"My mother made an amazing amount of noise when she ate her food." "It was as if she was trying to taste the entire world." "Sometimes I just couldn 't stand her." "Sometimes I hated her." "Sometimes I thought she was ruining my life." "What kept me going was knowing one day I'd leave her." "Come on, baby, surfing safari" "I'm gonna take you Surfing safari" "I'm gonna take you Surfing safari" "I'm gonna take you Surfing safari" "Let's go surfing now Everybody's learning how" "Come on and safari with me" "I hate this song." "I Iove the Beach Boys." "I hate them'" "How can you hate them?" "They're happy and sunny." "You'II learn to like that." "That's what california's all about." "Next stop, salt Lake City." "salt Lake City, Utah." "The capital, right?" "I don't care." "You do." "Don't mumble." "You care." "You're very good at capitals." "Idaho?" "Pooh Bear." "Stop calling me "Pooh Bear. "" "But you are my little Pooh Bear." "Come on." "Come on." "Idaho?" "Boise." "I don't wanna pIay'" "Do a hard one for me." "I don't wanna play." "Oregon?" "portland." "Too easy." "It's salem." "salem?" "I don't wanna do this anymore." "I don't wanna be in Utah." "2000 miles between us and Bay City." "Okay'" "I miss Bay City." "This is like being kidnapped." "I wish I'd been kidnapped at your age." "So do I." "Grandma always said Mom was a strange child." "She's absolutely moribund'" "Gwenn Purvis has cancer." "That's worse." "I didn't give it to her." "You didn't give it to her." "That's funny." "You're gonna die one day too." "But not in this town." "My mother never wanted to stay in Bay City." "I think she married Ted because he was so nice and clean." "Being an ice-skating instructor made him seem cleaner." "She missed my real father, who was Egyptian, dark and romantic." "One Christmas Eve, I heard my parents argue." "I knew nothing until he was gone." "He left in our brown Valiant." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry." "You're awfully quiet." "You said we'd see a reservation." "When we get to one, we will." "Don't mumble." "How can you be an actress if you can't speak?" "I don't want to be an actress." "I bet we won't even stop in Las Vegas." "That's what's wrong'" "You said you had his number." "I said we'II look him up, okay?" "Your father left in the middle of the night." "So what?" "You left my stepdad in the middle of the afternoon." "I miss Ted." "He's boring." "Why'd you marry him?" "None of your business." "He ran around with other women." "Not true'" "You made it up." "You wanted him to, to catch him and get his money." "You little snoop'" "And Ted's not a homosexual." "I never said that." "You did." "I inferred it, but I never said it." ""Light in the loafers" isn't the same." "AII right, Mother." "Ted said he loves you." "He was worried you saw other people." "You probably were." "That's it!" "I've had it with you'" "You miss Ted so much, go find Ted." "Get out of the car'" "You said we'd see buffalo." "Tough shit!" "Get out of the car." "Ted will teach ice-skating for the rest of his life." "Cousin Benny will be a mechanic." "LoIy won't leave the bank." "Your cousin hai drinks liquor." "sylvia and the baby can barely breathe there." "I now have a job teaching in the Los angeles school system." "My M.A. in early education was wasted in that dink junior high." "So forget about buffalo and Indians." "You're a beautiful girl with great potential." "I won't let you be nothing in a nothing town." "You are 1 4 years old." "You've always had food and a place to live." "Stick with me, you always will." "I'm your mother." "And I know what is best for you, because that is my job." "Your school is in beverly hills, the best school district in the U.S." "You'II be a child actor, while still a child." "You don't have a job in the L.A. school district." "I will." "I have an interview and a great outfit." "You hungry?" "I don't know." "Excuse me?" "I don't know." "Great!" "So am I." "So... ." "Look at that." "Is it the most beautiful car you've ever seen?" "No." "I hate that car." "I miss the plymouth." "Baby, nobody misses a plymouth." "It's your color." "It is, isn't it?" "Look at this." "It's so beautiful." "How's it feel?" "SubIime'" "We can't afford this." "I have savings." "I'II dip into my retirement fund." "This car doesn't belong in Bay City." "Neither do we." "We'II drive to beverly hills in this car." "This place looks expensive." "I'II worry about that." "Now we're in beverly hills, maybe we'II call you "Heather. "" "It smells nice." "How much is the room?" "It's $1 200." "A night?" "I don't know that it's large enough." "Do you