California Suite Page #4

Well, goddamn it, it's true.

After four studios

turned it down,

you deserve some

special perseverance award.

You're a chubby little man,

and I adore you.

If I win tonight, darling,

it's not going to be an Oscar.

It's going to be a...

Joe Pickman.

You're an angel.

- That was very sweet.

- Did you like it, dear?

That's gonna be

my acceptance speech.

Your acceptance speech?

All except the part

that I was in the can.

Well, naturally, you and I know

I don't have a hope in hell,

but you have to prepare

something.

You can't just stand there

sobbing all over Burt Reynolds.

You've got as much chance

as anyone else.

No, I... I don't have

the sentiment on my side.

You've got to have

a sentimental reason

for them to vote for you.

Any decent actress

can give a good performance,

but a dying husband, that

would have insured everything.

You wouldn't like to get

something fatal for me,

would you, angel?

You should've told me sooner.

I could've come over

on the Hindenburg.

We are dreadful,

aren't we, Sidney?

God will punish us.

I think he already has.

Let's do something naughty.

You always think of such

good naughty things to do.

- I was naughty all day yesterday.

- Not with me, you weren't.

You'll just have to learn

to show up on time.

Well, except for an extremely critical

decision that's still to be made,

it's been a nice day.

What do you say, Hannah?

I'm out of cigarettes.

I can't be expected to give up

my daughter and cigarettes

on the same day.

Goddamn it!

I only have

one more year with her.

Next September,

she's gonna go to college.

She's gonna come out in four

years a revolutionary or a nun.

Or worse, like you or me.

A little bit of both

wouldn't be so bad.

Do you like your mother?

My mother?

She's dead.

Don't quibble.

Did you like her?

Yes, I liked her.

I don't like mine much.

Can you imagine being a pain

in the ass for 78 years?

I knew there was something wrong

even when I was in the womb.

I never felt comfortable.

I think I was hanging too low.

We shouldn't have had Jenny.

People like you and me,

we're too selfish.

And I...

I don't want her...

To grow up hating me,

and I don't wanna see her

growing up out here

'cause I'm scared

I'm gonna hate her.

I know. Maybe you and I

should've stayed together.

We could've... We could've let

Jenny go, huh? What do you think?

I think you're still one of the most

interesting women I've ever met.

He's not gonna live long,

you know.

- Who isn't?

- My friend at the Washington post.

He had open-heart surgery

that was a total waste of time.

I'm sorry to hear that.

So am I.

The man could really

make me laugh.

Oh, well,

you win some, lose some.

Talk about resiliency.

Oh. For a smart lady

in a man's world,

I'm not doing so bad.

Tell me something, bill.

Is being in love better now?

Yes.

- Why?

- Because it's now.

Oh, Christ.

I can't wait

to become a grandmother.

I think I screwed up

the first time around.

Yes.

I see.

Yeah, I understand.

No, no, no.

I'll take care of it.

Ok, bye-bye.

It's Jenny. She's downstairs

with her bags packed.

She says it's up to us.

She'll abide by

whatever decision we both make.

And you agreed?

Certainly.

Oh, what a cunning

bastard you are.

If we say she goes back to New York,

she's gonna think I coerced you.

We say she stays here, she's gonna think

I didn't even put up a fight for her.

You think she has

that devious a mind?

Of course.

She's my daughter.

I don't suppose

you'd consider spending

ten months

of the year back east?

Only if everyone there leaves.

You want me to make it

easy for you, Hannah?

I'll throw in my vote.

Whatever you say goes, and I'll tell

Jenny we both made the decision.

Oh, Jesus. No wonder there's so

many used car salesmen out here.

How much time do I have? I've

always panicked at deadlines.

As much time as you want.

Is it only from here

she looks so small to me?

I say she goes back.

I see.

All right, then she goes back.

You think I'm wrong, don't you?

I'm disappointed,

but I trust your instincts.

If you feel it's right,

I have enough faith in Jenny

that she'll see it too.

I'm...

I'm so afraid

I'm going to lose her, bill.

What are you looking at?

This is a new color for you...

Vulnerable.

Well, take a picture of it,

'cause you're not

gonna see it again.

Keep her.

What?

I said, keep her.

But for six months, not a year.

And I get to choose the school,

and any school I choose has

to give me three references.

God, what am I doing?

Stay the weekend, Hannah.

Talk it over again with Jenny.

You don't have to make a decision

just because you got a plane ticket.

I'm a fighter, Billy.

If I stay the weekend,

I'll not only take

Jenny back with me,

I might take your goddamn

girlfriend back too.

Don't let me bully you

into this, Hannah.

Look, why can't the three

of us talk it out?

- I'm gonna get Jenny up here.

- No, goddamn it!

If I have to give her up to get

her back, then let's do it.

You never stop

amazing me, Hannah.

I'll tell you one thing. You're not

the same woman I left nine years ago.

And I'm missing

the ovaries to prove it.

Well, guess who's

nonplussed now?

You never thought

I'd say "yes," did you?

Keep up that

pioneer spirit, Billy.

You're gonna need it raising

a 17-year-old daughter.

I think you're doing

a terrific thing, Hannah.

So do I.

I suppose you wanna

see her before you go?

Well, you suppose wrong.

I've seen her. I'll call her

when I get to New York.

Bell captain, please.

What should I tell her?

Tell her I hope

she'll be very happy

and I'm selling

her record collection.

Would you send someone up

for the luggage, room 306?

Thank you.

You know, we couldn't

have been too bad together.

We produced a hell of a girl.

I think you have that

a little wrong.

I think the two of you

produced a hell of a mother.

Maybe you're right.

Um, can we shake hands now?

I'm about to leave.

Sure.

What more can I lose?

N-no...

Serve her plenty

of broccoli and Lima beans.

- She likes them?

- She hates them.

But from now on, what do I care?

Good-bye, Hannah. It was

very good seeing you again.

I feel like a...

Like an artist

about to part with a painting

that she doesn't want to sell.

I'll frame it and keep it

in a good light.

Do that.

Take care of my daughter too.

Bye.

What do you mean, just one room?

There are two reservations.

Dr. and Mrs. Willis Panama,

Dr. and Mrs. Chauncey Gump.

I have here one deluxe room,

double bed,

for Dr. and Mrs. Panama

on the 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Yes.

I have nothing

for a Dr. Gump.

There must be a clerical error

or an omission of intelligence,

because my travel agent

made the reservation.

Now, he's my wife's brother,

and he's also my patient.

I wish you'd

double-check it.

I already double-checked

our files.

Here's the telegram we received.

You can see for yourself.

Yes, I can see that my name

is missing from this wire.

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