Empire Falls (2005–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript
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Downstream...
It's where we're all headed,
rich and poor alike.
Out in the flow,
who does not feel the current tugging?
Sometimes powerfully,
sometimes gently,
always insistent.
The most natural of progresses.
Until the day you learn...
What you had somehow
known all along...
That not all of what tugs
you downstream is inevitable,
that resistance is not futile,
that you have accepted
long enough,
that you have no choice
but to summon up
every ounce of strength
you possess
and turn against the current.
Wait for me.
Sorry, Jimmy.
I don't know what got into me.
Good of you to apologize.
I guess I figured this thing
between us was gonna get worse.
No, I wouldn't want that.
Well, hell, come around and...
Come on and set a minute... sit, I mean.
You're right about that.
Old lady lampley used to Mark
that with her red pen, remember?
Yeah yeah.
This is more like it.
Me and you just talking.
Nobody bent out of shape.
- I saw the kids earlier.
- Yeah?
Yeah, all heading out
for pizza, they said.
- A couple more years, they'll be in college.
- Yeah.
Imagine?
A Minty in college!
What's so wrong with that?
I'm glad to hear you say that.
I wasn't sure you'd approve.
Why wouldn't I approve?
Tell me... tell me something.
Did you feel out of place there?
At college?
Yeah, in the beginning,
I guess, yeah.
- But like how?
- There were kids there from all over, you know...
Portland, Boston,
even some from New York.
Yeah yeah?
One morning, I remember
I woke up and I...
And I said to myself, "this is my bed.
This is my room."
This is my world."
After that, I...
It was empire falls
that began to feel strange.
Well, now you
explain it that way,
I think I see what
our problem is.
See, I've never felt strange in this
town, not one minute in my whole life.
- Laugh all you want, Miles.
- I'm not laughing,
just shut up a minute,
I'm trying to explain something here.
Why don't you take your hand off the
doorhandle? You can spare me five minutes.
Okay.
See, I cared who won
that game today,
and maybe to you
that makes me a nobody,
but Mr. Empire falls, that's me.
Last one to leave,
turn out the lights.
This town is me and I'm it.
And you know... but the thing
is that people like you, Miles.
They... they do. But you know what?
They like me too.
You know what they like
best about me?
They look at me and
they see theirself,
they see the town
they grew up in
and their first girlfriend.
And you know what they see
when they look at you?
That they ain't good enough.
And they know that they're never
gonna get nowhere with you.
Me? Maybe.
They might just get someplace with
me and that's why they like me.
Which is why I'm probably gonna
be the next chief of police.
People like my attitude,
I guess you could say.
An attitude like yours, well...
That sort of attitude
just leads to things.
That's all I got to say.
Are you threatening me, Jimmy?
- Am I threatening you?
- Yeah.
Threatening you?
When have I ever wanted to
be anything but your friend?
Good night, Jimmy.
Hey, baby.
Where but empire falls
would the whole town
celebrate a tie
as if it were a victory?
Thank you.
It was your mother who told me it
was okay to love him if I wanted to.
That what a woman feels
deep in her heart
is her own business.
This is an adventure, Miles,
and maybe we'll meet
somebody nice.
Charlie, slow down.
Faster. Faster!
Everybody deserves a chance to be
happy, don't you think?
And there comes a time in
your life when you realize
that if you don't take
the opportunity,
you will never get another.
"So we beat on,"
boats against the current,
"borne back ceaselessly
into the past."
Miles?
Miles?
Miles!
You're okay?
Cover for me.
The holy gospel
according to Matthew.
Grace, welcome home.
- Hi, Tina.
- How was your trip?
- It was so wonderful.
- I wish I could afford to go on vacation.
- It was like a dream.
- I don't suppose you heard the news,
- being so far away and all.
- What news?
Old Mr. Whiting is coming out of
retirement to run empire textiles,
the shirt factory too.
And C.B.?
They're shipping him off to Mexico
to run the factory down there.
His wife kicked him out
is more like it.
- Grace, I don't know what we're gonna do.
- My god.
I don't know if it's just
gonna be the factory workers
or if it's gonna be
the office workers too.
You know why.
I know you don't have a choice.
I don't either.
Mom, you're all right?
Will you find a new job?
It looks like I'll
have to, won't I?
The black sin,
a stain on your immortal soul.
You must make amends.
Mom, are you all right?
Because I said so, Miles.
It's not something I wanna do,
it's something I have to do.
Honey, I've done someone
a terrible wrong.
And...
And now I have to make it right.
It's called a moral duty.
And one day you'll understand.
When will you be back?
I don't know,
but I want you to stay here, okay?
Okay.
I love you.
Honey..
Did you think something
bad happened to mommy?
Nothing did, sweetie, okay?
The lady that I went to see,
she offered me a job.
Then why are you sad?
I'm not.
I'm not.
And you know what?
I think we should
go home and celebrate.
What do you think?
How about hamburgers?
Yeah? Okay.
See you next Sunday. Thanks so much.
Good to see you, bless you.
Thanks.
She doesn't love, Miles.
She doesn't love,
she only understands love's power.
The decision is yours, dear boy,
but could you do that?
Could you let her die
knowing you just walked away?
How many meals did you
serve at your height?
Capacity is 150 between
the bar and the dining room.
- We could lose the pool table and get a few more...
- Yeah.
- Tables in here.
- Yeah.
Let's get a little more light
in here maybe, but you know...
We could maybe lower these,
make these windows bigger.
What an idea!
What's that? Is that
a walk-in cooler?
- It is, it needs relining.
- Great.
- Any chance that works?
- I'd be guessing, but I think no.
Some major expense items, but...
It's not that I think it's a bad
idea, Miles. Like I told you,
I'm game.
But it's gonna mean war.
That woman will come after us.
Fuck her. Let her come.
Miles.
Hey, Brian. 'Morning.
You look good.
Thanks, boss. I'm working on it,
- laying off that hard stuff.
- Good for you.
- Hey, Tick.
- Hey.
Just the person I wanted to see.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Decor.
- Sorry?
The walls in your
grandmother's restaurant.
You're gonna take down those
poker-playing dogs and the singing trout?
I'm thinking of nicely
framed photos of the town...
You know, enlargements... when the mills
were working, people were working.
Working people,
just for hard labor
and then all decked-out for
Sunday dinner at the hotel.
Sort of a celebration of the
people that built this town,
instead of those who think they did.
What do you think?
- I like it.
- It's not too hokey?
Just hokey enough.
Gin!
- What?!
- What?
What?!
- Gin.
- Can't be.
That's not the same suit.
- That's what I thought.
- "Anything's possible"?
Yeah, I got your
a gin card right here.
Any chance we could go
to Boston this weekend?
The Picasso exhibit's opening.
I'm gonna be pretty busy here.
I'd like to get
some of this worked out.
Well... anymore...
You're always busy.
Yesterday I asked if you wanted
to proofread my english essay.
- I said I would.
- And?
John, you can just...
You can just go in.
I'll tell you what,
if you can convince your uncle David
to flip eggs on Sunday morning,
- I'll run you down to the Picasso.
- Okay.
But you've got to do
something for me.
Your mother really wants
you to be bridesmaid.
Okay.
What changed your mind?
Yesterday you were gonna
be boycotting the wedding.
We worked a deal. I got E-mail.
- That's extortion.
- Yup, it works too.
Yeah, well,
not with me it don't.
I don't need extortion to work with
you, you just give in.
Did I mention that Donny and his parents
are visiting Boston this weekend?
Another Picasso lover
this Donny?
Hi, John.
I think Brian needs some help.
Well, you're right, there he is.
Same time every day this week.
When his shift finishes.
Hey, Bill.
- Thought you could use a piece of pie.
- Thanks.
- Let me know if you need anything.
- Thank you.
He tells me
he thinks your brother's
selling dope
out of the restaurant.
It's got nothing to do
with my brother, it's me.
So what's he got against you?
It's hard to explain.
Try.
He seems to remember us
being friends once.
Maybe we were.
I hear bea's planning to start
serving food again over at Callahan's,
and you're helping her
get ready.
