All language subtitles for Lost.In.Yonkers.1993.720p.WEBRip.x264-[YTS.LT]

In
the summer of 1942,
my father drove my brother

Up to yonkers, new york, to
visit our grandmother for the
first time in two years.

Mom died
about three months ago.

We're at war
with germany and japan,
and pop was nervous...

Because grandma
didn't like him much,

And the feeling was mutual.

This trip had all the signs
of a disaster, even bigger
than pearl harbor.

Boy, it's hot.
Can i open this window, pop?

It's broken.
Don't fool around with it.
It's not my car.

- It would be breezier
if we went faster, pop.
- Faster means using more gas.

Gas is rationed.
There's a war on.
Don't bother me.

- What'll it be?
- Uh, three gallons.

- Stamp book?
- Here.

- Bathroom in there?
- Yeah, straight through there.

I'm going to the bathroom
you can stretch,
but no playing.

-Can we get a coke, pop?
-Grandma has a candy store,
doesn't she?

You'll get plenty
of soda there.

That's the third time
he stopped to pee.

-That's what
grandma does to him.
-She makes him pee?

You know what she used to
do to aunt bella?

Grandma hit her on the head
every time aunt bella
did something stupid.

If she dropped a spoon,
whacko!

-Hey!
-If she tore a stocking,
whacko!

That's what they used to
"whacko."

- Aunt bella went to
high school?
- A little.

- She missed the first year
because she couldn't find it.

Boys! In the dirt?

Hyah! Come on!

-Timmy,
give it back to me!
-No!

I'm gonna tell mom.
Yes, i am!

Even though
it was 98 degrees outside,

You could feel a chill
in the air as we got near
the house where grandma lived.

I'm sure glad arty and i
never grew up here.

Okay, wipe your face, arty.
You got perspiration all over.

She doesn't
like sweating?

You two wait in the store.
I have to have a little talk
with grandma first.

And don't touch anything
in there, because grandma
knows where everything is.

Not a pretzel,
not a tootsie roll...
nothing, you understand?

- Yes, pop.
- Yes, pop.

I don't know
where aunt bella is, but don't
let her make you anything.

You want an ice
cream or a soda,

Grandma's
the one who says yes,

- Yes, pop.
- Yes, pop.

If you see aunt bella,
no jokes about her,
you hear?

- I hear you.
- We hear you.

All right. I'll call you
in a few minutes.

Jay. Psst. Look.

Arty. Come here.

Look. My favorite.

How could pop torture us
like this? His own kids.

You touch one thing in here,
and that german cane will come
flying down the stairs...

And whacko, you'll be back
in kindergarten.

It would be worth it.

Hey, bella, you wanna
make the rounds with us?

I'm not in
the garbage business,
thank you.

- Hi.
- Hey, bella. Looking
pretty snazzy today.

Don't say anything, bella.
Just walk right by him.

When we gonna take that little
walk down to the river,
honey?

Don't talk to me
that way, danny petrillo.
You little punk kid!

You punks should be in school
instead of smoking cigarettes.

You behave yourself,
you hear me?

Thanks for asking.

The one looks like pop.

This is uncle louie.

This is aunt bella...
i guess.

Looked a little goofy
even then.

- And this one's aunt gert.
- The one that can't breathe
too good?

Yeah.

Did you ever notice there's
something wrong with everyone
on pop's side of the family?

Mom told me that.

How come aunt gert
can't breathe?
I don't know. She can't...

She can't talk right.

She says the first half of the
sentence breathing out and
the second half sucking in.

You've seen it.
Do it for me.

Pop will hear it.
He said no jokes,
didn't he?

Only about aunt bella.
Come on. Show me how aunt gert
sucks in her sentences.

Oh, hello, jay. How are you?
How's your father and...

How's your
little brother arty?

I love it.
I love it when you do that.

I once saw her try to
blow out a candle,

And halfway there
she sucked it back on.

Hey. There's aunt bella.

-Where's she going?
-Probably forgot
where she lives.

Aunt bella!
Where are you going?

What?

Aren't you coming in?

I'm glad you called me.
I was daydreaming.

I would've walked
right into the ocean.

What are you kids doin' here?
It's after 6:00. We're closed.

It's jay and arty, aunt bella.
Your nephews?

Oh, my god.
It's jay and arty!

My nephews!
I thought you weren't
coming until saturday.

It is saturday.

I know that! Jay, arty!

Ooh-Hoo-Hoo!
It is so good to see you.
Give your aunt bella a kiss.

Oh. Come here, you.

Come on outside.
I want to get a better
look at you. Come on.

I wanna see how big
you both got.

Stand there.

No, no, no. There,
in the size places.

Oh, look at you.

The both of you
got so much bigger.

You're growing up so fast
it almost makes me cry.

Where's your father?
I haven't seen your father
in so long.

He's upstairs
talking to grandma.

Oh, yeah? Oh.
I better not
disturb them then.

Did she ask for me?

I don't know.

Did you tell her
i was here?

No. You just got here.

You tell her where i went?

We didn't know
where you went.

I went to the movies.
Don't tell grandma.

I saw this picture
with bette davis
and george brent.

- You know the one?
- No.

Yeah, it was bette davis
and george brent.

Oh, oh! And they
had air-Conditioning.

I was actually cold.

I felt so happy
for those actors
to be in an air-Conditioned

I don't think
the actors feel it.

They're just pictures
on the screen.

I know...
i know that, silly.

They would be happy to know
that the people who were
watching the movie...

Were nice and cool, so that
we enjoyed the movie better.

- Oh. Right.
- Sure.

I bet i know
what would make you two
cool in a second.

What about a great big
ice cream sundae deluxe
with everything on it?

- Yes!
Come on!
- No! Wait!

I'll make one for you.
Come on, come on, come on!
Arty! Arty!

Thing is, pops said
we shouldn't have anything.

-Not anything,
right, arty?
-I don't remember.

Oh, your father.
He never takes anything
from anybody.

I couldn't even
give your mother
a cup of coffee.

Did you know that?
Where is your mother,
anyway?

She's dead.
Mom is dead.

Yeah. I know.
I know, i know.

I mean where is she buried?

At mount israel cemetery
in the bronx. You were
at the funeral, remember?

- You mean the first time?
- What do you mean,
"the first time"?

When i came in the car,
not the bus.

The bus?

Oh, no, no, no!

That was somebody else.

Sometimes my mind wanders.

The kids at school
used to say, "hey, bella,
lost and found called...

And said,
'come and get your brains.'"

Except i didn't really think
that was so funny.

™�

Yeah, i was really sad
about your mother.

Oh, boy.
I bet you miss her.

It is such a shame
she couldn't have
had more children.

She didn't, did she?

No.

No. I didn't think so.

My mother had six children.
Did you know that?

Yeah. There was me
and your father...

And gert and louie...

And aaron and rose,

Who died when they
were both very little.

And then, in between,
my father died...

When my mother
was pregnant with me.

- Is that all right
to say to boys?
- Yeah. Sure.

So i never met my father.

But, boy, i still loved him.

'Cause i just knew
he would've
taken care of me...

The way your father
takes care of you,
you know what i mean?

- Right.
- So,

How old do you think i am?

Huh?
Take a guess.

Arty, go on.

I don't know.
About 35.

Thirty-Five?

Wrong!
You are so wrong.

You're so far off,
it's not even funny.

I'm 36.

-But i don't even look it,
do i? Nope.
-No.

So,
two deluxe
hot fudge sundaes.

™�

With everything on 'em.

Dig in, boys.

Pop didn't want us to have
anything yet.
He didn't want to

What do you mean, "wait"?
They're done.

They're starting
to melt already.

-Look at arty drooling.
-We really want them,
it's just that pops...

No, wait. No, wait.

This is the last time
i'm asking. Yes or no?

This is the final call.

- Maybe later.
- No. Not later.
It's too late.

I'm not gonna ask you again.

You just hurt my feelings.
Both of you.

I know that
you miss your mother,
but that's no reason...

That you can be
disrespectful to me.

I loved your mother always,
whether she took coffee
from me or not!

And you can
tell your father
that for me!

I am so sick of this!

I'm just...
i'm sick of it!

See why i don't like
to come here too much?

-Where's aunt bella?
I thought i just heard her.
-She's out there.

