You Can Thank Me Later (1998) - full transcript
This family drama examines a controlling mother through the eyes of her three deflated children, each of whom has sought therapy for the grief she's put them through
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
I'm listening.
Uh-huh.
The dog?
Well, put the thing in a kennel
like everyone else.
It's Linda, isn't it?
I'm not blaming her, but--
well, she does try and keep the
girls away from me and your
father.
That's what I'm talking about.
They're scared of us.
So don't talk to him.
Oh-- hold on, just a second.
Hello?
Oh, it's you, Susan.
Of course, I'm happy to hear
from you.
It's just that I'm on the other
line with your brother, Edward.
I-it doesn't look like he can
make it.
So now you make sure that you're
here.
Edward, that was Susan.
She says she won't come unless
you come and so now you have--
have to come, because if she
doesn't come, then Eli will come
all alone and he'll make me so
nervous and I'll have to ask him
to leave and then I'll leave and
then your father will be here
all alone.
Oh, hold on, just a second.
No, Eli.
No, Eli.
I don't care who he is, you
can't bring a friend to the
hospital.
Can't you ever come to anything
alone?
[ sighs ]
Listen, I can't talk to you now.
I'm on the other phone with your
brother.
Hello?
I did not.
I did not hang up on you, Susan.
You are so sensitive.
Good sensitive.
You're good sensitive.
[ music from headphones ]
[ music blaring ]
Edward, it's Susan.
[ music from headphones ]
[ music blaring ]
Edward, it's Susan.
Well, not so good.
That commission she was doing
for the AIDS center fell
through.
Supposedly cancer's making a
very big comeback.
Can't she do something for you?
For one of your sets?
Well, there can't be that much
of a difference.
Have you seen any of her
paintings lately?
Squares, triangles.
It's all very theatrical.
All right, I won't say another
word.
Susan, your brother wants to
know if you would be interested
in doing some posters for the--
of course not.
[ sighs ]
I know you're capable of--
just a second.
You'll have to call me back.
I'm still talking to Edward.
I'm not hanging up.
Bye.
Edward, she said no.
She didn't give a reason.
Of course she likes men, what
kind of thing is that to say
about your sister?
Uh, hold on.
Hello?
No, Eli.
No, Eli.
So I'm uptight.
That's the way I was brought up.
We washed our hands before every
meal and nobody could leave the
table until everyone had
finished what was on their
plate.
We were a family and that was
that.
Now I would like to think that
some of that had rubbed off onto
this family, but obviously, it
hasn't.
And I have no one to
blame but you children.
Hello?
Eli?
[ phone clicks ]
Susan?
[ phone clicks ]
Edward?
I'm not the one who tried to
kill myself.
You always have to bring that
up.
It's not something one easily
forgets.
It was an accident, all
right?
It was-- it was a simple
mistake, like cutting your
finger on a piece of paper.
Slipped on her stainless
steel floor.
Happened to land on her
wrists.
I had good reason, if you
haven't figured it out yet.
Which is what?
Mom had an affair.
Probably wasn't her first.
Dad bought a convertible.
He never let me drive it.
You know, I feel like I'm
floating in space here, you
know?
Like-- like-- like there's no
gravity.
That there's no point of
reference.
Can we talk about
medication, please?
Something to take him out
of his depression?
To ease the tension.
Calm his nerves.
I mean, I can't handle this
now.
My father is in the hospital,
my mother treats me as if I'm
six years old, and my-- my--
my horoscope this morning said
someone I fear will be coming
back into my life.
My father's on Prozac.
School bus went off the
highway over a bridge and into
one of the canals this morning.
That's terrible.
Oh, there were no children on
board.
Just the driver, and he was
already 76.
Well, it's still terrible.
Traffic's backed up past the
stadium.
How did you make it here on
time?
Back roads.
I should write a book on that.
What?
How to avoid traffic, things
like that.
Things like what?
Traffic tips.
How to maximize productivity in
traffic.
Alternate traffic routes, scenic
routes.
I think that would sell like
crazy.
I should talk to my friend David
in publishing about that.
Oh, come on, be serious.
Stick with one thing.
You've only been working with
Daddy for a few months and
already you want to go
gallivanting off to the
publishing world.
What, I'm restricted to doing
one thing for the rest of my
life?
I have many talents, Mom.
I'm sure you do, but stick
with one, do it well, then
everything else will fall into
place.
Besides, I'm sure it's already
been written.
[ choral singing ]
I don't understand.
It's almost 3:00.
What are they doing?
[ knock on door ]
It's been four hours.
Who are you?
Repairman.
I'm here to fix the television.
What's wrong with it?
The man staying in here was
complaining about the reception.
Said it only got one channel.
That man happens to be my
husband.
And he's downstairs right this
moment having a very serious
operation.
Sorry.
He'll be fine.
I'm sure.
Why, you met him?
Yesterday.
I didn't have my tools.
So you want me to fix it?
How did my husband seem to
you?
I don't know, happy?
No, I meant obviously you see
a lot of patients.
Well, how did he seem compared
to the others?
What do you want from him?
He fixes televisions.
Uh, healthy.
Well, you probably say that
to all the patients' relatives.
Nobody's ever asked.
So, um...
So you want me to fix it now
or maybe come back later?
Oh, no.
By all means, if my husband said
the picture isn't clear...
It's clear, it's just
crooked.
Well, then straighten things
out, please.
What's the point of spending all
the extra money on a private
room if it only gets one
channel?
What's the point of spending all
the extra money on a private
room if it only gets one
channel?
Only gets one channel.
[ door closes ]
Hi, I'm so sorry I'm late.
Oh, ugh, my mother is
embarrassed by my paintings and
is threatening to cut me off
unless I get a job.
My father has to have an
operation and my sciatic nerve
has been acting up again.
Oh.
This is Bill.
I met him this morning at the
museum.
Oh, I wanted to bring him along
with me because I want him to
see me for who I really am.
When I'm at my most vulnerable,
when I'm off guard, reaching a
deep emotional crisis, at my
lowest point, unable to speak
without bawling my eyes out.
I want him to see me when
I'm me.
I hope that isn't a problem for
you, huh?
Hey.
Bill is a man of few words.
He doesn't say anything unless
it's absolutely necessary.
A real minimalist.
And yet he's incredibly
emotional and altruistic.
Right, Bill?
[ sighs ]
You're late.
I'm not late.
Yes, you are.
No, I'm not.
I said I'd be here at a quarter
to 2:00 and it's not even 2:00
yet.
Can't win.
It's after 3:00.
No, it's not.
Yes, it is.
According to my watch, it
is-- oh, my watch must've
stopped.
I didn't do it on purpose.
Of course not.
Who's that?
Television repairman.
So she tries to change the
subject.
Oh, this is ridiculous.
Yes, it's ridiculous.
We buy you a watch with a
five-year battery just for this
very reason, so that this won't
happen.
It's waterproof, shockproof,
bombproof, and then today,
today of all days, the
battery has to go dead.
Yes, it is ridiculous.
I said I'm sorry.
Susan.
What?
Susan, can't you afford a
bra?
I don't believe in them.
Oh, you believe in sagging
breasts?
No, I believe in the human
body.
Is there something wrong with
that?
Oy, I have such a headache.
What are you doing?
I made this for Daddy.
Well, you're not going to
hang it in here.
You like my sister?
What is it?
It's fruit.
What kind of fruit?
Um, pomegranates, peaches,
plums, raisins.
Are raisins considered fruit?
Of course.
Like, uh, prunes.
And that's a bowl.
[ scoffs ] Ha.
[ chuckles ]
That's a tablecloth.
I love it.
Me, too.
You do, really?
Yeah, I love it.
You're not just saying that?
I love it.
Isn't that enough?
Yes, of course it's enough.
But, well, um, hmm.
What do you love about it?
Everything.
Mm, but why do you love it?
What specifically?
I love it.
I look at it and I love it.
I love you.
Don't do that.
What?
That!
You're treating me like that.
You make me feel like you don't
take me seriously.
Oh, that's ridiculous.
What do you love about it?
The colors.
And?
And I don't understand the
rest.
What don't you understand?
Where's the fruit?
It's abstract.
I see.
What do you see?
Abstract.
You can't see abstract.
It is abstract.
Right.
Right what?
I don't know.
What do you want me to say?
[ groans ]
[ sighs ]
I mean, when you've got
friends like mine...
♪ Isn't it warm?
♪ Isn't it rosy?
♪ Side by side
♪ By side
♪ Ports in a storm
[ horn honking ]
♪ We are cozy
♪ Side by side
♪ By side
♪ Everything shines
♪ How sweet
♪ Side by side
♪ By side
♪ Parallel lines...
[ siren blares ]
♪ Everyone winks
♪ By side
♪ Parallel lines...
[ siren blares ]
♪ Everyone winks
♪ Nobody's nosy
♪ Side by side.
I know what we talked about
last time, but I just can't help
myself.
It's not like I go out looking
for it or anything.
It's just something takes hold
of me and shakes me until I give
in.
Chemical reaction.
Billions of neutrons and
protons, electrons building up
inside of me.
It's genetic.
After all, you're the one that
said we should be totally honest
and say exactly what's on our
mind, no matter how deranged or
perverted it might sound.
Huh?
Just between you and me, don't
you find that young girls these
days mature a lot faster than
they used to?
[ door opens ]
They say it's something in the
milk.
Sorry I'm late.
Where are the girls?
Uh, Chelsea's on her way from
school and Lisa went to visit a
friend.
A friend?
Do you wanna argue with her?
How can you let her go see a
friend when she knows perfectly
well--
Do you want to argue with
her?
She's ten years old.
Do you want to argue with
her?
All right, really.
Okay.
And Chelsea?
She'll be here.
When?
She'll be here!
Fine.
Are we relaxed now?
Yes.
Calm?
Yes.
Not going to make me stick
your head under the shower again
to cool off, no?
No.
Good.
Before we begin, I just-- I want
her to know that I really
respect her.
I can't believe what a
bastard he is.
Go ahead.
I hate you.
Mm-hmm.
So much.
I deserve it.
No, I'm not going to give him
that satisfaction this time.
It's important for us to
remain calm in this situation.
And be honest.
We can't think of ourselves.
Wouldn't you agree with that?
Be honest.
We have to remember that
whatever is said here today goes
way beyond you and I.
We have to put aside our own
emotions.
We have to think of our
children.
Even-- even of our children's
children.
There is just one thing that
I need to know.
Now, did she used to wait for
you stripped down naked in the
hotel room or discreetly dressed
in a trench coat in the lobby?
We have to give the
impression of stability.
Naked in bed or dressed in
the lobby?
A loving atmosphere.
Bed or lobby?
[ door opens, closes ]
I don't want to be here.
I'd like that to stand for the
record.
Honey...
[ clears throat ]
your mother and I haven't been
getting along very well lately
and we're considering a
temporary separation.
Baby, your father's taken up
with a young girl from McGill
who he's been fucking in a hotel
room two blocks away from our
home every time he goes to walk
the dog at night.
[ sighs ]
Can I have a dollar for the
soda machine?
Oh, sure.
Here.
What do you say?
Thank you.
Yeah, right.
[ door opens ]
This it?
No, no, get it right.
Just put it up, Eli.
Straighten it out.
Hello.
Oh, Edward.
Sorry I'm late.
It's all right, darling.
Linda couldn't make it.
She sends her love.
She'll try to come tomorrow
with the kids.
Oh, that's not necessary.
I mean, she shouldn't take them
out of school.
Well, we'll see.
About what?
Nothing, we'll just see.
Eli.
Edward.
Oh.
Good of you to make it.
He's my father.
Of course I'm gonna make it.
No, with your busy schedule
and all, it's good of you to
make it.
Well, it's good of you to
make it, too.
That's a nice jacket.
Is it new?
No, it's Dad's.
You hate Dad's clothes.
Not this jacket.
It's a perfect fit.
Yeah, if you lose the
stomach, huh?
What stomach?
Susan, how are ya?
Sold three paintings.
Good, good.
Your breasts are hanging out.
These are really beautiful
flowers.
Have you ever seen anything like
these?
Never.
Never.
Oh, did you see your picture
in the newspaper yesterday?
No.
I got it for you.
"Edward Cooperberg,
Entrepreneur, Brings Cats to
Town."
Oh, shit.
That reminds me, I have to
cancel a press conference for
this evening.
Oh, Edward.
You take on too much.
Yeah.
You work too hard.
Yeah.
You know there are some of us
who work just as hard as Edward?
[ scoffs ] Honey, don't be so
sensitive all the time.
I'm not comparing.
I think that he looks great.
Where'd you get the suntan,
Edward?
Uh, L.A.
L.A., great.
He comes in after me and it's
all right that he's late, but
with me, bleh.
Uh, excuse me.
There is a very big difference.
You can make your own hours.
People don't depend on you the
way they do your brother.
People depend on me.
