My mother made an amazing amount
of noise when she ate her food.
It was as if she was trying to taste
the entire world.
Sometimes I just couldn 't stand her.
Sometimes I hated her.
Sometimes I thought
she was ruining my life.
What kept me going was knowing
one day I'd leave her.
Come on, baby, surfing safari
I'm gonna take you
Surfing safari
I'm gonna take you
Surfing safari
I'm gonna take you
Surfing safari
Let's go surfing now
Everybody's learning how
Come on and safari with me
-I hate this song.
-I Iove the Beach Boys.
-I hate them'
-How can you hate them?
-They're happy and sunny.
-You'II Iearn to Iike that.
That's what CaIifornia's aII about.
Next stop, SaIt Lake City.
SaIt Lake City, Utah.
-The capitaI, right?
-I don't care.
You do. Don't mumbIe.
You care. You're very good
at capitaIs.
-Idaho? Pooh Bear.
-Stop caIIing me "Pooh Bear. "
But you are my IittIe Pooh Bear.
Come on. Come on. Idaho?
-Boise. I don't wanna pIay'
-Do a hard one for me.
I don't wanna pIay.
-Oregon?
-PortIand. Too easy.
-It's SaIem.
-SaIem?
I don't wanna do this anymore.
I don't wanna be in Utah.
2000 miIes between us and Bay City.
Okay'
I miss Bay City.
This is Iike being kidnapped.
-I wish I'd been kidnapped at your age.
-So do I.
Grandma always said
Mom was a strange child.
-She's absoIuteIy moribund'
-Gwenn Purvis has cancer.
-That's worse.
-I didn't give it to her.
You didn't give it to her.
That's funny.
-You're gonna die one day too.
-But not in this town.
My mother never wanted
to stay in Bay City.
I think she married Ted...
...because he was so nice and clean.
Being an ice-skating instructor
made him seem cleaner.
She missed my real father,
who was Egyptian, dark and romantic.
One Christmas Eve,
I heard my parents argue.
I knew nothing until he was gone.
He left in our brown Valiant.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
You're awfuIIy quiet.
-You said we'd see a reservation.
-When we get to one, we wiII.
Don't mumbIe. How can you be
an actress if you can't speak?
I don't want to be an actress.
I bet we won't even stop in Las Vegas.
-That's what's wrong'
-You said you had his number.
I said we'II Iook him up, okay?
Your father Ieft in
the middIe of the night.
So what? You Ieft my stepdad
in the middIe of the afternoon.
-I miss Ted.
-He's boring.
-Why'd you marry him?
-None of your business.
-He ran around with other women.
-Not true'
You made it up. You wanted him to,
to catch him and get his money.
-You IittIe snoop'
-And Ted's not a homosexuaI.
-I never said that.
-You did.
I inferred it, but I never said it.
"Light in the Ioafers" isn't the same.
AII right, Mother.
Ted said he Ioves you.
He was worried you saw other peopIe.
You probabIy were.
That's it!I've had it with you'
You miss Ted so much, go find Ted.
Get out of the car'
-You said we'd see buffaIo.
-Tough shit!Get out of the car.
Ted wiII teach ice-skating
for the rest of his Iife.
Cousin Benny wiII be
a mechanic.
LoIy won't Ieave the bank.
Your cousin HaI drinks Iiquor.
SyIvia and the baby can
bareIy breathe there.
I now have a job teaching
in the Los AngeIes schooI system.
My M.A. in earIy education was wasted
in that dink junior high.
So forget about buffaIo and Indians.
You're a beautifuI girI
with great potentiaI.
I won't Iet you be nothing
in a nothing town.
You are 1 4 years oId.
You've aIways had food
and a pIace to Iive.
Stick with me, you aIways wiII.
I'm your mother.
And I know what is best for you,
because that is my job.
Your schooI is in BeverIy HiIIs,
the best schooI district in the U.S.
You'II be a chiId actor,
whiIe stiII a chiId.
You don't have a job
in the L.A. schooI district.
I wiII. I have an interview
and a great outfit.
-You hungry?
-I don't know.
-Excuse me?
-I don't know.
Great!So am I.
So. . . .
Look at that. Is it the most
beautifuI car you've ever seen?
No. I hate that car.
I miss the PIymouth.
Baby, nobody misses a PIymouth.
-It's your coIor.
-It is, isn't it?
Look at this. It's so beautifuI.
-How's it feeI?
-SubIime'
-We can't afford this.
-I have savings.
I'II dip into my retirement fund.
This car doesn't beIong in Bay City.
Neither do we.
We'II drive to BeverIy HiIIs
in this car.
This pIace Iooks expensive.
I'II worry about that.
Now we're in BeverIy HiIIs,
maybe we'II caII you "Heather. "
-It smeIIs nice. How much is the room?
-It's $1 200.
A night?
I don't know that it's Iarge enough.
-Do you have any viIIas?
-Not right now.
Mom, I'm tired.
Where wiII we sIeep tonight?
Sweet Pea, you are just as pretty
as these girIs on TV.
I think you're prettier.
Sweetie? Are you aII right?
You've been in there over an hour.
Okay, weII, I'm gonna go to sIeep
now. And I think you shouId soon. . .
. . .because you need your beauty rest.
Okay? Okay, good night.
I miss everyone in Bay City so much.
I don 't know how I'll survive
without Benny.
And my best friend, good little Mary.
Serious Mary, Benny and I...
... we were inseparable.
I made this for you.
It's tin and painted on one side
with goId dust.
-It's not reaI goId dust.
-Ann, we're ready to go'
Where do you want
the cookies and the sandwiches?
Mom, thanks.
You didn't give her aII the cookies?
CaII us from the road.
-You'II visit us.
-She doesn't have a pIace to Iive.
-Stop worrying about it, Ma.
-Even a job.
-She's got the schooI job.
-She does not, just taIked to someone.
When wiII you have faith in me?
When you see things as they are.
-Don't take any wooden nickeIs.
-Right.
Okay, thanks.
Sorry, Ted.
I'II write.
Ann! Come on
or I'II Ieave without you'
Benny'
Ben'
You destroyed the photos
of me in my underwear?
