Original subtitles

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[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

DR. REED, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, DARCY. HOW'S IT COMING?

FINISHED SAMPLES FROM PORT ORFORD TODAY.

PERFECT.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR GRANT PROPOSAL.

GREAT.

ONCE IT'S SUBMITTED,

I WANT TO START APPLYING FOR POSITIONS.

I'M AFRAID THIS NEEDS WORK.

A LOT OF WORK.

IT DOES?

I'D ADVISE A COMPLETE REWRITE.

DR. REED, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

DARCY, THIS READS MORE LIKE YOUR DISSERTATION.

YOUR PROPOSAL

IS SUPPOSED TO SHOW ME YOU CAN FUNDRAISE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO.

I ORGANIZED ALL OF MY WORK.

ABSTRACT, METHODS, RESULTS.

THAT'S JUST IT.

THIS SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF YOUR STUDY.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO INSPIRE.

GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.

WIN OVER INVESTORS

SO THEY'LL WANT TO FUND YOUR RESEARCH.

TRUST ME. IN THIS LINE OF WORK,

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS TO HAVE.

AND I WANT YOU TO BE GOOD AT IT.

SO WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

I WANT YOU TO MEET WITH PROFESSOR RILEY

IN THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT.

HE'S AN EXPERT AT THIS KIND OF WRITING.

I'VE ALREADY FORWARDED HIM YOUR PROPOSAL,

AND HE CAN MEET WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

AND MY DEGREE?

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT THIS IS A PREREQUISITE

BEFORE I CAN SIGN OFF.

I'M SORRY.

[♪♪]

PROFESSOR RILEY?

PERFECT TIMING! COME TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?

NOT A CLUE.

VALENTINE MICHAEL SMITH.

FROM "STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND."

YOU KNOW, RAISED ON MARS, BROUGHT TO EARTH?

NEVER MIND.

ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SCIENCE-FICTION NOVELS

AND THE INSPIRATION FOR MY CREATIVE WRITING CLASS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

INTERESTING,

BUT SORRY TO SAY UNREALISTIC,

BECAUSE HUMANS CAN'T BREATHE ON MARS.

THE ATMOSPHERE DOESN'T CONTAIN ENOUGH OXYGEN--

NOT TO MENTION

THAT THERE'S NO PROOF ALIENS EXIST,

SO, AS IT STANDS, COMPLETELY IMPLAUSIBLE.

YOU MUST BE THE MICROBIOLOGIST.

DOCTOR...

DARCY MILLER.

I'M STILL WORKING ON THE DOCTOR PART.

I'VE GOT TO SAY I'M IMPRESSED.

I COULDN'T EVEN DISSECT MY FROG IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I WROTE MINE A EULOGY INSTEAD.

OKAY, THEN. SHOULD WE GET STARTED?

YES. YES.

I READ YOUR PROPOSAL.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON A SALES PITCH?

IT'S MY GRANT PROPOSAL.

AH, YES, THE ART OF FINANCING.

THAT REMINDS ME OF A GREAT GROUCHO MARX QUOTE.

"MONEY FREES YOU FROM DOING THINGS YOU DISLIKE,

"AND SINCE I DISLIKE DOING NEARLY EVERYTHING,

MONEY IS HANDY."

OKAY. UM...

LET'S HAVE A LOOK HERE.

ARE THOSE YOUR REVISIONS?

THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF NOTES.

YEAH, BUT DON'T WORRY.

STARTING AT THE BEGINNING

IS ALWAYS THE BEST PLACE TO START.

SO HELP ME OUT HERE.

WHAT IS THIS

VIBRIO FISCHERI STUFF?

IT'S BIOLUMINESCENT BACTERIA.

OH, THEY GLOW! HOW COOL IS THAT!

SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THESE LITTLE GUYS?

WE'RE USING THEM AS INDICATORS IN BIOASSAYS

TO TRACK THE TOXICITY IN MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.

THAT'S GREAT!

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IN A 10-YEAR STUDY,

WE'RE TRACKING THE RATE OF POLLUTION

ALONG THE OREGON COAST.

OH, OKAY. GO GREEN. I LOVE THAT!

BUT, YOU SEE,

THAT IS GETTING HIDDEN

UNDER ALL THESE FACTS AND FIGURES.

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS MISSING?

-WHAT? -FEELING.

I WANT TO HEAR YOUR PASSION

FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

WE NEED TO GET RID OF ALL THIS TECH TALK,

BECAUSE IT'S...

KIND OF BORING.

BORING?

NOT YOUR RESEARCH.

BUT FOR THIS, IT'S NOT REALLY HELPING YOUR CAUSE.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

NO. NO, I DON'T.

I THOUGHT MY RESEARCH WAS VERY THOROUGH.

OKAY, MAYBE WE NEED AN EXERCISE OF SOME KIND.

SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP YOU

WRITE WITH EMOTION AND BRING YOU OUT OF YOUR SHELL.

NOW I'M IN A SHELL?

YEAH, WELL...

ONLY IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING!

I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT YOU'RE IN A SHELL.

I MEAN, AT LEAST NOT ONE I CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF.

I'M SINKING FAST HERE, AREN'T I?

YES.

I THINK HAVE VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

WAIT. I THINK WE GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT HERE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS NEEDS?

FOOD AND DRINK.

IT ALWAYS HELPS TO RELAX THE MIND

AND GETS THE JUICES FLOWING.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK SO.

WE COULD DO IT OVER LUNCH, OR COFFEE?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

ICED TEA MAYBE?

NO?

[♪♪]

DAD?

IN HERE!

HERE'S ONE FOR YOU, HONEY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANT IN MATH CLASS?

IT GREW SQUARE ROOTS.

[CHUCKLES]

ARE YOU WORKING ON A NEW SYLLABUS?

NO. TEACHING ALGEBRA THIS TERM.

JUST WANT TO KICK IT OFF WITH A BANG.

ONLY IF YOU GET SOME NEW MATERIAL, DAD.

UH-OH.

HOW'D YOUR MEETING GO?

IT WAS AWFUL.

THIS GUY IS WEIRD.

AND HE HAS NO REAL APPRECIATION FOR MY WORK.

WHAT'D YOUR MENTOR SAY?

I ASKED IF I COULD WORK WITH SOMEONE ELSE,

BUT SHE WANTS ME TO WORK WITH HIM,

AND I NEED HER APPROVAL, OR I DON'T GRADUATE.

SO WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

DON'T GET UPSET.

THAT JUST CLOUDS YOUR JUDGMENT.

PUT YOUR ENERGY IN--

TOWARDS FINDING A SOLUTION. I KNOW, DAD.

WELL, IT SOUNDS TO ME

LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO

GIVE THIS INSTRUCTOR ANOTHER TRY.

YEAH. LOOKS LIKE I DON'T HAVE AN OPTION.

YOU KNOW...

THIS WEATHER'S ONLY SUPPOSED TO GET WORSE.

WHY DON'T YOU STAY OVERNIGHT?

I'LL COOK UP

SOME OF MY FAMOUS GRILLED CHEESE

AND A LITTLE OF THAT VEGETABLE SOUP YOU LIKE.

THAT SOUNDS REALLY NICE, DAD.

AND DON'T FORGET

MOM'S BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP ON THE 16th, TOO.

I HAVEN'T.

WE SHOULD MAKE A DINNER RESERVATION.

I ALWAYS DO, DAD.

DON'T WORRY.

I WONDER WHAT MOM'S ADVICE ABOUT MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE.

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

JUST CURIOUS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT,

WE COULD STOP BY THE CEMETERY

BEFORE WE GO OUT FOR HER BIRTHDAY.

NO, HONEY, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GO IF YOU WANT.

IN FACT, WHY DON'T YOU PICK THE RESTAURANT, TOO?

JUST MAKE SURE IT'S ONE THAT I LIKE.

YOU GOT IT, DAD.

[RAIN POURING, WIND RUSHING]

[♪♪]

GOOD NIGHT, MOM.

[♪♪]

[THUNDER CRASHES]

[♪♪]

-OH... -OH, NO.

CAREFUL WHERE YOU STEP.

THERE'S GLASS EVERYWHERE.

DAD, WATER GOT ALL THE WAY OVER HERE.

THIS IS A MESS!

TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE UP HERE?

I DON'T REMEMBER.

I DON'T COME UP HERE MUCH.

IS THAT MY OLD BABY CARRIAGE?

SURE IS.

YOU'VE KEPT IT ALL THESE YEARS?

WELL, THERE'S NO NEED TO GIVE IT AWAY.

WHAT'S WITH ALL THIS OLD SEWING STUFF?

IS THIS MOM'S?

LOOK, SWEETIE, YOU KNOW WHAT,

I CAN CLEAN UP ALL OF THIS LATER, OKAY?

DAD, I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE TO GET RID OF THINGS,

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.

THIS WHOLE PLACE HAS TO BE CLEANED OUT.

EVERYTHING'S SOAKING WET.

OKAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THIS OFF.

I HAVE SOME TIME

BEFORE I MEET AUNT KATHY FOR LUNCH,

SO LET'S JUST GET STARTED.

RIGHT...

I'LL GO DOWN TO THE GARAGE.

GET SOME FANS. TRY TO DRY UP THE FLOOR.

[♪♪]

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[♪♪]

DAD...

YEAH.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND.

IT WAS WITH SOME OF MOM'S OLD THINGS.

IT'S HER HANDWRITING.

AND THIS IS A LIST OF THINGS SHE WAS GIVING AWAY, RIGHT?

