How To Make An American Quilt Script - Dialogue Transcript

How To Make An American Quilt Script

 For as long as I can remember, my grandmother  and her friends have been a part of a quilting bee.

 I remember sitting under the quilt frame pretending  that I was surrounded by a forest of friendly trees

 and that their stitches were messages  from giants written across the sky.

 I used to spend my summers with my grandmother  and my great-aunt, who lived in Grasse, California.

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

 My parents' marriage didn't last very long.

 They said they didn't love each other any more.

 Or maybe they were just afraid that  their relationship had become just like everyone else's.

 They eventually parted as friends.

 And I eventually stopped thinking  it was all my fault.

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

 Sometimes love simply dies.

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

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

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

 I can't help it.

 It seems the more I know about something,  well, the less I wanna know about it.

 On top of that, my sweetheart Sam is taking our home apart  and putting it back together in some mysterious new form.

 I've decided to go away for the summer.

 This makes Sam nervous.

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

 Sam's great, and I really love him.

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

 Especially if you've found your possible soul mate.

 But how do you merge into this thing called 'couple',  and still keep a little room for yourself?

 And how do we even know we're only supposed  to be with one person for the rest of our lives?

 The day Sam drove me to my Great Aunt Glady's house,  the Grasse quilting bee was there setting up to make a new quilt.

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

 My grandmother moved in after she'd lost her husband.

 They have been fighting ever since.

 Everyone defers to Anna, who is the master quilter.

 She used to work for my Aunt Glady,  but these days it seems they're all working for her.

 My least favorite is Sophie.

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

 And then there's Em, who's married to an artist,  and for some reason, that makes everyone feel sorry for her.

 I always idolized Anna's daughter, Mariana.

 She had lived in Paris which made her  very mysterious to me when I was a kid.

 She taught me French, made cafe au laits.

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

 -Sam, I'm so happy to see you.  Come, let's move some furniture together.

 -Shouldn't you be using a computer?

 -No, I don't trust computers. They lose things.

 -Not if you know what you're doing.

 -Sophie.

 -What?

 -I made you a tape. All the songs I wrote in the title.

 -Thanks.

 -Are you gonna be OK with this?

 -Yeah, I'm fine. I got a lot to do, so bye.

 -So you'll come pick me up in September?

 -Maybe, maybe not.

 -You'd letter.

 -Bye.

 -Bye.

 -The challenge with a quilt like this is  each of these squares are made by different hands.

 So I have to bring all these different squares together  and balance them in harmonious... design.

 First, we have to find a theme.

 Now for this particular quilt,  the theme is 'Where love resides'.

 -You put too much sugar in the ice tea.

 -I did not. It's got like  a tea spoon and half in it.

 -In a whole cup, I can taste it.

 -Give it a rest, will you?

 -Bicker, bicker, bicker,  make a gal age quicker.

 -So what you're saying is that  by harmonizing all these different elements,

 you're creating kind of continuity in the piece?

 -No, what I'm saying is I don't want  to end up with some damn ugly quilt.

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

 -Well, it's not a book. It's a thesis.

 Looking at woman's handy work  in various tribal cultures,

 and I'm showing that how making a basket  or a blanket or a digging stick or whatever.

 It's all done with a sense of ritual.

 -I thought you were writing about the Victorians.

 -No, that was a different thesis.

 -What happened to that one?

 -I just became more interested in this subject.

 -You didn't finish it.

 -No.

 -Well, why not?

 -Chill, Sophie.

 -By the way, I spotted a fellow for Anna.

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

 -Glady. Frank has a cancer.

 -So you got me a sick one, too.

 -Finn, when are you gonna  start having babies?

 -My god! I don't know.

 -Are you using protection?

 -Sophie!

 -Oh, Sophie. Leave my grandniece alone.

 -So this quilt this you're working on.  Is this something you're making for this state fair?

 -It's your wedding quilt, honey.

 -Oh!

 "Here comes the bride. Here comes the bride."

 -Grandma, do you mind  if I put on some music?

 -Hell no.

 -Hey, Finn.

 -Hey, Constance.

 -Sorry, I'm late.

 -Quite all right.

 -You want to smoke?

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

 -What the hell,  if I knew where love resides.

 -Well, I don't understand why your mother divorced  your father and stayed friends with him.

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

 -Well, some people like to get a new car every other year.

 -Uhhh... look what you did.

 -Now we're all family.

