American Playhouse (1981–…): Season 4, Episode 1 - Testament - full transcript
( somber, dramatic theme
playing )
JANE FONDA'S VOICE:
Right, left.
( peppy,
upbeat music playing )
Right, left.
Right, left. Eight more.
Right, left.
Seven, left.
Six, left.
Right, left.
Four, left.
Three, left. Keep going.
Two, left.
And last time, left.
Now sit up
just a little more.
( g roans )
Hands behind your head.
Exhale and bring the right
elbow to the left knee.
Inhale. Straighten.
Exhale. Left elbow
to right knee.
Inhale. Straighten.
Right, up.
Left, up.
Right, up.
( door creaks )
Never in the history
of the world
has there been a boy
as slow as you are.
Now, come on, Brad,
move your dead ass. Let's go.
I don't feel like it.
( pastoral theme playing )
Go ahead without me.
I'm not going without you.
Come on, let's go.
Get your bike.
I--
Brad, you're gonna be
a terrific rider.
You just gotta wake up.
Get your bike, and let's go.
I just don't feel like it.
Not today.
You always say
you just don't feel like it.
Then when you get out there,
you have a terrific time.
Come on.
Not always.
Brad.
FONDA ( on tape deck ):
Left, up.
Right, up. Left, up.
Right, up. Left--
( shuts off tape player )
( birds chirping )
( gears ticking )
TOM:
Hi, Bob.
( pastoral theme continues )
All right now, huh?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I just gotta wake up.
You just gotta wake up.
TOM:
Think you'll be able
to keep up?
BRAD:
I might.
Sure, you will.
You wait and see,
you'll turn around
a couple years,
I won't even be able
to keep up with you.
You'll be
blowing right by me.
But I'll still be able
to beat your brother.
( Tom chuckles )
( TV, tape deck
and record player blaring )
WOMAN ( on record ):
H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P--
( tape deck,
record cut off )
WOMAN 2 ( over TV ):
...nine, ten, 11, 12--
( TV clicks off )
( TV clicks on )
...nineteen, 20.
...U-V-W--
( pastoral theme continues )
TOM:
We're gonna be going
up that hill.
Right?
Right.
Charging up that hill.
Let's do it!
Come on,
you're doing great.
Come on.
You can do it!
( pants )
You can do it!
Come on.
( grunts )
You can do it.
( panting )
Come on.
Come on, pump!
You can do it.
Come on.
Morning, Henry.
I'm gonna get started.
I'll see you back there.
Hi, Mr. Abhart.
CAROL:
Mary Liz.
( playing classical piano
music )
Mary Elizabeth.
Speak to me.
Mom, I'm not hungry,
and I don't have
the time to eat.
Breakfast, now.
( music stops )
( music resumes )
( whirring )
CAROL: What goes on here?
I'm coming, Mom.
Yes, I can see that.
Here. Here. Here.
I hate them.
Those are your favorite pants.
That's your sweater
that your grandmother
sent you from Chicago.
What--?
What is all this?
Some stuff.
Some dirty stuff.
Oh, Scottie.
Don't open that!
Why not?
There's treasure in there.
Oh.
Excuse me.
Listen, young man.
I'm gonna count to five.
You better get dressed.
No.
( comic voice ):
One. Two.
Three. Four. Five.
There's rehearsal today.
WOMAN:
Hi, Tom.
What do you say, Lar?
Love the robe, Cynthia.
( piano music continues )
Good ride?
Not so good.
Make the hill?
Dad did.
Mary Liz, come on.
( piano music continues )
CAROL:
Scottie, stop fooling around.
MARY LIZ:
What time is it?
Oh, that can't be right.
I'm late.
Why didn't anybody call me?
Where's Daddy?
You must eat something.
Come on.
Give me a break, Mother.
CAROL:
Oh, Scottie!
( sighs )
Oh!
( brake squeaks )
Eighteen minutes flat, Mike.
Is that good?
That's fantastic.
It's 30 seconds better
than my best time.
What do you say, Hiroshi?
Hiroshi,
Tom can't go fishing now.
He has to go to work.
Some other time, huh, pal?
Okay.
How about Sunday?
Yeah.
Catch a fish
as big as your old man.
This big?
Bigger.
Bigger.
Bigger.
This big!
That's a minnow.
Tom. Tom.
It's all right, Mike.
I don't mind.
Hell, he gets along great
with my kids.
I'll see you Sunday, huh,
Hiroshi?
Yeah.
All right. See you later.
Take care, Mike.
See you tomorrow.
See you...
this morning.
Come on, kids,
you're gonna be late.
Okay.
Bye.
Bye-bye. Have a good day.
( gears whirring )
( Tom making engine sounds )
Bye, Daddy.
Hey, don't I get a kiss?
Yes.
I made it in 18 minutes.
MARY LIZ: Really?
TOM: Yeah.
Bye.
Hey, we'll do it again
in the morning.
You'll do better.
Yeah.
Come on, let's get going.
I made it in 18 minutes.
You smell.
I smell? That stinks.
Thanks for telling me.
Eighteen minutes.
Well, that's great.
How about--? Where did you go?
Shower, shave and clean up.
Remember, I smell.
How about a little help?
No.
No time. I'll do it tonight,
leave it.
They come this morning.
CAROL: Come on, sweetie pie,
let's go.
Where's the toilet paper?
I couldn't find any.
Have you seen my keys?
I can't see anything.
Have you seen my wallet?
Where's Scottie? Scott!
Where's my breakfast?
Try your other pants.
Right over here, on the table.
Boo! I'm a rat from Europe.
A what from where?
You are not a rat, Scottie.
I wanna be a rat.
Looks like a rat to me.
No, he's a child.
I don't know about that,
except for this banana.
Well, in the school play.
A child,
a very important part.
I'd rather be the rat.
Does that mean
I can be a rat?
Thanks a lot, pal.
It's only a school play.
Yes, one I happen to be
the director of.
An act of suicide,
if I ever saw.
What's suicide?
Tom!
I didn't say anything.
You certainly did.
Stop, you're making
my ears hurt.
I gotta go.
What about breakfast?
Don't waste it.
Give us a kiss, rat.
Mommy.
My God, look at the size
of that dandruff, huh?
Here's a kiss.
Bye, rat.
Bye, madam director.
Ah, my wallet.
( crickets chirping )
( dogs barking in distance )
( softly snoring )
Tom?
Did you hear that?
Was that Scottie?
Go to sleep.
( sighs )
We have to talk.
Some other time.
There is no other time.
Go to sleep.
( sighs )
I'm serious.
So am I.
Turn off the light.
This is the only time
we have time.
What are we gonna get Brad
for his birthday?
He wants that computer game.
Get him a good bike.
Lygee.
A solid Peugeot.
Get him out of toys
and into the real world.
That's what he needs.
Mm. That's what you think
he needs.
Why are we talking
about this?
Brad's birthday
is two months away.
Why are we talking?
Go to sleep.
Turn out the light.
Ronnie Peebler didn't register
for the draft.
He's been indicted.
I don't know
what's gonna happen.
Brad will be 18 in--
Carol.
What?
In five years
and two months.
Then wake me. Now?
Go to sleep?
Yes.
TOM:
Now what are you doing?
Looking for my journal.
Carol, it's the middle
of the night.
So what?
( sighs )
There isn't anything
in that journal.
Well, I'm gonna start
right now.
I've heard that before.
Sometimes you're such a...
I've heard that before.
Okay.
Talk to me.
I've heard that before.
Hah! I've tried that before.
What are you doing?
Get out of there.
Get out of there.
Get out of where?
Cut it out.
Give you something to write
in your journal.
Okay, you asked for it.
Mm.
This is from...
And this is from...
Mm.
Who did you say
that was from? Hm?
( laughs )
( Mary Liz playing piano
boys chattering )
It's time, honey.
SCOTTIE:
No, I don't wanna do that.
Fellas, what's happening?
You can have the straw too.
TOM:
Come on, gang, let's move it.
Bye, Mom.
Bye, darling.
Bye, Mom.
Bye.
( childish voice ):
Bye, Mom.
BOY:
Let me out of here!
Let me out of here.
( chattering and yelling )
And they'll pop out
from behind.
Like, they'll all pop out.
WOMAN:
Now, let's get down to work.
Rats, over there.
Children, over here.
The mayor. Where's the mayor?
Right here.
Here's the mayor.
And the Pied Piper also.
Lisa, come beside me.
And the little crippled boy.
Come on, Scottie, yes.
Now, you'll do fine.
CAROL:
Here, darling,
I'll take it.
Now...
piano, please.
( plays upbeat theme )
( theme ends )
Thank you.
Now, I want you all
to listen to Mrs. Wetherly.
All right. Let's begin.
All the rats go over here.
Crouch down low.
Crouch down low
for the beginning.
Townspeople, just push back.
Give Lisa some space.
That's right. Remember how
we did it before? Good.
Okay, Lisa?
Lisa, come on, darling.
Do you know your
opening lines?
Yeah.
Now, remember that there's
gonna be people
way in the back of that room,
and they need to hear you too.
So you wanna speak up
a little more. All right?
