Rich in Love (1992) - full transcript

One afternoon last May,

my life veered from its
day in, day out course,

and became, for a while,
the kind of life

that can be told
as a story.

One of us betrayed the rest

and set off a series
of events worth telling.

It's true.
It's just a simple fact.

I'll give you an example.

You see Tommy Ball
over there?

Yeah.

He's a homosexual.
Get out of here!



Tommy Ball?
Well, look at his pants

and that jiggle
in his shoulders.

He's co-captain of
the baseball team.

Yeah? And yet,
he's always patting
the pitcher on the butt.

Lucille,
they all do that.

Never mind.

He's one for sure.
All right, well,

how come
you're the only one
that sees it?

I see lots of things
no one else sees.

Well, then come watch me
coach Little League
this afternoon.

I can't.

Baloney, you're
just saying that

because I've lost
seven of the last
nine games.

Wayne, you know
I think coaching
Little League



is one of
the most attractive
things about you.

Well, all right,
so after supper,
I'll come over

and we'll go
down to the beach

and test each other
for the Latin final.

I think
you'd have better luck
testing Laura Migo.

No, thank you.
Come on, Lucille.

Come down to the beach
with me tonight.

But I intend to keep
my A in Latin,

and if I study with you,
I don't think I will.

Forget Latin.
It's a dead language.

You ought to be dealing
with something that's alive.
What?

Well, what do
you think?

Cut it out, Wayne.

Come on,
I'm serious,
you know.

The way things are going,
five, ten years from now,

you're not gonna be able
to drink anything,
eat anything,

rub up against anything.

Everybody's gonna be
completely immobilized.

Maybe so.

Definitely.

Good luck at
Little League.

I'll give you a cookie
when we get home.

Mother?

Mother!

Mother, are you here?

Dear Warren,
the bus is coming
and I have to run.

This is not a sudden whim.
I've thought it over
very carefully.

It's time for me to
start a second life.

Please tell Lucille. Helen.

Hey, honey.

Many fish, Helen.

It's just me, Pop.

Uh-huh.

There's a note for you.

Let me rinse off.
I'm smelly.

I think it's important.

Where is it?
Here.

Well, read it to me.

I believe it's personal.

How do you know?
Women.

Your mother opens
every piece of mail

that comes with
my name on it.
Please take it.

Okay.

It's funny.
About the time
I retired,

my eyes decided to
retire from reading.

You read this?

Uh-huh.

It doesn't make
any sense to me.
She discuss this with you?

She was gone
when I got home.
Her car's here.

Her pocketbook's here.

You mean she
just walked away?

Took the bus.

The bus?

Doesn't say anything
about a bus here.

Well, I mean,
I guess she took the bus

with the change
in her pocket.

"Dearest."
"Absolutely adrift."

This doesn't sound
like your mother at all.

I think she was
forced to write...

I think
she was abducted.

Well, where are
the signs of
a struggle?

Where is
the ransom note?

No, Pop.
I don't think so.

She wanted to go.

Wanted to go,
you say?

Yes, sir.

We have to find her.

I don't think she
wants to be found.

You don't just walk out
on a 27-year marriage,
or take the bus out.

I'm certain
she's in trouble.

Come on, Pop.
Cut it out.

Pop, listen to me. Wait.

Stop!
Leave me alone,
Lucille.

You can't drive.
The police took
your license away!

Stay out of it, honey.
You'll go to jail
if they catch you!

Stop! Stop!

You're right.
You drive.

Come on. Come on.

What we have to do
is consider very carefully

where she's apt to be.

When I lose my glasses,
or my car keys,
that's the plan I follow.

Mother's not a car key.

It's definitely
the plan to follow.

It's this one.
The name's different,
but this is the one.

Your mother
wanted us to spend
our wedding night here,

but I had something
further afield in mind.

Good afternoon.
Hey. How can I help y'all?

Do you have a
Mrs. Helen Odom
registered?

O-D-O-M?

Or she could be registered
in her maiden name,
Helen Butler.

I'm really sorry, sir.
She's not here.

Well, she could be registered
in another name, any name.

I don't carry
a picture of her,

but she's very,
aristocratic, uh,
taller than average.

I'm sorry, sir.
She's not here.

Oh.

Well, thanks for your trouble.
If she does check in,

would you tell her
her family's
looking for her?

I surely will.
And thank you for
thinking of us.

I have a hunch
that she'll be at home
when we get there.

But we won't
mention anything.

No need to
embarrass her.

Hello?

It's for you.

Hello?
Hey, Wayne. What?

I was doing something
with my father.

Uh, I don't think I can.
I'm sorry.

I do not sound funny!

I'll see you
at school, okay?

Bye.
No more unnecessary
calls, Lucille.

We have to keep
the line free.

I can fix us something.

No, thanks.

This is fine.

Hello?

Helen!
What is all this about?
We'll come pick you up.

If you don't tell
me where you are,
I'll call the police.

All right, I won't.
Promise.
But where are you?

Oh, for God's sake,
Helen, we...

Yeah, but...

She wants to
speak to you.

Hello, Mother.

Well,
is this something feminist
or is this something real?

Just give me a reason.

I will.

Bye.

She says
it's been coming on
for a long time.

And yesterday,
when she was driving you
back from Powell's Hardware,

she realized
it was time.

She says we're better off
without her, anyway.

Well,
that's ridiculous.

How could we possibly be
better off without her?

And she says
she's in a safe place,
not to worry,

and she'll call
when she's settled.

Poor thing.

I don't think she knows
what she's doing.

You all right?

Uh-huh.

You don't look
all right.

You don't suppose, perhaps,
there's another fella
involved in this?

Who?

Mr. Wendell in
the produce section
at Winn-Dixie?

She doesn't
know anybody, Pop.
She never goes anywhere.

