Rhoda (1974–1978): Season 1, Episode 2 - You Can Go Home Again - full transcript
Rhoda has made the decision to move back to New York City, but yet with no job and no apartment. However, the trunk that Mary has sent with all Rhoda's possessions is the first indication that she and Brenda can't go on living together in Brenda's small apartment anymore. The small apartment size is highlighted when Brenda has a date with the possibility of an over night stay, and when Joe, Rhoda and Brenda each try to provide the other two with privacy when they need to talk alone. But without a job or money, and with every available suitable apartment costing an arm and a leg, Rhoda does something she thought she would never do: she takes Ida up on the offer to move back home. As Rhoda's stay at her parents' gets longer, it has a surprising effect on both mother and daughter.
- MY NAME
IS RHODA MORGENSTERN.
I WAS BORN IN THE BRONX,
NEW YORK IN DECEMBER, 1941.
I'VE ALWAYS FELT
RESPONSIBLE FOR WORLD WAR II.
THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER
LIKING THAT LIKED ME
BACK WAS FOOD.
IN SCHOOL, MY GRADES
WERE OK.
MOSTLY B's AND C's...
EXCEPT FOR SELF-CONTROL.
MMM.
I HAD A BAD PUBERTY.
IT LASTED 17 YEARS.
I'M A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
I WENT TO ART SCHOOL.
MY ENTRANCE EXAM WAS
ON A BOOK OF MATCHES.
I DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF
THE HOUSE WHEN I WAS 24.
MY MOTHER STILL REFERS TO
THIS AS THE TIME I RAN AWAY
FROM HOME.
EVENTUALLY, I RAN TO
MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE IT'S COLD,
AND I FIGURED I'D KEEP BETTER.
NOW I'M BACK IN MANHATTAN.
NEW YORK, THIS IS
YOUR LAST CHANCE.
- WHERE?
- OVER THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
- [GRUNTING]
- I WONDER HOW MARY
MANAGED THIS BY HERSELF.
- WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE MARY,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
BY YOURSELF.
WELL, THERE IT IS.
MY ENTIRE LIFE
IN A DENTED TRUCK.
WITH 2 STICKERS.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA...
AND CAMP CHAIM WEIZMANN.
- NOW,
IF I'M LUCKY, MARY PACKED
MY OLD CLOSET IN HERE
FOR ME TO PUT ALL
THIS STUFF IN.
- OH,
RHODA, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
CAN I WEAR THIS SOMETIME?
- YOU'RE KIDDING.
THAT'S ONE OF MY
OLDIES BUT UGLIES.
- YEAH,
BUT THE ZIPPER WORKS.
I BLEW OUT 3 ZIPPERS THIS WEEK.
AH, YES!
MY OLD BATHROOM SCALE.
IT'S BROKEN.
IT ONLY GOES UP TO 105.
I NEVER HAD THE HEART
TO GET IT FIXED.
- GEE,
YOU KNOW, MY SCALE SAYS 105
BEFORE I GET THE OTHER LEG ON.
- 33 YEARS OLD AND
HERE'S MY GOOD CHINA.
CRACKED MELMAC.
- HEY, WHAT'S THAT?
- HOPE IT'S NOT
THE MALTESE FALCON.
OH, LOOK AT THIS.
THAT IS SO LIKE MARY.
TO WRAP NEWSPAPERS
IN NEWSPAPER.
AH, MARY.
I REALLY MISS YOU.
- HEY,
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
BUT, HEY!
NOW YOU'VE GOT A ROOF
OVER YOUR HEAD,
A GREAT GUY, AND ME.
WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?
- HOW ABOUT A JOB, SOME MONEY,
AND A DRAWER TO PUT
MY UNDERWEAR IN?
BRENDA, WHERE AM I GOING
TO PUT ALL THIS STUFF?
- HEY, NO PROBLEM.
THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM
IN THE CLOSET.
HOW MUCH STUFF DO YOU HAVE?
- BRENDA, I CAN'T KEEP PUTTING
OFF LOOKING FOR MY OWN PLACE.
- OH, COME ON.
DON'T BRING THAT UP AGAIN.
- WELL--
- HEY, I LOVE
HAVING YOU HERE.
AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TOUGH
IT IS TO FIND AN APARTMENT
- IN NEW YORK.
- OH, NO?
- LISTEN, I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN
WE USED TO READ THE OBITUARIES
TO LOOK FOR VACANCIES.
NOW, SOMEBODY COUGHS,
YOU FOLLOW THEM AROUND.
- I WILL FIND
YOU AN APARTMENT.
- GOOD.
- HERE IT IS.
"A ONE-BEDROOM, TERRACE,
AND A NICE VIEW."
- HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
- SOUNDS GREAT.
- HOW MUCH?
- 900 A MONTH,
- PLUS 150 CLEANING FEE.
- I CAN ONLY AFFORD
TO MOVE INTO THE CLEANING FEE.
- I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
A NICE 2-BEDROOM
WITH A FULL KITCHEN.
175.
- OH,
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
DO YOU MIND 5 ROOMMATES?
- I MIND.
- 3 ARE WOMEN.
- YOU KNOW, THERE'S UH, WHAT,
8 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK?
I MEAN,
I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ALL HAD
THIS MUCH PROBLEM.
- NO,
THE 8 MILLION LIVING HERE
ARE ALL SET.
YOU'RE THE ONE
WITH THE PROBLEM.
- WELL,
I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.
- YOU KNOW, ALL BUSINESS
ASIDE, RHODA, I FEEL A VERY
NICE WARMTH TOWARD YOU.
- OH.
THANK YOU, HOWARD.
- YEAH.
I MEAN,
I LIKE YOUR VIBES.
- OH. I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.
- DO YOU THINK THAT
WE COULD BE FRIENDS?
- WELL, SURE, HOWARD. HOWIE.
- YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD, BECAUSE
FOR A FRIEND I CAN DO
SOMETHING EXTRA.
- OH, GEE.
AND HERE I WAS AFRAID TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
- NO.
NO, LISTEN.
ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
- I'M NOT SURE...
WHAT YOU MEAN.
- OK.
I DO YOU A FAVOR AND, UH--
- AND I DO YOU
A FAVOR, RIGHT?
- NOW YOU'RE GETTING IT.
- BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT,
BECAUSE I'M NOT GIVING IT.
- HI.
- HIYA.
[SIGHS]
- HOW'D IT GO?
- NOTHING.
BEST OFFER I HAD WAS
A BASEMENT APARTMENT.
BUT I HAD TO BE
THE JANITOR'S WIFE.
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT IS THIS?
TWO BEDROOMS, ONE AND
A HALF BATHS, $110?
- NO KIDDING.
WHAT STREET?
- HAVENHURST AVENUE.
IT'S IN MINNEAPOLIS.
HEY, BREN, HOW COME THE PLACE
LOOKS SO NEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN?
I MEAN,
WHAT'D YOU DO WITH THE TRUNK?
- IT'S RIGHT HERE.
IT'S OUR NEW COFFEE TABLE.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO
OUR OLD COFFEE TABLE?
- IT'S IN THE TRUNK.
LISTEN, RHODA.
I HAVE THIS CRUMMY
FAVOR TO ASK.
IF IT'S A PROBLEM,
LET ME KNOW.
- SURE.
WHAT IS IT?
- WELL, I HAVE
THIS DATE TONIGHT.
AND IT'S KIND OF SPECIAL
BECAUSE IT'S NOT...YOU
KNOW...A BLIND DATE.
