Love Is Strange (1999)

[bunniefuu]

(DEAN SPEAKING
IN THE DISTANCE)

(KATHRYN GIGGLING)

KATHRYN: We're gonna sink!

TOM: Could you move?

DEAN: ...strive to ensure
the blessings

of the law to our society.

Today, you join them
in their task.

You have learned the law.

Where is she?

DEAN: But what must
sustain you now,

is the moral code
from which it
springs.

(ALL APPLAUDING)

KATHRYN: (WHISPERING)
Oh, my God! Look!

Oh, my God,
they finished!

(BOTH MUMBLING)

DEAN: Brian Adams.

TOM: Thanks, it was
good for me, too.

-Quiet, or they'll see us.
(KATHRYN EXCLAIMS)

KATHRYN: Don't splash me!
TOM: I'm doing
the best I can!

KATHRYN: My mother
is gonna k*ll me
if I miss this thing.

(SIGHS)

How could
she do this to me?

Oh! There she is.
There she is!

Almost, almost! Ah!

(YELPS)

KATHRYN: Your hat!
Your hat! Your hat!

(BOTH SCREAM)

(GASPS) Don't fall in!
Don't...

(WHISPERS) Get your shoe!

This is so embarrassing.

Nobody's looking
at you, dear.

DEAN: James Seller.

Jay Circa.

PRIEST: Do you,
Thomas Ainsworth,
take Kathryn McClain

to be your
lawfully wedded wife...
(SOBBING)

To hold and to cherish

in sickness and in health,
until death do you part?

Yeah, I...
Yeah, I guess so.

(SOBS)

I, I just don't, you know,
I don't want to back her
into a corner...

(SOBBING CONTINUES)

Look, Kat,
I want to marry you

but it doesn't feel right
if it's forced.

I never didn't want to,
and why wouldn't I want to
less now?

Huh?

That was a little
less than clear.

Look, Kat, I love you,
I'll do my part...
Unless you've decided that...

You...

I love you, too.

I absolutely want to.

I do.

It's his turn.

It's your turn.

Oh, yeah, I do, too.

Notch me, Daddy,
notch me.
(DOORBELL RINGS)

Just a minute, Mother.

Tom?

Hold on, honey,
Mom will get it.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Okay, darling.

Stand up straight.
Stand up straight, honey.

That's it, perfect.

I got it. Now go open
the door for Mamaw,
and Mom will write the date.

Go on, honey.

(RINGING CONTINUES)

Tom, you need to get
your stuff out of there.

Mom has to set up
for Mikey's party.

Hey there,
little birthday boy.

Ooh!

How does it feel
to be four?

Big.
Oh. (CHUCKLES)

KATHRYN: I'll be done
with these depositions
and back here by five.

Did you pick up
the C-A-K-E?

Cake, Mommy?
(LAUGHING) Oh, cute.

Tom? Tom?

Mmm. What?

Did you get the cake?

Ugh!

(EXHALES)

Honey, I'm trying to keep
these kids out of jail,
they're counting on me.

Maybe Mikey should
get himself arrested.

I'm going to be
back really soon

and we're going to have
a great party, okay?

Okay. See you soon!

Let's get ready for
your birthday party.

(KNOCKING)

It's open.

I don't know why
I ever bother
to give you a day off.

Hi, Benjamin.
Remember Daryl Cook?

You defended him.

Convenience store,
threatened the clerk
with a jar of acid.

Which turned out
to be apple juice.

Well, he used
a g*n this time.

He's been bounced
out of juvy into adult.

Biggest idiot craze since
the hula-hoop.

Well, what do you
want me to work on,
Mincey or the kid?

I want you to argue it.
It's already on the calendar.

Okay. Whose court is it?

Marion Hopkins.

I can handle that.

Oh, come on Marion.

Since when did Morris
ever invite you to anything
more than lunch?

After a few months,
things move along.

You'd know that if
you ever dated anyone
more than twice.

Well, what kind of date
can you possibly have
on a Monday morning?

He's taking me to his cabin.

Cabin? That's not a date,
that's a proposal.

Well, I don't want to have him
drive me back
on Sunday night.

Well then,
take two cars.

Oh, come on, Kathryn.

I know your calendar's
clear on Monday, I checked.

Look, I'm having
Thanksgiving
at your mother's.

That's got to be
worth something.

I mean,
one case, Kathryn!

KATHRYN: Are you sure
it was 11?

SYLVIA: Of course I'm sure.

Eleven was the perfect fit,
I measured it.

KATHRYN: But did you
count the bushes
when you put them in?

Because the nursery
could have miscounted them.

Florence planted a single
azalea at the end of her
driveway the next day!

Mother, you know as well
as I do you can't
swing a cat in this city

without hitting an azalea.

All I know is I had 11,
now I have 10.

And she has one.
Well, did you say
something to her?

I can't accuse
the minister's wife
of stealing.

We could go get it back.

Don't encourage her.

SYLVIA: Dinner is served now.

