In other parts of the world,
young men leave home and travel far and wide
in search of a promising future,
their journeys often fueled by dreams of triumphing over evil,
finding a great love or hope of fortunes easily made.
Here in St. Clouds, even to get off the train is not easy.
For it requires an earlier, more difficult decision:
add a child to your life or leave one behind.
The only reason people journey here is for the orphanage.
-Good morning. -We have an appointment.
Yes, come in.
We're going upstairs to see Doctor Larch.
I came as a physician to the abandoned children
and unhappily pregnant women.
I had hoped to become a hero, but in St. Clouds
there was no such position.
In the lonely, sordid world of lost children there were no heroes.
So I became the caretaker of many, father of none.
Well, in a way, there was one.
Here he is.
His name was Homer Wells.
I named him after the Greek writer.
You know Homer, of course?
And I made his name Wells
because I could tell he was... very deep.
In truth,
Nurse Angela named him. Her father drilled wells.
And she once owned a cat named Homer.
Bye bye, Homer.
-Goodnight you Princes of Maine. -Can we see the doctor?
You Kings of New England.
Doctor?
There's something wrong with him.
He never makes a sound.
He didn't cry.
Orphan babies learn there's no point in it.
Could we look at someone different?
That was Homer Wells returned. He was too happy a baby.
Bye, Homer.
The second family
to adopt him had a gift for getting sounds out of Homer.
They beat him.
He couldn't stop crying.
It's okay. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore.
In St. Clouds, I try to consider, with each rule I make or break,
that my first priority is an orphan's future. Twice adopted,
twice returned.
It didn't bode well.
Yet it was always clear to me...
that he was a special boy.
...near the angle of the rib.
It was with Homer's future in mind
that I began his tutorial.
If you're staying at St. Clouds, I expect you to be of use.
I admit our lesson were, in part,
the simple expression of a father's love.
Homer.
But in failing to withhold love
and making the orphanage his home,
had I created a true and everlasting orphan?
Keep breathing! You're going to be okay!
So my excellent pupil learned to look after abandoned children
and to deliver unwanted babies.
Relax!
Sometimes it was the woman who needed to be delivered.
I chose my own path.
No one would ever choose for Homer.
Doctor Larch!
Doctor Larch?
Doctor Larch!
We have two new patients.
-One to deliver. -Coming.
-First pregnancy? -Yes, for both.
I presume you'd prefer handling the delivery?
I don't want to perform abortions.
I have no argument with you performing them.
How can you not feel obligated to help them
when they can't get help anywhere else?
One, it's illegal. Two, I didn't ask, you just showed me.
What else could I have shown you? I can only teach you what I know.
In any life, you have to be of use.
Of use? Of use.
Good, Carla. Perfect. Everything's going to be fine.
I don't want to see it!
You don't have to, dear. Don't worry.
I don't want to know what sex it is, so don't tell me.
We won't tell you.
-You're going to be okay. -And your baby, too.
I don't wanna know!
That's a big boy!
Let me see him.
I want to see him.
Mind joining me in the nursery?
Wilbur, the adopting couple's waiting in your office.
Life is waiting.
Let them wait.
Where's the name sheet?
Nobody's named this one yet.
It's my turn. Henceforth,
you shall be...Little Dorrit.
You don't like that, do you?
He's a boy, that's why.
Can't a boy be a Dorrit?
I don't think so.
You do it.
Okay. Henceforth you shall be...
Little Wilbur.
I'm not crazy about
the "Little".
Okay, just Wilbur then.
We haven't had a Wilbur in about a year or so.
We used to have dozens.
He sniffs that ether! I've seen him do it!
He's too tired to sleep. He has to.
He smells like he could put you to sleep.
Doctors smell like ether.
-You're a doctor and you don't. -I haven't been to medical school.
I haven't even been to high school.
But you've studied with the old man for years.
I'm not a doctor!
Sorry, Homer.
Fuzzy's not uncommon.
There's something about premature babies of alcoholic mothers.
They seem susceptible to every damn thing that comes along.
-I haven't read that. -I haven't either.
But you will.
The morons who write the books ought to do some research here.
Isn't Fuzzy just underdeveloped?
When doesn't he have bronchitis?
I wouldn't call his bronchial infection underdeveloped.
Come on, Fuzz.
Here we go, feet up.
There you are.
Sit up straight.
Wilbur. Can you come out here, please?
There you go.
-Watch out! -Hi, Homer.
Hey. What is it, Mary Agnes?
What is it?
Look.
Did you bite it?
-Did you bite your tongue? -I don't remember.
Yeah, that looks like you bit it.
Maybe I was kissing someone, and he bit me.
Maybe you bit it in your sleep. Storytime, Fuzzy.
Oh 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 holy rest.
And peace at the last. Amen.
-Amen. -"A dog,
which had lain concealed till now,
ran backwards and forwards on the parapet.
With a dismal howl and collecting himself for a spring,
jumped for the dead man's shoulders.
Missing his aim, he fell into a ditch,
turning his head completely over as he went,
and striking his head against a stone,
dashed out his brains."
And that...
is the end of the chapter.
That's it, till tomorrow.
Good night, you Princes of Maine,
you Kings of New England.
Good night, Princes of Maine.
John, you alright?
Why does Dr. Larch say that every night?
-Maybe to scare us? -No, you jerk.
Dr. Larch loves us.
