"Henry Joseph Church could have been... anything he wanted To be." "He chose To cook." "The key, he said, jazz." "Mama, wake up, wake up." "Baby, baby, what is it?" "There's a black man in our kitchen cooking eggs." "Baby, that's okay." "It's Mr. Church, our new cook." " New cook?" " Mm-hmm." "We never had an old cook." "You know what?" "Mama just needs a tiny bit more rest." "I'll" " Go introduce yourself." "I'll be there soon." "Mr. Church used To work for Richard Cannon... who was Mama's lover." "Bu?" "he wasn't my daddy." "When Mama found out Richard was married... she ended if, Though she still loved him." "Morning, baby." "When Richard was sick... the last thing he said to Mama was "I'll care for you... until my dying day and beyond."" " Good morning, Mr. Church." " Oh, good morning, ma'am." "I guess Mr. Church was The "beyond" part." "I see you met Charlie." "Well, not officially." "Oh, well, Charlie, where's your manners?" "Good morning, Charlotte." "My name's Mr. Church." " How are you?" " Fine." "Wow, this looks delicious." "Thank you, Mr. Church." "You are most welcome, ma'am." "Come on, baby." "Eat up." "I want Apple Jacks." " Charlie!" " What are Apple Jacks'?" "Well, it's a cereal." "It tastes like apples." "Well, and sugar, mainly." "You've never heard of Apple Jacks'?" " Hey, don't be rude." " I can make the child... some Apple Jacks if that's what she wants" "It's already made." "It comes in a box." "Add milk and you're done." "She doesn't need it." "Well, she got to eat something, ma'am." "You have made an incredible meal." "Charlie, eat." "What is this?" "You never heard of grits?" "There are a lot of secrets in my grits." "This is delicious." "You got to try some, sweetie." "Charlotte Marie Brooks, you sit your butt down right now." "I'm going to count to three, okay?" "One...two..." "Mr. Church, excuse me." "I want cereal!" "You're embarrassing me." "Why is he here?" "I don't know." "Because Richard wanted it this way." " And I want Apple Jacks." " Charlie..." "What times does he go home?" "I guess when he's done." " When is he done?" " When we're done." "Well, we're done." "Oh, Charlie, please." "It makes no sense." "It's what Richard wanted." "Who cares what he wanted?" "He's dead." " Morning, Gibby." " Morning, dear." "Charlie." "Morning, Gibby." "How are you two this morning?" "We're fine." "We have a cook." "That's nice, dear." "Here, take this." "You drink coffee all day." "I eat Apple Jacks." " We don't need a cook." " Well, Richard seems to think we did." "If Richard really cared about you... he would have married you." "Mr. Church won't be staying." "I'm sure he's already realized what a mistake all this is." "Come on, Charlie." "We gotta move." "Love you." "If was always hard To stay mad al' Mama." "She was foo nice, and far foo beautiful." "I was always looking... frying To find someone more beautiful than my mama." "Bu?" "I never could." "And out of everyone in The whole wide world... she loved me most." "Hey, Mr. Church, could I have a word with you?" "Oh, man." "I'm going to need to go to the market." "Yeah, well, it's about all that." "Yeah, I brought some groceries with me today, ma'am... but no offense, all you got in here is some condiments and stuff." "There's nothing to spread them on." "I suppose I haven't been to the store in a while." "Could we just hold off on that for a second?" "I wanted to wait till Charlie was at school..." " before speaking with you" " Ma'am, you're shivering." "Yeah, I forgot my jacket." "It's kind of chilly out." "Maybe you want to put on a sweater or something." "Yeah, I will." "I just" "'Cause you don't want to get sick, ma'am." "He told you." "Yes, ma'am." "What'd he say?" "That you have a cancer in your breast... and that you're dying, ma'am." "Did he tell you how long I have'?" "Six months, ma'am." "Mr. Church, we're talking about my breast and dying." "You can drop the "ma'am" stuff, okay?" "Because it's Marie." "You really think you should be smoking... in your condition, ma'am?" "Absolutely." "How'd you do on your English test?" "Hmm, I think I failed." "Good morning, Miss Samuels." "Good morning, Miss Brooks." "How are you this morning?" "Oh, well, we have a cook." "He's black, he makes grits with secrets... and he's hanging out in our kitchen." "So, what kind of a deal did Richard make with you?" "I was just asked to cook for you and your child... till you passed on, ma'am." "And certainly you're getting something out of this." "Well, Mr. Cannon guaranteed me a lifetime salary... if I kept my word." "Not bad." "Total financial security... in exchange for six months of meals." "So, you got yourself a pretty good deal, Mr. Church." "Yes, ma'am." "Come on." "Hey, Charlie." "Owen Baxter was by far..." "The most gorgeous 10-year-old boy... that ever breathed on This or any other planet." "I, on the other hand... was about The most awkward 10-year-old girl... on This or any other planet." "Come on, Owen." "What is it?" "Who knows?" "Look at you... already bringing fancy sandwiches to lunch..." "Miss I Have a Cook Brooks." "Can I come see him?" "I told you, he's leaving." "Probably gone already." "Oh, if you don't want him, I do." "Our private school took a few charity cases a year." "The year I turned five, if was me... and Poppy Samuels, my one and only friend." "She lived with her sister because both of her folks... were serving time in prison for a robbery gone wrong." "And even with that, she was more popular than me." "Tell you something, Charlie... it's not every day you get a cook." "It might be nice having a man around to help your mama out." "We've always done fine." "We don't need a man, and we sure as hell don't need a cook." "My sister says every woman needs a man." "Sometimes more than one." "Where'd you get all that?" "Stole it from my sister's dresser." "Stealing's the one thing us Samuels are good at." "Yeah?" "Excuse me, ma'am." "I'm about to head out to the market." "Okay." "Um..." "We shop at Gordon's." "Is that all right'?" "Oh, yeah, that's