-How'd you learn how to do that? -Dunno.
I've got a trick pussy. That's what I think.
You kiss your mother with that mouth?
No. What are you? Some kind of small-town prude?
Not me.
I'm different.
I'm a city girl at heart.
I smoke. I fornicate.
I'm too big for this town.
Adeline! Lower your voice!
My word, you got some spice in you these days, don't you?
I don't care about learning how to be a housewife, or housewife stuff.
It is important, sweetheart,
to learn the skills of keeping a house
if you want to find a man and start a family.
Lot of good it did you.
Where's your man, Mother?
I'll pretend you didn't say that.
I had to raise you!
Take a job running classifieds down at the newspaper.
Doing it all alone.
This is the life I'm trying to spare you, Adeline.
Do…
Well, I'm not doing it.
And I'm not joining that knitting circle.
I'm leaving town anyways.
Good.
I wish you well.
Get out.
I can't get out yet. I don't have the money, Mother.
Then you're going to the meeting.
If you are living under this roof, you're attending
domestic husbandry Wednesday nights at Eleanor Adams' house.
Oh…
Fine!
You're better than everybody else. Is that it?
Yes. As a matter of fact, I am.
Rumor has it,
I'm not the only one enjoying your trick puss, Adeline.
People see you and that Eddie Gein running around together.
-You ain't two-timing me, are you? -No, I am not.
Not that it's any of your business.
It's modern and city-like to have friends, Randy.
Not that you know anything about that.
The sun's setting.
Don't you got to go milk the cows?
You kicking me out?
Yes.
I'm going to sit here and read my book.
I'll be gone soon, Randy.
So you better find somebody else to stick it in.
But you're a farmhand.
I'm sure there's a pig you can get your hands on.
Or I could just tell everyone what we've been doing, Adeline.
How would you like that?
And I'll tell everybody that you bought a prize sow
at the county fair last year just for porking.
And you pop her hind legs in your work boots
so she can't run away while you fuck her little pig pussy.
There's something wrong with you.
Yeah, well…
nothing a change of scenery can't fix.
So long, Randy.
It sure was a great day, best I can recall.
It's nice feeling close to somebody,
being yourself with somebody.
Okay, before you say anything else--
And since we're fixing to get married,
maybe we could start trying for a family.
Maybe we could start tonight.
-No, no, Ed, I can't get into that. -What do you mean?
I've got to go to Eleanor Adams' house, some sewing circle thing.
That's why I haven't eaten anything.
Domestic husbandry is… is what they're calling it.
Well, who the heck's saying you've got to go now?
My mother, she's making me do it.
She ain't the boss of you.
-Let me be the boss of you. -Okay.
You're a real tease, is what you are.
No, Eddie, I'm not gonna do that.
I thought you wanted to.
Maybe I'm trying to save myself for marriage, Eddie Gein.
I don't know.
Come on, Adeline, my balls are going blue, they ache.
They're swelling up like an udder.
Then take an ice-cold shower.
I'll see you later.
I want to make this every day.
I think you have to take a little bit of everything. I mean…
Don't forget the bologna cups, ladies. Aren't they pretty?
They're so pretty.
They're gorgeous.
What happened? I told you to come hungry.
I was, but then, would you believe it,
I lost my appetite the moment I beheld this feast.
Ah! Well, more for me then.
That is so-- Gladys.
You are just a comedian. All right.
We give thee thanks for all thy benefits, almighty God,
who lives and reigns forever.
And the souls of the faithful departed,
to the mercy of God, rest in peace.
-Amen. -Amen.
This is going to be so good.
-Oh. -It smells delicious.
Mmm. Oh!
-Mmm. -Heaven.
Mm. It's so good. Everything.
-You never get over it. -So good.
Oh!
Ooh!
Look at all that wax.
And that's just from the ends that stick in the candlestick.
I mean, you can see how much wax you're probably just throwing away.
Incredible.
Now…
we take a candle wick,
and we're going to dip the wick
in and out, in and out,
letting it dry in between.
Question.
