Mom.
How does this story begin?
It begins like so many stories.
With a boy...
too old to be a kid...
too young to be a man.
And a nightmare.
It has two fundamental constants:
E, the base of the natural logarithm system.
It is a number. It is a number that emerges from our schedule.
What is the mathematical function or thing that describes things...
wherein the rhythm that they change is proportional to the magnitude?
If you calculate it mathematically, it will give these fundamental constants.
Conor?
All right, Conor?
You look tired.
Are you getting enough rest?
Yes, I'm fine.
Because if you ever want to talk... I'm fine.
Okay.
Everybody, eyes forward.
Pi is the ratio of the circumference, and when it all...
Careful, O'Malley.
You might fall. Are you drunk or something?
There will be a little kiss on his sick mother.
You're always in your own dream world.
And what is there so interesting?
Get out.
You were a good boy. Do not forget, O'Malley.
Big boys do not talk.
Hi, Con. Hi Mom.
What is that? It is a surprise.
So this is a VCR? This is much better than a VCR.
It's your grandfather's old film projector.
Here we go. I wish you had known him.
Who?
Grandfather.
Even grandma was calm him.
Of course.
Here we go.
What a bunch of assholes.
Why are they trying to murder King Kong?
People do not like what they do not understand.
They are afraid.
King Kong have all they just crush...
breaking them into pieces of a million.
Conor.
Mom?
I'll get you, Conor O'Malley.
Why do not you walk away, Conor O'Malley?
Why do not you walk away from your mother?
Leave her alone. I'm not afraid of you.
I'll look again on other nights, Conor O'Malley...
and I will make your walls shake until you wake up.
And then I'll tell you three stories.
You're going to tell me stories?
Yes. I will tell you three stories.
And when I'm done with my stories, will you tell me a fourth.
I do not know any stories.
You will tell me a quarter and it will be the truth.
What are you talking about? The truth that you hide.
The truth that you are dreaming.
You will tell me your nightmare. No.
Yes. That will be your truth.
And if I do not?
Oh, Con, I slept.
You should be in your own bed, Con.
Five minutes only.
That is not true. Anyway.
Come on, Con. Five minutes only. I promise.
Five minutes.
Sleep tight.
I respect that, Lizzie, really.
But the last thing your father would like, that he would go to America...
to be with a strange woman and her child. We must now discuss.
Hi, Con. There's the little man.
Where did this come from? From a very nice nursing home.
They pick it blank to build apartments and I will be the broker.
Your mother needs a cup of tea.
Green, no sugar. I take mine black.
What do you think, Con?
He likes it.
Continue. Okay.
Continue. Try something else.
I'm only doing this for you. I do not now have this conversation.
I understand that, but you can not go on like this, Lizzie.
You have to take some decisions. I'm not doing that.
Go Conor help with the tea, or I'm literally insane.
You and I need to talk. I make tea.
I said I'm making tea. We have to...
I'm not the enemy. I'm here to help your mother.
I know why you're here. I'm here because...
12-year-old boys do not have to clean the kitchen uninvited sheet.
Would you do it? Do not talk so much.
She is always sick after the treatments. She'll be better tomorrow, and then you can go home.
They will look better tomorrow. They should talk about this with you.
What?
You to come live with me. I will never come to you...
Listen to me, Conor, like your mother... There is no if.
They will be better and then you can go.
Lizzie? Lizzie.
My God. Hold on.
Where's the medicine? Conor.
Conor.
I'm here. Breathe deeply.
Conor please. Give me the medicine. Fast.
It's coming.
Here it is.
That's better.
Breathe deeply.
Breathe deeply. Breathe deeply.
It is well.
Touch anything. Believe me, I will do my utmost.
Our conversation is not over yet, young man.
Anyway.
Mom.
What took you so long?
It's time to tell you the story first.
I do not need a story. But needed a bus ticket for my grandmother.
It's time to get...
Where are you going? Will be listened to me.
I'm as old as this country, and I will... What do you know?
I know everything about you, Conor O'Malley.
That is not true. If so...
you would know that I do not have time to listen to stories of a stupid tree...
while it is just a dream.
A dream? What is a dream, Conor O'Malley?
And who says there that the rest is not the dream?
Never mind.
I came to visit you today, because I thought...
