Uh, my glasses, I can never find 'em.
Mrs Fenster! Help!
Thank you. Happens all the time.
OK, Alberto Valvo.
Uh... "Sight Restoration after Long-term Blindness."
Ah...
"One must die as a blind person to be born again
as a sighted person."
"However, it is the interim, the limbo between two worlds,
that is so terrible."
There you go, pal. You're in limbo.
That... That's it? Limbo? I mean... That book doesn't have anything else
- that might help with Virgil's condition? - Limbo's not so bad. It's like New Jersey.
You can see where all the good stuff is. You just have to get there.
I know, I know, you were expecting Anne Bancroft.
A dramatic breakthrough out by the water pump.
Sorry, I'm just a professor.
I teach people how to teach the blind how to become independent.
Unfortunately, there's no manual on what you're going through.
I'd like to help, but like the rest of things in life, it's really up to you.
Are you crazy? I'm completely confused.
You said you'd like to help, so we came here for help...
- All right, all right, you want a lesson? - Yes!
Here we go. Lesson number one.
Repeat after me...
The rain in Spain stays mainly...
Look, I'm kidding! It's a joke.
What's this?
It's an... It's an apple.
Good, good. You've now won the toaster oven.
OK.
What's this?
It's an apple.
Good, but is it an apple or just a picture of an apple?
OK. So, uh, this is a joke, right?
What are you saying? That our... my eyes lie?
Your eyesight can and will play tricks on you.
No matter what I could teach you, they'll still play tricks on you.
- You've gotta trust your instincts. - I don't have any.
My instinct is to close my eyes and feel my way out of here.
That's a self-preservation instinct. But you have others.
Virgil, you have to learn to see, just like you learned to speak.
Perception, sight, life
is about experience, reaching out and exploring the world for yourself.
It's not enough to just see. We've got to look as well.
Immediately following the operation
the patient experienced extreme disorientation.
Images and colours had no meaning for him.
But now,
just weeks after surgery,
Mr Adamson has mastered the ability to define shape and distance,
giving him confidence to move about his environment.
He is still
confused by new images just as a child would be fascinated by
everyday objects that we take for granted.
Look up.
What is it?
It's art. Dubuffet.
This is art?
Oh, now that has to be art! Look at that. That is beautiful.
Uh, no, that's just somebody being destructive.
- The words read something pretty nasty. - What is it?
It says pigshit.
His progress is steady but Virgil still relies on his touch
- to interpret objects in his surroundings. - It's a dog!
I'm sorry, yes.
His understanding of three-dimensionality
is very limited and confounding to him.
Wow, listen to the bells.
What's that? That lump?
Oh, that's... that's a homeless person.
You just walked right past him.
You didn't even look.
Well, some things you choose not to see. You can't look at everything, Virgil.
I don't want to look away. I want to see everything.
What the hell are you looking at? Get outta here!
He also has difficulty with scanning. That's putting the whole picture together.
I've got 10 years' experience at Bear Mountain, in all kinds, really.
Deep-tissue, therapeutic, shiatsu.
That's fine. Let's get you started.
Here's your l-9, W-4, basic employment package. Fill these out.
Take 'em over to Connie.
Oh, gosh, you know what? I forgot my glasses.
I'll take this home,
- and fill it out, and bring it back, OK? - All right.
This includes his ability to read, meaning he has
a total lack ofvisual memory.
Sweetie, it might help if you kind of... take the word...
No, it won't help, Amy. I told you, it's not helping.
I know what I'm supposed to do. I just can't do it, OK?
I can't read. When I reach the last letter I can't remember the first.
I can't fill out an application. Somebody has to do it for me
Iike I'm blind, but I'm not blind.
Your helping isn't helping.
OK, I'm sorry.
This is an unexpected physiological flaw,
and one that we hope that, uh, Virgil will be able to overcome.
Well, that's it for today. Thank you.
Mr Adamson, Christie Evans from NYN. Could you give us an idea
- of what you're going through? - That hurts.
