Twister (1989) - full transcript

Jayne Mansfield is atomic.

People need to think atomic.

She was a symbol of
the mentality of the era.

Everyone was looking
to the future.

You should see
my mother's paintings.

She was Irish and very moody.

Her paintings were
typically Irish.

It was always raining,

there's no people in them.

Maybe she couldn't draw people.

I... don't think
that she liked people.



She divorced dad

and moved away when I was 3,

Maureen was 6.

Hey, howdy.

What are you doing here, Chris?

I'm eating here,

scouting the campus
for an apartment.

This is Stephanie...

My fiancée.

Yeah?

When did you get back?

Just now.

I drove straight through
on the interstate

all the way from the border.



Canada.

Hey, howdy,

I need a friend at your house.

I mean, just tell her,

"Maureen, Chris is outside.

"He has important things to say.

"It would be to everybody's
benefit if you just listened.

"When he's done, if you want
him to go away forever,

"he will...

"But you...

You should hear him out."

And then you'll go away forever.

Why don't you stay away
a couple of weeks

and... let Maureen
settle down for a while?

I've been away for 6 months.

Who are you?

He's Chris...

Maureen's husband, sort of.

You know Maureen?

Sure, she knows Maureen.

She's my fiancée.
I just told you.

I thought you were kidding.

You don't have any friends

at the house right now, Chris.

I mean, seriously, howdy,
what did I do?

What did he do?

I'll tell you what I did.

Nothing.

I've done nothing.

Your sister
is just so goddamn...

Spooked all the time.

I mean, she...

She imagines that
I've done something.

She...

I don't know, she...

She assumes it.

You remember when
I made you watch

little Boris schuster?

But, mom, he was a baby,

and he always tried
to kill himself.

So you see?

It's tiring and exasperating

to watch someone
littler than you.

That's why we're gonna have

some new rules, and you're gonna

abide by them or else.

Yeah!

She's not even listening.

Damn it, Violet, honey,

we were talking to you!

You should just listen!

Son of a bitch.

That was dumb.

You see what happens
when a person gets angry?

Sorry.

You see? This
is what happens!

Violet, cut it out.

You're giving me the creeps.

I'm looking.

Listen, vi, could you run down

to the kitchen and
get mommy a beer?

What kind?

Dad!

Hi, baby.

Dad.

I love you.

I love you, too.

You ok?

Yeah.

What are you doing here?

Put her down.

I'm back.

I can see that.
Now put her down.

Come on, mom!

Yeah, come on, mo.

I'm all through with Canada.

I'm back for good.

I saw your helicopter
this morning.

What helicopter?

I saw it.

I didn't sleep all night,

then I just dropped off
and this thing

came swooping down on me.

What, are you sleeping
outside now, mo?

What did you do to your toe?

She kicked my ghost cd.

That's right.

She also forgot
to wear pants today.

She's got a swimming suit
under her shirt.

My shirt.

You're not allowed here,

and I don't care if she hears.

We've had it with you.

All right, I need a cigarette.

Offer me one, and I'll
tell you about my drive down.

Why don't you just leave?

You better change
your tone with me.

I've been awake a long time.

Knowing what we know now,

anyone who smokes is
a real bufflehead.

His name's Reuben.

Howdy gave it to me.

Isn't your gerbil named Reuben?

Watch. He grows
20 times

when you put him in water.

20 times?

Howdy says they're illegal

because children swallow them.

Wasn't her gerbil named Reuben?

Yeah, he was,

but we don't want to
talk about it right now.

Dad...

Why not?

Here, dad, look it.

I drawed this.

You drewit.

You're good, honey.
It's beautiful.

It's a beautiful swan.

It's not a swan.

It can be a swan.

Well, it can be anything
you want it to be.

Food.

Lola's still here?
I thought she was

going on star search
or something.

I don't think
she's had a day off

since you left.

Vi, would you sit here a minute

with, daffy duck?

I'd rather talk privately
with your, mom, ok?

Thanks.

Listen, mo,
I've been thinking.

You know, I've been doing

a lot of that lately.

I've been thinking...

I've been thinking...

We ought to get married.

Once and for all.
What do you say?

Yes or no?

Absolutely never.

Now...

I can save you from all this.

And I also been
thinking about Violet.

I mean, how can she
possibly be happy

living the way she does?

Hmph!

Lola, I'm surprised
you're still here.

Well, actually, I'm thinking
of asking for a raise.

Double pay for the quadruple
load of work that I do,

like nurse-maiding your child.

Yeah? Well, I'd quit
if I were you.

Come on..

Leave me alone.

Just let me go!

