Fairyland (2023) Movie Script
1
-(INSECTS TRILLING)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
(WIND BLOWING GENTLY)
(CAR PASSING BY)
(TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING)
(OBJECTS CLATTERING)
MAN: Hello?
No, this is her husband,
Stephen Abbott.
What?
(SPUTTERS)
Was my wife in the car?
(STEVE SPUTTERS)
(OBJECT CLATTERS)
Where's that at? I mean...
do you have a name or...
I mean, a number?
Ma'am, I told you,
this is her husband,
Stephen Abbott.
Ma'am, ma'am,
can you please tell me...
was my wife hurt?
(GASPS SOFTLY)
What?
Daddy?
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN 1: Who was the man
she was with?
WOMAN 2: He was a patient
Barbara was treating
for suicidal depression.
Ironically, he was the one
who survived.
It was a truck they hit.
One of those massive
pulpwood trucks.
The newspaper said
she actually
flew out of the car.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
(DOOR OPENS, CREAKS)
Ann, I think
we're gonna hit the road.
Alysia's gettin'
a little tired.
I just wanted to...
thank you for the motel
and everything.
What did you think
about the service?
Did it feel too short?
I think it was nice.
I'm sorry we didn't include
the poem
that you wrote, Stephen.
We decided...
we didn't want
anything too personal.
(SIGHS WEARILY) So...
California.
I know a few people
out there in San Francisco...
and I thought
I could get more work
as a writer, you know?
Try and get my book published.
Have you given any more thought
to Janet's offer
to raise Alysia?
(INHALES SHARPLY)
Alysia gets along well
with her cousins.
Hank has a good job,
and they're good people.
(SMACKS LIPS)
She's still young, you know...
it's not too late
for her to have...
a real family.
She has a real family, Ann.
You know what I mean.
It did feel short.
What?
Barbara's service.
It felt short.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
RADIO JOCKEY:
All hits, all the time.
CHORUS:
KFRC, San Francisco
( RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE
BY BLUES IMAGE PLAYING)
Seventy-three men sailed up
from the San Francisco Bay
Rolled off of their ship
And here's what
they had to say
We're callin' everyone
to ride along
To another shore
We can laugh our lives away
and be free once more
But no one
heard them callin'
No one came at all
'Cause they were too busy
Watchin' those
old raindrops fall
As a storm was blowin'
out on the peaceful sea
Seventy-three men
sailing off to history
Ride, captain ride
upon your mystery ship
Be amazed at the friends
you have here on your trip
Ride, captain, ride
upon your mystery ship
On your way to a world
That others
might have missed
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
Seventy-three men sailed up
from the San Francisco Bay
Got off of their ship
And here's what
they had to say...
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(HANDBRAKE CREAKS,
ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
(SONG ON RADIO
CONTINUES, STOPS)
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER,
SHOUTING IN DISTANCE)
(MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY)
(DOORBELL BUZZES)
I think this is
the right place.
WOMAN: Hold your horses!
(LATCH CLICKS, DOOR OPENS)
Hey.
WOMAN: Gary.
I'm Steve.
-Here's two lids, Steve.
-No...
Tell Daryl he can split it up
into dime bags.
It's Steve Abbott.
We're movin' in.
(LAUGHS) Oh, shit!
-(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
-STEVE: You must be Paulette.
-In the flesh, baby.
-(CHUCKLES)
Come on in.
STEVE: Sorry,
we're a few weeks late.
It took us a lot longer
to pack up our lives
than I thought.
PAULETTE: Yeah,
I heard what happened.
That's some heavy shit, man.
Both my folks were killed
in a car accident
when I was six.
It was Halloween night
and they were supposed
to pick me up at a party,
but they never showed up.
I was shuffled between
the police station
and the hospital
and no one is telling me
what happened,
and the whole night
I'm walking around with this
Little Orphan Annie costume.
(CHUCKLES)
Talk about dressing a part.
(CHUCKLES)
-Which is my room, Daddy?
-Uh...
This one will be
safe for you, kid.
Whoops.
Cool, huh?
(SIREN WAILS BY)
Come on.
(CANS CLATTERING)
STEVE: So, um,
who all lives here?
Um...
This is Johnny's room.
(PAULETTE KNOCKS ON DOOR)
-JOHNNY: I'm busy!
-(PAULETTE CONTINUES KNOCKING)
Johnny just spent
the last few years
in a Buddhist monastery.
-The new housemates are here!
-(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CREAKS)
Well, hello.
This is Gary and Alysia.
Uh, Steve.
I thought we could
throw a little soiree tonight
in honor of their arrival.
MAN: Bring that ass
back to Daddy.
-Just not too early.
-(EXCLAIMS)
So, Eddie,
who you haven't met yet,
sleeps on the couch.
And... yeah, that's it.
Now, if I were you,
I'd go and grab
my shit outta the car.
This might be
Haight-Ashbury,
but, baby, it's no longer
the Summer of Love.
-(LAUGHS)
-(SOFTLY) Come on.
(PAULETTE CONTINUES LAUGHING)
(CROSSFIRE BY JOHNNY
AND THE HURRICANES PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN 1: That's far out. Yeah.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-WOMAN 2: Classy.
-WOMAN 3: I know...
(BOTH LAUGH)
-WOMAN 2: So, so classy.
-Mommy.
Mommy!
Equality should not be about
submitting to the status quo.
You know what? I do agree
with you there, but there's...
Sorry to interrupt,
but Miss Alysia
seems to be having a bad trip.
Oh, God. Here.
Mouse, Mouse!
(SOFTLY) I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
(SIGHS) Come here.
What's wrong, Mouse?
I want to go home.
We are home.
This is our new home.
Why isn't Mommy here?
Mommy's not alive anymore.
We talked about this.
You remember when
we played with the toy cars?
And I showed you
how one car
hit the other car?
That's what happened
to Mommy's car.
Mommy's not coming back.
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(GUITAR PLAYING)
Hello.
Hi.
What's your name?
Alysia.
Hi, Alysia.
I'm Eddie.
Do you live on the couch?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Sometimes.
Where do you live?
Here.
I have my own room.
Your own room.
Wow.
That's groovy.
Have you had breakfast yet,
Miss Alysia?
Wanna help me make
Toad in the Hole?
-I thought so. (CLEARS THROAT)
-(ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOTH LAUGH)
That's a good one.
STEVE: I can hear you
all the way down the hallway.
EDDIE: Hey.
What's so funny?
Eddie calls it
a Toad in the Hole.
Well, that's what it's called.
We call it Egyptian Eye.
You call it whatever you want,
but when I cook,
it's Toad in the Hole.
Eddie lives on the couch...
sometimes.
Where does Eddie live
all the other times?
With anybody.
Hey, what's that
supposed to mean?
Because your name
is Eddie Body!
(LAUGHS)
Eddie Body, I like that.
You still wanna go
to Golden Gate Park?
Eddie?
Would you like to join us?
What do you think,
Miss Alysia?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
EDDIE: What was
her mother like?
Where'd you meet her?
STEVE: You know,
we met in grad school.
I was on campus
handing out flyers for a big
anti-war demonstration
and she walks up to me, and...
She's beautiful.
Very clean-cut looking,
had a large stack of books.
You know, pleated skirt
and a Tricia Nixon hairdo.
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
STEVE: What about Eddie Body?
Does he have anybody?
EDDIE: I got a lady
back home in Jackson.
Hmm.
EDDIE: Darlene.
STEVE: Darlene?
Yep.
She's a sweet little thing.
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
EDDIE: And you wrote these?
They're still
a work in progress.
EDDIE: "Things lost.
"A cat...
"small leather case...
"one blue sock...
"the feeling inside me
that I'm good and beautiful."
Daddy?
Daddy!
(SOFTLY) Let me
go put her to bed.
Come on, Mouse. Come on.
YOUNG ALYSIA:
Can you read me
a bedtime story?
STEVE: Not tonight, Mouse.
-YOUNG ALYSIA: Please?
-STEVE: Just...
Listen. Once upon a time,
there were three bears.
Now, there are 1,000.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(THUDS)
(DOOR CREAKING)
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
(REELING)
Can I read you somethin'?
(INHALES)
"Pretty is as pretty does.
"Although we've just met,
"I want to talk
until words fail me.
"What mysterious
beauty or fears
"lurks in the corner
of your smile.
"'Be brave,'
I want to tell us both.
"Attend the miracle
of the moment.
"I want to say,
'Look into my eyes
"'and find your home,'
"but all these words
seem hopelessly stupid."
Well, it's for Eddie.
Doesn't make sense.
Well, poetry doesn't need
to make sense
as long as it makes you
feel somethin'.
( LAURIE DID IBY FLAMIN' GROOVIES PLAYING)
-Daddy!
-Don't come in here, Mouse,
-I'm not finished!
-Daddy!
Don't come in here!
I'm not finished.
-Get outta here!
-(GIGGLING)
I met her at the station
She wasn't there on time
I told her I was frantic
She said that
she was blind
Oh, Laurie...
What are those?
-(WATER SPLASHING)
-(OBJECT CLATTERING)
Shit. Where'd you come from?
What are those?
Those are testicles. (SIGHS)
Testicles?
They're also called balls.
What do they do?
They help make babies.
Didn't your dad
tell you about this yet?
No.
Men have them.
Can you, uh...
Can you hand me
that towel over there, please?
-(CHUCKLES)
-Oh, boy.
Happy birthday, little one.
Can you put makeup on me?
Of course.
Do you ever wish
you were a girl?
JOHNNY: Hell no.
You dress like one.
Well, who says you can't be
part boy and part girl?
When I was your age,
I would sneak
into my parents' closet
and spend hours
trolling through
the grown-up clothes.
My mother's side of the closet
was a treasure trove
of embroidered jackets,
these elaborate hats
with feathers,
and elegant silk dresses.
I just never understood
why only girls got to wear
beautiful things.
(SMACKS LIPS)
Didn't seem fair.
(SOFTLY) Perfect.
I don't have a mother anymore.
I know.
Paulette doesn't have
a mother or a father.
She doesn't have any family.
JOHNNY: Who says
she doesn't have family?
What are we?
Take a look.
What do you think?
-(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
-You like it?
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
-You want more?
Let's do it.
( MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
BY JIMMY DEAN PLAYING)
EDDIE: Alysia just walked
in on me in the bathtub.
-She saw everything.
-So?
EDDIE: Well, as long
as you're all right with it.
Hello?
Think it's your mother-in-law.
-Yeah. Mm-mm.
-Oh.
Steve is predisposed
at the moment.
-Ta-da.
-Ta-da.
You guys look great!
Daddy. You can be
the boy or the girl.
Whatever one you want.
I think I'll be the girl.
EDDIE: I think
you should take the phone.
Hey, Alysia. Munca wants
to say happy birthday to you.
Hello?
Happy birthday, sweetheart.
I hope you're having
a wonderful day.
YOUNG ALYSIA: We are.
Daddy's making me a castle.
MUNCA: That sounds terrific.
Who is the man
who answered the phone?
Oh, that's Eddie Body.
You got some glue for me?
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MUNCA: Uh-huh.
-And does he live there, too?
-YOUNG ALYSIA: Yes.
-And he has balls.
-Honey.
-(JOHNNY LAUGHS)
-STEVE: Hey, Ann.
This is Steve.
MUNCA: I didn't realize
there were so many
of you living there.
-What?
-MUNCA: I called the other day
and a strange woman
answered the phone,
and she kept asking me
if I was gonna drop by
with a windowpane.
I think she had me
confused with your super.
And now Eddie? Who's that?
Eddie lives here.
Uh-huh. Are you living
in one of those communes?
I know all about the communes
-in San Francisco.
-No, Ann,
we are not living
in a commune. All right?
The rent's very expensive here
and there's a few of us
sharing the apartment.
Are there other children?
Hold that pole up.
A few.
What about school?
Have you found one?
We are looking into that.
She has to go
to school, Steve.
STEVE: Hey, Ann,
we'll call you back
this afternoon.
All right. She comes
-through the drawbridge...
-JOHNNY: Get on in the tower.
-...the princess!
-JOHNNY: Come to the tower.
STEVE: In over the moat.
STEVE: And she fits through
-perfectly!
-JOHNNY: Hey!
Yeah!
-(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(EXCLAIMING)
All right.
-And blow 'em out!
-Blow 'em out!
Happy birthday!
-Yeah!
-(ALL CHEERING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
WOMAN: Women's power!
(CHEERING)
MAN 1: Gay men's rights!
Yeah!
MAN 2: Equality!
MAN 3: Come on! Come on!
MAN 4: Gay rights now!
WOMAN: Lesbian power!
-(RUSTLING)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
STEVE: Hello.
He's not in right now.
May I ask who's calling?
You never mentioned
that you were married,
or that she was pregnant!
EDDIE: I don't want this
to be a bad scene, okay?
STEVE: Does she know about me?
Does she know about you?
EDDIE: I'm trying to do
the responsible thing here.
Maybe you can't see that.
STEVE: What's that
supposed to mean?
EDDIE: Look,
you're a good father, Steve.
Did you ever wonder
if this is the right kinda life
for your daughter? Huh?
Being around
queers all the time?
STEVE: My daughter's happy.
EDDIE: She needs a mother.
This is what her mother
would have wanted.
EDDIE: Take care of your dad
for me, okay, kiddo?
STEVE: What do you want me
to tell Johnny and Paulette?
Tell them
the couch is available.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
RADIO JOCKEY: Winds tonight,
highs tomorrow
back in the 70s,
an ultra-beautiful
day tomorrow.
Oakland 65, San Jose 82,
in the city 67 degrees
at KFRC.
( SUNNY DAY
BY CAROUSEL II PLAYING)
I don't know what to take.
Well, it's gonna be hot
so, pack bathing suit
and some shorts.
I'm sure
if you forget anything,
Munca and Grumpa
will probably buy it for you.
And remember...
don't tell Munca or Grumpa
about any of Daddy's
boyfriends, okay?
-Patrick?
-No.
-Jerry?
-No.
Travis?
Okay. We don't ever
talk about Travis again. Deal?
Vinnie.
Vinnie?
Who's Vinnie?
Vinnie,
from Welcome Back, Kotter.
You like him!
Yes. You can tell
Munca and Grumpa
all about how much
Daddy loves Vinnie
from Welcome Back, Kotter.
Dad...
why do you
only have boyfriends
and never girlfriends?
Well, because...
your mother
was my favorite girl,
and I could
never love another girl
as much as I loved her.
Now go finish packing.
(YOUNG ALYSIA SCOFFS)
(SINGER VOCALIZING)
When I'm with you
All the world's
sunny and gay
Got to have you with me
To make everyday a sunny day
MUNCA: Oh, hey!
You're homesick?
No.
MUNCA: Um, Grumpa and I
are gonna go to Burger Giant
and pick up dinner.
-Do you wanna come with us?
-I'll stay.
Okay. Uncle Hank
and your cousins
are in the family room
watching the game,
if you want to join them.
What's that?
(MUNCA SMACKS LIPS)
Um, that's your
mother's clarinet.
Can I see it?
Let's look at it after dinner.
(THUDS)
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
MUNCA: All right,
look what we have!
-HANK: Hey, that looks good!
-Don't eat all the fries.
HANK: Can you please
hand them out?
-Gotta get those on the table.
-JANET: Look here. Nice!
-HANK: There we go.
-Thanks.
-Look at that, look at that!
-(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
JANET: One at a time.