 -You know, when your father and mother  got married, they were very immature...

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

 -You know what mom said to me once?

 She's so crazy. How did she get so crazy?

 -Don't look at me.

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

 -Oh, she doesn't know what she's talking about.

 -Half of which is forbidden.

 -Don't be such a cynic.

 -I'm not. My grand-niece wants to know  why the marriage vow's considered such a sacred thing...

 in fact to most people  it means nothing at all.

 -I took my marriage very seriously.

 You were too young to remember your grandfather.

 He and I had a very special love.

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

 -Very much aware.

 That's what made  the whole thing so stunning.

 -Why are you bringing  this up right now?

 -You brought it up.

 -Fine, you wanna tell her,  go tell her. I don't care.

 -Tell me what?

 Is this a mistake, letting you two smoke?

 -No, no, sweetie. I'm a little high right now.

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

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

 -Shut up.

 -All right. I'll tell you what happened.

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

 -Be my guest.

 When you spend your life with someone...

 and they start to die...

 and you feel this terrible, terrible...

 ...severing.

 So you do things without thinking.

 Because what you have to face is so...

 ...deeply unthinkable.

 -Could I use your phone?

 -Arthur Cleary.

 Hy, is that you? What's wrong?

 -Is Glady with you?

 -No.

 No, Glady... she must be out shopping. James didn't...

 -No. He's still here. I just...

 ...need someone to come pick me up.

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

 -What if I take you to our house?

 -No.

 -All right. OK.

 -I just...

 I have to lie down before I go back.

 Now I have to find me a tree.

 I need some peace before I go back.

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

 I told him you had to scoot out to town  or something. He was quite upset.

 -I know. He told me.

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

 -You just took off for a ride with my husband.

 -Glady. What are you doing?

 Honey. What are you doing?

 Come on.

 -Glady.

 -I don't wanna hear a word out of either of you!

 -You stink of her perfume!  -Oh, shit.

 -Glady.

 May we work this out?

 If you want me to go away, I'll do that.

 But if you want me to stay, that's what I want.

 Glady, what's happened to our marriage?

 I mean, it's been so long  since we even shared the same bed.

 It was hard on me, sugar.  What do you want me to do?

 -She's my sister!

 -Glady.

 -Oh, sweetheart.

 -Glady.

 -What the hell are you doing?

 -I'm trying to find something I haven't smashed.

 -Honey, I'm going to work now.

 -As you wish, dear.

 -Sweetheart.

 It's really kind of creepy. You know?

 Could you toss all that junk out?

 -Self expression heals the wounded heart.

 -Glady, for God's sake.

 -Here. You can iron on your own.

 -Glady.

 Aren't you ever going to forgive me?

 -You made you own bed.

 -Don't you understand why I did it?

 -Frankly the reason eludes me.

 -Your sister was the closest  I could get to you.

 -Get out! Get out! Get out!

 -You must have been angry for a really long time.

 -Your grandmother won't come in here  so I'm stuck with doing all the laundry.

 -Did grandpa ever find out?

 -I had decided to tell him everything.

 Let the man die enlightened.

 I was crazy, Finn.

 I would've done anything.

 -Yeah. Sweetheart.

 -I brought ice cream.

 -Thank you.

 -Did you ever forgive Uncle Arthur?

 -Yeah. I forgave him.

 -That's what you do when someone dies.

 -Did you ever forgive grandma?

 -Well.

 I let her move in with me.

 -That is not necessarily the same thing.

 -You sleep here. I'm going to bed.

 -By the way, it was so good  of you to take me in.

 -It's too hot to work. Come on.

 Come swimming with us.

 -That old dog!

 -Dean, I'm watching you.

 -Just talking, Glady. Just talking.

 -Just talking, my foot.

 -Just imagine what he's talking about.

 -You know what I just did?

 I just did    laps doing the butterfly stroke.  You know what my arms feel like right now?

 -No.  -Feel like you could take off and fly.

 -So are you in training?  -Yeah. I'm going to be an ocean swimmer.

 -Yeah?

 -What's your name?

 -Finn.

 -Like on a fish?

 -No, with a double 'N'.  It's one of those weird hippie names.

 -Oh, it's a beautiful name.

 -Finn. It's a thing that slices through the water.

 That's what gives fishes their speed.

 -How come I've never seen you here before?

 I'm just here for the summer.

 -You're from the city?  -Berkeley.

 -Ahh... where the smart people live.  -Not really.