fine." "Yeah, yeah." "You know, Mr. Church, if we're going to do this... let me at least give you some money." "I've only got $12, but" "Oh, ma'am, don't worry about that." "Mr. Cannon opened up an account for me to draw off... for marketing and such." ""And such?"" "Well, your medical bills and rent and medicine." "That's all taken care of, courtesy of Mr. Cannon... for the next six months." "And what, in his estimation... did six months of life come to?" "Beg your pardon, ma'am?" "Never mind." "You know what?" "At least take some coupons, you know?" "I'm not completely helpless." " It couldn't hurt." " Yeah, it couldn't hurt at all." "All right." "Okay." "Oh, Mr. Church, um..." "Charlie doesn't know that I'm sick... and I'd like to keep it that way." "Oh." "As you wish, ma'am." "I'll be back shortly, all right'?" "All right, $43.32, sir." "Hey, wait a minute, you know, I forgot all about these." "Great." "Let's see." "$37.83, sir." " So I saved about $6 there?" " Yes, sir." "That's not bad." "No, sir." "Hey, Charlie." "Hi, Larson." "Eddie Larson." "Forced To ride public transportation for The rest of his life." "Just one week after getting his driver's license... he got drunk and crashed his Chevy Camaro... info The living room of Mr. and Mrs. Howard... killing their 4-year-old son." "Spent three years in juvenile penitentiary... and no doubt The rest of his life in The worst hell of all..." "The one between The eyes." "How's...how's school, Charlie?" "We have a cook." "What, at the school?" "At my house." "Oh, yeah." "That's far out." "Mama's going to tell him to leave." "Why?" "Who wouldn't want a cook?" "Hi, Mama." "So, how was work today?" "Good." "I saw Miss Carol's baby." "He)', gorgeous." "Can't you see I'm with my child?" "I saw Miss Carol's baby, and I finally got him... to latch on for feeding." "You know, holding those babies... it always makes me think of the first time I held you." "Even if I was an accident." "Why on Earth would you say that?" "Your daddy was the accident." "You, you're my miracle." "How much do I love you?" "So much." "So much." "So, how did the cook take the news he was fired?" "Oh, ma'am, I hope you don't mind." "I bring books with me every place I go... and I noticed that your shelf was kind of empty." "He's still here, Mama." " Why is he still here?" " Charlie, we'll discuss this later." "That's great." "Cookbooks, right'?" "Oh, no, no, ma'am." "Not cookbooks." "I never read books about cooking." "These are mostly novels and plays and, you know... about people like Capote and Shakespeare." " Wow." " And Greeks and Agatha Christie." "And here's one I think the girl might like." "Autobiography of Shirley Temple." "Good Ship Lollipop." "I hate reading." "Charlie!" "Oh, that is a shame, because there's nothing like... a really good story." " Keep your stupid books." " Hey, that's enough." "No, that's okay, ma'am." "But, listen, if you do ever want to read one of these books... you're going to have to check it out." " What, like a library?" " Exactly like a library." "Made a card up for you and everything." "And ma'am, you feel free." "Whenever you want, you can read these books." "And if you like, I'll bring more." "A house could always use books, right'?" "I'm sorry, Mr. Church." "She'll get used to it." "She's just a child." "She doesn't understand." "Oh, sure, ma'am." "Look, I'll have dinner ready for you and the child... about 6:00 tonight, then after that, I'll take care of the dishes." "Then I'll take my leave for the evening." "6:00 it is." "Thank you, Mr. Church." "You're most welcome." "Dinnertime." "I'm not hungry." "Baby... this is the way it's going to be." "So, I suggest you find a way to stop complaining... and start enjoying the food." "Mr. Church asked me to give you this." "Complaining wasn't easy To stop." "Oh." "Enjoying The food was a breeze." " Wow." " Enjoy." "Bu?" "I wasn't about To let Mr. Church or Mama know if." "Charlie, come on, eat it." "As far as they were concerned, every bite was torture for me." "Secretly, I couldn't waif To taste what was coming next." "And what came next was always something magnificent." "If was like a party every night." "Every morning." "If was like a party every afternoon." "I finally let Poppy over To meet Mr. Church." "Once I did, I couldn't get rid of her." "Mr. Church, this is the best lemonade..." "I've ever tasted." "The secret to that, my dear, is the licorice." "You and your secrets, Mr. Church." "My sister loved the banana bread you made." "Oh, thank you, Poppy." ""My sister loved the banana bread you made."" "She did." "And in The morning, Mr. Church was in The kitchen... long before I was awake." "The smells of cooking were like my alarm clock." "Mr. Church could make or bake anything you wanted... and even Things you didn'?" "know you wanted... until after you fasted them." "f never once saw Mr. Church use a measuring roof... or any fancy utensil." "Just his hands, fork, and knife." "Come on, baby." "We'll be late for the bus." "Oh, I've got a winner." "This is the toothpaste that Charlie likes." "So, I finished this one." "I still don't see why they couldn't be together." "Next time, I want a story that's not going to make me..." "CW my eyes out." "Some writers ain't happy till they made the reader cry." "And some readers ain't happy till they do." "I'd watch Mr. Church leave... knowing that in just a few short hours... he'd return with bags and bags of goodies To explore." " Whoa!" " Oh!" "Oh!" "Oh!" " Oh, baby!" " I got her." "I got you, I got you." " Are you okay?" " I got you." "She's okay." " Oh, my God." "Thank you." " Let me get this stuff here." " Thank you, Mr. Church." " It's okay." "Yeah, there's glass everywhere." " Watch where you're stepping." " Let me" "Watch out." "No, I got it." "I got this, ma'am." "Let me-- I'll take care of this." "Okay, thank you." "What child would like to get cut'?" "Mr. Church." "I'd like to check out a book, if that's okay." "How about if I make some suggestions." "Now, this is