- She all right?
- How do you know
when she's all right?

Hey, hey! I told you
no remarks about aunt bella.

Now go on upstairs
and wait for me.
We have to talk.

Go on!

Move!

Bella?

-You okay, honey?
-All i wanted to do
was to make 'em happy.

They had no right
to treat me that way.

Eddie! Eddie!

Oh, it's so good
to see you.

It's good to see you too,
bella.

Listen, honey,
mama needs you
to rub her legs.

No, she doesn't.
They only hurt
when i come home.

No, no, no.
Be nice to her, please.
Especially today.

Can we have a talk?
A long one?
I promise. After you're done.

And then we had
our talk with pop.

He told us how
he had gone broke
spending all his money

And how he had
to borrow $9,000
from a loan shark.

And he had a year
to pay it back, which he
couldn't do in ten years.

And then he told us
he got a job
selling scrap iron

And that maybe he could
make back that $9,000
in just a year.

Now, the factories
i would sell to
are in the south.

Kentucky. Louisiana. Texas.

I'd be gone about ten months,
staying in hotels, buses,
trains...

Anyplace i can find a room.

And we'd be free and clear
in less than a year.

That's great, pop.

So...
now the question comes...

Where do you two live
while i'm gone?

-God, it's hot in here.
-Please, pop.
Don't make us live here.

- Is that what
you're thinking?
- I have no choice.

- You gave it up?
- The landlady raised the rent
to make money outta this war.

Grandma wouldn't be
happy with us. We're slobs.
Arty's always breaking things.

Remember when i broke
the good water pitcher?

The ink stains on the sofa...
all mine. I'm dangerous, pop.

Listen to me, both of you.
She hasn't said yes
positively yet. She's old.

She's set in her ways,
and she's worried about people
being around bella.

Me too.

She'll come out,
she'll talk to you boys,
and she'll see how it goes.

Now, if she says no,
i can't take this job.

It's up to you boys
to convince her that you
won't be any trouble...

And that you
really wanna live here.

Can you do that?

Eddie. Eddie.

What? What? What?

She is so mean to me.

-No, no. She's not.
-She's just old.
Can't you live with us?

Oh, i... i can't.
I miss ya so much.

I have to go away for a while.
But i got some good news
for you, sweetheart.

You know who's gonna
stay here if mama says yes?
Arty and jay.

Won't that be nice?

- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yes!

Mama's thinking about it now.
Yeah. So why don't you go lay
down in your room a while?

-No, no, no.
I wanna stay here with you.
-I know you do.

-It'd be easier if mama
and the boys talked alone.
-I'm staying with you.

Okay. Uh, here.

You sit down right here.

But you gotta be
very quiet.

-We don't wanna
get mama upset.
-Okay.

Okay.

Fix your tie, jay.
Straighten your collar, arty.

And stand up straight,
both of you.

So?

- H-Hello, grandma.
- Hello, grandma.

I know you haven't
seen the boys
in a long time, ma.

They wanted to come, but their
mother was so sick. They've
grown up, haven't they?

- This is the little one?
- Yes. Arthur.

He's two years younger
than jay.

This one
i remember more.

This one
looks like his mother.

-What's the matter
with your eyes?
-My eyes?

Nothing.
I have a little allergy.

- You were crying, maybe?
- Me?

No. No, i never cry.

- Big boys shouldn't cry.
- Yeah, i know.

I haven't cried in years.
A couple of times
when i was a baby, though.

They're strong kids, ma.
Both of them.

- Yakob, eh?
- Yes, but they call me jay.

No. I don't like jay.
Yakob is a name.

Sure. Yakob is fine.

- And arthur.
- Arthur. But they
call me arty.

I don't call you arty.

Sure. I love arthur.
It's like king arthur.

- You go to school?
- Yeah.

- Hmm?
- Yes. I go to
the same school as yakob.

Which one is the smart one?

They both do well in...

No, no, no, no.
They tell me.

Which one is the smart one?

Yakob is.

He gets a's in everything.

-I'm better
at sports.
-Sports?

- Baseball, football.
- You play in the mud,
the dirt?

You come home
with filthy shoes
and make marks

No, never.
I clean them off
at the field.

Yeah. I bring a brush
and polish and shine
them up at the bench.

So, tell me now,
why do you want to
live with grandma?

Why don't you tell grandma,
yakob?

Well, because when pops said
we had the opportunity
to live here with you,

Our only living grandmother,
and our only
living aunt bella,

Well, i thought the family
should sort of
stick together...

Now that our country's at war
with germ... japan.

And that, uh...
oh, i also think that...

No. That's all.

And this
is the smart one?

I thought he said that
very well, mama.

What about this king arthur?
Why do you want to live
with grandma?

Because we have
no place else to go.

- Arty!
- No, no, no. He knows
what he wants to say.

I think maybe
this is the smart one.

All right, all right.

So now grandma will tell you
why she doesn't think
that you should live with her.

This house
is no place for boys.

I'm an old woman.
I don't like noise.

I don't like
people in my house.
I had six children once.

Mama, can i just
say something?

No, i'll just say something.

Why should i do this?
What do i owe your father?

When did he ever come around
after he married your mother?

I never saw him.
She turned him against me,
his own mother.

She didn't like me.
I didn't like her.

I'm not afraid
to tell the truth either.

He cried in my bedroom.

Not like a man.
Like a child.

He cried.
It was always that way.

I buried a husband
and two children,

And i didn't cry.

I didn't have time.
Bella was born
with scarlet fever.

Until she was five years old,
she didn't talk,

And i didn't cry.

And her sister gertrude
can't talk without choking.

And i didn't cry.

Maybe one day they find
louie dead in the street.

And i won't cry.

That's how i was raised...
to be strong.

You don't
survive in this world
without being like steel.

You think i'm cruel?
Hmm?

That i'm a terrible person?
That a grandmother should
talk like this?

That's good. Make you hard.
Make you strong.

Then you learn how to
take care of yourselves,

And you don't need
anybody's help.

Yeah. So that's my decision.
Maybe someday you'll thank me
for it.

Give the boys
an ice-Cream cone,
bella, then come inside

No, no. You're right, mama.
I am the weak one,
the crybaby.

But you're wrong about
one thing. Evelyn never
turned me against you.

She turned me towards her...
to loving, to caring.

Now, i am sorry about not
bringing
the boys out here more.

Maybe the reason i didn't
is because i was afraid...

They'd learn something here
that i tried to forget.

Maybe they
just learned it today.

Never mind the ice-Cream cone,
bella. Maybe some other time.

Come on, boys. We're going.
I said let's go!

Arty, we'll have dinner
another night, okay?

Why don't you and jay go home,
pack your things, and i'll get
your bedroom ready.

Thank you anyway, bella,
but mama and i just decided
it wasn't a very good idea.

Don't forget
your toothbrushes,
'cause we don't carry them

And each of you
bring something

From your house
you really love.

- Even if it's big,
we'll find some place to...
- Bella, that's enough!

This is not your business!
What about a picture
of your mother?

We could put it here.
That would be the last thing
you see at night...

And the first thing
you see in the morning.

Oh, this is so exciting.
Bella, stay still!

-They are going. That's it!
-No, mama, they're not going.
They're staying.

If you make 'em go,
i'm gonna go too.

I know i said that
a thousand times,
but this time i mean it.

The home would take me.
You're always
telling me that.

And if i go,
you're gonna be all alone,
and you're scared to be alone.

Nobody knows that but me,
but you don't have to be,
mama,

'Cause we're all gonna
be here together now.

You and me and jay and arty.
Won't that be fun?

Tickets, please.

Well, we finished
our first week with grandma...

And we're still alive.

Glad you liked
washington, d.C.

If you happen to see
abraham lincoln there,

Ask him to free the slaves
in yonkers.

Just kidding.

Squeeze!
Squeeze with the sponge.

Ja. Up here. Here.
And slow.

Right to the edge.

No, no. Dry, dry.
Then squeeze.

Try it.

Scrub, scrub,
scrub. Ja.

Ow!

Gott in himmel!
You are the most
stupid boy!

You are so horrible!
You are driving me crazy!

May i sometimes come here?

Of course. We could
talk about your child.

Our child.

Thank you.

And will you be happy,
charlotte?

Oh, jerry, don't let's ask
for the moon.