But why does he do that?
He does it because we like it.
Do you like it, Curly?
Yeah.
I like it too.
Watch the door.
You two get Copperfield and Curly. Buster's mine.
Remember, nobody touches Fuzzy.
Attack!
What do you think you're doing? Get off!
Stop it! No fighting! Share the snowballs!
Fuzzy, listen to you. You've been running.
I know the type.
They'll take one of the babies.
Mary Agnes.
Fuzzy.
Curly.
John.
Hazel.
Andy.
They wanted a girl, Curly.
Nobody ever wants me.
Hey, come on. Come here.
You know, you're one of the best.
And we wouldn't just let anyone take you.
Dr. Larch wouldn't let just anyone take any of us.
That's true.
-Nobody's asked for me, have they? -Nobody special enough.
You mean somebody has?
Only the right people can have you.
Let's unpack your suitcase. It's movie night tonight.
Look.
Kong thinks she's his mother.
-His mother? -He thinks she's his mother.
He doesn't think she's his mother, Fuzzy.
He does so. He loves her.
That's why he holds her.
Fuzzy...
How can she be his mother?
He just...
thinks she is.
The Board of Trustees wants to replace me.
They just want you to hire new help.
We don't need new help. New things would be useful.
Homer, I need you.
Kong! Kong! Kong!
I thought you'd taken care of this.
Always breaks in the same place. It's your splice.
No, it's your splice. You blame me for everything.
We need a new movie, projector and typewriter.
That's what needs replacing.
Wilbur, we have a delivery.
Homer, would you get this one?
She's a patient, right? She should see a doctor.
Homer,
you are a skilled and gifted surgeon,
with near perfect obstetrical and gynecological procedure.
I'd rather fix the movie tonight.
Okay, sure. You splice, I'll deliver.
Come on, Fuzz. Let's go.
Doesn't King Kong think the woman is his mother?
That's right, Fuzz. That's what Kong thinks.
That's why Kong loves her.
Your turn. I'll get this.
Okay.
Storytime.
"Personal History of David Copperfield."
Chapter One. I am born.
"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life,
or whether that station will be held by anybody else,
these pages must show.
I was a posthumous child.
My father's eyes had closed upon the light of this world
six months when mine opened on it".
His father's dead, right?
That's right, Fuzz.
Is your father dead?
Cirrhosis. It's a disease of the liver.
What, a liver killed him?
No, alcohol killed him. He drank himself to death.
But did you know him?
Barely, but it hardly mattered that I knew him.
Did you know your mother better?
She's dead now, too. She was a nanny.
What's a nanny do?
She looks after other people's children.
Did she grow up around here?
No, she was an immigrant.
What's an immigrant?
Someone not from Maine.
Let us be happy for Hazel. Hazel has found a family.
Good night, Hazel.
I was dreaming about you.
-How beautiful you were. -You weren't.
-I was. -And I was beautiful?
You were. You are.
It was fantastic.
It was just the ether, Wilbur.
-Hi. -Hey, where you been?
You ever think about finding your parents?
Not really.
Why not?
Well, they never did the things
parents are supposed to do.
Dr. Larch did those things, and Nurse Edna and Nurse Angela.
I wish I could meet mine anyway, sometimes.
What for?
I'd like to show them I could cook, a little.
And that...
I can drive a truck.
Sometimes I want to meet them so I could kill them.
You know I'd never kill anyone, right?
-I know. -Get away!
Get the hell off me!
I think Mary Agnes could kill someone though.
-What the hell are you doing? -I don't think so. She's just...
an emotional girl.
What's she so emotional about?
She got left here like the rest of us, didn't she?
Look!
Her temperature's 104.
Scoot down, good girl.
-A little more. -Dear child,...
it won't hurt when I look. I'm just going to look.
-Did you do something to yourself? -It wasn't me.
It wasn't me.
Did you go to someone else?
He said he was a doctor! I would've never stuck that in me!
-It wasn't me! -You've been very brave.
I'm going to put you to sleep.
Homer, I want you to see this.
You won't feel it anymore.
You've been very brave.
We'll make it deep.
-You sure? -You bet.
The fetus is unexpelled, her uterus is punctured.
She has acute peritonitis and there's a foreign object.
I think it's a crochet hook.
Take this.
If she'd come to you 4 months ago for a simple D and C,
what would you have done? Nothing!
This is what doing nothing gets you.
It means some moron who doesn't know how does the job.
I wish you had come to me.
-What'd she die of? -She died of secrecy.
She died of ignorance.
If you expect people to be responsible for their children,
you have to give them the right to decide if they have them.
Wouldn't you agree?
How about expecting people to control themselves to begin with?
How about this child? You expect her to be responsible?
I'm not talking about her. I'm talking about adults.
You know who I mean.
What?
It's a marvel to me you still have such high expectations of people.
I'm happy I amuse you.
Look at it this way. What choice does Buster have?
-Nobody will ever adopt him. -Look at it this way.
Buster and I are sitting here, right beside you.
We could have ended up in an incinerator.
Happy to be alive,
under any circumstances. Is that your point?
Happy to be alive? Yeah, I guess so.
You're it!
Pass it over here!
So many children. Are they all orphans?
It is an orphanage.
-Who wants chocolate? -I want some chocolate.
Hi. Okay...
they're getting in the car.
Hi.
-Hi! -Hi.
I'm the best.
