Our Sons (1991) - full transcript
A young man (Donald) is dying of AIDS. His lover (James) asks his mother (Audrey) to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas and tell Donald's mother, who has been estranged from her son for years.
[MultiCom Jingle]
[soft piano music]
- Find out from Wendell
what's holding up
the Nettleston contract,
I thought we had a deal.
[dramatic piano music]
Good morning.
- You're early.
- Somebody told me there
are 25 hours in a day,
if you can figure it out.
How are you feeling?
- Like a whale.
- Yeah, I remember, vaguely.
[phone ringing]
I'll get back to you
tomorrow Richard,
but I really don't
think sleeping on it
is gonna turn the tide here.
No, I can't live
with that number.
Yes.
Ciao.
[dial tone]
- [Voice On Machine] Hi, you've
reached James and Donald.
You can leave a message
for either one of us.
We have no secrets
from each other,
well, one or two maybe.
Here comes the beep.
[beeping]
- James, it's me.
Do you recognize my voice?
Does it ring a bell?
It should hon.
This is the third
time you've heard it
in the past two weeks.
The problem is I
haven't heard yours.
What's going on?
You know how bonkers it makes me
when my calls aren't returned.
I hope you're not
still ticked off
about that ridiculous quarrel.
I don't even remember
what it was about.
Bygones here, okay?
If you don't return this call,
I'm probably gonna
start worrying.
Have a heart.
It's Monday the
23rd, and counting.
[siren blaring]
[dramatic orchestral music]
- Toto, I have a feeling
we're not in Kansas anymore.
- [Woman] Hello?
- It's me.
- Well, at last.
What is it, are you still
made at me, or what?
- Can we get together?
- [Mother] Are you still mad?
You sound mad.
- No mother, I'm not mad.
I don't remember what
it was about, either.
- Good, I forgive you for all
the rotten things you said,
whatever they were.
- Can we get together?
- [Mother] Say when, lunch?
- How about now?
- Now? You mean tonight?
- Yes.
- It's pretty late.
- Yeah, I know what
time it is, mother.
- James, you don't sound good.
Are you all right?
- Would it be all
right if I came by?
- Absolutely.
- Sorry about the hour.
- Don't be silly.
Should I ask, or should I wait?
- Donald has AIDS.
He's gonna die soon,
so it would mean
a great deal to me
if you don't get hysterical.
- How long have you known?
- He tested positive
two years ago.
- And you're telling me now?
- I had to hospitalize
him this morning.
The KS has become very severe.
- The what?
- Kaposi sarcoma,
it's a kind of cancer.
He wanted to be at
home, but I couldn't.
It'll be better for
him in the hospital.
- He hasn't even
looked ill lately.
I mean--
- Lately?
You haven't seen him
in at least six months,
and maybe what,
two or three times,
in the year before
that, at most?
It's gonna be very
fast for him now.
A week, maybe two.
- Is it all right to visit him?
- If you like.
- For God's sake,
of course I'd like.
Why do you say
something like that?
That's terrible.
- Let's be friends, all right?
It's a good time to be friends.
- I didn't know what
kind of flowers he likes.
I got roses.
Roses usually say,
and candy.
Does he like candy?
- He has a tremendous
sweet tooth,
I sometimes I have to be very
stern with him about that.
- Well I haven't had to deal
with this since your father.
- Deal with what?
With what?
- Dying.
- Donald and I have
been to 14 funerals
in the past 18 months.
[phone ringing]
Look who's here.
- Everybody comes to Rick.
- Hi Donald.
- The long one
has to be flowers.
- He's so quick.
- If this is candy
it's our secret.
- The secret is out, and
it's not on the menu.
- See, things are already
taking an ugly turn.
I'm dying for a cigarette.
- Have one.
- [James] He gave it up.
- Me too, three months ago.
- It's hell, isn't it?
- Oh, I can't be held
responsible for my actions.
- I gave up smoking
for my health.
The insurance company
should come up
with a whole new concept,
irony insurance.
I tell you there's a
fortune to be made.
Remember when we smoked?
- Does he have any family?
- His mother.
His father's been lost
in the mist of time.
- I assume that she
knew before I did.
- Knew what?
- About Donald,
what's happening.
- Donald and his mother
haven't spoken for years.
- Why not?
- Her response to his
sexual orientation
was less than enlightened.
- I gather you're
understating it?
- Considerably.
- Well, she should be told,
about Donald, what's happening.
- Mother try to stop
saying that, would you?
About Donald, what's happening.
Donald has AIDS, he's dying,
can we please stop
tap dancing, finally?
- What's going on?
Why are you so angry?
What tap dancing?
- Sorry.
I'm a little stressed.
I haven't slept in days.
If I have a sudden compulsion
to give up my tap shoes,
I shouldn't hit you in the
head with them, should I?
- I'm not following this, James.
- You were wondering
about his mother.
- I gather we're
changing the subject,
and not very subtly.
- May we, please?
- I think his
mother should know.
Whether they're on speaking
terms or not, he's her son.
Where does she live?
- Arkansas.
Donald was born there.
- Are you going to
get in touch with her?
- No.
- Well, what about Donald?
Doesn't he want her to know?
- I'm not sure.
- Well, ask him.
- I did.
We discussed it at length.
We even went so far
as to locate her.
She's in the book,
a place called, Fayetteville.
- And?
- He'd rather not tell her,
than risk her not caring.
- Why didn't I know all that?
- All what?
- About Donald and his mother,
and where he's from and
what happened between them,
all that?
- We know what we want to know.
I'll be in touch.
[phone dialing]
- Oh, Audrey Grant, is he in?
- They're promising
a 14% return.
If you believe that,
they'll tell us another one
just as hysterical.
What we need.
[buzzing]
Hello?
Oh.
Hi.
- I need a friend.
- You need a husband.
I'm still available,
but it's only fair to tell you
I'm considering other offers.
- I need a friend.
- Let's see if we
can find you one.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing]
[soft piano music]
- Then he drops this bit about
we know what we want to know,
and leaves me
dangling with that.
Well, what's that
supposed to mean?
I mean I know what
it's supposed to mean,
more or less but,
what does it have to do with me?
- Why do you still have that?
Do you have a pack of butts
tucked away in your bag, too?
- James used to teeth on
that when he was a baby.
See, there are his teeth marks.
- If you don't mind I'm
not gonna get sentimental
about something that was
lighting the way to your grave.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing]
- Yeah?
Hello?
When the heavy breathing
starts you're canceled,
you got three seconds.
- Hello.
Am I speaking to Missus Barnes?
Luanne Barnes?
- That's who you're speaking to,
who's speaking to me?
[dial tone]
[siren on TV]
- I wonder if I've given you
the wrong impression tonight.
I hope you don't think
this is the first time
I've ever thought about it.
I mean, what's
happened to Donald.
How could I not think about it?
For years now, ever since
we all first heard about it,
I wanted to say something
to James, but I never did.
I couldn't.
I was too scared to
get the words out.
- Is that why you're not
telling me about James?
- Telling you what?
- Is he all right, Audrey?
Or does he have it too?
- Well of course he's all right.
I'm sure he is, he must be.
- You don't know?
- Harry, if he wasn't all right,
he would have told
me, wouldn't he?
Yes, he would have.
- You didn't ask?
[soft piano music]
- You hung up?
Why did you hang up?
- Because I realized the
instant I heard her voice
there would be no point in it,
when I told her who I was,
and why I was calling.
This is a woman for
whom homosexuality
is an offense against
God, man, and nature.
- Well, write her a letter.
Send her a wire,
she should be told.
Let her make up her own mind
what she wants to do about it.
It would be hurtful for
Donald if she doesn't come,
but I think it's a
chance you have to take.
- Well, I'm not telling Donald.
If she comes, he'll know.
If she doesn't come, he
won't know I asked her,
and he won't be hurt.
I don't want him to be hurt.
- I hadn't thought of that.
So, how are you gonna do it?
- I thought of a way.
Hear me out.
- Why wouldn't I?
- You could do it.
You want me to phone
her, no problem.
- No.
- You don't want
me to phone her?
- No.
- I give up.
- You could go there.
And speak to her face-to-face,
and bring her back.
I know, I know how this
sounds on first hearing.
You don't have to
say anything now,
I'd rather you didn't, I'd
rather you thought about it.
But, not for too long.
- I think I have this right.
You want me to go to, where
did you say she lives?
- Arkansas.
- Arkansas.
And I go up and I
knock on this door,
and a perfect
stranger answers it,
and I presume I introduce
myself, and then what?
- You tell her that
her son is gonna die,
and does she want to
see him before he dies?
- Oh James, I think there
must be a better way.
- Tell me what it is.
- You know I don't even
know where Arkansas is.
- We'll locate Arkansas,
I know it's there.
- Oh, smart act isn't
gonna win my heart, James.
- She lives near Little Rock.
You'd probably have
to stay overnight,
but you'd be there and back
in less than 24 hours max.
- With or without her.
- Well even if it's without her,
it wouldn't have been
a wasted trip, mother.
Do you understand what I mean?
Okay, well you don't
have to decide now.
Just sleep on it, would
you at least do that?
I think I was about 10 years old
the last time I asked
you for a favor.
If you do this for
me, it'll be 20 more
before I ask you for
another, I promise.
This is her name and address
and telephone number,
and the name of a
hotel in Fayetteville.
If she'd listen to anyone,
she might listen to you,
the mother of a homosexual son.
Do you understand what I mean?
- Will you please stop
asking me if I understand?
Yes, I understand.
There's one thing I
don't understand though.
I was talking to
Harry last night.
- Oh is that on again?
- No.
He said he knows me a
lot, and you a little bit,
but you and me together
he doesn't know at all.
I'm beginning to wonder if
I know you and me together.
- Are you?
- It seems to me like
something's getting
very complicated
all of a sudden.
- We're not getting,
it always was.
- What do you mean?
- And more so since Donald,
since Donald and I
have been together.
I think there was a
certain degree of composure
in it for you when I
was a carefree bachelor,
the dashing unattached
young man about town.
But enter Donald Barnes to
share my home and heart.
Well, that made things
a little bit awkward.
What could you do
but distance yourself
from so perversely
domestic an arrangement?
Distance yourself from
the fact that was Donald,
which was to distance
yourself from me.
And what could I do,
but respond in kind?
Audrey says take three giant
steps backward, and I did.
- How did I do that?
I really don't
understand this, James.
- Well by almost never asking
when we spoke, how is Donald?
By forgetting two of
the three birthdays
he's had since
we've been together.
By on more occasions
than I can recall,
inviting me out to
dinner, me, not Donald.
By never--
Well we need spiked
boots Mother, you and I,
to get over what's been
swept under the rug
since I was 18 years old.
Mountains, mother.
- Would you explain that to me?
- This isn't the time for it.
- Why not?
- Because this is
the time for Donald.
And there isn't much of it.
- How much is there for you?
- I'm sorry.
- I should have asked
you the other night.
I don't know why I didn't.
Do you have it, too?
- I don't know, I
haven't been tested.
I don't want to discuss it.
- [Audrey] James.
- I don't want to discuss it.
Do you?
Can you?
[phone ringing]
- Sally?
- [Sally] Yo.
- See what the
schedule of flights is
to Little Rock
tomorrow, would you hon?
- Little Rock?
- Arkansas.
- You're going to Arkansas?
