Stained Glass Windows (2010) - full transcript
The night Cherry Douglas comes home from foster care, she is attacked by her ex- boyfriend. She finds herself on a journey to take back her life and find out what she's really made of. She goes to all the usual sources of guidance: a psychologist, a minister and her school teachers. The psychologist tells her that she's a normal teenager and says that her questions about life and our suffering can only be answered by a priest. The minister can only offer advice and enigmatic riddles to help her find her answers which eventually leave her to the desire to find the truth about God himself. Her school teacher prattles on about social groups and how you just have to allow yourself to go with the flow to fit in. None of these sources seem to answer her questions, or save her from the cruelties of her peers. Sleepless nights and stressful school situations leave her lost. Until she finally approaches the blind man who took the time to call the police when she was in trouble. She joins her friends in martial arts classes, which start to help her build her self esteem. Between the spiritual guidance of the reverend blinded in a church fire and her martial arts instructor's gift of discipline, she begins to see her relationships for what they are. She realizes who she wants to be, and how to be that while being successful in the world around her. She abandons those relationships that only limit her and begins to reach out to those who may truly care. She learns what the words love and loyalty mean, and finds her way into college.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[COUPLE LAUGH]
GIRL: Do it again.
It's gonna land
on you this time.
-It's gonna land on you.
-No, it won't.
-Hey, it's not fair.
-What's not fair is
this bottle is rigged.
-It's not rigged.
-Just do a do-over.
-No do-overs.
-You're prude.
-I am prude.
I'm prude.
OK, we'll see who's prude.
GIRL (IN DISTANCE): No!
BOY (IN DISTANCE): Shut
the fuck up, bitch!
-What was that?
-Come on.
[COUPLE FIGHTING IN THE
DISTANCE]
GIRL (IN DISTANCE):
What are you doing?
[SMACK]
That hurt!
Get out!
Rob, Rob, please!
ROB (IN DISTANCE):
Shut the fuck up!
[CLATTERING]
How do you like that?
I'll fucking kill you!
[SMACKING]
Don't fucking yell!
[GIRL SCREAMING AND CRYING]
-Cherry?
Cherry?
[CHERRY SCREAMING AND CRYING]
DETECTIVE: You
feel strong enough
to answer some questions for me?
What was your relationship
with Robert Torrence?
CHERRY:: He was
my foster brother.
We started dating
when I was about 13.
DETECTIVE: And how old was he?
Cherry, why were
you in foster care?
-My dad--
-You know, I've cleaned up
my act a lot, detective.
You can check my drug records.
-Is there something else?
He hasn't said anything?
DETECTIVE: No.
He says he wants to talk to you.
He said he'd give you a
confession if you wanted it.
Don't do it if you
can't handle it.
I just thought--
-You thought what?
-I just thought it might
help you with some closure.
-I want you to sign
the confession.
-Is that why you came?
-Yeah.
Why did you ask for me?
Did you just want to
see your handiwork?
-I just want to
make sure you're OK.
[INAUDIBLE]
-I'm fine.
Why do you keep
tracking me down?
-I didn't track you down.
-You track me down.
You call my house,
and you constantly
email me, and you-- you drive
by and harass my friends.
-You don't have any friends.
-Just tell me why.
-Bullshit!
You're the only one who ever
made me feel like I mattered.
Don't deny me that feeling.
You put me through hell.
-You had no right to cut me.
-What'd you expect?
You left me alone.
-Are you delusional?
You were fucking Mandy.
-Only after you accused
me of fucking Mandy.
-You were fucking Mandy!
I saw you fucking Mandy!
She's only 13, Rob.
-You were 13.
-And how old are you now?
-Shut up.
Just hear me out.
I'll move out of the
state for a very long time
if you just get me out of this.
Just get me out of this.
Drop the charges.
I'll do whatever you want.
Look, I know you still want me.
Even if you don't
love me, you've
never had the kind
of sex we had.
-I've never been with
anyone else, Rob.
-Oh, come on, baby.
Forgive me.
Drop the charges, and I'll give
you all the attention you want.
You'll feel so good inside.
No one tells me no.
Our foster mother never told
me no, and you never have.
-You're a fucking bitch!
-What the fuck?
Fucking bitch!
-Oh.
You fucker!
You're a fucking piece of shit!
-Get the fuck off of me!
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
-No one tells me no,
you fucking bitch!
-Let go of me!
-Fuck you!
-I got something for
you today, sweetie.
-Is it alive?
-Why don't you just open it?
-Mom.
-You like it?
-I'm not a little kid anymore.
RECORDING: I love you.
I love you.
CHERRY: What?
-So does it, um, feel
weird going back to school?
CHERRY: Mhm.
-Why don't you come home
right after school today?
You've got your first
therapy session tonight.
CHERRY: I don't need therapy.
-Cherry, anybody who
has been through what
you've been through
needs therapy.
[SHOWER RUNNING]
BOY: Hey!
-Hey, guys, come on.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
-I mean, really.
Who wants to look at
someone that disgusting?
-How do you ever expect to
get girls looking like that?
