- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [over telephone] Hello?
- Elliot Weston: Hi. It's me. She's okay. Everything went fine.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Oh, thank God. It... it seemed like so long. I was starting to get worried. Is she awake?
- Elliot Weston: No, no. They're just taking her to Recovery.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Did the doctors say anything?
- Elliot Weston: No, well, I mean, they're real happy. It looked great, very 'contained.' How are the kids?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Oh, they - yeah, they're fine. They're fine. Uhm, Ethan's been a little cranky, but... well, wait, let me put him on. Here you go, Eth. Eth! You're mom's fine. She's doing great!
- Ethan Weston: [into the phone] Mom?
- Elliot Weston: No, no. It's me. Uh, listen, Mom's still asleep from the operation. But everything went great. I mean, it went great. She'll be home before you know it. Okay, pal?
- Ethan Weston: 'Kay.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Ma?
- Eleanor Krieger: [knitting in her lap] Don't call me 'Ma'. You're not a goat.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: That is the ugliest sweater I have ever seen. I hope it's not for me.
- Eleanor Krieger: Not anymore. Maybe Deborah will want it.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: She won't. Send it to Sue.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: She didn't think it was anything. The doctor found it during a regular check-up.
- Melissa Steadman: Oh my God. Nancy. Chemotherapy? Radiation? What?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Yeah, probably some chemotherapy. I'm not sure.
- Melissa Steadman: Did they know at the book party?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Yep.
- Melissa Steadman: [clearly in shock] My God. Nancy! What about the kids?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: I sat with the kids on Saturday.
- Melissa Steadman: Anything we can do for them?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: No. I don't think so.
- Dr. Silverman: So where's my book?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Elliot?
- Elliot Weston: [blowing into a thermometer as if it were a toy] Oh yeah, sure.
- Dr. Silverman: [prodding at Nancy's incision] Does that hurt?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Oh! Of course it does! What do you think?
- Eleanor Krieger: [chastising] Nancy!
- Dr. Silverman: So I hear you want to go home, huh?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [irritable] Who doesn't?
- Dr. Silverman: You look pretty good. Maybe Wednesday or Thursday. We'll talk to Doctor Verney about it.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Great.
- Dr. Silverman: You got somebody to help you? There's no driving for four weeks post-op.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [incredulous, rolling her eyes] I can't drive without ovaries?
- Dr. Silverman: [laughing] It's meant to keep you home; make you crazy.
- Delivery Lady: Mrs. Weston?
- Elliot Weston: Yeah, that's us. What is that?
- Delivery Lady: [holding a strange-looking, stuffed bird] Beats me.
- Eleanor Krieger: What is this thing?
- [taking a candy from the bird and popping it into her mouth]
- Eleanor Krieger: Mmmm, raspberry! Who wants some?
- Dr. Silverman: Ooh, I love raspberry! They have soft centers?
- Eleanor Krieger: [sucking on a candy] Can't tell yet.
- Elliot Weston: [reading the card] Look, it's from David and Lynn!
- Dr. Silverman: [back to Nancy to whom no one has offered a candy] You're not going to do too much when you get home, right?
- Elliot Weston: [before Nancy can answer] Naw, we're not going to allow it, are we Eleanor?
- Eleanor Krieger: Nope.
- [sucking on the candy some more and scowling]
- Eleanor Krieger: Not soft. Hard.
- Dr. Silverman: [disappointed] Mmph.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [making Eleanor turn and listen] So, tell me about chemotherapy.
- Dr. Silverman: I want to get the final pathology. I'm hoping it'll be minimal. It's a few weeks down the line.
- [to Eleanor about the candy]
- Dr. Silverman: Can I have some more of these?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [distracted] Sure.
- Dr. Silverman: [handing Nancy the book] Here. Sign this.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: What should I say?
- Dr. Silverman: I don't know. You're the writer.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [to Elliot] Shouldn't you be home?
- Elliot Weston: No, the kids are having dinner at the Mitchell's tonight.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Britty hates Coco Mitchell! She bites!
- [Elliot just makes a face at her]
- Dr. Silverman: [taking the book back from Nancy] Thanks.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Sure.
- Dr. Silverman: We'll see you tomorrow?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: 'Kay.
