Stoker (2013) - full transcript
India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) was not prepared to lose her father and best friend Richard (Dermot Mulroney) in a tragic auto accident. The solitude of her woodsy family estate, the peace of her tranquil town, and the unspoken somberness of her home life are suddenly upended by not only this mysterious accident, but by the sudden arrival of her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), whom she never knew existed. When Charlie moves in with her and her emotionally unstable mother Evie (Nicole Kidman), India thinks the void left by her father's death is finally being filled by his closest bloodline. Soon after his arrival, India comes to suspect that this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives. Yet instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless young woman becomes increasingly infatuated with him.
My ears hear what others cannot hear.
Small, faraway things people
cannot normally see are visible to me.
These senses are the fruits
of a lifetime of longing.
Longing to be rescued.
To be completed.
Just as the skirt needs the wind to billow...
...I'm not formed by things
that are of myself alone.
I wear my father's belt
tied around my mother's blouse.
And shoes which are from my uncle.
This is me.
Just as a flower does not choose its color...
...we are not responsible
for what we have come to be.
Only once you realize this
do you become free.
And to become adult...
...is to become free.
Richard! No!
A family man...
...devoted husband to his wife, Evelyn...
...loving father to his daughter, India.
He was a model to our town...
...and of what it means to be a man
who walks through the world...
...with openness, honesty and integrity.
- India?
- Richard Stoker was taken from us...
...by a cruel twist of fate.
India?
The reasons for which
are unknown and unknowable.
By an accident
nobody would have predicted.
It would have been impossible
for even an outstanding architect...
...like Richard...
...to understand God's
great design.
India?
India.
The guests will be here soon.
Can you help Mrs. McGarrick in the kitchen?
Please?
Don't do this to me, India.
Not today.
When they pried open his car...
- ...you know, his body was burned...
- To a crisp.
Terrible accident.
Poor thing.
India was so close to her father.
- Who's gonna look after her?
- She's still got her mother.
Her mother look after her?
More like the other way around.
You know what?
This whole accident is so strange.
Have you heard
all the rumors floating around...?
You don't think he meant
to drive off the bridge?
- Why did he have to go two states away?
- I don't know.
- Everything all right?
- Yes, Mrs. McGarrick.
Now I'm wondering
if I kept them in the fridge too long.
What do you think?
Was I too stingy with the paprika?
Mm?
Ha, ha.
Your deviled eggs remind me
of when I was a little girl.
Well, you may be all grown up,
but you still get eggshells all over the floor.
Have you outgrown your shoes?
Did you find your birthday present yet?
I found the box, but it was empty.
Are you sure?
Did you check?
Check again.
Every year I thought it was my father
who left me shoes on my birthday.
But all this time, it's been...
Tell me what it opens.
How would I know?
All right.
That was my brother...
You know, originally
they were part of a set of four...
...but then I broke one as a kid.
Now I'm seeing in this house
someone must have let another break.
No, it wasn't me.
When we moved in, it broke
as the housekeepers were unpacking it.
India.
Come and say hello to your Uncle Charlie.
India?
Come over.
See you soon.
Hello, India.
Come on.
She hates to be touched.
I'm her mother.
What a curse!?
You know, Charlie, Richard used to say...
...that we had lost you
to the rest of the world forever.
Why, India, you're white as a sheet.
Is something wrong?
Yes.
My father is dead.
How beautiful.
Richard was so proud of India's hunting
that he stuffed every single thing she killed.
What a tragic waste of life.
These live particularly deep in the forest.
They'd be very hard to catch.
I guess Richard and India were a good team.
It's kind of disrespectful, him not
wearing black to his own brother's funeral.
He must have come back today
from the Middle East or something.
It's just part of a dig
in some old part of Istanbul?
No, I think he was digging for
something quite different. Gold in Indonesia.
I really want to thank you
for your words this morning.
Well, you and Richard deserve every word.
The wine's good.
There you are.
Come and join us.
This is Richard's brother.
Hello.
- He's back.
- Nice to meet you.
These are the Blooms,
good friends of ours.
Good evening.
I didn't know Richard had a brother.
Nice to meet you.
We're sorry for your loss.
How did you know Richard?
Got his doctorate from Oxford
when he was 24.
Stoker sure had the brains.
Yeah.
Just look at India.
Hello, again.
Do you want to know why
you feel at a disadvantage right now?
Because I didn't know
you existed until today?
Because you're standing below me.
You look like my father.
I am so sorry.
It's your loss too.
In about 60 seconds,
your mother's gonna tell you...
...that I'm gonna be
staying here for a while...
...but I want it to be your decision too.
Why?
Because...
...it's important to me.
This really is a beautiful garden.
The soil...
...is so soft.
Good for digging.
I'm not exactly sure what you're driving at.
I don't want any trouble.
I am the only one
who would know anything about it.
I did everything you asked of me.
I kept you informed every year.
I was your eyes, your ears,
your hands all this time.
You're acting like you're in diapers now...
...and you've done this to me
ever since you were a child. I'm tired of it.
- I am tired of it.
- All right.
Mrs. McGarrick?
Mrs. McGarrick?
Where is she?
I haven't seen her yet.
Good morning.
It's afternoon.
I guess it is.
Do you think you could...?
That's my girl.
Thank you.
What are you doing today?
Thought I'd...
...draw the curtains, stop the clocks...
...cover the mirrors
and then retire to my room.
Don't be morbid.
Get rid of that dress.
What is that?
It's my mourning attire.
Why don't we get out of here?
Go shopping.
We could get some ice cream.
In Victorian times, a widow was expected
to mourn her husband for two years.
At least.
- India.
- But in Ancient China...
...they built a straw hut beside the grave
and lived there for three years doing nothing.
You and me, ice cream, fresh air.
Come on, all these years
of hunting trips with him...
...and all I'm asking for
is one afternoon with me.
That's what your father would have wanted.
You know, your father and I
weren't always so distant.
I miss when he was...
...young.
India!
India!
Mature aroma.
You chose a good year.
You can't compare it to a younger wine.
Too tannic.
Not ready to be open.
You should have come with us, India.
The open top...
...the air.
It felt so good.
We stopped and Uncle Charlie
got some ice cream for you.