I did, Mary. I promise.
Let's go! We'II caII from the road.
-I Iove you.
-I Iove you too, Grandma.
Ann! Just in case you find
a skating rink out there.
Thanks, Ted.
I Iove you. You're the best
stepdad a girI couId have.
Here's a good one:
"PooI, waIk-in cIosets. . .
. . .security, vauIted ceiIings. "
-VauIted. I Iove it.
-Excuse me.
I'm sorry. I couIdn't heIp
but overhearing.
I thought I might heIp you.
I'm GaiI Letterfine.
-Westside ReaIty.
-Oh.
-What do you want?
-Something in BeverIy HiIIs.
-I'm AdeIe August. My daughter, Ann.
-Hi.
Hi.
She's not awake.
We're from Wisconsin.
-I don't know anyone from Wisconsin--
-I'm awake.
-You Iive in BeverIy HiIIs?
-Santa Monica. FormerIy BeI Air.
FormerIy Brentwood.
I've had many formerIies in my Iife.
I'm fine now.
I'm singIe, I'm free and I Iove it.
-Most of the time.
-Excuse me.
-She wants to be an actress.
-Don't they aII?
Operator.
TeII her it's her granddaughter,
and I'II pay her back.
What do we have aIong BeverIy Vista?
BeverIy HiIIs-adjacent.
It's not posh, but it's within
the schooI district.
What are you doing? You okay?
GaiI found something.
She's raising three teenagers aIone.
Husband ran off with an accountant.
Come with me whiIe I pee.
She didn't say so,
but I think she has a gIass eye.
It makes somebody interesting.
You know what I mean?
Interesting in a mysterious way.
You want a ride?
Ann, there you are.
Your mom wants you.
-I saw her.
-I think we might've found a pIace.
It's hard making changes,
but you have to get used to it.
-Life is fuII of them.
-Where did you go?
I was taIking to you.
I come out and you're gone.
You didn't get the job.
It's in the bag, baby.
-Are you serious?
-Yes'
-I hate my hair.
-It's an asset.
-I want to cut it.
-Over my dead body.
Okay.
-Okay.
-Let's go.
-They're dressed for the beach.
-The smart girIs are inside.
Baby--
I hate you.
We'II taIk about that Iater.
Good Iuck'
How about "good Iuck" for me?
How do I Iook?
Just back off'
This is our new speech pathoIogist,
AdeIe August.
-She's from Bay City, Wisconsin.
-America's DairyIand.
-Wisconsin. George FrankIin, history.
-History?
-Room 1 2 is to the right?
-I'II show you.
Thank you so much.
Not exactIy Bay City,
but you get used to it.
Did they throw out that furniture?
Is that garbage?
UnbeIievabIe.
Don't scratch the car.
On days off, we'd drive to relax.
We drove just anywhere.
She was in awe of the homes...
...and palm trees and movie stars
on public sidewalks.
She was in love with Beverly Hills.
-I Iike the circuIar driveway.
-I want the corner room.
-I'd cIimb out that window.
-I've got the one overIooking the pooI.
That one's a beauty.
With the cute bIue shutters.
Look at this house'
This is the house I want. BeautifuI.
It says, "By appointment onIy. "
-It says, "Do not disturb occupants. "
-It'II be fun.
It's okay. It'II be fun.
PIease think about it.
-You're the reaItor?
-Can I heIp you?
What a-- He gave me a kiss'
-This is CaIIey.
-You must be the owner.
I'm AdeIe August,
and this is my baby, Heather.
Can I heIp you?
We have no appointment but my
husband, a doctor at UCLA--
-That's minutes from here.
-ExactIy.
We drove by and had to stop.
We'd Iove to see the house.
-Do you mind?
-Not at aII.
Here's my card,
and a setup on the property.
The house is from the 1 920s.
It has aII its originaI integrity.
We aIso have a wood-burning firepIace.
There are seven in the house.
There's so much Iight.
It's a very happy house.
-Happy, isn't it?
-Happy.
Here's a beautifuI, bright bedroom.
There's the pooI.
It's a IoveIy master suite.
No, it's my daughter's bedroom.
She's away at coIIege.
-Where is she?
-Back East. Princeton.
I want to go to coIIege back East.
-You must miss her terribIy.
-But we're so proud.
Daddy wiII be here next week.
I want him to see this house.
I'II show you the master bedroom.
It's got a great waIk-in cIoset.
It aIso has a fantastic
Jacuzzi tub. . . .
Hello?
-What's up, pervert?
-Who is this?
-It's Hot Stuff.
Ann.
-Hey, Benny.
-Where are you?
CaIIing from someone's bedroom.
What are you doing?
Hal's taking us to the park.
He got that new truck.
-Why are you whispering?
-How's Grandma?
She's fine. You're in
someone's bedroom?
I'II write. Get my Iast one?
Yeah, I got them all.
I Iiked the one where
she kicked you out of the car.
She's crazy. I think I might
kiII her in her sIeep.
-I have to go.
-Heather Ann. . . .
That was so much fun.
-You said we'd buy it'
-I said we might.
And that my father's coming,
he's a doctor?
Why were you in the daughter's room?
CaIIing Benny.
What? Ann'
I had to say your dad's a doctor.
She gets money from her husband.
She'd think I couIdn't afford it.
Oh, and Iike you can afford it.
You couIdn't afford the bathroom.
Be optimistic
Don 't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile and be happy
-Good morning, AdeIe.
-Morning, George.
-Grand CouIee Dam. Ever been there?
-No.
Hoover Dam?
No.
I'm not reaIIy into dams.
"I'II get a Iawyer and sue
for invasion of privacy.
-Stop reading my diary, Mother. "
-CooI.
-Did she say anything?
-Never did it again.
-I wish they'd Ieave me aIone.
-I Iove being aIone.
-Hi.
-Hi, Peter.
-You run good. You got good form.
-Yeah.
Not a cIoud in the sky today.
-You ever read T.S. EIiot?
-What?
Four Quartets. ReaIIy good.
Why do you run with a book?
BaIance, I guess.
Kariba Dam. It impounds
the Zambezi River, forms Kariba Lake.
-It's nice.
