Original subtitles

(mice squeaking)

(animal screeching)

(keyboard clicking)

(squealing and screeching continue)

(squealing and screeching fade)

(tires screech)

- Are you all right? - Yeah, yeah.

What was that?

- It was nothing... A deer. - Did we hit it?

(crickets chirping)

- You okay? - Yeah, yeah, I was dreaming.

- Are we here? - Welcome to the country.

(engine revs)

(chalk scraping)

(keypad beeping)

(door opens)

Ta-da!

Wow!

Oh...

We could start a whole brood in a place like this.

- One at a time, doc. - Mmm.

(woman chuckles)

(rooster crows, birds chirping)

- Where do you want this one? - Uh, that's for the lab.

Hey...

Here.

Wow! You fixed it?

Yeah, it was just the shutter spring.

God, I'd given up on this old thing.

Thanks, doc.

(camera clicks)

Hey, when did you get a Polaroid?

Hey, that's lab property, Lil.

Oh-ho...

Oh, my God.

- Does the timer work? - I don't know.

(camera beeping)

Okay, we've got three seconds to smile, quick!

(shutter clicks)

(Man on radio): Today with seasonal temperatures we should

reach our normal high of 82 by this afternoon.

Clear skies tonight, low near 70,

increasing cloudiness tomorrow...

All right, 10, 11, 11, what am I gonna get, 12, 12,

what am I gonna get, 12, what am I gonna get, 12,

Sold out, 11 dollars.

Number 717.

(music box playing)

Okay, and here we have a box of shoes...

I've got six, you want to go seven.

Seven dollars, what am I gonna get?

Seven!

Sold out, six dollar bills to the gentleman over there

in the red shirt.

All right, and now we got a box of nails and an old hammer...

(auctioneer continues)

All right, and we have box 821,

and what are we gonna get for, this one, how much?

10 dollar bill. Buying it all...

What do you get for not much? Another 821 box,

and a nice old set of forceps in there, mole traps,

some steel traps down in there.

Hey! You got some syringes.

And here's some other syringes and stuff: Veterinary tools.

And there's a real goody there.

All right, what am I gonna get, box and contents?

Five dollar, you want to go six dollar,

You want to go seven dollar, you want to go seven.

You want to bet eight, eight, you want to bet eight?

All right, now eight dollar...

(auctioneer continues)

(whispering indistinctly)

15 now, I want to get 17 and a half...

(auctioneer continues)

Sold, 20 dollar bill back there, number 54.

You snooze, you lose, lady. Gotta get in there.

(auctioneer continues in background)

- Hey, you owe me 20 bucks. - Oh, so you're the one.

You gotta forgive ol' Walter.

When a stranger bids high he gets kind of nervous.

You could be a dealer.

He doesn't like an atmosphere of greed at his auctions.

I promise you, I'm not a dealer.

Well, exactly who are you, then?

I'm Lillian Gaines, soon-to-be famous painter,

and this is my husband Geoffrey, the brilliant scientist.

Alex Vine.

Well, I owe you $20, Alex Vine.

No, that's okay, I'll write it off.

I'll write it off, thanks.

K H?

Geoff Gaines.

(birds chirping)

lt's not that bad, there's some great stuff here!

Maybe I should become a dealer.

Hey, remember we're on a tight budget this summer.

- Oh, look, isn't this great? - Just what we need.

- Hey, honey, check this out. - Mm-hmm?

Fire this up and have some breakfast.

Oh, here's something for you, Einstein, catch!

(wind chimes jingling)

(birds chirping)

(insects buzzing)

(engine rumbling)

(gasps)

(camera clicking)

Oh! Oh, God... I'm sorry.

- Alex Vine, right? - Lillian Gaines.

Nice to see you again.

Getting to know some of the locals?

Yeah, I've never seen a dead cow before.

Yeah, that's one of Chuck Boyd's cows.

Your neighbor.

His daughter, Frances, always chooses favorites.

She puts these little bells around their neck so they won't get lost.

Oh, here, you should give this back to her.

No, you can keep it.

Seems sort of eerie lying like that all alone out here.

Yeah, you see, the pesticides Boyd's been using on his crops

Have gotten into the ground water under here.

It's raised the nitrate level in some of this vegetation.

It shouldn't have been out here, right?

She must have slipped out of the pen.

Boyd's got his whole herd fenced in at the farm,

losing money paying for feed.

Is he going out of business?

He's trying to go organic but it takes time for the chemicals

to flush out and besides the problems in this field could

be from the next farm over, Cartwrighfs farm.

Yeah, well, there's always the problem of the neighbors.

No matter where you live.

I had this idea for a painting. I'm going to use these shots.

Do you know where I can get them developed fast?

Philip, my assistant, can get them done at the university pretty fast.

Here, is the roll finished?

Ahh, there are a few left.

Oh, God, please.

(keyboard clicking)

Simon, they can pull the money out of R&D.

Or Bernard's cat studies,

he's been doing sleep experiments for seven years.

I don't think he remembers what he's trying to figure out.

(chuckles)

Look, when I break this we'll get the patent, all right?

Maybe the Nobel.

Well, tell Fex Pharmaceutical that they'll get their Pentagon

contract and they're gonna look

like real philanthropists in the press.