 -I can tell you're one of them.

 -Long line.  -Yeah.

 -I'm really hot.  I'm gonna go jump in the water.

 -My name is Leon.

 -Oh, OK. Leon. See you later.

 -Who was that young man I saw you with?

 -Oh, just someone who wanted to talk.

 -Little girls. That's not allowed!

 -Sophie still scaring children.

 -That's how she lives so long.

 -You should've seen her when she was your age.

 My god! She had a stunning figure.

 -Well!

 -I'm Pres Mitchells.

 What's your name?

 -Sophie.

 -Sophie?

 -Sophie Darling.

 -Did you say darling?

 -Yeah. Like the family name in Peter Pan.

 -I thought... I thought that... no.

 -What?

 -I thought that you called me darling.

 -Oh, god. NO.

 -I like your name. I like it very much.

 -Do you now?

 -When we get married, we'll break traditions.  You can keep it.

 -Excuse me?

 -Do you dive competitively?

 -No. I just do it for myself.

 I like the sensation of falling.

 -You swim like a mermaid, you know?

 -I do?

 -So what do you wanna do in your life?

 -I don't know.

 Marry you, I guess.

 -A college boy. That's good.

 But listen, honey.  You let him do most of the talking.

 Because men, especially smart men, they like a good listener.

 -Mom, don't!

 -It's OK to shine a little, though.

 Men like to think they found the treasure.

 -It's only a date. I'm not gonna marry him.

 -You never know. No, no. This is the one.

 Now I love you, baby.

 You're just not pretty enough to be on your own.

 -Good night, mom.  -Good night, Mrs.Darling.

 -Oh, these bugs are gonna eat you alive.

 -You keep your delicate parts covered.

 -I'll get my door.

 -It's hotsy totsy tonight.

 -I've made a dinner reservation for...  -I have got a better idea.

 -Be careful.

 Good night, Preston.

 -Hey.

 This is where I usually come to swim.

 You like it?

 -I'm a geologist. And that's my major. Rocks.

 -God! I'm sorry. I didn't even ask.

 -No, no, that's all right.  -No, no. I shouldn't have been doing all the talking.

 -So tell me more.

 -This is what I'd like to do.

 I'd like to travel the whole planet.

 And study every part of her.

 Especially where rock is met up with waters.  That's where you get the most spectacular effects.

 That's when you get the Grand Canyons.

 There's nothing like water to wear down  a mountain and open up a secret to you.

 -You know in Arizona...  -Stay right there. Don't move.

 -Let's go around the world together.

 I'll study rocks.

 -You can swim down in the bottom of the canyon,  swim across the middle of whole volcanoes.

 -Get me away from here.

 -Where are you going this time?

 -They wanna send me up to Colorado...  to check out the site of the dam.

 -Shhh.

 -Pres. I'm not gonna raise this child alone.

 You have to get a job in town.

 -Sophie. I can't spend my life  doing soil tests for farmers.

 -And I can't be left behind like some old bag!

 -Look, as soon as the baby gets a little older,  you can come along too.

 -Before that, how do I know you won't run off?

 -Why would I do that?

 -That's what you're saying now.

 -Sophie, this is crazy.  Why would I run away?

 -Because it happens.

 -Are you gonna be away  for very long, daddy?

 -Not so long, sweetheart.  Just about   or   weeks.

 -I wanna go to college.

 -We can only afford to send one of you.

 It's more important for Pres Jr. to go.

 -But I'm the oldest.

 -A girl doesn't have to go to college.  You can get married.

 -That's not what I want.

 -We don't always get what we want.

 -What's that?

 -It's a pond.

 For you.

 I thought you could... wade around in it  or keep fish in it or whatever you want.

 I think it's deep enough.

 -What do you think about getting  some gold fish in it?

 Evie says she wants some gold fish.

 Remember when you took me  to that swimming hole?

 Why did you stop going?

 -I became a wife, I guess.

 -Preston.

 Pres.

 Let's go down to the swimming hole.

 Pres.

 -So what happened?

 -He never came back.

 -Oh, look. Sam is here.

 -Hi, Sam.

 -So how come you're here?

 -I missed you.

 And I wanted to go over the house?

 -Sam, are you staying for dinner?

 -Sure.  -Good.

 -If you allow me.  -Oh, yeah.

 -Did you go swimming?

 -Yeah.

 -I'm gonna take this while out here.

 Between the kitchen and the dining room, this section right here?

