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MARINE: How
long do you plan
on being on base?

A few hours.

I've got business
with Captain Buck.

Okay, thank you.

Hold! You can't
do that. Hold!

We have
a breach at Gate 3.

Hold that,
please.

(GASPS)

Hold it right
there, miss.

How long ago?

(EXHALES)

Batch of them
shipped out
this morning.

He's over the
Pacific by now.

Boyfriend?

More than that.

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid you're
still gonna have to come
with us, though, Miss...

(SNIFFLING) Eve.

Eve Miller.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Hi, Tom.
Hi.

Peyton?

Hello, Jules.

What perfect
timing. We were just
talking about you.

I'm Eve Miller.
Hello.

Eve reads your
column. Religiously.

Well, I write it
the same way,

praying with every word
that I don't say
something stupid.

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

Well, your prayers
don't seem to
be working.

Excuse me?

Uh, perhaps we should...

No.

Apparently
you didn't read
the note I sent you?

Note?

(SIGHS)
I'll summarize.

You know, you're
a fine writer,
Ms. MacGruder,

one of the best
on the paper.

But when it comes
to the topic of when
to take a chance on love,

well, your opinion is...

(LAUGHING)

You know,
forgive me,
but it's idiotic.

(CLEARING THROAT)
I hate to interrupt,
Eve,

but I have a
photographer waiting.

Excuse me. Lovely
to meet you. Bye.

Sorry.

(PHONE RINGING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Hey, Mandi,
did I get a letter

from someone
named Eve Miller?

Not that I remember.
Why? Who is she, anyway?

(SIGHING) That's what
I intend to find out.
Would you do me a favor?

Run down to
the mailroom

and see if they know
anything about it.

Sure.

Oh. And, Mandi?

On your way back,
stop at the kitchen
and get me some aspirin.

You have
a headache?

Not yet.

(EXCLAIMS)
I'll bring you
the whole bottle.

(SIGHING)
You're absolutely right.

That's a nice change.
About what?

Passion. It should always
be tempered with caution.

Especially when deciding
whether or not to take
a chance on amore.

Are you speaking from
personal experience?

It's none of your business.

Anyway,
your columns have
been excellent lately.

Seems to be
a minority opinion.

What?

Uh, nothing.
Mmm.

So you came all the way
down here just to give me
a pat on the back?

No. I came all
the way down here

to tell you that in addition
to writing the "Heart Healer,"

you're gonna be covering
fashion and accessories

while my staff writer's
on maternity leave.

Why me?

Because it's your
old job and that should
make it easy for you.

But I don't
have the time.

Hey, Nora.

King.

Well, perhaps if you
tempered your own passion,
you'd find the time.

I ran into Mandi
in the coffee room.

She said you were
gonna need these.

Yep.

Look, Nora may be your boss,

but you still shouldn't
let her push you around.

Too late.
Well, in that case,

I would prescribe
either two of these,

or one of these.

Do any good?

Not sure. Try again.
Maybe up the dosage.

Ah!

Yeah.

That's better.

To avoid relapse,
we should probably
sweep off your desk

and move on to the
next level of therapy.

It's exactly that
kind of temptation

that led to the
fashion writer's
maternity leave.

And, in turn,
to my headache.

So you go back to work.

(SIGHS)

Unless you want to
quit early and go for a
jog with Christine and me?

Oh, enticing, but I have
to run out to the university.

David wants to talk to me.
Says it's important.

Maybe I'll stop by after.

Maybe I'll be waiting.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh.

I got an interesting e-mail
from a friend in New York.

He said my name came up
at a board meeting
for the Times recently.

Which means what, exactly?

Don't know, but
I'll keep you posted.

Where was it?

On Phil Brinker's desk.

Phil Brinker?

In Editorial.

Hey, do you want me
to yell at the mailroom
guys for you?

You think that'll
do any good?

Absolutely. Not.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, I'm so late.

Christine's gonna be mad.
Thank you, Mandi.

You're welcome.

So tell me about
your boyfriend.

What boyfriend?

Oh, don't be coy.
You know the one,
Mr. Body Art.

Mike? At the
music store?
Yeah.

No, he's not
my boyfriend.

Does he know that?

He's just a friend.

Don't you think
he's a little
too old for you?

Oh, please.

Okay, I suppose it's
none of my business.

Of course
it's your business.
You are my mother.

(GROANS) Can't tell you
how weird that still sounds
after just nine months.

What do you mean
"weird"? What sounds
weird about that?

Oh.

I don't mean anything
negative by it.

(SIGHING)

Christine, the truth is,
your adoptive father

raised you
until he died.

I mothered you
for only two days,

and after all of
these years apart,

I'm just a long way
from knowing how
to be a decent mom.

Okay. How about
I give you
some advice, then?

(BOTH CHUCKLING)
Okay.

First of all,
"mother" doesn't have
an "S" in front of it.

I am almost 19,
you know.

And, second, keep
reminding me that you're
never gonna leave me,

not for any reason,
not ever again.

Don't worry, baby.
Now that I've found you,

you are stuck
with me for good.

Okay, okay. Come on,
let's go before this
morphs into a total tearfest.

KING: I don't get it.

I mean, how can you
give up baseball?

It's been your life
since the first time
you whacked a T-ball.

Well, it's not anymore,
okay? I gotta...
I'm late for class.

No, hold on,
we're not done yet.

(SIGHS)

Look, I just hate to
see you give it up,
that's all.

I mean, you...
You have a real
talent for the game.

That's bull.
What are you
talking about?

I've got decent stuff,
but my fastball bites.
You and I both know that.

Your body won't be
fully mature till
you're 25 years old.

You don't know
what you have and
what you don't have.

No, what I don't have
is any fire on my fastball

or in my gut
for the game, okay?

Not anymore.
Can we just drop it?

What about your
scholarship?

Obviously,
if I don't play,
I don't get one.

Yeah.

What? What, you're
not gonna cover me?

I didn't say that.

You know what?
Don't worry about it.

What's that
supposed to mean?

It means don't
worry about it.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

I'd almost
given up on you.

You wouldn't
do that, would you?

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

I won't
if you won't.

Come sit with me.

Okay.

What did David want?

(SIGHING) To tell me that
he's quitting baseball.

