Original subtitles

Okay, we're gonna go three quarters golden blonde,

one quarter burnt oak.

I don't know, Julie.

Not exactly the golden blonde type.

You sit right down here, darlin'.

Trust me, these guys, they're gonna line up

at your door.

You know what Julie did when she went blonde?

- Oh, tell us. - Here we go.

- Lost ten pounds. - Which I then put right back on.

- Got herself a new wardrobe. - Which I then couldn't fit into.

- Got a new car. - And a new man.

And it took her only ten years to say she'd marry him.

Well, when you go blonde, you don't wanna

tie yourself down to fast.

Excuse me.

Hi! Need an appointment?

- No, I'm looking for Julie. - Well, you've found her.

But I'm booked solid today and tomorrow,

how about Saturday?

I'm Claudia Wade from the Department of Social Services,

Fayette County.

If this is about Deena Carter, I did not fire her, she quit.

Right in the middle of a body perm.

Got mad, walked out,

I'm not paying unemployment to any employee.

This is about something more personal.

We can talk in the back room.

- I'll take over for you, Julie. - Thanks, baby

Hey, somebody turn that radio on up, so I can hear it.

Here, have a seat.

Sixteen-year-old girl named, Julie Longwell,

placed a baby boy for adoption, March 5th 1968.

Are you all right?

There hasn't been a day in my life

when I haven't thought about my baby.

Your son would like to meet you.

He filed a petition

requesting that we make a search on his behalf.

I can arrange a meeting, if you'd like.

You're under no obligation, please understand that.

What's his name?

Scott.

Scott.

They wouldn't let me see him.

I begged 'em.

I said, "Please, just let me see him."

They covered him up with a blanket

took him out of the room.

Why don't you think about what I've told you.

Here...

here's my card.

He was crying.

I've been doing this kind of work for many years.

Take some time...

before you decide what to do.

You still here.

Looks like it.

Guess I can never get rid of you.

I guess you'd better not even try.

Look at Penny Burgess.

- Hey, Penny, how you doing? - Thirty-six D is my guess,

- what do you say, Winona? - Jerry, shut up.

Would you look at the way she just like,

- sort of, pushes them out there. - Jerry, shut up.

How does a guy like Steve get so lucky?

Julie, hey!

One cheese coney, extra chili.

Julie?

Hey!

You don't have to worry one whit about Penny Burgess.

Well, then why do you have to go flirting with her?

Talking!

- I was talking. - She was sticking her huge...

you know those things right into your face.

I didn't even notice.

Liar.

Come here.

Come here.

You know, I don't want any girl but you.

You're my one and only.

Always.

Forever.

Till death do us part?

Give me that.

I love you, Steve Carson.

Right behind you, Mama.

I'm ready! I'm ready!

Come on now. Get those little puppies runnin'.

So, Kev, how'd you finally get her to say yes?

- Huh? - Well, let's ask her.

- Should I get her some juice? - No, I'll do it, Mama.

- Come on, sweetie. - Okay, there you go.

I love being a grandma.

Keep you young, huh, sweetheart?

So, honey, Don wants to know why we finally decided

- to make it legal? - Mm?

Oh, God.

Ah, I guess, Julie just figured ten years

dangling me was long enough.

I mean, it's not like we heard a song on the radio

or anything.

That's 'cause we don't have a song.

Well, we could have a song,

I mean, you want a song honey, I'll get you a song.

Kevin just wore me down, Donald.

That's all there is to it.

I did, I surely did.

And the moral of the story is...

- never give up, Don. - Hmm.

No matter how long,

no matter how hopeless, no matter what...

the impossible can happen.

- Is that deep or what? - Man...

Your chicken's burning.

- What'd you tell her? - Not much.

- I was kind of in shock. - I'll bet.

Don't do it.

- Why not? - Because I'm afraid

it will just shake everything up,

change everything.

Things are finally fine the way they are.

You're gonna marry Kevin, he's the best man

you've ever been with.

And besides, Mama.

How do you know what this guy wants?

He could be after something.

Like the Mama he never knew?

Have you told Kevin?

No and don't you either.

I need time to think things through.

What about Iva Mae?

I'll see you tomorrow.

It's too long to wait.

You think everybody who's in love feels like we do?

No, we got something special.

You feel it too, don't you?

Like we were meant to be together.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

You're two hours late.

Then you should've gone to bed.

How can I sleep not knowing where you are

or what you're doing?

I was at Pete's Drive-in with some other kids, Mama,

- Winona and them. - Mm-hmm, and Steve Carson.

Yes, Steve Carson.

He bought me a cheese coney and a strawberry malt

and we talked with Winona and Jerry and he drove me home.

- Iva? - Sinful stuff, Mama.

- Terrible. - You are 15 years old.

Too young to be driving around in a car

- with a 17-year-old boy. - You're upsetting your mother.

She's upsetting me!

Steve Carson is first in his class.

He sings in the church choir every Sunday.

- What else do you want? - I want you to make sure

that he keeps his hands off you.

Julie, it's because we love you.

It's because you think Steve is from the wrong side of town.

Hi, honey.

You've got any barbecue left? I am starving.

Uh-oh.

You've got that puzzle out.

How about this? Where...

Okay, talk to me. What are you gonna do?

Gonna finish the puzzle, Winona.

