Marvin's Room Page #4

Your mother has something to tell you

It's not good news.

But Doctor says it's okay to tell you

because, partially, I have no choice.

What?

Your Aunt Bessie down in Florida

has leukemia. She's not doing so well.

There's a possibility

she might die.

I didn't know I had an Aunt Bessie!

She's been to the house.

When?

Right after your dad and I got married.

Mom, I wasn't born yet.

Look, I know I mentioned her to you. She's

my sister! I didn't know you had a sister.

You know how every goddamn

Christmas I say to you,

Looks like Bessie didn't send

a card again this year either?

Oh, yeah.

That's your Aunt Bessie. My sister.

And because we're her nearest relatives,

they want us to get tested...

cause maybe they could save her life

and do a bone marrow transplant or...

It's only for a week.

Doctor says it's okay to go.

Why would want to go?

Because one of us

might save her life.

Go, go, go, get cleaned up. I'm not

gonna take you like that in the car.

Hank, isn't there something you anna

say to your mother before you leave?

But is this gonna take long?

Because we should go.

Mom?

I'm really sorry

I burnt the house down.

Is that it? Because I'm really

anxious now to get on the road.

Oop, no matches.

Mom, I gotta light the thing. Come on.

Charlie, here,

light this for him please.

Being confined to your bed

is nothing to be afraid of.

I'm not confined to my bed.

I'm just... I'm a little tired today.

I was confined to my bed most

of my life. You find things to do.

Like what?

Oh!

Well, uh, you can sleep.

Or you can lay there awake.

Uh... huh.

Ah, do you want any of this?

Oh, no, no, no. You must eat

all of that to make yourself strong.

How's Dad?

Oh, he's fine.

Do you want your orange?

No, no, you can have it.

Well, no,

not if you're going...

Thank you.

Does he miss me?

Well, I haven't actually

told him you're gone.

What? Doesn't he wonder where I am?

Well, I tell him...

you're just in the other room

busy with something.

And then he falls asleep and when he

wakes up I say, he just missed you.

Who does he think

that nurse is living with you?

I pretend not to notice her.

What do you mean?

If she walks in the room

while I'm there,

I pretend she's not real,

that she doesn't exist.

Then what does Dad think?

I think he thinks

he's hallucinating.

Ruth, you have to tell him.

The only time it seems

to bother him...

is when she carries him

to the bath and then I say,

Oh, Marvin, look, you're flying!

Bessie'll wanna see this!

And I run into

the other room to get you.

He must think

he's losing his mind!

What am I supposed

to tell him?

That... that

his little girl is...

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