[GIRLS LAUGH]
[BELL RINGS]
TEACHER: Welcome to sociology.
Now, how many of
you are here just
to fulfill a
graduation requirement?
Well, I think you're
in for a big surprise.
Sociology affects us on a
daily basis in many ways.
For example, let's look at
interpretation of culture.
Now, culture is a set
of values and norms
that apply to a particular
group of people.
It's like an operating system.
Here we have an operating
system of our own.
It's the American high
school operating system.
So what kind of values
and norms do we hold here?
-Um, teachers run the class
and students come to the class.
TEACHER: Very good.
But do all students
follow this norm?
No.
So we have to allow for
deviance in society.
Someone who's not willing to
live within the social norms.
-Like people who butt into
other people's business
or people who show
their ugly faces around?
-Well, that depends on the
society and the situation,
but I guess, sure, that
could be a deviant.
But let's remember that America
was built on people who were
willing to speak out and take
matters into their own hands.
And just look at the way we
operate in the world today.
I mean, it might not
always be our business,
but we want to help other
countries who are suffering.
-Cherry!
-Cherry, wait!
-Hey, Cherry.
-Cherry.
-How are you doing?
You OK?
-Yeah.
Who are you?
-I live next door to you.
We used to play together
when we were little.
Remember?
-Yeah, I remember.
-Um, what happened that night?
-Lindsay, leave the
poor girl alone.
If there's anything
you need, let us know.
-OK.
-You headed home?
We always used to have
sleepovers at my house,
remember?
-Yeah.
-We would have mac and cheese,
and then we'd, you know,
sleep in my bed.
-Tell me more.
-Shut up, Jamie.
I was, like, seven.
Anyway, what are
you doing tomorrow?
-I don't know.
-Well, Jamie and I
do Japanese sword
fighting lessons on Saturday.
We were wondering if
you'd like to come.
-Maybe.
-It's a blast.
You get to beat
on punching bags,
start feeling like The
Last Samurai and shit.
LINDSAY: Yeah, you might.
JAMIE: Um, you two would
feel more like that chick
from "The Matrix."
-Who's that?
LINDSAY: Oh, he means
Carrie-Anne Moss.
-No, who's that?
-I don't know.
It's just some weird blind
guy who just stands out there
and listens to the birds
and the wind and stuff.
-He is creeping me out.
LINDSAY: You know, I
think it's the guy who
called the cops that night, hon.
We were like sisters.
-No, we were better than
sisters 'cause we never fought.
-That's true.
You know, when we'd
have sleepovers,
we'd do everything together.
We'd eat off the same plate.
We'd even take nighttime
baths together.
-Oh yeah.
Now, that's what I like to hear.
-Knock it off, Jamie.
We were, like, seven.
-I keep saying it, but I keep
hearing it and I like it.
CHERRY'S MOM: I'm home.
You ready to go?
-Hi, Mom.
LINDSAY: "Hi, Mom."
-"Hi, Mom."
-Ms. Douglas, can Cherry come
kick ass with us tomorrow?
MS. DOUGLAS: What?
-Can she come to our
martial arts class tomorrow?
MS. DOUGLAS: You sure
that's a good idea?
-Yeah, Mom, I'm fine.
-You don't want to
talk to me, huh?
I would think that
I would need someone
to talk to if something
like that happened to me.
Why are you so angry?
-I'm not angry.
-What are you feeling?
-I'm not angry.
-I don't understand why you
have to be so difficult.
-I don't see what
the big deal is.
-A big deal?
You sat there for almost an hour
and didn't say a damn thing.
How the hell is she
supposed to help
you if you won't say anything?
-She said I'm a
perfectly normal teenager
with perfectly normal
emotional health.
[MAN ON RADIO READING
DISCLAIMER]
[RADIO TURNS OFF]
I don't need therapy.
[TV TURNS ON]
MAN 1 (ON TV): Go ahead!
Go on!
[CHANNEL CHANGES]
MAN 2 (ON TV): Have a nice trip?
Course she wasn't my wife then.
She's my wife now.
And I got the cinder
out of her eye.
MAN 3 (ON TV): [INAUDIBLE]
MAN 2 (ON TV): Yes.
MAN 3 (ON TV): [INAUDIBLE]
MAN 2 (ON TV): Yes.
[INAUDIBLE]
We knew the moment
we look at-- we--
we knew the moment we
looked at each other.
MAN 3 (ON TV): You did?
MAN 2 (ON TV): Yes.
[SENSEI SHOUTING CALLS]
-Oh, excellent.
One forward, one backward.
[SHOUTING CALLS]
Good.
Continue.
FEMALE SENSEI: Forward.
Back.
[CALLING]
MALE SENSEI: [CALLING]
[STUDENTS SHOUT]
Excellent.
-Does that hurt a lot?
-No.
-You sure?
-It doesn't hurt.
-Kinda looks like it does.
-Hey.
You just gonna grab
your [INAUDIBLE]?
-Oh, I'm sorry.
-It's OK.
I was just playing.
I'll clean it up later.
No, really, you missed a spot.
You did good in here today.