What's in Arkansas?
[soft orchestral music]
- Okay we can be on our way now.
What did you say your name was?
- Charley.
You all settled in?
- Yes.
- How's your accommodations?
- Great.
That's where we're going.
Do you know where it is?
- You bet.
- Is it far?
- 30, 40 minutes.
Your first time in
Fayetteville, ma'am?
- Yes.
- Well let's hope it
won't be your last.
[dramatic orchestral music]
You want me to wait
here for you ma'am?
Or should I drive on in?
- What's this?
- Ma'am?
- What is this?
- Well this here is the
address you gave me.
- This is it?
Well, this is a trailer park.
- Yes, ma'am.
- But it says unit 16, I
assumed it was a condo.
- No ma'am, if it's unit 16,
that'd be one of the homettes.
- Homettes?
- Yes ma'am.
- Okay, let's find it.
[dramatic orchestral music]
We know this was
a mistake Audrey.
- Ma'am?
- Stop and ask
directions, would you?
- Where's 16?
- Take a right,
first one.
Who you got in
there, Ray Charles?
- Don't you wish?
[laughing]
Keep back.
- Excuse me.
[doorbell ringing]
- Missus Barnes?
My name is Audrey Grant.
- Yeah?
- I wonder if I could
have a word with you?
- What's going on?
You sure you got the
right party here?
- Yes, could I come in?
- [Man] Hey Lu, what'd you do,
win a contest or something?
- That'll be the day.
- [Man] Don't forget
that 20 you owe me, Lu.
- May I come in please?
- It's either that or
start selling tickets.
- What are you doing
pulling up in here?
- May I sit down?
- Yeah yeah yeah,
pull up a sofa.
What'd you say your name was?
- Audrey Grant.
I'm from San Diego, California.
- I know where San Diego is.
- Yes well, I came
to talk to you about,
I'm here about your son.
- What son?
- Donald.
Your son.
I came to talk to you--
- Who in the hell
are you anyway?
Not your name, I got your name.
Who are you?
- I'm a friend of Donald's.
- Oh yeah?
- Through my son, Donald is a
very close friend of my son's.
- Uh huh.
- He's extremely
ill, Missus Barnes.
- Your son's sick?
- No, not my son.
- What are you hollerin' about?
- I'm hollering
because I don't know
what the hell I'm doing here,
that's why I'm hollering.
- Well if you don't
know lady, I sure don't.
- Look, it's your son who's
very ill, Missus Barnes.
He hasn't long to live.
I'm sorry, there's no
easier way to say it.
- He's 28 years old.
What's the matter with him?
- He has a very serious illness.
- Those are generally
the kind you die from,
the serious ones.
- He has AIDS.
- Yeah.
Yeah, well I figured.
- You figured?
- Well he's 28 years old
and he's one of them.
What else could it be?
I mean, I watch TV.
Two and two's been coming
out four for a long time now.
Want a drink?
- I'd kill for one.
- You can get one
easier than that.
- A little water, no ice.
- God's will you know,
this thing they get.
You do know that don't you?
- I know some
people believe that.
- And you're not
one of them, huh?
And you didn't come all this way
just to tell me Donnie's
gonna die, did you?
- I came to ask you if you
would come back with me
and see him, it would
mean the world to him.
- A phone call would
have been a lot cheaper.
- Well, we decided this
would be the best way.
- We? You and Donnie?
- Donald knows nothing about
this, it was my son's idea.
Donald is a very close
friend of James, my son.
I just wanted to help.
- Uh, you said that,
very close friend.
How close?
They only have one kind
of very close friend.
- Look, it doesn't matter
what kind of close.
- [Luanne] You son's
one of them too?
- Oh, my son has
nothing to do with this.
- Wait I get the
picture here, yeah yeah.
Your son, my son, yeah I
bet they're real close.
What's all this beatin'
around the bush?
- I don't normally
beat around bushes.
- You sure come a long way
to go a long way
back for nothin'.
- Couldn't you at
least think about it?
- I don't have nothin'
to think about.
- Oh for the love of
God, he's your child.
He's dying, what does it
matter what he's dying of?
- The only problem I
have is what I'm gonna
tell these people
here about you.
You and your big car.
You and your big box clothes.
- Look, I'm sorry about
that, it was a mistake.
- Nobody here knows I've
got a son who's one of them.
I wouldn't be able
to show my face.
- He's gonna die
you stupid bitch.
- Well if he wasn't what he is,
he wouldn't be gonna
die now would he?
Would he?
I hated what he is.
It turns my stomach.
You here me?
- Get me out of here.
Get me out of here quick.
[crowd talking]
[dog barking]
[horn honking]
- By the by, how did Mom cope?
Your mother?
Audrey, how did she
survive her face-to-face
confront with the grim
reaper the other day?
- She saw right through
your flimsy tissue of wit,
admired amongst us.
- I thought she met them
all really well for her.
She seemed quite fearless.
- Gin.
- What?
No mercy, even now?
[toilet flushing]
- See you later, Donald.
- Your hair is like a
field of silver daisies.
I'd like to run barefoot
through your hair.
They don't write movies
like that anymore.
Mother for mother, I'd say mine
has the better
bargain of the two.
One more hand, but
only if I can cheat.
- What better bargain?
- To be spared all this dreck,
blissful ignorance and all that.
- How can you be so
certain she'd want to be?
- James, don't be a dunce.
Who wouldn't want to be?
Would you choose this
if you had a choice?
Would Audrey?
I'm sorry.
It's becoming time for
another controlled substance,
something by way of a mood
elevator would be nice.
- Here.
You want me to get the nurse?
- I'll be brave if you will.
When are you gonna be?
- What?
- Not brave, wrong
word of course.
Sensible.
When are you gonna be sensible?
- I thought you promised
not to bring that up again.
- I lied.
Please James,
it just isn't rational
not to be tested.
- If I promise to do it,
will you leave it alone?
- Yeah.
Could be negative, James.
- Shall we calculate the
astronomical odds against that?
Let's find the nearest computer.
- Michael Roby
died two years ago,
and Peter is still
testing negative.
- Peter wants to know, Donald.
- Yes, and if God forbid
he does go positive,
at least he'll have the earliest
treatment possible, won't he?
As I might have had when I
was still in the denial mode
of me, it can't happen to me.
- It's my choice, Donald.
Mine.
- I think I'm gonna win,
and I haven't
started cheating yet.
- I gave it my best
hon, really I did.
- [James] Mission impossible.
- She's one of those,
it's-God's-curse people.
- Oh yeah.
Thank you for trying
Mother, I mean that.
- You're welcome.
I hate her guts.
- It's a new chapter
for your memoirs.
Come home.
- You know what's gonna
happen, don't you?
On the plane tomorrow I'll
think of exactly the magic words
I could have used, that
would have had her with me.
- No you won't,
there aren't any.
[country music]
- Come on Lu, give us
a break, who was she?
- None of your business.
- It's all gonna come
out sooner or later.
I'm guessing some old rich uncle
you didn't know you
had bought the farm,
and left you a fortune.
- Be real.
- Wish I'd been there.
The way I heard it,
we're talking lifestyles
of the rich and disgusting.
- Come on Lu, spill it.
- Okay, okay, I won
a contest all right?
- No kidding?
- No.
- Well now we're
getting somewhere.
What contest?
- Mother of the year.
[thunder]
[raining]
[sentimental flute music]
[phone ringing]
- Yes.
Hello?
Hello?
- Is he really gonna die?
- I admire you a lot for this.
- I'm not doing
this to be admired.
- I know that.
- I'm honestly not
sure why I'm doing it.
- Well, maybe you'll find out.
- I generally like to have
the finding out part
of things before.
It's easier with less of
the why-did-I-do-its after.
Too many why-did-I-do-its
tend to get you down,
you know what I mean?
- How soon can you leave?
- Well, got a boss
to tell I won't be in
for a couple of days,
throw some stuff together.
Aside from that,
anytime I guess.
- Well, there's plenty of time,
the plane doesn't
leave until 6:30.
- What plane?
- To Little Rock,
there's a short layover there
to change planes for San Diego.
- Change what planes?
- Well we have to fly
from here to Little Rock,
on this little commuter airline.
- You mean you
didn't come direct?
- From San Diego?
- Yeah.
- No.
There are no direct flights
from San Diego to Fayetteville.
But it's a quick trip
from here to Little Rock.
- Oh yeah, I took a quick trip
on one of their airplanes once.
Lasted about half a minute.
- [Audrey] What do you mean?
- The propeller stopped turning.
- What happened?
- What happened is
the plane crashed.
The wings don't flap you know.
- My God, were you badly hurt?
- Broke my knee.
Two people killed though.
I'll be driving.
- I beg your pardon?
- To Little Rock,
meet you there.
- Driving?
- Yeah.
- You won't fly?
- On one of them little things?
No way.
- Do you know what the odds are
against your ever being in
an accident like that again?
If you live to be 200.
- I'll tell you what
it's about lady.
Being laid up in bed
scared cross-eyed
for about a week after
is what it's about.
Waking up in sweats, three
or four times a year,
to the present day,
that's what it's about.
I'm not flying in
nothin' that has less
than three or four
humongous jet motors.
Get one of them to
make a little detour
to Fayetteville
Airport, no problem.
- I don't think I
could arrange that.
- Meet you in Little Rock.
- Wait.
How long is the
drive to Little Rock?
- About four hours.
- I'd really rather
we went together.
- Why, afraid I
might change my mind?
- Can you honestly tell me
I don't have to
concerned about that?
Look, I don't know
you, you don't know me,
but I do know how hard
this is for you to do.
And I know that part of you
still doesn't want to do it.
- You sure know a hell of a lot
for somebody that don't
know me, don't you?
- Oh for God's sake how
could I have sat with you
yesterday in that trailer
and listened to you
and not know that?
Maybe you could
use some help to do
what I think you
most want to do.
Four hours can be an awfully
long time to go without help.
- I'm not flying to
Little Rock, case closed.
- No you're not.
We're driving to
Little Rock, together.
- It's a pretty
drive, right now.
Just tell me where you
want me to pick you up.
- Does this have
air conditioning?
- No, but it has windows
that you roll down.
- I have a suggestion.
Well I can't guarantee
anything James,
this is strictly
one step at a time.
She's a tough hombre, I feel
like I'm walking on eggs.
How's Donald?
- A bit of an
upswing this morning.
- [Audrey] Is that good?
- What goes up.
- Well, okay.
Look, as of this moment,
we're on our way.
We'll be in San Diego tonight.
I almost had to drive
with her in her car
all the way to Little Rock.
Looks like a discard
from Rent a Wreck.
- Not a pretty picture,
I assume you made
other arrangements.
[fiddle music]
- Okay, we're out of here.
[car starting]
- No, thanks.
- Doesn't that ruin the air
conditioning, putting that down?
- It's just while
you're smoking.
I used to do that.
I don't want to get re-hooked.
It's a daily threat at best.
- Is it gonna be a problem?
- No, go right
ahead, no problem.
- I've never been in a
car like this before.
I guess you figured that out.
I'd really love to
hear that radio,
if I could just find it.
[country music]
- I have to find a place
to stay when we get there.
- It's all taken care of.
We booked you a hotel room.
- Hope it's in my budget.
- You don't have to
think about that,
it's all taken care of.
- I don't need it to
be all taken care of.
- Okay.
