04x19 - Talk to Me

[bunniefuu]

Uh... yeah?

Are you...?

I'm Eric Camden.

Some people call me Reverend Camden, but you can call me Eric.

And you are...?

Do I know you?

No, not really.

Would you like to come in?

I'm not sure.

Would you like to sit down, take off one of your coats?

I'm not sure.

Is there something I can help you with?

I'm not sure.

I mean, anything you'd like to talk about or...?

I'm not sure. Well...

Maybe I'll just, you know, sit back down and work on my sermon.

And if you would like to talk, I'd be happy to talk.

'Cause talking is one of my favorite things.

Some days all I do is talk.

Talk, talk, talk.

And today I've had no one to talk to, and I would really like to... talk.

You know... if you decide you want to talk.

You know, maybe it would help you to get to know me if you asked me a few questions.

Are you here every day?

Most days, yeah.

I mean, I'm here... anytime anyone needs me.

So if I wanted you to be here, say, tomorrow, you would be here?

Yeah.

Maybe I'll feel more like talking to you then.

Wh...

So...

The bear?

Look. Look.

Big bear.

Big ol' bear.

Okay, Popsicle.

Popsicle.

"B".

"B" for bear.

Good.

"B", balloon.

Balloon.

The kids home from school yet?

You would hear them.

Yeah. Why, what's up?

Nothing really.

That won't work.

You can't just come in and ask for the kids and say nothing's up.

Something's up.

Did one of them do something?

Probably, but, you know, nothing I know about.

No, I was just thinking we need to refocus our attention on communications.

What brought this on?

A young woman came into my office.

S-she just... appeared quietly at my door and then... she couldn't bring herself to tell me why she was there.

And it's just driving me crazy because I know she needs help.

Maybe she was abused. Maybe someone hit her.

Maybe she's a runaway. Or maybe she's pregnant.

Or may... maybe she has one of a thousand other problems, but I don't know.

And if she doesn't come back, I'll never know.

She just seemed so fragile.

I-- you know, didn't want to push her for a conversation because if I had, she would have just run off.

Well, as it was, she disappeared, like in a blink of an eye.

I think I've seen her someplace, you know, but I can't... place her.

Does she go to school with Mary and Lucy?

She could; she's the right age.

I don't think I recognize her. Well, you could scan the yearbook.

Oh, but then you already have.

I'm glad it's the weekend.

Do you have a date?

No, I do not have a date.

I'm just looking forward to doing nothing.

Why are you looking forward to that?

Because nothing is safe. I thought maybe we could go to the baseball game tomorrow.

There'll be a lot of guys there.

Guys are trouble.

Hi.

So how was your day?

The same as any other day at school.

Boring.

I never knew a day at school to be completely boring.

Maybe that's because you're so old, you don't remember.

Maybe.

And how about your day?

Why do you want to know?

I'm just interested.

Your father and I are interested in everything you do.

I better get upstairs and get to my homework.

I've got a test on Monday.

I'll help you.

Well, they're not telling us something.

Well, maybe they just didn't want to talk.

Yes, but why?

And when someone doesn't want to talk, there's always a reason.

I don't which one of you did something, but do us all a favor and confess now before the weekend is ruined with Mom and Dad asking a lot of unnecessary questions-- because you know they'll find out.

I didn't do anything.

Well, I didn't do anything.

Well, I didn't do anything.

Recently.

I didn't do anything.

I'm never doing anything again.

Well, somebody did something because parents don't ask how your day at school was, unless someone did something they already know about.

At last, we run into each other.

I'm here every day.

I've been so busy, I haven't had a real lunch in months.

You're not going to get a real lunch in here.

How are you enjoying your work? Oh, I don't work here anymore.

How come you're wearing scrubs and hanging out in here?

Because now I'm an orderly. I changed jobs.

Congratulations.

But I thought you were following Shana to New York.

How do you know about that?

It's a hospital. Word gets around.

John told you, didn't he?

No, my nurse told me. Yeah, but John probably told her.

I don't think she even knows John.

Then how does she know about New York? Why does it make any difference?

Because I made these stupid plans I could never follow through with, and now everyone knows what an idiot I am.

