Stranger in the Family (1991) - full transcript
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) is Steve Thompson, a sixteen-year-old who seemed to have everything going for him: good looks, friends, and a great personality. But his once bright future is tragically dimmed after a car accident brings all this to a crashing halt.
[NARRATOR READING OUT]
[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC PLAYING]
[UNINTELLIGIBLE
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[SIREN BLARING]
Steve, Steve!
Oh, God, Steve.
Steve...
MAN: You’re the mother?
Yes.
Oh, Steve.
Steve, I was so scared.
What’s the matter with him?
Why isn’t he answering me?
He’s probably in shock.
Here, give me a hand.
We’ll get him outta here.
You sure it’s all right
to move him?
We’ll get you
out of here, fella.
Yell if anything hurts.
CRAIG: The car just
came out of nowhere.
It slammed right into us.
RANDI: Are you all right?
Okay. Are you all right?
I just...
It all happened so quick.
Did somebody call your mom?
We were at the stop sign and...
RANDI: Are you okay?
CRAIG: Yeah, I guess. I mean,
it was over so quick.
What the hell happened?
The kids were rear-ended
by that vehicle.
Probably a DUI.
Extremities are responsive.
He’s got a small bump at
the back of his head.
No other sign of injury.
Well, I want
a doctor to see him.
All right.
We have to take
the other driver
It’ll be about 15 minutes
before another ambulance
can get here.
Why? She was
the one that hit him.
MAN: Doesn’t matter.
Sorry, ma’am.
You’ll have to wait.
Let’s take him ourselves.
RANDI: Come on, honey.
You’re leaving with Mom and Dad.
Here we go. Okay.
Here we go.
Careful.
[UNINTELLIGIBLE
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
RANDI: What the hell
is keeping that doctor?
I mean, he needs an X-ray,
and a blood test,
and an EKG, and an EEG,
and the whole damn alphabet.
When are they gonna
give us the result?
When are we gonna get
something done for him?
The doctor should be here soon.
Are you crazy? You think
I’m gonna let him
sit here for an hour?
If that doctor’s not here
in ten minutes, I’m gonna
go after him.
Well, my mom’s here.
I guess I better go.
Well, we’re not quite
through here yet.
Yeah, well, I hope
Steve’s gonna be okay.
ALAN: He’ll be fine.
You look great, Craigy.
Regular party guy.
CRAIG: I’ll call tomorrow.
Sorry this took so long.
Halloween.
Nurse, what’s
his blood pressure?
NURSE: 110/62.
DOCTOR: It’s a little low.
Normal for a mild shock.
He hasn’t said anything
since the accident.
MAN: We need
a nurse over here.
All right. Let’s check his eyes.
[MACHINE BEEPING]
Normal.
Normal?
[SCOFFS] He can’t talk,
he doesn’t recognize
his own parents,
he can’t walk,
you call that normal?
Your son has a mild concussion.
A minor edema at
the back of the head.
It’d probably need
a couple of days.
Edema? What is that?
Slight cerebral swelling
from the bump on the head.
It accounts for his
lack of responsiveness.
Keep him in bed
for 24 hours,
check up on him periodically
throughout the night,
if he has trouble breathing,
begins vomiting, bring him
back in right away.
He’ll have a headache tomorrow.
Just give him acetaminophen.
What is that?
Any kind of non-aspirin.
Mrs., uh, Thompson, your son
has concussive syndrome.
It’ll clear up in
a couple of days.
But doctor, he doesn’t even
know where he is.
I’ve examined him.
He’ll be all right.
Here we go.
That’s better.
Let’s just get you to your room.
We’re home now, honey.
We’ll put you to bed,
all right?
[RANDI GRUNTS]
ALAN: Come on, Steve,
just get over it.
[STEVE GASPING]
What is it?
We’re gonna put you to bed.
Come on, son,
just down the hall.
RANDI: What should we do?
[PANTING]
What is it, Steve?
We’ll let him sleep
on the couch.
I’ll make the sofa bed
up for you, okay?
Would you like that?
All right.
You’ll sleep on the couch.
ALAN: Let’s just get him
in this chair here.
RANDI: Okay.
ALAN: Come on,
get the bed up.
RANDI: Watch his head,
watch his head.
Okay.
RANDI We’re home, honey, okay?
All right.
All right. Let’s go to bed.
RANDI: Steve, come on.
ALAN: Come on.
RANDI: Here we go.
ALAN: Here we go.
RANDI: Here we go.
In you go.
Watch out for his head.
I got it.
Okay.
Here you go.
Okay.
Here. Now you just rest.
Why don’t you
get his clothes off?
I’ll go check on Shari.
Did you see the way
he looked down the hall?
Yeah.
I tried to give him some water
but he wouldn’t swallow.
He’s falling asleep.
Come on.
I just wanna stay here
for a little while.
We’ll take turns
checking on him.
He’ll be fine.
I’ll be up in a while.
He’s gonna be fine.
He’s our tough guy.
[WHISPERS] He’s our tough guy.
Bet the party’s still going on.
Come on, Steve, get up.
Gotta drive me to dance.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Steve, I’m gonna be late.
Time for morning magic.
Watch Stefano The Great get out
of this one. Ha-ha.
Are you okay?
Sorry.
You’re scaring me.
My God.
Mom?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Mom! Something’s
wrong with Steve.
I think he peed in his bed.
Steve?
Steve? What’s the matter, son?
What’s wrong with him?
Let’s sit him up, honey.
ALAN: I checked on him at 6:00.
What’s the matter with him?
ALAN: He was in
a car accident last night.
It’s all right, Steve.
It’s just Dad. It's Dad.
It’s okay.
It’s okay.
[SHUSHING] It’s okay.
I’m calling a doctor.
[WHIRRING]
DOCTOR: Scan shows
some soft tissues swelling
on the right side
of the parietal region.
There’s also a very thin
rim of what appears to be
fluid density
on the right side of
the lateral temporal region.
ALAN: Excuse me, doctor,
you lost us.
DOCTOR: I’m sorry.
Steve has a small accumulation
of fluid on the side.
That would account
for his headaches.
His blood vessels
are all intact.
His cranial nerves are normal.
Why is he acting this way?
Why doesn’t he know
who we are?
Why doesn’t he speak?
Mrs. Thompson, I can’t
find anything physically
wrong with him
that would prevent him
from speaking.
The problem might
be psychological.
There’s not been
any psychological issue.
I mean, he was fine
before the accident.
I would suggest that we
admit him for observation.
Well, there’s no point in
both of us staying here.
Okay. I’ll knock off
for a little, pick up
Shari at school.
Call me. Okay.
He’ll be all right.
Don’t worry.
Temporary global amnesia.
Amnesia?
It’s common part of
post-concussive syndrome.
Most patients...
I thought you said
it was shock.
We can only go on the basis
of the information that we
have at hand.
In this situation, most patients
will regain their memory
in a course of a few weeks.
ALAN: A few weeks?
What are we supposed
to do in the meantime?
For the time being, you have
to teach him the basic skills
that he’s forgotten.
Simple things like
brushing his teeth,
finding his way
around the house,
going to the bathroom...
Speaking?
Speaking. Vocabulary.
Just like a baby.
Pretty much. Yeah.
I’m sorry, doctor, but
what you’re saying is
very disturbing. I mean...
Why are you so
matter of fact about it?
You act as if he’s
gonna get over a cold
or something.
I’m sympathetic to
how you feel, Mrs. Thompson.
But nothing to be gained
by emotionalizing the issue.
I’m not emotionalizing,
I just want to know what
the hell’s going on with my son.
I’d like to know if
there’s anything I can do
to help him.
Amnesia is almost
always short-term.
Is there a treatment
that we can do?
Some kind of drug?
Give him lots of stimulus.
Read to him,
play with him, expose him
to activities and people.
It’ll be slow at first.
You’ll have your son back
sooner than you expect.
[SIGHS]
Mom, where’s breakfast?
I have to go to school.
Since when do you
want breakfast?
Since all the time.
I’ll go grab something.
Wait. What do you want?
I’ll get you something.
It’s okay. I gotta go.
Shari, would you
check on Steve?
Mom, I’m gonna be late.
Please?
Can’t even get to school
around here.
Hi.
Hi.
Oh, um, Mom wants you
for breakfast.
Breakfast.
What shirt do you want?
Put your arms up.
[SIGHS]
Come on.
Gotta go. Bye.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Steve?
Way to go, Shari.
Guess you forgot
your pants, huh?
Sit down over here.
Sit right here, honey.
So, what would you like
for breakfast?
Eggs?
Eggs?
Eggs...
Eggs.
Eggs.
Scrambled eggs.
Eggs.
We have a long way to go.
Hey, you can’ts make
a jackass out of me.
[STEVE LAUGHING]
And now I will
hypnotize a charming...
[RANDI GRUNTING]
I don’t know why I saved
all these stuff for.
[GRUNTS]
This would be out of date
for everybody’s grandchildren.
[HUMMING]
Hello.
Hi.
Hi, I’m Wily the Wizard.
Hi, Steve. Hi, Randi.
Hi, how are you?
I am Wily the Wizard,
and I’m going to make
Stefano The Great reappear!
Abracadabra
and shazam!
[STEVE GIGGLING]
Where’s Stefano The Great?
Stefano The Great?
Well, so much for magic.
What do we have?
Runaway Bunny...
Dr. Seuss.
You like
Dr. Seuss.
[HONKING]
What is that?
Hey, you wanna help me?
Pop-up book.
Wanna help me, Steve?
They’re books.
Open them.
Mm-hmm.
Show me one you like.
Baseball...
They’re books.
Steve, they’re books.
Books are for reading, Steve.
Steve...
Steve.
See, and now...
No.
Brush your own teeth.
Look.
Good.
Mm. Hurts.
You brush your teeth,
not your lips, genius.
RANDI:
Can you say, "tall"?
STEVE: Tall.
Mm-hmm. That’s right.
That’s the word. Tall.
T-A-L-L. Tall.
And what is that word?
You learned that
a minute ago.
A.
That’s right.
That’s right. That's it.
And next comes
the number seven.
Seven.
STEVE: Seven.
Seven. Seven.
So it’s...
BOTH: Six.
And?
Seven.
Seven.
Very good.
That’s okay.
You can get another one,
just pull the thing. Okay?
And the ball comes back.
Okay. Go. Go. Come on.
Turn it around.
Turn it around.
Come on.
Oh, right, yeah, Steve!
Yeah!
Good. Good.
Good. You know
pinball all right.
You are good!
Yes! Good!
So this punk doesn’t even know
if she has insurance?
She’s charged with
drunk driving for God’s sake.
She rear-ended him.
Yeah.
How about a nice charge
of criminal negligence?
I...
So what you’re saying to me
is that we have a woman
who has caused a lot of grief,
but we can’t do
anything about it
because she’s irresponsible?
Yeah.
Okay.
SHARI: It’s Mom's
not-too-spicy chicken strips.
STEVE: Chicken strips.
Cheese.
STEVE: Cheese.
SHARI: Tomatoes.
STEVE: Tomatoes.
SHARI: Stay away from
Dad’s hot sauce.
STEVE: Hot sauce.
We got a problem
with the woman
who hit him.
Some insurance thing.
She should be in jail.
If it wasn’t for her,
we wouldn’t be doing
any of this.
We have to think about money.