It will be absolutely
ruined cold.

What's with all the tags?

She started doing that
when Dad died.

She started putting
tags on everything,

telling who was
going to get what.

I call it the museum
of the soon to be dead.

(LAUGHING) You've got
to be kidding.

You'll thank me
when the time comes

and there'll be no tough
decisions to make.

Whenever I give her
a Christmas present,

I wonder if I should
tag it twice.

Who's Charlotte?

A second cousin
once removed.

Beautiful decanter.

Damn.

There you go, Daryl.

Happy Thanksgiving.

So, who's Mikey?

Who?
The notches?

Oh.

Um...

Michael. He's my son.

Where's he at?

I don't know.

(DOG BARKING)

Michael, I can...
I can wait in the car.

Good afternoon, Mr. Otto.

What?

I just don't see any point
in rocking the boat.

You're such a coward.

Otto! I have guests!

Oh, I'm going to take
my hedge clipper

to that little overactive
piece of vegetation

if you don't shut him up!

Happy Thanksgiving, Sylvia!

(SIGHS)

Oh.

Mikey!
Mamaw.

Oh! I thought you'd
dropped off the planet.

Oh, never mind.

You're just in time,
there's plenty of turkey.

Oh, it's so good
to see you.

I see
you've brought a stray.
We should have called.

Oh, I always take in strays
for the holidays, you know,

there but for the grace
of God.

Michael.
Hey, Mom.

Mamaw didn't tell me
you were coming.

Yeah, well,
it was impulse.

Hi, Mrs. Ainsworth.

Name's McClain.

She uses her maiden name,
isn't that retro?

I'm sorry.
Mother, this is Bruce.

Bruce, Mother.
Hello, Mother McClain.

It's nice to finally
meet you, Bruce.

Make room, make room.

Well...

All rise, the Honorable Judge
Kathryn McClain presiding.

(DOOR SLAMS)

(WHISPERING) Marion,
I'm going to k*ll you.

You may be seated.

Case on call,
Estate vs. Daryl Cook.

Prosecution,
are you ready?
Yes, Your Honor.

Defense, you ready?
Yes, but I have a motion.

What's the motion?

Move to dismiss.

Grounds?

My client is a juvenile
and it's a direct violation of
his constitutional rights

to be tried in an adult
court where his identity
is known to the public.

Council, I think
you know that
as a juvenile,

your client has no such
constitutional rights.

I suggest you move on to
something more relevant.

With all due respect,
Your Honor,

I really shouldn't need
an opening argument

for a case that
shouldn't be in this court.

Nevertheless,
I suggest you find one

because in two seconds,
the prosecution
will have the floor.

Your Honor, may I
approach the bench?
No.

Your Honor, I...
(GAVEL THUDS)

This court is adjourned for
15 minutes.

Council,
in my chambers, please.

You should stay in
juvenile court, Tom,

you have so much
in common with your clients.
Oh, really?

I see what you mean.
Patronized, marginalized,
ignored by the system.

Have I left anything out?

Look, why would you
bring this hopeless case
into my court?

I thought it was Marion's.

It was scheduled...
Get continuance,
massage your calendar.

Unless, of course, you wanted
to argue in front of me.
I don't know.

Maybe try to take advantage
of some personal
relationship which,

by the way,
hasn't existed in
over a decade.

That would be...

I don't suppose
it would cross your mind
that I wanted to be here

because I respect you
as a judge.

I don't think that...
What is it about this kid
that has you so worked up?

Somebody's got to
cover the fringes.

Not all of us can be at
the center of the universe.

It's already
too damn crowded.
Your Honor!

BOTH: What?

The people would
understand a continuance

if you'd like to
recuse yourself.

I mean...

Is there a bathroom?

Kathryn...

(DOOR OPENS)

This kids has had
a nightmare life.

Sell the jury on the merits,

but leave out the
constitutional acrobatics.
All right.

I keep forgetting
how damn inconvenient
you find the constitution.

Oh, God,
this is so typical.

Yeah, well,
this is so typical of you.

(KNOCKING)
Uh, Your Honor?

Come in.

Listen, catch Judge McClain
before she leaves
and give that to her.

Hey, everybody.
Hey.

Hey.

Well, Marion, I hope
your weekend was worth it
because you are dead.

Haven't you guys ever
run into each other before?

It's not that big a town.

You must still have
some friends in common.

Are you kidding?
Divorce is like
cell division.

First the nucleus splits
and then all those
chromosomes thingies

swim off to one side
or the other. It's science.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Excuse me, I was asked
to give this to you.

I bet it's from
Daniel Klein.

Poor boy has no idea what
he's getting himself into.

You're just jealous
because I made the list
for court of appeal.

Don't try and
change the subject.

Since when was Tom a subject?

I thought I was talking
about Daniel.

Come on, open it.
Get a life, you guys.

Why? We've got yours.

Oh! Oh, hello!

If you don't sleep
with him, honey,

you could certainly
sleep with this.