Are you okay? Of course I'm okay.

You seem a little sensitive.

It's not easy losing the women you love.

Woman. I meant "the woman I love."

Where is Heather these days?

I wouldn't know.

Maybe you should find out.

Why? What do you know that I don't know?

Plenty, but nothing about Heather.

I've got to go.

You gonna be around later?

'Cause I need to talk to you.

Needs? Needs to talk to me?

Did you tell Hank I was planning on going to New York?

Again?

Not-not again-- did you tell him about the last time?

No.

Did you tell anyone? Maybe.

I might've mentioned it. I don't know.

Why would you have mentioned it to anyone?

Why not?

Dr. Henry or Dr. James, please report...

Hank said he wanted to talk to me.

He just rushed back into the delivery room, but I'll tell him that you stopped by.

No, it sounded really important.

More important than the miracle of birth?

Maybe. And what would that be?

What would be more important than delivering a baby?

Me.

Are you still planning to follow Shana to New York?

I know somebody who wants your job in the cafeteria.

I no longer work in the cafeteria.

I'm an orderly. And why does everybody at work know about my love life but not my work life?

Switching from cafeteria to orderly is hardly noteworthy, whereas if you'd pulled off the move to New York, you'd be a legend.

I'm not going to New York.

I'll inform the people in the office pool.

Matt?

Aunt Julie!

Why are you here?

I just... dropped by to see Hank.

So did I.

He's been acting funny.

As if something is on his mind, but... he can't bring himself to tell me.

Do you know what it is?

It's driving me insane.

No, but he did say he wanted to talk to me.

Oh, I see.

He can talk to you, but he can't talk to me.

That's great.

That's just great!

Maybe he should've married you.

Oh...

Who are you looking for?

I had a young woman stop by the church this afternoon.

She might be a runaway.

What makes you think so? She had on a lot of clothes, you know, like she was wearing everything she owns.

Dad called the police.

Looks like they're having a serious conversation.

A serious conversation outside the house where no one can hear them.

We better let Lucy and Mary know.

Where are you off to in such a hurry?

We were going up to Lucy and Mary's room.

Okay, but why the hurry?

Why not? Yeah, why not?

I thought you were just paranoid before, but I think the kids are up to something.

Simon and Ruthie just went flying up the stairs to tell Mary and Lucy something.

What could they have done?

It has to be something that involves the four of them.

What could possibly involve the four of them?

The car.

It must be the new car.

Something must've happened on the way home from school. No!

You know, I seriously doubt that Dad's talking to Sergeant Michaels about any of us.

He talks to Sergeant Michaels practically every day.

Outside the house?

Okay! That is it.

Enough is enough.

Go find Mom and Dad and confront them.

If you are so desperate to know what they're up to, go ask them.

Why can't you ask them?

Because I don't want to know.

Why don't you want to know?

Because I haven't done anything.

And like I told you already, I don't want to do anything for the entire weekend.

I'm staying out of this.

I'm Switzerland.

I'm completely neutral.

You might want to brush up on current events.

If you didn't do anything wrong, then why can't you ask them?

I'll ask them!

Can't you guys do anything for yourselves?

You know, just 'cause we don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

Oh, stop it!

What are you guys doing?

We were just looking at the car.

Is there anything wrong with the car?

You tell us.

Is anything wrong with it?

Not that I know of.

I don't know anything.

I don't know anything, either.

Take her.

She's already been to jail.

Would you tell them who's in trouble.

We don't know. Who's in trouble?

Someone is, because you asked us how our day at school was today.

You never do that unless you know something.

That's not true.

Yes, it is.

No, it's not.

Sometimes we're just fishing for information.

Could we just get this over with?

Who is it?

It's me.

This is, this is all my fault, uh...

This young woman came in today, and she couldn't talk to me about whatever her problem is, and so I told your mother that we should make a new effort to communicate with all of you.

Soon as we did that, you all started acting kind of funny, so your mother and I thought you were hiding something.

So you put us through all this because some stranger walked through your door and then couldn't talk to you?

If you just wanted to talk to us why didn't you just say so.

Yeah, I'd be more than happy to talk to you.

