(slow brass music)
- [Vilmos] Martin.
(raps on glass)
- Say goodbye to Vilmos.
- You send me letter, yes?
- Well, we're only going
for a couple weeks.
- You be good boy
to your mother.
(Elise groans)
I, I make you lunch.
(dog barking)
- [Radio Announcer]
With the arrival
of the Chinese delegation
for their meeting
with President Carter.
In sports, the 1979
World Series starts
in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
- What do you think of Vilmos?
- Well it's only been a year.
- (sighs) I thought
I could make us
a life out here, like
normal Americans.
Almost learned to cook meatloaf.
- Are you leaving Vilmos?
- Well, it looks that way.
- And where do we go this time?
- I don't know, pick a place.
- No, mom, I'm serious.
We keep moving around--
- Yeah, and we always
land on our feet.
Well, don't we?
- What about New York?
I'd like to see my dad.
My real one.
- New York, I can arrange.
As for the other.
- What's he like?
- Don't remember.
15 years is a long time, okay?
♪ Amazing Grace, how
sweet the sound ♪
Do me up, angel.
- Going out?
- Yeah.
I wanna scribble a
little something.
- A poem?
- How do you know about that?
You weren't even born when
I used to write poetry.
- Write in here.
- You afraid of the dark?
Okay.
So,
won't be late.
(rock music)
(horn honks)
- [Man] Any time, lady.
(horn honks)
(rock music)
(traffic whooshing)
(jukebox clangs)
- Well that's the
end of that dime.
Anything special
you'd like to hear?
- [Elise] Silence
would be heaven.
- All right.
I got regular note-jottin'
paper if you want.
- [Elise] How 'bout a stamp?
- That's a letter?
- It might be.
Who knows?
My surrender.
My peace offering to
a man I used to know.
Una mas, s'il vous plait.
- I live out back if you'd
like a cup of coffee.
- What I'd like is
a drink and a stamp.
- Sorry, ma'am.
Gotta close up.
State law.
- You married?
- You uh, you come right
out with it, don't you?
I was.
- Do you miss her?
- My name's Jason.
- How about that
other dime, Jason?
- Yes, ma'am.
(slow soulful music)
- Oh dear, why is this
part always so easy?
I bet you're a very nice man.
How about we just
say goodnight, huh?
(slow soulful music)
♪ Dee, dee, dee
♪ La-di-dah
♪ Dee, dee, dee, dee.
- Dear Andrew.
- Martin are my
slippers in there?
My slippers?
- [Martin] What?
- Handsome man.
Break some poor
woman's heart someday.
(horns honking)
Used to be parking
around here somewhere.
- Are we just gonna sit here?
- Well we might!
Have you got a better idea?
- Sorry.
(horn honking)
(baby crying)
(upbeat music)
(horn honking)
(upbeat music)
- Oh, Elise!
- Emma!
(yelling)
- My god!
Oh my god!
(laughs)
I don't believe it's you!
(laughing)
God, come over here,
look at you, look at you!
(laughing)
You are beautiful as ever!
- Oh, Em!
- And lean!
- Mom, what do you want me to
do with the stuff in the car?
- What's wrong?
- His voice, it's exactly like--
- Darling, do you remember Emma?
- What?
It was such a long
time ago, you were
a tiny little thing,
smaller than me, even.
- [Elise] Say hello!
- Who's my voice exactly like?
- The Man in the
Moon, now come on,
say hello, let's unpack the car.
Oh Emma, I'm back!
- So what was it
like, the Wild West?
Did you meet Roy Rogers?
- He was otherwise engaged.
- Oh, like our president.
(laughing)
- Cecil, we agreed, no
politics, not tonight.
- My little tyrant.
You know, I'm more afraid of
her than I am of immigration.
- He thinks it's a big joke.
They open his mail, he
hears clicks on his phone.
They still think he'll lead
them to the Weather Underground.
- Can you believe
it's still going on?
- And it always will, my dear.
We stopped Vietnam, not the
people that made it happen.
- Oh, that's enough,
it's too depressing.
- No, no, more, more.
I've been away for so long it's
like a breath of fresh air.
Come on, talk, argue,
debate, huh?
- Debate, mm.
- Ah.
Yes.
(singing in foreign language)
- Wait a minute, is that coffee?
- Don't you think?
- My darling conscience.
How did I manage all
these years without you?
- I don't know.
When I heard Martin's
voice, oh, it's eerie.
- I know.
He opens his mouth and
he's Andrew more every day.
His behavior, too: judgments,
disapproving looks.
- Drink up.
I'll take tomorrow
off, we'll hang out.
- Hang out?
Do people still hang out?
- [Emma] Yes.
- Emma.
Why don't we throw a party?
Let people know I'm back.
- [Emma] People?
- Yeah, the old g*ng.
Anyone who might have an
interest in my return.
- Don't worry,
word'll get around.
Since when did you ever arrive
anywhere unnoticed, huh?
- Do you think it's still true?
(sirens wailing)
- Are you famous?
(laughs)
- Important people pretend
to read my work sometimes.
So yes, yes, in a small way.
Vino?
- Oh no, no, I don't
think I'm allowed.
- Nonsense, what are you, 15?
- Almost 16.
- In India you'd have
been married years ago.
In China, you'd have
children of your own by now.
Come over here, come
on, play some chess.
(sirens wailing)
- Do you know my father?
- White goes first.
- Do I sound like him?
Do I look like him?
- Which hand?
- What happened to my father?
- Money.
- Money?
- Took him away, kept him away.
He was a sl*ve to ambition
and a prisoner of success.
- I don't understand.
- Nor should you.
You're not remotely like him.
Let's hope.
Here, you play white.
(upbeat piano music)
- The first month is rent free
in return for the paint
job, I sold the Caddy,
plus with my starting salary
from Maison de Maurice,
and believe me, I'm not gonna be
a mere pattern cutter
for long, no way.
Maurice can spot talent.