have any villas?" "Not right now." "Mom, I'm tired." "Where will we sleep tonight?" "Sweet Pea, you are just as pretty as these girls on TV." "I think you're prettier." "Sweetie?" "Are you all right?" "You've been in there over an hour." "Okay, well, I'm gonna go to sleep now." "And I think you should soon..." "... becauseyouneedyourbeautyrest." "Okay?" "Okay, good night." "I miss everyone in Bay City so much." "I don 't know how I'll survive without Benny." "And my best friend, good little Mary." "Serious Mary, Benny and I  we were inseparable." "I made this for you." "It's tin and painted on one side with gold dust." "It's not real gold dust." "Ann, we're ready to go'" "Where do you want the cookies and the sandwiches?" "Mom, thanks." "You didn't give her all the cookies?" "call us from the road." "You'II visit us." "She doesn't have a place to live." "Stop worrying about it, Ma." "Even a job." "She's got the school job." "She does not, just talked to someone." "When will you have faith in me?" "When you see things as they are." "Don't take any wooden nickels." "Right." "Okay, thanks." "Sorry, Ted." "I'II write." "Ann!" "Come on or I'II leave without you'" "Benny'" "Ben'" "You destroyed the photos of me in my underwear?" "I did, Mary." "I promise." "Let's go!" "We'II call from the road." "I Iove you." "I Iove you too, Grandma." "Ann!" "Just in case you find a skating rink out there." "Thanks, Ted." "I Iove you." "You're the best stepdad a girl could have." "Here's a good one:" ""pool, waIk-in closets..." "... security,vaultedceilings."" "vaulted." "I Iove it." "Excuse me." "I'm sorry." "I couldn't help but overhearing." "I thought I might help you." "I'm gall Letterfine." "Westside realty." "Oh." "What do you want?" "Something in beverly hills." "I'm AdeIe August." "My daughter, Ann." "Hi." "Hi." "She's not awake." "We're from Wisconsin." "I don't know anyone from Wisconsin" "I'm awake." "You live in beverly hills?" "Santa Monica." "formerly bei Air." "formerly Brentwood." "I've had many formerIies in my Iife." "I'm fine now." "I'm single, I'm free and I Iove it." "Most of the time." "Excuse me." "She wants to be an actress." "Don't they all?" "Operator." "tell her it's her granddaughter, and I'II pay her back." "What do we have along beverly Vista?" "beverly HiIIs-adjacent." "It's not posh, but it's within the school district." "What are you doing?" "You okay?" "GaiI found something." "She's raising three teenagers alone." "Husband ran off with an accountant." "Come with me while I pee." "She didn't say so, but I think she has a glass eye." "It makes somebody interesting." "You know what I mean?" "Interesting in a mysterious way." "You want a ride?" "Ann, there you are." "Your mom wants you." "I saw her." "I think we might've found a place." "It's hard making changes, but you have to get used to it." "Life is full of them." "Where did you go?" "I was talking to you." "I come out and you're gone." "You didn't get the job." "It's in the bag, baby." "Are you serious?" "Yes'" "I hate my hair." "It's an asset." "I want to cut it." "Over my dead body." "Okay." "Okay." "Let's go." "They're dressed for the beach." "The smart girls are inside." "Baby" "I hate you." "We'II talk about that later." "Good Iuck'" "How about "good luck" for me?" "How do I Iook?" "Just back off'" "This is our new speech pathologist, adele August." "She's from Bay City, Wisconsin." "America's dairyland." "Wisconsin." "George franklin, history." "History?" "Room 1 2 is to the right?" "I'II show you." "Thank you so much." "Not exactly Bay City, but you get used to it." "Did they throw out that furniture?" "Is that garbage?" "unbelievable." "Don't scratch the car." "On days off, we'd drive to relax." "We drove just anywhere." "She was in awe of the homes and palm trees and movie stars on public sidewalks." "She was in love with Beverly Hills." "I Iike the circular driveway." "I want the corner room." "I'd climb out that window." "I've got the one overlooking the pool." "That one's a beauty." "With the cute blue shutters." "Look at this house'" "This is the house I want." "beautiful." "It says, "By appointment only. "" "It says, "Do not disturb occupants. "" "It'II be fun." "It's okay." "It'II be fun." "please think about it." "You're the realtor?" "Can I help you?" "What a" " He gave me a kiss'" "This is CaIIey." "You must be the owner." "I'm AdeIe August, and this is my baby, Heather." "Can I help you?" "We have no appointment but my husband, a doctor at UCLA" "That's minutes from here." "exactly." "We drove by and had to stop." "We'd love to see the house." "Do you mind?" "Not