You thought I might come to destroy your enemies and defeat your dragons.
Or at least to help me with my grandmother. But you just want to tell me stories.
Stories about how I destroyed my enemies.
Stories about how I defeated dragons.
Let me tell you a story of when I was just.
Let me tell you about the end of an evil queen...
and how I made sure that she was never seen again.
Alright then.
Good.
What do you see?
Nothing. Hang leaves on the road.
Use your imagination, Conor O'Malley.
What do you see?
I see a spark. Yes. And?
No, it's water. It is watercolor.
Stay tuned.
Indeed.
Long ago, this was a city, with roads and trains and cars...
this was a kingdom. Here?
We do not even have a Tesco.
It was a prosperous kingdom with a wise king...
that peace had obtained for his people...
but peace came with a price.
The king had lost all three of his sons in battle...
against giants...
against dragons...
against armies of men led by great magicians.
This all sounds quite magical.
You would not say that if you could hear the screams of a man who was slain by a spear.
The queen was not able to bear the loss of their three sons...
The king left alone in his despair, in the company of his only surviving heir...
his orphaned grandson.
The child was raised as a prince...
won the love of the kingdom with his bravery and gold heart.
His people loved him.
Our future king.
He was almost a man when his grandfather took a new wife.
The king felt sick and the rumor began to spread...
she was an evil witch...
she wanted the throne for himself by poisoning the king.
A few weeks later the king died.
The prince was too young to take the place of the king...
Thus, according to the law, the queen would rule for a year.
The future was uncertain.
Meanwhile the prince had lost his heart.
She was beautiful and smart, and, although the only daughter of a farmer...
the kingdom was happy with the couple.
The queen mate of the queen.
And what better way to keep that, then by marrying the prince?
What? That's disgusting.
She was his grandmother. Step grandmother...
and still a young, beautiful woman, do not forget that.
The prince was also not a good idea.
He took the daughter of the farmer, and together they drove into the night.
They stopped to rest under the branches of a yew.
That's you.
The next morning the Prince awoke.
"Rise up, my love," he said.
But the daughter of the farmer did not move...
and when the prince saw the blood.
Blood? Someone had his lover's killing overnight.
What?
"The Queen," he cried.
"The queen has killed my bride."
The villagers, full of rage and vengeance, rebelled.
At that time I ran.
The queen was never seen again.
Good. They deserved it.
I suppose you can not help me with my grandmother.
The story is not finished yet.
I spent the queen far enough away so that the villagers would never find her...
to a village by the sea, where they began a new life.
But they killed the daughter of the farmer.
How can you save a murderer?
You really are a monster.
I never said that they murdered the daughter of the farmer.
I only said that the prince said that.
The prince did not fall asleep that night...
but waited until the daughter of the farmer in dreamland...
and then began his real plan.
What?
He knew her death would spark a fire that would destroy the queen.
That's a terrible story. And deceit.
It is a true story.
Many things that are true feel like cheating.
Kingdoms get the rulers they deserve.
Farmer Daughters die for no reason.
And sometimes the witches deserve to be saved.
Quite often, actually. You might be surprised.
So the good prince was a murderer and an evil queen was still not a witch?
No, the queen was certainly a witch...
and could have cause great harm.
Who can tell?
Why did you save her?
Because she was not a murderer.
She had not poisoned the king.
He had become just old.
Was the prince ever caught?
No. He was a beloved king...
who ruled happily until the end of his long day.
Oh yeah.
I do not get it.
Who's good here?
There is not always a good one, Conor O'Malley...
and there is not always a bad guy.
Most people are somewhere in between.
And how this can save me from Grandma?
You do not have to be saved from her.
There are always two sides to a story.
How many of you know the saying:
"Swearing does not hurt?"
The next time someone says something to you...
Well, you're home.
Your mom is upstairs. She wants to talk to you.
What? Your dad comes home Sunday.
Does dad? From America?
Continue.
She waits.
And pack your belongings. You'll stay for a few days with me.
Just go.
That tree is amazing.
Standing here for thousands of years.
What do you think?
I think Grandma is trying to turn me into Tina Turner.
She'll be a fan.
Why do I have to grandma?
Should you go back to the hospital?
Come here, Con.
The last treatment does not start.
So they're going to adapt...
try something else.
That's all? That's all.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Because...
you can tell me, you know.