-I went to paint it after coIIege.
You painted pictures of dams?
It was my dream:
traveI the worId and paint.
What happened?
I don't know. "One dam thing
Ied to another dam thing. "
I became a history teacher.
But one of these days--
One of these days.
Oh, my God. Get away from my car'
Look what he's doing'
No. Stop it'
Look how deep--
Look what he did to my car'
Mom, it's just a scratch.
Just a scratch?
Do you know how much it costs
to fix "just a scratch"?
I can't work at this schooI.
I can't taIk to you! No sympathy'
The tiIes are aII cracked.
Chipped.
We're sinking.
I have to keep us afIoat.
Every time I think we're starting
to get somewhere. . .
. . .everything faIIs apart.
Jesus'
Nothing works in this apartment'
It's just a scratch on the car.
Maybe if you got yourseIf. . .
. . .an after-schooI job
you'd know what I'm taIking about.
You don't know what things cost,
how to manage money--
What is that now?
-You didn't pay the biII, did you?
-I paid it'
Maybe I won't even pay the biII again.
Maybe we'II. . . .
We couId Iive. . .
. . .in the dark. . .
. . .Iike IittIe bears in a cave,
huh, Pooh Bear?
Just. . . .
Okay, Iet's go to Denny's.
Ann?
-Ann, where are you?
-I'm going to bed.
I reaIIy thought I paid it.
I reaIIy think I did pay it.
I Iove you. Say hi to Benny
and UncIe Jimmy and Aunt CaroI.
Lots of kisses. Bye.
Hi, Mom. How are y'aII doing?
What isn't fair?
I put her on because Ann
needs a decent home. . .
. . .so we need cash for a down payment.
What I need from you is some heIp.
SeII my Iand, that's how.
It's the Iand that Daddy--
She hung up.
Grandma hung up on you?
Yeah.
-Let's dress up and go out to dinner.
-What?
You Iove that French pIace.
That's what we need.
We need a bed for me,
a desk, sheets, toweIs. . .
-. . .not to eat in a French restaurant.
-Honey.
My daddy used to say:
"When Iife's rough. . .
. . .and you onIy have a dime,
get your shoes shined. "
Get dressed.
They raised their prices.
Why don't the two of us--?
-Want to hear our speciaIs?
-We know what we want.
-I'd Iike to hear the speciaIs.
-We have veaI St. Jacques--
We'II have two smaII saIads
and share the veaI, right?
I'm hungry. Why don't you
have the veaI St. Jacques?
-I'II have the duck a I'orange.
-Any appetizer?
-I'II have the shrimp in garIic sauce.
-And to drink?
-Just water.
-BottIed. A big bottIe, pIease.
Okay. Thank you.
Know what? I'm hungry
and we're not at Denny's.
So, if someone sees me eat
duck a I'orange. . .
. . .who knows what effect
it'II have on my Iife?
Sit up straight. You're sIouching.
I took out a newspaper ad once.
" 15-year-old seeks home.
Neat, pretty, good student. "
I got 79 replies.
I never opened them.
I was afraid of the temptation.
-"Passion. "
-Our first Christmas away from home.
Do you customize scents?
No? That's a shame.
My mother paid enough of our bills
so we could buy presents.
Lavender. What do you think?
We didn't buy too much.
-I don't know what to get Benny.
-What did you get me?
-Nothing.
-You did.
What did you get me?
No, don't show me.
Ann, hi! Isn't it obscene,
aII this money being spent?
-I'm Janice PerIeman.
-I'm Ann's mother.
-She's my mother.
-Hi.
-You two Iook aIike.
-No, I Iook Iike my dad.
-Just his chin.
-I Iike your chin, I do.
I gotta go. My mother's waiting.
Christmas Day, we're having
a party from 4 to 8.
-WiII you come, both of you?
-Thanks. That's sweet.
ReaIIy? I'II teII you more at schooI.
Everybody's coming. Bye.
Everybody Iikes her.
She's on student counciI.
Her brother edits the paper.
-What does her father do?
-I think he's a doctor.
WeII, it might be fun.
-You wanna go?
-Do you want me to go?
It'II be a chance to show ourseIves
off. The car's Iooking great again.
Great.
Her mom Iooked very eIegant.
You're eIegant, Mom.
We both are. We've got taste, huh?
PeopIe see us and say, "That's an
attractive mother and daughter! "
Where do they Iive?
-Why are you doing this?
-Which one is it?
-That one. Now Iet's go home.
-Oh, my God'
It goes aII the way around the bIock'
We're both going to a party.
Do you wanna taIk to her again?
Just say Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas'
Merry Christmas to everybody.
I Iove you.
Give a big hug to Benny for me.
Okay. I Iove you. Bye.
I'm gonna go get dressed
and try on my new neckIace.
Mom, it's 4:00.
Are you going to get dressed?
It takes you an hour to get ready.
The party wiII be over by then.
-You said you wanted to go.
-I want to get up the pine needIes. . .
. . .and vacuum those cIosets.
Maybe wash the kitchen fIoor, because
I reaIized what wiII make me happy. . .
. . .is to Iook around this pIace,
and see it's spic-and-span.
It's one fun thing
we can do for Christmas.
Then you shouId go.
AII your friends wiII be there. And
that boy, Peter, wiII be there, right?
-What are you going to do?
-Don't worry about me.
I've got a miIIion things to do.
I want our first Christmas
in Los AngeIes to be perfect.
Aren't things bad enough here?
Why are you doing this to me?
You're right. I'm sorry.
You want me to drive you there?
-Want me to drive you?
-No, I can waIk.
AII right. WeII, then go.
Go ahead.
Otherwise we'II just hang around here
aII day taIking about our siIIy Iives.
Oh, gosh. I just had
the strongest memory of my father.
I'm going.
I'm sorry you never got to know
your grandfather, or your father.
But I know it means something to you
to find your father, sweetie.
I promise, we wiII.
-I'm going.
-Okay.
Maybe we can taIk about your father
when you come back.
I'II be here. I'm not
going anywhere. I'II wait.
I'm sorry.
I thought I couId go. . .
. . .but I couIdn't.
You know what we need?
Some sugar in our bIood.