One chocolate, one vanilla.
Did I get it right?
I like the swirl kind.
You can make the swirl yourself,
you lazy thing.
Where's Mrs. McGarrick?
She's still not here.
What?
What are we supposed to do?
I'm not much in the kitchen.
I can cook a little.
No, you don't have to do that.
I'd love to.
Charlie, who in the world are you?
India, would you take these
down to the freezer, please?
Do as your uncle tells you.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, India.
Too cold down there?
No.
You know, there was a time...
...Richard used to cook meals like this.
Ahem.
Wasn't there, India?
I'm sorry, of course.
That was before you were born.
Where did you learn to cook like this,
Charlie?
Madame Jacquin.
She ran a Michelin-starred restaurant
outside of Toulouse called "L'Institution."
A female chef.
In her opinion,
there was nothing a man could master...
...that a woman couldn't make.
What do you mean?
It sounds better in French.
Did I tell you on the way home?
Your French accent is perfect.
One of the perks
of a first-class education.
I could stay locked up in this house
for the rest of my life...
...yet still speak impeccable French.
I know you're not gonna spend the rest
of your life locked up in this house.
How do you spend your days?
I want to know my brother's wife.
I don't know where to start.
Charlie, you didn't even touch your food.
Did you put poison
in the food just for us girls?
But India ate everything.
Practically licked it clean.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Now, can I get you anything else?
Maybe some ice cream?
No.
"No, thank you."
I mean, no, thank you.
Would you like to
play something for us after dinner?
I don't think so.
Would you?
India.
I mean, no, thank you.
Why didn't you tell me I had an uncle?
Because I barely knew about Charlie myself.
I mean, he's been traveling the world
for as long as I've known your father.
You know, he used to say to me:
"What kind of family is family
that never comes home?"
Let's stop talking about Richard.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
1994.
The year you were born.
What do you want from me?
To be friends.
We don't need to be friends.
We're family.
It takes time to observe attentively.
Wait for the moment that our eyes...
...finally penetrate the inside of the subject.
Look, Marv...
...see that flower?
The way it just hangs there?
My eyes are penetrating
the inside of you.
Observe carefully
and you'll note that this plant...
Check out Pitts.
I want you to really...
Hey.
- Pitts.
- Yes, Mr. Feldman?
Is there something you'd
like to share with the rest of the class?
Yeah, I've got something I'd like to share.
With India.
He's gorgeous.
Hey.
Come back.
Mom?
It's going to rain.
Mm.
Relax.
There.
Curl your fingers.
No.
Watch me.
You see?
I'm teaching him piano.
Uncle Charlie is a complete beginner.
Put on some dry clothes
and come play with us.
Why don't you take a hot shower first
or you'll catch a cold. Come on. Here.
Good morning, sweetie.
Charlie cleared off the court yesterday.
So we're just gonna walk on over.
You don't want to come, do you?
Hello, India.
I took one of Richard's belts.
- His whites are a little big.
- Mm.
Ready?
Let's go.
India?
It's me.
Come and give your Auntie Gin a hug.
- What time did you get in, Gwendolyn?
- Around 4.
Mm.
That's right.
And when do you fly out?
That remains to be seen.
I'd originally planned
to stay for only a day or two...
...but now I'm thinking
I should stay a bit longer.
Spend a little quality time with India.
How nice for her.
- Charles?
- Auntie Gin.
How long have you been here?
Not long.
We're so grateful that he's taken time away
from his commitments in Europe.
- Europe?
- Yes.
Evie, dear, after dinner,
I was thinking perhaps you and I could talk.
- We are talking.
- Alone.
- About what?
- Like Richard, for instance.
- Richard?
- Yes, Evie. Richard.
My nephew, your late husband.
I don't think I'll be forgetting his name
any time soon.
Of course not. I just thought
there might be arrangements to be made.
Things to be settled.
Our lawyer has said none of this has anything
to do with you. You're not in the will.
No, dear, I mean something entirely different.
Like, for example...
...maybe we could talk about
your living here with Charlie like this.
Auntie Gin isn't shy when it comes
to expressing her opinions about me.
Like when Richard asked me to marry him.
What Auntie Gin might be surprised...
...to learn is that those opinions
are neither wanted, needed, or appreciated.
- Evie...
- You come into my home and attack me...
...at a time like this.
Evie...
I'm sure Auntie Gin didn't mean anything.
You didn't mean anything by it, did you?
No.
No, of course not, Evie dear.
Now, would either of you two
like to play something for us after dinner?
No, thank you.
Good night, Auntie Gin.
Don't mind Evie.
She's just tired.
What was the name of your hotel again?
- The Biltmore.
- The Biltmore.
Maybe we could have breakfast together.
- Just us girls.
- I'm not sure.
Can you take her to the Biltmore Hotel?
I'll probably have a headache in the morning.
- Drive carefully.
- Auntie Gin, stay the night here.
You made the evening much nicer.
Thank you, dear.
But an old woman needs time on her own
to recover. Good night, sweet child.
Call me.
Are there any other hotels in town
besides the Biltmore?
Even family ties
have no meaning when food is scarce.
This one knows there is no room
for his brother in the hunt.
While this sibling rivalry may seem cruel,
in the end, it is for the best.
Each day in the hunt
brings the eagle closer to maturity.
...and chicks of his own.
The most patient of predators,
the black eagle can circle for hours...
...waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The fish will provide much needed
nourishment for her growing chicks.
I was wondering
if anyone had turned in a cell phone.
I think I may have dropped it
when I was checking in.
Are you absolutely certain?
All right.
Wait, wait.
What number do I have to press to dial out?
Nine.
Yes, I thought so.
Come on.
The mountains
are no place for the faint of heart.
The steep terrain and harsh climate
make a challenging climate...
...for even the strongest of species.
...wings are freedom.
...while the eagle prefers to find its own meals,
there is nothing wrong in having a little help.
Any advantage in nature is to be appreciated,
and what the left...
...a hearty meal for the hungry bird
who lived to hunt another day.
...thirteen pounds
and a wingspan of nearly 7 feet.
You said you were staying
at the Biltmore Hotel...
...and yet, here you are.
I even had to call the cab company.
