Mockingbird Don't Sing (2001) - full transcript

Don't you go and dare not
to swallow, you hear me?

Swallow it.

That's it. Here's
some more. Stop it.

You stop it and do what I say.

- Stop it. Stop it...
- Cancer, June 21...

to July 20.

Now is the time for change...

That make you happy now? Yeah,
yeah. Plunge it all in there.

Now, how does make you feel, huh?

Little tasks you've
been putting off...

- Stop it...
- can now be



Does that make you happy?
Is that what you want?

- Stop it. Stop it.
- All the little tasks...

you have been putting
off can now...

- be moved...
- Is that what you want? Stop it.

- Stop it...
- to the front burner.

Wes?

You promised me.

Remember?

If she lived past the age of 12,
we could get her some help?

Billy.

Billy, get up.

Goddammit. Why did
you do that for?

He's gonna kill me, you know
that? I'm as good as dead.

Tell him you don't
know where we're at.



You woke up and we were both gone.

How're you supposed
to have got anywhere?

You can't even do
anything for yourself.

I don't know, You have
to think of an excuse.

What are you gonna live on?

Department Welfare...

I'm going to have
to call you back.

Is this were you handle the blind?

No, ma'am, this is
Social Services.

Now, if you just go around back...

Could you lead me there?
I got cataracts...

and the woman told
me on the phone I

could come here and get benefits.

Who's that with you?

That's Katie, my daughter.

How old are you, Katie?

She'll be 14 in April.

The parents of a 13-year-old
girl are free on bail tonight...

facing charges for what
authorities are calling...

the worst case of child
abuse they've ever seen.

The girl, currently
being treated for

malnutrition at
Children's Hospital...

was being held captive by her
parents, from the age of 1 to 13.

Early reports indicate the child
never even learned to speak...

leading some to tag her a
so-called "wild child".

Why did you do it?

Mrs. Standon is an innocent victim
of her domineering husband.

That's the only comment we have
to make at this time. Thank you.

What happened to the little girl?
You know what happened to her?

Where is the house
where the people

tied their little
girl to the toilet?

All rise.

Be seated.

State vs. Standon.

You're charged with wilful abuse
and neglect of a minor...

placed in your custody.
How do you plead?

Louise.

I plead not guilty. I'm sorry...

She's beautiful. I
was expecting...

I don't know what I
was expecting...

Stan claims he's heard her use
a few words for colours and...

"momma" and "stop it".

I heard her use those myself.

We gather she's
learned them before

she was locked away, but so far...

she doesn't seem to have
picked up any new ones.

She's almost fourteen, right? So,
the "critical period" has passed.

I beg your pardon?

Lenneberg's hypothesis, if a child
doesn't acquire a language...

by the time it reaches
puberty, it never will.

Well, she hasn't officially
crossed that line yet, so...

even if this theory is correct,
then, she still has a little time.

Now, listen, I don't
want you to just

dive in there and start testing.

I want you to spend this next few
weeks getting to know her...

build up her confidence and trust.

Unless, of course, you'd
like to back out right now.

You like the hair? Katie,
what colour is that?

Katie? Do you know
what colour that is?

That's red. Your hair is
brown, mine is grey...

Katie? Do you remember
me? I'm doctor Glazer.

I brought a friend of mine with
me today. Her name is Sandra.

So, did you meet the
famous "wild child?"

And?

Katie, rise and shine.

You remember Miss
Tannen, don't you?

Good morning, Katie.

Katie, I wanna show
you something. Okay?

Do you think you
can do that? Here.

Katie. Here, watch
me. Okay? Right?

See?

Apparently, she was never given
enough time to chew her food...

so she waits for it to
break down in her mouth.

How are you doing, sugarpie?
I got a present for you.

How did you know she wanted that?

- She told me.
- She did?

Well, she didn't use no words,
but she told me just the same.

How many balloons
do you have here?

Four.

What about you, Leslie? How
many balloons do you have?

Three?

I think you might wanna take
another look at those balloons.

Is it three or is it actually two?

Well, thanks to Katie,
it's now definitely three.

Very good.

Try again.

Judy. Hi.

We were never formally introduced.
I'm... Sandra Tannen.

I know who you are.

Aw, you know? It's so funny.

This hospital has gone into
such lags to secure a grant.

With the money they
got, they could

bring in Noam Chomsky himself.

Instead, they run across
town to UCLA and...

find some 1st year
graduate student.

Well, that's exactly
what they wanted.

I don't have any time constraints
or family obligations.

No experience.

Do you actually think
you're qualified

to teach this child how to talk?

I'm not here to teach her how to
talk. I'm here to document...

the way she goes about
acquiring language.

There's a... huge difference.

Well, you certainly gonna
have a lot to document.

This girl...

This girl is gonna
make me famous. I'm

gonna be the next Annie Sullivan.

She really said that?

I cross my heart and hope to die.

Annie Sullivan was the one who
taught Helen Keller, right?

