Waking the Dead (2000) - full transcript

Fielding Pierce lives the life of an aspiring politician - in 1972 he's serving in the Coast Guard (trying to avoid Vietnam in the most honorable way), and by 1973 he has entered law school. Along the way he falls in love with Sarah, a fiercely idealistic woman who devotes her life to helping others - unfortunately she's killed in an explosion while assisting members of the Chilean resistance. Nine years later, in the middle of a congressional election, Fielding is suddenly flooded with thoughts and visions of his lost love.

Just before our love
got lost, you said

lam as constant
as a northern star

And I said
constantly in the darkness

Where '3 that at

If you want me
I’ll be in the bar

On the back
of a cartoon coaster

And the blue TV screen light

I drew a map of Canada

Oh, Canada

With your face
sketched on it twice

Oh, you're in my blood
like holy wine



You taste so bitter
and so sweet

Oh, I could drink
a case of you

Darling, and I would

And still be on my feet

Oh, I would still be
on my feet

NEWS ANCHOR ON TV:
That happens only on the
far shores of a distant land.

But just a short time ago,
such terror

apparently struck
this quiet neighborhood

on the outskirts
of Minneapolis.

A car bomb completely
destroyed a vehicle

carrying two
Chilean nationals,

and, apparently,
a young American woman.

The FBI
is refusing comment.

However, early reports
indicate the bombing
was carried out



by Chilean government agents.

The agents were attempting

to stop Francisco
and Gisela Higgens,

who have been
touring around the U. S.

speaking out against Chile '5
military dictatorship.

Minneapolis police believe
the bomb was detonated
by remote control,

and that all three
occupants of the car
were killed instantly.

The bodies have been removed

to Minneapolis
Community General Hospital.

As for the young
American woman,

it's not yet officially known,
but we have learned

that she was Sarah Williams,
an activist from Chicago,

who was also working
with the sanctuary movement.

(BREATH ES H EAVILY)
Sources tell us

that she had made several
trips to Chile herself,

(SOBS)
assisting in bringing

political refugees
into the U. S.

Obviously, the death
of a young American girl

on American shores

will throw a whole new light

on both
the sanctuary movement

and, possibly,
on the government's
relationship

with the Chilean regime.
(PHONE RINGING)

I'm Bill Haugland reporting
live from Minneapolis.
(SOBBING CONTINUES)

(SOBBING FADES)

Wake up, Maggie
I think I got something

To say to you

It's late September
And I really

Should be back at school

(PHONE RINGING)

Hi, Fielding.
Ki|| anyone today?

Not yet, Tamara.
ls Danny here?

Yeah. He‘s in his office.

Oh, Maggie
I couldn't have tried

Anymore

Hi.
Hi.

I'm here to see the boss.

Who are you?

I'm his brother.

Oh!

(CHUCKLES)

Go on in.
He's expecting you.
Thanks.

Mmm-hmm.

You're new here, right?
Uh-huh.

Ah. (MUTTERS)

You like...
You like it here?

Yeah, I love it.

Jesus!
Good morning, Private.

Colonel.

It's a damn good feeling

knowing you're out there
patrolling New York Harbor,
son.

Thank you.
The fuckin' Cong

could be shoppin'
on Fifth Avenue like that.

Look, Fielding, lwant you
out of that Coast Guard.

(LAUGHS) Come on!
No, really.

I'm worried about you.

What if Nixon takes
the wrong pill and sends
you guys over to Vietnam?

Name one national
political leader who hasn't
served his time, Danny.

Oh, and by the way,
you remember that little
Coast Guard song

that you made me learn?

My new assistant just told me
what "semper paratus" means.

I don't like this
"always ready" shit.

| get distinct death vibes.

Your new assistant?
The girl out there?
Yeah. Sarah.

A Catholic girl.

You know, they, uh...

They know their Latin.

(SINGING) My Coast Guard
fights for me

And our shore's liberty

We will be strong

Semper Paratus us

Even if die we must

Owl

We 'll never fail the trust

That we've been shown

Good, let's go.
No way. We're not done yet.

We 're proud
we 're true, we ’re brave

We fear not pain nor grave

(AS ELVIS PRESLEY)
Our tide rolls on

We'll sail the ocean blue

Coast Guard, we love you
and everybody too

I can't remember
the rest of the words

(AWKWARD CHUCKLE)

Um...

Viking's doing this book
on J. Edgar Hoover
that sounds a lot like ours.

DANNY: Really?
Mmm-hmm.

Good. Cancel ours
and get us out of
the whole fuckin' thing.

Oh!

No, no, we don't wanna deal
with the FBI. lt'sjust
a big headache we don't need.

Ready for lunch?
Mmm-hmm.

Do you mind
ifljoin you?

Yes.
You mind?

(BOTH LAUGH)

I mean, no. I mean, no.
Oh.

We'll all go together.
Okay. I'll go get my bag.

Check it out.
Who am I?

"Yes. No..." (STAMMERING)
Very smooth.

The thing about Harvard

for, uh, somebody from
the working class, like us,

we come from
a working-class background,

is that there is a terrible
sense of isolation,
of aloneness there.

And not to mention the fact

that l was a year younger
than everyone,
so I felt like

I walked around campus
with "scholarship kid"

tattooed on my forehead.

I do believe, though,

But you have
to be a part of it.

You have to...
You have to become
a part of it.

And you become one
of the people who sends
the message to people

that lying and corruption
in government is wrong.

I know that we think of law
as something that is cerebral.

I won't say that
it's a courageous stance

to take,
but I think it's a...

We know that the war is evil.

It's a way for me not to
become disenfranchised,

you know, become
some radical member
who is now in prison...

Um... Should I be
taking notes?

DANNY: Fielding.

Eat your lunch.

Carry on. Sorry.

DANNY:
Mimi, get me Don Ragland
on the phone in my office.

Fielding,
don't hurt yourself.

(CLEARS THROAT)
When do you have
to get back to the war?

Uh, can I buy you
dinnertonight?

Can I talk?

What do you do
in the Coast Guard?

Um...

Right now l have patrol
in New York Harbor.

Not glamorous, but, uh,

it's not the army,
Canada orjail.

Do you think they might
send you to Vietnam?

No.

And the war is ending
pretty soon.