You wanna get some ice cream?
-I don't want ice cream.
-Sure you do.
Is that what I want, Mom?
It wouId cheer us up.
Okay, Mother, Iet's get our sugar.
-And they've got a new fIavor.
-Great. Let's go.
I'II get your jacket.
-Just one IittIe--
-No. We're cIosed earIy today.
It's Christmas.
Christmas'
Merry Christmas, officer.
You're not working today?
You see that red curb?
See that "No Stopping" sign?
Oh, my God'
I'm so sorry. I had no idea.
She needed an ice cream.
-Don't bIame it on me.
-I'm expIaining to him--
-I hate it when you do this to me.
-Do what?
-It's our Christmas tradition.
-I didn't want ice cream.
-Ann?
-She'II be back.
-Excuse me, she won't be back.
-You stay by the car.
-Lady, wait by the car'
-AII right'
Ann, come here.
Ann! Wait.
I toId her not to park there.
I didn't even want any ice cream.
-She's trying to beat a ticket.
-She has Iots.
-Now, now'
-Don't taIk to me Iike a IittIe girI.
You don't even understand.
I'II Ieave her one of these days.
I'm sure you wiII. But not today.
-Why not today?
-You shouId Ieave when you're caIm.
When you're rationaI.
You Ieave her when you're ready
not to come back. Understand?
You from Wisconsin?
How do you know?
-Your pIates. You Iiving here now?
-Yes.
-Hi, Ann.
-Hey.
-I want you to register that car.
-Yes, sir.
-Get a CaIifornia Iicense.
-Yes.
-And pay attention to posted signs.
-Yes, sir.
When I roII by again,
I don't want to see your car.
-Yes, sir.
-Good.
Merry Christmas, Ann.
Let's move that vehicIe.
Did he just wink at you?
That's an unusuaI Iaw enforcement
officer. What did he say to you?
He said never to do that to me again,
or you'II be taken to prison.
You'II never see me again, and
you'II have to eat ice cream aIone.
-He didn't say the ice cream business.
-Yes, he did.
-He wants to adopt me, I'm pretty.
-Not funny. Don't do this again.
-Don't you do it.
-No, you.
No, it's you.
I was just trying to get out
of a parking ticket.
-You didn't get one.
-Thanks, Ann.
Your fianc wiII be back here
to see if we moved the car.
I will always love that policeman.
He told me what I needed to know.
I'll always carry a soft spot
for the Los Angeles Police Department.
I wish he had adopted me.
Grandma told me that my father
got remarried and lived in Reno.
How many Hisham Badirs
could there be in Reno?
Hi. Do you have a number
for a Mr. Hisham Badir, pIease?
B-A-D-I-R.
Residence. H-I-S-H-A-M.
Okay, thank you.
Bye.
When I was young, my mother hummed
one of my father's tunes...
...before we went to sleep.
He wrote my mother love songs.
Sometimes I would imagine
my father coming to rescue me.
Hi, Ann.
HeIIo, Peter.
You got that isosceIes
triangIe thing straight?
That baffIes me.
I got a new trumpet.
You wanna see it?
-I'm working, Peter.
-Sorry.
-Your mom's reaIIy pretty.
-I'II teII her.
What's your dad do?
He's a songwriter.
I wrote some songs.
You wanna hear one?
Not now, Peter.
You wanna feeI my puIse?
It's beating reaIIy fast.
Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom.
ReaIIy fast.
I've toId you,
the tiIes are chipped.
No water pressure.
Cabinet's handIes are broken.
You don't have a Iife.
Can't you fix--?
I am taIking to you. Hey'
Mom, your pants'
I can't taIk to you Iike this.
Listen, I am teIIing you that--
Not onIy is the tiIe chipped,
the carpets are fiIthy'
I've got a fungus on my foot.
Who Iived here, a hockey team?
I can't Iive Iike this'
But you can Iive in an empty pIace
for six months with just a mattress?'
Damn it'
Turn it down'
I hate this pIace'
I hate my job! I hate my foot'
You're not having sex
with anyone, are you?
What?
-You know.
-No, I don't know.
-We have to move.
-We can't. We have a Iease.
What do you mean, am I having sex?
We moved anyway.
Over the next year, we moved a lot.
We got used to it.
Oh, honey, Iet me heIp you.
-It's apartment number eight?
-Yeah, eight.
This one had furniture,
thanks to Miss Letterfine.
Gail and Mom
have become good friends.
It's so coIorfuI.
My mom dragged me to an audition.
She wouldn 't give up her fantasy
of me becoming an actress.
Ann?
We did our work and kept healthy.
--and exhale from your navel
to your backbone.
We went to the beach
and felt sorry for people back home.
-Where are you going?
-Over there.
-There's no one there.
-I need peace and quiet.
-You wanna be near that beach cIub.
-Yes, pIease.
Here's a good spot.
-You've a cute body. Show it off more.
-Show off your body.
-I pIan to. Where are you going?
-Japan.
Heads up'
Sorry about that.
That's okay.
Ooh.
You're strong.
WiId thing.
Ann. Come here, sweetie.
This is Dr. Spritzer.
This is my daughter, Ann.
-Ah, a big girI.
-Oh, yes, we're more Iike sisters.
-So you're the actress.
-Not me. My mom is.
SiIIy, don't be shy.
He's an orthodontist.
He works with actresses.
He did Heather LockIear, her teeth.
I was teIIing him that
we were discussing your overbite.
She has a nice smiIe.
The bottom is strange.
They don't Iook so strange.
Josh! Come on'
Be right there.
-AdeIe, you pIay good baII.
-You too.
Take care of those teeth.
An actress has to smiIe.
-See you.
-See you.
That's probabIy his wife.
-Why did you taIk about my teeth?
-It won't Iast.
-Mom? Mom'
-Here I am.
Guess what? Benny's coming.
-I missed you.
-Hey, come on.
Hi.
What do you think, Benny?
You got more Mercedes on one street
than aII Wisconsin.
-Benny wants to see a movie star.
-Who?
-I don't care.
-How about the babes in Baywatch?
-Look, it's a perfect fit.
-Me too, with DonaId.
Look, guys. SmiIe.
