You'll Like My Mother

1

Hey.

Come on up front.

The heater's warmer.

Yeah, it's my uncle's bus.

I just drive it when I'm broke.

It gives me a chance to figure out

what I really wanna do in life,

you know?

Uncle Sam, the army,

has a way of leaving you

in that type of confusion.

Yeah, I know.

My husband was in the army.

- He didn't like it much either.

- Yeah? Is he out now?

He's dead.

He was killed seven months ago

in a plane crash.

- I'm sorry.

- Me too.

Well, you're certainly not dressed

for a Minnesota winter.

I keep forgetting how cold it gets

every place but Los Angeles.

L.A.?

Well, I tell you what.

If you're gonna stick around here

very long,

you're gonna need

some warmer clothes.

Both of you.

Well, I'm not really expecting

to stay very long.

I don't know. I may even go back

on the bus tonight.

Tonight?

That hardly seems

worth the trip up here.

What, are you visiting,

some people up here or something?

My husband's mother.

Yeah? What's her name?

Maybe I know her.

Maria Kinsolving.

Kinsolving?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know the Kingsolvings.

Everybody around here

knows the Kingsolvings.

They've lived over in Rosemont

since anyone can remember.

Sure, the Kingsolving estate.

I've been on busses

so long, nothing helps.

You look fine.

- What damn glow?

- What's that?

Pregnant women

are supposed to glow.

Hey, that snow storm's

moving in pretty fast.

You got someone meeting you?

No.

Well, how the hell are you gonna get

to the Kinsolving place?

I'll be right with you, folks.

Thank you.

- Where's Pete?

- He don't work here no more.

I'm with this young lady.

She has to get out

to the Kinsolving place.

Do you know anybody

going that way?

Well, not right off, no.

That's okay. I can get a cab.

No, ma'am, there ain't none.

It's about five or six miles

off the highway.

The bread man's due here

in about 20 minutes.

He can probably take you

as far as their private road.

Terrific.

All right. Damn it, I got to go.

You make sure she gets that ride,

yeah?

- Sure.

- Thanks for everything...?

- Red.

- Red. Thanks again.

You bet.

It's just part of the service, ma'am.

Besides, you're just so damn little.

This way. See you tonight maybe.

- Tonight?

- Yeah.

If you take that bus back to Duluth,

like you think you might, it's my run.

Yeah, right.

Bye.

Did you know Mrs. Kinsolving's son?

It's gonna be a long walk

up their private road

if the bread man won't take you

all the way to the house.

Well, could I leave

my suitcase here, then?

I'll pick it up tonight

one way or the other.

Sure.

I'll just put it right here

behind the counter.

Thanks.

No, no. This'll do fine.

Thank you very much.

Just stay on the road.

You can't miss it.

- Okay. Thanks again.

- You're welcome.

- Bye.

- Bye.

Mrs. Kinsolving?

Yes.

Kathleen, please.

I'm Francesca.

Yes.

You've come at a bad time, I'm afraid.

It was necessary

to drown some kittens,

and poor Kathleen

is quite upset about it.

She'd hidden one of the litter.

I followed the mother cat.

Kathleen.

Kathleen. Darling.

Look at this child.

Would you believe she starts the day

with every hair in place?

Hello.

- Is she -?

- Feeble minded?

Yes.

Or do you mean, "Who is she?"

She's Matthew's sister, of course.

You've made it just in time.

I'm afraid it's beginning

to snow quite heavily.

It's really beautiful.

Only to look at, I'm afraid.

Far too dangerous for walking.

However did you manage it?

The bus. Then I caught a lift.

Then you've asked and received

all the family background

from the locals.

- No. I just about...

- Do you want a cigarette?

Perhaps not in your condition.

Well, do sit down.

Thank you.

May I offer you a cup of coffee?

No, thank you.

I prefer lemonade myself.

Lemons, you know, are supposed

to be good for arthritis.

It's probably an old wives' tale.

Would you like some hot tea?

Kathleen could get it for us.

I'm sorry, what?

I asked, would you like Kathleen

to get us some tea?

Anything simple

Kathleen does quite well.

Has she always been that way?

Yes.

Matthew never mentioned her.

If she were your sister,

would you be overly anxious

to make her

the topic of conversation?

Why did you feel

you had to come here?

Well, you're Matthew's mother.

I wanted to meet you.

I must confess, I was astonished

to see you here today.

I never dreamed

you'd come here uninvited.

Well, I saw snow again.

I-I beg your pardon?

Mrs. Kinsolving,

I came a long way to see you

because I loved your son,

and he loved you.

I guess I felt I just had to meet

this very wonderful lady.

I wrote you when Matthew died,

and I wrote you again

when I was four months pregnant.

You never answered me.

Why, Mrs. Kinsolving?

I received a letter

from a total stranger

who called herself my son's wife.

Of course, all ties were broken

when my son was killed.

Why should I have answered?

Then another letter came.

It seemed now she was going to be

the mother of my son's child.

Since I didn't acknowledge her

the first time as Matthew's wife,

I saw no reason to applaud

the progress she'd made.

But I wasn't a total stranger to you.

Matthew wired you

the clay we were married.

He... he sent you a night telegram

from the hotel we were staying at.

I received no such wire.

Well, he sent it.

And you were standing right there

beside him, of course.

- No, as a matter of fact, I...

- Don't you see?

Well, that really doesn't matter.

The fact remains I had no wish

to share my grief with you then,

I have no wish to share it now.

Well, I thought perhaps we might

share the love of Matthew's baby.

Yes, of course. The baby.

I don't imagine

you're too financially secure.

No, I'm not.

Then, there's obviously

only one solution.

- What's that?

- Adoption, of course.

Let someone else have the burden.

The burden?

Forgive me, Mrs. Kinsolving,

but, I want that burden.

That's very foolish.

There are other things to consider.

No, there's nothing else to consider.

Look, you can put your mind at rest.

I'm not gonna take a dime from you.

That's not what I came up here for.

I didn't even know about your house,

or your money, or anything else.

I don't have any family of my own.

That's the only reason I came.

I thought that if there were any love

or warmth here for Matthew's baby

that I'd know it in five minutes.

You haven't got a damn thing I want.

And it didn't even take five minutes.

Good-bye, Mrs. Kinsolving.

I must ask you not to turn away

from me when you're speaking.

What?

I've been growing deaf

for quite some years now.

It makes it necessary for me

to read your lips

when I'm not wearing

that ridiculous hearing aid.

I'm sorry.

Matthew never told me.

Apparently there was quite a lot

Matthew never told you.

What time is your bus?

8:
00, but I'll wait for it

back at the store.

I seem to have a better rapport

with strangers today.

I will not hear of it, of course.

Among strangers?

You must be tired,

and in your condition,

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