Mary & Tim (1996) - full transcript

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♪♪

(hammering)

(woman speaking on TV)

Three, four, squat, squat,

squat, squat...

To the left...

Now, start to the right...

To the left and hold.

Two, three, four and hold.

More, more, more,

coming around.



Tippy toe stretches for our

calves, good, two, three,

four, turning around.

Three... (exhaling)

And breathing out, we start

again, grab that rainbow,

pull it, yank it, good.

Two, three, four.

Now bend to the earth.

Reach and touch, two...

(inhaling)

Three, four and squat,

Squat, squat, squat.

And reaching to the right.



Left, now reach to the stars.

First to the right.

Then the left.

I don't honestly think either

one of us is ever gonna look

like that, do you?

Not if you sit in that chair,

you won't.

Maybe if I wore that outfit.

What outfit?

She's wearing a bra

and dental floss.

Did I leave the door open?

I used my key.

It's amazing, isn't it,

how simply watching an exercise

program can actually affect

the metabolic process?

Might those be cookies in a bowl

of milk?

They have fiber in them.

Besides, haven't you heard

your whole life how cookies

and milk make the perfect

combination?

(dog barking)

Oh, joy, more workmen

have arrived.

Well, at least they're

on schedule.

Do your best.

Always.

Thanks, Dad.

Hey, guys.

Yo, Tim, how's it going?

Good, my mom baked

Mrs. Hutman some muffins.

Does this go in

the dishwasher?

Mary?

Brian was good

with his hands.

He built the gardening shed

for Mom.

Just about single handedly kept

this house on its

foundation until she died.

Your mother would be very

proud of how beautifully you've

taken care of this house.

Say, are you in the mood

to peel beets?

Ooh, no, thank you.

I don't even want to be in the

same house with beets.

Bye, neighbor.

(vegetables snapping)

(drill saw powering down)

Hey, Tim, do me a favor.

I have a problem with the hose.

Some kind of blockage.

It'll only take a minute.

I'd really appreciate the help.

Let me get these boards in

the house. Good thinking.

I just called you.

I'm not home.

And I won't be

until much later.

You want some more coffee?

No, I want to tell you why

I came over in the first place.

Okay, tell.

Well, "ask" really.

Are you doing anything tonight?

Several things is more

like it.

I'm spending a few hours at the

animal shelter.

And then I'm spying on another

bookstore to see what their book

signings are like.

Okay, just chalk it up

to another lost opportunity.

Let me guess.

Another last minute fix-up and

this time he's really

Mister Perfect.

Well, no, he's not, but I did

mention to him that you were,

and that you might be at dinner.

Sorry, thanks anyway.

Good luck.

Look down inside and tell me

if you see anything.

You see anything?

What's going on?

Now?

(laughing)

Oh!

Ow!

Are you all right?

Yes.

What happened?

He's accident-prone.

Bill, turn off the water.

Steve.

Get back to work.

I'm really sorry.

I could do something to fix it.

I know how,

and I could if you wanted.

Go on, I'll work it out.

Hey, we know you didn't do it

on purpose, huh?

It's okay.

Go on, that's a good guy.

How in the world did that

happen?

Have your gardener replace

the plants and you, uh,

send me the bill.

Thank you.

I don't have a gardener.

He quit last week.

Something about hay fever.

Just tell me what to order

and I'll find somebody.

Well, let's see: foxgloves,

impatiens, marigolds...

Dale's azalea.

What about your worker?

Which worker?

The one who did it.

You mean to fix it up?

Well, he said he could.

That, uh, young man, uh,

he's a few cans short

of a six-pack,

if you know what I mean.

I don't care if he has two

heads as long as he can do

the work.

Is there a possibility he knows

something about gardening?

His old man's a retired

landscaper.

We go back a ways.

Tell me what you want him to do.

This guy has played tricks

on you before, right?

He plays lot of tricks on me.

All right, so you should have

been on your guard against him,

right?

I should have been on my

guard with him, that's for sure.

Okay, now.

The next time, this same guy

asks you to do something for

him, what's the first thing

that's going to pop up in your

mind, huh?

The first thing, the first

thing... that's going to pop up

in your mind is "This guy plays

tricks on me.

Maybe he doesn't really want me

to do something for him at all.

Maybe he just wants

to play a trick."

I'm never going to fix

the hose for him anymore.

You're damn right you're not.

You're never going to do

anything for him anymore 'cause

he can't be trusted.

That's for sure.

Good boy.

Except I might do something

for him sometimes because

he's a pretty nice guy.

Go tell your sister and

Steven to wash up for supper.

What would you say if I asked

you to marry me?

(chuckling)

If you asked me to marry you?

I'm conducting the Justine

Melville preliminary survey.

(laughing)

Oh, oh.

Mom says it's time to wash up

for supper.

(gasping)

Tim, don't ever do that!

Mom told me to.

(laughing)

No, I know, but what I mean

is, um, don't, uh, sneak up on

people, especially when they're

together.

Alone.

Let them know you're there

by knocking on the door and

saying, "Excuse me."

