Breaking Home Ties (1987) - full transcript
Inspired by a Norman Rockwell painting, this 1950s coming of age drama centers on a young man leaving home to attend college, where he will learn the lessons in becoming a man. While his family must deal with a life threatening illness.
( train horn blowing )
( signal bell clanging )
>> She's coming.
>> Sure is.
>> 10:14 like I told you,
Lonnie, right on the button.
>> How about that, boy, huh?
Big old train just like the ones
you used to chase, huh?
( air horn blows )
Come on, boy, get in there.
Got a dome car!
>> Yeah, I see it.
Got your ticket?
>> In my pocket.
>> Dig into these, will you?
>> Half through them already.
>> Yeah, the easy half.
>> Oh, that's pretty heavy.
Better let me carry it.
>> There you go.
You got it?
>> Climb aboard, Lonnie.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Yep, look like a city feller,
all right.
>> ( chuckles )
A college man, huh?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Lonnie, good luck to you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Sears.
>> You make your own luck, hear?
>> Thanks, Dad.
>> Git.
>> All aboard!
>> Mr. Sears, is it all right if
I go up to the dome car?
>> That's what it's for!
>> Bye, Dad.
>> Bye, son.
>> He sure is excited about
leaving, isn't he?
>> Sure is.
( signal bell clanging )
>> This is for the pain.
>> Percodan.
>> It's powerful.
You use it whenever you need it.
And this is a drug called
6-mercaptopurine.
It may help retard the
deterioration of cell tissue.
>> I'm not sure I want it
retarded, Barton.
>> Emma, I wish there were
something else I could do,
something anyone could do.
But leukemia is still a mystery
disease.
>> Well, maybe Lonnie will go on
to medical school and find a
cure.
>> He might.
He's a good one.
>> There is something, though.
>> Name it.
>> Lloyd...
I don't want them to know.
>> Emma, I told you, there'll be
infection, anemia, you'll bruise
badly, have internal bleeding.
The bare truth is I don't think
you can make it very long alone.
>> I understand that, Barton.
There's no need for him to
suffer, too.
>> Well, well.
You look a whole sight better.
( chuckles )
What'd he have to say?
>> I need iron.
>> Iron?
>> Mm-hmm.
Gave me a prescription.
Lonnie got off all right?
>> Yeah, probably put away that
lunch you packed by now.
He sure was burning fuel.
>> It's wonderful he's so
eager.
>> Yeah.
You know, Em, turning them loose
is what raising them's all
about.
If we've done our job right up
to here, he'll be fine.
( engine starts )
( woman laughs )
>> Oh, my!
How about that hair?
>> Goes with the tie.
>> Burn it.
>> I can't do that.
My dad bought it.
>> Let him wear it.
Hey, you see this month's
"Esquire"?
>>"Esquire"?
>> The magazine.
>> Oh, yeah.
No.
>> Well, I got a copy.
You're not gonna believe it.
Here, check this out.
What about that?
>> Golly.
>> What you think?
I told you you wouldn't believe
it.
Pre-med All State.
>> Second team.
>> Well, hey, second team All
State, got a couple of numbers.
Wanna see if you can score some
points tonight?
>> Come on, Roy, I can't just
call up a girl I don't even
know.
>> Hey, this is college.
The girls here are after the
same thing you are.
>> I don't think I can.
I mean, I've never done it
before.
I mean, you know, call up a girl
I don't know.
>> Sure, you can.
I did.
She sounded great, too.
Name's...
Bonnie Jo Jensen.
Here, I'll give you the number
of the girl that wasn't home.
>> No, Roy, that's okay.
>> Yeah, take it.
>> I gotta get down to Bubba's
anyway.
>> Bubba's?
That's a hamburger joint, isn't
it?
>> Mm-hmm.
I'm gonna be working there.
Coach Davis set it up for me.
I figure I get frites and
spending money.
And if I make the team, my dad
won't have to worry about me,
so...
>> Yeah, I guess, but with
classes and homework,
basketball, and work, too...
whew, sure doesn't leave a lot
of time for all the
great-looking women round the
place.
( ratchet clicks, dog barks )
>> Lloyd.
>> Grace.
( dog barks )
>> Well, Shep, hi, boy, hi.
Yes, he's a good boy.
Emma home?
>> In the kitchen.
>> Then he's not homesick, hmm?
>> Well, he didn't sound it.
He was just bubbling over like a
spring.
He likes the campus.
He likes the boardinghouse.
He likes his roommate.
He likes his job.
>> And what about his classes?
>> Oh, I'm embarrassed to say I
didn't even ask, Grace.
I mean, I was so glad to hear
his voice and to know he was all
right.
>> I'm not saying his adjustment
is not important, but I want to
hear about those classes pretty
soon and his marks.
>> I'll tell him to write to
you.
>> Oh, good heavens, no, he's
got enough writing to do, and
he's had enough questions from
me to last him a lifetime.
No, just remember to ask him
about it next time you talk, and
then remember to tell me what
he says.
>> I will.
( truck engine running )
>> Lloyd missing him much?
>> You know how close they are.
>> He's proud, though?
>> Proud as the first day he
held him.
>> I'm so happy for you both,
Emma.
You're good parents.
>> Thank you, Grace.
( Shep barks )
You've taught so many children.
You ever wish you'd ever had
your own?
>> What do you mean?
They're all mine.
Part of them, anyway.
But your son, Lonnie, he's the
one I would've wanted if I
could've had my choice.
( Shep barking )
>> All right, I hear you, I
hear you.
He's working, too, you know.
>> ( grunts )
I'm sorry.
Hey, Welles, don't mess with the
linebackers.
They were undefeated last year.
>> Yeah, I bet.
>> You really like that pink
sweater, huh?
>> I think she's in my American
lit class.
>> She is, and there's more
poetry in that walk than you're
going to come across all year.
>> You know her?
>> That is Bonnie Jo Jensen.
>> The one you called?
>> The one I'm taking out
Friday night.
>> Are you serious?
>> Better than that-- she's
serious.
>> Gotta do me a favor, Welles.
>> Roy, I got two favors of
my own I gotta get done.
>> No paper, this is important.
>> What is it?
>> I need the room.
>> What?
>> I need the room Friday night.
>> The room, what for?
No. My room?
Unh-unh.
>> Your room?
It's our room, remember?
>> What happens if you get
caught?
>> Caught?!
I won't get caught!
>> I got your word on that,
right, Roy?
>> Come on, Welles, you saw her!
The pink sweater, she's a
walking, talking pinup, for
crying out loud!
>> Roy!
>> And she wants to walk right
into this house Friday night,
right into our room!
>> Shh!
>> Our room!
( rockabilly music playing )
>> You really think she looks
like that, huh?
>> I'm telling you, Welles,
twins.
>> Wow.
>> You're not gonna make me pass
that up, are you?
>> ( sighs )
>> Morning, Emma.
>> Morning, Clyde.
>> Letter from Lonnie.
>> Oh, thank you.
>> Nothing else but some
advertisers.
>> Well, nothing else I need.
>> Missed you in church on
Sunday.
That cold's really got a grip on
you, huh?
>> Well, I'm feeling better now,
thanks.
>> Well, you take care, Emma.
>> Thank you, Clyde.
Say hello to Ruth.
We'll be looking for you on
Sunday and Lloyd, too, if you
can collar him.
>> ( chuckles ) I don't think
that collar's been made yet.
>> ( laughs ) Oh, we'll get him
there one day, Em!
>> Tell you what, Welles, I'm
not set up for that sort of
thing.
Insurance and all, you know
what I mean?
>> Bubba, it's only for tonight.
You're gonna be through painting
the room and all tomorrow, and
you got that extra cot set up in
the back.
>> Hey, Welles, you got
something cooking, that's none
of my business.
You want to start cooking at my
place, though, itismy
business, you know what I mean?
>> What?
>> Hey, if you're short, I can
advance you enough to get a room
down at the Wagon Wheel.
It's not gonna cost much.
It ain't much.
>> But that's not it, I swear.
I'm not the one who-- well, it's
just kind of complicated--
>> Just you don't know how to
register, right?
>> Register?
>> Mister and Missus usually
does it.
Serve this, okay?
( chuckles )
>> Yeah, sure.
>> Bubba called you Welles.
You Lonnie Welles?
>> Yeah.
>> I'm--
>> Brad Sheldrick, I know.
I've seen you play.
>> Coach Davis says you're the
best freshman he's ever
recruited.
>> Really?
>> No, no.
But you looked like you could
stand some good news.
Oh, hey, listen, what-- what you
heard Bubba talking about,
that-- that's not what you
think.
>> What happen, that flake Gibbs
con you out of the room?
>> How'd you know that?
>> I heard you lived together.
He's hustling somebody I know
pretty well myself.
Fact is, if I hadn't of bailed
out on a date with her tonight,
you wouldn't be an orphan.
Hey, maybe I can help you out.
>> You sure your sister won't
mind?
>> Hey, she's cool.
She'd have to be to share an
apartment with her kid brother,
right?
>> I guess.
You're sure she's going with you
to your folks' tonight, right?
>> Hey, it's a party, 40th
anniversary.
Can't miss that.
Come on.
Carol?
Brought company.
( upbeat jazz music playing )
Just a sec.
( song ends, applause )
( slow jazz music playing )
Hey, Welles?
This is my sister Carol.
Carol, this is Lonnie Welles.
>> Hi.
>> Lonnie?
Nice to meet you.
>> Yeah.
Yes, it is.
Nice to meet you, I mean.
>> He's a freshman.
>> Brad told me about your
roommate.
Well, you're welcome to stay the
weekend if you want.
We won't be back till late
Sunday night.
>> Thanks, no, it's just tonight
that got all fouled up.
>> Well, I've got to get myself
put together.
Brad, show Lon where to find him
what he needs.
>> Sure.
So you like jazz?
>> Huh?
>> Jazz.
Carol's got a great collection.
>> Oh, uh...
I don't know much about it.
>> Well, just treat yourself.
Hi-fi works just like any record
player.
And there's TV.
>> Neat.
>> Yeah.
All this stuff's Carol's.
She's got a lot of class.
>> Yeah, I can tell.
>> Well, I gotta tellyou
something.
The coach did say you're the
guard we need to take us all the
way.
I'm really glad you decided to
come here.
>> Oh.
So am I.
>> How-- how's that?
>> Fine.
>> Oh!
>> That's when you have to take
the little cousin home...
>> Oh, yes, dumb.
It's a good thing Lonnie didn't
inherit my coordination.
He'd never have a scholarship to
play basketball.
>> Let me have a look at that.
>> No, no, it's nothing.
I keep banging myself up like
this, you're liable to trade me
in for a new model.
>> Yeah?
Take a good look at that truck I
drive?
>> Lloyd Welles, are you
comparing me to a truck?
>> No, I'm just saying that
you're both pretty well built.
>> ( laughs )
You want anything?
>> Another cold one.
( indistinct talking on
television )
( Lloyd laughs )
>> Who put my wallet on the
sink?
>> I did, I found it on the
floor.
( audience laughs )
( Lloyd laughs )
>> Let's see now, my car keys.
>> They're in the car.
>> Car keys in the car.
( Lloyd laughs )
( audience laughs )
>> Harriet, I know that.
Are you going to stay here and
help Ricky?
>> I think I'd better go and
help you.
( Lloyd laughs )
( indistinct conversations )
>> Welles!
Welles!
Hey, Welles, I gotta talk
to you.
>> I gotta get to class, Roy.
>> Hey, listen, let me tell you
what happened the other night.
You're not gonna believe it.
>> I don't want to know about
the other night, okay?
>> Are you sore?
Hey, you didn't have to do it,
you know.
I mean, if you really didn't
want to, you could've said--
okay, okay, I muscled you a
little, maybe.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm sorry, all right?
>> Forget about it.
>> Forget it?
How can I forget it?
You're my best friend.
>> What about Bonnie Jo Jensen?
>> Hey, listen, you're not gonna
believe it.
>> I still don't want to hear
about it.
>> Oh, yes, you do, Welles, yes,
you do.
God, you're not gonna believe
it.
I mean, I didn't believe it, and
I was there!
You know that "Esquire"?
Bonnie Jo sees it laying there,
see, and she says-- oh, man,
you're not gonna believe it.
I know you're not.
You're not gonna believe it.
She says...
>> ( laughs )
You're a liar, Roy!
She did not say that!
>> Yes, she did!
