All language subtitles for Simon.Birch.1998.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG2_English

(BIRDS COOING)

(CLICKING SOUND)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(BELLS TOLLING)

(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)

Mr. Roberts.

MAN: I am doomed to remember
a boy with a wrecked voice.

Not because of his voice
or because he was...

the smallest person
I ever knew...

or even because
he was the instrument
of my mother's death,

but because he is the reason
I believe in God.

What faith I have,
I owe to Simon Birch,

the boy I grew up with
in Gravestown, Maine.

It is Simon that
made me a believer.

BOY: Hi, Mr. Roberts!

♪ Uh, he likes
bread and butter

♪ Uh, he likes
toast and jam

♪ And that's what
his baby feeds him

♪ And he's her loving man

♪ Well, I like
bread and butter

♪ I like toast and jam

♪ That's what baby feeds me

♪ I'm her loving man

♪ Uh, he likes
bread and butter

♪ Uh, he likes toast
and jam

♪ That's what
his baby feeds him

♪ And he's her loving man

♪ Well, she don't cook
mashed potatoes

♪ She don't cook
T-bone steak

And will
strengthen your heart

all ye that will
hope in the Lord.

♪ Uh, he likes
bread and butter

♪ Uh, he likes toast
and jam ♪

I'm gonna leave you alone
with your thoughts now.

And when I come back
we'll talk about

what we've just read.

Silently and seriously,

(SNORING)
that's how I want you
to think.

MAN:
Our Sunday school teacher
was an unhappy woman

by the name of Miss Leavey.

Her name
suited her perfectly,

as she was always
leaving class.

(ALL GIGGLING)

He's so cute.
(BOY GROANS)

MAN: Simon Birch was so tiny
that we loved to pick him up.

Hey, put me down.

In truth, we couldn't resist
picking him up.

We thought it was a miracle
how little he weighed.

Cut it out,
you assholes.

Hey, no tickling.

(SIGHS)
SIMON: I'm warning you.

BOY: Pass him to me!

MISS LEAVEY:
Simon Birch?

Down!

MAN: I never understood
Miss Leavey's reaction.

Did she think Simon
climbed up there on his own?

Or that leaving us alone
with our thoughts

had so empowered us that

Simon was levitating up
to heaven?

But Simon was no rat.
As vividly as any story
in the Bible,

Simon showed us what
a martyr was.

Simon Birch
was the smallest delivery

ever recorded in the
history of Gravestown
Memorial Hospital.

DOCTOR: Okay, Mrs. Birch,

the nurse is gonna
give you a shot here
to help with the pain,

and then
we'll get started.
Okay.

(SNEEZING)
Gesundheit!

Ooh! Ooh!
Doctor!

(BABY COOING)
Oh, dear.

Oh.

MAN: Simon's father owned
the Birch Granite Company.

Mr. Birch was a big believer
in the rock.

And just about everything
in their house was made
from granite,

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
including Mr. Birch.

Eh...

(BABIES COOING)
DOCTOR: Excuse us,
please. Excuse us.

Excuse us, please.
Heh!

MAN: Along with just
about everything else,

Simon was born
with an undersized heart.

The prognosis wasn't good,
and Dr. Wells warned

the Birches that
Simon probably wouldn't
last through the night.

Fit right there
in the palm of my hand.

But he did.

Still, the complication
seemed too great,
and Dr. Wells warned

the Birches that
Simon probably wouldn't
last through the week.

But he did.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

The Birches didn't know what
to make of their peculiar,
little disappointment.

So they made nothing
of it at all.

MR. BIRCH:
I'm going to work.

MAN: Weeks turned into months.

And months
turned into years.

Come on, we're late.

No, you're late.
I'm just riding with you.

MAN: The doctors proclaimed
Simon a miracle.

And he was quick
to remind any of us
if we forgot.

SIMON: Not so fast.
Slow down.

I'm a miracle,
you know.
Yeah. Yeah.

MAN: But even miracles
can't go on forever.

And although we never talked
about it, it was never far
from our minds.

MAN 1: (LAUGHS)
Here they come,

the Wenteworth bastard
and his granite mouse.

Hey, Birch, nice sidecar.
What you use? A matchbox?

(BICYCLE BELL RINGS)
Have a nice day.

Goddamn kids got
no respect these days.

(SIMON LAUGHS)

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
It's another beautiful

autumn day, friends,
and so sit back, relax

and so let "Big Daddy"
Dave Barton do the driving,

as we cruise on down
the highway of hits
here on WGV,

the sound of Gravestown.

Let's click on
the turnstiles
of our wax files.

This one goes out
to our Gravestown Tigers.

♪ This cat named Mickey
came from out of town, now ♪

(CONTINUES, INDISTINCT)

MAN: Baseball is a lot like
life for a 12-year-old.

You spent most of your time
waiting for the excitement
to begin,

only to discover later
that it's already
passed you by.

MAN:
Think out there, boys. Okay?
When you're out there, think!

I was just thinking.

Yeah?

Last year we played in
the squirt league, right?

Uh-huh.

And this year
we're in the peewees.

So?

Do they want us to play
baseball or urinate?

Anyway,
I was just thinking.

ADULT JOE: My mom
got pregnant during her
senior year at high school.

The fact that
she refused to divulge
my father's identity

upgraded it to a
full-fledged scandal.
Hi, Joe!

Hi, Miss Wenteworth.

Hi, Simon.

How's my little doll?

Your mother has
the best breasts
of all the mothers.

Yeah.
And she smells
the best too.

I know.
She's so sexy that

sometimes I forget
she's someone's mother.

Okay! Okay!
I was just being honest.

Well, what if I said
the same thing about
your mother?

I'd have you committed.

ADULT JOE: Nobody knew
her secret. Not even me.

And I wouldn't know it
to this day, if it wasn't
for Simon Birch.

Ooh!

(WHISTLES)
Birch, on deck.

Go get 'em,
Simon.

You go, Simon.
You'll be wonderful.

ADULT JOE:
Simon loved baseball.

I'm not sure why.

He rarely got to play

and when he did,
he was ordered not to swing.

His strike zone
was minuscule.

Holy shit!

BOY 1:
Ha! Look at this kid.

It's the friggin' hobbit.

Nah, it's Thumbelina.

You're both wrong.
It's a pinch-hitting munchkin.

UMPIRE: Okay, all right.

Let's play ball.

MISS WENTEWORTH:
Do your thing, Simon.

Show 'em how it's done.

Okay, Foster, he's yours.

0-1.
Good eye, Birch.

Good eye, son.
COACH: Foster, easy.

You don't need your
fastball on this guy.

(CROWD CHATTERING)

0-2.
All right.
Lay it in easy, now.

I'm trying. Shit!

Zero, three.
That was great!

Way to watch.

Thank you,
Miss Wenteworth.

COACH:
All right. Let's go Foster,
buddy. Right in there, buddy.

Ball four!
Shit!

Take your base.
(MUFFLED CHATTERING)

BOY: Whoa!
Take a look at that!

