Chronic (2015) Movie Script

1
[bird chirps]
[car starts]
[turn indicator clicking]
[turn indicator clicking]
[water running]
You good?
Good.
Arms up.
You wanna walk?
Yeah.
Okay. Here.
Ready?
Okay, arm.
Here we go.
Okay. On three?
One, two, three.
Does he have the results for Holt?
Sarah Holt.
H-O-L-T.
Shall I call back in the morning?
What time?
Well, is someone going to be there?
I'm not gonna be on hold for an hour?
You want me to take this?
[soft chatter]
You can have a cookie.
We're gonna make you cookies.
We're gonna bring
chocolate chip cookies next time.
Did you know your aunt Sarah
was a cheerleader?
Is that good?
It's true.
I'm going to steal Sarah for a second.
Yeah, yeah. Girls,
let's go on and go, okay?
Say goodbye to Aunt Sarah.
Upsy daisy.
No, we're gonna go and have pizza.
Come on.
Wanna say goodbye?
Here, watch your step.
What's bad for you?
Pizza is bad for you.
Why don't you take this.
She says pizza is bad for you.
You take the iPad.
See you next week, okay?
Bye!
Say goodbye, come say goodbye.
- Bye.
- Okay, come on, Gigi.
See you later, kiddo, okay?
[soft chatter]
Let's wait for Dad. Come on.
Do you want a pill?
Yeah.
Do you want something to eat?
No, thanks.
All right.
I'll watch you eat.
You don't want to lay down?
No.
Let's get you up. Wait a second.
I'm going to move you
forward a little bit.
Okay.
Okay. I got you.
[TV playing indistinctly]
There you are.
Here.
[dishes clinking]
[wind chimes ding softly]
One more?
[woman] I haven't called her yet.
I'll call her next.
Yeah.
Well, I-I don't know
if you guys are gonna...
If you're gonna find one or...
What do you want to do?
Did you call the agency?
They told me to wait for you.
She's dirty.
They told me not to do anything.
I'll call you if I need you.
[indistinct condolences]
I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
You want a ride?
No, I'm just at the gate there.
I'm not far.
I'm Karen, Sarah's niece.
I know.
Come on, get in.
No, I'm just here.
Come on.
I was surprised to see you.
Really, why?
Do you always go
to your patient's funerals?
Sometimes, yes.
They told me you got along.
She really liked you.
So what do you do now?
Do you have another patient?
Not yet. No.
This is me. Just here.
Do you wanna get
some breakfast or something?
Just talk a little bit more?
I don't... I-I should go.
I just want to ask you a couple
of questions about my aunt.
I'm sorry.
[airplane passes overhead]
[woman]
I might need another drink.
[man]
All right. What do you want?
Should I be the husband?
The decision maker?
Can I get, uh...
Can I get two shots of Patron?
- Are you alone?
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay. Three shots!
- We'll get three. Thank you.
We're celebrating.
We're getting married...
Well, we're getting... we got engaged.
- She asked me.
- Congratulations.
What?! Sort of.
I did, I asked him to marry me.
[man] Are you married?
Do you have to deal with this?
I was. My wife passed away recently.
I'm sorry.
Mm-hmm. She was very sick.
I took care of her so...
What... what was her name?
Sarah.
- Pretty.
- Yeah. To... to Sarah.
Yeah, to Sarah.
- Sarah.
- Cheers.
How long were you married for?
Twenty-one years.
- Long time.
- Yeah.
What'd she die of?
Sorry to ask a personal question.
No. She had AIDS.
[dialing]
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
They're not answering.
Hello?
[tone beeps to hang up]
[woman]
How are you feeling, John?
This is David.
Can you say hi to David?
Can you say "Hi, David?"
Fuck you, Mildred.
Who are you?
[David]
I'm a nurse, John.
- The stroke was five days ago.
- Okay.
[man]
How does he look to you?
Let's take a look.
Well, he seems strong.
You have experience
in these types of cases?
Yes, I do.
Do they improve?
Well, that depends on John, really.
The doctor is coming in two hours.
Okay, let's put this on the bed, John.
But with therapy
they improve a lot, right?
[John]
Mildred, will you shut up?
You can start today?
Yes, if John wants me to.
Okay. Yeah. Thank you.
[David]
Do you mind if I close this?
No, go ahead.
Need to see the bathroom?
It's right there.
All yours.
I shit in bed.
[moans]
Okay, good. Let me get your back now.
I want you to do the front, okay?
Oh, there we are.
Are you ready?
Okay, now.
[panting in exertion]
Good, John.
Very good.
Get your privates for you.
Like that, okay.
Hey, Dad. Linda, yes or no?
[groans]
Linda. Yes or no?
No, no.
Let me get that.
That was very good.
Very good indeed.
Good.