That's the one.

I mean, alright, she's a very
talented teacher, I agree, but...

to state her ambitions,
in such overt terms?

Look, I know that Judy's a
little eccentric but...

like I say, she's very
good at what she does...

and she's essentially
well-meaning.

I hope you're right.

Would you like more
coffee, Mrs. Standon?

Don't know if I would.

Katie...

Did I tell you your
brother moved away?

I don't know where exactly.
I don't know if he told me.

- Can I speak to you for a second?
- Yeah, sure.

Please, will you excuse us
for a minute? Thank you.

So, I'm assuming since nobody told
me she was gonna be here today...

it's not a very good idea to
ask her any questions, right?

I think that's probably
a wise assessment.

I hope you can appreciate
my sense of frustration.

We know so little
about Katie's past.

And this woman's in a
position to tell us so much.

The last time she talked, she
wound up in jail. Don't forget.

The court has decided
that she's a victim, too.

Don't you wanna know why?

I'm not even talking
as a scientist,

I'm talking as a human being.

I wanna know how another
human being was subjected...

- to this kind of torture.
- You just have to be patient.

Eventually, there'll
be some answers.

There's been a suggestion...

at the hospital's donated
services to remove her cataracts.

Kind of a...

- Goodwill gesture.
- That's right.

I still think it's
vital that Katie

continues to see her mother.

She's the only link to the
past that child has got.

Doesn't it feel great to get out
of the hospital for a while?

Oh, my God.

What's wrong?

She's masturbating.

Aw... Jesus.

I got it.

- What you got there, Katie?
- Green.

Yes, that's green. This
is green. These are peas.

- Peas.
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Oh, my God.
- That's right, peas.

- And that is corn.
- Corn.

- Hey... easy...
- Katie. Katie, come here.

There's something
I wanna show you.

That man doesn't
want to be bothered.

- Bother?
- Bothered.

I'm sorry...

Number at the toy store. Katie's
looking at these beach pails.

- She just loves anything plastic.
- Right.

So finally, Stan and I decided
we're gonna buy her one.

And the cashier says to us: "Are
you sure she wants another one?"

We said: "What do you
mean?" And she says...

"Well, that woman who just
left just bought her one."

Wow.

Yeah, but that's not
what's really interesting.

What's really interesting
is that Stan

and I were with her
the whole time...

and she never said one word to
that woman, or to anyone else.

Did you pick the phone
bill, by the way?

I mean...

I guess it's not that surprising.

She's been cut off from
language, so naturally...

she's developed this whole other
way of communicating but...

it's so fascinating...

it's so fascinating to see the
effect she has on people.

Right.

What are these?

- Eye.
- That's great.

And you have eyes, right?
Where are your eyes?

No, those are Miss Bingham's
eyes. Where are your eyes?

Look at that. It's
just like she's blind.

Even the way she walks
has a blindism to it.

It's like she's testing out the
ground beneath her feet...

because she doesn't
even trust her eyes.

Now, in Arctica,
that's a gold mine for

studying effects of
social isolation.

I spent three whole summers there.

In fact, I even got a
mountain named after me.

I think she's waking up.

Look at her. She's
scared to death.

Can I go in there
for a few minutes?

Don't worry. She'll be back...

to sleep in no time.

Now, when you isolate somebody...

you start to see the effects
in as little as 15 minutes.

I imagine what this little
girl has been through.

We're gonna find some pretty
severe abnormalities.

Where do you think you're going?

I'm just gonna go and say hello
just so she knows I'm close by.

Sandra...

Pepsi generation.

Hey, Katie... hi.

No, no, you can't do that. I know,
it's so uncomfortable. Oh, no.

No, sweetie, lie
down. No, it's okay.

How about I sing you a song, huh?

♪ Hush little baby,
don't say a word ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a mockingbird ♪

♪ And if that mockingbird
don't sing ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a diamond ring ♪

It's good.

Sandra silly.

Now this is very interesting.

You see these spindles here?

See how they all batch
up together like that?

That's generally a sign of
retardation from birth.

So she said "Sandra silly", huh?

- That's what she said.
- Amazing.

It's the first time she
called me by name.

Or put two words together, for
that matter. Come here, Katie.

Well, we all know there's
been some progress but...

that doesn't necessarily
mean Lacey's wrong.

It doesn't mean he's right
either. It's just one study.

Lacey admitted himself, you find
the exact same sleep spindles...

in infant boys who've
just been circumcised.

And then, don't forget...

Katie started speaking at 16
months, which is not the case...

with retarded children.

Katie, hey, Katie. Come here.

Look, I'm not trying to be biased.

I'm prepared to follow the facts
wherever they might lead.

No. Katie. Don't do that..

Will you please call off your dog?

Please.

- Pail. My pail.
- Yes, I know.

You like pails. Pail. Yes, I know.

- Like bucket.
- Yes, and you like buckets, too.

But, why is this one a pail
and this one a bucket?