 -Yeah.  -This is your office.

 -No, I told you I wanted a separated room.

 -I know. I know. I tried to work it out.

 But then you know, the house isn't just big enough.

 -What about this?

 -That would be our guest room.

 -Screw the guest room. Let 'em sleep on the couch.

 -Ok, I just... I just thought we should have  an extra room for whatever.

 If we have a baby or for work space or...

 -This is a baby's room?  -Just a possible use of space.

 -You expect me to have a baby right away?

 -No, I don't expect you to do anything.

 -Well, you just said... this is the baby's room.

 -Finn, we're just going over the blueprints.

 -OK.

 -Is that mean you don't wanna have kids?

 -Well, not right now. No.

 -Do you mean not right now or never?

 -Why is this something I have to answer right now?

 -If you don't wanna have kids,  we should talk about it.

 -Well, fine! Sam.

 But you know, this isn't something  I wanna be thinking about right now.

 I'm trying to finish my paper.

 -Well, you went swimming.

 -So?

 -So obviously you have time for other things besides work.

 -O man, I can't... I can't believe this!  You came down here to spy on me?

 -I can't believe this attitude you're giving me.  -You were supposed to give me three months.

 Three months to get my head together.

 And here you are two weeks later.

 -This is bullshit. You're getting cold feet.

 -Oh, man.

 -You are. I can see that look on your face.

 -What look?

 -That look!

 It's that same look when your mother gets  when she's gonna dump one of her boyfriends.

 That look. Oh, Please!

 What am I doing with a carpenter?

 Why don't I get somebody better, a little smarter,  or somebody doesn't even care about me?

 -You are so wrong. So wrong.

 -Am I?

 Whatever. Let's... let's just do this.

 -I'm not like my mother, Sam.

 -OK. The extra room would be your office,  and you want... whatever.

 You want a built-in-desk or shelves?  What do you want?

 -I don't care.

 -Doesn't care.

 -Will you be spending the night, Sam?

 -No. I don't think so.

 -Sam. Don't drive crazy just  'cause you're mad at me.

 'This is Sam. This is the machine.

 You know what to do.'

 -Hi. It's me again.  Are you there?

 Are... you.. there?

 OK, well.

 I... just wanted to call and say... that I'm really

 sorry about the fight we had and...

 I'm just... sorry for being such a horrible...

 -Hello. Hello? Who is this?

 -Shit!!!

 -Hi, sleepy head.

 Wish I can stay in bed that long.

 -What's going on with her?

 -She was up all night  trying to call Sam.

 Some girl answered.

 -Oh, dear. That sounds bad.

 -Not necessarily.

 -I don't know. I don't like any of these colors.

 -Honey, may I join you?

 -Oh... yeah.

 -I'm sure you know about this little involvement  between my husband and...

 ...what's her name.

 This isn't the first time he's fooled around.

 Dean is not a conventional man.

 He's an artist. He acts out.

 He's been acting out since the first moment we were married.

 -Then why you stayed with him so long?

 -Well, I've lived all my life in this town

 and being married to Dean makes me feel unusual.

 -Dean won't drink American coffee.

 He makes us go all the way to San Francisco  to the Italian section to get it.

 -Where's he right now?

 -He's in the studio with a student.

 -Uh-huh.

 -What's that supposed to mean?

 -I'd just keep my eyes on him.  That's all.

 -You sound like your mother.

 -Do you love that girl?

 -No! No! No! No! It was just a physical pleasure!

 -Dean, stop it!

 -I'm sorry, Em. I'm an artist.  That makes me greedy and selfish.

 You're a beautiful woman. I don't deserve you.

 I'm a pathetic excuse for a husband.

 -I have to leave you.

 -What?

 -I can't live like this. I have to leave you.

 We have to get a divorce.

 -Yeah, but I'll die.

 -Oh, Dean.

 -I'm sure you can't believe me.

 You can't trust me.

 You should find someone new.

 But I'll die if you leave me.

 -Dean, what are you doing?  Dean! Get away!

 -Please forgive me.

 Don't leave me.

 Please. Beautiful Emma.

 I can't let you leave me.  Stay with me.

 I'll paint old man.

 Fat, old, all warty men  with all their clothes on.

 Please. I love you.

 -I'll get it.

 -I do.

 I need you.

 It's killing me.

 You shouldn't call me here.

 I know. I know.  It's hard for me too, baby.

 -Oh, god! Oh my God!

