Once and Again (1999) s01e18 Episode Script
Strangers and Brothers
Strangers and Brothers Oh, thank you so much.
I'm so sorry.
I know.
Let's go over there.
Such a shame.
Oh, sorry.
There's all these weird people.
They're not weird, Zoe, they're just old.
And why is there so much food? Mom says people eat a lot when somebody dies.
It's like a reflex.
I feel nauseous myself.
The veal chop-- every Thursday.
Phil made them just for us.
Off the menu.
Have you cried? A little-- like, these little heaves.
But you're sad.
I'm sad.
I just don't know how much.
Hi, girls.
Hi.
We're gonna miss him so much.
Are you okay, Mom? Well okay enough for now.
My God.
Look at this.
Where did all this food come from? Phil was a Civil War buff.
We'll miss that guy.
I know.
How's Grandma? Oh, she hasn't said much.
She sits, people go to her she nods sometimes.
I've got to go talk to her.
Mom, can we go upstairs? Sure.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah.
Hi.
The man was a king.
Oh, thank you.
A prince of the restaurant world.
That's very kind.
I supplied seafood, and your father knew fish.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
"My girls were my flowers", he always said.
Oh, that's so nice.
Thank you for telling me.
Hi, Mom.
We want to talk to you.
In the kitchen just us.
So, they came for Daddy at the hospital, Mom To take him to the funeral parlor.
And I'm gonna go by there and make sure everything's okay.
Do you want to come? Look at me.
Look at what, Mom? I'm one of those women now in an empty chair.
Okay.
Well, we still have decisions to make about the funeral.
I should start calling people.
Lily can do it.
She knows who to call.
Mom, we can both do it.
I need to go see Aaron.
He needs to be prepared for this.
What's to prepare? Daddy was his father, too, Mom.
Okay, you know what I think? I think we should have people speak, like the Tannenbaums.
Oh, jeez, not the Tannenbaums.
Uncle Manny, then, and the Farbers? And the girls, too, if they want and music.
Mom, we should have music.
He loved music so much.
What do you want to have-- songs from "Brigadoon"? I don't want that.
I want this to be dignified.
For once in my life, that's what I want.
I think what we were saying is dignified.
Well, then you girls decide.
Okay, I--I'll try to reach Rabbi Rosen.
He's retired.
They can retire? He left his wife and bought a houseboat.
I've got to go take care of my guests.
You're in mourning, Mom.
You're not a hostess.
You decide.
You girls decide.
I think I'm gonna bang my head until it bleeds.
I have never seen her like this.
It scares me.
I have to go to Aaron.
Do you want me to go with you? No, I--I think it would overwhelm him.
Judy! We have to get a rabbi.
What are you looking at me for? Well, what about that guy Bruce, that rabbi you dated? Two years ago.
It was sex.
- Are you kidding? - Oh, thank God.
I don't know where he is.
Hello.
Hi, hi, hi.
I'm so sorry about your father.
Thank you.
Well, you said there were gonna be a lot of people and--and You okay? - Oh, I'm trying to be.
- Yeah? Mom's not doing very well, but that's to be expected.
Hey, I happen to know a rabbi.
You? Are you even remotely Jewish? No, he's this nice guy who lives in my building.
He has a black lab.
I could call him and-- Mom, they're coming upstairs, too.
Somebody used our bathroom without asking.
Oh, it's all very strange, isn't it? Thank you.
Come here.
Is it okay if I haven't cried yet? Oh, sweetheart.
Oh, yes, honey.
There are a lot of ways to be sad.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Help yourself.
The veal chop.
Every Thursday-- off the menu.
Oh, okay, all right.
Hi.
How you doing? I'm fine.
I'm--I'm just I'm sorry about, uh How are you? - Here, here.
Put this here.
- Oh, thank you.
- I'll just find a place.
- Put it anywhere.
Okay.
Excuse me.
How you doing? Okay.
How are you? Oh, you know.
I'm all right.
I'm all right.
I loved that guy.
I mean, you know I feel like he was my own father, right? Well, he loved you.
Hi, Jake.
Hey.
Marvin, hey.
The veal chop-- nothing is gonna change.
Okay? Where are the kids? They're in the living room.
You okay? Yes.
Yes.
- Let me take those.
Hang on.
Hang on.
- Ah, good.
Here, put them over here.
Ah, yes.
I'm gonna go.
Please don't.
Please don't.
No, you're the head of the family and you have things to do.
Go.
Call me.
I will.
Mom, what are you doing? Mom? We have to choose.
What do we have to choose? What he's gonna be buried in.
He's not gonna be buried in a hospital gown.
Now, we have all these lovely shirts like this one.
We can handle this, Mom.
I'm not taking these back to Florida.
Jake is a foot taller than Daddy, and your young man is tall, too.
Aaron is Daddy's size.
Do you want to talk about Aaron now? We have to talk about Aaron now.
He's very sick.
He has his ups and downs, Mom.
I'm his mother.
You think I don't know that? I know you do.
I'm sorry.
I--I can't even imagine what you're going through right now.
No, my dear, you can't.
I don't think Aaron would survive a funeral.
Well, he's survived 20 years in the mental-health system.
Do what you need to do.
You've always known best.
I have to go to Aaron.
Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? Thanks.
No, I'll be all right.
Lily.
Oh, God.
Manny.
Oh.
How are you? I'm fine.
I'm fine.
You know, the night you were born your father called me up, he said, "It's a girl.
What if she grows up to look like Aunt Esther?" And then he said, "I'll still love her because I never knew there was love like this.
" Thank you for telling me that.
Oh, Lord, I've lost track of time.
I need to go downstairs.
Lily, I need to talk to you.
As Daddy's friend or his lawyer? Both.
There are some things that you need to think about.
Think about or worry about? Well, think a lot, worry a little bit like your father used to say.
You know, we spoke to each other twice a week for 46 years.
I'm all up-to-date with you.
I know about Jake.
Your father liked him, but he didn't trust him and I got to tell you what he wanted you to do.
I'm afraid to hear this.
Now Your mother still owns You and Jake own 60 which means that you personally control half of that : 30.
Right.
Now, if you're ever unhappy with the way Jake is running the business you and your mother can vote to fire him.
Fire him? Well, that's what your father was prepared to do if the divorce took a difficult turn.
Fire Jake? Well, if that's the only way to protect the family's inheritance, yeah.
I don't know what he'd do without the restaurant.
Well, that's something that he should have been thinking about a long time ago, don't you think? We had a dream a fantasy, you might call it-- that one night we'd break into the Smithsonian and steal the Spirit of St.
Louis and fly halfway to Paris and jump.
