The Curse of the Necklace

- Breathe. Breathe. - Hold her down!

-Put a pillow behind her head! -Why is she doing that?

It's the nightshade. She's in delirium.

That necklace is gonna choke her.

Leave it on.

Breathe, Ruth.

Hold her down, George!

You have to push, Ruth.

It's time to push. Can you hear me?

Push. Push.

I see the head.

It's coming. It's almost here.

Here it comes.

He's not breathing.

No.

Oh!

Oh, thank you, God!

Thank you, God.

You did it, Ruthie.

It's our Jonah.

Thank God.

Oh, it burns! Get it out!

-It is out! -Get it out!

- It burns! - Ruth, stop!

He's okay.

-Get him out! -He's out, Ruth.

Get him out!

Judith!

Have you seen my pencil case?

Judith! My pencil case!

Where is it?

Where is it? Where is it? Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?

Where is it? Where is my pencil case?

Mom, have you seen my pencil case?

Ellen, I have not.

Well, I haven't seen it anywhere.

You have to hurry up.

Judith!

We don't have time for this, girls.

Judith.

Judith.

Have you ever heard of knocking?

-Dad bought this for me. -Be careful!

You have to ask!

And you have to get out of my room!

- Ow, watch it! Watch it! - Okay, stop fighting.

I said, get out!

Hey, stop fighting, please!

She came in here again without knocking.

I told you she took it!

Okay, I cannot be late for work again.

I need help from you two, please!

Fine. I'm ready.

And I don't need a stupid pencil case

-to go to school. -I hate you!

- I hate you, too. - Real nice.

Hey, you. Let me help you with that.

You okay?

- When is Dad going to sleep here again?

When?

I don't know.

- Bus, Ellie. - Okay.

Gotta go.

- Why does she keep calling me Ellie?

I told her it's Ellen now.

- I know. She's not used to it yet.

She'll come around, I promise.

-Have a good day at school. -Okay.

Oh!

Judith.

Judith, wait.

What are you doing?

I got a ride.

Wait.

Don't tell Mom or I'll slit your throat.

Oof.

Yes, I know. It's not a fresh one.

I've been wearing it all week.

They ought to make you a detective, Perkins.

Wait, you trying to save money?

I'm still at the motel.

Ah, Jesus.

You really stepped in it, didn't you, Frank?

I'm having dinner with the missus tonight.

I can smooth all this over.

Oh, yeah, you're a real sweet talker.

Shit.

Damn it.

"1938."

That looks like the definition of a cold case to me.

What do we have here?

Judith, I'm not asking you again.

Come down for dinner, please.

What are you doing here?

This is my house, too, you know.

Well, we're just about to eat dinner.

Well, can I come inside and tell the girls "Hi" at least?

No, Frank, you can't just come here and be the good guy,

and then leave it to me to explain everything to them.

Is that Dad? Dad, are you here for dinner?

Hi, honey.

So, Judith,

how'd that biology project turn out?

That was almost two weeks ago.

Oh.

Well, what'd you get on it?

-I got a "C." -A "C"?

Well, you didn't tell me that.

It's not a big deal.

It's because she spends all her time now with David.

Who's David?

No one. Just a boy at school.

Well, we should meet this boy,

if he's somebody you're interested in.

Sure. Should I bring him by your motel?

Judith.

What are you even doing here?

Pretending like we're one big, happy family?

I'm done. Can I be excused?

Well, if you're finished with your dinner,

- I did bring something for dessert. - -Frank!

I asked you to wait.

- Is that from Mardoff's Bakery? - It sure is.

Yeah.

Well...

Look, I... I wanna

have Judith have an eclair before she, uh... she leaves.

You can't buy us off with donuts.

I want an eclair.

You can-- Finish your chicken.

I'm full of chicken. I only have room left for an eclair.

What's in that one?

Oh. I'm glad you asked.

This one's for your mother.

I think you'll really like this treat.

What is this?

That's for you.

You're trying to buy me off, too?

Lame.

Well, I...

This... this has all gone wrong.

I'm... I should go.

What? No!

I have to, honey. I've got some work to do.

Do it here.

I can't.

I really need to be in my own place tonight.

No, you don't.

Yes, I do.

I don't understand.

Hey.

I trust you.

You trust me?

You're hurting the girls

-by not letting me stay here. -The girls are fine.

You're eating in your work clothes.

Your daughter got a "C," and she's running around with some boy.

That does not sound fine!

And you think that's my fault?

Don't make me say it.

What?

You can't do this on your own.

I've been doing this on my own for a long time.

-Thanks, sweetie. -Yeah.

Costume jewelry.

That man.

- Why are you being so mean to Dad?

I can't have this conversation right now, Ellen.

You can leave those. I'll do them tomorrow.

I got it.

"'Have you seen my mother?' the duckling asked him.

'No,' said the old lizard...

'I haven't seen your mother.

I've been busy all day, catching flies with my long tongue.'

Then the duckling saw the brown beaver by the river.

'Have you seen my mother?' the duckling asked her.

'No,' said the brown beaver, 'I haven't seen your mother.'"

Ellie, what are you doing up?

I'm reading a book.

The Lost Duckling?

I didn't even know that book was still around.

It's for babies, Ellen.

I was reading it to the little boy.

What boy?

You scared him away.

There was a boy in your room?

That's what I just said.

And you didn't think that was weird?

Did you show him your stupid dolphin?

Don't touch that!

Look, you're too old for an imaginary friend,

and you're too young for an imaginary boyfriend.

Just go to sleep.

Why do you have that?

Mom threw it out.

You can't let Mom see you wearing that.

But it's from Dad.

Do not tell Mom you kept this.

Why are Mom and Dad fighting?

Probably something you did.