kind of long, but it's worth the journey." "I read it a couple of times myself... so you don't got to be gentle with it." "Books was meant to be broken in." "Good night, my dear." "And through if all..." "I never knew about The promise Mr. Church made To Richard." "I never knew Mama was dying." "I never knew anything until much, much later." "The only thing I knew at fen years old... was that one morning I woke up... and we had a cook." "And one other thing." "He was To be gone in six months." "Bu?" "six months turned into six years." "Turns out Mama was a miracle." "She boxed that mean, old cancer... every day, giving it lefts, rights, uppercuts." "And all The while, I never knew she was is The ring." "Hey, Charlie." "Hi." "Owen, is it true... that Stevie hasn't asked me to the prom... because his folks don't approve?" "Don't know anything about it." "I heard he's taking Nora Williams because she's a notorious virgin." "Ugh, I told my sister never to hunk." "She just can't help embarrassing me." "I can't wait till I'm 18." "I can get away from this stinking place." "Walk you to the bus?" "Sure." "Are you really going to read all these?" "I already did." "Just returning them." "How's your mom doing?" "She's fine." "Coming to the game tonight?" "I can't really go out at night." "Not ever?" "Not even for, say, prom?" "Would you go with me, Charlie?" "L..." "I got to go." "L..." "I..." "I got to go." "I'll take that as a maybe." "DD..." "Every time I walked in that room..." "I held my breath so I could listen for hers." "Hoping if would still be there." "Sometimes if was so soft..." "I had To climb onto The bed and put my ear up To her mouth... just To make sure." "Other times, if was so heavy with struggle... that I had To back as far away as I could just To stand if." "And other times... if was all Mama." "There she is." "I have a plate of cheese and grapes for you in the icebox." "How's she doing?" "She had a good day." "And you, my dear, have come at the perfect time." "You need to wake her so she can eat." "I want you to take this to her." "I have homework." "Oh, come on, Charlotte." "She had a good day." "She's still going to die, Mr. Church." "Hey, you're awake." "I thought I heard Charlie." "Did she come right up from school?" "Yeah, she's doing her homework." "She didn't want to disturb you." "You're a terrible liar, Mr. Church." "You want some company?" ""She always accompanied him to the first step of the stairs." ""When his horse had not yet been brought around..." ""she'd stayed there." ""They had said good-bye." ""There was no more talking." ""The open air wrapped around her..." ""playing with the soft down on the back of her neck..." ""or blew to and fro on her hips..." ""the aprons strings that fluttered like streamers." "Love, she thought, must come suddenly..."" "My mama had been The sun To me." "I basked in her warmth." "I remember wanting To wake up in The morning just To see her." "Bu?" "now that sun was on fire... seemed To burn everything in sight." "If!" "got foo close, my skin stung." "Bu?" "Mr. Church... he could walk right through her blaze... without so much as a singe." "He was like The moon... cool, calm, and always there." "So, I learned To turn away from The sun... and face The moon." "This is excellent work." "The Bronte sisters would have been proud." "It was visiting day at the prison." "I don't know why they force Poppy to go." "She just ends up smoking... with a bunch of locked-up creeps staring at her." "Hey, they're her parents, Charlotte." " Apple?" " Of course." "Oh..." "Larson told me to let you know... that his group of drunks loved the pie you donated." "Have you seen that place?" "The thing's pretty dreary." "Well, I guess being a drunk is dreary, huh?" "Hey, your mom's going to need a bath tonight." "Mr. Church stopped smoking in The house... once Mama passed The six-month mark." "Guess he realized she wasn't going anywhere... and he didn't want to hurry her along." "We each had our duties." "Mr. Church fed Mama... gave her medicine, Took her blood pressure..." "Temperature, held pots under her face when she threw up." "Carried her To and from The bathroom when she needed To go." "Ancl with all that, he still called her ma'am." "And she still called him Mr. Church." "My one and only job was To bathe Mama." "And I hated if." "How was-- How was school today?" "School is school." "Did you" " Did you hear from any more colleges?" "I got accepted to Boston University." "Charlie, that's what you wanted." "I'm so proud of you." "I can't afford a university, Mama." "I'll be going local and you know it." "You applied for a scholarship." "Mr. Church said that Owen Baxter asked you to the prom." "News like that..." "I'd like to have heard it from you." "Forward." "It's no big deal." "No big deal?" "Just a lame prom." "No, baby, it's colorful and exciting." "You get to see all your friends... dressed up... dancing with boys... they never even knew liked them." "Go back." "It's one of the biggest nights... of a girl's life." "Thanks." " Frankie Liner." " What?" "He was my-- my-- my prom date." "Poor Frankie, his hands were sweating all night long." "But, boy, could he dance." "You'll need a dress and some new shoes." "Not if I don't go." "Charlie, don't skip your prom." "Why do you care?" "You won't be around to see it anyway." "Don't say things like that." "Okay?" "Because I... have hung on for five years longer... than any of those damn doctors said I would." "What's a couple more weeks till your prom?" "Neck." "Charlie, listen to me, okay?" "I'm going to make you a promise... and you know I never break my promises." "If you say yes to Owen... and get yourself a dress... and you go to that lame prom..." "I'll be hereto see it." "How'd we get such beautiful hair, huh?" "Okay." "We're done." " Charlie" " We're done." " Mr. Church." "Mr. Church." " No, Charlie, wait!" "Goddamn it!" "I am angry too." "You give birth to this tiny, innocent, little thing... and you think, "My God... oh, my God, help me