Imaginary Crimes

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"Bucking the wind" was Daddy's phrase

for what people had to do together in life.

At times, life is going to be stormy,

sweetheart.

And when those winds blow,

you gonna have to plant your little feet...

...lean into it, and buck the wind.

"Bucking the wind" was also daddy's

excuse on a cold winter night...

...for a quick trip to the corner store

to buy another bottle of bourbon.

I came of age when

he took me along.

- How about some ice cream?

- In the snow?

- That's the best time.

- I'll get it.

Good evening, Ray.

What can I do for you?

Carton of vanilla...

...and a fifth of Wild Turkey.

Listen, Vern,

I've been meaning to talk to you.

My partner, Edward Atkins and I

are looking for just a right guy...

...to go into the business

investment of a lifetime.

A man of vision, someone who's

not afraid to step out of the mold.

Take a risk.

Vern, a man such as yourself.

Vern looked like anything

but a man of vision.

What is it this time?

Nap-Renew.

It's a miraculous formula.

A revolutionary new process

which actually enables us...

...to restore the nap

on old and worn serge suits.

There's a fortune to be made here.

Cleaning fluids are the investment

of the future.

- I have to think about it.

- You do that.

Don't take too long.

An opportunity like this

comes along once in a blue moon.

Come on, Sonya.

Let's get home before the ice cream melts.

Wait up!

- That will be $8.50.

- Put it on my tab.

"Give me land, lots of land

Under starry skies above

"Don't fence me in

"Let me ride through the wide

Open country that I love"

Years later, this memory would

always haunt my imagination.

Hand-in-hand,

singing in the deserted snowy streets.

Me with the father who had the audacity

to buy ice cream...

...on the coldest night of the year.

Sonya?

Get out of bed this instant.

Come on, rise and shine.

The early bird catches the worm.

We don't want to be late for Edgemont.

Get up. I want to see you up.

- I'm up.

- That's a girl.

- Good morning, sweetie.

- Good morning, Dad.

Greta, make sure Sonya gets out of bed.

Roxie's packing.

She's leaving us the hair dryer.

She's packing?

What did she say?

Not much. She looked kind of mad.

Sonya, I was trying to keep track.

Is Roxie No. 11 or No. 12?

Knock it off, Greta.

- Why?

- Pay me my money.

I'll have the cash by the week's end.

You've been saying that for months. Bye!

Usually an employee gives

the employer a notice.

Goddamn son of a b*tch!

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

All right, girls. Let's go.

I told you I had a bad feeling about Roxie.

Sonya, you have a bad feeling

about all of them.

Roxie was No. 12, wasn't she?

Now, don't you start.

Sweetheart, you're the family historian.

If you say 12, then 12 it must be.

It was 12.

Dad, about Edgemont...

We've discussed this enough.

A promise is a promise.

Ray Weiler never welshes on a promise.

They're not going to take me

for just one year anyway.

Miss Tate.

It's such a pleasure to finally meet you.

My daughter, Sonya.

I've heard a lot about you over the years.

Oh, really? From whom?

My wife was an Edgemont girl.

Class of '34. Hardly a day went by

without her discussing the school.

And the influence you had on her.

What is your wife's name?

Weiler. Valery Weiler.

Beecham, when she was here.

Beecham. 1934.

Let's see...

Of course I remember Valery.

She was in one of my first classes.

Do ask her to come see me.

I like to see what becomes of our girls.

Valery died eight years ago.

I'm terribly sorry, Sonya.

Thank you.

I promised...

...Valery that I would send

her two daughters to Edgemont.

Are you raising two young girls

all on your own?

That is most admirable.

Sonya's records.

All A's.

Mostly all A's.

I know Valery would feel that even a year

under your influence would be...

...invaluable.

Mr. Weiler,

why did you wait so long to apply?

Our semester has begun.

Enrollment is full.

You can't imagine...

...the pain it causes me

to be sitting here before you...

...at this late date.

But circumstances have not

permitted me to do so sooner.

What can I say?

Except that I know that you...

...with your culture and refinement

would appreciate the burden...

...the burden of love, of course...

...but nonetheless a burden of trying

to raise two motherless children.

To try to keep a little home

together for them.

And inculcate in them

the values that you...

...so steadfastly uphold here at Edgemont.

Miss Tate...

...if you knew what it meant to me

to be able to entrust Sonya to your care...

Well...

Miss Tate.

I am beyond words.

Well...

I appreciate your sentiment, Mr. Weiler.

And...

...it's most unusual...

...but I'm willing...

...to make an exception.

Welcome to Edgemont, Miss Weiler.

Thank you.

Good. Then that's settled.

Since you're here,

you'll start school with the other girls.

You'll need to leave a deposit

for the tuition with our cashier.

I forgot my checkbook.

My assistant will handle it this afternoon.

Fine.

Valery Weiler sits at the kitchen table...

...dealing herself a hand of solitaire.

That's mostly what my mother did.

She smoked Lucky's, played cards...

...and read paperback mysteries.

One after the other.

I've got some big news for my gals tonight.

Everything lit up when my father

came through the door at night.

Honey...

...Weiler and Atkins...

...are about to patent...

...an invention that's going to

revolutionize the mining industry.

Where's Sonya?

Ladies and gentlemen,

Miss Carmen Miranda!

Hello, amigo.

"I'm Chiquita Banana and I've come to say:

"Bananas have to ripen in a certain way"

You didn't tell me

bombshells were playing Portland.

Sorry, Ray, I was sworn to secrecy.

Daddy, what's under there?

Baby, you are looking

at Daddy's first $1,000,000.

Now, if you ladies would have a seat...

He brought a sense of excitement

from the outside world...

...into the tiny basement apartment.

Voil!

Ladies, I present to you...

...the "Finders Keepers. "

What does it do?

This revolutionary device...

...is so simple to use,

even a child can strike it rich.

Finally, the little guy will have a chance

against the mining companies.

Valery, the market for these babies

is going to be so big...

...and so profitable...

...that we're just a technicality away

from your dream house.

My mother's one big wish

in life was modest.

She wanted out

of our one-room apartment.

She wanted a home of her own.

Any home would do.

Now...

Who would like to participate?

Hide the coin.

Anywhere you want.

Close your eyes.

We are ready.

Try going left.

No hints from the audience.

Mommy, I'm hungry.

I know.

The "Finders Keepers" went to

the same mysterious place...

...where all my father's other

revolutionary devices ended up.

My mother returned to her cigarettes

and solitaire and...

...her dream house remained

just a technicality away.

Sonya, dinner!

How do you spell "electricity"?

How do you think?

E - L...

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