Touched (2014) - full transcript
Norma (an author of novels) finds herself diagnosed with cancer. Emma Norma's nurse is doing a secret treatment that no one may know about. While in her treatment to help her feel happy Norma finnishes her old books and her most favourite one happens to be named. Touched. Norma and Emma find that joy is the real medicine to any problem.
- HI.
HI, SORRY I'M LATE.
I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE
FINDING THE ROAD.
- HEY, LISTEN,
IT'S VERY EASY TO MISS.
I'M HENRY.
THIS IS MY WIFE, MARIA.
- HELLO, I'M--
- AMBER FELLS.
- MM-HMM.
- YOU'RE 30 MINUTES LATE.
- THE NORA BOSWELL?
MY FRIENDS
COULD HARDLY BELIEVE IT.
I'VE READ ALL OF HER BOOKS.
TWICE.
IN COLLEGE, I--
- GOOD LUCK.
- OH.
- GREETINGS.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING ME.
- I'M DR. BECK, MS. BOSWELL'S
PERSONAL PHYSICIAN.
I SEE BY YOUR RESUME
YOU'RE VERY EXPERIENCED.
- YES, I--I'VE WORKED IN
A PRIVATE HOSPITAL, ST. GEORGE,
AND AS A TRAVEL NURSE
FOR THREE YEARS.
- WHY DON'T YOU GO MEET
MS. BOSWELL?
- IT IS SUCH AN HONOR.
YOUR BOOKS ARE AMAZING.
- WELL, I DON'T DO
THAT MUCH ANYMORE.
- IS IT REALLY TRUE?
I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE SOME
UNFINISHED EPIC
JUST LYING AROUND HERE
SOMEWHERE?
- GET OUT.
- MS. BOSWELL, I--
- GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, NOW!
- TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.
- I TOLD YOU
SHE WOULDN'T LAST FIVE.
MM-HMM.
FOLLOW ME, PLEASE.
- LEAVE, NOW!
- THANK YOU.
- PLEASE LEAVE, NOW.
- I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY I CAN'T CARE FOR HER MYSELF
LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE
AND ADMINISTER WHATEVER
MEDICATION NEEDS ADMINISTERING.
- WELL,
THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW.
- DIFFERENT HOW?
- WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL.
- EMMA KEATING.
- YES, WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU.
COME ON IN.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- LONG DRIVE?
- 2 HOURS, 25 MINUTES.
- CAN I GET YOU SOME COFFEE?
- I'D LIKE
TO MEET THE PATIENT NOW.
- RIGHT THIS WAY THEN.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- DR. BECK?
- EMMA KEATING,
IT'S A PLEASURE.
- I SEE YOU'VE INTERVIEWED
A LOT OF NURSES.
- LET'S GO MEET MS. BOSWELL.
MS. BOSWELL,
MEET EMMA KEATING.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT.
- OKAY, SO, MS. BOSWELL,
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS
WITH HOME NURSING CARE?
- IF IT WAS UP TO ME,
I WOULDN'T WANT A PRIVATE NURSE.
- WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
- I DON'T KNOW.
- DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD,
YOUR DUTIES WILL BE LIMITED
TO GENERAL CARE.
NOW, IF YOU MAKE IT THROUGH
THE TRIAL PERIOD
AND BOTH PARTIES AGREE
TO PROCEED
TO A LONGER-TERM CONTRACT,
MS. BOSWELL'S
CURRENT MEDICAL CONDITION
AND DETAILED HISTORY
WILL BE PROVIDED.
- UNDERSTOOD.
MEANWHILE, I THINK
WE SHOULD GET SOME FRESH AIR
HAPPENING IN HERE.
- NO.
- NO MATTER
YOUR CURRENT MEDICAL CONDITION
OR YOUR DETAILED
PERSONAL HISTORY,
I THINK
IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU.
DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
- WELL, THEN,
I THINK WE CAN PROCEED
TO THE TRIAL PHASE,
ASSUMING, OF COURSE,
YOU AGREE
TO THE PRELIMINARY CONDITIONS.
- WELL, FOR THE RATE
YOU'RE OFFERING,
I'D BE CRAZY
NOT TO GIVE IT A SHOT.
- [chuckles]
- I THINK YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO SHOW ME TO MY ROOM.
- OF COURSE.
AFTER YOU.
I TRUST
THE SPACE WILL BE SUFFICIENT.
- WELL, IT'S NICER
THAN MY APARTMENT.
HOW LONG
HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
- I'VE BEEN THE COOK
AND HEAD MATRON
SINCE MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY.
SHE HAD THE JOB BEFORE ME.
- WELL, JUST LIKE ME.
- EXCUSE ME?
- WELL, WE BOTH, YOU KNOW,
CARE FOR OTHERS.
- I IMAGINE THIS MUST BE
QUITE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
- HOW'S THAT?
- TO CARE FOR SOMEONE
LIKE MS. BOSWELL.
- I DON'T CARE
FOR SOMEONE DIFFERENTLY
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE RICH.
- YOU'LL FIND EVERYTHING
YOU NEED
AS FAR AS FOOD
AND LAUNDRY SERVICES DOWNSTAIRS.
I WON'T BE TENDING TO ANY
OF YOUR PERSONAL NECESSITIES.
- I'M PRETTY SELF-SUFFICIENT.
- I'M SURE.
- I THINK
WE'RE GONNA BE FRIENDS.
- BUT YOU WON'T BE HERE
LONG ENOUGH
FOR US TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
THAT WELL.
[knock at door]
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?
- CHECKING TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE STILL ALIVE.
- I WAS SLEEPING.
- IT'S 10:00.
- SO?
- SO IT'S TIME TO GET UP.
- NOBODY TELLS ME
WHEN TO GET UP.
- WHY SO LATE?
- I'M TIRED.
- WHY SO TIRED?
- I'M OLD.
- YOU'RE NOT THAT OLD.
I BROUGHT YOU SOME O.J.
- I DON'T DRINK O.J.
- FINE.
WOULD YOU LIKE
TO COME DOWNSTAIRS
AND HAVE SOME BREAKFAST?
- MARIA BRINGS ME MY BREAKFAST
WHEN I ASK HER TO.
- LOOK, DRINK THIS
AND I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE
FOR A WHOLE HOUR.
- I'M NOT A BABY.
- I KNOW.
BUT I'M BEING PAID
TO CARE FOR YOU
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY
AND, PRESUMABLY,
IMPROVE YOUR CONDITION.
- I DRINK COFFEE IN THE MORNING.
COFFEE.
- IT'S THIS OR GREEN TEA.
- OH, GIVE ME THAT GLASS.
I BELIEVE
I FIND YOU QUITE INTOLERABLE.
- OH, WELL,
IT'S JUST THE FIRST DAY.
- OH.
- HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU PLANTING?
- AH, TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.
I GET TO PLANT MY SUNFLOWERS.
- [chuckles]
- DO YOU GARDEN?
- I CAN'T SAY THAT I DO, NO.
- SOME PEOPLE SAY
THAT THESE ARE OVERUSED,
TOO COMMON,
VICTIMS OF THEIR OWN POPULARITY,
BUT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN
MS. BOSWELL'S FAVORITE TOO.
- HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
- OH, JUST THE SUMMER SEASON.
- AREN'T THERE ONES THAT GROW
BY THEMSELVES YEAR AFTER YEAR?
- SURE, PERENNIALS.
BUT I ENJOY THE CYCLE,
YOU KNOW,
WATCHING THEM GROW TALL,
THRIVE, AND THEN FADE AWAY.
PLUS, IT GIVES ME
SOMETHING TO DO.
- CAN'T IMAGINE
YOU'D BE BORED
LOOKING AFTER
THIS PLACE, THOUGH.
- YEAH,
I LOVE IT HERE.
- SO I TAKE IT MS. BOSWELL
DOESN'T WRITE ANYMORE.
- OH, SHE HASN'T HAD A BOOK OUT
IN OVER 10 YEARS.
- WHY IS THAT?
- WELL, A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENED IN NORMA'S LIFE
AROUND THAT TIME.
I MEAN THE ACCIDENT,
OF COURSE.
- WHAT ACCIDENT?
- CAR ACCIDENT.
HER AND HER HUSBAND,
SAMUEL.
OH, IT WAS A TERRIBLE THING.
A TRUCK BLINDSIDED THEM.
KILLED SAM INSTANTLY.
YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT?
IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS.
- UM, I GUESS
I MUST HAVE MISSED IT.
- [sighs]
[keys clacking]
- "NORMA BOSWELL
IS AN AMERICAN AUTHOR
"OF EPIC TALES
OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY.
"TRAGEDY BECAME A REALITY
FOR BOSWELL
"IN HER HORRIFIC ACCIDENT.
"AFTER RETURNING HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL,
"SHE BECAME
AN ALMOST TOTAL RECLUSE,
VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARING."
ME AGAIN.
- [groans]
- GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
- OH.
- HEY.
WOULD YOU LIKE A SANDWICH?
- LET ME KNOW
WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
- DR. BECK.
- MS. BOSWELL AND I
WILL NEED TO BE ALONE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
- OH, YOU'RE SURE I CAN'T GIVE
YOU A HAND WITH SOMETHING?
- NO, THANK YOU.
NOT UNTIL YOUR TRIAL
IS COMPLETE.
STILL A FEW MORE DAYS.
- [sighs]
[metal clatters]
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
- WHO ARE YOU?
- WHO ARE YOU?
- I ASKED YOU FIRST.
- ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
- I'M JUSTIN.
BOSWELL?
- OH.
- JUST GOT BACK IN TOWN
AND ALREADY CAUSING A RUCKUS.
- SORRY, I WAS GONNA GET
SOMETHING TO EAT.
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO WAKE ANYBODY UP.
- SO MUCH FOR THAT.
- LOOKS LIKE IT.
- I'LL FIX YOU YOUR FAVORITE.
- I MISSED YOU.
SO WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?
- LATEST ATTEMPT
AT A PRIVATE NURSE.
- I'M GONNA GO BACK TO BED.
- GOOD NIGHT...
KILLER.
HEY.
- OH, I AM SO SORRY
ABOUT LAST NIGHT.
I FEEL TERRIBLE.
- NO, I WAS IMPRESSED.
HARD-CORE.
MY MOTHER SHOULD PAY YOU
AS A SECURITY GUARD TOO.
- RIGHT.
- WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THAT?
- LAUNDRY ROOM.
- MARIA DOESN'T DO IT FOR YOU?
- I THINK
I CAN DO MY OWN LAUNDRY.
- HMM.
- SO I SEE YOU LIKE
TO SLEEP LATE LIKE YOUR MOTHER.
- I'M A LITTLE JET-LAGGED.
- OH.
WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM?
- SPAIN, GERMANY, FRANCE,
PORTUGAL ON THE WAY
BACK THROUGH.
- WOW.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
- A LITTLE OF THIS,
A LITTLE OF THAT.
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE.
- LET ME GUESS.
YOU'RE A WRITER TOO?
- I AM A CHIP
OFF THE OLD BLOCK.
- DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
YOU'RE HOME?
- NOT JUST YET,
THOUGH I'M SURE SHE'LL BE
ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO FIND OUT.
LET'S NOT VEX HER
WITH ALL THAT EXCITEMENT.
OUR PATHS
WILL CROSS SOON ENOUGH.
UNTIL THEN, REST.
- OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA LIFT
OUR ARMS UP,
REACH FOR THE SKY.
OKAY, YOU'RE NOT REACHING.
REACH.
- FOR GOODNESS' SAKE.
- YOU KNOW,
WE COULD MOVE THIS OUTSIDE,
EVEN ON TO THE PORCH.
IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
- I DON'T GET THE POINT
OF ALL THIS.
- WELL, IT INCREASES
YOUR BLOOD FLOW,
OXYGEN TO THE HEART,
ELONGATES YOUR SPINE.
- OH, WHY CAN'T YOU
JUST LET ME BE?
- I TOLD YOU.
MY PLAN HERE
IS TO INCREASE YOUR HEALTH
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
- IT'S ALL A CHARADE.
- WELL, AS YOU KNOW
MY TRIAL PERIOD
IS COMING TO AN END,
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO LET ME GO,
NOW IS YOUR BIG CHANCE.
- I DON'T NEED A BIG CHANCE.
- FINE.
LET'S GO DO SOME MORE EXERCISES.
GONNA DO
SOME ARM CIRCLES NOW.
SO JUST OUT TO THE SIDE.
- THIS IS INTOLERABLE.
- IF I'M SO INTOLERABLE,
WHY HAVE YOU KEPT ME AROUND?
- I'M REALLY CURIOUS.
- OKAY, REVERSE DIRECTION NOW.
- YOU DON'T POSSESS ANY
KIND OF PERSONAL AGENDA
WHATSOEVER.
YOU TREAT ME AS A...
- AS ANY OF MY PATIENTS?
- AS IF I DON'T HOLD YOUR FAITH
IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.
- OKAY, LET'S JUST DO
SOME MORE EXERCISES, OKAY?
- I'D BE WILLING TO BET
THAT YOU HAVE NO HUSBAND,
NO FAMILY OF YOUR OWN.
- YOU BET RIGHT.
- AND NO BOYFRIEND.
- NO.
- SO YOU COME HERE VALIANTLY
AND DEVOTE YOURSELF BLINDLY
AND STOICALLY TO YOUR DUTY
WITH NO HEED WHATSOEVER
TO ANYTHING
OUTSIDE THAT NARROW COMPASS.
- WHAT, YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME
LIKE SOME KIND OF SAINT
OR SOMETHING?
- I THINK
IT MAKES YOU A DUNCE.
- [huffs]
WELL, SINCE I'M SO SIMPLE,
MAYBE YOU COULD EXPLAIN
SOMETHING TO ME.
YOUR SON JUST ARRIVED HOME
FROM ABROAD,
AND YET NEITHER OF YOU
HAVE SAID HELLO TO EACH OTHER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET
MY SIMPLE BRAIN TO UNDERSTAND.
- OUT OF MY HOUSE.
- IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE.
- HEY.
EMMA?
[tires screech]
- HEY.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- YOU CAN SEND ME MY CHECK
FOR THE WEEK.
- SHE FIRED YOU?
- IN SO MANY WORDS.
- JUST NOW?
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
- [sighs]
- LET ME TALK TO HER.
PLEASE.
MS. BOSWELL APOLOGIZES.
SHE WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAY ON.
HER OUTBURSTS ARE--
- HER OUTBURSTS
ARE NOT WHAT'S BOTHERING ME.
WHAT'S BOTHERING ME IS,
I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
- I UNDERSTAND, AT TIMES,
MS. BOSWELL CAN BE DIFFICULT
AND RATHER ECCENTRIC.
BUT SHE'S VERY DEAR TO ME,
AND SHE'S VERY ILL.
MS. BOSWELL
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH M.S.
WHEN SHE WAS IN HER MID 30s.
- I FOUND ONE
OF HER COPAXONE CAPSULES SO...
- YES.
WELL, EARLY LAST MONTH,
SHE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED
DUE TO ABNORMAL SYMPTOMS.
AN M.R.I. OF HER BRAIN
REVEALED PROGRESSIVE
MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHALITIS.
- SO WHAT TREATMENT
IS SHE RECEIVING?
- FOR THE P.M.L., NOTHING.
- NOTHING?
- SHE REFUSED FOR FEAR
OF ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS.
