The Stepdaughter (2000) - full transcript

See you guys later.

See ya.

Susan: There are over

270 million people

in this country,

35 million

in California alone.

That's why it's taken

so long, Cheryl Ann.

That's why it's been like

trying to find

a needle in a haystack,

and they could have

been anywhere,

but we did it.

After all this time

we found them,

and now we're finally

gonna make things right.

Beer.

♪ I got too many people

taking up my time ♪

♪ I just can't

make love to you ♪

♪ now, she's

a mean little mama ♪

♪ from her top

to her bottom ♪

♪ wearing $300 shoes

♪ she drives

a beat-up truck ♪

♪ and my heart goes pop

♪ when she talks about

the things we used to do ♪

♪ that was yesterday

♪ now we're all grown up

♪ and we see each other

if we can ♪

♪ now I ain't gonna

have to tell her ♪

♪ just how much I love her

♪ and I want to be

her one and only ♪

♪ rockabilly fella

♪ she's a sight

for sore eyes ♪

♪ when I get a chance

to see her ♪

♪ when she calls,

I'm never home ♪

♪ I'm a hard-working man

♪ trying to make myself

a living ♪

♪ but I'm innocent working

♪ 'cause, baby, I'm alone

♪ and when she told me

that she loved me ♪

♪ yeah,

I got so doggone happy ♪

♪ that I went and told

my mom and dad ♪

♪ that's the last time

I seen her ♪

♪ let me tell you people

♪ that I'm going right

out of my head ♪

Hi.

♪ 'Cause I ain't

got time for love ♪

I was just

sitting over there,

and I was thinking...

Now you're

standing over here.

Yeah, right.

I was just thinking

that maybe I...

That maybe you'd

like to buy me a beer.

Anything you want.

There, so...

What do you think?

Heh heh!

Hey, good-lookin'.

You ever go riding?

Sometimes.

I got just

the filly for you.

I can ride

anything you got.

Whew!

There you were,

like one of them angels

in a museum painting.

Boy, you sure are

a pretty one.

Had a feeling about tonight.

Yeah?

You know.

Something special's

gonna happen.

Something real special.

I know...

'Cause I had that

exact same feeling.

You a real cowboy, will?

Yes, ma'am.

I want to do

something bad, will.

Something really,

really bad.

Mmm.

I can feel

your heart, will,

right here.

It's racing.

I think that you

want me to be bad.

Mm-hmm.

Say it.

I want you to be bad.

If I'm really,

really bad, will...

And if I say I'm sorry...

I hope you'll forgive me.

Don't hide from me,

Karen mills!

You're a bad,

wicked little girl!

But you're gonna be

good from now on.

Know why?

'Cause I've got Cheryl Ann,

and I just might rip her

pretty little head off!

Mine!

Fucking asshole!

It's all right,

Cheryl Ann.

Dad, there's somebody

here at the door.

I know. No, hold on.

Hold on, son.

See who it is.

Hi. I am so sorry.

I've had a car accident.

Can I please use your phone?

Oh, well,

please, come in.

Please, please.

Thank you.

You ok? What...What...

Oh, yeah.

I'm all right.

Thank you.

Well, here.

Put this down.

Oh, thanks.

What happened?

Oh. I was

on the freeway,

and I got off

to get some food.

I got lost,

and this deer jumps

out in front of me.

I swerved

to avoid it,

and my car ends up

in the ditch,

and I am so, so

sorry for imposing.

Oh, no.

Don't worry about that.

I'm Jesse Conner.

Uh, Susan Heller.

Susan,

this is my son buddy.

Nice to meet ya.

Would you like a glass

of water or anything?

Uh...

Jesse: Buddy,

get her a glass of water.

Buddy: Ok.

Jesse: Ok.

Susan: Thank you.

I am so sorry.

Jesse: No, please.

Don't worry about it.

Jesse: Do you have any

idea where the car is?

Susan: Just a mile

or so up the road.

Hi, honey.

Hi. I saw the lights,

and I heard all the dogs.

Dad.

Uh, Susan Heller, right?

Yeah.

Susan,

this is my daughter Linda.

Linda, Susan.

She just had an accident

up the road.

Oh, no!

Dad, mom's up.

Oh, yeah

um, Susan, excuse me.

Uh, my wife's been

a little under

the weather lately, so...

That means she's been

feeling kind of sick,

but she's getting better,

right, dad?

Yes, she is.

She's gonna be fine, son.

Fine.

Uh, if

I could just...

Use the phone

to call a cab...

A cab? Well,

they stop running at 7:00.

Oh.

Uh, listen, it's

gonna be a lot easier

to find your car

in the morning

than it is

in the middle of the night,

and we have

a fine guest room here.

You're welcome to use it.

No, no, no.

I couldn't impose.

Please, just say yes.

Yes.

All right.

Well, here it is.

So, uh, where were

you headed, Susan?

Oh, outside

of San Diego.

I was working horses

up in vallejo

and, uh, needed

a change of scenery.

