Tale of Two Sisters (1989) - full transcript

[music playing]

[rumble]

NARRATOR: It was
the worst of times.

It was the worst of times.

Lovely Lizzie signed
that check as diamonds

hang from your throttled neck.

You try so hard to
peer inside, not seeing

beyond what has already died.

Rebel rouser, call me Phyl.

Dress so dark,
won't take the pill.

Live to love yet love to hate.



You hold the key
that guard the gate.

Six years passed,
yet not a word.

Nothing shared,
the rumor stirred.

Friends as kids, yet torn apart.

Regretting now the
change of heart.

So what then was the ugly deed?

A broken promise, petty greed?

Did one depart with no
remorse, menstrual mood,

unsigned divorce?

Was it wicked sin
or childish play?

Or did one forget
the other's birthday?

White knuckles bang
the door of fate.

Inside she waits
in strong debate.

Mistake, perhaps, this
forced reunion as destiny



invites confusion.

ELIZABETH (VOICEOVER):
When I look into a mirror,

I see a stranger looking back.

When I look into a
mirror, I see an ugly man

with cancer on his face.

[accordion music]

[drums]

[scream]

[music playing]

Let's get you a drink.

I'll get it.

Phyl.

Elizabeth.

[eerie music]

May I take your coat?

No.

Thanks, but thanks.

How was the flight?

Good.

It was really good, you
know, like a flight.

You have a really great place.

Thank you.

Hoity toity.

I like it.

You look good.

Are you good?

I'm good.

I'm starving.

Thank you, Cha-Cha.

Could you bring some
champagne out please?

Did you say Cha-Cha?

Yeah, it's her name.

Oh, OK.

Got yourself a slave, huh?

Yeah.

Get her to do all
the work for you.

She does get paid, you know.

I know.

She looks pretty happy.

She is.

Hm, this looks quaint.

Dig in.

All right.

Fabulous, champagne.

I think I need a glass.

Me too.

Thank you, Cha-Cha.

You drink, right?

I sure do.

Haven't changed.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[eerie music]

Will there be anything else?

Um, this is fine.

Thanks.

Thanks a lot.

To, uh--

Life.

OK, life.

Welcome to LA.

[burp]

Sorry, I'm sure it's expensive.

Um--

It's not cheap.

Actually, I don't know.

My neighbor gave it to me.

Eh, it's all right.

I would have bought
a cheaper one though.

You haven't changed a bit.

Nope.

Oh.

So you got a boyfriend?

Uh, not at this exact moment.

Not at this exact moment.

I dumped him.

Long relationship?

It was sort of long,
about two month.

Two months, that's a record.

Yeah.

What about work?

Uh, it's good.

I've been working
a lot, actually.

I saw one of your exhibits.

Was that the
elephant photo essay?

Yes.

I especially liked the one with
the midget on the elephant.

Yeah well, I like midgets.

You know that.

It looked like Mom.

Kind of ironic there.

Mom looks like
anything deformed.

You smoke?

You never smoked.

Well, Jean Louis
smokes, so it's

kind of hard to
live with a smoker

unless you smoke yourself.

Jean Louis smokes,
so you smoke?

Ha ha, I think it's funny.

I think it's really
funny, actually.

You're smoking.

I mean--

ELIZABETH: You used to smoke.

Yeah, but I was
sort of doing it--

You were 12.

You used to smoke.

Yeah, but I was
doing it for show.

Is that why you're doing it?

No, I just got
used to it, I guess.

I've only been doing
it for two months.

Two months of this,
looking really cool.

So you're addicted, right?

Two months and you're addicted.

Not at all.

So you're just smoking.

Yes, I'm smoking, Phyllis.

I'm smoking, yes.

Don't get sensitive.

Jesus, I'm just
saying you're smoking.

Anyway, you ever
talk to Mom or Dad?

Nope.

You?

Every day.

How's Mom?

[eerie music]

ELIZABETH: She's great.

She's great.

How long has it been since
we've seen each other?

ELIZABETH: My wedding.

Six years next month.

Six years.

I'll never forget that.

Boy, did you make a scene.

It was the only wedding I've
ever been to then, you know,

or since.

And I don't want to go
to any more weddings.

That's depressing, boy.

Whoo, it's like a funeral.

It's like death.

You have such a
macabre outlook.

[eerie music]

[laughter]

NARRATOR: Who is Mom?

Why is Mom?

What is Mom?

You know I've been
going through this really

weird feeling lately about just
knowing I'm going to die young.

I think everybody goes
through that at a certain age.

I went through it too.

No, but I--

ELIZABETH: Then we sort
of push it to the limit.

I mean really, though.

I mean really.

ELIZABETH: In what way?

Like every single
night, I wake up

feeling completely alone like--
like I know I'm going to die.

Suddenly I had this realization.

I'm going to die.

Have you been self-destructive?

Have I been self-destructive?

No.

Doing drugs, or-

No.

Drinking too much, or--

No.

