The People Next Door (1970) Movie Script
You can't dance to it.
You can't dance to it.
Well, you see, er...
- This is a different sound.
- Well, I don't want a different sound.
- Well, can we just play breaks?
- No.
- We'll give you a week for fifty bucks.
- Forget it!
- Look, we'll give you a week for nothing!
- You ain't worth it.
We'll give him something he can dance to!
You're gonna have
the most famous club in town!
- You guys, hurry!
- I'll help!
- All right, all right!
- Drop dead, you ugly bastard.
I think that sign's finally
spelled right now.
Yes, I know what you mean.
- Bye, mom.
- Mrs crowley's proud of you
helping out at the hospital.
Yes, she's on her way,
mrs crowley.
Bye, daddy.
Oh. Oh, thank you.
- How about some breakfast?
- I'm not hungry.
Hiya, boys.
Hi, Elliot.
Hi, maxie. Where ya goin'?
Oh, I'm supposed to work
over at the hospital.
Why don't you stop
over at my place, huh?
One more time!
Stop that!
Your father's home.
Let's go see what he's got!
Oh, look! Oh, my god!
Oh, look at the duckies!
Oh, Arthur! Oh, look at you!
Come see the ducks!
Hey, David, how about that?
Oh, maxie!
Whoops, I gotta be careful.
I'll get you all bloody.
- How many do you get?
- Twelve, altogether.
Wow! David, why don't
you ever do a thing like that?
- I thought the limit was three.
- That's if we get caught.
Actually, there were fourteen!
What happened to the other two?
They were crips.
They flocked off into the weeds.
Arthur, they won't
suffer long, will they?
Oh, no, no.
Some fox'll probably get 'em.
- Foxes have to eat too, ya know.
- Here, mr Mason.
- Let me take 'em into the kitchen for you.
- Oh, thank you, Sandy.
Oh, isn't my son wonderful?
Speaking of sons, I wonder
what's become of ours? Artie?
He's... he's not feeling well.
He has a headache.
Well, carrying fifteen pounds
of hair around
- would give anybody a headache.
- Isn't he funny? Arthur, you're so funny!
Well, I think we gotta go.
Come on, Tina.
Let's go. It's time to go.
Art? Artie?
Artie?
Hey, shrubbery skull!
Come on down, we're having dinner.
Hey, mop-head! Arthur...
Now, what I'm...
All I'm doing
is asking him to come down.
Come on down, Arturo!
Well, why doesn't he come down?
Roast duck!
And happiness.
Now, Artie...
Artie? Come on down!
I'm not very hungry.
Well, if you don't wanna eat,
at least send...
Send your hair down!
I think he wants to practise.
Practice, huh? Is that what he calls it?
Hell! Come on, Arthur!
- Come on now, honey.
- All right, but why be selfish?
No need for his hair to starve!
Why can't you leave him alone
about his hair?
Just because it isn't
the same length as yours!
What the hell did I do?
When are you two
gonna stop tuning up
and start playing something?
Come on, sis, let's play
some real music.
That's what I call music!
Sandy brought some cheesecake.
Fine. They're just playing this
to amuse the old man, Sandy.
They don't like it
because it has a melody.
You know, I bet they like it
better than you think, mr Mason.
Come on and join in!
- No, no, I gotta be goin'.
- Thanks for the cheesecake, Sandy.
Now that's the kinda stuff
you oughta play.
The kinda stuff
people wanna hear.
That other stuff, nobody'll
pay you a dime for that.
- Dad, let me tell you something...
- Oh, maxie, never mind.
Since the almighty dollar
is your way of judging everything,
I've got news for you.
Artie and his group have got a job,
starting tonight, paying
two hundred a week.
Artie, is that true?
Yeah, well, I was gonna
tell you tonight,
when I had my costume on, but...
But that's wonderful!
Two hundred bucks, huh?
Well, some people have
more money than brains.
Pentagon said today
that the present operation
is an example of American and
south vietnamese co-operation,
driving the viet cong out of
critical rice-growing areas.
Advancing American units
seized forward positions
under intense small-arms fire...
You gotta be kidding.
You're not going out on the
street like that, are ya?
Whatever happened to civilisation?
It's part of our thing, you know.
Your thing, huh?
Well, you'll probably be
doing their thing soon,
so you might as well
have fun while you can.
Oh, shut that stuff off,
will ya? I'm sick of it.
Bang, bang, bang.
Well, so long.
Arthur!
Arthur! Will you come here,
please? Quickly!
- What's the matter?
- Please, hurry.
- What is it?
- I don't like it.
It's too far. Too far.
I wanna go home!
I hear mountains.
- What the hell?
- I hear mountains. I...
- Darling, darling...
- Mountains! Mountains!
Go back, sweetheart.
Don't even look. Let me handle this.
I'm all right. I really am.
I'll be back. Don't worry.
What the devil
are you doing in there?
I'm looking. I see.
Look at me.
Oh, way, way up! See me!
- Look!
- Maxie, come on outta there.
- Arthur...
- She's drunk.
Darling, darling...
I see music.
Look!
Look! Look at the music!
She's tripping.
What? She's what?
It's okay, maxie.
Artie's here. Don't worry.
Artie!
Sweet guitar!
Sweet, sweet, sweet guitar.
What are you talkin' about?
What's the matter with her?
Can you be quiet for a minute?
Have you ever heard of LSD?
- I wanna go home.
- It's okay, maxie. It's okay.
Maxie, how much did you take?
Not much. I didn't take much.
LSD?!
Bring me back.
I wanna come back. I'm scared.
The mountain's coming.
The mountain's coming!
God...
I'm electric!
I'm electric! I'm...
Artie's with ya. Don't worry.
The mountain won't hurt you.
Come on, now.
Walk with Artie,
to your own bed.
- Come on, now.
- Come on, baby.
I wanna go home.
I want my daddy.
I want my daddy. Daddy!
Your daddy's here, baby.
Right here.
Razor blades!
It's okay.
It's okay, Artie's with ya.
Artie's gonna get ya home.
- Get some sleeping pills.
- Shouldn't I call the doctor?
Don't call anybody. Do like he says.
Get the sleeping pills.
Maxie, come on.
Your own little bed.
Safe at home. Come on.
Safe at home. Nice and soft,
in your own little bed.
Bed? Bed?!
Artie's gonna get you home.
Just... just try...
- How strong are they?
- It says one for sleep.
Let me have two.
Who's that?
Who's that?!
I wanna talk to you.
Dad, you're just gonna
have to be quiet
while I'm talking her down.
I'm sorry.
Here ya are, maxie.
Couple of caps for ya.
Hey, tickets home.
Come on, now.
Tickets home.
Now, you know who's here?
Your mom's here.
Isn't that nice?
Mom...
- I'm cold, mom.
- Mommy's with you. Sssssh.
Just keep talking to her, mom.
If we can get her to sleep,
she oughta be okay
in a couple of hours.
- I'm cold...
- Mommy's got a warm blanket for you.
- Goin' home?
- Yes, darling, going home.
- Goin' home, momma?
- Yes, sweetheart.
- Goin' home?
- Yes, my darling. Sssh. Yes, baby.
- Sssssh...
- I wanna talk to you. Now!
- Yes, my darling.
- I'm cold, mom.
Hey...
- Hey, you got any more of that stuff?
- Dad, you gotta believe me...
I don't. Empty your pockets.
- I swear...
- I said empty 'em!
No.
Then, goddamn it, I will.
I knew something like this
was gonna happen
when she started hanging out
with that freaky gang of yours.
It's gotta be in here somewhere.
Your mother'll send your clothes
to that freak joint where you work.
You're not comin' back here, ever.
For anything!
And stay away from
your sister, do you hear?
You...
Now, you listen to me,
you no-good punk!
If your sister suffers
any kind of damage because of this,
any permanent damage,
you better start runnin',
because I'm comin' after you,
and I'll break
every bone in your body!
I don't respect you anymore.
I think she's going to sleep.
What happened?
- I kicked him out.
- No!
Freaky little punk. Artie!
Why would she
take that stuff, anyhow?
Is she nuts or somethin'?
Perfect kid, normal as they come,
a kid who's got everything.
I think we ought to
talk to somebody.
Who? Who? A head shrinker?
Absolutely not.
What about David?
I'm not getting the people next door
- involved in my private life!
- Arthur, please.
- I want her to go to sleep.
- Listen, gerrie,
if you feel you have to turn to...
To David at a time like...
- Turn to David?
- That's what I said.
- We need advice.
- You don't trust my judgement?
Oh, it's not your anything, Arthur.
It's our.
We're failing.
We have to face that.
Look, if you wanna go to
Tina and David, you go!
Lemme tell you one thing.
I'm not taking the responsibility
for anything that happens after that.
Is that clear?
It's your responsibility.
Go ahead. Go.
You know something, Arthur?
Every time we come to
any kind of a crisis, where...
Where a decision has got to be made,
you get furious at me.
That's a lie.
And refuse to take any responsibility.
That's a damn lie,
and you know it.
I'm going next door.
You do that.
Hey there, gerrie,
are you and Arthur
going to be home later?
Oh... oh, yes. Yes, I imagine.
Well, there's nothing much
doing on TV tonight,
so Gloria and I thought
we'd rather look at you and Arthur
through a Martini.
What do you think?
In about a half hour, okay?
Okay, gerrie?
Is she mad at us?
Have you been eating her geraniums again?
- Mrs Mason!
- Oh, Sandy.
- Is there something wrong?
- Oh, well... sort of.
Is your father home?
You know mom, she gets
kinda sleepy after dinner sometimes.
Er... gee, no,
dad's over at the school.
There's been a riot.
What did he say?
He's at the school.
Let's go.
Do you think we ought to?
Who do you think you are?
Fascist pigs!
You ain't got no warrant!
Ho chi minh! Ho chi minh!
- Get outta here!
- Watch the glass.
Ho! Ho! Ho chi minh!
None of us is gonna win!
Ho! Ho! Ho chi minh!
Get your hands off of me!
Who do you think you are?!
- Oh, hi.
- David.
Some of my students
are gonna need these records
- to get into college next year.
- This is terrible.
- We shouldn't be bothering you.
- It's all right. It's all over.
It's just a clean-up job now.
Arthur...
Gerrie told me the bare details
on the phone.
Look what they did
to your office, David,
and you're the principal.
David, what the hell do you
do for kids in this world?
We did everything
humanly possible.
I mean, we gave her tennis lessons,
piano lessons, cheerleader,
good home, good neighbourhood.
- Gave her love.
- Love? Of course we gave her love.
I know, I know.
If we were a neurotic bunch of...
You know what I mean.
Then I could understand, but...
Oh, excuse me, gerrie.
Would you like to sit down?
No, I'm fine.
Would you like some coffee
before we start?
Oh, yes, please. Just black.
Do you have a dime? Yes.
I'm afraid to look at
what they did in the library,
but I've got to.
How about that?
Right through the door.
They finally found
a use for books.
Oh, here, David.
I can't understand why they didn't
destroy the coffee machine.
Even I agree the coffee machine
is a bourgeois plot.
Our children can come to us
about anything. They know that.
If he can get her to really say
what she thinks, deep down.