They look the same to me.

Well, making more of our
little research notes, I see?

Katie, how would you like to
spend the night at my house?

- I beg your pardon?
- Dr. Glazer said it was fine.

This child is not simply some
tool of science, you know.

It's about time she spends
some time in a normal home.

A norm? Do I need to remind you
of certain comments you've made?

And Miss Bingham likes Katie, too.

Miss Bingham likes Katie more
than anybody in the whole world.

Hello?

Well, she's still asleep.

Sure, I can give her a message.

What, are you kidding me?

Who is it, Rob?

Katie is being quarantined
over at Judy Bingham's house.

Judy's contracted rubella.

Katie's been staying over at her
house, so, she's been exposed too.

We can not risk infecting the rest
of the children at the hospital.

I don't believe it...
I don't believe this.

Well, I saw her with
my own two eyes,

she's definitely got something.

Yeah, she's got something
alright. She's got Katie.

Alright. Let's just relax, okay?

It's gonna be business as usual...

only for the next few weeks it'll
all take place at Judy's house.

Hi, Katie. Could you
open the door for me?

The door.

Could you go around and open
the door for me? The...

Yes. The door.

No, sweetie... Hi. Yeah...

Could you open the door?

Open the door.

Sweetie, please. Just
open the door for me?

I'm sorry, I was
indisposed. Come in.

Sandra wait.

Oh, yeah, Sandra
certainly did wait.

- So, how are you feeling, Judy?
- Much better, thanks.

Wait, Katie. You're certainly
learning a lot of new words.

But it's "door"
that's her favourite.

Every building she sees...

she stops and points
and says "door".

The door.

If it's alright with Miss
Tannen, it's alright with me.

Let's go.

You can watch TV for a few more

minutes, and then
it's time to sleep.

I can't believe how
well she's doing.

You've really got a gift, Judy.

Well, I guess I can empathise.

I was a very sickly
child myself...

and I always wanted
kids of my own but...

I guess it was just
not meant to be.

Anyway...

I suppose you've noticed
that Katie is fond of...

touching herself, haven't you?

Yeah, of course. She's even
done it in public a few times.

- And you tried to stop her?
- Yeah, of course I have, but...

you know Katie.

She's got a mind of her own.

Yes, but children
are sponges and...

they do what they're taught to do.

Well, not always, you know.

Linguisticly speaking, the seeds
of language are there from birth.

The only way for a child not
to develop language is to...

to do what Katie's parents did,
to isolate her completely.

And you think the sexual
instinct works the same way?

Well, it's not really my field
of expertise, but even...

even infants masturbate, right?

Want sugar?

Judy Bingham has accused
me of molesting Katie.

I went over there yesterday,
just to check things out...

and Judy told me if I could
take Katie out for a walk.

So, we get back to the house.

Katie's hair's in a mess
you know, from the wind...

- Judy looks right at her...
- She's out of her mind.

She's completely out of her mind.

I can't describe...

I can't tell you how I felt.

I mean, a charge like that?
You know if it goes public?

I'm the last person in the
world who would hurt her.

No one will believe her.

You practically saved
Katie. Everyone

in this hospital knows that.

You treated her like
she was your own.

Oh, it doesn't matter,
it doesn't matter.

By when I suit for slander,
the charges will still stick.

Then, people will always wonder.

I really care about
that little girl.

But, you know, I don't think I
have any choice, except to...

quit the team.

Katie, the door... The door?

Oh, Katie, please. Not again.

I'll be right back, Katie.

What's going on?

I don't think it's a very good
idea for you to see Katie today.

Your visits are tiring her.

Since when? Since
when do you decide...

who she sees or doesn't see?
You're not her guardian.

Well, as a matter of fact, I've
applied to become just that.

And until Social Services
make their decision...

she is to remain in my custody.

Judy, don't you realise
what you're doing?

You're cutting her off from
the rest of the world.

It's like she's right back
in the house she grew up in.

First, Stan York and then me.
Who's gonna be next, huh?

Are you gonna go on holding her
hostage for the rest of her life?

How about this one?

No? Okay.

Do you know what that is?

And what about that?

Like log.

Yes, yes. That's it.

I didn't even know you
knew what a log was.

Okay, how about... this one?

- Am I disturbing anything?
- No, not at all.

I was just reviewing the same work
I was doing over a month ago.

It's, pretty much all I
can do at this point.

You know, Beverly and I
have been talking...

about this whole situation and...

well, we've... pretty much decided

to apply as Katie's
foster parents.

Oh, Norman.

That's the best news
I've heard in weeks.

It's not a firm
decision yet. Katie,

obviously, she's a handful and...

we do have three
children of our own.

Of course, of course.

In my rush I hadn't even given
that any consideration.

And then, I've already taken
over as Katie's therapist.

Beverly, with her
background in child

development will be of help...

but I'm also researching
on the case,

so, to try to balance
all of that is...

