Caroline? (1990) - full transcript
A woman named Caroline reappears after a 14-year absence, during which time she was thought to have died in a plane crash. Claiming to be the daughter of wealthy Paul Carmichael from his first marriage, she explains that she didn't board the plane, and had used the chance to flee her shallow debutante lifestyle. Paul's new wife, Grace, is deeply suspicious of the woman's story -- especially since Caroline stands to inherit a fortune.
[sound effect]
[music playing]
[music playing]
[SINGING] Hide.
Reveal.
Hide.
Reveal.
Hide.
Reveal.
Hide.
Hide.
Hide.
Antidote.
WINSTON'S WIFE: Five,
six, seven, eight.
One, two, three.
Reveal, hide.
Run, two, three, four.
Reveal, hide.
And run, two, three, four.
Reveal.
Hide.
Now group two, three, four.
Reveal.
Hide.
Now tighten it up.
Two, three, four.
Reveal.
Hide.
Good.
Run two, three, four.
Reveal.
Hide.
Run, two three, four.
Reveal.
Hide.
And one, reveal.
Hide.
Good.
Reveal-- mind reveal.
Hide.
Step, kick, three, for.
Slow, six, seven, eight.
Now tighten up two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight.
Reveal.
Hide.
Reveal, good.
Hide.
Reveal.
Hide.
And step kick, three, four,
turn--five, six, seven, eight.
Now tighten it up, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight.
And one, two, three, four--
Winston, how nice to see you.
[kiss]
I'm sorry I can't
break for lunch.
How'd the market?
[sigh]
I played stronger.
[music playing]
What is it?
[music playing]
Oh, I'm so sorry.
[music playing]
Hide, reveal.
I talked to her
just last week.
She wasn't even 60.
Look.
Just give me a
couple minutes, OK?
And I'll wrap this up.
WINSTON: You can't--
you can't leave.
I'll, uh--I'll come back
right after the funeral.
Kiss the kids for me.
WINSTON'S WIFE: I love you.
[kiss]
[music playing]
HEIDI [VOICEOVER]: If you can't
guess, you lose three steps.
[music playing]
You won't ever guess that one.
WINSTON [VOICEOVER]:
Put a lid on it.
I'm trying to concentrate.
[horn honking]
HEIDI [VOICEOVER]:
You won't ever guess--
Put a lid on it!
I'm trying to concentrate.
What?
What?
WINSTON [VOICEOVER]:
Just be quiet!
[music playing]
[loud road noise]
WINSTON: I still can't
believe she's gone.
I always thought she
was indestructible.
She was in every
way that mattered.
[subtle ding]
WINSTON: What time
is the service?
10:00 tomorrow morning.
People are coming from
all over the state.
[subtle ding]
She touched so many lives.
[phone ringing]
I know.
I was thinking about
her driving here.
I was trying to remember
the first time I saw her--
HEIDI [VOICEOVER]:
You'll never guess.
I know it was on a Friday.
How could I forget that.
I hated Fridays.
If you can't guess,
you lose three steps.
WINSTON: Why don't you
go into the other room
and have Luellen teach you
how to do two things at once?
Like, put your head in an
oven and turn on the gas.
You said something.
You said something.
What did you say?
I didn't say anything.
Mommy says you shouldn't
whisper behind my back.
A-ha!
It's a toilet paper roller.
HEIDI: All right.
Three steps-- all--
[doorbell ringing]
[LOUDLY] Winston, you can't!
It's against the rules!
Winston!
WINSTON: Who is it?
HEIDI: You can't!
That's no fair, Winston!
It's against the rules!
WINSTON: Excuse me?
HEIDI: You can't do that!
It's against the rules!
Will you be--
CAROLINE: I'd like
to see Mr. Car--
Ow!
Animal!
You know what Mom
said about biting.
You're in a lot
of trouble, Heidi.
SIMMONS: Easy now, young fellow.
You know what Mom said
about biting and scratching--
HEIDI: I can't hear you.
I can't hear you.
You know you're not supposed
to bite people, Heidi.
I can't hear you!
WINSTON: You know what
Mom said about it.
Winston, you hush up now.
Animal.
Sh.
Uh, excuse me.
Who is it, please?
I heard screaming.
Is someone hurt?
Yeah, everything
is fine, thank you.
How may I be of help?
CAROLINE: I'm here to
see Mr. Carmichael.
SIMMONS: He's not
in at the moment.
Did you have an appointment?
CAROLINE: No.
SIMMONS: Well, I suggest
you call his office
and arrange one.
Whom may I say called?
[music playing]
This is Caroline.
SIMMONS: May I ask Caroline who?
CAROLINE: Caroline.
Just tell Mr.
Carmichael Caroline.
SIMMONS: Very good, Ma'am.
[music playing]
[door opening]
[door closing]
[moaning]
[kiss]
Tell Mommy what
Heidi and Winston
did while I was at the
Garden Club this afternoon.
Heidi, don't.
Don't now.
Mr. Steve just fixed my hair.
Don't.
I want the scarf.
WINSTON: Mother?
[click]
Winston.
Mommy will give Heidi
a scarf of her own.
Yours.
I want yours.
Winston, would you please?
Why haven't you changed
out of your school uniform?
You know you're not
allowed to play in that.
Caroline came today.
GRACE: Caroline?
Caroline who?
- I don't know.
She just said Caroline.
She insisted on seeing Father.
Did Simmons get her last name?
WINSTON: No, she
wouldn't give it.
You could wash your
hands once in a while.
It wouldn't kill you.
[piano playing]
[crickets chirping]
[doorbell ringing]
SIMMONS: Yes?
Who is it, please?
I'm Caroline.
I'm here to see Mr. Carmichael.
Ah, you're the young woman
that called this afternoon.
[piano stops]
Did you arrange an appointment?
CAROLINE: I'm not
leaving until I see him.
Where is he?
I must see him.
SIMMONS: Uh, one moment, please.
PAUL: If I can't get
controlling interest,
I don't want the company.
I thought that was clear.
Let's not waste any
more time on this.
Hold on.
Yes, Simmons?
Is there a problem?
SIMMONS: Excuse me, Sir.
But there's a young woman
that calls herself Caroline
and insists upon seeing you.
Caroline who?
SIMMONS: She wouldn't say, Sir.
Let me call you back.
Let her in.
SIMMONS: Very good, Sir.
Come in, please.
Hello, Father.
[music playing]
GRACE: Who are you?
How dare you play
this cruel joke.
Caroline's dead.
I'm not dead.
I've come home, Father.
[music playing]
Good God.
Listen, I can't
think about this now.
I've got some personal things
here at home I have to see to.
You send me the numbers.
And if they're-- if
they're as you say,
I will finalize it on Monday.
Yes.
Thank you.
Did Simmons take her
back to the hotel?
Yes.
And I've arranged for Bradley
Phillips to be here tomorrow
morning to question her.
Well, you shouldn't have
done that without asking me.
Well, I'm only trying
to save time, Paul.
We have to find out who she is.
I could question
her by myself.
I don't need a lawyer to
tell me if my daughter is--
yes, Winston?
Mother said you'd
explain things--
[phone ringing]
--now would be a good
time, if it's good for you.
Yes?
Only if it goes up
half a point tomorrow.
Ye-- right.
Thanks.
Well, uh-- why don't
you get your sister.
And, uh--and we'll
talk about it now.
Well, I thought
that you and I--
well, I thought it
would be the two of us.
Winston, just because Heidi
doesn't understand everything
doesn't mean that she's
not a part of this family.
Now, I'm sure you would prefer
her to be here, wouldn't you?
Go get her, please.
I don't prefer it at all.
I had a daughter
in my first marriage.
Her name was Caroline.
She was bright, impulsive,
willful, disobedient,
but I absolutely adored her.
She disappeared in a terrible
plane accident coming home
her first year in college,
coming home for Thanksgiving.
We thought she had been killed.
She was killed, Paul.
PAUL: Well, there
was never any proof.
And this girl does
look very much
like her, incredibly like her.
Don't you think
it's strange that she
appeared just before
the deadline to claim
the Atkins' inheritance?
PAUL: Yes, I do.
And I will have that
checked out, but--
[sigh]
--there's no point in rejecting
this girl out of hand, Grace.
[phone ringing]
Yes?
Well, I'm interested in any real
estate venture you're in, Don.