You want me to maybe open a window?
You want some air, John?
[groans]
All right, this one
you can help with, okay?
Just give me a...
Just push back as much
as you feel comfortable.
Shouldn't he be on oxygen
when you're doing this?
Can you get out of the room?
Good.
My head hurts.
You want one of my pills?
I want you to leave.
[wheezing cough]
We'll be right outside
if you need anything.
Okay.
What really... really...
Really scares me...
having to depend on them.
They're scared too, John.
You married?
No.
That's better.
Women are unbearable.
I'm just going to get
this pillow out from under.
You're fine, don't worry. I got you.
I got your neck.
You're an architect, right?
Uh, yes.
You can... there.
You married?
No. I got...
I got divorced 25 years ago.
I'm going to turn you, John, all right?
So you tell me if it hurts.
Okay, honey.
Okay.
There. I'm going to pull this across.
So don't be surprised.
Need you to hold on.
There we go.
There we are.
You good?
[moans]
Okay, let me steal this one.
Right under there.
Okay. Be right back.
So, what kind of stuff do you design?
Hmm?
Oh. I have some small buildings...
downtown and...
some homes in...
San Marino.
Good.
It's nothing special,
just f-f-functional stuff, you know?
It's like...
Excuse me.
Do you have anything on Suzin?
[clerk] I think we had something.
Let me check.
Okay.
Mm. We had the Taschen edition.
It was his complete works,
but we sold out.
Would you want me to order it for you?
No, thanks.
What about Suyida?
I think so.
Let me go check.
Okay.
Here you go.
Thanks.
Are you an architect?
Yeah.
My son is studying architecture.
Where?
Berkeley.
Nice.
What kind of stuff do you design?
Functional, mostly.
Some houses, couple of small buildings.
Well, let me know
if you need anything else.
Okay.
See, I like...
the early ones
because they're simpler.
Isay Weinfeld.
Who?
Isay Weinfeld...
Brazilian architect.
Okay. You wanna look him up?
No. Let me do it.
Okay.
[sexual moaning from iPad]
Really?
Really, John?
[chuckles]
That... that's art.
[wheezing laugh]
I'll get you some food.
I want to see it. Let me see it.
Hello.
Uh, my name's David.
Uh, my brother...
uh, designed this place.
And... John Sterling.
Oh.
And I was driving by and I was wondering
if it's possible to take a look around.
[sexual moaning]
[slapping]
[knock on door]
Come in.
[Silvia] Nice to see you.
- [groans]
- [David] Hi, Silvia.
Hi.
Be back in a minute.
Did her tits get bigger?
No, you got more desperate, John.
He's on 200 mg per hour.
Check the pressure. It shouldn't vary.
And watch out for the oxygen.
See you in the morning.
Okay. Behave!
- Call me if anything comes up.
- I will.
Hey, how are you? Is this comfortable?
Huh?
- Excuse me.
- Yep.
- Can I get a fresh towel?
- Sure.
Can I get it in a plastic bag?
The point of the plastic bag is that
your hands don't touch it before mine.
Thanks.
[Mildred] Thank you, David.
You didn't need to bring anything.
It's okay.
Oh, ha!
Happy birthday, John.
Uh, iPad.
Here.
I'll just go back to the kitchen.
Okay.
Thank you, David.
Really?
You thought I'd bring you a hooker
for your birthday, did you?
I'm dying.
Well, then you don't need
a hooker, do you?
You need a priest.
I'm gonna go get changed.
You're not dying.
I'll bring you some food.
[TV playing softly]
[knock on door]
Come in.
Hi. I'm Lee.
Silvia was sick, so I was sent
to cover her shift for tonight.
Right. I'm gonna do
the night shift tonight.
- It's okay.
- Why?
Because he's delicate,
and he gets worse at night.
Robert doesn't need to know.
He'll still pay your shift.
Are you sure?
Yeah, it's okay. You can go.
All right, thank you.
Okay.
[moans]
You... sent him away?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I wanted to watch the movie.
Was he handsome?
Jesus Christ, John.
[vaguely]
I didn't get a look at him.
What?
You never been with a man?
[chuckles]
That's good. That's good.
[door opens]
[moans]
Isn't it the other nurse's shift?
- Sorry?
- The other nurse.
Isn't she usually on right now?
Yeah, I thought I'd stay.
Did she not show up today?
No, she did,
but I just thought I'd stay.
He was feeling tired, so...
- You must be really exhausted.
- I am.
It's okay.
Just, uh, let me know
if you need anything, okay?
I'll be downstairs.
Mm-hmm.
[wheezing]
[sobbing]
[knock on door]
Okay?
[panting]
[sniffling]
Um...
After dinner I'll come up
and sit with him, yeah?
Okay.
[chatter]
Wanna watch a movie?