You're kidding.
Did he say why?

Just that
he's burned out.

Weird. He was
so passionate
about the game.

I guess passion
can have a shelf life.

Yeah, I guess it can.

Honey? Come here.

What's this?

It's a letter
from a reader.

Oh, fan mail?
Not exactly.

It's from this woman
named Eve Miller.

I actually met her
today at the office
with Jules Grandfield.

The art critic?
Mmm-hmm.

She called
my last couple
of columns idiotic.

Oh, crackpot?

I don't think so.

I'm actually kind
of intrigued by her.

Really?
Mmm.

Do you mind?

No.

(CLEARS THROAT)

"Dear Heart Healer,
I'm an avid reader
of your column, and as such,

"I feel it is my duty
to tell you when
you're full of baloney."

Ouch.
Mmm.

Keep reading.

"Your readers take
your words very seriously,
and so when you tell them

"to let caution trump
passion, you do them
a grave disservice.

"I know from
painful experience.

"I followed similar counsel
nearly 40 years ago,
and regret it to this day.

"Perhaps over
a cup of tea, we might
discuss the appropriate time

"to take a chance on love,

"and while doing so,
I'm quite sure I'll be
able to dissuade you

"of your misguided opinion.

"If you're willing,
you can reach me
at the number below.

"Sincerely, Eve Miller."

Hmm.

You gonna
give her a call?

You think I should?

Might get a column
out of it, and...

And what?

Nothing.

What? You think
I'm full of baloney,
too, don't you?

I...
Be careful.

I think there's
a time to be cautious.

Yes?

And a time
to be passionate.

Good answer.

And what time
would you say
it is now?

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(PHONE RINGING)

(EXCLAIMS) Like a
beacon in a storm.

(CHUCKLING)
You are a lifesaver, Mandi.

Were you up late?

Late enough to need
a bellhop for these bags.

You have an interview
for the fashion section
in five minutes.

And Nora called.
She wants your leads

for your upcoming
columns ASAP.

Would it be wrong
to put out
a hit on Nora?

Yeah.
Wrong.

(LAUGHS)

All righty, then.

Do me a favor.
Get in touch with
Eve Miller for me.

The lost-letter lady?
Mmm-hmm.

Tell her I'm ready
to take her up
on her offer.

PEYTON: Did you
have that follow-up
conversation with David?

This morning.

And?

He's still
over baseball.

Would you like me
to talk to him?

Oh, that'd be fan...

...tastic.

What'll be fantastic?
If I speak to David,
or my dress?

Both. With the
emphasis on the dress.

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

Wow.

You become more beautiful
every time I see you.

Thank you.

Champagne?
What's the occasion?

Well, I just thought
a pre-theater cocktail

might be a nice start
to the evening's
festivities.

My, but you're
winning brownie points.

And also to
soften you up

for this.

Oh, King...

What do you think?

That's gorgeous.

Like the woman
I hope will accept it.

Hey, I'd get down
on one knee,

but too many sports
injuries preclude
that possibility,

so I will just come
right out with it.

MacGruder...

Sorry.

(CHUCKLES)
Peyton,
will you marry me?

You know that
I love you, right?
You do know that?

I know that, and if your
next sentence is gonna
start with the word "but,"

I'd like to cash in all
the brownie points I got
for bringing the bubbly,

and any others
I might've earned over
the last nine months.

Save them. Just let me
think about it, okay?

What's there
to think about?

Well, there's
Christine,
for one thing.

What about her?

Well, she's fragile.

She's trying to be
strong, but, you know,
she's really struggling.

The kid's lost
both the people
who raised her.

I'm all she has left,
and we barely
know each other.

I don't want
to seem insensitive,

but how does our getting
married affect that?

I don't know. I...
That's one of the things
I need to figure out.

Kingston, thank you
for thinking me worthy
of being your wife

and for loving me
enough to ask.

And for having the
patience to wait
for an answer?

(BOTH LAUGHING)
CHRISTINE: Come on.

(MIKE EXCLAIMS)
No, I put my
hand there first.

That's mine.
I'm sorry, that's mine.

(EXCLAIMING)
Come on.

(LAUGHING)
I'm winning.

Oh, I'm out of control.

(EXCLAIMS) That's
because you're cheating.
Look at that.

That's not fair,
that was mine.

(MIKE EXCLAIMING)
I put my hand
down first.

What about that?
Yeah...

Hello?

Oh. Um...

Perfect timing!
I was actually just
about to call you.

Uh-huh?

Course catalog
came from State and
I checked with Admissions.

They said that since
I'd already enrolled,

you know, before
the plane crash,

that I don't need to reapply.

That's cool, huh?
Very cool.

Oh, you remember
Mike, right?

Of course.
Hey. Great
to see you again.

Listen, there's something
I'd like to talk to you about.

Oh.

Oh, yeah,
not a problem.

I got some
stuff in the back
I gotta do anyway.

Just give me a holler
if a customer
comes in, okay?

I'll take care
of them.

Okay.

Jeez, what's
so important?

King proposed
to me last night.

Wow!

Did you say yes?

I said I'd have
to think about it.

Well, that makes sense

'cause you guys
have only been seeing
each other seriously

for like a couple
of months now, right?

Nine months.

Well, I mean, that's
still not an eternity.

I've left clothes
at the dry cleaner
for longer than that.

I know. It came as
a surprise to me, too,
that he was ready

to make such
a big commitment,
but I do adore him.

Well, what's not to adore?
I mean, King's a really
great guy. I just...

What?

I don't know.
Nothing.

Come on, now. Spit it out.
Tell me what you're feeling.

I guess I'm just
a little bit afraid

of getting squeezed
out of the family
portrait again.

Oh, Christine.

Whatever happens
between me and King,

it'll never change
the love I have for you.

Right. No,
of course.

I'm just being selfish.

It's gonna be great.

And whatever you
decide is cool. Really.

Peyton. I was just
coming to see you.

I need leads.

Yes, I know.

How about a follow-up on the
caution-versus-passion piece?

What kind of a follow-up?

A new angle on the
right time to take
a chance on love.

New angle?

Opposing opinion.
From a reader.
Mmm.

Flesh it out.
Get back to me.