Welcome. We wanted
to do this play
because we live
in Hamlin, California.
So did this story happen
a long time ago,
in a tow--
Town called Hamelin.
Thank you.
CAROL:
Wonderful.
Okay, Lisa goes off.
Now, all of you run
to your town places.
The rats go
into the mountain.
NARRATOR ( over TV ):
While fishing for dinner,
a boy caught a big letter A.
He then caught a B,
a C, D, an E...
( dial tone, machine beeps )
...and an F, G, H, I, J...
TOM'S VOICE:
Hi, dear, won't be home until
late. Don't wait dinner.
In fact, forget dinner. Sorry.
( dial tone )
BRAD: How's it now?
SCOTTIE: Funny.
BRAD:
That's a big help.
What's that supposed to mean?
( classical music playing )
Mary Liz, will you
turn that down?
Wrinkles.
What?
I can't hear you.
Mary Lizard, would you shut
that thing off.
No.
( answering machine beeps )
WOMAN'S VOICE:
Hi, dear. How's everybody?
Dad and I thought
we might drop in
on you guys around Easter.
It's snowing in Chicago.
Yes.
Call us collect.
Yes, what?
No more wrinkles.
( dial tone )
Stupid antenna.
When are we gonna get cable
like everybody else?
( answering machine beeps )
TOM'S VOICE:
It's me again, honey.
Scratch that last stuff.
Gonna get out of here by 3:30,
and with luck,
I'll be home by 5.
CAROL:
Your dad will be home
for dinner.
( answering machine beeps )
CYNTHIA'S VOICE:
Carol, Cynthia.
This costume for the play
is driving me crazy.
Call me.
Uh, what's a alphabet?
You don't know
what the alphabet is?
Oh, yeah.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Do you know
what it's for?
Uh, yes.
CAROL:
Better try again.
BRAD:
That's not
the antenna, Mom.
( TV dial clicking )
Hands off, banana man.
( dial tone )
( clicks off )
( banging TV )
This is San Francisco.
We have lost
our New York signal.
Radar sources confirm
the explosion
of nuclear devices
there, in New York, and up
and down the East Coast.
Ladies and gentlemen,
this is real. This is--
( high-pitched tone )
ANNOUNCER:
We interrupt this program
at the request
of the White House.
This is a national emergency.
This is an emergency action
notification.
I repeat,
we interrupt this program
at the request
of the White House.
Do not use your telephone.
Telephone lines should be
kept open for official use.
Important instructions
will follow.
( phone rings )
Ladies and gentlemen...
Hello? Tom?
...the president
of the United States.
CAROL:
Hello?
BRAD: Mom!
MARY LIZ: Mom!
CAROL:
Get away
from that window!
Mommy?
Get down on the floor.
Get down.
Was that Dad?
Is he in San Francisco?
I'm scared.
I don't know.
Put your heads down,
cover your eyes.
Oh, my God.
My God.
( air raid sirens wailing )
GIRL ( sobbing ):
Mommy! Mama!
Kenny!
Mommy!
WOMAN:
Kenny!
( people chattering
nervously )
( sirens wailing )
Carol.
SCOTTIE:
There's Phil and Cathy.
They're safe.
What happened?
I don't know.
No one does yet.
PHIL:
We just got home.
CATHY:
We just got back.
We're so lucky.
Thank God we're all here.
( baby fussing )
WOMAN:
Kenny!
Have you seen Kenny?
No.
PHIL: Where's Tom?
He'll be here any minute.
CATHY:
I'm sure he will be.
LITTLE GIRL:
Mommy!
CAROL:
Tom, we're at
Henry Abhart's.
We're all okay.
Come. We'll wait.
MAN:
CQ, CQ, CQ.
This is W6DN,
Whiskey Six Delta November
calling.
( man speaking
indistinctly )
Three generators.
He built it specially.
It's--
It's still working.
MAN:
No, there's
no damage here,
except all transistors
are knocked out.
Who else have you
talked to, Hal?
Rosemary, dear.
You both all right?
MAN:
Yeah, I been trying to raise
them myself, without success.
ROSEMARY:
He's raised Yuba City
and Eureka,
and we got a place somewhere
near, um, Omaha, Nebraska.
MAN: Maybe there's
an electromagnetic radiation
effect there.
Uh-huh. Well,
you keep trying, Hal.
( baby coos )
Well, folks...
so far I can't raise Seattle,
Portland,
Sacramento
or Southern California.
San Francisco is silent.
The entire Bay Area.
Visalia
and a chunk of Montana.
West Texas. North of us,
now, they're okay.
What about Chicago?
So far, I can't raise anything
east of Keokuk, Iowa.
( people murmuring )
A fellow in Twain Harte
thinks they hit Yosemite.
The sky is black
with splinters,
and trees and rocks
coming down like rain.
Must have been a mistake.
There's nothing
strategic there.
( baby cries )
We keep waiting for word
from Washington,
or where they've evacuated to.
And it'll come.
We may be crippled,
but we're not cut off
and we're not dead.
If you want news,
if you want food and water,
and whatever we got,
we can spare.
( chuckles softly )
Rosemary and I, we'll--
We'll be here.
Day or night, we'll be here.
( baby cries )
( crickets chirping )
( floor creaks )
( whispers ):
Tom?
Mama...
where's Daddy?
He'll be here, honey,
as soon as he can.
But I want Daddy.
Mary Liz, it's all right.
Come on in.
CAROL:
Brad?
I'm okay, Mom.
What are you doing?
Keeping watch?
Dad would.
CAROL:
February 24th.
I'm so afraid.
Nothing seems real.
Everything looks the same.
Maybe if I write it will help.
I ache to talk to my mother.
If I could only hear
her voice.
I hate breakfast.
Since when?
I can't know.
My dish has dirt on it.
So does mine.
Let me see.
Well, we'll wipe them off.
There are others.
Thanks.
Thank you, darling.
The milk tastes funny.
It's warm.
When's our refrigerator
gonna work?
Doesn't radiation
get into cows?
We'll use powdered milk.
Your dad has all that stuff
from your camping trips.
That stuff tastes funny too.
Doesn't radiation
get into water?
Well, it can. Maybe it
won't be so bad here.
But we'd better be careful.
What's "radation"?
Here, have a banana.
You never gave me one before.
I did now.
There may not be any...
more for a while.
May I have the butter,
Mary Liz?
Yeah.
( knocking )
Would you see
who that is, dear?
When's the television
gonna work?
SCOTTIE:
What are we
gonna do today?
No more questions, okay?
MARY LIZ: Hi, Larry.
Here, darling.
Okay.
Hello, Larry.
Can I stay here until
my mother and father
get back from San Francisco?
Were you alone all night?
Are they with Dad, Mommy?
Maybe.
Of course you can.
Like some bread?
Yes.
CAROL: Mary Liz?
MARY LIZ: Yes, please.
Brad?
Okay.
( people clamoring )
WOMAN:
If you-- If you could
just quiet down.
Just, could--? Could you,
please, just be quiet?
Just one moment,
and then we will tell you
exactly what we know.
All right, now, listen!
Which isn't very much.
Please listen!
MAN:
Quiet!
All of you, listen.
MAN 2:
When are you gonna
do something?
HOLLIS:
We just don't have
all the answers.
That's all there is to it.
But we are trying to find out.
MAN 3:
Tell us anything you know.
Henry Abhart is talking
with other communities,
some even in Canada.
There may be answers outside.
Oh, you can't depend
on that old man.
Who else knows how
to run that radio?
I mean, he's gonna have
to have some relief.
We're hoping to get
our communications network
restored shortly. That should
give us a fair picture
of what's happening
out there.
I'm not worried about what's
happening out there.
I'm worried about right here,
Darryl.
I got a plate-glass window
broken, $500.
My pharmacy's looted,
2,000, 3,000 dollars.
I want my goods back now.
We all know that
the supermarket
was broken into last night,
Darryl.
There has been
some looting,
but right now the markets
are under guard
and it's quiet out there.
Look, if there's any
further trouble,
we'll invoke martial law. At
least for a while.
Someone comes by my place,
Darryl,
they try to do something,
I am gonna protect myself.
I don't care who it is!
You don't take the law
in your own hands!
Hey, calm down.
Don't create panic here.
This isn't getting
us anywhere.
The reason why we've come here
today is to work together,
to make this community work.
We...
We called off
school today.
The teachers
and the administration,
we thought,
"What's the point?"
Now, that was wrong.
I remember after the president
was assassinated,
we bowed our heads,
we mourned...
...we went on.
Look, maybe, uh--
Maybe we should start
a community force.
MAN 4:
What, like the Red Cross?
Yes, like the Red Cross.
To help those people
who need it.
Um, I don't think
it's reasonable
to expect we're gonna
get help from the outside.
We have civil defense.
What civil defense?
Are you people crazy?
You're talking
like this is an earthquake
or a hurricane.
Well, it's not!
Bernie, you're a doctor,
why don't you tell these good
people what they've got--
Got to look forward to here.
( people murmuring
agreements )
We don't know yet.
Well, we really have no
equipment available
for accurately
measuring radiation fallout.
If the rads dosage reaches...