>> I don't believe it.
( laughs )
I don't believe you.
( school bell rings )
>> Hi.
>> Hi.
>> This is your next assignment.
It's by a contemporary author,
J.D. Salinger, and it's called
"The Catcher in the Rye."
How many of you have heard of
it?
How many have read it?
What prompted you, Mr... Welles?
>> Uh, yes, sir.
Um... my, uh, high school
teacher, Miss-- Miss Ferris.
She said it was the best
American novel written in a long
time, so...
>> I happen to agree with her.
Did you like it?
>> Well, yes, sir, I did.
It sort of reminded me of
"Huck Finn," in a way.
>> And what way is that?
>> Uh, well, this-- this Holden
Caulfield, he's the character
that tells the story, the one
that wants to be a catcher in
the rye, well, he-- he's sort of
a rebel like Huck.
He runs away, too.
Well, he-- he runs away from a
private school he goes to back
East.
That's all different and all,
you know, where he comes from,
the kind of adventures he has,
but, um...
uh, it still reminded me of--
of Huck, in a way.
>> Mm-hmm.
And what would you say the theme
of the book is?
>> The theme, sir?
The abstract concept that
Salinger is asking us to examine
in the light of our contemporary
social values.
>> Um...
honesty?
>> Not bad, Mr. Welles.
Not bad.
>> Pass it!
>> Go, go!
>> Pick them up, pick them up,
pick them up!
Take it!
Nice job, Welles.
All right, let's go, bring it on
down!
Let's go, get your hands up!
That's it, work around, work it!
Work it, come on!
Pass it, that's it!
Move it around!
Move it around!
That's it, pass it!
Pass it!
( whistle blows )
All right, huddle up right here.
Mars, you held it too long.
That's gonna happen over and
over.
I want you to move that ball
around.
Pass, pass, find the open man
and hit him!
All right?
Okay, hit the showers,
then the books.
I'll see you tomorrow.
2:00 sharp.
( players shout )
>> Hey, roomie,
looking good today.
I think you scored some heavy
points with old man Davis.
He was licking his chops
watching you sink those 20-
footers.
>> You weren't so bad yourself.
>> Shoot, man, Corbett would cut
me tomorrow if he had a bigger
turnout.
>> Roy, you got the size.
You just need to work, that's
all.
>> There's that word again.
>> Come on, let's go one-on-one
for a while.
>> I can't, I got a date.
>> With Bonnie Jo?
>> Eat your heart out.
>> Hey.
>> Hey, Welles, come on.
Let's go 20.
>> Oh, yeah?
>> Yeah.
Bring it in.
Hey, Carol says thanks for
cleaning up the place.
>> I didn't do much.
>> It made you look good.
I never do anything.
Hey, I told you she's working on
her PhD, didn't I?
>> No, really?
>> Yeah, psych.
>> That's great.
>> Yeah, except she's always
analyzing everybody.
You know what she said about
you?
>> Me?
>> Psyched you, Welles.
I bet you really want to know
what she said about you now,
don't you?
>> She didn't say anything.
>> Oh, yes, she did.
>> What?
>> She said she thinks you're
cute.
>> Cute?
>> That's two-zip, cutie.
>> Damn!
Damn!
( truck approaching )
>> Oh...
what happened?
>> Oh, those pills Dr. Hendricks
gave me, I dropped them.
>> Well, 6-mercaptopurine.
What's that?
>> Well, that's iron.
It's fortified.
There's something I want to show
you.
>> What's this?
>> Well, that's for headaches.
Come on, Lloyd.
>> Percodan.
>> Lloyd, there is something I
want you to see.
>> Oh.
>> Well?
What you think?
>> Where'd all this come from?
>> Mail order.
Curtains, slipcovers, lampshade,
new rug?
>> You like it?
>> Well, it's real nice.
>> Well, you always said it
should be green.
>> Well, what brought all this
about?
>> Well, holiday time is coming
up, and Lonnie's gonna be coming
for Thanksgiving.
I just thought I'd liven things
up a bit.
>> How about you?
You feeling a little more
lively?
>> Well, those pills are helping
a lot.
>> Not that I can see.
That knot on your leg isn't
looking any better at all.
>> Well, Southern belles are
supposed to be delicate,
remember?
>> You've been a Southern belle
all your life.
You've only been black and blue
like this lately.
Now if those pills are having
some effect they're not supposed
to, I want to know about it, and
I want it stopped.
>> Lloyd, I'm fine.
I just need a little rest.
>> You call this rest?
>> If you want to keep me in bed
all day, Lloyd Welles, you're
just going to have to keep me
there yourself.
>> Well, maybe you are feeling a
little better at that.
>> I thought we could even give
the house a fresh coat of paint.
>> Paint?
Hasn't been but three years
since I last painted.
>> Well, we could change the
trim, something bright and
happy.
>> Emma?
Are you happy?
>> You always make me happy.
>> Now I know you're stringing
me.
>> Well, almost always.
Could we, Lloyd?
Please?
We'll see.
( both chuckle )
( car horn honks )
>> Lloyd.
>> Ah, Grace.
>> You all right?
>> Just some back pain.
Guess I forgot how much work
Lonnie did around the place till
I started trying to do it all
myself again.
>> No complaints about growing
old, Lloyd.
I got a head start on you, you
know.
>> No complaints.
>> How's Lonnie?
>> No complaints from him
either.
>> Emma?
>> Well, you know Emma.
Any trouble she has, we'd be the
last to know about it.
>> Well, tell Lonnie I said
hello.
>> Well, he'll be coming home
for the holidays.
You can tell him yourself.
>> Oh, good, I'm looking forward
to that.
>> Always good to see you,
Grace.
>> You too, Lloyd.
>> She told me they were iron
pills.
Doug Bunting at the drugstore
told me that Percodan stuff is
for pain.
And that other bottle, that
6-mercaptopurine is for a
disease.
Now I want to know what that
disease is.
>> Doug didn't tell you.
>> He told me to ask you.
Now I'm asking you, Bart.
What the hell's going on?
>> Lloyd, I understand how you
feel.
>> Oh!
>> No, no, I really do.
But you've got to understand my
professional position.
I cannot discuss Emma's medical
problems without her permission.
You're supposed to use that
profession of yours, Bart, not
hide behind it.
>> Emma is my patient, Lloyd,
not you.
>> I pay the bills!
>> Is that a threat?
>> No.
No.
Hell, no.
>> I'm sorry, Lloyd.
>> I can understand whyyou
can't say anything, but why
should she shut me out after all
these years?
Unless she's as scared as I am.
>> Paint?
Well, I don't mind taking your
money, Lloyd.
But you ain't worn out the
guarantee on the paint I sold
you three years ago yet.
>> I don't want the paint I got.
I want something bright.
I want the brightest gall-darned
color you got.
>> Bright, huh?
>> Yeah.
>> How about chartreuse?
>> Chartreuse?
>> Yeah.
>> What the hell is that?
>> Oh, sort of a hot
yeller-green.
Bright as hell, like electric
limeade.
>> Limeade, huh?
>> Trim it out with some of that
Chinese red, you got yourself
one fancy eye-stopper, I tell
you.
>> Or an upset stomach.
How about a nice shade of
lemonade instead?
>> Pink or yeller?
( laughs )
>> Oh, it looks great, Lloyd!
>> Yeah!
( both laugh )
>> ( inhales ) Mmm.
Boy, oh, boy, there's nothing in
the whole world smells that
good.
>> Or tastes as good as it
smells.
>> Well, I know most people are
having pumpkin tonight or
mincemeat.
>> There's not a lot of people
that has a mom that cooks your
apple pie.
>> Well, we've had so much
turkey, we don't have to eat it
right away.
>> Well, maybe we don't, but I
do, thank you.
>> Lloyd?
( all laugh )
>> Just not strong enough to
push myself away.
( all laugh )
>> Emma, whoa, whoa, let Lonnie
have that piece, yeah.
I just want a sliver.
>> Yeah, till we all go to bed,
huh?
>> Well, you don't have to worry
about it all disappearing
tonight.
I baked two.
>> Thanks, Mom.
>> Well...
anything special you want to do
while you're home?
>> Yeah.
Dad?
How about packing into the lake
for a couple days, huh?
See if those brownies are as big
as last year.
>> Yeah, sounds like a good idea
to me.
But I'm not so sure I can get
away.
>> Why not?
>> Well, I got to get that old
tractor running.
>> I can do that for you.
>> No, no, it's your vacation.
Besides, you know Clem Barker?
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, well, he's got trouble
with his generator, and I told
him I'd give him a hand and see
if I couldn't get the thing
working right.
>> Well, Lloyd, it's the
Thanksgiving holiday.
You didn't say anything about
helping Clem.
>> ( chuckles )
Forgot about it.
>> Well, it couldn't be all that
important, then.
>> Well, not to me, maybe, but I
imagine it is for Clem.
>> Well, how many times is your
son going to ask you to spend a
few days with him?
>> There'll be more days, right,
Lon?
>> Yeah, sure.
>> Not enough.
>> You spend them with him, Em.
Way I figure it, you got days
and days to catch up for all the
time we spent together hunting
and fishing and working side by
side.
>> He didn't do that to hurt
you, you know.
>> Doesn't matter.
>> Well, it matters that you
don't hold it against him.
>> I just thought he'd be happy
to see me, that's all.
>> He's been like you used to be
on Christmas morning.
>> Sure took down the tree in a
hurry.
>> He loves you.
>> I know.
>> And don't ever doubt it.
>> Okay.
>> Promise me that.
>> Mom.
>> Promise.
>> Okay.
>> Cross your heart.
>> Cross my heart and hope to
die, okay?
May I have this, please?
>> You know what I think?
>> What's that?
>> I think we ought to pay a
visit to Miss Ferris first thing
in the morning.
>> What for?
>> Because you wouldn't be going
to college at all if she hadn't
helped you get ready for it.
>> Yes, ma'am, I know that, I
just-- I meant why tomorrow
morning?
>> Because there's no reason
not to, and you never know if
you'll ever get around to the
things you put off.
>> Pretty heavy philosophy
there.
>> A simple truth.
>> Lon, I'm so happy you thought
to call.
>> Well, yes, ma'am.
>> Emma?
>> Oh, thank you.
>> We were just glad you were
home.
>> The odds of me being here are
pretty good.
>> Sure have been a lot of
places, though.
>> Yeah, traveling's meant a lot
to me.
>> All those came from different
countries?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> You know, I lived in Europe
for two years before I came back
here to teach.
Then I cruised the South
Pacific.
That's where all those masks
come from.
>> Huh.
Where did those come from?
China?
>> No, Burma.
Yeah, and these are from Sierra
Leone.
And this little ivory piece's
is from India.
This is from Nairobi.
Ah, but this, this is from
China.
It's 11 centuries old.
Here, hold it.
>> ( chuckles )
No, I don't want to hold it.
I don't even want to touch it.
( laughs )
>> Why?
Go ahead.
Go on, feel how delicate it is.
>> Wow.
It's-- it's really light.
>> Yeah.
>> Never been so scared I'd drop
anything since the last pass in
the state finals.
>> ( laughs )
It's only a thing, Lon.
>> Well, it's got to be a
priceless thing, though.
>> Well, it's worthless if it
can't be shared, like any work
of art.
>> Well, I'd still feel better
if you held it.
>> ( chuckles ) Okay.
Now, how'd you like a cup of
tea?
>> I envy you, Grace.
>> The travel?
>> There's so much to see, so
much to do.
>> And the grass is always
greener.
>> Now, don't tell me you
would've ever traded what this
represents.
>> In the blink of an eye.
For the right thing.
>> What would that be?
>> Now?
Nothing.
But there was a time.
>> I can't imagine anything
being better than traveling
around the whole world.
>> Of course you can't, but you
will.
Emma, how about I warm that up
for you?
>> Thanks.
There's just something in the
way she looks at him, Lloyd.
You can just tell she cares.
She's proud, as proud as we are.
>> Probably pretty proud of all
of them that turn out.
>> Well, I guess.
She did have pictures of other
students in with the snaps of
her family.
She even had one of you.
>> Me?
I can't recall my ever being
much of a student.
>> Well, she said you were.
>> Well, that was a long time
ago.
>> Well, she told Lon you were
one of those young gifted people
who never had the opportunity to
explore his potential.
>> Well, that right?