We have the stars.

- Hey, johnny.
- Hi, bella.

-Did you like the picture?
-Why not?
It's my fourth time.

-I bet i got the record.
-No. I do.
I seen it 12 times.

I cry at the ending
every time. Do you?

No. I never saw the ending.
I always have to
start cleaning up.

Oh!
- Mm.

-I'll tell it to you
sometime.
-Oh. Okay.

If you're not
gonna be too long,
i could wait.

We could take a walk.

Yeah. Sure.
Except i walk
the other way.

Oh. That's right.

Well, i'll see you soon then.

- Good night, johnny.
- Good night.

- Bella?
- Yeah?

You look nice
in that dress.

Thanks.

You look nice
in that uniform.

I wish there was
a way to get some money
to help pop.

I don't mean kid money.
I mean real money.

What if one night
we cut off grandma's braids...

And sold them to the army
for barbed wire?

Jay. Arty.

You asleep?
Good, good, good, good.

Something so wonderful
is happening to me.

Except i can't tell you
what it is.

But you two,

You're my good luck charms.

You think i don't hear you
coming up the stairs?

- You think i don't know
where you been?
- I just went to the movies.

Movies, movies, movies.
You waste your life
on these movies.

And then you throw money away
on these movie magazines.

You fill your head
with dreams that don't
happen to people like us.

- Sometimes they do.
- Never. Never.

Give me that magazine.
I don't want that trash
in my house.

Mama, please, don't do this
to me in front of the boys.

Oh! What do i care
what the boys see?
Give me that trash!

You give it to me!

When i'm dead, you can
buy your own magazines.

No, i won't,
'cause when you're dead,
you'll still take it from me!

You like to pay
my electric bill?

You try cutting off my braids,
you'll get your fingers
chopped off.

Somewhere in alabama.
God knows where.

Doing pretty good business,
but had a minor setback
last week.

The doctor said
i had an irregular heartbeat.

But don't worry.
I feel fine.

And the harder i work now,
the quicker
we'll all be together.

Love, pop.

You knew i wouldn't
forget your birthday, aaron.

Aaron,
these are eddie's boys.
Jay and arty.

They're your nephews,
even though they're
older than you are.

We all just came out
to say happy birthday,
aaron.

You can say it to him
if you want.

Happy birthday, aaron.

Yeah.

Happy birthday.

See you in september, rose.

So long, pop.

I know we're finally
gonna meet someday.

I love you.

Thanks for comin'.

I'm sure
aaron enjoyed that.

Do you always come here
alone? No. Aunt gert comes
sometimes.

And your father came once.
Grandma never comes.

- And your uncle louie can't.
- Why not?

-On account of
the work he does.
-What kind of work?

He's a... oh,
what do they call that?

- He's a bagman.
- What's a bagman?

He collects money from people,
and then he puts it
in this bag,

And then he
gives it to this man
who pays him for doing it.

I think
he's a gangster.

-Uncle louie is?
-No, no, no.
The man he works for.

-Uncle louie's
just his hunchback.
-His hunchback?

- Yeah. I think so.
- Do you mean "henchman"?

- Yes! That's it.
- Does grandma know?

Oh, grandma
knows everything,

Even about him
being a hunchback.

- How's business, kid?
- It's okay.

You know, uh, louie kurnitz?

Yeah. He's my uncle.

Eh? You see him around?

No. Not since i've been here.

Well, when he comes around,
you let me know.

I got some of these
with bigger numbers on 'em.

Some guys were here
looking for uncle louie.

- They gave me a dollar.
- I get half, right?

They looked
like killers to me.
I wonder what they want.

Ja, ja, ja.

You two want to talk,
you sit down
and buy something.

- Don't annoy my customers.
- I was just going.

Ja, ja. Humph.

I wonder what those guys
would give us for grandma.

I can't stay here very long.

Mama would never believe it
if i told her i got lost
going to the bank.

That's okay.

You look...
you look a little sad.

- Is anything wrong?
- No.

Yes, it is.
I can see it in your eyes.

You can tell me.
I'm your friend, bella.

- I know who you are.
- I know that you know.

So why can't you
tell me?

I wanna join the army.

The army? Our army?

Yeah.
But they wouldn't take me.

I couldn't pass the...
the...

Whatever they give ya,
i couldn't pass it.

Ohh.

Well, i'm kinda glad.

- You are?
- Sure.

'Cause if you
were in the army,
i would miss you.

I'd miss you too.

Well, good.

'Cause now we won't
have to miss each other,
'cause we'll be together.

Yeah.

-I'm not gonna be an usher
all my life, you know?
-Yeah. I know. You told me.

Do you know what color
my eyes are, johnny?

No. Why?

You're looking
right at 'em.

Oh, i...
i'm a little color-Blind.

You have beautiful eyes.

No. Men don't
have beautiful eyes.

Oh, yes, you do.
Don't tell me.

Wanna kiss me?

Yeah. Yeah, i do.
I really would.

- Well, kiss me.
- I will.

I mean now. Today.
Sometime today, okay?

-We done it before,
you know.
-Mm.

Are you gonna put your arms
around me or not?

-Don't tell me how to do it.
I know how to do it.
-Then do it.

-Don't say
you're gonna do it.
-I said, "okay."

Okay. That's enough.

Johnny, i can't breathe.

Okay, johnny.
I have to breathe.

Okay.
That's enough for today.

I don't know
why they wouldn't
take you in the army.

-Married!
You're getting married?
-Shh!

Not so loud.
You want grandma
to hear you?

What do you think
i'm telling you
down here for?

-You're really
getting married?
-Yes.

-Have you found anyone yet?
-What do you mean
have i found anyone yet?

Of course
i've found someone.

His name is johnny.

He's an usher at the bijou.

Jay, arty,
i have never been so happy
in my whole life.

- How come
he's not in the army?
- He wanted to go,

But they wouldn't take him
on account he's handicapped.

-What handicap?
-He's got
a reading handicap.

You mean he has bad eyes?

No, no, no.

He just has trouble
learning things the way i do.

Even went to a special school
for a while. Oh! Oh!

He was in the home once.

Yeah. The one that grandma's
always telling
me that i'm gonna

Mm. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Well, how old is he?

He's 30.

Maybe 40.
But he's so handsome.

And, um, he doesn't want to
be an usher forever either.

One day, he wants to
open up his own restaurant.

With me. I would be the cook,
and he would be the manager.

Could he do that...
manage a restaurant if he
couldn't read the menus?

I would help him out
with all of that.

The only thing is,
he doesn't make
a lot of money,

And we would need about $5,000
to open up a restaurant.

And i don't know if grandma
would give it to me. Do you?

I don't think she's gonna
let you go to the movies
much anymore.

Your mother has $5,000?

Shh! Yes.

She's got more than that.
She's got 10 or 15
thousand dollars.

I'm not supposed to
tell anybody.

Where does she keep it?
In the bank?

No, no, no.
She keeps it right here
in the house somewhere.

She changes
the hiding place
every year.

Not even gert
or louie or your father
knows where it is.

There. We got
all the laundry up.

Uh-Oh.

Dummkopf!

Stupid dummkopf!

Come on.
Let's get all
of this off...

Before it gets
any wetter
than it is.

Come on! Come on!

Come on!

This always happens to me.

Fifteen thousand dollars.
That's a lot of money.

Oh, jay, promise me
you won't tell grandma
i told you that. I promise.

-Arty?
-She and i have
very short conversations.

I know i can trust you boys.

Oh! Oh, you know what?
I even thought of a name
for the restaurant.

La bella johnny.

-That's nice.
-Yeah?
You like it?

Yeah. I just hope
he can read it.

Wait'll grandma meets johnny.
He'll be back in the home
in a week.

Where would
someone like grandma
hide her money?

You're not thinking
of stealing it, are you?

No. What if
we just borrowed it?

I'd just love to send pop
an envelope with $9,000.

- Who would he think
sent it to him, god?
- No.

He had an uncle in poland
who died.

We could say
he left the money
to pop in his will.

Do you think the germans
would let some
jew in poland...

Send $9,000
to some jew in alabama?

I searched the house
whenever grandma was out.

You stay there.

Jay! Jay!
Jay! Come on!

And then i thought,
"hey. The candy store."

Shh.