You are?
The best? The best at what?
-I'm the best one. -The best one, huh?
-I'm the best one of all the kids. -You are?
He seems like the best one.
Let's take care of that. Can you blow?
I really am the best. I just have a cold.
Sorry. They're not used to seeing a car like this.
It's okay. I don't mind.
Come on, come on.
-Let's get out. -Can I play...
-in it again? -Sure you can.
Good morning.
Morning.
-Dr. Larch. -Candy.
Hi, I'm Wally. I brought chocolates for the kids.
Chocolates? How thoughtful.
Come on, Curly.
-So, Mrs... -Candy.
Candy Kendall.
Wally...
Wally Worthington.
How many months are you?
Two.
Are you...? Are you doing the...?
Oh, no. Dr. Larch will be performing the procedure.
Oh, good. I was just... curious.
Excuse me. The woman you delivered last night.
-She's complaining of pain. -I'll take a look.
Thank you.
Are you okay?
Yeah. I think it was the ether.
The smell must have got to me.
God, this is all my fault.
Steerforth got into the pantry.
He's eaten all the pie dough.
He wasn't sharing it either.
-He's down the hall, throwing up. -He's such a pig.
Don't call him a pig, dear. It's not nice.
But he is a pig.
What kind of planes do you fly in?
A B-24 Liberator.
Liberator.
You enlisted?
They wouldn't take me. I'm a class 4. Heart defect.
-Yeah? Is it serious? -No.
It's not serious, but I'm not supposed to get excited.
No strain, no stress. I try to keep calm.
I can't imagine there's any strain or stress around here.
Yeah.
-How's she doing? -Just fine.
-Boy or girl? -It's all over, dear.
Yeah, it's all over.
I would really like
to have a baby one day.
I really would.
Why, of course. As many as you want.
I'm sure you'll have very beautiful children.
Oh, yes. I'm sure. I'm sure.
You'll have Princes of Maine, Kings of New England.
Lieutenant, I think you should find yourself some fresh air.
-I still don't feel so good. -Cut it out, children!
Homer, who's a runt? Copperfield called me a runt.
-He was just kidding, Fuzz. -Here.
Orange is my favorite color.
Should I keep the teeth...
orange?
Homer, look.
Look, look.
-Homer, what is Halloween? -It's at the end of October.
Is that soon?
It's a few months away, Fuzz.
It's the best time.
Homer...
What is Honolulu?
Honolulu? It's a city.
What's the moonlight like?
I've never been there, but it would probably be very bright.
Why do we get pumpkins only once a year?
Don't get too excited, Fuzzy.
Stop it, right now.
-Hey. How's she doing? -She's fine.
I was wondering if you could give me a ride.
Sure, I'd be glad to.
A ride where?
Where are you going?
We're heading back to Cape Kenneth.
Cape Kenneth? That sounds fine.
Okay.
Doubtless you'll let me know what immensely worthwhile,
or at least useful thing it is that you find to do.
I wasn't intending to leave here to be entirely useless.
I expect I'll find some other way to be of use.
In other parts of the world there are other ways.
-Of course. -Are you so stupid...
you imagine you'll find a more gratifying life?
What you'll find is people
like the poor people who get left here.
Only nobody takes care of them half as well.
And you won't be able to take care of them either.
There's no taking care of anybody.
-Not out there. -You know I'm grateful...
for everything you've done for me.
I don't need your gratitude.
I don't need this. I know all about my condition.
It's your heart. You ought to take it with you.
Going where? Does he have a plan?
-Will he be back soon? -I don't know. He's just leaving.
You said he needs to see the world. That's what he'll do.
He's leaving...
He'll need clothes. He'll need some money.
Let him try and make money.
That's part of seeing the world.
Wilbur, stop it. You knew this would happen. He's a young man.
He's still a boy.
Out in the world.
He's still a boy.
Find him some clothes, Wilbur.
He could use some clothes.
Homer...
Copperfield...
It'll be all right.
Children, up on the porch.
Say goodbye. Wave from here.
-Bye. -Bye, Homer.
Bye, Homer.
Come on.
-I can walk. Put me down. -No, I want to carry you.
No, it's okay.
Wally, put me down.
Okay, okay.
Coming with us? That's good.
You never know when you're going to need a doctor.
-You want me to put the top up? -No.
-You might get cold. -I want some fresh air.
She'll be just fine.
Is he going to come out?
Bye, Homer.
Bye, Curly. Sorry, I have to go.
It's not fair. You're too old.
I couldn't find Buster. Maybe you could tell him...
Let us be happy for Homer Wells.
Homer has found a family.
Aren't we all happy for Homer?
Yes.
Good night, Homer.
The Army has given me leave, twice.
When my father died and now to help my mom with the harvest.
She's no farmer. Apples were my dad's business.
But with the war on, we're short of pickers.
Wally thinks apples are boring.
I never said they were boring.
Yes, you did. You said...
apples weren't exactly flying.
Well, they aren't.
I think I would like the apple business.
You're a little overqualified, aren't you?
Not really. I need a job.
Well, where you headed?
I don't know.
-What are you going to do? -I don't know.
Is your family
in the apple business too, Candy?
No, but I work there. I like it.
My dad's a lobster man.
Wow. I've never actually seen a lobster.
Are you serious?
I've never seen the ocean either.
You've never seen the ocean?
That's not funny, that's serious.