AFTER THE SCENE
AT THE HOSPITAL,
I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONVINCE
HER TO CONTINUE
WITH THE MODIFIED TREATMENT
FOR M.S.
SHE DOESN'T TRUST THE MEDICINE
OR THE DOCTOR.
- BUT THERE ARE VALID
TREATMENT OPTIONS OUT THERE.
- MS. BOSWELL'S MIND IS SET.
SHE WANTS TO LET THINGS
RUN THEIR COURSE.
FORTUNATELY, THE SYMPTOMS
HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY MILD
UP TO THIS POINT,
BUT THE STORM IS COMING.
- SO WE'RE LOOKING
FOR PALLIATIVE CARE.
- IS THAT A PROBLEM FOR YOU?
- NO, BUT WHAT ABOUT HER FAMILY?
- WELL, THERE'S ONLY JUSTIN.
SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM
TO KNOW.
SHE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE
TO KNOW.
AS OF NOW,
IT'S JUST THE HOSPITAL STAFF,
MYSELF, AND HER ATTORNEY.
I MUST INSIST NOW
THAT YOU SIGN
OUR CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL BONUS
ON TOP OF YOUR BASE RATE
IF YOU REACH THE...
CESSATION OF LIFE.
ALSO NOTE THE CLAUSE
THAT STATES WHAT HAPPENS
IF YOU BREAK OUR AGREEMENT.
- "DISCLOSURE
OF ANY OF MS. BOSWELL'S
"PRIVATE INFORMATION
BY THE PARTY,
"INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
"MS. BOSWELL'S PERSONAL
MEDICAL INFORMATION
"WILL IMMEDIATELY
TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT,
"VOIDING ANY MONETARY INCENTIVES
"AND RENDERING
THE PARTY VULNERABLE
TO PUNITIVE LEGAL ACTION."
- IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH?
- HOW LONG?
- EXCUSE ME?
- HOW LONG DOES SHE HAVE?
- WITHOUT TREATMENT
FOR THE VIRUS,
A MONTH.
- WELL,
I REALLY DIDN'T APOLOGIZE.
- NORMA.
- THE GOOD DOCTOR FEARS
THAT WE'VE LOST OUR CANDIDATE,
SO MAYBE HE'S JUST TIRED
OF LOOKING AFTER ME HIMSELF.
- EMMA HAS AGREED
TO ALL OF OUR CONDITIONS.
SHE SIGNED OUR AGREEMENTS.
NORMA?
- OKAY.
WELCOME.
WELCOME TO MY HOME.
WE'RE SO PLEASED
AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU.
LA-DEE-DAH.
- [clears throat]
YES, I DID SIGN YOUR PAPERS,
BUT I HAVE TO SAY,
I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING IN THEM.
- WHAT?
PRAY, TELL ME.
I'LL ELUCIDATE FOR YOU.
- WELL, WHY WOULDN'T
YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY?
I GET WHY YOU DON'T WANT IT
OUT THERE
FOR THE PRESS TURNING IT
INTO SOME BIG NEWS STORY,
BUT YOUR OWN SON.
EVEN HENRY AND MARIA.
- YOU DON'T HAVE A SHRED
OF KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT ME OR MY FAMILY.
- FAIR ENOUGH.
BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE
SOME CONDITIONS OF MY OWN.
- THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.
- I THINK WE SHOULD FULLY VET
ALL THE TREATMENT OPTIONS.
- AS I SAID, WE'VE, OF COURSE,
DISCUSSED THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE,
AND MS. BOSWELL
HAS ELECTED TO...
- I'D LIKE TO LIVE
IN A RELATIVELY
COMFORTABLE STATE
UNTIL I EXPIRE.
- WELL, I'M SORRY,
BUT THAT'S NOT ONE
OF YOUR OPTIONS.
IF YOU'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS
OF THE MEDICINE,
THE SYMPTOMS OF YOUR DISEASE
ARE GONNA GET FAR WORSE
AS IT PROGRESSES.
QUITE FRANKLY,
I THINK YOU'RE LUCKY
TO HAVE FAIRED SO WELL
UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
- I'M NOT SURE THE WORD "LUCKY"
IS APPROPRIATE HERE.
- ALL I'M SAYING IS,
THERE'S SOME INNOVATIVE
TREATMENT OPTIONS OUT THERE.
- YOU'RE JUST A NURSE.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
- I CAN DO SOME MORE RESEARCH,
WEIGH OUR OPTIONS AGAIN.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, NORMA?
- AT LEAST KEEP AN OPEN MIND.
[kettle whistling]
- [clears throat]
IT'S JUST ME.
IT'S GOOD IN HERE.
IT'S SAFE.
SO YOU SURVIVED.
- APPARENTLY SO.
- HEY, I'M GONNA GET OUT OF HERE
FOR A BIT, HEAD INTO TOWN,
SEE IF I CAN FIND SOME TROUBLE
TO GET INTO.
CARE TO JOIN?
- I DON'T THINK SO.
- COME ON, YOU'VE BEEN COOPED UP
HERE THE WHOLE TIME.
YOU MUST WANT TO ESCAPE
THIS DUNGEON FOR A WHILE.
- DUNGEON?
- DON'T YOU LIKE
TO HAVE ANY FUN?
- MY JOB HERE IS 24/7.
- YOU'RE NEVER GONNA PLEASE HER,
YOU KNOW.
- I'M NOT TRYING TO PLEASE HER.
- NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO,
HOW HARD YOU TRY,
YOU WON'T BE GOOD ENOUGH.
ALL RIGHT, LAST SHOT.
TAKE A RIDE WITH ME.
- YOU'RE USED TO GETTING
WHAT YOU WANT, AREN'T YOU?
- OUCH.
YOU PRETTY MUCH JUST SAY
WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND.
DON'T YOU?
- MM-HMM.
WHAT IS IT WITH YOU TWO,
ANYWAY?
- EXCUSE ME?
- YOU AND YOUR MOTHER.
- YOU'VE SEEN THE WAY SHE IS.
- RELATIONSHIPS
ARE A TWO-WAY STREET
LAST TIME I CHECKED.
- IF ANYBODY'S USED
TO GETTING THEIR WAY,
IT'S MY MOTHER,
AND LET'S JUST SAY
SHE DIDN'T EXACTLY GET
WHAT SHE WANTED WITH ME.
- [sniffs]
GOOD MORNING.
- OH, GOOD MORNING.
- TIME FOR YOUR DAILY COPAXONE.
- OH, WHAT JOY.
[chuckles]
OH, WHERE'S DR. BECK?
- HE WON'T BE COMING IN TODAY.
I'LL BE ADMINISTERING YOUR SHOTS
FOR YOUR M.S. FROM NOW ON.
YOU'RE READING
ALL YOUR OWN BOOKS?
- NO, I HAVEN'T LOOKED
AT MOST OF THESE IN YEARS.
I'M JUST SKIMMING THROUGH
TO SEE WHAT'S LEFT OF ME
AFTER I--I'M GONE.
- THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE
WITH ALL THAT.
- I AM.
WHAT KIND OF MORBID PERSON
FASHIONS THEIR EXISTENCE
ISOLATING THEMSELVES
WITH SICKNESS AND DEATH?
- WELL, WE CAN'T ALL BE
GREAT ARTISTS.
- WELL, THERE MUST BE
SOME OTHER PALATABLE WAY
THAT AN ATTRACTIVE, INTELLIGENT
YOUNG WOMAN LIKE YOURSELF
CAN MAKE ENDS MEET.
- I THOUGHT I WAS SIMPLE
AND A DUNCE.
- WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT?
- UM...
- I MEAN REALLY WANT.
- WELL, ONE DAY,
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP
MY OWN INPATIENT FACILITY
FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL.
- OH, THAT SOUNDS DREADFUL.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS STEM FROM?
I MEAN, ARE YOU DEALING
WITH SOME GUILT FROM YOUR PAST?
BECAUSE YOU SAID
THAT YOUR MOTHER WAS--
- WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT MY MOTHER RIGHT NOW.
- WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
- READY?
- YUP.
[needle clicks]
- HAVE YOU EVER
EVEN CONSIDERED IT,
OR IS IT TRUE
THAT YOU ARE A WOEFUL,
SELFLESS SLAVE TO WORK?
- [sighs]
TRAVEL
I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL.
- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
- WELL, IN SEVENTH GRADE,
WE WENT ON A SCHOOL TRIP
TO SEE MOUNT RUSHMORE.
- I'M SORRY I ASKED.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?
- EUROPE.
ITALY, MOSTLY.
I'M SURE
YOU'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE.
- YES, I'VE BEEN
TO THE FOUR CORNERS
OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD
AND SOME UNCIVILIZED.
I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO READ ONE OF MY BOOKS.
- WHY DO YOU CARE
WHAT I THINK?
- I DON'T.
I JUST SAID
I'D LIKE YOU TO READ IT.
- IS THIS PART OF MY JOB?
- IF IT PLEASES YOU
TO THINK SO.
- UH...
OKAY.
[plate shatters]
- OH.
- OH, HERE.
LET ME HELP YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- HEY.
- HELLO.
WOW, BEAUTIFUL CAR.
- YEAH, SHE'S BEEN
IN STORAGE FOREVER.
I'M GONNA TAKE A SHOT
AT GETTING HER
UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS?
- NOT REALLY.
- MY DAD SURE KNEW ABOUT CARS.
HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING
TO TEACH ME,
BUT I WAS JUST NEVER
TOO INTERESTED AT THE TIME.
- I'M SORRY
YOU LOST YOUR DAD.
- HE WAS COOL.
A REAL EVEN-KEELED GUY,
AND I GUESS HE WAS THE GLUE
OF OUR FAMILY
BECAUSE SINCE HE'S BEEN GONE,
EVERYTHING JUST FELL APART.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
YOUR FAMILY
AS MESSED UP AS MINE?
- MY MOTHER DIED
WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
- SORRY.
- SHE WAS SICK
FOR MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH
IN THE WAY OF RESOURCES.
CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW,
I--SHE WOULD HAVE LIVED
FOR A LITTLE LONGER.
- HOW ABOUT YOUR DAD?
- HE TOOK OFF.
COULDN'T HANDLE
THE TOUGH STUFF.
LEFT US TO DEAL WITH IT
ON OUR OWN.
- I GUESS SOME PEOPLE DEAL
WITH THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
- AND SOME PEOPLE
DON'T DEAL WITH THEM AT ALL.
YOU SURE YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING DOWN THERE?
- YES, I GOT IT.
I AM A MANLY MAN.
- HERE WE GO.
READY?
ONE, TWO, THREE.
[groans]
- OH, WOW, OKAY.
- IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY.
OPEN UP.
LET ME SEE. LET ME SEE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S FINE.
I CAN FIX THAT.
WE'LL JUST CLEAN IT.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE CUT.
JUSTIN?
JUSTIN?
JUSTIN, HEY.
HEY.
RELAX.
YOU HAD A BIT OF A FALL.
- DID I PASS OUT?
- DON'T WORRY.
YOU'LL SURVIVE.
I CLEANED IT
AND PUT A BUTTERFLY ON IT.
I DON'T THINK A STITCH THERE
IS GONNA DO IT ANY GOOD.
- [groans]
- YOU SHOULD HAVE LET
HENRY HELP YOU.
- OH, I'D BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT
TOMORROW IF YOU'D LIKE.
- I THOUGHT I'D TAKE A SHOT.
- DO YOU ALWAYS PASS OUT
WHEN YOU SEE BLOOD?
- ONLY WHEN IT'S MINE.
- YOU'RE A BIG BABY.
- AND YOU ARE MY HERO.
- [chuckles]
- OH, WHAT HAPPENED?
- OH, IT'S FINE.
HE JUST--
- I WAS WORKING
ON DAD'S MUSTANG.
- YOU NEVER FINISH ANYTHING.
- DON'T START, MOM.
PLEASE.
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
THERE'S NO POINT
IN TRYING TO MOTIVATE YOU.
IT'S LIKE SQUEEZING BLOOD
OUT OF A STONE.
- MOTIVATE ME?
IS THAT WHAT
YOU WANT TO CALL IT?
HOW ABOUT BEATING ME
DOWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN
UNTIL I FEEL LIKE
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL.
- OH, GROW UP, JUSTIN.
- YOU'RE LOCKED UP HERE
IN THIS CASTLE.
- I'M IN PAIN.
- SO AM I.
- OH. OH.
- MOM.
- NORMA.
- MOM, MOM.
- GET AWAY FROM ME.
- OKAY.
HENRY,
LET'S GET HER UPSTAIRS.
- WE GOT YOU.
- [groans]
- THE SYMPTOMS
WILL ONLY GET WORSE
FROM HERE EXPONENTIALLY.
WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING, NORMA.
- TELL HER
ABOUT THE CYTORBENOL AC.
- WHAT'S THAT?
- IT'S A CHEMO DRUG
USED TO TREAT CERTAIN CANCERS.
IT'S BEEN PRESCRIBED
EXPERIMENTALLY,
BUT WITH SOME SUCCESS.
- I REFUSE.
- WE CAN DO THE TREATMENTS HERE
INTRAVENOUSLY.
- THE VIRUS WILL KILL ME
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
- BUT THESE TREATMENTS
COULD HELP YOU PERSEVERE
THROUGH THE SUMMER
INTO THE FALL.
- IT IS A SYSTEMIC TREATMENT.
AND, YES, YOU COULD VERY WELL
EXPERIENCE ADVERSE SYMPTOMS,
BUT THE TREATMENTS WOULD,
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD,
INCREASE YOUR LIFE.
- A LONGER PERIOD
IN WHICH TO SUFFER.
- MS. BOSWELL, AT LEAST
GIVE YOURSELF A FIGHTING CHANCE.
- [chuckles]
- THIS IS YOUR DECISION
TO MAKE, NORMA.
- [sighs]
GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
- READY TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN.
WHAT'S WITH THE FLOWERS?
- EMMA STARTED
BRINGING THEM IN.
THOUGHT THEY WERE
A NICE TOUCH.
- OATMEAL AND O.J. AGAIN.
HOW DELICIOUS.
WHERE IS MY CROISSANTS?
- YOU NEED MORE FIBER.
- WHY DOES EVERYBODY
LOVE TO TELL ME WHAT I NEED?
SOMETHING ELSE, MARIA?
- I--
I'LL BE BACK
WITH YOUR SUPPER LATER.
- SO I FINISHED
GONE AND FOREVER.
- AND DID IT MEET
YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
- WELL, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.
- WELL, DID YOU LIKE THE BOOK?
PLEASE, DON'T FEEL THE NEED
TO GUSH.
- I'M NOT A LITERARY CRITIC.
- SPIT IT OUT.
- I THOUGHT IT WAS DEPRESSING.
- NO EMOTIONAL
OR INTELLECTUAL CATHARSIS,
JUST PURE DRIVEL?
- THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
- OF COURSE IT MUST BE DRIVEL.
IT ONLY WON
THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD,
TRANSLATED
INTO 24 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,
AND SOLD 15 MILLION COPIES.
- LOOK, YOU ASKED ME
TO READ IT.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU
WHAT I THOUGHT.
- WELL, LUCKY FOR ME
I LEARNED LONG AGO
TO DISCOUNT
OUTSIDE CRITICISM AND PRAISE.
- [sighs]
SO HAVE YOU DECIDED?
BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED
TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS TREATMENT A.S.A.P.
WE'VE WAITED
FAR TOO LONG ALREADY.
SO TO PREPARE,
WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT--
- I'M NOT DOING IT.
- FINE.
YOU WANT TO SIT UP HERE
WASTING AWAY YOUR FINAL DAYS
IN SOLITUDE AND SELF-PITY,
FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER NURSE.
AND I KNOW YOU THINK
YOU'RE STRONG
AND YOU DON'T NEED ANYONE ELSE,
BUT I DON'T BUY IT.
- I'M IN CONTROL
OF THIS SITUATION.
- YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL
OF ANYTHING,
AND THAT'S WHAT SCARES YOU.
- HOW DARE YOU!
- YOU'RE SELFISH,
AND YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A COWARD.
AND YOU'RE ASKING ME
TO STAND HERE WITH MY HANDS TIED
AND WATCH YOU DIE?
I'M NOT GONNA DO IT.
- [screams]
- YEAH. WELL, I'M STAYING
AT A MOTEL TONIGHT,
BUT I'VE SUBLET MY PLACE
IN THE INTERIM, SO...
YEAH, OKAY.
SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT LIST
TO ME TOMORROW,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[phone beeps]
- OH, HANG ON.
I GOT ANOTHER CALL.
THANK YOU.
BYE.
[phone beeps]
HELLO?
- EMMA, DR. BECK.
NOT TOO MANY NURSES
WOULD WALK AWAY
FROM $4,000 A WEEK.
- IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY
FOR ME.
IT NEVER WAS.
- I'VE BEEN NORMA'S DOCTOR
FOR A LONG TIME.
SHE'S BEEN
A GOOD FRIEND TO ME,
BUT I ALSO KNOW
HOW SHE CAN BE.
SHE'S PROBABLY
THE MOST STUBBORN WOMAN
I'VE EVER MET.
BUT BENEATH ALL THAT SARCASM
AND BRISTLE,
THERE'S A LOVING, COMPASSIONATE,
BRILLIANT PERSON.
SHE'S JUST BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
- A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
- NORMA'S AT THE MOST
UNHAPPY STATE
OF HER ENTIRE LIFE.
EVEN AFTER SAMUEL DIED,
IT WAS SHOCK AND DEPRESSION,
BUT NOW, IT'S AS IF SHE FEELS
THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR HER.
AND IF SHE DOESN'T LET GO SOON,
IT'LL BE TOO LATE.
- I'M JUST NOT SURE
WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME.
- I BELIEVE YOU'RE
THE ONLY PERSON
WHO CAN REACH HER.
I MEAN,
SHE LIKES BEING WITH YOU.
SHE RUNS RIGHT OVER ME.
SHE RUNS OVER EVERYBODY
EXCEPT YOU.
HELP ME BUY NORMA
SOME MORE TIME.
- MS. BOSWELL
HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT ME--
- SHE CHANGED HER MIND.
- SHE CHANGED HER MIND?
- SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE
THE TREATMENT A TRY
IF YOU COME BACK.
- THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
- APPARENTLY NOT.
- WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE
TO COME BACK?
- CERTAIN CONDITIONS
OF OUR AGREEMENT.
- WOW, PLAYING HARD BALL
WITH NORMA BOSWELL.
COLOR ME IMPRESSED
ONCE AGAIN.
- IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
- MAY I?
- SURE.
THANKS.
- EITHER WAY, I'M REALLY GLAD
YOU'RE STILL HERE.
- LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS A VERY
PERSONAL DECISION FOR YOU,
AND I HAD NO RIGHT
TO MAKE ANY PERSONAL JUDGMENTS.
SO FOR THAT,
I AM SORRY.
- WE'RE LIKE A COUPLE
OF STUBBORN BIRDS, AREN'T WE?
- YOU REALLY WANT TO GO AHEAD
AND GIVE THIS TREATMENT A SHOT?
- YOUR CHOICE OF IDIOM
MAKES ME CRINGE,
BUT I SUPPOSE CLINGING
TO A FEW MORE MISERABLE WEEKS
MIGHT BE WORTH THE TROUBLE.
IF YOU SAY SO.
BUT NO ONE
CAN KNOW ABOUT THIS.
- FOUR-WEEK CYCLES,
THREE WEEKS OF TREATMENT
WITH A WEEK OFF IN BETWEEN.
- WELL, MAKE SURE
THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED
AND THIS TORTURE DEVICE
WELL HIDDEN.
- ARE YOU READY, NORMA?
- YES.
- OKAY.
YOU'RE GONNA FEEL
A LITTLE STICK.
- THIS IS COMPAZINE.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED THIS
FOR NAUSEA AFTER THE TREATMENTS.
- HERE WE GO.
- UH-UH.
- YOU KNOW,
I THINK I'D LIKE TO READ
ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BOOKS.
- [chuckles]
YOU'RE A GLUTTON
FOR PUNISHMENT.
- WELL, I'M NOT SAYING
THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG
WITH THEM.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.
- IT'S NOT THE PERCEIVED VALUE
OF THE WORK THAT MATTERS.
IT'S THE CREATION,
THE AGONIZING FRUSTRATIONS,
AND THE BLISSFUL DISCOVERIES.
- THE PROCESS.
BUT THERE'S STILL A RIGHT WAY
AND A WRONG WAY
TO DO THINGS, RIGHT?
- HMM.
I MEAN, THERE ARE PRINCIPLES
OF STYLE AND FORM, OF COURSE,
BUT WE'RE ALL ARTISTS.
CHILDREN, REALLY.
- WE TRY AND TRY,
BUT WE CAN NEVER REACH
THE END OF THE RAINBOW.
THAT'S TRAGIC
AND BEAUTIFUL.
- SOUNDS LIKE QUITE A JOURNEY.
- NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
MAKING ART IS THE PUREST FORM
OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT
AND REALIZATION.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
- WHAT ABOUT ME?
- WHY IS IT YOU'VE NEVER DONE
ANYTHING TO CULTIVATE YOURSELF?
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- WELL, YOU TALK ABOUT
WANTING TO TRAVEL.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
- I GUESS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
TOO BUSY WITH WORK.
- WITH PATIENTS?
- YES.
- MAYBE SOMEDAY YOU'LL CARE
FOR ENOUGH DYING PATIENTS
SO YOU CAN OPEN
YOUR OWN FACILITY
IN ORDER TO HOUSE
EVEN MORE PATHETIC SOULS.
I BELIEVE
YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CHARACTER
IN ONE OF MY NOVELS.
[chuckles]
- OKAY, WE ARE OFFICIALLY
INTO YOUR SECOND CYCLE.
- A JUBILANT OCCASION.
- WELL, I'VE NOTICED
THE DIFFERENCE.
YOUR MOTOR FUNCTIONALITY
HAS IMPROVED.
YOU HAVE MORE ENERGY.
- A WHIRLING DERVISH.
- YOU HAVEN'T COMPLAINED
ABOUT YOUR HEADACHES FOR DAYS.
- OH, IT'S BEING REPLACED
BY A LOT OF NAUSEA.
- OH, THAT REMINDS ME.
IT'S TIME FOR YOUR COMPAZINE.
- WHAT IS IT?
- MOM?
- COME BACK LATER.
I'M BUSY.
- I'M GOING INTO TOWN LATER.
I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING,
IF I COULD.
- FINE.
LET HIM IN.
- THANK YOU, EMMA.
- WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT?
- I GOT A BIT OF GOOD NEWS.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
- I DON'T HAVE GLASSES.
JUST TELL ME,
FOR PETE'S SAKE.
- IT'S MY NOVELLA.
IT'S GONNA BE PUBLISHED.
- YOUR NOVELLA?
- THE ONE
I WAS WORKING ON OVERSEAS.
IT'S BEEN ACCEPTED
BY A BRITISH QUARTERLY
FOR NEW FICTION.
- IS THERE A CHANCE
I'VE HEARD OF THIS BASTION
OF ESTEEMED LITERATURE?
YOUR USE OF MY NAME
HAS GAINED YOU ENTRANCE
TO THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS
OF THE MOST ELITE ACADEMIC
AND PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES.
BRAVO, SON.
BRAVO.
- [sighs]
[melancholy music]
♪
THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
- YEAH, YOU JUST TAKE
A LITTLE EXTRA SOIL
AND REALLY PACK IT IN
AROUND THEM.
- YEAH.
- AND THEN THEY'LL GROW
A LITTLE STRAIGHTER
AND TALLER, OKAY?
- I'LL GET THAT.
- NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
- NOT A PROBLEM.
I HAVE TO DO
A COUPLE LOADS ANYWAY.
- OH, WELL, THANK YOU.
- I FIGURE
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE,
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE
OF SOME USE TO EACH OTHER.
- UM, OKAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING
I CAN DO FOR YOU?
- ACTUALLY, I WAS HOPING
TO GET AN UPDATE
ON NORMA'S CONDITION.
- NO, MARIA, I--I CAN'T.
- I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN HER,
AND I KNOW I'M NOT GETTING
THE WHOLE STORY.
- I REALLY CAN'T DISCUSS THIS
WITH YOU.
- SO THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU'RE NOT TELLING US.
I ADMINISTERED HER MEDICATION
FOR YEARS.
- MARIA, PLEASE.
- WHAT'S CHANGED?
- I LEGALLY CANNOT DISCUSS THIS
WITH YOU.
- FINE.
DON'T THINK YOU'LL GET
A SECOND CHANCE WITH ME.
- WHERE TO?
- LOOKS LIKE BURKINA FASO.
- YOU HAVEN'T REALLY DONE IT.
- JUST PICKED AROUND A PLACE
AND GONE THERE?
MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.
YOU WANT TO COME?
- UH, NO.
- WHY NOT?
- I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES.
- HERE YOU GO.
YOUR TURN.
READY?
OH, ITALY.
- EVER BEEN?
- MILAN, TRIESTE,
ROME, FLORENCE,
NAPLES, VENICE, VERONA.
- VERONA?
- IS THAT WHERE YOU WANT TO GO?
- IT'D BE MY TOP CHOICE.
- WELL, THEN
I GUESS IT'S SETTLED.
- SO WHAT MADE YOU START
TRAVELING SO MUCH?
- AFTER MY DAD DIED,
I GUESS I JUST FELT LIKE
I NEEDED TO GET AWAY.
- WHAT ABOUT YOUR MOM?
- WE WERE NEVER REALLY
THAT CLOSE TO BEGIN WITH.
MY DAD ALWAYS SAID IT WAS
'CAUSE WE'RE SO MUCH ALIKE,
AND YOU WOULD THINK
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
- YEAH.
- ANYWAY, SHE WAS IN A COMA.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONE.
I FELT LIKE
I DIDN'T HAVE A HOME ANYMORE.
AND WHEN SHE WOKE UP...
- YOU WERE GONE.
- I WAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
THERE WERE TROPICAL STORMS.
IT TWO WEEKS TO GET BACK,
AND WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT
TO THE HOSPITAL,
I DON'T KNOW.
SHE WOULDN'T LOOK AT ME
THE SAME.
SHE'S RIGHT, YOU KNOW.
- ABOUT WHAT?
- I AM A CRUMMY WRITER.
[both chuckle]
- YOU SAID YOUR FATHER LEFT
WHEN YOUR MOM GOT SICK.
- YEAH.
- DID HE EVER COME BACK?
- AT THE FUNERAL.
- WHAT'D HE SAY?
- THERE'S NOTHING
HE COULD HAVE SAID.
SO...
- THAT THE LAST TIME
YOU EVER SAW HIM?
- I KNOW
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG,
BUT EMMA WON'T TELL ME
WHAT IT IS.
- SO YOU ASKED HER.
- YES.
SHE SAID
SHE CAN'T DISCUSS IT.
WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT?
- MAYBE IT'S THE TRUTH.
- DON'T DEFEND HER.
- HOW--HOW AM I DEFENDING HER?
I'M NOT DEFENDING HER.
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
- REALLY?
- [laughing]
YES.
- HMM, GO FIGURE.
- THAT'S IT.
END OF THE TREATMENT PHASE
OF YOUR SECOND CYCLE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A WEEK
WITHOUT THIS TORTURE DEVICE.
IN ALL TRUTH,
THE HEADACHES HAVE DISSIPATED,
AND I'M WALKING AROUND BETTER.
- WELL, YOUR SLEEPING PATTERNS
HAVE IMPROVED,
AND YOU DO SEEM
MORE LUCID, SO...
OKAY.
- I'LL BE BACK TO CHECK IN
LATER IN THE WEEK.
DO SOMETHING ENJOYABLE
WITH YOUR DOWNTIME, NORMA.
- SO I FINISHED AN EMPTY TABLE.
- SO SHOULD I BRACE MYSELF
FOR ANOTHER RAVE REVIEW?
- I ACTUALLY LIKED IT A LOT.
- YOU TRASH
MY ESSENTIAL CLASSIC,
AND YOU REVERE
MY MOST OBSCURE WORK.
- I JUST FOUND IT
TO BE MORE HOPEFUL.
- THAT'S WHY IT WAS
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY PANNED.
- I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T CARE WHAT
PEOPLE LIKE THAT HAD TO SAY.
I NOTICE THIS IS THE LAST BOOK
YOU EVER GOT PUBLISHED.
- WELL, YOU NOTICED CORRECTLY.
- AND I SAW ON THE INTERNET
THAT YOU HAD WRITTEN
THE BETTER PART
OF ANOTHER MASTERPIECE
RIGHT BEFORE YOUR ACCIDENT.
- LIKE MOST WRITERS,
I HAVE A DOZEN
HALF-WRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS
LYING AROUND.
- RIGHT.
BUT IS THERE ANY ONE
THAT'S SPECIAL?
- DOES IT MATTER NOW?
- NO.
OKAY, TIME FOR YOUR EXERCISES.
- I HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY
TOLD BY MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN
TO DO SOMETHING ENJOYABLE.
- UM, OKAY.
WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO?
- [chuckles slyly]
I USED TO RETREAT TO THESE
WHEN I HAD WRITER'S BLOCK,
WHICH HAPPENED
WITH GREAT FREQUENCY.
OH, THERE WE GO.
- OH, WOW.
- HMM.
- IS IT--
- IT'S MY SAMUEL.
- YOU REALLY ARE VERY GOOD.
- I HAD WRITER'S BLOCK,
AND I HAD LOTS PRACTICE.
DO YOU EVER PAINT?
- NO.
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY?
- OH, I'D HAVE NO IDEA.
- WELL, THAT'S IT.
YOU DON'T NEED AN IDEA.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK FOR THINGS
AND FEEL IT
AND THEN PAINT IT.
- BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW.
- CREATING ART
IS LIKE DISCOVERING YOUR SOUL.
YOU CAN'T EXPECT
TO KNOW YOURSELF
UNLESS YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF.
- I JUST--I JUST DON'T THINK
I'D BE VERY GOOD.
- HOW DO YOU KNOW
UNLESS YOU TRY?
[laughter]
- OH, MARIA, DEAR.
COME IN.
COME IN.
- I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
WITH YOUR PAINTS IN AGES.
- [laughs]
IT SEEMS
THAT EMMA HAS INSPIRED ME.
- WELL, I'LL COME BACK
AND CHECK ON YOU LATER.
- WELL, WAIT, WHY DON'T YOU COME
AND JOIN US?