Of course they do.
People depend on me.
Of course they do.
I wasn't saying that they don't.
But how can you compare a
painting to an entire theater
audience?
So now you're telling me that
"Cats" is more important than
one of my paintings?
Let's not start.
I didn't start this.
All right, I started it.
Let's just finish it.
God.
Calm down.
Ooh, I hate it when he does
that.
Calm down, calm down.
Don't you dare do that to me.
I can't take this anymore,
Edward.
Would you please go downstairs
and ask the doctor what's going
on?
I asked Eli to go, but--
Please do not talk about me
like I'm not in the room.
Look, I don't see what good it
will do him.
The doctor will tell us
something when he has something
to tell us.
Edward, please.
Just to ease my mind, would you
do it?
I'll go.
No, Eli.
You had your chance.
Now I want Edward to go.
Go, Eli.
No, no.
She obviously wants you to go,
Edward.
You go.
This is ridiculous.
I'll go.
No, I said Edward.
Edward, please.
He's the eldest, he should go.
Thank you.
I don't see what good it will
do.
[ bangs ]
[ buzzing ]
Oui, hello?
Oui.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
[ elevator dings ]
Madame?
No.
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
You know, a public facility
like this can seem so impersonal
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
You know, a public facility
like this can seem so impersonal
sometimes.
Sort of like a train station.
People coming in, people going
out, coming in, going out.
But what's made it different for
me--
[ speaking French ]
You see...
But what's made it different for
me--
[ speaking French ]
You see...
I've been having these nocturnal
emissions lately and I-I don't
want to bother one of the
doctors about that.
You might be able to take a
look at them, see what you
think.
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
I don't know. I'm not sure.
Uh, father.
My father's having an operation.
Le nom?
Cooperberg.
Oui, Saul Cooperberg.
Yes, oui.
Un instant.
[ speaking French ]
Excuse me.
Do you know the name of that
nurse that was just here?
Well, you wouldn't happen to
know if she has any interest in
acting, would you?
What?
I mean, she's not your
daughter or anything, is she?
[ chuckles ]
I don't understand.
How long does it take to remove
a spot?
I thought they were going to
remove a lung?
Who said that?
That's ridiculous.
Why would they do that?
In case it spread.
I never saw a man look as
healthy as he did this morning.
The doctor said it was
nothing.
Nothing?
He didn't say nothing.
Your father's almost 70 years
old.
Nothing is nothing.
There's still a spot.
Any operation at that age is
something.
Now can we just please change
the subject?
There's a gallery in Berlin
that's going to be showing my
work.
Berlin, Germany?
I don't see the problem with
that.
We don't go there.
You have a Mercedes.
It was made in the United
States.
Oh, that reminds me.
Go call Simon.
He should be here for his
grandfather.
Oh, don't worry.
He'll be here.
He's got a job interview with
the sanitation department this
morning.
A garbageman?
No, sanitation.
Scooping dead animals off the
highway.
What happened to his last
job?
He got laid off.
From McDonald's?
Burger King.
I don't understand why you can't
get that right.
It's very important to him.
I worry about that boy.
I have it under control.
I live in a big gray bus and
every night it crashes, but I
always come out of it in one
piece.
All around me, body parts
are blown to bits, heads
detached from torsos, ripped
arms and legs still twitch to
the beat of a fan belt.
So I brush myself off and I
start walking down this long
road until I come to an
old-fashioned telephone booth.
I knock on the door.
The glass steams up like a
kettle.
There's moaning from inside.
And the door opens.
Inside there's a woman and a
man, naked.
He has no balls.
She has no nipples.
[ panting ]
[ clears throat ]
Oh, my God.
[ panting ]
[ clears throat ]
Oh, my God.
[ pew door slams ]
And on the Russian front,
crisis was nearing as Stalin...
[ pew door slams ]
And on the Russian front,
crisis was nearing as Stalin...
Here.
What for?
Just do me this one favor,
huh?
Ha!
We're Jewish.
They all say the same thing.
Which is?
Look, your father believes in
God and so do I.
I have to make a phone call.
Don't touch that phone.
You're being hypocritical.
What, all of a sudden you
don't believe in God?
I never did.
Well, then why did you have
your wife convert?
How long do you think that
the operation will take?
She did it for you, Mom.
And if you want to know, that's
half the reason we're not still
together.
There's this art opening--
Oh, so now I'm responsible
for his failed marriage.
When was the last time any of
us went to synagogue?
Your father and I go every
year.
Every year for Yom Kippur.
Now that's worse than not going
at all.
You use religion to maintain
some kind of social status in
the community, to further your
own selfish motives.
Do you know what the punishment
for that is?
You know--
Praise Jesus.
If you please, there's--
You know, sometimes I find it
hard to believe that you're my
son.
Well, I am and I wish you
would accept me for who I am.
Yeah, which is?
So you don't think that I can
go?
You are not going anywhere.
Now, "The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures."
[ laughs ]
I am not giving in to this
blackmail.
"He leadeth me in the path of
righteousness for his namesake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for thou art
with me."
What page?
From the beginning.
[ together ] "The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still
waters.
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in paths of
righteousness for his namesake."
[ door opens ]
Bonjour.
What does she want?
Change the sheets.
What for?
They do these things.
It's a hospital.
They just changed them this
morning.
See, now they're gonna charge us
double.
I knew we should have gone to
the Jewish Memorial.
I mean--
No, there's no extra charge.
I'm a volunteer.
My name is Joelle.
Fresh troops and supplies
from England and India arrived
in Egypt.
I can help you.
Thank you.
Very kind of you.
Working with linens isn't one of
my strengths.
I'm much better with children.
Chocolate?
No, thank you.
You're allergic.
How did you know that?
They say I'm a very good
listener.
If any of you would like to
talk.
Why don't you just change the
sheets, huh?
Off mit your pants.
But I'm not a Jew.
Sieg heil.
Heil Hitler.
You are Jewish!
He is not.
He is so.
He was circumcised.
So are a lot of people.
Not by rabbis.
My brother was snipped when
he was 13.
Does that make him Swahili?
Technically, he is Jewish.
Technically, he's Catholic.
Technically, his mother was
converted against her will, and
since you never really know who
the father is--
[ laughing ]
Christ.
Oh, that's very funny.
I should have known--
That's hysterical.
That's just-- just a scream.
Every time she used to enter
a synagogue, she would cross
herself.
When I was a teenager, I was
afraid of bringing anyone home.
Nobody was good enough.
If they were Jewish, they
weren't religious enough.
If they were religious, they
weren't Jewish enough.
It was after my bar mitzvah
that I got into the habit of
dating Catholic girls and
cheating on them with Jewish
girls.
Usually blondes with nose
jobs.
[ door opens ]
Oh, Edward.
What did he say?
Come on, tell us.
There's been a slight
complication.
What complication?
Well, he stopped breathing.
Oh, my God!
But they resuscitated him,
he's doing fine.
They're-- they'll tell us when
they know more.
There's no brain damage?
What brain damage?
It's just when the brain is
deprived of oxygen for an
extended period of time, it can
lose its capacity--
Thank you, Eli.
You mean he's going to be a
vegetable?
Don't worry.
He's going to be fine.
I want to donate a lung.
Just tell me, who do I talk to?
He doesn't need your lung.
Oh, so now you're also a
doctor?
In the article, a little girl
lay at the bottom of a frozen
river for nearly 15 minutes and
nothing happened to her.
Good for the Eskimos.
Edward, don't we know some
doctors that we could call in
Houston?
They're supposed to be the best.
How did we ever end up in this
hospital?
You're the one who said--
Oh, would you stop reminding
me of everything I said?
It doesn't mean anything.
[ beeping ]
What's that?
It's my beeper.
It's my beeper.
Your beeper?
Now?
You're going to make phone calls
now?
Your father is battling to stay
alive and you're going to make
phone calls?
Does this phone dial out?
Don't use that phone.
Does it dial out?
Put that phone down.
I am very angry right now.
I just want you to know I am
very angry, but I'm not going to
show it because I am sensitive
to the situation here.
But under any other
circumstances, I would not
tolerate this aggressive
behavior from you.
[ door closes ]
Would someone open an window,
please?
Oh, I'm going to throw up.
Oh.
Edward?
Yup.
Go call Linda.
Tell her to get over here and
bring the kids.
The kids should be here.
Why don't we have any kids?
All the other hospital rooms
have kids.
Call her.
Let's wait.
Why are we watching this?
It still only gets one
channel.
Oh.
Who are you?
It's me, you okay?
What's wrong?
Right now?
My father's-- my father's
practically...
You're what?
Where?
Down where?
I'll be there in two minutes.
[ water running ]
Susan, Edward and I are going
out for some air.
[ water running ]
Susan, Edward and I are going
out for some air.
[ panting ]
The last thing he said to me
before they wheeled him away
was, "See ya."
[ panting ]
The last thing he said to me
before they wheeled him away
was, "See ya."
Would you stop talking about
him like he's dead?
He's going to be fine.
Don't talk to me like that.
I'm not your wife.
Mom, I'm getting a divorce.
Aw, no, not another one.
What do you mean, not another
one?
Well, this is your second.
Your brother's makes three.
Susan-- I wouldn't even call it
a marriage, so how can you call
it a divorce?
What about the children?
She's taken them-- taken them
to her mother's.
I'm a nervous wreck.
And you want sympathy?
Linda's such a sweet woman.
You hate Linda.
Why are you taking her side?
Maybe I'm just fed up.
I don't know.
Maybe we should have gone to
live in Israel when we had the
chance.
What does Israel have to do
with it?
People are happy there.
Look at Morty, your-- your
father's ex-partner.
He lives there.
He has four kids, 15
grandchildren, none of them are
divorced, and they get together
ever Saturday.
They have lunch.
I've seen pictures.
Smiles like you wouldn't
believe.
Button up.
What are you doing?
Ma.
Well, it's cold.
Here, just-- just button up.
All right.
There.
There.
[ children chattering ]
[ air blowing ]
[ moaning ]
Yeah.
[ children chattering ]
[ air blowing ]
[ moaning ]
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[ children chattering ]
Shh.
[ moaning ]
What do you think you're
doing?
[ moaning ]
What do you think you're
doing?
Get out!
Shh.
Out!
Out!
[ moaning resumes ]
Hot Champlain wind blows in
from the south.
[ moaning resumes ]
Hot Champlain wind blows in
from the south.
She kisses his face, caressing
his mouth.
They hum like jet engines...
Engines going no place in
time.
No clouds...
No turbulence...
just altitude and wine.
He was going to be a famous
poet and, um, I was going to
take painting classes.
I had graduated with honors
from McGill.
We were going to live in
Paris.
But times were tough.
I even started courses at
Berlitz.
I took a job teaching little
brats at a private school in
Westmont.
Mansard roofs, fresh-baked
baguettes with brie running down
our chins.
For four years, every night
after everybody went to bed, I
wrote.
Hundreds of poems, thousands of
essays.
I even put together a little
play, which my brother refused
to even look at.
But in the end you--
In the end--
In the end you never sent
out a damn thing.
I was-- I couldn't bear the
rejection.
I was paralyzed.
We moved to Chomedey.
So I could continue teaching.
Sacrificed my career for him
and sold cosmetics for Chanel.
I did my best.
I can't stand his
indecisiveness, where nothing
gets done and time just passes
by.
Money was never an issue when
we first met.
I mean, if I'm not going to
live the artistic life, at
least let me be rich.
[ laughs ]
I don't know.
[ laughs ]
I don't know.
[ people chattering ]
[ baby babbling ]
Monarch butterflies are
unlike any other butterfly in
[ people chattering ]
[ baby babbling ]
Monarch butterflies are
unlike any other butterfly in
the world.
They're like royalty, floating
kings and queens.
What makes them better?
Not better, just different.
Kings and queens have the same
blood as you and me.
We just look at them
differently.
There's fewer of them.
They're less accessible.
We desire them more.
Like caviar.
You can only see Monarchs for a
brief period of time.
Every year they fly thousands of
miles around the world.
But they always come back to the
same place to die.
Millions of them.
Remarkable.
Actually, it reminds me of my
own work.
Really?
Mm.
Not so much in form, but more in
the way it evokes certain primal
emotions.
Not in texture, but
thematically and, I guess, to a
certain extent, spatially.
Negative, but not positive.
I'm Susan Cooperberg.
We met a few weeks ago at the
symposium on bilingual
expressionism.
I brought my portfolio with me.
Oh, I wish-- if it's of any
interest to you, I would be
honored if you could look at it.
I'd be delighted.
Maybe we could find somewhere
more private where we can
talk.
Maybe we could find somewhere
more private where we can
talk.
I can't tell you how much I
appreciate this.
I've always had faith in myself.
If someone would just give me a
chance, I know I could prove
myself.
Not that I'm one to blame others
for my problems.
It's my fault, my fault, my
fault, my fault, my fault.