And remember
to share please, okay?
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
-MUNCA: Cheers.
-Yes. Yeah, cheers with...
HANK: All right...
Beautiful...
Everybody has their...
HANK: Get onto the table.
Yeah.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(BOTTLES CLINKING)
(SNIFFING)
This is a brand-new
nightgown from JCPenney.
Do you like it?
Yes.
I seem to recall
your father forgot to pack
your pajamas last summer.
So, this year
we planned ahead.
So, tell me
about San Francisco.
Have you made some friends?
Johnny is probably
my best friend.
-Johnny?
-We used to live with him
at our old apartment.
He's really funny.
He has a lot
of pretty dresses.
Does your father
wear dresses, too?
Not anymore.
He's butch now.
What does that mean?
I don't know. He just says it.
You must be looking forward
to your new school
in the fall.
Your father tells me
that it's a French school
and you're going
to be expected
to speak French every day.
Yeah, and, also,
we get to wear a uniform.
Oh, I think
there's nothing prettier
than a schoolgirl
in her uniform.
All right, little one,
time for bed.
JANET: You think
he's neglecting her?
MUNCA: Well,
a new dress for the plane
would have been nice.
JANET: Probably
can't afford it.
MUNCA:
I know he can't.
JANET: Can you and Daddy
help him out?
MUNCA: We are, dear.
Your father's paying
for the private school
that Steve wanted.
I just don't understand
why he won't make an attempt
at getting
some sort of steady job.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(TIRES SQUEAL)
(STEVE SIGHS)
I missed you, Daddy.
I missed you too, Mouse.
-An orange. I got this.
-(YOUNG ALYSIA CHUCKLES)
Okay, this.
Okay. So, you can
see them all now.
An orange to oranges.
The corn...
Corn. All right,
flip 'em all over.
The buffalo...
and... the wheat.
(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
HOST: Next up
is Stephen Abbott.
"On the morning
of my thirtieth year,
"I wait in cold for a bus.
"The morning is clear.
"Angels have not
hit the streets yet."
Did you just
clean the apple for me?
"Where was I at age 13?
"Bus waiting
with trumpet case in my hand,
"next to a donut shop,
"sniffing strains
of Chuck Berry
"and the Drifters.
"Oh, birthdays, you broken
little golden promises.
"You ride my dreams
like ex-lovers,
"doing nothing with me,
yet I know you care.
"For I see your fires dancing
"on the melting candles
of my own little girl's cake,
"flickering and fluttering..."
You can't do this.
"...floating on air.
"Pull the buzzer if you dare.
"In heaven,
all buses run for free."
(GIGGLES)
(YOUNG ALYSIA YELPS)
STEVE: (LAUGHS)
That's not fair!
I'm gonna get you.
(YOUNG ALYSIA YELPS)
STEVE: Be careful.
"And no matter
where I go anymore,
"I'm already there."
-WOMAN: Yeah.
-MAN: Nice job.
(CROWD CLAPPING)
(ALARM BLARING)
Daddy?
STEVE: Hmm?
Daddy, I have school today.
(STEVE GROANS SOFTLY)
Get up!
Ah, shit.
RADIO JOCKEY:
KGO Morning News,
8:10 AM, San Francisco.
REPORTER: Singer,
beauty pageant winner,
and spokeswoman
for the Florida Orange Juice
Commission, Anita Bryant,
has started a campaign
to ban homosexuals...
-I want KFRC!
-Wait, wait, wait.
Bryant has endorsed
an initiative in California
called Proposition Six.
Prop Six will not only ban
gays and lesbians,
but anyone
supporting gay rights
from working in California's
public school system.
Jesus!
Openly gay candidate for
San Francisco City Supervisor,
Harvey Milk, has responded
by calling
for a national boycott
of Florida Orange Juice.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
Are you nervous?
No?
-Hey.
-Dropping off?
Yeah. Alysia Abbott,
Madame Brune's Class.
I think we're a little late.
I'll make sure she gets there.
Hey, Alysia.
I'm proud of you.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
She says you're degueulasse.
Do you know
what degueulasse means?
WOMAN: Hey, salut!
STUDENT: Hello, Miss M.
She doesn't know
what it means.
STEVE: Hey, honey.
What is "deguglassey"?
You mean " degueulasse"?
It means dirty or...
gross or disgusting.
Is that a word
they taught you in school?
The bathroom sink
can get tres degueulasse.
Why can't I go
to a normal school?
You know how amazing it is
to learn a different language?
Huh? Learn about
different cultures?
You know?
When you get older,
we'll travel
through France together.
And we'll go see
the Arc de Triomphe
and the Notre Dame.
All right. (SIGHS)
Watch the boob tube.
Don't answer the door...
(KISSES) ...and I'll see you
in a few hours.
You're neglecting me.
No, I'm not neglecting you.
I'm teaching you independence.
All right.
-(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)
-(SCREAMING ON TV)
STEVE: Back
when I was in school,
I was taught
the works of Lord Byron,
Walt Whitman, Gertrude Stein,
but it was never
mentioned to me
that any of these
famous poets were gay.
A fundamental element of what
probably influenced them
most as writers
was ignored by history.
If only I had
known that back then,
think what a difference
that would have made.
Alysia!
What happened?
Look at me.
This costs money, okay? You...
-Damn it.
-Hey, man.
Looks like
you got your hands full.
I'm gonna split.
Oh, no, just let me
put her to bed.
MAN: It's okay.
Some other time.
-(SCREAMING ON TV)
-(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)
REPORTER: Troops searching
the Jonestown
religious commune...
STEVE: Do you remember
which bus to take
after school today?
REPORTER: ...earlier today.
STEVE: You remember the name
of the stop to get off at?
REPORTER: ...no one
was alive at the headquarters
of the People's Temple.
Do you want me
to write it down?
Why can't you just pick me up?
Because I told you,
I have my writer's workshop
this afternoon.
And besides, it's good for you
to learn how to take the bus.
I mean,
it teaches you independence.
God damn it, Alysia!
REPORTER:
...violence on the bodies.
This is Daddy's work. Okay?
Do you understand?
It's really important.
Look.
Look. I'm sorry.
REPORTER: About 1,100 persons,
all of them Americans,
have been reported...
in the camp.
Ryan had led a group of...
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
Does your dad
like boys or girls?
Ew, your dad likes boys.
That looks good.
Peanut butter and jelly?
Just peanut butter.
We ran out of jelly.
Mine's egg salad.
My boyfriend makes the best
egg salad sandwiches.
(BRAKES SQUEAL)
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(CAR HONKS)
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
Are you lost?
Yes.
Where do you live?
Page Street.
Oh, that's not very far.
I can drive you. Get in.
Excuse me, little girl.
I've got her. Thanks.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
STEVE: Mouse!
What happened?
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
You knew where
to get off the bus. What...
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Maybe she's a little young
to ride the buses alone?
STEVE: No, she knew
where to get off the bus.
I wrote it down.
Well, I'm glad I could help.
STEVE: Thank you.
( SOUVENIR BY ORCHESTRAL
MANEUVERS IN THE DARK PLAYING)
(INAUDIBLE)
DIANNE FEINSTEIN: As president
of the Board of Supervisors,
it's my duty
to make this announcement.
Both Mayor Moscone
and Supervisor Harvey Milk
have been shot and killed.
(CROWD EXCLAIMING)
It's my direction
It's my proposal
It's so hard
It's leading me astray
My obsession
It's my creation...
RADIO HOST: The Quake,
KQAK, San Francisco.
The Rock of the '80s...
-Hey!
-RADIO HOST: ...Bay Area.
Hey, that's my dad's car!
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(SIGHS) Shit.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
Dad?
TV HOST: Your host
on this exclusive edition
of Lifestyles
of the Rich and Famous...
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
-...is celebrity Robin Leach.
In the untold story...
-Hello?
-MUNCA: Hi, sweetie.
Hi, Munca.
How is everything?
How's school?
We have finals this week.
Well, then I know
you're studying.
I am.
How is your father?
Tell him we said hi.
-He's out right now.
-Again?
Alysia, you shouldn't be
left alone like this,
especially in the evening.
It's okay. I'm used to it.
(SIGHS)
You know, Alysia,
if you ever feel like
you need a change,
you are more than
welcome here.
The high school
your mother went to
is just down the street.
She graduated valedictorian.
Alysia? Honey?
Yeah, I'm here.
(SMACKS LIPS)
I should get back to studying.
Okay.
Bye.
TV HOST: ...at the billionaire
star-studded event.
For Malcolm, a lifestyle...
(DOOR CREAKS)
STEVE: Charlie.
(CHARLIE LAUGHING MANIACALLY)
-CHARLIE: Hey!
-STEVE: Quiet.
-(CHARLIE SCREAMS)
-(GLASS BREAKS)
-(CHARLIE LAUGHING MANIACALLY)
-STEVE: Charlie.
-CHARLIE: You pushed that...
-Charlie. Hey!
-...out of my arm.
-(KNOCK ON DOOR)
STEVE: Oh, shit.
-Hey, Mouse.
-(DOOR CREAKS)
Hey, sorry I'm late.
-Did you get dinner?
-CHARLIE: Is she asleep?
-Charlie! Shh!
-(LAUGHING)
Alysia, you remember Charlie?
Hey!
Did you tell her
the good news?
My book is getting published.
(LAUGHS)
-I'm gonna be published!
-(CHARLIE LAUGHS)
STEVE: I am so excited!
I'm so excited!
-Congratulations.
-Did you see his face?
-Hey!
-(BOTH LAUGH MANIACALLY)
STEVE: Hey! Hey!
Take it easy! God!
CHARLIE: Hey, hey, hey.
Watch it!
-STEVE: You big bear.
-CHARLIE: I'm walkin' here.
STEVE: Come here,
you teddy bear.
(HIGH-PITCHED)
You little bitty teddy bear.
You little teddy bear.
-CHARLIE: Yeah, yeah. Yeah!
-STEVE: Come here, you...
(IN NORMAL VOICE) Come on.
All right, don't touch that.
CHARLIE: Hey, hey, hey!
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
(LAUGHING)
Are we going to
the Palladium Saturday night?
My dad's taking his girlfriend
to Tahoe this weekend.
We'll have the place
to ourselves. No curfew.
I can't. I have to go to
my dad's stupid book party.
MAN: ...listen to it.
It's pretty good actually.
-MAN: You have good taste.
-There he is.
He just started working here.
He's hella cute.
YAYNE: Yeah. He looks like
John Taylor from Duran Duran.
I think he's better looking
than John Taylor.
Oh. So, someone else
has noticed him.
-(PURRS)
-What?
I don't get to think
a boy is cute?
(BELL DINGING)
MAN: How's everything
goin' out here?
Is she gonna talk to him?
I think
that's what's happening.
MAN: I did. I found it,
and it wasn't that hard.
I just looked under the chair.
Do you know
if they're any good?
-Oh, yes, she is.
-Okay. Okay.
They're okay.
Sorta trendy.
What are you into?
Uh, Depeche Mode. OMD.
I have something
you might really like.
SKID: She doesn't
even like that record.
YAYNE: Yes.
Not sure
he's playing on your team.
What do you mean?
He may or may not like girls.
We don't know yet.
(SIGHS) I hate it
when you can't tell.
Welcome to my life,
every day.
Five bucks.
If you hate it,
just bring it back.
I'm Sam.
I'm Alysia.
YAYNE: Maybe he's...
(BRITISH ACCENT) ...British.
What does that have to do
with anything?
YAYNE: You know, British boys
always look kinda gay.
-He didn't have an accent.
-YAYNE: Oh.
SKID: Did you hear
about the two gay Irish boys?
-No.
-Shaun Fitzpatrick
and Patrick Fitzshaun!
(BOTH LAUGH)
YAYNE: My uncle's a doctor,
he says being gay
can cause cancer.
-That's ridiculous.
-Or it's like, a new cancer
that they discovered
that gay people can get.
It's like VD,
but way worse.
They also discovered
a new kind of gay dinosaur.
It's called the Mega-Sore-Ass.
-(YAYNE LAUGHS)
-(SKID CHORTLES)
YAYNE: Shit.
Um, does anyone
have a tampon?
I have some at my house.
Oh, God, I'm starving.
Can we raid your refrigerator?
Uh, yeah.
Let me go ask my dad
if I can have company.
He might be writing.
SKID: Right.
YAYNE: Hurry.
Damn it.
Dad?
Oh.
-Hey, Mouse.
-Is my dad home?
Mm-mm.
No. He took Bart to, um...
Oakland? Oakland.
Okay, tell him
I'll be back later.
Yeah, my dad's working.
We can't disturb him.
(CHUCKLES)
What the hell is this?
What?
Are these from the 1950s?
(BOTH LAUGH)
-They look like pillows. Look.
-YAYNE: Yeah.
-It's like a sponge.
-(SKID SNORTS)
(BOTH LAUGH MANIACALLY)
Should've got it.
It'll be fine.
If the jacket's still there
-in, like, a week...
-STEVE: Hey, girls.
SKID AND YAYNE:
Hey, Mr. Abbott.
Alysia.
Copies of my book
just arrived.
You guys wanna come over?
I'm about to go show 'em
to Charlie.
I saw your note.
You were working.
We didn't wanna disturb you.
My note. I...
Maybe it was an old note.
Anyway, we're gonna go
to Yayne's to study.
Okay. Did you invite the girls
to the book party on Saturday?
They already have plans
Saturday night, Dad.
Oh. (SMACKS LIPS)
Okay. Bye, Dad.
Okay.
I like your dad's jacket.
It's cool.
Yeah.
Maybe, but not on him.
Does he have a girlfriend?
He never got over my mom.
Well, but maybe he's just...
She flew through
the windshield of her car.
They said
the highway was stained
with her blood for weeks.
ALYSIA: Where's Charlie?
He's missing your big night?
I thought you and I should
spend some time together.
Just the two of us.
And all your
arty-farty friends.
How did I raise
such a normal girl?
Huh?
Where did I screw up?
You really want me
to go down the list?
Because we'll probably
miss the party.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, what if...
what if we spent
one night a week together?
You know,
maybe dinner and a movie.
Sure. Sounds good, Dad.
Are you getting
paid a lot for this book?
Well, it's a small
publishing company,
so there isn't much.
So, this isn't gonna
make us rich.
Well, it's not
about the money, Alysia.
It's poetic and honorable
to live the way that we do.
Money would just ruin us.
No, it wouldn't.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
STEVE: Oh, hey,
thank you guys for coming.
Thank you for coming.
MAN: The guest of honor.
Finally!
Kevin.
-So wonderful to see you.
-Ah.
Do you remember
my daughter Alysia?
Of course.
How's your French
coming along, Alysia?
She's practically fluent.
In a few years,
she'll be a famous writer
living in Paris.
(KEVIN CHUCKLES)
My daughter Piaf
is only three years old
and already
wants to be a poet.
Tell her the...
What she said
the other day about her feet.
KEVIN: I was helping her
with her socks.
She spotted a hole
in one and said,
"A hole in my sock,
"a balcony for my toes."
-(KEVIN LAUGHS)
-STEVE: Isn't that brilliant?
And again, Kevin,
thank you so much.
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
So...
What grade
are you in, Alysia?
Sophomore.
Oh.
Have you
thought about college?
Yeah, maybe NYU.
New York.
That's far from home.
Hmm. That's the point.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, my daughter
goes to school in LA.
Is that guacamole?
