Mhm.
Can
sit in this Co
Nicholson. Hi.
Yeah.
Come
on up here.
Thank you so much.
Oh.
Right.
Thank you.
Ok.
Put your hand right in
here.
I'm all good. Ready to go.
No,
mom,
mom.
No,
mom,
honey,
I'm out back.
Oh,
Roxie.
Oh,
no.
Right.
Rosie.
I'm fine.
You
were all dog
and every day I come home to see my mom. No, it certainly isn't.
Honey, you could use a wash. Well, it's a long walk from the station.
Why didn't you call?
I did call,
you know, sometimes I take the phone off the hook when I'm resting. I'm sorry?
Well, I hitched a short bit on Mr Mikelsons tractor.
Oh, boy. I'm gonna hear about that
at
the way you gossip about me hasn't killed you yet.
No, but it's not for luck to try, make fun.
But I have done a lot of interesting things in my life. Well, I think that her husband
is interesting
and you don't have one of those. Let's get you lying down.
I haven't heard that a long while.
Come
on.
Oh, don't you be so scandalized little city girl?
Well, I'm not in the city now I'm home to help my mom. So, no more laundry for you.
I'm gonna have to lie down naked if I don't do the laundry.
Oh. And then there really will be a scandal.
Hm.
From footlight parade?
We saw it twice at the old Fox theater in the city
three times.
Ok.
What you working on?
Who? Afghan?
T
what?
Come, come on in, come on,
come for breakfast. It's ready.
Mom's getting cold.
I ordered over easy.
Well, they got scrambled on the way.
Put that pan to soak. I'll
take care of it later.
You're still a wizard in the kitchen. I see.
Fix the truck for you this afternoon.
Fancy Secretary time and Pistons.
You may recall during the war. I spent three years building B 29 S
on my way around machines.
Well,
at least that GD war gave you something useful.
There are a pair of overalls around here.
I
don't go worrying about that truck. That's on my to do list. Don't you argue with me?
At least not on your first morning home.
So, uh, tell me again what the doctor said.
I've told you six times already.
You don't listen, Rosie,
just send my arthritis
is
getting worse.
I should come home rest.
I'll fix the truck for you. What else can I do? Slow down?
It's kicking up a lot of dust.
I'm here to get things done.
My company only hired a temp for three weeks.
If I don't make it back in time, she keeps my job.
Thank you. Kindly.
Not a problem. Miss,
I look at you, Rosie
KJ.
Always an eyeball.
Oh.
Mhm.
Uh
Jean.
You go along, tell the pastor I'll be there in a few minutes.
Jean.
No, running
my grandson,
the accordionist.
See him around here
chaplain. He's a priest.
No,
they call him that because he's silent in
my experience. That's not an excuse to be rude.
He's deaf and dumb.
Oh,
Rosie.
Honestly, the liquor store
we were out.
But you send someone
that's not a place for a nice young lady.
Florence.
When have you ever known me to be a nice young lady,
Rose Miller? Is that you,
what are you doing back in town? Macy Comstock.
I'm impressed you held on to that factory.
Several people came up to me at Charlie's funeral.
Scared asking if I wasn't shut the place down.
But didn't you?
I thought about it.
No one left in the family to run it.
The men don't give you trouble.
Once I showed them, I was serious about learning.
They got serious about teaching me and here we are five years down the road.
How long
we haven't been back in? What? A year and a half?
That was the worst movie we've had in 20 years.
I almost didn't make it back to Chicago. I nearly lost my job.
You still happy there? Absolutely. I live in an apartment on my own.
I shop at department stores, museums, nightclubs. Do you still see movies?
I remember you and your mother used to always see Sunday matinees in the city.
Still go with someone special. Oh,
no, no, no.
All the men I meet, want me to quit my job. Keep house
Anna.
You remember Rose? Come say hello,
please.
She just loves her books.
You are so grown up, Anna say hello? Hello?
I know I'm not around much but I know all sorts of secrets
about your mother from when she was young and I can be brack chocolate
or the loan of your bicycle.
No, don't be telling her about all the trouble we used to get into
mom.
I didn't mean to embarrass you, darling.
It's embarrassing yourself.
Well, let's
go playing down here.