I understand.
You're too hard on yourself.
You think so?
Oh, yes.
I can see it in your work.
It's all there.
The banana looking nice and
innocent, while the helpless
pomegranate is split open into
two, its uterus exposed, its
soul being ripped out as the
red juices run down the white
sheet.
It's all there.
The little girl...
the doctor...
the baby.
The shame of it all.
You really do understand me.
[ moaning ]
I can't do this.
[ crying ]
Oh.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
[ crying continues ]
[ laughing ]
Do you think we're the only ones
separated who still have sex?
[ crying continues ]
[ laughing ]
Do you think we're the only ones
separated who still have sex?
Once a week for ten years?
That's more sex than we had when
we were married.
You never acted as if you
wanted me when we were married.
You never acted as if we were
married when I wanted you.
Oh.
Hmm.
You've been eating
peanuts again, haven't you?
Do you think that you could
come back to the hospital with
me?
You know I couldn't possibly
be in the same room as your
family.
What about Simon?
[ sighs ]
Susan?
Susan!
Piano lessons, speed-reading
workshops, science seminars, the
best teachers, the best tutors,
the best education for both of
them, and where did they send
me? Public school.
It was my first big show and
we had great reviews.
I needed a small loan, and so I
asked my mother.
My mother went to my father.
My father was furious that I'd
gone to my mother, but asked me
to ask my mother.
My mother asked me to ask my
father nicely, and by that time,
the show had closed.
They knew that I was
incapable of making a living on
my own and they took advantage
of that.
See, they gave me a credit card.
Now, I couldn't stand that kind
of pressure, so I went out and
bought a Winnebago.
After my divorce, I needed
someone to cosign a loan to buy
my condo and my father refused.
He said that it would make me
too self-sufficient and that no
man would ever want to marry me.
The more successful I got,
the more insecure I felt.
The more arrogant I became, the
more women I seduced.
And so I became known as
Edward's sister.
Edward's brother.
Edward's brother's wife.
Edward's wife.
Second wife.
Sometimes I listen to my
family and I wonder...
am I like that?
What was wrong?
Wrong?
Nothing is wrong.
Why does something always have
to be wrong?
You know, it's possible for
things to be a little faulty, a
little unbalanced, a little
askew, a little off-kilter.
It doesn't mean something is
wrong.
It was Diane, wasn't it?
No.
[ chuckles ]
It's written all over your
forehead.
All right, so what?
It was Diane.
What's wrong with that?
I love her.
Love?
You want to talk to me about
love?
Don't talk to me about love.
None of you kids have any idea
of the meaning of the word.
Real love takes real commitment.
Look at your father and me.
You think we never had problems?
Of course we did.
But we worked them out.
We sacrificed our own personal
needs for the good of you
children.
[ toilet flushing ]
[ door opens ]
I threw up.
Oh, it's not that anorexia
thing again.
Ma, I never had anorexia.
I just can't stand the smell of
hospitals.
It's the bleach.
Yeah, it brings back so many
horrible memories.
Aren't you finished yet?
Almost done.
Good.
Unless of course it's the
tube.
What?
Well, then I'll have to rip
the whole thing out.
Mom?
Do you love me?
Of course I love you, Susan.
They can't hold us here like
hostages.
The windows don't open, the
television doesn't work.
I have to speak to someone in
charge.
Emergency, emergency!
Mom!
What?
I need to know that you love
me and that you accept me for
whatever I do or whoever I am.
Is that lipstick I see?
No.
I would have been happy to
show you how to put it on.
It's not my lipstick.
Then whose is it?
It's-- I just kissed another
woman.
[ drops tool ]
Call Dr. Martin.
My pediatrician?
Well, I don't want to talk
about it now.
I want to talk about it.
Eli, Edward, would you please
go downstairs and get me a cup
of coffee?
Why do we have to leave?
She always does this.
I didn't ask you for your
opinion.
I didn't ask you for your
opinion.
[ sighs ] All right.
When did this happen?
When?
It-- what does it matter when it
happened?
It just happened and I wish that
you would deal with it.
You're doing this to hurt me.
That's what this is all about.
I feel so sorry for this
generation.
Television.
Yeah.
What are you doing?
I'm looking through the
classifieds for you.
You obviously have too much time
on your hands.
I don't need you to do that.
Ah, now, look.
Here's something.
They need hands.
They're looking for hands for
modeling.
Now, if you had stopped biting
your fingernails, they'd
consider you for this, probably.
You know, your father loves my
hands.
Mom, I am asking you a
question.
What?
What are you asking me?
I need to know if you'll be
there for me and support me in
whatever I choose to do.
I need to know if you'll be
there for me and support me in
whatever I choose to do.
Well, Susan...
you should know by now that
every action has a consequence.
Now, we all make mistakes.
Here's a few dollars.
Go buy yourself a nice dress.
[ crying ]
Oh, I don't know why I stay part
of this family.
[ crying ]
Oh, I don't know why I stay part
of this family.
"The friction within a family
is a counterpart of the wars
between nations."
Jehovah's Witness?
Rabbi Nachman.
[ door slams ]
I got to go.
Coffee break.
If anything happens to Dad--
I can handle it.
He keeps everything in his
head.
Doesn't even use a calculator.
The business is worthless
without him.
He has taught me everything
he knows.
I'm sorry, but if you think
you can go in to the office a
couple of days a week, sign some
papers, and take a vacation for
two weeks to write some short
story, you have absolutely no
idea what it takes to run a
business.
Where is it written that a
man needs to commit himself to
doing one thing for his entire
life?
No.
Art, business, business, art.
One complements the other.
You've never been able to
make a real commitment to
anything your entire life.
[ cash register beeping ]
Shit.
Have a nice day.
What makes you think you can
waltz into our lives after all
this time and take over like
you've been appointed to some
high office?
I'm the eldest.
So what?
And I'm the favorite.
You remember those goldfish
you used to love so much?
Mm-hmm.
[ drops spoon ]
[ laughs ]
[ mumbles ]
Where is everyone?
[ drops spoon ]
[ laughs ]
[ mumbles ]
Where is everyone?
They're gone.
It must be difficult being
your father's daughter.
I remember when I was a little
girl.
I would crawl into my parents'
bed at night and snuggle up to
my father.
There was a feeling that nothing
could go wrong as long as he
held me in his arms.
Oh.
Unfortunately, as I got older,
my mother told me to stay away
from him and go and find my own
husband.
[ chuckles ]
It was not too long after that
that I was standing at a bus
stop on a rainy day in January
when a distinguished man with
gray sideburns appeared from
nowhere, offered me his umbrella
and said, "Doesn't this moment
feel like a concerto?"
Oh, he was right.
It was exactly what that moment
felt like.
I knew exactly what he meant.
A feeling of warmth came over me
and I knew I had found...
God.
That's so beautiful.
Oui.
[ laughs ]
Have a chocolate.
Thank you.
Susan!
[ singing ]
They-- those fish were sick
anyway.
They were not.
They were perfectly fine.
They were sick.
You forgot to feed them.
Oh, I fed 'em.
Yeah.
I fed 'em.
No, you didn't.
I fed 'em double.
They were sick.
What?
Wha-- uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Did you hear that?
Did everybody hear that?
He fed 'em double!
What-- so what?
That would've killed them.
You murdered my fish.
Who cares?
They were fish!
They'd be dead by now anyway.
They were my fish!
Enough!
Mom, I really do wanna get
married and have children.
[ speaking French ]
There you are.
I've been looking all over for
you.
Try pediatrics.
W-w-what did she say?
Um...
She asked if somebody called
in an emergency.
Yeah, 15 minutes ago.
He could be dead by now.
[ speaking French ]
Breathe in my face.
Come on, come on.
She's a little upset.
See?
Her pupils are dilated.
Doesn't anybody test for drugs
around here?
But roadkill tastes best in
the summer.
It gives it a chance to fry a
little on the sidewalk.
But since they changed the
speed to 65, it's better than
the buffet they serve down on
route 56.
Squirrel's in season just 'bout
now.
The tail is nice and meaty from
stuffin' itself for the winter.
That's deer season.
Ah, I hear the flock's headin'
down into the city.
Say, aren't there a lot of
humans turnin' up at the local
dump?
Ya don't even have to
dodge the pickup trucks
anymore.
You take all the time you need.
Of course, human ain't
what it used to be because
there's just too many
preservatives.
What is he talking about now?
Simon?
[ sighs ]
Did you have your-- your job
interview?
Yes.
Yes, and did you get a job?
No.
That's a shame, son.
Overqualified.
I hope I didn't scare you
earlier.
It just felt like we made this
incredible connection.
[ gasps ]
[ speaking in French ]
What?
Terminated?
She means over.
Oh, is he all right?
[ speaking French ]
All right, this has gone far
enough.
Who's in charge here?
I want to see the manager.
Ah.
Mm-hmm.
Get out of my way.
Should someone go after her?
[ laughs ]
There is something really
wrong with his family.
It's hard to describe 'cause
everything's fine when you first
meet them.
But then you really get to know
them.
You begin to immerse
yourself.
Talk about yourself as if to
prove your worthiness or--
Once I got a gray hair.
I was still only in my 20s, you
know, but occasionally it is
possible for one discolored
strand of hair to just pop out
of nowhere.
Well, it just so happened that
this one strand of hair was
right in the back of my--
Front of my head and it was
in-- if I stood under a light,
it would shine, or even in broad
daylight.
Well, I could see his mother
eyeing that hair every time we
visited.
If we went over for dinner
with company, she would always
sit me in the darkest corner,
away from the other guests.
She bought me a hat for
Christmas.
She bought me a wig.
Then, one day, we were
walking down the street and she
reached over--
Grabbed several
strands of my hair and yanked
them out of my head.
"What the hell do you think
you're doing?" I said.
"You can thank me later," she
answered.
Still, it didn't matter what she
did to you.
You still always wanted to be
like a daughter to her.
Oh, boy.
[ sighs ]
Diane, it's Eli.
Um, I've been giving this a lot
of thought and I've decided
that it is over, all right?
I cannot go on like this.
Enough is enough, okay?
It's over, bye.
Bye, now.
But if you get this message in
the next few minutes, you can
reach me at 3-1-4-8-7-3-3.
Fuck.
[ inhales deeply ]
Mom?
What does an orgasm feel like?
Why, have you had one?
Not yet, but this girl in
grade eight says she has them
all the time.
She says it's the closest you
can get to death without really
dying. That's why, in French,
they call it petite mort.
Well, I never heard that.
So what's it like?
Um...
Baby, I feel uncomfortable
discussing this with you.
Does it hurt?
No.
Is it dangerous?
Of course not.
Then what's it like?
[ sighs ]
I don't know.
Um...
it's hard to describe.
Don't you ever have them?
[ footsteps echo ]
[ gasps ]
Oh, sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry, I didn't mean to scare
you.
I wanted to thank you and, um,
tell you how much I appreciated
the way you handled my mother.
De rien.
Um...
I've never seen anybody
put her in her place like that.
You were in total control of the
situation.
It must have something to do
with being surrounded by death
all the time.
It must give you some sort of
internal perspective.
[ speaking French ]
Yeah, okay, okay.
Do you believe in spontaneity?
You know, my friend Cici had
an affair with a Jewish man.
Because sometimes I think the
best things in life get away
from us because we're afraid to
act.
It was really very romantic.
He did everything for her.
The cooking, the cleaning, paid
the apartment, bills for medical
school.
You speak English.
Un peu.
Un peu.
So, uh...
this friend of yours.
Cici.
Oh, oui, Cici.
What exactly did she do for him?
Paris had been evacuating its
children.
There was talk of defending the
city street by street.
This plan was abandoned.
From the beginning, the French,
like the British, tried to spare
children the sight and sound of
war.
But the parting was hard...
You know, it suddenly
occurred to me that I know
nothing about you.
I don't even know your name.
We live in such different
worlds, you and me.
Every day, I stand in front of a
canvas, waiting for something to
inspire me.
But you, you wake up every
morning and you know exactly
where you're going to go and
exactly what you're going to do.
There must be something very
inspiring about that.
I'm sure you got problems that
come up, each very interesting
in its own way.
But basically, you'll know
you'll fix a television or two,
go home with some money in your
pocket and maybe some flowers
for your wife.
I'm not married.
Children?
No.
Diseases?
[ laughing ]
I'm just asking.
Do you know what a concerto is?
[ moaning ]
Oh, God.
It's not that I'm unwilling
to take responsibility for my
actions, but don't you find it
fascinating how little control
we have over our own lives?
About a year before I was born,
my parents had another son, but
he fell out of a window.
He died, and I was a replacement
child prescribed by a doctor who
was afraid that my parents would
become disillusioned if they
waited too long.
But nevertheless, my father
buried himself in his work, my
mother went to the cemetery six
days a week, and when I was
born, she couldn't hold me for
the first three months.