at all." "Here's my card, and a setup on the property." "The house is from the 1 920s." "It has all its original integrity." "We also have a wood-burning fireplace." "There are seven in the house." "There's so much light." "It's a very happy house." "Happy, isn't it?" "Happy." "Here's a beautiful, bright bedroom." "There's the pool." "It's a lovely master suite." "No, it's my daughter's bedroom." "She's away at college." "Where is she?" "Back East." "Princeton." "I want to go to college back East." "You must miss her terribly." "But we're so proud." "Daddy will be here next week." "I want him to see this house." "I'II show you the master bedroom." "It's got a great waIk-in closet." "It also has a fantastic Jacuzzi tub... ." "Hello?" "What's up, pervert?" "Who is this?" "It's Hot Stuff." "Ann." "Hey, Benny." "Where are you?" "calling from someone's bedroom." "What are you doing?" "Hal's taking us to the park." "He got that new truck." "Why are you whispering?" "How's Grandma?" "She's fine." "You're in someone's bedroom?" "I'II write." "Get my last one?" "Yeah, I got them all." "I liked the one where she kicked you out of the car." "She's crazy." "I think I might kill her in her sleep." "I have to go." "Heather Ann... ." "That was so much fun." "You said we'd buy it'" "I said we might." "And that my father's coming, he's a doctor?" "Why were you in the daughter's room?" "calling Benny." "What?" "Ann'" "I had to say your dad's a doctor." "She gets money from her husband." "She'd think I couldn't afford it." "Oh, and like you can afford it." "You couldn't afford the bathroom." "Be optimistic Don 't you be a grumpy" "When the road gets bumpy Just smile and be happy" "Good morning, adele." "Morning, George." "Grand CouIee Dam." "Ever been there?" "No." "Hoover Dam?" "No." "I'm not really into dams." ""I'II get a lawyer and sue for invasion of privacy." "Stop reading my diary, Mother. "" "cool." "Did she say anything?" "Never did it again." "I wish they'd leave me alone." "I Iove being alone." "Hi." "Hi, Peter." "You run good." "You got good form." "Yeah." "Not a cloud in the sky today." "You ever read T.S. EIiot?" "What?" "Four Quartets." "really good." "Why do you run with a book?" "balance, I guess." "Kariba Dam." "It impounds the Zambezi River, forms Kariba Lake." "It's nice." "I went to paint it after college." "You painted pictures of dams?" "It was my dream:" "travel the world and paint." "What happened?" "I don't know. "One dam thing led to another dam thing. "" "I became a history teacher." "But one of these days-- One of these days." "Oh, my God." "Get away from my car'" "Look what he's doing'" "No." "Stop it'" "Look how deep-- Look what he did to my car'" "Mom, it's just a scratch." "Just a scratch?" "Do you know how much it costs to fix "just a scratch"?" "I can't work at this school." "I can't talk to you!" "No sympathy'" "The tiles are all cracked." "Chipped." "We're sinking." "I have to keep us afloat." "Every time I think we're starting to get somewhere..." "... everythingfallsapart." "Jesus' Nothing works in this apartment'" "It's just a scratch on the car." "Maybe if you got yourself..." "... anafter-schooIjob you'd know what I'm talking about." "You don't know what things cost, how to manage money" "What is that now?" "You didn't pay the bill, did you?" "I paid it'" "Maybe I won't even pay the bill again." "Maybe we'II... ." "We could live..." "... inthedark..." "... likelittlebearsina cave , huh, Pooh Bear?" "Just... ." "Okay, Iet's go to Denny's." "Ann?" "Ann, where are you?" "I'm going to bed." "I really thought I paid it." "I really think I did pay it." "I Iove you." "Say hi to Benny and uncle Jimmy and Aunt carol." "Lots of kisses." "Bye." "Hi, Mom." "How are y'aII doing?" "What isn't fair?" "I put her on because Ann needs a decent home..." "... soweneedcashfora downpayment." "What I need from you is some help." "sell my land, that's how." "It's the land that Daddy" "She hung up." "Grandma hung up on you?" "Yeah." "Let's dress up and go out to dinner." "What?" "You love that French place." "That's what we need." "We need a bed for me, a desk, sheets, towels..." "... nottoeatina Frenchrestaurant." "Honey." "My daddy used to say:" ""When life's rough..." "... andyouonlyhaveadime,  get your shoes shined. "" "Get dressed." "They raised their prices." "Why don't the two of us--?" "Want to hear our specials?" "We know what we want." "I'd Iike to hear the specials." "We have veal St. Jacques" "We'II have two small salads and share the veal, right?" "I'm hungry." "Why don't you have the veal St. Jacques?" "I'II have the duck a