So would I.

Me too.

We've got nothing to hide.

What?

It's not like you haven't been communicating with me.

You've talked to me all year long.

All year long.

And it's been a very long year.

She's right.

Maybe we've spent so much time with Mary this year that we've fallen behind with the rest of all of your lives, uh...

Why don't we plan on catching up at dinner.

Yeah.

Is there something you want to say?

Could you do me a favor and talk to them after we've eaten, so I can enjoy my dinner?

Because I talk to the three of them every day and, believe me, you don't know what you're getting yourselves into.

The thing about it is that MaryAnn has a funny smell to her, all the time.

Not just some of the time, all the time.

And no one knows what it is because we're way too young to be wearing stuff under our armpits.

And she looks clean but she stinks.

And no one wants to tell her, so Eileen went to the teacher and asked her if she could tell her, but the teacher said that she smelled her and she didn't smell anything.

But, she's old, you'd have to not have a nose not to smell MaryAnn.

Uh, could we talk about something other than the way MaryAnn smells?

Is there anything else going on in school?

Ugh! Did I tell you how bad her breath smells?

That's because she eats those garlic pickles, the big ones from the meat store.

So you said.

But, other than the way she smells, she's real nice.

And sometimes she has extra ham or bologna or turkey and she gives it away to anyone who wants it.

But nobody takes the extra pickles because of the...

Of the smell.

Well, you can get past the actual pickle breath, but no one knows what makes the rest of her smell.

We thought it might be her feet but then I smelled Simon's gym socks and it's nothing like that.

So, the subsitute teacher was at the board, and then, all of a sudden, Luke yells, "Surf's up!" and all the guys jump up onto the desks like this.

Why? To surf.

Well, I'm not as good as Luke.

You should've seen Luke.

He was doing this hang-ten thing-- it was great.

I'm not sure I get it.

Ten toes over the board.

No, I'm not sure I get the funny part.

Oh, maybe you have to know Luke.

Oh, and then, then, then the funniest thing of all happened.

She walks out of the room and she slams the door like this.

The substitute teacher?

Yeah, and, and we can hear her counting to ten.

So, Luke tells everyone to jump back into their seats.

And then the wacky teacher couldn't get back in because she locked herself out.

So, did you let her back in?

No, that would have ruined the whole thing.

Besides, we only had like had five minutes left.

So, we all just there with our books open and pretended we didn't hear a thing, while she's like pounding at the door.

And then, then, this is unbelievable.

When the bell rang, everyone just filed out of the room like nothing happened.

Even you?

You just filed past this woman without apologizing?

It wasn't just me.

It was all the guys.

And, and take my word for it, it was funny.

It was probably the funniest thing that's happened all year.

I think there's a fine line here, between funny and cruel.

No, no this was clearly funny.

Well, maybe I told it wrong.

No, I'll start over.

Did I tell you this is a brand-new substitute; brand-new?

Yes, you told me.

Okay, well, the whole thing was Luke's idea.

He is the funniest guy.

What are you going to talk to Mom and Dad about?

I made a list.

A list?

What's on the list?

Just things that are going on in my life.

Oh, that?

What are you going to talk to them about?

I don't have anything to talk to them about.

Remember? I'm all talked out.

They know everything about me.

Wait a minute.

Everything about you?

Yeah, everything.

But that doesn't mean that you don't know something about someone else.

Something, that they would want to know.

Who is it?

Come on, you can tell me.

Can't you?

I can't tell anyone.

What happened?

You happened.

What?

Can I come in?

Yeah.

You have Matt to thank for this.

What'd I do?

Did you tell Julie that I wanted to talk to you?

Yeah, I think so.

So what?

So, you never tell the wife the husband wants to talk to you.

Why not?

♪ Ta-da! ♪ She kicked you out because you talked to me?

What?!

You told her Hank wanted to talk to you.

And she's been trying to get me to talk to her for days.

So, why didn't you talk to her?

I wanted to get your opinion first, that's why.

It's too late for that now.

You wanted my opinion on what?

It doesn't matter.

All that matters now... is that my wife doesn't want me in the house.

You're not thinking of staying here, are you?

