Nobody's Child (1986) - full transcript

[distant ship horn blares]

No more, no more.
Go away.

Finita.

No, Ma!
Ma, no!

Ma!

Ma, let me in!

Ma, please!

Ma, don't do this!

Ma, let me in!

Let me in!

Ma, let me in!



[sobbing]

Where will I go?

I have no place to go.

[panting]

[screaming]

[doorbell ringing]Let me in!

Let me in!

[doorbell ringing]

Let me in!

Let me in!
Let me in!

Okay, all right.
Let me in!

Let me in!

You're okay.
You're in, you're in.

Let me in!
Nurse, nurse,
get a jacket.



Let me in!Call the doctor!

She was probably gonna do
another suicide.

You know, that's one
of her favorite things.

Keep your voice down,
nurse.
Sorry, Doctor.

You know
this patient well?
Marie?

Huh, practically grew up
here in the castle.

16, the first time
she came here.

What about before that?

[Nurse]
She grew up in an orphanage
until she was five,

and then she was adopted
by the, uh, Bartellos?

An Italian couple in their 50s.

[woman]
Italiana?

[nun]
Si, Italiana.

They have rules, and they
want you to obey them.

You can't talk to anyone
about family things.

Marie, they don't want you
to cry.

Grazie, mille grazie.

Go get a blanket.

Pa.

[young Marie]
"The rain is falling all around.

"It falls on fields and trees.

"It falls
on the umbrellas here

and on the ships at sea."

Bene.

[fire crackling] Bella...

You know, Dr. Blackwell,
her father ran a fishing boat,

so he was gone
a lot of the time.

And the mother'd
knock her around a bit.

Well, just strict,
you know?

[nurse]
She'd lock her out, you know,
overnight, to scare her.

I'm sorry, Pa.

Your mama, she told me
you go with the boys.

No!
I was not, I was reading.

You like me to read, Pa.

Please don't-- Pa?

[speaking Italian sternly]

Puttana.

First time they brought her
here, it was a suicide attempt.

And there have been plenty
since.

They have tried everything
on her short of a lobotomy.

They've tried the shock,
insulin, the tubs.

♪♪

If you ask me, she'll be here
till she dies.

Don't you ever talk
that way in front of her.

Sorry, Doctor.

Get that jacket off her.Yes, Doctor.

And call her father,
let him know she's here.

Ma.

Marie? Marie?

Hi.

I was brought here
by the most dreadful

and agonizing of all
apprehensions.

The fear of losing
the one dear being...

on whom my every wish
and hope are set.

[nurse]
Dr. Blackwell?

That mean anything to you?

Yes.

"The fear of losing
the one dear being

on whom my every wish
and hope are fixed."

Tell me, Marie.
Marie?

Yeah?

What did you like to do
at the beach?

Run.
Run.

How fast could you run?

Fast.

Well, Marie...

this place...

This isn't such a good place
for running, I'm afraid.

I like it here.

Marie, I spoke to someone
this morning

who's staying
with your mother.

She told me that your mother
sent you away.

My mommy's probably gonna
come see me, probably.

My real mommy.

Your natural mother did come
to see you here, didn't she?

When you were 22.

You even went home with her.
You remember that?

Hello, Marie.
I'm your mother.

I've come to take you home.

But you came back
only four days later, why?

My mommy's gonna come see me.

'Cause she loves me
too much is why.

Can I have a cigarette?

I didn't think
little girls smoked.

Well, I do.

I'm sorry,
I don't have any.

Marie, I'm re-admitting you
as a patient.

I don't want to start you
on any medication yet.

I think you need to mourn
your father's death without...

Why doesn't she like me?

Why?

[quiet knock on door]

If you're ready,

I think it's time
we settled you on your ward.

All right?

Marie?

Hello, Marie.
You remember me?

So you have a friend
to walk with you.

Would you mind
waiting outside

while I speak to Betty
for a moment?

Thanks.

Okay, you sit on the bench.
You'll be fine.

And I'll come get you
in a minute.

Her father died and her mother
kicked her out.

She's severely depressed,
suicidal maybe.

How well did you know her?

A little. I came in
right before she went out.

[Dr. Blackwell]
She needs to know there's
someone on her side,

that she's not alone.

Give her as much time
as you can.

Come on, Marie.

Let's go.

Marie, come.

Rhonda, here's Marie.

Okay, here we go again,
eh, Marie?

Nice to see you back.

Back in your old ward,
right?

Here's your bed.

See you when I get back!

[indistinct chatter]

[woman]
Hey, Marie, you all right?

You ought to go slow.

[attendant]
All right, Mrs. Katzky,
you had another one

of your little accidents, huh?

Come on, come on.

Go on over there.
That's right.

All right.
Wipe it up.

[chatter]

Stop talking now,
Marie, and eat.

Marie, eat.

You had better
eat that, Marie.

I don't want it.

Now you quit playing
around, please.

Mangia, mangia, Marie.

No!

No, no.

Mangia.