It's flying down to Rio.
Ginger threatened and
foreheads. Never stop touching me.
They had that dance floor. It was all made of pianos, wore my hair like hers for years.
Rosie,
you're always trying to find
a
special little sun.
The Saturday photos.
I found them in a box that was,
uh, next to the old mangle down in the basement.
I'm just gonna get them all labeled.
What year is this?
1933? I'd like the gold diggers.
We're
in the money,
we're
in the money
that
I ran into. Florence.
Uh huh.
She didn't know you were feeling poorly. Well, I don't want her to
because she's gotta tell everybody
I'm gonna be up to my neck in
pity that I don't want and a whole bunch of hot dishes. I'm not even gonna eat.
Suit yourself.
Mhm.
Oh,
boy.
After every matinee we take a picture in front of the marquee,
what I wouldn't give to just see one more movie musical.
Why don't we?
The nearest theater is 40 miles away.
We have your truck
be rattled a bit.
Well, I'll ask Macy, she'll loan us her car.
We'll drive to the suit and we will catch a matinee bosie.
I can't even sit still at the supper table. The pills from the doctor.
I am not taking those
goofball. They're perfectly sane.
Yeah, that's what they told your father after the war and he wasn't ever the same.
I'm trying to do something special for you,
honey.
I don't want special.
I just want
normal
two hours in the car and three hours at the matinee.
I don't do that anymore.
Fine.
Mm.
Mhm.
Oh boy. Sure. It's nice to have a partner.
Give.
Mhm.
Thank you so much for coming tonight and I just want
to welcome you all to the annual Sioux Steam Community Dance.
I know my husband Charlie would be so happy
to know that we've kept on the family tradition.
So please have some pie and punch and dance the night away and have a bunch of fun.
All right.
And
thats
me.
So.
Oh,
come on, please I love to dance. You will too.
No,
please.
Ok.
I'm Rose Miller. Well, how do you
do?
And you are Mrs Albert Clearing.
Lovely. And your name? Mrs Albert Clearing.
Cancer?
I,
yeah,
it,
you remember Dave Jenkins? His wife died a few years ago.
Oh,
so
sorry
to
hear
that
brother.
I
know.
I
apologize.
Now. Look at that, Anna has a crush. You remember my first crush? Me too.
But that was a lifetime ago.
You ever think about finding a man
maybe getting married again?
I think about finding someone,
just not getting married again.
And you, do you ever want to belong to someone
belong to someone? I can't believe you just said that
madam Factory Boss, modern independent,
like I told you last night, I'm happy to loan you my car, but she's a ruined woman and
it doesn't sound like she wants to go.
I just wish you could see a movie
without leaving Beresford.
The only way you're gonna see a movie in this town is if you make it yourself,
I want the last piece.
Why not?
It's all yours.
Why not
making a movie? Can't be harder than building a plane?
What sort of trouble are you hatching? Rose Miller?
What is a movie? Musical? Anyway, a
camera, some film, some beautiful young people dancing.
We can do that right here. I'm not so sure we have any of those things in this town
and it doesn't need to be two hours long.
It's gonna be easy.
Mom's gonna get her movie without leaving Beresford.
I am so glad you're back.
Uh, things have gotten boring around these parts.
Hello?
Hello.
Hi,
I'm Rose Macy's friend.
Uh, I think she told you I was coming, I'm making a film for my mother
Chaplin.
We need a movie camera.
Um.
Mhm.
Great.
Do you have one?
Oh, no,
no,
a
camera, uh, a camera.
We're looking for a camera but small like during the war.
Excuse me.
Come on.
I don't know how I'm supposed to explain anything to you.
Mm.
This is wonderful. Does it work?
That is just beautiful.
No, I'd like to take a look at it before you go taking it apart.
I want to know how it works.
All right, then
I'll be back Monday.
Hi, Anna.
Your mother said, I'd find you here.
What's your reading?
Did your
mother
mention the movie? I miss
you.
You're gonna need a leading lady.
Will you be my star?
No, thank you. Why not?
You're not exactly the actress type,
Anna.
I think you'll make the audience fall in love with you.
It's impossible. You can't make faces and cry in front of people.
Many actors can make dramatic poses
but very few
can evoke true emotions.
