Broken Glass (1996) - full transcript

[soft dramatic music]

-[soft dramatic music]
-[crowd yelling]

-[soft dramatic music]
-[woman gasping]

-[soft dramatic music]
-[crowd yelling]

[glass shattering]

[soft dramatic music]

-[kid laughing]
-[soft dramatic music]

Hey.

[soft dramatic music]

Sylvia, give me three minutes.

Two minutes.



[Sylvia] How was Jersey?

Same as ever.

Jersey's Jersey.

Is your sister coming?

And David.

I think he'd prefer
the Cagney, don't you?

Didn't we see the Cagney?

Phillip, that was his last one.

[phone ringing]

[soft dramatic music]

It's Kevin Sullivan.

[soft dramatic music]

Hurry, they'll be here
in a couple of minutes.

And remember to congratulate
David on his scholarship.



Kevin.

Flora, why don't you take
the rest of the evening off?

Thank you, Mrs. Gellburg.

Oh, did your brother
have any luck

getting that warehouse job?

I had to wake him at
three in the morning.

And when he got there, there
were more than 40 men in line.

[soft dramatic music]

Yeah, you've been very helpful.

[soft dramatic music]

David, I refuse to
discuss such nonsense.

Auntie Sylvia didn't
go to college, Ma.

Uncle Phillip didn't
and look at them.

There weren't 12
million unemployed then.

Joel Lieberman has
a college degree

and he's selling ties in Macy's.

David, we are gonna have

a nice family evening
out at the movie.

So enough.

[phone clicking]

Myra, don't you ever go home?

Yeah, listen, a
couple of years ago,

we used a local
plumber on a building

over from Wanamaker's
in Manhattan.

Yeah, Irishman.

Has a mortgage with us.

No trouble, Mr. Gellburg.

Give me a few seconds.

Is this something
to do with 611?

It's Mr. Gellburg.

Your annex idea, Stanton?

At the right price, Bill.

Gellburg is sleuthing for me.

I've had a preliminary
sketch done.

Take a look at it in
the car if you like.

I'd value your opinion.

Enjoy the opera, Mr.
Case, Mr. Vandalheart.

It was ABC plumbing,
Mr. Gellburg.

Owner is J. O'Leary.

[soft dramatic music]

General Gellburg.

[woman gasping]

What happened?

Sylvia.

[David] Auntie Sylvia.

I can't.

I seemed to.

I can't.

What happened?

She can't move.

She fell and she can't move.

Can't move, come on.

I can't move my legs.

[Phillip] Sure you can, Sylvia.

No, Phillip, I can't.

David, would you go
for the doctor, please?

Course.

Doctor?

Sylvia.

Dr. Hyman on Fifth Street.

He was very good with Papa.

You remember?

She'll be okay, come on.

Just past the trolley stop.

I'm sorry about the movie, dear.

Go for God's sake.

I'm sorry.

So sorry.

[Phillip] I can't believe
this is happening.

[dramatic music]

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

[dramatic music]

Dr. Hyman.

[soft dramatic music]

Dr. Hyman.

[soft dramatic music]

Dr. Hyman, your wife
said you'd be here.

What's happened?

Mrs. Gellburg, she's collapsed.

She can't move.

Jerry.

Can you finish rubbing
her down a little please?

Sorry, kid, emergency.

[soft dramatic music]

I'm so sorry.

[soft dramatic music]

[saw whirring]

Mr. O'Leary around?

[saw whirring]

I'll wait.

[saw whirring]

Mrs. Gellburg,
it's me, Dr. Hyman.

[Sylvia] Come in, Doctor.

How did you sleep?

Better than usual.

Isn't that strange?

That's a lot of work.

And as soon as old Mr. Wanamaker

gets back from his cruise,

guaranteed he'll give us the
go ahead in those boilers.

Not that we don't
have other work.

I was just in the
neighbourhood, Mr. O'Leary.

Listen, we're talking
about your mortgage

near the renewal time.

[saw whirring]

I can't say it's obvious to
me how to proceed, Hyman.

This case is, well,
it's more than unusual.

[clock ticking]

Can I get you something?

Tea?

He said one o'clock sharp.

That new unions pulled a strike.

Imagine a strike in a hospital.

It's incredible.

You're Mrs. Hyman?

Yes.

We met at Mount Sinai
while he was interning.

It's nice to meet you
finally, Mr. Goldberg.

Gellburg, not Goldberg.

Oh, I'm sorry.

G-E-L-L-B-U-R-G.

It's the only one
in the phone book.

Does sound like Goldberg.

But it's not.

It's Gellburg.

You all right?

'Cause you seem a little pale.

I'm always this colour.

[soft dramatic music]

Oh.

[women laughing]

[soft dramatic music]

Thanks, Flora.

Well, Harry, will get to the
bottom of it if anyone can.

They call them from
everywhere for opinions.

You know, Boston, Chicago.

He oughta be on Park Avenue,

but he always wanted a
neighbourhood practise.

Why?

I don't know, but you can't
fight a person's nature.

Like me, for instance, I like
to talk and I like to laugh.

You're not much of
a talker, are you?

When I can get a
word in edgewise.

[laughs] So you've got a
sense of humour after all.

Well give my best
to Mrs. Goldberg.

Gellburg.

Gellburg, excuse me.

It practically
sounds like Goldberg.

No, no.

Look in the phone book.

It's the only one.

G-E-L-L.

She chew your ear off?

I've had worse.

Well, women are talkers.

But try living
without them, right?

[Phillip] Without women?

Oh well, nevermind.

I'm glad you could make it.

-Smoke?
-No, thanks.

Isn't it bad for you?

Yeah.

Certainly is.

But more people die
of rat bite, you know?

Rat bite?

Well yes, but they're
mostly the poor,

so it's not an
interesting statistic.

Dr. Sherman's report.

[Phillip] What does he say?

I'm getting to it.

[Phillip] Oh, beg your pardon.

You'll have to bear with me.

Wanna play, Phillip?

[Phillip] Certainly.

I'm gonna express myself
very quickly, Phillip.

Likewise, go ahead.

Take your time.

People tend to overestimate
the wisdom of physicians.

So I try to think things through

before I speak to a patient.

I'm glad to hear that.

[soft piano music]

God, Sylvia.

[soft piano music]

You all right, Flora?

I'm fine.

Next time, Flora.

Can you wait to do this 'til
you know I'm dropping by?

So what do you want,
steak or chicken?

Or maybe you'd like
chops for a change.

Philip doesn't mind
a little shopping.

I'm going anyway.

He's got enough on his mind.

Well, all right.

Get a couple of shops.

And what about you?

You have to start eating.

I'm eating.

What?

A piece of cucumber.