We only have the two bunk beds.

You're a doctor; you can afford a hotel.

A nice hotel, right?

I don't want to stay in a hotel room.

I don't like hotels, I need to be around people.

I don't need to be locked in a hotel alone.

But, locked in a studio apartment with two starving college students, that works for you?

You know, we don't have anything to eat other than some Spam and a bag of chips.

I can make a lovely casserole out of that.

The delivery menus, please.

Do you know Simon's friend Luke?

The funny one?

Or not so funny, depending upon how you look at it.

No one's ever actually seen him.

In fact, Mary and I have discussed the possibility that there is no Luke and that Simon's just telling stories about himself.

What? You know-- he tells a story, tests it out, and if it's funny, then, he says that, actually, he was the one doing the funny thing.

And if no one thinks it funny, then it was Luke.

I hope that's not true.

There's an easy way to find out.

You can tell Simon to ask him over, so we can all see if he really does exist.

Well, that's a good idea.

A very good idea in light of what you just told me.

Thanks.

Would you like a cup of tea?

I'd love one.

How's the Habitat for Humanity project going?

It's great.

Signing up for that was the best thing I did for myself this year.

I made a lot of good friends.

How come you never ask any of the good friends over to the house?

They're good friends at work.

I don't think I have much in common with them outside of building houses.

Besides, Susan and Carol are best friends.

What about the other one? The one with the curly hair?

That's Lisa.

She lives near Susan and Carol, but she's more of a loner.

Whenever a kid's a loner, I like to know why.

Because after all, who really likes being a loner?

Well, she wasn't always a loner, she used to be more outgoing.

But, now she's kind of weird and getting weirder.

Talking about me?

No, I'm talking about Lisa Lunby.

I don't think she's any weirder than the rest of that group.

I think I know her better than you know her.

We worked together at Habitat all year.

What do you know about her? Has she ever even talked to you?

Fine, you know her better.

You know, I think Mary's become a little more sensitive to other people after going through what she had to go through this year.

And I want to apologize to you if your Dad and I haven't spent as much time with you because we had to spend so much time with Mary.

So please, go back to what you were saying.

You know what?

I hope that you and Dad don't feel that I've been shortchanged this year because Mary had bigger problems.

The two of you have always managed to give all of us everything we've ever needed.

I thought we were going to talk!

That's all I wanted to tell you.

Is it Lisa?

You know something about Lisa Lunby?

Stop, okay?

This isn't some kind of guessing game.

End of conversation.

End... of conversation!

Hey, I...

Get away!

Just get away from me, now!

Hey!

I wasn't doing anything-- honest!

Is everything okay?

Yes, everything is okay.

I just don't feel like talking to anyone.

I have a right not to talk to anyone, don't I?

Yes, you have that right.

On the other hand, if you're having a problem, you have a right to talk about it.

That's what you think, isn't it?

Do you have a place to stay?

What? I'm not homeless.

I have a house and a family to go home to.

Do want to see some I.D.?

The address is right on it.

Personally, I think the teacher should tell her she smells.

If nobody tells her, how's she gonna know?

I mean, you'd think she'd smell herself, but...

Hello, and God bless you.

Reverend?

Uh, you need me to come down there with you?

Wherever you are.

I don't think that will do you much good.

But I have a name and an address.

Do you know a Lisa Lunby?

Yeah, the name sounds familiar.

Hang up the phone.

It's just someone for Dad.

Lucy doesn't know anything.

What's going on?

I'm not sure.

Does this have anything to do with Lisa Lunby?

I don't know why she told me.

Maybe because I've been in some serious trouble before; I told her to go talk to you.

But you know what she wants to talk to me about?

I promised I wouldn't say anything to anybody.

Okay, well, I've said that too many times not to understand.

I'm sure she'll come back.

It was my first guess.

Psst...

Psst...

Where is he?

My guess would be in this room or the bathroom.

You've got to get rid of him.

I know that.

You guys have any mousse?

No.

Great.

On top of everything else, I'm having a bad hair day.

I should be home around 3:00; I'm teaching a class today.

I wonder what Hank could've done that'd be so bad that he can't tell Julie.

