Lizzy dies, but not before Willie convinces her to marry him first.
Written by David Jacobs; produced by Nigel McKeand; directed by E. W. Swackhamer.
Brooke Adams: Lizzy.
Gretchen Corbett: Ellen.
Priscilla Pointer: Joan Schiller.
Ron Rifkin: Dr. Grant.
Harold Gould: Paul Schiller.
Don Starr: Judge Gilbert.
Michael David Schackelford: Timmy.
Willie: I don't care if it's the worst thing to say -- I wanna marry you. Lizzie: I don't wanna marry you. Willie: Why? You love me. Lizzie: Yes... I don't wanna die. When I'm alone, sometimes I can tell myself that I'm not gonna die. If we got married, I could never tell myself that. Willie: I don't understand. Lizzie: You really don't, do you? Why would we get married? We just met; we're too young; I'm still in school, and you don't have a job. The one and only reason that we would get married is because I'm gonna die. Willie: Wrong! We could have a terrific life together. Lizzie: A what? Our marriage would have nothing to do with life. It would be about death. Instead of the state seal on our license, we could have a skull and crossbones.
Nancy: Hey! What're you doing up there? Come on down, and be a star. Buddy: They're looking at it all wrong. You're supposed to look at it in order. Nancy: Well, there are too many people for that. Besides, they're looking for pictures of themselves. Buddy: I know, but this is a marriage -- one that's lasted a quarter of a century. I think that's worth looking at in order, don't you?
Dr. Grant: I wish there was more to say. Mr. Schiller: There's some possibility of a remission, though? Dr. Grant: No, Mr. Schiller, there's no possibility. Mr. Schiller: You could be wrong, doctor. A chance in a hundred? In a million? Mrs. Schiller: How long? Dr. Grant: That depends on what organ fails first.
Willie: Why don't you just leave me alone? Kate: But you're not alone. Willie: Mom, I don't mean any disrespect, but... I would like to take care of this myself. You don't know... Kate: I don't know what? Willie: Nothing, I'm sorry. Kate: No, tell me, Willie. I don't know how you feel? Is that what you... you're trying to say? Willie: Yes. Kate: Well, you're wrong. I do know how you feel. I know the unbearable, inescapable pain of loss. I knew it when my father died, and my mother. But, cruel as this may sound to you -- once you're grown, that's... expectable pain. My husband's alive, thank God. So, in that case, I don't know how you feel. But even the death of a spouse is not entirely unprepared for -- because that same knowledge is in you that there's a good chance... [does a quick calculation] a 50-50 chance that you'll outlive your husband or wife. One kind of death you're entirely unprepared for: you don't know how it feels to lose a child. It's a freak of nature... a perversion of life. Your father and I lost a child; we know that unspeakable sorrow. But here's another sorrow: you are our only living son, and you're dying before our eyes, willfully. Willie: Alright, Mom. That's enough. Kate: It's not nearly enough.