(crickets chirping)

(water running)

I ran into Alex Vine today.

Alex Vine?

Alex Vine, the guy from the auction.

I met him out in the fields today.

He's doing something with the farmers out here.

Right.

You know, I got really inspired today,

just walking around with the camera.

I took some shots of this dead cow.

Yeah? Where?

Right out in the fields, our own backyard.

It was very surreal.

What do you call this piece, Lil?

Um...

Conversation Piece? For when we have people over?

Yeah, you're gonna scare everybody away with this stuff

hanging in your dining room.

I think it's really provocative.

I don't think people around here really want to be provoked.

They seem pretty wary of outsiders.

They seem wary of Carson Road Farm, that's what it is.

Yeah, they probably just stick to themselves, mostly.

Geoffrey...

(record player clicks)

Alex Vine seems very friendly.

Yeah, well, he's not from around here.

(classical music playing)

He's swooping in to do some research.

“The Great American Corn Project" or something.

Anyway, I don't know what kind of time

I'm going be having to entertain.

I know, you've got a schedule to keep.

- Been out to your studio yet? - Nope.

I have to get the key from you.

Well, come on, let's go have a look.

Oh, it's going to be little hard to judge the light.

Come on.

Look, all my stuffs ready to go.

Here.

You know, Mom would love this.

I mean, she'd never let up about grandkids

if we had a place like this. (chuckles)

Yeah, they could stay in the barn. We'd never have to see 'em.

Yeah, we could put Mom out there too.

Look, if I have any luck in the lab this summer,

we will have a place like this sometime.

And my mother can read about what you do in Time magazine.

Your mother doesn't read Time magazine.

- Well, okay, People magazine. - How about The Enquirer?

- Don't be mean! - (laughs)

Then maybe you can tell your mother what I really do.

Oh, no, it's easier to let her think what

she wants to think.

(song continues in background)

(light switch clicking)

Oh, God...

No lights.

(whispers) SPOOKY...

(chuckles)

Whoa, whoa!

(laughing)

Wait, wait, wait...

(Geoffrey grunts) (jug clatters)

(Man): Carson Road Farm?

So your husband's in the military, then?

(Lil): Oh, no. I mean...

He's a researcher and we...

Well, he's just using their facility.

(Man): Oh, there's no need to explain.

I mean, what your husband does exactly is not important.

It's just important to have one.

How's that for an old-fashioned idea?

Well... (chuckles nervously)

Well, listen, your concern about infertility,

ls that something that you've discussed with

your doctor in the city?

Yeah, um, we've been trying, my husband and I,

and I've been off the pill for the last eight months,

and I've just read some things...

Mm-hmm. Well, you know, when you stop taking an oral

contraceptive it takes the body several months to re-adjust.

But at your age I wouldn't worry about it.

I understand, I...

I think I'm just a little anxious.

(window clatters shut)

(stapler clicking)

(papers rustling)

(vehicle approaches)

Interesting decor, Mrs. Gaines.

I'm glad you like it.

Those items were very pricey.

- You know what this is for? - Um... elephant junkies?

Get cows pregnant.

How romantic.

I like to find these old medical things for Geoffrey.

He doesn't really get it, but...

I think it puts his profession in perspective.

Your husband's not exactly an M.D., is he?

(insect buzzes)

Well, he's a research doctor. He does research with animal models.

He calls it chemo-electric therapy.

It's going to help with transplants and with amputees.

It's really gonna be a breakthrough.

And you get the house. This is some place.

I know, it reminds me of some old aunt's house.

Not in my family, but in someone's.

A place to go for Thanksgiving.

My parents had a place like this when I was growing up.

We had a summer house and a winter house.

So how many houses do you have now?

Now I live in a hotel.

We can't all have what our parents had.

No, but we can make ourselves miserable trying.

This place belongs to your Uncle Sam now.

Yeah, kind of been figuring that out.

They bought it in the 50's.

Used to conduct war games out in those fields.

Now it's sort of a retreat, I guess.

Some government think tank.

How do you know about this place?

Everyone in town knows about it.

A teenage room? I never had a teenage room.

There were 10 of us in the family.

You didn't have posters up on the wall?

(laughing) No...

- But I loved David Cassidy. - (chuckles)

Hold on a second.

Oh, it's locked.

(knocking)

(sighs)

- Hi, honey. - Hi.

- Hi. - Hi, Alex Vine.

We met Saturday night at the auction.

Yeah, sure.

We ended up carting home a lot of junk thanks to you.

Alex had my pictures developed and brought them by.

Yeah, Lil told me she ran into you out in the fields.

Yeah, that's right.

I've forgotten what exactly it is you work in.

Contamination in the crops and livestock and

in even some of the wildlife in this area.

I'm trying to get the locals off these pesticides.

- And then onto what? - Bugs.

- One of yours? - Nope.

- I work with wasps. - Yeah, me too.

My boss is a W.A.S.P.

Geoff, we were going to go for a drive, can you come?

I'd like to but I can't.

I'm expecting a delivery from out of state.

- Should we wait? - No, we can't wait.

He likes to be alone with his deliveries.

Okay, well, if we can't tear you away.

Bye.

Hey, bring me some Brussels sprouts if you see any.

Sure!

Can I drive?

Let's find out.