- That's what I mean.
- He's right.
All the things
she may not have said
because she may have thought
that you didn't want her to.
But we did!
But did you really
want to, sweetheart?
Or were you afraid?
Tell the truth.
I... I have to admit
that I was at fault myself,
because I didn't insist
on it sooner. But...
Oh, sweetheart,
you're going to enjoy it.
You'll get to know your daughter
better than you ever dreamed possible.
Listen, I don't know if either one of us
is gonna be able to stand it, but...
Geronimo!
It's all around us, gerrie.
They wanna pick our whole society
up by the heels and shake it,
and see what drops out.
At least the healthy ones do.
The others just wanna
try to get away from it,
the best way they can.
Yeah, with drugs.
Oh, sweetheart,
in a funny way, we're lucky.
We... we caught this thing
at the very beginning.
All right, we lost our son
to this sickness,
or craziness, or whatever it is,
but we're not going to
lose our little girl.
Hello, electric crash pad.
Hello.
I can't understand you, honey.
Who?
Artie?
Is he one of the musicians?
Some drunk broad wants to leave
a message for the organ player.
Hang up!
Hello?
I wish to hell I could
get in touch with Rafferty.
I'd cancel that damn tennis match.
I'm not gonna get a wink of sleep.
Tennis!
What kinda reflexes
am I gonna have?
Maxie! Maxie!
Oh, darling.
Everything's...
Everything's all right.
There's nothing to cry about now.
Darling, it was a mistake.
Anybody can make a mistake.
We're going to forget
that it ever happened.
There, now. Now, now, darling.
Everything's all right.
- Isn't it, daddy?
- Yes, baby, everything's fine.
- Just fine.
- I can't help it.
Well, darling, try to stop
for a minute.
Daddy and I want to talk to you.
Not now. Please, not now.
- Do you wanna go back to sleep?
- No, I... I can't.
Is there any particular thing
you're crying about?
- Baby, everything's fine.
- No, I just feel like crying.
Come...
Baby, I...
- Maybe if you went back to sleep.
- I don't wanna sleep.
I'm gonna sit up and wait for Artie.
- Darling...
- Let me handle this.
Maxie...
Maxie, we know
Artie brought you that stuff.
What have you done?
- Well...
- I sent him away.
Artie?
- You kicked him out?
- Well, your father felt that...
We know how much
you love your brother.
He's our son, don't forget.
This is hard for us, too.
It's... it's hard for your father,
much harder than you think.
You know what you are, daddy?
You're a jackass.
She's trying to protect him.
It's always like this.
He lies, and she swears to it.
You're both jackasses.
I think we ought to wait
till tomorrow to talk about it.
I think we ought to
talk about it right now.
You're not going to like it.
May I have a drag of that?
I didn't know you smoked.
There's a lot you don't know.
Go ahead.
This is not the first time
I've tripped out.
I've been up at least fifteen times.
I don't believe you.
I don't believe you.
I've tried all the grooves,
even horse,
but acid's my scene.
You... you talk like...
Where did you get these words?
This is me, daddy.
This is me.
My daughter's sick.
My little girl is sick.
I'm not sick. You are.
- That's why you're so miserable.
- I'm not miserable.
At least, I wasn't.
You know,
you oughta drop a little acid.
Like...
See god, mom.
See god, huh?
You were really seeing god when we
found you in that closet.
I was on a bad trip.
That can happen.
Shouldn't have taken
speed with my acid.
Arthur, I'm going to be ill.
I have to get out of here.
No, darling, listen to me.
- But...
- No, you just sit down here.
Gimme that.
Now, aside from your
freaky brother's influence,
what got you started on this stuff?
My brother's influence
has always been
to tell me to leave
this whole scene alone.
I don't believe that,
but go ahead.
I took acid because
I wanted to be a better person.
It's a fine way to be
a better person, all right.
And also, I guess,
because you and...
Mom and the world in general
just keep me uptight all the time.
We keep you uptight, do we?
What... now, how do we do that?
Just by being ridiculous.
You know, dumb, phoney.
You...
In other words, you hate us.
Yes, I... I think so.
You say we're dumb. Waell...
Can you give me an example?
Well, like everything I tell you,
you believe.
For instance?
Like if I tell you
one of the kids is nice,
you both say, "oh, that's nice.
"Then you can spend the night over there
because it's a nice family."
And that kid might be
the biggest head you ever saw.
In other words, to trust
is to be a fool.
You are a sick person.
Mom, we didn't talk
about my sex life.
What's the matter?
You scared to ask?
Well, your worst suspicions are true.
Would you believe, this morning?
I wasn't at the hospital
like you thought.
I was with a boy.
You know, fucking.
What boy?
You'd try to hurt him,
wouldn't you?
You're sixteen years old!
Oh, shit.
It was that Elliot boy,
wasn't it?
Sorry, daddy, I'll have to
take the fifth on that.
Anyhow, there was
another one before him.
For more than a year now.
Oh, don't worry, mom,
I'm not gonna have a baby.
I'm on the pill.
Where would you...?
You're sixteen.
Where would you get such a thing?
It's easy.
All the girls have 'em.
Ones that want them.
- Am I losing my mind?
- No.
- Did I cause this?
- No. You've been a good mother.
I'm not gonna let you
take the blame for this.
She's no good, that's all,
she's rotten.
- It happens in a family sometimes.
- Oh, she's sick, she's sick.
You and daddy did it
before you were married.
I heard you talking about it.
You remember Sharon,
that used to come
and spend the night
with me last year?
Dr Bernard's daughter.
Well, she used to bring
her father's stethoscope,
and we'd go into the hall
and put the stethoscope
on your bedroom door.
Daddy!
- We've got to get her to a doctor.
- She's not sick, she's crazy.
- Arthur...
- Kids nowadays are crazy!
Don't you understand? If she
weren't sick, this couldn't happen.
It just couldn't happen.
I gotta get some sleep.
Elliot?
Hey, it's me.
I'm not going back with them, ever.
Yeah.
Hey...
You stoned?
- On what?
- Hmm?
What?
Come on.
Come on.
Arthur!
Artie'll know where she is.
Will you look at this!
He knows this place, knows it.
He came straight here.
Where do I go?
- I'll show you.
- No, just tell me.
- Second floor, last door on the right.
- Arthur.
Darling, stay here.
I don't want you to see this.
Arthur, be careful.
- What floor?
- Second.
Stay with your mother.
You get outta here, Lenny! Get out!
Get out!
Hey, you from the red cross, man?
We gave already.
Where's maxie?
Maxie?
I don't know no maxie.
You know her all right.
She comes here all the time.
She's a minor, too.
So, you better tell me
where she is, and do it fast,
or you're gonna end up in jail.
Hey, I ain't seen nobody, okay?
I'm comin' back, with cops!
Daddy!
You stupid, freaked-out head!
Why, you...
Keep away from me.
Keep away from me.
What's the matter, daddy?
You scared, huh?
Huh? You're scared, aren't you?
Aren't you?!
Daddy's scared.
Daddy's scared!
Look at him!
I'll run away again,
just as soon as I can.
Mr Mason? Yes. Dr Lauren?
Yeah, come in. Sit down.
Er... Carol, you want to leave
a coffee for mr Mason?
No, thanks.
Oh, it's all right.
I can get some more.
- No, really, thank you.
- Okay. Bye-bye.
Sit down.
Well, from what you told me
about this boy on the phone,
I should talk directly
to the father.
Oh, that'll never happen.
Believe me, I know this guy.
No, I was thinking that,
by talking to you,
I'll get a better idea of
what to tell him.
You know, some sensible advice.
Tell me about this guy.
- The father?
- Yeah.
Oh, he's, er... I guess
he's just your average Joe.
Maybe a cut above.
You know the type.
He works hard, he likes the fights,
he drinks a little too much,
that... that kinda thing.
I get the impression he's a...
He's a pretty good father.
- At least he tries to be.
- What doesn't the boy like about his parents?
Well, they had a talk with him,
and, er...
They found that he's, er...
He's pretty hostile.
- He calls 'em phonies, stupid...
- Are they?
No, not...
Not for my money.
Not any more than anybody else.
At least they're
trying to understand, to...
To improve the relationship,
which is a hell of a lot more
than that boy is doing. I mean...
You ever been skin diving?
- Skin diving?
- Yeah.
I mean, I never thought
I'd communicate with a fish
until I went scuba diving.
You stand in front of
one of those fish tanks,
stare in at this dumb little fish,
and they stare back at you, and...
Nothing.
And then you go down
into their world,
swim around,
hell, they'll play tag with you,
they'll tease you,
seem to grin at you...
They communicate.
Oughta try it sometime.
Now...
What specifically did this boy do
that got you,
and his parents,
- so upset?
- Not me. I... I wasn't upset.
- Not personally.
- I understand.
After all, he's their kid.
What... what did he do?
Well, he took some LSD,
right in the home.
He had one of those bad, er...
- Trips. Bummer.
- Yeah, that's it.
Then, this... he ran away from home
and his parents found him
all the way down in the east village
loaded with drugs
and in bed with a...
With a girl, one of the ugliest...
What did the parents do?
They took him home.
What else?
That's it.
They don't know what to do.
- Okay, I've got some advice for you.
- Great.
Run, don't walk.
Family therapy.
You mean, send her
to a psychoanalyst?
"Her"?
Did I say "her"?
No, I meant... I meant "him".
But don't send him. Take him.
Family therapy.
- The parents, too?
- Parents, most of all.
Oh, he'll...
He'll never do that.
Well, you talk to him.
No, I know him.
He's not the type.
You... you fry to convince him.
Nobody...
Seems very talkative today.
Frankly, doctor,
I don't think we were getting
much done here in these sessions.
How many of 'em? Four? Five?
All I've heard is
what a big phoney I am.
All right, maybe I am.
Personally, I don't think I am.
But, if my daughter wants
to tell me that,
let her tell me for free.
Nothing personal, doc.
What do you say to that, maxie?
I... I... I don't know.
You must have some thoughts about it.
Not really.
How about you, gerrie?
Well, I...
I know it is expensive,
but it seems to me that just the fact
that she's coming here with us,
and... and... and sitting here
is important.
Do I have a choice?
Maxie, would you do me a favour?
Maybe.
Every time you come here,
you wear those dark glasses
and that scarf,
so I can hardly see you.
I'm passively alienated.
She memorises these damn phrases
and then just can't wait to use 'em.
You're a pretty girl.
It would be nice to see you
while we talk.
Much better. Thank you.
Maxie, why do you think
your dad is a phoney?
Well, for one thing,
he's a tail-chaser.
Do you care to amplify that?
I've seen him with a woman
several times.
Maybe Arthur has an explanation.
I've known for a long time.
- By any evidence?
- No, I... I just knew, that's all.
Women always know.
Sometimes you're wrong.
Oh, when we suspect it,
we can be wrong,
but when we know it,
then we're always right.
Not always.
Always.
Whether we admit it to ourselves
or not is another question, but...
I did admit it, and I
decided to live with it.
But maxie couldn't.
Is that right, maxie?
I couldn't care less
what he does.
That's his thing. Let him do it.