He doesn't look capable of doing anything bad.

Whatever it is, he's got to go-- today-- and somebody's got to tell him.

I called Luke.

But he's not sure if he can come over or not.

And why not?

Because he's very popular.

Because he's so funny?

Exactly.

And, uh, what are your plans for today, Ruthie?

Well, I was thinking of calling MaryAnn to come over, so I could tell her she stinks.

No, you're not.

Somebody has to tell her.

Well, it's not going to be you.

Could it be you?

Ruthie... does this little girl really not smell so good or is it just some cruel rumor that somebody started about her?

And by somebody, I hope I don't mean you.

No, she actually, stinks.

You know, I don't like the word "stinks."

Could she just come over and play?

Maybe the smell will come up in conversation.

Hey, Lucy and Mary getting the boys all cleaned up.

I'm going down to the church.

Well, good luck.

With what?

I've got a sermon to write.

I'll come with you.

Parents are so obvious when they're hiding something.

I'll tell you this, if they smelled, we'd know it.

Hello?

Could I please speak to my husband and the father of my child?

He just left a couple of minutes ago for the hospital.

But, he was there?

Yes.

Uh, well, that's nice to know.

Would you care to tell me what's going on?

I honestly don't know, and I don't want to know.

Whatever it is, it's between the two of you.

It's not between us, it's not between us at all.

It's inside him.

And whatever it is, I know it's not coming out, because it's something bad, and it's driving me crazy.

You don't know that it's something bad.

If it weren't something bad, he'd tell me.

Could you find out for me, please?

I think it would be better if Hank told you.

So, you do know?

No, no, no, I don't know. I don't want to know.

I just want Hank to tell you, so, you'll know.

But, if he's not going to tell me, whatever this bad news is, it might be best coming from you.

Please?

Could you find out?

Okay.

Thanks, Mattie.

Where are you going?

To the hospital to talk to Hank.

Julie ask me to talk to him.

Fool.

Hello?

Could I speak to Matt again, please?

Uh, he just ran out.

Oh, well, never mind.

I guess.

All right, lets talk about this problem with your husband.

Simon?

Did someone call?

Did someone call?

When I came in, the phone was off its base.

Did someone call? Yes.

Who?

Luke.

Is there a Luke?

You know, the funny guy in my class.

Simon, Mary and Lucy think that you are Luke.

Huh?

They think that you tell funny stories about Luke, but that you are Luke.

Hi, I'm Ruthie's mother, Annie.

Hi, I'm MaryAnn.

My Grandma will pick me up at eight, and I can stay for dinner.

This is for you.

It some meats.

Thank you.

How could you think there's no Luke?

And even if you thought there wasn't a Luke, how could tell Mom that I'm Luke?

Did you tell Mom that we think he's Luke?

We don't think you're Luke.

Lucy thinks you're Luke.

I am Switzerland, remember?

Just leave me out of all this stuff.

The Luke theory was confidential.

Well, you should have mentioned that.

I thought it was understood!

I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.

It just came out.

Which is exactly why I want to hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil.

She's Switzerland.

What is that smell?

MaryAnn is here.

Why couldn't you tell me?

I thought it might be a problem.

How would it be a problem?

I don't know, because your brother is a minister?

It doesn't make any difference.

In fact, it makes you more interesting.

And it explains a lot.

I've been looking for you all over campus.

Campus?

You said you'd be teaching.

I teach at the hospital.

I should have known.

So you talked?

Yes, and I told her.

Yeah, what did you tell her?

Hank's Jewish.

I never told her.

I meant to tell her. Wait a second.

Does this have anything to do with the fact that your parents are flying in next week?

You did tell them that I'm not Jewish, didn't you?

No, as a matter of fact, I haven't gotten around to it.

I... I better be going.

They're gonna love you, I know I do.

Well, I'm glad you finally trust me enough to tell me who you are.

L'chaeim.

I love you.

I love you, too.

What does L'chaeim mean?

To life.

I like that.

It's mothballs.

Oh?

Mixed with some other Grandma stuff.

I live with my Grandma, my Mom and Dad are no good.

I see.

So, she's just happy her Grandma let her stay with her.

