Children of a Lesser God (1986) Movie Script

This is the most amazing

resume I've ever seen.

I've been with some really

good schools. The best.

All of them. All of the best.

One right after another.

And you've also been with the

Lucky Erin Bar and Grill.

Pittsburgh. Bartender.

And a disc jockey.

In Oklahoma.

I used to broadcast

in sign language.

You've been all over the map.

I've got a lot of energy.

I'm sure you do have a lot of

energy and a lot of new ideas.

I did, too, when...

But nobody's trying to change

the world around here.

Just trying to help

a few deaf kids

get along a little

better, that's all.

Everything else is razzle-dazzle.

Am I, am I making myself clear?

Yes, I believe that you are.

Are we being punished?

Hi.

I'm James Leeds, and...

my signing is rusty,

so how many of you can read lips?

No one? Ok. Class dismissed.

No, no, no. No, no, no.

Just testing. Sit down.

Lydia and Tony, good lip readers.

Would you mind closing

your notebook?

Thank you.

Now, give me one good reason

why we should learn

to speak. Tony.

To pick up hearing girls.

Ok. Let's work on this.

All right. Now, here.

You.

Ok. Here are two

beautiful hearing girls.

You two guys want to pick them up.

What is the first thing

you want to say, Danny?

Are you rich?

Are you r-i-i-ch? Say it.

Rich.

Good. Lydia.

I'm very rich.

Good. Tony.

Let's go somewhere and do it.

No, thank you.

Let's go somewhere and do it.

I would rather do it with her.

Cute. How about you guys?

You want to join us?

They don't talk.

Fair enough.

Ok. Reasons to talk. Right.

If your hands are occupied.

For example, some

guy owes you money.

He comes by, but you just

happen to be in a handstand.

How will you tell him

to give you your money?

You can't use your hands.

You've got to speak.

Give me my money, you bum.

Call me names, will you?

I don't have to stand

here and take that.

You want to fight, huh?

Ok. Put up your feet

and fight like a man.

See?

Take your pots...

and your lousy food

and shove them...

Doesn't mince words, does she?

Mr Leeds.

Oh, Leeds.

Leeds.

Join us.

Sure. Ok.

Sorry.

Good thing you're out

of my classroom.

Sit down, James.

Mary Lee Ochs, Assistant

Superintendent.

Orin Dennis, maths

and social studies.

James Leeds.

Leeds. Hi.

Did I hear Miss Ochs say you

were one of her students?

Yes. I started here at 5.

Really? Wow, that's

great. I'm impressed.

For still being here?

Not what I meant.

See you all later.

Bye.

Who is that?

That's Sarah.

Never mind her.

She's a pain in the ass.

But who is she? What does she do?

She works here.

Orin, I've got an idea.

How about the kids making pot

holders for parents' day?

They don't sell. We've got

hundreds left from last year.

We do? Oh.

Sarah came here at 5,

too. We grew up together.

Is she a teacher, too?

She was one of our

brightest students.

Would you give me

some of the water?

Thank you.

Leeds, you're a genius.

You will work.

Ooh.

Yeah.

Mr Bach.

Hear that...

cat?

Ooh.

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

Again. Faster.

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

One more time, faster.

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

Great. Right.

That is great. Brilliant.

My Lydia.

Come here, Lydia.

Ok. Put your hands on

the speaker. Come on.

Feel that?

Good.

Feel it.

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn, turn around now ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

Use your voice.

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

Yeah.

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ My heart can feel ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Close enough to steal ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Don't slip by, now ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Don't you know that I'll

be coming back to find ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ You know a boy can

change direction ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Giving you love and affection ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Being sweeter ♪

♪ Sweeter ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn, turn around now ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh, your love can turn around ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh, my love is gonna catch ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ It's coming back to get ya ♪

♪ It's good that I met ya ♪

♪ Not giving up ♪

♪ Because now I'm

gonna try to get ya ♪

♪ You know a boy can

change direction ♪

♪ Bringing you love

and protection ♪

♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪

A drip.

