I Dream Too Much (2015) - full transcript

We need to get
into a character,
okay?

Slow down,
my feet hurt.

All right, Irene,
just remember
that we are Greek, okay?

I'm going to do all
the talking, we have to
get into this party.

Try and talk to somebody
important, all right.

If I can get hired
for the Olympics
then "Hola Brazil".

[Irene whispers] Brazil.

[photographer] Beautiful, yes.

One more, nice.

Hi, we should be
on the list. My name
is Theodora.

And this is
my sister Irene.



We are the direct descendants
of the first Olympians.

Nope.

We really should be
on that list.

[stammers] You please check.
Every page.

Wait until our ancestors
hear about this.

[Irene] I can't believe
that was your best idea.

It's almost as ridiculous as
as when you pose as
that sports agent

to meet that quarter guy.

Okay, punter.
He was a punter,
thank you very much

and he was very cute.

Okay, what I remember is...
you showed up in the meeting
you couldn't come out of after.

Well, you've to admit,
life is more fun
when you've got goals.

It is goals.

What are we gonna do now?



[opening theme music playing]

[car stereo playing]

[woman] Do people from Brazil
desperately wanna travel
to New Jersey?

I thought college
would help me escape

but it failed.

I'm right back where I started,
plain and small.

Credit cards.

No, you are not going into debt
just so you can chase poison
in the Southern Hemisphere.

Please Mom! It could be
a culturally immersive
experience.

-It could change my life.
-I don't think immersive
is a word.

Yes, it is. And what can be more
worse than bad credit, you know?

I think it's about time
that I become less local
and more global.

I'll tell you
what is more worth.

Is you getting your life
going towards
a worthwhile goal.

Don't waste time!

Honey, we need to save
very penny for law school.

-And besides its best for you
to stay in school until--
-The economy gets better, great.

Precisely. Everyone I know
from college is going
abroad after graduating moment.

-What do you do?
-It's plans with money, Dora.

You need to expand your
social circle or network
or whatever you call it.

But Irene and I've been friends
since we've lived
in the city, Mom.

How about something sweet?

...or run away.
I'll go to Ohio

Or go to Nevada
or go to Singapore.

But then I've to be a stowaway
on that ship
and that'd be really weird.

But then I'll make
a living from my...

something, but then I'll become
famous and then she'll be sorry.

And I'll be set
to do something big.

And she'll show up
and I won't recognize her.

Right? And then I'll turn around
and say, "Mom? what mom?

I don't know what this woman
is talking about,
please take her away."

-Dora?
-What?

You've gotta snap
out of this.

Yeah, so says the girl about
to leave for South America.

I'm sorry to interrupt
Miss Huntington,

it's getting late if we're
gonna be picking up
your friend.

Bri is meeting me
at the airport.

Brianna is going with you?

I couldn't go alone.

No, no, I guess,
you couldn't.

All right.
You're gonna be late.

-I love you.
-I love you. Have fun.

Honey?

We can go to the shore
every weekend
when the weather warms up.

[Helen]
Can you sign this "Get Well"
card for your Aunt Vera, please?

-Would you like to know
what happened to her?
-Yeah, what happened?

She broke her foot.

She was dancing.

[laughing]

God bless her.

Oh, my, Aunt Vera
is bringing it down.
It's kinda cool.

Yeah, I guess so,
except that at her age
a broken bone

is going to take an awful
lot longer to heal.

Oh, gosh and there's
that book Paradise
that just came out.

-What kinda book?
-Oh, it's Nena Gabrelle's
autobiography,

now it's on best seller list.

Nena Gabrelle
who is the... actress?

No, Nena Gabrelle,
the bimbo.

Oh, God,
you don't know
about this.

So, wait. Turns out
that uncle Theodore

faked his death and ran off
with her back in the 60's.

What?

-No way, that's crazy.
-Right.

Oh, my God, your room,
have you seen your room?

Ta-da!

[Helen] You signed up
for the prep
course thing, right?

-You did not just clap
your hands at me, Mom.
-Yes, I did, Dora,

I'm trying to
energize you.

Let's go Dora,
come on you can do it.

This depressions of yours really
get in the way of your progress.

Stop, stop.

I'm just trying
to support you, honey.

We'll miss together,
you know?

Real fab, wish you're here
instead of Bri.

Did Irene even graduate?
I thought she flunked out.

You can let go off me now.

Okay.

Is Aunt Vera have anyone
taking care of her?

No, not yet, she doesn't like
to have strangers in her house.

So they're still trying out
to find someone.

[scoffs] No, no, no, no, no.
Have you lost your mind?

-Please don't clap at me again.
-No.

You cannot take care of
any old woman, right now.
Dora, no.

-That's final.
-I owe her, it's the least
I can do.

I'll go look into
the train schedules.

Yes, you do that.
Because I'll damned
if I am going to drive you.

This is silly,
I'll drive you.

The cleaning lady says that
she needs help in and out
of the bath tub.

No problem, there.

She likes music but no cd's,
only record albums.

[Helen]
Hey, is this Grandma's coat?

Well, I thought, I play the part
of the dowdy poor relation.

Like the Gothic novel.

...The eve of departure is
upon me yet?

I must journey to
Great Aunt Vera's country manor.

[Helen]
Except that it's Brooks brothers
and very expensive.

Why don't you play the part
of a bright young girl

who aspires to become
a successful lawyer.

Hmm?