Give me that, you sl*t.
Speaking of which,
Morris is very lonely.

Morris is a troll.
(ALL LAUGHING)

So, uh, the cabin.
Oh, don't.

(ALL LAUGHING)

You know, it's not that
I was nervous about it,

I just couldn't figure out
how we'd get past
the work situation.

Because no matter
how we feel,

you still have to put that
robe on every day.

It's the robe, isn't it?
I knew it was the robe.

Do you keep one here?

Please tell me
you're not kinky

because I've got so far to go
before I get to kinky.

Can I kiss you?

Mmm. Sure.

(GASPS)

What?

What?

Sorry. I'm sorry.

That's okay.
I hope you didn't think
I was being too forward.

No, I didn't think,
no, not at all.

Because I don't
want you to think
I'm just...

No, I don't think that.

I could help you
clean up the kitchen.
I...

Do you want me to
clean up the kitchen?
No, the...

Actually that, I,
that was ordered in.

Really? Oh.
Yes.

I should go.
It's okay, you don't
have to go.

I know. I just,
I think we should
try this tomorrow.

We could try it tomorrow.
Yeah.

Is it too soon?
No, no, no.

Okay.

Call me?
Yeah.

(GRUNTS)

So, Irish,

just which part of
my total remission
wasn't total?

Kathryn, cancer is
a vicious disease,

and it doesn't usually
play fair.

Oh, not fair.
Well, my my.

I guess it's time
for the gloves
to come off, hmm?

So...

What do we do now?

We start again?

Listen, another round
of the same sequence
will do absolutely no good.

What then?

There's a research
hospital in Houston.

Cutting edge young Turks
with all the new drugs.

Big clinical tests
with promising results,
all that.

Tests?

Doesn't that mean
I could get a placebo?

Do you know
these doctors?

Yes.

They're every bit as good
as they think they are.

Hmm.
Sounds like a nightmare.

Nothing you can't handle.

It's Daniel, isn't it?
(CHUCKLES)

How did he get to be
so serious?

Oh, come on, why do you
have to be so secretive.

Can't you at least tell me
where you're going?

Cruise? Mountains?

Both.

Daryl Cook, he's 16.

The facts were tried,
the sentencing guidelines
are as clear as a bell.

No, they're not,
they're rigid.

And the boy
has a good lawyer,
he'll appeal.

Anything special you
want me to say to Tom
when I deliver this?

Well, you'll think
of something.

So my mother calls me,
says can you feed the cats
for five days.

I cancel my cases,
go to Texas

and she waits till
I'm knee deep in
choice cuts and cheese bits

to mention that there's
a little cancer thing...
What?

...she needs
to take care of.

How did that get in there?
They hate that stuff.

What am I supposed
to say to that, huh?

Oh, cancer.
Wet food or dry food?

Michael, can you make sure
you change the litter because
I don't care what they say,

if you scoop, the whole place
is going to smell like a barn
by the time I get back.

I'm just curious, Mom.

If the chemo had worked
and you didn't
need a cat-sitter,

would you have even
mentioned it to me?

There was no need
to worry anybody.

Are my vitamins there?

Please.
What else do I live for?

Mamaw, it's her career.

Michael, I know
it's a lot to ask,

but do you think
you could come by
twice a day

because Archibald
gets bloated if he eats
too much at once,

and Mehitabel...

You did tell her?

My God.
Don't I feel special.

I know and Mamaw doesn't?

What am I supposed
to do with that?

Feed the cats.

Great.

If you die,
can I mention it to her?

(LAUGHING) Michael.

Come on, don't get
so dramatic on me.

Anyway, what would be
so scary about
going to heaven?

Besides the fact that
you don't believe in it?

I am not going to die.

Dr. Hurley, he's going
to make sure that
I don't get the placebo.

Besides,
disease is a state of mind

and any mind
can be changed.

I just haven't found
the right argument yet.

Think I can
get a retrial based on
her hating your guts?

Just the first step, Daryl.
We have to work our way
up the ladder.

Marion, what happened,
where's Kathryn?

You don't want to know.

Yes, I do want to know.
Why wasn't she here
for the verdict?

Sarah, when is
Judge McClain
back in court?

She's cleared her calendar
for the rest of the week.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Michael.

(CAT MEOWS)

It's good to see you.

I need to talk
to your mother.
She's not home.

When will she be back?
I'm not her secretary.

Michael.

This is important.

Do you mind if I wait?

Did somebody say martinis?

She's not going
to be back for three days,
you can wait by the pool.

Look...
There's a pool?

Your mother is carrying
half a pharmacy
in her handbag.

She has never missed
a day in court

and now all of a sudden
she's cleared her calendar
for a week.

Please, I want to know
what's going on.

Don't let the cat out.

I'm Tom.

I'm Bruce,
it's nice to meet you.

It's nice to meet you, too.

I, uh, understand
she throws up a lot.

Wonder if the Astros are
gonna sign the pitcher
from Cuba.

