What’s eating Gilbert Grape
Man on TV I, I, I guess maybe I’d better be getting off.
Woman on TV No, not yet.
Amy Arnie.
Momma Move, Amy.
Woman on TV All my life I’ll wonder. . . ‘Where is he?’ Where, just this moment, just now? What is he looking at? What is he thinking?
Amy I think it’s time for Arnie to take a bath.
Arnie No.
Momma Ssh.
Amy Don’t you think it’s time for Arnie to take a bath, Gilbert?
Gilbert Just let him stink.
Arnie I don’t wanna take a bath, no.
Ellen You know Mr Carver?
Amy Ssh.
Ellen Well, he’s dead.
Arnie Dead.
Woman Okay, kids, hurry up. Let’s go.
Tucker Hey.
Gilbert Hey.
Officer 1 See anything under there?
Officer 2 No.
Officer 1 Check that.
Gilbert What’s going on?
Tucker He drowned.
Gilbert You’re kidding?
Tucker No. In that.
Gilbert Oh.
Tucker A kiddy pool. I don’t get it.
Gilbert Wow.
Tucker It’s like one foot deep. Weird, right?
Gilbert Yeah.
Arnie He drownded!
Gilbert Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh. Come on. Hey, ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh.
Bobby He had the cardiac arrest. . . his head bent forward, his knees buckled, and then he just. . . fell. . . face forward into the pool. When she found him he was already dead.
Tucker That’s what we don’t know. That’s what nobody knows.
Bobby No, I know it. I would. . .
Tucker And how. . . ?
Bobby I saw the. . . I saw the body. I saw the. . . I prepared it. I know what exactly. . . I would have seen. . . I would have seen what. . .
Tucker You…
Bobby . . .if there was any kind of struggle that had gone on.
Tucker It was murder.
Bobby No.
Tucker What do you think? What do you think?
Gilbert I, uh. . . I don’t know. I, uh. . . you know, it’s, it’s possible
Tucker Bob, we’re talking about thousands and thousands of dollars.
Bobby If she saw. . .
Tucker She doesn’t have to work.
Bobby Even if she did want to do it. . .
Tucker She doesn’t have to work for the rest of her life.
Bobby Even if she did. . . She. . . If, if you saw somebody laying with their head down in a pool, motionless. . . Or even if they were kind of limply doing that, which he wasn’t doing. But even if they. . .
Tucker How do you know that?
Bobby Well, it, he, it was an extreme, er, postcardial infarction. Extreme.
Tucker So nothing’s fishy?
Bobby N. . . no!
Tucker Nothing about this is. . .
Arnie Hey, Gilbert, look it’s that girl! Gilbert, that girl!
Bobby It’s perfectly logical, even if it’s. . . Wait a minute. Tucker, if you. . .
Tucker No. We’re not talking about taking a gun. . .
Bobby If she was. . .
Arnie Hi.
Becky Hi. Hi, Arnie.
Arnie Hi. Please, please, play with me over there.
Becky Okay.
Arnie Please. Come on, let’s play over there.
Gilbert Arnie. Arnie. Hi, how’re you doing?
Becky Fine.
Arnie Play over there!
Becky Okay.
Arnie Will you play?
Becky Okay, we’ll play.
Gilbert Ssh, ssh, ssh, settle down.
Arnie We’re gonna play.
Gilbert Okay. Okay, ssh.
Becky Will you give us a ride?
Gilbert Uh, yeah, yeah. So that’s it.
Becky Yeah, I guess so.
Gilbert The magic part.
Arnie Magic part? Magic part, Gilbert? Hey, can we go. . . ?
Becky Grandma, here it is.
Grandma Oh, thanks.
Arnie We’re gonna go play, now? What are we gonna play?
Gilbert Hi.
Grandma Hi.
Arnie Hide and go seek?
Grandma Gilbert. Would you give me some help?
Gilbert Yeah, go ahead. Hang on one second.
Grandma Okay.
Gilbert Try it.
Grandma I don’t know.
Gilbert Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t, uh. . . It’s a mystery.