Wasabi.
(BOTH LAUGH)
May I give you
a piece of advice?
Something I wish
I could have told my daughter
before she left.
Sure.
If you see small blisters
on the tip of a man's penis...
stay away.
It's called herpes,
and it's not pretty.
(COUGHING)
Careful. It's spicy.
(CHUCKLES)
(DINGING)
He needs no introduction...
but I wrote a really good one.
-(AUDIENCE TITTERS)
-(KEVIN CLEARS THROAT)
A radical.
A father,
a lover.
His writing is personal
and political.
Proving a monk and a whore,
creatively,
can inhabit the same body,
my friend Stephen Abbott.
(LIGHT CLAPPING)
-STEVE: Again, Kevin...
-(WHOOPS)
...thank you.
Thank you all
for coming this evening.
(STEVE EXHALES)
"Before my wife died,
"she dreamt
of our fish tank breaking
"and all the fish flopping
into the street.
"No one would help her
save them.
"She was a psychologist
"who fell in love
with her psychotic patient.
"He was a kid
who wanted to kill everyone
"from his small town.
"But he was fantastic in bed,
she said.
"Although he hated queers,
"he imagined me
coming toward him like Jesus.
"With a garland of roses
on my head.
"I knew
this boded ill fortune.
"When I learned
my wife's skull
"was crushed by a truck,
"my head swam
like an hourglass
into a TV set.
"All the channels went crazy.
"I tried explaining the event
to my five-year-old daughter,
"using her own toy cars.
"We distance ourselves
for protection,
"wear scarves
when it's cold out.
"What seems most outlandish
in our autobiography
"is what really happened.
"It's only circumstance
"that make death
a terrible event.
"You should not have
to burn your hand every day
"to feel the mystery of fire."
(GUESTS CLAPPING)
-Are you leaving?
-Why'd you have to read that?
What was wrong with it?
That's personal stuff
about our family.
Why'd you have to share it
with a bunch of strangers?
Alysia, that's what
writing is all about.
Sharing your
personal experiences.
You know that's always been
a big, important part
of my work
is being truthful.
Yeah, but what you said
wasn't all true.
What do you mean?
You said Mom was in love
with her patient
from the car crash.
Why would you say that?
Because she was.
I thought you and Mom
were so in love,
you never got over her.
Isn't that why
you're with men now?
(EXHALES)
Is that what you think?
It's what you told me.
Alysia, where are you going?
I'm spending the night
at Yayne's.
SKID: Hey, you made it!
Wait. What happened
to the book party?
Sucked.
Well, then,
let's get some booze
and get hella drunk!
(CHUCKLES)
I told my dad I was staying
at your house tonight.
I told my mom I was staying
at your place tonight.
-(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
-(SKID LAUGHS)
No. It's not funny!
-SKID: It's kind of funny.
-No, it's not.
-Yeah.
-SKID: I think it's funny.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
SKID: Look,
it's record store guy.
YAYNE: You should go ask him.
-Why me?
-He's your boyfriend.
He's not my boyfriend.
-(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
-Practically.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hey, Alysia.
Oh, hey, Sam.
You guys goin' in?
Yeah, we're just
havin' a smoke.
Me too.
Go on.
-Sam?
-Yeah?
I really liked that album
you recommended.
-Which one was it?
-The Birthday Party.
Oh, yeah, cool. I'm glad.
ALYSIA: Sam?
Yeah.
If we gave you some money,
would you mind
going to Jack's Market?
Sure. What do you guys want?
-SKID: Bourbon?
-ALYSIA: Bourbon.
Bourbon?
-What?
-Say vodka, vodka.
People drink vodka
all the time.
-Okay. Vodka.
-Wait, wait, wait. No, no, no.
-Okay. Vodka.
-We haven't had vodka.
ALYSIA: Okay, bourbon.
Get bourbon.
(SQUEALING)
(SKID LAUGHS MANIACALLY)
(SCREAMS)
-Could get hella used to this.
-Could if I wanted to.
(SKID LAUGHS MANIACALLY)
( ESSENTIAL THINGS
BY A NEW PERSONALITY PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
What are these
essential things you ask?
Well, I'd like to tell you
But there's some things
you must figure
On your own
Different things
are important
To different people
See, I told you.
He's a total fag!
(LAUGHING)
Ah, (SIGHS)
I see we're back to OJ.
(CHUCKLES) Well,
it's Gay Freedom Day
and I am gonna drink
whatever the hell I want.
It's not called
Gay Freedom anymore.
-It's called Gay Pride now.
-Okay. (CHUCKLES)
-(CLINKING)
-Cheers.
-CHARLIE: Mm. Mm!
-Mm.
-Oh, God, Charlie.
-The topping.
It's a little early,
don't you think?
We're celebrating.
(SIGHS)
Yeah, okay.
(SNORTS)
-STEVE: Hm. Hey.
-Hey. What?
That? What is that?
Oh, it's probably
just a bruise.
It better not be a hickey.
And what if it is?
(BOTH LAUGH)
It probably is.
Hey, Alysia, are you joinin'
us for the parade today?
I think I'll sit this one out.
So, where were you last night?
ALYSIA: What do you mean?
Well, I talked to Yayne's mom.
ALYSIA: What?
Yeah. She said the two of you
didn't stay there last night.
Where were you?
You called Yayne's mom?
No, she called me.
Where were you?
CHARLIE: I'm gonna
grab our jackets.
ALYSIA: There was a mix-up,
and we ended up staying
at Skid's dad's house
in Pacific Heights.
Her mom
didn't know that, okay?
She didn't know
where you were,
and I didn't know either.
-ALYSIA: We were fine, Dad.
-I'm sure you were fine,
okay, but you need to call.
Hey, I need to know
where you are.
I mean, I'm your father,
and you're my responsibility.
Oh, so now you're gonna
start being responsible?
Did it ever occur to you
to try that
earlier in my childhood?
Hey! What's that
supposed to mean?
Listen, I was trying
to teach you
to become independent,
all right?
There's a lot
of value in that.
Were you doing that
'cause it was valuable for me?
Or because it was
convenient for you?
Convi... Convenient for me?
You know,
maybe you didn't feel so bad
about going out all the time
and leaving me alone
'cause you convinced yourself
it was somehow good for me.
I think it was!
Great.
Well, your experiment worked.
I can take care of myself.
Alysia, I know that
you can take care of yourself.
Okay, I was worried
because no one knew
where you were.
Okay, well, I get worried when
I have no idea where you are.
-Do you ever think about that?
-Well, listen,
if you're so unhappy,
maybe you might wanna find
-some other place to stay!
-Maybe I will.
Munca says I can move in
with them till I graduate.
STEVE: Oh, great. Go live
with your grandparents.
It sure would make my life
a hell of a lot easier.
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Okay.
How do we look?
Like all the other fags.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
How dare you?
Just leave me alone, Charlie.
You know, I get it
if a bunch
of ignorant teenagers
say that kinda shit
because they don't know
any better.
But, you?
You know better.
(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(CROWD CHEERING)
MAN: I got you. Hold on.
WOMAN: Hey, no one
danced with me.
-MAN: You wanna dance?
-WOMAN: Come on.
Hey.
Hey!
Where's Charlie?
Oh, he...
He was drunk,
so I left him at The End Up.
Are you hungry?
-Sure.
-Well, here, sit down.
I just ordered some takeout.
I'm sorry
if I surprised you
the other night
at the book party.
I realize there's stuff
about my relationship
with your mother
that I probably should have
explained to you earlier.
I just didn't think
you were old enough
at the time to understand.
I don't want you to think that
I became the person that I am
because of your mother's death
'cause that's not true.
I was with men
before I met your mother
and she knew that.
So, why did you get married?
Because we loved each other
and we cared for each other.
She was my best friend
and...
we tried to make it work,
we did.
But in the end...
I couldn't give her
what she needed
and that's why
she ended up with Wolfe,
the guy she was with
the night she died.
Listen...
when I was your age,
I couldn't be the person
that I wanted to be.
I had to pretend
to be somebody else.
And that kind of thing can...
(VOICE BREAKING) ...can really
eat you up as a kid.
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
All right.
One, two,
-three. Graduation!
-Yeah!
-(ALL CHUCKLE)
-STEVE: Amazing.
PROFESSOR: So,
this is the poem in which
Hugo's lyrical first voice
begins to achieve maturity.
The central themes
are those of childhood,
nature, love.
(ENGINE WHIRRING,
BRAKE SQUEALS)
ALYSIA: Thank you.
Dad, I'm home!
(WINDCHIMES TINKLING)
(GATE CLANGS)
Can I help you?
Uh, I'm not sure
I'm in the right place.
Are you looking
for the Maitri Hospice?
Yeah, um, I'm supposed
to meet my father here.
His name is Stephen Abbott.
You must be Alysia.
I'm Sue.
Your father
is excited to see you.
He's visiting with JD.
They're in
the first room downstairs.
Okay. Thanks.
STEVE: "A couple summers ago,
"I was having problems
with my boyfriend.
"I wanted a monogamous
couple relationship.
"Joe was fond of me
"but felt my desire
for categories was stifling.
"To bridge
our communication gap..."
-(KNOCKS)
-"...we took acid..."
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Hi, Dad!
My girl! And look at you!
You look so New York!
(STEVE GROANS)
Hi, I'm Alysia.
Welcome home.
Your father
has been telling me
all about your college
adventures at NYU.
You have three roommates
and they're all named Rachel?
Yep. We call them
by their last names.
Goodman, Strauss, and Shaw.
Sounds like a law firm.
(JD COUGHS)
I've always wanted
to see New York City.
I bet it's incredible.
Listen, JD...
I don't think I'm gonna
make it over here
again this week, so...
Have a nice Christmas.
Thanks, Steve.
Shall we?
(OPERATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
STEVE: So,
how are your classes?
NYU holding up
to its reputation?
Well, I love my classes,
but I just don't really
feel like a New Yorker yet.
STEVE: Hm.
You will.
Remember...
New York City
is filled with people
who weren't
New Yorkers at first.
It's all part of living
in the real world,
they're always trying to fit in.
Well, I'd like
to fit in somewhere.
But... You know...
If New York isn't for you...
maybe you can look into
transferring to UC Berkeley,
or even San Francisco State.
I mean...
I sure wouldn't complain
if you were closer to home.
How's your spaghetti?
Good,
but it's angel hair, Daddy.
Not all pasta's
called spaghetti.
Right. Right.
WAITRESS: Can I get you two
anything else?
ALYSIA: An espresso, please.
Um, can I get another
ginger ale, please?
Still not drinking?
Can you believe it?
No drugs, no alcohol,
not even pot.
Maybe Charlie dumping me
wasn't such
a bad thing after all.
You seem good.
I've been meditating
at the Zen Center.
You know, it's amazing,
the sense of calm and peace
you can get from
just clearing your mind.
You know, I think you could
really benefit from it.
I've meditated before.
No, I know. I'm talkin' about
committing to it
as a practice.
I think it would
really help you focus.
Well, I already have
plenty to focus on at school.
Yeah, I know,
but I just think it might be
-something maybe you could...
-Dad.
Not all your issues
have to be my issues.
You're right.
-ALYSIA: Thanks.
-STEVE: Hm.
Thank you.
What is this?
Early Christmas present.
It's a collection of
my favorite work from school.
Mostly from
my creative writing class
but also a few things
I just wrote on my own.
"Your voice..."
What was it? "Your voice..."
The poem that you wrote
when you were six.
Oh, yeah! Um...
-"Your voice has..."
-STEVE: "Your voice has..."
"Your voice has power.
-"And when the power goes..."
-"And when..." Yeah.
-"...it's the hiccups."
-"It's the hiccups."
(ALYSIA CHUCKLES)
Oh, I love it.
You know,
I can't wait to read it.
ALYSIA: Don't get too excited.
Some are still
works in progress.
-Where'd you get that from?
-(ALYSIA CHUCKLES)
How old is the boy
you're visiting
at the hospice?
JD?
He just turned 23.
He's young.
Yeah, he wants to be
a fashion designer.
"The next Calvin Klein,"
he says.
Then he should definitely
move to New York.
He's in hospice, Alysia.
You know what that is?
It's a place
where people go to die.
They're gonna
find a cure, right?
The current president
doesn't really have that
on his to-do list.
You know,
Republicans see health care
the same way
they see their wealth.
"It's your responsibility.
"You should
take care of it yourself."
So, there's actually something
I wanted to talk to you about.
Oh, did I say
the wrong pasta again?
(CHUCKLES) Dad!
What, there's no espresso
maker at the apartment?
Dad, I'm serious.
What?
NYU offers a program
where you can study
a year abroad.
I'd like to apply to go
to school in France next year.
France?
It looks like my scholarship
will cover most of the costs.
And I spoke with Munca.
She says she and Grumpa
will pay for my plane ticket
and whatever
other expenses I might need.
So, you've already
spoken with them about this?
Well, I know
you couldn't afford it.
Wow, I...
There I was at dinner,
trying to convince you
to move back home,
and now you're moving to
the other side of the world.
You're okay
with the idea, though, right?
You were the one
who always encouraged me
to do something like this.
Of course. Of course.
I'm just sad to know
that you'll be so far away,
that's all.
Yeah, but you'll come visit.
In Paris?
We'll go to the Musee d'Orsay.
I've been studying
Flaubert and Balzac
in my 19th century
history class,
and I would love
to see the paintings
from that period.
Yeah, I mean...
I'd love to, but...
We'll just have
to wait and see.
(GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
Oh, that's my dad's favorite,
so I just wanted to read it.
-I will try to...
-No.
(WAITER SPEAKING FRENCH)
-ALYSIA: Merci.
(PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
FRIEND: I didn't like it.
-ALYSIA: No? Why?
-FRIEND: No.
See you tomorrow.
ALYSIA: Okay.
(DOG BARKS DISTANTLY)
TOURIST 1: Remember?
Or at least
at the Eiffel Tower you did!
TOURIST 2: Yeah, right?
TOURIST 3: Look at that guy.
TOURIST 1: So embarrassing.
TOURIST 2: I think
it's a little further
down that way.
TOURIST 3: Is it?
TOURIST 1: Do you think?
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
Ouais.
-Alysia.
Yeah.
I apologize
about the tourists.
-It was very rude.
-(ALYSIA LAUGHS)
It's okay. I'm not a tourist.
I'm a student.
Oh, La Sorbonne?
Baudelaire.
I can see you have
good taste in shoes
and in French writers.
He's my father's
absolute favorite.
I'm just getting
familiar with him.
Well, your father
has good taste.
Are you staying
near the school?
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
for Young Worker Girls?
I always loved the name.
It has such
a nice socialist touch to it.
-Don't you think?
-Your English is really good.
Thank you
but my timing is not.
Perhaps we could meet again
for some coffee?
-Okay.
-THEO: Okay, perfect.
Uh, tomorrow, same time,
Cafe Louis Philippe?
-Sure.
-Excellent.
-See you tomorrow.
-Yeah.
(THEO SPEAKING FRENCH)
Workers of the world unite!
ALYSIA: (READING) "Dear Daddy.
"Tonight I left my friends
"and walked from
Boulevard Filles du Calvaire
"into the Marais,
"to the Place des Vosges,
the oldest square in Paris."
"I ate a falafel
on a park bench
"in the Jardin Louis Treize.
"I felt so French, Daddy.
"A cute boy even mistook me
for a Parisian."
THEO: Sorry. There's like a...