(SIGHS)

Mandi, tell me
you've gotten in touch
with our friend Eve.

If I told you that,
I'd be lying.

Do you still have
the envelope that
the letter came in?

Good. There's
a return address.

Okay, if you're not
able to get in touch
with her today,

I will stop by
to see her tomorrow.

Okay.

Hey.

Hey.

I enjoyed the
play last night.

Oh, me, too,
especially
the last act.

(CHUCKLING) You slept
through the last act.

My point exactly.

(LAUGHING) Come in.

So, any news?
On the decision front?

King, you proposed to me
less than 12 hours ago.

What? That's
not enough time?

I told Christine.

And?

She did her best
to act happy about it,

but I think the idea
of sharing me with you

really has her
pretty freaked out.

You don't think you're
reading more into this
than there really is?

Maybe. I mean,
I don't know.

I'm just building
my relationship with her

and I'm terrified to do
anything to damage it.

Right.

I think that
we should both

give our full attention
to the kids right now.

Solidify our
relationships,
you know,

and then we can
move on to re-focusing
on ourselves later.

(CELL PHONE BEEPING)

Oh, it's David.
Returning my text.
He's on for lunch.

Great.

Oh.

Hey, my buddy
from New York called.

It turns out that
the Times is looking
for a new sports editor.

Apparently, I'm
on the short list.

Is that something
you'd consider?

(SIGHS) Look,
the short list is
not an offer.

Let's not worry about it
until we have to, okay?

Now go.

Solidify my relationship
with David

so you and I can
move on to re-focusing.

PEYTON: Thanks for
taking the time to have
a sandwich with me.

DAVID: First lesson
I learned in college,
never pass up a free meal.

(CHUCKLES)

Not entirely
free, I'm afraid.

You are gonna
have to listen
to my third degree

about why you
quit baseball.

I figured that's
what this was all about.

Mmm.

David, I don't care
whether or not you play.

I really don't. I care
about you and your dad,

and I'm worried
about you guys.

What's to worry?

You don't seem to be
able to communicate.

He says that
you don't talk.

You say that
he doesn't listen.

Well, it's kind of
always been like that.

Always?

Well, since he and my mom
got a divorce anyway, yeah.

Mmm.

Do you think
maybe it's time

that you got back
to what it once was?

I mean, you don't have
to ignore what happened,

but you don't have
to get hung up on it,
either, you know?

Find some middle ground,

build a new
relationship on it.

You know, your
father would do
anything for you.

Yeah, except pay my tuition.

Did he say that?

Well, not exactly. No.

Well, anyway,
it doesn't really matter.
Not anymore.

What does that mean?

David?

(SIGHING) I didn't
just quit baseball.
I quit school.

You what?

I'm not into it.
I haven't been all year.

That's why my
grades are lousy,

which is why they
cut me from the team.

They cut you
from the team?

Yeah, my dad's gonna
have a heart attack
when he finds out.

But I don't care.

This just isn't
my thing. Not anymore.

So I said, "Okay,
what is your thing?"

And you'll never
guess what he said.

Art school.

What?

Art school. He wants
to go to art school.
In LA. CalArts.

You gotta be
kidding. He wants
to be an artist?

Yeah. What's
wrong with that?

(LAUGHING)
It's ridiculous!

That's what's
wrong with it.

That is so knee-jerk.

Give the kid
a chance, you know?

You should
at least talk to him.

Hey. Promise me.

(SIGHS)

Why is it

I find it impossible
to say no to you,

but you have
no trouble at all
saying no to me?

All right,
Peyton...
Hmm?

...I will talk
to David. I will.

I'll even do my
best to stay calm.

But you have
to promise me
something in return.

That you'll think
about your relationship
with Christine.

I know you feel
that you owe her
your full attention,

and that's fine,
I understand.

Just don't confuse
maternal obligation
with penance

for having given her up
in the first place.

Oh, jeez, MacGruder,
I didn't mean
to upset you.

(SNIFFLING) You didn't.
It's just the smoke.

Come here, then.

(EXHALES)

I'll protect you.

Can you protect me
from myself while
you're at it?

Ms. Miller?

I see you found my note.

If you want to punch
me in the nose,
Ms. MacGruder,

you're gonna have
to come inside to do it.

I'm sorry to just
stop by like this.

I tried to call
several times.

I was visiting my
daughter in Raleigh.

Please, make
yourself at home.

Thank you.

You know, it's me who
should be apologizing.

When we met the other day
at the paper, I was...

Refreshingly candid.

...unforgivably rude.

(CHUCKLING)

Well, either way,
you definitely left
an impression.

That's why I'm here.

Well, I'm delighted
that you are. Tea?

Sure.
All right.

Is this a picture
of your daughter?

And those two precious
beauties with her
are my grandchildren.

One of these guys
your husband?

Yes. Billy's the one
with his arm around me.
Hmm.

Is he a pilot?
Copilot.

Ritchie Everby,
loadmaster.

Ben Morrick, pilot.

Rescue helicopters.

They were still
in training in 1966
when this was taken.

Are you two
still married?

Billy died when
my daughter was four.

I'm sorry.
Mmm.

Was it in the war?
In Vietnam?

Ben went.
Billy stayed behind.

Why don't you have a seat

and tell me a little
bit about yourself?

All right. Well,
my husband passed away,
too, some time ago.

Like you,
I have a daughter.

With so much in common,

I wonder why we find
ourselves at odds

when it comes
to the question of
when to trust our hearts

as opposed to our heads.

Exactly what I'm
hoping to learn
by interviewing you.

Interviewing me?

Yes.
For the "Heart Healer,"
my column.

It's an opposing
point of view.

Oh, no, no, I'm not
interested in being
interviewed, Ms. MacGruder.

But your note,
your invitation...

For a discussion,
an exchange.

An exchange?

Stories,
life lessons.

I mean, maybe even
a secret or two.

But it's you
that my readers
will be interested in.

Ah, but it's you
that will interest me,
Ms. MacGruder.

Give-and-take.
That way, we both
gain something.

Um...

I'm afraid I misunderstood.

Well, I'll still be here
if you change your mind.

Thanks for your time.
Bye.

(PHONE RINGING)
You're kidding.