I had quite a long talk
with Sylvia yesterday.

I suppose she told you.

[Phillip] No, she
didn't mention it.

What about?

Well about her condition

and just in passing
your relationship.

My relationship?

[Harry] It was just in passing.

What'd she say?

[Harry] That you
get along very well.

Oh.

I found her a remarkably
well-informed woman,

especially for
this neighbourhood.

It's practically why we got
together in the first place.

I don't exaggerate.

If Sylvia was a man,
she could've run
the Federal Reserve.

You can talk to Sylvia
like you talk to a man.

I don't know about this doctor.

What did the specialist say?

We're waiting to hear.

I like Dr. Hyman.

And what is this with
newspapers night and day?

I like to see what's happening.

[Harry] They've been
smashing the Jewish stores

in Berlin all week.

[Phillip] My wife is
very upset about that.

I know.

That's why I mentioned it.

And how 'bout you?

Well, of course, it's
a terrible thing.

Why'd you ask?

I got the feeling she may
be afraid she's annoying you

when she talks
about such things.

She said she's annoying me?

Can't believe she'd
say a thing like that.

She doesn't annoy me.

She doesn't like to hear
about the other side of it.

What other side?

These German Jews can be pretty.

You know?

They won't take an ordinary
good job, you know.

It's gotta be pretty high up

in the firm or they're insulted.

They can't even speak English.

Well I guess a lot of them

were pretty
important over there.

I know, but they're supposed
to be refugees, aren't they?

With 12 million unemployed and
a fortune Roosevelt's pouring

into that welfare mishegoss,

you think they'd
appreciate a little more.

You almost sound
like a Republican.

Why?

The Torah says the Jew
has to be a Democrat?

You know what mystifies me?

Is that the Germans
I knew in Heidelberg.

I took my MD there.

You got along with them?

We had a marvellous
student choral group.

Fantastic voices.

Saturday nights we'd
have a few beers.

We'd go singing
through the streets.

People applauding
in the windows.

[Phillip] Don't say.

I simply can't imagine those
people marching into Austria.

And now they say Czechoslovakia
is next and Poland.

Nobody in the family ever
had anything like this.

You feel something
though, don't you?

I seem to have an ache.

Not only here.

My whole body seems.

I can't describe it.

It's like I was just born and
I didn't wanna come out yet.

Didn't wanna come out yet?

What are you talking about?

Dr. Sherman confirms
my diagnosis.

We can find no physical reason
for her inability to walk.

No physical reason?

It's what we call a
hysterical paralysis.

People who are anxious
enough or really frightened

can imagine they've gone
blind or deaf for instance

and they really
can't see or hear.

Do you think Sylvia might
have some kind of fear?

Since they started putting

all these pictures in the paper.

Made her angry or something.

At you?

In general.

Frightened.

Tell me about her collapse.

She was just starting down the.

I'm sorry.

Her legs turned to butter.

I couldn't stand her up.

She kept falling
around like a ragdoll.

She kept apologising.

It's all right.

I don't know what to do.

She's my life.

So what did David decide?

He's not going to college.

I don't believe it.

With a scholarship?

He says it wouldn't help
him get a job anyway.

Listen.

Tell him I have to talk to him.

Would you?

I was going to ask you,
but with this happening,

I didn't think you'd-

Never mind.

Tell him to come over.

And you must tell Murray
he's gotta put his foot down.

You got a brilliant boy.

I wish I knew what is suddenly

so interesting in the newspaper.

This is not normal,
Sylvia, is it?

Murray says the same
thing, I swear to God.

He came home last
night and said,

she's gotta stop thinking
about those Germans.

And you know how he
loves current events.

They're making old
men crawl around

and clean the sidewalk
with toothbrushes.

Who is?

In Germany.

Remember Grandpa?

One of the old men in the
paper was his spitting image.

He had the same exact
glasses with the wire frames.

I can't get it out of my mind.

On their knees on the
sidewalk two old men

and there's 15 or 20
people standing in a circle

laughing at them scrubbing
with toothbrushes.

There's three women
in the picture.

They're holding their
coat collars closed,

so it must've been cold.

Why would they make them
scrub with toothbrushes?

To humiliate them.

You can tell it to me.

Is she crazy?

Phillip, are you?

Am I?

In one way or another
who isn't crazy?

People like us maybe
the craziest of all.

Why?

Because we don't know we're
not and the other kind does.

I said I don't think I'm nuts.

[Harry] I wasn't saying that.

But what do you mean then?

You're not an easy man
to talk to, are you?

It's the way I am.

They don't pay me for
being easy to talk to.

You're in real estate?

I'm head of the
mortgage department.

Brooklyn Guarantee and Trust.

In fact, I'm the only Jew ever

to work for Brooklyn Guarantee
in their whole history.

Is that so?

Let me tell you my approach.

If possible I'd
like to keep her out

of that whole
psychiatry rigamarole.

Not that I'm against it but-

How could this be
a mental condition?

It's unconscious.

Take yourself.

I notice you're all in black.

I've worn black
since high school.

[Harry] No particular reason?

I always liked it that's all.

Well, it's a similar
thing with her.

She doesn't know why
she's doing this,

but some very deep,
hidden part of her mind

is directing her to do it.

You don't agree?

Well, I always like black
for business reasons.

Gives you authority?

I wanted to look a little older.

See, I graduated
high school at 15.

I was only 22 when
I entered the firm.

But I knew what I was doing.

You mean she is
doing it against me?

[Harry] I don't know.

What do you think?

[Man] But I can think
of no more certain way

of sacrificing American liberty,

destroying American equality,

and betraying American democracy

than to enlist with
a British empire

in behalf of a lost cause,
which is not even our own.

-[audience applauding]
-[soft piano music]

All her life she did
nothing but love everybody.

[soft piano music]

Be straight with me.

Is she gonna come out of this?

Well, let's talk again
after I see her tomorrow.

Maybe I should tell you.

I have this unconventional
approach to illness, Phillip,

especially where the
mental element is involved.

I believe we get sick
in twos and threes,

not alone as individuals.

You follow me?

I'd like you to do me a favour.

Will you?

[Phillip] What's that?

I'd like you to give
her a lot of loving.

Can you?

It's important now.

Say you're not blaming
this on me, are you?

What's a bit of blame?

Okay.

Phillip.

Yes?

Try not to let yourself get mad.

That's one miserable
little pisser.

I'm beginning to have a sour
feeling about this thing.

I barely know my way
around psychiatry.

I'm not completely sure
I ought to get into it.

Why not?

She's a beautiful woman.

Well is that a reason
to turn her away?

How you feeling, Auntie Sylvia?

I'm worried, David.

I guess we all are.

I mean-

No, not for me.

For you.