protect her."" "And that is what you spend every waking moment doing." "And then one day you wake up and you've got cancer." "And you realize, "My God..." ""oh, my God..." ""what she will need the most protection from... is your own life slipping away from her."" "But you love her so much." "And you just want to smother her... with love and hugs and words... with every moment you've got left." "And a hug there was." "Charlie." "Okay." "She'll remember the love, won't she, Mr. Church... not the pain?" "Yes, ma'am." "She will." "It's an awful feeling To love someone so much... that you absolutely hate Them for leaving you." "Even before they've gone." "Hey, Dr. Green stopped by with some medicine for your mother... to help her sleep better tonight." "You going home?" "Yup, I am gone for the day." "Check out another book before you go?" "Tess of the dl/rberv/I/es." "You read this?" "Aren't you the one who said it's good to read a book more than once?" "All right, well then, Tess of the dl/rberv/I/es it is." "ls there something else?" "Why don't you ever tell me where you live?" "Where do you go when you aren't with us'?" "Because what I do with my own personal time... is my business, Charlotte." "You know everything about me, so just tell me something." "It's late, Charlie." " Please." " Hey, I said it's late." "I like ice cream." "What kind?" "Butter pecan." " Favorite color?" " Brown." "Movie?" "The Maltese Falcon." " Do you have a girlfriend?" " Okay, now that's enough." "All right, just tell me what your house looks like." "Or tell me who your best friend is." " Come on, just tell me" " Hey, I said enough!" "Don't you know when to back off?" "Enough." "You've never raised your voice to me." "I'm sorry about that." "I just..." "I just want to know more about you." "I know you want." "I know." "My dear, you have me from morning until night." "And what I do when I leave here is my time." "For me." "Don't take that away." "Tess of The dﬂrbervilles." "I've actually read it three times." "Good night." "That one." "Yeah?" "Sure." "Bab)'" "I" " I think the neckline could be a little lower." "Well, she's going to a prom, not the discotheque." "Don't be such a square, Mr. Church." "Lower." "The prom suddenly became..." "The most important event of our lives." "And for The first time..." "I believed that Mama was going To live forever... that she truly was a miracle." "And those doctors had been wrong all along." "Hey, you know, this has an elegance to it... that this just doesn't have." "This kind of says, "Let's dance."" "Let's dance." "That's the point." " All right, it's your prom." " The dancy look." " I like the dancy look." " All right, we're going with the dancy look." "Okay." "Oh, my God." "You are so beautiful." "Tell her." "Tell her, Mr. Church." "Oh, a true vision, my dear." "The dress is perfect." "Come and stand next to your mother so I can get a picture." "Well, put it on a timer." " We need a picture of the three of us." " Yeah!" " Oh, no, no, no." " Come on now." "Yeah, we do." " Please?" " We need one of the whole family." "Mr. Church..." "Come on, sit." "Okay." "Okay, I want to make a toast." "To the most beautiful girl in the world." "Yes." "It pops in my mouth." " Come on in." " Thanks." "Wow." "Hi." "More punch?" " Still have some." " Right." "Here's the thing." "I can't dance." "Not at all." "That's okay." "We don't have to dance." "Hell, it can't be harder than basketball." "Come on." "You're still here." "Oh, ma'am, you shouldn't be up." "I couldn't sleep." "L" " I heard the music." "I'm sorry." "I should have turned that down." "No, I" " I like it." "I..." "I was imagining Charlie dancing in her dress." "Do you dance, Mr. Church?" "There are those who play music... and there are those who dance to it." "And the rare person who does both." "Why, I do believe that is the first time..." "I have heard you compliment yourself." "Dance with me." "Ma'am?" "Come on." "Now." "I dare say he speaks the truth." "Qk ay' Okay' lQ01Iy0u_ I 9011 you." " I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." " It's okay." "It's okay." "Thank you." "Thank you." "9011 you." " Let me get that." " Thanks." "I'll get the gate." "I had a really great time tonight." "Me too." "Good night, Charlie." "So, tell me." "Was it lame?" "No." "No." "It was... beautiful." "You should be in bed." "I wanted to wait up for you... just like every other mother... who waited up for their daughter tonight." "Did you dance'?" "All night." "Did he kiss you?" "Well, kisses come in all sorts of ways, baby." "People act strange around death." "There are those who talk about everything... but The person who died." "And I told Mr. Rinaldo that two pounds of meat was plenty... but he insisted on giving me three." "And I said, "That's ridiculous..."" "There are those who only talk about The person who died." "Your mother was always very nice to me." "I thought she was pretty too." "I always wondered why she didn't have a boyfriend or something." "There are those who fry To cheer you up." "Your mother's at peace, Charlie." "Out of pain." "You don't want her in pain." "And those who can'?" "help but make you cry." "You know, I've always wished..." "I'd had a mom like yours, Charlie." "Why can't it be my mom who's dead... not yours?" "And Then there are those who say nothing at all... because they don't have to." "Bu?" "when everyone was gone..." "The people and The noise and The chatter... and The hospital bed... if was just Mr. Church and me." "And I liked if." "If was The first and only time I ever saw Mr. Church cry." "Even his weeping was graceful." "What's going to happen now?" "What will you do?" "Your job is done." "I haven't even thought about it." "Guess I'll start thinking about it now." "I have something for you." "Actually, it's from your mother." "I kept a record of all the money I saved... marketing with those coupons your mother gave me." "I always did say they add up." "I guess you can call Boston University... and tell them that Charlotte Brooks