If he needs special therapy...
He’s not gonna need
special therapy.
Hmm.
Bathroom.
Mirror.
Gum ball.
Organ.
[PRESSES KEYS]
SHARI: Hey, Steve,
want some breakfast?
Shari.
My sister.
SHARI: Steve.
My brother.
Paintings.
TV.
[BELL JINGLES]
[SPLASHES]
SHARI: Steve!
Mom!
Dad! Steve’s in the pool!
Steve!
Steve!
Steve!
[COUGHING]
Are you okay?
Can you breathe?
Come here.
[COUGHING]
Are you okay?
Are you all right, Steve? Huh?
Water.
[STEVE COUGHING]
Water.
Water.
ALAN: What if you had to
pull him out yourself?
Shari couldn’t do it.
He’s a strong kid.
He could’ve drowned you.
He wouldn’t do that.
Honey, he doesn’t know.
It’s not Steve.
He’s a 140-pound baby
going through the terrible twos.
Well, we can’t lock him
in his room.
So what do we do?
We can’t child-proof the house
against a 16-year-old.
This red button right here
turns it on and off.
And these arrows
go up and down,
you can change the channel
back and forth.
Here, you try it.
You have to turn it on first.
No, just let me see.
Stop it!
Don’t. You're gonna break it!
Break it.
Don’t. Give it to me.
Don’t. Let me see it!
Stop it. Don’t.
Break it. Break it.
Don’t!
[CLANGING]
Break it. Break it!
Break it!
What’s going on?
What are you doing to him?
I didn’t do anything to him,
I was just trying to teach him.
He doesn’t understand anything.
Stop, stop, stop.
Give me this.
Give it to me.
Give it to Mommy.
Give it.
You always take his side.
Stop it.
Just stop it.
Just calm down.
Slow down.
Come on.
Take a deep breath.
[SIGHS]
Take a deep breath.
It’s okay. It's okay.
It’s okay. See,
everything’s all right.
Hi, Mrs. Thompson,
we thought we’d come by
and see how Steve is doing.
Shari said he was
coming along...
Well, yes, yes, he is...
I...
He’s just doing some,
um, exercises the doctor
told him to do.
Like running and shouting,
you know, like football.
Build him up...
So, he’s busy.
Well, here’s some cookies I...
Aw.
...made them myself.
Well, is he around?
We’d just like to say hi.
Well, I really don’t think
he’s ready yet. He's just...
He’s not a hundred percent,
you know.
We heard he had like
brain damage or something.
Yeah, some kids say
he’s paralyzed.
No, no, no, he has amnesia.
He doesn’t really
remember anything
from before the accident.
Nothing? You mean like
he won’t remember us?
No, he will.
It’s just temporary.
He’ll remember you later.
Well, um, tell him that
we came by and we miss him.
That’s very sweet of you kids.
Okay, bye.
Bye. Thanks for the cookies.
You’re welcome.
Bye, kids. Be careful.
Amnesia?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, Craigy.
How’re you doing?
Pretty bad,
about Steve, you know.
Do you wanna come in?
I thought you said that...
[CAR ENGINE STARTING]
Oh, well, it’s okay
if it’s just you,
I guess it’ll be all right.
But don’t be surprised
if he doesn’t remember
who you are.
Steve?
Guess who’s here.
Steve, look, it’s Craig.
You were on
the cycling team together.
What’s up, bro?
RANDI: It’s okay, Steve.
Craig is your friend.
Maybe I better go.
I mean, I gotta
be at school anyway.
I’m real sorry, man.
You take care.
I’ll tell you when
he gets better, Craig.
I didn’t do anything.
No one’s blaming you, Craig.
My mom said you’re probably
mad at me because
it happened to Steve and...
nothing happened to me.
RANDI: No.
I’ll call you when
he’s better, okay?
Okay?
Yeah. That’s cool.
[INDISTINCT TV CHATTER]
Oh!
Pull up your head.
Pull up your head.
[STEVE COUGHING]
Okay. Good.
SHARI:
His nickname
is Macaroon?
[LAUGHS] Oh, my God,
I didn’t know he was
born in Philadelphia.
Cool.
Oh, my God!
His fav... Oh, my God,
his favorite colors are blue,
silver, white, green, and black.
And this guy is gross.
Why is he in here?
He has so many zits.
They could at least
cover him up or something.
You’re lucky you don't have
any zits. You have lots
of possibilities.
We could do something
different with your hair
and your clothes.
Hmm. Maybe we could
do your hair like that.
I can’t help but thinking,
if he does have amnesia, what’s
his capacity for learning?
I don’t mind sending a teacher,
but if he’s not receptive...
Oh, believe me, if you
send a good teacher,
he will learn. I promise you.
Oh, Mrs. Thompson,
even three weeks is
a long time to wait,
especially in a junior year.
Maybe... if, after he recovers,
we just have him
repeat the year.
Look, you’re missing the point.
I just don’t want him to
fall behind. I want him to
graduate with his class.
We... We’ll check with
the doctor and if she
supports your request,
we’ll approve it.
[YELLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[YELLING]
[DOORBELL RINGING]
Hi, Mrs. Thompson,
I’m Ellie Kessler,
the homebound teacher.
Oh, hi, come in.
Thanks.
I’m glad you're here.
[STEVE REWINDING THE TAPE]
He watches a lot of television?
Actually, those are home movies.
You know, himself
and the family
before the accident.
But he knows
what he’s watching?
Yeah.
The doctor told me to expose him
to as many familiar things as
I could, to trigger his memory.
But he does understand
that’s him?
Yeah, I explained it to him.
He knows that that’s Steve
and he’s Steve.
Hi, Steve.
Steve, this is Mrs. Kessler.
She’s gonna help you
learn some things.
It’s okay.
Mrs. Kessler’s a friend.
So, Steve...
do you wanna study?
Good.
Turn off the television set,
and let’s get started.
Go ahead.
You can do it.
You know how.
Television off.
RANDI: Mm.
So I guess, you can
work right here, okay?
MRS. KESSLER: Great.
So, Steve, do you know
your numbers?
He can count to 30, and, um,
we’ve learned some reading,
and, um...
I guess it would be easier
if I wasn’t here, right?
Usually is.
Right.
Well, I’ll be right in here
if you need me.
Great.
You like cars?
MRS. KESSLER: Great.
Okay, now, let’s see.
These two are totaled.
Totaled. How many are left?
[LAUGHS] That’s very good.
All right. Start over.
STEVE: A...
mouse...
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
MRS. KESSLER: Whoop.
Over here.
"I...
"would...
would..."
No, the L is silent.
Anywhere. Anywhere.
Good.
"’John,' Jenny said,
Mister...
"Mister...
Ra..."
MRS. KESSLER: It’s a funny one.
Try it.
"Rai..."
Rai... Rai..."
MRS. KESSLER: Yeah,
really slowly together...
All right, what about...
six cars...
and six cars. How many do you
think that would equal?
Eleven, and...
one more.
Very good.
STEVE: "’Oh, no,'
"Jenny said quickly, ’I...
"did not say that to your
recep...’" I don't know...
Sh... that’s a "sh" sound.
"Receptionist."
Good. Good.
Okay. Let’s do another one.
Really? You think
that’s possible?
Oh, yes.
We all work with him,
we’ll help him
to function, and...
in fact, Mrs. Kessler said
she’s never worked with anyone
that’s progressed so quickly.
I suppose what we’ll do then
is we’ll test him, you know,
for re-admittance.
I don’t know if he's ready
to come back to school yet.
I’m sorry, I thought you
just said that...
I want him to graduate
with his class.
I just want him to be able to
make up the work that he lost
after he gets his memory back.
[BELL DINGING]
All right.
You... You understand that
the homebound teachers
are supplied by the District
and we have nothing
to do with that.
And also, I believe that
Mrs. Kessler is...
is assigned to the case
on interim basis.
What does that mean?
It’s just...
the District expects to make
some disposition on this
after she’s finished.
[EXHALES]
Really? I can’t believe this.
When is this?
Uh, according to the file,
next week.
Wanna give it a try?
Give it a try?
Yeah. Yeah.
Start with Shari’s bike.
It’s a little smaller.
You can use it
to get started.
Here. Climb on.
Climb on?
Yeah.
I’ll guide you, just...
just bring your leg over.
Just bring your leg over.
That’s right.
That’s right. Okay.
Oh...
Sit on the seat.
Try sit on the seat.
Oh... okay. Good. Good.
Just bring your leg through.
STEVE: Bring my leg through.
ALAN: Just bring this leg
right through.
Okay. Okay. Just put
your hands right here.
STEVE: Hands here.
ALAN: Good.
ALAN: It’s all right.
STEVE: Here.
ALAN: How does that feel?
Steve, bike-rider on TV.
[ALAN LAUGHS]
Yeah. That’s right.
Okay. It’s all right.
Don’t be scared.
I got you.
Real slow. Okay?
Don’t be scared.
Don’t be scared.
I got you.
Okay. Good.
Okay.
All right. All right.
How’s that feel, huh?
Hey, look at us!
Hey!
Yeah. Way to go, Steve.
They’re cutting Mrs. Kessler.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[GASPING]
Hey.
Hey, hey.
[PANTS]
Come here.
[PANTING]
Nothing ever goes right,
does it?
You feel like you’re
floating around on top
of everything,
and then some bureaucrat,
some damn drunk...
You’re not a quitter.
I know,
but sometimes I wish I were.
Don’t you think I'm scared
that this whole thing
isn’t gonna work,
that this is just...
he’s not... [SOBS]
[CRIES]
What am I gonna do?
RANDI: All right, Steve.
I’ll be right outside.
I’m not going anywhere.
Mom is gonna leave her purse.
See, I’ll be just sitting
right outside.
See? There’s the car keys,
and the car won’t go
anyplace without the keys.
I won’t leave until I come
and get them from Steve, okay?
Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.
Okay, Steve.
Ready to get started?
In reading,
his standard score was 48.
That’s in the fifth percentile
of his class.
It means his reading level
is below the third grade.
Spelling, 54.
Second percentile.
Arithmetic, 46.
Third percentile.
He’s doing very well
with numbers.
Mrs. Kessler said he’s doing
some fifth grade work.
My conclusion is this.
Steve is in no way ready
to return to class.
Oh, yes, that’s my point.
I think Mrs. Kessler
should stay.
He needs homebound teaching.
The District is...
there’s an incredible demand
for homebound teaching.
Well, I think Steve
deserves special consideration.
I mean, he’s going through hell.
Of course, I... everyone feels
that their own situation
is somehow unique.
Look, I don’t get this.
You act as if it’s his fault.
He didn’t do anything wrong.
We have Dr. Banks’ reports
stating that it would be
therapeutically good
for Steve to be...
Dr. Banks gave a report?
Uh, maybe we can just
cut right through this.
Uh, we all agree that
Steve should not be
thrown back into
a regular classroom situation.
It’s my recommendation
that Steve be...
admitted into
a special education class.
But isn’t that for retarded...
Actually, it’s a much
broader category.
It... it gives each student
an opportunity...
My son has amnesia.
He’s not physically handicapped,
he’s not retarded. He...
he just can’t remember
things right now,
but he will.
Your son has dyslexia,
dyscalculia, dyspraxia.
Um...
it’s a very difficult case.
My son is not a "case."
I don’t... I don't think
you should just ignore him.