LOOKS LIKE IT, YEAH.

THERE'S AUNT KATHY.

BUT WHO ARE THE OTHERS?

OLD FRIENDS OF YOUR MOM'S, I THINK.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THIS WAS FOR?

I DON'T, SWEETIE. NO.

WHAT TIME'S LUNCH?

YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO MEET KATHY FOR LUNCH?

RIGHT! YES! I ALMOST FORGOT!

BET YOU ANYTHING SHE'S GOING TO TRY TO SET YOU UP.

I CAN HANDLE IT, DAD.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GIVE ME A CALL TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT HOME OKAY, ALRIGHT?

I WILL!

I LOVE YOU, DAD.

I LOVE YOU, TOO, SWEETIE.

THERE ARE FOUR NAMES HERE AND FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS--

A VASE, CHAMPAGNE GLASSES,

ANTIQUE CHAIRS, AND A RECIPE BOOK.

THAT GOES TO YOU.

OOH! YOUR MOTHER'S COOKBOOK!

MARIANNE'S COOKING WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD.

ESPECIALLY HER DESSERTS.

I HAVE SPENT YEARS

DREAMING ABOUT THAT HOMEMADE FUDGE SHE USED TO MAKE.

DID YOU FIND IT IN THE ATTIC?

MM-MM, NOT YET,

BUT I'M SURE IT'S STILL THERE.

YOU KNOW HOW DAD LIKES TO HOLD ON TO THINGS.

WELL, IF YOU DO COME ACROSS IT, LET ME KNOW,

BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE SOME OF THOSE RECIPES.

SURE. YOU KNOW, I SHOWED THIS TO DAD.

OH.

OKAY. WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT?

NOT MUCH. LIKE ALWAYS.

SOME PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HAVE ONE GREAT LOVE IN LIFE,

AND FOR YOUR FATHER, THAT WAS MARIANNE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS GIVING, ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE.

SHE NEVER HELD ANYTHING BACK.

HAPPY OR SAD, SHE'D LET YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

I LOVED THAT ABOUT HER.

I WISH DAD WOULD TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

HE NEVER SPEAKS OF HER AT ALL.

I THINK YOUR FATHER LOST PART OF HIMSELF

WHEN SHE DIED.

I THINK WE ALL DID, REALLY,

BUT HE'S NEVER BEEN THE SAME.

I REMEMBER RUSHING OVER THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE POLICE WERE ALREADY THERE,

AND THEY SAID THAT

SOME COLLEGE KID HAD BEEN DRINKING,

AND HE RAN A RED LIGHT.

THE DRIVER OF THAT CAR--

HE DIED THAT NIGHT, TOO.

YEAH.

I HAVE NO MEMORIES OF MOM.

NONE.

I CAN'T EVEN SEE HER FACE.

DARCY, YOU WERE ONLY ONE.

STILL...

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE DATING FRONT?

AND I WANT DETAILS.

I HAVE NO TIME FOR THAT.

ALL OF MY ENERGY HAS BEEN GOING TOWARDS MY DOCTORATE.

WELL, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A SON ABOUT YOUR AGE.

HE'S WORKING ON HIS MBA.

I'VE SEEN PICTURES. HE'S KIND OF CUTE.

SO I COULD ARRANGE SOMETHING.

DAD TOLD ME

YOU WERE GOING TO TRY TO SET ME UP AGAIN.

HE SAID YOU USED TO DO IT WITH HIM, TOO.

MY TALENTS WERE A COMPLETE WASTE ON YOUR FATHER.

EVERY TIME I WOULD TRY TO SET FRANK UP,

IT WOULD LAST MAYBE TWO DATES.

MAYBE.

WELL, I MIGHT TAKE YOU UP ON IT--

MAYBE-- LATER.

I'M RUNNING TO THE STORE. MINDY'S COMING OVER.

WE'VE DECIDED TO STOP LIVING ON TAKE-OUT,

SO WE MAKE DINNER TOGETHER A FEW NIGHTS A WEEK.

OKAY, WELL, TELL HER I SAID HI.

AND WE ARE NOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

A DATE WITH A CUTE GUY NEVER HURT ANYBODY.

THESE ARE WORDS TO LIVE BY.

I WILL SEE YOU LATER.

BYE!

DARCY?

HI.

HEY. WHAT A SURPRISE!

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

I'M ACTUALLY--

I'M REALLY GLAD I'M RUNNING INTO YOU.

I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY.

I SHOULD NOT HAVE WALKED OUT LIKE I DID YESTERDAY.

NO, NO, NO.

I SHOULD APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND YOU.

SOMETIMES THE WORDS YOU WANT TO SAY

DON'T MATCH THE WORDS COMING OUT.

THE WIRES GET ALL TANGLED UP.

LOOK. I NEED HELP,

AND MY MENTOR SAYS THAT YOU ARE THE ONE TO WORK WITH.

SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

ARE YOU STILL WILLING TO HELP ME?

WELL...

I DO OWE DR. REED A FAVOR OR TWO, SO...

OKAY. YOU TALKED ME INTO IT.

ISN'T IT GREAT HOW THIS HAPPENED?

YOU WERE THINKING OF ME, I WAS THINKING OF YOU,

NOW HERE WE ARE.

THE UNIVERSE HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

THE UNIVERSE?

OKAY, LET'S NOT GO OVERBOARD.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE AN ENGLISH MAJOR?

YOU SOUND LIKE YOU BELONG IN THEOLOGY

OR PHILOSOPHY MAYBE.

WELL, ONE MAJOR IN LIFE IS MUCH TOO LIMITING.

I LIKE TO PURSUE ALL MY INTERESTS.

OKAY.

SO WHAT'S YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE?

OH, SORRY.

SHOPPING LIST?

THANK YOU. NO, IT'S MY MOM'S.

WELL, YOU'D BETTER NOT LOSE IT, THEN,

IN CASE SHE WANTS IT BACK.

SHE PASSED AWAY A LONG TIME AGO.

OH, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T REALIZE.

NO, IT'S OKAY.

I JUST--I FOUND IT.

IT WAS A LIST OF THINGS THAT SHE WAS PLANNING TO GIVE AWAY.

HUH.

WELL, MAYBE SHE WANTED YOU TO HAVE IT, THEN.

I DID SAY SHE PASSED AWAY, RIGHT?

ALL THE MORE REASON IT COULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL

THAT SHE WANTED YOU TO HAVE.

ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH WHAT SHE STARTED?

I DON'T KNOW.

MIGHT BE WORTH YOUR TIME.

IN FACT, THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF EXERCISE

THAT COULD HELP YOU WITH YOUR WRITING.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT?

HE SAID WHAT?

IT WOULD HELP ME GET IN TOUCH

WITH MY "PASSIONATE" SIDE.

SO WHAT?

HE THINKS YOUR MOM'S

SOME KIND OF A GUARDIAN ANGEL OR SOMETHING?

I GUESS SO.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

I THINK HE'S OFF HIS ROCKER,

BUT I'M NOT ENTIRELY OPPOSED TO WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING.

-WHY'S THAT? -I DON'T KNOW.

IT WOULD TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNEW MY MOM.

DOES THAT SOUND CRAZY?

NO. ACTUALLY, THAT PART DOESN'T SOUND CRAZY AT ALL.

THIS GUY YOU'RE WORKING WITH...

THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

HI. IS THIS ELAINE PARSONS?

EXCUSE ME.

I NEED A SECOND OPINION.

TELL ME, WHICH ONE IS BETTER?

THE RED OR THE WHITE?

I LIKE BOTH.

[LAUGHS] ME TOO.

THEY'RE GORGEOUS, AREN'T THEY?

I CAN'T DECIDE WHICH IS BETTER.

WELL, DO YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE?

WHY NOT GET SOME OF EACH?

OF COURSE. YOU'RE RIGHT.

IN THIS CASE, MORE IS BETTER.

I KNEW I ASKED THE RIGHT PERSON.

WELL, GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME.

HI. I'M LOOKING FOR ELAINE PARSONS?

ARE YOU DARCY?

YES.

OH!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU FIND THIS?

YOU RECOGNIZE IT?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

YOUR MOM AND I

HAD A LOT OF HISTORY

ROLLED UP INTO THAT OLD THING.

IT'S SO FUNNY YOU SHOULD SHOW UP WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

UM... [LAUGHS]

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN.

IT IS SO NICE

TO FINALLY MEET YOU!

OH!

WE WERE EDUCATION MAJORS TOGETHER.

HOW DID YOU MEET?

WE HAD A SPEECH CLASS OUR FRESHMAN YEAR.

SHE SAT NEXT TO ME THE FIRST DAY.

THE TEACHER CAME IN WITH THIS VOICE,

ENUNCIATING EVERY WORD.

WE TOOK ONE LOOK AT EACH OTHER

AND JUST CRACKED UP.

THICK AS THIEVES AFTER THAT.

AND WHAT ABOUT THIS?

HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?

YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS.

YOUR MOM HAD A FAVORITE FLOWER.

SHE LOVED PEONIES.

NO, I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

OH, YEAH. YEAH. JUST ADORED THEM.

SHE WAS ALWAYS PUTTING BOUQUETS TOGETHER

AND GIVING THEM TO PEOPLE.

LOVED TO SEE THEIR FACES LIGHT UP AT THAT.

ANYWAY,

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE MET,

I BOUGHT THIS VASE

AND PUT AN ARRANGEMENT OF PEONIES IN IT

FOR YOUR MOM'S BIRTHDAY.