Everything will be fine, Conor.
You'll see.
Wait for us, Conor. Where are you going?
Do not touch him. "Do not touch him?"
With a face to save? I told you not to touch it.
O'Malley and I have a tacit agreement.
I'm the only one who touches him.
Is not that so?
Now tell me...
why is it that every time I turn around, you look at me?
Is still a bit weird?
Sorry, that was a bit harsh.
You do not have a really good day.
We kidding but whatever.
I have to show a house.
I trust you alone here comes your father. I'm not five years.
This is the right time.
Not on your phone or on the computer, not even on the news.
That was my mother, your grandmother.
For over a hundred years the perfect time.
Conor pack your backpack.
I do not want your father think you live in a pigsty.
There is not much chance.
If you go to the hospital, your father may not see how tired you become a mother.
So we have to make sure he does not stay too long.
Not that that's a problem historically.
No eggs. You have this week already eaten twice.
If you are hungry, there is still spinach in the refrigerator you can steaming.
Yes of course.
Do not touch anything.
I will try my best.
Yummy.
Dad.
Oh no.
How are you, Con? You look tired.
I am okay.
Mom gets a new drug. And it will make her better.
She goes every two weeks to the hospital...
and then they pump the drug in her blood.
The few days later she was sick, but she's better.
Your sister is doing better. Half sister.
Yes.
I would like you to get to know her.
I've been there with your grandmother had left to take you to LA.
You want me to come to LA? Yes absolutely.
Do you like that? Yes.
We thought the Christmas holidays, so you're back in time for school.
You just mean a visit? Yes, but it would be nice.
I do not want to live with Grandma. It's an old ladies house with old ladies stuff.
You can not touch anything or sit anywhere. You may not even make mess for two seconds.
Conor, I know, but... I want my own room with my own stuff.
That would not have you in America. There is not enough space.
I do not care. Conor...
your family, your life, your friends... She's so strict.
Your school, it's all here. Her house is like a museum.
It would be unfair to pick you out of it. Unfair to whom?
Your grandmother was not home yet.
She sometimes goes back to the hospital after I go to bed.
The nurses let her sleep in a chair.
Just because your grandmother does not like me, she's a bad person.
She says you never finish anything.
She can have her own opinion.
How long are you staying here?
As long as I can.
What does that mean?
We do not have much money and the Americans do not have much vacation.
You're not an American. No, but I live there.
I'll be back when it's needed. And you come to LA during the Christmas holidays.
In your cramped house where there is no room for me.
Why did you come?
Conor wait.
Conor tomorrow.
There is still much time.
Regarding destruction, was remarkably pathetic.
I've come to tell you the second story.
Is it as bad as the previous one?
It ends with the proper destruction, if that's what you mean.
It's about a man who thought only of themselves...
a man who was not as generous as it should have been.
A man who punished a lot.
Stories are not real, you know.
They do not help.
Stories are wild creatures, Conor O'Malley.
Who knows how much damage they can do if you let them.
Oh yeah.
Okay.
Tell me.
Good.
150 years ago...
The future arrived.
Factories grew like weeds.
Fell trees, rivers were black...
and the air choked on smoke and ash.
But there was still green if you knew where to look.
On the outskirts of the city attended a stubborn man...
who refused to change.
He used the old ways of medicine...
herbs and bark and concoctions brewed from leaves and berries.
Villagers called the Pharmacist him.
The what? The Pharmacist.
An old-fashioned name for 'pharmacist'.
Why do you say then?
There was a young pastor in this village, reasonable and nice man...
who only wanted the best for his parish.
He preached against the use of the old ways of the Pharmacist...
and the bad temper and the greed of the Pharmacist...
was made a number of these sermons in good ears.
He tried as much as possible to help the community...
but his business plummeted and that made him bitter.
The parsonage was also a yew.
That's the hill where you live.
The yew is the most important of the healing trees. Why?
Its berries, bark his strumming and burn and throb of life.
Which can cure almost any ailment.
Really? Everything?
Everything that can be cured if it is mixed with the appropriate pharmacist.
The Pharmacist wild yew tree very much.
But to reap those things, he would have to cut down it.
And that would not allow the pastor.
The pastor had two daughters who were the light of his life.
He was a caring, loving father who had everything to them.