Doesn’t the law say
you owe him an education?
We can’t, and don't want to
deny him education,
but we have to set some limits.
Please, it’s just
a matter of time before
he’s back to normal.
In the meantime,
I don’t think he should be
treated like a freak, or...
or just parked some place
because he’s inconvenient.
I... I don’t want you
to leave him behind.
He needs to graduate
with his class.
[BELL DINGING]
Steve.
Hey, you look great.
Hey, Steve.
Hey, my main man, what’s up?
Damn.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
He doesn’t remember?
What’s wrong with him?
Hey, hey, Steve.
It’s okay, man, it's cool.
GIRL: Guys, just
get away from him.
Mrs. Thompson.
We tried to get him out of here.
He’s not okay.
It’s okay, honey.
Mommy’s here.
He’s not better yet, is he?
He’s, um, he's all right.
Well, he doesn’t look too good.
[BELL DINGING]
STEVE: Shari?
What?
Let’s play.
[PINBALL CLATTERING]
Let’s play, Shari.
I don’t feel like it.
[PINBALL CLATTERING]
Teach me.
God...
[PINBALL CLATTERING]
[TV BLARING]
Let’s take a walk.
Shari...
Go away.
Let’s do flash cards.
[SWITCHES OFF TV]
No, Steve,
or whoever you are.
You made a fool of me today,
you know that?
Of course, you don’t know that.
You don’t know anything.
You know what kids
call me at school?
"Frankenstein’s sister."
"Weird Thompson."
How would you like that?
You’d like that just fine.
You don’t know what
anything means, anyway.
Are you mad at me?
If you stay this way...
I look at you
and you’re not there.
I need Steve.
You used to teach me.
Sometimes I look at you
and I forget,
and I almost expect you
to smile at me...
say "Shari...
you’re okay."
I need you to say
that I’m okay.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
STEVE: I need to read.
No, read.
I will read to you.
No.
No, no, no! No.
RANDI: I will read to you.
STEVE: I need to read.
Steve!
Sit down. Now.
Now, your mother will
bring you a book.
Maybe that ocean book
that you like.
[SIGHS]
MRS. KESSLER: Steve...
You’ll be able to learn.
You don’t need me.
Anyone can help you.
You’ll do it yourself.
Now,
I want you to help me
pack up my things
while I go into the kitchen
and talk to your mom, okay?
Steve’s just getting that
I can’t control him.
He can go out now
and there’s so much
that he wants to learn,
and I just can’t
keep up with him.
I mean, you could manage him
so much better.
You know, it’s none
of my business, but...
I think if I were you,
I’d consider an alternative.
What do you mean?
The doctor said it was just
gonna be a matter of weeks
before he got
his memory back.
I mean, all this is
just to stimulate.
Everybody knows that.
If I thought he was
gonna stay this way
for the rest of his life...
[SIGHS]
Um...
I better get going.
Thank you, Steve.
You are a wonderful boy.
I’m gonna miss you.
You’re going?
Go goodbye?
Yep.
You’ll go goodbye, Mrs. Kessler?
He’s great.
You’re very lucky.
Well, we have, kind of
a complicated situation here.
I’ve been through
all the reports,
tests, medical
and educational stuff,
and I can see how somebody
could come to the conclusion
that doctors are
a pretty unreliable
source of information.
Is he gonna get
his memory back?
No.
I don’t believe you.
I don’t blame you.
I wouldn’t want to
believe it either.
How do you know?
I can give you a whole
lot of medical gobbledygook
to explain it, but...
Look, don’t jerk me around.
I’ll decide what is gobbledygook
and what isn’t. All right?
Um, I didn’t mean
to be patronizing,
uh, it’s... just...
not a lot of fun for me either.
The course of the accident
caused tearing to deep
parts of the brain.
These micro tears
are undetectable,
except by inferring
their existence from
the patient’s behavior.
That’s why Dr. Banks
could be so sure
his memory would return.
She saw no evidence
of permanent brain damage,
and I’m afraid she...
led probably, you,
mistook new learning
for signs for Steve’s
memory coming back.
Everything was affected
by the accident.
Everything.
His experience,
um, what we think of
as memory,
his personality,
um, the style of his thinking,
all those almost infinite
number of building blocks,
from... from when
you first held him when
he was a crying baby,
to... the times you grounded him
for getting out of line.
[SIGHS]
All that’s gone.
You mean his whole life
is just gone?
The information is still there.
He, um...
just will never be
able to reach it.
He has severe
retrograde amnesia,
and, uh...
it’s permanent.
That’s it?
I’m sorry?
I mean, that’s all
you have to tell us?
Your opinion.
No, no. I have... I have
a lot to tell you if...
if you’re interested.
But, um...
you’re gonna have to
become parents all over again.
Thank you very much, doctor.
ALAN: I would like to call you.
There are places
I can recommend.
I will not have my son
institutionalized.
Come on, honey, let’s go.
Bye, Amy.
Bye, Steve.
Steve.
[EXHALES]
Do you know
who these people are?
My mom. My dad.
How do you know that?
They told me.
Do you know what
moms and dads are?
Yeah. They...
They give me stuff...
buy toys.
Mm-hmm.
Do you love them?
Do you know what love is?
Uh-uh.
That doesn’t prove anything.
You haven’t proved anything.
The only thing you proved
is that he hasn’t got
his memory back yet.
I will not accept the fact
that he will not remember
his own mother.
What I am to him,
or what he is to me...
You haven’t proved anything
except that...
you’re just like everybody else.
Except you’re more cruel.
Come on.
I’m sorry.
RANDI: GO ahead.
Touch the binding.
Remember how many times
you used to adjust the release?
Honey, try to remember.
They always broke open
on the cutback run.
Here. Close your eyes.
Just close your eyes.
Think about the snow.
Cold snow.
Think about it. Remember?
Snow?
[SCOFFS] Right, Randi.
You don’t even know
what snow is anymore, do you?
Hmm.
[SIGHS] Eighth grade, tennis.
Fifth grade, AYSO Soccer.
Third place.
Not a very good team,
do you remember?
And there was
Indian Guides, and...
Best Trailblazer...
[SIGHS] Cycling awards...
You don’t know what
I’m talking about, do you?
Maybe...
maybe...
if you look around this room,
I know you look
at all this stuff.
It must seem like...
I don’t know what
this must seem like to you.
But maybe...
if you...
try to...
to feel it,
and not think about it.
Understand? To feel it?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
ALAN:
Don’t open a thing yet.
Let me get in position here.
RANDI:
If you don’t believe
in Santa Claus, you can’t
open these.
So you believe?
SHARI:
Yeah.
And you too, right?
STEVE:
Yeah.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[LAUGHTER]
RANDI:
Okay, let’s see.
So, this is for Shari.
This one’s for Steve.
Okay.
Oh, candy, from you, Alan.
I got one, too.
SHARI:
Yes!
RANDI:
I knew it.
RANDI: That was the year
you got the Mercedes toy car.
Yes!
You were gonna
open that right here.
That’s it. See this?
SHARI:
I love it.
You must remember
that toy, you slept with it
for a year.
RANDI:
For Dad.
Dad’s incredible
Christmas waffles,
one time only.
Get them while they’re hot.
Oh, Daddy makes the best
waffles in the world.
Get them while they’re hot.
RANDI: Yeah, that’s the F16.
Yeah, you got the Corvette,
and the go in, that year.
Remember? Corvette,
you called it the "Vette."
That’s what you wanted
to call it.
Vette.
It’s okay, honey.
It’s getting cold.
[CHATTER ON TV]
Honey, this is beautiful.
Look what Dad got me.
This is beautiful.
ALAN:
You try it on yet?
Ta da!
Aha, there’s my
magic assistant, Craig,
who just flew in
from the Middle East.
[WITH AN ACCENT]
Oh, my goodness, it is
a great honor to be here.
Say, "Wow."
Wow. Oh, my goodness.
That’s you, honey, that's you.
Shari, the pizza is
getting old here.
Wait a minute,
I think this was alive.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
A chicken.
Not just with your
magic tricks, but...
you know, situations.
[YELLING]
Chicken? I’m fighting
for my life.
What kind of hold is this?
I don’t know,
but it’s working.
That’s Steve.
Don’t watch TV.
Steve, I want you
to look at this.
Right, Daddy.
Come on, Pa.
See, Daddy?
No!
No, please, no.
Not back in the pool!
No.
[YELLING]
Honey, I’ve got
the dishes to do,
I’ve got stuff to do.
You want me to play
with him for a while?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Call it Randi’s original.
[YELLING AND CHEERING]
I want you to pay
attention to this, Steve.
That’s a fact, Jack.
I mean, life is not...
a perfect world, I mean,
they look at me, and
look at other people.
I am beautiful.
Get up and look at this.
[SIGHS]
[TAPE REWINDING]
Steve.
[GIRL SCREAMING]
Steve, you’re all wet.
You’re so bad,
pushing people
in the pool.
What a charming host
you turned out to be.
Mm. I love you anyway.
[YELLING AND LAUGHING]
[GIRL]
I’m getting you, Steve!
Do you wanna get better?
Steve?
Stop it. Stop it!
We have to work.
GIRL:
Can I get you a towel?
Please don’t go
in the pool anymore.
Steve.
This one.
To, uh, cross country.
This one.
Junior Swim Team.
Mm...
This one.
Um, I...
Young Magician, first place.
This.
Coat for sports?
Letterman jacket.
Junior varsity.
STEVE: Steve. Craig.
Shari.
Steve.
My... My mother.
My father.
Shari.
Shari, Steve, my mother,
my fa...
Your father.
Your family, your family.
My family...
Okay.
Craig.
Yeah.
Grandma.
Yeah.
Dad and Shari.
Steve.
What?
Um...
My mother. Um...
My father.
S... Steve.
Shari with my mother?
No, no. That’s me.
Me with my mother
when I was little.
I, uh...
Okay.
Keep going.
Dad.
No.
That’s...
Shari?
Yes.
Um, Steve.
Yeah.
Shari.
Yeah.
Dad?
Yeah.
My mother.
Yeah.
Um...
Dad?
Little Steve.
Little Steve.
Steve.
Shari.
My mother.
My... My sister baby?
No, Steve when he was a baby.
That’s Steve, that's Steve,
that’s Steve, that's Steve!
Pay attention to this!
I... there was just...
Steve.
Steve.
Um...
My mother.
Steve. Steve and Craig.
Steve.
Steve.
[STEVE WHIMPERING]
Steve.
Steve.
Who’s this? Who's this?
It’s Steve, it's Steve.
That is Steve. That is Steve.
You understand?
Steve.
Your father.
My father.
Yes.
Uh...
Your mother and your father.
Your mother and your father!
Craig and Steve.
Randi. The whole family.
I... Family...
Who’s this? Who's this?
Steve.
I can’t...
Randi.
Steve!
[BANGING]
RANDI: Stop it!
Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it! No! No!
Steve! Steve, come here.
Oh, no.
[SOBS] Like the accident,
If I hit my head,
I can be old Steve.
Everybody wants old Steve.
RANDI: Oh.
[SOBBING]
I need old Steve.
[CRIES]
[SOBS]
[SIGHS]
ALAN: Randi, you’re
starting to scare me.
Honey, we’ve got to
work this out.
It’s not just Steve.
Shari’s starting
to behave like...
Randi?