Yeah, she's my mother-in-law.
Still, she'll be
competition for you here.
Unless you're
planning to join her.
None of my business.
Except I don't think
I need to remind you
that your friend
out there doesn't do much
without the say-so of your
other friend across the river.
All right.
I'll talk to him,
but my advice is that you
work this out between you.
Under the circumstances,
I'm not gonna be
much help to you.
Why not? You're
the chief of police.
Yeah, but my days
on the job are numbered.
What do you mean?
- I've got cancer.
- My god, Bill.
Don't you tell a living soul.
What the hell.
I've had a good run.
You're getting treatments?
What do you think is killing me?
The old lady
must be out someplace.
Can't be.
They don't have a car, remember?
Why doesn't she
turn on some lights?
All I know is
I'm not breaking in.
It's not breaking in
if you had a key.
My dad's. They open everything.
We get caught, we just
say the door was open
and we were looking for
our buddy John to hang out.
No way, man. You go.
You're a pussy.
- Hello?
- Hello, dear boy.
- Mrs. Whiting.
- Big doings, I hear.
- How is that?
- Well, there's no secrets in small towns.
Your divorce is final,
is it not?
And your ex-wife is remarrying.
The Robys are
the talk of the town.
Is it true that you are going
to be giving away the bride?
Look, it's been a long day.
Can we have this conversation tomorrow?
Yes, and we'll sit down and
discuss what's... Developing.
Perhaps we could
revisit the subject
of that liquor license
that you were so keen on.
And discuss your future.
And your daughter's future.
Incidentally, if you were
to run for mayor,
would it be as a democrat
or a republican?
Independent, Mrs. Whiting.
Well, that is a doomed
strategy, dear boy.
However, it's all up to
you, of course.
Yes it is. Goodbye.
What I'm trying to explain is...
And I wouldn't even
be telling you this
if I didn't know you and
Mr. Comeau are getting married...
Is the extent to which your
fiance's assets are leveraged.
I mean he is fully extended,
mortgage-wise.
You're saying he's broke?
No. I'm saying he has no money.
No money? How dare you?
Show me where it says
that on there.
No, show me!
You're talking about somebody else.
You show me where it says that.
- Janine, I'm...
- you think you can sit behind this desk,
like you're smarter than me
and say things about my life?
- I didn't mean to intimate I was smarter than anybody.
- I don't have to sit here...
- I'm gonna tell him. He's gonna come here...
- Will you please...
- and bench-press you!
- I have customers...
Would you loan $100,000
to people like us?
- Yeah, sure.
- Definitely, definitely.
Janine, Janine!
What's that all about?
Janine!
What a beginning.
Damn it!
Good afternoon, miss Roby.
You have your license, registration,
proof of insurance with you?
- I don't know.
- You don't know.
You know how fast
you were going?
How fast was I going?
Fast enough that you're
gonna get a citation.
I think we have
everything we need.
Our loan committee
meet on mondays,
which means we should have
an answer for you
- early next week.
- Good.
- Great.
- Great, thanks a lot.
- Thanks, Matthew.
- Miles.
- Say hello to your mother.
- I certainly will,Bea.
Mrs. Whiting, please.
Mind if I sit in, Mrs. R?
Certainly, Zachary. Anyone interested
in art is welcome in my class.
Except us.
Hey, John.
How's your grandma?
You're one lucky dude to have
someone like her taking care of you.
Why don't you just go away?
John, your girlfriend's
taking your side.
How's that make you feel?
Does that make you feel good?
Okay, I'm nobody's girlfriend.
Excuse me.
You know, things are really
looking up for you there, John,
with a new girlfriend and all.
Did you take her
to meet your grandma yet?
You think she'll like
Tick, your grandma?
Did you write this?
"Where is John Voss's grandma?"
What about these?
No.
Charlotte Bowen.
That's her name. Next time you
write one of these, you can use it.
Like I said before,
I didn't write them.
You have a key to this office?
Because each one of these notes
was left in the middle of my desk.
- No.
- If I searched you right now,
would I find a key?
You can't search me.
You can go.
So where is
John Voss's grandmother?
See you. Bye.
How's it going?
Fine.
We could have given
your friend a ride.
- Candace.
- What?
Her name is Candace.
So you and your dad are going to
Boston Sunday, that'll be fun.
How come you never
ask me to proofread
your english papers
like you do your father?
And you never tell me about those silly
mistakes people make on their signs.
You never think they're funny.
- Try me.
- No.
I'm not smart enough to see what's
funny, is that it?
You always get them,
you just never think they're funny.
- Maybe they aren't.
- Then why do you want me to tell you about them?
Maybe I don't.
Maybe I'd just like us to be
friends again like we used to be.
Maybe I'd like you to ask me to some
damn art show instead of your father.
Maybe it'd cheer me up to
know my own daughter liked me.
The silver fox
isn't cheering you up?
- You get out!
- What?
Get out! You want to treat me like
shit, you can damn well walk.
Stop stop, stop it!
Stop the car!
What are you doing? Stop it..
- Okay, wait wait, what happened?
- No.
- Will you stop? Just let me help.
- No, let go! Stop it!
- Come back! Come back...
- leave me alone!
All right, fine!
Shut, god damn you!
God damn it!
Hey, big boy.
Three free months.
My final offer.
- Hey. Hey.
- What?
Let me ask you something.
You're gonna move this
operation over to Bea's?
Why would you think that?
You're over there more than you are here.
I was just wondering.
- Yeah?
- Miles Roby?
You know your
wife's on Lake Avenue,
screaming obscenities
and kicking her SUV?
Hold on. It's for you.
Hello?
- You don't dress like one.
- Come on.
- Shit.
- It's okay.
You know, I've known
for a while.
You know, I'd wondered why
you were doing so good.
Then I saw you a few times, so...
Well, just so you know,
I wanted to tell you,
but charlene,
she didn't want to hurt your feelings.
It's good.
Yeah?
Yeah. Really.
Thanks, bro.
- I mean it.
- Hey.
You do know I'm woman
enough for both of you.
Right?
That's an extra $10,000
worth of work here.
Your electricals all
gotta come up to code.
You're lucky you haven't
had a fire in this kitchen.
- Hi, Bea. What's all this?
- Looks like the ceiling's buckling.
Hi, Miles. Excuse me, please.
Been an interesting day.
This morning I got
an offer on the place.
The place has been on
the market for three years.
Today, I get both
an offer to buy it
and a surprise inspection.
- Power and control.
- Miles?
Come in here
for a minute, please?
One of the new ranges
is gonna go in here?
Yeah.
- Is this your house?
- Otto, I got a bad feeling here.
According to the hospital,
Charlotte Bowen was admitted
with pneumonia two months ago.
When she was released,
they gave her half a dozen
prescriptions that were never filled.
Also, there hasn't been
any electric, water
or phone service in there
since September.
- So you think...
- No!
I'm trying not to.
First thing I need to do
is talk to that boy.
He left school between classes,
he hasn't been seen since.
I asked my boy if he wrote
those notes and he didn't.
So how come you people always
gotta blame him for everything?
- What people are those?
- "What people are those?" You, coach towne.
- Getting him suspended from the team for no reason!
- He wrote the notes.
- Yeah, yeah? Prove it.
- Jimmy.
- Knock it off.
- Jesus Christ.
Hey, chief, you should see this.
There's like three dogs
buried back here.
There's something
down here by the river!
We found a woman's body!
It's right here.
It's what I was trying not to think.
Everything's coming apart.
I know it must seem like that.
They'll find him.
He can't have gone far without a car.
- What'll they do to him?
- I don't know.
I don't think he meant
to do anything wrong.
He probably just figured if he told
anybody that his grandmother died,
they'd send him away and he's
had a whole lifetime of that.
Why does everything
have to suck?
It's a rule.
Hey, Donny's coming.
You'll see Donny in a couple of days.
That's not gonna suck.
- Do I still have to go to the wedding?
- Yes, you do.
I talked to your mom
just a little while ago.
She feels really rotten
about what happened.
About trying to kill me?
Any chance you're exaggerating?
Maybe a little.
I need my official taste tester.