It would be hard for the girls we knew that-- but we'd die together.
We're here, Mom, okay? You have to know that.
Zoe, is that the dress you're gonna wear? I think so.
Mommy? This is her best dress, Mom.
Well, what about that blue velvet one? No, this one's just fine.
But Grandpa loved that dress.
He always said she looked like a little bluebird in it.
Mom, she's just fine as she is, all right? She's just fine.
Should we all go in one car? Oh, thanks, Jake.
Yes.
Okay, let me get your coat.
Is there something wrong with me, Mom? No, sweetheart, absolutely not.
You look just fine.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
You must be Lily.
Yes, I am.
Hi, I'm Rabbi Ben Josephson.
I got Rick's message late last night.
I'm so sorry about your dad.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you so much.
This is my mother.
Mrs.
Brooks.
I'm here as you need me, but we will need to talk about what you want me to do and how I can help you.
Maybe we can talk after you go into the chapel.
All right.
Zoe came early, and I couldn't find Jake so Daddy came with me to the hospital and he stayed even after Jake got there.
Dad.
Phil was the first grownup I knew that didn't look a little worried when I walked into the room.
He liked me.
Mommy? Yes, sweetie? I don't feel so good.
Daddy.
It's okay.
It's okay.
I think I'm going to throw up.
Okay.
I'll take her.
You're not gonna throw up, sweetie.
Hi, Aaron.
I'm really lucky to have my sisters.
Are you? That makes us feel really good to hear-- - You know Roger? - From your house? Roger has six sisters-- two are twins.
But they don't know him--hygiene issues.
He stinks.
They have a point, Judy.
But I'm lucky.
You and Lily make me lucky.
We're a team, which is what Dad says, and Shelley, too.
Shelley's a great case manager, Judy.
She's one of the all-time greats.
She's the Babe Ruth of case managers.
I'm sure she'd love to hear you say that, Aaron.
I know I would.
You know, Roger always talks about Jesus, and I tried to tell him about Dad today but forget it--his consuming passion is Jesus, period - which can, frankly, get fairly boring, Judy.
- I'm sure it can.
I tried to tell him I was nervous today, but the subject just plain wouldn't stick.
Well, we're here, if that helps.
Lily's here.
Aaron's a little bit nervous today.
A little nervous.
That's okay, because I am, too.
I feel better seeing you.
Thank you for coming here.
Daddy would be so happy.
God, they were beautiful.
Really sort of one this single beautiful brother-sister.
Mom.
Aw, come on.
Hello, Aaron.
How is he? We're a team.
Phil Brooks.
Yeah.
Let me tell you about Phil Brooks.
He would be very upset if he saw anybody looking morose here today.
Like he used to say, "When you're down in the dumps, don't order the fish.
" I don't know what he meant, either.
I want you to listen to this.
This is Phil's favorite song, played at his wedding to the beautiful Barbara.
"I Can't Get Started"-- Bunny Berigan.
So, speaking as his chief hostess for 30 years Phil Brooks cannot be dead.
He's just late for his reservation.
He always called me "cookle" or "cookie" or "muffin" or "french fry" or "pumpkin pie" "blueberry," "dumpling" "Two priests and a rabbi were walking on a golf course" or, like, "the pope is taking a vacation in Jamaica.
" He was so funny, and, um the thing was is that when you were with him, you were funny, too.
Mom.
I'm so used to hiding from your father.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
Guess I can smoke all I want to now.
I can stay up all night and drink gin if I want to.
Oh, it hasn't sunk in.
It just hasn't sunk in.
Mom, please don't stand out here in the cold by yourself, okay? Judy's about to take Aaron home.
Come inside and say goodbye.
Let's go.
Aaron wants to say good night.
Oh.
All right.
That's nice.
He'll be back in the morning, though.
Dad is with us.
Judy are you sure he understands all this? Maybe you could explain it-- how you feel.
- He'll understand that.
- How I feel? What does that matter? Oh, Mom, try to talk to him.
Try.
Aaron Aaron, I hope that you have a good night and that you sleep.
You know, we all need sleep, because Don't stop.
It's all right.
Aaron, I know this is hard for us without Dad.
It's hard for you-- I knew it.
It's okay.
I'm feeling definitely nervous today.
It's okay.
We all are.
It's all right.
- Let's go home now.
- We're a team.
Good night, Aaron.
Good night.
Well, uh, do you want to wait? No, no, I heard her drive up.
All right.
Well, you should know that the last time anybody actually read a will was on page 11 of "David Copperfield".
Hi.
He's okay.
Now, there are no surprises here no millions left to a pussycat but certain things about the restaurant were decided.
Now, Barbara and Phil already generously gave to Lily and Jake.
Sold.
Oh, forgive me.
Sold with payments made over many years to make it easier for them.
And less of a tax burden for him.
Absolutely.
Phil was a practical man.
This arrangement served everybody.
Now, uh, last week Phil instructed me that he wanted his heirs to retain individual rights on the disposition of the estate as a whole.
I--I don't understand what that means.
Well, your father understood that people might disagree on the best course of action for the restaurant and, uh, he just wanted his children to have some say in their future.
I'm sorry.
I still don't understand.
You know, I put a lot of years in this restaurant, Manny.
- I can't believe what you're saying.
- It's not me, Jake.
It was Phil.
What's Phil? What are you saying? He's saying I can be fired.
He's saying that even though I'm a partner, the other partners can vote me out.
Manny, Phil would not have taken this position.
- He wouldn't have.
- I'm sorry, Jake.
It's in writing.
Okay, then, you know what? Uh, look, Jake, Phil accepted, with a lot of sadness that things could never go back to the way they were.
He just wanted his children to have All right, so I'm out of the family, then, right? After - after 17 years, I'm-- - Well, no-- - No, look-- This is just possibilities.
Jake-- look, hey, no.
You just--guys, just decide what you're gonna do, okay? Really.
I'm serious.
I--I don't even care anymore.
Okay, guys, just Decide.
I'd forgotten how substantial the Chicago papers are.
Compared to Florida.
What's "shiva" mean? Judy, why don't you explain it to her? Why me? - I'm not Jewish.
I never was.
- Mother.
I offered to convert, but your Daddy always said he liked me as a shiksa.
Uh, Zoe, what, uh, "shiva" is is this ritual at your house in which people who know the dead person-- Person who passed away.
They come for seven days and sit with you and talk and mark the passing away of the dead person.
And eat you out of house and home.
For seven days? Don't worry.
It's not gonna be seven days.
This is it.
So, that's shiva.
Mom I've been thinking.
I don't think you should feel like you have to rush back to Florida.
You can stay here for as long as you need to.
