06x09 - The Way We Were

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

(no voice)

♪ I bet we've been together
for a million years ♪

♪ And I bet we'll be together
for a million more ♪

♪ Oh, it's like
I started breathing ♪

♪ On the night we kissed ♪

♪ And I can't remember
what I ever did before ♪

♪ What would we do, baby,
without us? ♪

♪ What would we do, baby,
without us? ♪

♪ And there ain't no nothing we
can't love each other through ♪

♪ What would we do, baby,
without us? ♪

♪ Sha-la-la-la. ♪



Hi.

Shh!

They need their rest.

Oh, hey...

They're adorable when they're
asleep, aren't they?

They're like little angels.

Hey, what's all this?

We're playing garage.
You want to play?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, wait a minute.

What's she doing here?

That's Barbie.

She owns the garage.

Barbie... owns the garage.

Really, she's in Congress.

But on weekends
she's a mechanic.

I think I see
Mom's influence here.

She also won
the Nobel Prize in physics.

You've come a long way,
haven't you, honey?

Well, let's get back
to the real world, huh?

Where's Barbie's apron?

ELYSE:
Alex, stop.

Oh... Mom, a garage-owning,
female Senator

with a Nobel Prize in physics?

It could happen.

With a body like that?

Alex!

What? What?
What's the matter?

I don't want Alex playing
with Barbie anymore.

Mom!

You heard your mother, Alex.

Stay away from Barbie!

- What?
- Look, Mom,

- it's just not realistic.
- Kids reflect the real social...

If you can't play nicely,
you shouldn't play at all.

Hi.

- Hey!
- ALEX: Hey!

Where have you guys been?

At the library.

No, seriously.

For your information, Alex,
I'm reading Wuthering Heights.

Oh, that's your mother's
favorite book!

I love Wuthering Heights.
It's so romantic.

Steven, you remember
when we were in college,

we used to act out the scenes?

Aw, no. Please don't.

(doorbell rings)

I'll get it.

Oh... hi.

Aunt Rosemary!

ROSEMARY: Hello. Hello,
you darling people!

I'm sorry I'm late.

I hope I didn't
keep you waiting.

I hope you weren't worried.

Airplane travel today
is not to be believed.

I had to wait four hours
for my airplane, and...

What's the matter?

Why is nobody moving
or speaking?

It's-it's-it's such a surprise!

- We weren't expecting you.
- ROSEMARY: Well, nonsense!

I wrote you a letter
about two months ago

and told you I was coming.

And then I telephoned Mallory

and had a long conversation
with her about it.

Well, that explains it.

I'm sorry, Aunt Rosemary,

but I don't remember
that conversation.

Oh, what-what-what's
the difference?

You're here. We're here.

- Welcome.
- Oh, thank you!

Oh, Elyse,
you're still beautiful.

Mallory, you're more
beautiful than ever.

And Steven, you have
a lovely personality.

How about me?

- ROSEMARY: Oh...
- Huh? Am I still beautiful?

Aunt Rosemary?

Oh, and you must be Nick.

Uh, you must be?

You are definitely Nick.

Now, I'm not saying that
your great-grandma Brenda

didn't like your father;
she did.

It was just that she had
difficulty remembering his name.

She used to call me Phil.

I remember, uh,
even on her deathbed,

she wanted me to know
how happy she was for me

that-that your dad
and I were together.

And she leaned in
and she took my hand

and she looked me
in the eye and said,

"I like that Phil."

We were very close.

- She was a great lady, my mom.
- I know.

Held that family together...
five kids, no husband.

ELYSE: You know,
I think it was

your mom, more than anyone,

who pushed me to break free.

Well, you and her together.

You were always telling me,
"Go for it, Elyse.

You can do it.
Girls can do anything."

Andy.

(clears throat)

You haven't changed
a bit, have you?

Andy and I have
a different opinion

when it comes to
this area, that's all.

Andy, a woman's place is?

In the house.

And?

In the Senate.

Et tu, Andrew?

There's more of them, Alex.

You know, it really was
my mother's idea

that you become an architect.