The war's been ending soon
for a long time.

It's just something
that l have to do.

I have one too.

One what?

Sense of destiny.

Hmm. (CHUCKLES)

Okay, what's
your sense of destiny?

When lwas little,
I wanted to be a nun.

(LAUGHS)

It's a true story!

Well, what stopped you?

Puberty.
(BOTH LAUGHING)

As it should.

So, um,

now I want, um,

a life of
unbelievable adventure,

and, um,

profligacy. ..

(SARAH INHALES SHARPLY)

And at the last
possible moment, sainthood.

I want a life
that makes sense.

You, um,

still haven't told me
how you got the idea
you wanted to be a senator.

That's not actually
what I want.

lwantto be...

the president.

Why are you smiling?

Because you mean it.

SARAH: You're still part
of the same system.

So what do I do, then?
I go to Canada,
or | go tojail?

Yes! Yes!
I mean, if it's
what you believe in.

ljust... I think that's easy
for you to say because
you can't be drafted.

That is so patronizing.

I'm

195
o
rry
. I'm

196
o
rry

But if I do those things...
Mmm-hmm.

Either of those things,

I risk throwing away
everything that
I've worked for.

This way, eventually,

I can make some real,
substantial changes

without throwing away
my life on some ultimately
meaningless gesture.

Mmm.

Sometimes
meaningless gestures
are all we have.

You're very ambitious,
aren't you?

I'm afraid lam.
Mmm.

Be careful.

Ambition is, uh,

the ice on the lake
of emotion.

Who said that?

Idid.

Can I come up?

(SIGHS)

Too fast.
Oh, come on.

Can't we think of this
as a wartime romance?

(CHUCKLES)

(WINDOW OPENS)

Come on up, Fielding.

SARAH: Oh, God.

Please don't let them
send you to Vietnam.

I'll be okay.

It's not that.

What?

If you go over,

you'll be getting shot at
by the people I want to win.

I don't want to have
to choose who to root for.

MAN 1: You still
with us, Fielding?

I'm just thinking.

MAN 2: Do you realize
what the Governor is
offering here, Fielding?

It's a big jump
from the county
prosecutor's office

to the United States
Congress.

What the hell are you
looking at out there?

He's thinking, Ed.

You don't want
a snap decision, do you?

I don't wanna spend all day
sitting here either.

Look, there's no problem.

Nothing to be
scared of, kid.

You can't lose.

You know the last time
a democrat lost a special
election in this district?

Hell, lwas still
going to high school.

What about
Jerry Charmichael?

He hung himself.

One thing to be a fag, another
to get caught putting your
boyfriend on the US. payroll.

Anyway, he's announced
his resignation.
That's his business.

Yours is, do you want
this seat or not?

All right.

All right.

Now, tell me
if there's anything
about you I don't know

that maybe I ought to.

Hmm.

I never know
how to answer that.

What the fuck are you
playing with here, boy?

Oh, come. Come, come.

Come, what?
This is nonsense.

He's kicking a goddamn
gift horse in the nuts.
He's a good kid.

Clean as a whistle.

Father's a union man.

All right.

I owe your friend Isaac.
I'll get you to Washington.

By the time you learn
to find your ass
without using both hands,

it'll be time
for the regular election,

and if we ain't friends
by then,

that'll be that.

I gotta go.
Of course.

It'll all work out.

KINOSIS: I'll have
my people call you.

(FAINT CHATTERING)
(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR SHUTS)

(SARAH'S VOICE)
All those years.

You’re my lover, Fielding.

l have one too.

(FAINT WHISPERING)

Sometimes meaningless gestures
are all we have.

Sarah?

Sarah?

I want to apologize
to the people of my district.

I’ve let them down,

and that's something
I'll have to live with
for the rest of my life.

I also want to apologize
to my wife, Lorraine,

my two children.

MAN ON TV: Insiders say
the man most likely
to fill the vacant seat

is a 32-year-old attorney
from the DA 's office,

Fielding Pierce, a bachelor
and political unknown.

Governor Kinosis
is expected to announce...

(LINE RINGING)

Hello?

FIELDING:
Beware the lonely man
with a telephone.

Hey, is that
my congressman brother?

I guess you heard the news.
Mom and Dad told you?

Yeah. Are you kidding me?

Mom's already bought
a whole new scrapbook.

Congratulations, honey.

Thanks.

(CAROLINE CLEARS THROAT)

Honey?
You know what I wish?

What?

| wish Sarah was here.

I know. I know.
I still miss her too.

It gets better,
it gets better,

then it's like
it never got better at all.

Fielding, ifyou were
still with her,

none of this
would be happening.
You know that, don't you?

Everything she was
would've taken you away
from where you wanted to go.

I know. I'm starting
to pretend she's alive.

Um...

(CLEARS THROAT)
Why would you do that?

I don't know.

It's just happening.

I can feel her around me
in the snow.

CAROLINE: Oh, God.

Fielding, don’t do this
to yourself Don't do it.

FIELDING: Oh, no, it's, uh...

I mean, it's...

I don't mind it, really.
It's just interesting,
that's all.

No, it isn ’t, honey.

It’s sad.

It’s really, really sad.

(SARAH'S VOICE)
Dear Fielding,

if you were going off
to fight a war, a good war,

I could write this
by candlelight,

weep, and then go to church
and pray for you.

But there's only one war

And it's bad,

and though you promise
that your ship's not
going near Vietnam,

I keep thinking
your course will change.

It’s 3:00 in the morning,

and I'm needing you

like a thousand monkeys
on my back.

I’m wearing
your black T—shirt.

You were looking all over
for it before you left,
but I had it hidden.

I needed something here
that smells of you...

Unspeakably delicate

and innocent.

It amazes me to think
that while I was
growing up in Louisville,

you were growing up
in New York.

But our fates had been cast,

and every step we took

was only bringing us closer,

until we fell into that bed
and you were inside me

and we both knew

that we'd come
to the end ofthe line.

We will never be apart.

We may be
at each other's throats,

or we may be separated
by 5,000 miles,

but we’ll never be apart.

So get off that boat.

Get off

and come home to me.

I need you.

Ineed you, Ineed you.

Your girl always,

Sarah.

(SARAH'S VOICE)
We may be separated
by 5, 000 miles,

but we’ll never be apart.