So, next week we start
your college fund.
Angel, I'm talking to you.
- Oh, I'm painting, I
have to concentrate.
- What's the matter,
Moody Morris?
Turn the key, open the lid,
look where all the
secrets are hid.
- When are we gonna see Andrew?
- So that's it.
- We've been here
almost two months,
why can't you call him?
- One has one's pride.
Where are you going?
- I need more paint.
- Angel, I will call him.
I just need to make up
my mind to, that's all.
Just give me some time, okay?
(singing in foreign language)
Hey Senor, you are
new in town, yes?
- No, mom, I'm painting.
- Oh, we have forever to
paint, but only tonight
for dancing!
- When are you going
to call him?
- We have each other,
who else do we need?
(upbeat Spanish music)
(upbeat piano music)
- [Martin] Oh, I'm sorry.
- So what am I, invisible?
(upbeat piano music)
- Big smile, that's beautiful.
You love it, you
love those clothes,
you love the way she looks,
she loves the way you look.
That's it, try to
get the leg a little,
that's right, everything's
up, everybody's smiling,
it's oh so much fun.
It's winter, it's
snowing, spin it again
with a little more exaggeration.
That's it.
Spin it again, that's it.
- [Man] Yeah.
Move this little
light around here.
(people chattering)
- [Man] Lay it
in, that's why we.
(overlapping chatter)
- Okay, can you give me--
- [Woman] Okay, let me
catch this over here,
hold on one second.
- Are you just
gonna stand there?
- What?
- You're late, you
gotta get dressed
he's gonna need
you in 10 minutes.
(overlapping chattering)
- [Woman] Bob, you
gotta check your light.
- [Andrew] That's
right, head back.
- [Woman] Here honey,
take this with you.
- [Andrew] Move this
little light around here.
- [Woman] Yeah, I got
you, go more lower--
- [Man] Garcia, you wanna
step over here, please?
- [Andrew] Okay,
can you give me.
- [Woman] It, it's okay, yeah.
- [Man] Isabelle, do
you want anything?
- [Woman] No really,
trust me, leave it.
(overlapping chattering)
(upbeat music)
- Heads back, chins up.
Everybody's up,
everybody's happy.
I need a, I need a much,
much more exaggerated,
much more generous,
with the spirit.
It's, it's a wonderful
time of year,
it's winter, it's snowing,
everybody's happy.
Gorgeous, gorgeous
with the chin back.
Okay, show me the clothes,
I need the clothes,
we gotta see the clothes, we're
trying to sell the clothes.
Okay, gimme that, let's
go back through that,
let's go back to
that take again,
a lot fuller, a lot
more exaggeration,
a very happy time of year,
you're very, you're up.
The, the boy, don't,
don't look at me,
look at the camera,
okay, look into,
why are you looking
at me, do you hear me?
Are you okay?
Are you with us?
What's, who's the boy?
(scoffs)
I can't work with this.
Come on, let's get somebody
else in here right away.
Um, call the agency
and give them his name.
They shouldn't be
sending them out.
Okay, everybody, let's
get back into it,
let's not lose that energy,
give me that exaggeration,
give me that love,
you love these
clothes, that's it,
give me that smile,
Phoebe, come on.
Get that chin up.
Chin up, look at
her, look at him,
you love him, she loves you,
it's a beautiful,
wonderful thing.
You've been really
sensational today, okay?
See you next
Thursday, all right?
- [Model] Thank you, Andrew!
Ciao!
- Who are you?
- You don't recognize me?
- Why, should I?
- We're in the city now.
Me and mom.
- You and...
Martin?
Well I'm glad somebody
bothered to tell me.
Did she send you
to make contact,
couldn't do it herself?
- I guess I should
have called first.
- Not a bad idea,
after 15 years.
- I wrote to you.
- Twice, with no return address.
- We moved around a lot.
- Look, I'm sorry, I...
this is so damned unexpected,
I don't know what to say.
- Is it okay I'm here?
- Look at you,
all grown up.
- Mom says hello.
- Yeah, I'll bet she does.
- Could I see you sometime?
(somber piano music)
- Did she send you?
Does she know you're here?
- No.
- (sighs) Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
Only call first.
I don't like surprises.
(swelling jazz music)
You got big.
15 years.
Hmph.
Look at you.
(slow piano music)
(sewing machines clattering)
(people chattering)
- Elise, you got a phone call.
- Hello?
Yes, that's me.
What?
No, I'm sorry, there
must be some mistake.
I don't know what you're talking
about, he's not a truant.
Yes, okay, I'll talk to him.
Thank you, bye.
- Elise, my love, you can't
afford these distractions.
You need to focus if
you want a career.
- I'm sorry, Maurice, but
my son comes first, always.
- You have talent, show me
you're serious, I'll help you.
If you're not,
don't waste my time.
(people chattering)
(funky music)
- [Lew] Elise, come on back.
- Sorry, Lew, I lost
track of the time.
- [Lew] The night is young!
(funky music)
(sirens wailing faintly)
- Where have you been?
- At the library.
- You know we
always eat at seven.
- We do?
- Yes, I've been
waiting for you.
- At the bar?
- What bar?
- Around the corner, I saw you.
- All right, I was
having a drink, and why?
Because today I had a very
alarming call from your school.
Where have you been
the past two weeks?
- In class.
- Martin, I want the truth.
- School is boring.
I, I know all the
stuff they're teaching.
- You couldn't tell me that?
- I'm sorry, mom.
- I want a decent life
for you, a normal life.
Why do you think I work so hard?
- Maybe Andrew
could help us out.
- He wants no part
of this family.
- How can he want a part of us
when he didn't even
know we were back?
- What do you mean he didn't...
wait a minute.
Have you called Andrew?
Is that where you go
when you miss school?
Have you talked to him?
- Mom, take it easy.
- I'm so sorry, angel.
Of course you'd have
told me, I'm sorry.
No secrets.