How'd it go with your boss
getting some time off?
- Fine.
I was a bit shifty
about how long.
What kind of time does he have?
- It's hard to say.
- [Luanne] Not long?
- A week,
maybe two.
- I haven't seen
him in 11 years.
He was 17 when I kicked him out.
- Do you have any
other children?
- Yeah, I have two daughters
from my second marriage.
One lives in Ohio,
one's in Florida,
we get together on holidays.
- So, you English, huh?
- Yes.
- Your son is, too?
- He was born here.
- I never met anybody English.
How about a pit stop?
How'd you find out
what your kid was?
I found out by asking,
how'd you find out?
- He told me.
- You mean you asked him?
- He told me, I
didn't have to ask.
- You already
figured it out, huh?
- Uh huh.
- I had to ask,
not that I wasn't already
wondering, long before.
He got to be 15, 16, never
any girls in the picture.
Hell, you'd have to be a real
dolt not to start wondering.
- James had a girlfriend
in high school.
- What do you mean?
A real girlfriend?
- Yeah.
- Why, you know what I
mean, they had relations?
- Sure.
- How do you know?
- Well, for one thing she
spent the night with him,
in our house.
- Well maybe nothin' happened.
- Oh, it happened.
- How do you know?
- She was a screamer.
[Luanne laughing]
- I just can't figure out,
a kid'd jump the fence after
he had a taste of normal.
I get the feeling
that you got no problem
about your kid being queer.
- I didn't throw
him out of his home.
- You like what he is?
- It's not a question
of liking or not liking,
it's a question of
accepting what he is.
And I'd rather you
didn't use that word,
especially when we get there.
- What word?
- Queer.
- Tell me something,
if you had your pick,
between your boy being
what he is, or be normal,
what would you pick?
- Is he your friend?
- Yeah.
- He's my husband.
- Sorry.
- I got it too.
- I'm here.
- Of course you are.
- Anything you want?
- I wanted it to [muffled].
Are you thinking about New York?
I'm so sorry about New York.
- Shut up.
- Geez, you were
planning for it.
- I'll always love you.
- You're like a Christmas guy.
So fabulous.
If we'd have ever done it,
we'd have done it together.
There are eight million
stories in the naked city,
and that will not
be one of them.
- [Luanne] I don't know
what I'm gonna say to him.
- [Audrey] what?
- Donnie.
I just don't know what
I'm gonna say to him.
- Don't worry about that.
- It's easy for
you to say, honey.
- Look, why don't
you call me Audrey,
and I'll call you Luanne.
So much better than you
calling me honey all the time,
and me calling you nothing.
- You like this music?
[classical music]
- I do, yes.
- You like jazz by any chance?
- I love jazz.
- Me too.
Get some.
[big band jazz]
What did he do?
- I'm sorry.
- Donnie, for a living,
what did he end up doing?
- He was,
he's an architect.
- No fooling?
- He's designed some
beautiful houses.
He designed mine.
- No fooling?
- And he owns a small cinema.
He's insane about old movies.
He can quote entire
scenes from memory.
But that's just a sideline,
he's an architect by profession.
- Well, he was always
drawing when he was a kid.
Castles, he drew a lot of them.
- [Audrey] Castles?
- Yeah, a lot of 'em.
- Have you ever
been to California?
- No, been to Las Vegas.
Your son don't have it, does he?
The disease.
You son don't have it.
You don't act like he's got it.
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
- He doesn't know.
- Well how come?
Don't you get a
test or something?
- He hasn't done that yet.
- Well how come, seeing
as how Donnie's got it?
- It doesn't always
happen that way.
They don't all get it, you know.
- I saw this thing on the news,
where a person can have it
and not even know he's got it.
Like it don't show up for
a long time, sometimes.
- Just think about Donald, okay?
He's the one we should
be thinking about.
- I want to go home.
- What else would we do there?
- I want to go home.
What do you say?
Home James.
- All right.
I have something to tell you.
- You know it's real hard
for me to believe that
there's any mother who
wouldn't be bothered
by her son being one of them.
You as easy about
it as you let on?
- I wanted to be a
grandmother, all right?
I can't help that what
people do in private
is nobody's business.
I could tell you some stories
about straight couples
that would curl your hair.
- Oh, my hair stopped
curling a long time ago.
I either heard it,
or I been there.
- Why is it different?
- Just is that's all.
- You have to do
better than that.
- No I don't.
- We have to try.
- We? I thought we
was talking about me?
- I don't believe
I'm hearing this.
Why didn't you tell me you
were doing this, James?
- If she'd refused, I didn't
want you to know that.
- Why didn't she?
Why is she coming?
- [James] To see you,
of course, why else?
- Why, last chance Luanne,
grab it while you can,
and make it quick.
- If you like.
- You're assuming
good intentions.
- We have to.
- You have to.
What if they go bad?
You don't know what she's
like, James, or was.
Compared to my mother, yours
has been a picnic at the beach.
Has she changed?
What does Audrey say?
- Evidently not.
- I don't think I
can handle this.
- Tell me you really
don't want to see her,
and we'll put her on a plane
back to Arkansas
tomorrow morning.
Can you tell me that?
- Yes.
- All right.
- No.
- It's worth the risk.
I have no right to say
that, it's your risk, but
I think it's one
you should take.
- Mother of mercy is
this the end of Rico?
- All right, it
rings the same bell,
but you have me on that one.
- Edward G Robinson,
Little Caesar.
Supine on a dark, ugly street,
riddled with the bullets
of implacable justice,
gasping his last desperate
pleas with his spiritual mother.
Of course he dies.
- That was a movie.
- James,
life is a movie.
- How was the trip?
- Flying used to be fun.
- Is the hotel the first stop?
- Nope, we're not
going to the hotel,
we're going right to the house.
- You bet.
- You can stay with me, okay?
- Look honey, Audrey,
if I change me mind,
I can check out of your house
as quick as I could a hotel.
- Okay.
- Thanks.
- You're welcome.
[gentle orchestral music]
How are you doing?
- Good, fine.
- Is there anything else
you need, in your room?
- I couldn't think of
anything else if I tried.
Look,
I don't want to come across here
like a redneck
hillbilly or nothin',
but I feel like I'm in Dynasty.
I mean that's the way I feel.
I mean why shouldn't I say it?
- I know what you mean.
You know, I wasn't born
choking on a silver spoon.
- Sort of look like you were.
- My father was a bank teller.
- No kidding?
Mine was a painter,
houses, not the other kind.
I got a friend, a guy,
who says the trouble
with this country is
everybody wants
to be in Dynasty,
and it isn't near big enough so
there's a lot of angry
people running around.
Could I trouble you for a drink?
- Oh, I'll join you.
- So, Donnie made
this house, huh?
I mean, he drew it up?
- Yes, that's how
he and James met.
Through me, the house.
- You know what just
come to me before?
You're the only other
person I ever met like me.
- Like you?
- Yeah.
The only other mother
who's got a son like I got.
- You've known that
since yesterday.
- Well, I wasn't thinking
about it that way,
not the way it's
coming to me now.
There's a logical way to
think about things, you know.
It's true.
I guess I'm not the first
person for you though, I mean,
the way you live,
the kind of people you know.
- I know one other mother
with a homosexual son.
- So you had
somebody to talk to?
- The subject never
really came up.
- How could it never come up?
- Well she brought it up once,
but I didn't see any
point in pursuing it.
- How come?
- There wasn't any
point, that's all.
I didn't care to discuss it.
What's the difference?
- It would have made a
big difference to me.
I never said word one to
a living soul about it.
- Well I like to think
it's been of some help.
- What has?
- Saying something about
it to a living soul.
- Is that what it's been to you?
A help?
- Me?
- I get the idea that
you're not too talkie
about it either.
Is that right?
- Well not for the same
reason you haven't been,
I don't need any help.
- Oh, that's right.
You're better'n me.
I keep forgetting.
- I never implied
any such thing.
But I don't call my son a,
I don't call him ugly names.
- Words never passed
your pretty lips, huh?
- Never.
- Not even before you
knew what your son was?
- Oh come on.
Everybody uses ignorant
words when they're young,
and don't know any better.
But some of us grow
up, and know better.
- And some of us grow up
and stay ignorant, right?
- I'm not trying to insult you,
stop putting words
into my mouth.
- Maybe there's some
already in it, lady.
- You just cannot believe
that I am not like you.
You want me to be like you.
Well, I'm not.
- Like me?
What do you mean, like me?
I got a son dying from what
he is, and so could yours.
I just wanted
Donnie to be normal.
I would have had a
son all these years.
That's all I wanted.
- You had a son all these years.
- One I could love.
- You could have
loved him anyway.
- Like you love yours, huh?
- [Audrey] Yes.
- Anyway?
You mean, in spite
of what he is?
That how you loved yours?
- Oh stop.
- Oh come on.
Get the hell out of here.
- Look, why don't we
just say good night,
and go to bed and
get some sleep?
Let's face it, we're
both wrung out,
it's been a long week today.
- It ain't been
my usual Thursday.
- Mine either, honey.
[wind blowing]
- Testing, testing.
Mary had a little lamb.
[tape rewinding]
- [Audrey] Sally,
call Nettelston,
tell him not to
finalize the deal yet.
It still doesn't
sit right with me.
Call Phillip to check
on the Hendrix stock,
it's making me nervous.
If you can't reach him--
- [Luanne] Testing, testing.
Mary had a little lamb.
[dramatic piano music]
Audrey?
This is me, Luanne.
This is to you
that I can't do it.
This is one of the stupidest
things I ever done in my life,
and I've done
entertaining things.
I don't know whatever
come into my mind
to think I could do it,
after all this time.
What would I say to him,
after all this time?
- [Voice On Intercom] Final call
for flight 901 to Little Rock,
boarding at gate number two.
- [Audrey voiceover] I
know no one will think
too highly of me for chickening
out at the last minute,
but no one else is in
my shoes so [muffled].
I'll pay you back for the
expenses you went through.
It might take a while.
At least I'm paying
my own way back.
I would have done that anyhow.
I'm sorry you went
to so much trouble.
I don't blame you if
you're really ticked off.
You really went to
a lot of trouble.
You're a really good person,
but I wish I'd never
laid eyes on you
if you know what I mean.
I hope your son's gonna
be okay, and have life.
Well, I guess that's all.
[doorbell ringing]
- I gotta do some shoppin'.
My clothes are flying
to Little Rock.
- That,
or that?
No.
Hi.
Luanne, this is my son, James.
James, Luanne Barnes.
- Hi.
- Hello.
Thank you for coming.
Would you care for some
coffee or anything?
We can go to the cafeteria.
- I'm okay.
We had breakfast.
You?
- I'm fine.
Why don't we go on up then?
- Are you awake?
- The plane crashed,
there were no survivors.
I'm terribly sorry about Audrey.
- She's here.
- Can we discuss
this for a few weeks?
- It's gonna be all right.
- Don't leave.
- You want to think
about that for a minute?
[sad orchestral music]
- What's wrong
with this picture?
- How ya been, Donnie?
I guess that's
startin' out stupid.
- I've been fine prior
to this current nuisance.
I like your outfit.
Tres chic, ma.
- You kiddin'? It's Audrey's.
It's a long story.
Not that I don't have
some nice things myself.
But, it's too tight though.
I got to do some shoppin'.
- Would you like to sit down?
Or do you have to run?