If I'd had a chance
to go to college,

I'd have had a whole
different life.

You're the best, Margaret.

A lot of good it does me.

If it really bothers you,

I'll get someone else
to take the case.

You won't.

You know you won't.

Not here.

Come on.

Should I tell you what
I'd like to do with you?

Tell me.

Yes, tell me.

Make it wonderful.

[phone ringing]

[baby crying]

Mr. Lentini.

Mr. Lentini.

Mr. Lentini, it
makes no difference.

I've given you two extensions.

I don't have an option now.

What's he supposed to
sleep on the street now?

Huh?

With a muster guest.

You hymie outfits.

Excuse me, please.

You wanna know something?

You make me sick.

Okay.

I'm gonna tell you something.

You know Hitler has
the right ideas.

You listening?

Your men will be
dead by February.

I didn't hear you come in.

I tiptoed in case
you were dozing off.

I bought you some sour pickles.

Oh.

That's nice.

Later maybe.

You have one.

I'll wait.

I was passing Greenberg's.

I suddenly remembered how
you used to love them.

Remember?

Thanks.

That's nice of you.

What were you doing
on Flatbush Avenue?

There's a property
across from A and S.

We're having to foreclose.

Oh, that's sad.

Are they nice people?

People are people.

I gave them two extensions but.

Oh.

How was it today?

I'm so sorry about this.

You'll get better.

Don't worry about it.

Oh.

There's a letter
from the Captain.

[Sylvia] Jerome?

General MacArthur
talked to him twice.

Hm.

Imagine.

I don't understand
this attitude.

Why?

I'm happy for him.

You don't seem happy to me.

I'll never get used to it.

Who goes in the Army?

Men who can't do anything else.

He could be the
first Jewish general

in the United States Army.

Doesn't it mean something
to be his mother?

Well, I said, I'm glad.

Don't be upset.

I wonder what my tests show.

That the specialist did.

I went to see Dr. Hyman today.

You did?

What did he say?

Phillip.

I wanna change some things
about the way I've been doing.

Tell me what Dr. Hyman said.

He thinks it could all
be coming from your mind,

like a fear of some
kind got into you.

But I'm numb.

[Phillip] Can I tell
you what I think?

What?

I think it's this
whole Nazi business.

They're smashing up
the Jewish stores.

The streets are covered
with broken glass.

Yes, but you don't
have to be constantly-

I can't move my legs
from reading a newspaper.

He didn't say that.

I'm willing if you-

It's ridiculous.

You'll talk to him
about it tomorrow.

You have to get better, Sylvia.

What is this?

Am I dying or something?

How can you say that?

I don't understand
what's happening.

I never realised it.

Look at me, will you?

I wouldn't know what to
do without you, Sylvia.

Honest to God, I.

I love you.

What is this?

You have to get better.

Listen.

I think Hyman's
a very smart man.

When we were talking,
something came to mind.

It may be, you know, if we
could sit down with him,

the three of us and maybe talk
about, well you know, every-

That doesn't matter
anymore, Phillip.

Okay.

But if you wanna talk-

We did talk about it.

I took it to Rabbi
Scheiner about it twice.

What good did it do?

Thought it would
change by itself.

It came out of nowhere.

I thought it would
go the same way.

I'm sorry, Phillip.

It didn't come out of nowhere.

You regretted you got married.

I didn't regret it.

You did, dear.

You don't have to
be ashamed of it.

I need to tell you the truth.

I thought if we separated,
I wouldn't die of it.

I admit that.

I always knew that.

But I haven't felt
that way in years now.

Oh wow [laughs].

I'm here.

Here I am, Phillip.

I'm trying to tell
you something.

But I said I'm here.

I'm here for my mother's
sake and Jerome's sake

and everybody's
sake except mine.

But I'm here and here I am.

And now finally you
wanna talk about it.

Now when I'm turning
into an old woman.

How do you want me to say it?

Huh, tell me dear.

I'll say it the
way you want me to.

What should I say?

I want you to stand up.

I can't stand up.

You can.

Come on, stand up.

I can't.

You can stand up, Sylvia.

You lean to me.

And you just get on your feet.

What are you trying to do?

What are you trying
to do, Sylvia?

[soft dramatic music]

-[keyboard clacking]
-[soft dramatic music]

[Myra] Mr. Case was
hoping he'd see you

before he left, Mr. Gellburg.

Caught traffic over
in Crown Heights.

You all right, Mr. Gellburg?

I'm fine.

I'm fine, thank you.

[hand knocking]

Yes.

Gellburg.

Good.

Sit down for a moment.

We're sailing out through
the narrows in about an hour.

It's a beautiful day for it.

Are you all right?

You don't look well.

I'm fine.

Good.

Have you come to
anything final on 611?

I like the price.

I can tell you that right off.

Yeah, the price is not bad,
but I have a few comments.

Before I forget.

Had a very nice
letter from Jerome.

My boy.

Oh yes.

How's he doing?

They bringing him
out to Fort Sill.

Some kind of lecture
on artillery.

Really now?

Well, isn't that nice?

Then he's really intending
to make a career in the army.

Oh, absolutely.

[Stanton] Well,
that's good, isn't it?

It's quite surprising
for one of you people.

For some reason, I'd assumed
he just wanted the education.

No, it's his life.

I'll never know
how to thank you.

No trouble at all.

The point could probably
use a few of you people

to keep the rest of them awake.

[phone ringing]

Stanton Case.

Hang on, Bill.

Gellburg, would you excuse
me for a few minutes?

You know, I'm glad it's
you taking care of her.

My husband says the same thing.

[Harry] Thank you.

You probably don't remember,

but you once took out
her cousin Roslyn Fine.

She said you were great.

When was this?

Oh, NYU, maybe 25 years ago.

She adored you, seriously.

You used to take her to Coney
Island swimming and so on.

Well, give her my regards.

Now, 611.

You might recall we use the
ABC plumbing contractors

on a couple of buildings.

ABC?

I don't recall.

They're located in
the neighbourhood.

On a long shot, I
went over there.

I was wondering if
they may have done

any work for Wanamaker's.

What's Wanamaker's
got to do with it?

Number 611 is just one
block from Wanamaker, sir.

They're the biggest business
in the area after all.

And sure enough,
it turns out ABC

is patching up their system

because they
cancelled installation

of new boilers last winter.

A permanent cancellation.

[Stanton] And what
do you make of that?

I think it could mean they're
either moving the store

or maybe they're
going out of business.

Wanamaker's?

It's possible.

Either way, if Wanamaker's
disappears, Mr. Case,

that neighbourhood
is no longer prime.

Also Kevin Sullivan
over at Title Guarantee

says they turned
down 611 last year

and he can't remember why.