- Elliot Weston: [to Dr. Silverman] Can I talk to you for a sec?
- Dr. Silverman: Mmm-huh.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Elliot?
- Elliot Weston: [back towards Nancy as he walks the doctor out of the room] Just a sec.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [looking at her mom, irritated] What does he need to say that he can't say it in front of me?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [on the phone with Ethan] So, when is the science fair? Okay. Well, just tell Daddy, sweetie, and he'll pick it up for you at the market.
- Eleanor Krieger: What's he need? I'll get it.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [waving her mom off] Okay. Well, here comes a kiss... Well, I don't care if you want one or not, buster! Here it comes!
- Eleanor Krieger: You look like you've... gained a little weight.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [exchanging a quiet look with Nancy] I wouldn't know. My bathroom scale hasn't worked since Allison tried to weigh her goldfish on it.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [laughing, squirming, pointing at her incision] Oh, don't make me laugh! Don't!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [taking the pillow Eleanor had just put behind Nancy and putting it across Nancy's stomach] She did! She took the scale up to her bedroom, and she tried to lift the whole aquarium on to it - hold that tight - and of course the whole thing spilled out, all over everything. We're still looking for one of those fish. We can smell it, but we can't find it!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [seeing the strange looking bird] What is this?
- Eleanor Krieger: Raspberry candies. Want some?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: You ask me if I've gained weight and you offer me candy?
- Eleanor Krieger: I didn't mean anything.
- Ellyn Warren: [with exaggerated sympathy] Hi.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Hi.
- Ellyn Warren: [with true surprise] Gee, you look great, Nancy! How are you feeling?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Oh, it just hurts from the cut.
- Ellyn Warren: Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah, I bet it does. Ugh.
- Ellyn Warren: So, uhm. How are... how are your kids?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Oh, they're great. They can't wait for Nancy to get home.
- Ellyn Warren: Oh, I bet.
- Ellyn Warren: You know, Nancy. If there's anything that I can do. You know, I'm going downtown, maybe, help you...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, we have everything. But thanks.
- Ellyn Warren: I mean, I could maybe babysit for the kids or something?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [clearly shocked, but recovering quickly] Oh, that's nice. Thanks.
- Ellyn Warren: 'Kay. I was so sorry when Hope told me about... you know...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: About the cancer?
- Ellyn Warren: Yeah, that's such a shock!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [combing through her wet hair a bit roughly] Yeah, I was shocked too.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [after a very long, very awkward silence] So, Nancy, how's the book coming?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Well, it's only been in the stores for a week, you guys.
- Ellyn Warren: Oh! Your book! I saw it. I saw it! I was going by Wannamaker's and it was just sitting in the window as a - on display!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: My kids were so thrilled they took theirs to school.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Oh, that is so cute!
- Ellyn Warren: Well, uhm, look, I've uhm, got a meeting that I'm twenty minutes late for, so I was just gonna say 'hi'...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [polite] Hi.
- Ellyn Warren: ...and drop some banana bread over and just...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [polite] Thanks.
- Ellyn Warren: [leaning in to give Nancy a kiss on the cheek, but not quite succeeding] ... I don't know. 'Kay. Uhm, 'bye. Anyway, 'bye.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: 'Bye.
- Ellyn Warren: [tripping on her way out] Oh! Sorry. 'Bye.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [looking very embarrassed for Ellyn] 'Bye...
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [after she departs] The Big C really gets 'em, huh?
- [Nancy just continues to comb through her wet hair roughly]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Hello?
- Brittany Weston: Mommy's home!
- Elliot Weston: Hi!
- Ethan Weston: Mom! Mom!
- Elliot Weston: Whoa, whoa! Easy, easy, pal. Easy!
- Ethan Weston: Dad, you were supposed to bring her through the front door!
- Elliot Weston: [laughing] Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot!
- Ethan Weston: [pointing out the 'welcome home' banner they made for their mom] Look, Mom. Look. Look!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Oh, that is beautiful! Thank you, you guys. That is just great. I love it. It's the best welcome home present ever!
- Brittany Weston: I did the heart one!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: You did? Yeah, I can tell. That's beautiful!
- Ethan Weston: Are you feeling better now, Mom?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [drawing Ethan and Brittany to her] Oh, I feel infinitely better now. Thank you.