I must tell you,
I'm knocked off my perch.

Completely knocked off
my perch by this.

Twenty-seven years.

I suspected nothing.

I thought we were happy.

I thought
we were happy, too.

I doubt if
she's shopping, Pop.

We have to leave
no stone unturned, Lucille.
Your mother needs us.

Yes, ma'am.

A man without
a driver's license
is a miserable creature.

Let's go, honey.

Maybe we could get
some help. We could hire
detectives to look for her.

I couldn't put a detective
on the trail of my own wife.

That'd be spying.

Just to search for her.
That's not spying.

No, we don't need
any outside help.
We'll find her.

Sooner or later,
her path will cross ours.

So tell us,
Alberta, what kind of guy
are you hoping to find

on The Heartthrob Line?

Well, I'll tell you,
Gar, I'm looking for a man

with good leg definition.

Well, you haven't
got bad leg definition
yourself, there.

You know,
I've been working weekends
at the crisis center all year,

and they give
really good advice.
You ought to try them.

This is not a crisis, Wayne.
It's a private family matter.

Your mother
has been missing
for two weeks.

It sounds like
a crisis to me.

My mother is
not missing, Wayne.

Well, where
is she, then?

I don't mean to
be fussing at you.
I just want to help.

Hey. Hey.

This has been
pretty rough
on you, huh?

You want to go
down to the beach?

You want to go
down to the beach
for a little...

You smell like
chicken grease.

So why don't you
quit feeling bad and call me?

Well, somebody's been out
on the golf course.

Hey, Sharon.
Or under a sun lamp, one.

And eating naughties.
Hey, Lucille.

Hey, Sharon.
It's about goddamn time.

Parnell.
I come to this place every
morning to look around,

I just know
something's missing.

The place ain't the same
without you, is it, Sharon?

And you got the lovely
little Lucille with you.

Y'all come on in here.
Come in. Come in.

I'll wait here.

One question.
Shoot.

Do you know
where Helen is?

Yeah, I heard
about that.

I thought maybe
she'd come here for
a loan, possibly.

Well, why in the world would
Helen come to me for a loan?

She never
liked me anyway.

True,
but she doesn't
know many people.

Sorry.

You might just as well
put the best face on
this whole scene.

I mean,
you have just been restored
to the joys of bachelorhood.

Christ, I wish Mary Nell
would take it in her head
to strike out on her own.

Too late now, though.

Once they get
slack and gray,
it's just too cruel

to put them out
in the street.

Tomorrow
we ought to try
those outlet stores

up around Columbia.

She often mentions them.

What's happening
at the high school?

Graduation.

Beg your pardon?

Graduation.
Today's graduation day.

Well, I don't understand.

I'm not graduating, Pop.
I didn't take my finals.

Why in the name
of God not?

Well, they started
weeks ago. Right after...

Right when Mother first left,
and I didn't feel
like taking exams.

I wish you'd
told me about this.
I had no idea.

No idea?

You haven't noticed
I stopped going to school?

Well, I don't want
anything to interfere
with your school work.

Well, what did you think?
That I'd just go on
with my normal life?

That I'd sit in
some hot lunchroom

and tick off
multiple choice answers

while my family
was falling apart?

I'm sorry.

I guess I haven't
been thinking properly.

It's no big deal.

I can make up my exams
whenever I want.

Don't worry about it, Pop.

Aha. A gift for
forgery emerges.

Yes.

Good news, Lucille.
I'm learning to stop
thinking about her.

Well, that is
good news.

I simply go back
before her time

to, uh,
the deeper memories.

I remember once,
my family walked
to a new town.

I was about five.

My daddy heard
rumors of a job,

and we spent the night
by the road in a ditch.

Next morning,
we followed that long
black road again.

There was some
kind of tall grass,

like wheat,
blowing along the side.

Every time a car went by,
this grass just...
Am I boring you, honey?

Not at all.

Every time a car went by,
the grass just
laid down in waves.

Morning, Pop.

Wait, wait.

What is it?

If I lie still
just after I wake up,
I get these scenes.

The shoe department at Belk's,
where my mother worked.

I was in the third grade.

I had to be there
every afternoon at 3:30

so she could see
I hadn't been killed
somehow at school.

I brought your coffee, Pop.

Tragic figure, my mother.

A woman who'd once
been a beauty,

kneeling in
front of customers,

touching their feet.

We were so poor
after Daddy left us.
I hated him.

But she'd always
smile and say,

"I don't see us as poor.
I see us as rich in love."

Okay, Pop. I'm going.

Look, coffee.

Rae!

Hey, Lulu.
I thought you'd
never get here.

How's the car?
Oh, the mechanic said

it was running
like a dream, honey,

but he must have been
talking about those
dreams young boys have,

'cause this thing's
been erupting
the whole way down.

What's the surprise?

This is Billy.

How are you, Lucille?

Uh-huh.

I'll get
the bags, honey.

Hello, sweet stuff!

Hey, Pop.
How you doing?

Pop, this is Billy,
my husband.

Your what?

My husband,
Billy McQueen.

He and I got married
on the way down,
to Myrtle Beach.

Married?

Married. Yes, sir.

Well, marriage is
a wonderful institution.

How can you say that?
It hasn't been
so wonderful to you.

Hush, Lucille.

Well, I only hope you find
the happiness in marriage

your mother and I
were fortunate enough to have.

Thanks, Pop.

The coincidence of it,
that's what floors me.

Millions of people
in the world.

What's the world
population, Lucille?

I have no idea.

It's up
in the billions, sir.

In the billions.
An enormous throng.

And out of that huge number
two people come together,

find each other,
as if by some
uncanny radar.

I don't think it's radar.
I think it's blindness.

You love what
you bump into.