Janine?
Do you?
You're goddamn right I do.
Well then, you leave me
no alternative
but to pronounce you
man and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
You may do more than
that, Mr. Comeau.
Thank you.
No way. You've gotta
dance one song with me.
- Thanks for coming today, Miles.
- Sure.
You're probably gonna
think this is crazy.
We're gonna be going
our separated ways,
- I'm kind of worried about you.
- Why?
Don't take this the wrong way,
it's good you're going for it.
You be careful of that woman.
I'm just going after
what I want.
Isn't that what you've been
asking me to do for 20 years?
Terrific. I get remarried and
now you decide to listen to me.
You didn't have to come alone,
you know.
- Are you trying to make me feel guilty?
- Who would I have brought?
I don't know, I kind of had this idea
you might want to bring Cindy Whiting.
You took her
to homecoming, right?
- Yeah sure, there you go, clam up.
- Janine...
I wouldn't blame you if that's
what you're thinking about.
For Tick's sake,
one of us should end up rich, right?
The way Walt talks money,
you'd think he'd have some.
Yeah, but you
married him anyway.
He loves me, Miles,
and that's the thing
I need most.
When he looks at me...
I don't even know how to say it.
See?
Hello.
Where is my social security check?
What?
I said, "are you going to send
me my social security check?"
How could I do that, dad?
I don't even know where you are.
I'm down in the keys,
where do you think?
- Care of captain Andy.
- Where is father Tom?
Right in back of me,
he's taking confession, I think.
You know he finished second in
a Hemingway look-alike contest?
He's got a beard now.
It's come in all white.
How could you do it, dad?
Let him grow a beard?
Why shouldn't he?
You know what I mean,
take money from a senile old priest.
I never took a dime.
No, you just let him pay
for everything.
Why shouldn't he have
a little fun?
Old men like to have fun
too, you know.
- Down here, people like old men.
- Why?
You know we left
the parish station wagon
at the public landing in Camden.
Ought to still be there
if they haven't towed it.
Congratulations,
now you lost me.
Tom and I sailed down here,
on the Lila day... crew actually.
You want me to believe
that you and father Tom
crewed a schooner from Camden, Maine,
all the way to the Florida keys?
Yeah, us and three or four
other guys.
Tom fell overboard once,
but we went back for him.
After that he was more careful.
He remembers better than most
people give him credit for.
Do you have any idea what will
happen to you if he gets hurt?
Not a damn thing.
You know what you're
pissed about?
I'm here and you're there.
Have it your way, dad.
I will.
I do.
Hiya, kid.
You're home.
Good eye.
You grew about two inches.
Mom's real sick.
They usually are at this stage.
She didn't tell you?
You're gonna have
a baby brother.
Or a baby sister.
What, you grow two inches and
suddenly you're a smart ass?
Where is your mother anyhow?
Church I guess,
she goes every day now.
She must be feeling guilty
about something.
- Captain Andy's.
- Yeah, you've got an old guy
at the bar with crumbs
in his beard?
Max.
Yeah.
I got a question for you, dad.
How come you never told me
about mom and Charlie Whiting?
How come you never told me, son?
Hey, David, I've been telling
my reporter friend here
that you missed a hell
of a reception.
Yeah?
Well, something about the
occasion just didn't stir me.
- I'm gonna sneak out...
- I am not believing this.
White limos.
Hey, big boy.
Big boy, come on, take a look at this.
- Look at this!
- White limos.
And look, look...
Massachusetts plates.
- I told you everything's possible. I told you!
- Yeah, yeah.
Empire grill.
I just heard from the bank.
Our loan's been turned down.
On what basis?
They turned our loan down.
They declined to give a reason.
When I pressed, I was told we might want
to check who's on the board of directors.
Fine, we'll go to Portland,
or Boston if we have to.
That's not all.
- Liquor control was just in here.
- Liquor control?
They had a photo of Tick
sitting in a booth
with some half-filled
beer glasses
that I hadn't gotten around
to clearing.
They said there'll be
a formal complaint
alleging that I'm selling
to minors.
She's got us, Miles.
No no, she doesn't.
She's going too far this time.
- She's gone too far.
- Who's imagining things? Not me.
Where are you going? Don't be stupid,
we need to think this through.
What is it you don't
understand here?
I understand you need to calm
down before you confront her.
- And if I had two good arms...
- yeah? Be glad you don't.
No, I'm sorry, David.
It's just you've gotta step out of my way.
All right.
No you don't, not today.
No more running, big boy.
You've been running your whole life.
But you're not gonna run today.
Me and you are gonna go
right here, right now.
Come on.
You know what? You're right.
- Goddamn right I'm right.
- When you say go.
Go!
My arm, my arm.
Damn! That was
worth waiting for!
My arm. I think
you broke my arm.
Mom!
This here is private
property, Miles.
Are you on duty, Jimmy,
or are you just another citizen?
- She said for me to tell you tomorrow.
- She knew I was coming?
There ain't much
that lady doesn't know.
She's several steps ahead
of the likes of me and you.
She's kind of disappointed
in you is my impression.
I'm sure she'll tell me
all about it.
How about that?
Old Miles Roby
committing a violent act.
What will people say?
My advice...
Just sit back down, Miles.
Just sit back down.
- James!
- You go on along, Mrs. Whiting.
I'll finish up with this here
after I've caught my breath.
I just came by to give
my two weeks notice.
You're gonna have to find somebody
else to run the empire grill.
Why don't you wait
and think things over?
Passionate decisions
are seldom sound.
When did you ever feel passion?
It's true that I don't have a
romantic temperament like some people.
Like my mother?
Like your husband?
We are what we are.
What can't be cured
must be endured.
What can't be cured
must be avenged.
Isn't that what you mean?
Payback is how
we endure, dear boy.
Having said that, I don't want
to give you a false impression.
I was very fond of your
mother, just as I am of you.
You want me to be mayor.
Well...
How does it feel, Francine?
To know your husband
shot himself in the head
rather than spend one more
minute on this earth with you?
You've gone and
done it now, old buddy.
You've surely done it now.
Francine Whiting.
Was she surprised when her husband
returned after 10 years in exile?
Many people thought
he'd gone mad.
What sort of man travels
all the way from Mexico
to shoot himself in Maine?
But maybe what he went was sane.
He had long ago stopped
blaming god for everything.
It was his wife
who was responsible.
It was she who had made him
so angry that afternoon
that he had backed out of
his garage without looking
and run over his infant child.
Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy! Daddy!
It was his wife who had
kept him from the daughter
who had needed him
so desperately.
She who had concocted the story
of the hit-and-run driver,
then held that lie over him
for the rest of his life.
Using it to deny him love
when at last he'd found it.
Grace!
Grace!
Can it be that in
the darkest of waters
the sun never penetrates?
Or that it penetrates just enough
to make that darkness visible?
Cindy.
How long have you been here?
A while.
How do you feel?
Groggy.
It hurts to breathe,
also to talk.
You have a mild concussion
and two cracked ribs.
I wanted to say goodbye.
You're going away?
The truth is I don't do
very well here.
I never have.
Where will you go?
Back to Augusta.
I kept an apartment there.
It's close to my doctors.
Also... There's a man.
You do know I've had
lovers, don't you, Miles?
I want you to know because...
You always imagine me unhappy.
And that hurts my feelings.
It never occurs to you that...
That I might be happy.
That I might want to share
my happiness with you.
God, I'm so sorry.
Is it so terrible for you to
know that I'll always love you?
That the night we had
that one kiss
I'll hold in my memory forever.
I know you never
meant to hurt me.
Do you want to hear
something terrible?
Sure.
I sometimes used to
fantasize that
you'd grow ill and I'd nurse you
like I did your mother.
Power and control.
I guess that makes me
my mother's daughter.
No.
No one's like your mother.
My god, my god,
what are you doing?
She says I have to
take her out or flunk.
She's just mad 'cause
you gave her a fat ass.
I didn't give her a fat ass.
God gave her a fat ass.
Really have to
go back to the basics.
- I wouldn't change it.
- I wouldn't either.
'Course I'm flunking anyway.
