Oliver's Story (1978) Movie Script

Sprinkle me, O Lord,

with hyssop,

and I shall be purified.

Wash me and I shall

be whiter than snow.

O God, most kind,

father of mercies,

the God of all consolation,

it is your will

that no one who believes

and hopes in you

should perish.

In your boundless mercy,

look with kindness

on your servant, Jennifer,

and true faith

and Christian hope

commend her to you.

Come to her

in your saving power

and because

of your compassion

and the death

of your only son,

be pleased

to grant her remission

and pardon all her sins

that she has committed.

O God, most kind,

the father of mercies

and the God

of all consolation,

it is your will

that no one

who believes

and hopes in you

should perish.

In your boundless mercy,

look with kindness

on your servant, Jennifer,

for true faith

and Christian hope

commend her to you.

We commend our sister,

Jennifer Barrett,

to you, Lord.

Now that she has

passed from this life,

may she live on

in your presence

and mercy and love.

Lord Jesus, you alone are

holy and compassionate,

and cleansed from every stain

by the blood of your son,

may enter

into life everlasting

through Christ, our Lord.

Lord, give her life, joy

and peace in heaven,

where you live forever

and ever, amen.

Thank you, Father.

Oliver.

It might be good

for you to come home

for a few days.

Take off from work.

Your room is

always ready.

I have to be at the office

tomorrow, Mother.

Go back to the car.

Go sit in the car and rest.

Well, please call

if you need anything.

I will, thank you.

For coming,

thank you both.

Goodbye.

She's not

in there, Oliver.

She's somewhere else.

I wish I could

believe that.

Don't they lower

a casket anymore

at a funeral?

I don't know.

I guess they wait

until everybody leaves.

Well, I'm gonna stay.

Come on, Oliver,

it may be hours before

they get around to that.

It's freezing out here!

I want to see it.

I'll stay with you.

No, Phil.

This is my time

with her. Please.

Attention,

please, the next bus

to Kennedy Airport

will be leaving

from gate number seven.

Phil!

I'm sorry I'm late.

Hey, kiddo, it's our

night on the town.

Why the books?

I'm working

on a new case.

I've been at

the law library

all afternoon.

I'll drop these off

and you can see

my new apartment,

then we'll go have

something to eat.

As long as you've

got a little milk

and crackers.

My ulcer needs feeding.

Eh!

That's it.

It's about

a 20-minute walk

to the office.

It's the only exercise

I've been getting lately.

Well, anything

that gets you

from here to there.

This is how successful

young lawyers live?

Well, my needs

are simple.

Yeah, they must be.

What happened here?

Oh, one of my projects

I never completed.

I was going to

knock this wall down

when I first moved in.

What the hell are

all these books

around everywhere?

Phil, I'm a lawyer.

I gotta read.

You've also gotta

live, kiddo.

Well, tell me, uh...

What do you do

for kicks?

Well, I was working

on a case today

I thought was

pretty exciting,

one of those landlords

trying to pull the rug out

from under his tenants.

I'm glad you're savin'

the world, Oliver.

What about yourself?

It's been two years.

I'm telling you,

it's time to get out

and meet people.

Eighteen months.

What?

It's been 18 months,

not two years.

Well, yeah.

Well, I...

I meant approximately.

I tell you this,

if we don't get

to a restaurant

in ten minutes,

there'll be no more

dates with me.

I don't see anything!

I'll prove to you

that I am the greatest...

She doesn't believe

I'm an expert

at making cookies.

Oh, yes,

this is the mad baker

from Cranston,

Rhode Island.

Hey, that's really neat!

What else are you into?

Sweet rolls, cupcakes,

hot cross buns.

With all this

bakery stuff,

are you rich?

Well, let's say

I'm a man of means.

Now I'm not as cultured

as my son-in-law here.

You're his father-in-law?

Hey, wow...

I mean, I think

that's kinda neat,

you two goin' out

on the town together.

I mean, that's

really something!

But, uh,

tell me something.

Where did you stash

your wives tonight?

Okay, okay,

it's my mistake.

I won't try this again.

No more singles' bars,

no more double dates

with your father-in-law.

I just want you

to know

that you don't

have to feel bad

about it, you know?

Don't worry about

Jenny or me or

anybody else.

You gotta plug

into life again!

This kind of life?

Let me tell you somethin'

straight, Oliver,

even if it hurts.

If it had been you

instead of Jenny,

well, she wasn't the kind

to go off to

a nunnery, you know.

Take a guy off

the ice rink,

put him in a sauna,

what happens to him?

He's in a fog.

He doesn't remember

his old roommate.

How you been, Barrett?

Simpson, how are you?

I'm fine, thank you,

except about

20 pounds I don't

know what to do with.

Ah, married life.

To Gwen, remember?

You know, I have

so much on my

mind these days.

I got six cases coming

to a head at once.

You're a regular

workaholic, huh?

Well, I like my work.

Is that what you mean?

No, I mean that you're

a saint and a martyr

and should be canonized

by the Supreme Court.

How about lunch?

I wish I could,

but I've got somethin'

at the office.

Steve, it's a

very busy time

for me right now.

The old peanut butter kid

rides again.

Look, uh, I'm glad

I ran into you,

because Gwen and I

have been meaning

to ask you to dinner.

Why?

Because you're so

much fun, Oliver.

Now come on,

8:00 Friday, all right?

I'm sorry, I'm busy.

Friday, 8:00.

No more excuses.

Phone and address

is in the book.

Steve, I... I can't!

Oliver,

you look great!

Have you lost weight?

I wish Steve could!

Maybe a couple of pounds.

My cooking leaves

a lot to be desired.

Just take it easy

on the appetizers,

Barrett.

Gwen has

prepared a feast!

That must be the

rest of our party.

You didn't tell me

this was gonna be

a big group thing.

No, no, no.

No group. It's just

a single guest.