40 or 50 per hour,
and remains there long,
there will be illness.
And that can lead
to dizziness...
( baby crying )
...gastroenteritis, fever,
vomiting,
skin sores, hair loss.
( people murmuring )
CATHY:
Doctor?
Doctor?
MAN 5:
Bernie.
My baby wouldn't take
my milk this morning.
She threw it up. Um...
Uh, maybe that's nothing,
maybe she'll be fine
in the morning,
but how do I know?
( fussing )
Is there, uh--
Is there something I can do?
( people murmuring )
( murmuring grows louder )
The best sources we have
recommend using
only bottled water
and eating canned food.
Oh, you make me laugh.
Bombs,
hundreds of bombs,
are leveling cities.
It's throwing debris
miles into the sky.
And you're telling me
it's gonna have trouble
finding its way
into my canned apricots.
( people shouting, arguing )
Hey!
( horns honking )
You don't understand.
Hey, you! You!
I want you out of that line.
There are other people
waiting for gas.
You got some nerve
cutting in front.
( engines starting )
No. No, no, no.
MIKE:
No! Come on! Out! Out!
Come on! Come on, move!
Oh, no, no, no.
No credit card. No. No, no.
I don't have time for you,
come on.
Good morning, missus.
Your husband get home
last night?
He was on his way.
We, um...
We thought we'd come by,
in case we hear from him.
What are you charging?
It's free to my regular
customers.
Hiroshi!
( giggles )
I thought last night, Hiroshi
and I, we don't need much.
Food and roof.
Store some canned goods.
When the gas is gone,
we'll plant a garden.
( people arguing )
Go fishing.
Hey, Hiroshi.
What?
You wanna go fishing?
Go fishing? Yeah.
Can I go fishing too?
How come the gun, Mike?
Just because I'm giving
away gas, I'm no fool.
You too.
Ones that never been here,
ones that never had
time for us, for Hiroshi.
Hiroshi.
( giggles )
Well, I'll accept
the gas, Mike,
but only if you and Hiroshi
come over for a meal.
I wanna repay you somehow.
The gas has been paid for,
missus, many times.
I just hope you get
to have a use for it.
( horns blaring )
Hiroshi.
CAROL:
February 25th.
I stopped sleeping.
Afraid to close my eyes.
I find myself staring
at the children.
How did this happen?
( people chattering )
Hi, darling.
Hi.
There's no saving
places in line.
He's my son.
I don't care,
I've been waiting for hours.
Well, so has he.
More than four hours.
This is our place.
You got a lot of nerve.
( women chatter
indistinctly )
Hi, Brad.
BRAD:
Hi.
( video game bleeping )
( people conversing
indistinctly )
( Speak & Spell bleeps )
SPEAK & SPELL:
H-E-A-V-E-N.
You win.
I saw that, Billdocker.
So what, Wetherly?
Put them back.
So what?
A couple of batteries.
( panting )
( gears whirring )
( Brad pants )
HENRY:
What's your
situation there?
Hello, Brad.
Hi, Mrs. Abhart.
How's your family?
Okay.
HENRY:
Well, I heard that too.
You know what happened?
Nova Scotia heard the Russians
pulled a preemptive strike.
West Texas
heard it was the Chinese,
South America heard it was
some radical liberation
organization.
Glad to hear from you,
November Six Hotel Lima.
Catch you soon again, Harvey.
( radio squawks )
Heh.
Oh, hi, laddie.
That was Santa Rosa,
they got it worse than we do.
Some actual blast damage.
Lot of concern
about contamination.
Good spirit, though.
Can I stay, Mr. Abhart?
I'll tell you what. You can...
run these down to Dr. Jenson
and that lady mayor.
They want these rad numbers.
Why, what they're gonna do
with them, I don't know.
Have you got your bike?
Yeah.
You rode up the hill?
Mm-hm.
I knew you would.
I keep hoping to reach
Mischa Usoff in the U.S.S.R.
Can I come back, Mr. Abhart?
I'll tell you what.
You do that.
( melancholy theme playing )
CAROL:
Eleven days.
I wear your sweater.
It smells like you, my love.
( battery clatters )
I thought we'd go
on a picnic today.
Up by the trees.
See the one we planted
when you were born.
Mary Liz's, Scottie's.
Some people are leaving.
The Peeblers, the Hoffers,
Dr. Jenson.
Think we should leave?
Talking about
Northern Canada.
Survival camps.
How are they gonna get there?
I don't know.
( delicate, melancholy theme
playing )
What do you think
we should do?
( sighs )
Mr. Abhart, he lets me watch.
I run errands. I ride my bike.
Mary Liz has
her piano lessons,
and Dad could still come.
Yes.
And this is our home.
( upbeat theme playing )
Go on, you two
run on ahead.
( laughs )
( Mary Liz
speaks indistinctly )
CAROL:
Scottie's tree.
I can't write today.
( lively piano playing )
FANIA:
Dance, pipe and skip.
Dance fast into
the mountains. Dance.
( piano music ends )
They're gone.
He's done it, by gadfry!
Come out, citizens.
Come out.
I'll accept thou promised
payment of 1,000 guilders,
for I have saved your town
from the plague of rats.
You play wonderful music.
But what rats? I see no rats.
I will pay you 1 guilder out
of the kindness of my heart.
Thou made a promise.
Thou now is forgetting.
You're not going
to be difficult, now,
are you, Piper?
Thou is gonna be sorry.
Next time I'll play
a different tune.
BOY MAYOR:
Play away, I love music.
( short piano melody plays )
( flute sounds faintly )
Lisa, who was supposed
to be our narrator, is sick.
Nancy is going
to take her place.
From schoolrooms
and playgrounds,
from kitchens and nurseries,
the children came.
And their parents
could not stop them.
The music of the Piper
led them.
Wait! I want to see islands!
I want to be strong
and tall and powerful.
I want ice cream.
( stops playing )
Piper! Piper! Piper!
Oh, my son. He's gone.
He's dead.
Oh, what have we done?
Your children are not dead.
They will return.
They are just waiting
until the world deserves them.
( sighs )
( applause )
( applause fades out )
( melancholy theme playing )
( rain drizzling faintly )
Hi, Phil.
Phil?
Phil.
Oh, they...
They said we should
conserve wood.
We had a tiny box,
but it wasn't big enough.
We didn't have a bureau
the right size,
so Henry gave this to me.
See?
It's got tongue and groove.
It's a real antique.
And she'll fit in.
She'll fit in here.
We thought we were so lucky.
( laughs mirthlessly )
It didn't seem like
there'd be any more bombs.
( sniffles )
Then Suzie had to get sick.
Of course, I tried to
tell Cathy that we're young.
We could have another baby.
You were so helpful
to Cathy, nursing.
Cathy was so proud
she had plenty of milk.
We gave her water,
but we boiled it.
Tell Cathy...
Tell Cathy we love her.
CAROL:
March 8th.
I write this
to try and keep my sanity.
What's left.
What if the baby
is the lucky one?
I want it back.
Give it to me.
Mary Liz!
He can't have it
and you can't have it!
You can't do it!
I'll do what I want!
Not that!
She's hungry.
I'm hungry, you're hungry,
I don't care!
Scott's hungry!
We're feeding him,
aren't we?
I won't have fighting!
She was feeding a cat.
BRAD:
A stray cat.
Mary Liz.
I don't care.
MARY LIZ:
I've always wanted a cat.
CAROL:
We have to ration food.
I don't care!
And Larry is a part
of our family now.
What's the matter anyway?
Why are we bothering?
Mary Liz, I won't have you
talk like that.
I knew it.
I knew you'd side with Brad.
You always side with Brad.
He's not so great.
Mary Liz.
MARY LIZ:
Don't come in.
Don't come in.
Don't come near me.
Don't.
Sweetie.
I just wanna die.
( sniffles )
Don't.
Don't you do it.
( bittersweet flute theme
playing )
( sobs ):
I want my daddy.
Don't!
I miss him too.
( sobs )
Mommy.
( playing "Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star" haltingly )
Have you seen Scottie?
No.
Carol...
I think you'd better
come with me.
What's the matter?
He said he was running away.
I tried to stop him,
but he wouldn't let me.
Hey, there, little man.
Where did you come from?
Oh, I don't know.
What are you doing?
My treasure.
CAROL:
Your bottom drawer?
There's not enough food
for them anymore.
I'm running away.
I hate fighting.
You've been known
to get in a few yourself,
stubborn man.
No more.
Where will you go?
( sighs )
Maybe I'll find Dad.
If you did...
what would you do?
I can't know.
You tell me.
Well, you could see
the mountains and rivers.
You could see the cities.
You could come back here.
Would I be scared there too?
We're all scared a little
now and then.
I don't like it.
I don't either.
At all.
I know.
Tell it to go away.
I can't.
( melancholy theme playing )
( car engine running )
( engine cuts off )
Where are you going?
We can't stay here anymore.
We'll-- We'll write to you.
PHIL:
There's nothing left
for us here.
CATHY:
Ever since the baby--
Our parents, we--
We have to get away.
We'll find a safe place.
We won't stop until we do.
We'll come back,
just as soon as we can.
Good luck.