Tick, are you okay?
This really needs...
What is he doing here?
John.
John. John Voss,
where have you been?
Hey, John, what's in the bag?
My god.
Everybody, get out!
Run! Get out!
John, no!
This is what I dream.
- Where are they now?
- Crash cart in two.
How many beds available?
Mr. Roby, back in bed.
Better come with me,
Miles, right away.
- This man is not going...
- Nurse! Help him get dressed.
Stay behind the barricade!
Is that Candace?
John Voss. Bill, where are they?
In the art room,
it started upstairs.
- Sorry, sir, you can't come in here.
- No, I'm... tell him.
- Let that fella through.
- My daughter's in here somewhere.
- Just calm down.
- Let us through here.
Listen to me.
Where is this man's daughter?
There, she's over there.
- Where is she?
- Behind the counter, sir.
God!
My god!
Tick?
Tick? Tick.
- Be angry with her.
- Tick!
It's me. It's your dad.
- Hey, daddy.
- Come here.
You're gonna be okay.
Tick, Tick. It's me.
Gotta get out of here.
I got her.
It's okay, it's all right.
Hey, chief, that man
is still under arrest.
Tend to your own kid, Jimmy.
Let's all just tend
to our own kids, okay?
So we're just gonna
let him walk out of here?
Daddy, where are you going?
I'm just going to talk to
the man about getting a job.
- No.
- See? I'll be right here, okay?
- Hi.
- Hi.
I saw your sign here.
My name is Miles Roby
and I've worked in the restaurant
business over 25 years.
No.
Are you okay?
What happened?
- I'm sorry.
- It's okay, it's okay.
Daddy?
- Daddy?
- Right here, hon.
Right.
I'm right here.
- That's good.
- What do you think?
- That's a seven at least, maybe an eight?
- An eight.
Hey!
Hi, daddy. I'm fine, thanks.
- Yeah?
- Yeah, see you later.
Okay.
You can go.
Your mother almost ready?
My mother died, Charlie.
Nah, she's just inside
getting ready.
She's gonna wear that pretty
white dress, I bet.
She died.
She waited for you.
And I meant to come.
I wanted to.
So why didn't you?
When you're older,
you'll understand.
You killed her.
No, she died of cancer,
you know that.
You never came. I hate you.
And I you.
If it wasn't for you,
you mother and I could have run
away together like we wanted to.
We could've been happy.
What happened was
your fault, not mine.
Okay.
Okay, truce.
Hello?
Janine, it's me.
How is she?
Two steps forward,
one step back most days.
She's doing better this week.
- Tell her I love her?
- I will.
- I will, she knows though.
- You really think?
Of course she does.
How's Walt?
We split up, you didn't hear?
No. I'm sorry, what happened?
Temporary is what
we're telling people,
but I don't know.
He just sits all alone in his
office reading his aarp magazine.
I broke his heart I guess.
Anyways, you'd better
come home soon
or you're gonna miss
all the doings.
They're renovating
the old shirt factory.
- Yeah?
- There's a brew pub
and an L.L. Bean outlet
going in they say.
Let me guess who's getting
rich all over again.
Maybe, but somebody said
her house was for sale.
You never see her
around anymore.
How's your mom doing?
You know Beatrice,
you couldn't kill her
with a sledgehammer.
The loan's been approved
by that bank in Portland.
Great.
And the complaint's
been dropped.
Everybody's just waiting on you.
I need my daughter, Miles.
I know you're doing
what you think's right,
but it's not fair.
I won't stay any longer than
necessary, Janine, I promise.
Try not to look too disappointed
when you see me again, okay?
I'm gaining back
all the weight I lost.
Janine, there was never anything
wrong with the way you looked.
You're gonna be okay?
Miles, when you were a kid...
Did you ever imagine... What?
I don't know... More?
I did.
Don't feel bad, darling.
Nobody ever imagines less.
You gotta be shitting me.
Dad's here.
I'll talk to you soon.
- Okay.
- Bye.
Did you hear?
Jimmy Minty's in jail.
Got caught with a trunkload
of stolen VCRs.
My god, what a stupid kid
he was.
It just breaks your heart.
What are you doing here, dad?
I thought I'd just
come up here and...
Check on my granddaughter and visit my
son, if that's all right with you.
Did I tell you I won the
lottery down in Florida?
You won the lottery?
Not the big one,
not six numbers out of six;
Five out of six though,
pretty good payoff.
Help yourself there.
30,000.
Dollars?
No, paper napkins.
Of course dollars, you dummy.
You won 30 grand?
Almost 32.
You personally won 32 grand?
Me, father Tom and eight
other guys at captain Andy's.
You each won 32 grand?
No, we each won three.
10 guys chip in on a ticket
and you split the winnings.
How much you got left?
Your brother gave me the
bus fare to come up here.
- He ain't cheap like you.
- No, we're pretty different.
You... ever occur
to you to wonder why?
No.
For a man who ran off as much as you
did, you're pretty confident.
A man knows his own child.
Is Tick yours?
Yeah, and David is
as much mine as you are.
And how is my granddaughter?
See for yourself.
- Hi, grandpa.
- Tickaroo.
You smell better.
Well I... air out down there.
You got food
in your beard though.
I know, so what?
You're ready to come home?
Can we?
Ask your father, not me.
Old men don't get to vote.
Old men gotta keep
their mouth shut
and do as they're told
like they're stupid.
- Shut up, dad.
- Did you hear that?
Can we visit Candace
when we get back?
If you think you're ready.
She's still in a
wheelchair, you know.
- I know.
- And probably always will be.
I know.
I'm starting to
remember some things.
Like... when John
pointed the gun at her...
- I cut him with a knife.
- I know.
And Mr. Mayer...
- He stepped between us, didn't he?
- Yeah.
He saved your life.
Can we visit him?
John?
I'll have to talk that
one over with your mother.
From what I understand,
he hasn't spoken a word since...
I know.
But he might, to me.
What would he say?
Maybe "I'm sorry."
That's what
I'm gonna say to him.
You see, the thing is...
I can't help thinking that
the whole thing happened...
Because he liked me.
And...
I mean, I was nice to him...
But that's it, just nice.
Tick, if he needed
more than kindness,
that's not your fault.
Look, I love you, right?
Why? Because I'm supposed to?
No, because I can't help it.
Because from the time
you were about this big,
you just stole my heart and you haven't
given it back for even a minute.
You can train your mind and
you can learn from experience,
and that's what growing up is.
And you can...
Take responsibility
for your actions.
But... You can't make
your heart behave.
Take it from one who knows.
You will love who you love.
Don't ever apologize for that.
Don't ever feel you have to.
Hey, you can go now.
You want a donut?
Sure, grandpa.
Thank you.
- You never fixed this?
- I don't think it can be.
Don't be an idiot,
anything can be fixed.
So, tell me about this Donny.
Well, I've been
getting some e-mails...
The worst thing
about killing yourself is
you don't get to see
how things turn out.
Had he lived to a ripe old age,
C.B. Whiting would have been
cheered to learn
that in one important respect,
he wasn't the total failure
he imagined.
That he did in fact
succeed precisely
where his forebearers
had all failed so dismally.
It was C.B. Whiting after all
who had ignored
repeated warnings
that going to war
with god over the Knox
would one day increase
the severity of its floods.
That one day the river would
rise up and exact its revenge.
What possessed Francine Whiting to
be in the gazebo that April afternoon
when the angry river Rose 25 feet
remains a matter of speculation.
Timmy! Timmy!
She wasn't the only person to
drown in the Knox that day.
Timmy!
But she was the only one to
ride the raging, vengeful river
all the way to the Atlantic.
Had he not despaired
that afternoon so long ago,
C.B. Whiting would have lived to see
salmon return to the Knox river...
Along with prosperity of a sort.
Almost overnight,
the old shirt factory became home
to a computer wholesaler and
a credit card calling center,
and lavish
water-view condominiums.
He'd have seen properties along
the Knox become unaffordable to all
but those who came
to oversee these franchises,
which were too valuable
to be entrusted to the comeaux
and the daws and the Robideaux
and the Callahans...
and the Robys.