Oh. What a drip.

No. No. No. No.

That's not what I meant.

I just wanted to introduce myself.

I'm James Leeds. It's

Sarah, isn't it?

Would you like to sit down?

Right here.

Ok. We'll both stand up.

Oh, I see.

Very good. You got me there.

Could you look at me, please?

If you don't look

at me, I can't...

So, Dr Franklin tells me

that you've been here

since you were 5.

When did you graduate?

And, now, now, now you work here?

Are you reading my lips?

I don't think that you

are reading my lips.

Gee, that was quick

of me, wasn't it?

You could've told me.

Why? I don't know.

How about common courtesy?

How about me getting out of

here so you can mop the floor?

Man...

you know, if you let me,

I bet I could teach

you how to speak.

And you could teach me...

But I don't want to mop the floor.

Gee, that was quick.

And you don't want to speak.

Brilliant.

Schmuck.

It's a damn shame.

Costly, too.

Resodding is damn costly.

No. I'm talking

about Sarah Norman.

Right. Sarah. Look

at this, will you?

What a mess.

Has she ever tried speaking?

Sarah's not hard of hearing.

She's totally deaf. Born that way.

That makes it tough.

The rain's lousing up the fields.

It's a shame that a bright woman

is stuck here cleaning toilets.

Doesn't bother her.

Oh, no?

Look, hotshot, not everyone

wants to be a star.

Sarah is content.

She had a rotten childhood.

She was diagnosed as

retarded until she was 7.

We let her know how smart she was.

For what?

She's productive. Pays taxes.

Oh, brother.

All right. You want to try?

I'll talk to her.

Huh?

I'll talk to her.

Look at this. Will

you look at this?

Damn.

It's going to cost $2,000

or $3,000 at least.

Oh, brother.

S-S-Sat.

Sat.

All right.

That's good.

You have to work on s's, though.

Ok? Go. Out.

James, Sarah has agreed

to give you an hour.

She's really looking

forward to it.

You're really looking

forward to it, aren't you?

What did I tell you?

Well, have fun, Jim...

as usual.

Well, Sarah...

yeah. I do mind, actually.

Fire laws and all that,

but you go right ahead.

Listen...

how would you like to

fake out Franklin,

make me look real good?

I'm sorry. I didn't get that.

If...

I...

don't...

sign... faster...

the hour will be over

before I finish my opening speech.

No. I'm all out of jokes.

Good.

I'm not funny.

Oh, yeah?

If you could hear, you'd

think I was a scream.

You're deaf? Well, I'll

try to remember that.

I'll forget? No, I won't.

Listen, why don't we get

this thing started here?

Well, thank you for stopping by.

The pleasure was mine.

God.

My mama.

Your mama.

Great. Go.

Glen, who's your favourite person?

Twisted Sister?

It's the name of the rock group.

Oh. Oh.

Try saying that.

Twisted Sister.

Glen, it takes courage.

I know.

Just give me one sound.

One. T.

T.

Try.

T.

Tweeh...

That's great.

Yeah. Out of here.

Go.

Great.

Johnny?

Who's your favourite person?

Princess Di?

Benji?

No.

Terminator?

Hey.

Hey, you want to play

stand up, sit down again?

Whoa, careful, you almost smiled.

Ah, that's a girl.

That's the Sarah Norman

we all know and love.

If my jokes are terrible

and my signing is boring,

what are you doing here?

There's a whole empty beach.

Unbelievable.

I tried to call your mother.

Hey. Hold it.

Wait. Wait.

I can't...

I didn't even talk to her.

Ok?

I mean, can we stop this?

I mean, why can't we...

I mean, why can't we just...

why don't we...

go out and have some

dinner tonight?

Huh? Just give me a yes or a no.

Yes?

Good.

I think.

Ok.

I will meet you behind...

the girls' dormitory, 8:00.

I will whisper your name.

Hey.

I know that sign.

That's the first

sign I ever learned.

It's in Italian.

Can I suggest something?

Will you give me a break?