Hey, Chris.

Hey, howdy.

I'm, trying
to rehearse in here.

Maureen,
you should see this.

I've been going through
some of dad's old stuff.

See, I'm going for a total look.

Come on.

You need to face it, mo.

I'm the only one
that can save you.

Your whole family's insane.

Let go!

Hey! Chris?

Yes, sir.

This here's Virginia.

Mo, you remember Virginia.

Where's Violet?

Hello, Maureen.

My god, look at you two.

Lola, this here's Virginia.

Hello.

Hi.

As nice as you look, dad,

this woman's still
too good for you.

Ha ha ha!

Violet, honey!

I want you to
meet my granddaughter.

How's it going, Chris?

Good. Real good.

He won't leave.

Well, do you want him to leave?

What in the hell is that?
Is that howdy?

Can you give me a minute?

Where'd you get that, howdy?

Jesus Christ, you don't
do whip stunts

in the living room.
Give me that.

God.

Whip stunts.

So, Chris, you
in a hotel or what?

Are you...

I mean, you coming
back to visit,

or you gonna live here?

I came back to rescue Violet

and Maureen from this loony bin.

Well...

Maybe you ought to
come back tomorrow

when we don't have company.

Ok.

Tomorrow.

Call first.

I'll be here at 10:00.

Call!

I'm gonna come back
tomorrow. Ok, honey?

I love you.

See you later, Chris.

Well, Violet, this here
is miss Virginia.

You watch wonderbox, don't you?

Don't
embarrass the child.

It's a great show.

Really.

Yeah.
Thank you.

Yeah, Violet and I
watch it all the time.

Since when did you get up

at 7:00
on a sunday morning?

Violet...

Miss Virginia teaches us about,

um, the weather,

and, animals,

and god.

So I saw this
miserable-looking girl

out in the terrible rain

with the campus gardening crew.

She was feeding
branches from this tree

into a huge, like, shredder.

You should've heard the noise.

Hope I didn't put
too much nutmeg in this.

I tell you, I saw
this petite waif in the rain

feeding this fire-breathing
dragon of a machine

and I was really touched.

Touched in the head.
Ha ha ha!

Lola, this soup tastes too good

to be good for me, honey.

Yes, it is very good.

Thank you.

And very rich.

Right, Violet?

Yeah.

Tell Virginia how you...

Ok, you get the ice cream,

put it in a bowl.

Then you...

Then you eat it.
It's good.

You know, Lola's interviewing me

for her school paper.

Same school Howard goes to.

That's wonderful.

So, naturally,

I went up to this girl

and started talking to her,

and it turns out
this girl was Stephanie,

and that her father
works for us.

He's the gardener,

and so I asked her to a movie.

For Christ sake, Lola,
sit down and eat, honey.

Take a load off.

Who'd bring in the food?

Well, you got me there.
Ha ha ha!

You know, what we should've done

is had a buffet dinner.

You know, where everybody

serves themselves.

Well, I've had
lovely brunch buffets.

Yeah?

Does someone write your show,

or do you just make it up
as you go along?

Can I have some ice cream?

No, you've had enough
white sugar for a lifetime.

Forgot that.

God, would you sit down?

I don't get paid to sit down.

I'm going to marry Stephanie.

Well, will you throw me

that pepper down here first?

It's Stephanie.

I told her to
call me at 7:30.

Hello. How are you?

I wrote a song for you today.

Most of a song.

Yeah. It's about you.

It's good that you
didn't come by today

for dinner.

Virginia's here, and...

There's this thing with Chris.

Howdy can't marry that girl.

She doesn't even like him.

It's just another howdy idea.

It'll pass like all the others.

Got that from his mother.

My hors d'oeuvres.

Yes,
we're having soup

and salad with olives.

Maureen's drinking too much.

No, she's not drunk.

Truly drunk people
make an enormous effort

to... act normal.

I mean, um,

you can tell they're drunk

because they're very prim

and cautious.

Not Maureen.

How are your classes, Lola?

Not good, not good.

For one, I don't have time

to do all the reading, you know,

and, last week
professor Reilly

jumped all over me
for being black.

Was he black?

24 years old,

and without Lola
you would starve.

These weren't for me.
They're meat.

I don't eat meat.

What a shame.

It is one of
the 4 major food groups.

Then help yourself.

No more to drink for her.

Don't dare clean it up.
Let her do it.

Stephanie and I

were, um, talking about Europe,

for our honeymoon.

Dad,
I was talking

about it actually.
Heh heh!

She hasn't said yes yet.

I had no idea
I was so hungry.

Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!

Who threw these out for us?