Oh, you work

horses, huh?

Mm-hmm.

About 7 years.

Great!

Well, ok.

Listen, uh,

we'll get your car

taken care of

in the morning,

uh, first thing, ok?

Thank you,

Mr. Conner.

Uh, Jesse.

Thank you, Jesse.

Great. Ok.

Sleep tight.

Ok.

We're gonna fit

right in, Cheryl Ann.

Right in,

just like I promised,

and they don't

suspect a thing.

Why did you come?

You don't belong here.

Yes, I do!

Nobody wants you.

Aah!

You're better off dead.

Please! Please!

Please, don't! Please!

Please, don't! Please!

Buddy: Susan?

Please, don't.

Please, don't.

Susan?

No!

Get away from me!

No, it's me!

It's buddy!

It's ok.

Susan, you ok?

Come here.

Come here.

Come here.

Come here.

Oh, my god!

You--you ok?

I just...

Yeah. I just had

a horrible nightmare.

I had one

of those once.

I don't know.

It must be

the strange bed.

Uhh!

Ok.

Thank you for

coming to my rescue.

Nightmares, they...

They can be scarier

than real life

sometimes.

Huh?

They sure can, buddy.

Do you want

a glass of water?

Uh-uh. I'm ok.

You go to bed.

Good night.

Jesse: Couple of holes

in the radiator.

Well, it doesn't really

look all that serious.

We ought to get this

thing fixed in no time.

Great!

Susan, meet our

resident mechanic.

I'm also

Jesse's trainer.

Name's Paris.

France?

Texas.

Ah!

Sheriff Tom!

Excuse me.

Buddy: Sheriff Tom! Hey!

How you doin',

buddy?

Buddy: Yes!

Good to see ya.

Uhh!

How you been?

Good.

Why don't you

give me a second

with your dad

real quick, hmm?

Here.

Come in here.

Yeah?

Ha ha!

What's up, huh?

I don't know how

I'm gonna sugar-coat

this, Jesse.

Will's dead.

He was murdered

last night.

My god, wh-wh-wh...

How'd it happen? What...

Do you think she'll live?

Paris: When a car

overheats like this,

it's most likely

a hole in the radiator,

but you can never

tell for sure.

You know what

I'd like to do?

What's that?

Take her to the barn,

stretch out on my back,

and take a good long

hard look underneath.

You know, I'm sure,

in the right hands,

she'll be just fine.

Well, I can't wait

to tell her the good news.

Found him down there

in a hotel room.

Los Angeles.

Oh, man. God, how am I

gonna tell the kid?

Jesus.

Paris: I don't mean to

sound hard-hearted, Jesse,

but this...

This thing with will

leaves us a hand short.

The timing couldn't

have been worse.

Tell me about it.

I warned will

about going

to those

kind of places.

Will gave me this.

He told me if

I was ever in trouble,

I should just blow

on this real hard,

and he--he'd come running.

Oh, buddy, I know will

was your best friend

and you miss him

real bad right now,

but you're gonna find

a new best friend

to come running.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Jesse: The girl says

she works horses.

You're thinking

of hiring her?

You like that idea,

do you? Huh?

Well, like you say,

girl works horses.

Get her unhitched,

buddy.

Ok.

Uh, listen, you

mentioned last night

that you, uh,

had experience

working with horses,

right?

Yeah.

Jesse: Well,

as you know, we're

a little short-handed

and, uh...

If that's a job offer,

the answer's yes.

Jesse: All right.

Well,

I'm gonna go on

over to the office,

and when

you finish here,

come on over, ok?

Yeah.

What do we

got here, buddy?

Ok, Jeff. Just let us

know when you can.

Linda: Ok.

Hey, dad.

Did you hear about will?

Yeah.

Tom gitlin was here

about 10 minutes

after Paris left.

Can't believe it.

Been checking around,

trying to find

a replacement.

Jeff Artemis,

he's a maybe.

I offered the girl the job.

You what?

Well,

I don't understand.

We lost a man,

and I replaced him.

What's the problem?

The problem is

that we were supposed

to be a team here.

Here I am,

trying to repair

the damage ned did,

with no end

in sight, dad.

Ned bunning was

my accountant for 28 years.

Ned was sick.

He did not do the job.

Honey, he was

my best friend.

What was I

supposed to do?

You didn't even

check her out,

did you, dad?

That's right.

You know what

your problem is?

Hmm?

Hmm.

You've been reading

too many of those

detective stories,

you know?

Lighten up a little, ok?

God.

And you'll be

fortunate enough

to be working with me

most of the time.

How lucky

can a girl get?

Susan, Linda's

got some papers

for you to sign

back in the office,

soon as you can,

right up there.

You wanted to see me?

I've got an application

for you to fill out.

Um, your dad

seemed upset.

That wasn't because

of me, was it?

No. Of course not.

You can start

tomorrow, Susan.

Take the day

to settle in.

Ok.

When am I gonna get

to meet your mom?