My Italian is worse

than my signing.

The veal piccata is very good.

Look. I'm sorry.

V-E-A-L P-I-C-C-A-T-A.

I mean, you see, by the time I

finish, they may be out of it.

It's veal. It's sauteed

in lemon and butter.

What's veal?

God. What the hell is veal?

Good evening.

Something to drink this evening?

You want something

to drink, Sarah?

Our house wine is very nice.

You want some wine?

Yeah. It's ok.

White wine.

We'll take a carafe, please.

He doesn't think you're stupid.

He thinks you're deaf.

No. Only stupid hearing people

think that deaf people are stupid.

Do you really like being

a cleaning woman?

Why?

Yeah. I mean, there are other jobs

where a person can

work alone in silence.

Not with toilet bowl cleaner?

You should have told me

that was the attraction.

You are smart as hell, you know?

You want to dance?

Can you feel it?

Vibrations, through your nose.

♪ Ain't nobody worried ♪

♪ Ain't no smiling faces ♪

I'm not good at this.

And you are. Great.

♪ Lying to the races ♪

♪ Help me ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Somebody help me, now ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Help me, you all ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Help me, now ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Oh, ooh ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Mercy ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Let me take you there ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Let me ♪

♪ Take you there ♪

♪ Play it, Larry ♪

♪ Play your ♪

♪ Play your piano, now ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Do it ♪

♪ Come on, now ♪

♪ Play on it ♪

♪ Daddy, now ♪

♪ Daddy, Daddy, Daddy ♪

♪ Mmm ♪

♪ Ooh, Lord ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ Now ♪

♪ Oh, I ♪

♪ I know a place, you all ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Ain't nobody worried, you all ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Mercy, now ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ I'm calling ♪

♪ Calling, calling for mercy ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ Mercy, mercy ♪

♪ I'll take you there ♪

♪ I've been ♪

♪ Loving you ♪

♪ Too long ♪

♪ To stop now ♪

♪ You were tied ♪

♪ And you want to be free ♪

♪ My love is going strong, girl ♪

♪ As you become a habit to me ♪

♪ Ooh, I'm loving you ♪

♪ A little too long ♪

I don't know why I

became a speech teacher.

Ok? Let's dance.

It's too hard to dance and talk.

♪ With you, my life ♪

Well, maybe I like

to hear myself talk.

♪ Has been so wonderful ♪

♪ Can't stop now ♪

I am a really good

teacher, though.

You...

You should let me help you.

What is that?

Lydia does not talk like that.

Don't you want to be able

to get along in the world?

No one wants my help?

That's your opinion.

That's fine.

You don't do anything

you can't do well?

♪ I don't want to stop now ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ I've been loving you ♪

♪ A little too long ♪

♪ I don't want to stop ♪

Well, I would like

to walk with you.

It's...

my pleasure.

Mrs Norman? I'm James Leeds.

I didn't call again...

because I would've hung up again.

It's 60 miles here and back.

Please, just five minutes.

I just got home from work.

This is my time to relax.

Discussing Sarah is

hardly relaxing.

Five minutes.

Well.

Well. Let's see.

You haven't seen Sarah

in eight years?

Let's get this straight.

Sarah doesn't want to see me.

Has she said why?

We don't communicate very well.

Did you ever learn to sign?

Some of the parents...

I'm really sick of you people

coming here every few years

asking the same questions,

blaming me.

God. No one's blaming you.

Of course they are. They

can't blame themselves.

So, it's all my fault.

Fine. I don't give

a damn any more.

I really just came

to ask one question.

What happened when

Sarah tried to speak?

What happened?

She looked awful.

She sounded awful.

People made fun of her.

What do you think?

Who made fun of her?

Other kids.

Her sister's friends.

Then she stopped trying to talk.

She's very pretty, you know.

Her sister Ruth had a bunch

of boys hanging around,

and they started asking Sarah out

when she came home on weekends.

It was wonderful for her.

The boys really liked her.

They treated her just like they

treated Ruth, with respect.

