Adam (2009)

[bunniefuu]

My favorite children's book
is about a little prince

who came to Earth
from a distant asteroid.

He meets a pilot whose plane
has crashed in the desert.

The little prince teaches the pilot
many things, but mainly about love.

My father always told me
I was like the little prince,

but after I met Adam,

I realized
I was the pilot all along.

-Good morning, Adam.
-Good morning, Kelli.

Good morning, Lulu.

COMPUTER: Good morning, Adam.

I don't know what to say.




Say anything.

Okay, Adam Raki is the cutest
guy in the office. How's that?

That's fine.

-Morning, Adam.
COMPUTER: Good morning, Mr. Klieber.

Good morning, Kelli.

-Good morning.
COMPUTER: Good morning, Adam.

-How did she do that?
-What?

How did she know it was me
and then you talking?

Oh, voice recognition.

I put in voice patterns from
some people in the office

and added SPLICE
to the recognition system.

SPLICE stands for

stereo-based piece-wise linear
compensation for environments.

It's an algorithm that I placed…




Adam, did Chatty Patty
have SPLICE?

Did Big Mouth Billy Bass
have SPLICE?

You said I could make her
sound like Kelli.

I said she could sound like Kelli.
I didn't say to give her free will.

She doesn't have free will.

5 thousand at $100,
not 5 at $1000. Capisce?

-Good-bye, Mr. Klieber.
COMPUTER: Good-bye, Adam.

[Adam speaks over TV]
All of which gives us
the rare opportunity

[Adam speaks over TV]
to explore the
mysterious terrain

that lies between
fame and craft.

Between the public persona
and the private precious self.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the Actor's Studio

is proud to welcome
an actress we admire,

Julia Roberts.

Perfect.

Oh.

Is this open?

I mean to residents?
Do you have a key?

Oh, yes.

I just moved in.

Beth Buchwald.

3A.

Adam. Second floor, two.

You're not doing your laundry?

Oh. Yeah.

Looks like a bit of an emergency.

Would you mind letting me in?

Uh, yeah, yeah, sure.

Thanks.

I mean, I loved it downtown

that's my hood,
but this place is bigger,

and it's right around the
corner from Wildwood.

Can you see the sky
from the third floor?

I guess I would if the windows
weren't covered in soot.

Some nerve, right?

Calling a school in the middle
of Manhattan "Wildwood. "

It's just temporary, actually.

The job, not the name
of the school.

I'm a writer, for children,
so it's a good experience.

What do you do?

Uh, I help make toys.

-Oh, you're an elf?
-No. I'm an electronic engineer.

Oh, you need a card for the wash.

No, I've got one.

Funny.

I think I left mine
upstairs in my packet.

Could I borrow yours for now?

Okay.

Thanks.

Good. Good work, Beth.

Hi, neighbor.

There are new images of Saturn
from the Cassini project.

Oh. God.

I always wished I knew
more about space.

You did?
Like what?

I don't know.

You know, what's out there.

You have to narrow that down.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

Oh, well, I have books

and telescopes, star charts.

You could borrow some stuff.

And we could go out,
look at sky, tonight.

Maybe, sometime. Sure.

Okay.

Well, I'll just be hauling

these enormous grocery
bags upstairs now.

Okay.

Okay.

What are you doing?

Oh. People watching.

Anyone in particular?

Oh, just people.

Listen, I'm going out with
some friends tonight later,

if you want to come.

Oh.

They're people,

so you might want to watch them.

But, if not, you know, that's fine.

No, I want to go, but I…

I don't think I can.

Okay, if you're busy.

No.

I mean, it's not a date.

It's just a little moving-in
celebration, you know?

When?

8:00?
8:00-ish.

Uh-huh.

Look, there's no pressure.

I'll just knock on your
door on my way out,

and if you can, you can.

Okay.

-Yeah?
-Yeah.

Okay.

[Clock ticks]

♪Tense music♪

[Steps in the corridor]

[Knocking at the door]

[Breathes nervously]

Adam?

Adam.

[She walks away]

Good night!

I'm sorry I didn't come
out with your friends.

No problem.

I get kind of overloaded.

I have something to show you.

Come in, come in.

Oh, my!

ADAM: You said you want to know
more about space.

Because it looks like this

people think of it as still
even though we know it's expanding.

All parts of the universe are
moving away from one another.

Most of them faster
than the speed of light except for…

I thought nothing
went faster than the speed of light.

Right, right.

Nothing goes through space faster
but space itself.

Okay. You know
about the big bang?

A little.
In the beginning, God…

Inflation theory says the big bang came
from as little as a 20-pound chunk of space,

about 14 billion years ago
that expanded to the size of the universe

-in 10 to the minus 39 seconds.
-10 to the minus 39?

A decimal point,
39 zeroes and then a one.

That's the fraction of a second
in which the universe was formed.

That's billions and billions
of times faster than light.

That's fast.

Yeah.

Wow!

These are all pictures
of stars and galaxies

that have been traveling
away from us

for hundreds of millions
or billions of years.

But, but that's still nearby

compared to most of the
universe that we'll never see.

Never?

Well, things that
move apart faster than light

can't ever see one another
because the light from one

never catches up to the other.

After the big bang, the
expansion of the universe

slowed down, but then,
after seven billion years,

for some reason,
it speeded up again

and it's been speeding
up ever since.

Some day, everything you see
here will disappear forever.

