Phoebe In Wonderland Page #5

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it's all true.

But I give thanks...

...for my bright,

outspoken daughters.

And I give thanks for substitute teachers

who tell the truth.

Good.

Phoebe?

Nothing.

When I was a girl,

we weren't allowed to eat...

...until we could find something

to be thankful for.

Then I'm going

on a hunger strike too.

I think I know something

you could be grateful for.

What?

You're being put back

in the play.

Really?

I can play Alice?

On a trial basis.

Your drama teacher and I

fought very hard...

...and your father too...

...and we sald...

...that if you acted

in the classroom...

...the way you do in the play...

...everyone would be

very happy.

I'm thankful for being Alice.

Good.

Peter.

I'm thankful for the Vicodin...

...that's dulling the searing pain

in my hand.

Good enough.

Hey, who wants to go shopping

and blow next month's mortgage?

No, Phoebe and I know

what we want.

Yeah, what?

Phoebe, sit down.

Phoebe and I want a brother.

A brother, a brother, a brother!

- A brother!

- Okay, girls.

We found this book,

Where Bables Come From.

Uh-huh.

Well, let's not

talk about it now.

It says you guys

have to get into bed...

...and skoogy around.

What does skoogy mean?

Can we get these

off the table, please?

Well, we can

talk about this later.

And after

you've been skoogying...

Okay, girls,

not quite so loud.

You get thls feellng

you can't stop.

Like sneezing.

And the seeds come out.

Is that how you made us?

You sneeze.

- Achoo!

- Bless you.

Achoo, I made a baby.

Achoo, achoo!

Twins!

We want baby.

We want baby.

Come on, come on.

We want baby!

We want baby!

We want baby!

We want baby!

We want baby!

We want baby!

We want baby!

Do you really?

You...you think your mother

could handle another one like you?

Phoebe.

Stay away.

You.

You knew.

Screw you.

It's not true, right?

That's easy.

It's only true

if it's not a lie.

Ask me another.

I- I didn't mean...

That's just it.

You should have meant.

What do you suppose is the use

of a child without meaning?

I meant, am I why

she won't have another baby?

Well, then say

what you mean.

You might just as well have said

"I am what I eat"

...is the same as

"I eat what I am."

Or " I like what I get"

is the same as...

"I get what I like."

You're just saying lines

from the book.

But I need help.

I need you to help me!

After all we've done together.

Please just...

...walt!

Come back, please!

You asleep?

I wanted to find a story

to tell you...

...a Greek myth or a fable...

...to explain what happened

to me tonight.

And then I realized,

that's what my father used to do.

Something would happen,

and he'd tell the story...

...and then analyze it...

...anything to avoid saying it.

What I need to say is...

I have never been

so ashamed of myself.

The words just came out.

Yes, that's what it's like.

If you want to go back to work,

I can finish up here.

About what I said...

At dinner.

We haven't talked,

not really.

I'm sorry.

Talk to her.

I did.

And I have been,

and she says she's okay...

...but I don't think so.

What you said, those words.

I know.

You don't want to talk to me now.

Peter, I'm mad, really mad.

I understand.

Yeah, I'm mad that you said that.

I'm mad that you hurt her.

God, I just...

I'm mad that I want her to be different...

...and I'm mad

that she is different.

I'm mad that she's acting out

because she's unhappy...

...and I don't know

why she's unhappy...

...and I can't make her happy...

...but her bizarre teacher can.

I'm mad that I blame myself

for the way she acts.

I'm mad that I think of mothers

as just mothers...

...and I-I'm mad that I care

if I'm a good one.

I'm mad that when you

said that to her...

I know you were right.

I couldn't take

another one of her.

I'm mad that I'm not writing...

...and I'm mad that someday,

I will be 70

...and going on about my kids...

...because I won't

have anythlng else...

...because I dldn't

do anythlng lmportant.

And I'm mad that sometimes...

I'm not scared of that at all...

...because my...

...children make me live.

They make me live.

When I use a word...

...it means just what

I choose it to mean...

...neither more nor less.

The question is whether

you can make words...

...mean so many

different things.

She's...she's petulant here.

The questions is whether

you can make words...

...mean so many

different things.

Petulant.

The question is whether

you can make words...

...mean so many

different things.

Petulant, Phoebe, argumentative.

The question is...

...whether you can make words

mean so many dlfferent thlngs.

The question is whether

you can make words...

...mean so many different things.

Stop it.

Fag!

At last.

I'm so happy you came back.

What?

That's funny.

That's what Miss Dodger always says.

Yes, I'm ready.

Silence in the court.

Herald, read the accusation.

"Queen of Hearts,

she made some tarts...

"all on a summer day.

"The Knave of Hearts,

he stole those tarts...

...and took them

quite away."

Consider your verdict.

Off with his head.

Not yet, not yet.

There's a great deal more

to come before that.

Then call the first witness.

I am so glad, Phoebe...

...that you weren't seriously hurt.

I want you to know at the outset

that you're not in any kind of...

...well, you know, trouble.

We're here just to have

a amiable, lovely, sweet chat.

Candy?

No, thank you.

I actually wanted to talk to you

a little about Miss Dodger.

Do you like her?

Yeah, I like her a lot.

Would you consider her

a good teacher?

Yes.

What kinds of things

does Miss Dodger do...

...that make her

a good teacher?

I don't know.

She lets us do the things

that we want.

She lets you do what you want.

I see.

Like...

Miss Dodger is very important to us.

We like her...

we like her very much.

We actually admlre...

...her being so attached

to her students.

What does she let you do?

The Queen of Hearts,

she made some tarts.

Phoebe?

The Queen of Hearts,

she made some tarts.

Glve your evldence.

And don't be nervous...

...or I'll have you executed

on the spot.

I hadn't but just

begun my tea...

...and what, with the twinkling

of the tea tray.

Off with your head.

Good job.

Phoebe...

...we're not here to hurt anyone.

We like Miss Dodger.

Walt.

Off with your head.

No one wants to do anything bad.

Do you understand that?

What's Miss Dodger let you do.

What we want.

Twinkling tea.

Yes, yes, twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Does she let you

go up on the catwalk?

No.

I see.

Have you ever

been up there before?

No.

Yes.

One...one time.

By yourself?

No, with Miss Dodger.

I see.

Yes, well, that was very sweet

of Miss Dodger.

She's very friendly.

Huh?

I love it when friendly people

let you do what you want.

Phoebe, did you fall

from the catwalk?

Good job.

Consider your verdict.

Phoebe.

Did you fall from the catwalk,

or did you...

...jump?

Off wlth your head!

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