You know, I evolved, you know.
ALYSIA: "Please keep writing.
"I love hearing
the details of your life
"and everything
that's happening back home.
"I miss you.
"Love, Alysia."
"P.S...
"I'm so sorry
to hear about JD.
"He seemed like
such a nice person."
NURSE: Stephen Abbott.
(DOOR CREAKS)
-(BIRDS CHIRPING)
-(SOFT CLATTER)
-Here you are.
-Mm.
(THEO SPEAKS FRENCH)
What's in the bag?
-THEO: Ooh, fancy.
-Ooh.
-Here.
-Thank you.
Mm.
-(SPEAKING FRENCH)
We have to go. If we don't go
to the market now,
everything will be gone.
We won't have
anything for dinner.
-Okay?
-Can we walk there?
Um, we don't have time.
We can take the bicycles.
I don't know
how to ride a bicycle.
Pardon?
-I've never been
on a bicycle before.
-(SNICKERING)
It's not funny,
it's embarrassing.
It's very easy,
I'll show you.
Come.
Come on. Trust me.
-I don't...
-Okay?
Okay. So, you keep
looking forward
and you never
stop pedaling. Okay?
Mm-hm. I'm fine
as long as you're with me.
-I'm here. Let's go.
-(SIGHS, CHUCKLES) Okay.
-Okay. No, no.
-(SCREAMS, LAUGHS) No!
-You're all right.
-Yeah, okay.
-Okay. Let's go again.
-Yeah. Okay.
-All right. Let's go.
-Okay. Uh-huh.
ALYSIA: This isn't so bad.
(WHOOPING TRIUMPHANTLY)
You're doing great!
Keep going!
Bravo!
Bravo!
(LAUGHS)
Theo!
(PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(SCREAMS)
(GASPS, CHUCKLES)
-You all right?
-Yeah.
(SCREAMS, CHUCKLES)
-You okay?
-Yeah, I slipped.
-Oh, God.
-(ALYSIA PANTING)
-You all right?
-Yeah.
Oh, my God, that was fun.
THEO: I am out of breath.
(ALYSIA CONTINUES PANTING)
Maybe instead of going
back to New York,
I could stay
and finish school in Paris.
I would love that.
ALYSIA: Okay, race you back!
THEO: Okay.
(ALYSIA LAUGHS)
(CHUCKLES)
THEO: What's so funny?
"Spending your school break
"in the country with Theo
sounds wonderful.
"You were lucky to have found
a boyfriend with rich parents.
"I only hope you're not
becoming too bourgeois."
Ooh, I can already tell
he and I will get along
beautifully.
Hey, Alysia, I was thinking...
Maybe if you plan
on staying in Paris,
you could, uh,
move out of the dormitory
and move into my apartment.
It's only four blocks away
from school.
I know it's small,
but just think...
your very own
Parisian pied-a-terre.
Alysia?
You there?
Yeah, I'm here.
Well, let's call
your father now
and see what he thinks.
Daddy does Tai Chi
on Sunday mornings.
He won't be home yet.
-(BIRDS CHIRPING)
-(GATE CREAKS, THUDS)
(CAR STARTING)
(PHONE BEEPS)
ALYSIA: (OVER PHONE) Daddy?
STEVE: (OVER PHONE) Mouse?
I got your letter.
STEVE: Did you book
your flight home yet?
I was thinking maybe I should
stay and finish
the semester first.
(STEVE SIGHS)
I need someone
to help me, Alysia. I...
I really need you here.
ALYSIA: (OVER PHONE)
I don't know if I can do it.
STEVE: (OVER PHONE) Do what?
(ALYSIA SIGHS WEARILY)
ALYSIA: Take care of you.
STEVE: Do you know how
hard it is
for me to ask you this?
I wasn't ready to care for you
when your mother died...
but I did.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN 1: How about a smile?
-Yuppie!
-Fuck off.
(BOTH LAUGH)
MAN 2: Nice, dude.
WOMAN 1: (ON TV) So, who's...
the world?
WOMAN 2: Well,
it wasn't your mother.
Did I get a package?
-WOMAN 1: (ON TV) Me!
-No, it's from Theo.
That one, though...
WOMAN1: ...in the world!
I finally won a giveaway.
And you said I was stupid
for entering so many contests.
(OVER VOICEMAIL)
Hey! It's Yayne again.
I left you a million messages.
I wanna hear all about France.
-Wanna go out tonight?
-How are you feeling?
My feet are sore.
It took me 10 minutes
just to walk down the hallway
and back to take a piss.
Well, why don't you take
one of the pain pills?
'Cause they're no fun
when you're actually in pain.
WOMAN 1: (ON TV)
Who's stupid now?
Yeah. Stupid all the way
to the bank.
Who's the letter from?
A rejection letter
from the publisher.
It says they like my work.
Blah-blah-blah-blah.
And then it goes on to say
something about my ponytail.
I don't even have a ponytail.
WOMAN 3: Sure. The women.
It says "potential," Dad.
Huh?
They're talking
about your potential.
Oh, (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(COUGHING)
I thought they didn't want
to publish my book
because I had a ponytail.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY, COUGHS)
That would have been a first.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
WOMAN 4: (ON TV)
Of course not, Dorothy.
How's your writing going?
What?
Your writing?
How's your writing going?
I really enjoyed
your letters from France.
You know, you really made me
feel like I was right there.
There's not a lot for me
to write about here.
You should be
writing about all this.
What's happening to us.
That's what I'd be doing.
How was your lunch?
It burned.
So, you haven't
eaten anything all day?
(GROANS)
I'm not hungry.
Dad, you have to eat.
(STEVE GROANS SOFTLY)
(STEVE GROANS SOFTLY)
WOMAN 4: (ON TV) Dorothy,
would you please check my list
and see if I forgot
to invite anybody
to my Moonlight Madness...
STEVE: Alysia.
Yeah?
STEVE: I wanna go out.
ALYSIA: Where?
Somewhere there's people.
(STEVE COUGHS)
Today might not be
a good day, Dad.
(STEVE COUGHS)
Well, perhaps
I should update you
on my prognosis, Alysia.
There will be
no more good days.
(STEVE CONTINUES COUGHING)
(TV STATIC WHIRRING)
(SNORING)
Hey, Dad?
Thinking of going out
for a little bit.
Are you okay?
STEVE: Okay.
Have fun, Mouse.
Mouse?
Yeah?
I know you're angry,
but it would help me
to know that you're angry
because I have AIDS...
and the doctors
haven't found a cure yet...
than shifting your anger
to other things...
like me burning my lunch
or whatever.
Okay.
Thank you.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I should have told you
about all of this sooner.
No.
I get it. Like,
you've been dealing with a lot
since you've been back.
No, I mean, before this.
Like in high school.
I don't know why I kept
everything such a secret.
I mean, you know,
no one would have cared.
We all thought your dad was,
like, really cool.
-Really?
-YAYNE: Mm-hm.
There were a lotta gay jokes
going around
back then, though.
That was Skid.
You were laughing
at those jokes, too, Yayne.
I mean, we were idiots.
Why didn't you
ever say something?
I honestly don't think
I knew how to.
When you keep a secret
about something for so long,
it becomes a part of you.
And...
having to finally admit
you were lying about something
for so many years...
well...
That ends up being
more embarrassing
than the stupid thing
you were trying to hide
in the first place.
MAN 1: (WHISTLING) Ow!
-MAN 2: The fuck we got here?
-MAN 3: Hey!
If someone's acknowledging you
for being beautiful,
you should say, "thanks"!
-MAN 2: I'd fuck that, dude.
-MAN 4: Fuck.
(MEN LAUGH)
(SIRENS APPROACHING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(DOOR CREAKS SHUT)
(STEVE BREATHING DEEPLY)
(COUGHING)
(EXHALES WEARILY)
WOMAN: Thanks.
I'm picking up
for Stephen Abbott.
Can I see some ID?
(WOMAN SIGHS)
Alysia Abbott?
You're Steve Abbott's
daughter?
Yeah.
You probably don't remember,
but I shared an apartment
with you and your father
when you were that little.
(SIGHS)
-I'm Paulette.
-ALYSIA: Yeah, Paulette!
Of course I remember you.
God, that was such
a long time ago.
How are you?
Hanging in there.
Are you still friends
with Johnny?
I have the best memories
of playing dress-up with him.
He passed away
about two years ago.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
He was a good friend.
What about Eddie?
The guy my dad liked so much.
No idea.
I've sort of kept to myself
these past few years.
I mean, it got too hard
to keep losing friends.
I stopped
reading the newspaper.
God, I was scared
I would recognize
another face
among all those young men.
It's...
Oh, shit.
I'm sorry. I...
It's okay.
How is he doing?
You tell me.
Oh.
He's been approved for AZT.
That's good news.
-Yeah?
-PAULETTE: Yeah.
What is that?
It's supposed to be
a new wonder drug.
Everyone has high hopes
for this one,
but the side effects
can be pretty strong.
Rashes, vomiting,
liver damage,
and they still don't know
if it works or not.
Maybe he shouldn't take it.
These people
are fighting for their lives.
They... they have
to try everything.
One day,
one of these medicines
will actually work.
There will be a pill
that you can just take
and you won't get AIDS,
and we'll be able to thank
people like your dad for that.
Thank you.
Tell him I say, "hi."
I love seeing his stories
published in the magazines.
I'd say to my friends,
"I used to live
with this guy."
Hey.
You know, a lot of the guys
that are coming in here
are going through this...
all alone. They...
They lost everyone.
It's good that he has you.
(DOOR OPENS)
(SIGHS) All right,
get dressed.
Where are we going?
Anywhere you want.
The Folsom Baths?
Hey, Steve.
Who's that?
I don't know.
I can hardly see anything,
my eyes have gotten so bad.
It's like being on acid.
That reminds me.
You'll never guess
who works at the pharmacy.
-STEVE: Who?
-Our old roommate, Paulette.
Oh.
Is she still pushing drugs?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Dad, she's a pharmacist.
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, I can just see it.
"Here's your allergy medicine
and two hits of angel dust."
Nobody does
angel dust anymore.
I guarantee you,
Paulette does.
(STEVE CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I wish I could have seen you
as a harried mother.
"Prudence, Bernard,
put down Grandpa's ashes."
Dad, that's terrible.
Does it make you uncomfortable
when I talk about my remains?
No, it's those names.
They're horrible.
Do you know the story
behind your name?
I can't remember
if you told me.
The day you were born,
I was standing
behind the window
at the baby ward.
And I remember
my face was so close
to the glass
that I was fogging it up
with my breathing.
And I remember
looking at all the new babies.
And you all looked like fruit
in a supermarket.
And there you were.
And I remember lookin' at you,
not to see if you resembled
me or your mother,
but to see if I could tell
what kind of person
you were gonna be.
And all I kept thinking about
was the Black Panther,
Angela Davis,
holding her fist up in court.
And we hadn't
decided on a name yet,
so I came up with
Angela Davis Gertrude Stein
Amelia Earhart High Priestess.
What did Mom think?
Ah, she loved it.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
But...
the better part of pressure
and practicality
got the best of us.
So... we...
looked through the name books
at the hospital
and we found Alysia Rebecca
which translated to
"Captivating Peacemaker."
And we liked that.
Do you think
I was a good parent?
Yeah, of course you were.
You are.
Why would you ask that?
I worry that you question
some of the choices I made.
Look, I didn't really know
how to be a single parent.
There wasn't
many examples of that
when I was growin' up.
All I knew is that I...
I just didn't want you
to be raised
the way that I was raised.
My childhood was a series
of boundaries and punishments.
That kind of thing
can really cripple a person.
And it wasn't gonna be
like that for you.
So...
If I was... (SOBS, SHUDDERS)
...sometimes a failure
as a parent...
...just know that
these were noble failures...
and that I always tried to do
what was right for you.
And sometimes it wasn't
what was best for us
as a family,
but it's what I thought
was best for you as a person.
Someone who was strong...
and tolerant...
and not afraid of this world.
I'm gonna be fine, Daddy.
(GULPS)
(SOBBING SOFTLY)
(STEVE COUGHING, RETCHING)
(STEVE GROANS)
(CONTINUES COUGHING)
Hey, do you need more juice?
The other day,
when you were vacuuming...
(BREATHES HEAVILY, GULPS)
It helped me fall asleep.
The sound...
It reminded me of my mother.
Do you want me to vacuum?
(FAINTLY) Please. Turn it on.
(IN NORMAL VOICE)
Just so I can hear it.
(COUGHS, WHEEZES)
(VACUUM WHIRRING)
(COUGHING)
(COUGHING HEAVILY)
(BREATH TREMBLING)
ALYSIA: (SOFTLY)
Shh. It's okay.
Daddy?
Dad?
Dad?
(DOOR OPENS)
(SHUDDERS)
(WINDCHIMES TINKLING)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN, SHUTS)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(HORN BLARING IN DISTANCE)
(SEAGULL SQUAWKS)
ALYSIA: Hi.
So, I brought
your magnifying glass
and some magazines.
-Hm.
-This week's People.
(GROANS SOFTLY)
I worry about Diana.
I don't trust that
Camilla Parker Bowles.
Look what I found.
Remember this?
STEVE: You were
a precocious child.
You were such
a childish adult.
I guess that made us equals.
Portals of the Past.
What?
That's the name of...
the monument that
we're standing in front of.
It's the only remains of...
a mansion on Nob Hill
that was destroyed
by the earthquake
in 1906.
They moved it to the park.
It's supposed to be symbolic
of San Francisco's
perseverance.
Moving on from the tragedy
in its past.
Do you go to college?
Yeah, Dad.
I go to NYU.
Did you do that
all by yourself?
What do you mean?
Did you fill out
the application
all by yourself?
Pretty much.
That's good.
Did you tell your mom
that you got accepted to NYU?
Yeah.
She knows.
STEVE: She must be...
so proud.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
"I suppose it's all over now.
"Brief as a cloudless sky,
"empty as my daughter's mouth,
"you're flying home
for Christmas.
"Back home, I read this note.
"'Dear Tooth Fairy,
tonight's the night.
"'Tooth under the pillow.'
"Your plane drones on.
"I don't know
where it's taking you.
"I replace Alysia's tooth
"with a shiny tin quarter.
"Under my own pillow,
I dream fitfully.
"Come morning,
"I'll be the only
good fairy left in town."
-Do you mind taking a picture?
-WOMAN: Oh, sure.
STEVE: Okay, thank you.
Okay, you ready?
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
Hello?
MUNCA: Hello, sweetheart.
Hi, Munca.
MUNCA: How's everything
coming along?
Fine. Everything's
almost packed.
Classes don't start
for another week
so, I'm gonna stay here
a few more days.
There's just a few things
I wanna do
before I go back to New York.
MUNCA: We didn't have a chance
to tell you before,
but we were so impressed
with how you spoke
at the service.
We're so proud of you, Alysia.
He did his best, you know.
MUNCA: What's that?
Dad.
He did his best.
MUNCA: I know. He did.
-Bye.
-MUNCA: Bye.
(TAPE CRACKLING)
(INHALES, SIGHS)
ALYSIA: This place
where my father and I
lived together...
our fairyland...
wasn't make-believe,
but a real place
with real people.
It was a place where my father
was able to be himself
and a place where he taught me
to become my own self.
I am a legacy of this place,
of these people,
and of this time.
Their history
is now my history.