You mean a guest

who is single, right?

Actually,

she is, but...

But you didn't want

to scare me off.

I'm sorry

I'm so late!

Oliver, she's very nice.

Ah, Gwen, I know

you both mean well.

And she fixed,

uh, some scones.

Yeah.

Um...

Hi.

This is Joanna Stone.

This is my ex-roommate,

Oliver Barrett.

How do you do?

Joanna designs furniture.

She does incredible things

with almost nothing.

Have they asked

you to become

a partner already?

I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Have they asked him

to become a partner?

If he wins any more cases,

they're gonna ask him

to run the joint!

Will you stop it?

I'm sure of it!

He's gonna

be the president

of the whole darn thing!

I'll tell you something

about him. We were talkin'

about when we went to school.

I was thinkin' about

this the other day,

when...

This man, not in the top

10% of his class, right?

Not the top 5%.

Gwen.

The top 1%

of his class at Harvard.

Right sitting across

the table.

First in what,

25 years, to get those...

Hockey, let me

tell you 'bout this!

I was playing hockey.

We went out there.

Fantastic!

Nobody could beat him!

One time,

we were playing against

Dartmouth, right?

A guy that

looks like him

could take on

the entire Dartmouth

hockey team!

Here's little Joanna

standing there.

Everybody's quiet, right?

She looks up

at the guy,

and she says...

Everybody, dig in.

"I'm proud of my work.

How 'bout you?"

She's incredible.

She is fantastic.

You wouldn't know

to look at this

little pretty face.

She works a drill,

a handsaw, right?

An electric saw,

a handsaw?

Gwen.

Anyway...

She went

to school with honors.

She knows all

about architecture.

Fantastic, I mean,

the shapes. You know, I think

she has a whole concept.

Now correct me

if I'm wrong.

I'll tell you something

right now. If...

Joanna creates space.

She does not make furniture.

Totally.

- We go for spaces.

- Right.

See,

Joanna designs spaces

out of materials that

you would never expect,

right, Joanna?

Yeah, tape, cord, wood.

Wood, okay, wood and...

Environment.

It's spaces.

I'm sure this is

very boring for you.

I'm so sorry!

Why?

Well, I had no idea

they didn't warn you.

I was given

such a briefing

that all I could

think about was

what not to say.

I guess everyone

you know must be

trying to fix you up.

No, it's not

that bad.

Oh, come on.

A bachelor in New York

who isn't a creep?

Oh, I can be

quite a creep

when I want to be.

Oh!

Are you okay?

Yeah. I think

I just had too many

refills of the wine.

Yeah, I had

too much, too.

Well, he didn't

let us get a word

in edgewise.

What else was there

to do but drink?

Um, well, thank you

for seeing me home.

Would like a cup

of coffee before you

start across town again?

Oh, that's all right.

I'm fine.

It would be very nice

to see you again, and...

Do you have

any decaffeinated?

You mean, everything

in this apartment is

of your own design?

Almost. Except for

the old stove,

of course,

and one or two

odds and ends.

It must be great

living in an

environment

that you've created

entirely by yourself.

Oh, well, there's more

to environment than

just furniture.

And is...is this

where it all begins?

No, it usually begins

in the bath,

or when I'm buying

groceries.

I have to rush

back here and get it

all down on paper.

I had a year

of mechanical drawing

in high school,

but I always had

trouble keeping

a T square square.

Ah. Yeah,

I had to learn.

I used to all my drawings

on the backs of envelopes,

and...

But no one would take

it seriously until it looked

like a professional drawing.

And you really make

these things yourself?

Oh, yes,

that's the best part!

I love the actual work!

Um, this is my latest,

over here.

I called it an air chair.

May I try it?

Yeah, please do.

Ah.

Very nice.

Very comfortable.

My idea was to put all that

inside something that had

a bit more natural texture,

so I used the canvas.

What is that?

Oh, that's very simple.

Most of the stuff is made

for people that travel a lot.

You know, they don't want

the hassle of heavy furniture

when they move.

It's exactly what I need

for my overflow of books.

Are any...could I

buy this anywhere?

Yes, yes, that's one

of the few designs

I've had accepted

commercially.

Can I send you

a brochure?

You have some

lovely things here.

I hope you don't think

I asked you up here

just to sell you things.

Oh, no.

So that's, uh...

That's...

What was it, Jamaican?

No, it's half-mocha,

half-Colombian,

but it is decaffeinated.

I mean, you won't

be up all night.

Oh, that's good.

I need some sleep.

Yes, yes,

so do I. Work.

Well,

I'd better let you

get your rest.

It was, uh,

the coffee,

everything

was very nice.

Um, thank you

for the evening.

Thank you.

Oh, it would be nice

to see you again,

you know, when

we have more time

and we're relaxed.

Yes.

I'll call you.

Thank you, Joanna.

Goodnight.

I don't know.

I'm really not sure

why I'm here.

In these situations,

part of me says,

"Go on, there she is.

"She seems to like you.

You like her.

Take a chance."

Then another part says,

"Don't rock the boat.

"Don't make waves.

Don't...

"Play it safe.

"Go back to work.

Don't complicate your life."

Is that how you see

such relationships,

as complications?

Sure.

I mean, all relationships

are complicated

in one way or another.

It's never easy.

People seem to think

I'm some kind of a freak

because I don't want

to go out and get laid

three times a week.

I just don't feel it.

What do you feel?

I don't know.

Sometimes...

I feel lonely.

And I miss her...

Jenny.

I do.

Well, I can certainly

understand that.

You're feeling loneliness.

What do you do

with these feelings?

How do you express them?

How do you deal with them?

Well, if I'm in my apartment,

I just lie down

and hope they'll go away.

Sometimes I'll come

straight home from work.

I won't even eat anything.

I'll go right to bed.

Now I wake up

in the middle of the night.

I'm famished.