Okay. Most importantly,
keep her spirits up,
she likes her cocktails.

But you've to ask her
if she wants one,
she won't make it herself.

And cut her toe nails.

-That's gross.
-[sighs disgustedly]

-That's gross.
-That's the job.

Why does it always seem
like everything fabulous
is so far away from me.

[Helen] And I think,
it's all right there
in your head.

[announcer] Ladies
and Gentlemen,
an important announcement...

[Helen] I'll be up on March, 1st
to take you to the test

and I'll come and get you
whenever you want, okay?
All you have to do is call me.

[melancholy music playing]

[tinkling music playing]

[man speaking on television]
You're arrested for murder...

[metal clanging]

Aunt Vera?

Hello?

[television] You can feel
the end of your terror...

Aunt Vera?

Good afternoon, Dora.

You can turn that off.

[Dora] Do you want some help?

I'm cold, I wanted a fire.
And I've always hated
this chair.

Here.

All right, all right,
all right,
just a moment, yeah.

-Hold on, hold on, I...
-Yeah.

I can walk.
I'm not a invalid.

So, please,
do not treat me like one.

If you want to be useful...

you can bring-in that poor
resina plant out there.

Bring her inside.

[sighs]

Don't leave the door open,
please hurry.

[groans] I [stammers] don't
think, this is fire wood yet,

but I can try to
use your hammer.

[Vera]
No, Dora, it will come back.

And then we'll put it in the sun
where it belongs.

[phone ringing]

Machine picks it up.

Can I...
can make you a cup of tea?

No, tea.

No... tea.

-Aunt Vera, would you
like a drink?
-Martini dry with a twist.

Yes, ma'am.
Cocktail comin' up.

I-I love your home.

Does it have a name?

[Vera] I've never understood,
how you can name a house?

Unless houses come
when you call them.

My grandfather built it.

When he died,
my family moved here
from Charleston.

It was quite a cultural shock.

[sighs]

I guess, this is where I'll die.

So, you've come
to help your feeble aunt.

[laughs] Great Aunt.

You can't be
happy about it.

Oh, I've volunteered.

[sarcastic]You need
your head examined.

[melancholy music playing]

[phone vibrating]

Hi! Hi, yes, yeah,
everything is fine.

I love Aunt Vera.

What a... warm and gentle soul.

Yeah, I think, I think,
this is going to be the best
thing I've ever did.

Yes, I'm been serious, Mom.

Yeah.

Okay, okay, I gotta go.

Yes, there's a desk with a chair
and my computer on it, okay?
Goodbye, Mom.

[piano music playing]

I graduated college.

So I heard.

What degree?

Pre-Law and a minor
in English Literature.

Here is to your wonderfully
useless degrees.

-Which you paid for
and I'm forever thankful.
-Hmm-mm.

And I just turned 20.

And to being 20.

And all that it means.

-Oh, it should meant,
take a travel.
-Oh, hmm.

When I traveled continually
for years.

Now...

I've a garden
and it takes up my time.

-I'm sure, it's beautiful
on the Spring.
-Hmm?

It's beautiful, now.
It's just dormant.

And I hear you still dancing.
That's amazing.

-Where do you dance?
-Dance?

I heard you broke
your foot dancing.

I broke my toe,
not my foot.

Just my toe.
But through me off-balance,
a great deal

because the damn thing
is just like an anchor.

And I can't drive.

Oh, no, I can't even go,
up and down stairs.

[stammers] And, they moved me
down into the study.

Well, you could
always learn to...

chair dance.

Now I see your father.

He died too young.

It's strange to think,
I spent half my life
without him already.

I was your age
when I met Theo.

Wasn't he some sort of, like,
war journalist, right?

Oh, honey.

He was the best.

We met when he was here
in Saugerties.

Well, he's still
paying his dues

and he was covering a story
with cement factory.

And when he left...

I've followed him.

That's romantic.

I'm taking the LSAT in March.

Vive la France

Vive la France.

Yes, indeed.

[birds chirping]

♪

♪

[Dora] You must not follow me.

Okay, okay.
Maybe just a little.

But you must face space
between us because...

I can't be seen with you.

A commoner.

But you belonged to me.

No, I belong to France.

Vive la France.

[trumpet music playing]

[Dora laughs]

Vivian has gone senile.

"In 1968, the brilliant
journalist and fiction writer
Theodore Marxos

went missing and was presumed
killed for covering the war
in Vietnam.

And began a new life
with his mistress, actress
and anti-war activist

Nena Gabrelle"

Wow.

[phone vibrating]

♪

[Dora] "Dear Irene,
how am I? I'll tell you.

Life is so still
at my Great Aunt Vera

is a state that a depression
would be redundant.

I'm wearing thermals
and socks at ease.

While you are on the beach
with Brianna."

Is that okay?
Does that hurt?

"But I'm happy
for the both of you.
Sort of."

-Is that--
Okay, okay, okay, okay.
-Wait, wait.

[Dora] " The picture of
the ocean in my head is gone.

It must've evaporated."

♪ I've got it...

Trying to lift
on viewers spirit

is about as easy as trying
to lift an enormous elephant."

♪ ...whichever your foot.
Ah, uh, aha ♪

"But sometimes,
Aunt Vera is not so doll."

[Dora] Aunt Vera?

♪

"At least the dream I had
when I was 12
has now come true.

Remember, how we wanted
to be characters
from a 19th century novel.

But still waiting
for my dashing suitor
to arrive.