Their history
is now our history.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC FADES)
-(INSECTS TRILLING)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
(WIND BLOWING GENTLY)
(CAR PASSING BY)
(TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING)
(OBJECTS CLATTERING)
MAN: Hello?
No, this is her husband,
Stephen Abbott.
What?
(SPUTTERS)
Was my wife in the car?
(STEVE SPUTTERS)
(OBJECT CLATTERS)
Where's that at? I mean...
do you have a name or...
I mean, a number?
Ma'am, I told you,
this is her husband,
Stephen Abbott.
Ma'am, ma'am,
can you please tell me...
was my wife hurt?
(GASPS SOFTLY)
What?
Daddy?
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN 1: Who was the man
she was with?
WOMAN 2: He was a patient
Barbara was treating
for suicidal depression.
Ironically, he was the one
who survived.
It was a truck they hit.
One of those massive
pulpwood trucks.
The newspaper said
she actually
flew out of the car.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
(DOOR OPENS, CREAKS)
Ann, I think
we're gonna hit the road.
Alysia's gettin'
a little tired.
I just wanted to...
thank you for the motel
and everything.
What did you think
about the service?
Did it feel too short?
I think it was nice.
I'm sorry we didn't include
the poem
that you wrote, Stephen.
We decided...
we didn't want
anything too personal.
(SIGHS WEARILY) So...
California.
I know a few people
out there in San Francisco...
and I thought
I could get more work
as a writer, you know?
Try and get my book published.
Have you given any more thought
to Janet's offer
to raise Alysia?
(INHALES SHARPLY)
Alysia gets along well
with her cousins.
Hank has a good job,
and they're good people.
(SMACKS LIPS)
She's still young, you know...
it's not too late
for her to have...
a real family.
She has a real family, Ann.
You know what I mean.
It did feel short.
What?
Barbara's service.
It felt short.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
RADIO JOCKEY:
All hits, all the time.
CHORUS:
KFRC, San Francisco
( RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE
BY BLUES IMAGE PLAYING)
Seventy-three men sailed up
from the San Francisco Bay
Rolled off of their ship
And here's what
they had to say
We're callin' everyone
to ride along
To another shore
We can laugh our lives away
and be free once more
But no one
heard them callin'
No one came at all
'Cause they were too busy
Watchin' those
old raindrops fall
As a storm was blowin'
out on the peaceful sea
Seventy-three men
sailing off to history
Ride, captain ride
upon your mystery ship
Be amazed at the friends
you have here on your trip
Ride, captain, ride
upon your mystery ship
On your way to a world
That others
might have missed
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
Seventy-three men sailed up
from the San Francisco Bay
Got off of their ship
And here's what
they had to say...
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(HANDBRAKE CREAKS,
ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
(SONG ON RADIO
CONTINUES, STOPS)
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER,
SHOUTING IN DISTANCE)
(MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY)
(DOORBELL BUZZES)
I think this is
the right place.
WOMAN: Hold your horses!
(LATCH CLICKS, DOOR OPENS)
Hey.
WOMAN: Gary.
I'm Steve.
-Here's two lids, Steve.
-No...
Tell Daryl he can split it up
into dime bags.
It's Steve Abbott.
We're movin' in.
(LAUGHS) Oh, shit!
-(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
-STEVE: You must be Paulette.
-In the flesh, baby.
-(CHUCKLES)
Come on in.
STEVE: Sorry,
we're a few weeks late.
It took us a lot longer
to pack up our lives
than I thought.
PAULETTE: Yeah,
I heard what happened.
That's some heavy shit, man.
Both my folks were killed
in a car accident
when I was six.
It was Halloween night
and they were supposed
to pick me up at a party,
but they never showed up.
I was shuffled between
the police station
and the hospital
and no one is telling me
what happened,
and the whole night
I'm walking around with this
Little Orphan Annie costume.
(CHUCKLES)
Talk about dressing a part.
(CHUCKLES)
-Which is my room, Daddy?
-Uh...
This one will be
safe for you, kid.
Whoops.
Cool, huh?
(SIREN WAILS BY)
Come on.
(CANS CLATTERING)
STEVE: So, um,
who all lives here?
Um...
This is Johnny's room.
(PAULETTE KNOCKS ON DOOR)
-JOHNNY: I'm busy!
-(PAULETTE CONTINUES KNOCKING)
Johnny just spent
the last few years
in a Buddhist monastery.
-The new housemates are here!
-(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CREAKS)
Well, hello.
This is Gary and Alysia.
Uh, Steve.
I thought we could
throw a little soiree tonight
in honor of their arrival.
MAN: Bring that ass
back to Daddy.
-Just not too early.
-(EXCLAIMS)
So, Eddie,
who you haven't met yet,
sleeps on the couch.
And... yeah, that's it.
Now, if I were you,
I'd go and grab
my shit outta the car.
This might be
Haight-Ashbury,
but, baby, it's no longer
the Summer of Love.
-(LAUGHS)
-(SOFTLY) Come on.
(PAULETTE CONTINUES LAUGHING)
(CROSSFIRE BY JOHNNY
AND THE HURRICANES PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN 1: That's far out. Yeah.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-WOMAN 2: Classy.
-WOMAN 3: I know...
(BOTH LAUGH)
-WOMAN 2: So, so classy.
-Mommy.
Mommy!
Equality should not be about
submitting to the status quo.
You know what? I do agree
with you there, but there's...
Sorry to interrupt,
but Miss Alysia
seems to be having a bad trip.
Oh, God. Here.
Mouse, Mouse!
(SOFTLY) I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
(SIGHS) Come here.
What's wrong, Mouse?
I want to go home.
We are home.
This is our new home.
Why isn't Mommy here?
Mommy's not alive anymore.
We talked about this.
You remember when
we played with the toy cars?
And I showed you
how one car
hit the other car?
That's what happened
to Mommy's car.
Mommy's not coming back.
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(GUITAR PLAYING)
Hello.
Hi.
What's your name?
Alysia.
Hi, Alysia.
I'm Eddie.
Do you live on the couch?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Sometimes.
Where do you live?
Here.
I have my own room.
Your own room.
Wow.
That's groovy.
Have you had breakfast yet,
Miss Alysia?
Wanna help me make
Toad in the Hole?
-I thought so. (CLEARS THROAT)
-(ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOTH LAUGH)
That's a good one.
STEVE: I can hear you
all the way down the hallway.
EDDIE: Hey.
What's so funny?
Eddie calls it
a Toad in the Hole.
Well, that's what it's called.
We call it Egyptian Eye.
You call it whatever you want,
but when I cook,
it's Toad in the Hole.
Eddie lives on the couch...
sometimes.
Where does Eddie live
all the other times?
With anybody.
Hey, what's that
supposed to mean?
Because your name
is Eddie Body!
(LAUGHS)
Eddie Body, I like that.
You still wanna go
to Golden Gate Park?
Eddie?
Would you like to join us?
What do you think,
Miss Alysia?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
EDDIE: What was
her mother like?
Where'd you meet her?
STEVE: You know,
we met in grad school.
I was on campus
handing out flyers for a big
anti-war demonstration
and she walks up to me, and...
She's beautiful.
Very clean-cut looking,
had a large stack of books.
You know, pleated skirt
and a Tricia Nixon hairdo.
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
STEVE: What about Eddie Body?
Does he have anybody?
EDDIE: I got a lady
back home in Jackson.
Hmm.
EDDIE: Darlene.
STEVE: Darlene?
Yep.
She's a sweet little thing.
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
EDDIE: And you wrote these?
They're still
a work in progress.
EDDIE: "Things lost.
"A cat...
"small leather case...
"one blue sock...
"the feeling inside me
that I'm good and beautiful."
Daddy?
Daddy!
(SOFTLY) Let me
go put her to bed.
Come on, Mouse. Come on.
YOUNG ALYSIA:
Can you read me
a bedtime story?
STEVE: Not tonight, Mouse.
-YOUNG ALYSIA: Please?
-STEVE: Just...
Listen. Once upon a time,
there were three bears.
Now, there are 1,000.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(THUDS)
(DOOR CREAKING)
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
(REELING)
Can I read you somethin'?
(INHALES)
"Pretty is as pretty does.
"Although we've just met,
"I want to talk
until words fail me.
"What mysterious
beauty or fears
"lurks in the corner
of your smile.
"'Be brave,'
I want to tell us both.
"Attend the miracle
of the moment.
"I want to say,
'Look into my eyes
"'and find your home,'
"but all these words
seem hopelessly stupid."
Well, it's for Eddie.
Doesn't make sense.
Well, poetry doesn't need
to make sense
as long as it makes you
feel somethin'.
( LAURIE DID IBY FLAMIN' GROOVIES PLAYING)
-Daddy!
-Don't come in here, Mouse,
-I'm not finished!
-Daddy!
Don't come in here!
I'm not finished.
-Get outta here!
-(GIGGLING)
I met her at the station
She wasn't there on time
I told her I was frantic
She said that
she was blind
Oh, Laurie...
What are those?
-(WATER SPLASHING)
-(OBJECT CLATTERING)
Shit. Where'd you come from?
What are those?
Those are testicles. (SIGHS)
Testicles?
They're also called balls.
What do they do?
They help make babies.
Didn't your dad
tell you about this yet?
No.
Men have them.
Can you, uh...
Can you hand me
that towel over there, please?
-(CHUCKLES)
-Oh, boy.
Happy birthday, little one.
Can you put makeup on me?
Of course.
Do you ever wish
you were a girl?
JOHNNY: Hell no.
You dress like one.
Well, who says you can't be
part boy and part girl?
When I was your age,
I would sneak
into my parents' closet
and spend hours
trolling through
the grown-up clothes.
My mother's side of the closet
was a treasure trove
of embroidered jackets,
these elaborate hats
with feathers,
and elegant silk dresses.
I just never understood
why only girls got to wear
beautiful things.
(SMACKS LIPS)
Didn't seem fair.
(SOFTLY) Perfect.
I don't have a mother anymore.
I know.
Paulette doesn't have
a mother or a father.
She doesn't have any family.
JOHNNY: Who says
she doesn't have family?
What are we?
Take a look.
What do you think?
-(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
-You like it?
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
-You want more?
Let's do it.
( MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
BY JIMMY DEAN PLAYING)
EDDIE: Alysia just walked
in on me in the bathtub.
-She saw everything.
-So?
EDDIE: Well, as long
as you're all right with it.
Hello?
Think it's your mother-in-law.
-Yeah. Mm-mm.
-Oh.
Steve is predisposed
at the moment.
-Ta-da.
-Ta-da.
You guys look great!
Daddy. You can be
the boy or the girl.
Whatever one you want.
I think I'll be the girl.
EDDIE: I think
you should take the phone.
Hey, Alysia. Munca wants
to say happy birthday to you.
Hello?
Happy birthday, sweetheart.
I hope you're having
a wonderful day.
YOUNG ALYSIA: We are.
Daddy's making me a castle.
MUNCA: That sounds terrific.
Who is the man
who answered the phone?
Oh, that's Eddie Body.
You got some glue for me?
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MUNCA: Uh-huh.
-And does he live there, too?
-YOUNG ALYSIA: Yes.
-And he has balls.
-Honey.
-(JOHNNY LAUGHS)
-STEVE: Hey, Ann.
This is Steve.
MUNCA: I didn't realize
there were so many
of you living there.
-What?
-MUNCA: I called the other day
and a strange woman
answered the phone,
and she kept asking me
if I was gonna drop by
with a windowpane.
I think she had me
confused with your super.
And now Eddie? Who's that?
Eddie lives here.
Uh-huh. Are you living
in one of those communes?
I know all about the communes
-in San Francisco.
-No, Ann,
we are not living
in a commune. All right?
The rent's very expensive here
and there's a few of us
sharing the apartment.
Are there other children?
Hold that pole up.
A few.
What about school?
Have you found one?
We are looking into that.
She has to go
to school, Steve.
STEVE: Hey, Ann,
we'll call you back
this afternoon.
All right. She comes
-through the drawbridge...
-JOHNNY: Get on in the tower.
-...the princess!
-JOHNNY: Come to the tower.
STEVE: In over the moat.
STEVE: And she fits through
-perfectly!
-JOHNNY: Hey!
Yeah!
-(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(EXCLAIMING)
All right.
-And blow 'em out!
-Blow 'em out!
Happy birthday!
-Yeah!
-(ALL CHEERING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
WOMAN: Women's power!
(CHEERING)
MAN 1: Gay men's rights!
Yeah!
MAN 2: Equality!
MAN 3: Come on! Come on!
MAN 4: Gay rights now!
WOMAN: Lesbian power!
-(RUSTLING)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
STEVE: Hello.
He's not in right now.
May I ask who's calling?
You never mentioned
that you were married,
or that she was pregnant!
EDDIE: I don't want this
to be a bad scene, okay?
STEVE: Does she know about me?
Does she know about you?
EDDIE: I'm trying to do
the responsible thing here.
Maybe you can't see that.
STEVE: What's that
supposed to mean?
EDDIE: Look,
you're a good father, Steve.
Did you ever wonder
if this is the right kinda life
for your daughter? Huh?
Being around
queers all the time?
STEVE: My daughter's happy.
EDDIE: She needs a mother.
This is what her mother
would have wanted.
EDDIE: Take care of your dad
for me, okay, kiddo?
STEVE: What do you want me
to tell Johnny and Paulette?
Tell them
the couch is available.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
RADIO JOCKEY: Winds tonight,
highs tomorrow
back in the 70s,
an ultra-beautiful
day tomorrow.
Oakland 65, San Jose 82,
in the city 67 degrees
at KFRC.
( SUNNY DAY
BY CAROUSEL II PLAYING)
I don't know what to take.
Well, it's gonna be hot
so, pack bathing suit
and some shorts.
I'm sure
if you forget anything,
Munca and Grumpa
will probably buy it for you.
And remember...
don't tell Munca or Grumpa
about any of Daddy's
boyfriends, okay?
-Patrick?
-No.
-Jerry?
-No.
Travis?
Okay. We don't ever
talk about Travis again. Deal?
Vinnie.
Vinnie?
Who's Vinnie?
Vinnie,
from Welcome Back, Kotter.
You like him!
Yes. You can tell
Munca and Grumpa
all about how much
Daddy loves Vinnie
from Welcome Back, Kotter.
Dad...
why do you
only have boyfriends
and never girlfriends?
Well, because...
your mother
was my favorite girl,
and I could
never love another girl
as much as I loved her.
Now go finish packing.
(YOUNG ALYSIA SCOFFS)
(SINGER VOCALIZING)
When I'm with you
All the world's
sunny and gay
Got to have you with me
To make everyday a sunny day
MUNCA: Oh, hey!
You're homesick?
No.
MUNCA: Um, Grumpa and I
are gonna go to Burger Giant
and pick up dinner.
-Do you wanna come with us?
-I'll stay.
Okay. Uncle Hank
and your cousins
are in the family room
watching the game,
if you want to join them.
What's that?
(MUNCA SMACKS LIPS)
Um, that's your
mother's clarinet.
Can I see it?
Let's look at it after dinner.
(THUDS)
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
MUNCA: All right,
look what we have!
-HANK: Hey, that looks good!
-Don't eat all the fries.
HANK: Can you please
hand them out?
-Gotta get those on the table.
-JANET: Look here. Nice!
-HANK: There we go.
-Thanks.
-Look at that, look at that!
-(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
JANET: One at a time.
And remember
to share please, okay?