Tht's very sweet of you, dear, but I have to make some plan.
As we heard your daddy say a million times-- You know what, Mom? Don't make a plan.
You could just wing it.
This is an important transition in your life.
There's gonna be all kind of feelings that are gonna come up.
Judith, will you stop talking to me about feelings? Mom, she's right.
You haven't been alone in-- what? What is it? and I'm proud of that.
What I meant was you did live here in Chicago your whole life until very, very recently.
Mom? WoBarbara? Oh, jeez.
It's the Tannenbaums.
A bit early, don't you think? This has really got to be the end of the shiva business.
Ceil? Marvin? I'm coming.
Hello, dear.
I'm sorry I asked about shiva.
Oh, girls! We have to get dressed.
Showtime.
Well, it's been a hell of a goodbye.
It's what he would've wanted.
He would've loved the singing.
Honey, where are the cookies? Phil was a musical man-- musical.
Mondays were opera nights, fat slobs going from table to table.
I said, "Phil, it's annoying.
" He said, "Celeste, music is also food.
" That song always made him cry.
Would you excuse me for a second? Uh, me too.
They're lovely girls.
I know.
Oh! Uncle Aaron.
I mean, I'm sorry.
- For what? - That sound.
I thought there was no one here.
Know what I think? All these old, boring people are just here for the food.
Have you had any lunch? Not that you're old and boring.
Lunch sounds like a plan.
Okay.
Um anything in particular? Just no stew.
We've been on a stew run where I live.
I can help make it, but I'm getting pretty sick of it but stew would be fine.
Then we won't have stew.
Okay.
It's Grace, Uncle Aaron.
I mean, you should feel free to call me Grace.
I hope that wasn't rude-- about my name, I mean.
It's just I sensed you might be worried about just saying it, you know? And, uh, it's just a name.
I like yours.
There's this guy in my school named Aaron.
Do you like him? He's okay.
He's a musician-- trombone.
Didn't you used to play an instrument? The trumpet.
Really? It would be cool to hear you play.
The problem is my fingers aren't necessarily my own anymore.
Well, that must be hard for you to feel that.
It's been a long time.
Sometimes I feel like that-- like all my extremities are, in this weird way sort of borrowed.
Do you want me to do it? I can.
Thank you.
Have some.
I like the dark meat.
I like the white meat.
Well, then, here.
Well, okay.
I had to get away.
I had to get away.
How long have you been out here? I'm not sure.
All day, off and on.
Yeah.
Here.
I know.
Can you believe Mom said that about shiksas in front of the girls? - I hate Mom.
- You do not.
Oh, who the hell knows? Did you really mean that, about her staying a while? Oh, just fell out of my mouth like a tooth I didn't know was loose.
I should get back.
I don't think shiva counts if you spend it sitting in a car.
For your fingers.
Thank you.
Uncle Aaron Do you remember? I mean, the time when you weren't sick? Lots.
Like about Lily.
She used to worry a lot.
She used to worry whether she could be pretty and good, which just made her prettier.
And specific beaches.
- Do you like the beach? - Who wouldn't? I'm sorry.
That's dumb of me.
You know, what I'd like to remember someday is a job.
Oh, my mom just got one.
But she's not on medication.
I'll say.
So tell me what kind of job? Useful, which I've never been.
I just keep staying unnecessary.
And I need a plan because Dad would say-- a little too often for my personal taste-- he'd say, "Aaron, your plan is your road.
" So you want a plan and to be useful.
Those are wonderful things to want, Aaron.
And when my dad was my daddy and I played the trumpet the song was "I Can't Get Started".
Like yesterday.
It was beautiful.
It's wonderful to talk to you, Uncle Aaron.
How did you know this is exactly what I wanted? Oh, I'm a restaurant man, Mom.
I've been thinking about Florida.
Even down there, Phil thought nothing of dragging home about 1 0 people every night.
People just found Phil.
Yeah, but now it's gonna be-- Oh, I'm sorry.
It-- No, go ahead, dear.
Tell me.
Well, it-- I'm just different.
I--I think about my place and, you know the nights the girls aren't there.
It--I--I know.
I mean, it doesn't compare.
Yes, it does.
The thing is, you just never know what's gonna happen.
See, the thing is, I do know what's gonna happen I mean, at least in terms of the restaurant.
Listen.
Listen, I--I need you to hear this from me.
We're there.
You know, thanks to Phil and-- and what he taught me it's working, and it's gonna work.
I mean, can you see that? Yes, I can see it.
I mean, I'd like to b-- We're open again, and we're making money.
- You mean, like it was before? - No, it's even better and I'm gonna keep it going and growing you know, for Phil, for you for the girls, for all of us.
Now, just--just let me do that, Mom, okay? I mean, that's-- that's all I ask.
Oh, Jake.
Here's what I want.
Tell me.
For it to be 1967 for me to be in a booth at Daddy's restaurant with Aaron, his Cub hat on while they spell out my name in french fries.
Since you asked.
So, Jake built this? Yeah.
It's well-built.
I'm impressed.
Aunt Judy brought these.
They're so cool.
Oh, look-- Grandpa in the Army.
Here he is with a baby.
That must be you, 'cause here's Mom.
You were so cute.
Is that you in camp? Did you go to camp? - Yes.
- Was it a trumpet thing? Guess what? I'm doing a camp in the summer.
- Did you go to, um, Wisconsin or - Aaron? Hi.
I want you to meet Rick Sammler.
This is my brother Aaron.
Hi, Aaron.
Hello, Rick.
Uncle Aaron, you really should shave.
Yes.
Oh, my God-- Jeanne Ford.
You were so in love with her, Aaron.
Remember her? Zoe, you were such a chunky baby.
I was not.
At least I wasn't fat.
Yeah, but now you're all bony.
Wait a minute, girls.
- I'm so sorry.
It's my fault.
- Grace! Aaron, listen, we're gonna step outside Stop it! You don't know what you're doing! You're not helping! Get away! Please go away.
Fine.
It's okay.
It's all right.
Yeah, it's okay.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
It's all right.
You don't smoke, do you? Not for about 15 years.
Nobody smokes anymore.
Try to even bum a cigarette these days and people think you're a criminal.
He was a big, loud, aggressive schmuck Phil was.
But I liked him.
I built this, you know.
We talked about how this would be very stressful and I think, under the circumstances, Aaron is doing wonderfully.
He seems to be.
In fact, my God, I'm amazed we didn't all fall apart.
But he hasn't either.
That's what you have to see.
He has a lot going for him.
He has all of us at the home, he has both of you and your father, who never gave up on him.
A lot of parents do.
You know, every Thursday, your dad would bring him to the restaurant.
