Dad (1989) - full transcript

Jake, honey,
it's time to get up.

Good morning.

Good morning, Bette.

It'salittle chilly. I'll
put out a sweater.

Get dressed now. I want
to be there when they open.

Okay.

I already put sugar
in. One's enough.

Here's your napkin.

You want that buttered?

There you go.

Watch your step, boys.
The inspector's here.



Good morning, Mrs. Tremont.

Good morning, Mr. Korman.

- Mr. Tremont.
- Hello.

Dodgers did okay
last night, huh?

- Oh, yeah.
- Yes, siree.

What can I do for
you, Mrs. Tremont?

It says, "pork chops on sale."

Yes, indeed. Just follow
me right over here...

All of these and
this row right here...

On sale as advertised.

What about these
pork chops here?

No, those are not
the ones on sale.

The ad just says "pork
chops," Mr. Korman.

It doesn't have their
pictures or ID numbers.



It just says, "pork chops."

What is it you
want, Mrs. Tremont?

I want these pork
chops at those prices.

You got it.

Jake...

Jake?

Uh...

Sorry to drop this on
you, John, first thing,

but I have one personnel
problem you should know about.

This kid we're trying to hire

still can't make up his mind
between US and Goldman.

I know you hate this, but
I think you have to step in

- and use your magic touch.
- Oh, no. Is he that good?

I can't stand this
recruiting stuff.

All these kids out
of business school

think they're worth a hundred
grand after one week on the job.

I hate their attitudes.
When I was that age,

I had to walk a mile in
the snow for a stock tip.

This kid's different,
John. He's special.

And I think you'd find that out if
you spent a little time with him.

Arrange it with Kathy for
sometime later this week.

I know I'm booked
for the next few days.

The vale prospectus
is shaping up well.

But management is
resisting our suggestions

that we provide data
that would help investors

understand why the
company is so profitable.

They're afraid of giving too much
information to their competitors.

I don't know why we're
dealing with this vale guy.

He's a shady character. We're
risking the reputation of the firm.

We turn him down on this, we'll
never get his business again.

There's a huge fee involved and the
banking division needs the business.

I'm already worrying
about my bonus this year.

Mark that down. That's
the earliest worrying

about a bonus ever recorded.

Yeah?

It's your sister, Mr. Tremont.

She says it's important.
She has to talk to you now.

Hi, Annie. How are ya?
I'm in a meeting. What's up?

John, it's about mom.
She's had a heart attack.

She's okay, but it's pretty
serious. Can you come out?

Hey.

- How was your flight?
- All right.

The guy sitting next to me
wouldn't leave me alone.

Once they hear you're
on wall street, forget it.

"What about this stock?" "What
about that stock?" "What about bonds?"

Yeah, I know.

You ever heard of a
stock called chrometex?

- Mario...
- I'm serious.

A guy in the math
department told me about it.

They make heat sensors
for cryogenic capsules.

It's gonna be bigger
than the telephone.

- No, it's not.
- It's not?

No.

So how's Annie?
How's she holding up?

Good. She's at
home with your father.

We can go there first or
the hospital. Whatever.

- Let's go to the hospital.
- That's what I figured.

How's dad?

To be honest, Johnny,
he's a little shook up.

That's why Annie's there. She
didn't want to leave him alone.

What's going on with
mom? How serious is this?

Hard to tell with her.
You know your mother.

She won't admit she's
actually had a heart attack.

She's lying there,
going into cardiac arrest.

She's claiming it's indigestion.

- She's blaming me.
- What do you mean?

She said it was the
sausages I made for dinner.

She claims I was
trying to kill her.

Are you?

No jury would convict
me, John, believe me.

I believe you.

I must really be
sick if you're here.

See, mom, that's
why you're the best.

Not many people would have
gone for guilt in your situation.

How are you
feeling? In any pain?

I'm staying alive by
willpower, she'll tell you.

I have the willpower of
a woman half my age.

You underestimate yourself.

Did you see your father yet?

No, I came straight
from the airport.

When you see him, don't say
anything to him about the heart attack.

Tell him something went
wrong with my insides.

Okay?

Mom...

Listen to me.

Just tell him it's
something with my insides.

He'll understand that because
I had the hysterectomy.

Okay.

There's food in the
freezer. It's all marked.

If you have to go out, go
to McDonald's or Wendy's.

Some place simple.

Mom, I don't think you should
be worrying about dad right now.

I think you should be
worrying about yourself.

You had a heart attack.

I'm not so sure I
had a heart attack.

It felt more like
gas pains to me.

Mom, for gas pains
they give you tums.

They don't hook you up to
$20 million worth of machines.

Did you see the doctor
who was taking care of me?

Because I don't think
he was a real doctor.

He was wearing tight pants
with a big, silver belt buckle.

Oh, he can't be more
than 30 years old.

They'll let anyone through
medical school these days.

John/!

Oh...

God, it's good to see you.

You stopped and
saw mom first, huh?

Yeah.

How does she
look to you? Really?

Like mom. Like she's
going to get up any minute

and walk out of there
dragging iv bottles with her.

It was only gas pains.
I'm sure she told you.

- Yeah.
- And the willpower?

- "Woman half her age."
- So you're up to date.

It was scary, John.

I mean it. I thought we
were going to lose her.

Where would you
like your bags, sir?

Put them right there.
Thank you very much.

No luggage in the living
room. You know the rules.

I'll put them in
your old bedroom.

The living room
is still off limits?

- Look at this. Nothing changes.
- You kidding?

This place is going
directly to the Smithsonian.

Dad's out back, huh?

Yeah, in the greenhouse.

How's he doing? Mario
said he took it pretty hard.

He's scared, John.
He's really frightened.

I'm not sure he
understands what happened.

What do you mean?
He's seen her, hasn't he?

No, he was too scared.
I didn't want to push it.

I told him she wasn't
allowed to have visitors

and he seemed okay with that.

Hello, dad.

Hello, John.

Nice to see you. You look good.

Yeah, good to see you, too.

I'm going to be
staying here a few days.

I know. Annie told me.

You heard what
happened to mother?

Yeah.

I was just at the
hospital. I saw her.

- How is she?
- Good, good.

She said to say, "hello"

and tell you she was
coming home soon.

Something went wrong
with her insides, huh?

Yeah. Something like that.

The heat...

In your old room
doesn't work, you know.

You may need an extra blanket.

Okay.

The main thing for you
while you're here will be

to keep everything
on an even keel.

Mom has a
schedule and their life

is essentially one long routine.

Dad gets coffee in
the morning. Decaf.

And a sweet roll.

They start the day
by clipping coupons,

making out a shopping
list, that's very important.

- I have a list of pills for you...
- when did he get so bad?

- I saw him a year ago.
- No. You didn't.

What are you talking about? I was here
for Christmas. I think I ought to know...

All right. I saw
him two years ago.

- A lot happens in two years.
- Why didn't you tell me??

I told you. You didn't hear me.

We tried moving him to our
place. He wasn't comfortable.

It's an hour away and we're
both working during the day.

At least here he has his
garden, he has his greenhouse.

He knows the environment.

I can only stay a few days.
What do we do after that?

- You can't stay longer?
- No. I have a meeting in Toronto Tuesday.

I may have to go to
Boston. It's just not possible.

We're just going to
have to bring someone in.

At least we have the time
to find the right person.

Dad just got old, John.

Yeah.

Well, dad, maybe you
ought to hit the sack, huh?

Johnny?

