Original subtitles

[indistinct chatter]

Okay, we're gonna gothree quarters golden blonde,

one quarter burnt oak.

I don't know, Julie.

Not exactlythe golden blonde type.

You sit right downhere, darlin'.

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

-at your door.-[both chuckle]

You know what Julie didwhen she went blonde?

-Oh, tell us.-[Julie] 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 yearsto say she'd marry him.

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

tie yourself down to fast.

-[all laugh]-[door opens]

Excuse me.

Hi! Need an appointment?

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

But I'm booked solid todayand tomorrow,

how about Saturday?

I'm Claudia Wade from theDepartment of Social Services,

Fayette County.

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

Right in the middleof a body perm.

Got mad, walked out,

I'm not paying unemploymentto any employee.

This is about somethingmore personal.

We can talk in the back room.

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

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

Here, have a seat.

[Claudia sighs]

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 dayin my life

when I haven't thoughtabout my baby.

Your son would like to meet you.

He filed a petition

requesting that we make a searchon 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 upwith a blanket

took him out of the room.

Why don't you think aboutwhat I've told you.

Here...

here's my card.

He was crying.

I've been doing thiskind of work for many years.

Take some time...

before you decide what to do.

[gasps]

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

You still here.

Looks like it.

Guess I can never get ridof you.

[chuckles]

I guess you'd better noteven try.

[Winona] Look at Penny Burgess.

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

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

[Jerry] Would you lookat the way she just like,

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

How does a guy like Steveget so lucky?

[Julie sighs]

Julie, hey!

One cheese coney, extra chili.

Julie?

Hey!

You don't have to worryone whit about Penny Burgess.

Well, then why do you haveto go flirting with her?

Talking!

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

you know those thingsright into your face.

-I didn't even notice.-[scoffs]

Liar.

Come here.

Come here.

You know, I don't wantany girl but you.

You're my one and only.

Always.

Forever.

Till death do us part?

Give me that.

[giggles]

I love you, Steve Carson.

[Julie giggling]

[Angie laughing]

-Right behind you, Mama.-[Donald and Kevin laugh]

I'm ready! I'm ready!

Come on now. Get thoselittle puppies runnin'.

[Julie squeals]

So, Kev, how'd you finallyget 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.

-[exhales]-[Donald and Kevin laughing]

I love being a grandma.

Keep you young,huh, sweetheart?

So, honey, Don wants to knowwhy we finally decided

-to make it legal?-Mm?

-[Donald and Kevin laugh]-[Kevin] Oh, God.

Ah, I guess,Julie just figured ten years

dangling me was long enough.

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

or anything.

That's 'cause we don'thave 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.

-[Donald and Kevin laugh]-That's all there is to it.

I did, I surely did.

And the moral of the story is...

-never give up, Don.-[Donald] Hmm.

[Kevin] No matter how long,

no matter how hopeless,no matter what...

the impossible can happen.

-Is that deep or what?-[Donald] Man...

[Donald and Kevin laughing]

[Donald]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 shakeeverything up,

change everything.

Things are finally finethe way they are.

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

you've ever been with.

And besides, Mama.

How do you knowwhat this guy wants?

He could be after something.

Like the Mama he never knew?

[sighs]

Have you told Kevin?

No and don't you either.

I need timeto think things through.

What about Iva Mae?

[sighs]

-[handbrake ratchets]-[engine halts]

[Julie sighs]

I'll see you tomorrow.

-It's too long to wait.-[Steve chuckles]

[Steve moans]

You think everybodywho's in love feels like we do?

No, we got something special.

You feel it too, don't you?

Like we were meantto be together.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

You're two hours late.

Then you should've gone to bed.

How can I sleep not knowingwhere you are

or what you're doing?

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

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

Yes, Steve Carson.

He bought me a cheese coneyand a strawberry malt

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

-[Walter] Iva?-Sinful stuff, Mama.

-Terrible.-You are 15 years old.

Too young to be drivingaround in a car

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

She's upsetting me!

Steve Carson is firstin his class.

He sings in the church choirevery 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 Steveis from the wrong side of town.

[Winona] 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 MarchI cry myself to sleep.

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

You're gonna getto meet him now.

What if Melanie is right?

What if all he wantsis to tell me

the terrible thing that I did?

That I gave him up?