[TAP RUNNING]
Randi, open the door, please.
[RANDI CRYING]
Randi?
Randi, open the...
[RANDI SCREAMING]
Randi, open the door, please.
Randi!
Open the damn door!
[RANDI SCREAMING]
[SCREAMING]
[CRYING]
MAN:
You don’t want your life...
You don’t care
about your children.
My folks were migrant laborers.
Not field workers,
day workers.
Garages, factories...
I pretty much raised myself.
I just didn’t want that.
You need her to be
a perfect wife and mother.
I never said that.
I never made her feel that.
You said she was adopted.
Yes.
MAN:
She’s trying to create
the perfect family,
to make up for the one
that she never had.
Neither of you ever had.
No problem.
[TV BLARING]
We already talked about it.
Pete says you guys
are behaving yourselves.
Kate said she’d feed you,
and one of them will stay
over at the house if you want.
Yeah.
Hey, you were the first
latchkey kid, right?
He’ll be fine.
Yeah.
Bye.
My mom needs my dad,
my brother needs my mom,
my dad doesn’t need anything.
Want a soda?
[PINBALL RATTLING]
Did you ever notice
how noisy kids are?
[SIGHS] Lately
the house is so loud.
MAN: Would you rather
not have children?
How can you say that to me?
MAN: You’re having
a hard time being a mother.
[SCOFFS]
What do you expect?
My son was in an accident.
He lost his memory.
For the last four months,
I’ve been trying to...
[EXHALES]
To...
He doesn’t remember.
What?
Anything.
Me.
He doesn’t remember me.
Everything.
All the, um...
seventeen years...
from the instant
he came out of me.
It’s gone.
Can you love him?
RANDI: I don’t know.
If he isn’t really yours.
It’s not the same as
being adopted, you know.
Isn’t it?
I worked all my life...
To make sure your children
made up for your childhood?
This is different.
You make it sound
like it’s the same thing,
this it’s not the same thing.
I gave everything I had
to my children.
My life...
One of them doesn’t
remember that anymore.
[PINBALL RATTLING]
[DINGING]
Steve, what are you doing?
You’re gonna break it.
You broke pinball!
Calm down. I just made it
so you wouldn’t break it.
You don’t break it,
I break...
Why don’t you break it?
God, I just unplugged it.
What’s the matter with you?
Everybody’s always m...
mad at me.
Nobody’s mad at you.
Everybody’s always
mad at me.
Teach me.
What?
Teach me the... the...
the... the feel.
I need it. I... I need the...
the... the feel.
To feel, you feel like,
sad, or happy.
Teach me.
I can’t.
Why?
I don’t know.
You just do it.
It just happens to you.
Why?
Why?
It’s all my fault.
How can it be your fault?
All my fault!
She said...
she said I should feel a snow.
Feel the...
The old Steve could
feel the snow.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Salt water taffy.
I think this thing
goes with your outfit.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
GIRL: Have you been
on the boat ride yet?
Come on, let’s go. Let's go.
Stop it. What are you doing?
My God.
Sick! Oh, God.
[RATTLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[BALLOON BURSTS]
[BELL DINGS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[SQUEALS]
[SQUEALS]
[SQUEALS]
[SQUEALS]
When?
Did you look?
How could you do that?
Take him to the boardwalk?
[SOBS]
It’s not my fault.
I can’t keep track of him.
He’s too big.
All you care about is him.
Let me talk to Pete.
I don’t think it's my fault.
Alan?
Yes.
Did you call the police?
I’ll be home
as soon as possible.
I don’t know about Randi.
We’ll take care of everything.
I can’t just disappear,
I have to tell her I’m leaving.
The question is
the effect on her at
this stage of the treatment.
When I make a decision,
I usually base it on two things.
What can the patient accomplish,
and what is the effect
likely to be on
the patient’s condition.
And in Randi’s situation,
I honestly don’t know
the answer.
The receptionist said
there was an emergency call
from home.
Steve is missing.
What do you mean, missing?
How could he be missing?
I don’t know.
I have to go home
and find out.
I’ll be ready in 15 minutes.
What was this little meeting?
To decide if you’re gonna
break it to me gently?
Were you even gonna
tell me at all?
[SCOFFS]
You guys must be
more nuts than I am.
[CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
BOY: Hey.
Come on over.
To the warm.
It’s okay.
Come here. It’s okay.
Everybody, this is Steve.
BOY: How’re you doing?
GIRL: Hey.
Sit down.
POLICEMAN: That’s the number
of recorded runaways.
This covers the entire country.
This could take forever.
I don’t think you understand.
Our son has amnesia.
He just wandered off.
He’s not a runaway.
You folks were out of town?
You know the state of mind
your kid was in?
Sometimes that can
make a difference.
A lot of times, parents
don’t even know what
their kid are thinking about.
Sometimes it’s hard to
keep track of what things
are going on, huh?
[PHONE RINGING]
Parents suck.
[CHUCKLES] It’s the truth.
You can go home if you want,
or you can stay here with us.
Whatever.
I don’t wanna go home.
Who needs it?
Who needs it?
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
What if he did run away?
Then we’d deal with that.
What if I drove him away?
Steve...
or whoever it is
in Steve’s body.
Hour after hour...
[SIGHS] Trying to make him
remember things.
You know...
in the end...
I actually didn’t care
if he remembered or not.
Just if he pretended
to be Steve.
I’m not gonna let you
do this to yourself.
And how in the hell
are you gonna stop me?
I lie in that bed and
that tape starts running.
I cook breakfast and
that tape starts running.
I talk to Shari, and
that tape starts running.
Don’t you think
I would stop them if I could?
God, oh, please, why are you
so damn nice to me?
God!
Don’t you understand what
I’m trying to say to you?
Maybe it’ll be better
if he just...
didn’t come back at all.
[EXHALES]
I don’t understand
how you can just take it.
I can’t.
All right? I can’t.
I thought that if
I was there for you
when you need me,
it would help you.
I guess I thought that
if you knew I was there,
it’d make up for some of
the rejection that you felt,
some of the whatever.
But it doesn’t.
You’re a bottomless pit of it.
I guess whatever
Steve was to you,
that’s all that really matters.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Became a way of life,
looking for Steve,
worrying about him.
Hasn’t it?
That’s 132!
I’m going out.
Where the hell are you going?
Who cares?
ALAN: We care.
When Steve was here,
that’s the only thing
you were interested in.
Now the only thing you
care about is that he’s missing.
[SIRENS WAILING]
[INAUDIBLE]
[COUGHS]
ALAN: Just wondering if we’re
going over the same territory.
[EXHALES]
What difference does that make?
So what?
Talked to the police.
Nothing.
Found out from Craig
where this kid, Dan, lives.
His own parents haven’t
even seen him for
a couple of weeks.
I can’t believe some people.
I mean, why don’t...
[SIGHS]
I thought I saw him today.
Bunch of kids.
I never realized there was
so many of them.
Almost like ghosts.
STEVE:
It’s a fact, Jack.
It’s not a perfect world.
I mean,
some people...
some people look at me.
I am beautiful.
I am perfect in every way.
I mean, I know it’s hard,
but what are you gonna do?
SHARI:
Oh, my God.
[LAUGHS]
STEVE:
Let’s go.
RANDI:
You kids
have a good time.
SHARI:
Bye.
RANDI:
Be careful.
[DOOR CLOSES]
ALAN: I want you to
draw something.
I can’t draw,
if you ever noticed.
Okay. You wanna tell me?
What?
Whatever. What’s bothering you?
[SCOFFS]
Old news, Dad. Who cares?
If you’re gonna be so long,
I’ll just hitch home.
Damn it, Shari.
I am sorry as hell
that things have been
so tough on you,
but how many times
do I have to tell you that?
None.
No times.
You don’t have to
tell me that any time.
You and Mom just do that
so you can feel better.
Hey, that’s fine,
but don’t expect me
to be little Miss Perfect
so Randi and Alan
can think they’re
good parents.
Don’t you talk to me
that way.
Parents aren’t perfect.
Sometimes we don’t know what
the hell we’re doing either.
I look at you sometimes
and I think "What happened
to my little girl?"
Look at your hair,
your makeup.
Sometimes I think I’m gonna
wake up in the morning,
you’ll have shaved your head.
Yeah, you can laugh,
but I really
think that sometimes.
Well...
if it’s of any consolation,
I’m not on drugs yet.
I’m leaving.
All my life, I thought...
when I’d have something
to say about it,
when I can do
something about it,
I would damn well
have a family, you know.
Everybody together, everybody...
[SIGHS]
I told Steve this thing that...
my father told me one time.
"It’s a great piece of advice
handed down from
father to son," he said.
"Make sure you get a job
where you don’t
get your hands dirty."
[SIGHS]
He didn’t know what that meant.
[SIGHS]
I don’t think I do either.
[GIRL SOBBING]
[GIRL CRYING]
Hey, Steve.
You okay?
I want to go home.
That’s cool.
Sometimes I wish I could.
Why can’t you just go home?
Just can’t.
Don’t know exactly.
I mean, at first you leave
’cause it's such a drag.
Then you just kinda
can’t go back.
I can’t stand
the sight of them.
They can’t stand
the sight of me.
You, you’re different trip.
Who knows, maybe
you can get past that.
Go back, all that.
Look, if you wanna hang,
it’s cool.
We’ll take you
if you want, whatever.
Hey, Steve.
You’re cool, man.
Don’t let anybody
tell you different.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
I love you.
I just hope I’m not
a bottomless pit.
Me too.
[DOOR OPENS]
Hi.
Steve.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Honey, can I get you something?
Hungry?
I remember this house.
You should.
I should.
Hi.
Hi.
My sister.
Shari.
My brother.
Steve.
Steve!
Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it!
How could you do this?
How could you do this?
How could you do this?
Stop it, Steve!
Stop it!
Stop it, Steve!
No! Stop it!
Steve! Stop it!
Stop it! Stop it!
No!
No!
This is not my stuff.
This is not my stuff.
It’s his.
It’s his stuff.
This is my room.
Not his.
It’s mine.
It’s my room.
I...
I want this room.
I... I want...
I... I want... a sister.
Father.
[SNIFFS]
And Mom.
I want you to be my mom.
I need you...
not his.
I... I need it.
I’m gonna need some help
picking some of the stuff up.
You’re my kid.
All right? You’re my son.
You can count on it.
You can count on it.
[PATTING]
Until the end.
Steve, I can’t
forget him but...
it doesn’t mean
that I don’t love you.
I don’t know you very well.
But I know that I love you.
And I wanna be your mom.
Yours.
When you went away and...
I thought that I had
lost you, I couldn’t stand it.
Not seeing you...
Not knowing if
you were safe or not.
Like a mom.
Like your mom, okay?
Who wants to remember
all this junk anyway.
Like, who’d you beat
to win this?
I believe my friend, Craig.
ALAN: Well, it’s gonna give
some future archaeologist
some kind of puzzle.
We should always
remember our first Steve.
He was a great kid,
a wonderful son.
Sometimes, a pain in the butt.
ALAN: Sometimes,
a pain in the butt.
Like me.
Yeah, you got that for sure.
What really makes me sad is
just what you’ve missed.
What we’ve had.
Our experiences, our memories,
with the old Steve.
Growing up with him,
living with him.
And all the feelings,
the discoveries of childhood.