Excuse me.

Hey, guess who I ran into

downtown this afternoon?

Hank Pearn.

Hank? Mm-hmm.

That lived across the street

from us when the kids were

little? Same guy.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Heavier, same frizzy hair,

only less of it.

I told him Justine was

practically a judge now.

Dad, that would make me the

only person in history

to graduate law school

and go directly to the bench.

He asked me if I was talking

about the little kid with the

two front teeth missing.

Dad!

(chuckling)

Steven, you've hardly eaten.

Are you sick?

No, no...

Um...

I'm just a little nervous.

Okay, um, there's something

I have to do, and...

I guess I'd better get it

over with.

(chuckling)

Justine, with your family

as my witness,

I'm kneeling on your kitchen

floor, which is murder on my

right patella,

to ask you to be my wife.

It's a ring.

(chuckling)

So if it so pleases the

Court, the plaintiff...

(chuckling)

requests an answer

of "yes" or "no".

Your Honor?

Honey?

Yes, yes.

(laughing)

Oh, that's great.

Congratulations.

Congratulations, darling.

That's wonderful.

Come here.

I'm getting married, Timmy.

I thought that's what it was.

Come here, give me a hug.

(all laughing)

(light knocking on door)

I'm not sleepy.

Mom: Any idea why?

Is Justine going away?

You mean when she marries

Steven?

Uh-huh.

Yes.

She and Steven will live

together.

Will she come back like when

she came back from college?

She'll come back to visit,

but she won't live here again.

Will she still be my little

sister?

Forever and always.

But I'm going to have a life

with Steven now, Timmy.

We're going to have our

own home together.

Someday we'll even

have children.

Everything that's the end

of one thing, Tim, is the

beginning of something else.

Ant that makes this happy and

sad at the same time.

Why can't Steven come

live here?

He's leaving his family, too

to be with me.

That's what you do

when you grow up.

I want you to live with me.

We'll live together again

someday, Timmy.

When?

You know, my brother missed

me when I left home to marry

your dad.

But if I hadn't married him,

I wouldn't have you two angels,

would I?

Sometimes I'm not an angel.

No...

(chuckling)

It's time for sleep.

Okay, I guess you can marry

Steven.

Thanks, big brother.

Now that I have your permission,

I will.

Good night.

(meowing)

You know, as long as I have

to get up every four hours to

dole this stuff out, the least

you could do is to have

a good attitude.

Come on, come on.

Good.

(meowing)

All right, that's it.

Cats.

(meowing)

They ought to make tuna-flavored

medicine for cats.

Remember, it's Saturday.

It's the day we sleep in.

(dog whimpering)

(lawn mower powering up)

(motor revving loudly)

(dog barking)

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

What do you think you're doing?

That must be a trick

question.

No, it's not a trick

question, I just wanna know.

What exactly do you think

you're doing?

Cutting the grass.

Well, would you stop, please?

Would you stop?

I'd like...

Stop!

Do you have any idea how

inappropriate it is to just

march into someone's garage

without permission and create

ear-splitting pandemonium,

mowing a lawn nobody asked you

to mow in the first place

at 6:00-- What?

It's yellow.

It's cat medicine.

You have a sick cat?

No, I'm a volunteer

at the shelter.

Some cats needed medicating

through the night,

so I took them home.

I fixed the flowers.

Thank you.

You want to see?

Okay.

It's perfect.

How long have you been here?

Few hours.

I like to see the sun come up.

Did you ever think that if you

got up after sunrise, that you

could've slept for two days and

skipped a whole day in between

and you'd never know?

No, I never thought that.

I don't want to skip

any days, that's for sure.

No, I don't either.

I weeded and fed the flowers

and I turned the compost

in the back.

That was very thoughtful.

Thank you.

I'll pay you for any

extra work you've done.

Oh, no, you won't.

I broke the flowers

'cause I wasn't on my guard.

My dad says you have to take

responsibility for your actions.

He says "Do more than people

expect," "Always mind your

P's' and Q's" and "Never

take 'no' for an answer."

Your father has a lot to say.

That's for sure.

You can put the mower

away now.

Sorry, no can do.

I've got to finish the job.

You've got to finish the jobs

you start.

Your dad said that?

My dad says that.

He says a garden is like

the person who grows it,

and yours is pretty happy,

but it could be more

taken care of.

What's your name?

Tim.

I'm Mary, Mary Horton.

Tim, how would you like a job?

Well, I've got a job.

No, I mean, on Saturdays.

Taking care of my garden.

Sure.

I'd like that a lot.

Okay then, Saturdays.

But not before 9:00.

Not before 9:00,

that's for sure.

Mary Mary Horton?

You're a very nice person.

It's, it's just one "Mary".

Thank you.

You're a very nice person, too.

Yes, I am.

Good morning, Forbsie.

It might be good, if it

weren't for the damn cicadas.

I don't know how they can hear

themselves think.

Well, the way I understand

it, cicadae don't have brains or

ears, so as far as they're

concerned, it's just good

vibrations.

Anything happening I should

know about?