That I didn't care enoughabout him to keep him,

I could not bear that!

Call that ladyfrom Social Services,

ask her some questionsbefore 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 Carsonwas the love of your life.

-Puppy love.-Baloney.

I'm marryinga really decent man now,

my lifeis finally straightened out.

Straightened out as flatas a two-lane highway.

And I'll tell youone 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 seeSteve Carson again,

you're gonna thankyour lucky stars

you're still blonde.

[Winona laughs]

-[music playing over radio]-[knock on door]

What-- You're not even readyfor 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!

[organ playing]

[indistinct chatter]

[choir]♪ 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 beautifulsoprano voice.

Why thank you, Pastor.

-She just loves to sing.-Hmm.

That's why I thoughtshe might be interested

in the USO children's choir.

It's a special groupof young men and women

who travel all over and singfor our army boys.

Well maybe, after she finisheshigh school.

Iva?

-[car door closes]-[chuckles nervously]

Certainly,something to think about.

[indistinct chatter]

-[Julie] Thank you.-Bye. Call me, okay?

-I will.-Love you.

Love you.

[Julie] Hi.

-[Winona] Hey, Steve!-Hey.

[Winona] Go have fun now.

-[Winona] Bye sweetheart.-[man] I'll see you later.

-[Julie] Bye.-[Steve] So long.

[man] Hi Winona,you know where they're going?

[Steve] How do you steerthis thing?

[Julie laughs]

Okay, I make one wrong moveand we're both

-gonna be drenched.-[Julia] Okay.

Okay, paddle on one sideand then the other.

[Steve] What does it look likeI'm doing?

[Julia] Havin' a heck of a time?

[Steve]Well, you're right there.

Steve?

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

-More than anything.-[both breathe heavily]

And we're gonna get married?

As soon as I get out of college.

Steve, wait, stop.

Promise methat we'll always be together.

I can't imagine one dayof my life without you.

[Julie moans]

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

but the situation has beena source of great pain

to my family for a lot of years.

So, before I go openingit all up again,

I was hoping you could tell mea little more about him?

My son?

Scott?

I mean...

are we-- are we all gettinginto more trouble here?

Julie, your son is a minister.

And he seems to be a very kindand considerate young man.

Well, that meanshe had good parents.

Yes, he seems to bevery close to them.

[sighs] That's good, isn't it?

I can tell youthat he's married.

Married?

In my mind he's never that old.

And his wife is pregnant.

[clicks tongue]

That may have spurred himto contact us.

Perhaps one of the thingshe's looking for,

is his families medical historythat sort of thing.

There was a place in Springfield

where Julia can stayuntil the baby comes.

It's clean and the girlsare looked after.

And after that?

They will handle the adoption.Very quietly.

Then Julie can come homeand 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 supportthis child?

Steve and I are getting married.

[sighs]

How are you going to deny Steve,

that college scholarshipthat he just won?

And what kind of lifewould you have?

Not even graduatedfrom high school.

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

This is my baby.

[sighs]

What we're proposingis for the best, Julie.

The baby will havea loving home.

And after a while,this will all just seem

like a bad dream to you.

No.

[cries] 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'snever 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!

[voice fades] Julie!

You tell my son, yes.

I would love to meet himwith all my heart.

All right, I'll set everythingin motion.

Now,there's just one more thing.

Mm-hmm.

Your son also wantsto find his father.

Would you be willingto help us find Steve Carson?

[footsteps approaching]

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 havinga bridge club

at her house todayand I promised

I'd make my coffee cakebut now--

Well, if you had learnedhow to drive.

I don't need to knowhow to drive,

I always had your father.God rest his soul.

Now, I have you.

Right.

You sure do.

And just what do you callthat 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 Servicessent 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 changethe fact that he is my son!

[scoffs]

You better think this through,Julie.

And then think it through again.

[music playing over stereo]

-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.

[Iva] It's a oncein a lifetime opportunity.

[Winona]Well, what about school?

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

Julie, can I write to you?

Now, Winona, you be sureand tell everybody

how excited we areabout this opportunity.

-All right.-Sure, Miss Longwell.

Julie...

The girls are expectedto do kitchen duty

and laundry and light cleaningas long as their health allows.

Oh and Julie, we never uselast names here,

so you'll be just Julieto everyone.

Your roommates nameis Mary Beth.

Sheets and towelsare in the closet

and dinner is at six.

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

and I'm just downstairsif you need anything.

Please don't make me stay here.

Mother, please?I'll do anything.

Now, you just tell mewhat we would say to everyone?

I'll stay in the housethe whole time,

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

-Hi.-Hello.

Am I gonna look like that?

[chuckles]

[Julia] Do you and Stevestill keep in touch?

-Not for a few years now.-[Julie sighs]

You think you can help mefind him?

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

Well, we were crazy.

I think everybodyis in high school.

I remember when Winona woulddrive you here

and Steve would bewaiting for you and...

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

You know, I really haveto speak with him,

it's important.

I thought for sure the twoof you were gonna get married.

Can you help me?

Especially with the kid and all.

[engine sputters]

You knew?

[laughs]

And everybody knew?

Right?

Pretty much,you know how people talk.

You ever find outwhat happened to that kid?

[Julie groaning and panting]

[doctor]Just one more push now, Julie.

[nurse] That's it.

-[nurse] Keep breathing now.-[doctor] Come on.

[doctor]Give me a good one now.

[nurse] Come on, Julie.

-You're doing fine.-[doctor] That's it.

-[nurse] Good.-[doctor] You're doing fine.

[doctor] Keep it up now,we're almost there, Julie,

come on.

Keep it up, push!

-[screams]-[doctor] Almost!

-[baby crying]-[doctor] 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!

[sobs]

Won't let me see him.

Why...

[indistinct chatter]

-[tapping]-[drill machine whirring]

The dining room's already gotrecessed lighting put in.

And if you wanna changethe color in the living room,

now is the time to speak up

because the painter is gonna beout by the end of the week.

And the kitchen'sis gonna have a breakfast--

Kevin, can we stopfor just a second?

There's something I haveto tell you.

You don't likerecessed lighting. [laughs]

I'm serious.

Oh, Come on, Julie,you postpone this wedding

one more time and...[chuckles]

When I was 15...

I had a baby and I gave him upfor adoption.

[sighs]

Ten years,we've been going together

and you never tell me?

And Scott, my son,

has found meand he wants to meet me...

and I said yes.

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

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

Don't you know mebetter than that.

You know. I've been so usedto keeping it secret

that I've been pretendingit never happened.

Who's the father?

His name is Steve Carson.

We used to go together

for about two yearsin high school.

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

Anyway...

we were in love.

[scoffs] No one knowswhat love is at 15.

I mean, you think you doand then you grow up

and find out that it wasn't whatyou 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 thenwas 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 Irwinway out in California.

And then they wentto the Caribbean.

Oh, the musicthat those children they--

Would youlike 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 placeor what?

No.

Well, tell me! [chuckles]

Have you seen Steve?

-Does he like college?-Oh, boy.

You haven't heard, have you?

[chuckles softly] What?

Steve never went to college.

He joined the Air Forcea 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 himafter you left.

He changed, sort of.

Julie,he was just so unhappy and...

Steve got married.

What?

How could he?

Listen, everybody saidit was just on the rebound,

Julie, he loved you so muchand when you left,

he just kinda fell apartand 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 whereher family was from.

[sighs] So he's gone?

Yeah.

Oh. [cries]

Honey. It's gonna beall right, Julie!

Never?

I'll always love him.

[sobs]

[dialing phone]

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

[all] 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 boyfriendwhen she was 15

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

-[woman] Oh, Lord.-I mean, they were hot

-and heavy.-How hot were they?

-Red hot, more than hot!-[all laugh]

Burning at both ends hot.

-And this boy---What was his name?

Henry.

I knew these people too,remember?

Right, well. [scoffs]Henry, drove a milk truck.

Up at 3:30 every morningdelivering milk

and his girlfriend Jenny,and this is

the God's honest truth,she would sneak

out of her bedroomin the pitch black

and shimmy down the sideof the house

and sneak into that truckand his milk delivering arms

and there they would bedriving all over the county,

3:30, four o'clockin the morning.

Freezing as all get out,

making their owncombustible heat

in the backof that old milk truck.

[woman] Hmm.

-Now that's love.-Or sex.

Or both.

-Oh!-[women laugh]

True love.

Anyway, the point isof the whole story is

the two of themnever got together.

They haven't even spokenfor the last 20 years.

But in her heart of hearts,

Jennifer has loved Henryher 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 hadHenry's current phone number

for a week now...

and hasn't donea damn thing with it.

Well, now, wait a minuteisn't Jennifer married?

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

So was he.

We're only talkingabout a phone call here.

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

Sure, nothing wrongwith a phone call.

It's not like she's chasinghim down

for an affair, she hasa perfectly good reason

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

Oh, that, ladies, is a storyfor another day.

-Oh!-Come on.

[women clamor]

[clears throat]

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

Julie Longwell.

Oh, no. I waited too long.

Um, do you knowwhen he's gonna come back?

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

I would've called soonerbut I waited too long.

Yes.

Tell him, Julie called,Julie Longwell.

And my number hereis 764...

555-0199.

And tell him to call meas soon as possible,

please, it's...

it's really important.

Thank you.

[sighs]

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 babywas born.

Your son gas been placedin a decent, loving family.

But he's my son.

And I know now,that giving him away

was the biggest mistakeof my life.

I know thatnothing will be right

until I get him back.

But that's just not possible.

All the papershave 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 seemslike it now but...

someday soon,you're gonna get married

and you'll have more babiesand all this

is gonna seem likeit'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.

[door opens]

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 beenwith 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 stateof Georgia, you don't.

I have the marriage certificateright here, see?

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

-I'm married now.-[Iva] 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 thoughthe might be interested.

Good idea.

This is gonna go just fine.

[door opens]

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

this is your birth mother,Julie Longwell.

I'll leave you to alonefor a while and then maybe

we'll all go outand get some lunch.

Okay?

Okay.

I didn't thinkI'd be this nervous.

Look at me.

My hands are shaking.

I can't believehow 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.

[sighs]

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

I tried to imaginewhat you'd look like.

What color hair you have?

Will you have hazel eyesor blue like Steve?

Or who's smile you had.[chuckles]

Smiles are so important,don't you think?

Whose do I have?

Your father's.

You know, I never picturedit going really badly.

Like, us not getting alongor not liking each other

or anything like thatbecause I was always

very afraid thatthat might be possible.

But it's going even betterthan I thought it could.

Yes.

It is, isn't it?

What should I call you?

Julie is good.

[sobs]

[Julie]It was like a dream.

Sweetest dream you ever had.

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

Well, he's tall and thinand 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 wayhe used to be. You know.

For all I knowhe might have gained 50 pounds

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

And what is Scott likeyou know, his personality?

He's kind.

And he's soft spokenand he listens to you

-when you talk.-Like his father.

Winona, Steve Carsonwasthe most important thing

in my lifewhen 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.-[Winona chuckles]

-[door opens]-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 secretaryit was important, so...

here I am.

[Julie] Steve Carson.

It's been a long time.

A long time.

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

[Winona chuckles]

-Winona.-Hello, Steve.

Glad to see you still haveyour 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 poundsI could do without.

-[door closes]-You look great.

You do, too.

So...

this is all yours?

Sure is.

Opened it upabout ten years ago.

Been going strongever since. Knock wood.

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

Remember "bombshell blonde"?

[Julie laughs]

I thought your motherwould have a heart attack.

Yeah, everything I didgave my mama a heart attack.

We were wild.

You know why I wantedto see you?

What was so important?

We had a son, Steve.

That's why I left.

To have himand 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.

[Steve] 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 muchI cared about you but...

didn't matter.

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

We spent the weekend togetherand got married.

Have any children?

Two.

Boy and a girl.

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

-Better than their old man.-Oh. [chuckles]

That's pretty hard to do.

This town seems...

a lot smallerthan when I was living here.

Well, I have a theoryabout that, see, I think that...

it shrinks a little every year.[laughs]

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

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

Remember I caught that passfrom Jimmy Holloway?

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

Phew!

Are you still married?

-What?-Are you still married?

No.

What?

No!

[indistinct chatter]

Over 20 years of marriage and...

I don't think either of uswas ever happy.

There was one mistakeafter another,

I let you go, I...

married Penny.

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

I had two kidsthat 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 lastedonly a year.

And I married himbecause I really wanted

another baby.

One that nobodycould take away from me.

[scoffs] 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 thisbut my stomach

can't take these anymore.

They always were awful.

We were just too youngand stupid to know.

[Julie laughs]

[Steve]Look at Mom's old place.

[Julie] Sometimes the pastdoesn't wear well,

like my second marriagewhich lasted a few years

but not many.

Yeah?

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

Hm. Anyone famous?

[Julie laughs]

He lived in a trailerwhen I met him

and when I left him.

Not a household name,then, huh?

No, no, I should say

he had delusionsof being a rock star.

-Thank you.-No need to tell me

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

And now?

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

So, you're...

you're getting married.

Yeah.

To Kevin Harris.

He's a good man.

Remember that big oldwrought iron bed

your mama used to have?

The way she used to layher clean laundry on it.

Fold them all neatly in piles.

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

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

We heard that front door closeand we jumped up,

-pulled ourselves together.-As best we could.

And came out like butterwould melt in their mouths.

Yes.

Except that I hadyour mama's clean socks

stuck all over the backof my sweatshirt.

Red ones and pink onesand those argyle ones

she was knittingfor your brother.

I never couldget enough of you, Steve.

Neither could I.

She never even blinked an eye.

Your mama was coolbefore it was cool.

She was.

And you rememberwhen she caught us

-in that pickup truck?-That truck--

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

[Steve] I never could workone of these things.

[Julie laughing]

[Steve] Make one wrong moveand we're gonna get drenched.

[Julie laughing]

[Julie] Try paddling one sideand then the other.

[Steve] What does it look likeI'm doing?

[country music playing]

[Julie] I swear,I just love country music.

-Me too.-Hmm.

Five years ago,

they hada Christmas Eve concert.

At the coliseum and Winonaand 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 keptfrom kissing you.

[both moan]

And Melanie's little girl'sname is Angie

and she is just the mostbeautiful granddaughter

that ever breathed,I hope she is up.

And Melanie didn't want meto find Scott or you.

I think that...

she's afraid

that she'll get pushed outof my life.

I thoughtyou 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 shopsix days a week,

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

Mama,you missed five appointments

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

where you were.And you were supposed to take

the baby this afternoon,

-so, I could go to class.-[gasps] 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.

[Angie crying]

I have to see to the baby.

Just keep 'em closed.

Close your eyes, sweetie.Close your eyes.

[whispers]Melanie, you were rude.

[whispers]And you were irresponsible.

Dropping out of sightwithout so much as a word

to anyone? We were so worried.

I guess that's whatSteve Carson does to you.

Makes you irresponsible.

[Donald]Kevin Harris is a great guy,

he's waited ten yearsfor Julie to say yes.

You should see how happythey are together.

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

well, he's the only grandpashe's ever known.

-Melanie, this was one day.-[sighs]

Baby, nothings gonna comebetween you and I.

Oh, how many timeshave I heard that before?

Like the time you left mewith Iva Mae,

so you could marrya rock star?

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

Melanie, this is about Steveand me.

But it effects all of us.

Especially, a really nice manyou promised to marry.

They having an argumentin 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 likeyou've been kidnapped

off the face of the earth.

Oh, that's exactlywhat it felt like.

You came and swept me awayfrom the routine

of my everyday life.

You havea 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 theirtwo cents' worth.

Angie's already attachedto this man.

Steve...

she's two and a half years old,

she calls the mailmanUncle Carl.

Your life seemspretty complicated, Julie.

Yes, but there'ssomething 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.

[car engine revs]

So, what's she havinga 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 easierto buy for a girl

all those cute frilly things.

All those boy baby thingshave boats on 'em.

You heard a word I said?

Everybody hears every wordyou say, Winona.

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

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

And Steve Carson'sback into his.

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

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

You understandhow crazy this is, don't you?

Seeing himand then not seeing him.

No, what's crazyis what happened.

And we both realizedafter the afterglow wore off.

He didn't wanna get involvedany more than I do.

Well, excuse mefor having an opinion.

Wait, you're seeingSteve tomorrow, right?

He promised to be at my housewhen Scott comes.

What you gonna wear?

Don't tell meyou haven't thought about it.

I tried on everythingin my closet twice.

[both laugh]

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.

-[Judy] Oh and who's this?-[Julie] This is my friend,

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

[chuckles] My best frienduntil I wanna wring her neck.

She isthe bossiest person ever.

-Hmm.-[Scott] You were a cheerleader.

[Julie] Mm-hmm.

I was 15 years oldin that picture, Scott,

and already pregnant with you.