I'orange." "Any appetizer?" "I'II have the shrimp in garlic sauce." "And to drink?" "Just water." "bottled." "A big bottle, please." "Okay." "Thank you." "Know what?" "I'm hungry and we're not at Denny's." "So, if someone sees me eat duck a I'orange..." "... whoknowswhateffect it'II have on my Iife?" "Sit up straight." "You're slouching." "I took out a newspaper ad once." "" 15-year-old seeks home." "Neat, pretty, good student. " I got 79 replies." "I never opened them." "I was afraid of the temptation." ""Passion. "" "Our first Christmas away from home." "Do you customize scents?" "No?" "That's a shame." "My mother paid enough of our bills so we could buy presents." "Lavender." "What do you think?" "We didn't buy too much." "I don't know what to get Benny." "What did you get me?" "Nothing." "You did." "What did you get me?" "No, don't show me." "Ann, hi!" "Isn't it obscene, all this money being spent?" "I'm Janice PerIeman." "I'm Ann's mother." "She's my mother." "Hi." "You two look alike." "No, I Iook like my dad." "Just his chin." "I Iike your chin, I do." "I gotta go." "My mother's waiting." "Christmas Day, we're having a party from 4 to 8." "will you come, both of you?" "Thanks." "That's sweet." "really?" "I'II tell you more at school." "Everybody's coming." "Bye." "Everybody likes her." "She's on student council." "Her brother edits the paper." "What does her father do?" "I think he's a doctor." "well, it might be fun." "You wanna go?" "Do you want me to go?" "It'II be a chance to show ourselves off." "The car's looking great again." "Great." "Her mom looked very elegant." "You're elegant, Mom." "We both are." "We've got taste, huh?" "people see us and say, "That's an attractive mother and daughter! "" "Where do they live?" "Why are you doing this?" "Which one is it?" "That one." "Now let's go home." "Oh, my God'" "It goes all the way around the bIock'" "We're both going to a party." "Do you wanna talk to her again?" "Just say Merry Christmas." "Merry Christmas'" "Merry Christmas to everybody." "I Iove you." "Give a big hug to Benny for me." "Okay." "I Iove you." "Bye." "I'm gonna go get dressed and try on my new necklace." "Mom, it's 4:00." "Are you going to get dressed?" "It takes you an hour to get ready." "The party will be over by then." "You said you wanted to go." "I want to get up the pine needles..." "... andvacuumthoseclosets." "Maybe wash the kitchen floor, because I realized what will make me happy..." "... istolookaroundthis place, and see it's spic-and-span." "It's one fun thing we can do for Christmas." "Then you should go." "AII your friends will be there." "And that boy, Peter, will be there, right?" "What are you going to do?" "Don't worry about me." "I've got a million things to do." "I want our first Christmas in Los angeles to be perfect." "Aren't things bad enough here?" "Why are you doing this to me?" "You're right." "I'm sorry." "You want me to drive you there?" "Want me to drive you?" "No, I can walk." "AII right." "well, then go." "Go ahead." "Otherwise we'II just hang around here all day talking about our silly lives." "Oh, gosh." "I just had the strongest memory of my father." "I'm going." "I'm sorry you never got to know your grandfather, or your father." "But I know it means something to you to find your father, sweetie." "I promise, we will." "I'm going." "Okay." "Maybe we can talk about your father when you come back." "I'II be here." "I'm not going anywhere." "I'II wait." "I'm sorry." "I thought I couId go..." "... butI couldn't." "You know what we need?" "Some sugar in our blood." "You wanna get some ice cream?" "I don't want ice cream." "Sure you do." "Is that what I want, Mom?" "It would cheer us up." "Okay, Mother, Iet's get our sugar." "And they've got a new flavor." "Great." "Let's go." "I'II get your jacket." "Just one IittIe" "No." "We're closed early today." "It's Christmas." "Christmas'" "Merry Christmas, officer." "You're not working today?" "You see that red curb?" "See that "No Stopping" sign?" "Oh, my God' I'm so sorry." "I had no idea." "She needed an ice cream." "Don't blame it on me." "I'm explaining to him" "I hate it when you do this to me." "Do what?" "It's our Christmas tradition." "I didn't want ice cream." "Ann?" "She'II be back." "Excuse me, she won't be back." "You stay by the car." "Lady, wait by the car'" "AII right'" "Ann, come here." "Ann!" "Wait." "I told her not to park there." "I didn't even want any ice cream." "She's trying to beat a ticket." "She has lots." "Now, now'" "Don't talk to me like a little girl." "You don't even understand." "I'II leave her one of these days." "I'm