Just like suffering is her thing,
and pryin' into
other people's business is yours.
So why can't I do mine without being
bugged all the time about it?
Your father's crying, maxie.
What do you think about that?
I didn't think he could.
Now, look...
Look, about this afternoon. I.
- Gerrie, I'd like to say one thing.
- You don't have to say anything.
Damn it, yes, I do.
- You can cry if you want to.
- I'm not going to cry.
Well, whatever you feel like.
You must know that it wasn't
anything you did or didn't do.
- Please, stop it.
- Well, it was...
It was just a weakness on my part,
some kind of a damned
no-good streak of...
Gerrie, nobody ever got close.
It was no closeness
or anything like that.
It was plain, irresponsible
animal instincts.
And one other thing,
I always felt... no, two things.
I always felt ashamed every time,
and I'm ashamed now.
That's... that's one thing.
And the other thing is...
The other thing is,
I'll never do it again.
I smoke too much.
I don't give a damn
what the inventory says, you...
- Arthur.
- I'm in a big hurry, della.
Arthur!
And then, to lift them out,
raise the heat about 380, 480,
nearly up to 500
degrees fahrenheit.
You've been acting funny all day.
Della, I'm due at
dr margolin's office.
Art, go check warehouse three,
see how many three-quarter-ton units
we have on hand.
I've got four trucks waiting for
this shipment right now.
Are you mad at me about something?
Della, gerrie knows about us.
Look, now, I'm not firing you.
I still want you to work here,
but the rest of it...
Better not try to treat me
like an old kleenex, Arthur.
I... I can't talk to you now, della.
Answer it, bastard.
Well, just look how old they are.
I mean, how would you like
to have folks that old, huh?
I just hate 'em, that's all.
I mean, it's dumb for two old people
like them to have a baby.
What would they
wanna have a baby for?
I mean, my mother was
forty-five years old,
and my father was sixty,
and look what they got. Me!
Look how I look.
Why couldn't you think of the kid
before you started havin' a kid?
Why couldn't they just say,
"okay, okay,
"we're too old to have a baby"?
But my father.
He's gotta go and prove
he can have a kid.
All for his own ego.
Well, I hate both of 'em.
I wish they would just die.
I wish I would die.
When I was still tryin' to
graduate high school,
before I even realised
what a dumb brain they'd given me
with their old beat-up bodies.
I used to hate it when they'd
come over to the school
and I'd try and avoid
being anywhere near them.
Sorry, little problem on the job.
I told everybody they were
really my grandparents.
Well, look at 'em!
Look at 'em, they're disgusting!
I mean, how would you
like to be a kid,
tryin' to... tryin' to play baseball,
and have a father
that's eighty years old?
I hate him.
You know, I... I hate you.
You are a shit!
Why don't you just go away
some place, and... and die?
Just die.
Well...
Who has a comment
on Wally's statement?
Nobody?
Well, surely somebody
has something to say?
Yes, I do.
- You've got no right...
- I don't wanna listen to you again.
- You sit there and talk to...
- You know, he's got a comment on everything,
and he doesn't know
anything about anything.
- But, do...
- But he's just told me...
Do you have a comment, maxie?
Yes, I do.
You don't mind, do you?
Ladies first?
Go ahead, maxie.
Well, first of all, the more
I come to these gross things,
the less I know why I'm here.
I mean, these meetings
are really gross.
Well, these group sessions
might get a bit
gross sometimes.
This, um...
This person over here, this...
This Wally guy,
he just wastes our time.
He's a nut.
What about this sweet big baby?
Big authority on every subject.
Well, he makes me sick.
You all make me sick.
If I had some acid, I'd...
I'd drop it right here,
right now.
- "Drop it"?
- It means "take it".
Do you see what I mean? Well...
I don't wanna come back
here anymore.
- What do you want, maxie?
- Out. I want out.
Of our world, you mean?
Yes, I'm gonna find a new reality.
- With drugs.
- Yup.
But let's think about this a moment.
Isn't running away
from the world as it is,
away from reality...
Isn't that a kind of death?
Well, what's so bad about death?
It'd get us out of this.
Hello, maxie. How are you?
Watch it.
Thank you. Excuse me.
Do you like that?
Hey, is this new?
- Where'd you get it?
- I bought it.
No! You know I can't drink.
Come on, it's a celebration,
sweetheart.
Look at her, dancing with
a boy with a haircut.
A boy who likes school.
All she needed was
a little wholesome family fun.
Come on, come on.
Arthur!
- Arthur... Arthur!
- No, let's go.
Beautiful!
How did I ever do that all night long?
What's that you're smoking?
Grass, man.
- You want some?
- Are you kiddin"?
Let me see that.
Hey, hey, what's the matter?
What did I do?
What's... what's goin' on?
Hey, stop him!
- Break it up!
- Smokin' pot in my house!
You all right? Yes.
He's just a little, er...
Loaded, that's all.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have
been so mean, Arthur.
Well, maybe we all oughta try it.
I hear it doesn't give you
a hangover, the way Martinis do.
You're beautiful, Tina.
- We should think about going.
- Why? It's early.
Come on, let's go.
- Did I hurt you?
- No, man.
I hope not.
Good night, good night.
Well, we'll have to
say good night, Arthur.
- Yeah, I married a wet blanket.
- Good night, David.
- Thanks, Arthur.
- What's that, killjoy?
Oh! Tyre chains.
Sandy, Sandy, come thank
mr Mason for your tyre chains.
- Oh, wow!
- Oh, how much do I owe you?
- Forget it.
- No, no.
Hey, I really appreciate these,
mr Mason.
Here, let me have your keys.
I'll put 'em in your trunk for you.
Oh, don't be silly, mom,
I'll do it.
No, no, no.
You stay here and have fun.
- No.
- Yes, sir.
You haven't even
had your drink yet.
He thinks if he doesn't
drink his drink tonight,
maybe I'll let him have... bye!
Maybe I'll let him
have two tomorrow.
To tell you the truth, mom,
I really don't want it.
Now, sneaky, sneaky.
Let me have your keys.
Probably go off with some girl,
and get stuck in the snow.
Huh, would you believe that boy?
He's gonna marry that car someday.
Oh, well, he can marry
anything he wants.
As long as he's on the Dean's list,
we don't care, do we, smoochie?
Hi, there.
She had a ball, sweetheart.
She had a real old-fashioned ball.
And so did you.
Maxie!
Maxie!
Maxie!
Oh, maxie.
In my judgement, your daughter
has taken a large dose of stp.
Stp? Isn't that the one
that's so dangerous?
- Sweetheart...
- It can be, yes.
We have no antidote for stp.
We can just try to keep
the person quiet
and wait till it wears off.
I suggest you go home
and try to get some rest.
Doctor...
Come back at ten o'clock.
Yes, but...
Why do you suppose Sandy
wouldn't let me have
the keys to his car?
David?
Tina, for Pete's sake!
Those diet pills are
making you downright kooky.
I'm sorry.
You had enough to drink
to put a horse to sleep,
and now look at ya.
I can't help it.
What are you doing with this?
What do you think?
I'm selling it.
David...
Now, look.
The kids are taking this stuff.
I mean, not me,
but a lot of the others.
Maxie got it from you.
Well, they gotta buy it
from somebody, right?
So, why not me?
Besides, do you think I can
get along and buy school clothes
on that lousy little allowance
you give me?
That lousy little allowance
is your father's life blood.
You get a kick outta
scrimping and saving.
You always have.
And how do you expect me
to buy gas,
to get back and forth
on the weekends?
And this is easy.
There's nothing to it.
Till you get arrested.
No, the cops almost look
the other way.
There's... there's so much of it,
they're embarrassed.
If they tried to bust
all the grass-heads,
they'd be putting
their own kids in jail.
Aren't you afraid that we
might have you arrested?
I know you, pop.
I'm your fair-haired boy.
That's the biggest kick
you have in life,
telling everybody how great I am,
how I'm gonna be
a big lawyer someday.
And you're right. I am.
You wouldn't bust that up.
Not for anything.
You couldn't take it.
So, in a way, it's, er... lucky for me
that you found out.
Because, now that you know,
you'd be sort of...
Accomplices.
And I can keep the stuff
right here in the house.
I... I hate sneaking, anyhow.
I'm sorry.
Oh, wow.
I really am.
That you're so shook up, I mean.
No, David.
Not the police. Not now.
We have to have time to think.
Somebody has to start somewhere.
178 east 3rd street.
158 east 7th street.
It's a shame for you
to be wasting your time like this.
That officer just violated my rights.
They'll let me go immediately.
As a citizen, I feel you could make
better use of your time
- trying to catch criminals.
- Let's go. Let's go.
Did they really have to send
four of you guys?
We've sent for a peer
to come sit with her.
- A peer?
- Yes, a peer, an equal.
Someone, er... they feel they can trust.
Someone not of the establishment,
if you will.
And this peer helps us
by talking them down, as we say.
This is what they call
a psycho ward, isn't it?
Yes, an unfortunate name.
It's also unfortunate that,
for space and personnel reasons,
we have to put a young girl
like your daughter
in the same ward with...
Dt cases,
heroin addicts who have oded,
everything imaginable.
Oh, just one word of warning.
She may have an adverse reaction
to seeing you here.
Well, maybe we shouldn't go in.
No, no, I'd like to see her reaction,
but don't be upset if she
doesn't seem glad to see you.
Good morning.
- Hi, doctor.
- Morning, Jennifer.
I wanted to ask one thing.
Would it be all right if we
tried to talk to her,
and tell her we were
wrong about something?
Apologise, I mean.
Do you think it would be all right?
Try it, by all means.
If she's receptive,
it could be a big help.
Maxie?
Maxie.
Maxie, we...
We found out about Sandy.
He admitted it
to his mother and father.
We want to apologise for...
For accusing your brother.
We know how much you love him...
Arthur!
Get dr Salazar! Get the key!
- He's coming.
- Get me out! Get me out!
Hey, mom. Artie!
I've gotta get out of here.
I heard she flipped out
pretty bad.
So you're the, er...
Whatchamacallit, huh?
The... the peer?
They said she asked for me.
I made a pretty bad mistake
about you, Artie.
That's life.
Help her get better.
I'll try.
Doctor.
Maxie.
Maxie.
I'm gonna fix you a dinner
you won't soon forget.
I can fix dinner.
You stay in that bed.
Complete rest.
I'm not a bad cook, you know.
I'm not.
Yes, you are.
Come on, maxie.
You can do it.
Come on.
Come on, now.
Maxie?
Okay, now you try it.
Come on.
Jesus, doc,
that's rough work.
I'll be back again soon, sis.
Your brother says you are rough work,
and you are, you know?
Maybe we should walk you
around outside for a while.
It's a beautiful...
You like it?
Yes, it's very nice.
Honest and truly?
Honest.
It's yours.
You can have these, too.
I hate 'em.
You hate 'em?
Hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em.
Well, if you hate 'em,
why do 'em?
To please dr Salazar.
If I please dr Salazar,
he'll let me out of here.
Oh, that'll be wonderful, baby.
Maybe in time for your birthday?
We both want you back home
with us so much.
Oh, you do, huh?
You're gonna be happy, baby.
Things are getting back to...