 You son of a bitch!

 I can't believe you're doing this.

 What do you keep doing this?

 -I can't control it.

 -You bastard!

 -And so I left him.

 I went to stay at my parents' house...  which isn't saying much.

 They only lived only two streets away.

 All the same, it took Dean three months to find me.

 -Em.

 Em.

 -What are you doing here?

 -What makes you think  I should ever come back to you?

 -This one on top.

 -It's for the best, dear.

 -Unbelievable!

 -Well, I've come to believe  that Dean is more typical than not.

 It's a pattern of nature.

 The female keeps the nest  while the male goes out and flaunts his feathers.

 -Oh, screw that!  -Yeah!

 -I've decided finally to leave him.

 Please, don't tell anyone.

 -Of course not.

 -I don't mean to bother you.

 I brought these for you.

 -Thank you. I'm about to take a break.

 Go ahead. Sit down.

 -Did you grow these?

 -My family has a field.

 -Oh.

 -I just pick these.  They're still warm from the sun.

 -Here.

 -I don't know what I'm gonna do  with that yellow patch.

 It throws the whole damn balance off.

 Constance.

 What are you doing to me?

 -As I understood it, the theme is  supposed to be 'where love resides'.

 Well, for me, love resides in Chicky's garden.

 -You could've put some pink and  blue flowers... in Chicky's garden.

 -Chicky's roses were yellow.

 -Oh, Constance. There are a lot  of colors we'd all like to use.

 -We have to respect Anna's opinion.

 -Why are we being so strict?

 -It's a love quilt for god's sakes.

 -It's for Finn, mama.  It's not for a competition.

 -I don't care if it's for the First Lady  or a whore on the street.

 We will follow the rules of design.

 -Sometimes you have to break the rules  to keep the work alive.

 -Don't give me that French crap.

 -I've lived with someone who's been  breaking the rules for    years.

 And I don't come here to have it rubbed in my face!

 -I show up here, and I sew.

 -You know, Constance.

 Emma's been a part of our group longer than you have.

 And we're in a rather...

 ...uncomfortable situation here.

 -That's fine. I'll leave.

 I really don't care.

 -I think the hardest part about being a woman  is having women friends.

 -I think the hardest part about being a woman  is not being able to just be friends with a man.

 -That's true.

 -If Howell wasn't buried here,  I'd be out of this town in a minute.

 -I meant to write you last year when he died.

 -I'm so sorry.  -It's OK.

 -I hate those condolence notes.

 Here.

 -You can do what you'd like with it.

 I call it 'Chicky's Garden'.

 -When we were moving around a lot, Howell got me Chicky  to keep me company while he was on the road.

 She was a wonderful dog.  Very smart and elegant.

 Wasn't a yapper.

 When Howell was home,  the three of us would go out for walks,

 and all the kids in the neighborhood  would come out and keep us company.

 Chicky made us popular.

 And that damn dog ate  snail bate in somebody's yard.

 And Howell buried her  under yellow rose bushes in my garden.

 -Why isn't this going in my quilt?

 -Because I've been spending time  with somebody else's husband.

 And it's absolutely nonsense.

 Because Howell was the love of my life.

 -Ah, now.

 Sweetheart, tell the folks the secret of our marriage.

 -The real secret of our marriage is

 that I haven't seen you because you've been  on the road since the day we got married.

 -Tell the folks the secret of our marriage.

 -That is the secret. Turn it off.

 -Start it again. Do it again. Do it again.

 -Hi.

 -Em told me about Howell  and I'm very sorry.

 -Thank you.

 -You all right? Anything I can do?

 -You can take me dancing.

 -What?

 -I'm sorry.

 -Howell was a good man and I loved him.

 And he's gone now and  I don't believe in grief.

 -Well, how can you not believe in grief?

 Either you grieve or you don't...

 -Yeah.

 -You want me to drive you home?

 -No thanks, Dean. I feel like walking.

 Excuse me.

 -Hi.

 Just thought I'd drop by to see  if you need anything done.

 -No, I don't think so.  But come in.

 -Hair is still in the shaver.  I don't know what to do with it.

 -You want me to take it away for you?

 -Yes. Would you?

 -Sure.

 -If you go in the bedroom,  there's some jackets and some ties.

 They're laid out on the bed.

 Please, take whatever you want.  I don't wanna give it to the Goodwill.

 -OK.

 -Thank you.

 -You're welcome.

