Dream Lover (1993) - full transcript

Ray is young, charming, successful and the owner of a prosperous architect company. However, he has recently gone through a very painful divorce. His friends try to cheer him up by showing him the positive sides of being single but for Ray marriage and stability is just too important. But when he meets Lena his gloom is quickly forgotten. She is beautiful, sensual, mysterious and he is drawn to her like a moth to a candle. They marry quickly, have their first child and Ray lives in a total bliss. But then strange incidents occur which shed some light on Lena's background. Ray slowly realizes that he hardly knows anything about her at all. Who has he really married?

Hey, Ray.
How's the wife?

Well, it...

How's the family?

The first
case I see here is
Reardon v. Reardon.

Will counsel please stand?

We're petitioning,
Your Honor.

And for the respondent?

Mr. Reardon,
I ask you again,
where is your counsel?

I fired him.

I no longer contest
any aspect of this divorce.

Mr. Reardon, this court was
prepared to render a judgment



quite favorable
to your interests.

It was a mistake, Your Honor.
She can have whatever
she wants.

We were impossible.
We were like oil
and water.

I still love you.

Me, too.

That's what made it
so hard to leave.

Till you hit me.
I slapped you.
I pushed your face...

With your hand.

Well, betrayal is
not my best thing.

Yeah, well, I know.

Yeah, well, I know.

I'm not the only guy who
gets upset if he finds
his wife sleeping...

Look, I wasn't
strong enough to
break away without it.

He's a jerk.



Of course he was a jerk.

It's not easy to
find someone like you.

Try harder.

Oh, God,
I'm already jealous.

I know you're going
to find the right person,

and when you do...

and when you do...

She's going to be
the luckiest woman alive.

To a free man.

Fresh meat
on the market.

Thank you.

May you never sleep alone.
Thank you.

I told you
not to marry her.

You two
had absolutely
nothing in common.

Forget "in common," okay?
She wasn't his type.

Ray always went for brunettes.

Ray always went for brunettes.

You're telling me.

You're Larry's wife.

Picky, picky.
Plus, you're a lawyer.

That's right.
Ray likes artsy types.

He likes them thin
and dark and artistic.

Right. So, are we talking
sex here or marriage or...

- What about love?
- Love?

But in the long term,
you're interested in
a family, right?

I want everything.
The kids, the dog,
the Volvo.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow
down on the family, sport.

I mean, first you get laid,
then you get laid.

Exactly. There are many,
many women out there.

Exactly. There are many,
many women out there.

Ah!

Lots of skinny women, even.

Anorexics. Yes.
Dark, angelic anorexics.

They're 33 years old, their
biological clocks are
tick-tock,

tick-tock, tick-tock.

Come now.
I'm ovulating!

I'm fertile today.

Just today.

It kills me to say it,
but I'm going to agree
with Norman on this.

You are attractive,

you are straight,
you are not overtly psychotic.

you are straight,
you are not overtly psychotic.

Oh, thank you.

Listen. You just take
your time,

and don't you be a slave
to your glandular reactions.

By the way, have I
ever mentioned that my family
crest is actually a big gland?

I rest my case.

I am down on my knees.

I am begging you.

All right.
This is humiliating.

Are you deaf? Huh?

I'm guaranteeing you
100% return in six months.

You're my friend, Norman.

Sure. That's why I'm
bringing you the deal.

I'm gonna
loan money once,
I'll do it again,

and sooner or later,
I'm gonna lose a friend.

Great. Swell, so,
I'm floating facedown.

All right, look.

You know, I wanted to
emphasize the positive here.

The money's not just...

It would keep me alive
another 72 hours, okay?

Would your friendship
allow you to do that?
I love this.

How much?
For the investment?

To save your life.

Well, say, 20 grand.

I'll give you half.

You'll save half my life?

See, this isn't good.
Between friends...
Just forget the whole thing.

No, no,
I need the bucks.

It's just that I know
you can afford more,
and I'm wondering...

This isn't
my job to rescue you
from yourself, all right?

You're going to regret this.

What?

A year or two,
fortunes could change.

You could come to me
wanting something.

See. See what happened here?

It's the same with girls.
A little friendly advice.

Remember the girls
I set you up with?

Norman, those women were...
I'll do better, okay?

The point is they told me
what you give off.

You know, you're lonely.

It's understandable,
but it comes off needy,

just like I was here,
and it's bad technique.

They said I was needy?

Desperate.

So, look,
they're throwing me
a party next week, okay?

34 years old
and still an asshole.

They said I was needy?

Forget that. I'm trying
to tell you something.

I invited a girl there.
Brunette, Midwest, so forth.

Perfect for you.
No, I... Please.

Tits? Did someone say tits?

Like pears.

Huh? And not the hard
green ones, either.

The juicy Comice you get
in the box from Oregon.
Harry and David.

Norman, I'm coming to your
party as your friend,
all right?

But please promise me
you won't introduce me
to any more women.

But please promise me
you won't introduce me
to any more women.

Exactly my point,
if you'd let me finish.

Believe me,
I can find her myself.

Who says no?

Hey, a safe doesn't
have to fall on me.

We still friends?

Can I go back to work now?

And thanks
for the 20 G's.
Uh-uh.

Ten, ten!

After completing the novel,
I went back to my work on
the particle accelerator.

After completing the novel,
I went back to my work on
the particle accelerator.

What is that, lycra?

Norman is the only person
I know who can turn his
birthday into a scam.

I mean, God.
He's not paying
for food, drinks.

He's providing the idiots
who might buy the work
of this artist.

Is that the artist?
The cowboy?

Of course that's him.

Guns and buns.
It's not that bad.

I guarantee you, if there
are any sales tonight,
Norman's friends...

I bet he's gonna
get a piece of it.

Speaking of which,
did he come to you
about this crazy...

Oh, the jackpot idea.
100 grand?

- Yeah.
- Yes, sir.

He got the money.
What?

