The Prince of Tides

I grew up slowly

beside the tides and marshes of a Carolina sea island.

We lived in a small white house

won by my great-great-grandfather,

Winston Shadrach Wingo...

in a horseshoe game.

Last one around the tree is a ninny.

Joop, Joop, Joop! Come here.

Boys, boys! Careful now.

- I'll race you, Tom. - Wait up, Luke.

There are families who live out their entire lives

without a single thing of interest happening to them.

Don't run so fast, Tom!

I've always envied those families.

Luke, mind you don't torment that dog.

- It's my dog! - It's my dog!

Tom, you're gonna step on him. He's only a pup!

Here, Joop. Come here, Joop.

- Mom, did you see me run? - Savannah, you want a bean?

- Come here, Joop! - Yeah.

- Boys, you want a bean? - Give one to the dog.

Quit squealing, Savannah.

You're next, Tom.

The child of a beautiful woman,

I was also a shrimper's son in love with the shape of boats.

Luke, he's pushing me.

- I'm not pushing her. - Quit pushing her.

You know that.

As a small boy, I loved to navigate my father's shrimp boat

between the sandbars.

There's a rock pile up ahead.

I suppose Henry Wingo would have made a pretty good father,

if he hadn't been such a violent man.

From my mother I inherited a love of language

and an appreciation of nature.

She could turn a walk around the island into a voyage of purest discovery.

As a child, I thought she was the most extraordinary woman on Earth.

I wasn't the first son to be wrong about his mother.

- I am sick and tired of you... - Leave me alone!

Never showing me any respect in my own house!

- Wait for me! - Listen to me, Lila.

I don't know when my parents began their war against each other.

- You're running too fast for me. - Move it, Tom!

But I do know the only prisoners they took were their children.

Wait, you guys. My shoes are falling off!

Keep up, Savannah.

When my brother, sister and I needed to escape, we developed a ritual.

Okay, jump!

We found a silent, soothing world where there was no pain.

A world without mothers or fathers.

We would make a circle bound by flesh

and blood

and water.

And only when we felt our lungs betray us would we rise toward the light...

and the fear of what lay in wait for us above the surface.

I held my breath longer than you.

That was fun. Let's do it again.

I did better than y'all.

No, you didn't!

All this was a long time ago,

before I chose not to have a memory.

Daddy!

I think something bit me!

Mr. Brighton, are you selling dope to my girls again?

- Stop bugging us, Dad. - Bye, girls.

- Bye, Mr. Brighton. - Come on in. It's getting late!

It's a conch.

Bring him home. I'll send him to college!

How do you know it's a boy?

Well, let's examine him.

Now, girls, have I ever told you the facts of life?

Oh, no. Not this again.

Stay away from boys,

because they're all disgusting, self-indulgent beasts

that pee on bushes and pick their noses.

- Gross, Dad! - They're completely gross.

Anyway, I'm not gonna stay away from boys.

That's the spirit, Lucy. Never do a thing your parents tell you.

Hey, Mom, look what I found!

Daddy, if you don't -.

If you don't quit smoking, you're gonna die.

That's what they told me at school.

Well, no more school for you.

Mom, Dad's smoking again.

Oh, no. Well, you know what to do with that. Put it in the sink.

Give me a kiss.

I wanna play.

You look tired, Doctor. I'll fix you a drink.

Oh, that would be so nice.

It's been one of those days.

Hey, honey, it's tough work being a saint.

- Sal, can you get it? - Something smells good.

Hey, Dad. Come and play with us.

Later.

It's your mother. She's calling from her car.

I'm not here.

Okay, Lila. She's coming over.

Why didn't you tell her we were under quarantine?

She said she had to see you.

- No. - Dad, they won't share.

Work it out, girls. Work it out.

She said it was urgent. She was crying.

I can't remember a day when Lila wasn't crying.

Be nice to her, Tom.

I hate my mother, Sally. I enjoy hating her.

Please don't kill one of the few pleasures in my life.

Then can we talk about something else?

- Sure. What? - Us.

I need a stiff drink for that conversation.

- Listen. - Girls?

Girls!

- What? - Would anyone like to sit on Daddy's lap?

- No. - There's money involved.

- Yeah. - Okay.

Now, girls, I'm gonna ask you a serious question,

and I want you to answer it with brutal honesty.

Oh, brother. I know what the question is.

Who's the greatest human being on this Earth?

Mama!

Mama? I've gotta develop some new routines.

Come on, everybody. Pick up now.

Come on. Wash. It's bath time. Gotta get ready.

We gotta pass inspection, troops. Lila's coming over.

Lila, Lila, Lila. Why can't we call her Grandma?

- You'll know when you're a grandma. - I will?

Now, come on. Pick up everything and get into that tub.

How does a little bouillabaisse sound to you, Ms. Wingo?

Yuck! Can't we ever have normal food?

Do you think we could talk seriously for just a few minutes?

Not now, Sally. My mother's getting close.

Can't you tell? The air stopped moving.

Sometimes I think all you need is just a good smack across your mouth.

Uh-oh. Here she is.

Sally, quick! Tie this garlic around my neck.

Do we have to invite her for dinner?

She won't stay. You know that.

Then let's invite her.

- Lila. - Hello, Sally, dear.

Those shrubs need watering.

Yeah. I'll have to do that.

You're looking well, Lila.

Don't be glib, Tom.

- Will you be having dinner with us? - No. I can't stay long.

What a shame.

Where are my toys?

Where are the children?

- Okay, fine. - They're taking baths. Why?

I have some bad news.

Don't tell me. They canceled your American Express card.

Your sister tried to kill herself again.

You wanna make another joke?

Oh, my God, Lila. When?

I'm not sure.

She was in a coma when they found her.

How is she now?

She's alive, thank God.

I spoke to her psychiatrist.

Some Jewish woman in New York.

She wants one of us to go up there right away.

I told her you'd go.

What are you saying, Lila? If she's a shrink and a Jew, you can't go?

I didn't say that.

I'm just not entirely sure I'd be welcome.

You know Savannah. She'd probably blame me.

My children blame me for everything.

Oh, do I detect a note of guilt there, Mama?

Don't give me that psychological horseshit.

Why don't you just come right out and say it?

I'm responsible for all your problems.

Including your being out of a job.

Oh, let's hit way below the belt now, Lila!

- Don't pretend you didn't start this. - Come on. It's fun!

The fact is I just can't go right now.

It's your stepfather's birthday this weekend.

Well, gee, Mama, you know, I can't go either

because I gotta wash out Sally's pantyhose.

I'm gonna take the clothes to the cleaners.

Why don't you just get a job as a stand-up comedian?

I'm sure it pays better than teaching did.

Which was far beneath me anyway.

- Wasn't that what you were gonna say? - Beneath your abilities, yes.

- What do you know about my abilities? - Talking to you is like chewing tinfoil.

- What do you mean chewing on tinfoil? - It always has been.

Just stop it now, the both of you!

I'm sorry you're hurting.

You wanted to talk?

It can wait.

Let's walk.

Tell me what you're thinking.

I'm trying to calculate the exact moment everything got so fucked up.

Uh, I'm also worried the Braves are gonna finish last.

I don't feel like laughing.

Oh, come on, Sally. Come on.

Do you know that this is the first time that you have touched me in weeks?

My life's a mess, Sally.

Our life's a mess, Tom.

Oh, look! There's the Big Dipper.

Oh, I don't give a shit about the Big Dipper!

Damn it, I care about us.

I care about why you keep pushing me away.