(ignition starts)

(Alex): Too early in the season for Brussels sprouts.

She's not gonna make it up this hill.

No, she'll be okay.

You should have seen the guy I bought it off of.

(chuckles)

So are we gonna get an ice cream?

Shit!

Oh, that's the delivery for your husband.

God, they were going really fast.

- Oh, damn, pull in over here! - Where?

Right in over here, in front of this car!

I got it, I got it! It's okay.

Get outta the car!

That was quite an entrance, Alex.

Get outta the fucking car, White.

- Uh, you're blocking my exit. - Get out of the car.

You got something to say to me, I can hear it from right here.

You've got to stop coming around and bothering these people.

Alex, let's keep emotion out of this, shall we?

The Boyds have had it with Kaas Chemical, you can take

your fucking poison somewhere else.

Alex, you may have strong opinions about Kaas Chemical and

that's your right as a citizen of this great country--

You're hiding behind the flag, White.

But we believe that Chuck Boyd has a right to know about

our newest products and the financing packages we offer

so that he can make choices that are best for him and his family.

Some people mean "no" when they say it.

I've been coming around here since long before you showed up, Alex,

and in my business "no" just means,

“Let's look over the terms again.”

Now, Chuck Boyd's always been a smart player, and I respect that.

Why can't you just leave them

alone and give them a chance at a second start here?

Well, Alex, we don't believe

that what you have to offer them is a chance at a second start.

We think it's a dangerous

experiment that's costing him a lot of time and money.

The Boyds don't believe the company line anymore,

they don't want to hear from you.

I think it's you who don't want to hear from us, Alex.

What are those two up to now?

Oh, just let them have it out, Chuck.

Yeah, I do get nervous when you come around, Paul,

'cause you prey on people's weaknesses for a living.

You peddle quick solutions and miracle cures to vulnerable

people and you don't give a flying fuck what happens to the

Boyds after you're gone.

You're damn right I get worried when you come around.

Well, that's a lot of strong talk, Alex.

But Chuck Boyd has been a client of ours for over 25 years, and

we want him to know that we're gonna be there for him long

after you've decided to go back to the university.

Why don't you show him some respect and let him

make up his own mind?

Now, can you move your truck please?

I've got work to do.

I hold you personally responsible for Chuck Boyd's

failing health, you know the shit that you're pushing.

(scoffs) (starts ignition)

Sorry about that, Lillian.

Afternoon, Martha. Afternoon, Chuck.

You're pissing upstream, Alex,

don't make the rest of us stand in it.

Excuse me, Martha.

I told him, Alex, I said I didn't have any more

use for any more Kilvap in my processing rooms.

And all he did was hand me this doggone poncho.

No telling what they're gonna come up with next.

' Hey, Alex! - Well, hey, Franny.

- Who you got there? - Well, ma said I shouldn't

name him 'cause I'll become

attached, but this is definitely Screamer.

- He's very cute. - Chester's the dad.

Hey! I can't sign for this.

We have to check all the boxes.

(Alex): Chuck, you know you've got a holstein out in that

south field of yours that looks like

she's been lying out there a few clays.

(Chuck): Yep, I know.

(Alex): You know we're going to have to torch that field.

Every day we wait we're inviting more problems.

We should just get it over with.

(Lil): He's got cancer?

(Alex): Farmers today die from one of two things:

Cancer or suicide, or they stop farming.

(Lil): What's gonna happen to Frances?

(Alex): She's a smart kid.

She'll probably move to the city somewhere.

The Boyds don't want her to get into farming now.

(Lil): She'll have beautiful memories growing up in this countryside.

(Alex): I hope she'll remember it that way.

(Lil): I think what he's doing is important.

Yeah, well, you gotta remember,

this guy is making his living off of alternative farming.

He's gonna play up the dangers out there to drum up business.

Everybody's got a sales pitch, Lil.

Alex said what he's doing isn't alternative at all.

I mean, it's been around for thousands of years.

Chemical farming's been around

for 30 years and now that's being called traditional.

I mean, you can see what he's up against.

Anyway, the farmer, Boyd,

he was clearly sick from the pesticides.

You can't say that for sure. The guy could be a chain smoker.

Always ask yourself, "Who's doing the study?"

"What results are they looking for?"

Okay, I got it.

Feeling a little testy tonight, Geoff?

(clears throat) I just got started today.

I mean, you're gonna do fine.

So how's your studio?

Great, but I need some electricity out there.

We can do that.

(metal creaks)

(engine rumbling)

(gasps)

(indistinct music and singing on radio)

(engine turns off)

o Hi! kay, great

Gary, you can run it right into the kitchen now.

What's going on?

- We're upgrading the place. - Looks like Eighth Avenue.

- What is this? - It's an intercom,

from the house to the lab.

- What? - Yeah, it might make things easier.

You gotta be kidding, right?

Yeah, I'll still be right out back.

I hope this wasn't your idea, Geoffrey.

It... It... It's an intercom!

(birds chirping)

(rooster crows)

(mouse squeaks)

(classical music)

(stapler clicking)

(mice squeaking)

Hey.

We were beginning to think you weren't coming.

Thanks for thinking of me, Alex.

Come on in and test the water.

- Isn't that your job? - Not today.

- Hi, Lillian! - Hi, Franny!