Bye, Carol.
Bye, Carol.
( engine starts )
HENRY:
CQ, CQ, CQ,
this is Whiskey Six Delta
November calling.
Henry Abhart here
in Hamlin, California.
This is Hamlin calling
and carefully tuning.
Can you hear me?
Looking for calls.
CQ, CQ, CQ.
Brad.
Yes, sir?
I told the police chief
you were talking to Greenland.
He says his radio will be
working again soon.
He always says that.
Do you want me to deliver
any other messages?
Well...
Rosemary's been walking
the neighborhood,
doing things.
Going from house to house,
checking on people,
seeing if there's anything
to do.
Right now she's not feeling
as good as she should.
And maybe for the next couple
of days, what you could do
would be to take your bike
and stand in for her.
I'll do it.
Brad.
Yes, sir.
There's one other thing.
I can't raise Santa Rosa.
CAROL:
March 23rd.
Mary Liz is practicing
a new piece.
Larry has stopped talking,
and Brad...
Brad never rests.
At least 1,300 have died.
HOLLIS:
The, uh, hospital is still
open for emergency services.
There's a minimal staff
on duty 24 hours.
I noticed we lost our garbage
pickup this week.
Well, there won't be any more.
It can't be managed.
HOLLIS:
One more thing.
Please...
any burials.
I want you to
do them carefully.
Darryl, how about the police?
My men are on duty
and they'll remain there.
The...
manpower has been depleted.
The, uh...
communications system
will be repaired.
Order...
( voice breaks ):
will be maintained.
CAROL:
Darryl.
HOLLIS:
Please sit down.
Sit down. It's all right.
It's all right.
( whispering
indistinctly )
( brakes squeak )
Remember that skunk
in Yosemite?
Yes.
Grandma's house?
Yes.
The smell.
CAROL:
Mm-hm.
Remember the bathtub
with clawed feet?
Mm.
The morning I walked in
on you and Dad?
Yes.
( melancholy theme
playing softly )
What's it like?
What's what like?
Making love.
Don't play mother with me.
That's what I am.
What's it like?
I was... so ignorant
as a girl.
Worried about it.
So full of fantasy.
I thought some man
would come along
and sweep me off my feet.
And your father...
he wasn't at all
what I was looking for.
Not the size or shape,
or what he did exactly,
I still don't know.
When you love someone,
you wanna be as close to them
as you can get.
You make love...
and you feel almost like
the same body.
Like it was intended.
You have a space,
and that person fills it up.
We would fight.
We wouldn't
listen to each other.
We'd miss...
thoughts.
We'd miss goodbyes.
But sometimes...
...most times,
there was this feeling,
and I couldn't wait for him
to be here with me.
Everyone's always alone.
And yet...
there can be this gift.
This making of miracles.
You.
Not for me.
( water splashes )
( whispers ):
You're going in the water.
There we go.
That's a boy.
Okay.
Shit.
Just rest your head against
here, all right, darling?
That's a boy.
You all right, darling?
Sweetie?
There.
Larry, thank you.
There. There's your bear.
Okay.
All right, darling.
Okay. That's my boy.
That's my big boy.
( melancholy theme playing )
I had a little nut tree
Nothing would it bear
( together ):
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear
The king of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me
And all for the sake of
My little nut tree
( choir singing ethereally )
( door slams )
( exhales sharply )
I still can't find it.
BRAD:
Mom!
I can't find it!
I want that bear!
It's time, Mom.
Don't you think
we should get it done?
No.
I'm sorry I'm late.
Let's begin.
Not yet.
God said--
Forget God.
No one is touching him.
No one is burying him
until I find his bear!
Do you hear me?
You understand?
Whosoever believeth in me...
...shall never die.
( phone clatters )
( machine beeps )
TOM:
It's me again.
Can you believe it?
Double scratch.
I'm gonna have to stay
in San Francisco after all.
All these false alarms.
I'll make it up to you,
I promise.
Give the kids a kiss,
and love to you.
( kiss )
( line clicks )
( dial tone )
( dial tone cuts off,
static hisses faintly )
( static cuts off )
Well, what is it, young man?
Are you all right?
I'm... perfectly well,
thank you.
Just resting.
Next time, knock. Thank you.
I did.
Where is--?
Where's Mary Elizabeth?
She's late for her lesson.
( chuckles )
My grandchildren
were the same way.
They... loved...
to watch... me.
( chuckles )
Here.
No, thank you,
I can do it myself.
Why were you late?
I wasn't.
Don't be again.
Shall we begin?
You have been practicing?
Yes.
Good. Now, let me show you
the width of the fingers...
( plays notes )
...and the...
The strength of the chord...
( plays note forcefully )
...I want
in that left hand. Hm?
( playing classical melody )
( melody continues playing )
CAROL:
Sunday, I think.
Watching Brad,
the man he's become.
The man he'll not live to be.
Larry left us today.
He just crawled into a ball
and died.
His mother was my friend.
( glass shatters )
( clattering )
Hey, what are you doing?
That's our food, Billdocker!
Let go!
Oh, no! No, no!
Not my bike!
BRAD:
No!
Damn.
( The Beatles'
"All My Loving"
plays on tape deck )
...and I'll kiss you,
tomorrow I'll miss you
Remember I'll
always be true
And then while I'm away
I'll write home every day
...every day
And I'll send
And I'll send...
All my lovin'
Come on.
To you
To you
I'll pretend
that I'm kissin'
The lips I am missing
And hope that my dreams
Will come true
( humming along )
And then while I'm away
I'll write home every day
And I'll send
all my lovin' to you
All my lovin'
I will send to you
All my lovin'
Darling, I'll be true
( "All My Loving"
continues playing )
( Carol laughs )
( "All My Loving" ends )
( door creaks )
TOM:
Never in the history
of the world
has there been a boy
as slow as you are.
Now, come on, Brad,
move your dead ass. Let's go.
( gears tick )
( footsteps )
What are you doing
in my chair?
Henry!
Oh, it's "Henry" now, is it?
Mr. Abhart.
Heh. Uh...
What you do is--
Call me what you want.
What you do is get me
a new voice.
How is it out there?
That's what I thought.
Same as in here, you know.
I keep losing things,
and I can't find them.
They go away
and they don't come back.
So...
Come here.
Well, I'm not giving up
on this old world yet.
So Rosemary's gone...
but I'll be here.
CQ. CQ.
( faintly ):
CQ.
HENRY ( whispers ):
CQ.
CQ.
CAROL:
I don't know what day it is.
I've lost track.
Henry thinks some miracle
may save us yet.
He's foolish.
The cemetery's full.
They're burning the bodies.
( loud ripping )
CAROL:
My first-born.
My daughter.
( gears ticking )
Is that Mike?
( car engine starts )
( car drives off )
Hiroshi?
Hiroshi!
Hiroshi?
Hi, Brad.
Hiroshi.
How are you, Brad?
Pretty good.
What are you doing, Brad?
I came to take you
to my house.
I go to your house?
Yeah.
Okay.
We're gonna go for a ride.
Let's go on a ride.
Wanna get the stuff
in the bike?
Nope...
Yeah. Let's go.
Okay.
So, uh, done much fishing?
All right.
Put this right in here.
Hey, your fishing pole.
Oh, my fishing pole?
Okay.
Wanna go fishing?
Go fishing? Yeah.
Okay.
Fishing?
Fishing. Um...
I'm taking you home
because I don't think
your dad's gonna be
coming back.
Oh, my God.
( choir singing solemnly )
( Brad laughs )
This is pretty good, huh?
Good.
You pedaling?
All right!
Here we go.
This is good.
Ah.
We got your fishing pole,
we'll go fishing.
We'll have a party
with all this food, huh?
Here we go.
You're doing the job.
All right!
( solemn choral theme
continues )
( jar drops )
( gasps )
( squeaks )
( grunting )
( cans falling )
( radio static )
( flipping switches )
( burst of static )
CQ, CQ, CQ.
( inhaling weakly )
Delta Six...
This is
Whiskeys Delta November
calling.
Henry Abhart for Hamlin,
California.
This is Brad-- Brad Wetherly
for Henry Abhart, Hamlin.
This is Hamlin looking
for a call.
Looking for a call.
Hamlin, looking for a call.
( gags )
( vomits )
( gasps )
( retches )
( retches loudly )
( sighs )
Henry's dead.
( sobs faintly )
( guttural sobbing )
Who did this?
Goddamn you.
( crying )
( elegiac flute theme
playing )
( gasps )
( sobbing )
( continues sobbing )
( elegiac theme continues )
( chains squeaking )
( choir singing solemnly )
I'm ready.
( starts engine )
Battery still works.
( somber violin theme
playing )
Brad.
I know, Mom.
Brad, I--
I can't do it.
( engine cuts off )
We forgot presents.
Where did you find it?
( bittersweet flute
theme playing )
What do we do now?
Make a wish.
What do we wish for, Mom?
That we remember it all.
The good and the awful.
The way we finally lived.
That we never gave up.
That we will last,
to be here...
...to deserve the children.