- Do you need to have that light on? - Yeah. In terms ofyour operation,
were the results met with your expectations?
Um, I didn't have any expectations.
Information? ln Pinecrest, New York, for a Jennie Adamson.
Um, here, maybe try this.
What's that?
You tell me.
I don't know, it's a crocodile.
- Come on, concentrate. - I don't want to concentrate, Amy.
Can't we just have one meal where it's not about my eyes?
I just want to sit here and eat.
Just trying to be helpful.
Let's talk about something else.
How was your day? What happened?
Fine. Nothing.
Yeah... No, we were invited to a party tomorrow night. Duncan's birthday.
Is that it?
What do you mean is that it?
I'm telling you something I thought you'd have a response to.
Sorry, is that not enough?
OK. I'll go. Uh...
Why haven't you finished your sculpture?
Where did that come from?
I wanna know. I'm there every day and
I, um, think it's perfect, it's beautiful.
You said you didn't like it and it wasn't finished.
You said it like you never would. So, that's why I'm asking.
It's something I care a lot about, and I can't get right.
I see it in my head and I can't do it right. It's beautiful and I'm failing it.
So, maybe I'm not an artist.
What's that?
It's a lobster.
People eat this?
- OK, a measuring cup? - Try again.
Hey, you cheated! You told me you couldn't touch.
Sometimes you have to touch.
- A cheese grater? - Yeah.
Hello?
- It's me. - Jennie! Hi!
What are you doing here?
You're being so mysterious. Just tell me why we're here.
- Well, um... - What?
- Our father's here. - What?!
I recognised his voice the minute I answered the phone.
Wha... Which one is he?
There he is. He's the one with the clipboard, the phone.
- I... Oh, no, no, I can't see him. - Yes, you can.
- Jennie! - Virgil, he's our father.
He heard about the operation and asked to see you.
I'm not ready. No, no, Jennie.
Virgil?
- Hi. - Hi.
Were you asleep?
No, I just...
..forget about the lights sometimes.
You know, I've been thinking about that party and
we don't have to go if you don't want to. It's no big deal.
It's your partner's birthday party. You want me to meet your friends?
Yeah.
Glass of red or white?
- Which one's red? - That's red, that's white.
That's the white. You want white?
Quiet. Shh! He's coming!
Kill the lights.
- What's happening? - It's for the surprise.
- What? - Nothing. You just had a hair out of place.
What is this? What... You didn't?
Surprise!
Is he all right?
Yeah. He's just kidding around. He always plays jokes.
Save me some cake!
Hey, you. How's it all going?
OK. He's progressing slowly, but he's doing the best he can.
Actually I was asking about the mall designs, but, uh, that's OK.
It's understandable. So, how is it going?
It's not quite what you expected, is it?
What do you mean?
You like this guy, you want to help him out.
Sometimes good intentions aren't enough.
Look at me, I'm still a jerk.
Yeah. You are.
Well, happy birthday, jerk.
Aah. So, uh...
We are expected in Atlanta tomorrow with the plans.
Duncan, I can't go. There's just too much going on.
Hey.
Virgil, I wanted you to meet Duncan. Duncan, Virgil.
How's it going? Congratulations. It's good to see you.
- It's good to see anything. - Come on, Duncan, let's dance.
Duty calls.
Amy, sorry about Atlanta. Could have used you.
Wha... What was that? Atlanta?
Oh, he tried to spring a meeting on me. I told him I wouldn't go.
Did you change your hair?
I just combed it.
Do you think what Webster says is true, that the eyes lie to us?
- No, I don't. - So, what does...
What does you kissing Duncan say?
- Oh, God... - You kissed him. What does that say?
- It says it's his birthday. - I haven't seen a kiss like that before.
Well, that's what a birthday kiss looks like.
What's this look mean?
What look?
This look. It's strange. I don't understand what it means.
- Nothing. - What does it mean?
It doesn't mean anything. We're just talking.
I'm just looking back at you. It doesn't mean anything.