I'll take three
units, depending--
Mrs. Atkins had
a lot of money?
Who is Mrs. Atkins?
Give me the bracelet, Honey.
Caroline's grandmother.
Don't you remember?
We went to see her
in that nursing home.
Oh, it had a funny smell.
Oh, I think we've discussed
this enough, Winston.
Will you take your
sister upstairs?
WINSTON: May I look
at the scrapbook?
GRACE: Perhaps another time.
Now, I want you to go upstairs
and get yourself ready for bed.
And Mummy will come
up and kiss you
good night just as soon as she's
finished talking to Daddy, OK?
HEIDI: OK.
OK.
Good night, children.
WINSTON: Night, Father.
[music playing]
I don't know why you've
got that old book out.
[chuckle]
That's another life, Paul.
[sigh]
I don't want our
children confused.
[sigh]
I wish you'd put it away.
[kiss]
[music playing]
[crickets chirping]
[door opening]
HEIDI: I want to look!
Sh!
Go back upstairs!
I want to look, too!
WINSTON: Don't you have a volume
knob on that voice of yours?
Sometimes, I swear, I
should hire a doctor
and have you surgically removed.
HEIDI: I'll tell if
you don't let me.
WINSTON: All right.
You can look, but
you have to be quiet.
What are you doing
up so late, anyway?
You know Mom would have a hissy.
Who's the baby?
It must be Caroline
and Mrs. Atkins.
You know who--
What?
[FRUSTRATINGLY] It must be
Caroline with Mrs. Atkins.
Just look at the pictures.
Don't ask me to read them.
I can read.
WINSTON: Sure, and I can run
100-yard dash in 10 seconds.
That's Father.
He's smiling.
He never smiles.
Who's that?
That's his first wife.
Caroline--
What?
That's his first
wife, Caroline's mother.
HEIDI: Is that Caroline?
WINSTON: I don't know, but
it sure looks like her.
LUELLEN: Put your
crayons in your pocket.
And you have your
coloring book in case
you get tired at the library.
GRACE: OK.
Be a good boy.
Did you remember
your library card?
Yeah, I think I have it.
Here it is.
GRACE: Heidi, the library
is a special place.
You can't talk loud.
HEIDI: Winston has
to sit in back.
GRACE: What's gotten
into you, Winston?
Why aren't you riding
in the back with Heidi?
About this Caroline,
is she my sister or what?
I don't know.
Just get in the backseat
and stop fooling around.
HEIDI: If I can't sit in
the front, he has to sit--
All right.
All right.
All right.
GRACE: --honey.
He's getting in the back.
Now keep your coat on in the
library if you get chilled.
You two have a good time, OK?
Bye bye.
WINSTON: Excuse me, please?
I was wondering where we
could find old newspapers.
I'm looking for an obituary.
How long ago?
Well, about 14 years ago.
But I'm not sure
of the exact date.
I'll have to look through them.
But I have a library card.
I'll show you where they are.
But you sure have your
work cut out for you, Son.
[phone ringing]
I'm hungry.
WINSTON: Well, then
go suck on a lemon.
If you'd be quiet for a
few minutes, I'll be done.
And then we can go eat.
What are you looking for?
Clues, Heidi.
Information.
About what?
About this.
Look at that.
Just before midnight
Friday night,
a Zenith Airlines passenger--
That's Caroline--
WINSTON: --carrying
79 passengers
and 7 crew members crashed and
burned shortly after takeoff.
There were no survivors.
[music playing]
HEIDI: That's Father.
WINSTON: Paul and Anne
Carmichael distraught.
BRADLEY: You were how old
when you went to college?
18.
But it wasn't much of a college,
more of a finishing school
for rebellious debutantes.
BRADLEY: And you were coming
home for the Christmas
holidays when all of this--
CAROLINE: Thanksgiving.
Yes, of course.
Thanksgiving.
And somehow you
survived the crash?
I didn't get on the plane.
GRACE: You just walked away and
never said anything to anyone?
That's what I did.
[clock ticking]
You just walked away?
I got to the steps of the
plane, and I turned around.
And I walked away.
BRADLEY: And when
the plane crashed,
and when you heard about
it, you just disappeared?
That's exactly what I did.
But how could
you do that to us?
Just tell me that.
How?
That is the single most
inexcusable, cruel--
do you know what it
did to your mother?
Do you have any idea
what it did to her?
It killed her.
You said we could go.
Uh-oh.
Here's something else.
What?
It says here that she died
of mysterious circumstances.
HEIDI: Who?
WINSTON: Caroline's mother.
I think that means she
committed suicide, Heidi.
What's su-- icide?
And where did you
go after your Father--
I'm sorry.
I can't talk now, Don.
Can you call me back in an hour?
What's that?
Excuse me, Bradley.
BRADLEY: And where did
you go after you found
out about the plane crash?
I saw that I was
listed as dead.
I saw my chance to get away.
I'm sorry, Father.
But that's how I
felt at the time.
I had money.
I had what I needed.
And the truth is I--
I didn't like myself.
I went to Paris.
I took the chance that
no one would find out,
and that's what happened.
But why?
[sigh]
I--I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I was-- I was hiding--
thank you.
M-hm.
And I partied until I
didn't know who I was anymore.
I didn't care.
When I learned of Mother's
death, everything changed.
That's when I decided
to go to India.
PAUL: India?
CAROLINE: I was
looking for a way
to make my life
count for something.
Up until then, I'd
lived only for myself.
It wasn't enough.
So I changed my name
to Martha Sedgwick
and tried to lose
myself in work.
BRADLEY: But you said you
weren't trained for anything,
that you had no skills.
CAROLINE: I had two hands.
They needed help.
I learned as I went.
I studied.
Studied what?
CAROLINE: I became
a nurse, finally.
I worked with the sick,
the worst of them.
What did you do with
Grandmother's rug?
I loved that rug.
WINSTON: There's
something wrong.
Why did she show up all
of a sudden, just now?
It must be to get the money.
Will you eat your pie?
The pieces aren't
small enough.
If they were
any smaller, you'd
need a microscope to find them.
Why do Mother and
Father think it's so
important to hide everything.
There's something
definitely wrong.
There you are, Winston.
See you next week.
WINSTON: Thank you.
WAITRESS: Same as always.
WINSTON: Come on, Heidi.
I want to go home.
I'm not done.
You can have two
pieces of pie next week.
You can eat them tweezers.
Come on.
Put your arms in.
PAUL: I thank you for putting
up with the third degree.
I think--
GRACE: All right.
OK.
BRADLEY: Good.
Well, I think
get everything i--
well, we'll see.
I understand.
[engine starting]
I don't want you
to have any doubts.
Yes, in that.
[music playing]
BRADLEY: Well, she's
got the facts down cold.
If it's not Caroline, she's
the best actress in the world.
GRACE: Well, perhaps
she's got them down just
a little bit too cold.
I want you to hire a
private investigator.
And I want her watched
every minute of the day.
BRADLEY: I'll get
someone on it right away.
But there are bound to be gaps.
You can't watch
them every minute.
Well, just be
thorough, Bradley.
I want progress with this.
All right.
GRACE: Hello.
Paul, if there's anything
to find, we'll find it.
Thank you,
Bradley.
[music playing]
Paul?
The thing that appalls
me is that I'm not sure.
I didn't know my daughter
well enough to be sure.
[music playing]
My own daughter.
[music playing]
GRACE: You know, it might
be a good idea if Caroline
came to live with us here.
Oh, thank you, Luellen.
PAUL: I'd like that.
GRACE: Well, we really should
get to know her better, Paul.
PAUL: It's an excellent idea.
Winston?
I know you've been
curious about this.
Is Caroline going
to live with us here?
Well, we're going
to invite her.
Now, I'd like to ask
something of both of you,
something important.
When Caroline
disappeared, there was a--
a lot of publicity.
And until we are sure
about this young woman,
we don't want any more.
So I'd appreciate it
if you didn't speak
about this at school
and you didn't have any
of your playmates over here.
You understand the
need for secrecy?
Yes, Sir.
Good.
Thank you.
Now you two better
change your clothes if you
intend to play this afternoon.
Come on.
Gee, I wonder why he asked
us not to have anyone over.
When have we ever
had any one over?
When have we ever
had any playmates?
Thank you, Simmons.
SIMMONS: No running,
Master Winston.
Is she here yet?