Oh, no, no.
There's far more
in it than that.

Good to have
you home, honey.

Thanks.
Hmm.

1961, clear as a bell.

All those debutantes
floating around
in white dresses.

Helen's was yellow.

I said,
"Are you coming out?"

She said,
"Not if I can help it."

I couldn't stop
watching her hands.
They moved like music.

Sheer music.

Very nice to
meet you, sir.

Good God, Lucille.
What are we gonna do?

You see? You see why
I wanted you home?

I need a gin drink.

It's certainly good
to be here.

He never does anything?

Well, sometimes
he asks himself questions,

and then he waits
for a second
and answers them.

Does Mother know?
Mmm-mmm.

She only called
that once.

But she promised
to let us know
if she needs anything.

What a wedding day.

I don't get it.

Y'all, like,
stopped for
a hamburger

and got suddenly
struck by marriage?

That's about it.

Actually, we've
been planning it
for some time.

How long?

Let's not rehash
this right now, okay?
Now is not the time.

I just wanted
to picture it.

It's not much of
a picture, really.

It was a magistrate's
office, is all it was.

I mean,
I liked it fine, Billy.

But Lucille's idea
of a wedding is

baby's breath in
a bridal's bouquet.

It is not.

Well, anyway,
we saved your father
a few thousand bucks.

Pop wouldn't have minded.
He's big on family.

You're the one that's
big on family, Lulu.

I don't know about that.

Lately I've had this urge
to quit loving Pop,

you know,
the way you can
go down to the bank

and take out
your life savings.

You think that would work?

Poor old Lulu.

We're home now.

For a little while,
anyway.

How long
did your congressman
give you off?

Rae quit her congressman.
I thought she told you.

Uh-uh.

I'm gonna go upstairs.

Excuse me.

Pop! Lulu!
Can y'all come
up here a minute?

Coming.

Okay, truth is
we're gonna
have a baby.

In November.

We decided
against abortion.

That's why we got married.

It's not a very
original story.

You're kidding.

No, I'm not kidding.

Now, I want y'all
to do me a favor

and leave me alone
right now, okay?

But I thought
that wasn't possible
nowadays, you know,

with all
the technology.

It is possible.

But didn't you...

Couldn't you...
Lucille,
would you shut up?

Now, we need a place to live
till after the baby's born.

Well, you'll live here,
naturally.

Are you sure
you won't mind?

Well, this is
your home, honey.

I went to my
grandmother's house,

took with me an apple,
a basketball,

a corkscrew, doorknob,

an easel,
a featherbed,
a garden hose,

a hamper, an ice cube,
a jockstrap, a key chain...

A jockstrap?

It's a memory game.

Oh.

Well, don't
let me interrupt.

What are you?

I'm an historian.
What are you?

Besides breakfast cook.

A high school dropout.

You want a fried croaker?

A frog?
A fish. See?

Oh, what else is there?

Stale Cheerios.

My favorite food.

Ah!

Your husband's
awfully neat.

Mmm-hmm.

You ought to see
his underwear drawer.

Everything in these
perfect little rows,

all folded and
arranged by color.

Can you imagine
what Mother would say?

Anal retentive.

I don't understand
exactly what she has
against doing laundry.

Or carpools.

Or organized religion.

That's just
the way she is.

You know how Pop
always calls her
the Duchess of Nonchalance.

When are you gonna
stop romanticizing
about her?

I mean,
can't you manage to be
a little bit pissed off?

Why?

What do you mean, why?
She ditched us.

You and I are
abandoned children.

We're not children,
and she didn't ditch us.

She just kind of
slipped out
of the family,

like she was visiting
and not having
a very good time.

You think she'll
ever see my baby?

Come on.
She'll be back
long before that.

Yeah.

She'll be wonderful with it.
Mother loves babies.

I wouldn't be so sure.

What do you mean?

I remember when she
was pregnant with you,

the abortion and all.

The what?
I was eight.

Pop didn't even know
she was pregnant.

She drove up to Columbia
to have an abortion.

Oh, I remember being
in that car. It was hot.

My head fit right in
the curve of her armpit.

We sang along with
the car radio,

then she started talking
about overpopulation.

It was the first time
I'd ever heard that word.

She told me not to
say anything to Pop.

Wait.
You're making this up.

No, I swear to God.
I thought you knew.

I survived an abortion?

Yeah.

It must just
happen sometime.
I don't know.

It just missed me?

Well, yeah,
there were two of you.

Twins. It got one.
You were the other one.

They didn't know
you were in there.

Honeymoon brunch.

Come in.

Come in.

Happy happy.

Oh, Lulu,
how sweet.

Very sweet.

It's our first
wedding present.

Thank you.
Very much, thank you.

Mmm.

Hey, Pop!

Hey, honey. Come on up.

I don't think I can.

Of course you can.

Come on!

Nothing like
a roof, Lucille.

The best times I had
in the construction business

were up top like this.

The higher you get,
the better it looks.

Well, you're in
a mighty fine
mood today.

I just thought to myself,
"Time to get on that roof.

"No reason not to."

Tired of lying around.
Just came over me, Lucille.

Just came over me.
Well, good.

I could do with
some assistance.

Sure.
Come on.

Okay, come on.
Ow.

Right?
There you go.

You just pull those
old nails out like that.
Come on, pull on that.

That's it.

Rae! Rae, up here!

Rae!

I'm going to have to get her
a maternity bathing suit.

It's extraordinary.

She almost seems
like a different person.

I've only recently
begun to think of
you girls as people.

What did you think
of us as before?

Well, pets,
to tell you the truth.
Your mother's pets.

She always had a way
of keeping her
children to herself.

I never seemed
to be able to...
Be able to talk to you.

I always sounded like
the cartoon character
Mr. Magoo.