[Stanton] And what
are you telling me?

I would not touch number
611 with a 10 foot pole

unless you can get it at
a good defensive price.

If that neighbourhood
starts to slide,

611 is a great big
slice of lemon.

You've been more than
thorough, Gellburg.

We appreciate it.

I've got to run now.

I mustn't missed the tide.

Wife all right?

Yeah, she's fine.

Sure everything's
all right with you?

We don't want you
getting sick now.

No, I'm very well.

I'm very well.

Well, take a Brandy if you like.

Yes, sir.

I might.

[soft orchestral music]

Oh, Doctor.

[Harry] Hope I'm not disturbing.

Oh no, no.

I'm glad.

No, sit down.

You've been riding?

Yes, all the way
down Brighton Beach.

It's a long ride.

I expected to see you
jumping rope by now.

I think you're just trying to
get out of doing the dishes.

Stop.

You really love
riding, don't you?

Well, there's no
telephone on a horse.

Have you been
trying the exercise?

I can't do it.

You gotta do it, Sylvia.

You can end up
permanently crippled.

Let's have a look.

You feel this at all?

Well.

Not really.

I'm gonna pinch your toe.

Ready?

All right.

Skin feels a little too cool.

You're gonna lose your muscle
tone if you don't move.

Your legs are beginning
to lose volume and shrink.

I'm afraid you're getting
comfortable in this condition.

But what can I do?

I can't feel anything.

[Harry] I really should
find someone else for you.

Why?

I don't want anyone else.

You're a very attractive woman.

Don't you know that?

Sylvia, listen to me.

I haven't been this moved by
a woman in a very long time.

Wow.

You mustn't get anyone else.

Sylvia.

I can't play a game
with your health.

I know you wanna
tell me something.

I don't know how to
get it out of you.

You got to start helping me.

You can't just lie there
and expect a miracle

to lift you to your feet.

I would tell you if I knew.

Couldn't we just talk?

And maybe I could.

I like you.

A lot.

I love when you talk to me.

Couldn't we just like
for a few minutes?

Okay.

What do you wanna talk about?

Be patient.

Well, I'm trying.

Harriet says you used to take
out our cousin Roslyn Fine.

It's possible.

I don't remember.

Roslyn said you used to
do acrobatics on the beach

and all the girls would stand
around going crazy for you.

That was a long time ago.

And you'd take them
under the boardwalk.

Nobody had money
for anything else.

Didn't you use to
go to the beach?

Sure, but I never did
anything like that.

Can we talk about Philip?

I'd really like to.

No, no, no, it's all right.

Are you afraid right now?

No.

Not.

Yes.

Have you read Anthony Evers?

No, but I hear it sold
over a million copies.

It's wonderful.

Was Phillip your
first boyfriend?

Oh, the first serious.

He's a fine man.

[Sylvia] Yes, he is.

Is he interesting to be with?

Interesting?

[Harry] Do you have
things to talk about?

Well, business mostly.

I was head bookkeeper at Empire
Steel in Long Island City.

He didn't want you to work?

No.

[Harry] I imagine you were
a good business woman.

Oh.

I loved it.

Do I frighten you
talking like this?

A little, yeah.

But I want you to.

Why?

I don't know.

You make me feel hopeful.

You mean of getting better?

[Sylvia] Of myself, of getting.

Getting what?

Free?

Sylvia.

I want you to raise your knees.

Come.

Bring up your knees.

I can't.

You can.

I want you to send your
thoughts into your hips.

Tense your hips.

Strongest muscles in your
body are right there.

Now tense your thighs.

Those are long dense muscles
with tremendous power.

Oh.

Do it.

Drop your knees.

Come on.

Come on, do it for me.

Why are you so cut
off from yourself?

You should be dancing.

You should be stretching
out in the sun.

Why can't you open up to me?

Say anything, Sylvia.

I promise I won't tell a soul.

What is in your mind right now?

Tell me about Germany.

Why did you go there to study?

The American medical
schools have quotas on Jews.

But they hate Jews
there, don't they?

These Nazis can't possibly last.

Why are you so
preoccupied with them?

I don't know.

But when I saw that
picture in The Times

with those two old men on
their knees in the street,

I swear I almost heard
that crowd laughing,

but nobody really
wants to talk about it.

I mean, Phillip never even wants
to talk about being Jewish.

Like some, you know, to joke
about it the way people do.

[Harry] What would you like
to say to folks about it?

Oh, I don't even know.

Just to talk about it.

It's almost like
there's something in me.

Silly.

No.

What do you mean?

Something in you?

Well I have no word for it.

I don't even know
what I'm saying.

It's like.

Something alive.

Like a child almost,

except this is a
very dark thing.

And it frightens me.

That was hard to say, wasn't it?

You have a lot of courage.

I want you to imagine something.

I want you to imagine
that we've made love.

I've made love to
you and now it's over

and we're lying together and
you begin to tell me things

that are way down
deep in your heart.

Sylvia.

Tell me about Phillip.

Think about it.

We'll talk tomorrow again.

Okay?

[pensive music]

[soft dramatic music]

Coco.

[Margaret] Calms the nerves.

Have you lost weight?

A little I think.

Did you always sigh so much?

Sigh?

You probably don't
realise you're doing it.

You should have them
listen to your heart.

I think I'm all right.

Well I guess I've always sighed.

Is that a sign of something?

Not necessarily, but ask Harry.

I can't drink this.

[Margaret] Are
you eating at all?

I came to talk to him.

I was only trying to be helpful.

I'm kind of upset.

I didn't mean any.

Come in again next week.

I'm sorry but she means well.

Won't happen again.

I have to admit though.

She has a very good
diagnostic sense.

Women are more
instinctive sometimes.

Excuse me, I don't come
here to be talking to her.

Come on, Phillip, take it easy.

What's Sylvia doing?

I don't know what she's doing.

I decided to try to do what
you advised, about the loving.

Yes.

So I decided to try
to do it with her.

Sex?

What then, handball?

Of course sex.

What do you mean?

You've done it or
you're going to?

You see, we haven't
been really together

for quite a long time.

I mean, especially since
this started to happen.

You mean the last two weeks.

And sometime before that.

[Harry] I see.

So I thought maybe it
would help her if you know.

Yes.

I think the warmth would help.

In fact, to be candid, Philip,

I'm beginning to wonder if
this whole fear of the Nazis

isn't because she feels
extremely vulnerable.

I'm in no sense
trying to blame you,

but a woman who
doesn't feel loved

can get very
disorientated, you know.

Lost.

Something wrong?

She says she's not being loved?

No, no.

I'm talking about
how she may feel.

Your wife says I sigh a lot.

Does that mean something?

Could just be tension.