Is Caroline here yet?
She only brought one suitcase.
WINSTON: Well, yeah?
Well, what'd she look--
[sigh]
What'd she look like?
Did she say anything crazy?
Uh, what was she wearing?
She's not very pretty.
Well, I think if you ever said
anything nice about anybody,
your tongue might fall
out from the surprise.
Mommy doesn't like her.
I don't like her either.
I think she's a fake.
PAUL: Ah, thank you, Luellen.
You're welcome, Sir.
What are those for, Paul?
You remembered.
Remembered what?
Anemones.
Thank you, Father.
I know they're anemones.
What's the occasion?
CAROLINE: My mother
would have been 52 today.
They were her favorite flower.
That was very
thoughtful of you, Paul.
Oh, no, no, no.
Mustn't touch, Darling.
These are--
I want to.
--very special flowers.
HEIDI: I want to.
I can if I want to.
I don't think so.
No--
HEIDI: I can if I want to.
GRACE: No.
Heidi, now.
No.
HEIDI: No.
[sigh]
Can she hold--
HEIDI: Mommy!
Can she hold
them for a moment?
Of course.
GRACE: All right.
OK, now.
OK.
OK.
Give them back, Darling.
HEIDI: Let go, Mommy.
Let go.
- Please.
Heidi.
HEIDI: No!
Let go!
Please be Mommy's good girl.
Be a good girl!
Mommy--
GRACE: Yes.
No, Heidi.
[sigh]
[sigh]
There you go.
They don't smell, anyway.
Guess who I saw today.
Who?
Sarah Lampson.
You remember her.
I'm afraid I don't.
Well, you should.
Oh.
[snap]
That's right.
She was Sarah Tyrone
when you knew her.
Sarah?
GRACE: Really?
Hm.
I'm surprised.
You're all she talks about.
She goes on and on about
you, about your school days
together, how wild you were.
[laugh]
Sarah-- Sarah Tyrone.
Silly Sarah.
She was easy to forget.
Heidi?
She always does that, but
it's usually off my plate.
CAROLINE: Well, I don't like it.
Heidi has certain privileges.
Heidi is rude, if
that's a privilege.
[whining]
PAUL: Heidi?
Caroline is a
guest in our house.
And--
Darling, you know it's not
good to criticize and push her.
You know that.
[whining]
Shh.
Darling, it's OK.
Come on.
Have a glass of milk, Baby.
That's my Baby.
[whining]
Yeah, yeah.
It's OK.
[whining]
[thundering]
[thundering]
[gasp]
WINSTON: I was going to my room,
and I saw the attic door open.
And I didn't know it was you.
You see.
We're not supposed
to be up here.
I sure hope Heidi doesn't
see all this stuff.
She'd bring it all downstairs
for her invisible game.
[thundering]
May I help you
look for something?
I found it already, Winston.
I thought I'd visit
my crazy past.
WINSTON: My history
teacher tells me
that the secret to the future
is often found in the past.
CAROLINE: Ah.
I'm very interested
in history.
CAROLINE: M-hm.
[thundering and raining]
So where were you
before you came here?
[chuckle]
CAROLINE: India.
Ah, India.
Was it interesting?
CAROLINE: Yes, Winston.
It was.
India was very interesting.
[thundering and raining]
India is one of the places
I'd like to go someday.
But what were you doing there?
CAROLINE: I was working.
With your friend,
Martha Sedgwick?
She wasn't my friend, Winston.
I was Martha Sedgwick.
That's the name that
I used in India.
Tell me something.
Don't you and Heidi
have any friends?
Oh, I have tons of
friends at school--
Uh-huh.
WINSTON: Too many.
Sometimes they get to be a pain.
Oh.
I was just wondering
because you and Heidi
always seem to be together.
Is that your job to
take care of her?
No, it's not my job.
She's my sister,
and I want to do it.
Uh-huh.
[thundering and raining]
Did that belong to Caroline?
It was mine, yes.
You must have had
some reason for going
away and changing your name.
And why did you come back?
Was it to get Mrs.
Atkins' money?
I came home because I
couldn't stay any longer.
It became too depressing for me.
I loved somebody who died.
[thundering and raining]
He was--
[sigh]
There was nothing
left after that.
I tried to throw myself into
work, but it didn't help.
It just got worse.
I finally realized that I
couldn't make a difference,
that I didn't--
well--
[thundering and raining]
WINSTON: Do you
know who that is?
It was my Grandmother Atkins.
And you knew that
already, didn't you?
[chuckling]
Well.
She was a very special lady.
WINSTON: What's that book?
CAROLINE: It was hers.
[thud and thundering]
She loved poetry.
So do I.
[thundering and raining]
Heidi, don't you know
how to use a fork?
HEIDI: I can't.
I don't have to.
The other 10-year-olds
I know use forks and chew
with their mouths closed.
Mommy said I don't have to.
CAROLINE: That's right.
You don't.
But I don't think you enjoy
being like this, Heidi.
I think you'd rather be
like other 10-year-olds.
And I'll bet you could be.
I'll bet there are lots
of things you can do.
I'll bet there's lots more
to you than people know.
Mommy says there's a
lot more to you, too.
[chuckle]
[chuckling]
GRACE: The-- oh, yes.
I am aware of it.
Her story in India checks out.
She used the name
Martha Sedgwick
while she was over there.
Why wouldn't it?
CAROLINE: Do you
want a glass of w--
HEIDI: M-hm.
CAROLINE: All right.
Well, what about the
detective you hired?
CAROLINE: [inaudible]
[chuckling]
GRACE: Well, Bradley,
we wouldn't be paying
you if it wasn't difficult. No.
Now you listen.
This is a very clever woman.
She's wormed her
way into my home,
and she's interfering
with my children.
CAROLINE: Heidi, [inaudible].
It just isn't right.
CAROLINE: Well, I know it
was like a little cube.
I never--
PAUL: Oh, we could
miss it because he
might as well not play.
CAROLINE: Well, I'm
not very good at games.
But at least you didn't
drown me this time.
I think it's because
we switched colors.
PAUL: Well--
- Well, there you are.
You've kept us waiting.
Oh, we lost track of time.
[kiss]
CAROLINE: It's my fault, Grace.
I just kept jabbering.
And I help up--
No, it isn't.
I was the one because we
were playing Backgammon.
And I insisted we
finish the game.
[chuckle]
Well, I met the most unlikely
person in the beauty parlor
today.
PAUL: And who might that be?
Agatha Trollope.
Who's that?
GRACE: Caroline will tell you.
Caroline knows Miss
Trollope better
than anyone at this table.
Winston, will you
pass the rolls, please?
Oh, right away.
CAROLINE: I'm starving.
This looks delicious.
Thank you.
Miss Trollope is the
Headmistress of Finchley,
the girls' school I went to.
I don't want to
go to Finchley.
I don't like Finchley.
Heidi, you'd love it.
It's--
Oh, don't worry, darling.
You won't have to.
Obviously it didn't make
Caroline very happy.
That isn't true, Grace.
Oh?
Well, then why did you stay away
so long and cause your father
all this pain?
That isn't what happened.
You don't know--
That is exactly what happened.
This has nothing to do with--
GRACE: Why didn't
you call your father
or mother after the crash?
Even if you didn't want to
come home, it's the least--
PAUL: Grace--
GRACE: --you could have done.
PAUL: Grace, we've
been through all that.
GRACE: Not enough.
We haven't.
I know I was wrong.
[exhale]
GRACE: And I suppose the Flora
Atkins' inheritance has nothing
to do with your being here.
It doesn't.
Oh, the hell it doesn't.
PAUL: All right.
That's enough, Grace.
Stop it!
My daughter has come home.
No, this woman has
come into our hou--
PAUL: No, Grace.
No!
My daughter!
She's as much a part of
this family as anyone else.
Excuse me.
Father?
[coyotes barking]
I never-- I don't--
[sigh]
Perhaps it isn't the right
time for me to be here.
I--
PAUL: Why did you allow
me to live with so
much pain for all those years?
I ache with it, Caroline.
I don't think I'll
ever be rid of it.
I lost you.
And then when your mother died--
when she died, I thought
I couldn't go on.
I-- I couldn't face
you then, Father.
I hated myself.
I blame myself for
Mother's death.
Hello there.
I figured that the only way
I could make things better
was to do something
for other people.
And the more time passed,
the more difficult
it became to come back.