And, eventually, the night sky
will be almost completely dark.

That's kind of sad.

Sad?

I have been talking
too much, so…

No, it's fascinating.

I talk too much
when I get excited.

No, really.
It's, it's amazing.

Well, I could tell you
quickly about embrain theory.

Oh, no, it's okay.

-Maybe next time.
-Okay.

It's very speculative.

I should go.

Good night, Beth.

Good night.

Thanks!
I love your planetarium.

Oh.

You're welcome.

-Well, I could have waited, Daddy.
-Not another day.

-I wanted you out of that rattrap
for five years. -They were mice.

But I was right, wasn't I?
You love it.

It's okay, it's not like the village.
I've only met one person so far.

It's new.

He did have a planetarium
in his living room, though.

You were in someone's
living room?

He's cute.
He lives in the building.

Whatever happened
to Rich Litman?

Not going there.

What was the name of his company?
Founder's Fund?

Okay, okay.

So, your neighbor's
an astronomer?

No, he's an electronic engineer,
whatever that means.

But he hasn't even said hello
to me since the first time.

So, he's an idiot.

No, it's me.

Didn't anyone tell you and Mom
that only children

are emotional ret*rds, spoiled,
too trusting and unequipped to cope?

-What were you thinking?
-That we had one perfect child.

How's school?

We just started.

"The course of civilization
is a race between

catastrophe and education."
John F. Kennedy.

I know.

Now, if you marry an investment banker,
you could do whatever you want.

Rich Litman is a d*ck, Daddy,
can we leave it at that?

Don't say "d*ck" to your father.

No one's perfect, Bethie.

That's all I'm saying.

But there's sensor systems
that detected an error

-in analyzing space figures…
-Adam,

I'm having lunch.

-Speak English.
-I'm sorry.

See, the star tracker system…

No. No more background radiation,
black holes

or Mars robots.

Lunch time is for guy talk.

Two guys talking about women,
the weather and such.

You got it?

-But the star tracker systems…
-No.

A woman moved into 3A.

All right.
Now, that's lunch talk.

So?

So, that's all.

Well, no…

A woman moved into 3A,
she looked…?

She looked nice.

Good.

Good!

-You gonna meet her?
-I did.

You did?

We did laundry; she came
to my apartment.

-She did?
-And I told her some about space.

-Oh, Jesus, how'd she take it?
-She liked it.

She…

Well, bless my stars!

-You gonna see her again?
-I see her almost every day.

-You talk to her again?
-No.

Adam, you're the man.
You have to start the conversation.

Ask her out,
take her to dinner.

I can't do that. How…

This jackass locks himself
out of his car,

figures he can cuss me out
on the phone.

Well, he ought to be
chill by now.

Harlan.

Follow through, young man.
Follow through.

BETH: Are you and Mom still going
to Barbados this year?

Well, we're still deciding.

Oh, really?

There's a little problem
that has to be dealt with.

-Between you and Mom?
-No, no, at the firm.

Oh.

There was an indictment
last March.

There was an indictment
of the firm?

No, of me. Personally. No less.

It's nothing.

Some junior G-man playing
Clarence Darrow.

But there's a trial date now:
January 19.

-A trial?!
-Yeah.

So we have to work everything
out before then.

But bullshit, if you'll excuse
the expression,

expands to Philly
a lot of times

so now Barbados is up in the air.

Daddy!

Don't worry.

But if you happen to come up
with the next Harry Potter,

we may need it to pay
the goniff lawyers.

Home Friday for dinner, right?

Yeah.

-I love you, Daddy!
-Love you!

[Soft music coming from neighbor]

[Steps in the corridor]

[Knocking at the door]

ADAM: Beth?

[Knocks again]

Beth?

Adam.

I'm so sorry,

I just don't feel like
any company tonight.

Oh, that's okay.

Come out with me.
I want to show you something.

Beth?

-Adam, the park's closed.
-Just a little bit further.

-I want to go back. I'm not…
-Shh. Over here.

-Adam, I…
-Shhh.

A raccoon in Central Park?

That was so cool.

What are they doing here?

Foraging.

How did you know
where they'd be?

They live here.

I used to come and
watch them a lot.

It's quiet.

They don't really belong here,
you know, but

here they are.

They're coming back around
in a little while. You want to wait?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, Mr. Klieber.

Yes, that's all right.

-I startled you.
-Yes.

I just wanted to tell you

what a good job you've done for us
the last year and a half.

Well, that's good.

When your father explained your…

you know,
when he explained your things…

Well, I had my doubts,
but he was right.

A man of your background
at the salary you're getting

has been a value
to this company.

Well, that's good.

Yes. But the world is changing.

You can't be the corner
candy store anymore.

You've got to compete.

Candy store?

5 thousnad at $100,
not 5 at $1000.

Adam, I've got to let you go.

But I will write you a recommendation
that will knock your socks off.

-Let me go?
-I'm truly sorry.

-But I don't want to go.
-Hold on.

-But I haven't finished. I still have…
-I have a bid, Adam. It's done.

On a better chip?

Not better, cheaper.

Look, go home,
talk it over with your dad.

I'm sure he'll find you another job
before you know it.

Kelli has your severance.

It's been a pleasure
working with you.

And I mean that, sincerely.

Good-bye, Adam.

Good-bye, Mr. Klieber.

Adam, dude, sorry about that.

Don't worry about it, bro.
Something will come up, man, I promise.

I'm so sorry, Adam.