About your son.

For over 20 years, every Marchl cry myself to sleep.

Starts on his birthday the 5th, doesn't stop there.

You're gonna get to meet him now.

What if Melanie is right?

What if all he wants is to tell me

the terrible thing that I did?

That I gave him up?

That I didn't care enough about him to keep him,

I could not bear that!

Call that lady from Social Services,

ask her some questions before you make up your mind.

I could do that.

And while you're at it, ask her if she's found

- Steve Carson. - I will not!

That was 28 years ago. It's better left there.

Who are you fooling Julie? Cause it sure ain't me.

Steve Carson was the love of your life.

- Puppy love. - Baloney.

I'm marrying a really decent man now,

my life is finally straightened out.

Straightened out as flat as a two-lane highway.

And I'll tell you one more thing.

Oh, I'm sure you will. You are the bossiest person

on God's green earth, did you know that?

If you ever see Steve Carson again,

you're gonna thank your lucky stars

you're still blonde.

What... You're not even ready for church.

Oh, no, you can go ahead, Mama.

I don't have to be therefor another hour.

Besides, Winona is gonna take me.

All right.

- I'll see you there. - Yes, ma'am.

Let's do it!

♪ Praise to the Lord The Almighty ♪

♪ The King of creation ♪

♪ O my soul praise him for ♪

♪ He is thy health and salvation ♪

♪ All ye who hear ♪

♪ Now to his temple draw near ♪

♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪

♪ Praise to the Lord Who doth prosper thy work ♪

♪ And defend thee ♪

♪ Surely his goodness And mercy ♪

♪ Here daily attend thee ♪

Well, she's blessed, isn't she?

With that beautiful soprano voice.

Why thank you, Pastor.

- She just loves to sing. - Hmm.

That's why I thought she might be interested

in the USO children's choir.

It's a special group of young men and women

who travel all over and sing for our army boys.

Well maybe, after she finishes high school.

Iva?

Certainly, something to think about.

- Thank you. - Bye. Call me, okay?

- I will. - Love you.

Love you.

Hi.

- Hey, Steve! - Hey.

Go have fun now.

- Bye sweetheart. - I'll see you later.

- Bye. - So long.

Hi Winona, you know where they're going?

How do you steer this thing?

Okay, I make one wrong move and we're both

- gonna be drenched. - Okay.

Okay, paddle on one side and then the other.

What does it look like I'm doing?

Havin' a heck of a time?

Well, you're right there.

Steve?

- Hmm? - You love me, don't you?

More than anything.

And we're gonna get married?

As soon as I get out of college.

Steve, wait, stop.

Promise me that we'll always be together.

I can't imagine one day of my life without you.

I'm sure you've heard this more than just a few times

but the situation has been a source of great pain

to my family for a lot of years.

So, before I go opening it all up again,

I was hoping you could tell me a little more about him?

My son?

Scott?

I mean...

are we... are we all getting into more trouble here?

Julie, your son is a minister.

And he seems to be a very kind and considerate young man.

Well, that mean she had good parents.

Yes, he seems to be very close to them.

That's good, isn't it?

I can tell you that he's married.

Married?

In my mind he's never that old.

And his wife is pregnant.

That may have spurred him to contact us.

Perhaps one of the thing she's looking for,

is his families medical history that sort of thing.

There was a place in Springfield

where Julia can stay until the baby comes.

It's clean and the girls are looked after.

And after that?

They will handle the adoption. Very quietly.

Then Julie can come home and take up her life again

as if it never happened.

Yes, that's what we'll do.

I'm not giving my baby away.

Julie, you're 15 years old.

Who is going to support this child?

Steve and I are getting married.

How are you going to deny Steve,

that college scholarship that he just won?

And what kind of life would you have?

Not even graduated from high school.

- You're not making sense. - You're not listening to me.

This is my baby.

What we're proposing is for the best, Julie.

The baby will have a loving home.

And after a while, this will all just seem

like a bad dream to you.

No.

No.

Mrs. Longwell, hi, um...

Julie wasn't in school today,

so I was wondering if... You can't talk to her.

Is she sick, I mean, is something wrong?

- Julie what's the matter? - I want you off

of this property. You've done something terrible

to my daughter and she's never gonna see you again.

Julie what's the matter? Julie!

Julie!

Julie, come out, please!

Julie, please?

Julie!

Julie, Julie, please.

- Julie. - I love you.

No, wait!

Julie!

Julie!

You tell my son, yes.

I would love to meet him with all my heart.

All right, I'll set everything in motion.

Now, there's just one more thing.

Mm-hmm.

Your son also wants to find his father.

Would you be willing to help us find Steve Carson?

There you are, thank you very much.

- Hello. - That looks pretty. Hi.

I stopped at the store for you.

Well, thank you, but it would've been nice

to have all that yesterday.

Dorothy Silus is having a bridge club

at her house today and I promised

I'd make my coffee cake but now...

Well, if you had learned how to drive.

I don't need to know how to drive,

I always had your father. God rest his soul.

Now, I have you.

Right.

You sure do.

And just what do you call that tone Julie,

is that sarcasm?

Stop it, Mama.

We can pick on each other later.

I have something to tell you.

Well, go ahead.

My son is trying to find me. Well, actually he has found me.