WOMAN: Don't go.

What are you looking for?

I'm definitely going crazy.

(SARAH'S VOICE)
It’s 3:00 in the morning.

I'm needing you,
more flings and room tag

like a thousand monkeys
on my back.

How are you?

Every step we took

was only bringing us closer

until we fell
into that bed

(MOANING)

and you were inside me

and we both knew...

(FIELDING GRUNTS)

And so I endorse
Angelo Bertelli
in this race,

not just because
he's a good man of
and from this district,

but because
he represents a change.

A change, a break

from machine politics,
machine thinking

and machine answers.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

(SWITCHES TV OFF)

Great. Great.

First the gay vote,
now half the black vote.

Gotta love a challenge.

Bertelli's a nothing.
He's, uh,

he's like, uh,
a write-in candidate.

Besides, I hear
he's an old lecher.

Are you gonna use that?

(CHUCKLES) No.

But maybe we should
get married. I'll run
on the morality issue.

I don't think you're ready
to marry anybody.

l was only kidding.

Besides, wouldn‘t that be
awful if we got married and
I lost the election somehow?

What would be
so awful about it?

No, lwasjust saying
that if we got married
for the sake of the election

and then I lost,
that's all.

Why does that
make my stomach hurt?

Look, if I was saying,
"We ought to get married,"

you'd be saying
the same thing to me.

You're making me
feel bad.

(EXHALES) Okay.
I'm sorry I said it.

lsuppose
you're looking forward
to seeing your family.

Oh, yeah.

I only wish
I had more time.

But you don't.
You understand that.

You've got to
hit the ground running.

You've got to start building
a real constituency

for the next election.

FIELDING: Thanks for
everything, Isaac.

Nothing to thank me for.

Right. Right.

And Pinocchio
owed nothing to Geppetto.

Adele asked me
to give you this.

It's a poem
she wrote you.

Here.
Oh, thank you.

Your plane takes off
in 10 minutes. Go.

(INAUDIBLE)

How's Juliet, by the way?
Oh, she's all right.

Nice girl.

A real lady,
in the best sense.

What's wrong?

Do you ever
remember Sarah?

What do you mean?
Of course I do.

What do you
remember about her?

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

The funeral.

The reporters.

And the whole thing
sort of drifting away

like it never
even happened.
Yeah. Yeah.

(STUTTERS) I miss her...

so much, and I can't
get away from it.

I could've spent the rest
of my life trying to figure
out what happened to her

with all that shit,
and why,

and ljust dropped it,
itjust drifted away.

There was nothing
you could do.

You had places to go.

What's going on?

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

All right, come on,
let's go home.

Can ljust say something,
and then we don't ever have
to talk about it again?

Of course.

I want to be good.

You are good.

Maybe you're
too good, huh?

I don't know what I am.

DANNY: Hey.
lwant you to come
someplace with me.

Okay.

Don't you wanna know
where we're going?

ldon't think I do.

Yeah, I think you might.

No, tell me
where we're going.

An oriental massage parlor.

(SCOFFS)
Oh, yeah.

No. No, I don't think so.

You can just drop me off
at the hotel.

No, no.
No, listen to me, man.

lam in love

with a Korean whore,
and I want you to meet her.

(LAUGHS)
Mmm-hmm.

Well, Danny,
don't you think that I could
meet her somewhere else?

Oh, come on.
Are you so worried

about your fucking reputation

that you won't come
with your brother
to meet his girlfriend?

That's nice, Fielding.

Okay.
Look, here's the deal.

These Korean gangsters

brought her over here,
promised her a job

and then they threw her
in this fucking whorehouse.

Which you just happened
to patronize.

Look at you,
fucking sitting there
judging me.

What do you
want me to do, Danny?

Well, I don't want you
to judge me.

(HORN BLARING)

What do you
want me to do?

You can use your influence.

You can get her
a green card.

Oh, get the fuck
out of here!
You could be a hero here.

I'm not running for Office

so I can get your friend
a goddamn green card.

My "friend"?

This isn't... She's not
my friend, Fielding.

This happens to be
the woman I love.

You fuckin' think
it's so inappropriate,

but it happens
to be a woman that I love.

Remember what Sarah
used to say?

Sarah Williams. You do
remember Sarah, don't you?

Go fuck yourself.
I know you do.

She'd see some junkie
on the street.

Man, peoplejust walkin' by,
nobody even noticing,

but she'd see him
and she'd say,

"How do you know
that's not Jesus?"

You know?
How do you know?

Oh, God,
I had this dream.

You wanna hear it?
Mmm-hmm.

Um, you're a senator.

(CHUCKLES)

Um, we're at this
(CLEARS THROAT)

fancy Washington party,

and, um,

I'm in this expensive,
low-cut gown,

and all I can
think is that

I can't move my hands
because I haven't
shaved under my arms,

and if anyone sees,
then your whole
career is ruined.

(LAUGHING) Oh.

I'm so glad I'm starting
in Chicago with a job.

Hmm.

Working with the church
makes me feel like I'm here.

On the planet, you know?

And I matter.

You matter to me.

That's different.

Besides,
you have law school.

I'm never going
to see you anyway.

I think I'm scared
of disappearing.

I'm not gonna
let that happen.

It's not up to you.

(INDISTINCT TALKING ON PA)

Okay, so we have one,
two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.

One, two,
three, four, five, six...

Uh, Sarah?
Sarah Williams?
Yes?

I'm Father Steven Mileski
from Resurrection House.

Hi.
Call me Steven.

Steven.
Yeah, uh...

How did you guess
who I was?

Well, you were, um...

I don't know.
I just knew.

Um...

I thought you'd need a hand,
so I figured I'd give you
a ride to your apartment.

Wonderful. Absolutely.
Thank you so much.

Oh.
This is Fielding.

Oh, yeah.
That's right.
You're a blessing.

I'm saying that if you want
real social change,

revolutions have
a terrible track record.

So, what,
you let people starve

and suffer while they're
just waiting for salvation?
Oh, come on. Of course not.

You know me better
than that. Come on.

(EXHALES)

You have to accept...

What are you doing?

I'm making a point.
Come on. That's not fair.

You have to accept that...
You have to...

You have to accept...