See you around, okay?

[Children playing]

Excuse me, sir,
what are you doing there?

I said, what you doing?

Watching the children.

Let me have some I.D., sir.

I was looking at the children.

Sir, turn around, put your
hands on the fence, please.

Why are you doing this?

Lean forward, put your hands
on the fence, please.

Turn around!

Hands on the fence.

What are you doing?

I'm taking your wallet
out of your back pocket

to check your identification, sir.

15-Adam to Central K.
I need a name check: Adam Raki.

-Is this the man you reported?
-I wasn't the one who saw him.

Where do you live, sir?

Please, stay where you are.

Do you live or do you have business
in this neighborhood, sir?

Everything's fine.

Go on back inside.

Beth?

Are you the one that
reported this?

Adam! What's going on?

You know this man?

Yeah, he's my neighbor.
What happened?

Adam Raki, R-A-K-I.
No hits.

-He's clean.
-All right. Sorry about that.

Can't be too careful
with kids, right?

You can go.

Adam!

Adam?

Enough with the presents, okay?

Well, that was kind of awful,
wasn't it? I mean…

God, you just stopped by to watch
the kids. I do that for a living.

-Police freak me out, too, okay?
-Do you want to come in?

Okay.

So you live alone?

Yes.

I mean, it's big
for one person.

For the city.

Well, my father lived here, too.

-Oh! Where is he now?
-Queens.

-Queens?
-He died six weeks ago.

Oh, God! I'm so sorry.

My friend Harlan says Queens
is where everybody goes to die,

because they can't
tell the difference.

That's… that's awful.

Well, Harlan said it was a joke.

Oh, I meant about your father.

Oh.

What about your mother?

She died when I was eight.

I'm so sorry.

I had a really nice time
last night, in the park.

Were you excited?

What?

Sexually, when we
were in the park.

Uh, no, not exactly.

Well, I ask because I was,

and I wondered if you were, too.

Thank you so much
for the glass of water.

I should be going now.

Because I said that thing
about being sexually excited?

No, no, no.
I just…

Well… yeah.

Uh, sometimes it's hard
for me to…

I have this thing

that makes it hard to…

It's called Asperger's syndrome.

One thing about
it is not knowing

what people are thinking.

Like right now.

Oh, right.

I guess I was

wondering what that
feels like for you.

Well, it doesn't
feel like anything.

It just is.

Okay.

My brain works differently from NTs.

NTs?

Neurotypicals.

Um, sometimes I can't
understand them.

Especially when they mean
something different

from what they're
actually saying.

You don't do that?

No, most aspies are really honest.

Psychologists think it's
a lack of imagination,

but psychologists are mostly NTs.

Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson,

Mozart, they all had
lots of imagination.

They had Asperger's?

Probably.

When I was younger,

I would've just thought
you were sexually excited

because I was.

That's called "mind blindness. "

I had to learn to ask what
other people are thinking.

I understand.

It's okay.

Oh.

I really should go.

Okay.

I'm really sorry about your father.

Oh.

Can I see you again?

Well, I'm right upstairs, so…

Great. Okay.

I'll see you.

-Do you have a minute?
-Oh, hi, Beth. Sure, come on in.

Thank you.

You think it's a bad sign

when the description of a
school bores its director?

What do you know about
Asperger's syndrome?

Oh.

Well, it's a developmental disorder.

Kind of a high-functioning autism.

What does that mean exactly?

Well, there's a broad range.
It could be hard to tell.

Could be severe social
interaction problems.

Maybe I should get in on this.
Interview the child and we can get some…

Oh, no, no, it's my neighbor.
He has it.

But he's really, really sweet,
and kind of interesting.

Yeah, sometimes
they can be quite brilliant.

It is on the autism spectrum.

Oh, you know, actually,
I think I have a…

This is a first-person account pretending To Be Normal.

Oh, no, it's not that serious.

Thank you.

Okay. Sure.

Oh, Beth, would you just
take a look at this

-for me, please?
-Sure.

So, you're saying, really,

that he's not prime
relationship material,

right?

Not really.

Well, it…

It's…

Thanks.

So,

subtracting your
father's liabilities,

credit card debt,
funeral cost fees, etcetera,

from his assets,
reduces the estate roughly $25.000.

And he bequeathed $5.000

to The Kids At Risk,
music fund.

$10.000 to you, Mr. Keyes.

Oh.

So, as his primary beneficiary, Adam,

Adam, uh, you inherit
the remainder.

That would be the, the death
benefit from Juilliard

and the funds from
the TIAA retirement plan.

Also, there's approximately

$300.000 worth of equity
in the apartment.

So, assuming you sell

after closing fees
and taxes, etcetera…

Sell what?

We presumed that you'd be
moving to a smaller place.

Move?

Well, without your father's income
the mortgage payments are…

I don't want to move.

Easy.

Think of it as an opportunity.

You might want to
try a different city.

Mr. Wardlow, Adam has never been out
of the city alone in his life.

Well, closer to home then.
With the income from your job…

I don't have a job.
I was fired from my job.

Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.

Well, that makes the equity
in the apartment even more valuable.

-Changes like this are hard.

It's my house.
I won't sell my house.

Go away.
You're hurting my ears!

-And I'm not gonna sell my house.
-You need to calm down.

I'm not selling my house!

Cross your arms over your chest.

Mr. Wardlow, are we done?

There are papers to be signed.

Can you send them?