FOSTER: Be waiting
for you next time.

Your head's bigger
than your strike zone, pal.

(GRUNTS)

ADULT JOE: Pitchers always
threatened to hit Simon,
but it rarely happened.

I think they were afraid
of killing him.

Hi! How's it going?

♪ Ah, listen everybody

♪ Especially you, girl

BOY: Six, seven,
eight, nine, ten.

♪ Is it right
to be left alone

♪ While the one you love
is never home

♪ I love too hard
Ah, my friends sometimes say

♪ But I believe
I believe

BOTH: Timber-r-r!

♪ That a woman should
be loved that way

♪ But it hurts me
so inside

♪ To see her treat me
so unkind

Race you to the quarry.

♪ Somebody, somewhere

SIMON: I'm gonna beat you.
I know a shortcut.

No, you don't.

♪ Tell her it's unfair
Can I get a witness

♪ Can I get a witness

One year good luck.

♪ Can I get a witness

One year good luck.

♪ Somebody

♪ Is it right
to be treated so bad

♪ When you've given
everything you have

♪ Even tossin'
in my sleep

♪ 'Cause I haven't seen
my baby all week

♪ Now you chicks
do agree

♪ That this ain't the way
love's supposed to be

Told you
I knew a shortcut.

♪ Let me hear you

♪ Uh, let me hear
you say, yeah

Oh, man,
that's cold.
It's freezing.

♪ Up early in the morning ♪

Oh, man, my balls
just turned into marbles.

My balls just turned
into BBs. (GIGGLES)

(SIGHS)

Time me.
Simon!

Please!
Why does it matter
how long

you can hold
your breath?

I don't know.
It just does.

One Mississippi.
Two Mississippi.

Three Mississippi.
Four Mississippi.

Joe.

(GIRLS GIGGLING)
(SIGHS)

Hi, Joe!
Hi, Ann.

Hi, Marjorie!
What are you guys up to?

No good.
Where's Simon?

He's around.

He's so adorable.
Like a little doll.

Time! Time! Time!

Thirty Mississippi.

Thirty Mississippi?

Thirty Mississippi?
I counted 34 Mississippi.

You know, why do you
have me count it

if you are just gonna
count yourself?

I want
a verification.

Hi, Simon.

♪ You give me fever

♪ When you kiss me
fever when you hold me tight ♪

(GIRLS GIGGLING)
When did they get here?

About 14 Mississippi.
Marjorie's got breasts.

Yeah.

And soon
they'll be boobs.

I know.

Maybe she'll let us
touch them sometime,

if we paid her.

Why don't you ask her?

Oh, uh, Marjorie?
Stop it! Stop it!

Uh, Simon has
a question for you.

What is it, Simon?
Nothing. Good-bye.

He wants to know, uh,
maybe if he paid you,

could he touch your bre...

He wants to know if he
could touch your bre...

Quiet! Okay?

He wants to know if...
(GIGGLING)

He wants to know...
(GIGGLING CONTINUES)

He just wants to know how...

I think Marjorie
likes you.
She likes you.

She said you
were cute.

She means cute
like a baby turtle is cute.

Girls don't kiss
baby turtles.

How do you know?

I just know.

If you were me,

you'd know too.

But things
will be different

once God makes me
a hero.

You know, you shouldn't talk
about this hero stuff, Simon.

Why not?

Because it's weird.

They're only gonna
tease you enough as it is.

I don't care.
It's the truth.

But you don't have
any proof.

I don't need proof.

I have faith.

Your problem is that
you have no faith.

I got faith.
I just want proof
to back it up.

ADULT JOE: We lived in my
grandmother's house,
a monster of a place.

It was frequently mistaken
for the Gravestown Inn.

GRANDMOTHER:
Shoo! Shoo!

It's not an inn.
The fact
that never ceased

to irritate my grandmother.

But then again,
most everything irritated
my grandmother.

Hi, Grandmother.
Slow down.

ADULT JOE: Particularly,
Simon Birch.

Hi, ladies!
That creature.

ADULT JOE: But that's
not to say that she didn't
have her kind side.

In fact, when our maid Hildie
got cancer and had to have
her leg removed,

Grandmother hired
two more maids,

one just to look
after Hildie.

Hildie never worked
another day in her life.

And as the years went on,
she even began to look
like my grandmother,

and not like a maid at all.

That child
is positively...

unnatural.
Most peculiar.

And his voice like...
A mouse.

More than one.
Like mice.

Strangled mice.
(LAUGHS)
Strangled mice.

Very good, Hildie.

Hello, everyone!

What's wrong with you?

There's nothing
wrong with me.
Hi, Mom.

HILDIE: Something's goin' on.

Yes, something's going on.

You look all... shiny.

Well, I met a man
on the train.

The good 'ol
Boston and Maine.
You're pregnant?

(CHUCKLES)
Mother, I just met him.

The last time you met a man
on the Boston and Maine,

you came home pregnant.

Mother.

Am I gonna have
a little brother?
Everyone, please.

I've only spoken with him,
but I like him very much.

Mmm.
Mmm.

So, when do we get to meet
this Mr. Wonderful?

(DOORBELL RINGS)

HILDIE AND GRANDMOTHER:
Good Lord.

GRANDMOTHER: Yolanda!

Hey, wait up!
Wait for me!
I wanna see too.

Simon Birch,
get away from there.
You'll scare him off.

I can't see.
I can't see.

Hello, Ben.
Hello, Rebecca.

We were just
talking about you.
Really?

Come on in.
Thank you.

You must be Simon,

and that would
make you Joe?

Nice to meet ya.

I heard all about you
from your mom on the train.

What's in the bag?
Joseph!

Oh, no, no, that's okay.

Uh, as a matter
of fact, Joe,

this is something
that I bought for you.

ADULT JOE:
My mother's dates were
always bringing me presents

in their feeble
attempts to win me over,
but it never worked.

So, Joseph,
what do you say?
Nice bag.

I tell you what.
Um, why don't
I take this

and just put it
right over here
on this table.

And then you can
take a look at it
if you feel like.

It's probably
some stupid Legos
or something.

Oh, um, could you guys
do me a favor?

Uh, just keep an eye
on the bag for me.

And, uh, give me a holler
if it moves.

Okay?

Thanks.

GRANDMOTHER:
You're a drama teacher?

They teach that?

Well, what I try and do,
Mrs. Wenteworth,

is use the theater
to get students to
express themselves

in ways they
normally couldn't.

How do you do that?

Well, one way that
I found works well
is by introducing props.

Young people seem
to respond to that.

What kind of props?

Well, kind of like
the one I just left
out there in the hall.

Matter of fact,
there could be

a little drama unfolding
just as we speak.

We'll soon see.

(LAUGHING)
Oh, boy, that's
a lot of peas.

Why don't I
just put a few
of these back here?

I don't need
that many peas.

Did you see that?
What?

I think it moved.

You're imagining it.

Maybe it's a puppy.

Not unless it's
a dead puppy.

Yeah. He wouldn't
bring a dead puppy
on the first date.