Grandma Gilbert, listen, thanks anyway.
Gilbert No problem.
Becky Come play with me in the water.
Arnie You can’t find me. You can’t find me anywhere. Say, say, “Where’s Arnie?” Say that.
Becky No, I want you to come in with me.
Arnie No. Say, “Where’s Arnie?” Say, “Where’s Arnie?” Say that.
Becky Where’s Arnie?
Arnie You can’t find me! Say it again. Hi! Say it again, and you’ve got to look for me around.
Becky I wanted you to swim with me, Arnie.
Gilbert Don’t even try, ‘cos he’s, he’s had a scare with water, and he won’t, won’t come in.
Arnie I’m not coming in the water.
Becky You wanna come in the water?
Gilbert No.
Becky Why not? Are you scared to come in the water?
Gilbert No, no.
Becky Are you sure?
Gilbert I’m sure.
Arnie He’s scared. Are you scared, Gilbert?
Gilbert All right, what do you wanna see? Do you wanna see..? Do you wanna see me get wet a little like this?
Becky Yeah.
Gilbert A little splash, like this?
Becky A little more.
Gilbert You wanna see this? Like this, right? Huh? Are you happy?
Becky Tell me what you want, as fast as it comes to you.
Gilbert Uh. . .
Becky Okay?
Gilbert Okay.
Becky What do you want? Faster.
Gilbert Okay. I wanna new thing. House. I wanna new house, for the family. I want uh. . . I want Momma to take aerobics classes. I want Ellen to grow up. I want a new brain for Arnie. I want. . .
Becky What do you want for you? Just for you.
Gilbert I wanna be a good person. I can’t. I can’t do this. I can’t.
Becky Okay.
Gilbert Where’s Arnie? Arnie? Excuse me, ma’am. Have you seen my brother?
Grandma No.
Gilbert Shit.
Arnie I’ll not get bored of that. Who-o-a! Oh, no! Hey!
Sheriff Come on.
Arnie Hey! Gilbert, right here.
Sheriff Back off, son. Come on, now.
Arnie I did it again!
Rescuer All right, here we go. There you go.
Gilbert It’s all right, Jerry, I got him. I get him, Jerry.
Sheriff We’re taking him in.
Gilbert It’s not gonna happen again. I promise.
Sheriff We’ve warned you, we’ve warned your sister, that the next time is gonna be the last time.
Arnie Flash the lights and play the siren, okay? Play the siren for me.
Ellen Way to go, Gilbert.
Gilbert Jerry, listen, you’re gonna, you’re gonna have to take it easy on him.
Sheriff We’ll take care of him.
Gilbert You don’t believe me? You gotta keep an eye on him. You gotta watch him.
Sheriff All right. All right.
Arnie Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey. Oh, do the siren, do the siren, okay? Do the siren, all right?
Gilbert I know, Sheriff. I know that, Sheriff. Okay. Asshole.
Ellen They’re probably just teaching him a lesson, they’re probably just proving a point.
Amy Yeah, that’s right.
Momma Get my coat.
Amy What?
Momma Get my coat. Get it. Let’s go.
Ellen Well, at least he’s in a safe place. At least someone’s watching him.
Amy Ellen, shut up.
Gilbert You guys wait here. I’ll be right back.
Amy Momma. Momma, let Gilbert handle this.
Gilbert Jerry, come on, please.
Police Secretary Please, have a seat outside.
Gilbert Please, you gotta let him out.
Officer You’ve to wait your turn, okay.
Gilbert I don’t think you guys understand. It’s gonna. . .
Officer Look, no-one’s going to do a thing until you go and sit down outside. . .
Momma Jerry! Jerry! Jerry. Jerry, I’ve come for my son.
Man (on Phone) Sheriff. Sheriff, are you there?
Sheriff Bonnie, you’ll need to fill out some papers.
Momma No! No!
Sheriff Police procedure req. . .
Momma I want my boy, Jerry.
Sheriff But, Bonnie, you have to. . .
Momma My son! Give me my son!
Officer Come on. You’re going home.