I MEAN, HE'S SEEN
ME ALREADY.
- THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THAT'S JUST WONDERFUL.
TELL ME, WHAT'S HE LIKE?
- OH,
YOU KNOW HIM.
HE'S COUSIN
NORMA'S SON, LENNY.
- A RELATIVE?
- DON'T WORRY.
HE'S ONLY A THIRD COUSIN.
I ALREADY CHECKED WITH THE
DOCTOR AND THERE'S NO THREAT
OF INSANITY.
ANYWAY, WHAT I WANTED
TO ASK YOU WAS...
THERE'S A SLIGHT
CHANCE THAT WE MAY
COME BACK HERE AFTER AND--GEE,
THIS IS TOUGH.
- OH!
OH, DUMMY.
YOU WANT ME TO GET LOST!
OF COURSE, YES.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM.
I'VE GOT A DATE
TONIGHT ANYWAY...
WITH JOE.
- OH. WELL, THEN, HEY, MAYBE
YOU WANT ME TO GET LOST, HUH?
- BRENDA, PLEASE.
THIS IS YOUR PLACE.
YOU HAVE A DATE, YOU'RE
ENTITLED TO SOME PRIVACY.
- GEE, THANKS, RHO.
- SURE.
LENNY, HUH?
LAST TIME I SAW HIM
IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
HE WAS JUST STARTING PUBERTY.
- WELL, HE'S JUST ABOUT
COMING OUT OF IT NOW.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- HI, BRENDA.
- HI.
- JOE!
- HIYA, BABE.
- OH, HI.
OH, LISTEN.
I'M GOING TO BE READY
IN JUST ONE SECOND.
I JUST HAVE TO GET MY JACKET--
- YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.
THE CRAZIEST THING
JUST HAPPENED.
YOU WILL NEVER GUESS.
- WILL YOU LOOK AT THIS?
IT WASN'T EVEN ON A HANGER.
- MOST OF THEM
AREN'T ON HANGERS.
- YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.
YOU SEE,
I'M ON MY WAY HERE IN THE CAB,
WHEN I SPOT SOMETHING
ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAB.
- ANYONE I KNOW?
YOU CAN TELL ME
ON THE WAY DOWN.
- RHODA,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE
THIS, BUT I FOUND A TICKET
TO TONIGHT'S KNICKS GAME
ON THE FLOOR OF THAT CAB.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?
- YEAH, REALLY?
THAT'S TERRIFIC.
- HEY!
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
THESE THINGS ARE WORTH?
IT'S WORTH A FORTUNE!
AND IT'S WITH THE CELTICS.
- SO?
- SO,
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW
ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO GO?
- OH,
YOU MEAN, AS MUCH AS YOU DO?
- OH,
I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND
ANYONE LIKE THAT
BECAUSE I WANT TO GO BAD.
- OH.
JUST ONE TICKET, HUH?
- YEAH.
I LOOKED ALL OVER
THAT CAB BUT--
- BUT YOU
COULDN'T FIND MINE.
WELL, JOE. UH...
I LEAVE IT TO YOU...UH...WHAT
DO YOU WANT TO DO?
- I THINK I WANT TO GO.
- THEN YOU SHOULD.
- RIGHT.
- WHY AREN'T YOU GOING?
I KNOW WHAT
YOU WANT, JOE.
YOU WANT ME TO GET RID
OF YOUR GUILT, RIGHT?
- THAT WOULD HELP.
- ALL RIGHT.
I REALLY DON'T MIND IF YOU GO.
HONEST.
I WANT YOU TO ENJOY YOURSELF.
GO TO THE KNICKS GAME.
- THAT GOT RID OF MY GUILT.
ONLY NOW I'M NOT SURE I WANT
TO GO FOR ANOTHER REASON.
- COME ON, GET OUT OF HERE.
GO ON.
- THE KNICKS BETTER WIN.
- I DIDN'T THINK HE'D GO.
I MEAN, I WORKED HIM
OVER PRETTY GOOD.
- SO WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO NOW?
- I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS I'LL JUST TAKE
A HOT BATH, GO TO BED.
OH, THAT'S RIGHT, LENNY.
- OH, HEY, NO.
THAT'S OK.
I MEAN,
THE THREE OF US CAN GO--
- NO, WE CAN'T.
NOW, BRENDA, STOP.
AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
I'VE GOT PLENTY OF FUN
THINGS I CAN DO TONIGHT.
- LIKE WHAT?
- I COULD VISIT MA.
- OH, YEAH.
AT THE FUN HOUSE.
[DOOR BUZZER]
- HIYA, MA.
- RHODA?
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
WHAT AM I DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
- WELL,
I WAS JUST HANGING
AROUND THE BRONX.
I THOUGHT I'D DROP IN.
- WELL, I MEAN,
THAT'S SO UNLIKE YOU.
THERE'S NOT A DOCTOR'S
REPORT OUT ON ME, IS THERE?
- NO, NO, NO.
I JUST CAME UP TO
VISIT, THAT'S ALL.
- LISTEN, DID
MRS. DAHL SEE YOU COME IN?
- NO.
I MEAN,
I DON'T THINK SO.
WHY?
- WELL,
SHE'S ALWAYS THROWING IT UP TO
ME ABOUT HOW HER DAUGHTER
COMES UP AND VISITS HER
2 TIMES OR 3 TIMES A WEEK.
[SIGHS]
HELLO, EDNA?
YES, I WAS CALLING TO INVITE
YOU UP FOR SOME COFFEE, BUT AS
IT TURNED OUT, MY DAUGHTER,
RHODA, DROPPED IN, SO I'M
CALLING TO CANCEL.
YEAH, MY OTHER
DAUGHTER'S HERE, TOO.
BRENDA.
UH-HUH.
THAT'S RIGHT,
THE BOTH OF THEM.
YEAH, WELL, I HAVE TO GET OFF
NOW SO I CAN OPEN THE PRESENTS
THEY BOUGHT ME.
OK, SEE YOU TOMORROW.
MIGHT AS WELL GO
ALL THE WAY, RIGHT?
- WELL,
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY PRESENT,
YOU CAN RETURN IT.
SO WHERE'S POP?
- HE'S WORKING LATE
AT THE OFFICE...
I ONLY HOPE AND PRAY.
SO WHAT'S NEW WITH YOU?
- [SIGHS]
LET'S SEE.
TODAY...
WAITED FOR 2 HOURS IN
THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE,
THEN I WALKED MY FEET OFF
LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT.
THEN JOE BROKE
OUR DATE TONIGHT.
AT THE LAST MINUTE.
AND THEN WHAT?
OH, YEAH.
GOT STUCK IN THE TUNNEL.
THE SUBWAY.
ON MY WAY UP HERE.
FOR AN HOUR.
- HOW WONDERFUL.
FINALLY, THERE'S A DAY
WHEN I'M THE HIGH SPOT, HUH?
SO LISTEN,
THERE'S NOTHING NEW
WITH THE APARTMENT, HUH?
- OH, NO, MA.
LAST THING I SAW WAS
THIS COZY, LITTLE PLACE
IN NEEDLE PARK.
4 FLIGHTS UP AND ALL
YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE LYING
ON THE STAIRS.
- LISTEN.
I KNOW HOW YOU DON'T LIKE
ME TO INTERFERE, SO I'M KIND
OF RELUCTANT NOW TO TELL
YOU, BUT I THINK I MAY KNOW
ABOUT A PLACE.