I drink, but I don't drink much.

ELIZABETH: It could just be fear
of failure, fear of success,

fear of changing, growing old.

No, it's fear of death.

Fear of ending--

ELIZABETH: Why do
you fear death?

Everything.

ELIZABETH: Why do
you fear death?

I think I fear death
mainly because I-- I--

I think I like life a lot.

Even though it sucks, I like it.
-Do you?

Yeah.

That's good to hear.

PHYL: You don't even
think about death, do you?

Never.

PHYL: Just positive.

I'm going to live forever.

PHYL: You're a pretty corpse.

Burn me.

Eh, then I think burning flesh.

It makes me sick.

ELIZABETH: Do you
remember the time when

you were sitting on the stove?

And Mom said, don't
touch the stove.

We had that stupid housekeeper.

She left for 10 minutes, and
you burnt the entire-- oh God,

I'll never forget the smell.

Burning flesh.

Yep, and the stink of your
own flesh is even worse.

ELIZABETH: And you did not cry.

You refused to cry.

I never cried.

I never cried.

Just when you're alone.

[music playing]

ELIZABETH (VOICEOVER):
I wish I could

tell Phyl about my real fears.

I fear that I'll be
forgotten once I'm buried.

The years melt into my skin
like waves into the beach.

Time is supposed
to be for living.

I spend my time waiting.

Waiting for what, I don't know.

I know my life will leave the
same everlasting impression

as a footprint in the sand.

[eerie music]

It hasn't been easy
raising those two demons.

I said, no running.

No running in the house.

No running!

I have two of the most
beautiful daughters you'd

ever want to see in your life.

Oh, they are so great.

They are so gorgeous.

So we talk a lot, my daughters
and I. We have our-- I--

I talk to them like
I'm-- like I'm Judge

Hardy and they're Mickey
Rooney or something.

We have that father-- father
and daughter relationship where

we just talk to each other.

Reggie, would you like
to do some singing?

Huh, you want to sing with us?

Huh?

Let's sing.

(SINGING) Do, re, ah,
ah, ee, ah, ee, ah.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

[howling]

Sh, sh, sh.

Sh.

Get away.

Go, go.

No, it's OK.

Sweet--

Get off the table!

Come on, go.

Well-- oh, that's attractive.

PHYL: I know.
-Thank you.

Thank you.

This is a classy joint, here.

PHYL: I know.

I'm pregnant.

PHYL: Are you kidding?

You're pregnant!

I had this whole way
planned of telling you.

I was going to build up to it.

Say, do you notice a blossom?

I do notice a sort
of fat glow about you.

ELIZABETH: Thank you.

No, not really.

You're just a little bloated.

ELIZABETH: I'm pregnant.

I think that's--

ELIZABETH: I'm so excited.

That's great.

ELIZABETH: I am so-- me, a mom.
-I can see it.

I can see it.

ELIZABETH: The quintessential
Beverly Hills mother.

Absolutely.

I'm two weeks pregnant,
I went maternity shopping.

OK, it's me.

I get carried away.

I'm sorry.

I go into the store,
oh, I'll take that.

How long are you, darling?

Two weeks.

I may even lose--
I mean, you know.

But it's-- it's just me.

I'm really looking forward
to all the stupid things.

All the-- you know--
the-- I don't know.

Taking him for picnics.

And why do I say he?

I know it's going to
be a boy because God

forbid there be a little
Elizabeth running around here.

PHYL: You don't
want a girl at all?

Would you want
another one of me?

PHYL: No.
ELIZABETH: Would you--

PHYL: I want another one of Mom.

ELIZABETH: Thank you.

Oh, God.

But I bet you it will
look just like Jean Louis.

Jean Louis.

ELIZABETH: Is he going
to have his nose?

I hope not.

You should really
be concentrating

on being pregnant, and
being fat, and seeing

what it's like to have--

You're really into
this fat thing.

Well of course I am.

I mean first of all,
you have your body.

It's completely normal all
the way throughout your life.

Right?
And all of a sudden, you're fat.

And all of a sudden you
have the swollen feet.

This is what I hear, of course.

Well yeah, but I
mean there are people.

Believe me, I know
these women, who

will not have children because
they're afraid of getting

stretch marks.

Now to me, it's going to be
the first time in my life

I can be a pig.

I can be a pig.

I can eat 24 hours and
day, and I can justify it.

I'm pregnant.

Have another helping, dear.

That's fine because
I'm pregnant.

It's going to be great!

I mean it's-- I can
eat anything I want.

All these years of no eating--

Yep, no guilt. No guilt at all.

It will be great.

Wait a minute, you're smoking?

ELIZABETH: No.

Baby killer sticks.

ELIZABETH: I'm two
weeks pregnant.

Two weeks pregnant,
the baby's in there.

You're killing it.

It's a little embryo.

It's not even-- it's-- it's--

NARRATOR: Black and
blue skid mark lunch box

drools pasta free.

Frozen bacon pie
suffering from the heat

cries out in the siren of pork.