( delicate, melancholy theme
playing )
( choral singing
ethereally )
( choir singing fades )
( solemn French horn
theme playing )
( bittersweet flute theme
playing )
playing )
JANE FONDA'S VOICE:
Right, left.
( peppy,
upbeat music playing )
Right, left.
Right, left. Eight more.
Right, left.
Seven, left.
Six, left.
Right, left.
Four, left.
Three, left. Keep going.
Two, left.
And last time, left.
Now sit up
just a little more.
( g roans )
Hands behind your head.
Exhale and bring the right
elbow to the left knee.
Inhale. Straighten.
Exhale. Left elbow
to right knee.
Inhale. Straighten.
Right, up.
Left, up.
Right, up.
( door creaks )
Never in the history
of the world
has there been a boy
as slow as you are.
Now, come on, Brad,
move your dead ass. Let's go.
I don't feel like it.
( pastoral theme playing )
Go ahead without me.
I'm not going without you.
Come on, let's go.
Get your bike.
I--
Brad, you're gonna be
a terrific rider.
You just gotta wake up.
Get your bike, and let's go.
I just don't feel like it.
Not today.
You always say
you just don't feel like it.
Then when you get out there,
you have a terrific time.
Come on.
Not always.
Brad.
FONDA ( on tape deck ):
Left, up.
Right, up. Left, up.
Right, up. Left--
( shuts off tape player )
( birds chirping )
( gears ticking )
TOM:
Hi, Bob.
( pastoral theme continues )
All right now, huh?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I just gotta wake up.
You just gotta wake up.
TOM:
Think you'll be able
to keep up?
BRAD:
I might.
Sure, you will.
You wait and see,
you'll turn around
a couple years,
I won't even be able
to keep up with you.
You'll be
blowing right by me.
But I'll still be able
to beat your brother.
( Tom chuckles )
( TV, tape deck
and record player blaring )
WOMAN ( on record ):
H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P--
( tape deck,
record cut off )
WOMAN 2 ( over TV ):
...nine, ten, 11, 12--
( TV clicks off )
( TV clicks on )
...nineteen, 20.
...U-V-W--
( pastoral theme continues )
TOM:
We're gonna be going
up that hill.
Right?
Right.
Charging up that hill.
Let's do it!
Come on,
you're doing great.
Come on.
You can do it!
( pants )
You can do it!
Come on.
( grunts )
You can do it.
( panting )
Come on.
Come on, pump!
You can do it.
Come on.
Morning, Henry.
I'm gonna get started.
I'll see you back there.
Hi, Mr. Abhart.
CAROL:
Mary Liz.
( playing classical piano
music )
Mary Elizabeth.
Speak to me.
Mom, I'm not hungry,
and I don't have
the time to eat.
Breakfast, now.
( music stops )
( music resumes )
( whirring )
CAROL: What goes on here?
I'm coming, Mom.
Yes, I can see that.
Here. Here. Here.
I hate them.
Those are your favorite pants.
That's your sweater
that your grandmother
sent you from Chicago.
What--?
What is all this?
Some stuff.
Some dirty stuff.
Oh, Scottie.
Don't open that!
Why not?
There's treasure in there.
Oh.
Excuse me.
Listen, young man.
I'm gonna count to five.
You better get dressed.
No.
( comic voice ):
One. Two.
Three. Four. Five.
There's rehearsal today.
WOMAN:
Hi, Tom.
What do you say, Lar?
Love the robe, Cynthia.
( piano music continues )
Good ride?
Not so good.
Make the hill?
Dad did.
Mary Liz, come on.
( piano music continues )
CAROL:
Scottie, stop fooling around.
MARY LIZ:
What time is it?
Oh, that can't be right.
I'm late.
Why didn't anybody call me?
Where's Daddy?
You must eat something.
Come on.
Give me a break, Mother.
CAROL:
Oh, Scottie!
( sighs )
Oh!
( brake squeaks )
Eighteen minutes flat, Mike.
Is that good?
That's fantastic.
It's 30 seconds better
than my best time.
What do you say, Hiroshi?
Hiroshi,
Tom can't go fishing now.
He has to go to work.
Some other time, huh, pal?
Okay.
How about Sunday?
Yeah.
Catch a fish
as big as your old man.
This big?
Bigger.
Bigger.
Bigger.
This big!
That's a minnow.
Tom. Tom.
It's all right, Mike.
I don't mind.
Hell, he gets along great
with my kids.
I'll see you Sunday, huh,
Hiroshi?
Yeah.
All right. See you later.
Take care, Mike.
See you tomorrow.
See you...
this morning.
Come on, kids,
you're gonna be late.
Okay.
Bye.
Bye-bye. Have a good day.
( gears whirring )
( Tom making engine sounds )
Bye, Daddy.
Hey, don't I get a kiss?
Yes.
I made it in 18 minutes.
MARY LIZ: Really?
TOM: Yeah.
Bye.
Hey, we'll do it again
in the morning.
You'll do better.
Yeah.
Come on, let's get going.
I made it in 18 minutes.
You smell.
I smell? That stinks.
Thanks for telling me.
Eighteen minutes.
Well, that's great.
How about--? Where did you go?
Shower, shave and clean up.
Remember, I smell.
How about a little help?
No.
No time. I'll do it tonight,
leave it.
They come this morning.
CAROL: Come on, sweetie pie,
let's go.
Where's the toilet paper?
I couldn't find any.
Have you seen my keys?
I can't see anything.
Have you seen my wallet?
Where's Scottie? Scott!
Where's my breakfast?
Try your other pants.
Right over here, on the table.
Boo! I'm a rat from Europe.
A what from where?
You are not a rat, Scottie.
I wanna be a rat.
Looks like a rat to me.
No, he's a child.
I don't know about that,
except for this banana.
Well, in the school play.
A child,
a very important part.
I'd rather be the rat.
Does that mean
I can be a rat?
Thanks a lot, pal.
It's only a school play.
Yes, one I happen to be
the director of.
An act of suicide,
if I ever saw.
What's suicide?
Tom!
I didn't say anything.
You certainly did.
Stop, you're making
my ears hurt.
I gotta go.
What about breakfast?
Don't waste it.
Give us a kiss, rat.
Mommy.
My God, look at the size
of that dandruff, huh?
Here's a kiss.
Bye, rat.
Bye, madam director.
Ah, my wallet.
( crickets chirping )
( dogs barking in distance )
( softly snoring )
Tom?
Did you hear that?
Was that Scottie?
Go to sleep.
( sighs )
We have to talk.
Some other time.
There is no other time.
Go to sleep.
( sighs )
I'm serious.
So am I.
Turn off the light.
This is the only time
we have time.
What are we gonna get Brad
for his birthday?
He wants that computer game.
Get him a good bike.
Lygee.
A solid Peugeot.
Get him out of toys
and into the real world.
That's what he needs.
Mm. That's what you think
he needs.
Why are we talking
about this?
Brad's birthday
is two months away.
Why are we talking?
Go to sleep.
Turn out the light.
Ronnie Peebler didn't register
for the draft.
He's been indicted.
I don't know
what's gonna happen.
Brad will be 18 in--
Carol.
What?
In five years
and two months.
Then wake me. Now?
Go to sleep?
Yes.
TOM:
Now what are you doing?
Looking for my journal.
Carol, it's the middle
of the night.
So what?
( sighs )
There isn't anything
in that journal.
Well, I'm gonna start
right now.
I've heard that before.
Sometimes you're such a...
I've heard that before.
Okay.
Talk to me.
I've heard that before.
Hah! I've tried that before.
What are you doing?
Get out of there.
Get out of there.
Get out of where?
Cut it out.
Give you something to write
in your journal.
Okay, you asked for it.
Mm.
This is from...
And this is from...
Mm.
Who did you say
that was from? Hm?
( laughs )
( Mary Liz playing piano
boys chattering )
It's time, honey.
SCOTTIE:
No, I don't wanna do that.
Fellas, what's happening?
You can have the straw too.
TOM:
Come on, gang, let's move it.
Bye, Mom.
Bye, darling.
Bye, Mom.
Bye.
( childish voice ):
Bye, Mom.
BOY:
Let me out of here!
Let me out of here.
( chattering and yelling )
And they'll pop out
from behind.
Like, they'll all pop out.
WOMAN:
Now, let's get down to work.
Rats, over there.
Children, over here.
The mayor. Where's the mayor?
Right here.
Here's the mayor.
And the Pied Piper also.
Lisa, come beside me.
And the little crippled boy.
Come on, Scottie, yes.
Now, you'll do fine.
CAROL:
Here, darling,
I'll take it.
Now...
piano, please.
( plays upbeat theme )
( theme ends )
Thank you.
Now, I want you all
to listen to Mrs. Wetherly.
All right. Let's begin.
All the rats go over here.
Crouch down low.
Crouch down low
for the beginning.
Townspeople, just push back.
Give Lisa some space.
That's right. Remember how
we did it before? Good.
Okay, Lisa?
Lisa, come on, darling.
Do you know your
opening lines?
Yeah.
Now, remember that there's
gonna be people
way in the back of that room,
and they need to hear you too.
So you wanna speak up
a little more. All right?
Welcome. We wanted
to do this play
because we live
in Hamlin, California.