Well, he must have,
'cause one day,
he was hawking me,

and I mean,
I'm a harder sell
than you are, right?

I got two kids,
private school,

Elaine's starting
her own law firm...

Penguin joke.

So the guy says...
Again?

"Hey! Where you going?"

Are you Ray?

Hey, did I...

I'm Cheryl,
Norman's friend.

Right. That's right.
Good to see you.

I'm... Norman told me.

I know, I know.

According to him,
we're practically engaged.

We are?
Yeah.

I just love
a sense of humor in a man.

You know, I think laughter
is the greatest aphrodisiac.

Don't you agree?

In the right
circumstances, yes.

You know, it's strange.

You know, it's strange.

I feel something.

Do you feel something?

I usually
feel something.

No, not like that.
I mean...

You know, when
two people fix you up.

"You two
will be perfect
for each other."

Blah, blah, splat, splat.

I mean, usually,
it's just awful, right?

Right.

But just somehow, just this
moment we're having
right now...

This moment?

Yeah.

Look, I don't
want to be forward,
but would you, you know...

Like to go
someplace else?

Yes, actually, I, um...

Would you excuse me
for a moment?
What?

I don't want to be rude,

but there's something
that I must tell Norman.

So, you... All right?

I'm...
Shit!

I'm...
Shit!

Will you look
where you're going?
Oh, Jesus!

This is wine.
You've ruined it.
Sorry.

Get your hands off me!
It's bad enough you
ruined my dress!

I was just
turning away from...

You don't like me.

No. No, no, no.

What did he do to you?

He is just unbelievably rude!

Ugh!
You're not kidding.

I was trying to say
it was an accident.
I was turning away...

Save it! Why don't you
apologize first and foremost

to your girlfriend,
and leave me alone.

She's...

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Look, please.
I'm sure you're
a wonderful person.

This jerk spilled wine on me.

Hey, sport. How do you
like my party?

If you ever set me up with
another woman, I'm gonna
kill you. Understand?

Sure. Sure. Why didn't
you say something before?

Happy birthday.

Thank you.

Oh, God,
I'm embarrassed.

Last week. The wine.

Bitch of the Western world.

Oh, right.

I'm sorry.
I have to apologize.

No, no, no.
No, I'm the one...
I spilled...

No, no, no.
No, I'm the one...
I spilled...

No, I'm a klutz.
Things like that are
always happening to me.

It embarrasses me,
and I took it out on you.

Plus I'd just
bought that dress.

I was trying to
impress this guy.

Did it work?

Yeah. He was impressed
with what a bitch I am.

Um...

I'm really sorry
I ruined your evening.
If you want me to pay...

No, you did me a favor.

I might have gone for that guy
and I don't need that
right now.

Besides, you changed my life.

I switched
from French wine
to French water.

So, anyway,
sorry, thanks, and...

Bye.

I'm Ray.

Lena.

Hi, Lena.

Hi.

Hi.

I know, I know. It's junk.

I'm poisoning my body.

Oh, but I got the water.

Anyway, I believe in
body wisdom.

If your body
craves something,
that's what it needs.

So what
have you got here?
Lonely guy specials?

They have a very good
selection here.

I think the manager's
a bachelor.

You don't
have a girlfriend?

The girl
at the art gallery,
the one you made cry?

The girl
at the art gallery,
the one you made cry?

Oh, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.

She, uh... No, she was...
She was trying to rape me.

Was this on special?

I don't know.

How did you
come to that party?
Are you a friend of Norman's?

A girlfriend of mine
knows the artist.

Wild Bill Hickok?

Yeah, he was kind of...

You want to get
a cup of coffee?

$23.17.

Or a glass of French water?

Actually, I haven't
eaten yet, so...

Me either.

Me either.

So, I'm VP Sales.

I'm moving up, then the
CEO decides he likes me.

I say no,
but he's used to
getting what he wants.

I have
to threaten
to call his wife.

So, of course he fires me.

He spreads the word.
It's a small community.

He spreads the word.
It's a small community.

I couldn't get hired
anywhere in New York.

You should have gone
to court and filed some...

Sure. If,
as he put it,
I wanted to hear

every guy in the company
testify that they'd had me.

I moved out here instead.

What a terrible...

Yeah.

I've never done this before.

Had supper?

Pick somebody up
at a supermarket.

You didn't pick me up.
We bumped into each other.

Still, you know what I mean,
usually, you meet somebody...

You work together,
or a friend introduces.

Not just
a complete stranger.

Getting to know someone
is like peeling an onion.

It makes you cry?

No.

Layers and more layers.

Well...

I think we should go.

I do business in Japan.

Where'd you learn
to speak it?

I studied it
at Swarthmore.

I've forgotten most of it,
but I love the concept
of Japanese.

Symbols, not letters.

This is it.

Where I live.

Oh.

This was great.

Yeah, thanks for dinner.

Uh...

You think I could come up?
I mean, just for five minutes?

It wouldn't take
five minutes.

Look, the law
doesn't matter.
This is politics.

Look, the law
doesn't matter.
This is politics.

Now, if we take him
to court, we'll win,

but because he has a vote
on the planning commission,

right now
he's a better
architect than you.

That's the law.

Excuse me, sir?

Not now, Sally.

Norman's on line two.

Uh, sorry, Hal.

Well?

It's Wednesday, I got
my Wednesday afternoon
golf game,

and I'm out here with
a mobile phone trying
to track down some chick.

Nobody knows her, okay?
Nobody. Forget her.

Okay.
Thanks for trying.

Thank you. Good night.

See you soon, sweetie.

- Yeah, what do you want?
- Sorry. I'm sorry.

Hello?
Hi.

Lena. Hi.

Hello?
Yeah?

Hi, this is Ray.
Reardon. From last night.

Do...
I remember.

I, um...
I don't have
your phone number.

I don't know your last name,
so there was no way for me
to get in touch.

Uh-huh.

Do you wanna go out?
Come out?

Now or later or...