Watch! Here, Chester.

- Good dos! - Good dos!

Chester! (clicks tongue)

(Chester barks)

(Alex): He's a regular hero, Chester is.

(chuckles) He's a great dog.

No really. He saved Franny's life.

Yeah!

When I was three and three quarters,

I fell in the creek when Andrew,

my brother, wasn't watching me,

and Chester pulled me out by my bathing suit.

(Alex): Franny's got lots of guardian angels around the farm.

(Lil): Are you sad to give up the puppies?

(Franny): Yeah, but I'm gonna make lots of money!

What are you going to do with all the money?

It's a secret.

Lil?

(both chuckling)

(whispering) Well, remember the loudest puppy, Screamer?

I'm gonna save all my money and buy him for myself,

and my mama definitely will have to let me 'cause I'm payin'.

Don't tell anyone.

(insects buzzing)

(birds chirping)

(intercom crackles)

(Alex): Lil?

Lil?

On, shit.

Lil?

Lil?

Yeah?

Hi, hon, uh...

Listen, go ahead and eat without me.

I'm getting kind of bogged down out here, okay?

(crickets chirping)

(cat screeching)

(creaking)

Geoffrey?

Is that you?

(crickets chirping)

(metal clangs, creature yowling)

(wind whistling)

(door creaking)

(wood creaks)

(machinery hissing and beeping)

(flatline tone)

(Lil): What are you thinking about?

- (Geoff): Honest? - Yep, honest.

Endorphins, plasma compatibility,

tissue rejection.

Of course, exactly what I was reminded of.

- What's up, Lil? - I feel like I'm all

alone out here, charting my fertility patterns.

It makes me feel weird. I... I'd like to feel like

I could ask you for a little support.

Well, I'm here.

I want this baby as much as you do.

We have to make some sort of effort with our relationship.

You're in the lab when you're two feet away from me.

You knew this wasn't gonna be a second honeymoon, okay?

- First. - Look, don't give me a hard time, Lil.

We both want the same thing.

If I get a patent, if I get some recognition,

we can really have a family.

We can set up anywhere you want.

I thought you were getting stressed out in the city.

I don't just want to be in the country for the sake of it.

I mean, this isn't the magic bullet that's going to keep us together.

Keep us... Keep us together? What the hell?

- I'm sorry. Forget it. - Jesus, Lil,

you have really changed since we've been out here.

Why? Because I'm not so wrapped up in my work anymore?

No, no, I think it's really great that you're feeling all

sexy out here and everything,

but I'm just not quite there with you.

I mean, my work is more important to me now

than it ever has been.

Maybe that's a problem.

What, I'm supposed to choose between you and my work?

I'm not talking about your work!

I am trying to save lives, Lillian

Oh, come on, what am I supposed to say to that?

Look, you used to think that what I was doing was important.

I do, I do.

Look, it's just the one summer!

I need the time, please.

(phone ringing)

Okay, go on, the phone.

(phone continues ringing)

I am telling you, Simon,

I feel very confident about this.

I'm ready for you to really

push through the primate idea with Fex.

"O, Why wait?

I can handle the whole thing myself, right here,

but I'm going to need to work

with more intricate physiologies.

No, Fex doesn't want to deal with my proposal because they

are doling out the chimps to the high-profile cases.

No, what I'm asking you to do

is tell them what a sweet deal we have going here.

All I need to get started is three chimps.

Three fucking chimps!

(Chester panting)

- Geoffrey, are you there? - Hi. Hello, honey.

Hi, is this "nine-seven-o-stranger"?

- How's it going, Geoff? - It's going.

I'm gonna bike into town. I'll buy some dinner.

Great.

If you can wait until nine or so we could eat together.

Okay. I'll wait.

See ya.

(thunder rumbles, rain falling)

(indistinct conversation)

(Lil laughs)

I lost her to some jock.

The science kids never got the girls.

That is what Geoffrey always tells me.

I guess I took it as a challenge.

How long have you two been together?

We've been married three years and we've probably been

together about two weeks out of that.

(sighs deeply)

I was almost married once.

No.

There was this woman, Rachel.

Funny to say her name again.

We were both doing field studies in Mexico

and she was offered a big job with this

company that sells growth hormones and antibiotics to

Latin American farmers.

Stuff banned in the United States.

We'd both seen these problems down there:

terrible health problems with children

with premature sexual development from the hormones in the milk.

And these kids were reaching puberty when they were five and

- six years old. - Oh, God.

- Their parents were terrified. - Oh.

She said she could improve the system from the inside.

We decided to date other people.

I think she was just afraid of being poor.

(Lil): Geoffrey's got a lot of fear.

He won't come out and admit it but...

he sees everything as this great race.

He's the one with the real biological time clock.

I am so pissed at him.

I know his work's important, but...

Hey, Lillian... (thunder rumbles)

what do you say we go back to the inn?

O Kay-

Look, I know this sounds silly, but this is a small town

and people like to talk.

I understand, maybe this isn't such a good idea.

No, no, no, no, it is, it is.

You wait here, I'll go in through the front door,

get some wine.

You slip up the back stairs,

and I'm the first door on the left.

Can't we just go in like two adults?

When we can go in like two kids?

Come on, Lillian.

I'll see you up there.