But I had to.
I had to ask for
your forgiveness.
You're so unpredictable.
You were always
such a wild child.
We could never control you.
Did it ever occur
to you, Father,
that maybe that wild child
needed your attention,
your interest.
You were always in the
office, or on the phone,
or traveling somewhere.
I didn't really
know you, Caroline.
I realize that now.
I realize what I missed.
Oh, Daddy.
I'm so sorry for all the
pain I've caused you.
I will not have you
calling her a fortune hunter.
GRACE: I don't think you
should do anything hasty.
I don't want to
see you get hurt.
PAUL: Grace, she is my daughter.
Well, you'll forgive me
if I'm not so trusting.
I think you should
continue the investigation.
PAUL: Well, it really
doesn't concern you, does it?
Oh, it doesn't?
I am sorry, Paul.
But I'm your wife.
If this family isn't my
concern, then what is?
I just think that if, at
any time in the future,
it's discovered that
she isn't Caroline,
the money should be returned.
PAUL: Grace!
And I think you should
get it in writing.
PAUL: I know she's Caroline.
Well, if she is, then
there's nothing to worry about,
is there?
And, if she isn't, she
doesn't have a right to it.
I'm just thinking about
Heidi and Winston.
They're your children, too.
PAUL: I'll have Bradley
draw up the papers that way
if it'll make you happy.
But I don't want any
more of this nonsense.
My daughter's come home.
GRACE: All right.
[music playing]
And if you'd sign this
last copy right here, please.
That's the amendment.
All right.
Very good.
There.
All done.
BRADLEY: Congratulations,
Mrs. Carmichael.
Thank you.
PAUL: Thank you, Bradley.
You won't mind if Simmons
sees you out, will you?
Not at all.
GRACE: Goodbye, Bradley.
BRADLEY: Grace.
PAUL: Oh, surprise.
Oh, it's lovely.
PAUL: Remember?
CAROLINE: Well, it
does look familiar.
It was your mother's.
You used to love to wear it
when you were a little girl.
Oh.
[chuckling]
PAUL: Put it on.
[music playing]
CAROLINE: Thank you, Father.
[kiss]
Paul, I think it's high time
we through Caroline a party.
Oh, no.
Please don't.
PAUL: Sure.
Everyone will want
to see you again.
Oh, I'm sure you want to
see all of your old friends
and the relatives.
No, that's really
not necessary.
Now, now, now--
GRACE: --cooped up in
this house long enough.
I have nothing to wear.
GRACE: There are
millions of stores.
I'm sure you'll find something.
WINSTON: This is fun.
Thank you for
taking me with you.
CAROLINE: Don't you ever
go shopping on your own.
WINSTON: No.
No.
My mother has the sizes sent
out, and then we choose.
I guess it's a lot
easier that way.
Mother likes to shop.
What's the matter?
CAROLINE: Oh, well, I--
I just can't picture myself in
that big room in this dress.
I wish your mother hadn't
invited all those people.
WINSTON: Oh, it's just
a dumb, old party.
You won't have any fun, anyway.
Oh, thank you
for that, Winston.
I have to find some shoes.
WINSTON: Well, then I'll
meet you around the corner
in 15 minutes.
CAROLINE: All right.
Secrets?
Well, this is a bit awkward.
But would it be possible
for me to borrow some money?
I never carry any with me,
and I usually sign for things.
But I want to buy
something very special--
Well, of course.
How much?
$50 will do.
Oh, it will, will it?
Well, how about
$10, for starters?
$10 will do nicely.
Thank you.
[chuckling]
[register dinging]
WINSTON: I'd like to
buy this book, please?
It's for my new sister.
Well, Sir, the children's
books are right over there.
WINSTON: My sister
is in her 30s.
In her 30s?
WINSTON: I'd like
this gift-wrapped,
and I don't want any cute paper.
It's for a party, and
it's very special.
STORE CLERK: OK.
This isn't more
than $10, is it?
STORE CLERK: Oh.
No, sir.
It's not.
This is a good gift, isn't it?
She loves poetry.
The Rubaiyat is a lovely gift.
She'll like it.
[piano playing]
[party chatter]
HELEN: Caroline!
Caroline, my dear.
Oh, it's so great.
Oh.
Aw, Aunt-- Aunt Helen,
I've missed you.
Well, let me look at you.
You're as pretty as I remember.
CAROLINE: Oh, I don't--
HELEN: Oh, what were
you thinking of, child?
I know you did a lot of odd
things when you were young,
but I can't understand this--
- Oh.
- Why?
Why did you--
Helen, how have you been?
Hm?
Well, Paul, my liver
has been bothering me.
PAUL: Aw.
[inaudible]
PAUL: M-hm.
HELEN: The edema
in my left foot--
PAUL: Yeah.
HELEN: Then now, Paul.
It doesn't pay to get old.
[applause]
Emily, how are you?
HARVEY: Honey, I
can't believe how much
you look like your mother--
CAROLINE: Oh.
--which is better than
looking like you, Paul.
Well, thank you, Harvey.
Let me get you a drink.
HARVEY: Thanks.
[piano playing]
- Agnes?
AGNES: Oh, no thanks.
I'd just start playing
that rowdy bar room music.
Well, that's perfectly
all right with me.
Caroline, I know
you remember this one.
[piano playing]
AGNES: [SINGING]
After the ball is--
You used to always
drive us crazy with this.
Oh, I remember that bit.
AGNES: [SINGING]
--after the break
of morn, after the
dancers leaving,
after the stars are gone.
Many a heart is aching.
If you could please them all.
Many dear hopes that have
vanished after the ball.
[piano playing]
[SINGING] After
the ball is over--
LARRY: You still have
the softest shoulders
east of the Mississippi.
AGNES: -- [SINGING] the
break of morn after--
I haven't changed
that much, Larry.
Larry!
How are you?
Married and divorced.
Doing quite well now.
So are you, I understand.
All that money.
Larry, I'd like you
to meet my stepmother.
Grace?
Grace, this is Larry.
- How do you do, Larry?
LARRY: Grace, nice to meet you.
GRACE: Nice to meet you.
LARRY: You know, the
truth is, it hasn't been
the same since that
weekend we spent
together all those years ago.
Oh.
The lost weekend?
How romantic.
Where did you go?
What did you do?
Tell me all about it, Caroline.
PAUL: Don't tell me
you're embarrassed.
You know, back in
the old days, nothing
could embarrass this gal.
Remember that night at Enrico's?
Danced on our table with
nothing but her slip on.
CAROLINE: Oh.
LARRY: Sensational.
[exhale]
Larry, really.
GRACE: Well, how
about it, Caroline?
What was this rascal like when--
I'm Caroline's
brother, Winston.
How do you do?
LARRY: Nice to
meet you, Winston.
I wasn't exactly
a plum, or was I?
What's your sense of this?
WINSTON: Oh, I feel fine.
How about you, Larry?
Doing fine, Winston.
Thank you.
CAROLINE: There's Miss Trollope.
Excuse me.
It was very nice
meeting you, Larry.
Please enjoy yourself.
CAROLINE: Miss
Trollope, I didn't think
you were going to make it.
Who are you?
CAROLINE: Caroline,
I'm so glad to see you.
MISS TROLLOPE: I want to
ask you something, child.
Why have we not heard from
you in all these years?
I was in love.
And then there was my work.
Oh, did love breed amnesia?
No, it bred selfishness.
MISS TROLLOPE: Are you married?
CAROLINE: No.
Were you?
No.
Where is he?
CAROLINE: He's dead.
Why don't you sit down?
You must be tired.
I am not tired.
I want to talk with you.
Let me order you
some champagne.
We'll have plenty of
time to talk later.
[kiss]
We will, indeed, young woman.
Agatha, Agatha, it's so
lovely to see you again.
- Oh, hello, Grace.
- Yes.
Won't you sit down?
Yes.
I'm so glad you could come.
SERVER: Champagne, Madam?
Thank you.
Thank you so much for your
help with the guest list.
Oh, I think the party
is quite a success.
And Caroline looks so well.
How does she seem to you?
Peculiar.
Oh.
There is Bunny.
Now, she was
Caroline's best friend.
GRACE: Oh, so that's Bunny.
Oh, thank you, Agatha.
I'll be back in a bit.
[singing with piano]
GRACE: Caroline?
Caroline, come.