Meet someplace
or something?

Meet someplace
or something?

Or do, uh...
Do you have
a phone number?

Hello?

Come on in.

I'll be right out.

I'll be right out.

I was just
taking a shower.

Hi.

Hi.

I have these same columns
in my office.

I hope I'm not intruding.

I don't mind.

I was waiting outside
when I saw you come in.

Why didn't you say hello?

Well...

It's strange, don't
you think, watching me
and not saying anything?

I know. I just, uh...

You were with
that guy, so...

Tony.

Yeah, and you kissed him
downstairs, and I just...

And you thought?

Well, uh, maybe
that you lived with him,

and, uh, he went to
buy eggs or...

Tony's a friend.

Oh. Well.

He's gay.

Oh.

Not that it's
your business.

No.

Well...

Something's changed
from last night.

Yes, it has.

Why? What's the problem?

I like you.

That's the problem.

I really like you.

That's not a problem.

I haven't seen them,
I haven't talked to them.

They're...

Are you sure
you want to hear this?

Yes.

My mother used to
hit me a lot.

Big things, little things.

No reason at all.

Nothing put her
in a good mood like...

My father watched.

My father watched.

I realized
they never wanted me.

I left as soon as I could.

Never even sent
them a postcard.

You're so beautiful.

Don't say that.

Why?

Just don't.

Yeah.

Look, just 'cause
I'm halfway pretty,

guys look in my eyes
and think they know me.

Like I'm their fantasy.

I'm just a regular,
screwed-up person.

So when you
say I'm beautiful,

it's like you're not
seeing me at all.

Yes, I am.

No.

"Only God, my dear
Could love you for
yourself alone

"And not your yellow hair."

Yeats.

No boundaries,
very dangerous.

I thought that's the way
it was supposed to be
in storybooks.

Storybooks are
stories in books.

This is real life.

You're still...

I've got to go. I've got to...
No.

Oh, no, you don't.

You're the boss, right?

Call unwell, take a day off.

That simple?

That simple.

I thought we might
take a shower.

Yeah?

A nice, long one.

Yeah.

We can make love
for an hour or so.

So we can just
keep on doing this?

For how long?

I'm so happy for him.

I mean it.

Ray, buddy,
I have to tell you,

that is a beautiful
piece of ass.

that is a beautiful
piece of ass.

I can't believe the most
gorgeous creature I've
ever seen,

she chose me.

Does she have any sisters,
friends, fourth cousin?
Anything?

She burned all her bridges
when she left New York.
Her only friends are...

Ah. They're already
so happy together.
...those two over there.

By the way, I think our friend
Larry's a little jealous
of you.

What?

Yes, because you're
basically disgusting.

You have it all.

I do.

Oh! I haven't danced
so much since...

Whoa. She's strong too.
Did you see how much she was
whirling me around out there?

Ow.
I'm sorry.

Wow!
It's nothing.

Look at that bruise.

You and Ray
like the rough stuff?
Why didn't you tell me?

I've got
some equipment
I can lend you.

No, I'm a klutz.

Don't.
I...

Oh, Jesus! Look.
My parents dancing together.

Baby, let's never
end up like that, okay?

Okay?

Congratulations!

Geez.

It's over.

Over? It's just beginning.

You're not kidding.

Hey, Ray.
I hear you got married.

That's beautiful.
That's gorgeous.
Who is she?

Well, her name is...
Oh, that's swell.

Well, her name is...
Oh, that's swell.

The girl of your dreams,
huh? Huh?

Did you get her here?

Here?

At our booth.
Our most popular exhibit.

Well, maybe I should...

What, are you crazy?
What, are you nuts?

You don't
want to find out
you got the wrong one.

Let's go to the fun house.

She looks just like you.

Two years.

I love you.

I never thought

it would
be possible for me to
have such a normal life.

My uncle used to say...

Sissy? Aren't you Sissy?

Excuse me?

Piru, Texas.
I'm Cora's sister.

I'm Lena Mathers,
now Lena Reardon.

Dayton, Ohio.

Oh. I'm sorry.
Your voice isn't quite...

Oh. I'm sorry.
Your voice isn't quite...

Just for a minute,
I thought...

I'm very sorry.

That's okay.

That's so strange.

This woman,
Sissy something...

That's twice
that's happened.

Once in New York,
and now here.

She looks
exactly like me.

Maybe she's my double,
my doppelganger.

She's the one
who's really alive.

I'm just...
You don't feel alive?

Of course I do.

Only, doesn't life seem
sometimes like this

very strange dream?

I hope I don't wake up.

I'll let you know.

Don't say that.

Okay. I'll talk
to you later.
All right. Bye.

Hi. Who was that?

Debby from
my dance class.

Stuff in her marriage
is insane.

Have I met Debby?

No, 'cause,
well, she's great,
but her husband is...

It's an unusual
combination.

He's a psychopath,
and he's boring.

That is unusual.

So how was your day?

Any news on the Mura job?

No. It looks good.

Huh?

What's up with you, hmm?

I'm sorry.

I just haven't felt very...

It's okay.

I hope it'll come back.

It will. The doctor
said it'll take time.

So how's it feel?

It's like it's become
a business or something.

A partnership.

That's what marriage is.
Well, I don't like it.

You're not the only one.

Plus I get these weird
jealousies, suspicions.

Oh, yeah? Like what?

Oh, that's normal, too.

Usually it's just a way
of driving yourself crazy.

But not always?

No. No, not always.

What are you saying?
Elaine has...

Sometimes
everything's a clue,

and what
you think is paranoia is
actually heightened awareness.

That's too bad.

Not at all.

What's sauce for the goose...

I'm sorry.
I don't know
what happened.

I'm sorry.
I don't know
what happened.

Mr. Mura's never late.

Oh, no, no. Don't
even think about it.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's just we've spoken
on the phone so many times,

and I never had any idea
that you were so attractive.

Thank you.

But personally, I prefer
brains to beauty, don't you?