I can't find my pajamas. I don't
know where mother keeps them.

Here you go.

Why don't you put them on, dad?

I'll do it.

You okay?

I miss your mother.

Well, she's getting what
she needs: A good rest.

She'll be home soon.

Good night.

Good night.

- Leave the hall light on.
- I will. Sleep well.

I don't usually eat that much
in the morning. Good, though.

Thank you, dad.

You do much cooking
at home, do you?

Not too much. Since Sara
and I split up, mostly I eat out.

She was a nice girl.

She still is.

Well, how's Billy?

Billy's fine. He's up in Santa
Cruz. A freshman in college.

He came to visit one time.

Then you've seen
him more than I have.

Oh, look at this, Johnny. It's
"double coupon" day at ralphs.

"Tuna at two cans at
$1.38." You can't beat that.

What do you pay
for tuna in New York?

Tuna? I don't know.

Not two for $1.38, I'll bet.

- No, I don't think so.
- No way, Jose.

Listen, dad, I'd like to talk to
you for a minute about mom.

There's something you
should really try to understand.

- Mother's sick.
- It's not cancer, is it?

No, no. It's not cancer.

That cancer is a
killer, you know.

Your uncle Ben
had five operations.

Didn't do one
damned thing for him.

You have cancer, you
might as well pack your bags.

Well, it isn't cancer. It was a
heart attack. A serious one.

- She'll be okay?
- Yeah, she's gonna be okay...

But she's never going to be able
to work as hard as she used to.

She's going to have
to learn to take it easy.

You're going to have
to learn to help her.

I'm always telling her
that she works too hard.

Johnny, she works too hard.

You are going to have to learn to do a
lot of things around the house by yourself.

Mother's convinced herself nobody
can take care of you except her.

We're going to have
to prove her wrong.

That's right, Johnny.

I'm going to learn how to do
all of those things, you'll see.

We'll fool her.

Okay, dad. First thing we
have to do is, let's see...

"Separate the colored articles
of clothing from the whites."

So the colors from the dark
stuff don't get on the white stuff.

That's right, John. I think
that's the way mother does it.

Good, good. Then we know
we're on the right track here.

Let's start off with
the colors, shall we?

Color... white...

Color... color... White...

Color... And color.

What about this one?

That one? That is... white.

Okay, it's colored.

Dad, it's got to
be one of those.

Maybe we should call mother.

I'm going to make an
executive decision here.

I think it's colored,
okay? All right.

Let's see here. What
do you think we have?

"Normal, delicate
and permanent press."

I'm gonna go with "normal."

What kind of water do we need?

"Cold-cold, cold-hot,
warm-warm, warm-hot..."

What the hell? Let's
live dangerously.

"Hot-hot."

All right. What do you think?

I think it's white.

Uh...

It'll be ready Thursday.

All right. How hard was that?

Yeah.

What's the best way to get
to the market from here, dad?

I don't know these
streets very well now, John.

Mother drives US
everywhere we go.

You don't drive at
all anymore? Ever?

No, I can't. My license
expired a couple of years ago.

You didn't go get another one?

No, they wanted me to take a
driving test because of my age.

And you failed the test?

I didn't take it. I was
afraid I couldn't pass it.

What are you talking about? You're
a terrific driver. You always were.

Johnny, a good driver knows

when he's not a good
driver anymore, that's all.

I couldn't remember what you liked,
so I thought I'd put out an assortment.

Great.

Well... These are good.

I think I'd like to
see mother, Johnny.

I'm not sure that's a
good idea just yet, dad.

I mean, mom's okay,

but they really like to
limit the number of visitors.

I'm her husband.
I should see her.

It's not right.

No, I'm not sure, Annie.
But if he thinks he's ready,

I don't know if we should
be standing in his way...

Pretty good. I mean, he made
me breakfast this morning...

No, I'm serious.

I don't know, a box of
granola. It was good.

Yeah, that sounds
right. Bye bye.

Okay, dad.

Annie's going to talk to
the people at the hospital

and she thinks we're going to be
able to visit mom in a day or two.

Oh, good.

Johnny? I think
I could do these.

What?

I think I can do the dishes.

Now, I made these
cards all color-coded.

There's a different set
of cards for each chore.

For example, these pink
ones are for dishwashing.

So go ahead and take a look
and see what number one is.

Number one? "Fill
sink with water."

Right.

- Number two?
- Uh-uh.

"Put one squeeze
of soap in water."

Right.

"Put dishes in soapy water."

Now I made these for
you to study on your own.

This is great, Johnny.

There's no way I
can make a mistake

as long as I follow these cards.

You know, you
could market these.

Now I'm going to show you
how to work the stove, dad.

On second thought, the
stove is out of bounds for now.

"No stove."

Don't use the juicer,
either. No juicing.

And stay away from
that blender. No blending.

I think I'll work
better with this on.

Mother doesn't
like me to wear this.

Thinks I look too tough.

Like Johnny cash.

- You don't mind if I wear it?
- No, dad, I don't mind.

"Don't take your
guns to town," son.

> Leave those guns at
home, bang, bang... »

> "fill the sink with water." »

That is a professionally
waxed floor, dad.

You can see
yourself in that floor.

No waxy yellow buildup.

You know what I think?

I think we owe
ourselves a reward.

What do you mean?

We should go out and have a
good time. What do you say?

- Okay.
- Okay.

What do you and mom
do around here for fun?

[-20...
- Two-zero.

0-75... o-seven-five.

B-11... b-one-one.

G-68... g-five-eight.

Enjoying yourself, Johnny?
You having a good time?

Are you kidding? I love this.
I do it all the time at home.

Do they have air conditioning in
here? Or a fan or something...?

- 122...
- Two-two!

I love when they do that.

They do that all the time?

B-4.

And after!

Boy, this really is too
much fun for one evening.

- 1-19.
- Bingo! Bingo!

Jake?

Jake Tremont, is that you?

Hal McCarthy.

Oh.

How are you? You
remember Gloria?

Jake.

- My son, John, visiting from New York.
- How are you?

- Bette here?
- No, she's in the hospital.

- Oh.

No, it's okay. She
had a heart attack,

but she's doing fine
now. Coming back strong.

That's the part that's good to
know. Please give her our best.

- We will, thank you.
- You heard about Nick price?

He's dead.

Oh, yeah. Nick, Robin,
Dorothy, the twins.

That whole table.
Dead. All of them.

All of them. The whole table.

And delores patcher
from the table next to them.

- Gone.
- Dead.

Well, good seeing you
again. Been awhile, long time.

- Nice to meet you.
- Yeah, bye, bye.

Boy, they're a
breath of fresh air.

Don't mind them, John. They're
crepe hangers. Know their bingo though.

You used to come
here a lot, huh, dad?

At least once a
week. It was fun.

When was the last
time you played?

Must be, well, three years.

You're kidding! Why
did you stop coming?

I don't know.

Your mother and I used to enjoy
having fun as much as anybody.

We just stopped doing the
things we like. I don't know why.

Well, you should remember

the fun things you used
to do, and start doing them.

That's a good idea.

John, I'm going
to write that down.

I'll make a list of fun
things and do them. Yes, sir.

- Bingo.
- What?

- I think you've got bingo.
- Really?

Hey! I got bingo! Over
here! I have bingo!

We were awesome tonight,
dad. We won the 'x', we won the 'I'

and we were this close to
getting the "four corners."

That would have
been the triple crown.

I'm worried about you, John.

I'm afraid you're
getting addicted.