 -With Howell gone, I was thinking maybe  I should move back East. I miss the seasons.

 Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night  and I wonder how exactly I got here.

 -Why don't you go?  Why don't you just go?

 -Why don't we both go?

 Ain't dead yet...

 -Getting late.

 I'm kicking you out.

 -Good night, Dean.

 -Hi.

 Forgot my tool box.

 -Dean.

 Are you trying to have an affair with me?

 -Guess I am.

 -If Howell were alive,  I might be tempted.

 -What do you mean?

 -Because I would have him to go home to  when I came to my senses.

 -Well, I guess you just saved us both  a whole lot of trouble.

 -You still want Howell's Jacket?

 -Yeah, sure.

 -It's on the chair in there.

 -OK.

 -It fits. It fits you.

 -It's all right.

 It's OK.

 -Look.

 Just so you know...  I'm engaged to be married.

 -So you just want a friendship.

 -You look very pretty, honey.

 Is there a special occasion?

 -I thought I'd go in town to see a movie.

 -Ann was gonna bring over her quilt to show you.

 She will be here in    minutes.

 -She doesn't take 'em out for everybody.  -That's right.

 -I had to twist her arm to bring 'em out.

 -I'll get it.

 -Hello.

 Yes, Sam. She's right here.  Just a minute.

 -It was nothing.

 -He ended up spending the night at his brothers  because he had taken all the plumbing apart.

 -See, I told you it wasn't anything.

 -Who was the girl?

 -Wrong number.  He said I dialed a wrong number.

 -I'll get that.

 -Hi.  -Hi.

 -You look very pretty.

 -Look. I'm gonna have to meet you somewhere later.

 -OK.

 -I don't take these quilt out  for everybody as you know.

 -Just don't do it.  -Yes, I know.

 -Oh, you look a little different tonight?

 -My Aunt Pauline passed this quilt down to me.

 It was made by my great-great-grandmother.

 She called it 'The life before'.

 It's a story quilt.  It's meant to be read.

 When I was a little girl,

 my Aunt Pauline would tell me  the story from the quilt

 how my great grandparents met.

 My great-grandmother was just a young woman  when slavery was ending.

 And when she was finally free,

 she set out to look for her parents  who had been sold off years before.

 One day after many months of travel,  she saw a crow sitting on a fence.

 Something told her 'follow the crow'.

 The crow led her to a young man working his acres,

 and my great-grandmother, she knew in her heart

 that she was supposed to stop right there.

 It seems that the search for her parents  had led her to the man God had intended for her to marry.

 Every night I listened to my Aunt Pauline tell that story.

 And I'd think to myself, OK,  I'm gonna keep my eyes out for that crow.

 One day he'll lead me to my own true love.

 During the depression, we had no money  to pay for shoes or school books.

 So my Aunt Pauline sold off the quilt  to the woman she worked for.

 The woman paid Aunt Pauline    dollars  and hung out the quilt on her wall.

 -Where did you get this marvelous piece?

 -Pauline sold it to me    years ago.

 I got it for a steal.

 -I felt... like whatever I knew  the night before was now gone.

 -Anna, could you serve the next course?

 -Now don't let that son of mine just lays around here all summer.

 I'm expecting him to do some honest work.

 -Oh, don't worry. We'll have him clean out this table.

 -Come on now.

 -Well, we'll think of something for him to do.

 -Hello, Anna.

 -It's OK. We can talk 'cause we're equals.

 -I don't believe in that servant-master sort of thing.

 -You think I thought you were my master?

 -Well, no.

 -Maybe I just didn't answer you  because I wanted to be left alone.

 -Touche.

 -Excuse me?

 -It's a French expression.

 -So what you're looking at?

 -Pegasus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia...

 ...Hercules, the herdsman with the star Arcturus in his knee.

 -And...

 -Sorry.

 -You're cold.

 -I'm OK.

 -I once took my coat off,  put it around this girl.

 She told me she could feel the heat from my body.

 -Feel that?

 -Yeah. It's there.

 -Have you ever been with a boy before?

 -It's OK.

 -Are you scared?

 -Of what?

 -This is your quilt now, Anna.

 And you must tell the stories to your child.

 -Won't you get in trouble?

 -I'll pay her back her money.

 -It was arranged for me to stay with the Rubins family,

 where I'd do housework and mending  while I waited for the birth of my baby.

 And it was there that I first met  your Grandma Hy and your Aunt Glady Jo.