Well, together again.
Artie drops by more,
a lot more, the last couple of weeks.
- And your mom and me...
- She's still in bed?
- Well, she's...
- She's chicken.
I hate chicken people.
But... but...
I wanna come home. I really do.
I mean, if dr Salazar
ever thought that I...
That I didn't want to come home,
why...
Why, then he'd never let me
out of here.
Daddy...
- You like this?
- Very much.
It's just the same as this one.
Daddy,
do you think they're good?
I mean...
Really good?
Well, I think they're good.
I mean, I'm not...
I'm not an art critic, but I...
I think they show talent, yes.
You really like to lie a lot,
don't you, daddy?
I only...
See why I don't wanna come home?
Lies, lies, lies!
Oh, daddy, don't tell dr Salazar
I said that.
Please, please,
I do wanna come home.
- Don't tell him, daddy, please.
- I won't.
Anyway, really, I do wanna come home
and be with you and mom.
That'd be wonderful, baby.
Just wonderful.
I do, I do, I do...
I do.
I do.
Daddy...
Why do you want me to come home?
Why?
Because we love you, that's why.
Liar, liar.
- Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar!
- Maxie, please don't.
- I'm sorry.
- Liar!
- I didn't mean to get you upset.
- Liar!
Don't, maxie, please!
Enough, maxie.
That's enough.
I'm sorry, I... I won't be able
to see you next week.
I'll be outta town.
But your mother can call.
- Tell her not to bother.
- She's not allowed out of bed.
Go away, please! Go away!
I'll... I'll see you in about
ten days, baby.
He just gets me uptight.
I have a right to get uptight,
just like anybody else.
It doesn't mean there's
anything wrong with me.
Arthur, does this stuff
have to be done on a Sunday?
'Course it has to be done.
I told ya.
I mean, why me?
Whaddaya mean, "why me?"
Who else could I get who knows
about air condition specifications
at this late date?
Nobody, I guess.
What the hell's the matter with you?
And what are you all
dressed up for?
I always dress up on Sunday.
Arthur, is it really true
that you expected Rafferty
to okay the new specs on this city job,
and he finked out on you?
You get to know somebody,
you'd think they'd bend a little.
And if I don't reach the nine A.M.
deadline tomorrow
- with these new specs...
- They'd cancel the contract.
And you'd lose?
This is the biggest job
I ever figured, della.
By my calculations, you'll lose about
seventeen hundred dollars expenditures
and about ten thousand dollars
expected profits.
That's right.
I quit, Arthur.
As of now.
You're kiddin"!
Ta-ta.
Della, you can't do this!
Wanna bet?
Not at a time like this.
A time like this is what
I've been waiting for, Arthur.
Well, how are we doing?
She won't talk to me.
Maybe next time.
So long, doctor.
I want out of here,
and I don't wanna
go back with them.
And I don't see why I have to
wait till I'm eighteen.
Kids know a lot more than they used to
when that law was made.
- About some things.
- About everything.
Anyway, about important things.
Is self-preservation
an important thing?
That's a trick question,
and I'm not going to answer it.
All right.
Let's suppose your parents
let you go free right now,
be on your own.
They might as well.
In fourteen months, when I'm eighteen,
I'm gonna do it anyhow,
so they might as well.
All right, let's suppose they do.
What would you do?
I mean, how would you
arrange your life?
Well...
First, I'd take a long trip
with my boyfriend.
- Why a long one?
- Because I never had a long one.
I never had enough bread
for that much stuff.
What would you call "a long trip"?
About a week.
But if you didn't
have the money before,
how would you expect
to have it now?
I don't know. Somehow.
What else would you
like to talk about?
When do I get out of here?
We're working on that.
On.
I talked to her again
this afternoon. She's...
Still on the other side
of a stone wall.
But she has improved.
Dr Salazar said that.
"Steady improvement."
- That's what he said, isn't it?
- That's right.
And I told him
you were up for a while today,
and he said he was sure you'd
snap back just fine, sweetheart.
Sometimes you wonder
if you want to snap back.
Does he know yet...
Can he estimate how much longer
she'll have to be in this...
What a hideous way of saying it.
This "controlled environment"?
No, no.
I asked him the same thing.
It just depends. They...
They have no way of knowing
until they have more time.
But what really bugs me is
it all boils down to money.
I guess everything does,
sooner or later.
They've got these private hospitals
where they get the best possible care,
where they have about
two staff members per patient,
plenty of therapy,
everything of the best.
Well, that's where
maxie's got to be.
Yeah, that's what I said.
But these places run from about...
Are you ready for this?
Twenty-five to forty thousand a year.
- Twenty-five?
- To forty thousand a year.
- But nobody can afford that.
- We can't, that's a cinch.
Well, what else is there?
After that, it just drops way off.
You...
You get into the public places.
And the worst part of it is,
they don't really have a place
just specifically for this kinda thing
in most municipal institutions.
I mean, she'd be
in with addicts, ya know,
heroin addicts, schizophrenes...
Well, that's impossible.
We can't put her in anything like that.
I know.
Arthur, are they sure?
I mean, couldn't we try it
just once more at home?
Three specialists talked to her
and they all recommended against it.
They all agree she has
very strong self-destructive urges.
Well, couldn't we put her in
one of these expensive places,
just for six months?
We could afford six months.
Arthur, you're not telling me
everything they said.
Sweetheart, they think she may be
in need of this controlled environment...
Indefinitely.
You don't mean for
the rest of her life?
It's possible.
I asked them what would happen
if we just let her go free,
and they said she'd probably
destroy herself eventually.
I said,
well, the way I feel now,
instead of burying her
in some institution,
I'd just as soon let her go out
and drug herself to death
the way she wants to,
and then bury her.
But that'd be quitting,
and we're not gonna quit.
No, no, sir. There's a way.
There's a good chance
she can get well.
They said that.
They all agreed on that. That's...
That's what we have to hang onto.
Oh, come...
Come on, now, sweetheart.
Sweetheart, you know
what Salazar said?
He said she doesn't
really hate us at all.
The way he explained it is, she's
grown old enough to see our faults,
but just not mature enough yet
to forgive them.
Look, try not to
think about it, sweetheart.
Do you want anything?
Maybe you oughta
take a nap before dinner.
That's it!
Wait till you see
what I've got you for dinner.
Artie's coming to dinner too,
ya know.
Come on, now. You take a nap.
I'm coming.
Coming.
- Arthur, hi.
- Oh, David.
- Can I come in?
- Oh, please, come on, come on in, yes.
Well, Arthur, you know
Sandy's been out on bail,
and we've been waiting
for a trial date...
I know you and Tina have
suffered through this thing, too.
Yeah, well, listen,
we just got word, er...
I want you to try to
be calm, Arthur.
We just got word that
the charges have been dropped.
- Some, er...
- Dropped?
Yes, technicalities,
- illegal search and seizure.
- You mean, no punishment at all?
Now, I know how you feel, Arthur.
I've been very upset about
this thing, too, for you. Listen...
- No! No!
- Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, Arthur!
- Get outta that car!
- Mr Mason! Hey! Help!
My daughter's in an institution,
and you think you'll
walk around free? No! No!
No! By god, no!
He's... he's crazy! Crazy!
He's going crazy!
Arthur! Arthur!
- No, we'll see if you...
- Dad!
Dad! Come on, dad, come on.
That's not gonna do anybody any good.
I'll kill him!
I'll kill him, the cunt! Your...
You heard him.
He tried to kill me!
You're my witnesses.
I'm calling the police,
and he's going to be arrested.
I know my rights!
I have always thought of myself
as incapable of violence,
but if you make one more
obscene sound about your rights,
you pollution of my life,
I shall hurt you.
- I shall hurt you.
- Come on, let go, now.
Tell him I'll break his back!
All right, I'm all right now.
Let's go.
God, I hope your mother didn't hear.
- Christ, I really blew!
- As only you can.
Slimy little bastard.
"Case dismissed."
Poor David, with a kid like that.
Christ, he's sicker than...
Well, you're here!
- I bought some Chinese food for dinner.
- Yeah.
Lobster cantonese, "flied lice",
the whole deal.
- Whaddaya say?
- Well, great!
Good.
Sweetheart, we've got a guest!
Where is she? She's probably
in the bathroom, primping.
She can get up
for a few minutes now.
I could use a drink.
How about you?
- Well...
- You know, I don't think
we've ever had a drink together,
just the two of us, in all our lives.
- Whaddaya say?
- Yeah, okay.
I don't... you know, I don't remember
who told me this, but he said that,
"if you're drinking for pleasure,
you sip it,
"but if you really need a drink,
that's business,
- "and you never waste time in business."
- That's right.
What are you gonna do with yours?
Well...
Come on, come on,
don't hesitate.
He who does is lost.
Down the hatch, that's it.
There, doesn't that make you
feel better?
Now, let's go up and see your mom.
Come on.
I told her about all the offers
you were getting,
and she was very proud.
Just goes to show you
what I know about music.
Nothing.
Listen, Artie, don't say anything
to your mother
about the lobster cantonese.
I wanna surprise her.
Sweetheart?
Gerrie?
She's not here.
Good evening.
I'm mrs Mason, maxie's mother.
Oh, I'm afraid visiting hours
are over, mrs Mason.
Dr Salazar said it was all right.
Well, there must be some mistake.
- He never does that.
- No, no, it's a special thing.
Well, if you don't mind,
I've gotta call him.
Well, he's not at home.
My husband and I just had
dinner with them,
and they went on to a movie.
Mrs Mason, I can't do it
without his consent.
I'll take full responsibility.
After all, I am her mother.
You see, it's a...
It's an experiment
in reality therapy.
- "Reality therapy"?
- Yes, that's correct.
- Well, I suppose...
- I'll go get her for you, mrs Mason.
You can wait in the waiting room
there, mrs Mason.
Maxie.
It's all right, maxie.
You've been refusing my calls.
Your father tells me you won't speak
to him when he comes here.
That's your way of punishing us.
All right, I don't blame you.
They're going to let you
out of here pretty soon.
You'll be on your own.
Free, totally free.
At least, that's what you think.
But I know the truth.
The truth is that you're
going to be here forever.
Oh, not here, because they can't
keep you here much longer,
and not in one of those luxury places
for twenty-five thousand dollars a year,
because we can't afford that.
Finally, there's something, finally,
that we can't afford to give you.
You don't see
the humour in that, do you?
Well, neither do I.
So they're going to
keep you some place,
some not very nice place,
I'm afraid, forever.
Or, if not forever,
for a very long time.
Do you know why? Do you?
No?
Then I'll tell you.
Because you'd rather
punish us for being human
than try to get well.
Because you're still a big baby,
and if the game's not played your way,
you're not gonna play at all.
Well, I'm here to tell you that
you're not gonna get away with it.
I'm telling you, as your mother,
that you are going to survive.
You're going to speak to me,
and you're going to survive.
Now, turn around here,
and look at me.
I said, "look at me"!
Now, tell me you're going to get well.
Say it!
Say it!
Say you'll try.
Say it!
Say it!
- Say you'll try. Say it!
- Gerrie! Gerrie!
Let's go, maxie.
