Wait. No, wait. I can do that better.
I can sing better than Alice Faye.
- I swear to Christ I can. - Allie!
Alice Graham, you get in this house...
before I beat the living daylights out of you. Do you hear me?
You wait and see.
And if anybody doesn't like it, they can blow it out their ass.
For God's sake, do something about that kid!
Turn that damn thing down!
I'm sorry, Don.
Now keep it off. You're going to drive us deaf.
Do you want me to have a fight with him?
How are we supposed to have a meaningful family relationship...
when he's on the verge of killing you half the time?
And why do we have to have Mott the Hoople 24 hours a day?
Maybe if I had a Kitty Kallen record.
Am I lucky?
I don't know. I'm an okay sort of person.
How did I get such a smart-ass kid?
You got pregnant.
The mouth. The mouth on him.
Honey, dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes.
Whatever you say. You're the cook.
Come on and help me clear up the table.
What are you doing on the floor, kid? Act like you got good sense.
Thanks a lot.
Harold wasn't home.
Good. You're just in time for some peach shortcake.
- Let him finish his dinner first. - He doesn't want any more dinner.
But he wants that old sugar crap, don't he?
I hope this is good, now.
Alice, what the hell have you done to the coffee?
I didn't do anything to the coffee. Doesn't it taste good?
It tastes like hell.
Mine tastes all right.
Oh, God, it's salty.
- You think that's supposed to be funny? - What do you mean?
You know what I mean. What the hell did you do to the sugar?
- What? - Don't lie to me, boy.
It's not sugar. It's salt!
- Donald! - That's okay, boy.
That's okay. You run.
I'll save it for you. When you get back, you're going to drink it!
See how you like it.
Alice, if you'd show a little respect around here, it just may rub off on him.
Socorro sucks!
Watch your head.
You're sure laying the money out for meat. Company coming?
No, my husband hates me.
I'm trying to get him to chase me around the bedroom.
Tommy, do you want to give the thanks this evening?
No, thank you.
Father, make us truly humble and thankful...
for these and all the other blessings.
We realize that all good things come from you.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
I made the lamb the way you like it.
- Is it good? - It's okay.
Irene Payson got back from Denver today.
Said she had a real good time.
She did? Well, what all did she do?
Let's see. She went to visit her family.
Then she went to this mountain resort, and she did a whole lot of shopping.
Do you like it?
I hate lamb.
Right.
What are you watching?
I don't know.
Is it a movie?
Looks like one to me.
Is it any good?
I don't know. I just turned it on.
- Don't move. - You make me laugh.
Sorry.
Don't make it too tight. I got to be able to sit.
- Don't I know? I know. - All right.
I thought he was going to kill Tommy this morning. I really did.
Yeah, I heard him yelling. He sure sounded mean.
He's not mean. He's just... You know, he gets so...
I don't know. He just gets so loud sometimes.
I sure couldn't live without some kind of man around the house.
- I could. - And neither could you.
Yes, I could. Easy.
- No, you couldn't. - Easy.
Could be just as happy if I never saw one again, ever.
Of course, it might be different if I ever, you know...
If I met a man like Robert Redford, that could be different.
I'll bet it's different.
He wouldn't be the kind of man that would roll over and go to sleep...
as soon as he's finished.
I think he'd be very gentle.
Listen, I wonder what kind of build he's got on him.
Did you ever see his feet?
Feet?
I heard one time that's supposed to be an indication.
Excuse me.
I saw a picture. They're huge!
- Bea, wait a minute. - They're like this!
Shut up, you nut.
Hello?
Yes.
This is his wife.
What?
No!
My Donald is dead.
God, forgive me.
You know, I still expect him to come home for dinner.
I know.
Wait here, Harold.
- Bye, Harold. - Bye, Allie.
- I'm sorry. - Thank you.
See you later.
You want me to come in with you for a while?
No, I have to get used to it sometime. I might as well start now.
Thank you.
- I'll be over in a while with dinner. - Thanks, Bea.
- How much money is there left? - Don't ask.