>> And then on the way home,
Lon said he thinks that may be
why you seemed so distant to him
lately, that maybe you envy what
he's doing.
Is there any truth to that?
>> Could be, I suppose.
>> Now don't you go playing word
games with me, Lloyd Welles.
You might not use many words at
one time, but you know exactly
what each one means when it
comes out of your mouth.
>> Do you mean like you and the
curtains, slipcovers, and the
new paint?
You want to talk, Emma?
I do.
I want to talk about the bruises
you've been getting and the
infections and how tired you've
been.
I want to talk about the pills
you take.
>> Lloyd...
>> I went down to the pharmacy,
and I talked to Doug Bunting,
and he told me what the Percodan
was for.
And then he told me that that
purine stuff was for a disease.
And I talked to Doc Hendricks.
He said he couldn't tell me
anything until he discussed it
with you, until you said it was
all right.
Is it all right, Em?
Is-- isn't it something we ought
to talk about?
>> You won't tell Lon, will you?
>> If you can trust Doc
Hendricks, you ought to be able
to trust me.
>> Oh, Lloyd, hold me.
>> I've been to the library,
too.
Leukemia?
How long have you known?
>> Not long.
Summer.
>> And, how long...
>> Not long.
>> State finals, Lonnie Welles
versus Shep Welles.
( Shep barks )
( imitates crowd cheer )
We scored!
We did it, boy!
We did it! We win!
( indistinct conversations,
"Earth Angel" playing )
>> Hi.
>> Hi.
>> I think that's where I got
stuck last time, too.
>> That's right, you did.
>> Well, can I help you?
>> I just wanted to thank you
for helping Roy with that
history report.
>> Oh.
I didn't think anybody was
supposed to know about that.
>> He told me when he had to go
home.
>> He went home?
>> For the weekend.
He was supposed to take me to
the flicks tonight, too.
"The Wild Ones" playing.
Have you seen it?
>> No.
>> Marlon Brando, he's the most.
>> Yeah, I hear he's pretty
good.
I haven't seen it, so--
Can I help you, please?
I got to keep hustling here.
>> I'll have a coffee.
>> Coffee, okay.
>> How late do you have to work?
>> Tonight?
Uh, 7:30.
>> The show doesn't start till
8:00.
Why don't we go together?
>> Together?
>> You worried about Roy?
>> Well...
>> Why would he be mad?
It's not like you asked me out
or anything.
>> Uh...
>> It's just something we both
want to do.
Don't we?
>> Well, yeah.
Sure.
>> Good.
( announcer talking
indistinctly )
>> Fasten your side.
>> It might be kind of nice to
leave it down, don't you think?
>> Too bright.
>> You want to trade sides?
>> No, this is fine.
You could put the speaker
inside.
>> Oh.
Right.
Oh, I-I'm sorry.
>> I'll hold it for you.
>> Why?
>> Well, you roll up the window.
>> Oh.
Thanks.
Kiss me.
>> All of your snack bar
favorites are there including
fresh peanuts, hot popcorn, and
candy of all kinds.
And, believe us, you've never
eaten better hot dogs...
>> You want something from the
snack bar?
>> No.
Let's get in back.
>> In back?
>> There's more room.
>> Oh! Oh!
I-I'm sorry.
Are you okay?
>> I'm fine.
>> I'm sorry.
>> It's fine.
( announcer continuing )
What's the matter?
>> Bonnie Jo...
>> What?
>> Nothing, i-it's wrong.
>> What's wrong?
>> Well, not you, not you.
I mean, you're fine.
Just-- just us.
I-I mean me.
>> What?
I- I can't.
>> You can't?
What do you mean you can't?
>> I-I mean I-I-I can't.
I can't do this.
>> Come here.
>> One minute left to top off
the evening with a treat from
our snack bar.
>> No, no.
>> What's the matter with you?
>> I don't know.
>> I do.
Ithoughtyou were too
goody-goody.
>> Bonnie Jo, listen--
>> Listen?
You're a talker, all right.
A real big talker.
>> I-I never said anything.
>> You said plenty.
>> Bonnie Jo, I never told you--
>> You knew what you were doing
going out, coming here.
You knew.
Now I know why you were so shy,
don't I?
>> ( laughs ) Bonnie Jo!
>> Get out!
>> Bonnie Jo, wait a minute,
okay?
Just listen, all right?
I'm sorry, I really am, I didn't
mean to--
>> Get away from me, I mean it.
>> Hey, Bonnie Jo!
>> Just get away from me.
Get out.
>> Here?
>> Get out!
>> Bonnie Jo!
Hey!
Bonnie Jo!
Oh, great.
Bonnie Jo, come on.
I'm sorry!
>> Enjoy the show!
>> Wait!
How am I supposed to...
get home?
>> Guess who?!
( Woody laughs )
>> Great.
>> Lloyd?
>> There are other specialists!
We could go to-- what's the name
of that place back East, that
clinic?
We'll see whoever it takes, pay
whatever they want.
>> Lloyd, Lloyd, please, don't.
>> This is the 20th century, the
age of miracles.
They can do anything--
>> Shut up!
Please, Lloyd.
I can't make it if you can't.
>> I'm sorry.
Sorry.
I want Lon home.
>> No.
>> He'd want to be with you, Em.
Lloyd, Lonnie's life is just
beginning, and it's the life we
always wanted for him.
Now we'll do what we have to do.
>> Emma--
>> And Lonnie will just keep on
doing what he has to do.
>> Emma!
>> Now his education is the one
thing we can give him that
nobody can ever take away.
We can't take it away from him
now.
Lloyd, we can't.
>> Welles, stay out of the trees
till you know you've got the
lane!
Switch!
Watch the hands, Gibbs!
Hustle, Welles!
>> Yeah, come on, Welles,
hustle!
You're good at that when I'm
not around, right?!
>> Shake him, Welles, shake him!
>> All hustle, no score, though,
right, Welles?!
>> Back off, Gibbs.
You okay, Welles?
>> Yeah.
>> Listen, you two got something
going--
>> You want to get something,
candy.
You couldn't get it going with
her, could you?
>> Gibbs!
>> Come on, let's go, cupcake!
>> Gibbs, move it out, ten laps!
>> Stuff it!
>> Who you talking to?
>> Me.
>> Welles!
Welles!
>> Welles, Corbett bounced Gibbs
off the squad.
Old man Davis wants to see you
Monday.
>> I don't know.
>> Don't know what?
It's your scholarship.
>> I don't know if I even belong
here at all, Brad.
>> Of course you belong here.
What would you be doing if you
weren't here?
>> I don't know.
I never even thought about
anything else.
Maybe I should have.
Maybe that's what's wrong.
>> Wrong?
Hell, Welles, the only thing
that's wrong is you should've
knocked that flake on his can.
How'd you let him put you down
like that?
>> Because he had a right.
>> Why, because of Bonnie Jo
Jensen?
>> I knew how he felt about her,
Brad.
>> Him and half the campus.
>> It was wrong.
>> So you say you're sorry and
get your tail back out to
practice on Monday.
>> I can't, not after what he
said.
>> Look, that bull he was
throwing, nobody was buying
that.
Forget about it.
>> It wasn't bull.
I couldn't do it.
>> Lonnie, every chick doesn't
hit every guy the same way, you
know?
>> Ever happened to you?
>> Well...
no.
>> Anyone else you know of?
>> No.
>> And you took out Bonnie Jo?
>> Well, yeah, but--
Listen, how about if I line
something up for you tonight?
Okay, okay, it was a bad idea.
>> Yeah, a bad idea.
Brad, I appreciate what you're
doing for me.
I gotta get all these other
tables set up, okay?
>> Hey, you want to sleep at the
apartment?
>> No, thank you.
>> Come on, what are you gonna
do, go back to the boardinghouse
and bunk with the flake?
>> I don't know.
>> Man, you don't even know your
own name right now.
Here's the key.
Use it.
>> What about your sister?
>> She's going off to a seminar
somewhere.
I won't be home till late, so
don't wait up.
>> Thanks, Brad.
>> Hey, if you change your mind
about the flake, I'll hold your
coat.
>> Not in?
Oh, you know when he'll be back?
I see.
Well, this is his father.
I want to leave a message.
Tell him I want him home on
tomorrow's train.
It's important.
Yeah, tell him that, too.
That's right.
Tomorrow's train.
( jazz playing, door unlocks )
>> Brad?
>> It's just me.
>> Oh, hi.
Uh, Brad said you wouldn't be
home tonight, I--
>> Oh, well, it got so late, I
decided not to go.
>> Oh.
Uh, I can clear out of here.
>> What happened?
More roommate trouble?
>> Yeah.
>> Might be time to find a new
one.
>> Might be time to pack it in.
>> What?
>> School.
>> I thought you liked it here.
>> Oh, I do.
I do, but, um...
I don't know.
( chuckles )
Listen to me.
I'm dumping all my problems on
you, I'm sorry.
I just better go.
>> Go where?
>> Uh...
I'll find someplace.
>> I got an idea.
Why don't you go with me?
>> What?
>> Well, the seminar's at Lake
Hollister.
Ever been there?
>> No.
>> Oh, it's quiet and peaceful.
It's a good place to think.
Well, they got plenty of rooms
and a discount rate for
students.
Well, if you need a loan, I can
cover you till we get back.
>> No, no, that's okay.
I've got money.
I-- I just thought, you know...
uh...
Well, if it's okay with you,
I...
I-I'd-- I'd love to.
To, you know, see the lake and
all.
We've got a lake at home.
Beautiful lake.
I sometimes go there when I have
to sort out my problems and
stuff.
>> Well, then let's go.
>> Okay.
>> Okay.
( dog barks, children and women
shouting indistinctly )
>> So your father never went to
college?
>> No.
My dad had an older brother, my
uncle Finlay.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, he went on to college,
and the deal was that my dad
would work to help him through,
and then afterwards, he'd work
to help my dad get through.
Well, my dad worked and sent
Finlay his money, but when
Finlay graduated, it was during
the Depression.
And he got this girlfriend of
his...
pregnant, and they got married.
And so...
>> So you think your father
resents you now for what you're
doing?
>> You think that's possible?
>> Well, I suppose.
>> I-- I really wanted to share
this with him, you know?
I mean, I really did, Carol.
>> It's a big adjustment.
Leaving home, I mean.
It takes everybody some getting
used to, even parents.
>> When you left, was it hard?
>> Well, when I left, I went to
live with somebody else.
>> The guy in the picture?
>> Picture?
The one in your place?
You know, that guy and you.
It looked like you were on
vacation or something.
I don't know, I figured it was a
honeymoon or something.
>> Yes.
Dusty.
We went to Hawaii.
>> Mm.
What happened?
>> Normandy.
>> Oh, I'm-- I'm sorry, Carol.
>> Oh, it's all right.
I was sorry, too, myself, for a
long time.
Oh, hey.
That meeting's about to start.
>> Yeah, um...
thanks.
>> For what?
>> Well, talking to a kid.
>> Oh.
We're all kids, Lon.
Some of us are just older.
>> May I?
>> Sure.
>> No passengers, Lloyd.
>> Thanks, John.
( air horn blows )
>> Hey.
>> Hi.
>> Well?
Learn anything you didn't know
before?
>> Hmm, couple things.
>> Yeah?
>> How about you?
>> Well, yeah, maybe.
>> Yeah?
Like?
>> Let me ask you something
first.
>> What's that?
>> Why'd you ask me here?
>> I told you.
It's a good place to think.
>> Well, then I think it's
because you feel sorry for me.
>> No, no, I'm not the type to
feel sorry for people.
>> No, huh?
>> No. ( chuckles )
>> Well, then why?
>> I like you.
>> W-well, uh...
how do you like me?
I mean, um...
the same way I like you?
>> What do you mean?
>> Come on, Carol.
>> Lon, um...
>> Oh, shoot.
I'm...
( chuckles )
What's the matter with me?
What the hell's the matter with
me?
>> There's nothing the matter
with you.
>> Yes, there is.
I-I thought--
I don't know what I thought.
I'm feeling so many things I
don't even understand right now.
I'm sorry.
I'm very-- I'm going to leave.
>> Well, I can drive you back.
>> No.
I'll take a bus.
You don't have to do that, I
can--
>> Carol, please.
You've done enough.
Thanks, okay?
>> Okay.
( telephone rings )
>> Hello?
( rock and roll music playing,
indistinct conversations )
>> Dad?
It's Lonnie.
>> Where the hell are you?