Gerrie, listen to me, will you? Gerrie...
You can't dance to it.
Well, you see, er...
- This is a different sound.
- Well, I don't want a different sound.
- Well, can we just play breaks?
- No.
- We'll give you a week for fifty bucks.
- Forget it!
- Look, we'll give you a week for nothing!
- You ain't worth it.
We'll give him something he can dance to!
You're gonna have
the most famous club in town!
- You guys, hurry!
- I'll help!
- All right, all right!
- Drop dead, you ugly bastard.
I think that sign's finally
spelled right now.
Yes, I know what you mean.
- Bye, mom.
- Mrs crowley's proud of you
helping out at the hospital.
Yes, she's on her way,
mrs crowley.
Bye, daddy.
Oh. Oh, thank you.
- How about some breakfast?
- I'm not hungry.
Hiya, boys.
Hi, Elliot.
Hi, maxie. Where ya goin'?
Oh, I'm supposed to work
over at the hospital.
Why don't you stop
over at my place, huh?
One more time!
Stop that!
Your father's home.
Let's go see what he's got!
Oh, look! Oh, my god!
Oh, look at the duckies!
Oh, Arthur! Oh, look at you!
Come see the ducks!
Hey, David, how about that?
Oh, maxie!
Whoops, I gotta be careful.
I'll get you all bloody.
- How many do you get?
- Twelve, altogether.
Wow! David, why don't
you ever do a thing like that?
- I thought the limit was three.
- That's if we get caught.
Actually, there were fourteen!
What happened to the other two?
They were crips.
They flocked off into the weeds.
Arthur, they won't
suffer long, will they?
Oh, no, no.
Some fox'll probably get 'em.
- Foxes have to eat too, ya know.
- Here, mr Mason.
- Let me take 'em into the kitchen for you.
- Oh, thank you, Sandy.
Oh, isn't my son wonderful?
Speaking of sons, I wonder
what's become of ours? Artie?
He's... he's not feeling well.
He has a headache.
Well, carrying fifteen pounds
of hair around
- would give anybody a headache.
- Isn't he funny? Arthur, you're so funny!
Well, I think we gotta go.
Come on, Tina.
Let's go. It's time to go.
Art? Artie?
Artie?
Hey, shrubbery skull!
Come on down, we're having dinner.
Hey, mop-head! Arthur...
Now, what I'm...
All I'm doing
is asking him to come down.
Come on down, Arturo!
Well, why doesn't he come down?
Roast duck!
And happiness.
Now, Artie...
Artie? Come on down!
I'm not very hungry.
Well, if you don't wanna eat,
at least send...
Send your hair down!
I think he wants to practise.
Practice, huh? Is that what he calls it?
Hell! Come on, Arthur!
- Come on now, honey.
- All right, but why be selfish?
No need for his hair to starve!
Why can't you leave him alone
about his hair?
Just because it isn't
the same length as yours!
What the hell did I do?
When are you two
gonna stop tuning up
and start playing something?
Come on, sis, let's play
some real music.
That's what I call music!
Sandy brought some cheesecake.
Fine. They're just playing this
to amuse the old man, Sandy.
They don't like it
because it has a melody.
You know, I bet they like it
better than you think, mr Mason.
Come on and join in!
- No, no, I gotta be goin'.
- Thanks for the cheesecake, Sandy.
Now that's the kinda stuff
you oughta play.
The kinda stuff
people wanna hear.
That other stuff, nobody'll
pay you a dime for that.
- Dad, let me tell you something...
- Oh, maxie, never mind.
Since the almighty dollar
is your way of judging everything,
I've got news for you.
Artie and his group have got a job,
starting tonight, paying
two hundred a week.
Artie, is that true?
Yeah, well, I was gonna
tell you tonight,
when I had my costume on, but...
But that's wonderful!
Two hundred bucks, huh?
Well, some people have
more money than brains.
Pentagon said today
that the present operation
is an example of American and
south vietnamese co-operation,
driving the viet cong out of
critical rice-growing areas.
Advancing American units
seized forward positions
under intense small-arms fire...
You gotta be kidding.
You're not going out on the
street like that, are ya?
Whatever happened to civilisation?
It's part of our thing, you know.
Your thing, huh?
Well, you'll probably be
doing their thing soon,
so you might as well
have fun while you can.
Oh, shut that stuff off,
will ya? I'm sick of it.
Bang, bang, bang.
Well, so long.
Arthur!
Arthur! Will you come here,
please? Quickly!
- What's the matter?
- Please, hurry.
- What is it?
- I don't like it.
It's too far. Too far.
I wanna go home!
I hear mountains.
- What the hell?
- I hear mountains. I...
- Darling, darling...
- Mountains! Mountains!
Go back, sweetheart.
Don't even look. Let me handle this.
I'm all right. I really am.
I'll be back. Don't worry.
What the devil
are you doing in there?
I'm looking. I see.
Look at me.
Oh, way, way up! See me!
- Look!
- Maxie, come on outta there.
- Arthur...
- She's drunk.
Darling, darling...
I see music.
Look!
Look! Look at the music!
She's tripping.
What? She's what?
It's okay, maxie.
Artie's here. Don't worry.
Artie!
Sweet guitar!
Sweet, sweet, sweet guitar.
What are you talkin' about?
What's the matter with her?
Can you be quiet for a minute?
Have you ever heard of LSD?
- I wanna go home.
- It's okay, maxie. It's okay.
Maxie, how much did you take?
Not much. I didn't take much.
LSD?!
Bring me back.
I wanna come back. I'm scared.
The mountain's coming.
The mountain's coming!
God...
I'm electric!
I'm electric! I'm...
Artie's with ya. Don't worry.
The mountain won't hurt you.
Come on, now.
Walk with Artie,
to your own bed.
- Come on, now.
- Come on, baby.
I wanna go home.
I want my daddy.
I want my daddy. Daddy!
Your daddy's here, baby.
Right here.
Razor blades!
It's okay.
It's okay, Artie's with ya.
Artie's gonna get ya home.
- Get some sleeping pills.
- Shouldn't I call the doctor?
Don't call anybody. Do like he says.
Get the sleeping pills.
Maxie, come on.
Your own little bed.
Safe at home. Come on.
Safe at home. Nice and soft,
in your own little bed.
Bed? Bed?!
Artie's gonna get you home.
Just... just try...
- How strong are they?
- It says one for sleep.
Let me have two.
Who's that?
Who's that?!
I wanna talk to you.
Dad, you're just gonna
have to be quiet
while I'm talking her down.
I'm sorry.
Here ya are, maxie.
Couple of caps for ya.
Hey, tickets home.
Come on, now.
Tickets home.
Now, you know who's here?
Your mom's here.
Isn't that nice?
Mom...
- I'm cold, mom.
- Mommy's with you. Sssssh.
Just keep talking to her, mom.
If we can get her to sleep,
she oughta be okay
in a couple of hours.
- I'm cold...
- Mommy's got a warm blanket for you.
- Goin' home?
- Yes, darling, going home.
- Goin' home, momma?
- Yes, sweetheart.
- Goin' home?
- Yes, my darling. Sssh. Yes, baby.
- Sssssh...
- I wanna talk to you. Now!
- Yes, my darling.
- I'm cold, mom.
Hey...
- Hey, you got any more of that stuff?
- Dad, you gotta believe me...
I don't. Empty your pockets.
- I swear...
- I said empty 'em!
No.
Then, goddamn it, I will.
I knew something like this
was gonna happen
when she started hanging out
with that freaky gang of yours.
It's gotta be in here somewhere.
Your mother'll send your clothes
to that freak joint where you work.
You're not comin' back here, ever.
For anything!
And stay away from
your sister, do you hear?
You...
Now, you listen to me,
you no-good punk!
If your sister suffers
any kind of damage because of this,
any permanent damage,
you better start runnin',
because I'm comin' after you,
and I'll break
every bone in your body!
I don't respect you anymore.
I think she's going to sleep.
What happened?
- I kicked him out.
- No!
Freaky little punk. Artie!
Why would she
take that stuff, anyhow?
Is she nuts or somethin'?
Perfect kid, normal as they come,
a kid who's got everything.
I think we ought to
talk to somebody.
Who? Who? A head shrinker?
Absolutely not.
What about David?
I'm not getting the people next door
- involved in my private life!
- Arthur, please.
- I want her to go to sleep.
- Listen, gerrie,
if you feel you have to turn to...
To David at a time like...
- Turn to David?
- That's what I said.
- We need advice.
- You don't trust my judgement?
Oh, it's not your anything, Arthur.
It's our.
We're failing.
We have to face that.
Look, if you wanna go to
Tina and David, you go!
Lemme tell you one thing.
I'm not taking the responsibility
for anything that happens after that.
Is that clear?
It's your responsibility.
Go ahead. Go.
You know something, Arthur?
Every time we come to
any kind of a crisis, where...
Where a decision has got to be made,
you get furious at me.
That's a lie.
And refuse to take any responsibility.
That's a damn lie,
and you know it.
I'm going next door.
You do that.
Hey there, gerrie,
are you and Arthur
going to be home later?
Oh... oh, yes. Yes, I imagine.
Well, there's nothing much
doing on TV tonight,
so Gloria and I thought
we'd rather look at you and Arthur
through a Martini.
What do you think?
In about a half hour, okay?
Okay, gerrie?
Is she mad at us?
Have you been eating her geraniums again?
- Mrs Mason!
- Oh, Sandy.
- Is there something wrong?
- Oh, well... sort of.
Is your father home?
You know mom, she gets
kinda sleepy after dinner sometimes.
Er... gee, no,
dad's over at the school.
There's been a riot.
What did he say?
He's at the school.
Let's go.
Do you think we ought to?
Who do you think you are?
Fascist pigs!
You ain't got no warrant!
Ho chi minh! Ho chi minh!
- Get outta here!
- Watch the glass.
Ho! Ho! Ho chi minh!
None of us is gonna win!
Ho! Ho! Ho chi minh!
Get your hands off of me!
Who do you think you are?!
- Oh, hi.
- David.
Some of my students
are gonna need these records
- to get into college next year.
- This is terrible.
- We shouldn't be bothering you.
- It's all right. It's all over.
It's just a clean-up job now.
Arthur...
Gerrie told me the bare details
on the phone.
Look what they did
to your office, David,
and you're the principal.
David, what the hell do you
do for kids in this world?
We did everything
humanly possible.
I mean, we gave her tennis lessons,
piano lessons, cheerleader,
good home, good neighbourhood.
- Gave her love.
- Love? Of course we gave her love.
I know, I know.
If we were a neurotic bunch of...
You know what I mean.
Then I could understand, but...
Oh, excuse me, gerrie.
Would you like to sit down?
No, I'm fine.
Would you like some coffee
before we start?
Oh, yes, please. Just black.
Do you have a dime? Yes.
I'm afraid to look at
what they did in the library,
but I've got to.
How about that?
Right through the door.
They finally found
a use for books.
Oh, here, David.
I can't understand why they didn't
destroy the coffee machine.
Even I agree the coffee machine
is a bourgeois plot.
Our children can come to us
about anything. They know that.
If he can get her to really say
what she thinks, deep down.
- That's what I mean.