Hmm?
[mutters]
[TV plays indistinctly]
[indistinct conversations]
[phone ringing]
- [knock on door]
- Come in.
- Hi.
- Hey, David. Sit down.
What's going on?
They want to sue you
for sexual harassment.
Who does?
John's family. His children.
Well, I was just there.
Why are you doing multiple
shifts without permission?
Well, John needed me.
They found an iPad with pornography.
John's son said John had an erection
while you were bathing him.
- And so?
- He wants to sue you.
He says you are manipulating his dad.
For what?
If we tell them that you
won't go near John again,
maybe they'll withdraw the claim.
Okay.
I have to get legal involved.
Why don't you just tell them?
I don't want another lawsuit.
Don't go near John.
Don't go. Don't call.
I've asked Silvia
to do a couple of shifts...
until I find someone.
That's it.
[bangs door knocker]
You can't be here.
I never harmed him.
If anybody else sees you here,
it's going to be worse for you.
How is he?
He's better.
Does he know about this?
No, of course not.
Can I see him?
David, we're about to sue you.
[indistinct chatter]
Hey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
How you doing?
I'm fine.
Okay.
When did you get back?
Two days ago.
Are you staying?
Yeah.
- I'm studying medicine.
- I know.
- It's good to see you.
- And you.
Did you get married again?
No.
You?
I was married for four years,
then I divorced.
What does Nadia know?
- About Dan?
- Yeah.
Everything.
[woman chuckles]
Okay. I'll talk to you soon. Bye.
[hangs up phone]
- Can I help you?
- Hi.
Is Isaac in?
Sure, and your name is?
David Wilson.
Okay, one second.
Just be a second.
Okay.
Hi. Can I help you?
I was hoping to see your father.
I used to work here.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
He's almost never here anymore.
- Is he okay?
- He's... he's fine.
Can we write down daddy's
cell phone number for...?
- Yeah, sure.
- Thanks.
[water running]
The only thing I would need
is someone to drive me.
The hospital insists on it.
I don't know why.
Well, David can drive you.
Why would you work for less money?
I was let go from another agency.
I've known Isaac for a long time.
Take me to chemo.
I don't need any more for now.
When's your appointment?
I start again on Tuesday at noon.
I'll pick you up.
Isaac, you'll give me the information?
Yes.
I'll need a phone number.
Yes, of course.
Were you married?
Yes.
Any children?
Trisha and Ana. They're 40 and 42.
What do they do?
Ana writes for magazines,
and Trisha takes care of her children.
We don't have to talk.
Ready?
We'll be back in an hour.
She's on her second round of chemo.
She's very weak.
Do you think she'll get better?
Mm-mm. I mean, it's possible, but no.
At first I didn't want
to study medicine.
I mean,
I did but I didn't. You know?
Mm-hmm.
Have you decided on your major?
Not yet. I was thinking plastics,
but more reconstructive, not aesthetic.
Mm-hmm.
Where do you wanna go?
My mom wants me to stay here, but...
I really want to apply to Boston.
You should go to Boston.
I will.
Mm-hmm.
Do you think of him?
Yeah.
You?
Yeah.
I remember him.
Do you think it would've been different
if we'd found out before...?
No...
[murmurs]
No way of finding out, really.
Do you think I was wrong?
No.
Really?
Not at all. I remember
he was always crying
all the time when he was at home.
Yeah.
[sniffles]
It's difficult...
When it gets into the bones,
it's difficult.
Did you get on with your mom's ex?
More or less.
Good.
They didn't really get along.
Yeah.
Tricky.
Martha?
Martha?
Hi, Isaac. It's David.
Have you heard from Martha at all?
- Well, I'm...
- [knocking]
[indistinct conversation]
Martha. Are you okay?
[slurring]
I couldn't get to the door.
All right.
[phone ringing]
I was just tired.
Okay.
Hi, Isaac. Yeah.
No, I'm with her.
I think she's going
to need somebody to stay.
I mean, at night...
Just until she's a little stronger.
Yeah.
All right, I'll call you back.
I'll call you back.
I was...
cooking and I got tired.
Right.
Can I get you something?
You want some water?
Are you hungry?
No. I'm fine, thank you.
[water running]
[TV playing indistinctly]
[gagging]
It's all right. It's all right.
[groaning]
Just breathe.
[panting]
It's okay.
[sobbing]
It's just the chemo.
I know.
It's not the first time I've thrown up.
Let's get you cleaned up, okay?
All right?
Just breathe.
[water running]
I'll be right there.
Here we go.
All right.
All right.
Let's... let's get you up.
Here you go. Okay?
All right.
Here.
There we are.
Do you want to shower?
I want to die.
I know you're being sued
for sexual harassment.
I'm sorry, but I had
to find out more about you.