WOMAN ON PHONE:
Middleborough Times,
can I help you?

Mandi.

(EXCLAIMS)
How'd it go?

Not so well.

Nutcase?

No, but she wouldn't
agree to an interview.

That's too bad.
Yeah.

King's not in there.

Where'd he go?

I don't know.

He did leave
an hour ago, though.

ON VOICEMAIL:
Hey, it's King. You've
reached my cell phone.

Leave a message.

King, it's me. Listen,
if you're gonna have
your talk with David,

remember your promise.
Be cool, and call me.

Or stop by later.

Run down to the
paper's morgue.

Dig up anything
you can find on Eve Miller
and her husband.

Sure.
Okay.

Mom?

Christine, what
are you doing here?

I wanted to talk
to you about something.

Do you have a sec?
Sure.

(EXHALING)
Okay. So I've been
thinking. A lot.

About you, and me,
and King, and this
whole marriage thing,

and I have to tell you,
I'm pretty stressed about it.

Trust me, that
makes two of us.

So did you decide
anything yet?

No.

Okay.

Okay, well, what I
wanted to tell you was

don't let me be
the thing that keeps
you and King apart.

I mean, don't let me
or us or our relationship

be the reason if you
do decide not to get
together with King.

Just leave me
out of the equation

because I can handle
you being married,

but I can't handle
you resenting me.

Okay?

Yeah. Okay.

(SIGHING)
Okay. Good.

Good. I gotta go.

Christine?
Yeah?

I love you.

I love you, too.

ON VOICEMAIL: Hey,
it's King. You've reached
my cell phone.

Got it.

Wow. That was fast.

It's just one file,
but it's thick.

Husband's name was
William Stanhope Miller.

Known to friends as Billy.

From a wealthy family
out west, Charlotte.

Banking money.
What about Eve?

Another country-club type.

Her father was a judge,
mother a social diva
in Chapel Hill.

Is there anything else?

A ton of stuff.
Apparently, she's
a pretty big-deal artist.

Ceramicist.
Right.

Oh, one child from
her marriage with Billy.

I know. A daughter.
Did she ever remarry?

No record of it here,
but there is a lot
more to go through.

Yeah, you know what?
I'm gonna take
that home with me.

I guess you told him, huh?
About our conversation?

Your dad? Yeah.
You didn't tell me not to.

Why? What happened?

He freaked out,
that's what happened.

He found me
at the field house
cleaning out my locker,

and started
yelling at me,

accusing me of having
a crappy work ethic,

of blowing an
opportunity that
any kid would kill for.

Come on, David.
I'm sure your dad
will understand.

No, no. Don't
defend him, okay?

Because the reality is,
I don't care anymore.

About what either
of you has to say.

Wait a minute.
Come on, now.
Forget it!

David, don't
leave like this.

David!

David!

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Hey. Come on in.
Hey.

Get yourself something
from the fridge.

Thanks.

(SIGHS)

What's all that?

Background.

On?
Eve Miller.

You called her?
Yeah.

She talk you out
of being cautious?

Not yet.

(EXCLAIMS)

Listen, I sort of need
to hear your side of the
conversation with David.

What do you mean, "my side"?

I've already
heard his side.

He was waiting for me
when I came home.
He was very upset.

He said that
you yelled at him
about his work ethic.

'Cause he doesn't have one!

But you promised me

that you were gonna
give him a chance...
To what?

To explain why he wants
to go to art school.

No art school. Spare me.
I'm sure one of his buddies

probably told him he'd
get to draw naked girls.

I mean, come on, the kid
couldn't paint a house,
let alone a picture.

That's not the point.

(PHONE RINGING)
The machine'll get it.

ON ANSWERING MACHINE:
This is Peyton,
leave a message.

Hi, it's Christine.

Listen, I think I'm
gonna have to postpone
cleaning out my dad's closet

with you tomorrow morning.

I've got some other stuff
that I'm kind of busy with,

and to be honest,
I'm not really sure
that I'm ready for it, so...

Anyhow, I guess that
you're probably
out with King,

so I guess we'll
just talk whenever.

(MACHINE BEEPS)

They can't communicate,
but they sure can manipulate.

If that's what she's
doing, the question is
why she feels she needs to.

Oh, come on, Peyton,
let's be realistic.

They're just kids
trying to find their way.

Look, I understand
how difficult it's
been for Christine,

how much she
needs you. I can help,
like you help with David.

We can deal
with them together.

Or we can use them
as an excuse

to keep us apart.

You think I'm
looking for excuses?

I think commitment
can be terrifying,

especially to
someone who's already
suffered a loss.

As to whether or not you're
looking for an excuse,

I guess that's something
you have to ask yourself.

I'm gonna make it
an early night.

PEYTON: Dearest readers,
in a world in which

we must juggle
the complex problems

of work and family, with all
its contemporary definitions,

when is the right time
to take a chance on love?

When do I confront
the ghosts that seem

so determined
to destroy my future?

When should we risk upsetting
the delicate balance

between the
complicated elements

of our interpersonal
relationships in the
name of passion?

Hey.

PEYTON: Christine?
In here.

Late night or
early morning?

Didn't you get
my messages?
Yeah.

I tried to call you back
about a hundred times.

You never answered.

Music too loud
to hear the phone?

Yeah, probably.
I had friends over.

Yeah. I saw one
of them leaving.

The one who isn't
your boyfriend.

What's wrong with you?
You.

Staying up all night,
drinking and partying

with someone who is
way too old for you.
"Drinking and partying"?

That's what's wrong with me.

Is this the stuff that
you were so busy with?

So what if it was?

I think you're
acting out, Christine,

in ways that are
self-destructive

to get even with
your father for dying.

That is totally insane.
Is it?

Yes, it is.
I don't even drink.

Oh, right.
Mike drank two cases
of beer all by himself.

He was here with his band.

They're cutting a demo,
so I let them rehearse
in the basement.

They were working,
it wasn't a party.

And then I made them
some food, okay?

And as far as
being mad at my dad,
yeah, you're right.

He picked a really
lousy time to die.

And, yeah, okay,
I am mad,
but not just at him.

I'm mad at my
adoptive mother
who died, too,

and I'm mad at you,
who actually had
a say in the matter,

and you still chose
to give me away.