- He's right.
All the things
she may not have said
because she may have thought
that you didn't want her to.
But we did!
But did you really
want to, sweetheart?
Or were you afraid?
Tell the truth.
I... I have to admit
that I was at fault myself,
because I didn't insist
on it sooner. But...
Oh, sweetheart,
you're going to enjoy it.
You'll get to know your daughter
better than you ever dreamed possible.
Listen, I don't know if either one of us
is gonna be able to stand it, but...
Geronimo!
It's all around us, gerrie.
They wanna pick our whole society
up by the heels and shake it,
and see what drops out.
At least the healthy ones do.
The others just wanna
try to get away from it,
the best way they can.
Yeah, with drugs.
Oh, sweetheart,
in a funny way, we're lucky.
We... we caught this thing
at the very beginning.
All right, we lost our son
to this sickness,
or craziness, or whatever it is,
but we're not going to
lose our little girl.
Hello, electric crash pad.
Hello.
I can't understand you, honey.
Who?
Artie?
Is he one of the musicians?
Some drunk broad wants to leave
a message for the organ player.
Hang up!
Hello?
I wish to hell I could
get in touch with Rafferty.
I'd cancel that damn tennis match.
I'm not gonna get a wink of sleep.
Tennis!
What kinda reflexes
am I gonna have?
Maxie! Maxie!
Oh, darling.
Everything's...
Everything's all right.
There's nothing to cry about now.
Darling, it was a mistake.
Anybody can make a mistake.
We're going to forget
that it ever happened.
There, now. Now, now, darling.
Everything's all right.
- Isn't it, daddy?
- Yes, baby, everything's fine.
- Just fine.
- I can't help it.
Well, darling, try to stop
for a minute.
Daddy and I want to talk to you.
Not now. Please, not now.
- Do you wanna go back to sleep?
- No, I... I can't.
Is there any particular thing
you're crying about?
- Baby, everything's fine.
- No, I just feel like crying.
Come...
Baby, I...
- Maybe if you went back to sleep.
- I don't wanna sleep.
I'm gonna sit up and wait for Artie.
- Darling...
- Let me handle this.
Maxie...
Maxie, we know
Artie brought you that stuff.
What have you done?
- Well...
- I sent him away.
Artie?
- You kicked him out?
- Well, your father felt that...
We know how much
you love your brother.
He's our son, don't forget.
This is hard for us, too.
It's... it's hard for your father,
much harder than you think.
You know what you are, daddy?
You're a jackass.
She's trying to protect him.
It's always like this.
He lies, and she swears to it.
You're both jackasses.
I think we ought to wait
till tomorrow to talk about it.
I think we ought to
talk about it right now.
You're not going to like it.
May I have a drag of that?
I didn't know you smoked.
There's a lot you don't know.
Go ahead.
This is not the first time
I've tripped out.
I've been up at least fifteen times.
I don't believe you.
I don't believe you.
I've tried all the grooves,
even horse,
but acid's my scene.
You... you talk like...
Where did you get these words?
This is me, daddy.
This is me.
My daughter's sick.
My little girl is sick.
I'm not sick. You are.
- That's why you're so miserable.
- I'm not miserable.
At least, I wasn't.
You know,
you oughta drop a little acid.
Like...
See god, mom.
See god, huh?
You were really seeing god when we
found you in that closet.
I was on a bad trip.
That can happen.
Shouldn't have taken
speed with my acid.
Arthur, I'm going to be ill.
I have to get out of here.
No, darling, listen to me.
- But...
- No, you just sit down here.
Gimme that.
Now, aside from your
freaky brother's influence,
what got you started on this stuff?
My brother's influence
has always been
to tell me to leave
this whole scene alone.
I don't believe that,
but go ahead.
I took acid because
I wanted to be a better person.
It's a fine way to be
a better person, all right.
And also, I guess,
because you and...
Mom and the world in general
just keep me uptight all the time.
We keep you uptight, do we?
What... now, how do we do that?
Just by being ridiculous.
You know, dumb, phoney.
You...
In other words, you hate us.
Yes, I... I think so.
You say we're dumb. Waell...
Can you give me an example?
Well, like everything I tell you,
you believe.
For instance?
Like if I tell you
one of the kids is nice,
you both say, "oh, that's nice.
"Then you can spend the night over there
because it's a nice family."
And that kid might be
the biggest head you ever saw.
In other words, to trust
is to be a fool.
You are a sick person.
Mom, we didn't talk
about my sex life.
What's the matter?
You scared to ask?
Well, your worst suspicions are true.
Would you believe, this morning?
I wasn't at the hospital
like you thought.
I was with a boy.
You know, fucking.
What boy?
You'd try to hurt him,
wouldn't you?
You're sixteen years old!
Oh, shit.
It was that Elliot boy,
wasn't it?
Sorry, daddy, I'll have to
take the fifth on that.
Anyhow, there was
another one before him.
For more than a year now.
Oh, don't worry, mom,
I'm not gonna have a baby.
I'm on the pill.
Where would you...?
You're sixteen.
Where would you get such a thing?
It's easy.
All the girls have 'em.
Ones that want them.
- Am I losing my mind?
- No.
- Did I cause this?
- No. You've been a good mother.
I'm not gonna let you
take the blame for this.
She's no good, that's all,
she's rotten.
- It happens in a family sometimes.
- Oh, she's sick, she's sick.
You and daddy did it
before you were married.
I heard you talking about it.
You remember Sharon,
that used to come
and spend the night
with me last year?
Dr Bernard's daughter.
Well, she used to bring
her father's stethoscope,
and we'd go into the hall
and put the stethoscope
on your bedroom door.
Daddy!
- We've got to get her to a doctor.
- She's not sick, she's crazy.
- Arthur...
- Kids nowadays are crazy!
Don't you understand? If she
weren't sick, this couldn't happen.
It just couldn't happen.
I gotta get some sleep.
Elliot?
Hey, it's me.
I'm not going back with them, ever.
Yeah.
Hey...
You stoned?
- On what?
- Hmm?
What?
Come on.
Come on.
Arthur!
Artie'll know where she is.
Will you look at this!
He knows this place, knows it.
He came straight here.
Where do I go?
- I'll show you.
- No, just tell me.
- Second floor, last door on the right.
- Arthur.
Darling, stay here.
I don't want you to see this.
Arthur, be careful.
- What floor?
- Second.
Stay with your mother.
You get outta here, Lenny! Get out!
Get out!
Hey, you from the red cross, man?
We gave already.
Where's maxie?
Maxie?
I don't know no maxie.
You know her all right.
She comes here all the time.
She's a minor, too.
So, you better tell me
where she is, and do it fast,
or you're gonna end up in jail.
Hey, I ain't seen nobody, okay?
I'm comin' back, with cops!
Daddy!
You stupid, freaked-out head!
Why, you...
Keep away from me.
Keep away from me.
What's the matter, daddy?
You scared, huh?
Huh? You're scared, aren't you?
Aren't you?!
Daddy's scared.
Daddy's scared!
Look at him!
I'll run away again,
just as soon as I can.
Mr Mason? Yes. Dr Lauren?
Yeah, come in. Sit down.
Er... Carol, you want to leave
a coffee for mr Mason?
No, thanks.
Oh, it's all right.
I can get some more.
- No, really, thank you.
- Okay. Bye-bye.
Sit down.
Well, from what you told me
about this boy on the phone,
I should talk directly
to the father.
Oh, that'll never happen.
Believe me, I know this guy.
No, I was thinking that,
by talking to you,
I'll get a better idea of
what to tell him.
You know, some sensible advice.
Tell me about this guy.
- The father?
- Yeah.
Oh, he's, er... I guess
he's just your average Joe.
Maybe a cut above.
You know the type.
He works hard, he likes the fights,
he drinks a little too much,
that... that kinda thing.
I get the impression he's a...
He's a pretty good father.
- At least he tries to be.
- What doesn't the boy like about his parents?
Well, they had a talk with him,
and, er...
They found that he's, er...
He's pretty hostile.
- He calls 'em phonies, stupid...
- Are they?
No, not...
Not for my money.
Not any more than anybody else.
At least they're
trying to understand, to...
To improve the relationship,
which is a hell of a lot more
than that boy is doing. I mean...
You ever been skin diving?
- Skin diving?
- Yeah.
I mean, I never thought
I'd communicate with a fish
until I went scuba diving.
You stand in front of
one of those fish tanks,
stare in at this dumb little fish,
and they stare back at you, and...
Nothing.
And then you go down
into their world,
swim around,
hell, they'll play tag with you,
they'll tease you,
seem to grin at you...
They communicate.
Oughta try it sometime.
Now...
What specifically did this boy do
that got you,
and his parents,
- so upset?
- Not me. I... I wasn't upset.
- Not personally.
- I understand.
After all, he's their kid.
What... what did he do?
Well, he took some LSD,
right in the home.
He had one of those bad, er...
- Trips. Bummer.
- Yeah, that's it.
Then, this... he ran away from home
and his parents found him
all the way down in the east village
loaded with drugs
and in bed with a...
With a girl, one of the ugliest...
What did the parents do?
They took him home.
What else?
That's it.
They don't know what to do.
- Okay, I've got some advice for you.
- Great.
Run, don't walk.
Family therapy.
You mean, send her
to a psychoanalyst?
"Her"?
Did I say "her"?
No, I meant... I meant "him".
But don't send him. Take him.
Family therapy.
- The parents, too?
- Parents, most of all.
Oh, he'll...
He'll never do that.
Well, you talk to him.
No, I know him.
He's not the type.
You... you fry to convince him.
Nobody...
Seems very talkative today.
Frankly, doctor,
I don't think we were getting
much done here in these sessions.
How many of 'em? Four? Five?
All I've heard is
what a big phoney I am.
All right, maybe I am.
Personally, I don't think I am.
But, if my daughter wants
to tell me that,
let her tell me for free.
Nothing personal, doc.
What do you say to that, maxie?
I... I... I don't know.
You must have some thoughts about it.
Not really.
How about you, gerrie?
Well, I...
I know it is expensive,
but it seems to me that just the fact
that she's coming here with us,
and... and... and sitting here
is important.
Do I have a choice?
Maxie, would you do me a favour?
Maybe.
Every time you come here,
you wear those dark glasses
and that scarf,
so I can hardly see you.
I'm passively alienated.
She memorises these damn phrases
and then just can't wait to use 'em.
You're a pretty girl.
It would be nice to see you
while we talk.
Much better. Thank you.
Maxie, why do you think
your dad is a phoney?
Well, for one thing,
he's a tail-chaser.
Do you care to amplify that?
I've seen him with a woman
several times.
Maybe Arthur has an explanation.
I've known for a long time.
- By any evidence?
- No, I... I just knew, that's all.
Women always know.
Sometimes you're wrong.
Oh, when we suspect it,
we can be wrong,
but when we know it,
then we're always right.
Not always.
Always.
Whether we admit it to ourselves
or not is another question, but...
I did admit it, and I
decided to live with it.
But maxie couldn't.
Is that right, maxie?
I couldn't care less
what he does.
That's his thing. Let him do it.
Just like suffering is her thing,
and pryin' into
other people's business is yours.