I'm asking.
Before the funeral, there was a little over $2,000, but...
- What's left? - About $1.59.
- What are you going to do, Mom? - I don't know, pal.
What are you going to do? We're in this together, you know.
You've got to be able to do something.
The only job I ever had was singing.
It ain't Peggy Lee.
- I had a little trouble... - Seven more dollars.
Thank you very much. Terrific.
- I'm going to turn 12 in Monterey. - That's right.
You'll love it there. I can't wait till you see it.
- It's got to have Socorro beat. - That it does, by a lot.
Thank you. Wear it in good health.
Are you asking $12.50 for this shawl?
Yeah, but you see, it was originally $50.
This is the original price tag.
I don't know. It is beautiful, but that's too much for me.
It's not too much for a $50 shawl.
- I don't know. - Neither do I.
I may kill myself before this day is over.
I can't believe I didn't sell this: A homemade apron with a daisy on it.
Ma'am, I'd like to give this to you as a present.
No, I couldn't.
Please, as a favor to me. It would make me happy if you'd take it.
I certainly do appreciate it, and thank you.
You're welcome. I'm sorry if I was rude before.
I've been kind of nervous lately.
Enjoy it.
I certainly will. You can just bank on that.
Bye.
Lock your door.
Hope it doesn't rain too hard.
I wish you weren't going.
There's room in the car. Want to come with us?
Maybe I will.
Just leave Ken and the kids flat.
Wouldn't that be hysterical if you got in the car and drove off with us?
And they never saw you again. I can see their faces.
I wish I could.
Bye, Harold.
- Be a good boy, now. - Okay.
I'll miss you, Allie.
I'll write to you.
No, you won't. People say they will, but they don't.
Don't cry. That'll make me cry.
- Who's going to make me laugh? - No. Don't, Bea.
Bye.
- Here, take this with you for luck. - Thank you.
- Take care of yourself. - I will.
- Goodbye. - God bless you.
Thank you for everything.
Oh, God.
Are we there yet?
Don't look back. You'll turn into a pillar of shit.
The whole state is shit.
Don't talk dirty, Tommy. How may times do I have to tell you?
Give me a potato chip.
Take this off my hand.
Mom, I feel sick.
- What do you mean? - Like I might throw up.
You want me to pull over?
No, I'll tell you when I feel it coming.
- Mom, I feel it coming. - Okay.
All right. Get the door open.
- Stick your head out the window. - It's all right.
- You don't want me to stop? - No.
I feel it again.
Okay. All right, honey. Just hold on. Aim it out the door.
All right. No, I'm all right.
- You don't want me to stop? - No. It'll get us to Monterey sooner.
Mom, are we in Arizona yet?
If you ask me that one more time, I'll beat you to death.
Just sit back there, relax, and enjoy life.
- Life is short. - So are you.
- Mom, I'm bored. - So am I!
What do you want from me, card tricks?
We should be in Phoenix in about half an hour.
And then we'II, as my Aunt June used to say...
"get gussied up and go to a swanky place to eat." How's that?
What?
I said we's gonna go out amongst them tonight.
What?
What do you mean, what? What are you, Helen Keller?
I said, try and look decent. We'll go out and have a good dinner.
- I don't care. - You're annoying me.
Is this where you're gonna look for a job?
I got to get a new hairdo tomorrow and buy myself something sexy.
- What if you can't? - What, buy myself something sexy?
Get a job, dummy.
Don't be rude to your mother. She just bought you a cheeseburger.
Don't look at me like that. I'll get a job.
Did you love Dad?
Of course I did. What a question.
You don't seem unhappy.
I'm unhappy. What are you talking about? I'm very unhappy.
I don't have to show all my emotions.
I thought because you used to fight with him so much...
Sure, I fought with him. He was a pain in the ass sometimes.
- What's going on with you? - No, Mom, I want to know.
Why did you marry him?
Boy, are you nosy! Will you get in bed?
I'm in bed. Tell me.
Because he was a great kisser.
A great kisser?
That's why you married him?