What are the papers
saying about it in Houston?

I wouldn't know.
I put my money
on the Jets.

Well, that's football
and that's New York.

Football, baseball.

The shapes may be different
but they're still just ba*ls.

Kathryn!
What? Oh!

Who's he, your florist?

Oh, Tom, what are
you doing here?

I thought you might
want some help.

Who gave you that idea?

Oh, I think
his name was Bruce,
as in Michael's Bruce.

Go away, Tom.

Kat, why didn't you
tell me you were sick?

Because it's none
of your business.

But it's his business?

It's none of your business
whose business it is.

Don't you have
a plane to catch?
Mmm-hmm.

To your funeral.

Nobody knows,
including you.

I have a career
to protect.

Besides,
it'll all be over soon.

And the worst problem
I should have is explaining
a ridiculously short hairdo.

Hey, sweetheart!

Mmm!

How was D.C.?

Dismal without you.

Daniel,
have you met my hu...

Have you met
Tom Ainsworth?

No, haven't had
the pleasure, Tom.
Thanks.

Well, got to get our little
traveler back home for
a hot tub and a back rub.

We'll see you later.

WOMAN: (ON PA)
Ladies and gentleman,
we are overbooked.

Flight 282 to Toronto...

Wow.

Was that for me?

(CAT MEOWING)
Oh, look at you.

Oh, sweetie pie, ooh.

Want a little milk?
Wouldn't that be nice?

Yes, a little drink of milk.

That'll be good, won't it?

Yeah, that'll...

That'll taste good.

Here we go.

Mmm.

Mother?
(GASPS) You scared me.

I scared you?

Uh, Michael, uh...

Michael asked me
to feed them today.

He couldn't have.
He knew I was
coming back today.

Well, I couldn't
possibly have known that

since I didn't know
you'd even left.

What?

Lord, you must have had
an awful flight.

Mother...

You can't stay,
we'll talk tomorrow.

You've got this on backwards.

Tomorrow, Mother.

(WHISPERS) Kathryn.

How could you in the
middle of the afternoon?

Haven't you got
something to tag?

I don't believe we've met.

Goodbye, Mother.

I'm sure she means well.

(DOOR OPENS)

(LAUGHING)
You poor, sweet man.

(DOOR CLOSES)

That was so scary!
(LAUGHING)

Ladies and gentleman,
there are no easy cases.

And when you get
right down to it,

life itself is pretty
complicated, isn't it?

And another thing
you need to remember,

there's a difference
between facts and the truth.

You see, with the truth,
it requires complex elements,
such as context and intent.

(RETCHING)
We're here, therefore, not to
simply ascertain the facts,

but to judge the truth.

(PANTING)

(WATER FLOWING)

What kind of flu makes you
throw up like that?

Must have been
something you ate.

Did you eat
on the airplane?

(SCOFFS)
You know what I say
about airline food.

It's cafeteria food
the cafeteria couldn't sell.

If I was holding my breath,

you'd probably just sit there
until I turned blue and died.

Let's try it and find out.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Now you stay right there,
I'll get it.

(DOOR OPENS)

DANIEL: Hi, I heard
she was sick.
SYLVIA: Hello. Yes.

DANIEL: I have
these flowers for her.

SYLVIA: I can tell her
you stopped by.

If I could just
see her for a minute.
She has the flu.

DANIEL: Oh, come now,
I'm sure she'll want to
see me.

Katherine, honey,
it's Mr. Klein.

Hey, I heard
you have the flu.

Yes, she does and it's
extremely contagious.

I'll find a vase.

So why don't you, uh,
tell me where it hurts

and I'll kiss it
and make it feel better?

She might be right,
I could be contagious.

There must be
something I can do.

Well, you could take my mother
on a cruise around the world.
(DOORBELL RINGS)

SYLVIA:
You can't go in there.

Come back here
right this minute.

TOM: Oh, and I'm sure
you got an engraved
invitation, huh?

(BOTH BICKERING)

Katherine, I...

Great.
Tom, what are you
doing here?

I, uh, I need
to talk to you.

Tom, please.
SYLVIA: I told him.

Didn't I tell you
she doesn't want any
company right now?

I'm not company.
Kathryn, I'll just go.

No, please, please don't.

Well, I just brought
these things for you,

I'd like you to try them.
Oh, you did
and they're lovely.

Thank you. Bye.

Sylvia, don't you have
something to tag.

Don't you have
an ambulance to chase?

Doesn't anyone have
anywhere else
they have to be?

I'll check
on the flowers.
Okay.

Oh, brilliant.

I talked to an herbalist
in Chinatown.

He wants to see you
right away.

I made an appointment
for you tomorrow morning.

What nonsense.

She'll do nothing
of the kind. She's fine.

No, Sylvia, she's not fine.

Three days in bed,
she'll be back on her feet.

Sylvia, she went to Houston
for treatments.

That's where they send you
when they've run out of ideas.

You don't go to Houston
for the flu.

Mehitable called,
said there was some
kind of convention.