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
-MUNCA: Cheers.
-Yes. Yeah, cheers with...
HANK: All right...
Beautiful...
Everybody has their...
HANK: Get onto the table.
Yeah.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(BOTTLES CLINKING)
(SNIFFING)
This is a brand-new
nightgown from JCPenney.
Do you like it?
Yes.
I seem to recall
your father forgot to pack
your pajamas last summer.
So, this year
we planned ahead.
So, tell me
about San Francisco.
Have you made some friends?
Johnny is probably
my best friend.
-Johnny?
-We used to live with him
at our old apartment.
He's really funny.
He has a lot
of pretty dresses.
Does your father
wear dresses, too?
Not anymore.
He's butch now.
What does that mean?
I don't know. He just says it.
You must be looking forward
to your new school
in the fall.
Your father tells me
that it's a French school
and you're going
to be expected
to speak French every day.
Yeah, and, also,
we get to wear a uniform.
Oh, I think
there's nothing prettier
than a schoolgirl
in her uniform.
All right, little one,
time for bed.
JANET: You think
he's neglecting her?
MUNCA: Well,
a new dress for the plane
would have been nice.
JANET: Probably
can't afford it.
MUNCA:
I know he can't.
JANET: Can you and Daddy
help him out?
MUNCA: We are, dear.
Your father's paying
for the private school
that Steve wanted.
I just don't understand
why he won't make an attempt
at getting
some sort of steady job.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(TIRES SQUEAL)
(STEVE SIGHS)
I missed you, Daddy.
I missed you too, Mouse.
-An orange. I got this.
-(YOUNG ALYSIA CHUCKLES)
Okay, this.
Okay. So, you can
see them all now.
An orange to oranges.
The corn...
Corn. All right,
flip 'em all over.
The buffalo...
and... the wheat.
(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
HOST: Next up
is Stephen Abbott.
"On the morning
of my thirtieth year,
"I wait in cold for a bus.
"The morning is clear.
"Angels have not
hit the streets yet."
Did you just
clean the apple for me?
"Where was I at age 13?
"Bus waiting
with trumpet case in my hand,
"next to a donut shop,
"sniffing strains
of Chuck Berry
"and the Drifters.
"Oh, birthdays, you broken
little golden promises.
"You ride my dreams
like ex-lovers,
"doing nothing with me,
yet I know you care.
"For I see your fires dancing
"on the melting candles
of my own little girl's cake,
"flickering and fluttering..."
You can't do this.
"...floating on air.
"Pull the buzzer if you dare.
"In heaven,
all buses run for free."
(GIGGLES)
(YOUNG ALYSIA YELPS)
STEVE: (LAUGHS)
That's not fair!
I'm gonna get you.
(YOUNG ALYSIA YELPS)
STEVE: Be careful.
"And no matter
where I go anymore,
"I'm already there."
-WOMAN: Yeah.
-MAN: Nice job.
(CROWD CLAPPING)
(ALARM BLARING)
Daddy?
STEVE: Hmm?
Daddy, I have school today.
(STEVE GROANS SOFTLY)
Get up!
Ah, shit.
RADIO JOCKEY:
KGO Morning News,
8:10 AM, San Francisco.
REPORTER: Singer,
beauty pageant winner,
and spokeswoman
for the Florida Orange Juice
Commission, Anita Bryant,
has started a campaign
to ban homosexuals...
-I want KFRC!
-Wait, wait, wait.
Bryant has endorsed
an initiative in California
called Proposition Six.
Prop Six will not only ban
gays and lesbians,
but anyone
supporting gay rights
from working in California's
public school system.
Jesus!
Openly gay candidate for
San Francisco City Supervisor,
Harvey Milk, has responded
by calling
for a national boycott
of Florida Orange Juice.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
Are you nervous?
No?
-Hey.
-Dropping off?
Yeah. Alysia Abbott,
Madame Brune's Class.
I think we're a little late.
I'll make sure she gets there.
Hey, Alysia.
I'm proud of you.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
She says you're degueulasse.
Do you know
what degueulasse means?
WOMAN: Hey, salut!
STUDENT: Hello, Miss M.
She doesn't know
what it means.
STEVE: Hey, honey.
What is "deguglassey"?
You mean " degueulasse"?
It means dirty or...
gross or disgusting.
Is that a word
they taught you in school?
The bathroom sink
can get tres degueulasse.
Why can't I go
to a normal school?
You know how amazing it is
to learn a different language?
Huh? Learn about
different cultures?
You know?
When you get older,
we'll travel
through France together.
And we'll go see
the Arc de Triomphe
and the Notre Dame.
All right. (SIGHS)
Watch the boob tube.
Don't answer the door...
(KISSES) ...and I'll see you
in a few hours.
You're neglecting me.
No, I'm not neglecting you.
I'm teaching you independence.
All right.
-(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)
-(SCREAMING ON TV)
STEVE: Back
when I was in school,
I was taught
the works of Lord Byron,
Walt Whitman, Gertrude Stein,
but it was never
mentioned to me
that any of these
famous poets were gay.
A fundamental element of what
probably influenced them
most as writers
was ignored by history.
If only I had
known that back then,
think what a difference
that would have made.
Alysia!
What happened?
Look at me.
This costs money, okay? You...
-Damn it.
-Hey, man.
Looks like
you got your hands full.
I'm gonna split.
Oh, no, just let me
put her to bed.
MAN: It's okay.
Some other time.
-(SCREAMING ON TV)
-(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)
REPORTER: Troops searching
the Jonestown
religious commune...
STEVE: Do you remember
which bus to take
after school today?
REPORTER: ...earlier today.
STEVE: You remember the name
of the stop to get off at?
REPORTER: ...no one
was alive at the headquarters
of the People's Temple.
Do you want me
to write it down?
Why can't you just pick me up?
Because I told you,
I have my writer's workshop
this afternoon.
And besides, it's good for you
to learn how to take the bus.
I mean,
it teaches you independence.
God damn it, Alysia!
REPORTER:
...violence on the bodies.
This is Daddy's work. Okay?
Do you understand?
It's really important.
Look.
Look. I'm sorry.
REPORTER: About 1,100 persons,
all of them Americans,
have been reported...
in the camp.
Ryan had led a group of...
(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
Does your dad
like boys or girls?
Ew, your dad likes boys.
That looks good.
Peanut butter and jelly?
Just peanut butter.
We ran out of jelly.
Mine's egg salad.
My boyfriend makes the best
egg salad sandwiches.
(BRAKES SQUEAL)
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(CAR HONKS)
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
Are you lost?
Yes.
Where do you live?
Page Street.
Oh, that's not very far.
I can drive you. Get in.
Excuse me, little girl.
I've got her. Thanks.
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
STEVE: Mouse!
What happened?
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
You knew where
to get off the bus. What...
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Maybe she's a little young
to ride the buses alone?
STEVE: No, she knew
where to get off the bus.
I wrote it down.
Well, I'm glad I could help.
STEVE: Thank you.
( SOUVENIR BY ORCHESTRAL
MANEUVERS IN THE DARK PLAYING)
(INAUDIBLE)
DIANNE FEINSTEIN: As president
of the Board of Supervisors,
it's my duty
to make this announcement.
Both Mayor Moscone
and Supervisor Harvey Milk
have been shot and killed.
(CROWD EXCLAIMING)
It's my direction
It's my proposal
It's so hard
It's leading me astray
My obsession
It's my creation...
RADIO HOST: The Quake,
KQAK, San Francisco.
The Rock of the '80s...
-Hey!
-RADIO HOST: ...Bay Area.
Hey, that's my dad's car!
(ENGINE WHIRRING)
(SIGHS) Shit.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
Dad?
TV HOST: Your host
on this exclusive edition
of Lifestyles
of the Rich and Famous...
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
-...is celebrity Robin Leach.
In the untold story...
-Hello?
-MUNCA: Hi, sweetie.
Hi, Munca.
How is everything?
How's school?
We have finals this week.
Well, then I know
you're studying.
I am.
How is your father?
Tell him we said hi.
-He's out right now.
-Again?
Alysia, you shouldn't be
left alone like this,
especially in the evening.
It's okay. I'm used to it.
(SIGHS)
You know, Alysia,
if you ever feel like
you need a change,
you are more than
welcome here.
The high school
your mother went to
is just down the street.
She graduated valedictorian.
Alysia? Honey?
Yeah, I'm here.
(SMACKS LIPS)
I should get back to studying.
Okay.
Bye.
TV HOST: ...at the billionaire
star-studded event.
For Malcolm, a lifestyle...
(DOOR CREAKS)
STEVE: Charlie.
(CHARLIE LAUGHING MANIACALLY)
-CHARLIE: Hey!
-STEVE: Quiet.
-(CHARLIE SCREAMS)
-(GLASS BREAKS)
-(CHARLIE LAUGHING MANIACALLY)
-STEVE: Charlie.
-CHARLIE: You pushed that...
-Charlie. Hey!
-...out of my arm.
-(KNOCK ON DOOR)
STEVE: Oh, shit.
-Hey, Mouse.
-(DOOR CREAKS)
Hey, sorry I'm late.
-Did you get dinner?
-CHARLIE: Is she asleep?
-Charlie! Shh!
-(LAUGHING)
Alysia, you remember Charlie?
Hey!
Did you tell her
the good news?
My book is getting published.
(LAUGHS)
-I'm gonna be published!
-(CHARLIE LAUGHS)
STEVE: I am so excited!
I'm so excited!
-Congratulations.
-Did you see his face?
-Hey!
-(BOTH LAUGH MANIACALLY)
STEVE: Hey! Hey!
Take it easy! God!
CHARLIE: Hey, hey, hey.
Watch it!
-STEVE: You big bear.
-CHARLIE: I'm walkin' here.
STEVE: Come here,
you teddy bear.
(HIGH-PITCHED)
You little bitty teddy bear.
You little teddy bear.
-CHARLIE: Yeah, yeah. Yeah!
-STEVE: Come here, you...
(IN NORMAL VOICE) Come on.
All right, don't touch that.
CHARLIE: Hey, hey, hey!
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
(LAUGHING)
Are we going to
the Palladium Saturday night?
My dad's taking his girlfriend
to Tahoe this weekend.
We'll have the place
to ourselves. No curfew.
I can't. I have to go to
my dad's stupid book party.
MAN: ...listen to it.
It's pretty good actually.
-MAN: You have good taste.
-There he is.
He just started working here.
He's hella cute.
YAYNE: Yeah. He looks like
John Taylor from Duran Duran.
I think he's better looking
than John Taylor.
Oh. So, someone else
has noticed him.
-(PURRS)
-What?
I don't get to think
a boy is cute?
(BELL DINGING)
MAN: How's everything
goin' out here?
Is she gonna talk to him?
I think
that's what's happening.
MAN: I did. I found it,
and it wasn't that hard.
I just looked under the chair.
Do you know
if they're any good?
-Oh, yes, she is.
-Okay. Okay.
They're okay.
Sorta trendy.
What are you into?
Uh, Depeche Mode. OMD.
I have something
you might really like.
SKID: She doesn't
even like that record.
YAYNE: Yes.
Not sure
he's playing on your team.
What do you mean?
He may or may not like girls.
We don't know yet.
(SIGHS) I hate it
when you can't tell.
Welcome to my life,
every day.
Five bucks.
If you hate it,
just bring it back.
I'm Sam.
I'm Alysia.
YAYNE: Maybe he's...
(BRITISH ACCENT) ...British.
What does that have to do
with anything?
YAYNE: You know, British boys
always look kinda gay.
-He didn't have an accent.
-YAYNE: Oh.
SKID: Did you hear
about the two gay Irish boys?
-No.
-Shaun Fitzpatrick
and Patrick Fitzshaun!
(BOTH LAUGH)
YAYNE: My uncle's a doctor,
he says being gay
can cause cancer.
-That's ridiculous.
-Or it's like, a new cancer
that they discovered
that gay people can get.
It's like VD,
but way worse.
They also discovered
a new kind of gay dinosaur.
It's called the Mega-Sore-Ass.
-(YAYNE LAUGHS)
-(SKID CHORTLES)
YAYNE: Shit.
Um, does anyone
have a tampon?
I have some at my house.
Oh, God, I'm starving.
Can we raid your refrigerator?
Uh, yeah.
Let me go ask my dad
if I can have company.
He might be writing.
SKID: Right.
YAYNE: Hurry.
Damn it.
Dad?
Oh.
-Hey, Mouse.
-Is my dad home?
Mm-mm.
No. He took Bart to, um...
Oakland? Oakland.
Okay, tell him
I'll be back later.
Yeah, my dad's working.
We can't disturb him.
(CHUCKLES)
What the hell is this?
What?
Are these from the 1950s?
(BOTH LAUGH)
-They look like pillows. Look.
-YAYNE: Yeah.
-It's like a sponge.
-(SKID SNORTS)
(BOTH LAUGH MANIACALLY)
Should've got it.
It'll be fine.
If the jacket's still there
-in, like, a week...
-STEVE: Hey, girls.
SKID AND YAYNE:
Hey, Mr. Abbott.
Alysia.
Copies of my book
just arrived.
You guys wanna come over?
I'm about to go show 'em
to Charlie.
I saw your note.
You were working.
We didn't wanna disturb you.
My note. I...
Maybe it was an old note.
Anyway, we're gonna go
to Yayne's to study.
Okay. Did you invite the girls
to the book party on Saturday?
They already have plans
Saturday night, Dad.
Oh. (SMACKS LIPS)
Okay. Bye, Dad.
Okay.
I like your dad's jacket.
It's cool.
Yeah.
Maybe, but not on him.
Does he have a girlfriend?
He never got over my mom.
Well, but maybe he's just...
She flew through
the windshield of her car.
They said
the highway was stained
with her blood for weeks.
ALYSIA: Where's Charlie?
He's missing your big night?
I thought you and I should
spend some time together.
Just the two of us.
And all your
arty-farty friends.
How did I raise
such a normal girl?
Huh?
Where did I screw up?
You really want me
to go down the list?
Because we'll probably
miss the party.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, what if...
what if we spent
one night a week together?
You know,
maybe dinner and a movie.
Sure. Sounds good, Dad.
Are you getting
paid a lot for this book?
Well, it's a small
publishing company,
so there isn't much.
So, this isn't gonna
make us rich.
Well, it's not
about the money, Alysia.
It's poetic and honorable
to live the way that we do.
Money would just ruin us.
No, it wouldn't.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
STEVE: Oh, hey,
thank you guys for coming.
Thank you for coming.
MAN: The guest of honor.
Finally!
Kevin.
-So wonderful to see you.
-Ah.
Do you remember
my daughter Alysia?
Of course.
How's your French
coming along, Alysia?
She's practically fluent.
In a few years,
she'll be a famous writer
living in Paris.
(KEVIN CHUCKLES)
My daughter Piaf
is only three years old
and already
wants to be a poet.
Tell her the...
What she said
the other day about her feet.
KEVIN: I was helping her
with her socks.
She spotted a hole
in one and said,
"A hole in my sock,
"a balcony for my toes."
-(KEVIN LAUGHS)
-STEVE: Isn't that brilliant?
And again, Kevin,
thank you so much.
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
So...
What grade
are you in, Alysia?
Sophomore.
Oh.
Have you
thought about college?
Yeah, maybe NYU.
New York.
That's far from home.
Hmm. That's the point.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, my daughter
goes to school in LA.
Is that guacamole?