Oh, your travel agent

left a packet by the door.

It's under the counter.

Where are you off to

this year?

Well, I don't know.

Someplace quiet.

Bali, I think.

It's the rainy season there.

You better bring a good book,

if you can find one.

So, what's the scoop

about tonight?

I got the coffee, and, uh,

the rental place will deliver

the chairs by 3:00, and the

bakery called to say the

pastries will be here at 11:00.

You know when I was

spying at "Pages" the other

night, they were handing out

free bookmarks.

We don't have bookmarks.

Well, I have to go to

the nursery later, I could pick

some up on my way.

You haven't found

a gardener yet?

Actually, I think I have.

Why can't he go to

the nursery?

I'm not sure he drives.

Oh, you hired a kid?

No, a man.

Apparently with some

limitations.

How unusual.

Can he garden?

He can most definitely

garden.

And he's charming.

"Charming" is important

in a gardener.

At least Lady Chatterley

thought so.

(chatter)

Ah, one for the champ.

There you go.

Hey, Ron.

Hey, Ed, how you doing?

How you doing buddy?

Good.

Still doing construction?

Yup, and I got a new job,

too.

Oh, yeah?

I'm going to be a gardener

for the lady next door

to my other job.

I could use a little

work myself.

Tell me your secret.

I fell into the lady's bed.

(all laughing)

Come on, knock it off,

will you?

Get your minds out

of the gutter.

He had an accident and fell

into the lady's flower bed.

Yeah, right.

My boy don't think that way.

Take another look, Ron.

And remember.

Boys will be boys.

(laughing)

(applause)

Thank you all very much

for joining us.

Um, in a few minutes, our

esteemed guest will be ready to

sign your books and, in the

meantime, we have refreshments

for you.

(applause)

Terrific, really terrific.

Thanks.

Mary, it was great.

I may have mentioned Joel to

you, Mary.

David's old college friend?

Uh, David's former college

friend, if you don't mind.

(chuckling)

Well, anyway, Mary Horton,

Joel Shore.

Hello.

How do you do?

Your program was nicely done.

Thank you.

As a matter of fact, I do

freelance consulting for event

packaging, so if you're

interested, uh, there may be

some ways of making these

evenings of yours even more

successful than they

already are.

We're, uh, going for a drink.

Why don't you join us and take

advantage of some free advice?

Sounds great, but I really

should stay here.

Maybe another time?

Absolutely, another time.

Nice having met you.

Joel.

You didn't even give

him a chance.

He could've been Mr. Right.

He could only have been

Mr. Right Now.

Dale, there's no such thing

as Mr. Right.

Right.

Do your best.

Always.

Thanks, Dad.

Son!

Remember, be a gentleman.

So, you know how to

prepare a plot for planting.

I know how to do that,

that's for sure.

Okay, well, um, everything

you'll need is here.

I've made a, a planting plan.

It shows where I want all the

various crops to be, um...

For example, the, uh, shelling

peas go there, and the snap peas

go over here, and, um,

so on and so on.

Does that make sense to you?

I've planted vegetables

lots of times.

Okay, well, let me know

if you need anything?

Okay.

(sound of digging continues)

Excuse me.

I didn't knock on the door

because there isn't any,

but I said "Excuse me."

So, you're finished then?

Easy as pie.

Well, now I know there's at

least one other person on the

planet who can read my writing.

I didn't need the plan.

But I asked you to use

the plan for a reason.

I like to rotate my crops.

I did.

I rotated them.

How could you have

without the plan?

I can tell where you planted

things last year by the old

leaves and vines on the ground.

That's certainly a special

gift, but...

Do you by any chance wear

glasses?

No.

Tim...

Can you read?

Are you going to have

to let me go?

The thing is,

I may not always be here

when you come to garden.

In fact, I'm going away

in a few weeks, I...

I'd hoped I'd be able to leave

you instructions.

(cicadae chirping loudly)

(sighing)

They give me such a headache.

(chirping stops)

How did you do that?

He's the choirmaster.

When you stop him from singing,

they all stop.

How did you know where

to find him?

His voice is different.

I can hear him.

I can't.

I can't really read.

Have you ever tried to learn?

Once.

It's real hard.

You don't want to get

rid of him, do you?

No.

He just does

what he's made to do.

(chirping begins again)

I own a bookstore.

I bet you a nickel

I could pick out some

stories you'd like.

Probably.

Or I could teach you

how to read.

No.

Why?

Well, it would be bad if I..

If what?

If, if it were hard or,

or if it took time?

If I couldn't do it.

That'd feel bad.

Well, and I don't know

absolutely that I could teach

you, but still, we could try.

I really like you, Mary

Horton, that's for sure.

And you like me too.

(reading haltingly) "Frog... ran

up... the... path...

to... Toad's...

house.

He...

kan-nocked..."

The "K" is silent.

She's just keeping the "N"

company while he does the

talking, so it's...

"He...

knocked...

on... the...

front... door."

That's it.

"There was no answer."

"'Toad, Toad,'

shouted... Frog.