...prey does hot suspect
the hunter is circling high above...
...and is taken completely by surprise.
- Hey, yo, yo. Look who's here.
- No kidding?
- Is it...? Is it true?
- Is it?
Yo, check this out.
- I'm telling you, she can talk, bro.
- Well, let's find out.
- Creepy, man.
- All right...
Hey, Stoker.
- Hey, Stoker.
- Where you going?
I'm talking to you.
Or do you go by Stroker now?
Because I hear
that's what your mom's been doing...
...to your uncle.
You been getting in on that?
What did you say?
- She speaks.
- "What did you say?"
I think you heard me, Stroker.
Say that again?
All right. I think you'd better
watch your step, Stroker.
You know what happens
to little girls who mess with me?
Watch this.
What's up, bitch?
What's up?
- Hey, come here, you all right?
- Oh, my God.
You okay?
All right, Pitts.
That's enough.
Get out of here, Whip.
Follow the bouncing ball, jackass.
She's not interested.
Dude, let's just go.
Yeah, like I enjoy wasting my time
on this bitch, anyways. Let's go.
- Freak.
- Sorry about that.
He's an A-hole, okay?
Just ignore him.
Hey.
Where you going?
Too cold down there?
India, would you take these down
to the freezer, please?
That I had only sang to just a few
She saw my silver spurs
And said let's pass some time
And I will give to you
Summer wine
Oh, summer wine
Strawberries, cherries
And an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really
Made from all these things
You stayed longer than I thought you would.
You probably need to move on.
And I will give to you
Summer wine
You want me to leave?
My eyes grew heavy
Come on.
You could return to Madame Jacquin.
But I couldn't find my feet
She reassured me
With an unfamiliar line
Dance with me.
And then she gave to me
I always end up leading.
Well then, lead me, Evie.
Strawberries, cherries
And an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really
Made from all these things
You know...
...for me...
...it doesn't matter who you are.
I feel the same.
Really?
It doesn't matter who I am for me, either.
When I woke up
The sun was shining in my eyes
My silver spurs were gone
My head felt twice its size
She took my silver spurs
A dollar and a dime
And left me cravin' for
More summer wine
Oh, summer wine
Oh, summer wine
Whip.
Hey.
I just thought I...
I've never been here before.
Yeah, no kidding.
I'll see you guys tomorrow.
Have fun, bro.
So...
You wanna go inside?
Then where would you like to go?
India Stoker,
Middlebend straight-A student...
...hanging out in the parking lot at Rockets?
Doesn't really seem like you.
Not that you would know.
Well, I... I guess you're right.
I wouldn't.
It's just that...
Yes.
I know what you mean.
Yeah?
How's that?
Have you ever seen
a photograph of yourself...
...taken when you didn't know
you're being photographed?
From an angle you don't get to see
when you look in the mirror.
And you think, "That's me.
That's also me."
Do you...?
Do you know what I'm talking about?
Yeah.
I think I do.
Well...
...that's how I feel tonight.
So you're surprised at yourself?
You're not afraid of being touched anymore?
Please don't spoil it.
Holy shit.
Everyone said you were crazy.
But they have no idea, do they?
I wanna go home now.
Let me go.
No, you don't.
You opened this door,
and now you're gonna walk through it.
Quiet.
Hold still.
This is not gonna hurt.
Shit, what...?
Stop, stop, stop.
I broke my...
Glad I borrowed your dad's belt.
Mine would've been way too short.
- Shit...
- All yours.
- I'm seriously hurt. Shit.
- Shut up.
India, stop.
India.
Stop.
Stop.
I'll kill you.
I don't give a fuck...
Strawberries, cherries
Yes?
Can I come in?
Well, what time is it?
Would you brush my hair?
I was just going to bed.
Then I'll brush yours.
You're wearing the nightgown I bought you.
Tonight I felt like wearing something silk.
Now that I think about it,
I never brushed your hair...
...did I?
You were busy.
With what?
I don't know.
You and your father
were always on your hunting trips.
How could I compete with all of those
dead birds you constantly brought home?
She reassured me
With an unfamiliar-
I saw you in the dining room today.
I don't know what you think you saw...
...but nothing happened.
You were so still,
I never even heard you there.
Dad taught me that.
Hunting.
To wait.
In silence.
We wouldn't need food or drink.
We would watch everything.
The patterns of tree branches
spreading out...
...the thousands of shapes clouds make.
I could count the number of leaves on a tree
in five hours.
I always thought Dad liked hunting.
But tonight I realized he did it for me.
He used to say, "Sometimes
you need to do something bad...
...to stop you from doing something worse."
Tomorrow, I'm gonna go
to the hairdresser...
...after I clean out your father's study.
Dear India, happy birthday.
You are 5 years old today.
I wish I could be there for your party...
...but your uncle is far away in Africa
taking pictures for the magazine.
Dearest India, I'm writing this letter to you
from Florence.
Yesterday, I circled Michelangelo's
David for hours. He carries a sling.
His belted weapon over his left shoulder.
- You are my dearest and only niece.
- My silent and invisible partner.
And these are the lessons for you
in our many chapters together.
- Dear India.
- Happy birthday again.
I've missed your first teeth coming out.
I'll never see the holes in your smile...
...or how they will fill in
as you mature into a young lady.
Greetings from Saint-Etienne, where
everyone I meet insists on kissing both cheeks.
This custom of hugging and kissing.
I think you, too, would find this uncomfortable.
If I found it was you in an embrace,
I could make an exception.
- I wonder if you would, too.
- Happy Valentine's.
- Happy Halloween.
- Merry Christmas.
- Though I never receive a letter...
- I see your messages in the stars.
Or in the music I hear.
It is a whistling tune from a lonely man
wandering in a foreign land.
I sense things so acutely
until it becomes almost too much.
I wonder if for you, too,
life is made difficult by...
The fact that you can hear what others
cannot hear, see what they cannot see.
I know that someday you'll be
very special, India, and you already are.
- I know inside you feel some loneliness.
- Because you are the only one.
Please know that I am
with you as we share the same blood.
Tonight, I'll fall asleep as I try to imagine...
...that you'll grow up
and take over our name.
How I want to meet you.