Let's dance.
Don't you want to dance some more? Try this. It's fun.
They just do letters.
You wanna try? Just...
- You just... - I don't belong here.
It's just a stupid dance. Virgil!
- Hey, look. - No, fuck looking!
Oh, my God.
- Take me home. - Are you OK?
- Honey, are you all right? - Just take me home.
God, you never stop, do you?
Well, I've got to get it right.
Besides, my plane leaves first thing in the morning.
Plane?
I didn't think you were going.
I'll only be gone a day or two.
It's, uh, giving you problems, huh?
What?
This or us?
Us.
Amy, I wake up every morning and I
stare and stare.
And I'm looking at a total stranger.
You don't see me?
I was talking about me.
You, I feel like
I saw you better when I was blind.
Well, you're not blind any more. I'm sorry if that disappoints you.
Look, I'm done here. It's late and I gotta get up early.
I'm gonna go to bed before we both say things that we don't mean.
Come on, Katie, your mom's waiting.
- Hi. - There you go.
Hey, Virgil! So you came crawling back, huh?
Bye.
You wanna join us? I could use your help.
- Oh, no, I'll wait here till you're done. - OK.
Casey, come on, let's call it a day.
- How is it, working with the kids? - Great. They're the best.
And they're the easiest because
they're so eager to make their way in the world.
It's the adults who get stubborn. Where did you go to blind school?
I didn't. My father, uh,...
I was just in regular school. I picked it up... on my own.
Oh... Great.
Apple.
We've gotta move on to vegetables.
Come on, I got a place for you. Should relax those eyes a bit.
Seeing sucks.
- Oh, you gotta be kidding. - It sucks.
You can say that, sitting in these prime viewing seats?
Forget your eyes. Get your head examined.
I'm serious.
When I was blind, I couldn't see. Don't laugh.
I mean, people don't have expectations. They know what you are.
Or they think they know.
They get on with it. They deal with it.
Yeah. Didn't get what you counted on, did you?
Oh, boy. And now, here's where it gets complicated.
Now I can see, but I don't know what I can see.
Because your eyes play tricks on you,
you see things that you don't wanna see.
Jealousy.
What's most important to you right now? Seeing, or um...
Amy.
That's what I thought. So we're not talking eyes here,
we're talking the heart.
The other night I was watching TV.
One of the major disadvantages of regaining sight, by the way.
- There was this famous pianist. - A what?
Piano player. And he's about six, seven hundred years old.
- Will this be a long story? - Could be.
And they bring out this seven-year-old prodigy.
He plays Chopin, backwards and forwards,
with one arm tied behind his back, spinning plates. Brilliant.
The old master listened appreciatively and at the end he said,
"You played the piano very well."
"Maybe one day you will learn to make music."
I think I know what you're saying.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to make music.
You just gotta focus.
Here. See my hand?
- Yeah. - All right. Now focus on it.
Forget about everything else, and that will be difficult here,
but just look.
And your point is? OK, so, that's what? Seeing?
No, Grasshopper, that's looking.
Looking! You watch the fist.
You see it'll hit you, but did you want it to?
- No. - No. That's looking.
Virgil, my advice after three beers,
you'll see a lot, but none of that matters if you lose sight of what you want.
I love it.
But... I don't care for the trees.
I think we should lose them.
The man just doesn't care for trees. I dunno.
How can the man not care for trees? They were the best part of the location.
We'll just have to change them.
No harm there. You'll come up with something better.
Hey, um, let me buy you a drink, huh?
Get those creative juices flowing.
Oh, I think I have to go to bed.
Come on. Look, they're playing our song.
"Mack The Knife" was our song?
See?
Not so bad, huh?
Not so bad.
It's nice dancing together again.
Yeah.
Do you remember the first time?
Your sister's wedding in Connecticut?
Yeah, it was beautiful with all those red leaves falling.
I'd love to go back some time.
Mm.
So would l.
What happened to us? Why'd you give up on us?