There's someone here
that you simply must see.
BUNNY: Caroline!
[gasp]
Bunny!
BUNNY: Caroline!
Oh!
[laughing]
Oh, honey.
BUNNY: Oh, my-- after all these
years, I don't believe it.
CAROLINE: Look at you!
BUNNY: You look wonderful!
CAROLINE: So do you.
BUNNY: I hate you.
[laughing]
Oh, you're so funny.
CAROLINE: Oh.
You remember this guy?
I finally took pity
on him and said yes.
Freddie!
Oh, Freddie.
You're as handsome as ever!
FREDDIE: You're not doing
so bad yourself, kiddo.
[laughing]
CAROLINE: Grace?
Grace, I'd like you to
meet Bunny and Freddie.
This is my stepmother,
Grace Carmichael.
It's a pleasure
Mrs. Carmichael.
Yes, hi.
How do you do?
Bunny, I know your
mother from the club.
We play bridge together.
BUNNY: Oh, yes.
Would you excuse
us, Mrs. Carmichael?
GRACE: Well, of course.
- Come on, Caroline.
You and I have got a lot
of catching up to do.
Freddie, honey,
uh, play the piano.
For a long time.
Not until I get a drink.
BUNNY: Absolutely, Honey.
You know you play
much better that way.
Really, you do.
[chuckling]
Oh, your father married
a young one, didn't he?
- I'll say.
- Eh, not bad.
[chuckling]
Now, you've got to
tell me everything
about the last 14 years.
- Look.
Just grab a chair.
BUNNY: You're incredible.
Really awful for
scaring us like that.
I'm serious.
Listen, children?
- One.
- One?
Only one?
BUNNY: Between that and
my work, that's enough.
Are you kidding?
CAROLINE: What do you do?
I'm a psychologist.
Can you believe it?
- No.
BUNNY: One day to school,
and now I'm a psychologist.
I know.
[laughing]
[inaudible] final exam, and
then you flunked anyway.
[guests chattering]
PAUL: Golf is for
conducting business, Arthur.
ARTHUR: Oh.
Now come on, Paul.
Golf is for pleasure.
PAUL: Well, the pleasure of
golf is the business, Arthur.
[laughing]
BUNNY: No, you didn't
CAROLINE: Yes, I did.
[laughing]
BUNNY: You have not changed.
WINSTON: Here.
This is for you.
Here.
Let me help you unwrap it.
[piano playing]
You'll like the pictures.
Heidi, you'll like the pictures.
[piano playing]
[tapping on a glass]
PAUL: Ladies and gentlemen--
What'd I do that for?
PAUL: --may I have your
attention for just a moment?
Caroline?
[applause]
WOMAN: Caroline, over here.
[applause]
[piano playing]
[applause]
Uh, my-- my father has
asked me to say something.
And so I will.
Uh, I would like to thank you,
Father, not only for your--
your loving welcome but for
your forgiveness, as well.
And I thank you, Grace, for
being so kind and accepting.
I thank my-- my new brother
and sister, Winston and Heidi,
for taking me into their lives.
And-- and to all
of you here, I--
I-- I thank you for being here.
It's-- it's very good
to see you again.
AUDIENCE: Aw.
[applause]
MAN: Caroline?
Caroline?
What?
But I don't understand.
You just got here.
You were away for so long.
There's lots of the world
I haven't seen, Winston.
Lots of countries to
visit and things to see.
No.
No, erase that.
I want to be honest with you.
My being here isn't doing
this family any good.
It's disruptive.
And your mother
is afraid that I--
She'll get over it.
You don't have to go now.
I'll come back.
No, you won't.
If you go now, you'll
never come back.
Winston, when you grow
up, you'll realize there's
a right time for things.
And now is the time
for me to leave.
You just came for the money.
That's all you care about.
How can you say that, Winston?
That isn't true.
HEIDI: Luellen?
WINSTON: We're trying to
have a conversation here.
--untrue.
HEIDI: I want breakfast!
Will you--
[groaning]
Just a minute, Heidi.
Don't you look pretty today.
All right.
Careful.
Watch your feet.
You have your new book.
Do you like your book?
The Rubaiyan of Omar
Khayyam is for grown-ups.
Which poem did
you like the best?
WINSTON: She doesn't
know anything about them.
They're about guys.
WINSTON: Oh, you
didn't read them.
All you did was look
at the pictures.
You don't know how to read.
CAROLINE: Winston,
leave her alone.
I'll bet she could
learn if she wanted to.
Oh, sure.
Well, if you know
how to read, read.
After silence sp--
spot a vessel of a more un--
game-- ly, they sneer at
me for leaning all a--
--awry--
HEIDI: --what did the hand
then of the patter shake?
Liar!
You can't read!
Winston!
[sobbing]
Chimpanzee!
She's really nothing
but a monkey.
The words don't
mean a thing to her.
You could teach a monkey
to read the way she does.
Do you know what
just happened?
Do you know what she just did?
And you can't discuss
anything with her
because all she ever thinks
about is getting her own way.
CAROLINE: That's all she's
been allowed to think about.
WINSTON: Oh, please.
Her ability to
read shows she has
a tremendous capacity to learn.
Oh, what do you care, anyway?
[sobbing]
You're going away.
GRACE: What's going on out here.
What happened to Heidi?
Nothing happened to Heidi.
What did you do to her?
WINSTON: I didn't do anything.
I want to see you
in my room, young man.
[sobbing]
Heidi can read.
She read to us from this book.
[scoff]
[sobbing]
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
[sobbing]
Caroline, Heidi doesn't read.
And she doesn't have to.
[sobbing]
Do you, Darling?
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
Caroline will be gone soon.
She'll be gone soon.
Shh.
And then everything
will be all right.
Shh.
[honking]
Look, it's Caroline.
[chuckling]
[inaudible]
[chuckling]
Hi, Bunny.
BUNNY: Hi, Caroline.
CAROLINE: What a lovely house.
BUNNY: Oh, thank you.
Come on up.
I'll show you around the castle.
[chuckling]
Hello, Winston.
Hello, Heidi.
This is Simon.
CAROLINE: Heidi, that's Simon.
HEIDI: Hi.
BUNNY: We live very informally
here, as you can tell.
[chuckle]
My office is around
back, separate entrance--
very professional.
CAROLINE: Oh.
Gosh, you know, it's gonna
take another 14 years for us
to catch up.
Where-- oh.
Oh.
Here it is.
Here it is.
Heidi, would you like
to read Simon a story?
[laughing]
I hope Simon has all day.
That's how long it's going
to take her to read it.
HEIDI: It's "The
Wind in the Willows."
Heidi, don't you
like that story?
I don't have to read.
That's right, Heidi.
You don't.
But you know what?
Simon would like to hear that
story, wouldn't you, Simon?
Yes.
Yes.
Heidi, it's OK not to read.
You're not very
good at it, anyway.
Whatever you decide.
By the way, your dear
friend, Larry's, been after me.
He says you won't
return his phone calls.
CAROLINE: Would you?
[laughing]
Not even if I was desperate.
HEIDI: --mole had--
BUNNY: Miss Trollope's
been asking about you.
CAROLINE: Oh, really?
BUNNY: Oh, yes.
Really.
HEIDI: --all [inaudible].
BUNNY: I, uh, test
some of her students--
my alumni contribution.
HEIDI: --cleaning--
BUNNY: You know, you're not
going to be able to avoid
our dear old mistress forever.
HEIDI: --he flung down his
brush on the floor and said,
"my goodness" and
bolted out of the--
Simon keeps smelling the book.
Oh, nap time.
SIMON: Oh, darn it.
BUNNY: Uh, come on.
SIMON: No.
Heidi, thank you very
much for reading to Simon.
[laughing]
Let go.
That was very nice of you.
You know, Miss Trollope isn't
going to let you off the hook.
She's going to put you to
work fundraising or something.
This isn't just
a visit, is it?
BUNNY: You know, whenever
I went anywhere with you,
there was always a risk
of getting into trouble,
a sense of danger.
Why are you doing this?
CAROLINE: It wasn't that bad.
BUNNY: No, no, no.
It was wonderful.
Hey, hey.
Remember that time that
you snuck out of school
and dragged me with you to
meet those terrible town boys?
[laughing]
Oh.
The guy on the motorcycle--
he was all dimples and muscles--
what was his name?
[chuckle]
You rode off with him.