>> What?!
Hold on.
Dad, I can't-- okay, guys,
please?
Just lower the hi-fi.
Dad, I'm sorry.
I'm at a pay telephone.
I can't hear you too well.
What'd you say?
>> I left word for you to get
home.
>> Yeah, I-- I know.
I got the message-- I got--
please don't do that, Cletus!
Dad, listen to me--
>> No, now you listen.
Wherever you are and whatever
you're doing, you get your tail
out of it and get on home.
>> Dad, wait a minute, I--
>> You be on the train!
>> Hello, Lonnie.
>> Hey, Mr. Sears.
>> I understand you're knocking
them dead up there.
>> Getting by.
>> Your daddy's waiting.
>> I see him.
Thank you.
Where's Mom?
>> She's been sick.
>> Again?
>> It's the reason I called.
She needs to see you.
>> What do you mean?
Is something--
>> What I mean is what I say.
Seems maybe you've been
forgetting about that lately.
Get in.
( air horn blows )
>> She's all right, then?
It's nothing serious?
>> Doc Henderson's looking after
her.
She's got medicine.
She's got one son, though.
Figure that may be the best
medicine she could have.
( signal bell clanging )
>> Oh, what a wonderful
surprise.
Your daddy told me what you said
about wanting to come home.
>> What he actually said was how
much he missed your cooking.
So why don't you get him fed
while I go work on the corral?
>> Well, let me fix something
for you, too.
>> No, I'm not hungry.
Feed him.
>> Split pea soup on the stove.
>> Great.
>> Tired of Bubba burgers, are
you?
>> Beginning to feel like one.
>> Well, I'm not sure that's a
reason to spend good money
coming home.
But I'm happy to see you.
>> What's wrong with her, Dad?
>> Told you.
Been down a while.
>> She looks awful.
>> Yeah?
She says she feels better.
>> You told her it was my idea
to come home.
Why?
>> She missed you.
>> Why didn't you just tell me
how sick she was?
>> Can't always find you these
days.
>> You want me to say I'm sorry
for that?
>> Well, that's up to you.
>> S-sorry for what?
For not checking on the two of
you all the time?
When was I supposed to start
doing that?
I mean, you're my-- you're my
parents, Dad.
You're the grown-ups.
Just because I go away, we have
to go through some kind of role
reversal or something?
>> Role reversal?
I'll grant you're learning
things I never even heard of!
I hate you think you're
forgetting the things your mom
and me spent a long time
teaching you ourselves.
>> Dad...
>> Look, you want to talk, Lon?
Your mom's been wanting to talk
with you for quite a spell.
>> I need to talk to you.
>> Your mom's the one needs you
home!
>> You...
bastard.
>> Get in the house, Lon.
Get.
>> Ah, damn.
( rooster crows )
>> Lon?
Thanks for coming.
>> Just wish I could do it more
often, that's all.
>> Well, you'd better go.
>> See you, Mom.
>> See you!
>> Board!
( air horn blows )
>> Well, that's me, boy.
I got it.
>> Lon?
>> Yeah?
>> I got something to say to
you.
Your mother...
Your m--
Well, your coming home meant
a lot to her.
I'm sorry for putting the spurs
to you the way I did.
>> It's okay.
I'm sorry for what I said to
you, too.
>> What was that?
>> Lonnie!
>> I gotta go.
>> Right.
>> See you, boy.
( Shep whimpers )
( indistinct conversations )
( air horn blows )
>> So long, Lloyd.
>> Lonnie?
>> Oh, hi.
>> Hi.
I thought you were going home.
>> I did.
>> Not good?
>> Uh, well...
lack of communication, I guess
you'd call it.
>> You're not dropping out of
school, are you?
>> No.
No, I'm gonna finish out the
semester anyway.
>> And then?
>> I'm not sure.
I'm trying to look at all the
alternatives.
>> Like?
>> Got my military obligations.
Thought maybe I should enlist
now and use that time to find
out what I want to be when I
grow up.
>> You want my reaction to that?
>> No, ma'am.
I can guess what that'd be.
We're not in any war right now,
though.
>> Lonnie, maybe we should
continue that talk we started at
Lake Hollister.
>> I think I embarrassed the
both of us enough up there,
don't you?
>> There's no need to be
embarrassed about anything.
>> You sure?
>> As sure as I am about the
Army.
( slow jazz playing )
>> How could I say that to him,
Carol?
>> Maybe he deserved it.
>> He's my father.
>> He's obviously having a hard
time coping with something right
now.
>> Yeah, me.
>> You're changing right now,
Lon.
That's what life is, change.
Nothing ever stays the same.
>> Kind of liked it the way it
was, that's all.
>> Yeah, but you can't control
everything.
You should've learned that with
your roommate and that girl you
were with.
What was her name, Bonnie Jo?
>> Brad told you about that?
>> I wanted to know.
>> Oh, great.
Well, that's just great.
I thought I could trust him.
>> Youcantrust him and me.
>> I'd just better go.
>> I'm not going to let you run
away, Lon, especially not to
some recruiting office.
The answers aren't out there.
They're inside you.
>> What's inside me right now is
all...
fouled up.
You must think I'm the biggest
baby you've ever known.
>> No.
No, you're very much like--
like somebody I loved very much.
How old are you, Lon?
>> 18.
>> Dusty was just a few months
older...
and going off to war to die.
I hardly got a chance to know
him.
But I liked what I knew.
And you--
you remind me of him.
>> I do?
>> Yes.
Very much.
>> How?
>> Oh...
well, you're kind, and you're
gentle...
and caring.
And that's why your first time
couldn't be with a girl like
that in a place like that.
The experience was distasteful
to you because-- because there
has to be more.
There has to be a lot more for
anyone with any depth.
Your roommate wouldn't know
that.
>> I-- I didn't fight back.
>> Oh, that doesn't make you any
less of a man.
>> Well, the guys thought so.
The coach did, too, I think,
Brad.
>> Well, they wouldn't know who
is a real man and who isn't.
That is something only a woman
knows.
You asked me a question.
I never answered.
>> What?
You asked me if-- if I liked you
the same way you liked me,
remember?
>> Carol...
>> What do you think the answer
is, Lon?
Yes.
Yes, Lon.
Exactly the same way.
>> Em?
( car approaches )
( engine stops )
>> You knew, didn't you?
You knew she was dying.
Come on, Dad, talk to me.
Damn you!
Talk to me!
No, I-- I don't want to hear
anything you have to say to me,
okay?
You listen to me.
I'm gonna be at the motel.
And after the services, I'm
leaving.
Don't look for me to come back.
You listening to me?
( groans )
There's nothing here for me now
that she's gone.
( car approaches )
( engine stops )
( car door opens, closes )
( footsteps )
( knock on door )
( knocking continues )
>> ( groans )
( angrily ) I told you I
didn't--
Come in.
I'm sorry.
What is it?
>> Your roommate gave this to
Brad.
He drove me down.
It's from your mother.
>> "Dear Lonnie, you will have
learned by now that we have seen
each other for...
the last time...
in this life.
I want you to understand why I
chose to say goodbye to you in
this way."
I'm sorry.
>> It's okay.
It's for you, not me.
>> ( thinking ) "And I will try
to explain my reasons for that
choice in a way that can make
clear the desperate need to end
my time with you and your father
with some degree of dignity."
( Emma's voice fades in )
>> But the most important thing
for me to know as I leave you is
that you understand how hard
this has been for him.
His not sharing time with you
was really his way of trying to
be sure I had as much time with
you as possible.
He's a simple man, Lon, you know
that, and that was simply his
way of keeping us together as
much is possible without
breaking his vow to me that he
wouldn't tell you about this
dreadful disease called
leukemia.
Before I go on, I want your
promise to forgive him if he
hurt you in any way while he was
trying to help me.
I want your to promise, too,
that you will look after him now
that I no longer can.
>> You know what I think?
>> What's that?
>> I think we ought to build
ourselves a cabin up here.
>> What?
>> Yeah, we could drop it down
in that stand of trees right
over there.
>> I'm sorry, but I don't think
what she did was right.
>> I don't either, Lon, but it
wasn't your life or mine.
It was hers.
Right and wrong in any subject,
that's something we all got to
find for ourselves.
You know, most of us go through
life thinking we're the only
ones that ever did something or
other that we've been told is
wrong, the only ones that commit
some particular sin.
( chuckles softly )
I don't want you to ever feel
like that.
>> I did do wrong by you,
though, Dad.
>> Doing what, growing up?
>> Fooling around while you're
back here working twice as hard.
>> Well, I had twice as much to
work for, and I just hope that
this woman you met cares half as
much about you as my first woman
cared about me.
>> Well, I sure know how much
Mom cared about you.
>> I'm not talking about your
mother.
Got to be a first time for
everyone, son.
>> Did Mom know about her?
>> No.
Nobody knew.
>> ( chuckles ) No.
You think maybe you have to
leave home just to find out
things about your own family?
>> Maybe.
>> Dad, you know everything
there is to know about me.
I mean, you've been with me all
the time, but...
gall darn, there's so much I
don't even know about you.
>> All you have to know is that
you're not alone, not in
anything you ever do.
>> You mean like with Carol?
>> That's what's troubling you
right now, isn't it?
>> Well, yeah.
You think Mom would have
understood?
>> About you, maybe.
About me, I don't know.
>> She knew that you loved her,
though, Dad.
>> Yeah.
She knew how much I loved her.
>> What about the other woman?
Did you love her, too?
>> At the time.
Used to think I couldn't live
another day when she told me we
had to stop seeing one another.
Shows you how wrong I was and
how right she was.
And maybe being older gave her
the edge, being a whole hang of
a lot more experienced in what
makes people tick, probably all
the traveling she did,
suffering, too, I suppose.
>> She used to travel?
>> Mm, all over the world.
I used to wish I'd been in half
the places she'd been, knew half
as much.
I wanted to be older, smarter,
richer, just plain better so I
could be with her forever.
>> I know her, don't I, Dad?
>> You do.
>> When I came back here to this
town that my father's family had
put on the map after all the
opportunities that he'd made
available to me through friends
in the East, well, he was just
dead certain I was a failure.
And, of course, that meant he'd
failed, too.
>> You stayed here anyway, huh?
>> Well, I learned a lot out
there, especially about myself.
I-- I knew I didn't like the
pain in a world that never quite
accepted me.
I knew I belonged here, and I
was right.
>> You never miss those
opportunities you mentioned to
me?
>> Well, they didn't match the
opportunities that I found here.
No, it was a joy to share what
I'd learned with the young
people born in a small,
unsophisticated community like
this.
I've found a couple of other
important things here, too.
Like acceptance and...
and love.
>> My dad?
>> Yes.
It was a love so-- so fine.
But it couldn't have gone on
from there, couldn't have been
more than it was.
>> Because of what people would
say if they knew, huh?
>> If one parent had found out
that I was in love with an
ex-student, they all would've
felt that no child was safe in
my hands.
No, that love would've come
between me and the young minds I
wanted to help.
But-- but it was mainly because
your father had already lost so
much of what he wanted in life
and had already assumed such a
burden that, well, I just
couldn't handicap him with a
reputation he never would've
been able to live down in a town
this small.
>> He's the reason you helped me
so much, isn't he?
I mean, why you got me ready for
college.
>> I knew what it meant to your
father.
It's what he always counted on
and never had a chance to try.
Yeah.
You know, it just might be that
you're the first one of all of
us who's really ready to leave
this place, Lon.
>> ( chuckles )
What do you mean?
>> Well, your roots are deep and
firm, your views are
uncluttered.
>> They've been feeling pretty
cluttered lately.
>> Well, they're emotions we've
all felt, part of growing up and
breaking home ties.
That's exactly what your father
is trying to make you see right
now.
>> Why he told me about you.
>> Yeah, and called to tell me
that you'd be coming over here
with a can opener.
( both chuckle )
It's not always a pretty world,
Lon, you know that, or a happy
one.
There's a part of all of us we
don't want revealed for some
reason or other.
Then we grow old and get
freckles and warts and lines in
places we certainly don't want
them.
We also begin to realize maybe
we're not as wonderful and as
good as we wanted to be or even
should be, but no use dwelling
on that.
No, it's better to think of all
the beautiful things, things
that put a smile on your face.
You know, if you concentrate on
those things, Lon, you'll find
it makes whatever you do in life
a whole lot easier.
You may even find that the
people you live with and work
with and share with have a
better time of it, too.