But one day the two girls were struck down by a terrible illness...
and nothing did the pastor helped.
No treatment of the modern doctors, no prayer, no nothing.
There remained only the Pharmacist.
"You want to help my daughters?, begged the priest."
"Will you save two innocent girls?"
"Why should I?" Said the pharmacist.
"You have destroyed my business with your preaching...
and you refused me the yew tree, my best source of healing."
"You can have the yew tree," said the minister.
"I will preach to your advantage.
I'll do anything if you just save my daughters."
"Would you give up everything you believe in?" Said the pharmacist.
"If it would save them, I would give up everything."
"Then there's nothing I can do to help you."
The next day all died two daughters of the pastor.
What? And that night I passed.
Good. He deserves the punishment he receives.
Indeed. It was shortly after midnight...
I tore the house of the pastor from its foundations.
The pastor? What are you talking about?
The pharmacist is the bad guy.
He was greedy and rude, but he was still a healer.
The pastor, what was he?
A man of faith without faith.
Faith is half the cure.
The belief in the healing, faith in the future that awaits.
Your faith is precious...
so you should be careful in what and in whom you believe.
Tell me, Conor O'Malley, what will I destroy next?
What? It is very satisfying, I assure you.
Tell me. What should I destroy?
Break the chimney?
The chimney.
And now?
Throw away their bed.
Turn the furniture broken.
Break the windows.
Windows.
Break them yourself.
Come on.
Harder, Conor O'Malley.
Come on. Harder.
That's good.
Yes.
That feels good.
Yes.
Grandmother.
Grandma, please...
Grandmother.
I heard that you like to eat a fried egg.
What are you doing here? What do you think?
Your grandmother called this morning very early.
She was taken to hospital to see your mom. Your mother has deteriorated, Con.
I need to see her.
We'll see what happens today, and maybe you can visit her this afternoon.
I can see how upset you are.
That was not my intention. I do not know what happened.
Worse things happen at sea. What do you mean?
Not you going to punish me?
What would be the use that?
I must say, this really is incredibly thorough.
Oh, a buried treasure.
This must be the home movies that your mother sent to me when I was only gone.
Why did you go?
We were young.
Too young, you know? We had big dreams, and...
What kind of dreams? Your mother wanted to go to art school.
Really? Yes. She did not, but she wanted to.
What happened?
Because mom was pregnant with me.
Your mother was never sorry that she got you. You were only good news.
And I know that because she only regretted that she was married to me.
Why she married you? Because I'm handsome.
Your mom was great. And she still is. And we were in love.
I still love her. But you will see that...
love is not enough. It does not help you through life.
So you did not live happily ever after.
No, but that's life, you know?
Most have a messy life. And that's okay.
I'm glad you're like her.
Tell me what to do. I've got everything... Go outside. Take him to school.
Thank you.
I'm looking for something to eat. Do you want something, boy? Stop calling me 'boy'.
Fine.
I'm sorry, Lizzie.
Who was that man in that suit?
Just...
Nothing.
What happened this morning? Nothing.
Nothing to worry about.
I had a bit of a bad reaction.
But they are going to try one more thing, a drug that had really good results.
Why they have not tried that first?
Because this is something you take the other things do not work as they wish.
Does that mean it's too late? No of course not.
Are you sure?
I believe every word I say.
Faith is half the cure.
Belief in the drug, faith in the future that awaits.
Yes.
Do you remember that tree where I always talked about?
Yes. This drug is made from such a tree.
Really? Yes.
Are you serious? We had it been able to cut down all the time.
But that did not.
That's our friend.
Where are you?
I'm here.
You better make my mother?
If you can be healed mother, the yew tree will do.
So that's a yes? You still do not know why you called me.
I did not call you. And even if that were so, it was clear to my mother.
Is that right? What else?
To listen to crazy stories that go nowhere about.
It is not yet time for the third story. But soon. And after that...
you tell me your story, Conor O'Malley.
No.
No, not this. That's just a nightmare.
No, please.
That's not my truth. That's just a nightmare.
But that will happen after the third story.
I want to know what's going to happen to my mother.
Do not waste the precious time that you have been given.
Wait. Where are you going?
If you are a tree of healing, I want you to heal.
And I will.
Conor, I'll be back. I promise. And you come to LA over the Christmas holiday.