You must know his name.
[laughing]
Another time, another life.
BUNNY: Get back in
there and stop stalling.
You know, I can't believe it.
You've changed so much.
I really can't believe it.
We all change, Bunny.
We have to go.
I can't be late.
Oh, no.
Winston, could you
bring Heidi, please?
BUNNY: Well, there are
obviously physical problems.
And her hearing is very bad.
But I don't see any indications
of retardation at all.
Now I know it'll be difficult,
but I really need a whole day
with her in my office.
CAROLINE: I don't know.
The children usually
go to the library.
If I can manage it,
how about tomorrow?
Winston, let her do that.
No, no, no.
She can.
Let her try.
- But--
CAROLINE: No.
Let her do it.
How's tomorrow?
BUNNY: Tomorrow's fine.
CAROLINE: Mm.
You don't mind missing your
trip to the library this once,
do you?
No, I guess not.
CAROLINE: I think
it would be better
for Heidi if we
didn't say anything
until I talk to your mother.
Can you keep a secret?
I thought you were going away.
I was, but I can
change my mind, can't I?
- Mm, I can keep a secret.
- Good.
I hate it when you do that.
[chuckling]
Sorry.
Thank you, Bunny.
Any time, Caroline.
I'll see you tomorrow.
All right.
All right.
CAROLINE: Can I speak
to you for a moment?
Oh, yes, if you like.
Bunny is having a birthday
party tomorrow for her son.
GRACE: Oh.
And she'd like to
invite Heidi and Winston.
Oh, well, that's nice.
But, oh, tomorrow.
That's Saturday.
Oh, I don't think it's possible.
The Garden Club, I'm hostessing.
I'd be glad to drop them off.
Well, Bunny Miller--
she's a lovely woman.
Yes, well, I don't see why not.
All right.
Is there something else?
CAROLINE: I've noticed
how bright Heidi is.
I-- I thought she
might be tested.
[clock ticking]
No.
CAROLINE: Why not?
Why not, Grace?
She was tested
when she was younger.
It was torture for her.
What were the results?
GRACE: The results?
They claimed that they had to do
an electroencephalogram to test
her neurological functions.
[clock ticking]
And they stuck needles
into her scalp.
[clock ticking]
How do you explain to a
frightened four-year-old
that the needles in her
scalp are necessary?
[clock ticking]
She was terrified,
and it drained her.
I won't subject
her to that again.
Her life is hard enough.
The methods have changed.
I think there's every chance
that she would respond--
GRACE: I'm not
interested in chances.
Heidi will be loved and
cared for by me and Paul
long after you have gone.
Actually, my
plans have changed.
If you don't mind, I'd like
to stay a while longer.
[clock ticking]
Hm.
Well, I am sure that that
will make Paul very happy.
If that's your way of saying
it's all right, thank you.
GRACE: You're welcome.
[clock ticking]
HEIDI: No!
You said party!
I want to go to a party!
CAROLINE: It'll be like a party.
You'll--
HEIDI: No!
CAROLINE: --play games.
You like Bunny.
No!
You'll spend--
[sigh]
Heidi, you'll spend
the day with her.
And we'll pick you up at 3:30.
HEIDI: No!
You said party!
I want to go to a party!
Winston, help me.
Look, Heidi.
You know Bunny won't hurt you.
You're just being stubborn.
HEIDI: No!
Heidi--
HEIDI: You said party!
Calm down.
Listen to me.
You don't have to go if
you don't want to go.
Maybe you wouldn't have
such a good time, anyway.
Let's get in the car
and go home, all right?
I hate you!
Let go.
[doorbell ringing]
CAROLINE: You worry about
Heidi a lot, don't you?
WINSTON: No, not really.
It's just that
sometimes I wonder
what's going to become of her.
[animal sounds]
Sometimes I think she'll
always be the same
and that she'll never grow up.
And if she doesn't,
what's going to happen then?
WINSTON: Then I'll
take care of her.
CAROLINE: You know what
I've decided to do?
I'm going to learn how
to teach the handicapped.
WINSTON: Is Bunny [inaudible]
the one who got you interested?
CAROLINE: No.
Heidi is the one.
WINSTON: Oh, Heidi.
Heidi.
Everything is Heidi.
It's always Heidi.
Why does Heidi
deserve everything?
Why does Heidi deserve you?
Winston, listen to me.
Heidi is my second
order of business.
You're my first.
I'm doing this for you.
For me?
CAROLINE: Don't you
sometimes feel that you
and Heidi are in a cage?
I thought if I could
stretch the bars a little
that you could
walk through them.
And then we could stretch them
together just a little more,
and Heidi could walk
through after you.
But I had it backwards.
Heidi has to go first.
You're tied to her, Winston,
because she's dependent on you.
Do you understand
what I'm saying?
Sure.
Well, I think so.
No, I guess not.
BUNNY: There's no question
about her brightness.
She's way above average.
Way above average?
Absolutely.
Runs in the family.
[laughing]
Listen, whatever you're
going to do for her, Caroline,
do it now.
As she gets older,
it'll only more
difficult, physically
and psychologically--
perhaps impossible.
Thank you, Bunny.
BUNNY: You're welcome.
I'll call you.
BUNNY: Do soon.
GRACE: There you are.
I've missed you so much!
Caroline, Miss Trollope
called three times.
I think she really
wants to talk to you.
CAROLINE: I'll take
care of it, Grace.
--Darling.
Did you have a wonderful
time at the party?
Hm?
Were there lots
of other children
there and lots of yummy,
yummy things to eat?
Hm?
Did you have fun?
Tell Mommy all about it.
Heidi, tell me all about it.
Hm?
Aw, did they have prizes?
Heidi?
Heidi?
Tell Mommy all about it.
I bet you were the
prettiest one there.
Hm?
[sobbing]
What happened to her?
Nothing happened.
CAROLINE: I think
she's tired, Grace.
I'll take her upstairs.
Hei--
GRACE: No, that's all right.
Honey, Heidi, tell
Mommy what happened.
[whining]
No.
Heidi, tell Mommy what's wrong.
Tell me.
It wasn't a party.
They gave me tests.
[sobbing]
GRACE: Winston, take
your sister upstairs.
[sobbing]
Shh.
OK.
I'll be right up.
Caroline, may I see you in
the living room, please?
WINSTON: Why didn't you
tell me you could read?
HEIDI: I did.
You didn't believe me.
- OK.
Sh.
Sh.
Sh.
Sh.
GRACE: Who in the hell
do you think you are?
You come into my home, turn
my children against me,
defy my wishes--
Grace, what are you afraid of?
Aren't you interested
in how Heidi did?
If she were my daughter--
GRACE: But, you see, Caroline,
she's not your daughter.
She's mine.
Mine.
You had no right to put
her through those tests
when I specifically
told you not to.
CAROLINE: The point is
she's way above average.
She has all kinds of potential.
With special education, this
girl can do anything she--
Why are you telling
me these lies?
CAROLINE: They aren't lies!
And if you don't
do something now--
GRACE: I have been
doing something,
Caroline, for several years.
Where were you?
I want you to stay
away from my children.
I don't want you to see them.
I don't want you
to talk to them.
I will not have you
destroying my family.
CAROLINE: Grace, don't
sacrifice your own children.
I am not sacrificing
my children.
How dare you!
I am doing what's best for them.
Paul and I have
planned this all out,
and we have given Heidi's
future a great deal of thought.
CAROLINE: You are
holding her back.
You're not helping her.
I don't want you here anymore.
You should have gone when
you said you were going.
You've got your name.
You've got your money.
I want you out of
here today, now.
[door slamming]
[engine starting]
No, wait!
Caroline, wait!
Wait, Caroline!
Wait!
Wait!
Caroline, come back.
[music playing]
Caroline, come back!
Come back, Caroline!
Caroline!
[sigh]
[music playing]
There you are.
Did you have fun
at school today?
Did you make something special?
I made a horse.
You made a horse?
Heidi Carmichael, what
a big girl you are!
Surprise.
What's this for?
Surprise because you're
my children, and I love you.
Open it.
WINSTON: It's a radio.
[chuckling]
- Yes, It is.
And you can plug it in
or use it with batteries.
Do you like it?
WINSTON: I love it.
Thank you very much.
GRACE: Oh, you're
welcome, Darling.
[kiss]
Do you like it?