I'm kidding.
- Been a while.
- You haven't changed a bit.
You're looking very well.
- Yeah well, don't
let the hair fool ya.
It comes off.
- It's very becoming.
- You got no accent anymore.
- No.
- Well maybe a little
smidgen here and there.
You can hardly hear it.
Hear you got real successful?
- Yes, I've done pretty well.
Would you care for a chocolate?
- No thanks.
From drawing, more or less?
- I'm sorry.
- I mean you got successful
just from drawing?
- More or less.
- You was always
drawing as a kid.
Some kids draw and
come to nothing but,
you was always real good at it.
- You taped them on the fridge.
- Yeah.
Can I smoke in here?
- He wants to go home.
- I thought the
two of you agreed?
- He's reneged.
- Are you gonna let him?
- Yes.
- Is that a good idea?
- It is for him.
In his place I'd
want to be allowed
to do what I wanted to do.
[siren in the distance]
- I have to ask you something.
Why haven't you been tested?
- I don't want to.
- Is that wise?
- Wisdom beyond my
years I like to think.
- James?
- If I don't have it,
it doesn't matter.
If I do,
and I said to you
a few days ago,
we know what we want to know.
- That was about me.
- This is about me.
- Did they tell you
you're in no danger?
James and Audrey?
- About what?
- Me.
This.
- Yeah, they told me.
- Sure you don't,
really,
you can have a chocolate.
- This ain't easy
for me, you know.
I just want to be
upfront about it.
- Thank you for coming.
- You mean it?
- Mean it.
- I wasn't sure.
All I've been thinking
about since yesterday,
is if I wanted to come,
until this morning,
I started wondering,
what your position
was on the situation.
- That's my position.
- I'm sorry what
happened to you, Donnie.
- We said soon is mended.
- But you brought it on
yourself, didn't you?
Didn't you?
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to shout.
It just come out.
- Arms restored,
these are such trying times.
- Is someone smoking in here?
- To whose health
would it be hazardous?
How do you like Audrey?
- Boy, she's something
else isn't she?
You know she's got me
staying at her house?
Did you know that?
- That's very nice.
- You know she said that
what do you say,
you designed it?
It's real nice.
Real nice.
You know what I'd love to do?
I would really love
to take a swim in
her swimming pool.
Doesn't anybody ever
swim in them pools?
You know, in the movies,
nobody ever swims in them.
They're just there.
- Take the plunge, ma.
- There's something
I want to show you.
Remember this?
Remember when you drew that up?
You was about, I don't
know, eight or nine.
You said you was gonna
build that for me, some day.
For us.
A magic castle.
And we'd live in it
together, you and me.
And it would be full of magic.
Your son's real good-lookin'.
- Yes, isn't he?
- Could have really been
something with the ladies,
couldn't he?
His father must have
been real handsome.
Oh I mean, I didn't
mean it that way,
I mean that you are a
very good-lookin' woman.
- His father was a real looker.
- You got a boyfriend?
- No.
- Me neither, lately.
It's a bitch ain't it?
- How did it go with Donald?
- I hardly recognized him.
He never was too
hardy, built-wise.
Took more after me
than his old man.
Freddy was a real big fella.
Of course, he didn't believe
that he was his old man.
- Donald didn't?
- No, Freddy.
Didn't believe
Donnie was his son.
Said there was no way
that any son of his,
could be one of them.
- That's insane.
- Yeah, well even I knew
that was a bit far-fetched.
Still in all, I sure
didn't like having to take
a rap like that on
account of Donnie.
There's one thing nobody can say
about me is I fooled around.
I'd take 'em as they come,
but I take 'em one at a time.
- You didn't take a rap
on account of Donnie,
you took it on account
of your husband.
- Ah, either way.
- No, it isn't either way.
Don't you understand
the difference?
- I sure do tend to get you
all stressed out, don't I?
- Tell me what you want to do.
- In regards to what?
- Are you gonna go
right back to Arkansas,
or are you gonna stay?
- How did she seem after?
- I suspect a quickened pulse,
plus a cardiac tremor maybe,
but she seemed
steady on her feet.
She didn't rush to the
ladies for a quick upchuck.
- She wouldn't
touch me, you know.
- Of course.
- Will she stay do you think?
Do you know?
- I don't know yet.
Do you want her to?
Sorry.
[James laughing]
- Prices are very reasonable,
they have sales all the time.
- I don't need a whole lot.
- I have to go to the office.
I'll see you back at
the house around six?
- He's really
gonna die isn't he?
[somber orchestral music]
- That's a pretty outfit.
- Yeah, real California.
It'll knock 'em over
back in Fayetteville.
- What will you tell
them when you get back?
Your friends?
- About what?
- Where you've been, why.
- I ain't got to that yet.
- Maybe you'll tell
them the truth.
- I ain't got to that yet, okay?
What's the difference
to you what I tell them?
- Here.
I think I owe you something.
- What would that be?
- A few days ago when I was
first told Donald was ill,
I didn't really
know much about him.
I've known him for
four years but,
I didn't know anything about
him that really mattered.
I didn't know about you, I
didn't know you even existed.
I didn't know where he was from.
The truth is,
if the person my son
had been living with
for the past four
years had breasts,
I'd have known her entire life
history in about one hour,
because I'd have
wanted to know it.
- Yeah, well I kind of
figured you were coming
from a couple of
different directions.
- That's what I owe you.
You know how you're always
calling Donald one of them?
There was something that
bugged me about it, every time,
and I couldn't quite
put my finger on it.
Then I realized what it is.
Those are the words that have
caused so much pain and fear,
for so many, in so
many ways, always.
One of them.
Those are the words that all
the other words are about,
ugly words.
Your son isn't one of them.
My son isn't one of them.
Our sons our two of us.
It's been an interesting
couple of days.
I almost started smoking again.
- Well it's a wonder
you didn't resort
to controlled substances.
Luanne and you, the mind
can't quite grasp it.
- She's a smart lady,
in a rather irritating way.
- Why irritating?
- She doesn't know she's smart.
Smarter than me.
- Oh, but you know you're smart?
- Behind a desk with a computer.
- Why not?
- She's terrible about Donald.
There were times I could
have strangled her.
- The Luanne
Barneses in our midst
are best not taken seriously,
unless of course, one encounters
them in a lonely place
coming at you with
a baseball bat.
- Well she's nothing like
that bad, give her a break.
- I gather you are.
- She's right up front, what
you see is what you get.
And I'd rather get what I
see anytime, wouldn't you?
Beats deceit.
It beats lying.
It beats tap dancing.
- Hands down.
- What would you think,
if I told you I was devastated
when I first realized
you were gay?
- I'd think you might be
turning in your tap shoes
for a sturdier
style in footwear.
- I never have really been
able to get it together since.
That's what you
meant the other day,
the mountains under the rug?
The woman of the world,
taking it all in stride
and falling flat on my face
when no one was looking.
- Sometimes when they work.
- It showed, huh?
- Now and again, yeah.
- That's very embarrassing.
- You did the best you could
with what you had to do it with.
Centuries of rules
and revulsions.
- You must have hated me.
- Never.
Never hated anyone.
I did understand after all.
How could I not have heard
the word you never spoke?
- What word?
- Disappointment.
- Okay, I was.
I was, disappointed.
There, it's spoke.
- Good.
- It was a long time
before I stopped hoping
you'd see the true light,
marry the girl of my dreams,
give me babies to lavish
things on, and call me grandma.
Oh, you made me so furious.
- How?
- By making me feel
guilty about hoping that.
- But you have to
stop feeling guilty.
- I know.
I've begun to.
I think I've begun to.
James,
if you knew I
wasn't being honest,
why didn't you say something?
- Sometimes it's not
wise to tell people
what they don't want to know.
- Can I give it another try?
- If at first.
- When can I start?
- You're so pushy.
- I want you to be tested.
- Why?
- Because the sooner I know,
you know.
We know, can I say we?
- Let's try it.
- The sooner we know,
the sooner we'll know
how much time we
have to try again.
- And if I test
positive, could you cope?
- Let's try.
- I'm so afraid.
- I know.
I know.
I know.
- I might need you.
- Oh God, I hope so.
[somber piano music]
♪ The rain does
a pitter-patter ♪
♪ And I like getting wet
♪ Skies are weeping while
the world is sleeping ♪
- The last one with
changes of heart now.
So let's keep it simple.
It's ingrained.
- At least that's [muffled].
- Give her a message James.
I might.
But you know what?
Let them
survive by [muffled].
In Fayetteville, Arkansas.
- So would you manage
a hot chocolate?
- Hold the marshmallows.
- [Man In Movie] Do you know how
you're gonna spend
your money yet?
- [Man In Movie]
Well for one thing,
I think I'll buy an
interest in time,
for another,
I might take a
little ocean voyage.
- [Man In Movie]
Well, good luck.
[thunder]
- You got somebody
to see to him?
- A nurse will be
coming in twice a day,
and there's a doctor on call.
- I think it's a real nice idea.
Being here, home.
He was born at home, you know.
Wasn't supposed to be,
he was supposed to be
born in a hospital,
but he ended up
being born at home.
It's a long story.
These are real pretty cups,
real California.
- Didn't I give you those?
- Yeah, I think you did.
There are only four left.
- Listen there's
something I want to,
maybe you'll think
I'm coming down with
a severe case of
ridiculous here but,
you don't have to decide now,
you can take some
time, think it over,
unless you don't
have to think it over
and I'll understand that.
It'd be perfectly okay.
Just forget I asked.
Okay, I'm just gonna lay
it right on the table.
I'd like it,
if I could take
him back with me.
- Well I'm sorry but I really
don't have to think about that.
Taking him out of here now
is out of the question.
- Well not now.
After.
Oh no forget about it,
I'm way out of line.
Just forget I asked.
[thunder and rain]
You awake?
It's me.
I got you some cocoa.
How are you doing?
- Top of the world, ma.
- You know I was just
telling them now,
I was telling them how
you was born at home.
You probably forgot
that story, huh?
Yeah, me tripping at the
top of the cellar stairs,
and busting my leg,
and screaming for about an hour.
You was halfway here, by
the time Missus Ardeth
from next door come
running down the stairs.
You probably forgot all
about that story, huh?
You didn't?
Well,
this is something that
I'm gonna tell you
that I didn't tell them, okay?
I sure as hell never told you.
I knew when you was conceived.
Some women know that sometimes.
I don't know how,
I don't think anybody
knows how but,
it just happened, you can't
explain it, you just know.
It was in the morning.
And after a couple of minutes,
I just knew.
It was this beautiful morning,
with no tomorrow in it.
It was like there'd
never be a tomorrow.
Life would always
just be right then.
[thunder]
It was a waste wasn't
it, all those years?
I couldn't help it Donnie.
- I know.
- The trouble is,
we generally don't know waste
when it's happening.
Sometimes when it happens but,
the worst kind, we
don't know till after.
[mournful piano music]
They say it's on time.
- Will wonders never.
- Now you don't have to wait.
- No, it's no problem.
[somber piano music]
- [Voice On Intercom] Flight
number 29 to Little Rock,
will now begin boarding
at gate number two.
- I'll see you all next week.
- Thursday.
- It'll be a real simple thing,
just a couple of
my friends and you.
Nothing like what
you had yesterday.
It was a real nice service.
Sure had a lot of
friends, didn't he?