But, well, once she picked me
up, of course, she couldn't put
me down, but the point is,
I was never breast-fed.
When I was born, it was the
'50s.
Everything was wholesome,
everyone was happy, there was
optimism.
I was breast-fed until I was
four.
I'm not quite sure.
The images are really sketchy.
But I remember breast-feeding
from the housekeeper.
I remember sucking on something
while the eyes of a black child
were staring back at me.
And I remember wondering,
"Is this right?"
Oh, there must be parking
around here somewhere.
Hey, look.
It's Dad.
What?
[ brakes screech ]
Linda.
[ stammering ]
I'm not even gonna try to
explain this.
You know what the crazy thing
is?
I came here because I felt bad
for you.
I mean, I can deal with the
stewardesses, the secretaries,
even one of your actresses, but
a doctor?
No, she's only a nurse.
[ groans ]
Oh, hi.
Hi, sweetie.
What is it?
Is it because I'm not pretty
enough?
No.
I'm not smart enough?
That's not it.
Edward, at this point in
my life, I'm not prepared to go
back to school and be in a
classroom full of young,
ambitious students.
I don't want you to do that.
Well, then tell me what it
is.
What is it you want?
I don't know, but you've
changed.
I just want you to be you.
Which is?
You, you.
Which is?
The young girl I first met.
Well, I'm not anymore.
No, that's not what I
meant.
You know, I should have
known that eventually the
boomerang would come back at me.
You know, Edward, not all of us
can be made of silicone.
Okay, I know, but, you
know, parts of you can.
[ laughs ]
I'm sorry.
Chelsea!
Linda?
Linda!
Ow.
Linda!
Linda!
Ow, Jesus.
Linda!
Get in.
Linda!
Linda!
What?
Listen to me.
You're not taking her.
Yes, I am.
Chelsea, get out of the car.
Chelsea, stay.
Come on, Chelsea.
Stay.
Chelsea, come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
Baby, I'll buy you a bunny
rabbit.
Bunny rabbit, I'll buy you a
Rabbit convertible.
[ groans ]
Dad, I'm only 12.
[ tires screeching ]
[ car starts ]
My father met my mother when
he was still married.
[ tires screeching ]
[ car starts ]
My father met my mother when
he was still married.
She saw his picture in the
newspaper and decided she had to
have him.
She followed him to work,
slashed his tires and pulled up
just as he was about to call the
Auto Club.
Then, when he was on vacation
with his family in the Bahamas,
she called his hotel room at
3:00 in the morning and told him
that if he didn't fly home on
the next plane, she would throw
herself off a bridge.
My father deserted his family,
flew back to my mother and got
her pregnant, and that's how I
got to be me.
[ laughing ]
Susan, will you let the man
do his work?
Eli, where's Eli?
Yes, yes.
What?
Nothing.
What is it, coffee?
No, thank you.
This place is preposterous.
I don't know why I let you talk
me into coming here.
You're the one that said
there are too many Jews at the
Jewish.
I never said that.
But you've got to admit that
place is a zoo.
The way they cram four people
into a room.
Just the idea of mixing all
those diseases together, your
father would have a fit.
Did you see him?
See him?
They don't let you see anything
around here.
Just as man cannot look at
the sun face-to-face but is able
to make use of its light, in the
same fashion, she might not
comprehend the powers of God but
can still draw comfort from His
strength.
Services will be held in the
chapel in a few minutes.
People of the Jewish faith are
especially welcome.
Where are you going?
I need to talk to someone.
Well, what's wrong with this
family?
I'll be in church.
Ouch.
What, what, what?
My finger.
Oh, let me see, let me see.
Oh, it's bleeding.
Look at that.
Let me run it under some cold
water before it gets infected.
Come on.
No, it's nothing.
Oh, please.
Will you leave him alone and
just let him do his work?
I think there are some
Band-Aids in the bathroom, too.
No, really, it's nothing.
He said it's nothing.
Do you believe in
reincarnation?
What do you mean?
Yes.
The bed lies freshly made
and the sheet and the blanket
are folded over to the square of
the hypotenuse.
Why is this door locked?
Sparkling dentures hold still
in a sterile glass, but his gold
watch is still
tick-tick-ticking.
What's going on in there?
Are you all right?
[ moaning ]
Multiplying times...
[ pounding on door ]
Up in the vein and jumping
the bacteria, it possesses and
then it passes.
And it is chewing and teasing
and clenching until his flesh is
white like the--
What is the matter with
your head, huh?
What is wrong with you?
[ drops hat ]
[ window slides open ]
Jesus.
[ drops hat ]
[ window slides open ]
Jesus.
Sorry.
[ speaking French ]
Um...
Bless me, Father, for I have
sinned.
Yes, my son.
What are your problems?
Oh.
Well, essentially, it's my
brother.
What about your brother?
He, uh...
Um, how much time do I have?
Go on.
I never had my own shoes.
I mean, shoes that were
meant just for me.
Edward was always one size
larger and I always got his
shoes when he grew out of them.
I hated that.
Yes.
Yes, I'm listening.
I couldn't do anything about
it.
I never spoke up.
I always kept silent.
He was supposed to be
teaching that afternoon, but...
who would have thought with a
little bit of snow they would
cancel classes?
It was so beautiful that--
that everything was white.
I felt like falling back into
the powder and making an angel.
I was in the shower when the
doorbell rang.
There were footsteps leading
up to the door, which I remember
thinking was unusual because the
mail did not come until after
3:00.
And Simon was having his
morning nap.
The door was unlocked.
It started in the living
room, but I was too afraid that
the neighbors could spot us from
across the street, so...
But there was hardly enough room
in the kitchen or the bathroom.
The kettle was whistling on
the stove like it was about to
explode.
There wasn't even enough room
to store a vacuum cleaner.
I immediately thought the
worst, so I ran into the baby's
room.
I-it wasn't like we planned
to end up in his room.
Clothes were strewn in the
doorway.
It could've happened
anywhere.
A rhythmic creaking was
coming from the floorboards.
We were just kissing.
Four legs sticking out from
under the crib.
The baby was asleep.
The baby was crying.
The baby was asleep.
He was crying.
He was crying.
He was crying.
Um...
afterwards, he vanished for a
week and he didn't call.
What was I supposed to do?
And then, uh, when he did
come back, he acted as if
nothing had happened.
He didn't say a word.
She's never told me who it
was.
Through black, wired fences,
workers digging their own
trenches.
German shepherds barking,
freight trains arriving.
They packed them like pickles
and stacked them like nickels
and separated mothers and
fathers and sisters and
brothers.
Conductors, abductors,
it doesn't matter what you do.
Physicians, beauticians,
as long as you're a Jew.
Maggots to the left and faggots
to the right and shave down that
head, let me take a look at that
bite.
Don't mind the dust, there's a
little bit of must.
But the tiles are mold-free.
So you just go on in and take a
look and you'll see.
You will see.
Edward.
Edward.
Not now, Eli.
Look, Edward, I have to talk
to you.
Get out of the way, Eli.
No, hang on, hang on, hang
on.
I have something I have to
say to you.
Eli, another time.
You're really starting to get on
my nerves, all right?
[ grunts ]
Don't you get it?
She was my wife.
You're stretching my collar.
[ grunting ]
Hey, what's going on?
Stop it!
Stop it!
Boys, stop it right now!
Stop it!
You're gonna hurt each other.
Stop.
[ phone ringing ]
The phone rings.
Words are predictable.
Surrounded by family, she stands
alone when the kids should be
coming home from school.
Silver-white tassels dance with
each bough.
Cantor cry a haunting tenor
sniffling into a handkerchief.
Hello?
This is Mrs. Cooperberg.
[ singing ]
I felt it.
Oh, I know it sounds crazy, but
Mom, I swear I could feel
something move inside me.
He's dead.
No.
[ crying ]
Saul's gone, Shirley.
It's funny, but you never
really know if a dog has just
had sex.
They don't do anything
afterwards, so you-- you don't
know if it was good, you don't
know if it was bad, you don't
know if it was rape, you know,
you just don't know.
It's-- they don't show any
signs, you know?
I loved my dog.
He had no balls, but used to
still like humping my leg.
The vet said he was castrated
too late in life, his mind was
already set in its ways, you
know?
I used to hug him like he was my
girlfriend.
We'd roll around in the snow and
I'd hug him.
He couldn't hug me back because
his paws didn't bend like human
arms do, you know?
Sometimes, I would--
sometimes I wanted to be
hugged so badly that I would--
I would bend them back until he
cried.
When he disappeared, I
put posters up all around the
neighborhood.
I put out a bowl of his favorite
dog biscuits.
He slept at the foot of my
bed and if a boy ever came close
to me he'd growl and show his
teeth.
One time, he did bite this man's
leg because he was asking me
directions to the lookout.
My father told me that the
dog had been hit by a car, that
he had died instantly.
He didn't feel any pain.
That's around the time that I
got pregnant.
Everybody knew, but nobody said
anything.
A few weeks after that, I was
walking home from school and--
As I was walking home from
school one day, I felt the most
incredible warmth--
I could swear I heard his
bark.
And when I looked down, I saw
water pouring all over my legs.
And as I rounded the corner,
there he was.
He jumped in my arms.
He was licking me all over my
face.
The smell of bleach woke me
up.
It turned out, the dog had
been given away to a family in
Outremont, only he had escaped
and made his way back home.
My mother was holding my
hands.
I was in a hospital.
I asked her what had happened,
and she said I had had a bad
fall and that everything was
going to be okay.
[ rain pouring ]
Hold the umbrella over.
I'm getting a little wet.
They said it was just a spot.
What are we gonna do?
Don't worry, Mom.
It'll be all right.
I'll drive.
Simon, where's Simon?
I'm right here, Grandma.
Oh, hold onto me.
Who has the keys?
I'll drive.
But I'm-- I'm--
Let Eli drive.
Edward, come on.
You're going to catch cold.
There's nothing wrong with my
driving.
There's nothing wrong with my
driving.
This way.
[ horn honking ]
[ truck horn honking ]
I remember the first time
your father took me out.
[ horn honking ]
[ truck horn honking ]
I remember the first time
your father took me out.
My date was really with his
brother, but he was too sick to
make it.
So Saul took his place.
We ended up going out dancing
until the late hours of the
morning.
Oh, I was so beautiful then.
And your father so--
[ tires screeching ]
[ horn honking ]
[ gasps ]
What was that?
It was nothing.
Oh, shouldn't we go back?
Keep driving.
You sure you're not hurt?
She said she's all right.
What kind of perfume is that?
It's Number 9.
I think I'd like to get a job
in perfume.
I like perfume.
I have a good nose.
Maybe I could help?
Was it a boy or a girl?
[ music playing ]
Was it a boy or a girl?
It was a boy.
[ singing in Italian ]
They were a nice couple.
Jewish, from Toronto.
Couldn't have any children of
their own.
Couldn't have any children of
their own.
[ music playing ]
♪ A lidl zing ikh itst
♪ Far aykh vos iz a mekhaye
♪ Di melodi'z an alte nor di
♪ Verter zenen naye
♪ Dos gezungen hobn undzere
♪ Zeydes un oykh babes
♪ Un der tate flegt gezungen
♪ Nokhn kiki-shabes
♪ Sailor man, don't tell me of
♪ The seven seas of yore
♪ Java and Sumatra do not move
♪ Me anymore
♪ Say farewell to Finland
♪ Further inland than Algore
♪ Adios, Antilles, and so long
♪ To Singapore
♪ Having fun in London is like
♪ Flying on the floor
♪ Isle of Man I'll manage to
♪ Avoid like Manticore
♪ Budapest, I get no rest and
♪ Boston is a bore
♪ A man unique to my mystique
♪ In New York I adore
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ Chile is so silly that to be
♪ There is a chore
♪ Cameroon and Malta cannot
♪ Melt me to the core
♪ Show me mirth in Perth and I
♪ Will show you how to snore
♪ Dublin is too troublin'
♪ Y Peru es lo peor
♪ Sayonara, Tokyo
♪ By you I set no store
♪ Place your bets that Berlin
♪ Gets a zero after four
♪ Destination anywhere
♪ I told you once before
♪ No, no, no, I do not deign
♪ To go there anymore
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ Estoril, I get no thrill
♪ Though all your oceans roar
♪ Mad Seville, your barber
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ Estoril, I get no thrill
♪ Though all your oceans roar
♪ Mad Seville, your barber
♪ Left me shorn upon the shore
♪ Barcelona, larceny upon your
♪ Matador
♪ And arson is my wish upon
♪ Decatur's wan decor
♪ Ciao to China, bye to Bali
♪ Places I deplore
♪ Au revoir to Cote d'Azur
♪ On you I shut the door
♪ Later Laos, Katmandu, and
♪ Ta-ta Ecuador
♪ A man so Greek in his
♪ Physique in New York I adore
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man.
Uh-huh.
I'm listening.