I don't know. I think we... did it too fast, you know.
I was just a kid then, falling in love with architecture.
I never fell in love with architecture, but
I know I fell in love with you.
That's bullshit.
Ah, well, hey. It used... It used to work.
Oh, God, I'm sorry, I can't do this.
This is wrong. I have to go home.
You have to go home?
To be a baby-sitter?
Don't say that.
Amy.
Virgil?
Virgil?!
- He's gone, Amy. - Gone?
Gone where?
The park. Said he was looking for something.
Virgil!
Hey, Virgil!
Virgil, watch out!
Watch out!
Jesus, what are you doing? What are you doing?
I was watching the cab as it got closer to me.
It's perspective.
Yeah, but you'll get yourself killed doing that in the street.
I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry.
Oh, boy.
I went to the loft and you weren't there. I thought that you had left.
I thought about it.
So, I came out here
to try and see the horizon that you described so beautifully.
Oh... Oh, well you can't see it from here. There's too many buildings.
But that doesn't mean it's not still here, right?
Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Right. Just because you can't see things
doesn't mean that they don't exist. I mean, that... that's what faith is, right?
What's that look?
What does that look mean? That's a new look.
Virgil, I have to tell you something.
I was getting confused.
But that doesn't excuse how I've acted.
See, I thought I saw you slipping further and further away from me.
And I didn't see that you were slipping away from me.
I...
Amy, uh, oh... I don't know why I didn't tell you, but
I want to say this. When...
Well, Jennie came to see me and I went to see my father.
And I couldn't see him.
I was afraid.
I... felt like I was letting him down.
Like I feel like I've let you down.
The only thing I ever wanted
was to be whole.
Not just to be able to ride a bike,
or play in the playground like other kids,
or go on a date.
But to be whole, to be needed by somebody,
Iike I needed them.
And the first time I ever felt like that was with you.
I know I have a lot to learn, but I can see.
And I don't want you to give up on me.
I won't, Virgil.
When I was in Atlanta I realised how much that I need you.
And I want you to come home with me.
Until the operation, five weeks ago,
Virgil had been a... touch person.
Someone whose vocabulary, whose sensibility, whose picture of the world
is based on tactile, non-visual terms.
But now, as a sightedperson,
by focusing single-mindedly on his goal,
Virgil has a new-found ability to understand distance and shape,
colour, perspective.
And though there are still miles to go in his learning process,
for all medical intents andpurposes, he is... becoming a seeing person.
- Hey! - What?
You want me to see, don't you? Aren't I supposed to look?
- Oh, my God! - What?
She is so flirting with you!
What?
- What's that look? - What look?
That look. You have so many looks.
Uh, it was probably a jealous look, huh?
It was the response to that look.
OK, all right. You wanna see my other looks?
OK, this is what... sad looks like.
Here is jubilation. Yippee!
Careful.
This is, uh, terrible... fear.
Extreme suspicion.
It's all your fault. I have an idea!
Argh! Argh! Argh!
Rrrargh!
This is... I love you.
Oh, this look I love.
Yesterday, the clouds...
No, in the sky, not my eyes.
Oh, and purple. Purple's the most amazing colour.
And Amy said yesterday that we saw birds and...
Um, um... What were they?
- Pigeons. - Pigeons!
- Tell her about the fish market. - Dozens of 'em. And the fish market!
Salmon and, uh, crabs and octopus.
How does anyone eat a octopus? OK.
No, I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll call soon.
OK.
Me, too. Bye.
OK. Close your eyes.
- Present. - Oh, a tie!
It's a large tie, too.
There's gonna be an opening for the lobby.
They're gonna have a party. And
I thought we could both dress up to celebrate.
It's your first time seeing any of my work finished.
- That's great. - Huh!
What's the matter?
Nothing. It's really great.
I like it a lot.
You sure? It looks like it fits.
You look great in it.
Thanks.
Hey, Virge, Virge! Where are you going?
OK.
- What does that mean? - What?