- Brittany Weston: Did you bring me a present?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Do I have a present?
- [Nancy laughs and kisses her daughter as Elliot and the others look on]
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [coming in from the cold outside] Ugh. Good morning.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Hi. Where were you last night?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: At Mother's. She gave me the key. Don't worry, she'll be over here soon.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I thought you were going to stay here. Why don't you just stay here?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Well, I thought it'd be too much trouble. The chaos, you know.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: And you didn't murder her last night? I'm shocked!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Hmm... Don't be so sure.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: So what happened?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [picking up a little] Oh, nothing. She just insinuated that my marriage was a failure, my children were abused, my life is bankrupt... the usual.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: She doesn't think that.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Of course she does!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [from the kitchen] How you feeling this morning?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Pretty good. You know, there's coffee in there!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: You sleep okay?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Yeah, okay.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Any pain?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Not much.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [sitting down with her cup of coffee] Just scared, huh?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Yeah.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Can I have the sugar?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: You know, you haven't seen her for two years. You should cut her some slack.
- [Deborah just rolls her eyes]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Anyways. Thanks for coming.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Hey! Anything to get away from my kids.
- [they laugh]
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: That's bull. I'm really scared out of my mind about you.
- Elliot Weston: [Nancy and Deborah turn as the front door opens. It is Elliot] Hey, Jules!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Hi, Jules.
- Elliot Weston: Hey. This is just like a soap opera, right? Two sisters sitting around drinking coffee after their husbands have gone to work? Talking about who's really the father of their children?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Well, never ask, Jules. Never ask.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [seeing the bundle of items in Elliot's hands] What's that?
- Elliot Weston: Heidi Geisler made Tuna Divan. And I'm guessing - banana bread.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [rolling her eyes and mouthing] Banana bread.
- Elliot Weston: [picking up more dirty dishes] So. How's Eleanor?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: In rare form. She'll be over here soon.
- Elliot Weston: [to Deborah] Hey. Don't offer to help or anything.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: I won't.
- Elliot Weston: So. Nancy really looks great, doesn't she?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: She does.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [annoyed] Why are you talking about me as if I'm not even here?
- Elliot Weston: So. Tuna Divan a la Heidi for dinner tonight? Plus the rest of the turkey the Brooks brought. And I've arranged for Ethan to go to Nic -
- [Elliot tries to pick up Nancy's coffee cup]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [taking it back] That's mine, that's mine!
- Elliot Weston: Oh. And I've arranged for Ethan to go to Nicholas's after school today.
- [He runs to the phone as it rings]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: The machine's on.
- Elliot Weston: [running back] Okay. Uhm, Britty? She's gonna go to ballet with Donna's mom, and the rest of the dry cleaning I'm going to pick up on my way home. Okay?
- Barbara: [via phone machine] Nancy, it's Barbara. I'm sorry. I just can't stop crying...
- Elliot Weston: Listen, if Rose from the insurance company calls, have her call me at the office, okay? And uh, uh, listen. Mrs. Rogers, the cleaning lady? She's going to come tomorrow, so just leave her tomato sauce in the back of the refrigerator and just forget about it.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Elliot...
- Elliot Weston: Everything's under control.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I wish the kids would come here after school.
- Elliot Weston: Nope. We're going to keep it quiet whether you like it or not.
- Elliot Weston: [kissing her on the head and then her sister] hey. I gotta go. I got a meeting.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Well, never fear. Deb's here.
- Elliot Weston: Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Listen, you go back to bed, you hear?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I hear ya.
- Elliot Weston: I mean it.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [annoyed] Elliot.
- Elliot Weston: [waggling his fingers at them] I gotta go. 'Bye, Jules.
- Elliot Weston: 'Bye, Jules.
- [Elliot runs out. As soon as he closes the front door the back door opens]
- Eleanor Krieger: [calling from the back door] Anybody home?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [looking at Deb, deadpan] It is a soap opera.
- [Michael looks up to see Miles expressing sympathy to Elliot. After, he catches Elliot's eye who comes over to him]
- Elliot Weston: [shuddering] Eeeww. The only thing worse than Miles being Miles is Miles being nice. Aren't you supposed to be creatively directing something someplace?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: What time is it?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [checking her watch] Mmmm... a quarter to six.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: The kids should have come home after school.