We’ll have to help him
build those again.
No matter how much we love you,
we just have to try
to find a way to...
love you more.
[SERENE MUSIC PLAYING]
[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC PLAYING]
[UNINTELLIGIBLE
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[SIREN BLARING]
Steve, Steve!
Oh, God, Steve.
Steve...
MAN: You’re the mother?
Yes.
Oh, Steve.
Steve, I was so scared.
What’s the matter with him?
Why isn’t he answering me?
He’s probably in shock.
Here, give me a hand.
We’ll get him outta here.
You sure it’s all right
to move him?
We’ll get you
out of here, fella.
Yell if anything hurts.
CRAIG: The car just
came out of nowhere.
It slammed right into us.
RANDI: Are you all right?
Okay. Are you all right?
I just...
It all happened so quick.
Did somebody call your mom?
We were at the stop sign and...
RANDI: Are you okay?
CRAIG: Yeah, I guess. I mean,
it was over so quick.
What the hell happened?
The kids were rear-ended
by that vehicle.
Probably a DUI.
Extremities are responsive.
He’s got a small bump at
the back of his head.
No other sign of injury.
Well, I want
a doctor to see him.
All right.
We have to take
the other driver
It’ll be about 15 minutes
before another ambulance
can get here.
Why? She was
the one that hit him.
MAN: Doesn’t matter.
Sorry, ma’am.
You’ll have to wait.
Let’s take him ourselves.
RANDI: Come on, honey.
You’re leaving with Mom and Dad.
Here we go. Okay.
Here we go.
Careful.
[UNINTELLIGIBLE
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
RANDI: What the hell
is keeping that doctor?
I mean, he needs an X-ray,
and a blood test,
and an EKG, and an EEG,
and the whole damn alphabet.
When are they gonna
give us the result?
When are we gonna get
something done for him?
The doctor should be here soon.
Are you crazy? You think
I’m gonna let him
sit here for an hour?
If that doctor’s not here
in ten minutes, I’m gonna
go after him.
Well, my mom’s here.
I guess I better go.
Well, we’re not quite
through here yet.
Yeah, well, I hope
Steve’s gonna be okay.
ALAN: He’ll be fine.
You look great, Craigy.
Regular party guy.
CRAIG: I’ll call tomorrow.
Sorry this took so long.
Halloween.
Nurse, what’s
his blood pressure?
NURSE: 110/62.
DOCTOR: It’s a little low.
Normal for a mild shock.
He hasn’t said anything
since the accident.
MAN: We need
a nurse over here.
All right. Let’s check his eyes.
[MACHINE BEEPING]
Normal.
Normal?
[SCOFFS] He can’t talk,
he doesn’t recognize
his own parents,
he can’t walk,
you call that normal?
Your son has a mild concussion.
A minor edema at
the back of the head.
It’d probably need
a couple of days.
Edema? What is that?
Slight cerebral swelling
from the bump on the head.
It accounts for his
lack of responsiveness.
Keep him in bed
for 24 hours,
check up on him periodically
throughout the night,
if he has trouble breathing,
begins vomiting, bring him
back in right away.
He’ll have a headache tomorrow.
Just give him acetaminophen.
What is that?
Any kind of non-aspirin.
Mrs., uh, Thompson, your son
has concussive syndrome.
It’ll clear up in
a couple of days.
But doctor, he doesn’t even
know where he is.
I’ve examined him.
He’ll be all right.
Here we go.
That’s better.
Let’s just get you to your room.
We’re home now, honey.
We’ll put you to bed,
all right?
[RANDI GRUNTS]
ALAN: Come on, Steve,
just get over it.
[STEVE GASPING]
What is it?
We’re gonna put you to bed.
Come on, son,
just down the hall.
RANDI: What should we do?
[PANTING]
What is it, Steve?
We’ll let him sleep
on the couch.
I’ll make the sofa bed
up for you, okay?
Would you like that?
All right.
You’ll sleep on the couch.
ALAN: Let’s just get him
in this chair here.
RANDI: Okay.
ALAN: Come on,
get the bed up.
RANDI: Watch his head,
watch his head.
Okay.
RANDI We’re home, honey, okay?
All right.
All right. Let’s go to bed.
RANDI: Steve, come on.
ALAN: Come on.
RANDI: Here we go.
ALAN: Here we go.
RANDI: Here we go.
In you go.
Watch out for his head.
I got it.
Okay.
Here you go.
Okay.
Here. Now you just rest.
Why don’t you
get his clothes off?
I’ll go check on Shari.
Did you see the way
he looked down the hall?
Yeah.
I tried to give him some water
but he wouldn’t swallow.
He’s falling asleep.
Come on.
I just wanna stay here
for a little while.
We’ll take turns
checking on him.
He’ll be fine.
I’ll be up in a while.
He’s gonna be fine.
He’s our tough guy.
[WHISPERS] He’s our tough guy.
Bet the party’s still going on.
Come on, Steve, get up.
Gotta drive me to dance.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Steve, I’m gonna be late.
Time for morning magic.
Watch Stefano The Great get out
of this one. Ha-ha.
Are you okay?
Sorry.
You’re scaring me.
My God.
Mom?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Mom! Something’s
wrong with Steve.
I think he peed in his bed.
Steve?
Steve? What’s the matter, son?
What’s wrong with him?
Let’s sit him up, honey.
ALAN: I checked on him at 6:00.
What’s the matter with him?
ALAN: He was in
a car accident last night.
It’s all right, Steve.
It’s just Dad. It's Dad.
It’s okay.
It’s okay.
[SHUSHING] It’s okay.
I’m calling a doctor.
[WHIRRING]
DOCTOR: Scan shows
some soft tissues swelling
on the right side
of the parietal region.
There’s also a very thin
rim of what appears to be
fluid density
on the right side of
the lateral temporal region.
ALAN: Excuse me, doctor,
you lost us.
DOCTOR: I’m sorry.
Steve has a small accumulation
of fluid on the side.
That would account
for his headaches.
His blood vessels
are all intact.
His cranial nerves are normal.
Why is he acting this way?
Why doesn’t he know
who we are?
Why doesn’t he speak?
Mrs. Thompson, I can’t
find anything physically
wrong with him
that would prevent him
from speaking.
The problem might
be psychological.
There’s not been
any psychological issue.
I mean, he was fine
before the accident.
I would suggest that we
admit him for observation.
Well, there’s no point in
both of us staying here.
Okay. I’ll knock off
for a little, pick up
Shari at school.
Call me. Okay.
He’ll be all right.
Don’t worry.
Temporary global amnesia.
Amnesia?
It’s common part of
post-concussive syndrome.
Most patients...
I thought you said
it was shock.
We can only go on the basis
of the information that we
have at hand.
In this situation, most patients
will regain their memory
in a course of a few weeks.
ALAN: A few weeks?
What are we supposed
to do in the meantime?
For the time being, you have
to teach him the basic skills
that he’s forgotten.
Simple things like
brushing his teeth,
finding his way
around the house,
going to the bathroom...
Speaking?
Speaking. Vocabulary.
Just like a baby.
Pretty much. Yeah.
I’m sorry, doctor, but
what you’re saying is
very disturbing. I mean...
Why are you so
matter of fact about it?
You act as if he’s
gonna get over a cold
or something.
I’m sympathetic to
how you feel, Mrs. Thompson.
But nothing to be gained
by emotionalizing the issue.
I’m not emotionalizing,
I just want to know what
the hell’s going on with my son.
I’d like to know if
there’s anything I can do
to help him.
Amnesia is almost
always short-term.
Is there a treatment
that we can do?
Some kind of drug?
Give him lots of stimulus.
Read to him,
play with him, expose him
to activities and people.
It’ll be slow at first.
You’ll have your son back
sooner than you expect.
[SIGHS]
Mom, where’s breakfast?
I have to go to school.
Since when do you
want breakfast?
Since all the time.
I’ll go grab something.
Wait. What do you want?
I’ll get you something.
It’s okay. I gotta go.
Shari, would you
check on Steve?
Mom, I’m gonna be late.
Please?
Can’t even get to school
around here.
Hi.
Hi.
Oh, um, Mom wants you
for breakfast.
Breakfast.
What shirt do you want?
Put your arms up.
[SIGHS]
Come on.
Gotta go. Bye.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Steve?
Way to go, Shari.
Guess you forgot
your pants, huh?
Sit down over here.
Sit right here, honey.
So, what would you like
for breakfast?
Eggs?
Eggs?
Eggs...
Eggs.
Eggs.
Scrambled eggs.
Eggs.
We have a long way to go.
Hey, you can’ts make
a jackass out of me.
[STEVE LAUGHING]
And now I will
hypnotize a charming...
[RANDI GRUNTING]
I don’t know why I saved
all these stuff for.
[GRUNTS]
This would be out of date
for everybody’s grandchildren.
[HUMMING]
Hello.
Hi.
Hi, I’m Wily the Wizard.
Hi, Steve. Hi, Randi.
Hi, how are you?
I am Wily the Wizard,
and I’m going to make
Stefano The Great reappear!
Abracadabra
and shazam!
[STEVE GIGGLING]
Where’s Stefano The Great?
Stefano The Great?
Well, so much for magic.
What do we have?
Runaway Bunny...
Dr. Seuss.
You like
Dr. Seuss.
[HONKING]
What is that?
Hey, you wanna help me?
Pop-up book.
Wanna help me, Steve?
They’re books.
Open them.
Mm-hmm.
Show me one you like.
Baseball...
They’re books.
Steve, they’re books.
Books are for reading, Steve.
Steve...
Steve.
See, and now...
No.
Brush your own teeth.
Look.
Good.
Mm. Hurts.
You brush your teeth,
not your lips, genius.
RANDI:
Can you say, "tall"?
STEVE: Tall.
Mm-hmm. That’s right.
That’s the word. Tall.
T-A-L-L. Tall.
And what is that word?
You learned that
a minute ago.
A.
That’s right.
That’s right. That's it.
And next comes
the number seven.
Seven.
STEVE: Seven.
Seven. Seven.
So it’s...
BOTH: Six.
And?
Seven.
Seven.
Very good.
That’s okay.
You can get another one,
just pull the thing. Okay?
And the ball comes back.
Okay. Go. Go. Come on.
Turn it around.
Turn it around.
Come on.
Oh, right, yeah, Steve!
Yeah!
Good. Good.
Good. You know
pinball all right.
You are good!
Yes! Good!
So this punk doesn’t even know
if she has insurance?
She’s charged with
drunk driving for God’s sake.
She rear-ended him.
Yeah.
How about a nice charge
of criminal negligence?
I...
So what you’re saying to me
is that we have a woman
who has caused a lot of grief,
but we can’t do
anything about it
because she’s irresponsible?
Yeah.
Okay.
SHARI: It’s Mom's
not-too-spicy chicken strips.
STEVE: Chicken strips.
Cheese.
STEVE: Cheese.
SHARI: Tomatoes.
STEVE: Tomatoes.
SHARI: Stay away from
Dad’s hot sauce.
STEVE: Hot sauce.
We got a problem
with the woman
who hit him.
Some insurance thing.
She should be in jail.
If it wasn’t for her,
we wouldn’t be doing
any of this.
We have to think about money.
If he needs special therapy...
He’s not gonna need
special therapy.
Hmm.
Bathroom.
Mirror.
Gum ball.
Organ.