When Mommy saw this baby, she
said, this is a doll for Heidi.
[chuckle]
Isn't she a sweet baby?
HEIDI: Sweet baby.
[kiss]
You'll always be
Mommy's sweet baby.
HEIDI: Thank you, Mommy.
GRACE: Oh, you're
welcome, Darling.
Mm--mm.
When you did not
return my calls,
I was tempted to
go to the police.
Before you ask your questions,
may I tell you why I've come?
You may.
But I will ask them.
And you will answer.
I'm applying to
the University,
and I was wondering if you
still have my academic records.
Oh, I have them all right.
But I do not think they
will be of much use to you.
You should know that.
CAROLINE: Yes, I do.
But I need a master's
in special education.
A master's?
I want to teach
the handicapped.
I'd like to use my inheritance
to start a school someday.
MISS TROLLOPE: Really?
Your principle interest in life
used to be organizing parties.
Some people grow
up, Miss Trollope.
MISS TROLLOPE: Well,
your highest grade
here was a C. You were lazy.
Your work, when you
did it, was sloppy.
The Caroline I knew
could not possibly
pass a college entrance exam.
I'll pass.
I have to.
I know my old
records won't help.
The fact is, I was
hoping that you
wouldn't have them, that enough
time had past that, perhaps--
Oh, I will not
destroy them, if that's
what you are suggesting.
I see.
MISS TROLLOPE: I imagine you do.
Oh, you do not really expect
me to believe any of this.
CAROLINE: I don't care what
you believe, Miss Trollope.
With the Atkins'
inheritance in your pocket,
I would have thought
you would be long--
The money only
matters because it can
help me do what I want to do.
[chuckling]
Oh, teach the handicapped.
Forgive me.
That is hard to believe,
impossible to believe
of Caroline Carmichael.
You can think
what you like of me.
You can do whatever you
want with those records.
I'm going to college.
I'm going to get my master's.
Didn't you see that little girl
at the party, Miss Trollope?
She's my sister.
I've got a lot of work to do.
And I won't be stopped
by you or by anybody.
[clapping]
You used to tell us in assembly
not to prejudge people,
to walk through life with an
open mind and an open heart,
ready and willing to
help the less fortunate.
What's happened to
you, Miss Trollope?
You must love that
little girl very much.
What is her name?
Her mother calls her Heidi,
but her name is really Hilary.
And you really think
you can help her?
Yes, I do.
It's for her brother
as well as her.
He needs help as
much as she does.
Wait.
All right.
When they call me
from the University,
I will say I do not have
your records anymore.
Thank you.
They are lucky
children to have
someone like you helping them.
I'm the lucky one.
MISS TROLLOPE: Oh, by the way,
I never speak at assembly.
I never have.
But tolerance and
commitment to others
is certainly the
theme of my school.
I'm glad you
invited me to lunch.
It's good to get
away from the office.
CAROLINE: I can't believe
you still work on Saturdays.
[chuckling]
Oh, it's habit, I guess.
I don't understand why you
moved out of the house.
Was it Grace?
It was time to be
on my own, that's all.
Well, I liked
having you there.
We were just getting
reacquainted.
Father, I wanted to
talk to you about Heidi.
She's quite
remarkable, you know.
She's really very intelligent.
We had her checked.
She's slow.
CAROLINE: She's not slow.
She's bright and eager.
If you spent some time
with her-- if you took
an interest in her, you'd--
Well, of course I'm
interested in her.
It's just that she's--
[dog barking]
--she's limited.
[doorbell ringing]
I've invited Heidi and
Winston to lunch, as well.
Oh, well, fine.
It's just I--I don't
have a lot of time.
CAROLINE: Hello.
Come in.
It's so good to see you two.
Hello, Heidi.
Father.
PAUL: Hey, surprise.
- Let me show you the apartment.
- Oh, yeah.
Right.
Take off your coat.
WINSTON: Neat.
CAROLINE: Heidi?
Heidi?
Take off your coat.
HEIDI: I can't.
PAUL: Here, I'll help.
She can do it.
Show Father you can do it.
I can't.
What are you doing, Caroline?
Father, ask her to do it.
She can.
Heidi, can you
take off your coat?
I'll try.
Well, very good.
[clapping]
I hate it when you do that.
Heidi?
Would you bring
me a can of soup?
It's in the pantry.
It says "chicken" on the label.
HEIDI: OK.
PAUL: Winston,
you help Caroline.
You better make that two.
We have a hungry crowd here.
Are you trying to tell
me she can read the labels?
Chicken soup.
CAROLINE: Excellent.
Now open the cans while I
get the crackers, all right?
HEIDI: Sure.
[can opener running]
Heidi, read the
directions for me.
HEIDI: Add one can of water.
That's all it says.
Well, I'll be damned.
Thank you, Heidi.
Will you open the other can now?
[can opener running]
You have no idea, Grace.
It was remarkable,
absolutely remarkable.
I resent you going
behind my back.
She can read.
She can take off her
own coat and put it on.
She used a can opener.
She's not a baby, Grace.
She's not slow.
She has taught herself to read.
I saw her.
CAROLINE: You can't
keep disguising
her handicaps with
ribbons and ruffles
with every kind of indulgence.
GRACE: Heidi is a happy
child the way she is.
- She needs a hearing aid.
- They don't work.
CAROLINE: Not a pretty
one, a massive one.
Paul, will you please--
CAROLINE: And she needs a
lot of physical therapy.
Physical therapy is painful.
And they told us
that it would not
substantially affect her legs.
PAUL: Grace, the child
is capable of a lot--
GRACE: No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
I have been a good mother.
No one can say that I haven't.
I did not put her
in an institution.
And I have done my best.
Nobody's saying
you haven't, Grace.
That's not what
we're talking about.
CAROLINE: It isn't your fault
Heidi is the way she is.
No one can help that.
Don't be ashamed.
You don't have to feel guilty.
I don't feel ashamed.
And I don't feel guilty.
You're the one who
should be ashamed!
You've done nothing but
lie since you came here!
You've done nothing
but cause trouble.
And you have come between
me and my children!
Are you against me, too?
Darling?
GRACE: Has she done
that to us, as well?
PAUL: Caroline is
just trying to help.
Well, we don't want
your help, Caroline!
Grace, would you just
listen to her, please?
Don't deny Heidi the
only chance that she has.
If I'm the problem, I'll leave.
If it's the money,
you can have it.
But please let Heidi grow up.
Winston can't be
responsible for her forever.
You can't do that to him.
Paul-- Paul,
remember, we agreed
to remember when she was born.
Remember?
I would raise her.
I would take care of her.
You had your work.
And I had the children.
Oh, God.
I love them.
I really love them.
You can't do this to me.
You can't.
You can't.
You can't.
PAUL: Grace?
[door slamming]
Father?
PAUL: We'll have to
give her time, Caroline.
She loves those children.
Heidi doesn't have time.
Can't you understand that?
She'll change her mind.
I'll talk to her.
You just be patient.
You can't put it all on Grace.
You have to make a decision.
All right.
I think it might be
better if you didn't
see the child for a while.
Just stay away from her.
What?
PAUL: Just for a while.
Grace will change her mind.
CAROLINE: When I came back, I
thought we could be a family.
But this isn't a family.
It never was because you won't
take responsibility for it.
Don't you tell me
about responsibility!
You were the one who
vanished for 14 years!
I lost your mother because
of your selfishness.
I do not intend to lose Grace.
HEIDI: No!
WINSTON: Shh.
It's Friday.
Mother won't know.
HEIDI: I'm not going to
Caroline's after school!
You have to, Heidi.
Mommy says I have to
go get my hair done.
I have to go to Mr. Steve's.
Upsie-daisy, young lady.
WINSTON: You can't do that.
Caroline can help you.
It's important, Heidi.
HEIDI: Leave me alone.
Girls get their hair done.
It's what we do.
Mommy says it's what we do.
Caroline doesn't
go to Mr. Steve's.
Mommy doesn't want me
to grow up like Caroline.
[door bell ringing]
[clearing throat]
CAROLINE: Winston.
Oh, Heidi won't come.
I tried, but I couldn't
get her to come.
I told her to.
But she went to go get
her hair done instead.
Winston, calm down.
She has to come.
She has to.
I can't force her to.
I can't help her
unless she wants me to.
But you have to help her.
There isn't anyone else.
I can't, Winston.