Better times, lots of smiles,
better memories.
And in the end, they're about
the most important things we
have left, memories.
( signal bell clanging )
>> She's coming.
>> Sure is.
>> 10:14 like I told you,
Lonnie, right on the button.
>> How about that, boy, huh?
Big old train just like the ones
you used to chase, huh?
( air horn blows )
Come on, boy, get in there.
Got a dome car!
>> Yeah, I see it.
Got your ticket?
>> In my pocket.
>> Dig into these, will you?
>> Half through them already.
>> Yeah, the easy half.
>> Oh, that's pretty heavy.
Better let me carry it.
>> There you go.
You got it?
>> Climb aboard, Lonnie.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Yep, look like a city feller,
all right.
>> ( chuckles )
A college man, huh?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Lonnie, good luck to you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Sears.
>> You make your own luck, hear?
>> Thanks, Dad.
>> Git.
>> All aboard!
>> Mr. Sears, is it all right if
I go up to the dome car?
>> That's what it's for!
>> Bye, Dad.
>> Bye, son.
>> He sure is excited about
leaving, isn't he?
>> Sure is.
( signal bell clanging )
>> This is for the pain.
>> Percodan.
>> It's powerful.
You use it whenever you need it.
And this is a drug called
6-mercaptopurine.
It may help retard the
deterioration of cell tissue.
>> I'm not sure I want it
retarded, Barton.
>> Emma, I wish there were
something else I could do,
something anyone could do.
But leukemia is still a mystery
disease.
>> Well, maybe Lonnie will go on
to medical school and find a
cure.
>> He might.
He's a good one.
>> There is something, though.
>> Name it.
>> Lloyd...
I don't want them to know.
>> Emma, I told you, there'll be
infection, anemia, you'll bruise
badly, have internal bleeding.
The bare truth is I don't think
you can make it very long alone.
>> I understand that, Barton.
There's no need for him to
suffer, too.
>> Well, well.
You look a whole sight better.
( chuckles )
What'd he have to say?
>> I need iron.
>> Iron?
>> Mm-hmm.
Gave me a prescription.
Lonnie got off all right?
>> Yeah, probably put away that
lunch you packed by now.
He sure was burning fuel.
>> It's wonderful he's so
eager.
>> Yeah.
You know, Em, turning them loose
is what raising them's all
about.
If we've done our job right up
to here, he'll be fine.
( engine starts )
( woman laughs )
>> Oh, my!
How about that hair?
>> Goes with the tie.
>> Burn it.
>> I can't do that.
My dad bought it.
>> Let him wear it.
Hey, you see this month's
"Esquire"?
>>"Esquire"?
>> The magazine.
>> Oh, yeah.
No.
>> Well, I got a copy.
You're not gonna believe it.
Here, check this out.
What about that?
>> Golly.
>> What you think?
I told you you wouldn't believe
it.
Pre-med All State.
>> Second team.
>> Well, hey, second team All
State, got a couple of numbers.
Wanna see if you can score some
points tonight?
>> Come on, Roy, I can't just
call up a girl I don't even
know.
>> Hey, this is college.
The girls here are after the
same thing you are.
>> I don't think I can.
I mean, I've never done it
before.
I mean, you know, call up a girl
I don't know.
>> Sure, you can.
I did.
She sounded great, too.
Name's...
Bonnie Jo Jensen.
Here, I'll give you the number
of the girl that wasn't home.
>> No, Roy, that's okay.
>> Yeah, take it.
>> I gotta get down to Bubba's
anyway.
>> Bubba's?
That's a hamburger joint, isn't
it?
>> Mm-hmm.
I'm gonna be working there.
Coach Davis set it up for me.
I figure I get frites and
spending money.
And if I make the team, my dad
won't have to worry about me,
so...
>> Yeah, I guess, but with
classes and homework,
basketball, and work, too...
whew, sure doesn't leave a lot
of time for all the
great-looking women round the
place.
( ratchet clicks, dog barks )
>> Lloyd.
>> Grace.
( dog barks )
>> Well, Shep, hi, boy, hi.
Yes, he's a good boy.
Emma home?
>> In the kitchen.
>> Then he's not homesick, hmm?
>> Well, he didn't sound it.
He was just bubbling over like a
spring.
He likes the campus.
He likes the boardinghouse.
He likes his roommate.
He likes his job.
>> And what about his classes?
>> Oh, I'm embarrassed to say I
didn't even ask, Grace.
I mean, I was so glad to hear
his voice and to know he was all
right.
>> I'm not saying his adjustment
is not important, but I want to
hear about those classes pretty
soon and his marks.
>> I'll tell him to write to
you.
>> Oh, good heavens, no, he's
got enough writing to do, and
he's had enough questions from
me to last him a lifetime.
No, just remember to ask him
about it next time you talk, and
then remember to tell me what
he says.
>> I will.
( truck engine running )
>> Lloyd missing him much?
>> You know how close they are.
>> He's proud, though?
>> Proud as the first day he
held him.
>> I'm so happy for you both,
Emma.
You're good parents.
>> Thank you, Grace.
( Shep barks )
You've taught so many children.
You ever wish you'd ever had
your own?
>> What do you mean?
They're all mine.
Part of them, anyway.
But your son, Lonnie, he's the
one I would've wanted if I
could've had my choice.
( Shep barking )
>> All right, I hear you, I
hear you.
He's working, too, you know.
>> ( grunts )
I'm sorry.
Hey, Welles, don't mess with the
linebackers.
They were undefeated last year.
>> Yeah, I bet.
>> You really like that pink
sweater, huh?
>> I think she's in my American
lit class.
>> She is, and there's more
poetry in that walk than you're
going to come across all year.
>> You know her?
>> That is Bonnie Jo Jensen.
>> The one you called?
>> The one I'm taking out
Friday night.
>> Are you serious?
>> Better than that-- she's
serious.
>> Gotta do me a favor, Welles.
>> Roy, I got two favors of
my own I gotta get done.
>> No paper, this is important.
>> What is it?
>> I need the room.
>> What?
>> I need the room Friday night.
>> The room, what for?
No. My room?
Unh-unh.
>> Your room?
It's our room, remember?
>> What happens if you get
caught?
>> Caught?!
I won't get caught!
>> I got your word on that,
right, Roy?
>> Come on, Welles, you saw her!
The pink sweater, she's a
walking, talking pinup, for
crying out loud!
>> Roy!
>> And she wants to walk right
into this house Friday night,
right into our room!
>> Shh!
>> Our room!
( rockabilly music playing )
>> You really think she looks
like that, huh?
>> I'm telling you, Welles,
twins.
>> Wow.
>> You're not gonna make me pass
that up, are you?
>> ( sighs )
>> Morning, Emma.
>> Morning, Clyde.
>> Letter from Lonnie.
>> Oh, thank you.
>> Nothing else but some
advertisers.
>> Well, nothing else I need.
>> Missed you in church on
Sunday.
That cold's really got a grip on
you, huh?
>> Well, I'm feeling better now,
thanks.
>> Well, you take care, Emma.
>> Thank you, Clyde.
Say hello to Ruth.
We'll be looking for you on
Sunday and Lloyd, too, if you
can collar him.
>> ( chuckles ) I don't think
that collar's been made yet.
>> ( laughs ) Oh, we'll get him
there one day, Em!
>> Tell you what, Welles, I'm
not set up for that sort of
thing.
Insurance and all, you know
what I mean?
>> Bubba, it's only for tonight.
You're gonna be through painting
the room and all tomorrow, and
you got that extra cot set up in
the back.
>> Hey, Welles, you got
something cooking, that's none
of my business.
You want to start cooking at my
place, though, itismy
business, you know what I mean?
>> What?
>> Hey, if you're short, I can
advance you enough to get a room
down at the Wagon Wheel.
It's not gonna cost much.
It ain't much.
>> But that's not it, I swear.
I'm not the one who-- well, it's
just kind of complicated--
>> Just you don't know how to
register, right?
>> Register?
>> Mister and Missus usually
does it.
Serve this, okay?
( chuckles )
>> Yeah, sure.
>> Bubba called you Welles.
You Lonnie Welles?
>> Yeah.
>> I'm--
>> Brad Sheldrick, I know.
I've seen you play.
>> Coach Davis says you're the
best freshman he's ever
recruited.
>> Really?
>> No, no.
But you looked like you could
stand some good news.
Oh, hey, listen, what-- what you
heard Bubba talking about,
that-- that's not what you
think.
>> What happen, that flake Gibbs
con you out of the room?
>> How'd you know that?
>> I heard you lived together.
He's hustling somebody I know
pretty well myself.
Fact is, if I hadn't of bailed
out on a date with her tonight,
you wouldn't be an orphan.
Hey, maybe I can help you out.
>> You sure your sister won't
mind?
>> Hey, she's cool.
She'd have to be to share an
apartment with her kid brother,
right?
>> I guess.
You're sure she's going with you
to your folks' tonight, right?
>> Hey, it's a party, 40th
anniversary.
Can't miss that.
Come on.
Carol?
Brought company.
( upbeat jazz music playing )
Just a sec.
( song ends, applause )
( slow jazz music playing )
Hey, Welles?
This is my sister Carol.
Carol, this is Lonnie Welles.
>> Hi.
>> Lonnie?
Nice to meet you.
>> Yeah.
Yes, it is.
Nice to meet you, I mean.
>> He's a freshman.
>> Brad told me about your
roommate.
Well, you're welcome to stay the
weekend if you want.
We won't be back till late
Sunday night.
>> Thanks, no, it's just tonight
that got all fouled up.
>> Well, I've got to get myself
put together.
Brad, show Lon where to find him
what he needs.
>> Sure.
So you like jazz?
>> Huh?
>> Jazz.
Carol's got a great collection.
>> Oh, uh...
I don't know much about it.
>> Well, just treat yourself.
Hi-fi works just like any record
player.
And there's TV.
>> Neat.
>> Yeah.
All this stuff's Carol's.
She's got a lot of class.
>> Yeah, I can tell.
>> Well, I gotta tellyou
something.
The coach did say you're the
guard we need to take us all the
way.
I'm really glad you decided to
come here.
>> Oh.
So am I.
>> How-- how's that?
>> Fine.
>> Oh!
>> That's when you have to take
the little cousin home...
>> Oh, yes, dumb.
It's a good thing Lonnie didn't
inherit my coordination.
He'd never have a scholarship to
play basketball.
>> Let me have a look at that.
>> No, no, it's nothing.
I keep banging myself up like
this, you're liable to trade me
in for a new model.
>> Yeah?
Take a good look at that truck I
drive?
>> Lloyd Welles, are you
comparing me to a truck?
>> No, I'm just saying that
you're both pretty well built.
>> ( laughs )
You want anything?
>> Another cold one.
( indistinct talking on
television )
( Lloyd laughs )
>> Who put my wallet on the
sink?
>> I did, I found it on the
floor.
( audience laughs )
( Lloyd laughs )
>> Let's see now, my car keys.
>> They're in the car.
>> Car keys in the car.
( Lloyd laughs )
( audience laughs )
>> Harriet, I know that.
Are you going to stay here and
help Ricky?
>> I think I'd better go and
help you.
( Lloyd laughs )
( indistinct conversations )
>> Welles!
Welles!
Hey, Welles, I gotta talk
to you.
>> I gotta get to class, Roy.
>> Hey, listen, let me tell you
what happened the other night.
You're not gonna believe it.
>> I don't want to know about
the other night, okay?
>> Are you sore?
Hey, you didn't have to do it,
you know.
I mean, if you really didn't
want to, you could've said--
okay, okay, I muscled you a
little, maybe.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm sorry, all right?
>> Forget about it.
>> Forget it?
How can I forget it?
You're my best friend.
>> What about Bonnie Jo Jensen?
>> Hey, listen, you're not gonna
believe it.
>> I still don't want to hear
about it.
>> Oh, yes, you do, Welles, yes,
you do.
God, you're not gonna believe
it.
I mean, I didn't believe it, and
I was there!
You know that "Esquire"?
Bonnie Jo sees it laying there,
see, and she says-- oh, man,
you're not gonna believe it.
I know you're not.
You're not gonna believe it.
She says...
>> ( laughs )
You're a liar, Roy!
She did not say that!
>> Yes, she did!
>> I don't believe it.
( laughs )
I don't believe you.
( school bell rings )
>> Hi.
>> Hi.