[speaking Italian]

Stop it, stop it!

Betty!
Betty, come here!

No!
Stop it, stop it!

Stop it, stop it!Marie!

Stop it, stop it...

Marie!Stop it, stop it!

[Marie gasping]

No running, Marie.

Oh, thank you, God.

Thank you for sending my mother.

Oh, where were you?

Where were you?
I wanted you to come back.

Marie, don't hold
Dr. Blackwell so tight.

I prayed you'd come back.

I prayed.Hello, Marie.

I've come to take you home.

Oh, mother...

Were you frightened
because I went away?

I don't know
what's happening.

I can't stop it.

It's all right.
You're going to be fine.

I can't breathe.
It's the flowers.
Marie...

It's the flowers.
I just can't breathe.

Marie, calm down.
Oh, God.

Calm down.
Oh, Mother.

God!

[sobbing]

Betty's going to
put you to bed.

And I'll come back at the end
of my rounds, okay?

It's all right.

I'm very tired.Good.

I'm so tired.

Good, let's lay down.
Come on.

Let's lay down
for a minute, okay?

Yeah, it's okay.

Oh, please, if you think
she's crazy, you'll see.

You! I'm talking to you!
You shut up!

Shut up!

I tell you!
Rhonda!

Call the police.All right, all right, Barbara.

I tell you.Yes, tell me in the bathroom.

I tell you.

You know, you like to go
in the bathroom...

I told you to shut up!

You make me sick!

You make me wanna puke!

[Marie sobbing]

All right, ladies, everybody out
for some nice fresh air.

That's right,
do your coats up, dear.

Come on, do your coat.
Come on, Marie.

Do your coat up, dear,
that's right.

Come on, Marie,
I haven't got all day.

No, no.

Quick, ladies,
all right, come on.

No.
Marie, come on.

Now, we're going out
for some air.

No.
Marie!

No!
Stay there now ladies.

Don't lock me out!

I will lock you out
for one hour.
No!

Come on, Marie.
Marie!

Don't lock me out!

[speaking Italian]No! No!

[speaking Italian]

[speaking Italian]

Get away.

Oh, oh...

Come on, come on, Marie.

Help!

Everything's gonna be okay.

Let me go now.

Emergency, please, Ward C.

Send two male attendants,
please, and a doctor.

[screaming]

It's all right.

[panicked panting]

[glass shattering]
Oh, oh.

Get her down.
Get her to the floor.

Get her to the floor.

No! Get away!

Get away, get away.

Get away!

Get away from me!

Get away from me!
Get away!

Okay, okay, I got her.

[crying]

[hysterical crying]

[screaming]

Take her
to the seclusion room.

Take her to the back ward.

Get away!
Get away.

[screaming]

[Blackwell]
Please, stop it.

I'm removing
this patient, Doctor.

She's my patient,
I will decide.

Take her back to Ward C.
No!

[male doctor]
Ward A, now.

Why was she on that ward?
She's violent.

Marie is not violent.She attacked a nurse.

Oh, I wouldn't say that...She had a panic attack

because she was terrified
of being locked out

out of the only place
she feels safe.

I know schizophrenic behavior
when I see it.

[male doctor]
She's in my care now.

[dialogue inaudible]

[detached whispering]
Die, die, die...

[indistinct patient chatter]

[Dr. Blackwell]
2,000 milligrams of
Phenothiazine a day

could be fatal
for all we know.

But there is a chance,
a possibility that these

massive doses
could turn around

a schizophrenic
that is incurable.

I won't question that,
but it hasn't worked.

She can't walk, she can't talk,
she's almost catatonic.

Give her back to me.

Let me try another medication
that'll stabilize her.

It won't work.
Give her up.

I can't.

I don't believe
she's hopeless.

When I look in Marie's eyes,
I see someone there.

You see more than I do.

All right.

Thank you.Thank you, Doctor.

[car starting]

Marie?

You listen to me.

I mean it, you listen.

This is a dangerous place.
Don't you understand that?

Well, you better start
to understand it.

You could've died in here.
You don't wanna die, Marie.

Dr. Blackwell and I
can't always save you.

Youhave to save you.

[patients murmurings]

I wish to hell I could
take 'em all out of here.

Marie can't walk,
she can't feed herself.

She hasn't even talked
in two years.

How can you reverse
her condition?

First, we'll start taking her
off all that Phenothiazine.

And then we'll try
other medications

until we find one
that stabilizes her.

If I'm right, Marie is suffering
from an anxiety disorder.

Good girl.

[panicked breathing]

Come on, Marie.
Okay, okay.

Just try. Try.

The night we first met,

you quoted a passage
from Dickens.

I want to read you
something else he wrote.

"You belong to much brighter
and better scenes

"than this, my little one.

"And you are not to look
back here again.

"You are to look away
to very different

and much happier paths."

This isn't your home, Marie.

This isn't anybody's home.

See a different path.

Imagine it...

and take it out of here.

All right, Marie,
here we go.