AND I BET YOU CAN GUESS...

SHE LOVED IT.

SO MUCH SO,

THAT WE MADE A DEAL.

SHE'D GIVE THE VASE BACK TO ME AFTERWARDS,

AND I WOULD HOLD ONTO IT UNTIL HER NEXT BIRTHDAY,

WHEN I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

IT BECAME OUR LITTLE TRADITION.

YOU KNOW HER BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THAT'S RIGHT...

IS THAT WHAT YOU MEANT BEFORE?

WHEN YOU SAID YOU WERE SURPRISED

I WAS SHOWING UP WITH THE VASE RIGHT NOW?

NOT EXACTLY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER IF I JUST SHOWED YOU.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO COME BY MY HOUSE?

I DON'T LIVE FAR.

JUST UP THE ROAD.

YOU COULD COME BY AFTER WORK.

SURE.

YES. I WOULD LIKE THAT.

YOU'VE MADE ME CURIOUS.

5:30?

GREAT.

AND I THINK MY MOTHER

WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO HAVE THIS.

THANK YOU.

AND SHE DIDN'T SAY WHAT IT WAS?

NO. SHE SAID SHE'D RATHER SHOW ME.

HUH.

BUT YOU GOT TO TALK TO HER ABOUT YOUR MOM, RIGHT?

YEAH.

DID IT HELP?

A LITTLE,

BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT,

I WAS A BIT THROWN OFF BY WHERE THE CONVERSATION WENT.

-I'LL GET THIS. -THANK YOU.

I HAVE TO GET GOING.

I HAVE TO MEET WITH MY ADVISOR.

WE'RE GOING OVER MY LAB RESULTS.

OH, GOOD.

I SHOULD PROBABLY DO THE SAME.

I HAVE A MEETING WITH THAT WRITING GUY.

OH, RIGHT.

HEY, YOU NEVER MENTIONED WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE.

IF YOU HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH WORKING WITH HIM,

IS HE AT LEAST GOOD-LOOKING?

TRUST ME, ONCE YOU'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM,

THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.

THAT BAD, HUH?

I JUST WISH I COULD WORK WITH SOMEONE

WHO'S A LITTLE MORE ON THE SAME PAGE AS I AM.

MAYBE TRY THINKING OF THIS AS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

AW, THAT'S SWEET!

WHY DOES THAT NOT MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?

[RINGS]

HELLO?

AUNT KATHY?

HI, SWEETIE.

GUESS WHAT-- I FOUND MOM'S RECIPE BOOK.

WHAT, YOU DID?

YES, IT'S GOT A RED COVER. IS THAT THE ONE?

YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE!

CAN I PLEASE BORROW IT

SO I CAN COPY SOME OF HER RECIPES?

OF COURSE. I'LL BRING IT OVER.

GREAT!

OKAY, I HAVE TO GO, BUT I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

I WILL, I WILL, MOM.

BYE!

NO, I'M NOT-- I'M NOT SKIPPING BREAKFAST.

YES, OKAY.

MOM, I HAVE TO GO, OKAY?

I LOVE YOU, OKAY? OKAY, BYE.

HI.

HI.

WHY IS IT NO MATTER HOW OLD I GET,

MY MOM STILL TALKS TO ME LIKE I'M 8?

MAYBE BECAUSE YOU HAVE

A PICTURE OF ALIENS ON YOUR WALL?

THAT'S JUST A GUESS.

I'M SERIOUS.

IT'S LIKE SHE STILL THINKS I COLOR WITH CRAYONS

AND CARRY AROUND A LUNCH BOX.

WAIT, WHY ARE WE MEETING HERE?

BECAUSE, THIS TIME, WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT.

COFFEE'S ON ME. COME ON.

SO, SHE LIKED GIVING FLOWERS AWAY.

I LOVE THAT.

WHAT ELSE DID YOU FIND OUT?

NOTHING ALL THAT REVEALING. THAT'S ABOUT IT.

ON THE CONTRARY, I FIND THAT VERY REVEALING.

YOU FIND THAT REVEALING?

-YEAH. -HOW?

WELL, SHARING SOMETHING YOU LOVE EXCITES PEOPLE.

IT GETS THEM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE, TOO,

RIGHT? WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

SO THE QUESTION IS,

WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

WELL, MARINE ECOLOGY SUSTAINS ALL FORMS OF LIFE,

AND, SOONER OR LATER,

ALL THE ORGANISMS ON OUR PLANET

ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED.

SO IF WE DON'T START PROTECTING IT,

EVERYONE WILL SUFFER.

YOU SEE, RIGHT THERE, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WHEN YOU EXPRESS IT WITH THAT KIND OF FEELING,

IT MAKES PEOPLE WANTING TO GET BEHIND YOU.

[WRITING]: FEELING...

YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.

-WHAT? -NOTHING.

IT'S JUST I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE QUITE LIKE YOU BEFORE.

YOU'RE VERY LEFTBRAINED.

I WILL TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT,

COMING FROM SOMEONE WITH AN OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION.

IT'S NOT THAT OVERACTIVE.

LAST TIME I CHECKED,

YOU WERE READING ABOUT MARTIANS.

SOMETHING TELLS ME

THAT UNICORNS AND MAGIC FAIRIES

ARE PROBABLY HIGH ON YOUR LIST, TOO.

I DO HAVE TO ADMIT,

TINKERBELL WAS MY FAVORITE PART OF "PETER PAN."

MY POINT EXACTLY.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK OVER TO THIS FRIEND OF YOUR MOM'S

BECAUSE SHE HAS

SOME SECRET THING SHE WANTS TO SHOW YOU?

I WOULDN'T CALL IT A "SECRET THING."

SHE JUST WANTS TO SHOW ME SOMETHING.

I WONDER WHAT IT IS.

IT'S NOTHING EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL,

SO YOU CAN RELAX.

IT'S INTERESTING HOW FATE PLAYS OUT IN OUR LIVES.

EVERYTHING HAS A REASON.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHY UNTIL LATER,

AND THEN WE LOOK BACK AT IT, AND IT ALL MAKES SENSE.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

HEY, I WONDER IF THAT'S WHY IT HAPPENED.

WHY WHAT HAPPENED?

THE BROKEN WINDOW IN YOUR DAD'S ATTIC.

MAYBE THIS IS ALL A PART OF YOUR MOM'S PLAN SOMEHOW...

OKAY, JUST STOP.

NOW YOU'RE GOING WAY OFF THE DEEP END

AND TURNING THIS INTO SOMETHING CRAZY.

OH, I'M GOING OFF THE DEEP END?

YES. THIS IS COMPLETELY IRRATIONAL.

WOW. YOU MUST BE A VIRGO.

WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?

AUGUST 28th.

I KNEW IT.

AND I BET YOU DON'T GO A DAY WITHOUT READING YOUR HOROSCOPE.

WELL, I TRY NOT TO.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

I'M WILLING TO BET

THAT THERE'S MORE TO YOUR MOM'S LIST

THAN MEETS THE EYE.

I'M WILLING TO BET YOU THERE'S NOT.

OKAY, SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT?

SIMPLE. I PROVE YOU WRONG.

AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?

I WILL FIND OUT NOTHING STRANGE IS HAPPENING

AND THEN I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT,

BUT YOU CAN'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT--

AND I MEAN ANYTHING.

I WOULDN'T DREAM OF IT.

[♪♪]

WHAT WAS SHE LIKE?

WHAT WAS SHE INTERESTED IN?

THE OUTDOORS.

LIKE ME.

I REMEMBER MARIANNE HAD THIS CUTE PLACE OFF-CAMPUS.

THE BACKYARD WAS TOTALLY EMPTY.

LOOKED LIKE A DESERT.

SO, WE STARTED PLANTING.

WHO KNEW MOM HAD SUCH A GREEN THUMB?

OH, DID SHE EVER.

IT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT TIME

THAT I STARTED RETHINKING MY CAREER.

YOUR MOM WAS THE ONE

WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO OPEN THE NURSERY.

SHE DID?

ABSOLUTELY.

SHE KNEW WHAT MADE ME HAPPY.

DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE A FEW PICTURES?

HELP YOURSELF.

HERE.

WHY DON'T YOU KEEP THAT ONE?

THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME OVER TO SHOW ME THESE TODAY.

OH, NO.

I MEAN, OF COURSE,

I WANTED YOU TO SEE THESE PICTURES,

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE. COME ON.

WOW. YOU DID ALL OF THIS?

STARTED OUT SMALL.

GETS A BIT BIGGER EVERY YEAR.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

EVERY TIME I THINK I'M DONE,

I GET THE ITCH TO PLANT SOMETHING NEW.

HERE.

PEONIES.

YOU PLANTED THESE FOR MOM?

RIGHT AFTER MARIANNE PASSED AWAY.

FUNNY THING IS... THEY NEVER BLOOMED.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THESE FLOWERS SPRANG UP LAST WEEK.

JUST IN TIME FOR YOU TO COME BY AND SEE.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

STRANGE, ISN'T IT?

WELL, THERE MUST BE A REASON.

I MEAN, MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SOIL.

WRONG P.H. MAYBE.

DID YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU WERE WATERING THEM?

NOT AT ALL.

MAYBE THEY WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH SUNLIGHT.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME.

I HAVEN'T CHANGED A THING.

CALL ME CRAZY,

BUT I'D LIKE TO THINK

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT

THAN THAT ANYWAY.