- All my love, Charlie.
- All my love, Charlie.
You've reached the Middlebend
Sheriff's Department non-emergency number.
If this is an emergency,
please hang up and dial 911.
Otherwise, please hold
for the next available operator.
Middlebend Sheriff's Department,
how may I help you?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
My father had the exact same sunglasses.
He wore them only when he was driving
so they were always in the glove compartment.
Now I suppose they're all melted up,
along with the rest of the car.
Please leave before my mother wakes up.
Aren't you curious
about what happened to Richard?
I'm curious
about what happened to Jonathan.
That's an inseparable part
of what happened to Richard.
Richard was completely taken with Jonathan.
That summer, Jonathan had just learned
how to climb the stairs.
Let's go again.
Let's go.
He couldn't resist climbing
any staircase he came across.
It's been 20 years since your family
donated this building to Crawford.
It may look old now,
but Charlie's room is still very comfortable.
As you know,
he was the one who wanted to stay here.
And he insisted on being discharged
on this day.
Today.
Welcome to my home.
Away from home.
Until we meet again.
I'm so proud of you.
It always was your favorite car.
I think you're gonna love New York.
I got you your own apartment.
You see?
Aren't we going to your house?
Everything you need is in here.
Why aren't we going to your place?
I'm not gonna see India?
Here are the keys.
I think you'll see that I've taken care of
all the details.
Why are you doing this to me?
Do I really have to tell you something
you already know?
Why can't I go?
Charlie.
Why not?
Tell me.
You listen very carefully.
This is the most important thing.
- If anything happens, you must call...
- You still love me, don't you, Richie?
Yes, of course, I love you, Charlie.
I just have to love you a little less now.
I can't have you...
Near my India, my family.
And I said:
But I'm your family.
What kind of family
is family you can't take home?
- Jesus.
- Excuse me.
Jesus, Charlie.
Are you okay?
I'm fine, Richie.
I'm fine now.
Thank you for asking.
Charlie?
Oh, Charlie.
Of course, I still love you, Richard.
I just have to love you
a little bit less now.
Why now?
Why come back now?
The day I left Crawford...
...the day your father had his accident...
...what day was it, do you remember?
Yes.
I remember.
What day was it?
It was my 18th birthday.
I was waiting.
For you.
Everything I've ever done.
For you, India.
Happy birthday, India.
Yes, sheriff.
I was hungry,
so I stopped by Rockets for some fries.
I bumped into Whip at the parking lot
and we decided to go for a walk.
At night?
Those woods are dangerous.
I wasn't scared.
Not with Whip there.
He's so strong.
I see.
So we had a very nice time.
And then?
And then I went home.
I thought Whip said
he was heading home too.
Any idea what time that was?
Well, that was...
When did you eat the fries?
Excuse me?
Well, you said you went there
because you were hungry?
And then, that is, after having a nice time,
you would have become even more hungry...
...and if you went to eat some fries...
...I could find some people that can remember
what time they saw you.
I think I..
I think I must have been...
I must have been blushing.
It was my first time outside with a boy.
I didn't want to be seen.
It was 8:30 when you came home.
II Trovatore was playing on PBS.
Yeah, when I came home,
my uncle was watching TV...
...so I watched it with him.
Just one moment.
Il Trovatore.
What is it?
It's a foreign movie?
No.
No, it's an opera by Verdi.
- Would you like me to write it down?
- I'm fine.
I do hope Whip's okay.
Well, his folks are a mess.
Then again, I have a feeling that he'll turn up.
Boys that age...
Well, you know how they are.
I'm sure I do.
You will let me know if you hear anything,
won't you?
Will do.
Okay.
Well, I'll be in touch.
Goodbye, sheriff.
Goodbye, sheriff.
By the way, did your housekeeper ever
get in touch after leaving town so quick?
No.
She didn't.
Strange how people
can just disappear on you.
He'll be back.
What are we going to do?
I think we'll really love New York.
When do we leave?
I'm sorry.
Tomorrow night.
- Should we do it again?
- I'm hungry. Let's eat first.
You know, I've often wondered why
it is we have children in the first place.
And the conclusion I've come to is...
...at some point in our lives,
we realize things are...
They're screwed up beyond repair.
So we decide to start again.
Wipe the slate clean.
Start afresh.
And we have children.
Little carbon copies we can turn to and say,
"You will do what I could not.
You will succeed where I have failed."
Because we want someone
to get it right this time.
But not me.
Personally speaking,
I can't wait to watch life tear you apart.
India...
...who are you?
You were supposed to love me, weren't you?
Come up to my room, please.
I enjoyed your performance.
India, go and pack a small bag.
We'll be leaving shortly.
I came to say goodbye.
I can't allow you to do this.
Why not?
There are little things one notices
along the way, but one suppresses because...
Because?
Why do you think?
Love?
Richard loved India.
He would never have driven
so far away on her birthday.
Not unless, for some reason he was called
away by someone he couldn't say no to.
Auntie Gin
wanted to speak to me about you...
...but she never did come back after that night,
did she?
People disappear...
...all the time.
Have me instead,
but stay away from my daughter.
She's of age.
Of age for what?
To live in this house on her own
while her mother finally travels the world.
Don't you want to speak French in France?
What are you suggesting?
Come with me.
India.
India, come here and look.
India, come here.
India!
Come here! Now!
In a hurry?
Know how fast you were going?
Pardon?
Effectively fast, Mister Sheriff.
Effective for what?
To get your attention.
I became the color
I became the daughter and the son
When the feast is over
Welcome to another one
I lay my body down, down
Down upon the water
Wrapped up in the clothes
Of my mother and my father
This is longing I wanna be complete
I was waiting around in a little jump seat
I had hunger, a mouthful of M&Ms
You'd do anything just to get rescued
I had longing, isn't it the key?
Take take
Taste taste taste sweet
They said I'd gone south
Said I'd gone asunder
I was just free
We were ready to behave
But there's no freedom without no key
Whatever you think you'll become
All that matters, dear
Is where you're coming from
Oh, no, no, take me from my misery
There's no such thing as living comfortably
There's no such thing as going home
I'm not formed of myself alone
All the other others, they just fade to black
When you think you have me's
When I don't look back
Keep on laughing, calling after me
Keep on laughing, I'm just free
We were ready to behave
But there's no freedom without no key
Whatever you think you'll become
All that matters, dear
Is where you're coming from
We were ready to behave
But there's no freedom without no key
Whatever you think you'll become
All that matters, dear
Is where you're coming from
Small, faraway things people
cannot normally see are visible to me.