'Wake up.

It is spring.'"

"'Blah,' said a voice from

inside the house."

(chuckling)

Read that part again.

"'Blah,' said a voice from

inside the house."

(laughing)

All right, your homework

is to work on this story until

you can read the whole thing

just as beautifully as you read

this part.

Okay.

Did I tell you I'm keeping

our lessons a secret?

I'm not telling Mom or Dad.

And I'm especially not telling

Justine.

Really?

Who's Justine?

Oh, there you are.

I brought back the magazines

I borrowed.

I was just on my way in.

Uh, you remember Tim.

Hi.

Hello.

I'll be in the house

if you need me.

(dog whimpering)

Oh, giving a party

I'm not invited to?

It's Mother's china.

So it is.

I take it down every so

often and wash it.

You should use it,

not clean it.

Well, I did use it, but then

one day, not long after Brian

died, I dropped a cup and it

broke into about a million

pieces, and so did I.

That one little cup made me

feel like I lost my mother

and Brian all over again.

Stay and keep me company?

I'll dry if you trust me.

(dog barking)

So, he's the new gardener?

Well, he fixed the damage

he did so well,

I decided to hire him.

You don't mind, do you?

Not at all.

I was just wondering

if the picnic lunch

was part of his contract.

It wasn't lunch.

(dog barking)

It was a snack.

(chuckling) A snack.

He brings his lunch.

His mother makes it.

Oh, I get it.

The lunch isn't part of the

contract, but the blanket and

the lying in the grass...

You know, I would imagine

that living in the clouds would

get to you after a while.

(chuckling) Hasn't yet.

He is stunning, though,

isn't he?

He has a mild impairment.

I discovered he couldn't read

well enough to follow the

written instructions I left

him, so I decided to work

with him on it.

Even so, it could fall into

the category of a stray

cat rescue.

I didn't find out he had the

problem until after I hired him.

He was so thrilled to have the

work, I couldn't bring myself

to disappoint him.

Okay, I admit,

I have a mushy heart.

(chuckling)

Except when it comes

to getting fixed up.

Dale...

I had one magical,

truly wonderful relationship.

That's more than some people

ever get, you know?

I do.

And I like my life, and...

I like working,

and I like rescuing cats.

And I even like having nosy

neighbors as friends.

(chuckling)

And I admit he's painfully

attractive and very sweet

and really very pleasant

to be with.

But I'm not interested

in another relationship, Dale.

Sorry.

Whoa!

(chuckling)

(car departing)

Well, let's have a little

drink to our kids, shall we?

You know, I'm not much

of a champagne man.

How would you rate that one?

I believe that's

a wedding vintage.

I told the guy in the

store, I said these folks are

used to the best.

What's the matter?

Oh, nothing.

Huh?

I just thought we should

wait for Tim.

Well, if we do, we're going

to have flat champagne.

And a cold dinner.

Tim's got two jobs now.

We never know when we're

going to see him.

Gardening's the job he loves.

He takes after Ron that way.

And even though he's only hired

for Saturday, he goes over every

day and checks things out.

All he ever talks about is

what's growing, what's blooming.

And Mary.

His boss.

The old-lady-gardener type.

Well, here's to Justine

and Steven.

Hear, hear!

May the wedding go off

without a hitch.

Except theirs.

(all laughing)

Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!

Mary brought me home because

we have a surprise for you.

Oh, Mary, I'm Esther.

I'm Tim's mother.

Hello.

Well, we didn't realize

you had company.

Maybe we should do this

another time.

No, no, no, Mary.

Mary, this is John

and Beth Willis.

Hello.

And, uh, this here is their

boy, Steven, about

to be the groom.

Nice to meet you.

And this is Tim's sister,

Justine, about to be the bride.

Congratulations.

There you go, Mary.

Thank you.

Timmy, this is Steven's

parents.

Hi. Hello.

Don't you want to hear

the surprise?

Of course we do, Tim.

Sure we do, son.

"Frog walked into the house.

It was dark.

All the shutters

were closed.

'Toad, where are you?'

called Frog.

'Go away,' said the voice

from a corner of the room.

Toad was lying in bed.

He had pulled all the covers

over his head.

Frog pushed Toad out of bed."

(joyful laughter)

Tim, that's wonderful!

You did that?

Well, actually, Tim did it.

His teachers could never

do that.

(sobbing) Oh, Tim.

Let's have a drink to Mary

and Tim.

And don't forget Frog and

Toad.

All right then, Frog and

Toad, and Mary and Tim.

(chuckling)

I'll just go...

fill this up again.

Let me help.

What can I do?

Not a thing.

It's lovely that Tim

is learning to read.

Oh, he's a fine young man.

Yes, he seems that way.

And so sensitive.

Yes, he is.

Makes me wonder, the way this

wedding affair has

mushroomed so.

I wonder how comfortable

it will be for Tim.

Justine wouldn't dream

of getting married without

her brother there.

And I believe Steven has chosen

him for one the groomsmen.

I didn't mean the ceremony.

I was thinking

about the reception.