Now, if you're finished
judging me, I have to
get ready for work.

(SHOWER RUNNING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Were you embarrassed
by those braces?

Scared on your first
day of kindergarten?

Who gave you
your first kiss?

Did he break your heart
or did you break his?

I don't know
the answers to those

and about a thousand
other questions.

I missed
so much of your life.

Too much, maybe,

because now that
I have the chance
to be the mother

that I always
dreamt of being,

I'm making a total
mess out of it.

All that matters to me
is that you never stop trying.

Unfortunately, I think
that's about the only
thing I can guarantee.

(CELL PHONE BEEPING)

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Oh.

Ms. MacGruder.

Peyton.

I'd like to have that
conversation with you,
if you're still willing.

Yeah, come on in.

So what made
you come back?

I'm sort of
at a crossroads
in my personal life

and somehow
I thought...

(CHUCKLING)
I don't know
what I thought.

Maybe that a view
with a perspective

other than your own
might be useful?

Maybe.

Okay. Let's put our
cards on the table.

I assume you did
some research on me.

Oh, I...
You'd be a lousy
reporter if you didn't.

What'd you learn?

(CHUCKLES)

All right.

Both you and your husband
came from well-to-do,

politically-connected
families.

Our mothers were
sorority sisters.

Billy and I were
destined to be married,
at least in their minds,

from the moment
we were in the womb.

You studied art
at Davidson.

Yes. Of course,
my father never thought

that I'd ever be able
to make a living
selling my work,

so he insisted on
a teaching credential,

which brings us back
to this photograph

and the story I wanted
to tell you when
I sent you my note.

More tea?
No, I'm fine, thanks.

Billy joined
the Navy when he
graduated from Duke.

By the time he was
in flight school,
we were engaged.

I followed him
to Newport News,

where I got a job
teaching at a girls'
school near the base.

He became very close
to his training crew,

and when I arrived,
they very graciously

made me the fourth musketeer.

Tell me about them.

(EXCLAIMS)

Well, Ritchie, he was
so full of life and joy,

delighted by every
breath that God gave him.

Are you still
in touch with him?

I was.

Till he died.
A few years back.
Cancer.

And the pilot?

(CHUCKLING) Ah.

Ben Morrick.

Well, he was the
direct opposite of Billy.

South Side of Chicago.
Street-smart, charming.

He loved speed, danger.

(CHUCKLING)

He was always trying
to get the rest of us to
join him in some crazy stunt.

Like what?

Well...

There was this...

There was this one
crispy, cold autumn day.

It was a few weeks
before they were to ship out,

and we all decided we'd
go for a hike in the woods
not far from the base.

Ben, give it to me.

Oh, almost
missed it, Ritchie.

Get out of here.

EVE: We came across
an old bridge that
went across a gorge.

Ben couldn't resist
running ahead and
climbing up on the railing.

The world-famous
tightrope walker, yawning
in the face of certain death.

Naturally, he wanted
the rest of us to join him.

Ritchie and Billy
were not moved
by his madness.

I, on the other hand,
succumbed to the challenge.

Billy was beside himself.

Actually, I think
he was more concerned

with how he was going to
explain my death
to my parents

than he was
about my well-being.

Of course, that made me
want to do it even more.

Now, I was halfway
across and I stopped

and foolishly glanced
down at the creek.

It was a long way down,

and I very nearly lost both
my footing and my courage

until I glanced back at Ben

and his outstretched hand,
and then up into his eyes,

where I found
the gumption to continue

until his fingers
wrapped around mine.

Well, then we jumped down,

laughing like
the lunatics that we were,

and bowed as if we were
members of a circus troupe.

Ritchie, he applauded
wildly, and Billy...

Billy was so mad,

he didn't speak
to me for near a week.

You had a wild streak.

Repressed by the world
in which I was raised.

Whatever happened to Ben?

Well, after he served
in Vietnam, he married
a Cambodian woman.

Stayed in Asia,
flying mercy missions
for various charities.

So when was the
last time you saw him?

Well, I think we have
to save that story.

You know,
my clay's drying out.

I need to attend to it.

Why don't you bring
a couple of sandwiches
with you tomorrow for lunch?

We can continue this
with you telling me
about Gil.

Did I tell you
my husband's name?

It's a two-way street
we're traveling
together, remember?

I did a bit
of research myself.

Your husband died
in a traffic accident.

You were pregnant
at the time.

You gave the
child up for adoption

and you were reunited
last Christmas,

after that terrible
airplane tragedy.

How could you know
all of that about me?

Well, it's not hard
when you have a source.

Jules Grandfield.

(CHUCKLING) He's
a great fan of my work.
And a friend.

And a shameless gossip.

Yes, that, too.

He tells me that
you're involved
with a sports writer.

A man whom,
I'd be willing to bet,

has something to do
with the crossroads

that brought you
back to see me.

Tomorrow then?

Tomorrow.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Hey.
Hey.

I hope you like
ravioli con funghi

because they ran out
of your favorite.

But I also got you
a Caesar salad and...

Yeah, listen.
Sorry, I can't stay.

Oh, come on. I bought
enough food for a regiment.

David moved out
of his dorm.

No one seems to know
where he's gone,

including his mom,
who's been calling me
non-stop,

panicked, ticked off...

Says it's all my fault
he quit school...

Oh, King...

And then there's
this New York thing.

So the interview went well?
You charmed them?

Must have.
They offered me
a job on the spot.

Wow. Mr. Irresistible.

To everyone but you.

(CHUCKLES)

They...

They want a
five-year commitment

and an answer
by the end of the week.

Okay, I see.

You know, it's
unlikely at my age

that I'll get
another opportunity
like this, Peyton.

And I will happily
pass it by if...

If you'll just
agree to marry me.

King, I...

(SIGHS)

EVE: Let the clay slide
between your palms.

Press evenly
on both sides,

letting the bowl's
wall get thinner.

And let your hands
glide up to the
lip of the piece,

making the shape
more delicate
and more fragile.

Well, should've quit
while I was ahead.

Well, to have
a chance at success,

you need to have
the courage to face
potential failure.

Here.

Tell me about
your sports writer.

Is your relationship
serious?