How great can you kiss?
Ask me again in a couple of years, I'll let you know.
- Who is it? - Diana Ross.
Are you ready to see a great beauty?
You really love that joke, don't you? That's your favorite one.
- Did you bring me a present? - No, I didn't have time.
Okay. What do you think?
You look good. But is it sexy?
Sexy for Phoenix.
Besides, I'm not applying at the Boom Boom Room.
- How do you know you can get a job? - Because I will get one.
- What about when school starts? - Don't worry about the mule going blind.
What if it gets to be September...
What if it gets to be what? What's your problem, kid?
What do you want from me? What's bothering you?
Get over here.
Sit down. This is what I want you to do, okay?
I want you to make me a list. I want to see it in writing.
Write it all out, all your problems...
all the things that are wrong with your life, that can go bad.
Start writing. Write! Write it!
A whole list. All the bad things.
Why aren't you writing? Write!
I'm out there, spending too much money on clothes...
trying to look like maybe I'm under 30 so somebody will hire me...
and you're sitting in here, whining like an idiot.
I will get a job, all right?
I will get you to Monterey before your birthday.
I will get you in school by September. I swear it!
Shall I open a vein and sign it in blood?
I'm sorry, Tommy. I know you're upset, too.
You've been taken away from your home...
and your friends, and everything.
When we get to Monterey, things will be better.
How do you know?
Hey, kid, give me a break.
Act like you got good sense.
Just give me a little time to make some money...
and everything will be okay. Okay?
Okay, honey, I got to get going.
- I'll be back about 5:00 or 6:00, yeah? - Okay.
All right.
- Will you wish me luck? - I do, Mom. Good luck.
Club Manhattan.
Quo vadis?
Try this.
- Excuse me, is Joe or Jim in? - What?
I said, is Joe or Jim here?
I heard what you said. I just didn't believe it.
- Why not? - There ain't no Joe or Jim.
- What? - There ain't no Joe...
I heard what you said. I just didn't believe it.
Is the manager or someone in?
We ain't hiring no waitresses.
I'm not a waitress. I'm a singer.
You're a singer?
Is the manager in?
He's in the hospital, having half a lung removed.
- I'm sorry. - He wouldn't want no singer.
Thank you. Excuse me, could you spare a glass of water?
Sure.
Are you really a singer?
- Where did you sing? - In Monterey, in California.
- What's your name? - Alice Hyatt.
He wouldn't want no singer.
Okay. Thank you.
- Sorry. - That's okay.
Come on in the back, I'll introduce you to the boss.
Chicken? Chicken, I want you to meet Alice.
- Hyatt. - Mighty nice to meet you, miss.
Hyatt. Miss Hyatt.
- My name is Holliman. Chicken Holliman. - Glad to meet you.
Would you mind turning around for me?
- Turn around for you? Why? - I want to look at you.
Look at my face. I don't sing with my ass.
Lenny, what's with this broad?
Hello. Is the manager in?
We don't have a manager. Just the owner, Mr. Jacobs.
Thank you. Jacobs?
Something I can do for you?
Come on, now. What's the matter?
Marie, bring us two Scotch, rocks.
I'm sorry.
- You trying to ruin my afternoon trade? - No. Sorry.
You act like it.
Here, swig on this and troubles will vanish.
Thank you.
See? What did I tell you?
Now you got money in the bank and a faithful husband.
Come on. What can I do for you?
You came towards me with a question mark on your face.
Do you have a Band-Aid?
Marie, see if you got any Band-Aids down there.
I've been looking for a job all day.
These shoes are new.
I just got them this morning, and they're giving me a blister.
Thank you.
I'm a singer.
I'm sorry. I got no money to pay a singer.
That's okay. Nobody does.
If I could give you a job, I would do it.
Thank you. You're very kind.
I don't know what I'm going to do.
- I don't even have a piano in here. - It's okay.
- Come on. - Thank you.
My husband just died.
- I don't even have a piano in here. - I know.
I have a little boy I have to raise all by myself...
and I don't know how I'm gonna do it.