LIKE IT WAS JUST MEANT TO BE.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

WELL, HELLO THERE!

WE MEET AGAIN.

HI.

CAN I HELP YOU WITH THOSE?

OH, THANK YOU. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

HOW ABOUT THAT CRAZY STORM THAT BLEW THROUGH HERE?

I'M GLAD IT DIDN'T STICK AROUND.

HI. I'M BEVERLY.

I'M DARCY.

HI.

CAN I HELP YOU WITH THE FLOWERS?

OH, NO, NO, NO, NO. LEAVE IT RIGHT HERE.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

YOU GO AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU.

YOU TOO.

THANK YOU. BYE.

BYE, BEVERLY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WELL, THE INTRO IS BETTER.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF IT?

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE INTRO IS BETTER.

DON'T WORRY. IT'S COMING ALONG.

BUT THAT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

I WANT IT TO BE PERFECT.

WHOA. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

HOLD ON THERE. DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL THAT.

CAUGHT UP IN ALL WHAT?

WELL, THAT KIND OF THINKING IS MISSING THE POINT.

THIS SHOULD BE FUN FOR YOU.

YOU'RE TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT SOMETHING YOU LOVE!

BUT I STILL WANT IT TO BE RIGHT.

JUST RELAX.

IT'S NOT A MATH PROBLEM.

TRYING TO MAKE IT JUST SO IS GOING TO MAKE YOU MISERABLE,

AND THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP IN YOUR WRITING.

[PHONE RINGS]

WHAT IS IT?

IT'S MY MOM.

SHE'S WORRIED I'M WORKING TOO HARD

AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP.

SHE'S JUST LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.

THE WOMAN IS ON OVERDRIVE.

HEY, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT BET WE HAVE.

WHAT WAS THE BIG SURPRISE

THIS FRIEND OF YOUR MOM'S WANTED TO SHOW YOU?

IT WAS NOTHING.

SHE PLANTED SOME FLOWERS FOR MY MOM,

AND WAS EXCITED TO SHOW ME.

END OF STORY.

-THAT'S IT? -THAT'S IT.

WHAT AREN'T YOU TELLING ME?

NOTHING.

OKAY, ACCORDING TO HER,

THOSE FLOWERS HAVE NEVER BLOOMED UNTIL NOW.

-INTERESTING. -IT MEANS NOTHING.

YOU DON'T FIND THAT EVEN A LITTLE MEANINGFUL SOMEHOW?

NO. I'M SURE THERE'S A LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR IT.

A LOT OF STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD

THAT ARE COMPLETELY RANDOM.

IT'S ALL STATISTICAL PROBABILITY.

PLEASE. ENLIGHTEN ME.

EVEN IF THERE IS THE SMALLEST CHANCE

THAT SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN,

GIVEN ENOUGH TIME, IT CAN STILL HAPPEN.

THE THEORETICAL MATCHES THE PRACTICAL.

WE JUST DON'T SEE IT THAT OFTEN,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE FIND IN THE REAL WORLD.

OKAY, ADMIT IT.

YOU'RE PART VULCAN, RIGHT?

SPOCK IS YOUR UNCLE OR SOMETHING?

SHOULD I TAKE THAT AS A "NO"?

YOU KNOW,I DON'T THINK YOU'RE IMPARTIAL ENOUGH

TO BE A JUDGE IN THIS BET WE HAVE GOING.

I THOUGHT I WAS THE REALIST HERE.

WHICH IS WHAT CONCERNS ME.

YOU SEE, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO TRULY WIN,

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE FACTS AREN'T BEING SKEWED.

AND YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION

TO MAKE THINGS MORE OBJECTIVE?

I DO.

I SHOULD COME ALONG WITH YOU.

-SERIOUSLY? -YEAH.

IF WE'RE BOTH THERE,

THEN NO ONE CAN PUT A SPIN ON WHAT'S GOING ON,

OR LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.

THAT IS, OF COURSE,

IF YOU'RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE.

YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A DEAL.

I'M RETURNING MY MOM'S COOKBOOK TOMORROW.

YOU CAN COME WITH ME.

GOOD.

AND DIRECTIONS WOULD BE GREAT.

AFTER I SPRINKLE MYSELF WITH PIXIE DUST

AND FLY OUT MY WINDOW,

IT'S WHAT AGAIN?

IT WAS THE SECOND STAR ON THE RIGHT?

YEAH.

I'LL TEXT YOU.

AND DON'T FORGET TO THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

PRETTY FLOWERS.

THEY ARE, AREN'T THEY?

MM-HMM. SO THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

OH, I SAID HE COULD COME WITH ME.

-REALLY? -MM-HMM.

ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

HE'S ONE OF THOSE

THE UNIVERSE-TAKES-CARE- OF-EVERYTHING PEOPLE.

HE STILL BELIEVES IN THE TOOTH FAIRY.

I AM SURE OF IT.

NOW YOU GET TO ENJOY MORE OF HIS COMPANY.

THAT'S FUNNY.

YOU DO REALIZE

YOU'RE NOW GOING TO BE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH HIM.

TRUE, BUT THAT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY.

UNLESS SPENDING TIME WITH HIM

IS MORE ENJOYABLE THAN YOU THINK.

NOT EVEN A LITTLE.

JUST WATCH.

I AM NOT GOING TO LET HIM PROVE ME WRONG.

[♪♪]

THIS IS AWESOME.

I HAVE A GREAT VIBE ABOUT TODAY.

VIBE? DID YOU JUST SAY "VIBE"?

I DID.

PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR

AND TRY TO ACT A LITTLE MORE NORMAL THAN USUAL.

NORMAL?

YOU KNOW, NO CRAZY QUESTIONS OR OUT-THERE COMMENTS.

THIS IS MY FAMILY YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET.

YOU MEAN RATIONAL.

YES.

REASONABLE. LOGICAL. LIKE YOURSELF.

-THAT'S RIGHT. -OKAY, OKAY.

THERE IS ONE PROBLEM.

AND WHAT IS THAT?

I CAN'T.

IT'S AGAINST MY NATURE.

THAT'S THE ONE! GREAT!

YOU MUST BE NATHAN.

NATHAN RILEY. NICE TO MEET YOU.

GREAT TO MEET YOU. YOU DIDN'T TELL ME HE WAS CUTE.

AUNT KATHY.

WHAT, YOU DON'T THINK HE IS?

YEAH, YOU DON'T THINK I AM?

SHOWING UP WITH THIS IS PERFECT TIMING!

COME ON IN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "PERFECT TIMING"?

WELL, YOU KNOW MIKE,

THE GUY WHO'S REDOING MY BATHROOM?

HE FELL OFF HIS LADDER THIS MORNING.

OH, NO. IS HE OKAY?

YEAH, HE'S FINE,

THEY HAD TO PUT HIS ARM IN A CAST.

BUT THE POINT IS,

IS THAT I WANTED TO BAKE HIM SOMETHING,

BECAUSE HE LIVES JUST DOWN THE STREET,

SO YOUR MOTHER'S COOKBOOK

IS GOING TO COME IN VERY HANDY TODAY.

THAT IS PERFECT TIMING.

[CATHY]: THE QUESTION IS WHAT.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM.

OH, ANGEL FOOD CAKE.

OR LEMON POPPYSEED LOAF.

YOU KNOW WHAT,

YOUR MOTHER USED TO MAKE

THESE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES WITH PECANS AND CARAMEL...

YES! TURTLE BROWNIES!

THAT'S WHAT SHE USED TO CALL THEM.

I'M GETTING HUNGRY JUST HEARING ALL THAT.

I'M SURE BAKING IS MORE THAN YOU BOTH BARGAINED FOR,

BUT...

WANT TO HELP?

[NATHAN]: YEAH, WE'D LOVE TO!

EXCELLENT.

NATHAN, THE APRONS ARE IN THE CLOSET

AROUND THE CORNER THERE.

OKAY, FORGET MR. MBA THAT I WAS TRYING TO SET YOU UP WITH.

HE'S A KEEPER.

[WHISPERS] NO WAY. WE'RE JUST WORKING TOGETHER.

WELL, DO MORE THAN JUST WORKING TOGETHER.

[♪♪]

I AM SO EXCITED TO TASTE ONE OF MY MOM'S OLD RECIPES.

YOU'RE A REAL PRO AT THIS.

OH, NO. I'VE JUST HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE.

USED TO HELP MY MOM IN THE KITCHEN ALL THE TIME.

AW!

YEAH. I COOK A LOT, TOO.

IN FACT,

I HAVE A DINNER PARTY AND GAMES NIGHT

AT MY HOUSE ONCE A MONTH.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

WELL, THE NEXT ONE IS ACTUALLY TONIGHT.

YOU'RE BOTH WELCOME TO COME.

OH, UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T MAKE IT,

BUT DARCY WOULD LOVE TO.

SHE'S SINGLE, DID I MENTION THAT?

YOU'RE SINGLE, TOO?

PAY NO ATTENTION TO HER, BESIDES, I CAN'T.

I HAVE A PROPOSAL TO WRITE.

AND A FRIEND OF MINE AND I HAVE PLANS.

OH, WHAT KIND OF PLANS DO YOU HAVE?

WE ARE MAKING DINNER.

YOUR FRIEND'S INVITED, TOO.

THEY'D BOTH LOVE TO GO!

SEE? THERE. IT'S SETTLED.

MIKE?

TA-DAH!

TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER.

THANK YOU.