I've been forbidden to.
Forbidden?
Who-- who would do that?
Mother?
No.
No.
Let me make you some tea.
Mother doesn't have to know.
We could do a lot
of other things.
It's Father.
Why?
Because he's a coward.
A coward?
CAROLINE: Winston, I have
cookies to go with this.
What right do you have
to call my father a coward?
As much right as you do.
WINSTON: You do not.
I'm his son, and I'd
never call him a coward.
CAROLINE: Well, I'm his
daughter, and I would.
WINSTON: Oh, sure.
Sure you're his daughter.
Sure you are.
Winston, I'm tired--
tired of all the suspicion.
I can't help you anymore.
I'm going away.
WINSTON: You can't go.
CAROLINE: Here.
This should tell you
what you want to know.
Please don't go.
CAROLINE: I want you to
take it, open it, burn it.
You decide.
It's yours.
Go on.
Take it.
Take it and go home.
I love you, Winston.
[dog barking]
WINSTON [VOICEOVER]:
Dear Winston.
I must tell you the
truth about myself
to do with as you see fit--
CAROLINE [VOICEOVER]:
--for without the truth,
our friendship will
have meant nothing.
I am not Caroline Carmichael.
My name is Martha Sedgwick.
I returned from India
seven months ago
and accepted duty
at a nursing home
because it mostly kept
me free of people.
That's how I met Mrs. Atkins.
NURSE: Martha, the
new patient in 12A
was moved in from the West Wing.
Her name is Flora Atkins.
Ah.
Uh, had a terrible
[inaudible] with her in-laws,
the Carmichael's.
They are really something.
How is she now?
I finally got
her quieted down.
I'll do the paperwork
on her tomorrow.
See what you can do about
being on time tomorrow.
MARTHA: I'll be early.
[chuckling]
NURSE: That I've got to see.
You're up late, Flora.
What seems to be the trouble?
[music playing]
Are you all right?
FLORA ATKINS: Come here.
[music playing]
Caroline.
I'm Martha.
Come here.
Oh.
[sobbing]
I always knew you'd return
to me in my hour of need.
I'm afraid you've mistaken
me for someone else.
I'm-- I'm Martha Sedgwick.
We won't tell Paul you're
back, not yet anyway.
Paul?
Your father.
My parents are dead.
They were missionaries in India.
I've just returned.
FLORA ATKINS: No, no, no.
No.
Your mother is dead,
not your father.
Oh.
Whatever you say, Flora.
Grandmother.
I must insist you
call me Grandmother.
After all, I've waited
a long time to hear it.
Let me put these by the bed.
FLORA ATKINS: Oh.
What lovely children.
FLORA ATKINS: Oh, I don't
get to see them anymore.
That Grace won't allow it.
Go on.
Look at it.
That's your half sister, Hilary.
Really?
- Her mother calls her Heidi.
- Uh-huh.
FLORA ATKINS: She has
problems, poor dear.
And, Winston, her
brother, he's very bright.
Very handsome.
And very nice.
He's twelve.
M-hm.
Your coming back will
be a big help to them.
They need someone.
Why don't you get
some sleep, Flora?
FLORA ATKINS: Oh,
don't tell Paul.
MARTHA: Don't worry.
I won't.
[music playing]
FLORA ATKINS: And you
remember when this was taken?
It looks like me.
Well, of course it does.
You're just as lovely
as you ever were.
I liked your hair better
it's natural color.
Didn't you like it that way?
Let me see the old
Caroline, the hell-raiser.
I'll get fired.
Oh, fiddlesticks.
You won't need this
job much longer.
Come on.
Step on it.
OK.
MARTHA [VOICEOVER]:
Flora was one
of those indomitable
old ladies who'd spent
a lifetime getting her own way.
At first, I dismissed her
confusion as simply old age.
But I began to see how important
it was to her that someone
help you and Heidi.
FLORA ATKINS: Unless you make
a claim on my estate soon,
the money will go
to the Carmichaels.
And they have enough.
And I don't want my son-in-law's
present wife to have it.
When Paul's gone, she will.
But now that you're
here, she won't.
It belongs to you, Caroline.
It's yours.
Study the scrapbook carefully.
It's your past.
It's a proud past.
[music playing]
MARTHA [VOICEOVER]: I
found myself wondering
if I could carry it off.
The more she talked, the more
I began to think like Caroline.
[music playing]
FLORA ATKINS: When it appears
in the paper, Caroline,
I don't want them to say "death
attributed to heart attack
or cerebral"
something or another.
I want them to say "death
due to old A--G--E" Yeah.
That has a ring
of dignity to it.
Those children need you.
Their mother indulges them.
Their father takes no interest.
[sigh]
Consider the inheritance
came in an advance.
Go do it, Martha girl.
Go do it.
Don't let anything stop you.
Do it for me, Martha.
Do it for me.
I will, Grandmother.
[kiss]
I promise.
MARTHA [VOICEOVER]: I tried
to keep that promise, Winston.
I did the best I could.
Someday you may tell--
[paper ripping]
HEIDI: No.
No.
No!
[heidi sobbing]
No.
[heidi sobbing]
What's wrong with you?
[sobbing]
They can hear your
crying in Cleveland.
What's the matter, Heidi?
[sniffling]
HEIDI: Look at what
they did to me.
I hate being a baby.
And Mommy wants me
to be a baby forever.
Help me, Winston.
[sniffling]
Take me to Caroline.
[sniffling]
[dog barking]
Thanks for the ride, Sir.
That's $12.60.
But I appreciate the thanks.
I'd be happy to sign for it.
Cash, kid.
That's how the system works.
But I never have any money.
I always sign for things.
TAXI DRIVER: $12.60,
or I'll take you back
and get it from your parents.
Except then, it'll be $25.
You keep my sister, and I'll
go upstairs and get the money.
TAXI DRIVER: What do I do with
her if you don't come back?
Just kidding, kid.
Go on.
MARTHA: There you go.
TAXI DRIVER: Thank you, Ma'am.
[inaudible]
MARTHA: Heidi, what happened?
[sobbing]
- We need your help, Martha.
We need you.
[sobbing]
Let's go inside.
It's all right.
Just tell me what you want.
I want to be normal.
I want to be like
other kids, please.
You can't be normal, Heidi.
If I've given you that
hope, then forgive me.
What Caroline means Heidi is--
What Caroline means is that
she wants you to be yourself.
We can't pretend you're
not handicapped, Heidi.
That would be lying.
I won't lie.
Good.
But if you want to
become Hillary--
if you want to work
very hard, then
maybe, just maybe you can
be that special person
you have inside you.
But how?
You have to learn.
You have to become independent,
and useful, and grown-up.
But it's going to be scary.
You have to tell me you
want this no matter what.
No matter what
anyone says or does,
you have to stick with it.
Do you understand?
I will.
I want to.
I don't want to
be a baby anymore.
Then I'll stay and help you.
I'll go back to your parents.
I'll keep going back.
It's not that they
don't love you, Hilary.
They do.
They just don't want
to see you fail.
But we won't fail, will we?
We'll do it together.
I promise.
$12.60.
That's about all you
were worth in those days.
Well, maybe $13 since you became
head of Caroline's school.
HEIDI: Caroline made us
all grow up, didn't she?
Even Father.
WINSTON: Do you think he
ever questioned who she was?
I think he wanted
his daughter back.
Did you ever talk
to Mother about this?
HEIDI: No.
Part of the war zone, I guess.
I know she loved me, meant well.
But, um, part of me can't ever
forgive her for being ashamed.
She's proud of me now,
proud of both of us.
I want you to see
something down the hall.
[music playing]
That's very good.
[children chatting]
HEIDI: Look at this.
Do you know what they're doing?
The children are going to
put on a little performance
as a memorial.
Caroline would've loved it.
KEVIN: Look at me, Mrs. Hilary.
[gasp]
HEIDI: Oh.
KEVIN: Look what I did.
What?
KEVIN: I made me.
[music playing]
HEIDI: Oh, that's
wonderful, Kevin.
Oh.
Mrs. Caroline would
be so proud of you.
I'm so proud of your, too.
Out of my reach, yes.
[beep]
[music playing]
[children chatting]
MARTHA [VOICEOVER]: But if
you want to become Hilary--
if you want to work
really hard, then maybe--
just maybe you can be
that special person
you have inside you.
[music playing]