You're an extremely
grounded friend,
Dora"

[Vera] These are
the dressy sweaters.

Go get the other box.

[Vera] Dora?

I'm freezing down here.

I'm gonna burn the other chair.

Wait, you're pulling my hair.
That's it.

How long you've been here?

[Dora] Twelve days.

Seems like forever.

Here.

-What's that?
-Make haste, it gets dark early.

♪

Can I help you?

Uh, where are the aspirins?

Aisle 2, in the middle.

And, um...

I need some...

[whispers]
Suppositories.

I'm sorry.

I need some suppositories.

Oh, Bill.

Can you grab some of those
anal laxatives there?

What else?

-I'll fix you up.
-No, no, no.

Bless you.

Okay. [mutters]

[upbeat music playing]

Welcome to Dig.

Burn! Who's wearing these?

No one here,
it's resort wear.

Like South America.

Like... Aruba.
Warm and tropical.

Oh, you can put
your things over here.

I haven't seen you here before.

Oh, I'm just visiting
my Great Aunt.

-I'm Dora.
-Abbey.

-Always wanted a Great Aunt.
-[Dora laughs]

Does she wear
like the big chunky jewelery
and Caftans?

No. She wears rings but doesn't
wear anything like Kaftans.

That's unfortunate.

-Oh, the dressing rooms
are over there.
-Oh.

[man] Oh, lovely weather
you've out there.

Just, looking for a gift.

-Uh, male or female?
-Hmm?

Well, I've never really ever
considered purchasing
anything living.

But I, lean towards
the Female, just out of habit.

[Dora] My butt looks huge.

Well, you can't go wrong
with jewelery.

If there's more
what you've in mind.

Sure.

Oh, God, oh,
I'm sorry.
I'm--

Nice outfit.
Was is that,
an art piece?

Gone wrong.

Can I take a look at...
this one.

Good choice,
it's very popular.

Oh, that's beautiful
and very in.

Uh, I like being in.

[laughs] It's important.

Yeah.

-I guess, so,
I'll take that one.
-Okay.

[man] That was simple.

My daughter is turning 15,
can't believe it.

Seems there problems
keep getting bigger but
at least the gifts get smaller.

-[Abbey laughs]
-Right?

[Dora] Oops, sorry. [laughs]

Can I have you
sign on this?

[man] Hmm-mm, thank you.

[Abbey] Thank you,
hope she enjoys it.

Sure, she will.
Appreciate your help.

Thank you very much
for shopping at Dig.

Please come again.

I just sold a necklace to one
of the biggest music producers
of all time.

-Nikki Summers.
-Oh, my, rock n roll, God.

Who is that?

Nikki Summers, You two, REM,
Nine inch nails.

I've heard that he was making
an album with the wood star.

I would love to
sing for him.

Wait, you're a singer?

-And song writer.
-Yeah?

That's cool. I've been
in high school, we were called
Jane's Girls.

And all of our songs were based
of characters from Jane Austen's
novels.

But the only song we actually
got down right was
"I got a bed from Mr. Dorsey."

-I would love to hear this.
-Oh, God, well, I can never
perform in front of an audience

So our band died.

You need some stylization.

What?

Oh, wow.

-I don't know if I really need
this jacket.
-You look amazing.

There's a little zip,
look at this shape.

-This is such a nice shape.
-I feel like a new woman.

-Yes.
-[both laughs]

Oh, can I hear
one of your songs?

Okay.
But it's just a demo.

[song playing]

-Oh, my gosh, I love this
you've such a nice voice.
-Thank you.

Yeah, well, we have to get you
in Nikki Summers music studio.

I mean, then you can
sing for him.

You can't just walk-in there.
Those kinds of sessions
are closed.

Abbey, Doors are for opening,
I can get you into
Nikki Summer's music studio.

Oh!

-Okay.
-[phone vibrating]

-Oh, oh.
-You just need some accessories.

Hello.

Hi, yeah, okay.

Okay, all right,
I'll be home soon, okay?

All right, bye.

Oh, my God.
[surprised]

-You look like a rock star.
-Thank you.

-Who has to buy a dog diapers.
-[disgusted]

[Dora] "August, 1952.

Saw Theodore again today,
we talked for hours.

He's the first
real journalist, I've ever met.

His ideas get me so excited.

He calls me Jean
after Jean Arthur.

I'm a good sport, he says.

I had a dream
about him last night.

We were together,
he smiled at me.

-Oh, what about House of Mars?
-Oh, get out
of the 19th century.

[Dora] Okay, well,
Tropic of Capricorn , yes.

Oh, God, I used to have
such a crush on Henry Miller.

Is it possible
to lust after to a dead man?

[Vera] Mmm, when I was younger,
Jack London, did it for me.

Miller was always
too stimulating,
the smell of raw onions

and the taste of Go Cheese.

Raw onions
and goat Cheese?

Hmm, that's what his ...
and big sir smell like.

You've been
to Henry Miller's apartment?

Was it like super...
earthy?

It was more like Dingy.

Oh, wait.

I think, I've found one. Yes.

You can get down now.

Bloody Footprints in the Sand.

Woah, Aunt Vera.

Now, I'm a murder mystery,
creepster.

[doorbell rings]

Oh, damn.

-Is it Tuesday?
-Hmm.

The Socrates Poetry Club.

-What do they want?
-I host the monthly
poetry readings.