Well...

We have a quorum.

Happy day.

What kind of treatments,
Kathryn?

Please tell me
you have an ulcer.

Tell me you have a bad back.

What is it, Kathryn?

Chemotherapy?

Kat, I'm sorry, I...

You told Tom?

No, I didn't.

Michael, did you know?

(WHISPERING) How dare you.

How dare you not tell me!

Oh, God.

This is going to k*ll me.

This will k*ll me.

Oh, no. No, you do not.

You do not make my crisis
your personal agony.

Oh, God, did you hear that?

She just acknowledged
that I might have some
feelings about this.

No, Mother, I know that
you have feelings.

There isn't a mammal in
the northern hemisphere

that isn't personally
acquainted with your feelings.

Sylvia, why don't...
Why don't you just
give us a moment?

Oh, my God,
I'm so sick of both of you.

The world's greatest experts
on my life.

Well, I have news for you
and here it is.

This is my disease,
do you see?

And I'm going to handle it
the way I want to.

If I want to puke my brains
out between verdicts,
I'm going to do that.

If I want to beat drums
and howl at the moon,
you cannot stop me.

This is my disease
and I'm going to do it my way.

Judge has ruled.

That's right. Now, you are
going to take your grandmother
to the courthouse

to pick up her car.

I'll come back
in the morning.

No, Mother, you will not
come back in the morning.

Go, and please take
Daniel with you.

(DOOR OPENS)

I didn't mean to do that.

You always mean what you do.

Go.

(ENGINE STARTING)

Why don't you give me
a call after you take your
grandmother home?

No, you call me.

I don't have your number.

That could be a problem.

Kathryn.

I missed you
at choir practice.

Listen, I heard
about your...

If you want to talk...

I'm perfectly fine,
but thank you.

I went through it
with Sidney,

he passed away
last spring.

Sometimes you just
need a friend

to sit and
listen to you complain
about how unfair life is.

Well, I never thought
it was anything else.

(KNOCKING)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

I didn't even know
you were wearing a wig.

I know this isn't the place,
but we need to talk.

No, we don't.

Kathryn.

Marion.

I want to help,
what can I do?

Do you really
want to help?
Of course.

Then shut up about it.
Go away.

Nothing is happening,
nothing out of the ordinary.

It's a tiny blip
on the radar screen
that will soon be gone.

Oh, this is
so typical of you.

Good.

I want to be typical of me.

(TIRES SCREECH)

(HORN HONKING)

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)
(HORNS HONKING)

MAN: Lady!

WOMAN: Move your car!

Katherine.

What are you doing here?

It's business, really.

Oh.

Well...

Yeah, believe me,
you are not going to miss it.

Yeah.

Take it to Tuddle Automotive
on Habergham.

Mmm-hmm, that's the one.

I don't know.
It just, it stopped.

No, I know they don't,
but this one did.

I don't know what she did.

She took a chainsaw
to the drive frame,
what do you think?

It was a joke.

Well, it wasn't meant
to be funny.

Actually, it was meant
to make you feel stupid,

but I realize now
I didn't have to try so hard.

Okay, thanks.

Thanks.

(KATHRYN LAUGHING)

There you are.
I've been looking
everywhere for you.

I have some news.
Hmm.

I made the short list,
court of appeals.

Oh, that's great.

I, uh, guess this calls
for a celebration.

I am excited, I really am.

I'm sorry, Marion.

You don't know
how many times
I almost told you.

I was just upset because
you did such a damn good
job of fooling me.

But, you know, it's all
really completely up to you.

Thanks.

It's for you.

(SIGHS)

Congratulations.

I really am proud of you.

I really want
that job, Marion,

I know I'd be good at it.

KATHRYN: No, it needs to be
a transitional piece.

The length my hair will be
in about six months.

BRUCE: Well, this one's
very in. Not too in.

Mmm-mmm, too Hillary.

What about this one?
Ah!

It would look like I was
wearing a football helmet
in that.

That could be an advantage,
especially in your family.

Oh, my God, Michael,
look at this.
This looks like Jamie.

It is Jamie.
This is the wig he
wears in his show.

Why don't you just keep
the ones you got?

They look like
your real hair.

Honey, they're not like
my real hair now.

Right. It's uh...

Shorter.

Did we put money
in the meter?

(DOOR OPENS)

Isn't that Michael?

I'll, uh, I'll catch up
with you later.
Okay. Bye.

Michael.

Your mother's car will be
ready tomorrow, you need
to take her down there.

And mention my name.
Tuddle gives me
a break on the parts.

You got a quarter?

You need anything?

Oh, I get it.

Trying to be dad right now.

Excuse me, I...
I didn't recognize it.

You know what?

I am not the cause of every
single problem in your life.

No. No, you're right.

You gave me
everything a boy could expect
from one weekend a month

KATHRYN: All right?
I'm all right.

Put it over there.
I'm going to let it go now.

Okay, I got it.

Got it?
Uh-huh.