- WE'LL HAVE A PAINTING PARTY,
JUST US GIRLS.
[laughter]
- OH, THAT'S GREAT.
[indistinct conversation]
- I HAVEN'T EVEN
STARTED MINE YET.
I'D RATHER HELP YOU.
I'M TERRIBLE.
- LOOK AT THAT.
- WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
YOU SEEN MOM LIKE THIS?
[laughter]
- NO, DON'T COMPARE IT
TO MINE.
- HONESTLY,
I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER.
- LOOK AT THIS.
YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING
AS GOOD AS THIS.
HEY.
- HEY.
- CAN'T SLEEP?
- NOPE.
- ME NEITHER.
- IF EACH ONE OF US
WAS SUPPOSED DIFFERENT, SPECIAL,
THEN EACH ONE BELONGS.
EACH ONE HAS ITS PLACE, RIGHT?
I GUESS I NEVER WANTED
TO BE DIFFERENT.
- YOU'RE NOT SO BAD, JUSTIN.
- IT'S JUST TOUGH TRYING
TO LIVE UP THE EXPECTATIONS.
- SO STOP TRYING.
- EASY FOR YOU TO SAY.
- WHY IS THAT?
- BECAUSE YOUR MOM
ISN'T NORMA BOSWELL.
- I THINK WE'RE BOTH
TRYING TO MAKE PEACE
WITH NORMA BOSWELL
IN OUR OWN WAY.
IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT,
YOU KNOW,
LEAVING AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW.
YOU'RE JUST SCARED.
I CAN SEE
HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT HER.
- SHE'S MY MOM.
- MS. BOSWELL.
WHAT IS THIS?
"THERE'S NO REASON TO FINISH.
"I'LL HOLD THE CONCLUSION
INSIDE ME
"UNTIL I JOIN MY SAMUEL.
"I HAVE NO MORE REASON
TO CONNECT.
NO MORE REASON TO SHARE."
- THAT WAS MY LAST INTERVIEW.
- THE NEW YORKER.
- IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AFTER I AWOKE FROM MY COMA,
AND THE GREAT PUBLIC'S FEAR
WAS THAT I HAD SUSTAINED
SOME SORT OF BRAIN DAMAGE
THAT WOULD PREVENT ME
FROM SPINNING MY TALES.
BUT, OH, I LOST
MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
- LOOK.
I'M NOT GONNA PRETEND TO KNOW
HOW ALL THIS WORKS...
BUT I DO KNOW
THAT YOU'RE AT YOUR BEST,
YOUR HAPPIEST,
WHEN YOU'RE CREATING.
I MEAN, YOU LIGHT UP.
I THINK YOU SHOULD TRY
AND FINISH YOUR BOOK.
NOT FOR THE PUBLIC,
NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE,
JUST FOR YOU.
- I'M NOT SURE I CAN.
- TRY.
IF NOTHING ELSE,
IT'LL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.
MIGHT EVEN HELP YOU TO...
TO HEAL.
- [sighs]
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
[chuckles]
[bright music]
♪
[typewriter clacking]
- THIS STORY IS BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE IT SO FAR.
IT'S MORE HOPEFUL,
LIKE THAT OTHER ONE I LIKED.
- DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW IT MIGHT END.
- WHEN AM I GONNA GET A CHANCE
TO READ THE NEW PAGES?
- WELL, IF I EVER GET
TO FINISH IT.
- WHEN YOU FINISH.
- I'M ON BORROWED TIME, DOCTOR.
- YOU'VE LASTED WELL BEYOND
WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.
YOUR BODY'S WITHSTOOD
THE TREATMENT QUITE WELL SO FAR.
- ARE YOU SAYING
THAT I'M A MARVEL?
- JUST YOUR BODY.
- OH.
OOH, MARIA.
OH, I'VE GOT SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
- NORMA.
- I HOPED TO ADEQUATELY CAPTURE
YOUR BEAUTY.
I'VE NEVER TOLD YOU
HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE.
YOUR DEAR MOTHER
IS LOOKING DOWN
ON YOUR BEAUTY
AND YOUR GRACE
WITH GREAT PRIDE,
I CAN ASSURE YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- OH.
- THANK YOU.
- GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?
- I FEEL LIKE I'M READY
FOR AN ADVENTURE.
- I KNOW THE THIRD CYCLE'S
BEEN REALLY HARD ON YOU,
BUT YOU'VE BEEN VERY BRAVE.
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO
FOR A DRIVE?
- A DRIVE?
- I CAN COUNT ON MY HANDS
THE NUMBER OF TIMES
I'VE BEEN IN A CAR
SINCE THE ACCIDENT.
- OKAY, WELL,
WHY DON'T WE...
THINK ABOUT DOING IT
AFTER THE TREATMENT?
- WHAT'S THE LEGAL LIMIT
FOR CYTORBENOL IN YOUR SYSTEM
WHILE YOU'RE BEHIND THE WHEEL?
- I THINK
MAYBE I SHOULD DRIVE.
[engine turns over]
- HIT IT!
[tires screech]
- WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
[upbeat rock music]
- [laughing]
WOW.
THIS IS AMAZING.
- LOOK AT THE TREES.
- [laughing]
I'M NOT GOING TOO FAST.
♪
- OKAY, UP HERE.
OKAY.
- I HAVE A HOUSE UP HERE.
I LOVE TO DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY
LIKE THIS.
MM.
SAMUEL AND I
USED TO COME HERE OFTEN.
OH.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL, MS. BOSWELL.
- NORMA.
CALL ME NORMA.
- OKAY.
- I GUESS
I SOMETIMES WOULD FORGET.
- WHAT?
- THAT THE WORLD COULD BE
SO BEAUTIFUL.
IT CAN.
- YEAH.
I GUESS IT CAN.
- DON'T TELL ME
YOU'RE LEAVING US AGAIN.
- ON TO THE NEXT
GREAT ADVENTURE.
- WELL, YOU TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.
- YOU TOO.
AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE
AND EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE,
LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.
- I WILL.
- BYE, MARIA.
- BYE-BYE.
- HEY, MARIA.
- EMMA.
- HEY.
- JUSTIN.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- BURKINA FASO, REMEMBER?
- WELL...
- KIDDING.
JUST GOING BACK TO EUROPE.
- WHAT?
- COME WITH ME.
- JUSTIN, YOUR MOTHER--
SHE'S NOT WELL.
- SHE NEVER REALLY HAS BEEN,
EMMA.
WE CAN GET ANOTHER NURSE,
THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
- YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
- NOT AS GOOD AS YOU--
- JUSTIN, SHE'S DYING.
SHE HAS A RARE VIRUS.
I COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING
BECAUSE I SIGNED
A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
- SELFISH.
OF ALL PEOPLE
YOU CAN'T TELL,
YOU CAN'T TELL ME?
I'M YOUR SON.
GOD.
- YOU EVER THINK
THAT MAYBE
I WAS TRYING
TO PROTECT YOU?
- PROTECT ME FROM WHAT?
- WHAT'S WRONG?
- WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?
- SHE LIED TO ALL OF US.
SHE'S DYING
AND DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW.
THAT'S HOW MUCH SHE CARES.
IF SHE WANTS TO DIE ALONE,
THAT'S HER CHOICE.
- NORMA, IS IT TRUE?
WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME?
WHY WOULD YOU WANT
TO GO THROUGH THIS WITHOUT US?
- GET OUT.
NOT YOU.
- [sighs]
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
- OH, PLEASE.
- I HAD TO.
JUSTIN WAS ABOUT
TO LEAVE AGAIN.
- IT WAS NOT YOUR CHOICE
TO MAKE.
- NORMA, PLEASE.
YOU REMEMBER
WHAT IT WAS LIKE
WHEN YOU LOST YOUR HUSBAND
SO SUDDENLY?
ALL THOSE THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE
WANTED TO SAY TO HIM
BUT NEVER GOT THE CHANCE?
YOU ARE TAKING THAT CHANCE AWAY
FROM JUSTIN.
- DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU
THAT MAYBE I WAS TRYING
TO PROTECT HIM?
- THE ONLY THING
YOU ARE PROTECTING RIGHT NOW
IS YOURSELF.
- THAT'S ENOUGH!
I WANT YOU GONE TOMORROW.
[solemn music]
♪
[knock at door]
- MOM!
- WHAT?
- MAY I COME IN, PLEASE?
- WHY?
- SO WE CAN FINISH TALKING.
- I THOUGHT WE WERE FINISHED.
OH, MIGHT AS WELL.
COME IN NOW.
YOU GOT ME OUT OF MY CHAIR.
- I KNOW I'M INTERRUPTING,
BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
DID YOU REALLY THINK
YOU COULD HIDE THIS FROM ME
THE WHOLE TIME?
- IN MY DYING DAYS,
YOU COME TO ME TO TELL ME
HOW MUCH I WOUNDED YOU?
- [scoffs]
I AM SORRY
THAT I WASN'T THERE,
AND I AM SORRY
THAT I AM NEVER GONNA BE
WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO BE.
- YOUR FATHER
WANTED TO STAY HOME THAT NIGHT,
BUT I INSISTED WE GO OUT.
AND HE WANTED
TO HIRE A DRIVER,
BUT I WANTED IT
TO BE JUST THE TWO OF US.
IF I HAD KNOWN...
- I LOVE YOU, MOM.
- OH.
OH.
[sighs]
[knock at door]
MAY I COME IN?
- YES.
- [sighs]
I WOULD WANT YOU TO STAY.
- WHY?
- WELL,
I'M TERRIFIED OF DYING,
AND I DON'T WANT
TO BE ALONE.
- IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY,
I WILL STAY.
- BUT NO MORE TREATMENTS.
- YOU STILL HAVE A WEEK LEFT
OF YOUR CYCLE.
- NO, IT MAKES ME TOO SICK.
I CAN'T WRITE LIKE THIS.
- WE CAN ADJUST YOUR DOSE.
WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.
- I NEED TO FINISH MY NOVEL.
I'M READY FOR YOU
TO START READING THE NEW PAGES,
AND I BELIEVE
YOU WILL LOVE THEM.
YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE
FOR THE PURPOSE
OF USHERING ME
THROUGH MY FINAL DARK DAYS,
AND SOMEHOW, YOU HAVE SPUN
THOSE DAYS INTO WEEKS
AND THEN MONTHS,
AND YOU'VE MADE THEM BRIGHTER
AND MORE VITAL
THAN I EVER DREAMED POSSIBLE.
- [sniffs]
I DON'T THINK
I CAN DO THAT PART.
- HONEY.
OH, HONEY.
YOU'VE GIVEN SO MUCH.
YOU'VE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE ME.
YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME
TO FINISH STRONG.
[chuckles]
OH.
OKAY.
- OKAY.
[lively music]
♪
[typewriter clacking]
[typewriter dings]
- JUSTIN.
- MOM?
- OH.
OH, JUSTIN.
OH.
OH, BABY.
I LOVE YOU.
- I LOVE YOU.
- AND I'M SO SORRY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW TO SHOW IT.
- NO, IT'S OKAY.
- BUT I DO LOVE YOU
FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR TOE.
I DON'T CARE HOW OLD YOU GET
OR HOW BIG YOU GET.
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BABY.
OH.
- OH, MOM, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
- OH.
- WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?
- I'D LOVE SOME.
THANK YOU.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.
[typewriter clacking]
- OH.
- GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
NORMA, I HAVE TO SAY
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
IT'S LIKE--
NORMA.
[solemn music]
♪
OH, GOD.
[sighs]
♪
[sorrowful music]
♪
- GO AHEAD.
YOU DO IT.
- [crying]
♪
- LET HER GO.
- [sniffs]
- GOOD-BYE, MOM.
- MS. BOSWELL'S WILL
IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
SHE HAS LEFT THE MAJORITY
OF HER MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
TO YOU THREE.
SHE BASICALLY HAS LEFT
HER ENTIRE PHYSICAL ESTATE
TO HENRY AND MARIA LUTHER.
- [whispering]
OH, MY GOD.
- AND EVERYTHING ELSE
TO JUSTIN.
JUSTIN, WE SHOULD SET A TIME,
OR WE CAN GO THROUGH EXACTLY
WHAT ALL OF THIS
ENTAILS FOR YOU.
AND THEN THERE'S YOU.
- ME?
- YES.
I SHOULD PROBABLY JUST READ
EXACTLY WHAT SHE WROTE HERE.
"EMMA KEATING SHALL RETAIN
100% OF THE EARNINGS
"THAT SHE ACCRUED
DURING HER TIME SPENT
"AS MY PRIVATE NURSE
PER OUR ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
"AND FOLLOWING THIS AGREEMENT,
"SHE YET FORGOES ANY RIGHT
TO THE MONETARY INCENTIVE
"PLEDGED FOR HER CONFIDENTIALITY
"IN REGARDS TO MY CONDITION
BECAUSE SHE FAILED AT THAT PART,
"BUT IN CONSIDERATION
OF HER OTHER SUCCESSES,
"I DEDICATE MY FINAL WORK TO HER
IN ITS ENTIRETY,
"IN TERMS OF BOTH
ITS SYMBOLIC VALUE
"AND ITS FISCAL VALUE
TO MY ESTATE.
"I CAN ASSURE YOU
THAT THE PROJECTIVE REVENUES
ON THIS BOOK WILL DWARF
ANY PRIOR
AGREED UPON INCENTIVE."
- I CAN'T--
- "AND SEEING HOW EMMA
HAS LITTLE INTEREST IN MONEY
"OR ANY OTHER SELFISH PURSUITS
FOR THAT MATTER,
"THESE FUNDS SHALL NOT
AND WILL NOT,
"UNDER THREAT
OF PUNITIVE ACTION,
"BE USED TO OPEN ANY KIND
OF PRIVATE CARE CENTER
"BEFORE A MINIMUM
CONSUMING PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
"IN THE INTERIM,
"I WOULD PERSONALLY SUGGEST
THAT SHE TAKE TIME TO TRAVEL.
"I UNDERSTAND NORTHERN ITALY
IS QUITE NICE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
AND, YES,
THIS IS MY LAST DYING WISH."
- WELL, THANK YOU,
MR. BISHOP.
- THERE'S ONE MORE THING,
ACTUALLY.
"OF ALL THE AREAS
IN WHICH MY DEAR SON, JUSTIN,
"UNDERACHIEVES,
"BEING A TOUR GUIDE
IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
"HINT, HINT.
LOVE, NORMA."
- SO DINNER AT 8:00 TONIGHT?
- ALL RIGHT, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA
CRY ALL NIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE
MY MOM'S LIFE.
- LET'S CELEBRATE
THE WAY NORMA WOULD'VE WANTED.
- SO I THINK
WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP.
- LAST DYING WISH.
I'M OFFICIALLY HOMELESS
NOW ANYWAY,
SO IT TURNS OUT
MY MOM'S PRETTY CONTROLLING
EVEN AFTER DEATH.
- YES, SHE IS.
- ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME
AS YOUR GUIDE?
- I THINK
YOU'D BE MY TOP CHOICE.
- WELL, THEN IT IS SETTLED.
- SO WHERE ARE WE GOING FIRST?
- WELL, I THINK
WE SHOULD GO RIGHT--
STRAIGHT TO POSITANO
RIGHT DOWN THE ITALIAN COAST.
- RIGHT DOWN
THE ITALIAN RIVIERA.