-When?
-Now, we used to do it
at the lighthouse, but listen,

there're cold drinks
in the refrigerator and cheese.

And I want you to greet
and welcome each and every
one of them.

What me?
Why? Wait, where you going?

-What, I look forward
to hearing a poem.
-I never read, I just support.

[doorbell rings]

[people chattering]

-What are you doing here?
-Abbey, hi.

This is my Aunt Vera's house.
Are you a poet?

No, not really yet.
It just helps
with my song writing.

-Is this everyone eating?
-Yeah.

-Wait, your Great
Aunt is Vera Marxos?
-Yeah.

What? You must be really cool
to like hang out with her.

[clench teeth]
It's depending on her mood.

[whispers]You know.
But I found her journal's

from like really, really
long time ago.

-No way.
-Yeah.

-What do they say?
-It's wild
and you'd never know it,

but she used to do this thing
called tramping.

So, Aunt Vera and uncle Theo
they'd jump
on a moving train cars

and that's how they traveled.

-Like a hobo?
-Like, like, romantic hobos.

Oh, did you find out getting
into Nikki's recording session?

-Closed
-I've got a plan.

And I've got the clothes.
[laughs]

Do you think I need
to welcome everyone?

-Yes.
-Yeah, oh, thank you.

[Dora] Good afternoon.

I'm Aunt Vera's niece.

And I love poetry.

Sounds like an A.A. meeting.

[laughs]

[whispers]Sorry.

[clears throat]

In the room, women come and go,

talking of Michelangelo.

Yes, thank you, Dora.
It's so nice of your aunt

to offer her home
to the poetry
up.

Guy Reid, can you please
take this away?

Okay, before I begin,
I just want to remind everybody

the end of Winter Poetry
Festival is coming up very soon.

We sell posters and tickets
so we really need to
get the word out.

[man] The other night I was
in the fast food parking lot,

trying to decide
whether to turn left

and go out into the night
or to turn right and drive home.

I was wanting to satisfy
a deep longing for beauty.

But I realized that satisfaction
of that longing is not possible.

Art is the best chance
we have of finding truth.

And therefore being beautiful.

If the muse allows.

So I wrote this poem.
[clears throat]

"Burst"

"Cosmic Rays, pierce your body,
every second.

Four times. Healing nuclear eye
and other particles from stars.

It's a measurable fact.

How many cosmic rays
in a nano second?

0.000000001,
the tiniest smidgen.

But in the last second just gone
by light from the energy,

you just saw traveling
nearly a billion feet.

In ten seconds, Thousands
of cosmic rays is passing by

through space and time.

How many through my heart
or love the beautiful ones
through your eyes."

[lively music playing]

♪

[Dora]
"Day 4, Crossing near Atlantic.

I like to stare at the water
not for the horizon

but straight down deep.

Virginia is no more.

Vera means truth
and that's what I'm after.

Truth."

"Dear V,
Here's the article,

I'm bloody stuck,
see what you can do.

Pound it out and send it back
to the embassy
in Budapest fast.

Tell your mother, no chance
in hell of us getting an anonym.

Theo."

"Normandy

Theo hates that he miss D-day
and talks about career
all the time.

Last night, we slept
on a burned out barn
near the beach.

I tried to focus my mind
on the waves instead

of the sound of rats
annoying around us.

I wanted adventure.

We walked whole day.
I saw an old woman
in the field.

I stopped and helped her
collect rocks.

She lived through
two world wars.

It's now real to me,
I wanna grab it
and write about it

like Theo does,
my brain fills up

but scatters quickly as Theo
pulls me away
towards his interest.

Must find the map of Asia.

Istanbul,
it's our seventh anniversary.

Theo forgot.

He confuses the day
with the first time we had sex.

But after seven years,
Theo depends on me
and my red pen more than ever.

Kims Bergs suggested I become
an editor and quit torturing

myself trying to get published.

Theo agreed
but they were drunk.

They're probably right.
Damn them."

[reporter]
Who's your inspiration?

If it wasn't for my niece Dora,
I would never have known

how extraordinary my life was
and is.

I have fresh eyes,
I-I'm so proud
of our latest book.

I'm not an invalid,
so, don't treat me like one.

-[applauding]
-[reporter] Would you
like a picture?

[Vera] What the hell
are you doing?

What, what are you doing,
you're not supposed
to walk upstairs.

How dare you?

Put them away!

But [stammers] Aunt Vera,
these are like the best things

I've read in decades.

[Vera] What would you know?

No one wanted to publish
what I've wrote.

Oh, no, they want the mystic
of being the wife
of the great writer.

No one wants reality.

You put them away.

[distant thud]

[Abbey] Why are you running?

But it gets the
adrenaline going.

If you fall on those clothes
you own them.

Okay, close your eyes, ready?

We need to get
into the character.

-I'll be your agent.
-Manager.

-Are they closed?
-Yeah.

Good, okay, great.
So, Abbey.

I want you to visualize yourself
as a rolling stone reporter.

-You're writing [stammers]
a incredible--
-[Ed] Abbey.

Ed, what're you doing here?

I know Nikki.

Well, aren't these
kind of sessions closed or...

Only reporters and weirdos.

-What are you doing here?
-Actually we know Nikki too.

Really? Oh, you've to jam
with these guys.

-[Abbey] Could we come in--
-[Dora] Yeah, let's go.

-[Ed] Yes.
-[Abbey] It's freezing.

[rock music playing]

♪

♪

[Nikki] It's good.
Sounded good.