Department of Social Services sent over a lady, a Mrs. Wade,

and she...

He...

has asked to meet me.

And I said yes.

How can you do that?

Because nobody can change the fact that he is my son!

You better think this through, Julie.

And then think it through again.

- Where are you all off to? - Julie's going on tour

with the USO children's choir, she's gonna travel all over

- and sing for the army bases. - Julie, why didn't you tell me?

They're making me go.

It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Well, what about school?

Oh, she'll catch up, when she gets back.

Julie, can I write to you?

Now, Winona, you be sure and tell everybody

how excited we are about this opportunity.

- All right. - Sure, Miss Longwell.

Julie...

The girls are expected to do kitchen duty

and laundry and light cleaning as long as their health allows.

Oh and Julie, we never use last names here,

so you'll be just Julie to everyone.

Your roommates name is Mary Beth.

Sheets and towels are in the closet

and dinner is at six.

Well, all right then, I'll let you say goodbye

and I'm just downstairs if you need anything.

Please don't make me stay here.

Mother, please? I'll do anything.

Now, you just tell me what we would say to everyone?

I'll stay in the house the whole time,

- I mean, nobody has to know. - We'll visit you every day.

- Hi. - Hello.

Am I gonna look like that?

Do you and Steve still keep in touch?

Not for a few years now.

You think you can help me find him?

You two were crazy in love, weren't ya?

Well, we were crazy.

I think everybody is in high school.

I remember when Winona would drive you here

and Steve would be waiting for you and...

- The two of you would take off. - Yeah.

You know, I really have to speak with him,

it's important.

I thought for sure the two of you were gonna get married.

Can you help me?

Especially with the kid and all.

You knew?

And everybody knew?

Right?

Pretty much, you know how people talk.

You ever find out what happened to that kid?

Just one more push now, Julie.

That's it.

- Keep breathing now. - Come on.

Give me a good one now.

Come on, Julie.

- You're doing fine. - That's it.

- Good. - You're doing fine.

Keep it up now, we're almost there, Julie,

come on.

Keep it up, push!

Almost!

Here!

There, okay.

It's a boy.

Let me see him.

Please, let me just see... let me just see him.

Wait, please! I just wanna see him!

Won't let me see him.

Why...

The dining room's already got recessed lighting put in.

And if you wanna change the color in the living room,

now is the time to speak up

because the painter is gonna be out by the end of the week.

And the kitchen's is gonna have a breakfast...

Kevin, can we stop for just a second?

There's something I have to tell you.

You don't like recessed lighting.

I'm serious.

Oh, Come on, Julie, you postpone this wedding

one more time and...

When I was 15...

I had a baby and I gave him up for adoption.

Ten years, we've been going together

and you never tell me?

And Scott, my son,

has found me and he wants to meet me...

and I said yes.

Did you think I'd drop you if you told me?

I mean, did you think I'd be angry with you?

Don't you know me better than that.

You know. I've been so used to keeping it secret

that I've been pretending it never happened.

Who's the father?

His name is Steve Carson.

We used to go together

for about two years in high school.

I guess you... you called it "going steady".

Anyway...

we were in love.

No one knows what love is at 15.

I mean, you think you do and then you grow up

and find out that it wasn't what you thought it was.

Then what is it?

Well, it's about being together.

Everyday stuff, you know, keeping each other company.

Just living it, it's like what we got.

Come on.

What you had then was puppy love.

What we got is real life.

You know that.

Fort Hood, in, um, Texas.

Fort... What was it? Jerome, in New York.

And then Fort Irwin way out in California.

And then they went to the Caribbean.

Oh, the music that those children they...

Would you like a finger sandwich?

Oh, man. I missed you so much!

Me too.

What was it like? Were there cute army boys

running all over the place or what?

No.

Well, tell me!

Have you seen Steve?

- Does he like college? - Oh, boy.

You haven't heard, have you?

What?

Steve never went to college.

He joined the Air Force a couple of weeks

after you left.

But he had a scholarship.

- And he's all set to be... - Yeah, I know, I know.

Something just happened to him after you left.

He changed, sort of.

Julie, he was just so unhappy and...

Steve got married.

What?

How could he?

Listen, everybody said it was just on the rebound,

Julie, he loved you so much and when you left,

he just kinda fell apart and he did something

real stupid.

Who did he marry?

When I tell you, you'll understand why

it was on the rebound.

Penny Burgess.

They moved back to where her family was from.

So he's gone?

Yeah.

Oh.

Honey. It's gonna be all right, Julie!

Never?

I'll always love him.

And when I have a problem, where do I come?

The Beehive!

So quiet down and listen up, now, I have a friend...

Well, no, actually, she's the sister

of a friend of mine, her name is Jennifer.

The friend?

No, the sister of the friend. Anyway, here's the story.

She had this boyfriend when she was 15

and these kids were in love. You know what I mean?

- Oh, Lord. - I mean, they were hot

- and heavy. - How hot were they?

Red hot, more than hot!

Burning at both ends hot.

And this boy... What was his name?

Henry.

I knew these people too, remember?

Right, well. Henry, drove a milk truck.

Up at 3:30 every morning delivering milk

and his girlfriend Jenny, and this is

the God's honest truth, she would sneak

out of her bedroom in the pitch black

and shimmy down the side of the house

and sneak into that truck and his milk delivering arms

and there they would be driving all over the county,

3:30, four o'clock in the morning.