WE CAN CATCH THE FERRY
FROM NAPLES.
- IT'S A GREAT PLACE
TO START.
[uplifting music]
♪
HI, SORRY I'M LATE.
I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE
FINDING THE ROAD.
- HEY, LISTEN,
IT'S VERY EASY TO MISS.
I'M HENRY.
THIS IS MY WIFE, MARIA.
- HELLO, I'M--
- AMBER FELLS.
- MM-HMM.
- YOU'RE 30 MINUTES LATE.
- THE NORA BOSWELL?
MY FRIENDS
COULD HARDLY BELIEVE IT.
I'VE READ ALL OF HER BOOKS.
TWICE.
IN COLLEGE, I--
- GOOD LUCK.
- OH.
- GREETINGS.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING ME.
- I'M DR. BECK, MS. BOSWELL'S
PERSONAL PHYSICIAN.
I SEE BY YOUR RESUME
YOU'RE VERY EXPERIENCED.
- YES, I--I'VE WORKED IN
A PRIVATE HOSPITAL, ST. GEORGE,
AND AS A TRAVEL NURSE
FOR THREE YEARS.
- WHY DON'T YOU GO MEET
MS. BOSWELL?
- IT IS SUCH AN HONOR.
YOUR BOOKS ARE AMAZING.
- WELL, I DON'T DO
THAT MUCH ANYMORE.
- IS IT REALLY TRUE?
I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE SOME
UNFINISHED EPIC
JUST LYING AROUND HERE
SOMEWHERE?
- GET OUT.
- MS. BOSWELL, I--
- GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, NOW!
- TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.
- I TOLD YOU
SHE WOULDN'T LAST FIVE.
MM-HMM.
FOLLOW ME, PLEASE.
- LEAVE, NOW!
- THANK YOU.
- PLEASE LEAVE, NOW.
- I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY I CAN'T CARE FOR HER MYSELF
LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE
AND ADMINISTER WHATEVER
MEDICATION NEEDS ADMINISTERING.
- WELL,
THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW.
- DIFFERENT HOW?
- WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL.
- EMMA KEATING.
- YES, WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU.
COME ON IN.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- LONG DRIVE?
- 2 HOURS, 25 MINUTES.
- CAN I GET YOU SOME COFFEE?
- I'D LIKE
TO MEET THE PATIENT NOW.
- RIGHT THIS WAY THEN.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- DR. BECK?
- EMMA KEATING,
IT'S A PLEASURE.
- I SEE YOU'VE INTERVIEWED
A LOT OF NURSES.
- LET'S GO MEET MS. BOSWELL.
MS. BOSWELL,
MEET EMMA KEATING.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT.
- OKAY, SO, MS. BOSWELL,
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS
WITH HOME NURSING CARE?
- IF IT WAS UP TO ME,
I WOULDN'T WANT A PRIVATE NURSE.
- WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
- I DON'T KNOW.
- DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD,
YOUR DUTIES WILL BE LIMITED
TO GENERAL CARE.
NOW, IF YOU MAKE IT THROUGH
THE TRIAL PERIOD
AND BOTH PARTIES AGREE
TO PROCEED
TO A LONGER-TERM CONTRACT,
MS. BOSWELL'S
CURRENT MEDICAL CONDITION
AND DETAILED HISTORY
WILL BE PROVIDED.
- UNDERSTOOD.
MEANWHILE, I THINK
WE SHOULD GET SOME FRESH AIR
HAPPENING IN HERE.
- NO.
- NO MATTER
YOUR CURRENT MEDICAL CONDITION
OR YOUR DETAILED
PERSONAL HISTORY,
I THINK
IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU.
DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
- WELL, THEN,
I THINK WE CAN PROCEED
TO THE TRIAL PHASE,
ASSUMING, OF COURSE,
YOU AGREE
TO THE PRELIMINARY CONDITIONS.
- WELL, FOR THE RATE
YOU'RE OFFERING,
I'D BE CRAZY
NOT TO GIVE IT A SHOT.
- [chuckles]
- I THINK YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO SHOW ME TO MY ROOM.
- OF COURSE.
AFTER YOU.
I TRUST
THE SPACE WILL BE SUFFICIENT.
- WELL, IT'S NICER
THAN MY APARTMENT.
HOW LONG
HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
- I'VE BEEN THE COOK
AND HEAD MATRON
SINCE MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY.
SHE HAD THE JOB BEFORE ME.
- WELL, JUST LIKE ME.
- EXCUSE ME?
- WELL, WE BOTH, YOU KNOW,
CARE FOR OTHERS.
- I IMAGINE THIS MUST BE
QUITE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
- HOW'S THAT?
- TO CARE FOR SOMEONE
LIKE MS. BOSWELL.
- I DON'T CARE
FOR SOMEONE DIFFERENTLY
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE RICH.
- YOU'LL FIND EVERYTHING
YOU NEED
AS FAR AS FOOD
AND LAUNDRY SERVICES DOWNSTAIRS.
I WON'T BE TENDING TO ANY
OF YOUR PERSONAL NECESSITIES.
- I'M PRETTY SELF-SUFFICIENT.
- I'M SURE.
- I THINK
WE'RE GONNA BE FRIENDS.
- BUT YOU WON'T BE HERE
LONG ENOUGH
FOR US TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
THAT WELL.
[knock at door]
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?
- CHECKING TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE STILL ALIVE.
- I WAS SLEEPING.
- IT'S 10:00.
- SO?
- SO IT'S TIME TO GET UP.
- NOBODY TELLS ME
WHEN TO GET UP.
- WHY SO LATE?
- I'M TIRED.
- WHY SO TIRED?
- I'M OLD.
- YOU'RE NOT THAT OLD.
I BROUGHT YOU SOME O.J.
- I DON'T DRINK O.J.
- FINE.
WOULD YOU LIKE
TO COME DOWNSTAIRS
AND HAVE SOME BREAKFAST?
- MARIA BRINGS ME MY BREAKFAST
WHEN I ASK HER TO.
- LOOK, DRINK THIS
AND I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE
FOR A WHOLE HOUR.
- I'M NOT A BABY.
- I KNOW.
BUT I'M BEING PAID
TO CARE FOR YOU
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY
AND, PRESUMABLY,
IMPROVE YOUR CONDITION.
- I DRINK COFFEE IN THE MORNING.
COFFEE.
- IT'S THIS OR GREEN TEA.
- OH, GIVE ME THAT GLASS.
I BELIEVE
I FIND YOU QUITE INTOLERABLE.
- OH, WELL,
IT'S JUST THE FIRST DAY.
- OH.
- HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU PLANTING?
- AH, TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.
I GET TO PLANT MY SUNFLOWERS.
- [chuckles]
- DO YOU GARDEN?
- I CAN'T SAY THAT I DO, NO.
- SOME PEOPLE SAY
THAT THESE ARE OVERUSED,
TOO COMMON,
VICTIMS OF THEIR OWN POPULARITY,
BUT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN
MS. BOSWELL'S FAVORITE TOO.
- HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
- OH, JUST THE SUMMER SEASON.
- AREN'T THERE ONES THAT GROW
BY THEMSELVES YEAR AFTER YEAR?
- SURE, PERENNIALS.
BUT I ENJOY THE CYCLE,
YOU KNOW,
WATCHING THEM GROW TALL,
THRIVE, AND THEN FADE AWAY.
PLUS, IT GIVES ME
SOMETHING TO DO.
- CAN'T IMAGINE
YOU'D BE BORED
LOOKING AFTER
THIS PLACE, THOUGH.
- YEAH,
I LOVE IT HERE.
- SO I TAKE IT MS. BOSWELL
DOESN'T WRITE ANYMORE.
- OH, SHE HASN'T HAD A BOOK OUT
IN OVER 10 YEARS.
- WHY IS THAT?
- WELL, A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENED IN NORMA'S LIFE
AROUND THAT TIME.
I MEAN THE ACCIDENT,
OF COURSE.
- WHAT ACCIDENT?
- CAR ACCIDENT.
HER AND HER HUSBAND,
SAMUEL.
OH, IT WAS A TERRIBLE THING.
A TRUCK BLINDSIDED THEM.
KILLED SAM INSTANTLY.
YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT?
IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS.
- UM, I GUESS
I MUST HAVE MISSED IT.
- [sighs]
[keys clacking]
- "NORMA BOSWELL
IS AN AMERICAN AUTHOR
"OF EPIC TALES
OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY.
"TRAGEDY BECAME A REALITY
FOR BOSWELL
"IN HER HORRIFIC ACCIDENT.
"AFTER RETURNING HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL,
"SHE BECAME
AN ALMOST TOTAL RECLUSE,
VIRTUALLY DISAPPEARING."
ME AGAIN.
- [groans]
- GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
- OH.
- HEY.
WOULD YOU LIKE A SANDWICH?
- LET ME KNOW
WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
- DR. BECK.
- MS. BOSWELL AND I
WILL NEED TO BE ALONE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
- OH, YOU'RE SURE I CAN'T GIVE
YOU A HAND WITH SOMETHING?
- NO, THANK YOU.
NOT UNTIL YOUR TRIAL
IS COMPLETE.
STILL A FEW MORE DAYS.
- [sighs]
[metal clatters]
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
- WHO ARE YOU?
- WHO ARE YOU?
- I ASKED YOU FIRST.
- ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
- I'M JUSTIN.
BOSWELL?
- OH.
- JUST GOT BACK IN TOWN
AND ALREADY CAUSING A RUCKUS.
- SORRY, I WAS GONNA GET
SOMETHING TO EAT.
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO WAKE ANYBODY UP.
- SO MUCH FOR THAT.
- LOOKS LIKE IT.
- I'LL FIX YOU YOUR FAVORITE.
- I MISSED YOU.
SO WHAT'S YOUR DEAL?
- LATEST ATTEMPT
AT A PRIVATE NURSE.
- I'M GONNA GO BACK TO BED.
- GOOD NIGHT...
KILLER.
HEY.
- OH, I AM SO SORRY
ABOUT LAST NIGHT.
I FEEL TERRIBLE.
- NO, I WAS IMPRESSED.
HARD-CORE.
MY MOTHER SHOULD PAY YOU
AS A SECURITY GUARD TOO.
- RIGHT.
- WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THAT?
- LAUNDRY ROOM.
- MARIA DOESN'T DO IT FOR YOU?
- I THINK
I CAN DO MY OWN LAUNDRY.
- HMM.
- SO I SEE YOU LIKE
TO SLEEP LATE LIKE YOUR MOTHER.
- I'M A LITTLE JET-LAGGED.
- OH.
WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM?
- SPAIN, GERMANY, FRANCE,
PORTUGAL ON THE WAY
BACK THROUGH.
- WOW.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
- A LITTLE OF THIS,
A LITTLE OF THAT.
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE.
- LET ME GUESS.
YOU'RE A WRITER TOO?
- I AM A CHIP
OFF THE OLD BLOCK.
- DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
YOU'RE HOME?
- NOT JUST YET,
THOUGH I'M SURE SHE'LL BE
ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO FIND OUT.
LET'S NOT VEX HER
WITH ALL THAT EXCITEMENT.
OUR PATHS
WILL CROSS SOON ENOUGH.
UNTIL THEN, REST.
- OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA LIFT
OUR ARMS UP,
REACH FOR THE SKY.
OKAY, YOU'RE NOT REACHING.
REACH.
- FOR GOODNESS' SAKE.
- YOU KNOW,
WE COULD MOVE THIS OUTSIDE,
EVEN ON TO THE PORCH.
IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
- I DON'T GET THE POINT
OF ALL THIS.
- WELL, IT INCREASES
YOUR BLOOD FLOW,
OXYGEN TO THE HEART,
ELONGATES YOUR SPINE.
- OH, WHY CAN'T YOU
JUST LET ME BE?
- I TOLD YOU.
MY PLAN HERE
IS TO INCREASE YOUR HEALTH
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
- IT'S ALL A CHARADE.
- WELL, AS YOU KNOW
MY TRIAL PERIOD
IS COMING TO AN END,
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO LET ME GO,
NOW IS YOUR BIG CHANCE.
- I DON'T NEED A BIG CHANCE.
- FINE.
LET'S GO DO SOME MORE EXERCISES.
GONNA DO
SOME ARM CIRCLES NOW.
SO JUST OUT TO THE SIDE.
- THIS IS INTOLERABLE.
- IF I'M SO INTOLERABLE,
WHY HAVE YOU KEPT ME AROUND?
- I'M REALLY CURIOUS.
- OKAY, REVERSE DIRECTION NOW.
- YOU DON'T POSSESS ANY
KIND OF PERSONAL AGENDA
WHATSOEVER.
YOU TREAT ME AS A...
- AS ANY OF MY PATIENTS?
- AS IF I DON'T HOLD YOUR FAITH
IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.
- OKAY, LET'S JUST DO
SOME MORE EXERCISES, OKAY?
- I'D BE WILLING TO BET
THAT YOU HAVE NO HUSBAND,
NO FAMILY OF YOUR OWN.
- YOU BET RIGHT.
- AND NO BOYFRIEND.
- NO.
- SO YOU COME HERE VALIANTLY
AND DEVOTE YOURSELF BLINDLY
AND STOICALLY TO YOUR DUTY
WITH NO HEED WHATSOEVER
TO ANYTHING
OUTSIDE THAT NARROW COMPASS.
- WHAT, YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME
LIKE SOME KIND OF SAINT
OR SOMETHING?
- I THINK
IT MAKES YOU A DUNCE.
- [huffs]
WELL, SINCE I'M SO SIMPLE,
MAYBE YOU COULD EXPLAIN
SOMETHING TO ME.
YOUR SON JUST ARRIVED HOME
FROM ABROAD,
AND YET NEITHER OF YOU
HAVE SAID HELLO TO EACH OTHER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET
MY SIMPLE BRAIN TO UNDERSTAND.
- OUT OF MY HOUSE.
- IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE.
- HEY.
EMMA?
[tires screech]
- HEY.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- YOU CAN SEND ME MY CHECK
FOR THE WEEK.
- SHE FIRED YOU?
- IN SO MANY WORDS.
- JUST NOW?
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
- [sighs]
- LET ME TALK TO HER.
PLEASE.
MS. BOSWELL APOLOGIZES.
SHE WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAY ON.
HER OUTBURSTS ARE--
- HER OUTBURSTS
ARE NOT WHAT'S BOTHERING ME.
WHAT'S BOTHERING ME IS,
I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
- I UNDERSTAND, AT TIMES,
MS. BOSWELL CAN BE DIFFICULT
AND RATHER ECCENTRIC.
BUT SHE'S VERY DEAR TO ME,
AND SHE'S VERY ILL.
MS. BOSWELL
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH M.S.
WHEN SHE WAS IN HER MID 30s.
- I FOUND ONE
OF HER COPAXONE CAPSULES SO...
- YES.
WELL, EARLY LAST MONTH,
SHE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED
DUE TO ABNORMAL SYMPTOMS.
AN M.R.I. OF HER BRAIN
REVEALED PROGRESSIVE
MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHALITIS.
- SO WHAT TREATMENT
IS SHE RECEIVING?
- FOR THE P.M.L., NOTHING.
- NOTHING?
- SHE REFUSED FOR FEAR
OF ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS.
AFTER THE SCENE
AT THE HOSPITAL,
I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONVINCE
HER TO CONTINUE
WITH THE MODIFIED TREATMENT
FOR M.S.