I don't even have a piano in here.
Do you have any experience?
Just before I was married.
Are you any good?
Look, why don't you come back tomorrow? Let me sleep on it.
No, you'll say no tomorrow. If I could just sing for you now...
All right. There's a piano bar down the street. Come on.
Great. Thanks a lot.
Marie, I'll be back in about 20 minutes.
Don't burn it down.
The owner said okay. Just don't scare anybody away.
I won't, I hope.
- Have a go. - Okay.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to hear? Anything special?
Do you know: "What's the use of getting married?
"It's only a waste of time I'd rather sit upon a shelf
"One makes two when you're talking to yourself
"Never let a girl be master for the sake of a cuddle and a kiss
"You may have lots of things you never had before
"What you never had you'll never miss"
No, I don't know that.
- "So what's the use of getting married?" - I don't know that song.
So what'd you ask me for? Go ahead and play.
Okay. Thank you.
Is that on?
How about now? Okay.
Hi, everybody. Just go on and do whatever you're doing.
I'm going to sing.
I'm just going to sing a little.
Thank you.
Thank you. Bye.
That wasn't really very good. I know. I was kind of nervous.
Auditions are hard, you know?
- You go for the piano for the first month. - Sure.
That was it. I did it! I got a job as a singer!
Are we rich?
No, we're not rich yet, but we might be someday.
I found this motel, and a woman said we could have a room with a kitchenette.
The monthly rate is dirt-cheap, and we can save like hell.
What am I supposed to do all the time?
Go visit a reservation and play with the Indians.
It's too hot outside.
Goodness, Wanda Fay, take a fan with you.
You're a very weird kid.
You know what I'm going to do when my ship comes in?
I'm going to get me one of those fancy negligees...
and a pair of gold high-heeled slippers...
with the fur pompons on them, or whatever you call them.
And then I'm going to shave my legs, like all those ladies on television do.
What do you want when my ship comes in, honey?
You always look like such an angel when you're sleeping.
I'll get you to Monterey, kid. I swear to God I will.
I like your singing.
- Thank you. - Well?
I'm Ionely.
Aren't you going to ask me to sit down?
- No. - Why not?
Because I prefer to sit alone.
Come on, nobody likes to sit alone.
You're right. The real reason why you can't sit down is because I don't want you to.
Why?
Because I'm in a very bad mood.
- Maybe I can help you to get out of it. - I doubt that.
Why are you in a bad mood?
Do you really want to know?
- Yeah, I really want to know. - All right.
I have a 12-year-old kid stashed in a motel who's bored out of his skull.
I'm not making enough money in this place.
And I cut my little finger on a tin can this morning opening some peaches...
and it hurts like a son of a bitch every time I play a chord.
And if one more guy makes a pass at me, I'm going to sock him in the face.
Sorry about your finger.
All right, sit down.
Over there, please. Don't sit so close.
My name's Ben Eberhardt.
Mine is Alice Hyatt.
Hiya, Hyatt.
Oh, please.
Yeah, I guess a lot of fellas pull that one on you.
Yeah, but most of them are under 12.
Sometimes I've thought I'd like to mimeograph a page that listed my age...
where I went to school, my favorite color...
my most embarrassing moment, what I do for a living...
all that type of stuff.
So, what do you do for a living?
- I fill bullet cases with powder. - Do what?
I fill bullet cases with powder.
You're not kidding?
I guess there's not a whole lot to say about that.
I really like your singing.
I really thank you.
Can I ask you something, just a little personal thing?
Let's hear it.
- It's coming. - Okay.
- Do you mind if I sit just a little bit closer? - Yes.
What are you doing? You're ruining it! I paid a lot of money for this.
Should have put you in boiling water first.
You big baboon! You just wait. You'll be sorry.
Shut up, lady. Okay, Sam, take it away.
I won't sing.
Why?
Is that the only word your mind can understand?
Why?
Because I don't date teenagers, that's why.
- I'm 29. - Liar.
- I'm 27. - Maybe.