And I can't go

back to sleep.

The next morning, I wake up.

I'm exhausted.

It starts all over again.

There's several areas here

that we could work on.

But a good place to start

is feeling good physically.

Do you do any exercise?

I used to run a lot,

play hockey.

I love sports.

I don't know.

I've just drifted away

from them lately.

What's so funny?

You and your ice skates.

Well, why do they drain

the rink so early?

I think it's to keep

people from drowning

with their skates on.

Well, do we have

to run while we talk?

Do we have to talk

while we run?

No, I guess not.

Well, if you'd like

to run alone, just say so.

I will.

Good.

Do you run to meditate

or something?

You mean astral aerobics?

No, I'm not much

of a mystic, you know.

I just do this

for my tennis.

Good, because I've been

looking for an opponent.

Someone who would

play very well,

then fall apart

in the third set.

Yeah, well you wouldn't

want to play me.

I've got incredible

endurance.

Prove it.

When?

Well, tomorrow, if I can

catch my breath by then.

Okay.

Yeah?

How about

the Midtown Tennis Club,

27th and 8th, 6:00?

Well, make it 7:00.

I work till 6:00.

No, it's okay.

I meant 6:00

in the morning.

Who plays tennis

at 6:00 in the morning?

We do, unless you

chicken out by then.

Okay, I'll try

anything once.

I'll reserve a court.

Ask for Marcie Nash.

All right, I will.

Could I know

the name of my victim?

Gonzales.

You may call me Pancho.

Hey, okay, Pancho.

Hey, don't forget

to bring your ass, huh?

What for?

So I can whip it!

I guess I can count on you

to bring the balls!

Boy, aren't we perky

this morning?

Do you know

it's still dark outside?

Well, that's why we're

playing inside, Sancho.

Pancho.

What are we

playing for?

I beg your pardon?

The stakes.

What are we playing for?

Oh, fun.

I need a more

tangible incentive.

Okay, um, are you rich?

How is that relevant?

I just wanted to know

how much you could

afford to lose.

How about dinner?

Winner picks

the restaurant?

Oh, goody.

I know just the place.

Don't be premature,

Miss Nash.

You haven't won yet,

and I warn you.

I eat like an elephant.

Well, that's logical.

You run like one.

Okay.

It's your serve, Pancho.

Uh, you're on

the wrong side.

Oh.

Ooh, it's in.

Oh! Oh!

Listen, I have

to be at work by 8:30,

so let's just

knock it off, okay?

Well, I was just

getting warmed up.

Play me one

more game, will ya?

Double or nothin',

sudden death,

winner take all.

Okay, fine.

Thank you.

Shit.

So what do you

do besides jog

and play tennis?

I work at Bonwit's.

Well, that's a

great-looking store.

Yeah, it is.

It's a swell place

to shop,

but you wouldn't

want to work there.

Why not?

Because behind

all of those

elegant displays,

it's somewhat of a mess.

Really?

Uh, listen,

you'll be so sorry

you ever asked me

once I start

talking about this.

If we're gonna talk

about work,

let's talk about yours.

Oh, don't be so sure.

I'm a lawyer.

Well, lawyers

don't scare me.

Are you a specialist

or more like a GP?

Well, I do a little bit

of everything,

but right now,

my main interests

are liberties.

Giving them or

taking them?

These guys let the taxes

on their most run-down

buildings accumulate

as long as they legally can,

use up all their extensions,

and then they turn

it over to the city

without paying a penny.

Now the city is

stuck with a lot

of run-down real estate

that they do not know

what to do with,

so they put it up

for public auction.

Now the absentee

landlords,

under a new

corporate name,

come back and buy it.

And it all starts

all over again.

Does this stuff

bore you?

No, no, I would

tell you if it did.

I think you would.

So what about

the rest of your life?

Well, there's not

much to tell.

Are you married?

No, why do you ask that?

I don't know.

Something about you.

Were you married?

For a couple of years.

That's it.

Listen, I don't mean to pry.

I happen to be divorced,

and, you know, it's hardly

a hot topic for first dates.

No, it's not.

Listen, I have to

make a plane at 6:00

in the morning.

I have to be at the airport

at 6:00 in the morning,

so do you mind?

I have a lot of work

to do myself.

Waiter?

Oh, listen,

it's all taken care of.

I mean, a deal's a deal.

I don't know.

I wanted to

tell her the truth,

but it just

didn't seem right,

didn't seem like

the moment for it.

Do you find it difficult

to talk about Jenny?

Yes, I do,

especially to women.

Doesn't seem right.

Doesn't seem fair

to them or to her.

How do you mean

not fair to her?

Well...

Do you believe

that Jenny is dead?

I saw them

lower the casket

into the ground.

I stayed after

the funeral to

see that.

Why did you do that?

Because I felt

I owed it to her.

Because I wanted...

I wanted it to be final.

Do you sometimes feel

that Jenny is reacting

to what you do or say?

She was the other

half of me.

And now that half is

not there anymore.

It's missing.

You feel incomplete.

Do you see any way

that you could

feel whole again?

Well, people keep telling

me that it's easy,

you included!

Just...

One dies and you

find another girl

and you pick up

right where you left off.

You know my man,

Orville, right?

And this is

Dora Corbiasco.

Hello, Dora.

Did you get all

the names on your list?

I just finished

them this morning.

Good.

How about yours?

Been to the mountaintop

and back, but we did it.

They can't

turn us down now!

We need

all the ammunition

we can get!

Yeah,

there's no good

reason in the code for it.

I checked

the code thoroughly.

Well, I would talk

to Bill about it.

Okay, you get

back to me.

All right.

Good morning,

Mr. Gentilano.

Fifteen minutes late

for an appointment.

Is that how this group

is gonna handle

all the requirements?

I'm sorry we're late.

We had a lot

of signatures to collect.

Well, if a group

can't make a deadline,

they can always apply

for an extension.