DID YOU MAKE THESE?

WELL, ALONG WITH MY PARTNERS IN CRIME.

THIS IS MY LOVELY NIECE, DARCY,

AND NATHAN, A BAKER IN THE MAKING.

HI.

NICE TO MEET YOU BOTH AND THANK YOU FOR THIS.

WOW. TURTLE BROWNIES, RIGHT?

YOU RECOGNIZE THEM?

I HAVEN'T HAD THESE SINCE I WAS A KID!

I USED TO MAKE THESE WITH MY BABYSITTER, MARIANNE,

YEARS AGO.

WHAT WAS HER LAST NAME?

BURKHART.

BURKHART WAS MY MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME.

THAT WAS YOUR MOM?

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

[♪♪]

-HI, DAD. -HEY.

WHAT'S THAT?

I RAN BY THE HARDWARE STORE

TO PICK UP THE GLASS

TO REPLACE THAT WINDOW UPSTAIRS.

YOU STILL HAVE OUR OLD VCR.

YES, AND THAT IS GOING RIGHT BACK UPSTAIRS.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO USE IT AGAIN.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

NEVER SAY NEVER.

SOME WOULD CALL YOU A HOARDER, DAD.

THAT'S FINE BY ME.

OH, HEY. I FOUND SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE.

WHAT IS IT?

COME AND SEE.

I CAME ACROSS THIS IN THE ATTIC YESTERDAY.

IT WAS YOUR MOTHER'S.

A KEY...

WHAT'S IT FOR?

NO IDEA.

BUT SHE USED TO WEAR IT A LOT WHEN WE FIRST MET.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO HAVE IT.

THANK YOU, DAD.

NOW IT'S MY TURN.

AUNT KATHY AND I MADE SOME OF MOM'S TURTLE BROWNIES.

NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY HER DESSERTS ARE SO FAMOUS.

WHAT'S WRONG?

NOTHING, SWEETIE.

DAD, I DIDN'T MEAN TO UPSET YOU.

NO, NO, IT'S OKAY.

I'M...

I'M JUST GOING TO GO GET STARTED ON THAT WINDOW.

THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH ME.

OH, SURE.

AFTER ALL I'VE HEARD,

I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THIS GUY FOR MYSELF.

THE FINAL TWO GUESTS!

YES! I LOVE HAVING NEW PEOPLE AT MY PARTY.

SORRY WE'RE LATE.

-YOU MUST BE MINDY. -THAT'S ME.

GET ON IN HERE!

AFTER YOU.

OKAY, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU GUYS TO EVERYBODY.

WE'VE GOT DAVE AND SAMANTHA.

MY MAN, OSCAR.

CARRIE AND SOFIA.

EVERYBODY, THIS IS MINDY AND DARCY.

THEY'RE BOTH SCIENTISTS,

BUT DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST THEM.

[CHUCKLING]

THE GAME OF HEARTS ALWAYS GETS OUT OF HAND.

DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BET MONEY.

OH, EVEN SCIENTISTS LIKE A GOOD GAME OF CARDS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, MINDY?

I SAY DEAL US IN.

AND WATCH OUT. WE PLAY TO WIN.

NICE.

[♪♪]

NATHAN, I AM HAVING A REALLY NICE TIME.

GOOD.

HOW MANY WINS IS THAT?

SEVEN, EIGHT?

MINDY'S CLEANING UP.

I'M NOT EVEN IN THERE TO HELP.

I KNOW, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I MEAN, WHO WOULD'VE GUESSED

THAT YOU TWO WOULD BE SO GOOD AT CARDS?

WELL, WE ARE SCIENTISTS,

SO NUMBERS, PROBABILITY--

IT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO.

[CHUCKLES]

THAT IS TRUE.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE

THE LEFTBRAINED PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD.

HEY, HEY, I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU SOCIALIZE.

I ALWAYS WORRY THAT

YOU'RE LOCKED AWAY IN A LABORATORY SOMEWHERE.

SELF-IMPOSED EXILE.

WELL, IT'S NICE TO SEE

THAT YOUR FRIENDS ARE ACTUAL HUMANS.

I WAS STARTING TO THINK THEY COULD BE ALL CARTOONS.

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE, I KNOW.

IT'S REALLY NICE OUT HERE.

ISN'T IT?

YEAH, IT WAS LIKE THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE PLACE.

HERE, COME TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

COME HERE.

NOW, REMEMBER, USE YOUR IMAGINATION.

YOU HAVE TO PICTURE THIS WITHOUT THE RAIN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? IT'S KIND OF MAGICAL, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WITH A TABLE HERE,

SOME CHAIRS,

MAYBE A LITTLE CANDLELIGHT?

CANDLELIGHT?

YEAH.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

GUYS CAN BE INTO THAT KIND OF THING, TOO.

THEY'RE JUST NOT SUPPOSED TO.

OLD RULES OF MASCULINITY.

I LIKE IT.

EMBRACING YOUR ROMANTIC SIDE IN SPITE OF OLD STEREOTYPES.

WELL... WHY HOLD ON TO THEM?

MY DAD GAVE ME THIS TODAY.

IT WAS MY MOM'S.

I GAVE HIM SOME OF THE BROWNIES WE MADE, TOO,

AND HE ACTED REALLY STRANGE ABOUT IT.

WHY?

IT MADE HIM MISS HER, I GUESS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT'S FOR?

NO CLUE.

IT'S INTERESTING HOW THESE THINGS

KEEP FINDING THEIR WAY TO YOU.

IMPARTING WISDOM ALONG THE WAY.

IT'S TURNING OUT TO BE A GOOD EXERCISE, DON'T YOU THINK?

NORMALLY, I WOULD BE

THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THAT THAT'S CRAZY.

BUT NOW?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE SHOULD GET BACK INSIDE.

[♪♪]

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT YOU'RE NOT THERE YET.

YOU'RE STILL WORKING WITH PROFESSOR RILEY?

YES.

GOOD. KEEP WORKING WITH HIM. HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

ALSO, THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE HAS SET A DEADLINE.

I'M GOING TO NEED THAT IN ORDER BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

NO PROBLEM. YOU'LL HAVE IT.

KEEP ME POSTED.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

THERE'S ONLY ONE SENTENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

"OCEANIC LIFE IS SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD,

"AND IT HAS CAPTURED MY LOVE AND ATTENTION

AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER."

GREAT, BUT WHERE'S THE REST OF IT?

I DELETED IT.

WHY?

BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID IT SOUNDED STUPID

AND I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT DR. REED THOUGHT.

YOU CAN'T BE AFRAID OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

IT BLOCKS ALL POSITIVE ENERGY FLOW.

YOU'LL NEVER PUT ANYTHING DOWN ON PAPER.

WELL, MAYBE THAT'S NOT SUCH A BAD THING.

BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THE BEST PART--

WHEN SOMEBODY READS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY

AND LIKES IT--

LIKE I JUST DID.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING INTERESTING.

IT'S STILL TERRIFYING.

GREAT, GREAT!

KEEP DOING WHAT'S TERRIFYING.

JUST ELABORATE, PLEASE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET THIS FINISHED

BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

YOU'LL GET THERE.

JUST TAKE A BREATH.

ENJOY THE RIDE.

JUST DON'T CENSOR YOURSELF.

I SHOULD GET GOING.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED?

YOU NEED A BREAK.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

TRUST ME.

WHENEVER I'M FEELING OVERWHELMED,

IT'S TIME TO SHIFT MY ENERGY,

CLEAR MY HEAD.

WHAT DO YOU SAY YOU AND ME, WE GO HAVE SOME FUN?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY FUN?

I HEAR THERE'S THIS GREAT PLACE DOWNTOWN

THAT MAKES UNUSUAL PIZZA.

APPARENTLY, THERE'S ONE WITH BLACK BEANS AND PEPPERS

THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF THIS WORLD.

THAT SOUNDS STRANGE AND QUITE AWFUL, ACTUALLY.

WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY IT?

I REALLY SHOULD BE WORKING.

COME ON. IT'LL BE GOOD FOR YOU.

I'LL GET YOU HOME EARLY. I PROMISE.

OKAY, SO WHAT DID THE ZERO SAY TO THE 8?

I DON'T KNOW.

NICE BELT.

OH! MY DAD WILL LOVE THAT ONE.

SO, ARE YOU-- ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH ALL THAT?

ADMIT IT. YOURS IS TERRIBLE!

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I KIND OF LIKED IT.

NO, YOU LIKED THE PEPPERONI PIZZA I ORDERED,

WHICH IS WHY YOU WANT ANOTHER SLICE.

FACE IT.

WEIRD AND UNUSUAL IS DARING,

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT EDIBLE.

OKAY.

THAT IS TRUE.

BUT ADMIT IT,

YOU'RE HAVING FUN.

MAYBE.

A LITTLE.

I HAVE TO SAY,

IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.

THANKS.

SEE, YOU'RE TAKING THE HINT THAT LIFE SENT YOU,

AND IT PAID OFF.

WHICH IS WHY I THINK

YOU SHOULDN'T GIVE UP ON YOUR MOM'S LIST.

NO, NOT THAT AGAIN.

I'M SERIOUS, I'M SERIOUS.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THINGS DO HAPPEN IN THE UNIVERSE

THAT AREN'T CONTROLLED BY DESTINY

AND PREDETERMINED OUTCOME.

THEY DO?

YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE.

I TRY.