She doesn't care about the smell.

And they're right across the street from the meat store.

May I present my friend, and funnyman, Luke.

See, I told you.

Would either of you care for a sandwich?

I've got turkey and roast beef and bologna.

Ruthie's friend lives across from a meat store.

See, I told you.

Told him what?

Nothing.

Meat store.

Hi.

It's Lisa, isn't it?

Mary told you?

No.

Mary told Lucy and Lucy told you?

Lucy and I work for Habitat.

Yeah, I remembered once I had your name.

And it wasn't Lucy.

My friend, Sergeant Michaels, knew that I was looking for a girl of your description when he bumped into you last night.

I was having one of my little explosions.

That keeps happening to me, a lot.

Especially if I feel like someone is invading my space.

Well, I take it, that whatever it is, it's hard to talk about. Yeah.

But, it's harder to listen to.

Well, I'll do my best.

Please.

My mom refers to it as the "incident."

She says it was just an incident.

That it "happens to a lot of girls", my mom says.

When did this incident happen?

Sometime around Christmas.

December 21st.

At 4:44 in the afternoon.

I was looking at the clock.

It ruined my Christmas.

But my mom didn't want me to talk about it.

Probably because she didn't want me to ruin everyone's Christmas.

Can you tell me?

Whatever it is, I promise you that I can hear it.

I just feel so dirty.

No matter how many baths I take, I still feel dirty.

I feel like people can see right through me and they know.

My mom's boyfriend made me have sex with him.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

But it wasn't your fault.

You're not responsible for this man's criminal behavior.

You were molested.

I know it's not easy to talk about it.

And I so appreciate your being able to come in here and tell me this.

Thank you for trusting me.

All I really want... is to be able to talk about it with my family.

Have you and your mother reported this man to the police?

Yeah, but as it turns out, he was just using a fake name.

He just took off.

We don't know where he is. But you made a report describing this man to the police.

Have you talked to a school counselor or a therapist?

Both.

And I keep talking to them and talking.

But I want to talk about it with my mother.

And I want to tell my brothers.

They don't even know.

But... the counselor and the therapist cannot convince my mom to come in.

And she says those sessions are for me.

But I want my brothers to know.

What if this man shows up again, and they just let him in the house?

Half the time that's what I'm afraid of, that I'll see him again.

And half the time I go out looking for him.

Because I want to find him.

And I want to tell him that he ruined my life.

Yeah, I don't think you should give him that kind of power.

The way to do that is to talk about it.

Talking about him takes away his power.

Looking for a lane, he's open, he goes in, and he fakes.

He waits, one moment, and he sh**t.

And... he scores!

That's really funny, man.

How do you come up with this stuff?

I eat right, I exercise.

That was a joke.

Oh, funny.

Not really.

I, uh, I should stick to the physical stuff.

It's what I do best.

I have a kid brother whose got some problems, so I got him to making him laugh and the business grew from there.

What kind of problems does your brother have, if you don't mind me asking?

My brother's deaf.

But it... but it's okay.

Uh, he got the looks, I got the hearing.

My brother Matt's girlfriend's deaf.

Actually, his ex-girlfriend.

Do you know sign language?

Can you sign? No, but I'd like to learn.

I have a feeling Matt and Heather aren't totally over.

Well, I'll teach you.

Thanks.

Let's go.

Where are we going?

Mom gave us pizza money.

Why did she do that?

Because I asked her to.

And Dad's going to be late getting home and Mom's cooking hamburgers for Simon, Luke, Ruthie, and MaryAnn.

And we can't have burgers because...

Because I want to talk to you.

What'd I do?

If I tell you now, we won't have anything to talk about over pizza.

If you don't tell me now, I won't have an appetite for pizza.

It's nothing bad.

Okay.

I just wanted to tell you, thank you.

For?

For always being there for me when I need to talk to someone other than Mom and Dad.

I don't think I could have gotten through the year without you.

You know, it's just nice to have a sister to talk to.

And I don't think I've ever said thank you.

So, let's go.

I love you.

I love you, too.

But don't make a bigger deal out of this than it is.

So, what are we going to talk about over pizza?