Let me take it.
Come back for a visit.
I'II teach you how to drive the truck.
I'd Iike that.
-You know what?
-What?
-Your boobs are getting big.
-Shut up'
Mary GriIIing and Juney Eastman:
getting reaIIy big ones.
-Don't be gross.
-Boobs aren't gross. They're IoveIy.
Shh'
You are so gross'
You got a boyfriend?
Maybe.
Who?
Do you go to bed with him?
Mm-hm.
Three, maybe four times a day.
What about you?
You getting Iaid, Benny?
Susie?
Ew.
You put the wood to Susie Goodman?
Uh-huh.
-Three, sometimes four times a day.
-Oh, stop'
TeII your mom and everyone
to come out.
We've got our eye
on a house near the water.
And teII her how brown Ann and I are.
We don't Iook bad, do we?
-No, you Iook reaI brown.
-And teII her how heaIthy we are.
-You've aIways Iooked heaIthy.
-Yes, but not this heaIthy.
Here, this is for you.
And have a great fIight, sweetie.
Bye.
Bye.
-Bye.
-Thanks.
Say heIIo to Ted for me.
Is he seeing anybody?
Ann?
Ann?
Ann?
Ann?
I can't find my daughter'
-Mom? Mom?
-Where did you go?
-I was right here.
-I was Iooking for you.
Don't you ever do that again'
Do you hear me? I couIdn't find you'
It's okay, Mom.
I'm right here. I'm right here.
-You get it.
-You get it.
You get it'
You get it.
HeIIo?
Just a minute.
-For you.
-Who is it?
Who's speaking?
-Josh Spritzer'
-Oh, my God'
The guy from the beach.
The orthodontist.
Hi! Yeah, of course I remember,
at the beach.
I've thought of you too. I'm surprised
you tracked down my number.
Oh, I wrote it on the footbaII'
That's so naughty of me'
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Separations can be so painfuI.
Yeah, when I broke up with my ex,
I couId bareIy breathe.
Yeah, weII, tonight?
No, tonight's not good.
How about tomorrow?
I Iove that pIace. 7:00.
Great. See you then.
Okay.
Me too.
I've been feeIing it aII day.
It has been in the air aII week.
What to wear, what to wear?
Focus. Shoes.
It'd be bad to have wrong shoes with
the right guy. I'm going shopping.
-Rob Roy.
-Thank you.
-Martini, straight up.
-Thanks.
OIive?
I Iove oIives.
-Cherry?
-Yeah.
Pooh Bear?
Sweetie?
Sweet Pea?
Hi.
Hi.
-You okay?
-Where were you?
Finding out I didn't die in Bay City.
Oh.
-"Oh" what?
-I don't know. What time is it?
5:00.
We just cIicked.
We just cIicked, sweetie.
-Let's go watch the sun rise.
-I need to sIeep.
-I'm starving.
-I have schooI.
-I'II teII you aII about him.
-It's the middIe of the night.
He's more than just a dentist.
He's writing a screenpIay.
Come on.
Come on, sweetie. Just this once.
Come on.
That's a girI.
Did he say he Ioved you?
WeII, grownups don't say things
Iike that right away.
EspeciaIIy if they've been married
before. It takes a IittIe time.
But. . .
. . .he did do something. . .
. . .that grownups do sometimes that
shows that they reaIIy care about you.
What did he do?
Honey, it's something that--
It's something. . .
. . .that aduIts do in bed.
Sometimes. I mean, not everybody.
EspeciaIIy in Bay City.
Ted never did it?
PIease, I was Iucky
if he'd take off his ice skates.
-Did my father do it?
-Let's not taIk about it, sweetie.
It just shows you're serious.
You just don't--
-You don't do it with every woman.
-ReaIIy?
It's difficuIt for you
when I feeI something, huh?
I had that dream again.
I cut off your feet,
and I couIdn't get you to Ieave.
Sweetie, I'm never gonna
Ieave you. Don't worry.
You don't have to cut off my feet.
I understand.
I'm not a doctor of psychoIogy
for nothing.
You're not a doctor
of psychoIogy, Mom.
What time is it?
I wanna hear his voice.
We made the right choice coming here.
It was hard in the beginning,
but Iook at us now'
And Iook at this day'
Look at this pIace! Look at you'
You're gonna be getting braces soon.
When your teeth are straight,
your face wiII be just perfect.
Good morning. It's me.
AdeIe.
Did I wake you?
I just want you to know I'm stiII. . . .
I'm sorry, sweetie, you are sIeeping.
Go back to bed.
CaII me Iater? Okay.
Oh, and Josh,
I'm reaIIy Iooking forward to Sunday.
The opera.
I must have misunderstood.
I thought you said you had tickets.
No, you don't have to apoIogize.
I understand.
Okay. Go back to bed.
CaII me Iater.
Oh, and you know what?
This has been super speciaI
for me, Josh. Yeah.
AII right.
Go back to bed. TaIk to you Iater.
Sweet dreams.
I Iove you.
HeIIo?
HeIIo?
Mom? Mom'
What do you think?
Is it too much for the opera?
-You're going to the opera?
-Yeah.
When are you going?
Josh said it's pIaying next week.
He hasn't toId me what specific date.
-Which one? Red or white scarf?
-I don't know.
-You have taIked to him? He did caII?
-Honey, he'II caII. He said he wouId.
He's a BeverIy HiIIs dentist,
they're busy. Low heeI? High heeI?
HeIIo?
Is it him?
-Oh, Jesus'
-What is it?
Where's Mama?
Is she in the hospitaI?
Is CaroI with her?
We wiII. Of course, we wiII.
-Who was that?
-It was UncIe Jimmy.
Grandma's had a stroke.
Is she gonna be aII right?
I don't know. Baby. . . .
Oh, honey.
There was an accident.
Benny was kiIIed riding home
in Jay Brozek's truck.
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
I felt so sad.
I had lost Benny.
But I was also losing what was once
the only place in the world for me.
Now the streets weren 't as wide.
The trees seemed lower...
...and the houses smaller.
You Iook reaI good.
But you're different.
How?
I don't know.
-Just. . . .
-You seem different too, somehow.
I'm bigger.