Do you really think that I can?
I do?
I'll have to ask my mom.
I already did.
Ok, I'll do it.
And let's ask that boy from the dance which one?
The one who looks like a young Cary Grant
Dale. Yes.
No, he's busy. He works at the soda fountain and he plays basketball.
Let's let him decide that.
Welcome to, to ours.
What can I get you to today?
Uh. Oh
dear.
Um,
the deer.
They are impressive.
Well, that one's a ram,
right? You are from the Black Hills,
maybe Rankin Ridge.
I think so. Are you from around here?
Not anymore.
I'm Rose, Rose Miller
Dale. Truth be told Anna and I have dropped in because we have something to ask you.
We'll be making a movie in the next few days and we're looking for actors.
What do you say to what to be in the film?
Uh No, no. Thank you. Why not actors memorize the lines? I can't do that.
My movie's a musical. There's not any lines
I can't sing.
It's a silent musical. You don't even have a microphone.
You don't even have to sing or
sing. Anything
sound,
no sound.
I wouldn't know what to do.
Do you play any sports? He plays basketball
captain, two years. Who tells you what to do in the game? Coach Phillips,
I will be your coach.
I'll tell you where to stand, where to move and how to do everything.
Doesn't that sound like fun?
Yes, ma'am.
Coming rooms.
We will stop by tomorrow to fit you for your costume
and shooting begins as soon as the film comes in from Chicago
Yes, ma'am.
I mean, Rose.
Oh, holy cow. Look at this.
It's your seat of Barrow,
period. Tell me what you were thinking.
Jeepers.
Look who's talking
daddy gave you endless grief for that hairdo.
Now, see, you could do no wrong,
but let me step out of an apron and he about blew a gasket.
That's putting it mildly.
Hey, what do you think about? 1937?
No,
it's 39.
Well, I already have it in ink. We'll scratch it out.
Well, a few years' difference won't matter.
It will matter when you look back it's gonna matter.
Oh,
that's what I was looking for.
I look like Myrna Loy in Thin Man. Fin Man. 1934. That was my favorite.
I thought you liked the musicals best.
Yeah.
Until you discovered Boys and then you'd be
gone from the intermission to the closing credits.
You're exaggerating. Oh, mama, the line at the concession stand.
It was just so long.
Good. Now you even missed me.
Eyes were glued to the screen.
That was our time together.
Just saying
we're gonna hang a sheet in that corner
pretty soon. We will have our own little matinee.
The remnant can broadcast and then from
them and
Fran
everything.
Hi there.
J
I'm Rose Miller. Nice to meet you. Pearl's daughter.
Macy said you'd be coming around.
Yeah, back in town
temporarily from Chicago.
Planning to make a film
a
movie.
I think
your land here is perfect.
I'd be hugely grateful to you if you'd consider letting me use it as a location.
That's where you make a film,
using a location is a very modern idea actually.
And the script, I'll be writing the script.
That's the film's the movie's story.
Will it be narrative or expressionist?
Excuse me?
Sure, you can use whatever you want.
I'll actually be around to help out.
It arrived this morning.
No,
I need to test it to see if it works.
How are we supposed to work together if we can't communicate?
Mm.
You think of everything,
right?
Yeah.
Chapman.
Her name is James.
I'm so sorry.
I didn't.
No.
Ok,
Rose.
Ok.
What you know about machines?
I built bombers during the war
and an executive secretary.
Do
you
like it? It's a
very important job.
I feel
like an idiot.
I, I've spent years
trying to impress people who think I'm the
barrier
and you just want me to be quiet
and go away.
People think
your skills are less
or
no good reason.
That's why
I work
for myself.
Yeah.
Hm.
The book
says
that the film
needs a director
and also
a camera
specialist.
Will you be my camera
man?
Yes,
you have eyes,
don't you?
You can see
just fine.
Ok. But I want to see the edge of the flat, the edge of the flat.
Why?
What just?
Ok, this is, this is, uh for my, my mother,
she, she, she loves fantasy
just,
just do what I say. This is going to work. Just do this.
Ok?
You two
get to the earth and then come in when I start you
Florence,
I brought a rhubarb cake for you to take to Pearl.