So did this story happen
a long time ago,
in a tow--
Town called Hamelin.
Thank you.
CAROL:
Wonderful.
Okay, Lisa goes off.
Now, all of you run
to your town places.
The rats go
into the mountain.
NARRATOR ( over TV ):
While fishing for dinner,
a boy caught a big letter A.
He then caught a B,
a C, D, an E...
( dial tone, machine beeps )
...and an F, G, H, I, J...
TOM'S VOICE:
Hi, dear, won't be home until
late. Don't wait dinner.
In fact, forget dinner. Sorry.
( dial tone )
BRAD: How's it now?
SCOTTIE: Funny.
BRAD:
That's a big help.
What's that supposed to mean?
( classical music playing )
Mary Liz, will you
turn that down?
Wrinkles.
What?
I can't hear you.
Mary Lizard, would you shut
that thing off.
No.
( answering machine beeps )
WOMAN'S VOICE:
Hi, dear. How's everybody?
Dad and I thought
we might drop in
on you guys around Easter.
It's snowing in Chicago.
Yes.
Call us collect.
Yes, what?
No more wrinkles.
( dial tone )
Stupid antenna.
When are we gonna get cable
like everybody else?
( answering machine beeps )
TOM'S VOICE:
It's me again, honey.
Scratch that last stuff.
Gonna get out of here by 3:30,
and with luck,
I'll be home by 5.
CAROL:
Your dad will be home
for dinner.
( answering machine beeps )
CYNTHIA'S VOICE:
Carol, Cynthia.
This costume for the play
is driving me crazy.
Call me.
Uh, what's a alphabet?
You don't know
what the alphabet is?
Oh, yeah.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Do you know
what it's for?
Uh, yes.
CAROL:
Better try again.
BRAD:
That's not
the antenna, Mom.
( TV dial clicking )
Hands off, banana man.
( dial tone )
( clicks off )
( banging TV )
This is San Francisco.
We have lost
our New York signal.
Radar sources confirm
the explosion
of nuclear devices
there, in New York, and up
and down the East Coast.
Ladies and gentlemen,
this is real. This is--
( high-pitched tone )
ANNOUNCER:
We interrupt this program
at the request
of the White House.
This is a national emergency.
This is an emergency action
notification.
I repeat,
we interrupt this program
at the request
of the White House.
Do not use your telephone.
Telephone lines should be
kept open for official use.
Important instructions
will follow.
( phone rings )
Ladies and gentlemen...
Hello? Tom?
...the president
of the United States.
CAROL:
Hello?
BRAD: Mom!
MARY LIZ: Mom!
CAROL:
Get away
from that window!
Mommy?
Get down on the floor.
Get down.
Was that Dad?
Is he in San Francisco?
I'm scared.
I don't know.
Put your heads down,
cover your eyes.
Oh, my God.
My God.
( air raid sirens wailing )
GIRL ( sobbing ):
Mommy! Mama!
Kenny!
Mommy!
WOMAN:
Kenny!
( people chattering
nervously )
( sirens wailing )
Carol.
SCOTTIE:
There's Phil and Cathy.
They're safe.
What happened?
I don't know.
No one does yet.
PHIL:
We just got home.
CATHY:
We just got back.
We're so lucky.
Thank God we're all here.
( baby fussing )
WOMAN:
Kenny!
Have you seen Kenny?
No.
PHIL: Where's Tom?
He'll be here any minute.
CATHY:
I'm sure he will be.
LITTLE GIRL:
Mommy!
CAROL:
Tom, we're at
Henry Abhart's.
We're all okay.
Come. We'll wait.
MAN:
CQ, CQ, CQ.
This is W6DN,
Whiskey Six Delta November
calling.
( man speaking
indistinctly )
Three generators.
He built it specially.
It's--
It's still working.
MAN:
No, there's
no damage here,
except all transistors
are knocked out.
Who else have you
talked to, Hal?
Rosemary, dear.
You both all right?
MAN:
Yeah, I been trying to raise
them myself, without success.
ROSEMARY:
He's raised Yuba City
and Eureka,
and we got a place somewhere
near, um, Omaha, Nebraska.
MAN: Maybe there's
an electromagnetic radiation
effect there.
Uh-huh. Well,
you keep trying, Hal.
( baby coos )
Well, folks...
so far I can't raise Seattle,
Portland,
Sacramento
or Southern California.
San Francisco is silent.
The entire Bay Area.
Visalia
and a chunk of Montana.
West Texas. North of us,
now, they're okay.
What about Chicago?
So far, I can't raise anything
east of Keokuk, Iowa.
( people murmuring )
A fellow in Twain Harte
thinks they hit Yosemite.
The sky is black
with splinters,
and trees and rocks
coming down like rain.
Must have been a mistake.
There's nothing
strategic there.
( baby cries )
We keep waiting for word
from Washington,
or where they've evacuated to.
And it'll come.
We may be crippled,
but we're not cut off
and we're not dead.
If you want news,
if you want food and water,
and whatever we got,
we can spare.
( chuckles softly )
Rosemary and I, we'll--
We'll be here.
Day or night, we'll be here.
( baby cries )
( crickets chirping )
( floor creaks )
( whispers ):
Tom?
Mama...
where's Daddy?
He'll be here, honey,
as soon as he can.
But I want Daddy.
Mary Liz, it's all right.
Come on in.
CAROL:
Brad?
I'm okay, Mom.
What are you doing?
Keeping watch?
Dad would.
CAROL:
February 24th.
I'm so afraid.
Nothing seems real.
Everything looks the same.
Maybe if I write it will help.
I ache to talk to my mother.
If I could only hear
her voice.
I hate breakfast.
Since when?
I can't know.
My dish has dirt on it.
So does mine.
Let me see.
Well, we'll wipe them off.
There are others.
Thanks.
Thank you, darling.
The milk tastes funny.
It's warm.
When's our refrigerator
gonna work?
Doesn't radiation
get into cows?
We'll use powdered milk.
Your dad has all that stuff
from your camping trips.
That stuff tastes funny too.
Doesn't radiation
get into water?
Well, it can. Maybe it
won't be so bad here.
But we'd better be careful.
What's "radation"?
Here, have a banana.
You never gave me one before.
I did now.
There may not be any...
more for a while.
May I have the butter,
Mary Liz?
Yeah.
( knocking )
Would you see
who that is, dear?
When's the television
gonna work?
SCOTTIE:
What are we
gonna do today?
No more questions, okay?
MARY LIZ: Hi, Larry.
Here, darling.
Okay.
Hello, Larry.
Can I stay here until
my mother and father
get back from San Francisco?
Were you alone all night?
Are they with Dad, Mommy?
Maybe.
Of course you can.
Like some bread?
Yes.
CAROL: Mary Liz?
MARY LIZ: Yes, please.
Brad?
Okay.
( people clamoring )
WOMAN:
If you-- If you could
just quiet down.
Just, could--? Could you,
please, just be quiet?
Just one moment,
and then we will tell you
exactly what we know.
All right, now, listen!
Which isn't very much.
Please listen!
MAN:
Quiet!
All of you, listen.
MAN 2:
When are you gonna
do something?
HOLLIS:
We just don't have
all the answers.
That's all there is to it.
But we are trying to find out.
MAN 3:
Tell us anything you know.
Henry Abhart is talking
with other communities,
some even in Canada.
There may be answers outside.
Oh, you can't depend
on that old man.
Who else knows how
to run that radio?
I mean, he's gonna have
to have some relief.
We're hoping to get
our communications network
restored shortly. That should
give us a fair picture
of what's happening
out there.
I'm not worried about what's
happening out there.
I'm worried about right here,
Darryl.
I got a plate-glass window
broken, $500.
My pharmacy's looted,
2,000, 3,000 dollars.
I want my goods back now.
We all know that
the supermarket
was broken into last night,
Darryl.
There has been
some looting,
but right now the markets
are under guard
and it's quiet out there.
Look, if there's any
further trouble,
we'll invoke martial law. At
least for a while.
Someone comes by my place,
Darryl,
they try to do something,
I am gonna protect myself.
I don't care who it is!
You don't take the law
in your own hands!
Hey, calm down.
Don't create panic here.
This isn't getting
us anywhere.
The reason why we've come here
today is to work together,
to make this community work.
We...
We called off
school today.
The teachers
and the administration,
we thought,
"What's the point?"
Now, that was wrong.
I remember after the president
was assassinated,
we bowed our heads,
we mourned...
...we went on.
Look, maybe, uh--
Maybe we should start
a community force.
MAN 4:
What, like the Red Cross?
Yes, like the Red Cross.
To help those people
who need it.
Um, I don't think
it's reasonable
to expect we're gonna
get help from the outside.
We have civil defense.
What civil defense?
Are you people crazy?
You're talking
like this is an earthquake
or a hurricane.
Well, it's not!
Bernie, you're a doctor,
why don't you tell these good
people what they've got--
Got to look forward to here.
( people murmuring
agreements )
We don't know yet.
Well, we really have no
equipment available
for accurately
measuring radiation fallout.
If the rads dosage reaches...
40 or 50 per hour,
and remains there long,
there will be illness.
