Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) - full transcript

Five loosely intertwined stories of the emotional issues facing individual middle-aged Angelenas are presented. In "This Is Dr. Keener", physician Elaine Keener is spending the day taking care of her invalid mother at home on the nurse's day off. Elaine, a scientist, seeks confirmation on what may be a turning point issue in her life by an unconventional means, namely a tarot card reading. Although the news Elaine receives through the reading is a largely accurate assessment of her current life, it is the news about that crossroads issue that takes her somewhat aback. In "Fantasies About Rebecca", thirty-nine year old Rebecca Waynon is outwardly in control of her life, from her job as a bank manager to her personal long term relationship with older Robert. A homeless woman named Nancy who hangs around outside the bank seems to have a clearer picture of what is truly happening with Rebecca than Rebecca herself, as is witnessed by Rebecca's ultimate reaction to an action in dealing with a personal issue. In "Someone for Rose", divorced mother Rose's life is focused on making sure her fifteen year old son Jay is turning into a respectable young man. Between that and her new work as a writer of children's books, Rose doesn't seem to have time to look for love, which changes when Albert, a dwarf, moves in across the street. In "Goodnight Lilly, Goodnight Christine", lesbian couple Christine and Lilly discuss their relationship - past, present and future - as they deal with Lilly's terminal illness. And in "Love Waits For Kathy", police detective Kathy Faber lives with her blind sister Carol Faber. Although Carol has an active life - social and professional, the former which includes dates - and is more than capable of managing on her own as she is highly perceptive, Kathy, under the surface, treats Carol with kid gloves to make sure she's all right in dealing with life considering her physical disability. As such, Kathy has let her personal life largely slip by her. But is it too late for Kathy?

The manager let her into the apartment early this morning.

She'd been out all night

and lost her keys.

He said she moved in

a couple weeks ago.

[RINGING]

[RINGING CONTINUES]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Yes, this is

Dr. Keener.

Who's this?

Hi.

Yes.

Yes. Could you

come by today?

Anytime's fine.

I'll see you

at 2:00.

[PHONE BEEPS]

[DIALING]

Hi. Is Dr. Rosen in?

This is Dr. Keener.

Okay. No,

I'll call him back.

I'm not

in my office today.

Thank you. Uh, actually,

would you give him the message?

Dr. Keener.

He has my number.

Thank you.

Would you happen to know what time he'll be back?

No. Okay. Yeah.

No, of course.

Of course.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

[PHONE BEEPS]

[INSTRUMENT PLAYING]

[TV CONTINUES]

[TURNS OFF TV]

[FARTING]

[GIGGLING]

Hello. Dr. Rosen, please.

This is Dr. Keener.

Thank you.

Hello.

Oh, no. It's okay.

I'll call him back later.

Thank you. Yes.

Bye-bye.

[PHONE BEEPS]

[SOBBING]

[DOORBELL RINGING]

Hi. I'm Christine Taylor.

I'm...

We spoke earlier.

I'm Debbie's friend.

Yes. Come in.

Have you ever consulted

the cards before? No.

Oh, somebody once

read my palm.

Which one?

Uh, the left.

Mmm.

Both hands are really necessary to do a proper reading.

Oh. [CHUCKLING]

We were just fooling around.

Didn't really...

I think you're

gonna like the cards.

Was there anything in particular that you wanna talk about?

No.

Okay, well, I'll just do

a general outlook,

and then if you have any specific questions,

you can ask me at the end.

All right.

You're a Scorpio.

Yes.Okay.

Are you ready?

Okay, um, go ahead

and pick ten cards.

You're not happy.

You're good at pretending that everything in your life is good,

and you give off a great sense of security and self-confidence, but...

You're not satisfied.

You don't

know yourself well.

You're restless

and unsettled.

You're a great pretender.

You've been married,

but you're presently

divorced or separated.

You like to give the impression that you're happy to be by yourself,

but in reality,

you're mortified that your marriage failed.

You believe it's your fault

that it failed, and...

It may be so.

Regret in that area has caused you a great deal of pain.

You don't have

any lifelong friends.

The friends you have you made

while you were married,

and you weren't

close to them.

They were mostly

your husband's friends.

Some of them wanted

to be close to you,

but they felt

that you were inaccessible...

Or that you were aloof.

And you're very secretive.

And you don't trust easily.

And when you do let someone in,

you later regret it,

or resent them.