They'd sit in the front booth.
Remember, Aaron? And what would your dad say? "I want you to meet my son Aaron.
" Oh.
I never knew that.
Jake had Thursday nights off.
Hey.
He's okay.
Oh, good.
He's okay, not that anybody asked.
What? What did you say? Nothing.
Did you ask me why I don't treat Aaron right? Mom, he's your son.
Yes, he's my son.
And you don't know anything about that, my dear.
You don't know anything about the years of my life that live in that boy.
Okay, Mom, we don't have to do this now.
You don't know anything about me-- either one of you.
Mom Mom, we want to know.
You're just like your father.
The thousands of times that I've gone into a room and I've seen the three of you laughing.
You see me, and you stop.
No, that's not true.
Yes, you do! You shut me out! Mom, we love you.
You know that.
Mom, we just--you always had this right way of doing everything.
We never knew what it was.
We were just protecting ourselves.
I never punished you.
I never pushed you away.
I never gave you any cause to think that you had to protect yourself from me.
Oh, don't you understand that there was a human being standing there with feelings? Mom, we're here now.
Mom! We're here now.
We see you now.
Aaron was my son and your father was my husband.
And they're both gone.
And I--I'm a widow, and I'm terrified.
Mom, you don't have to be terrified.
You have us.
You have your family.
Yes, Mom.
I'm supposed to count on you now suddenly? I need help, and all I can say is, "Thank God for Jake.
" What do you mean? I mean Jake talked to me, and I can count on him.
He's going to work seven days a week at that restaurant-- seven days a week.
Oh, my God.
Mom, he should not be talking to you like that.
Can you see that? I can see that he cares about me and that he wants to help me in a way that your father would understand.
But he didn't understand, and neither do you this one really important thing that you got to get straight now, Mom-- I am divorcing Jake.
He is not my husband.
He is out of my life.
Where does that leave me, Lily? Where does that leave me? Lord.
Did you notice her skin? It's like you can look through it suddenly like she's made out of glass.
You know, she was right last night.
I don't know.
We don't know her.
We only know what's been useful to us and now that Daddy's gone We might have to? Don't look at me.
You're the oldest.
I was thinking maybe she could move in with you.
Well, I could use a roommate.
We could double-date.
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Here.
Oh, God, there it is.
- I thought I had lost that.
Where is it? - Where is it? Oh, hang on, hang on.
I'm coming.
Hello? Hey, I took a chance.
Hey.
It's Rick.
I'm in the car with Judy.
Are you going somewhere? Well, we're not physically moving, no if that's what you mean.
I'll be inside.
I'll be in in a minute.
I can call you back, or you could call me.
There's just this thing I wanted to tell you.
No, no, I'm so happy it's you.
Lily, I may be wrong to tell you this but when I was leaving, I saw Jake outside and I talked to him.
What'd you talk about? It wasn't what he said-- it's that I don't think I've ever seen anybody look so sad.
And it's like for the first time, he became real to me you know, what he's-- what he's lost.
Lil? I'm here.
Mom? What are you doing? Well, I called the airport, and I changed my ticket.
I'm going back to Florida tomorrow morning.
Why? Your father made and I have to do something.
I don't want it to be just thrown together-- cold cuts from a delicatessen.
I left a sweater here in the closet.
Mom, you know, I meant what I said.
I told you you could stay here for as long as you needed or wanted.
Me? I'm a pain.
Before you know it, I'd be wearing your robe and slippers.
You'd be sorry you asked.
I mean it, Mom.
I know that, darling, but don't you think I need to go home? We are your home.
Oh, Lily, you have a life of your own to lead.
You have me and Judy and Aaron and the girls.
Such sweet little girls, too.
Yeah, they are, and they're stronger all the time.
I see that.
I raised really strong daughters, Mom.
I think I learned it from you.
Well, I could have done so much better.
I wanted to do so much better, Lily.
Mom, you did great.
Oh, no, your daddy-- No, you.
Dad wasn't there.
He was out making 9,000 friends.
And I loved him dearly, Mom, but it was you.
I mean, look at all that's happened in my life in the last year and here I am.
Maybe I'm better off than I was.
I don't know yet, but I do know that I found an inner strength that I didn't even know existed and I also think that--that you are trusting Jake because he's a man.
And I know he has wonderful qualities-- God knows I know that-- but Jake really cares about me, Lily.
Mom, he cares about himself.
I care about you.
You have to trust me, Mom.
Would you help me with this, please? It's kind of tricky.
It--it's a lot fuller than it looks.
There you go.
Lily.
Hi, Jake.
Hi.
Uh You hungry? I can, you know, make you a burger or something like that.
We're closed in memory of your dad.
I'm not hungry, thanks.
So, that's it? No more shiva sitters? Goodbye, Tannenbaums? Yeah, Mom's leaving tomorrow for Florida.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Jake, I talked to Mom.
Yeah.
Of course you did.
And you should know that what's happened is she's given me her proxy.
So I can fire you.
I can fire you anytime.
But I'm not doing it now.
What does that mean? It means that I want you to make it work.
I want you to keep your promise and make it work for you and all of us.
And another thing is I want Aaron to be able to come here like he did with my dad.
I want the girls and Judy and Aaron and I to come here because it's our family's place.
So And this was my father's and I want you to have it.
Wow, that's familiar.
Always set your watch so when people are late for their reservations they're really on time, and, uh you're glad to see them.
So, what else? Nothing else.
I wish you could stay longer.
I do, too, honey.
I'm gonna need a big hug to help me hold up the plane.
Grandpa always said that.
Well, he was a smart guy, wasn't he? Hi.
Hi.
He's ready, Mom.
How do I look? You look beautiful.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
That should be trimmed in the spring.
Aaron? I'm going back to Florida now.
Okay.
I have things to do there.
Okay.
I'm going to have a memorial for your daddy.
I want to come.
Uh did I leave my tickets upstairs? No, Mom, I think you have them.
- I do? - Yeah.
I want to come.
I'm sure you do for your daddy.
We'll see.
We'll see.
Um, so I think we should go now so I don't miss my plane.
Mommy.
I know, darling.
You want to come for your daddy.
I want to come for you.
Oh oh, Aaron I My Oh, Aaron, I-- You know, Roger, who lives in my building he's been offered the vice-presidential spot but I keep forgetting for which party.
Independent Party, I believe it is.
Democratic Party-- yes, it is.
It's the Democratic Party.
Really? Well, it hardly matters.
It's a lousy job anyway.
Yeah.
Will you try to take good care of yourself? Yes.
Oh, look, I have these tickets after all.
- Okay.
- Okay.
