pretty dreams

♪ will rise up ♪ where her other dreams

♪ fell through ♪ hurry, new love

♪ hurry here ♪ to wipe away

♪ each lonely tear ♪ and hold her near

♪ when sunny ♪ gets

♪ blue that was loud!

( Chuckles softly ) ( Applause )

Don't cry, folks.

It's just closing time.

Thank you for the song, miss sorrell.

That was swell.

Thank-- thank you.

I guess we should head back.

Who says I'm heading back?

Who says I don't take off and never go back?

Ohh!

( All shouting ) Go-- go away!

I can do it!

You okay?

A singer who can't make a sentence,

a blind guy whose mommy still combs his hair,

and an beanbag with a job fit for a monkey.

You bet.

Let's go back.

Cass: I'm not a monkey.

Eleanor's not supposed to drink!

She could have had a seizure!

And Cassandra was due back two hours ago!

Congratulations, Ellison, you got a pass and you blew it

big time for everyone.

Yeah! What were ya thinkin'?

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Jefferson.

Jefferson who?

Jefferson doesn't like us anymore!

( Laughter ) Knock-knock.

( Indistinct ) You've got to say

\"who's there?\" who's there?

Um... orange.

Orange who?

\"orange\" you glad I didn't say banana?

Home.

Thank you.

Curtains.

Yeah, I got...

Well.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

( Lenny chuckles softly ) Good night.

Mnh.

Who's that?

Beatrice, in the flesh.

You were right about one thing:

Going out makes it worse.

( Cal chuckles softly ) What happened to your lip?

What happened to your girlfriend?

Come on, Ruth.

You're drunk. Go to bed.

( Scoffs ) Not with you, I guess.

She was...

She was the first girl that I ever had sex with.

She was, um...

I mean, we dated all through high school.

And, uh...

And we were driving home.

Yeah, I was driving.

Yeah.

Lucky her.

Ruth...

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

You don't need to know this.

It's just...

It's impossible!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Just forget it.

Just forget it, please.

Good morning, miss infamous.

You gettin' a rap all over this place.

Mm-hm. You had a little bit too much to drink last night,

didn't you?

( Groans softly ) I think I need help.

Okay.

No prob.

Like everybody else, you've got to have

your bad days.

But it don't mean there won't be good ones.

But it don't mean there won't be good ones.

Jan.

Hmm?

Thank you.

Ruth...

Fuck you.

( Ruth chuckles softly ) You're doing that bad!

I know it!

I'm not a monkey, you know!

You do it right!

I'm not a monkey!

I don't do monkey work!

Cassandra, what are you doing?

Do that the way I showed you!

I don't do monkey work!

Assistance!

Assistance in the kitchen!

I don't do monkey work!

( Objects clatter loudly ) Cassandra: No, no, no!

No, please!

No, no, no, no, please!

No, please!

No! I'm a person!

That is enough, Cassandra.

Now, just sit down.

( Cassandra weeps ) I'm a person!

You're a bad girl, and when you're a bad girl,

bad things happen.

Ruth: What's this?

Veronica: Cassandra's being moved.

Why?

Maybe it's because you are such a good influence.

Why aren't you at work?

I'm a person!

I don't do monkey work.

Ohh, cass.

( Weeping ) I'm a...

Bad girl!

Veronica: Go on with him, Cassandra. Go on with him.

Go on, now.

Don't listen to 'em, cass.

Whatever they say, I'm your friend.

The one person around here who knows how to be happy...

And you had to ruin it.

( Telephone rings ) Girl, what goes on

In this joint this morning?

It gets better.

Have you been by Lenny's room?

Yeah, from what I hear, he's probably hung over.

He's not hung over, and he's not alone!

( Gasps ) No! Who?

You'll never guess.

Good morning, ladies!

Oh, shit!

Whoa!

Mrs. S!

Now, w-what's on the menu today?

The menu?

'Cause I gotta tell you, that-- that liver we had

yesterday, now that was some tough liver, Mrs. S.

T-o-u-g-h, tough.

Lenny! Get up!

Your mom's coming!

Lenny: What?

Eleanor, get dressed!

Where are my pants?

Get me my pants!

Get me my goddamn pants!

Here are your goddamn pants.

Mom.

Mom.

Mom, it's no-- it's nothing.

Where is she?

Mom?

Ruth: Watch it!

This is your doing, with your smug ways

and your pride!

If god had meant for you to be proud, he wouldn't

have made you afflicted!

Whoa!

Before you, Lenny never drank,

and he never would have sinned!

You stay away from my boy!

He's not your boy anymore.

He's a grown man!

You don't know Lenny.

You don't know what he needs.

Don't touch me!

You stink of stale liquor!

Tell her to shove it!

Shut up, Ruth, please!

Stanapolous: You disgust me!

This is your chance!

Would you let go of me, please!

Lenny, no, Lenny, come with me.

Please... d-don't be... mad.

I have nothing to say to you.

Don't. Stop.

You just let her walk all over us both.

I could have helped you!

Helped me?

Grow up, Ruth.

You can't help anyone.

You are never getting out of here, Lenny.

It's too late for you.

No, Ruth, it's too late for you. That's why you have

a war going on with everyone around you.

You can't even pick yourself up off the street.

Go to hell!

Jefferson: Coming through!

Coming through!

Dennis: I coulda told you.

Doesn't matter if you get into college if you can't

get anybody to wipe your ass for you. They wouldn't

give him any money for the ass-wiper.

Out of my way.

Move. Oh, god.