Toot-toot!

There's a bingo game in palm
Springs somebody told me about, dad.

Run by the Indians. Big stakes.
We ought to check that out.

We should be able to
win regularly at this game.

[ Got a computer guy in new
York I'm going 70 put on this.

Fabulous with numbers. He'll come
up with a system for US, you'll see.

We're gonna beat
these guys, dad.

Oh, look at that.
It's after 11:00.

I didn't mean to
keep you out so late.

That's okay. It feels
good... like new year's Eve.

- All that's missing is guy Lombardo.
- Yeah, he's dead.

I'm surprised hal McCarthy
didn't bring that up.

Big day tomorrow. I'm
going to get some sleep.

- Good night, John.
- Good night, dad.

And after!

There they are, dad.

Hi, dad.

Have you seen mom?
How's she doing?

Yeah, she looks good.
She's a little feisty.

- My mom? You've got to be kidding. Hi.
- Hi.

- Ready to go see her, dad?
- Oh, yes.

Wait a second here.
Let me... there you are.

- I can't believe how good dad looks.
- You really think so?

Absolutely. You've
been terrific for him, John.

He's been good for me, too,
you know? It's been kind of fun.

Listen, I have a lead on
somebody to take over at the house.

It should only be a day or two.

That's okay. I didn't
know what you were doing,

so I went ahead and changed my
schedule. I can stay until mom gets home.

- Really?
- Yeah, no big deal.

Hi, Bette.

- Are you all right?
- Yeah.

- You're taking your blood pressure pills?
- Yeah.

- Are you eating?
- Yeah, I'm fine, Bette. I make my own bed now.

And I do the dishes. John is
teaching me to cook, like a regular wife.

Just keep him alive
until I get home.

Thank you for your confidence.

Mom looks good, doesn't she?

Yeah, wonderful. I never go
anywhere without my tubes.

- I meant your color, mom.
- My color?

What are you? A decorator?

And don't call me "mom."
I don't call you "son," do 1?

Stop trying to be so nice to my
mother, Mario. You're going to kill her.

Why are you cooking? There's
food prepared in the freezer, I told you.

It's just for a little
variety, that's all.

Last night we had salmon. The
night before that we had coq au vin.

Your father doesn't
like foreign food.

It's not foreign. It's just
chicken and red wine.

He's not allowed
to have red wine.

Mom, there's this much.

I don't want him becoming
an alcoholic while I'm here.

Nobody ever became an
alcoholic from coq au vin.

Take it easy now, Bette.
Don't get all excited.

Concentrate on getting better.
Don't worry about me, you hear?

Are you sure you want to come
up, dad? Could be a long meeting.

No, I'll come up. I'll be okay.

I could buy you a lunch
here. You could catch a movie.

I'll sit. I'll read a
magazine. I'll be fine.

All right.

- John Tremont to see Vic walton, please.
- He's expecting you.

You sure you're going to be
okay with all this construction?

Sure, as long as no one
throws a drop cloth over me.

John, good to see you.

- Pardon our mess.
- No problem. Good to see you, too, Vic.

This is my father, Jake
Tremont. Dad, this is Vic walton.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Tremont.

- We're going to be in here, about what, an hour?
- I'd say.

All right. Make yourself
comfortable, dad.

Wait a minute. We don't have to
leave your father out here in this.

Come on, Mr. Tremont, why
don't you come in and sit with US?

- I don't think that would be...
- Don't be silly. Come on in.

Ralph, we've given you
every benefit of the doubt.

And yet our projections still
come up 20% less than yours.

How can you be so confident? You've
never run a business like this before.

And if you're wrong, we'll be
the laughingstock of the industry,

and you'll be off
on another deal.

Forget about
running the cannery.

It loses money
every day it's open.

But the property it's on
is worth at least 50 million.

How can you be
sure of the 50 million?

It might be a stretch
just to bring it to 40.

So I'd like to see
some supporting data.

If it's supporting
data you need,

Brian will give you a package
at the end of the meeting.

Now, can I get back to my case?

The real estate is 50 and
we should have no problem

turning around their
trucking operation.

They let the overhead
get out of hand,

but we have a schedule
that shows US cutting back

10% of the administrative
staff ina few months.

Aren't you better off selling it
and getting it off your books?

There's no need to sell
it if we can make it work.

I don't think they ever focused
on it.! Think we can turn it.

The last piece is
food wholesaling,

which has been a good
sector for them thus far.

Now, our cash flow projections

for the division
may look aggressive,

but we're comfortable with them,

so the banks shouldn't have
any problem financing US.

Well, that was fun, Johnny. What
the hell was going on back there?

Well, we were talking about
buying a salmon cannery, dad.

So I didn't know you
knew about stuff like that.

Actually, I don't. The guy coming
to US for money doesn't either.

We're just gonna buy the
company, then close it down.

That's your job? You buy
companies and close them down?

Well, it's a little more
complicated than that, dad.

Take this cannery, for instance.

Turns out to be
a lousy business.

It's third-generation management,
they've let it run down terribly.

But they have a small
subsidiary that's a real gem.

And the cannery itself is
sitting on prime waterfront land.

So, we buy the company,
then we close it down.

Then we sell off the subsidiary
business and then we sell the land.

You ever thought of maybe
running these companies?

There's no money in that, dad.

The world has changed, Johnny.

You wouldn't believe how
the world has changed.

When you were a boy, you used to go
to work at lockheed with me, remember?

I used to separate
all the nuts and bolts.

32¢ a day, and all the ham and
cheese sandwiches I could eat.

You used to say
when you grew up,

you wanted to
work there like me.

Now I guess you'd just
buy it and close it down.

You ever hear from any of
those old lockheed guys, dad?

Rick malinson?

Tommy Williams?

By the time I retired, I was
the last of US still working there.

They'd all moved out. To
the valley, palm Springs.

My last day,

I finished my work, cleaned
out my locker, went home.

There was no one even
there to say goodbye to.

The next morning there was someone else
doing my job, like I'd never been there.

The world's divided into two
groups, Johnny: Workers and bosses.

I'm a worker. Always have been.

- I don't know, dad. I think...
- it's okay, Johnny.

There's nothing wrong
with it. I'm a worker, that's all.

You, you're different.
You like to be in control.

You like that
responsibility. You're a boss.

And mom?

What do you think?

Okay, dad. "If you hit a parked
vehicle and cannot find the owner,

you must, a: Leave a
note on or in the car,

Wait for the owner to return,

or, c: Leave a message
at the nearest house."

Why are you doing this? I've
already passed the written test.

I know, but you
can't be too careful.

One of these very
situations may appear

during the driving portion of your
test and I want you to be ready.

I hit a car in the driving test,
it isn't going to matter if I...

"Leave a note on
or in the car" or not.

- Very good.
- Thank you.

We've come this far, I don't want
to see anything go wrong now.

They want US to pull
ahead here. Go ahead.

Ease up, not too
fast. All right, stop.

All right, good. Here he is now.

- Jake Tremont?
- Yes, sir. Right here.

Actually he's Jake
Tremont. I'm his son, John.

You probably don't need to
know that, but now you do anyway.

Okay.

You can't sit there
during the test, sir.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You can't be in the car at all.

What are you talking
about? This is my father.

- It's against the law.
- I won't say a word. You won't know I'm here.

I can't administer the
test with you in the car.

Either you get out now or
your father gets a failing grade.

- You going to be okay?
- I will be as soon as you go.