It's okay. I should've told you.
Isaac explained it to me.
You don't have to worry.
He told me about your son.
He was very sick, Martha.
My niece had an abortion.
They found out the baby wasn't well.
She did the right thing.
Let's get you cleaned up, shall we?
There we are. Oh.
Yeah.
Mm?
I can do it.
[kettle whistling]
Did you sleep?
Not a lot, but well.
Would you like some breakfast?
Oh no, thanks, I have to go.
Hi.
Hi.
How are you doing?
I'm okay, thank you.
How are you?
I'm fine.
Working again.
Yeah, I know.
Do you want to come in?
Sure.
I almost sold the house twice.
It was empty all the time
we lived with Mark.
It was four years, right?
Mm.
Nadia wouldn't let me sell it.
And your boyfriend, is he here?
Yeah, um, yeah, Chris is here.
He's going back to visit
his parents for a little bit,
but he'll be back.
Yeah.
Have you met them?
Yeah, actually.
Um, I met them a few times.
They're really nice.
Are they? That's good. That's important.
Yeah.
Especially if you get married, you know.
The in-laws...
[chuckles] ...you never know.
I don't know if I want to get married.
Really?
- Have you been married?
- Yes, yes.
Yes.
I have two daughters
who are much older than you are.
And, um, uh, three grandchildren.
That's great.
Boys or girls?
Two boys and one girl.
They are handful, you know?
Sure.
They must love you.
This cooking is delicious.
Well, it's been a long time
since I cooked for them.
See how it's white, healthy tissue?
Normal tissue?
After your treatment
and when we did your last test...
See this dark area here?
That means there's metastasis.
Rectal colon area.
It's not really what we'd
like to see after treatment.
So...
Does it make sense
to continue the chemo?
Yes.
Even in complicated cases,
we suggest continuing the treatment.
I would suggest doing another round.
If we don't, this metastasis
will spread throughout your whole...
But it's most likely that it won't help
because it's spreading to other organs.
There's no probabilities with treatment,
but I would suggest doing another round.
I want you to think about it...
but it's really important
that if you're going
to do the treatment,
which I hope you will,
that you do it soon.
[TV playing faintly]
[phone ringing]
[mutes TV]
Hello?
Hi, how are you?
I'm good.
[clears throat]
Yeah. I, uh, I just got my results.
I'm clean. They didn't
find any more spots.
I know. Uh-huh.
They're just gonna follow up
with preventative chemo once a year.
Yeah. No, they're sure.
I know.
No, you don't have to.
Yes, it is. It's great news.
Yeah.
No. Don't worry about it.
Whenever you can.
Okay. Bye.
My daughter.
Before she hung up she said,
"So, you don't need me to
come over at the end of the month."
[unmutes TV]
If you can, pull over.
You want me to get off the freeway?
Yes.
[turn indicator clicking]
You feel like you're gonna throw up?
No.
Look for a bathroom.
[turn indicator clicking]
[water running]
There you go.
[sighs, clears throat]
Something, anything?
Nothing.
Are you sure?
Not hungry.
What did the doctor tell you?
- About what?
- About the treatment.
That you're responding well.
Are you comfortable?
I'm not doing it anymore.
You help me instead.
Well, if you don't want to do the chemo,
I mean, that's up to you.
That's not what I'm talking about.
You care for me?
If you care for me, then help me.
If you helped your son, why not?
You need some rest.
I don't want to do it alone.
Hey.
[Martha sobbing]
[thump]
It's all right.
I'm not going to take chemo now.
[birds chirping]
[dogs barking]
I cancelled the session for tomorrow.
I know.
They called.
Did you think about it?
Yeah.
I'm not doing it.
Then you should go.
I don't want you to help me anymore.
I'll... I'll call Isaac.
[TV playing indistinctly]
[dish clinks]
Do you wanna help us?
Okay.
Did you make the salad?
No. Go ahead.
[closes door]
[car lock chirps]
It's David. Yeah.
So, Martha died.
Mm-hmm. Cardiac arrest.
Um, I'll be gone for about a week.
A week?
Yeah. We talked about this.
A week?
Yeah, we talked about this.
So if it's possible for you to come in
before I leave so you can kind of
get an idea of how we work together.
Um, you know, just to get an idea...
It's not hard, but it's good
if you know ahead of time.
I mean, of course,
I'll always be available
for questions and so on,
but if you could come in beforehand
that would be great. Is that possible?
Yeah.
How is it?
He's sixteen.
He's in a wheelchair.
His coordination's off.
- How is he with you?
- Angry.
Does he need help to eat, or...
Yeah. Yeah, he does.
But he can eat anything?
Pretty much, yeah.
[birds chirping, children playing]
Can I get you anything?
Fuck off.
[horn honking]
[vehicles honking]