You know, I think
I remember that day, too.

Oh, goodness, I think
I was nine years old,

and I-I was at Rosemary's house.

I always wanted to be a dancer.

And I was there
and I put on my ballet shoes,

and I'd dance and
I'd dance and I'd dance...

and when I was through,
Grandma Brenda said,

"Why don't you
become an architect?"

(laughing)

And the ballet world has
never fully recovered.

It's great having
Aunt Rosemary here.

I love when she comes to visit.

She always has
the greatest stories.

Yeah, I like hearing about when
you and Mr. Keaton were kids.

You know, stories
about the old days.

I wouldn't call them
"the old days," Nick.

Uh, you know what I mean,

the stories from
a long, long time ago.

I know what you mean.

No, no, I mean stories
from way, way back.

Nick!

Gotcha.

But it is nice, Mom,

that Aunt Rosemary has
those stories from the...

the very recent past,
when you were a teenager.

Rosemary was always
a great storyteller.

You know, the keeper of
the family history, sort of.

She'd write letters
to everybody,

keeping everyone
in touch and up to date.

It's nice, you know?

ROSEMARY (in distance):
Oh, thank you.

Oh, that's a terrific g*ng
you have, Elyse...

Alex, the girls, Andrew... Phil.

Thank you.

Well, listen, I think
I'm going to go back in.

I brought an old scrapbook

especially for the girls to see.

Oh, good.

And there's a-a story

I'm just dying to tell the kids,

about my mom and
how it was her idea

that you become an architect.

What?

Well, don't you remember?

You were about nine,
and you were at our house,

and you put
on your ballet shoes,

and you danced and you danced
and you danced and you danced.

And then my mother just looked
at you and said,

"Why don't you become
an architect?"

I-I-I guess I forgot.

Shame on you.

I want to hear more
about Great-Grandma Brenda.

She sounds like a terrific lady.

She was.

- Is that her, there?
- Yes!

She looked a lot
like you, Mallory.

Long dark hair and hazel eyes...
very, very pretty.

Well, of course
the Donnelly women

have always been known
for their beauty.

They kept it no matter
whom they married.

Yeah, Phil.

Uh, go-go on, Rosemary.

The legend of the Donnelly women

goes back well
into the th century,

starting with the days
of the handsome Nora Corrigan.

(inhales) Ooh...

Who was Nora Corrigan?

She was your great-great-
great-great grandmother.

(whispering):
I love this story.

It was the year .

A black cloud hung over Ireland

in the form of
brutal English rule.

It was written that,
from this day forward,

no Irish man or woman

could own land worth more
than five pounds sterling.

You know, the pound closed
at $ . today,

so depending
on when you tell this story,

- that-that could be...
- Alex!

Sorry. Go on.

Well, the handsome
Nora Corrigan...

for that's how she was known...

had recently been widowed.

She had a boy ten years of age,
and the wicked Lord Calvert

had just given her hours
to get off her land.

This was a Dynasty episode.

There was but one way out:

Marry an English officer...

(gasps) Right!

...and give the title to him,

with the hope that one day

he would pass the title
back to her.

(scoffs)

With no time for courting,

and the sun sinking slowly
in the west,

she made up her handsome mind.

Dressed in her
most beautiful of gowns,

her long hair flowing
in the breeze,

her boot steps echoing
on the cobblestones,

she strode toward the tavern

where the English soldiers
were known to congregate.

I'm scared.

"Who among you here," she said,

"Who among you here..."

Uh...

"Who among,
who among you here," uh...

"Who among you here is man
enough to marry..."

I know the damn story!

Don't you think I know it?

I told it to you for years!

Sorry.

So she-she went into the town,

and she s...

said to the men, uh,
"Who-who among..."

(mouthing)

I forget things...

very easily, these days.

I don't remember well at all,
and-and I have no...

idea at all how I got here...
to your house.

Well, Beverly said no one knew
her mom was coming here.

Rosemary apparently missed
a lunch date with her

and then never showed up
for work.

Well, that explains why Mallory
didn't remember the phone call.