- Eleanor Krieger: [from the kitchen] Deborah?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Yeah, Ma?
- Eleanor Krieger: Please set the table.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [under her breath to Nancy] Takes thirty years off my life.
- [louder]
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Okay! You know she asked me if I wanted that hideous sweater she's making? Now that's an intentional insult!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, no, she started it for me first.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Oh! Well, it's a different intentional insult!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [giggling] Stop!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [giving Nancy her pillow to put on her stomach again] You think she'd be nice to me if I got cancer?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [still giggling] Stop it! Hey, why don't you stay here tonight?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Should I?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Oh, come on. Please?
- Eleanor Krieger: [impatient, from kitchen] Deborah!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Okay!
- [whispering to Nancy]
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: It's that ultimate tone. Maternal disapproval. I could never get that. 'Deborah!' 'Deborah!'
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [following suit] 'Deborah!'
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: 'De-bo-rah!'
- Eleanor Krieger: [coming into the room from the kitchen] Deborah!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [giggling with Nancy like girls and then finally getting up] Okay! God! Jeez.
- Eleanor Krieger: Such a slow poke! I called you twice!
- Gary Shepherd: Stage One C? What is that? Good or bad? What does that mean?
- Melissa Steadman: It could be worse. It was very contained, but there were a small number of cells outside the ovary. Bad cells.
- Michael Steadman: It means she has to have chemo.
- Melissa Steadman: Yeah, mild course. Six to twelve cycles.
- Gary Shepherd: Oh, God.
- Melissa Steadman: She's going to be pretty sick.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Well. How do you know all this?
- Melissa Steadman: I called Vicky Mercer and Robby Schloss.
- Michael Steadman: You called Robby Schloss?
- Melissa Steadman: That's how scared I am.
- Gary Shepherd: Oh, God. Poor Nancy!
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [visibly showing in her pregnancy] She must hate me every time she sees me.
- Melissa Steadman: Oh, Hope.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: I mean she had a complete hysterectomy. They took out her ovaries and everything.
- Melissa Steadman: They didn't want anymore kids, did they?
- Gary Shepherd: Did they?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: I don't think so, but they took everything out and she still might die.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [having opened the door to Hope] Hi.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Hi. I just wanted to bring this stuff by.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Oh, you really gotta stop doing this.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Oh, it's okay.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [holding up a bundle wrapped in aluminum foil with a bright red ribbon] Banana bread?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: How did you know?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Just guessed. Thanks.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: It's okay.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Come on in. You want some tea?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Oh, no, I've gotta go pick up Janey, and I just wanted to drop this stuff off... oh, and let you know that I'll take Ethan and Britty for dinner tonight.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, you don't have to do that for...
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: No, really. It's okay. I don't...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [sharply] No!
- [then, looking at Hope who is a little taken aback]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I know that you are just trying to help. I know everybody is just trying to help, but I don't need help with Ethan and Brittany.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Okay. I'm sorry.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: It's just... I want to be with them.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [realizing] I'm sorry. I didn't think.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [feeling badly now] But if my vacuum cleaner needs repair or something like that, I'll give you a call. Okay?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [smiling] Okay.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [as phone rings again] Damn.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [rushing out] I've gotta go anyway. I'll call you later.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [seeing her friend to the door regretfully] Okay.
- Elliot Weston: [recorded on phone machine] Hi. We can't come to the phone right now, but please leave a message and we'll get back to ya.
- Gary Shepherd: [over phone machine] Nance, hi. It's Gary. Listen. Uh, this is our weekly night for junk food and we thought we'd just swing by and pick up Ethan and Brittany and take them out...
- [Nancy just goes over and lowers the volume of the machine so she can no longer hear it]
- Elliot Weston: Oh, that's nice. You're working.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [sighing] I'm trying. Uhm. It feels funny.
- Elliot Weston: What?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: The gap between who I was and who I am now.
- Elliot Weston: What are you talking about? You're the same person you always were. And I love you.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Yeah, but you know what I mean. Everything... nothing is quite the same color anymore.
- Elliot Weston: Nance. Everything's the same color. You're the same, I'm the same. I love you.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: But let me...