I think that you feel that sooner or later everyone is a disappointment.

You can be assertive and hands-on,

especially in a crisis.

But I think you live in constant fear of tragedy.

You're very,

very afraid of change.

You've met a man?

At work?

Or related to work that

you're very taken with?

Maybe you're even

obsessed with him.

But I don't think

he's affectionate.

And he's not someone who is easy to get to know intimately.

And you should be careful

about misunderstandings

because you have a tendency to become quickly infatuated,

and then...

You get embarrassedor depressed

because things didn't turn out the way you expected them to.

You're a daydreamer.

To set yourself up

for falls.

You should let me know if we're moving in the right direction.

It's possible we could

take a wrong turn

and get lost, especially

since it's our first time.

You're...

Let's go on.

[PHONE RINGING]

Excuse me.

Hello?

Hi. I'm fine. How are you?

Can I call you back?

All right.

Bye-bye.

Yes. Yes, of course.

Good-bye.

[SIGHS]

Lately I've had the feeling that my, uh,

life is going to change.

It's a very strong feeling.

Can you see that?

I've been having dreams.

What kind of dreams?

If there's bad news,

I don't want you to tell me.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

I'm sorry. There's usually a nurse,

but she had to take the day off.

[SIGHING] Just tell me

about this year.

Well, um...

Hmm.

You seem to be very concerned with finding a man.

Someone who you can

depend on.

Somebody who you can

share your life with.

And there is a man who

will be interested in you.

The man

you mentioned before?

The one at work?

No, this is somebody

you've never met.

A younger man.

Well, the man at work

is younger than I am.

A couple of years.

He's...

Tall.

Fair skin.

Has brown eyes.

No.

You sure it's not somebody

I already know?

This is a new man.

You know, Dr.

Keener, none of this is written in stone.

I mean, these are

your cards today, but...

Nothing happens

without you.

[PHONE RINGING]

[RINGING CONTINUES]

Good night, princess.

What time is it?

It's a quarter to 2:00.

I'm gonna leave before I turn into a pumpkin.

Susan, good morning.Good morning.

Hey.

Hi, this is Rebecca Weyman.

Can Debbie see me today?

Uh-huh.

Yeah, okay.

I'll be there. Thanks.

NANCY: Do you have

a cigarette for us? No.

Are you waiting

for someone? No.

So what are you doing standing here smoking like a whore?

You're not a whore,

are you? No.

So what are you?

I work here.

Are you a teller?

Do you handle the money?

I'm the bank manager.

If you're the manager,

why can't you smoke inside?

There's no smoking inside.

What good is it then

to be the boss?

I don't know. [LAUGHING]

[COUGHING]

[CONTINUES COUGHING]

I robbed a bank once.

A long time ago when my husband and I came out here,

we tried to rob a bank

in Glendale.

It was a joke.

He almost

got himself killed.

But we got away.

No money, though.

We couldn't get our hands

on any money.

What does

your husband do?

Or doesn't he work?

Is he a kept man?

[CHUCKLING]

I don't have a husband.

Of course you do.I'm not married.

Show me your ring finger.

Are you a lesbian? [LAUGHING] No.

Are you? Do I look like a lesbian?

Did you study

to become a bank manger?

Or does Daddy own the bank?

Is that it?

Daddy owns it?

No, I trained

with the bank.

Ooh!

I bet that training included things you'd be too ashamed to talk about.

Like what? You tell me.

I'm sure you had to do all sorts of things to get to the top.

That's the second time

you've called me a whore.

I wanna walk away with

the rest of your cigarettes.

You can send one of your assistants to buy you more.

You have men

working under you?

They'll hate you for it.

But they'll jack off Just thinkin' about you, anyway.

Thank you for your time.

Have a nice day.

You haven't

told me your name.

Nancy.

Rebecca.

I need you to sign these.

I'm taking a long lunch.

Cover for me? Sure.

Do you think the men in the bank resent that a woman is in charge?

I'm okay with it.

And the others?

I haven't heard anything.

It's mostly women in here, anyway.

If they weren't okay with it,

would it matter?

Do you think they have

sexual fantasies about me?

[LAUGHS]

Uh, I'm sure they do.

See you later.

[INDISTINCT YELLING]

Come on,

you son of a bitch!

Come on,

you son of a bitch!

Come on,

you son of a bitch!