And that can lead
to dizziness...
( baby crying )
...gastroenteritis, fever,
vomiting,
skin sores, hair loss.
( people murmuring )
CATHY:
Doctor?
Doctor?
MAN 5:
Bernie.
My baby wouldn't take
my milk this morning.
She threw it up. Um...
Uh, maybe that's nothing,
maybe she'll be fine
in the morning,
but how do I know?
( fussing )
Is there, uh--
Is there something I can do?
( people murmuring )
( murmuring grows louder )
The best sources we have
recommend using
only bottled water
and eating canned food.
Oh, you make me laugh.
Bombs,
hundreds of bombs,
are leveling cities.
It's throwing debris
miles into the sky.
And you're telling me
it's gonna have trouble
finding its way
into my canned apricots.
( people shouting, arguing )
Hey!
( horns honking )
You don't understand.
Hey, you! You!
I want you out of that line.
There are other people
waiting for gas.
You got some nerve
cutting in front.
( engines starting )
No. No, no, no.
MIKE:
No! Come on! Out! Out!
Come on! Come on, move!
Oh, no, no, no.
No credit card. No. No, no.
I don't have time for you,
come on.
Good morning, missus.
Your husband get home
last night?
He was on his way.
We, um...
We thought we'd come by,
in case we hear from him.
What are you charging?
It's free to my regular
customers.
Hiroshi!
( giggles )
I thought last night, Hiroshi
and I, we don't need much.
Food and roof.
Store some canned goods.
When the gas is gone,
we'll plant a garden.
( people arguing )
Go fishing.
Hey, Hiroshi.
What?
You wanna go fishing?
Go fishing? Yeah.
Can I go fishing too?
How come the gun, Mike?
Just because I'm giving
away gas, I'm no fool.
You too.
Ones that never been here,
ones that never had
time for us, for Hiroshi.
Hiroshi.
( giggles )
Well, I'll accept
the gas, Mike,
but only if you and Hiroshi
come over for a meal.
I wanna repay you somehow.
The gas has been paid for,
missus, many times.
I just hope you get
to have a use for it.
( horns blaring )
Hiroshi.
CAROL:
February 25th.
I stopped sleeping.
Afraid to close my eyes.
I find myself staring
at the children.
How did this happen?
( people chattering )
Hi, darling.
Hi.
There's no saving
places in line.
He's my son.
I don't care,
I've been waiting for hours.
Well, so has he.
More than four hours.
This is our place.
You got a lot of nerve.
( women chatter
indistinctly )
Hi, Brad.
BRAD:
Hi.
( video game bleeping )
( people conversing
indistinctly )
( Speak & Spell bleeps )
SPEAK & SPELL:
H-E-A-V-E-N.
You win.
I saw that, Billdocker.
So what, Wetherly?
Put them back.
So what?
A couple of batteries.
( panting )
( gears whirring )
( Brad pants )
HENRY:
What's your
situation there?
Hello, Brad.
Hi, Mrs. Abhart.
How's your family?
Okay.
HENRY:
Well, I heard that too.
You know what happened?
Nova Scotia heard the Russians
pulled a preemptive strike.
West Texas
heard it was the Chinese,
South America heard it was
some radical liberation
organization.
Glad to hear from you,
November Six Hotel Lima.
Catch you soon again, Harvey.
( radio squawks )
Heh.
Oh, hi, laddie.
That was Santa Rosa,
they got it worse than we do.
Some actual blast damage.
Lot of concern
about contamination.
Good spirit, though.
Can I stay, Mr. Abhart?
I'll tell you what. You can...
run these down to Dr. Jenson
and that lady mayor.
They want these rad numbers.
Why, what they're gonna do
with them, I don't know.
Have you got your bike?
Yeah.
You rode up the hill?
Mm-hm.
I knew you would.
I keep hoping to reach
Mischa Usoff in the U.S.S.R.
Can I come back, Mr. Abhart?
I'll tell you what.
You do that.
( melancholy theme playing )
CAROL:
Eleven days.
I wear your sweater.
It smells like you, my love.
( battery clatters )
I thought we'd go
on a picnic today.
Up by the trees.
See the one we planted
when you were born.
Mary Liz's, Scottie's.
Some people are leaving.
The Peeblers, the Hoffers,
Dr. Jenson.
Think we should leave?
Talking about
Northern Canada.
Survival camps.
How are they gonna get there?
I don't know.
( delicate, melancholy theme
playing )
What do you think
we should do?
( sighs )
Mr. Abhart, he lets me watch.
I run errands. I ride my bike.
Mary Liz has
her piano lessons,
and Dad could still come.
Yes.
And this is our home.
( upbeat theme playing )
Go on, you two
run on ahead.
( laughs )
( Mary Liz
speaks indistinctly )
CAROL:
Scottie's tree.
I can't write today.
( lively piano playing )
FANIA:
Dance, pipe and skip.
Dance fast into
the mountains. Dance.
( piano music ends )
They're gone.
He's done it, by gadfry!
Come out, citizens.
Come out.
I'll accept thou promised
payment of 1,000 guilders,
for I have saved your town
from the plague of rats.
You play wonderful music.
But what rats? I see no rats.
I will pay you 1 guilder out
of the kindness of my heart.
Thou made a promise.
Thou now is forgetting.
You're not going
to be difficult, now,
are you, Piper?
Thou is gonna be sorry.
Next time I'll play
a different tune.
BOY MAYOR:
Play away, I love music.
( short piano melody plays )
( flute sounds faintly )
Lisa, who was supposed
to be our narrator, is sick.
Nancy is going
to take her place.
From schoolrooms
and playgrounds,
from kitchens and nurseries,
the children came.
And their parents
could not stop them.
The music of the Piper
led them.
Wait! I want to see islands!
I want to be strong
and tall and powerful.
I want ice cream.
( stops playing )
Piper! Piper! Piper!
Oh, my son. He's gone.
He's dead.
Oh, what have we done?
Your children are not dead.
They will return.
They are just waiting
until the world deserves them.
( sighs )
( applause )
( applause fades out )
( melancholy theme playing )
( rain drizzling faintly )
Hi, Phil.
Phil?
Phil.
Oh, they...
They said we should
conserve wood.
We had a tiny box,
but it wasn't big enough.
We didn't have a bureau
the right size,
so Henry gave this to me.
See?
It's got tongue and groove.
It's a real antique.
And she'll fit in.
She'll fit in here.
We thought we were so lucky.
( laughs mirthlessly )
It didn't seem like
there'd be any more bombs.
( sniffles )
Then Suzie had to get sick.
Of course, I tried to
tell Cathy that we're young.
We could have another baby.
You were so helpful
to Cathy, nursing.
Cathy was so proud
she had plenty of milk.
We gave her water,
but we boiled it.
Tell Cathy...
Tell Cathy we love her.
CAROL:
March 8th.
I write this
to try and keep my sanity.
What's left.
What if the baby
is the lucky one?
I want it back.
Give it to me.
Mary Liz!
He can't have it
and you can't have it!
You can't do it!
I'll do what I want!
Not that!
She's hungry.
I'm hungry, you're hungry,
I don't care!
Scott's hungry!
We're feeding him,
aren't we?
I won't have fighting!
She was feeding a cat.
BRAD:
A stray cat.
Mary Liz.
I don't care.
MARY LIZ:
I've always wanted a cat.
CAROL:
We have to ration food.
I don't care!
And Larry is a part
of our family now.
What's the matter anyway?
Why are we bothering?
Mary Liz, I won't have you
talk like that.
I knew it.
I knew you'd side with Brad.
You always side with Brad.
He's not so great.
Mary Liz.
MARY LIZ:
Don't come in.
Don't come in.
Don't come near me.
Don't.
Sweetie.
I just wanna die.
( sniffles )
Don't.
Don't you do it.
( bittersweet flute theme
playing )
( sobs ):
I want my daddy.
Don't!
I miss him too.
( sobs )
Mommy.
( playing "Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star" haltingly )
Have you seen Scottie?
No.
Carol...
I think you'd better
come with me.
What's the matter?
He said he was running away.
I tried to stop him,
but he wouldn't let me.
Hey, there, little man.
Where did you come from?
Oh, I don't know.
What are you doing?
My treasure.
CAROL:
Your bottom drawer?
There's not enough food
for them anymore.
I'm running away.
I hate fighting.
You've been known
to get in a few yourself,
stubborn man.
No more.
Where will you go?
( sighs )
Maybe I'll find Dad.
If you did...
what would you do?
I can't know.
You tell me.
Well, you could see
the mountains and rivers.
You could see the cities.
You could come back here.
Would I be scared there too?
We're all scared a little
now and then.
I don't like it.
I don't either.
At all.
I know.
Tell it to go away.
I can't.
( melancholy theme playing )
( car engine running )
( engine cuts off )
Where are you going?
We can't stay here anymore.
We'll-- We'll write to you.
PHIL:
There's nothing left
for us here.
CATHY:
Ever since the baby--
Our parents, we--
We have to get away.
We'll find a safe place.
We won't stop until we do.
We'll come back,
just as soon as we can.
Good luck.
Bye, Carol.
Bye, Carol.