Not between the two of us.
- Why do you hate him so much?
(somber music)
- We were young, it was
a very passionate time.
We thought if we could
actually stop Vietnam,
if people like us could
make such a difference,
oh God, power to the people.
We were so naive.
But we believed it
with all our hearts.
At least some of
us did, not all.
A couple of us turned out to be.
- What?
- It was a long time ago.
I don't hate your father.
But certain old wounds,
even when they seem healed,
they're still
painful to the touch.
- I'm sorry about school, mom,
I'm gonna try harder.
- It was a mistake
coming back to this town.
- I like it here.
- New York is no place
for a growing child.
You need open skies,
mountains, country--
- No, I hate mountains
and countryside.
- Listen to me for one minute.
Cecil knows a school upstate,
it's very forward-looking,
very innovative--
- No, I won't go!
- Just until my job is secure.
When I can afford a
decent life for us,
you'll come back home and--
- And you'll find
another excuse for us to move
- I can't be everything
and then another, and then
- I oughta be right now,
- my hands are full!
- Well then call Andrew!
- No, never!
I'm not gonna beg.
You go away to school,
it's settled, final.
(somber music)
- Fine.
- Trees, flowers, nature.
(sighs)
Ah, to look out a
window and see all this.
Imagine!
Oh, look, look, look, look,
look at those men over
there in the fields,
look at how big they are.
You never see people
that big in the city.
They're enormous.
Just gonna close my window.
Bugs.
(light flute music)
- [Man] Come on,
come on, let's go!
- Over here, over here!
- [Boy] I'm open!
- [Boy] Hey, hey!
(light flute music)
- [Boy] I'm open!
- [Boys] Whoa!
(laughs)
- [Boy] Over here!
- Watch him, get him!
- Get him!
- Cover him!
- Over here!
(boys grunting)
- He's a quick learner, we've
always moved around a lot.
- Why don't you
sit down, please?
(boys yelling faintly)
Let me be frank.
Many students sent away
from home to school,
even the most secure homes,
have a feeling of
rejection, you know.
Like punishment for
doing something wrong.
If there are any
family irregularities,
we need to know about them now
so we can anticipate the
problems before they arise.
- My son and I enjoy a
close, secure relationship.
- Under father you left a blank.
Does this mean something?
- Means his father is a blank.
It's spartan.
Could use a few
prints on the walls.
Here, I'll help you.
- Mom, I know how to make a bed.
- You haven't left
enough blanket
at the bottom.
- I left plenty of blanket--
- No, it's right here--
- Mom, will you!
(somber dramatic music)
- Try to understand, angel.
Please.
(somber dramatic music)
(children chattering)
(somber soulful music)
I'm out of mind, how am I
gonna pay for that school?
- [Emma] Why'd you send him
there in the first place?
- The city's too full
of broken promises.
- You're afraid
he'll see Andrew.
- Afraid?
I'd be delighted if he took
some interest in his son.
- His son's mother, you mean.
- Oh, I've long ago abandoned
all hope in that area.
- (scoffs) Nonsense.
- You're wrong, Emma.
I don't miss the past.
I miss arguing
through the night,
the farm, rallies,
Angela Davis, the night she
stayed with us, you remember?
I miss that wonderful
closeness we all had.
- Wasn't that mainly
a housing problem?
- Oh, you know what I mean.
- You miss the romance,
not the struggle.
That goes on, with or
without you dreamers.
- You still believe,
don't you, Emma?
Here's to my
promotion, a real job.
And if Martin does well,
a scholarship was mentioned.
If I can just hang
on for six months.
Prosit!
Mm.
- Here's my balance.
Make it out for
whatever you need.
- Darling Emma.
We'll always be
together, won't we?
Eat and dance and
grow old together.
On the front lines in sweat
socks and tennis shoes,
offering a good
time to any soldier
who lay down his g*n
and burn his uniform.
(laughing)
- Take this, here.
(laughs)
Has it ever crossed your mind
that Andrew might still
feel something for you, too?
- Shh.
That's a dream you
shouldn't say out loud.
It's bad luck.
- People don't get
over you, Elise.
(somber soulful music)
- Toots, penny
for your thoughts?
- Nothing.
- In other words, mind
your own business.
- Not important.
- There's this wonderful
invention called the telephone.
You put your finger on
little buttons and poke.
Call him, toots.
- Call who?
- You are more transparent
than you think, Andy Panda.
You have his number, he lives
less than 10 blocks away.
- Who told you that?
- I was in the next room
when you called information.
- Oh, I have a spy in my house.
- He came to the
studio, that took guts.
You could meet him halfway.
- This subject is
off-limits, okay, Penny?
- You afraid she might
answer the phone?
- That's enough, Penny!
- You left that
woman 15 years ago.
My God, what did she do to you?
- This discussion is
over, do you understand?
For good!
(dramatic music)
(somber soulful music)
(phone ringing)
- [Man] Hi, Elise.
How you doing?
(horn blares)
(somber soulful music)
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
Penny?
Look, honey, I'm sorry
I yelled, I was...
Who is this?
(people speaking faintly)
- No one, father.
- Lunch time, let's move
it everybody, come on!
(children yelling)
- Move it!
(children chattering)
- [Martin] Can I have the ball?
- It's lunch time.
- No, I'm not hungry,
I wanna practice.
- Practice?
Thought you wanted to
fail and be sent home?
- May I please have
the basketball?
- Ah, so you're calling
attention to yourself.
Skipping lunch in full view
of the dining room, brooding.
- What's your problem?
- The problem is yours, Martin.
Whoever it is you're
trying to impress
is not in the
dining room, is he?
- No, I'm not trying
to impress anyone.
- Then fail.
(somber soulful music)
- All right guys, turn 'em out.
Turn out the lights, lights out.
(boys chattering)
Lights out.
Turn out the light, guys.
Lights out.
You okay?
Martin?
(dramatic soulful music)
(children chattering faintly)
- Why did you run away?