Yeah, I see, I see.
I see your dilemma.

But, I think it can
be done. So, if...

Katie's social workers give us
the go-ahead, then we're...

we will all gonna give it a shot.

Katie.

You forgot one.

I love you.

I don't know what to say.

Not now, you don't.

But believe me, this
is not over yet.

You're depriving this
child of the best

home she's ever had.
Or ever will have.

And I'm gonna make
sure you all pay,

if it's the last thing I ever do.

I tell you every morning. Let's
go. You forgot your lunch.

Katie...

Katie.

Katie, what are you doing?

Stop that right this second.

Katie, watch me, okay? Watch this.

I am so mad. Boy, I'm so mad
I could just... you see?

I'm so mad I can just
throw a complete tantrum.

You see me? I'm so mad.
I'm so mad. I'm so mad...

Harder. Good. Now say: I am
mad. Katie say: I'm mad.

- Katie mad.
- Good. Now jump up and down.

I know this is
helping Katie but...

you may live to
regret this one day.

Jump up and down. Good. Now say...

I am very, very angry.

I am very, very angry.

Good. Run over here and slam
the door. Just slam the door.

You might be right.

Car has "meer".

The car has a mirror.

Katie, did you take my hairbrush?

Can this wait till later?

I'm sorry but she's
been appropriating

too many of my things...

and frankly, my patience
is running a little thin.

I'd better talk to her.

- So, what should we do now?
- Want Sandra play piano.

Oh, it's concert time,
is it? Alright. Alright.

What do you wanna hear me play?

I'm trying really
hard. I really am...

but sometimes, I don't think you

guys realise I have
problems too...

Oh, come on. Of course, we do.

Oh. We have a request for Chopin.

Let me find something I know.

Welcome. Hi, there.

So, I...

I believe this is
the first time...

you've ever actually seen
me in person, is it?

You're a lot shorter
than I thought you'd be.

It's so nice to finally
meet you, Mrs. Standon.

Louise.

Katie, momma's here.

So, would you like
something to drink?

I don't think that I
would. Thank you.

Lunch is almost ready.
I made something

special. I hope you like it.

Here she is. Here's Katie.

Happy Katie, happy momma see.

What have you done to her to
make her walk so peculiar?

- So, I hear you're from Oklahoma.
- I used to be.

- Have you ever seen a tornado?
- Once.

I actually did a
paper for school on

tornados. I found
it's interesting.

They actually hit Los
Angeles a couple of times.

I don't believe that.

Well, think about it. You got
warm air coming up from Baja...

cold air coming down from
Sierra Nevadas, so it's...

the interaction of those two
fronts, they cause a tornado.

Jonathan's got the family
aptitude for science.

I beg your pardon?

Katie.

What are you supposed
to do before you

reach for something at the table?

You're supposed to ask, right?

Now say: May I have the
apple sauce please?

Come on, Katie.

Come on. You can do that.

Don't torture the child. If she
doesn't wanna say anything...

she doesn't have to.

I mean, she could have at least
acknowledged the operation.

It's not like we arranged it
like some form of blackmail.

I think she must
be... overwhelmed.

Personally, I don't know how
well I would take it...

if I arrived at a complete
stranger's house...

and then I saw this
complete stranger...

acting as a surrogate
mother to my child.

I guess she must feel
pretty powerless.

Good morning, Katie.

Get up. It's time for breakfast.

Well, it's finally happened.

- What's finally happened?
- What we've been waiting for.

Hi, Katie.

Hi.

I know Beverly already tried
to explain this to you.

You really don't have
anything to be afraid of.

What happened to you
happens to every woman.

It happens to me, to Beverly.

It just means you're becoming a
big girl, that's what it means.

I think she'll be alright.

God, she's just finished toilet

training. She's
already menstruating.

Well, there is a silver
lining to all this.

The critical period's over.

Anything Katie learns from
now on is over the line.

So, we're gonna
finally find out if

the Lenneberg theory is correct.

It's not a theory,
it's a hypothesis.

Katie's gonna prove it wrong.

You just watch.

Alright. Quiet now, people.
I have an announcement.

We have a new student who's
going to be joining us today.

Now, she's a little bit older
than the rest of you...

but, she's never been
to school before. So...

I want you all to be
specially nice to her.

- Do I make myself clear?
- Yes, Miss Brill.

Class, this is Katie Standon.
And what do we say to Katie?

Hi, Katie.

Alright, dear. You can sit
down wherever you like.

Sit here.

Now, Katie, this is Kurt.

He's already been told where to
drop you off, so don't worry.

It must've taken two whole minutes
till we finally got her loose.

How did the bus driver take it?

He was great, he was great.
He's a really nice guy.

- Did I mention he's gorgeous?
- Several times.

I told Katie if I were unattached
I'd go for him in a heartbeat.

- Well, you're not.
- I'm sorry.

God, I know, I'm with Katie so
much. Oh, she can be such a tease.

She's got this really playful
side that... You'll see one day.

She's got this amazing
capacity to catch

you up in whatever mood she's in.

It's magical. Yap. She's
just magical, right?

Hey... there's something wrong?

Ever since you
started working with

Katie, I've heard
so much about her.

That's pretty much all
you can talk about.

So, I'm boring you.

No, but you keep building her up.

You keep saying I'm gonna meet
her one day, so I'm just...

I really don't wanna be
disappointed, you know?

I mean, nobody can be that great.

Fine... fine.

From now on, my lips are sealed.

Where is "May I have 10 cents?"

Does that sound like
a question, Katie?

Question.

Ok, I want you to just try
again. This time, try very hard.

Oh, Geez, I am so sorry.

I was at the hospital and...

Ah, Norman, this is Eleanor...
sorry, I don't remember...

- Schultz.
- How do you do?

And this is Dr. Richard Tennison.

Hello.

- We are from the National...
- Institute of Mental Health, yes.

Beverly called me and told me you

were, you know,
actually, pardon me...

I assumed that we were gonna be
seeing each other at my office.

This is the place where most of
the work takes place, isn't it?

Katie. You know better than that.

Beverly doesn't like it
when you spit on the floor.

Toy go coal mine?

Ah, coal mine is in the basement.

You see, sometimes we appropriate
some of Katie's toys as a...

kind of a disciplinary...

Why don't I just show you around?

The spoon goes here, Katie.

I showed them all the
videotape I shot.

For almost an hour, they
sit there looking at it...

and now all they can say is:
"So where is your research?"

I just showed them
my damned research.

And they started on how it's
not all perfectly catalogued.

Well, that's what they're
paying for, isn't it?

Of course it is. But it's not fair
for them to drop by and expect...

- everything to be just perf...
- Mum, we need you in here.

God, here we go again.

Norm, you don't think we're in any

danger of losing
the grant, do you?

Of course not. They know how
important this is. I just...

I just need to clarify
my part of the research.

Good morning, Katie.

What's that?

Kurt loves Katie.

Miss Brill, Miss Brill. Katie's
drawing dirty pictures.

Katie. Why did you do that?

Very very angry.

Katie, what's wrong, huh?

I'm not gonna hurt
you. You know that.

Tell me what's bothering you?

Come on, put it into words.

I never did get out
to the beach much.

Wes would never take me.

He was a cruel man, wasn't he?

Katie said something
the other day.

She said, and these
are her exact words:

"Father hit big stick."

Do you have any idea
what that might mean?

Well, Wes didn't like noise.

That's why he didn't
want children.

And Katie, well, sometimes...

She'd make noise.

And Wes he kept a...

a big stick in the corner of the
room for when she acted up.

- So, how often did he beat her?
- Not all that much.

He had a few other ways
of keeping her quiet.

- Like...
- He'd growl.

- What?
- He'd growl.

Like a dog.

- And that kept her quiet?
- I imagine so. Otherwise...

he wouldn't have kept on doing it.

Those people Katie lives
with, the Glazers?

They don't care for
me much, do they?

I wouldn't say that.

Then why they won't let me
see Katie at their house?

Why do you have to drive Katie
all the way out here...

just so I can spend
some time with her?

Well, I think the Glazers...

they're concerned that you
might not feel comfortable...

seeing Katie with... well,
you know, foster parents.

It's not that they don't like you.

They're just trying
to be considerate.

Come on, Katie. Ask me a question.

I don't care what it is,
just ask me something.

- Dark.
- Yes, it is dark. It's late.

Just ask me a question,
it will be all through.

Where Kurt come Thursday?

So, what you really
want to ask me is:

"Where will Kurt pick me
up on Thursday?" Right?

Dark.

Alright. Let's call it a day.

Remember when I told you I had
a friend I wanted you to meet?

The one named Rob. Remember?

Well, he's finally made it over.

Come on.

Get up.

Rob, this is Katie.
Katie, this is Rob.

Hi, Katie.

Katie. Where are you going?

- It's very pretty, Katie.
- She made it all by herself.

- You did?
- I sew dress.

Beverly taught her how to
operate the sewing machine.

Rob want Graham cracker?

I think she's inviting
you for a snack.

Ask him again. But this
time, put it in a question.

I where is cracker?

I'd be honoured to share a
Graham cracker with you.

- What are you doing?
- Go back to bed, Rob.

- Can that wait until morning?
- Rob, please, go back to bed.

She's levelled off.

I don't think she's making
any true progress at all.

I mean, the vocabulary is there...

but it's not at the normal
level that you'd find in a...

in the average child just
entering kindergarten.

Even with the words
she has learned...

she can't construct a grammatical
sentence in English.

Or anything beyond
the rudimentary.

"I like sewing". In
Katie's case, it

could just as easily
be "Sewing like I."

Even when she is being
grammatical, it's not...

Not on purpose. Yeah,
I see your point.