Freezing as all get out,

making their own combustible heat

in the back of that old milk truck.

Hmm.

- Now that's love. - Or sex.

Or both.

Oh!

True love.

Anyway, the point is of the whole story is

the two of them never got together.

They haven't even spoken for the last 20 years.

But in her heart of hearts,

Jennifer has loved Henry her whole life.

Well, that's what Jennifer says,

- but has anybody asked Henry? - Now, here's the problem

that I need some advice about.

Jennifer has had Henry's current phone number

for a week now...

and hasn't done a damn thing with it.

Well, now, wait a minute isn't Jennifer married?

Or about to be, last that I knew, Winona...

So was he.

We're only talking about a phone call here.

Not a trip to Paris, just for old times' sake.

Sure, nothing wrong with a phone call.

It's not like she's chasing him down

for an affair, she has a perfectly good reason

- to call him. - And what's that?

Oh, that, ladies, is a story for another day.

- Oh! - Come on.

Hi, um, I'd like to speak to Mr. Carson, please.

Julie Longwell.

Oh, no. I waited too long.

Um, do you know when he's gonna come back?

It's just that I had to speak to him right away,

I would've called sooner but I waited too long.

Yes.

Tell him, Julie called, Julie Longwell.

And my number here is 764...

555-0199.

And tell him to call meas soon as possible,

please, it's...

it's really important.

Thank you.

I'm sorry Julie, it's too late for that.

It can't be.

I mean, I've wanted to come back here

every day since my baby was born.

Your son gas been placed in a decent, loving family.

But he's my son.

And I know now, that giving him away

was the biggest mistake of my life.

I know that nothing will be right

until I get him back.

But that's just not possible.

All the papers have been signed legally,

- he's not yours. - You can't be saying

this to me.

It's not the end of the world, honey.

I know it seems like it now but...

someday soon, you're gonna get married

and you'll have more babies and all this

is gonna seem like it's somebody else's life.

That makes no sense at all.

He will always be my son!

So where to?

Georgia.

- You sure about that? - I got no place else to go.

I thought you were dead!

Three days without a word, I've got the police out,

- looking for your body. - This is Darryl, Mother.

Darryl?

Where you've been with my daughter?

- Oh, we went to Georgia, sir. - Georgia?

Yes, ma'am. We went down to Georgia.

- Actually what we did was... - What?

We got married.

What?

Oh, no, that's impossible. She's only 16,

you'd need parental consent, we'd never give it.

Well, not in the state of Georgia, you don't.

I have the marriage certificate right here, see?

- But what about school? - I dropped out of school,

- I'm married now. - Walter, do something.

What kinda man are you?

- Sir... You're taking advantage

- of a child. - Let's go, Darryl.

Get a grip, girl.

Okay.

- We're ready. - I got pictures.

Photo album from my high school,

I though the might be interested.

Good idea.

This is gonna go just fine.

Julie, this is your son, Scott Adams and Scott...

this is your birth mother, Julie Longwell.

I'll leave you to alone for a while and then maybe

we'll all go out and get some lunch.

Okay?

Okay.

I didn't think I'd be this nervous.

Look at me.

My hands are shaking.

I can't believe how handsome you are.

Thank you.

- I think. - Oh, no, no.

No, that didn't come out right.

What I meant to say was, um, I didn't expect you to be...

Oh, hell, that's not coming out

right either. Oh, Lord. Lord, I'm swearing

- in front of a minister. - It's all right.

I've sworn before myself.

- You have? - Mm. Maybe once or twice.

I never meant to give you up.

- I was 15 years old, I'm so... - There's no need to explain.

It's okay.

I didn't come to blame you.

You know, I've thought of this day my whole life it seems.

I tried to imagine what you'd look like.

What color hair you have?

Will you have hazel eyes or blue like Steve?

Or who's smile you had.

Smiles are so important, don't you think?

Whose do I have?

Your father's.

You know, I never pictured it going really badly.

Like, us not getting along or not liking each other

or anything like that because I was always

very afraid that that might be possible.

But it's going even better than I thought it could.

Yes.

It is, isn't it?

What should I call you?

Julie is good.

It was like a dream.

Sweetest dream you ever had.

- Only it was real. - What does he look like?

Well, he's tall and thin and he's got brown hair.

Oh, and when he smiles, he's got the best smile,

it could melt your heart.

He sounds a lot like his daddy.

Yeah, yeah, he reminds me of Steve.

But Steve the way he used to be. You know.

For all I know he might have gained 50 pounds

- and be sporting a rug. - Yeah, right.

And what is Scott like you know, his personality?

He's kind.

And he's soft spoken and he listens to you

- when you talk. - Like his father.

Winona, Steve Carson was the most important thing

in my life when I was 15 years old.

That was 28 years ago!

People change, lives go on. That's that!

- Whatever you say, girl. - I've got my son.

That's the most important thing.

Let's get back to work.

Mary Anne!

Mary Anne, do me a favor, run out to the bank

for us please, get some fives and tens.

Mary Anne, did you hear me?

I'm afraid not.

You told my secretary it was important, so...

here I am.

Steve Carson.

It's been a long time.

A long time.