will be attending." "All right." "Okay, I guess you're going to... need a way to get there." "L... always did hate riding the bus." "Mr. Church didn't have a license." "So, I knew he couldn't teach me how To drive." "I went To The one person who I knew could." "Okay." "Just put the key in the ignition, and" "Put your foot on the clutch there." "And when you give it gas... you're going to slowly release." " Foot off the brake." " Okay." "And on the accelerator." "Nice and easy." "We're going." "We're going." "There you go." "Okay." "Whoa, oh, oh!" "You have to take your foot off the brake as well." "Release the clutch slowly." " Are you okay?" " Put your foot on the clutch." " L" " Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry." " Nice and slow." "Oh!" "You okay?" "You okay?" "You okay?" " Foot on the clutch." " I'm sorry, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I swear I'll get it." "It's okay." "Good." "Nice." "That's a good speed." "Picking up speed." "This is great." "I did it." "Until the twelfth of never..." "Charlie..." "You're going to be a famous writer." "Yeah." "I'm going to be a famous fashion designer." "And all the duds in this town... they're going to say..." ""Oh, damn, aren't those the two charity case girls from St. Frances?"" " Well, I'll be damned." " You're crazy!" "I'm not crazy." "What I am is free." "New York, I am on my way." "Clear this." "I'm completely lost." "New York, New York, New York." "Get us the hell out of here." "Bunch of lowlife drunks." "More than ever..." "I wanted To know everything about Mr. Church." "Good night, Charlotte." "Good night, Mr. Church." "I wanted To ask him about Jelly's Place." "Wanted him To know he could fell me." "I knew The rumors about Jelly's." "Most of all, I wanted To know Mr. Church was happy." "With Mama gone and me leaving for college..." "I worried about him." "I thought if!" "could see his house... meet someone who loved him as much as Mama and me... somehow I would know he was okay." "Charlie?" "What are you doing walking around alone at night?" "You want to jump in?" "Listen, have I done something wrong?" "What?" "You've hardly spoken to me lately." "Hell, you won't even look at me." "Why'd you take me to prom?" "What are you talking about?" "You could have asked any girl in school." "Popular girls, girls with money." "Why ma?" "That's a dumb question." "I don't know, because I like you." "Because you're smart." "Or was it because my mama was dying?" "What?" "If that's the reason, it's okay." "L" " I get it." "Poor Charlie Brooks." "Poor fatherless, soon to be motherless..." " pathetic Charlie Brooks." " Charlie" "I get it." "Charity case." "But let's just be honest about it." "I mean, you never even kissed me." "So, if the reason you took me was out of pity" "I don't pity you." "I'm leaving tomorrow for school, Charlie." "My folks are driving me up early." "That's why I came looking for you." "To say good-bye" "You study hard, Owen." "You do something important with your life, okay?" "Charlie..." "Never been to a restaurant with you before, Mr. Church." "Well, I figured since it's your last night here... we should eat out." "Sorry for the wait, folks." "What can I get you?" "Oh, um..." "Hey, do you have Apple Jacks'?" "Comes in a box." "Tastes mostly like sugar and apples, mainly." " Yes, sir." " I'll have that." "Yeah, I'll have the same." "And I suppose this is the last of Richard's money... you'll ever spend on me." "Poor fool." "He thought he'd only have to shell out enough for six months." "Mama sure showed him." "Mr. Church?" "Two Apple Jacks." "Right on time." "You're welcome." "Enjoy." "Oh, that looks wonderful." "Yes." "Apples and sugar." "No secret there." "I Took clothes and books." "Nothing else." "I told Mr. Church to take whatever he wanted of Mama's... and whatever was left To give To charity." "I had driven 3,000 miles To find out something amazing." "Here, no one knew rne as poor Charlie Brooks." "College was just how I imagined if." "Full of energy and color." "Here, I could be anyone I wanted To be." "And if we suppose that Shakespeare instructed Thorpe to name..." "W.H. in the dedication, then..." "I studied hard, and when I felt foo fired To keep going..." "I thought of all those damn coupons Mom would cut To get me here... and if pushed me through." "All right, that's it." "No more studying." " No!" " No, we're going out." "Mr. Church wrote me every week." "And always sent me books." "Seasons changed." "Roommates came and went." "Class schedules changed... and I got closer every day towards graduating." "They say, for some, college is The time of your life... where you find yourself." "And for others..." "Hey, how you doing?" "Hey, I'm Charlie." "Nice to meet you." "...if can also be a time... where you slowly get lost." "And sometimes... you just have To go home." "Wherever that may be." "Hi." "It's Charlie." "Surprise." "Seems The legacy of The Brooks family... was having babies out of wedlock." "Sorry I stopped writing you, Mr. Church." "You know, I stopped writing Poppy too." "Things" " Things just got a little crazy for me." "I can see that." "But I read all your letters... sometimes even twice a day." "Anyway, I needed a break and I thought..." ""Go surprise Mr. Church."" "Yeah, well, you really surprised me." "Can I stay for a few days?" "I mean, I brought my books." "I can study here and everything." "I just need a place to rest." "Okay." "I got one rule." "You respect my privacy." "'Cause you're in my house now, right'?" "Yeah, okay." "I will." "Okay." "If was like we were never apart." "All right, then." "He never asked a single question about my being pregnant." "Still smoking outside, Mr. Church?" "Yeah, as of today." "I guess Mr. Church respected my privacy... as much as he asked me To respect his." "All I knew being back with Mr. Church... was that I was home." "All those years wondering where Mr. Church lived... and I was now standing in The center of if." "Try this." " Licorice?" " That's right." "Hey, I