I'm ready if you are.
I'm ready.
It's time to go.
Bye.
I'm so sorry.
I know.
Let's go over there.
Such a shame.
Oh, sorry.
There's all these weird people.
They're not weird, Zoe, they're just old.
And why is there so much food? Mom says people eat a lot when somebody dies.
It's like a reflex.
I feel nauseous myself.
The veal chop-- every Thursday.
Phil made them just for us.
Off the menu.
Have you cried? A little-- like, these little heaves.
But you're sad.
I'm sad.
I just don't know how much.
Hi, girls.
Hi.
We're gonna miss him so much.
Are you okay, Mom? Well okay enough for now.
My God.
Look at this.
Where did all this food come from? Phil was a Civil War buff.
We'll miss that guy.
I know.
How's Grandma? Oh, she hasn't said much.
She sits, people go to her she nods sometimes.
I've got to go talk to her.
Mom, can we go upstairs? Sure.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah.
Hi.
The man was a king.
Oh, thank you.
A prince of the restaurant world.
That's very kind.
I supplied seafood, and your father knew fish.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
"My girls were my flowers", he always said.
Oh, that's so nice.
Thank you for telling me.
Hi, Mom.
We want to talk to you.
In the kitchen just us.
So, they came for Daddy at the hospital, Mom To take him to the funeral parlor.
And I'm gonna go by there and make sure everything's okay.
Do you want to come? Look at me.
Look at what, Mom? I'm one of those women now in an empty chair.
Okay.
Well, we still have decisions to make about the funeral.
I should start calling people.
Lily can do it.
She knows who to call.
Mom, we can both do it.
I need to go see Aaron.
He needs to be prepared for this.
What's to prepare? Daddy was his father, too, Mom.
Okay, you know what I think? I think we should have people speak, like the Tannenbaums.
Oh, jeez, not the Tannenbaums.
Uncle Manny, then, and the Farbers? And the girls, too, if they want and music.
Mom, we should have music.
He loved music so much.
What do you want to have-- songs from "Brigadoon"? I don't want that.
I want this to be dignified.
For once in my life, that's what I want.
I think what we were saying is dignified.
Well, then you girls decide.
Okay, I--I'll try to reach Rabbi Rosen.
He's retired.
They can retire? He left his wife and bought a houseboat.
I've got to go take care of my guests.
You're in mourning, Mom.
You're not a hostess.
You decide.
You girls decide.
I think I'm gonna bang my head until it bleeds.
I have never seen her like this.
It scares me.
I have to go to Aaron.
Do you want me to go with you? No, I--I think it would overwhelm him.
Judy! We have to get a rabbi.
What are you looking at me for? Well, what about that guy Bruce, that rabbi you dated? Two years ago.
It was sex.
- Are you kidding? - Oh, thank God.
I don't know where he is.
Hello.
Hi, hi, hi.
I'm so sorry about your father.
Thank you.
Well, you said there were gonna be a lot of people and--and You okay? - Oh, I'm trying to be.
- Yeah? Mom's not doing very well, but that's to be expected.
Hey, I happen to know a rabbi.
You? Are you even remotely Jewish? No, he's this nice guy who lives in my building.
He has a black lab.
I could call him and-- Mom, they're coming upstairs, too.
Somebody used our bathroom without asking.
Oh, it's all very strange, isn't it? Thank you.
Come here.
Is it okay if I haven't cried yet? Oh, sweetheart.
Oh, yes, honey.
There are a lot of ways to be sad.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Help yourself.
The veal chop.
Every Thursday-- off the menu.
Oh, okay, all right.
Hi.
How you doing? I'm fine.
I'm--I'm just I'm sorry about, uh How are you? - Here, here.
Put this here.
- Oh, thank you.
- I'll just find a place.
- Put it anywhere.
Okay.
Excuse me.
How you doing? Okay.
How are you? Oh, you know.
I'm all right.
I'm all right.
I loved that guy.
I mean, you know I feel like he was my own father, right? Well, he loved you.
Hi, Jake.
Hey.
Marvin, hey.
The veal chop-- nothing is gonna change.
Okay? Where are the kids? They're in the living room.
You okay? Yes.
Yes.
- Let me take those.
Hang on.
Hang on.
- Ah, good.
Here, put them over here.
Ah, yes.
I'm gonna go.
Please don't.
Please don't.
No, you're the head of the family and you have things to do.
Go.
Call me.
I will.
Mom, what are you doing? Mom? We have to choose.
What do we have to choose? What he's gonna be buried in.
He's not gonna be buried in a hospital gown.
Now, we have all these lovely shirts like this one.
We can handle this, Mom.
I'm not taking these back to Florida.
Jake is a foot taller than Daddy, and your young man is tall, too.
Aaron is Daddy's size.
Do you want to talk about Aaron now? We have to talk about Aaron now.
He's very sick.
He has his ups and downs, Mom.
I'm his mother.
You think I don't know that? I know you do.
I'm sorry.
I--I can't even imagine what you're going through right now.
No, my dear, you can't.
I don't think Aaron would survive a funeral.
Well, he's survived 20 years in the mental-health system.
Do what you need to do.
You've always known best.
I have to go to Aaron.
Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? Thanks.
No, I'll be all right.
Lily.
Oh, God.
Manny.
Oh.
How are you? I'm fine.
I'm fine.
You know, the night you were born your father called me up, he said, "It's a girl.
What if she grows up to look like Aunt Esther?" And then he said, "I'll still love her because I never knew there was love like this.
" Thank you for telling me that.
Oh, Lord, I've lost track of time.
I need to go downstairs.
Lily, I need to talk to you.
As Daddy's friend or his lawyer? Both.
There are some things that you need to think about.
Think about or worry about? Well, think a lot, worry a little bit like your father used to say.
You know, we spoke to each other twice a week for 46 years.
I'm all up-to-date with you.
I know about Jake.
Your father liked him, but he didn't trust him and I got to tell you what he wanted you to do.
I'm afraid to hear this.
Now Your mother still owns You and Jake own 60 which means that you personally control half of that : 30.
Right.
Now, if you're ever unhappy with the way Jake is running the business you and your mother can vote to fire him.
Fire him? Well, that's what your father was prepared to do if the divorce took a difficult turn.
Fire Jake? Well, if that's the only way to protect the family's inheritance, yeah.
I don't know what he'd do without the restaurant.
Well, that's something that he should have been thinking about a long time ago, don't you think? We had a dream a fantasy, you might call it-- that one night we'd break into the Smithsonian and steal the Spirit of St.
Louis and fly halfway to Paris and jump.
It would be hard for the girls we knew that-- but we'd die together.