- Too long, if you ask me. - Oh.

- Winona. - Hello, Steve.

Glad to see you still have your own hair.

She ain't changed a bit, has she?

Not that I can see.

You haven't changed either.

Well, I still have blonde hair.

Put on, um...

ten extra pounds I could do without.

You look great.

You do, too.

So...

this is all yours?

Sure is.

Opened it up about ten years ago.

Been going strong ever since. Knock wood.

- You like fixing hair? - Well, I got a knack for it.

Remember "bombshell blonde"?

I thought your mother would have a heart attack.

Yeah, everything I did gave my mama a heart attack.

We were wild.

You know why I wanted to see you?

What was so important?

We had a son, Steve.

That's why I left.

To have him and let him be adopted.

I guess I knew.

There were rumors.

I never wanted to admit it.

I'm not very proud of myself.

Well, our son wants to meet you.

The first weekend pass, I came home.

She was at the lake by herself.

Penny Burgess?

- I was so angry. - At me?

You, at your mother.

Mostly at myself.

I was just miserable.

So was I.

Then I talked to her.

She listened.

And she knew how much I cared about you but...

didn't matter.

She told me how I should close the door on the past.

We spent the weekend together and got married.

Have any children?

Two.

Boy and a girl.

- Both grown. - How'd they turn out?

- Better than their old man. - Oh.

That's pretty hard to do.

This town seems...

a lot smaller than when I was living here.

Well, I have a theory about that, see, I think that...

it shrinks a little every year.

So, that means by the time we're 60 it'll be about

- the size of your back porch? - Something like that.

Remember I caught that pass from Jimmy Holloway?

- Ran 47 yards for a touchdown. - The winning touchdown.

Phew!

Are you still married?

- What? - Are you still married?

No.

What?

No!

Over 20 years of marriage and...

I don't think either of us was ever happy.

There was one mistake after another,

I let you go, I...

married Penny.

But I figured, it's time to step up to the plate.

I had two kids that I loved and...

I didn't wanna walk out on 'em.

Well, look at the bright side...

you only had one bad marriage.

- Learned my lesson. - Yeah and it took me longer.

You ready?

Here we go.

My first marriage lasted only a year.

And I married him because I really wanted

another baby.

One that nobody could take away from me.

Hey, at least I knew, I wasn't gonna fail driver's ed.

He was my driver's ed teacher.

- Darryl Byrum? - Mm-hmm.

You married Darryl Byrum?

Well, you married Penny Burgess.

Yeah, I guess, I did.

You know...

I really hate to admit this but my stomach

can't take these anymore.

They always were awful.

We were just too young and stupid to know.

Look at Mom's old place.

Sometimes the past doesn't wear well,

like my second marriage which lasted a few years

but not many.

Yeah?

- And he was...? - A rock star!

Hm. Anyone famous?

He lived in a trailer when I met him

and when I left him.

Not a household name, then, huh?

No, no, I should say

he had delusions of being a rock star.

- Thank you. - No need to tell me

- why that marriage didn't last. - It's pretty obvious.

And now?

Now, I'm about three weeks away from my next one.

So, you're...

you're getting married.

Yeah.

To Kevin Harris.

He's a good man.

Remember that big old wrought iron bed

your mama used to have?

The way she used to lay her clean laundry on it.

Fold them all neatly in piles.

Looked so inviting we just... we just couldn't resist.

That's the only time we ever did it on a bed.

We heard that front door close and we jumped up,

- pulled ourselves together. - As best we could.

And came out like butter would melt in their mouths.

Yes.

Except that I had your mama's clean socks

stuck all over the back of my sweatshirt.

Red ones and pink ones and those argyle ones

she was knitting for your brother.

I never could get enough of you, Steve.

Neither could I.

She never even blinked an eye.

Your mama was cool before it was cool.

She was.

And you remember when she caught us

- in that pickup truck? - That truck...

That was a great truck, what happened to that thing?

I never could work one of these things.

Make one wrong move and we're gonna get drenched.

Try paddling one side and then the other.

What does it look like I'm doing?

I swear, I just love country music.

- Me too. - Hmm.

Five years ago,

they had a Christmas Eve concert.

At the coliseum and Winona and I went,

we sat sixth row, dead center, it was fantastic.

Tenth row center.

No.

- You were there? - Christmas Eve, I swear to God

I went with a friend.

Well, that means that if...

if I turned, just like this...

I would've seen you.

And?

And...

I don't think I could've kept from kissing you.

And Melanie's little girl's name is Angie

and she is just the most beautiful granddaughter

that ever breathed, I hope she is up.

And Melanie didn't want me to find Scott or you.

I think that...

she's afraid

that she'll get pushed out of my life.

I thought you should be prepared.

Julie, God, Mel's been worried sick.

Nobody knew where you were... Donald...

this is Steve Carson, Steve, this is my son-in-law.

How are you?

How you doing?

Mama, where were you? You've been gone all day

- that's not like you! - You can say that again,

I'm in that shop six days a week,

everybody knows where I am, every minute of every day.

Mama, you missed five appointments

and Debbie's car broke down and Mary Anne didn't know

where you were. And you were supposed to take

the baby this afternoon,

- so, I could go to class. - Oh, gosh, Mel.

- I'm so sorry. I forgot... - You know, it's my fault.

