Bruce really loves me.
And he wants to go somewhere and start over fresh
in a place where we can be happy.
There are 6 million happy people here in Houston.
I have no possibility of being happy here.
Why?
You spray this house with happiness repellent!
Thank you.
I will be happy with Bruce,
and Bruce is gonna be happy in L.A.
I was stationed in L.A. after the war.
I never had so much sex in my life.
This is for Tommy.
This is for Teddy. This is for the loathsome Jane--
Granny, will you listen to me?!
You keep telling me you want me to have a future.
Yes.
Well, I can't have a future here.
What are you gonna do for money?
Bruce has a plan.
And what is that?
It's a good plan, and, um...
if that doesn't work out,
I always have things I can sell.
Your mother's jewelry.
At last.
I have been so anxious to get rid of it.
Well...
there's always Patsy. Yeah, she can help me.
Oh, another extremely good idea.
Call Patsy. Absolutely.
Darling, sweet, kind, generous, happy Patsy.
Perfect Patsy
from whom all blessings flow.
Let up on Patsy! She doesn't hate you.
I don't know why you hate her so much.
I don't hate Patsy. No, not at all. Patsy is family.
I love Patsy! This is for Patsy.
What are you doing?
Generosity.
[French Accent] And I'll never forget.
He said, ''I am not an animal,
I am a human being.''
Oh, darling, please try one of my oysters.
Oh.
[Slurp]
Formidable.
Mmm...mmm!
Oh, Pascal,
for the gods. For the gods!
You should try it, Hector.
Not on your life.
[Doorbell Rings]
Oh.
Excuse me.
Patsy! Well,Jimmie Lee told me you were in Mexico
and couldn't make it!
I was just sick about that!
Well, I was! I cut my trip short.
Do you think I'd miss Melly's going-away party?
Can I help?
We'll just have to squeeze in another plate somehow.
[Bump] I hate it here!
I told you this was a formal dinner party.
I want it to be perfect for Melanie.
I would have paid for a baby-sitter.
I know. But Jane says we shouldn't exclude Bump,
or he might be, um...
scarred.
Scarred by the separation.
Don't worry, Mrs. Greenway. Bump should be here.
He's your great-grandchild.
Besides, he's perfectly behaved. I promise.
I wanna go home!
So you never discipline?
Huh.
Attention, please.
[Bump Laughing]
Bump: When are we gonna be through?
I require silence.
Butthole!
Just a few words, really.
First of all...
[Bump Laughing]
thank you all for coming.
Arthur,
thank you for the absolutely gorgeous roses
that you have provided for our table.
Pascal, the oysters were delicious.
Hector, your knowledge of fine wines is unparalleled.
[Bump Laughs]
Jerry.
[Clears Throat]
You have become my bridge over shark infested waters.
J--
Teddy, my darling sweet Teddy,
and your...
Jane.
To my Rosie,
my right hand, my right arm,
my Rosie.
And Patsy,
who is always there no matter what.
[Bump Laughs]
Bruce?
Yeah?
You are taking our Melanie away.
Words fail me.
And to my darling sweet precious Melanie.
May your journey be joyous.
May your every dream come true.
And may you hurry back to those who really love you.
Aaahhh!
Ah!
Dessert is served in the living room.
She's playing the piano, Pats.
I can't remember the last time she played.
Something is going on.
Well, that Jerry could make me play the piano,
and I have never even touched one.
Know what I'm saying?
Oh, here.
Oh, Patsy.
This is for you.
With my love.
Thank you.
Oh, that's sweet.
Oh, my...
Patsy!
This is too much.
Just in case.
How much is here?
I can't believe...
Just put it away now.
And don't tell Aurora,
or she'd freak. You know?
I don't want to ruin her evening,
just her life.
I'm kidding.
Now,
I can never hate anyone who loves you kids
as much as I do.
Even if hers is the kamikaze kind.
Patsy,
thank you for everything.
You're welcome, sweetie.
Hey.
God.
Did you see what she gave me
as a going away present?
What?
A return ticket.
That's-- That's too much.
I know.
Look at all this stuff.
I feel like I'm inside Aurora's head.
She's such a pack rat.
Yeah.
It's cleaner than your room ever was.
Oh no, it isn't.
Look at this.
Nice.
Did you or Tommy make this?
I think that was me.
Oh, look at Tommy.
Oh, yeah.
Wow.
I was so blond.
Once upon a time, we were a family.
Can you believe it?
What was it like?
Was it great?
It had its moments.
I um...
I remember laughs.
And uh--and hugs. Lots of hugs.
Mom was big on hugs.
I guess she wanted to hold onto us
as long as she could.
I wish I could remember, Teddy.
You're lucky.
Stand up for a second.
Why?
- On your feet. - Why should I?
Stand up.
For what?
I'm not asking again. On your feet.
Mm-hmm.
Now laugh.
See? There you go.
Just like old times.