---
Downstream...
It's where we're all headed,
rich and poor alike.
Out in the flow,
who does not feel the current tugging?
Sometimes powerfully,
sometimes gently,
always insistent.
The most natural of progresses.
Until the day you learn...
What you had somehow
known all along...
That not all of what tugs
you downstream is inevitable,
that resistance is not futile,
that you have accepted
long enough,
that you have no choice
but to summon up
every ounce of strength
you possess
and turn against the current.
Wait for me.
Sorry, Jimmy.
I don't know what got into me.
Good of you to apologize.
I guess I figured this thing
between us was gonna get worse.
No, I wouldn't want that.
Well, hell, come around and...
Come on and set a minute... sit, I mean.
You're right about that.
Old lady lampley used to Mark
that with her red pen, remember?
Yeah yeah.
This is more like it.
Me and you just talking.
Nobody bent out of shape.
- I saw the kids earlier.
- Yeah?
Yeah, all heading out
for pizza, they said.
- A couple more years, they'll be in college.
- Yeah.
Imagine?
A Minty in college!
What's so wrong with that?
I'm glad to hear you say that.
I wasn't sure you'd approve.
Why wouldn't I approve?
Tell me... tell me something.
Did you feel out of place there?
At college?
Yeah, in the beginning,
I guess, yeah.
- But like how?
- There were kids there from all over, you know...
Portland, Boston,
even some from New York.
Yeah yeah?
One morning, I remember
I woke up and I...
And I said to myself, "this is my bed.
This is my room."
This is my world."
After that, I...
It was empire falls
that began to feel strange.
Well, now you
explain it that way,
I think I see what
our problem is.
See, I've never felt strange in this
town, not one minute in my whole life.
- Laugh all you want, Miles.
- I'm not laughing,
just shut up a minute,
I'm trying to explain something here.
Why don't you take your hand off the
doorhandle? You can spare me five minutes.
Okay.
See, I cared who won
that game today,
and maybe to you
that makes me a nobody,
but Mr. Empire falls, that's me.
Last one to leave,
turn out the lights.
This town is me and I'm it.
And you know... but the thing
is that people like you, Miles.
They... they do. But you know what?
They like me too.
You know what they like
best about me?
They look at me and
they see theirself,
they see the town
they grew up in
and their first girlfriend.
And you know what they see
when they look at you?
That they ain't good enough.
And they know that they're never
gonna get nowhere with you.
Me? Maybe.
They might just get someplace with
me and that's why they like me.
Which is why I'm probably gonna
be the next chief of police.
People like my attitude,
I guess you could say.
An attitude like yours, well...
That sort of attitude
just leads to things.
That's all I got to say.
Are you threatening me, Jimmy?
- Am I threatening you?
- Yeah.
Threatening you?
When have I ever wanted to
be anything but your friend?
Good night, Jimmy.
Hey, baby.
Where but empire falls
would the whole town
celebrate a tie
as if it were a victory?
Thank you.
It was your mother who told me it
was okay to love him if I wanted to.
That what a woman feels
deep in her heart
is her own business.
This is an adventure, Miles,
and maybe we'll meet
somebody nice.
Charlie, slow down.
Faster. Faster!
Everybody deserves a chance to be
happy, don't you think?
And there comes a time in
your life when you realize
that if you don't take
the opportunity,
you will never get another.
"So we beat on,"
boats against the current,
"borne back ceaselessly
into the past."
Miles?
Miles?
Miles!
You're okay?
Cover for me.
The holy gospel
according to Matthew.
Grace, welcome home.
- Hi, Tina.
- How was your trip?
- It was so wonderful.
- I wish I could afford to go on vacation.
- It was like a dream.
- I don't suppose you heard the news,
- being so far away and all.
- What news?
Old Mr. Whiting is coming out of
retirement to run empire textiles,
the shirt factory too.
And C.B.?
They're shipping him off to Mexico
to run the factory down there.
His wife kicked him out
is more like it.
- Grace, I don't know what we're gonna do.
- My god.
I don't know if it's just
gonna be the factory workers
or if it's gonna be
the office workers too.
You know why.
I know you don't have a choice.
I don't either.
Mom, you're all right?
Will you find a new job?
It looks like I'll
have to, won't I?
The black sin,
a stain on your immortal soul.
You must make amends.
Mom, are you all right?
Because I said so, Miles.
It's not something I wanna do,
it's something I have to do.
Honey, I've done someone
a terrible wrong.
And...
And now I have to make it right.
It's called a moral duty.
And one day you'll understand.
When will you be back?
I don't know,
but I want you to stay here, okay?
Okay.
I love you.
Honey..
Did you think something
bad happened to mommy?
Nothing did, sweetie, okay?
The lady that I went to see,
she offered me a job.
Then why are you sad?
I'm not.
I'm not.
And you know what?
I think we should
go home and celebrate.
What do you think?
How about hamburgers?
Yeah? Okay.
See you next Sunday. Thanks so much.
Good to see you, bless you.
Thanks.
She doesn't love, Miles.
She doesn't love,
she only understands love's power.
The decision is yours, dear boy,
but could you do that?
Could you let her die
knowing you just walked away?
How many meals did you
serve at your height?
Capacity is 150 between
the bar and the dining room.
- We could lose the pool table and get a few more...
- Yeah.
- Tables in here.
- Yeah.
Let's get a little more light
in here maybe, but you know...
We could maybe lower these,
make these windows bigger.
What an idea!
What's that? Is that
a walk-in cooler?
- It is, it needs relining.
- Great.
- Any chance that works?
- I'd be guessing, but I think no.
Some major expense items, but...
It's not that I think it's a bad
idea, Miles. Like I told you,
I'm game.
But it's gonna mean war.
That woman will come after us.
Fuck her. Let her come.
Miles.
Hey, Brian. 'Morning.
You look good.
Thanks, boss. I'm working on it,
- laying off that hard stuff.
- Good for you.
- Hey, Tick.
- Hey.
Just the person I wanted to see.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Decor.
- Sorry?
The walls in your
grandmother's restaurant.
You're gonna take down those
poker-playing dogs and the singing trout?
I'm thinking of nicely
framed photos of the town...
You know, enlargements... when the mills
were working, people were working.
Working people,
just for hard labor
and then all decked-out for
Sunday dinner at the hotel.
Sort of a celebration of the
people that built this town,
instead of those who think they did.
What do you think?
- I like it.
- It's not too hokey?
Just hokey enough.
Gin!
- What?!
- What?
What?!
- Gin.
- Can't be.
That's not the same suit.
- That's what I thought.
- "Anything's possible"?
Yeah, I got your
a gin card right here.
Any chance we could go
to Boston this weekend?
The Picasso exhibit's opening.
I'm gonna be pretty busy here.
I'd like to get
some of this worked out.
Well... anymore...
You're always busy.
Yesterday I asked if you wanted
to proofread my english essay.
- I said I would.
- And?
John, you can just...
You can just go in.
I'll tell you what,
if you can convince your uncle David
to flip eggs on Sunday morning,
- I'll run you down to the Picasso.
- Okay.
But you've got to do
something for me.
Your mother really wants
you to be bridesmaid.
Okay.
What changed your mind?
Yesterday you were gonna
be boycotting the wedding.
We worked a deal. I got E-mail.
- That's extortion.
- Yup, it works too.
Yeah, well,
not with me it don't.
I don't need extortion to work with
you, you just give in.
Did I mention that Donny and his parents
are visiting Boston this weekend?
Another Picasso lover
this Donny?
Hi, John.
I think Brian needs some help.
Well, you're right, there he is.
Same time every day this week.
When his shift finishes.
Hey, Bill.
- Thought you could use a piece of pie.
- Thanks.
- Let me know if you need anything.
- Thank you.
He tells me
he thinks your brother's
selling dope
out of the restaurant.
It's got nothing to do
with my brother, it's me.
So what's he got against you?
It's hard to explain.
Try.
He seems to remember us
being friends once.
Maybe we were.
I hear bea's planning to start
serving food again over at Callahan's,
and you're helping her
get ready.
Yeah, she's my mother-in-law.