- About Angie. - I had your mother

out with me all day and...

wouldn't let her use her phone.

Steve Carson, this is my daughter, Melanie.

I have to see to the baby.

Just keep 'em closed.

Close your eyes, sweetie. Close your eyes.

Melanie, you were rude.

And you were irresponsible.

Dropping out of sight without so much as a word

to anyone? We were so worried.

I guess that's what Steve Carson does to you.

Makes you irresponsible.

Kevin Harris is a great guy,

he's waited ten years for Julie to say yes.

You should see how happy they are together.

And Angie already calls him "grandpa" because...

well, he's the only grandpa she's ever known.

Melanie, this was one day.

Baby, nothings gonna come between you and I.

Oh, how many times have I heard that before?

Like the time you left me with Iva Mae,

so you could marry a rock star?

- Or the time you left... - This is not about you,

Melanie, this is about Steve and me.

But it effects all of us.

Especially, a really nice man you promised to marry.

They having an argument in there?

Yeah, more than likely.

Two of them can get into it.

It's mothers and daughters.

You know.

I apologize for my daughter.

She was just worried about you.

Must've seemed like you've been kidnapped

off the face of the earth.

Oh, that's exactly what it felt like.

You came and swept me away from the routine

of my everyday life.

You have a lot of commitments, Julie.

- A daughter... - Who got excited

- and over reacted. - Granddaughter.

Yes, there's Angie.

A fiancé Angie calls grandpa.

How did you know that?

Donald told me.

Everybody's puttin' in their two cents' worth.

Angie's already attached to this man.

Steve...

she's two and a half years old,

she calls the mailman Uncle Carl.

Your life seems pretty complicated, Julie.

Yes, but there's something else here, too.

We have a son.

And he wants to know his father.

So, two weeks from now, at my house, to meet Scott...

right?

You'll be there, right?

Yeah.

So, what's she having a boy or a girl?

I don't know, Scott didn't say.

Boy would be nice, don't you think?

Then you'd have one of each.

Of course, it's easier to buy for a girl

all those cute frilly things.

All those boy baby things have boats on 'em.

You heard a word I said?

Everybody hears every word you say, Winona.

- Then what's the matter? - Nothing's the matter.

Just trying to get back into my life, that's all.

And Steve Carson's back into his.

- That's right. - And you haven't heard a word

- from him in two weeks? - I don't expect to.

You understand how crazy this is, don't you?

Seeing him and then not seeing him.

No, what's crazy is what happened.

And we both realized after the afterglow wore off.

He didn't wanna get involved any more than I do.

Well, excuse me for having an opinion.

Wait, you're seeing Steve tomorrow, right?

He promised to be at my house when Scott comes.

What you gonna wear?

Don't tell me you haven't thought about it.

I tried on everything in my closet twice.

And that is your grandma, Iva Mae.

My, she looks stern!

Very God fearing.

'Course, that's not a bad thing.

Oh, Julie, is that you?

Mm-hmm. Sophomore in High School.

- Oh and who's this? - This is my friend,

Winona, she's my best friend. Still is. You'll meet her.

My best friend until I wanna wring her neck.

She is the bossiest person ever.

- Hmm. - You were a cheerleader.

Mm-hmm.

I was 15 years old in that picture, Scott,

and already pregnant with you.

You were so young.

Mm.

I bet that's Steve asking for directions.

That turn off on the highway can be confusing.

Yeah. We'll see.

- Hello. - Hey, Julie, it's me.

Where are you? Are you lost?

Scott thought you took a wrong turn but I know you

better than that, you got a good sense of direction.

I'm at my office.

I, uh...

I'm not gonna be able to make it tonight.

Why not?

- Something came up. - What?

What came up?

Your son is waiting for you.

I just... I can't do this right now.

You can't see your son?

I can't see you, Julie.

I don't think it's a good idea.

You're probably right.

It's not a good idea.

I'm sorry.

But seeing me and meeting your son

are two entirely different things.

Scott was counting on you.

Tell him I'm sorry.

I gotta go.

He's not coming, is he?

No.

Well...

I mean, he can't come if he's not ready.

Hey...

Hey. There'll be a right time for him.

And Judy will eat the extra food, you know,

she'll eat anything that doesn't move.

Come on.

It's all right.

The towels are in the wash.

You can throw them in the dryer before you leave.

If you ever leave.

Ugh, nine o'clock the earliest.

Well, look at it this way, next week you'll be married

and you'll never have to worry about working on a Saturday

- ever again in your life. - Sounds like heaven.

- Mm. - Too good for the likes of me.

Don't let Kevin hear you say that, okay?

- Bye, honey. - Bye.

Last week, huh?

Yep!

We sure will miss you, sweetheart.

You're close to family for us.

I know, me too.

Next to church, this here, is our favorite place.

Me too.

Just think, Mama. Next Sunday at this time,

you'll be on your honeymoon.Mrs. Kevin Harris.

- We're not going on a honeymoon. - Everyone goes on a honeymoon.

We've got a lot to do right about now.

We gotta sell Julie's house.

I gotta finish the roofing contract

on the Green Oak project.

And we have to start furnishing the new house.

Bermuda, will just have to wait.

But I promise you, honey, we'll go.

Bermuda, how great.