Mom did it.

Thanks.

So, anyway...

Europe.

What do you think, dad?

Europe costs a fortune.

Dan and Elsie willinger
just got back

and said they paid $8.00
for a sweet roll in Paris.

God!

Well...

Well, we'll, um,

we'll skip Paris,

ride around on bicycles,

and we'll get...

We'll stay in hostels.

Still, there'd
be your fare, over and back.

Yes, well, well,

Steph or I could get a job.

I read about a job,

that Steph
or I could get.

Reading...

Best sellers for
blind people. Heh!

Yes, yes,
stuff like that.

Now here's a thought...

What now?

I... i couldn't stay away.

For the last time,
Chris, and I'm serious,

would you just leave me alone?

Maureen, who you
talking to in there?

No one, daddy!
Never mind!

Thank you.

Just beat it!
Why?

You know why.

Jesus, mo.

Who gave you so much to drink?

I swear to god,
you make me insane!

Excuse me.

Hey!

What are you doing, Chris?

I only came

to get my... my...

My shirt, the one
mo was wearing today.

You know, that's all I came for,

and... and to... and to kiss

Violet good night, that's it.

But I asked you
to come back tomorrow

when we don't have company.

You'd better leave.

Just get out!

My daughter is living
in a mad house,

and, you see,
that bothers me a lot.

Well, it might be a mad house,

but it's my house,
and we live here.

There's no reason to yell
out here, is there?

Really, hell, what's
the matter out here?

I'll come back
tomorrow, all right?

When... when...
You're all sober.

Right. Tomorrow.

I'll walk you to your car,
Chris, why don't I?

I want to hear about
living in Canada.

I'm thinking of moving
to Canada, Chris.

My bride and I are
getting married soon,

and we're thinking of
moving tocanada.

Dad?

It's all right, honey.

Here, Violet.
Drink this son of a bitch soda.

I have 2 things.

Well, they better be
short and sweet.

Ok.

Number one is this finger,

and number 2 is the other one.

Colonial squid boys.

From my experience,

the more violent
the murder scene,

the greater the number
of telltale clues.

In the Gore
of unbelievable mayhem,

is somewhere a key
to unraveling the mystery.

It's unfortunate
that frequently murders

are committed in so clean
and orderly a fashion

that few clues can be produced.

God, I hate life.

Go hate it in bed.

Let me watch this.

It's not me I feel sorry for.
It's Violet.

What I've done to her,
it's too late for her.

Come on, mo.

She's gonna be miserable
as soon as whatever chemicals

that protect children wear off.

Sometimes I just think
she'd be better off dead.

I've got this idea, Maureen.

I've sent a letter to mother.

I want to see her.

Mother?

I, found this envelope

in dad's old stuff.

It's got her address on it,

plus...

This photograph.

She's just in hutchinson,

for crying out loud,
if she hasn't moved.

She looks like Amelia earhart.

I haven't got a reply
yet, but, see,

I don't think mother

was ever a letter writer
particularly.

And she'd never call here

because of the danger

of dad...

Picking up the phone.

The best thing to do
is just go...

See her.

Yeah, we ought to.

For her sake,
if for no other reason,

to let her
off the hook about us.

I mean, all we want to do

is be friends with her, right?

Right.

You know...

I think showing Violet
to her grandmother

would be really good.

Yeah.

She's probably ashamed,

guilty, and...

We could both just say...

"It's all right, mother.

"We're ok.

"We love you,

and you're
forgiven."

Howdy, you're so weird.

So,
do you think your readers

will be interested to hear

what my future plans are?

Well,
what are they?

Well, I've been thinking about

getting involved with these guys

that are interested
in developing

a new kind of cow.

A smaller cow.

Have you heard about this?

No.

It's way smaller
than normal cows,

but it produces about
the same amount of milk

and they taste as good,

but they don't take up

as much grazing space.

Like... like how small?

Small.

Of course the disadvantage

to these cows are they're...

They have a tendency to get lost

in tall weeds

and sometimes other farm animals

attack them, like
turkeys and house cats.

And finally at your
channel 5 weather center,

the national
weather service has issued

a severe thunderstorm warning

until 1 P.M.
central daylight time

for the following
Kansas counties...

Harper and Stafford.

Can I go outside
and play in the wind?

Come here.
Do my eyes look red?

A little.

I think I got
moisturizer in them.

You know one thing

that would be deadly right now?

For me to lie down.

I think if I lied down,

I'd just be lost forever.

That's a problem my mother had

all the time,

and I have to look out for it.

She was so great.

Can I go now?

Yeah.