I like a thick wick.
Can I dip a thick wick?
Well, I don't see why not.
See, I pull it out, another whole layer.
Sorry, what about, um, long wicks?
I need at least a 12-inch candle.
Well, that probably wouldn't fit most hurricanes.
Well, not for me. I have a deep hurricane.
It needs a big, thick candlestick.
All right, that's enough.
She's being fresh.
Adeline.
You have not been serious since moment one.
It took you long enough to realize, you thick cow.
Acting like you're homemaker of the year when you're a liar with a rapist son.
Get out of my house!
You are going to hell!
Well, I'll make sure to keep house for your son when I'm there.
I'm going to laugh at your funeral.
I told you everyone would be in black.
I heard bright colors.
I am embarrassed.
Showing up dressed like a streetwalker at the funeral of one of our own townsfolk
who died of a heart attack because of what her son did.
There's something wrong with you.
Yeah, well, I won't be a problem much longer, Mother.
I'm moving to New York City.
Oh, wow.
A lot of food.
-It's on me. -All right.
Mmm.
Oh.
So good.
Mmm.
Mm.
Aren't you eating?
Eddie, I have to tell you something.
I'm going away.
Okay?
I have a job interview.
A job interview?
-Getting a job? -Well, I gotta interview first.
Well, what in Sam Hill?
-What kind of job? -With Weegee.
That photographer from New York City. That's where I'm moving.
I thought if I got the job, maybe you could come meet me.
In New York City?
What the heck would I do there?
There's loads of stuff to do. There's everything there.
My friend stole my sweetheart…
Oh.
Well, I have many times thought about leaving this cold place.
You know, traveling about, seeing family.
You'd love New York City, Ed.
There's tanneries. You love tanning.
Becoming a tanner in New York City, you say?
I could teach those city boys how it's done.
And there's a whole meatpacking district.
You love meat hooks and cutting things open.
Mmm.
Have you ever seen a skyscraper?
Not in real life, no.
Eddie, they scrape the sky.
I know it's a big move, but…
you'd do it for me, wouldn't you, Ed?
I just can't stand it here anymore.
There's nothing for me here.
So if you ever want to see me again,
you're going to have to light out to the Big Apple.
That's what they call it.
No idea why.
Oh, don't be such a glum, grumpy Gus.
I'm sure it's sad I'm leaving and all.
I'm just about the only ray of sunshine this town has.
But look, I got you something to keep you occupied while I'm away.
…to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened
To see…
-Oh, wow. -Mm-hm.
It's Christine, your favorite.
She's a real success now.
…while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
Yeah.
I remember the night
Oh…
Now I know just how much I have…
Thank you.
Although it's a lot of pages, I don't know if I'm going to be able to read it all.
Oh. And look.
It's your old friend, Ilsa.
…the night they were playing
Yeah, you betcha.
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
Right there. You missed it.
I'm not taking you to your house. I'm taking you to my house.
I'm taking you home.
No, Eddie. I have to catch a bus.
No. Now, you listen to me.
If you're running off to New York City,
expecting me to keep the home fires burning,
then it's time we made our union.
In the bed.
I wasn't ready before, I don't think, to be a father and all that.
But now I'm more than ready.
-No, Eddie. -Adeline, I won't hear of it.
It's the smell of ya. I can't take it anymore.
Stop the car.
No, Adeline. You need to let me be the man.
Eddie, stop the car!
Jiminy Cricket.
I've been thinking about this.
And there's a talk we need to have.
Eddie, the relationship that you and I have is very special.
But do we have what it takes?
What?
Eddie, you're pushing too hard for sex.
That needs to be my choice to do something like that with somebody,
and you're taking my choice away.
You're the one that was pushing me for it.
I just got nervous 'cause of Mother,
and then like distracted thinking she was going to holler at me, but…
I'm not worried about that anymore.
I'm sorry, Eddie.
I'm just not ready.
Well, what in Sam heck am I supposed to do?
I got some big feelings for ya.
Yeah, well…
I'm just not ready for sex.