 -Hy, Glady Jo, the church has sent us another girl.

 She will be staying with us until it's her time.

 And as usual, I expect both of you  to treat her with kindness and tolerance.

 Now Anna is a Negro, so we must be especially nice to...

 Hisen, would you put down the magazine, please?

 -Aoh, quit it.

 -Glady Jo, why don't you show Anna her room?

 -Anna, it's Glady Jo. Are you in there?

 I was wondering if you have read this.  It's called 'Wuthering Heights'.

 Would you like to borrow it?  It's the best book I've ever read.

 Oh, my god. This is very artistic.

 How long have you been doing this?

 -All the women in my family quilt.

 -Gee, I'd love to learn how to do that.

 Hy plays the piano, but I haven't yet found  an outlet for my artistic expression.

 I've been reading about  injustice in slavery in America.

 And it just makes me wanna cry.

 You know, everyone says how great Thomas Jefferson was,  but he owned slaves just like the rest of them.

 I've brought this up with my teacher,  and she says to me

 "Well, Glady Jo, everybody owned slaves back then.

 It was considered normal".

 Oh, can you believe that?

 Oh, what a dimwit. I swear,  this world is filled with ignorami.

 -Look... I gotta finish this quilt  for my baby, and I'm kind in hurry.

 -Well, all right.

 Well.

 I'll leave this book for you.

 Tell me how you like it.

 -Anna.

 -You're sewing crooked. Do it again.

 -Glady.

 -Mother!

 -You look much better, dear.

 -I made this for the baby.

 -Now, Anna. Some ladies from the church  will be coming to see you today.

 -I'm not giving them my baby.

 I'm raising Mariana myself.

 -But Anna. Don't you want  what's best for the child?

 -Yes, ma'am! That's why I'm keeping her.

 As Mariana grew, I told the story from the quilt.

 And I came to realize I had become  a part of that story, too.

 It wasn't the love of the husband  I was meant to find.

 But the love of my daughter.

 -Oh, god. Look at that.

 -I never liked full moons.

 -They give people an excuse  to do foolish things.

 -I'm young, I'm supposed  to do foolish things.

 -And spend the rest of your life paying for them.

 -Well, it's better than spending the rest of my life  wondering what I missed.

 -I'd rather wonder than kick myself.

 -Well, I'd rather kick myself.

 -Fine. You will end up with a deeply sore backside.

 -This is Erick who made perfumes in Provence.

 Michel, a French man, a fisherman from Marseilles.

 Paco, Paco raises bulls in Spain.

 Luciano... who did marvelous things with olive oil.

 Ooh-la-la.

 I was a wild thing.

 All these men tried to tie me down.

 Marry me! Marry me! ...in five different languages.

 I refused to be tied down to anyone.

 -Good. Good for you.

 -Oh, you think so?

 -You're kidding?  To have that kind of courage?

 Especially someone from your generation.

 -Really?

 -You see, what they don't tell us is  that marriage is an anachronistic institution,

 created for the sole convenience of the father

 who needs to pass off his daughter  into the care of another man, like,

 'Here, here. She eats too much.  Take her off my hands.'

 You know, now.

 Now we've gotten our independence  that we earn our own living.

 There's no purpose in being someone's wife.

 Why can't we love as many people  as we want in our life time?

 Monogamy is really a very unnatural state  that's been forced on us for centuries

 by screwed up religious leaders  who are completely out of touch with their own sexuality.

 You know what I mean?

 -Have you been talking to  your fiance about any of this?

 -All right. Let me ask you this.

 If you were to choose between marrying  a lover and marrying ...a friend,

 ...who would you choose?

 -I would marry my soul mate.

 -Who is it?

 -He's the only man  I don't have a picture of.

 I don't even know his name.

 I was in Paris, and I just turned    and...

 my latest love affair was over.

 A stranger sat down on my table  and ordered me some cake

 while I cried into his handkerchief.

 Before long, I told him about my broken heart,

 then he told me about his poetry  and his thoughts on love.

 The afternoon became night,  I knew he had somewhere else to go.

 But, I found myself asking him  to have dinner with me.

 -Look, I already have a dinner to go to...  with my wife.

 This is what I wrote today.

 As he left, he gave me one of his poems.

 -Read it.

 -Young lovers seek perfection.

 Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together

 and of seeing beauty in a multiplicity of patches.

 -You'd better get home.

 I think the weather's changing.

 -Mom?