Are you expecting Pearl to come watch soon? Oh, I don't believe so. Ma
so much to do at the house.
Her arthritis problem improving that.
Oh, you know, Pearl, no complaints.
Well, if that's the way she wants to play it.
Well, this was wonderful of you, Pearl. We'll be pleased. Thank you.
That on her head.
It's a headdress. We're channeling a dance from the Ziegfeld girls.
Be
out here. Tighten that
one
there. All right.
Try shake your hand.
Get me some chicken wire and pliers.
I'll go get some
Jan.
I think I need an assistant.
Would you be willing to take good notes and do what I say?
Yes, ma'am.
We get along just fine.
All right. Everybody. Let's rehearse places
where
much louder.
What
good. Come with me,
Macy
and
go.
Right.
Right. And
before I go to Macy's,
I'm going to go fix dinner. I'm not hungry yet.
I won't burn it this time. I promise.
Did you hear back from your job?
What are you gonna do if they don't give you any more time off?
Where is he
rose?
Honey. Come on, sit down for a minute.
You know, I worry about you every single day.
I'm fine.
Which part's fine
living in that box of an apartment that you call home all by yourself
being a part of something bigger than this,
bigger than this,
this SARS.
This is all ours.
It's not enough here for me.
Mu
be honest.
Wouldn't you have lived in the city?
You could have
the museums, the stores, the excitement,
all that concrete,
all that noise,
quiet here is too loud for me.
Are you gonna tell me what's going on?
Well, that's your right.
I just don't want anybody feeling sorry for me.
What you don't want is to admit you're just like the rest of us.
Pearl. You have helped me throughout the years.
You've been there for me
and if you don't let me help you, now
you're keeping me in your debt
and that's just mean.
Now are you gonna be a bathrobe hypocrite
or can I sign you up for a visit from the A I Ds society tomorrow?
Everyone gather around
ladies and gentlemen.
The
film is uh very, very expensive and the rain might be coming.
So we can't afford to make any mistakes.
Do you all feel ready to do this? Yes,
James.
James is the camera ready?
Great.
No,
just do this.
Ok, let's do this. Let's do this
scene. One take one
and the orchestra music comes in and
the,
and
under
that cut
cut
scene one take two scene one take three, take four,
seen
one
take
17,
hold on,
hold on.
What are you doing? Just do what I say,
James.
James,
sorry,
I'm sorry,
I should ask
you
and not
tell you
we never
going to understand
each other.
So I should get somebody else. I don't want anybody else. I want you.
Now, how
do you want to communicate?
What?
He seems so angry?
What do those hand signals mean?
I don't know.
Do you think Rose needs help?
So,
what are you gonna do after you graduate?
I plan on going to Indiana or Iowa.
What would you study? Egg? Probably.
My dad says that no one knows this land better than he does.
But I know I could raise production,
learn the new fertilizers and machines like robots.
Uh, farm robots.
I wonder how long this is gonna take?
I don't want to walk home in the dark.
I could walk you.
Really?
Yeah. My dad would have my hide if he knew I'd let you walk home alone in the dark.
Ok,
James, whatever it is, I'll learn.
James.
Ok.
You
need a lift, Mr Mill
sister. Do I ever,
you have fun today?
There's your mom?
I guess you don't need me. Do you want a ride?
No, it's
not.
Pop in.
Never ever speak to me again.
Bye.
And then a swoop. A
turn and a swoop.
It's
um,
hi.
Oh, maybe it'll look like it's supposed to be a comedy.
It's a silent musical.
Beth.
Am I crazy?
Uh,
I'm running out of time
your job wants you back.
Hm.
And James
and James,
I,
I tried to tell him what to do
and he quit.
What he quit.
Well, you have to get him back how
it feels like whatever I write down is half of what I mean.
Well, I've always believed Chaplin.
I mean, James to be smart. I mean, obviously he's smarter than he shows.
He says there's
a, there's a sign language.
Have you heard of this? No,
but he did go to a school for the deaf. Governor Sioux Falls.
That's where he was when we were kids.
Huh?
It's not a language. It's more like a
slang or patois.
We forbid it in the classroom.
Why?
It's a crutch?
They need to learn to read lips and they'll never be able to integrate into society.