Well.
Thanks.
- What is this?
- Something she
wanted you to have.
[dramatic piano music]
[MultiCom Jingle]
[soft piano music]
- Find out from Wendell
what's holding up
the Nettleston contract,
I thought we had a deal.
[dramatic piano music]
Good morning.
- You're early.
- Somebody told me there
are 25 hours in a day,
if you can figure it out.
How are you feeling?
- Like a whale.
- Yeah, I remember, vaguely.
[phone ringing]
I'll get back to you
tomorrow Richard,
but I really don't
think sleeping on it
is gonna turn the tide here.
No, I can't live
with that number.
Yes.
Ciao.
[dial tone]
- [Voice On Machine] Hi, you've
reached James and Donald.
You can leave a message
for either one of us.
We have no secrets
from each other,
well, one or two maybe.
Here comes the beep.
[beeping]
- James, it's me.
Do you recognize my voice?
Does it ring a bell?
It should hon.
This is the third
time you've heard it
in the past two weeks.
The problem is I
haven't heard yours.
What's going on?
You know how bonkers it makes me
when my calls aren't returned.
I hope you're not
still ticked off
about that ridiculous quarrel.
I don't even remember
what it was about.
Bygones here, okay?
If you don't return this call,
I'm probably gonna
start worrying.
Have a heart.
It's Monday the
23rd, and counting.
[siren blaring]
[dramatic orchestral music]
- Toto, I have a feeling
we're not in Kansas anymore.
- [Woman] Hello?
- It's me.
- Well, at last.
What is it, are you still
made at me, or what?
- Can we get together?
- [Mother] Are you still mad?
You sound mad.
- No mother, I'm not mad.
I don't remember what
it was about, either.
- Good, I forgive you for all
the rotten things you said,
whatever they were.
- Can we get together?
- [Mother] Say when, lunch?
- How about now?
- Now? You mean tonight?
- Yes.
- It's pretty late.
- Yeah, I know what
time it is, mother.
- James, you don't sound good.
Are you all right?
- Would it be all
right if I came by?
- Absolutely.
- Sorry about the hour.
- Don't be silly.
Should I ask, or should I wait?
- Donald has AIDS.
He's gonna die soon,
so it would mean
a great deal to me
if you don't get hysterical.
- How long have you known?
- He tested positive
two years ago.
- And you're telling me now?
- I had to hospitalize
him this morning.
The KS has become very severe.
- The what?
- Kaposi sarcoma,
it's a kind of cancer.
He wanted to be at
home, but I couldn't.
It'll be better for
him in the hospital.
- He hasn't even
looked ill lately.
I mean--
- Lately?
You haven't seen him
in at least six months,
and maybe what,
two or three times,
in the year before
that, at most?
It's gonna be very
fast for him now.
A week, maybe two.
- Is it all right to visit him?
- If you like.
- For God's sake,
of course I'd like.
Why do you say
something like that?
That's terrible.
- Let's be friends, all right?
It's a good time to be friends.
- I didn't know what
kind of flowers he likes.
I got roses.
Roses usually say,
and candy.
Does he like candy?
- He has a tremendous
sweet tooth,
I sometimes I have to be very
stern with him about that.
- Well I haven't had to deal
with this since your father.
- Deal with what?
With what?
- Dying.
- Donald and I have
been to 14 funerals
in the past 18 months.
[phone ringing]
Look who's here.
- Everybody comes to Rick.
- Hi Donald.
- The long one
has to be flowers.
- He's so quick.
- If this is candy
it's our secret.
- The secret is out, and
it's not on the menu.
- See, things are already
taking an ugly turn.
I'm dying for a cigarette.
- Have one.
- [James] He gave it up.
- Me too, three months ago.
- It's hell, isn't it?
- Oh, I can't be held
responsible for my actions.
- I gave up smoking
for my health.
The insurance company
should come up
with a whole new concept,
irony insurance.
I tell you there's a
fortune to be made.
Remember when we smoked?
- Does he have any family?
- His mother.
His father's been lost
in the mist of time.
- I assume that she
knew before I did.
- Knew what?
- About Donald,
what's happening.
- Donald and his mother
haven't spoken for years.
- Why not?
- Her response to his
sexual orientation
was less than enlightened.
- I gather you're
understating it?
- Considerably.
- Well, she should be told,
about Donald, what's happening.
- Mother try to stop
saying that, would you?
About Donald, what's happening.
Donald has AIDS, he's dying,
can we please stop
tap dancing, finally?
- What's going on?
Why are you so angry?
What tap dancing?
- Sorry.
I'm a little stressed.
I haven't slept in days.
If I have a sudden compulsion
to give up my tap shoes,
I shouldn't hit you in the
head with them, should I?
- I'm not following this, James.
- You were wondering
about his mother.
- I gather we're
changing the subject,
and not very subtly.
- May we, please?
- I think his
mother should know.
Whether they're on speaking
terms or not, he's her son.
Where does she live?
- Arkansas.
Donald was born there.
- Are you going to
get in touch with her?
- No.
- Well, what about Donald?
Doesn't he want her to know?
- I'm not sure.
- Well, ask him.
- I did.
We discussed it at length.
We even went so far
as to locate her.
She's in the book,
a place called, Fayetteville.
- And?
- He'd rather not tell her,
than risk her not caring.
- Why didn't I know all that?
- All what?
- About Donald and his mother,
and where he's from and
what happened between them,
all that?
- We know what we want to know.
I'll be in touch.
[phone dialing]
- Oh, Audrey Grant, is he in?
- They're promising
a 14% return.
If you believe that,
they'll tell us another one
just as hysterical.
What we need.
[buzzing]
Hello?
Oh.
Hi.
- I need a friend.
- You need a husband.
I'm still available,
but it's only fair to tell you
I'm considering other offers.
- I need a friend.
- Let's see if we
can find you one.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing]
[soft piano music]
- Then he drops this bit about
we know what we want to know,
and leaves me
dangling with that.
Well, what's that
supposed to mean?
I mean I know what
it's supposed to mean,
more or less but,
what does it have to do with me?
- Why do you still have that?
Do you have a pack of butts
tucked away in your bag, too?
- James used to teeth on
that when he was a baby.
See, there are his teeth marks.
- If you don't mind I'm
not gonna get sentimental
about something that was
lighting the way to your grave.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing]
- Yeah?
Hello?
When the heavy breathing
starts you're canceled,
you got three seconds.
- Hello.
Am I speaking to Missus Barnes?
Luanne Barnes?
- That's who you're speaking to,
who's speaking to me?
[dial tone]
[siren on TV]
- I wonder if I've given you
the wrong impression tonight.
I hope you don't think
this is the first time
I've ever thought about it.
I mean, what's
happened to Donald.
How could I not think about it?
For years now, ever since
we all first heard about it,
I wanted to say something
to James, but I never did.
I couldn't.
I was too scared to
get the words out.
- Is that why you're not
telling me about James?
- Telling you what?
- Is he all right, Audrey?
Or does he have it too?
- Well of course he's all right.
I'm sure he is, he must be.
- You don't know?
- Harry, if he wasn't all right,
he would have told
me, wouldn't he?
Yes, he would have.
- You didn't ask?
[soft piano music]
- You hung up?
Why did you hang up?
- Because I realized the
instant I heard her voice
there would be no point in it,
when I told her who I was,
and why I was calling.
This is a woman for
whom homosexuality
is an offense against
God, man, and nature.
- Well, write her a letter.
Send her a wire,
she should be told.
Let her make up her own mind
what she wants to do about it.
It would be hurtful for
Donald if she doesn't come,
but I think it's a
chance you have to take.
- Well, I'm not telling Donald.
If she comes, he'll know.
If she doesn't come, he
won't know I asked her,
and he won't be hurt.
I don't want him to be hurt.
- I hadn't thought of that.
So, how are you gonna do it?
- I thought of a way.
Hear me out.
- Why wouldn't I?
- You could do it.
You want me to phone
her, no problem.
- No.
- You don't want
me to phone her?
- No.
- I give up.
- You could go there.
And speak to her face-to-face,
and bring her back.
I know, I know how this
sounds on first hearing.
You don't have to
say anything now,
I'd rather you didn't, I'd
rather you thought about it.
But, not for too long.
- I think I have this right.
You want me to go to, where
did you say she lives?
- Arkansas.
- Arkansas.
And I go up and I
knock on this door,
and a perfect
stranger answers it,
and I presume I introduce
myself, and then what?
- You tell her that
her son is gonna die,
and does she want to
see him before he dies?
- Oh James, I think there
must be a better way.
- Tell me what it is.
- You know I don't even
know where Arkansas is.
- We'll locate Arkansas,
I know it's there.
- Oh, smart act isn't
gonna win my heart, James.
- She lives near Little Rock.
You'd probably have
to stay overnight,
but you'd be there and back
in less than 24 hours max.
- With or without her.
- Well even if it's without her,
it wouldn't have been
a wasted trip, mother.
Do you understand what I mean?
Okay, well you don't
have to decide now.
Just sleep on it, would
you at least do that?
I think I was about 10 years old
the last time I asked
you for a favor.
If you do this for
me, it'll be 20 more
before I ask you for
another, I promise.
This is her name and address
and telephone number,
and the name of a
hotel in Fayetteville.
If she'd listen to anyone,
she might listen to you,
the mother of a homosexual son.
Do you understand what I mean?
- Will you please stop
asking me if I understand?
Yes, I understand.
There's one thing I
don't understand though.
I was talking to
Harry last night.
- Oh is that on again?
- No.
He said he knows me a
lot, and you a little bit,
but you and me together
he doesn't know at all.
I'm beginning to wonder if
I know you and me together.
- Are you?
- It seems to me like
something's getting
very complicated
all of a sudden.
- We're not getting,
it always was.
- What do you mean?
- And more so since Donald,
since Donald and I
have been together.
I think there was a
certain degree of composure
in it for you when I
was a carefree bachelor,
the dashing unattached
young man about town.
But enter Donald Barnes to
share my home and heart.
Well, that made things
a little bit awkward.
What could you do
but distance yourself
from so perversely
domestic an arrangement?
Distance yourself from
the fact that was Donald,
which was to distance
yourself from me.
And what could I do,
but respond in kind?
Audrey says take three giant
steps backward, and I did.
- How did I do that?
I really don't
understand this, James.
- Well by almost never asking
when we spoke, how is Donald?
By forgetting two of
the three birthdays
he's had since
we've been together.
By on more occasions
than I can recall,
inviting me out to
dinner, me, not Donald.
By never--
Well we need spiked
boots Mother, you and I,
to get over what's been
swept under the rug
since I was 18 years old.
Mountains, mother.
- Would you explain that to me?
- This isn't the time for it.
- Why not?
- Because this is
the time for Donald.
And there isn't much of it.
- How much is there for you?
- I'm sorry.
- I should have asked
you the other night.
I don't know why I didn't.
Do you have it, too?
- I don't know, I
haven't been tested.
I don't want to discuss it.
- [Audrey] James.
- I don't want to discuss it.
Do you?
Can you?
[phone ringing]
- Sally?
- [Sally] Yo.
- See what the
schedule of flights is
to Little Rock
tomorrow, would you hon?
- Little Rock?
- Arkansas.
- You're going to Arkansas?
What's in Arkansas?
[soft orchestral music]
- Okay we can be on our way now.
What did you say your name was?