We're here, Mom, okay? You have to know that.
Zoe, is that the dress you're gonna wear? I think so.
Mommy? This is her best dress, Mom.
Well, what about that blue velvet one? No, this one's just fine.
But Grandpa loved that dress.
He always said she looked like a little bluebird in it.
Mom, she's just fine as she is, all right? She's just fine.
Should we all go in one car? Oh, thanks, Jake.
Yes.
Okay, let me get your coat.
Is there something wrong with me, Mom? No, sweetheart, absolutely not.
You look just fine.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
You must be Lily.
Yes, I am.
Hi, I'm Rabbi Ben Josephson.
I got Rick's message late last night.
I'm so sorry about your dad.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you so much.
This is my mother.
Mrs.
Brooks.
I'm here as you need me, but we will need to talk about what you want me to do and how I can help you.
Maybe we can talk after you go into the chapel.
All right.
Zoe came early, and I couldn't find Jake so Daddy came with me to the hospital and he stayed even after Jake got there.
Dad.
Phil was the first grownup I knew that didn't look a little worried when I walked into the room.
He liked me.
Mommy? Yes, sweetie? I don't feel so good.
Daddy.
It's okay.
It's okay.
I think I'm going to throw up.
Okay.
I'll take her.
You're not gonna throw up, sweetie.
Hi, Aaron.
I'm really lucky to have my sisters.
Are you? That makes us feel really good to hear-- - You know Roger? - From your house? Roger has six sisters-- two are twins.
But they don't know him--hygiene issues.
He stinks.
They have a point, Judy.
But I'm lucky.
You and Lily make me lucky.
We're a team, which is what Dad says, and Shelley, too.
Shelley's a great case manager, Judy.
She's one of the all-time greats.
She's the Babe Ruth of case managers.
I'm sure she'd love to hear you say that, Aaron.
I know I would.
You know, Roger always talks about Jesus, and I tried to tell him about Dad today but forget it--his consuming passion is Jesus, period - which can, frankly, get fairly boring, Judy.
- I'm sure it can.
I tried to tell him I was nervous today, but the subject just plain wouldn't stick.
Well, we're here, if that helps.
Lily's here.
Aaron's a little bit nervous today.
A little nervous.
That's okay, because I am, too.
I feel better seeing you.
Thank you for coming here.
Daddy would be so happy.
God, they were beautiful.
Really sort of one this single beautiful brother-sister.
Mom.
Aw, come on.
Hello, Aaron.
How is he? We're a team.
Phil Brooks.
Yeah.
Let me tell you about Phil Brooks.
He would be very upset if he saw anybody looking morose here today.
Like he used to say, "When you're down in the dumps, don't order the fish.
" I don't know what he meant, either.
I want you to listen to this.
This is Phil's favorite song, played at his wedding to the beautiful Barbara.
"I Can't Get Started"-- Bunny Berigan.
So, speaking as his chief hostess for 30 years Phil Brooks cannot be dead.
He's just late for his reservation.
He always called me "cookle" or "cookie" or "muffin" or "french fry" or "pumpkin pie" "blueberry," "dumpling" "Two priests and a rabbi were walking on a golf course" or, like, "the pope is taking a vacation in Jamaica.
" He was so funny, and, um the thing was is that when you were with him, you were funny, too.
Mom.
I'm so used to hiding from your father.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
Guess I can smoke all I want to now.
I can stay up all night and drink gin if I want to.
Oh, it hasn't sunk in.
It just hasn't sunk in.
Mom, please don't stand out here in the cold by yourself, okay? Judy's about to take Aaron home.
Come inside and say goodbye.
Let's go.
Aaron wants to say good night.
Oh.
All right.
That's nice.
He'll be back in the morning, though.
Dad is with us.
Judy are you sure he understands all this? Maybe you could explain it-- how you feel.
- He'll understand that.
- How I feel? What does that matter? Oh, Mom, try to talk to him.
Try.
Aaron Aaron, I hope that you have a good night and that you sleep.
You know, we all need sleep, because Don't stop.
It's all right.
Aaron, I know this is hard for us without Dad.
It's hard for you-- I knew it.
It's okay.
I'm feeling definitely nervous today.
It's okay.
We all are.
It's all right.
- Let's go home now.
- We're a team.
Good night, Aaron.
Good night.
Well, uh, do you want to wait? No, no, I heard her drive up.
All right.
Well, you should know that the last time anybody actually read a will was on page 11 of "David Copperfield".
Hi.
He's okay.
Now, there are no surprises here no millions left to a pussycat but certain things about the restaurant were decided.
Now, Barbara and Phil already generously gave to Lily and Jake.
Sold.
Oh, forgive me.
Sold with payments made over many years to make it easier for them.
And less of a tax burden for him.
Absolutely.
Phil was a practical man.
This arrangement served everybody.
Now, uh, last week Phil instructed me that he wanted his heirs to retain individual rights on the disposition of the estate as a whole.
I--I don't understand what that means.
Well, your father understood that people might disagree on the best course of action for the restaurant and, uh, he just wanted his children to have some say in their future.
I'm sorry.
I still don't understand.
You know, I put a lot of years in this restaurant, Manny.
- I can't believe what you're saying.
- It's not me, Jake.
It was Phil.
What's Phil? What are you saying? He's saying I can be fired.
He's saying that even though I'm a partner, the other partners can vote me out.
Manny, Phil would not have taken this position.
- He wouldn't have.
- I'm sorry, Jake.
It's in writing.
Okay, then, you know what? Uh, look, Jake, Phil accepted, with a lot of sadness that things could never go back to the way they were.
He just wanted his children to have All right, so I'm out of the family, then, right? After - after 17 years, I'm-- - Well, no-- - No, look-- This is just possibilities.
Jake-- look, hey, no.
You just--guys, just decide what you're gonna do, okay? Really.
I'm serious.
I--I don't even care anymore.
Okay, guys, just Decide.
I'd forgotten how substantial the Chicago papers are.
Compared to Florida.
What's "shiva" mean? Judy, why don't you explain it to her? Why me? - I'm not Jewish.
I never was.
- Mother.
I offered to convert, but your Daddy always said he liked me as a shiksa.
Uh, Zoe, what, uh, "shiva" is is this ritual at your house in which people who know the dead person-- Person who passed away.
They come for seven days and sit with you and talk and mark the passing away of the dead person.
And eat you out of house and home.
For seven days? Don't worry.
It's not gonna be seven days.
This is it.
So, that's shiva.
Mom I've been thinking.
I don't think you should feel like you have to rush back to Florida.
You can stay here for as long as you need to.
Tht's very sweet of you, dear, but I have to make some plan.