brought an extra blanket." "It gets cold in here at night sometimes." "And the sun shines in that window really bright." "You might want to close that curtain." "Is this you?" "I'm sorry." "I wasn't snooping." "I just found it in the drawer." "Yeah, that's me and my father." "You look like him." "I'm going to leave the light on... for you out here in case you want to get... some milk or something at night." "Good night, my dear." "Good night, Mr. Church." "You can't change me, old man!" "You're not changing shit!" "Oh, I'm a sinner?" "Yeah, that's right!" "I'm a sinner!" "Who's a faggot?" "You the goddamn faggot." "Talking the shit." "Kick your ass, old man." "Shit, I ain't no kid no more." "You don't tell me a goddamn thing!" "I Took The book of matches from Jelly's... because I knew he'd be embarrassed... if he saw that I'd found if." "And come morning, there was Mr. Church making breakfast... smelling like soap and seasonings... listening To his music." "Hey, you're awake." "The baby's got to eat." "How was your night, Mr. Church?" "It was pleasant enough." "And that's all he would ever say." "Pleasant enough." "Those are the only keys I never quite got the hang of." "About time I let somebody else try to play them." "Your thesis awaits, my dear." "Start with the first word and the rest will follow." " Hey, what are you doing?" " Oh, I'm" " I was just" " Okay, now you got to go." " Mr. Church" " Let's go, right now!" " I'm" " I'm sorry." " I'm sorry." " I give you one goddamn rule..." " and you break it, right'?" " I'm sorry!" "You get out of my shit right now." " Pack your shit and go!" " You're hurting me!" " Just get out!" " Where am I supposed to go?" "It's the middle of the night." "That's not my goddamn problem." "I'm not a child anymore, Mr. Church!" "Or are you too drunk to see that?" "What is it with all of you?" "The secrets and lies and more secrets?" "Don't tell Charlie I'm dying." "Don't tell Charlie a goddamn thing." "I just wanted to know you, Mr. Church." "Look, I was your cook." "That's all you need to know." "I had nowhere To go." "And for The first time..." "I realized I had no one." "Larson?" "Larson!" "Hey, Charlie." "Look at you, you're all... pregnant and married." "Oh, no." "Just" " Just pregnant." "Well, you living out here again?" "No, still in college." "Just, you know, came to see--..." "Came to visit." "Heading back tonight." "You still got that car, or..." "Oh, it's good." "It's right over there." "Yeah." "Do you need a ride somewhere?" "Oh, no, no, no." "No, I..." "I'd better get a..." "Hey, it was good-- Good seeing you, though." "Yeah, you too, Larson." "Oh, shit!" "I swear to God, dude, I didn't even see her." "Charlotte, come here." "Here, get the door." "Breathe, Charlie, breathe." "I heard The doctors and nurses... whispering it was a miracle the baby didn't die." "I wanted To fell them..." ""Don't you know?" "Miracles run in The Brooks family."" "You need to be very careful." "Lots of rest, Charlie." "Do you have a place to stay?" "She lives with me." "You are?" "I'm Mr. Church." "Are you responsible for Charlie?" "Yeah." "The baby gave Mr. Church a sense of purpose and excitement." "Oh!" "There she goes again." ""She," Mr. Church?" "Well, it's a guess." "She feels like" " I'm feeling she." "Aren't you going to ask me how it happened?" "I know how girls get pregnant, Charlotte." "If he wasn't gardening... he was painting." "If he wasn't painting... he was cooking." "If he wasn't cooking... he was playing The piano." "And if he wasn't playing The piano... he was reading To me." "Bonnie?" "Too cute." "Brenda?" "Too dangerous." "Beth?" "Too simple." "How about Carrie?" "No." "Every Wednesday and Saturday night..." "Mr. Church went out." "Good night, Charlotte." "He never said where he was going." "And I never asked." "Bu?" "I knew." "You have Irene." "Or Iris." "Irma..." "Mr. Church?" " Irma sound like an old lady." " Mr. Church?" " Mr. Church?" "Isabel" "Isabel." "What do you think of Isabel'?" "Mr. Churchmoh, my God." "Oh, my God, we got to go." " Are you sure?" " Yeah." "Okay, okay, okay, okay." "I'll call right now." "Mr. Church was right." "I was having a baby girl." "She's going to need a name, Charlotte." "IsabeL" "Isabel Marie Brooks." "Hey." "Hey, Isabel." "I'm Mr. Church." "Everything was about Izzy." "We're going to go right..." "Getting that degree seemed To slip farther and farther away." "And after a while..." "Mr. Church stopped asking me about if." "I was a mother." "And Mr. Church..." "My Izzy... he was everything else." "It's okay." "It's okay." "Izzy..." "Yes," "Mr. Church, dance with me." "Okay, I will in a second." "Just hold still." "I'm almost finished." "Oh, come on." "Come on now..." "Hey, come on." " We're going to be late." " Mama, dance with me." "No, not now." "We got to go, baby." " Come on, come on." " Mama, dance with me." " Let's go, let's go." " Oh!" "Okay." "One dance, I guess." "Mr. Church..." "Come on, Mr. Church." "One dance." "Charlie?" "It's crazy, right'?" "It's wonderful." "Congratulations." "Thank you so much for coming out." "Larson fell in love with a gal he met at one of his AA meetings." "You know, she wouldn't be here if it weren't for you." "No, she's beautiful." "I like that dress." "Did you make that?" "You know, there's something I never told you about that day." "I'd scraped up enough cash... to buy a bottle of Jack and some pills, and..." "I was just going to go home and check out for good." "You know?" "And then you fell." "You know, you always say that I saved lzzy's life... but the truth is that both of you saved mine." "Don't you think my mom's pretty?" "I think she's beautiful." "Well, I guess I'd better go dance with my wife." "Yeah!" "Hey, there you go." "Oh, thank you." "Do you ever want to get married, Mr. Church?" "I'm sorry." "That's none of my business." "I was married before." "Yes, I was married before." "A long time ago." "I was very young." "I got married because my father... wanted me to get married, but it didn't