If you didn't know

there was a problem,

you would've thought

she's perfectly normal.

Hi.

It's true. I'm early today.

No. Don't go.

I wanted to talk to you, anyway.

No. I want to hel...

work with you.

I understand that you're scared.

I understand nothing.

Sarah. Come back here.

Sarah.

Yelling at the back

of a deaf person.

Very good, James.

He's been at all the best schools.

Why did you stop going home?

Did your sister's friends,

those boys that you

were going out with,

did they have anything

to do with it?

Yes. I talked to your mother.

Please, let me help you, damn it.

How?

By showing you the joys of

sex with a hearing man?

I think that's one

language you don't speak.

Yeah, ok. I'm so...

Come on. I can take it.

You have more than enough

communication skills.

I don't. They never did?

Ok.

Hey.

Who is they?

Hearing boys?

They could never be bothered

to learn my language.

I was always expected

to learn to speak.

Well, I don't speak.

Sex was always something I could

do as well as hearing girls.

Better.

At first, I let them have

me because they wanted to.

Before long, the

boys were lined up

on a waiting list my

sister kept for me.

No introduction, no talk.

Just went to a dark place and...

They didn't even take me

out for a coke first.

That's not what I wanted

to know about you.

I thought I was such a big deal...

coming on to the deaf girl,

giving her a thrill.

No, Sarah.

All the time, you

were laughing at me.

I was thinking, poor

little deaf virgin

who spread her legs for every...

You think that I'm

threatened by that?

You think that I

give a good goddamn

that you fucked every

pimply-faced teenager?

I don't. I don't give a shit.

Whoo.

Sarah, please listen to me.

I'm not going away.

I did the wrong thing.

I'm sorry. I...

I don't know what to say.

Tell me what to say.

Sarah...

you are the most mysterious,

beautiful, angry person

I have ever met.

I am falling in lo...

Sarah...

I am falling...

into the pool with you.

God. What a fellow

has to go through.

♪ My love will get ya ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ba-boom ♪

How are things going, Jim?

Great. Just great.

Good. Good. Glad to hear it.

We've got to have

you to the house.

I'd like that.

I warn you, though...

I'm a poker player.

So I've heard.

Are you a card player?

No, not really.

Tic-tac-toe's my game.

So much the better, huh?

Well...

Thanks for coming in, Jim.

We're really happy

to have you with us.

Thank you.

Huh.

Oh...

your size?

Yeah.

Be careful, Jimbo.

Right.

Don't fight it.

Relax.

Daphne.

You're leading again.

Sorry.

I got a funny sensation

in my toes...

like someone was barbecuing

them over a slow flame.

Let's throw another

log on the fire.

Ole.

Ow. Ow, ow, ow.

You are...

the...

nicest person...

I've...

ever met.

Who, me?

I'm the nicest person

you've ever met?

That's the craziest thing

that I ever heard.

You thought after

what you told me...

that you'd never see me again?

Here I am.

Yeah, I was in love, but...

she broke my heart.

Oh. Yeah, I know.

Please don't break my heart.

Did anyone ever break yours?

You don't hurt from other people?

You never hurt from other people?

That's not true.

Sarah, I know people

have hurt you.

I know.

Suppose you admitted

that you hurt.

I'd...

shrivel up and...

I'll take care of you, Sarah.

I'll take care of you.

What do you mean,

that was my foul?

You moved into me.

You want to call me

an asshole, say it.

No. Say it out loud.

Watch my lips.

Asshole.

Ah-hole.

Ass...

hole.

Ass-hole.

Great.

Asshole.

Good. It was still your foul.

Asshole.

Did you know that waves

strike the average beach

about 750,000 times a day?

What...

That's true.

I just made it up.

You do?

What do waves sound like?

Whoo.

That is what they sound like.

How did you get to be so

brilliant and beautiful?

And pigheaded.

You're the most stubborn person.

Yeah, you.

You're not stubborn? Ok.

Hi, beautiful.

What am I saying?

Wait.