Your napkin's all tucked in.

Now, we are gonna get
this milk down you.

There we go.

Come on, here you go.

[metal scraping]

No!
Hold it, Barbara.

You are gonna dump that...[crashing]

Sara, call Dr. Blackwell.

That's a dead man's hand,
so I win.

And whoever wins
is the winner.

You don't show me
your cards, Marie.

One, good.

Two...

[woman]
Come on, up like a bird,
that's right.

[all speaking simultaneously]

Three, okay.

Four... okay.

Five, okay.

Now we're gonna do
another one.

Okay, no-no-no-no-no.

Okay, good,
all right, let's go.

[woman] We're gonna do
another exercise now.

Okay, let's put our hands
on our hips.

And we're gonna turn,
twisting.

One... all right,
okay, okay, that's it.

Don't get so excited.
Don't get so excited.

Come on.
Why are you not looking?

Let's put our hands
on our hips, let's go.

There she goes...
[chuckling].

Space man.

[laughing]

There she goes.

No-no-no, dear, come on,
stand up, stand up.

Stand up.

Come on, stand up,
we're doing exercises.

Put your hands on your hips.

That's right, now turn,
that's good.

That's right.
Come on...

[overlapping chatter]

Uh, well, I don't know.

Would you like me
to call him?

I...

I wanna go out.

Hey, Marie, you talked.

You talked!

Come on, then.

I forgot you could talk.

♪♪

Marie, what do you see?

Have the courage.

I think you're gonna
enjoy it.

How you doing, okay?

Good.

[distant train whistle]

[man]
She's not ready to be here.

[Dr. Blackwell]
She thinks she is.
She asked to be.

Oh, we're letting the patients
make their own decisions now?

She's stabilized
on her medication.

Oh, yeah?
How stable?

Call it an experiment.

[machines whirring]

Please.

Please don't let me fail.

[man]
So the third guys say,
"Well, I don't know about you,

but I'm driving to Mexico."

[laughing]

That was the punch line?

Yeah, don't you get it?

Because--That's terrific.

Oh, never mind,
if I have to explain it,

there's not point even to--Okay, back to work.

Jeez, I'm gonna get sloppy
here, aren't I?

Yeah.All right.

Come on, tough guy.

I'll clean up my act later.

[typewriter bell dings]

Teach me that.

Well...

Teach me.

Teach me.

Okay, sure, but we're--

Marie, you know you're not
supposed to come in here.

She needs special permission
to be in here.

I'll get permission.

Okay.

[keys clacking]

Good.

Marie, you're learning
very fast.

Now don't worry about
some of these mistakes.

Bye, Marie.
We'll see you tomorrow!

She can't even
hear you, Shari.

I know.

But every day, she stays
a few minutes longer.

[Shari] The thing that's great
about living at home

with my folks, the food.

Oh. Last night, my dad made
a cake-- triple chocolate.

Okay, you're making me hungry.[chuckling]

That's all right.

I'll make one one of these days,
bring it in.

Yeah, yeah.

Only I'm gonna make it
for Marie.

For you, for the first day that
you work a whole day, okay?

And then we can celebrate.

So, Marie, how'd I do
on that letter I gave you?

There's three L's
in "parallel."

Oh, yeah?

Never was much of a speller.

[panting]

[screaming]

Marie, quit it.

Calm down.

Nurses station.

Alert Betty
one of her patients

has left the workshop in
distress.

[door shuts]

We might as well go
to lunch, huh?

Hi, Marie.

Hi.
Hi.

♪ Dum, dah-dum. ♪

It's your cake.

But I didn't do it.

Oh, but you nearly did.

Yeah, and you will.
I mean, we know you will.

Oh, Marie.

It's okay.

Here, sweetie.

Let's go comb our hair, okay?

Come on.

Be right back.

Oh, come on.

We just think you're
doing a terrific job.

You know what Joe said
about you the other day?

He said you have
a lot of courage.

Oh...
My hair is a wreck,

Look at that.

Do you go out with Joe?

Yeah, sure,
for lunch and stuff.

It's great the way they let him
leave the grounds

whenever he wants to.

Most of the patients
can't do that.

Hey, I bet they're
gonna let--

What did I say?

Joe is a patient?

Yeah, you didn't know that?

He's a, um,
manic depressive.

But he takes, um...

lithium, yeah.

So he still gets
kind of down sometimes.

He gets very quiet.

But mostly he's just
good old Joe.

The only thing I don't
understand is why

he's still living
at the castle.

Oh, then again, he says
he likes to walk to work.

Are you and Joe getting married?

What?

Marie, come on.

Joe and I are just buddies.

You know what?

You have gorgeous eyes.

We have to do something
to bring them out.

Now, let's see.

Open this up, and let me
give you this.

A little present,
underneath the braid.

Oh, great.

What are you gonna wear?

Oh, I have so many.
Come on.

Anyway, it goes
with your eyes better.

Great, and... perfume.

Oh, a little bit here, there,
whoop, everywhere, great, okay.