As we heard your daddy say a million times-- You know what, Mom? Don't make a plan.
You could just wing it.
This is an important transition in your life.
There's gonna be all kind of feelings that are gonna come up.
Judith, will you stop talking to me about feelings? Mom, she's right.
You haven't been alone in-- what? What is it? and I'm proud of that.
What I meant was you did live here in Chicago your whole life until very, very recently.
Mom? WoBarbara? Oh, jeez.
It's the Tannenbaums.
A bit early, don't you think? This has really got to be the end of the shiva business.
Ceil? Marvin? I'm coming.
Hello, dear.
I'm sorry I asked about shiva.
Oh, girls! We have to get dressed.
Showtime.
Well, it's been a hell of a goodbye.
It's what he would've wanted.
He would've loved the singing.
Honey, where are the cookies? Phil was a musical man-- musical.
Mondays were opera nights, fat slobs going from table to table.
I said, "Phil, it's annoying.
" He said, "Celeste, music is also food.
" That song always made him cry.
Would you excuse me for a second? Uh, me too.
They're lovely girls.
I know.
Oh! Uncle Aaron.
I mean, I'm sorry.
- For what? - That sound.
I thought there was no one here.
Know what I think? All these old, boring people are just here for the food.
Have you had any lunch? Not that you're old and boring.
Lunch sounds like a plan.
Okay.
Um anything in particular? Just no stew.
We've been on a stew run where I live.
I can help make it, but I'm getting pretty sick of it but stew would be fine.
Then we won't have stew.
Okay.
It's Grace, Uncle Aaron.
I mean, you should feel free to call me Grace.
I hope that wasn't rude-- about my name, I mean.
It's just I sensed you might be worried about just saying it, you know? And, uh, it's just a name.
I like yours.
There's this guy in my school named Aaron.
Do you like him? He's okay.
He's a musician-- trombone.
Didn't you used to play an instrument? The trumpet.
Really? It would be cool to hear you play.
The problem is my fingers aren't necessarily my own anymore.
Well, that must be hard for you to feel that.
It's been a long time.
Sometimes I feel like that-- like all my extremities are, in this weird way sort of borrowed.
Do you want me to do it? I can.
Thank you.
Have some.
I like the dark meat.
I like the white meat.
Well, then, here.
Well, okay.
I had to get away.
I had to get away.
How long have you been out here? I'm not sure.
All day, off and on.
Yeah.
Here.
I know.
Can you believe Mom said that about shiksas in front of the girls? - I hate Mom.
- You do not.
Oh, who the hell knows? Did you really mean that, about her staying a while? Oh, just fell out of my mouth like a tooth I didn't know was loose.
I should get back.
I don't think shiva counts if you spend it sitting in a car.
For your fingers.
Thank you.
Uncle Aaron Do you remember? I mean, the time when you weren't sick? Lots.
Like about Lily.
She used to worry a lot.
She used to worry whether she could be pretty and good, which just made her prettier.
And specific beaches.
- Do you like the beach? - Who wouldn't? I'm sorry.
That's dumb of me.
You know, what I'd like to remember someday is a job.
Oh, my mom just got one.
But she's not on medication.
I'll say.
So tell me what kind of job? Useful, which I've never been.
I just keep staying unnecessary.
And I need a plan because Dad would say-- a little too often for my personal taste-- he'd say, "Aaron, your plan is your road.
" So you want a plan and to be useful.
Those are wonderful things to want, Aaron.
And when my dad was my daddy and I played the trumpet the song was "I Can't Get Started".
Like yesterday.
It was beautiful.
It's wonderful to talk to you, Uncle Aaron.
How did you know this is exactly what I wanted? Oh, I'm a restaurant man, Mom.
I've been thinking about Florida.
Even down there, Phil thought nothing of dragging home about 1 0 people every night.
People just found Phil.
Yeah, but now it's gonna be-- Oh, I'm sorry.
It-- No, go ahead, dear.
Tell me.
Well, it-- I'm just different.
I--I think about my place and, you know the nights the girls aren't there.
It--I--I know.
I mean, it doesn't compare.
Yes, it does.
The thing is, you just never know what's gonna happen.
See, the thing is, I do know what's gonna happen I mean, at least in terms of the restaurant.
Listen.
Listen, I--I need you to hear this from me.
We're there.
You know, thanks to Phil and-- and what he taught me it's working, and it's gonna work.
I mean, can you see that? Yes, I can see it.
I mean, I'd like to b-- We're open again, and we're making money.
- You mean, like it was before? - No, it's even better and I'm gonna keep it going and growing you know, for Phil, for you for the girls, for all of us.
Now, just--just let me do that, Mom, okay? I mean, that's-- that's all I ask.
Oh, Jake.
Here's what I want.
Tell me.
For it to be 1967 for me to be in a booth at Daddy's restaurant with Aaron, his Cub hat on while they spell out my name in french fries.
Since you asked.
So, Jake built this? Yeah.
It's well-built.
I'm impressed.
Aunt Judy brought these.
They're so cool.
Oh, look-- Grandpa in the Army.
Here he is with a baby.
That must be you, 'cause here's Mom.
You were so cute.
Is that you in camp? Did you go to camp? - Yes.
- Was it a trumpet thing? Guess what? I'm doing a camp in the summer.
- Did you go to, um, Wisconsin or - Aaron? Hi.
I want you to meet Rick Sammler.
This is my brother Aaron.
Hi, Aaron.
Hello, Rick.
Uncle Aaron, you really should shave.
Yes.
Oh, my God-- Jeanne Ford.
You were so in love with her, Aaron.
Remember her? Zoe, you were such a chunky baby.
I was not.
At least I wasn't fat.
Yeah, but now you're all bony.
Wait a minute, girls.
- I'm so sorry.
It's my fault.
- Grace! Aaron, listen, we're gonna step outside Stop it! You don't know what you're doing! You're not helping! Get away! Please go away.
Fine.
It's okay.
It's all right.
Yeah, it's okay.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
It's all right.
You don't smoke, do you? Not for about 15 years.
Nobody smokes anymore.
Try to even bum a cigarette these days and people think you're a criminal.
He was a big, loud, aggressive schmuck Phil was.
But I liked him.
I built this, you know.
We talked about how this would be very stressful and I think, under the circumstances, Aaron is doing wonderfully.
He seems to be.
In fact, my God, I'm amazed we didn't all fall apart.
But he hasn't either.
That's what you have to see.
He has a lot going for him.
He has all of us at the home, he has both of you and your father, who never gave up on him.
A lot of parents do.
You know, every Thursday, your dad would bring him to the restaurant.
They'd sit in the front booth.