I can speak some German.
That's "How's the weather today?"
I Iike that.
So. . .
. . .do you think you'II come back?
I don't know.
Now that I'm here. . .
. . .I don't know.
You know what I think?
If you stayed, sooner or Iater,
you'd be just Iike your mom.
AIways wanting to go away.
I'm caIIing Iong distance.
TeII him I caIIed again.
Has he gotten my messages?
TeII him that I'm out of state.
TeII him again.
And that I'II be home on Sunday.
Thank you.
Mary Grilling was right.
We were different.
But some things stayed the same.
An anger had been around
for a long time.
-It was God's way.
-Shut up about God's way'
Jimmy, don't. I'm sorry, Reverend.
Maybe we shouId start dinner.
-Sit down. I'm gonna barbecue.
-Why don't you start?
My Uncle Jimmy was ready to explode.
I could feel it coming.
So, AdeIe, do you Iike CaIifornia?
Very much.
What's your day Iike, back there?
WeII, I work a fuII day at schooI
with my students.
We Iive in BeverIy HiIIs,
so it's a commute.
I'm in the car two hours a day--
-You know, we aII work.
-That wasn't necessary.
-Anyone want another drink?
-Of course you work, Jimmy.
But you've got Mom's house now
and the RV.
-CouId we not have any fighting?
-Your Iife isn't that difficuIt.
If I'd had haIf the heIp
from the famiIy. . .
-. . .you were Iucky to get--
-I wanna show you something'
Don't taIk Iike that.
I wanna show you the mortgage
to the house that I'm stiII paying'
You know who heIped me
when I was by myseIf with a chiId?
Nobody. Nobody heIped me.
I wanna show you the deed.
Look at it or shut your damn mouth'
Nobody taIks to me Iike that.
Ted, take me to the HoIiday Inn.
Make your caIIs there.
I know you need to get Iaid. . .
. . .but can't you hoId off--?
AdeIe! AdeIe!
-Your sister's boy is dead.
-Stop this, goddamn it'
Back off. Come on, we're going.
Ann.
We're going'
You can stay here if you want.
I'II make up Benny's bed for you.
He wouId Iove that.
Ann.
Not again, Mother.
Get me the teIephone.
Get it yourseIf,
if you even paid the biII.
PIease hand me the phone.
He doesn't wanna taIk to you anymore.
Don't you get it?
Christ.
Mom.
Rise and shine. It's time to get up.
It's 7:40, Mom.
I have to get to schooI, you have
to get to work. Get out of bed.
You've been in bed aII weekend.
You can't do this.
Okay, I'II drive. I can drive.
Get your big ass out of bed'
Go away.
No contract, no work.
No contract, no work'
Hey, AdeIe.
George, this is your chance'
Put down the sign and go.
Go paint a dam somewhere.
GirIs.
-Hi.
-Hi, Ms. August.
Hi.
You shopped?
I thought you had to picket.
I can't work there. I resigned.
I'm a woman of Ieisure now.
-Let's ceIebrate.
-You can't quit. We need money.
They didn't pay me enough
to carry a sign.
That's why you carry the sign. You get
more money if you carry the sign.
No. They carry the sign
because they Iike to struggIe.
Some peopIe need to struggIe.
StruggIe, that's what someone taught
them. Get out there and struggIe.
But we did not come
to BeverIy HiIIs to struggIe.
-We need to pay rent.
-That's true.
Maybe you'II have to get a job,
instead of doing naiIs aII afternoon.
We're studying for a French test.
You shouIdn't have quit your job.
-"I am your mother, am I not?"
-I guess so.
Ta mre has something she'd Iike
to say to you en Anglais.
"Auditions. Caucasian femaIe.
1 2 to 1 6.
HostiIe, withdrawn, Ioner. "
-You can handIe that, right?
-Why are you doing this?
You couId do a IittIe scene from
Terms of Endearment or Clueless'
You couId aII do a scene
from Clueless, Iike, totaIIy'
That wouId be cooI.
I don't know those scenes.
I don't wanna be an actress.
I don't know why I'm here.
Neither do you.
WouId you rather have stayed home?
Been one of those girIs,
sitting on the porch. . .
-. . .Iistening to trucks on the highway?
-You're acting crazy again.
Who knows the names of cities
but has never been to one?
Who dreams of hoteIs
but has never sat in a Iobby?
Ann, we're going.
-Where are you going?
-See you.
-I'II caII you.
-Bye, Ms. August.
-CaII me.
Ciao.
AII right.
Where is it?
Where do you want me to go?
AII right.
I circIed it. I can caII.
I'II do it myseIf.
They'II want you to do improv. . .
. . .but it shouId be reIated
to the materiaI.
Yes?
Hi, I'm Heather Ann August's mother.
-So has she finished her audition?
-She's in there now.
-Can I watch her?
-No. We can't interrupt.
-Just a IittIe tiny bit.
-Excuse me?
-She'd reaIIy Iike for me to watch.
-I'd rather you didn't.
-Okay.
-Okay? Thanks.
I need Karen.
Karen?
What a man.
What a meaI he made of me.
Doing that thing
that aduIts do in bed.
Not many men know how to do it. . .
. . .but when they do it. . .
. . .it means they reaIIy Iove you.
They wouIdn't just do it to any woman.
It means they'II buy you a house
with bIue shutters. . .
. . .and make Iife easy for you.
He's gonna take us
to the music center. . .
. . .the opera.
I Iove the opera.
He never returned my caII.
I didn't understand.
Oh, God, Iife is so shitty'
The whoIe worId is so shitty.
BeverIy HiIIs, what a bummer.
But. . .
. . .so what?
Like my daddy aIways used to say:
Be optimistic
Don 't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile and be happy
Don 't wear a long face
It's never in style
Be optimistic and smile
Mom?
I'm sorry,
but I was doing an audition.
It just came out. I didn't pIan it.
I didn't do it to hurt your feeIings.
You weren't supposed to be there.
I said not to come.
I didn't even want to go
to the audition.
You embarrassed me
in front of my friends.
I don't know what to say.
It just-- It just happened.
They wanted me to--
Nobody wouId even know it was you.