- I don't know.
- Do you have any
idea what it costs me
to send you here, and
I, I don't mean money.
- I'm sorry.
- Martin, I can't take
care of you in the city.
I work 14 hours a day.
I can barely look after myself.
- Okay.
- Martin, look at me.
Both of us have
to make this work.
- Yes.
- Why are you so
distant with me?
- I knew if you could have
me at home, you would.
I'll try harder, I promise.
- Darling.
No one is going to help us.
Accept it.
(phone rings)
- Hello?
Martin, is this you?
- I just thought I'd say hi.
- Yeah, well uh, I've got
some static on this line,
hang up and I'll call
you right back, okay?
- No, I'm not at home.
I'm upstate, Unity
International, it's this school.
- Whose idea was that?
- Me and mom.
We thought I'd be
better off out of town.
- Is that what you want?
- Look, I'm calling because
I ran away from here.
- Where'd you go?
- I was going back to the city.
Try to see you.
- Can I borrow
your razor, toots?
- Andrew?
- Yeah, yeah, I'm here.
- Would you ever
come up, visit me?
- Anything can happen.
- Parents' Day, maybe.
- How are your grades?
- Oh, they don't
have grades here.
They don't believe in
the competitive system.
- Oh, oh, okay.
- Will you come?
- I'll tell you what, I'll,
I'll pencil it in,
and if I'm not up against
it that weekend, we'll see.
- Great.
Bye.
(children yelling faintly)
- Martin, let's go
man, it's Saturday.
- [Boy] Time to play, man,
no time for work, man.
You gotta forget
this stuff, man.
- No, no, no, I can't.
- Come on, basketball, man.
- No, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry guys, I can't.
(boys scoff)
(boys yelling faintly)
- I have your teachers'
evaluation here.
You've been buckling
down, haven't you?
How would you like
to go to Switzerland?
- What?
- You have an aptitude
for languages.
We are sending three students
there next year on exchange.
We would like you
to be one of them.
(upbeat music)
- Switzerland?
Oh darling, I'm so proud of you.
- When exactly is Parents' Day?
- What do you mean,
will I be there?
Your own mother?
- Is Elise coming?
- For you, yes, I will
wear the red dress.
- Does she know that
you're inviting me?
- Yes, yes, yes,
I'll do my hair.
I'll fix it myself.
Don't worry, I shall
not disappoint.
- I'll try, but no
promises, all right?
- My son is a genius,
straight-A student,
popular, gorgeous, charming.
And all thanks to
me and me alone.
I'm gonna sit in the front
row, looking my ravishing best.
- Oozing modesty.
- Just in case a certain
someone still thinks
I couldn't do it without him.
Emma, do you think
I'm too proud?
- I think you have an
extraordinary heart.
- Which reminds me.
Your loan.
Paid in full.
To Parents' Day.
To parents, to children,
to lovers, to dreams.
- Elise, um, Cecil
is holding our table.
- Broke my heart to
send Martin away.
- I know.
- I've given myself
completely to very few men.
Martin is the last.
- He's hardly a man.
- He had no time for childhood.
I had to make him
strong, strong like me.
- It is up to us, the
U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
to break this
conspiracy of silence.
To demand a worldwide exchange
of scientists,
students, of artists,
of all working men and women,
us, U.S., us.
(applauding and cheering)
- [Girl] Right on, Martin!
- [Boy] Yeah!
- Your mother didn't make it.
- Obviously.
- What is that supposed to mean?
- Well it means she wasn't there
so obviously she didn't make it.
You hated my speech.
- [Andrew] Is that
what's bugging you?
- Well I worked hard on it.
- Bull.
- What?
- It was horse manure, just like
everything else
about that place.
Great fantasy for
radical has-beens.
- Says who?
- Oh, I know that crowd.
15 years ago it was,
uh, give peace a chance,
we shall overcome, hell,
nothing but a big party.
Change the world, they
were afraid of it.
They still are.
The minute they get a chance,
they send their kids as far away
from reality as
they possibly can.
They never grew up,
that's their problem.
- I didn't write that speech.
- What?
- I, I, I cribbed it from a
magazine in the school library.
- Why?
- I didn't know what to say.
They go for that kind
of stuff up here.
- Eh.
I used to write speeches.
Long live Fidel.
Off the pigs.
Had no idea what I
was talking about,
I did it because I wanted to be
a part of what was going on.
To belong.
- I'm sorry Andrew,
I won't do it again.
- Hey, why don't we drop
the Andrew, all right?
I'm your, I'm your father.
Try dad, okay?
Hey.
- [Man] How ya doing?
- Everything set?
- [Man] All fueled up, sir.
- Good.
- Nice sky up there today.
(planes whirring)
- Where we going?
Dad?
- Come on, come on.
- This is yours?
- Rented.
Close the door.
(blades whir)
Put your headphones on.
- [Air Controller] Uh
47, copy, you're cleared
for takeoff, zero seven.
- 47, pilot is cleared
for takeoff, zero seven.
All right, here's your throttle,
in for fast, out for slow.
Speed indicator.
When this gets to 80,
pull back on your yolk,
then you're upstairs, got it?
- Got it.
- All right, take her up.
- You can't be serious.
- Do it.
- I don't know how to fly.
- Look, come on, you
can give it a try
or worry 'til you're too
afraid to make a move.
Make up your mind.
- You'll have the
other controls?
- You're on your own, kid.
- Go, go over it with,
with me one more time.
- Let's do it.
(upbeat piano music)
- Did you say 80, dad?
(breathing heavily)
(laughs)
I did it, I did it!
Whoo! (laughs)
Yes!
(cheers)
I did it!
- Okay, this is it.
This is where I live.
Oh, these are some
of my photographs,
if you have any interest
in that kind of thing.
- How was Parents' Day?
Surprise!
- Oh, hi, Penny.