Oh, he's very familiar

with the social hall

at the church.

And as long as we keep it to

family and close friends,

the way the kids want...

Don't tell me John's

secretary didn't call you.

Oh, I don't know why he doesn't

just fire this woman.

She does this all the time.

We've booked the Park Pavilion

for the reception.

There's so many of John's

business associates that we just

can't... leave out.

Tim, Tim knocked

his glass over.

Oh, is he okay?

Yes, he's fine, you know, I,

I couldn't help overhearing what

you were saying and, um...

I don't know if Tim told you,

but I have a beach house

where I spend the weekends.

It has a, it has a guest room.

Actually, I was thinking of

asking Tim to do some work

for me there.

Maybe after the wedding,

Tim could forgo the disturbance

of the reception and come out

to the beach with me.

Tim's right.

You are very nice.

(church bells tolling)

(friendly chatter)

Hi. Congratulations,

brother of the bride.

Thanks,

she looked beautiful.

And you look very handsome.

Thanks.

We're awfully grateful

to you.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

Be a good boy now, huh?

I don't think Justine

likes you.

Why not?

She says you're too young.

(whooping)

(gulls crying)

I'm ready.

Okay, give me a minute.

(Mary chuckling)

Okay, ready.

No, you're not.

You have to put on

your bathing suit.

Well, I'm not going

to go swimming. Yes, you are.

I come here almost every

weekend, I never swim.

But I want you to.

I'll watch you.

I don't want you

to watch me.

I want you to swim with me.

Besides, it's silly to live

at the ocean and not go

in the water.

You should go in the water.

Please, Mary Mary Horton.

It won't be any fun without you.

This okay?

Why don't you try the water?

You come too.

I will.

Now.

I'll catch up to you.

Come on!

Come on!

(both laughing)

See, you're having fun!

Did you ever love someone

so much that you left your mom

and dad and brothers and sisters

and went to live

in another place?

Well, I don't have any

brothers and sisters, and my

father passed away when I was

a little girl.

But I loved someone once and

moved away from my mother and

lived someplace else with him.

A husband?

Uh-huh.

Same as Justine.

Steven's parents didn't

want me at the party.

No, they didn't.

I'm slow, so sometimes

people don't want me around.

I can tell you want me around.

And it's not just because

you're lonely.

See, I think you don't like

that many people, at least

not as much as you like cats

and dogs.

But when I'm around, I can

tell right away you feel happy,

that's for sure.

We better go in now.

Just five more minutes?

Doesn't look like

anyone's home.

Mom's home.

She rests in the afternoon.

Mom, we're home!

Mom?

Mom's resting.

But she must've been really

sleepy to rest on the floor.

Tim, your mother is sick.

You stay with her,

I'm going to call for help.

Mom?

Mom?

Esther Burke Melville.

We who have known and loved you

return that part of you which

is earth to the earth.

And that of you which is spirit,

we consign to God's loving

and everlasting care,

where it may find peace.

The Lord bless and keep you.

The Lord make his face to shine

upon you and give you peace.

Amen.

Will she be cold?

No.

Her body doesn't feel

anything now.

But she'll miss me,

won't she?

She won't feel any pain

or sadness.

But she'll always love you.

Come on, Timmy.

It's time to be with family.

Thank you.

(Justine sniffles)

(sobbing quietly)

(knocking on door)

Tim? Ron?

(voices chatter on TV)

Hello, anybody home?

When you say interactive...

Hello?

How can it be interactive?

Well, it's very important

that there's some kind of, uh,

exchange between the person

and the program, the, uh...

You two need a change

of scenery.

You know, given the choice

between your beach house

and Bali, I would have gone

for Bali.

The trip's postponed,

Dale, it's not canceled.

Now these need a good soak

every three days or so,

depending on the weather.

How's Tim?

I'm not sure it's real

for him yet.

It's his father who's having

the hard time.

Mary?

Do you think you've gotten into

this thing over your head?

Maybe.

But I don't think so.

I feel like what I'm doing

is a good thing.

And I'm just taking it

one step at a time.

Well...

Watch your step.

You should walk as much

as possible.

It helps.

All I want is to be

where she is.

That's how my mother felt

after my father died.

She said it over and over.

All she wanted

was to be with him.

She just wanted him,

and I just wanted her.

Never in a million years

thought she'd go before me.

I was the one taking all

the pills.

We used to talk about how Tim

and her would manage after

I was gone.

You and Tim will be fine.

It won't hurt this much forever.

I promise.

I'll go get him.

(door opens)

(sighing)

Tim, speak to me.

You're always touching

my dad!

I don't want you touching him!

He's sad, Tim.

I'm comforting him.

I'm sad, too.

I know you are.

You don't comfort me.

Why don't you comfort me, Mary?

Mary? Tim?

We're here, Ron.

Tim's with me.

We have to talk about

what just happened privately.

Just the two of us.

We have to go back

to the house now.

Tim, please.

Good morning.

Oh, morning.

I've made some coffee.

I'm glad.

Oh, I made a...