No, of course.
Yes. I, um...

I mean, I didn't
endure the four years
at Swarthmore in order to...

You went to Swarthmore?

Yes.

So did my wife.

Really?

So, what year were you?

Swarthmore? '83.

Well, then,
did you know Lena Mathers?

I don't think so. No.

I don't think so. No.

But those years
were crazy.

Between the frenzy
for grades and jobs and...

Then, in the middle
of all of that,

the president of the college,
Sam Shaw,

died of a heart attack
as he was speaking to us.

I hardly remember
my best friends.

Oh, Mr. Mura.

It's beautiful.

We're going to Japan.

We are?
Mmm-hmm.

You got the Mura job?
Mmm-hmm.

That's great.
It is great.

This building is going to be
like nothing else in the
whole world.

I'm so proud of you.

By the way, what year
were you at Swarthmore?

By the way, what year
were you at Swarthmore?

'84. Why?

This woman who works
for Mura, Celine Rogers,

she was there
at the same time.

I don't remember her.

No. She didn't
remember you, either.

Remember Sam Shaw?

Who?

Died of a heart attack.

Oh, he was a classmate.

God, he died
of a heart attack?

It's scary, isn't it?

Someone my age.

Bad things can just
come out of nowhere.

Exactly.

Can I help you
find something?

Is your real name Sissy?

What?

You heard me.

You mean am I really this
other woman who looks like me?

Yeah.

Like a sci-fi thing.
We've been switched
or something.

Not like sci-fi, like real.
Like are you really her?

I don't know, Ray.
I never studied philosophy.

Questions like that
make my head hurt.

I forgot to have Sally
go to the bank.

I need some cash.

No problem.

Now, you tell Mr. Mura

he can't
keep you east long
or I'll die of loneliness.

I will. Bye-bye.

Ray. Kiss me.

I love you,
Lena. I love you.

I love you, too.

Bye.

We welcome
you back to WTXE,
right here in Piru, Texas,

home of
the sawed-off shotgun.

If you don't like our music...

...leave town.

♪ So you're at
the end of your wits

♪ The end of your rope

♪ You just can't fix
everything that's broke

♪ You just can't fix
everything that's broke

♪ Gotta turn it loose, babe

♪ Hey, just let it ride

♪ 'Cause it ain't
about pride, now...

Hello.

I'm the executor
of a very large estate.

I'm trying to
find someone who
used to live here.

Do you recognize her?

First name
or nickname is Sissy.

Never seen her.

Thank you.

♪ The other side of loneliness

♪ The other side of the blues

♪ There really is
a place like this

♪ Where the sun is
gonna shine for you

♪ You'll feel that
old restlessness

♪ When your tears
have all been cried

♪ When your tears
have all been cried

♪ And you'll find
your way over this

♪ Yeah, you'll make it
to the other side ♪

There you go.
Out of state?

Yeah.
Land speculation or what?

Think people
are put on Earth

for the sole purpose of
driving other people crazy?

My father had
my mom put away,

and he's the one that
made her lose her marbles.

Do you know her?

Sissy. Hope she's nothin'
to you.

She's my wife.

Figures.

She run off and leave you?

No.

Well, give it time.

Is that what
she did to you?

She did things to me
I can't even pronounce.

Sorry. I'll give
her this, though.

She always
had it in her mind
to marry somebody rich.

Gotta go to work.

What's her name?

Huh?

Her real name?

You don't know?

Thelma Sneeder.

She still
have family here?

Most folks find
this stuff out beforehand.

Go up that road there.

Take a right on Branch,
a left on Hickory.

It's the third house.

Tell her hi from Buddy,
you hear?

Mrs. Sneeder?
Yes.

Oh, my God, it's Ray!

Yes, ma'am.

Is everything okay?

Yes.

Come in.
Come in quickly.

Is it safe
for you to be here?

Is it safe
for you to be here?

Safe?
With your job.

I'm sorry. I'm...

Oh, you don't
have to pretend.
Sissy wrote us all about it.

Hey!

Hey!

What do you want?

Come see for yourself.

You got any recent
pictures of Tina?

I do, actually. Yes.

Well, I'll be.
Put her there, Ray.

Well, I'll be.
Put her there, Ray.

It's good to
finally meet you.

Could you go and
get us some coffee, hon?

Surprise.

Thank you.

I'm glad it's over.

Dad.

Come see the baby.

I'll get those.

Y'all need
any help out there?

No, thanks.

I'm in the C.I.A.?

I had to give them
some reason why
they couldn't visit.

I had to give them
some reason why
they couldn't visit.

What about that story of
your mother beating you
and your father watching?

Not true.

But there's
lots of different kinds
of abuse within a family.

Right, okay.

But if the things
that you tell me
aren't true,

then what is true, Lena?

Who are you?

I'm your wife.

Called her Sissy

'cause we wanted to
have another child,
a boy.

Of course,
we never did,

but Sissy was always
so, so beautiful

that it didn't
really matter.

Still, when she wrote
me that she was...

Wrote us.

Of course.
That goes without saying.

Well, then, say it.

She wrote us
she was changing her name.

Well, naturally,
I was insulted.

Well, naturally,
I was insulted.

We both were.

But it was kind of
a woman's lib thing.

Women change
their name for a man
when they get married,

so why not change it
for their own sakes?

But she'll always be
Sissy to us.

Your parents seem like
perfectly decent people.

Yep.

Why'd you hide them
from me?

They're stuck.
In Texas, in poverty.

Can't you feel it?
They were this weight
dragging me down.

If I'd have stayed there,
I would've married that
guy Buddy,

I would've had his kids,

would have drunk
beer every night till I got
really fat, ugly, and bored.

So I invented myself.

I made up Lena Mathers,
and I became her.

They say you
replace every molecule in
your body every seven years.

They say you
replace every molecule in
your body every seven years.

I changed my
name eight years ago.
No more Thelma Sneeder.

Aren't you gonna
give me credit for it?