Still, she'll be
competition for you here.
Unless you're
planning to join her.
None of my business.
Except I don't think
I need to remind you
that your friend
out there doesn't do much
without the say-so of your
other friend across the river.
All right.
I'll talk to him,
but my advice is that you
work this out between you.
Under the circumstances,
I'm not gonna be
much help to you.
Why not? You're
the chief of police.
Yeah, but my days
on the job are numbered.
What do you mean?
- I've got cancer.
- My god, Bill.
Don't you tell a living soul.
What the hell.
I've had a good run.
You're getting treatments?
What do you think is killing me?
The old lady
must be out someplace.
Can't be.
They don't have a car, remember?
Why doesn't she
turn on some lights?
All I know is
I'm not breaking in.
It's not breaking in
if you had a key.
My dad's. They open everything.
We get caught, we just
say the door was open
and we were looking for
our buddy John to hang out.
No way, man. You go.
You're a pussy.
- Hello?
- Hello, dear boy.
- Mrs. Whiting.
- Big doings, I hear.
- How is that?
- Well, there's no secrets in small towns.
Your divorce is final,
is it not?
And your ex-wife is remarrying.
The Robys are
the talk of the town.
Is it true that you are going
to be giving away the bride?
Look, it's been a long day.
Can we have this conversation tomorrow?
Yes, and we'll sit down and
discuss what's... Developing.
Perhaps we could
revisit the subject
of that liquor license
that you were so keen on.
And discuss your future.
And your daughter's future.
Incidentally, if you were
to run for mayor,
would it be as a democrat
or a republican?
Independent, Mrs. Whiting.
Well, that is a doomed
strategy, dear boy.
However, it's all up to
you, of course.
Yes it is. Goodbye.
What I'm trying to explain is...
And I wouldn't even
be telling you this
if I didn't know you and
Mr. Comeau are getting married...
Is the extent to which your
fiance's assets are leveraged.
I mean he is fully extended,
mortgage-wise.
You're saying he's broke?
No. I'm saying he has no money.
No money? How dare you?
Show me where it says
that on there.
No, show me!
You're talking about somebody else.
You show me where it says that.
- Janine, I'm...
- you think you can sit behind this desk,
like you're smarter than me
and say things about my life?
- I didn't mean to intimate I was smarter than anybody.
- I don't have to sit here...
- I'm gonna tell him. He's gonna come here...
- Will you please...
- and bench-press you!
- I have customers...
Would you loan $100,000
to people like us?
- Yeah, sure.
- Definitely, definitely.
Janine, Janine!
What's that all about?
Janine!
What a beginning.
Damn it!
Good afternoon, miss Roby.
You have your license, registration,
proof of insurance with you?
- I don't know.
- You don't know.
You know how fast
you were going?
How fast was I going?
Fast enough that you're
gonna get a citation.
I think we have
everything we need.
Our loan committee
meet on mondays,
which means we should have
an answer for you
- early next week.
- Good.
- Great.
- Great, thanks a lot.
- Thanks, Matthew.
- Miles.
- Say hello to your mother.
- I certainly will,Bea.
Mrs. Whiting, please.
Mind if I sit in, Mrs. R?
Certainly, Zachary. Anyone interested
in art is welcome in my class.
Except us.
Hey, John.
How's your grandma?
You're one lucky dude to have
someone like her taking care of you.
Why don't you just go away?
John, your girlfriend's
taking your side.
How's that make you feel?
Does that make you feel good?
Okay, I'm nobody's girlfriend.
Excuse me.
You know, things are really
looking up for you there, John,
with a new girlfriend and all.
Did you take her
to meet your grandma yet?
You think she'll like
Tick, your grandma?
Did you write this?
"Where is John Voss's grandma?"
What about these?
No.
Charlotte Bowen.
That's her name. Next time you
write one of these, you can use it.
Like I said before,
I didn't write them.
You have a key to this office?
Because each one of these notes
was left in the middle of my desk.
- No.
- If I searched you right now,
would I find a key?
You can't search me.
You can go.
So where is
John Voss's grandmother?
See you. Bye.
How's it going?
Fine.
We could have given
your friend a ride.
- Candace.
- What?
Her name is Candace.
So you and your dad are going to
Boston Sunday, that'll be fun.
How come you never
ask me to proofread
your english papers
like you do your father?
And you never tell me about those silly
mistakes people make on their signs.
You never think they're funny.
- Try me.
- No.
I'm not smart enough to see what's
funny, is that it?
You always get them,
you just never think they're funny.
- Maybe they aren't.
- Then why do you want me to tell you about them?
Maybe I don't.
Maybe I'd just like us to be
friends again like we used to be.
Maybe I'd like you to ask me to some
damn art show instead of your father.
Maybe it'd cheer me up to
know my own daughter liked me.
The silver fox
isn't cheering you up?
- You get out!
- What?
Get out! You want to treat me like
shit, you can damn well walk.
Stop stop, stop it!
Stop the car!
What are you doing? Stop it..
- Okay, wait wait, what happened?
- No.
- Will you stop? Just let me help.
- No, let go! Stop it!
- Come back! Come back...
- leave me alone!
All right, fine!
Shut, god damn you!
God damn it!
Hey, big boy.
Three free months.
My final offer.
- Hey. Hey.
- What?
Let me ask you something.
You're gonna move this
operation over to Bea's?
Why would you think that?
You're over there more than you are here.
I was just wondering.
- Yeah?
- Miles Roby?
You know your
wife's on Lake Avenue,
screaming obscenities
and kicking her SUV?
Hold on. It's for you.
Hello?
- You don't dress like one.
- Come on.
- Shit.
- It's okay.
You know, I've known
for a while.
You know, I'd wondered why
you were doing so good.
Then I saw you a few times, so...
Well, just so you know,
I wanted to tell you,
but charlene,
she didn't want to hurt your feelings.
It's good.
Yeah?
Yeah. Really.
Thanks, bro.
- I mean it.
- Hey.
You do know I'm woman
enough for both of you.
Right?
That's an extra $10,000
worth of work here.
Your electricals all
gotta come up to code.
You're lucky you haven't
had a fire in this kitchen.
- Hi, Bea. What's all this?
- Looks like the ceiling's buckling.
Hi, Miles. Excuse me, please.
Been an interesting day.
This morning I got
an offer on the place.
The place has been on
the market for three years.
Today, I get both
an offer to buy it
and a surprise inspection.
- Power and control.
- Miles?
Come in here
for a minute, please?
One of the new ranges
is gonna go in here?
Yeah.
- Is this your house?
- Otto, I got a bad feeling here.
According to the hospital,
Charlotte Bowen was admitted
with pneumonia two months ago.
When she was released,
they gave her half a dozen
prescriptions that were never filled.
Also, there hasn't been
any electric, water
or phone service in there
since September.
- So you think...
- No!
I'm trying not to.
First thing I need to do
is talk to that boy.
He left school between classes,
he hasn't been seen since.
I asked my boy if he wrote
those notes and he didn't.
So how come you people always
gotta blame him for everything?
- What people are those?
- "What people are those?" You, coach towne.
- Getting him suspended from the team for no reason!
- He wrote the notes.
- Yeah, yeah? Prove it.
- Jimmy.
- Knock it off.
- Jesus Christ.
Hey, chief, you should see this.
There's like three dogs
buried back here.
There's something
down here by the river!
We found a woman's body!
It's right here.
It's what I was trying not to think.
Everything's coming apart.
I know it must seem like that.
They'll find him.
He can't have gone far without a car.
- What'll they do to him?
- I don't know.
I don't think he meant
to do anything wrong.
He probably just figured if he told
anybody that his grandmother died,
they'd send him away and he's
had a whole lifetime of that.
Why does everything
have to suck?
It's a rule.
Hey, Donny's coming.
You'll see Donny in a couple of days.
That's not gonna suck.
- Do I still have to go to the wedding?
- Yes, you do.
I talked to your mom
just a little while ago.
She feels really rotten
about what happened.
About trying to kill me?
Any chance you're exaggerating?
Maybe a little.
I need my official taste tester.
Janine?