Come in when you
have a little time.

I'll look you over.

Am I wrong?

You sound like
something's happened.

This whole thing is against
me, but you know that.

Wait a minute.

What do you discuss with her?

You know, she talks like
you see right through her.

I wish I could.

We talk about
getting her to walk.

That's all.

This thing is not
against you, Phillip.

Believe me.

I wish you could trust me.

I would never believe
that I could talk

this way to another person.

I do trust you.

Good.

I'm listening.

I was wondering if
you could put me

in touch with somebody.

[Harry] You mean for yourself?

I have a problem sometimes.

Oh.

Well that's fairly
common, you know.

Ever happen to you?

Me?

Sure.

Few times.

Is this something recent?

Yeah, it's recent.

And also.

[Harry] I see.

Well, it doesn't help if
you're under tension, you know.

Yeah, I was wondering that.

Think of it like the ocean.

It goes out.

It always comes in again.

But the thing to keep in mind

is that she loves
you and wants you.

You know that, don't you?

You know, my
sister-in-law Harriet says

you're a real hot shot
on the beach years ago.

Years ago.

Yes.

I used to wonder if
it's because Sylvia

is the only one I was ever with.

Why would that matter?

I don't know exactly, but
it's just a print in my mind.

Maybe she expected more.

Well, that's a common
idea, you know.

In fact, a lot of men
take on a lot of women.

Not because of confidence,

but because they're
afraid to lose it.

Hmm.

I never thought of that.

A doctor must get a lot
of peculiar cases I bet.

Everybody's peculiar
in one way or another,

but I'm not here
to judge people.

I'll let you try to
tell me what happened.

Come on.

Give it a shot.

All right.

I come into the bedroom.

She's sound asleep.

She's even more beautiful
when she sleeps.

[soft piano music]

Get into bed.

Nothing like it
ever happened to me.

I got a big yen for her.

I gave her a kiss on the mouth.

She didn't wake up.

I never had such
a yen in my life.

[Harry] Did you make love?

Yes.

[Harry] What was the reaction?

She was gasping.

It was really something.

I thought of what you told
me, about loving her now.

I felt that I brought
her out of it.

[Harry] That's wonderful.

Did she move her legs?

Yeah, I think so.

Got scared, didn't she?

I got so excited I
didn't really notice.

I guess she must have.

Well, that's wonderful.

Why are you so upset?

Well, let me finish.

There's more to it.

Sorry, go ahead.

This morning I brought her
some breakfast, you know,

and started, you know, to
talk a little about it.

She looked at me
like I was crazy.

She claims she doesn't
remember doing it.

It never happened.

So what do you
think is behind it?

What would any man think?

She's trying to turn
me into nothing.

Now wait, you're
jumping to conclusions.

I want your medical opinion.

Could a woman not remember?

How did she look
when she said that?

She looked like I was talking
about something on the moon.

Finally she said
a terrible thing.

What did she say?

That I'd imagined doing it.

What's your opinion?

Well.

Could a man imagine
such a thing?

Is that possible?

Tell you what.

Suppose I have
another talk with her

and see what I can figure out.

You have an opinion, don't you?

Phillip, don't cross examine me.

Frankly, I can't follow
what you're telling me.

You sure in your own
mind you had relations?

How can you even
ask me such a thing?

I don't understand
your attitude.

Phillip, please, what attitude?

What are you talking about?

I swear, I'm gonna vomit.

I don't feel well.

What happened?

Has she said something about me?

About you?

What do you mean?

What could she say?

[Harry] I don't understand
why you're so upset with me.

What are you doing?

What am I doing?

What are you talking about?

She is trying to destroy
me and you sit there.

What are you doing?

Are you a doctor or what?

Why don't you give me a
straight answer about anything?

Everything is in and out.

Around the block.

Listen, I made up my mind.

I don't want you
seeing her anymore.

I think she's the one
has to decide that.

I am deciding it.

It's decided.

[soft dramatic music]

[Margaret] Are you in trouble?

Me?

I don't know, why?

You don't realise how
transparent you are.

You're a pane of glass, Harry.

Nothing's happened.

There's been nobody for
at least 10 or 12 years.

More.

I can't remember anymore.

You know that.

You know what baffles me?

Why I take your
suspicion seriously?

Now that's easy.

You love the truth, Harry.

[pensive music]

No.

[Margaret] What about asking
Charlie Whitman to see her?

She's frightened to
death of psychiatry.

She thinks it means she's crazy.

Getting this hysterical
about something

on the other side of
the world is sane?

When she talks about it,
it's on the next block.

And that's sane?

I don't know what it is.

I just get the feeling sometimes

it's like she's
connected to some.

Some wire.

Goes halfway around the world.

I think you've got to
get someone on this

who won't be
carried away, Harry.

I'm not carried away.

Margaret, she knows something.

I don't know what it is
and she may not either.

But I tell you it's real.

[pensive music]

[Sylvia] [screams] No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

[Phillip] I want you to know
how bad I feel about 611.

Yes.

Well, so it goes, I guess.

They gave no sign
they were talking

to Allen Kruschwitz
or anybody else.

It's very disappointing.

Certainly would have
made it perfect annex

and probably a great
investment, too.

Well, not necessarily.

If Wanamaker's-

Yes, about Wanamaker.

When I found out that
Kruschwitz had outbid us,

I was flabbergasted
after what you had said

about the neighbourhood
going downhill

when the store was gone.

Kruschwitz is no fool,
I need hardly say.

So I mentioned it to
one of our club members

who I know is related to a
member of the Wanamaker board.

He was simply
amazed at the idea.

But the men at ABC plumbing.

ABC lost that boiler contract

because Wanamaker's
changed to another company.

It had nothing to do with
the store moving out.

Nothing.

I don't know what to say.

Well, do you have any idea

what Kruschwitz
plans to do with it?

Me?

No, I don't really
know Kruschwitz.

Oh, I thought you said
you knew him for years.

Well, yeah.

We met at closings a few times.

Things like that.

I see.

I guess I misunderstood.

I thought you were fairly close.

I hope you're not.

I mean, I never
mentioned to Kruschwitz

that you were interested in 611.

Mentioned?

What do you mean?

Nothing, it's just.

It almost sounds like
I had something to do

with him grabbing the
building away from under you.

Did I say you did?

Look, I'm not clear about
what you wanted to say to me

or have I missed something?

No, no.

What you just said.

What's the matter with you?

I'm sorry.

I'd like to forget
the whole thing.

[Stanton] What's happening?

Nothing really.

[soft dramatic music]

[Man] Oh my goodness.

What a man.

* We went driving *

* We didn't walk *

* On love and please *

I simply can't
stand Eddie Cantor.

Can you?

Cut it out now.