OKAY, LET'S JUST SAY FOR A SECOND YOU'RE RIGHT,

THERE IS SOME GREATER PURPOSE

I'M SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF ALL THIS.

WHAT IS IT?

WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE TRYING TO TELL ME?

WELL, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER,

THEN IT HASN'T REVEALED ITSELF YET.

YOU DO REALIZE YOU SOUND LIKE A FORTUNE COOKIE

WHEN YOU TALK LIKE THAT, RIGHT?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW.

SPEAKING OF WHICH,

I DID SOME HOMEWORK FOR YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THE LAST TWO NAMES

ON YOUR MOM'S LIST.

THERE'S A MOLLY DIXON AND A RUSS HAMILTON.

THE CHAMPAGNE GLASSES GO TO MOLLY,

AND THE ANTIQUE CHAIRS GO TO RUSS.

WAIT, YOU'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS?

WELL, YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO DO IT ALL ON YOUR OWN, NOW, CAN YOU?

SO, RUSS HAMILTON AND THE CHAIRS ARE A NO-GO.

NO LOCAL LISTING.

I DID A WIDER SEARCH,

BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S TOO MANY TO SORT THROUGH, SO...

I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY DESTINY TELLING US TO GIVE UP.

WELL, NOT SO FAST,

BECAUSE I DID MAKE TRACTION ON THE GLASSES.

THE NAME MOLLY DIXON.

KATHY RECOGNIZED IT.

SHE SAID MOLLY MOVED UP TO ALBANY.

I CHECKED THAT OUT.

SHE'S GOT A GIFT SHOP IN TOWN.

SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY

WE DRIVE UP THERE TOMORROW?

YOU CALLED MY AUNT KATHY?

ARE YOU KIDDING? WE EVEN BAKED TOGETHER.

WE'RE LIKE FAMILY NOW.

[LAUGHS]

I--I SHOULD REALLY BE GETTING HOME.

IT'S LATE.

SO I'LL PICK YOU UP TOMORROW MORNING?

HER SHOP OPENS AT 11:00.

SO, SAY 10:30?

OKAY.

YEAH?

[CHUCKLES] OKAY.

HERE THEY ARE.

HI.

HI.

SO, LET'S GET GOING.

I NEED TO GET BACK SOON

SO I CAN WORK ON MY PROPOSAL.

FAIR ENOUGH.

GOOD MORNING.

CAN I HELP YOU FOLKS?

HI.

YES, WE'RE LOOKING FOR MOLLY DIXON?

MOLLY? SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN TODAY,

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN HER YET.

WE WERE HOPING TO TALK TO HER.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN SHE MIGHT BE IN?

I'M EXPECTING HER ANYTIME.

OKAY, WELL, IF YOU DON'T MIND,

WE'LL JUST WAIT AROUND A BIT.

SURE. FEEL FREE TO LOOK ABOUT.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE, LET ME KNOW.

-THANK YOU. -THANKS.

OKAY.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?

AT LEAST AN HOUR.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

EXCUSE ME.

YES?

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM MOLLY?

NOT AT ALL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE KEEPS HER OWN SCHEDULE.

MAYBE WE'LL TRY BACK LATER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE?

NO, NO, THAT'S OKAY.

BUT THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. BYE-BYE.

BYE.

THANKS.

WE SHOULD'VE CALLED AHEAD.

WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK ANOTHER DAY.

I DON'T KNOW, NATHAN.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I THINK IT'S TIME TO GIVE UP.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT LIFE SENDING MESSAGES,

WE SHOULD TAKE THE HINT.

[ALERT BEEPS]

-OH, NO. -WHAT'S THAT?

MY CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT JUST CAME ON.

PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE KIDDING.

I WISH I WERE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

YEAH, I KNOW. HANG ON.

[TURN SIGNAL CLICKING]

THANK GOODNESS.

HI.

I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE STRANDED OUT HERE FOREVER.

ARE YOU OKAY?

OH, I'M FINE.

I HAD SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD,

AND I PULLED OVER.

WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,

WE'RE HAVING CAR TROUBLE, TOO.

OH.

AT LEAST I THOUGHT WE WERE.

WHAT IS IT?

THE LIGHT JUST WENT OFF.

HEY, DO ONE OF YOU HAVE A PHONE I COULD BORROW

SO I COULD CALL FOR HELP?

OF COURSE.

WOULDN'T YOU KNOW I LEFT MY PHONE AT HOME.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY MIND WAS THIS MORNING.

YEAH, HERE, USE MINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.

[DIALING]

[LINE RINGING]

OH, HI, MY CAR BROKE DOWN, AND I NEED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.

CAN YOU SEND SOMEBODY?

GREAT, YEAH.

MY NAME IS MOLLY DIXON.

I'M DRIVING A SILVER WAGON...

EXCUSE ME.

YOU'RE MOLLY?

YEAH--

WOULD YOU HOLD, PLEASE?

YES?

THE ONE WHO OWNS THE GIFT SHOP IN ALBANY?

ONE AND THE SAME, YES.

DO I KNOW YOU?

WELL, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT

THAT YOU'D BE DRIVING BY RIGHT WHERE I WAS STRANDED?

WELL, IT'S A GOOD THING WE PULLED OVER WHEN WE DID.

YEAH.

HEY, WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR CAR?

WELL, THE GUY THAT TOWED YOUR CAR

TOOK A LOOK AT IT,

AND HE SAID IT ALL CHECKED OUT.

HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

WELL, THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT,

AND FOR DRIVING ME HOME.

I'M REALLY GLAD YOU GUYS CAN STAY FOR SUPPER.

IT'S THE LEAST I CAN DO.

SHE WANTED TO GIVE THESE TO YOU.

WOW.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

WERE YOU CLOSE WITH MY MOM?

I USED TO TEACH BEFORE I STARTED MY SHOP,

AND YOUR MOM AND I TAUGHT TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

UNTIL SHE STOPPED WORKING TO START A FAMILY.

AND WHY THE CHAMPAGNE GLASSES?

I THINK THESE WERE MEANT TO BE A WEDDING GIFT.

REALLY?

SHORTLY AFTER MARIANNE AND I MET, I FELL IN LOVE,

HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE

WITH THIS GUY.

BUT I HAD BEEN HURT,

AND I WAS AFRAID TO GET INVOLVED.

WOULD YOU PASS THE VEGETABLES, LOVE?

OH, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU.

I TALKED IT OVER WITH MARIANNE.

I CRIED, SHE CRIED.

LOVELY THING ABOUT YOUR MOTHER,

YOU WOULD TELL HER THINGS,

AND IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS GOING THROUGH IT

RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

WELL, SHE GAVE ME SOME GREAT ADVICE.

SHE SAID I JUST HAD TO ROLL THE DICE AGAIN.

BECAUSE IF IT WAS TRUE LOVE,

YOU MIGHT NOT FIND IT AGAIN.

AND I AM SO GLAD I DID,

BECAUSE THAT MAN IS STILL MY HUSBAND.

[CHUCKLES IN WONDER]

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

YEAH.

HE'S TRAVELING FOR WORK RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS TOO BAD.

HE WOULD'VE...

HE WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE MET YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU REMEMBER ABOUT MY MOM

THAT STANDS OUT?

THERE IS ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS ADMIRED ABOUT HER.

SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED OUT OF LIFE.

I WAS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE.

ALWAYS FUMBLING FOR DIRECTION,

BUT NOT HER.

SHE KNEW.

WHAT WAS IT?

IT WAS ALL ABOUT YOU.

MARIANNE'S BIG DREAM IN LIFE WAS...

TO BE A MOM.

AND WHEN YOU CAME ALONG,

SHE JUST WANTED TO SEE YOU GROW UP

AND BE HAPPY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT WAS GREAT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.

OH, HANG ON...

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

I GOTTA TAKE THIS.

SORRY.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

WHERE'S YOUR FRIEND?

OH, HE HAD TO TAKE A CALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL NIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND HERE.

I BELIEVE MY MOM WANTED YOU TO HAVE THESE.

I THINK THESE BELONG WITH YOU.

AND JUST REMEMBER,

IF YOU'RE EVER IN THE SAME PLACE I WAS,

REMEMBER YOUR MOM'S ADVICE.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE SCARY, BUT...

IT'S WORTH THE RISK.

IT WAS LOVELY TO MEET YOU, IN THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WAY.

THANK YOU.

[CHUCKLING] OKAY. I WILL, I WILL.

YES, YEAH, OKAY.

OKAY. OKAY. BYE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT WAS MY MOM.

SHE WANTS ME TO CALL HER

TO LET HER KNOW I GOT HOME OKAY.

HEY... WHAT'S WRONG?

YOU'RE LUCKY, TO HAVE A MOM WHO WORRIES ABOUT YOU.

WHO YOU CAN CALL.

I'VE... I'VE NEVER KNOWN WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

I'M SO SORRY.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M ACTING THIS WAY.

GETTING WORKED UP, IT CLOUDS YOUR JUDGMENT.

THAT'S WHAT MY DAD ALWAYS SAYS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

AND FROM WHAT I KNOW ABOUT YOUR MOM,

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SHE WOULD EITHER.

NATHAN, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE.

COME HERE.

COME HERE.

[TYPING RAPIDLY]

THANK YOU.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

TERRIBLE.

AND THE WRITING?

IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE WHAT ANYONE WANTS,

SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT GIVING UP.

NO, NO, NO WAY.

NO QUITTING ALLOWED.

BESIDES...

I LIKE THIS NEW VERSION OF YOU.