Momma Sunshine, you’re free! Oh, baby. Don’t disappear like that any more.
Arnie Okay.
Momma Promise me.
Arnie Ma. . .
Momma You’re free, baby, you’re free. Let’s go home.
Arnie Hi! Look!
Child 1 That’s why she needs a cane.
Child 2 She’s enormous.
Child 3 Look at her.
Arnie Momma, they didn’t flash the lights for me either. Flash the lights. Hey! Look at me! I’m hiding. Say, say, “Where’s Arnie?” Say it like that.
Gilbert Arnie, get down.
Arnie Gilbert, come find me. “Where’s Arnie?” Hey. That’s my mom in there. My momma. You wanna come play with me up here? Wanna come play with me?
Becky God, that was so brave what your mother did. You know that, right?
Gilbert Mm.
Becky I’d like to meet her.
Gilbert No, you wouldn’t. Hey, where do you go next? Hm?
Becky I would like to meet your mom.
Vicar . . .in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, we commend to Almighty God, our brother Kenneth Carver. And we commit his body to the ground. Earth to earth. . . ashes to ashes. . . and dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him. The Lord make his face shine on him and be gracious to him. The Lord look upon him with favour. . . and give him peace. Lord Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of death. Grant to us your servants to do follow in faith. . .
Arnie Hey!
Vicar . . .when he hath led the way. . .
Arnie Hey!
Vicar . . .that we may at length fall asleep. . .
Arnie Look at here!
Vicar . . .peacefully in you. . .
Arnie Look at here!
Vicar . . .Made from your likeness. . .
Arnie Look what’s coming!
Vicar The God of peace who brought again. . .
Arnie Look, look it’s coming!
Vicar . . .our Lord, Jesus Christ. . .
Arnie It’s here. Look, Gilbert.
Vicar . . .the great shepherd of the sheep. . .
Arnie It’s here.
Vicar . . .through the blood of the everlasting covenant. . .
Arnie It’s a Burger Barn, Gilbert!
Vicar . . .may be perfect in every. . .
Arnie It’s a Burger Barn.
Vicar . . .good work to do his will. . .
Arnie Gilbert, it’s a Burger Barn.
Vicar . . .working in that which is well pleasing in his sight.
Arnie Burger Barn!
Vicar Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Arnie Hey.
Mrs Carver Boys, you can have anything you want.
Arnie You could get candy if you want. You can have candy if you want, too.
Mrs Carver As for me, something with menthol, please.
Arnie You like gum? Do you like gum? I like gum. Here’s a good kind, here. Take this, you can have it.
Gilbert Here.
Arnie Take it. Take it. You want gum, too?
Mrs Carver We’re going to St.Louis. I can’t stand that house.
Arnie My friends.
Gilbert I really am sorry about your hu. . .
Mrs Carver Ssh. Here, Mommy’ll take care of it. You run on outside. Everybody thinks I killed him. Do you?
Gilbert No.
Mrs Carver I miss him. And I don’t. I miss him and I don’t. So, Gilbert. . . what’s to become of you?
Gilbert Oh, I’ll. . . probably just. . .
Mrs Carver You haven’t thought about it. Poor Gilbert. All cooped up. Taking care of everybody else, forgetting all about you.
Todd Carver Mommy.
Mrs Carver Mm, Mommy is coming in a minute, honey.
Todd Carver Okay.
Mrs Carver Concerning my boys. . . I was thinking that if my boys turn out anything like you. . .
Becky Hi.
Mrs Carver I was thinking how that would be nice. . . for my boys to be like you. He’s all yours.
Becky Are you gonna miss her?
Gilbert Yeah.
Becky Good.
Grandma Damn it.
Tucker So? What do you think?
Gilbert Wow.
Tucker Right?
Arnie Wow.
Tucker Right? Here, try a milkshake.
Arnie Mm.
Tucker Real milk in there.
Gilbert Mm. You’re kidding?
Tucker Real milk. Bob. Oh, Bob.
Bobby Hey! Congratulations. This looks great.
Tucker Thanks, Bob. Yeah, thanks. Thanks a million.