Hey, stranger.

How're you doin'?

Never better.

When was the last time

you were here?

I don't know.

In the fall, I think.

March of last year.

That's too long. Any problems?

I took

a home pregnancy test,

and it lit up

like a Christmas tree.

Do you remember the date

of your last period?

Um... I haven't had one

since April.

Well, I'll have a look.

Have you been

trying to get pregnant? No.

I use a diaphragm,

but I had a couple of encounters without it.

[LAUGHS]

That'll do it.

I was in a hurry.

I always say to my husband,

"Go slow 'cause I'm in a hurry."

Come on.

Scoot down.

Six weeks pregnant.

Does six weeks

sound about right to you? Yes.

Well, that means that you are due around January 7.

I don't wanna be pregnant.

You don't? No.

You wanna

have an abortion?

Yes.

Have you ever

been pregnant before? Uh-uh.

And you are how old?

Thirty-nine.

Well, I gotta tell ya,

this might be your last call.

I mean,

do you wanna take a few days and think about it?

No.

Maybe there's someone

you wanna talk it over with?

Nope.

I have a hunch his wife is not gonna like it.

Is this an ongoing thing? Yes.

How long? Three years.

And you have never

mentioned it.

Oh, I told you about him.

I just never told you the details.

[LAUGHS] Well,

that is a big detail.

So what's in store

for the future?

Only a fool would say.

The doctor can see you tomorrow at 3:00 or Friday at 11:00.

Tomorrow at 3:00.

There you go.

See you then.Oh, thanks.

[DOOR OPENING]

I'll see you tomorrow.

Don't let

the bedbugs bite.

NANCY: Hey.

I'm out of cigarettes.

I'll run

and get us some.

Keep the change.

I'm going to.

Are you

on your way home? Yes.

Home is where

the love is.

See you later.

Are you in a hurry,

sister?

Yes, I am.

Children are waiting? No.

I didn't think so.

[DOOR OPENING] Hi.

[DOOR CLOSING] ROBERT: Yes, it is I.

The king. The king.

Are you hungry?

I can't stay long.

Where are you going?

I gotta get to bed early.

I'm on a 7:00 a.m. flight

to San Francisco.

Seems that, uh,

Samuelson and his guys don't wanna play with us.

What happened?

I don't know.

They got cold feet

or something.

Interest on the financing

of the second stage.

Blah, blah, blah,

blah, blah.

Let's not

talk about it.

It's boring.

What about you?

You look tired.

I am a little bit.

I'm late with my period.

You're always late.

I saw the doctor at lunchtime.

I'm six weeks pregnant.

What happened?

I didn't have the diaphragm with me that time in Palm Springs.

Why not?

I counted days and figured

we'd be okay without it.

She set up an appointment for me tomorrow afternoon to take care of it.

I won't be able

to get back in time.

That's okay.

Whatever happened

to Vera?

Did she ever call back about those Mexican

tapestries she wanted to show us?

No. I'll... I'll

try her tonight.

Yeah. See if she can

come by Saturday evening.

Okay.

I'd like to get one

like Rosen has.

Yeah.Huh?

For right over there.

Ooh, ooh, ooh. [CHUCKLING]

I'll come by

in the evening.

We'll eat out.

Get some sleep.

You don't think I should

have this baby, do you?

You should be

home sleeping.

I plan to work you

into the ground tomorrow.

Oh. Do you

live near here? Mmm. Sherman Oaks.

Oh.You in Studio City?

Yeah, yeah.

I'm, uh...

My daughter's spending

the week with her mother,

so I'm out looking

for trouble.

Are you finding any? No.

[CHUCKLES]

It's still early.

Would you like a drink?

Uh, a glass of red wine.

Are you out here

every night?

Yes.

I was really looking forward to my daughter

spending the week with her mother,

and now that she's gone,

I don't know what to do with myself.

How old is

your daughter? She's nine.

You should bring her to work sometime.

We'll show her the ropes.

I'll get her started

on the art of giving orders.

Believe me,

she's a natural.

I mean it.

I wanna meet her.

I can't promise

I'll bring her to the bank,

but we'll invite you

for dinner.

That'll be better.

June is blind.

I didn't know that.

Was she born blind?

Yes.

That's a tough draw,

but you have to learn to play the hard hand.

Mmm, all my money's on her.

She's the queen.

And you're her king.