They need to be notar—

Yes, yes, yes.
We can do that.

Come on, Adam.
Let's go.

I can't.

I can't move.

All right. Come on.

You're not ten years old anymore.

You need a job.

I'm fired.

So what?

You know how many times
I've been fired?

When your dad and I came
back from the service,

I might as well have had
a three-day week.

Day one, I hate the freagin job.

Day two, I hate the freagin boss.

Day three, I hit someone,
and I got to start all over.

I didn't hit anyone.

I never hit anyone.

Adam,

you're 29 years old,

and you can't pay your mortgage
without finding a job.

So what are you going to do?

Hey, Bethie Boop,
just wanted to make sure
you got home okay.

You home okay? Call us.

Beth, are you there?

Look, maybe the
whole point was

for me to find out what an
amazing thing we have.

You're not really
gonna throw this away—

Adam? Wha—?

What?

Get in here!

Wait. What?

What in the world
were you doing out there?

You could have been k*lled.

How were you gonna get down?

Climb up.

Climb?

It's rated for 3.000 pounds.

You said you couldn't see
out of your windows.

Why did you scream like that?

Because I walked
into my apartment,

and there was this strange
man in my window.

-It was me!
-But I didn't know that.

I guess not.

Thank you for trying to…

You're welcome.

Would you…?

Would you like some tea?

-Sure.
-Okay.

Harlan said I should send
out application letters

and worry about
the interviews later.

Interviews?

Interviews usually
don't go very well.

But you put in
some applications?

Eighty-seven.

Eighty-seven?

Applications
and letters of inquiry.

-You applied for 87 jobs?
-Including the letters of inquiry.

Today?

Wow.

Wow?

-I mean, that's a lot.
-I don't want to move.

Yeah.

This is very good-smelling tea.

English breakfast.

My father calls it coffee
without the bad breath.

Uh, maybe I should go.

I'm sorry, I'm just…

Sorry? You're s...?

A little upset.

Oh.

My father's an accountant,

and he's been accused of
doing something ill*gal.

Oh. Did he do it?

No, no, but tonight,
he said it looks like

he will probably
have to go on trial.

And I know your father
just passed away,

so I shouldn't

even…

I can see that you're upset,

but I don't know what to do.

Could you give me a hug?

Yes.

Adam, I'd like you to give me a hug.

'But he's naked!'

cried a little boy.

All the people whispered
among each other.

'He's naked!
There's a little boy

'who says the
king is naked. '

The king shivered, for he was
sure that the boy was right,

but he thought, 'I must bear it
until the procession is over. '

And he walked even more proudly
all the way back to the palace. "

So, what do we think?

He was naked.

[Laughter]

Ran around the whole
town naked.

Yes. Okay, he was naked.

Anything else?

The little boy was bad.

Really? Why do you
say that, Stephanie?

-Because he told.
-That's dumb.

Bruce.

But he was naked!

Don't you think the king needed
to know that he was naked?

Well,

he didn't have to yell it out.

He could have just
gone over to him

and whispered it in his ear.

Everybody else
was just lying

so nobody'd think
they were stupid

and because they were afraid
of seeing the king's weenie.

-Weenie!
-Weenie!

I like the boy.

I do, too.

Maybe we should go.

Our table's next.

Can't eat macaroni and
cheese every night.

Why not?

Because it's a meager life.

It lacks stimulation.

Thanks for coming.
I know it's hard.

Okay.

This is better, right?

Hello. I'm Rom, with an M.

I see you have drinks.
Would you like a wine list,

or may I describe the specials?

It's all right.

We know what we'd like.

We'll take two tricolored salads,

one grilled salmon on lentils
with roasted potatoes,

and a penne Alfredo.

And Ron…?

It's "Rom".

Sorry. Rom.

Could we get that all to go?

It's macaroni and cheese.

When in "Rom"…

What?

How's the job hunt going?

Mm, a lot of them
were already taken.

I'm still getting responses,
though.

I'm sure the right thing
will come along.

How can you be sure of that?

I mean, I hope
the right thing comes along.

Oh.

My dad and I came out here

to watch Hale-Bopp for
five nights in a row.

Voyager 2 will pass
within 4.3 light years

of Sirius, the Dog Star in
approximately 196.000 years.

I brought you something.

Oh. Are there supposed
to be presents?

No, no, this is a spur
of the moment kind of thing.

Oh.

How to Find Work That
Works for People with Asper…

I thought it might be helpful.

Are you offended?

No.

'Cause I was just trying to help.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Try to be careful.

I had my heart broken
by a big jerk recently.

I need time to take
things slowly.

What did he do?

While we were together,
he slept with other women.

Not together together

but while we were
in the relationship.

Oh.

So I need to take
things slowly.

-No sex.
-Right.

-Kissing?
-Yes.

-Holding?
-Yes.

No sex.

Is that all right?

Yes.

It's only been a month.

How long it should be
before you meet Adam

is not written in Scripture, Daddy.

You you made that up.

Don't worry about me; I'm fine.

Has there been any more news
on the court?

Okay.

Okay, sure.

I will, I'll tell him.

Okay.

I love you, Daddy.

Bye.

You can stay for an hour.

You might even have fun.

I'd have fun at home.

It's not the gates of Hell,
Adam, it's my friends.

You look great.

You've got to meet the baby.

Her name is Lin Yao, which means
"beautiful jade treasure".

That's beautiful.

Don't you think?