Penny, this is my son, Martin,
and uh, Martin, this
is Penny, my friend.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Hope you don't mind,
I thought I'd be here
to welcome you back.
- No, not at all.
- Goody, Chinese, I'm ravenous.
- Okay, just put your
stuff down anywhere
and make yourself at home.
I've got a few phone
calls I gotta make.
- I've heard lots about you.
Can't wait to get to know you.
- Oh, wow.
- So.
Been looking forward to this.
- Why?
- Isn't it natural
under the circumstances?
- Are you in love
with my father?
- Oh goody, small
talk, my favorite kind.
- Are you?
- You're pretty
intense, aren't you?
I mean nice, but intense.
- Hey, how you guys doing?
- Great, great.
- Good.
- Well?
- Well what?
- Do you love him?
- It's none of your business.
He keeps it simple.
And simple's what
I want right now,
just pure, wholesome
fun, no strings.
This is hardly the conversation
I imagined having with
my boyfriend's son.
- Boy?
He's old enough
to be your father.
- Are we getting along or not?
(laughs)
- Are we supposed to?
- That.
Maybe this.
No.
Oh yes, but cut it on the bias.
Forget the tweed, I hate tweed.
What is going on here?
I need those patterns yesterday.
Who did these sketches?
- Do you mind?
- Since when do you do
renderings, you're a cutter.
- Someone has to make
sense of your sketches
or we'd all be on welfare.
Your assistant doesn't
understand your ideas.
I redo all of her work.
And when I try to save your butt
you thr*aten to fire me for
wanting one weekend off,
the most important
weekend of my life.
(breathes heavily)
Never mind.
- How long did these take you?
- Less than an hour.
- Come to my office, I want
to show you some ideas.
- I'm a pattern cutter.
If you want renderings, we
might discuss it in the morning.
- 9:00 a.m.
- 10, if I can leave right now.
My son is home, I've
earned some time with him,
don't you agree?
- It's lucky you have talent.
- For both of us, Maurice.
(relaxed jazz music)
- So, is he coming to the party?
- Penny!
- What party?
- Uh, it's nothing.
It's just my annual
shindig, it's no big deal.
- Father's Day, to be exact.
- Penelope.
- Penny, I hate Penelope.
- Of course, if you happen
to be free that weekend.
- He wants his
friends to meet you.
It's all in your honor, kiddo.
You don't show, it's
Easter without the bunny.
- Just eat, Penny.
- It's okay, dad.
It's very nice of
you, I appreciate it.
- Where's the duck,
I ordered duck.
- Quack quack.
You'll love the house.
Private beach and swimming
pool, everything deluxe.
- Yeah, I have this job upstate.
If I can get the
time off, you know?
- Try real hard.
He will never tell you how
much it means to him so I will.
It means a whole lot.
- Could I bring someone?
- [Andrew] Friend?
- A date.
- Sure, there's plenty of room,
you could stay the weekend.
So you have a girlfriend,
huh, what's her name?
- I think you'll like her.
- Do you see how easy this is?
He's coming, everyone's
happy, no problem!
(light switch clicks)
- Mom?
(sirens wailing)
♪ Amazing Grace, how
sweet the sound ♪
Angel!
- Mom!
- Have you been here long?
- No.
- Oh my God, those stairs.
Legs are k*lling me.
- Mom, why, why is there no--
- No, wait a minute,
wait a minute,
first things first.
Tell me all about today.
How did the speech go?
Who was there, did
everybody applaud?
- Mom, why the candles?
Why is the fridge empty?
- Oh, the electric
people, honestly.
They're children, so impatient.
- We've been disconnected?
- Well, it was either
that or the phone.
And since nothing interesting
ever entered my life
through the Frigidaire, I
chose to pay the phone bill.
- And this is how
you've been living?
- What's wrong with the
way I've been living?
Is that what I pay them to
teach you at that school,
to be a snob, to criticize
your own flesh and blood?
- Mom, I'm sorry, okay?
I'm sorry.
- No angel, I'm sorry, it's me.
I'm sorry.
They've just been working
us past exhaustion.
Honey, will you uh, rub my feet?
Oh!
Thank you, angel.
I'm sorry I couldn't
be there today.
My angel, my genius.
My little ambassador
to Switzerland.
Oh, that feels good.
- Things are going
to be better, mom.
- Mm.
- [Martin] Maybe real soon.
- Gosh, I almost forgot!
Voila!
- What's that?
- Have I been working
hard for nothing?
Go on, open it, silly.
- The QE II?
- We'll tour Europe together.
I'll drop you off in Zurich
and then catch a flight home.
- It sails next weekend.
- I said to Maurice, you've
had your pound of flesh,
I get three weeks off with pay,
or find yourself some new help.
Shall we celebrate?
- Mom.
- Mm-hm?
- We can't go.
- Oh, I know.
Isn't it extravagant?
- You can't, you can't,
you can't even pay
the electricity bill.
- Eh, details, details.
- I'm not on full
scholarship in Switzerland,
we're gonna have tuition to pay.
- Yes, I know, and
I just got a raise.
- We're not going!
- I beg your pardon?
- We have to be in the city.
- We do?
- There's a party for
me, a going-away party.
- And that ranks above
a trip to Europe?
- My friends want
to meet you, mom.
You were supposed
to be there today,
you can't let me down again.
- That comment is
unworthy of you.
- A trip like this
takes planning.
We'll turn in the tickets
and then next summer,
next summer when
I'm done with school
and you've saved up some money,
then we'll all celebrate
with a trip to Zurich.
- What do you mean, all?
What, who's all?
- You and me.
- Martin, look at me.
What's going on?
- Nothing.
- You've seen him.
(somber soulful music)
When?
- At school.
(gasps)
- Well, the fog lifts.
- I just, I, I thought if,
if you were both there,
I read the speech and
you were all dressed up
the way you do sometimes.
- He'd see what he was
missing and have us back.
Dreamer.