Well, sometimes,

when her hip is hurting,

she likes to

keep to herself.

Says her medicine makes

her feel kind of wacky.

So, this used

to be Linda's room.

Now it's Susan's.

Um, if it's

ok with you,

I want

to be alone

and put away

my things.

Ok. I'll see you

at lunch.

Bye!

Bye.

Did you hear

what he said?

This is Susan's room.

I think I'm gonna go see

what the rest of

our castle looks like.

That's Victoria.

She is a bird of paradise.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Yeah.

I'm Susan Heller.

Yes, I know.

I'm Maggie.

That was me last night

in the hall

skulking around

like Ophelia's ghost.

Certain painkillers

bring out the dramatic in me.

You're quite

a looker, Susan.

Thank you.

Watch out for Paris.

My plants remind me of

what a big and exciting

place our planet is.

You have the whole world

right here, Maggie.

It's the closest

I'll ever get to seeing it.

Don't ever listen to a man

when he tells you

he's going to retire

from what he loves.

If you want

to do something,

really need to...

Just do it.

Otherwise

you'll be like...

Anyway.

End of lecture.

So no matter

what it is, Maggie?

Yes, no matter

what it is.

I promise.

Good.

Come on.

I'll show you the rest.

Ok.

Man: Yeah, I'll

get right on it

this afternoon,

Jesse.

Mom, do you

spell vallejo

with one "l" or 2?

2, I think.

Jesse: 2, absolutely.

Mm-hmm. 2.

I thought so.

You spelled it

with one "l"

on your

job application.

I figured I was wrong,

but I guess not.

Oh.

I'm gonna have to be

more careful next time.

So what kind of stock

are you workin' up there?

Pretty much the same

as you have here.

A lot of

ranchers up north

are starting to switch

over to standard breds.

I would really

love to work

with trotters

and pacers someday.

Are you guys

thinking

of bringing them

down here?

I don't know.

I don't know.

What do you

think, Maggie?

I think it's

your call, Jesse.

So do you have a lot

of family up north, Susan?

No, I lost my family

in a car accident.

They'd just dropped me off

at summer camp. I was 8.

Well, that's terrible.

Sorry.

The sheriff's here.

Probably about will,

I suppose.

Susan, can I show you

somethin'?

What?

Mom, may I please

be excused from the table?

Yes, dear.

Thanks.

It's a secret.

Excuse me.

Maggie, pass me

that juice.

She seems to know what

she's talking about.

Is, uh, somethin'

botherin' you about her?

I don't know.

You've got friends

up north. Ask around.

Well, you know me,

never could say no

to a pretty lady.

Susan: What are you

gonna show me, buddy?

It's a secret,

best friends' secret.

You know, Susan, I'm...

I've been thinking.

About what?

Best friends.

I was--i was thinkin'

maybe, um...

Y-you would wanna

be my new best friend?

It's a really easy job.

I'd like that.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Ok.

Girls are slow.

Come on!

Ah!

Ow. Damn it.

Ah.

Ok.

Ok, now,

watch your head.

Ok.

Oh, buddy,

this is so cool.

You like it?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Wait.

There's more.

Ok.

Whoo...

Let's make a wish.

Ok.

I think it goes to China.

So who else knows

about this?

Maybe some people in China.

Jesse: 2 words?

Uh-uh.

2 syllables?

Uh, second word!

Second word.

Second word.

Sounds like.

Sounds like...Uh,

you're throwing something.

You're fishing.

Fishing.

You're reeling in.

You're,

uh, uh...

Line. Hook.

It's quite

the collection, huh?

Are these all whodunits?

Mostly.

Uh, walking

with...

Frustrated detective, huh?

Sort of.

Smile, Linda!

Buddy!

Smile!

Ok. Ha ha ha!

Thank you.

Are you gonna play

the next one, Susan?

Um...you know what?

Maybe later.

Smile.

Ha ha ha!

Jesse:

Dig the, uh...

Maggie: Gray?

The gray--gray?

Gray? Gray!

It's all gray.

It's all gray.

No! Get outta here!

Damn painkillers.

Yeah. Maggie said

they brought out

the dramatic in her.

Huh. She said that?

Mm-hmm. You know,

maybe she should

switch medication.

Something like dropadine

might work better for her.

She tried it.

You seem to know a lot

about the subject.

My mom was a nurse.

I thought you said

you lost your mom

when you were a child.

Yeah?

Dropadine didn't come out

until the last couple of years.

I, uh, um...

I must have

read it somewhere.

Now, listen, Linda,

I would really like

for us to be friends,

but I feel...

Well, that I have to

explain myself to you.

Am I interrupting

something here?

No.

Ah, Linda.

Susan!

Hold up.

What happened

back there?

Oh, it's no big deal.

Linda and I just had

a little communication

problem is all.

All right, we'll

work it out. Don't worry.

I'm gonna head on

back up to the house.

Thanks for

a wonderful evening.

I'll see you

tomorrow night.