But stay away from
the power tools, ok?

Lola told me to tell you
burginia's here.

Who's... who's here?

Burginia.

Virginia.
Can you say "vir"? "Vir"?

Bur.

What's your name?

Violet.

Now tell me
who's coming to visit,

and don't be cute.

Virginia.

Lola!

What's the matter with you?

Lola!

He says to go right up.

Baby!
You all right?

I lost my balance
and I hit my head.

Is my chin bloody?

No, no, no.
You're fine.

You're wonderful.

They sent you out to get me?

No.

You mean you're just out here
on your roller skates?

They let you skate around
in this catastrophe?

It's ok.

Listen, Violet.
This is very important.

Howdy was supposed
to talk to mommy for me.

Was he talking to mommy?
Was howdy doing that?

He was singing and making noise

with Stephanie.

I look handsome enough
for your mom?

I guess.

Time to hit the beach.

Ok, pops, hand over the mop.

Not on your life, I won't!

Like I said, chumley,

nothing ever happens
in this zoo.

Why don't you watch
where you're going?

Gee, Tennessee,
what's that paper there?

This? I don't know.

Here's Chris, everyone,

dragging a tornado with him.

We're all so happy to see you.

Thank you for letting me in.

Sure.

Could I tell you how...

How great you look
in that dress?

Yeah.

You know, I had all this stuff

I wanted to say to you.

Violet, can you go
upstairs for a second?

I want to talk
privately to your mom, ok?

Hey, hey, hey.

What's the idea
of letting Violet

skate around in this weather?

Stand up.

Can we go somewhere private?

Yeah.
Let's go outside.

No, I just...

Just came from out there.

There's a...

There's a tornado out there.

I'm not scared of you anymore.

I'm fucking numb.

I hope you hit me,
so you can go away

to the penitentiary.

I'm going to live with
my mother in hutchinson,

I'm taking Violet with me,

so I really don't care
what you do.

You can go ahead and bash me one

if you want to.

God forbid you should leave

without getting your kicks.

I came here to say

I really want to try
living with you again.

I need to see my daughter

more than every once in a while.

I'll do anything you say.

Whatever you say, I'll do it.

I'll... I'll tag along
to hutchinson with you,

whatever, and I...

I won't touch you,

and I'll work hard
to support you.

Maybe I was believing you
before you said that.

Would it mean anything to you

if I told you
I didn't see anyone else?

Not ever?

That's proof...

Isn't it?

You're the past.

I hate it.
My past is a joke.

There's you,

and then there's Violet

getting in everyone's way.

Reminding them that I, Maureen,

am a 24-year-old failure.

No, mo.
You're not a failure.

You're just...

You just have to wake up.

You know you can't
live here forever.

How long do you think

you and Violet are gonna last

if that evangelist lady
moves in?

You know when you get drunk...

You throw up.

I used to be that way.

I'm not that way any more,

I'm this way.

Forget it.

This is Stan manley again

at your channel 5
weather center.

Remember that a tornado
watch remains in effect...

We'd better get Violet

and go down to the basement.

No, I'm gonna
stay here and watch it.

Tell us, Virginia,

should we be grateful
to god for sparing us?

For not having us thrown around

and killed by the tornado,

or should we be annoyed at him

for sending it down
in the first place?

I think that how you feel

is your business.

And you should...

Well, I mean,
one should probably try

to feel whatever makes
one the most happy.

Yes, but according
to you, Virginia,

why does god test us
all the time

with fires and floods
and famines and diseases?

I mean, if god made us
and loves us,

then why does he give us grief

with stuff like cancer
and deformed children?

I mean, I was just thinking

if Violet treated her gerbil

the same way that god treats us,

like cutting off its arms
and blinding it

just to test to see
if the thing had faith or not,

then we'd be furious.

And I just wonder
what the fuck we did

to get our brains
screwed out by a tornado?

Actually...

I think Violet did
kill that gerbil.

That's not a bad idea,
to be always aware

of the possibility of death.

I often ask myself

what would I do
if god spoke to me

and told me
I had only one hour left?

And the answer is
I'd sit perfectly still,

right where I am.

I'd write a song probably.

I think.

I would do
a creative visualization

and see myself
returning to this world

as something fabulous.

I'd go see a doctor.

No.
Stephanie...

It's too late for that.

He can't save you now.

On this science show I saw,

this guy was hit by a car.

Now, the guy was
legally dead, right?

Heart stopped, no brain waves.

So you know what he hears?

How could he hear
anything if he's dead?

He hears angels.

Hello, gang.

Hello, Chris.
You all right?

So what's everybody
doing down here?