- MA,
THAT'S NOT CALLED INTERFERING,
THAT'S CALLED HELPING.
WHAT KIND OF PLACE?
- WELL, IT'S IN A NICE
BUILDING, BUT IT'S NOT BIG.
IT'S SMALL.
- WELL, SMALL'S OK,
I'M DESPERATE.
HOW SMALL?
- ONE BEDROOM.
THE FURNITURE'S NOT NEW.
- BUT I LOVE OLD FURNITURE.
GO ON.
- YEAH,
WELL, THERE'S PLENTY
OF CLOSET SPACE.
- OH,
THAT'S GREAT.
- AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
- OH. AND I WAS
READY TO GIVE UP.
- AND THE BEST THING ABOUT IT
IS YOU CAN MOVE IN RIGHT AWAY.
- OH, MA.
CAN I GET IT?
- ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT IT?
- YEAH.
WHERE IS IT?
- RIGHT IN THERE.
- OH, I DIDN'T SEE
THAT ONE COMING.
OOH, THAT WAS CLOSE.
[LAUGHTER]
- DON'T TURN THE LIGHT ON.
- OH.
SEE YOU LATER.
- RHODA, HANG ON.
- BRENDA, I'M SO SORRY.
I THOUGHT MAYBE HE'D BE GONE.
- OH, IT'S OK.
- REALLY?
- YEAH, COME ON IN.
SO HOW WAS EVERYTHING AT MA'S?
- OH,
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SHE ACTUALLY WANTED ME TO
COME HOME AND LIVE IN MY OLD--
BRENDA, ISN'T THERE
A PERSON BEHIND THERE?
- YEAH.
BUT HE'S SORT OF SHY.
LENNY?!
LENNY, IT'S YOUR COUSIN,
RHODA FAY.
- HI.
- UM...
NICE TO SEE
YOU AGAIN, LEN.
BRENDA, THIS IS TERRIBLE.
I'M SO SORRY.
I'M GOING TO GET
OUT OF YOUR WAY.
- OH, NO.
- YEAH,
I'LL JUST GO DOWN TO THE LOBBY.
HAVE A COUPLE OF
BELTS WITH CARLTON.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- JOE!
- HEY,
I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL UP.
- OH, HI.
DID YOU ENJOY THE GAME?
- AW,
NOT REALLY.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT
YOU THE WHOLE TIME.
I COULD HARDLY KEEP
MY MIND ON IT.
- WHAT WAS THE SCORE?
- 132 TO 131.
THEY WON WITH A 27-FOOT
JUMP SHOT IN OVERTIME.
- HOW MANY POINTS
DID FRASIER GET?
- UH, HE GOT 36.
10 IN THE OVER--WHO IS THIS?
- NOBODY SPECIAL.
SEE YA, BRENDA.
BYE, RHODA.
- WHAT WAS HE DOING IN THERE?
VOTING?
- BRENDA, I AM REALLY
SO TERRIBLY SORRY.
- OH.
- OH,
YEAH, I AM SORRY TO
BUST IN HERE LIKE THIS.
- NO, NO.
REALLY, IT'S OK.
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
ANYWAY, I THINK YOU
DID ME A FAVOR.
IT WAS A LITTLE PECULIAR.
HE KEPT SAYING,
"LET'S SHOW OUR TOES."
- I DON'T KNOW.
BRENDA, THE THING IS,
I HAVE GOT TO MOVE.
RIGHT AWAY.
I CAN'T DO THIS
TO YOU ANYMORE.
- LOOK, REALLY.
WE'RE NOT IN EACH OTHER'S WAY.
NO, REALLY.
I'LL GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN
SO YOU AND JOE CAN BE ALONE.
IT'S NO PROBLEM--
- NO, WAIT A MINUTE.
LOOK.
YOU TWO WANT TO TALK,
SO I'LL JUST GO
IN THE BATHROOM HERE.
- NO. YOU'RE NOT GOING
IN THE BATHROOM.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING
BEHIND ANY CURTAIN.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
AND THIS IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF HOW BAD IT IS.
NOW, BRENDA, LISTEN TO ME.
NOW, LISTEN.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR YOU,
IT'S FOR ME.
I DON'T HAVE A JOB.
I DON'T HAVE ANY
IMMEDIATE PROSPECTS.
AND I'M GETTING LOW ON MONEY.
I'VE GOT THE FEELING THAT IF
I DON'T GET A PLACE OF MY OWN,
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO
START HAPPENING FOR ME.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
- YEAH.
I WISH I DIDN'T.
- AW, BABE.
THAT'S GOOD.
- LOOK,
EXCUSE ME, BUT I WANT TO GIVE
YOU SOME PRIVACY HERE.
I'LL JUST GO IN THE BATHROOM.
- NO,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO.
- OH, YES, I DO.
- NO, MARE.
I'M JUST FINE.
I'M FINE.
HONESTLY.
IT'S JUST THAT THINGS GOT
A LITTLE CRAMPED AT BRENDA'S,
SO I, UH...TOOK A TEMPORARY
LITTLE PLACE UPTOWN.
UH-HUH.
- CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH
AND SOME MILK FOR YOU.
- WHAT?
OH, THAT'S JUST ROOM SERVICE.
AW, WHO AM I KIDDING?
MARY, MY ADDRESS IS
3517 GRAND CONCOURSE.
AND THAT CHUMMY WAITRESS YOU
JUST HEARD WAS MY MOTHER.
AND IF THIS ISN'T ROCK BOTTOM,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
LISTEN, I'M NOT ALLOWED
TO TALK ON THE PHONE
UNTIL I FINISH MY HOMEWORK.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS
LATER WITH YOU, OK?
SEE YOU, GOOD-BYE.
- RHODA, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
GET OFF THE PHONE THAT WAY.
I KNOW YOU NEED YOUR PRIVACY,
AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
ALL THE PRIVACY YOU WANT.
YOU CAN EVEN...
ENTERTAIN IN YOUR ROOM.
- MA,
ARE YOU ACTUALLY SAYING THAT--
- YES, YES!
YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
ONLY WE MUSTN'T LET...HIM KNOW.
- HIM?
- NO, YOUR FATHER.
HE'S GOING TO KNOW ANYWAY.
- WHAT IS THIS?
- IT'S A LITTLE SNACK.
- A SNACK?
LOOKS LIKE CANNON'S
LUNCH PAIL.
- GEE,
IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU COULD PUT
2 OR 3 OF THESE
AWAY IN AN EVENING.
- PLEASE DON'T REMIND ME.
BOY, I REALLY DID USED TO
EAT LIKE THAT, DIDN'T I?
- YEAH.
YOU USED TO BE
A GREAT DAUGHTER.
- AND YOU REALLY
SHOVELED IT INTO ME.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER
MY FIRST DRESS SIZE.
TODDLER STOUT.
- LISTEN, YOU
HAVEN'T EVEN UNPACKED.
LET ME HELP YOU, ALL RIGHT?
- MA,
PLEASE DON'T, OK?
JUST--I'M NOT STAYING
THAT LONG, YOU SEE.
JUST LEAVE THE THINGS
IN THE SUITCASES.
- OK,
ANYTHING YOU SAY.
ANYTHING YOU WANT.
ANYTHING YOU NEED?
- NO. NO, MA.
- NO.
- OK.
- YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN THING.
AND IF THAT MEANS BEING ALONE,
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE
YOU ALONE.