And...
And your hair.

Let's do something.

Okay.

Oh, beautiful.

You smell nice.

[keys clacking]

Oh, thanks.

Is there anything else?

Nope, you're too fast
for me, Marie.

I can't keep up.

[Shari]
Marie, wait up.

Boy, are you doing great.

Keep it up, I'm gonna
be out of a job.

You have a nice evening,
okay?

You too.Okay, see you tomorrow.

[car starting]

[Dr. Blackwell]
I'd like to recommend
that Marie Bartello

be placed in the home
of Lucy and Bob Stavros.

Marie has met with them briefly,

and I've discussed her history
with them.

You want her to live with--With normal people.

To start leading
a normal life.

That's what we want
for all of our patients.

Marie has lived
outside this hospital

for only brief periods of time
since she was a teenager.

She's how old now?

36.36.

20 years in this institution.

And I believe
less than a year ago

she couldn't even feed herself.Uh-huh.

And look how far
she's come since then.

She's stabilized
on her medication.

Yes, that's why
she shouldn't be pushed.

That's why Marie will keep
coming to the hospital

five days a week to work at the
office where she earns a wage.

And she'll pay for her room
and board at the Stavros home

by doing some housekeeping
and tending to the baby.

The baby?

Marie isn't dangerous.

The point is can she function?

Marie has hope.

We didn't give her that.

She almost died.

What she really needs is for us
to get out of her way.

Fine.
You release her.

You place her with this family.

But her file will contain my
opinion that she's unstable

and should remain
institutionalized indefinitely.

So it's on your head.

No.

It's on hers.

Okay, everybody ready?

Um...

Go get 'em, Marie.

Yeah, go get 'em, Marie!

You did it.

You did it, too.

[speaks indistinctly]

Bet you a quarter she'll
be back in six months.

Three.

White ain't your color.

[laughing and chattering]

[distant singing and partying]

[dog barking]

You ready?

The door's closed.

They'll open it.

What if they don't?

What if it's locked?

What if they change
their mind?

Did you forget to put on
your wool socks?

What?

Sounds like you're
getting cold feet.

Yeah, well,
if this is such a good idea,

how come you're not doing it?

I'm fine where I am,
but I think that for you,

this is a good idea.

You can do this.
Come on.

[man]
You're not changing your mind
on us, are you?

Come on in.
It's cold.

Welcome.
Jimmy.

Hi.

Hi, I'm Joe.

So, Mister Sweet Bum,
are you gonna have your bath?

Oh, Marie?

I'm gonna give this banana
his bath.

You wanna help me?

Oh, I don't know much
about babies.

He's a tough guy.
We can practice on him.

Come on.

Put your book down,
there you go.

Okay, okay, here we go,
here we go.

This is the guy
who loves his bath.

Yeah, see?
Yeah, he loves it.

Okay, I'm gonna get him
all wet all over.

Oh.

Oh, my God, I'm sorry.

Oh, hang onto him for a sec
while I get a towel.

Oh...

You're full of beans,
ain't you?

Let me get you here.Oh, it's okay.

Okay.

Can I use the soap?Yeah, yeah.

[baby sneezing]Oh, bless you, Jimmy.

Yeah, you can wash him,
good.

Now, I wanna ask you.
Next week is Thanksgiving.

Do you want to invite
a guest?

Oh, I don't know.

Well, yeah,
I think you should.

The more the merrier.

I don't know.

Well, you think about it.

No, you do it.Okay.

Big guy, big guy.
There we go.

They told me I could invite
somebody to Thanksgiving.

So if you'd like
to come, you can.

Yeah, okay.

Hi, Joe, happy Thanksgiving.Hey, hi, I remembered.

You too.
Okay.

Oh, Marie, can you light
the candles for me, honey?

Look at this.

Just look at this.

[excited chatter]

Look at that.

[pleasant chatter]

Thanks.

Well...

Wanna go to a movie
Saturday night?

Who?

You ready?Yeah, yeah, sure am.

Thanks again.

Oh, you come anytime, Joe.

Maybe.

[chuckling]

♪♪

Hey, hey, this is a date.

Two.It's my date, too.

You can buy the popcorn.

You cheated.

I did not, I won.

[laughing]

Oh, oh.

Where'd you learn
to sprint like that?

When I was little.

[chuckling]

She told me you go
with the boys.

Did you like the movie?
Yeah.

Uh, I had a real good time.

I had a good time, too.

Good night.

[wind blowing]

Yeah, come on in.

You're gonna read us out
of house and home

if you keep this up, Marie.

What have you got there?

"Bleak House".

"Bleak House".

You get through it okay?

I've read it before.

Oh, Dickens fan.

You read a lot
at the hospital?

No. Before.

My father...

he liked books, music.

Are you doing homework?

No, I'm just grading papers.

No, I guess it is my homework.

I always wanted
to go to college.

Hmm?

I said I always wanted
to go to college.

Oh, yeah?

I'm probably too old anyway.