Do you know
how much I love you?

It's a brilliant paper.

You're
a brilliant student.

You're gonna be
a brilliant lawyer

and a brilliant senator.

You're just gonna have
to put up with me
as your Jiminy Cricket.

Okay?
Okay.

Okay.

That's a good argument.

(SARAH CHUCKLES)

MR. PIERCE: See?
You retire, even your kids
say good things about you.

FIELDING: Come on, pop.
You made a nice speech.

Well, I'm glad.

But you made it sound
like I raised you myself.

If you're running for office,
no woman in this room
would've voted for you.

And you get too personal.

I mean, if anybody really
knew Kennedy, you think they
would've voted for him?

You gotta be strong.

So strong

you're gonna want to
blow your brains out.

But you won't.

So strong, people can say
right to your face

you're a dirty,
lying son of a bitch,

and it's not gonna make
a bit of difference.

What if I don't want
to do that?

Well, then you would be
making a big mistake.

You're gonna be
ending upjust like me.

So? What's wrong
with that?

You sit down
for your first cup of coffee
in the morning,

you tear your hair out
when you read the paper

because the world is run
by people not half
as smart as you are.

Guys who think that
working people are dog shit.

Look good, boy.

Strong.

You're doing it
for all of us.

FIELDING: And ifyou have hope
for the future
of your community,

the future of this country,

get out and vote
on January 23.

And send me to Congress

and let me work for you.

Thank you.
Thank you.

Hey, how you doing?

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

You're a registered
Democrat, right?

Hi, how you doing?

Hey, thanks a lot
for coming out.
We really appreciate it.

Take a flyer. Thank you.
Thank you all for coming out.

Thank you, everyone.

I know that I was grateful
the government was there.

I'm here for every
hard-working American.

How you doin'?
Which ones are yours?

He's interested
in drawing monsters.

He’s so high
You can't get over him

He’s so low
You can't get under him

He’s so wide
You can't get around him

If you make your bed
in heaven, he's there

If you make your bed
in hell, he's there

He's everywhere

(CHATTERING)

Wait till you
see him in action.
I want you to meet him.

He has the teamsters
in his pocket. You have
to go and say hi.

This has gotta be
Fielding Pierce.
It's a pleasure to meet you.

Really excited
about meeting you.
Excellent.

I got a few ideas.

My dear.

How are things?
Very well.

You're having
a good time, I hope.

Oh

I am a lonely painter

I live in a box of paints

I'm frightened
by the devil

And I'm drawn to those ones
that ain't afraid

I remember
that time you told me

You said love
is touching souls

Surely you touched mine

’Cause part of you
pours out of me

In these lines
from time to time

Oh, you're in my blood

Like holy wine

You taste so bitter

And so sweet

I could drink
a case of you

Darling

Still I'd be on my feet

I would still be
on my feet

There you are.

Come here. It's okay.
I want you to meet someone.

This is Isaac Green
and Adele.

This is Sarah Williams.

Oh, Sarah.
Hi.

How do you do?
Very pleased
to meet you.

I'm sorry
about my clothes.

ljust came from work.
Nonsense. You look fine.

You should see our son.
At least you look clean.

So, have you thought any more
about the DA's office?

My connections are strong,
and it's a hell
of a launching pad.

Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.
Well, it's definitely
interesting.

Good.

I don't know, Fielding.

Do you really want to be
putting people in jail?

Would you like
a drink, Sarah?

Come. You know,
Isaac and l are so grateful...

So...

(DOOR OPENS)
SARAH: Hi, honey.

You're late.

It's 9:30.

I know.
I was worried.
Oh. I'm sorry.

We said we were gonna cook
dinner, you were gonna
help me with my paper.

Oh. But, um...
(CLEARS THROAT)

Manuel, that little boy
that I told you about?
He talked today.

You're never here anymore.
You're at the church
all day long.

And you‘re at school
or studying all daylong.

Are you in love with him?

Who?
Mileski.

Fielding.

Steven's a priest.

You're my lover, Fielding.

He's part of what I do.

You can't be
everything to me.

I want to be.

Oh, dear.

I love
that you said that.

(MOANING)

(MOANING)

(BREATH ES HEAVILY)

MAN 1:
This is Sarah Wilson.

MAN 2:
Congressman, how are you?

How are you?
I'm very well, thank you.

Sorry.
No, you go right ahead.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

This is Sarah Wilson
and Fielding Pierce.

Very nice to meet you.

Everything's good
with the independent voters?

They're pretty earrings.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

We know exactly
where he's going.

I only know about soccer.

Sarah Wilson,
these are brothers.

This is Sarah Wilson
and Fielding Pierce.

FIELDING: How are you?
Fielding Pierce.
Nice to meet you.

"Would you like
something to drink?"

And the Roman Catholic
priest says, "I wouldn't..."

Over here.
Who is that
in the corner?

Yes, Mr. Ellis.
How are you?

It's a pleasure
to meet you.

I hear great things
about you.

Thank you. Thank you.
I hope I can live up to them.

I'm sure you will.

Ourfriend Isaac's
a shrewd judge of character.

If he takes a young man
under his wing,

he's got good reasons.

Thank you.

Mr. Ellis.
Yes?

Um...

| read your article
in Newsweek about Chile.

Ah, yes, my dear.

Yeah, lthought
it was reprehensible,
disgusting bullshit.

You have the balls to suggest
that the overthrow

of a democratically elected
government by murderous thugs
is in our interest?

You tell people
to support that?

You use your fucking
power in that way?
FIELDING: Sarah.

Now, see here, my dear.

I'm not your dear.
And what about you?

Aren't you gonna
say something?

You fucking clapped
when I ripped up
that article at home.

Or was that
someone else?

Otto, lwant you to meet
my niece Juliet Beck.

Darling, this is
professor Otto Ellis.
Charmed.

And this is
Fielding Pierce.

Hi. How are you?
Nice to meet you.

And Sarah Wilson.

It's Sarah Williams, Isaac.

Yes, Williams.
Pleasure to meet you.

I'll talk to you later.

Uh...

Just what is going on here?

Nothing.
Jesus.

It's fine.

Uh, it's... It's a pleasure
to finally meet you.

Oh, yes, you too.
You too. You too.

I'm sorry.

No, really.

