01x19 - Big Little Lie

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

[clapping]

Hello.

You know, I've gotten so usedto thinking of you, our audience,

as old friends that well,sometimes I lose sight of the fact

that new friends are joining useach week on the count of the mail

that's been coming in.

And I'm very grateful for it.

So right now I'd liketo tell our new friends

that this program is based on

some of the lettersthat you've written to me

which makes you apart of this program.

If I were to put downhow I really feel today

I've been all stringingand have a stroke.

I hate today.

First aunt Lily andthen Janet and Gloria.

They're havingone of their secrets.

They shouldn't havesecrets without me.

We're supposedto be best friends.

We're a club. Now they'vegot a secret without me.

If Aunt Lily hadn't made memiss our club meeting this morning

I know the secret, too.

Oh, Aunt Lily, we couldhave fit that old dress anytime.

We didn't have todo it this morning.

Aunt Lily, it's almost .

Stand still, Ellen.

Only takes you ten minutes atthe very most to get to school.

But today's our club day.

If you wait till Mother, there'llbe plenty to account for.

She had a laterehearsal last night.

But I have to seeGloria and Janet.

We're a club.

What club? Justthe three of you?

Yes.

Well, you can seethem at recess.

The meeting is beforeschool. Please, Aunt Lily.

All right.

If you think I'm going to putmy hand to this dress again,

young lady, you'revery much mistaken.

I more than earned my board androom just keeping this house going.

I'm sorry, Aunt Lily! Ilove the dress! It's just--

Are you deliberatelytrying to wake your mother?

No...

Is she going to act onthe television tonight?

-No, she's going to be home tonight.-Oh, goody!

Now can I go?

In a minute.

-Oh, stink.-[Aunt gasp]

Ellen Hartman.

I'll slap you cleaninto tomorrow

if I ever hear you saythat unladylike word again.

Have you beenassociating with that

Dora Carpenterafter what I told you?

No.

Well, good.

Dora, am I the only ones inour class that don't have fathers?

Your father, God resthis soul, is in heaven.

Lord only knows whereDora Carpenter's father is.

Janet said Dora's mother takesin borders and she's common.

That'll be enoughabout Dora Carpenter.

What's common man?

Do you want your mouthwashed out, young lady?

-I just asked.-And I just said that is enough.

I wish my daddy wasn't dead.

I told you not to speak abouthim. You know it upset your mother.

There. Now slip out of this.

Lay it carefully on your bed.

Hurry up. You'llbe late to school.

Yes, Aunt Lily.

[music]

If I could make them laugh.

Gee, we have lots of fun togetherwhen they don't have secrets.

I know. I'll draw apicture of old String Beef.

No, Gloria say it's kids stuff.

She always tries to makeme feel like I'm a baby.

If I had a secret,

a real grown up secret

like the time Gloria sawher sister kissing that boy.

The trouble is, I don't haveany sisters to tell secrets about.

It's just me, AuntLily and Mama.

Who wants to knowanything about Aunt Lily?

I don't knowanything about Mama.

I could make upa secret, I guess.

-No, Ellen, Really?-Oh rocky!

Cross my heart and hope to die,My father came home this morning.

He wasn't dead?

Not one bit he was...

Oh, I forgot. It's a secret.

Come on, tell us, please.

Well, my father wasin prison all the time.

That's the best secret ever!

I have a bettersecret, but I can't tell it.

Please, please!

Oh, please, Ellen!

Will you promise never, ever tohave me secrets from me ever again?

I'll be honor to tell.

Well, my very beautiful sister.

Your sister?

For sure. I have a sister that'sin the movies in Hollywood,

and she's coming homewith her handsome boyfriend.

And we're going tohave a big wedding.

No. Who's she going to marry?

Robert Wagner, I guess.Or maybe guy Madison.

Oh, no.

Ellen.

[music]

No. They wouldn't believe me.

It's just storybook sounding.

My stories alwayssound kind of funny.

Janet can make a wonderful ones.

I got to make up somethingexciting, dangerous,

forbidden, mostof all forbidden.

Right. Like what AuntLily said last week.

I said it'sforbidden, that's all.

And when I say it'sforbidden, that's it.

The next time you starttalking about babies,

you're going to have pepperon the tongue, you understand?

But Aunt Lily, Gloriahas three sisters,

and Janet has oneand two brothers.

Why can't Mama havea baby sister for me?

You're just itching forthat pepper, aren't you?

No, I'm not. Oh.

Well, drink your milkand get back to school.

Gee, I sure wish I could askMomma to have a baby sister for me.

[chair sliding]

Oh I, uh, I want you to stop by thestore on your way home from school

and get me a dozeneggs and a quart of milk.

More milk?

Yes, more milk.

Now remember, no more talk aboutunladylike or forbidden things.

[music]

Forbidden...

Forbidden...