YOU LIVE HERE ALONE.
WE LIVE HERE ALONE.
WE'RE CROWDED, BUT ALONE.
NO PROBLEMS.
OH, UH...ONE OTHER THING.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU ABOUT
A HOUSE RULE, IN CASE YOU'VE
FORGOTTEN IT
THROUGH THE YEARS.
IF YOU,
UH, HAPPEN TO GET UP EARLY
ON A SATURDAY MORNING
AND OUR DOOR IS CLOSED...
DON'T COME IN.
[DOOR CLOSES]
- [SIGHS]
- I FIGURED YOU WERE UP WHEN
I SAW THE NEWSPAPER WAS GONE.
- OH.
THANKS, MA.
HEY.
NO FRENCH TOAST
THIS MORNING, HUH?
- WELL,
YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO GET
UP EARLY TO GO JOB-HUNTING
SO I DIDN'T BOTHER.
- WELL,
IT LOOKED LIKE RAIN.
I FIGURE I'LL GO
TOMORROW, RIGHT?
HEY, DID YOU IRON THAT
BLOUSE I WANTED FOR TONIGHT?
- YEAH.
IT'S IN THE CLOSET.
AND I TOOK YOUR COAT
TO THE CLEANERS.
AND THE PHONE COMPANY SAID
THEY'LL BE HERE MONDAY TO PUT
IN YOUR PRIVATE LINE.
- THAT'S GOOD.
THANKS.
- LISTEN, RHODA.
THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
- LISTEN, MA.
WHY DON'T I READ THE PAPER
AND WE CAN TALK LATER?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- IT'S ALMOST NOON.
I THINK YOU OUGHT
TO GET OUT OF BED.
- MA, I'M TIRED.
I WAS OUT VERY LATE
WITH JOE LAST NIGHT.
JUST TALKING.
- I'M NOT INTERESTED IN
WHAT YOU DO ALL NIGHT.
IF, AT YOUR AGE, YOU HAVEN'T
LEARNED THAT A MAN DOESN'T BUY
A COW IF HE CAN GET
THE MILK FOR FREE...
- YOU KNOW, MA.
I THINK WE HAD
THIS TALK BEFORE...
IN 1957.
- LISTEN, RHODA.
YOUR FATHER AND I ARE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.
- YOU MUST BE.
THIS IS SATURDAY
MORNING, ISN'T IT?
- LISTEN.
THE FIRST FEW DAYS YOU WERE
HERE WERE VERY ROUTINE.
YOU WOULDN'T LET
ME WAIT ON YOU.
YOU DIDN'T WANT ME
TO UNPACK YOUR BAG.
BUT NOW, I'M
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
IT'S BEEN DAYS SINCE
YOU SCREAMED AT ME.
- MA,
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
- I DON'T LIKE TO SEE YOU THIS
HAPPY LIVING IN YOUR OWN HOME.
- YOU ARE ACTING AS
IF I'M ENJOYING THIS.
YEAH.
YOU WAITING ON
ME HAND AND FOOT.
AND POP SLIPPING ME MONEY
BECAUSE I'M UNEMPLOYED.
YOU THINK I LIKE IT?
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.
I WANT TO WORK.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR WORK.
I HAVE APPLIED FOR EVERY
SINGLE WINDOW DRESSER JOB
IN THE ENTIRE
CITY OF NEW YORK,
INCLUDING A PLACE OVER ON THIRD
AVENUE CALLED PANTYHOSE CITY.
- YOU THINK I DON'T UNDERSTAND
YOUR PROBLEMS, BUT I DO.
- NO,
YOU DON'T, MA.
FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS
YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN SETTLED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
A JOB OR A PLACE TO LIVE...
OR WONDER EVERY DAY IF
POP IS THE RIGHT ONE.
- YOU THINK I STILL DON'T
HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT YOUR FATHER?
- COME ON, MA, WILL YOU
GIVE ME A BREAK, PLEASE?
- LISTEN!
EVERY EVENING WHEN WE SIT
IN THE LIVING ROOM WATCHING
TELEVISION, I LOOK AT HIM
AND I THINK, WHO IS HE?
WHAT AM I DOING HERE
WITH THIS STRANGE MAN?
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE TRIED
TO MAKE A GO OF IT
WITH JOHNNY DELVECCHIO.
- HOW COME YOU'RE
TELLING ME THIS?
I MEAN,
YOU NEVER TOLD ME STUFF LIKE
THIS BEFORE. EVER.
- I'M TRADING.
- HUH?
- BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO
SPILL YOUR GUTS OUT TO ME.
RHODA, COME ON.
SPILL OUT TO ME.
- OH...OK.
MA, I'M FALLING APART HERE.
I MEAN,
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MAKE IT...
IN NEW YORK.
I'M LOSING MY SELF-CONFIDENCE.
I, UH...EVERYTHING HAS JUST
GOTTEN TOO MUCH FOR ME.
I'M REALLY SCARED.
AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY
I'M BACK HOME HERE.
- OH, RHODA.
IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU'RE
TELLING ME THESE THINGS.
AND I'M GOING TO HELP YOU.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE
14 AND YOU HAD TO GO TO CAMP?
AND YOU HID UNDER THAT VERY
BED AND I HAD TO DRAG YOU OUT?
- YEAH.
OH, I HAD A GREAT
SUMMER THAT YEAR.
- YEAH...
EXCEPT THE COUNSELOR
WAS TOO OLD FOR YOU.
LISTEN, I UNDERSTAND
YOU'RE BEING SCARED...
BECAUSE I'M SCARED, TOO.
BECAUSE WHAT I'M GOING TO
SAY TO YOU NOW IS VERY HARD.
- OK, MA.
- RHODA, DARLING...
GET OUT OF HERE.
- MA--
- NO,
LOOK, I LOVE HAVING YOU LIVE
HERE, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE UNDER
THE BED ANYMORE, YOU JUST
WON'T FIT.
AND THE LONGER YOU STAY HERE,
THE HARDER IT WILL
BE TO LEAVE.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING TO
BE SCARED ABOUT, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN,
YOUR DAD AND I WILL BE HERE
WHENEVER YOU NEED US.
WE JUST SIGNED A NEW LEASE.
RHODA, GET UP
AND GET OUT, HUH?
- BOY, MA.
YOU MUST REALLY LOVE ME A LOT...
TO THROW ME OUT LIKE THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
- OH, BOY.
IT'S SOME TERRIFIC WORLD.
YOU BEG YOUR KID TO COME AND
STAY WITH YOU AND SHE WON'T
HAVE ANY PART OF IT.
YOU THROW HER OUT AND
SHE'S ALL OVER YOU.
COME ON,
I'LL HELP YOU PACK.
IT'LL KILL ME,
BUT I'LL HELP YOU.
- I CAN'T GET OVER THIS.
I CAN'T GET
OVER IT, MA.
HERE ALL I REALLY NEEDED WAS
A LITTLE MOTHERING.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT
I COULD GET IT
FROM MY OWN MOTHER?
- LISTEN, I'LL TELL YOU,
I DON'T FEEL TOO GOOD
ABOUT YOU TRAVELING
IN THE SUBWAYS THIS
LATE AT NIGHT.
- OH,
MA, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
CAN I BORROW YOUR SWEATER?
- YEAH. WHAT FOR?
- WELL, YOU'LL SEE.
I HAVE THIS TRICK, SEE,
THAT WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
YOU'LL SEE IN ONE SECOND.