The twister,
it passed us over.

It set down in Pawnee.

Killed 15 people so far.

Electricity blew out here first,

and then it came back on.

I slept through all that?

You looked so done in,
I just couldn't wake you,

you old coyote.

We were going to,

bodily drag you down here
if things got really bad.

Well, thank you.

How do you like my outfit?

Brand new.

What are the zippers for?

The zippers?

Freedom of movement.

I'll get it.

Are you leaving, Chris?

I'm just getting the door.

It caused no major damage.

Though no tornadoes were
reported in western Kansas...

Did you...

winds clocked
at 92 miles an hour...

Did you tell 'em yet?

Shh.

Mother nature was
tilling up a spring garden.

Stephanie!
It's for you!

Good.

Do you want a ride?

Hi, Jeff.

Do you want a ride?

Who's this?

I know you.
I've seen you around

on the campus gardening
crew with Stephanie.

Howdy, you all right?

Yeah, i'm, i'm...

You're a rich dick suck!

Well, I...

I...

I got a gun in my bronco.
I'll kill your ass.

What is this?

Stephanie?

Get out of my house.

Get out of mine.

What a freakin' weirdo.

What the hell's wrong with you?

Come on, let's go.

Let's go!

All right. Bye, howdy.

All I can say is I'm proud

of both of you boys.

I couldn't have
done better myself.

It's good...

I understand what
went on, it's...

That girl was poison
from the get-go.

Can't say she wasn't pretty.

Pretty?
My left shoe's prettier.

Listen, maybe i...
I'd better get going.

What?

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Me and Ginny here have got

a little announcement to make.

Get up here, honey.

Now, we've been talking
about getting hitched.

We want to make it official.

We'll be wed on the 20th
here in the piano room.

Yay!

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Yeah, that's... that...

That's great.

How about I leave with you?

With me?

Yeah, you.
Come on.

Good heavens.

My god.

There's
the Edgar burger man.

I hope
he's all right.

You shouldn't eat this filth.

It's no better
than packing material.

It's a chemical
invention, really.

It's not food

in the real sense of the word.

Well, they're good.

I enjoy 'em.

Don't overdo
the gallantry, Chris.

I see right through you.

Remember going
to the golf course

at this time of night?

Yes.

Those were some nights.

Yeah.

I remember 'em
differently probably.

For me, it was just all bugs

and wet and everything.

And I was always afraid
that security guy was

gonna come whizzing up
on his golf-mobile

and flash his spotlight on us.

You never told me what
you were doing in Canada.

I was parking cars.

I wasn't doing anything,
just trying to...

Decide things
and figure things out.

And what did you decide?

I had to come back.

Despite everything, I'm back.

Yeah, ever since
you've been back,

things keep exploding
in my face.

Fights, tornadoes,

Violet's ghost cd.

I blame them all on you.

Fair or not, I believe
in my heart of hearts

that you're the cause
of everything.

I believe it like Virginia
believes in Jesus.

You know what I believe?

What do you believe?

What's going on with you...

What?

And I'm talking about
your whole life...

Is that you don't
want to grow up.

You know, you want to
be like a little kid.

Watch it!

Mo, look at me.

Look at me.

I care about you.
I'm back, I'm right here.

Face it, you're never
gonna get rid of me.

I want you to go away.

What?

I've decided.

Just clear out.
I've got serious things

going on in my head right now.

Like what?

Well, for one thing,
what I'm gonna say

to my mother to show her
that I forgive her.

You know, you must have
been some unpleasant

9-year-old for her to...

To leave and never call or write

or anything for all this time.

Drive me home.

Please, right now.

And then leave me alone.

Don't try and call me...

Don't try to see Violet...

Don't visit howdy at school.

Just disappear.

Just disappear.

Yah!

God! Love!

You... don't care.

You're... glad.

I don't care about her,
but I care about you.

There's nothing I can do.

That's why I had
to leave this afternoon,

it was just too painful.

Done a good job in here.

I...

Love...

Her.

It could change to hate...

Real slowly, but it will.

I promise.

Thank you,
but no.

I found this.

Found it in
the booth over there.

Sit down.
Sit down a minute.

You know what I think?

This country has had it.
Well, we had our turn.

Now it's the Japanese.

They work hard enough.
It's only fair.

Do you know what
the divorce rate

is in Japan? Zero.

You know why?

Because...

It's because they value
the family more

than they value
their own little ego-selves.

Now, the concept of the family

is way bigger than the concept

of the individual.

But I don't buy the stuff
about artificial intelligence

because people, unlike machines,

can learn from their mistakes.

Hey.