I want Mommy's not just Christmas.
Conor that product... Will make her better.
No, Conor, probably not.
Yes. No, it's a last attempt, son.
It will heal her. I know.
It is the reason why it came. It has to.
Why what came? The monster.
Conor, what? It comes to 12h07.
At first I thought it was a dream, but there is always...
Stop. It is a dream.
That's all it is. I'm sorry that this is happening...
but you must be brave.
Do you understand?
Come on.
I'll be back as soon as I can.
What if that's not fast enough?
Conor listen...
It's okay. What is good?
Just...
You do not have to.
Look. Do you see it?
Do you see it? Can you wave?
Can you see him?
And then we wave to grandma.
Hello Grandma.
Con, you can say hello to Grandma and Mom?
Hello Grandma.
Here we go.
Mom has heard this many times.
Are you ready?
Con, come sit here.
Con, look.
Hello Grandma. Mom...
and... Mom.
Here we go.
We take a picture, Grandma.
And then mix it together.
What color is that?
Brown.
It is a beautiful brown. Brown.
But we have brown here. That's true.
Do you see it?
What is that? What are those?
What do you... What are these?
Eyes. Eyes. That's it.
Life is always in the eye.
If you understand that...
you are a good artist.
Yes.
Look.
So we draw the eye into it...
because here the eyes catch the reflection.
Then we see life in the eye. Do you see that?
Do it again. It's life.
Maybe if we get a pencil...
and you can draw on it...
Want to try it?
Let me see how you do it.
Look, Con.
That's her and this is his eyebrow.
There are the eyes.
And look, there's his mouth.
There's his mouth. He is very angry.
Do you see it?
Look.
And then we make a face.
And then...
comes our sample appear.
There's the monster.
Look at the monster.
Very slow.
That is it.
That's it, all right.
It is this morning a 30-minute exam...
and these are all the things we have done in the last two weeks.
So if you've done your revision, there will be no surprises.
In a moment I'm going to ask you to turn pages.
The next 30 minutes will not talk there. I would like here in complete silence...
because you are going to use your brains, not your mouth.
30 minutes...
start now. Success.
I think I have by your last.
After all this time.
You're looking for someone to give you a thrashing.
But you know what?
I'm not.
Goodbye, O'Malley.
I see you no more.
Now you are also invisible to me.
I hope your mother gets better.
What took you so long?
It's time for the third story.
There was an invisible man...
which was tired of being invisible.
He was not invisible.
But the people were accustomed not to see him.
One day, the invisible man could not take it anymore.
He wondered if nobody sees...
if you're really there?
What was the invisible man?
He called a monster.
I do not know what to say to you, O'Malley.
You sent him to the hospital.
His parents threatening a lawsuit.
It was not me. What do you say?
It was not me.
I'm not invisible.
If you want to be seen, O'Malley, this is not the best way.
I'm not invisible. Do you hear me?
According to school rules follow immediately one suspension.
But how can I do that and consider myself as a teacher?
Go back to the classroom.
We will be here once or talk about, but not today.
You punish me?
What would be the use that?
Well, let me give you an example of emotional well-being.
You know how difficult it is sometimes to say no. And how good it feels...
When you finally find the courage to say it anyway. Why is that?
Do you have a moment?
Hi, what's up?
We just got a call from the hospital.
I am afraid that Conor's mother is not going to make it. They want him to come there.
You're not coming?
I'll be here.
What's wrong with your hands?
It's the conversation?
Everyone always wants to talk lately.
Con...
Look at me.
This morning I spoke with the doctor.
The new treatment does not work.
Those with the yew tree?
Yes.
Why it does not work?
Everything happens very quickly now. Faster than they thought.
But how can it not work? I do not know.
It must be.
So what happens now? What is the next treatment?
I'm so sorry.
I've never had so many regrets in my life.
It does not matter if you're angry, Con.
Not really.
I am also angry, to tell you the truth.
But Con...
Con, are you listening?
One day...
if you look back and you feel bad because you were so angry...
you could not even talk to me, you should know that it is good...
I knew it.
Because I know what you want to tell me without you say it out loud.
And if you find it necessary to break things...
then do it.
Break them good and hard.
And I'll be there, Con.
I wish I had another hundred years.
Another hundred I can give you.
Waking.