It was.

He recently proposed
and I put him off
until last night.

King sort of pressed me
for an answer that
I just couldn't give.

Couldn't or wouldn't?

Okay, let's talk about
something else, then.

Like what?

I don't know.
How about your
relationship with Gil?

I'd rather not.

(CHUCKLES)

EVE: This was supposed to be
give-and-take, remember?

So far, all it's been
is I give, you take.

So how long
were you married
before you got pregnant?

Two years.

Was your husband excited
about having a baby?

He had been my
college professor.

(CHUCKLING)
It's so embarrassing.
It's just such a cliche.

All right, but go on.

He was everything
that you would
expect him to be.

Handsome and charming
and rumpled and so smart.

You must've had
plenty of competition,
then, for his attention.

Let's just say
he did nothing

to discourage
his popularity.

And impending fatherhood,
how'd he deal with that?

He tried at first
to get used to
the idea of it,

but it didn't fit
his self-image.

And then when
I began to show,

he just became
more and more...

I don't know...

Disengaged.

That's a word
I understand very well.

"Disengaged" is about
the best thing I can say

about my relationship
with Billy.

Our marriage was,
in essence, arranged.

We respected
each other, but there was
very little affection...

Hey.
...never mind love.

Hey.
BEN: Gentlemen.

Hey.

You can have
the winner.

In the meantime,
dance with Eve,
will you? She's bored.

I can't handle her
staring daggers at me.

EVE: Our lives were destined
to be rich with privilege,

but totally devoid of passion.

* Girl, you know,
you know how I feel

* Babe, you got to know
my love is real

* If you're unsure,
question me

* I'll give you all my love

* And that's how it's gonna be

* You're the one I need

* Come rain or shine

* If you find the time

* I'll make you mine

* You are...

EVE: Oh, Ben and I,

we tried our best to
not become involved, but...

Well, it was inevitable.

But if it was Ben
you loved, how did you
end up married to Billy?

Do you love...
What's his name,
your sports writer?

Kingston, King.

(CHUCKLING)

Just saying his name
makes you smile

and yet you can't
bring yourself
to marry him.

Why is that?

Did you ever write
to Ben, you know,
after Billy died?

There was no point.
I mean, not after
Ritchie told me

he'd married
another woman.

But when was that?
It was the '70s.

It's so long ago.
You know, maybe...
It doesn't matter.

Even if I wanted to,
I wouldn't know how
to begin to find him.

I wouldn't know
where to begin looking,
not after all these years.

Oh.

I must've picked
this one out for you

when I was what,
six years old?

I can't believe
that you wore
this one to work.

PEYTON: How do we
make forward progress

when the past weighs on us
like Marley's chains?

With what tool can we
cut those onerous bonds?

Therapy? Confession?

Or perhaps, more simply,
with a candid dialog
between trusted friends.

I've found such
an opportunity recently

with a woman whom I have
come to greatly admire,

one of you, dear readers,
who wrote to oppose
my admonition to be cautious

when opening
one's heart to love.

I'm beginning to be persuaded
by her point of view,

and as her argument continues
to unfold, I hope to share it
with you in this column.

Okay, so I talked
to a yeoman first class,

whatever that is, at the
Veterans Administration.

Very, very sexy voice,
by the way.

I'm betting that
he has a ship tattoo
right on his...

Mandi.
Sorry.

Bottom-line it, please?
All right.

The last time the Navy
made any contact with
Ben Morrick was in 1974.

They sent his
discharge papers to
an address in Chiang Mai.

Thailand?
Mmm-hmm.

Okay.

This is gonna be
a long shot, but
what the heck.

I pulled these off the Net,

a list of nongovernmental

organizations
operating in Asia.

Start calling them.
See if anybody's ever
heard of the guy.

Okay.

There are fewer
names in the Beijing
telephone directory.

Well, who knows?
Maybe the first one
will be the lucky winner.

If not, I'll give you
a hand when I get back.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Be right there.

(EXHALES)

Hey, come in.
Thanks for coming over.
Hi.

Your message made it
sound important.
What's all this?

It's stuff for the
homeless shelter.

Your dad's stuff?

Yeah.

I decided it was time
to get my head straight.

About a lot of things.

I can't tell you how
proud that makes me.

Oh, but that's not
why I called you.
No?

No. Mike's
bass player, Ricki,

let it slip that
David's been crashing
on his hide-a-bed.

Said he's supposed
to keep it quiet

'cause he's trying
to avoid his dad
or something?

Who's been
worried sick.

Yeah, that's
what I figured.

Anyway, he got
himself a gig at this
one-hour photo place.

This is the
address right here.

Great. Thank you,
Christine.

You're welcome.

Oh, Mom?

Don't let David know
that I'm the one that
dimed him out, okay?

Don't worry.
I never reveal a source.

Any luck with the NGOs?

I thought you'd never ask.

You found him?
You found Ben Morrick?

Seemed like I talked
to every dot-org in Asia
to do it, but, yeah.

By the way,
you might want to
give Nora the heads-up

about the gigundous
phone bill that's
about to come her way.

I'll do that. Tell me.

Okay. On about
the 50th phone call,

I spoke with an NGO
who he'd flown with
for nearly 10 years.

Apparently,
his job was to shuttle
orphans and sick people

and medical supplies
in and out of
remote areas.

Mission outposts,
that sort of thing.

So is he still
in the jungle, or what?

If you consider
Washington the jungle,

'cause a lot of people do.

He's in DC?

Just outside.
He retired there
six months ago.

You got all this
from one phone call?

Guy I spoke with
at the non-profit
home office in Hong Kong

was very friendly,
invited me for dim sum.

Well, did your new friend
offer up an address?

Indeed he did.

You're gonna have
to take your act

on the road,
though, if you
want to talk to him.

No e-mails,
phone's unlisted.

Hmm.

You, young lady,
deserve a raise.

Oh!

Feel free to mention
that to Nora, too.

Hey, what a surprise.

Usually only
fire marshals

and fitness freaks
use the stairs.

I stopped by your office.

I thought maybe
you'd gone up
to New York again.

Not yet.

Anyway, I'm glad I found you.
I need to talk to you.

Really?

About David.

David? What about him?