last very long." "I wasn't very good at it." "She was a very lovely lady, though." "I guess I just wasn't what she was looking for." "Any man and woman can get married, Charlotte." "Mr. Church... do you want to dance'?" "Last time I danced like this was prom night." "Me too." "Thanks." "Be with you in a second, sir." " Hey." " Hi, Mama." "Hi, baby." "What are you two doing here?" "Found something for you." "What..." "You found her." "I found her." "Mama, look." "Thank you." "Oh, my God!" "Charlie!" "POPPY!" "You look so glamorous." "So gorgeous." " This is Izzy." " Hello." "Mr. Church." "Hey, PUPPY" "You're the spitting image of your grandma." "You knew my grandmother?" "She was only the most beautiful woman..." "I've seen in my whole life." "That's what Mom always says." " Aren't you pretty?" " Is that a real diamond?" "Oh, honey, you ain't seen nothing yet." "Come on, get in." "Let's get out of this neighborhood." "Bye, Mr. Church." "Have fun, my dear." "Bye, Mr. Church!" "Didn't I tell you I'd get out of this stinking town'?" "New York City's so exciting." "This one was Fifth Avenue." "Super-smart Charlie... it's a place for someone like you who reads." "Well, you certainly married well." "I married well both times." "Here, let me show you the good stuff." "Look at this." "Look at the beading." "L" " I heard your parents were out." "Living up north somewhere?" "I wouldn't know." "Oh, I-- I just figured... you stayed in touch with your sister." "My family's gone, Charlie." "Let's not talk of them again." "Look at this one." "It's a birthday gift." "Parisian." " Yeah." " Feel it." "Isn't that fabric wonderful?" "Amazing." "Aunt Poppy plans to spoil you rotten." "These stores are expensive." "Let me." "I'll never have a child of my own." "You don't know that." "No, I do." "I could have at one time." "I've got all the scars to prove it." "You should see where I shop in Manhattan." "Are you happy?" "I have everything I want." "So, you know, no boyfriend, no romance in your life'?" "Single moms aren't exactly popular." " I've known that my whole life." " Come to New York with me." " I could fix you up with a bunch of fine men." " What?" "No." "Yeah." "You would love it." "Izzy would love it." "I can get her into any private school you want." "That's not going to happen." "I know a few bachelors who would" "I mean, they're no Owen Baxter, but they have money." "I don't need money." "Baby, don't go too far." "I have a job." "I make a paycheck." "Waiting tables." "I'm not ashamed." "No, come on, Charlie." "Don't be so stubborn." "You don't have anything here." "You can't go living with your cook forever." "My cook?" "Oh, you know what I mean." "What happened to you, Poppy?" "You used to be a lot of things... but you were never a snob." " Charlie..." " You want to know something about my cook?" "Richard set aside enough money for Mama to live six months." "Six months." "And do you know who paid all of our bills, food, and rent... all those years after that?" "Mr. Church didn't work for us." "He saved us." "Now, I may not have some fancy life... but I work hard and I'm raising my baby." "She's my diamond, Poppy." "I'm sorry if it doesn't sparkle enough for you." "Come on, baby." "We're going to go home." "And let's put the rocking chair up there." "And..." "Well, she shouldn't have bought it." "I'll return it tomorrow." "I don't think you should punish the child... because you and Poppy fought." "And you still ain't opened the gift she left for you." "Well... whatever you two argued about... forgive her." "You should go into the attic." "This little girl should go inside..." "This is your room and that's your room." "I see you don't approve, huh?" "Well, I'm living my own life!" "Goddamn..." "You go ahead and kick me out of the house, old man." "Go ahead." "I don't give a shit." "Your rules?" "Fine!" "Oh...just said that-- I don't know, shit." "Mr. Church." "Hey, get your goddamn hands off me." "I'm not drunk." "I'm not drunk." "You can't disown nobody, old man." "I disown you." "Shit." "We ain't in church no more." "The wise son seeketh the father's instruction... but the scorner heareth not rebuke." "I don't give a shit." "How was your night, Mr. Church?" "It was pleasant enough." "Hey, put some spice in here." "And watch out." "The pan is hot." "Now watch out for that pan." "Very good." "IT was The first Time The matches were left on The Table." "Now Mr. Church realized that I knew about Jelly's." "Probably that I'd always known." "The mafchbook stayed on The fable all that day... and info The next." "Bu?" "if would be The last." "Mr. Church never came home drunk again." "You still got that cough, Mr. Church." "It's only a cough, my dear." "Okay, well, that's it." "No more fighting me." "We're getting you looked at." "I don't need a doctor." "It's the flu." "Mr. Church." "Izzy, give me your book, please." "Thank you." "All right." "Hello, Mr. Church." "Owen." "Charlie." "Maybe I will stay." "Oh, my God." "Owen, this is my daughter, Izzy." "Hello." "Can you fix Mr. Church's cough?" "I will certainly give it my all." "You know, maybe I shouldn't go." "You're still sick." "I'm fine." "And I know where to find a doctor if I need one." "Well?" "You're so beautiful, Mama." "Mr. Church, tell her." "True vision, my dear." "So, Owen Baxter became a doctor." "You're the one who told me to do something good with my life." "I thought by now... you'd be a very serious novelist... living in Boston." "I guess life had other plans for me." "Izzy?" "Izzy." "Tell me about her father." "Did you love him?" "It was just a foolish night." "Guess you could say I was a little lost after Mama died." "He didn't want to have anything to do with the baby." "But he gave me the greatest gift." "I tried finding you for a few years." "You found me now." "Morning, Mr. Church." "Mr. Church?" "Mr. Church?" "Hey." "Hey, I'm just resting." "Just resting." "Mama, where's Mr. Church?" "He's sleeping." "Sleeping?" "He never sleeps." "Of course he does, baby." "Everybody