There obviously wasn't
any phone call.

Evidently, this isn't
the first incident

of erratic behavior, either.
There've been others.

Excuse me, Mrs. Keaton, but
isn't this type of forgetfulness

a common sign of old age?

Why are you asking me?

Uh, well, I don't know.

You were the last one to talk,
so I asked you.

I mean, I don't think you're
an expert on aging...

or even aging yourself,
in any way, you know.

In fact...

in fact, I find you younger
today than yesterday.

But not as young as tomorrow.

There can be a certain amount
of forgetfulness

associated with aging.

I'm told.

But... but this seems so much
more serious, you know?

More peculiar... I...

Something happening to my mind.

Something that would cause this
fine machine to slow down.

That's...
that's my greatest fear.

Mine, too.

Worried about your mind
slowing down, Mal?

Yes.

(sighs)

How would you know?

- ELYSE: Hi. - Hi.
- ALEX: Hi.

I'm-I'm sorry for the way I
acted... for that outburst.

I really don't know
what came over me.

Please, please, don't apologize.

That's the last thing that
should be on your mind.

When I say...

"on your mind," I mean, uh...

(loudly): Would you like
anything, Aunt Rosemary?

Something to drink?

Maybe some wa-ter?

(laughs)

Mallory.

Sorry. (quiet laugh)

What is going on?

Oh, I don't know.

It started about six months ago,
seven months ago.

Things would happen, odd things.

I would forget to pay the bills

and the phone would be
turned off.

(gasps)

I'm sorry...
just the thought of that.

Then I would look
in the refrigerator,

there'd be no food.

I was sure I'd gone shopping
and I hadn't.

And then I'd... I'd start
to blank out on things.

Places, dates, names...

Uh, for instance, right now,
I'm looking at you and-and...

I can't recall your name.

All I see is this
huge dollar sign.

That's okay with me.

And then things I'd used
all my life, little things,

I-I-I suddenly couldn't remember
what they were called.

Uh, like, um...

- ALEX: Uh, that's a fork.
- STEVEN: Kn*fe.

- MALLORY: Napkin.
- ROSEMARY: Yes.

Exactly.

And then, the other day,
I drove to the library.

Books.

Now, it's two miles
from my house to the library.

I've driven it for years.

And on the way back,
I-I couldn't find my way home.

(laughs)

I need help.

Hi, I'm Dr. Williamson.

Uh, sorry to keep you waiting.

Let's see, you must be
Elyse, right?

Yes, I'm Rosemary's niece.

Hello.

And you're Phil.

Well, uh, actually, um...

- Phil Keaton.
- Oh.

Let's see, there are some things
we really should discuss now.

If you'd like us to go, we...

Oh, no, I'd like you
to stay, really.

So, um, what is it?

What's going on?

What's happening to me?

I'm afraid what's happening...

isn't very encouraging.

DR. WILLIAMSON:
Uh...

the tests aren't all in yet.

It-it could be
a number of things.

But based on your symptoms,

and the information
we already do have

from your hometown doctor,

there's a very real possibility
that it's Alzheimer's disease.

Oh, no, I...

Alzheimer's?

A little forgetfulness does not
have to be Alzheimer's.

I mean, I'm perfectly fine,
most of the time.

I don't understand.

Well, early stages can be
characterized

by periods
of apparent stability.

Unfortunately, if it follows the
normal path of Alzheimer's...

I-I don't mean to be cruel here.

What are we talking
about here, Doctor?

How... how long, how fast?

It's difficult to say exactly.

We've already experienced
some disorientation.

Rosemary, you didn't remember

who the President
of the United States was.

I know Ronald Reagan
is President.

I just can't accept it.

Look, if-if this is Alzheimer's,

then... then what do we do?

How do we fight it...
how do we stop it?

I'm afraid there's very little
that we can do.

Uh, some patients respond
to some medication.

We will be able to alleviate
your anxiety a little.

Work is being done, research,

but right now,
there's no known cure.

Well, Aunt Rosemary's
bags are all packed.

Dad's up there with her now.

Good. Thanks, honey.