Christine found out
where he's working.
It's a one-hour photo place.

(SIGHING) He's all right?

Far as I know, yeah.

I'm gonna
call his mother.

King?

Yeah.

I was reminded of
something recently.

What's that?

In order to have
a chance at success,

you need the courage
to face potential failure.

David has the strength.

He just needs to know
that, win or lose,

you'll still be
there for him.

Peyton, why can't you
tell me what's really
keeping us apart?

Eve.

I'm so glad I caught you.

No, I'm just
running off
to the gallery.

I won't keep you.
I've got the greatest news.

I found Ben Morrick.

And the best part,
he lives less than
200 miles from here.

It's near Washington.

No, I'm sorry. No, I...
I've got to go. Sorry.
I've...

Eve, wait a minute.

Eve.

What happened
to the two-way street?
The give and the take?

You know, we were both
supposed to get something

out of this, remember?

So far, all I've gotten
is more confused than ever.

Please, call me.
You know the number.

Mr. Morrick?
Yes?

Ben Morrick?

That's right.
Can I help you?

I sure hope so.

Nice place you've
got here, Mr. Morrick.

Your flowers are beautiful.

Thanks. Call me Ben.

My wife got me
into gardening.

She said it would be
the yin to the yang
of flying choppers.

Mmm. Sounds like
a wise woman.

She was indeed.

She passed away.

Three years ago.
I'm sorry.

So, tell me...

Tell me what brings
you all the way up
from Middleborough.

What could a reporter
possibly want with me?

Eve Miller sent me a note.

Eve?
Mmm.

She wrote to complain,
actually, about
a column I'd written.

What kind of column?

On relationships.

Specifically, I was
discussing when to
take a chance on love.

And her note led to
several conversations,

in which she told me
about Ritchie, Billy and you.

What exactly
did she tell you?

About how you had all
trained together and
the friendship you shared,

and how you once
encouraged her

to cross a gorge
on the railing
of a bridge.

(CHUCKLING)
"Gorge" is a bit
of an overstatement.

(CHUCKLES)

She implied it was
a dangerous step for her.

Both literally
and figuratively.

She said the two of you
got close after that.

It was a long time ago.

You knew that
she and Billy got
married, I assume?

Ritchie Everby told me.

We ran into
each other in Saigon.

He said Billy's father
had pulled some strings

and got him
a posting stateside

as a wedding present.

Were you surprised
by their marriage?

Yes and no.

It was certainly what
their families wanted
for their own agendas.

Still, it was
hard to believe
that Eve would...

She was so curious.
I mean, so full of life.

And Billy, he was
just the opposite.

She deserved...

What?

More than Billy
was capable of offering.

But there was nothing
you could do or say, right?

I mean, Billy was
your best friend

and she'd already
agreed to marry him.

It's quite a dilemma.

Yes, quite a dilemma.

So how did you resolve it?

In the worst way
imaginable, I'm afraid.

What did Eve tell you?
About how it ended?
Between us, I mean?

She was vague.

Which is why
I'm here, probably.

I guess I'd like to have
your perspective on it.

She did lead me
to believe, Ben,

that she still regrets
not following her heart.

So what happened?

Just a few days
before I left for Nam...

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

...the rainshower had
rolled in from the ocean,

and I was driving through it

when I saw Eve
riding her bike
down the road.

(HONKING)

I knew I shouldn't
have stopped.

I knew what would happen.

But I somehow
convinced myself

that we would be forgiven
our transgressions,

that we could ignore
our obligations.

You gotta let me
talk to Billy.

Let me tell him
we didn't mean
to fall in love...

No.
...that it
just happened.

No.
I'll make him
understand.

You'll see, Eve.

You can't tell him, Ben.
Not now, not ever.

Eve...

Eve.

BEN: If only we were
willing to risk everything
for an abiding love.

Unfortunately,

Eve didn't have it in her
to take that chance.

You never saw her
again after that day?

I wanted to.
Desperately.

But the choice
wasn't mine to make.

It was hers.

You knew Billy
got killed, right?

A sailing accident.
Years ago.

I didn't know.

Eve's phone number.

Unfortunately,
Ms. MacGruder...

Peyton,

it's still her
choice to make.

Can I help you?
Maybe.

I'm David Danville's father.
I called yesterday.

They said he might be
working here tonight.

Yeah, he's
in the darkroom.
You can go on back.

Okay, thanks.

David?

Hey.
Hey.

Look, for some reason,
you and I seem to be

on different
wavelengths lately

and I just want
to get past that.

Okay.

Okay, so talk to me,
why don't you,

about this whole
art-school concept.

There's nothing
to talk about, really.

I'm going,
end of story.

You expect to pay
your tuition working here?

I expect to pay
for my plane ticket
working here.

I'll figure out
the rest when
I get to LA.

Where's all this
coming from
all of a sudden,

this newfound passion?

It's not
all of a sudden.

No?
No.

It's something
I got started
with a while ago,

after you and Mom...
You split up.

It was kind of
a distraction for me
from all that...

From all that
stuff going on.

Yeah, those were tough
times for everybody,

especially you.
I know.

What I regret most
about the whole thing

is the gap it put between us

that I still haven't
been able to bridge.

I could have done better.

I should have done better.

And for that failure,
I am truly sorry.

If you want to go
to art school

and draw pictures,
that's fine by me.

I will support you
in every way I can.

Okay. Cool.
Cool.

And just so you know,
it's not drawing
that I'm into.

No?

This is...

This is what I do.

You took these?

Yeah. Well,
they're not all
that good, but...

Not good?

(CHUCKLES)

They're amazing.

Amazing enough
to get me into
CalArts, anyway.

I mean, who knows,
if you can win
the Pulitzer,

maybe it's in the genes.

Wow, somewhere
along the way I seem
to have forgotten

what an incredible
kid you are.

If you can forgive
your old man for that,

I promise it will
never happen again.

How could you
have done that?

How could you have
taken it upon yourself...

How could I not?

After everything
you told me about losing
the love of your life

because you
weren't brave enough
to follow your passion.

And yet
all these years later,

when I offer you
a second chance,
you what?

You still don't
have the courage?

You know,
you don't understand.

You keep saying that.
What don't I understand?