Bobby What?
Tucker Are you trying to depress everybody? You’re gonna ruin everyone’s appetite.
Arnie Hey, hey. Mike, right? You wanna come to my party tomorrow? I’m gonna be eighteen years old. You wanna come? You can come too, if you want to. I don’t know you, but you can come.
Burger Barn Man How nice to see so many of you here on this great day. This day marks the beginning of a new era for Endora, for the Burger Barn family, and, I hope, for all of you. We at Burger Barn are committed. . . to a very special relationship with you. One that will last and last.
Gilbert Hi.
Burner Barn Man At a time when so many things are falling apart, Endora decides to give Burger Barn a chance, a new breath of life.
Becky She fixed it.
Burger Barn Man Now the mayor will cut the ribbon.
Becky The camper’s fixed. And we’re gonna be leaving tomorrow.
Tucker Whoo!
Arnie Come on! Please come to my party tomorrow, okay? You can come.
Becky Okay.
Arnie Hey!
Grandma Hi, Arnie.
Becky So, I’m invited.
Gilbert Okay.
Becky Do you not want me to go?
Gilbert No, I mean. . . Go, if you want.
Becky Oh, so this is. . . Is this how you want it?
Gilbert I have to go. Take care, okay?
Becky Goodbye, Arnie.
Arnie Oh, no.
Gilbert Come on, let’s get that bath.
Arnie No. No!
Momma Hey, Arnie. Arnie!
Amy Arnie!
Gilbert Arnie.
Momma You gotta take a bath, Arnie.
Gilbert Arnie.
Arnie Whoo!
Gilbert Arnie, you gotta do it, it’s your birthday.
Amy Argh! Arnie!
Momma Oh, no.
Amy Damn it!
Momma Arnie, no.
Arnie Uh-oh.
Momma Oh, God.
Amy I can’t make another one, I can’t. We have to have a cake, Gilbert.
Tannoy Attention, Foodland shoppers, remember every day this week is a double-coupon day.
Assistant Can I help you?
Gilbert Uh, yeah. Er, my sister called in an order for Grape.
Assistant Oh, yeah, yeah. It’s inside. There you go. That’ll be nineteen-seventy-five.
Gilbert Go away, Arnie.
Arnie Gilbert, what’s in there?
Gilbert It’s a surprise. Leave it alone.
Arnie But. . . What’s in that box?
Gilbert If you touch it, I’m gonna kill you.
Amy I can’t believe you.
Momma Look, I’ll enjoy the party from in here. It’ll be fine. I have faith. Everything’ll be just fine.
Amy What am I supposed to say to people? I mean, it’s Arnie’s eighteenth birthday. Haven’t you been waiting to do this for a long time? Wasn’t it you that wanted to have this huge party in the first place? I didn’t want to.
Momma Damn it.
Amy I can’t believe you. Arnie!
Momma Oh, man.
Ellen He’s eating the cake! Arnie!
Amy That’s it. Forget it.
Ellen Nice job, Arnie.
Gilbert Arnie!
Momma What are we gonna do?
Gilbert Arnie! Arnie. Come here. Come here! Do you know what that fucking cost? Do you know what I had to do to get that? Come on. No, no, it’s time for your bath. Get in the bathtub. Get your clothes off.
Arnie Uh-uh.
Gilbert Get ’em off! You little shit. Come here. Get in that bath.
Arnie No, Gilbert, no.
Gilbert Get your fucking clothes off!
Arnie No.
Gilbert Come on.
Arnie No. Gilbert! No!
Gilbert Don’t move. Don’t move!
Arnie Gilbert, stop!
Gilbert Come on. Ow!
Momma Gilbert! What did you do?
Arnie Momma! Momma.
Momma Arnie? Arnie! What is going on?
Amy Don’t worry, Momma. Ellen, let’s go.
Grandma We should call his mother.
Becky No, no, no, it’s okay. I know, I know where he lives. I can take him. It’s really okay, yeah. Arnie, you wanna go for a walk? You wanna go play, Arnie? Come on, Arnie.