Uh-huh.
The dog?
Well, put the thing in a kennel
like everyone else.
It's Linda, isn't it?
I'm not blaming her, but--
well, she does try and keep the
girls away from me and your
father.
That's what I'm talking about.
They're scared of us.
So don't talk to him.
Oh-- hold on, just a second.
Hello?
Oh, it's you, Susan.
Of course, I'm happy to hear
from you.
It's just that I'm on the other
line with your brother, Edward.
I-it doesn't look like he can
make it.
So now you make sure that you're
here.
Edward, that was Susan.
She says she won't come unless
you come and so now you have--
have to come, because if she
doesn't come, then Eli will come
all alone and he'll make me so
nervous and I'll have to ask him
to leave and then I'll leave and
then your father will be here
all alone.
Oh, hold on, just a second.
No, Eli.
No, Eli.
I don't care who he is, you
can't bring a friend to the
hospital.
Can't you ever come to anything
alone?
[ sighs ]
Listen, I can't talk to you now.
I'm on the other phone with your
brother.
Hello?
I did not.
I did not hang up on you, Susan.
You are so sensitive.
Good sensitive.
You're good sensitive.
[ music from headphones ]
[ music blaring ]
Edward, it's Susan.
[ music from headphones ]
[ music blaring ]
Edward, it's Susan.
Well, not so good.
That commission she was doing
for the AIDS center fell
through.
Supposedly cancer's making a
very big comeback.
Can't she do something for you?
For one of your sets?
Well, there can't be that much
of a difference.
Have you seen any of her
paintings lately?
Squares, triangles.
It's all very theatrical.
All right, I won't say another
word.
Susan, your brother wants to
know if you would be interested
in doing some posters for the--
of course not.
[ sighs ]
I know you're capable of--
just a second.
You'll have to call me back.
I'm still talking to Edward.
I'm not hanging up.
Bye.
Edward, she said no.
She didn't give a reason.
Of course she likes men, what
kind of thing is that to say
about your sister?
Uh, hold on.
Hello?
No, Eli.
No, Eli.
So I'm uptight.
That's the way I was brought up.
We washed our hands before every
meal and nobody could leave the
table until everyone had
finished what was on their
plate.
We were a family and that was
that.
Now I would like to think that
some of that had rubbed off onto
this family, but obviously, it
hasn't.
And I have no one to
blame but you children.
Hello?
Eli?
[ phone clicks ]
Susan?
[ phone clicks ]
Edward?
I'm not the one who tried to
kill myself.
You always have to bring that
up.
It's not something one easily
forgets.
It was an accident, all
right?
It was-- it was a simple
mistake, like cutting your
finger on a piece of paper.
Slipped on her stainless
steel floor.
Happened to land on her
wrists.
I had good reason, if you
haven't figured it out yet.
Which is what?
Mom had an affair.
Probably wasn't her first.
Dad bought a convertible.
He never let me drive it.
You know, I feel like I'm
floating in space here, you
know?
Like-- like-- like there's no
gravity.
That there's no point of
reference.
Can we talk about
medication, please?
Something to take him out
of his depression?
To ease the tension.
Calm his nerves.
I mean, I can't handle this
now.
My father is in the hospital,
my mother treats me as if I'm
six years old, and my-- my--
my horoscope this morning said
someone I fear will be coming
back into my life.
My father's on Prozac.
School bus went off the
highway over a bridge and into
one of the canals this morning.
That's terrible.
Oh, there were no children on
board.
Just the driver, and he was
already 76.
Well, it's still terrible.
Traffic's backed up past the
stadium.
How did you make it here on
time?
Back roads.
I should write a book on that.
What?
How to avoid traffic, things
like that.
Things like what?
Traffic tips.
How to maximize productivity in
traffic.
Alternate traffic routes, scenic
routes.
I think that would sell like
crazy.
I should talk to my friend David
in publishing about that.
Oh, come on, be serious.
Stick with one thing.
You've only been working with
Daddy for a few months and
already you want to go
gallivanting off to the
publishing world.
What, I'm restricted to doing
one thing for the rest of my
life?
I have many talents, Mom.
I'm sure you do, but stick
with one, do it well, then
everything else will fall into
place.
Besides, I'm sure it's already
been written.
[ choral singing ]
I don't understand.
It's almost 3:00.
What are they doing?
[ knock on door ]
It's been four hours.
Who are you?
Repairman.
I'm here to fix the television.
What's wrong with it?
The man staying in here was
complaining about the reception.
Said it only got one channel.
That man happens to be my
husband.
And he's downstairs right this
moment having a very serious
operation.
Sorry.
He'll be fine.
I'm sure.
Why, you met him?
Yesterday.
I didn't have my tools.
So you want me to fix it?
How did my husband seem to
you?
I don't know, happy?
No, I meant obviously you see
a lot of patients.
Well, how did he seem compared
to the others?
What do you want from him?
He fixes televisions.
Uh, healthy.
Well, you probably say that
to all the patients' relatives.
Nobody's ever asked.
So, um...
So you want me to fix it now
or maybe come back later?
Oh, no.
By all means, if my husband said
the picture isn't clear...
It's clear, it's just
crooked.
Well, then straighten things
out, please.
What's the point of spending all
the extra money on a private
room if it only gets one
channel?
What's the point of spending all
the extra money on a private
room if it only gets one
channel?
Only gets one channel.
[ door closes ]
Hi, I'm so sorry I'm late.
Oh, ugh, my mother is
embarrassed by my paintings and
is threatening to cut me off
unless I get a job.
My father has to have an
operation and my sciatic nerve
has been acting up again.
Oh.
This is Bill.
I met him this morning at the
museum.
Oh, I wanted to bring him along
with me because I want him to
see me for who I really am.
When I'm at my most vulnerable,
when I'm off guard, reaching a
deep emotional crisis, at my
lowest point, unable to speak
without bawling my eyes out.
I want him to see me when
I'm me.
I hope that isn't a problem for
you, huh?
Hey.
Bill is a man of few words.
He doesn't say anything unless
it's absolutely necessary.
A real minimalist.
And yet he's incredibly
emotional and altruistic.
Right, Bill?
[ sighs ]
You're late.
I'm not late.
Yes, you are.
No, I'm not.
I said I'd be here at a quarter
to 2:00 and it's not even 2:00
yet.
Can't win.
It's after 3:00.
No, it's not.
Yes, it is.
According to my watch, it
is-- oh, my watch must've
stopped.
I didn't do it on purpose.
Of course not.
Who's that?
Television repairman.
So she tries to change the
subject.
Oh, this is ridiculous.
Yes, it's ridiculous.
We buy you a watch with a
five-year battery just for this
very reason, so that this won't
happen.
It's waterproof, shockproof,
bombproof, and then today,
today of all days, the
battery has to go dead.
Yes, it is ridiculous.
I said I'm sorry.
Susan.
What?
Susan, can't you afford a
bra?
I don't believe in them.
Oh, you believe in sagging
breasts?
No, I believe in the human
body.
Is there something wrong with
that?
Oy, I have such a headache.
What are you doing?
I made this for Daddy.
Well, you're not going to
hang it in here.
You like my sister?
What is it?
It's fruit.
What kind of fruit?
Um, pomegranates, peaches,
plums, raisins.
Are raisins considered fruit?
Of course.
Like, uh, prunes.
And that's a bowl.
[ scoffs ] Ha.
[ chuckles ]
That's a tablecloth.
I love it.
Me, too.
You do, really?
Yeah, I love it.
You're not just saying that?
I love it.
Isn't that enough?
Yes, of course it's enough.
But, well, um, hmm.
What do you love about it?
Everything.
Mm, but why do you love it?
What specifically?
I love it.
I look at it and I love it.
I love you.
Don't do that.
What?
That!
You're treating me like that.
You make me feel like you don't
take me seriously.
Oh, that's ridiculous.
What do you love about it?
The colors.
And?
And I don't understand the
rest.
What don't you understand?
Where's the fruit?
It's abstract.
I see.
What do you see?
Abstract.
You can't see abstract.
It is abstract.
Right.
Right what?
I don't know.
What do you want me to say?
[ groans ]
[ sighs ]
I mean, when you've got
friends like mine...
♪ Isn't it warm?
♪ Isn't it rosy?
♪ Side by side
♪ By side
♪ Ports in a storm
[ horn honking ]
♪ We are cozy
♪ Side by side
♪ By side
♪ Everything shines
♪ How sweet
♪ Side by side
♪ By side
♪ Parallel lines...
[ siren blares ]
♪ Everyone winks
♪ By side
♪ Parallel lines...
[ siren blares ]
♪ Everyone winks
♪ Nobody's nosy
♪ Side by side.
I know what we talked about
last time, but I just can't help
myself.
It's not like I go out looking
for it or anything.
It's just something takes hold
of me and shakes me until I give
in.
Chemical reaction.
Billions of neutrons and
protons, electrons building up
inside of me.
It's genetic.
After all, you're the one that
said we should be totally honest
and say exactly what's on our
mind, no matter how deranged or
perverted it might sound.
Huh?
Just between you and me, don't
you find that young girls these
days mature a lot faster than
they used to?
[ door opens ]
They say it's something in the
milk.
Sorry I'm late.
Where are the girls?
Uh, Chelsea's on her way from
school and Lisa went to visit a
friend.
A friend?
Do you wanna argue with her?
How can you let her go see a
friend when she knows perfectly
well--
Do you want to argue with
her?
She's ten years old.
Do you want to argue with
her?
All right, really.
Okay.
And Chelsea?
She'll be here.
When?
She'll be here!
Fine.
Are we relaxed now?
Yes.
Calm?
Yes.
Not going to make me stick
your head under the shower again
to cool off, no?
No.
Good.
Before we begin, I just-- I want
her to know that I really
respect her.
I can't believe what a
bastard he is.
Go ahead.
I hate you.
Mm-hmm.
So much.
I deserve it.
No, I'm not going to give him
that satisfaction this time.
It's important for us to
remain calm in this situation.
And be honest.
We can't think of ourselves.
Wouldn't you agree with that?
Be honest.
We have to remember that
whatever is said here today goes
way beyond you and I.
We have to put aside our own
emotions.
We have to think of our
children.
Even-- even of our children's
children.
There is just one thing that
I need to know.
Now, did she used to wait for
you stripped down naked in the
hotel room or discreetly dressed
in a trench coat in the lobby?
We have to give the
impression of stability.
Naked in bed or dressed in
the lobby?
A loving atmosphere.
Bed or lobby?
[ door opens, closes ]
I don't want to be here.
I'd like that to stand for the
record.
Honey...
[ clears throat ]
your mother and I haven't been
getting along very well lately
and we're considering a
temporary separation.
Baby, your father's taken up
with a young girl from McGill
who he's been fucking in a hotel
room two blocks away from our
home every time he goes to walk
the dog at night.
[ sighs ]
Can I have a dollar for the
soda machine?
Oh, sure.
Here.
What do you say?
Thank you.
Yeah, right.
[ door opens ]
This it?
No, no, get it right.
Just put it up, Eli.
Straighten it out.
Hello.
Oh, Edward.
Sorry I'm late.
It's all right, darling.
Linda couldn't make it.
She sends her love.
She'll try to come tomorrow
with the kids.
Oh, that's not necessary.
I mean, she shouldn't take them
out of school.
Well, we'll see.
About what?
Nothing, we'll just see.
Eli.
Edward.
Oh.
Good of you to make it.
He's my father.
Of course I'm gonna make it.
No, with your busy schedule
and all, it's good of you to
make it.
Well, it's good of you to
make it, too.
That's a nice jacket.
Is it new?
No, it's Dad's.
You hate Dad's clothes.
Not this jacket.
It's a perfect fit.
Yeah, if you lose the
stomach, huh?
What stomach?
Susan, how are ya?
Sold three paintings.
Good, good.
Your breasts are hanging out.
These are really beautiful
flowers.
Have you ever seen anything like
these?
Never.
Never.
Oh, did you see your picture
in the newspaper yesterday?
No.
I got it for you.
"Edward Cooperberg,
Entrepreneur, Brings Cats to
Town."
Oh, shit.
That reminds me, I have to
cancel a press conference for
this evening.
Oh, Edward.
You take on too much.
Yeah.
You work too hard.
Yeah.
You know there are some of us
who work just as hard as Edward?
[ scoffs ] Honey, don't be so
sensitive all the time.
I'm not comparing.
I think that he looks great.
Where'd you get the suntan,
Edward?
Uh, L.A.
L.A., great.
He comes in after me and it's
all right that he's late, but
with me, bleh.
Uh, excuse me.
There is a very big difference.
You can make your own hours.
People don't depend on you the
way they do your brother.
People depend on me.
Of course they do.
People depend on me.
Of course they do.
I wasn't saying that they don't.
But how can you compare a
painting to an entire theater
audience?
So now you're telling me that
"Cats" is more important than
one of my paintings?
