Hannah Free

You gonna get up today, Hannah?

What's this?

That's orange juice, Hannah.

Don't ya know

I'm allergic to orange juice?

Is that on your chart?

How the hell should I know?

It should be.

You're sure you're allergic

to orange juice?

Well, better safe than sorry

I always say.

Let's getcha

a little milk instead.

We go through this

every other week,

it's always news to her.

Wouldn't you like

to get dressed today

and eat with the others?

I wanna see Rachel.

Hannah, Rachel's very sick.

I know she's sick, goddammit.

Only her family can see her.

I'm family!

Don't get yourself all ruffled.

I'll have to give you something.

You know your blood pressure.

You tell Marge

I wanna see her mother.

All right, I'll tell her.

But I told her

day before yesterday

and she said no;

it would just upset you both.

Rachel's gonna die alone!

Her daughter comes

to see her every day.

But Rachel needs to see me.

She must be an old friend,

isn't she?

Friend doesn't even say it.

Please...

You could dress and powder me...

I'll go sit with those

basket cases down the hall

if you'll just let me see her.

You let the

nurse's aide dress you.

You have a good lunch,

then we'll see.

It'd mean a lot

to both of us.

Well, that's what we want.

That's what we're here for.

Can you imagine?

Doing that for a living?

She'll end up in here herself

when she's 80.

At least this room's got

a view and a window that opens.

The freight train goes by

at two every morning...

I listen for it.

I'd kill myself if all

I could see was parking lot.

I wonder if you can

hear the train?

You guys are getting

real good at this.

Good morning, Hannah!

Oh, you have got

some mail this morning!

Oh, I know I saw something

in here somewhere...

Oh, there it is!

It's a postcard from Alaska.

Oh, look at the size

of that fish.

It's a... it's a...

Halibut.

Oh, it's a halibut.

Look! 356 pounds!

How would you even

catch something like that, huh?

How would you like

to go swimmin'

and see something like that

in the water with you, huh?

No thanks.

So would you like me

to read it to you, hon?

I'll just read it to you

like I usually do, okay.

It says, "Hey, Hannah.

The mud got another one.

Love and regards,

Nettie Bobo."

What on earth does that mean?

Do you have any idea

what that means, huh?

Well, I'm sorry, honey

I have just got to go.

But I'll see you tomorrow.

That's some fish.

My hubby would sell his soul

to hook into a fish like that.

Alaska. How do you know

someone in Alaska?

It's people like that

drive me nuts.

Trap us like rats

and then talk us to death.

I can't just walk away

like I used to.

I didn't like somethin',

off I'd go.

That's how I ended up

in Alaska.

No roads. Everybody flew.

I flew over that tundra

like it was my backyard.

Nettie's still there...

Digs tourists

out of the mud flats.

They sink down in that ooze

and stick like cement.

I loved it there...

but I had to come back.

I always had to come back...

For Rachel.

She'd never leave Michigan.

Had the kids.

Peaches to can

and pies to bake.

She looked like someone

dipped her in flour.

She looked like Mt. McKinley.

I like that -

being compared to a mountain.

It was a compliment.

You were gone

so long that time

I thought you were

never coming back.

You got married.

To escape my father's temper,

not you.

I had to get out.

And girls are

supposed to marry.

Well, at least I married

the dullest man I could find.

Yeah, well, he was

a good provider,

but you'd have been trapped

for the rest of your life.

If Mr. Johnson hadn't

had the misfortune

of dying on that excursion boat.

Everyone ran to the side to wave

goodbye and the boat capsized.

Never marry a weak swimmer.

You waited months to write,

till after the twins were born.

You tried to mourn him,

but it was always me

you wanted to cook for.

Don't be smug.

You always thought we were

the only girls

who did what we did.

Whenever and wherever we could.

Of course after it was over,

you'd ask me to leave

and you'd go back to your Bible.

Never seemed to be on my side.

Neither was your family.

They still aren't.

Your daughter

sits with you for hours

but she won't let me see you.

Has the nerve to tell me

it's for my own good.

I'd like to look at you

just once and die.

Be a nice way to go.

Isn't this a switch.

For once you're staying in one

place and I'm the one leaving.

I had to go.

I had to see things.

Oh, Alaska,

New Mexico, Paris.

My Lord, even Ohio.

Now why Ohio?

It's Michigan, only flat.

Some of Ohio is very pretty.

You've just never seen it.

Every once in a while

you just had to leave me.

You knew I'd be wild for you

when you finally got back.

I've been everywhere...

Even South America.

That's where I found

the seeds for your moonflowers.

Mr. Johnson...

used to walk around with

his eyes down on the ground,

like he was

looking for lost change.

He wouldn't know

a moonflower from a lilac bush.

What do wives find to

talk about with their husbands?

Mr. Johnson and I

ran out of conversation

in less than two years.

You and I never did.

Nope.

Sometimes we'd sit

in the yard

and watch your

moonflowers come out;

they'd unfold in seconds,

just bloomin' in the night.

Then later in the night

I'd call you my moonflower...

when I was pressed up

under your nightgown.

And by morning

the moonflowers had shriveled

and you had

your hairnet back on.

How was I supposed

to cook breakfast

without my hairnet?

You have the most

beautiful hair.

Oh, Hannah.

Don't start something

we can't finish.

Hello, Hannah!

Jesus, Marge, I can hear!

I just can't walk

or see worth a sh*t.

The nurse says you've been

wanting to see Mom.

Of course I have.

We can't have you

upsetting her.

Upset?! Wh...

When did I ever

upset your mother?

All her life.

Well, if that's the case,

it was her choice.

Marge, please let me see her.

We need to see each other.

This is no way for us

to end our lives -

in two separate rooms.

She has her family.

I'm her family!

Please. Don't.

I used to tuck you in!

I told you stories.

I sat with you

when there were storms.

You never knew your father,

but you knew me.

You knew I'd always

look after you.

When you weren't busy...

Going to Alaska or New Mexico.

I sent you postcards.

I sent you presents.

I sent your mother money.

Don't act like

you were there for Mom.

You weren't. We were!

Roy and I were there!

Dammit, you were children.

You had to be there!

Hannah, I grew up

a long time ago.

I lost my Barbara, my daughter,

in a car accident.

I have grown grandchildren.

I cook, I clean, I can peaches.

I recycle my newspapers.

And once a year we drive

to the Mackinac Bridge

and I have a little piece

of fudge by the water.

And then we drive home.

And I mow the lawn.

But when Mom needs me,

I come.

You always came

when you darn well pleased.

You don't know

anything about it.

I will tell Mom

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