Nope, never too old.

I'm probably not
smart enough anyway.

Marie, anyone who's read
"Bleak House" twice is smart--

You--

You know, if you're serious,
you could take a class or two

at the community college
where I teach.

No, you could.

Oh, I don't think
I could afford it.

It's not that expensive.

State rehab could help you out,
that's what they're there for.

Marie, Joe's here.

Marie, it's just
the next step.

Don't stop now.

Hi.

It's getting cold out there.

Well, a good night for the two
of you to stay in, I'd say, huh?

Yeah, my wife and I are
going to take advantage

of our two good friends,
and leave you here

to babysit while we leave.

What if something happens?

Oh, it can't--
Nothing can happen.

Emergency number's
by the phone

and we'll be back by 10:00.

Later, alligator.You guys have fun.

Bye-bye.

You'll be fine, good-bye!

Where are you going?

Check the baby.

No, hey, I think you'd
get a lot out of college.

These young kids, they're
just in it for a good time.

Did you go to college?Sure did.

And I had a great time.

Mmm.
Did you make this?

Jeez...
you're getting good.

You ought to open a stand
over at the castle.

Right outside the cafeteria.

That'd goose 'em up
a little bit.

What are you still doing
living there, Joe?

You're healthier than me.

Don't tell me you like
to walk to work either.

Oh.

Marie, it would--

It would take too long to...

That's okay,
you can tell it short.

Marie, I am
a manic-depressive.

Do you know what that means?

But you're stabilized,
right?

Well, yeah,
right now, I am.

But...

when I get sick...

Marie, I can't--
I can't even hold a job.

When I'm... manic, I go
on these spending sprees,

and I run up
these huge bills and...

And then I crash, and I can't
even get out of bed for weeks.

Or...
Or months even.

And the last time it happened,
I lost everything.

And I just don't think that
I can go through that again.

But if you keep
on your medications,

then you wouldn't get
that sick again.

You don't know that!
Nobody know--

Let's have some coffee, huh?

I guess you're sorry
you came over.

Why?

They don't even have
a television set.

There's nothing to do.

Um...

We... we could sing.[striking piano chord]

We'll wake the baby.

Scrabble.
How about Scrabble?

You can't play Scrabble.
You can't spell.

Oh, yeah.

Well, why don't we just
put on the gloves

and go a few rounds, huh?

Quit it, Joe.

Come on, tough guy.
Put 'em up.

As long as we're gonna fight,
let's really fight, huh?

Quit it, Joe.
Come on, Marie.

I mean it, Joe, quit it!

Let me have it right there.
Give me your best shot.

Quit it, Joe.
I mean it, Joe, stop it!

Marie...

What's the matter?

We just can't get along.

It's good we found out now.

Well...

I-I think that
we could get along.

I'm afraid, Joe.

Oh...

There's nothing
to be afraid of.

♪♪

[rain pattering]

[Marie]
So I'm just gonna take
the one class

just to see if I can do it.

[Lucy]
Right, you're just gonna
ease into it.

Yeah, I'm gonna quit
the workshop

so I can really concentrate.

Because I know this is gonna be
very different for me.

Yes, yes,
I think that's just...

Oh, savings.
Say something about--

Oh, the savings.

And I have some savings,

and I get board
at your house.

So all I need is
a little grant,

just to cover the books
and the tuition.

Right, that's perfect.Next!

Oh.

Give 'em hell.

Your intelligence is not
in question,

but these very negative reports
from two of your doctors?

No, I'm sorry,
I cannot approve such aid.

You're a poor risk.

Nothing personal,
Miss Bartello.

You may go.

[train whistle blowing]

[gulls squawking]

[glass shatters]

I wanna sign up for a class,

but I don't have any money.

I-- you better know this,
I'm--

I've been a mental patient
most of my life.

I'm still on medication,
and I probably always will be.

But I'm living
on the outside now,

and that's where
I'm gonna stay.

But I need more than food
and a roof over my head.

I wanna be completely
self-reliant.

I have a good mind,
and I'm ready to work hard.

I want a college education.

And I'll use it.
I'll use it well.

But state rehab
won't help me.

They don't think
I can make it.

But a lot of people didn't think
I could make it this far.

I know I can do it, I--

I just need some help.

Please help me, please don't
lock me out, just...

Listen, why don't you
just have a seat

and we'll see
what we can do, hmm?

[indistinct chatter]

Frankly, I'm amazed to see
so many of you here.

My reputation must be slipping.

You'll be reading a minimum
of 400 pages a week.

[book thudding loudly]

There'll be tests--
a mid-term and a final.

Flunk one or miss one
and you've flunked the course.

I don't give make-up tests.

You'll be tested on all
the works you read.

[voice becomes garbled
and echoing]

Why don't we begin.

[voice garbled and echoing]

There are actually five things
you need to do

before you put your first
sentence on a sheet of paper.

Now, why don't we look at the
five important pre-writing steps

that experienced writers follow.