These senses are the fruits
of a lifetime of longing.
Longing to be rescued.
To be completed.
Just as the skirt needs the wind to billow...
...I'm not formed by things
that are of myself alone.
I wear my father's belt
tied around my mother's blouse.
And shoes which are from my uncle.
This is me.
Just as a flower does not choose its color...
...we are not responsible
for what we have come to be.
Only once you realize this
do you become free.
And to become adult...
...is to become free.
Richard! No!
A family man...
...devoted husband to his wife, Evelyn...
...loving father to his daughter, India.
He was a model to our town...
...and of what it means to be a man
who walks through the world...
...with openness, honesty and integrity.
- India?
- Richard Stoker was taken from us...
...by a cruel twist of fate.
India?
The reasons for which
are unknown and unknowable.
By an accident
nobody would have predicted.
It would have been impossible
for even an outstanding architect...
...like Richard...
...to understand God's
great design.
India?
India.
The guests will be here soon.
Can you help Mrs. McGarrick in the kitchen?
Please?
Don't do this to me, India.
Not today.
When they pried open his car...
- ...you know, his body was burned...
- To a crisp.
Terrible accident.
Poor thing.
India was so close to her father.
- Who's gonna look after her?
- She's still got her mother.
Her mother look after her?
More like the other way around.
You know what?
This whole accident is so strange.
Have you heard
all the rumors floating around...?
You don't think he meant
to drive off the bridge?
- Why did he have to go two states away?
- I don't know.
- Everything all right?
- Yes, Mrs. McGarrick.
Now I'm wondering
if I kept them in the fridge too long.
What do you think?
Was I too stingy with the paprika?
Mm?
Ha, ha.
Your deviled eggs remind me
of when I was a little girl.
Well, you may be all grown up,
but you still get eggshells all over the floor.
Have you outgrown your shoes?
Did you find your birthday present yet?
I found the box, but it was empty.
Are you sure?
Did you check?
Check again.
Every year I thought it was my father
who left me shoes on my birthday.
But all this time, it's been...
Tell me what it opens.
How would I know?
All right.
That was my brother...
You know, originally
they were part of a set of four...
...but then I broke one as a kid.
Now I'm seeing in this house
someone must have let another break.
No, it wasn't me.
When we moved in, it broke
as the housekeepers were unpacking it.
India.
Come and say hello to your Uncle Charlie.
India?
Come over.
See you soon.
Hello, India.
Come on.
She hates to be touched.
I'm her mother.
What a curse!?
You know, Charlie, Richard used to say...
...that we had lost you
to the rest of the world forever.
Why, India, you're white as a sheet.
Is something wrong?
Yes.
My father is dead.
How beautiful.
Richard was so proud of India's hunting
that he stuffed every single thing she killed.
What a tragic waste of life.
These live particularly deep in the forest.
They'd be very hard to catch.
I guess Richard and India were a good team.
It's kind of disrespectful, him not
wearing black to his own brother's funeral.
He must have come back today
from the Middle East or something.
It's just part of a dig
in some old part of Istanbul?
No, I think he was digging for
something quite different. Gold in Indonesia.
I really want to thank you
for your words this morning.
Well, you and Richard deserve every word.
The wine's good.
There you are.
Come and join us.
This is Richard's brother.
Hello.
- He's back.
- Nice to meet you.
These are the Blooms,
good friends of ours.
Good evening.
I didn't know Richard had a brother.
Nice to meet you.
We're sorry for your loss.
How did you know Richard?
Got his doctorate from Oxford
when he was 24.
Stoker sure had the brains.
Yeah.
Just look at India.
Hello, again.
Do you want to know why
you feel at a disadvantage right now?
Because I didn't know
you existed until today?
Because you're standing below me.
You look like my father.
I am so sorry.
It's your loss too.
In about 60 seconds,
your mother's gonna tell you...
...that I'm gonna be
staying here for a while...
...but I want it to be your decision too.
Why?
Because...
...it's important to me.
This really is a beautiful garden.
The soil...
...is so soft.
Good for digging.
I'm not exactly sure what you're driving at.
I don't want any trouble.
I am the only one
who would know anything about it.
I did everything you asked of me.
I kept you informed every year.
I was your eyes, your ears,
your hands all this time.
You're acting like you're in diapers now...
...and you've done this to me
ever since you were a child. I'm tired of it.
- I am tired of it.
- All right.
Mrs. McGarrick?
Mrs. McGarrick?
Where is she?
I haven't seen her yet.
Good morning.
It's afternoon.
I guess it is.
Do you think you could...?
That's my girl.
Thank you.
What are you doing today?
Thought I'd...
...draw the curtains, stop the clocks...
...cover the mirrors
and then retire to my room.
Don't be morbid.
Get rid of that dress.
What is that?
It's my mourning attire.
Why don't we get out of here?
Go shopping.
We could get some ice cream.
In Victorian times, a widow was expected
to mourn her husband for two years.
At least.
- India.
- But in Ancient China...
...they built a straw hut beside the grave
and lived there for three years doing nothing.
You and me, ice cream, fresh air.
Come on, all these years
of hunting trips with him...
...and all I'm asking for
is one afternoon with me.
That's what your father would have wanted.
You know, your father and I
weren't always so distant.
I miss when he was...
...young.
India!
India!
Mature aroma.
You chose a good year.
You can't compare it to a younger wine.
Too tannic.
Not ready to be open.
You should have come with us, India.
The open top...
...the air.
It felt so good.
We stopped and Uncle Charlie
got some ice cream for you.
One chocolate, one vanilla.
Did I get it right?
I like the swirl kind.
You can make the swirl yourself,
you lazy thing.
Where's Mrs. McGarrick?
She's still not here.
What?
What are we supposed to do?
I'm not much in the kitchen.
I can cook a little.
No, you don't have to do that.
