Olive Kitteridge

_

Make sure you change the water in that vase every day.

Chrysanthemums make the water turn.

And when I call to talk to Mr. Kitteridge,

make sure that you tell everyone to keep the receiver tight up to his ear.

Don't let them lay it on a pillow so I'm babbling like a fool into the air.

Don't worry, Mrs. Kitteridge. We'll take good care of him.

You have yourself a wonderful time with your son.

We'll see. After three days, I stink like fish.

- (Snorts) - (Chuckles)

All right, Henry. I'm off.

I'll give you a call when I get there.

But if the plane goes down, just know I'll be thinking of you

when I hurdle to earth.

Are you going to New York for business or pleasure?

My son asked me to come down.

His new wife is three months pregnant and apparently has the pukes, so...

- I'm on a mission of mercy. - Oh, how nice.

You're gonna be a grandmother.

This girl has two other children by two other fellas...

but it doesn't seem to bother my son, so I'm not gonna let it bother me.

- It's the way things are these days. - That's right.

No point in being an old crank about it.

Going back to the view.

Excuse me.

Mom! Over here!

Oh, for God's sake.

I can't leave the car. I'll get a ticket.

- Hey, Mom. - Where were you?

I thought you were meeting me at the gate.

- I was waiting for you there. - Ma, I told you,

nobody meets anyone at the gate. They have security.

You could've reminded me. I was standing there.

I didn't know where you were.

If you get a cell phone, you could've called me.

No, you need to be more clear with me.

Come on, get in, get in.

Let's go, let's go. Slow it down.

Ah, put this crap in the back.

I've been meaning to clean the car.

Don't worry about it. I'm not the queen. Move, move, I'm fine.

- Come on, sir. Let's go. - You got it.

Come on.

So how is Dad?

His heart beats on.

His lungs are clear, his eyes are blue

and he still likes this aftershave.

I've forgotten what his voice sounds like.

Well, it's still on the phone machine.

All you have to do is call.

- Ann wants to meet him. - Oh.

Any time you want to come up.

Traveling with Ann's kids isn't easy. They're a handful.

The one-year-old keeps us up all night.

And the four-year-old? Frankly, Mom...

Theodore is a little piece of crap.

Oh, well, ducky, ducky soup.

I can't wait to meet him.

I know you think your father's not all there,

but he listens, Chris. He's still engaged.

Sure, I know.

Sorry.

You're still doing that.

- What? - The belching.

Does it annoy you?

Not really.

And Ann won't care. She's easy.

Not like Dr. Sue then.

Nope.

You two still talk?

Not really. I can't really stand her, Ma.

Good to see you, kiddo.

Good God. Christopher.

- Is this it? - Mm-hmm.

- Careful getting out. - (Door Thunks)

- (Squelches) - Oh hell.

- What's wrong? - I stepped in dog mess.

Aw, Jesus.

People never pick up around here.

It's unbelievable.

This way, Ma. Watch your step.

Ugh.

- Go ahead, Ma. - I need to take off my shoe

so I don't track dog mess in your house.

Just leave it right there.

Ann and the kids are out in the yard.

You can just go on back.

I'm just gonna put your suitcase in your room.

- (Dog Whimpers, Barks) - All right.

Get. Get. Oh God.

Hey, you made it.

Hi, Olive.

Wow. It's so nice to finally meet you.

Do you mind if I call you Mom?

I've been dying to call you "Mom."

Oh, you can call me anything you like.

Do you need to attend to that child?

Oh yeah, she's just getting over a cold.

- (Fussing Continues) - I'm coming, cranky girl.

- Blow. - (Sneezes)

Hon, I scraped the grill.

- You wanna get it started? - Sure.

Who is she? That's Grandma Olive.

- Say hello. - Did you bring me a toy?

- No. - Why not?

It slipped my mind.

You were supposed to bring me one!

Grandma will be here the whole week.

She'll get you a toy later.

Mom, would you like a beer?

No, water will be just fine.

I had to take off my shoes. I stepped in dog mess out there.

Oh, yeah. It's all over the block.

Hon, can I get you anything?

I'm good, babe. Thanks.

Oh, Christopher. I've got a run in my stocking already.

Here, Mom, why don't you sit?

- Good grief. What was that? - That's our tenant's parrot.

He has the floor above us.

A parrot. Sounds just like my Aunt Ora.

He's a fundamental Christian.

- The parrot? - No, the man.

He taught the parrot to say holy things

every time you swear.

- Shit! - Praise the Lord.

- Ass! - Theo, cool it.

I'm just showing her how it works.

That'll be enough. Thank you, young man.

Here you go, Mom.

Did you want ice?

No, that'll be just fine.

It's okay. I just have one.

The hops in beer is supposed to be very healthy for women.

- Didn't know that. - Oh, yeah.

Promotes estrogen.

Huh. You learn something every day.

So, Christopher, I didn't know you had a tenant.

Does he give you any trouble?

No, he keeps to himself.

Well, they can be a real nuisance.

When we were renting your house

to all those summer people, they were always breaking things.

Oh, I'm sure.

Hey, Mom, did Chris ever have the chicken pox?

He says he can't remember.

No, he had the German measles,

- but not the pox. - Okay.

It's good to know.

He did have a lot of colds though.

I would put that camphor rub on his chest.

It seemed to work. I recommend that for your little one there.

Actually, I read that camphor rub can cause lung damage.

Oh no, I never heard that.

Oh, yes.

That could be why Chris has asthma.

But you shouldn't feel badly.

No one knew back then.

Well, I don't feel badly because I don't believe it's true.

Hey, hon, how's the grill?

You can start getting the food ready.

Mom, I hope I didn't offend you.

There's just so much new information out there these days.

Yeah, sure.

We're so happy you're here.

Okay.

- Theo. - Yeah?

You wanna come help me with the food?

- Why? - Because. I have to carry your sister.

She's only my half-sister.

Jesus, Theo, go help your mother now.

He listens to you.

I'm the bad cop. I don't mind.

You were always a well-behaved child.

You were never a brat.

You wouldn't allow it.

Aren't you glad?

Actually, I am.

My kid isn't gonna get away with any shit.

Ann knows how I feel. She's in agreement.

Yeah. This one seems very agreeable.

Could you not refer to my wife as "this one"?

I just said her name, Ann.

Noted.

Ann is good for me, Mom.

Noted.

I know you're hurt that I didn't tell you about her sooner.

I'm sorry. I take responsibility for that.

I don't even know how you two met.

- How did you meet? - In a therapy group.

Huh.

I know you think headshrinkers are the devil.

Oh, I could care less, Christopher.

Does she complain about her childhood as well?

She's getting over it.

Her mother is a raging alcoholic and her father was a marine

who made her do push-ups every day.

That should make your childhood look like a breeze.

How's your depression?

- Still have it? - I take Prozac.

- Does it help? - Absolutely.