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(SIGH)NOW THEN...

Recording: AT THE TONE, THE SHELBY COUNTY SAVINGS TIME

WILL BE 6:05 AND 20 SECONDS.

(TONE)

(RING)

Woman: SUBSCRIPTIONS. MAY I HELP YOU?

YES. HELLO. I WANT TO CANCEL MY NEWSPAPERS.

NAME, PLEASE.

CATES. JESSIE CATES.

DAILY AND SUNDAY?

NO, NOT SUNDAY. JUST DURING THE WEEK.

CATES?

THAT'S RIGHT.

HAVEN'T YOU BEEN PLEASED WITH OUR SERVICE, MISS CATES?

OH, YES. I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE.

I'M JUST NOT GOING TO BE READING IT ANYMORE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

BYE.

BYE.

(CAR APPROACHING)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

Woman: WON'T YOU COME IN FOR JUST A MINUTE, AGNES?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

OH, AGNES, THAT'S CRAZY.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND OR NOT, THELMA, BUT I AIN'T COMING IN.

UP TO THE DRIVEWAY-- THAT'S AS FAR AS I GO.

(STARTS ENGINE)

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE?

HI, MAMA.

JESSIE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE.

DID YOU HAVE A NICE TIME?

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

JESSIE, WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT I BROUGHT YOU.

THANKS, MAMA.

(HUMMING)

JESSIE, IT'S THE LAST SNOWBALL, SUGAR. PUT IT ON THE LIST, OK?

AND WE'RE OUT OF HERSHEY BARS.

AND WHERE'S THAT PEANUT BRITTLE?

YOU GOT ANY OLD TOWELS, TOWELS YOU DON'T WANT ANYMORE?

HOW ABOUT THIS SWIMMING TOWEL LORETTA GAVE US?

BEACH TOWEL-- THAT'S THE NAME OF IT.

YOU WANT IT?

I HATE IT WHEN THE COCONUT FALLS OFF. WHY DOES THE COCONUT FALL OFF?

AND A BIG PIECE OF PLASTIC, LIKE A RUBBER SHEET OR SOMETHING?

GARBAGE BAGS WOULD DO IF THERE'S ENOUGH.

DON'T GO MAKING A BIG MESS, JESSIE.

MAYBE AN OLD BLANKET

OR TOWELS WE GOT IN A SOAPBOX SOMETIME.

I SAID DON'T MAKE A MESS. I KNOW YOU HEARD ME.

YOUR HAIR'S LIGHT ENOUGH, HON.

IT'S NOT FOR MY HAIR, MAMA.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Thelma: JESSIE, COME LOOK AT THESE BEGONIAS BEFORE IT GETS DARK.

I TOLD AGNES YOU COULD GROW BEGONIAS HERE.

LOOK AT THESE.

Thelma: JESSIE!

JESSIE, I CAN'T FIND MY GARDENING GLOVES!

YOU DON'T THINK I LEFT THEM OUT HERE

AND SOME RACCOON OR SOMETHING ATE THEM, DO YOU?

I THOUGHT I BROUGHT 'EM IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW YOU LIKE ME TO BRING THEM IN THE HOUSE.

HERE THEY ARE. I WASHED THEM.

THANKS, HON.

IT'S STILL NICE OUTSIDE. WANT TO COME SEE?

NO, THANKS.

OH, JESSIE. I'M THE MOST DANGEROUS THING OUT HERE.

I'M FINE, MAMA.

(CAR HORN HONKS)

JESSIE, IT'S DAWSON! AND KENNY!

AND LITTLE MELODIE!

COME GIVE GRANDMA A KISS. OH, MY BABY. OH, I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.

HIYA, DAWSON!

HI, MA.

HELLO, LORETTA.

HELLO, THELMA.

Thelma: LOOK WHAT I BROUGHT YOU FROM THE FAIR.Kenny: OH, THANKS! THANK YOU!

Melodie: HOW'S AUNT JESSIE?

SHE'S JUST FINE.

SHE WANTS TO COME SEE YOU. SHE'S JUST SO BUSY.

Jessie: NO. THAT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT.

(VOICES OUTSIDE)

Kenny: I DID NOT!

Melodie: YOU DID.

DID NOT.

Melodie: YES, YOU DID!

Kenny: STUCK UP.

(MELODIE GIGGLES)

Melodie: WE CAN'T GO IN THE HOUSE.

AUNT JESSIE'S IN THERE!

I CAN GO WHEREVER I WANT TO.

YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME.

(SIGH)

NO. THAT'S NOT RIGHT, EITHER.

(LORETTA LAUGHS)

(VOICES CONTINUE OUTSIDE)

THERE YOU GO, DADDY.

Dawson: KENNY CATES, YOU GET IN THIS CAR RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

Loretta: THELMA, I BROUGHT YOU A CASSEROLE.

COME ON, NOW.

YOU DON'T WANT ME TO LEAVE YOU HERE, DO YOU?

MELODIE, KENNY,

LET'S GO, NOW. LET'S GET IN THE CAR.

VERY GOOD, KENNY.

GOOD-BYE, MY BABY.

OH, THEY'RE GROWING UP SO FAST.

NOT FAST ENOUGH, IF YOU ASK ME.

KENNY CATES, WHEN I CALL YOU, YOU COME THE FIRST TIME.

DON'T MAKE YOUR DADDY MAD.

DON'T MAKE YOUR TEACHERS ANGRY, EITHER.

BYE-BYE, EVERYBODY! BYE-BYE!

THANKS FOR COMING!

MY BABIES. BYE-BYE! BYE-BYE!

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.

BE VERY GOOD IN SCHOOL!

Kenny: SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

THANKS FOR THE CASSEROLE, DAWSON!

BYE! BYE!

BYE!

BYE-BYE!

NOW.

Thelma: JESSIE!

JESSIE!

LOOK WHAT LORETTA BROUGHT YOU FOR DINNER.

DO I HAVE TO?

NOW, JESSIE, WHAT WOULD YOU EAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR LORETTA?

I DON'T KNOW, MAMA. WHATEVER I WANTED, I GUESS.

WELL, I JUST LOVE A SATURDAY.

I GOT YOUR MANICURE ALL READY, MAMA.

YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME, AREN'T YOU?

WHERE'S DADDY'S GUN?

JESSIE, THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD AN EXPRESSWAY THROUGH HERE.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE TO FLORIDA.

WHERE'S DADDY'S GUN?

IN THE ATTIC.

I LOOKED IN THE ATTIC.

WELL, YOU DIDN'T LOOK GOOD ENOUGH, THEN.

ONE OF HIS SHOEBOXES, I THINK. YES. THERE WAS AN EMPTY BOX

FROM THAT PAIR HE WORE TO THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN HE DIED, THEY SAID I COULD HAVE IT BACK,

BUT I NEVER DID LIKE THOSE SHOES.

FOUND THE BULLETS. THEY WERE IN AN OLD MILK CAN.

DAWSON TOOK THE SHOTGUN, DIDN'T HE?

DAWSON BETTER NOT HAVE TAKEN THAT PISTOL.

DAWSON CAN HAVE WHATEVER HE WANTS, JESSIE.

MAYBE KENNY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT TOY CHEST

WITH THE LITTLE HORSE ON IT

CECIL MADE FOR RICKY.

AND DAWSON COULD EVEN PAINT IT

IF HE WANTED TO.

OR MAYBE LORETTA COULD ANTIQUE IT LIKE SHE DID THAT OLD WASHSTAND

AND GIVE IT TO MELODIE.

MELODIE LIKES HORSES, I THINK.

I KNOW SHE LIKED THAT LITTLE SKIRT LORETTA MADE HER

WITH THE LITTLE BROWN HORSE ON IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DAWSON COULD PROBABLY USE SOME OF THOSE CLOTHES UP THERE.SOMEBODY OUGHT TO HAVE THEM.

YOU OUGHT TO CALL THE SALVATION ARMY

BEFORE THE WHOLE ATTIC FALLS IN ON YOU.

IT'S PLENTY SAFE, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GO UP THERE.

I'M CAREFUL.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE GUN FOR, JESS?

PROTECTION.

YOU TAKE THE TV WAY TOO SERIOUS, HON.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A CRIMINAL IN MY LIFE.

THIS IS WAY TOO FAR TO COME FOR WHAT'S OUT HERE TO STEAL.

NEVER SEEN A ONE.

EXCEPT FOR RICKY.

RICKY IS MIXED UP. THAT'S NOT A CRIME.

GET YOUR HANDS WASHED. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

AND GET THEM REAL DRY.

YOU DRY YOUR HANDS TILL I GET BACK, OR IT'S NO MANICURE, ALL RIGHT?

I THOUGHT DAWSON TOLD YOU NOT TO GO UP THOSE STAIRS.

HE DID.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A GUN, JESS.

WHICH SHOEBOX? CAN YOU REMEMBER?

BLACK.

THE BOX WAS BLACK?

THE SHOES WERE BLACK.

THAT DOESN'T HELP MUCH, MOTHER.

I'M NOT TRYING TO HELP, SUGAR.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ANYBODY WOULD WANT, JESSIE.

I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN WANT WHAT WE GOT, JESSIE.

WE'LL JUST HAND IT OVER TO THEM WHEN THEY COME,

WHATEVER THEY WANT-- THE CRIMINALS.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, MAMA.

(WHISPERS) Daddy...

Thelma: YOU COME DOWN FROM THERE BEFORE YOU HAVE A FIT.

I CAN'T COME UP THERE AND GET YOU, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW.

RICKY WILL GROW OUT OF THIS AND BE A REAL FINE BOY, JESS.BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU,

I WOULDN'T WANT RICKY TO KNOW WE HAD A GUN IN THE HOUSE.

There it is.

I FOUND IT.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING RICKY'S GOING THROUGH.

HE'LL GET BACK IN SCHOOL OR GET A JOB,

OR ONE DAY, YOU'LL GET A CALL,

AND HE'LL SAY HE'S SORRY FOR ALL THE TROUBLE HE'S CAUSED

AND INVITE YOU OUT FOR SUPPER SOMEPLACE DRESS-UP.

DON'T WORRY. IT'S NOT FOR HIM.

IT'S FOR ME.

I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D SHOOT YOUR OWN BOY, JESSIE.

I KNOW YOU FELT LIKE IT.

WE'VE ALL FELT LIKE SHOOTING SOMEBODY, BUT WE DON'T DO IT.

I JUST DON'T THINK WE NEED--

YOUR HANDS AREN'T WASHED. DO YOU WANT THAT MANICURE OR NOT?

YES, I DO.

WELL, THEN WASH YOUR HANDS.

DON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE ABOUT RICKY.

THOSE 2 RINGS HE TOOK WERE THE LAST VALUABLE THINGS I HAD,

SO NOW HE'S STARTED IN ON OTHER PEOPLE,

DOOR TO DOOR.

I HOPE THEY PUT HIM AWAY SOMETIME.

I'D TURN HIM IN MYSELF IF I KNEW WHERE HE WAS.

YOU DON'T MEAN THAT.

EVERY WORD.

WASH YOUR HANDS, AND THAT'S THE LAST TIME I'M TELLING YOU.

I SHOULD'VE GOT YOU TO BRING DOWN THAT MILK PAN.

AGNES FLETCHER SOLD HERS TO SOMEBODY WITH A FLEA MARKET FOR $40 APIECE.

THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA MAKE LAMPS OUT OF THEM.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT?

YOU COULDN'T GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE LAMPS.

YOU KNOW THEY'D STILL SMELL LIKE MILK, DON'T YA?

W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THE BARREL HAS TO BE CLEANED, MAMA.

OLD POWDER, DUST GETS IN IT.

WHAT FOR?

I TOLD YOU.

AND I TOLD YOU, WE DON'T GET CRIMINALS OUT HERE.

AND I TOLD YOU...

THE GUN IS FOR ME.

WELL...

YOU CAN HAVE IT IF YOU WANT.

WHEN I DIE, YOU'LL GET IT ALL ANYWAY.

I'M GONNA KILL MYSELF, MAMA.

VERY FUNNY, VERY FUNNY.

I AM.

YOU ARE NOT. DON'T EVEN SAY SUCH A THING, JESSIE.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF I DIDN'T SAY IT?

WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE? YOU'RE LYING IN YOUR BED

OR MAYBE JUST BRUSHING YOUR TEETH,

AND YOU HEAR A NOISE DOWN THE HALL.

KILL YOURSELF.

SHOOT MYSELF...

IN A COUPLE HOURS.

MUST BE TIME FOR YOUR MEDICINE.

I TOOK IT ALREADY.

THEN WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

NOT A THING. I FEEL FINE.