Heard you laughing
halfway up the stairs.

[laughs] I know, but
I can't stand him.

Crosby's the one I like.

I can't stand these crooners.

They're making
10, $20,000 a week

and never spent a day
in medical school.

Anyway, I'm an opera man.

[Sylvia] I never saw an opera.

They must be hard
to understand I bet.

There's nothing to understand.

Either she wants
to and he doesn't

or he wants to and she doesn't.

Either way one of
them gets killed

and the other one
jumps off a building.

[laughs] Oh, I'm so
glad you could come.

You ready?

We have to discuss something.

My back aches.

Will you help me onto the bed?

Sure.

Here we go.

Did you hear all those
birds this morning?

A whole cloud of them
shot up like a spray

in front of my horse.

You know, as a child, when
we first moved from upstate,

there were so many birds and
rabbits and even foxes here.

On Coney Island, we used to
kill rabbits with slingshots.

[Sylvia] Why?

To see if we could.

It was heaven for kids.

I know.

Brooklyn was really
beautiful, wasn't it?

I think people
were happier then.

I am so glad honestly.

I feel good every time you come.

Now listen to me.

I've learned that
your kind of symptoms

come from very deep in the mind.

I would have to deal with your
dreams to get any results.

Your deepest secret feelings.

You understand?

It's not my training.

But when you talk to me,

I really feel my strength
starting to come back.

You should already
be having therapy

to keep up your circulation.

You have a long
life ahead of you.

You don't wanna live in
a wheelchair, do you?

It's imperative that we
get you to someone who can-

I could tell you a dream.

I'm not trained-

I'd like to.

Can I?

I have the same one every night
just as I'm falling asleep.

All right.

What is it?

[soft dramatic music]

I'm in a street.

[soft dramatic music]

Everything is sort of grey.

There's a crowd of people
and they're looking for me.

[Harry] Who are they?

[Sylvia] They're Germans.

[Harry] Did something happen?

[Sylvia] Well yeah.

I began to run away and the
whole crowd is following me.

They have heavy shoes that
pound on the pavement.

[soft dramatic music]

Then just as I'm
escaping around a corner,

a man grabs hold of
me and pulls me down.

[Harry] Was that the end of it?

[Sylvia] No.

He tries to kiss me.

I struggled, but
I can't get away.

And then he starts
to cut off my breasts

and for a second I see
the side of his face.

[Harry] Who was it?

[Sylvia] I don't know.

But you saw his face.

Not Phillip, is it?

I see.

[soft music]

I want to ask you a question.

I can't help it.

Help me please.

I'm trying to.

I feel like I'm
losing everything.

I'm being torn to pieces.

What do you want to know?

I'll tell you.

I trust you.

What do you want to ask me?

Since this happened to you,

have you and Philip
had relations?

[Sylvia] Relations?

He said you did the other night.

We had relations
the other night.

[Harry] But that.

Well, he said that by
morning, you'd forgotten.

Is that true?

Why are you asking me that?

[Harry] I didn't know
what to make of it.

I guess I still don't.

You mean you believe him?

We haven't had relations
for almost 20 years.

20?

Just after Jerome was born.

How did this start?

I don't know.

I never understood it.

Just couldn't anymore.

I guess you just
gradually give up

and it closes over you like
a grave, but I can't help it.

I still pity him because
I know how it torches him.

It's like a snake
eating into his heart.

I mean, it's not as
though he doesn't like me.

He does.

I know it.

Or do you think so?

He says you're his whole life.

Oh, his whole life.

Poor Philip.

I've been talking to a friend
of mine in the hospital.

A psychiatrist.

I'll call you in the morning.

Why must you leave?

I'm nervous.

Can't you talk to
me a few minutes?

I have some yeast cake.

I'll make fresh coffee.

I'd love to stay, but Margaret
will be upset with me.

Oh, well, call her.

Ask her to come over, too.

No, no.

For God's sake, why not?

She thinks something's
going on with us.

Oh.

[Harry] I'll be
in touch tomorrow.

Well, couldn't you just
be here when he comes?

I'm nervous, please.

You just be here when he comes.

You don't think he'd
do something, do you?

Never known him so angry.

And I think there's also
some trouble with Mr. Case.

Phillip can hit, you know.

God, everything's so mixed
up, but I don't understand.

They write that the
Germans are starting

to pick up Jews right off the
street and putting them into-

Sylvia, I told you-

But you say they were
such nice people.

Well, how could they
change like this?

This will all pass, Sylvia.

German music and literature.

Some of the greatest
in the world.

It's impossible for those people

to suddenly change
into thugs like this.

So you ought to have
more confidence, you see.

I mean, in general,
in life, in people.

What are you telling me?

Just say what you're
thinking right now.

I.

[Harry] Don't be frightened.

Just say it.

You.

[Harry] Me, what about me?

How could you believe I
forgot we had relations?

[Harry] Now stop that.

I was only trying to
understand what is happening.

Yes and what?

What is happening?

What are you trying to tell me?

What's gonna become of us?

[Harry] What has
Germany got to do-

But how can those
nice people go out

and pick up Jews in the
middle of the street

in the middle of a big city
like that and nobody stops them?

You mean I've changed?

Is that it?

Well, I don't know.

One minute you say you like me
and then you turn around and.

[Harry] Listen.

I simply must call in somebody.

No, you could help me
if you believed me.

[Harry] I do believe you.

No.

You're not gonna put
me away somewhere.

Now you stop being ridiculous.

What's gonna become of us?

Stop.

You are confusing two things.

From now on you mean if a Jew
just walks out of his house,

do they arrest him?

I'm telling you this won't last.

What do they do with them?

I don't know.

I'm out of my depth.

I can't help you.

But why don't they run
out of the country?

What is the matter
with those people?

Don't you understand that
this is an emergency?

They're beating up
little children.

What if they kill
those children?

Where is Roosevelt?

Where is England?

You got to do something
before they murder us.

[soft dramatic music]

Sylvia.

Sylvia.

[Phillip] What happened?

[Harry] Throw cold
water on a towel.

What happened?

Do it, goddamn you.

[soft dramatic music]

Sylvia.

That's good.

Keep looking at me.

[soft dramatic music]

Here we go.

That's better.

How do you feel?

Can you speak?

Wanna sit up?

[soft dramatic music]

[Phillip] Did she call you?

Well, no.

To tell you the truth.

Then what are you doing here?

I stopped by.

I was worried about her.

You were worried about her?

Why were you worried about her?

Because she is
desperate to be loved.

Oh, you don't say.

Yes, I do say.

I want you to try
to move your legs.

Try it.

I'll be at home if you need me.

Don't be afraid to call anytime.

We'll talk about
this more tomorrow.