A forbidden secret.

My mother's goingto have a baby.

A girl.

When they readmy real good secret,

they'll forget all about theirsand want to know all about mine.

Maybe I won't tell them,

but I will.

[music]

Stop there, Dora.You're not in our club.

Dora, what are you doing?

That's for Janet andGloria. It's not for you.

[dramatic music]

[bell rings]

Lunchtime, children.

I hope all yourcompositions are lovely.

Dora Carpenter, it's yourturn to be book monitor.

Class dismissed.

[Student chatters and leave]

Dora, give it to me.

Oh, you want it back?

Yes, I do. It's a secret.

Well, you canhave it for a quarter.

But I don't have a quarter.

What about your allowance?

I don't get an allowance.

Your mother's a big fancy actressand you don't get an allowance?

I don't believe you.

I don't, honestly. Please, Dora.

That's too bad.

Don't be mean, Dora. Itwas Aunt Lily sent you home.

I didn't do it. I like you.

Well, I don't like you,

so I'll just keep doing a noteand give the old String bee.

That'd be more fun anyway.

No, don't do that!

I'll get the quarter.Honest, I will.

Right after lunch?

I'll get it somehow.

Well, why don't you get it fromthat stuck up Aunt Lily of yours?

She must have lotsof quarters around.

[music]

If Dora gives thenote to old String bee,

she'll give it to the principaland he'll call Aunt Lily.

Aunt Lily. Somethings are forbidden.

Aunt Lily will tell Mama.

Oh, and Mama think I'm bad.

I don't want Mamato think I'm bad.

I want her to thinkI'm a good girl.

Mama's pretty like a queen.

Mama mustn't find out.

She just can't.

She's like a queen.

I love Mama.

I'll get a quarter.I will something.

[music]

What's the matter, Ellen?

Nothing. Nothing Aunt Lily.

Well, eat your lunch.

It's a skinny night. You slipdown a grain. We'd never find you.

You got a fever?

What? No, I fell down atrecess and I broke my head.

-Did you carry a dress?-No.

I guess you'll live.

Well, if you can't finish yoursandwich, drink your milk.

I will.

Mama home?

No, she's at rehearsal.

Oh.

You two could passeach other on the street

and not recognize one another foramount of time you spend together.

[music]

Young lady, don't youpour the milk down the sink.

I won't.

This is stealing!

I did it. I did it. Ishould feel bad,

But I don't because I'll get thenote back and Mama will never know!

But I'm a bad girl.

No, I'm not. BecauseMama won't know!

I love Mama, but I'm a bad girl.

[children shouting and playing]

Looking for me?

-I got it! I got it.-I know you would.

-Where is it?-Right here.

Here's your silly old note.

This isn't my note.

Dora. Dora.

Dora. Dora, this isn't my note.

Isn't it?

It's just a blankpiece of paper.

Come on, Dora, give it to me.

A blank piece of paper.

Now, what do you know?

Oh, now, look here.

You know it was inmy pocket all the time.

Give it to me.

Oh, you want it back, huh?

Dora, you promised.

-That's right.-Dora, please.

The bell's going to ring any minute.

I tell you what.

You bring me ¢ tomorrow morningand I'll give you back your note.

Okay?

But, but that's cheating.

Who cares? Somepeople do worse than that.

Where will I get ¢?

Same place you gotthe quarter, naturally.

But I can't, I can't, Dora.

If I take any more from thecookie jar, she'll know. I can't.

Okay. Don't. I'd rather giveit to old String bee anyway.

No. Please, Dora. Please don't.

Come, girl. Don't hurt youto be in your seats just once

-before the bell ring.-Coming, Miss Ford.

¢ tomorrow, huh?

All right.

Tomorrow morning, first thing?

All right.

[sad music]

Mama. Oh, Mama.

[bell rings]

Class dismissed.

[students chatters and leave]

[music]

[car horn]

[abrupt stop]

Since when don'tyou like cherry pie?

-I'm not hungry, Mama.-Oh?

She just pickedat her lunch, too.

Ellen, are yousure you're all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

She said she fell down today.

-Did you hurt yourself?-Not a scratch.

Well, that's good.

-More pie, Ruth?-No, thanks.

Delicious asalways, though, Lily.

-It did turn out well.-Mhm.

Honey, you do look kind of pale.

I will get you to bed early tonight.I know. I'm ready right now.

-Oh, Ruth, you work too hard.-Um-hmm.

What are you going todo with all your money?

Send the littleprincess here to college.

Nonsense. She wants togo to college. She'll get there.

No sense you'rekilling yourself doing it.

Hmm.

I wish you were home more.

Hmm, I wish I were, too, honey.

We got to eat.

-I don't want to go to college.-Oh, you say that now.

You get to be a grownup girl with different story.

Well.

-Time to clean up my kitchen.-Um-hmm.