Hey, be careful, O.K.?
I will!
You better.
Pascal, it was
so delightful to have you, really.
Aurora, darling, thank you for a wonderful evening.
Pascal, it's been great.
Bonsoir.
Good night, Hector.
Yeah? Why is that?
Well, there's a lot of beefy people...
So nice to have met you.
Yeah. Maybe I'll see you again.
See you again.
Tramp!
I don't like the looks of this.
You sure that's gonna pass muster?
Yeah, I've done it a million times.
You take care of my baby.
She's my baby now.
Aw, honey.
Come on, Hector.
I'm not leaving until you say something.
Shit.
Good morning!
Be nice.
I just had to say good-bye!
Come on, give me a hug!
Bye, Patsy.
All right. Here now, this is for you, handsome.
Thank you.
All right, Patsy, enough. There's traffic,
and they're going to be late.
Give me a kiss.
Now, you be a good girl.
You have a wonderful trip and call constantly.
I will!
Call as soon as you can.
Melanie: Bye.
Bye.
[Car Clanking]
You know, you've been good about this, Aurora.
Everyone needs to experience happiness,
even if it doesn't last.
[Cars Bump Loudly]
Oh, she reminds me so much of Emma it hurts.
[Doorbell Rings]
Come in. It's open.
Hi.
Hello,Jerry.
Can I help you?
Well, I couldn't help but be a little bit curious
as to why you didn't come in today.
I--I guess it slipped my mind.
Uh-huh.
Well, now that I've let Melanie live her own life
and she's out of mine for good,
I presume that I am cured.
Oh, boy.
What happened?
Nothing.
The party was a triumph.
You know it was like a successful lab experiment.
I put all the rats together in one room
to see if they'd eat each other.
Wha...
O.K., Aurora,
you're talking this out.
I'm taking you to dinner.
You name it.
Money's no object.
Hi, trudy.
Hi!
Hi, Aurora.
She's the best cook here.
Hi, boys.
Hey, Miss G.
Here we are.
Hello, darling.
Hi, honey.
Thank you.
You come here?
Yes, I eat here every Sunday
on my way to visit Tommy.
I get great strength from their pecan pie.
You find this uncomfortable?
No, it's just...
I just wouldn't expect you to come to a place like this.
Jerry, I'm very liberal,
and I embrace all kinds of humanity,
just like you do.
Besides, I thought this was the safest place
to bring you on a date.
This is a date?
Aurora,
I'm going to take you to dinner.
Now, here in America,
we call that a date.
Maybe it's not a date in the sense
that we're on our way to sleeping together.
Which would really be a preposterous idea.
Dolly, could I have, please,
the pig platter with french fries, cole slaw,
a double order of beans,
uh--iced tea
and some sweet n' low?
And for you, young man?
The same.
Why is that such a preposterous idea?
Let's discuss that.
Discuss what?
Oh.
Do you want to sleep with me?
Would that be so bad?
Oh,Jerry.
You know, if I slept with you,
I would be lost.
I'd be lost on so many, many levels.
Really, it would just be another empty conquest.
Then I would be like all those other predatory females
prowling the streets of Houston.
This is about Patsy, isn't it?
Tell me.
Patsy is not my type.
Thanks, doll.
What is your type?
Same as every other guy.
Really big tits.
Dumb as a post.
Oh, the younger the better.
Ha ha.
[Television On]
Hector?
Is there something wrong with your television?
My cable's out.
It's our favorite movie.
Sit down.
[Men Whistling]
What?
Close your eyes.
Why?
Just close them.
I want you to think about the moment
you first laid eyes on me.
At the river oaks country club.
In my dress blues.
Mm-hmm.
No one could fill out a uniform the way you could.
Yeah.
You were so strong, Hector.
And I needed your strength so much.
So did the children.
Mmm.
You were so wonderful.
I'm still wonderful.
Oh, yes, you are still wonderful.
Huh?
I got cold.
[Snoring]
Oh.
[Banging]
Aaahhh!
Oh!
How rude!
Christ, Aurora! What the hell are you doing?
It's 2:00 in the morning.
Well, I am upset
and I want to feel better.
And it's your business.
You did say anytime of the day or night.
I want to talk.
You didn't come here just to talk.
Yes, I did.
Well, no, I didn't.
Oh!
Is it safe to leave my car on the street?
Oh!
Ah!
[Radio Goes On]
Morning, Houston. Time to rise and shine!
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was
How sublime it was, too
I didn't know what day it was
You helped...
[Humming]
Jerry.
Oh, good morning.
Good morning.
Aurora, look, I'm sorry about last night.
I don't know what came over me
or what possessed me.
I'm really, really...
sorry.
I'm going to leave now
or I'll be embarrassed by your flattery.
No, wait!
No! No, no wait, wait!
Well, I'm not hungry.
I'm not surprised.
Hi, baby.