NOW, YOU SEE, IT'S SAFER
IN THE SUBWAY IF YOU DON'T
LOOK TOO SEXY.
- GEE,
THAT'S A GOOD TIP.
I'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT.
- OK, OK.
BYE, BABE.
- ALL SET.
- BYE, HONEY.
- SEE YA.
- SEE YOU SOON.
THANKS.
IS RHODA MORGENSTERN.
I WAS BORN IN THE BRONX,
NEW YORK IN DECEMBER, 1941.
I'VE ALWAYS FELT
RESPONSIBLE FOR WORLD WAR II.
THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER
LIKING THAT LIKED ME
BACK WAS FOOD.
IN SCHOOL, MY GRADES
WERE OK.
MOSTLY B's AND C's...
EXCEPT FOR SELF-CONTROL.
MMM.
I HAD A BAD PUBERTY.
IT LASTED 17 YEARS.
I'M A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
I WENT TO ART SCHOOL.
MY ENTRANCE EXAM WAS
ON A BOOK OF MATCHES.
I DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF
THE HOUSE WHEN I WAS 24.
MY MOTHER STILL REFERS TO
THIS AS THE TIME I RAN AWAY
FROM HOME.
EVENTUALLY, I RAN TO
MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE IT'S COLD,
AND I FIGURED I'D KEEP BETTER.
NOW I'M BACK IN MANHATTAN.
NEW YORK, THIS IS
YOUR LAST CHANCE.
- WHERE?
- OVER THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
- [GRUNTING]
- I WONDER HOW MARY
MANAGED THIS BY HERSELF.
- WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE MARY,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
BY YOURSELF.
WELL, THERE IT IS.
MY ENTIRE LIFE
IN A DENTED TRUCK.
WITH 2 STICKERS.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA...
AND CAMP CHAIM WEIZMANN.
- NOW,
IF I'M LUCKY, MARY PACKED
MY OLD CLOSET IN HERE
FOR ME TO PUT ALL
THIS STUFF IN.
- OH,
RHODA, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
CAN I WEAR THIS SOMETIME?
- YOU'RE KIDDING.
THAT'S ONE OF MY
OLDIES BUT UGLIES.
- YEAH,
BUT THE ZIPPER WORKS.
I BLEW OUT 3 ZIPPERS THIS WEEK.
AH, YES!
MY OLD BATHROOM SCALE.
IT'S BROKEN.
IT ONLY GOES UP TO 105.
I NEVER HAD THE HEART
TO GET IT FIXED.
- GEE,
YOU KNOW, MY SCALE SAYS 105
BEFORE I GET THE OTHER LEG ON.
- 33 YEARS OLD AND
HERE'S MY GOOD CHINA.
CRACKED MELMAC.
- HEY, WHAT'S THAT?
- HOPE IT'S NOT
THE MALTESE FALCON.
OH, LOOK AT THIS.
THAT IS SO LIKE MARY.
TO WRAP NEWSPAPERS
IN NEWSPAPER.
AH, MARY.
I REALLY MISS YOU.
- HEY,
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
BUT, HEY!
NOW YOU'VE GOT A ROOF
OVER YOUR HEAD,
A GREAT GUY, AND ME.
WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?
- HOW ABOUT A JOB, SOME MONEY,
AND A DRAWER TO PUT
MY UNDERWEAR IN?
BRENDA, WHERE AM I GOING
TO PUT ALL THIS STUFF?
- HEY, NO PROBLEM.
THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM
IN THE CLOSET.
HOW MUCH STUFF DO YOU HAVE?
- BRENDA, I CAN'T KEEP PUTTING
OFF LOOKING FOR MY OWN PLACE.
- OH, COME ON.
DON'T BRING THAT UP AGAIN.
- WELL--
- HEY, I LOVE
HAVING YOU HERE.
AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TOUGH
IT IS TO FIND AN APARTMENT
- IN NEW YORK.
- OH, NO?
- LISTEN, I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN
WE USED TO READ THE OBITUARIES
TO LOOK FOR VACANCIES.
NOW, SOMEBODY COUGHS,
YOU FOLLOW THEM AROUND.
- I WILL FIND
YOU AN APARTMENT.
- GOOD.
- HERE IT IS.
"A ONE-BEDROOM, TERRACE,
AND A NICE VIEW."
- HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
- SOUNDS GREAT.
- HOW MUCH?
- 900 A MONTH,
- PLUS 150 CLEANING FEE.
- I CAN ONLY AFFORD
TO MOVE INTO THE CLEANING FEE.
- I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
A NICE 2-BEDROOM
WITH A FULL KITCHEN.
175.
- OH,
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
DO YOU MIND 5 ROOMMATES?
- I MIND.
- 3 ARE WOMEN.
- YOU KNOW, THERE'S UH, WHAT,
8 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK?
I MEAN,
I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ALL HAD
THIS MUCH PROBLEM.
- NO,
THE 8 MILLION LIVING HERE
ARE ALL SET.
YOU'RE THE ONE
WITH THE PROBLEM.
- WELL,
I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.
- YOU KNOW, ALL BUSINESS
ASIDE, RHODA, I FEEL A VERY
NICE WARMTH TOWARD YOU.
- OH.
THANK YOU, HOWARD.
- YEAH.
I MEAN,
I LIKE YOUR VIBES.
- OH. I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.
- DO YOU THINK THAT
WE COULD BE FRIENDS?
- WELL, SURE, HOWARD. HOWIE.
- YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD, BECAUSE
FOR A FRIEND I CAN DO
SOMETHING EXTRA.
- OH, GEE.
AND HERE I WAS AFRAID TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
- NO.
NO, LISTEN.
ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
- I'M NOT SURE...
WHAT YOU MEAN.
- OK.
I DO YOU A FAVOR AND, UH--
- AND I DO YOU
A FAVOR, RIGHT?
- NOW YOU'RE GETTING IT.
- BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT,
BECAUSE I'M NOT GIVING IT.
- HI.
- HIYA.
[SIGHS]
- HOW'D IT GO?
- NOTHING.
BEST OFFER I HAD WAS
A BASEMENT APARTMENT.
BUT I HAD TO BE
THE JANITOR'S WIFE.
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT IS THIS?
TWO BEDROOMS, ONE AND
A HALF BATHS, $110?
- NO KIDDING.
WHAT STREET?
- HAVENHURST AVENUE.
IT'S IN MINNEAPOLIS.
HEY, BREN, HOW COME THE PLACE
LOOKS SO NEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN?
I MEAN,
WHAT'D YOU DO WITH THE TRUNK?
- IT'S RIGHT HERE.
IT'S OUR NEW COFFEE TABLE.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO
OUR OLD COFFEE TABLE?
- IT'S IN THE TRUNK.
LISTEN, RHODA.
I HAVE THIS CRUMMY
FAVOR TO ASK.
IF IT'S A PROBLEM,
LET ME KNOW.
- SURE.
WHAT IS IT?
- WELL, I HAVE
THIS DATE TONIGHT.
AND IT'S KIND OF SPECIAL
BECAUSE IT'S NOT...YOU
KNOW...A BLIND DATE.
I MEAN, HE'S SEEN
ME ALREADY.
- THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THAT'S JUST WONDERFUL.
TELL ME, WHAT'S HE LIKE?
- OH,
YOU KNOW HIM.
HE'S COUSIN
NORMA'S SON, LENNY.
- A RELATIVE?
- DON'T WORRY.