Freeze frame.

Mom and Dad are trying
to think, we hope.

I starting collecting
these when I was about--

well, when my birthday was.

And that's when I got this.

And so the first time I ever
used it was-- all these bees

came into my house because their
hive was on top on my roof.

And so I found all these
dead bees all around.

And so I put them right in here.

And then--

[music playing]

I think all this
blackness and rebellion

is just a bunch of bull.

PHYL: Do you?

Yeah, I think it's
real pretentious.

I think you're faking it.

You want to talk about fake?

I think you think you're
being really trendy

really cool, really New York.

Can I ask you a question?

ELIZABETH: Any time.

How long did it take
you to get yourself

to look like that this morning?

Only about half
as long as it took

you to look bad on purpose.

At least I take pleasure
in being a woman.

Being a woman?

That's being a woman,
slicking your hair back?

I don't claim to be a woman.

Why don't you just go gay
and come out of the closet.

Maybe I have already.

Don't make me sick.

PHYL: You're always
sick, aren't you?

No, I said don't make me sick.

That's your being
sick making me sick.

This is really pleasant.

PHYL: I'm so glad
I got to meet--

[inaudible] on a weekend.

PHYL: Thanks.

[eerie music]

Phyl, Elizabeth,
leave me alone.

I've had enough of you.

I can't stand you.

Everywhere I go,
you're around me.

I'm going to send you off to
military school, you maggots.

I can't handle you.

Just get away from me.

Leave me alone and
stay out of my things.

I hate you.

I hate you.

We're going to send
you to military school.

You're going to military school.

You too.

What are you staring
at, you little maggot?

I hate you!

NARRATOR: Know how to begin?

There they go.

Chicken fight.

They must be women.

They must be cats.

Twice the size of
each other's girth,

twisting, shouting,
screaming, clawing.

So sense, no sound,
no love, no hate.

Flavor pie with a
twist of Gandhi.

I want to talk about
phoniness for just one minute.

Right.

First of all, I detect
a distinct difference

in your nose, like maybe
something has been changed.

I'm not sure.

I don't want to be presumptuous
here, but I noticed a little--

Listen, a lot has changed
in five years, Phyl.

A nose changed in five years.

I think noses--

It's none of your business.

It's just the point.

It's none of your
business anymore.

You're miserable.

I'm fine.

I'm happy.

PHYL: But you know what?

I'm happy.

PHYL: I think you're
miserable too.

You hope that I
would be miserable.

That justifies
your miserableness.

What am I, your psychotherapist?

Is that you need,
to talk to somebody?

I'm happy to talk to you, but
don't start with my problems.

I don't have any problems.

Oh, no problems.

She's problem-free.

ELIZABETH: You sound like Mom.

You look like Mom.

Thank you.

PHYL: You're welcome.

She has a nose job too.

ELIZABETH: What is the
big deal about my nose?

Fine, I'm plastic, head to toe.

Now can we start a new subject?

Let's get to the point.

Point-- yeah, it
does have a point.

Doesn't it?

ELIZABETH: Why don't
you talk to Mom?

Because I hate her.

ELIZABETH: Why?

Because she is a plastic bitch.

[laughter]

[eerie music]

ELIZABETH: That would
be a great excuse.

That would be a great
reason, but she's never

done anything to hurt you.

PHYL: You know that she--

ELIZABETH: All I know is
all your life, you have been

this rebellious,
miserable little sh--

why do you try to be ugly?

Why do you try
and hurt yourself?

Why do you try and make
other people angry?

What are you hiding from?

People like you.

ELIZABETH: So why are you here?

Look, my life is
fine without you.

I don't need a sister, OK.

I never had one.

When I needed you, I tried.

You weren't there.

And I don't need you now.

You need me more
than you ever did.

ELIZABETH: I don't need you.

You have become this
complete non-person.

You have become--

ELIZABETH: You are
so pretentious.

You so-- Why don't
you go back to Tribeca

and live in your loft.

Ooh, God.

ELIZABETH: New York, oh
you're just so New York.

[eerie music]

NARRATOR: Gandhi's
back teeth pudding.

When offered gum, she
replied, no thanks.

When I chew gum, I
think I chew gum.

Korean hair and coconut
milk frozen juice bars.

Oversized man fell
overboard, splash.

Yes, Phyllis, she smokes.

Dog tooth necklace
worn by a cat.

The tension mounts.

Vaginal riots in
the Middle East.

Do I have a choice?

Do I have an option?

Mommy, I love you.

Boogie mama, disco
queen, midnight whore.

Peas and onions.

Of course, peas and onions.

You hate everything.

You hate LA.

You hate my plasticity.

PHYL: Yeah, I do.

It's real.

I'm sorry.
PHYL: Real?

Open your eyes.
PHYL: Real?

Yeah.

PHYL: Like "Dynasty" is real?

You just love to stick people
into these little molds.

Well, you fit so
perfectly into a mold.