- Charley.
You all settled in?
- Yes.
- How's your accommodations?
- Great.
That's where we're going.
Do you know where it is?
- You bet.
- Is it far?
- 30, 40 minutes.
Your first time in
Fayetteville, ma'am?
- Yes.
- Well let's hope it
won't be your last.
[dramatic orchestral music]
You want me to wait
here for you ma'am?
Or should I drive on in?
- What's this?
- Ma'am?
- What is this?
- Well this here is the
address you gave me.
- This is it?
Well, this is a trailer park.
- Yes, ma'am.
- But it says unit 16, I
assumed it was a condo.
- No ma'am, if it's unit 16,
that'd be one of the homettes.
- Homettes?
- Yes ma'am.
- Okay, let's find it.
[dramatic orchestral music]
We know this was
a mistake Audrey.
- Ma'am?
- Stop and ask
directions, would you?
- Where's 16?
- Take a right,
first one.
Who you got in
there, Ray Charles?
- Don't you wish?
[laughing]
Keep back.
- Excuse me.
[doorbell ringing]
- Missus Barnes?
My name is Audrey Grant.
- Yeah?
- I wonder if I could
have a word with you?
- What's going on?
You sure you got the
right party here?
- Yes, could I come in?
- [Man] Hey Lu, what'd you do,
win a contest or something?
- That'll be the day.
- [Man] Don't forget
that 20 you owe me, Lu.
- May I come in please?
- It's either that or
start selling tickets.
- What are you doing
pulling up in here?
- May I sit down?
- Yeah yeah yeah,
pull up a sofa.
What'd you say your name was?
- Audrey Grant.
I'm from San Diego, California.
- I know where San Diego is.
- Yes well, I came
to talk to you about,
I'm here about your son.
- What son?
- Donald.
Your son.
I came to talk to you--
- Who in the hell
are you anyway?
Not your name, I got your name.
Who are you?
- I'm a friend of Donald's.
- Oh yeah?
- Through my son, Donald is a
very close friend of my son's.
- Uh huh.
- He's extremely
ill, Missus Barnes.
- Your son's sick?
- No, not my son.
- What are you hollerin' about?
- I'm hollering
because I don't know
what the hell I'm doing here,
that's why I'm hollering.
- Well if you don't
know lady, I sure don't.
- Look, it's your son who's
very ill, Missus Barnes.
He hasn't long to live.
I'm sorry, there's no
easier way to say it.
- He's 28 years old.
What's the matter with him?
- He has a very serious illness.
- Those are generally
the kind you die from,
the serious ones.
- He has AIDS.
- Yeah.
Yeah, well I figured.
- You figured?
- Well he's 28 years old
and he's one of them.
What else could it be?
I mean, I watch TV.
Two and two's been coming
out four for a long time now.
Want a drink?
- I'd kill for one.
- You can get one
easier than that.
- A little water, no ice.
- God's will you know,
this thing they get.
You do know that don't you?
- I know some
people believe that.
- And you're not
one of them, huh?
And you didn't come all this way
just to tell me Donnie's
gonna die, did you?
- I came to ask you if you
would come back with me
and see him, it would
mean the world to him.
- A phone call would
have been a lot cheaper.
- Well, we decided this
would be the best way.
- We? You and Donnie?
- Donald knows nothing about
this, it was my son's idea.
Donald is a very close
friend of James, my son.
I just wanted to help.
- Uh, you said that,
very close friend.
How close?
They only have one kind
of very close friend.
- Look, it doesn't matter
what kind of close.
- [Luanne] You son's
one of them too?
- Oh, my son has
nothing to do with this.
- Wait I get the
picture here, yeah yeah.
Your son, my son, yeah I
bet they're real close.
What's all this beatin'
around the bush?
- I don't normally
beat around bushes.
- You sure come a long way
to go a long way
back for nothin'.
- Couldn't you at
least think about it?
- I don't have nothin'
to think about.
- Oh for the love of
God, he's your child.
He's dying, what does it
matter what he's dying of?
- The only problem I
have is what I'm gonna
tell these people
here about you.
You and your big car.
You and your big box clothes.
- Look, I'm sorry about
that, it was a mistake.
- Nobody here knows I've
got a son who's one of them.
I wouldn't be able
to show my face.
- He's gonna die
you stupid bitch.
- Well if he wasn't what he is,
he wouldn't be gonna
die now would he?
Would he?
I hated what he is.
It turns my stomach.
You here me?
- Get me out of here.
Get me out of here quick.
[crowd talking]
[dog barking]
[horn honking]
- By the by, how did Mom cope?
Your mother?
Audrey, how did she
survive her face-to-face
confront with the grim
reaper the other day?
- She saw right through
your flimsy tissue of wit,
admired amongst us.
- I thought she met them
all really well for her.
She seemed quite fearless.
- Gin.
- What?
No mercy, even now?
[toilet flushing]
- See you later, Donald.
- Your hair is like a
field of silver daisies.
I'd like to run barefoot
through your hair.
They don't write movies
like that anymore.
Mother for mother, I'd say mine
has the better
bargain of the two.
One more hand, but
only if I can cheat.
- What better bargain?
- To be spared all this dreck,
blissful ignorance and all that.
- How can you be so
certain she'd want to be?
- James, don't be a dunce.
Who wouldn't want to be?
Would you choose this
if you had a choice?
Would Audrey?
I'm sorry.
It's becoming time for
another controlled substance,
something by way of a mood
elevator would be nice.
- Here.
You want me to get the nurse?
- I'll be brave if you will.
When are you gonna be?
- What?
- Not brave, wrong
word of course.
Sensible.
When are you gonna be sensible?
- I thought you promised
not to bring that up again.
- I lied.
Please James,
it just isn't rational
not to be tested.
- If I promise to do it,
will you leave it alone?
- Yeah.
Could be negative, James.
- Shall we calculate the
astronomical odds against that?
Let's find the nearest computer.
- Michael Roby
died two years ago,
and Peter is still
testing negative.
- Peter wants to know, Donald.
- Yes, and if God forbid
he does go positive,
at least he'll have the earliest
treatment possible, won't he?
As I might have had when I
was still in the denial mode
of me, it can't happen to me.
- It's my choice, Donald.
Mine.
- I think I'm gonna win,
and I haven't
started cheating yet.
- I gave it my best
hon, really I did.
- [James] Mission impossible.
- She's one of those,
it's-God's-curse people.
- Oh yeah.
Thank you for trying
Mother, I mean that.
- You're welcome.
I hate her guts.
- It's a new chapter
for your memoirs.
Come home.
- You know what's gonna
happen, don't you?
On the plane tomorrow I'll
think of exactly the magic words
I could have used, that
would have had her with me.
- No you won't,
there aren't any.
[country music]
- Come on Lu, give us
a break, who was she?
- None of your business.
- It's all gonna come
out sooner or later.
I'm guessing some old rich uncle
you didn't know you
had bought the farm,
and left you a fortune.
- Be real.
- Wish I'd been there.
The way I heard it,
we're talking lifestyles
of the rich and disgusting.
- Come on Lu, spill it.
- Okay, okay, I won
a contest all right?
- No kidding?
- No.
- Well now we're
getting somewhere.
What contest?
- Mother of the year.
[thunder]
[raining]
[sentimental flute music]
[phone ringing]
- Yes.
Hello?
Hello?
- Is he really gonna die?
- I admire you a lot for this.
- I'm not doing
this to be admired.
- I know that.
- I'm honestly not
sure why I'm doing it.
- Well, maybe you'll find out.
- I generally like to have
the finding out part
of things before.
It's easier with less of
the why-did-I-do-its after.
Too many why-did-I-do-its
tend to get you down,
you know what I mean?
- How soon can you leave?
- Well, got a boss
to tell I won't be in
for a couple of days,
throw some stuff together.
Aside from that,
anytime I guess.
- Well, there's plenty of time,
the plane doesn't
leave until 6:30.
- What plane?
- To Little Rock,
there's a short layover there
to change planes for San Diego.
- Change what planes?
- Well we have to fly
from here to Little Rock,
on this little commuter airline.
- You mean you
didn't come direct?
- From San Diego?
- Yeah.
- No.
There are no direct flights
from San Diego to Fayetteville.
But it's a quick trip
from here to Little Rock.
- Oh yeah, I took a quick trip
on one of their airplanes once.
Lasted about half a minute.
- [Audrey] What do you mean?
- The propeller stopped turning.
- What happened?
- What happened is
the plane crashed.
The wings don't flap you know.
- My God, were you badly hurt?
- Broke my knee.
Two people killed though.
I'll be driving.
- I beg your pardon?
- To Little Rock,
meet you there.
- Driving?
- Yeah.
- You won't fly?
- On one of them little things?
No way.
- Do you know what the odds are
against your ever being in
an accident like that again?
If you live to be 200.
- I'll tell you what
it's about lady.
Being laid up in bed
scared cross-eyed
for about a week after
is what it's about.
Waking up in sweats, three
or four times a year,
to the present day,
that's what it's about.
I'm not flying in
nothin' that has less
than three or four
humongous jet motors.
Get one of them to
make a little detour
to Fayetteville
Airport, no problem.
- I don't think I
could arrange that.
- Meet you in Little Rock.
- Wait.
How long is the
drive to Little Rock?
- About four hours.
- I'd really rather
we went together.
- Why, afraid I
might change my mind?
- Can you honestly tell me
I don't have to
concerned about that?
Look, I don't know
you, you don't know me,
but I do know how hard
this is for you to do.
And I know that part of you
still doesn't want to do it.
- You sure know a hell of a lot
for somebody that don't
know me, don't you?
- Oh for God's sake how
could I have sat with you
yesterday in that trailer
and listened to you
and not know that?
Maybe you could
use some help to do
what I think you
most want to do.
Four hours can be an awfully
long time to go without help.
- I'm not flying to
Little Rock, case closed.
- No you're not.
We're driving to
Little Rock, together.
- It's a pretty
drive, right now.
Just tell me where you
want me to pick you up.
- Does this have
air conditioning?
- No, but it has windows
that you roll down.
- I have a suggestion.
Well I can't guarantee
anything James,
this is strictly
one step at a time.
She's a tough hombre, I feel
like I'm walking on eggs.
How's Donald?
- A bit of an
upswing this morning.
- [Audrey] Is that good?
- What goes up.
- Well, okay.
Look, as of this moment,
we're on our way.
We'll be in San Diego tonight.
I almost had to drive
with her in her car
all the way to Little Rock.
Looks like a discard
from Rent a Wreck.
- Not a pretty picture,
I assume you made
other arrangements.
[fiddle music]
- Okay, we're out of here.
[car starting]
- No, thanks.
- Doesn't that ruin the air
conditioning, putting that down?
- It's just while
you're smoking.
I used to do that.
I don't want to get re-hooked.
It's a daily threat at best.
- Is it gonna be a problem?
- No, go right
ahead, no problem.
- I've never been in a
car like this before.
I guess you figured that out.
I'd really love to
hear that radio,
if I could just find it.
[country music]
- I have to find a place
to stay when we get there.
- It's all taken care of.
We booked you a hotel room.
- Hope it's in my budget.
- You don't have to
think about that,
it's all taken care of.
- I don't need it to
be all taken care of.
- Okay.
How'd it go with your boss
getting some time off?
- Fine.
I was a bit shifty
about how long.