Not too bad.

What's wrong?

(GASPS) Oh, my God!

(LAUGHS)

Oh, my God,
look at me.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, my God,

(CHUCKLES)

I'm sorry.

It must be really weird.

No, no, I...

(MUMBLES INCOHERENTLY)

You look great.

Uh, where are those lights?

Actually, you know...

Actually, I think
I'd rather not.

Well, if you're tired,
I can do it,
you can just direct me.

No, you've been a really
big help, but I think
you should probably go.

That's okay,
so I'll call you tomorrow,
see you at work.

I don't think so, no.

Oh.

Kathryn.

I can do this if you let me.

I want to be here for you.

I thought about it a lot,
and I never brought it up
because...

I know.

This doesn't fit anymore.

I'm sorry.

(CAT MEOWS)

Oh, Mother, you weren't
supposed to open that.

Why can't you wait
until Christmas?

You never have
anything to open.

You just sit there
like a bump on the log

while everybody else
opens their presents.

It's not any fun!

I'll decide
what's fun for me.

Thank you very much.

Here.

Wait a minute.

I gave you this.

You can't give it
back to me.

(CHUCKLES) Swap with
your cousin Charlotte, then.

You know, I thought maybe
if you wanted, you could,
uh, invite that, um...

Your afternoon gentleman?

I thought
maybe we could just keep it
to family this year, Mother.

You mean you and me
and Michael?

I was thinking
we might ask Tom.

(DOG BARKING)

Over my dead body.

Oh, the dog.
Oh, that dog!

It's what I really want, Mom.

(BARKING CONTINUES)

Well...

(COUGHS)

(DIALING)

(TONE RINGING)

You've reached
Dr. Hurley's office.

Our regular
office hours...
(PHONE BEEPS)

(MUMBLES)

(DIALING)

(TONE RINGING)

Hi, you reached
Tom Ainsworth.

Please leave a message
at the beep.
(PHONE BEEPS)

It's me, Kat.

Are you there?

I'm really just calling to
say merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Bye.

(PHONE BEEPS)

(PHONE RINGING)

Tom!
No, it's Marion.

Are you okay?

Are you expecting Tom?

Yes, it's nothing.
He's just badgering me
about that case.

Oh, okay.

Um, listen,
you gonna be there?
Can I come over?

Sure.
I'll be right there.

Okay.

(KNOCKING)

Are you allowed?

What's wrong?

Who said anything
was wrong?

Champagne is for
celebrating.

That stuff,
if I remember correctly
is for forgetting.

You're off the short list.

They found out
about the cancer.

Wish I could say
I was surprised.

It's gotta be against the law.

Oh, what's the law
got to do with anything?

Would have been nice
to be able to turn them down,

but it doesn't
really matter now.

It wasn't gonna
happen anyway.

Oh, Kathryn,
you're scaring me.

I love you.
Oh.

I have to protect my time
for other things.

I can't keep trying
to do it all.

Do you understand me?

I have to give up
the bench.
No!

Yes.

Well, what can I do?

You're already doing it.

I, uh, I heard about
the court of appeals.

I'm sorry.
Me too.

I thought you might
want to have these.

Whoa.

Is this the same bag?
Just hold on underneath.

It hasn't disintegrated?
No.

You know you're gonna
outlive them all, don't you?

If they had
a fraction of your courage,

they would do the right thing
and put you on that bench.

What's the point?

The point is
you're going to fight this.
(LAUGHS)

That's a brilliant idea.

We'll fight it,
we'll take it to court!

We'll make them
give me my hair back,

we'll sue my cancer cells
for non-support.

Tom, listen to me.

My hair is gone,

I have cancer in my body
that won't go away.

There's nothing
you can do
to change that.

I don't know what to say.

Don't say anything
unless you have the answer.

(CREAKING)

Remember the day
on the boat?

Why, we did some
crazy things back then.

It was a beautiful day.

I guess there's just
no following an act like that.

You are so beautiful.

(CHOIR VOCALIZES)

* Oh, holy night

* The stars are
brightly shining

* It is the night of our
dear Savior's birth

* Long lay the world

* In sin and error pining

* Till He appeared

* And the soul
felt its worth

* A thrill of hope

* The weary world rejoices

* For yonder breaks

* A new and glorious morn

* Fall on your knees

* Oh, hear the angel voices

* Oh, night divine

* Oh, night
when Christ was born

* Oh, night divine

* Oh, night

* Oh, night divine

Let me see.

Oh, Michael,
it's beautiful.

Oh, it's beautiful.
SYLVIA: Isn't that sweet?

Merry Christmas.

Thank you, darling,
it's beautiful, really.

Hey, Mamaw,
I've got yours right here.

Oh, Michael, honestly.

(GASPS) For me?

(DOORBELL RINGS)
Whoo.

I thought he had
better sense.

Mother, we talked
about this.

Hi. Sorry I'm late.

Thought you might
not make it.

Merry Christmas, Sylvia.