(somber soulful music)
(sirens wailing)
- He keeps your
picture beside his bed.
- Picture, what picture?
- That farm place.
The commune?
- Are you making this up?
Has he ever mentioned my name?
- Well, he thinks about you.
- How do you know?
- He's my father, I can tell.
- We're too much
alike, you and I.
Pipe dreams.
Look, I'm glad he wants
to spend time with you.
A boy your age needs
a father but promise,
promise me you won't hide
anything from me again.
- Okay.
- Come on, undo me.
Did he get heavy?
He was always
battling the bulge.
- Women find him attractive.
- Women find him attractive.
Is he seeing someone?
- Oh, she's just a kid.
- Bastard.
- Mom.
- What do you do together,
you and your father,
and this kid?
- It's Andrew's party.
- Andrew's?
- I told him I was
bringing a date.
- Oh Martin, no, how could you!
- I, I, I must be nuts.
- What, did you expect
me to just go blundering
back into his life unprepared?
Embarrass myself in
front of all his friends?
- Never mind, okay,
just never mind then.
I guess it was a stupid
idea, I wasn't thinking.
(sirens wailing)
- Is it a big party?
- I don't know.
- Used to make quite
an impression when
I entered a room.
I stood perfectly still,
everything moved
in my direction.
- You still do, mom.
- Mr. Tongue-Of-Velvet.
God, what am I thinking about?
- May I go?
- On your own?
- Well why should I give up
on him just because you did?
- But you said he was
expecting you to bring a date.
What are you gonna tell him?
- Mom?
- Be quite a scene, wouldn't it?
The two of us waltzing
in, arm-in-arm.
- You'll come?
- We should call and
warn him, it's only fair.
But on the other hand, in
love and w*r, et cetera.
- You'll get all fixed up.
- I shall not disappoint.
What a pair we are, you and I.
(upbeat romantic music)
(upbeat music)
- Hi!
(laughs)
Oh, there you are!
Hi, hi!
(people chattering)
- So, where's your mystery date?
- Driving.
Her folks live nearby.
- Hmm, old enough
to drive, old enough
to something-something.
Come on.
(people chattering)
(people laughing)
Oh, I'm so nervous.
I haven't met your
father's friends.
- That makes two of us.
(upbeat music)
- [Emma] Second gear
sticks sometimes.
- Have you anything on
hand of a liquid nature?
I'm in need of courage right
now, Dutch or otherwise.
- You know where it is.
- Emma, Emma, Emma, I'm
terrified of seeing him.
- Just go, be yourself.
- Myself isn't good enough.
He despises weakness.
- You'll manage.
- I always used to feel my
life moving forward, you know?
Towards something better.
And then one night, there I was,
driving through the Rockies,
back in time, toward my past.
With nothing to show
for all the years
except men I've known and
plans that didn't work out.
- And a son.
- Who wants his father now.
That's the cruelest
thing, to raise a child
and then watch his
father steal him away.
Emma, what's wrong?
- I don't have time
for your self-pity.
Not today, just
take the car and go.
- Emma?
What's the matter?
Emma?
What happened?
- Police came.
They turned the
place upside down.
- And I've been going
on and on--
- Oh just leave,
before I say something
I'm sorry for.
- Where's Cecil?
- He took off, okay?
He said not to wait for him.
He'll um, he'll go
to Canada again,
or maybe Sweden, some of
his friends are there.
He's tired of fighting.
- They can't do
this, it's not legal!
- You don't know that, do you?
You don't really know
anything about anything!
- What have I done?
- Nothing.
You never did.
People like you thought
movement was a non-stop joyride.
Well, it wasn't for some of us.
And we are still paying for
things we did back then.
- So am I.
- Don't listen to
me, I am upset.
Oh.
I envy you, you know.
What is it?
Your
ease, your confidence.
See me, I could never
live without doctrine.
But you just sail
along, day by day,
relishing everything so much
as though nothing
could harm you.
You walk off a cliff,
land on your feet.
- My confidence is a sham.
- I know.
I know, but something about
your spirit inspired us.
And you haven't lost it.
Everything else is gone:
the commune,
Cecil.
- I'll stay tonight if you like.
- All we ever did was talk.
I'd come down
here, he'd come up.
It was enough.
Now he's gone, too.
- Emma.
- Oh, don't touch me.
I'm fragile, but coping.
(laughs)
He'd hate tears.
- I love you, Emma.
- Don't worry.
You go to Andrew,
just be what you are.
- Incandescent?
- Yeah.
- Irresistible?
(laughs)
- Yes.
- Well, I see what you mean.
- Is Elise there?
- [Man] Eh, no, I don't see her.
- Has she been in today?
- Hey, how would you
like some company abroad?
- You?
- Yeah.
What do you think, look.
- Wow.
- Leave early.
Maybe swing through
Tibet and New Guinea.
I'll show you my
whole first trip,
maybe sh**t a new photo book.
Spend some time together
catching up, what do you say?
- You know, mom's
never been abroad.
- Us, Marty, just the two of us.
- Aren't you curious
what she's like now?
Even just a little?
She's pretty great, dad, she
talks about you all the time.
- Look, Marty,
you know sometimes
something happens in
life and you think
it's the main
event but it's not.
Your mother and I came together
briefly at a certain time.
Then the world changed.
- How?
- Maybe we could
find a better time
to have this conversation.
- Tomorrow, maybe?
Or next year?
Or when is a good time to ask
why my parents can barely
say each other's name,
let alone tell me why
we're not a family.
- Look, your date didn't show,
I'm sorry about that
but it's not my fault.
- Oh, then it must be mine!
- I don't follow
this twisty stuff.
- Okay.
My date was mom.
- What?
Are you crazy?
- Well maybe I am.
- She's coming here?
This was her idea.
- No, no, it was mine--
- That woman
does not step foot
in this house.
- Take it easy, dad.
- I'll pay for her hotel room
in town if that's
what she wants.
And you can answer the door.