Okay.
[clears throat]

Hey, the boutique girls.
What do you know?

Hey, guys, let's take five.

[Nikki] My God.

So, what do we owe
the pleasure of your visit?

Well, we didn't get to tell you
the other day but Abbey here is

-is an incredible--
-[man mutters]

[laughs] Chris, you animal.

I'm gotta get you out
to L.A. with me,

check out Stewart Copeland's
new studio...

Sacred grow. I've been drumming
my ass out there.

It's the best to stay in shape.

[Dora]
Are they any fat drummers?

[laughs] That's funny.

Uh, Buddy Miles I suppose.

-Bernard Purdie?
-John Bonham

-[Ed] Fat, pear shaped.
-[Nikki] Mmmm.

Uh, towards the end.

I'll give you that.

-What you reading?
-Hmm? Oh, this is...

This is the new
Nena Gabrelle's
new memoir.

-No way.
-Yeah, very randy stuffs.

Not pretty well written.
But very randy.

Theo Marxos is my Great Uncle.
Actually, yeah.

And I'm living
with his wife Vera
in Saugerties right now.

And she's my Great Aunt.

-Are you serious?
-Yeah.

You gotta be shitting me,
I'm a huge, huge Marxophile.

In his writing, uh,
about America after the war
changed my life.

-Hey, Nikki, I don't mean
to barge in--
-Can I just ask you...

Did your Aunt Vera mentioned
anything about this book?

No, no, no, no,
no not at all.

Um, and I'm kind of an ashamed
to say but I actually haven't
read any of my uncle's writing.

But I did find this, huge box
of years journals

from like way back in a day.

[whispers] Oh, my God.

Did you read
some of those I hope.

Hell, yeah, I can't--

-I think, Dora--
-Did you know,
was your Aunt Vera,

was she with him
in Korea?

Yeah, they traveled
all the time.

You know, I actually I think
I'm named after my, my Uncle.

Theodore-Dora-Theodore

-So I wanted to say--
-[Nikki] Sorry to interrupt.

I've a close friend
in the city,

he's with Degraw publishing.

And I've gotta feeling,
he'd love to take a look
at those

if your aunt is interested
in publishing them.

-I just wanted to ask--
-Oh, yeah, that would be huge.

Are you kidding me,
I'm sure it would take her out

of the major, major slum,
she is in, you know.

[phone vibrates]
I'm sorry, you guys,
I'm just realizing, uh...

You gonna have
to skid out off it.

I've to get the boys
back to work.

-Thank you, so much.
-Great talking to you.

-Good seeing you thanks
for stopping by.
-[Dora laughs]

-Hey, Ed, you're gonna sit there
or you're gonna get the boys.
-Yes, sir.

Thank you for the best day
yet in Saugerties.

-Oh, my God.
-And I'm glad,
one of us had a best day.

Nikki will listen to your music,
I'll be sure of it.

-As your manager--
-You don't listen...

Manage your own life.

Kinda felt like
such an idiot
standing there.

I'm... sorry.

No, I'm the one
who is the loser

to think that I could sing
for "Nikki Summers"

Please get out of my car.

Okay.

[car revving]

[audio book playing] We found
a lonely stretch of sand

and spent our day swimming
in making love.

-[Dora] I'm home.
-Teddy caressed me
with his literally brilliance.

Reciting poetry and prose
as the water lapped
our naked bodies

It was a shared baptism
in a new life together.

-After months of traveling--
-[Vera] It's so cold.

...we found our paradise.

Bring me that dead resina.

[Dora] No.

Leave that poor
suffering plant alone.

I'll get you some firewood.

Where did you get this?

A surprisingly mean spirited ex,
sent it to me.

"Vera,
Damn that Teddy
but he never fooled you.

Best, George."

Damn that George.

[chuckles]

Wait, you knew about Nena?

I'm going to show you how
to make a perfect gin martini.

I didn't break my toe dancing.

You know, I got a call
from that damn reporter
about Nena's book

Well, I pretended to know
all about it. Ho, ho, ho.

And then after I hung up,
I kicked the pantry door in.

Oh, I wonder
what happened
to that door.

Theodore, moving.

Writing, which is little nurse
made in dough.

His idea of paradise.

Yeah.

[melancholy music playing]

♪

Nikki, Nikki.

Hey, Dora Theodora,
sit down, how are you?

Good.

I see you brought us stash.

So, listen,
I've been thinking, uh...

You sure your aunt
wants to do this?

Hmm? Yeah, of course, she...
wants to share

with the whole world.

Okay.

It's awfully brave of her.

I'd want somebody
diggin' around my closet!

It's a whole other story.

But my friend told me
he would love to...

get his hands on this, so...

Wait, Nikki, you've to do
me a favor if you're gonna
take this.

Okay, what's that?

You've to come
to the Poetry Festival
next weekend.

Fine, sign me up.

The what?

[Dora] Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I thought the
force majeure was
as fascinating as that...

[speaking in French]

Yeah, hmm-mm.

Okay, I gotta go, Mom.

Yup, I love you too. Bye.

Do depressions run
in our family?

You are not depressed.

You are unhappy,
if I were you,
I'd be unhappy too.

Why are you going
to law school, Dora?

Don't know.

It will make my degree useful.

There's one way to go, right?

Go where?

According to you, France.

That is something that I say
when someone I know

is about to commit themselves
to something that might not be
right for them.