Always seemed to

say the wrong thing.

Perhaps if I'd had a son...
I'm not saying that
I wanted one, honey,

but if I'd had one,
I could have...

Well, maybe
I could have...

Talked more?

Exactly.

Seems to be
an awful lot of sex
going on with those two.

Hope it doesn't
unbalance the marriage.

Well, I suppose
we better finish
another time.

Marriage tells
you who you are.

Then it's gone and
you're a blank page.

I mean,
who would you say
I was, Lucille?

Am I the same as
I was with Helen?
Not the same?

Here I am,
near about
a grandfather

and I haven't
even considered
the basic questions.

Like what?

Good versus evil.
The nature of man.

Oh, those.

You need some
new magazines, Pop?

I'm tired of magazines.

I want books.
Heavy hardback books.

Paperbacks are
a lot cheaper.

I don't care.

Don't want to
feel I'm reading
a paper napkin.

Well, what kind of book
are you looking for?

Not book.
Books, Lucille.

I realized over the years
I've stopped reading.

Your mother, you know,
is smarter than I am.

She seems to know
about everything.

I want some books
for myself.

It's going to
be expensive.

We're rich.
We have money
to burn.

Now, do they
still have those books
about mythical places?

Camelot? Atlantis?

Troy? Oz?

Hmm.

I'm gonna come
back later for more.

I don't want this gal
to think I'm crazy.

There's your mother.

I don't think so.
Where would she
get a car like that?

Helen!
Pop!

Come on! Let's go!

Pop.
Helen!

Pop!

Watch it!

Pop, wait!

Move over!
Move over! Move over!
Pop, are you crazy?

Pop!

Now the property
here today basically used...

Sandy.

Oh, Sandy,
come on now.

I'm sorry, y'all.
We're gonna have
to give Sandy

just a little bit
of privacy.

You can't take
some people anywhere.

Now the market is basically
handicrafts and souvenirs.

Come on.

Now if you'd all
like to come down
and take a look at the...

We need to
move on, Lucille.

I assume unisex
includes me.

Yes. You just get in
under the wire. Take a seat.

What have we got?

Okay, drop here,
and your A.

There you go.

Thanks.
You're welcome.

That's two...

Cheater.

Do you realize
you've had four beers
in 20 minutes?

I've never seen
a girl do that before.

Well, that's the way
we are down here.

You aren't even shaky.

I believe I'll
have another one.

How about
a guzzling contest?

Oh, Lucille.

All right.

Ready? Go.
Mmm.

Jesus! You're gonna
kill yourself.

Rae, how can you
let her do that?

Don't worry about it.
It's fake.

"Non-Alcoholic Brew."

Hmm.

Let's go somewhere.

In this?

Fusspot.

It'll stop soon.

I can't.
I play honeymoon bridge
with Pop every Friday night.

Well,
Pop can come, too.

He doesn't want to,
and neither do I.

Lucille, you are
such an old lady.
Isn't she, Billy?

I don't know, honey,
maybe she's just
not a night person.

Why don't you run along
with your sister, Lucille?

You don't want to
stay home with me.

Of course I do.

Well, the truth is,
I've made other plans
for the evening.

With who?

Uh, Mrs. Delmage, you know,
the lady who cuts my hair.

Good for you.

Well, she's got a new
video cassette recorder.

She invited me over
to watch a movie.

Well, good.

Rae,

could I see you
for a second, please?

What are we
going to do?

About what?

We don't even
know this woman.

She could be a gold digger
or a slut or a bimbo or...

Pop's right.
You need to get
out of this house.

You've lost
all perspective.

All right, if you won't help,
then I'll just have to do
something by myself.

Honey, the man's
only going over to the
woman's house to watch TV.

Not TV, the VCR.

What's the difference?

Don't you know
what VCRs are for?

Don't you know
why people buy them?

To watch X-rated movies,
that's why.

Oh God. Come on.

What?

You need a makeover.

Shake your head.

What do you see?

My clothes.

Drab city.
There's not one
bright color in here.

Your entire wardrobe
is earth tones.
There's no moon tones.

So?
Well, it's dull.

You think you're
so virtuous, Lucille,

but it's your
form of vanity.

I know.
Well, you should stop
being so self-conscious

and forget how you look.
Maybe you might have more fun.

Okay, I will.

So, Lucille,
do you have
a love interest?

Excuse me?

Do you have
a boyfriend?

Are Yankees naturally rude,
or do you make an effort
to be that way?

She doesn't have one
is what that means.

What about that
young man, Wade?
Wayne.

Yeah, that's the one.
He was in Gifted
and Talented with you.

Make a right,
make a right.

He's gone.
Gone? Moved away?

He doesn't want to see me.
He's not calling me anymore.

Call him.

Yeah. Your mother used to
call me all the time.

But ours was
an unusual romance,
I suppose.

This is no romance at all.
It isn't even in
that category.

So call him.
What have you
got to lose?

Oh, I think
you should lay low.
Play hard to get.

I'm not playing hard to get.
The relationship is over.
Period.

Nobody's calling anybody.

Okay.

I say don't call him.
Who votes with me?

Forget it.
We're not taking a vote.

Why not?
This is a democracy,
isn't it?

Rookery Lane.

Make a right.

I don't know why everybody
thinks my private life
is such a joke.

Seven-six-two.

Thanks muchly.

Hi.

Oh, what time
do you want to
be picked up?

Oh, I'll run him home.
Don't worry.

Oh, well, thanks.

If we aren't back
yet, he can just go on in.

I left the light on
and there's a key...

Under the first step.
I know all.

And you're Rae,
and you're Lucille.

And that's Billy McQueen,
newest edition to the clan.

Night-night.

Goodnight.
Bye.

I got Gene Kelly for me
and Ava Gardner for you.