SHE DOESN'T TRUST THE MEDICINE
OR THE DOCTOR.
- BUT THERE ARE VALID
TREATMENT OPTIONS OUT THERE.
- MS. BOSWELL'S MIND IS SET.
SHE WANTS TO LET THINGS
RUN THEIR COURSE.
FORTUNATELY, THE SYMPTOMS
HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY MILD
UP TO THIS POINT,
BUT THE STORM IS COMING.
- SO WE'RE LOOKING
FOR PALLIATIVE CARE.
- IS THAT A PROBLEM FOR YOU?
- NO, BUT WHAT ABOUT HER FAMILY?
- WELL, THERE'S ONLY JUSTIN.
SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM
TO KNOW.
SHE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE
TO KNOW.
AS OF NOW,
IT'S JUST THE HOSPITAL STAFF,
MYSELF, AND HER ATTORNEY.
I MUST INSIST NOW
THAT YOU SIGN
OUR CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL BONUS
ON TOP OF YOUR BASE RATE
IF YOU REACH THE...
CESSATION OF LIFE.
ALSO NOTE THE CLAUSE
THAT STATES WHAT HAPPENS
IF YOU BREAK OUR AGREEMENT.
- "DISCLOSURE
OF ANY OF MS. BOSWELL'S
"PRIVATE INFORMATION
BY THE PARTY,
"INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
"MS. BOSWELL'S PERSONAL
MEDICAL INFORMATION
"WILL IMMEDIATELY
TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT,
"VOIDING ANY MONETARY INCENTIVES
"AND RENDERING
THE PARTY VULNERABLE
TO PUNITIVE LEGAL ACTION."
- IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH?
- HOW LONG?
- EXCUSE ME?
- HOW LONG DOES SHE HAVE?
- WITHOUT TREATMENT
FOR THE VIRUS,
A MONTH.
- WELL,
I REALLY DIDN'T APOLOGIZE.
- NORMA.
- THE GOOD DOCTOR FEARS
THAT WE'VE LOST OUR CANDIDATE,
SO MAYBE HE'S JUST TIRED
OF LOOKING AFTER ME HIMSELF.
- EMMA HAS AGREED
TO ALL OF OUR CONDITIONS.
SHE SIGNED OUR AGREEMENTS.
NORMA?
- OKAY.
WELCOME.
WELCOME TO MY HOME.
WE'RE SO PLEASED
AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU.
LA-DEE-DAH.
- [clears throat]
YES, I DID SIGN YOUR PAPERS,
BUT I HAVE TO SAY,
I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING IN THEM.
- WHAT?
PRAY, TELL ME.
I'LL ELUCIDATE FOR YOU.
- WELL, WHY WOULDN'T
YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY?
I GET WHY YOU DON'T WANT IT
OUT THERE
FOR THE PRESS TURNING IT
INTO SOME BIG NEWS STORY,
BUT YOUR OWN SON.
EVEN HENRY AND MARIA.
- YOU DON'T HAVE A SHRED
OF KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT ME OR MY FAMILY.
- FAIR ENOUGH.
BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE
SOME CONDITIONS OF MY OWN.
- THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.
- I THINK WE SHOULD FULLY VET
ALL THE TREATMENT OPTIONS.
- AS I SAID, WE'VE, OF COURSE,
DISCUSSED THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE,
AND MS. BOSWELL
HAS ELECTED TO...
- I'D LIKE TO LIVE
IN A RELATIVELY
COMFORTABLE STATE
UNTIL I EXPIRE.
- WELL, I'M SORRY,
BUT THAT'S NOT ONE
OF YOUR OPTIONS.
IF YOU'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS
OF THE MEDICINE,
THE SYMPTOMS OF YOUR DISEASE
ARE GONNA GET FAR WORSE
AS IT PROGRESSES.
QUITE FRANKLY,
I THINK YOU'RE LUCKY
TO HAVE FAIRED SO WELL
UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
- I'M NOT SURE THE WORD "LUCKY"
IS APPROPRIATE HERE.
- ALL I'M SAYING IS,
THERE'S SOME INNOVATIVE
TREATMENT OPTIONS OUT THERE.
- YOU'RE JUST A NURSE.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
- I CAN DO SOME MORE RESEARCH,
WEIGH OUR OPTIONS AGAIN.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, NORMA?
- AT LEAST KEEP AN OPEN MIND.
[kettle whistling]
- [clears throat]
IT'S JUST ME.
IT'S GOOD IN HERE.
IT'S SAFE.
SO YOU SURVIVED.
- APPARENTLY SO.
- HEY, I'M GONNA GET OUT OF HERE
FOR A BIT, HEAD INTO TOWN,
SEE IF I CAN FIND SOME TROUBLE
TO GET INTO.
CARE TO JOIN?
- I DON'T THINK SO.
- COME ON, YOU'VE BEEN COOPED UP
HERE THE WHOLE TIME.
YOU MUST WANT TO ESCAPE
THIS DUNGEON FOR A WHILE.
- DUNGEON?
- DON'T YOU LIKE
TO HAVE ANY FUN?
- MY JOB HERE IS 24/7.
- YOU'RE NEVER GONNA PLEASE HER,
YOU KNOW.
- I'M NOT TRYING TO PLEASE HER.
- NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO,
HOW HARD YOU TRY,
YOU WON'T BE GOOD ENOUGH.
ALL RIGHT, LAST SHOT.
TAKE A RIDE WITH ME.
- YOU'RE USED TO GETTING
WHAT YOU WANT, AREN'T YOU?
- OUCH.
YOU PRETTY MUCH JUST SAY
WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND.
DON'T YOU?
- MM-HMM.
WHAT IS IT WITH YOU TWO,
ANYWAY?
- EXCUSE ME?
- YOU AND YOUR MOTHER.
- YOU'VE SEEN THE WAY SHE IS.
- RELATIONSHIPS
ARE A TWO-WAY STREET
LAST TIME I CHECKED.
- IF ANYBODY'S USED
TO GETTING THEIR WAY,
IT'S MY MOTHER,
AND LET'S JUST SAY
SHE DIDN'T EXACTLY GET
WHAT SHE WANTED WITH ME.
- [sniffs]
GOOD MORNING.
- OH, GOOD MORNING.
- TIME FOR YOUR DAILY COPAXONE.
- OH, WHAT JOY.
[chuckles]
OH, WHERE'S DR. BECK?
- HE WON'T BE COMING IN TODAY.
I'LL BE ADMINISTERING YOUR SHOTS
FOR YOUR M.S. FROM NOW ON.
YOU'RE READING
ALL YOUR OWN BOOKS?
- NO, I HAVEN'T LOOKED
AT MOST OF THESE IN YEARS.
I'M JUST SKIMMING THROUGH
TO SEE WHAT'S LEFT OF ME
AFTER I--I'M GONE.
- THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE
WITH ALL THAT.
- I AM.
WHAT KIND OF MORBID PERSON
FASHIONS THEIR EXISTENCE
ISOLATING THEMSELVES
WITH SICKNESS AND DEATH?
- WELL, WE CAN'T ALL BE
GREAT ARTISTS.
- WELL, THERE MUST BE
SOME OTHER PALATABLE WAY
THAT AN ATTRACTIVE, INTELLIGENT
YOUNG WOMAN LIKE YOURSELF
CAN MAKE ENDS MEET.
- I THOUGHT I WAS SIMPLE
AND A DUNCE.
- WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT?
- UM...
- I MEAN REALLY WANT.
- WELL, ONE DAY,
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP
MY OWN INPATIENT FACILITY
FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL.
- OH, THAT SOUNDS DREADFUL.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS STEM FROM?
I MEAN, ARE YOU DEALING
WITH SOME GUILT FROM YOUR PAST?
BECAUSE YOU SAID
THAT YOUR MOTHER WAS--
- WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT MY MOTHER RIGHT NOW.
- WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
- READY?
- YUP.
[needle clicks]
- HAVE YOU EVER
EVEN CONSIDERED IT,
OR IS IT TRUE
THAT YOU ARE A WOEFUL,
SELFLESS SLAVE TO WORK?
- [sighs]
TRAVEL
I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL.
- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
- WELL, IN SEVENTH GRADE,
WE WENT ON A SCHOOL TRIP
TO SEE MOUNT RUSHMORE.
- I'M SORRY I ASKED.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?
- EUROPE.
ITALY, MOSTLY.
I'M SURE
YOU'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE.
- YES, I'VE BEEN
TO THE FOUR CORNERS
OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD
AND SOME UNCIVILIZED.
I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO READ ONE OF MY BOOKS.
- WHY DO YOU CARE
WHAT I THINK?
- I DON'T.
I JUST SAID
I'D LIKE YOU TO READ IT.
- IS THIS PART OF MY JOB?
- IF IT PLEASES YOU
TO THINK SO.
- UH...
OKAY.
[plate shatters]
- OH.
- OH, HERE.
LET ME HELP YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- HEY.
- HELLO.
WOW, BEAUTIFUL CAR.
- YEAH, SHE'S BEEN
IN STORAGE FOREVER.
I'M GONNA TAKE A SHOT
AT GETTING HER
UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS?
- NOT REALLY.
- MY DAD SURE KNEW ABOUT CARS.
HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING
TO TEACH ME,
BUT I WAS JUST NEVER
TOO INTERESTED AT THE TIME.
- I'M SORRY
YOU LOST YOUR DAD.
- HE WAS COOL.
A REAL EVEN-KEELED GUY,
AND I GUESS HE WAS THE GLUE
OF OUR FAMILY
BECAUSE SINCE HE'S BEEN GONE,
EVERYTHING JUST FELL APART.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
YOUR FAMILY
AS MESSED UP AS MINE?
- MY MOTHER DIED
WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
- SORRY.
- SHE WAS SICK
FOR MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH
IN THE WAY OF RESOURCES.
CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW,
I--SHE WOULD HAVE LIVED
FOR A LITTLE LONGER.
- HOW ABOUT YOUR DAD?
- HE TOOK OFF.
COULDN'T HANDLE
THE TOUGH STUFF.
LEFT US TO DEAL WITH IT
ON OUR OWN.
- I GUESS SOME PEOPLE DEAL
WITH THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
- AND SOME PEOPLE
DON'T DEAL WITH THEM AT ALL.
YOU SURE YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING DOWN THERE?
- YES, I GOT IT.
I AM A MANLY MAN.
- HERE WE GO.
READY?
ONE, TWO, THREE.
[groans]
- OH, WOW, OKAY.
- IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY.
OPEN UP.
LET ME SEE. LET ME SEE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S FINE.
I CAN FIX THAT.
WE'LL JUST CLEAN IT.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE CUT.
JUSTIN?
JUSTIN?
JUSTIN, HEY.
HEY.
RELAX.
YOU HAD A BIT OF A FALL.
- DID I PASS OUT?
- DON'T WORRY.
YOU'LL SURVIVE.
I CLEANED IT
AND PUT A BUTTERFLY ON IT.
I DON'T THINK A STITCH THERE
IS GONNA DO IT ANY GOOD.
- [groans]
- YOU SHOULD HAVE LET
HENRY HELP YOU.
- OH, I'D BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT
TOMORROW IF YOU'D LIKE.
- I THOUGHT I'D TAKE A SHOT.
- DO YOU ALWAYS PASS OUT
WHEN YOU SEE BLOOD?
- ONLY WHEN IT'S MINE.
- YOU'RE A BIG BABY.
- AND YOU ARE MY HERO.
- [chuckles]
- OH, WHAT HAPPENED?
- OH, IT'S FINE.
HE JUST--
- I WAS WORKING
ON DAD'S MUSTANG.
- YOU NEVER FINISH ANYTHING.
- DON'T START, MOM.
PLEASE.
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
THERE'S NO POINT
IN TRYING TO MOTIVATE YOU.
IT'S LIKE SQUEEZING BLOOD
OUT OF A STONE.
- MOTIVATE ME?
IS THAT WHAT
YOU WANT TO CALL IT?
HOW ABOUT BEATING ME
DOWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN
UNTIL I FEEL LIKE
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL.
- OH, GROW UP, JUSTIN.
- YOU'RE LOCKED UP HERE
IN THIS CASTLE.
- I'M IN PAIN.
- SO AM I.
- OH. OH.
- MOM.
- NORMA.
- MOM, MOM.
- GET AWAY FROM ME.
- OKAY.
HENRY,
LET'S GET HER UPSTAIRS.
- WE GOT YOU.
- [groans]
- THE SYMPTOMS
WILL ONLY GET WORSE
FROM HERE EXPONENTIALLY.
WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING, NORMA.
- TELL HER
ABOUT THE CYTORBENOL AC.
- WHAT'S THAT?
- IT'S A CHEMO DRUG
USED TO TREAT CERTAIN CANCERS.
IT'S BEEN PRESCRIBED
EXPERIMENTALLY,
BUT WITH SOME SUCCESS.
- I REFUSE.
- WE CAN DO THE TREATMENTS HERE
INTRAVENOUSLY.
- THE VIRUS WILL KILL ME
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
- BUT THESE TREATMENTS
COULD HELP YOU PERSEVERE
THROUGH THE SUMMER
INTO THE FALL.
- IT IS A SYSTEMIC TREATMENT.
AND, YES, YOU COULD VERY WELL
EXPERIENCE ADVERSE SYMPTOMS,
BUT THE TREATMENTS WOULD,
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD,
INCREASE YOUR LIFE.
- A LONGER PERIOD
IN WHICH TO SUFFER.
- MS. BOSWELL, AT LEAST
GIVE YOURSELF A FIGHTING CHANCE.
- [chuckles]
- THIS IS YOUR DECISION
TO MAKE, NORMA.
- [sighs]
GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
- READY TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN.
WHAT'S WITH THE FLOWERS?
- EMMA STARTED
BRINGING THEM IN.
THOUGHT THEY WERE
A NICE TOUCH.
- OATMEAL AND O.J. AGAIN.
HOW DELICIOUS.
WHERE IS MY CROISSANTS?
- YOU NEED MORE FIBER.
- WHY DOES EVERYBODY
LOVE TO TELL ME WHAT I NEED?
SOMETHING ELSE, MARIA?
- I--
I'LL BE BACK
WITH YOUR SUPPER LATER.
- SO I FINISHED
GONE AND FOREVER.
- AND DID IT MEET
YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
- WELL, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.
- WELL, DID YOU LIKE THE BOOK?
PLEASE, DON'T FEEL THE NEED
TO GUSH.
- I'M NOT A LITERARY CRITIC.
- SPIT IT OUT.
- I THOUGHT IT WAS DEPRESSING.
- NO EMOTIONAL
OR INTELLECTUAL CATHARSIS,
JUST PURE DRIVEL?
- THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
- OF COURSE IT MUST BE DRIVEL.
IT ONLY WON
THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD,
TRANSLATED
INTO 24 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,
AND SOLD 15 MILLION COPIES.
- LOOK, YOU ASKED ME
TO READ IT.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU
WHAT I THOUGHT.
- WELL, LUCKY FOR ME
I LEARNED LONG AGO
TO DISCOUNT
OUTSIDE CRITICISM AND PRAISE.
- [sighs]
SO HAVE YOU DECIDED?
BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED
TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS TREATMENT A.S.A.P.
WE'VE WAITED
FAR TOO LONG ALREADY.