YOU FEEL FINE, YOU'RE JUST GONNA KILL YOURSELF?

WAITED UNTIL I FELT GOOD ENOUGH, IN FACT.

DON'T MAKE JOKES, JESSIE. I'M TOO OLD FOR JOKES.

IT'S NOT A JOKE, MAMA.

THAT GUN'S NO GOOD, YOU KNOW.

HE BROKE IT RIGHT BEFORE HE DIED,

DROPPED IT IN THE MUD ONE DAY.

SEEMS OK.

I HAD CECIL'S ALL READY IN THERE

JUST IN CASE I COULDN'T FIND THIS ONE, BUT I'D RATHER USE DADDY'S.YOUR DADDY'S BULLETS ARE AT LEAST 15 YEARS OLD.

THESE ARE FROM LAST WEEK.

WHERE'D YOU GET THOSE?

FEED STORE DAWSON TOLD ME ABOUT.

DAWSON?

I TOLD HIM I WAS WORRIED ABOUT PROWLERS.

HE SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.

HE TOLD ME WHAT KIND TO ASK FOR.

IF HE HAD ANY IDEA WHAT--

HE TOOK IT AS A COMPLIMENT.

HE THOUGHT I MIGHT BE TAKING AN INTEREST IN THINGS.

HE GOT THROUGH TELLING ME ALL ABOUT THE BULLETS,

AND THEN HE SAID, "WE OUGHT TO TALK LIKE THIS MORE OFTEN."

AND WHERE WAS I WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON?

OUTSIDE, I GUESS.

ANYWAY, I ASKED DAWSON IF HE THOUGHT THEY'D SEND ME SOME BULLETS,

AND HE SAID HE'D JUST CALL FOR ME

BECAUSE HE KNEW THEY'D SEND THEM IF HE TOLD THEM TO.

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. HERE THEY ARE.

HOW COULD HE DO THAT?

HE WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP, MAMA.

AND THEN I TOLD YOU WHERE THE GUN WAS.

SEE? EVERYBODY'S DOING WHAT THEY CAN.

YOU TOLD ME IT WAS FOR PROTECTION!

IT IS. I'M STILL DOING YOUR NAILS, THOUGH.

YOU WANT TO TRY THAT NEW CHINABERRY COLOR?

WELL, I'M CALLING DAWSON RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT HE'S GOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS LITTLE STUNT.DAWSON DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE TO DO WITH THIS.

HE'S YOUR BROTHER.

AND THAT'S ALL.

DAWSON WILL PUT A STOP TO THIS. YES, HE WILL. HE'LL TAKE THE GUN AWAY.

IF YOU CALL HIM, I'LL JUST HAVE TO DO IT BEFORE HE GETS HERE.

SOON AS YOU HANG UP THE PHONE,

I'LL JUST WALK IN THE BEDROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR.

YOU WILL NOT!

THIS IS CRAZY TALK, JESSIE.

DAWSON WILL GET HERE JUST IN TIME TO HELP YOU CLEAN UP.

GO AHEAD. CALL HIM.

THEN CALL THE POLICE.

THEN CALL THE FUNERAL HOME.

AND THEN CALL LORETTA AND SEE IF SHE'LL DO YOUR NAILS.

I SAID NO.

THIS IS PRIVATE. DAWSON IS NOT INVITED.

JUST ME.

IF DAWSON COMES OVER,

IT'LL JUST MAKE ME FEEL STUPID FOR NOT DOING IT 10 YEARS AGO.I THINK WE BETTER CALL THE DOCTOR.

OR HOW ABOUT THE AMBULANCE? YOU LIKE THAT ONE DRIVER, I KNOW.

WHAT'S HIS NAME? TIMMY.

I'LL GET YOU SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

I'M THROUGH TALKING, MAMA.

YOU'RE IT. NO MORE.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO SIT AROUND LIKE EVERY OTHER NIGHT IN THE WORLD,

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF?

YOU'LL MISS.

YOU'LL WIND UP A VEGETABLE. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?

YOU KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID ABOUT GETTING EXCITED.

YOU'LL COCK THE PISTOL AND HAVE A FIT.

I THINK I CAN KILL MYSELF, MAMA.

THANKS.

IT'S A SIN. YOU'LL GO TO HELL.

JESUS WAS A SUICIDE, IF YOU ASK ME.

YOU'LL GO TO HELL JUST FOR SAYING THAT, JESSIE.

I DIDN'T KNOW I THOUGHT THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KILL THEMSELVES, JESSIE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, UNLESS YOU'RE RETARDED OR DERANGED,

AND YOU'RE AS NORMAL AS THEY COME, JESSIE, FOR THE MOST PART.

WE'RE ALL AFRAID TO DIE.

I'M NOT, MAMA. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.

IT'S DARK AND QUIET.

SO'S THE BACKYARD, JESSIE.

SO QUIET, I DON'T KNOW IT'S QUIET,

SO NOBODY CAN GET ME.

DEATH MIGHT NOT BE QUIET AT ALL, JESSIE.

WHAT IF IT'S LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK AND YOU CAN'T WAKE UP

SO YOU CAN'T SHUT IT OFF, EVER?

DEAD IS EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING I EVER KNEW, GONE.

DEAD IS DEAD QUIET.

YOU CAN'T USE MY TOWELS. THEY'RE MY TOWELS.

I'VE HAD THEM FOR A LONG TIME. I LIKE MY TOWELS.

I ASKED YOU IF YOU WANTED THAT SWIMMING TOWEL. YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T.

AND YOU CAN'T USE YOUR FATHER'S GUN, EITHER. IT'S MINE NOW, TOO.

AND YOU CAN'T DO IT IN MY HOUSE.

OH, COME ON.

NO, YOU CAN'T. I WON'T LET YOU. THE HOUSE IS IN MY NAME.

IF I GO IN MY BEDROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR BEHIND ME,

THEY WON'T ARREST YOU FOR KILLING ME.

THEY'LL PROBABLY TEST YOUR HANDS FOR GUNPOWDER ANYWAY, BUT YOU'LL PASS.

NOT IN MY HOUSE!

IF I'D KNOWN YOU WERE GOING TO ACT LIKE THIS, I WOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ACT?

TELL YOU TO GO AHEAD?

"OK BY ME, SUGAR. MIGHT TRY IT MYSELF. WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?"

THERE'S JUST NO POINT IN FIGHTING ME OVER IT, THAT'S ALL.

YOUR BIRTHDAY'S COMING UP, JESSIE.

DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE GOT YOU?

YOU GOT ME DUSTING POWDER.

LORETTA GOT ME A NEW HOUSECOAT-- PINK, PROBABLY.

AND DAWSON GOT ME NEW SLIPPERS.

"TOO SMALL, BUT THEY GO WITH THE ROBE," HE'LL SAY. RIGHT?

I'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Thelma: I STARTED TO, BUT I DIDN'T.

I DIDN'T CALL HIM.

GOOD. THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT, JESSIE?

ABOUT?

WHAT'D I DO?

NOTHING.

WANT A CARAMEL?

YOU'RE MAD AT ME.

NOT A BIT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I CAN BEFORE I GO.

I'M NOT JUST GOING TO BE SITTING AROUND TONIGHT.

I MADE A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS.

WHAT THINGS?

HOW THE WASHER WORKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

DID YOU GROW UP WEARING DIRTY CLOTHES?

NO.

I KNOW HOW THE WASHER WORKS.

YOU PUT THE CLOTHES IN, YOU PUT THE SOAP IN, YOU TURN IT ON, YOU WAIT.

OK. WHERE DO WE KEEP THE SOAP?

I COULD FIND IT.

SEE?

IF YOU'RE MAD ABOUT DOING THE WASH, WE CAN GET LORETTA TO DO IT.

OH...

NOW, THAT MIGHT BE WORTH STAYING TO SEE.

SHE'D NEVER IN HER LIFE, WOULD SHE?

NO.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HER?

SHE THINKS SHE'S BETTER THAN WE ARE.

SHE'S NOT.

MAYBE IF SHE DIDN'T WEAR THAT YELLOW ALL THE TIME.

THE WASHER REPAIR NUMBER IS ON A LITTLE CARD

TAPED TO THE SIDE OF THE MACHINE.

LORETTA DOESN'T EVER HAVE TO COME OVER HERE AGAIN.

DAWSON CAN JUST LEAVE HER AT HOME WHEN HE COMES.

AND WE WON'T EVER SEE DAWSON, EITHER,

IF HE BOTHERS YOU. DOES HE BOTHER YOU?

SURE, HE DOES.

BE SURE YOU CLEAN OUT THE LINT TRAY EVERY TIME YOU USE THE DRYER.

BUT DON'T EVER PUT YOUR HOUSE SHOES IN IT. IT'LL MELT THE SOLES.

WHAT DOES DAWSON DO THAT BOTHERS YOU?

HE JUST CALLS ME "JESS" LIKE HE KNOWS WHO HE'S TALKING TO,

AND HE'S ALWAYS WONDERING WHAT I DO ALL DAY.

I MEAN, I WONDER THAT MYSELF, BUT IT'S MY DAY,

SO IT'S MINE TO WONDER ABOUT, NOT HIS.

THAT WAS JUST ACCIDENT, JESSIE.

IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL, HON. THEY DON'T MEAN TO GET ON YOUR NERVES.THEY DON'T EVEN MEAN TO BE YOUR FAMILY. THEY JUST ARE.

THEY KNOW TOO MUCH. ABOUT WHAT?

WELL, THEY KNOW THINGS ABOUT YOU,

AND THEY LEARNED IT BEFORE YOU HAD

A CHANCE TO SAY WHETHER YOU WANTED THEM TO KNOW IT OR NOT.

THEY WERE THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED,

AND IT DON'T BELONG TO THEM--IT BELONGS TO YOU, ONLY THEY GOT IT.

LIKE MY MAIL-ORDER BRA GOT DELIVERED TO THEIR HOUSE.

BY ACCIDENT.

ALL THE SAME, THEY OPENED IT.

THEY SAW THE LITTLE ROSEBUDS ON IT.

CHEWY MINT?

WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I'LL TELL THEM NEVER TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.

IS IT RICKY OR CECIL? OR YOUR FITS?

OR YOU DRINK TOO MUCH COFFEE,

OR YOU NEVER GO OUT OF THE HOUSE, OR WHAT?

I JUST DON'T LIKE THEIR TALK.

THE ACCOUNT AT THE GROCERY

IS IN DAWSON'S NAME WHEN YOU CALL,

AND THE NUMBER'S ON A WHOLE LIST OF NUMBERS

ON THE BACK PAGE OF THE PHONE BOOK.

WELL, NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.

THEY'RE NONE OF THEM EVER SETTIN' FOOT IN THIS HOUSE AGAIN.

IT'S NOT THEM, MAMA. I WOULDN'T KILL MYSELF

JUST TO GET AWAY FROM THEM.

YOU LEAVE THE ROOM WHEN THEY COME OVER ANYWAY.

I STAY AS LONG AS I CAN.

BESIDES, IT'S YOU THEY COME TO SEE.

THAT'S BECAUSE I STAY IN THE ROOM WHEN THEY COME.

IT'S NOT THEM.

THEN WHAT IS IT?

THE GROCERY WON'T DELIVER ON SATURDAYS ANYMORE,

AND THEY WON'T DELIVER LESS THAN $15 WORTH.

WHAT I DO IS TELL THEM WHAT WE NEED

AND TELL THEM TO ADD ON CIGARETTES UNTIL IT GETS TO $15.

IT'S RICKY. YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH TO HIM.

IF I THOUGHT I COULD DO THAT, I WOULD STAY.

MAKE HIM SORRY HE HURT YOU, THEN.

THAT'S IT, ISN'T IT?

I'VE HURT HIM. HE'S HURT ME. WE'RE ABOUT EVEN.

YOU'LL BE TELLING HIM KILLING'S OK WITH YOU, YOU KNOW.

WANT HIM TO START KILLING NEXT?

"NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. MOM DID IT."

ONLY A MATTER OF TIME ANYWAY, MAMA,

AND WHEN THE CALL COMES, LET DAWSON HANDLE IT.

OH, HONEY, NOTHING SAYS

THOSE CALLS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME NEW TROUBLE HE'S INTO.

IF YOU CALL THE SWEET TOOTH BEFORE YOU CALL THE GROCERY,

THAT SUSIE WILL TAKE YOUR FUDGE NEXT DOOR TO THE GROCERY,

AND IT'LL ALL COME OUT TOGETHER.

RICKY COULD COME OVER, YOU KNOW. WHAT IF HE CALLS YOU?