It's beautiful.
Yeah.
Do you have cramps?
They'll ease up soon.
As long as the bleeding isn't heavy, it's normal.
It should taper off tomorrow.
Catch!
-Throw it back. -Okay.
Alright!
Put your fingers on the laces.
Here's China, here's India.
Seven hour round trip flight. It's called the Burma Run.
This part's called "flying over the hump" The Himalayas.
How high do you fly there?
I have to fly at 15,000 feet for the first 35 minutes
to make it over the first mountain. Worst air currents in the world.
Dangerous, huh?
Actually, I volunteered.
Did you really?
If you're serious about a job, picking apples isn't so boring.
Yeah? I'd love that, Wally.
-See you around, Homer. -Oh, yeah.
Thank you. For everything.
Hi.
Hi, Dad!
Come on, you're going to meet my mom.
By the way, I've been at a wedding, alright?
That's where I met you. At the wedding.
Wally, is that you?
Mom, this is Homer Wells.
-How do you do, Homer? -Good. How do you do?
He's the most overqualified apple picker you'll ever meet.
Really? Were you a friend of the groom, Homer?
Homer's a friend of the groom, the bride, everyone. Come on.
In that case, maybe you'd like to stay for dinner?
No time, Mom. You got to meet Mr. Rose.
You used up the hot water!
-You're using my soap, ain't ya! -I ain't using no soap!
It's too cold to use the soap.
There ain't never enough hot water.
They're migrants.
They pick the fruit. All kinds.
They travel up and down the coast with the seasons.
The trick with Mr. Rose
is you have to let him be boss.
Oh, excuse me.
Sink's backed up again, Wally.
You said you was gonna get us a plumber.
Rose, this is Homer. Mr. Rose's daughter, Rose.
You a plumber?
Homer's a new picker. He's gonna stay here with you.
He's staying here?
Yeah.
This daughter of mine, she's Miss Hospitality, ain't she, Wally?
New picker? You got lots of experience, I suspect.
Homer's got no experience, Arthur.
But he's smarter than I am. He's a fast learner.
Mr. Rose is going to teach you the apple business.
I believe this is history. We're making history, Wally.
Ain't we?
We makin' history having this man stay with us.
Why don't you show him around?
Your name is Rose Rose?
-Pretty, ain't it? -Very. You like to read?
I really can't read that good.
Homer, what does this say? Here.
"I looked at the stars
and considered how awful it would be for a man to turn his face
to them as he froze to death and see
no help or pity
in all the glittering multitude."
More!
Since you're the one
who's smart enough to read, what's this here?
It's a list of rules, it seems.
Whose rules?
-I imagine they're for us. -Go on then.
Read 'em, Homer.
One: "Please don't smoke in bed."
It's too late for that one.
Keep reading, Homer.
Two: "Please don't operate the grinder...
-or press if you've been drinking." -They ain't our rules.
We didn't write 'em. I don't see no need to read 'em.
Good night, you Princes of Maine,
you Kings of New England.
Remember this.
In the morning, when the grass is wet, you can make it slide!
Feel it?
Almost like flying.
Watch out for the trees!
Trees are flak, anti-aircraft fire! From the geeks on the ground.
Hey, Homer.
Hey.
I was just showing Homer the orchard.
Kind of a geography lesson.
Really? What's that?
Looks like you've been giving him flying lessons.
He loved it. Didn't you?
Wally here thinks people like being whacked by branches.
I liked it.
-Really? -Yeah.
-Unbelievable. -Well, thank you very much.
Hey, what's wrong with you?
Sorry.
That's Vernon. Stay away from him till he gets to know you better.
Then you better stay away from him even more.
Homer!
Lieutenant's calling you. Better watch your ass, Homer.
Hey, Wally.
You getting along okay?
Guess what?
-What? -I'm shipping out today.
It's a little sooner than I expected.
I wanted to make sure you were settled and happy enough.
Are you bored stiff, or do you think...
-you can stick it out? -Of course.
I'm grateful for the job, Wally.
I'm grateful too. Knowing you're here, keeping an eye on things.
-Oh, that's good. -You about ready, Homer?
Yeah.
-Thanks. I'm lucky I met you. -I'm the lucky one.
-No really, I'm lucky. -You wanna fight about it?
Kidding.
Oh, okay.
Take care of yourself.
Bye.
Okay, Mr. Rose.
That's right, turn, pull. Now you're picking cider apples.
All these drops here,
are for cider. You pick apples with the stem only half the time.
Golden rule: You want to pick the apple with the stem.
See that there? The spur right above the stem?
The bud for the next year's apple. That's called the spur.
Pick it, you're picking next year's apple before it can grow.
So you wanna leave that on the branch, yeah?
Alright, let me see you work.
Yeah, that's good.
That's much better.
I can see you got yourself some education.
Them good hands you got.
They know what they doin'. Ain't that right?
-I guess so. -Alright.
Keep working, Homer. I'll be right back.
Wilbur! Wilbur!
You should read this. Another letter from the Board.
Merely suggesting some new blood might benefit you all.
Someone with new ideas in the obstetrical and pediatric fields.
I think they're testing ideas for our next meeting.
Dr. Holtz seems nice. I think he wants to help.
He's a goddamn psychiatrist! Of course he wants to help!
He'd be happy to help commit me!
It's Mrs. Goodhall you have to be careful of.