- Maybe... - When?
Last month.
Look, I'm 35. Does that mean anything to you?
Three-dash-five.
When I was in the third grade, your mother was pregnant with you.
When I graduated from high school, you were sucking on Popsicles.
Now, I don't date teenagers.
- Is it yes or no? - No.
- No? - Yes, no.
- Yes? - No.
Yes. No. Now I'm all mixed up.
No.
Stop grinning at me.
That's all I need right now...
to get involved with a 27-year-old person.
I just don't need it. Period.
You sure?
What was that?
I don't know.
You just stay out of it! Just stay out of it!
You're a whore!
I thought this was supposed to be a vacation.
You call this a vacation? Shut up!
If you don't stop, I'll scream, then I'll have everybody in here.
- Everybody will be in here! - Keep your voice down.
Don't come near me.
- I want out. - Go! There's the door!
You going out late again tonight?
I don't know. Why?
Just wondering when you'll introduce me to that guy...
you've been running around with.
His name is Ben, and of course I'll introduce you to him.
Should I call him Uncle Ben?
Isn't that what men like him like to be called?
Men like what?
Don't be so sure you know what you're talking about all the time.
You should see the bags under your eyes.
I wouldn't be surprised. I've been working, you know.
You've been coming home late for almost a week now.
And I figure he's going to be around for a while.
So I have to call him something.
Coming.
Hello.
- Hi. Are you Miss Hyatt? - Mrs. Hyatt.
Could I come in and talk to you for a minute?
What's it about?
My name's Rita Eberhardt, and...
Sure. Come on in.
I'm sorry, it's a terrible mess in here. Let's go in the kitchen.
- Would you go in the other room, please? - Who's this, the Avon lady?
No lip. Just go in the other room.
So he's married. I didn't know that. I'm sorry. I really didn't know it.
I can believe that. For all I've seen him in the last two years...
I hardly don't know it myself.
I wouldn't have come here like this...
only Ben's been missing work off and on the last week or so...
ever since he met you.
Lady, we just got to have his salary check regular.
George, that's my little boy, he's got this ear trouble.
It just drains and drains, and it don't seem like anything will stop it...
and the medicine costs a terrible price.
- I'm sorry. - It's okay.
How did you know my name?
I left George with my girlfriend Nancy...
and followed Ben night before last.
I saw him and you coming out of Jacobs' place...
and then yesterday I asked around about you.
You don't have to worry.
I won't be seeing him anymore.
Rita, are you in there?
Mom?
Rita, you in there? You bitch, I know you're in there!
You might as well answer me now! Alice, is she in there?
Rita, you bitch! Open the door.
Open the goddamn door, Alice!
Alice, open that goddamn door!
I said, open this goddamn door, Alice!
What did you do?
Get out!
Don't touch her, Alice.
If you don't drag your ass out that door, I'm going to cut you.
I'm going to cut your ass. Get out!
What's the matter? Why are you acting like this, Ben?
Why don't you just calm down now? Just go home.
Don't tell me what to do.
God damn it, Alice, don't tell me what to do!
Don't tell me what to do, Alice. Damn it, don't ever tell me what to do.
I'll bust your jaw!
All right. Okay, now, I'll tell you what.
I'll be over at Jacobs' to pick you up later when you get off of work, all right?
All right?
Okay, see you about 1:30?
All right. I'll be there.
Alice, you just got to understand one thing about me. I'm just like this.
Don't mess around with it, and it won't mess with you.
Mess around with it, and it's going to kill you.
That bitch has messed around with me.
All right, sweetheart?
Okay, I'll see you later.
I'm all right.
Please close. Let's see if that's closed.
- No! I can't go on. - Oh, shit.
Wait, let's calm down.
I'm going to do this now, and I'm going to close it.
- Something's sticking out over here. - Stick it in.
- All right, now I am going to close it. - My poor suitcase.
I'll give you a little weight. Got it?
That's it! I've got it. Let's go.
All right.
- Did you remember the money? - No.
- Are you all right? - No.
Where is it?