It's something else.

I bet he's just putting us on.

I bet there's nothing
even in there.

He's just playing
a joke on us.

Go ahead and open it.

I'm not opening it.

Don't you wanna see
what's inside?

What I want to do
and what I do are
two separate things.

If we all went around doing
what we wanted all the time,
there'd be chaos.

You open it.

(BOTH SCREAMING)

The prop.
JOE: What was that?

SIMON: It's a monster!
(BOTH SCREAMING)

BEN: You're okay.
JOE: Help!

Isn't he terrific?

SIMON: He's going to eat us.

BEN: You're okay.
It's just an armadillo.

A what?

It's a stuffed
armadillo. See?

I picked it up on my way
through San Antonio last week.

It's not that bad
once you get used to it.

BEN: What do you think, Joe?

I don't want it.

Can I have it?

Well, why don't you, uh,
uh, give it a chance!

Maybe it'll grow on you.

♪ For your love ♪

BEN:
So Shirley Temple
says to Senator McCarthy,

"I didn't say, 'commie,'
I said, 'Moppie'"
(REBECCA LAUGHING)

Uh, Mom?
Can Simon sleep over?

We wanna spend
the night out
under the stars.

Sure, honey, as long
as it's all right
with Simon's parents?

They don't care.

Will you do me a favor
anyway and call them?

(LINE RINGING)

MR. BIRCH: Yeah?

Can I sleep over
at Joe's tonight?

I don't care.

I'm ready for my
good-night kisses.

Oh, Mom.
Me first! Me first!

Oh, don't you want me?
Get up here. Mm-whaa!

Good night, honey.
Love you.

Simon, isn't it
a little cool outside?

Don't you think
you need a sweater?

It's hard to find
sweaters my size.

They have to make them
special and my dad says
they're too expensive.

Here.

How about that?

Thank you,
Miss Wenteworth.

Mm. Love you.

Good night,
Ben Goodrich!

Bonsoir, Monsieur Birch.

Buenas noches,
Senor Wenteworth.

(DISGUSTED SIGH)

REBECCA: You boys
stay in the yard.

SIMON: I like him.

JOE: I don't.

Maybe God sent him
to be your father.

God sent me a screwball
with an armadillo?

God has a plan
for everyone,

including Ben Goodrich.

(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO,
INDISTINCT)

(DOG BARKING)

Well, he's not
my father.

My real father
is out there somewhere.

Mr. Hanson has your eyes.

The shop teacher?

And he's a lefty,
like you.

That's 'cause he
chopped off his right thumb
with the table saw.

I didn't say
he was a natural lefty.

Maybe he chopped off
his thumb on purpose
to show your mother

how much he loved her,
like Van Gogh with his ear.

I can't see my mom
being attracted to a
metal shop teacher.

Art or English maybe,
but not metal shop.

I don't understand
why she doesn't just
tell you.

You're already a bastard.
You might as well be
an enlightened one.

She said she'd tell me
when I'm old enough.

When's that?

I don't know.
Soon, I hope.

ADULT JOE: Things were
getting serious
between my mother

and the armadillo-wielding
Ben Goodrich,

enough so that one Sunday
she brought him with us
to church.

(INAUDIBLE)

(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)

Hi, Joe!
Hi, Miss Wenteworth!
Hi, Ben Goodrich!

REBECCA:
Hi, Simon!

I have something
for you.

You made that for me?

I did indeed,
my little doll.

I think it's gonna be
getting cool pretty soon
and you need to have

a beautiful sweater
just for you.

Hopefully, a good fit.

So, let's see?

Oops! (CHUCKLES)
Oh, my goodness.

Well,

what a very long
piece of yarn.

He looks like
a hobo.
It's perfect.

Just like you.

Come on.

As it is he
whose transgression
is forgiven

whose sin is covered.

I said I will confess
my transgressions
unto the Lord

and Thou forgave us
the inequity of my sin.

The Word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.

I'd like to take
a few minutes
to discuss some

of the upcoming activities
on the church calendar.

Here we go.

What's wrong, Simon?

Who knows what God thinks
about current events?

Does someone have
a question?

Uh, no, sir.

Uh, Your Honor, no.

Father, thank you.
No, sir.

It's always nice
to see new faces
in the congregation.

Uh, I'd like
to invite them

to join my wife and children
and, uh, myself

for coffee and donuts
downstairs after the service.

What does coffee and donuts
have to do with God?

Simon, you better be quiet.

Simon, is there something
you'd like to share
with the rest of us?

I said, "What does coffee
and donuts have to do
with God?"

They're merely refreshments
so people can socialize

and, uh, discuss
the upcoming activities.

Whoever said that church needs
a continental breakfast?

REVEREND RUSSELL: Simon!

I doubt that God is interested
in our church activities.

Simon!

If God has made the church
bake sale our priority,

then I'd say we're all
in a lot of trouble.

Simon, that is enough!

(GRUNTS)
Children may be excused

to go to Sunday school.

(SEETHING)

MS. LEAVEY: Simon!
Yes, ma'am?

Don't you feel that you owe
Reverend Russell an apology?

Simon?

I'm thinking.

Well, you can just sit
there and think

until you apologize
to poor Reverend Russell.

Class dismissed.

Joe, dismissed.

See you later,
alligator.

After a while, crocodile.

Reverend Russell.
Go on outside, Joe.

He didn't
mean anything.

Stop making excuses for him.

If Simon is going to be
a member of our congregation,

he has to start behaving
like a normal person.

He is a normal person.

Simon Birch is not
a normal person.

Just go on outside,
Joe.

(SIGHING) Well...

are we, uh, ready
to apologize?

He's thinking
about it.

Simon.

What do you
think you're doing
sitting in a corner?

Thinking about God.
In a corner?

Faith is not
in a floor plan.

(SIGHS)

Keep him here.
But for how long?

As long
as it takes.

Mom.
Hi, honey.
Where's Simon?

Didn't your mother
ever teach you

how to keep quiet
during mass?

Tsk. What am
I saying?

Of course
she didn't.

Your parents
don't go to church,
do they, Simon?

See, that's because
they don't belong here.

And neither do you.

Speaking out of turn,
disrupting the class,

telling the other children
that God has a special
plan for you.

What kind of
nonsense is that?

And what kind
of nonsense
is this?

Hello, Rebecca.
Come on, Simon.

I was just... No, wait.
I was...

Out.
I was teaching him
a lesson.

REBECCA: And what lesson
is that? Humiliation?

Oh, man, this is so boss.

This is all my fault.

Hey, don't take all
the credit. She's my mom.

Telling the children
that he's some kind
of hero. That he's...

That he's God's instrument.
And who's to say he isn't?

Who do you think
would win in a fight?
Good question.

Miss Leavey is meaner,
but she's a smoker.

Your mom could outlast her.

We can't have him
talking that way.

It frightens
the other children.

Oh, I think it's you
it frightens, Miss Leavey.

What?
Why would I be frightened
of little Simon Birch?