IT'S NOT RICKY, MAMA.

ANYBODY COULD CALL, JESSIE.

NOT SATURDAY NIGHT, MAMA.

THEN WHAT IS IT? ARE YOU SICK?

IF YOUR GUMS ARE SWELLING,

WE COULD GET YOU TO THE DENTIST IN THE MORNING.

NO. CAN YOU ORDER YOUR MEDICINE, OR DO YOU WANT DAWSON TO?

YOUR EYES DON'T LOOK RIGHT. I THOUGHT SO.

IT'S JUST THE RAGWEED, MAMA. I'M NOT SICK.

EPILEPSY IS SICK, JESSIE.

IT WON'T KILL ME.

IF IT WOULD, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

NO, I DON'T. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

WELL, I WON'T LET YOU!

IT'S NOT UP TO YOU!

JESSIE!

I WANT TO HANG A BIG SIGN AROUND MY NECK

LIKE DADDY'S ON THE BARN-- "GONE FISHING."

YOU DON'T LIKE IT HERE.

EXACTLY.

I MEANT HERE IN MY HOUSE.

I KNOW YOU DID.

Thelma: YOU NEVER SHOULD HAVE MOVED BACK IN HERE WITH ME.

IF YOU'D HAVE KEPT YOUR LITTLE HOUSE

OR FOUND ANOTHER PLACE WHEN CECIL LEFT YOU,

YOU'D HAVE MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS AT LEAST,

HAD A LIFE TO LEAD, HAD YOUR OWN THINGS AROUND YOU,

GIVE RICKY A PLACE TO COME SEE YOU.

YOU NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME HERE.

MAYBE.

BUT I DIDN'T FORCE YOU, DID I?

IF IT WAS A MISTAKE, WE MADE IT TOGETHER.

YOU TOOK ME IN. I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS BEING BY YOURSELF RIGHT THEN,

BUT I CAN SEE HOW YOU MIGHT WANT A PLACE OF YOUR OWN.

A GROWN WOMAN SHOULD HAVE--

MAMA, I'M JUST NOT HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME,

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO THINK

IT'S GOING TO GET ANYTHING BUT WORSE.

I'M TIRED, I'M HURT, I'M SAD, I FEEL USED.

TIRED OF WHAT?

IT ALL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I CAN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER.

WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO SAY IT BETTER

BECAUSE I'M NOT LETTING YOU ALONE TILL YOU DO.

WHAT WERE THOSE OTHER THINGS? HURT?

YOU HAD THIS ALL READY TO SAY TO ME, DIDN'T YOU?

DID YOU WRITE THIS DOWN?

HOW LONG YOU BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS?

OFF AND ON, 10 YEARS.

ON ALL THE TIME, SINCE CHRISTMAS.

WHAT HAPPENED AT CHRISTMAS?

NOTHING.

SO WHY AT CHRISTMAS?

THAT'S IT. ON THE NOSE.

SEE WHERE ALL THIS IS?

RED HOTS UP FRONT.

SOURBALLS AND HOREHOUND ARE MIXED TOGETHER IN THIS ONE SACK.

NEW PACKAGES OF TOFFEE AND LICORICE RIGHT IN BACK THERE.

GO BACK TO YOUR LIST. YOU'RE HURT BY WHAT?

MAMA.

OK. SAD ABOUT WHAT? THERE'S NOTHING REAL SAD GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IF IT WAS AFTER YOUR DIVORCE OR SOMETHING, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

NOW, THIS DRAWER HAS EVERYTHING IN IT

THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE FOR--

EXTENSION CORDS, THE BATTERIES FOR THE RADIO,

EXTRA LIGHTERS, SANDPAPER,

MASKING TAPE, ELMER'S GLUE,

THUMBTACKS, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THE MOUSETRAPS ARE UNDER THE SINK,

BUT CALL DAWSON IF YOU'VE GOT ONE AND LET HIM DO IT.

SAD ABOUT WHAT?

THE WAY THINGS ARE.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH. WHAT THINGS?

OH, EVERYTHING-- FROM YOU AND ME

TO THE MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

I THINK WE CAN LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS.

I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.

I READ THE PAPER. I DON'T LIKE HOW THINGS ARE.

JESSIE, STOP READING THE PAPER.

THERE'S JUST MORE OF IT ON TV.

SELL THE TV. YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT.

I WOULD TOO.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ALL DAY? SING.

YOU WANT TO WATCH? I'LL SING TILL MORNING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE, JESSIE.

PLEASE.

NO. IT'S A FUNNY IDEA, THOUGH.

WHAT DO YOU SING?

YOU'VE GOT A GOOD LIFE HERE.

I CALLED THIS MORNING AND CANCELED THE PAPERS,

EXCEPT FOR SUNDAYS FOR YOUR PUZZLES. YOU'LL STILL GET THAT ONE.

NOW, DON'T TAKE THE PILLS ON THE CARDS.

TAKE THE PILLS IN THE BOTTLES.

I JUST MADE THESE LITTLE PICTURES SO YOU'D KNOW WHICH ONES.

YOU NEED SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF, JESSIE.

I'VE HAD YOU, MAMA.

YOU DO TOO MUCH FOR ME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANOTHER THING IN THIS HOUSE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME, JESSIE.

I KNOW THAT. YOU'VE JUST BEEN LETTING ME DO IT

SO I'D HAVE SOMETHING TO DO, HAVEN'T YOU?

OH, WELL, I DON'T DO IT AS WELL AS YOU.

I JUST MEAN... IF IT TIRES YOU OUT OR MAKES YOU FEEL...USED.

MAMA, I KNOW YOU USED TO RIDE THE BUS.

RIDING THE BUS, AND IT'S HOT AND BUMPY

AND CROWDED AND TOO NOISY,

AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD, YOU WANT TO GET OFF,

AND THE ONLY REASON IN THE WORLD YOU DON'T GET OFF IS IT'S STILL

50 BLOCKS FROM WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

WELL, I CAN GET OFF RIGHT NOW IF I WANT TO,

BECAUSE EVEN IF I RIDE 50 MORE YEARS AND GET OFF THEN,

IT'S STILL THE SAME PLACE WHEN I STEP DOWN TO IT.

WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT, I CAN GET OFF.

WHENEVER I'VE HAD ENOUGH, IT'S MY STOP.

I'VE HAD ENOUGH.

YOU'RE FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF. YOU'RE NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME.

WHOEVER PROMISED YOU A GOOD TIME?

DO YOU THINK I'M HAVING A GOOD TIME?

I THINK YOU'RE PRETTY HAPPY, YEAH.

YOU HAVE THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO.

LIKE WHAT?

LIKE CROCHET.

I'LL TEACH YOU TO CROCHET.

THERE ARE EXTRA LIGHT BULBS IN A BOX IN THIS CLOSET,

AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PACKAGES OF FUSES IN THE FUSEBOX.

THE CANDLES AND MATCHES

ARE IN THE TOP OF THE BROOM CLOSET,

BUT IF THE LIGHTS GO OUT, JUST CALL DAWSON AND SIT TIGHT.

GOOD TIME DON'T COME LOOKING FOR YOU, JESSIE.

YOU COULD WORK SOME PUZZLES OR PUT IN A GARDEN

OR GO TO THE STORE.

LET'S CALL A TAXI AND GO TO THE A&P.

I SHOPPED YOU UP FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS ALREADY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NEED TOILET PAPER TILL THANKSGIVING.

YOU'RE ACTING LIKE SOME LITTLE BRAT, JESSIE.

YOU'RE MAD, AND EVERYBODY'S BORING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO,

AND YOU DON'T LIKE ME,

AND YOU DON'T LIKE GOING OUT, AND YOU DON'T LIKE STAYING IN,

AND YOU NEVER TALK ON THE PHONE,

AND YOU DON'T WATCH TV, AND YOU'RE MISERABLE,

AND IT'S YOUR OWN SWEET FAULT.

AND IT'S TIME I DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BUT NOT SOMETHING LIKE KILLING YOURSELF! SOMETHING LIKE--

"NOT SOMETHING LIKE KILLING MYSELF, SOMETHING LIKE--"

BUYING US ALL NEW SHEETS. I'D LIKE THAT.

OR MAYBE THE DOCTOR WOULD LET YOU GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE NOW.

OH, I KNOW WHAT. YOU COULD GET A JOB.

I TOOK THAT TELEPHONE SALES JOB.

I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE ENOUGH TO PAY THE PHONE BILL.

AND I TRIED WORKING AT THE GIFT SHOP AT THE HOSPITAL...

AND THEY SAID I MADE PEOPLE REAL UNCOMFORTABLE,

SMILING AT THEM THE WAY I DID.

YOU COULD KEEP BOOKS. YOU KEPT YOUR DAD'S BOOKS.

YOU KNOW I COULDN'T WORK. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

I'VE NEVER BEEN AROUND PEOPLE MY WHOLE LIFE

EXCEPT WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

I COULD HAVE A SEIZURE AT ANY TIME. WHAT GOOD WOULD A JOB DO ME?

THE KIND OF JOB I COULD GET WOULD JUST MAKE ME FEEL WORSE.

JESSIE! IT'S TRUE!

IT'S WHAT YOU THINK IS TRUE.

THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S WHAT I THINK IS TRUE.

BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT!

NO, YOU CAN'T, AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING, EITHER--ABOUT MY LIFE,

TO CHANGE IT, TO MAKE IT BETTER,

MAKE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT, LIKE IT BETTER, MAKE IT WORK.

BUT I CAN STOP IT, SHUT IT DOWN, TURN IT OFF LIKE THE RADIO

WHEN THERE'S NOTHING ON I WANT TO LISTEN TO.

IT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE THAT BELONGS TO ME,

AND I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS TO IT,

AND IT'S GOING TO STOP,

AND I'M GOING TO STOP IT.

SO LET'S JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME.

HAVE A GOOD TIME.

WE CAN'T GO ON FUSSING ALL NIGHT.

I MEAN, I COULD ASK YOU THINGS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW,

AND YOU CAN MAKE ME SOME HOT CHOCOLATE--

THE OLD WAY.

IT TAKES COCOA, JESSIE.

I BOUGHT COCOA, MAMA.

AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CARAMEL APPLE

AND DO YOUR NAILS.

YOU DIDN'T EAT A BITE OF SUPPER.

DOES THAT MEAN I CAN'T HAVE A CARAMEL APPLE?

OF COURSE NOT.

I MEAN...

OF COURSE YOU CAN HAVE A CARAMEL APPLE.

I THOUGHT I COULD.

I MAKE THE BEST CARAMEL APPLES IN THE WORLD.

I KNOW YOU DO.

OR USED TO.

AND YOU DON'T GET COCOA LIKE MINE ANYWHERE ANYMORE.

TAKES TIME. I KNOW.

SALT'S THE TRICK.

IF IT'S TROUBLE OR ANYTHING--

IT'S NO TROUBLE. WHAT TROUBLE?

YOU PUT IT IN A PAN AND STIR IT UP.

ALL RIGHT. FINE.

CARAMEL APPLES, COCOA. OK.

WELL...

SO...

HOW WAS THE FAIR?

IT WAS SILLY. COUNTRY FAIRS ARE SILLY.

NOBODY FROM THE COUNTRY EVEN COMES.

WHY DID YOU GO?

AGNES LIKES IT, I GUESS.

AND YOU LIKE AGNES.

NO, JESSIE. AGNES IS CRAZY.

BUT AGNES DOES HAVE A CAR.

IS AGNES REALLY CRAZY, OR IS SHE JUST SILLY?

SHE'S REALLY CRAZY.

MOTHER.

MM-HMM!

JESSIE, AGNES FLETCHER'S BURNED DOWN EVERY HOUSE SHE'S EVER LIVED IN.8 FIRES, AND SHE'S DUE FOR A NEW ONE ANY DAY NOW.

NO.

MM-HMM! WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME A BIT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS BEFORE?

THE HOUSES THEY LIVED IN, YOU KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO FALL DOWN ANYWAY,

SO WHY WAIT FOR THEM? IT'S ALL I COULD EVER MAKE OUT ABOUT IT.

AGNES LIKES A FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

GOOD FOR HER.

NOW, THEN, ONE CUP OR 2?

ONE. NO MARSHMALLOWS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE MARSHMALLOWS. THAT'S THE OLD WAY, JESS.

2 OR 3? 3 IS BETTER.

3, THEN.

HER WHOLE HOUSE BURNS UP? HER CLOTHES AND PILLS

AND EVERYTHING?

I'M NOT SURE I BELIEVE THIS.

WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL, JESS. NOT NOW, A LONG TIME AGO.