I made a long distance call

this morning...

to my lawyer.

Something I had to discuss with

him, and, uh...

it involves you.

See, me and Esther saved for Tim

for after we're gone, enough

to put him in a group home.

It's not a bad place.

No...

And there'll be others like him

there for companionship,

and, uh...

Well, they say the happiest ones

have family that visit and,

you know, look after how they're

doing and help them manage

and...

That sounds right.

So, last night it came to me

to, uh...

ask if you'd be Tim's family

after I'm gone.

To be his legal guardian.

What about Justine?

Me and Esther agreed, Tim

would be out of place with her

and Steven and the high-powered

careers and a lot of little kids

running around.

Oh, look, you can tell me

I'm way out of line for this.

I couldn't talk it over with

Esther like I'm used to doing.

It's just that...

You've got a way with him.

Okay, talk.

Last night, when I comforted

you, we started hugging each

other in a different way.

And then we kissed.

The first part,

when I put my arms around you,

that was comforting.

The next part,

when we kissed each other,

that was something else.

I know that, Mary.

That's something...

married people do.

Hold and kiss each other

that way.

Justine and Steven did it

when they weren't married.

Well, they were planning

to be married.

Tim...

We're friends and

I want us to be friends forever.

But we can't be friends unless

we promise each other

never to do what we did

last night again.

Why?

Because it changes things

that I don't want changed.

Okay?

Okay?

Okay.

(distant cheering)

(horn honking)

You know your dad and I have

been discussing your future.

He's concerned because he's not

so young anymore and he wants

to prepare for the time when

he goes to be with your mom.

You mean when he dies.

Yes.

It's already been arranged.

I'm going to live with Steven

and Justine and whatever kids

they have by then.

Your dad mentioned to me,

he thought you'd be happier

with some other arrangement.

He found a place.

It's a converted house,

actually.

A center where people--

where you could live and

have friends.

He asked me if I would become

what is called your legal

guardian.

It's someone who would visit

you and help you whenever

you needed it.

I went to see the place

last week.

If you lived there, you could

have your own life.

And I would be available

whenever you needed me.

Would you know

when I needed you?

Or would I have to tell you?

Whoa.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Just that every time I wear

this shirt, I get a spot on it.

Here.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Do you know the difference

between stew and mush?

No, do you?

Well, if your father and

sister get here in two minutes,

we'll be having stew for dinner.

If they're much later,

we'll be having-- Mush.

Ron: Something smells good!

You're early, Dad.

In two minutes,

we're having mush.

What's cooking?

Or should I say who's cooking?

Technically, I'm cooking,

but the truth is without Tim's

gardening talents, we'd all be

drinking broth for dinner.

No, the truth is I grew the

vegetables, but Mary seasoned

them just right, that's for

sure, and there's magic in the

way she's stirring them.

Magic in my stirring.

How about that?

(Ron chuckling)

Excuse me.

What's going on?

Could you please tell me

what business Mary Horton has

in my mother's kitchen?

Wearing my mother's apron?

She's cooking vegetables

she and Tim grew together.

What's the matter with you?

Mary's been a godsend to this

family since your mother died.

You know, I would really

like to know just what

goes on at the beach house.

Justine, what's gotten

into you?

That woman in there's been like

an angel of mercy

to me and your brother.

As far as I'm concerned, she's

like a member of this family.

She may be like one,

but the truth of the matter is

she isn't one, and unless you're

thinking about adopting her,

I'd like her to get the hell

out of my mother's apron.

What are you talking about...

(knocking)

Excuse me.

Dinner's ready.

Oh, yeah, well, Tim, just,

just give us a,

give us a few minutes, will you?

I've drawn up papers to make

her Tim's legal guardian

after I'm gone.

What?

I've thought this through,

Justine.

She's got no kids of her own.

She's free to give him all the

attention he needs.

And like as not, she'll leave

him some security

when she passes on.

Dad, have you lost your mind?

I'm his sister.

Yes, and you're married now

and soon you'll have children

of your own.

Not soon, Steven

and I have discussed this.

You will have...

(whispering) a family of

your own.

(sighing)

Honey, I know you love your

brother and he loves you, but

believe me, with a career and

Steven and children,

it just wouldn't work.

You've got to look

at the big picture, Justine.

Dad, why don't you look

at the big picture?

What does that mean?

Come with me.

Mary said we could eat

because Miss Manners says after

two people are seated,

you can start eating.

Gee, I'd have never guessed

that Mary even knew

Miss Manners.

But since we're talking

about acceptable behavior,

why don't we bring my father

into the 20th century and

explain to him what your

relationship with my

brother is all about.

Justine, that's enough.

I'd be happy to.

My relationship with your

brother is all about friendship.

All right, I'll give you the

benefit of the doubt.

I suppose there is a remote

possibility that you actually

don't see it yourself.

You're attracted to my brother,

whether you're willing to admit

it or not.

Justine, this is uncalled--

I think it's time

for me to go.

I don't want you to go.

You know, Justine, you're not

the only girl that likes me.

I know that, Timmy.

