The Prince of Tides

Igrew up slowly, beside the tides

and marshes...

...of a Carolina sea island.

We lived in a small, white house...

...won by my

great-great-grandfather...

...Winston Shadrach Wingo...

...in a horseshoe game.

Last one around the tree is a ninny!

Joop, Joop! Come here.

Boys, boys! Careful, now.

- I'll race you, Tom.

- Wait up, Luke.

There are families

who live their entire lives...

...without a single thing of interest

happening to them.

Don't run so fast, Tom!

I've always envied those families.

Luke, mind you,

don't torment that dog.

It's my dog!

Tom, you're gonna step on him.

He's only a pup!

Here, Joop. Come here!

Mom, did you see me run?

Savannah, you want a bean?

Boys, you want a bean?

Quit squealing, Savannah.

You're next, Tom.

The child of a beautiful woman,

I was also a shrimper's son...

...in love with the shape of boats.

Luke, he's pushing me.

I'm not pushing her!

As a small boy, I loved to navigate

my father's shrimp boat...

...between the sandbars.

I suppose Henry Wingo would have

made a pretty good father...

...if he hadn't been

such a violent man.

From my mother, I inherited

a love of language...

...and an appreciation of nature.

She could turn a walk

around the island...

...into a voyage of purest discovery.

As a child, I thought she was

the most extraordinary woman on earth.

I wasn't the first son to be wrong

about his mother.

I am sick and tired...

...of you never showing me

any respect in my own house.

I don't know when my parents began

their war against each other.

But I do know the only prisoners they

took were their children.

Wait, you guys.

My shoes are falling off!

Keep up, Savannah.

When my brother, sister and I needed

to escape, we developed a ritual.

We found a silent, soothing world

where there was no pain.

A world without mothers or fathers.

We would make a circle

bound by flesh...

...and blood...

...and water.

And only when we felt our lungs betray

us, would we rise toward the light...

...and the fear of what lay in wait

for us above the surface.

All this was a long time ago...

...before I chose not

to have a memory.

Daddy!

I think something bit me!

Mr. Brighton, are you selling dope to

my girls again?

Stop bugging us, Dad.

- Bye, Mr. Brighton.

- Come on in. It's getting late!

It's a conch.

Bring him home.

I'll send him to college!

How do you know it's a boy?

Well, let's examine him.

Girls, have I ever told you

the facts of life?

Oh, no. Not this again.

Stay away from boys because

they're disgusting beasts...

...that pee on bushes

and pick their noses.

Gross, Dad!

That's completely gross.

Anyway, I'm not gonna stay

away from boys.

That's the spirit. Never do

what parents tell you.

Hey, Mom, look what I found!

If you don't quit smoking, you'll die.

That's what they told me at school.

Well, no more school for you.

Mom, Dad's smoking again.

Oh, no. Well, you know what to do

with that. Put it in the sink.

Give me a kiss.

I wanna play.

You look tired, doctor.

I'll fix you a drink.

That would be so nice.

It's been one of those days.

Hey, honey, it's tough work

being a saint.

Sal, can you get it?

Something smells good.

Hey, Dad. Come and play with us.

Later.

Your mother's calling from her car.

I'm not here.

Okay, Lila. She's coming over.

Why didn't you tell her we were

under quarantine?

She said she had to see you.

Dad, they won't share.

Work it out, girls. Work it out.

She said it was urgent.

She was crying.

I can't remember a day

when Lila wasn't crying.

Be nice to her, Tom.

I hate my mother, Sally.

I enjoy hating her.

Don't kill one of the few

pleasures in my life.

Can we talk about

something else?

- Sure, what?

- Us.

I need a stiff drink

for that conversation.

Girls?

- Girls!

- What?

Anyone want to sit

on Daddy's lap?

- There's money involved.

- Okay!

I'm gonna ask you

a serious question...

...and I want you to answer honestly.

I know the question.

Who's the greatest human being

on this earth?

Mama? I've gotta develop

some new routines.

Come on, everybody. Pick up, now.

Come on, wash. It's bath time.

Gotta pass inspection.

Lila's coming over.

Lila, Lila, Lila. Why can't we

call her Grandma?

- You'll know when you're a grandma.

- I will?

Pick up and get into that tub.

How does bouillabaisse

sound to you?

Yuck! Can't we ever have normal food?

Do you think we could talk seriously?

Not now, Sally.

My mother's close.

Can't you tell?

The air stopped moving.

Sometimes I think all you need is

just a good smack across your mouth.

Here she is. Sally, tie

this garlic around my neck.

Do we have to invite her for dinner?

She won't stay. You know that.

Then let's invite her.

Lila.

Hello, Sally, dear.

Those shrubs need watering.

Yeah. I have to do that.

- You're looking well, Lila.

- Don't be glib, Tom.

- Will you be having dinner with us?

- No. I can't stay long.

What a shame.

Where are the children?

They're taking baths. Why?

I have some bad news.

They canceled

your American Express card?

Your sister tried to

kill herself again.

You wanna make another joke?

Oh, my God, Lila. When?

I'm not sure.

She was in a coma when they found her.

How is she now?

She's alive, thank God.

I spoke to her psychiatrist.

Some Jewish woman in New York.

She wants one of us to go up there

right away. I told her you'd go.

If she's a shrink and a Jew,

you can't go?

I didn't say that. I'm just not

entirely sure I'd be welcome.

Savannah will probably blame me.

My children blame me for everything.

Do I detect a note

of guilt, Mama?

Don't give me that

psychological horseshit.

Why don't you just say it? I'm

responsible for all your problems...

...including you not having a job.

Let's hit way below the belt!

Don't pretend you didn't start this.

I just can't go right now. It's your

stepfather's birthday this weekend.

I can't go either. I gotta

wash out Sally's pantyhose.

I'm going to the cleaners.

Why don't you get a job

as a standup comedian?

It pays better than teaching did.

Which was far beneath me. Right?

Beneath your abilities, yes.

What do you know about my

abilities, for chrissake?

Just stop it, now, the both of you!

I'm sorry you're hurting.

You wanted to talk?

It can wait.

Let's walk.

Tell me what you're thinking.

I'm trying to calculate the exact

moment everything got so f***ed up.

I'm also worried the Braves

are gonna finish last.

I don't feel like laughing.

Oh, come on, Sally. Come on.

Do you know that this is the first

time you have touched me in weeks?

My life's a mess, Sally.

Our life's a mess, Tom.

Look, there's the Big Dipper.

I don't give a sh*t about

the Big Dipper!

Damn it, I care about us.

I care about why you keep

pushing me away.

I thought you said this could wait.

I've been waiting for two

years, Tom. Ever since Luke died.

I know how you feel about him.

I just don't know how you feel

about me anymore.

Don't take it personally. I don't

Rate this script:1.5 / 2 votes