I never thought of that.
Imagine you were
different,
ostracized
an outside.
Never allowed to participate in the grand pageant of life.
What you'd want most is a way to fit in to
find a job. Get married,
be like everyone else.
That's what we can give them.
But when deaf people talk,
I mean, not talk but to each other, they,
they sign,
why do you want to learn it?
Mom?
I've become
friends with a former student here,
James Hansen.
I remember James,
he could really take it to the hoop.
He never learned to Audi well or to read lips, but
the pheasants kicked the stuffing out of the
Flandro Indians the year he led the team.
Has he found his place in the world?
I, I
think he has
good.
I worry about them
so reliant on the kindness of others.
Couldn't you teach me
just a few signs?
Hello, goodbye. And thank you.
Your desire to communicate with James is admirable.
But I can't teach you any science because I don't know any.
Go get some ice.
There's a cafeteria key.
Chloe.
Excuse me?
Uh,
who went to the school nurse?
Are you,
are you using sign language?
Can you teach me?
I'm not supposed to use high
levels on school
grad,
but you use it somewhere else.
I would like to communicate with a deaf friend of mine. Respectfully.
No one else in the town is deaf and he doesn't read lips.
He should learn.
Is that what you really think?
I can't afford
to get fire?
Yeah.
Are you
finished with work?
Because I borrowed a friend's car to get here and we could go to a diner
and we'll get a meal and you can teach me whatever I can learn in a couple of hours
deal.
I
went to school.
Um,
you
school?
Oh,
that's,
oh,
De
Woman.
Yes.
Yeah,
that's nice.
Um,
yes, please.
Uh, please.
I like that.
Mhm.
Frog frog.
Mhm.
Oh, Bo. Why? Boy, boy,
boy,
uh oh, do
dog, dog.
Ok.
Rooster. Rooster.
Yeah.
Can you repeat it?
Oh,
here we are
you
good.
Thank you. For them.
He needs his hands to stay grace.
Oh,
Lord. Thank you for the,
for
us.
I don't understand.
Hm.
I understand.
I understand. Is fine.
Amen.
Don't keep those potatoes to yourself.
Ok.
Mhm.
Beautiful.
Right. Right.
Then,
um, what's the
sign?
You don't know?
Well, what does one
do when one doesn't know the sign?
I use it and me
think
a sign.
Uh, ok.
Ok.
Uh,
cigarette match. You're throwing the matches.
That's
ugly.
Ok.
They're slow.
Yeah,
that's good.
I had a good day.
I
pa
good
driving.
I, I don't,
I understand.
I had a good day.
Two.
You forget,
mom,
I'm taking a bath.
The film is back on track. Convinced James to continue being my cameraman
the whole good because he turns the most
ordinary things into something
unique.
He has the art as such. It's pretty cool.
And mom,
everyone is enjoying himself so much.
You should see Anna, she's blossoming
and
you are going to love Dale's
C.
Mhm. Yes.
Did you come here?
Uh,
ok.
I got you.
00,
ok.
No.
Yeah.
What is that?
It's a tumor.
I have cancer in my breast.
Maybe
your, your arthritis.
It's the same as it ever was.
I just didn't want to tell you.
Well,
they have treatments, surgery,
they can cut it out.
But
it takes half the chest.
Most women don't survive that surgery
and the rest can hardly stand up.
Well, we have to do something,
honey.
I think
for the first time in my life,
I've earned the right to do absolutely nothing.
Yeah,
I'm sorry to hear about your mother,
but we agreed that if you didn't return after three weeks,
Miss Jefferson would keep your position,
you may have to return to the general pool, but that will be up to the office manager.
Did you take those boxes of pictures back down to the basement as
soon as I'm back?
I set my clock to that mom. You said you want me to finish the film? Yes, I do.
I do.
Farmers Almanac says we run out of light at 802 tonight. I will be home then
Farmers all in the neck.
Marlon Brando lived in a veterans hospital for weeks to play a paraplegic.
Why
method acting?
If you really live the truth of it all the time, we should try it.
All the big movie stars are doing it.
Uh I'm good.
So we act as if we're in love all the time.
How do we do that
eyes? Yes,
that
no,
no.
Oh
stop.
Let's take a break.