Knowing how a native writer
of English brainstorms

before beginning to write will
help you to approach writing

in English the same way that
native writers do.

Brainstorms does such deep
thinking about a subject

that it's thought to cause
a storm in the brain...

A poem by Elizabeth I.

[door closing]

Marie, what are you...

Marie?

What are you--Go away and close the door.

I most certainly will not.

Go away, I don't want you
to look at me.

I don't want anyone
to look at me.

That's fairly obvious.

I said to go away!
Go away, go away!

I need clean towels.

How was class?

I can't do it.
I just can't do it.

Why am I even trying
to do it?

I wanna die.
I just wanna die.

I know today was hard for you.

The first time
you do something's

always hard for everybody.

I don't have a chance in hell!

My mother was crazy, too!

All my life
I dreamed she'd come.

When I was little, they told me
that she'd died.

And I kept dreaming.
I still kept dreaming.

I prayed all the time
that she would find me,

and one day she did.

Only she was crazy!

She was crazy,
just like I am.

And she died crazy,
just like I will!

Oh, Marie, I'm--

I'm as sorry as I can be
that your mother...

But right now,
you're just not crazy.

Right now, you're just
my friend Marie...

who's had a very
anxiety-filled morning.

And you're talking
to your friend Lucy,

who hasn't had such
a great morning herself.

So... here we are, we're--

We're just telling each other
what a crappy morning we've had.

The way friends do.

It's better than hiding
in a closet.

Looks pretty silly,
don't you think?

Huh?

Come on,
come on.

Come here.

Now, did you make it
to the class at all?

You did?
You got there?

Well, that's great,
that's wonderful.

It was pretty scary,
though, huh?

Yeah.

It was pretty exciting,
though, too, huh?

Wasn't it?

[chuckling]
Right.

Almost gave up on you.

Why do they have
to close so early?
Early?

What good's a library
if it isn't open?

I got through four years
of college with less time

in the library than
you've spent on this one class.

You think that's funny that
I have to work twice as hard?

No, no, no, Marie.

I'm just trying to tell you
that I need some time with you.

I'm in that damn class
every day, and I get so nervous

that it all gets--
that I can't hear.

Everybody else in the class
can hear.

I don't get it,
why can't you hear?

I'm not gonna pass
if I can't hear.

I know.
I'm listening to you.

You don't listen.

I'm telling you
that I can't hear.

I know, I'm trying to understand
what you're saying, Marie.

You're never gonna
understand.

You're doing it the easy way.

Maybe you're right.

Maybe... maybe we're just
on different tracks,

and we can't seem to...

I know you're under
a lot of pressure,

and I just don't seem
to know how to...

Look, you-- you just do
what you have to do.

And I won't take up
any more of your time.

"And Walt Whitman, who wrote
'Leaves of Grass',

had this theory of the float."

Okay, here we go.

Open up, here we go,
it's coming.

Isn't that good, come on.

Very good, that's very good.

"And the float was the theory

that all nature, animals,
and people have one soul."

One soul.
Here Jimmy.

You and me and the float
and one soul.

[professor]
All right, come in and
shut the door, people.

Oh, are you...

[door latching]

[girl]
That was impossible.

What was that about the float?
What float?

Yes?

I'm in this class.

I know,
you missed the test.

First class you've
ever missed-- bad timing.

I couldn't come in--

You know my rules,
no make-ups.

I was here,
I just got sick.

You know, nerves.

Hmm.

I know this material.

You can take it
in my office.

But keep this to yourself.

I have a reputation
to maintain.

[professor]
Turner.

Cartie.

Bartello.

This is quite good,
really.

You have original ideas.

Evidently , nothing I've said
in class has changed that.

[chuckling]

Simon.

Hey, good looking.

What are you doing?
You ought to be at work.

Oh, well, I quit
the workshop, Marie.

You quit?

Yeah, I, uh...
I got me a job downtown.

Joe!

Yeah, at this body repair shop
doing their books.

I wanted to make sure that I was
really gonna go through with it

before I told you.

Oh, Joe.

Oh, that-- that's wonderful.

Yeah.
That's just wonderful.

So, uh...

Do you wanna go for a ride?

A car?

Joe!

You got a car?
Yeah.

Oh, Joe.

A car!

A job and a car.

Well, I gotta be able
to get there.

Course, I'm gonna look
for a place

as close to work
as I can, but...

A place?

Well, a small place.

Oh, Joe.

Not too shabby, huh?

Not too shabby.

Whoop-dee-doo!
Whoop-dee-doo!

[both laughing]

Oh, me too.

I wanna get
my own apartment, too.

Well, you can move in
with me.

Why don't we go somewhere?

Go, go, go where?

We could go look
for our apartments.

All right.

Oh, Joe.

It's just a wonderful car.

[Joe chuckling]

Oh, it's got a backseat.

Yeah, that comes with it.

Beautiful.

Oh, look at this...

[horn honking]

We're gonna miss you
so much.

Thank you for the rocker.

Thank you.