Doesn't it seem at least brave
that I just became

this completely
different person?

It makes me look at you in
a completely different way.

Me or you?

Isn't the real question,
who are you?

Are you really Ray Reardon,
or is that the name your
parents hung on you?

Oh, you've always been
a good boy.

You've gone along with
who Ray was supposed to be,

You've gone along with
who Ray was supposed to be,

done what Ray was supposed
to do, but who are you?

Where are you really from?
What do you really want?

I'm tired, and I
want to go to bed.

I tried to tell you
so many times, lying here
like this.

I'd say to myself,

"Now, Lena, tell him."

I wish you had.

I was afraid

if you knew
the real me that

if you knew
the real me that

I'd lose you.

You be a good girl now.

Have a safe trip.
You make her
feed you, you hear?

She does.

Goodbye.
Bye-bye.

If you're not divorcing me,
I'd like to send them
money every month.

Sure.

Then we're okay?

Look at me.

Tell me it's the truth.

You know it is.

No matter who you were
and no matter who you are,

no matter who you will be,
I'm going to love you.

From now on,
better than ever.

From now on,
better than ever.

I love you.

Announcing the landing of
flight 250 from Piru, Texas.

Now better than ever.

You're late, Ray.
Show's already started.

Ray! Ray, my boy!

You're looking grand!

You like these? Huh?

And this?

Tell me, Ray.
Tell me true.

Am I the girl
of your dreams?

Mmm, actually...

Of course not!
Look! Looky here.

♪ Some guys
look at the eyes

♪ Some guys
look at the thighs ♪

I just look
at the purse.

How about that?
You like it, Ray?

Sure, you do!

Recognize her yet, huh?

Recognize her yet, huh?

And now, the moment
we've all been waiting for,

the moment which will
determine Ray Reardon's fate.

Here she is, folks!

And last
but not least, it's...
Baby Bob! Yeah!

For those of you who
don't remember Bob Baby

from last year's
cutie-pie contest,

well, he wasn't born yet.

well, he wasn't born yet.

Okay, and now it's Tina,
cute as ever. Yeah.

And Lena,
cuter than ever.
That's right, all right.

Come on now. That's it.
Don't serve it, baby.
Feel the burn.

Attagirl! Okay,
and Pinhead Ray!

That's right, Pinhead Ray
with the perfect life.

He's got
the perfect wife,
the perfect family.

Why, he's got everything
a man could possibly want,

except a Wednesday
afternoon golf game,

and, well,
a cute, young mistress,
but never mind that now.

He doesn't have time
for any of these things...

- Stop it, Norman.
- That's not funny.

- Stop it, Norman.
- That's not funny.

Exactly my point.
According to the East German
Judge Lena, it's not funny.

So now we come to
our legal beagle Elaine,
and her client, Bernardo

from West Side Story and...

A post. That is
a great post,
by the way.

And now,
let's turn
the camera on...

This guy, yes!
This is a stupid guy.

This is a guy
who can't make a living.

This is, uh...

A pain in the ass.
A pain in the ass.

Thank you, Ray.
Thank you.

This is the guy
who's going nowhere fast.

This is a...
A pain in the ass.

A pain in the ass again.
Thank you, Ray.

Will somebody stop him?
A pain in the ass.

Will somebody stop him?
A pain in the ass.

Stop me?
I can't be stopped.

That's enough, Norman.
For Christ's sake.

Don't have
to tell me twice.
Hey, where's the beer?

So, uh, how's everything?

Since we talked this morning?
Come on.

No, come on.

I haven't seen
Lena in a while.
She looks great.

You're right.
She looks great.

Four months
after giving birth,
she looks really great,

very, very great, and
I'll be honest with you...

Yes?

No, I won't, actually.

No, I won't, actually.

I changed my mind
and I will not be honest,
because, uh, it's just that

I think
I saw somewhere
where, for them,

giving birth is like
having an affair.
That's what I meant.

It gives them a glow.
A glow, yes.

So she's alive again
in a whole new way,
and that's beautiful,

it so happens.
A glow?

You, by the way,

can kiss my ass and
that will make us
both happy.

It's the strangest thing.
See for yourself.

Well, Bernardo?

Well, it doesn't
look like him to me.

I rest my case.
He doesn't look like
either of his parents.

I rest my case.
He doesn't look like
either of his parents.

I think
he was switched
in the hospital.

Oh, I'm sorry.
Is that what happened?

Did some drunken nurse
switch you?

There you go.

Good night.

Good night.
Good night, sweetheart.

Oh, I told you
I couldn't.

Of course I want to.
It's just...

You just have
to be patient.

Yeah? Uh-huh.

I absolutely
guarantee it.

Yeah, okay.

Okay.

Bye.

Debby.

She wants me to go see
those male strippers.

That should be fun.

Could you try
her again, please?

I just did, sir.

Keep trying her
every 10 minutes

until you reach her.

Yes, sir,
but it's Wednesday.

I have that
funeral tomorrow,
so I'm leaving early.

Just keep trying,
please, until you go.

Yes, sir, of course.

I love these late dinners
after the kids are asleep.

I love these late dinners
after the kids are asleep.

You have a bruise
on your leg.

Christ.

Where'd you get it?

My shrink says
I should...

Why do I always have
to go through this?

I'm clumsy,
I bruise easily,

and I don't want
to talk about it

every time
I bump into a chair.

Did you cook this?

No, it's takeout.

Why didn't you cook?
What?

Why didn't you cook?

'Cause cooking gets boring.
Why didn't you cook?

I work all day.

What's wrong with you?

I hope you enjoy
these psychotic episodes.

So you go to his place?

Excuse me?
You fuck him at his place?

What are you
talking about?

Open it up.

Did your secretary
tell you I called today?

At noon.
I was out on site.

I called back
all afternoon.

I had this fantasy
of coming to your office

and screwing your brains out
on top of your desk.

I guess the fantasy
was misplaced.