Oh, Lord,
I haven't thought about
Ava Gardner in ages.

Well, it's time
you did.

This is absolutely
the best place
in the world.

Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.

God, Rae.
How you been, baby?
How are ya?

You have a good time,
you hear?

Terry, hey.
Rae!

How are ya?

Fine. Fine.

Rhody, Rhody, hi.

Do I see what
I think I see?
Oh, Rae.

Hey, Lucille, baby,
long time.
How you doing?

Rhody, meet my husband,
Billy McQueen.

Oh, so you're
the responsible party.

Oh, Rae Odom,
a married woman!

Come on, y'all.
I'll find y'all
somewhere to sit down.

Come on, home girl
can have my table tonight.

Come on, Lucille.
Now let me
take y'all's order.

Um, gin and tonic,
and a Coke for Lucille.

Beer for me.
Honey, shouldn't
that be two Cokes?

Excuse me?

So he speaks.

Where you from,
Mr. McQueen?

Land of Lincoln, ma'am.

I thought so.
I thought...

You know,
a Yankee white boy
will sit up in here

all night long and
never crack a smile.

I don't know
what causes it.

I think y'all must got
something stuck up your...

Let me get you a drink.
Go easy on him, honey.
At first.

Well, I don't think
I'd like to spend too much
time with that woman.

Don't be silly.
She's great.

Mama says she's probably
the smartest person
she ever met.

Your mother knows her?
Of course, she was
Lucille's teacher.

She and Mother'd
sit around the kitchen
and talk all the time.

If she's a teacher,
what's she doing
working here?

Honey,
she doesn't work here.
She owns the place.

Yeah! All right.

The band will
take a short pause.

Don't go away.
Keep it where it is.

Hey, girl.

Hi, Tick.
How are you?

You got married.
I heard.

It's hard to believe.
Girl, that's hard to believe.

Jesus Christ!

How you
holding up, Lucille?

Hey, Tick.

Here you go, handsome.
Rae, look over here.

Vennie Alice Wheeler
got herself a husband, too.

And pregnant
like a big dog.
Come here.

Oh, my lord!
Come on, Lucille,
let's go see.

Harold Willis.

Billy McQueen.

Hey, Rhody say you
from Chicago, Illinois.

Winnetka, Illinois.

I guess people today
don't matter who they marry.

I got a cousin that married
a Vietnam, and another one
that married a dwarf.

Of course, now,
we different down here.
Yeah, how's that?

Well, we got niggers.
Y'all got them in Winnetka?

Yeah, well,
Winnetka's an Indian word.
It means "no niggers."

Never knew that.
Mmm-hmm.

Matter of fact,
if one gets in by mistake
they enslave him.

Keep him in the back room
at the country club,
washing wine glasses.

Well, that ain't
all that different
from down here.

You're all right.

A feast!
I'm impressed.

Oh, don't be.
All I did was add water
like it said.

Easy's my motto.

Anyway, it's angel food.
Good for the heart.

Good for the heart.

One thing about
living alone.

I can put a $20 bill
down on this table,

and two weeks later
it'll still be there.
Mmm-hmm.

You know what I mean?

Nobody nosing
through my stuff,
moving my things around.

When I was married to Buddy,
I'll tell you,
it wasn't worth the trouble.

Only things of his
in the house
was magazines.

Playboy, Penthouse.

He had all of them.
He subscribed,
believe it or not.

Well, that
wasn't so bad.

But he kept trying to get me
to look at the pictures
all the time.

So I said,
"Buddy, if I want
to see a naked lady,

"all I have to do is
look in the mirror."

You like it?
Mmm.

More?

Why, yes.

Why didn't I know
about this?

Well, now, Mr. McQueen,
you went and married someone

and didn't know
what you had?

Oh, yeah!

What else can you do
I don't know about?

Swallow swords?
Walk up walls?

God.

What?

I just loved
that so much.

Well, we'll go back.
You can sing
with them again.

No, I can't.

I'll be too big.

After that,
I'll be too many.

Putting your coffee
in your room, Pop.

Thanks, honey.

Uh, did you have fun
last night?

Sure.

Glad to hear that.

You were out pretty late.

Oh, I was?
Oh, didn't realize.

Oh, by the way, uh,
I won't be here
for dinner tonight.

Mrs. Delmage?

Mmm-hmm.

A little Vietnamese place
she's heard about.

Okay.

Mercy. Hmm.

Rae, Pop just...

I wouldn't come in here
right now if I was you, Lulu.

Oh, God!

What?

Would you look?

Here.

Hmm.

Nice.

It's not nice.

I'm oozing out
of all my clothes.

Oh, I like that.

Would you leave me alone?

Shit!

Look at the moon.

It's all broken up
and shining in the water.

I love the moon.

Yeah, it's a nice night.

What are you
doing here?

Getting some air.

You got a problem
with that?

I thought you
were Wayne.

Wayne? As in "not
even in the romance
category" Wayne?

Yes, I meant that.

Mmm, I don't know,
Lucille.

Moonlit night,
music drifting out
over the water.

Mmm.

Is Rae okay?

Sure.

I heard her
crying before.

Yeah, this is a lot
harder on her than
I thought it would be.

She isn't used
to being two people.

She was brought up
to be herself.

Well, she'll get better
once the baby's born.

You know,
I'm starting to
like it down here.

It's like Lake Michigan,
only wilder.

This place is
crawling with critters.

I love it here.

I love the live oak trees,
the sag in the verandah,

Pop's lawn mower.

I never want
any of it to change.

You are strange, Lucille.

Well, which aspect
of my strangeness
are you referring to?

You come on so tough,

like you had to defend
Fort Sumter single-handed.

And in your next breath
you're telling me

how much you
love lawn mowers,

and yard sales,
fried croakers.