I mean, really,
she is young enough.

We could call her anything.

-Her name is Lin Yao.
-That's what I said.

That's who she was
when we got her.

-Oh, she's asleep.
-I know, look at her.

Yeah, she is.

We have a video, of course.

Would you like
to see the video?

No, thank you.

Where is the bathroom?

Down the hall, second right.

I'd love to see the video.

Oh, so now you're an expert.

Oh, come on.

Tory, you don't have to know
a lot about Islam

to understand hunger
or anger or desperation.

We don't understand who these
people are, how they think.

I don't understand people
from New Jersey.

Look, either you believe

that human beings share
some basic similarities

or you just throw the towel in.

Buying a telescope is
a complicated decision.

You should focus
on your interests.

No pun intended.

What?

"Focus"?

Right. A-Are you interested

in the solar system,
moon, planets,

etcetera, or deeper
space - nebulae,

star clusters, galaxies?

Then you want a much larger
lens with a Dobsonian mount.

Uh, the apo refractors go
up to 180 millimeters.

-Hi, Adam.
-Hi.

Michael's looking for a telescope
to buy for her cottage in Kerhonkson.

For deep space, in a static
position, you can really think

about some bigger
reflectors and…

Have you heard too
much about telescopes?

No, no. It's just
some of what you're saying

is going right over my head.

Oh, okay, well, I'll start over.

Three basic considerations:
Kind of lens…

Come and say good-bye
to Robin and Jen with me.

All right.

Thank you for
the information.

Oh, you're welcome.
It's a very big decision.

-Nice to meet you, Michael.
-And you.

Wow.

I remember the other kids
chattering away before school

or at parties whispering
to one another,

and I'd always wonder what
they were talking about.

Looked so easy.

One, then the other.

Laugh, laugh, laugh,
new topic, start again.

I started outlining
my new book.

Really excited.

That's good.

You're going to be
the first person I thank

in my Newbery Award speech.

It's an award
for children's book…

I know what
a Newbery Award is.

Are you still going
to make them talk?

They're going to be
a typical New York family

except they live in the
park and they're raccoons.

Okay, your turn.

I think the father is going
to be in advertising.

Instead of making stuff up,

why couldn't you write
about the real raccoons?

Because it's a children's
book, not a nature book.

Well, I'd probably like
the nature book better.

Yeah, you probably would.

Well, I didn't mean.

This is what I meant.

Do you…

do you want sex?

I think I do.

You…

You said you needed time.

Well, then take it
very, very slowly.

This isn't fair.

What's fair?
It's a small manipulation.

What, you aren't curious?

Of course, but if
he isn't ready to meet us…

Yeah, well, sometimes you've got
to give "ready" a little push.

-Beth.
-Honey!

Daddy, Mom, what—?

What are you doing here?

We're seeing the play.

-But I thought you...
-What?

Hi, honey.

I thought we had your tickets.

No, we were going
with the Pierces,

and they couldn't make it.

Come on, we're not ogres,
at least Becky isn't.

This is Beth's mother, Rebecca.
I'm Marty.

-We've heard so much about you.
-Oh, you have?

-Lovely to meet you, Adam.
-Oh, thank you.

Me and my little girl,
we are thick as thieves.

-Hi, Daddy.
-Hi, sweetie.

I just couldn't wait any longer.

We rarely go Off-Broadway.

I didn't even know this
theater still existed.

The Cherry Lane Theater is

the oldest continuously running
theater Off-Broadway.

It was converted from a
box factory in 1924

and then in the
20's and 30's and 40's,

it presented the work of writers
such as F. Scott Fitzgerald,

John Dos Passos, Eugene O'Neill...

I used to bone up on conversation
topics, too, when I had a date.

-Marty.
-Ask Becky.

From 1951 to 1953,

Julian Beck and Judith Malina's
Living Theatre was based here.

And in 1952,

Judith Malina chased a fire
marshal down the street

with a spear from her
production of 'Ubu Roi'.

'Endgame' by Samuel Beckett had
its American premiere here in 1957,

followed by other new works such
as 'Happy Days', also by Beckett,

in 1962, 'Dutchman' in
1964 by LeRoi Jones,

'The Happy Journey to Trenton and
Camden' by Thornton Wilder in 196...

But that's enough
about the Cherry Lane Theater.

What about the 70's?

Well, in 1971
"Godspell" opened, and in—

Adam, Daddy's joking.

Oh, oh.

-I'm sorry.
-That's okay.

No, history is always very interesting.

Please, take your seats.

Come on, in we go.

Shall we?

Oh, they're dying to go to trial.

They'll get their pictures
in the paper.

It's written all over them.

What does Mr. Beranbaum say?

He's a lawyer;
he's paid to worry.

Bottom line: if defense
pushes all the way to trial,

we settle, right?

He's sure they'll settle.

That's why you don't
have to be there.

You said it would help if
we showed our support.

You had to tell her that.

Your father is right;
you have work.

Mom, I'm covered at work.

I'm coming. I need
to be there for you.

What are you accused of,
Mr. Buchwald?

I'm accused of trying
to help a friend.

That's what I'm accused of.

Beth's uncle Eric…

Eric Cooper.

…made his daughter Jennifer
CFO of his company.

But she's qualified, right?

I mean, she went to Wharton.

Yes, she's qualified.

Uncle Eric's not really my uncle.

He's an old friend of Daddy's,
and Jennifer is his daughter.