>> This is your next assignment.
It's by a contemporary author,
J.D. Salinger, and it's called
"The Catcher in the Rye."
How many of you have heard of
it?
How many have read it?
What prompted you, Mr... Welles?
>> Uh, yes, sir.
Um... my, uh, high school
teacher, Miss-- Miss Ferris.
She said it was the best
American novel written in a long
time, so...
>> I happen to agree with her.
Did you like it?
>> Well, yes, sir, I did.
It sort of reminded me of
"Huck Finn," in a way.
>> And what way is that?
>> Uh, well, this-- this Holden
Caulfield, he's the character
that tells the story, the one
that wants to be a catcher in
the rye, well, he-- he's sort of
a rebel like Huck.
He runs away, too.
Well, he-- he runs away from a
private school he goes to back
East.
That's all different and all,
you know, where he comes from,
the kind of adventures he has,
but, um...
uh, it still reminded me of--
of Huck, in a way.
>> Mm-hmm.
And what would you say the theme
of the book is?
>> The theme, sir?
The abstract concept that
Salinger is asking us to examine
in the light of our contemporary
social values.
>> Um...
honesty?
>> Not bad, Mr. Welles.
Not bad.
>> Pass it!
>> Go, go!
>> Pick them up, pick them up,
pick them up!
Take it!
Nice job, Welles.
All right, let's go, bring it on
down!
Let's go, get your hands up!
That's it, work around, work it!
Work it, come on!
Pass it, that's it!
Move it around!
Move it around!
That's it, pass it!
Pass it!
( whistle blows )
All right, huddle up right here.
Mars, you held it too long.
That's gonna happen over and
over.
I want you to move that ball
around.
Pass, pass, find the open man
and hit him!
All right?
Okay, hit the showers,
then the books.
I'll see you tomorrow.
2:00 sharp.
( players shout )
>> Hey, roomie,
looking good today.
I think you scored some heavy
points with old man Davis.
He was licking his chops
watching you sink those 20-
footers.
>> You weren't so bad yourself.
>> Shoot, man, Corbett would cut
me tomorrow if he had a bigger
turnout.
>> Roy, you got the size.
You just need to work, that's
all.
>> There's that word again.
>> Come on, let's go one-on-one
for a while.
>> I can't, I got a date.
>> With Bonnie Jo?
>> Eat your heart out.
>> Hey.
>> Hey, Welles, come on.
Let's go 20.
>> Oh, yeah?
>> Yeah.
Bring it in.
Hey, Carol says thanks for
cleaning up the place.
>> I didn't do much.
>> It made you look good.
I never do anything.
Hey, I told you she's working on
her PhD, didn't I?
>> No, really?
>> Yeah, psych.
>> That's great.
>> Yeah, except she's always
analyzing everybody.
You know what she said about
you?
>> Me?
>> Psyched you, Welles.
I bet you really want to know
what she said about you now,
don't you?
>> She didn't say anything.
>> Oh, yes, she did.
>> What?
>> She said she thinks you're
cute.
>> Cute?
>> That's two-zip, cutie.
>> Damn!
Damn!
( truck approaching )
>> Oh...
what happened?
>> Oh, those pills Dr. Hendricks
gave me, I dropped them.
>> Well, 6-mercaptopurine.
What's that?
>> Well, that's iron.
It's fortified.
There's something I want to show
you.
>> What's this?
>> Well, that's for headaches.
Come on, Lloyd.
>> Percodan.
>> Lloyd, there is something I
want you to see.
>> Oh.
>> Well?
What you think?
>> Where'd all this come from?
>> Mail order.
Curtains, slipcovers, lampshade,
new rug?
>> You like it?
>> Well, it's real nice.
>> Well, you always said it
should be green.
>> Well, what brought all this
about?
>> Well, holiday time is coming
up, and Lonnie's gonna be coming
for Thanksgiving.
I just thought I'd liven things
up a bit.
>> How about you?
You feeling a little more
lively?
>> Well, those pills are helping
a lot.
>> Not that I can see.
That knot on your leg isn't
looking any better at all.
>> Well, Southern belles are
supposed to be delicate,
remember?
>> You've been a Southern belle
all your life.
You've only been black and blue
like this lately.
Now if those pills are having
some effect they're not supposed
to, I want to know about it, and
I want it stopped.
>> Lloyd, I'm fine.
I just need a little rest.
>> You call this rest?
>> If you want to keep me in bed
all day, Lloyd Welles, you're
just going to have to keep me
there yourself.
>> Well, maybe you are feeling a
little better at that.
>> I thought we could even give
the house a fresh coat of paint.
>> Paint?
Hasn't been but three years
since I last painted.
>> Well, we could change the
trim, something bright and
happy.
>> Emma?
Are you happy?
>> You always make me happy.
>> Now I know you're stringing
me.
>> Well, almost always.
Could we, Lloyd?
Please?
We'll see.
( both chuckle )
( car horn honks )
>> Lloyd.
>> Ah, Grace.
>> You all right?
>> Just some back pain.
Guess I forgot how much work
Lonnie did around the place till
I started trying to do it all
myself again.
>> No complaints about growing
old, Lloyd.
I got a head start on you, you
know.
>> No complaints.
>> How's Lonnie?
>> No complaints from him
either.
>> Emma?
>> Well, you know Emma.
Any trouble she has, we'd be the
last to know about it.
>> Well, tell Lonnie I said
hello.
>> Well, he'll be coming home
for the holidays.
You can tell him yourself.
>> Oh, good, I'm looking forward
to that.
>> Always good to see you,
Grace.
>> You too, Lloyd.
>> She told me they were iron
pills.
Doug Bunting at the drugstore
told me that Percodan stuff is
for pain.
And that other bottle, that
6-mercaptopurine is for a
disease.
Now I want to know what that
disease is.
>> Doug didn't tell you.
>> He told me to ask you.
Now I'm asking you, Bart.
What the hell's going on?
>> Lloyd, I understand how you
feel.
>> Oh!
>> No, no, I really do.
But you've got to understand my
professional position.
I cannot discuss Emma's medical
problems without her permission.
You're supposed to use that
profession of yours, Bart, not
hide behind it.
>> Emma is my patient, Lloyd,
not you.
>> I pay the bills!
>> Is that a threat?
>> No.
No.
Hell, no.
>> I'm sorry, Lloyd.
>> I can understand whyyou
can't say anything, but why
should she shut me out after all
these years?
Unless she's as scared as I am.
>> Paint?
Well, I don't mind taking your
money, Lloyd.
But you ain't worn out the
guarantee on the paint I sold
you three years ago yet.
>> I don't want the paint I got.
I want something bright.
I want the brightest gall-darned
color you got.
>> Bright, huh?
>> Yeah.
>> How about chartreuse?
>> Chartreuse?
>> Yeah.
>> What the hell is that?
>> Oh, sort of a hot
yeller-green.
Bright as hell, like electric
limeade.
>> Limeade, huh?
>> Trim it out with some of that
Chinese red, you got yourself
one fancy eye-stopper, I tell
you.
>> Or an upset stomach.
How about a nice shade of
lemonade instead?
>> Pink or yeller?
( laughs )
>> Oh, it looks great, Lloyd!
>> Yeah!
( both laugh )
>> ( inhales ) Mmm.
Boy, oh, boy, there's nothing in
the whole world smells that
good.
>> Or tastes as good as it
smells.
>> Well, I know most people are
having pumpkin tonight or
mincemeat.
>> There's not a lot of people
that has a mom that cooks your
apple pie.
>> Well, we've had so much
turkey, we don't have to eat it
right away.
>> Well, maybe we don't, but I
do, thank you.
>> Lloyd?
( all laugh )
>> Just not strong enough to
push myself away.
( all laugh )
>> Emma, whoa, whoa, let Lonnie
have that piece, yeah.
I just want a sliver.
>> Yeah, till we all go to bed,
huh?
>> Well, you don't have to worry
about it all disappearing
tonight.
I baked two.
>> Thanks, Mom.
>> Well...
anything special you want to do
while you're home?
>> Yeah.
Dad?
How about packing into the lake
for a couple days, huh?
See if those brownies are as big
as last year.
>> Yeah, sounds like a good idea
to me.
But I'm not so sure I can get
away.
>> Why not?
>> Well, I got to get that old
tractor running.
>> I can do that for you.
>> No, no, it's your vacation.
Besides, you know Clem Barker?
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, well, he's got trouble
with his generator, and I told
him I'd give him a hand and see
if I couldn't get the thing
working right.
>> Well, Lloyd, it's the
Thanksgiving holiday.
You didn't say anything about
helping Clem.
>> ( chuckles )
Forgot about it.
>> Well, it couldn't be all that
important, then.
>> Well, not to me, maybe, but I
imagine it is for Clem.
>> Well, how many times is your
son going to ask you to spend a
few days with him?
>> There'll be more days, right,
Lon?
>> Yeah, sure.
>> Not enough.
>> You spend them with him, Em.
Way I figure it, you got days
and days to catch up for all the
time we spent together hunting
and fishing and working side by
side.
>> He didn't do that to hurt
you, you know.
>> Doesn't matter.
>> Well, it matters that you
don't hold it against him.
>> I just thought he'd be happy
to see me, that's all.
>> He's been like you used to be
on Christmas morning.
>> Sure took down the tree in a
hurry.
>> He loves you.
>> I know.
>> And don't ever doubt it.
>> Okay.
>> Promise me that.
>> Mom.
>> Promise.
>> Okay.
>> Cross your heart.
>> Cross my heart and hope to
die, okay?
May I have this, please?
>> You know what I think?
>> What's that?
>> I think we ought to pay a
visit to Miss Ferris first thing
in the morning.
>> What for?
>> Because you wouldn't be going
to college at all if she hadn't
helped you get ready for it.
>> Yes, ma'am, I know that, I
just-- I meant why tomorrow
morning?
>> Because there's no reason
not to, and you never know if
you'll ever get around to the
things you put off.
>> Pretty heavy philosophy
there.
>> A simple truth.
>> Lon, I'm so happy you thought
to call.
>> Well, yes, ma'am.
>> Emma?
>> Oh, thank you.
>> We were just glad you were
home.
>> The odds of me being here are
pretty good.
>> Sure have been a lot of
places, though.
>> Yeah, traveling's meant a lot
to me.
>> All those came from different
countries?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> You know, I lived in Europe
for two years before I came back
here to teach.
Then I cruised the South
Pacific.
That's where all those masks
come from.
>> Huh.
Where did those come from?
China?
>> No, Burma.
Yeah, and these are from Sierra
Leone.
And this little ivory piece's
is from India.
This is from Nairobi.
Ah, but this, this is from
China.
It's 11 centuries old.
Here, hold it.
>> ( chuckles )
No, I don't want to hold it.
I don't even want to touch it.
( laughs )
>> Why?
Go ahead.
Go on, feel how delicate it is.
>> Wow.
It's-- it's really light.
>> Yeah.
>> Never been so scared I'd drop
anything since the last pass in
the state finals.
>> ( laughs )
It's only a thing, Lon.
>> Well, it's got to be a
priceless thing, though.
>> Well, it's worthless if it
can't be shared, like any work
of art.
>> Well, I'd still feel better
if you held it.
>> ( chuckles ) Okay.
Now, how'd you like a cup of
tea?
>> I envy you, Grace.
>> The travel?
>> There's so much to see, so
much to do.
>> And the grass is always
greener.
>> Now, don't tell me you
would've ever traded what this
represents.
>> In the blink of an eye.
For the right thing.
>> What would that be?
>> Now?
Nothing.
But there was a time.
>> I can't imagine anything
being better than traveling
around the whole world.
>> Of course you can't, but you
will.
Emma, how about I warm that up
for you?
>> Thanks.
There's just something in the
way she looks at him, Lloyd.
You can just tell she cares.
She's proud, as proud as we are.
>> Probably pretty proud of all
of them that turn out.
>> Well, I guess.
She did have pictures of other
students in with the snaps of
her family.
She even had one of you.
>> Me?
I can't recall my ever being
much of a student.
>> Well, she said you were.
>> Well, that was a long time
ago.
>> Well, she told Lon you were
one of those young gifted people
who never had the opportunity to
explore his potential.
>> Well, that right?
>> And then on the way home,
Lon said he thinks that may be
why you seemed so distant to him
lately, that maybe you envy what
he's doing.
Is there any truth to that?
>> Could be, I suppose.