- She canceled, okay?
She had to work, she
sends her regrets.
- What the hell's
your game, Martin?
- It doesn't matter.
It was just a pipe dream.
- Well thank God you're getting
away from her next year.
All right, forget it.
Come on, let's go upstairs
and join the party, okay?
I'm sorry, really, come on.
♪ Happy Father's Day to you
♪ Happy Father's Day to you
♪ Happy Father's Day
Andrew and Martin ♪
♪ Happy Father's Day to you
- Thank you!
(people cheering and clapping)
One, two, three!
(people cheering and clapping)
- It was nice meeting you.
- [Woman] That was lovely.
- [Woman] Beautiful.
- [Man] We've got a car.
- It was great.
- Yeah, my hair
still won't dry.
- [Man] Yeah, the
one over there.
- There are worse
things in the world
than being stood up by a date.
- Well thank you for those
words of comfort, Penny.
- Are you drunk?
- No, no Penny, I'm not drunk.
My mother, my mother is drunk,
at a bar somewhere,
or maybe with a man.
I tried to call her.
But what's the point?
She'd just, she'd
make up some lie
about why she didn't come here
and I'd pretend to believe it.
It's a little game we
play called no secrets.
You see, I wanted
her here today,
and I wanted you somewhere else.
- I don't pretend to
understand any of this.
- You're beautiful.
- What?
- You have a great smile.
- Mr. Martin, are you
being a naughty boy?
- You think he cares?
He's throwing a party.
You're, you're the
cute chick he's dating.
I'm the kid who turned out fine.
It's a great life,
but don't make waves.
- Poor kid, you are really
hurting, aren't you?
Martin, no!
N-O.
Now I'm not gonna
breathe a word of this
but you better cool it.
- He doesn't need anyone!
Not you.
Not me and not mom.
And that's what
makes him strong.
- What the hell's going on here?
- You better talk
to your son, poots.
He's in major trouble.
- Okay, Penny.
Explain yourself, and
it better be good.
- Look you in the eye?
Spit it out?
- Yes.
- Great party, dad.
- Wait a minute, where are
you going, I'm talking to you.
This is Elise, this
is her behavior.
- Who else was around
to learn from, dad?
- You've been drinking!
You're going downstairs
and you're going.
- Well together at last.
I hope I'm not too
late for the fun.
- Mom, where have you been?
- It's all right,
Martin, I'll handle this.
- I think it would
be a great idea
if at least one person was
saying goodbye out there
who actually belongs
to this family.
- And who might this be?
- I'm Penny.
- Penny?
You didn't use to settle
for such small change.
- Mom, behave.
- She's very pretty,
and I admire her shoes.
- Excuse me.
- Not much fight in that one.
- Well, you've made
your grand entrance,
you've stirred things up.
What next?
- Relax, Andrew,
I come in peace.
- That'll be the day.
- No, she's just
having fun, dad.
It doesn't mean anything.
- Don't you think our
little w*r of silence
has outlived whatever
purpose it never served?
Let's bury the hatchet.
- Yes, that's good.
That's good, you stay,
you stay here and talk.
Oh, I don't feel--
- Oh, God!
Andrew, give him a hand!
Turn around.
Sit down.
- I'm fine, mom, I'm fine.
(Elise mumbles)
- Brings back memories.
Wish me luck, angel.
- Don't blow it again, mom.
- You shouldn't have
come here, Elise.
Why did you?
- See what I could see.
Like the bear that
came over the mountain.
- Well, you've seen
it now, satisfied?
- Cecil is in trouble,
did you know that?
- You came all this
way to tell me that?
- You could help
Cecil is all I mean.
You know people.
- He'd never accept
help from me.
I'm the sellout, remember?
- You got a good price
from the look of it.
- No complaints.
- None?
- Goodbye, Andrew.
Don't bother to call.
(somber music)
- Are you trying to provoke me?
- That's too easy.
I was
teasing, exercising
my sense of humor,
of which you never did
have much, did you,
about yourself, I mean on
a scale of one to 10, say.
(laughs)
- Elise.
- Strange isn't it,
how familiar it feels?
Or is it just me?
(engine roars)
(car tires screeching)
- Penny.
She left.
- Yes, well, maybe I
better do the same.
- Stay.
There's room.
(romantic music)
- Nobody smokes anymore,
have you noticed?
(romantic music)
(light piano music)
- Last night, um,
what happened, it
was a, a bad idea.
- You didn't enjoy it?
Or it was good
enough to scare you?
- Don't you ever let up?
- You used to like my passion.
A little Russian blood
(dramatic piano music)
to thaw that chilly New
England heart of yours.
(light piano tinkling)
- Martin says you
work long hours.
I'd like to help.
With his schooling, maybe.
- No doors are shut.
(romantic piano music)
♪ That old black magic
has me in its spell ♪
Remember?
♪ That old black magic
that you weaved so well ♪
♪ Icy fingers up
and down my spine ♪
Missed my singing, didn't you?
♪ Same old witchcraft
when your eyes meet mine ♪
(laughs)
(singing softly)
- No, no, no, no.
No.
No, this can't happen.
We're both dreaming.
You had my son for 15
years, and where were you?
- I wrote to you many times.
- Sure you did.
- She did, dad, honest.
- Okay, so maybe I never got
around to mailing anything.
Would you like to
hear what I wrote?
- Doesn't matter.
Always starts out
in some small lie
and ends up in some
bottomless fiction.
- Dear Andrew, I've missed you.
Not a day went by that I
didn't regret having left.
But you left me once.
True, you were coming back
when you'd seen the world,
done your thing, whatever.
But I knew then that
if you could leave me
when we were so in
love, and a newborn son,
when everything lay ahead of us,
I knew you'd do it again one day
like you're trying
to do right now.
So very stupidly, while
you were gone, I ran.
Pride is what it was.
Stupid pride.
Now, let's say my
letter arrived.
How would you reply, Andrew?