Wasabi.
(BOTH LAUGH)
May I give you
a piece of advice?
Something I wish
I could have told my daughter
before she left.
Sure.
If you see small blisters
on the tip of a man's penis...
stay away.
It's called herpes,
and it's not pretty.
(COUGHING)
Careful. It's spicy.
(CHUCKLES)
(DINGING)
He needs no introduction...
but I wrote a really good one.
-(AUDIENCE TITTERS)
-(KEVIN CLEARS THROAT)
A radical.
A father,
a lover.
His writing is personal
and political.
Proving a monk and a whore,
creatively,
can inhabit the same body,
my friend Stephen Abbott.
(LIGHT CLAPPING)
-STEVE: Again, Kevin...
-(WHOOPS)
...thank you.
Thank you all
for coming this evening.
(STEVE EXHALES)
"Before my wife died,
"she dreamt
of our fish tank breaking
"and all the fish flopping
into the street.
"No one would help her
save them.
"She was a psychologist
"who fell in love
with her psychotic patient.
"He was a kid
who wanted to kill everyone
"from his small town.
"But he was fantastic in bed,
she said.
"Although he hated queers,
"he imagined me
coming toward him like Jesus.
"With a garland of roses
on my head.
"I knew
this boded ill fortune.
"When I learned
my wife's skull
"was crushed by a truck,
"my head swam
like an hourglass
into a TV set.
"All the channels went crazy.
"I tried explaining the event
to my five-year-old daughter,
"using her own toy cars.
"We distance ourselves
for protection,
"wear scarves
when it's cold out.
"What seems most outlandish
in our autobiography
"is what really happened.
"It's only circumstance
"that make death
a terrible event.
"You should not have
to burn your hand every day
"to feel the mystery of fire."
(GUESTS CLAPPING)
-Are you leaving?
-Why'd you have to read that?
What was wrong with it?
That's personal stuff
about our family.
Why'd you have to share it
with a bunch of strangers?
Alysia, that's what
writing is all about.
Sharing your
personal experiences.
You know that's always been
a big, important part
of my work
is being truthful.
Yeah, but what you said
wasn't all true.
What do you mean?
You said Mom was in love
with her patient
from the car crash.
Why would you say that?
Because she was.
I thought you and Mom
were so in love,
you never got over her.
Isn't that why
you're with men now?
(EXHALES)
Is that what you think?
It's what you told me.
Alysia, where are you going?
I'm spending the night
at Yayne's.
SKID: Hey, you made it!
Wait. What happened
to the book party?
Sucked.
Well, then,
let's get some booze
and get hella drunk!
(CHUCKLES)
I told my dad I was staying
at your house tonight.
I told my mom I was staying
at your place tonight.
-(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
-(SKID LAUGHS)
No. It's not funny!
-SKID: It's kind of funny.
-No, it's not.
-Yeah.
-SKID: I think it's funny.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
SKID: Look,
it's record store guy.
YAYNE: You should go ask him.
-Why me?
-He's your boyfriend.
He's not my boyfriend.
-(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
-Practically.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hey, Alysia.
Oh, hey, Sam.
You guys goin' in?
Yeah, we're just
havin' a smoke.
Me too.
Go on.
-Sam?
-Yeah?
I really liked that album
you recommended.
-Which one was it?
-The Birthday Party.
Oh, yeah, cool. I'm glad.
ALYSIA: Sam?
Yeah.
If we gave you some money,
would you mind
going to Jack's Market?
Sure. What do you guys want?
-SKID: Bourbon?
-ALYSIA: Bourbon.
Bourbon?
-What?
-Say vodka, vodka.
People drink vodka
all the time.
-Okay. Vodka.
-Wait, wait, wait. No, no, no.
-Okay. Vodka.
-We haven't had vodka.
ALYSIA: Okay, bourbon.
Get bourbon.
(SQUEALING)
(SKID LAUGHS MANIACALLY)
(SCREAMS)
-Could get hella used to this.
-Could if I wanted to.
(SKID LAUGHS MANIACALLY)
( ESSENTIAL THINGS
BY A NEW PERSONALITY PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
What are these
essential things you ask?
Well, I'd like to tell you
But there's some things
you must figure
On your own
Different things
are important
To different people
See, I told you.
He's a total fag!
(LAUGHING)
Ah, (SIGHS)
I see we're back to OJ.
(CHUCKLES) Well,
it's Gay Freedom Day
and I am gonna drink
whatever the hell I want.
It's not called
Gay Freedom anymore.
-It's called Gay Pride now.
-Okay. (CHUCKLES)
-(CLINKING)
-Cheers.
-CHARLIE: Mm. Mm!
-Mm.
-Oh, God, Charlie.
-The topping.
It's a little early,
don't you think?
We're celebrating.
(SIGHS)
Yeah, okay.
(SNORTS)
-STEVE: Hm. Hey.
-Hey. What?
That? What is that?
Oh, it's probably
just a bruise.
It better not be a hickey.
And what if it is?
(BOTH LAUGH)
It probably is.
Hey, Alysia, are you joinin'
us for the parade today?
I think I'll sit this one out.
So, where were you last night?
ALYSIA: What do you mean?
Well, I talked to Yayne's mom.
ALYSIA: What?
Yeah. She said the two of you
didn't stay there last night.
Where were you?
You called Yayne's mom?
No, she called me.
Where were you?
CHARLIE: I'm gonna
grab our jackets.
ALYSIA: There was a mix-up,
and we ended up staying
at Skid's dad's house
in Pacific Heights.
Her mom
didn't know that, okay?
She didn't know
where you were,
and I didn't know either.
-ALYSIA: We were fine, Dad.
-I'm sure you were fine,
okay, but you need to call.
Hey, I need to know
where you are.
I mean, I'm your father,
and you're my responsibility.
Oh, so now you're gonna
start being responsible?
Did it ever occur to you
to try that
earlier in my childhood?
Hey! What's that
supposed to mean?
Listen, I was trying
to teach you
to become independent,
all right?
There's a lot
of value in that.
Were you doing that
'cause it was valuable for me?
Or because it was
convenient for you?
Convi... Convenient for me?
You know,
maybe you didn't feel so bad
about going out all the time
and leaving me alone
'cause you convinced yourself
it was somehow good for me.
I think it was!
Great.
Well, your experiment worked.
I can take care of myself.
Alysia, I know that
you can take care of yourself.
Okay, I was worried
because no one knew
where you were.
Okay, well, I get worried when
I have no idea where you are.
-Do you ever think about that?
-Well, listen,
if you're so unhappy,
maybe you might wanna find
-some other place to stay!
-Maybe I will.
Munca says I can move in
with them till I graduate.
STEVE: Oh, great. Go live
with your grandparents.
It sure would make my life
a hell of a lot easier.
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Okay.
How do we look?
Like all the other fags.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
How dare you?
Just leave me alone, Charlie.
You know, I get it
if a bunch
of ignorant teenagers
say that kinda shit
because they don't know
any better.
But, you?
You know better.
(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(CROWD CHEERING)
MAN: I got you. Hold on.
WOMAN: Hey, no one
danced with me.
-MAN: You wanna dance?
-WOMAN: Come on.
Hey.
Hey!
Where's Charlie?
Oh, he...
He was drunk,
so I left him at The End Up.
Are you hungry?
-Sure.
-Well, here, sit down.
I just ordered some takeout.
I'm sorry
if I surprised you
the other night
at the book party.
I realize there's stuff
about my relationship
with your mother
that I probably should have
explained to you earlier.
I just didn't think
you were old enough
at the time to understand.
I don't want you to think that
I became the person that I am
because of your mother's death
'cause that's not true.
I was with men
before I met your mother
and she knew that.
So, why did you get married?
Because we loved each other
and we cared for each other.
She was my best friend
and...
we tried to make it work,
we did.
But in the end...
I couldn't give her
what she needed
and that's why
she ended up with Wolfe,
the guy she was with
the night she died.
Listen...
when I was your age,
I couldn't be the person
that I wanted to be.
I had to pretend
to be somebody else.
And that kind of thing can...
(VOICE BREAKING) ...can really
eat you up as a kid.
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
All right.
One, two,
-three. Graduation!
-Yeah!
-(ALL CHUCKLE)
-STEVE: Amazing.
PROFESSOR: So,
this is the poem in which
Hugo's lyrical first voice
begins to achieve maturity.
The central themes
are those of childhood,
nature, love.
(ENGINE WHIRRING,
BRAKE SQUEALS)
ALYSIA: Thank you.
Dad, I'm home!
(WINDCHIMES TINKLING)
(GATE CLANGS)
Can I help you?
Uh, I'm not sure
I'm in the right place.
Are you looking
for the Maitri Hospice?
Yeah, um, I'm supposed
to meet my father here.
His name is Stephen Abbott.
You must be Alysia.
I'm Sue.
Your father
is excited to see you.
He's visiting with JD.
They're in
the first room downstairs.
Okay. Thanks.
STEVE: "A couple summers ago,
"I was having problems
with my boyfriend.
"I wanted a monogamous
couple relationship.
"Joe was fond of me
"but felt my desire
for categories was stifling.
"To bridge
our communication gap..."
-(KNOCKS)
-"...we took acid..."
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Hi, Dad!
My girl! And look at you!
You look so New York!
(STEVE GROANS)
Hi, I'm Alysia.
Welcome home.
Your father
has been telling me
all about your college
adventures at NYU.
You have three roommates
and they're all named Rachel?
Yep. We call them
by their last names.
Goodman, Strauss, and Shaw.
Sounds like a law firm.
(JD COUGHS)
I've always wanted
to see New York City.
I bet it's incredible.
Listen, JD...
I don't think I'm gonna
make it over here
again this week, so...
Have a nice Christmas.
Thanks, Steve.
Shall we?
(OPERATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
STEVE: So,
how are your classes?
NYU holding up
to its reputation?
Well, I love my classes,
but I just don't really
feel like a New Yorker yet.
STEVE: Hm.
You will.
Remember...
New York City
is filled with people
who weren't
New Yorkers at first.
It's all part of living
in the real world,
they're always trying to fit in.
Well, I'd like
to fit in somewhere.
But... You know...
If New York isn't for you...
maybe you can look into
transferring to UC Berkeley,
or even San Francisco State.
I mean...
I sure wouldn't complain
if you were closer to home.
How's your spaghetti?
Good,
but it's angel hair, Daddy.
Not all pasta's
called spaghetti.
Right. Right.
WAITRESS: Can I get you two
anything else?
ALYSIA: An espresso, please.
Um, can I get another
ginger ale, please?
Still not drinking?
Can you believe it?
No drugs, no alcohol,
not even pot.
Maybe Charlie dumping me
wasn't such
a bad thing after all.
You seem good.
I've been meditating
at the Zen Center.
You know, it's amazing,
the sense of calm and peace
you can get from
just clearing your mind.
You know, I think you could
really benefit from it.
I've meditated before.
No, I know. I'm talkin' about
committing to it
as a practice.
I think it would
really help you focus.
Well, I already have
plenty to focus on at school.
Yeah, I know,
but I just think it might be
-something maybe you could...
-Dad.
Not all your issues
have to be my issues.
You're right.
-ALYSIA: Thanks.
-STEVE: Hm.
Thank you.
What is this?
Early Christmas present.
It's a collection of
my favorite work from school.
Mostly from
my creative writing class
but also a few things
I just wrote on my own.
"Your voice..."
What was it? "Your voice..."
The poem that you wrote
when you were six.
Oh, yeah! Um...
-"Your voice has..."
-STEVE: "Your voice has..."
"Your voice has power.
-"And when the power goes..."
-"And when..." Yeah.
-"...it's the hiccups."
-"It's the hiccups."
(ALYSIA CHUCKLES)
Oh, I love it.
You know,
I can't wait to read it.
ALYSIA: Don't get too excited.
Some are still
works in progress.
-Where'd you get that from?
-(ALYSIA CHUCKLES)
How old is the boy
you're visiting
at the hospice?
JD?
He just turned 23.
He's young.
Yeah, he wants to be
a fashion designer.
"The next Calvin Klein,"
he says.
Then he should definitely
move to New York.
He's in hospice, Alysia.
You know what that is?
It's a place
where people go to die.
They're gonna
find a cure, right?
The current president
doesn't really have that
on his to-do list.
You know,
Republicans see health care
the same way
they see their wealth.
"It's your responsibility.
"You should
take care of it yourself."
So, there's actually something
I wanted to talk to you about.
Oh, did I say
the wrong pasta again?
(CHUCKLES) Dad!
What, there's no espresso
maker at the apartment?
Dad, I'm serious.
What?
NYU offers a program
where you can study
a year abroad.
I'd like to apply to go
to school in France next year.
France?
It looks like my scholarship
will cover most of the costs.
And I spoke with Munca.
She says she and Grumpa
will pay for my plane ticket
and whatever
other expenses I might need.
So, you've already
spoken with them about this?
Well, I know
you couldn't afford it.
Wow, I...
There I was at dinner,
trying to convince you
to move back home,
and now you're moving to
the other side of the world.
You're okay
with the idea, though, right?
You were the one
who always encouraged me
to do something like this.
Of course. Of course.
I'm just sad to know
that you'll be so far away,
that's all.
Yeah, but you'll come visit.
In Paris?
We'll go to the Musee d'Orsay.
I've been studying
Flaubert and Balzac
in my 19th century
history class,
and I would love
to see the paintings
from that period.
Yeah, I mean...
I'd love to, but...
We'll just have
to wait and see.
(GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
Oh, that's my dad's favorite,
so I just wanted to read it.
-I will try to...
-No.
(WAITER SPEAKING FRENCH)
-ALYSIA: Merci.
(PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
FRIEND: I didn't like it.
-ALYSIA: No? Why?
-FRIEND: No.
See you tomorrow.
ALYSIA: Okay.
(DOG BARKS DISTANTLY)
TOURIST 1: Remember?
Or at least
at the Eiffel Tower you did!
TOURIST 2: Yeah, right?
TOURIST 3: Look at that guy.
TOURIST 1: So embarrassing.
TOURIST 2: I think
it's a little further
down that way.
TOURIST 3: Is it?
TOURIST 1: Do you think?
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
Ouais.
-Alysia.
Yeah.
I apologize
about the tourists.
-It was very rude.
-(ALYSIA LAUGHS)
It's okay. I'm not a tourist.
I'm a student.
Oh, La Sorbonne?
Baudelaire.
I can see you have
good taste in shoes
and in French writers.
He's my father's
absolute favorite.
I'm just getting
familiar with him.
Well, your father
has good taste.
Are you staying
near the school?
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
for Young Worker Girls?
I always loved the name.
It has such
a nice socialist touch to it.
-Don't you think?
-Your English is really good.
Thank you
but my timing is not.
Perhaps we could meet again
for some coffee?
-Okay.
-THEO: Okay, perfect.
Uh, tomorrow, same time,
Cafe Louis Philippe?
-Sure.
-Excellent.
-See you tomorrow.
-Yeah.
(THEO SPEAKING FRENCH)
Workers of the world unite!
ALYSIA: (READING) "Dear Daddy.
"Tonight I left my friends
"and walked from
Boulevard Filles du Calvaire
"into the Marais,
"to the Place des Vosges,
the oldest square in Paris."
"I ate a falafel
on a park bench
"in the Jardin Louis Treize.
"I felt so French, Daddy.
"A cute boy even mistook me
for a Parisian."
THEO: Sorry. There's like a...