I was going
to secretarial school,

instead I went to France.

Oh, wow, right now,
I can't do anything,

I can't go to France,
I can't go to Brazil,

I can't go anywhere.
[angrily] So, maybe

I should just become a lawyer
so I can actually afford

to do the things
that I wanna be doing,
Aunt Vera.

You're a Wells, Dora.

We do not follow
a straight line.

[Vera sighs]

Was dad like me?

He... pursued his passions
mightily.

So, no, you're not
like your dad.

He was in the theater.

When you came,
your mother wanted him to quit.

I do know that he loved you
and your mom very much.

She never talks about him.

[Vera watering plants]

I think,
I will go in the village.

If you need anything
just call me.

I won't need you.

[angrily] But you do need me
Aunt Vera

because you have a broken toe
and I cannot wait
for it to be unbroken.

[Dora] I told you.

I'm a pauper, I hold a big bag
of clothes I can't even afford.

♪

Abbey.

I'm busy.

I'm just returning the clothes.

I didn't eat in them.

Except when I ate my foot
at the music studio.

Prosecco.

Is that how you normally are?

I mean, I admittedly
I don't know you that well

but you got this weird look
in your face as if...

nothing else mattered.

You completely shut me down.

-It was awful.
-I know, I know.

I think it's my nerves.

Um, my mom calls it,
"Leaving the planet."

Yeah, I didn't mean
to do it at all.

I'm, I'm so sorry.

What's that about?

[Dora] Wow, I had a great idea.

I think you should sing
at the Poetry Festival.

That's a big event.

You've got already
burnt me voice.

Yeah, I know and that's,
that's once too many.

Apparently, I'm in drastic need
of some emotional stylization
too.

Cut that baby open.

I need it.

Why, what's going on?

Oh, Dora, this is
the beginning
of the end.

-It is?
-Yes.

This is the first day
of the last 30 days
of my twenties.

[sobbing] Oh, my God.

I'm getting older, darling.

-Shut up.
-Yes.

I see like I'm just getting
wrinkly all over.

[pops]

[screams and laughs]

Let's get out of here.

And go where?
There's no where to go.

Doesn't Saugerties have a...
lighthouse?

Yeah, but it's like
way too cold
and windy.

Oh, I know,
you should like...

we should go out there
and you should do some like

performance out there
in honor of turning thirty.

[chuckles] Like what?

[Abbey] It's totally uncivilized
out here.

[laughs] This is awesome!

-[Abbey] Be careful.
-Oh, my God. [laughs]

Okay, start picking up things
that we can like throw
into the river.

[Abbey] It will just blow away.

So, what,? Just think of it is
like your life up until now

And just blow them away.

This is really depressing.

[Dora]
Getting old is depressing.

[Dora laughs]
Let's go.

Come on, you old, maid.

[lively music playing]

-[Abbey sighs]
-Get more sticks.

-It's so pretty out here.
-[Dora muttering]

[Abbey] It's such a cold day
to come out here.

-[Dora] Whoa!
-It's the light house.

[Dora] This is so cool.

[Dora laughing]

Ready?

[both laughing]

Farewell old days.

Here's to better new ways.

You're like a hawk, perched,
ready to devour.

The Earth, the world, my heart
and all it's power.

[Dora exclaims]
Thank you wind for listening.

-Amen.
-Amen.

[train hooting]

[Abbey] Oh, that train is headed
to the city.

-[Dora] I wish we were on it.
-[Abbey] I know.

Sometimes, I wish, I could
get on the through-way

drive south and never come back.

-Do it.
-I can't.

I have to take care
of my step sister Tabatha...

Right here.

-Oh, what a cutie.
-Yes, she is cute.

-And she is smart too.
-Yeah.

Her parents, my dad
and his on-off, on-off,
girlfriend,

they don't make the time
to take care of her.

Oh, that's awful.

Yes. So, otherwise,
I would be gone...

long time ago.

But you've your music, Abbey,
that's amazing, I mean,

I don't have anything except...

thoughts about being far away
and doing huge things.

-Hmm.
-But, but how do I get
from here to there.

You know, like I feel like
I'm in this...

this old beige waiting room.

[Abbey] Don't worry.

Somewhere deal
will creep up on you

and it might not be huge
but it fill massive.

And the beige waiting room
will just be a memory.

[Dora] Hey, is that Nikki?

Nikki?

[Abbey] Whoa.

[Dora] What you doing here?

This is so weird.

Hey, well,
what are you doing here?

We just made a sacrifice.

Sacrifice?

What kind of sacrifice?

[Dora] It is in honor
of Abbey's birthday.

She's little upset
that she's turning 30.

I mean, she's upset
because of, um,

because of something else.

Thirty?

Oh, you poor little thing, you.

In that case, you might just
throw yourself in the river
and get over with it.

Thirty, believe me,
it doesn't matter.

Least until you get
to be my age anyway.

For instance, I just,
I just finished this record.

-Everybody says it's great.
-Great.

No, but see,
great is over rated.

You know what I mean?

Really, where's the life in it,
you know.

I can't think the last time
that I made a record

that had a track on it.
They had to...
grow on the listener.

When you listen to a new thing,
something's not right,
but then you listen to it again.

And again and again.

And slowly but surely it grabs
and throws you in river.

Now the Buddhists...

Now Buddhists, the Buddhists
have a saying that,

whatever you do
up until the age of 50,

stop it and do something
completely different.