BUT SHE'S STILL GOT IT IN HER. I'M SURE OF IT.

SHE WOULDN'T BURN HER HOUSE DOWN NOW.

WHERE WOULD SHE GO?

SHE CAN'T GET BUSTER TO BUILD HER A NEW ONE.

HE'S DEAD.

HOW COULD SHE BURN IT DOWN?

BE EXCITING, THOUGH, IF SHE DID.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU DO TOO KNOW, MAMA. SHE WOULDN'T DO IT.

I GUESS NOT.

WHAT ELSE? WHY DOES SHE WEAR ALL THOSE WHISTLES AROUND HER NECK?

WHY DOES SHE HAVE A HOUSEFUL OF BIRDS?

I DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD A HOUSEFUL OF BIRDS.

SHE DOES... AND SHE SAYS THEY JUST FOLLOW HER HOME,

BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT SHE'S STILL PAYING

ON THE LAST PARROT SHE BOUGHT.

"YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR LIFE FILLED UP," SHE SAYS.

SHE SAYS A LOT OF STUPID THINGS.

IT'S ALL THAT OKRA SHE EATS.

YOU JUST CAN'T WILLY-NILLY EAT OKRA 2 MEALS A DAY

AND EXPECT TO GET AWAY WITH IT. MADE HER CRAZY.

SHE REALLY EATS OKRA TWICE A DAY?

WHERE DOES SHE GET IT IN THE WINTER?

WELL, SHE EATS IT A LOT. MAYBE NOT 2 MEALS, BUT--

MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OKRA THE AVERAGE PERSON EATS.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OKRA AGNES EATS?

NO.

HOW MANY BIRDS DOES SHE HAVE?

2.

THEN WHAT ARE ALL THE WHISTLES FOR?

THEY'RE NOT REAL WHISTLES,

JUST LITTLE PLASTIC ONES ON A NECKLACE SHE WON PLAYING BINGO.

AND I ONLY TOLD YOU ABOUT IT

BECAUSE I THOUGHT I MIGHT GET A LAUGH OUT OF YOU FOR ONCE,

EVEN IF IT WEREN'T THE TRUTH, JESSIE.

THINGS DON'T HAVE TO BE TRUE TO TALK ABOUT THEM, YOU KNOW.

WHY WON'T SHE COME OVER HERE?

WELL, NOW, WHAT A GOOD IDEA.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE COCOA. COCOA IS PERFECT.

EXCEPT YOU DON'T LIKE MILK.

I HATE MILK. COATS YOUR THROAT AS BAD AS OKRA.

THERE'S SOMETHING JUST DOWNRIGHT DISGUSTING ABOUT IT.

IT'S BECAUSE OF ME, ISN'T IT?

NO, JESS.

YES, MAMA.

OK. YES, THEN. SHE'S CRAZY. SHE'S AS CRAZY AS THEY COME.

SHE'S A LUNATIC.

WHAT IS IT, EXACTLY? DID I SAY SOMETHING SOMETIME,

OR DID SHE SEE ME HAVE A FIT AND IS AFRAID I MIGHT HAVE

ANOTHER ONE IF SHE CAME OVER, OR WHAT?

I GUESS.

YOU GUESS WHAT? WHAT'S SHE EVER SAID?

SHE MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU SOME REASON.

YOUR HANDS ARE COLD.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?

"LIKE A CORPSE," SHE SAYS.

"AND I'M GOING TO BE ONE SOON ENOUGH AS IT IS."

I THOUGHT SHE DIDN'T LIKE ME. SHE'S SCARED OF ME.

SHE'S CRAZY.

WELL, HOW ABOUT THAT? SCARED OF ME.

WHEN I'M IN THE HOSPITAL,

DOES SHE COME OVER HERE?

HER KITCHEN'S JUST A TINY THING.

WHEN SHE COMES OVER HERE, SHE FEELS LIKE...

WELL, WE ALL LIKE A CHANGE OF SCENE, DON'T WE?

SURE WE DO. PLUS, THERE ARE NO BIRDS DIVING AROUND.

I HATE THOSE BIRDS. SHE SAYS I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM.

WHAT'S THERE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT BIRDS?

WHY AGNES LIKES THEM, FOR ONE THING.

WHY THEY STAY WITH HER WHEN THEY COULD BE OUTSIDE

WITH THE OTHER BIRDS,

HOW MUCH WATER THEY NEED, WHAT THEIR SINGING MEANS,

HOW THEY FLY, WHAT THEY THINK AGNES IS.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THINGS, JESSIE?

THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MUCH TO THINGS THAT I COULD EVER SEE.

THAT YOU COULD EVERTELL, YOU MEAN.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO LIE TO ME ABOUT AGNES.

I DIDN'T LIE.

YOU NEVER ASKED ME BEFORE.

YOU LIED ABOUT SETTING FIRE TO ALL THOSE HOUSES

AND ABOUT HOW MANY BIRDS SHE HAS

AND ABOUT HOW MUCH OKRA SHE EATS

AND WHY SHE WON'T COME OVER HERE.

IF I HAVE TO KEEP DRAGGING THE TRUTH OUT OF YOU,THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ALL NIGHT.

THAT'S FINE WITH ME. I'M NOT A BIT SLEEPY.

MAMA.

ALL RIGHT. ASK ME WHATEVER YOU WANT.

HERE.

DID YOU LOVE DADDY?

NO.

I DIDN'T THINK SO. WERE YOU REALLY 15 WHEN YOU MARRIED HIM?

THE WAY HE TOLD IT? I'M SITTING IN THE MUD,

HE COMES ALONG, DRAGS ME IN THE KITCHEN, "SHE'S BEEN THERE EVER SINCE"?

YEAH. NO.

GOD, THIS MILK IN HERE.

THE COCOA HELPS.

NOT ENOUGH, THOUGH, DOES IT?

YOU CAN STILL TASTE IT, CAN'T YOU?

IT'S PRETTY BAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY MEMORY THAT WAS BAD,

BUT IT'S NOT. IT'S THE MILK, ALL RIGHT.

IT'S A REAL WASTE OF CHOCOLATE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FINISH IT.

THANKS, THOUGH.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN NOT TO MAKE IT.

I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T LIKE IT. YOU NEVER DID LIKE IT.

YOU DIDN'T EVER LOVE HIM, OR HE DID SOMETHING

AND YOU STOPPED LOVING HIM, OR WHAT?

HE FELT SORRY FOR ME.

HE WANTED A PLAIN COUNTRY WOMAN,

AND THAT'S WHAT HE MARRIED,

AND THEN HE HELD IT AGAINST ME THE REST OF MY LIFE,

LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE

AND SURPRISE HIM SOMEHOW.

LIKE I REMEMBER THIS ONE DAY,

HE WAS STANDING ON THE PORCH,

AND I TOLD HIM TO GET A SHIRT ON,

AND HE WENT IN AND GOT ONE,

AND THEN HE SAID REAL PEACEFUL BUT TO THE POINT...

"YOU'RE RIGHT, THELMA. IF GOD HAD WANTED FOR PEOPLE

"TO GO AROUND

"WITHOUT ANY CLOTHES ON,

THEY'D HAVE BEEN BORN THAT WAY."

HE DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING BY THAT, MAMA.

HE NEVER SAID A WORD HE DIDN'T HAVE TO, JESSIE.

THAT WAS PROBABLY ALL HE'D SAID TO ME ALL DAY, JESSIE,

SO IF HE SAID IT,

THERE WAS SOMETHING TO IT,

BUT I NEVER DID FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. WHAT'D THAT MEAN?

I DON'T KNOW. I LIKED HIM BETTER THAN YOU DID,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HIM ANY BETTER.

YOU LOVED HIM ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US.

YOU FOLLOWED HIM AROUND LIKE SOME...

JESSIE, ALL THE MAN EVER DID

WAS FARM AND SIT

AND TRY TO THINK OF SOMEBODY TO SELL THE FARM TO.

MAKE ME A BOYFRIEND OUT OF PIPE CLEANERS

AND SIT BACK AND SMILE LIKE THE STICK MAN WAS GOING TO DANCE

AND WASN'T I GOING TO GET A KICK OUT OF THAT?

SIT UP WITH A SICK COW ALL NIGHT

AND LEAVE ME A CHAIN OF SLEEPY STICK ELEPHANTS ON MY BED IN THE MORNING.

OR JUST SIT.

I LIKED HIM SITTING.

BIG OLD FADED BLUE MAN IN THE CHAIR...

QUIET.

HE COULD HAVE HAD THAT "GONE FISHING" SIGN AROUND HIS NECK

IN THAT CHAIR.

I SAW HIM STARE OFF AT THE WATER.

I SAW HIM LOOK AT THE WEATHER ROLLING IN.

I GOT WHERE I COULD

PRACTICALLY SEE THE BOAT MYSELF.

BUT YOU--YOU KNEW WHAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT,

AND YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME.

I DON'T KNOW, MAMA. JUST LIFE, I GUESS.

HIS CORN, HIS BOOTS, US, THINGS, YOU KNOW.

NO, I DON'T KNOW, JESSIE.

YOU HAD THOSE QUIET LITTLE CONVERSATIONS

AFTER SUPPER EVERY NIGHT.

WHAT WERE YOU WHISPERING ABOUT?

WE WEREN'T WHISPERING, MAMA. YOU WERE SITTING ACROSS THE ROOM.

WHAT'D YOU TALK ABOUT?

WE TALKED ABOUT WHY BLACK SOCKS ARE WARMER THAN BLUE SOCKS.

NOW, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU GO TELL MOTHER?

YOU WERE JUST JEALOUS

BECAUSE I'D RATHER TALK TO HIM THAN WASH THE DISHES WITH YOU.I WAS JEALOUS BECAUSE YOU'D RATHER TALK TO HIM

THAN ANYTHING.

IF I'D HAVE DIED INSTEAD OF HIM,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN YOU IN LIKE I DID.

I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED HIM TO.

THEN WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

COME VISIT.

OH, I SEE. HE DIED AND LEFT YOU STUCK WITH ME,

AND NOW YOU'RE MAD ABOUT IT.

NOT ANYMORE. HE DIDN'T MEAN TO.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO COME HERE.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.

MAYBE YOU THINK IF I'D HAVE LOVED HIM MORE--OR AT ALL--

HE'D STILL BE ALIVE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT.

HE FELT SORRY FOR YOU, TOO, JESSIE. HE SAID YOU WERE A RUNT,

AND HE SAID IT FROM THE DAY YOU WERE BORN.

HE SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE.

I KNOW HE LOVED ME.

WHAT IF HE DID? DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

DIDN'T HAVE TO. I MISS HIM.

HE NEVER REALLY WENT FISHING, YOU KNOW. NEVER ONCE.

HIS TACKLE BOX WAS FULL OF CHEWING TOBACCO,

AND ALL HE EVER DID WAS DRIVE OUT TO THE LAKE AND SIT IN HIS CAR.

HE'D COME BACK FROM FISHING, AND ALL HE'D HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT

WAS A WHOLE PIPE CLEANER FAMILY.

CHICKENS, PIGS...

A DOG WITH A BAD LEG. IT WAS CREEPY STRANGE,

MADE ME SICK TO LOOK AT IT.

AND I HID HIS PIPE CLEANERS A COUPLE OF TIMES,

BUT HE ALWAYS HAD MORE SOMEWHERE.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR YOU AFTER HE DIED.

YOU'D BREATHE BETTER, CHANGE SOMEHOW.

INTO WHAT? THE QUEEN?

A CLERK IN A SHOE STORE? WHY SHOULD I?

BECAUSE HE SAID TO? BECAUSE YOU SAID TO?

I WASN'T HERE FOR HIS ENTERTAINMENT,

AND I'M NOT HERE FOR YOURS, EITHER, JESSIE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M HERE FOR, BUT THEN I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT I BET YOU WOULDN'T BE KILLING YOURSELF IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE.

OH, THAT'S A FINE THING TO FIGURE OUT, ISN'T IT?

IT'S NOT TRUE.

OH, NO? THEN WHAT WERE YOU ASKING ABOUT HIM FOR?

WHY'D YOU WANT TO KNOW IF I LOVED HIM?

DIDN'T THINK YOU DID, THAT'S ALL.

FINE, THEN. YOU WERE RIGHT. DO YOU FEEL BETTER NOW?

FEELS GOOD TO BE RIGHT ABOUT IT.

IT DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER I LOVED HIM.

IT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME, AND IT DIDN'T MATTER TO HIM.

THAT DIDN'T MEAN WE DIDN'T GET ALONG.

IT WASN'T IMPORTANT. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

TAKE ALL THESE POTS OUT TO THE PORCH!