I'd love to.
Charlie, who in the world are you?
India, would you take these
down to the freezer, please?
Do as your uncle tells you.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, India.
Too cold down there?
No.
You know, there was a time...
...Richard used to cook meals like this.
Ahem.
Wasn't there, India?
I'm sorry, of course.
That was before you were born.
Where did you learn to cook like this,
Charlie?
Madame Jacquin.
She ran a Michelin-starred restaurant
outside of Toulouse called "L'Institution."
A female chef.
In her opinion,
there was nothing a man could master...
...that a woman couldn't make.
What do you mean?
It sounds better in French.
Did I tell you on the way home?
Your French accent is perfect.
One of the perks
of a first-class education.
I could stay locked up in this house
for the rest of my life...
...yet still speak impeccable French.
I know you're not gonna spend the rest
of your life locked up in this house.
How do you spend your days?
I want to know my brother's wife.
I don't know where to start.
Charlie, you didn't even touch your food.
Did you put poison
in the food just for us girls?
But India ate everything.
Practically licked it clean.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Now, can I get you anything else?
Maybe some ice cream?
No.
"No, thank you."
I mean, no, thank you.
Would you like to
play something for us after dinner?
I don't think so.
Would you?
India.
I mean, no, thank you.
Why didn't you tell me I had an uncle?
Because I barely knew about Charlie myself.
I mean, he's been traveling the world
for as long as I've known your father.
You know, he used to say to me:
"What kind of family is family
that never comes home?"
Let's stop talking about Richard.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
1994.
The year you were born.
What do you want from me?
To be friends.
We don't need to be friends.
We're family.
It takes time to observe attentively.
Wait for the moment that our eyes...
...finally penetrate the inside of the subject.
Look, Marv...
...see that flower?
The way it just hangs there?
My eyes are penetrating
the inside of you.
Observe carefully
and you'll note that this plant...
Check out Pitts.
I want you to really...
Hey.
- Pitts.
- Yes, Mr. Feldman?
Is there something you'd
like to share with the rest of the class?
Yeah, I've got something I'd like to share.
With India.
He's gorgeous.
Hey.
Come back.
Mom?
It's going to rain.
Mm.
Relax.
There.
Curl your fingers.
No.
Watch me.
You see?
I'm teaching him piano.
Uncle Charlie is a complete beginner.
Put on some dry clothes
and come play with us.
Why don't you take a hot shower first
or you'll catch a cold. Come on. Here.
Good morning, sweetie.
Charlie cleared off the court yesterday.
So we're just gonna walk on over.
You don't want to come, do you?
Hello, India.
I took one of Richard's belts.
- His whites are a little big.
- Mm.
Ready?
Let's go.
India?
It's me.
Come and give your Auntie Gin a hug.
- What time did you get in, Gwendolyn?
- Around 4.
Mm.
That's right.
And when do you fly out?
That remains to be seen.
I'd originally planned
to stay for only a day or two...
...but now I'm thinking
I should stay a bit longer.
Spend a little quality time with India.
How nice for her.
- Charles?
- Auntie Gin.
How long have you been here?
Not long.
We're so grateful that he's taken time away
from his commitments in Europe.
- Europe?
- Yes.
Evie, dear, after dinner,
I was thinking perhaps you and I could talk.
- We are talking.
- Alone.
- About what?
- Like Richard, for instance.
- Richard?
- Yes, Evie. Richard.
My nephew, your late husband.
I don't think I'll be forgetting his name
any time soon.
Of course not. I just thought
there might be arrangements to be made.
Things to be settled.
Our lawyer has said none of this has anything
to do with you. You're not in the will.
No, dear, I mean something entirely different.
Like, for example...
...maybe we could talk about
your living here with Charlie like this.
Auntie Gin isn't shy when it comes
to expressing her opinions about me.
Like when Richard asked me to marry him.
What Auntie Gin might be surprised...
...to learn is that those opinions
are neither wanted, needed, or appreciated.
- Evie...
- You come into my home and attack me...
...at a time like this.
Evie...
I'm sure Auntie Gin didn't mean anything.
You didn't mean anything by it, did you?
No.
No, of course not, Evie dear.
Now, would either of you two
like to play something for us after dinner?
No, thank you.
Good night, Auntie Gin.
Don't mind Evie.
She's just tired.
What was the name of your hotel again?
- The Biltmore.
- The Biltmore.
Maybe we could have breakfast together.
- Just us girls.
- I'm not sure.
Can you take her to the Biltmore Hotel?
I'll probably have a headache in the morning.
- Drive carefully.
- Auntie Gin, stay the night here.
You made the evening much nicer.
Thank you, dear.
But an old woman needs time on her own
to recover. Good night, sweet child.
Call me.
Are there any other hotels in town
besides the Biltmore?
Even family ties
have no meaning when food is scarce.
This one knows there is no room
for his brother in the hunt.
While this sibling rivalry may seem cruel,
in the end, it is for the best.
Each day in the hunt
brings the eagle closer to maturity.
...and chicks of his own.
The most patient of predators,
the black eagle can circle for hours...
...waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The fish will provide much needed
nourishment for her growing chicks.
I was wondering
if anyone had turned in a cell phone.
I think I may have dropped it
when I was checking in.
Are you absolutely certain?
All right.
Wait, wait.
What number do I have to press to dial out?
Nine.
Yes, I thought so.
Come on.
The mountains
are no place for the faint of heart.
The steep terrain and harsh climate
make a challenging climate...
...for even the strongest of species.
...wings are freedom.
...while the eagle prefers to find its own meals,
there is nothing wrong in having a little help.
Any advantage in nature is to be appreciated,
and what the left...
...a hearty meal for the hungry bird
who lived to hunt another day.
...thirteen pounds
and a wingspan of nearly 7 feet.
You said you were staying
at the Biltmore Hotel...
...and yet, here you are.
I even had to call the cab company.
...prey does hot suspect
the hunter is circling high above...
...and is taken completely by surprise.
- Hey, yo, yo. Look who's here.
- No kidding?
- Is it...? Is it true?
- Is it?
Yo, check this out.
- I'm telling you, she can talk, bro.
- Well, let's find out.
- Creepy, man.