We don't want grandma to hear.

You look
under the candy counter.

I'll look
under the ice-Cream cones.

Get me a chocolate cone
while you're at it,
with sprinkles.

Shut up.

That's breaking and entering.

Two to five years
for both of you.

- Who's that?
- Get that light off my face,
will ya!

What do you want, mister?
There's nothing for you
to steal in here.

Is that you, jay? And arty?

Yeah.

Yeah. Who are you?

It's your uncle louie.
Whadda ya know?

Couple of big guys now,
ain't ya?

You been sittin' here long?

Yeah. Since ma
closed up the store.

I've been waiting for her
to go to sleep.

- Nobody told us
you were coming tonight.
- Nobody knew.

It was a big surprise,
even for me. Come here.
Give me a hug.

You heard me. Move it!

Hey! Couple of
middleweights, huh?

- You staying tonight?
- Yeah. Yeah, a couple days.

Maybe a week.
They're paintin'
my apartment.

You didn't know
they were going to
paint your apartment?

They just found
the right color paint
tonight.

It's hard to find
with the war on.

If you kids steal ice cream
in the middle of the night,

You're gonna be sorry.

Take it from me.

Oh.

Yeah. Your pop and me,
we used to do the same thing
when we was kids.

We never took anything
during the day. No candy,
no ice cream.

But when ma
let her braids down,
turned out the lights,

We was down there
lapping up the cream
like a couple of cats.

'Cause the fun
was in outsmartin' ma.

'Cause she was quick.

She could tell if there was
salt missing from a pretzel.

So the next morning
at breakfast,

She would just stare at me
right into my eyeballs, pupil
to pupil, never blinking.

Her eyes looked like
two district attorneys.

But i would just stare
right back at her...

Until she looked away
from me.

Down for the count.

Yeah. Me and ma.

We used to love
to put on the gloves
and go the distance.

What?

What is it? This?
Don't worry about it.

I'm holding it for a friend...
this cop i know.

He's, uh, he's on
a camping trip with his kids.
He-He don't want no accidents.

Is it loaded?

Gee, i hope not.

If it goes off now,
i'd have to
become a ballerina.

I never knew a policeman
could lend his gun to someone.

You got a real smart
brother there,
did you know that, arty?

You're right, jay.
It's my gun.

I'm a bodyguard
for a very important,

Very prominent
political figure.

It's kinda like
bein' an f.B.I. Man,

Only they call it
somethin' else.

You mean
a henchman?

Who's been telling you
stories like that? Jay?

- No. I swear.
- Don't repeat
that word again,

I didn't mean to say it.
I was thinkin' of "hunchback."

Hey! We got a couple
of jokers here. Don't try
to pull my leg, arty.

It might come off
in your hands.

Okay.

Now, let us discuss
a little business here.

I tell you what.
Why don't you come
and work for me?

Huh? Five dollars a week,
split between youse.
Cash on the barrel.

-What do you say?
-Yeah. Sure.
Sure.

-There's your
first week's pay, boys.
-Where?

Where? Where?
In jay's pocket.
Go ahead and look.

Five-Dollar bill.
How'd you do that?

These hands
was touched by genius.

I could've been a concert
violinist,
but the handkerchief

-What?
-Too fast for you,
huh, boys?

Never mind. Okay. So, arty,
you think you
can drive a car?

I'm only 13 years old.
I'm a pretty good
roller skater.

You are?
That's good.

Because i'm spinnin'
your wheels, kid.

Hey! Wake up and live.
It's a fast world out there.

-Jesus.
-What would we have to
do for the money?

Nothin'. Like if
someone comes around here
lookin' for me,

You don't know nothin'
and you ain't seen nothin'.

There were two men
here the other day
looking for you.

Oh, yeah?
What'd they look like?

One had a broken nose
and he was wearing...

Wearing a betty grable tie.

Yeah, that's, uh,
that's hollywood harry
and his brother.

Okay. So, if they
come around here again...

Asking questions,
what do we say to them?

- Nothin'.
- Smart boys.

Jay, look in arty's pocket.

-Another five dollars!
-Ho-Ho-Ho! I could've
played carnegie hall!

We wouldn't be doing
anything wrong, would we?

Hey. You're my brother's kids.

You don't think i'd get you
involved in something stupid,
do ya? Don't be stupid.

Come on. It's late.
I'm gonna wash up.

One more thing.
Um, don't touch that.

It's got all my
valuables in it.

You know, my driver's license
and my draft card and my, uh,

My new cuff links.

All right. Forget about it.
Never mind.

I'll put it somewhere else
so you won't have to worry.

Oh, arty.
See if there's anything else
in your pajama bottoms.

- There's nothing there.
- Yeah? Don't worry about it,
kid. You're young yet.

He's incredible. It's like
having a james cagney movie
in your own house.

How ya doin',
princess?

Louie!

Louie!

You're in trouble.
I know it.

Whenever you come at night,
you're in trouble.

I got you to protect me,
don't i?

Me?

You'd be better off
with a big dog, louie.

Mmm.

™�

Come on. Now.

You were reading,
or you were
stealing from me?

- We was just looking.
That's all.
- Uh-Huh. What's this?

You know what happens to
people who steal from me?

Ow!
The next time
i call the police.

Ow, you dirty kraut!

I don't think we should
look for her money anymore.

Yakob, go outside
and pull down the awning.

Arthur, go downstairs
in the cellar and bring up
some bottles of syrup.

I don't feed you
for not working.

Jay. Arty.

Have you two
thought of anything yet...

About how i could tell grandma
about me and you-Know-Who?

-We've been
kinda busy ourselves.
-Okay.

Oh, sure.
I understand that, but, um,
if you do think of something,

I'm gonna give you
each a dollar.

I know you can use that.

You know, we could
make a great living
just from this family.

Hey, ma.
Happy to see me?

- How long you staying?
- I dunno. A couple of days.
Maybe a week.

Maybe a couple of days
is better.

I love you too, ma.

Hey, kid. Come here.

Ho. Come here.

Come over here.

-You know what this is?
-Sure.
It's a five-Dollar bill.

You tell your uncle louie that
friday night
the dance is over.

I haven't seen him,
i don't know where he is,
and i don't want your money.

Good. Then you
tell him for free.

Ow! Oh, god!
My tooth! Ow!

-I just took one little bite.
I don't need a dentist!
-Ja, ja, ja.

You eat my candy,
you go to see my dentist.
Here we go. Here. Quick.

Quick, open the door.
Quick. Dummkopf.

He-He didn't even give me
any gas for the pain.

You were lucky.

When we was kids,
we couldn't afford no dentist.

Ma took out my back molars
with an open coke bottle.

You sit here all night
till you finish that soup.

I tried.
I can't get it down.

-It's awful.
-Eat it up quick.
You won't taste it.

I would taste this
if i didn't have a tongue.

You don't want a tongue?
I can arrange that too.

Maybe if he just had
some plain hot tea,
grandma.

Did i ask you? Maybe instead
of your dinner, you'll go down
and count the pretzels.

-What pretzels?
-The pretzels
in the pretzel jar.

There were nine pretzels
in the jar this morning.

There are only six tonight.
We don't sell
no pretzels today.

- If you let someone steal
pretzels, you pay for it.
- What?

Don't "what" me. You don't
"what" your grandma. Go help
bella wash up the dishes.

- Then you go down and
clean up the basement, huh?
- I'm not through eating yet.

- Bella, take his plate.
Take his plate!
- Aw, ma.

You find this funny, louie?

Don't try taking my plate, ma.
Louie's hungry.

- Eat it quick, and no noise.
- -Grandma, can i have some mashed potatoes?

I talked to gert.
She's coming over
tomorrow night.

That's when i'm gonna
tell grandma, okay?

I need you and arty.
You're gonna back me up
on this, aren't you?

Okay. And don't
get grandma upset,

'Cause i really need her
in a good mood for this.

Look at me.
I can't stop eating.
I ate three pretzels today.

-I never eat... shh!
-You ate the pretzels?
Why didn't you tell her?

She knew i ate the pretzels.

She even said to me,
"why are you eating so much?
You nervous about something?"

- Of course i'm nervous
about something.

Oh. I'm sorry, ma.
It was an accident.
I'll pay for it.

No, no. Put it on my bill
with the pretzels.