You know, what really amazes me
is how effective she is when...

when she is not relying on speech.

She always manages
to find some way

to make herself understood, Norm.

And she is so good with her hands.

Maybe we can find a way
to combine the two.

Okay, let's try that again. Ready?

I will see...

No, like that. Two fingers.

See the dentist tomorrow.

Do it again? One more
time? I will see...

the dentist tomorrow.

Very good, very good.

Hey, say something to Sandra.
Anything you wanna say.

Katie loves Sandra.

Sandra loves Katie too.

Mum.

Hey. When did you get home?

They've discontinued the grant.

What?

The National Institute of
Mental Health. They dropped it.

I kept telling Norm to
organise his research better.

And he kept telling me
"Oh, everything's fine."

So where does that leave Katie?

The Glazers have already made new
arrangements. You believe this?

They've already found
new accommodations.

New accommodations where?

I fixed up your room.

You wanna go see it?

Go ahead, Katie.

It's brand new.

They just delivered
it this morning.

He's gone already, huh?

Why don't I fix us
something to eat?

I think when you actually see
the institution you'll agree...

that Katie couldn't find
better care anywhere.

- Well, hello there.
- Hi.

- Mrs. Dure, this is...
- Duryea.

Duryea, this is Sandra Tannen.

She used to work with Katie.

Actually, I think I'm gonna have
the chance to work with her again.

It looks like the National Science
Foundation's gonna approve...

my grant proposal.

Really? Do you know Peter
Chang? He is at the N.S.F.

No, I doesn't ring a bell.

Well, I'd better run.

Give me a call
tomorrow, Louise. I'm

gonna try to set up a meeting...

to get together and see the place.

- Fine.
- And... it was nice meeting you.

Nice woman. I didn't
quite get what she does.

Hi, Katie.

How are you?

Oh, yes, I know. You miss Beverly.
I'm sure she misses you too.

Wow, look at that.

That is just the best picture
anybody's ever made of me.

Know what? Why don't you make
another picture, of Rob?

So I can take it home and show
him what a great artist you are.

Louise...

Louise, I hope you
aren't considering

placing Katie in some institution?

I can't see that I
have much choice.

She spits all over my
nice, clean floors...

she stamps her feet
and slams the doors.

And she rubs her hands all
over her private parts.

She never used to do such things.

She wasn't able to.

Oh, God. I thought I could
take care of her again.

Katie's got a lot of problems.

I didn't realise the kinds
of problems she's got.

You know what I would do if I
were in your place, Louise?

I would call the Department
of Social Services...

I would ask them to place
Katie in a foster home.

You know, some, a nice couple
whose kids have left home or...

maybe the kids are old
enough to help out.

I would hate to see her end up in
an institution, Louise. It is...

too cold an environment
for someone like Katie.

She needs love.

She needs a family.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Katie. What did I just say?

Head pray?

Thank you, Colleen.

Heavenly Father, we thank
Thee for these blessings...

that You have bestowed upon us.

We pray that You guide our
actions as we perform Your work.

Jill.

You know you aren't supposed
to use sign language.

If you've something
to say, just say it.

We can't understand you when
you talk with your hands.

That goes for you too, Katie.

My brother got killed in Vietnam.

He stepped on a bomb
and he got blown up.

Blow?

Katie, I told you. You can't
wear jewellery to church.

Now, give me the necklace.

Don't fool around
now, Katie. Come on.

- You'll make us all late.
- Very, very angry.

That will be quite enough
of that, young lady.

- So where's the girl?
- Oh, she moved.

She's doing well, I hope.

Yeah. She's doing really,
really well. Thanks.

Well. If it isn't the
famous linguist herself.

And you are becoming
quite famous, you know.

Hello, Judy.

I read your little article
that you got published.

What was it called? Oh, yes.

"Linguistic Development in
the Modern Day Wild-Child".

Catchy title.

But... a little insulting
to Katie. Don't you think?

I mean...

saying that Katie couldn't form,

what was it?
Grammatical questions.

That's a lie.

Maybe she never did
when she was with

you, but when she was
living with me...

she asked grammatical
questions all the time.

And saying that her father
hit her for vocalising?

What editors do you have, to
make a remark of that kind?

That's not science.
That's conjecture.

Would you like me to cut a
banana to put on your cereal?

No banana.

Colleen, pass me the sugar?

I'll take her to the bathroom.

Wait a minute.

I'll get something
to clean this up.

Oh, my God.

And furthermore, I told her
she could no longer have...

any visits from her mother.

Why?

Because she looks forward to them.

The only way to impress a child...

is to deprive it of
something that it values.

Mrs. Manning, didn't
the DSS tell you...

that this girl has an
extremely unusual background?

We have two other foster children
with equally unusual backgrounds.

They don't go around
eating their own vomit.

It's the act of an animal.

Tell me more about Kurt, Katie.
I wanna hear more about Kurt.

Hi, Katie.

I heard about your accident.

Do you wanna tell me about it?