I'm just not.
And here I thought we were engaged to be married.
What use is that?
I'm not ready for that either.
Oh.
I think you should find somebody else while I'm gone,
to get rid of that urge.
Who?
I don't like the other girls in town,
and they…
…they don't like me neither.
Well…
Maybe you should do it with somebody who can't say no.
Somebody dead.
Yeah, I thought about that.
I couldn't go through with it.
Why not?
Oh, Eddie, they're dead.
So it doesn't matter.
Here's a fresh one.
She died just this week.
Yeah.
Look who her neighbor is.
That's a sign, don't you think?
Can't you just wait a week?
It's the Ice Pond Social Saturday.
It's finally frozen.
There will be ice skating. Everyone will be there.
I'm sorry.
I have a big city job interview.
I'm sure gonna miss you.
Everyone will.
The boys sure will.
Who, Randy?
He's so thick he probably won't even notice that I'm gone.
And Ed.
Ed's too clingy, so I could use the space.
I found him somebody to go steady with while I'm gone.
That is so generous.
Wish me luck.
Suzette, I have to tell you something.
What?
-I'm not coming back. -What?
This town's seen the last of me,
and you've seen the last of me too,
and you're never ever gonna see me again.
What? What? Can't I come visit?
Suzette, I'm sorry.
But you're not a city girl.
You lack sophistication, so…
Bye.
Christine Jorgensen, who used to answer to George,
creates quite a stir when she returns home to New York from Copenhagen.
Christine hit the headlines following a series of operations in Denmark
that transformed her from a boy into a girl.
I'm very impressed by everyone coming.
Christine, are you happy to be home?
Yes, of course. What American wouldn't be?
Have you been offered a movie contract?
Yes, but I haven't accepted it.
Do you have any plans for the theater?
I don't think so, no.
Are you going on with your photography?
I hope so, yes.
I'm very happy to be back, and I don't have any plans at the moment.
Thank you all for coming, but I think it's too much.
Well, what are you going to do now as a lady?
Where are you going to live?
-Thank you very much. -No, where are you going?
Thank you all for coming.
No!
You're gonna stand there staring all day?
Movie's over.
Yeah, what is it?
Better be good.
I need another room. I'm freezing.
No, you can't afford a room with heat, you hayseed.
Go out and get some money, or a man.
Otherwise, just deal with it.
Please, I'm going to freeze to death.
You rented a cold flat. No water, no heat.
What? You couldn't stand a cold front?
Well, you have no business being here anyways.
No handouts!
You've got to…
Give a little
Take a little
And let your poor heart break a little
Adeline bought me this record.
That's the story of
Says it's city stuff.
That's the glory of love
Oh, and you see that bottle with the candle in it?
That's a wine bottle.
Something called Chianti.
I do like the taste of a fancy wine.
It's romantic how it tastes.
I would offer you some, but…
That's the glory of love
Okay, well…
I guess we should get to it.
As long as there's the two of us
We've got this world
And all of its charms
But when this world is through with us
I'm sorry.
I can't do this.
I just don't like this music
You've got to
Win a little, lose…
I haven't played in a while.
A bit rusty, but…
I do like this music.
Makes me feel chipper-like.
Puts a hop in my step.
Okay, well…
Oh, you're leading me on, are you?
If I'm no good, you have to be kind, okay?
I haven't had a lot of practice.
Is this okay?
Oh.
It feels so nice.
So nice!
So, so, so good!
Boy, oh boy.
Oh.
Ah…
How was it for you?
Hi.
Sorry, I got all turned around out there, but, um…
What an honor it is to actually meet you, Mr. Weegee.
Why did you write me so much?
I never had so many letters.
Last week I got three in one day.
Oh, I'm sorry, I just… I love your work so much.
I guess I have a fascination with death.
And your photos, for whatever reason,
they remind me that we're all going to die.
Mm. That it doesn't matter how smashed or buried or gory a body is,
that death is just a part of life.
And that makes me less scared of dying somehow,
less afraid of everything.