Let's not start.
I didn't start this.
All right, I started it.
Let's just finish it.
God.
Calm down.
Ooh, I hate it when he does
that.
Calm down, calm down.
Don't you dare do that to me.
I can't take this anymore,
Edward.
Would you please go downstairs
and ask the doctor what's going
on?
I asked Eli to go, but--
Please do not talk about me
like I'm not in the room.
Look, I don't see what good it
will do him.
The doctor will tell us
something when he has something
to tell us.
Edward, please.
Just to ease my mind, would you
do it?
I'll go.
No, Eli.
You had your chance.
Now I want Edward to go.
Go, Eli.
No, no.
She obviously wants you to go,
Edward.
You go.
This is ridiculous.
I'll go.
No, I said Edward.
Edward, please.
He's the eldest, he should go.
Thank you.
I don't see what good it will
do.
[ bangs ]
[ buzzing ]
Oui, hello?
Oui.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
[ elevator dings ]
Madame?
No.
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
You know, a public facility
like this can seem so impersonal
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
You know, a public facility
like this can seem so impersonal
sometimes.
Sort of like a train station.
People coming in, people going
out, coming in, going out.
But what's made it different for
me--
[ speaking French ]
You see...
But what's made it different for
me--
[ speaking French ]
You see...
I've been having these nocturnal
emissions lately and I-I don't
want to bother one of the
doctors about that.
You might be able to take a
look at them, see what you
think.
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
[ speaking French ]
I don't know. I'm not sure.
Uh, father.
My father's having an operation.
Le nom?
Cooperberg.
Oui, Saul Cooperberg.
Yes, oui.
Un instant.
[ speaking French ]
Excuse me.
Do you know the name of that
nurse that was just here?
Well, you wouldn't happen to
know if she has any interest in
acting, would you?
What?
I mean, she's not your
daughter or anything, is she?
[ chuckles ]
I don't understand.
How long does it take to remove
a spot?
I thought they were going to
remove a lung?
Who said that?
That's ridiculous.
Why would they do that?
In case it spread.
I never saw a man look as
healthy as he did this morning.
The doctor said it was
nothing.
Nothing?
He didn't say nothing.
Your father's almost 70 years
old.
Nothing is nothing.
There's still a spot.
Any operation at that age is
something.
Now can we just please change
the subject?
There's a gallery in Berlin
that's going to be showing my
work.
Berlin, Germany?
I don't see the problem with
that.
We don't go there.
You have a Mercedes.
It was made in the United
States.
Oh, that reminds me.
Go call Simon.
He should be here for his
grandfather.
Oh, don't worry.
He'll be here.
He's got a job interview with
the sanitation department this
morning.
A garbageman?
No, sanitation.
Scooping dead animals off the
highway.
What happened to his last
job?
He got laid off.
From McDonald's?
Burger King.
I don't understand why you can't
get that right.
It's very important to him.
I worry about that boy.
I have it under control.
I live in a big gray bus and
every night it crashes, but I
always come out of it in one
piece.
All around me, body parts
are blown to bits, heads
detached from torsos, ripped
arms and legs still twitch to
the beat of a fan belt.
So I brush myself off and I
start walking down this long
road until I come to an
old-fashioned telephone booth.
I knock on the door.
The glass steams up like a
kettle.
There's moaning from inside.
And the door opens.
Inside there's a woman and a
man, naked.
He has no balls.
She has no nipples.
[ panting ]
[ clears throat ]
Oh, my God.
[ panting ]
[ clears throat ]
Oh, my God.
[ pew door slams ]
And on the Russian front,
crisis was nearing as Stalin...
[ pew door slams ]
And on the Russian front,
crisis was nearing as Stalin...
Here.
What for?
Just do me this one favor,
huh?
Ha!
We're Jewish.
They all say the same thing.
Which is?
Look, your father believes in
God and so do I.
I have to make a phone call.
Don't touch that phone.
You're being hypocritical.
What, all of a sudden you
don't believe in God?
I never did.
Well, then why did you have
your wife convert?
How long do you think that
the operation will take?
She did it for you, Mom.
And if you want to know, that's
half the reason we're not still
together.
There's this art opening--
Oh, so now I'm responsible
for his failed marriage.
When was the last time any of
us went to synagogue?
Your father and I go every
year.
Every year for Yom Kippur.
Now that's worse than not going
at all.
You use religion to maintain
some kind of social status in
the community, to further your
own selfish motives.
Do you know what the punishment
for that is?
You know--
Praise Jesus.
If you please, there's--
You know, sometimes I find it
hard to believe that you're my
son.
Well, I am and I wish you
would accept me for who I am.
Yeah, which is?
So you don't think that I can
go?
You are not going anywhere.
Now, "The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures."
[ laughs ]
I am not giving in to this
blackmail.
"He leadeth me in the path of
righteousness for his namesake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for thou art
with me."
What page?
From the beginning.
[ together ] "The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still
waters.
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in paths of
righteousness for his namesake."
[ door opens ]
Bonjour.
What does she want?
Change the sheets.
What for?
They do these things.
It's a hospital.
They just changed them this
morning.
See, now they're gonna charge us
double.
I knew we should have gone to
the Jewish Memorial.
I mean--
No, there's no extra charge.
I'm a volunteer.
My name is Joelle.
Fresh troops and supplies
from England and India arrived
in Egypt.
I can help you.
Thank you.
Very kind of you.
Working with linens isn't one of
my strengths.
I'm much better with children.
Chocolate?
No, thank you.
You're allergic.
How did you know that?
They say I'm a very good
listener.
If any of you would like to
talk.
Why don't you just change the
sheets, huh?
Off mit your pants.
But I'm not a Jew.
Sieg heil.
Heil Hitler.
You are Jewish!
He is not.
He is so.
He was circumcised.
So are a lot of people.
Not by rabbis.
My brother was snipped when
he was 13.
Does that make him Swahili?
Technically, he is Jewish.
Technically, he's Catholic.
Technically, his mother was
converted against her will, and
since you never really know who
the father is--
[ laughing ]
Christ.
Oh, that's very funny.
I should have known--
That's hysterical.
That's just-- just a scream.
Every time she used to enter
a synagogue, she would cross
herself.
When I was a teenager, I was
afraid of bringing anyone home.
Nobody was good enough.
If they were Jewish, they
weren't religious enough.
If they were religious, they
weren't Jewish enough.
It was after my bar mitzvah
that I got into the habit of
dating Catholic girls and
cheating on them with Jewish
girls.
Usually blondes with nose
jobs.
[ door opens ]
Oh, Edward.
What did he say?
Come on, tell us.
There's been a slight
complication.
What complication?
Well, he stopped breathing.
Oh, my God!
But they resuscitated him,
he's doing fine.
They're-- they'll tell us when
they know more.
There's no brain damage?
What brain damage?
It's just when the brain is
deprived of oxygen for an
extended period of time, it can
lose its capacity--
Thank you, Eli.
You mean he's going to be a
vegetable?
Don't worry.
He's going to be fine.
I want to donate a lung.
Just tell me, who do I talk to?
He doesn't need your lung.
Oh, so now you're also a
doctor?
In the article, a little girl
lay at the bottom of a frozen
river for nearly 15 minutes and
nothing happened to her.
Good for the Eskimos.
Edward, don't we know some
doctors that we could call in
Houston?
They're supposed to be the best.
How did we ever end up in this
hospital?
You're the one who said--
Oh, would you stop reminding
me of everything I said?
It doesn't mean anything.
[ beeping ]
What's that?
It's my beeper.
It's my beeper.
Your beeper?
Now?
You're going to make phone calls
now?
Your father is battling to stay
alive and you're going to make
phone calls?
Does this phone dial out?
Don't use that phone.
Does it dial out?
Put that phone down.
I am very angry right now.
I just want you to know I am
very angry, but I'm not going to
show it because I am sensitive
to the situation here.
But under any other
circumstances, I would not
tolerate this aggressive
behavior from you.
[ door closes ]
Would someone open an window,
please?
Oh, I'm going to throw up.
Oh.
Edward?
Yup.
Go call Linda.
Tell her to get over here and
bring the kids.
The kids should be here.
Why don't we have any kids?
All the other hospital rooms
have kids.
Call her.
Let's wait.
Why are we watching this?
It still only gets one
channel.
Oh.
Who are you?
It's me, you okay?
What's wrong?
Right now?
My father's-- my father's
practically...
You're what?
Where?
Down where?
I'll be there in two minutes.
[ water running ]
Susan, Edward and I are going
out for some air.
[ water running ]
Susan, Edward and I are going
out for some air.
[ panting ]
The last thing he said to me
before they wheeled him away
was, "See ya."
[ panting ]
The last thing he said to me
before they wheeled him away
was, "See ya."
Would you stop talking about
him like he's dead?
He's going to be fine.
Don't talk to me like that.
I'm not your wife.
Mom, I'm getting a divorce.
Aw, no, not another one.
What do you mean, not another
one?
Well, this is your second.
Your brother's makes three.
Susan-- I wouldn't even call it
a marriage, so how can you call
it a divorce?
What about the children?
She's taken them-- taken them
to her mother's.
I'm a nervous wreck.
And you want sympathy?
Linda's such a sweet woman.
You hate Linda.
Why are you taking her side?
Maybe I'm just fed up.
I don't know.
Maybe we should have gone to
live in Israel when we had the
chance.
What does Israel have to do
with it?
People are happy there.
Look at Morty, your-- your
father's ex-partner.
He lives there.
He has four kids, 15
grandchildren, none of them are
divorced, and they get together
ever Saturday.
They have lunch.
I've seen pictures.
Smiles like you wouldn't
believe.
Button up.
What are you doing?
Ma.
Well, it's cold.
Here, just-- just button up.
All right.
There.
There.
[ children chattering ]
[ air blowing ]
[ moaning ]
Yeah.
[ children chattering ]
[ air blowing ]
[ moaning ]
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[ children chattering ]
Shh.
[ moaning ]
What do you think you're
doing?
[ moaning ]
What do you think you're
doing?
Get out!
Shh.
Out!
Out!
[ moaning resumes ]
Hot Champlain wind blows in
from the south.
[ moaning resumes ]
Hot Champlain wind blows in
from the south.
She kisses his face, caressing
his mouth.
They hum like jet engines...
Engines going no place in
time.
No clouds...
No turbulence...
just altitude and wine.
He was going to be a famous
poet and, um, I was going to
take painting classes.
I had graduated with honors
from McGill.
We were going to live in
Paris.
But times were tough.
I even started courses at
Berlitz.
I took a job teaching little
brats at a private school in
Westmont.
Mansard roofs, fresh-baked
baguettes with brie running down
our chins.
For four years, every night
after everybody went to bed, I
wrote.
Hundreds of poems, thousands of
essays.
I even put together a little
play, which my brother refused
to even look at.
But in the end you--
In the end--
In the end you never sent
out a damn thing.
I was-- I couldn't bear the
rejection.
I was paralyzed.
We moved to Chomedey.
So I could continue teaching.
Sacrificed my career for him
and sold cosmetics for Chanel.
I did my best.
I can't stand his
indecisiveness, where nothing
gets done and time just passes
by.
Money was never an issue when
we first met.
I mean, if I'm not going to
live the artistic life, at
least let me be rich.
[ laughs ]
I don't know.
[ laughs ]
I don't know.
[ people chattering ]
[ baby babbling ]
Monarch butterflies are
unlike any other butterfly in
[ people chattering ]
[ baby babbling ]
Monarch butterflies are
unlike any other butterfly in
the world.
They're like royalty, floating
kings and queens.
What makes them better?
Not better, just different.
Kings and queens have the same
blood as you and me.
We just look at them
differently.
There's fewer of them.
They're less accessible.
We desire them more.
Like caviar.
You can only see Monarchs for a
brief period of time.
Every year they fly thousands of
miles around the world.
But they always come back to the
same place to die.
Millions of them.
Remarkable.
Actually, it reminds me of my
own work.
Really?
Mm.
Not so much in form, but more in
the way it evokes certain primal
emotions.
Not in texture, but
thematically and, I guess, to a
certain extent, spatially.
Negative, but not positive.
I'm Susan Cooperberg.
We met a few weeks ago at the
symposium on bilingual
expressionism.
I brought my portfolio with me.
Oh, I wish-- if it's of any
interest to you, I would be
honored if you could look at it.
I'd be delighted.
Maybe we could find somewhere
more private where we can
talk.
Maybe we could find somewhere
more private where we can
talk.
I can't tell you how much I
appreciate this.
I've always had faith in myself.
If someone would just give me a
chance, I know I could prove
myself.
Not that I'm one to blame others
for my problems.
It's my fault, my fault, my
fault, my fault, my fault.
I understand.
You're too hard on yourself.
You think so?
Oh, yes.
I can see it in your work.
It's all there.
