Flowers in the Attic

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People use the color yellow

To symbolize hope.

Yellow...

Like the sun

we rarely saw.

When I was very young,

I thought life would be

Like one long and perfect

summer day.

After all,

it started out that way.

We were

four beautiful children

With blond hair

and porcelain skin.

We looked like

those fancy dresden dolls

That grace shelves

and mantels.

Only we weren't just admired.

We were really loved.

But that was before.

"life is full of surprises,"

my mother used to say.

And greed and fear and shame,

as I soon learned.

And hopelessness.

We never colored

even one of our paper flowers

Yellow.

FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC

Give them back, Christopher.

Not until you quit

pounding on my wall, you freak.

Hey. What do you kids

think you're doing?

I don't even get a hug?

Dad!

Daddy!

Oh! I missed you all so much!

What did you bring us?

For you, son.

Thank you.

Did you forget about me?

Mm!

I could never forget about you.

It's so beautiful.

Oh! I got you!

Oh!

I wish you never had to go away

For work again.

Promise me you won't.

I hate to break up the party,

But dinner's almost ready,

and I made your favorite--

Homemade apple pie.

Corrine, you shouldn't have.

She didn't.

You forgot to take off the bakery label.

Ugh. Cathy! Could never

get anything past you, huh?

Yeah, mom.

What's going on?

I mean, you're wearing

a new dress and perfume.

Well, the wife of a vice-president

Can't wear just any old thing.

I was gonna wait

until it was 100% official,

But I got promoted,

And I'm now the head of sales

of the entire east coast.

That's great!

Thank you.

He got promoted!

He's so smart, that's why.

Nobody's here.

Cathy...

Hey.

This is a big opportunity for me.

For all of us.

I know what's gonna happen.

You'll be away all the time.

Mom will be busy with the twins.

Christopher will act like

he's the man of the house.

I'll be totally forgotten.

Can I tell you a secret?

I bought this...

On my last trip,

And it's more money

than I should've spent,

But the moment I saw it,

I knew you had to have it.

So, when I'm traveling,

I need you to be strong.

Can you do that for me?

Mommy! Cathy's hurting me!

It wouldn't hurt so much

If you'd sit still for five seconds.

Girls, please.

Your dad's gonna be home

in less than two hours,

I need to ice the cake,

chill the champagne--

Where are your brothers?

Why do I have to wear a tie?

'Cause we're the "dresden dolls."

I don't wanna be a doll.

It's just a saying, darling.

Because the neighbors

think we look so perfect.

We are perfect.

Why isn't he here yet?

He's probably just stuck in traffic.

When are we gonna eat the cake?

I want it now!

Can I take off my tie, please?

Just be patient, darlings, okay?

I'm going to go freshen the ice.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

I hear someone in the driveway.

Mrs. Dollanganger?

I'm sorry, but, um...

There's been an accident.

Mama?

Mom?

Alright, guys, five more minutes.

Is daddy coming home tonight?

No.

Remember? We told you.

He died.

Sometimes, when I really miss him,

I just pretend he's on a business trip

And that he'll be back any day.

You guys wash up for dinner.

Mom, um, the twins want you

to read them a story.

Is that the mail?

Madame pomfrey says

I can't stay in ballet class,

Unless we pay for last month.

Are we gonna be okay without dad?

I'm doing the best I can.

It's not easy for a woman to get a job

And to support four kids on her own.

Look at me, I'm an ornament.

The only thing I was ever good at

Was being pretty.

You know...

You're lucky.

You had a dad that

thought you were special.

Because I'm just like you.

Well, in looks, maybe,

But you're more aggressive

and determined.

You're just like his mother,

And he loved his mother.

Doesn't everyone love their mother?

Some mothers are impossible to love.

They don't act like mothers at all.

Have christopher read

the twins a story,

And put this in the mailbox for tomorrow.

Another one? But you already sent--

It's late.

You should finish your homework.

Cathy, christopher!

Come inside, now.

You know all those letters I sent?

Well, I finally got a response.

It's all working out as I'd hoped.

We can go live with your grandmother,

In virginia.

What grandmother?

You and dad said

That we never had any family.

Well...

It's complicated.

My parents and I,

we didn't see eye-to-eye,

So we thought it was best

to keep our distance,

But with your father gone,

This is our best hope for now.

What about school?

And all of our friends?

My ballet classes?

You two are old enough

to understand,

To help your mother

out of a desperate situation.

But we still have the house,

And I can get a part-time job,

Cathy can help out more

with the twins.

People have a way of believing

That nothing bad can ever happen.

And your father was doing so well

At his job, so...

We charged against our future.

What do you mean?

Nothing here is really ours.

Not the furniture,

the cars, your toys...

N-not even this necklace.

It's been four months,

And I've been holding them at bay,

But the bank is gonna

come and take it all away.

Look, I know it sounds scary,

But I've saved the best news

for last.

My family is rich.

Not middle-class rich,

but unbelievably wealthy,

And they have one of the finest

homes in all of virginia,

With servants,

And acres of land,

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