>> Now don't you go playing word
games with me, Lloyd Welles.
You might not use many words at
one time, but you know exactly
what each one means when it
comes out of your mouth.
>> Do you mean like you and the
curtains, slipcovers, and the
new paint?
You want to talk, Emma?
I do.
I want to talk about the bruises
you've been getting and the
infections and how tired you've
been.
I want to talk about the pills
you take.
>> Lloyd...
>> I went down to the pharmacy,
and I talked to Doug Bunting,
and he told me what the Percodan
was for.
And then he told me that that
purine stuff was for a disease.
And I talked to Doc Hendricks.
He said he couldn't tell me
anything until he discussed it
with you, until you said it was
all right.
Is it all right, Em?
Is-- isn't it something we ought
to talk about?
>> You won't tell Lon, will you?
>> If you can trust Doc
Hendricks, you ought to be able
to trust me.
>> Oh, Lloyd, hold me.
>> I've been to the library,
too.
Leukemia?
How long have you known?
>> Not long.
Summer.
>> And, how long...
>> Not long.
>> State finals, Lonnie Welles
versus Shep Welles.
( Shep barks )
( imitates crowd cheer )
We scored!
We did it, boy!
We did it! We win!
( indistinct conversations,
"Earth Angel" playing )
>> Hi.
>> Hi.
>> I think that's where I got
stuck last time, too.
>> That's right, you did.
>> Well, can I help you?
>> I just wanted to thank you
for helping Roy with that
history report.
>> Oh.
I didn't think anybody was
supposed to know about that.
>> He told me when he had to go
home.
>> He went home?
>> For the weekend.
He was supposed to take me to
the flicks tonight, too.
"The Wild Ones" playing.
Have you seen it?
>> No.
>> Marlon Brando, he's the most.
>> Yeah, I hear he's pretty
good.
I haven't seen it, so--
Can I help you, please?
I got to keep hustling here.
>> I'll have a coffee.
>> Coffee, okay.
>> How late do you have to work?
>> Tonight?
Uh, 7:30.
>> The show doesn't start till
8:00.
Why don't we go together?
>> Together?
>> You worried about Roy?
>> Well...
>> Why would he be mad?
It's not like you asked me out
or anything.
>> Uh...
>> It's just something we both
want to do.
Don't we?
>> Well, yeah.
Sure.
>> Good.
( announcer talking
indistinctly )
>> Fasten your side.
>> It might be kind of nice to
leave it down, don't you think?
>> Too bright.
>> You want to trade sides?
>> No, this is fine.
You could put the speaker
inside.
>> Oh.
Right.
Oh, I-I'm sorry.
>> I'll hold it for you.
>> Why?
>> Well, you roll up the window.
>> Oh.
Thanks.
Kiss me.
>> All of your snack bar
favorites are there including
fresh peanuts, hot popcorn, and
candy of all kinds.
And, believe us, you've never
eaten better hot dogs...
>> You want something from the
snack bar?
>> No.
Let's get in back.
>> In back?
>> There's more room.
>> Oh! Oh!
I-I'm sorry.
Are you okay?
>> I'm fine.
>> I'm sorry.
>> It's fine.
( announcer continuing )
What's the matter?
>> Bonnie Jo...
>> What?
>> Nothing, i-it's wrong.
>> What's wrong?
>> Well, not you, not you.
I mean, you're fine.
Just-- just us.
I-I mean me.
>> What?
I- I can't.
>> You can't?
What do you mean you can't?
>> I-I mean I-I-I can't.
I can't do this.
>> Come here.
>> One minute left to top off
the evening with a treat from
our snack bar.
>> No, no.
>> What's the matter with you?
>> I don't know.
>> I do.
Ithoughtyou were too
goody-goody.
>> Bonnie Jo, listen--
>> Listen?
You're a talker, all right.
A real big talker.
>> I-I never said anything.
>> You said plenty.
>> Bonnie Jo, I never told you--
>> You knew what you were doing
going out, coming here.
You knew.
Now I know why you were so shy,
don't I?
>> ( laughs ) Bonnie Jo!
>> Get out!
>> Bonnie Jo, wait a minute,
okay?
Just listen, all right?
I'm sorry, I really am, I didn't
mean to--
>> Get away from me, I mean it.
>> Hey, Bonnie Jo!
>> Just get away from me.
Get out.
>> Here?
>> Get out!
>> Bonnie Jo!
Hey!
Bonnie Jo!
Oh, great.
Bonnie Jo, come on.
I'm sorry!
>> Enjoy the show!
>> Wait!
How am I supposed to...
get home?
>> Guess who?!
( Woody laughs )
>> Great.
>> Lloyd?
>> There are other specialists!
We could go to-- what's the name
of that place back East, that
clinic?
We'll see whoever it takes, pay
whatever they want.
>> Lloyd, Lloyd, please, don't.
>> This is the 20th century, the
age of miracles.
They can do anything--
>> Shut up!
Please, Lloyd.
I can't make it if you can't.
>> I'm sorry.
Sorry.
I want Lon home.
>> No.
>> He'd want to be with you, Em.
Lloyd, Lonnie's life is just
beginning, and it's the life we
always wanted for him.
Now we'll do what we have to do.
>> Emma--
>> And Lonnie will just keep on
doing what he has to do.
>> Emma!
>> Now his education is the one
thing we can give him that
nobody can ever take away.
We can't take it away from him
now.
Lloyd, we can't.
>> Welles, stay out of the trees
till you know you've got the
lane!
Switch!
Watch the hands, Gibbs!
Hustle, Welles!
>> Yeah, come on, Welles,
hustle!
You're good at that when I'm
not around, right?!
>> Shake him, Welles, shake him!
>> All hustle, no score, though,
right, Welles?!
>> Back off, Gibbs.
You okay, Welles?
>> Yeah.
>> Listen, you two got something
going--
>> You want to get something,
candy.
You couldn't get it going with
her, could you?
>> Gibbs!
>> Come on, let's go, cupcake!
>> Gibbs, move it out, ten laps!
>> Stuff it!
>> Who you talking to?
>> Me.
>> Welles!
Welles!
>> Welles, Corbett bounced Gibbs
off the squad.
Old man Davis wants to see you
Monday.
>> I don't know.
>> Don't know what?
It's your scholarship.
>> I don't know if I even belong
here at all, Brad.
>> Of course you belong here.
What would you be doing if you
weren't here?
>> I don't know.
I never even thought about
anything else.
Maybe I should have.
Maybe that's what's wrong.
>> Wrong?
Hell, Welles, the only thing
that's wrong is you should've
knocked that flake on his can.
How'd you let him put you down
like that?
>> Because he had a right.
>> Why, because of Bonnie Jo
Jensen?
>> I knew how he felt about her,
Brad.
>> Him and half the campus.
>> It was wrong.
>> So you say you're sorry and
get your tail back out to
practice on Monday.
>> I can't, not after what he
said.
>> Look, that bull he was
throwing, nobody was buying
that.
Forget about it.
>> It wasn't bull.
I couldn't do it.
>> Lonnie, every chick doesn't
hit every guy the same way, you
know?
>> Ever happened to you?
>> Well...
no.
>> Anyone else you know of?
>> No.
>> And you took out Bonnie Jo?
>> Well, yeah, but--
Listen, how about if I line
something up for you tonight?
Okay, okay, it was a bad idea.
>> Yeah, a bad idea.
Brad, I appreciate what you're
doing for me.
I gotta get all these other
tables set up, okay?
>> Hey, you want to sleep at the
apartment?
>> No, thank you.
>> Come on, what are you gonna
do, go back to the boardinghouse
and bunk with the flake?
>> I don't know.
>> Man, you don't even know your
own name right now.
Here's the key.
Use it.
>> What about your sister?
>> She's going off to a seminar
somewhere.
I won't be home till late, so
don't wait up.
>> Thanks, Brad.
>> Hey, if you change your mind
about the flake, I'll hold your
coat.
>> Not in?
Oh, you know when he'll be back?
I see.
Well, this is his father.
I want to leave a message.
Tell him I want him home on
tomorrow's train.
It's important.
Yeah, tell him that, too.
That's right.
Tomorrow's train.
( jazz playing, door unlocks )
>> Brad?
>> It's just me.
>> Oh, hi.
Uh, Brad said you wouldn't be
home tonight, I--
>> Oh, well, it got so late, I
decided not to go.
>> Oh.
Uh, I can clear out of here.
>> What happened?
More roommate trouble?
>> Yeah.
>> Might be time to find a new
one.
>> Might be time to pack it in.
>> What?
>> School.
>> I thought you liked it here.
>> Oh, I do.
I do, but, um...
I don't know.
( chuckles )
Listen to me.
I'm dumping all my problems on
you, I'm sorry.
I just better go.
>> Go where?
>> Uh...
I'll find someplace.
>> I got an idea.
Why don't you go with me?
>> What?
>> Well, the seminar's at Lake
Hollister.
Ever been there?
>> No.
>> Oh, it's quiet and peaceful.
It's a good place to think.
Well, they got plenty of rooms
and a discount rate for
students.
Well, if you need a loan, I can
cover you till we get back.
>> No, no, that's okay.
I've got money.
I-- I just thought, you know...
uh...
Well, if it's okay with you,
I...
I-I'd-- I'd love to.
To, you know, see the lake and
all.
We've got a lake at home.
Beautiful lake.
I sometimes go there when I have
to sort out my problems and
stuff.
>> Well, then let's go.
>> Okay.
>> Okay.
( dog barks, children and women
shouting indistinctly )
>> So your father never went to
college?
>> No.
My dad had an older brother, my
uncle Finlay.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, he went on to college,
and the deal was that my dad
would work to help him through,
and then afterwards, he'd work
to help my dad get through.
Well, my dad worked and sent
Finlay his money, but when
Finlay graduated, it was during
the Depression.
And he got this girlfriend of
his...
pregnant, and they got married.
And so...
>> So you think your father
resents you now for what you're
doing?
>> You think that's possible?
>> Well, I suppose.
>> I-- I really wanted to share
this with him, you know?
I mean, I really did, Carol.
>> It's a big adjustment.
Leaving home, I mean.
It takes everybody some getting
used to, even parents.
>> When you left, was it hard?
>> Well, when I left, I went to
live with somebody else.
>> The guy in the picture?
>> Picture?
The one in your place?
You know, that guy and you.
It looked like you were on
vacation or something.
I don't know, I figured it was a
honeymoon or something.
>> Yes.
Dusty.
We went to Hawaii.
>> Mm.
What happened?
>> Normandy.
>> Oh, I'm-- I'm sorry, Carol.
>> Oh, it's all right.
I was sorry, too, myself, for a
long time.
Oh, hey.
That meeting's about to start.
>> Yeah, um...
thanks.
>> For what?
>> Well, talking to a kid.
>> Oh.
We're all kids, Lon.
Some of us are just older.
>> May I?
>> Sure.
>> No passengers, Lloyd.
>> Thanks, John.
( air horn blows )
>> Hey.
>> Hi.
>> Well?
Learn anything you didn't know
before?
>> Hmm, couple things.
>> Yeah?
>> How about you?
>> Well, yeah, maybe.
>> Yeah?
Like?
>> Let me ask you something
first.
>> What's that?
>> Why'd you ask me here?
>> I told you.
It's a good place to think.
>> Well, then I think it's
because you feel sorry for me.
>> No, no, I'm not the type to
feel sorry for people.
>> No, huh?
>> No. ( chuckles )
>> Well, then why?
>> I like you.
>> W-well, uh...
how do you like me?
I mean, um...
the same way I like you?
>> What do you mean?
>> Come on, Carol.
>> Lon, um...
>> Oh, shoot.
I'm...
( chuckles )
What's the matter with me?
What the hell's the matter with
me?
>> There's nothing the matter
with you.
>> Yes, there is.
I-I thought--
I don't know what I thought.
I'm feeling so many things I
don't even understand right now.
I'm sorry.
I'm very-- I'm going to leave.
>> Well, I can drive you back.
>> No.
I'll take a bus.
You don't have to do that, I
can--
>> Carol, please.
You've done enough.
Thanks, okay?
>> Okay.
( telephone rings )
>> Hello?
( rock and roll music playing,
indistinct conversations )
>> Dad?
It's Lonnie.
>> Where the hell are you?
>> What?!
Hold on.
Dad, I can't-- okay, guys,
please?
Just lower the hi-fi.
Dad, I'm sorry.