- You're just wastin' gas, boys.
- -Huh?

Oh, nothin', nothin'.

Just hollywood harry's
tryin' to shake uncle louie
outta the tree.

Hey, hey, hey.

Oh, i forgot.
They told jay
to tell you...

That "friday night
the dance is over."

Oh, yeah?

Well, don't worry about it.

Uncle louie can outdance
a couple of bronx palookas
like that any day.

I wish i was
as tough as you.

Well, you're
gettin' there, arty.

Took on the old lady tonight.
That took moxie.

- What's "moxie"?
- What's moxie?

That's moxie.

- Uncle louie,
are you in trouble?

Arty, i was never
not in trouble.

Hey, hollywood harry,
take this right through
your betty grable tie.

Ahh. Uhh. You no-Good,
dirty, little kid killer!

That store doesn't
have to be cleaned
for a year now.

Hey, guess what
uncle louie came down
and gave me.

-I don't know.
I'm dead.
-A dollar.

-Wanna go to
the movies on sunday?
-Movies?

Let's go to a war movie
and see 'em kill
german grandmas!

Yah, yah, yah, yah, yah!

- Arthur! What you
think you're doing?

Dusting your chair?

No, i don't think so.

From now on, arthur,
i don't think i be
so nice to you.

Star light, star bright,

First star i see tonight,

I wish i may,
i wish i might...

I forget the rest, but please
help me tomorrow night.

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

Now, i'm gonna show you
how i used to sneak out
when i was a kid.

See, uh, i was really hot
to see my girlfriend, francie.

Ma didn't like her.

Why not?

Ah,
'cause francie was married,
and i was thirteen and a half.

Come here.
Come on. Psst.

Whoa.

Twenty-Two feet.
Me and bella,
we dug it ourselves.

- Bella did?
- Yeah. Yeah.

I just told her china
was on the other side.

She got all excited
'cause she loves chinese food.

Did grandma ever
know about this?

Yeah, she found out
about it after a while.

When i crawled out
the other side,
she was waitin' for me.

Whacko! I got
that big german hand
across the head.

Then it was prison for me.
- What prison?

Heh. Grandma's closet.

She used to lock me in there
two, three hours at a time.

No light,
no water,
no food.

Just enough air to breathe.

That would make me crazy.
- Yeah, or tough as nails.

Come on. Come on.

Let's go.
Gimme your hand.

Arty.
Arty, come on.

Funny place
for a manhole cover.

Stole it
from down the street,
me and bella did.

I told her...

It was to keep
everyone from china
from movin' into our house.

Let's go.

Hey.
All right, back up, boys.
Back up. Come on.

Outta the way.
Outta the way.

Here comes louie kurnitz,
king of yonkers!

Aah. Aah!

Now, what'd i just do?

-You jumped
in the water.
-No, you stupid jerk.

I made a splash.

That's what life's all about,
makin' a big splash.

Otherwise
you die a nobody.

And i ain't dyin'
till i'm somebody!

Get him!

Come on. Get him.

Did grandma
ever put my father
in the closet?

Huh. Not a chance.

She used to open up
the closet door.

He used to tie himself
to the radiator.

Even if it was hot.

Nah. Eddie was
really afraid of her.

Now, aunt gert,
she was more afraid
than your old man.

She used to talk
in her sleep, you know.

And one night, ma heard
her say some things
that she didn't like.

So gert didn't get
no supper for a week.

Till she learned how to sleep
holdin' her breath.

Which is why she talks
so funny today.

Didn't you ever
wanna run away?

-You kiddin'?
I did, twelve times.
-Twelve times?

Yeah. It's still
a record in yonkers.

Last time,
ma wouldn't take me back.

She told the policeman
she didn't know me.

Didn't you
hate her for that?

Yeah,
sure i hated her, plenty.

Till i realized i could
survive without her,
or anybody else.

Hell of a teacher,
ma was.

So, what do you think
of your uncle louie, boys?
You like him?

- Yeah. You bet.
- Don't get
used to it.

Once you start
dependin' on people,

You never make it
on your own.

You understand? Huh?
You understand? Come on.
Come on, come on, come on.

Get him!

- Get him!
- Let's get him.

Come on. Gimme your best shot.
Gimme your best shot.

Oh, arty, would you watch
the store for a while
until grandma comes down?

I have to do some shopping
for tonight's dinner.

But i can't make
any ice cream sodas
or anything.

-Maybe a glass of water.
That's all.
-Grandma will be right down.

And, arty, don't forget.
You and jay promised you
would back me up tonight.

How ya doin', son?

Okay.

- Would you like
a glass of water?

- Mornin'.
- You bet.

Wouldn't leave
that car there too long.
Pretty close to the hydrant.

It'll be gone in a minute.

Hey, big guy, how 'bout
a... a cup of coffee.
It's right behind ya.

No, no, no. I wanna
take it with me.

You could take it.
Just bring back the cup.

You boys enjoy
your little swim last night?

-Huh?
-Louie knows we ain't
gonna make a move...

Unless he's got
the little black bag with him.

But he'll have it
with him tonight.

You can bet his life on it.

Teresa, is that you?

It's bella.

- Bella, hello!
- Oh, my god!

Is that yours?

You were just a baby
yourself a few years ago.

-Is he a boy
or a girl?
-Boy. Andrew.

Looks like his father,
i think.

Yeah? Really?
Your husband looks like this?

He must be very cute.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know what?
I used to make ice-Cream cones
for your mama.

You think i could
just hold him
for a second?

All right.

B-But be careful.
H-He squirms a lot.

Don't worry.
A baby is one thing
i would never drop.

Oh, yeah.

You are so cute.

Ooh.

Look at...
he likes me.

All babies like me.

All right.

I see your raise,

And i raise you...
five more.

And what do i do?

Well, it depends what's
in your hand, dumbo.

- You wanna see?
- No, i don't wanna...

You call me.

Two, three,
four, five.

Okay, now,
what do you got?

Four cards.
Is that any good?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
If i was a blind man.

Here. Now.

Now what do you got?

-I got five cards.
-I know you got
five cards.

I just gave you
five cards. Don't
make me crazy, kid.

I'm not in the mood.

Just declare.

- Can't i bet first?
- We already bet!

We bet
and we raised.

Then we "re-Raised"
the raise.

All right.

You wanna bet? Bet.
What do you bet?

I think i'll bluff.

You're gonna bluff.

You're tellin' me
you're gonna bluff.

If you tell me
you're bluffing,
then i know you're bluffing,

Why?

Maybe i'm just bluffing
that i'm bluffing.

Gimme the cards!
Get away from me!

You play like
your old man.

Like a loser.

You wanna end up
sellin' scrap iron
like him?

No.

I got four aces.
Does that lose?

Yeah.
Yeah, that loses.

- Four aces stink.
- Why?

Because that's
the name of this game.
"Four aces stink"!

Take another look.

They're still there.
So i guess you're not
goin' to leave tonight.

Don't bet on it, arty.

That's one game
i got you beat.

Poker and coca-Cola.
If grandma knew,
she'd throw me off the roof.

You don't think
much of her, do ya?

She's so mean.

When she was 12 years old,
her old man takes her to
a political rally in berlin.

The cops break it up
with sticks, on horseback.

Somebody, uh, throws a rock,
and a cop bashes in
her old man's head.

And then a horse goes down
and crushes ma's foot,
and nobody ever fixed it.

Hurts every single day
of her life.

I never once seen her
take even an aspirin.

That's moxie, kid.

- Where's uncle louie?
- Takin' a shower.

I have to talk to him.

About what?

- It's private business.
- Jay, you don't have
any business.

All you got is a job
that costs you 12 cents a day.

Not for long.

-I'm gonna ask uncle louie
to take me with him tonight.
-What?

I wanna make some money,
get a job somewhere.

If we wait for
pop to come home,
i'll owe grandma more than pop

Well, then take me with you.

Take you? You're only a kid.

Besides,
she doesn't treat you
the way she treats me.

A horse fell on her
when she was a kid, and she
hasn't taken an aspirin yet.

I got my hair done.
Did you notice?

Oh, yeah.
It looks the same to me.

It is. I told 'em don't do it
any different 'cause my friend
might not like it.

Oh.

So, do you think i could
meet your parents today?

Oh...

Oh, well...