You know about the rules,

don't you, Mr. Barrett?

We don't want

an extension.

We wanna get this

show on the road!

A lot of people are

ready to go to work

on that building,

Mr. Gentilano.

We don't want their

enthusiasm lost in

any more delays.

But I don't want

this program hurt

by any group

rushing into this

kind of responsibility

half-cocked.

Believe it or not,

there is a reason

for each of

these approvals.

There better be.

I signed each one

of these questions

three times.

And I told

the truth each time.

Yeah, well,

I'll get to it

as soon as I can.

Obviously, nothing's gonna

happen overnight.

Mr. Gentilano,

I know the usual

waiting time,

but if you could see

what these people have been

able to do on their own,

I think you'd realize

they deserve a quicker answer.

You should come down

and visit us sometime.

I should visit

a lot of projects.

Brooklyn, Staten Island,

East Side, West Side.

Uh, well, uh,

let's see what I can do.

Well, you sure didn't

humor me today!

I had a week to lose

my sense of humor.

Well, I don't know

what you're

so pissed off about.

You won another dinner.

Oh?

There was a dinner?

Well, isn't that

what we play for?

Tangible incentives?

Yeah. I just didn't know

it was a standing bet.

Only if I get

to pick the restaurant.

All right.

I used up my list

on the first try.

Where would you

like to go?

Do you know

La Cremaillere?

It's a country French

restaurant north of the city.

Sounds interesting.

I have to be at our store

in Scarsdale next Friday.

Maybe,

if it's convenient for you,

you could pick me up there.

Excuse me, lady.

Is this Macy's or Gimbels?

Twelve minutes late,

Oliver.

Oh, I just drove through

the most incredible

rush-hour traffic!

It was

a horrible ordeal.

Well, it must have

been horrible.

It looks like your car aged

a little bit in the process.

This was a Ferrari

when I started.

This is very good.

I have to say it again.

I told you.

And also very expensive.

So how's the

unholy mess?

Huh?

The store?

I mean, is the one

in Scarsdale doing as badly

as the one in the city?

Oh, no.

No. As a matter of fact,

the reason that I'm here

is that...

I'm what you could call

a troubleshooter.

I had some ideas

for reorganizing things,

so management gave me

some space in the store

to try my experiments.

And are they working?

Yeah, they are.

They're working

very well.

Well, you don't seem

very pleased about it.

It's the end of one thing

and the beginning

of something else.

I can't try things

for the hell of it

anymore, you know?

Because they're watching me.

They're keeping score now.

I don't like being watched.

I know what you mean.

Would you

like to see the

dessert menu?

Oh, listen,

I'm just gonna

have coffee,

but they have serious

desserts here.

You ought to have one.

Well, it sounds tempting.

I'd better not.

I'm trying to stay

in shape, remember?

Two coffees, please.

Boy, nice willpower.

What about yours?

You know,

I'm good tonight

in front of you,

then tomorrow

I'll sneak off somewhere

and eat ice cream

and eclairs.

That's the difference

between us, you know?

I'm self-indulgent,

and you're self-sacrificing.

What do you mean?

I don't know. It's just

an impression that I get.

You believe

in rightness and fairness

and high-minded things.

I bet you didn't

even tell lies

when you were a kid.

Oh, yes, I did.

Sometimes I still do.

What do you mean?

Well, it wasn't

a lie, exactly,

but I wasn't being

completely honest

with you last week.

I mean, you...you, uh...

you seemed to assume

that I was divorced.

You're separated?

She's dead.

I mean, how did...

How old was she?

She was 25.

Leukemia.

I'm really sorry, Oliver.

I know this was

not the right time

to tell you,

but I'm not

a good liar, Marcie,

and I couldn't

let it go on like this.

Oh, I know. It's okay.

Excuse me,

the clerk would

like to know

if you will be

staying the night.

The reservation says

"Will confirm."

And there are

other requests.

Yeah, I will be staying

the night, thanks.

You're staying here?

Mmm-hmm.

You know, they have

the cutest rooms upstairs.

Fireplaces, brass beds,

very tasteful.

How could you stay here

if you didn't have a car?

You don't have to take it

that way, Oliver.

It's just I don't like

to feel managed,

to be maneuvered

into something.

I have to go

to Hartford tomorrow.

I had someone

bring my car over.

Well, have a good

time in Hartford.

Sorry it

worked out this way.

Maybe we can start over

again the next time.

Maybe.

Call me sometime?

You never gave me

your number, remember?

Do you want it?

I don't know.

Well, let me know

if you decide.

Morning.

This is it?

Did you get that name

I wanted you to track down?

I checked

with personnel

at Bonwit's.

Well, did you find her?

There's only

one employee

named Nash.

That's it.

Get her on the phone.

Uh, her name

is Albert.

Albert?

That's the only one?

Okay, Barrett!

What is this

6:00 a.m. crap?

I didn't get

to sleep till midnight!

Well, go to bed

earlier tonight.

You mean we gotta go

through this again?

I haven't even finished

this match yet.

Steve, there's a

girl involved.

Oh, yeah. Joanna?

No, it isn't.

Anyway, she comes here

at 6:00 sometimes,

and it's the only way

I have of finding her.

Okay, anything

for the cause.

Ah.

Ah, what happens

if she doesn't

show up tomorrow?

Well, we just have

to keep playing

till she does.

Hello, doctor.

And how are you today?

Not so good.

Any particular reason?

Oh, I could name a few.

You know that case

that I was working on?

Oh, the law,

it seems so simple

until you get down

to specifics.

Now I'm not sure that case

is going to work at all.

You remember

that girl, Marcie,

I was telling you about?

Well, I had an

argument with her.

I walked out without

finding out how to

get in touch with her.

I've tried to call her.

There's no number.

There's no address.

She's not even listed.

So she seems lost to you?