You're keeping your
mouth shut because

you're afraid you'd vomit, right?

Is that what you're doing?

Then why don't you
use sign language?

Mr. Manning doesn't want
us to use sign language.

- Mr. Manning says...
- Mr. Manning can go to hell.

Colleen? Don't tell Mr.
Manning that I said that.

I don't want him to
take it out on Katie.

I promise.

Talk to me.

Katie, please. Talk to me.

If you'd just see
her for yourself,

Norm, you'd understand why I'm...

But all I'm asking is for you
to just take her back...

to Children's Hospital.

This house is the worst
placement you could possibly...

We'll figure that out later.
First, we've got to...

get her out of that house.

I'm not exaggerating
in the slightest.

This is a real crisis. It's...

Okay.

Okay, okay...

Thank you, Norm.

Thank you.

- He's going to help?
- Yeah...

He's gonna help.

Good morning, Miss Tannen.

Good morning.

Please, Katie, you've got to eat.

Katie, you've got to eat. If you
don't eat, you'll get sick.

Katie, come on.

Open. Open, open. You're okay.

You're okay. Open. Good.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

- Can I help you?
- Yes. I would like to speak...

to the social worker who's
handling the Standon case.

- Standon?
- Yeah. Katie Standon.

If you would just pay her a
visit, I'm sure you would see...

that she's got to be
relocated immediately.

It's awful there. She won't
eat, she won't speak.

It seems like she's the problem,
not the foster parents.

Do you know even the slightest
thing about her background?

We are talking about a
very unique child, here.

They're all unique. You see
all these files on my desk?

There's a child that goes
with each one of them.

One's lost his parents in a fire,

another's been molested
since infancy.

And I empathise, with each
and everyone of them. I do.

But if you would
just, just make an

effort to familiarise yourself...

with the history of this
particular child...

I think you would see that
she's in a class of her own.

Oh. So we're interested in
class distinctions, are we?

So, you're not married
to Miss Tannen?

We're talking about it. Thank you.

And you're already
living together.

Yap, we're living in sin.

Katie.

Katie, don't you wanna see Rob?

Oh, he's dying to see you.

Katie's been hurting herself.

She does this all the time.

At night, she lies
there doing it...

till the blood comes out.

Katie, let me see.

Katie, show me.

Where?

Aw... Aw, oh...

Five minutes. It's
all I'm asking for.

Five minutes of your time.

I know it was hard on you.

I know you and Beverly had
to sacrifice a great deal...

having Katie come and
live here with you.

Maybe you don't think
I can appreciate

the extent of those sacrifices.

But in my own limited
way, I think I can.

So I can understand why you
don't wanna get involved again.

And I wouldn't be asking you, if I

could think of
anything else to do.

If I were Sandra
Tannen MD PHD LCSW...

I could walk into that house and
take her straight to the hospital.

But I don't have all those
letters by my name, Norm.

I'm not asking you to
move her back in again.

I just want you to help me stop
her from destroying herself.

If you could just see the
extent of the damage.

Please, help her, Norm.
I'm begging you.

Nobody else'll do it.

Nobody else.

It's just me. It's
just me, it's okay.

The second I heard
she was living in

an abusive home, I
didn't even blink.

I got in my car, went over
there and an hour later...

- I checked her into the hospital.
- Well, hooray for you.

Oh. Amanda, this is Sandra Tannen.

Sandra, this is Amanda Black...

from the DSS. She's gonna be
taking over Katie's case.

Nice to meet you.

I understand you were concerned...

about the other two girls
living with the Mannings.

And you'll be happy to know
their cases are under review.

I'd be happier knowing that
they're both outta there.

Well, these things take time.

But, it will be relatively easy to
find new placements for those two.

Katie...

well, I'm sure you know that's
a bit more problematic.

We've got to make sure the
situation doesn't reoccur.

Yeah, I'm all for that.

You know, I don't know how you'll
take to this suggestion, but...

how'd you like to have
Katie come live with you?

With me?

From what I understand, you two
have a good relationship...

you've known each other
fairly long time.

You obviously have a good
understanding of Katie's needs.

In fact, we'll probably never
find anyone else who...

understands her nearly so well.

It's just that...

She's very demanding, I know,
I know. I realise that.

It's not just her. It's us.

And it's you. How would you ever
find time to finish school...

if you have to look after Katie?

You know, I've thought
about all that.

From every practical
standpoint, this

is the worst idea I've ever heard.

But you can't help
thinking about it.

I'm sorry. I must
have the wrong room.

She was moved to another location.

You mean another hospital?

- I honestly don't know.
- What do you mean you don't know?

She was moved this morning
to another location.

That's all the information I have.

Who moved her? Somebody
had to authorise it.

As a matter of fact, she was
accompanied by her mother.

She's not here.

Do you mind if I ask where she is?

In a place of my own choosing.

And don't give me any of your

nonsense about what's
good for Katie.