Arnie I don’t want to.
Becky Merrily, merrily. . . come on Arnie, you can do it. Come on, Arnie, you can do it. Come on.
Arnie Merrily, merrily. Sing that.
Becky Okay. Row, row. . .
Becky & Arnie . . .row your boat, gently down the stream. . .
Becky Yay! Yay! You did it!
Arnie Whoa!
Becky Good job, Arnie. You did it. It’s nice, see?
Arnie Yeah. Nice.
Becky So, I’ll see you in a little bit, okay?
Grandma Okay.
Becky Come on.
Arnie Bye.
Grandma Bye, Arnie. You take care.
Arnie I drownded, huh? I drownded over there.
Becky No, you just got clean.
Amy Arnie!
Becky So he’s clean now, you guys.
Amy Good boy.
Becky Night.
Amy Bye. Thank you so much.
Becky You’re welcome.
Gilbert I hit him. I hit him so hard, I. . .
Becky He’s gonna be okay.
Gilbert You don’t hurt Arnie. You just don’t. I gotta go. I gotta go. I got nowhere to go. I had to work extra hours just to feed her.
Becky So it’s your fault?
Gilbert You don’t understand. She was in shock for years. He disappeared. He didn’t say goodbye. He just, er. . . one day. . . all of a sudden. . . he was gone. He was just hanging there. That’s when it all started. She used to be so pretty. She was so pretty and so. . . fun.
Becky So you think it’s his fault?
Gilbert No. Nobody knew what he felt. He didn’t. . . give anything. He was just sort of there. You’d try to play with him, you know, get him to play around. Get him to laugh or get him to smile or get him to. . . I don’t know – get mad. But. . . nothing. Just like, er, he was already dead.
Becky I used to know a guy like that.
Gilbert Hey.
Becky Hi.
Gilbert It’s Arnie’s birthday. I need to go home.
Man Give my regards to your mother.
Amy I certainly will.
Ellen Amy, look who’s here.
Tucker Where you been? You all right?
Gilbert Yeah.
Bobby He’s alive!
Gilbert Amy. Where’s Arnie? Amy. Please, Amy. Is he okay?
Amy I think you’d better ask him that yourself.
Gilbert Where is he?
Amy I wonder where he could be?
Gilbert Amy? Have you seen Arnie?
Amy Um. . . no, I thought he was with you.
Gilbert No.
Amy No?
Gilbert Arnie? Arnie? Anybody seen Arnie? Where’s my brother?
Arnie Boo!
Gilbert Boo. Come here. You scared me, buddy. You scared Gilbert. Don’t scare Gilbert, okay?
Arnie Don’t scare Gilbert, okay?
Gilbert Okay. Uh-oh. Come here.
Arnie I’ve got you.
Gilbert Ow. Ow.
Amy You better talk to Momma.
Gilbert Momma? Momma.
Momma What you did was. . . He’s a helpless boy, Gilbert. And then disappearing like that. I hate that. You know how I hate that. You walked out and I thought, “I can’t take another.” But you came back, Gilbert. Why? Why did you?
Gilbert I don’t know, Momma. I’m here now. I’m here now.
Momma Yes, you are. You came back for the party. Oh, Gilbert. I can’t imagine how it’s been for you kids. I know what a burden I am.
Gilbert Don’t say that.
Momma I know it. And I know that you’re ashamed of me.
Gilbert No, I’m not. No, I’m not.
Momma I never, never meant to be like this. I never wanted to be a joke.
Gilbert You’re no joke, Momma.
Momma I never wanted to be.
Gilbert You’re no joke. You’re no joke, Momma.
Momma Oh, Gilbert, please don’t disappear. Please don’t disappear.
Bobby You’re really growing up to be quite a. . . a young lady.
Ellen Thanks.
Bobby Hey. Hi.
Gilbert Hey.
Tucker I don’t want to rain on the day here, but you have a serious foundation problem. You see how this. . . the porch is slanted right here? I mean, this is a serious problem, Gilbert. We need to get up underneath here. First of all we need to fill this in so no more water collects here. And then we probably. . . What?