Right.

Yeah. Boys.

Simon and Luke were just showing me that "Surf's up" bit.

Very funny. Well, don't encourage them.

Sorry, but there's something so funny about that guy, Luke.

What is it? I don't know.

Oh, but here's something very funny.

You know Uncle Hank?

Do I know him?

We're outta here.

Bye.

Hey, nice talking to you.

Well, here's something you don't know about Hank.

He's Jewish.

I know that. We all know it.

How would you all know that?

Well, Hank called your father last December and wanted to know what day Christmas Eve fell on this year.

And we thought that was a little odd, and then I ran into Rabbi Cohen, in the market and he congratulated me on getting a nice Jewish man for a brother-in-law.

Why didn't you ever say anything?

Well, why would we?

This is my other brother Matt.

He was going to move to New York, but he didn't.

You're very cute.

Thank you.

We're gonna watch some television.

Oh, too bad about New York.

They have great meat there.

Uh, Mary-MaryAnn, I've been, uh, meaning to ask you something.

Why all the interest in meat?

My grandma's boyfriend's a butcher.

Oh, that's it.

Okay. Thanks.

It's mothballs and grandma stuff.

Oh, yeah.

I honestly didn't know she wanted to talk about it with me this badly.

It's okay.

Now that you understand how much she does want to talk, maybe you can continue.

Well, I thought that since you were talking about the incident in therapy and with the school counselor, that that was enough.

I didn't want you to have to repeat it over and over and over again, just for me.

Mom, it wasn't some kind of stupid incident.

I hate it when you call it that.

I'm sorry.

I thought calling it that made it more neutral.

But it's not neutral.

It's a terrible thing that happened.

I know it's terrible and I am so sorry it happened.

But it's over.

Do you really want to keep thinking about it?

It's not over.

And there's no time limit on thinking about it.

I need to be able to talk to you about this.

I need to hear that I didn't do anything wrong.

And I need to hear it every day, for as long as it takes for me to believe it.

And then, maybe, it can be over.

But doesn't your therapist tell you that this wasn't your fault?

Doesn't the school counselor tell you that?

Yes, and even Reverend Camden told me that.

But I need to hear it from you.

And from my brothers, from the people who love me.

Sweetheart, it is not your fault.

You didn't do anything wrong.

If anyone is at fault, it's me, for letting you alone with this man.

I feel so guilty and so stupid.

I don't know what I was thinking when I left him alone in the house with her.

Maybe that's why it's so hard for you to talk about this.

But you felt you could trust your boyfriend?

Yes.

We'd been going out for months.

And he was such a gentleman.

He included all the kids...

Months.

As if...

I could've known who he really is after just months.

What was I thinking?

What kind of mother leaves her child alone with a man she's only known for months?

Well, as soon as you knew he'd molested your daughter, you went straight to the police, right?

Yes.

So this is not your fault.

And it's not your fault.

Maybe it was.

What if I didn't resist him?

I didn't resist him.

I just did what he told me.

You had to have been too frightened of him to do anything other than what he told you.

And you are the victim of a crime here, you're not the criminal.

This is not your fault.

How old are your sons?

Seventeen and nineteen.

Why can't they know?

It happened to me.

And they're older than me.

We've always told each other everything.

And they know that something is wrong.

I can't hide that something is wrong.

And I can't talk about it.

I want them to know, Mom.

I think it's so healthy that Lisa wants to tell them.

You know, he thought I wouldn't talk.

You know, he thought I wouldn't tell anyone.

He threatened me.

She needs you to do this for her.

And you know what?

I think you need to do this for you.

You need to be there for your daughter.

This is something she really wants.

So what about it?

Can you help Lisa tell her brothers?

I just don't know if I can.

Help her talk about this.

Take away his power over your daughter, over you, over your family.

Take your lives back.

Okay, how about one step at a time?

Do you think that you could go to therapy with Lisa?

And maybe the two of you talk about this with her therapist?

Yes.

Yes.

I could do that.

Thank you.

I know you don't want to, Mom, but thank you.

Really, Lisa, it is not your fault.

It is not your fault.

It's not your fault.

Thank you.