Do you?
You're goddamn right I do.
Well then, you leave me
no alternative
but to pronounce you
man and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
You may do more than
that, Mr. Comeau.
Thank you.
No way. You've gotta
dance one song with me.
- Thanks for coming today, Miles.
- Sure.
You're probably gonna
think this is crazy.
We're gonna be going
our separated ways,
- I'm kind of worried about you.
- Why?
Don't take this the wrong way,
it's good you're going for it.
You be careful of that woman.
I'm just going after
what I want.
Isn't that what you've been
asking me to do for 20 years?
Terrific. I get remarried and
now you decide to listen to me.
You didn't have to come alone,
you know.
- Are you trying to make me feel guilty?
- Who would I have brought?
I don't know, I kind of had this idea
you might want to bring Cindy Whiting.
You took her
to homecoming, right?
- Yeah sure, there you go, clam up.
- Janine...
I wouldn't blame you if that's
what you're thinking about.
For Tick's sake,
one of us should end up rich, right?
The way Walt talks money,
you'd think he'd have some.
Yeah, but you
married him anyway.
He loves me, Miles,
and that's the thing
I need most.
When he looks at me...
I don't even know how to say it.
See?
Hello.
Where is my social security check?
What?
I said, "are you going to send
me my social security check?"
How could I do that, dad?
I don't even know where you are.
I'm down in the keys,
where do you think?
- Care of captain Andy.
- Where is father Tom?
Right in back of me,
he's taking confession, I think.
You know he finished second in
a Hemingway look-alike contest?
He's got a beard now.
It's come in all white.
How could you do it, dad?
Let him grow a beard?
Why shouldn't he?
You know what I mean,
take money from a senile old priest.
I never took a dime.
No, you just let him pay
for everything.
Why shouldn't he have
a little fun?
Old men like to have fun
too, you know.
- Down here, people like old men.
- Why?
You know we left
the parish station wagon
at the public landing in Camden.
Ought to still be there
if they haven't towed it.
Congratulations,
now you lost me.
Tom and I sailed down here,
on the Lila day... crew actually.
You want me to believe
that you and father Tom
crewed a schooner from Camden, Maine,
all the way to the Florida keys?
Yeah, us and three or four
other guys.
Tom fell overboard once,
but we went back for him.
After that he was more careful.
He remembers better than most
people give him credit for.
Do you have any idea what will
happen to you if he gets hurt?
Not a damn thing.
You know what you're
pissed about?
I'm here and you're there.
Have it your way, dad.
I will.
I do.
Hiya, kid.
You're home.
Good eye.
You grew about two inches.
Mom's real sick.
They usually are at this stage.
She didn't tell you?
You're gonna have
a baby brother.
Or a baby sister.
What, you grow two inches and
suddenly you're a smart ass?
Where is your mother anyhow?
Church I guess,
she goes every day now.
She must be feeling guilty
about something.
- Captain Andy's.
- Yeah, you've got an old guy
at the bar with crumbs
in his beard?
Max.
Yeah.
I got a question for you, dad.
How come you never told me
about mom and Charlie Whiting?
How come you never told me, son?
Hey, David, I've been telling
my reporter friend here
that you missed a hell
of a reception.
Yeah?
Well, something about the
occasion just didn't stir me.
- I'm gonna sneak out...
- I am not believing this.
White limos.
Hey, big boy.
Big boy, come on, take a look at this.
- Look at this!
- White limos.
And look, look...
Massachusetts plates.
- I told you everything's possible. I told you!
- Yeah, yeah.
Empire grill.
I just heard from the bank.
Our loan's been turned down.
On what basis?
They turned our loan down.
They declined to give a reason.
When I pressed, I was told we might want
to check who's on the board of directors.
Fine, we'll go to Portland,
or Boston if we have to.
That's not all.
- Liquor control was just in here.
- Liquor control?
They had a photo of Tick
sitting in a booth
with some half-filled
beer glasses
that I hadn't gotten around
to clearing.
They said there'll be
a formal complaint
alleging that I'm selling
to minors.
She's got us, Miles.
No no, she doesn't.
She's going too far this time.
- She's gone too far.
- Who's imagining things? Not me.
Where are you going? Don't be stupid,
we need to think this through.
What is it you don't
understand here?
I understand you need to calm
down before you confront her.
- And if I had two good arms...
- yeah? Be glad you don't.
No, I'm sorry, David.
It's just you've gotta step out of my way.
All right.
No you don't, not today.
No more running, big boy.
You've been running your whole life.
But you're not gonna run today.
Me and you are gonna go
right here, right now.
Come on.
You know what? You're right.
- Goddamn right I'm right.
- When you say go.
Go!
My arm, my arm.
Damn! That was
worth waiting for!
My arm. I think
you broke my arm.
Mom!
This here is private
property, Miles.
Are you on duty, Jimmy,
or are you just another citizen?
- She said for me to tell you tomorrow.
- She knew I was coming?
There ain't much
that lady doesn't know.
She's several steps ahead
of the likes of me and you.
She's kind of disappointed
in you is my impression.
I'm sure she'll tell me
all about it.
How about that?
Old Miles Roby
committing a violent act.
What will people say?
My advice...
Just sit back down, Miles.
Just sit back down.
- James!
- You go on along, Mrs. Whiting.
I'll finish up with this here
after I've caught my breath.
I just came by to give
my two weeks notice.
You're gonna have to find somebody
else to run the empire grill.
Why don't you wait
and think things over?
Passionate decisions
are seldom sound.
When did you ever feel passion?
It's true that I don't have a
romantic temperament like some people.
Like my mother?
Like your husband?
We are what we are.
What can't be cured
must be endured.
What can't be cured
must be avenged.
Isn't that what you mean?
Payback is how
we endure, dear boy.
Having said that, I don't want
to give you a false impression.
I was very fond of your
mother, just as I am of you.
You want me to be mayor.
Well...
How does it feel, Francine?
To know your husband
shot himself in the head
rather than spend one more
minute on this earth with you?
You've gone and
done it now, old buddy.
You've surely done it now.
Francine Whiting.
Was she surprised when her husband
returned after 10 years in exile?
Many people thought
he'd gone mad.
What sort of man travels
all the way from Mexico
to shoot himself in Maine?
But maybe what he went was sane.
He had long ago stopped
blaming god for everything.
It was his wife
who was responsible.
It was she who had made him
so angry that afternoon
that he had backed out of
his garage without looking
and run over his infant child.
Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy! Daddy!
It was his wife who had
kept him from the daughter
who had needed him
so desperately.
She who had concocted the story
of the hit-and-run driver,
then held that lie over him
for the rest of his life.
Using it to deny him love
when at last he'd found it.
Grace!
Grace!
Can it be that in
the darkest of waters
the sun never penetrates?
Or that it penetrates just enough
to make that darkness visible?
Cindy.
How long have you been here?
A while.
How do you feel?
Groggy.
It hurts to breathe,
also to talk.
You have a mild concussion
and two cracked ribs.
I wanted to say goodbye.
You're going away?
The truth is I don't do
very well here.
I never have.
Where will you go?
Back to Augusta.
I kept an apartment there.
It's close to my doctors.
Also... There's a man.
You do know I've had
lovers, don't you, Miles?
I want you to know because...
You always imagine me unhappy.
And that hurts my feelings.
It never occurs to you that...
That I might be happy.
That I might want to share
my happiness with you.
God, I'm so sorry.
Is it so terrible for you to
know that I'll always love you?
That the night we had
that one kiss
I'll hold in my memory forever.
I know you never
meant to hurt me.
Do you want to hear
something terrible?
Sure.
I sometimes used to
fantasize that
you'd grow ill and I'd nurse you
like I did your mother.
Power and control.
I guess that makes me
my mother's daughter.
No.
No one's like your mother.
My god, my god,
what are you doing?
She says I have to
take her out or flunk.
She's just mad 'cause
you gave her a fat ass.
I didn't give her a fat ass.
God gave her a fat ass.
Really have to
go back to the basics.
- I wouldn't change it.
- I wouldn't either.
'Course I'm flunking anyway.
Tick, are you okay?