ELIZABETH: So then
leave the mold.

You and Mom are exactly alike.

ELIZABETH: Thank you.

You are exactly alike.
ELIZABETH: Thank you.

In fact, I'm sure that
you'll be getting a breast

job any minute now
because your boobs

are going to start sagging.

You're excused.

Phyl, she'll probably
marry a clown.

That's all she knows how
to go out with, clowns.

That's why you wore
ripped jeans to my wedding.

So?

ELIZABETH: That was nice.

I drew a picture on my knee.

Why did you even
bother showing up?

Because I wanted to see you
in your blissful happiness.

ELIZABETH: You wanted to
see me walk and suffer.

Are you happy now with
Jean Louis telling you

what to do all the time.

I hate French men.

For somebody who hasn't
been involved in my life

and has no right to
make any judgments,

I don't even have to explain
what my relationship is.

Do you still run whenever he
tells you to get him something?

He's been very good to me.

And at least I've opened up and
tried to have a relationship.

Unlike you, who's run from
anything good in your life.

I don't need to
have a relationship.

You don't need
anything, do you?

PHYL: That's right.

I don't.
-Oh fine.

You're just great by yourself.

Then, go.

PHYL: I'm happy.
I'm happy.

I'm glad.
PHYL: I can be happy.

You look happy.

You look happy.

I don't have to have
somebody to absorb into.

I can sit there.

And I can be alone.

And I can have a good time.

You know what I think
you do when you're alone?

I think you get really scared.

I think that's why you have--
have this sick sort of thing

about always having
to be with a guy.

Ever since you were 13,
you had a boyfriend.

And there was never one moment
you didn't have a boyfriend.

You had no space
in between guys.

ELIZABETH: I like love.
-Love?

ELIZABETH: I'm
not afraid of love

You like being
with someone else.

You can't even
spend one minute--

What is wrong with that?
We're human beings.

We're supposed to be
with other people.

You want to be
alone, live alone.

Be a hermit.
I can see you.

You're going to be 60
years old, unhappy,

no children, no grandchildren.

Fine, you'll be miserable.
-No.

No, I won't.
ELIZABETH: Yeah, you will.

No, I'll be with
someone that I finally

eventually want to be with.

At least I don't have sex
with guys-- constantly

have to be with them.

You've had plenty of sex,
but do you ever make love?

Ooh, oh, God.

Talk about psychology 101.

Give me a break.

A little Zen wouldn't hurt you.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Love seldom
has a point of view.

It stalks its prey
like vultures do.

One never expects
it from me of you,

as the jester mocks
his piercing cue.

Be careful.

We smell an erection.

[cartoon-like music]

Mommy, Mommy.

Phyl cut her finger.

She needs a Band-Aid.

Phyl, you're always having
problems disturbing me.

Were you in my things again?

You know better than that.

NARRATOR: The blue
hangman chewed glass

on the Wisconsin-bound
A train last night.

Cross-examined by his own
peers, he forgave their trust

and headed east, away from
the sun, away from himself.

Pick up those toys.

You know, whatever
I do for my wife,

she doesn't seem
to be satisfied.

Phyl looks like a boy.

I could have done so
many other things.

I don't mean sexually.

She must have been satisfied.

[train whistle]

What did she ever do to you?

Oh my God.

She completely ignored me.

I mean, she had absolutely no
interest in my life at all.

She hated my friends.

She hated everything about me.

I mean she never even went
to see any of my art shows

when I was in high school.

You know that.

All she did was go
to your functions

and your little plays.

And she never was interested
in my life at all.

She always treated you like
the little princess, you know.

And I know you
were a wanted baby.

And I know I wasn't
a wanted baby.

They didn't want me, and I think
she even tried to abort me.

I heard her talking to
Dad about that once.

And you know, one thing I can't
believe more than anything is

that I caught her more than
once poking the gardener over

and over again.

I mean, I can't even
believe that she did that.

I'm going to tell you
something about Mom, Phyl.

She has never, never
cheated on Dad.

You weren't there
watching, were you?

[music playing]

[scream]

[laughter]

[crying]

Liz!

Liz, I-- I-- Phyl, Phyl, Phyl.

Phyl, where are you?

Honey, where are you?

I want you.

[music playing]

You're exactly alike.

You are exactly alike.

You don't even know her.

What the hell do
you know anyway?

How can I even tell you
what I'm thinking about her

because you are exactly alike.

You won't even know
the difference.

I'm listening, but
you never listen.

Just take a chance and open up.

You are so blind.

I can't even believe it.

Blind to what?

Blind to who you are and
they way you are with Mom,

and the way you
guys are together.

Look, Mom is fine.

You're the one with the problem.
All right?

No, Mom is not fine.

She's 62 and wearing high
heeled shoes and tight pants.

What the hell is
wrong with that?

She's sickening.

She's sickening.

You're just-- you're
just jealous, that's all.

No, I'm not jealous.

She's an embarrassment!

How did she hurt you anyway?