"Before opening the door on the
traffic side of your parked car..."

- John...
- I'm going.

"Look for bicycles
and other vehicles."

Yes!

"When waiting to make a left
turn you should give the right of way

to cars coming from
the opposite direction..."

"Until all dangerously
close cars have passed."

"On a highway of fewer than
four lanes in one direction,

a passenger vehicle
towing a trailer..."?

"Must travel in the Lane farthest to
the right or a specially marked Lane."

Yes!

Well, look who's here.

Yo, dad.

Yo, Billy.

Well...

I was down at the American
express office in tecoman

and I got a letter from aunt Annie
telling me that grandma was sick

so I hustled back up here. I figured
you might need some help, grandpa.

Never mind helping your grandpa.
When was the last time you ate?

Now why are you Americans
so obsessed with food?

Excuse me, señor. You're not?

Hey, you know, when in Rome...

What were you
doing down in Mexico?

Semester break. A bunch
of kids were down there.

You look good. I
think you've grown.

Dad, you say that to
me every time I see you.

I stopped growing two years ago.

How's your mother?

She's fine. Third year
law. Top of her class.

It's embarrassing
when your mother

has a higher grade point
average than you do.

- But we're working that out.
- Send her my best.

How about you? You
know, how's business?

The same. You win
some, you lose some.

Knowing you, I'm sure you're
winning more than you're losing.

When you finish that you can
wash it down with a piece of cake.

He looks really good.
What's been going on?

Well, we've been spending
a lot of time together.

Quality time, huh?

They say that's good
for parents and kids.

Maybe you and I should
spend some more time together.

Take it easy, dad. Let's
not get carried away.

I'm gonna name
this one after you, bill.

You want some butter, honey?

- I would like to make a toast.
- Uh-oh.

A lot's happened
the past two weeks.

We've overcome a lot of
adversity, overcome a lot of pain,

pulled together as a team,

and now, we're taking
time to say thanks.

- That's beautiful, Mario.
- It's my regular halftime speech.

Actually, I just wanted to say

how happy I am to
see the family together.

It's a thrill for me, too.

Are you finished? My
chicken's getting cold.

- I'm finished.
- Very good.

I'd like to make a toast.

- Mmm.
- Well, hey, dad.

To my lovely bride.

Your "bride"?

Did you have a
drink today, Jake?

Before you came home, mom, he
had a couple of glasses of coq au vin.

To my lovely bride.

Better you're back in the bosom
of your family where you belong.

It's good to be home.

- Hear, hear.
- Well said, dad.

It's good to have
everyone here, too.

I can't remember the last time
we had John and Billy together.

Billy looks good.

Hey, I like that earring. Think
I should get one of those?

Yeah, it's very nice. I have a
pin that goes with that if you want.

Oh leave him alone,
mom. He looks fabulous.

I bet the girls are falling
all over themselves.

Oh, don't worry about me, guys.
This isn't at all embarrassing.

I hear the dorms are
co-ed now. Is that true?

Yeah, our dorm's co-ed.

It's a good thing they didn't
have that when I was in school.

I would have never
gotten any studying done.

Some student you were.

Mario was an
excellent student, mom.

He was a physical
education major.

He didn't read
books. He ran laps.

Yes, but good students like me read
books and ran laps at the same time.

John was a good student.

- Thank you, mommy.
- From kindergarten on,

every Saturday
we'd go to the library.

Get out four books,
you'd read them,

we'd go back, get
out another four books.

It worked, too. I
learned how to read.

You did more than that.

How does it work? Are the girls on
another floor? Are they down the hall?

- How do you find them?
- Somebody hose this man down.

What is it, dad?
What's the matter?

I'm just happy.

Let's try and make it easy
for grandma and grandpa

while you're here, okay?

Oh, yeah, sure. You get so used to
hearing it, you don't even realize it's on.

It was on. Believe me,
my fillings are still rattling.

Sorry.

So when do you have
to be back at school?

I don't know. I may
not go back to school.

I'm thinking about going down
to Mexico to live for a while.

What's the big
attraction with Mexico?

All the people in Mexico are trying
to come here. Did you know that?

A lot of kids from
school are down there.

They've got a little
community going. It's fun.

Okay, it's fun. But believe it or
not, you may want a job someday.

Lying on the beach in Mexico

is not going to help
prepare you for anything.

Unless you want to
be a mariachi singer,

in which case it's a
work-study program.

I could say I went to college.

Nobody checks.
I'll say I have a ba.

I'll say I have a phd.
Might as well do it right.

Two phd's. One in
chemistry, one in physics.

I have to go back to new
York soon. I'd like this settled.

What's your mother think?

She said I should
use my best judgment.

I'm not sure how
I feel about this.

We should talk about this a bit.

I don't see why. We haven't
talked about it up until now.

I think I know what I want.

Johnny?

Something's wrong. Would
you come here and take a look?

That'll be all, Mr. Tremont.
You can get dressed.

Is he all right?

He's fine. It's a painful procedure.
There's no getting around it.

Any idea what the
problem might be?

Could be any number of things. I
suspect small growths in his bladder.

The question is whether
they're malignant.

Will the tests you've
done tell you that?

Not completely. The fact they're
bleeding though is not a good sign.

This is serious, then?

Yes. We should schedule
him for exploratory surgery.

If it were anything serious, dad, they
wouldn't have let you out of there today.

They would have cut you right
open and operated on the spot.

I wouldn't be surprised
if it were just a cyst.

- It's just a cyst.
- Right.

I don't think it's worth telling mom
about. Why worry her for nothing?

Whatever you say, Johnny.

You're the boss.

- He told you, didn't he?
- Of course, he told me.

Then you know
it's nothing serious.

If it wasn't serious, you would
have told me about it yourself.

Mom, you're supposed to
avoid any stress right now.

I was afraid you might get upset about
nothing. That's why I didn't tell you.

Maybe I was wrong, but
that's what I was trying to do.

- He says it's just a cyst.
- That's right.

That's a fairly
simple procedure.

Yes, it is. Mother, I'd tell you
if there was anything wrong.

Okay.

Do I walk around with the back
open and all the nurses here?

Yeah, it says right here on the
admission slip. "Dress is informal."

There you go.

- You need to sign this, dad.
- What is it?

It says if anything happens
to you, I get your catcher's mitt.

- I don't have a catcher's mitt.
- It's all right. Bad joke.

- Dr. Santana ordered this medication.
- Huh?

It's just something
to relax you.

If you've got any left
over, I'd like a little.

I guess you have to pay extra
to get one with a personality.

- What time is it?
- About noon.

- Well, not much longer.
- Nope.

- Is this comfortable for you, dad?
- Fine.

I'm going to let you rest.

That stuff is going
to mellow you out.

Okay.

Don't forget, if you need
anything, just ring the buzzer here.

I guess this is it, huh?

You're going to be okay.

You know, John. I
see men now, they hug.

We've never hugged.

Want to give it a try?

I do.

I love you, Johnny.

I love you too, dad.

Well, Mr. Tremont,
I'm afraid it's cancer.

Cancer?

Yes, there were several
malignant tumors. [ Think I got them,

but we're going to have
70 do some chemotherapy.

We won't radiate. Not with
a man your father's age.

Maybe this is a silly question,
but are you absolutely sure?

Yes.

A virulent form, too. It's a good thing
we went in and got it when we did.

Listen, Dr. Santana,

whatever you do, don't
mention "cancer" to my father.

He's terribly anxious and
frightened about that word.