Bye, you take care
of her now.

Yeah.
Bye.

Thank your dad
for the bed, Shari.

[Shari]
Okay! Bye-bye!

Well...

Can I help you wash out
these new glasses?

Oh, no, that's okay,
I can do them later.

Marie, is there
anything wrong, hon?

No, nothing's wrong.

You know,
I can spend the night.

I can sleep in the living room.

I mean, I know
you're gonna be fine here.

I know that,
it's just...

No.

I'm fine, I really am.

I'm excited about having
my own apartment.

And... you also got
your own key.

Good night.
Good night.

Tomorrow?Yeah.

Thanks, Joe, thank you.

[baby crying]

[crying baby continues]

♪♪

[screaming]

[glass clinking]

[hyperventilating]

Oh, please don't do it.
Stop it.

No, stop it, stop it,
stop, stop.

Don't do it.

[panicked panting]

Don't do it.
Don't do it.

Stop it, stop it,
stop it.

Stop, stop, stop...

Don't do it, don't do it.
Get away.

Stop it, don't do it.

Stop it, stop it.

Stop it, stop it.

Okay.

[panting]

[coughing]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Joe?

Joe!
[distorted echoes]

Joe, I can't hear you!

Hello, I'm here, Marie.

Oh, Joe. Marie?

I'm here.[relieved chuckling]

Oh, Joe.

Oh, Joe.

It's so good to hear you.

Oh, Joe.

Are you okay?

Yes.

I was just running
up the stairs.

You sound... are you--

I don't know, Marie,
I got...

Maybe I'm homesick.

Oh, no, Joe.

You're not homesick.

Not for that place.

That's not your home.
It never was.

Your own apartment,
that's a home, Joe.

With your own key,

so nobody can ever lock you out.

Yeah, and nobody can lock you in.

Right.

You're good medicine,
Marie.

Well...

What you need now is
a good night's sleep.

Good night, sweetheart.

'Night, Joe.

Pass the bread, black eyes.

My eyes aren't black.

Yeah, they are.

They are not,
they're brown.

See, they have gold specks
in 'em.

Let's see.

Everybody thinks they're black,
but they're brown.

You ever think about
getting married?

No.

Oh.

Who would I marry anyway?

Me.

Marry me.

I love you, Marie.

I love you, too, Joe.

I do, you know I do.

Marriage is--
Marriage is, uh...

It's, uh...
it's really big.

It's a big risk.

I mean, I... I'd really have
to think about it.

Well, haven't you
thought about it?

Well, I mean, I mean...

We'd have to...
think about it.

So many...

So many reasons
why we shouldn't.

Yeah, but there are a lot of
reasons why we should, too.

You know?

[boat horn in distance

Let's make a list

of all the...
the pros and cons.

Good idea.

Except I'm telling you
right now,

no matter how this comes out,
I don't want a big wedding.

Oh, me either.

And the sooner the better.

Okay, well...

first thing is...

we're both in, you know...

Yeah.

Now, is that a pro or a con?

Joe.
[chuckling]

[Marie]
I only said yes because
I didn't know what else to say.

And don't laugh at me.

[Shari]
Oh, I'm not.

I don't know, I mean,
I went to a convent school.

He'll be disappointed.

Oh, no.
No, he will not.

And you won't be either.

[Joe]
What time is it?

I don't know, I forgot
to put my watch on.

It's the traffic,
that's all.

[chatting indistinctly]

No sign yet?
No.

No, it's traffic
is what it is.

[car approaching]

You can put me down here.

Thanks, Joe.

[knocking on door]

Marie?

I'm just gonna take a shower.

[horn honks in distance]

Marie?[shower running]

Don't let the draft in.[door shuts]

Hi.

I'm all done.

Marie...

I thought Shari's dress
was real cute, too.

She bought hers
when I bought mine.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I think she really
looked cute in it.

She thought at first that
it was just a little too much,

But I-- I thought that she had
such a nice figure.

She looked really nice in it.

I thought everybody looked
really nice.

The baby looked so good

in that cute little suit
that he had.

You know, I used to think that
you had a crush on Shari, Joe.

Did you know that, Joe?

Well...

[sighing]

Did you do your own hair? Mm-hmm.

What do you call that?
I know you call it hair,

but I mean, what do you...
What do you call that style?

It's supposed to be a flip. A flip?

[man chuckling]

All right, it's very pretty.

How long's it take you to do that?

[man, whispering] Ten minutes. I see.

If you like, I can keep this whole interview secret

for the nation. [audience laughing]

How did you happen to come here this evening?

What's your first name? Marion.

How'd you happen to come here, Marion?

Well... Just whisper.

I just came. I see.

Is there any reason? Did you send in for tickets?

No. You didn't.

How'd you like to get thrown right out, baby?

[audience laughing]

Uh, you ever been here before?

No.

Think you'll ever come again?

Yes.

[door opening]

Hi.
Hi, Joe.

You love me, right?

Yeah, I love you.
What-- what did you do?