I didn't mean
to fuck up.

He was just
such an asshole.

Mmm-hmm.

(CHUCKLES)

Why are you saying
that now? Jesus.

Well, I mean,
he was definitely
a part of it.

You know, your friends
are much tougher
than they look.

I don't even know
most of them.

You liked her,
didn't you?

Who?

(CHUCKLES) What?

Who?
Isaac's niece.

You know.

Come on. Miss...

Perfect Future
President's Wife.

Juliet, you mean?
Mmm-hmm.

Hmm. I don't know.
She seemed
very shallow to me.

Ooh! (LAUGHS)
Maybe.

Fuck off.

That's where
you're headed.

That's your world.

It's all mapped out.

It's been mapped out
long before we ever met.

I'm not going
to change it.

Do you want me
to change it?

I think that
both of us would love
to change each other.

No, I don't want
to change you.
Yes, you do.

No, I don't.
Yes, you do.

Come on.
You're the incarnation
of your family's ambition,

and I am the incarnation
of your family's fear.

Your father, his name is Ed.
Your mother's name is Mary.
Yes.

They named you Fielding.
Yes.

Yes.
What does that mean?

It means that l was
meant to succeed.
And I accept that.

I don't want to watch you
turn into a cog
in their machine.

That's so...

fucking condescending.

Sometimes cogs
can make machines run
a little bit better.

Sometimes.
Yes.

Mostly they turn
in circles and wear out.

Then they get replaced.

Come work
at the church with me.

Oh, yeah, right, don't work
for the US. government.

Work for the church.
Work for the people

who brought us the children‘s
crusade and the inquisition.

That's a moral step up.
It's so infuriating
loving you sometimes.

Well...

the feeling's mutual.

(CHUCKLES)

Honey?
SARAH: Yeah.

I'm home, and I'm horny.

(CHUCKLES)

I'm so glad
you're home.

Um... God...

I'm going to Chile.
I'm going to be gone
for two weeks.

We're going to get
some friends out of there.

(SIGHS)

How are you
gonna do that?
It's all planned.

It's not difficult
and it's not dangerous.
When is this happening?

Tonight. (CLEARS THROAT)
Our flight's at 7:00.

Can I ask you not to go?

No.

Who are you
going with?
Um...

Steven.

And we're meeting up
with a nun
named Sister Angela.

And, um,
what are the generals
gonna think you're doing?

I can't talk about that.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Hi.
Hi.

Listen, Fielding,
if anybody comes
snooping around,

just dodge
their questions.

Um, we have to go.
There'll be traffic.

Not to mention the storm.

God has given us a lot
to put our shoulder against.

Oh, yeah, he's been
such a help. Really.

I'll bring her back
safe and sound, Fielding.

You have my word.

Is there something
I can do to help?

Do you have any money?

Thanks.
Take me with you. Please.

You will be with us.
We feel your love.
No, I mean it seriously.

I can speak better Spanish
than both of you.

Sister Angela
speaks it perfectly.

Just take me with you.

(CHUCKLES)

Everything's arranged
for this time.

It means a lot
you asked.

MAN: I'm sorry,
but we must go.

I'll go with you
to the airport.

Okay.
(DOOR OPENS)

You think what
I'm doing is wrong?

Of course not.

The truth is,
I think you're...

fucking incredible.

And I do wish
you weren't going.

I wanna forget everything
that separates us, Fielding.

You're my lover,

the only man
in the world I love.

You're the only woman
I love.

DAYTON: Yeah, well,
10 years ago, we could
run a campaign for $10,000.

Now it takes
a goddamn million.

Hey, we got
the votes, right?

As in, vote early
and vote often. (CHUCKLES)

What we need to do is coast.
We'll get plenty of ink
for free.

Reporters got nothing to do
this time of year.
Right, Kelly?

You're right
about that, Al.

Also, we can count
on Jerry Charmichael's
full cooperation.

I don't know if you
want him involved,

but he's willing to do
whatever's best...

I'm kind of losing
my mind.

(CHUCKLES)
I beg your pardon?
Yeah.

What do you mean?
ljust... I've, uh...

I've been seeing things
and hearing things.
From Sarah.

And...

I've been, uh,
believing them.

Believing that she's, Uh...

I don't know, come back
from the other side
or maybe she never died.

I don't know.
I mean...

I can't...
lcan't explain it.

I thought I saw her
a couple of years ago

in New York.

It seemed really crazy,
so I never told you about it.

But she was coming out
of a, uh, like a coffee shop

with this guy,
this older guy.

And, uh,
I didn’t think about it.

I just called her name.

(INAUDIBLE)

And she looked around,
then she looked
straight at me.

And...

I guess I was
just so surprised.

You know,
ljust kind of forgot that
she wasn't alive anymore.

And she turned around
and she walked a bit further,

so I called her name again.

(INAUDIBLE)

And she turned around.

And then I remembered.

You know...

It wasn't her.
She looked different.

Well, that's not true.

She looked
a lot like Sarah,

but she wasn't Sarah.
That's the point.

You know,
shejust looked like her.

And, you know,
I was really freaked.
I really was,

but I just carried on
and made myself
forget all about it.

And I never told you
because it was just dumb.
But that happens.

But you saw her.

I thought I saw her.
I didn't see her.

Of course I didn't see her.
I'm absolutely sure
about that.

You're absolutely sure?

Yeah.

So will
Congressman Charmichael

be participating
in your campaign?

Well,
Jerry's pretty exhausted.

Do you remember me
at all, Fielding?

It was actually
my very first news job
in Minneapolis.

It was one
of the biggest stories
of the year there.

BRODERICK:
What was the story?

WOMAN: See, what was happening
was that there were
American priests

that were giving left-wing
Chileans sanctuary

and right-wing Chileans
hunting them down,

and, uh, Fielding's
girlfriend got caught
in the middle.

Uh-uh, I'm sorry.
(STUTTERS) There's a, uh,
a woman, uh,

who has some, Uh,
statistics that I need.

I won't be long.

Sarah?

Sarah!

Sarah!

Sarah!

Sarah!

(PANTING)

Sarah!

(PANTING)

Sarah?

Sarah!

What is this?
What is this?

(SHOUTS) What is this?
What is this?

Goddamn you!
Who is making
this disturbance?