What did she do to you?

Look at all the shit
you've done to her.

Look at all the stuff
you've done to her.

I didn't do anything to her.

I was just born,
and she hated me.

ELIZABETH: You hurt her so
bad, you don't even know.

Why?

She doesn't deserve it.
-No.

No, I don't think it's hurt.

I think it's more
like disappointed her.

I didn't do anything
right for her.

I didn't do one thing right.

You looked right.

Everything was
perfect that you did.

Everything I did sucked.

You are so narrow minded.

You never gave the woman
a chance to be a mother.

She loves you so
much it hurts her.

All she does is ever
try and try with you,

and you push her away.

You are so full of it.

Phyl, why don't
you just grow up?

I can't believe that
you actually think--

I'm defending her
because she loved

me because I let her love me.

She's a damn good mother.

If you would just open
your eyes and stop being so

goddamn immature, you'd learn.

Boy, I can't believe it.

You're so dramatic.

You always get--

ELIZABETH: Go to hell.

You just flick everything
away like it's nothing.

And that's what your life is.

It's nothing.

Mom is a good woman.

She tries.

She works her butt off.

She's 62 years old
and she's still trying

to know you, her daughter.

She's not ever real.

I mean, do you
realize this crystal

thing that she's getting into?

She's into crystals now.

She's in that Ramtha thing.

I mean this is sad.

This is something that
I can't even relate to.

Phyllis, why
don't you just stop

avoiding all that superficial
junk that you're talking about

and just get to the point.

You hate her because
she's like you.

She hurt you.

How?

Name one thing she--

By hating me!

She hates me.

You hate yourself.

How could anyone not hate you?

I hate you.

[music playing]

Shut up!

Just shut the--

You're so afraid of the truth.

Listen!

Did you ever send
me a Christmas card?

A Christmas card?

[music playing]

PHYL (VOICEOVER):
I wish I could tell

Liz about my blackest fears,
how ugly everything is

to me, how I can love nothing.

Sometimes I feel so
afraid, afraid of what

I'm doing, where I'm going,
what I'll find when I get there.

I think I'm searching
for something.

I don't know what it is.

But even if I find it,
I'm sure I'll hate it.

[inaudible] teases me
with images of death,

but I'm always left unsatisfied.

I'm killing myself, Liz.

Over and over, I'm
killing myself.

Like Prometheus, I
die again and again.

Always in pain, endless pain.

NARRATOR: Sold out, shut
down, lied to in shame.

Dime store gin-soaked
victim of the game.

She bought all the lies.

He sold them at half price.

I saw it in her eyes,
not just once, but twice.

Daddy's little girl, not
quite the boy he wanted.

As the shine escapes the pearl,
her every move so haunted.

Blackjack parallel, the
city filled with gold.

The preacher watches
from the cell,

no chance to break the mold.

Or so he thought.

And in the name of
God, she prays silently

that some other shipwrecked
drifter will finally

die and accept the blame.

This is going to
be hard for me.

What is it?

I'm going to have
to ask you something.

What?

I need to borrow some money.

You phony.

YOUNG ELIZABETH: What are
you guys laying around for?

I hate you.

I hate you.

I hate you.

I hate you.

Jenny, I can't-- I just
can't take it anymore.

Can I rest on your shoulder?

Here.

Oh, I know it's awful
living in this house,

dealing with these awful people.

Yeah.

I feel like-- like a little
homeless frog whose lily pad

was snatched out from under it.

Oh, I know it.

Oh, I can relate.

I reach.

I reach to you.

And he had such a style
and so much equipment,

which doesn't work anymore.

If you had the wife like
I-- what would you do?

I wonder what you would do.

What would you if you
had a wife like I've got?

Then I have this mirror that's
down on the bottom floor.

And it has lots of
bugs on it, and so I

got some bugs from there

Remember Tracy Feldman,
my friend in eighth grade

with the red hair?

Yeah.

I ran into her the other day.

So?

It's really sad.

She lost her face.

Oh my God.

She has no face.

It's really horrible what
happens to people's lives.

Look, what a pretty flower.

[music playing]

Aunt Sparkle!

Aunt Sparkle!

How are you little honeys?

Let me give you a kiss.

Oh, I love you.

[cough]

Careful.

I got a present
for both of you.

Here you go.

It's a couple cigarettes.

Now get out of here.

I tell you, Cel, ever since
I got my throat operation,

I can just barely even
touch these things.

How many are you smoking now?

About two packs a day.

That's better than
four packs a day.

It is, but-- oh still hell.

Now, Cel, being my sister,
I tell you everything.

Don't I?

I hope that you do.

I want you know
who I'm dating now.

I'm dating a very nice young
man by the name of Spiro.

You might know him.

That wouldn't be
the famous Spiro?

Spiro, the one and only.

Your two girls are turning out
to be gorgeous little girls.

They're very good
little girls to you.

I can't stand them.

Well, you and I have always
had a little difference

in that department.