I didn't know I could feel

this miserable anymore.

Do you think you

could see that

as some sort of progress?

Is that when you know

it's good for you?

When it hurts?

Hello?

Hello, Oliver, it's me.

It's Marcie.

Hi, how are you?

Oh, fine,

you know, busy, lonely,

feeling a little stupid.

Do you think we could talk?

We are talking.

I mean off the phone.

I've been

on the phone all week.

Where are you?

I'm at the store.

Maybe it's time

that you saw me

in my natural habitat.

Which store?

The main one.

You know where

it is, right?

I just don't know

how you can work there

and not be on someone's

employees list.

Oh, you checked up

on me, huh?

I was trying to find you,

for God's sake.

Well, I can

explain all this.

Just ask at the elevator

for the executive offices.

Hello, excuse me.

Did you see anybody

working here today?

Oh, there's nobody

works on Saturdays.

Her name is Marcie.

Oh, Marcie! She works over

there on the other side.

Hi.

"Marcie Bonwit?"

I use my maiden

name here.

I can see.

You don't work for Bonwit's.

It works for you.

Oh, come on, Oliver.

It's not quite

that simple.

You wanna go for a drive?

I admit,

I'm a little paranoid.

I give a lot

of credit for that

to my ex-husband.

What was he like?

He was the perfect

Mr. Right.

He was everybody's idea

of the man I should marry,

including my own.

He was bright.

He was charming.

He was ambitious.

He was really ambitious.

What's he doing now?

He's a wealthy divorce

living in Beverly Hills,

investing his money

very wisely.

Wow.

You know,

I don't mind the money.

What I regret is

really just handing

my life over to someone.

You know, really just

giving it all to them,

basing it all on them,

and then...

Then my father died.

We lost control

of the company,

and they gave me a seat

on the board as consolation.

It was a hell of a year.

So this is where we

go when I'm buying?

Listen,

I love this place.

We used to come here

every summer after camp.

We?

Yeah, my parents and I.

They were so concerned

about me mixing

with the people,

they always put me

in situations where

the other kids were from

Brooklyn or the Bronx.

Hey. Give me some

cookies for the kid.

I was always

the only rich kid.

I spent my childhood

pretending to be poor.

Want me to make

you feel better?

My family is

filthy rich, too.

Two hot dogs,

two coffees, please.

The works.

Oliver, why didn't

you tell me that?

I was afraid

you'd love me

only for my money.

You want

some mustard?

It's free.

Please.

Thank you.

Rich kid.

It's nice out.

Let's stay by the car.

Okay.

To our true identities.

Whatever they may be.

What are you looking at?

That funny sign

over there.

No brass beds,

probably no fireplaces.

We could watch

a little TV.

We got room service.

When will I see you again?

How about

five seconds?

One thousand one,

one thousand two,

one thousand three,

one thousand four,

one thousand five,

one thousand...

Look at that sunset.

How are you doing?

Fine.

But you feel

a little guilty, right?

Maybe.

'Cause you thought

about Jenny?

Because I didn't.

Red Apple motel,

our rooms are

rotten to the core.

Oliver, what is the

Red Apple motel?

I didn't know it

would be you.

I was expecting a call

from an old college friend.

Well, your mother and I

were just talking

about next weekend.

We haven't seen you

for months really.

Well, I don't know

if I can make it.

I have an awful lot

of work piled up.

I know, Oliver,

but your mother would

be very disappointed.

Well, what does she

have on the agenda?

Oh, nothing elaborate,

but we'd just love

to have a quiet

weekend alone.

All right,

I'll come down

on Saturday,

but I have to be back

here Sunday night.

We understand, Oliver.

How are you, Sean?

Hello, Mother.

Darling, how are you?

Oh, I'm fine.

How are you?

Oh, I'm bearing up.

Did you come alone?

Yes.

Where's father?

Oh, he's on the phone.

Darling, why don't you

run up and change,

then join us for a drink?

All right,

I'll see you in a minute.

Well,

I personally think

it's a much better approach

to saving these urban areas

than the...

These government projects.

Now if I can only get it

through the city bureaucracy,

these people,

whatever work they put in,

whatever labor,

whatever carpentry,

plumbing...

That becomes part

of the investment

towards their

own building.

That's what they call

their "sweat equity."

Couldn't they call

it something else?

Mom, I think that's

a very good word for it.

That's all these people

have to invest,

is their sweat,

their labor.

You know,

not everybody was

born with trust funds.

That's a very

interesting idea, Oliver.

I'm in favor of anything

that expands the tax base.

Oh, there are some very

sound economic arguments

for this, Father.

These are not

charity cases.

Now all my life,

I was taught to believe

that poor people

did not know how

to take care

of property.

Well, why should they

when they don't own it?

And the people that do,

these absentee landlords,

these no-name corporations,

do you think that

they give a shit?

Oh, Oliver!

Well, Mother, do they?

They don't care about

the human beings

that live there.

Oliver,

it's admirable for you

to give so much time

to such a project,

but keep it

in perspective.

I'll try, Father.

Oliver, I want you to try

some of these.

I think you've been

losing weight.

I've been running.

I'm getting back

into shape.

I'm trying

to lose a few pounds.

I want you to leave

here well-fed

and well-rested.

"There was a crooked man,

and he went a crooked mile.

"He found a crooked sixpence

against a crooked stile.

"He bought a crooked cat,

which caught a crooked mouse,

"and they all lived together

in a little crooked house."

Next month, Oliver,

I'll be 68 years old.

The more I think about it,

the more I like the idea

of retirement.

I didn't know that.

The only thing

that bothers me is

who would run things?

Ward and his family

own 12%.

Seymour has 10%,

and the rest is ours,

ultimately yours.

Well,

Ward's a good man.

I think you can trust him.

He's certainly been

around long enough.

Oh, he'd handle

the business

and banking

side of it,

all right,

but as far as

the mill is concerned,

he wants to sell that.