-You need help, Lily?-No.

You do your work, I do mine.

My work tonight's a great bigfat script I've got to memorize.

-Was it long part?-Very long.

But a good one.

Well, honey. Howwas school today?

Fine.

That's good. Well, to work.

Mama. I'm sorry, Mama.

I'm going to steal¢ from your purse.

What would you do if youknew what I was like, Mama?

Ellen, don't ever be an actress.

I won't. I'm not pretty enough.

You not, huh? [laughs]

You're a princess. You're going tobe a real beauty one of these days.

Why are people mean?

What, honey?

Why?

I think I'll go to bed, Mama.

Yeah, all right,honey. It's a good idea.

[kiss] Wish I could do thesame thing. And sleep tight.

Say a specialprayer for me tonight.

I always do.

Good girl. Good night, honey.

Good night.

-Mama?-Hm?

Good night.

Good night.

Ruth, will you be able toeat home tomorrow night?

I--I don't know, Lily. I'llcall you from rehearsal.

[music]

This is stealing from Mama.

But I have to. I have to.

Oh, Mama. Mama, please.

I'm sorry. [light flicks on]

[Ellen gasp from fear] Hey Ellen,What are you doing in here, honey?

I thought you went to bed.

What are you doing?

I, I couldn't help but, Mama,I had to do it. I just had to.

-What's the matter?- I had to.

I had to.

You had to do what?

Ellen, you...

What have you got in your hand?

Ellen, look atme. [Ellen crying]

What is it in your hand?

[cries] Money.

The ¢.

I had to do it.

I didn't want to, really. [cries]

I didn't want to.

You mean you, uh,

you took the moneyout of my purse?

I'm bad, Mama. I'm bad. [cries]

Ellen.

You said you hadto take the money.

Why?

If you needed the money couldn'tyou come and ask me for it?

No. No, I couldn't.

I wanted to. Itried to tell you,

but I didn't want to bother you.

Aunt Lily said... oh, Mama.

Aunt Lily said what?

-Well, what in the world?-I'm bad, Mama.

-Ellen, what is the matter with you?- It's all right, Lily.

-It's all right.-Well, I'll take care of this, Ruth.

-I'm used to it.-Lily, just go out, will you?

Go out and close the door.

All right.

Oh, Mama. [cries]

-Mama.-Honey,

Come here.

Oh, no baby.

Oh, darling, what have Idone to make you so afraid?

[contiues crying]

Shh. Never mind, darling.

Don't cry. Everything'sgoing to be all right.

And don't be afraid.Please, baby, don't be afraid.

I'm bad Mama. I'll tell you now.

-I'll tell you.- No. Only if you want to.

But you don't have to. Couldn't yousee Mama knows you're a good girl?

But I'm not.

Of course you are.

-Mama.-Hmm?

This, this morningwhen I went to school,

Gloria and Janethad a secret. [sobs]

We're supposedto be best friends.

And I want to tell a secret too,

-Yes.-A better secret to tell.

So we'd be best friendsagain and I wouldn't be alone.

Oh, I see.

Aww.

My mother's goingto have a baby.

A girl.

Don't be mean, Dora.

It was Aunt Lily sent you home.

I didn't do it. I like you.

Well, I don't like you,

so I'll just keep your little noteand give it to old String bee.

-It'd be more fun anyway.-No.

No. Don't do that.

I'll tell you what. You bringme ¢ tomorrow morning

and I'll give youback your note, okay?

But, but that's cheating.

I should worry, somepeople do worse than that.

That's how I got tobe a bad girl, Mama.

Ellen, you know something?

I don't think there'ssuch a thing as a bad girl.

Oh, I think sometimesparents are stupid or bad

and that makes children dostupid things or even bad things.

You couldn't be bad.

Well, I'm glad youdon't think so, sweetie.

-Oh, Mama.- Yes?

What will Aunt Lilyand Ms. Ford say?

Nothing, darling. They'llunderstand. I'll talk to them.

But if they know they'll think...

Don't worry about it anymore.

Mama will take care of itin the morning. All right?

-But Dora knows and she's so mean.- Never mind, honey.

Maybe Dora is justhurt and scared too.

Would you like tosleep in here with me?

Good. And then tomorrowwe'll go to school, huh?

and I'll talk to Dora.

Oh, thank you, Mama.

Ellen, I want you toremember something.

No matter how terriblethings may seem to you,

nothing you can ever do isso bad that you can't come

and tell me aboutit and I'll help you.

That's what mothers are for.

Will you remember that?

Yes. I love you, Mama.

I love you too, darling.

Oh, my baby.

[music]

Oh.

A poignanttragedy of a childhood.

Wouldn't it bewonderful if we parents

could be consciousall of the time

of the sensitivityof a child's mind,

the delicacy of their emotions

wise mother indeed.

Who knows herown child.

[music]