JUST LEAVE ME THIS ONE PAN,

ONE KNIFE, ONE FORK, ONE BIG SPOON,

AND THE CAN OPENER.

AND PUT THEM OUT WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!

DON'T DO THAT. I JUST STRAIGHTENED THAT DRAWER.

THROW OUT ALL THE PLATES AND CUPS.

I'LL USE PAPER. LORETTA CAN HAVE WHAT SHE WANTS,

AND DAWSON CAN SELL THE REST.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M NOT GOING TO COOK. I NEVER LIKED IT ANYWAY.

I LIKE CANDY, WRAPPED IN PLASTIC OR COMING IN SACKS.

AND TUNA. I LIKE TUNA. I'LL EAT TUNA, THANK YOU.

WHAT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE APPLE BUTTER? YOU CAN'T MAKE APPLE BUTTER

IN THIS LITTLE PAN.

WHAT IF YOU LEAVE CARROTS ON COOKING AND YOU BURN UP THIS PAN?

I DON'T LIKE CARROTS!

WHAT IF THE STRAWBERRIES ARE GOOD THIS YEAR

AND YOU WANT TO GO PICKING WITH AGNES?

I'LL TELL HER TO BRING A PAN!

YOU SAID YOU'D DO WHATEVER I WANTED!

WELL, I DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF PANS

CLUTTERING UP MY CABINETS I CAN'T GET DOWN TO ANYWAY!

THROW THEM OUT! EVERY LAST ONE!

I'LL PUT THEM ALL BACK.

I'M NOT TAKING THEM TO THE PORCH.

IF YOU WANT THEM, THEY'LL BE HERE.

YOU'LL BEND DOWN AND GET THEM LIKE YOU GOT THE ONES

FOR THE COCOA.

IF SOMEBODY ELSE COMES OVER HERE TO COOK,

WELL, THEY'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO COOK IN, AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.

WHO'S GOING TO COME COOK HERE?

AGNES.

IN MY POTS? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!

THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE 2 OF YOU COULDN'T JUST LIVE HERE TOGETHER.

IT'D BE CHEAPER FOR BOTH OF YOU. IT'D BE SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

AND IF THE BIRDS BOTHER YOU,

WELL, ONE DAY WHEN AGNES IS OUT GETTING HER HAIR DONE,

YOU CAN JUST TAKE THEM ALL FOR A WALK.

OH, I SEE. YOU THINK YOU CAN REST EASY IF YOU GET ME A NEW BABY-SITTER.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH AGNES. I BARELY WANT TO TALK WITH AGNES.

YOU DON'T GET OFF AS EASY AS THAT, CHILD!

OK, THEN. IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

I DON'T LIKE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT! I LIKE THINGS TO GO ON!

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT DADDY SAID TO YOU THE NIGHT HE DIED!

YOU CAME STORMING OUT OF HIS ROOM.

YOU SAID I COULD WAIT IT OUT WITH HIM IF I WANTED TO

BUT YOU WERE GOING TO GO WATCHGUNSMOKE.

WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO ME, JESSIE.

THAT'S WHY I LEFT.

IT WAS HIS LAST CHANCE NOT TO TALK TO ME,

AND HE TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT!

I'M SORRY YOU DIDN'T LOVE HIM.

SORRY FOR YOU, I MEAN.

HE SEEMED LIKE A NICE MAN.

READY FOR YOUR APPLE NOW?

SOON AS I'M THROUGH HERE, MAMA.

YOU WON'T LIKE THE APPLE, EITHER.

IT'LL BE JUST LIKE THE COCOA.

NOW, YOU KNOW THE MILKMAN COMES ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

AND HE LEAVES THE ORDER BLANK IN AN EGG BOX,

AND YOU GIVE THE BILL TO DAWSON ONCE A MONTH.

DO THEY STILL MAKE THAT ORANGEADE?

MAMA, THE ONLY THING ORANGE ABOUT IT IS THE COLOR.

I'M GOING TO GET SOME.

I THOUGHT THEY STOPPED MAKING IT.

YOU JUST STOPPED ORDERING IT.

YOU SHOULD DRINK MILK.

NOT ANYMORE I'M NOT. THAT HOT CHOCOLATE WAS THE LAST.

HOORAY!

I TOLD HIM TO KEEP DELIVERING A QUART A WEEK,

NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAID.

I TOLD HIM YOU'D RUN OUT OF COKE AND HAVE TO DRINK IT.

I TOLD HIM I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T THROW IT ON THE GROUND.

YOU TOLD HIM YOU WOULDN'T BE ORDERING ANYMORE?

I TOLD HIM I WAS TAKING A LITTLE HOLIDAY AND TO LOOK AFTER YOU.

THEY DIDN'T THINK SOMETHING WAS FUNNY ABOUT THAT,

YOU WHO DOESN'T GO TO THE FRONT STEPS,

YOU WHO ONLY SEES THE DRIVEWAY

LOOKING DOWN FROM A STRETCHER, PASSED OUT COLD?

THEY SAID IT WAS ABOUT TIME,

THAT WHY DIDN'T I TAKE YOU WITH ME?

I SAID I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D WANT TO GO.

THEY SAID, "YEAH.

EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR OWN IDEA OF VACATION."

I BET YOU THINK THAT'S FUNNY.

YOU KNOW, THERE NEVER WAS ANY REASON

FOR YOU TO CALL THE AMBULANCE FOR ME.

ALL THEY EVER DID FOR ME IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

WAS LET ME WAKE UP.

I COULD HAVE DONE THAT HERE.

NOW, I'LL JUST CALL THESE OUT,

AND YOU SAY YES OR NO.

I KNOW YOU LIKE PICKLES. KETCHUP?

KEEP IT.

WE'VE HAD THIS SINCE THE LAST FOURTH OF JULY.

KEEP THE KETCHUP.

KEEP IT ALL.

ARE YOU GOING TO DRINK THE KETCHUP OUT OF THE BOTTLE OR WHAT?

HOW CAN YOU WANT YOUR FOOD

AND NOT WANT YOUR POTS TO COOK IT IN?

NOTHING I EVER DID WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU,

AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY

YOU'VE LIVED HERE ALL

THESE YEARS FEELING THE WAY YOU DO.

YOU HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA HOW I FEEL.

WELL, HOW COULD I?

YOU'RE REAL FAR BACK THERE, JESSIE.

BACK WHERE?

WHAT'S IT LIKE OVER THERE WHERE YOU ARE?

DO PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THE RIGHT THING

OR GET WHATEVER THEY WANT OR WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHY DO YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER?

WHY DON'T YOU WEAR THAT SWEATER I MADE FOR YOU?

YOU REMEMBER WHAT I USED TO LOOK LIKE,

OR AM I JUST ANY OLD WOMAN NOW?

WHEN YOU HAVE A FIT, DO YOU SEE STARS OR WHAT?

HOW DID YOU FALL OFF THE HORSE, REALLY?

WHY DID CECIL LEAVE YOU?

WHERE'D YOU PUT MY OLD GLASSES?

THEY'RE IN THE BOTTOM DRAWER OF YOUR DRESSER

IN YOUR OLD MILK OF MAGNESIA BOX.

CECIL LEFT ME BECAUSE

HE MADE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN HIM AND SMOKING.

JESSIE, I KNOW HE WASN'T THAT DUMB.

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY HE HATED IT SO MUCH

WHEN IT'S SO GOOD.

SMOKING'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW

THAT'S ALWAYS JUST WHAT YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE,

JUST LIKE IT WAS THE LAST TIME,

RIGHT THERE WHEN YOU WANT IT,

REAL QUIET.

YOUR FITS MADE HIM SICK, AND YOU KNOW IT.

SAY SEIZURES, NOT FITS.

SEIZURES.

IT'S THE SAME THING.

A SEIZURE IN THE HOSPITAL IS A FIT AT HOME.

IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM AT ALL,

EXCEPT HE DID FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

IT WAS HIS IDEA TO GO HORSEBACK RIDING THAT DAY.

IT WAS HIS IDEA I COULD DO ANYTHING

IF I JUST PUT MY MIND TO IT.

I FELL OFF THE HORSE

BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HOLD ON.

CECIL LEFT FOR PRETTY MUCH THE SAME REASON.

HE HAD A GIRL, JESSIE.

I WALKED RIGHT IN ON THEM IN THE TOOLSHED.

OK...

THAT'S FAIR.

WAS SHE VERY PRETTY?

SHE WAS AGNES' GIRL-- CARLENE.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.

I GUESS YOU AND AGNES HAD A GOOD TALK ABOUT THAT, HUH?

I NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU.

THEY MOVED HERE FROM TENNESSEE, YOU KNOW.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU LIKED HIM BETTER THAN I DID.

YOU FLIRTED HIM OUT HERE TO BUILD YOUR PORCH

OR I'D NEVER EVEN HAVE MET HIM AT ALL.

YOU THOUGHT MAYBE HE'D HELP YOU OUT AROUND THE PLACE,

COME IN, AND GET SOME COFFEE, AND TALK TO YOU.

GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU THOUGHT. ALL THAT CURLY HAIR.

HE WAS THE BEST CARPENTER I EVER SAW.

THAT LITTLE HOUSE OF YOURS WILL STILL BE STANDING

AT THE END OF THE WORLD.

YOU DIDN'T NEED A PORCH, MAMA.

I WANTED YOU TO HAVE A HUSBAND.

AND I COULDN'T GET ONE ON MY OWN, OF COURSE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET A HUSBAND,

NEVER OPENING YOUR MOUTH TO A LIVING SOUL?

I WAS QUIET. SO WHAT?

SO I SHOULD HAVE LET YOU JUST SIT HERE,

SIT LIKE YOUR DADDY SIT HERE.

MAYBE.

WELL, I DIDN'T THINK SO.

WELL, WHAT DID YOU KNOW?

I NEVER SAID I KNEW MUCH.

HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO LEARN ANYTHING LIVING OUT HERE?

I DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH

TO DO HALF THE THINGS I DID IN MY LIFE.

THINGS HAPPEN. YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN ABOUT THEM,

AND THEN YOU JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

I MARRIED YOU OFF TO THE WRONG MAN. I ADMIT THAT,

SO I TOOK YOU IN WHEN HE LEFT. I'M SORRY.

HE WASN'T THE WRONG MAN.

HE DIDN'T LOVE YOU, JESSIE, OR HE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT.

HE WASN'T THE WRONG MAN, MAMA.

I LOVED CECIL SO MUCH,

AND I TRIED TO GET MORE EXERCISE,

AND I TRIED TO STAY AWAKE,

AND I TRIED TO LEARN TO RIDE A HORSE,

AND I TRIED TO STAY OUTSIDE WITH HIM.

BUT HE ALWAYS KNEW I WAS TRYING, SO IT DIDN'T WORK.

HE WAS A SELFISH MAN.

HE TOLD ME ONCE HE HATED

TO SEE PEOPLE MOVE INTO HIS HOUSES AFTER HE BUILT THEM.

HE KNEW THEY'D MESS THEM UP. HUH.

I LOVE THAT BRIDGE HE BUILT OVER THE CREEK

IN BACK OF THE HOUSE.

IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE MUCH.

A COUPLE OF BOARDS WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST FINE.

BUT HE USED THAT YELLOW PINE, AND HE RUBBED IT SO SMOOTH.

HE HAD RESPONSIBILITIES HERE.

HE HAD A WIFE AND SON HERE, AND HE FAILED YOU.

THAT BABY BED HE BUILT FOR RICKY,

I TOLD HIM HE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON IT,

BUT HE SAID IT HAD TO LAST.

THE THING ENDED UP WEIGHING ABOUT 200 POUNDS.

I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE IT.

I SAID, "HOW LONG DOES A BABY BED HAVE TO LAST, ANYWAY?"

BUT MAYBE HE THOUGHT IF IT WAS STRONG ENOUGH,

IT'D KEEP RICKY A BABY.

RICKY IS TOO MUCH LIKE CECIL.

HE IS NOT.

HE'S AS MUCH LIKE ME AS ANY HUMAN BEING CAN BE.

WE EVEN WEAR THE SAME SIZE PANTS.

THESE ARE HIS, I THINK.

THAT'S JUST THE SAME SIZE.

THAT'S NOT YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON.

I SEE IT IN HIS FACE. I HEAR IT WHEN HE TALKS.

WE LOOK OUT AT THE WORLD, AND WE SEE THE SAME THING--

"NOT FAIR."

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US IS

RICKY IS OUT THERE TRYING TO GET EVEN.

HE KNOWS NOT TO TRUST ANYBODY.

AND HE GOT THAT STRAIGHT FROM ME.