No, now Kevin is right, you know,

that new house of yours is gonna need new furniture

and somebody's gotta pay for it.

Oh, Mama aren't you just dying to get off of your feet

and sell that old shop?

There are days when I feel like that.

Then there are days when working feels pretty good.

Come on, boys, dinner.

Well, you better give up that notion right now because...

I'll tell you, there are about a 100 women

in this town alone who would do anything

to just stop working and be taken care off

by Kevin Harris.

Thank you, Iva Mae.

If Kevin offered me the same deal.

What? No more work? A new house with a swimming pool?

Hell, I'd marry him.

- Here you go Sweetie. - Sweetie, let's buckle

you in.

Iva Mae wants you to take her to that nursery in Petersburg.

She needs seeds or soil or...

something called "amendment" or something.

Petersburg is 60 miles from here.

That's where she wants to go.

Lord Almighty.

Why didn't that lady learn how to drive?

Oh, and the new washer and dryer came today.

Need you just swing by the house,

see if it's the color you wanted.

Cause if it's not, I gotta send 'em back pronto.

Eight hundred bucks,

they ought a be the right color.

Kevin...

I got a problem.

It's not you...

I know what a good man you are.

But I just can't marry you, Kevin.

You can't do this, honey.

You must've changed your mind 20 times in the last ten years.

Just change it back till next Sunday

and you'll never have to worry about it again.

You're not listening.

I am not marrying you, Kevin.

We already booked the church.

We invited the guests, I bought you a new house.

I don't love you, Kevin.

We've had this discussion before,

your notion of love is fairy tale stuff.

Maybe so.

But your notion is not what I want.

You're not thinking right.

- Yes, I am. - No, you're not.

Not since your son came back into your life.

- This is not about my son. - Who's it about then?

- Steve Carson? - This is not about Steve.

It's not about Scott.

It's about me and what I want.

You don't think I know he was here?

That you two spent the whole day together?

Where you going?

I didn't follow my heart when I was 15...

and nothing's been right in my life ever since.

Julie.

Julie!

Julie, please, don't do this!

Julie!

- Hi, can I help you? - Steve Carson?

- And your name? - He's here?

- Mm-hmm. - Thank you.

Yes and your name? Ma'am?

Hello?

You tell me in my face, why you couldn't come

to meet our son and why it isn't a good idea to see me?

- Julie. - I know who I am.

We talked about this on the phone.

No, we didn't.

You said it wasn't a good idea, I agreed and that was that.

But it doesn't make any sense to me,

so, explain please.

- Why don't you sit down? - I can't, I'm to keyed up.

Can't you tell?

People don't build lives on what happened

when they were 15 or 16.

That's no answer.

I saw you again...

and we picked up where we left off.

Without thinking...

without considering where our lives are, today.

Your daughter was upset...

you're marrying another man.

I've got a life here. A business I built.

Kids who are settled here.

Better be home on Thursdays to take out the garbage.

Julie...

it's too late for us,

we're carrying too much baggage.

You shouldn't have come.

No!

No, you're wrong, Steve.

I had to come.

Because back then I wasn't strong enough

to stand up for myself.

I should've said,"No, I'm marrying Steve

and I am keeping our baby"but I didn't or I couldn't.

And my life and yours too

has been less than it could've been.

All because I didn't have the courage.

Well, I'll be damned if I'm gonna make

the same mistake again.

I am not standing by and saying nothing,

while other people decide how to run my life!

I love you, Steve Carson, I always have and I always will.

And I'll tell you another thing...

in my heart, I know we were meant to be together.

Now, maybe we couldn't have managed it

when we were teenagers...

but I sure is hell don't know why

we can't manage it now.

I knew you'd come.

I should've brought a toy or something for the baby.

Guess I'm not used to thinking like a grandfather.

Next visit. Judy's not due for a few weeks.

You'd...

want me to come again?

Of course, Judy wants to know you and...

our baby's got to have his Grandpa Steve in his life.

But...

you have parents.

Great parents.

They're my mom and dad.

You two are my...

Steve and Julie.

I, uh, I brought you the medical records

from my side of the family.

Tell...

tell Judy, there's nothing to worry about,

except maybe...

a tendency to avoid making decisions.

I don't think that's hereditary.

It's not from Julie's side of the family,

I can tell you that.

She paid me a little visit.

Came all the way to my office, drove straight through.

Hell-bent on her mission.

Which was?

To line me up in her sight and let me have it.

- Both barrels at close range. - That's smart.

Well, you know, Julie...

nobody's spoken to me like that in a long time.

Was she right?

I don't know.

Still trying to sort it all out.

I guess what she was saying was...

we got a take a leap of faith every now and then.

That's why you're here.

I'm here to meet my son.

Every baby has to have his own crib just for him.

Oh, but Julie, my sister's gonna send us down

-one of her cribs.-No, no, no. Bad luck!

New crib for new baby.

I haven't heard that one before.

I just made it up.

How about this one?

Well, isn't it a little bit, you know, too frilly?

Uh, right, could be a boy.

He wouldn't wanna sleep in a frilly thing like that.

Come on then, let's go find another one.

- Julie. - Hmm?

You didn't come all the way down here

just to buy us a crib.

Well, I was in Huntington and on my way back

I thought, "A crib.

My grandchild needs a new crib."