Oh, God.

Oh, God, what am I doing?

(Man): Tonight's news is brought to you by Fex Pharmaceutical.

At Fex, we're working for a better tomorrow.

(whirring)

(Geoffrey): Lillian?

Lillian?

Lil, are you around?

Hey! Yoo-hoo!

- Yeah, hey. - Hey, there.

Is it too late for dinner?

Well, I haven't eaten yet. Are you really coming in?

- Right away. - Okay.

- Lilly? - Yeah, Geoff?

I love you.

(clatter, animal yelps)

That's a good boy.

I hope this is gonna do you, now.

(Chester whimpering)

Come here, hold still.

(watch ticking)

(Chester continues whimpering)

- (Alex): Hey, Geoffrey. - Hi! I just, uh...

I thought I heard a dog barking.

Yeah, I thought I heard that too. It stopped.

Was it coming from over here?

I couldn't tell, I was lost in thought.

Sounded in trouble.

Yeah, well, don't hear it now.

What brings you out here?

Well, you know, my wife, Lillian, she's always telling me

I ought to get out of the lab more, take a look around,

so I drove down this old road.

I guess I missed the scenic route, huh?

Where can a husband get some flowers?

Well, you might try taking a stroll

to that side of the field, Farmer Boyd's land.

His wife keeps flowers.

It's pretty scenic.

Well, I guess I better be off.

Listen, I know you must be busy,

but if you find the time,

maybe we could have a drink and talk shop.

Not too many scientists out here.

Yeah, sure, but I am pretty busy right now.

I can't let you go till we make a date.

Um, hell, why don't you come by the farmhouse tonight?

I just got tons of groceries.

I know Lillian would love to have you over.

You might want to check with her first.

No, no, really, we've been meaning

to have people over and I just got this big roast.

Geoffrey, this is Phillip Brown. He's working with me out here.

Phillip, hi.

I was just saying to Alex that if you two want to come over for

dinner tonight, we'd love to have you.

Say about 7:00?

You sure it's not too short notice?

No, no, it's perfect. Seven, then?

Nervous guy.

Something.

(jazz music playing)

(chain rattles)

Hey, you!

- Lil... - Mm-hmm?

- Something terrible happened. - What? What is the matter?

No brussels sprouts?

No, actually, I got the sprouts in town.

But look, I ran into Alex Vine there.

- And? - And I invited him for dinner.

Look, he just wouldn't leave me alone about getting together

tonight so I invited him over for 7:00,

and I just need to finish up some things in the lab,

and I'll be in to help with the cooking, okay?

Well, God, it's not even 1:00 yet, Geoffrey.

- What'd you get, anyway? - I got a roast.

Look, I promise I'll be right in, okay?

- What is with you, Geoffrey? - He practically insisted.

Listen, I...

I'm going to finish up and I'll be right in, okay?

- He's bringing a friend. - Well, what kind of a friend?

Geoffrey!

(sighs)

(Chester whimpers faintly)

(Chester whimpering)

Shh.

Shh.

Okay, good boy. Be quiet.

You're all right, good dog.

Be quiet.

No, just hold still, hold still.

(chain rattles, trap clanks)

(watch ticking)

I'll be right clown. I'm sorry.

You don't think you're over-simplifying that

just a little bit, Alex?

Well, there's a law this American Indian tribe has.

When they undertake a change they ask,

“How will the changes we're making now

affect people seven generations from now?"

Now, seven generations, how long is that?

The average American businessman

is making decisions based on how something's gonna look

in a financial report the next quarter.

I think that's a problem.

Yeah, but are we talking about business or science now?

It's getting very hard to separate the two.

I mean, I think corporate sponsorship in the universities

is a corrupting influence.

You seem to have quite an agenda, Alex.

It's inspired a lot of secrecy in the sciences,

having businesses involved.

There's less exchange of information.

But competition is the name of the game.

It suppresses a lot of good ideas.

No, it's where the best ideas come from.

No, I don't agree. What we need is a more open

policy in the sciences to give us a clearer picture of the

interconnectedness of things.

What is this we're talking about?

Not this highly fractured view where we set up an endless

slew of disciplines that puts control in the hands of

specialists and makes the average guy feel dependent,

like he can't help himself or inform himself or do anything

but pay someone else to take care of him.

Yeah, but are we talking about science or social work?

Well, how about you, Geoffrey? What about your work?

Aren't you trying to help people?

Well, medicine is a different field.

Even the most radical environmentalists believe in

medical advances, I think.

For the most part I suppose that's true.

I don't think Alex is being all that radical, Geoffrey.

Lillian, I've changed my mind, I'd love another slice.

Sure!

Storing up a little extra protein there, Alex?

I don't eat much meat.

- Oh, I didn't realize. - It's irresistible.

Should I direct my compliments to you or to Geoffrey?

Well, Geoffrey did all the shopping,

but I did all the rest.

- And I see you found flowers. - No, they're mine.

They're for still life.

I found Geoffrey wandering around in the middle of a field

looking for flowers, so I guess he didn't--

- I rushed home. - I thought you met in town.

I had some things to finish up at the lab.

Well, it's great. Here's to the chef.

Thanks.

So, do you know anyone that's opposed

to a cure for cancer, Alex?