We have to be more than careful of Mrs. Goodhall.
She has enough Christian zeal to start her own country.
I'd like to give her a little ether.
What are you going to do?
Take this.
Homer Wells,
born Portland, Maine, March 2nd, 1915...
But Homer was born here.
-ln, what was it? 1922. -Graduated, Bowden College,
1935, Harvard School of Medicine,
1939.
-That's you. You went there. -An internship,
and two years training at Boston, South End Branch.
He was judged an accomplished gynecological
-and obstetrical surgeon. -That's not him.
With experience in pediatric care.
You're making this up.
Angela, the Board is going to replace me.
That is what new blood is for.
You mean they're going to replace you with
someone who doesn't perform abortions.
We can only guess at that. They are against the law.
These credentials are against the law.
We all know I trained Homer.
So his credentials are as good as mine.
And don't be holy to me about the law.
What has the law done for anyone here?
So...
What do you think about my candidate?
What about school records? Homer doesn't have any diplomas.
Come here Edna, please.
He will have them.
Wilbur!
I don't know...
Got to pack 'em tight, y'all.
-All aboard, Mrs. Worthington. -Thank you, Arthur.
How's the crew this year? Got any rotten apples?
It's a good crew.
You trying to break my finger?
Maybe we got one bad apple, but nothing we can't handle.
I see.
-How's young Homer working out? -Good. He's a smart young man.
Wally was right about him.
Real hard worker.
Morning, Mrs. Worthington.
Rose, come visit me at the house.
I've got some clothes that might fit you.
I can find a ton of things to fit you.
Rose don't need any more picking clothes, ma'am.
Now don't be a party-pooper.
I have a beautiful blouse.
-Hey, Rose Rose. -Hey.
How you feeling?
When I'm not thinking of Wally, I'm fine.
I'm not really good at being alone.
Feeling much better, thanks.
Listen.
Maybe you'd like to have dinner at my dad's place?
You haven't seen a lobster yet, have you?
-No. -Good.
You're hungry, right?
-What is that? -A drive-in movie theater.
-A movie outside? -Yeah.
-Can we see it? -Okay.
It's closed now, because of the blackouts.
It's so big!
You smoke? Want a cigarette?
Okay.
Wally would kill me if he saw me doing this.
There you go.
Thanks.
So you like movies?
Yes. Seen only one, though.
You've seen only one? Which one?
"King Kong". It's really good.
It's a pie apple. Try one of those.
So he's an apple expert now, is he?
Oh my, yes. That's a far superior taste.
And crisp, too. So many apples are disappointing immediately.
He picked these for us.
You don't find it depressing, that Homer is picking apples?
Or that he can't be bothered
to write us a proper letter?
Wilbur, it's a gift.
I'll show him a gift. I'll send him a gift he can use.
There goes Jimmy Stewart, on his way to enlist.
One of the most popular stars on the screen.
Today he's Lieutenant Stewart.
Crossing the Equator, a lighter side: novices introduced
to the traditional realm of King Neptune.
Boxing matches to relieve the monotony of days at sea.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
It looked like you liked it.
I did like it, but it's no "King Kong".
She loved him, then she didn't, then no one else could have him.
But she did love him. How many women have you known?
And what did she die of exactly?
She was torn apart. She died of a broken heart.
Well, I just need a better medical explanation.
Torn apart. At least King Kong, he knew what he wanted.
What is you doing with that Candy, Homer?
Making history, I suppose.
You ain't gettin' in no trouble, I hope.
No trouble.
That Candy, she's the nicest girl I know.
She's the most beautiful, I don't know if she's the nicest.
She's the nicest...
and the most beautiful girl I've ever known.
Sound like you in trouble already, Homer.
Sounds like big trouble to me.
I'm not in trouble.
Yeah, you is.
I know when people is in trouble,
and you is.
His name is Homer Wells.
It's hard to believe the Board would be interested in him.
But he looks like an excellent young man.
A first-rate candidate, don't you think?
He looks like a bleeding heart missionary moron to me.
But that'd be the problem with any doctor wanting to come here.
-Do you know him? -No. And I don't want to.
He's doing missionary work in India.
I wrote weeks ago, but he's either too holy
or too busy to answer.
Sorry.
Okay, come on.
I fail to see how someone courageous enough
to be a foreign missionary should be automatically dismissed.
That part of the world requires the dedication needed here.
Does it snow in Bombay? One winter here and he'll leave...
-in a coffin. -Dr. Larch...
he seems exceptionally qualified.
I'm not talking about his medical qualifications.
It's the Christian thing that bothers me.
I don't see it being of much use around here.
I fail to see how a little Christianity could hurt here.
Anyway, I was just showing you this guy as an example
of what's available.
I didn't think you'd be interested.
-We're very interested. -Yes, very.
You wouldn't be opposed to meeting with him?
It wouldn't hurt to meet him. What's his name again?
Doctor Homer Wells.
-Nice name. Very New England. -Very Maine.
A very local sounding name.
Very.
I told you. If I appear to want it,
they don't want it. If I appear to hate it,
they just got to have it.
Excuse me, I want to ask you something.
Edna, come dance with me. Let's be foolish tonight.
Does he know he's supposed to be in India? Or want to come back?
He's a field hand.
What could possibly hold him there?
Homer!
It's time to go!
-I got to go. -Okay.
Right now we're using them early Macs and Gravensteins.