Sarah, that was a joke.

It wasn't funny.

Ok., I won't do it again.

I promise.

Sarah...

I promise.

Come on.

Mr Harrison. How are you?

Couldn't be better, Curtis.

Ah-ha.

Jim Harrison.

He donated the chemistry lab.

Your boy Glen is coming along.

He's a fine lad.

Has he changed that

idiotic haircut?

No. I like to give the

kids a lot of leeway.

Asshole. Shit for brains.

Look at those shingles.

Guess they'll all

have to be replaced.

Thank you, Mr Jones' class for

your informative demonstration

of the importance of

the four food groups.

And now, Mr Leeds' 11th grade

speech and language class

has a special treat for us.

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn, turn around now ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn around ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ My heart can feel ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Close enough to steal ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Don't slip by, now ♪

♪ Don't you know that I'll

be coming back to find ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ You know a boy can

change direction ♪

♪ Bringing you love

and affection ♪

♪ Baby, baby ♪

♪ Ooh, and it's sweeter, sweeter ♪

♪ Sweeter, sweeter ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn, turn around now ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh, love can turn around ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ My love didn't catch ya ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ But it's coming back at ya ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

Glen is singing.

It's really a stupid song,

but he's actually singing.

He's wonderful.

♪ Love and protection ♪

♪ Baby, baby ♪

♪ Ooh, and it's sweeter, sweeter ♪

♪ Sweeter, sweeter ♪

♪ Like a boomerang ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love is such a strange thing ♪

♪ You know it tries

to shoot you down ♪

♪ You know it tries

to shoot you down ♪

♪ Throw it out a window ♪

♪ And it comes right back ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Baby, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Don't you know

that I'll find you ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh, love can

turn around, yeah ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can change your

life in a minute ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love will lock

your life up in it ♪

♪ Boomerang ♪

♪ Boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Ooh, baby, love

can turn around ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn around ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Your life right now ♪

♪ Like a boomerang, baby ♪

I'm very impressed.

Anything that works, Edward.

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Coming at you, baby ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪

♪ Love can turn around on you ♪

♪ Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang ♪.

Where did they leave it?

In here.

Where in here?

What did they do?

Just a cut, huh?

It's five stitches, huh?

You stupid son of...

She could have seriously hurt

herself, in front of a parent.

Do you realised it's going to

stop. It's going to stop now.

What is this about,

what made her upset.

You've got no right

to mess her up.

- I'll make sure you don't do it.

- She is not messed up.

I'm not discussing this, James.

Nobody's going to fuck

with one of my students.

She's no student. She's

a 25-year-old woman.

Nobody's going to fuck

with one of my employees.

- It's going to stop.

- She's quitting her job.

- She's what?

- She's quitting her job.

She's moving in with me.

Oh.

Oh, I see.

She's going to be

your maid now, huh?

Jesus Christ, Franklin.

James, James...

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. That wasn't fair.

That wasn't fair to Sarah, either.

I've seen this kind

of thing before.

It just doesn't work.

This isn't this kind of thing.

This is us. This is Sarah and me.

I love her.

Sure, the kids made me happy.

Is that against the law?

I don't hate you for not

learning how to speak.

Sarah...

Sarah, I...

love you.

I need you.

Where are your suitcases?

Aha.

It's your suitcase.

You are moving in with me today.

Here.

I'm packing your clothes.

You'll need some clothes.

Now, it's your turn.

Screw your job. I got mine.

You can do whatever you want.

Sarah...

what do you want?

Me.

You got me.

What else?

Children.

You want...

deaf children?

What do you want me to say,

that I want deaf children?

No, I don't.

But if they were,

that would be fine.

Ah.

Could you get me some more, too?

I don't think she heard me.

Mr Leeds.

I don't think you're

an asshole any more.

No?

No. I think you're a...

dick-brain.

Dick-brain?

That's fantastic. I

got it right away.

Yeah, dick-brain.

Really excellent.

Good work.

Choo, choo, choo, choo.

Machine, freeze.