Good night.

Good night.

Some attitude he's got there.

Ordering me around like that.

I'm gonna see about getting
somebody else tomorrow.

Jersey seems to get
further and further away.

I'm exhausted.

[Sylvia] I almost
started walking.

What are you talking about?

For a minute.

I don't know what happened.

My strength started
to come back.

I knew it.

I told you you could.

Try it again, come on.

I can't now.

Why not?

This is wonderful.

Come on.

Phillip, listen.

I don't want to change.

I want Hyman.

What is so good about him?

You're still laying there
practically dead to the world.

He helped me get up.

I don't know why.

I feel he can get
me walking again.

Why does it have to be him?

Because I can talk to him.

I want him and I don't
want to discuss it again.

We'll see.

We will not see.

What is this tone of voice?

It's a Jewish woman's
tone of voice.

Jewish woman.

What are you talking about?

Are you crazy?

Don't you call me
crazy, Phillip.

I am talking about it.

They're smashing windows.

They're beating children.

I am talking about it.

I'm talking about it, Phillip.

Beating children.

Nevermind.

Don't sleep with me again.

How can you say that to me?

I can't bear it.

They give me terrible dreams.

I'm sorry, Phillip.

Maybe in a while, but not now.

Sylvia.

You will kill me if
we can't be together.

You told him we had relations.

Don't, Sylvia.

You little liar.

You want him to think I'm crazy.

Is that it?

No, it just came out.

I didn't know what I was saying.

That I forgot we had
relations, Phillip.

Stop it.

Don't say anymore.

Oh, I'm gonna say
anything I want to.

You will kill me.

Oh, what I did with my life.

Out of ignorance.

Out of not wanting to shame
you in front of other people.

A whole life.

Just gave it away like a
couple of pennies [laughs].

I took better care
of my shoes [laughs].

You wanna talk to
me about it now?

You take me seriously, Philip.

Come on, what happened?

I know it's all you've
ever thought about.

Isn't that true?

What happened?

Just so I'll know.

I'm ashamed to mention it.

It's ridiculous.

When you said that you wanted
to go back to the firm.

[Sylvia] When?

When you had your own

and suddenly you didn't want
to keep the house anymore.

[Sylvia] And you didn't
want me to go back

to the business so I didn't.

Well what?

I didn't, did I?

You held it against me.

Having to stay home.

You know you did.

Not a day passed.

Not a person could
come into this house

that you didn't keep
saying how wonderful

and interesting it used
to be for you in business.

You never forgave me, Sylvia.

So whenever.

When I started to
touch you, I felt that.

It felt what?

You didn't want me
to be the man here.

And then on top of that,

when you didn't want
anymore children,

everything inside
of me just dried up.

And maybe it was also that
to me it was a miracle

that you ever married
me in the first place.

You mean your face?

What have you got
against your face?

A Jew can have a Jewish face.

I can't help my thoughts.

Nobody can.

I tried 100 times to talk
to you, but I couldn't.

I kept waiting for
myself to change or you,

and then we got to where it
didn't seem to matter anymore.

This is a whole life
we're talking about.

Couldn't we?

If I taught you how to drive,

you could go anywhere you liked.

Or maybe you could
find a job you liked.

We have to sleep
together, Sylvia.

No.

[soft piano music]

How can this be?

Sylvia.

Do you want to kill me?

Is that it?

Speak to me.

[soft piano music]

-[soft dramatic music]
-[thunder rumbling]

[soft dramatic music]

Mr. Case isn't in, Mr. Gellburg.

[soft dramatic music]

[Stanton] Gellburg.

Good evening, Mr. Case.

I understand you wish to see me.

There was just something
I felt I should say.

Certainly.

Yes?

I am more proud of
Brooklyn Guarantee

than almost anything
except my own son.

It's the only place I've
ever worked in my life.

I didn't want you
waking up one morning

and Wanamaker's was gone

and there you are
paying New York taxes

on a building in the middle
of a dying neighbourhood.

But frankly, I
don't even remember

what this whole thing
was about, but I.

I feel I've lost some
of your confidence

and it's unfair I feel.

I understand.

But don't you believe me?

[Stanton] I think I do.

I mean, you don't seem to.

The fact remains that
I've lost the building.

You're not still thinking
I had something going on

with Allen Kruschwitz, are you?

[Stanton] Put it this way.

I hope as time goes on that
my old confidence will return.

That's about as far as I can go

and I don't think
you can blame me.

Can you?

How can I work if
you're this way?

You have to trust
in me, don't you?

I'll have to ask you to leave.

I don't deserve this.

This is not fair, Mr. Case.

I hardly know the man.

I'd certainly never get into a
deal with him for God's sake.

What's happening here?

What the hell have I got
to do Allen Kruschwitz

just because he's also a Jew?

[Stanton] What?

What on earth are
you talking about?

Oh, excuse me.

I didn't mean that.

[Stanton] I don't understand.

How could you say
a thing like that?

Please.

I don't feel well.

[Stanton] But how could
you say such a thing?

[dramatic music]

[Harriet] He's really
amazing after such an attack.

[Margaret] The
heart is a muscle.

Muscles can recover sometimes.

[Harriet] I still
can't understand

how they let him out of
the hospital so soon.

[Margaret] He has
the will of iron.

But it may be just
as well for him here.

[Sylvia] He wants to die here.

[Harry] I understand your son

is coming back from
the Philippines.

[Phillip] She show
you his telegram?

He's hoping to make
it here by Monday.

Or will I last 'til Monday?

[Harry] You gotta start thinking

about more positive things.

Seriously, your
system needs a rest.

[bell ringing]

How stupid it all is.

You keep putting everything off

like you're gonna
live 1000 years,

but we're like
those little flies.

Born in the morning,
fly around for a day

till it gets dark and bye-bye.

Well, it takes time
to learn things.

There's nothing I know now

that I didn't know 20 years ago.

I just didn't say it.

Help me.

I wanna go to him.

Wait till Harry
says it's all right.

It's unbelievable.

First time since I was
20 I don't have a job.

You sure?

How can I go back?

He goes sailing
around on the ocean.

Meanwhile, I'm foreclosing
Brooklyn for them.

You gotta close down a business,

throw somebody out of his home.

Get Gellburg.

Sent in the yit.

But is all this news to you?

That's the system, isn't it?

But to accuse me-

You're getting too
excited, Phillip.

Come on now.

[soft dramatic music]

I'm making a gorgeous pot roast.

Can I bring some over?

Thanks.

Flora's gonna cook something.

I'll call you later.

Try to rest.

I refuse to believe that you're
blaming yourself for this.

How can people start
saying what they know?

There wouldn't be two
marriages left in Brooklyn.

It's ridiculous.