Cider is way too watery.
We ain't gonna get no good cider
until we start picking Golden Delicious and Winter Banana.
And Russets and Baldwins.
What about the worms?
-Don't the drops have worms? -Well, yeah. They have.
They ain't nothin' but protein.
Jack!
What the hell you doin'?
That cigarette is going to
ruin this whole batch of cider. You know I can't have that.
You have to get that out. You have to do some fishing.
You mean swimmin'.
Swimmin' or fishin', whatever you call it.
I ain't going in that vat to fish out no cigarette.
Now, Jack.
Come on down here, man.
What business are you in, Jack?
Just tell me what business are you in?
Just say the apple business.
That's the only business you want to be in.
-Listen, Jack! -You don't want to...
go into the knife business with Mr. Rose!
-What you wanna do? -Just say the apple business!
What you want, man?
Tell him you're in the apple business!
-Shut up, Peaches! -Stop it!
Back off, Jack!
Now...
I'm in the knife business, Jack.
I'm in the knife business!
You don't wanna be in no knife business with me.
Time for you to go fishin'.
Kind of fast, ain't he, Jack?
Well the good news is you already half undressed
for swimmin'.
That Jack too slow to get me.
I was so fast, I cut my own self.
You really showed him, huh? You just about cut your hand off.
And all you cut off him...
-was his clothes. -Now you and I know...
you don't go to jail for cutting a guy's clothes.
Ain't that right? Rose Rose, ain't that right?
Ain't that right, Homer?
Easy, easy. Okay.
Not too much gas. You want to go right in here.
Okay, okay. Slow down.
That's the one. We want to stay right there.
Slowly! Slow down!
You were born to drive a car like this.
-You think so? -Yeah. So, this is a speaker.
This where the sound comes out.
I love this place. Have you seen a lot of movies here?
Yes, and no.
When you come here you don't care about the movie.
You don't care about the movie?
What are you so crazy about movies for?
It was my favorite night at the orphanage, movie night.
We'd all race into the dining hall.
Everyone wanted to sit in front.
We'd be packed in so tight, you felt the next kid breathing.
You don't miss it?
I miss things. I miss people. I miss reading to the boys.
You had so much responsibility.
I didn't ask for any responsibility.
Just a little privacy.
Well, you're in luck. I'm gonna show you.
Because privacy is what drive-in movies are all about.
Scrunch down like this.
Come on, scrunch down. All the way.
Then give me your arm. Put your arm around me.
You just cuddle and hug and, you know.
You don't really watch the movie.
I would watch the movie.
Sorry, Fuzzy. It's Homer's splice again.
Fuzzy?
Fuzz?
If the little ones want to know what happened,
tell them Fuzzy was adopted.
Okay.
So, what happened to Fuzzy?
He was adopted.
Good.
-Will they believe that? -They'll believe it,...
because they want to believe it.
Shouldn't we tell Homer?
If Homer wanted to know what was happening, he could call us.
I think it was...
a nurse or a nanny
who adopted Fuzzy. Someone who could take care of him.
They had a better breathing machine than the one Dr. Larch built.
So we should be happy for Fuzzy.
He found a family. Good night, Fuzzy.
Homer! Morning everybody.
-Morning. -There's mail for you, Homer.
Thank you.
Rose, I brought those clothes. Let's go see if they fit.
What's that?
Ain't you gonna open it, Homer?
Mind your business now, Peaches.
-Sorry about that, Homer. -It's okay.
Okay, okay.
It's glass. Look at that.
Isn't that beautiful?
Give me your hand. Feel that.
Feel that?
The ocean rubs it against the sand. That's how it gets so smooth.
Takes a year for it to get like that, though.
He volunteered. Nobody volunteers for the Burma Run.
He said so himself. He just leaves me here.
He wants me to wait for him? He knows me.
I'm not good at being alone.
This was right. I know this was right.
You're right. This was right.
Just tell me. Do you want me to stay or go?
I don't know, I really don't. I think we should...
just wait and see.
Okay.
-Are we all set? -Yeah.
Goodbye, Arthur. Thanks for all your hard work.
-My pleasure, ma'am. -Have a safe trip, Rose.
-Tell Candy I said hi. -Take care of yourself, Homer.
See you next year.
-Don't freeze to death, Homer. -Don't get in no trouble.
-Freeze to death if you want. -Shut up, Jack.
Take care of yourself, Homer.
So you're staying.
Olive told me.
You could have told me yourself.
I'm waiting and seeing, like you said.
Dear Dr. Larch,
Thank you for your doctor's bag,
although it seems I will not have the occasion to use it,
barring some emergency, of course. I'm not a doctor.
With all due respect to your profession, I'm enjoying life here.
I'm enjoying being a lobsterman and orchardman.
In fact, I've never enjoyed myself as much.
I want to stay here. I believe I'm being of use.
I've looked at so many women...
and I've never...
I've never felt a thing. I mean, I've seen everything.
Just felt nothing.
With you it...
To look at you, it hurts.
Come here.
My dear Homer, I thought you were over your adolescence,
when we imagine we have something terrible to hide
from those who love us.
Homer?
You think it's not obvious to us what's happened to you?
You've fallen in love, haven't you?
Whatever you're up to can't be good for your heart.
Then again, it's the sort of condition made worse by worrying.
So don't worry about it.