Favourite candy, Tony.

Chunky.

Good. Go.

Choo, choo, choo, choo.

Freeze.

Favourite animal, Lydia.

Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Fine actor, fine actor.

Go.

Choo, choo, choo, choo.

Freeze.

Favourite football player...

Ooh.

Johnny.

Thank you, Johnny.

And favourite football

hero, Cheryl.

Billy "White Shoes" Johnson.

Great choice. Go.

Choo, choo, choo, choo.

You ready?

No, Franklin will not

expect you to speak.

My God, you look so gorgeous.

I'll get it.

This is great. I

cannot believe this...

James.

And Sarah.

Oh, come in. Come in, please.

Oh, Martha, Sarah's here, too.

You've taught her to play poker?

Not me.

She learned it out of a book.

Well, about that time.

Sarah knows how to play poker?

It's good to see you again.

You look...

Here.

Sit next to me.

No, no, no. No couples together.

Let's break it up.

Come on, break it up.

Sarah...

no cheating.

Don't start, Curtis.

I've seen deaf people

cheat like bandits.

Come on.

Oh, yes.

Those little signs

that no one will see.

Very funny, Franklin.

Don't pay attention to him.

With Jim, of course.

Together, you can clean up.

Jim won't cheat. He's not deaf.

That's very good.

Very good, Sarah. Very good.

High card deals.

9. 10.

You're high. You deal.

Nickel, dime, and quarter.

All of them?

Yes. Ante up, everybody.

Out of a book, huh?

Five card draw.

One-eyed jacks wild.

One-eyed jacks wild?

One-eyed jacks.

Ok.

You're doing great with her, Jim.

Yeah, what a change.

Pretty impressive, James.

What about the poor

guys that lost?

Want these here or in the kitchen?

No, I'll clean up.

It's no bother. It's fine.

I can't believe how

well she played.

There goes my mad money.

Great.

James...

where can I get a

copy of that book?

You are smart.

She bluffed me.

I folded with three of a kind.

Did you teach her that?

Quite a coup, James.

A lesson for us all.

Oh, God.

God, I can't ever

get close enough.

Say my name.

Just once, say my name.

I'm sorry.

I need it... I'm...

I know I promised.

I'm sorry. I forgot. I...

I'm not lying.

I don't want you to speak.

It just came out.

Please, it just...

I'm sorry.

Hike.

No. No.

I don't care. They

killed my brother.

Don't kill him. Don't shoot.

They'll shoot you, too.

Get out of my way.

Shoot please. Do it for me.

Can we have some soda?

Yes.

The phone is ringing.

What?

The phone is ringing.

What phone?

The phone you can't hear

because it's so noisy.

Turn that damn thing down.

Good grief. What am I saying?

The phone is ringing.

The TV is blasting.

The kettle...

If someone would just fire a

bazooka through the window.

Can you hold on?

That would be great.

Water's boiling.

Hello.

What?

Ask him to hang on for a second.

It's for you.

It's one of the dorm counsellors.

He's translating a

call from a deaf man.

It's Orin.

Lydia, Danny. For God's sake...

It's over. Bye.

Thank God for small favours.

Ok. You still there?

Great. You both ready?

We're both ready.

This is Sarah speaking to Orin.

Hi.

Why are you calling?

I'm having a small dinner party.

I want you to come, please.

How about me, please?

Don't translate that to Orin.

Please.

No, I'm not saying please.

Wait a minute.

That was Orin saying please.

Look, it's my fault.

I probably sounded like myself

instead of like the dorm

counsellor sounding like Orin.

He wants you to come

to a party for...

Marian Loesser.

Please.

Great.

She is dying to see you.

Bring James.

Friday at 7:00.

Ok. Fine.

We'll be there.

Yeah. Thank you.

My God.

Either I just went deaf,

or it is suddenly quiet in here.

I do not make

everything into a joke.

I possibly obscure...

How the hell would

you sign obscure?

Obscure.

I'm going to rest my

hands and my eyes

and listen to 20 minutes of Bach.