- Elliot Weston: I'll take care of you.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No. Let me talk.
- Elliot Weston: What?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [but unable, or unwilling, to explain it after all] I don't know.
- Eleanor Krieger: [as Deborah tries to ignore them] It's not fair. I have a whole room for her, and it's so crowded here.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I want her here.
- Eleanor Krieger: You need some peace and quiet.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [definite] I said I want her here.
- [Elliot enters, shaking off the cold from outside but quickly realizing that the temperature within is not any warmer]
- Eleanor Krieger: Suit yourselves.
- Eleanor Krieger: You're dressed up. Sort of.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Yeah, I'm going to the Art Center. They're mounting a student shut-in, so I said I'd...
- Eleanor Krieger: You're not going back to work!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No. I just need to get out of here.
- Eleanor Krieger: Please, don't try to do too much.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I won't.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Leave her alone, Ma.
- Eleanor Krieger: The doctors said it was important for you to...
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: We all know what the doctors said.
- Eleanor Krieger: We don't want to second-guess the doctors.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Why not? They're not infallible.
- Eleanor Krieger: Please, don't.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: What?
- Eleanor Krieger: It's important for Nancy to trust her doctors. She needs to know that...
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Look, I have seen a hundred cases like this. And I know that what you're...
- Eleanor Krieger: You're not an MD.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Thanks to you!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [as the doorbell rings] That's my cab.
- Eleanor Krieger: Your cab?
- Elliot Weston: Honey, I'll give you a ride.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, that's all right. I'm fine.
- Elliot Weston: You need some cash?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [going out the door] Oh, for goodness sakes, I had a hysterectomy not a lobotomy!
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [once Nancy departs] She's not a baby, Ma.
- Eleanor Krieger: Don't tell me she's not a baby.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Well, you're treating her like a child!
- Eleanor Krieger: [turning on Deborah] You don't want to see me for two years, fine. I can take it. But I'll tell you what I can't take. I can't take your, your stupid, selfish refusal, either of you! To see that that is my baby there. That is my baby whose body they cut up, who could die, and I can't do anything. Nothing! There's nothing I can do to help her except not let her see that this is killing me too!
- [Eleanor storms out to leave Deborah and Elliot there in subdued silence]
- Michael Steadman: So, you like Philadelphia? You've been here before?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Yeah, a few times.
- Michael Steadman: Really? That's nice though.
- Elliot Weston: [coming in from the Steadman kitchen with a cup of coffee] Hey!
- Michael Steadman: [seeing that Elliot has a hangover] Hey. How's the head, Elliot?
- Elliot Weston: Hey, c'mon!
- Michael Steadman: [waggling his fingers in front of Elliot's eyes] Is everything going WAH WAH WAH?
- Elliot Weston: Easy, easy! Are you psychotic? You think that's funny?
- Elliot Weston: And the most impressive thing is how well, I mean no, honest to God, it's really selling. It's really selling. I mean - we got a preliminary report from the publishers and it's all computerized now so you can track exactly where it's selling, who's buying it, what breakfast cereals they eat in the morning... I mean it's great! No, it really is, and Nancy was...
- [Elliot turns to see that Nancy has fallen asleep in her chair]
- Elliot Weston: How long has she been asleep?
- Eleanor Krieger: About five minutes.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Poor baby.
- Elliot Weston: She tried to do too much today. Honey?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [roused by Elliot] Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I was tired.
- Elliot Weston: It's okay.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: What?
- Elliot Weston: It's okay.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, it is not okay. It's not okay to fall asleep during dinnertime. That is not okay.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: We know you're tired.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [irritated] Yes, I am tired. I have just had half of my insides removed, and I'm going to start chemotherapy in a week or two, so yes, I am tired. I'm tired of thinking.
- [looking around at them]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: What - why were you whispering? I mean, what were you talking about?
- Michael Steadman: We were just talking about how well your book's doing, Nance.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Apparently. Gives new meaning to the words 'publish or perish', doesn't it?
- [Nancy exchanges a tiny smirk with her sister when nobody laughs]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [breaking the awkward silence] Could I have some coffee?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [about to get up] Yeah. Sure.
- Michael Steadman: [already up] I got it. You want something in it?