Fielding.
My God, what's wrong?

What brings you here?
I don't know. Where am I?

You're in my church.
This is my parish now.

You've created...
No, no, no. Shh, shh.
I wanna talk about Sarah.

What do you want?
Just tell me about her!
Just tell me.

What?
Is she alive?

Just tell me,
please, Father.
All right, all right.

Just stop this shit
and tell me if she is alive.
All right!

She is alive in the hearts
of those that love her.

Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!
lfollowed her
into this church.

And greater than that.
I followed her
into this church.

And I'm tired
of being screwed with.

Oh, Fielding.

Poor Fielding.

Francisco and Gisela Higgens,

I'd like you to meet
my right arm here,

Sarah Williams,
and her friend
Fielding Pierce.

How do you do?
It's an honor, really.

I hope I can be
of service to you.
Thank you.

And what about you?
Another good Catholic?

No. Not at all.

Momentito, darling.
If it weren't for
some great churchmen,

we wouldn't be here
to speak out.

And our friends,
Gustavo and Seny,

would be in prison,
or dead.

So, um,
what do you do?

Fielding wants
to be a senator.

Well, well.
A senator. Ha!

With so many
of your politicians
Showing their corruption,

I am surprised

to see someone from the youth
who chooses to follow
their example.

Uh, I'm sorry,
but do you really believe
that I'm going into politics

so I can become
a corrupt son of a bitch

who sells electrodes
to the Chilean secret police?

What Gisela means
is when you enter
a corrupt institution,

you become part of it.

to the worst
that America has to offer?

Young man,
everything is politics.
Life is politics.

Calling only
your elections politics
is part of your sickness here.

I am so sick
of having to apologize
for being an American.

North American.
Oh, God, I'm so sorry.
Yes. North American.

But I can't help
but noticing that when
people run to freedom,

they tend to wash up
on North American shores.

This country is still
the best that we've
been able to do

in the whole fucking
history of the planet.

FATHER STANTON:
Oh, you can't be serious.

Oh, come on.
We know our government
plays rough.

Of course it does.
All governments do.

But when you compare it
to a country like Chile

(CHUCKLES)
where even the leaders

of the opposition
come from the upper class,

I mean, come on,
a guy like me,
I would have no Shot.

My parents, my family,
they were nothing.

Now my brother's a publisher,
my sister's an artist.

And if I do become
an elected official,

I think that has
to mean something.

You know, this reminds me
of the patient
who describes his symptoms

as a sign of his good health.

That's ugly, Steven.

Yes. Yes,
that is ugly, Steven.

It reminds me of something
Sarah would say.

You're in this conversation
by yourself, Fielding.

I'm in this whole
fucking room by myself,

and I'm choking
on the collective sense
of superiority.

I'm just going to Minneapolis
to drive them around
for a few days.

You're acting like
I'm leaving you forever.

If it's only
for a few days, why are
you taking so much stuff?

Because Seny doesn't have
any winter clothes, so I'm
bringing some for her too.

(SIGHS)

I do love you, you know.

Fielding...

You have to love me too.

Not an image
and not an idea.

And not in spite
of who I am.

We'll be at, uh,
Our Lady of the Miracle
by tomorrow afternoon.

You know, Uh...

Most people think
you all are crazy.

"Most people"?

Or you?

Most people.

And me.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

(DOOR CLOSES)
Sarah?

HAUGLAND ON TV:
The coroner is expected
to make his initial report.

As for the young
American woman,

it's not yet officially known,
but we have learned that
she was Sarah Williams,

an activist from Chicago
who was also working
with the sanctuary movement.

Obviously, the death
(SOBBING)

of a young American girl
on American shores

will throw
a whole new light

on both
the sanctuary movement

and possibly on
the government's relationship
with the Chilean regime.

I'm Bill Haugland
reporting live
from Minneapolis.

Mr. Williams, Mr. Williams,
who do you blame
for your daughter's death?

| just wanna take
Sarah home and bury her.

You're the boyfriend, right?
The fiance.

Who do you blame
for Sarah Williams' death?

(ALL CLAMORING)

(PROTESTERS SHOUTING)

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

There are times when death
seems not the will of God,

but the venal,
ugly act of man.

And these are the times

that make us want to raise
our heads to the heavens
and shout.

Shout loud enough
to wake the dead.

You know, Tony's been doing
some informal polls.
Mmm-hmm. And?

You're slipping.

You're not behind yet,
but you are slipping.
You have to work harder.

(CHUCKLING)

Come on, Caroline.
Work harder? I went...

(EXHALES)

I went
18 places yesterday.

My throat is killing me.
Come on.

My hand is so swollen
I can't put a glove on it.
What do you want me to do?

I want you to put
everything out of your mind
until after all this is over.

Absolutely everything,
Fielding.

After the election,

we can be as crazy
as we like. (CHUCKLES)

F I E L D I N G:
You can’t get there
from here.

But send me
and let me work for you.
Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.
Thanks for coming out.

Thank you.

How are you?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Thank you for coming out.
I appreciate it. Thanks again.

How are you?
Thank you.

Thanks a lot. Thank you.
I appreciate it.

23rd and vote.
Thank you.
(CHEERING)

(CROWD WHISTLING
AND APPLAUDING)

You want some more?
No. I'm fine.

Hey! Hey, man.

You have the, uh,
willpower, you know, just to
have one glass of this?

No.

Oh, that's good.
Fuck, yeah, very strong.

Well, everyone, stay put.

Don't say
anything interesting.
I'll be right back.

(LAUGHS)

Bro.

(BRIEFCASE THUDS)

You sure you don't
want any of this?

'Cause this is good...

Sorry.

Is this all we have?
Rice cakes?

I can't stay here tonight.

What?
Where are you gonna go?

A friend's. Just...
You gonna come back?

Yeah, of course.
That's very nice of you.

Generous.
Christ, Fielding,
I'll be back tomorrow.

Okay. Well, you want
something special
for breakfast?

I'll fix you, like,
a sprout omelet
or something.

Do you know
what I think?

I think that
if you win this election

and I don't go
to Washington with you,

in three weeks, you won't
even know the difference.

You know what I think?

I think you're right.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Ah, a chance
to see my brother
go down the tubes.