I guess the fantasy
was misplaced.

When you weren't there,
I went to my shrink's,
and then I went to Debby's.

If you don't believe me,
call Debby.

Want to call her?

Go ahead.

The machine.

And you didn't
leave a message.

You want to leave
a message? Here.

You want to leave
a message? Here.

You're sick.
Get some help.

Ray?

What do you want, Ray?

What do you want, Ray?

I know what you want.

Pretend it's all a dream.

Sorry I'm late, everybody.

Are you the temp?

Yes, sir. Alice Keller.

I'm Ray Reardon.

Did my...
Oh, I guess
my secretary left.

Have we met?

No, sir.

I don't believe we have.

Yes, we have.
Wait. You're, um...

You're friends with
my wife, right? Lena?

You're friends with
my wife, right? Lena?

Sure, you are.

Lena Mathers.
You were at our wedding.

Tell me.

Hi.

What a nice idea
to meet in the park.

You recognize that woman?

You hired a temp
to be your friend?

A person's supposed
to have friends, right?

Everyone has friends.

When you told
her what the job was,
you were laughing at me,

making fun of me.

She didn't understand.

See, it wasn't
just that I became Lena
and Lena happened to meet you.

I chose you.

I first saw you
five years ago in New York.

A party on the West Side,
Riverside and...
Ninety-something.

I saw you,
and somehow I knew.

I knew you were it.

I was still married.

Then later I heard
you'd left your wife.

Then later I heard
you'd left your wife.

A friend of mine,
Mimi Moore, knows Norman,

and so she got
information from him.

Information?

The kind of things you like,
what kind of women you like.

Wait a minute.
So, you've pretended...

Just a few things.
Just the outside.

It's like putting on
new clothes or a new perfume.

Personality is a perfume?

Sure.

Perfume's intended
to attract somebody,

but it's not the thing
you fall in love with,
is it?

I don't know.

Is this the end?

I can't keep opening
my heart to you
and getting...

Isn't that what love is?

I don't mean passion.

Love.

Isn't it an act of faith,
loving someone

despite having
to put up with things
which are intolerable?

Opening your heart.

Again and again.

She's right.

I mean,
are you perfect?

No, but you want to
be loved anyway, right?

Love her anyway.

Love her anyway.

It's how we
save ourselves,
by loving people.

I could tell you
some stories about Elaine.

It's just...
I feel like a fool.

Oh, we're all fools
in love, aren't we?

Follow your heart.

Thanks, man.
Yeah.

This is what
friends are for.

This is what
friends are for.

Hal, they're being
very generous.

I just don't
need the work.

You should
lower the pitch.
All right. Okay.

Listen, on that other matter,
just forget it, okay?
Let's settle.

Yeah, okay.
He's always in the car.

Just a very... Also, Sally,
we should call Mr. Mura,
please, all right?

Yes, sir.
It should be...

Also, your wife's
Visa bill came here
instead of the house.

Lena handles the money.
Why would they have sent...

Lena handles the money.
Why would they have sent...

Apparently, it's a new card
and they made a mistake.

Okay. So, pay it, and
I'll ask her about
it tonight.

Do you want
to look it over?

No.

Should I?

What day of the week
was May 27th?

A Wednesday, sir.

Would you call
my house, please?

I did, sir. She's not home.

Try the Hotel Chanticleer.

Yes, sir.

Lena Reardon, please.

She's checked out.

You got the keys?
Ah, good girl, Tina.

Hi, sweetie. Be careful.

Hi.
Hi.

I put a snack on the table.

Oh, good.
He's a good boy.

Hi. Hi.

Hey. Hey.

Hi.

Jeanne, take the kids out.

What?

Take the kids
outside, please.

Where will
I take them?

Anywhere. The park.

Yes, sir.
Come on, Tina.

Come on.
Tina, come on.

Is it really necessary
to throw a scene every
single day?

What's that for?

You threw away the bill.

What bill?

Hotel Chanticleer
every fucking Wednesday!

I threw it away.

Let me ask you this.
Why weren't you more careful?

Why didn't you get
a second diaphragm, or...

Leaving evidence around
like this, it's sloppy.

Why didn't you use
a prophylactic?

Sometimes we do use
a prophylactic

and sometimes I just
give him a blowjob.

and sometimes I just
give him a blowjob.

I always knew
you were abusive.
I do you, you do me.

Who is it?

Don't you know?

Can't you guess?

Debby.

Debby's an answering machine.

That's right.
Just a woman's voice,
someone saying they're Debby.

Who the fuck is it?

You know him
better than I do.

Well, in some ways,
you know him better.

Well, in some ways,
you know him better.

In other ways,
I know him better.

What? Aren't I telling you
what you've always suspected?

What you've always
wanted to hear? Huh?

What else do
you want to hear?

You want to hear
how good it was?

Stop it.

It was fucking great.
His cock is so huge.
He makes me come

and come and come.

And the amazing thing is,
really, all this time,
you never suspected.

All what time?

All what time?

The whole time, Ray,
even before we were married.

All my bruises.

The whole time?
What about the kids?

Are they mine?

Do you know?

Of course I do.

Whose are they?

I love them,
and I raised them.

I love them,
and I raised them.

Yes, you have.

But I'm still
not gonna tell you.

Is that all?

Fuck.

Fuck.

Wednesday.

Wednesday. Norman's
fucking golf game.

Mr. Reardon.

Who are you?

I'm Dr. Shteen,
Lena's psychiatrist.

What the fuck happened here?
Where's my wife?

What the fuck happened here?
Where's my wife?

Lena called.
She was hysterical.

I am here to evaluate
your mental state.

My mental state?

If you're a danger
to your wife,

we can have you committed
for 72 hours observation.

Get the fuck
out of my house,
you son of a bitch!

Officer! Officer!

Take it easy.

What the fuck is this?

Take him away. 5150.

You will be
held for observation

according to Welfare
and Institutions Code 5150.