[PRESSES KEYS]
SHARI: Hey, Steve,
want some breakfast?
Shari.
My sister.
SHARI: Steve.
My brother.
Paintings.
TV.
[BELL JINGLES]
[SPLASHES]
SHARI: Steve!
Mom!
Dad! Steve’s in the pool!
Steve!
Steve!
Steve!
[COUGHING]
Are you okay?
Can you breathe?
Come here.
[COUGHING]
Are you okay?
Are you all right, Steve? Huh?
Water.
[STEVE COUGHING]
Water.
Water.
ALAN: What if you had to
pull him out yourself?
Shari couldn’t do it.
He’s a strong kid.
He could’ve drowned you.
He wouldn’t do that.
Honey, he doesn’t know.
It’s not Steve.
He’s a 140-pound baby
going through the terrible twos.
Well, we can’t lock him
in his room.
So what do we do?
We can’t child-proof the house
against a 16-year-old.
This red button right here
turns it on and off.
And these arrows
go up and down,
you can change the channel
back and forth.
Here, you try it.
You have to turn it on first.
No, just let me see.
Stop it!
Don’t. You're gonna break it!
Break it.
Don’t. Give it to me.
Don’t. Let me see it!
Stop it. Don’t.
Break it. Break it.
Don’t!
[CLANGING]
Break it. Break it!
Break it!
What’s going on?
What are you doing to him?
I didn’t do anything to him,
I was just trying to teach him.
He doesn’t understand anything.
Stop, stop, stop.
Give me this.
Give it to me.
Give it to Mommy.
Give it.
You always take his side.
Stop it.
Just stop it.
Just calm down.
Slow down.
Come on.
Take a deep breath.
[SIGHS]
Take a deep breath.
It’s okay. It's okay.
It’s okay. See,
everything’s all right.
Hi, Mrs. Thompson,
we thought we’d come by
and see how Steve is doing.
Shari said he was
coming along...
Well, yes, yes, he is...
I...
He’s just doing some,
um, exercises the doctor
told him to do.
Like running and shouting,
you know, like football.
Build him up...
So, he’s busy.
Well, here’s some cookies I...
Aw.
...made them myself.
Well, is he around?
We’d just like to say hi.
Well, I really don’t think
he’s ready yet. He's just...
He’s not a hundred percent,
you know.
We heard he had like
brain damage or something.
Yeah, some kids say
he’s paralyzed.
No, no, no, he has amnesia.
He doesn’t really
remember anything
from before the accident.
Nothing? You mean like
he won’t remember us?
No, he will.
It’s just temporary.
He’ll remember you later.
Well, um, tell him that
we came by and we miss him.
That’s very sweet of you kids.
Okay, bye.
Bye. Thanks for the cookies.
You’re welcome.
Bye, kids. Be careful.
Amnesia?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, Craigy.
How’re you doing?
Pretty bad,
about Steve, you know.
Do you wanna come in?
I thought you said that...
[CAR ENGINE STARTING]
Oh, well, it’s okay
if it’s just you,
I guess it’ll be all right.
But don’t be surprised
if he doesn’t remember
who you are.
Steve?
Guess who’s here.
Steve, look, it’s Craig.
You were on
the cycling team together.
What’s up, bro?
RANDI: It’s okay, Steve.
Craig is your friend.
Maybe I better go.
I mean, I gotta
be at school anyway.
I’m real sorry, man.
You take care.
I’ll tell you when
he gets better, Craig.
I didn’t do anything.
No one’s blaming you, Craig.
My mom said you’re probably
mad at me because
it happened to Steve and...
nothing happened to me.
RANDI: No.
I’ll call you when
he’s better, okay?
Okay?
Yeah. That’s cool.
[INDISTINCT TV CHATTER]
Oh!
Pull up your head.
Pull up your head.
[STEVE COUGHING]
Okay. Good.
SHARI:
His nickname
is Macaroon?
[LAUGHS] Oh, my God,
I didn’t know he was
born in Philadelphia.
Cool.
Oh, my God!
His fav... Oh, my God,
his favorite colors are blue,
silver, white, green, and black.
And this guy is gross.
Why is he in here?
He has so many zits.
They could at least
cover him up or something.
You’re lucky you don't have
any zits. You have lots
of possibilities.
We could do something
different with your hair
and your clothes.
Hmm. Maybe we could
do your hair like that.
I can’t help but thinking,
if he does have amnesia, what’s
his capacity for learning?
I don’t mind sending a teacher,
but if he’s not receptive...
Oh, believe me, if you
send a good teacher,
he will learn. I promise you.
Oh, Mrs. Thompson,
even three weeks is
a long time to wait,
especially in a junior year.
Maybe... if, after he recovers,
we just have him
repeat the year.
Look, you’re missing the point.
I just don’t want him to
fall behind. I want him to
graduate with his class.
We... We’ll check with
the doctor and if she
supports your request,
we’ll approve it.
[YELLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[YELLING]
[DOORBELL RINGING]
Hi, Mrs. Thompson,
I’m Ellie Kessler,
the homebound teacher.
Oh, hi, come in.
Thanks.
I’m glad you're here.
[STEVE REWINDING THE TAPE]
He watches a lot of television?
Actually, those are home movies.
You know, himself
and the family
before the accident.
But he knows
what he’s watching?
Yeah.
The doctor told me to expose him
to as many familiar things as
I could, to trigger his memory.
But he does understand
that’s him?
Yeah, I explained it to him.
He knows that that’s Steve
and he’s Steve.
Hi, Steve.
Steve, this is Mrs. Kessler.
She’s gonna help you
learn some things.
It’s okay.
Mrs. Kessler’s a friend.
So, Steve...
do you wanna study?
Good.
Turn off the television set,
and let’s get started.
Go ahead.
You can do it.
You know how.
Television off.
RANDI: Mm.
So I guess, you can
work right here, okay?
MRS. KESSLER: Great.
So, Steve, do you know
your numbers?
He can count to 30, and, um,
we’ve learned some reading,
and, um...
I guess it would be easier
if I wasn’t here, right?
Usually is.
Right.
Well, I’ll be right in here
if you need me.
Great.
You like cars?
MRS. KESSLER: Great.
Okay, now, let’s see.
These two are totaled.
Totaled. How many are left?
[LAUGHS] That’s very good.
All right. Start over.
STEVE: A...
mouse...
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
MRS. KESSLER: Whoop.
Over here.
"I...
"would...
would..."
No, the L is silent.
Anywhere. Anywhere.
Good.
"’John,' Jenny said,
Mister...
"Mister...
Ra..."
MRS. KESSLER: It’s a funny one.
Try it.
"Rai..."
Rai... Rai..."
MRS. KESSLER: Yeah,
really slowly together...
All right, what about...
six cars...
and six cars. How many do you
think that would equal?
Eleven, and...
one more.
Very good.
STEVE: "’Oh, no,'
"Jenny said quickly, ’I...
"did not say that to your
recep...’" I don't know...
Sh... that’s a "sh" sound.
"Receptionist."
Good. Good.
Okay. Let’s do another one.
Really? You think
that’s possible?
Oh, yes.
We all work with him,
we’ll help him
to function, and...
in fact, Mrs. Kessler said
she’s never worked with anyone
that’s progressed so quickly.
I suppose what we’ll do then
is we’ll test him, you know,
for re-admittance.
I don’t know if he's ready
to come back to school yet.
I’m sorry, I thought you
just said that...
I want him to graduate
with his class.
I just want him to be able to
make up the work that he lost
after he gets his memory back.
[BELL DINGING]
All right.
You... You understand that
the homebound teachers
are supplied by the District
and we have nothing
to do with that.
And also, I believe that
Mrs. Kessler is...
is assigned to the case
on interim basis.
What does that mean?
It’s just...
the District expects to make
some disposition on this
after she’s finished.
[EXHALES]
Really? I can’t believe this.
When is this?
Uh, according to the file,
next week.
Wanna give it a try?
Give it a try?
Yeah. Yeah.
Start with Shari’s bike.
It’s a little smaller.
You can use it
to get started.
Here. Climb on.
Climb on?
Yeah.
I’ll guide you, just...
just bring your leg over.
Just bring your leg over.
That’s right.
That’s right. Okay.
Oh...
Sit on the seat.
Try sit on the seat.
Oh... okay. Good. Good.
Just bring your leg through.
STEVE: Bring my leg through.
ALAN: Just bring this leg
right through.
Okay. Okay. Just put
your hands right here.
STEVE: Hands here.
ALAN: Good.
ALAN: It’s all right.
STEVE: Here.
ALAN: How does that feel?
Steve, bike-rider on TV.
[ALAN LAUGHS]
Yeah. That’s right.
Okay. It’s all right.
Don’t be scared.
I got you.
Real slow. Okay?
Don’t be scared.
Don’t be scared.
I got you.
Okay. Good.
Okay.
All right. All right.
How’s that feel, huh?
Hey, look at us!
Hey!
Yeah. Way to go, Steve.
They’re cutting Mrs. Kessler.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[GASPING]
Hey.
Hey, hey.
[PANTS]
Come here.
[PANTING]
Nothing ever goes right,
does it?
You feel like you’re
floating around on top
of everything,
and then some bureaucrat,
some damn drunk...
You’re not a quitter.
I know,
but sometimes I wish I were.
Don’t you think I'm scared
that this whole thing
isn’t gonna work,
that this is just...
he’s not... [SOBS]
[CRIES]
What am I gonna do?
RANDI: All right, Steve.
I’ll be right outside.
I’m not going anywhere.
Mom is gonna leave her purse.
See, I’ll be just sitting
right outside.
See? There’s the car keys,
and the car won’t go
anyplace without the keys.
I won’t leave until I come
and get them from Steve, okay?
Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.
Okay, Steve.
Ready to get started?
In reading,
his standard score was 48.
That’s in the fifth percentile
of his class.
It means his reading level
is below the third grade.
Spelling, 54.
Second percentile.
Arithmetic, 46.
Third percentile.
He’s doing very well
with numbers.
Mrs. Kessler said he’s doing
some fifth grade work.
My conclusion is this.
Steve is in no way ready
to return to class.
Oh, yes, that’s my point.
I think Mrs. Kessler
should stay.
He needs homebound teaching.
The District is...
there’s an incredible demand
for homebound teaching.
Well, I think Steve
deserves special consideration.
I mean, he’s going through hell.
Of course, I... everyone feels
that their own situation
is somehow unique.
Look, I don’t get this.
You act as if it’s his fault.
He didn’t do anything wrong.
We have Dr. Banks’ reports
stating that it would be
therapeutically good
for Steve to be...
Dr. Banks gave a report?
Uh, maybe we can just
cut right through this.
Uh, we all agree that
Steve should not be
thrown back into
a regular classroom situation.
It’s my recommendation
that Steve be...
admitted into
a special education class.
But isn’t that for retarded...
Actually, it’s a much
broader category.
It... it gives each student
an opportunity...
My son has amnesia.
He’s not physically handicapped,
he’s not retarded. He...
he just can’t remember
things right now,
but he will.
Your son has dyslexia,
dyscalculia, dyspraxia.
Um...
it’s a very difficult case.
My son is not a "case."
I don’t... I don't think
you should just ignore him.
Doesn’t the law say
you owe him an education?
We can’t, and don't want to
deny him education,
but we have to set some limits.