You do that
all the time.

I do?
Mmm.

You got a lot of love
in you, Lucille.

Well, guess I'm gonna
head back in.

You make good use
of all this moonlight, now.

Go away.

I'm going. I'm going.

You having
an asthma attack?

I'm breathing deeply.

It soothes the soul.

Hi.

You didn't come straight
from the crisis center.

You went home
and took a shower.

You put on
a clean shirt, too.

You smell good.

So do you.

Come on.

Hey.

What is it?
What's wrong?

Did I hurt you?
No.

Everything's fine.

Okay, it was
the first time.
It gets better.

Really it does.
I mean, it's...

You know,
not that I'm an expert
or anything,

but every time
you do it, it gets...

Don't. It was fine.

No, it wasn't.
I can tell. I mean...

I'm sorry.

No, I'm not sorry.
Damn it, Lucille!

Every time
something bad happens,

you make me feel
like it's my fault.
This was your idea.

You planned this whole thing
right down to the candles.

And if it
didn't work for you,

that's too bad.
It's just too bad.

I've had it, Lucille.
You know, I give up.

You have no idea
what love is.

Your idea of love
is a total error.

It's like
360 degrees off.

You mean 180.

Yeah.

I'm not the girl for you.

Yes, you are.
You just don't
want to be.

Lucille.

What?

Uh, don't call me.

I have a lot
of love in me!

Mmm.

Ah, Lucille.

Hey, Pop.
Hey, Mrs. Delmage.

Listen, I know you
were raised right
and you got manners,

but I'd just as soon be Vera
if you don't mind.

Delmage was
Buddy's contribution,

and he's pretty
much old news.

Aren't you up early?

Aren't you?

Well, I better be
on my merry way.
No rest for the wicked.

Uh...

Maybe you'll come to
dinner one night, Vera.

Well, yeah. By all means.
Lucille has a gift
for guacamole.

Deal. And I'll tell
you what.

I'll stop at the Pick-a-Chick
on the way from work.

Who needs to cook
in this weather?
8:00 okay?

Perfect.

So long, Lucille.

Bye.

And you,
trim those toenails

before you do
serious damage
to somebody.

Oh, I had this customer,
Mr. Marlon Powell.

Came in regular
for a trim in the back
and neaten up the sideburns.

Always had on
a coat and a tie.

Then he stopped
coming in,
just like that.

Six months later,
this woman comes
prancing in.

Lots of beads,
fussy little outfit.

And I looked at her
and she said,

"Yes, it's me.

"But I'm Marlene now."

Oh, my God.
What did you say?

"Well, hi, Marlene.

"Guess you won't be wanting
your usual trim."

I'm sorry, Stanley.
I didn't realize
you were so unhappy.

No one knows
what I've been
through, Craig.

Oh, I know it's mostly
my own fault,

but that doesn't
make it any easier,
does it?

Of course.

You know,
it's much cooler
outside than in here.

What am I doing here?

What?

I was meant for the 1940s.
I would have loved the '40s.

The '40s would have loved me.

The clothes were good.

Yeah, well, I'm not talking
about just the clothes.

I mean,
it was a whole
different world.

Everything was
full of purpose.
You know, life made sense.

I would've been a nurse
in World War II.

Rae, if you need anything,
tell me now 'cause I gotta go.

You know I'm gonna die
and all my obituary
is gonna say is,

"Miss Odom was a lifelong
subscriber to Newsweek."

Mrs. McQueen.

You're Mrs. McQueen.

And you can join
the Sierra Club

when your baby's born
and take it on hikes
in a backpack.

Great.

I'll be back.

Whoo!

Got the job.

Wando Warriors,
here I come.

Ninth grade history,
junior varsity soccer,

one section of
substance awareness.

Woman, get me
the want ads,
I'm on a roll.

But you have a job.

He wants to get
a place of our own.

Don't talk dirty
in front of Lucille.

Oh, my,
this is one
lucky little kid.

Papa's about to be
filthy wealthy

and Mama is
drop dead gorgeous.

What about Lucille?

Mmm. Quality aunt material.
Top of the line.

Mmm, look at that.

They did a scientific
computer map

of how the coast
of South Carolina
is gonna look

in 50 years' time due to
the greenhouse effect.

The dock,

the beach,
the very spot where
we're all sitting,

all blue.
Covered with water.

Well, then I guess
it doesn't matter

if I finish
the coffee cake.
Any objections?

Let's get this
out in the open.

What is it?

This baby business.

What about it?

I don't want
to have it.

What?

I don't want
the baby.

Honey,
you can't decide
that now.

Of course I can.
You can't.

It's too late.
You're in
your seventh month.

I'm not gonna haul off
and have an abortion.

I mean, I just don't
want it around.

I intend to put it
up for adoption.

I mean, look, there's 12 ads
in the personal columns
today alone.

"Loving couple
desires white baby.

"Incidental costs paid."

I just think
they'll deserve it
more than I will.

I think they'll
love it more.

Can we please
discuss this
in private?

There's nothing
to discuss.

This is out
of the question, Rae.

You're keeping it
and you're raising it.

I just don't think
I can do it, Lulu.
I really don't.

Of course you can.

Of course she can.

You think so?

I know so.
You took care of me.

Yeah, you made her
that lamb mobile.

You couldn't keep
your hands off her.

Look, she turned
out all right.

Yeah, but that was
just a game for me.

I mean, that was
only Lucille.

This is a real baby.
This is my baby.

Don't worry.
It's in our blood
to mother.

Pop, didn't your
great-grandmother have twins
in a buckboard wagon?

So the story goes.

See?

Sort of.

I don't know.

Go get Billy.
Y'all got a lot
to talk over.

I give that boy
fits, don't I?

Hey, Lucille.

Hey, Sam.
How you doing?