Well, come on in.

Michael?
Oh, there he is.

I brought my own tags.

I thought you were
a vegetarian.

And?

Well, isn't there
some kind of law
against vegetarians smoking?

Isn't there some kind of law
against ex-fathers coming
to Christmas?

Yeah, it's probably right next
to the one about g*y partners
at Thanksgiving.

I know what
you're trying to do.

I'm not asking you to
do it for me, Michael.

If you want to
work things out with Dad,
that's your business.

Okay, but you have
no right to drag me into
the middle of it.

All I want you to do is try.

Just take one little step
in his direction.

Why? What's it going
to accomplish?

You know,
we've hated each other
for our whole lives...

That's not true.
You don't hate him.

And he has
never hated you!

He said so!

I don't believe that.

He said the thought
of me made him
sick to his stomach.

What?

No, Michael, he might
have felt that way about
something you did,

but he could never
feel that way about you.

What's going on, Mom?

What do you mean?

I mean, what's going on?

What's the rush?

What happened
with Houston?

Houston was an experiment.

When were you
gonna tell me that?

I know, I'm sorry.

You wait until
I'm in a room with Dad...
I'm sorry.

And then you dump that on me?
I wish I could
do this differently.

Do what, Mom?
What are you
trying to do?

Get it out in the open,
the three of us.
No.

No, I am not going to be
a part of that. Okay?

He is trying to take
advantage of you

at the worst time
in your life.

He's trying to help.

He's trying to clear
his conscience.

This has nothing
to do with him.

This isn't about him.

Mom, you're not
making any sense.

Your dad and I...

Your dad and I...

I think we always
believed in the same
things, you know?

I know we did,
I know we did, but...

We never could get there
in the same way.

It wore me out.

I just did not
have his stamina.

When I left,
and you came with me, he...

He became the person
that you hardly ever saw.

So you started to resent him,
that was only natural.

But, Michael,
I saw what was happening.

I saw it and I took
advantage of it.

You were a little kid.

You wanted
a black and white picture
and I gave you one.

You see what I'm saying?

No. No.

All my life
you've been telling me what
a b*stard he is, okay,

you're not just gonna
change your mind now.
Michael.

Leave me alone.
Both of you!

I never said
he made me sick.
I know that.

How could he have
thought that all these years?

I don't know,
you'll have to ask him.

Oh, he won't talk to me
about that, you know that.

I'm sure you'll find a way.

You just never let up, do you?

This is so typical.

Mmm. Yeah, this is
so typical...

Of you.

Come on,
let me buy you a drink.

What are you talking about,
it's Christmas.

Oh, I know a place
that's open.

(SLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

Oh. Where did
you get this wine?

Philippe Million.

What?

You hate that place.

Never. I love that place,
I've always loved that place.

Tom, I tried to get you
to take me there for years.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

I have no recollection
of that, Your Honor.

Actually...

I can't remember
a single thing right now.

You know, maybe you're right.

You never did know
how to give up.

And you obviously
gonna get some place
I'll never see.

Don't be so dramatic.

You haven't died yet.
No, but it sure gives me
leverage in the conversation.

You don't really think
I'm gonna let you
win an argument

just because you have
the big C, do you?

Tom, I didn't get cancer
just so that I could finally
win the argument.

Are you sure?

Mmm.

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

You know when
we're really at our best?

When?

When neither one of us
is talking.

What a thing for two
lawyers to discover.

To bad parenting.
Hear, hear.

To a bad marriage.
Ooh, triple hear to that.

To bad in-laws.
Wait a minute, now you're
talking about my mother.

You didn't exactly
get along with
my mother either.

I never met your mother.

Use your imagination.

Ooh.

Hear, hear.

How come you got the china?

Stayed with the crystal.

You got all the good stuff.

You got Michael.

You got the notches.

You could stay.

No, I couldn't.

But thank you.

You know, someday,

it would be really good
for Michael if he spent
some time in this house.

Oh, Daddy.

I've been having
the lousiest dreams.

Hi, Kat.
It's been a while.

Hmm.

Kat?

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Kat?

My baby...

Baby... (SOBS)

She's asleep.

She has two broken ribs.

Apparently the bones just...

(SIGHS) I don't know.
It's either the drugs
or the cancer.

Where's Michael?

Does he know?

Well, he has to be told.

Pull!

MAN: David Vardy,
you're next up.

Your mother's
in the hospital.

Pull!

I know you don't
wanna have to see me,

but she wants me there.

When's she getting out?

Michael...

This is, uh, serious.

We don't have to cross paths.
We could work out a schedule.

But if we're gonna do that,
you're gonna have to
talk to me.

Pull.

Not sure I know how.

I want to talk to you
about this, Michael.

I really do.

And I always have.

Pull!

(g*nsh*t)

Sitting on the bed,
that can't be good.

My goodness.

This is gonna be
very hard for you,
isn't it, Irish?

(SIGHS)

Listen. We're both
big believers in the
unvarnished truth, aren't we?