You may use the telephone,
wear your own clothes,

and you may petition the court
at any time for your release.

I don't care what kind
of law you practice, Hal.

I don't care who you pay,
I don't care what it costs.
I want out of here right now.

The law? Fuck the law!

And now, babycakes,
the moment you've
all been waiting for,

the moment which will
determine Ray Reardon's fate,

here she is, folks!

That's right, Ray!
It wasn't your second wife.
It was your first.

You should have
stayed with Martha.

Come on down! Come on!
Give her one last dance!

Hi, sweetie.

How are the kids?
I miss them.

Just peachy.
Want to go for a walk?

I can't believe
they let us out together.

Oscar will protect me.

A facility this expensive...

What if I fly into a rage
and attack you?

You're sedated.

I am?
I don't feel sedated.

That's because
you're crazy.

So, what are you doing here?

Friday's your hearing.
I wanted to tell you,

whichever way it goes...
Whichever way it goes?

I'm not dangerous.
I'm not crazy.

They aren't going
to keep me in here.

I just wanted to say...

Ray?

In spite of everything...

I love you.

I really, truly love you.

Norman will
be disappointed.

Yeah. You've seen who
I really am.

You've seen more
than anybody ever...

And you kept on loving me.

You're a psychopath.

Probably.

A psychopath can still
love somebody, can't they?

Your Honor.
Counselor.

My client's been off
medication for 36 hours?

Yes, of course.

The staff should be
bringing him in
any minute now.

Hello.

Mr. Reardon,
you requested
this writ hearing.

Yes, Your Honor.

You're being incarcerated
against your will.

And, Dr. Spatz,
the hospital recommends?

It's a perplexing case,
Your Honor.

I suspect
an atypical psychosis,

but I need more time
to evaluate.

180 days additional?

Wait a minute.

Well, considering the danger
to his wife, yes, that's
what I'd recommend.

Mr. Reardon,
you understand
this is a legal proceeding,

but I find it
very useful if the
patient testifies first.

Your Honor, we'd prefer...
I'd be glad to, Your Honor.

You're saying
that your wife created
a character and identity

so you would fall
in love with her.
Yes.

And she was guided by
your friend, this Norman...
Yes.

...who she
slept with throughout
your marriage at this...

...who she
slept with throughout
your marriage at this...

Hotel Chanticleer.
And she'd call him
sometimes on the phone

and pretend it was this
fictitious girlfriend Debby.

This sounds
so crazy, but...

No, no, no. Not at all.

But the discovery
of all this in such
a short time, I mean...

I hit her.

I've never
done that before,
and the idea that I pose

some sort
of permanent danger
to her is just ludicrous.

I understand.
I think any of us making
that sort of discovery...

Uh, right.

Now let's see what
the other side has to say.

I'd like to call
Dr. Shteen, please.

Dr. Shteen, as
Mrs. Reardon's psychiatrist,

do you find
that her husband
poses a threat to her life?

do you find
that her husband
poses a threat to her life?

I've thought so for
some time.

Mrs. Reardon has been
seeing me for several years,

and on many occasions,
she's had visible and
very alarming bruises.

When I asked her about them,
she said that her husband
hit her.

That's bullshit.

Mr. Reardon.

I've advised
Lena frequently to
go and see the police.

So when this latest
incident occurred...

Your Honor, may I?

No, I told you before,
I never hit that eye.

She's done this to herself.

I'll take care of it.

It's a fucking frame-up.
Ill take care of it.

Then Mr. Reardon's
accusations about you
and his wife...

Look, I'm an asshole,
Your Honor.

Can I say that?

All right, see,
I've always been
an asshole, but this...

Even if Lena wanted me...

Well, I probably
couldn't resist,
to be honest.

Once I could have.
I mean, look at her.
But to carry on this long?

Ray is my friend.

Ray is my friend.

Besides, every
Wednesday afternoon

for the last 10 years,
I've played golf.

I brought some letters
from my golf buddies.
Some, uh...

And these bruises,
have you seen them before?

Sure.

And are you aware of any
other examples of violence,

particularly towards women?

particularly towards women?

What was that?

Um...

Ray's first wife Martha,
when they broke up,
he slapped her.

I'm sorry.

Your Honor, that was
four and a half years ago.

So noted, Counselor.

And your name?

Debby Tribbium.

And what
is your relationship?

I'm just...
I'm a friend of
Lena's from dance class,

and she calls me
on the phone sometimes.

Have you met Mr. Reardon?

Sure, a couple of times.
I had dinner there.

Uh, once I dropped by.

She's lying.
I've never met her.

I think she's some
fucking temp.

Debby, do you work
for a temporary agency?

Excuse me?

Do you?

I own
a cookie shop
on the north side.

Chocolate chip,
oatmeal raisin.

Okay, then, describe
the Reardons' apartment.

Uh,
it's a penthouse apartment
with cathedral ceilings.

Um, the living room is on
the right, kitchen's on
the left, and...

All right.
All right.

Mr. Reardon, you're
a distinguished architect

without a blemish
on your record.

There's no history
of any mental illness.

There's no history
of any mental illness.

I'm sane, Your Honor.

You look sane,
you sound sane, sir,

but everything you say
seems to be a delusion.

Frankly, I'd
like to believe you,
but without a witness

or some sort
of corroboration...

Your Honor,
what about her bills?

The Hotel Chanticleer
every Wednesday?

$133. $379.

Mrs. Reardon?

Your Honor, I went to
this Hotel Chanticleer,

and I have a letter
from the manager

and I have a letter
from the manager

saying he's never
seen me before,

that I'm not the
Lena Reardon he knows.

Then who's responsible
for these charges?

I must have used
that credit card
once or twice

and then lost it.

Uh, I didn't realize
it was missing until
a few days ago.

I called the company,
and they sent over
copies of the charges

if you'd like
to compare signatures.

That's not necessary.

What?

I'm sorry, Mr. Reardon.

You're sorry?
You're sorry?

Hey, relax.