You are the best
wife he could've had.

Better?

Tell me.

The things she's so afraid of.

It's me, isn't it?

Well.

Among other things.

It's me?

[Harry] I think so, partly.

How could she be
frightened of me?

I worship her.

How can everything turn
out to be the opposite?

I made my son in this bed.

Now I'm dying in it.

You're an educated man.

I only went to high school.

I wish we could
talk about the Jews.

I never studied the history
if that's what you mean.

I don't know where I am.

You mean as a Jew?

For instance, a Jew
in love with horses

is something I never heard of.

My grandfather in Odessa
was a horse dealer.

You know, there
are Chinese Jews.

Yeah, I heard of that.

And they look Chinese?

They are Chinese.

They probably say you
don't look Jewish.

That's funny.

Why is it so hard to be a Jew?

It's hard to be anything.

No, it's different for them.

Being a Jew is a full-time job,

except you don't think
about it much, do you?

It's not an obsession for me.

How'd you come to
marry a shiksa?

We were thrown together
while I was interning

and we got very close and
she was a good partner.

She helped me.

Still does.

And I loved her.

A Jewish woman
couldn't help you?

Sure, but it just didn't happen.

It wasn't so you
wouldn't seem Jewish?

I never pretend that
I wasn't Jewish.

[Phillip] Don't be mad.

I'm just trying to figure out.

What are you driving at?

I don't understand this
whole conversation.

Hyman, help me.

I've never been so
afraid in my life.

If you're alive, you're afraid.

We're born afraid.

A newborn baby is not a
picture of confidence.

But how you deal with
fear, that's what counts.

I worked in a paediatric
ward for a couple of years

and sometimes there'd be 30

or 40 babies in there
a day or two old

and they've got a personality.

This one lays there stiff as
a mummy, a regular banker.

The next one is throwing
himself all over the place.

Happy as a young horse.

Then little miss dreary.

Already worried about
her hemline drooping.

And how could it be otherwise?

Each one has 20,000 years

of the human race
backed up behind him

and you expect to change him.

So what does that mean?

How do you live?

You draw your cards face
down, you turn them over,

and you do your best
with the hand you've got.

What else is there?

What else could there be?

Wishing, I guess.

That it had been otherwise.

Help me.

I wanna go to him.

Wait.

I'll ask Harry if
it's all right.

[soft dramatic music]

She believes in you, Hyman.

I want you to tell her.

Tell her I'm going to change.

She has no right to
be so frightened of
me or anything else.

They will never destroy us.

When the last Jew dies, the
light of the world would go out.

She has to understand that.

These Germans are
shooting at the sun.

Be quiet.

I never told this to anyone.

Years ago, when I used
to make love to her,

I would almost feel like a
small baby on top of her.

Like she was giving me birth.

That is some idea.

You know, in bed next to me,
she was like a marvel God.

I worshipped her, Hyman, from
the day I laid eyes on her.

How can she be so afraid of me?

Tell me the truth.

You want the truth?

Do you?

All right, I'll
tell you the truth.

Look in the mirror sometime.

In the mirror?

You hate yourself.

That's what's
scaring her to death.

With this Jew, Jew, Jew
coming out of your mouth.

The same time she
reads it in the paper,

it's coming out of the
radio day and night.

You wanna know what I think?

That's exactly what I think.

But there are days
when I feel like

going sitting in the
shool with the old men.

Put a Tallis over my head

and be a full-time Jew
the rest of my life.

With the side locs
and the black hat

and settle it once and for all.

In other times, yes, I
could almost kill them.

They infuriate me.

I am ashamed of them and
that I look like them.

Why must we be different?

Why is it?

What is it for?

And supposing it turns out
that we're not different.

Who you gonna blame then?

[Phillip] What are
you talking about?

I'm talking about
all this grinding

and screaming that's
going on inside you.

You're wearing yourself
out for nothing, Phillip.

Absolutely nothing.

Tell you a secret.

I have all kinds
coming into my office

and there's not one of them

who one way or another
is not persecuted.

Yes.

Everybody's persecuted.

The poor by the rich.

The rich by the poor.

Black by the white.

The white by the black.

Men by the women,
women by the men.

Catholics by the Protestants,
Protestant by the Catholics.

And of course all
of them by the Jews.

Everybody's persecuted.

Sometimes I wonder maybe

that's what holds
this country together.

And you know, what's
really amazing

is you can't find anybody
who's persecuting anybody else.

So what's the solution?

I don't see any
except the mirror,

but nobody's gonna look at
himself and ask what am I doing?

Forgive her, Phillip, is all
I really know to tell you.

That's the easy part.

I speak from experience.

What's the hard part?

To forgive yourself,
I guess, and the Jews.

And while you're at it,
you can throw in the goyim.

Best thing for the
heart, you know.

[pensive music]

Thanks, Mrs. Hyman.

Think your colours
coming back a little.

Yeah, been running
around the block.

I always knew there
was a sense of humour

somewhere inside
that black suit.

Yeah, well, I
finally got the joke.

[pensive music]

I'll try to look in tomorrow.

Bye bye.

[pensive music]

Are you all right in that room?

It's better this way.

We'll both get more rest.

You all right?

I want to apologise.

I'm not blaming you, Phillip.

The years I wasted, I
know I threw away myself.

Think I always knew I was doing
it, but I couldn't stop it.

For some reason, I keep
thinking about how I used to be.

Remember my parents' house?

How full of love it always was?

Nobody was ever afraid
of anything there,

but with us, Philip,
wherever I looked,

there was something
to be frightened of.

I've been tiptoeing around
my life for 30 years

and I'm not gonna pretend.

I hate it all now.

Everything I did is
stupid and ridiculous.

I can't find myself in my life.

Or in this now.

I'm not this thing.

And it has me.

It has me and will
never let me go.

I understand.

I've always tried
to seem otherwise,

but I've been more
afraid than I looked.

[Sylvia] Afraid of what?

Everything.

Germany.

Mr. Case.

Of what could happen to us here.

I think I was more
afraid than you are.

100 times more.

In the meantime, there are
Chinese Jews for God's sake.

What do you mean?

They're Chinese.

And here I spend a lifetime

looking in the
mirror at my face.

Why we're different
I'll never understand,

but to live so afraid, I
don't want that anymore.

If I live, I have to
try to change myself.

Sylvia.

Oh my darling Sylvia.

I am asking you not
to blame me anymore.

I feel I did this to you

and that is the
knife in my heart.

Phillip.

Sylvia.

Forgive me.

[soft dramatic music]

Wait.

Phillip.

There's nothing to blame.

There's nothing to blame.

Wait, wait.

Phillip.

Phillip.

[soft dramatic music]

[dramatic music continues]