I love kids, but I guess
that's because I've

never been able to have any.

Well, I always wanted boys.

Well, you can always
have an operation.

I hate weasels.

Hear the thunder
of the weasels.

NARRATOR: Captured faces from
the dead weight of fatigue

arise silently,
cautiously, secretly.

Their features of hateful,
smirking folds line ear to ear,

back to back, eyes to mind.

They float, watch, and wait.

The moist warmth of congealed,
dripping phlegm cascades

outwardly from their
fiery orifices,

filling my open,
blistered mouth.

Their poison glares surface
quickly as the [inaudible]

multiply at will.

I um-- I have a secret.

I have a really neat secret.

I love secrets.

PHYL: I guess that means
you want to know then, huh?

Of course.

Math.

That's a hell of a secret.

Math, what math?

Me, you, what?

After school algebra, Mr.
Trainer, high school algebra

teacher, sex!

How did you know?

Professor Trainer, you
know how important it is

for me to get an A in algebra.

I followed you guys home.

-No!
-Yes.

Phyllis!

PHYL: Yes.

ELIZABETH: No, you didn't--

PHYL: You were 15.

ELIZABETH: You saw?

PHYL: Yes, I saw.
ELIZABETH: No!

PHYL: It was the first time
I saw anybody have sex.

The hardest part
for me was having

him as a teacher after you.

ELIZABETH: Horrible--
I hid it so well.

I was so cool.

PHYL: No, you didn't.

You'd come home smelling
like math teacher.

I don't know.

I think older, decrepit, bad--

ELIZABETH: He was not decrepit.

PHYL: He was like 70 years old.

ELIZABETH: He was sexy.

He was 48.

PHYL: I bet his balls
were like really long.

ELIZABETH: Oh, you're sick.

I don't even remember.

NARRATOR: The sea of
blue on sands of gold

will forever embrace
together growing old.

A bond of which
the gods approve,

she is on top, king
of the [inaudible].

For my back yard, I
got some pill bugs.

And then for my
front yard, I got

some pieces of a snail shell.

And--

Have you ever heard of Uncle
Nazi's House of Gumballs?

Peas and onions.

Peas and onions.

I usually like my eggs
over medium in the morning

without the mucus on them.

If they're scrambled,
they've got to be wet.

I kind of like them with
a lot of pepper and salt

so you don't really
taste the embryo.

The best is over easy.

Without slime.

Fried!

PHYL: I like them poached.

Poached is good.

ELIZABETH: I like them boiled.

Yeah, boiled is good.

Boiled hard.

Hard boiled.

PHYL: Three minute hard boiled.

ELIZABETH: Three minutes,
twenty seconds hard boiled.

But the shell, the
shell is one of the best

things about an egg.

I don't eat the shell.

I don't either.

Hurts my teeth.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Afternoon
chaos turned to laughter

as the lady in grey pierces the
surface of a private aquarium.

Peach body held
tight by the warmth

of day, eyes fixed to
locate, steady flow consumed.

A charred eruption takes,
suddenly, the safety from her

glow.

No place to hide, clear
water raging black.

Looking hard for
shallow hope, it's gone.

She consumed it long ago.

Mascara bleeding, eyes
of fire turned to stone.

Forced smile fading, laughing
jackal breaks the bush.

Wow.

You always did have the
better body, didn't you?

You always did have
the better mind.

Yeah, you're right.

You, um, didn't tell me whether
of not I could have the money.

[eerie music]

I didn't want girls.

I wanted two boys,
two young boys.

Two lean, sexy, young men.

Hi, I'm Phyllis!

[squeaking]

Tasted like a bad cigarette.

That hurts!

[screaming]

He's really scary.

Stop it!

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Uh, you need some shoes
because you don't know

if there's any poisonous bugs.

And you need some
tweezers because I

don't know if you should
pick them up with your hands.

And you need to turn
over lots of rocks

because that's where
they usually are.

[harp]

Well I used to live next
door to Lizzie and Phyl.

And well, my mother didn't
like me hanging out with them

because they thought her
mother was a little strange.

They were kind of evil people.

But they liked to collect bugs,
and I loved to collect bugs.

So, you know, we
would go out together.

I-- I used to have
like a little butterfly

net and a little container
to keep the bugs in.

And then when they died I
could pin them, and label them,

and things like that.

So-- anyway, so we would go out.

And they were really
cruel to the bugs.

And that kind of bothered me.

You know, they'd kind
of pick off the wings

and-- and count off the legs
as they picked them off.

And they used to laugh at it,
and poke them with needles,

and things like that.

And then burn them and
singe them until they died.

And that really bothered me.

In fact, one night-- well they
came over to spend the night,

and-- well, I had this African
beetle in this little case--

this little glass case
that I kept by my bed

that my grandfather
had gotten-- and well,

I woke up in the morning
and the beetle was gone.

And, um, well I
saw this little leg

sticking out of Lizzie's mouth.

And they were evil children.

I don't know what
they're like now,

but they were-- they were mean.