The banana looking nice and
innocent, while the helpless
pomegranate is split open into
two, its uterus exposed, its
soul being ripped out as the
red juices run down the white
sheet.
It's all there.
The little girl...
the doctor...
the baby.
The shame of it all.
You really do understand me.
[ moaning ]
I can't do this.
[ crying ]
Oh.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
[ crying continues ]
[ laughing ]
Do you think we're the only ones
separated who still have sex?
[ crying continues ]
[ laughing ]
Do you think we're the only ones
separated who still have sex?
Once a week for ten years?
That's more sex than we had when
we were married.
You never acted as if you
wanted me when we were married.
You never acted as if we were
married when I wanted you.
Oh.
Hmm.
You've been eating
peanuts again, haven't you?
Do you think that you could
come back to the hospital with
me?
You know I couldn't possibly
be in the same room as your
family.
What about Simon?
[ sighs ]
Susan?
Susan!
Piano lessons, speed-reading
workshops, science seminars, the
best teachers, the best tutors,
the best education for both of
them, and where did they send
me? Public school.
It was my first big show and
we had great reviews.
I needed a small loan, and so I
asked my mother.
My mother went to my father.
My father was furious that I'd
gone to my mother, but asked me
to ask my mother.
My mother asked me to ask my
father nicely, and by that time,
the show had closed.
They knew that I was
incapable of making a living on
my own and they took advantage
of that.
See, they gave me a credit card.
Now, I couldn't stand that kind
of pressure, so I went out and
bought a Winnebago.
After my divorce, I needed
someone to cosign a loan to buy
my condo and my father refused.
He said that it would make me
too self-sufficient and that no
man would ever want to marry me.
The more successful I got,
the more insecure I felt.
The more arrogant I became, the
more women I seduced.
And so I became known as
Edward's sister.
Edward's brother.
Edward's brother's wife.
Edward's wife.
Second wife.
Sometimes I listen to my
family and I wonder...
am I like that?
What was wrong?
Wrong?
Nothing is wrong.
Why does something always have
to be wrong?
You know, it's possible for
things to be a little faulty, a
little unbalanced, a little
askew, a little off-kilter.
It doesn't mean something is
wrong.
It was Diane, wasn't it?
No.
[ chuckles ]
It's written all over your
forehead.
All right, so what?
It was Diane.
What's wrong with that?
I love her.
Love?
You want to talk to me about
love?
Don't talk to me about love.
None of you kids have any idea
of the meaning of the word.
Real love takes real commitment.
Look at your father and me.
You think we never had problems?
Of course we did.
But we worked them out.
We sacrificed our own personal
needs for the good of you
children.
[ toilet flushing ]
[ door opens ]
I threw up.
Oh, it's not that anorexia
thing again.
Ma, I never had anorexia.
I just can't stand the smell of
hospitals.
It's the bleach.
Yeah, it brings back so many
horrible memories.
Aren't you finished yet?
Almost done.
Good.
Unless of course it's the
tube.
What?
Well, then I'll have to rip
the whole thing out.
Mom?
Do you love me?
Of course I love you, Susan.
They can't hold us here like
hostages.
The windows don't open, the
television doesn't work.
I have to speak to someone in
charge.
Emergency, emergency!
Mom!
What?
I need to know that you love
me and that you accept me for
whatever I do or whoever I am.
Is that lipstick I see?
No.
I would have been happy to
show you how to put it on.
It's not my lipstick.
Then whose is it?
It's-- I just kissed another
woman.
[ drops tool ]
Call Dr. Martin.
My pediatrician?
Well, I don't want to talk
about it now.
I want to talk about it.
Eli, Edward, would you please
go downstairs and get me a cup
of coffee?
Why do we have to leave?
She always does this.
I didn't ask you for your
opinion.
I didn't ask you for your
opinion.
[ sighs ] All right.
When did this happen?
When?
It-- what does it matter when it
happened?
It just happened and I wish that
you would deal with it.
You're doing this to hurt me.
That's what this is all about.
I feel so sorry for this
generation.
Television.
Yeah.
What are you doing?
I'm looking through the
classifieds for you.
You obviously have too much time
on your hands.
I don't need you to do that.
Ah, now, look.
Here's something.
They need hands.
They're looking for hands for
modeling.
Now, if you had stopped biting
your fingernails, they'd
consider you for this, probably.
You know, your father loves my
hands.
Mom, I am asking you a
question.
What?
What are you asking me?
I need to know if you'll be
there for me and support me in
whatever I choose to do.
I need to know if you'll be
there for me and support me in
whatever I choose to do.
Well, Susan...
you should know by now that
every action has a consequence.
Now, we all make mistakes.
Here's a few dollars.
Go buy yourself a nice dress.
[ crying ]
Oh, I don't know why I stay part
of this family.
[ crying ]
Oh, I don't know why I stay part
of this family.
"The friction within a family
is a counterpart of the wars
between nations."
Jehovah's Witness?
Rabbi Nachman.
[ door slams ]
I got to go.
Coffee break.
If anything happens to Dad--
I can handle it.
He keeps everything in his
head.
Doesn't even use a calculator.
The business is worthless
without him.
He has taught me everything
he knows.
I'm sorry, but if you think
you can go in to the office a
couple of days a week, sign some
papers, and take a vacation for
two weeks to write some short
story, you have absolutely no
idea what it takes to run a
business.
Where is it written that a
man needs to commit himself to
doing one thing for his entire
life?
No.
Art, business, business, art.
One complements the other.
You've never been able to
make a real commitment to
anything your entire life.
[ cash register beeping ]
Shit.
Have a nice day.
What makes you think you can
waltz into our lives after all
this time and take over like
you've been appointed to some
high office?
I'm the eldest.
So what?
And I'm the favorite.
You remember those goldfish
you used to love so much?
Mm-hmm.
[ drops spoon ]
[ laughs ]
[ mumbles ]
Where is everyone?
[ drops spoon ]
[ laughs ]
[ mumbles ]
Where is everyone?
They're gone.
It must be difficult being
your father's daughter.
I remember when I was a little
girl.
I would crawl into my parents'
bed at night and snuggle up to
my father.
There was a feeling that nothing
could go wrong as long as he
held me in his arms.
Oh.
Unfortunately, as I got older,
my mother told me to stay away
from him and go and find my own
husband.
[ chuckles ]
It was not too long after that
that I was standing at a bus
stop on a rainy day in January
when a distinguished man with
gray sideburns appeared from
nowhere, offered me his umbrella
and said, "Doesn't this moment
feel like a concerto?"
Oh, he was right.
It was exactly what that moment
felt like.
I knew exactly what he meant.
A feeling of warmth came over me
and I knew I had found...
God.
That's so beautiful.
Oui.
[ laughs ]
Have a chocolate.
Thank you.
Susan!
[ singing ]
They-- those fish were sick
anyway.
They were not.
They were perfectly fine.
They were sick.
You forgot to feed them.
Oh, I fed 'em.
Yeah.
I fed 'em.
No, you didn't.
I fed 'em double.
They were sick.
What?
Wha-- uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Did you hear that?
Did everybody hear that?
He fed 'em double!
What-- so what?
That would've killed them.
You murdered my fish.
Who cares?
They were fish!
They'd be dead by now anyway.
They were my fish!
Enough!
Mom, I really do wanna get
married and have children.
[ speaking French ]
There you are.
I've been looking all over for
you.
Try pediatrics.
W-w-what did she say?
Um...
She asked if somebody called
in an emergency.
Yeah, 15 minutes ago.
He could be dead by now.
[ speaking French ]
Breathe in my face.
Come on, come on.
She's a little upset.
See?
Her pupils are dilated.
Doesn't anybody test for drugs
around here?
But roadkill tastes best in
the summer.
It gives it a chance to fry a
little on the sidewalk.
But since they changed the
speed to 65, it's better than
the buffet they serve down on
route 56.
Squirrel's in season just 'bout
now.
The tail is nice and meaty from
stuffin' itself for the winter.
That's deer season.
Ah, I hear the flock's headin'
down into the city.
Say, aren't there a lot of
humans turnin' up at the local
dump?
Ya don't even have to
dodge the pickup trucks
anymore.
You take all the time you need.
Of course, human ain't
what it used to be because
there's just too many
preservatives.
What is he talking about now?
Simon?
[ sighs ]
Did you have your-- your job
interview?
Yes.
Yes, and did you get a job?
No.
That's a shame, son.
Overqualified.
I hope I didn't scare you
earlier.
It just felt like we made this
incredible connection.
[ gasps ]
[ speaking in French ]
What?
Terminated?
She means over.
Oh, is he all right?
[ speaking French ]
All right, this has gone far
enough.
Who's in charge here?
I want to see the manager.
Ah.
Mm-hmm.
Get out of my way.
Should someone go after her?
[ laughs ]
There is something really
wrong with his family.
It's hard to describe 'cause
everything's fine when you first
meet them.
But then you really get to know
them.
You begin to immerse
yourself.
Talk about yourself as if to
prove your worthiness or--
Once I got a gray hair.
I was still only in my 20s, you
know, but occasionally it is
possible for one discolored
strand of hair to just pop out
of nowhere.
Well, it just so happened that
this one strand of hair was
right in the back of my--
Front of my head and it was
in-- if I stood under a light,
it would shine, or even in broad
daylight.
Well, I could see his mother
eyeing that hair every time we
visited.
If we went over for dinner
with company, she would always
sit me in the darkest corner,
away from the other guests.
She bought me a hat for
Christmas.
She bought me a wig.
Then, one day, we were
walking down the street and she
reached over--
Grabbed several
strands of my hair and yanked
them out of my head.
"What the hell do you think
you're doing?" I said.
"You can thank me later," she
answered.
Still, it didn't matter what she
did to you.
You still always wanted to be
like a daughter to her.
Oh, boy.
[ sighs ]
Diane, it's Eli.
Um, I've been giving this a lot
of thought and I've decided
that it is over, all right?
I cannot go on like this.
Enough is enough, okay?
It's over, bye.
Bye, now.
But if you get this message in
the next few minutes, you can
reach me at 3-1-4-8-7-3-3.
Fuck.
[ inhales deeply ]
Mom?
What does an orgasm feel like?
Why, have you had one?
Not yet, but this girl in
grade eight says she has them
all the time.
She says it's the closest you
can get to death without really
dying. That's why, in French,
they call it petite mort.
Well, I never heard that.
So what's it like?
Um...
Baby, I feel uncomfortable
discussing this with you.
Does it hurt?
No.
Is it dangerous?
Of course not.
Then what's it like?
[ sighs ]
I don't know.
Um...
it's hard to describe.
Don't you ever have them?
[ footsteps echo ]
[ gasps ]
Oh, sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry, I didn't mean to scare
you.
I wanted to thank you and, um,
tell you how much I appreciated
the way you handled my mother.
De rien.
Um...
I've never seen anybody
put her in her place like that.
You were in total control of the
situation.
It must have something to do
with being surrounded by death
all the time.
It must give you some sort of
internal perspective.
[ speaking French ]
Yeah, okay, okay.
Do you believe in spontaneity?
You know, my friend Cici had
an affair with a Jewish man.
Because sometimes I think the
best things in life get away
from us because we're afraid to
act.
It was really very romantic.
He did everything for her.
The cooking, the cleaning, paid
the apartment, bills for medical
school.
You speak English.
Un peu.
Un peu.
So, uh...
this friend of yours.
Cici.
Oh, oui, Cici.
What exactly did she do for him?
Paris had been evacuating its
children.
There was talk of defending the
city street by street.
This plan was abandoned.
From the beginning, the French,
like the British, tried to spare
children the sight and sound of
war.
But the parting was hard...
You know, it suddenly
occurred to me that I know
nothing about you.
I don't even know your name.
We live in such different
worlds, you and me.
Every day, I stand in front of a
canvas, waiting for something to
inspire me.
But you, you wake up every
morning and you know exactly
where you're going to go and
exactly what you're going to do.
There must be something very
inspiring about that.
I'm sure you got problems that
come up, each very interesting
in its own way.
But basically, you'll know
you'll fix a television or two,
go home with some money in your
pocket and maybe some flowers
for your wife.
I'm not married.
Children?
No.
Diseases?
[ laughing ]
I'm just asking.
Do you know what a concerto is?
[ moaning ]
Oh, God.
It's not that I'm unwilling
to take responsibility for my
actions, but don't you find it
fascinating how little control
we have over our own lives?
About a year before I was born,
my parents had another son, but
he fell out of a window.
He died, and I was a replacement
child prescribed by a doctor who
was afraid that my parents would
become disillusioned if they
waited too long.
But nevertheless, my father
buried himself in his work, my
mother went to the cemetery six
days a week, and when I was
born, she couldn't hold me for
the first three months.
But, well, once she picked me
up, of course, she couldn't put
me down, but the point is,
I was never breast-fed.
When I was born, it was the
'50s.
Everything was wholesome,
everyone was happy, there was
optimism.