Glad you

could join us.

I got a lot of work

to do tomorrow,

so see you

in the morning.

Good night.

Good night.

We've had people who

didn't like us before,

and we just have to learn

to get along with everybody,

even nosy Linda.

Well, buttercup's

lookin' good.

Yeah.

I like working her.

You ever run

into a guy in vallejo

by the name of Alan volke,

raises Tennessee walkers?

Yeah.

Well, Alan volke

raises thoroughbreds,

not Tennessee walkers.

You ever spent any time

in vallejo, you'd know that.

Oh, yeah. Alan volke,

thoroughbreds.

Why are you lyin'?

Uh...

Hmm?

My previous employer,

uh, was powerful

and vindictive,

and when he tried to

force himself on me,

well, he regretted it.

So that left a giant

hole in my resume.

Eh, I got creative.

But, uh, I did pass

through vallejo

with 2 elves

on my way south.

Hmm...

Ok, just

give me the saddle.

There you go.

By the way, Alan volke...

He raises quarter horses.

You know, it's not

that I don't like sex.

I just like to choose

who I have it with.

Hmm.

Mmm...

Hi.

Hey, Linda.

Oh.

Oh...

Damn deposit slips.

Last year's tax return...

"3.8 million gross."

"900,000 net."

Luis!

Why is big bill

in his stall?

I'm picking him

up now.

Ok.

You just saved me

a truckload

of pain

and humiliation.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I was just about to call

an ex-boyfriend in L.A.

I'm still in love

with him,

and, unfortunately,

he was in love

with himself

and broke my heart.

I don't know what

I was thinking.

I owe you one.

Thanks.

I was talking

to will.

He told me

I wasn't dumb.

It just takes me

a little while

to think...

Things in my head.

Will told you that?

Mm-hmm. Today.

What else

did will say?

Well...

That we'll always

figure things out

together.

And I'll always

do the right thing.

Sounds like he's

pretty right to me.

Yeah?

I think it's time

you get to bed though.

That's what I think.

Thanks, Linda.

I'll see you

tomorrow, buddy.

I love you.

Sleep tight.

Ah, they need a bath.

Who named you?

Ok... let's see.

Aaaaaaah!

Is Paris working you

hard enough?

Mmm, I like

working hard.

Heh heh heh heh.

Dad, dad!

Dad, come on!

It's mom, come on!

Dr. Sussman

to the O.R., post-op.

Dr. Sussman to the O.R.,

post-op.

Don't you die

on me, old lady.

You think they're

gonna give her a shot?

Oh, I don't know,

buddy.

Shots hurt.

But they're for

your own good.

That's what mom

always tells me.

Mom? Mom,

are you all right?

Yeah.

Well, she's got

a few bruises,

but Dr. Miller says

the replacement's

doing just fine.

She's gonna be ok.

You hear that, Susan?

Mom's gonna be

a-ok.

Yeah,

that's great.

Oh, you had us

worried, Maggie.

Let's get her home,

what do you say?

So there's this guy and

he's wearing a bow tie,

and he wants

to buy an in.

Did they give you

a shot, mom?

I'll see you later.

Karen?

Mom, are you ok?

Paris told me

what happened.

I'm ok.

She never

should have been

on the damn ladder

in the first place.

Oh, mom. God.

Buddy, go get the door.

I got it.

You can't let your anger

control you, Karen.

That's why you're here.

Ow! My anger's

the only damn thing

they can't take away

from me.

Karen?

Code blue,

room 128.

See you back

at the ranch.

Code blue,

room 128.

See you at home.

Ok.

All right,

here we go.

Easy.

Susan, could you

help her, please?

Thank you.

Hey, can I help?

Uh, no, really, honey.

We got it all

under control. Thanks.

Susan's gonna put

mom to bed.

Night, buddy.

Thank you.

Are you

feeling better?

Yeah.

Susan, would you

be a dear

and get me

my moisturizer?

Yeah.

Thanks.

It's the big white jar

on the vanity there.

Give me your hand.

It was some night, huh?

We could do with

a little less excitement

around here.

Want some juice?

Yeah. Thank you.

It's been rough,

hasn't it,

since Maggie

broke her hip?

Well, between the drugs

and pain,

sometimes I hardly

recognize her.

So what happened, Jesse?

Well, she's going

through a spell.

You know how women get

when they get itchy

and they want to

go everywhere,

see everything?

I bought her a horse

to take her mind

off of it.

It's a beauty, too.

Big palomino.

And she fell?

Yeah.

First time

she rode him.

I'm really worried

about her.

She'll be fine.

You shouldn't worry.

Well, you know, now

she can't go anywhere.

You know,

bad things happen.

It's nobody's fault.

Life goes on.

Thank you.

Um...we really....

I ought to call it

a day.

What do you think?

Yeah.

Oh, he wanted to.

I know it.

He likes me.

He knows

I belong here.

He just

doesn't know why.

Luis needs buddy

today,

so why don't

we split things up?