You're a real natural.
CHERRY: Thanks.
-Question is, why are you here?
-I don't know.
My friends asked me.
MALE SENSEI: I see.
You should always know what
you want in the things you do,
Cherry.
You shouldn't waste
your time doing
something you don't
really want to do.
-You ready?
-How do I know if it's
something I really
want to do if I don't
give it a chance?
Hi.
-Afternoon.
-I, um, just wanted to
come over and thank you
for calling 911 the other night.
I know you don't
know me, and I just
think it was really
cool that you did that.
-Anybody with a conscience would
have done the same thing, girl.
CHERRY: Yeah.
So what's your name?
-Simon.
-Uh, my name is Cherilyn.
Most people just call me Cherry.
You know, I never
thought about it,
but it's kind of interesting
how people who can't see still
want to have pictures
on their walls.
-I wasn't always blind.
Drink before you go?
-Uh, no.
I got to get home, you know?
I got-- I got some
homework to do and stuff.
I just wanted to come
over and say thank you.
-You're welcome.
-I'm sorry if I offended you.
That was a stupid thing to say.
-You don't offend me, girl.
Heh.
Speak your mind.
I like that.
-Do you think I could
come over again sometime?
-Why would you want
to be doing that?
-Well, to show my gratitude.
I mean, it has to be lonely
over here by yourself.
Simon?
Please?
-Next time you better have
something to talk about.
I don't need to sit
around here and listen
to you fumble around.
-Bye.
[CHURCH BELLS DINGING]
-Looking forward to
a good sermon today.
-Always a pleasure.
-Yes, sir.
MINISTER: Today we
will consider God's
grace and His forgiveness.
We all must learn to accept
God's grace and His forgiveness
for our trespasses
and our mistakes.
God does grant grace
and forgiveness
to all His children, but we
must be prepared to accept it.
What does it take to receive
God's love and forgiveness?
First, we must admit
that we're flawed
and take responsibility
for our mistakes.
We must say we're sorry.
Then and only then
are we ready to accept
God's unconditional love.
Please open your
Bible to John 9:21.
MAN 1 (ON TV):
I'll turn the heat
on for anybody
who threatens my--
MAN 2 (ON TV):
We've got something
between us nothing can change.
MAN 3 (ON TV): Say, why don't
you carry that in your head?
MAN 4 (ON TV): Homocide Bureau.
BUG BUNNY (ON TV): We're
gonna have roast rabbit!
We're gonna have roast--
ELMER FUDD (ON TV): --worry.
I don't hurt you again.
MS. DOUGLAS (VOICEOVER): Cherry?
Cherry?
Come on.
-Come on, sweetie, wake up.
Wake up, honey.
Let's go.
Come on.
Cherry, wake up.
Come on.
I'm gonna come back.
I expect to see you
out of this couch.
ELMER FUDD (ON TV):
That'll fix him.
[LAUGH]
-Look how gross it is.
-I know.
It's terrible.
-She's like Mrs. Frankenstein.
[LAUGHTER]
-It's Bride of Frankenstein,
you stupid bitch.
-You're still ugly.
-Hey guys.
ALL: Hey!
-How are you?
-Good.
Where are you guys going?
-Class.
-Can I walk you upstairs?
ALL: Yeah.
BINGO CALLER: O-68.
-Hey.
-Hi.
-Hey, Ms. Douglas,
how's it going?
-Fine, thanks.
-Is it Douglas or Meadows?
I've heard you use both.
-[SIGH]
It's Meadows.
I just have to get
out of that habit.
-Sorry.
So when are we going
to meet your daughter?
BINGO CALLER: G-49.
-Um, she's at home tonight.
She had homework to do.
BINGO CALLER: O-64.
-Oh!
Oh!
Bingo!
Bingo!
I got bingo!
Bingo!
I have bingo!
Ha-ha!
Oh, bingo!
Bingo!
[LAUGH]
[TV PLAYING]
MAN 1 (ON TV): Please stop.
Please stop.
No, no, no, no, no.
I didn't do anything.
Please!
MAN 2 (ON TV): Like the
kind of way you fit in.
And what happens now.
-Hey, I was watching that.
-I was hoping you'd
be asleep, sweetie.
-[YAWN]
It's early.
-Thanks for cleaning
the kitchen.
That was very sweet of you.
-You're welcome.
Hey, Mom?
-Yeah?
-How come you didn't get
remarried after Dad went nuts?
How come you never
found anyone else?
-You know, I think it's
time for you to go to bed.
Come on.
-I can't sleep in there.
-Yeah, well, you need to try.
[CHERRY GROANS]
Come on.
I love you.
-I love you too.
Hey, Lindsay?
It's Cherry.
Did I wake you?
Sorry.
Um.
Hey, did you-- do you think
you could-- I mean-- OK,
do you want to
come over tonight?
Yeah, I just-- I can't sleep.
OK.
Bye.
-Give me that.
-Do you like anal, officer?
I do.
If you want to look,
you just gotta ask.
-Where's that signed
confession you promised us?
-Cherry's a real
piece of ass, huh?