The thing is, Kathryn,

there isn't a thing
we can do,

except keep you
as comfortable as possible.

You can hold
my hand, can't you?

Yes. Yes, I can.

Dr. Hurley needs
another minute.

Did you find Michael?

Yeah.

I'm just, uh...
I'm not sure he's gonna
come up with me.

Well, she's gonna need
a few things from home.

Are you going
to be here?
Yeah.

Sylvia...

Maybe we could take shifts?

When Frank died,

I'd thought the world
had come to an end.

But somehow
I managed to...

...pick up the pieces
and go on.

I don't know how to do this.

I never expected
to outlive my child.

WOMAN: (ON PA)
Pierce Margolin
to volunteer services.

Pierce Margolin
to volunteer services.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hey, everybody!
LANE: Hi!

Mincey, clear the table.
Double surprise.

Oh, yeah!
A little nectar
of the gods.

That a girl!

Excuse me,
is that legal?

Do we care?

Look, just because
we're not in the courtroom...
Lighten up, Mincey.

You're always so serious.

Don't even try.
He was born in a
button-down collar.

(LAUGHING)

Hoist 'em.

She's our best friend
in the world,

and we're gonna
do what we can do.

And what we can do
right now

is get drunk.

To Kathryn.
To Kathryn.

To Kathryn.
To Kathryn.

Who's going to drink
her shot?

I think we all should.

Let's take turns.

Me first.

To the finest judge
I've ever argued before.

Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.

Here.

(LAUGHING)

You're in a shoe store
and someone starts...
No!

Tell me that you're not
going to be terrified...
No!

(ALL LAUGHING)

I just want to say to you all

thank you so much

for being friends
to my daughter.

(CAT MEOWS)
Why do I keep
feeding you guys?

You're big as a house.

You're going on a diet.

Less-active kitties.

SYLVIA: Well...

There you are.

Hi, Mamaw. I just came
to check on the kitties.

(SIGHS) Well...

You might as well
take them on home with you.

(CAT MEOWS)

Michael...

Life doesn't happen to us
in the right order.

I'm scared, too.

But we must do what
we're called upon to do.

You're mother's going
down that road,

whether we go
with her or not.

The only thing
we can do for her now,

that will matter to her,

is to be with her.

Sunday, January 4th, 1998...

Sunday, January 4th, 1998...
Good morning, Mildred.

Sunday, January 4th, 1998...
Alzheimer's...

This really will be
better, Tom.

I can put her
roll-away in the room.

There are no
visiting hours.

You can be here
around the clock.

WOMAN: (ON PA)
Dr. Varren to 624,

Dr. Varren to room 624,
please.

Is it spring?

No.

Soon.

Take me to see
the dogwoods.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hey, Mom.

I went and got
Archibald and Mehitabel.

Two wuss cats
if I ever saw one.

And I saw Riley,
my landlord.

Her old calico kitty cat
is queen of the dumpster.

And Archibald and Mehitabel
are scared to death of her.

I'm just gonna sit here
for a while, Mom.

Okay?

I'm just gonna
sit here with you.

Hmm.

What, baby?

What are you saying?

Where am I
going to sleep?

(CHUCKLES) Where are you
going to sleep?

Right here, darling.

They've got you a nice bed
right here.

Where am I going to sleep?

(SOBS)

You know...

Back home.

With Daddy?

Yes, baby.

We'll all sleep there.

Dogwoods are
already blooming.

Really?

I think
we should take her.

Well, we could check
with Dr. Hurley.

I mean now.

I mean, what are they
gonna do, arrest us?

I'm sure there's some
liability issue about it,
it could be tricky.

I don't know.

The staff around here
doesn't exactly seem
like the A-Team.

Could give a new spin to
the term graveyard shift.

Monday, February 12th,

1998.

Monday, February 12th...

So, do you have family?
My children are grown.

Grandchildren?

Three.
Really? I'm the only one.

Grandchild, that is.

I'm the only child,
for that matter.

My, isn't that the
prettiest shade of
lipstick you're wearing.

What do you call that?
Natural.

Really?
Where do you get that?

I was born with it.

Nice lips.

Mildred.

I had no idea.

Monday, February 12th, 1998.

Monday, February 12th, 1998.

Kat...

Will you marry me?

It's okay.

It's okay, Kat.

It's really,
really okay with me

if you win this one.

Oh...

(SOBS)

I love you, son.

Let's take her home.

Yeah.

(ENGINE STARTING)

Where you going?

Expressway's the shortest.

It's gonna be jammed.

All right, we'll use
the diamond lane.

It's a three person lane.

That's right.

Ticket's like
400 hundred dollars.
Mmm-hmm.

One, two, three.

Oh, that's sick.

What if we get stopped?

I'm promise you,
they're not gonna
check her pulse.

KATHRYN: Oh, God,
this is so typical.

You know, Bruce's brother
tried to put a hat and coat
on his Great Dane once.

TOM: See, now that is ill*gal.