So why can't I do mine without being
bugged all the time about it?
Your father's crying, maxie.
What do you think about that?
I didn't think he could.
Now, look...
Look, about this afternoon. I.
- Gerrie, I'd like to say one thing.
- You don't have to say anything.
Damn it, yes, I do.
- You can cry if you want to.
- I'm not going to cry.
Well, whatever you feel like.
You must know that it wasn't
anything you did or didn't do.
- Please, stop it.
- Well, it was...
It was just a weakness on my part,
some kind of a damned
no-good streak of...
Gerrie, nobody ever got close.
It was no closeness
or anything like that.
It was plain, irresponsible
animal instincts.
And one other thing,
I always felt... no, two things.
I always felt ashamed every time,
and I'm ashamed now.
That's... that's one thing.
And the other thing is...
The other thing is,
I'll never do it again.
I smoke too much.
I don't give a damn
what the inventory says, you...
- Arthur.
- I'm in a big hurry, della.
Arthur!
And then, to lift them out,
raise the heat about 380, 480,
nearly up to 500
degrees fahrenheit.
You've been acting funny all day.
Della, I'm due at
dr margolin's office.
Art, go check warehouse three,
see how many three-quarter-ton units
we have on hand.
I've got four trucks waiting for
this shipment right now.
Are you mad at me about something?
Della, gerrie knows about us.
Look, now, I'm not firing you.
I still want you to work here,
but the rest of it...
Better not try to treat me
like an old kleenex, Arthur.
I... I can't talk to you now, della.
Answer it, bastard.
Well, just look how old they are.
I mean, how would you like
to have folks that old, huh?
I just hate 'em, that's all.
I mean, it's dumb for two old people
like them to have a baby.
What would they
wanna have a baby for?
I mean, my mother was
forty-five years old,
and my father was sixty,
and look what they got. Me!
Look how I look.
Why couldn't you think of the kid
before you started havin' a kid?
Why couldn't they just say,
"okay, okay,
"we're too old to have a baby"?
But my father.
He's gotta go and prove
he can have a kid.
All for his own ego.
Well, I hate both of 'em.
I wish they would just die.
I wish I would die.
When I was still tryin' to
graduate high school,
before I even realised
what a dumb brain they'd given me
with their old beat-up bodies.
I used to hate it when they'd
come over to the school
and I'd try and avoid
being anywhere near them.
Sorry, little problem on the job.
I told everybody they were
really my grandparents.
Well, look at 'em!
Look at 'em, they're disgusting!
I mean, how would you
like to be a kid,
tryin' to... tryin' to play baseball,
and have a father
that's eighty years old?
I hate him.
You know, I... I hate you.
You are a shit!
Why don't you just go away
some place, and... and die?
Just die.
Well...
Who has a comment
on Wally's statement?
Nobody?
Well, surely somebody
has something to say?
Yes, I do.
- You've got no right...
- I don't wanna listen to you again.
- You sit there and talk to...
- You know, he's got a comment on everything,
and he doesn't know
anything about anything.
- But, do...
- But he's just told me...
Do you have a comment, maxie?
Yes, I do.
You don't mind, do you?
Ladies first?
Go ahead, maxie.
Well, first of all, the more
I come to these gross things,
the less I know why I'm here.
I mean, these meetings
are really gross.
Well, these group sessions
might get a bit
gross sometimes.
This, um...
This person over here, this...
This Wally guy,
he just wastes our time.
He's a nut.
What about this sweet big baby?
Big authority on every subject.
Well, he makes me sick.
You all make me sick.
If I had some acid, I'd...
I'd drop it right here,
right now.
- "Drop it"?
- It means "take it".
Do you see what I mean? Well...
I don't wanna come back
here anymore.
- What do you want, maxie?
- Out. I want out.
Of our world, you mean?
Yes, I'm gonna find a new reality.
- With drugs.
- Yup.
But let's think about this a moment.
Isn't running away
from the world as it is,
away from reality...
Isn't that a kind of death?
Well, what's so bad about death?
It'd get us out of this.
Hello, maxie. How are you?
Watch it.
Thank you. Excuse me.
Do you like that?
Hey, is this new?
- Where'd you get it?
- I bought it.
No! You know I can't drink.
Come on, it's a celebration,
sweetheart.
Look at her, dancing with
a boy with a haircut.
A boy who likes school.
All she needed was
a little wholesome family fun.
Come on, come on.
Arthur!
- Arthur... Arthur!
- No, let's go.
Beautiful!
How did I ever do that all night long?
What's that you're smoking?
Grass, man.
- You want some?
- Are you kiddin"?
Let me see that.
Hey, hey, what's the matter?
What did I do?
What's... what's goin' on?
Hey, stop him!
- Break it up!
- Smokin' pot in my house!
You all right? Yes.
He's just a little, er...
Loaded, that's all.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have
been so mean, Arthur.
Well, maybe we all oughta try it.
I hear it doesn't give you
a hangover, the way Martinis do.
You're beautiful, Tina.
- We should think about going.
- Why? It's early.
Come on, let's go.
- Did I hurt you?
- No, man.
I hope not.
Good night, good night.
Well, we'll have to
say good night, Arthur.
- Yeah, I married a wet blanket.
- Good night, David.
- Thanks, Arthur.
- What's that, killjoy?
Oh! Tyre chains.
Sandy, Sandy, come thank
mr Mason for your tyre chains.
- Oh, wow!
- Oh, how much do I owe you?
- Forget it.
- No, no.
Hey, I really appreciate these,
mr Mason.
Here, let me have your keys.
I'll put 'em in your trunk for you.
Oh, don't be silly, mom,
I'll do it.
No, no, no.
You stay here and have fun.
- No.
- Yes, sir.
You haven't even
had your drink yet.
He thinks if he doesn't
drink his drink tonight,
maybe I'll let him have... bye!
Maybe I'll let him
have two tomorrow.
To tell you the truth, mom,
I really don't want it.
Now, sneaky, sneaky.
Let me have your keys.
Probably go off with some girl,
and get stuck in the snow.
Huh, would you believe that boy?
He's gonna marry that car someday.
Oh, well, he can marry
anything he wants.
As long as he's on the Dean's list,
we don't care, do we, smoochie?
Hi, there.
She had a ball, sweetheart.
She had a real old-fashioned ball.
And so did you.
Maxie!
Maxie!
Maxie!
Oh, maxie.
In my judgement, your daughter
has taken a large dose of stp.
Stp? Isn't that the one
that's so dangerous?
- Sweetheart...
- It can be, yes.
We have no antidote for stp.
We can just try to keep
the person quiet
and wait till it wears off.
I suggest you go home
and try to get some rest.
Doctor...
Come back at ten o'clock.
Yes, but...
Why do you suppose Sandy
wouldn't let me have
the keys to his car?
David?
Tina, for Pete's sake!
Those diet pills are
making you downright kooky.
I'm sorry.
You had enough to drink
to put a horse to sleep,
and now look at ya.
I can't help it.
What are you doing with this?
What do you think?
I'm selling it.
David...
Now, look.
The kids are taking this stuff.
I mean, not me,
but a lot of the others.
Maxie got it from you.
Well, they gotta buy it
from somebody, right?
So, why not me?
Besides, do you think I can
get along and buy school clothes
on that lousy little allowance
you give me?
That lousy little allowance
is your father's life blood.
You get a kick outta
scrimping and saving.
You always have.
And how do you expect me
to buy gas,
to get back and forth
on the weekends?
And this is easy.
There's nothing to it.
Till you get arrested.
No, the cops almost look
the other way.
There's... there's so much of it,
they're embarrassed.
If they tried to bust
all the grass-heads,
they'd be putting
their own kids in jail.
Aren't you afraid that we
might have you arrested?
I know you, pop.
I'm your fair-haired boy.
That's the biggest kick
you have in life,
telling everybody how great I am,
how I'm gonna be
a big lawyer someday.
And you're right. I am.
You wouldn't bust that up.
Not for anything.
You couldn't take it.
So, in a way, it's, er... lucky for me
that you found out.
Because, now that you know,
you'd be sort of...
Accomplices.
And I can keep the stuff
right here in the house.
I... I hate sneaking, anyhow.
I'm sorry.
Oh, wow.
I really am.
That you're so shook up, I mean.
No, David.
Not the police. Not now.
We have to have time to think.
Somebody has to start somewhere.
178 east 3rd street.
158 east 7th street.
It's a shame for you
to be wasting your time like this.
That officer just violated my rights.
They'll let me go immediately.
As a citizen, I feel you could make
better use of your time
- trying to catch criminals.
- Let's go. Let's go.
Did they really have to send
four of you guys?
We've sent for a peer
to come sit with her.
- A peer?
- Yes, a peer, an equal.
Someone, er... they feel they can trust.
Someone not of the establishment,
if you will.
And this peer helps us
by talking them down, as we say.
This is what they call
a psycho ward, isn't it?
Yes, an unfortunate name.
It's also unfortunate that,
for space and personnel reasons,
we have to put a young girl
like your daughter
in the same ward with...
Dt cases,
heroin addicts who have oded,
everything imaginable.
Oh, just one word of warning.
She may have an adverse reaction
to seeing you here.
Well, maybe we shouldn't go in.
No, no, I'd like to see her reaction,
but don't be upset if she
doesn't seem glad to see you.
Good morning.
- Hi, doctor.
- Morning, Jennifer.
I wanted to ask one thing.
Would it be all right if we
tried to talk to her,
and tell her we were
wrong about something?
Apologise, I mean.
Do you think it would be all right?
Try it, by all means.
If she's receptive,
it could be a big help.
Maxie?
Maxie.
Maxie, we...
We found out about Sandy.
He admitted it
to his mother and father.
We want to apologise for...
For accusing your brother.
We know how much you love him...
Arthur!
Get dr Salazar! Get the key!
- He's coming.
- Get me out! Get me out!
Hey, mom. Artie!
I've gotta get out of here.
I heard she flipped out
pretty bad.
So you're the, er...
Whatchamacallit, huh?
The... the peer?
They said she asked for me.
I made a pretty bad mistake
about you, Artie.
That's life.
Help her get better.
I'll try.
Doctor.
Maxie.
Maxie.
I'm gonna fix you a dinner
you won't soon forget.
I can fix dinner.
You stay in that bed.
Complete rest.
I'm not a bad cook, you know.
I'm not.
Yes, you are.
Come on, maxie.
You can do it.
Come on.
Come on, now.
Maxie?
Okay, now you try it.
Come on.
Jesus, doc,
that's rough work.
I'll be back again soon, sis.
Your brother says you are rough work,
and you are, you know?
Maybe we should walk you
around outside for a while.
It's a beautiful...
You like it?
Yes, it's very nice.
Honest and truly?
Honest.
It's yours.
You can have these, too.
I hate 'em.
You hate 'em?
Hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em.
Well, if you hate 'em,
why do 'em?
To please dr Salazar.
If I please dr Salazar,
he'll let me out of here.
Oh, that'll be wonderful, baby.
Maybe in time for your birthday?
We both want you back home
with us so much.
Oh, you do, huh?
You're gonna be happy, baby.
Things are getting back to...
Well, together again.