Hey, you want a ride?

All right.
All right.

Drive careful then.

So, Violet, this is wonderbox.

This is it?

And this is Bobby.

Hello, Bobby.

Bob breevort.

Breevort.

You the oldest breevort kid?

I have that pleasure, sir.

Y'all live up charity way

in that brick
French place, don't you?

Now you're working in TV.

Came in drag
for trick or treat once.

Trick or treat.
Was that you?

Well, that was
the finest Halloween rig-out

I've ever seen.

It had me completely buffaloed.

Bobby.

About half the monkeys are here.

Bert's got them down the hall

having Graham crackers.

Maybe Ginny better
get into makeup.

Time for me to look busy.

Right.

That's a very special young man.

That kid's got to be
howdy's age.

I just realized
neither you nor howdy

look as old
as you're supposed to.

Where's the lavatory?

Thanks.

Daddy's out of town.

How do you like
the show so far, Violet?

It's good.

How about we leave...

Right now?

Let's announce
the wedding on TV.

What?
15 seconds.

Tell them you're
gonna be Mrs. Virginia...

Please!

10.

5.

Hello again.

Hi.

Before we go to prayer corner...

Are we all set
for prayer corner today?

Yes.

For a little quiet time?

Yes.

A peaceful time in our busy day?

Yes.

Good.

Before we do,
I want to say hello

to Beth and Megan
who are getting well

in children's hospital,

and I want
to say hello to Violet,

who's sitting right there.

And I want to thank you
for being so wonderful.

Hello, Violet!

Hello, miss Virginia!

I wish I had a recording
of your grandmother.

She could sing so splendidly...

Almost like Lola.

She had
a beautiful high voice

called a soprano.

Mine is below that, like
a contralto or whatever.

Would you just quit that?

Where's dad?

Try not to think
about him right now.

Why?

He's not your dad.

Really?

You don't have a dad.

Mo?

Chris?

Hi.

Hey.

You wear your shoes to bed

and your clothes.

I do that, too, sometimes.

You sleep better that way.

And then in the morning,

you don't have to change.

I thought you worked on campus,

gardening or something.

Yes, well, I did.

But then I destroyed
some major shrubs,

and... so then i...

Well, I'm just
filling in for zippy.

This bed's kind of good.

It's very firm.

You could do a lot on this bed.

How's howdy?

Do you need any
new soap in there

or, um...

I've got all these
little soaps...

And ashtrays and...

Well, if you need anything,

just... just holler.

You know, I don't like
what you did to howdy.

I didn't do anything.

Howdy just, you know,
he starts...

He starts talking.
He gets an idea.

No, no. Howdy...
He tries really hard.

You know, I mean,
he's just a person

who's trying, all right?

And, plus, he's... he's, um...

He's an artist.

Could you slow down,

do you think?

It's not me,
it's this road.

Howdy!

Violet, put that down.

Decelerate!

Ok, now if grandpa asks us

what we did today, we went to...

I know.

We went to the...

The zoo.

Right.

I don't think this is the house.

It's the right address.

Howdy, this can't be it.

Hello.

We're looking for
Mrs. Cleveland or...

See, her maiden name's Flaherty.

You better go on in back.

In back?

She's back there?

Back in the barn.

She's in the barn.

Let's go.

Hello.

We're looking
for Mrs. Anne Cleveland.

Is she around here anywhere?

Well, now, that's funny.

We received a letter
for this Cleveland person

just last week.

She moved out 9 years ago.

Went to Ireland.

She lived here, though?

I just met her once.

We were in escrow.

And she went to Ireland to live?

Is this her?

Yup. That's the one.

She was on a tear about Ireland.

Ireland this, Ireland that.

Jim talked to her mostly.

Jim.

Well...

Is Jim here?

Jim? Jim got kicked
in the head

by a horse back in February.

He went around killing
horses for a while,

then he ate
the insides of a clock

and he died.

Now, ok, folks,

got to get back
to business here.

It was nice talking
to you and your family.

Are we going to Ireland?

Not yet.
It's too far.

Besides, we don't
even know for sure

if that's where she is.

Well, it's,
actually plausible

because that would explain

why she just vanished.

Mom, I'm hungry.

I just can't stomach the idea

of asking dad for her address.

Yeah.

Let's just go.

Summer school's just about over,

and I'm ready to...

Quit everything

and start living!

Me, too. But how exactly
does one do that?

What do they eat in Ireland?

Well, Ireland's just a place.

People go there all the time.

You know,
the great thing about it...

We'd be getting away from Chris.

It's your life, Maureen.

If he comes by again ever,

we'll just have him arrested.