HE'S ONLY A THIRD COUSIN.
I ALREADY CHECKED WITH THE
DOCTOR AND THERE'S NO THREAT
OF INSANITY.
ANYWAY, WHAT I WANTED
TO ASK YOU WAS...
THERE'S A SLIGHT
CHANCE THAT WE MAY
COME BACK HERE AFTER AND--GEE,
THIS IS TOUGH.
- OH!
OH, DUMMY.
YOU WANT ME TO GET LOST!
OF COURSE, YES.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM.
I'VE GOT A DATE
TONIGHT ANYWAY...
WITH JOE.
- OH. WELL, THEN, HEY, MAYBE
YOU WANT ME TO GET LOST, HUH?
- BRENDA, PLEASE.
THIS IS YOUR PLACE.
YOU HAVE A DATE, YOU'RE
ENTITLED TO SOME PRIVACY.
- GEE, THANKS, RHO.
- SURE.
LENNY, HUH?
LAST TIME I SAW HIM
IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
HE WAS JUST STARTING PUBERTY.
- WELL, HE'S JUST ABOUT
COMING OUT OF IT NOW.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- HI, BRENDA.
- HI.
- JOE!
- HIYA, BABE.
- OH, HI.
OH, LISTEN.
I'M GOING TO BE READY
IN JUST ONE SECOND.
I JUST HAVE TO GET MY JACKET--
- YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.
THE CRAZIEST THING
JUST HAPPENED.
YOU WILL NEVER GUESS.
- WILL YOU LOOK AT THIS?
IT WASN'T EVEN ON A HANGER.
- MOST OF THEM
AREN'T ON HANGERS.
- YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.
YOU SEE,
I'M ON MY WAY HERE IN THE CAB,
WHEN I SPOT SOMETHING
ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAB.
- ANYONE I KNOW?
YOU CAN TELL ME
ON THE WAY DOWN.
- RHODA,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE
THIS, BUT I FOUND A TICKET
TO TONIGHT'S KNICKS GAME
ON THE FLOOR OF THAT CAB.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?
- YEAH, REALLY?
THAT'S TERRIFIC.
- HEY!
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
THESE THINGS ARE WORTH?
IT'S WORTH A FORTUNE!
AND IT'S WITH THE CELTICS.
- SO?
- SO,
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW
ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO GO?
- OH,
YOU MEAN, AS MUCH AS YOU DO?
- OH,
I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND
ANYONE LIKE THAT
BECAUSE I WANT TO GO BAD.
- OH.
JUST ONE TICKET, HUH?
- YEAH.
I LOOKED ALL OVER
THAT CAB BUT--
- BUT YOU
COULDN'T FIND MINE.
WELL, JOE. UH...
I LEAVE IT TO YOU...UH...WHAT
DO YOU WANT TO DO?
- I THINK I WANT TO GO.
- THEN YOU SHOULD.
- RIGHT.
- WHY AREN'T YOU GOING?
I KNOW WHAT
YOU WANT, JOE.
YOU WANT ME TO GET RID
OF YOUR GUILT, RIGHT?
- THAT WOULD HELP.
- ALL RIGHT.
I REALLY DON'T MIND IF YOU GO.
HONEST.
I WANT YOU TO ENJOY YOURSELF.
GO TO THE KNICKS GAME.
- THAT GOT RID OF MY GUILT.
ONLY NOW I'M NOT SURE I WANT
TO GO FOR ANOTHER REASON.
- COME ON, GET OUT OF HERE.
GO ON.
- THE KNICKS BETTER WIN.
- I DIDN'T THINK HE'D GO.
I MEAN, I WORKED HIM
OVER PRETTY GOOD.
- SO WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO NOW?
- I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS I'LL JUST TAKE
A HOT BATH, GO TO BED.
OH, THAT'S RIGHT, LENNY.
- OH, HEY, NO.
THAT'S OK.
I MEAN,
THE THREE OF US CAN GO--
- NO, WE CAN'T.
NOW, BRENDA, STOP.
AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
I'VE GOT PLENTY OF FUN
THINGS I CAN DO TONIGHT.
- LIKE WHAT?
- I COULD VISIT MA.
- OH, YEAH.
AT THE FUN HOUSE.
[DOOR BUZZER]
- HIYA, MA.
- RHODA?
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
WHAT AM I DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
- WELL,
I WAS JUST HANGING
AROUND THE BRONX.
I THOUGHT I'D DROP IN.
- WELL, I MEAN,
THAT'S SO UNLIKE YOU.
THERE'S NOT A DOCTOR'S
REPORT OUT ON ME, IS THERE?
- NO, NO, NO.
I JUST CAME UP TO
VISIT, THAT'S ALL.
- LISTEN, DID
MRS. DAHL SEE YOU COME IN?
- NO.
I MEAN,
I DON'T THINK SO.
WHY?
- WELL,
SHE'S ALWAYS THROWING IT UP TO
ME ABOUT HOW HER DAUGHTER
COMES UP AND VISITS HER
2 TIMES OR 3 TIMES A WEEK.
[SIGHS]
HELLO, EDNA?
YES, I WAS CALLING TO INVITE
YOU UP FOR SOME COFFEE, BUT AS
IT TURNED OUT, MY DAUGHTER,
RHODA, DROPPED IN, SO I'M
CALLING TO CANCEL.
YEAH, MY OTHER
DAUGHTER'S HERE, TOO.
BRENDA.
UH-HUH.
THAT'S RIGHT,
THE BOTH OF THEM.
YEAH, WELL, I HAVE TO GET OFF
NOW SO I CAN OPEN THE PRESENTS
THEY BOUGHT ME.
OK, SEE YOU TOMORROW.
MIGHT AS WELL GO
ALL THE WAY, RIGHT?
- WELL,
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY PRESENT,
YOU CAN RETURN IT.
SO WHERE'S POP?
- HE'S WORKING LATE
AT THE OFFICE...
I ONLY HOPE AND PRAY.
SO WHAT'S NEW WITH YOU?
- [SIGHS]
LET'S SEE.
TODAY...
WAITED FOR 2 HOURS IN
THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE,
THEN I WALKED MY FEET OFF
LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT.
THEN JOE BROKE
OUR DATE TONIGHT.
AT THE LAST MINUTE.
AND THEN WHAT?
OH, YEAH.
GOT STUCK IN THE TUNNEL.
THE SUBWAY.
ON MY WAY UP HERE.
FOR AN HOUR.
- HOW WONDERFUL.
FINALLY, THERE'S A DAY
WHEN I'M THE HIGH SPOT, HUH?
SO LISTEN,
THERE'S NOTHING NEW
WITH THE APARTMENT, HUH?
- OH, NO, MA.
LAST THING I SAW WAS
THIS COZY, LITTLE PLACE
IN NEEDLE PARK.
4 FLIGHTS UP AND ALL
YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE LYING
ON THE STAIRS.
- LISTEN.
I KNOW HOW YOU DON'T LIKE
ME TO INTERFERE, SO I'M KIND
OF RELUCTANT NOW TO TELL
YOU, BUT I THINK I MAY KNOW
ABOUT A PLACE.
- MA,
THAT'S NOT CALLED INTERFERING,
THAT'S CALLED HELPING.
WHAT KIND OF PLACE?
- WELL, IT'S IN A NICE
BUILDING, BUT IT'S NOT BIG.
IT'S SMALL.
- WELL, SMALL'S OK,
I'M DESPERATE.