You don't know what's good
for Katie. You never did.

Louise, please. I have driven all

the way out here.
Could I please...

please just come in and speak
to you, for just a few minutes.

Louise, please.

The way you haunted that child.

Don't say it like this,
Katie. Say it like that.

And giving her all those tests?

That's why she couldn't get
along with the Mannings.

You pushed her to
a point where she

didn't know which
end was up anymore.

Louise, that's not true.

Katie loved the work that we did.

There were days when
even I didn't want

to work and she would
make me do it.

That's the way you trained her.

She was never a person to you.

She was just some little
scientific project.

No.

No. I needed her in my life.

From the first moment
that I laid eyes on her.

Well, you won't be laying
eyes on her anymore.

If I find you anywhere near
Katie, I'm gonna call my lawyer.

And that goes for the Glazers...

and Dr. York and anybody else
from Children's Hospital.

She is my daughter.

I'll decide what's done with her.

She's gonna think
that I abandoned her.

Could I please say goodbye?

No goodbyes...

no... nothing.

Just go back where you
came from and stay there.

Louise...

there's something I wanted to ask
you from the very beginning...

but I never felt that I should.

Why?

Why did your husband
isolate Katie?

I can't tell you that.

You can't or you won't?

How can I tell you something
I don't understand myself?

Nobody understood Wes.

Except maybe his mother.

This was her house.

When Katie was a baby, we would
spend about as much time here...

as we would at our place.

She was like somebody
out of the old West.

She used to run a
house of ill repute.

Even in her old day, she
still packed a pistol.

Oh, Wes, he was just
wild about her.

I think he cared more about
her than he ever did me.

She sounds like quite a character.

Oh, she was.

Wes was never the
same after she died.

It happened right
outside this door.

She was walking out,
to get an ice-cream...

when this car comes
running right upon her.

Killed instantly, just like that.

And I swear, she wasn't in the
ground more than a week...

then Wes moved us all in here.

Her bedroom, Wes wanted to
keep it just the way it was...

when she was alive.

So, we all had to sleep
in the living-room.

Oh, everybody but Katie. She
had the room in the back.

It was almost like Wes was
giving her something special.

It sounds like he...

like he projected his feelings
for his mother onto Katie.

- I beg your pardon?
- I didn't mean to...

Go on.

Well, one day I took
Katie to the doctor.

She was sick a lot from
the day she was born.

And this doctor said it looked
to him like she was retarded.

Well, that was it as far
as Wes was concerned.

He said if those
doctors got a hold

of her, we'd never get her back.

He said she'd probably wouldn't
live to the age of 3, anyway.

But she just kept getting older...

and I was already starting
to go blind, so Wes...

he was the one taking care of her.

I knew she needed help...

but Wes...

He was always walking around with
that pistol his mother left him.

The one he used to
kill himself with.

It happened right
here in this room.

Sometimes in the
middle of the night...

I'd hear the floor settle...

and I could swear it was Wes...

walking around with that
pistol in his belt.

He was trying to protect her...

like she was a princess
locked away in a tower.

Wes never did trust doctors and...

and in that regard, I come
around to his way of thinking.

Hello, Miss Tannen.

So, how long has
this been going on?

From the moment that I read
that article of yours.

I thought Katie's
mother should know

the kind of people
she's dealing with.

But believe me, I didn't
have to say much.

My objections found
very sympathetic ears.

There was nothing wrong
with that article.

You were just looking
for an excuse.

You didn't care what
it was, just as

long as it helped
you get Katie back.

And thanks to you I never will.
Poisoning the DSS against me?

Well, who's sorry now?

Hello...

Even after all this time...

I continue to hope that somehow...

some way I'll get
to see Katie again.

When I think about
that possibility,

which is every single day...

I always wonder what
I'd say to her.

I know I'd apologise, for
leaving the way I did.

It wasn't my choice, but I'd
apologise just the same...

just so she'd know
it wasn't her fault.

And then I'd ask her
all about her life,

I'd ask who she sees,
what she does...

and whether or not she's happy.

And obviously, I hope
she'd tell me yes.

Even if she did, I'd still
wish there was some way...

I could give her back all
the things she lost.

But, I know that isn't possible.

All I can do is
concentrate on those

things that are under my control.

And that goes for each
and everyone of us.

♪ Hush little baby,
don't say a word ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a mockingbird ♪

♪ And if that mockingbird
don't sing ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a diamond ring ♪

♪ And if that diamond
ring turns brass ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a looking glass ♪

♪ And if that looking
glass gets broke ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a billy goat ♪

♪ And if that billy
goat won't pull ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy
you a cart and bull ♪

♪ And if that cart
and bull turn over ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy you
a dog named Rover ♪

♪ And if that dog named
Rover won't bark ♪

♪ Momma's gonna buy you
a horse and cart ♪

♪ And if that horse
and cart fall down ♪

♪ You'd still be the sweetest ♪
♪ little baby in town ♪