Yes. Ha!

Yes.

You know,
before you, Violet,

we had a dog named Walter.

Old Walter.

We'd put a rubber band
around his nose,

and he'd chew gum
and blow bubbles.

Where is he?

He's dead.

Long gone.

Stay away from there.
It's prickly.

Mommy! Mommy, help!
Help me!

Violet!

Mom! Mom!!

Get away!

Is he sick?
What should I do?

Wasps.

Wasps? The bastards.

Hurt like hell, don't they?

Hospital!

Well, we can load him
into my buggy

and then take him up
take him up to the club...

You asshole, will you hurry up?

All right.

That time of year.

It's the weather that does it.

Humidity.

Humid weather and smoke.

Makes them suicidal.

The poison in wasps, you see,

builds up.
It's, cumulative.

Yes, cumulative.

Is this the husband?

He's her brother.

And you are?

Lola turtledge.

Lola. That's
a very nice name.

Thank you.

I should have known
he was the brother.

You look so alike.

Well...

Thank you.

We do not.

Around the eyes.

See? Around the eyes.

That's the German look.

Well, it's Irish, actually.

Our mother is Irish.

People who have been to Ireland

say that oftentime
they see our face

all around Ireland.

No, no, no, no.
German.

Now, if she
gets stung again,

you give her this
within 30 minutes.

Otherwise, her lungs...

They'd collapse.

Ok?

Ok.

Lola.

It's all right.

So I've
written a new letter,

and I've got my money together.

You mean a letter to mother?

Yes.

We're going to have to
tell father soon

in order to get a new
address for mother.

Do you want a drink?

What exactly does
the letter say?

You don't want a drink?

No.

You've given up drinking.

I approve of that.

Don't you, Lola?

Don't I what?

Approve of Maureen not drinking.

Definitely.

I think sobriety

is a positive step.

Howdy, this is awful.
It's like a business letter.

"Respectfully,
Howard Cleveland?"

Well, my... Tactic

was I didn't want to scare her.

But it sounds like
you work for the f.B.I.

You don't even mention me,

and every sentence
begins with "I."

Why are you so odd?

Why does your mind work
in such twisted ways?

Did you see what I saw?

That child?

That dear child

just stung and distorted

even while she sleeps!

Where is her mother?

I don't know.

Not with her child.

Probably drunk.

She is self-centered and hostile

and thoroughly irresponsible!

Can't deny that.

You're all hopeless.

Bad week is all.

Caught us with our pants down.

Nobody's fault, the wasps.

Not one of you can save himself

or keep himself
from hurting the others!

Because you just...
You don't think!

You've lost the habit
of thinking!

And don't you tell me
to lower my voice!

Who told you
to lower your voice?

I don't care if they hear me.

Well, I don't care
who hears you.

Go ahead.
Bust a lung.

See if I care.

You're right.
We got a stupid family!

I didn't say that!

Just because Maureen and Howard

made over 150
on their I.Q. Tests

in high school,

that don't make us smart.

Those tests mean nothing!

Who said they did?
I didn't.

And I'm really the stupid
son of a bitch.

I rubbed 2 nickels
together and created

a multimillion-dollar empire.

Mini golf courses and soda pop.

What's that?

Mini golf courses and soda pop!

Well, that sure as hell
beats running around

dressed up like
a gingerbread girl

on the goddamn TV box

on a sunday morning
when nobody's watching

except the mentally bankrupt.

Jesus.

Jesus Christ.

This looks dangerous.

Are you deranged?

Dad's gonna break wide open

when he sees this, Chris.

He's gonna come after you.

Yeah, I care.

Get me my automatic.

I'm gonna shoot somebody

once and for all.

Well, you'll have
to get it yourself.

You know I don't like guns.

What are you and howdy doing?

What are you doing?

You left Violet alone.

Of course not.
She's sedated.

The only thing I could do
was watch her sleep.

Look, I want Violet,

and, frankly,
I think I can get her.

I do not trust you
to be around her...

Not you or any of your family.

You people are not
responsible enough,

not mentally or
physically or anything.

What the hell are you
talking about?

Right here.

This guy right here.

Case in point.

You smell really bad.

Because I caught on fire!

I'm going to
Ireland to see my mother

and nothing will stop me.

Not with Violet,
not unless you want

to take me with you.

Fine!

Fine, then.
It's settled!

God.

Ireland?

Yeah. We've almost
got her tracked down,

and, actually, you know,
I think it's a good idea

if you'd come along.
'Cause I really

don't trust howdy
to take care of her.

I... i can't...

I can't keep up
with you anymore.