NOW, AS FOR THE CHAIRS, OKAY--

NATHAN, I HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO.

YEAH, BUT THEY'RE THE LAST THING ON THE LIST.

WE HAVE TO FINISH.

YOUR PAPER'S NOT DUE TILL FRIDAY.

WE HAVE A TON OF TIME.

WELL, AT THE RATE I'M GOING,

I DON'T THINK PROCRASTINATING IS A VERY GOOD IDEA.

ISN'T THE PRIORITY SUPPOSED TO BE

TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROPOSAL?

I'M TRYING TO.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT,

YOUR MOM'S LIST IS PART OF THIS SOMEHOW--

I REALLY, I CAN'T.

I CAN'T, I CAN'T,

I JUST CAN'T HANDLE THIS RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, WELL, IF NOTHING ELSE,

WE HAVE A BET GOING.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT ANYMORE,

BUT THANK YOU.

DARCY, LISTEN TO ME.

NATHAN, THIS ISN'T HELPING.

NO, IT IS, IT IS HELPING.

FEELING ALL OF THIS IS HELPING YOU.

I KNOW IT'S HARD,

BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

LOOK AT ALL THE GOOD THAT'S COME OUT OF IT.

FINDING OUT MY MOTHER WAS THIS GREAT PERSON

I'LL NEVER GET TO KNOW?

I CAN'T KEEP RELIVING THAT.

I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS

ABOUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.

I DON'T EITHER.

BUT IF I'M RIGHT,

AND THIS DOES TURN OUT TO BE SOMETHING

THAT'S HELPING YOU,

THEN YOU'LL KNOW.

ISN'T THAT REASON ENOUGH TO FINISH?

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?

THE LIBRARY.

I WANT TO CHECK SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.

FOR WHAT?

LOCAL PHONE BOOKS.

THE LIBRARY KEEPS THEM ON FILE.

AND YOU THINK

MAYBE WE CAN FIND AN OLD LISTING

FOR RUSS HAMILTON?

MAYBE AN ADDRESS, TOO.

WELL, IT'S A LONG SHOT AT BEST.

ALL THE MORE REASON TO TRY.

FIND ANYTHING?

NOT YET.

I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT IS IT?

R. HAMILTON. THERE'S A LISTING.

HOW OLD?

THIS IS 1985.

[DIALING CALL]

[TAPPING IN EXCITEMENT]

[OPERATOR]: WE'RE SORRY...

NO LONGER IN SERVICE.

BUT THERE IS AN ADDRESS.

2110 CYPRESS AVENUE.

THAT'S WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

LET'S GO.

NATHAN...

COME ON, LET'S GO.

THIS IS IT.

YOU READY?

LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH.

OH, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.

BEVERLY?

DARCY, RIGHT?

YES. HI.

YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER?

WE'VE MET BRIEFLY.

NATHAN, THIS IS BEVERLY.

HELLO.

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A RUSS HAMILTON?

OH. ON, RUSS AND HIS WIFE HAVEN'T LIVED HERE FOR YEARS.

I BOUGHT THE HOUSE FROM HIM.

DO YOU KNOW IF HE'S STILL AROUND?

LAST I HEARD,

HE WAS IN THE DENVER AREA,

BUT THAT WAS 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO.

HMM, BY ANY CHANCE,

DO YOU HAVE HIS CONTACT INFORMATION?

WELL, I MAY HAVE AN OLD FORWARDING ADDRESS,

BUT IT'S BOUND TO BE OUT OF DATE.

WE DIDN'T STAY IN TOUCH AFTER THE HOUSE SOLD, SO...

WELL, IT'S WORTH A SHOT.

WELL, COME IN.

MY GOODNESS.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?

CRAZY, HUH?

IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

WELL, IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN,

BUT, UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO TRACK DOWN

SOME OF MY MOTHER'S OLD FRIENDS.

AH.

SHE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT

A LONG TIME AGO.

OH, I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

SHE WAS KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER.

HOW AWFUL.

WHEN-WHEN WAS THIS?

I WAS A YEAR OLD, SO '85.

AND THE DATE?

SEPTEMBER 23rd.

BEVERLY?

BEVERLY, ARE YOU OKAY?

THIS IS MY SON.

MY ONE AND ONLY.

BIG FOOTBALL FAN.

USED TO PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL,

BUT QUIT WHEN HE GOT TO COLLEGE.

BUT HE LOVED TO GO TO THE GAMES.

THERE WAS A BIG WIN AT OUR HOME GAME

ONE SATURDAY NIGHT,

AND I GUESS...

A PARTY BROKE OUT

IN THE PARKING LOT.

I TOLD HIM HUNDREDS OF TIMES

NEVER TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR

IF HE HAD BEEN DRINKING.

WHEN HE DIDN'T COME HOME BY MIDNIGHT,

I KNEW...

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

WAIT, WHAT?

MY HEART WAS BROKEN

WHEN THE POLICE TOLD ME.

HE HIT SOMEONE.

BEN...

BEN DAVIS.

THAT WAS THE NAME OF THE DRIVER THAT HIT MY MOTHER.

THAT WAS MY BOY.

MY CHILD.

YOUR MOTHER'S NAME WAS MARIANNE, WASN'T IT?

DARCY!

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, HOLD ON.

HOLD ON. HANG ON.

HEY, HEY, JUST WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY!

NO, PLEASE, NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE.

I KNOW. I KNOW, IT'S INCREDIBLE--

JUST STOP WITH THE CRAZY EXPLANATIONS.

THIS WHOLE THING HAS JUST MADE EVERYTHING WORSE.

DARCY.

I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP ANYMORE.

DARCY, WAIT!

JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, PLEASE.

[FOOTSTEPS RUNNING AWAY]

[♪♪]

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[KNOCKING]

DAD?

HEY, SORRY TO STOP BY UNANNOUNCED, BUT...

YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO TALK?

OF COURSE.

COME ON IN.

CAN I GET YOU SOME TEA OR COFFEE?

UH... TEA WOULD BE GREAT.

OKAY.

HOW'S THE PAPER COMING?

DON'T ASK.

YOU STILL WORKING WITH THAT INSTRUCTOR?

NO.

NO, THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

YOU STILL GOT TO HAND SOMETHING IN, THOUGH, RIGHT?

I WILL.

SO, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?

IT'S...

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SHARE THINGS ABOUT YOUR MOM.

I KNOW.

I KNOW THAT, DAD,

AND I'M REALLY SORRY,

I DID NOT MEAN TO UPSET YOU

THE OTHER DAY.

THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

YOUR MOM USED TO...

TRY TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY.

I'VE HEARD THAT.

SHE USED TO CALL ME SO MANY TIMES IN A DAY.

SHE'D CALL ME TO TELL ME WHERE SHE WAS,

WHERE SHE WAS GOING,

WHAT TIME SHE WAS PLANNING ON BEING HOME.

TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

IT KIND OF DROVE ME A LITTLE CRAZY.

I'D TELL HER,

"IT'S OKAY, YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME

"EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE DAY,

"EVERY MOMENT.

"JUST DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO,

AND COME HOME WHEN YOU'RE READY."

THIS IS GREAT, DAD.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HER.

THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT,

SHE HAD BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS ALL DAY,

AND IT WAS GETTING PRETTY LATE.

THE PHONE RANG.

I HAD JUST SAT DOWN.

I'D JUST FINISHED PUTTING YOU TO BED,

AND I WAS... I WAS EXHAUSTED.

I KNEW WHY SHE WAS CALLING,

SO I LET IT RING,

AND...

AND THEN I LET IT KEEP RINGING.

EVER SINCE,

THE ONLY THING I THINK ABOUT IS

WHAT IF I HAD JUST PICKED UP?

IT WAS MOM.

WHAT IF I HAD TALKED TO HER,

JUST LONG ENOUGH TO SLOW HER DOWN?

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THAT INTERSECTION

WHEN SHE WAS,

AND SHE WOULD STILL BE HERE.

DAD...

I WAS STUPID.

IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT.

IF I'D JUST PICKED UP.

YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

YOU USED TO ALWAYS ASK ME,

"WHERE DID MOMMY GO?"

I COULDN'T TELL YOU...

IT WAS BECAUSE OF ME.

THIS WASN'T YOUR FAULT.

IT'S OKAY.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

HI.

HI.

I'M SO GLAD YOU CALLED.

[SIGHS]

IT'S BEEN A HARD FEW DAYS, HUH?

MM-HMM.

YEAH.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I WANTED TO TRACK YOU DOWN

THESE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW

IF THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I MEAN, IN THIS SITUATION, IS THERE SUCH A THING?

I DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS ALL SO STRANGE AND HARD TO BELIEVE.

I MEAN, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT

WE'D HAVE CROSSED PATHS LIKE THIS?

YOU KNOW, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE...

SOMETHING BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WISH

I COULD TAKE BACK EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO EXCUSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS THINKING.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE, BUT HOW DO I DO THAT?

I MEAN, HOW DO YOU MAKE UP FOR SOMETHING SO...

UNFORGIVABLE?

LOOK, I LOST SOMEONE I WILL NEVER GET BACK...

YEAH.

AND YOU DID, TOO.

YEAH. WELL...

IT'S THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DO

IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING?

SURE.

HOW DID YOU?

WHAT?

GET-GET THROUGH IT, I MEAN.

[SIGHING]

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, WHEN IT ALL FEELS LIKE IT'S COLLAPSING,

AND THERE'S NO HOPE.