[laughs]

Me, I'm little late on that one
myself but--

But I thought you said
that age doesn't matter.

It's true.

I'm talking about the work
though, I mean,
if you're not sweat

and working hard at something
then you're just not... living.

[groans]

On that note,
it's time for this one to go.

-[Nikki] To go home.
-[Dora] Oh, oh, Nikki, Nikki

[Nikki] I'm all right.

Hi, Aunt Vera.

Went to the lighthouse.

Vera?

Vera?

Vera?

Aunt, Aunt Vera?

Are you all right?

How long you've been out here?

[Vera] I heard the train.

This is nothing like it.

Did you give him
the letters too?

Well, mostly...

scribbled thoughts.

That's when Theo did
when he was gone.

Once annually burned them.

What's the use?

I know 'em all by heart.

Particularly one.

"Dear Virginia.
How are you?

I can't continue.

And all the places
they would know, the people...

the deadlines.

Grab my hand.

Like we used to.

Jumping trains.

And now, I'll pull you up.

And we'll escape together."

I don't have that letter.

Because Theo never wrote it.

You wanna travel, Dora.

I'll give you the money.

Okay, great.

Because I don't want you
here anymore.

Degraw is interested
in my journals.

I wanted you to have
the spotlight, not...

what's your name.

What feeble half big brain,
do you posses?

This says it's okay for you...

[angrily] to just serve up
my private moments on a platter

to some complete stranger.

[sobs]

You gave him the originals.

For God Sake,
not even photo copies!

Oh, God.

♪

Bye, Aunt Vera.

[Dora] I know it was stupid,
Mom.

My bus gets in at two.

The test,
what about the test?

Yeah, I'll take it in Newark.
Bye.

Please, get in, Dora.

Oh, my God,
I'm feeling so sorry,

like the way I treated you,
it was just no consideration

for the other person.
[stammers] I'm turning
into my mom. I mean...

Oh, God, [stammers] there's
no respect for you or anything

and I'm so sorry, I'll call
The Graw and I'm sorry.

Why do you have
a trash can?

What are these?

Nothing, just...

trash.

What is they used to be?

Some are, um...
images from my dreams

and others are just thoughts...
it's junk, it's nothing,
it's just throw aways.

Well, they may be a bit rough
but they are telling.

A place where interesting
things occur.

You know, my poetry club?

Oh, no, I can't read these.

Oh, not the way
they are right now,

but you can work them.

And read it at the festival.

No way, no.

If you read, I'll read.

♪

♪

[Dora] Over and over...

breaking the ice.

Rocks, like blocks.

Deep into mud.

Thud.
Blood.

Crud.

Enough with the rhyming.

[Vera] How's the rhyme going?

Awful, um, I mean, I...

I feel stuff, you know,
but it's not doing anything

except just rolling
around inside me.

You're in a muddle.

It's a worst place
to be in everyday life but...

best place to be for creativity.

Listen, every writer that I know
including your grand uncle,

every writer has trouble
writing.

So, what did you do?

You know, how our men,
men have their muses.

Well, a woman can have
her muse too.

Are you saying
you had some affair

with a big band musicians
that helped you
with your muddle.

Oh, well.

I didn't necessarily
say affair, but...

Well, I was always editing
and...

always writing articles
and nobody wanted to publish.

So, I needed a little attention.

A lively conversation, you know.

Theo, oh, he was off
on his missions.

So, I was off on mine.

So to speak.

We're so much alike.

[laughs]

[soft piano music playing]

♪

Who wants something sweet?

Beautiful.

Before dinner?

All right.

-For you.
-Thank you.

Thank you.

Ladies.

[Vera] Mmm.

Oh, thank you.

[Dora] So this is the recipe
from the kitchen

of Mr. Henry Miller.

Of course with some
improvisation
by Aunt Vera and me.

What onions?

Among other things.

Isn't they yummy?

The Kalamata olives were
a really good addition.

Dora, remind me to find a book,
one of my favorites,

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

I think you're gonna find
his work to your liking.

So, should I quiz you
to prep for the test mark?

No, you should not.

What kind of law
do you want to her to practice?

Oh, well, I was thinking trial
because of the theater of it

and she's always
being so dramatic.

But I don't know,
what were you thinking, Dora?

Tax.

Is there a time to a poem?

No. A poem...

has to snake its way
out of you.

And become the length,
it becomes.

[clears throat]
That sounds uncomfortable.

-[Vera] It can be.
-[Dora] It can be.

I gonna check on dinner.

[Helen] Excuse me, honey.

Thank you.

A drift of days
have passed me now.

I've got so much more
to think about.

Deadlines and commitments.

-What to leave in
and what to leave out.
-Mom.

[Dora] You don't think
on Vera's been acquainted

with the great poet Bob Seger.

Oh, I love that song.

I wish I didn't know now.

What I didn't know then.

[Vera] Against the wind.
[Helen] Against the wind.

Still runnin'
against the wind.

[Helen] See that?
Smarty pants?

Anyway I'm just trying
to make a point,

I'm not as insensitive
as you think I am.

And when you're making
six figures,

you can donate your time
and money to
a local poet's group.

Isn't that right?

Well, if...
That's the path
she wishes to take.

Well, it should be.

I mean,
look at you and me.

Where did purview,
where did our heart
take our fears, huh?

Down under the pit,
where it aches.

Seldom comes up for air.

Well, I can't argue with that.

So, put off pleasure
for a while,

knowing that all down the line,
it's gonna rear it's...