Remember, Aaron? And what would your dad say? "I want you to meet my son Aaron.
" Oh.
I never knew that.
Jake had Thursday nights off.
Hey.
He's okay.
Oh, good.
He's okay, not that anybody asked.
What? What did you say? Nothing.
Did you ask me why I don't treat Aaron right? Mom, he's your son.
Yes, he's my son.
And you don't know anything about that, my dear.
You don't know anything about the years of my life that live in that boy.
Okay, Mom, we don't have to do this now.
You don't know anything about me-- either one of you.
Mom Mom, we want to know.
You're just like your father.
The thousands of times that I've gone into a room and I've seen the three of you laughing.
You see me, and you stop.
No, that's not true.
Yes, you do! You shut me out! Mom, we love you.
You know that.
Mom, we just--you always had this right way of doing everything.
We never knew what it was.
We were just protecting ourselves.
I never punished you.
I never pushed you away.
I never gave you any cause to think that you had to protect yourself from me.
Oh, don't you understand that there was a human being standing there with feelings? Mom, we're here now.
Mom! We're here now.
We see you now.
Aaron was my son and your father was my husband.
And they're both gone.
And I--I'm a widow, and I'm terrified.
Mom, you don't have to be terrified.
You have us.
You have your family.
Yes, Mom.
I'm supposed to count on you now suddenly? I need help, and all I can say is, "Thank God for Jake.
" What do you mean? I mean Jake talked to me, and I can count on him.
He's going to work seven days a week at that restaurant-- seven days a week.
Oh, my God.
Mom, he should not be talking to you like that.
Can you see that? I can see that he cares about me and that he wants to help me in a way that your father would understand.
But he didn't understand, and neither do you this one really important thing that you got to get straight now, Mom-- I am divorcing Jake.
He is not my husband.
He is out of my life.
Where does that leave me, Lily? Where does that leave me? Lord.
Did you notice her skin? It's like you can look through it suddenly like she's made out of glass.
You know, she was right last night.
I don't know.
We don't know her.
We only know what's been useful to us and now that Daddy's gone We might have to? Don't look at me.
You're the oldest.
I was thinking maybe she could move in with you.
Well, I could use a roommate.
We could double-date.
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Here.
Oh, God, there it is.
- I thought I had lost that.
Where is it? - Where is it? Oh, hang on, hang on.
I'm coming.
Hello? Hey, I took a chance.
Hey.
It's Rick.
I'm in the car with Judy.
Are you going somewhere? Well, we're not physically moving, no if that's what you mean.
I'll be inside.
I'll be in in a minute.
I can call you back, or you could call me.
There's just this thing I wanted to tell you.
No, no, I'm so happy it's you.
Lily, I may be wrong to tell you this but when I was leaving, I saw Jake outside and I talked to him.
What'd you talk about? It wasn't what he said-- it's that I don't think I've ever seen anybody look so sad.
And it's like for the first time, he became real to me you know, what he's-- what he's lost.
Lil? I'm here.
Mom? What are you doing? Well, I called the airport, and I changed my ticket.
I'm going back to Florida tomorrow morning.
Why? Your father made and I have to do something.
I don't want it to be just thrown together-- cold cuts from a delicatessen.
I left a sweater here in the closet.
Mom, you know, I meant what I said.
I told you you could stay here for as long as you needed or wanted.
Me? I'm a pain.
Before you know it, I'd be wearing your robe and slippers.
You'd be sorry you asked.
I mean it, Mom.
I know that, darling, but don't you think I need to go home? We are your home.
Oh, Lily, you have a life of your own to lead.
You have me and Judy and Aaron and the girls.
Such sweet little girls, too.
Yeah, they are, and they're stronger all the time.
I see that.
I raised really strong daughters, Mom.
I think I learned it from you.
Well, I could have done so much better.
I wanted to do so much better, Lily.
Mom, you did great.
Oh, no, your daddy-- No, you.
Dad wasn't there.
He was out making 9,000 friends.
And I loved him dearly, Mom, but it was you.
I mean, look at all that's happened in my life in the last year and here I am.
Maybe I'm better off than I was.
I don't know yet, but I do know that I found an inner strength that I didn't even know existed and I also think that--that you are trusting Jake because he's a man.
And I know he has wonderful qualities-- God knows I know that-- but Jake really cares about me, Lily.
Mom, he cares about himself.
I care about you.
You have to trust me, Mom.
Would you help me with this, please? It's kind of tricky.
It--it's a lot fuller than it looks.
There you go.
Lily.
Hi, Jake.
Hi.
Uh You hungry? I can, you know, make you a burger or something like that.
We're closed in memory of your dad.
I'm not hungry, thanks.
So, that's it? No more shiva sitters? Goodbye, Tannenbaums? Yeah, Mom's leaving tomorrow for Florida.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Jake, I talked to Mom.
Yeah.
Of course you did.
And you should know that what's happened is she's given me her proxy.
So I can fire you.
I can fire you anytime.
But I'm not doing it now.
What does that mean? It means that I want you to make it work.
I want you to keep your promise and make it work for you and all of us.
And another thing is I want Aaron to be able to come here like he did with my dad.
I want the girls and Judy and Aaron and I to come here because it's our family's place.
So And this was my father's and I want you to have it.
Wow, that's familiar.
Always set your watch so when people are late for their reservations they're really on time, and, uh you're glad to see them.
So, what else? Nothing else.
I wish you could stay longer.
I do, too, honey.
I'm gonna need a big hug to help me hold up the plane.
Grandpa always said that.
Well, he was a smart guy, wasn't he? Hi.
Hi.
He's ready, Mom.
How do I look? You look beautiful.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
That should be trimmed in the spring.
Aaron? I'm going back to Florida now.
Okay.
I have things to do there.
Okay.
I'm going to have a memorial for your daddy.
I want to come.
Uh did I leave my tickets upstairs? No, Mom, I think you have them.
- I do? - Yeah.
I want to come.
I'm sure you do for your daddy.
We'll see.
We'll see.
Um, so I think we should go now so I don't miss my plane.
Mommy.
I know, darling.
You want to come for your daddy.
I want to come for you.
Oh oh, Aaron I My Oh, Aaron, I-- You know, Roger, who lives in my building he's been offered the vice-presidential spot but I keep forgetting for which party.
Independent Party, I believe it is.
Democratic Party-- yes, it is.
It's the Democratic Party.
Really? Well, it hardly matters.
It's a lousy job anyway.
Yeah.
Will you try to take good care of yourself? Yes.
Oh, look, I have these tickets after all.
- Okay.
- Okay.
I'm ready if you are.
I'm ready.
It's time to go.
Bye.