I thought they'd figured out that cancer was largely preventable.

Prevention doesn't sell.

And it's not going to help the people that already have it.

I think the war on cancer is just a big business venture

lining the same old pockets. I think we could focus a little

more on the causes instead of a cure.

Are you actually working in cancer, Geoffrey?

No, no, I've never worked in disease.

I don't have the patience to sit around and watch tumors grow.

- Do you mind? - Oh, no.

Uh, here.

Thanks. I like that display.

- Was it here? - No, I put them up, actually.

Alex bought them for us at the auction.

That's where we met, remember?

Oh, yeah, Alex told me about that.

There's some other things still in the box.

(Geoffrey): Can I have some more wine?

Hmm? Oh, sure.

Here.

So, what are you up to in that lab, Geoffrey?

I'm working on some new surgical techniques.

I'm looking into ways to facilitate transplants.

- Organs? - Everything.

You know, encourage regeneration of tissue,

discourage infection.

It's pretty dull stuff.

Everything? Doesn't sound dull at all.

Someone seemed excited enough to set you up

out here away from the madding crowd.

L just hope I'm not wasting their money.

Who's funding it, if you don't mind my asking?

- You work with computer models? - No, not for this sort of thing.

I work with live models.

- Rats? - Rats, mostly.

Mice, cats... I work my way up the food chain.

He's kidding.

You ever get animal rights people on your back?

No, no, not on my back, specifically.

They're in it for the heartthrob species:

Primates, dogs, cats.

And they're jacking up the cost of the most basic research

by requiring these high-security labs.

These are bewildering times and laymen can't keep up,

everything being so complex, so naturally people want to

participate in some way, even if it's only to object.

Science has to be unencumbered!

It is impossible to work with the press and the public

breathing down your backs!

Would you want to make a painting under those conditions?

Oh, that's ridiculous!

Besides, art is constantly under scrutiny!

But science, which is what really changes our lives,

I mean, no one even knows what scientists are up to.

It's always too complicated for

the public to understand, so it's just conveniently

carried out behind closed doors!

The public doesn't want to understand.

They don't want to know the gory details.

They just want to be saved.

It's a convenience, it's junk-food medicine.

Miracle cures and magic bullets,

and that's where research funding goes,

because that's what the public wants.

Look, all the press talks about is what they're told to talk about.

I mean, I don't know anything about what you do in the lab,

and I don't expect to find out about it on TV.

Which way to the bathroom?

Sorry, by the stairs. Just follow the stairs.

Well, I think debate is very healthy. It keeps everyone on their toes.

But I'd say you're right about the public's double standards.

They want solutions to be high-tech and cheap,

and then they get indignant over the repercussions:

the animal thing, the environment, the garbage, the whole economy--

Look, the public wants high-tech solutions because

that's what they're promised.

I mean, the repercussions are never even brought up!

People are talking about these problems more and more.

I know, that's why I'm in business.

Look, look, look, life has a light side and a dark side,

and you are free to choose which side you're going to look at.

But there's a lot of this anti-science hysteria

- going around right now, - Oh, thanks very much.

And that is what gets in the way of any real progress.

- Progress towards what? - Progress towards the future.

What does that mean That is newspeak, Geoffrey.

I think what she's trying to say is

what kind of image of the future should we have?

One overrun with technology,

or a realistic, sustainable future for the planet?

I don't know if that's what I'm trying to say,

but it doesn't really matter, does it, what I have to say?

I mean, I guess it's up to you two to come up with the future.

I mean, this is the new white man's burden.

Instead of Christianizing a bunch of natives,

now we've got the whole natural world to set in order!

I mean, "plotting for a better tomorrow,"

isn't that what they say at Fex Pharmaceutical?

(toilet flushes)

If only all the boys in lab coats could agree,

then we'd really know what the future will be!

Jesus, keep the wine away

from the lady activist at the end of the table.

Yeah, well, I think I see why

all the activists I know are women.

- L'm pretty active. - Does anyone want coffee?

- Yeah. - Sure.

(Geoffrey): Alex Vine certainly seems to have

made a big impression on you.

You two see eye-to-eye on all the big issues.

Well, if you were really listening,

you'd see we didn't see eye-to-eye on everything.

I think he's got a crush on you.

Don't try to drag me into your problems with Alex Vine.

You've got to stop lumping all the opposition into one big

fucking heap trying to get in the way of your career.

Oh, are you a member of the opposition now?

What I want to know is what are you doing

out there that's making you so paranoid?

What I want to know is how come you're

suddenly a big expert on science?

How about since I started trying to get pregnant?

It could be worse.

We could be doing it in a petri dish.

(sighs)

I think this is really gross, leaving these around.

And you want to know what we do out in the lab?

(sighs)

I can't sleep. I'm going downstairs.

(keys rattling)

(door creaks open)

(heartbeat)

(buzzer sounds) (bird shrieks)

(raccoon whimpers)

(heart beating faster)

- Geoffrey-- - Lilly, what are you doing?

I just... I just...

I wanted to know what you're doing out here.

- I told you what I do. - No, you haven't told me anything.

What are these pictures?

My God.

I work with animals for Christ's sake, you know that.

- They sustain injuries-- - “Sustain injuries"?

Yes, I am developing treatments.

Some of them are sacrificed.