Lil' luxurious
and lucrative head.

-Job, money, life,
that's the order, Mom?
-That's right.

Is that what you told dad?

-Can I have one of those?
-Oh, yes, dear.

[Helen]
I mean, where's the glamor
in starving?

I guess, it's makes you skinny
and that's fashionable.

And okay,
we were passionate
and starving.

But then, you came and...

everything changes.

Everything.

So...

So, dad's career wasn't
good enough for you.

Your parents
had the same career.

Hot glue and lumber,
God, I miss that smell.

For constructing sets.

But... but getting a real job
and moving to Jersey

that must've stressed dad out
and probably contributed
to his heart attack.

[Vera] Your father didn't die
from a heart attack, Dora.

He fell off a scaffold
and died instantly.

What?

I wasn't' there.

Before I left.

Danny was going on and on
about this.

Unusual and extravagant set.

Why did I leave, right?

I can't remember all,
so foggy now.

But I came back and I...

I couldn't see him.

In the first I thought it was
because of the...

my eyes.

Going from sunlight
into darkness

it's always hard adjusting.

So, I want a...

beside I were like... kept,
trying to find him up there.

And then I knew...

He was on the floor,
he was...[sobs]

No way...

I was going to tell that
to my lil' girl.

Heart attack, heart attack,
heart attack,

that was it.
End of story.

-So, how was it, honey.
-It was good.

Why the heck,
do you this?

Frozen Garden.

The festival starts in an hour.

[whispers] Let's go.

[announcer] Well, the moment,
we've all been waiting for...

She founded
the Saugertie's Poetry Club,
twenty years ago.

And as passionate as
Vera Maxos has been
and helping others

with written and spoken word,
we have never heard her speak.

Oh, lucky us,
tonight she takes the stage.

Vera.

-[man] Yeah, Vera.
-[all clapping]

I... am an old fool.

Which is not as appealing
as when I was young fool.

But you know,
I think, it's all worth it.

I think.

And luck is still on my side.

Because I have a chance
to spend time
with my great niece.

And she is great.

And together, with Degraw.

We are going to knock
that book Paradise
off the shelves

[applauding]

And Dora...
I want to thank you.

To reintroducing me
to my muddle.

Because sometimes in life...
this all we have.

This poem is called
All the things.

"Snow is general
over the cat's skills.

Garden waits for me...

like a lover.

Contained lush, yearning...
never satisfied.

Train!

You took me here
and there.

Ice cold bear.

You didn't really care.

You just continued on.

Home!

You'll go into other hands.

And they'll soon know,
you're creeks and shadows.

And your flaky walls...

in the cobwebs that hang.

I grew comfortable
and you grew quiet.

You! In and out.

In and out.

You never may steal my heart.

How I've loved you too much.

Theodor, Edda, Vinius,
Betty, Danny.

Mother, father.

Snow... is general over
the catskills."

Thank you.

-[Dora] I like that.
-[Vera] You think?

[Vera] Love you.

-Where you going?
-I can't do this.

No, I can't do this.
It's crazier.

What's your problem?
You nervous?

Everybody gets nervous.

You never hear
that Janis Joplin threw up
before every performance?

All right, so that something
to do with the amount of whiskey
she drank, but...

Nevertheless,
remember what I was telling you
at the river.

At least trying to tell you
down by the river.

I want to you take
that one energy

that's inside you
that needs to come out.

And throw it at the audience.

Be a thunderbolt with words.

Make a collision
between you and them.

Or... you could bail.

[Dora] Sorry.

I'm nervous.

This poem is called
Frozen Garden.

And it is dedicated
to my Aunt Vera.

"Nature is sometimes cruel
to the seeds we cast.

But some seeds pick up
the wind and warm.

Dad.

I see you smiling
atop this structure
of your happiness.

Painting the future
of your dreams...

you left behind.

I'm here now, step by step,

moving on the set,
you helped create.

I want to sing my song.
Loud and Proud.

But my brain makes the tune
of fog muddle.

The heart is my mostly
companion,

traveling along a path
not weeded with ease.

Beats on as it quivers.

It's vocals sometimes faint.

I was only ten
when you took a misstep

and didn't understand
why you left.

Where...

your heart did not attack.

And I don't see you falling.

I see you finally
able to fly.

You were brave, Dad.

And I'll be too.

Thank you.

[applauding]

[Dora] Well, I wasn't
exactly a thunderbolt
with words.

But I'm struck
by two extraordinary thoughts.

Everything fabulous...
is not so far away from me.

And I understand why my mom
wants me to go to law school.

But she should go instead.

♪ Nothing's going on
In my head ♪

♪ To rap around
Those words you say ♪

♪ Oh, now, I didn't go
And dig up the day ♪

♪ Knowing I can't explain
To the certain soul ♪

♪ The ones that you love
You gotta let them go ♪

♪ Don't you know that
As a bird like to be so below ♪

♪ Just quit fighting the foe

♪ Yeah!

♪ That's all lying
In the same place ♪

♪ Far too many times

♪ Sorrow hiding
On the plain face ♪

♪ Deep, where the sun
Doesn't shine ♪

♪ Because I don't believe
In that coincidence ♪

♪ Into the facts
Of blissful ignorance♪

♪ And the mind says,
Haven't seen a fan? ♪

[audience cheering]

♪ That's all lying
In the same place ♪

[closing theme playing]

♪

♪

♪

♪