[music playing]

So what are you
going to name it?

Idiot.

You never will know what
it's like to be the oldest.

PHYL: Surprise, surprise.

When you were born,
I really hated you

because-- I tell you-- it's
great being an only child.

Well when you were
born, all of a sudden I

didn't get any more hugs.

And I didn't get that
special attention,

undivided attention, that two
parents give to just one kid.

And you were cuter.

You were.

And you were
smaller and blonder.

And all of a
sudden, I was forced

to be older, older than I was.

And what I really think that
I missed out on-- what maybe

makes me what you seem
to want to think I am--

is just that I wasn't
allowed to be a baby.

I always had to be the
one that did things right.

All of a sudden,
the ice princess

that you know as Mom
couldn't hold me because that

would make me weak.

Strong kids don't cry.

Men don't cry.

Oldest kids don't cry.

And all of a sudden, you were
rejecting that attention.

And I wasn't getting
that attention.

So I became cold.

And when I turned
to Dad for it, he

just thought I was too strong.

I was like Mom.

I didn't need it.

And I really miss being a kid.

I never got to be a baby.

I never-- I never got
to run around like you,

and be immature, and swear,
and say stupid things

because it just wasn't right.

It was a classy.

It was tacky and cheap.

God, I resent that.

It sounds so pathetic.

And you say, well you
could have changed.

You could have been yourself,
but Phyl, I couldn't.

They just expected so damn much.

It was like I was their
hope, and I was a good one.

And I'm so sick of being good.

I'm so sick of it.

It is so hard to get away
when you're this deep.

You can't just walk away.

You can't just say
all of a sudden,

OK, I've been this
person for 28 years,

and now I'm going to be
somebody else, myself.

Come on.

She's been hiding for 62 years.

That doesn't make
me look so bad, huh?

PHYL: Have you ever, um,
cheated on your husband?

Yeah.

[screaming]

Stay down.

Somebody will see us.

Don't ever tell him.

I swear to God,
don't ever tell him.

I just wanted somebody
to tell me I was pretty.

God, it felt so good.

And that I was interesting.

You love it.

You're glad I did.

Yeah, so I get this call.

And-- from pick-up this lady out
in Beverly Hills or something.

And I go up there,
and I pick her up.

I'm taking off to somebody's
house, and we stop.

And she tells me she's
got some problem.

And she's looking at me
awful funny, you know.

And she says, don't I
know you from someplace?

I said, no.

No, lady.

Just give me the
money and let me go.

She says, how about if
we make a trade off?

And I said what?

Next thing I know, she's
jumping all over me saying,

Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.

One second.

I'll be there in five minutes.

I got to go.

I-- I ask you again.

What would you do?

I know what I would like to do.

I'd kind of like to
just strangle her.

I don't care if I
ever see them again.

In fact, I don't even love them.

I don't even like them.

I hate them.

NARRATOR: They used to call me
Wheezy, now they called me Moe.

Busted liver, three-pronged
free base device.

My chin, she is on fire.

The erosion was fast.

The lectures were not.

He pondered high atop the
mountain of Fig Newtons.

Hey Vasquez, we
know all about you.

Winter, spring, summer, cheese.

Hovering above pasta,
she thought, why me?

Wasn't he the guy from "Taxi?"

Don't do that.

You're surely implode.

My ears.

Good God, what's
happened to my ears?

Suction frog, panicked lice.

She is so beautiful.

She's so-- why didn't--
like pure, white milk.

She's just so lovely.

The weird thing
was, before I did it,

I didn't think it
would mean anything.

In fact, I mean I like
took it as a joke.

I just thought it would be
like-- like getting a douche

or something like that.

And-- I took this
friend with me.

She has a great sense
of humor, really fun.

Most of my experiences with
other people's abortions

and stuff like that
was like-- like yours.

I mean, you didn't seem
bugged about it at all.

You were pretty young.

And those people
I know, just never

were really that emotional.

You always hear you're supposed
to be emotional about it.

And so I thought, OK,
it's like a pap smear.

It's like nothing.

And my friend kept
making jokes, you know.

Like little take it
home in a jar jokes.

I thought, OK.
All right, this is funny.

I mean she-- that
actually made me laugh.

I thought she was pretty funny.

And it wouldn't be any big deal.

And so, it was a little weird
because I didn't bring Jeff.

I didn't even tell
Jeff about it.

I didn't want to
tell Jeff about it

because it just wasn't
right, you know.

I mean, I figured what's--
why should he know?

You know because he'd
probably, you know,

try to make me keep
it or something, which

I could never do.

I can't imagine even
having a baby at all.

But the weird part
was-- OK, they gave me

a local when I went in there.

And it was getting kind
of scary because they

had these like posters
on the ceiling of Rome.

Like I want to think of going on
a vacation while I'm getting--

and so I was just
imagining being in Rome.

And it was not-- you know
now a pap smear feels,

where it sort of kills
just to have a little bit

of a poke in there?

