The Glass Castle Page #9

One day, I promise you,

you're gonna look at this

as just another sign

of how strong you are.

You're a Walls, Mountain Goat.

We ain't like other people.

We got a fire burnin'

in our bellies.

And that there is

goddamn proof of it.

Now...

This knife is specially

designed to hunt demons.

It's very sharp.

Don't take it out

unless you see him.

You can borrow it for the night.

You know, all monsters

are the same.

They like to frighten people,

but the minute you

stare 'em down,

they turn tail and run.

I love you, Mountain Goat.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

My parents are squatting

in an abandoned building

on the Lower East Side.

Jeannette...

They were homeless for

three years before that,

which is pretty much

how they raised us.

My dad is not developing

a technology for

bituminous coal,

but he could tell you anything

that you want to know about it.

He is the smartest

man that I know.

He is also a drunk,

never finishes what he starts,

and can be extremely cruel.

But he dreams bigger than

anyone I've ever met.

And he never tries to be

somebody that he's not.

And he never wanted

me to, either.

(SIGHS)

I'm sorry, but I have to leave.

(VOICE BREAKING) Go.

You ready to go get that demon?

(BOTH HOWLING)

Let's go!

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

I'll go get some air.

Leave you to it.

Hey, Dad.

Do you remember when

those grape-pickers

in California went on strike,

and the vineyards had

to sell everything

for a nickel a pound?

You stuffed the car so full

we couldn't see out the windows.

Brian found some in his

pocket two weeks later

that had turned into raisins.

Or when you let me pet

that cheetah at the zoo?

She was lickin' that popcorn

butter off your hand.

Those other parents wanted

to chop my head off.

(SNORTS)

They were just jealous.

Remember when you

made your own braces?

They were a goddamn feat

of engineering genius.

It was a hanger and

a rubber band.

Well, by God, it worked.

Look at those gorgeous choppers.

(LAUGHING)

Mom says you haven't

been talkin' lately.

(COUGHING)

(GROANS)

Sort of takin' some

time to think.

(GROANS)

Here.

What's this?

It's every story you've

written since eighth grade.

Thought maybe you could

start addin' to it for me.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I spent my whole life

huntin' for those

demons in the wild.

And the entire time

they were hidin'

inside my own belly.

Sad state to spend your life in,

bein' afraid of your own self.

I know it...

Wasn't easy on you kids.

Got a lot to regret

about my life.

Dad...

(BOTH SIGH)

Never forget

how beautiful you

are, Mountain Goat.

And smart...

And creative and strong...

You're so strong.

(CHUCKLES)

No little girl should ever have

to carry her daddy on her back.

(SOBS)

You ain't like me at

all, Mountain Goat.

You're not afraid.

I am like you.

And I'm glad.

(CHUCKLES)

We had some good

times, didn't we?

(LAUGHING)

Never did build

that Glass Castle.

No.

But we had a good

time plannin' it.

(WATER RUNNING)

Hi! Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Something smells good!

How's life as a freelancer?

I'm still gettin' used to it.

Yeah? You like bein' poor again?

Thanks, Brian.

BRIAN:
Careful with my child.

Hey.

Maureen...

BRIAN:
I like the new place.

JEANNETTE:
How's California?

It's really nice and sunny.

Here's your

housewarming present.

I thought you'd like one of him.

I didn't do so well

with the hair, but...

Do you like it, honey?

It's perfect.

(ALL LAUGHING)

What? What?

I never told you about this?

No, you didn't.

He didn't have money

for presents,

so he takes each of us outside,

and says that we can just

pick out our own star.

Seriously? Yeah, yeah,

any one we want.

So I took Rigel.

It's that little blue one

on the foot of Orion.

What was yours, Lori?

And I chose Betelgeuse

'cause it was this

pretty shade of red,

and then later that

night Dad told me

it was only that color

because it was dying!

Yeah! You got the dud!

You were so mad!

Yeah, because he wouldn't

let me pick a new one!

"'Cause there's no return

policies in outer space."

"Well, that only works for

plastic toys made in Japan."

BRIAN:
But he also said,

"When everyone else's junk

is broken and forgotten,

"you'll still have your stars."

(LAUGHING) (SNIFFLES)

LORI:
(SIGHS) Yeah.

(CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS)

BRIAN:
Jeannette,

what's goin' on?

LORI:
You okay?

ROSE MARY:
What are you

thinkin', sweetie?

I just...

I feel really lucky...

(LAUGHING)

ROSE MARY:
Let's

make a toast to Rex.

Life with your father

was never boring.

(LAUGHING)

REAL ROSE MARY:
All these

here are portraits of people.

I have a whole box of

flowers back there.

Down here people like my flowers

better than they

did in New York.

(CLUCKING)

You know, Jeannette's story

about how he gave her a star,

what a difference between

Lori's and Jeannette's.

JEANNETTE:
"I got a star.

"Oh, Daddy, you're so wonderful.

(LAUGHING)

"I love you."

And Lori says, "You

goddamn son of a b*tch,

"you didn't have enough money."

(LAUGHING)

The star story. (BOTH CHUCKLE)

Dad loved grand gestures

that preferably did not require

a whole lot of follow-up.

(LAUGHING)

And he did it twice.

I've made this all by

my own free choice.

So I haven't regretted it.

It's been an experience.

I've gotten a lot out of it.

Even if I go down the drain,

I have still come

out the winner.

Still come out a winner.

Any idiot

can see that this is

a goddamn land-grab

by the city officials

using taxpayers' money

to tear down the buildings

so that they could

give away the property to

the goddamn developers,

so the developers will pay

'em off under the table.

It's not new, but it has gone

as far as we're gonna let it go.

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