What kind of time does he have?
- It's hard to say.
- [Luanne] Not long?
- A week,
maybe two.
- I haven't seen
him in 11 years.
He was 17 when I kicked him out.
- Do you have any
other children?
- Yeah, I have two daughters
from my second marriage.
One lives in Ohio,
one's in Florida,
we get together on holidays.
- So, you English, huh?
- Yes.
- Your son is, too?
- He was born here.
- I never met anybody English.
How about a pit stop?
How'd you find out
what your kid was?
I found out by asking,
how'd you find out?
- He told me.
- You mean you asked him?
- He told me, I
didn't have to ask.
- You already
figured it out, huh?
- Uh huh.
- I had to ask,
not that I wasn't already
wondering, long before.
He got to be 15, 16, never
any girls in the picture.
Hell, you'd have to be a real
dolt not to start wondering.
- James had a girlfriend
in high school.
- What do you mean?
A real girlfriend?
- Yeah.
- Why, you know what I
mean, they had relations?
- Sure.
- How do you know?
- Well, for one thing she
spent the night with him,
in our house.
- Well maybe nothin' happened.
- Oh, it happened.
- How do you know?
- She was a screamer.
[Luanne laughing]
- I just can't figure out,
a kid'd jump the fence after
he had a taste of normal.
I get the feeling
that you got no problem
about your kid being queer.
- I didn't throw
him out of his home.
- You like what he is?
- It's not a question
of liking or not liking,
it's a question of
accepting what he is.
And I'd rather you
didn't use that word,
especially when we get there.
- What word?
- Queer.
- Tell me something,
if you had your pick,
between your boy being
what he is, or be normal,
what would you pick?
- Is he your friend?
- Yeah.
- He's my husband.
- Sorry.
- I got it too.
- I'm here.
- Of course you are.
- Anything you want?
- I wanted it to [muffled].
Are you thinking about New York?
I'm so sorry about New York.
- Shut up.
- Geez, you were
planning for it.
- I'll always love you.
- You're like a Christmas guy.
So fabulous.
If we'd have ever done it,
we'd have done it together.
There are eight million
stories in the naked city,
and that will not
be one of them.
- [Luanne] I don't know
what I'm gonna say to him.
- [Audrey] what?
- Donnie.
I just don't know what
I'm gonna say to him.
- Don't worry about that.
- It's easy for
you to say, honey.
- Look, why don't
you call me Audrey,
and I'll call you Luanne.
So much better than you
calling me honey all the time,
and me calling you nothing.
- You like this music?
[classical music]
- I do, yes.
- You like jazz by any chance?
- I love jazz.
- Me too.
Get some.
[big band jazz]
What did he do?
- I'm sorry.
- Donnie, for a living,
what did he end up doing?
- He was,
he's an architect.
- No fooling?
- He's designed some
beautiful houses.
He designed mine.
- No fooling?
- And he owns a small cinema.
He's insane about old movies.
He can quote entire
scenes from memory.
But that's just a sideline,
he's an architect by profession.
- Well, he was always
drawing when he was a kid.
Castles, he drew a lot of them.
- [Audrey] Castles?
- Yeah, a lot of 'em.
- Have you ever
been to California?
- No, been to Las Vegas.
Your son don't have it, does he?
The disease.
You son don't have it.
You don't act like he's got it.
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
- He doesn't know.
- Well how come?
Don't you get a
test or something?
- He hasn't done that yet.
- Well how come, seeing
as how Donnie's got it?
- It doesn't always
happen that way.
They don't all get it, you know.
- I saw this thing on the news,
where a person can have it
and not even know he's got it.
Like it don't show up for
a long time, sometimes.
- Just think about Donald, okay?
He's the one we should
be thinking about.
- I want to go home.
- What else would we do there?
- I want to go home.
What do you say?
Home James.
- All right.
I have something to tell you.
- You know it's real hard
for me to believe that
there's any mother who
wouldn't be bothered
by her son being one of them.
You as easy about
it as you let on?
- I wanted to be a
grandmother, all right?
I can't help that what
people do in private
is nobody's business.
I could tell you some stories
about straight couples
that would curl your hair.
- Oh, my hair stopped
curling a long time ago.
I either heard it,
or I been there.
- Why is it different?
- Just is that's all.
- You have to do
better than that.
- No I don't.
- We have to try.
- We? I thought we
was talking about me?
- I don't believe
I'm hearing this.
Why didn't you tell me you
were doing this, James?
- If she'd refused, I didn't
want you to know that.
- Why didn't she?
Why is she coming?
- [James] To see you,
of course, why else?
- Why, last chance Luanne,
grab it while you can,
and make it quick.
- If you like.
- You're assuming
good intentions.
- We have to.
- You have to.
What if they go bad?
You don't know what she's
like, James, or was.
Compared to my mother, yours
has been a picnic at the beach.
Has she changed?
What does Audrey say?
- Evidently not.
- I don't think I
can handle this.
- Tell me you really
don't want to see her,
and we'll put her on a plane
back to Arkansas
tomorrow morning.
Can you tell me that?
- Yes.
- All right.
- No.
- It's worth the risk.
I have no right to say
that, it's your risk, but
I think it's one
you should take.
- Mother of mercy is
this the end of Rico?
- All right, it
rings the same bell,
but you have me on that one.
- Edward G Robinson,
Little Caesar.
Supine on a dark, ugly street,
riddled with the bullets
of implacable justice,
gasping his last desperate
pleas with his spiritual mother.
Of course he dies.
- That was a movie.
- James,
life is a movie.
- How was the trip?
- Flying used to be fun.
- Is the hotel the first stop?
- Nope, we're not
going to the hotel,
we're going right to the house.
- You bet.
- You can stay with me, okay?
- Look honey, Audrey,
if I change me mind,
I can check out of your house
as quick as I could a hotel.
- Okay.
- Thanks.
- You're welcome.
[gentle orchestral music]
How are you doing?
- Good, fine.
- Is there anything else
you need, in your room?
- I couldn't think of
anything else if I tried.
Look,
I don't want to come across here
like a redneck
hillbilly or nothin',
but I feel like I'm in Dynasty.
I mean that's the way I feel.
I mean why shouldn't I say it?
- I know what you mean.
You know, I wasn't born
choking on a silver spoon.
- Sort of look like you were.
- My father was a bank teller.
- No kidding?
Mine was a painter,
houses, not the other kind.
I got a friend, a guy,
who says the trouble
with this country is
everybody wants
to be in Dynasty,
and it isn't near big enough so
there's a lot of angry
people running around.
Could I trouble you for a drink?
- Oh, I'll join you.
- So, Donnie made
this house, huh?
I mean, he drew it up?
- Yes, that's how
he and James met.
Through me, the house.
- You know what just
come to me before?
You're the only other
person I ever met like me.
- Like you?
- Yeah.
The only other mother
who's got a son like I got.
- You've known that
since yesterday.
- Well, I wasn't thinking
about it that way,
not the way it's
coming to me now.
There's a logical way to
think about things, you know.
It's true.
I guess I'm not the first
person for you though, I mean,
the way you live,
the kind of people you know.
- I know one other mother
with a homosexual son.
- So you had
somebody to talk to?
- The subject never
really came up.
- How could it never come up?
- Well she brought it up once,
but I didn't see any
point in pursuing it.
- How come?
- There wasn't any
point, that's all.
I didn't care to discuss it.
What's the difference?
- It would have made a
big difference to me.
I never said word one to
a living soul about it.
- Well I like to think
it's been of some help.
- What has?
- Saying something about
it to a living soul.
- Is that what it's been to you?
A help?
- Me?
- I get the idea that
you're not too talkie
about it either.
Is that right?
- Well not for the same
reason you haven't been,
I don't need any help.
- Oh, that's right.
You're better'n me.
I keep forgetting.
- I never implied
any such thing.
But I don't call my son a,
I don't call him ugly names.
- Words never passed
your pretty lips, huh?
- Never.
- Not even before you
knew what your son was?
- Oh come on.
Everybody uses ignorant
words when they're young,
and don't know any better.
But some of us grow
up, and know better.
- And some of us grow up
and stay ignorant, right?
- I'm not trying to insult you,
stop putting words
into my mouth.
- Maybe there's some
already in it, lady.
- You just cannot believe
that I am not like you.
You want me to be like you.
Well, I'm not.
- Like me?
What do you mean, like me?
I got a son dying from what
he is, and so could yours.
I just wanted
Donnie to be normal.
I would have had a
son all these years.
That's all I wanted.
- You had a son all these years.
- One I could love.
- You could have
loved him anyway.
- Like you love yours, huh?
- [Audrey] Yes.
- Anyway?
You mean, in spite
of what he is?
That how you loved yours?
- Oh stop.
- Oh come on.
Get the hell out of here.
- Look, why don't we
just say good night,
and go to bed and
get some sleep?
Let's face it, we're
both wrung out,
it's been a long week today.
- It ain't been
my usual Thursday.
- Mine either, honey.
[wind blowing]
- Testing, testing.
Mary had a little lamb.
[tape rewinding]
- [Audrey] Sally,
call Nettelston,
tell him not to
finalize the deal yet.
It still doesn't
sit right with me.
Call Phillip to check
on the Hendrix stock,
it's making me nervous.
If you can't reach him--
- [Luanne] Testing, testing.
Mary had a little lamb.
[dramatic piano music]
Audrey?
This is me, Luanne.
This is to you
that I can't do it.
This is one of the stupidest
things I ever done in my life,
and I've done
entertaining things.
I don't know whatever
come into my mind
to think I could do it,
after all this time.
What would I say to him,
after all this time?
- [Voice On Intercom] Final call
for flight 901 to Little Rock,
boarding at gate number two.
- [Audrey voiceover] I
know no one will think
too highly of me for chickening
out at the last minute,
but no one else is in
my shoes so [muffled].
I'll pay you back for the
expenses you went through.
It might take a while.
At least I'm paying
my own way back.
I would have done that anyhow.
I'm sorry you went
to so much trouble.
I don't blame you if
you're really ticked off.
You really went to
a lot of trouble.
You're a really good person,
but I wish I'd never
laid eyes on you
if you know what I mean.
I hope your son's gonna
be okay, and have life.
Well, I guess that's all.
[doorbell ringing]
- I gotta do some shoppin'.
My clothes are flying
to Little Rock.
- That,
or that?
No.
Hi.
Luanne, this is my son, James.
James, Luanne Barnes.
- Hi.
- Hello.
Thank you for coming.
Would you care for some
coffee or anything?
We can go to the cafeteria.
- I'm okay.
We had breakfast.
You?
- I'm fine.
Why don't we go on up then?
- Are you awake?
- The plane crashed,
there were no survivors.
I'm terribly sorry about Audrey.
- She's here.
- Can we discuss
this for a few weeks?
- It's gonna be all right.
- Don't leave.
- You want to think
about that for a minute?
[sad orchestral music]
- What's wrong
with this picture?
- How ya been, Donnie?
I guess that's
startin' out stupid.
- I've been fine prior
to this current nuisance.
I like your outfit.
Tres chic, ma.
- You kiddin'? It's Audrey's.
It's a long story.
Not that I don't have
some nice things myself.
But, it's too tight though.
I got to do some shoppin'.
- Would you like to sit down?
Or do you have to run?
I'm kidding.
- Been a while.
- You haven't changed a bit.
You're looking very well.