HE KNOWS NOT TO TRY TO GET WORK.

GUESS WHERE HE GOT THAT.

AND HE WALKS AROUND LIKE THERE ARE LOOSE BOARDS IN THE FLOOR.

AND YOU KNOW WHO LAID THAT FLOOR? I DID.

RICKY ISN'T THROUGH YET.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HE'LL TURN OUT.

YES, I DO. AND SO DOES CECIL.

RICKY IS THE TWO OF US TOGETHER FOR ALL TIME

IN TOO SMALL A SPACE.

AND WE'RE TEARING EACH OTHER APART,

LIKE ALWAYS,

INSIDE THAT BOY.

AND IF YOU DON'T SEE IT, THEN YOU'RE JUST BLIND.

GIVE HIM TIME, JESS.

OH, HE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF THAT.

5 YEARS FOR FORGERY, 10 YEARS FOR ARMED ASSAULT.

STOP THAT.

JESSIE, CECIL MIGHT BE READY TO TRY IT AGAIN, HONEY.

THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES.

THEN YOU'LL BE HAPPIER.

MAYBE HE SEES THINGS DIFFERENT NOW.

CALL HIM UP RIGHT NOW. HE MIGHT BE HOME.

AND SAY WHAT? "NOTHING'S CHANGED, CECIL.

I'D JUST LIKE TO LOOK AT YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND"?

NO.

HE LOVED ME, MAMA.

HE JUST DIDN'T KNOW

HOW THINGS FALL DOWN AROUND HERE LIKE THEY DO.

I THINK HE DID THE RIGHT THING.

HE GAVE HIMSELF ANOTHER CHANCE, THAT'S ALL.

BUT I DID BEG HIM TO TAKE ME WITH HIM.

I DID TELL HIM I WOULD LEAVE RICKY AND YOU

AND EVERYTHING OUT HERE I LOVE

IF ONLY HE WOULD TAKE ME WITH HIM.

HE COULDN'T, AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT.

I WROTE THAT NOTE I SHOWED YOU,

NOT CECIL.

I WROTE IT.

I SAID, "I'M SORRY, JESSIE.

I CAN'T FIX IT ALL FOR YOU."

I SAID I'D ALWAYS LOVED ME,

NOT CECIL.

BUT THAT'S HOW HE FELT.

THEN HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU WITH HIM.

MAMA, YOU DON'T PACK YOUR GARBAGE WITH YOU

WHEN YOU MOVE.

YOU WILL NOT CALL YOURSELF GARBAGE, JESSIE!

JUST A WAY OF SAYING IT.

THINKING ABOUT MY LIST, THAT'S ALL.

WELL, A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

I WAS TRYING TO SAY...

IT'S ALL RIGHT THAT CECIL LEFT ME.

IT WAS A RELIEF IN A WAY.

I NEVER WAS WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE,

SO IT WAS BETTER

WHEN HE WASN'T LOOKING AT ME ALL THE TIME.

I'LL MAKE YOUR APPLE NOW.

NO, THANKS.

YOU GET YOUR MANICURE STUFF. I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

JESSIE, I THINK YOUR DADDY HAD--

GARBAGE NIGHT IS TUESDAY.

PUT IT OUT AS LATE AS YOU CAN.

THE DAVIS' DOGS WILL GET IN IT IF YOU DON'T.

AND KEEP ORDERING THE HEAVY BLACK BAGS.

IT DOESN'T PAY TO GET THE CHEAP ONES.

AND I'VE GOT ALL THE TIES IN THERE

WITH THE HAMMERS AND ALL.

TAKE THEM OUT OF THE BOX AS SOON AS YOU OPEN A NEW ONE

AND PUT THEM IN THAT DRAWER.

THEY'LL GET LOST IF YOU DON'T.

AND RUBBER BANDS OR SOMETHING ELSE WON'T WORK.

I THINK YOUR DADDY HAD FITS, TOO.

I THINK HE SAT IN HIS CHAIR AND HAD LITTLE FITS.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT THIS MANICURE

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO.

I READ THIS A LONG TIME AGO IN A MAGAZINE--

HOW LITTLE FITS GO, JUST LITTLE BLACKOUTS,

WHERE MAYBE THEIR EYES DON'T EVEN CLOSE,

AND PEOPLE JUST CALL THEM "THINKING SPELLS."

I WASHED THE COVER FOR THIS SOFA,

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE BOTH OF US TO GET IT BACK ON.

I WATCHED HIS EYES. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

THE MAGAZINE SAID SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THEY'VE HAD ONE.

DADDY WOULD HAVE KNOWN IF HE'D HAD FITS, MAMA.

THE LADY IN THE STORY KEPT TRACK OF HER FITS,

AND SHE'D HAD 80.000 OF THEM IN THE LAST 11 YEARS.

THE NEXT TIME YOU WASH THIS COVER,

IT'LL DRY BETTER IF YOU PUT IT ON WET.

JESSIE, LISTEN TO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU.

THIS LADY

HAD ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5 AND 500 FITS A DAY,

AND THEY LASTED MAYBE 15 SECONDS APIECE,

SO THAT OUT OF HER LIFE,

SHE'D ONLY LOST ABOUT 2 WEEKS ALTOGETHER.

AND SHE HAD A FULL-TIME SECRETARY JOB

AND AN I.Q. OF 120.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT FITS. IS THAT IT?

YES, I DO.

WELL--

I WANT TO SAY--

MOST OF THE TIME I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW I'D HAD ONEEXCEPT I WAKE UP WITH DIFFERENT CLOTHES ON,

FEELING LIKE I'D BEEN RUN OVER.

SOMETIMES I FEEL MY HEAD START TO TURN AROUND

OR I HEAR MYSELF SCREAM.

SOMETIMES THERE IS

THIS DIZZY STUPID FEELING A LITTLE BEFORE IT,

BUT IF THE TV'S ON, IT'S EASY TO MISS.

I CAN TELL WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE ONE.

YOUR EYES GET THIS BIG.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE-- THE SEIZURES?

DIFFERENT EACH TIME, JESS.

OK, PICK ONE, THEN,

A GOOD ONE.

I THINK I WANT TO KNOW NOW.

THERE'S NOT MUCH TO TELL.

YOU JUST...

CRUMPLE IN A HEAP,

LIKE A PUPPET SOMEBODY'S CUT THE STRINGS ALL AT ONCE

OR LIKE THE FIRING SQUAD IN SOME MEXICAN MOVIE--

YOU JUST SLIDE DOWN THE WALL, YOU KNOW?

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?

HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?

MY HEAD TURNS AROUND, AND I FALL DOWN,

AND THEN WHAT?

WELL, YOUR CHEST SQUEEZES IN AND OUT,

AND YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE GAGGING,

SUCKING AIR IN AND OUT LIKE YOU CAN'T BREATHE.

DO IT FOR ME. MAKE THE SOUND FOR ME.

I WILL NOT.

IT'S AWFUL SOUNDING.

YUP, IT FELT LIKE IT MIGHT BE. WHAT'S NEXT?

YOUR MOUTH BITES DOWN.

I HAVE TO GET YOUR TONGUE OUT OF THE WAY FAST

SO YOU DON'T BITE YOURSELF.

OR YOU. I BITE YOU, TOO, DON'T I?

YOU GOT ME ONCE REAL GOOD. I HAD TO GET A TETANUS.

BUT I KNOW WHAT TO WATCH FOR NOW.

THEN YOU TURN BLUE,

AND THE JERKS START UP LIKE I'M POKING YOU WITH A CATTLE PROD

OR YOU STICKING YOUR FINGER IN A LIGHT SOCKET

AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

FOAMING LIKE A MAD DOG THE WHOLE TIME.

IT'S BUBBLING, JESS,

NOT FOAM, LIKE THE WASHER OVERFLOWED,

FOR GOD'S SAKE.

IT'S BUBBLING, LIKE A BABY SPITTING UP.

I GO GET A WET WASHCLOTH, THAT'S ALL.

AND THEN THE JERKS SLOW DOWN.

AND YOU WET YOURSELF, AND IT'S OVER.

2 MINUTES--TOPS.

HOW DO I GET TO THE BED?

HOW DO YOU THINK?

I'M TOO HEAVY FOR YOU NOW. HOW DO YOU DO IT?

I CALL DAWSON.

BUT I GET YOU CLEANED UP BEFORE HE GETS HERE.

AND I MAKE HIM LEAVE BEFORE YOU WAKE UP.

YOU COULD JUST LEAVE ME ON THE FLOOR.

I WANT YOU TO WAKE UP SOMEPLACE NICE, OK?

BUT, JESSIE-- AND THIS IS THE REASON I EVEN BROUGHT THIS UP--

YOU HAVEN'T HAD A SEIZURE FOR A SOLID YEAR,

A WHOLE YEAR. DO YOU REALIZE THAT?

YEAH. THE PHENOBARB IS ABOUT RIGHT NOW, I GUESS.

YOU BET IT IS. YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE ANOTHER FIT EVER.

YOU MIGHT BE THROUGH WITH IT FOR ALL TIME.

COULD BE.

YOU ARE. I KNOW YOU ARE.

I SURE AM FEELING GOOD. I REALLY AM.

THE DOUBLE VISION'S GONE AND MY GUMS AREN'T SWELLING.

NO RASHES OR ANYTHING.

I'M FEELING AS GOOD AS I'VE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE.

I'M EVEN FEELING LIKE WORRYING OR GETTING MAD

AND I'M NOT AFRAID IT'LL START A FIT IF I DO IT.

I JUST GO AHEAD.

OF COURSE YOU DO. YOU CAN EVEN SCREAM AT ME IF YOU WANT TO.YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE JUST VISITING HERE, JESSIE.

THIS IS YOUR HOUSE, TOO.

THE BEST PART IS MY MEMORY'S BACK.

YOUR MEMORY'S ALWAYS BEEN GOOD.

YOU'RE ALWAYS REMINDING ME THAT--

WELL, I MAKE LISTS FOR EVERYTHING.

NOW I REMEMBER WHAT THINGS MEAN ON MY LIST.

I'D SEE "DISHTOWELS,"

AND I USED TO WONDER WHETHER

I WAS SUPPOSED TO WASH THEM, BUY THEM, OR LOOK FOR THEM

BECAUSE I COULDN'T REMEMBER

WHERE I PUT THEM AFTER I WASHED THEM.

BUT NOW I KNOW IT MEANS "WRAP THEM UP.

THEY'RE A PRESENT FOR LORETTA'S BIRTHDAY."

YOU USED TO GO LOOKING FOR YOUR LISTS, TOO. I'VE NOTICED THAT.

YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THEY ARE NOW.

LORETTA'S BIRTHDAY ISN'T COMING UP, IS IT?

I MADE A LIST OF ALL THE BIRTHDAYS FOR YOU.

I EVEN PUT YOURS ON IT

SO YOU CAN CALL LORETTA AND REMIND HER.

LET'S TAKE LORETTA TO HOWARD JOHNSON'S

AND HAVE THOSE FRIED CLAMS.

I KNOW YOU LOVE THAT CLAM ROLL.

I WON'T BE HERE, MAMA.

WHAT HAVE WE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT?

YOU'LL BE HERE. YOU'RE WELL, JESSIE.

YOU'RE STARTING ALL OVER. YOU SAID IT YOURSELF.

YOU'RE REMEMBERING THINGS.

I WON'T BE HERE. IF I'D EVER HAD A YEAR LIKE THIS

TO THINK STRAIGHT AND ALL BEFORE NOW,

I'D BE GONE ALREADY.

NO, JESSIE.

YES, MAMA. ONCE I STARTED REMEMBERING,

I COULD SEE WHAT IT ALL ADDED UP TO.

THE FITS ARE OVER.

IT'S NOT THE FITS, MAMA.

THEN IT'S ME FOR GIVING THEM TO YOU. BUT I DIDN'T DO IT.

IT'S NOT THE FITS.

YOU SAID IT YOURSELF.

THE MEDICINE TAKES CARE OF THE FITS.

YOUR DADDY GAVE YOU THOSE FITS, JESSIE.

IT'S NOT MY FAULT.

SO WHAT IF HE HAD LITTLE FITS?

IT'S NOT INHERITED. I FELL OFF THE HORSE. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

THE HORSE WASN'T THE FIRST TIME, JESSIE.

YOU HAD A FIT WHEN YOU WERE 5 YEARS OLD.

I DID NOT.

YOU DID. YOU WERE EATING AN ICE CREAM, AND DOWN YOU WENT.

HE GAVE IT TO YOU.

IT'S HIS FAULT, NOT MINE.

WELL, YOU TOOK YOUR TIME TELLING ME.