This, um, thing you did with your mouth. What does that mean?
Well, uh, I'm only... registering sparks of activity.
Retinal sparks, followed by nothing.
So, uh, how long has this been going on?
A couple of days.
Have a seat.
Your, uh... Your retinal function is down 10%.
I'm afraid the retinal disease seems to have returned.
But you corrected that. You... I was healed of that. So...
Well, l...
I mean, I don't know whether, uh,
you didn't have the blood vessels to supply enough oxygen to your retinas.
I wish there were an easy way to say this.
When?
Well, it's hard to say. Uh...
A month. Two weeks.
Today?
I don't know.
You look good.
Hey, how do I look?
I want some answers.
Why did you leave?
Because I was blind, or because I gave up on your idea of me seeing?
To the point. I like that. That's something you got from me.
You make jokes? I haven't seen you in 20 years,
you find out I can see, you want to see me,
- and you make jokes? - Can we talk about this later?
No, answer my question. Why did you leave?
I woke up every morning and looked at you... and failure.
My own failures.
If I couldn't get my own son to see, then...
But it's water under the bridge now, right?
You can see! Hell, I knew you could!
Yeah, I can see.
And I'm going blind again.
You're the first person I've told.
I wanted to see you, look in your eyes, while you explained my whole life.
You know what you did to Jennie? To my mom?
You shouldn't have done that,... Dad.
You shouldn't have left.
Yeah, a little bit higher, like an inch... Half inch. Good.
Hold that thought, wait.
Hey!
What are you doing here?
God, I didn't want you to see it yet. It's not done.
I came to see you.
I wanted to tell you something. OK?
I had this idea, OK? Bear with me.
Cos things are going so great and you're doing so well,
and I've got the Atlanta mall, so we've got more money coming in,
I thought that we could take a trip. A sort of, um, a seeing celebration.
A seeing celebration?
Yeah.
I thought that we could, um, that we could go to Egypt.
We can both see the pyramids for the first time.
- Amy... - And then I could take you to Paris.
I could show you Notre Dame,
with the gargoyles and the water with the light on it,
and the stained glass. You'll love it. There's so much I want to show you.
The windows and the water. We'd have the most wonderful time.
What do you think?
I think...
There is... There is one place I'd like to see.
Whoo!
Virgil! Virgil.
- Are you OK? - The puffy thing.
This is the puffy thing. This is the cloud?
You found the puffy thing. Oh, my God! It's cotton candy.
Oh, my God.
Thank you so much for taking me here. This was wonderful.
Are you OK?
Yeah... I'm just
having a... bad eye day.
It's a lot to take in.
I'm OK now. It's just...
I'm sorry. These people wanna get by over here.
- What? - These people on the right.
- Oh, I'm sorry. - Excuse us.
Honey, what's going on? What's happening with your eyes?
Blackouts.
This one's the longest.
I just want to go home, OK?
Baby, wait... one second. Has this... happened before today?
I'm going blind.
What?
What do you mean? What's wrong? I mean, what...
You've... had blackouts. Maybe your eyes are overworked.
You've been seeing so much, getting so excited.
- No. - We can... go to the doctor
and he'll tell us what's happening. I mean, maybe, you know,
- it's just been too fast... - Amy, can we just go home?
Baby, let's go to the doctor...
I saw Dr Aaron. There's nothing they can do.
We'll go to another doctor.
What... do you want me to say? You want it explained another way?
I'm going blind.
- Let's... - That's what's happening. I'm going blind.
I just...
..wanna go home.
Baby, don't give up. We got... We got you to s...
I just want to go home.
It was a good game.
What are you doing?
I'm leaving.
What do you mean? You're leaving... this apartment?
You're leaving New York, or you're leaving me?
I'm going home.
What, are you going home to Jennie?
Is she gonna take care of you now?
I'm not going through this bullshit again.
Bullshit?
- That's what this has been? Bullshit? - Yes, it's bullshit! Who are we kidding?
I'm blind. I can't see.