Uh, you take mom

this morning,

I'll take her

this afternoon.

Paris says we ought

to be back

sometime between

1:30 and 2:00.

You know,

i--i can't.

I gotta fax '96-'97

to Sacramento by 2:00.

There's no way

I'm gonna be ready.

Oh, I'd love to stay

with Maggie.

Oh, great.

Problem solved.

Great. Hah.

Problem solved.

Well, who rained

on your parade?

Have you talked to your

friends up north yet?

Let me guess--Susan.

You didn't answer

my question.

I got some calls out,

nothing yet.

How's her work?

Well, she seems to know

her business.

Keep calling.

Love 'em, just never try

to understand 'em.

Listen, I am eternally

grateful to you.

Oh, I'm happy to do it.

Um, about last night...

Oh, look,

forget about it.

Nothing really

happened anyway,

so don't worry

about it, all right?

Good. Thank you.

See you later

this afternoon.

Ok.

Small, with

thick eyeglasses.

Woman: Oh, you must be

talking about calista Davis.

Calista Davis?

She's gone on

a 3-week vacation.

3-week vacation?

You're kidding.

Would you like

to leave word?

I'll just call back.

Thanks.

Hello,

calista Davis.

Calista on machine:

This is calista.

Leave a message.

Hi, uh... my name

is Linda Conner.

I need to discuss

a mutual acquaintance

with you.

Please, if you could

call me back,

it's important.

My number here is

555-0145.

Thank you.

Karen.

I had to make sure.

You look great.

You--you haven't

changed a bit.

You, uh,

you have no idea

how many times

I've thought about you.

So what are you

doing here?

Um, I, uh...

I--i called out to you

the other day,

at the hospital.

Didn't you hear me?

No.

Maggie on intercom:

Susan.

Um, this is

a bad time.

So I've got to go.

Susan? You there?

Who's Susan?

Um, will you just

give me a minute,

and I'll be

right back. Ok.

Maggie on intercom:

Susan, can you hear me?

Hello.

Hello.

I'll be there in

a minute, Maggie.

I haven't eaten

all morning.

I'm making lunch

right now.

I'll bring it to you

in, uh,

about 10 minutes,

ok?

Hmm. You know what?

Don't bother with that.

I feel like eating

in the kitchen

with you today, Susan.

Maggie,

I promised Jesse

I'd make sure

you stayed...

In bed.

Why is she

calling you Susan?

Because that's

who I am now.

Why are you always

poking your nose

in other people's lives?

Why don't you mind

your own business?

Calm--calm down,

Karen.

I--i didn't mean

to upset you.

Maggie on intercom:

Hello. Susan.

I'm your friend,

Karen.

I-I've always been

your friend.

Why are you

doing this to me?

I never asked you

to be my friend,

and I told you to

leave me alone back then.

Karen, no!

My glasses!

You won't be

needing those.

Maggie on intercom:

Susan.

You should have

listened.

Please...

Maggie: Susan.

Susan, where are you?

I'll be right there,

Maggie.

I have to clean up

something first.

Well, all right.

Just hurry.

Susan...

Susan, are you in here?

Why didn't you

answer me?

You're not supposed

to be up.

Well, I'm tired of staring

at the same 4 walls.

Is my lunch ready?

Um, I'm just about

to make you a sandwich.

But you're gonna

get me in trouble--

I know, but I'm hungry.

Oh, ok, but let's

get you back

in your room--

was somebody here?

No.

Could have sworn i--

Heard something.

Oh,

this is great.

Hello?

Hi, it's Linda.

Yeah. Uh, Maggie's up.

I just brought her

a sandwich.

Oh, I'm gonna be

a little late for lunch.

I'm running

a bit behind here.

Um, I tell you what.

Why don't I make you

a sandwich

and bring it down?

And then you can

just keep working.

Well, I don't want you going

out of your way or anything.

No, no, no, no,

it's no bother, really.

I insist.

Ok. Bye.

♪ They all ran after

the farmer's wife ♪

♪ she cut off their tails

with a carving knife ♪

♪ have you ever seen

such a sight in your life? ♪

♪ As three blind mice

Ha ha.

Luis gets real mad

at me

when I forget

my lunch.

He says,

"a man's gotta eat."

But I don't got

a lot of time.

It's a real rat race

out there.

A ham sandwich.

Can I have some

cranberry juice,

please, to drink?

Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

What does Linda like?

Diet coke.

Ok.

My mom.

She said I gotta

chew each bite

10 times

before I swallow.

One...

2...

3...

4...

5...

6...

7...8...

9...

7...

8...

Both: 9...

10.

1...2...

What are you

doing?

Oh, I was just

checking to make sure

that the intercom was on.

Oh.

Yeah.

3...

4...

5...

Listen, I...

Promised Linda that

I would make her a sandwich

and take it to her.

Could you do me a big favor

and do it for me?

Ok.

Ok.

Yeah? So Linda's

waiting.

So you better hurry.