She's young, she made a few
mistakes. I carried them over

from one year to the next,
made it look a little better

even to her own father.

It wasn't even a hard call to
make, but now they all think

they've uncovered Enron.

Could you go to jail?

Adam.

No.

I'm glad you asked.

Bethie,
I'm not going anywhere.

Any more questions,
Mr. Prosecutor?

Uh, no.

See, he fits right in.

You put him on the spot,
confronted him, pushed him.

Well, I didn't understand
what he was saying.

Well, maybe that's not his fault.

Monday he goes on trial,
in case you didn't get that.

You don't talk about
going to jail!

It seemed like the
important thing.

The important thing?

All of a sudden,
you know what's important.

You can't say two words on
how you feel about anything,

but you know what's
important to my family.

You know, my father's not
some criminal, okay?

-Okay
-Just forget it.

Beth?

I'm going home.

Please don't follow me!

May I come in?

I'm sorry.

It's some chocolate.

I'm not Forrest Gump, you know.

Of course not, I didn't even—

Was that a joke?

Are you joking?

I can joke.

I'm sorry.

I took it out on you.

I'm just
scared for my father.

You can apologize too, you know?

You said it was your fault.

I got an interview.

You did?

Halloran Industries,

research and engineering
for space communication

and exploration.

Adam,
that's perfect!

Break out the chocolate.

Let's go get some champagne.

No, it's just an interview.

There's a saying in my family:

"It's never too early
to drink the champagne".

You'd be good at the job, right?

So all you got to do
is let them know it.

That's all? That's impossible.

When is it?

February 3rd. 17 days.

All right, so that's
how long you got.

You got to learn
it during the day,

and then I'll help you at night.

They'll think I'm a freak.

Fine.

Whatever you say.

Beth?

Beth?

Come on.

ADAM: In most interview situations,

ADAM: the greeting is done
in the standing position.

ADAM: Simple greeting:

ADAM: "Hello, nice to meet you."

ADAM: Basic greeting:

ADAM: "Hello, my name is Jason.
Nice to meet you."

Mr. Buchwald,
how do you plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

ADAM: Involved greeting:

ADAM: "Hello, you must
be Miss Austen.

ADAM: My name is Jason.

ADAM: Nice to meet you. "

BETH: Mr. Raki?

I'm Elizabeth Buchwald.

I'll be interviewing you

for the job we discussed
over the phone.

Phone?

"Nice to meet you"?

Oh, oh, right, right.

Eyes.

Please, step into my office.

ADAM: Make it a goal
of your interview

ADAM: to mention each of your
strengths at least once.

The items, listed as assets
are really expenses,

covered up
in order to increase

the earning statement
of the company.

ADAM: Eye contact.

ADAM: One way to get around
poor eye contact dilemma

ADAM: s to have the candidate look
at the interviewer's forehead.

ADAM: Practice is needed, however,

ADAM: because it will still
require an effort

ADAM: to remember to
look at a forehead.

-Beth?
-No.

Just once more, please.

Adam, can't you think
about anyone

but yourself,
even for a minute?

I'm sorry.

No, I...

Okay.

Tell me something about
our previous work experience, Mr. Raki.

ADAM: At your last job,
how much of the work

ADAM: did you perform
independently?

ADAM: How much as a team?

Now, you've testified that your
relationship with the Cooper family

is personal, as well as professional.
Isn't that right?

Yes.

Eric Cooper and I have been
associated for over 30 years.

He's become a close friend.

But that doesn't mean...

Would you tell the court a little

about your relationship
with, Jennifer Cooper?

She's a wonderful young woman.

I have known her
her whole life.

Isn't it true that you'd be eager

to help Jennifer with any
problem she was having?

Yes.

-Out of your affection for
the family, of course. -Sure.

Mr. Buchwald,
would you feel compelled

to help Jennifer to preserve
your own reputation?

No.

Did you have an affair
with Ms. Cooper in 2001?

Objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Buchwald
opened the door, Your Honor.

I understand the evidence,
counselor.

Overruled.
Please answer the question.

Yes. Briefly.

So, Jennifer had every
reason to believe that you

would help her
with this problem.

That had noth—

The one had nothing to do
with the other.

Nothing.

Somehow

I'm leading someone else's life

I cut a star down

With my knife

And right now

I still see

The way the moon

Plays this tune

Though our nights died

My hands shake

My knees quake

It's every day

Same way

'Cause then came you

Then there's you

I keep your picture

In my worn-through shoes

Then there's you

Then came you

When I'm lost

Look at my picture of you

And somehow

I'll make tonight our own

Show you every way I've grown

Since I met you

And right now

I'll be the boy in your next song

I'll learn the parts and play along

If you let me

My hands shake

All rise.

My knees quake

It's every day

Be seated.

The same way

'Cause then came you

Then there's you.

Mr. Raki.

Hello, you must be Doug Brandel.

I'm Adam Raki.
Pleased to meet you.

Come in.

Then there's you

I keep your picture

In my worn-through shoes

When I'm lost in your eyes

[Telephone]

I see

A way for me.

Beth?

Adam, is Beth there?

No, she isn't.

Marty pled guilty.

There's some discretion
in sentencing.

The hearing is tomorrow.

We may have to make statements,

but she isn't answering her cell.

I called the school, but they…
she wasn't there.

Do you know
when she'll be home?

No, I thought…
I was waiting.

Adam, please, can-can
you check her calendar,

see if there's any way
I can reach her?

