The Cider House Rules: The Making of an American Classic Page #8

to the roof to sleep."

What do they think, go up

to the roof to sleep?

- They must think we're crazy.

- They think we dumb n*ggers,

so we need some dumb rules,

is what they think.

The last one.

"There should be no going up

on the roof at night."

Now, why don't they just

say, "Don't go up on the roof"?

- That's it?

- That's it.

- Hmm.

- It don't mean nothin' at all.

- And all this time

I been wonderin' about 'em.

- They outrageous, them rules.

Who live

in this cider house?

Who grindin' up those apples,

pressin' that cider,

cleanin' up all this mess?

Who just plain live here,

just breathin' in that vinegar?

Well, someone who don't

live here made those rules.

These rules

ain't for us.

We the ones supposed

to make our own rules.

And we do.

Every single day.

Ain't that right,

Homer?

That's right.

Then why don't you burn

them rules in the stove?

Go 'head, Homer. Do it.

Nothing is nothing,

right?

You know I love you.

You know I do.

You needed me.

Now Wally's gonna need you.

Homer.

I'm sorry.

At least there's no more

waiting and seeing.

At least I got to see the ocean.

Homer!

Rose Rose done run away.

- She took off

in the middle of the night.

- She left on the bicycle.

What?

Nobody gonna find her.

She long gone.

I didn't try stop her.

I just want to touch

her hand before she go.

That's all I wanna do.

That's all.

I swear.

Where she get

that knife, Muddy?

Look like your knife.

No gal need to be out here

tryin' to hitch-hike...

unless she got a good,

strong knife to hold onto.

Where'd she get you?

Just misunderstood me.

I was tryin' to give her my knife,

and I reach out my hand to touch her.

But see,

I understand, Homer,

if she don't see it

like that.

It's my fault.

She good

with that knife.

She's fast.

She a lot better with that knife

than you is, Muddy.

Who do you suppose

taught her?

- You taught her, I suppose.

- That's right.

That's right.

There's more than one cut.

That's 'cause I take my knife and

stick it in the wound.

I stick my own knife

in there.

I poked it all around,

Homer,

tryin' to find

the same spot that she got.

Now, look here.

When you tell the police

how this happened,

I want you to tell it

like this, hear?

My daughter run off. I was so sad

about that, I stabbed myself.

I was so unhappy

that she left that...

I killed my own self.

And that's the truth.

Ain't that right?

I wanna hear you say that.

I was so unhappy that

my daughter run off...

That...

I killed my own self.

- Ain't that right, Homer?

- That's right.

- Huh, Muddy?

- Yeah, that's what happened.

You lost your only daughter, so's you

killed yourself. That's what we say.

That's right.

That's the truth.

I'm just tryin'

to put things straight.

Sometimes you gotta

break some rules,

put things straight.

Ain't that right, Homer?

Good.

Do you think Rose

will be okay?

She'll be all right.

She knows how to take care of herself.

This is for you.

Olive wanted me to bring it.

Oh, thanks.

I know you don't think

much of being needed, or of

me for that matter, but I...

I'm sorry for what I said

about Wally needing you.

It was unnecessary.

You had every right

to be angry.

No, you warned me.

You told me you weren't

any good at being alone.

Wally's gonna be okay.

I know he is.

Yeah?

Dear Homer:
I am

writing you to tell you about Dr. Larch.

Dr. Larch?

Dr. Larch?

Wilbur.

Oh, Wilbur.

Wilbur.

I can assure you

that the overdose...

was entirely accidental.

Let us be happy for Dr. Larch.

Dr. Larch has found a family.

Good night, Dr. Larch.

Good night, Dr. Larch.

Come on, Muddy.

Step on it, man!

- Let's get on it.

- Get on it, man.

I wanna get to the sunshine.

- Ha-ha-ha!

- Homer!

- Yeah!

- You ever seen a palm tree?

Oh, he ain't never

been outta Maine!

Ain't you sick

of pine trees, Homer?

- Let me tell you

something about Florida, Homer.

- The sun shines!

Man, it's so warm

down there, you can pick grapefruits...

and oranges naked

if you want to.

- Who would want to do that?

- I'm just sayin'

it's warm, Hero.

You used to say it was too hot.

Not me.

I love them peaches.

I love my peaches.

Homer? Hey,

what you think, Homer?

I'd love to go

with you guys,

but I have to move on.

- Hey, you hear that, Muddy?

- What?

- Boy said he ain't movin' on with us.

- Oh, Homer!

Come on, Homer.

Come on down with us!

- I can't do it, guys.

- Well, I reckon you gotta do

what you gotta do.

O Lord, support us

all the day long...

until the shadows lengthen

and the evening comes...

and the busy world is hushed

and the fever of life is over

and our work is done.

Then, in Thy mercy, grant us

a safe lodging and a holy rest...

and peace at the last.

Amen.

Homer?

Homer! It's Homer!

Homer!

Hey, Buster!

Homer!

- I was in Maine.

- Oh, look!

Here comes Jennifer!

Let me see.

You're welcome. You're welcome.

It was my pleasure.

It's gonna be

chicken fricassee tonight.

- What's this?

- That's Homer's.

You have something

for me?

Do I have

something for you?

Uh, let... You know what?

I have something.

I do. Here.

It's from the ocean.

It's for you.

- What do you think?

- Good.

- I made a room up for you.

- We thought that would

be more comfortable.

Oh, thank you.

That would be great.

- You're not staying in here?

- I don't know.

What do you think, Curly?

What else

do you have, Homer?

- Do you have something else for me?

- Do you know what this is?

- Oh, that's my heart.

- No, actually, it's Fuzzy's.

There's nothing wrong

with your heart.

Dr. Larch wanted to keep you

out of the war. That's why

he told you it was yours.

I think he was worried

about his own heart.

He said it would never stand up

to Homer Wells going off to war.

"Thus I began

my new life...

"in a new name and with

everything new about me.

"I felt like one in a dream.

"The remembrance of my old life is

fraught with so much want of hope.

"Whether it lasted for a year

or more or less I do not know.

"I only know that it was...

"and ceased to be.

And there I leave it."

Is that all?

No, there's much more

to come, Curly.

Well, that's tomorrow.

Let's not give

the story away.

Good night,

you Princes of Maine,

you Kings of New England.

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