The Stone Angel

I-I-I see that.

You see, if we-- if we come forward

with some kind of... arbitrary figure that--

I have to go to the bathroom.

Mother has to go to the bathroom. You're gonna have to stop.

Marvin, you need to get off the phone now.

- If there's a gas station-- - Sorry, I missed that.

- The phone broke up. - You're gonna have to pull over.

- I bet. - There's not even a tree out here.

And there are 50--

Marvin!

- Uh, and then when the bank comes through-- - Do you know that cell phones

account for 6% of all traffic fatalities?

Only 6%? I would have thought it was more.

I know it's a gamble.

Those pills aren't strong enough, are they?

I'm fine.

Doctors these days--

can't be bothered. It's the system.

Oh, Doris, for pity's sake.

Oh, okay.

My, doesn't everything look green?

You were expecting purple?

Oh.

>>Silver Elms Spacious Retirement Living<<

- Marvin, where are we going? - Uh-huh.

All right, I'm getting out of this car right now.

- All right, I'll call you. - I'm getting out.

- Mother-- Mother, stop that. - Mother, relax.

- Mother! - Stop the car.

You'll kill yourself!

A fat lot you'd care.

Well, for God's sake.

We're not-- you're not staying!

You can-- you didn't even allow me

to bring my own things?

How can you be so mean?

What'd I say about telling her?

Oh yeah. Right, blame me.

We'd never even get her in the car if we told her and you know it.

The plan is: we check it out,

we all go home together, okay?

We'd never make you do anything you didn't want to.

Let me show you our dining room...

- Oh. - ...and our movie area. Here she is.

Hagar! May I call you that?

Fridays are our movie nights.

And sometimes we'll even sit around

and have a campfire and roast marshmallows before the movie.

The sun streams in here every morning.

It's very cheery, don't you think?

Are these chairs oak?

Oh, solid.

I never cared much for army life.

She's a doll.

You met Mrs. Steiner yet?

You'll be getting a detailed history of her endocrine system

before your bags are unloaded.

Oh, I'm not staying.

My son and daughter-in-law

brought me over to take a look,

but I'm not staying.

Funny. That's what I said.

That's what we all said, right?

I hate petunias.

Time is unstuck for me now.

I am rampant with memory

for no reason except that I'm caught up in it.

...two, one!

Ready or not!

- Gotcha! - Oh no! Aah!

Matt!

Hagar, Charlotte,

where're y'all goin'?

Come on. If we run, we'll lose her.

I wonder if she's still there...

the angel brought from Italy

by my father at great cost

in pride to mark Mother's bones

and to proclaim his dynasty as he fancied.

Mother died when my brother Matt was born

and Father could never forgive him for that tragedy.

To make it worse, Matt took after my mother,

but I was sturdy like him

with a stare that could meet anyone's

without blinking an eye.

Jason Currie was a self-made man.

And it was true. No one could deny it.

I'll take care of you.

Hey, that's Lottie's mother and that's Father.

Shut up! It's not him!

It is!

- Oh, I'm gonna get you for that! - Cannot!

Oh, you watch me.

Hagar, Matt, I'm coming with you!

>>SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME<<

Telford, what'd they call her?

Sarah.

If a baby of mine ever dies,

I'd dress her up in lace like Sarah.

As if anyone would ever marry you, Lottie.

You're gonna get your comeuppance, Hagar Currie,

the whole lot of you, you'll see.

Telford, what are you doing down there?!

Don't be scared, Telford.

I'd stick up for you. I'd tell your father it was Hagar who made you do it.

Don't bother.

He'd never listen to the likes of you anyway.

So there!

Mom! Mama!

I'm not supposed to talk to her.

She's a bastard and my father says

that nothing good can come of her sort.

Why don't you sit down, Mother?

It'll be a few minutes yet.

He's got nothing but these cheap copies.

And he's a doctor.

Well, he should be ashamed.

Okay okay.

"Luxury Condo Living"?

It's all right.

Oh, you thought I didn't know your plans, huh?

Well, I do.

And I'll do just fine on my own

by myself in my own home...

...thank you very much.

Hello?

Yeah.

Let me-- let me tell you what I was thinking.

Mother?

Thank God I was right there. She's been fainting a lot.

You might want to consider putting

some of your art collection on the ceiling.

She's been throwing up

and her bowels are not improving.

No more gall bladder attacks,

but her sheets-- there's not a night they aren't wet.

Oh, that's not true. You're making that up.

Doris gives her a laxative every night.

Me and my bowels are in this room, you know?

Such a fox

and with the constitution of a 60-year-old.

Ha ha. He's a comedian.

You'll let me know

- when the results are in? - He'll let me know.

What am I, the patient or the experiment?

I'll see you next week. I'll let you know.

Well now, how bad was that?

About like having a molar pulled.

Aw, Mom...

"Mom"?

I can't remember the last time I heard you call me that.

- Mom. Mommy. - Mom!

Mommy!

More carrots? They're from the garden.

Organic. Pesticides are for sissies.

Seems like yesterday Trina was running around

this big old place.

Big? Compared to what?

A condo?

Must you squirm

like you're sitting on a barrelful of snakes?

It's too big just for us. That's what he means.

And there's stairs.

Yes, they usually do come

with a big old house.

Doris can't take care of you anymore.

It's too much for her.

- I won't have you talk-- - I've booked you into Silver Elms.

You what?

Next week.

Finally.

Oh good. Just in time for p--

pie.

Reverend Troy was kind enough to visit us

in case you or we,

you know, want to discuss things.

Discuss what things?

Like the weather?

Politics?

The price of real estate?

Why don't we have dessert in the living room?

So you think I should hold God's hand

as some kind of insurance policy?

Prayer has always been a waste of my time, Mr. Troy.

P-perhaps you didn't pray for the right things.

Oh, I see.

You have to know God's secret code

or He'll strike you down, hmm?

It is hard sometimes

to understand His actions.

To be angry is human.

I would have to believe in Him

in order to be angry with Him.

Your son is going through a difficult time,

but he only wants what's best for you.

I'm afraid you know nothing

about my son, Mr. Troy.

More pie? Those berries are from my garden.

Did I mention that? Organic.