Okay.

Never mind. Marty's coming.
I have to go.

They're keeping him
overnight. Tell her to call me.

Tell her to call me right away.

Adam!

I've been thinking about
you all afternoon.

How did it go?

I forgot my phone.
How did the interview go?

-Okay, you're right.
-Right?

My father and I arranged
for us to meet.

You arranged?

I knew they were going
to be at the theater.

They really wanted to meet you.

Now, will you please
tell me what happened?

You lied?

A little.

Fooled you!

Dumb Adam!
Dumb!

Dumb! Dumb!

Dumb! Dumb!
Dumb! Dumb!

Dumb!

Dumb!
Dumb Adam!

Adam, I didn't...
I'm sorry.

I...

Adam, please, just calm down.

No, I hate you! I hate you!

I hope your father goes
to jail forever! I hate you!

What?

He's guilty.

Your mother called and
he's a liar like you,

and he's going to jail.

I hate you!

You're a child, Adam.

f*ck Asperger's,
you're a f*cking child.

You liar!

A long time ago,
when I told Grandpa Morse

that I wanted to get married,

he said Marty was great,

but that he was an angles guy.

What does that mean?

That he was a guy
who plays the angles...

in business, love...

He even said

he might wind up
in jail someday.

And I told him he didn't
understand Marty,

and that even if he ended
up in jail for life

I would never regret
marrying him.

And I don't.

We have to help him now, Beth.

Tell the judge who your
father is in your life.

Who he's always been.

Whatever

bad decisions he's made.

Okay.

Okay, Mom.

I read that planets
are lined up across the sky

like they haven't been
in 30.000 years.

Uh-huh.

You didn't get the job
you were going for?

No.

That why you so down?

Hell, I lost more jobs than…

No, Beth and I broke up.

Oh.

She lied.

She lied and I found out about it.

I can't trust her anymore.

These all seem fine.

Now, before I went
into the service,

I met a girl who made
me a promise.

When I came back,

she was right there
waiting for me.

But I found out she hadn't
quite kept the promise,

so I put some things
in a bag and I left.

Never spoke to her again.

Though, sometimes,
the wanting to is…

was like a live animal clawing

at my chest from the inside.

35 years.

She's the only picture
in my head

can still stop me
in broad daylight

and make me curse myself

for a stubborn, old fool.

It's not rocket science.

I'm saying you need
to talk to the girl

one more time, that's all.

Oh...

I don't know.

Liars is all you're going
to run across in this world.

A man has got to learn the difference
between just plain liars

and liars worth loving.

Harlan, if you called that girl,

couldn't you stop
cursing yourself

for a stubborn, old fool,

even if you still had to be old.

Be seated.

This court sentences you to
a prison term of 5 years.

24 months to be served

in a federal corrections institute,

followed by 3 years
of mandatory probation.

As per your plea agreement,

you'll have one week
to settle your affairs.

Report to the corrections
department

Monday, February 9, at 9:00 a. m.

Adjourned.

You have one new message.

Adam, this is Rebecca.

Marty was sentenced to
two years in prison today.

Of course we're all very upset,

but Beth…

anyway, we're going
home to Westchester.

211 Richmond Road,
Bedford Hills.

You have the number.

I thought you should know
where she is.

For months, all they wanted was
for me to give them Eric Cooper.

"Do not go about
as a talebearer

amongst your people."

At least I don't have
to pack, right, Becky?

We always pack too much.

This time, just a toothbrush.

Excuse me.

Let's talk for a minute.

Oh, Bethie, Bethie.

Your mother's going
to need your help.

Yeah, I know.

MARTY: Oh, there're things you do,
there're things you have to do,

MARTY: You make your choices,
you live with them.

You and your mother will
never want for anything.

I made arrangements.

In two years, I'll be back home,

and this will all be over.

One more thing... about Adam.

He's not for you.

MARTY: It's not his fault,

MARTY: but he's more
like your child

MARTY: than-than anything else.

MARTY: He'll never be the kind of man
that you can admire,

MARTY: that you can look up to.

MARTY: And it's not fair that he
should hope for something

MARTY: that's mpossible.

People with Asperger's
get married.

They have families.

Married?

He lives in another world.

You don't need to make that
kind of compromise, Beth.

Now, you know this
is the best thing.

You do know that, Bethany.

Something is said

Sits in my head

It's been there too long

It's k*lling me slow

It's rolling around

It's pushing me down

It's keeping the good part of me closed

Can't you see

When I find you

I'll find me

I need you to know

Today, I'll wait for you always

I need you to know

Today, I'll wait for you always

'Cause when I find you

I'll find me

Can't you see

That when I find you

I'll find me

I need you to know

Today, I'll wait for you always

I need you to know

Beth?

I'll wait for you always

Beth Buchwald?

Beth?

I need you to know today

God.

I'll wait for you always

I'll get him.

I need you to know today Beth?

I'll wait for you always

-Adam!
-Beth.

When I find you

When I find you.

We have to talk again.

You scared me.

I thought you were
going to hit me.

I would never, ever do that.

The job was gone.

They hired someone for the job,

but they have another one
in an observatory.

They said I was just
what they needed.

It starts in April, but
it's in Flintridge, California.

I want you to come with me.

I could work,
and you could write,

and you wouldn't have
to teach anymore.

Uh, hello, Mr. Buchwald.

I came…

I'm sorry you have
to go to prison.