- Yeah well, don't
let the hair fool ya.
It comes off.
- It's very becoming.
- You got no accent anymore.
- No.
- Well maybe a little
smidgen here and there.
You can hardly hear it.
Hear you got real successful?
- Yes, I've done pretty well.
Would you care for a chocolate?
- No thanks.
From drawing, more or less?
- I'm sorry.
- I mean you got successful
just from drawing?
- More or less.
- You was always
drawing as a kid.
Some kids draw and
come to nothing but,
you was always real good at it.
- You taped them on the fridge.
- Yeah.
Can I smoke in here?
- He wants to go home.
- I thought the
two of you agreed?
- He's reneged.
- Are you gonna let him?
- Yes.
- Is that a good idea?
- It is for him.
In his place I'd
want to be allowed
to do what I wanted to do.
[siren in the distance]
- I have to ask you something.
Why haven't you been tested?
- I don't want to.
- Is that wise?
- Wisdom beyond my
years I like to think.
- James?
- If I don't have it,
it doesn't matter.
If I do,
and I said to you
a few days ago,
we know what we want to know.
- That was about me.
- This is about me.
- Did they tell you
you're in no danger?
James and Audrey?
- About what?
- Me.
This.
- Yeah, they told me.
- Sure you don't,
really,
you can have a chocolate.
- This ain't easy
for me, you know.
I just want to be
upfront about it.
- Thank you for coming.
- You mean it?
- Mean it.
- I wasn't sure.
All I've been thinking
about since yesterday,
is if I wanted to come,
until this morning,
I started wondering,
what your position
was on the situation.
- That's my position.
- I'm sorry what
happened to you, Donnie.
- We said soon is mended.
- But you brought it on
yourself, didn't you?
Didn't you?
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to shout.
It just come out.
- Arms restored,
these are such trying times.
- Is someone smoking in here?
- To whose health
would it be hazardous?
How do you like Audrey?
- Boy, she's something
else isn't she?
You know she's got me
staying at her house?
Did you know that?
- That's very nice.
- You know she said that
what do you say,
you designed it?
It's real nice.
Real nice.
You know what I'd love to do?
I would really love
to take a swim in
her swimming pool.
Doesn't anybody ever
swim in them pools?
You know, in the movies,
nobody ever swims in them.
They're just there.
- Take the plunge, ma.
- There's something
I want to show you.
Remember this?
Remember when you drew that up?
You was about, I don't
know, eight or nine.
You said you was gonna
build that for me, some day.
For us.
A magic castle.
And we'd live in it
together, you and me.
And it would be full of magic.
Your son's real good-lookin'.
- Yes, isn't he?
- Could have really been
something with the ladies,
couldn't he?
His father must have
been real handsome.
Oh I mean, I didn't
mean it that way,
I mean that you are a
very good-lookin' woman.
- His father was a real looker.
- You got a boyfriend?
- No.
- Me neither, lately.
It's a bitch ain't it?
- How did it go with Donald?
- I hardly recognized him.
He never was too
hardy, built-wise.
Took more after me
than his old man.
Freddy was a real big fella.
Of course, he didn't believe
that he was his old man.
- Donald didn't?
- No, Freddy.
Didn't believe
Donnie was his son.
Said there was no way
that any son of his,
could be one of them.
- That's insane.
- Yeah, well even I knew
that was a bit far-fetched.
Still in all, I sure
didn't like having to take
a rap like that on
account of Donnie.
There's one thing nobody can say
about me is I fooled around.
I'd take 'em as they come,
but I take 'em one at a time.
- You didn't take a rap
on account of Donnie,
you took it on account
of your husband.
- Ah, either way.
- No, it isn't either way.
Don't you understand
the difference?
- I sure do tend to get you
all stressed out, don't I?
- Tell me what you want to do.
- In regards to what?
- Are you gonna go
right back to Arkansas,
or are you gonna stay?
- How did she seem after?
- I suspect a quickened pulse,
plus a cardiac tremor maybe,
but she seemed
steady on her feet.
She didn't rush to the
ladies for a quick upchuck.
- She wouldn't
touch me, you know.
- Of course.
- Will she stay do you think?
Do you know?
- I don't know yet.
Do you want her to?
Sorry.
[James laughing]
- Prices are very reasonable,
they have sales all the time.
- I don't need a whole lot.
- I have to go to the office.
I'll see you back at
the house around six?
- He's really
gonna die isn't he?
[somber orchestral music]
- That's a pretty outfit.
- Yeah, real California.
It'll knock 'em over
back in Fayetteville.
- What will you tell
them when you get back?
Your friends?
- About what?
- Where you've been, why.
- I ain't got to that yet.
- Maybe you'll tell
them the truth.
- I ain't got to that yet, okay?
What's the difference
to you what I tell them?
- Here.
I think I owe you something.
- What would that be?
- A few days ago when I was
first told Donald was ill,
I didn't really
know much about him.
I've known him for
four years but,
I didn't know anything about
him that really mattered.
I didn't know about you, I
didn't know you even existed.
I didn't know where he was from.
The truth is,
if the person my son
had been living with
for the past four
years had breasts,
I'd have known her entire life
history in about one hour,
because I'd have
wanted to know it.
- Yeah, well I kind of
figured you were coming
from a couple of
different directions.
- That's what I owe you.
You know how you're always
calling Donald one of them?
There was something that
bugged me about it, every time,
and I couldn't quite
put my finger on it.
Then I realized what it is.
Those are the words that have
caused so much pain and fear,
for so many, in so
many ways, always.
One of them.
Those are the words that all
the other words are about,
ugly words.
Your son isn't one of them.
My son isn't one of them.
Our sons our two of us.
It's been an interesting
couple of days.
I almost started smoking again.
- Well it's a wonder
you didn't resort
to controlled substances.
Luanne and you, the mind
can't quite grasp it.
- She's a smart lady,
in a rather irritating way.
- Why irritating?
- She doesn't know she's smart.
Smarter than me.
- Oh, but you know you're smart?
- Behind a desk with a computer.
- Why not?
- She's terrible about Donald.
There were times I could
have strangled her.
- The Luanne
Barneses in our midst
are best not taken seriously,
unless of course, one encounters
them in a lonely place
coming at you with
a baseball bat.
- Well she's nothing like
that bad, give her a break.
- I gather you are.
- She's right up front, what
you see is what you get.
And I'd rather get what I
see anytime, wouldn't you?
Beats deceit.
It beats lying.
It beats tap dancing.
- Hands down.
- What would you think,
if I told you I was devastated
when I first realized
you were gay?
- I'd think you might be
turning in your tap shoes
for a sturdier
style in footwear.
- I never have really been
able to get it together since.
That's what you
meant the other day,
the mountains under the rug?
The woman of the world,
taking it all in stride
and falling flat on my face
when no one was looking.
- Sometimes when they work.
- It showed, huh?
- Now and again, yeah.
- That's very embarrassing.
- You did the best you could
with what you had to do it with.
Centuries of rules
and revulsions.
- You must have hated me.
- Never.
Never hated anyone.
I did understand after all.
How could I not have heard
the word you never spoke?
- What word?
- Disappointment.
- Okay, I was.
I was, disappointed.
There, it's spoke.
- Good.
- It was a long time
before I stopped hoping
you'd see the true light,
marry the girl of my dreams,
give me babies to lavish
things on, and call me grandma.
Oh, you made me so furious.
- How?
- By making me feel
guilty about hoping that.
- But you have to
stop feeling guilty.
- I know.
I've begun to.
I think I've begun to.
James,
if you knew I
wasn't being honest,
why didn't you say something?
- Sometimes it's not
wise to tell people
what they don't want to know.
- Can I give it another try?
- If at first.
- When can I start?
- You're so pushy.
- I want you to be tested.
- Why?
- Because the sooner I know,
you know.
We know, can I say we?
- Let's try it.
- The sooner we know,
the sooner we'll know
how much time we
have to try again.
- And if I test
positive, could you cope?
- Let's try.
- I'm so afraid.
- I know.
I know.
I know.
- I might need you.
- Oh God, I hope so.
[somber piano music]
♪ The rain does
a pitter-patter ♪
♪ And I like getting wet
♪ Skies are weeping while
the world is sleeping ♪
- The last one with
changes of heart now.
So let's keep it simple.
It's ingrained.
- At least that's [muffled].
- Give her a message James.
I might.
But you know what?
Let them
survive by [muffled].
In Fayetteville, Arkansas.
- So would you manage
a hot chocolate?
- Hold the marshmallows.
- [Man In Movie] Do you know how
you're gonna spend
your money yet?
- [Man In Movie]
Well for one thing,
I think I'll buy an
interest in time,
for another,
I might take a
little ocean voyage.
- [Man In Movie]
Well, good luck.
[thunder]
- You got somebody
to see to him?
- A nurse will be
coming in twice a day,
and there's a doctor on call.
- I think it's a real nice idea.
Being here, home.
He was born at home, you know.
Wasn't supposed to be,
he was supposed to be
born in a hospital,
but he ended up
being born at home.
It's a long story.
These are real pretty cups,
real California.
- Didn't I give you those?
- Yeah, I think you did.
There are only four left.
- Listen there's
something I want to,
maybe you'll think
I'm coming down with
a severe case of
ridiculous here but,
you don't have to decide now,
you can take some
time, think it over,
unless you don't
have to think it over
and I'll understand that.
It'd be perfectly okay.
Just forget I asked.
Okay, I'm just gonna lay
it right on the table.
I'd like it,
if I could take
him back with me.
- Well I'm sorry but I really
don't have to think about that.
Taking him out of here now
is out of the question.
- Well not now.
After.
Oh no forget about it,
I'm way out of line.
Just forget I asked.
[thunder and rain]
You awake?
It's me.
I got you some cocoa.
How are you doing?
- Top of the world, ma.
- You know I was just
telling them now,
I was telling them how
you was born at home.
You probably forgot
that story, huh?
Yeah, me tripping at the
top of the cellar stairs,
and busting my leg,
and screaming for about an hour.
You was halfway here, by
the time Missus Ardeth
from next door come
running down the stairs.
You probably forgot all
about that story, huh?
You didn't?
Well,
this is something that
I'm gonna tell you
that I didn't tell them, okay?
I sure as hell never told you.
I knew when you was conceived.
Some women know that sometimes.
I don't know how,
I don't think anybody
knows how but,
it just happened, you can't
explain it, you just know.
It was in the morning.
And after a couple of minutes,
I just knew.
It was this beautiful morning,
with no tomorrow in it.
It was like there'd
never be a tomorrow.
Life would always
just be right then.
[thunder]
It was a waste wasn't
it, all those years?
I couldn't help it Donnie.
- I know.
- The trouble is,
we generally don't know waste
when it's happening.
Sometimes when it happens but,
the worst kind, we
don't know till after.
[mournful piano music]
They say it's on time.
- Will wonders never.
- Now you don't have to wait.
- No, it's no problem.
[somber piano music]
- [Voice On Intercom] Flight
number 29 to Little Rock,
will now begin boarding
at gate number two.
- I'll see you all next week.
- Thursday.
- It'll be a real simple thing,
just a couple of
my friends and you.
Nothing like what
you had yesterday.
It was a real nice service.
Sure had a lot of
friends, didn't he?
Well.
Thanks.
- What is this?
- Something she
wanted you to have.
[dramatic piano music]
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