Oh, actually, I think your images have made me braver,
and more bold, and just… just more myself.
And I want to be your assistant.
I don't want an assistant.
I had a kid helping me out one time.
A woman jumped off the Flatiron building.
Her head exploded.
The kid puked the moment he saw it.
Suddenly I had puke in the shot.
Well, that wouldn't be me. I love things like that.
That one, the photo of the head smashed in like a pumpkin
or the man with his jaw blown off.
It's… it's beautiful, the images, almost.
It's incredible, the work you do.
It's work that really matters.
Can I… Could I show you some of my work?
It's nothing like yours, but…
Sure. All right.
Okay, sorry that it's kind of blurry.
It's just, the light in the barn where I took these was kind of dim.
Where are you from again?
Wisconsin.
No-Talentville, Wisconsin?
Small town, population one?
I'm sorry?
I'm asking if the town you're from in Wisconsin is called No-Talentville,
and if you're the lone resident of that town.
Because I don't know what the shit this is.
A blurry shot of a side of beef?
Your head's not on straight, is it?
-This is a real person. -No, it isn't. That's fake.
No, it's not fake.
-Who would cut up a body like that? -I don't have to tell you that.
Scram, then. You've got some sass.
I'm sure you'd be a fun roll in the hay.
But the fellas catch the clap from crazies like you.
Keep it down!
Oh, no. Not you again.
-I want my money back. -Fat chance, toots.
A tear froze to my face.
So you don't cotton to city life.
Well, that's too darn bad.
-I want my money back -Over my dead body!
Oh.
Oh no, no, no, no, no.
Huh?
Ilsa Koch,
you stand accused of participating in a common design to commit war crimes.
How do you plead?
Order. Order.
No!
Order!
All lies!
We can't be doing this.
You already made me pregnant. Come.
Mein Eddie.
Yeah, Eddie, oh!
Oh…
I was picturing somebody else there for a minute.
I don't know if you could tell.
Oh, I got something for you.
Oh.
Ooh.
I would call it perfume,
but the bottle says, "Eau de toilette."
No.
I'm not trying to hurt your feelings.
We're not always smelling our freshest, any of us.
Let me-- Let me help you.
Mother would put it on her wrist.
And then…
And then dab it on her neck.
Just like that.
Oh, yeah. That's a lady.
Very alluring.
Hello?
Oh, Adeline!
I thought you weren't coming back.
Same.
May I ask… what you were trying to do?
In New York City, what this interview was?
Photographer.
Then he told me…
He told me I had no talent.
It was awful.
So horrible.
Adeline.
I want to tell you something.
This…
This lack of talent,
your inability to settle down in town and be,
what would you call it? Normal?
This idea you're a failure…
Of course this is all true.
How strange you are, this total lack of any kind of womanly skill.
I did that to you, I think.
When I got pregnant with you,
it was unexpected.
And I was very young,
so I…
I threw myself down the stairs.
Several times, to try to cause…
enough damage that I would miscarry.
Over and over.
Throwing myself.
Which is hard to actually do it.
Your body really doesn't want to let you do it,
but I really wanted to be rid of you.
And… on that last try, I really did catch that bottom stair,
square in my gut, it was a real whop!
Knocked the Jiminy Christmas out of me.
And I think those stairs are what did the number on you,
why you're so galdarned peculiar, why you embarrass yourself and me.
There's no other way to explain it.
You are…
unnatural.
Yeah.
And…
for enduring all this pain, what did I get?
Nothing.
So…
eat your cotton-pickin' dinner you didn't lift a finger for,
then pull yourself together and go find a husband
who will put up with your lunatic horseshit.
And find one fast, 'cause mark my words, it ain't going to get any easier.
Blink of an eye, you're an old maid like me,
except you won't have a batshit nimrod daughter
you're ashamed of like I do.
So, small mercies.
I'm sorry.
What?
What happened?
What is it? This is what you wanted, isn't it?
Can I tell you something?
Can I be honest with you?
Can I tell you something honest?
What?
You're too warm.