It's beyond anything rational.

Come now, Mr. Tremont. You'd be surprised
at what these older people can take.

Their children tend
to underestimate them.

[ Don't underestimate him.

I want to be the one
to tell him. That's all.

It's cancer, isn't it?

Mom, I told you.

It's a cyst and they
took it out. That's all.

I want to go see him.

Mom...!

Mom, you can't go
see him right now.

Will you listen to me? You can't
expose yourself to that kind of stress.

If he was all right,
you'd let me see him.

Oh, come on, mom.

John's only thinking about
what's best for you. You know that.

You've got to listen
to him, mom. Come on.

This is my husband
and I'm going to see him.

Either you're going to drive me

or I'm going to
walk, but I'm going.

- Dad? Dad, what is it?
- What's out there?

There's nothing, dad.
You're in the hospital. It's fine.

Billy. Get
Dr. Santana right now.

Jake, sweetheart,
are you all right?

- Jake, Jake, it's...
- Get out of here, right now.

What's the matter with him?

Jake, it's me, Bette!
Why doesn't he know me?

Mr. Tremont? I'm Dr. Santana.
Do you know who I am?

I'm fine. I'm just fine.

He's in shock. Give him
25 milligrams librium im

and check his vitals
every two hours.

This is fairly standard
with older people.

They often go into delayed
shock, even after minor surgery.

This is standard? Do you have
any idea what happened in there?

I'm sure it was a frightening
experience for you,

but you have to understand
that what we're dealing with

is a form of senility.

He wasn't senile
when he came in here.

Why should he
suddenly go into senility?

Senility is a very strange
thing. It comes and goes.

You get a stress situation
like this and it crops up.

With proper rest and medication
the situation will correct itself.

- Yeah, what do we do in the meantime?
- Nothing.

What do you mean "nothing"? No
tests, no consultations? We just wait?

We wait for him to
respond to the medication.

He'll be fine. Don't worry.

Did you tell my
father he has cancer?

You have to
understand, Mr. Tremont.

I have an ethical
obligation to my patients.

He had a right to know.

I'm not sure what it is you
want me to do, Mr. Tremont.

Dr. Ethridge, I don't have a
lot of confidence in santana.

You're the hospital
administrator...

And I just want you to know
that this doesn't feel right.

Well, Dr. Santana is
a fine young surgeon.

It seems that he's been thorough
and professional in your father's case.

I told him not to say anything
about cancer to my father,

because he is very
frightened by that word.

He went ahead
and told him anyway.

Well, that's always a
difficult call for a doctor.

He has to balance the
will of the family members

with the patient's
right to know.

I'm sure he had no choice.

He had a choice. He
could have listened to me.

I know my father and
what's happening to him now

is a direct result of
Dr. Santana's poor judgment.

Why did you strap his arms down?

70 keep him from
hurting himself.

He's been flailing around
pretty good with those hands.

Yeah, well, I'm his son and I
say he doesn't need these things.

Give US a call when you're
ready and we'll put him back in bed.

I don't believe... Hey,
dad. How you doing?

John, what is it? Does
he always look like this?

Hey, look. I brought Annie.
And I got Billy here, huh?

Hey, dad. How are you
feeling? Can you hear me?

Hey, grandpa. It's me,
Billy. How are you doing?

God, John, I can't stand
to see him looking like this.

What is it, dad?
What's the matter?

I gave him a sedative. That should calm
him down. How long had he been like that?

The whole time we'd been
here. At least a half an hour.

Did he seem depressed?

Jesus, doctor, it's a good thing you're not
a detective. Yeah, he seemed depressed.

- What the hell do you think's been going on here?
- I meant more than usual.

He's been sliding every day since
he's been in here and you know that.

- Mr. Tremont...
- you're not going to tell me that this is normal behavior?

This particular manifestation
of the depression is unusual,

but I think the sedative
will bring him 'round.

A sedative? The man is
hallucinating. He's crying non-stop.

He doesn't recognize anyone in his
family and you're giving him a sedative?!

Why don't you give
him some sucrets, too!

Maybe he's got a
sore throat you can fix!

We scheduled your father for release tomorrow.
- 00.

What do you mean you're
scheduling him for release?

Are you trying to tell me
that my father is recovered?

Of course not. But medically speaking,
there's nothing more we can do.

We simply cannot hold
hospital beds for patients

who cannot profit
from medical care.

How would we know? He's
never gotten any medical care.

You have to
understand, Mr. Tremont,

while his condition is stable,
basically he's custodial.

What exactly does that mean?

I'll tell you what
that means, Annie.

They don't give a
shit if he lives or dies.

- Mr. Tremont...
- he's not custodial, goddamn it!

What kind of a word is
that to describe a person?

- Now I understand...
- if you'll just come to my office...

You want my father out of
here? Let me tell you something,

I want him out of
here more than you do.

You're not good enough
to take care of him.

John, what are you doing?

- Mr. Tremont...
- Don't you touch him!

This is unnecessary,
Mr. Tremont.

I said, I'm taking him home.

Mr. Tremont, this
is very unfortunate.

What do we do now?

I don't know.

We may have no choice but to...

No, I don't want to do that. I don't
want to put him in a nursing home.

I don't want to either, John,
but we have to do something.

If you take mom to your place,
I'll take care of dad at home.

Wait a second, John. You
can't handle him in this condition.

I can do it. I
think I can do it.

I know I'll do it better
than the hospital's doing it.

- I can stay and help.
- No.

Why not?

I'll take care of
him. He's my father.

- Well, he's my grandfather.
- And I'm your father.

Great, now that we know
who everyone is, can we please

talk about what's
best for this man here?

Look, I don't want you here right
now, Billy. You don't have to see this.

Dad, I am not a kid...

Look, I want you gone. Go
back to school, go back to Mexico.

You're in the way here,
don't you understand?

Yeah, I understand.

I want to talk to him.

It's not a good
idea mom, really.

Annie's right, mom.
Come on, get in the hearse.

You'd like that,
wouldn't you, Mario?

I meant get in the car, mom.
It was a slip of the tongue.

Okay, mom, okay. Come on, honey.

He'll be all right. John's
going to take care of him.

Here we go, dad.

We got a score yet, huh?

This kid gooden's
fabulous, isn't he?

Kind of reminds me of Bob
Gibson, you know, a real competitor...

What is that? Did
you get that, dad?

All right.

Here we go.

A little club soda.

Uh-oh. Going to have to
work on your technique here.

That's all right.

A little home-cooked
meal. That's what you need.

Remember how you used to tell
me that all the great chefs were men?

Well, I think you're right.
Wait till you taste this.

Come on, dad.

What's that? "Too big," you say?

All right. Here, try this.

Come on, dad,
take a bite. Come on.

There you go.

All right. We have a sale here.

Let's push our luck.
Wash it down with this.

Dad, don't bite the
glassware. House rules.

You didn't like
that place, did you?

Neither did I.

Here, one more bite.

There you go. All right.

We're gonna be okay,
huh? Here you go, pal.

All right, dad. Hang
on a second here

and I'll have
you all settled in.

Let me grab these
and I'll be right back.

Why are we here, ed?
Why aren't we at the farm?

- What?
- You know they'll be mad at US, if we stay, you know that.

Where's the owner of the house?

This is your house, dad.
What are you talking about?

Mandy's out of the pasture
again, ed. I'm worried about her.

Well, don't worry, dad.
I'm sure she's okay.

- You think so?
- I do.