Dan, hey!
I'm just kidding.

If that's the way
you feel, Danny,
why did you come here?

When I took Kim
from the massage parlor,
the Koreans were furious.

They wanted her back.
Korean men think,

uh, Kim run away,
maybe, um, other girls
run away too.

Yeah.

Danny, I can't get involved
with your shit right now.

It's either very fucking
stupid of you,

or it's very sadistic
of you to come here.

Ooh. Whoa.

Fielding, wait a minute.
It's not that big a deal.

You cannot be here.

I'm in the middle
of an election,
and it's gonna be close.

And when it's close
it gets ugly.

And I don't want
to have to explain you,
you or your girlfriend

to anyone anymore.

No, wait,
wait, wait, wait, no.

Fielding, look,
you're a powerful man.
You have influence.

Okay? Just make a phone call
or something
FIELDING: No.

I am your
fucking district.

Who do you think
made you what you are?

You are me, you fuck.

You close the door
on me, man,

you close the door
on yourself.

Well, so be it then.

What would you be
without us?

Some repulsive combination

of Harvard
and the Coast Guard

stirred up
by Isaac Green and his
fucking tight-assed niece.

Fielding...

What's...

(VOMITING)

CAROLINE: I'll get a cloth.

DANNY: Oh!

God damn it.

(PHONE RINGING)

(RINGING CONTINUES)

WOMAN: Did I wake you?

Sarah?

Yes.

Who is this?

I’m so sorry, Fielding.

Every day I had to decide
whether] should call you.

I tried
to bring you to me.

I put your name
on a little piece of paper
and I pinned it to my blanket.

(LAUGHS)

I couldn't stay
where I was, Fielding.

I wanted to so badly,
but I couldn't stay
that person.

I don't think you're
gonna like me anymore.
What?

I don't think you're
gonna like me anymore.

Oh, honey,
I will always love you.
(SNIFFLES)

Where are you?
Tell me where you are.

I’m far away.
Tell me where you are
and I'll...

I can't. I can’t.
I can.

Tell me where you are.

Just tell me, please.
Fielding...

Fielding, I'm with you.

(SOBBING)

Sarah?

Sarah?

Sarah!

Calm.

(SOBBING)

Why the fuck is this
happening to me?

(RINGS)
Hello.

ISAAC: Fielding, it’s Isaac.
You’d better come over.

(INDISTINCT TALKING ON PHONE)

What's the problem?

Well, you missed
three appearances
this morning.

Dayton's poll has you
in a dead heat.

Your campaign
is out of money and
the election’s in three days.

Is that enough?

Come in, Fielding.
Sit down.

Juliet. Hi.
Hi, Fielding.

Whatever problems
you two are having can
be put aside for a while.

Fielding, he's not
beating us up on issues, okay?

On issues
you cream him every time.

But he's very affable,
and that comes across.

When he wants to be, Fielding,
you can be the most charming
man on earth.

Juliet,
what are you doing here?

Why are you here?
Why are you here?

Because I wanna be.

(WHISPERS) Butwe're not,
you know you left.

Fielding, it is stupid
to let you throw this
campaign away

when you're so close.

Do you want to lose
this election?

Do you realize this...
I'm sorry. I gotta go.

Isaac, I'm sorry.
I've gotta go.

Where do you
think you're going?

I've gotta
go find Sarah.

You're going
to visit her grave?

Oh, no,
no, no, no, no.
I don't understand.

FIELDING: Listen to me.
Listen to me, Isaac.

They didn't bury Sarah.
It was somebody else.

They probably realized
that it would help them
a great deal

if they thought that
they had killed an American.

Does that make sense?
You saw her, Caroline.

What is happening to him?
Didn't you?

(BOTTLE CLINKING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Nice fucking watch
you got there.

The watch, man!
Yo, yo, yo!
Give him the watch!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

It should be snowing,
but that's okay.

Right about there.

Turn the light out.

What do you
want me to do?

Hmm?

What do you want me to do?

Should I do
what they want?

Is that the right thing?

Are you still
gonna love me?

Where did you go?

Where the fuck did I go?

FIELDING:
A simplified tax code

with radical reductions
of write-offs

and a thorough reappraisal
of our endless expenditures
on defense.

(APPLAUSE)

When I was given
the opportunity

to run for Congress...
(INAUDIBLE)

l was going
to say that, uh

that I accepted
the opportunity

because it would give me
a chance to serve my country.

But that's
not entirely true.

The truth is
that l have wanted this

as long as I can remember.

And when you've wanted
something that long,

just getting it becomes
the most important thing.

We become dogs
chasing a mechanical rabbit
around the racetrack.

And what do we do
when we finally get it
in ourjaws?

I do believe

that I can make
a difference.

I believe that I can hear
the voices of the people
in difficulty.

But...

I must finish

by promising to you

to protect what is left
of the best in us

from the selfish
and the brutal

to make this world as close
to paradise as we can.

Ah, that may not be
very close at all, but, uh,

what better way
to spend a life
than crawling towards it.

Thank you.

(SCATTERED CHEERING)

MAN ON TV:
And the 14th district
it's still too close to call.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

WOMAN ON TV:
It looks like it's going
right down to the wire.

Wait, Mom.
Hold on one second.

Thank you so much.
Good stand there.

MAN ON TV: Stay tuned
throughout the evening

for details on this
tightly contested race.

WOMAN: All we can say now
is that it's simply
too close to call.

(RINGS)

Hello?
ISAAC: (SIGHS)
Final tally's in.

You won.

What...
What was the margin?

Six hundred
and fourteen votes.
Congratulations.

Thanks, Isaac.

Hey, hey.
Hey.

Hey!
Sit down.

Hi.
How's it going?

Well, I'm here,
aren't I?

MRS. PIERCE:
The prices in this place
are obscene.

DANNY: Don't worry, Mom.
It's a sleepwalker
books party.

Hey, expense account money
is still money,

and I don't like
these places
playing me for a sucker.

(EXHALES) My family.
I think I'll kill them.

Caroline's right.
We should be concentrating
on being happy for Fielding.

Yeah, and then tomorrow
we can go back to trashing
each other.

(CHUCKLING)

There's something
that I think
I should tell you all.

I'm not feeling
very well.

And I haven't been
for a while.