Because that child
has more faith than
you'll ever know.

BOTH: Ahh!
Oh, goodness gracious.

Come on, you two.

Come on, boys.
Let's go find Ben.

My jacket!

Oh, that's okay, Simon.
I'll get it for you.

Thank you,
Miss Wenteworth.

You know what, Simon?
Thank you.

Strike three!
You're out, batter.

ADULT JOE: October 30, 1964.

Our team was getting beaten
badly by Horseshoe Bay.

This wasn't an altogether
uncommon occurrence,

but on this particular day,
for no particular reason,

Coach Higgins decided
to pack it in,

so we could all go home.

It was a decision
that would haunt
the poor man

for the rest of his life.

Simon!
(WHISTLES)

You're up.

WOMAN: Come on, Simon.
Come on.

BOY:
Just make contact
with the ball.

MAN: Oh, no.
(SPECTATORS MURMURING)

Simon, swing away.

What?
You heard me.

Swing the bat.

Yes, sir.
MAN: All right, set 'em
up and knock 'em down.

WOMAN: You got it, Simon.

MAN:
Pitch this one home.

Ball... one.

COACH: Simon.

Swing the bat.
It was too high.

Come on, Simon.
You can do it.

Send it over the fence.

Be sure to let go of the bat,
so you don't go with it.

MAN: All right.
Let's go.

Ball... two.
COACH: Simon.

Swing the bat.
Swing.

I'm picking my pitch.

Ah, for Christ's sakes.

MAN: (IN DISTANCE)
Rebecca!

(INAUDIBLE)

(ALL CHATTERING,
INDISTINCT)

She... She's dead.
(ALL GASPING)

(SIMON SOBBING)

I'm sorry.

(CRYING)
I'm sorry.

(BELL TOLLING)
REVEREND RUSSELL: Lord,
grant that I may seek more

to comfort,
than to be comforted,
(BELL TOLLING CONTINUES)

to love,
than be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting
that one finds

that it is by dying
that one awakens
to eternal life.

O God, whose mercies
are not numbered,

hear our prayers on behalf
of Thy servant, Rebecca.

And grant her entrance into
the land of light and joy,

in the fellowship
of Thy saints.

In sure and certain hope
of the resurrection
to eternal life

through our Lord,
Jesus Christ, we commend
our sister, Rebecca.

And we commit her body
to the ground.

Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes.

And dust to dust.

The Lord bless her
and keep her.

Amen.

BEN: Mind if I join ya?

Whatcha got there?

Simon's baseball cards.
He gave 'em to me.

Hmm.

I don't get it.
Stupid baseball cards are

Simon's favorite thing
in the world.

Maybe that's why
he gave them to you.

I don't want 'em.

That's a good thing because
I bet you he wants 'em back.

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

I still don't get it.

Maybe it's his way
of saying, "Sorry".

That he still loves you.

I mean, he's trusting you
with them, right?

So what should I do?

I don't know.

Give him somethin'
in return?

Somethin' that he knows
you want back.

(KNOCKING)

What's this?

It's for Simon.
Make sure he gets it.

(WOMAN SCREAMING)
(THUDDING SOUND)

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

My mother found
the armadillo.

She fainted.
For real?

Just like in the movies.
Screamed and dropped.

Cool.

It was pretty boss.

Here.

You know, when I first
saw the bag, I thought that
maybe the baseball was in it.

What? Why?
I don't know.

You did take it,
didn't you?

Why would I want to possess
that fated baseball?

Well, somebody took
the ball.

Who else would want it?

Maybe he was
there that day.

Who?

Your father.
Maybe he took the ball.

I'm sorry, Joe.

It was out of my hands.

What do you mean?

I'm God's instrument.
I wish it was someone else.

But he wanted it to be me.

Simon, it was
an accident.

There are no accidents.
God has a plan for all of us.

There's no plan, Simon.
Don't you understand that
by now?

But God...
There is no God.

It's like believing
in Santa Claus
or the Easter bunny.

It's all bullshit, Simon.
Don't say that.

My mom is dead because
she got hit by a baseball,

and you're small because
you were born a sick baby.

That's it.

Just stop trying to make
sense of it all. You can't.

Joe.

Simon.

(SIMON SOBBING)

SIMON: (WHISPERING)
Into paradise...

may the angels...

lead you.

JOE: (YELLING IN DISTANCE)
Simon. Simon.

I hear you.
What do you want?

What do you want
from me?

Simon,
it's me.

Oh.

I thought you were...

someone else.

(SOBBING)

I'm sorry.

I know.

(CRYING)

Come on.
Let's go home.

BOTH: Timber-r-r!

(LAUGHS)

One year good luck.

One year good luck.

Oh!
Oh, man, that's cold!

It's freezing!

My balls just turned
into prunes.

My balls just turned
into raisins.

Look!

Come on.
I'll race you
to the dock.

Nah, I don't think...
Ready, set, go.

Hey, cheater!

(LAUGHING)

ADULT JOE: When
someone you love dies,

you don't lose them
all at once.

You lose them in pieces,
over time.

Like how the mail
stops coming.

What I remember
most to this day
was my mother's scent.

And how I hated it
when it began to disappear.

First from her closets
and drawers,

then from her dresses
she had sewed herself,

and finally,
from her bed sheets
and pillowcases.

Simon and I never talked much

about that day
on the baseball field.

It was too painful
for both of us.

But as much as I loved
my mother,

I knew that Simon loved her
just as much.

She was the only real mother
he ever had.

Hi, Grandmother.

Grandmother?

Joe.

Come here.

Sit down.

Your mother was
very proud of you.

Do you know that?

She didn't want
any other children.

Just you.

I'm old, Joe. I won't
be around forever.

Grandmother,
don't say that.

Shh.

And when I die,

there will be no one left
to look after you.

So, we have to decide
what's to become of you.

What about my father?

Only your mother knew
who that was.

She never even
told me.

Well, what if
I could find him?

I mean,
if he could just meet me.

If he knew what I was like.

You can't think
that way.

You have only yourself
to depend on now.

Understand?

You go wash up.

ADULT JOE: I knew then that
playing the guessing game

with Simon wasn't going
to be enough anymore.

I no longer just
wanted to know
who my father was,

I had to know,
and I was running out of time.

Suspect at 2:00.

JOE: Mr. Van Gundy?
SIMON: He taught your
mother piano, right?

That was
five years ago, Simon.
I'm 12, remember?

Oh, yeah.
You're kind of small
for your age, aren't you?

(LAUGHING)

Suspect sweeping.

Mr. Prescott?
He always saved the best
cuts of meat for my mom.

I don't see how pork chops
could lead to intercourse,
no matter how good they are.

Hi, Ben.
Hey.

What are you guys doing?

We were just...
It's personal.

Oh.

Hey, Ben.
Hey, Bob.
How are you?

BOTH: Hi, Mr. Baker.

Hey, guys.

Hi, Joe.

You know, I didn't get
a chance to talk to you
after the funeral.

There were a lot
of people.

That's because your mother
was a very special person.

