Molly is a 1999 romantic comedy-drama film about a 28-year-old woman with autism who came into the custody of her neurotic executive brother. The film was directed by John Duigan and written by Dick Christie of Small Wonder-fame, and stars Elisabeth Shue, Aaron Eckhart, and Jill Hennessy.
Elisabeth Shue plays the title character, Molly McKay, a 28-year-old woman with autism. She has lived in an institution from a young age following her parents' death in a car accident. When the institution must close due to budget cuts, Molly is left in the care of her non-autistic older brother, Buck McKay (Aaron Eckhart), an advertising executive and perennial bachelor. Molly, who verbalizes very little and is obsessed with lining up her shoes in neat rows, throws Buck's life into a tailspin as she runs off her nurses and barges into a meeting at Buck's agency naked.
Molly's neurologist, Susan Brookes (Jill Hennessy), suggests an experimental surgery in which genetically modified brain cells are implanted into Molly's brain. While Buck initially balks at the suggestion, he finally consents to the surgery and Molly makes a gradual but miraculous "recovery", speaking fluidly and interacting with others in a "normal" way. Buck begins taking Molly to social events, like a production of Romeo and Juliet, a baseball game, and expensive dinners. However, after a few months, Molly's brain begins to reject the transplanted cells and she begins to regress into her former state. Both Molly and Buck must accept the eventual loss of Molly's "cure" and her regression to her previous state.
The war began
And Henry left his farm
Left his darling Molly
With a baby in her arms
Now the war was over
And their life could begin
Molly saw her darling
Standing at the door again
It's so nice to hear
Your voice again, Molly
So nice, to feel your
Arms around me, Molly
Oh, how happy I'd be
If I only could see you
Sweet, sweet Molly
(Molly, Molly)
Please don't cry
(Please don't cry)
Maybe I should have written
To let you know ahead of time
But I was afraid you'd worry
If you knew that I'd gone blind
Do I hear you crying, Molly
Please don't cry, you silly thing
See what you've done
You've even brought
A tear to my eye
Oh how happy I'd be
If I only could see you
Sweet, sweet Molly
(Molly, Molly)
Please don't cry
(Please don't cry)
Where's my son
What does he look like, Molly
Everyone says he took after me
Lord, I wish I could see
Come here, little man
Don't be afraid, I'm your daddy
Guess he'll get used to me in time
Won't he, Molly
It's so nice to hear
Your voice again, Molly
So nice, to feel your
Arms around me, Molly
Oh, how happy I'd be
If I only could see you
Sweet, sweet Molly
(Molly, Molly)
Please don't cry
(Molly, Molly)
Please don't cry
(Molly, Molly)
Please don't cry