It's just not
a good day today.

- Why is that?
- I could just tell.

Okay.
Nothing's wrong,
is it?

-Oh, no. Yeah, sure.
-Everything's
still on, right?

It's just not
a good day today.

Well, i better
get started.

Tonight's
the big dinner.

Wish me luck,
johnny.

Okay. That's
good enough for me.

You wanna go with me?
Why?

It's... it's cold
out there, jay.
It's, uh... it's dangerous

- I know, but there's
money out there.
- Oh, oh.

- You're lookin'
to get rich fast, huh?
- Well, it's not for me.

- It's to give to pop.
- Ain't that nice?
Kinda like robin hood.

I don't wanna rob people.

No? Who do you wanna rob?

- No one.
- Well, that sorta rules out
gettin' rich fast.

Some people do it.

Meanin' who?

- I just thought you could
teach me somethin'.
- I got nothin' to teach you,

And i got nothin'
i wanna teach you.

You think that's what i do,
rob banks, rob liquor stores,

Little old ladies
in the park?

No, i don't
think so.

You got balls, kid.
You know you got balls?

I'm aware of them, yes.

Take you with me, huh?
For what? For company?

Your company's beginning
to pester me already.

What do i need you for?
What can you do for me?

Well, i could carry
your little black bag.

-You interested in
my little black bag?
-No, i just thought that...

No, no, no, but you
wanna carry it. Why?

Does it look heavy
to you?

You think i got a broken arm,
i can't carry a little bag?

-No.
-Maybe you got some
other interest in it, huh?

-Have you been foolin' around
with that bag?
-No, i swear.

No,
but you're curious, right?
How much it weighs

-Why don't you pick it up?
Go 'head.
-I don't wanna pick it up.

Pick it up, jay! Hmm?
It ain't gonna bite ya.

You're not
gonna be happy until

You pick it up,
so pick it up!

-Jay, just pick it up.
-You stay
out of this.

- No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Arty, come here.
- Me?

That's right.
You're arty.

I want you to come over to
the table and pick up the bag.

- Jay is close.
- Jay? Jay is not interested.
I want you to do it.

Now, pick it up.

I don't know why,
but i think
i'm going to cry.

Just pick it up, arty.

Now... is it heavy?

No.

- Is it light?
- No.

What is it?

It's medium.

-It's medium.
-Okay, now, what do you
think is in that bag?

Money?

Huh? Fives and tens
and twenties and hundreds...

All wrapped up together
with rubber bands?

What?

I said, "what?"

I don't know!

You don't know!
Well, maybe you'll have to
open up the bag and see, huh?

Please, uncle louie,
i don't wanna open...

I'm gonna ask
you one more time,
because i'm running out

Don't do it, arty. Leave him
alone, uncle louie. You want
the bag open, do it yourself.

Maybe you don't rob banks
or liquor stores
or little old ladies.

You're worse than that.
You pick on a couple of kids...
your own nephews!

You make fun of my father
because he cries and
he's afraid of grandma?

Well, everyone in yonkers
is afraid of grandma.

And i'll tell
you something else
about my father. At least he's

He's sick and he's tired,
but he's out there
selling iron...

To make ships
and tanks and cannons,
and i'm proud of him!

What are you doing?
Hiding in
your mother's apartment?

Scaring little kids
and acting like
humphrey bogart?

Well, you're no
humphrey bogart, and i'll
tell you something else.

No. That's all.

Jeez, that was good.

That was terrific.
I had tears in my eyes,
i swear to god.

You got bigger balls
than i thought, jay.

You got a couple of
steel basketballs there.

Your father's
a lucky guy,
let me tell you.

You know
what you got, jay?

You got moxie.

- What's "moxie"?
- What's moxie?

Tell him, arty.

Come on.

That's moxie.

Gert?

-Would you like another piece
of strudel with that?
-Oh, no.

How 'bout you, louie?
Another piece?

-No, i had enough, bella.
Thanks.
-You always have two pieces.

No, one piece of strudel
is enough tonight, bella.
Thank you.

Ma?

No. Okay.

Don't help me with
the chairs, anybody.

I know exactly how
i want this to be.

Mama, i'm gonna run along now.
I'll call you next week.

Jay, huh?
Don't worry about it.
Arty, keep your dukes up.

-Gert, great seeing you,
sweetheart.
-Louie, louie, no, no.

You can't go yet.
You promised!

I promised to stay for dinner.
How many dinners
you want me to stay for?

-But the family
hasn't had a talk yet.
-We did.

We talked all through dinner.
I didn't get a chance
to swallow nothin'.

I know, louie,
but there's still something
that hasn't been talked about.

It wasn't something
that we could talk about
at dinner.

You sit here.
This is your place here.

I told you i had to go
right after the coffee.

I had my coffee,
i had my strudel,
i had my dinner.

- Bella, i gotta go.
- Louie, you can't go!

You have to be here!
The whole family
has to be here!

-Mama, tell him.
-You're getting
excited, bella.

All right. Okay.
I won't get excited.

See, ma? I'm fine.
Could you just ask him
to stay, please?

He'll stay, bella.

Okay, jay, arty,
sit on the sofa.

Mama, you sit there.
I will sit here.

-And, louie, just sit on the
chair. I been sittin'
-All night, bella.

I think i'll stand, okay?
It will be much better
if you were sitting.

- I pictured everybody sitting.
- I don't wanna sit!

Change the picture.

Picture everybody else sittin'
and me standin'.

Louie, can't you just sit
for a few minutes
till bella tell us...

What it is she wants
to talk to us about.

Okay. Okay, here.
All right. Is this how
you pictured it, bella?

No, i pictured you
sitting on the chair
that i picked out.

Bella, it's very important
that i leave here very soon.

Very important.
Now, i don't want to
get you upset, sweetheart,

But i don't wanna spend
my time getting the seatin'
arrangements right.

Now, i'm gonna stand up.
I'm gonna listen,
and then i'm gonna go!

I pictured everybody sitting.

- Jesus!
- Stop arguing with her
and sit down, for god's sakes,

Before she gets into
one of her moods again.

- Louie, quiet.
- Gertrude, stop it.

"Louie, quiet"?
"Louie, stay,
louie, eat."

You don't scare me
anymore, ma.

Maybe everybody else here,
but not me, you understand?

Louie, sit.

Okay.

Who wants to start?

Who wants to start?
Start what?

Oh! Mama!
I don't got time for this!

Maybe when i was
12 years old,
but not tonight!

This is one of
her crazy games, mama.
One of her crazy games.

- Is this just a game?
- Are you just playing a game with us, darling?

No, no!
This is not a game.
It's very important.

I just don't know
how to start to say it.

Somebody just has to
help me out and
start it first.

You got somethin'
important to tell us,
and you want us to start.

-Mm, mm, mm!
Gert... no, no, no.
-Louie!

You understand her better
than me. When you figure out
what it is, you let me know.

- Okay?
- Aunt bella, have you been
going to the movies lately?

Yes! Thank you, jay.
I have been going to
the movies a lot lately.

-Three times last week.
-Really? Did you
see anything good?

Yes. I saw a picture
with william holden
and jean arthur.

I really liked it.
That's why i saw it
three times.

This is what i stayed
to dinner for?

This is what i had to sit
in the right
seat to listen to?

Are they in the picture
that you pictured here?

I-I-Is that what this
is all about, bella?

Is this about what movies
you went to see last week?

No, no, no!
I'm gettin' to it.
Jay, ask me more questions.

- Come on. Yes, i did.
- Did you go alone?

I always go alone,
but it's very interesting
that you would ask me that,

Because i met
a friend there.

You get to ask me
questions too, gert.

I don't know
what kinda questions
to ask you.

Ask her who the friend was?

Who was the friend?

Well, his name
is johnny.

I always see him there
'cause he's the head usher.

He's really nice.

-So you just saw him
in the theater?
-No, uh, once or twice...

We went out for
coffee and once

We went for
a walk in the park.

You went to the park
with this guy?

Yeah, but just to talk.

You have to sit down if you
wanna ask me questions, louie.

Okay. Whose turn
is it now?

Is this when you
came home from 11:00?

Yeah, it was. Yeah.
Thank you for listening, ma.

-What were you doing
till 11:00?
-Well, we walked...