Dear Dr. Larch, what I'm learning may not be as important
as what I've learned from you. But everything is new to me.
Yesterday I learned how to poison mice.
Field mice girdle apple trees, pine mice kill the roots.
We use poison oats and corn.
I know what you have to do. You have to play God.
Killing mice is as close as I want to come to playing God.
Homer, in St. Clouds I was given the opportunity of playing God,
or leaving everything up to chance.
Men and women of conscience should seize those moments.
There won't be many. Do I interfere when helpless women
tell me they can't have an abortion?
That they must have another, and yet another orphan?
I do not. I do not even recommend.
I just give them what they want.
You are my work of art, Homer. All else has been just a job.
I don't know if you've got a work of art in you.
But I know what your job is.
You're a doctor.
I'm not a doctor.
They're going to replace me, Homer.
The Board is looking for my replacement.
I can't replace you. I'm sorry.
Sorry? I'm not sorry.
Not for anything I've done.
I'm not even sorry that I love you.
I think we may have lost him to the world.
Come on.
Okay, you can have the book.
-Who is it? -I don't know.
It's Mr. Rose.
-Hey, Homer. -Hero! How you doing?
-Good. -Miss Candy.
Good to see you again.
Peaches. How are you? Good to see you.
-Good to see you again. -Good to see you.
Candy.
Mr. Rose.
-Welcome back. -Thank you.
Don't this place feel just like home.
What you all been doing to make it feel so nice?
-Hey, Rose. -Rose Rose.
Good to see you again. How are you?
Where's Jack?
He wasn't up for the trip this season.
Jack didn't know what his business was.
Ain't that right, Muddy?
Ain't you gonna eat with us, Rose?
She used to eat with us.
Maybe she ain't hungry this morning.
She ain't hungry every morning cause she's sick every morning.
Hey, Rose. How you feeling?
Guess you must like watching people be sick.
No, I don't like watching anyone be sick.
Rose...
How many months are you?
Do you know?
Rose?
What do you know about it?
I know more than I'd like to know about it.
Don't trouble yourself none.
This ain't your business.
Right.
What am I going to do with a baby?
I can't have a baby. What am I going to do?
Whatever you want to do, I can help.
If you don't want to keep the baby,
I know a place where you can go.
You think Daddy gonna let me go anywhere?
I ain't going nowhere.
Go back to your picking, Homer.
I can take care of it by myself.
What do you mean?
I mean, I can take care of it by myself, okay?
Don't do anything, Rose.
Don't do anything to yourself, okay?
Rose!
You hear me?
Rose, do you hear me?
-Go on. -Homer!
I think we should take her to St. Clouds and let her decide.
-She doesn't feel she can do that. -We have to help her, right?
We need to do something,
don't we?
Homer.
-Hey. -Hey.
I have some more clothes, I forgot to bring them.
I don't need no more clothes. Thanks.
I know what's going on, Rose.
Homer told me.
You don't know this, but...
I got pregnant about a year ago.
Do you want to have this baby?
Who's the father? Does he know?
If you don't want the baby, we'll take you to a safe place...
I can't go nowhere.
Why?
Rose, listen to me. You can tell me.
It's okay.
Morning.
Morning, Mr. Rose.
Rose, I'm going to be up top, okay.
Mr. Rose.
He's the father.
What?
Mr. Rose is the father.
Mr. Rose is her baby's father.
-Mr. Rose is the father. -What? Are you sure?
I can't believe this. I knew there was something wrong.
What's she going to do?
We have to keep her away
from that bastard.
-Mr. Rose? -Homer.
I know you ain't ready for lunch, boy.
-Is it true? -What's that?
Are you...sleeping with your own daughter?
You've been staying up too late at night, Homer.
You're having sex with your own daughter.
Ain't nobody having sex with my daughter, I tell you that!
You're lying. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
What do you care who hears?
They know already, don't they?
-They know, Mr. Rose. -Do you know your business?
You don't want to be
in no kind of business with me. That's what I know.
Go on, cut my clothes. I've got other clothes.
You come here talking to me about lies and shame!
Those people took you in and that boy Wally is away at war!
Yeah, well she's your daughter!
And I love her!
And I ain't gonna do nothing to harm her.
She's pregnant. You know that?
No! No!
He was over Burma when he was shot down.
There were no injuries. Just disease.
The plane was hit, crew chief and radioman jumping together.
The co-pilot jumped third.
All on Captain Worthington's orders.
The Captain was still flying the plane.
The men couldn't see they sky. That's how thick the jungle was.
They never saw or heard the plane crash.
They never saw
Captain Worthington's parachute either.
He was missing for 20 days. Why?
He followed the Irrawaddy River all the way to Rangoon.
He managed to avoid the Japs, but not the mosquitoes.
So, it's malaria?
No. Encephalitis B.
-What's that? -Captain Worthington is...
paralyzed.
From the waist down. He won't walk.
I'm sorry.
When is he coming home?
In about a month.
By the end of October.
Just tell me. I'll do whatever you want.
Nothing.
Isn't that like waiting and seeing?
No.
Nothing's nothing.
I want Wally to come home.
-I'm afraid to see him too. -I know.
Don't do that, Homer.
I just want to sit here and do nothing.
To do nothing.
It's a great idea, really.
Maybe if I just wait and see long enough,
then I won't have to do anything or decide anything.
Maybe if I'm lucky enough,
someone else will decide and choose and do things for me.