(GASPS)

You need anything,

just call, okay?

Okay.
Okay.

Well, good luck
on your first day
of school, guys.

Just give me a holler
if you need anything, Ben.

The office isn't usually
much help.

Okay, thanks.

I might try out for the
swim team this year,
Mr. Baker.

That's great, Joe.

JOE: I'm a swimmer
just like you.

I'm just like you.

Hey, either you guys
taking any drama courses
this fall?

So, you know
what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna
finish off my errands,

and, uh, if you guys
feel like it, uh,
come say "hi" tomorrow.

Okay? All right.

Bye, Ben.

He called my mom
a special person.

A "very" special person.

They did spend the whole night
talking to each other at the

parent-teacher conference.

Why didn't
you mention this before?

It's a parent-teacher
conference,

they're supposed to talk.

Not all night.
Especially with a gym teacher.

What did you think
they were doing?

Discussing your future
in dodge ball?

Mr. Baker.

Yeah.

Let's go! Let's go!
Keep your legs kicking!

Keep your legs kicking
right to the end!

(WHISTLE BLOWS)
Hey, that's great.
That's great. Good work.

Good work, you guys.
That's pretty good for
a first day of practice.

Sean, good work.
Grab a towel.

Terrific!

We'll see you guys
tomorrow.

(GASPING)

(GASPING)
Fifty-four Mississippi.

Shh. God, Simon.

It's a new record.

News flash.
Nobody cares.

I care.

(GROWLING)
Did you hear that?

Shh.

(GROWLING CONTINUES)

What is it?
Aah! It's a horse.

(CHAIN RATTLING)
(DOG GROWLING)

(SNARLING)

Nice dog.

MAN: Brutus!
Brutus, where are you?

(MAN WHISTLING)

Come on.

It's locked.

Well, I guess that's that.
Come on. Let's go.
Wait!

Do you think if I gave you
a boost,

you might be able
to reach the mail slot
and unlock the door?

No.

Oh, come on!
You're always saying

that God has a special
plan for you, right?

That he made you
this size for a reason.

I don't think God's plan

includes breaking
and entering.

We're not
breaking anything!

Come on, please?

Ow, ow, ow.
Did you get it?

Ow!
Got it! Oh!

It's locked!
Now, let's go!

Are you crazy?

I've got to know.

Well, go on.

Well, is it our ball?
Does it say "Tigers"?

Come on, Joe.
What's it say?

It's... It's not fair.
Joe?

Joe!
It's not fair!

(BRUTUS BARKING)

It's not fair.

(SIREN BLARING)

♪ Nowhere to run to, baby

♪ Nowhere to hide

♪ Got nowhere
to run to, baby

♪ Nowhere to hide

♪ It's not love
I'm runnin' from

♪ Just the heartbreak
I know will come ♪

What the hell's
the matter with you boys?

Baker fail you
in Phys Ed or something?

Simon didn't do anything.
This is all my fault.

I helped you break in.

No, he didn't.

You couldn't have done it
without me.

Shut up, will ya?

OFFICER: Nice try, Joe.

Now, the way that
I figure this,

you can either do
hard time right here
in prison,

or you can do
community service.

Community service.

That's what I thought.

And I've already
called the Reverend,

and he'd be
just delighted

to have the two of you
help him with his

Junior Lamb's Winter Retreat.

But that's over
Christmas break.

Yeah, we don't want to
babysit the stupid third
graders at some dumb camp.

Fine! I'll just go out
there in the back room

and get your prison uniforms.

Okay, okay!
We'll do it.

(CHUCKLES) Good.

Now, Joe, I'm gonna call
your grandmother to come
and pick you up.

Oh, she doesn't drive.

Well, I've got to have
somebody pick you two up.

I've only got two men
on tonight and they're
both out in the field.

What about my parents?

Joe, do you have any
other relatives?

No, sir.
Did you call
my parents?

Yes, I did.

What did they say?

They said that...

maybe that we should leave
you here for the night.

I guess they thought
it might teach you a lesson.

Anyhow, I gotta get
you guys outta here.

Do you know anybody that
might come down here
at this hour of the night?

Yeah.
Who?

Yeah, who?

BIG DADDY: Just about
to land in WGV.

Let's click on the turnstiles
on our wax files.

Ben?
Yeah?

Are you mad?
No.

Well, baffled,
but not mad.

I assume you had
a good reason for
doing what you did.

The reason is that
Joe went psycho.

Shut up, Simon.

That's a good reason
as any.

It is?
Sure.

Everyone's got to reserve
the right to go a little nuts

every now and then.

Life isn't always
so easy.

Or fair.

Oh, it's certainly
not fair.

Hey, you guys want
to go get,

uh, some pizza
or a hot dog
or somethin'?

You want to
take us for pizza?

Yeah, it's 9:00.
Aren't you hungry?

It's not that.
It would be like...

rewarding us
for bad behavior.

But if you really
want to.

No, Joe.

It wouldn't be right
to take advantage
of Ben like that.

No pizza for us.

Okay.

Ice cream?

JOE: So, now I don't know
if I'll ever find out
who my father is.

Maybe she figured
you weren't ready
for the truth.

Ben?

Do you know the truth?

No. I guess your mom
was just gonna tell me
when she was ready.

But if you did know,
would you tell me?

Yeah.

Yes, I would.

Ben?

Did Miss Wenteworth
ever talk about me?

(CHUCKLES)
All the time, Simon.

Everybody talks about you.

That's how we keep
from gettin' bored.

Did she tell you
about my destiny?
Simon!

What do you mean?

I'm going to be
a hero.
BEN: You are?

Pretty vague
job description,
isn't it?

How you gonna do that?
I don't know.

I keep waiting for God
to show me a sign.

Like the burning bush
in the Ten Commandments.

(CHUCKLES)

But I guess he doesn't
go in for that kind of
thing anymore.

Well, uh, you know, you got
to be a little patient.

I have been patient, but
I'm running out of time.

Simon, you're
12 years old!

You've got
all the time
in the world!

I don't think so, Ben.

ADULT JOE:
Time is a monster that
cannot be reasoned with.

It responds like a snail
to our impatience.

Then it races
like a gazelle when you
can't catch your breath.

Simon and I were
in such a hurry to get
to the answers at the end

of the road that
we never took time to read
the signs along the way.

How could we have known
that everything was working
together for a reason?

MISS LEAVEY:
And so I expect each
and every one of you

will lend a hand
in making this

the best Christmas
pageant ever.

So, now, are there
any volunteers
for roles,

or shall I
just choose?

Well, I'll play Joseph!

Good for you, Eddie.

Looks like
I got the lead.

What lead?

It's the Virgin Mary,
Eddie.

What does Joseph have
to do with anything?

MISS LEAVEY: All right, now.
Any volunteers for Mary?

Beautiful, beautiful
Mother Mary.

Mary, Mary, Mary.

Who will it be?

Marjorie?

Would you like to be
our Mary this year?

Yes, ma'am.
Good girl!