I'm at a pay telephone.
I can't hear you too well.
What'd you say?
>> I left word for you to get
home.
>> Yeah, I-- I know.
I got the message-- I got--
please don't do that, Cletus!
Dad, listen to me--
>> No, now you listen.
Wherever you are and whatever
you're doing, you get your tail
out of it and get on home.
>> Dad, wait a minute, I--
>> You be on the train!
>> Hello, Lonnie.
>> Hey, Mr. Sears.
>> I understand you're knocking
them dead up there.
>> Getting by.
>> Your daddy's waiting.
>> I see him.
Thank you.
Where's Mom?
>> She's been sick.
>> Again?
>> It's the reason I called.
She needs to see you.
>> What do you mean?
Is something--
>> What I mean is what I say.
Seems maybe you've been
forgetting about that lately.
Get in.
( air horn blows )
>> She's all right, then?
It's nothing serious?
>> Doc Henderson's looking after
her.
She's got medicine.
She's got one son, though.
Figure that may be the best
medicine she could have.
( signal bell clanging )
>> Oh, what a wonderful
surprise.
Your daddy told me what you said
about wanting to come home.
>> What he actually said was how
much he missed your cooking.
So why don't you get him fed
while I go work on the corral?
>> Well, let me fix something
for you, too.
>> No, I'm not hungry.
Feed him.
>> Split pea soup on the stove.
>> Great.
>> Tired of Bubba burgers, are
you?
>> Beginning to feel like one.
>> Well, I'm not sure that's a
reason to spend good money
coming home.
But I'm happy to see you.
>> What's wrong with her, Dad?
>> Told you.
Been down a while.
>> She looks awful.
>> Yeah?
She says she feels better.
>> You told her it was my idea
to come home.
Why?
>> She missed you.
>> Why didn't you just tell me
how sick she was?
>> Can't always find you these
days.
>> You want me to say I'm sorry
for that?
>> Well, that's up to you.
>> S-sorry for what?
For not checking on the two of
you all the time?
When was I supposed to start
doing that?
I mean, you're my-- you're my
parents, Dad.
You're the grown-ups.
Just because I go away, we have
to go through some kind of role
reversal or something?
>> Role reversal?
I'll grant you're learning
things I never even heard of!
I hate you think you're
forgetting the things your mom
and me spent a long time
teaching you ourselves.
>> Dad...
>> Look, you want to talk, Lon?
Your mom's been wanting to talk
with you for quite a spell.
>> I need to talk to you.
>> Your mom's the one needs you
home!
>> You...
bastard.
>> Get in the house, Lon.
Get.
>> Ah, damn.
( rooster crows )
>> Lon?
Thanks for coming.
>> Just wish I could do it more
often, that's all.
>> Well, you'd better go.
>> See you, Mom.
>> See you!
>> Board!
( air horn blows )
>> Well, that's me, boy.
I got it.
>> Lon?
>> Yeah?
>> I got something to say to
you.
Your mother...
Your m--
Well, your coming home meant
a lot to her.
I'm sorry for putting the spurs
to you the way I did.
>> It's okay.
I'm sorry for what I said to
you, too.
>> What was that?
>> Lonnie!
>> I gotta go.
>> Right.
>> See you, boy.
( Shep whimpers )
( indistinct conversations )
( air horn blows )
>> So long, Lloyd.
>> Lonnie?
>> Oh, hi.
>> Hi.
I thought you were going home.
>> I did.
>> Not good?
>> Uh, well...
lack of communication, I guess
you'd call it.
>> You're not dropping out of
school, are you?
>> No.
No, I'm gonna finish out the
semester anyway.
>> And then?
>> I'm not sure.
I'm trying to look at all the
alternatives.
>> Like?
>> Got my military obligations.
Thought maybe I should enlist
now and use that time to find
out what I want to be when I
grow up.
>> You want my reaction to that?
>> No, ma'am.
I can guess what that'd be.
We're not in any war right now,
though.
>> Lonnie, maybe we should
continue that talk we started at
Lake Hollister.
>> I think I embarrassed the
both of us enough up there,
don't you?
>> There's no need to be
embarrassed about anything.
>> You sure?
>> As sure as I am about the
Army.
( slow jazz playing )
>> How could I say that to him,
Carol?
>> Maybe he deserved it.
>> He's my father.
>> He's obviously having a hard
time coping with something right
now.
>> Yeah, me.
>> You're changing right now,
Lon.
That's what life is, change.
Nothing ever stays the same.
>> Kind of liked it the way it
was, that's all.
>> Yeah, but you can't control
everything.
You should've learned that with
your roommate and that girl you
were with.
What was her name, Bonnie Jo?
>> Brad told you about that?
>> I wanted to know.
>> Oh, great.
Well, that's just great.
I thought I could trust him.
>> Youcantrust him and me.
>> I'd just better go.
>> I'm not going to let you run
away, Lon, especially not to
some recruiting office.
The answers aren't out there.
They're inside you.
>> What's inside me right now is
all...
fouled up.
You must think I'm the biggest
baby you've ever known.
>> No.
No, you're very much like--
like somebody I loved very much.
How old are you, Lon?
>> 18.
>> Dusty was just a few months
older...
and going off to war to die.
I hardly got a chance to know
him.
But I liked what I knew.
And you--
you remind me of him.
>> I do?
>> Yes.
Very much.
>> How?
>> Oh...
well, you're kind, and you're
gentle...
and caring.
And that's why your first time
couldn't be with a girl like
that in a place like that.
The experience was distasteful
to you because-- because there
has to be more.
There has to be a lot more for
anyone with any depth.
Your roommate wouldn't know
that.
>> I-- I didn't fight back.
>> Oh, that doesn't make you any
less of a man.
>> Well, the guys thought so.
The coach did, too, I think,
Brad.
>> Well, they wouldn't know who
is a real man and who isn't.
That is something only a woman
knows.
You asked me a question.
I never answered.
>> What?
You asked me if-- if I liked you
the same way you liked me,
remember?
>> Carol...
>> What do you think the answer
is, Lon?
Yes.
Yes, Lon.
Exactly the same way.
>> Em?
( car approaches )
( engine stops )
>> You knew, didn't you?
You knew she was dying.
Come on, Dad, talk to me.
Damn you!
Talk to me!
No, I-- I don't want to hear
anything you have to say to me,
okay?
You listen to me.
I'm gonna be at the motel.
And after the services, I'm
leaving.
Don't look for me to come back.
You listening to me?
( groans )
There's nothing here for me now
that she's gone.
( car approaches )
( engine stops )
( car door opens, closes )
( footsteps )
( knock on door )
( knocking continues )
>> ( groans )
( angrily ) I told you I
didn't--
Come in.
I'm sorry.
What is it?
>> Your roommate gave this to
Brad.
He drove me down.
It's from your mother.
>> "Dear Lonnie, you will have
learned by now that we have seen
each other for...
the last time...
in this life.
I want you to understand why I
chose to say goodbye to you in
this way."
I'm sorry.
>> It's okay.
It's for you, not me.
>> ( thinking ) "And I will try
to explain my reasons for that
choice in a way that can make
clear the desperate need to end
my time with you and your father
with some degree of dignity."
( Emma's voice fades in )
>> But the most important thing
for me to know as I leave you is
that you understand how hard
this has been for him.
His not sharing time with you
was really his way of trying to
be sure I had as much time with
you as possible.
He's a simple man, Lon, you know
that, and that was simply his
way of keeping us together as
much is possible without
breaking his vow to me that he
wouldn't tell you about this
dreadful disease called
leukemia.
Before I go on, I want your
promise to forgive him if he
hurt you in any way while he was
trying to help me.
I want your to promise, too,
that you will look after him now
that I no longer can.
>> You know what I think?
>> What's that?
>> I think we ought to build
ourselves a cabin up here.
>> What?
>> Yeah, we could drop it down
in that stand of trees right
over there.
>> I'm sorry, but I don't think
what she did was right.
>> I don't either, Lon, but it
wasn't your life or mine.
It was hers.
Right and wrong in any subject,
that's something we all got to
find for ourselves.
You know, most of us go through
life thinking we're the only
ones that ever did something or
other that we've been told is
wrong, the only ones that commit
some particular sin.
( chuckles softly )
I don't want you to ever feel
like that.
>> I did do wrong by you,
though, Dad.
>> Doing what, growing up?
>> Fooling around while you're
back here working twice as hard.
>> Well, I had twice as much to
work for, and I just hope that
this woman you met cares half as
much about you as my first woman
cared about me.
>> Well, I sure know how much
Mom cared about you.
>> I'm not talking about your
mother.
Got to be a first time for
everyone, son.
>> Did Mom know about her?
>> No.
Nobody knew.
>> ( chuckles ) No.
You think maybe you have to
leave home just to find out
things about your own family?
>> Maybe.
>> Dad, you know everything
there is to know about me.
I mean, you've been with me all
the time, but...
gall darn, there's so much I
don't even know about you.
>> All you have to know is that
you're not alone, not in
anything you ever do.
>> You mean like with Carol?
>> That's what's troubling you
right now, isn't it?
>> Well, yeah.
You think Mom would have
understood?
>> About you, maybe.
About me, I don't know.
>> She knew that you loved her,
though, Dad.
>> Yeah.
She knew how much I loved her.
>> What about the other woman?
Did you love her, too?
>> At the time.
Used to think I couldn't live
another day when she told me we
had to stop seeing one another.
Shows you how wrong I was and
how right she was.
And maybe being older gave her
the edge, being a whole hang of
a lot more experienced in what
makes people tick, probably all
the traveling she did,
suffering, too, I suppose.
>> She used to travel?
>> Mm, all over the world.
I used to wish I'd been in half
the places she'd been, knew half
as much.
I wanted to be older, smarter,
richer, just plain better so I
could be with her forever.
>> I know her, don't I, Dad?
>> You do.
>> When I came back here to this
town that my father's family had
put on the map after all the
opportunities that he'd made
available to me through friends
in the East, well, he was just
dead certain I was a failure.
And, of course, that meant he'd
failed, too.
>> You stayed here anyway, huh?
>> Well, I learned a lot out
there, especially about myself.
I-- I knew I didn't like the
pain in a world that never quite
accepted me.
I knew I belonged here, and I
was right.
>> You never miss those
opportunities you mentioned to
me?
>> Well, they didn't match the
opportunities that I found here.
No, it was a joy to share what
I'd learned with the young
people born in a small,
unsophisticated community like
this.
I've found a couple of other
important things here, too.
Like acceptance and...
and love.
>> My dad?
>> Yes.
It was a love so-- so fine.
But it couldn't have gone on
from there, couldn't have been
more than it was.
>> Because of what people would
say if they knew, huh?
>> If one parent had found out
that I was in love with an
ex-student, they all would've
felt that no child was safe in
my hands.
No, that love would've come
between me and the young minds I
wanted to help.
But-- but it was mainly because
your father had already lost so
much of what he wanted in life
and had already assumed such a
burden that, well, I just
couldn't handicap him with a
reputation he never would've
been able to live down in a town
this small.
>> He's the reason you helped me
so much, isn't he?
I mean, why you got me ready for
college.
>> I knew what it meant to your
father.
It's what he always counted on
and never had a chance to try.
Yeah.
You know, it just might be that
you're the first one of all of
us who's really ready to leave
this place, Lon.
>> ( chuckles )
What do you mean?
>> Well, your roots are deep and
firm, your views are
uncluttered.
>> They've been feeling pretty
cluttered lately.
>> Well, they're emotions we've
all felt, part of growing up and
breaking home ties.
That's exactly what your father
is trying to make you see right
now.
>> Why he told me about you.
>> Yeah, and called to tell me
that you'd be coming over here
with a can opener.
( both chuckle )
It's not always a pretty world,
Lon, you know that, or a happy
one.
There's a part of all of us we
don't want revealed for some
reason or other.
Then we grow old and get
freckles and warts and lines in
places we certainly don't want
them.
We also begin to realize maybe
we're not as wonderful and as
good as we wanted to be or even
should be, but no use dwelling
on that.
No, it's better to think of all
the beautiful things, things
that put a smile on your face.
You know, if you concentrate on
those things, Lon, you'll find
it makes whatever you do in life
a whole lot easier.
You may even find that the
people you live with and work
with and share with have a
better time of it, too.
Better times, lots of smiles,
better memories.
And in the end, they're about
the most important things we
have left, memories.