It do not care what time it is. You lied. Waking.
Waking.
I need you now.
You are doing yourself more pain. It did not work.
You said the yew tree would make her better, but it did not.
Make her better.
You called me, Conor O'Malley.
If I cried, it was to save her. To cure her.
I did not come to heal her. Well.
I came to heal you.
I? I do not need to be healed.
How often do I have to tell you?
My mother is the one who...
Help me.
It's time for the fourth story.
No, please. Get me out of here.
It's time for your nightmare. I must return to my mother.
She's been here.
No.
Mom, get out.
It is well. There is nothing to worry about.
Mama, run. Please, run.
Mom.
Conor.
Mom.
No.
Conor.
Mom.
Conor.
Mom.
Do not let go. I do not do that.
Conor. Mom.
Mom. Conor.
Mom.
Mama, no.
Mama, no. Conor.
Mom.
No.
Conor.
This is the fourth story. Get help.
This is the truth Conor O'Malley.
Mom. No.
Mom. Here's your nightmare.
Mom. Conor.
Mom.
Save me.
Conor. Mom.
Mom.
This is when I wake up.
This is when I always wake up.
The story is not yet told.
Get me out of here. I have to go to my mother. She's gone, Conor here.
She fell. I could not hold her.
Conor.
Tell the truth. No.
You have to tell the truth or you will never leave this place.
What truth? I do not know what you mean.
Tell me the fourth story, Conor O'Malley. Tell me your nightmare before it's too late.
Yes. Tell me, Conor. Tell me the truth.
It will murder me if I do. It'll murder you if you do not.
Tell the truth.
No. The truth, Conor O'Malley.
Tell me the truth, boy. No.
Tell the truth. No.
Tell the truth, boy.
I want it to be over.
I can not bear it, knowing that they will soon be no more.
I want it to be over. I dropped her.
I let her die.
That was brave, Conor.
You've finally said.
Why did not it kill me?
I deserve punishment.
I deserve the worst.
Is that right?
I always knew she would not make it.
She told me over and over that she was better...
because I wanted to hear.
And I believed her.
But anyway.
And I started thinking how I wanted it to be over.
I could...
I could not stand alone how I would feel.
Some of you wished it was over even if it meant losing her.
I let her go.
I could no longer hold her...
but I always let her go.
And that's your truth, Conor O'Malley.
But I do not want.
Now it's real.
Now they will die and it's my fault.
And that's not the whole truth.
You just wished but that the pain was over, your own pain.
That's the most human desire.
But I did not mean it.
You did not mean it, but sometimes.
How can they both be true?
How a prince can be a killer and yet beloved by his people?
How a pharmacist can be malicious but sane?
How to make invisible men lonelier to be seen?
I do not know. Your stories were never logical.
Because people are complicated beasts.
You believe comforting lies, when you know these truths lies necessary.
Eventually, Conor, it's not important what you think.
It is only important what you do.
So what should I do?
What you did today. Telling the truth.
No more?
Think it's easy?
You were willing to die rather than tell the truth.
I'm so tired. So tired of this.
Sleep then. There is time.
Are you sure? I have to go to my mother.
We'll see her tonight. Will you be there?
Yes.
It will be my last steps.
How ends the fourth story?
Sleep.
Thank goodness. Conor.
I was worried because I did not like.
There was something I had to do. No time. We have to go now.
Damn.
Grandmother.
Sorry.
About the living room and the rest.
It does not matter.
You know, Conor. You and me...
do not fit very well together.
No.
I do not think so.
Me neither.
But we will have to learn.
I know. Of course you do.
Of course.
But there is one thing we have in common.
Your mom.
We have that in common.
It is well.
I see you found him.
Thank you.
Hello my darling.
Ma? Yes, I'm here.
I'm here. Can you feel my hand?
And Conor is here too.
Is that him? Yes.
Conor.
Here is the end of the story.
I'm afraid.
Of course you're scared.
It will be difficult. More than difficult.
But you will endure, Conor O'Malley.
You stay?
I'll be here.
What should I do?
All that remains is that you speak the most simple truth.
I do not want you to leave.
I know, sweetheart.
I do not want you to leave.
How ends the fourth story?
It ends with the boy holding his mother.
And thus...
he finally let her go.
Conor.
That's your room now.
I been making it ready.
Thank you.