And I want you

to call me Tim.

You don't call Steven "Stevie".

Timmy-- Tim.

I'm trying to protect you.

Because you think

I'm a freak. I do not!

Is that what Mary tells you

your family thinks?

I never have and never would

in my entire life say

such a thing.

I'm sorry my friendship

with your brother is

so difficult for you.

I respect how much

you care for him.

You have no idea about my

feelings for my brother any more

than you know anything about me.

But maybe you should.

Maybe you should know

that all my life

I've done everything double.

Once for me and once for Tim

because he couldn't.

And I've done it better

than perfect, so there would be

so much accomplishment

and so much recognition that it

would spill over onto him and

he could shine, too.

And it worked.

Every time I did something good,

you could see how it built

him up.

But now I'm built, Justine.

Just like you are.

And I don't want to live in a

center when Dad is gone.

And I don't want to live

with you, either.

That's not what I want.

I was going to ask you,

but I don't have a ring

and I know I'm supposed to.

I want to be Mary's husband and

flive with her in her house.

Mary Horton,

would you marry me?

Enjoy your book.

Did you file the Liberty

shipment packing list?

Probably, why?

There was an item missing.

I need to follow up on it.

Oh, no, they shipped it.

I shelved it and sold it

a week ago.

Sorry, I guess I'm not up

to speed.

On the contrary, it looks

to me like you're in overdrive.

Oh, your travel agent called

a few minutes ago.

Couldn't he get me

on a flight?

I don't know.

He called to ask me

if you're all right,

and he said if you are,

he's going to kill you.

I realize you've been

holding this place together

on your own lately, Forbsie.

I appreciate it.

I know that.

I've, um...

I've gotten myself

into a situation

that started out simple...

and ended up not simple.

It needs a cooling-off period.

That's why I'm trying

to get away.

You don't need to worry about

anything here.

After 15 years, I pretty much

have the drill down cold.

There is, however,

one thing you might consider.

There's a possibility

that you will finally get to

Bali and find out that what

you're running from has come

along for the ride.

(distant train whistle blowing)

You going to eat anything?

I'm not hungry.

I know I don't cook like your

mom, but... it's still food.

Have you been to bed with Mary?

Have you kissed her?

Made love to her?

We kissed each other once.

She made me promise

never to do it again.

And you didn't?

I kept my promise.

You taught me to keep a promise.

Even though it hurt your

pride, she was right to stop

you from doing that again.

No, she wasn't.

She liked kissing me.

I could tell.

That may be true, but she

knows something you don't.

And that is that what you take

for true love is really just...

a crush you have on her.

I want to marry her.

I know that's what you think

you want.

Your body wants a woman, Tim.

That's different.

My body wants Mary.

I know it smarts, son, but

believe me, it will pass.

Do you know what I'm

going to do?

I'm going to enroll you in

a social program at the center.

Then you'll see.

There'll be other women there

that are more...

suitable for you.

And who knows, maybe you'll

find one that's just right.

(plates crashing)

Tell me something, Dad.

Were you ever "slow"?

So then that means

you're not me.

And that means

you don't know how I feel.

Not exactly, Tim.

I don't want somebody

suitable.

And I don't want somebody

just right.

I don't want somebody at all.

I want Mary.

And if you're ever interested

in how I feel instead

of how you feel,

then I'll tell you

why I want her.

I sure wish Mom was here,

don't you?

If you like historical

fiction, you'll love this.

Thanks.

I'm going away for

a while to make things easier

for both of us.

You didn't answer my

question last night.

We can't marry

each other, Tim.

Why not?

Well...

for one thing...

there's the difference

in our ages.

When I'm an old woman, you'll,

you'll still be young.

Then I can take

care of you, Mary.

And...

a good marriage

is based on similarities,

so that...

people who marry each other

are alike and...

and they enjoy the same things.

We like to garden.

We like to swim together.

We like to read to each other.

I can't marry you, Tim.

Because I'm slow.

You love me, Mary,

that's for sure.

That's for sure.

Then why?

I'll drive you home.

(keys jingling)

Is that all you have to say?

I haven't lived this long

by giving advice.

I'll miss you, Tim.

That's for sure.

You think you know

how much you'll miss me,

but you don't.

Because missing someone happens

when you don't expect it, and

you feel like the ground is gone

and you're falling and there's

nothing to hold onto.

Isn't that how it feels when you

miss your mom and your husband?

That's how it's going to feel

about me, too.

(door opens)

(door closes)

(keyboard clacking)

What are you still

doing here?

It's after 9:00.

At the moment, I'm trying to

find a sale that I lost.

But I'm willing to admit

that only a minute ago I was

locked in a torrid embrace.

It's good, you should read it.

Did you come to keep me company?

I came to look for a book

on relationships.

That would be psychology.

Two aisles down on your left.

Tell me, Forbsie,

when you think about your life,

I mean... your life up till now,

do you have regrets?

Is this a near-death

experience?

I mean, are you the one that's

going to take me through my life

in review?

No.

I just want to know.

Sure.