Oh, could be
more better
and some worse.

Gotta go.
Okay. See ya later.

Hi, baby.

Hey, Rhody.

Sam's certainly
been busy.

Now he got me
busy sorting parts.

He trying to get ready
for the Spoleto Festival.

Where you going?

Rae's not acting right.

I don't know what to do.

You got to help me
think of something.

Billy and the doctor
keep saying it's
a bad case of hormones,

but I don't believe it.

You don't look
too hot yourself.

It's been pretty
awful at our house.

Ever since Mother left,
everything has been crazy.

I saw your papa
at the hardware
the other day.

Now, he looking tiptop.

Well, he isn't.

None of us are.

I just want things
back to normal.

That's all I want.

Normal's a problem,
Lucille.

It keeps changing on ya.

But I think you talking
about something else.

I think you still
trying to get things

back like
they were before.

Yes, I am.

Is that so terrible?

No, it's not terrible.

But it's just unlikely.

Lucille, have you
ever thought about

getting out of there,
getting a place of your own?

What do you mean?

Come on,
let's take a walk.

Sam started to build
that 'cause he thought
he owned the land.

Then he found out
partway he didn't.

But it looks
nearly finished.

There's a roof and all.

No electricity,
and no finishing inside,

but somebody who had
to could live in it.

Not me.

I need creature comforts.

Girl, sometimes
you are as dense
as a telephone pole.

Well, do you live here?

Lucille, why would
I do that?

I don't know.

Think again.

Mother is living here.

She finally gets it.

And you one of
the genius Odoms.

Well, where is she?

Sam went to pick
her up from work.

She'll be here directly.

Work? Where's
she working?

Off that place on 17,

where they got
the seashells
and ice cream.

But that's only
half a mile
from our house.

We've been looking all over
the state of South Carolina.

You didn't look there.

You should have
told us, Rhody.

Why didn't you tell us?

Ask her.

Who's that?

Lucille.

My Lucille.

Oh, baby.

No, no, no.

Oh, damn.

Lulu, baby.

You never cry.

I know.

Oh, come on, now.

I'll make you
some coffee.

I owe you
an explanation,
don't I?

Why didn't you
let us know
where you were?

I guess I was thinking
out of sight, out of mind.

I figured it'd be easier
if your father and I

just didn't
see each other.

I thought it would
ease the pain.

You know,
sometimes just
seeing a face

brings back
too many memories.

Well, it didn't work.

He had the memories
anyway and the pain.

Him?

I'm talking about me.

I was afraid if I saw him
I'd just go running back.

Well, it's not over.
Look at me.

I mean, just talking
like this does it to me.

I thought you didn't
want to see him.

I didn't. I don't.

But if it's so difficult...

It's difficult,
but it's necessary.

Being married to him
was killing me.

Well, I managed all right
until he retired.

Then he was
always there.

He watched me make
the shopping lists.

He followed me around
when I did the vacuuming.

And then the driving
him around.

Oh, well.

He wasn't to blame.

I don't know what we could
have done any differently.

Anyway, it was so hard
all the time.

It was so sad.

I was just trying
to stay afloat.

I figured
you'd be fine,

'cause you haven't
needed me for anything

since about sixth grade.

Yes, I have.

No, you were smart.

You realized early
that love

is more wisely
invested elsewhere
than in a parent.

You don't plan
on coming back,
do you?

No, baby.
I don't think so.

But Pop would
change if you do.

I promise he would.

You can't make
a promise like that
for another person.

Anyway, I don't want
him to change.

I love him
just the way he is.

Then why did you leave?

Because it was
so permanent.

The house,
the family, everything.

I've been in it for more
than half my life, Lucille.

We've all been
doing it for so long.

A change wouldn't
hurt any of us.

Pop's way ahead
of you on that.

He already has
a girlfriend.

Oh, really?
Well, that's wonderful.

That's good.

Well, now, is that
someone that, um,

he met recently
or is that someone
he knew?

She's the...
Oh, don't tell me.
I don't want to know.

You see?

You see how much
this bothers you?

You have to come back.

No.
But why?

You love Pop.
He loves you.

Let me put it this way.

We carried love
to its conclusion.

Hi.
Hey.

Congratulations.

Well, thank you.

For what?

I hear you aced
your makeup exams.

Why didn't you
tell anybody?

Well, you know.
There's lots going on.

Uh-huh.

You know,
when I first met you,

you seemed like
such a little shit.

I was.

I still am.

Good morning.

Billy up?

Hey, Warren,
let's get a wiggle
on here!

Hey, honey!

Your father is
the pokiest man
I ever saw.

Where are
y'all off to?

Going to repaper
my bathroom.

I wanted squiggles,
but Warren said shells.

Well, it's your
bathroom, not his.

Oh, what the hell.
I never had any taste.

Hey!

You two coming or going?

We just bought Rae
a present.

Well, that's fine.

You're plain wonderful
to your sister, Lucille.

Plain wonderful.

Okay.

Wow.

Rae, that's great.

You look like
a big jonquil.

Did you tell her yet?

Tell her what?

We're splitting up.

Well, that's impossible.

After the baby,
she wants me out.

She hates me.
She's never gonna
forgive me.

Forgive you
for what?

Love isn't exactly
something you inflicted
on her.

Well, yeah,
it sort of is.

It definitely is.

I did it on purpose.

Oh, God, so crazy
in love with her.

You can't imagine.

I had to have her.

I don't get it.

I got her pregnant
on purpose.

It's the only way
I could get her to
consider marrying me.

How?

Excuse me?

How did you do it?

Oh, Lucille.

I'm sorry,
I just don't get
the picture.

You stole her pills
and substituted fakes?

You raped her? What?

I punched a hole
in the condom.

You didn't.
Mmm-hmm.