And we talked and we
got to know each other,

And he does not wanna be
an usher forever.

-One day he wants to open up
his own restaurant.
-His own restaurant?

And he's an usher?
What is he, 15, 16?

No, no, no. He's 40,
and he wants to open up
the restaurant with me.

- Why with you?
- Because...

I would... i would do
all of the cooking,

And i'd write out the menus
and i'd... i'd keep the books.

-A-And what
would he do?
-He will be the manager.

Wait. If he's the manager,
then why doesn't he write out
the menus and keep the books?

- 'Cause he has
a reading handicap.
- What?

- He has a reading handicap.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Hold it a minute. Hold it.

What are you saying?
He can't read?

You're not supposed to get out
of your chair, louie. That's
not the way i pictured it.

Well, maybe i'm gettin'
my own little picture here.

Now, this guy is,
what, illiterate?

- No. He can read... a little.
- What does that mean,
"a little"?

His name?
Now, you listen to me.

Either this guy
is pullin' your leg, or else
he's after something.

- Now, is he after something?
- Maybe this is not the right
time to talk about this.

No, i think it's
the perfect time
to talk about it.

What is this guy after?
Bella, has he touched you?

-Huh? Has he
fooled around with you?
-No.

Louie, he's not
that kind of person.

What kind
of a person is he?
He's 40 years old.

He takes you to the park
at night!

He wants to open up
a restaurant with you,
and he can't read or write?

And how are you gonna
open up a restaurant, huh?
Who's gonna put up the money?

It would only cost
$5,000.

- Five thousand dol...
- Shh!

Why not $5 million?
And who is gonna put up
this five grand? Him?

No, i don't think so.
He doesn't have any money.

Oh, too bad.
Well, then who
does that leave?

-Don't yell at me, louie!
-I'm not yellin'
at you, bella!

I'm asking you a question!
Who does that leave
to put up the $5,000?

It's too terrible. Mama,
please tell them to stop!
Who does that leave?

-I would get the money
somewhere, louie.
-Bella, there is no somewhere.

You want mama to
sell the store.
Is that what this guy

No! He didn't
ask me anything!

Well, either this guy
is very, very smart
or he's very dangerous,

And he don't sound
very smart to me.

-So that only leaves
dangerous.
-He is not dangerous!

-How do you know that?
-They don't take
you at the home

Oh, my god!

- "The home"?
- I don't understand this.

Would somebody
please explain
all this to me?

Bella, honey,
this man sounds
very troubled.

Um, is he staying
at the home now?

No, he lives
with his parents.

He didn't like it
at the home. They weren't
nice to him there.

Mama, that's not
a nice place over there!

Bella,
sweetheart, i don't want

You to go to
the movies anymore.

I do not want you to see
this particular fella anymore.

He may be very nice,
but he sounds like he's got
a lot of wacky ideas.

-You know what i'm sayin'?
-Jay, arty, you said
you would back me up here!

Come on! You promised!

Back you up with what?

With the restaurant?
With the money? Is that
what this guy is after?

No, louie,
he wants more than that!

- What could possibly
be more than that?
- Me! He wants me!

He wants to marry me!

I want to marry him!

I want to have his children!
I want my own babies!

Jesus christ.

That's enough.
I don't want to
hear this anymore!

Why? You think
that i can't have
healthy babies?

Mama, i can.
I am strong as an ox.

I've worked in that store,
i've taken care
of you by myself

That's how strong i am.
I'm like steel!

Isn't that what you say
we're supposed to be?

Only my babies
won't die,

Because i will love them
and i will take care of them.

My babies will be happy
because i will teach 'em...

To be happy!

And not to grow up
and run away and never visit
when they're older.

And not to be so frightened
that they
couldn't even breathe,

And never, ever to make 'em
spend their lives rubbin'
my back and my legs...

Because you never had anybody
around you who
loved you enough

Because you
made it so clear...

You just didn't
wanna be touched...

With love.

You know what it's like
to touch steel, mama?

It's hard and it's cold,
and i don't want that
for my babies.

I want it to be
soft and warm.

Mama...

Let me have babies.

Please.

I gotta love somebody.

I gotta love somebody
who will love me back
before i die,

And i promise you,
you would never worry
about bein' alone,

'Cause you
would have us.

Louie, tell her
how wonderful that could be.

Gert! Wouldn't that
make her happy?
Wouldn't it?

Mama, please say yes.

Mama? Mama?

I need you
to say yes!

Please!

Somebody, please hold me.
Please hold me.

Later that night...

Something happened that i know
you wouldn't approve of,
but i hope you'll forgive me.

Even the bar's closed.

Look at this guy.

Hey!

Louie!

Where do you think
you're goin'?

Harry, it's empty!

Where is he?

- Where's my money?
- What money?

My goddamn money!
I don't know what
you're talking about.

I found the bag in the house!
I was running away from home!

Tell me where he is, or this
is where you stop runnin'.

I don't know.
I swear.

I'm gonna find him, kid,
and then i'm gonna find
the money, and if not,

You better pray
you don't see me again.

Harry!

I'll send your car back
in an envelope!

Thanks, jay-Jay!
You got moxie, kid!

He had two bags!
The son of a bitch
had two bags!

I know it was wrong
for me to help uncle louie
get away, pop,

Because maybe
he was a crook.

But after what i saw grandma
do to aunt bella tonight,

I thought
someone in this family
oughta help somebody else.

Arty!

Where do you think
aunt bella could be?

Gone four days.
She's somewhere in the city.
I'm worried.

-Maybe uncle louie
took her with him.
-He didn't take me.

You think he's gonna take
aunt bella and her 40-Year-Old
usher from the home?

Hi, aunt gert.
How's grandma?

- She looks tired.
- She wouldn't even let me help in the store.

Any idea where
aunt bella is?

She's at my house.
She doesn't want
anyone to know.

-Is she ever
comin' back?
-Who knows?

She's meetin' with
that man today.

Sorry. It's hard
for me to talk.

Isn't there something
the doctors can do for that?

- I don't have it that much.
- It's mostly when i come here!

I-I-I'll call ya.
Tonight.

Bye, honeys.

Hi, johnny. I guess you're
wonderin' why you haven't
seen me for a few days.

Uh, w-We have a new
bette davis picture tonight.

I got more things
on my mind
than bette davis.

I haven't been home
for four days.

I might never
go back.

-Henry fonda's in this one.
-Johnny, listen to me,
'cause this is important.

We can open up
the restaurant
any time you want.

I got the money.
Five thousand dollars.

I got it right here
in my purse.

Mr. Margolis said...
said, uh...

He might be opening
another theater soon.

Uh, uh,
a bigger one.

Yeah, but you don't wanna be
an usher forever.
You told me that.

And look, you know what?
I even found a place. It's
right next to a bowling alley.

People get hungry
when they bowl.

What? Y-You don...
you don't want it?

Y-You're afraid
of running a restaurant?

- 'Cause i told you,
i will do most of it.

Oh, okay, okay, okay.

Listen. An usher
is a good job.

Maybe, if the theater
is bigger, you would
make more money.

- I-I have to go.
- Wha... why?

-I have to go!
-Uhhh.
Why? Because of me?

Is that what your parents
want you to do?

'Cause i never really
got a chance to talk to 'em.

It's... it's... it's...
it's just that it's
not a good day today.

It's not a good day for what?
It's not a good day
to open a restaurant?

It's not a good day
to get married?

It's not a good day
to have a baby?

It's not a good day
for any of that?

Oh, god.

Don't... stop. Don't cry.
It's all right.
It's all right.

You don't have to do
anything you don't wanna do.

I promise.
I would never
do that to you.

Never.

Hello, mama.

I brought you a coffee cake
from greenbaum's.

It's still warm.

Are you home for good,
or this is a visit?

I don't know.
I thought i would come back
and talk to you about that.

The way you talked to me
the night that you left...
without a word?

No, not without a word.
I told you how i felt.

You were the one that
walked out on me, mama.

I heard what you had to say.

I didn't
have to hear more.

Mama, look at me.

Mama. Mama.
Look at me!

I'm not cryin',
and it's not 'cause
i'm afraid to cry.

It's 'cause i got
no tears left in me.

I feel
pretty empty inside.

Like you feel
all the time.

How would you know
how i feel?