Something inside me
has jumped the track.

I'm confused.

I'm not thinking right.
I'm not sleeping right.

(STUTTERS) And I don't...

I... Just don't think
that I am complaining
about this,

or asking for your help,

because there's nothing
anyone can do about it.

It's just happened
and that's all
there is to it.

But I don't know
what I'm gonna say
from one minute to the next.

I really don't.
I don't know
what I'm gonna say,

and I don't know
what I'm gonna do.

Do you understand that?

And I know this is coming
at a bad time for everyone,

but, uh...
But there's nothing
I can do about that.

I'm tired and I'm, Uh...

Uh...

I don't... I don't see things
the way that | used to.

Everything...

Everything, everything
is fucking strange, and it...

And it's all completely
out of control, and I'm...

frightened.

Maybe if you all could
give me some real help,
you know, that would be...

And not your pity
or generosity,
but some help.

Take a look at me.

I... I know that I am
ruining everything,
but I can't...

If I don't say this now,
I may never say it.

Everything is going very fast.

It's going very, very fast.
It's completely
out of control.

And if I don‘t say it today,
tomorrow may be too late.

I may be too crazy
to even know how crazy I am.

I don't know what to do!

I don't know what to do!

Something has happened to me
and I'm very lost.

And it doesn't stop.

It's not getting better.

I don't get better.
I'm not getting better.

It's just going on,
and it's going on.

And there's nothing
that I can do about it.

It's not stopping.

It's not stopping.

(SOBBING)

MR. PIERCE: Hey.

(SNIFFLES)

Stupid. Stupid.

(EXHALES)

I'm fine.
I'm fine. I'm fine.

I feel better.
Thanks. Okay.

Don't worry.
I'll be Okay. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.

I think you feel

The way I feel

Though you don't wanna say

I think you feel

The way I feel

Though it's not
the easy way

Wouldn't you like
to be with me

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow

I don't wanna cause you
any pain

ljust wanna love you

I don't wanna
mess up anything

ljust wanna love you and

I know you think
I’m kind of strange

Who is it?

ljust wanna love you

Just wanna love you

Just wanna love you

You ripped my life in half.

You took away everything
that was starting to mean
something to me in my life.

How did you do that?
Why did you do that?

Can you stay...

for a while?

No.

Fielding,

you need to stop talking
to people about me.

It's not safe.

All right.
Okay, lwon't. lwon't.

Are you all right?

I'm good.

I really am.

(CHUCKLES)

I miss you so much.

I miss you too.

I'm being
so irresponsible, Fielding.

I know that I made
my decision.

I kept to it.

I thought wanting you
was gonna go away.

God, they told me
it was gonna
go away, Fielding.

(SIGHS)

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Please don't go.

Our lives have taken us
so far apart now.

It seems wrong to think
we belong together.

But I think it.

(SIGHS) I do too.

I think I know why.

VVhy?

Because it's what we want.

But...

so few people get
what they want.

And the ones that do

aren't really
the lucky ones anyway.

They're not?

Who are?

The ones that do
what they're meant to.

Can we not talk
for a little bit?

I would feel so happy
if you would just hold me.

Let's just pretend that this
is what our lives are like.

That this is
perfectly natural.

It's no big deal.

Yeah.

I can close my eyes and
let everything else go away.

It's hard what
you're doing, isn‘t it?

Just hold me.

Looking down
on empty streets

All she can see

Are the dreams
all made solid

All the dreams made real

All of the buildings
All ofthe cars

Were once just a dream

In somebody's head

She pictures
the broken glass

She pictures the steam

She pictures a soul

With no leak at the seam

Let's take the boat out

Wait until darkness

Let's take the boat out

Wait until darkness comes

Nowhere in the corridors
ofpale green and gray

Nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day

There in the midst of it
So alive and alone

Words support like bone

Dreaming of Mercy Street

Wear your inside out

Dreaming of Mercy Street...

WOMAN:
Dear Congressman Charmichael.

My son is 19 years old.

He was born
with a very low birth weight,

and he has never enjoyed
good health.

Can you please
send me any information

about the rights
of adopted children?

Please mark the envelope,
"Top secret. Do not open."

If they knew
what I was doing,
they'd kill me.

MAN: The American consulate
was polite, but when I went
to them with information

that I had seen his body,
that he had been murdered...

Dear Congressman Pierce,

congratulations
on your election.

lam writing to you
because I'm having
a bad problem

with my social security.

I've taken food
out of the garbage
in the hall.

And that money
that they are holding
from me is mine.

I've earned it.

I've done everything
that I know how

to get
this problem solved.

lf/ could come down
to your office
in Washington,

I would get down
on my knees

and I would take your hand

and I would show you.

FIELDING:
I never saw Sarah again.

I think I've managed
to help some people
in Congress.

Do some good.

Less than I'd have liked,
but more than I had feared.

And to this day,
I still don't know
if Sarah was real that night

or just the product
of my broken heart.

But, Sarah,
ifyou are alive

and it was you that night,

here for one last
moment of sweetness
before going back out

to try to make things
better in the world,

keep fighting.

God be with you.

I love you.

And if it
wasn't really you,

if my visit was

only the you
that still lives
in my heart,

the you that never gave up,

that taught me what
being brave was all about,

if it was only the you

that I will carry with me
in my soul

until the day I die,

I can only say
keep fighting.

And God be with you.

I love you.

I think you feel

The way I feel

Though you don't wanna say

I think you feel

The way I feel

Though it's not
the easy way

Wouldn't you like
to be with me

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow

I don't wanna cause you
any pain

ljust wanna love you

I don't wanna
mess up anything

ljust wanna love you and

I know you think
I’m kind of strange

ljust wanna love you

ljust wanna love you

Just wanna love you

I can hardly breathe

Every time I see your face

I feel stupid and happy

Wouldn't you like
to be with me

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow

I don't wanna cause you
any pain

ljust wanna love you

I don't wanna
mess up anything

ljust wanna love you

I know you think
I’m kind of strange

ljust wanna love you

Just wanna love you

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow

I don't wanna cause you
any pain

I’d give you the world

I don't wanna
mess up anything

I wanna be your girl

And I know you think
I 'm kind of strange

ljust wanna love you

Ah

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow come down

Watching the snow