He says it's a

losing proposition.

Oh, he'd look after

his interests fine,

but I don't think

he'd look out

for ours as well.

Things wouldn't

be the same.

What do you mean?

Oliver, this business

was started by our family.

It's identified

with our family.

And a member

of our family

needs to be in it,

needs to be involved.

Father, if you're

talking about me,

I have involvements

of my own.

But you'd have

a bit of time for

your own projects.

But I don't want

a bit of time.

I need a lot

of time for my work,

for my life.

Oliver, where's Gentilano?

He got away

from you already?

No, I thought it

would be better

for Willy and Dora

to show him around

for a while.

It's about time for our

spontaneous coffee break.

Has he cracked

a smile yet?

No smile.

He looks like a sergeant

inspecting the barracks.

Now what are we going to,

plan A or plan B?

Plan A for now.

Mix the plaster.

I can pin a large canvas

on the wall

and paint

to my heart's content.

I see.

Anybody ready for coffee?

I got a pot full downstairs.

Every time you have

to repair the walls,

you're gonna have to

buy three different

colors of paint.

Uh,

Mr. Gentilano,

I'd like you

to meet Carlos Cruz.

You know,

most people would put

a sheet metal door there,

an ugly one.

Carlos, tell him

where you got that door.

I don't like desperdicios,

waste, you know,

so I took this door

from a building,

an abandoned building,

a few blocks away.

It was 14 blocks.

Teo carried it

on his back.

I want to bring character

to this place.

I live here,

and I want to...

I wanna be

orgulloso, proud.

That's why we could

do a better job

of rehabilitating

this place than

a contractor.

I wouldn't be too sure.

So the real question

is not what gets done

on one day

when you have a party,

but what happens,

whether or not

you go back to work

on Monday.

You know, I've had

several groups like this

attempt the same thing,

and they've failed.

Then I go back

to my office,

and my department

has egg on its face.

Now what I'm

trying to say here

is that we are

concerned about you,

but that there are

layers and layers

of government over us,

and that when

budget time comes,

they want to know

what happened to their money.

Now a good program,

a responsible program,

is good publicity.

A bad program,

an abandoned program...

An abandoned program

is bad publicity.

Now if the wrong people

get wind of it,

then our program

is destroyed,

absolutely destroyed.

Now, uh...

What's that?

Oh, that's

the television crew.

They've been

coming down here.

They're just

filming the work.

I hope we didn't

knock your concentration.

No, no,

that's all right.

Landlord problems

are nothing new,

but here in the

lower East Side,

or Low East Side,

as sometimes it is called,

there is a new approach

to an old problem.

Waltereen Jones

and Willy Hernandez

represent

the tenants' committee

of this building.

Can you tell us

exactly what's

going on here today?

We're settling in.

This is a work party

to launch the rehabilitation

of this building

by the tenants

and the neighborhood.

Is this

an official project,

or should I say,

a spontaneous gesture?

You have to

ask our lawyer,

Oliver Barrett,

how official it is.

Sir?

Uh, well, we're fortunate

to have Mr. Gentilano

with us today.

Perhaps you should...

He's a city official.

Ask him your question.

Sir, what do you think

of what you have

seen here today?

Albert Gentilano.

I am very impressed

with what is happening

in this community.

And we're very impressed

that a city official,

a civil servant

like yourself,

would take time out

of his busy schedule

to come down here.

Actually, I get here

as often as I can.

This is where

the action is.

I mean, good government

isn't sitting behind a desk.

I'm proud

of these people.

I'm proud of

the way they're

pulling themselves up

by their bootstraps.

I mean, what

we have here is what

we call sweat equity.

That's correct.

Do they have your

official go-ahead then?

Of course, of course!

How about that?

There you are.

Hello, Barrett residence.

Who is this?

This is Marcie.

I'm the mad baker

from Cranston.

Who?

I want to

congratulate Oliver.

It's the mad baker

from Cranston?

I'll get it.

He says he wants to

congratulate you

on something.

Yeah, I'm sure.

Hello, Phillip!

Hey, terrific, Oliver!

I'm proud of you!

How you been doin'?

Great, great.

I'm going to Miami.

Well, that's great.

I hope you enjoy yourself.

I hope you enjoy yourself,

if you know what I mean!

Yes, Phil,

I know what you mean.

Well, good-bye!

Good-bye.

Who was that?

It was my ex-father-in-law.

Is he always like that?

No, I think he just

gets like that

when he's around me.

He's trying to rediscover

his lost youth or something.

Listen, he did

sound kinda cute.

Oh, he is very cute.

If you want to catch him,

he's taking that

9:00 plane to Miami.

He didn't sound that cute.

I'm staying put.

Good.

I better get your dinner

before your tuna fish

gets cold.

What did you do, fry it?

Isn't that what you're

supposed to do?

Take the big plate.

I'll take the one

with the crack in it.

I notice that your silverware

is pretty eclectic also.

I like all this stuff!

Yeah, I know. So did I.

I went through

the same stage myself.

What stage?

Oh, you know,

the sort of mock

poverty routine.

What do you mean?

I mean that finally

you have to come to terms

with who you are.

You and I, Oliver,

are upper-class wasps,

and we're always

going to be.

I mean, our guilt

about that isn't gonna

change anything.

These things are not

important to me.

I don't have to have caviar

or eat off sterling silver.

But you know good stuff,

and you like it.

I mean, I saw

some of the labels

in your closet.

Did you come over here

to argue or what?

I thought we were

going to have dinner.

If you don't like this,

I'll take you back

to La Cremiere.

La Cremaillere.

Listen, Oliver,

you don't have to make

everything a class struggle.

I'm in the same class.

Now eat your tuna fish.

Don't be defensive.

Who's defensive?

Hello, this is

Oliver Barrett.

Is she in?

Just a minute, please.