Boy, you just don't think
i know anything, do you?

You think i'm stupid,
don't you?

- No, you're not stupid.
- Then what am i?

Am i crazy?
You think i'm crazy?

-Don't use
that word to me.
-Why not?

Are you afraid of it?
Mama, if that's what i am,
don't be afraid to say it.

'Cause if i'm crazy,
i should be in a home.

And then you'd be all alone,
and you wouldn't like it.

Is that why you don't
use that word, mama?

Is it?

Is it?

You want to know
what you are, bella?

You are a child.

That's what
the doctors told me.

You're not crazy,
not stupid, a child.

And that's how i treat you,
because that's all
that you understand.

You don't need doctors.
You don't need
to live in a home.

This is where you live,
where you can be watched
and taken care of.

You will always be
a child.

And in this world,
where there is so much hate
and sickness and death,

Maybe you're better off.

You stay a child
and be glad that's
what god made you.

Then why did he make me
look like a woman...

And feel like
a woman inside?

And wanna have all the things
that a woman should have?

Is that what i'm supposed to
thank him for?

Mama...

I know that i get
confused sometimes.

I know that i get frightened,
but if i'm a child,

Why can't i be
happy like a child?

Why can't i just be
satisfied with dolls
instead of babies?

-Well, i'm not so smart
i can answer those things!
-Well, i am.

Maybe i'm just as smart
as a child, but some children
are smarter than grown-Ups.

Some grown-Ups i've seen
are very stupid...
and very mean.

You don't have
responsibilities, bella.

It's responsibilities
that makes meanness.

I don't wanna be
your responsibility!

Then who will be
responsible for you?
Yourself?

That man that
you run away with

God only knows what else.
Things you would never
dream about.

You stay the way
you are, bella.

You don't know yet
what such feelings
could do to you.

Yes, i do.

I know what other things
you're talking about,

'Cause they happened to me.

They happened
'cause i wanted
them to happen.

You're angry, so you
tell me lies? I don't want
to hear these childish lies.

When i was in school,
i let boys touch me.

And boys that i met
in the park.

Some nights
when you were sleeping,

I went downstairs
and i let 'em in.

And not just boys.
Men too.

You stop this.

You dream this stuff
in your head!

I needed somebody
to hold me,

To tell me that i was pretty.

You never once told me that.

-Some of them even told me
that they loved me.
-Oh...

All right,
all right, all right.
I know. I didn't believe 'em.

Except johnny.

And i thought
for the first time
in my whole life,

Maybe i could
be happy.

So that's why i ran away.

I even brought him
the $5,000 for the restaurant.

Is something else that you
dream about? Where
would you get $5,000?

-Where did you get this?
-Does that look like
a dream to you?

Did you steal
from me? Huh?

You know where
i keep my money.
You're the only one.

You thief.

You steal from
your own mother, huh?

- You thief!
- Oh!

Do it.
No, do it, do it!

Hit me.
Crack my head open.

Make me stupid and crazy.
That's what you really
think i am!

-Isn't it? Isn't it?
-Get out
of my house!

You go live
with your thief friend!

You want the rest
of my money?
Go take it.

It won't last too long.
You'll both
have to steal again

I don't want your money.

Here. Here!
You take that.

Louie gave that
to me.

Maybe he's a thief too,
but he is my brother,

And he cared enough
to wanna help.

Thieves and sick little girls,
that's what you got!

Only god did not make us
that way!

You did! You!

We're alive,
but that's all we are.

Rose and aaron
are the lucky ones.

Don't say that.

God, don't say that to me.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean
to hurt you like that.

Yes, you do.

It's my punishment
for being alive...

For surviving
my own children.

For not dying before them.
That is my sin.

Go on.
Take louie's money.

You think i don't know
what he is? He stole
since he was five years old.

It was the year aaron died,

And i closed off from him
and from everybody.

I lost rose...

And then i lost aaron.

I couldn't stand
losing no more.

Mama?

Go on.
Open your restaurant.

Live your life.
Have your babies.

If it's a mistake,
let it be your mistake!

If i've done wrong by you,
it's for me to take care of.

There is
no restaurant, mama.

He's afraid
to be a businessman.

He likes being an usher.

He doesn't
want babies.

He doesn't want
to get married.

He just wants to live
with his parents
'cause he knows

And that's
enough for him.

Then maybe he's
more lucky than you.

Yeah. Maybe.

But i can't stop
wanting those things.

And it can't be the same
between us anymore, mama.

It can't.

I'm gonna put
my things away.

I think we've both
said enough for today,
don't you?

I'm just
writing to tell you...

That jay and arty are fine,

But something's happened to me
that i can't figure out yet.

Lately, i feel so happy
and so sad at the same time.

Did you ever feel that way?
I'd tell you more, but i don't
have any more room.

Love, bella.

- No, i'll stay.
- -Eight months later, we got a card from pop...

Saying he was
coming home to get us.

Then one night,
uncle louie called aunt bella.

He said he didn't know
if he could ever come back
to yonkers again,

But said he was now
the richest guy
on guadalcanal.

Grandma didn't say anything,
but she didn't come out
to dinner that night.

Jay, come here.

What?

There he is.

That's him. It's pop!
Come on. Let's go!

He's here, grandma.
Pop is here!

No, you stop right now.
You hear me?

-But pop is here.
-You want to say
good-Bye to me,

We're not leaving this minute.

Ah, you come here quick.
You say good-Bye quick.

Yes, grandma.

I just wanted
to say thank you
for taking us in.

-I know it wasn't
easy for you.
-That's right, it wasn't.

Well, it wasn't easy
for us either.

Oh, ho. You're not afraid
to tell the truth.

Well, that's good.

Maybe you learn
something here.

Ja, maybe now
i get little rest.

What were you two
looking for that night
under the ice cream?

My money, maybe, hmm?

No, i swear.

Oh, ho, don't swear.

You lie to me,
you lie to everybody.

Yes, grandma.

It was in the mattress
you were sleeping on.

Oh, gee.

Hey-Hey!
Come here, you guys!

Pop!

Oh, look at you guys.

Eddie! Wait!
Jay! Arty!
Don't go yet!

Eddie!
- Hey, bella! Come here!

It's so good
to see you,
sweetheart.

-You look wonderful.
Yeah.
-Yeah? Do i?

I lost ten pounds.
Yeah, well,
it looks great.

Really?
'Cause i put it back on
a month ago.

Listen, uh,
i better go upstairs
and see mama.

Oh, yeah, you better. Oh...
thank you
for everything, bella.

All right,
close your eyes,
both of you.

Close 'em.

The basketball is for jay,
and the football is for arty.

- Do you like 'em?
- Holy mackerel!

This is
incredible.

I didn't know
if i got the right size,
so i took a guess.

Well, back up.
Let's throw it around.

Okay, okay,
but don't throw it
too hard.

As hard as it was
coming to live with grandma,

All right, let's go, guys.
It was twice as hard
leaving aunt bella.

'Cause in the ten months
since we came,

She lost johnny,
she lost uncle louie,

And now she was losing
me and arty.

- Bye, aunt bella.
See ya soon.
- Bye.

Bye!

Bye!

Well, i'll get dinner started.

Would you mind
eating early tonight, mama?

I'm goin' out
with a friend.

A girl.

I got a new girlfriend.

She likes me,
and i like her.

She also has a brother
that i like.

He works in a library.
He can read everything.

Do you think
maybe during dinner...

We could listen to some music
on the radio, mama?

Okay, it does... it doesn't
have to be tonight.

Just think about it, okay?

I wish i could
say that while aunt bella
started to make dinner,

Music came on
from the living room,

But it didn't.

I wish i could say
that grandma went to
the cemetery with bella...

To see aaron's grave
on his birthday,
but she didn't.

And then one day,
early on a sunday morning,

The most unexpected thing
happened.

Aunt bella left home.

She didn't know where
she was going or what
she was going to do.

People who saw her
from the window that day...

Said she looked
a little scared,

But she just kept going.

And then, a few months later,
we got a postcard from bella.

Dear eddie, jay and arty:

In case you're worried,
don't be.

I'm in florida.
I got a job in a restaurant.

The important thing is,
i'm on my own.

It might be a little late
in life to suddenly get born
all over again,

But at least i got
the walkin' part over with.

Love, bella.