All language subtitles for A.Gift.of.Miracles.2015

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.

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.

good night, mom.

-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.

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.

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...

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?

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.

: 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.

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.

:
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?

:
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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

-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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

: 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.

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.

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.

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.

nathan here.

can't pick up,
so leave a message.

i'll get back to you.

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.

i can do this.

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.

: come on,
sweetheart.

we have to go.

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.

:
let's go downstairs.

: there she is.

:
time for breakfast.

look at her.

she was hungry this morning.

:
how does it feel,

being a new mom?

:
it's hard to describe.

it's wonderful.

everything
i'd hoped it would be,

and then some.

:
this is our daughter, darcy.

say hi, darcy.

: say hi.

hi, daddy.

how are you?

oh!

: she did great
last night, didn't she?

: she did.

she hit the pillow
and was out like a light.

just like her mom.

: what are you
thinking about, honey?

: 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.

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?

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.

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.

can you believe this?

i don't have a choice.

i love this.

i knew you would.

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.

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.

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?

i think...

i think we both won.

yeah.