MACROMEDIA FREEHAND 10-USING FREEHAND Use Manual page 154

Drag a handle to adjust the curve.
3
Moving a handle closer to its point decreases the amount of curve. Moving it
away from the point increases the curve.
Dragging a corner point's handle to curve a straight path segment
Dragging a curve point's handle to reverse a path segment's curve
Dragging a connector point's handle to increase a path segment's curvature
The farther you drag a handle from a corner, curve, or connector point, the
more pronounced the curve becomes.