You know...

I haven't turned on

my hi-fi since you...

Hold it.

That sounds like...

like I'm blaming you for me not

listening to music.

Thank you.

I will. I'll rest my hands...

and listen to something beautiful.

I can't enjoy it.

I can't, because you can't.

Show you the music?

Let's see...

I can't.

Don't be sad for you.

All right, I won't.

What should you wear to the party?

I don't know.

Have I ever heard of who?

Oh, Marian. She's the

lady the party's for?

No. Should I have?

She's very famous in

the deaf community.

Nice catch.

She has two PhD's, and

she doesn't speak.

Take a look at these.

Hungry?

I can't communicate with someone

when my mind is busy

amusing itself.

You're right. I'm sorry.

What do you hear?

I mean, is it just silence?

No one has ever gotten

in there to find out?

Will you ever let me in?

She's something, isn't she?

Is she a lawyer or something?

An economist in Washington.

A real maths whiz.

How thrilling.

Yeah. It is.

I just feel like

everyone is talking

in some far northern Hungarian

dialect over there.

I know the feeling.

Just because I wanted to leave,

doesn't mean you wanted to leave.

All right.

Sarah, what the hell is

wrong with you tonight?

I'll wait.

Sure. Marian's great.

So what?

She has everything.

Education. Great job. Money.

Well, I'll tell you one

thing that she has not got.

Me.

Oh, we're not talking

about me for once.

That's true.

Hey...

Let's crawl under the

covers, sweetheart,

and pretend we're in some...

romantic, distant place.

We're not. We're here.

Right. Ok.

Let's deal with it.

What is making you so miserable?

Oh...

Let's go to sleep?

No.

You can't start a bonfire

and then say night-night.

And you can't start a bonfire

and then run away, either.

Oh, you can do anything you want?

Yeah, like what?

Nothing. I can do nothing.

I'm equipped for nothing

and trained for nothing.

You feel like an idiot.

I treat you like an idiot?

I pity you?

Wait a second.

And now you see Marian...

What about Marian?

Let you be you?

I don't?

I want you to be a deaf person

so I can change you

into a hearing person?

I don't want to help anybody.

I just want to change

and control...

Good night.

No...

you think that I

want you to speak.

And you just want to be you?

Well, who the hell are you?

Right.

What?

God, you want to make love now?

Fuck you, lady.

Oh, that's what you want.

You understood that.

That didn't help much.

Oh, it helped you?

Great.

That's really wonderful.

Makes me happy.

What a night.

I think that helped.

Yeah? What have you just decided?

No one's ever going to

speak for you again?

Come on.

How are you going to manage?

Everyone's always told me

who I am, and I let them.

She wants, she thinks.

And most of the time

they were wrong.

They had no idea what I

said, wanted, thought.

And now they won't.

Well, that's all right.

I'll buy that.

No, I won't. How could I?

Because I love you.

Love has nothing to do with it?

That's wonderful.

Then what the hell

have we been doing?

Watch your hands?

It's hard to avoid them.

This sign...

to connect...

simple.

But it means so much

more when I do this.

Now it means...

to be joined in a relationship.

Separate, but one.

That's what I want.

But you think for me,

think for Sarah.

As though there were no I.

She will be with me, quit her

job, learn how to play poker,

leave Orin's party,

learn how to speak.

That's all you, not me.

Until you let me be an

I, the way you are,

you can never come inside

my silence and know me.

And I won't let myself know you.

Until that time...

we can't be like this...

joined.

Well, that's all very moving.

But...

how are you going to manage?

You can lock yourself back in

your precious silent castle...

I heard.

I heard every word, goddamn it.

I translated for myself.

It went from your hands into

my brain and out my mouth.

And you know what?

I think you're lying.

I don't think that you think

being deaf is so

goddamn wonderful.

I think that you're

scared to death to try.

I think it's nothing

but stupid pride

that's keeping you

from speaking right.

You want to be on your own.

You don't want to be pitied.