I bet you would just love to
get your handcuffs on her.
-Rob?
-I'm not saying shit.
I need to get out on bail.
-You're never gonna
get out on bail.
ROB: Yeah?
You never denied that you
didn't want to fuck her.
Can I get my porn back?
-Yeah.
Here you go.
-No one has anything on me!
No one tells me no!
I get what I want!
Fuck!
Fuck!
-OK.
Let's practice
shielding technique.
OK, twice down, twice up.
Once in the rear side,
once in the fore side.
One, two, three,
four, posture lock.
Watch again.
Watch me do it.
One, two, three, four.
OK.
Hand down, strong posture.
Here we go.
One, two.
That would be 2 and 1/2.
Two downs, pretty easy.
Count one, two.
-You know what?
I think I should just quit.
-I believe you should.
-You know, I need a
little encouragement here.
-Give me your sword.
-There's two aspects to a sword.
The side of the
sword that lives life
and the side of the
sword that takes life.
This is how I see you.
It's kinda hard
to defend yourself
if you give your strength
to everyone else.
You need to decide
whether you want
to be a warrior or a victim.
Let's do it again.
Two down, two up.
Twice on one side,
twice on the other.
One, two, three, four.
Good.
One, two, three, four.
The limp wrist
thing has got to go.
Faster.
One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four.
SIMON: Woo-ee!
I wouldn't want to
cross you, girl.
CHERRY: Why is that?
-Because I'd be
likely to get killed.
[CHUCKLING]
-Hardly.
-How's your grades?
Girl?
Go home, child.
And don't come back until your
grades are worth talking about.
-Well, what if I brought
my books and my homework
over here?
I mean, I could make us
dinner, and then I could study.
-You promise?
CHERRY: Yes, sir.
-Why aren't you
studying at home?
-I don't know.
I just like it over here.
-Hey.
I won at bingo last week.
-Cool.
-You wanna come?
-No, thanks.
-What do you do over at
that guy's house, anyway?
Last chance to play
with my bingo markers.
-I think I'll pass.
[DEEP OMINOUS RUMBLING]
[HIGH-PITCHED DISTORTION]
[DISTORTED VOICES AND SOUNDS]
[SOUNDS STOP]
Hey, Lindsay?
-Are you OK?
-You remember how we used to
sleep when we were little?
And you couldn't sleep if
I didn't hold you still.
Can we sleep this way tonight?
-Sure.
THERAPIST (VOICEOVER): Cherry.
Cherry.
THERAPIST: Hey.
T You haven't been
sleeping, have you?
-[SIGH] Are we almost done here?
THERAPIST: Why haven't
you been sleeping, Cherry?
-I don't know.
You gonna give me some drugs?
Bet I could sell them.
THERAPIST: No.
We can make it through
this without them.
-Damn.
I could've used that money.
-Do you know how much money
I am paying that woman?
-Mom, we have been
over this before.
She said I don't need therapy.
-Well, she's worried
about you now.
She says you're not
sleeping enough,
and she wants you
to keep coming back.
-(SULKILY) Mom.
-Cherry, I'm worried
about you too.
If you're not gonna talk to
her, at least talk to me.
Cherry.
Cherry, come back here.
Cherry.
Come back here.
-I'm not a little kid anymore.
-Then stop acting like one.
-I'm 18.
I can leave if I want to.
Remember that.
MS. DOUGLAS: Hey, damn it.
What the hell do you do
with my daughter in there?
Answer me, you son of a bitch.
I'll report you.
-Our sins are
demons-- get passed
on to our children, woman.
They may never know why or how,
but they get chained to 'em.
That's what we do.
There's nothing to worry about.
We-- we talk.
We listen to music.
-How many children do you have?
-One-- a daughter.
-Well, I never see her.
-The only thing I see is her.
Eye open, eyes shut.
When I walk outside, when
I sing with the birds,
she's all I ever see.
No other living soul will
ever see my daughter again,
but I do.
Good night.
MS. DOUGLAS: Then you
understand more than most.
SIMON: I understand.
But I'm not like the
man that attacked you.
-You mean her, right?
Right?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Whoa!
[YELP]
-That's pretty good.
-Why have you been sneaking out
of here before I can say hello?
-I haven't been sneaking out.
I just don't know
if I belong here.
-Why don't you think
you belong here?
-Well, let's see.
I've had premarital sex.
I don't study other religions.
-Oh, you've had premarital sex.
-I'll go.
-Sit down.
Look.
Mary Magdalene was what the
Bible tenderly calls a whore.
Yet Jesus accepted her.
So I'm pretty sure
you're welcome
here with the rest
of the sinners.
-So what if I don't
believe in God?
Why do you believe in God?
-I believe in God
because without him, this
is existence is too
terrible to imagine.
I have faith that there's
someone looking out for me.
I would encourage you to
keep reading those books
and come back and talk to me.
OK?
-Sure.
Here, Simon.
All right, there you go.
-It's been a long time
since I had one of these.
CHERRY: I'm glad to oblige.
So who's this?
-Who?
This picture of a pretty girl--
the little girl you're with.