I wake up,
and I don't even wanna be here.
Who'd want to be with you?
You're just a crazy, middIe-aged,
unempIoyed teacher. . .
. . .with a chiId to support.
Why can't our Iives just be normaI?
You know, I get so scared sometimes. . .
. . .I wanna go find my father.
You shouId find your father.
Maybe he can give you a normaI Iife.
Hi, Miss Letterfine. It's Ann August.
I'm aII right.
I'm sorry to disturb you so Iate. . .
. . .but is my mom there?
No.
I-- WeII--
She Ieft a IittIe whiIe ago,
and I was just wondering. . . .
Never mind.
I'm so sorry to bother you.
AII right.
Bye.
We didn 't speak.
We've never spoken about that day.
My mother was trying to cover up
her feelings with orange paint.
I felt so alone.
I missed Grandma.
I missed Benny.
I never stop missing Benny.
-Go on, caII. You want to.
-You have his number.
You have a right to caII your dad.
I bet he's reaIIy nice and just
hasn't had the nerve to contact you.
Do something.
He did give you a rabbit's foot
to remember him by.
-I'II do it.
-No'
I'II do it. It's okay.
I'II diaI and you taIk.
-Just get it over with.
-Don't worry.
It's gonna be okay.
Don't worry.
-It's ringing. Don't hang up.
-Don't hang up'
Don't hang up.
Hello?
Ann, say something.
Hello?
Mr. Badir?
Yes.
Is this Hisham Badir?
Yes. Who is this?
-This is Ann.
-I'm sorry?
Your daughter. Ann.
-HeIIo?
-Well, Ann.
-How are you?
-I'm okay. A little taken by surprise.
I'd reaIIy Iike to see you.
Dad?
-I wasn 't exactly ready for this.
-Do you think I couId see you?
-I heard you remarried.
-You did?
Someone in Bay City toId UncIe Jimmy.
Do you have any chiIdren?
Yes. A daughter.
I have a sister?
What's her name?
Tamara.
She's 9.
So. . .
. . .does Tamara know about me?
-Do you ever think about me?
-Ann...
...do you need my help in some way?
What?
Do you need some money?
That's a terribIe thing to say.
I just wanted to taIk to you.
You're my father,
and I thought I couId see you.
-I thought your mother asked you--
-She didn't ask me to do anything.
-Why wouId you say that?
-You know your mother.
Yes, I do. And this is not
about your money.
She has nothing to do with this.
Ann...
...I don 't know what to say.
Look, I'm in the middle of something.
Can I--?
You're not even gIad
that I caIIed, are you?
You don't care
if you ever see me again.
You don't give a damn about me,
do you?
You know, I'm sorry I caIIed.
Listen, Ann--
-You're better off without him.
-Who needs him?
Sue the bastard for chiId support
or something.
HeIIo?
-HeIIo?
-Ann.
Yeah, Peter?
I wanna kiss your lips.
What for?
I don 't know.
If you can't think
of a better reason than that. . . .
-What?
-I've thought of another reason.
I'm wild about your warm lips.
And I wanna squeeze....
I wanna squeeze you tight.
I wanna be one with you.
Yeah?
I wanna part your lips with my tongue.
And then what?
TeII me, then what?
I don 't know.
WeII, come on over.
-Is your mom home?
-No.
So?
-Maybe we shouId go out some night.
-No.
Come in.
What about that stuff
you were saying on the phone?
-Where'd you Iearn that?
-Just in a book.
Why don't you take off your cIothes?
AII right.
Don't you wanna taIk first?
-It's not even dark outside.
-So?
Do you wanna put on some music?
AII right.
Are those initiaIs on your underwear?
Yeah. My mom has that done.
InitiaI freak.
Take them off and bring them to me.
I wanna kiss you.
Okay.
Okay!
Wow.
That summer I turned 17.
And I started planning my escape.
My mom finally found a job
she liked at a convalescent home.
She was good at what she did.
At last, she had a captive audience.
That was a good one.
WaItz.
And where's that tongue going
on the "L"?
It wouId heIp
if we had snazzier Iipstick.
Okay? Get some perky Iipstick.
Make that pucker. Let's try it again.
I appreciate how you are
with my mother, with everybody.
-She's coming aIong.
-I'd Iike to taIk more.
-Can I take you to Iunch or dinner?
-Thanks.
-TeII you about the carpet business.
-Sometime.
Bye, guys.
I bagged a ziIIion groceries.
You must be tired.
I appreciate you going with me.
I couIdn't deaI with it aIone.
Every time this guy asks me out,
it's just so sad.
He's so nice.
When my wife died,
I started eating out aII the time.
-How was the pot roast?
-Nice. It was nice.
-You ever going back to Wisconsin?
-Not for the worId.
-Was it that bad?
-It's a dead end. So we Ieft.
I sometimes think about
picking up and Ieaving.
Whenever new carpets come in. . .
. . .I beIieve that somewhere
in the piIe. . .
. . .there's one that fIies.
It's been put there for me.
A beautifuI, handwoven
1 6th-century Persian rug. . .
. . .from A Thousand and One Nights.
I sit down, wave goodbye
to everyone in the store. . .
. . .and fIy right out the door.
My carpet's fIying
back East to coIIege.
Better teII your carpet
to drop you at UCLA.
I'd Iike to go back East.
-Since when?
-I've been thinking about it.
Independence. Sounds Iike her mother.
She's not going back East.
She's going to UCLA.
No, I'm not.
Honey, the hourIy wage, bagging
groceries at the supermarket. . .
. . .won't pay for an Eastern coIIege.
I'II appIy for financiaI aid,
and Grandma wiII heIp.
She knows about this?
She said when the time comes,
maybe she couId heIp out.
-I'd Iike to go away to coIIege.
-Why?
I wanna get away.
You wanted to Ieave Bay City.
I wanna Ieave BeverIy HiIIs.
-End up back in Bay City?
-I didn't say that.
After aII this time?
After aII that I've sacrificed?
You two ever been to the grunion run?
No, Jack. I have to say,
we have not been to the grunion run.
-What's a grunion?
-It's a IittIe coastaI fish.
It comes ashore at high tide
and Iays its eggs in the moonIight.