SO TO PREPARE,
WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT--
- I'M NOT DOING IT.
- FINE.
YOU WANT TO SIT UP HERE
WASTING AWAY YOUR FINAL DAYS
IN SOLITUDE AND SELF-PITY,
FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER NURSE.
AND I KNOW YOU THINK
YOU'RE STRONG
AND YOU DON'T NEED ANYONE ELSE,
BUT I DON'T BUY IT.
- I'M IN CONTROL
OF THIS SITUATION.
- YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL
OF ANYTHING,
AND THAT'S WHAT SCARES YOU.
- HOW DARE YOU!
- YOU'RE SELFISH,
AND YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A COWARD.
AND YOU'RE ASKING ME
TO STAND HERE WITH MY HANDS TIED
AND WATCH YOU DIE?
I'M NOT GONNA DO IT.
- [screams]
- YEAH. WELL, I'M STAYING
AT A MOTEL TONIGHT,
BUT I'VE SUBLET MY PLACE
IN THE INTERIM, SO...
YEAH, OKAY.
SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT LIST
TO ME TOMORROW,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[phone beeps]
- OH, HANG ON.
I GOT ANOTHER CALL.
THANK YOU.
BYE.
[phone beeps]
HELLO?
- EMMA, DR. BECK.
NOT TOO MANY NURSES
WOULD WALK AWAY
FROM $4,000 A WEEK.
- IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY
FOR ME.
IT NEVER WAS.
- I'VE BEEN NORMA'S DOCTOR
FOR A LONG TIME.
SHE'S BEEN
A GOOD FRIEND TO ME,
BUT I ALSO KNOW
HOW SHE CAN BE.
SHE'S PROBABLY
THE MOST STUBBORN WOMAN
I'VE EVER MET.
BUT BENEATH ALL THAT SARCASM
AND BRISTLE,
THERE'S A LOVING, COMPASSIONATE,
BRILLIANT PERSON.
SHE'S JUST BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
- A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
- NORMA'S AT THE MOST
UNHAPPY STATE
OF HER ENTIRE LIFE.
EVEN AFTER SAMUEL DIED,
IT WAS SHOCK AND DEPRESSION,
BUT NOW, IT'S AS IF SHE FEELS
THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR HER.
AND IF SHE DOESN'T LET GO SOON,
IT'LL BE TOO LATE.
- I'M JUST NOT SURE
WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME.
- I BELIEVE YOU'RE
THE ONLY PERSON
WHO CAN REACH HER.
I MEAN,
SHE LIKES BEING WITH YOU.
SHE RUNS RIGHT OVER ME.
SHE RUNS OVER EVERYBODY
EXCEPT YOU.
HELP ME BUY NORMA
SOME MORE TIME.
- MS. BOSWELL
HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT ME--
- SHE CHANGED HER MIND.
- SHE CHANGED HER MIND?
- SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE
THE TREATMENT A TRY
IF YOU COME BACK.
- THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
- APPARENTLY NOT.
- WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE
TO COME BACK?
- CERTAIN CONDITIONS
OF OUR AGREEMENT.
- WOW, PLAYING HARD BALL
WITH NORMA BOSWELL.
COLOR ME IMPRESSED
ONCE AGAIN.
- IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
- MAY I?
- SURE.
THANKS.
- EITHER WAY, I'M REALLY GLAD
YOU'RE STILL HERE.
- LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS A VERY
PERSONAL DECISION FOR YOU,
AND I HAD NO RIGHT
TO MAKE ANY PERSONAL JUDGMENTS.
SO FOR THAT,
I AM SORRY.
- WE'RE LIKE A COUPLE
OF STUBBORN BIRDS, AREN'T WE?
- YOU REALLY WANT TO GO AHEAD
AND GIVE THIS TREATMENT A SHOT?
- YOUR CHOICE OF IDIOM
MAKES ME CRINGE,
BUT I SUPPOSE CLINGING
TO A FEW MORE MISERABLE WEEKS
MIGHT BE WORTH THE TROUBLE.
IF YOU SAY SO.
BUT NO ONE
CAN KNOW ABOUT THIS.
- FOUR-WEEK CYCLES,
THREE WEEKS OF TREATMENT
WITH A WEEK OFF IN BETWEEN.
- WELL, MAKE SURE
THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED
AND THIS TORTURE DEVICE
WELL HIDDEN.
- ARE YOU READY, NORMA?
- YES.
- OKAY.
YOU'RE GONNA FEEL
A LITTLE STICK.
- THIS IS COMPAZINE.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED THIS
FOR NAUSEA AFTER THE TREATMENTS.
- HERE WE GO.
- UH-UH.
- YOU KNOW,
I THINK I'D LIKE TO READ
ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BOOKS.
- [chuckles]
YOU'RE A GLUTTON
FOR PUNISHMENT.
- WELL, I'M NOT SAYING
THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG
WITH THEM.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.
- IT'S NOT THE PERCEIVED VALUE
OF THE WORK THAT MATTERS.
IT'S THE CREATION,
THE AGONIZING FRUSTRATIONS,
AND THE BLISSFUL DISCOVERIES.
- THE PROCESS.
BUT THERE'S STILL A RIGHT WAY
AND A WRONG WAY
TO DO THINGS, RIGHT?
- HMM.
I MEAN, THERE ARE PRINCIPLES
OF STYLE AND FORM, OF COURSE,
BUT WE'RE ALL ARTISTS.
CHILDREN, REALLY.
- WE TRY AND TRY,
BUT WE CAN NEVER REACH
THE END OF THE RAINBOW.
THAT'S TRAGIC
AND BEAUTIFUL.
- SOUNDS LIKE QUITE A JOURNEY.
- NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
MAKING ART IS THE PUREST FORM
OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT
AND REALIZATION.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
- WHAT ABOUT ME?
- WHY IS IT YOU'VE NEVER DONE
ANYTHING TO CULTIVATE YOURSELF?
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- WELL, YOU TALK ABOUT
WANTING TO TRAVEL.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
- I GUESS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
TOO BUSY WITH WORK.
- WITH PATIENTS?
- YES.
- MAYBE SOMEDAY YOU'LL CARE
FOR ENOUGH DYING PATIENTS
SO YOU CAN OPEN
YOUR OWN FACILITY
IN ORDER TO HOUSE
EVEN MORE PATHETIC SOULS.
I BELIEVE
YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CHARACTER
IN ONE OF MY NOVELS.
[chuckles]
- OKAY, WE ARE OFFICIALLY
INTO YOUR SECOND CYCLE.
- A JUBILANT OCCASION.
- WELL, I'VE NOTICED
THE DIFFERENCE.
YOUR MOTOR FUNCTIONALITY
HAS IMPROVED.
YOU HAVE MORE ENERGY.
- A WHIRLING DERVISH.
- YOU HAVEN'T COMPLAINED
ABOUT YOUR HEADACHES FOR DAYS.
- OH, IT'S BEING REPLACED
BY A LOT OF NAUSEA.
- OH, THAT REMINDS ME.
IT'S TIME FOR YOUR COMPAZINE.
- WHAT IS IT?
- MOM?
- COME BACK LATER.
I'M BUSY.
- I'M GOING INTO TOWN LATER.
I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING,
IF I COULD.
- FINE.
LET HIM IN.
- THANK YOU, EMMA.
- WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT?
- I GOT A BIT OF GOOD NEWS.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
- I DON'T HAVE GLASSES.
JUST TELL ME,
FOR PETE'S SAKE.
- IT'S MY NOVELLA.
IT'S GONNA BE PUBLISHED.
- YOUR NOVELLA?
- THE ONE
I WAS WORKING ON OVERSEAS.
IT'S BEEN ACCEPTED
BY A BRITISH QUARTERLY
FOR NEW FICTION.
- IS THERE A CHANCE
I'VE HEARD OF THIS BASTION
OF ESTEEMED LITERATURE?
YOUR USE OF MY NAME
HAS GAINED YOU ENTRANCE
TO THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS
OF THE MOST ELITE ACADEMIC
AND PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES.
BRAVO, SON.
BRAVO.
- [sighs]
[melancholy music]
♪
THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
- YEAH, YOU JUST TAKE
A LITTLE EXTRA SOIL
AND REALLY PACK IT IN
AROUND THEM.
- YEAH.
- AND THEN THEY'LL GROW
A LITTLE STRAIGHTER
AND TALLER, OKAY?
- I'LL GET THAT.
- NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
- NOT A PROBLEM.
I HAVE TO DO
A COUPLE LOADS ANYWAY.
- OH, WELL, THANK YOU.
- I FIGURE
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE,
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE
OF SOME USE TO EACH OTHER.
- UM, OKAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING
I CAN DO FOR YOU?
- ACTUALLY, I WAS HOPING
TO GET AN UPDATE
ON NORMA'S CONDITION.
- NO, MARIA, I--I CAN'T.
- I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN HER,
AND I KNOW I'M NOT GETTING
THE WHOLE STORY.
- I REALLY CAN'T DISCUSS THIS
WITH YOU.
- SO THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU'RE NOT TELLING US.
I ADMINISTERED HER MEDICATION
FOR YEARS.
- MARIA, PLEASE.
- WHAT'S CHANGED?
- I LEGALLY CANNOT DISCUSS THIS
WITH YOU.
- FINE.
DON'T THINK YOU'LL GET
A SECOND CHANCE WITH ME.
- WHERE TO?
- LOOKS LIKE BURKINA FASO.
- YOU HAVEN'T REALLY DONE IT.
- JUST PICKED AROUND A PLACE
AND GONE THERE?
MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.
YOU WANT TO COME?
- UH, NO.
- WHY NOT?
- I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES.
- HERE YOU GO.
YOUR TURN.
READY?
OH, ITALY.
- EVER BEEN?
- MILAN, TRIESTE,
ROME, FLORENCE,
NAPLES, VENICE, VERONA.
- VERONA?
- IS THAT WHERE YOU WANT TO GO?
- IT'D BE MY TOP CHOICE.
- WELL, THEN
I GUESS IT'S SETTLED.
- SO WHAT MADE YOU START
TRAVELING SO MUCH?
- AFTER MY DAD DIED,
I GUESS I JUST FELT LIKE
I NEEDED TO GET AWAY.
- WHAT ABOUT YOUR MOM?
- WE WERE NEVER REALLY
THAT CLOSE TO BEGIN WITH.
MY DAD ALWAYS SAID IT WAS
'CAUSE WE'RE SO MUCH ALIKE,
AND YOU WOULD THINK
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
- YEAH.
- ANYWAY, SHE WAS IN A COMA.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONE.
I FELT LIKE
I DIDN'T HAVE A HOME ANYMORE.
AND WHEN SHE WOKE UP...
- YOU WERE GONE.
- I WAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
THERE WERE TROPICAL STORMS.
IT TWO WEEKS TO GET BACK,
AND WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT
TO THE HOSPITAL,
I DON'T KNOW.
SHE WOULDN'T LOOK AT ME
THE SAME.
SHE'S RIGHT, YOU KNOW.
- ABOUT WHAT?
- I AM A CRUMMY WRITER.
[both chuckle]
- YOU SAID YOUR FATHER LEFT
WHEN YOUR MOM GOT SICK.
- YEAH.
- DID HE EVER COME BACK?
- AT THE FUNERAL.
- WHAT'D HE SAY?
- THERE'S NOTHING
HE COULD HAVE SAID.
SO...
- THAT THE LAST TIME
YOU EVER SAW HIM?
- I KNOW
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG,
BUT EMMA WON'T TELL ME
WHAT IT IS.
- SO YOU ASKED HER.
- YES.
SHE SAID
SHE CAN'T DISCUSS IT.
WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT?
- MAYBE IT'S THE TRUTH.
- DON'T DEFEND HER.
- HOW--HOW AM I DEFENDING HER?
I'M NOT DEFENDING HER.
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
- REALLY?
- [laughing]
YES.
- HMM, GO FIGURE.
- THAT'S IT.
END OF THE TREATMENT PHASE
OF YOUR SECOND CYCLE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A WEEK
WITHOUT THIS TORTURE DEVICE.
IN ALL TRUTH,
THE HEADACHES HAVE DISSIPATED,
AND I'M WALKING AROUND BETTER.
- WELL, YOUR SLEEPING PATTERNS
HAVE IMPROVED,
AND YOU DO SEEM
MORE LUCID, SO...
OKAY.
- I'LL BE BACK TO CHECK IN
LATER IN THE WEEK.
DO SOMETHING ENJOYABLE
WITH YOUR DOWNTIME, NORMA.
- SO I FINISHED AN EMPTY TABLE.
- SO SHOULD I BRACE MYSELF
FOR ANOTHER RAVE REVIEW?
- I ACTUALLY LIKED IT A LOT.
- YOU TRASH
MY ESSENTIAL CLASSIC,
AND YOU REVERE
MY MOST OBSCURE WORK.
- I JUST FOUND IT
TO BE MORE HOPEFUL.
- THAT'S WHY IT WAS
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY PANNED.
- I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T CARE WHAT
PEOPLE LIKE THAT HAD TO SAY.
I NOTICE THIS IS THE LAST BOOK
YOU EVER GOT PUBLISHED.
- WELL, YOU NOTICED CORRECTLY.
- AND I SAW ON THE INTERNET
THAT YOU HAD WRITTEN
THE BETTER PART
OF ANOTHER MASTERPIECE
RIGHT BEFORE YOUR ACCIDENT.
- LIKE MOST WRITERS,
I HAVE A DOZEN
HALF-WRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS
LYING AROUND.
- RIGHT.
BUT IS THERE ANY ONE
THAT'S SPECIAL?
- DOES IT MATTER NOW?
- NO.
OKAY, TIME FOR YOUR EXERCISES.
- I HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY
TOLD BY MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN
TO DO SOMETHING ENJOYABLE.
- UM, OKAY.
WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO?
- [chuckles slyly]
I USED TO RETREAT TO THESE
WHEN I HAD WRITER'S BLOCK,
WHICH HAPPENED
WITH GREAT FREQUENCY.
OH, THERE WE GO.
- OH, WOW.
- HMM.
- IS IT--
- IT'S MY SAMUEL.
- YOU REALLY ARE VERY GOOD.
- I HAD WRITER'S BLOCK,
AND I HAD LOTS PRACTICE.
DO YOU EVER PAINT?
- NO.
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY?
- OH, I'D HAVE NO IDEA.
- WELL, THAT'S IT.
YOU DON'T NEED AN IDEA.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK FOR THINGS
AND FEEL IT
AND THEN PAINT IT.
- BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW.
- CREATING ART
IS LIKE DISCOVERING YOUR SOUL.
YOU CAN'T EXPECT
TO KNOW YOURSELF
UNLESS YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF.
- I JUST--I JUST DON'T THINK
I'D BE VERY GOOD.
- HOW DO YOU KNOW
UNLESS YOU TRY?
[laughter]
- OH, MARIA, DEAR.
COME IN.
COME IN.
- I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
WITH YOUR PAINTS IN AGES.
- [laughs]
IT SEEMS
THAT EMMA HAS INSPIRED ME.
- WELL, I'LL COME BACK
AND CHECK ON YOU LATER.
- WELL, WAIT, WHY DON'T YOU COME
AND JOIN US?
- WE'LL HAVE A PAINTING PARTY,
JUST US GIRLS.
[laughter]
- OH, THAT'S GREAT.