Hand me that 18 wrench
by the chicken wire.

That ought to hold her now.

A good night's sleep is
what we need here, dad.

Isn't that what you used to
say when we had a problem?

"Let's sleep on it"?

We got ourselves a problem
here, dad. Let's sleep on it.

Dad?

Dad?

Dad!

Dad, where are you?

Dad?

Dad!

Dad!

Dad? What the hell
are you doing? Come on.

Dad, let me help you out...

All right, all right. It's okay.

- Come here, pop.
- No!

Ow! Ouch.

Dad, I'm gonna lift the bed.

Crawl out!

Come on, dad. Crawl
out. Dad, come on.

Okay, dad. Shh, I
got you. I got you.

Shh.

Come on.

Shh. I got you, dad.
It's all right. It's okay.

No, no. I got you.
I got you. I got you.

Mr. Tremont.

I understand you put your
father back in the hospital.

- I'm very sorry.
- Yeah.

I thought it might be difficult
for you to care for him at home.

It's not the place
for him right now.

Well, he can't be home
and he can't be here, right?

Maybe he can just hover
overhead in a helicopter.

It's very hard, I realize,

for children to understand that
their parents have gotten old.

To know what that really means.

I know what that
means, to be old.

It means... most people
would rather you were dead.

Mr. Tremont, you have to understand
that doctors are only human, too.

We can't solve every problem.
We can't save every patient.

We work in a system

where old people tend
to fall through the cracks.

What is it you want?
Why are you here?

There's another doctor
here at the hospital.

I think he might be
better than Dr. Santana.

What?

I'll deny having said
that. He's a fine man.

I'd like to see if I can get him
to take a look at your father.

Mr. Tremont. Mr. Tremont?

How are you, Mr. Tremont?

Let's get a few more studies.

Please order an eeg and let's
look for metabolic abnormalities.

Order calcium-magnesium
and liver function tests.

I'm not sure exactly
what caused it...

But I'm inclined to go along
with the diagnosis of a seizure.

The question is, what caused it?

And why he is still comatose?

If you want to have another
consultation on this, please do so.

No, that won't be necessary.

Having said that,
don't get the impression

that we're going to sit by
and do nothing. We won't.

We've just done a series
of tests and we'll do more.

It's just that right now we're
really shooting in the dark.

We really appreciate
your honesty, doctor.

It's strange though,
the lp we did

showed up an elevated
protein in the spinal fluid

but the cat scan showed no
evidence of a stroke or tumor.

Those tests should have been
done a long time ago, shouldn't they?

We'll keep him in icu. That way
he'll be monitored at all times.

I'll check in and
see him twice a day.

I'm going to move in here
with him then, if that's okay.

I'm afraid that's entirely
against hospital regulations.

If it makes you feel more
comfortable, I think it's a good idea.

How long do you think
you can keep this up?

I don't know. I'm just
going one day at a time.

I sit...

I talk to him, I talk to myself,

I talk to people passing by.

I have this idea
if I'm sitting there

and I'm talking, he won't die.

What are you going
to do when he does?

- Annie, I don't...
- you're the only one who hasn't accepted it.

- Why can't you let him go?
- I can't explain it.

Maybe I want to be
there to Mark the end.

I don't know.

To prove he was here,
to prove I was his son.

What more could you
possibly have done?

Annie, that man got
up every day of his life

and went to a
job he didn't like.

We didn't ask him to.

He did it because he was the
father. That was the deal he made.

He didn't ask himself if
he was satisfied or happy.

Didn't even know
he had the right.

And somehow, part of that deal

was that we'd care for him and
watch over him when he got older.

I screwed that up.

John...

I got embarrassed by him.

By the way mom dominated
him. By the way he got old.

Embarrassed that I had
a marriage that failed,

a job that didn't make sense,

a son I'd barely recognize if
1 passed him on the street.

Maybe this is more
for me than for him.

But I'm gonna be
there when he dies.

And I'm gonna kiss him...

And I'm going to cover him...

And I'm going to
Mark the moment.

I owe him that.

When did you get back in town?

I never left. I've been
staying with some friends.

I didn't want to leave grandpa.

You've been coming
here every day?

Whenever you leave,
one of the nurses calls me.

I usually stay a half an hour
or so, but I guess I dozed off.

Sorry.

Where am I, Johnny?

You're in a hospital, dad.

I think I could have
guessed that one.

But why are you here? Was
there an earthquake or a car crash?

He speaks?

Yes, he does. It's something
he learned as a child.

Go page Dr. Chad right
away, please. Please.

Why was she looking at me funny?

She's part of the hospital,
dad. She's a nurse.

She's... as a matter of
fact, these are all nurses.

This is Molly, this is jj,
this is Annie, this is my dad.

Mr. Tremont, what can we
do to make you comfortable?

To start with you can take
out these pipes and wires

and maybe I can
have something to eat.

I feel like you've
been starving me here.

Okay, but we'll have to
start you off very slowly.

You really haven't eaten
anything in quite a long time.

Maybe that's what was wrong
with me. Have you thought of that?

All the tests are positive.
The vital signs stable.

That's the profile
of a healthy man.

What happened? What's going on?

I've seen people recover
from comas before.

Very often we
never find out why.

I have some
theories in this case.

Nothing that I'd want
to see published.

Like what?

It is entirely possible that he
was so fearful of the cancer,

that his brain froze
up... Stopped producing

a vital chemical or
enzyme that he needed.

Somehow with that last
variation of the iv mixture,

we got lucky and he
replaced that enzyme.

I see.

You know, if we were back home
we'd say that it was not that at all,

but rather it was
your love and caring

that called your father
back from where he'd gone.

I think I like that one better.

Me, too.

Here they are.

What's going on, dad?
What are you looking for?

Your mother and I are starting
a new life together, Johnny.

We need some new clothes.

I don't know, dad. What do you
suppose mom will say about all this?

She'll probably laugh and
call me crazy. But she'll laugh.

We haven't had enough laughter
in our house for the past 10 years.

Ah.

What do you think of that?

- Yay!
- Thank you, thank you.

Ladies, ladies. The
show is about to begin.

No matter how stimulated you
become during the performance,

please remain in
your seats at all times.

The house is proud to
present, the star of our show,

the late sick man, and
almost corpus delicti,

back from a successful
tour of the Caribbean,

gorgeous Jake!

- Give him a big hand! Come on, give him a big hand!
- Annie. Yay!!

Also, his faithful companion...

Billy!

Ladies and gentlemen, Billy!

What is this? What's it for?

This is my outfit for
bicycling in venice.

You know, along the beach.
And maybe roller skating.

And this... this is my
baseball watching outfit.

See? I'll wear it mostly
only in the house.

Actually, I'm going to see a few
of the games, but not in my outfit.

That's good to hear, Jake.

- Wait, there's more.
- More?

Wha...?

Let me see that again.

Oh, no! Oh! I'll piss my pants!

Oh, no, tell 'em
to stop, I'm dying!

I never heard of anybody
dying from laughing, Bette.

Wouldn't that be nice?

I tell you, Johnny.
He's not the same.

Maybe his hormones got
mixed up with someone else's.

You know what goes
on in these hospitals.

Nobody would believe he's a 78-year-old
man who almost died a few weeks ago.

You've got to talk with
somebody. I'm serious.

Mom, he's just having fun.

Not bad. I shot a 94.

It's a one-hole
course, but still.

It's a wonderful day.

How about I take US for a
little drive after breakfast?