Please, it’s just
a matter of time before
he’s back to normal.
In the meantime,
I don’t think he should be
treated like a freak, or...
or just parked some place
because he’s inconvenient.
I... I don’t want you
to leave him behind.
He needs to graduate
with his class.
[BELL DINGING]
Steve.
Hey, you look great.
Hey, Steve.
Hey, my main man, what’s up?
Damn.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
He doesn’t remember?
What’s wrong with him?
Hey, hey, Steve.
It’s okay, man, it's cool.
GIRL: Guys, just
get away from him.
Mrs. Thompson.
We tried to get him out of here.
He’s not okay.
It’s okay, honey.
Mommy’s here.
He’s not better yet, is he?
He’s, um, he's all right.
Well, he doesn’t look too good.
[BELL DINGING]
STEVE: Shari?
What?
Let’s play.
[PINBALL CLATTERING]
Let’s play, Shari.
I don’t feel like it.
[PINBALL CLATTERING]
Teach me.
God...
[PINBALL CLATTERING]
[TV BLARING]
Let’s take a walk.
Shari...
Go away.
Let’s do flash cards.
[SWITCHES OFF TV]
No, Steve,
or whoever you are.
You made a fool of me today,
you know that?
Of course, you don’t know that.
You don’t know anything.
You know what kids
call me at school?
"Frankenstein’s sister."
"Weird Thompson."
How would you like that?
You’d like that just fine.
You don’t know what
anything means, anyway.
Are you mad at me?
If you stay this way...
I look at you
and you’re not there.
I need Steve.
You used to teach me.
Sometimes I look at you
and I forget,
and I almost expect you
to smile at me...
say "Shari...
you’re okay."
I need you to say
that I’m okay.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
STEVE: I need to read.
No, read.
I will read to you.
No.
No, no, no! No.
RANDI: I will read to you.
STEVE: I need to read.
Steve!
Sit down. Now.
Now, your mother will
bring you a book.
Maybe that ocean book
that you like.
[SIGHS]
MRS. KESSLER: Steve...
You’ll be able to learn.
You don’t need me.
Anyone can help you.
You’ll do it yourself.
Now,
I want you to help me
pack up my things
while I go into the kitchen
and talk to your mom, okay?
Steve’s just getting that
I can’t control him.
He can go out now
and there’s so much
that he wants to learn,
and I just can’t
keep up with him.
I mean, you could manage him
so much better.
You know, it’s none
of my business, but...
I think if I were you,
I’d consider an alternative.
What do you mean?
The doctor said it was just
gonna be a matter of weeks
before he got
his memory back.
I mean, all this is
just to stimulate.
Everybody knows that.
If I thought he was
gonna stay this way
for the rest of his life...
[SIGHS]
Um...
I better get going.
Thank you, Steve.
You are a wonderful boy.
I’m gonna miss you.
You’re going?
Go goodbye?
Yep.
You’ll go goodbye, Mrs. Kessler?
He’s great.
You’re very lucky.
Well, we have, kind of
a complicated situation here.
I’ve been through
all the reports,
tests, medical
and educational stuff,
and I can see how somebody
could come to the conclusion
that doctors are
a pretty unreliable
source of information.
Is he gonna get
his memory back?
No.
I don’t believe you.
I don’t blame you.
I wouldn’t want to
believe it either.
How do you know?
I can give you a whole
lot of medical gobbledygook
to explain it, but...
Look, don’t jerk me around.
I’ll decide what is gobbledygook
and what isn’t. All right?
Um, I didn’t mean
to be patronizing,
uh, it’s... just...
not a lot of fun for me either.
The course of the accident
caused tearing to deep
parts of the brain.
These micro tears
are undetectable,
except by inferring
their existence from
the patient’s behavior.
That’s why Dr. Banks
could be so sure
his memory would return.
She saw no evidence
of permanent brain damage,
and I’m afraid she...
led probably, you,
mistook new learning
for signs for Steve’s
memory coming back.
Everything was affected
by the accident.
Everything.
His experience,
um, what we think of
as memory,
his personality,
um, the style of his thinking,
all those almost infinite
number of building blocks,
from... from when
you first held him when
he was a crying baby,
to... the times you grounded him
for getting out of line.
[SIGHS]
All that’s gone.
You mean his whole life
is just gone?
The information is still there.
He, um...
just will never be
able to reach it.
He has severe
retrograde amnesia,
and, uh...
it’s permanent.
That’s it?
I’m sorry?
I mean, that’s all
you have to tell us?
Your opinion.
No, no. I have... I have
a lot to tell you if...
if you’re interested.
But, um...
you’re gonna have to
become parents all over again.
Thank you very much, doctor.
ALAN: I would like to call you.
There are places
I can recommend.
I will not have my son
institutionalized.
Come on, honey, let’s go.
Bye, Amy.
Bye, Steve.
Steve.
[EXHALES]
Do you know
who these people are?
My mom. My dad.
How do you know that?
They told me.
Do you know what
moms and dads are?
Yeah. They...
They give me stuff...
buy toys.
Mm-hmm.
Do you love them?
Do you know what love is?
Uh-uh.
That doesn’t prove anything.
You haven’t proved anything.
The only thing you proved
is that he hasn’t got
his memory back yet.
I will not accept the fact
that he will not remember
his own mother.
What I am to him,
or what he is to me...
You haven’t proved anything
except that...
you’re just like everybody else.
Except you’re more cruel.
Come on.
I’m sorry.
RANDI: GO ahead.
Touch the binding.
Remember how many times
you used to adjust the release?
Honey, try to remember.
They always broke open
on the cutback run.
Here. Close your eyes.
Just close your eyes.
Think about the snow.
Cold snow.
Think about it. Remember?
Snow?
[SCOFFS] Right, Randi.
You don’t even know
what snow is anymore, do you?
Hmm.
[SIGHS] Eighth grade, tennis.
Fifth grade, AYSO Soccer.
Third place.
Not a very good team,
do you remember?
And there was
Indian Guides, and...
Best Trailblazer...
[SIGHS] Cycling awards...
You don’t know what
I’m talking about, do you?
Maybe...
maybe...
if you look around this room,
I know you look
at all this stuff.
It must seem like...
I don’t know what
this must seem like to you.
But maybe...
if you...
try to...
to feel it,
and not think about it.
Understand? To feel it?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
ALAN:
Don’t open a thing yet.
Let me get in position here.
RANDI:
If you don’t believe
in Santa Claus, you can’t
open these.
So you believe?
SHARI:
Yeah.
And you too, right?
STEVE:
Yeah.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[LAUGHTER]
RANDI:
Okay, let’s see.
So, this is for Shari.
This one’s for Steve.
Okay.
Oh, candy, from you, Alan.
I got one, too.
SHARI:
Yes!
RANDI:
I knew it.
RANDI: That was the year
you got the Mercedes toy car.
Yes!
You were gonna
open that right here.
That’s it. See this?
SHARI:
I love it.
You must remember
that toy, you slept with it
for a year.
RANDI:
For Dad.
Dad’s incredible
Christmas waffles,
one time only.
Get them while they’re hot.
Oh, Daddy makes the best
waffles in the world.
Get them while they’re hot.
RANDI: Yeah, that’s the F16.
Yeah, you got the Corvette,
and the go in, that year.
Remember? Corvette,
you called it the "Vette."
That’s what you wanted
to call it.
Vette.
It’s okay, honey.
It’s getting cold.
[CHATTER ON TV]
Honey, this is beautiful.
Look what Dad got me.
This is beautiful.
ALAN:
You try it on yet?
Ta da!
Aha, there’s my
magic assistant, Craig,
who just flew in
from the Middle East.
[WITH AN ACCENT]
Oh, my goodness, it is
a great honor to be here.
Say, "Wow."
Wow. Oh, my goodness.
That’s you, honey, that's you.
Shari, the pizza is
getting old here.
Wait a minute,
I think this was alive.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
A chicken.
Not just with your
magic tricks, but...
you know, situations.
[YELLING]
Chicken? I’m fighting
for my life.
What kind of hold is this?
I don’t know,
but it’s working.
That’s Steve.
Don’t watch TV.
Steve, I want you
to look at this.
Right, Daddy.
Come on, Pa.
See, Daddy?
No!
No, please, no.
Not back in the pool!
No.
[YELLING]
Honey, I’ve got
the dishes to do,
I’ve got stuff to do.
You want me to play
with him for a while?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Call it Randi’s original.
[YELLING AND CHEERING]
I want you to pay
attention to this, Steve.
That’s a fact, Jack.
I mean, life is not...
a perfect world, I mean,
they look at me, and
look at other people.
I am beautiful.
Get up and look at this.
[SIGHS]
[TAPE REWINDING]
Steve.
[GIRL SCREAMING]
Steve, you’re all wet.
You’re so bad,
pushing people
in the pool.
What a charming host
you turned out to be.
Mm. I love you anyway.
[YELLING AND LAUGHING]
[GIRL]
I’m getting you, Steve!
Do you wanna get better?
Steve?
Stop it. Stop it!
We have to work.
GIRL:
Can I get you a towel?
Please don’t go
in the pool anymore.
Steve.
This one.
To, uh, cross country.
This one.
Junior Swim Team.
Mm...
This one.
Um, I...
Young Magician, first place.
This.
Coat for sports?
Letterman jacket.
Junior varsity.
STEVE: Steve. Craig.
Shari.
Steve.
My... My mother.
My father.
Shari.
Shari, Steve, my mother,
my fa...
Your father.
Your family, your family.
My family...
Okay.
Craig.
Yeah.
Grandma.
Yeah.
Dad and Shari.
Steve.
What?
Um...
My mother. Um...
My father.
S... Steve.
Shari with my mother?
No, no. That’s me.
Me with my mother
when I was little.
I, uh...
Okay.
Keep going.
Dad.
No.
That’s...
Shari?
Yes.
Um, Steve.
Yeah.
Shari.
Yeah.
Dad?
Yeah.
My mother.
Yeah.
Um...
Dad?
Little Steve.
Little Steve.
Steve.
Shari.
My mother.
My... My sister baby?
No, Steve when he was a baby.
That’s Steve, that's Steve,
that’s Steve, that's Steve!
Pay attention to this!
I... there was just...
Steve.
Steve.
Um...
My mother.
Steve. Steve and Craig.
Steve.
Steve.
[STEVE WHIMPERING]
Steve.
Steve.
Who’s this? Who's this?
It’s Steve, it's Steve.
That is Steve. That is Steve.
You understand?
Steve.
Your father.
My father.
Yes.
Uh...
Your mother and your father.
Your mother and your father!
Craig and Steve.
Randi. The whole family.
I... Family...
Who’s this? Who's this?
Steve.
I can’t...
Randi.
Steve!
[BANGING]
RANDI: Stop it!
Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it! No! No!
Steve! Steve, come here.
Oh, no.
[SOBS] Like the accident,
If I hit my head,
I can be old Steve.
Everybody wants old Steve.
RANDI: Oh.
[SOBBING]
I need old Steve.
[CRIES]
[SOBS]
[SIGHS]
ALAN: Randi, you’re
starting to scare me.
Honey, we’ve got to
work this out.
It’s not just Steve.
Shari’s starting
to behave like...
Randi?
[TAP RUNNING]
Randi, open the door, please.
[RANDI CRYING]
Randi?
Randi, open the...