Ok.

Ok?

Ok.

Bye.

Bye.

You should never

drop in on somebody...

Without calling first.

To exercise...

Hey, mom.

Hey.

Have you seen

Susan around?

Uh-uh.

Afternoon TV stinks.

You were supposed to be

taking care of Maggie.

Where have you been?

Oh, I was just

bringing

a little color

to Maggie's life.

So how are you

feeling, Maggie?

Mmm.

What you doing, son?

Lazy afternoons,

starlit Kentucky

nights, you and me.

Cheese.

I'll have a piece.

Oh, god,

I shouldn't,

but, uh, all

right, I will.

Linda?

No, thank you.

Anything you can

find out about her,

oh, I'd really

appreciate it.

No problem.

Linda...

You're probably

gonna say no,

but, uh, you want to

have dinner one night?

I'll give you an answer

on one condition--

you take off those

ridiculous sunglasses.

Well, what's the answer?

Not "yes" yet.

Ask me again later.

Susan really

worries me, Tom.

Well, just give me

a couple of days.

Hey, we just

got an invite

from Perry Hanks

down near louisville.

He says toward

the end of the month

he's gonna have some

real winners for us.

You wanna go?

Oh, I'll never be

finished by then.

I'd love to go.

Well, sure.

Uh, that'd be great.

I could use the company.

Hello?

It all checks out.

Susan is who

she says she is.

No, she isn't,

damn it.

She could have

faked an identity.

I mean, there are

books and web sites

that could tell her

how to do that.

Anything's possible.

Well, you

gave it your best shot.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Listen, uh,

I was wondering

if maybe you wanted

to get together

to discuss

that dinner date

you talked about?

Ok.

Ok.

So I'll just, uh,

I'll talk to you later.

All right. Bye.

Bye.

Listen, bill tuft's got

a new breeding stock

over at his ranch.

We're gonna go over

on Tuesday

and take a look at it.

You want to come with us?

Oh, that's

my day off, Jesse.

I can't,

I made plans.

Ok. Have a good night.

Good night.

This Tuesday belongs

to us, Cheryl Ann.

It's the day our pain

finally stops.

I swear to you.

No one is taking

that away from us.

No one.

You sure you gonna be

ok, sweetheart?

Of course

I'm gonna be ok.

I feel like I'm

deserting the ship.

You got a day off.

Enjoy it.

It's the rules

of the ranch.

Come on, dad,

Paris is waiting.

All right, sweetie.

Bye-bye.

See you

this afternoon.

Ok.

I'm gonna be in

the office all morning,

so I'm just

a phone call away.

Please, would

everyone stop this?

I had a fall,

I'm a little black and blue.

I'm not an invalid.

Actually,

I'm looking forward

to having a nice hot bath

without the entire family

hovering over me.

Hovering?

Yes, dear. You do

hover sometimes.

I love you anyway.

I love you, too, mom.

Would you like me

to tidy up here before I go?

No, dear. I can

take care of it, thanks.

You sure?

I'm sure. Go, go.

Have fun.

Have a good day.

I will.

They lined us up

according to height.

Susan, I thought you left.

Everybody praying like

there was no tomorrow.

Dear sweet Jesus...

Please let

the smiling fat lady

and her skinny

husband pick me.

I promise I'll never be

a bad girl again

if only I can have

a real mommy and daddy

to love me.

What are you

talking about?

But they never

picked me.

The best

that I could have

was foster moms

and dads.

'Cause you see,

Maggie,

I was

a problem child.

And problem children

need special attention.

Let's not forget about

the foster mothers

who were convinced

that the foster kids

weren't good enough

to eat

with the rest

of the family.

And the foster dads,

who knew just what

the little girls wanted.

The social workers who

turned the other way.

Stay down!

Stop it!

You're scaring me.

Could you have any clue

what I'm talking about?

So let me paint you

a picture, Maggie.

It's a small,

red-brick hospital

on the outskirts

of Wichita.

She's in labor.

She's not married to

the father of the child,

and she never will be,

because he's dead.

Got himself killed

in Vietnam.

So she's agreed

to give the baby up.

I mean, could you

imagine a mother

giving up her own

flesh and blood?

And guess who

that girl is, Maggie?

Oh, my god.

Yeah, oh, my god!

You let them

take me away. Why?

Times were

different then.

My parents, they were

very, very religious.

They forced me to do it.

They forced me to give you up.

I wanted you very much.

Do you know--

do you know what it's like,

being completely alone,

do you know?

Do you know

what day today is?

Um, it's Tuesday, the...

Oh, that's right,

Maggie.

It's my birthday.

And we are

gonna celebrate.

What are you doing?

Oh, god, you have

to believe me.

I tried to find you,

but the records

were sealed.

Do you remember

what you named me?

Yes.

Then say it.

Karen.

Say, "happy

birthday, Karen."

Say it.

Happy birthday,

Karen!

Happy birthday, Karen.

Then I want you

to look at me...