Then you learn to read my lips

and use your mouth for something

besides showing me you're better

than hearing girls in bed.

Read my lips.

What am I saying?

What am...

You want to talk to me,

then you learn my language.

Did you understand that?

You've probably been

reading lips for years.

But that's the great

control game, isn't it?

I'm the controller?

What a fucking joke.

Now, come on.

Speak to me.

Speak.

Speak to me.

Aah.

See my mouth?

Aah.

Hear my voice?

Aah.

I'm not afraid.

Hot chocolate.

Your favourite.

Have you...

come...

home to stay?

Of course you can.

As long as you like.

You need a job,

but there's nothing.

I'll help.

I never helped.

Don't...

hurt me now.

The last time, you...

we...

sent you away because...

I didn't know...

how to...

take care of you.

Your father...

couldn't accept you.

He felt...

he'd failed.

You're right.

I hated you...

for...

driving him away.

Please...

forgive me.

Telephone.

What should I say?

Hello.

No...

I'm sorry, James. No, she's not.

All right.

I'll call you if I see her.

Favourite books.

Good.

Do you have any

favourite books, Glen?

Yeah.

Skull?

I'll put that on my

summer reading list.

I have to see her.

I know she doesn't want to see me.

She's made that very clear.

But I have to see her.

She'll let you know when

she wants to see you.

She's working now.

She's saving her money.

She wants to go to college.

That's fine.

That's wonderful.

I've looked all over, Mrs Norman.

Please.

Spring cleaning.

How was your day?

Are you ok?

No.

You're not fine.

You're lonely.

He was here.

He misses you.

You don't know what to do.

I think maybe you do.

♪ Hold me ♪

♪ I'll give you all

that you need ♪

♪ Wrap your love around me ♪

♪ You're so exciting ♪

♪ I can feel you getting hotter ♪

♪ Oh, baby ♪

♪ I'll take you down ♪

♪ Where no one's

ever gone before ♪

♪ And if you want more ♪

♪ If you want more ♪

♪ More ♪

♪ Better jump ♪

♪ For my love ♪

♪ Jump in ♪

♪ And feel my touch ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ If you want to taste my kisses ♪

♪ In the night, then ♪

♪ Jump for my love ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ I know my heart can

make you happy ♪

♪ Jump in ♪

♪ You know these arms

can fill you up ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ If you want to taste my kisses ♪

♪ In the night, then ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ For my love ♪

♪ You told me ♪

♪ I'm the only woman for you ♪

Have a good summer, William.

Language skills can be dangerous.

Use a little common sense, ok?

I will, Mr Leeds.

So long, William.

So long, Fuckface.

♪ Better jump ♪

♪ For my love ♪

♪ Jump in ♪

♪ And feel my touch ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ If you want to taste my kisses ♪

♪ In the night, then ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ For my love, jump ♪

♪ I know my heart can

make you happy ♪

♪ Jump in ♪

♪ You know these arms

can fill you up ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ If you want to taste my kisses ♪

♪ In the night, then ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ Jump, jump ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah ♪

♪ You know my heart

can make you happy ♪

♪ You know these arms

can fill you up ♪

♪ Jump in ♪

♪ If you want to taste my kisses ♪

♪ In the night, dear ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ Jump for my love ♪

♪ Ooh-hoo ♪

♪ Come on and jump on in ♪

♪ Jump ♪

♪ You know I need you ♪

You look beautiful.

You wanted to see me.

It was a shock,

seeing you in there.

I didn't know what to do.

You were scared, too.

I hear that Boomerang song.

♪ Ooh, my love can't catch ya ♪

You've been angry since

you were a little girl.

You didn't want to hurt again,

so you used your anger...

to push me away.

You're sorry.

I'm sorry...

for hurting you.

But you learned from me.

You learned that you can hurt...

and you won't shrivel

up and blow away.

I don't want to be

without you, either.

Do you think...

that we could find a place...

where we can meet...

not in silence...

and not in sound?

Children of a Lesser God (1986) - full transcript

Extract Subtitles From Media