I was breast-fed until I was
four.
I'm not quite sure.
The images are really sketchy.
But I remember breast-feeding
from the housekeeper.
I remember sucking on something
while the eyes of a black child
were staring back at me.
And I remember wondering,
"Is this right?"
Oh, there must be parking
around here somewhere.
Hey, look.
It's Dad.
What?
[ brakes screech ]
Linda.
[ stammering ]
I'm not even gonna try to
explain this.
You know what the crazy thing
is?
I came here because I felt bad
for you.
I mean, I can deal with the
stewardesses, the secretaries,
even one of your actresses, but
a doctor?
No, she's only a nurse.
[ groans ]
Oh, hi.
Hi, sweetie.
What is it?
Is it because I'm not pretty
enough?
No.
I'm not smart enough?
That's not it.
Edward, at this point in
my life, I'm not prepared to go
back to school and be in a
classroom full of young,
ambitious students.
I don't want you to do that.
Well, then tell me what it
is.
What is it you want?
I don't know, but you've
changed.
I just want you to be you.
Which is?
You, you.
Which is?
The young girl I first met.
Well, I'm not anymore.
No, that's not what I
meant.
You know, I should have
known that eventually the
boomerang would come back at me.
You know, Edward, not all of us
can be made of silicone.
Okay, I know, but, you
know, parts of you can.
[ laughs ]
I'm sorry.
Chelsea!
Linda?
Linda!
Ow.
Linda!
Linda!
Ow, Jesus.
Linda!
Get in.
Linda!
Linda!
What?
Listen to me.
You're not taking her.
Yes, I am.
Chelsea, get out of the car.
Chelsea, stay.
Come on, Chelsea.
Stay.
Chelsea, come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
Baby, I'll buy you a bunny
rabbit.
Bunny rabbit, I'll buy you a
Rabbit convertible.
[ groans ]
Dad, I'm only 12.
[ tires screeching ]
[ car starts ]
My father met my mother when
he was still married.
[ tires screeching ]
[ car starts ]
My father met my mother when
he was still married.
She saw his picture in the
newspaper and decided she had to
have him.
She followed him to work,
slashed his tires and pulled up
just as he was about to call the
Auto Club.
Then, when he was on vacation
with his family in the Bahamas,
she called his hotel room at
3:00 in the morning and told him
that if he didn't fly home on
the next plane, she would throw
herself off a bridge.
My father deserted his family,
flew back to my mother and got
her pregnant, and that's how I
got to be me.
[ laughing ]
Susan, will you let the man
do his work?
Eli, where's Eli?
Yes, yes.
What?
Nothing.
What is it, coffee?
No, thank you.
This place is preposterous.
I don't know why I let you talk
me into coming here.
You're the one that said
there are too many Jews at the
Jewish.
I never said that.
But you've got to admit that
place is a zoo.
The way they cram four people
into a room.
Just the idea of mixing all
those diseases together, your
father would have a fit.
Did you see him?
See him?
They don't let you see anything
around here.
Just as man cannot look at
the sun face-to-face but is able
to make use of its light, in the
same fashion, she might not
comprehend the powers of God but
can still draw comfort from His
strength.
Services will be held in the
chapel in a few minutes.
People of the Jewish faith are
especially welcome.
Where are you going?
I need to talk to someone.
Well, what's wrong with this
family?
I'll be in church.
Ouch.
What, what, what?
My finger.
Oh, let me see, let me see.
Oh, it's bleeding.
Look at that.
Let me run it under some cold
water before it gets infected.
Come on.
No, it's nothing.
Oh, please.
Will you leave him alone and
just let him do his work?
I think there are some
Band-Aids in the bathroom, too.
No, really, it's nothing.
He said it's nothing.
Do you believe in
reincarnation?
What do you mean?
Yes.
The bed lies freshly made
and the sheet and the blanket
are folded over to the square of
the hypotenuse.
Why is this door locked?
Sparkling dentures hold still
in a sterile glass, but his gold
watch is still
tick-tick-ticking.
What's going on in there?
Are you all right?
[ moaning ]
Multiplying times...
[ pounding on door ]
Up in the vein and jumping
the bacteria, it possesses and
then it passes.
And it is chewing and teasing
and clenching until his flesh is
white like the--
What is the matter with
your head, huh?
What is wrong with you?
[ drops hat ]
[ window slides open ]
Jesus.
[ drops hat ]
[ window slides open ]
Jesus.
Sorry.
[ speaking French ]
Um...
Bless me, Father, for I have
sinned.
Yes, my son.
What are your problems?
Oh.
Well, essentially, it's my
brother.
What about your brother?
He, uh...
Um, how much time do I have?
Go on.
I never had my own shoes.
I mean, shoes that were
meant just for me.
Edward was always one size
larger and I always got his
shoes when he grew out of them.
I hated that.
Yes.
Yes, I'm listening.
I couldn't do anything about
it.
I never spoke up.
I always kept silent.
He was supposed to be
teaching that afternoon, but...
who would have thought with a
little bit of snow they would
cancel classes?
It was so beautiful that--
that everything was white.
I felt like falling back into
the powder and making an angel.
I was in the shower when the
doorbell rang.
There were footsteps leading
up to the door, which I remember
thinking was unusual because the
mail did not come until after
3:00.
And Simon was having his
morning nap.
The door was unlocked.
It started in the living
room, but I was too afraid that
the neighbors could spot us from
across the street, so...
But there was hardly enough room
in the kitchen or the bathroom.
The kettle was whistling on
the stove like it was about to
explode.
There wasn't even enough room
to store a vacuum cleaner.
I immediately thought the
worst, so I ran into the baby's
room.
I-it wasn't like we planned
to end up in his room.
Clothes were strewn in the
doorway.
It could've happened
anywhere.
A rhythmic creaking was
coming from the floorboards.
We were just kissing.
Four legs sticking out from
under the crib.
The baby was asleep.
The baby was crying.
The baby was asleep.
He was crying.
He was crying.
He was crying.
Um...
afterwards, he vanished for a
week and he didn't call.
What was I supposed to do?
And then, uh, when he did
come back, he acted as if
nothing had happened.
He didn't say a word.
She's never told me who it
was.
Through black, wired fences,
workers digging their own
trenches.
German shepherds barking,
freight trains arriving.
They packed them like pickles
and stacked them like nickels
and separated mothers and
fathers and sisters and
brothers.
Conductors, abductors,
it doesn't matter what you do.
Physicians, beauticians,
as long as you're a Jew.
Maggots to the left and faggots
to the right and shave down that
head, let me take a look at that
bite.
Don't mind the dust, there's a
little bit of must.
But the tiles are mold-free.
So you just go on in and take a
look and you'll see.
You will see.
Edward.
Edward.
Not now, Eli.
Look, Edward, I have to talk
to you.
Get out of the way, Eli.
No, hang on, hang on, hang
on.
I have something I have to
say to you.
Eli, another time.
You're really starting to get on
my nerves, all right?
[ grunts ]
Don't you get it?
She was my wife.
You're stretching my collar.
[ grunting ]
Hey, what's going on?
Stop it!
Stop it!
Boys, stop it right now!
Stop it!
You're gonna hurt each other.
Stop.
[ phone ringing ]
The phone rings.
Words are predictable.
Surrounded by family, she stands
alone when the kids should be
coming home from school.
Silver-white tassels dance with
each bough.
Cantor cry a haunting tenor
sniffling into a handkerchief.
Hello?
This is Mrs. Cooperberg.
[ singing ]
I felt it.
Oh, I know it sounds crazy, but
Mom, I swear I could feel
something move inside me.
He's dead.
No.
[ crying ]
Saul's gone, Shirley.
It's funny, but you never
really know if a dog has just
had sex.
They don't do anything
afterwards, so you-- you don't
know if it was good, you don't
know if it was bad, you don't
know if it was rape, you know,
you just don't know.
It's-- they don't show any
signs, you know?
I loved my dog.
He had no balls, but used to
still like humping my leg.
The vet said he was castrated
too late in life, his mind was
already set in its ways, you
know?
I used to hug him like he was my
girlfriend.
We'd roll around in the snow and
I'd hug him.
He couldn't hug me back because
his paws didn't bend like human
arms do, you know?
Sometimes, I would--
sometimes I wanted to be
hugged so badly that I would--
I would bend them back until he
cried.
When he disappeared, I
put posters up all around the
neighborhood.
I put out a bowl of his favorite
dog biscuits.
He slept at the foot of my
bed and if a boy ever came close
to me he'd growl and show his
teeth.
One time, he did bite this man's
leg because he was asking me
directions to the lookout.
My father told me that the
dog had been hit by a car, that
he had died instantly.
He didn't feel any pain.
That's around the time that I
got pregnant.
Everybody knew, but nobody said
anything.
A few weeks after that, I was
walking home from school and--
As I was walking home from
school one day, I felt the most
incredible warmth--
I could swear I heard his
bark.
And when I looked down, I saw
water pouring all over my legs.
And as I rounded the corner,
there he was.
He jumped in my arms.
He was licking me all over my
face.
The smell of bleach woke me
up.
It turned out, the dog had
been given away to a family in
Outremont, only he had escaped
and made his way back home.
My mother was holding my
hands.
I was in a hospital.
I asked her what had happened,
and she said I had had a bad
fall and that everything was
going to be okay.
[ rain pouring ]
Hold the umbrella over.
I'm getting a little wet.
They said it was just a spot.
What are we gonna do?
Don't worry, Mom.
It'll be all right.
I'll drive.
Simon, where's Simon?
I'm right here, Grandma.
Oh, hold onto me.
Who has the keys?
I'll drive.
But I'm-- I'm--
Let Eli drive.
Edward, come on.
You're going to catch cold.
There's nothing wrong with my
driving.
There's nothing wrong with my
driving.
This way.
[ horn honking ]
[ truck horn honking ]
I remember the first time
your father took me out.
[ horn honking ]
[ truck horn honking ]
I remember the first time
your father took me out.
My date was really with his
brother, but he was too sick to
make it.
So Saul took his place.
We ended up going out dancing
until the late hours of the
morning.
Oh, I was so beautiful then.
And your father so--
[ tires screeching ]
[ horn honking ]
[ gasps ]
What was that?
It was nothing.
Oh, shouldn't we go back?
Keep driving.
You sure you're not hurt?
She said she's all right.
What kind of perfume is that?
It's Number 9.
I think I'd like to get a job
in perfume.
I like perfume.
I have a good nose.
Maybe I could help?
Was it a boy or a girl?
[ music playing ]
Was it a boy or a girl?
It was a boy.
[ singing in Italian ]
They were a nice couple.
Jewish, from Toronto.
Couldn't have any children of
their own.
Couldn't have any children of
their own.
[ music playing ]
♪ A lidl zing ikh itst
♪ Far aykh vos iz a mekhaye
♪ Di melodi'z an alte nor di
♪ Verter zenen naye
♪ Dos gezungen hobn undzere
♪ Zeydes un oykh babes
♪ Un der tate flegt gezungen
♪ Nokhn kiki-shabes
♪ Sailor man, don't tell me of
♪ The seven seas of yore
♪ Java and Sumatra do not move
♪ Me anymore
♪ Say farewell to Finland
♪ Further inland than Algore
♪ Adios, Antilles, and so long
♪ To Singapore
♪ Having fun in London is like
♪ Flying on the floor
♪ Isle of Man I'll manage to
♪ Avoid like Manticore
♪ Budapest, I get no rest and
♪ Boston is a bore
♪ A man unique to my mystique
♪ In New York I adore
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ Chile is so silly that to be
♪ There is a chore
♪ Cameroon and Malta cannot
♪ Melt me to the core
♪ Show me mirth in Perth and I
♪ Will show you how to snore
♪ Dublin is too troublin'
♪ Y Peru es lo peor
♪ Sayonara, Tokyo
♪ By you I set no store
♪ Place your bets that Berlin
♪ Gets a zero after four
♪ Destination anywhere
♪ I told you once before
♪ No, no, no, I do not deign
♪ To go there anymore
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ Estoril, I get no thrill
♪ Though all your oceans roar
♪ Mad Seville, your barber
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ Estoril, I get no thrill
♪ Though all your oceans roar
♪ Mad Seville, your barber
♪ Left me shorn upon the shore
♪ Barcelona, larceny upon your
♪ Matador
♪ And arson is my wish upon
♪ Decatur's wan decor
♪ Ciao to China, bye to Bali
♪ Places I deplore
♪ Au revoir to Cote d'Azur
♪ On you I shut the door
♪ Later Laos, Katmandu, and
♪ Ta-ta Ecuador
♪ A man so Greek in his
♪ Physique in New York I adore
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man
♪ I met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ I met a Manhattan man
♪ He met a man in a hat with a
♪ Tan met a man in a hat
♪ With a tan
♪ Man, hat, tan
♪ He met a Manhattan man.