Is it important?

She's very, very busy.

Uh, would you tell her

it's me on the line?

It will only

take a minute.

All right,

hold on a minute.

Thank you.

Hello?

Hello, Marcie,

how are you?

Can I call you back?

Of course, I...

I just wanted

to say that I was sorry

about the other night.

I think things got

a little tense.

I understand.

I'm in a board meeting.

Can we talk about it later?

Sure.

I get the message.

Good-bye.

You were like

a total stranger.

It was scary.

I'm sorry, Oliver.

It's just a policy

I have to stick to.

I can't take a call

in the middle of one

of those meetings.

It makes me

sound like a

lovesick teenager.

I just don't know

how you can play roles

like that, Marcie.

How you can

put one hat on,

take one hat off

so arbitrarily.

Well, it's not all

that difficult

once you get

used to it.

I don't think I'd want

to get used to it.

No one's asking you to.

What do you

mean by that?

I just mean that

when you met me,

I wasn't in the kitchen

cooking casserole.

I work, Oliver.

I like it!

I mean, this is it.

Accept it.

I don't try

to change you.

Well, what are

you then,

a business magnate

or a woman?

Well, Oliver,

what are you,

a man or a lawyer?

What kind of

question is that?

I would just

like to know

if I am to be

your boyfriend

on the weekends,

and then during the week,

I'm just another one

of those telephone calls

that's put on hold.

Oliver, I never

put you on hold.

My God,

I can't believe it!

Do you always

exaggerate like this?

What if you're

in the middle of a meeting

with the senior partners,

and someone named,

for God's sake,

Marcie calls?

I mean, what do you do?

Well, that's easy.

First I would resign,

and then I would

call you back

from the

unemployment office.

I'm sorry, Oliver.

It's just that

I'm trying to be more

than a decoration

at a board meeting,

and it ends up taking

a lot out of me.

I get really tired

of doing it all alone.

Well, I'm exhausted, too.

This case is taking

ten times more work

than I expected.

What a pair.

Listen, I'm going to

Hong Kong on Tuesday.

I have to check out

some factories there

and handle

a photo session.

You wanna

come with me,

and we'll make

a working vacation

out of it?

Hong Kong!

Well, isn't that halfway

around the world?

Exactly!

Welcome back.

How was your trip?

It was fine.

This is Oliver Barrett.

This is John Hsiang.

He's our man in Hong Kong.

Hello.

Hello, John.

That was quite a view you

provided on our landing.

Oh, we do our best.

Is this your first

trip to Hong Kong?

John, the man

has never been out

of New York,

you understand.

Oh, how is

the big apple?

Anything less

than the penthouse

will be a comedown.

All I could get

was something called

the Marco Polo suite

John, can you get

two extra models

for the photo sessions

tomorrow?

You got it.

Nice to meet you, Oliver.

Oh, thank you, John.

The car will be here

at 10:00.

Pleasant dreams.

Thanks, John.

Good night.

I got one question.

What?

Do you see

a bedroom tucked

around here anywhere?

I think I saw one

just around the corner.

Oh, yeah.

Look at that.

Oh, my God.

Where'd you learn

to eat with chopsticks?

You noticed?

I had this Chinese

friend at Harvard.

He promised to teach me

to eat with chopsticks

if I would teach

him to ice-skate.

If I were you,

I'd ask for a refund.

But you should

see him skate.

Do you have

any film left?

About half a roll.

You're kidding.

Most people who come here,

the first day they get here,

they buy three cameras

and shoot 12 rolls of film.

I think that's

why I didn't.

You should just relax

and be a tourist, Oliver.

It's permitted,

you know.

Is it a requirement?

No, but,

I mean, it is

what a lot of

these people live on.

Yes, I see how they live.

I know.

That was hard

for me, too,

when I first came here.

But you got over

that stage.

You know, Oliver,

this is beginning

to sound

like a conversation

we've already had.

Yes, it is.

I'm sorry.

No, let's talk

about it.

Oh, no, let's not.

I'll be over here.

Okay.

Hi.

I'm sorry.

These things always

take longer than

they're supposed to.

It's all right.

It's a lovely setting.

We're in a heated debate

over underarm hair.

Well, you're the boss,

aren't you, Marcie?

Isn't it your decision?

Marcie! Marcie!

Time's running out.

Come on.

Okay, that's fine.

Oliver.

Move back.

Okay, ladies. And go.

Good.

Go.

And go.

Good.

One more.

Ready, okay. Nice.

And again.

I thought

we settled that.

I wish I'd known

about it before

I left New York!

Well, I guess I have to.

I mean, do I have a choice?

Right.

Okay, I'll see you.

I'll see you at 10:00.

Good-bye.

What's wrong?

Another crisis.

I'm sorry.

I have to meet

some people.

Do you mind?

No, it's all right.

We can sightsee later.

John, maybe this

is a good time

to take Oliver around.

I have a complete tour

all planned.

You know

what I'd like to do?

See your factory.

What for?

I don't know.

I know everything else

about your business.

I'm curious.

We'll have to make

another tour on a nice day.

That's all right.

I want to see it all.

This route

to the factory

is not the best look

at Hong Kong.

They're so young!

Don't let the youth

fool you.

These are some

of the best cutters

in the business,

and we pay them well

by Hong Kong standard.

Their parents may be

working in another part

of the factory.

We also have work that

the grandparents can do.

On this side,

each person handle

one piece of a garment.

On the other side,

they assemble everything.

I must admit, John,

I had a slightly different

picture in my mind.

Yes, I know.

In the United States,

Hong Kong means

sweat shops.

Well, what do you think?

About what?

About the factory.

You made such a point

about wanting to see it,

but you haven't

mentioned it since.

I was very impressed...

Air-conditioned.

Surprised?

No, not really.

I was beginning to think

that you expected

dirt floors and rats

and 8-year-olds

slaving away.