I can't. Here I am.

I'm burning up 6 different ways,

and I can't even tell

if you're serious or not.

Neither can I,
but I really admire you

for burning down the tool shed.

Don't you know why I did it?

I understand.
It doesn't matter.

It's a symbol.

A symbol.

I'll pray for you.

That's exactly what I need.

I'll pray for you
and your children.

Thank you, Virginia.

Right out back, guys.

Why didn't
we like her?

Why did we hate Virginia?

You honestly don't know?

We didn't like her
'cause she didn't like us.

I don't think
that she was really

the woman for you, dad.

Too pushy, judgmental.

Let's face it.
She was a bitch.

Now, you made the soup,

right, howdy?

Yes.

And what about that stuff

on the ceiling?
You make that, too?

I couldn't find
the top for the blender.

Carrots and garlic
stuck on the ceiling.

It'll taste good, though.

I don't like it.

Me neither.

It's an acquired taste.

Now, what exactly does
that mean, an acquired taste?

It seems to me you can
acquire a taste for anything,

but who wants to?

You've got no class!

None of you!

Howdy, don't be so testy.

As long as you like it,

that's all that counts.

I feel...

So alone sometimes.

Well, join the club, brother,
and get back in your chair.

I like it, howdy.

Thank you, Chris.

It's a... it's a...

Serious problem for me.

I... i make you all
something nice...

And new...

And look what happens!

And I don't think
that any of you

are... are... are smart enough

to appreciate me!

I don't want to hear
any more talk

about the lack of intelligence

in me or my family.

Now let's continue eating.

Who in the hell are you anyway?

Because you're not my kids,

and you're not adults,

and you're not anyone
anybody can respect or love.

What the hell
are you doing in my house

when every day
you break my heart?

Ok, dad!

Ok, what?

Mother.

That's right!
That's right!

We're gonna see our mother.

We're gonna go to Ireland,

and... and... and
we're taking Violet,

and we... and we forgive her,

and we never, ever,
ever forgive you!

What the hell
are you talking about?

Maureen and me, we've...
We've been planning it.

We're gonna
take Violet,

and we're gonna go to Ireland.

God...

You poor children.

Your mama died years ago.

She had stomach cancer,

and she wasn't right
in the head.

And she went to a mental
institution downstate,

and when I went to see her,
she didn't know who I was.

I thought you knew this.

I really thought you knew this.

I never said anything,
but I thought you knew it.

Why didn't you tell us?

I don't know. I don't know.

She was a vain
and selfish woman,

and she was just never a factor

in your lives is all.

And if you'd gone to see her

after they took her away,

she would've just asked
for a Pepsi

or a hershey bar is all.

Those were the things
she cared about,

and not either of you.

This is serious, dad.

You said it.

You have to take care
of 'em now...

My family.

You're in charge now.

In charge?

Yeah.

Of what?

Of my family.

I'm out of it.

I'm sorry, honey.
You ok?

Dad, I'm feeling better.

I'm so glad.

I'm hungry.

You are?

Ok, why don't you go downstairs

and ask Lola to fix you
some ice cream or something,

and I'll be right back.

Go ahead.

Mo...

I'm really sorry about your mom.

Violet's up.
She looks ok.

She's...
Running around.

I really love this house.

Except for that
little bit with you,

I've never lived
anyplace else before.

I know.

I mean, I don't want
to be stuck here

for the rest of my life,

but I'm scared...

I'm scared to go anyplace else

and live out my days being poor.

I'm complete with you around.

Aw, it's not so bad.

Wherever I go, you'll be there,

won't you?

Yeah.

Will you marry me?

Ok, I'll double your salary

and give you twice
your vacation plan

and 300 shares in
whistle low corporation,

and you know what it sells for.

Um, preferred stock?

Don't mean goose to me.
I'm rich.

Ok, I'll think about it.

Violet, your granddad
is going away on a trip.

But, I'll be calling you.

Ok?

You here all night?

Yeah.

What happened to the sound?

I don't know.

Has anyone done something
they weren't supposed to do?

How do you feel
when you do something bad?

Morning, mo.

Rebels are in the palace.

Grandpa's gone.

Good. Where did he go?

He, he went to fort worth

for a while.

And then Atlanta.
He's got some family

down in Atlanta.

Took Lola with him.

You gonna be our father
while he's gone?

He didn't mention coming back.

He... must've been
feeling... Bad.

He... didn't even
say... Good-bye.

Yeah. Well...

That'll happen.

Violet, your dad and I
are getting married.

Good.

And, you're gonna have

to work hard...
To support us.

Ok.