I came to ask Beth
to come to California with me.

I'd be engineering microchips
for satellite guidance systems.

I have a job in Flintridge, California.

Uh, that's fine.
Congratulations, Adam,

but Beth won't be
able to go with you.

What?

The family needs her.
She's needed here.

I need her.
I can't go without her.

Well, I'm sorry, Adam,
but she can't go.

No. You can't do that.

-Bethie, we agreed.
-You can't speak for me.

-We agreed!
-You don't make my decisions.

-We're standing in the middle
of the street. -I don't care!

-Calm down. Just calm down.
-You have choices, you liar! Cheater!

Nothing will ever
be the same. Nothing!

-I'm going now with Adam,
-No, you're not!

-And I don't care
what you think. -You can't go!
Let go! Let go of me!

Get off of me!

Adam!

Adam!

-You're coming to California?
-No, I mean home, to the city!

You're not coming to California?

Maybe! I don't know.
I'll think about it!

Mom, I'm going to take the car.
I'll leave it at the station.

Beth!
Come back here!

It didn't go well?

-What did he say?
-He wouldn't even see me.

I waited in the visiting room
for an hour.

And finally, a guard came
and told me that he wasn't coming out.

Your mother said
he wasn't ready.

I thought if I actually went…

I didn't think that he
wouldn't even see me.

-What are you going to do?
-What do you mean?

We're going, right?

We're getting on a plane tomorrow
and going to California.

You should pack.
You haven't packed at all.

Can you give me a minute?
Okay?

Just leave me alone
for a while.

I'm not sure.

I mean…
I should be sure, shouldn't I?

Do you know what you want?

We'll never have a moment

where we look into each
other's eyes and know

exactly

what the other person's feeling.

The idea of that wouldn't even
make sense to him.

He's never told me
that he loves me.

I don't know what it would
mean to him if he did.

Yes, feeling loved
is very important, but

loving, my precious girl,

that's the necessity.

Mom, I got to go.

I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Okay?

I love you, Beth.

Adam,

why do you want me to go
to California with you?

What do you mean?

Why do you want me to go?

You…

you are a…

like a

part of me.

And I need you to

help find a place to live

and to learn how to get to work

and to understand what it means

when people say crazy stuff

and

I couldn't go without you.

I'm sorry.

I can't go.

If you want me to go because
you can't go without me,

I can't go.

You sure about this?

I have to go.
I have to go alone.

Hey, I want you to know,

I made that call.

It took me a
while to find her.

But we're going to meet up.

The woman's even more
stubborn than I am.

I'm just trying to say
thank you, damn it.

Oh, you're welcome, Harlan.

Actually, the best image
resolution is achieved

by multiple smaller telescopes
called interferometers.

Interferometers combine light waves
collected from the same source.

A star, for instance.

And the waves form
an interference pattern

as they add together,
or cancel out,

add together, cancel out.

It's what we call
constructive interference,

or destructive interference.

So that the light from two
or more telescopes can produce

a brighter image
than one alone.

But sometimes it's best just
to look up at the night sky.

Thank you.
Thank you so much, Mr. Raki.

All right, we'll be heading out.
Watch your step.

Adam, the top one's for you.

Oh, Carol?

Would you like me
to help you with those?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Hey, man.

Hello, Brian.

Oh, you still meeting
up with everyone later?

Awesome.

BETH: Dear Adam,

BETH: Look how far
we've come.

BETH: Love, Beth.

BETH: Adam, his mother
and his father

BETH: were a family
of talking raccoons

BETH: who lived in Central Park
in the middle of New York City.

BETH: They didn't really
belong there,

BETH: but there they were.

Yesterday when you were young

Everything you needed done was done for you

Now you do it on your own, but you find you're all alone

What can you do?

You and me

Walk on, walk on, walk on

'Cause you can't go back now

You know there will be days

When you're so tired that you can't take another step

The night will have no stars

And you'll think you've gone as far as you will ever get

But you and me

Walk on, walk on, walk on

'Cause you can't go back now

Ooh, yeah

Yeah

Yeah Yeah

Go where you want to go

Yeah Yeah

Yeah Yeah

Be what you want to be

If you ever turn around Subtitles by: Marac

You'll see me

I can't really say

Why everybody wishes they were somewhere else

But in the end the only steps that matter

Are the ones you take all by yourself

And you and me

Walk on, walk on, walk on

Yeah, you You

And me

Walk on, walk on, walk on

'Cause you can't go back now

Walk on, walk on, walk on

You can't go back now.

Rain turns the sand into mud

Wind turns the trees into bone

Stars turning high up above

You turn me

Into somebody loved

Nights when the heat had gone out

We danced together alone

Cold turned our breath into clouds

We never said what we were dreaming of

But you turned me

Into somebody loved

Someday when we're old and worn

Like two softened shoes

I will wonder on how I was born

The night I first ran away from you

Now my feet turn the corner back home

Sun turns the evening to rose

Stars turning high up above

You turn me

Into

You turn me into

You turn me

Into somebody loved

Somebody loved

Somebody loved.

In the morning after

You began to see the light

Something better

It is here for you to find

Celebrate the moments that we share

Open up your eyes

It's a beautiful day

Through the winter

Now happiness is everywhere

You can have it

More than you would ever dare

Celebrate the moments that we share

Open up your eyes

It's a beautiful day

Celebrate the moments that we share

Open up your eyes, it's a beautiful day.