Well, I bought my books
for the new term today.

Uh-huh.

And that isn't all I did.

Joe, this is Alan

Alan, this is Joe.

You remember Alan.

Alan used to work in the
cafeteria at the institution.

Oh, right, right, hi.

Hi.

And, uh, I just
ran into him today

when I was buying
the books.

And I really needed
some help around here.

I mean, this refrigerator hasn't
been cleaned out in a long time,

and the whole place is a mess
with both of us working, so...

I hired Alan.

Well, that's, uh, that's...

Oh, Alan.

That's great.

Isn't that great, Joe?

That's just great.Boy, look at that.

[Marie]
That's clean enough
to eat out of.

What...

That's a pickle.

You got a good heart, babe.

Well, there were
so many people to help me

and encourage me
when I came out.

It just isn't like that
for most people.

Like Alan.

Well, you were there
for Alan.

Yeah, but for one day,
and that was just luck.

I mean, luck shouldn't have
anything to do with it.

You know, there should be
a system in place.

A person just can't go
from living in there

and having every decision
made for him

to living out here, where he has
to make every decision himself.

It's just overwhelming,
it just isn't fair.

Well, what are you gonna do
about it?

Well, I'm gonna do something.
I am, I'm gonna.

Go get 'em, babe.

You better not be
making fun of me.

[chuckling]
I'm not making fun of you.

You would be real crazy
not to have...

[loud crash]

[both laughing]

It's a great bed
your friend gave us.

Go, go!
Behind you!

Oh, no.
No!

No, wrong way!The other way!

[laughing]

Touchdown.

Come on, toboggan time.

Oh, hey!

Oh, just right there.

Phew.
I'm winded.

Hey, you aren't getting old
on me, are you?

Nah, I'm just short
of energy.

I'm coming down
with a cold maybe.

I'm a little tired, too.

We could rest a minute.

[sniffling]

Hey... you haven't--What?

You haven't been cutting back on
all your medications, have you?

Dr. Balter,
calling Dr. Balter.

Come on, Joe, I'm serious.

Yeah, I know, I know,
I know you're serious.

No, nothing like that.

I think you ought to go
for a checkup this week.

Yes, ma'am.

No, come on, Joe, I mean it.
Don't fool around.

All right.
I won't fool around.

Could I tell just one
knock-knock joke?

[laughing]

Oh.

Oh, Joe.

I know.

I know.

[both laughing]

Oh, I love to hear you laugh.

I do, I love it.

Hey, you two, smile.

[camera clicking]

[tires screeching]

[siren approaching]

I'm Marie Balter, my husband
Joe Balter's in for tests.

Just tests, and then they called
and they said--

What did they say, Lucy?

They said that the doctor called
but he had to talk to--

Mrs. Balter?Yes, Doctor, what is it?

Perhaps we should step
in here for a moment.

Yes.I need to talk to you.

Certainly.

Mrs. Balter...

We don't fully understand,
we--

We think there may be
a blood clot on the lung.

But, uh... he's been in a coma
since early morning.

Where is he?

Please, follow me.

He's in a coma.

[sobbing]
Oh, Joe.

Oh...

Oh, Joe.

[sniffling]

Oh, Joe, don't go away.

[sobbing]
Don't go away.

[respirator hissing]

As long as he's in there,
she's not gonna leave that room.

Did she talk to you?
No, no.

She'll hardly even
look at me.

I don't think
she can take this.

I'm really worried about her.

[woman,over P.A.] Dr. Zimmerman, Dr. Zimmerman to Pediatrics.

He was joking around
the night before.

Yeah.
How did it get
this serious?

Isn't anyone around here?

Dr. Thompson, Dr. Thompson
to Emergency.

They don't know
a damn thing.

Joe.

Joe.

Oh, Joe.

[sobbing]

Joe.

Marie.

I love you, Marie.

Oh, I love you, too, Joe.

Oh, thank God
you're all right.

Thank God you're all right.

Oh.

Oh, no.

No, please, no.

Please, no.

[sobbing]

Oh.

No, no, no!

Do you, um...

Do you want me to stay?

We'll call you, huh?

[door latching]

[door creaking]

[train horn in distance]

[children singing]

Don't cry.

[man]
Last spring, our guest lecturer
received her Master's Degree

from Harvard University.

She is currently the director
of a successful

residential program
for the mentally handicapped,

and has been a tireless advocate
for the rights

of the mentally ill.

Marie Balter
spent nearly 20 years

as a patient
in this institution.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honored to present
Miss Marie Balter.

[applause]

Before I start,
I'd like to say thank you

to those of you who
reached out your hands

and your hearts to me.

Especially Joe...

for loving me, and for
teaching me how to love.

I only hope that I can
give back,

pass on all of the love
and the hope and the help

that was given to me.

I promise you,
I do have a speech here.

[audience laughing]

I know that when I left here
that last time,

there were some of you--
maybe many of you--

who were sure I'd be back.

Well...

here I am.

[applause]

♪♪