- Elliot Weston: Look, I can understand that you felt irritated.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Can you?
- Elliot Weston: I - why that tone? Why are you doing that?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: What tone?
- Elliot Weston: Everybody cares about you. Don't you know that?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Then why won't anyone let me talk?
- Elliot Weston: They let you talk.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No one will let me talk the way that I want to talk. Everyone expects me to be this graceful invalid, this cheerful cripple.
- Elliot Weston: No one thinks you're a cripple.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Yeah, well maybe they should.
- Elliot Weston: Nobody expects you to be cheerful.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Sure they do. You do. You're the worst.
- Elliot Weston: Nancy!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [getting her sleeping socks on and pulling back the bedding] Look. Elliot, what has happened to me is horrible. It is filthy, it is disgusting. I am not gracious. I am not cheerful. I wish that you would understand that. I wish that somebody would just understand that. Seventy-seven percent, five years survival. The other twenty-three percent, dead. Horribly, painfully dead! I am not gracious, and I am not cheerful! Okay?
- Elliot Weston: Okay.
- Elliot Weston: [muttering under his breath as Nancy gets into bed behind him] Seventy-seven point six percent.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [irritable] What?
- Elliot Weston: [correcting her] Seventy-seven point six percent, five year survival.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Shut up now.
- [Nancy turns out the light. Elliot pushes back and lays next to her, folding his hands over his lap rather like a corpse, and just puts his head against her shoulder apologetically]
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [turning on a light] Hey, Deb.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [abruptly; groaning] I'm up. I'm up.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [going over to sit with her sister on the couch] Hey, later. Maybe we could meet somewhere. Maybe Sue could join us, you know, just the three of us?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Some place with room service and a hot tub.
- Eleanor Krieger: [entering from the kitchen] Who wants breakfast?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, thanks. I promised the kids I'd make 'em waffles.
- Eleanor Krieger: Deb? I'm making eggs.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [grimacing] Oh, I couldn't possibly face eggs this morning.
- Eleanor Krieger: You should eat something.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [turning back to her, incredulous] Why? 'Looks like you've gained weight, Deborah', that's the first thing you said to me when I got here.
- Eleanor Krieger: I didn't mean anything.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Well. You hadn't seen me in two years, the first thing you did was criticize.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: She wasn't criticizing. You have gained weight, big deal? What do you want from her anyway?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [pouty, thinking about it] I don't know. Ma? What do I want from you anyway?
- Eleanor Krieger: Beats me. Always has.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: You can call me, you know. If you need any help translating the doctors or anything. Just call me, all right?
- Elliot Weston: [getting his chicks in a row] Oh, all right. Okay. All right. Okay. You've been great. Everybody's been great. C'mon. Ethan! Brittany! C'mon. Let's put this stuff in Grandma's car. C'mon.
- Eleanor Krieger: I've got the car running.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [handing Ethan a bag] Take this, can you take this for Deb? Okay. Just take it out to the car.
- [Nancy closes the door after everybody but before Deborah can leave. She hugs her sister and starts to cry]
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: You take care of yourself too, okay?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Who am I going to talk to now?
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: Oh, anybody. Talk to Elliot. Make him listen, okay? Make him listen. And you'll call me, and I'll call you. I'm going back to Indiana, I'm not going back to Mars!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [tearful] Okay. 'Kay.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [reassuring] 'Kay. Okay.
- Nancy's Sister Deborah: [opening the door] 'Bye 'bye, sweetie.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: 'Bye.
- [Nancy cries as she looks out the window and watches her sister say goodbye to Elliot and the kids. Deb gets into the car and waves as she and her mother pull away]
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [as Grendal barks in the snow] Grendal! C'mon! Leave that squirrel alone, would you please? Good boy! C'mon! You silly dog! Good boy. C'mon!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Does he ever catch 'em?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: No, of course not!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Oh, life is hard for a dog.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Oh, yeah, right.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Deb left this morning.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: You're going to miss her.