[RANDI SCREAMING]
Randi, open the door, please.
Randi!
Open the damn door!
[RANDI SCREAMING]
[SCREAMING]
[CRYING]
MAN:
You don’t want your life...
You don’t care
about your children.
My folks were migrant laborers.
Not field workers,
day workers.
Garages, factories...
I pretty much raised myself.
I just didn’t want that.
You need her to be
a perfect wife and mother.
I never said that.
I never made her feel that.
You said she was adopted.
Yes.
MAN:
She’s trying to create
the perfect family,
to make up for the one
that she never had.
Neither of you ever had.
No problem.
[TV BLARING]
We already talked about it.
Pete says you guys
are behaving yourselves.
Kate said she’d feed you,
and one of them will stay
over at the house if you want.
Yeah.
Hey, you were the first
latchkey kid, right?
He’ll be fine.
Yeah.
Bye.
My mom needs my dad,
my brother needs my mom,
my dad doesn’t need anything.
Want a soda?
[PINBALL RATTLING]
Did you ever notice
how noisy kids are?
[SIGHS] Lately
the house is so loud.
MAN: Would you rather
not have children?
How can you say that to me?
MAN: You’re having
a hard time being a mother.
[SCOFFS]
What do you expect?
My son was in an accident.
He lost his memory.
For the last four months,
I’ve been trying to...
[EXHALES]
To...
He doesn’t remember.
What?
Anything.
Me.
He doesn’t remember me.
Everything.
All the, um...
seventeen years...
from the instant
he came out of me.
It’s gone.
Can you love him?
RANDI: I don’t know.
If he isn’t really yours.
It’s not the same as
being adopted, you know.
Isn’t it?
I worked all my life...
To make sure your children
made up for your childhood?
This is different.
You make it sound
like it’s the same thing,
this it’s not the same thing.
I gave everything I had
to my children.
My life...
One of them doesn’t
remember that anymore.
[PINBALL RATTLING]
[DINGING]
Steve, what are you doing?
You’re gonna break it.
You broke pinball!
Calm down. I just made it
so you wouldn’t break it.
You don’t break it,
I break...
Why don’t you break it?
God, I just unplugged it.
What’s the matter with you?
Everybody’s always m...
mad at me.
Nobody’s mad at you.
Everybody’s always
mad at me.
Teach me.
What?
Teach me the... the...
the... the feel.
I need it. I... I need the...
the... the feel.
To feel, you feel like,
sad, or happy.
Teach me.
I can’t.
Why?
I don’t know.
You just do it.
It just happens to you.
Why?
Why?
It’s all my fault.
How can it be your fault?
All my fault!
She said...
she said I should feel a snow.
Feel the...
The old Steve could
feel the snow.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Salt water taffy.
I think this thing
goes with your outfit.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
GIRL: Have you been
on the boat ride yet?
Come on, let’s go. Let's go.
Stop it. What are you doing?
My God.
Sick! Oh, God.
[RATTLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[BALLOON BURSTS]
[BELL DINGS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[SQUEALS]
[SQUEALS]
[SQUEALS]
[SQUEALS]
When?
Did you look?
How could you do that?
Take him to the boardwalk?
[SOBS]
It’s not my fault.
I can’t keep track of him.
He’s too big.
All you care about is him.
Let me talk to Pete.
I don’t think it's my fault.
Alan?
Yes.
Did you call the police?
I’ll be home
as soon as possible.
I don’t know about Randi.
We’ll take care of everything.
I can’t just disappear,
I have to tell her I’m leaving.
The question is
the effect on her at
this stage of the treatment.
When I make a decision,
I usually base it on two things.
What can the patient accomplish,
and what is the effect
likely to be on
the patient’s condition.
And in Randi’s situation,
I honestly don’t know
the answer.
The receptionist said
there was an emergency call
from home.
Steve is missing.
What do you mean, missing?
How could he be missing?
I don’t know.
I have to go home
and find out.
I’ll be ready in 15 minutes.
What was this little meeting?
To decide if you’re gonna
break it to me gently?
Were you even gonna
tell me at all?
[SCOFFS]
You guys must be
more nuts than I am.
[CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
BOY: Hey.
Come on over.
To the warm.
It’s okay.
Come here. It’s okay.
Everybody, this is Steve.
BOY: How’re you doing?
GIRL: Hey.
Sit down.
POLICEMAN: That’s the number
of recorded runaways.
This covers the entire country.
This could take forever.
I don’t think you understand.
Our son has amnesia.
He just wandered off.
He’s not a runaway.
You folks were out of town?
You know the state of mind
your kid was in?
Sometimes that can
make a difference.
A lot of times, parents
don’t even know what
their kid are thinking about.
Sometimes it’s hard to
keep track of what things
are going on, huh?
[PHONE RINGING]
Parents suck.
[CHUCKLES] It’s the truth.
You can go home if you want,
or you can stay here with us.
Whatever.
I don’t wanna go home.
Who needs it?
Who needs it?
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
What if he did run away?
Then we’d deal with that.
What if I drove him away?
Steve...
or whoever it is
in Steve’s body.
Hour after hour...
[SIGHS] Trying to make him
remember things.
You know...
in the end...
I actually didn’t care
if he remembered or not.
Just if he pretended
to be Steve.
I’m not gonna let you
do this to yourself.
And how in the hell
are you gonna stop me?
I lie in that bed and
that tape starts running.
I cook breakfast and
that tape starts running.
I talk to Shari, and
that tape starts running.
Don’t you think
I would stop them if I could?
God, oh, please, why are you
so damn nice to me?
God!
Don’t you understand what
I’m trying to say to you?
Maybe it’ll be better
if he just...
didn’t come back at all.
[EXHALES]
I don’t understand
how you can just take it.
I can’t.
All right? I can’t.
I thought that if
I was there for you
when you need me,
it would help you.
I guess I thought that
if you knew I was there,
it’d make up for some of
the rejection that you felt,
some of the whatever.
But it doesn’t.
You’re a bottomless pit of it.
I guess whatever
Steve was to you,
that’s all that really matters.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Became a way of life,
looking for Steve,
worrying about him.
Hasn’t it?
That’s 132!
I’m going out.
Where the hell are you going?
Who cares?
ALAN: We care.
When Steve was here,
that’s the only thing
you were interested in.
Now the only thing you
care about is that he’s missing.
[SIRENS WAILING]
[INAUDIBLE]
[COUGHS]
ALAN: Just wondering if we’re
going over the same territory.
[EXHALES]
What difference does that make?
So what?
Talked to the police.
Nothing.
Found out from Craig
where this kid, Dan, lives.
His own parents haven’t
even seen him for
a couple of weeks.
I can’t believe some people.
I mean, why don’t...
[SIGHS]
I thought I saw him today.
Bunch of kids.
I never realized there was
so many of them.
Almost like ghosts.
STEVE:
It’s a fact, Jack.
It’s not a perfect world.
I mean,
some people...
some people look at me.
I am beautiful.
I am perfect in every way.
I mean, I know it’s hard,
but what are you gonna do?
SHARI:
Oh, my God.
[LAUGHS]
STEVE:
Let’s go.
RANDI:
You kids
have a good time.
SHARI:
Bye.
RANDI:
Be careful.
[DOOR CLOSES]
ALAN: I want you to
draw something.
I can’t draw,
if you ever noticed.
Okay. You wanna tell me?
What?
Whatever. What’s bothering you?
[SCOFFS]
Old news, Dad. Who cares?
If you’re gonna be so long,
I’ll just hitch home.
Damn it, Shari.
I am sorry as hell
that things have been
so tough on you,
but how many times
do I have to tell you that?
None.
No times.
You don’t have to
tell me that any time.
You and Mom just do that
so you can feel better.
Hey, that’s fine,
but don’t expect me
to be little Miss Perfect
so Randi and Alan
can think they’re
good parents.
Don’t you talk to me
that way.
Parents aren’t perfect.
Sometimes we don’t know what
the hell we’re doing either.
I look at you sometimes
and I think "What happened
to my little girl?"
Look at your hair,
your makeup.
Sometimes I think I’m gonna
wake up in the morning,
you’ll have shaved your head.
Yeah, you can laugh,
but I really
think that sometimes.
Well...
if it’s of any consolation,
I’m not on drugs yet.
I’m leaving.
All my life, I thought...
when I’d have something
to say about it,
when I can do
something about it,
I would damn well
have a family, you know.
Everybody together, everybody...
[SIGHS]
I told Steve this thing that...
my father told me one time.
"It’s a great piece of advice
handed down from
father to son," he said.
"Make sure you get a job
where you don’t
get your hands dirty."
[SIGHS]
He didn’t know what that meant.
[SIGHS]
I don’t think I do either.
[GIRL SOBBING]
[GIRL CRYING]
Hey, Steve.
You okay?
I want to go home.
That’s cool.
Sometimes I wish I could.
Why can’t you just go home?
Just can’t.
Don’t know exactly.
I mean, at first you leave
’cause it's such a drag.
Then you just kinda
can’t go back.
I can’t stand
the sight of them.
They can’t stand
the sight of me.
You, you’re different trip.
Who knows, maybe
you can get past that.
Go back, all that.
Look, if you wanna hang,
it’s cool.
We’ll take you
if you want, whatever.
Hey, Steve.
You’re cool, man.
Don’t let anybody
tell you different.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
I love you.
I just hope I’m not
a bottomless pit.
Me too.
[DOOR OPENS]
Hi.
Steve.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Honey, can I get you something?
Hungry?
I remember this house.
You should.
I should.
Hi.
Hi.
My sister.
Shari.
My brother.
Steve.
Steve!
Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it!
How could you do this?
How could you do this?
How could you do this?
Stop it, Steve!
Stop it!
Stop it, Steve!
No! Stop it!
Steve! Stop it!
Stop it! Stop it!
No!
No!
This is not my stuff.
This is not my stuff.
It’s his.
It’s his stuff.
This is my room.
Not his.
It’s mine.
It’s my room.
I...
I want this room.
I... I want...
I... I want... a sister.
Father.
[SNIFFS]
And Mom.
I want you to be my mom.
I need you...
not his.
I... I need it.
I’m gonna need some help
picking some of the stuff up.
You’re my kid.
All right? You’re my son.
You can count on it.
You can count on it.
[PATTING]
Until the end.
Steve, I can’t
forget him but...
it doesn’t mean
that I don’t love you.
I don’t know you very well.
But I know that I love you.
And I wanna be your mom.
Yours.
When you went away and...
I thought that I had
lost you, I couldn’t stand it.
Not seeing you...
Not knowing if
you were safe or not.
Like a mom.
Like your mom, okay?
Who wants to remember
all this junk anyway.
Like, who’d you beat
to win this?
I believe my friend, Craig.
ALAN: Well, it’s gonna give
some future archaeologist
some kind of puzzle.
We should always
remember our first Steve.
He was a great kid,
a wonderful son.
Sometimes, a pain in the butt.
ALAN: Sometimes,
a pain in the butt.
Like me.
Yeah, you got that for sure.
What really makes me sad is
just what you’ve missed.
What we’ve had.
Our experiences, our memories,
with the old Steve.
Growing up with him,
living with him.
And all the feelings,
the discoveries of childhood.
We’ll have to help him
build those again.
No matter how much we love you,
we just have to try
to find a way to...
love you more.
[SERENE MUSIC PLAYING]