There's no pain involved, they're sedated.

- They're mice, for God's sake. - Well, what about this?

What are you using the trap for? What is it doing out here?

Geoffrey, what is going on?

People catch animals in traps every day all over the world.

People eat rabbits.

These animals have a nobler purpose.

Be glad for them, all right?

Are you trapping animals with this thing?

Look, I've had to do a little improvising, okay?

I can't get what I need from Fex, not fast enough.

Believe me, this is not how I want to work,

but they've given me no choice.

What do you mean, they've given you no choice?

I thought you were their fucking whiz kid.

I am their fucking whiz kid,

and they're not working fast enough for me.

(sighs) I'm up against their goddamn bureaucracy, okay?

This doesn't make any sense. Trapping wild animals?

I'm not trapping wild animals--

I caught a mangy household pest in a trap.

It didn't belong to anyone.

It sustained an injury which is completely consistent to my

research and it has been very beneficial.

This doesn't sound very scientific.

Is it even legal in this state?

Jesus Christ, I'm not gonna have you giving me the third degree.

I mean, most people wouldn't be allowed near this place.

Why not?

It is only because you are my wife that you're even in here,

and I really resent you sneaking around with my keys.

I mean, don't I have the right to privacy?

If this is so fucking great, why is it so fucking secret?

Because it is like any other business:

There are company interests to protect.

I want to see what's inside there.

Oh, for Christ's sake! I've had enough of this.

- Geoffrey! - No! Come on!

Leave me alone! I want to be alone!

Lil, no... Lil!

I just hate to be pushed, okay?

I am under a lot of pressure.

Look, I'm tired of hearing that, Geoffrey.

I've given you your freedom.

I've let you have your all-nighters up at the university.

I've made dinner for your creepy co-workers and I've given up my

life for this shit summer in the middle of nowhere.

I just don't want to hear it anymore!

Maybe you're right, maybe I wasn't on the level

about the kind of summer this was gonna be,

but I needed the chance!

Well, that's a breakthrough.

Just to hear you come out and say it.

God!

Damn it!

(birds chirping)

(music playing)

(Geoffrey): The therapy's working, Simon.

I am very encouraged.

(machinery beeping)

Well, I'm getting more than 30% success rate with these...

These other animals now, but I need to

get into more intricate physiologies.

Look, I am talking about doing the first human applications

in less than a year.

Somebody volunteers, Fex pays, the press will eat it up.

We'll be on top.

Yeah, I know, but I can't push that through without some primate data.

I am asking you to get me the chimps!

Listen, listen, listen, Simon,

listen to me...

“Chemo-electric therapy," huh?

It's going to sound very familiar to people, very easy to sell.

(laughs)

(Singer): And make the world, make it go away...

Make the world go away,

Oh!

Yes, get it off off of my shoulders...

(light knocking on door)

Say the things you used to say...

Come on and tell me now and make the world

make it go away...

You can't come in.

Truce?

Does it have a name?

“Barrier-sustained 609 strain G.R.L. mouse.”

I'll think of something shorter.

(mouse squeaking)

This is a whole new ball game, Simon.

I'm not at all sure it's practical.

Why don't we just bring him into one of our units here where we

can keep an eye on him?

I have no reason to doubt him.

He's proven himself before.

If he wants a couple of monkeys, let's try and get them for him.

There's a waiting list on all the primates.

I don't want to hear about that, Peter.

You know, there's a problem with these transplant therapies:

it's where do we get the parts to make it a marketable option?

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

You know, there's these horror stories about expendables

in India being snuffed for their body parts.

I'm not sure that's what Fex wants in their annuals.

And AIDS was genetically engineered by the D.O.D.

Or was it the C.l.A?

No one listens to these groups, Peter.

They're too hysterical.

As for Gaines, if he's successful,

and if the technology creates a demand,

we'll establish a supply.

(rooster crows)

k H?

I wish you wouldn't take those.

Why are you taking those?

Nerves. (sighs)

My period's late.

Hey, that's great, honey.

How 'bout that?

We should make an appointment with the doctor to make sure.

I'm sorry.

Well...

Love means never having to say you're sorry, right?

Congratulations, hon.

(creature bellows)

(creature snarls)

(infant crying)

(cow moos)

(gasps)

Hi, there.

Is your father around?

He's over there.

Hi, Mr. Boyd.

How are you?

Geoff Gaines, I'm staying over on Carson Road,

at the farm there.

Yeah, I know the place.

Yeah, I'm working on a project there.

I have a laboratory set up.

I'm investigating some health problems.

I wish you luck, Mr. Gaines.

Frances, I want you to finish your chores now.

Alex Vine told me that you might have some livestock to sell,

and I need a young cow to help me with my work.

He said you might be willing to sell.

- Alex said that? - Mm-hmm.

Well, I don't know what he meant by that.

Frances, I want you to go to the

stand now and help your mother, all right?

Hand me the pail... okay?

All right, you go on now.

I brought some cash, Mr. Boyd.

If you had an animal in your pen

that you could bear to part with,

I'd like to make it worth your while.

Well, what do you want with my calf?

Well, that's not easy to explain,

this work can get pretty technical.

Well, if it's too technical to explain,

maybe it's something I don't want to get involved with.

Alex told me about your pesticide problems.