So you can see

what the next

Mrs. Jesse Conner

looks like.

No!

Don't!

No. Karen!

Stop, stop!

Stop!

Don't. Don't!

Please, Karen.

I'm your mother.

Please don't.

I've waited for this

my entire life.

No!

Party's over, mom.

Hey, mom.

You in here?

She called this

her magic place.

And when I'm

missing her,

a lot...

This is where

I'm gonna be.

'Cause mom always said,

"we're all together

here on the ranch...

"And when something bad

happens to one of us,

it happens to all of us."

I miss you, mom.

And I love you.

Amen.

Amen.

I know it's hard to lose

your mom at any age, buddy,

but at least you had her

all these years.

Woman:

Nurses' station.

Linda: Yeah,

I'm calling to see

if calista Davis

will be in tonight.

Uh, yes, ma'am.

She's back

from vacation?

Yes. Her shift

starts at 8:00.

8:00?

Mm-hmm, 8:00.

Great. Thank you.

It's really important

that I talk to nurse Davis.

You see this face?

This is the face

of a tired woman.

They said she'd be back

from vacation today.

No call, no nothin',

and that ain't like her.

Maybe she found

the man of her dreams.

The night before

she went on vacation,

she thought

she recognized somebody.

She called her Karen.

Did she say anything

about that to you?

Yeah, really

shook her up.

Somebody from

a previous job,

she said.

What was

her previous job?

An institution.

Um, I don't remember.

Um, in L.A., I think.

Look, sweetie,

I really have to go.

Why don't you call

human resources

in the morning?

I don't know if you can

get anything from them,

but you can try.

Thank you.

Oh, my god.

It actually works.

Let's see...

"Carson correctional

facility."

Man:

Carson correctional.

Hi, um,

can you tell me

when I can speak

to someone

in administration?

They'll be here

at 8:00 tomorrow.

8 A.M.

Yes.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

There we go.

Giddyap.

Linda left

about an hour ago.

Where did she head

so early?

Oh, god.

Women are a mysterious

breed, Paris.

I've never been able

to figure 'em out.

It's fun trying, though.

You're, uh,

looking good there,

Mr. Commissioner.

Oh, well,

thank you very much.

Somebody's got

to keep an eye

on these politicians.

They'd zone us

out of existence

if they could.

Oh, I just got

off the phone

with Harry Hanks.

Oh, good.

Is Kentucky still on?

2 weeks from tomorrow.

I'm ready.

I'll see you later.

Woman: You're aware she

hasn't worked here in years?

Linda: She was last seen

talking to a woman

she called Karen,

a woman she identified

to a colleague

as having known when

she was employed here.

Any idea how many karens

have come through this place?

She'll be

in her early 30s.

Look, we have

623 inmates

and almost 150

in staff.

Yes, I remember

calista Davis.

No, I don't remember

if she had

a special relationship

with someone named Karen,

inmate or staff.

Maybe you could

check your files.

Are you kidding?

Channels, sweetie.

That's the way you do it.

You go

to the police,

you report

your aunt missing,

you tell 'em all

about this Karen.

Then they may

or may not come here

and look through

my records.

Now, if you'll

excuse me.

Psst.

Nurse Davis,

s-she took an interest.

She cared about

what happened to us.

She tried to help

Karen mills.

Karen mills?

What was she

in here for?

She claimed

her stepfather was--

was doing things to her.

So one night, while he was

sleeping off a drunk,

she torched the house...

Burned him to a crisp.

Is this--

is this Karen mills?

I don't know.

I--i can't tell.

I'm not sure.

Sorry.

This Karen of yours.

Does she have a doll

with one of those

pull rings in the back?

You know, it said

the name Mary Ann, I think.

Thank you.

Conner residence.

Buddy, it's Linda.

Hi, Linda.

I want you

to do me a favor, ok?

Yep.

I want you

to take the phone

and go

into Susan's room.

What if her door's

closed?

It's ok, buddy.

It's a game.

Oh, it's like one of

those detective games?

That's right, and you're

Sherlock Holmes.

Ok, I'm going.

I'm inside, Watson.

Ok, Sherlock.

I want you to go

over to the closet.

There should be

a black duffel bag.

Do you see it?

Mm-hmm.

Ok...

I want you

to look inside

and see if there's

a doll with blond hair.

Ok.

Is it there?

Yeah.

Does she have a pull ring

on her back, buddy?

Uh-huh.

Pull it, buddy.

Pull the ring.

Doll: Hi, my name

is Cheryl Ann,

and I love you.

Hey, give me

my fucking doll!

They didn't

teach you

about privacy in

your moron school?

It wasn't

a moron school.

It was

a special school!

Hello?

Linda, is that you?

Buddy! I know I said

a terrible thing.

Man: Good afternoon,

city hall.

Linda: Could I speak

to someone in zoning, please?

Just a moment.

Second man: Zoning,

can I help you?

Yes, I'm looking

for Jesse Conner.

Is he still there?