 -Oh, babe!

 -What?

 -Your father and I are getting remarried.

 -What?!

 -Your father and I are getting remarried.

 -Since when?

 -Well, we ran into each other a couple of months ago.

 And we had dinner, you know, catch up.

 It just turned into one of those wild things  and we closed the restaurant.

 And then we took a long walk.

 Pretty soon we were making out in the moonlight.

 Oh, my god. I have goose bumps.

 -Does grandma know?

 -Yeah.

 -What does she think?

 -She's fine about it.

 -Was dad planning on letting me know about this?

 -No. He wanted me to tell you first.

 And we want you to come to the wedding.

 -Oh, thanks.

 -Oh, that's an odd response.

 -Mom. Give me a minute here.

 -You can't expect me to make this an instant switch.

 -You've been telling me my whole life  what an asshole my dad is.

 -Honey. He was. And so was I.

 But we've forgiven each other.

 -It would've been nice if you had done this  forgiving thing    years ago.

 We couldn't. We had a lot of growing up to do.

 Yeah, in the meantime,I get to grow up  with telling me that marriage is bullshit.

 -Oh, I never said that.  -You did. You did say that, mom.

 -You did, mom!  -No, I didn't.

 -We were sitting in your kitchen  a couple months ago,

 and you were pouring me that awful Bonch...  -Boncha.

 -Banachia tea, and you said...

 I remember your exact words.

 You said that life time commitments were impossible

 to keep and that serial monogamy  was the only way to go.

 -Why would I say such a bizarre thing?

 -You say things like that all the time.

 -Well, I've changed my mind.

 -Do you have any idea  how crazy you've made me?

 -Then you shouldn't listen to me.

 -It's too late.

 The imprint's been made.  I'm a mess.

 -Oh, Finn! Give it a break.

 You're not a mess.

 For a    year old, I was a mess.

 I was a mess.

 At least you know what you want.

 -No, I don't.

 -Yes, you do.

 You're just scared.

 Maybe, maybe I've been a flake and you wanna tie me up  and do a slide show of my crimes.

 Fine, but then move on.

 And... live your life.

 -Mom.

 -What?

 -Do you like Sam?

 -Yes. Yeah.

 Yeah, I do. I like him a lot.

 -Then why don't you ever tell me?

 -Because it shouldn't matter what I think.

 -I've been fooling around on him.

 -Oh, don't be stupid.  -I know. I know.

 -Oh.

 Don't ever tell him.

 -Finny. I found these inside.

 -I'll help you out here, honey.

 -I'm never gonna find them all.

 I didn't even make a copy.

 It's a year and a half of my life. Gone.

 -I hope you're not saying  that you're giving up.

 -Grandma, my notes are everywhere.

 And I have to go back and rewrite it.  Reconstruct the whole thing.

 I just can't do that.

 -You think it's easier to start  all over again with something else?

 -I don't know. Yes.

 -How nice to be so... unattached to something.

 -Just stay at your truck, Leon.  -Why?

 -Because if you don't,  I'm gonna have to kiss you.

 That summer the Grasse quilting bee  did something they've never done before.

 Anna called everyone back and wouldn't let them  go home until they finished the quilt.

 They all worked    straight hours sustained  by Anna's will and gallons of ice tea.

 -Glady.

 -Mother!

 -That's good work.

 -Aoh! Quit it.

 -Thank you.

 -You know.

 You are not as attractive  as I thought you were.

 -Well, thank you.

 -Did you get that pages that I found in my yard?  I gave them to your grandma.

 -Yeah. Thank you.

 -They were wrinkled.  So I ironed them out.

 I synched one of the pages.

 I think you're only missing a word or two.

 -OK. That's fine.

 -It's really good... what I've read so far.

 I'd like to read the whole thing when you're done.

 You're a good writer.

 -Thank you.

 -I was a diver.

 -I know.

 -Finn.

 I'm sorry.

 I'm early. I was gonna wait until everybody...

 I'll tell you what makes me happy about marrying Sam.

 I know our marriage has as good of a chance

 of being wonderful as it does missing the mark.

 However, I'm banking on our love for each other

 to weigh a bit heavier on the wonderful side.

 As Anna says about making a quilt,

 you have to choose your combination carefully.

 The right choices will enhance your quilt.

 The wrong choices will dull the colors,  hide their original beauty.

 There are no rules you can follow.

 You have to go by your instinct.

 And you have to be brave.