[indistinct conversation]
- I HAVEN'T EVEN
STARTED MINE YET.
I'D RATHER HELP YOU.
I'M TERRIBLE.
- LOOK AT THAT.
- WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
YOU SEEN MOM LIKE THIS?
[laughter]
- NO, DON'T COMPARE IT
TO MINE.
- HONESTLY,
I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER.
- LOOK AT THIS.
YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING
AS GOOD AS THIS.
HEY.
- HEY.
- CAN'T SLEEP?
- NOPE.
- ME NEITHER.
- IF EACH ONE OF US
WAS SUPPOSED DIFFERENT, SPECIAL,
THEN EACH ONE BELONGS.
EACH ONE HAS ITS PLACE, RIGHT?
I GUESS I NEVER WANTED
TO BE DIFFERENT.
- YOU'RE NOT SO BAD, JUSTIN.
- IT'S JUST TOUGH TRYING
TO LIVE UP THE EXPECTATIONS.
- SO STOP TRYING.
- EASY FOR YOU TO SAY.
- WHY IS THAT?
- BECAUSE YOUR MOM
ISN'T NORMA BOSWELL.
- I THINK WE'RE BOTH
TRYING TO MAKE PEACE
WITH NORMA BOSWELL
IN OUR OWN WAY.
IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT,
YOU KNOW,
LEAVING AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW.
YOU'RE JUST SCARED.
I CAN SEE
HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT HER.
- SHE'S MY MOM.
- MS. BOSWELL.
WHAT IS THIS?
"THERE'S NO REASON TO FINISH.
"I'LL HOLD THE CONCLUSION
INSIDE ME
"UNTIL I JOIN MY SAMUEL.
"I HAVE NO MORE REASON
TO CONNECT.
NO MORE REASON TO SHARE."
- THAT WAS MY LAST INTERVIEW.
- THE NEW YORKER.
- IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AFTER I AWOKE FROM MY COMA,
AND THE GREAT PUBLIC'S FEAR
WAS THAT I HAD SUSTAINED
SOME SORT OF BRAIN DAMAGE
THAT WOULD PREVENT ME
FROM SPINNING MY TALES.
BUT, OH, I LOST
MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
- LOOK.
I'M NOT GONNA PRETEND TO KNOW
HOW ALL THIS WORKS...
BUT I DO KNOW
THAT YOU'RE AT YOUR BEST,
YOUR HAPPIEST,
WHEN YOU'RE CREATING.
I MEAN, YOU LIGHT UP.
I THINK YOU SHOULD TRY
AND FINISH YOUR BOOK.
NOT FOR THE PUBLIC,
NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE,
JUST FOR YOU.
- I'M NOT SURE I CAN.
- TRY.
IF NOTHING ELSE,
IT'LL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.
MIGHT EVEN HELP YOU TO...
TO HEAL.
- [sighs]
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
[chuckles]
[bright music]
♪
[typewriter clacking]
- THIS STORY IS BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE IT SO FAR.
IT'S MORE HOPEFUL,
LIKE THAT OTHER ONE I LIKED.
- DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW IT MIGHT END.
- WHEN AM I GONNA GET A CHANCE
TO READ THE NEW PAGES?
- WELL, IF I EVER GET
TO FINISH IT.
- WHEN YOU FINISH.
- I'M ON BORROWED TIME, DOCTOR.
- YOU'VE LASTED WELL BEYOND
WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.
YOUR BODY'S WITHSTOOD
THE TREATMENT QUITE WELL SO FAR.
- ARE YOU SAYING
THAT I'M A MARVEL?
- JUST YOUR BODY.
- OH.
OOH, MARIA.
OH, I'VE GOT SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
- NORMA.
- I HOPED TO ADEQUATELY CAPTURE
YOUR BEAUTY.
I'VE NEVER TOLD YOU
HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE.
YOUR DEAR MOTHER
IS LOOKING DOWN
ON YOUR BEAUTY
AND YOUR GRACE
WITH GREAT PRIDE,
I CAN ASSURE YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- OH.
- THANK YOU.
- GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?
- I FEEL LIKE I'M READY
FOR AN ADVENTURE.
- I KNOW THE THIRD CYCLE'S
BEEN REALLY HARD ON YOU,
BUT YOU'VE BEEN VERY BRAVE.
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO
FOR A DRIVE?
- A DRIVE?
- I CAN COUNT ON MY HANDS
THE NUMBER OF TIMES
I'VE BEEN IN A CAR
SINCE THE ACCIDENT.
- OKAY, WELL,
WHY DON'T WE...
THINK ABOUT DOING IT
AFTER THE TREATMENT?
- WHAT'S THE LEGAL LIMIT
FOR CYTORBENOL IN YOUR SYSTEM
WHILE YOU'RE BEHIND THE WHEEL?
- I THINK
MAYBE I SHOULD DRIVE.
[engine turns over]
- HIT IT!
[tires screech]
- WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
[upbeat rock music]
- [laughing]
WOW.
THIS IS AMAZING.
- LOOK AT THE TREES.
- [laughing]
I'M NOT GOING TOO FAST.
♪
- OKAY, UP HERE.
OKAY.
- I HAVE A HOUSE UP HERE.
I LOVE TO DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY
LIKE THIS.
MM.
SAMUEL AND I
USED TO COME HERE OFTEN.
OH.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL, MS. BOSWELL.
- NORMA.
CALL ME NORMA.
- OKAY.
- I GUESS
I SOMETIMES WOULD FORGET.
- WHAT?
- THAT THE WORLD COULD BE
SO BEAUTIFUL.
IT CAN.
- YEAH.
I GUESS IT CAN.
- DON'T TELL ME
YOU'RE LEAVING US AGAIN.
- ON TO THE NEXT
GREAT ADVENTURE.
- WELL, YOU TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.
- YOU TOO.
AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE
AND EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE,
LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.
- I WILL.
- BYE, MARIA.
- BYE-BYE.
- HEY, MARIA.
- EMMA.
- HEY.
- JUSTIN.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- BURKINA FASO, REMEMBER?
- WELL...
- KIDDING.
JUST GOING BACK TO EUROPE.
- WHAT?
- COME WITH ME.
- JUSTIN, YOUR MOTHER--
SHE'S NOT WELL.
- SHE NEVER REALLY HAS BEEN,
EMMA.
WE CAN GET ANOTHER NURSE,
THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
- YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
- NOT AS GOOD AS YOU--
- JUSTIN, SHE'S DYING.
SHE HAS A RARE VIRUS.
I COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING
BECAUSE I SIGNED
A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
- SELFISH.
OF ALL PEOPLE
YOU CAN'T TELL,
YOU CAN'T TELL ME?
I'M YOUR SON.
GOD.
- YOU EVER THINK
THAT MAYBE
I WAS TRYING
TO PROTECT YOU?
- PROTECT ME FROM WHAT?
- WHAT'S WRONG?
- WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?
- SHE LIED TO ALL OF US.
SHE'S DYING
AND DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW.
THAT'S HOW MUCH SHE CARES.
IF SHE WANTS TO DIE ALONE,
THAT'S HER CHOICE.
- NORMA, IS IT TRUE?
WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME?
WHY WOULD YOU WANT
TO GO THROUGH THIS WITHOUT US?
- GET OUT.
NOT YOU.
- [sighs]
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
- OH, PLEASE.
- I HAD TO.
JUSTIN WAS ABOUT
TO LEAVE AGAIN.
- IT WAS NOT YOUR CHOICE
TO MAKE.
- NORMA, PLEASE.
YOU REMEMBER
WHAT IT WAS LIKE
WHEN YOU LOST YOUR HUSBAND
SO SUDDENLY?
ALL THOSE THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE
WANTED TO SAY TO HIM
BUT NEVER GOT THE CHANCE?
YOU ARE TAKING THAT CHANCE AWAY
FROM JUSTIN.
- DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU
THAT MAYBE I WAS TRYING
TO PROTECT HIM?
- THE ONLY THING
YOU ARE PROTECTING RIGHT NOW
IS YOURSELF.
- THAT'S ENOUGH!
I WANT YOU GONE TOMORROW.
[solemn music]
♪
[knock at door]
- MOM!
- WHAT?
- MAY I COME IN, PLEASE?
- WHY?
- SO WE CAN FINISH TALKING.
- I THOUGHT WE WERE FINISHED.
OH, MIGHT AS WELL.
COME IN NOW.
YOU GOT ME OUT OF MY CHAIR.
- I KNOW I'M INTERRUPTING,
BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
DID YOU REALLY THINK
YOU COULD HIDE THIS FROM ME
THE WHOLE TIME?
- IN MY DYING DAYS,
YOU COME TO ME TO TELL ME
HOW MUCH I WOUNDED YOU?
- [scoffs]
I AM SORRY
THAT I WASN'T THERE,
AND I AM SORRY
THAT I AM NEVER GONNA BE
WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO BE.
- YOUR FATHER
WANTED TO STAY HOME THAT NIGHT,
BUT I INSISTED WE GO OUT.
AND HE WANTED
TO HIRE A DRIVER,
BUT I WANTED IT
TO BE JUST THE TWO OF US.
IF I HAD KNOWN...
- I LOVE YOU, MOM.
- OH.
OH.
[sighs]
[knock at door]
MAY I COME IN?
- YES.
- [sighs]
I WOULD WANT YOU TO STAY.
- WHY?
- WELL,
I'M TERRIFIED OF DYING,
AND I DON'T WANT
TO BE ALONE.
- IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY,
I WILL STAY.
- BUT NO MORE TREATMENTS.
- YOU STILL HAVE A WEEK LEFT
OF YOUR CYCLE.
- NO, IT MAKES ME TOO SICK.
I CAN'T WRITE LIKE THIS.
- WE CAN ADJUST YOUR DOSE.
WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.
- I NEED TO FINISH MY NOVEL.
I'M READY FOR YOU
TO START READING THE NEW PAGES,
AND I BELIEVE
YOU WILL LOVE THEM.
YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE
FOR THE PURPOSE
OF USHERING ME
THROUGH MY FINAL DARK DAYS,
AND SOMEHOW, YOU HAVE SPUN
THOSE DAYS INTO WEEKS
AND THEN MONTHS,
AND YOU'VE MADE THEM BRIGHTER
AND MORE VITAL
THAN I EVER DREAMED POSSIBLE.
- [sniffs]
I DON'T THINK
I CAN DO THAT PART.
- HONEY.
OH, HONEY.
YOU'VE GIVEN SO MUCH.
YOU'VE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE ME.
YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME
TO FINISH STRONG.
[chuckles]
OH.
OKAY.
- OKAY.
[lively music]
♪
[typewriter clacking]
[typewriter dings]
- JUSTIN.
- MOM?
- OH.
OH, JUSTIN.
OH.
OH, BABY.
I LOVE YOU.
- I LOVE YOU.
- AND I'M SO SORRY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW TO SHOW IT.
- NO, IT'S OKAY.
- BUT I DO LOVE YOU
FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR TOE.
I DON'T CARE HOW OLD YOU GET
OR HOW BIG YOU GET.
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BABY.
OH.
- OH, MOM, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
- OH.
- WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?
- I'D LOVE SOME.
THANK YOU.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.
[typewriter clacking]
- OH.
- GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
NORMA, I HAVE TO SAY
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
IT'S LIKE--
NORMA.
[solemn music]
♪
OH, GOD.
[sighs]
♪
[sorrowful music]
♪
- GO AHEAD.
YOU DO IT.
- [crying]
♪
- LET HER GO.
- [sniffs]
- GOOD-BYE, MOM.
- MS. BOSWELL'S WILL
IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
SHE HAS LEFT THE MAJORITY
OF HER MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
TO YOU THREE.
SHE BASICALLY HAS LEFT
HER ENTIRE PHYSICAL ESTATE
TO HENRY AND MARIA LUTHER.
- [whispering]
OH, MY GOD.
- AND EVERYTHING ELSE
TO JUSTIN.
JUSTIN, WE SHOULD SET A TIME,
OR WE CAN GO THROUGH EXACTLY
WHAT ALL OF THIS
ENTAILS FOR YOU.
AND THEN THERE'S YOU.
- ME?
- YES.
I SHOULD PROBABLY JUST READ
EXACTLY WHAT SHE WROTE HERE.
"EMMA KEATING SHALL RETAIN
100% OF THE EARNINGS
"THAT SHE ACCRUED
DURING HER TIME SPENT
"AS MY PRIVATE NURSE
PER OUR ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
"AND FOLLOWING THIS AGREEMENT,
"SHE YET FORGOES ANY RIGHT
TO THE MONETARY INCENTIVE
"PLEDGED FOR HER CONFIDENTIALITY
"IN REGARDS TO MY CONDITION
BECAUSE SHE FAILED AT THAT PART,
"BUT IN CONSIDERATION
OF HER OTHER SUCCESSES,
"I DEDICATE MY FINAL WORK TO HER
IN ITS ENTIRETY,
"IN TERMS OF BOTH
ITS SYMBOLIC VALUE
"AND ITS FISCAL VALUE
TO MY ESTATE.
"I CAN ASSURE YOU
THAT THE PROJECTIVE REVENUES
ON THIS BOOK WILL DWARF
ANY PRIOR
AGREED UPON INCENTIVE."
- I CAN'T--
- "AND SEEING HOW EMMA
HAS LITTLE INTEREST IN MONEY
"OR ANY OTHER SELFISH PURSUITS
FOR THAT MATTER,
"THESE FUNDS SHALL NOT
AND WILL NOT,
"UNDER THREAT
OF PUNITIVE ACTION,
"BE USED TO OPEN ANY KIND
OF PRIVATE CARE CENTER
"BEFORE A MINIMUM
CONSUMING PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
"IN THE INTERIM,
"I WOULD PERSONALLY SUGGEST
THAT SHE TAKE TIME TO TRAVEL.
"I UNDERSTAND NORTHERN ITALY
IS QUITE NICE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
AND, YES,
THIS IS MY LAST DYING WISH."
- WELL, THANK YOU,
MR. BISHOP.
- THERE'S ONE MORE THING,
ACTUALLY.
"OF ALL THE AREAS
IN WHICH MY DEAR SON, JUSTIN,
"UNDERACHIEVES,
"BEING A TOUR GUIDE
IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
"HINT, HINT.
LOVE, NORMA."
- SO DINNER AT 8:00 TONIGHT?
- ALL RIGHT, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA
CRY ALL NIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE
MY MOM'S LIFE.
- LET'S CELEBRATE
THE WAY NORMA WOULD'VE WANTED.
- SO I THINK
WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP.
- LAST DYING WISH.
I'M OFFICIALLY HOMELESS
NOW ANYWAY,
SO IT TURNS OUT
MY MOM'S PRETTY CONTROLLING
EVEN AFTER DEATH.
- YES, SHE IS.
- ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME
AS YOUR GUIDE?
- I THINK
YOU'D BE MY TOP CHOICE.
- WELL, THEN IT IS SETTLED.
- SO WHERE ARE WE GOING FIRST?
- WELL, I THINK
WE SHOULD GO RIGHT--
STRAIGHT TO POSITANO
RIGHT DOWN THE ITALIAN COAST.
- RIGHT DOWN
THE ITALIAN RIVIERA.
WE CAN CATCH THE FERRY
FROM NAPLES.
- IT'S A GREAT PLACE
TO START.
[uplifting music]
♪