( engine starts )
HENRY:
CQ, CQ, CQ,
this is Whiskey Six Delta
November calling.
Henry Abhart here
in Hamlin, California.
This is Hamlin calling
and carefully tuning.
Can you hear me?
Looking for calls.
CQ, CQ, CQ.
Brad.
Yes, sir?
I told the police chief
you were talking to Greenland.
He says his radio will be
working again soon.
He always says that.
Do you want me to deliver
any other messages?
Well...
Rosemary's been walking
the neighborhood,
doing things.
Going from house to house,
checking on people,
seeing if there's anything
to do.
Right now she's not feeling
as good as she should.
And maybe for the next couple
of days, what you could do
would be to take your bike
and stand in for her.
I'll do it.
Brad.
Yes, sir.
There's one other thing.
I can't raise Santa Rosa.
CAROL:
March 23rd.
Mary Liz is practicing
a new piece.
Larry has stopped talking,
and Brad...
Brad never rests.
At least 1,300 have died.
HOLLIS:
The, uh, hospital is still
open for emergency services.
There's a minimal staff
on duty 24 hours.
I noticed we lost our garbage
pickup this week.
Well, there won't be any more.
It can't be managed.
HOLLIS:
One more thing.
Please...
any burials.
I want you to
do them carefully.
Darryl, how about the police?
My men are on duty
and they'll remain there.
The...
manpower has been depleted.
The, uh...
communications system
will be repaired.
Order...
( voice breaks ):
will be maintained.
CAROL:
Darryl.
HOLLIS:
Please sit down.
Sit down. It's all right.
It's all right.
( whispering
indistinctly )
( brakes squeak )
Remember that skunk
in Yosemite?
Yes.
Grandma's house?
Yes.
The smell.
CAROL:
Mm-hm.
Remember the bathtub
with clawed feet?
Mm.
The morning I walked in
on you and Dad?
Yes.
( melancholy theme
playing softly )
What's it like?
What's what like?
Making love.
Don't play mother with me.
That's what I am.
What's it like?
I was... so ignorant
as a girl.
Worried about it.
So full of fantasy.
I thought some man
would come along
and sweep me off my feet.
And your father...
he wasn't at all
what I was looking for.
Not the size or shape,
or what he did exactly,
I still don't know.
When you love someone,
you wanna be as close to them
as you can get.
You make love...
and you feel almost like
the same body.
Like it was intended.
You have a space,
and that person fills it up.
We would fight.
We wouldn't
listen to each other.
We'd miss...
thoughts.
We'd miss goodbyes.
But sometimes...
...most times,
there was this feeling,
and I couldn't wait for him
to be here with me.
Everyone's always alone.
And yet...
there can be this gift.
This making of miracles.
You.
Not for me.
( water splashes )
( whispers ):
You're going in the water.
There we go.
That's a boy.
Okay.
Shit.
Just rest your head against
here, all right, darling?
That's a boy.
You all right, darling?
Sweetie?
There.
Larry, thank you.
There. There's your bear.
Okay.
All right, darling.
Okay. That's my boy.
That's my big boy.
( melancholy theme playing )
I had a little nut tree
Nothing would it bear
( together ):
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear
The king of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me
And all for the sake of
My little nut tree
( choir singing ethereally )
( door slams )
( exhales sharply )
I still can't find it.
BRAD:
Mom!
I can't find it!
I want that bear!
It's time, Mom.
Don't you think
we should get it done?
No.
I'm sorry I'm late.
Let's begin.
Not yet.
God said--
Forget God.
No one is touching him.
No one is burying him
until I find his bear!
Do you hear me?
You understand?
Whosoever believeth in me...
...shall never die.
( phone clatters )
( machine beeps )
TOM:
It's me again.
Can you believe it?
Double scratch.
I'm gonna have to stay
in San Francisco after all.
All these false alarms.
I'll make it up to you,
I promise.
Give the kids a kiss,
and love to you.
( kiss )
( line clicks )
( dial tone )
( dial tone cuts off,
static hisses faintly )
( static cuts off )
Well, what is it, young man?
Are you all right?
I'm... perfectly well,
thank you.
Just resting.
Next time, knock. Thank you.
I did.
Where is--?
Where's Mary Elizabeth?
She's late for her lesson.
( chuckles )
My grandchildren
were the same way.
They... loved...
to watch... me.
( chuckles )
Here.
No, thank you,
I can do it myself.
Why were you late?
I wasn't.
Don't be again.
Shall we begin?
You have been practicing?
Yes.
Good. Now, let me show you
the width of the fingers...
( plays notes )
...and the...
The strength of the chord...
( plays note forcefully )
...I want
in that left hand. Hm?
( playing classical melody )
( melody continues playing )
CAROL:
Sunday, I think.
Watching Brad,
the man he's become.
The man he'll not live to be.
Larry left us today.
He just crawled into a ball
and died.
His mother was my friend.
( glass shatters )
( clattering )
Hey, what are you doing?
That's our food, Billdocker!
Let go!
Oh, no! No, no!
Not my bike!
BRAD:
No!
Damn.
( The Beatles'
"All My Loving"
plays on tape deck )
...and I'll kiss you,
tomorrow I'll miss you
Remember I'll
always be true
And then while I'm away
I'll write home every day
...every day
And I'll send
And I'll send...
All my lovin'
Come on.
To you
To you
I'll pretend
that I'm kissin'
The lips I am missing
And hope that my dreams
Will come true
( humming along )
And then while I'm away
I'll write home every day
And I'll send
all my lovin' to you
All my lovin'
I will send to you
All my lovin'
Darling, I'll be true
( "All My Loving"
continues playing )
( Carol laughs )
( "All My Loving" ends )
( door creaks )
TOM:
Never in the history
of the world
has there been a boy
as slow as you are.
Now, come on, Brad,
move your dead ass. Let's go.
( gears tick )
( footsteps )
What are you doing
in my chair?
Henry!
Oh, it's "Henry" now, is it?
Mr. Abhart.
Heh. Uh...
What you do is--
Call me what you want.
What you do is get me
a new voice.
How is it out there?
That's what I thought.
Same as in here, you know.
I keep losing things,
and I can't find them.
They go away
and they don't come back.
So...
Come here.
Well, I'm not giving up
on this old world yet.
So Rosemary's gone...
but I'll be here.
CQ. CQ.
( faintly ):
CQ.
HENRY ( whispers ):
CQ.
CQ.
CAROL:
I don't know what day it is.
I've lost track.
Henry thinks some miracle
may save us yet.
He's foolish.
The cemetery's full.
They're burning the bodies.
( loud ripping )
CAROL:
My first-born.
My daughter.
( gears ticking )
Is that Mike?
( car engine starts )
( car drives off )
Hiroshi?
Hiroshi!
Hiroshi?
Hi, Brad.
Hiroshi.
How are you, Brad?
Pretty good.
What are you doing, Brad?
I came to take you
to my house.
I go to your house?
Yeah.
Okay.
We're gonna go for a ride.
Let's go on a ride.
Wanna get the stuff
in the bike?
Nope...
Yeah. Let's go.
Okay.
So, uh, done much fishing?
All right.
Put this right in here.
Hey, your fishing pole.
Oh, my fishing pole?
Okay.
Wanna go fishing?
Go fishing? Yeah.
Okay.
Fishing?
Fishing. Um...
I'm taking you home
because I don't think
your dad's gonna be
coming back.
Oh, my God.
( choir singing solemnly )
( Brad laughs )
This is pretty good, huh?
Good.
You pedaling?
All right!
Here we go.
This is good.
Ah.
We got your fishing pole,
we'll go fishing.
We'll have a party
with all this food, huh?
Here we go.
You're doing the job.
All right!
( solemn choral theme
continues )
( jar drops )
( gasps )
( squeaks )
( grunting )
( cans falling )
( radio static )
( flipping switches )
( burst of static )
CQ, CQ, CQ.
( inhaling weakly )
Delta Six...
This is
Whiskeys Delta November
calling.
Henry Abhart for Hamlin,
California.
This is Brad-- Brad Wetherly
for Henry Abhart, Hamlin.
This is Hamlin looking
for a call.
Looking for a call.
Hamlin, looking for a call.
( gags )
( vomits )
( gasps )
( retches )
( retches loudly )
( sighs )
Henry's dead.
( sobs faintly )
( guttural sobbing )
Who did this?
Goddamn you.
( crying )
( elegiac flute theme
playing )
( gasps )
( sobbing )
( continues sobbing )
( elegiac theme continues )
( chains squeaking )
( choir singing solemnly )
I'm ready.
( starts engine )
Battery still works.
( somber violin theme
playing )
Brad.
I know, Mom.
Brad, I--
I can't do it.
( engine cuts off )
We forgot presents.
Where did you find it?
( bittersweet flute
theme playing )
What do we do now?
Make a wish.
What do we wish for, Mom?
That we remember it all.
The good and the awful.
The way we finally lived.
That we never gave up.
That we will last,
to be here...
...to deserve the children.
( delicate, melancholy theme
playing )
( choral singing
ethereally )
( choir singing fades )
( solemn French horn
theme playing )
( bittersweet flute theme
playing )