You went to see Steve?

Yes.

- He wasn't too happy about it. - He didn't wanna see you?

Not much.

But I don't care, I said what I had to.

I laid it out there and I feel better.

And then she said that Steve didn't wanna see her

and that she didn't care.

And he told me he doesn't know how he feels about Julie.

Well, do you buy it?

No.

Do you?

Not for a minute.

Well, what are we supposed to do?

You know, they both decided to show up for a visit

at the same time.

It's gotta mean something.

Scott, I don't think you should...

Shh.

Just leave it up to me.

Yes! Mama is hot tonight! Oh, yes!

Your lane, yes. Ooh! Okay.

I...

- didn't know you were in town. - Same here.

But Scott knew.

You!

You're asking me to put aside 20-something years

of livin' one way and...

trying another.

Where they so good that you wouldn't wanna change?

At first, they were barely livable.

Finally, they got manageable...

I can get through a day without feeling much

of anything and...

-that was good.-That's never good.

Julie...

you always wore your feelings on your sleeve.

Nobody ever had to guess how you were doing.

I'm not like that.

Never could be.

All I want is the Steve that I once knew.

He's in there somewhere, I know it.

You ask too much.

That Steve is...

dead and buried underneath a lifetime

of manageable days.

Steve Carson, that's about the sorriest excuse

I've ever heard for not dancing with me.

Come on.

♪ I wish that the lilac Could last through the summer ♪

♪ To make the breeze heavy ♪

♪ With the memory of spring ♪

♪ I wish that the love ♪

♪ That you gave me Last spring time ♪

♪ Would last through The winter again ♪

♪ You were so sweet to me ♪

♪ You were so close to me ♪

♪ I wish you the best Now that we two have parted ♪

♪ I wish I could Love you again ♪

All I've heard for two weeks is Steve this and Steve that,

I swear, and the way they've been going on...

Huntington to Sanford, Sanford to Huntington.

Do I need to remind you we live

- in two different states? - Honey, you two live

in the state of unholy bliss.

- I'm doing things different now. - Yeah.

I'm not counting on anything, I'm not pushing...

I don't know where this is leading

- and neither does Steve. - Oh, honey, we all know

where this is leading.

- No, now...

- We're not kids anymore. - I got it.

There's things to consider.

Julie, your son.

Excuse me.

My son, the minister is on the phone.

Yes, Scott.

We're having a baby!

Scott called me too.

- It's a boy. - I know.

Jacob. They're gonna call him Jake.

They wouldn't even let me see Scott

when he was born.

I wanted to hold him just once but they said no.

All those years of empty arms.

Now there's a... there's a new baby

to hold on to.

Yes.

It's like we got a second chance.

Second chance to get things right.

Hello, there.

Oh!

Oh, he's so beautiful.

He's the most perfect little thing I've ever seen.

Yeah, that's what you said

with each of our seven.

- Do you wanna hold him Grandma? - Oh, yes.

Come here, come on.

Oh, goodness, gracious.

Yeah.

Oh, hello there.

Uh...

Steve and Julie, this is my mother, Betty.

This is my father, John.

Mom and Dad, this is Steve and Julie.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Hi. - Pleasure.

Oh!

He is beautiful.

He's just about perfect.

That's exactly what my mother said.

All grandmas think alike, don't we?

Yes, we do.

Here, oh, dear me, dear me.

Oh, look at...

Yes.

Oh, what a day?

Can't tell you how many times I've dreamed of a day like this.

You, me our son.

Holding our grandson.

I never thought a day could hold such happiness.

- You think you could hold more? - What do you mean?

I wanted to make this romantic but...

I love you, Julie.

Will you marry me?

Well, yes!

- Yes? - Yes, of course I will.

Yes!

Oh!

Oh.

You look beautiful.

- I was supposed to say that. - You could say it too.

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

Come on.

- Is Melanie going? - I don't know.

I gave her the address, it's up to her.

Well, I don't know what you want me to say.

You don't need my blessing, you never have.

I'm not asking for your blessing.

I'm asking if you're coming to the wedding?

I don't think I'd survive it.

So you're not coming.

No.

Everybody's gonna know Julie sinned.

Whole world's gonna know our shame.

I've spent 28 years trying to make it up to you, Mama.

You know what?

This time I'm gonna do what my heart tells me

is right.

Makes me very sad you're not gonna be

at my wedding.

But I'm done.

I'm done living down in the past.

Julie.

Here.

Thank you, Mama.

Julie, please place the ring on his finger

and repeat after me.

With this ring, I wed you

and pledge my total self to you.

"With this ring, I wed you

and pledge my total self to you."

In the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

"In the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit."

- Amen. - Amen.

Amen.

Twenty-eight years ago, you became parents.

But instead of that being a wonderful time...

the birth of that baby led you to your separation...

from each other...

and from your child.

Now that child has grown into a man...

and that man is overcome with joy...

that he's found you.

And at this time his arrival...

has led to your reunion with each other...

and also with him.

I am so proud that I can stand before you today...

as your minister...

and officially bring you together...

as husband and wife.

I'm sure that I speak for everyone, Steve and Julie...

we love you and we support you.

And so with the power vested in me by the state...

I now pronounce you...

husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I be the first

to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Carson.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Carson.

Thank you.

I love you.