I wish that I had let my gut

navigate my life's journey,

more than all the "shoulds"

I heard from everyone around me.

And where do you think

your "gut" would've taken you

that the "shoulds" didn't?

Into some wonderful trouble,

I imagine.

The truth is that

all my life I had damn good

reasons why not to do this and

why not to do that.

And now all I can remember are

the things that I didn't do.

Has it ever occurred to you

that all of these tomes,

all these pages, all these words

are nothing more than the

ongoing age-old attempt

to figure it all out?

It has occurred to me.

And have you ever realized

that nobody has yet?

And if they ever do,

we'll be out of business.

So, by logical progression,

it seems to me that the only

thing to do in this life is to

write your own book.

Make it up as you go along.

Hey, I hadn't finished

reading that!

(Mary's footsteps fading)

(door closes)

I have something

I want to say.

Would you like to sit down?

No.

Mostly, I listened to my dad

all my life because he's a man.

My mom didn't say very much,

but she was very nice

and very good.

She seemed that way to me.

And she told me something

about married people.

Maybe she thought

I would be married someday.

It was different than

what you said.

She said the reason

she and Dad stayed together

so long wasn't because

they liked the same things.

Tim...

I'm not sure you should--

She said they were good

together because of how they

worked out the things about each

other that were different.

Especially if they were

really different, like my

dad bowls and my mom hated

bowling, like that.

Did she tell you how they

worked out their differences?

She was patient.

And she said my dad didn't mind

it so much when people

had different ideas.

Dad gave me advice,

but my mom knew how I felt.

I know I'm slow, Mary,

but I'm not stupid.

And I'm not a child.

Mary...

I'm not taking "no"

for an answer.

You don't have to.

My answer is yes.

I'm sorry, but this is kind

of a shock to me.

Tim told me he was serious,

but I had no idea.

How come you married Mom?

Because he loved her.

Can we please try to figure out

what we're gonna do about this?

What did you love about her?

For crying out loud, Tim.

You know what, Justine?

What?

There are things about Steven

that I don't like.

Tim.

And I don't

like his parents either.

And there are even things about

you that I don't like,

but that's okay.

Because mostly, I love you.

I fell in love

with your mom because

she was gentle and good

and because she loved me.

That's why I love Mary.

We understand that, Tim.

But the question is,

and I'm trying as hard as I can

not to be insulting...

Why does Mary love you?

Ask Mary.

You're young, Justine, so

I'm, I'm not certain you'll

understand this.

I've only just begun

to understand it myself.

But the needs of companionship

change when you get older.

I loved one man for a very

long time, and he loved me.

And after he died, I didn't want

to love anyone anymore

or be loved by anyone.

But when Tim started loving me,

I realized how much I wanted

not just a man

or a relationship,

but a kind of love I'd given up

all hope of ever finding.

I love Tim

because he's Tim.

It's different having a kid

like Tim.

The rest of us, we...

give our hearts away a few times

and get them punched out...

and build up walls

for protection, but...

With Tim, there's a part that's

always a kid,

open and trusting.

I guess it just scares us

to see how easy it is for Tim

when he lets himself love.

Justine: Mr. and Mrs.

Tim Melville.

(string trio playing)

(cat meows)

Do I look like a bride?

You look beautiful.

Bet you never thought

Tim would be my type.

Listen, dear, after all the

years I've spent trying to put

you in a pair, I'm delighted.

I was beginning to think

you didn't even have a type!

What do you think Mother

would say about all this?

Oh, I know exactly

what she'd say.

"Mary dear, have you given

any thought to taking the cats

out of your bedroom?"

(dog whimpers)

(knocking on door)

Hi. Hi.

Justine, this is my friend,

Dale.

This is Tim's sister, Justine.

Holler if you need me.

Open it.

It's not a bomb or anything.

The apron my mom always wore

was one that Tim gave her.

I gave her this one, but she

never wore it.

Not even once.

I thought maybe you might.

I will.

Thank you.

I'm not crazy about

Steven's parents either.

You know when the time comes,

Tim and I would be very happy

to babysit.

Wish me luck.

(barks)

(friendly chatter)

It looks like we're about

ready to start, so if we can all

quiet down.

I understand that the groom

has a short reading for us.

It's a passage he's chosen

from a favorite book of his,

especially for this occasion.

(paper rustling)

"Toad blinked in the

bright sun.

'Help,' said Toad.

'I cannot see anything.'

'Don't be silly,' said Frog.

'What you see is the clear

warm light of April.

And it means that we can begin

a whole new year together,

Toad.'"

"'Think of it,' said Frog.

'We will skip through the

meadow and run through the

woods and swim in the river.

In the evenings, we will sit

right here on this

front porch and

count the stars.'"

And on that note,

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered

together here in the presence of

God to witness and to celebrate

the joining in marriage

of this man and this woman.

The union of husband and wife

in heart, body, and mind is

intended by God for their mutual

joy, for the help and comfort

given one another in prosperity

and adversity.

Therefore marriage is

not to be entered into

unadvisedly or lightly...

♪♪