- [they go through two bundles of letters to check for postage before dropping them in the box]
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [looking at Nancy, uneasy] I'm sorry for not always knowing the right thing to say.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, that's all right. I don't know the right things to say either.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: I mean. Just tell me if I say something stupid. It's just so scary.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I know.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Are you scared?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Are you kidding?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: When I was about to have Janey. I don't know how to say this, but uhm... I felt like I was...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [grinning broadly] Like you were in a permanent state of bliss?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: Yeah, yeah. I was, but I, uhm... you know, besides all the happy stuff, underneath...
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [realizing] What?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [when Hope doesn't answer right away] What?
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [a bit lost in her thoughts] Uhm. I felt like I was going into this tunnel. And then the tunnel went way down, deep. And uhm, I couldn't turn back, I had to go through it and come out the other side, and it was about coming close to dying, and about having my body ripped apart, and blood and pain and, you know, because it's not about drugs, and doctors, and hospitals. It's about, uhm, blood, and pain, and uhm, brushing real close to dying. I'm not saying I know what you're going through, I'm just trying to understand. I mean, maybe - maybe your tunnel is different. I mean, maybe it... oh, maybe it's not even a tunnel. I'm sorry.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [as Hope gives up and walks away] It is a different tunnel. And it's so deep that I keep screaming and yelling and no one seems to be able to hear me.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: I'll try to hear.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: This is what it is. I mean, this is one thing. I get this feeling, right here, this panic? Ethan... I mean, Ethan is big. He's out in the world everyday, and I've done my work with him. You know, the real work. But Britty. I mean, she's still a baby somehow, she's still a part of me. Now if I die, I mean that would be horrible for Ethan, but he will survive. I mean, it'll be a burden, but he will survive. But Britty, if I die... well, I'll be abandoning her. She's not whole yet. She won't understand. She'll just think that I walked out on her.
- Hope Murdoch Steadman: [swallowing a sob] Oh, God.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: She won't remember me. Ethan will. But Britty will not remember me.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: You know, in the mornings when I first wake up? It's like swimming up from sleep and, in those first few moments I feel just like me. I feel like I've always felt since I was born. And then it hits me. Cancer. I mean, it literally hits me before I'm even awake yet. It is this burden, this massive weight that I have to strap on my shoulders and carry about until I get to go to sleep again that night. And sometimes I would just like to let it drown me. But then I think of the kids, and I know I can't let that happen.
- Elliot Weston: [clearly displeased] Nancy.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: What?
- Elliot Weston: Aw, Hon. It was just so nice there for a minute.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [realizing] Oh. Sorry.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: [after a long pause] It's so hard not to look for someone to blame.
- Elliot Weston: [frustrated] We've been through this. I won't let you blame yourself, all right?
- Nancy Krieger Weston: No, I don't blame myself. But you blame me, don't you?
- Elliot Weston: That's... that's crazy! I wouldn't blame you!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Sometimes things can be crazy, but they're still true. I mean - it is crazy that I may be dead real soon, but it's true.
- Elliot Weston: Nancy, please!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Don't ask me not to speak the truth.
- Elliot Weston: I wouldn't do that.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I think you are.
- Elliot Weston: [suddenly helpless] I just got you back, Nance. I just got you back.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I just got you back. We've got to figure this out.
- Elliot Weston: [allowing her to draw him close] Help me.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: I'll try.
- Elliot Weston: But I'm supposed to be helping you.
- Nancy Krieger Weston: It's not a one or the other thing.
- Ethan Weston: Oh, Dad, watch this part! Watch what he does!
- Nancy Krieger Weston: Do you want another piece, Britty?
- Brittany Weston: I want one of that kind.
- [the Weston family is eating pizza and watching an old Errol Flynn movie on the t.v]
- Ethan Weston: Oh! Just missed him.
- Elliot Weston: [as Britty climbs over him] Ey! Who's that on my back?
- [to Nancy]
- Elliot Weston: Hey. You've got something on your... it must be tomato sauce.
- [Nancy wipes at her cheek and her chin with a napkin]
- Elliot Weston: Other side. Other side.
- [Elliot goes over and instead of wiping the sauce off for her, decides to kiss it away, making her laugh]
- Ethan Weston: Oh, wow! How'd he do that? Did he really do that? Or was it a stunt man?
- Brittany Weston: Here comes Robin Hood!
- [Elliot and Nancy set the pizza box aside and settle in, Elliot careful of her incision. She leans back against him and he kisses her, his arms around her protectively]