You know, I evolved, you know.
ALYSIA: "Please keep writing.
"I love hearing
the details of your life
"and everything
that's happening back home.
"I miss you.
"Love, Alysia."
"P.S...
"I'm so sorry
to hear about JD.
"He seemed like
such a nice person."
NURSE: Stephen Abbott.
(DOOR CREAKS)
-(BIRDS CHIRPING)
-(SOFT CLATTER)
-Here you are.
-Mm.
(THEO SPEAKS FRENCH)
What's in the bag?
-THEO: Ooh, fancy.
-Ooh.
-Here.
-Thank you.
Mm.
-(SPEAKING FRENCH)
We have to go. If we don't go
to the market now,
everything will be gone.
We won't have
anything for dinner.
-Okay?
-Can we walk there?
Um, we don't have time.
We can take the bicycles.
I don't know
how to ride a bicycle.
Pardon?
-I've never been
on a bicycle before.
-(SNICKERING)
It's not funny,
it's embarrassing.
It's very easy,
I'll show you.
Come.
Come on. Trust me.
-I don't...
-Okay?
Okay. So, you keep
looking forward
and you never
stop pedaling. Okay?
Mm-hm. I'm fine
as long as you're with me.
-I'm here. Let's go.
-(SIGHS, CHUCKLES) Okay.
-Okay. No, no.
-(SCREAMS, LAUGHS) No!
-You're all right.
-Yeah, okay.
-Okay. Let's go again.
-Yeah. Okay.
-All right. Let's go.
-Okay. Uh-huh.
ALYSIA: This isn't so bad.
(WHOOPING TRIUMPHANTLY)
You're doing great!
Keep going!
Bravo!
Bravo!
(LAUGHS)
Theo!
(PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(SCREAMS)
(GASPS, CHUCKLES)
-You all right?
-Yeah.
(SCREAMS, CHUCKLES)
-You okay?
-Yeah, I slipped.
-Oh, God.
-(ALYSIA PANTING)
-You all right?
-Yeah.
Oh, my God, that was fun.
THEO: I am out of breath.
(ALYSIA CONTINUES PANTING)
Maybe instead of going
back to New York,
I could stay
and finish school in Paris.
I would love that.
ALYSIA: Okay, race you back!
THEO: Okay.
(ALYSIA LAUGHS)
(CHUCKLES)
THEO: What's so funny?
"Spending your school break
"in the country with Theo
sounds wonderful.
"You were lucky to have found
a boyfriend with rich parents.
"I only hope you're not
becoming too bourgeois."
Ooh, I can already tell
he and I will get along
beautifully.
Hey, Alysia, I was thinking...
Maybe if you plan
on staying in Paris,
you could, uh,
move out of the dormitory
and move into my apartment.
It's only four blocks away
from school.
I know it's small,
but just think...
your very own
Parisian pied-a-terre.
Alysia?
You there?
Yeah, I'm here.
Well, let's call
your father now
and see what he thinks.
Daddy does Tai Chi
on Sunday mornings.
He won't be home yet.
-(BIRDS CHIRPING)
-(GATE CREAKS, THUDS)
(CAR STARTING)
(PHONE BEEPS)
ALYSIA: (OVER PHONE) Daddy?
STEVE: (OVER PHONE) Mouse?
I got your letter.
STEVE: Did you book
your flight home yet?
I was thinking maybe I should
stay and finish
the semester first.
(STEVE SIGHS)
I need someone
to help me, Alysia. I...
I really need you here.
ALYSIA: (OVER PHONE)
I don't know if I can do it.
STEVE: (OVER PHONE) Do what?
(ALYSIA SIGHS WEARILY)
ALYSIA: Take care of you.
STEVE: Do you know how
hard it is
for me to ask you this?
I wasn't ready to care for you
when your mother died...
but I did.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN 1: How about a smile?
-Yuppie!
-Fuck off.
(BOTH LAUGH)
MAN 2: Nice, dude.
WOMAN 1: (ON TV) So, who's...
the world?
WOMAN 2: Well,
it wasn't your mother.
Did I get a package?
-WOMAN 1: (ON TV) Me!
-No, it's from Theo.
That one, though...
WOMAN1: ...in the world!
I finally won a giveaway.
And you said I was stupid
for entering so many contests.
(OVER VOICEMAIL)
Hey! It's Yayne again.
I left you a million messages.
I wanna hear all about France.
-Wanna go out tonight?
-How are you feeling?
My feet are sore.
It took me 10 minutes
just to walk down the hallway
and back to take a piss.
Well, why don't you take
one of the pain pills?
'Cause they're no fun
when you're actually in pain.
WOMAN 1: (ON TV)
Who's stupid now?
Yeah. Stupid all the way
to the bank.
Who's the letter from?
A rejection letter
from the publisher.
It says they like my work.
Blah-blah-blah-blah.
And then it goes on to say
something about my ponytail.
I don't even have a ponytail.
WOMAN 3: Sure. The women.
It says "potential," Dad.
Huh?
They're talking
about your potential.
Oh, (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(COUGHING)
I thought they didn't want
to publish my book
because I had a ponytail.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY, COUGHS)
That would have been a first.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
WOMAN 4: (ON TV)
Of course not, Dorothy.
How's your writing going?
What?
Your writing?
How's your writing going?
I really enjoyed
your letters from France.
You know, you really made me
feel like I was right there.
There's not a lot for me
to write about here.
You should be
writing about all this.
What's happening to us.
That's what I'd be doing.
How was your lunch?
It burned.
So, you haven't
eaten anything all day?
(GROANS)
I'm not hungry.
Dad, you have to eat.
(STEVE GROANS SOFTLY)
(STEVE GROANS SOFTLY)
WOMAN 4: (ON TV) Dorothy,
would you please check my list
and see if I forgot
to invite anybody
to my Moonlight Madness...
STEVE: Alysia.
Yeah?
STEVE: I wanna go out.
ALYSIA: Where?
Somewhere there's people.
(STEVE COUGHS)
Today might not be
a good day, Dad.
(STEVE COUGHS)
Well, perhaps
I should update you
on my prognosis, Alysia.
There will be
no more good days.
(STEVE CONTINUES COUGHING)
(TV STATIC WHIRRING)
(SNORING)
Hey, Dad?
Thinking of going out
for a little bit.
Are you okay?
STEVE: Okay.
Have fun, Mouse.
Mouse?
Yeah?
I know you're angry,
but it would help me
to know that you're angry
because I have AIDS...
and the doctors
haven't found a cure yet...
than shifting your anger
to other things...
like me burning my lunch
or whatever.
Okay.
Thank you.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I should have told you
about all of this sooner.
No.
I get it. Like,
you've been dealing with a lot
since you've been back.
No, I mean, before this.
Like in high school.
I don't know why I kept
everything such a secret.
I mean, you know,
no one would have cared.
We all thought your dad was,
like, really cool.
-Really?
-YAYNE: Mm-hm.
There were a lotta gay jokes
going around
back then, though.
That was Skid.
You were laughing
at those jokes, too, Yayne.
I mean, we were idiots.
Why didn't you
ever say something?
I honestly don't think
I knew how to.
When you keep a secret
about something for so long,
it becomes a part of you.
And...
having to finally admit
you were lying about something
for so many years...
well...
That ends up being
more embarrassing
than the stupid thing
you were trying to hide
in the first place.
MAN 1: (WHISTLING) Ow!
-MAN 2: The fuck we got here?
-MAN 3: Hey!
If someone's acknowledging you
for being beautiful,
you should say, "thanks"!
-MAN 2: I'd fuck that, dude.
-MAN 4: Fuck.
(MEN LAUGH)
(SIRENS APPROACHING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(DOOR CREAKS SHUT)
(STEVE BREATHING DEEPLY)
(COUGHING)
(EXHALES WEARILY)
WOMAN: Thanks.
I'm picking up
for Stephen Abbott.
Can I see some ID?
(WOMAN SIGHS)
Alysia Abbott?
You're Steve Abbott's
daughter?
Yeah.
You probably don't remember,
but I shared an apartment
with you and your father
when you were that little.
(SIGHS)
-I'm Paulette.
-ALYSIA: Yeah, Paulette!
Of course I remember you.
God, that was such
a long time ago.
How are you?
Hanging in there.
Are you still friends
with Johnny?
I have the best memories
of playing dress-up with him.
He passed away
about two years ago.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
He was a good friend.
What about Eddie?
The guy my dad liked so much.
No idea.
I've sort of kept to myself
these past few years.
I mean, it got too hard
to keep losing friends.
I stopped
reading the newspaper.
God, I was scared
I would recognize
another face
among all those young men.
It's...
Oh, shit.
I'm sorry. I...
It's okay.
How is he doing?
You tell me.
Oh.
He's been approved for AZT.
That's good news.
-Yeah?
-PAULETTE: Yeah.
What is that?
It's supposed to be
a new wonder drug.
Everyone has high hopes
for this one,
but the side effects
can be pretty strong.
Rashes, vomiting,
liver damage,
and they still don't know
if it works or not.
Maybe he shouldn't take it.
These people
are fighting for their lives.
They... they have
to try everything.
One day,
one of these medicines
will actually work.
There will be a pill
that you can just take
and you won't get AIDS,
and we'll be able to thank
people like your dad for that.
Thank you.
Tell him I say, "hi."
I love seeing his stories
published in the magazines.
I'd say to my friends,
"I used to live
with this guy."
Hey.
You know, a lot of the guys
that are coming in here
are going through this...
all alone. They...
They lost everyone.
It's good that he has you.
(DOOR OPENS)
(SIGHS) All right,
get dressed.
Where are we going?
Anywhere you want.
The Folsom Baths?
Hey, Steve.
Who's that?
I don't know.
I can hardly see anything,
my eyes have gotten so bad.
It's like being on acid.
That reminds me.
You'll never guess
who works at the pharmacy.
-STEVE: Who?
-Our old roommate, Paulette.
Oh.
Is she still pushing drugs?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Dad, she's a pharmacist.
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, I can just see it.
"Here's your allergy medicine
and two hits of angel dust."
Nobody does
angel dust anymore.
I guarantee you,
Paulette does.
(STEVE CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I wish I could have seen you
as a harried mother.
"Prudence, Bernard,
put down Grandpa's ashes."
Dad, that's terrible.
Does it make you uncomfortable
when I talk about my remains?
No, it's those names.
They're horrible.
Do you know the story
behind your name?
I can't remember
if you told me.
The day you were born,
I was standing
behind the window
at the baby ward.
And I remember
my face was so close
to the glass
that I was fogging it up
with my breathing.
And I remember
looking at all the new babies.
And you all looked like fruit
in a supermarket.
And there you were.
And I remember lookin' at you,
not to see if you resembled
me or your mother,
but to see if I could tell
what kind of person
you were gonna be.
And all I kept thinking about
was the Black Panther,
Angela Davis,
holding her fist up in court.
And we hadn't
decided on a name yet,
so I came up with
Angela Davis Gertrude Stein
Amelia Earhart High Priestess.
What did Mom think?
Ah, she loved it.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
But...
the better part of pressure
and practicality
got the best of us.
So... we...
looked through the name books
at the hospital
and we found Alysia Rebecca
which translated to
"Captivating Peacemaker."
And we liked that.
Do you think
I was a good parent?
Yeah, of course you were.
You are.
Why would you ask that?
I worry that you question
some of the choices I made.
Look, I didn't really know
how to be a single parent.
There wasn't
many examples of that
when I was growin' up.
All I knew is that I...
I just didn't want you
to be raised
the way that I was raised.
My childhood was a series
of boundaries and punishments.
That kind of thing
can really cripple a person.
And it wasn't gonna be
like that for you.
So...
If I was... (SOBS, SHUDDERS)
...sometimes a failure
as a parent...
...just know that
these were noble failures...
and that I always tried to do
what was right for you.
And sometimes it wasn't
what was best for us
as a family,
but it's what I thought
was best for you as a person.
Someone who was strong...
and tolerant...
and not afraid of this world.
I'm gonna be fine, Daddy.
(GULPS)
(SOBBING SOFTLY)
(STEVE COUGHING, RETCHING)
(STEVE GROANS)
(CONTINUES COUGHING)
Hey, do you need more juice?
The other day,
when you were vacuuming...
(BREATHES HEAVILY, GULPS)
It helped me fall asleep.
The sound...
It reminded me of my mother.
Do you want me to vacuum?
(FAINTLY) Please. Turn it on.
(IN NORMAL VOICE)
Just so I can hear it.
(COUGHS, WHEEZES)
(VACUUM WHIRRING)
(COUGHING)
(COUGHING HEAVILY)
(BREATH TREMBLING)
ALYSIA: (SOFTLY)
Shh. It's okay.
Daddy?
Dad?
Dad?
(DOOR OPENS)
(SHUDDERS)
(WINDCHIMES TINKLING)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN, SHUTS)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(HORN BLARING IN DISTANCE)
(SEAGULL SQUAWKS)
ALYSIA: Hi.
So, I brought
your magnifying glass
and some magazines.
-Hm.
-This week's People.
(GROANS SOFTLY)
I worry about Diana.
I don't trust that
Camilla Parker Bowles.
Look what I found.
Remember this?
STEVE: You were
a precocious child.
You were such
a childish adult.
I guess that made us equals.
Portals of the Past.
What?
That's the name of...
the monument that
we're standing in front of.
It's the only remains of...
a mansion on Nob Hill
that was destroyed
by the earthquake
in 1906.
They moved it to the park.
It's supposed to be symbolic
of San Francisco's
perseverance.
Moving on from the tragedy
in its past.
Do you go to college?
Yeah, Dad.
I go to NYU.
Did you do that
all by yourself?
What do you mean?
Did you fill out
the application
all by yourself?
Pretty much.
That's good.
Did you tell your mom
that you got accepted to NYU?
Yeah.
She knows.
STEVE: She must be...
so proud.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
"I suppose it's all over now.
"Brief as a cloudless sky,
"empty as my daughter's mouth,
"you're flying home
for Christmas.
"Back home, I read this note.
"'Dear Tooth Fairy,
tonight's the night.
"'Tooth under the pillow.'
"Your plane drones on.
"I don't know
where it's taking you.
"I replace Alysia's tooth
"with a shiny tin quarter.
"Under my own pillow,
I dream fitfully.
"Come morning,
"I'll be the only
good fairy left in town."
-Do you mind taking a picture?
-WOMAN: Oh, sure.
STEVE: Okay, thank you.
Okay, you ready?
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
Hello?
MUNCA: Hello, sweetheart.
Hi, Munca.
MUNCA: How's everything
coming along?
Fine. Everything's
almost packed.
Classes don't start
for another week
so, I'm gonna stay here
a few more days.
There's just a few things
I wanna do
before I go back to New York.
MUNCA: We didn't have a chance
to tell you before,
but we were so impressed
with how you spoke
at the service.
We're so proud of you, Alysia.
He did his best, you know.
MUNCA: What's that?
Dad.
He did his best.
MUNCA: I know. He did.
-Bye.
-MUNCA: Bye.
(TAPE CRACKLING)
(INHALES, SIGHS)
ALYSIA: This place
where my father and I
lived together...
our fairyland...
wasn't make-believe,
but a real place
with real people.
It was a place where my father
was able to be himself
and a place where he taught me
to become my own self.
I am a legacy of this place,
of these people,
and of this time.
Their history
is now my history.
Their history
is now our history.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC FADES)