This really needs...
What is he doing here?
John.
John. John Voss,
where have you been?
Hey, John, what's in the bag?
My god.
Everybody, get out!
Run! Get out!
John, no!
This is what I dream.
- Where are they now?
- Crash cart in two.
How many beds available?
Mr. Roby, back in bed.
Better come with me,
Miles, right away.
- This man is not going...
- Nurse! Help him get dressed.
Stay behind the barricade!
Is that Candace?
John Voss. Bill, where are they?
In the art room,
it started upstairs.
- Sorry, sir, you can't come in here.
- No, I'm... tell him.
- Let that fella through.
- My daughter's in here somewhere.
- Just calm down.
- Let us through here.
Listen to me.
Where is this man's daughter?
There, she's over there.
- Where is she?
- Behind the counter, sir.
God!
My god!
Tick?
Tick? Tick.
- Be angry with her.
- Tick!
It's me. It's your dad.
- Hey, daddy.
- Come here.
You're gonna be okay.
Tick, Tick. It's me.
Gotta get out of here.
I got her.
It's okay, it's all right.
Hey, chief, that man
is still under arrest.
Tend to your own kid, Jimmy.
Let's all just tend
to our own kids, okay?
So we're just gonna
let him walk out of here?
Daddy, where are you going?
I'm just going to talk to
the man about getting a job.
- No.
- See? I'll be right here, okay?
- Hi.
- Hi.
I saw your sign here.
My name is Miles Roby
and I've worked in the restaurant
business over 25 years.
No.
Are you okay?
What happened?
- I'm sorry.
- It's okay, it's okay.
Daddy?
- Daddy?
- Right here, hon.
Right.
I'm right here.
- That's good.
- What do you think?
- That's a seven at least, maybe an eight?
- An eight.
Hey!
Hi, daddy. I'm fine, thanks.
- Yeah?
- Yeah, see you later.
Okay.
You can go.
Your mother almost ready?
My mother died, Charlie.
Nah, she's just inside
getting ready.
She's gonna wear that pretty
white dress, I bet.
She died.
She waited for you.
And I meant to come.
I wanted to.
So why didn't you?
When you're older,
you'll understand.
You killed her.
No, she died of cancer,
you know that.
You never came. I hate you.
And I you.
If it wasn't for you,
you mother and I could have run
away together like we wanted to.
We could've been happy.
What happened was
your fault, not mine.
Okay.
Okay, truce.
Hello?
Janine, it's me.
How is she?
Two steps forward,
one step back most days.
She's doing better this week.
- Tell her I love her?
- I will.
- I will, she knows though.
- You really think?
Of course she does.
How's Walt?
We split up, you didn't hear?
No. I'm sorry, what happened?
Temporary is what
we're telling people,
but I don't know.
He just sits all alone in his
office reading his aarp magazine.
I broke his heart I guess.
Anyways, you'd better
come home soon
or you're gonna miss
all the doings.
They're renovating
the old shirt factory.
- Yeah?
- There's a brew pub
and an L.L. Bean outlet
going in they say.
Let me guess who's getting
rich all over again.
Maybe, but somebody said
her house was for sale.
You never see her
around anymore.
How's your mom doing?
You know Beatrice,
you couldn't kill her
with a sledgehammer.
The loan's been approved
by that bank in Portland.
Great.
And the complaint's
been dropped.
Everybody's just waiting on you.
I need my daughter, Miles.
I know you're doing
what you think's right,
but it's not fair.
I won't stay any longer than
necessary, Janine, I promise.
Try not to look too disappointed
when you see me again, okay?
I'm gaining back
all the weight I lost.
Janine, there was never anything
wrong with the way you looked.
You're gonna be okay?
Miles, when you were a kid...
Did you ever imagine... What?
I don't know... More?
I did.
Don't feel bad, darling.
Nobody ever imagines less.
You gotta be shitting me.
Dad's here.
I'll talk to you soon.
- Okay.
- Bye.
Did you hear?
Jimmy Minty's in jail.
Got caught with a trunkload
of stolen VCRs.
My god, what a stupid kid
he was.
It just breaks your heart.
What are you doing here, dad?
I thought I'd just
come up here and...
Check on my granddaughter and visit my
son, if that's all right with you.
Did I tell you I won the
lottery down in Florida?
You won the lottery?
Not the big one,
not six numbers out of six;
Five out of six though,
pretty good payoff.
Help yourself there.
30,000.
Dollars?
No, paper napkins.
Of course dollars, you dummy.
You won 30 grand?
Almost 32.
You personally won 32 grand?
Me, father Tom and eight
other guys at captain Andy's.
You each won 32 grand?
No, we each won three.
10 guys chip in on a ticket
and you split the winnings.
How much you got left?
Your brother gave me the
bus fare to come up here.
- He ain't cheap like you.
- No, we're pretty different.
You... ever occur
to you to wonder why?
No.
For a man who ran off as much as you
did, you're pretty confident.
A man knows his own child.
Is Tick yours?
Yeah, and David is
as much mine as you are.
And how is my granddaughter?
See for yourself.
- Hi, grandpa.
- Tickaroo.
You smell better.
Well I... air out down there.
You got food
in your beard though.
I know, so what?
You're ready to come home?
Can we?
Ask your father, not me.
Old men don't get to vote.
Old men gotta keep
their mouth shut
and do as they're told
like they're stupid.
- Shut up, dad.
- Did you hear that?
Can we visit Candace
when we get back?
If you think you're ready.
She's still in a
wheelchair, you know.
- I know.
- And probably always will be.
I know.
I'm starting to
remember some things.
Like... when John
pointed the gun at her...
- I cut him with a knife.
- I know.
And Mr. Mayer...
- He stepped between us, didn't he?
- Yeah.
He saved your life.
Can we visit him?
John?
I'll have to talk that
one over with your mother.
From what I understand,
he hasn't spoken a word since...
I know.
But he might, to me.
What would he say?
Maybe "I'm sorry."
That's what
I'm gonna say to him.
You see, the thing is...
I can't help thinking that
the whole thing happened...
Because he liked me.
And...
I mean, I was nice to him...
But that's it, just nice.
Tick, if he needed
more than kindness,
that's not your fault.
Look, I love you, right?
Why? Because I'm supposed to?
No, because I can't help it.
Because from the time
you were about this big,
you just stole my heart and you haven't
given it back for even a minute.
You can train your mind and
you can learn from experience,
and that's what growing up is.
And you can...
Take responsibility
for your actions.
But... You can't make
your heart behave.
Take it from one who knows.
You will love who you love.
Don't ever apologize for that.
Don't ever feel you have to.
Hey, you can go now.
You want a donut?
Sure, grandpa.
Thank you.
- You never fixed this?
- I don't think it can be.
Don't be an idiot,
anything can be fixed.
So, tell me about this Donny.
Well, I've been
getting some e-mails...
The worst thing
about killing yourself is
you don't get to see
how things turn out.
Had he lived to a ripe old age,
C.B. Whiting would have been
cheered to learn
that in one important respect,
he wasn't the total failure
he imagined.
That he did in fact
succeed precisely
where his forebearers
had all failed so dismally.
It was C.B. Whiting after all
who had ignored
repeated warnings
that going to war
with god over the Knox
would one day increase
the severity of its floods.
That one day the river would
rise up and exact its revenge.
What possessed Francine Whiting to
be in the gazebo that April afternoon
when the angry river Rose 25 feet
remains a matter of speculation.
Timmy! Timmy!
She wasn't the only person to
drown in the Knox that day.
Timmy!
But she was the only one to
ride the raging, vengeful river
all the way to the Atlantic.
Had he not despaired
that afternoon so long ago,
C.B. Whiting would have lived to see
salmon return to the Knox river...
Along with prosperity of a sort.
Almost overnight,
the old shirt factory became home
to a computer wholesaler and
a credit card calling center,
and lavish
water-view condominiums.
He'd have seen properties along
the Knox become unaffordable to all
but those who came
to oversee these franchises,
which were too valuable
to be entrusted to the comeaux
and the daws and the Robideaux
and the Callahans...
and the Robys.