All right, now.
Which one of our

future stars (CHUCKLES)
would like to be the
Three Wise Men?

Hmm?

Three Wise Men.
Who's it gonna be?

All right.

Gary, Allen, Matthew,
you will be the Wise Men.

Now let's see what
we've got.

Ah, well, we've got
the shepherds,

but they don't have
a lot to do.

ADULT JOE: Miss Leavey
always tried to downplay

the role of the shepherds,
but we weren't fooled.

We knew they were
the plum roles

because all you had to do

was stand around with a staff
and try not to laugh

at the poor saps
that got stuck with
the speaking parts.

All right.
Hands down.
Hands down.

Uh, Joe, Melanie,
Ming, Tommy.

You will be
our shepherds.

All right.
Now, let's see
what's next.

We've got...
Oh, the angel.

Yes, the angel.

The wonderful angel
of the Lord

suspended high,
high above everyone else,
(WHISTLES)

the wonderful,
magnificent angel
of the Lord.

Aww!

I can't!
I'm afraid of heights!

Well, then, this will be
the perfect chance to
face your fears.

Can't I be
a donkey or somethin'?
You're an angel.

You have your own
special pillar of light
for all the world to see.

Well, I'll switch
with Howard.
MISS LEAVEY: No!

Yeah! I could be Joseph,

Joseph does nothing.
Told ya.

You are going to make
a wonderful angel, Howard.

But...
Thank you.

HOWARD:
(MUTTERING) Psycho.
SIMON: What about me?

Well, Simon,
you know what?

You have the most
important role of all.
No.

Without you,
there would be no play.

I'm not playing
the baby Jesus,
so just forget it!

You're the only one who
fits into the manger.

I won't do it!

Come on, Simon.
It'll be fun.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

♪ Never know how much
I love you ♪

Easy! It says
swaddling clothes.
Swaddle it!

Simon, that
is so cute!

I look like a burn victim.
(LAUGHS)

You made her laugh.

She's laughing at me.

What's the difference?
She likes you.

Everyone likes
the swaddling baby Jesus.

It's great!
You really like it?
Well, thank you.

Why does
Ming get all the girls?

But, uh, things
will be different

once God makes you
a hero, right, Simon?

Right?
Huh?

Oh, yeah.
I guess.

MISS LEAVEY: You! You,
you, you, you, you, you, you!
Okay, okay. Come on.

So, is everybody ready
for dress rehearsal?

No.
What now, Simon?

What are those?

They're turtledoves.

They look like they're
from outer space.

The audience won't know
what they are.

They're doves, Simon!
The audience knows
what a dove is!

They're giant doves!
They're as big as half
a donkey!

They're actually
kind of frightening!

Oh, look what I
found wandering off.
A turtle.

(LAUGHING) Oh!
A little turtledove!

Look at that.

Oh, so how's
the rehearsal going?

(LAUGHING)

Help. Please!
I'm gonna strangle him.

I swear to God!
I'm gonna strangle that
little granite mouse,

if it's the last thing I do,
with my bare hands!

I'm gonna strangle him!

I'm a little
fragile right now.
Simon.

Hey!

You'll get these back
after the pageant.

If you can stop yourself
from ruining our play.

Understand?

Any questions?

Does God have
a plan for us?

(SIGHS) I like to
think he does.

Me too! I think God
made me the way I am
for a reason.

Well, I'm glad that, um,
that your faith, uh...

helps you deal
with your, um,

you know,
your condition.

That's not what I mean.

I think I'm
God's instrument.

That he's gonna use me
to carry out his plan.

Uh-huh. It's wonderful
to have faith, Simon,

but, uh,
let's not overdo it.

(DEEP BREATH)
God's instrument.

(CHILDREN YELLING)

(CRYING)
Hey, kid.
You okay?

Hey, kid.
Hi. What's wrong?

My dad's makin' me go
on a retreat tomorrow.

Why are you crying?

I'm scared of all
the other kids.

They're a lot
bigger than me.

Not all of them.
Are you going too?

And I'll make sure
nothing happens to you.
I promise.

Now get over there with
those other flying monkeys
where you belong.

We're turtledoves.

Quack. Quack.
(LAUGHING)

You're good
with him.

Little kids always
listen to me

because of
the way I look.

Too bad Marjorie
isn't six years old.
Not funny!

The star of Bethlehem
is not a pinata.

Marjorie! Marjorie!
You spit that gum out
right now!

The Virgin Mary
does not chew gum.

Where are we going?
You get down from there!

Get down from there now!
It's not safe!

I've got half
a donkey here.

What good is that
gonna do me?

I need a cigarette.

Monsters.

Oh! Oh,
hello, Agnes.

(LAUGHING)
Hello, Reverend. Hi.

(PIANO PLAYING)

Ah, ready
for tonight?

Absolutely.
(LAUGHING)

♪ Joy to the world

♪ Miss Leavey's dead

♪ They guillotined her head

♪ We took it from her body

♪ And flushed it
down the potty

♪ And watched it go
round and round

♪ And watched it go
round and round

♪ And watched it
go round and round
and never saw it go down

♪ Joy to the world
Miss Leavey's gone

Oh, Agnes.
Oh! Oh!

♪ She's buried
in the lawn ♪

♪ Repeat the sounding joy

♪ Repeat, repeat
the sounding joy

♪ He rules the world
with truth and grace

Psst! Psst!
(MOUTHING)

♪ And makes
the nations prove

Thank you.

♪ The glories of
his righteousness

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas
to you too.

♪ And wonders of his love

Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.

♪ And wonders of his love

♪ And wonders
Wonders of his love ♪

(PIANO PLAYING)

CHOIR:
♪ Away in a manger

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

♪ No crib for a bed

♪ The little Lord Jesus

♪ Laid down his sweet head
(MOUTHING)

♪ The stars in the sky

♪ Looked down where he lay

♪ The little Lord Jesus

(SCATTERED LAUGHTER)

♪ Asleep on the hay ♪

Go, go.

♪ We three kings
of Orient are

♪ Bearing gifts
we traversed afar

♪ Field and fountain

♪ Moor and mountain ♪

(MUMBLING LYRICS)

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

CHOIR:
♪ The cattle are lowing

♪ The baby awakes

♪ But little Lord Jesus

♪ No crying he makes

♪ I love thee, Lord Jesus

(GRUNTING)

♪ Look down from the sky

♪ And stay by my cradle

(AUDIENCE GASPING)

♪ Till morning is nigh ♪

(GRUNTING)

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING,
CLAPPING)

Be not afraid.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

(HOWARD WHINING)
(SOFTLY) For I
bring you great joy.

(GASPING)
Be not afraid!

For... (GRUNTING)

MISS LEAVEY: For...
Simon.

Are you okay?

For I bring you great...

joy!

Oh, man!
Oh, man!

(SIMON GASPING)
Oh, oh, man!

Simon, what is it?

♪ You give me fever ♪

(GULPS) Boobs!

(SCREAMS)
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

Get her, Simon!
Holy shit!