But I was-- I was amazed.

It hurt.

I mean, it really hurt.

it was like taking
your cervix and putting

a shovel in it or something.

It really hurt.

One thing that I remember the
most about the whole experience

aside from looking at
Rome and being in Rome

is there's this nurse that
they have stand next to you.

And she does the old hand
holding thing if you need

to grab something or, you know.

And she had the worst breath I
have ever smelled in my life.

It was vomit breath.

And I had to smell this vomit
breath while I'm sitting there,

you know.

And I-- you know, I never had
this moral thing about killing

babies, that whole thing.

But they always had
this little skull.

You know, it was like--
I mean I really--

I am completely for abortion.

I think it's great.

But when they-- they
stick this thing in you.

It like sucks.

It just sucks it out of you.

Right?

And I kept imagining it
was like a Perrier bottle

or something that got a vacuum.

And it's like liposuction.

They just suck the
fat out of your body.

I'm sure you've probably
experienced that in your life.

And it's like-- it's
like a sucking sound.

So-- so I've got this--
I've got this vomit breath.

I'm in Rome with this vomit
breath and this sucking sound.

And it really hurt.

It was like it was sucking
in my utey, you know?

And it-- it-- they were
kind of acting weird.

It wasn't like-- I could
tell it wasn't going right.

I could tell that
there was something

wrong just because
the doctor was

all nervous and talking to me.

You know, pretending
that nothing

was wrong kind of thing.

And it-- it started
to really hurt bad.

And I started sort of
dreaming sort of because they

gave me more anesthesia.

And it just sort of
moved into a dream thing.

The greatest thing is that I--
I won't be able to have babies

anymore because he just said--
he just told me afterwards

that I couldn't have babies.

And I don't even want babies.

I don't even want them.

I just don't like the idea that
I can't have them if want one.

But I-- you know, I think
it's probably better

because if I can't have
babies, then I won't

raise like a screwed up kid.

Because if I had a baby,
it would be as awful as I

feel like I turned out to be.

So, I wouldn't do that
to another person.

I'm sorry.

[music box playing]

Do you think if
we weren't sisters

we would have been friends?

Maybe I should have
been the older one.

What if we grew
up somewhere else?

What if you were a
boy instead of a girl?

I think I should
have been the baby.

I wish we were twins.

Yeah.

Maybe things would
have been different.

[drums]

Mom, she got some in my food.

NARRATOR: Vacuum
cleaner, raging force,

foreign may, it
ties off for horse.

Daddy's eyes on front page news.

Mommy accuses innocent Jews.

Sister one and sister
two, complaining now,

can't find a shoe.

Mailman at the front door box,
secondhand of ringing clocks.

Neighbors peak to catch a look.

Someone should pause
to write a book.

You look ridiculous sitting
there with that sweater on.

I'm cold.

MOTHER: You're always cold.

I can't help it.

You can't help anything.

You can't help the fact that
you have a sweater that you

allow the dog to sleep on.

You can't help it.

You can't help
smirking at the girls.

FATHER: I just can't help it.

MOTHER: You can't help anything.

FATHER: I'm cold.

MOTHER: You're cold?

This dinner is cold.

And blowing your nose
the way that you do.

Next time we eat, you'll
be at the end of the table.

FATHER: We had the
same dinner yesterday.

FATHER: Well, quit
blowing your nose.

FATHER: We had the same dinner
before, and the day before,

and the day before.

And even on my birthday,
we had the same dinner.

Where do you get this from?

MOTHER: You hired the maid.

She fixes it.

You're busy looking at
her instead of eating it.

Under your orders,
she fixes it.

You tell her what to do.

You plan the menu every day.

And I'm getting damn sick of it.

MOTHER: I could care less
what you're getting sick of.

You're so stupid.

You don't do anything
around the house.

You're so ugly.

I hate you!
I hate you.

You're ugly!

No, I'm not.

You never were happy with me.

No matter what I do,
you can't take it.

You can't take it.

You can't take it!

I'm getting sick of it!

I can't stand it
anymore, and I'm

not going to take it anymore!

[yelling]

You're a pathetic
excuse for a person.

You're a pathetic
excuse for a father.

You're stupid.

You can't do anything.

You're so ugly!

[yelling]

(SINGING) Rock-a-bye
baby in the treetop.

When the bough breaks,
the cradle will fall.

When the bough break,
the cradle will fall.

And down will come
baby, cradle and all.

[laughter]

[scream]

[dramatic music]

Shut up!

Why were we always fighting?

I miss this.

I've dreamt of this.

Why don't you spend the night?

What about Jean Louis?

He's away for the weekend.

NARRATOR: Broken promise,
stained hope, picture framed.

The vision of purity,
the absence of dismissal.

Each left now to hold the
candle as it burns strong though

the night.

And they must watch
very hard for its life.

Youthful hearts aware, not
soon forgetting the power

of twilight on the final day.

[music playing]

VOICE: Damn, what
the hell was that?