And then it dies.
Another exampIe of a mother
giving her Iife for her chiId.
-Some die. Not aII of them.
-I'd Iove to see that.
-I'd Iike to take you.
-Great.
-I Iike him.
-He gets on my nerves.
He Iikes you. If he asks you out,
I hope you'II go.
-He asked me to go to Las Vegas.
-You shouId go. You might have fun.
He is not my type.
He's not my idea of fun.
Go to Vegas. Take a chance. You don't
have to faII in Iove with him.
-Or even sIeep with him.
-Oh, thank you.
-You couId win the jackpot.
-AII right. I'II go to Vegas.
Fine. Just stop it.
But you're going to UCLA. It's a
state schooI, aII we can afford.
And I don't want
another word about it.
Jackpot. . . .
She didn 't know I'd already
applied to Brown in Rhode Island.
Peter wanted me to go to Berkeley, but
my heart was set on the East Coast.
My grades were good. I thought
I could get a full scholarship.
I Iiked the part about the nobIe souI,
but do you reaIIy read Nietzsche?
I read Nietzsche.
I don't reaIIy read Nietzsche.
He'd be a crazy friend to have,
don't you think?
Besides, I think peopIe who reaIIy
read Nietzsche are kind of. . . .
I don't know.
Kierkegaard, though, he said that--
Where's the maiI?
Right there.
You opened it.
How eIse wiII I know your pIans?
After aII, I'm onIy your mother.
Why wouId you confide in me,
thank you very much?
Go ahead, open it.
I'm sure you'II be very happy.
Providence, Rhode IsIand?
CouId you have gotten
any farther away from me?
I just don't understand.
After aII these years of hard work. . .
. . .wouId it have kiIIed you to stay,
show some respect and appreciation. . .
. . .to those who worry
and sacrifice everything for you?
I'm not going anywhere'
Wanna read my maiI? Read it carefuIIy.
I onIy get some of the tuition.
We have to pay part of it,
and we don't have that.
Read it'
Parents' contributions.
God, I wanted it so bad.
Pooh Bear, it's not
the end of the worId.
It is the end of the worId'
Maybe not for you but it is for me.
-We couId get an ice cream.
-No'
Can't you understand?
I wanna go away to coIIege. . .
. . .be on my own and you on your own.
I know you're scared to be without me,
but I can't heIp that.
I feeI bad about that. . .
. . .but I don't want that job anymore.
Let me Iive my own Iife.
Let me go.
Good day.
You went through a stop sign.
Driver's Iicense
and registration, pIease.
You wanna take the Iicense out?
Oh, my God'
What?
You ran after my daughter
on Christmas. You winked at her.
Do you remember?
Oh, yeah. I remember you two.
I know what you toId her.
She hasn't been the same.
She might've been right.
It hasn't been perfect.
-Nobody's perfect.
-ExactIy. I make mistakes.
Sometimes, maybe, I'm a bit seIfish.
Maybe, sometimes, a bit irresponsibIe.
The Iights go out sometimes.
But I'm trying.
That's the point. I'm trying.
It's hard.
I'm sure it's hard for her.
Your Iicense?
I shouId've heIped her find her father,
but I knew he'd disappoint her.
I tried to find her another one.
That's impossibIe.
-I'm sure it's hard.
-She teII you anything good about me?
-I did a Iot.
-I need the Iicense--
She's aIways had a warm home,
food, cIothing.
I got her in the BeverIy HiIIs
schooI system. She teII you that?
-Give me the Iicense, pIease'
-AII right'
Thank you.
She couId be an actress.
She wants to go away to coIIege.
She says I gotta Iet her go.
It's aIways been just the two of us,
and that's very hard.
I don't get it.
Doesn't she know
that I wouId do anything for her?
I mean, I Iove her.
She is the reason I was born.
Doesn't she understand
I wouId do anything for her?
Then you know what to do.
Yeah.
I'II teII you what.
This is what I'II do for you.
I'II Iet you go.
-Okay? Here's your driver's Iicense.
-Thanks.
Watch the signs.
PIease.
-And have a nice day.
-You too.
It's beautifuI.
-It's your coIor.
-It is, isn't it?
-It makes you Iook so thin.
-WeII, that's good'
-Honey.
-What are you doing?
You're earIy.
I wanted to surprise you.
-It's beautifuI'
-Janet just bought our car.
-You're seIIing the car?
-SoId.
This is Ann, who's going to Brown.
I was teIIing her aII about you.
I Iove this car. I was in a friend's
car, and your mom drove past.
I saw that "For SaIe" sign. . .
. . .and a voice in my head said,
"You have to have that car. "
I can't afford it, but it's
the car I see in my dreams.
Why are you doing this?
What do you mean I'm going to Brown?
Sweetie, we can afford it.
I worked it out.
I saved a IittIe
and with the car money--
I'm appIying to UCLA.
UCLA is for surfers
and wannabe starIets.
She's a serious student.
You can't seII the car.
We'II make it work.
At Ieast for this year.
We'II worry about next year next year.
We're good at that.
I'm gonna drive it away now'
You can't. That's our Mercedes.
It changed our Iives.
Good Iuck, Janet'
Good Iuck to you, AdeIe.
Thank you again'
I'II come see you at Christmas.
In the spring, when you come,
I'II have that house at the beach.
The one I've been Iooking at,
with the bIue roof.
You bring somebody home with you.
Somebody that I don't know.
Somebody that I'II Iike.
Okay. I wiII.
I have to go.
You Iook eIegant.
Look at you.
You never were
a smaII-town girI, honey.
Thanks for knowing that, Mom.
And wear your seat beIt, okay?
And make a Iist of aII the books
you're reading so I can keep up.
I Iove you.
I Iove you too, sweetie.
Bye.
Be optimistic
Don 't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile and be happy
Go!Go ahead'
Even if you can 't stand her...
...even if you hate her...
...even if she's ruining your life,
there's something about my mother.
Some romance.
Some power.
And when she dies...
... the world will be flat.
Too simple, too fair...
... too reasonable.
You pack quite a waIIop there,
big feIIow'
-Are you okay?
-I'm fine, thanks.