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

(YELLS)

Oh, shit!
(AUDIENCE GASPING)

Oh, man!

Let go of me!
I'm trying to help!

Uuh!

Ohh!
(CHILDREN SCREAMING)

I don't feel so good.

If you vomit on this stage,

I swear I will leave you
up there

till next
Christmas!
HOWARD: Oh, man!

Uh-oh.

(ALL GASPING)
Yeah, yeah! Get it!

(SCREAMING)

I'm gonna kick your ass,
you little perv.

Hey, leave him alone. Pick
on someone your own size.

Okay.
Oh!

I told you
this was a bad idea.

CHILD: Fight! Fight!

Oh, shit!

I'm gonna honk!
(ALL GASPING)

Oh, no.

Simon!

(GAGGING)

Oh, no!

(ALL GASPING)
(CHILDREN SCREAMING)

CHOIR:
♪ The stars in the sky

♪ Looked down where He lay

♪ The little Lord Jesus

(CHILDREN SCREAMING)

♪ Asleep on the hay ♪

HOWARD:
Can I get down now?

(DOOR OPENING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Congratulations, Simon.

You've just given us
our first full-contact
Christmas pageant.

Well, do you have
anything to say?

Can I have
my baseball cards back?

No, you may not!

Oh, Simon.
(SIGHS)

What happened tonight?
I don't know.

(SIGHS) Sex makes
people crazy.

(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
That may be, uh...
That may be true.

But, uh, that is
no kind of answer.

Simon,

you spend more time sitting
alone in a corner downstairs,

than you do
with the other children.

You, uh, frighten them
with your stories

about being
an instrument of God.

They're not stories.

And you interrupt my sermons
and you refuse to apologize.

I'm out of ideas, Simon.

I can't speak
to your parents because...

Well, they don't
attend church.

And I can't speak
to Rebecca because...

because, uh...

Um...

Simon, what I'm trying
to say is that

all of us around here...

Well, we need a break
from you.

So, once this all
simmers down,

and Marjorie Albright's father
accepts your apology,

we'll talk about
you coming back.

What about the retreat?

Joe will go alone.

And it's about time
I had a talk with him too.

Simon, I'm sorry.

But, as the Bible says,
"There is severe discipline

"for him who
forsakes the way."

"To impose a fine
on a righteous man
is not good.

"To flog a noble man
is wrong."

Proverb 17, Verse 26.
That's, uh, very good,
Simon. (CHUCKLES)

But perhaps you know this one
as well, "Folly is bound up
in the heart of a child,

"but the rod of discipline
drives it far from him."

"Good sense makes a man
slow to anger..."

Simon.

"...and it is glory
to overlook the offense."
(SIGHS)

Simon... what do you
want me to do? Hmm?

What do you want me to say?

I want to know that
there's a reason for things.

I used to be certain,
but now I'm not so sure.

I want you to tell me
that God has a plan for me.

A plan for all of us.

Please.

Simon...

I can't.

Okay, you grabbed
her boobs

and ya pulled her
into the manger.

Big deal. It could have
happened to anybody.

Well, maybe not anybody.

Who cares what
Reverend Russell
says, huh?

Him and his wife,
they're the two most

miserable people we know.

(COUGHING)

You okay?
Yeah.

Where are ya goin'?

Home.
Why?

It's Christmas.

I could go get the bike.

I'll walk.

Simon?
(COUGHING)

(LABORED BREATHING)

JOE: Simon?

Simon!

Simon!

Simon's sick.

How sick?

He's just sick,
all right?

But I've gotta see him
before I leave
on the retreat.

You can see him
when you get back.

But can't I just
come in and see him
for a couple of seconds?

Go on, now.

Simon's sick.

I know.

So was I when I heard
what he did last night.

The whole town's
talkin' about it.

What a little screw-up.

Hey! Your son
is not a screw-up.
He's a hero.

What the hell
are you talking about?

I said he's a hero.

And you
don't deserve him.

I want you
to know that.

(ENGINE STARTING)

JOE: ...six, seven,

eight, nine,

ten, eleven...
Thank you.
And God bless you.

twelve...

Uh, is that it?

We're one short.

SIMON: Is that
supposed to be a joke?

Have fun. Okay?

Please tell me
you're coming.

I just came to say good-bye.

But what are you
gonna do without me?

Well, first, I'm gonna sneak
into Reverend Russell's office

and get
my baseball cards back.

Sounds like trouble.
Sorry I'm gonna miss it.

Well, I bet you boys
are going to be very sad
to know that

Miss Leavey has taken
a leave of absence.

She's going to spend
some time with her mother
in Connecticut.

Okay, Joe.
Let's go.

(SIGHS)
Simon, you should
be home resting.

You better go.

Yeah.

So, uh, I'll see ya
in a couple days, right?

Sure.

Get better, okay?

Okay.

(COUGHS)

ADULT JOE: I wish
I could remember every
detail of that weekend.

Even now, I'll sometimes sit
and try to remember

the colors,
the sounds, the faces.

But it only comes back to me
in bits and pieces.

If only I had known,
I would have paid
closer attention.

But you're never prepared
for the moment that
changes your life.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING,
LAUGHING)

Whoa. Hey.
Hey, you okay?

Yeah.

Take it slow.

You're very good
with them, Joe.

You should see Simon.
He's the one they
really listen to.

(SIGHS) Don't tell me
you miss him already.
It's only been one day.

He's my best friend.
Yes, I know.

(LOCK CLICKING)

Gotcha!

(WHISPERING)
Miss Wenteworth.

REVEREND RUSSELL:
And how did you end up

with Simon Birch
as your best friend?

I don't know. Maybe it's
because we both know how
it feels to be an outsider.

Teased or...
whispered about.

They tease you?

Yeah, you know,
the Wenteworth bastard,

and stuff like that.

Well, people-people can be
very unforgiving at times,
Joe, uh...

I'm sorry.

CHILD: Joe!
Looks like
somebody needs me.

Joe.

You can talk to me...
anytime.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

(COUGHS)

God, no wonder she
kept it such a secret.

You're sure we're doin'
the right thing, huh, Simon?

We promised him, Ben.

(SIGHS)
You promised him too,
remember?

You're right.
I did.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

JOE:
Reverend Russell?

Reverend?

Uh... I need the keys...

to the kitchen.

Reverend?

A lefty.

Just like me.

What do you mean?

I met your mother
13 years ago.

I was coming to Gravestown
to interview at the church.

No.

She was going to the city
to buy a Christmas present
for her mother.

Stop it.

I'd never seen anyone
like her, Joe.

And I fell in love.

Right there on
the Boston and Maine.

SIMON: Joe! Joe!

JOE: Simon.

Did you hear
what he said?

He's lying, right?

Joe...

Joe!

Let him go,
Reverend.

Joe.

Joe.
(SNIFFLING)

A bastard.

I wish
I'd never lived.

I wish
I'd never found out.

I must sound
like a baby, huh?

No.

Big goddamn baby.
No, you don't.

I wish I could
go home again.

I know.