I found some barbecue today
and it's almost as good as Good Company.
Are you hungry?
No.
Oh, you got your pictures. Let me see 'em.
They suck.
No, they're gonna be great.
I'm telling you they suck bad!
Bruce, I want to see them.
Bruce?
How could any picture of yours ever be bad?
It's not bad.
It's--It's...
Melanie: good.
Look, all you have to do
is just get better pictures made.
That's all.
With what?
Our disposable income has been disposed of.
You can't call Aurora.
I'm getting a little perturbed with Melly, actually.
You think she would have picked up a phone
and said I'm in L.A.
I've arrived. I'm alive.
It's been much too long.
Yeah well, you know,
things have been kind of crazy for her.
Have you talked to her?
Yeah.
She had some kind of unexpected expense,
so I made her a little loan.
Boy, that kid's got spunk.
I cannot find a thing, anymore.
Shopping is just so frustrating these days.
Oh, Patsy, you always find such wonderful things.
I mean, look at you.
So perfectly put together.
I love that belt.
It is hard to find the right yellow.
You know, I bet that Melly's tried to reach you.
But Rosie says you're never home anymore.
She says you're always in therapy.
You must be about the most well-adjusted
woman in Houston by now.
Well, it's doing wonders for me.
[Giggles]
Tell me about Jerry.
He's very attractive.
Mm-hmm, I like him.
Is that line between doctor and patient
getting a little blurred?
What do you think?
Hmm.
Be honest.
Doesn't the fact that I'm older disgust you?
You don't seem older.
But I am older, Jerry.
And I have all the insecurities that go along with it.
So if you're not gonna help me with them,
don't lie.
You are too much.
I have always felt that I'd better just keep trying.
Especially when the world around me seems to have stopped.
When you stop trying,
you fade away.
And I am not going to fade away
until I absolutely have to.
Something somewhere...
is going to say Aurora was here.
Well, what do you know?
Herself has come home for a change.
Don't be too hard on her.
She's just enjoying her life.
It wouldn't hurt you to kick up your heels
like that every now and then.
Arthur.
Oh, hello, Hector.
We care about you.
We feel you're making a big mistake.
Well.
Oh, Hector, I have come to the conclusion
there's no such thing as a mistake.
I think we all create what we need.
[Piano Music On]
[Music Stops]
Rosie, what in the world?
I'm sick of this.
Sick of what?
You and Hector are so cranky.
You never spend time with us anymore.
I live here.
Barely.
You're always off with that damn Jerry
or holed up in here.
Instead of spending so much time
on those stupid scrap books,
you should spend time on the people in 'em.
Hector.
What do you say we have some fun?
Huh?
Get dressed. I'm taking us to dinner.
Hector, move in just a speck.
Rosie, take your hand down from your face, please.
You're so silly.
Dolly, we're ready for the big finish now.
O.K., honey, what'll it be?
This is the General's big night out.
He'll go first.
Hitler has only got one ball
Goering has 2 but very small
Himmler has something similar
But poor old goebbels has no balls at all
I'll have the pecan pie.
Dolly: Mm-hmm.
Rosie, what will you have?
Um...
banana split.
Oh, that's it, Rosie, live a little.
How about you, Dr. Cotton?
I'll have the super sundae.
[Dolly And Rosie] Whoo!
Fudge.
Yes!
And Hector I'm sure will have the mince pie.
Dolly: You want that a la mode, darling?
Hector, do you want it a la mode?
Hector?
[Bagpipes Playing]
There is something very wrong with you.
Going back to old Jerry?
I'm surprised you've waited this long.
The General's been in the ground almost 5 hours.
I'm looking for the love of my life, Rosie.
And it's important that I investigate every possibility.
Rosie?
Is everything all right, Rosie?
No.
Come on, talk to me.
Come on.
Everything's gonna be all right.
Everything's all right.
Oh, that chapter on Hector Scott is closed.
It's a very important chapter, too.
Hmm.
You know keeping this grown-up
was the best thing I've ever done?
What do you think?
Will I rate a whole page?
We'll see.
Aurora?
Hmm?
I love you.
Um...
what?
I have to think about that.
All is said was I love you.
Yes, and it's very flattering.
Don't you believe that I love you?
Oh yes, I can see where you would.
I just did not receive the information
the way I thought I would.
This is my problem, Jerry.
Aurora?
You don't have to go back to Los Angeles. Stay.
I've been here a week as it is.
Rosie: Well, just through the weekend.
I can't. I have a boyfriend and a job.
As a waitress.
Things are really starting to click for Bruce.
And I knew they would.
His acting teacher says he's like an open wound.
He's up for a beer commercial.
I'm really happy.
Melanie, I hate this.
I hate that you're going away again.
I never know where you are.
I worry all the time.
I have to go through Patsy to get to you.
I really hate that.
O.K.
I'll give you my phone number.
If you'll promise me you'll never ever use it.
I promise.