HOW SMALL?
- ONE BEDROOM.
THE FURNITURE'S NOT NEW.
- BUT I LOVE OLD FURNITURE.
GO ON.
- YEAH,
WELL, THERE'S PLENTY
OF CLOSET SPACE.
- OH,
THAT'S GREAT.
- AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
- OH. AND I WAS
READY TO GIVE UP.
- AND THE BEST THING ABOUT IT
IS YOU CAN MOVE IN RIGHT AWAY.
- OH, MA.
CAN I GET IT?
- ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT IT?
- YEAH.
WHERE IS IT?
- RIGHT IN THERE.
- OH, I DIDN'T SEE
THAT ONE COMING.
OOH, THAT WAS CLOSE.
[LAUGHTER]
- DON'T TURN THE LIGHT ON.
- OH.
SEE YOU LATER.
- RHODA, HANG ON.
- BRENDA, I'M SO SORRY.
I THOUGHT MAYBE HE'D BE GONE.
- OH, IT'S OK.
- REALLY?
- YEAH, COME ON IN.
SO HOW WAS EVERYTHING AT MA'S?
- OH,
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SHE ACTUALLY WANTED ME TO
COME HOME AND LIVE IN MY OLD--
BRENDA, ISN'T THERE
A PERSON BEHIND THERE?
- YEAH.
BUT HE'S SORT OF SHY.
LENNY?!
LENNY, IT'S YOUR COUSIN,
RHODA FAY.
- HI.
- UM...
NICE TO SEE
YOU AGAIN, LEN.
BRENDA, THIS IS TERRIBLE.
I'M SO SORRY.
I'M GOING TO GET
OUT OF YOUR WAY.
- OH, NO.
- YEAH,
I'LL JUST GO DOWN TO THE LOBBY.
HAVE A COUPLE OF
BELTS WITH CARLTON.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- JOE!
- HEY,
I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL UP.
- OH, HI.
DID YOU ENJOY THE GAME?
- AW,
NOT REALLY.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT
YOU THE WHOLE TIME.
I COULD HARDLY KEEP
MY MIND ON IT.
- WHAT WAS THE SCORE?
- 132 TO 131.
THEY WON WITH A 27-FOOT
JUMP SHOT IN OVERTIME.
- HOW MANY POINTS
DID FRASIER GET?
- UH, HE GOT 36.
10 IN THE OVER--WHO IS THIS?
- NOBODY SPECIAL.
SEE YA, BRENDA.
BYE, RHODA.
- WHAT WAS HE DOING IN THERE?
VOTING?
- BRENDA, I AM REALLY
SO TERRIBLY SORRY.
- OH.
- OH,
YEAH, I AM SORRY TO
BUST IN HERE LIKE THIS.
- NO, NO.
REALLY, IT'S OK.
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
ANYWAY, I THINK YOU
DID ME A FAVOR.
IT WAS A LITTLE PECULIAR.
HE KEPT SAYING,
"LET'S SHOW OUR TOES."
- I DON'T KNOW.
BRENDA, THE THING IS,
I HAVE GOT TO MOVE.
RIGHT AWAY.
I CAN'T DO THIS
TO YOU ANYMORE.
- LOOK, REALLY.
WE'RE NOT IN EACH OTHER'S WAY.
NO, REALLY.
I'LL GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN
SO YOU AND JOE CAN BE ALONE.
IT'S NO PROBLEM--
- NO, WAIT A MINUTE.
LOOK.
YOU TWO WANT TO TALK,
SO I'LL JUST GO
IN THE BATHROOM HERE.
- NO. YOU'RE NOT GOING
IN THE BATHROOM.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING
BEHIND ANY CURTAIN.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
AND THIS IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF HOW BAD IT IS.
NOW, BRENDA, LISTEN TO ME.
NOW, LISTEN.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR YOU,
IT'S FOR ME.
I DON'T HAVE A JOB.
I DON'T HAVE ANY
IMMEDIATE PROSPECTS.
AND I'M GETTING LOW ON MONEY.
I'VE GOT THE FEELING THAT IF
I DON'T GET A PLACE OF MY OWN,
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO
START HAPPENING FOR ME.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
- YEAH.
I WISH I DIDN'T.
- AW, BABE.
THAT'S GOOD.
- LOOK,
EXCUSE ME, BUT I WANT TO GIVE
YOU SOME PRIVACY HERE.
I'LL JUST GO IN THE BATHROOM.
- NO,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO.
- OH, YES, I DO.
- NO, MARE.
I'M JUST FINE.
I'M FINE.
HONESTLY.
IT'S JUST THAT THINGS GOT
A LITTLE CRAMPED AT BRENDA'S,
SO I, UH...TOOK A TEMPORARY
LITTLE PLACE UPTOWN.
UH-HUH.
- CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH
AND SOME MILK FOR YOU.
- WHAT?
OH, THAT'S JUST ROOM SERVICE.
AW, WHO AM I KIDDING?
MARY, MY ADDRESS IS
3517 GRAND CONCOURSE.
AND THAT CHUMMY WAITRESS YOU
JUST HEARD WAS MY MOTHER.
AND IF THIS ISN'T ROCK BOTTOM,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
LISTEN, I'M NOT ALLOWED
TO TALK ON THE PHONE
UNTIL I FINISH MY HOMEWORK.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS
LATER WITH YOU, OK?
SEE YOU, GOOD-BYE.
- RHODA, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO
GET OFF THE PHONE THAT WAY.
I KNOW YOU NEED YOUR PRIVACY,
AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
ALL THE PRIVACY YOU WANT.
YOU CAN EVEN...
ENTERTAIN IN YOUR ROOM.
- MA,
ARE YOU ACTUALLY SAYING THAT--
- YES, YES!
YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
ONLY WE MUSTN'T LET...HIM KNOW.
- HIM?
- NO, YOUR FATHER.
HE'S GOING TO KNOW ANYWAY.
- WHAT IS THIS?
- IT'S A LITTLE SNACK.
- A SNACK?
LOOKS LIKE CANNON'S
LUNCH PAIL.
- GEE,
IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU COULD PUT
2 OR 3 OF THESE
AWAY IN AN EVENING.
- PLEASE DON'T REMIND ME.
BOY, I REALLY DID USED TO
EAT LIKE THAT, DIDN'T I?
- YEAH.
YOU USED TO BE
A GREAT DAUGHTER.
- AND YOU REALLY
SHOVELED IT INTO ME.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER
MY FIRST DRESS SIZE.
TODDLER STOUT.
- LISTEN, YOU
HAVEN'T EVEN UNPACKED.
LET ME HELP YOU, ALL RIGHT?
- MA,
PLEASE DON'T, OK?
JUST--I'M NOT STAYING
THAT LONG, YOU SEE.
JUST LEAVE THE THINGS
IN THE SUITCASES.
- OK,
ANYTHING YOU SAY.
ANYTHING YOU WANT.
ANYTHING YOU NEED?
- NO. NO, MA.
- NO.
- OK.
- YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN THING.
AND IF THAT MEANS BEING ALONE,
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE
YOU ALONE.
YOU LIVE HERE ALONE.
WE LIVE HERE ALONE.
WE'RE CROWDED, BUT ALONE.
NO PROBLEMS.
OH, UH...ONE OTHER THING.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU ABOUT
A HOUSE RULE, IN CASE YOU'VE
FORGOTTEN IT
THROUGH THE YEARS.