Once?
No.

How many times?

Every time.

For a month.

But I left something
to destiny.

I mean, they were
very small holes.

How could
you do that?

I told you she's got
a point hating me.

Mmm-hmm.

Oh, I swear, at the time,
it seemed like
such an act of love.

My true self.

Trick or treat.

Happy Halloween.

Hey, kids.

Trick or treat.

I got some candy
for ya.

They think you're
a real giant cat.

No, they think
you're a real bum.

You know, the one
they're mothers

are always
warning them about.

Beautiful place
you got here.

I guess I'm gonna
head back to Washington
after this semester.

If you go
to Washington,
Billy, I'd, um...

What?

I'd, um... If you go
to Washington...

Lucille, I can't hear you
with this stupid
paper bag on your head.

What'd you say?

If you go to Washington,
I'd like to go with you.

Lucille Odom
imbibing in
real alcohol?

It seems appropriate.

What's that?

It's the Lawton's
cat from next door.

This tastes strange.

It sounds like
it's in the house.

Honey.

Are you sick?

Yes.

Oh, God.

It seems to me
that Phoebe is
the exact replica

of her mother
at that age.

Lucky kid.

Look at her fingernails.

Excellent
fingernails.

Excellent mother.

I think we should
leave the little
family to themselves.

God, she's just
the most beautiful thing.

Bye.

Well, congratulations,

Granddaddy.

You know, somewhere
in this house

is a little sweater
my mother made for Rae.

Remember, Warren?

It was pink.

With little white snowflakes
knitted right in,

little white
heart-shaped buttons.

Well, I just can't find it
for the life of me.

Did I wear it, too?

I suppose.

Well,
of course you did.

How can you not
remember, Warren?

We laughed all the time,

'cause when
you screamed, Lulu,

your face was
the exact color
of this sweater.

I screamed a lot?

Oh, please!
Of course. All the time.

Just like this one.

And you were
a vigorous eater.

But you had
a real mean streak.

I never had a mean streak.

Yes, you did.

You were as mean
as a bird.

Well, I imagine
I was just looking
for attention.

I'm awful sorry, Lucille.

You don't know
anything, McQueen.

I'm sick about it.

My stomach's
all tied up in knots.

Good Lord,
you didn't do anything.

Of course I did.

You were had, Billy.

Simple as that.

I dreamed about
you all summer.

I watched you swim.

I watched you eat.

And when I saw
you were off guard,
I pounced.

You make it
sound so romantic.

I thought it was
pretty romantic.

Yeah?

I'm still sorry,
Lucille.

I'm not.

And I imagine Rae
wouldn't be too thrilled.

Yeah. Probably not.

Hey, Vera.

Hi.

It's an angel cake.

It's your dad's favorite.

Thank you.

I can't come in.
I left the car running.

But just tell me,
has she come home?

Not yet.

But she's having therapy
and she's really getting well.

She'll be home
in a few days.

Oh, Rae, you mean.
Oh, good. I'm glad
to hear that.

Actually, I was asking
about your mother.

I haven't heard from Warren
in a little while and, well,

you know.

Mother still works
at the souvenir place,

but, yes, she's back.

I'm taking care of the baby
until Rae comes home.

I see.

Well, kiss the little
dickens for me

and give your daddy the cake.

Of course.

Bye-bye, then.

Goodbye, Vera.

I thought I heard a car.

Vera was here.

She's gone.

She just left.

Yeah, but...

What did...
What did you tell her?

You didn't tell her
that your mother was here.

Of course I did.

Okay, let's go.

Drive me to her house.

We just got back
to normal, Pop.

Don't start it
all up again.

If you don't drive me,
I'll drive myself!

I'm sorry.
I can't let
you do that.

Lucille, I insist
you give me the keys

to my own car!
Pop, please.

Don't do it.

Just think about it first.

Don't rush off now
and do something
you'll regret.

Just let it wait.

That's all I ask.

Pop, please.

We've all been
through a lot.

Well, you're right there.

There you go, Pop.

Pop!

Pop!

Baby.

Baby.

Hey, darling!

Hi!

She's so cute.
I know.

Hey, sweetie.

Little scubber,
come here. Come on.

Hi. Hi.

Well, I was sure
I was gonna miss her.

Mama, when have we ever
done anything on time?

Now, nobody better
have taken my boxes.

Oh, they're right
over here, Mother.

Is that all
you're taking out
of this whole house?

I don't have
much room, Warren.

What, uh...
What you got in there?

Hi, Sam.
Rae's letters
from Camp Kanuga.

Lucille's drawings.
Snapshots.

I don't know.

Aw.

Oh.

Lord, Helen,

we're not what we were.

Thank God for
small favors.

I hear the new owner's
gonna do over
your whole house.

Total renovation.

Central air conditioning,
automatic vacuuming,

underground watering
system, everything.

Hope it doesn't collapse
in the process.

It won't.

I think it's time
for a change.

I can make good use
of this vacuum cleaner,
if you don't mind.

Sure thing, Sam.

My hat's in the air to you,
I'll tell you that.

I wouldn't have it
in me to go off

to Duke University
and not know a soul.

Oh, Lucille
will handle it.

She can handle anything.

Bye.
Bye.

Bye, little Phoebe.

Say bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

See ya, McQueen.

So long, Lucille.

Take care
of yourself, Pop.

Oh, I'll see to that.

Not to worry.

Give 'em hell up there.
Tell 'em who taught
you how to read.

Okay, Rhody.

Now I want you
to promise me

that you stop for
coffee every two hours.

This is important.

Bye, Mom.

And call
when you get there.

With all these
different houses,
somebody's bound to be home.

In the old days,
family meant people
in a house together.

But that was in
a language so far back

that all its words
are gone, a language
we can only imagine.