Ruth.

Oh, my god! Cal!

Ruth, you've got to get out of here.

No! I have to talk to Cal!

No!

Ruth, you need to get out.

Ruth, you have to get out of here!

Ruth, get out!

No!

Ruth, get out!

Nurse: Clear the area, please.

Woman: How'd he manage to hang himself?

Woman #2: I've never seen anything like it.

Woman #2: I've never seen anything like it.

( Approaching siren wails ) ( Siren stops )

Eleanor: Hey. Hey.

Ruth: No mercy.

Eleanor: Help you.

Ruth: Do or die.

That's what he said.

And... he made his choice.

( Cries out ) I thought we were alike!

I thought you were a fighter, damn you!

I'm so sick of running and fighting

and trying to keep from drowning.

I want my grandma and my cat

and my parents and my legs!

And I want Cal!

How am I supposed to live when it hurts so much?

What do I get?

You...

Get you.

( Ruth sobbing ) Lenny...

Hello, Eleanor.

How... are... you?

Fine.

Fine. How are you?

Good.

Good. ( Chuckles ) Um...

The... other... night...

Yes.

It was...

( Sighs ) Happiness.

Yes, it was...

Happiness.

Um...

But...

We... we can't...

I know.

It's not... that... I...

I know.

Woman on P.A.: Maintenance to physical therapy.

Maintenance to p.T.

Well, it's about time.

What is?

Ah, Mrs. S. Is finally moving Lenny out of here.

You're kidding.

Lenny, what's going on?

Moving.

Why?

Bad boy.

Where does she think she's taking you?

Home.

Someplace else.

Wherever.

Lenny, I'm sorry about what I said.

Wasn't all lies.

It wasn't all truth, either.

I'm sorry about Cal.

For him, but mostly for you.

It's lousy.

Damn it, Lenny, what am I gonna do without you?

You're not gonna do without me.

What do you mean?

I got a residence.

I'm leaving as soon as I'm packed. Come with me?

You're kidding me!

No, but we gotta go now.

Otherwise, she's gonna try and stop us. Remember

your promise: Dare the edge!

Okay.

Shit!

( Laughter ) You guys, I need your help.

I'm not supposed to talk to you. Ruth got me in trouble.

Lenny's mom thinks that she's taking him away,

but he's not going with her.

He's got his own place to live.

But he can't see!

Eleanor, go help Lenny.

I'll meet you outside with the taxi, okay.

Nope, come with me.

You. Come on, please.

Stanapolous: Mary, I know you have his best interests

at heart...

Ruth: Grab the chair.

Gimme.

Put it-- put it against the door.

And I want you to sit in it, and don't get up,

no matter what.

Okay? Got it?

Veronica: You can't always be there...

Ruth: Okay.

Cassandra: Ruth?

Shh! What?

I'm gonna get in trouble?

Yes, cass, you are gonna get in trouble.

Okay.

Stanapolous: Mary, I know you have his best interests

at heart.

Mary: You know, he'll be all right.

Stanapolous: You simply don't understand.

This boy has no experience with the outside world.

I've been trying to tell you that,

and you don't understand what that means!

Look, I owe you an apology.

Well, that's just too bad.

No, I mean it.

I've been giving you shit since I got here,

and I want to apologize.

And I promise, no swearing, and I'll ask before

I use the phone.

So... may I use the phone?

Please?

Lenny: Wait, wait.

Okay. Okay.

Hi, yeah, I need a taxi.

Lewellyn care center.

Right away. Great. Bye.

( Door jostling ) What's wrong here?

The door doesn't open.

There's nothing wrong with the door.

Well, it isn't opening!

Something is blocking the door!

Some one is blocking the door!

Len-NY!

Come on, come on! Come on!

Come on!

( Door jostling ) Cassandra!

Hey, you got everything?

Leonard?

Don't stop.

Where are you going?

I said I'd come to your room.

What's going on here?

Are you leaving...

Without telling me?

Aren't I worth telling?

What could make you think that I wouldn't want

what you want?

If you have someplace to go, tell me and let me help you.

Didn't I listen to you even before you could talk,

even before you knew yourself what you wanted?

And when you couldn't see anymore, I saw for you.

No one knows you like I do.

There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for my child.

There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for my child.

Uh...

I'm helping Lenny.

I suspect you can get up now.

Let's go, Ruth.

Lenny, you know I can't.

Sure you can.

Let's just go now, and we'll fight about it later.

This is lewellyn's address.

Go with him.

No. No.

You can do it.

And when it's time to come back, just show this to the driver.

Lenny: Wait.

What are you doing?

You're coming too.

This was your idea.

Lenny, you dope, it's a residence for the blind!

You said it yourself, I've got to find a place

that's right for me.

Otherwise, it's just more running.

Eleanor, dare the edge.

Get out of here.

Eleanor: Ruth?

Ruth: Hey.

( Eleanor laughs ) Cassandra: Come with us.

Ruth: In a minute.

Please, somebody.

Somebody, please...

Could you help me?

My husband doesn't know that I'm here,

and you have to phone him.

Please, I tried to tell him, but he just doesn't know.

Shh, shh, shh. Listen.

You like leaves?

What?

In the fall. Look.

Remember the trees, how the leaves come off?

Yeah.

Drifting... down.

Autumn leaves floating, falling down.

Falling leaves.

Leaves.

Yeah.

They float down...

And they land...

Safely in our yard.

I had a grandma.

She taught me that.

You know, I like the gold ones.

Very cool.