- All right...
Hey, Stoker.
- Hey, Stoker.
- Where you going?
I'm talking to you.
Or do you go by Stroker now?
Because I hear
that's what your mom's been doing...
...to your uncle.
You been getting in on that?
What did you say?
- She speaks.
- "What did you say?"
I think you heard me, Stroker.
Say that again?
All right. I think you'd better
watch your step, Stroker.
You know what happens
to little girls who mess with me?
Watch this.
What's up, bitch?
What's up?
- Hey, come here, you all right?
- Oh, my God.
You okay?
All right, Pitts.
That's enough.
Get out of here, Whip.
Follow the bouncing ball, jackass.
She's not interested.
Dude, let's just go.
Yeah, like I enjoy wasting my time
on this bitch, anyways. Let's go.
- Freak.
- Sorry about that.
He's an A-hole, okay?
Just ignore him.
Hey.
Where you going?
Too cold down there?
India, would you take these down
to the freezer, please?
That I had only sang to just a few
She saw my silver spurs
And said let's pass some time
And I will give to you
Summer wine
Oh, summer wine
Strawberries, cherries
And an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really
Made from all these things
You stayed longer than I thought you would.
You probably need to move on.
And I will give to you
Summer wine
You want me to leave?
My eyes grew heavy
Come on.
You could return to Madame Jacquin.
But I couldn't find my feet
She reassured me
With an unfamiliar line
Dance with me.
And then she gave to me
I always end up leading.
Well then, lead me, Evie.
Strawberries, cherries
And an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really
Made from all these things
You know...
...for me...
...it doesn't matter who you are.
I feel the same.
Really?
It doesn't matter who I am for me, either.
When I woke up
The sun was shining in my eyes
My silver spurs were gone
My head felt twice its size
She took my silver spurs
A dollar and a dime
And left me cravin' for
More summer wine
Oh, summer wine
Oh, summer wine
Whip.
Hey.
I just thought I...
I've never been here before.
Yeah, no kidding.
I'll see you guys tomorrow.
Have fun, bro.
So...
You wanna go inside?
Then where would you like to go?
India Stoker,
Middlebend straight-A student...
...hanging out in the parking lot at Rockets?
Doesn't really seem like you.
Not that you would know.
Well, I... I guess you're right.
I wouldn't.
It's just that...
Yes.
I know what you mean.
Yeah?
How's that?
Have you ever seen
a photograph of yourself...
...taken when you didn't know
you're being photographed?
From an angle you don't get to see
when you look in the mirror.
And you think, "That's me.
That's also me."
Do you...?
Do you know what I'm talking about?
Yeah.
I think I do.
Well...
...that's how I feel tonight.
So you're surprised at yourself?
You're not afraid of being touched anymore?
Please don't spoil it.
Holy shit.
Everyone said you were crazy.
But they have no idea, do they?
I wanna go home now.
Let me go.
No, you don't.
You opened this door,
and now you're gonna walk through it.
Quiet.
Hold still.
This is not gonna hurt.
Shit, what...?
Stop, stop, stop.
I broke my...
Glad I borrowed your dad's belt.
Mine would've been way too short.
- Shit...
- All yours.
- I'm seriously hurt. Shit.
- Shut up.
India, stop.
India.
Stop.
Stop.
I'll kill you.
I don't give a fuck...
Strawberries, cherries
Yes?
Can I come in?
Well, what time is it?
Would you brush my hair?
I was just going to bed.
Then I'll brush yours.
You're wearing the nightgown I bought you.
Tonight I felt like wearing something silk.
Now that I think about it,
I never brushed your hair...
...did I?
You were busy.
With what?
I don't know.
You and your father
were always on your hunting trips.
How could I compete with all of those
dead birds you constantly brought home?
She reassured me
With an unfamiliar-
I saw you in the dining room today.
I don't know what you think you saw...
...but nothing happened.
You were so still,
I never even heard you there.
Dad taught me that.
Hunting.
To wait.
In silence.
We wouldn't need food or drink.
We would watch everything.
The patterns of tree branches
spreading out...
...the thousands of shapes clouds make.
I could count the number of leaves on a tree
in five hours.
I always thought Dad liked hunting.
But tonight I realized he did it for me.
He used to say, "Sometimes
you need to do something bad...
...to stop you from doing something worse."
Tomorrow, I'm gonna go
to the hairdresser...
...after I clean out your father's study.
Dear India, happy birthday.
You are 5 years old today.
I wish I could be there for your party...
...but your uncle is far away in Africa
taking pictures for the magazine.
Dearest India, I'm writing this letter to you
from Florence.
Yesterday, I circled Michelangelo's
David for hours. He carries a sling.
His belted weapon over his left shoulder.
- You are my dearest and only niece.
- My silent and invisible partner.
And these are the lessons for you
in our many chapters together.
- Dear India.
- Happy birthday again.
I've missed your first teeth coming out.
I'll never see the holes in your smile...
...or how they will fill in
as you mature into a young lady.
Greetings from Saint-Etienne, where
everyone I meet insists on kissing both cheeks.
This custom of hugging and kissing.
I think you, too, would find this uncomfortable.
If I found it was you in an embrace,
I could make an exception.
- I wonder if you would, too.
- Happy Valentine's.
- Happy Halloween.
- Merry Christmas.
- Though I never receive a letter...
- I see your messages in the stars.
Or in the music I hear.
It is a whistling tune from a lonely man
wandering in a foreign land.
I sense things so acutely
until it becomes almost too much.
I wonder if for you, too,
life is made difficult by...
The fact that you can hear what others
cannot hear, see what they cannot see.
I know that someday you'll be
very special, India, and you already are.
- I know inside you feel some loneliness.
- Because you are the only one.
Please know that I am
with you as we share the same blood.
Tonight, I'll fall asleep as I try to imagine...
...that you'll grow up
and take over our name.
How I want to meet you.
- All my love, Charlie.
- All my love, Charlie.
You've reached the Middlebend
Sheriff's Department non-emergency number.
If this is an emergency,
please hang up and dial 911.
Otherwise, please hold
for the next available operator.
Middlebend Sheriff's Department,
how may I help you?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
My father had the exact same sunglasses.