Sorry.
-It's OK.
Just don't want
to talk about her.
-By examining the
three types of suicide,
we can see that there are
qualifying social factors
that surround the
suicide victims.
For example, if a
person is constantly
devoid of structure
and moving outside
of their social boundary,
then that person
is more likely to
commit suicide.
It seems that society
itself predisposes us
to suicide like
many other things.
Yes.
-Does that mean that certain
people should commit suicide?
Since society thinks
so, then people
who don't belong or no
one cares to look at
should just do it, right?
TEACHER: Absolutely not.
Just because someone is coerced
in a particular direction
doesn't mean that that's
the right way to go.
Predisposition is not
the same as morality.
Culture and society are
not thinking things.
They have no rational thought.
They're just from
shared experience.
And the other thing is, if you
have an appropriate question,
please keep it to yourself.
-Lindsay!
Hey, girl.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
-[LAUGH]
-Ow, that one really hurt.
-Sorry.
-If Lindsay wasn't trying out
for cheerleading right now,
I'd have her beat you up.
-Why does she wanna hang
out with that group?
They drive me nuts.
They think they're
such hot shit,
but you know as soon as
they get out of high school,
no one's gonna give a
damn about who they were.
-She wants people to admire her,
probably because her parents
are never around to
pay attention to her.
-Well, that's what
you're here for.
You're so whipped.
You are so whipped.
You're going over to her house
to take care of her chores.
-You're just mad 'cause
you're not getting any
and those girls make fun of you.
-They make fun of
everybody, not just me.
-Why don't you say anything?
Can I ask you a couple things?
-Yeah.
-If-- if you've been out with
someone for, like, six months,
shouldn't you be
sleeping together?
Sorry-- sorry.
It's just, I don't think
she really likes me.
-Well, you know,
maybe she's scared.
Did you consider that?
Because, I mean, that's a
really big thing for a girl.
-Yeah, but I'd never do
anything to hurt her.
-You know, I'm not
the one you should
be talking to about this.
-I know.
Why did you-- why'd you
move away to foster care?
-Uh, my dad shot my mom.
-What?
-Yeah.
They were, um, they
were dropping acid,
and he already had,
like, a lot of problems.
And we didn't know he had
a gun, and he shot my mom.
And so I hid so he couldn't
find me, but he shot himself.
-You didn't see
him do it, did you?
-You know, I don't remember.
Sometimes I think I did.
But then sometimes I think that
I might have just, you know,
manufactured that memory.
I'm gonna go see Simon.
-So I get my cheerleading
uniform tomorrow.
-Neat.
-Where's your mom?
-She's at bingo, thank God.
-Why thank God?
-Well, she just always treats
me like I'm some little kid.
LINDSAY: She doesn't
treat you that bad.
Besides, you're her baby.
She just wants to
take care of you.
CHERRY: Yeah, well,
it's irritating.
God, you know what I need?
LINDSAY: What?
-A nice long bubble bath.
-That does sound nice.
You wanna?
You know, this was so much
easier when we were younger.
-(CHUCKLING) Yeah.
I have bubbles in my ear.
-Where?
-No.
-There?
-Don't.
[SCREAM]
[LAUGH]
-You nervous about Saturday?
-Hm?
-Your challenge with Jamie?
You nervous about it?
-No.
I am going to kick his ass.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
-Besides, he's too
nice to hit a girl.
-I think you'd be surprised.
MS. DOUGLAS: Hey, girls.
I've got food.
-Oh, hey.
No.
Not cool at all.
Oh!
(LAUGHING) Bitch.
MALE SENSEI: Let's begin.
-[GROANING REPEATEDLY]
-Are you OK?
MALE SENSEI: Everyone decent?
-Except for being a loser?
-You could've taken him.
-Maybe I'm just not as
good as you people think.
I need to work harder,
focus more, or something.
-Next time you throw a fight
in my class, you're out.
Got it?
Look, Jamie and everyone else in
there deserve your best effort,
and he needs to
learn to be defeated.
You worked just
as hard as he did,
and you deserved
it just as much.
Don't disappoint me again.
-Why is it that you
avoid everything?
-I don't avoid everything.
SIMON: I think you do.
CHERRY: Well, I think I'm
tired of people pressing
their opinions on
everybody else.
Nobody can even be who they
want to be now, because there's
always somebody
behind them saying
that they're doing
something wrong.
I mean, people can't wear
what they want to wear or look
how they want to
look or believe what
they even want to believe in.
I mean, we are judging people on
the opposite side of the world.
That doesn't make
any sense, Simon.
I mean, even next door,
people are judging you
because of the color
of your skin or me
because some psycho
cut up my face.
-Just tell me who
you want to be.
CHERRY: What?
-What do all this stuff
you spouting out at me
have to do with anybody but you?
You doing the same thing.
CHERRY: I don't do those things.
-Do I still creep you out?
We all have our judgments.
We all see life through
stained glass windows.
The way I see it, you have
your own demons to overcome.
I believe you have
five if we're counting.
They have you as theirs.
-You awake?