Oh, that's a good idea. Maybe
mom will come along with US.

I'm not going to drive with
him. He drove too fast before.

I hate to think what
he'd be like now.

Don't you worry your
pretty little head, Bette.

With old Jake Tremont
behind that wheel,

you're as safe as if you
were in your own bed.

And it's almos as much fun.

What on earth are
you looking for?

I'm not looking for anything. I
want to see if I can still do a push-up.

I'll call these "old
man push-ups."

What about it, Bette?
You want to hit the beach?

I'll go, but only in a taxicab.

I don't want to go in a cab.

We'd probably wind
up in Santa Monica.

That town is an outside
old people's home.

On every corner, a
doctor's office or a bank.

I'd like to drive to
venice. Maybe to the pier.

Get in a little fishing.
Oh, I used to like fishing.

Where's all my fishing gear?

I think I put it
away in the garage.

Ah.

About 35 years ago.

I'll get it.

Whatever's going on with
dad, I think it's pretty terrific.

Oh, come on. It's
going to be okay.

Johnny, I'm scared.

He's talking about people I don't
even know or people I'm sure are dead.

He says we live on a farm
in cape may, New Jersey.

He says he wants US to go back
there because it's harvest time.

What?

Dad...?

- She told you, huh?
- Yeah. What's going on?

Take me for a ride.
John, I need to talk.

Johnny...

What chance is there that
mother and I have four kids...

And we live on a farm in
cape may, New Jersey?

I don't think there's
much chance, dad.

No chance that I have
a little truck farm there?

You know, next to bill
Sullivan and ira Taylor.

Across from my brother,
ed, and gene Michael's.

I don't have four kids there?

You and Annie and
Hank and little Elizabeth?

As far as I know, dad, you've
been living in L.A. about 25 years,

held a regular job at
lockheed until you retired,

before that we lived in plainfield
and you worked for lockheed there.

I know you must be right.

How can you be in
two places at once?

John, I've got to tell you

my life there is as real
to me as we are here.

Just sitting and
looking at the ocean.

Stop if this gets too
technical or too fantastic.

Your father is what
laing would call

a "successful schizophrenic."

Over the years he
hasn't been getting

enough pleasure
out of his daily life

so he's isolated his
greatest joys into a dream.

He's created a personal experience more
to his liking, an alternate coping system.

How long has this been going on?

Hard to say yet. At least
20 years. Maybe more.

Incredible.

You realize it takes an
extremely intelligent, strong-willed

and imaginative individual
to do this successfully.

Where's my mother in all
this? Is she just shut out?

No, she's there. She's
younger... you all are.

You're frozen in time. She's
very supportive, very sweet.

I take it that's not always
the case here, in this world?

She has her moments.

The problem is your father's
participation in this world

is totally tied up with
your mother's approval.

Since his recovery he's
been a happy person.

The walls dividing his two
worlds have broken down.

And he's bringing
into his everyday life,

the joy in living he's kept
separate all these years.

If your mother

doesn't go along with him
here, he'll just fade away again.

Hello, all you beautiful people.

It's a wonderful day.
Let's go to the beach.

Maybe I can do some
jogging on the bike path.

What will people think
if they see you like this?

Who cares?

We've got to get over the
feeling that we're old fogies.

Stop worrying about
what people think.

You sure don't see any of the
young people asking US what to wear.

I'll go with you, dad.

Good boy, good boy.

Don't worry about me. I'll run over
to Newark, pick up things for the farm.

Hey, mom...

Mom, I told you
what the doctor said.

It's very important that
you support him right now.

Making that kind of remark
isn't going to help anything.

The man is living
in another time zone.

I think it should be
pointed out to him, that's all.

I've explained this.
It's just a dream.

A very well-defined
and lovely dream world

and dad's learning how to separate
the two right now. He's trying.

I don't care what you
say. It's not normal.

Something has happened to
him. This man is not your father.

I think this is the
real Jake Tremont.

He's just been
hiding for 50 years.

- Hello.
- Oh, hello.

I'm Jake Tremont,
this is Bette Tremont.

- We're your neighbors across the street.
- Of course.

Can I help you with something?

No, no. Just wanted to introduce
ourselves and say "howdy."

Oh!

- Well...
- This is Christopher.

Oh, what do you
say there, young guy?

Coochie-coochie coo.

- Say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Tremont, Chris.
- Hi.

Hi.

You know, we're home all the time
if you ever need anyone to babysit.

Oh, how nice. Thank you.

- Right?
- No, no, they're lying dogs.

That one ls a good
example of a lying dog.

- That's "speedy."
- Yes.

- Well, he is fast.
- Look at him. Look at him race.

Hi, there. Jake and Bette
Tremont from up the street.

Wanted to say hello.
Brought you a little cake.

- Come on in.
- Well, thank you. Go ahead there, Bette.

Morning, mother.

- Where's dad?
- I don't know.

Probably out pole-vaulting.

Did you hear any
strange noises last night?

No. Why? Did you?

I thought I heard something.

Must have been the wind.

So how's it going with dad? The doctor
thinks he's making a lot of progress.

He keeps coming into my bed
at night. He won't leave me alone.

Your father's always
been a highly sexed man,

but since he came back
from New Jersey, it's insane.

Hell, when we first got married
and I told my friend, fannie hogan,

the things we were doing, she told
me to leave him. And notify the police.

I told the priest in confession, he said
he'd pray for me. Fat lot of good that did.

When your father gets excited,

police, priests, prayers,
nothing is going to stop him.

Oh, grow up.

- Oh...!
- Oh, bingo.

You know, I just
realized something...

We don't speak Japanese.

You just realized that?

We should have one night a week
where we try and learn about a new country.

We should eat food only from that
country and speak their language.

- We should do that.
- No, we shouldn't.

"Eki wa doko desuka?"
"Where is the train station?"

"Eki wa doko desuka?"
"Where is the train station?"

What are you doing?

I'm trying to find
the train station.

I think this is good.
This is working.

I'm beginning to
feel very Japanese.

- Yeah, Annie, give US some facts, please.
- Yes, costumes, right?

"The Japanese costume for women
is hardly different from that of the man.

In many districts, the peasant
women wear trousers and raincoats

like their husbands. This, coupled
with the absence of beard in the men,

often makes it difficult for a newcomer
to distinguish between the sexes."

I don't know about you guys,

but I'm nervous about a country where
you can't distinguish between the sexes.

- Mario!
- I'm serious. That happened to me in a bar.

Johnny, you tell
US about agriculture.

"In this land of mountains,"

"barely 12% of the entire
surface can be cultivated."

Pass the rice, please.

Only if you ask in Japanese.

"Gohan o watashite kudisai"
"pass the rice, please."

"Arrigato.” "you're welcome."

Come on, mom. Get in the spirit.

No.

"lie". "No". "lie". "No".

Billy, you go ahead.
"Traditional Japanese sports."

All right, what do
you have for US?

"The sumo wrestler must
reach the weight of 300 pounds

before he is allowed to Don the
traditional sumo diaper and compete."

That's a great idea. Get 'em as fat
as you can, then put a diaper on them.

John, you don't find
those guys attractive?

Mario, I'm really starting
to worry about you.

Honey, would you pass me the...

Whoa, whoa, wait a
minute. Pass... pass...

- Gohan o watashite...
- what do you want? The rice? Here!

- Mom...?
- What are you doing?

And what about the fish?
Huh? You want that, too?

Hey!

And what about the soy
sauce? And some tofu?!