sleeps." "I'll make breakfast." " You?" " Yes, me." "I fold work I wouldn't be coming in anytime soon." "Mr. Church was on complete bed rest... and if was my turn To fake care of him." "Somehow, my hands were doing The work." "All those years watching Mr. Church... seemed To have soaked info my skin, my bones." "And I knew exactly what needed to be done." "I chopped, diced, and minced." "Mixed, mashed, and beat." "Stirred, sprinkled, dashed, and pinched." "Ready to try?" "It's very hot." "Be careful." "And while bread baked, I sewed." "And while pies cooled, I sat at The piano." "And I realized every Talent Mr. Church had... he taught himself while passing The time... caring for someone else." " Hey." " Can I climb up?" "Yes, of course." "Always." "How's my favorite little girl doing?" "Good." "Tell me a story." "Tell you a story." "Okay." "Once upon a time..." "They always start that way." "Well, that's how you know it's a story, my dear." "Once upon a time, there was a little...boy." "What was his name?" "What would you like his name to be?" "Henry." "Like you." "Well, then Henry it shall be." "Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Henry." "And this boy was afraid of just about everything... except for ladybugs." " Ladybugs?" " Ladybugs." "And one day while he was out... a ladybug caught his eye and he decided to chase it." "And he chased this ladybug for so long... that he actually turned into a grown man... chasing the same ladybug." "And the ladybug led him to a little tiny house." "And in the house, he found the kindest woman... and her beautiful little girl living there." "And the man told the woman... that he apologized for coming in the house this way... but he was following this ladybug... and that he looked everywhere all over the place." "He couldn't find it no more." "He promised her that he'd leave." "But the woman said, "Don't leave." "Stay."" "She said, "Stay here with us."" "She said, "We don't have much, but everything we got... we'll share with you."" "And did he stay?" "He did." "You know why?" "Because for the first time, he felt safe." "For the first time, he wasn't afraid." "He felt happy" "And he promised that if he ever saw... that ladybug again... that he was going to thank her." "Did he?" "Not yet." "He still hasn't stopped looking." "Maybe she's in the sky." "Well, you just might be right." "You just might be right." "You should be in bed." ""The blue level of the Mediterranean..." ""hugged to its calm breast the victims of all the wars." ""Calamity is in the tempest of its history." ""The breath of the evening breeze came to cool..." ""with the mulberry tree..." ""which sighed faintly..." ""as if regretting the passing of this man." ""This man of dark deeds but of large heart..." ""who often at noonday would lie down... to sleep under its shade."" "Okay." "Can I get you something to eat?" "No." "You want some water?" "No." "Okay, well, I'll give you your privacy." "No." "I don't want my privacy." "Mr. Church, I fell asleep in this armchair." "Mr. Church?" "Mr. Church?" "Mr. Church..." "People act strange around death." "There are those who talk about everything... but The person who died." "Those who talk about only The person who died." "Those who fry To cheer you up." "And those who can'?" "help but make you cry." "And Then there are those who say nothing at all." "Because they don't have to." "Yeah, of course." "Thank you so" "Thank you so much." "Excuse me one second." "Excuse me." " Hi, can I help you?" " Sorry, ma'am." "Is this Mr. Church's wake?" "Yes." "I was a friend." "Name's Frankie Twiggs." "Folks call me Jelly." "Jelly?" "I'm sorry for, you know, barging in... but we hadn't seen Hands for quite some time... and we done missed him, and I just--..." ""Hands?"" "Yeah, that's what we called him on account of..." "He played piano at my bar for over 30 years." "So, he worked for you." "Oh, no, no." "Nothing like that." "It was more for him, you know?" "One night, he just wandered over to the piano... and then, bam, he started playing." "Place lit up." "I'm telling you, this cat was good." "I thought somebody famous had just walked in... to get a drink, you know?" "He was a whole lot of magic." "I'm Charlie." "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Charlie." "Izzy?" "Come here, baby." "I want you to meet a good friend of Mr. Church's." "Here, this is Mr. Church's recipe." "What?" "I didn't know he could cook." "This is Izzy." " Can you say hi, baby?" " Hi." "This is Mr. Jelly." "Tvviggs" "Mr. Church once said... a book is meant To be read from beginning To end... but is best understood from end To beginning." "I suppose everything does happen for a reason." "Mama dying." "Larson saving my baby and himself." "Poppy finding a dollhouse ofher own." "Even Owen..." "The most beautiful 10-year-old boy... on this or any other planet becoming a doctor." ""Dear Charlotte." ""You've said you just want to know me." ""My dear, you always have." ""I'm simply a man." "'Wot without faults." "'That can happen when you're not The son..." ""your father hoped you'd be..." ""despite his verbal abuse and beatings." ""I know you think I Took care of you..." ""and your mother and Izzy..." ""and you gave me nothing in return." ""You gave me the most important thing..." "'Wife can offer." ""You gave me a family." ""And love." "Henry."" "Mr. Church?" "Henry?" "I'm making eggs and grits, Mama." "Like Mr. Church showed us." "Oh, this looks so yummy." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Can you set the table for us'?" "I can get plates." "Okay, this will be for me." "This will be for you." "What do you need?" "You're adding a little salt." "What about cheese?" "You need cheese?" " Yeah." " Yeah?" "Here you go." "More cheese?" "I was wrong when I said..." "The legacy of The Brooks family... is having babies out of wedlock." "The legacy of This family is Mr. Church." "Henry Joseph Church could have been anything... he wanted To be." "He chose To cook." "The key, he said, jazz." "'"