June. [SIGHING]

That's a good name.

Yeah.

It's her mother's name.

So, you plan on

working me hard tomorrow?

Mmm, I've gotta take

the afternoon off.

I need you to cover for me

one more time.

I'm your man.

Would you

like a drink?

Hey.

Good morning.

Thanks for the candy.

I always carry it with me

just in case.

[LAUGHING]

I was a little hurt

you didn't say goodbye.

Were you hurt?

I'm sorry.

You don't sound sorry.

I'm not big on regret.

I got your change.

And I bought us...

Winstons.

Who's this? Walter.

NANCY:

Is he your husband?

REBECCA:

He works at the bank.

He works for you?

Under you? What is that like?

What is what like? Working for her.

What is your name?

Danielle.

Is that your real name?

That's a whore's name.

Is that her real name?

Be careful with her.

Why?

She's a snake.

A snake

as well as a whore.

That's not very nice.

Does your husband know

that you're here?

Does he know that you're sitting here with this man?

I told you I'm not married.

We went over this yesterday. Remember?

You showed me

your wedding ring.

Let me tell you

about love.

You don't ask,

you give.

A sneak like you

doesn't know this.

You wouldn't know a good man if he bit you on the tit.

And a good man, if he saw you,

would cry to see a...

Listen,

I think that's enough.

No. Keep going.

NANCY:

You're disgusting.

One look at you

was enough for me.

A sad bitch.

A lonely bitch.

You're as lonely

as a dog.

It's not that

I don't like you.

I like you, princess.

I feel sorry for you.

I'm going to keep

smoking your cigarettes.

[CAR DOOR OPENS]

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

Ma'am,

what are you doing?

NANCY: I have to talk

to the boss.

The manager.

No, no!

I have to fight with...

Where's the boss?

Ah! Danielle!

Danielle!

I have to talk to her!

Go get her! Damn you!

Son of a bitch!

You son of a bitch!

I won't be back

until tomorrow.

Thanks for

minding the store.

Rebecca?

This is feeling

a little strange.

You've been

avoiding me all day.

Perhaps you're more accustomed to doing the avoiding.

Perhaps.

Or did you think this could be a regular romance?

I'll see you tomorrow.

[CAR ALARM CHIRPS]

Hey. All set?

How long

will this take?

It's just gonna take a few minutes.

It's a real quickie.

But they're gonna ask you

to stay for a while,

and you're not gonna

be able to drive.

Did someone come in

with you?

Robert's gonna

pick me up at 4:00.

Why are you here, Deb?

I just wanna stop by,

say hello.

I don't want you

to stay.

Are you sure

about this?

I don't want you here.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Hello.

I'm Dr. Keener.

Hi.

We're ready? Yes.

Very well.

Will you lie down?

Now, this won't knock you out.

It's just to relax you.

I'm all right.

KEENER: Squish down a little bit more for me, please.

Would you move

this over, please?

I'm gonna see your chart.

All right.

Okay, this might be

a little cold. [INSTRUMENT CLATTERING]

Did anyone call when I was in with Judy Good?

I don't think so, Doctor.

You want me to check?

No.

Okay, you're gonna

feel a little stick.

All right.

Oh, it's hot in this room.

Do something about the air, please.

Do you need

all three of these?

KEENER: Yeah.

Okay. Try to hold still.

NURSE:

How're you doin'?

[YELPS]

We're almost done.

[SOBBING]

Mom, what do I have

back here? Where?

No, go left.

More left.

"Further" left.

That's it.Ah. That's a freckle.

You sure? Yes.

'Cause if it's something else,

I want you to pop it.

I've seen

freckles before, Jay.

You can't even

see it.

How'd you find it?

I felt it rubbing against

my shirt, and it itches.

Let me see.

Don't think you have

anything to worry about.

Come on.

What's the big deal?

I'm not gonna

let you do it.

Hey, better me than someone else saying you need to brush more often.

Hmm?

You never know when you're gonna get close.

I'm not asking for your hand in marriage.

Fine.

I'll let you this once if you promise it'll be the last time.

Promise.

I promise.

Mmm. It's good.

Of course. [CHUCKLING]

Ma, can I start

the car? Yeah, I'll be right there.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Okay, let's go.

Did you see that?

He's a dwarf.Yes, Jay, he is.

I never met

a dwarf before.

We're gonna have to stop by later and introduce ourselves.