I can't take this,
Jake. I don't want this.

I don't want to know Japanese

and I don't want to know
the neighbors' children.

- Mom, take it easy. Stop!
- I can't go on like this.

I've had it.

I've tried hard to make it
work and you know that I have,

but since he came out of the hospital
it's been like a loony bin around here.

Costumes and jogging
and sex at all hours!

And a make-believe
farm in New Jersey?

This man should not
be let loose in the street!

Dad is perfectly fine.

He's just trying
to enjoy himself!

I didn't live my life
to end up like this!

With a crazy person as a
companion in my old age!

You know better than that!
The doctor said dad is not crazy!

In fact, he's very impressed

that he didn't go insane
hanging around you for 30 years!

Oh, no! Don't say those
things to your mother.

Please...

We're family.

That's all that counts.

Just love each other. Forget.

And please... Don't fight.

That kills me... I hear
you talking that way.

Why? Why are you doing this?

You're going to shove
him back down again.

That can't be what you want.

- I want my husband back.
- He wants his life back.

He's loved you for 50 years.
Can't you let him have what's left?

I'm scared, Jake.

I don't know who you are
anymore. I don't recognize you.

I know...

You look at me, people look
at me, they see this old man.

But inside, honest to
god, Bette, I feel 19.

And act it, too, I guess.

This other life, Jake.

It hurts.

Was it so terrible here with me?

We just got off
the track a little.

A lot.

You're asking me to turn my back

on our whole life together.

No, I'm asking you

to remember the life
that you wanted to have.

Oh, god, Bette, you took it
all on by yourself, didn't you?

And I let you. You were so good.

I'm asking you to let
go a little. Open up.

Not just to me,
but to the world.

We used to have such good times,
remember? We used to dance together.

Oh, slow. You were
such a wonderful dancer.

I want to dance with
you again before I die.

Don't talk about dying.

That's okay. We're all
going to die. Dying's not a sin.

Not living is.

- Good morning, mother.
- Good morning.

- Nice outfit.
- Your father likes it.

Mr. Tremont. I have some news.

It's not good.

What is it?

Well, of course, it's not
the same in all cases...

But it seems...

It's okay, doctor. You
can tell me the truth.

The cancer's back.

It's spread. It's in
the lymph system.

How long?

It's difficult to say. Different
patients respond differently.

Dr. Chad?

Not long.

Hey, dad, what are
you doing up so late?

Waiting for you.

Why?

Do you realize your
mother and I separated

before you were old
enough to stay out late?

I think I feel...

Deprived of my divine
right as a father to worry.

Do you want me to go out
and come back in again?

No, I want you to sit
down and talk to me.

What would you
like to talk about?

I've been trying to think of
something I could tell you.

Some fatherly advice you could
take back with you. Some insight.

I can't think of
anything. I think it's me.

I think it's tough for
guys my age to reach out.

You know every time we see
each other, it's always on the fly?

You're going or I'm coming, or
we're at somebody's wedding.

We're always talking over
suitcases and backpacks.

Or holding little
sandwiches in our hand.

I don't know a lot about you.

Well, let's see, I'm 5' "11"...

- I like sports, I'm into bikes...
- don't do that.

Don't make a joke. You
know, we always do that.

We come close to saying something
real and then one of US makes a joke.

Talk to me.

Tell me about Mexico.

I like it there. It's not like
school, there's no pressure.

The people are
real and thoughtful.

They have kind of a
nice rhythm to them.

You have a lot of friends there?

Yeah, there's about five of US.

We live as a group. We take turns
working, we share everything we make.

We share the
cleaning, the housework.

It's a real family.

The other guys from
your school, too?

Well, two of the guys are girls.

The world has changed, Billy.

You can't believe the
way the world has changed.

Why was making money always
more important to you than me or mom?

Ooh.

You said you wanted to talk.

All right.

That's what I thought a
man was. What a father was.

Some guy who wore a suit
and made a lot of money.

All right. That's too easy.

Because I liked the power of it.

I liked being the guy
who got the job done,

the guy everybody comes to.

And something had to
give. And it was my family.

Well, I would never do that.

I would never run
away from my family.

Leaving was the
toughest thing I ever did.

Didn't seem like it.

That's because we tried
to make it look normal.

That's what all the books
said to do, the normal divorce.

But there was pain. A lot.

There still is.

I've missed you, Billy. And you may
not need me, or even want me around,

but I'd like to
stay in your life.

I'm your father.

I guess there is some
advice I'd like to give you,

to give to a guy who's
about to take on the world.

What is it?

Be forgiving.

Hi.

- How's he doing?
- Okay. He slept a little.

- You been here all afternoon?
- He does better when I'm here.

Come on, let's go down
and get something to eat.

No, the doctor will be here
soon. I don't want to miss him.

No, go ahead. I'll
come get you. Come on.

Where's mother?

- She went down with Billy to get something to eat.
- Oh, good.

How you feeling?

Yeah, I can tell.

- You know what I've been thinking about?
- What?

- 1947 world series.
- What?

Yeah, crazy, I know. I
mean, at at a time like this

I should be having
very deep thoughts.

I'm trying but all that keeps
going through my mind

is old ball games
and old TV themes.

- "Bonanza."
- This is great, dad.

What about the '47 world
series? How does that fit in?

It produced one of the great
moments in baseball history,

between the yankee centerfielder

Joe DiMaggio, the prince
of players, the star of stars,

and the dodger leftfielder al
Gianfriddo, second stringer.

He only played that day
because the regular leftfielder,

Carl Furillo, got hurt.

- Do you know this story?
- Tell it to me.

In the sixth game,

bottom of the sixth
inning, 8-5, Dodgers.

Two on, two out.
Up steps DiMaggio.

Hit a smash deep left field,
had home run written all over it.

Everyone in the stands knew it. I
knew it, DiMaggio knew it. It was perfect.

But here comes this
little Gianfriddo guy.

See, he's racing after the ball like he doesn't
realize that it was hit by Joe DiMaggio.

At the last possible
moment, he jumps,

reaches over the rail...

And robs DiMaggio
of a three-run homer.

It was an incredible
catch. It'll live forever.

But then comes the
really amazing thing.

DiMaggio was just approaching

second base when he sees
Gianfriddo make this catch.

He got so upset,
he kicked the dirt.

Like that.

This man who never
showed any emotions.

He was human after all.

And it took al
Gianfriddo to bring it out.

Do you know what
that means to me?

What?

In america, anything is
possible if you show up for work.

Sometimes I wish I held you
more when you were a kid.

I wish I kissed you more.

You did fine, dad. Just fine.

You know how much I love you?

Yeah.

A lot has happened, Johnny.

Some good, some bad.

But when I look
at you, I know...

I must have done
something right.

- Honey, I'm gonna put these in the car.
- Okay.

- Did you talk to mom?
- Yeah, mom will stay here for now.

At least until the middle of
next month, and then we'll see.

- All right.
- I think she'll be okay.

- How are you holding up?
- I miss him.

Yeah, me too.

Go ahead. I'll
catch up with you.

I need a minute.

Go ahead.

Grandpa, we just wanted to take
some time to stay goodbye our way.

I guess it's your way.

And this seemed like
the right place to do it

because there's so
much of you in here...

So much that's
alive and growing.

Which is still
how I think of you.

It's kind of funny.

Grandpa, I love you,
and I miss you already.

And dad and I are
here and we're together.

This is good. This
was a good idea.

I feel better.

Yeah. Yeah, me too.