Tell me.
(laughs)
- Oh man, I almost fell for it.
First Martin shows up, then you.
What's the deal here?
You heard that I was doing well
and you decided to
head east and cash in?
- No, that's not
the way it was, dad.
- You arrogant bastard!
I've tried to be
fair all these years.
God knows I've said nothing
against you to Martin.
Now he'll hear the whole truth.
- Truth?
What do you know
about the truth?
- Don't argue, please.
- Tell him about
the money, go on.
- Man, I knew that was coming.
- What money?
- You see, I didn't say a word.
9,000, was it?
His precious inheritance.
No fortune, but enough
to make a difference.
- To build a few bombs maybe,
or torch a recruiting office?
- None of us wanted v*olence.
We were trying to stop the w*r.
- It couldn't last, all of that.
- Not if all of us ran
away, like you did.
- I didn't run away.
I didn't run away.
I asked you to come with me.
- To drag an infant
through disease
and filth and squalor
for three long years,
so that you could make your mark
taking pictures
of the third world
to put in a coffee table
book for the radical-chic.
- Fine, which is it?
Martin, the money, my success?
What exactly is my crime
besides growing up?
- That you pretended to
care about so many things
that in the end meant
so little to you.
- No.
- No, what?
- No.
No, it's not the
commune, the movement.
It's none of those
high-up things.
That's not what you
are really angry at.
- Meaning what?
- It's that you
have no hold on me.
After the trail of wounded men
that you left behind,
somebody finally escaped.
Let's face it, Elise,
when you refused
to travel with me,
you never dreamed
in a million years that
I'd leave without you
and when I did,
you were furious!
And that's what
you can't forgive.
That you have no power over me!
(somber soulful music)
- [Elise] Didn't I
have power last night?
- [Andrew] Forget last night.
- [Elise] And all
those nights long ago,
let's forget those, too.
- [Andrew] I got carried away.
- You didn't mean what you said?
- Last night is history.
- The Middle Ages.
When you trembled in my arms--
- Stop it!
- And cried and told
me that you'd felt
only half-alive without me.
- For God's sake, that's enough.
- No, no, not when it's still
alive for the both of us.
And you know it is.
Now we were young and foolish
the first time around,
playing stupid games
to hurt each other.
We know better now.
Isn't it time to forgive?
- Wonderful.
Now we forgive.
You run away with my
son and after 15 years,
hello, I'm back,
it's time to forgive?
You can't suck me
back into the past,
I'm through with the past
and all that craziness.
I grew up and I made choices
and I gave up
those crazy dreams.
I don't need them
and I don't need you!
And I don't need anyone!
(somber piano music)
- My poor lonely darling.
You do believe, I know that.
But your passion frightens you.
It always did.
Except with me.
With me you could let go.
Let go, Andrew.
Let me hold you again.
There's still time
for a few more dreams.
- No more.
- What are you afraid of?
- Between us the silence
is a better idea.
(somber music)
- And that,
dear Andrew,
is what finally makes you small.
- Don't.
- And sad.
- Mom, be quiet.
- I'm warning you.
- And so very, very alone.
- Shut up, shut up,
shut up, shut up!
- Oh go on, hit me.
- Shut up!
- If you can't run away,
then k*ll what comes too close.
- Get out, get out!
- You wonder why I
didn't wait for you.
- Mom, please stop.
- Come on, Martin.
I think you've seen
your real father now.
(dramatic music)
Martin?
- I'm staying here.
- Now!
You get your things.
- No.
- Well say something
to him, for God's sake!
Andrew!
(somber music)
- I can't take care
of her anymore.
(somber music)
(engine roars)
Dad?
- Pack your things, there's
a 10:27 to the city.
- Can I stay?
- She turned heads, that woman.
Everywhere she went.
- Can I live with you, dad?
- It's too late.
We'll be good friends,
I'd like that.
Go home now.
Work it out.
She needs someone.
- Why me?
- You make a mess,
you gotta clean it up.
- Well guess what, dad?
You go to hell, because
it's not my mess
and I am not cleaning up
after the two of you anymore!
- Martin!
Martin!
(dramatic music)
(door slams)
(somber music)
- Where do you
think you're going?
- My job starts Monday.
- That's right, run away.
Like father, like son.
- I can't take care
of you anymore.
Well, I'm sure that you'll
find friends at the bar.
- How dare you, after
the way you behaved,
humiliating me in
front of that man.
- Me?
I tried to stop you and
you wouldn't shut up!
Look at you, you're disgusting!
Is this why you sent me away,
to keep me from
seeing how you live?
(somber music)
- It's enough I have
to see myself each day,
why should you have to?
- I know about all this, mom.
I've always known.
We have no secrets.
- Oh angel, we all started
out with such promise.
If you could have
seen us back then.
Think, from all that hope,
we made only one lasting
thing, your father and I.
Look at you.
Isn't it strange what
matters in the end?
- I'm gonna stay here
for the summer, mom.
I'm not gonna take
that hotel job.
- No, no.
- I can find a job here,
we'll be together, mom.
- It's time for your life, now.
(somber music)
- Why can't things be different?
- Because angel, none of us
can choose the way we love.
Any complaints, see
the man in the moon.
Now, I'm centuries
late for work.
If Maurice will have me back,
which he will, he's not a fool.
Go on, darling,
finish your packing.
(somber music)
There.
We'll have a party
before you leave.
I'll invite Andrew.
- Will you be all right?
- Your mom's a tough
old thing, you know.
- I know.
I love you, mom.
- Then I did something
right, didn't I?
Bye, angel.
(slow soulful music)
(people chattering)
(dramatic music)
- Elise.
(swelling soulful music)
(soft soulful music)
In Spite of Love (1994)
Moderator: Maskath3
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Valentine's Day, Hot, Steamy, Sexy, Romantic Movie Collection.
Valentine's Day, Hot, Steamy, Sexy, Romantic Movie Collection.