HOW DO YOU TELL THAT TO A 5 YEAR OLD?

WHAT DID THE DOCTOR SAY?

HE SAID KIDS GET THEM ALL THE TIME.

HE SAYS THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO DO

EXCEPT WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME I HAD FITS ALL THE TIME AS A KID,

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I HAD A FIT WHEN CECIL WAS LOOKING

THAT ANYBODY BOTHERED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH ME?

IT WASN'T ALL THE TIME, JESSIE.

AND THEY CHANGED ONCE YOU STARTED TO SCHOOL--

MORE LIKE YOUR DADDY'S.

THAT WAS SOME SWELL TIME,

SITTING HERE WITH THE TWO OF YOU

TURNING OFF AND ON LIKE LIGHT BULBS SOME NIGHTS.

HOW MANY FITS DID I HAVE?

YOU NEVER HURT YOURSELF. I CAUGHT YOU EVERY TIME.

BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY.

IT WAS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS.

YOU WERE ASHAMED.

I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW,

LEAST OF ALL YOU.

LEAST OF ALL ME?

OH, RIGHT.

THAT WAS MINE TO KNOW, MAMA, NOT YOURS.

DID DADDY KNOW?

NO. HE THOUGHT YOU WERE--

YOU FELL DOWN A LOT. THAT'S WHAT HE THOUGHT.

YOU WERE CARELESS. OR MAYBE HE THOUGHT I BEAT YOU.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE THOUGHT.

HE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TELL HIM.

IF I TOLD HIM ABOUT YOU,

I'D HAVE TO TELL HIM ABOUT HIM.

I DON'T LIKE THIS. I DON'T LIKE THIS ONE BIT.

DIDN'T THINK YOU'D LIKE IT.

THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T TELL YOU.

IF I'D KNOWN I WAS AN EPILEPTIC,

I WOULDN'T HAVE RIDDEN ANY HORSES.

MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A FREAK. IS THAT WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE?

JUST GET THE MANICURE TRAY AND SIT DOWN.

I DON'T WANT A MANICURE!

NO, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU DO.

MAYBE I DID DROP YOU. YOU DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T.

MAYBE I FED YOU THE WRONG THING.

MAYBE YOU HAD A FEVER SOMETIME,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT SOON ENOUGH.

MAYBE IT'S A PUNISHMENT.

FOR WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW. BECAUSE OF HOW I FELT ABOUT YOUR FATHER,

BECAUSE I DIDN'T EAT RIGHT WHEN I WAS CARRYING YOU.

IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING I DID.

IT DOES NOT!

IT'S JUST A SICKNESS, NOT A CURSE.

EPILEPSY DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

IT JUST IS.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FITS HERE, JESSIE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS KILLING YOURSELF.

IT HAS TO BE ME THAT'S THE MATTER HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID, BUT I DID IT, I KNOW.

THIS IS ALL MY FAULT, JESSIE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT NOW.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

EVERYTHING YOU DO HAS TO DO WITH ME, JESSIE.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING-- WASH YOUR FACE OR CUT YOUR FINGER--

WITHOUT DOING IT TO ME.

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU MIGHT AS WELL KILL ME AS YOU, JESSIE.

IT'S THE SAME THING.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH ME, JESSIE.

THEN WHAT IF IT DOES?

WHAT IF IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOU?

WHAT IF YOU'RE ALL I HAVE AND YOU'RE NOT ENOUGH?

WHAT IF I COULD TAKE ALL THE REST OF IT

IF ONLY I DIDN'T HAVE YOU HERE?

WHAT IF THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET AWAY FROM YOU FOR GOOD

IS TO KILL MYSELF?

WHAT IF IT IS? I CAN STILL DO IT.

DON'T LEAVE ME, JESSIE.

NO!

I HAVE A BOX OF THINGS

I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE.

I'M JUST GOING TO GO GET IT FOR YOU.

JUST...JUST REST A MINUTE.

JESSIE, HOW CAN I LIVE HERE WITHOUT YOU?

I NEED YOU.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TELL ME TO STAND UP STRAIGHT,

SAY HOW NICE I LOOK IN MY PINK DRESS

AND DRINK MY MILK.

AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO AROUND AND LOCK UP

SO I KNOW WE'RE SAFE FOR THE NIGHT.

AND WHEN I WAKE UP,

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT THERE MAKING THE COFFEE.

AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP ME DIE WHEN THE TIME COMES.

I CAN'T DO THAT BY MYSELF, JESSIE.

I'M NOT LIKE YOU.

I HATE THE QUIET,

AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO, JESSIE.

HOW CAN I GET UP EVERY MORNING,

KNOWING YOU HAD TO KILL YOURSELF TO MAKE IT STOP HURTING

AND I WAS HERE ALL THE TIME,

AND I NEVER EVEN SAW IT.

AND THEN YOU GAVE ME THIS CHANCE TO CONVINCE YOU TO STAY ALIVE,

AND I COULDN'T DO IT.

HOW CAN I LIVE WITH MYSELF AFTER THIS, JESSIE?

I ONLY TOLD YOU SO I COULD EXPLAIN IT,

SO YOU WOULDN'T BLAME YOURSELF.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING YOU COULD SAY

TO CHANGE MY MIND.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SAVE ME.

I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW.

STAY WITH ME A FEW MORE YEARS.

I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY MORE TO GO, JESSIE.

AND AS SOON AS I'M DEAD, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

MAYBE WITH ME GONE,

YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE QUIET YOU WANT RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE.

AND RICKY WILL BE MARRIED BY THEN.

AND HE'LL BRING YOUR GRANDBABIES OVER,

AND YOU CAN SNEAK THEM A PIECE OF CANDY

WHEN THEIR DADDY'S NOT LOOKING

AND THEN BE REAL GLAD WHEN THEY'VE GONE HOME

AND LEFT YOU TO YOUR QUIET AGAIN.

DON'T YOU SEE, MAMA?

EVERYTHING I DO WINDS UP LIKE THIS.

HOW COULD I THINK YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND?

HOW COULD I THINK YOU WOULD WANT A MANICURE?

WE COULD HOLD HANDS FOR AN HOUR,

AND THEN I COULD GO SHOOT MYSELF?

I'M SORRY ABOUT TONIGHT, MAMA,

BUT IT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M DOING IT.

IF YOU'VE GOT THE GUTS TO KILL YOURSELF, JESSIE,

YOU'VE GOT THE GUTS TO STAY ALIVE.

I KNOW THAT,

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHERE I'D RATHER BE.

LOOK, MAYBE I CAN'T THINK OF WHAT YOU SHOULD DO,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP.

YOUFIND IT. YOUTHINK OF IT. YOU CAN KEEP TRYING.

YOU CAN GET BRAVE AND TRY SOME MORE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP.

I'M NOT GIVING UP!

THISIS THE OTHER THING I'M TRYING.

AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT WORK,

BUT MIGHT WORK IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORE.

I NEED SOMETHING THATWILL WORK.

THIS WILL WORK. THAT'S WHY I PICKED IT.

BUT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN,

SOMETHING THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.

WHO KNOWS WHAT IT MIGHT BE?

BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH WAITING FOR.

TRY IT FOR 2 MORE WEEKS.

WE COULD HAVE MORE TALKS LIKE--

NO, MAMA.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE MORE TALKS LIKE TONIGHT

BECAUSE IT'S THIS NEXT PART

THAT'S MADE THIS LAST PART SO GOOD, MAMA.

NO, MAMA!

THIS IS HOW I HAVE MY SAY.

THIS IS HOW I SAY WHAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ALL,

AND I SAY NO...

TO DAWSON AND LORETTA

AND THE NEWS ON TV

AND EPILEPSY.

AND RICKY AND CECIL

AND YOU

AND ME

AND HOPE.

I SAY NO!

JUST LET ME GO EASY, MAMA.

HOW CAN I LET YOU GO?

YOU CAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO.

IT'S WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE.

BUT YOU ARE MY CHILD.

I'M WHAT BECAME OF YOUR CHILD.

I FOUND AN OLD BABY PICTURE OF ME.

AND IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE, NOT ME.

IT WAS SOMEBODY PINK AND FAT...

WHO NEVER HEARD OF SICK OR LONELY,

SOMEBODY WHO CRIED AND GOT FED

AND REACHED UP AND GOT HELD...

SLEPT WHENEVER SHE WANTED TO

JUST BY CLOSING HER EYES,

SOMEBODY WHO MAINLY JUST LAID THERE,

LAUGHED AT THE COLORS

WAVING OVER AROUND HER HEAD

AND CHEWED ON A POLKA-DOT WHALE

AND WOKE UP KNOWING SOME NEW TRICK

NEARLY EVERY DAY...

ROLLED OVER AND DROOLED ON THE SHEET.

FELT YOUR HAND PULL THE QUILT BACK UP OVER ME.

THAT'S WHO I STARTED OUT...

AND THIS IS WHO'S LEFT.

SO, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT--

SOMEBODY I LOST, ALL RIGHT.

MY OWN SELF...

WHO I NEVER WAS

OR WHO I TRIED TO BE

AND NEVER GOT THERE...

SOMEBODY I WAITED FOR...

WHO NEVER CAME...

AND NEVER WILL.

SO, SEE, IT DOESN'T MATTER MUCH

WHAT ELSE GOES ON IN THE WORLD

OR IN THIS HOUSE, EVEN.

I'M WHAT WAS WORTH WAITING FOR.

I DIDN'T MAKE IT.

ME...

WHO MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO ME.

I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW UP...

SO THERE'S NO REASON TO STAY,

EXCEPT TO KEEP YOU COMPANY,

AND THAT'S NOT REASON ENOUGH

BECAUSE I'M NOT VERY GOOD COMPANY,

AM I?

NO.

AND NEITHER AM I.

I HAD THIS STRANGE LITTLE THOUGHT.

WELL, MAYBE IT WASN'T SO STRANGE.

ANYWAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS,

AFTER I DECIDED TO DO THIS,

I WOULD WONDER SOMETIMES

WHAT MIGHT KEEP ME...

WHAT MIGHT BE WORTH STAYING FOR.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS?

IT WAS IF MAYBE

THERE WAS SOMETHING I REALLY LIKED,

LIKE MAYBE IF I

REALLY LIKED... RICE PUDDING

OR CORN FLAKES FOR BREAKFAST

OR SOMETHING.

THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH.

RICE PUDDING IS GOOD.

NOT TO ME.

AND YOU'RE NOT AFRAID?

OF WHAT?

I'M AFRAID OF IT FOR ME, I MEAN,

WHEN MY TIME COMES.

I KNOW IT'S COMING, BUT--

OH, YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME LEFT.

I FORGET WHAT FOR RIGHT NOW.

WHATEVER HAPPENS.

I DON'T KNOW.

FOR YOUR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY'RE BORN

OR DAWSON LOSING HIS HAIR.

OH, JESSIE,

I CAN'T JUST SIT HERE AND SAY,

"OK, GO AHEAD. KILL YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO."

SURE, YOU CAN.

YOU JUST DID.

SAY IT AGAIN.

HOW DARE YOU.

JESSIE, HOW DARE YOU.

YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST LEAVE WHENEVER YOU WANT

LIKE YOU'RE WATCHING TELEVISION HERE?

NO, YOU CAN'T, JESSIE.

YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A FOOL FOR BEING ALIVE, CHILD,

AND YOU ARE SO WRONG. I LIKE IT HERE,

AND I WILL STAY HERE UNTIL THEY MAKE ME GO,

UNTIL THEY DRAG ME SCREAMING, AND I MEAN SCREECHING,

INTO MY GRAVE.

AND YOU'RE REAL SMART TO GET AWAY BEFORE THEN,

BECAUSE, I MEAN, HONEY,

YOU'VE NEVER HEARD NOISE LIKE THAT IN YOUR LIFE!

WHO AM I TALKING TO?

YOU'RE GONE ALREADY, AREN'T YOU?

I'M LOOKING RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

I CAN'T STOP YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY GONE.

I GUESS YOU THINK THEY'LL ALL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOU NOW.

OH, YEAH, EVER SINCE CHRISTMAS,

YOU'VE BEEN LAUGHING TO YOURSELF

AND THINKING, "BOY, ARE THEY ALL IN FOR A SURPRISE."

NOBODY'S GOING TO BE A BIT SURPRISED, SWEETHEART!

THIS IS JUST LIKE YOU!

DO IT THE HARD WAY. THAT'S MY GIRL, ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL SORRY FOR?

ME. HOW ABOUT THAT?

NOT YOU, ME.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASHAMED OF YOU.