-Yeah.
Your head sore?
-Yeah.
-You need to take
them next time.
You need painkillers?
-Can I ask you something?
-Of course.
Go on, sweetie.
-Did you enjoy it when we
took that bath together?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
It was fun.
What?
-I didn't mean it like that.
I just a meant--
When we were younger,
I always really liked
being close to you.
It was never just like
a fun thing for me.
It always just felt right.
You don't have to stay
anymore if you don't want to.
You can go home
and get some sleep.
-What?
-[INAUDIBLE WHISPER]
-(WHISPERING) I don't know.
I mean, I like it, but--
-Why do they call
you Father C-Do?
-Well, it's an old high
school football nickname.
-You played football?
-Yeah, and I dated
the head cheerleader.
I wasn't always a
minister, you know?
I was young once.
What's going on
with you, Cherry?
-Nothing.
-We're going to have an
actual conversation today.
-OK.
What if a person
made a decision that
was outside of
normal social norms?
Like, is outside of
political or religious norms?
What do you think would
happen to that person?
-Is this is about your
interest in another girl?
There's not a lot of ethnic
diversity in this town,
so I don't think you're
talking about being part
of a mixed couple
unless you're putting
that makeup on thicker
than I thought.
Sit down.
Sit.
As your minister,
it's my responsibility
to tell you that our
Christian beliefs frown
upon two men or two
women being together.
-I know.
I mean, I can leave
if you want me to.
I don't have to come back.
-However, I don't understand
why people believe that God will
forgive rapists and
child molesters,
but they won't-- that He
won't forgive two people that
actually care about each other.
If you're really sure
about your feelings,
I believe God will understand.
-All the world's a
stage, and we all
play our part, to
paraphrase Shakespeare.
And contemporary thinkers
on the subject matter
would agree, except we would
take it one step further.
We would say that every
backstage is its own stage
and every stage is a
backstage to our backstage.
[CHUCKLE]
What I mean to say is that
we change our behaviors
to suit the situation we're in.
-Are you saying that
everyone's two-faced?
-Not at all.
Two-faced implies that we only
see the things that people want
to hear and that we
change our personalities
to make them happy.
What I'm saying is that
we curtail our behavior
to be more socially acceptable.
-I don't see the difference.
-You don't see the difference.
OK, um, let's take an example.
How about the food
service industry?
You work at a restaurant, right?
OK, so when you're
in the back room,
do you speak nicely of
the customers up front?
-No.
They suck.
-OK, so why don't
you just tell them
that when you drop
off their food?
You know, just say,
hey, here's your food.
By the way, I hate
you and I hate
the way you're treating me.
So please remember to tip.
STUDENT: You can't do that.
-Why not?
-Because you'd get fired
and they won't tip.
I get it.
-But how can someone be
anyone else when they're ugly?
-Ugly?
-You know, like,
horribly scarred.
-You're beginning to
run out of material.
TEACHER: There's more to a
person than their appearance.
[BELL RINGS]
OK, you guys, chapter
13 this weekend.
And please read it.
Please read it.
I can tell when you don't.
You OK?
-Yeah, I'm used to it.
-For what it's worth, I really
admire the way you handle it.
I'm sorry about that.
It was inappropriate.
-Why don't you do
something about it?
-Hey, Lindsay!
[CHEERLEADERS GREETING AND
CHATTING WITH LINDSAY]
-Lindsay, you know this freak?
CHEERLEADER: Go away, monster.
[LAUGHTER]
-Lindsay?
-Hey, you're really
asking for it.
-Lindsay?
-Hey!
-[GROAN]
-Ow.
-I can't believe
she did that to you.
What a freak.
-You really suck, you know?
-And you care?
-Doing my best.
I don't know.
Just know what it feels like.
I used to be friends with them.
-How could you be
friends with them?
-I don't know.
Maybe I wasn't--
but we used to have
a lot of sleepovers and stuff.
We had a lot of truth
or dare in grade school.
And middle school.
Anyways, so one of them dared
me to kiss them, and I did.
Thought I'd show off
and make it good too.
And they started
calling me a dyke.
Just ran a course.
And now pretty much
just mean to me.
-Did you like it?
-Yeah, I mean, I guess.
I-- yeah.
-So they weren't wrong.
-You're scarred.
Does that make it all right
for them to pick on you?
Does that change
the way you feel?
I'm so tired of hearing people
say, I'm not being mean.
I'm just being honest.
Like the two are
mutually exclusive.
You can be mean and honest
at the same time, you know,
so fuck you too.
I'm just trying to be nice.
-I'm sorry.
I'm sorry!
Hey, Jamie.
-Why'd you let me win, Cherry?
-I didn't.
-Bullshit!
You could've beaten me.
Even I wanted you to beat me.
Why didn't you do it?
Do you pity me?
-Why would I pity you?
-Because you knew that Lindsay
would leave me for you.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
She told me everything
about how we
couldn't be together anymore.
It's bullshit.
I wish you never
would have came home.
I wish that guy
would've killed you.
-Hey, you and me both, man.
-Wait, wait, wait.