Minute
break. Thank you. J
Should I follow you?
No, you take a break too.
Sure. Uh Yes, whatever you want.
G
what are you doing? Please, everyone get back upset. We have so much work to do.
Please. Come on, come on, we are running out of time.
I am running out of time, please, please. We have so much work to do.
We have to figure out what the next dance is gonna.
It's beautiful,
right?
Ok.
You
OK.
Yeah,
Caliban
story
of this place.
The story.
Mhm.
That
all right. Everyone
give James some space
James
action.
Yeah.
Well, this should hold you for another week.
Rose dear.
Will you help me with where to put these?
Just leave that there and I'll get to them later.
I just need you for a minute
in here.
I noticed you've been spending a lot of time with the chaplain
James
is wonderful company.
Be that as it may. He is deaf.
I hadn't noticed
it's a serious defect. Rose
in my day. We did what was necessary to make sure that wasn't passed on
like a gelding
dear.
Chaplin has a decent place in this community with his business,
but you should never be alone with him.
Do you honestly think he'd attack me?
Of course not,
but you don't want to give the wrong impression to the
real men in town you might actually want to marry.
Now,
there are casseroles in the ice box. I want you to make sure Pearl Eats.
I hope you're understanding.
I need this by Monday.
All right.
Thank you,
Miss. Please make sure he understands how important it is for Monday.
Thank you.
I have an idea.
You should put up a sign.
Yeah. Um,
useful requests, uh, phrases,
requests
and people come in
and just point.
Yeah. Uh
maybe, um, like a list.
Uh, a,
this b
that,
see
what
I,
I just want to, uh, make it easier.
Ok.
Yeah,
me
not lame.
Do
I just wanna
make it easier?
Yeah.
James.
James
rental
repair
camera
projector
paid
cash.
How's the Afghan coming
if
spiritually?
But
plush is weak.
Yeah. What's the matter?
Having some trouble with my camera, man.
It's all over now.
Get that laundry done,
right.
Honey,
I've got 30 women in this town who can do my laundry and
make hot casseroles and clean my kitchen.
I only got one daughter.
I'm sorry, mom,
I always try to do what I think is right.
It's not enough,
honey. If you're with me,
that's enough.
So you put the hook
in the middle
here
where the hole is good.
I like this.
Crocheting is very relaxing.
No
giving up.
Do you want some advice?
Of course,
you didn't always,
well, you didn't usually ask me before delivering it.
Fair enough.
I'd love to know.
All right. Close your eyes,
close
your eyes.
Uh
Imagine your picture of happiness.
Anybody there
real
no.
Who's there?
You are.
That's nice but not forever.
Anybody that you pick to stand next to you
should have that same picture of happiness. Because if they don't,
they're gonna be in the business of changing you and
you're gonna be in the business of changing them.
And that is just not a profitable business.
When did you get? So smart.
Mm.
Same time that you stopped knowing everything.
Probably last week.
Try it again.
Yeah.
Huh?
You need to accept
that. I'm
your boss.
You
one, a deaf woman.
You
want to
move to the city?
That's
that for people.
The friend,
different jobs,
maybe
easier
press.
Imagine
ambition.
What do you
say?
Because you're hiding?
Hi, Rose.
Give me your hand.
Your mother and I first bought this color at Montgomery Wards. When we were your age,
guys,
guys
come to the barn tomorrow night.
What's going on?
You'll have to see
spring a blanket.
Yeah.
Yeah,
I hope you don't mind.
Finished it.
Movie.
Everybody can.
Good evening.
Almost everyone here tonight gave us something so that we could make this movie
so grateful to all of you. But I'm most grateful to the woman who imagined it all.
Rose Miller.
Um,
can I get some light, please?
Ok.
Oh, it's for my hands.
Thank you.
My
mother
love the movies.
I think
she loved
sitting in the dark
with
emotions. She wouldn't dare
express
in the light.
I used to think. She imagined herself as a character
in a movie
that she wanted
to exist in
different lands.
Have
amazing adventures.
But you know what
I was wrong.
She loved
watching the, the Magic
but not as much.
She loved being in the, the light of this
place.
This
is where she,
oh,
let's watch the movie
is
I can see
this.
Yeah.