What are you talking about?
But then again, maybe I won't be that lucky.
It's not my fault. It's not your fault.
And that's just it.
Someone's going to get hurt and it's no one's fault.
I don't want to talk about this.
If we just sit here and wait and see
a little while longer,
maybe you won't have to choose and I won't have to do anything.
What do you want from me?
Wally's been shot down. He's paralyzed!
What do you want me to do?
Nothing.
I'm sorry.
You're not the one who has to do anything.
-Where you think you're going? -I got to go, Daddy. Let me go.
I ain't gonna let you go nowhere in the middle of the night.
I can't stay here no more.
You go in the house. This ain't your concern.
-Just listen. -You're forgetting yourself.
This is my daughter.
I believe you got your own mess to deal with, ain't that right?
Ain't that right, Homer?
My daughter and I done told you. This ain't your business.
You even know what your business is?
Come on, man. What is your business?
I'm in the doctor business. I can help.
That's all I'm saying. I can help!
Cervical stabilizer...
-solution... -She my little girl, Homer.
She's going to be alright,
Mr. Rose.
Nothing to worry about.
You ready, Rose?
Fellas.
Come on y'all.
I'm staying, Homer.
Okay. If you stay,
you'll make yourself of use.
Watch her breathing.
You better go get some air.
The heat will help the cramps ease up.
The bleeding is usually a lot less within two days,
but keep checking the pad, okay?
As long as it's not heavy, that's normal.
It's that Vernon.
Keep asking where you,
Rose Rose and Homer is at.
Tell that Vernon to mind his own business, Muddy.
-Told him you all sick. -Tell him...
whatever you want.
You crew boss today.
You reading the rules?
What are they?
"Please don't smoke in bed."
We already heard that one.
Two: "Don't operate the grinder or press if you've been drinking."
Three: "Please don't go up to the roof to eat your lunch."
That's the best place to eat lunch.
Four: "Please, even if you are very hot,
do not go up to the roof to sleep."
Go up to the roof to sleep? They must think we're crazy.
They think we dumb niggers, so we need some dumb rules.
The last one:
"There should be going up on the roof at night."
Why don't they just say: "Don't go up on the roof"?
That's it?
That's it.
That don't mean nothing at all.
All this time I been wondering about it.
They outrageous, them rules.
Who live in this cider house?
Who grind up those apples, pressing that cider?
Cleaning up all this mess?
Who just plain live here,
breathing in that vinegar?
Someone who don't live here made those rules.
Those rules ain't for us.
We the ones who suppose to make our own rules.
And we do.
Every single day.
Ain't that right, Homer?
That's right.
The why don't you burn them rules in the stove?
Go ahead, Homer, do it.
Nothing is nothing, right?
You know I love you.
You know I do.
You needed me.
Now Wally's going to 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!
-Took off last night. -What?
Nobody gonna find her.
She long gone.
I didn't try to stop her.
I just wanted to touch her hand before she go.
And that's all I wanna do.
That's all.
I swear.
Where'd she get that knife, Muddy? Looked like your knife.
No gal need to be out hitchhikin' unless she got a good knife.
Where'd she get you?
There. Just misunderstood me.
I was trying to give her my knife and I reached out to touch her.
But see, I understand if she don't see it like that.
It's my fault.
She's good with that knife.
She's fast.
She's better with that knife than you is, Muddy.
Who do you suppose taught her?
You taught her, I suppose.
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.
Trying 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:
My daughter run off, I was so sad about that,
I stabbed myself.
I was so unhappy she left,
I killed my own self.
That's the truth. Ain't that right?
I want to hear you say that.
I was so unhappy that my daughter had run off,
I killed my own self.
Ain't that right, Homer?
That's right.
Muddy?
Yeah, that's what happened. You lost your only daughter,
so you killed yourself. That's what we say.
That's right.
That's the truth.
I'm just trying to put things straight.
Sometimes you got to break some rules,
put things straight.
Ain't that right, Homer.
Good.
-Think Rose will be okay? -She'll be alright.
She knows how to take care of herself.
This is for you. Olive wanted me to bring it.
Thanks.
I know you don't think much of being needed, or of me...
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 going to be okay.
-I know he is. -Yeah.
Dear Homer, I'm writing to tell you about Dr. Larch.
Dr. Larch?
I can assure you the overdose
was entirely accidental.
Let us be happy for Dr. Larch.
Dr. Larch has found a family. Good night, Dr. Larch.
Come on, Muddy. Step on it, man!
Get on it, man. I wanna get to the sunshine.
-Homer! -Yeah?
-You ever seen a palm tree? -He ain't been out of Maine.
Ain't you sick of pine trees?
Let me tell you about Florida.
The sunshine...
it's so warm down there,
you can pick them grapefruit and oranges naked if you want.
What do you think, Homer?
I'd love to go with you guys, but I have to move on.
You hear that, Muddy?
-What? -Says he ain't movin' on with us.
Homer!
Come on, come down with us.
Can't do it, guys.
Well, I reckon you got to do what you got to do.
Oh 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 holy rest.
-And peace at the last. -Amen.
Homer!
-Homer! -It's Homer!
Let me see.
You're welcome.
It was my pleasure.
It's Homer's.
Do you have something for me?
Do I have something for you?
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. -That would be more comfortable.
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? Something else for me?
Homer, do you know what this is?
-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. So 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 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.