Well, Marcie,

you've got to admit

that there is

a certain image

to Hong Kong labor.

Yeah.

So you thought

I was running

a sweat shop, huh?

I don't know

what you're doing.

Well, listen,

I hope you're not

too disappointed.

Why should I be?

Because it would have

made a great excuse.

For what?

For you to break this off

and still come out

looking swell.

But I don't need

any excuses.

And besides,

who's talking about

breaking anything off?

I guess the point is

that you're not talking

about anything. Period.

Why do I feel that

as long as I'm in

the wrong tax bracket,

this is never

gonna work?

That's not true.

Of course it is.

That's why you're partly

obsessed with Jenny,

because she was

your pass to

the people...

Don't ever talk

about her like that! Ever!

You just leave her

out of it, please!

Keep her out of it?

How can I?

She's right

between us!

I can't even reach you,

she's so much in the way!

Then reach for me

in another way!

There is no right way

with you, Oliver.

You don't know what

it's like to compete

with a dead woman.

Then stop trying!

Leave her alone!

Leave me alone!

I don't need anybody.

You're right, Oliver.

Only the living

need each other.

Well, what am I, dead?

I don't know,

but something

feels dead here,

and you know,

I'm sick of trying

to bring it back to life.

I'm okay.

Just takes a little

while to adjust,

that's all.

Actually,

it's better this way.

Why do you say that?

Well, for as long

as I was with Marcie,

there was always this

growing tension

that happened

between us.

I mean, we had fun.

It was exciting.

Where do you think

that came from?

I know I'm not

supposed to make

comparisons about Jenny,

but I really don't think

I'll ever be able to

keep from doing it.

Nothing happens

magically, Oliver,

but just being aware

of a problem

is beginning to solve it.

* The years are comin' on,

So better face it

* And the lamp is burnin' low

* Oh, you can't do

The things you used to do

* Thirty-five years ago

* Oh, no, you can't

Do the things

* You used to do

* Thirty-five years ago

* No way

Okay, if there's anybody

left that don't know me,

my name is Jamie Francis,

and I work here, huh?

Now if this were

an ordinary day,

and I started

to make a speech,

the old folks would

reach for a chair

and light up a pipe.

And the young ones

would reach for

their sweetheart

and slip away

behind the looms.

But it's not

an ordinary day,

and well we know it.

So I won't be boring you

with that sort of speech.

Now this shuttle

is from loom number one.

And on those calculators,

we got the payroll department,

Maria Labruzzo

figured out

this has made

the trip back and forth

between the yarns

over seven million times!

So we have decided

to take it out

of loom number one

and give it a rest.

Give it to someone else

who deserves a rest.

It's, uh...

It's a homely

sort of thing,

but it means

a lot to us,

Mr. Barrett.

We hope it means

as much to you.

Oh, yeah,

I have to read

the inscriptions.

"To Oliver Barrett III,

"who stayed when

others left.

"In gratitude,

the men and women

of Barrett Mills."

Thank you.

Thank you very much,

indeed. I...

Thank you.

Mr. Barrett.

Congratulations, Father.

It's beautiful.

Thank you, Oliver.

Thank you.

I'm so glad

you've been here

to see this.

So am I.

Oh, have you

had anything

to eat yet today?

Not much.

Where is the food,

anyway?

Well, it's over there.

Go help yourself.

Okay,

I'll be right back.

You are

spending the night,

aren't you?

Yes, Mama.

Welcome back.

Hey, John.

How you doing?

Nice to see you.

Nice seeing you, too.

I don't care what

you say, Jamie.

It don't strike me right

for the union

and the members

to be knockin'

themselves out

to throw the boss a party.

True we're on

opposite sides of

the bargaining table,

but this goes

beyond that, Arlie!

My old man would

turn over in his grave.

Remember, he led

the strike against

Barrett's father.

Got his head

broke for it, too.

Ah, those were

bitter days.

Barrett's old man

is not the same

as Barrett.

This man,

you can deal with.

Remember,

just as easy as that,

he could close down

this whole place.

Years ago,

when the others

were goin' to Carolina

and to Puerto Rico

for cheap labor,

he took a half-million

dollars from his

banking company

and sunk it into

this place to

keep it going...

Oh, there you

are, Oliver.

Good morning, Father.

Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

I'm usually

awake at 6:00.

Your mother's still

asleep, though.

I just discovered

some homemade donuts.

Would you like one?

Oh, no, no,

let's call Stewart.

He usually doesn't

start until 8:00

on Sunday morning,

but he can fix

breakfast today

and put it in the study

or the dining room,

wherever you'd

like to eat.

Where I would like

to eat is right here.

This is my favorite room

in the house.

Besides, I've made

some coffee.

I used to love this room

when I was a kid.

I liked the way

it smelled.

Yeah.

Yeah, I remember

we had a wonderful cook

when I was a child.

I remember

climbing the trees

to get apples

for her to make

her own cider.

Her name was Clara.

She was Dutch.

Died before

you were born.

Would you like

cream and sugar?

No, no, just black.

Now I think we should

take a drive

in the country

this afternoon.

Lovely this time

of the year.

And I promise not

to talk business.

Oh, you can talk

all the business

that you want to.

I just want you

to know that I enjoyed

yesterday very much.

I've never seen

the mill quite like that.

I never had

the feeling

you were interested

in the mill, Oliver.

I used to hate it.

I was thinking

about that

yesterday. Why?

But I realized, it...

It was because

the mill took you away

from us so much.

I never realized.

I just want you to

know that, uh...

That I'm proud

of what you've been

able to preserve here.

Father, I'd like to help

in any way I can.

Only the living

need each other.

Only the living

can carry life on.

Part of me was

trying to die

because I thought

I owed that to Jenny.

I owe her something else.

Something much

harder to give.

A new life,

another try,

a setting free.

Oliver's Story (1978) - full transcript