SOMEHOW,

YOU REALLY JUST HAVE TO...

YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF ON TWO FEET

AND YOU KEEP MOVING

AND YOU KEEP FORGING AHEAD.

EVEN WHEN YOU REALLY JUST WANT TO GIVE UP?

OH, MY DEAR, ESPECIALLY THEN.

SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

MAYBE WE TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH THIS,

THE BEST WE CAN.

I LIKE THAT IDEA.

OH, BUT WAIT, BEFORE I FORGET.

I DID A LITTLE DIGGING

AND FOUND AN OLD NUMBER FOR THE HAMILTONS,

BEFORE THEY WENT TO DENVER.

AND AFTER MAKING SOME CALLS,

I TRACKED DOWN THEIR NUMBER FOR YOU.

HA-HA.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

ANYTIME.

YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK, OKAY?

I DO THINK YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE FOR A VERY SPECIAL REASON.

OKAY?

I WILL.

YOU BETTER.

[CHUCKLES]

[DIALING]

[LINE RINGING]

NATHAN HERE.

CAN'T PICK UP, SO LEAVE A MESSAGE.

I'LL GET BACK TO YOU. [BEEP]

NATHAN, HEY, IT'S DARCY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M REALLY SORRY

FOR WHAT I SAID THE OTHER DAY.

I WAS UPSET.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU REALLY...

YOU REALLY HAVE HELPED ME.

MORE THAN YOU KNOW.

SO, CALL ME WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE.

[WHISPERING] I CAN DO THIS.

[TYPING RAPIDLY]

BETTER.

REALLY?

DR. DARCY MILLER HAS A NICE RING TO IT,

DON'T YOU THINK?

THANK YOU, DR. REED.

LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP WITH THE JOB SEARCH.

YOU CAN COUNT ON ME FOR A RECOMMENDATION.

ACTUALLY, THAT IS SOMETHING

I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

[LAUGHING]

[WOMAN]: COME ON, SWEETHEART.

WE HAVE TO GO.

[CELLPHONE RINGS]

AUNT KATHY?

HI, HONEY. DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE?

OF COURSE, WHAT'S UP?

WHERE ARE YOU?

I'M JUST HEADING HOME. WHY?

WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING I FOUND THAT I WANT YOU TO SEE.

OOH, WHAT IS IT?

ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT

IT'S SOMETHING I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO LIKE.

CAN YOU COME OVER?

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

THAT'S MARIANNE'S HANDWRITING.

THESE WERE OBVIOUSLY YOUR MOTHER'S OLD TEXTBOOKS.

WHERE DID YOU FIND THESE?

IN THE GARAGE.

I MEAN, WITH MIKE STILL ON THE MEND,

I WENT LOOKING FOR A HAMMER AND A NAIL,

AND I FOUND THEM IN A STACK OF OLD BOXES.

WELL, THIS MUST BE AN OLD COLLEGE ADDRESS.

AND... THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

-WHAT DO YOU THINK'S ON THIS? -NO IDEA.

I'D SAY HAVE A LOOK,

BUT I DON'T HAVE A VCR.

I GOT RID OF MINE A LONG TIME AGO.

THAT'S OKAY, DAD STILL HAS ONE AT HOME.

SO YOU FOUND ALL OF THIS IN THE GARAGE?

YEAH.

ANY IDEA HOW IT GOT THERE?

NO, I DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

I MEAN, IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN MIXED UP WITH FRANK'S THINGS,

BUT HOW OR WHEN, I HAVE NO IDEA.

[FRANK]: LET'S GO DOWNSTAIRS.

[FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS]

[FRANK]: THERE SHE IS.

[MARIANNE]: TIME FOR BREAKFAST.

LOOK AT HER.

SHE WAS HUNGRY THIS MORNING.

[FRANK]: HOW DOES IT FEEL,

BEING A NEW MOM?

[MARIANNE]: IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

EVERYTHING I'D HOPED IT WOULD BE,

AND THEN SOME.

[FRANK]: THIS IS OUR DAUGHTER, DARCY.

SAY HI, DARCY.

[MARIANNE]: SAY HI.

HI, DADDY.

HOW ARE YOU?

OH!

[FRANK]: SHE DID GREAT LAST NIGHT, DIDN'T SHE?

[MARIANNE]: SHE DID.

SHE HIT THE PILLOW AND WAS OUT LIKE A LIGHT.

JUST LIKE HER MOM.

[FRANK]: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, HONEY?

[MARIANNE]: SO MANY THINGS.

EVERYTHING I WANT FOR HER.

I HOPE SHE KNOWS I'LL ALWAYS BE THERE WITH HER,

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

DARCY.

EXCUSE ME,

DR. DARCY MILLER.

I LOVE THE SOUND OF THAT.

I ALWAYS KNEW YOU COULD DO IT, HONEY.

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.

THANK YOU, DAD.

YOUR MOM WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU, TOO.

I KNOW THAT NOW.

I FEEL LIKE SHE'S WITH ME SOMEHOW.

WHAT?

YOU SOUND JUST LIKE HER.

[LAUGHING]

I LOVE YOU, DAD.

I LOVE YOU TOO, SWEETHEART.

SO...

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT LOOKS GREAT.

SOMEDAY,

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE HOUSE.

OH, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT, DO WE?

[LAUGHS]

JUST LIKE NEW.

LOOKS GOOD, HUH?

MM-HMM.

AND PERFECT TIMING.

YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?

YOUR MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY.

THANK YOU...

FOR COMING WITH ME TODAY.

I'M GLAD I FINALLY DID.

YOU KNOW, NATHAN SAYS

EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT SURE ANY OF US

REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

WHY?

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHY THERE'S BEEN

A LOT OF STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING RECENTLY.

AND HOW EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN FINDING OUT ABOUT MOM,

IT'S BEEN HELPING ME.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

WELL, MAYBE FINDING THAT LIST OF MOM'S

WASN'T REALLY AN ACCIDENT.

YOU KNOW THOSE TEXTBOOKS

I TOLD YOU AUNT KATHY FOUND?

YEAH.

WELL, THERE WAS AN ADDRESS IN THEM,

MAYBE IT WAS AN OLD COLLEGE ADDRESS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY WE DRIVE BY?

JUST TO SEE.

WHY NOT?

AND HERE IT IS,

2162.

YUP, THAT'S IT.

THIS IS THE HOUSE WHERE MOM USED TO LIVE?

YEAH.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT

THAN I REMEMBER,

BUT I STILL RECOGNIZE IT.

DAD, I KNOW THIS HOUSE.

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

HI.

YOU'RE EARLY.

I COULDN'T WAIT.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME OVER TONIGHT.

YEAH.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.

I TURNED MY PHONE OFF.

JUST WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON,

I FELT LIKE I SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY MOM.

I HAVEN'T DONE THAT ENOUGH LATELY.

LISTEN, I'M REALLY SORRY.

EVERYTHING JUST HIT ME SO FAST,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

THAT'S OKAY.

I DON'T WANT TO PUSH YOU AWAY.

WHAT, YOU THINK YOU CAN GET RID OF ME THAT EASILY?

I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.

COME WITH ME.

YOU DID ALL OF THIS?

I DID.

TURNS OUT

EVERYTHING ON MOM'S LIST

ADDS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MAGIC BACK HERE.

ALONG WITH A LITTLE CANDLELIGHT.

BEVERLY FOUND AN OLD NUMBER FOR RUSS HAMILTON,

SO I CALLED HIM.

TURNS OUT

THAT HE HAD LOANED THESE CHAIRS TO MOM

YEARS AGO.

SAID I SHOULD KEEP THEM AND PUT THEM TO GOOD USE.

SO I DID.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

EXCEPT...

THANK YOU.

[CLINKING GLASSES]

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

IS THAT YOUR MOM?

SHE'S IN HER GARDEN.

AND IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE YOUR BACKYARD,

DON'T YOU THINK?

WAIT A MINUTE, YOU DON'T MEAN THAT...

MM-HMM.

AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW I GOT IN

THROUGH YOUR LOCKED GATE...

MOM'S KEY STILL WORKS.

[CHUCKLING IN WONDER]

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

I LOVE THIS.

I KNEW YOU WOULD.

[CHUCKLING]

AND I'M OFFICIALLY GRADUATED NOW, THANKS TO YOU.

YOUR PROPOSAL.

YES.

SO, YOU HANDED IT IN.

I DID.

AND I'VE TAKEN A JOB,

WORKING WITH DR. REED,

SO I WILL BE LIVING HERE.

REALLY?

WELL, I LIKE THAT.

GO WITH ME FOR A MINUTE.

LET'S SAY YOUR THEORY IS RIGHT,

THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE HAPPENS FOR A REASON...

YEAH?

THAT MEANS THAT EVERYTHING LED ME TO YOU.

INTERESTING.

[CHUCKLING]

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

I DON'T KNOW,

BUT WHATEVER THE REASON IS,

I THINK IT'S TIME

I START LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE LIFE IS SENDING ME.

WELL, SURELY THERE IS A MORE LOGICAL EXPLANATION.

[CHUCKLING]

RANDOM CHANCE MAYBE, OR STATISTICAL PROBABILITY?

THOSE THINGS STILL APPLY.

JUST MAYBE NOT TO EVERYTHING.

WAIT, DOES THAT MEAN THAT I DIDN'T WIN THE BET?

[LAUGHING]

I THINK...

I THINK WE BOTH WON.

YEAH.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]