Could you learn to like me too?
-What?
-Could you learn to like me
as much as you like Lindsay?
Then the three us could
be together, you know?
-Jamie, go home.
-She's the only
thing that makes me
feel like I'm not
a complete loser.
-She's not a thing, Jamie.
She's a person.
She's a person that hasn't
treated either of us very well.
I've given up on Lindsay, Jamie.
I think you should too.
[SOBBING QUIETLY]
-Honey, what's wrong?
CHERRY: Go away.
[WEEPING]
Please go away.
-Cherry.
-I'm not a little kid anymore.
-I know you're not, honey.
I know.
Sometimes it just feels good
to have your mother hold you.
-Lindsay and I kissed
the other night.
And I think I could love her.
But there are these kids at
school that walk all over me,
and it hurts so
bad, and she doesn't
do a thing to stop them.
You must think
I'm so disgusting.
-No, honey, never.
I just didn't expect
it, that's all.
Cherry, you are the most
beautiful person in the world
to me, and it doesn't matter
who you choose to love.
Nothing-- nothing
can change that.
I'm your mother, and I'm
always going to love you.
-Always?
-Always.
Lindsay's just a
little whore, anyway.
-Whoa.
Mom?
Why did you stay with
Dad if he was like that?
-Cherry, your father
wasn't always like that.
-He changed.
-Your father and I
were on our honeymoon.
We had gotten up into the
mountains, and we were high,
and that's not a
reference to the altitude.
Um, your father--
he tripped and fell,
and he cracked his
head on a stump.
He was never the
same after that.
Cherry, I want you to
know that your father was
the most amazing man
I have ever known.
He understood me
like nobody else.
But then they announced
that he was gone.
And I was separated.
And I found myself
married to a man
I absolutely despised
all in one night.
-You never let go.
-Ah, no.
I just kept hoping that
this-- this someone would
go back to wherever
he came from.
I want him to give
me back my husband.
-I'm sorry.
-Sweetie, you have
nothing to be sorry for.
If I had let go, honey,
you would not be here.
-No, I'm sorry I've
been so difficult.
-Oh, my sweet little Cherry pie.
Honey, it's OK.
Oh, shh.
It's OK.
Sweetie, you've
done nothing wrong.
It's OK, it's OK.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
-So you're talking
to me anymore?
What did I do?
All I've ever done is stay
here and do everything
that you've ever asked of me.
That's fucked up,
Cherry, especially
after what happened that night.
-It's not what you did, Lindsay.
It's what you didn't do.
-What you expect
from me, Cherry?
I'm one the popular kids.
I have to be who
they want me to be.
I love you, Cherry.
I love you more than
I've ever loved anyone.
I need you in my life.
You're so good for me.
But people expect
things from me.
-Do you listen to yourself?
You're a fucking hypocrite.
Where in that statement
did you ever say
that you acknowledge
that I'm hurt?
I'm not gonna sit around
here all day, Lindsay,
and be your stay-at-home
lover while you
go play Miss Popular at school.
I don't want to
spend all my time
wondering who you care about.
I'm not Jamie, Lindsay.
-They're my friends.
-You don't have friends.
You think you have home
friends and school friends,
but you don't have shit.
You don't know
what it means when
two people care
about each other.
-You care about me?
-What?
-You just said that
you care about me.
-Get out.
-Cherry.
-Get out.
-Cherry.
-Get out!
I have nothing more to give you.
I said out!
[SENSEI CALLING]
-Looks like she's too
good to come to class now.
Miss High and Mighty just comes
and goes when she pleases.
MALE SENSEI: OK.
Put your swords aside
and stretch your hips.
-Maybe if she wasn't so busy
breaking up relationships,
she could make it
to class on time.
Or maybe she was just
looking in to getting
her new nasty-ass face fixed.
-[YELL]
-You want to go, bitch?
I'll fuck you up.
MALE SENSEI: That's enough.
Stand over there.
Get up.
I don't know what's pissed
you two off, but it ends now.
-Fuck her!
MALE SENSEI: Are you
out of your mind?
(WHISPERING) Kick her ass.
OK.
Now that that's over,
get to my office.
MS. DOUGLAS: Why didn't
you stop them earlier?
-I thought it was
best to let them
get it out of their system.
-Oh, that's ridiculous.
-No, it's not.
See, when I was a kid, I'd
fight with my brothers.
My dad never stepped in.
He'd let us hit our lips in,
and then he would separate us.
MS. DOUGLAS: Well, I
don't think that's best.
MALE SENSEI: You know
the time the [INAUDIBLE]?
They can't show anger,
so I let them get it out.
Maybe now they'll talk to talk
to each other [INAUDIBLE].
-I'm sorry.
[MS. DOUGLAS AND SENSEI CONTINUE
TALKING]
-I've realized that I can't make
you be who I want you to be.
You know, I can't make you
the Lindsay that I like best.
And I am really sorry for that.
-Can we start talking again?
-I don't think so.
I mean, you know.
Maybe sometime in the future,
but right now, I just--
I got to cool off.
-What will we be then?
-Um.