You would do that, Jay?

You would actually go across the street and introduce yourself?

You don't feel weird about meeting a dwarf,

do you?

I certainly don't feel weird about introducing myself to a new neighbor,

but please don't

call him a dwarf.

He is a dwarf.

We'll stop by this evening and say hello.

I wonder what time

dwarfs go to bed.

Jay, that's enough.

Shut up, Mom.

I'm not gonna embarrass you.

Do you wanna go there by yourself?

Better be careful.

Those little guys, I tell you,

they know how to work a lady.

Jay! You are totally

out of control. [ENGINE STARTING]

[CAR HORN HONKS]

Let's go.

[HORN HONKING]

JAY: Gary and I have to work on the Getty Project,

so he'll drive me home.

Who was that girl?

What girl?

Yes.I never saw her before.

You don't know her.What's her name?

Angelica.

What a beautiful name.

She seemed

very friendly.

Oh, yeah.

See ya later,

peach face.

Gary.

How are you? What's up?

Hey, what's up?

How are you? Hey, how are you?

Good, thanks.

Hi.

[SCANNER BEEPS]

[BEEPING CONTINUES]

Excuse me, sir.

We haven't met,

but I believe you're moving into the house across the street from mine.

Uh, I'm on my way home.

I could give you a ride if you need one.

How do you know I'm moving into the

house across the street from yours?

I saw you with the movers this morning.

On Cynthia Street.

And you're sure

it was me you saw.

Yes, I... I'm sure.

Of course it was me.

I'm just surprised you're willing to pick up strange men.

Surprised, but thankful.

[CAR DOOR OPENS]

[ENGINE STARTING]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[CAR HORN BLARING] Oh!

Thanks for this.You're welcome.

I just bought a car,

but it won't come in until next week.

Oh, are you moving here

from out of town?

From Covina.

I didn't even know that house was for sale.

It's been empty for so long.

I didn't buy it.Oh.

It's my mother's house.Oh. Really?

Yes. I was

born in that house.

Is your mother

moving in there with you?

[CHUCKLING] No.Oh.

She died last year.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Don't worry about it.

We hadn't said a word to each other in over 20 years.

I left home when I was 16,

and she never forgave me.

Why did you leave home?

I joined the circus.

[CHUCKLING]

You joined the circus

when you were 16?

I fell in love with a girl who worked in a circus,

and I ran away with her.

[LAUGHS] Wow.

That's quite a story.

It's not all that exciting.

I became a bookkeeper

with that circus.

Perhaps you thought

I was a lion tamer?

No, I... I didn't.

I'm allergic to cats.

What kind of business

are you in? Um...

I... I write books

for children.

Storybooks? Yes. I've just started,

really.

I'm a schoolteacher.

Do you have

children yourself?

I have a son.

Jay. He's 15.

I wanted to be a writer once.

A writer of short stories.

I don't write anymore.Why not?

I wasn't any good.

I didn't work at it

hard enough, and it's...

It's a lonely job.

Are you still

with the circus? No.

I left that years ago.

I work for a hospital now.

I guess that would

make my mother happy.

She and I didn't make up

before she passed.

I regret that

very much.

What happened

to the girl? Which one?

The one with the circus.

She's with another man.

[SIGHS]

Thank God we're here.

You're making me think of things I haven't thought about for a long time.

Let me help you

carry them in the house.

Don't worry about it.

I'll get it.

Thanks for the lift.

I didn't even

introduce myself.

Albert.Rose.

Rose.

Which is your house?

That one. There.

Well...

[DOORBELL RINGING]

[EXHALES]

[SOFTLY] Oh.

[GASPS]

[CONTINUES GASPING]

[PANTING]

[SIGHS]

[SCREAMS]

Oh, stinker.

[DOOR CLOSES] Jay?

Rose?

Come in here.

Hungry? Always.

Give me two minutes.

Make you pizza.

What are

you workin' on?

Two Frogs.

Can we invite the dwarf?

His name's Albert.

How do you know that?

I ran into him in the supermarket,

and I gave him a ride home.

You gave a dwarf

a ride home?

Jay, stop calling him a dwarf.

His name's Albert.

[CHUCKLES] I almost...

I almost got us into an accident.

He made you nervous.

No. He was very friendly.

I bet he was.What's that supposed

to mean?

Thank you, Jay.

I thought