Dad Page #9

No.

No.

Billy, you-you go ahead.

Traditional Japanese sports.

What do you have for us?

"The sumo wrestler must reach

the weight of 300 pounds

"before he is allowed to don

the traditional sumo

diaper and compete. "

That's a great idea.

Get them as fat as you can,

then put a diaper on them.

John, you don't find

those guys attractive?

Mario, I'm starting to

worry about you.

Honey, would you

pass me the...

W, w, wait a minute.

Pass, pass...

What do you want?

The rice? Here.

What about the fish?

You want that, too?

Here.

What about the soy sauce?

And some tofu?

No, I can't take this, Jake.

I don't want this.

I don't want to

know Japanese.

And I don't want to know

the neighbors' children.

Mom, would you just...

Stop.

I've had it.

I've tried so hard

to make it work,

and you know that I have.

But since he came

out of hospital,

it's been like a loony

bin around here.

Costumes and jogging

and sex at all hours.

And a make-believe

farm in New Jersey!

I'm telling you this man should

not be let loose in the street.

Dad is perfectly fine.

He's just trying

to enjoy himself!

I didn't live my life

to end up like this!

With a crazy person as a

companion in my old age!

You know

better than that.

The doctor said

Dad is not crazy!

As a matter of fact,

he's very impressed

he didn't go insane

just hanging around

you for 30 years!

Oh, don't.

Please don't.

Don't say those things

to your mother.

Please.

We're family.

That's all that counts.

Let's love each

other and forget.

And please don't fight.

That kills me

when I hear you

talking that way.

Why?

Why are you doing this?

You're just gonna shove

him back down again.

That can't be

what you want.

I want my husband back.

He wants his life back.

He's loved you

for 50 years.

Can't you let him

have what's left?

I'm scared, Jake.

I don't know who

you are anymore.

I don't recognize you.

I know.

You look at me

or people look at me

and they see this old man.

But inside, honest to God,

Bette, I feel 19.

And act it, too, I guess.

This other life, Jake,

it hurts.

Was it so terrible

here with me?

We just got off

the track a little.

A lot.

You're asking me

to turn my back

on our whole life together?

Oh, no.

I'm asking you to

remember the life

that we wanted to have.

God, Bette.

You took it all on by yourself,

didn't you?

And I let you.

You were so good.

I'm asking you to let go a little.

Open up.

Not just to me,

but to the world.

We used to have such

good times, remember?

We used to dance together

all slow.

You were such

a wonderful dancer.

And I want to dance with

you again before I die.

Don't talk about dying.

That's okay.

We're all going to die.

Dying is not a sin.

Not living is.

Good morning, Mother.

Good morning.

Nice outfit.

Your father likes it.

Mr. Tremont?

I have some news.

It's not good.

What is it?

Well, of course it's not

the same in all cases,

but it seems, uh...

It's okay, good doctor,

you can tell me the truth.

Cancer's back.

It's spread.

It's in the lymph system.

How long?

It's difficult to say.

Different patients

respond differently.

Dr. Chad?

I don't know.

Hey, Dad, what are

you doing up so late?

Waiting for you.

Why?

You realize your mother

and I separated

before you were old

enough to stay out late?

I think I feel

deprived of my divine right

as a father to worry.

Do you want me go out

and come back in again?

No, I want you to sit

down and talk to me.

What would you

like to talk about?

I'm trying to think of

something I can tell you.

Some fatherly advice you

can take back with you.

Some insight.

I can't think of anything.

I think it's me.

I think it's...

I think it's tough for guys

my age to reach out.

You know, every time

we see each other,

it's always on the fly.

You're going or I'm coming,

or we're at

somebody's wedding.

We're always talking over

suitcases and backpacks

or holding little

sandwiches in our hand.

I don't know a lot

about you.

Well, um,

let's see, I'm 5' 11",

I like sports,

I'm into bikes...

Don't do that.

Don't, don't make a joke.

You know, we always do that.

We come close

to, to saying something real

and then one of us

makes a joke.

Talk to me.

Tell me about Mexico.

I like it there.

It's not like school.

There's no pressure.

Uh, the people are

real and thoughtful.

Um...

the days have kind of

a nice rhythm to 'em.

You have a lot

of friends there?

Yeah, there's

about five of us.

You know,

we live as a group.

We take turns workin'.

We share everything

we make.

We share the cleaning,

the housework.

It's a real family.

The other guys

from your school, too?

Well, two of the

guys are girls.

The world has changed, Billy.

You can't believe

the way the world

has changed.

Why was making money

always more important to you

than me or Mom?

Oh.

You said you

wanted to talk.

All right.

Because, uh, that's what

I thought a man was.

What I thought a father was.

Some guy who wore a suit

and made a lot of money.

All right, that's too easy.

Because I liked

the power of it.

I liked being the guy

who got the job done,

the guy who

everybody comes to.

And something had to give

and it was my family.

Well, I would never do that.

I would never run

away from my family.

Leaving was the toughest

thing I ever did.

It didn't seem like it.

Well, that's because

we tried to make it

look normal.

That's what all the

books said to do.

The "normal" divorce.

But there was pain.

A lot.

There still is.

I've missed you, Billy.

And you may not need me

or even want me around.

But I'd like to stay

in your life.

I'm your father.

I guess there is some

advice I'd like to give you.

To give to a guy

who's about to

take on the world.

What is it?

Be forgiving.

Hi.

How's he doing?

Okay.

He slept a little.

You've been

here all afternoon?

He does better

when I'm here.

Come on, let's go down

and get something to eat.

The doctor

will be here soon.

I don't want to miss him.

Go ahead.

I'll come get you.

Come on.

Where's Mother?

She went down with Billy

to get something to eat.

Oh, good.

How you feelin'?

Perfect.

Yeah, I can tell.

You know what I've

been thinking about?

What?

1947 World Series.

What?

Isn't that crazy?

I know, I mean,

at a time like this,

I should be having

very deep thoughts.

I'm trying,

but all that keeps going

through my mind is

old ball games

and old TV themes.

Bonanza.

Oh, this is great, Dad.

What about the

'47 World Series?

How's that fit in?

It produced one of

the great moments

in baseball history.

They were between

the Yankee centerfielder

Joe DiMaggio,

the Prince of Players,

the Star of Stars,

and the Dodger left-fielder,

Al Gionfriddo,

a second-stringer.

He only played that day because

the regular left-fielder,

Carl Furillo, got hurt.

Do you know this story?

Tell it to me.

Well, in the sixth game,

bottom of the sixth inning,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes