Original subtitles

You don't

get honey with a balloon - I do, ho...I just fly like a bee

up to the honey tree, see? But, just a minute. You can't fool the

bees that way. You'll see. Now would you be so kind

as pull me to a muddy place in which I knows of? So Christopher Robin

pulled Winnie the Pooh to the very muddy place. And Pooh rolled and rolled until

he was black all over. Dear no. Isn't this a clever disguise?

> Kate! You and Erin...time to put the books away. Come in for supper,

now. > Okay! Come on,

Erin.

(phone rings)

(phone ringing)

Hello. Michael O'Neill.

Yeah.

Wa-wait...

who did you say this was?

How did you get my....what?

Yeah, I got something

to write with. Go ahead.

5?

Yeah.

Okay. I guess I'll see you

sometime tomorrow, then. Right.

(♪ Opening music)

GPS Voice: 'Drive straight on highlighted route.'

GPS Voice: 'At next exit

take Hwy 134 to Interstate 46.'

GPS Voice: 'In seven miles, turn left.'

GPS Voice: 'Recalculating'

GPS Voice: 'Recalculating'

GPS Voice: 'Recalculating' > Aw, shut up!

(music ends) (cell phone rings)

Hey. > Hey, sweetie. You at

work? > Yeah. Cream and napkins are on the back wall.

Where are you? > I wish I knew. > You're lost.

> No. No I'm fine. It's, um, just a little tricky

without signs or anything. > What about your GPS?

> It committed suicide. Like I said, I'm fine.

I'm sure I'm close. > I still can't believe you're doing this.

> Honey, we've been over this a hundred times.

There are things that need to be... settled.

> And you couldn't do that with a phone call? > She said she wants to see me

in person. > Yeah? Well, she doesn't deserve to get what she wants.

> Nevertheless. > Yeah.

Um, Dad, I hate to bring this up again,

but my tuition's already a week late. > I know.

I'll take care of it when I get home. > The registrar's office said - > Kelly!

I said I'll take care of it. Trust me.

> Okay. Well, text me

or something when you get there. If you get there.

> I will. > Love you. > Love you too, kiddo.

(music)

(music ends)

(doorbell ring)

Hi Kate.

> Michael.

So, did you have any trouble

finding the place?

Course you did.

> You, um...

you look good. > Thanks,

so do...is that a

ponytail?

Well, as I don't foresee any kind of hello hug in our near future,

I'll go straight to 'please, come on in.'

I've, uh, got a sweater soaking in the sink.

Make yourself comfortable.

> How about some tea?

> Yeah. Sound's great. > You still Earl

Grey? > Yep.

I'm still Earl Grey.

So, how's work?

> What? > How's work? Are you still at the university?

> No. > No?

> No. > That's surprising.

> And why is that? > Figured you'd be

head of the department by now. > I've been editing textbooks.

> Seriously? > Oh, quite.

> How in the world did you- > I've been doing it full time for the past 3 years.

Last month, I found out that my employment will continue on an as

needed basis. Right after you

left, the board of regents decided there was a better candidate for the head of the

psychology department. > But you did stay on?

> No. I gave them an ultimatum, and they showed me

the door. > So you never

made tenure. > Nope. And

unfortunately, we all can't be lucky enough to have a place like Haddenfield

College knocking at our doors. > You know as well as I do, they only wanted

me because of Dad. > Uh huh. And um,

what position did they offer when they contacted you?

> Head of the Psychology Department.

But there must have been other schools that were interested in you.

> No. Not really. Or not

like you would think...plus, Kelly

had just started first grade, and she was having trouble adjusting, and

...I don't know, I didn't feel comfortable moving around, looking

for a new job, and weeks turned into months, months turned into years.

> How is Kelly?

> She's great. She's pretty, and she's

smart, she'd level headed, she's still a virgin,

she has a job, studies all the time,

great sense of humor, doesn't smoke pot,

and she volunteers at the animal shelter.

> Well, it sounds like she's - > Why'd you call?

> Why did I call? > Yeah. Why did you

call? > Oh.

> What do you mean, 'oh'? > 'Oh', as

in, 'Oh, we're going to forego any more civil

inferences and move right into hostility.'

> You didn't think there would be any hostility?

> Oh, I knew there'd be some hostility, I just

thought it might evolve a bit more off of its own volition.

> No, no, no...no, no, no, Kate, you don't get to

do that. Not this time. > Do what? > You know...that

thing you do where you put yourself in charge of everyone else's

emotional responses, like you're putting out place cards at a dinner party?

> I have no desire to meter your emotions. Please,

go ahead. > Go ahead?

> Yes. Go ahead. > You're doing it again.

You're directing my emotional traffic!

> I really don't see what - > What? What all the fuss is about?

> Let me see if I can encapsulate it for you through the eyes

of how a normal person might view things.

Yesterday morning I receive a phone call from my ex-wife, whom I haven't

seen in 15 years, which, coincidentally, is also when she

decided to leave me and our daughter in the middle of the night...

with no warning, no note, no phone call, no nothing...

except, of course, a few weeks later, when I received my divorce papers

via fax from some attorney's office in

Omaha, Nebraska!

Fifteen years. Fifteen years of

being mired in this endless pit of feelings of abandonment

and self doubt, not to mention betrayal for me and my daughter

...and then, you finally bring yourself to

make a phone call to my home telling me that you want to see me as

soon as possible, giving me directions out into the middle of nowhere

where I find you sitting on your little plantation, anxious

to serve me tea and pleasant conversation like nothing ever happened.

And then, just to keep your sick, twisted

universe all in good order, you have the

audacity to show surprise when I offer up a few

expressions of...get your cameras ready, folks

hostility!

> It was Ketchum, Idaho. > What?

> The attorney's office, it was in Ketchum, Idaho, not

Omaha, Nebraska. > Thank

you, Dr. Sullivan. > You also may or may

not know that Ketchum, Idaho was the town that Ernest Hemingway decided to

commit suicide in. > So what, you're saying

that you went to Idaho with the intention of killing yourself? > No,

not at all. I was just inserting a bit of nominal trivia

to perhaps lighten the moment. > Kate,

my head is about this close to exploding right off my

shoulders. > Sorry.

But seriously, do you not think that the last 15 years has

taken a toll on me as well. > Well, how can you be so calm about it?

> Would you rather I screamed it? > I would rather you show some human

feelings for once in your life! Do you know that I

blamed myself for your leaving? > That's just absurd.

> Is it? Well tell me something. How

absurd is a 5 year girl waking up one morning to find out

that mommy is never coming back again, and that she didn't even bother to say goodbye.

> I have no response for that. > No, I

bet you don't. And as for misery, you can save all of that too.

You've had a career, you've had recognition,

you've obviously been successful living out here on the

Ponderosa...I bought this farm with the inheritance from my dad's estate.

> Is that so?

> You're making your way around to bringing up the Chatham Prize, aren't you?

And you found out that I received the award.

> Five years after we divorced, a colleague emailed

me the article. > And naturally you felt

entitled. > As I recall, the Chatham Prize came with a

$200,000 cash award. > Is that why you agreed to come?

I mean, I know that your personal financial status

has you a little bit out of sorts... > Tell me how out of sorts

is this...this is from my attorney.

It outlines in great detail all the legal -

> Money. It's about your share of the loot?

Is that the only reason that you agreed to come here?

Come with me.

You can put your silly little letter away.

Here.

Don't bother straining your eyes, it's a cashiers check made out to Mr.

Michael O'Neill in the amount of one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars.

> A hundred -

> fifty-five thousand. That represents the initial

one hundred thousand - your half of the Chatham prize - plus

five percent interest, compounded annually over the last ten years.

So, as you can see, I've meaning to give that to you for

quite some time. > Well what stopped you?

> Not knowing how to approach the man I left

in the middle of the night fifteen years ago.

> Look,

I don't know if you think this settles everything, but - > It doesn't settle anything...

this payment was owed to you, free and clear, nothing more.

> I appreciate it...so will Kelly...

her tuition's past due.

> I'm glad. And I hope the interest serves as an

apology for how long it took to finally get it into your hands.

> Yeah. > There

is one thing...the money is all yours

free and clear, no strings attached...

> But? > But,

I would like to ask you if it's possible

that you could grant me one favor.

> No.

No favors, Kate, no nothing.

Like you said, this doesn't

settle anything...nothing you've done, nothing you've

said - > I just want you to consider - > You know what, to quote Kelly,

you don't deserve to get what you want. > Kelly said that?

> Yeah. And after coming here and

seeing you, and hearing you, I'm inclined to agree

with her.

Bye Kate.

(music)

(doorbell chime)

What's the favor?

> About 16 months ago,

before I resigned my position at the university,

I was diagnosed with a neurological disorder. It has

gradually affected my optic nerves to the point where I am

now legally blind. > Seriously?

> What are you doing?

> Nothing...I was just -

> I said legally blind, you idiot, not blind.

So, back to what I was saying...

Among other inconveniences, I can no longer read type

or written word.

> I'm really sorry to hear that.

Again, what's the favor?

> You see all this?

Before I bought this farm three years ago,

I used to sit in my loud, busy office and

daydream about a place...no phones...

no noise...just a

quiet, peaceful place where I could

walk in the woods, or sit on the

porch...and most of all, do the one thing I've loved most since I was a

little girl. > Reading books, right?

> I'm glad you remembered. > How could I forget?

> Remember our honeymoon? You reading Chaucer

aloud by the Baltic Sea? > Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember,

so where's this going? > So, I

finally locate such a place...I get it all

fixed up just the way I want it...ready to spend hours

upon hours away from the chaos...

planting a little garden...soaking in the countryside...

and most of all, getting lost in

all of these precious books that I've been collecting.

> And? > And then life played a cruel trick

on me. > What about reading glasses?

Uh, something corrective.

> The glasses just got thicker and thicker. I even tried

extra-large typeface...it's all worthless now.

It's like that Twilight Zone episode with

Burgess Meredith where he was the last man on earth, with a

library full of books, and his spectacles broke.

> No, I think that was William Shatner. > No, William Shatner was in

the episode about death. > Well, I think actors were allowed to do more than

one episode. > No, the library episode was the man who played Mickey in the

'Rocky' movies. > I think you're wrong. > Michael, not the point

here. > How bout

books on tape? > Have you ever listened to a book on tape?

> No. > Those books are laid

down into a microphone in a cold studio by some

complete and total stranger. > Yeah, so?

> Reading a book involves my voice... the voice

inside my mind...it's personal,

it's...familiar...it's my heart voice.

It's what makes the whole reading experience...

the whole reading experience for me. > Oh, ok, ok, Kate,

Kate, what does any of this have to do

with a favor?

> Read to me.

> Read what to you? > I don't care...

anything. Take your pick.

> Kate...

this isn't our honeymoon, and I have no desire -

> Oh my gosh, the ego on you...

the last thing I need is my husband back. > Well, I wasn't talking

about us getting back together, I was just - > But I do need

his heart voice...it's the closest audible thing

I've ever heard to match the voice inside me.

You had to have known...

the way I melted every time you had a book in your hand...

your voice is the first thing that attracted me to you.

> You said it was my eyes. > I lied.

> (sigh) Ok,

let me get this straight. You're legally

blind now, and you want me to read to you.

> Yes. > Out loud. > How else would I hear you?

> Right now. > Whenever you feel comfortable.

> One book. > One book is fine. > And that's

the favor. > That's the favor. > And if I don't do it, I don't

get to keep the check. > The check is yours regardless.

I'm asking you

as a friend.

> I gotta tell you, this is a little...besides,

what difference will one book make? As soon as I'm finished, I'm

gone. You'll be right back in the same situation...I live

five states away. > I know it's just a temporary fix, but

Michael, I'm starving here, and you taking just a couple hours

to read me a morsel would be like a

banquet...and after you're gone I'll look into

finding someone else to read to me... maybe I can learn to appreciate books on

tape...I just want to enjoy a book

this way...one more time.

So what do you say?

> Alright...

one book.

Ok...

any one in particular?

> No, like I said, I love them all. > Right.

How bout

'Crescent House,' Daniel White?

> That's perfect. He was one of my father's students. He gave me that book as

a gift. > Terrific.

So,

um, how should we do this?

Should I stand, or...get a stool, or...

> Sit, like normal.

'Crescent

House by Daniel White.' > You already said that.

> Right. Copyrights

and reserves by Haley & Bales Publishing, New York, New York - > Do you really

think I'm interested in that part? > Sorry.

Can you hear me alright?

> Michael, if you don't get on with it, I'm going to fall asleep.

'Prologue, Spring 1862...

He had only seen this kind of intensity and anger in a rain storm once;

the drops were massive and heavy,

and would assault any exposed skin. Tonight's storm had that

kind of rage...Tamryn did her best to stare daggers through him...

He acted like he didn't see her, but she knew better.

Bobby's condition was deteriorating as he went through the motions

of the start of his day...by the time he had cleaned up his apartment,

gotten showered, and went by the kitchen...

He was looking at her so sweetly, he felt like she - (stomach growl) > Oh my gosh, was

that you? > What? Oh...no...`

Yeah, I guess so. > What kind of person am I?

I'm just lying here while

you're starving to death. You've earned a break, put the book down.

> Oh, no...I...I'm good.

> Give me that.

Don't wait on me, you go ahead.

Ok, it's not the Felix House.

> No...no, this, uh, this actually looks pretty good.

> You're lying. > Yes, I am.

> So...you never remarried.

> No...no I didn't.

Neither did you.

> I never should have gotten married the first time, let alone twice.

No offense.

That statement had nothing to do with you.

> I think it has something to do with me.

>I did miss your cooking when we parted ways. > Gee, thanks.

> So do you ever think about it?

> Getting married again?

Not really. > Do you date much?

> Yes. > Are

you seeing anyone now?

> That's getting a little too personal, Kate.

> Sorry.

(music)

> 'The bar, with it's full-length mirror, bright lights and decor

was clearly the focus of the room, and by way of the

step, the islands and the beach were attached to it...

while off-shore provided patrons a different atmosphere.

(yawning) Peyton Scott was the kind

of character - '

> You're finished. Go home.

> What'd I do? > Nothing. You're obviously exhausted,

it's late, and you have a long drive ahead of you. > But we haven't

finished the story. > Never mind that. You've

already gone above and beyond, and I'm grateful. > I

promised you one book. > And that apparently was a little

over-ambitious given our time frame, so

go...I don't want you falling asleep and having an accident.

> Alright.

Hey.

> Yes? > You got a couch I can sleep on?

> Excuse me?

> I'm wiped, and the last thing I wanna do is get in a car right now.

I'll stay the night, finish the book in the morning, and

be on my way. So what do you say?

(music)

> And you're sure you wouldn't rather have the spare room with the feather bed?

> No...no, this is fine. > Alright then.

I'll see you in the morning.

(music)

(text chime)

> Oh...Kelly.

> Dad, where are you?

> Hey, sweetie...sorry I didn't call earlier. Today

just kinda got away from me. > Are you at a motel?

> No, umm...I'm at Kate's house.

> Excuse me? > Honey,

it's fine. She needed my help with something, and

it got late, and I was too tired to drive... > You were helping her.

> Honey, really, it's nothing...

it was something that just needed to be done, and I'm leaving first thing in the morning...

I'll call you from the road and explain, ok?

> Ok.

> Alright, then. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Oh, and, um, your tuition's all taken care of.

Night, sweetie.

> Morning. Are you still black? > Hmm?

Oh...yeah, yeah. > Have a seat.

You don't have to start this right now. We'll finish

up after breakfast, and then you can be on your way.

(microwave timer sounds)

So, I guess the couch in there wasn't too comfortable.

> No, no, it was fine.

Um, I never get any sleep. > Do you still have that letter

dream? > Yeah...still have my letter dream.

> That's amazing, recurring dreams usually

only last for a few months, but yours... > Twenty three

years... > I've got

to shave my legs. There's more coffee here...

enjoy your breakfast.

> She can't be serious.

Is there any more salt? > It's in the cabinet next to the

pantry.

> How bout a fifth of bourbon?

(speaker phone buzzes)

> Dr. Fayed? > Yes?

> Line one. > Thank you, Scotia.

This is Sira Fayed, how may

I help you? > Hi, my name

is Michael O'Neill...I'm, um, calling about

Kate Sullivan. > Is there some emergency?

> No, no...um, I just wanted to ask you

about her ailment. > I'm

sorry, but I guess discuss a patient's personal - > I'm her husband.

> I didn't think Kate was married.

> Ex-husband. > Nevertheless, I

can't violate the doctor-patient confidentiality without your ex-wife's

permission.

> Well, can you at least give me some information? She said

that she was diagnosed with a neurological condition. > Mr.

O'Neill, like I said, I really can't give out any - > Is that condition

consistent with sight loss or legal blindness?

> Yes, in general terms, it is a fact

that patients with this diagnosis can

experience some degree of sight loss.

> Can or does? > Mr.

O'Neill, I've answered your question, and now I need to get back to work.

> Alright. Thanks for your time.

Alrighty then...

let's see...Chapter 14 -

> So, would did you call? > What? > Who did you call?

> Nobody...I was trying to call Kelly.

> Don't lie, Michael. So who was it? Someone

at the pharmacy, or did you call my doctor directly?

> Um...doctor. > To find out

if I was lying about my eyesight? > Yes.

> Did she convince you? > She was a little vague.

> And exactly what would it take to prove to you

that I'm not faking?...Would you like me to walk into a wall?...

How about I wander into oncoming traffic... would that do the trick?

> Well, you've to admit it's all just a little

bit strange. > And what would my motivation be for

keeping you here? > I don't know...you hadn't seen me in a really long

time, maybe you felt - > Felt what? Guilt?

Remorse? And I guess I was just so overwhelmed with the very

sight of you yesterday, that I came up with this whole elaborate story just to

get you to stay. > Of, give me a break! > Give me a break!

> Do you want me to finish this book or not? > Yes.

> 'Chapter 14 - as the

sun rose on the backside of the Crescent House, a slight mist of heather

gray brought with it an eerie sense of contentment for Bobby Wayne, and the promise of greater challenge...

and lastly, goodbye to a lifetime of fear

and doubt. With that Selby would rest easy;

his burden, at long last, completed.

The End.' > Wow.

That was not the ending I was expecting.

> Seriously? > Yeah.

> 'Daniel White.' This guy from New England?

> I think so, why?

> Yeah...from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The man's obviously a rabid Calvinist. > Oh, I disagree...

there were Calvinistic details in the Civil War accounts,

but by and large, that was mostly more interpreted as

foreshadowing. > Foreshadowing? The whole book

wreaked of 'limited atonement.' > I wouldn't say wreaked.

Isn't 'limited atonement' present in most analysis of heroism and

retribution? > Yes, but only within the scope of the human condition, not

predestination. This story

reminded me of a book by another Chowderhead from the 60's...

Will...Will Fitzgerald...and the name of the book was

'For Not of Want by Thee.' > Sounds familiar.

Fiction? > No, non-fiction, but

Fitzgerald pretty much wrote the entire narrative for the whole post-modern New England Calvinist Movement

and this Daniel White obviously had no qualms about plagiarizing it.

> 'For Not of Want by Thee'...

I think I actually have a copy of that. > Where is it?

> Study...bookcase...middle shelf...

brown and black cover. > I'll be right back.

You know you really need to dust in there.

Sit down.

'Neo-Calvinism, a form of Dutch Calvinism,

is the movement initiated by a former Dutch prime minister.

The Seceders were largely infra-lapsarian and the Neo-Calvinists

were usually supra-lapsarian.' Sound familiar?

> But how did Fitzgerald arrive at such a black and white

comparison with so little pre-history present?

> It has to do more with, uh, let's

just go back to the beginning. 'Chapter

One. Since the beginning of man's existence in a

modernly-recognizable world, their auspices of interaction had been both

guided and mandated by duality of consciousness stemming from

the centuries of...in which ends and means are at loggerheads.

1961 William

K. Fitzgerald.'

And there you have it.

> Well, one thing's for sure...my dad

is rolling over in his grave knowing that you exposed one of his prized students.

Thank you...

You've just read two books to me,

and I feel absolutely...full...and

grateful. > No big deal.

> Maybe not to you, but having another

chance to absorb story lines, and characters, and

plots, and...

I'm rambling. You know how I feel.

> So, why'd you do it?

What you did to Kelly and me?

> I wish I could put it into some

complicated terms, but...the truth is far too simple

for comfort. > And

that truth is? > That being a wife and

a mother just wasn't in my DNA. I realize that sounds

a little over pedantic...What I did know

was that I needed to make a clean break so that you and Kelly could get on with your

lives. > That's just a little

self-serving, Kate.

> Yes it was.

My manners - I've let you

sit here again all day without offering you any lunch. > No!

I'm...no thank you...I'm full...from

breakfast...still. > Your lying is getting better.

> I need to call Kelly...I'll be in in a minute.

> Ok.

(phone ring)

> Hello? > Hey, babe.

> Dad, what the -

what is going on? Are you still at Kate's?

> Yeah, I'm, uh...still here.

> And what did you mean about my tuition being

'all taken care of?'

> A few years after Kate left us, she submitted a

paper to a psychology review...the paper wound up winning

an award given for recognition in the field of psychological research.

> Yeah...so? > So, the fact of the matter is, I

co-authored that paper, back when your mother and I were doing research before

you were born. > Ok...and what

does that have to do with - > The award came with a

$200,000 cash prize. > And you

went there looking for your half of the money. > Our

half of the money, yours and mine. I had an attorney

draw up papers, I was already to present them to her yesterday - > Dad,

I wish you would have told me why you were going. You don't

have to beg for money from that women. I can get a second job.

> Kelly, I didn't have to beg for anything...

she gave us a cashiers check, with interest.

> So, then, why are you still there?

Dad?

> Um...I'm um...

I'm not sure.

Alright,

love you, too.

> How's Kelly?

> She's...good.

> She ask about the reason for your extended stay?

> Yeah. > What did you tell her?

> I told her I'd be leaving soon.

(microwave beep) > Would you mind getting that out for me?

> Yeah.

> What's wrong? > Do you eat this kind of stuff

all the time?

I always thought I did

all the cooking because you were lazy. > Nope.

Just never learned how.

My mother told me, 'Develop your mind, and someone else will always do the

cooking for you.' > Yeah, well,

I don't think this is what she meant.

Is there a grocery anywhere?

> Fausto's Market's about six miles up the road.

> Ok...just

don't do anything. I'll be right back.

There...that oughta hold you for awhile.

Now, what sounds good? I got a little bit of everything.

> Nothing. > Excuse me?

> Don't cook me anything...teach me.

> Teach you. > Yes. I want to learn.

Teach me how to make something. > Like?

> Like...

how about that shrimp etouffee with stuffed rice? That was always my

favorite. >That may be a little too ambitious for your first time out.

How bout we try, um, spaghetti and red sauce...

see how that goes? > I'm all yours.

(montage music)

Well?

MIchael, I think that can wait

> Right.

> So what do you miss most,

doing research or being in the classrom?

> Probably the research.

Seemed like every year the students got harder and harder to relate to.

I remember, one of the last kids I was an advisor to

insisted on calling me Mike... not Professor O'Neill or

Mr. O'Neill, but Mike. > And this was

an afront to your sensibility as a superior?

> No it was an afront to the fact that I hate being called Mike.

> Reminds me of my time at Northwestern. I was heading up

a fellowship study on bipolar reduction in senior citizens.

The subjects kept mistaking my Doctor title as a medical

practitioner. They kept asking me to treat their arthritis.

> You were in Chicago? > Mm-hmm. It was a limited

term grant, but I got the whole Windy City experience for 14 months.

> Nice. > And I briefly

dated a Blackhawk. > What? Which one?

> Andre' Dinuta. > Oh, man!

> Thought you'd like that. > How did you wind up dating a hockey player?

> We met at a party. He overheard me speaking

Russian to someone and came over and we struck up a conversation

and he ended up asking me out. > The Russian thing.

> He hated speaking English. I think that's why he

found me so appealing. > You know, you never even liked hockey.

If anybody was dating Andre' Dinuta, it should have been me.

> I'm sure you would have made a nice couple. > You know what I mean.

> I was scared.

> What? > Getting back to your earlier question about

why I left. > Oh.

> I never knew how to deal with fear. Still don't.

Eliminating the fear factor has always been the only solution

for me. > But what

was there to be afraid of? > Failing.

Failing as a mother. Failing as a

wife. Failing to maintain a career.

Failing to swallow my pride long

enough to learn how to boil a pot of spaghetti.

> You know, some people might say that everybody's afraid of failing.

Some might call what you

did the coward's way out. > And I would

be the first in line to agree with them.

>...'and yet, to times

in hope, my verse shall stand. Praising thy work,

despite his cruel hand.

And another dead soldier.

> That last

one was my favorite. > Yeah.

Every year I tell myself, I've got to read more Shakespeare.

But I always forget.

> Today just flew by.

I've kept you too long again.

> Oh my gosh!

I gotta get my things together. > You know you're welcome to stay another night on the couch.

Get an early start?

> This wouldn't be an attempt to rope me into a pancake lesson, would it?

> Pancakes would be nice.

> Allright. One more night.

In the morning, I've got to go.

Really.

> Michael. > Huh?...Kate!

> Would you teach me to drive?

> What? > Would you teach me to drive?

> Yeah. Sure.

Can we wait til it's

light outside? > Of course, we can wait til it's light outside.

Go back to sleep. Sorry I scared you.

> I can't believe you never learned how to drive.

> Well, I had you in college.

We drove together to work when we were married and ever since then I've lived in

cities. > What about out here? > Once I found this place,

I was already used to taking cabs. > But why learn now? You

don't even own a car. > Didn't you once say that

knowledge for the sake of knowledge was a virtue? > No.

I never said that. > Well, somebody said it.

> So?

> You were having your dream when I woke you, weren't you?

> Yeah. > Who tore the paper this time?

The bearded guy? > No. Some other guy.

> I can't believe your subconscious hasn't resolved this thing

by now. Have you

analyzed it with the Five Wesston Steps? > Yes. > Antonio's Theorum?

> Yes. > The Helsinki Catalogue

of - > Yes. Yes. Yes. I've analyzed this dream inside and out

using at least 12 different methods, my own included. > And?

> Plllhh. Bupkis. > Maybe I should take a

turn at it. Put together a hybrid approach.

> Knock yourself out. > First thing this

afternoon. You ready for our driving lesson?

> Wait a minute...you can't do this.

You're legally blind.

> What's there to read out here?

> Yeah. This is gonna go real well.

> Don't say a word. I know how bad it was. > Do

you?

> What did you expect? I'm legally blind.

I think all things considered, I did pretty darn -

> I'm going inside.

> So when do you want to start the chess lesson?

> Chess.

I'm teaching you chess today? > I've always wanted

to learn.

> Fine.

> But first you can show me how to make brunch. And while I'm cooking,

you can read to me, and then we'll get the chess set out afterwards.

You up for it?

(montage music)

(montage music)

(music stops) > What? > You've beaten me the last four games!

> Is that a problem?

> It's a huge problem! You just learned how to play! > Well,

after the first few matches, I realized that the key to winning

was less about strategy and more about gauging your irrational

tendencies towards both making decisions too quickly and

fronting to avoid humiliation.

> Yeah.

I knew this was gonna be real fun. (timer bell)

> Perfect timing. I need to take some medicine.

> Michael, could you come in here,

please?

Could you...

could you -

> Are you okay? > Yes, I'm

fine.

> It always starts out the same.

A long pier or a dock on the ocean.

A man walking towards me. > And you never know who the

man is? > No. Sometimes it's a different guy, but

I never know him. > Go on.

> The man walks towards me, stops... presents a letter.

> Which he proceeds to rip in half, right?

> Yeah. > That's so interesting.

> Say, why am I lying down?

> It's the way they do it on television.

> So? > I don't know, it

just makes me feel... psychiatrist-y.

Allright then, I have my assignment. We are gonna get that

dream interpreted and out of your head. > And how can

you be so sure? > Michael. > Right.

Your area of expertise. > Very good.

'From gathering pearls in the China Sea to coaxin the African shale,

they'd have no course to make a sway,

were it not for the Kaleigh Gales. When God's great

gift finds of itself, when Kaleigh Gales bend the leaves,

> A quiet peace will give a thanks,

to grace, to the gentle breeze.'

I'm afraid of going

to hell.

> I think everybody is.

> Are you? > Yeah...

sure I am. > So...

what are you doing about it? > How do you

mean? > I mean, how do you

plan to go to Heaven instead of Hell?

> Guess I haven't given it that much

thought.

I

suppose...it's something I always thought I would

just, you know, figure out in my later years.

> But what if you

weren't going to have any later years?

I suppose you're

angry with me.

> Angry...about what?

'Cause you didn't tell me that you were - > Dying.

It's ok, you can say it. > I'd really rather

not.

Well? > The lab name for

the disease is CLS. > CLS...Lou Gehrig's.

> No, that's ALS...

CLS is Lou Gehrig's ugly cousin. > Meaning what?

> A few variations on symptoms...and progression.

Same result.

> So how long?

> Don't know...

the declining eyesight is sort of the kickoff to other things going

downhill...at least that's how it happened with Erin.

> Erin...Erin, your sister?

> She had the same - > She died last April.

She had CLS. > Wow.

So with your dad already gone,

she was all the family you had left. < Except for

you, of course...and Kelly.

> I gotta be honest with you. This is all just a little...hard to grasp.

> Would you like to call my doctor again to verify it? I can give her

permission to waive privilege if you really need me to. > No. Nothing like that

...it's just...is there a plan in place?

You know, to get you to a medical facility, or hospice, or whatever?

> I've made all the arrangements, and I

coordinated everything with my doctor's care group.

When 'it' happens, everyone will know what to do.

> I just can't believe- > Michael,

it's going to happen. I've had my

chance to accept it. Now is not the why time,

now is the last bit of business time.

Making sure I go to Heaven.

> Wait a minute.

What are you talking about?

> Didn't I make myself clear outside? I need

instruction on how to get to Heaven when I die.

> You mean from me? > Who else?

> Umm, maybe somebody like... a priest or a minister?

> Look. I've had numerous attempts at

organized religion. > And? > And all I ever got

was a sense of rule books, fellowship halls, and

feeling like I was on the outside of some obnoxious country club.

And I knew there had to be more to it.

> Do you even believe in God? > Yes, I do.

> Think about who you're asking.

You as well as anybody should know, I'm not a religious person.

> It doesn't matter. I'm the one needing the help here.

> But you've gotta think about who's gonna be able to give you instruc- > Michael!

I'm putting my trust in you to help me find the eternal resting

place for my soul. So please, stop

squirming so we can get to work!

> Kate, I'm not a priest. > Of course you're not...

but you are a teacher...

and a researcher, and right now, you're my 20/20 vision.

You taught me a whole semester of Plant Physics in one weekend.

I'm sure you can help me find out what I need to know.

While you get started, I need to go

and lie down.

> You ok? > Just a little tired.

> You did

hear what I just said. > Yeah,

Kate has some incurable disease and she's gonna die soon.

> And you have no reaction. > No...

not really. > Seriously? > Well, what

do you want me to say? That I'm suddenly filled with emotion?

> Well, no, maybe not all that, but

she is your mother. > She's a stranger, dad,

nothing more, nothing less. > Honey, where's

your compasion? > It's right where it's always been -

reserved for people who deserve it. Look...

if you're feeling some need to hang on and

comfort her to the end, that's your business, but please

don't ask me to be a part of it.

Listen, I have to get back to work...was there anything else?

> No...that was it.

Bye.

So that is the whole story.

> So let me get this straight, your friend

is dying and wants to know how to get into Heaven.

>Yeah, that's right. > But she doesn't want to have anything to do with

any church. > That's how it appears.

> Do you know - has she ever read the bible?

> I'm not sure.

> Look, you seem like a nice person,

but you've got to realize you're making my job very difficult.

Normally, we take a non-believer through several steps of

discipleship and education, leading up to a full

understanding of God's eternal gift of salvation.

> Well, don't you have some kind

of, you know, express plan?

She's very astute; she was a Rhodes Scholar - > We don't

offer express plans.

But I will do this...

These are some texts

which might be

helpful.

> You can bring them back when you're finished.

And in the meantime, if you could convince your

friend to come here to the church, or at the very least, allow someone to

visit, it would be immensely helpful.

These matters are always best left to professionals.

> Okay.

Thank you, Father. > Reverend. > Right.

Can you see that

okay? > Mmmm...

somewhat. > Allright, well, do the best you can.

Allright. This represents God.

Now, in the beginning, God

created

the world, and, with that

all of mankind. Are you with me so far?

> Yeah. > Good. Now,

the first two people that God created

disobeyed Him, and the concept of sin

was introduced into a perfect world...

and as a result, mankind

was separated from God.

Now, in order to

mend this separation, an atonement for the sinful

acts of mankind had to be made in order for man

to be reunited with God, because

the price of

sin is death. Now...

in order to achieve this, God

sent His Son, who is Jesus, who, for all practical

purposes, was God Himself in human form on the Earth...

to die

an atoning death on the cross at the hands of the Romans...

Now, after this,

Jesus rose from the dead - proving His deity and

also completing the cycle of innocent blood

that was sacrificed

as a payment for the sins of the human race. Now,

this served as

a promise, if you will, from God to mankind

that whoever believed in the sacrifice of Jesus and repented

from their sinful ways, would not succumb to perishing

but would have bestowed upon them the gift of Eternal Life

in Heaven.

> I know.

> You know what? > That. I know all that.

> I thought you said you didn't know how to get to Heaven. > I don't.

> But you just said you already know all this.

> yes, but how does simply knowing all of this actually help me

get into Heaven?

> Umm...

I'm not sure.

> Excellent work, Professor.

(chair crash)

> Are you okay? > Yes, I'm fine.

> What, did you get dizzy? > I've

been having a few balance problems this week.

Do me a favor. There's a walking stick in that broom

closet. Could you get it for me?

> Yeah, sure.

> Thanks.

Glad I hung onto this. It was Dad's.

He got it when he was in South Dakota.

> Carving's beautiful.

Listen, um, I'm sorry

I didn't do a better job of figuring out what you even knew before I started. > I was half-kidding.

I should have told you beforehand where I was in the whole

believing process. > So you do believe

everything I presented? > Yes. It's backed up historically

and through documentation...and factual research.

I never had any trouble believing that it was all true. > Okay.

I guess I've got more work to do.

> Yes.

(phone dialing sound)

> Hi, I'd like to speak with Mr.

Newman, please. Thanks. Mr. Newman? This is Katherine

Sullivan. I spoke with you a few weeks ago about initiating a home

health delivery plan. Yes, I can hold.

> ...and don't forget - every four hours.

until bedtime. > Will do. > Give us a call if you have any problem.

> Thanks for coming.

Thank you. > Whoa, ho, ho...where do you

think you're going? > Please tell me you don't intend on

some role playing farce from here on out.

Where I play the invalid struggling to care for herself

and you play the authoritative 'knows what's best' figure.

Besides, don't you have some research to do?

(montage music)

(montage music)

(montage music)

(music ends) > And where did you get this?

> From a man on the street.

But I think it's exactly what we've been looking for. It's called

The Sinners Prayer. And according to the man that gave it to me,

it's every Believer's first step to Eternal Life. I checked out some other

sources, and they all confirmed the same thing. > So how do we

begin? > Well...the man said it didn't have to be

memorized, so...I guess it's okay if you just want to repeat it.

> Here? Now?

> Yeah, I...I guess it's okay in here.

Maybe you better close your eyes.

> Allright.

> (reads) 'Lord, I am a sinner.'

> Lord I am a sinner.

> 'I repent of my sins.' > I repent of my sins.

> 'Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood.'

> Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood.

> 'I want to receive You as my personal

Lord and Savior.' > I want to receive you

as my personal Lord and Savior.

> 'Amen.' > Amen.

> Well?

> Well what?

> Do you feel anything? > Like what?

> I dunno...um..different?

> No.

This whole idea

was misguided and pointless.

You should just get your things together - you're all done here.

> Oh no, no...maybe what we - > Michael.

It was a futile exercise..

You've done more than enough... just leave.

> Just like that.

> Michael, you know in your heart what it's like when I've made up my mind.

So, please, as one last favor, save us

both the anguish, and just get your things together. > Kate...

> Please.

Before you go, I need to give you my theory on your reoccurring

dreams. > Ok.

> I don't have one. > Hmm?

> I couldn't for the life of me, come up with any answers for you.

> Oh.

> Guess I failed you. > No, no, it uh...

It really isn't important.

> I'll be fine. When the time comes, the home

health company will begin sending someone out on a daily schedule.

And this is for you.

And with gift giving being the awkward

affair for me that it's always been, please don't open that until

after you're gone. > Will do.

Look, you call

me if you need anything, or if there's anything I -

> Thanks for coming, Michael.

> Goodbye Kate.

(montage music)

(music ends)

I've got a pretty long list for the pharmacist,

do you want me to leave the radio on? > No,

there's a nice bench out front. I think I'd like to sit outside and get some fresh air.

> Alrighty.

(cell phone ring)

(decline call)

(cell phone ring)

(decline call)

(cell phone ring)

> Is that a call you need to take?

> No...it's just my mother.

> So why aren't you picking up?

> Because I hate her.

> I see.

> Why

are you hooked up to that? > Because

I'm sick. > Are you gonna die?

> Yes...so are you someday.

> Whatever.

> So, why do you hate your mother? > I don't know.

I just do.

> Fair enough.

> Here you go. > Thanks.

> I was looking for a

book for the afternoon, and I came across this. Is this our wedding

albulm? > No...I'm afraid not.

> Oh...well do you mind if I have a look? > Would I have any

chance at stopping you? > Not really.

How did you get all this?

> Where there's a will...why so surprised?

> I don't know, um...

I guess I just always took for granted that you stopped caring.

> I guess you were wrong.

So what are you

reading to me today?

> You know...I think we need a change of venue today.

C'mon.

(music montage)

(cell phone ring)

And you're sure you wanna

do this?

Ok...give me a little bit

to get things set up. Alright.

(door knock)

Kate? > HI.

> Um...

I don't know how to say this... > What is it?

> Well, somebody wants to say hello. > Who?

> Umm...

hi. > Hi.

It's so good to see you.

> Can you,

um, can you see me alright?

> I can see you just perfect.

> Good...well,

I, uh, I'm really

sorry that you're sick. < Oh well, um...

you know, things just happen sometimes.

So was this your father's idea?

> No...it was mine.

And, uh, this is the bag that I got when I volunteered

in Mexico. > I love the colors. It's beautiful.

> Yeah, it was really nice of them to make those for us...

uh, we went down there and we were doing this mission trip where we were giving all the

kids eye examinations and the ones that needed them got some new glasses

...so they made us these as a thank you... > You like your school? > Yeah...

it's okay. There's a good chance I'll be going to grad school

somewhere else. > You dad said you're thinking about pre med.

> Well, right now I'm about

75% sure.... > Michael, could you

come in here, please?

> Yeah? > Here.

> Sounds like you two had a nice little - > She's coming here tomorrow.

> Well...I guess I need to run to the store.

> Kate, I'm back!

Y'know, I wasn't sure

exactly what to get. Kelly's kind of a picky eater. So I just

went with a little bit of everything.

> Kate?

> Kate!

> Kate?

> Kate!

Please answer.

Kate, what are you doing out here?

> You know your reoccurring dream?

> How could I forget?

> Do you know how hard that was for me to admit to you that I couldn't solve it?

> Well,

I know you've always prided yourself on that field of study.

> I prided myself.

I've prided myself on a lot of things in my life. And that's been the problem.

How arrogant was I to believe

that I could just formulate myself into Heaven?

Unscathed. Void of any humility.

Like I was itemizing a list from a lecture.

> A lecture where your teacher failed you.

> You didn't fail at anything. You showed

me God's true nature like I've never seen it before.

> When was this?

> When you put aside the horrible thing I did to you in the

past, and set right in taking care of my needs...

being good to me...never wanting anything in

return. But Kelly...

seeing her today

...her wanting to see me when both of us knew full well that I didn't deserve it.

I felt something as a parent I

didn't even know was inside me. > What's that?

> The desire to be reunited with my child.

I felt myself consumed with it. Wanting to hold her

and not let go.

He's letting me into Heaven, and I know now

it's not about a checklist or a formula of organizing a set of beliefs.

> What is it, then?

> It's about fulfilling His desire for us to be

reunited. It's so much more personal

than I would ever let myself acknowledge. What He

did for me was an expression of a father's love for his child.

And it's taken me a whole lifetime to see it that way.

And you are a wonderful teacher.

> So are you.

C'mon. Let's get you back

inside.

> Only you could make broth taste like Creole gumbo.

> You know that prayer you brought me that day?

> Yeah. From the guy on the corner.

> It sounded a lot

different when I said it this morning.

> I'm glad.

> And Kelly's

coming here tomorrow. > Yes, she is.

> Don't let me oversleep.

I want to wear something nice and

make myself presentable.

> (chuckle) Okay.

(clock alarm sound)

> Kate! I think that means it's time to get up!

You wanted to get an early start today!

Family reunion!

Hey, maybe we should print t-shirts, you know?

LIke the big Irish families. What do you think?

(clock alarm sound)

So what's the point of

setting an alarm...

(closing credit music)