Artie drops by more,
a lot more, the last couple of weeks.
- And your mom and me...
- She's still in bed?
- Well, she's...
- She's chicken.
I hate chicken people.
But... but...
I wanna come home. I really do.
I mean, if dr Salazar
ever thought that I...
That I didn't want to come home,
why...
Why, then he'd never let me
out of here.
Daddy...
- You like this?
- Very much.
It's just the same as this one.
Daddy,
do you think they're good?
I mean...
Really good?
Well, I think they're good.
I mean, I'm not...
I'm not an art critic, but I...
I think they show talent, yes.
You really like to lie a lot,
don't you, daddy?
I only...
See why I don't wanna come home?
Lies, lies, lies!
Oh, daddy, don't tell dr Salazar
I said that.
Please, please,
I do wanna come home.
- Don't tell him, daddy, please.
- I won't.
Anyway, really, I do wanna come home
and be with you and mom.
That'd be wonderful, baby.
Just wonderful.
I do, I do, I do...
I do.
I do.
Daddy...
Why do you want me to come home?
Why?
Because we love you, that's why.
Liar, liar.
- Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar!
- Maxie, please don't.
- I'm sorry.
- Liar!
- I didn't mean to get you upset.
- Liar!
Don't, maxie, please!
Enough, maxie.
That's enough.
I'm sorry, I... I won't be able
to see you next week.
I'll be outta town.
But your mother can call.
- Tell her not to bother.
- She's not allowed out of bed.
Go away, please! Go away!
I'll... I'll see you in about
ten days, baby.
He just gets me uptight.
I have a right to get uptight,
just like anybody else.
It doesn't mean there's
anything wrong with me.
Arthur, does this stuff
have to be done on a Sunday?
'Course it has to be done.
I told ya.
I mean, why me?
Whaddaya mean, "why me?"
Who else could I get who knows
about air condition specifications
at this late date?
Nobody, I guess.
What the hell's the matter with you?
And what are you all
dressed up for?
I always dress up on Sunday.
Arthur, is it really true
that you expected Rafferty
to okay the new specs on this city job,
and he finked out on you?
You get to know somebody,
you'd think they'd bend a little.
And if I don't reach the nine A.M.
deadline tomorrow
- with these new specs...
- They'd cancel the contract.
And you'd lose?
This is the biggest job
I ever figured, della.
By my calculations, you'll lose about
seventeen hundred dollars expenditures
and about ten thousand dollars
expected profits.
That's right.
I quit, Arthur.
As of now.
You're kiddin"!
Ta-ta.
Della, you can't do this!
Wanna bet?
Not at a time like this.
A time like this is what
I've been waiting for, Arthur.
Well, how are we doing?
She won't talk to me.
Maybe next time.
So long, doctor.
I want out of here,
and I don't wanna
go back with them.
And I don't see why I have to
wait till I'm eighteen.
Kids know a lot more than they used to
when that law was made.
- About some things.
- About everything.
Anyway, about important things.
Is self-preservation
an important thing?
That's a trick question,
and I'm not going to answer it.
All right.
Let's suppose your parents
let you go free right now,
be on your own.
They might as well.
In fourteen months, when I'm eighteen,
I'm gonna do it anyhow,
so they might as well.
All right, let's suppose they do.
What would you do?
I mean, how would you
arrange your life?
Well...
First, I'd take a long trip
with my boyfriend.
- Why a long one?
- Because I never had a long one.
I never had enough bread
for that much stuff.
What would you call "a long trip"?
About a week.
But if you didn't
have the money before,
how would you expect
to have it now?
I don't know. Somehow.
What else would you
like to talk about?
When do I get out of here?
We're working on that.
On.
I talked to her again
this afternoon. She's...
Still on the other side
of a stone wall.
But she has improved.
Dr Salazar said that.
"Steady improvement."
- That's what he said, isn't it?
- That's right.
And I told him
you were up for a while today,
and he said he was sure you'd
snap back just fine, sweetheart.
Sometimes you wonder
if you want to snap back.
Does he know yet...
Can he estimate how much longer
she'll have to be in this...
What a hideous way of saying it.
This "controlled environment"?
No, no.
I asked him the same thing.
It just depends. They...
They have no way of knowing
until they have more time.
But what really bugs me is
it all boils down to money.
I guess everything does,
sooner or later.
They've got these private hospitals
where they get the best possible care,
where they have about
two staff members per patient,
plenty of therapy,
everything of the best.
Well, that's where
maxie's got to be.
Yeah, that's what I said.
But these places run from about...
Are you ready for this?
Twenty-five to forty thousand a year.
- Twenty-five?
- To forty thousand a year.
- But nobody can afford that.
- We can't, that's a cinch.
Well, what else is there?
After that, it just drops way off.
You...
You get into the public places.
And the worst part of it is,
they don't really have a place
just specifically for this kinda thing
in most municipal institutions.
I mean, she'd be
in with addicts, ya know,
heroin addicts, schizophrenes...
Well, that's impossible.
We can't put her in anything like that.
I know.
Arthur, are they sure?
I mean, couldn't we try it
just once more at home?
Three specialists talked to her
and they all recommended against it.
They all agree she has
very strong self-destructive urges.
Well, couldn't we put her in
one of these expensive places,
just for six months?
We could afford six months.
Arthur, you're not telling me
everything they said.
Sweetheart, they think she may be
in need of this controlled environment...
Indefinitely.
You don't mean for
the rest of her life?
It's possible.
I asked them what would happen
if we just let her go free,
and they said she'd probably
destroy herself eventually.
I said,
well, the way I feel now,
instead of burying her
in some institution,
I'd just as soon let her go out
and drug herself to death
the way she wants to,
and then bury her.
But that'd be quitting,
and we're not gonna quit.
No, no, sir. There's a way.
There's a good chance
she can get well.
They said that.
They all agreed on that. That's...
That's what we have to hang onto.
Oh, come...
Come on, now, sweetheart.
Sweetheart, you know
what Salazar said?
He said she doesn't
really hate us at all.
The way he explained it is, she's
grown old enough to see our faults,
but just not mature enough yet
to forgive them.
Look, try not to
think about it, sweetheart.
Do you want anything?
Maybe you oughta
take a nap before dinner.
That's it!
Wait till you see
what I've got you for dinner.
Artie's coming to dinner too,
ya know.
Come on, now. You take a nap.
I'm coming.
Coming.
- Arthur, hi.
- Oh, David.
- Can I come in?
- Oh, please, come on, come on in, yes.
Well, Arthur, you know
Sandy's been out on bail,
and we've been waiting
for a trial date...
I know you and Tina have
suffered through this thing, too.
Yeah, well, listen,
we just got word, er...
I want you to try to
be calm, Arthur.
We just got word that
the charges have been dropped.
- Some, er...
- Dropped?
Yes, technicalities,
- illegal search and seizure.
- You mean, no punishment at all?
Now, I know how you feel, Arthur.
I've been very upset about
this thing, too, for you. Listen...
- No! No!
- Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, Arthur!
- Get outta that car!
- Mr Mason! Hey! Help!
My daughter's in an institution,
and you think you'll
walk around free? No! No!
No! By god, no!
He's... he's crazy! Crazy!
He's going crazy!
Arthur! Arthur!
- No, we'll see if you...
- Dad!
Dad! Come on, dad, come on.
That's not gonna do anybody any good.
I'll kill him!
I'll kill him, the cunt! Your...
You heard him.
He tried to kill me!
You're my witnesses.
I'm calling the police,
and he's going to be arrested.
I know my rights!
I have always thought of myself
as incapable of violence,
but if you make one more
obscene sound about your rights,
you pollution of my life,
I shall hurt you.
- I shall hurt you.
- Come on, let go, now.
Tell him I'll break his back!
All right, I'm all right now.
Let's go.
God, I hope your mother didn't hear.
- Christ, I really blew!
- As only you can.
Slimy little bastard.
"Case dismissed."
Poor David, with a kid like that.
Christ, he's sicker than...
Well, you're here!
- I bought some Chinese food for dinner.
- Yeah.
Lobster cantonese, "flied lice",
the whole deal.
- Whaddaya say?
- Well, great!
Good.
Sweetheart, we've got a guest!
Where is she? She's probably
in the bathroom, primping.
She can get up
for a few minutes now.
I could use a drink.
How about you?
- Well...
- You know, I don't think
we've ever had a drink together,
just the two of us, in all our lives.
- Whaddaya say?
- Yeah, okay.
I don't... you know, I don't remember
who told me this, but he said that,
"if you're drinking for pleasure,
you sip it,
"but if you really need a drink,
that's business,
- "and you never waste time in business."
- That's right.
What are you gonna do with yours?
Well...
Come on, come on,
don't hesitate.
He who does is lost.
Down the hatch, that's it.
There, doesn't that make you
feel better?
Now, let's go up and see your mom.
Come on.
I told her about all the offers
you were getting,
and she was very proud.
Just goes to show you
what I know about music.
Nothing.
Listen, Artie, don't say anything
to your mother
about the lobster cantonese.
I wanna surprise her.
Sweetheart?
Gerrie?
She's not here.
Good evening.
I'm mrs Mason, maxie's mother.
Oh, I'm afraid visiting hours
are over, mrs Mason.
Dr Salazar said it was all right.
Well, there must be some mistake.
- He never does that.
- No, no, it's a special thing.
Well, if you don't mind,
I've gotta call him.
Well, he's not at home.
My husband and I just had
dinner with them,
and they went on to a movie.
Mrs Mason, I can't do it
without his consent.
I'll take full responsibility.
After all, I am her mother.
You see, it's a...
It's an experiment
in reality therapy.
- "Reality therapy"?
- Yes, that's correct.
- Well, I suppose...
- I'll go get her for you, mrs Mason.
You can wait in the waiting room
there, mrs Mason.
Maxie.
It's all right, maxie.
You've been refusing my calls.
Your father tells me you won't speak
to him when he comes here.
That's your way of punishing us.
All right, I don't blame you.
They're going to let you
out of here pretty soon.
You'll be on your own.
Free, totally free.
At least, that's what you think.
But I know the truth.
The truth is that you're
going to be here forever.
Oh, not here, because they can't
keep you here much longer,
and not in one of those luxury places
for twenty-five thousand dollars a year,
because we can't afford that.
Finally, there's something, finally,
that we can't afford to give you.
You don't see
the humour in that, do you?
Well, neither do I.
So they're going to
keep you some place,
some not very nice place,
I'm afraid, forever.
Or, if not forever,
for a very long time.
Do you know why? Do you?
No?
Then I'll tell you.
Because you'd rather
punish us for being human
than try to get well.
Because you're still a big baby,
and if the game's not played your way,
you're not gonna play at all.
Well, I'm here to tell you that
you're not gonna get away with it.
I'm telling you, as your mother,
that you are going to survive.
You're going to speak to me,
and you're going to survive.
Now, turn around here,
and look at me.
I said, "look at me"!
Now, tell me you're going to get well.
Say it!
Say it!
Say you'll try.
Say it!
Say it!
- Say you'll try. Say it!
- Gerrie! Gerrie!
Let's go, maxie.
Gerrie, listen to me, will you? Gerrie...