This is my life
we're talking about.

I'm aware of that, sir,
and I'm doing you a favor.

I'm aware of that, sir,
and I'm doing you a favor.

If you weren't
in this hospital,

your wife could have
put you in jail.

But this
is not what this is about.

Come on.
Don't you see
what she's doing?

She's stolen my children,
she's stolen my house,

and she's manipulating you.

Mr. Reardon, that's enough.

Get your fucking
hands off me.

I'm warning you, sir.

Oh, fuck you. All right?
You've already made up
your fucking mind.

Very well, then. Proceed.

Just watch it.
You have no idea
who you're dealing with.

She lies to me, and she
tells a different lie to you.

I'd be happy to
take a polygraph test.

Yeah, fucking right
she'd take it.

She'd pass, too.
Some fucking machine?
She is a machine.

Mr. Reardon.
I'm a machine?
You married me.

I married you and I loved you
and you're fucking killing me!

Get your hands off me.

Your Honor.
But if you want to have sex
with penguins...

Your Honor, please.
I'm done. I'm done.

Here. Take this.

They don't let us
wear these in here.

Get your fucking
hands off me!

How we
doing today, Ray?

God bless pharmaceuticals.

You know
what my daddy says?

My daddy says
there are no accidents,

that we all get
exactly what we want.

Your daddy's wrong.

Talk about it.

Family makes you crazy,
and friends ease the pain.

Right, John?

Yeah. That's what friends
are for.

Yeah. That's what friends
are for.

That's what...

Friends...

It's Ray.

Visit me soon.
Don't tell anybody
you're coming.

Go to bed.

Ray.

Ray, it's Elaine.

I'm here.

Is it all right
if I take him outside?

You're safe.
With the drugs he's on,

he couldn't hurt
a fly in December.

Come on.

You called me, right?
I'm sure it was you.

Well, look, I've been doing
some work on my own to get
you out of here,

Well, look, I've been doing
some work on my own to get
you out of here,

but this is a very
weird legal area. I...

Thanks for coming.

You know why
I'm in here, right?

Well, I was
wrong about Norman,
and I think it was Larry.

What was Larry?

Larry's been
fucking Lena.

Is that possible,
for a long time,
four or five years?

It's possible, but I...

It's more than possible.
It explains...

It would explain...

It would explain...

I think the two of them
are trying to get my money.

And go to New Zealand.

What?

What?

He bought a house in
New Zealand without
my knowledge.

It was
a down payment
we couldn't afford,

and when I found out
about it, he told me

that it was some
kind of an investment.

Don't ever
tell him you know.

Don't ever
tell him you know.

I won't.

Make his life a misery.

Believe me.

I want to retain
your legal services.

Is there any way you can
be forced to reveal
this conversation?

No.
Good.

Then tell me
if this will work.

What?

Lena, it's Elaine.
I'm out here visiting Ray.

No, he's sedated.

He's silent,
but he did say
this one thing.

He said,
"You made a mistake."

I don't know, but
he kept repeating it.

He said you
made a big mistake.
You forgot something.

Yeah, that was all.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah. You, too.

I don't know, Ray.
Maybe, maybe not.

Okay, Ray,
I'll see you soon.

Good luck.

Billy?

Billy, wake up.

Talk about it.

What's my name?

John?
What's your name?

John.
Do you want $100?

American money?

You bet.

I'll remind you every night,

and one day,
I'll tap you on the knee,

and you'll know
what to do, okay?

Okay, John.

I'm ready.
I'm right as rain.

Ready as Robert.

Don't worry about me, John.

Oh, hi.
Hi.

He's over there.

Ray.

That's how he is.

Go ahead.

Happy birthday!

Timber!

Timber!

Jesus, Billy,
who woke you up?
Get off of me!

Get off of me!

Your old boyfriend,
Buddy, his father had
his mother committed.

Is that where
you got the idea?

Maybe.

So everything was planned?

Well done.

I just think
it's wonderful that
you've come.

Thank you so, so much.

I came because of some
bullshit you told Elaine.

There's a flaw in my plan?

Speaking of plans,
I must ask.

Are you really going
to New Zealand with Larry?

Larry?

When I'm done with him,
he'll wish he was you.

What are you gonna do
with my kids?

Take your kids away with
me and tell them you died,
or maybe I'll just leave them.

Take your kids away with
me and tell them you died,
or maybe I'll just leave them.

I don't think so.

You still don't have
the faintest clue
who I am or what I do.

Likewise.

God, you are
so beautiful. Ravishing.

You okay?

Never better.

Never, never better.

What are you doing?

Well, this is the last
time we're gonna see
each other, right?

Right.

I want to thank you
with all sincerity.

I've been sleepwalking
my whole life,

and you've woken me up,
and I feel alive now.

You're fucked.

Yes, but I'm
alive and inspired.

Yes, but I'm
alive and inspired.

You saw your plan
with such clarity,
such ruthlessness.

Well done.
Let me go.

No.

I'll scream.

No, you won't.

Why won't I?

'Cause everyone
will come running,
and you won't get it.

Get what?

What you want.

What you deserve.

I mean,
you deserve to know
the flaw in your plan.

You were so good at it.

And you might
want to do it again.

Okay, tell me.

Kiss me first.

What?

Kiss me and I'll tell.

Only it has
to be a real kiss.
Something to remember.

Only it has
to be a real kiss.
Something to remember.

We don't need Oscar.
We don't need anyone.

Kiss me,

then I'll release you.

Who are you, Lena?

Who will you be
when you die?

You don't have the guts.

Don't I?

No, Ray,
you're too practical.

What about
the consequences?

There are
no consequences.

That's the flaw in your plan.

I'm crazy.

You've driven me crazy.

You've driven me crazy.

That was the whole idea.

Well, crazy people
aren't responsible.

Crazy people aren't
legally responsible.

Not guilty
by reason of insanity.

In a year,
I'll be sane again, and
they'll have to let me out.