Petals on the Wind

We were just children when we lost everything...

Our parents, our home,

our innocence.

Once envied by all our neighbors,

suddenly, we found ourselves cast off,

stranded at a bus depot with $30 in our pockets

and no hope in sight.

That was when Henny found us.

And she brought us to Dr. Sheffield.

Or, as Paul would say, she brought us home.

He took us in. He adopted us.

He sent us to the best schools.

But more than that,

he made my brother and sister and I feel safe and loved.

Paul's in a better place now.

We all know that.

But we will never forget him.

We will never forget our past.

Miss Cathy?

Miss Cathy?

How you holding up, baby?

I'm doing okay, Henny.

Listen...

I just want you to know

that I will always be here for you.

Dr. Sheffield made sure of that, okay?

Thank you.

Carrie's having a pretty rough time.

Carrie.

Will we have to leave again, like when daddy died?

No.

This is our home.

Paul left it for us.

We're gonna be just fine.

Corrine, the car is here.

Be right there.

Everyone is waiting for us.

You don't want to be late to your own party.

Do I look okay?

Enchanting.

Oh, my God. Charity be damned.

I'd rather just stay home.

No, no, no. Let it ring. Let it ring.

Hello? This is Corrine Winslow.

Hello?

Mom, hi.

It's Cathy.

What'd she say?

Nothing. She hung up.

Ever since Paul died, I can't stop thinking about her.

How could a complete stranger love us

and she couldn't?

There's no point to asking questions like that.

Don't you ever think about the past?

What good would that do?

We all just need to work hard

to build a new future for ourselves.

It's what Paul would have wanted.

And leap. Up, up, up, up, up, up, up!

Point your toe. Push it, Richard.

This is not a grade-school recital.

Perfection is not something you're born with.

It takes practice, devotion, pain.

The trick is to not look like you're in pain.

My son back from New York.

Julian dances

with the second-best ballet company in the city.

I see they've broken a few of your bad habits.

Faster, faster!

Again!

Again.

Up! Up!

Faster, faster, faster!

Use your head!

Better.

Ouch.

Doesn't bother me.

Have you tried lamb's wool?

No.

And if you tape up between the toes,

it'll stop the toes rubbing.

You want to dance for yourself, not for my mother's approval.

Believe me...

nothing's good enough to her.

Not even perfection.

By increased secretion

of the growth hormone from the pituitary gland,

your hips are curving,

your bust is filling out, and your legs are lengthening.

Don't worry.

This is all a perfectly natural and necessary part

of becoming a woman.

At this time, the sex, or gonadotropic hormone

is secreted in greater quantities.

The sex glands and organs develop rapidly.

Since these are all internal organs in girls,

their rapid development may cause the stomach to protrude.

The pubescent girl is usually very self-conscious about this.

The patient was admitted this morning

with shortness of breath and palpitations.

Sounds like congestive heart failure.

Leading to pulmonary edema.

With no fluid in the lungs?

Patient's got a history of anemia.

It could be a glucose-6 deficiency.

It's nice to know that one of you has cracked open his textbook.

Dr. Reeves...

I hope you didn't forget about our dinner date.

Well, aren't you going to introduce me?

- All right. - These are my third-years.

This is Jack, Ed, and Christopher.

My daughter, Sarah.

Hello.

You're the Christopher Sheffield

my father's always talking about.

- Nothing too bad, I hope. - No. Just...

well, I just thought you'd look more studious.

All right, gentlemen,

let's lay off the Martinis this weekend.

I'll see you all in surgical on Monday morning.

Nice to meet you.

Oh.

What is it this time?

I was in the middle of a luncheon.

Don't trust her.

I'm sorry to bother you,

but your mother's extremely agitated this morning.

Nothing I do will calm her.

She... she...

poisoned them.

Mother, you've had a stroke.

Now, you need to stop bothering the nurse

with this made-up nonsense.

After a stroke, it's quite common

for a patient to suffer memory loss,

even hallucinations.

Miss Olivia...

- She... - ... Would you like to try having some lunch?

poisoned her children.

She poisoned them.

Why don't you take the rest of the day off?

I can see to my mother.

Oh. Well, I believe that would do her a world of good.

Good afternoon, Miss Olivia.

No, no. Don't go.

Ohh.

Seems that your brain has finally turned to mush.

You can't feed yourself. You can't dress yourself.

You really require round-the-clock care.

Now, if you're willing to go to a nursing home...

No, no, no.

This... this... is my house.

My... my house.

Your house is falling down around you.

It's hard to believe that this was once

one of the most impressive homes in all of Virginia.

It was so grand, so imposing.

You're gonna go to hell.

You're going to go to hell.

So you've told me... many times.

But I don't have to listen to it anymore.

Have a good day, mother.

You've never had moonshine.

Isn't it illegal?

That's what makes it taste so good.

What's your story?

I see who you are on the outside...

little miss perfect,

live in fear of making a mistake,

come in early, stay late,

never get in anyone's business.

Maybe I just don't like chit-chat.

- I should go. - Hey, hey, hey.

You think that I'm criticizing you?

Aren't you?

When you dance, it's like you're...

you're dying to cut loose,

but then just before you do, you chicken out.

You don't know anything abut me.

I know that you're ambitious...

passionate.

And I'm willing to bet you've got bigger dreams

than just dancing in some rinky-dink company

before trading in your tutu

for a white picket fence and a bunch of squalling kids.

No. You've got something to prove.

You won't be happy until the whole world is applauding you

and throwing flowers at your feet.

You sure it's me you're talking about?

Maybe that's why I know you.

Because we're the same.

Come to New York with me.

No, I'm serious.

Our company is the best company in New York,

despite what my mother says.

George, the director he's in love with me.

If I tell him to give you a place in corps de ballet,

he will.

How far you go after that is up to you.

I wouldn't even have to audition?