YES, ASHAMED.

IF SOMEBODY ASKS DAWSON ABOUT IT,

HE'LL CHANGE THE SUBJECT AS FAST AS HE CAN.

HE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH HE HAS TO PAY TO PARK HIS CAR THESE DAYS.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

IT'S THE TRUTH!

I SHOULD HAVE JUST LEFT YOU A NOTE!

YES!

NO.

NO.

I MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT

OF ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE SAID.

(SOBBING SOFTLY)

IT'S OK, MAMA.

(WATER RUNNING)

I REMEMBER YOU LIKED THAT PREACHER

WHO DID DADDY'S,

SO IF YOU WANT TO ASK HIM TO DO THE SERVICE,

IT'S OK WITH ME.

WHAT?

PICK SOME SONGS YOU LIKE,

OR LET AGNES PICK.

SHE'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHICH ONES.

OH, AND I HAD THAT DRESS CLEANED

YOU WORE TO DADDY'S.

YOU LOOKED REAL GOOD IN THAT.

I DON'T REMEMBER, HON.

AND IT WON'T BE SO BAD

ONCE YOUR FRIENDS START COMING TO THE FUNERAL HOME.

YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE PEOPLE YOU HADN'T SEEN FOR YEARS.

BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY

TO GET OVER THAT NERVOUS PART WHEN THEY FIRST COME IN.

TAKE THEM UP TO SEE THEIR FLOWERS.

THEY'D LIKE THAT.

AND WHEN THEY SAY, "I'M SO SORRY, THELMA."

JUST SAY, "I APPRECIATE YOU COMING, CONNIE."

ASK THEM HOW THEIR GARDEN WAS LAST SUMMER

OR HOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING.

I DON'T THINK I SHOULD ASK ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN.

I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE ON.

THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

AND I'LL HAVE SOME CROCHET WORK WITH ME.

GOOD.

AND MAYBE IF CONNIE RICHARDS DOES COME,

I CAN GET HER TO TELL ME WHERE SHE GETS THAT IRISH YARN,

AS SHE CALLS IT.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T COME FROM IRELAND.

I THINK IT JUST COMES WITH A GREEN WRAPPER.

AND AGNES WILL BE THERE,

SO YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE TO TALK AT ALL.

NOW, BE SURE

TO INVITE ENOUGH PEOPLE HOME AFTERWARD

SO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THEM ALL

AND HAVE SOME LEFT FOR YOU.

BUT DON'T LET ANYBODY TAKE ANYTHING HOME,

ESPECIALLY LORETTA.

LORETTA WILL GET ALL THE FOOD SET UP, HONEY.

IT'S ONLY FAIR WE

LET HER HAVE SOME MACARONI OR SOMETHING.

NO, MAMA.

YOU HAVE TO BE MORE SELFISH FROM NOW ON.

NOW, SOMEBODY'S BOUND

TO ASK YOU WHY I DID IT.

AND YOU JUST SAY YOU DON'T KNOW,

THAT YOU LOVE ME

AND YOU KNOW I LOVED YOU

AND WE JUST SAT AROUND TONIGHT

LIKE EVERY OTHER NIGHT OF OUR LIVES,

AND I CAME OVER AND KISSED YOU,

SAID, "'NIGHT, MOTHER."

THEN YOU HEARD ME CLOSE MY BEDROOM DOOR,

AND THE NEXT THING YOU HEARD WAS THE SHOT.

WHATEVER REASONS I HAD,

YOU GUESS I JUST TOOK THEM WITH ME.

IT WAS SOMETHING PERSONAL.

GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD, MAMA.

THAT'S WHAT I'LL SAY, THEN.

PERSONAL, YEAH.

IS THAT WHAT I TELL DAWSON AND LORETTA, TOO,

WE SAT AROUND,

YOU KISSED ME,

"'NIGHT, MOTHER"?

THEY'LL WANT TO KNOW MORE.

THEY WON'T BELIEVE IT.

WELL, THEN TELL THEM WHAT WE DID.

I FILLED UP THE CANDY JARS.

I CLEANED OUT THE REFRIGERATOR.

WE MADE SOME HOT CHOCOLATE

AND PUT THE COVER BACK ON THE SOFA.

YOU HAD NO IDEA...

ALL RIGHT?

I REALLY THINK IT'S BETTER THAT WAY.

IF THEY KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT,

THEY REALLY WON'T UNDERSTAND.

I GUESS NOT.

IT'S PRIVATE.

TONIGHT'S PRIVATE.

IT'S YOURS AND MINE.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO HAVE ANY OF IT.

OK, THEN.

NOW, WHEN YOU HEAR THE SHOT,

I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME IN.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET IN BY YOURSELF.

BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TRYING.

CALL DAWSON...

THEN CALL THE POLICE...

AND THEN CALL AGNES.

THEN YOU'LL NEED SOMETHING TO DO

UNTIL SOMEBODY GETS HERE,

SO WASH THE HOT CHOCOLATE PAN.

YOU WASH THAT PAN

UNTIL YOU HEAR THE DOORBELL RING,

AND I DON'T CARE IF IT'S AN HOUR,

YOU KEEP WASHING THAT PAN.

I'LL MAKE MY CALLS, AND THEN I'LL JUST SIT.

I WON'T NEED ANYTHING TO DO.

WHAT WILL THE POLICE SAY?

THEY'LL DO THAT GUNPOWDER TEST,

AND THEY'LL ASK YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

AND BY THAT TIME, THE AMBULANCE WILL BE HERE,

AND THEY'LL COME IN AND GET ME.

YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.

MAYBE AGNES COULD COME STAY WITH YOU FOR A FEW DAYS.

I'D RATHER BE BY MYSELF, I THINK.

YOU WANT ME TO GIVE PEOPLE THOSE THINGS?

I WANT LORETTA

TO HAVE MY LITTLE CALCULATOR.

DAWSON BOUGHT IT FOR HIMSELF, YOU KNOW,

AND THEN HE SAW ONE HE LIKED BETTER,

BUT HE COULDN'T BRING BOTH OF THEM HOME

WITH LORETTA COUNTING EVERY PENNY THE WAY SHE DOES,

SO HE GAVE THE FIRST ONE TO ME.

IT WOULD BE FUNNY

FOR HER TO HAVE IT NOW, DON'T YOU THINK?

AND ALL MY HOUSE SLIPPERS

ARE IN A SACK FOR HER IN MY CLOSET.

TELL HER I KNOW THEY'LL FIT,

AND I'VE NEVER WORN ANY OF THEM, AND...

MAKE SURE DAWSON HEARS YOU TELL HER THAT.

I'M GLAD HE LOVES LORETTA SO MUCH,

BUT I WISH HE DIDN'T THINK EVERYBODY HAD HER SIZE FEET.

OK.

NOW, THIS LETTER'S FOR DAWSON,

BUT IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT YOU,

SO YOU CAN READ IT IF YOU WANT TO.

THERE'S A LIST OF PRESENTS FOR YOU

FOR AT LEAST 20 MORE CHRISTMASES AND BIRTHDAYS.

IF YOU WANT ANYTHING SPECIAL, YOU BETTER ADD IT TO THIS LIST

BEFORE YOU GIVE IT TO DAWSON,

OR IF YOU WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE,

JUST DON'T READ THAT PAGE.

THIS CHRISTMAS YOU'RE GETTING

MOSTLY STUFF FOR THE HOUSE AND NEEDLEWORK.

BUT NEXT CHRISTMAS,

YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO COST HIM NEXT CHRISTMAS.

I THINK YOU'LL LIKE IT A LOT.

YOU'D NEVER THINK OF IT.

YOU THINK HE'LL GO FOR IT?

WELL, I THINK HE'LL FEEL LIKE A REAL JERK

IF HE DOESN'T,

ME TELLING HIM TO LIKE THIS AND ALL.

THIS NUMBER'S WHERE YOU CALL CECIL.

I CALLED IT LAST WEEK, AND HE ANSWERED,

SO I KNOW HE STILL LIVES THERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL HIM?

TELL HIM WE TALKED ABOUT HIM...

AND I ONLY HAD GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT HIM.

BUT, MAINLY, TELL HIM TO FIND RICKY.

TELL HIM WHAT I DID,

AND TELL RICKY YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR HIM

OUT HERE FROM ME AND TO COME GET IT.

WHAT IS IT?

MY WATCH.

HE'LL SELL IT.

THAT'S THE IDEA.

I APPRECIATE HIM NOT STEALING IT ALREADY.

I'D LIKE TO BUY HIM A GOOD MEAL.

HE'LL BUY DOPE WITH IT.

THEN I HOPE HE GETS SOME GOOD DOPE WITH IT, MAMA.

AND THE REST OF THIS...

IS FOR YOU.

WHEN DID YOU DO ALL THIS?

DURING MY NAPS, I GUESS.

I GUESS.

I TRIED TO BE QUIET ABOUT IT.

(RATTLE)

THOSE ARE JUST LITTLE PRESENTS

FOR WHENEVER YOU NEED ONE.

THEY'RE NOT BOUGHT PRESENTS OR ANYTHING.

THEY'RE JUST THINGS I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO LOOK AT--

THINGS YOU THINK YOU'VE LOST,

THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD, EVEN. YOU'LL SEE.

I'M NOT SURE I WANT THEM.

THEY'LL MAKE ME THINK OF YOU.

NO, THEY WON'T.

THEY'RE... THEY'RE JUST THINGS,

LIKE A FREE TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE

I FOUND HANGING ON THE DOOR ONE DAY.

OH.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

WELL, MAYBE THERE'S ONE NICE PRESENT

IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

THERE'S GRANNY'S RING SHE GAVE ME.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO HAVE IT,

BUT I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D WEAR IT

IF I GAVE IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

NO...

PROBABLY NOT.

I'M READY FOR MY MANICURE, I GUESS.

YOU WANT ME TO WASH MY HANDS AGAIN?

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO, MAMA.

NO, JESSIE.

YOU'VE GOT ALL NIGHT.

NO, MAMA.

IT'S NOT EVEN 8:00.

LET ME GO, MAMA.

I CAN'T.

YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

YOU DIDN'T SAY IT WOULD BE SO SOON, JESSIE.

I'M SCARED.

I LOVE YOU.

LET GO OF ME, MAMA.

I'VE SAID EVERYTHING I HAVE TO SAY.

YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO DO MY NAILS.

I CAN'T. IT'LL BE TOO LATE.

IT WON'T BE TOO LATE.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO

WAKE DAWSON AND LORETTA WHEN YOU CALL.

I WANT THEM TO STILL BE UP AND DRESSED

SO THEY CAN GET RIGHT OVER.

THEY WAKE UP FAST, JESSIE, IF THEY HAVE TO.

THEY DON'T MATTER HERE, JESSIE.

YOU DO. I DO.

WE'RE NOT THROUGH YET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY PRESCRIPTIONS ARE.

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME

WHAT TO TELL DR. DAVIS WHEN HE CALLS

OR HOW MUCH YOU WANT ME TO TELL RICKY

OR WHO I CALL TO MOW THE LAWN.

DON'T TRY TO STOP ME, MAMA.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

I CAN TO.

I'LL STAND IN THIS HALLWAY, AND YOU CAN'T GET PAST ME.NO, JESSIE!

JESSIE, I'LL KNOCK YOU OUT COLD

BEFORE I LET YOU DO...

JESSIE!

'NIGHT, MOTHER.

JESSIE!

JESSIE.

JESSIE, YOU LET ME IN THERE.

DON'T YOU DO THIS, JESSIE.

JESSIE, I'M NOT GOING TO STOP SCREAMING UNTIL YOU OPEN THIS DOOR.

JESSIE!

JESSIE!

JESSIE!

WHAT IF I DON'T DO ANY OF THE THINGS

YOU TOLD ME TO DO?

I'LL TELL CECIL WHAT A MISERABLE MAN HE WAS

TO MAKE YOU FEEL THE WAY HE DID,

AND I'LL GIVE RICKY'S WATCH TO DAWSON

IF I FEEL LIKE IT,

AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN MAKE SURE I DO WHAT YOU WANT

IS YOU COME OUT HERE AND YOU MAKE ME, JESSIE.

JESSIE, STOP THIS!

I DIDN'T KNOW.

I WAS HERE WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

HOW CAN I KNOW YOU WERE SO ALONE?

JESSIE, PLEASE!

(GUNSHOT)

JESSIE.

JESSIE, CHILD...

(SOBBING)

HELLO.

LORETTA, LET ME TALK TO DAWSON, HONEY.

THELMA, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

HOLD ON A MINUTE, THELMA.

I'LL HAVE TO FIND HIM.