Gilbert Hi.
Becky Hi.
Grandma Hello, Gilbert.
Gilbert Nana. You ready?
Becky For what?
Gilbert I want you to. . . I want you to come meet somebody.
Becky Okay.
Arnie Hey!
Becky Hi, Arnie.
Arnie Hi.
Becky Here’s your present.
Arnie Oh.
Gilbert Arnie, what do you say?
Arnie Thank you.
Gilbert Momma. Momma, I want you to meet somebody.
Momma No.
Gilbert Please. Just this once, for me.
Becky Gilbert, it’s okay. We can do it later.
Gilbert No, this is what I want. Do it for me, please. This is different. Nobody’s gonna laugh. I’m not gonna hurt you any more, Momma. I promise. Please.
Momma Okay.
Gilbert Okay. Becky. Momma, this is Becky.
Momma Hello.
Becky Hi.
Momma I haven’t always been like this.
Becky I haven’t always been like this.
Arnie I’m called a miracle.
Grandma You’re a miracle?
Arnie I’m a miracle.
Amy A walking miracle.
Grandma I can believe that.
Arnie Bye.
Grandma Goodbye, Arnie.
Arnie Bye.
Grandma You take care.
Becky I had a really nice time.
Gilbert I know. I don’t know what to say.
Arnie Say thank you, Gilbert. Say thank you.
Gilbert Thank you.
Arnie Goodbye.
Becky No, it’s not goodbye, Arnie.
Arnie It’s good night. Good night. . . Good night to you, but not me. Thanks for coming. Bye. Wait.
Amy Momma? Momma, what are you doing?
Momma Amy? Amy.
Amy You rest, Momma. You deserve to rest.
Momma Amy, get me my birthday boy.
Amy Okay.
Momma I want my birthday boy.
Gilbert There you go, Momma. There’s the water.
Momma Gilbert. You’re my knight in shimmering armour. Did you know that?
Gilbert I think you mean ‘shining’.
Momma No. . . shimmering. You shimmer and you glow.
Gilbert You rest, okay? Get some sleep.
Arnie Hey! Momma! Momma! Momma! Wake up! You’re hiding, huh? I know that. Wake up! Momma, wake up! Hm. Momma, stop it now! Stop, Momma! Stop it!
Amy Arnie. Arnie? Arnie. What’s wrong? Stop it. Ssh. Gilbert! Gilbert!
Gilbert Arnie? What’s wrong? Come on. Come on. What’s wrong with you, buddy? What’s wrong?
Sheriff I’m gonna need some more men, Amy.
Arnie Hey, flash your lights. Flash ’em.
Voice on Radio We may need the National Guard to move her out of there.
Sheriff I’m sorry about that.
Gilbert It’s gonna take a crane to get her out.
Ellen There’s gonna be a crowd. I just know there’s gonna be a crowd.
Amy She’s so beautiful.
Gilbert She’s no joke. She’s no joke. I’m not gonna let her be a joke. Arnie. We’re gonna need your help.
Arnie Gilbert, is that them?
Gilbert No. No, not yet.
Arnie When are they gonna come?
Gilbert Pretty soon. Pretty soon.
Gilbert (voice) My brother, Arnie’s about to turn nineteen. Nineteen.
Arnie Gilbert. Look there.
Gilbert (voice) Amy got a job offer to manage a bakery in Des Moines.
Arnie Is that them?
Gilbert Yeah, that’s them.
Gilbert (voice) Ellen can’t wait to switch schools. Arnie asked if we’re gonna go too, and I said, “Well. . . we can go anywhere. . . if we want.”
Arnie Becky?
Gilbert (voice) We can go anywhere.
Arnie Becky’s coming, huh, Gilbert?
Gilbert Yeah. She’s coming.
Arnie Becky! Come on. Come on, Gilbert. Whoo-oo!
Becky Hey!
Arnie Hi.
Becky Hi.
Arnie Hi. Hi! How are you?
Becky I’m fine.
Arnie Hi.
Becky How are you?