IF YOU,
UH, HAPPEN TO GET UP EARLY
ON A SATURDAY MORNING
AND OUR DOOR IS CLOSED...
DON'T COME IN.
[DOOR CLOSES]
- [SIGHS]
- I FIGURED YOU WERE UP WHEN
I SAW THE NEWSPAPER WAS GONE.
- OH.
THANKS, MA.
HEY.
NO FRENCH TOAST
THIS MORNING, HUH?
- WELL,
YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO GET
UP EARLY TO GO JOB-HUNTING
SO I DIDN'T BOTHER.
- WELL,
IT LOOKED LIKE RAIN.
I FIGURE I'LL GO
TOMORROW, RIGHT?
HEY, DID YOU IRON THAT
BLOUSE I WANTED FOR TONIGHT?
- YEAH.
IT'S IN THE CLOSET.
AND I TOOK YOUR COAT
TO THE CLEANERS.
AND THE PHONE COMPANY SAID
THEY'LL BE HERE MONDAY TO PUT
IN YOUR PRIVATE LINE.
- THAT'S GOOD.
THANKS.
- LISTEN, RHODA.
THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
- LISTEN, MA.
WHY DON'T I READ THE PAPER
AND WE CAN TALK LATER?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- IT'S ALMOST NOON.
I THINK YOU OUGHT
TO GET OUT OF BED.
- MA, I'M TIRED.
I WAS OUT VERY LATE
WITH JOE LAST NIGHT.
JUST TALKING.
- I'M NOT INTERESTED IN
WHAT YOU DO ALL NIGHT.
IF, AT YOUR AGE, YOU HAVEN'T
LEARNED THAT A MAN DOESN'T BUY
A COW IF HE CAN GET
THE MILK FOR FREE...
- YOU KNOW, MA.
I THINK WE HAD
THIS TALK BEFORE...
IN 1957.
- LISTEN, RHODA.
YOUR FATHER AND I ARE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.
- YOU MUST BE.
THIS IS SATURDAY
MORNING, ISN'T IT?
- LISTEN.
THE FIRST FEW DAYS YOU WERE
HERE WERE VERY ROUTINE.
YOU WOULDN'T LET
ME WAIT ON YOU.
YOU DIDN'T WANT ME
TO UNPACK YOUR BAG.
BUT NOW, I'M
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
IT'S BEEN DAYS SINCE
YOU SCREAMED AT ME.
- MA,
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
- I DON'T LIKE TO SEE YOU THIS
HAPPY LIVING IN YOUR OWN HOME.
- YOU ARE ACTING AS
IF I'M ENJOYING THIS.
YEAH.
YOU WAITING ON
ME HAND AND FOOT.
AND POP SLIPPING ME MONEY
BECAUSE I'M UNEMPLOYED.
YOU THINK I LIKE IT?
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.
I WANT TO WORK.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR WORK.
I HAVE APPLIED FOR EVERY
SINGLE WINDOW DRESSER JOB
IN THE ENTIRE
CITY OF NEW YORK,
INCLUDING A PLACE OVER ON THIRD
AVENUE CALLED PANTYHOSE CITY.
- YOU THINK I DON'T UNDERSTAND
YOUR PROBLEMS, BUT I DO.
- NO,
YOU DON'T, MA.
FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS
YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN SETTLED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
A JOB OR A PLACE TO LIVE...
OR WONDER EVERY DAY IF
POP IS THE RIGHT ONE.
- YOU THINK I STILL DON'T
HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT YOUR FATHER?
- COME ON, MA, WILL YOU
GIVE ME A BREAK, PLEASE?
- LISTEN!
EVERY EVENING WHEN WE SIT
IN THE LIVING ROOM WATCHING
TELEVISION, I LOOK AT HIM
AND I THINK, WHO IS HE?
WHAT AM I DOING HERE
WITH THIS STRANGE MAN?
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE TRIED
TO MAKE A GO OF IT
WITH JOHNNY DELVECCHIO.
- HOW COME YOU'RE
TELLING ME THIS?
I MEAN,
YOU NEVER TOLD ME STUFF LIKE
THIS BEFORE. EVER.
- I'M TRADING.
- HUH?
- BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO
SPILL YOUR GUTS OUT TO ME.
RHODA, COME ON.
SPILL OUT TO ME.
- OH...OK.
MA, I'M FALLING APART HERE.
I MEAN,
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MAKE IT...
IN NEW YORK.
I'M LOSING MY SELF-CONFIDENCE.
I, UH...EVERYTHING HAS JUST
GOTTEN TOO MUCH FOR ME.
I'M REALLY SCARED.
AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY
I'M BACK HOME HERE.
- OH, RHODA.
IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU'RE
TELLING ME THESE THINGS.
AND I'M GOING TO HELP YOU.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE
14 AND YOU HAD TO GO TO CAMP?
AND YOU HID UNDER THAT VERY
BED AND I HAD TO DRAG YOU OUT?
- YEAH.
OH, I HAD A GREAT
SUMMER THAT YEAR.
- YEAH...
EXCEPT THE COUNSELOR
WAS TOO OLD FOR YOU.
LISTEN, I UNDERSTAND
YOU'RE BEING SCARED...
BECAUSE I'M SCARED, TOO.
BECAUSE WHAT I'M GOING TO
SAY TO YOU NOW IS VERY HARD.
- OK, MA.
- RHODA, DARLING...
GET OUT OF HERE.
- MA--
- NO,
LOOK, I LOVE HAVING YOU LIVE
HERE, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE UNDER
THE BED ANYMORE, YOU JUST
WON'T FIT.
AND THE LONGER YOU STAY HERE,
THE HARDER IT WILL
BE TO LEAVE.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING TO
BE SCARED ABOUT, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN,
YOUR DAD AND I WILL BE HERE
WHENEVER YOU NEED US.
WE JUST SIGNED A NEW LEASE.
RHODA, GET UP
AND GET OUT, HUH?
- BOY, MA.
YOU MUST REALLY LOVE ME A LOT...
TO THROW ME OUT LIKE THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
- OH, BOY.
IT'S SOME TERRIFIC WORLD.
YOU BEG YOUR KID TO COME AND
STAY WITH YOU AND SHE WON'T
HAVE ANY PART OF IT.
YOU THROW HER OUT AND
SHE'S ALL OVER YOU.
COME ON,
I'LL HELP YOU PACK.
IT'LL KILL ME,
BUT I'LL HELP YOU.
- I CAN'T GET OVER THIS.
I CAN'T GET
OVER IT, MA.
HERE ALL I REALLY NEEDED WAS
A LITTLE MOTHERING.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT
I COULD GET IT
FROM MY OWN MOTHER?
- LISTEN, I'LL TELL YOU,
I DON'T FEEL TOO GOOD
ABOUT YOU TRAVELING
IN THE SUBWAYS THIS
LATE AT NIGHT.
- OH,
MA, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
CAN I BORROW YOUR SWEATER?
- YEAH. WHAT FOR?
- WELL, YOU'LL SEE.
I HAVE THIS TRICK, SEE,
THAT WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
YOU'LL SEE IN ONE SECOND.
NOW, YOU SEE, IT'S SAFER
IN THE SUBWAY IF YOU DON'T
LOOK TOO SEXY.
- GEE,
THAT'S A GOOD TIP.
I'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT.
- OK, OK.
BYE, BABE.
- ALL SET.
- BYE, HONEY.
- SEE YA.
- SEE YOU SOON.
THANKS.