I don't know, Mom,
this... it's...

it just doesn't feel right
to just let her go like this.

We have no choice.

We-we have
to respect her wishes.

Mom, I'm worried
about her traveling by herself.

Maybe Nick and I
should go with her.

Well, that'll be good.

The three of you
will wind up in China.

Just about time.

Oh, yeah, Dad,
let me take these here.

Oh, thanks.

You gonna be all right?

I've been reading
about this disease.

This Alzheimer's.

It is cruel, honey.

It-it is so bitter.

It just robs you
of your dignity,

your humanity,
your-your personality...

Elyse...

you have to find a way
to deal with this.

A way to get through it.

Not just for yourself,
but for Rosemary.

I know.

We're out here.

Um, before I forget...

I'm thirsty.

Alex said your travel plans
are confirmed.

Yes, he took care of it.

He's quite an organized
little guy, isn't he?

It's an area of interest.

He also saved me money.

That's one of his special areas
of interest... saving money.

He's a good boy, Elyse.

You should be proud.

I am.

They're all good.

And they all have a lot of you
in them; maybe that's why.

(quietly):
Yeah.

ROSEMARY:
Oh, now.

Don't do that;
it won't make things any easier.

Besides, it's too early.

There's time enough for that,
from what I hear.

I'm sorry, I-I really
just can't...

can't accept it.

Well, I've thought of some
good things about it, anyway.

What?

Well, from now on, I'll be able

to do or say anything
I damn please.

(Elyse laughs)

People won't know whether
it's me or the Alzheimer's.

You always said anything
you wanted to, anyway.

(Rosemary chuckles)

And I won't have to worry
about who my real friends are.

This will be a time
of weeding out

those who love me
just for my looks.

I love these pictures.

There's your mom, you, me.

(laughs) There's Alex as a baby,
hugging his first savings bond.

There's you and me.

Oh, that's my favorite picture.

Thank you.

This is my whole life
right here.

My mother, my father...

my grandparents, my children...

all of you...

all the people
I've known and loved.

It's hard to believe that...

one day they'll just be pictures

of people
I don't recognize anymore.

(anxious laugh)

I can't...

I can't help feeling
that I-I should do something.

That-that we should
keep you here,

that if I just
held you tight enough,

I could stop this thing
from happening.

Want to try it?

Can't hurt.

I want you to take over.

I want you to keep
the family members intact.

I want you to keep
the old stories alive.

I really don't think
I'm the right one for that.

Oh, yes.

I want you to tell your
grandchildren about us.

I want you to tell them
about my mom.

It's important... they should
know where they come from.

Rosemary, I...

Keep the old stories going.

Tell them about Nora Corrigan.

Do you remember?

Oh, I remember.

Then... tell them about her.

Tell me about her right now.

The year was .

A black cloud hung over Ireland

in the form
of a brutal English rule.

It was written that
no Irish man or woman

could own property worth more
than five pounds sterling.

Now, the handsome
Nora Corrigan...

BOTH: For that's
how she was known...

...had-had a boy
ten years of age

and she's recently been widowed,
and the wicked Lord...

...Calvert.

...Calvert had
given her hours

to get off of her land.

There was but one way out.

Marry a British officer
and pass the title over to him,

in hopes that he would, one day,
pass the title back to her.

With no time for courting,

and the sun

sinking in the west,
she made up her handsome mind.

Dressed in
her most beautiful of gowns,

her long hair flowing
in the breeze,

her boot steps echoing
on the cobblestones,

she strolled towards the tavern

where the English officers
were known to congregate.

"Who among you," she cried out,

"is man enough
to marry me tonight?"

Silence filled the smoky room.

No one moved.

And then, a young officer,
at least ten years her junior,

stood up on the other corner
of the hall and said,

"I will marry you."

And she stretched out
her handsome arm

to the younger man,

and he took it in his own.

And they walked out together
into the night.

Into the village.

Into history.

And that, of course,

was your great-great-great-great
grandfather Devon.

MAN:
Sit, Ubu, sit. Good dog.

(Ubu barks)