sure you will." "But not today." "Why not today?" "You should leave when you're calm." "When you're rational." "You leave her when you're ready not to come back." "Understand?" "You from Wisconsin?" "How do you know?" "Your plates." "You living here now?" "Yes." "Hi, Ann." "Hey." "I want you to register that car." "Yes, sir." "Get a california license." "Yes." "And pay attention to posted signs." "Yes, sir." "When I roll by again, I don't want to see your car." "Yes, sir." "Good." "Merry Christmas, Ann." "Let's move that vehicle." "Did he just wink at you?" "That's an unusual law enforcement officer." "What did he say to you?" "He said never to do that to me again, or you'II be taken to prison." "You'II never see me again, and you'II have to eat ice cream alone." "He didn't say the ice cream business." "Yes, he did." "He wants to adopt me, I'm pretty." "Not funny." "Don't do this again." "Don't you do it." "No, you." "No, it's you." "I was just trying to get out of a parking ticket." "You didn't get one." "Thanks, Ann." "Your fiancé will be back here to see if we moved the car." "I will always love that policeman." "He told me what I needed to know." "I'll always carry a soft spot for the Los Angeles Police Department." "I wish he had adopted me." "Grandma told me that my father got remarried and lived in Reno." "How many Hisham Badirs could there be in Reno?" "Hi." "Do you have a number for a Mr. Hisham Badir, please?" "B-A-D-I-R." "Residence." "H-I-S-H-A-M." "Okay, thank you." "Bye." "When I was young, my mother hummed one of my father's tunes before we went to sleep." "He wrote my mother love songs." "Sometimes I would imagine my father coming to rescue me." "Hi, Ann." "hello, Peter." "You got that isosceIes triangle thing straight?" "That baffles me." "I got a new trumpet." "You wanna see it?" "I'm working, Peter." "Sorry." "Your mom's really pretty." "I'II tell her." "What's your dad do?" "He's a songwriter." "I wrote some songs." "You wanna hear one?" "Not now, Peter." "You wanna feel my pulse?" "It's beating really fast." "Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom." "really fast." "I've told you, the tiles are chipped." "No water pressure." "Cabinet's handles are broken." "You don't have a life." "Can't you fix--?" "I am talking to you." "Hey'" "Mom, your pants'" "I can't talk to you Iike this." "Listen, I am telling you that" "Not only is the tile chipped, the carpets are fiIthy'" "I've got a fungus on my foot." "Who lived here, a hockey team?" "I can't live like this'" "But you can live in an empty place for six months with just a mattress?" "'" "Damn it'" "Turn it down'" "I hate this pIace' I hate my job!" "I hate my foot'" "You're not having sex with anyone, are you?" "What?" "You know." "No, I don't know." "We have to move." "We can't." "We have a lease." "What do you mean, am I having sex?" "We moved anyway." "Over the next year, we moved a lot." "We got used to it." "Oh, honey, Iet me help you." "It's apartment number eight?" "Yeah, eight." "This one had furniture, thanks to Miss Letterfine." "Gail and Mom have become good friends." "It's so colorful." "My mom dragged me to an audition." "She wouldn 't give up her fantasy of me becoming an actress." "Ann?" "We did our work and kept healthy." "and exhale from your navel to your backbone." "We went to the beach and felt sorry for people back home." "Where are you going?" "Over there." "There's no one there." "I need peace and quiet." "You wanna be near that beach club." "Yes, please." "Here's a good spot." "You've a cute body." "Show it off more." "Show off your body." "I plan to." "Where are you going?" "Japan." "Heads up'" "Sorry about that." "That's okay." "Ooh." "You're strong." "wild thing." "Ann." "Come here, sweetie." "This is Dr. Spritzer." "This is my daughter, Ann." "Ah, a big girl." "Oh, yes, we're more like sisters." "So you're the actress." "Not me." "My mom is." "silly, don't be shy." "He's an orthodontist." "He works with actresses." "He did Heather locklear, her teeth." "I was telling him that we were discussing your overbite." "She has a nice smile." "The bottom is strange." "They don't look so strange." "Josh!" "Come on'" "Be right there." "AdeIe, you play good ball." "You too." "Take care of those teeth." "An actress has to smile." "See you." "See you." "That's probably his wife." "Why did you talk about my teeth?" "It won't last." "Mom?" "Mom'" "Here I am." "Guess what?" "Benny's coming." "I missed you." "Hey, come on." "Hi." "What do you think, Benny?" "You got more Mercedes on one street than all Wisconsin." "Benny wants to see a movie star." "Who?"