OK? I don't belong here. I'm not meant to see.
Goddamn right, you're blind. I'm here for you, and you don't even look.
Why are you shutting me out?
Why didn't you tell me what was going on with you?
Do you know why I remembered the cotton candy?
Because it's the one thing in my life I remember with my father that was good.
After I went blind, he pushed to try to make me into something that I'm not.
Then he turns his back on me when his plans fail.
But I'm not turning my back on you.
I promised you I wouldn't give up on you.
Don't give up on me! Give up on the idea of me seeing!
Didn't you want something more out of your life?
That's all I wanted to give you a chance for.
Jesus Christ! Did you think you'd sit in that school bus
and work in the spa the rest of your life?
Didn't you have dreams? To see or learn or do more than that?
- You have so much to give of yourself. - And so much to be taken away.
Oh, God... Agh!
Goddammit.
Your sculpture.
I'm sorry.
It's just... We both didn't get what we wanted.
I wanted you.
When you asked me here did you ever think it wouldn't work out?
That... I might not be able to see?
Did you ever think about what it would be like to just
be with me, the blind man?
There's my answer.
Jessie, aah... Iook at you. Let me look at you.
What a beautiful colour you are.
What a good dog.
Everything's the same as when you left. Nothing's changed.
- Hello? - Hi.
Hi.
Hey, Jess.
Hi.
I picked up some things at the store.
Some, uh, T-shirts... Socks, you're probably out.
You are so beautiful.
Why didn't you tell me you were beautiful?
I just told you what you needed to know, that's all.
Look at me.
Why do people look away?
What do you want?
I want to see you.
Isn't there anything more you want?
You've spent your whole life as blind as I was.
Virgil, please. This is your home.
Don't worry about things that don't matter to you. You're safe here.
You matter to me. This was a great place to grow up.
It was very safe.
But I grew up.
I can't even imagine the things you gave up for me.
I just want to look at you. Look at me, Jennie.
I wanna say thank you. I love you from the bottom of my soul.
And I want to give you your life back.
I can't.
Yes, you can.
Jennie,...
..l'm reaching out.
Growing up blind, I had two dreams.
One was to see.
The other was to play hockey for the New York Rangers.
After the... miracle of my brief period of sight,
if I had to choose, I'd rather play hockey for the New York Rangers.
It wasn't that seeing was so bad. I saw a lot of things.
Um, some were really beautiful. Others were scary.
Some things, I'm, um, already forgetting.
A particular look in a pair ofeyes,
clouds.
Those images will stay with me long after the light fades.
As a blind man, I think that I see
a lot better than I did while I was sighted.
Because I don't really think we see with our eyes.
I think, um, we live in darkness when
we don't look at what's real about ourselves,
or about others, or about life.
I think, uh, no operation can do that.
And
when you see what's real
about yourself,
then you've seen a lot.
Good boy.
And you don't need eyes for that.
Want a bite?
- You missed. - Missed?
Amy?
Hey.
Hi.
Um...
I was just in the neighbourhood.
No, uh, Phil told me that you were working here.
And I thought maybe I could find you in the park.
I rushed, didn't l? 14 paces to the tree, and I made us slam right into it.
We tried.
Are you happy?
I'm... I'm trying to be.
Work is good. I went out on my own.
What happened to Duncan?
He's building mini malls.
Where's Jessie?
Jessie's at home with Jennie. This is Pierce.
My new dog.
He's a good boy.
Hello, Pierce.
Hello, sweetie.
Virgil, I finished the sculpture.
I didn't know where it was going to go.
But that was OK.
I really enjoyed letting it take on its own life.
Letting it be just what it was.
Without me pushing or doubting myself.
And what it was, was beautiful.
I saw the horizon.
It's out there.
Even though I may not ever be able to touch it,
it's worth reaching for.
You showed me that.
Thank you.
Um...
- Do you wanna walk? - See what we see?
Yeah, just... see what we see.
- Lead on, Macduff. - OK.