He wore them only when he was driving
so they were always in the glove compartment.
Now I suppose they're all melted up,
along with the rest of the car.
Please leave before my mother wakes up.
Aren't you curious
about what happened to Richard?
I'm curious
about what happened to Jonathan.
That's an inseparable part
of what happened to Richard.
Richard was completely taken with Jonathan.
That summer, Jonathan had just learned
how to climb the stairs.
Let's go again.
Let's go.
He couldn't resist climbing
any staircase he came across.
It's been 20 years since your family
donated this building to Crawford.
It may look old now,
but Charlie's room is still very comfortable.
As you know,
he was the one who wanted to stay here.
And he insisted on being discharged
on this day.
Today.
Welcome to my home.
Away from home.
Until we meet again.
I'm so proud of you.
It always was your favorite car.
I think you're gonna love New York.
I got you your own apartment.
You see?
Aren't we going to your house?
Everything you need is in here.
Why aren't we going to your place?
I'm not gonna see India?
Here are the keys.
I think you'll see that I've taken care of
all the details.
Why are you doing this to me?
Do I really have to tell you something
you already know?
Why can't I go?
Charlie.
Why not?
Tell me.
You listen very carefully.
This is the most important thing.
- If anything happens, you must call...
- You still love me, don't you, Richie?
Yes, of course, I love you, Charlie.
I just have to love you a little less now.
I can't have you...
Near my India, my family.
And I said:
But I'm your family.
What kind of family
is family you can't take home?
- Jesus.
- Excuse me.
Jesus, Charlie.
Are you okay?
I'm fine, Richie.
I'm fine now.
Thank you for asking.
Charlie?
Oh, Charlie.
Of course, I still love you, Richard.
I just have to love you
a little bit less now.
Why now?
Why come back now?
The day I left Crawford...
...the day your father had his accident...
...what day was it, do you remember?
Yes.
I remember.
What day was it?
It was my 18th birthday.
I was waiting.
For you.
Everything I've ever done.
For you, India.
Happy birthday, India.
Yes, sheriff.
I was hungry,
so I stopped by Rockets for some fries.
I bumped into Whip at the parking lot
and we decided to go for a walk.
At night?
Those woods are dangerous.
I wasn't scared.
Not with Whip there.
He's so strong.
I see.
So we had a very nice time.
And then?
And then I went home.
I thought Whip said
he was heading home too.
Any idea what time that was?
Well, that was...
When did you eat the fries?
Excuse me?
Well, you said you went there
because you were hungry?
And then, that is, after having a nice time,
you would have become even more hungry...
...and if you went to eat some fries...
...I could find some people that can remember
what time they saw you.
I think I..
I think I must have been...
I must have been blushing.
It was my first time outside with a boy.
I didn't want to be seen.
It was 8:30 when you came home.
II Trovatore was playing on PBS.
Yeah, when I came home,
my uncle was watching TV...
...so I watched it with him.
Just one moment.
Il Trovatore.
What is it?
It's a foreign movie?
No.
No, it's an opera by Verdi.
- Would you like me to write it down?
- I'm fine.
I do hope Whip's okay.
Well, his folks are a mess.
Then again, I have a feeling that he'll turn up.
Boys that age...
Well, you know how they are.
I'm sure I do.
You will let me know if you hear anything,
won't you?
Will do.
Okay.
Well, I'll be in touch.
Goodbye, sheriff.
Goodbye, sheriff.
By the way, did your housekeeper ever
get in touch after leaving town so quick?
No.
She didn't.
Strange how people
can just disappear on you.
He'll be back.
What are we going to do?
I think we'll really love New York.
When do we leave?
I'm sorry.
Tomorrow night.
- Should we do it again?
- I'm hungry. Let's eat first.
You know, I've often wondered why
it is we have children in the first place.
And the conclusion I've come to is...
...at some point in our lives,
we realize things are...
They're screwed up beyond repair.
So we decide to start again.
Wipe the slate clean.
Start afresh.
And we have children.
Little carbon copies we can turn to and say,
"You will do what I could not.
You will succeed where I have failed."
Because we want someone
to get it right this time.
But not me.
Personally speaking,
I can't wait to watch life tear you apart.
India...
...who are you?
You were supposed to love me, weren't you?
Come up to my room, please.
I enjoyed your performance.
India, go and pack a small bag.
We'll be leaving shortly.
I came to say goodbye.
I can't allow you to do this.
Why not?
There are little things one notices
along the way, but one suppresses because...
Because?
Why do you think?
Love?
Richard loved India.
He would never have driven
so far away on her birthday.
Not unless, for some reason he was called
away by someone he couldn't say no to.
Auntie Gin
wanted to speak to me about you...
...but she never did come back after that night,
did she?
People disappear...
...all the time.
Have me instead,
but stay away from my daughter.
She's of age.
Of age for what?
To live in this house on her own
while her mother finally travels the world.
Don't you want to speak French in France?
What are you suggesting?
Come with me.
India.
India, come here and look.
India, come here.
India!
Come here! Now!
In a hurry?
Know how fast you were going?
Pardon?
Effectively fast, Mister Sheriff.
Effective for what?
To get your attention.
I became the color
I became the daughter and the son
When the feast is over
Welcome to another one
I lay my body down, down
Down upon the water
Wrapped up in the clothes
Of my mother and my father
This is longing I wanna be complete
I was waiting around in a little jump seat
I had hunger, a mouthful of M&Ms
You'd do anything just to get rescued
I had longing, isn't it the key?
Take take
Taste taste taste sweet
They said I'd gone south
Said I'd gone asunder
I was just free
We were ready to behave
But there's no freedom without no key
Whatever you think you'll become
All that matters, dear
Is where you're coming from
Oh, no, no, take me from my misery
There's no such thing as living comfortably
There's no such thing as going home
I'm not formed of myself alone
All the other others, they just fade to black
When you think you have me's
When I don't look back
Keep on laughing, calling after me
Keep on laughing, I'm just free
We were ready to behave
But there's no freedom without no key
Whatever you think you'll become
All that matters, dear
Is where you're coming from
We were ready to behave
But there's no freedom without no key
Whatever you think you'll become
All that matters, dear
Is where you're coming from