You were so young.

Mm.

[telephone rings]

I bet that's Steve askingfor directions.

That turn off on the highwaycan be confusing.

Yeah. We'll see.

-Hello.-[Steve]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 meand meeting your son

are two entirelydifferent things.

Scott was counting on you.

Tell him I'm sorry.

I gotta go.

-He's not coming, is he?-[phone disconnects]

No.

[sighs] Well...

I mean, he can't comeif he's not ready.

Hey...

Hey. There'll be a right timefor him.

And Judy will eatthe extra food, you know,

she'll eat anythingthat doesn't move.

Come on.

It's all right.

The towels are in the wash.

You can throw themin the dryer before you leave.

If you ever leave. [chuckles]

Ugh, nine o'clock the earliest.

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

and you'll never have to worryabout working on a Saturday

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

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

Don't let Kevinhear 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 doright about now.

We gotta sell Julie's house.

I gotta finish theroofing contract

on the Green Oak project.

And we have to startfurnishing the new house.

Bermuda, will just have to wait.

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

[sighs] Bermuda, how great.

No, now Kevin is right,you know,

that new house of yoursis gonna need new furniture

and somebody's gotta pay for it.

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

and sell that old shop?

There are dayswhen I feel like that.

Then there are dayswhen working feels pretty good.

Come on, boys, dinner.

Well, you better give upthat notion right now because...

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

in this town alonewho would do anything

to just stop workingand be taken care off

-by Kevin Harris.-[Kevin laughs]

Thank you, Iva Mae.

If Kevin offered methe same deal.

What? No more work? A new housewith a swimming pool?

Hell, I'd marry him.

-[Donald] Here you go Sweetie.-[Melanie] Sweetie, let's buckle

you in.

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

She needs seeds or soil or...

something called "amendment"or something.

Petersburg is 60 milesfrom here.

-That's where she wants to go.-[Julie scoffs]

Lord Almighty.

Why didn't that lady learnhow to drive?

Oh, and the new washer and dryercame today.

Need you just swingby the house,

see if it's the coloryou wanted.

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

Eight hundred bucks,

they oughta bethe right color.

[Julie sighs]

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 mind20 times in the last ten years.

Just change it backtill next Sunday

and you'll never haveto 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 hadthis discussion before,

your notion of loveis fairy tale stuff.

Maybe so.

But your notionis not what I want.

You're not thinking right.

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

Not since your son came backinto 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 thinkI know he was here?

That you two spentthe whole day together?

Where you going?

I didn't follow my heartwhen I was 15...

and nothing's been rightin my life ever since.

Julie.

Julie!

Julie, please, don't do this!

Julie!

[car engine revs]

[indistinct chatter]

-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 whyit isn't a good idea to see me?

-Julie.-I know who I am.

We talked about thison the phone.

No, we didn't.

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

But it doesn't makeany 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 liveson what happened

when they were 15 or 16.

That's no answer.

I saw you again...

and we picked upwhere we left off.

Without thinking...

without consideringwhere 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 Thursdaysto take out the garbage.

Julie...

it's too late for us,

we're carryingtoo much baggage.

You shouldn't have come.

[scoffs]

No!

No, you're wrong, Steve.

I had to come.

Because back thenI 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 lessthan it could've been.

All because I didn't havethe courage.

Well, I'll be damnedif I'm gonna make

the same mistake again.

I am not standing byand saying nothing,

while other people decidehow to run my life!

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

And I'll tell youanother thing...

in my heart, I knowwe were meant to be together.

Now, maybe we couldn't havemanaged it

when we were teenagers...

but I sure is helldon't know why

we can't manage it now.

[sighs]

[huffs]

[organ playing]

I knew you'd come.

I should've brought a toyor something for the baby.

Guess I'm not used to thinkinglike 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 havehis 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 youthe medical records

from my side of the family.

Tell...

tell Judy,there's nothing to worry about,

except maybe...

a tendencyto avoid making decisions.

I don't think that's hereditary.

It's not from Julie's sideof 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 sightand let me have it.

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

Well, you know, Julie...

nobody's spoken to me like thatin a long time.

Was she right?

I don't know.

Still trying to sort it all out.

[chuckles softly]

I guesswhat she was saying was...

we got a take a leapof faith every now and then.

That's why you're here.

I'm here to meet my son.