Friends.
I think we will be friends.
MS. DOUGLAS: Let's go, sweetie.
-Mom, I'm coming.
I'm sorry, Mom.
-But I've never
been alone before.
-You're only alone
if you think you are.
-Tom said you won
on both accounts.
-When the white flag has been
flown, no one has won the war.
MS. DOUGLAS: Well, I'm
really proud of you
for taking care
of yourself, but I
can't say I'm happy
about the way you did it.
-Yeah, I'm having second
thoughts about that myself.
-[LAUGH]
Hindsight?
-Yeah.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Simon.
Simon?
Where are you, man?
You don't go anywhere.
Simon?
Simon?
Simon?
Oh my god.
Simon.
Simon, come on.
Oh god.
Oh god, Simon.
Simon, what happened?
-Is that you, girl?
-Who else would it be?
What happened to you?
-You feel lighter.
You've been taking
care of your demons.
How many down?
-What?
-How many?
-I don't know.
Three, Simon.
-Mhm.
One by one.
That's how it's done.
[COUGHING]
-Simon, you're sick.
-My lungs.
They're giving me radiation
and pumping me up with poison,
but it doesn't get any better.
-Why didn't you tell me?
-Girl, you needed to
take care of yourself
before you can start
worrying about me.
There's nothing you can do.
Besides, I'm ready to get
back with my daughter again.
Reclaim my sight.
-Simon, you see better
than anyone I know.
Oh god.
How'd this happen to you?
-A fire.
I was a minister
down in Louisiana.
Then white folks
decided they didn't
want us worshiping in
their town anymore.
They waited for
the night service,
and they lit the place up.
Most got out.
Most were worried
about everybody else.
The kids.
And some people got stuck
and they never made it out.
-How long do you have?
-Not very long.
-Does it hurt?
-Only when I'm awake.
-Can't they give
you better drugs?
-Girl, I already lost my sight.
I don't want to lose myself.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEP]
DETECTIVE (ON
ANSWERING MACHINE):
Amy and Cherry, this
is Detective Marshall.
I just want to warn you that
Rob was just let out on bail.
They used that incident in the
interrogation room against us.
I'm sorry.
Shouldn't have let
you go in there.
Listen, lock all the
doors and windows.
-[COUGHING]
-It's OK.
It's OK.
-Don't.
-No one tells me no.
[PUNCHES LANDING]
-Oh god.
-You bitch.
Ugh!
Come here!
Why don't you love me?
You only want to say no.
-[GRUNTING]
AMY: No!
Not again!
[GRUNTING]
ROB: Crazy bitch.
Get the fuck up here.
-No!
Stop!
-Crazy bitch, you
fuck up everything!
-[GROAN]
[TRIGGER CLICKS]
-You'd shoot me?
[TRIGGER CLICKING]
I can't fucking
believe you'd shoot me.
-[GROANING]
-Fucking bitch.
Little bitch, how
do you like that?
[GRUNT]
[GROAN]
[GROANING]
-Don't.
Just stop.
I don't want to do this anymore.
-I just don't want to lose you.
-Rob, you've never
had anybody to lose.
[INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION]
[ORGAN PLAYING]
[APPLAUSE]
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
Hey.
-Hey.
Uh, we hanging out at
your house tonight?
-Yes.
Did you talk to Jamie?
-No.
-[INAUDIBLE].
-Oh my gosh.
Freaks.
-Dykes.
-Ew, look at their arms.
-I have a talent, Simon.
-What?
-Huh?
-What?
-Oh, nothing.
I'm just remembering.
-Hi, Mom.
AMY: Oh hi.
Thanks, sweetie.
Hi.
-I can get your bag if you want.
-But your hand.
-Do you want to go to bingo?
-Uh, sure, yeah.
-Really?
-Come play bingo?
-You want to go play bingo?
-Yes, let's go play bingo.
-Oh my gosh.
OK.
Yes, pink and blue.
You can have pink
or blue marker.
You'll love bingo.
BINGO CALLER: G-60.
-Oh well.
I can't see.
How're you doing?
Oh, [INAUDIBLE].
Right there.
-Mom, I can bop my own.
-I know, I know.
I'm behind.
I'm never behind.
I am not close.
-Mom, go talk to him.
-What?
-Go talk to him.
-No.
It's OK.
-(WHISPERING) Mom
has a boyfriend.
-What would I say?
-Hello.
-Just because [INAUDIBLE]
doesn't mean [INAUDIBLE].
-This seat taken?
-Um, no.
Hi.
BINGO CALLER: N-39.
-Hi.
I'm Steve.
-Hi.
[LAUGHING]
Um, I'm Amy, and this
is my daughter, Cherry.
-Hi.
-And--
-This is Myra.
-Myra.
-Anyone here feel
like a winner tonight?
-Oh well, here's hoping.
-Here's hoping.
-Cheers to that.
-Cheers.
-You're so funny.
-N-47.
AMY: Oh look, you got it.
Right there.
STEVE: Oh, thank you.
[MUSIC - DERRICK ROWE, "MAYBE
ONE DAY"]