No, ma'am,

they're gone.

Left about, oh,

5 minutes ago.

Do you know

where they went?

Did they go to lunch?

Oh, no, ma'am,

they just went.

Ok, thank you.

You're welcome.

Buddy?

Ollie-Ollie

oxen free?

Buddy?

Mm-mmm.

You seen buddy?

What are you doing?

I'm fantasizing.

Don't you want to know

what I'm fantasizing about?

Ok, Paris, please.

I just had a serious

misunderstanding

with buddy, and

I need to see him.

I'm fantasizing

about you and me...

In Kentucky.

So do you want sex

right here now

with the mud

and the horseshit?

I prefer a bed

with clean sheets,

but this will do.

Sweetheart...

I've been your friend

since the get-go.

I have backed you up.

I have lied

to Linda for you.

And now I get the feeling

that you're playing me.

I'm getting

real sick of it.

Yeah? Fuck you!

Buddy?

Buddy?

Are you in here?

Ok, I know that

you're mad at me,

and you should be.

Come on, buddy.

Best friends

talk things out.

They forgive

each other.

Oh, I forgive you.

What do you want?

I don't like

being dismissed.

This is a cozy little

place you got here.

It's buddy's.

Well...

Thank you, buddy.

I told you once,

I choose who

I have sex with.

Well, I was hoping

you'd choose me.

Hmm, you see,

you must have forgot.

You're the one

with something to lose.

Buddy?

You're a problem, Paris.

I got more problems

than I need right now.

We never stood a chance,

the two of us.

I think it has something

to do with your name.

I mean, Paris.

Give me a break.

Susan, Susan,

Susan, for god's sake,

help me, I'm slipping.

So just let go.

What?

Be much less painful.

For god's sake, help.

I swear to god I won't--

I won't tell anybody

anything.

J-just help me

out of here, please.

You know,

we're a lot alike.

Susan, come on. Don't

do this. You gotta--

I can't trust you.

Help me out of here.

God. God, don't, just--

just give me your--

aaaah!

What should I do, will?

Will?

Buddy!

Buddy!

You saw what Paris

tried to do to me!

Conrad, what are

you doing here?

Clogged drain

in your folks' tub.

Yeah, here's

the culprit.

You seen buddy?

Nope.

Buddy?

Just keep it together.

The eye on the doughnut.

Damn it, focus!

Buddy?

Buddy?

Buddy, are you in here?

Buddy?

If you're here,

come out.

Susan can't hurt you.

Susan: I don't

want to hurt him.

I caught him snooping

through my things,

and I lost it

for a second

and I said things

that I shouldn't have.

Yeah, he gets upset when

people call him a moron.

Where is he?

I don't know.

Linda, something terrible

just happened.

He tried to rape me--

Paris.

God, I was looking for buddy

up at our secret place

up in the hill

and...

Paris must have

followed me there.

Guess where

I just came from.

We fought and...

Oh, god,

I went crazy...

And I hit him,

and he fell, and poor buddy

saw the whole thing.

Carson correctional

institution.

Listen, Linda.

I can explain.

I was young,

I got into trouble,

and they put me

in there.

When I got out and people

found out where I'd been,

they wouldn't hire me.

So I changed my name.

Left Karen mills behind.

Yeah.

Quite a girl,

that Karen.

Heard she torched

her foster father.

That fire...

Was an accident.

You're gonna pack

your bags and leave.

So does Jesse

know about this?

In case you

haven't noticed,

your dad likes me.

Well, he doesn't know

the truth about--

did you ever use

my parents' bathroom?

No.

When you were taking

care of Maggie,

you never helped her

with her bath?

No. She wouldn't

let anybody help her.

You know that.

What are you

getting at?

How did this

get in the drain

of my parents'

bathtub?

You killed my mother.

Quicker...

And with more mercy

than when she killed me.

What are you

talking about?

Reality, Linda...

Reality.

You see this?

The horses, the stables?

It's as much mine

as it is yours,

and I've as much right

to be here as you do.

You're my sister, Linda.

Maggie was your mother?

In name only.

The state was

my real mother.

Now, you've ruined

everything, Linda.

I should have

done you first.

You know, when I first

found Conner ranch,

I thought

of burning it down.

But I've grown since

my days at Carson.

I've learned things

like anger management now.

And you people...

Just lived your picture-book

life up here.

Oh, god,

you're crazy.

You didn't know

my fucking name

till this morning!

Well,

here I am, sis.

Because of you,

I have no place to go.

Nowhere!

Good-bye, Linda.

Linda?

Are you ok?

Sh-sheriff Tom's

gonna be mad.

Come on,

come on.

You ok?

God almighty,

what happened?

It's a long story.

You'll never

believe it.

Susan--

Susan tried

to kill Linda.

What?

He saved my life.

Oh, baby.

God, if only

I'd listened to you,

maybe this wouldn't

have happened.

Are you ok?

Yeah, yeah.

Hey, hey-hey. Ahh.

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