[mobile plays tune]

Every baby has to havehis 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.

[chuckles] 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 sleepin a frilly thing like that.

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

-Julie.-Hmm?

You didn't comeall the way down here

just to buy us a crib.

Well, I was in Huntingtonand 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 thereand I feel better.

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

and that she didn't care.

And he told me he doesn't knowhow he feels about Julie.

-Well, do you buy it?-[scoffs]

No.

Do you?

Not for a minute.

Well, what are we supposedto do?

You know, they both decidedto 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.

[bowling ball thuds]

[Julie screams]

Yes! Mama is hot tonight![laughs] Oh, yes!

Your lane, yes. Ooh! Okay.

I--

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

But Scott knew.

You!

[indistinct chatter]

You're asking me to put aside20-something years

of livin' one way and...

trying another.

Where they so goodthat you wouldn't wanna change?

At first, they werebarely livable.

Finally, they got manageable...

I can get through a daywithout feeling much

of anything and...

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

Julie...

you always wore your feelingson your sleeve.

Nobody ever had to guesshow you were doing.

I'm not like that.

Never could be.

All I want is the Stevethat I once knew.

He's in there somewhere,I know it.

You ask too much.

That Steve is...

dead and buried underneatha lifetime

of manageable days.

Steve Carson,that's about the sorriest excuse

I've ever heardfor not dancing with me.

-Come on.-[jukebox playing]

♪ 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 ♪

[song fades out]

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

I swear, and the waythey've been going on...

[laughs]

Huntington to Sanford,Sanford to Huntington.

Do I need to remind youwe live

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

in the state of unholy bliss.

[all laughing]

-I'm doing things different now.-[Mary Anne] Yeah.

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

I don't knowwhere this is leading

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

where this is leading.

-No, now...-[telephone ringing]

-...we're not kids anymore.-[woman] I got it.

There's things to consider.

Julie, your son.

Excuse me.

My son, the ministeris on the phone.

-[women exclaiming]-Yes, Scott.

-We're having a baby!-[all cheering]

[baby gurgles]

[woman speaking indistinctlyover PA]

Scott called me too.

-It's a boy.-I know.

Jacob.They're gonna call him Jake.

They wouldn't evenlet me see Scott

when he was born.

I wanted to hold him just oncebut 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 likewe got a second chance.

Second chanceto get things right.

Hello, there.

[Jacob gurgling]

[Judy] Oh!

[Betty] Oh, he's so beautiful.

He's the most perfectlittle thing I've ever seen.

[John]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!

[Julie] He is beautiful.

[sputters]

-[all laugh]-He's just about perfect.

That's exactlywhat my mother said.

All grandmas think alike,don't we?

Yes, we do.

Here, oh, dear me, dear me.

Oh, look at--

Yes.

[Julie laughs] Oh, what a day?

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

You, me our son.

Holding our grandson.

I never thought a day could holdsuch happiness.

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

I wantedto make this romantic but...

I love you, Julie.

Will you marry me?

Well, yes!

-Yes?-Yes, of course I will. [laughs]

Yes!

Oh!

Oh.

You look beautiful.

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

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

Come on.

-[Iva] Is Melanie going?-I don't know.

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

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

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

I'm not askingfor your blessing.

I'm asking if you're comingto the wedding?

[sighs]I don't think I'd survive it.

So you're not coming.

No.

Everybody's gonna knowJulie sinned.

Whole world's gonna knowour shame.

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

You know what?

This time I'm gonna dowhat my heart tells me

is right.

Makes me very sadyou're not gonna be

at my wedding.

But I'm done.

I'm done living downin the past.

Julie.

Here.

Thank you, Mama.

[Scott]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 selfto you."

In the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

"In the name of the Fatherand of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit."

-Amen.-[Scott] Amen.

Amen.

Twenty-eight years ago,you became parents.

But instead of that beinga wonderful time...

the birth of that baby led youto your separation...

from each other...

and from your child.

Now that child has growninto a man...

and that man is overcomewith joy...

that he's found you.

And at this time his arrival...

has led to your reunionwith each other...

and also with him.

I am so proud that I can standbefore you today...

as your minister...

and officiallybring you together...

as husband and wife.

I'm sure that I speakfor everyone, Steve and Julie...

we love you and we support you.

And so with the powervested 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.

[indistinct chatter]