Now, I wanted to make you an offer before

I tried anywhere else, maybe help you out a little.

How's $300 sound, Mr. Boyd?

How you fixin' to get this calf back to Carson Road?

I figured I'd just walk it back across that field.

I brought some rope.

(cows mooing)

It's a beautiful place you got here.

Come on.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

(calf bellows)

Come on.

(calf bellows)

Come on, God damn it.

(calf bellows loudly)

(Geoff grunts, thud, bellowing stops)

Geoffrey?

Geoffrey?

(softly) Come on, come on.

(sighs)

(dial tone)

(phone keys beeping)

Hello, I'm trying to reach Alex Vine.

Well, is there a number to his room?

Do you know if he's there?

I can wait.

Thank you.

(Alex): Alex Vine.

I wanted to put your mind at ease.

Lil, you know what I'm doing up here is really confidential.

I hope you're not discussing it with anyone.

I hope that's clear, okay?

Lillian?

I just wanted to say I know

this summer has been very rough on you.

Being up here and worrying about the pregnancy thing but...

I know I haven't been all there for you.

But I really feel like I'm onto something now.

A breakthrough.

I'm gonna go clean up.

(sobbing)

(thunder rumbling)

*' -

- Have you seen Alex around? - Not today.

Might be by later on.

We're closing early today.

Oh.

- Where's Frances? - Oh, she's down by the house.

Did she sell all the puppies?

You know, it's real nice of you and Alex to take such an interest in her.

It's real hard for her with her brothers away.

- She's a wonderful girl. - Yes, she is.

We try to spend as much time on her as we possibly can,

but there's so much work to be done here on the farm and my

husband's just not up to things the way he used to be.

You know, I met your mister here a while ago at the stand.

Had to send him into town, though, to a supermarket.

Dead set on finding brussels sprouts this time of year.

(thunder rumbles)

Real handsome fella. Right smart-looking.

Yeah... Yeah, he is.

Okay, that'll be $5.80.

Five dollars...

Eighty cents.

Oh, good, I sure do need the change.

Thank you, Mrs. Boyd.

Sure enough.

(thunder rumbles, rain falling)

(bell ringing)

Hey, Lillian. I've been looking for you.

' Ow! - Hey, are all right?

I've been wanting to speak with you

about dinner the other night,

see if we could... Are you all right?

Oh, my God.

- It's Geoffrey. - What?

- I know where Chester is. - Come on, we'll take the truck.

No, I have to talk to him alone.

Lillian, come on.

Shit, oh!

Can we still go swimming, pa?

What the hell is he doing with--

Look, I want to talk to him alone, okay?

- Why are you protecting him? - I'm not protecting him.

He's my fucking husband!

Come here. (clicks tongue)

Come here, boy, come on.

(Chester panting and growling)

Come on, big fella, come on.

Come here, come on.

(Lil): Geoffrey!

Geoffrey!

- Lillian, are you all right? - I'm fine, leave us alone.

Just what the hell do you think you're doing?

I told you never to bring anyone into this!

My God, Geoffrey, what have you done?

That dog belongs to someone, a little girl!

No, no, no, listen, listen.

I want you to understand this, all right?

I found the dog. That dog was hurt, all right?

I was trying to help it.

I don't believe a word you're saying.

You're scared. I've never seen you like this before.

I'm not scared of anything.

My God, Lillian, you have no idea what I have done in here.

I can sew limbs back together.

I can transplant, I mean, not just a spleen or a kidney,

maybe even a head!

All right, I just want to get this story straight

about the dog.

Now, that was an accident.

- I can't be a part of this, Geoffrey. - A part of what?

Do you think I'm the only one doing this kind of work?

There's labs like this all over the country.

At least now I have the shot at the patent.

(raspy breathing)

We're so close to everything now,

having everything that you have ever wanted.

No, you have no idea what I want.

I know exactly what you want!

God!

(softly) God damn, Chester.

It's dying, Geoffrey.

Leave it alone, Geoffrey! Let it die!

What good is this? Who is this helping?

You're only doing it because you can, Geoffrey!

- Come on! - Geoffrey!

Damn it, come on!

You killed it!

God!

Hey, this wouldn't be so easy if you didn't have Mr. Ecology

waiting in the wings, huh?

Am I right?

You don't get it at all, do you?

Hey, Vine.

Vine, you think you're a real hero out here, huh?

Saving the family farm!

Well, it doesn't mean a thing!

(truck door shuts)

(thunder rumbles)

Lillian, why don't you come back to the inn with me till you

- get your head together? - No, I can't! I have to get away,

- I've waited too long. - Lillian, go easy on yourself.

I can't.

I can't.

We've gotta do something about this, right?

We can do something about it.

(rain falling)

(Geoffrey): I've seen the future, Simon, I've seen the future.

It is fucking brilliant! It was so simple, finally.

We are going to chance the face of the operating room.

The world has been waiting for this one.

What? What, the monkeys?

No, no, that's great! That's really great.

I can hardly wait to get started.

(tray clatters)

(vehicle approaches)

Hey, have you seen Geoffrey Gaines?

There's nobody here.

What the fuck are we supposed to do with this delivery?

Hey! pops!

Forget it, man, we'll come back later.

(chimps grunting and screeching)