How to Make an American Quilt

For as long as I can remember...

...my grandmother and her friends have been part of a quilting bee.

I remember sitting under the quilting frame pretending that I was surrounded...

...by a forest of friendly trees, and that their stitches...

...were messages from giants written across the sky.

I used to spend my summers with my grandmother and my great-aunt...

...who lived in Grasse, California.

My mother would dump me there when she took off with her latest boyfriend.

My parents' marriage didn't last very long.

They said they didn't love each other anymore.

Or maybe they were just afraid that their relationship...

...had become just like everyone else's.

They eventually parted as friends, and I eventually stopped thinking...

...it was all my fault.

The truth is, it's no one's fault.

Sometimes love simply dies.

At this moment in time, I'm working on my third...

...and, I hope, final attempt at my master's thesis.

Whenever I'm about to finish, I decide to switch topics.

I can't help it.

It seems the more I know about something...

...well, the less I want to know about it.

On top of that, my sweetheart Sam is taking our home apart...

...and putting it back together in some mysterious new form.

I've decided to go away for the summer.

This makes Sam nervous.

He thinks I'm leaving because last night he proposed to me.

Sam's great and I really love him.

And I'm 26. This is not an unreasonable age to get married.

Especially if you've found your possible soul mate.

But how do you merge into this thing called a couple...

...and still keep a little room for yourself?

And how do we even know if we're only supposed to be with one person...

...for the rest of our lives?

The day Sam drove me to my Great-aunt Glady's house...

...the Grasse Quilting Bee was there, setting up to make a new quilt.

They've always met here at Aunt Glady's.

My grandmother moved in after she lost her husband.

They've been fighting ever since.

Arthur's stuff is junk? It's piled up there.

Everyone defers to Anna, who is the master quilter.

She used to work for my Aunt Glady,

but these days it seems they're working for her.

My least favorite is Sophia.

When I was a little girl, she always made me cry.

And then there's Em, who's married to an artist,

and for some reason...

...that makes everyone feel sorry for her.

I always idolized Anna's daughter Marianna.

She had lived in Paris which made her very mysterious to me...

...when I was a kid.

She taught me French, made café Au laits.

And the year I got my period, she gave me a glass of red wine.

Sam, I'm so happy to see you. Thank you.

Let's move some furniture together. Sure.

Now I'm not lifting anything else. I'll do whatever, but no lifting.

Shouldn't you be using a computer? I don't trust computers.

- They lose things. - Not if you know what you're doing.

- Sophia! - What?

I made you a tape.

- All the songs have "road" in the title. - Great. Thanks.

Are you gonna be okay with this? Yeah, I'm fine.

I got lots to do, so, I'm fine.

So you'll come pick me up in September?

Maybe.

- Maybe not. - You better.

Bye. Bye.

The challenge with a quilt like this is...

...each of these squares is made by different hands.

So I have to bring all these different squares together...

...in a balanced and harmonious...

...design.

First, we have to find a theme.

Now, for this particular quilt, the theme is "Where Love Resides."

You put too much sugar in the iced tea.

I did not. It's got like a teaspoon and a half.

You put in a whole cup. I can taste it.

Give it a rest, will you?

Bicker, bicker, bicker, makes a gal age quicker.

What you're saying is, by harmonizing all different elements...

...you're creating kind of a continuity in the piece?

No. What I'm saying is...

...I don't want to end up with some damn ugly quilt.

Sweetie, explain to us again what kind of a book this is you're writing.

It's not a book. It's a thesis.

I'm looking at women's handiwork in various tribal cultures...

...and I'm showing that how...

...making a basket; or a blanket; or a digging stick, or whatever...

...it's all done with a sense of ritual.

I thought you were writing something about the Victorians.

No, that was a different thesis.

- What happened to that one? - I just became more interested in this subject.

- You didn't finish it? - No.

Well, why not?

Chill, Sophia.

By the way, I spotted a fellow for Anna.

Does anybody know Frank Ipsey who comes by here with the eggs?

Glady, Frank has cancer.

So you got me a sick one, too.

Finn, when are you gonna start having babies?

- My God, I don't know. - Are you using protection?

Sophia!

Sophia, you filth-monger, leave my grandniece alone.

So, this quilt you're working on, is this something you're making for the state fair?

It's your wedding quilt, honey.

"Here comes the bride..."

Grandma, do you mind if I play some music?

Hell, no.

Hey, Finn.

Hey, Constance.

- Sorry I'm late. - Quite all right.

You want a smoke?

No, I don't think I'd better.

The hell if I know where love resides.

I don't know why your mother divorced

your father and then stayed friends with him.

If you still love each other, why don't you just stay married?

Some people like to get a new car every other year.

Here you go.

Oh, Hy, look what you did.

Well, we're all family.

You know, when your mother and father got married...

...they were very immature.

Which isn't the same case with you and Sam.

You know what Mom said to me once?

- She's so crazy. How'd she get so crazy? - Don't look at me.

She said that as soon as I get married, I'm gonna want to have an affair.

She doesn't know what she's talking about.

That which is forbidden...

Don't be such a cynic.

I'm not.

My grandniece wants to know...

...why the marriage vow is considered such a sacred thing...

...when, in fact, to most people it means nothing at all.

I took my marriage very seriously.

You were too young to remember your grandpa, but he and I had...

...a very special love for each other.

Which I'm sure even your Aunt Gladiola was aware of.

Very much aware.

That's what made the whole thing so stunning.

Why are you bringing this up right now?

You brought it up.

Fine. You want to tell her? Tell her. I don't care.

Tell me what?

Was this a mistake, letting you smoke? Oh, no, sweetie.

If I weren't a little high right now...

...I'd have your aunt on the floor, beating her senseless.

- You're gonna need a lot more than that. - Shut up.

All right, I'll tell you what happened.

But I'd like to say one thing first, with your aunt's permission.

Be my guest.

When you've spent your life with someone...

...and they start to die...

...and you feel this terrible, terrible...

...severing.

So you do things without thinking...

HY". ...because what you have to face is so...

...deeply unthinkable.

Could I use your phone, please?

Arthur (Heavy.

Arthur; where's Glady? I called your house and she didn't answer.

Hy, is that you? Yes.

What's wrong?

HY". Is Glady with you?

No. She must be out shopping. James didn't...

No, he's still here, I just...

I need someone to come pick me up.

I've got to get back to the office soon.

- What if I take you to our house? - No.

All right. Okay.

I have to lie down before I go back.

You know, find me a tree. I need some peace before I go back.

I was at the hospital today. James didn't know where you had gone.

I told him you had to go to town for something. He was quite upset.

I know. He told me.

I just find it odd that you just left the hospital without even leaving him a note.

That you just took off for a ride with my husband.

Glady, what are you doing?

Honey, what are you doing?

Come on.

Glady!

I don't want to hear a word out of either of you!

You stink of her perfume!

Oh, shit.

Glady?

Glady?

Can't we work this out?