Back to the way
things were.

I know, pal.

(CRYING)

I guess Simon's gonna
ride on the bus with Joe.

He'll be all right.
Ben, it was a mistake.

I wanted to
take care of her,

but she said
she didn't need that.

Well, that sounds
a lot like Rebecca to me.

Yeah.

Haunts me every day
of my life.

Wish I could
take it back. I...

I just wish it
never happened.

Well, there's
a beautiful kid over there

who wouldn't be here
if it hadn't.

Ben?

JOE: ...eleven,

twelve...
And he ranks
thirteen.

Hey, you came.

I told you
I'd be here. Come on.

(ENGINE STARTING)
Up we go.

Thanks.

(SIMON COUGHING)

You okay?

You okay?

I was thinking.

Maybe this was
your destiny.

To help me find
my father.

Yeah. Maybe.

(BIG DADDY ON RADIO,
INDISTINCT)

...that our boys should be
returning home in just
a matter of weeks.

BOY 1: Come on.
Give it back.
BOY 2: You started it!

Calm down, guys.

Watch out!
(GASPS)

(CHILDREN SCREAMING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(GLASS SHATTERING)

Oh, God!

(CHILDREN SCREAMING)

I can't... I can't stop it!
I can't stop it!

Oh, good Lord.

BUS DRIVER: Oh, no!
Oh, my God!

Oh, good Lord!

(ALL GASPING, SCREAMING)

Oh!

Reverend Russell!

I can't sw... I can't swim!

Hey, where
are you going?
Come back.

Okay, everybody, just
stay calm. Okay. We're
going to get out of here.

Hey, come on.
Calm down.

(GRUNTING)

(GASPS)
(HYSTERICAL SCREAMING)

Just listen to me.

(INAUDIBLE)

Stop it!

I'm not going
to let anything happen
to any of you.

Understand?

(CHILD CRYING)

Now, the current
is very strong.

So I'll take you to Joe
one at a time, and Joe
will help you on shore.

Go!
Okay.

(GRUNTING)

You first, now you.
You're after him.

(SOBBING)
(GRUNTING)

SIMON:
Don't worry.
It'll be okay.

I got you.
(CRYING)

Now, you. Come on.
Let's go. You're next.

Well, that's it.
Come on. Simon, let's go.

Wait.
We're missing one.

(GASPS)
(CRYING)

Simon!

Joe!

(GASPING)

(WHIMPERING)

My foot's stuck.
I'm scared.

Hang on.

(WHIMPERING)

(JOE GASPING)

(GASPS)
SIMON: Come on.
I got ya.

(GRUNTING)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

(GRUNTING, GASPING)

(CRYING)

Come on, Stuart.

It's okay.
(CRYING CONTINUES)

I got him.

Where's Simon?
He's inside.
I'll get him.

No, no! Let me.
JOE: Simon!

Get him. Get him, Joe.

Pull him
through the window.

Pull him out, Joe.

Joe!
Simon!

BEN: No, no, no, Simon!

Simon!

Let me.

(GASPING)
Simon!

Joe!

(GASPING)

Simon!

Simon!

Okay, Joe.
Keep his head
above the water.

(CHILDREN WHIMPERING,
CRYING)

Hmm. Hmm.

Get 'em up
to the road.
What about Joe?

We got him.
Joe!

Come with me, boys.

Here. Down here.
Here. Hurry!

Come on.

MAN: Come here, children.

Come on.
Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on, Joe.

Simon.

Don't leave me.

I want
to see Simon.

Father Russell.

I'll see you
on Sunday.

He's got
a visitor.

Simon...

I heard what you did
for those kids.

The whole town's
talking about it.

I just wanted
you to know...

that I think
what you did
was really brave.

And you're a hero,

Simon Birch.

(SIGHS)

Jesus, Simon,

you look like shit.

Hey.

Hey.

Are the kids okay?

Yeah.

They all made it?

Even Stuart.

Did you see
how the children
listened to me

because of the way
I looked?

Yeah.

That window
was just my size.

Extra small.

Extra, extra small.

That was
over 200 Mississippi.

Nobody likes
a showoff.

Promise me.

Yeah.

You'll take
my baseball cards.
No.

Take them and share
them with Ben. Please?

Okay. I promise.

Simon?

Yeah.

You're the best
friend I ever had.

I know that, stupid.

(CRYING)

Joe?
Yeah.

I got to go now.

Okay.

See you later,
alligator.

(SOBBING)

(SOBBING CONTINUES)

(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Timber-r-r!

One year good luck.

ADULT JOE: Winter left
its icy chill behind.

And soon it was spring
and summer again.

Grandmother passed away
that June

following a stroke.

And because Hildie
was always so content
to just follow her lead,

she had
a stroke of her own
and died in July.

We buried them
side by side.

It's the way they
would have wanted it.

Ben Goodrich legally
adopted me

just two days before
my 13th birthday.

Not a day goes by
that I don't thank God

for bringing him into my life.

With Simon's help, I'd
finally found my real father.

There is a prayer
I say for Simon Birch.

It's the same prayer that he
said at my mother's grave,

that night I found him
in the darkness.

ADULT JOE:
Into paradise...

may the angels
lead you.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

BOY: Dad?

Dad! I'd love to stay here
in the graveyard all day,

but I've got a game,
remember?

Okay, Simon.
I'm coming.

You know, I was just
thinking about that.

Last year, you played
in the squirt league, right?

Yeah.
This year
you're a peewee.

So?

So, what do
they want you to do,
play soccer or urinate?

Anyway...
I was just thinking.

(SIGHS)

(CAR DOOR SHUTS)

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

♪ Time passes

♪ The world changes

♪ I'm still

♪ The same old kid

♪ And your jokes still

♪ Bring me laughter

♪ As if you

♪ Still were here

♪ And it hurts

♪ When I smile

♪ 'Cause my heart
still remembers

♪ When you were around

♪ 'Cause you were there

♪ When no one was

♪ Just when I thought
nobody cared

♪ No, no, no

♪ You showed me love

♪ You showed me love

♪ 'Cause you were my friend

♪ You always told me, yes

♪ And I am still here, yeah

♪ Because you
were there, yeah

♪ Oh

♪ You're my best friend, yes

♪ There are no accidents

♪ God has a plan
for everyone

♪ And he brought you
in my life

♪ To show me
what a good friendship was

♪ 'Cause you were there

♪ When no one was

♪ When no one was
No, when no one was

♪ Just when I thought
nobody cared

♪ Just when I thought
that nobody cared

♪ You showed me love

♪ You showed me love
You showed me love

♪ 'Cause you were my friend

♪ You were my friend

♪ You always told me, yeah

♪ You always told me

♪ And I am still here

♪ I'm still here
I'm still here

♪ Because you were there

♪ You were there
You were there
You were there

♪ Oh, yeah
Because you were there

♪ You were there
You were there
You were there

♪ 'Cause you were there

♪ You were there
You were there
You were there

♪ Because you
were there, yeah

♪ Ooh, because
you were there ♪