My daughter is his daughter.

She's not Billy's child,
she's Ben's.

Of course she is.

Of course.

By the time
I realized I was pregnant,
Ben had been shipped out.

It was an election year,

and my father was running
on a platform of what
we now call family values.

I didn't know how Ben
would take the news.

So I chose caution
over passion.

Eve, that was
40 years ago.

What's left to
hold you back now?

I stole Ben's child from him.

Raised her with
another man's name.

What could I possibly
expect from him
after all these years?

How could I begin to explain?
Where would I find the words?

In the same place
that I found the words
to tell my child

that I tried
to take her life
along with my own.

And when I failed
and she was born,
I gave her away.

I found the words.

What strength that
must have taken, Peyton.

And yet, you're not
brave enough to commit
your heart to King.

I can't help but wonder why.

Because I'm a...
No.

Don't tell me. Tell him.

PEYTON: More than
four decades ago,
my critic and new friend

chose a well-marked path
rather than risk following
an unblazed trail.

Her regret at having
made that choice
had lasted a lifetime.

And when,
after all these years,

fate offered her
another chance to choose,

a do-over, if you will,

she balked because
of a long-harbored secret.

(SIGHS)

Hello, Ben.

After that day
in the rain, I was
confused about what I...

What we'd done,
about who I was,
who I wanted to be.

It took me a while
to sort it out,

to realize that the love
I felt for you was real.

And by the time
I came to tell you...

You came to tell me?

Rode my bike.

Didn't bother
slowing down
at the gate

and got arrested
by the Marines.

(CHUCKLES)

But not before I made it
to your quarters

and found out that
you had left that
morning for Vietnam.

Why didn't you write, Eve?

I would have,

but I found out
the next day

that I was pregnant.

Pregnant?

You were gone, Ben,

to the other side
of the world.

I didn't know
what to do.

I tortured myself
for days and then,

finally, I turned
in the only direction
I felt I could,

to the world in which
I'd been raised.

To Billy, you mean.

I decided that under
the circumstances,

to avoid a scandal,

to protect our
families' reputations,

that I would
go through
with the wedding.

It was a cowardly
decision, Ben,
and one I regretted

even as I stood
in front of the pastor,

because you
were always there,
Ben, between us.

And then
when Billy died,
I tried to find you,

but Ritchie told me
that you had married
another woman.

I did everything I could
to get you out of my mind,

and I failed miserably.

And then Peyton MacGruder
told me that she'd found you,

and I wanted to run away

because I didn't believe
I had it inside me
to tell you the truth.

But here you are.

(SNIFFLING) Yes.

Tell me everything
about your life
that I've missed.

Ben, there's so much.

We have time.

Start...

Start by telling me
about our child.

Oh, Ben, you
have a daughter.

(LAUGHING)

Her name's Dawn.

And, not to make
you feel old, but
you've got grandchildren.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Not just one,
but two.

PEYTON: Mandi,
have you seen King?

No. I've been
hiding out.
From who?

Nora. She's called me
at least three times
since my first latte.

She wants this
week's column,
and she wants it now.

Well, it's not
finished yet.

Hmm.

Is today Friday?
All day.

What time does
the morning flight
leave for New York?

About an hour ago.

Oh, no.

You okay, boss?

Book me on the first
flight to La Guardia.

What about Nora?
Stall her.

Me?
You.

How?
Don't know, don't care.

Whoa!

Where are you going
in such a hurry?

New York. I thought
that you were...

But they're
painting your office.

It's part of the deal
I made with Nora

so I wouldn't
go to the Times.

Course, I didn't tell her
I already passed on the offer.

You turned it down?

Yeah.

Can I come in?

Yeah, sure.

Listen, I want
to hear why you
turned down the job,

but there's something that
I really need to say first.

Okay.

You were right.

About me using
Christine as an excuse

to not commit
to you, to us.

Uh...

I told you about
Gil and how we met.

That he was your
professor, right?

And I was his
adoring student.

And our relationship
was built on passion mostly,

and I was naive
enough to think that
that was gonna last.

It didn't.

When I got pregnant,
Gil became distant.

Started finding excuses
to spend time away from home

and I just started
suspecting an affair.

I didn't realize.
I mean, I thought
you two were...

Desperately in love.
Yeah.

I know.

I confronted him
the night of the accident.

I accused him
of betraying our marriage.

He denied it, of course.
But we screamed at each other.

We said vile things that
I'm just never gonna forget.

(SNIFFLING) And then
he walked out into the rain
and I never saw him again.

Was it true?
What you thought?

Less than a month
after I buried him,
I got a letter.

One of his grad students
looking for absolution

for the affair that
she'd had with him.

I'm sorry.

She said that
he had ended it
with her that night,

and that he was
on his way back here

to beg for my forgiveness.

But he slid off the road.

I just stopped
trusting my heart then.

I was afraid that
the passion you feel
for me would disappear

like it did with Gil,

and I just couldn't
face that again,

no matter how much
I love you.

(EXHALING) But now...

What?

Having just
seen firsthand
a lifetime of love

squandered because of fear,

I decided I couldn't
let that happen to us.

(CHUCKLES)

So, tell me, why did you
turn down the job?

I had to.

I started fantasizing
about your pantyhose

drying on my shower curtain.

What?
I know.
Weird, huh?

I kept imagining
my last razor

being used to shave
your gorgeous legs.

Started thinking about

how little
closet space
I actually need.

(LAUGHS)

And I couldn't
conceive of a life
without you in it.

So...

Even if you
don't want this today,
Peyton, that's okay.

'Cause I intend

to propose every day
for as long as it takes

until you feel
you are ready to say...

Yes.

Yes?
Yes.

(CHUCKLING)

Oh, my.

PEYTON: Eventually,
my friend overcame her fear

and was rewarded
with an opportunity

to rediscover
her long-lost passion.

The lesson she learned
from her experience
passed on to me,

and now to you,
dear readers, is this.

Love is alive
and constantly evolving.

Don't attempt
to understand it,

or reason with it,

or defer it.

We are gathered
together to witness
the exchange of vows

between Peyton MacGruder
and Kingston Danville.

Your love for each other
will grow deeper with
every passing day.

PEYTON: Or deny it
entry into your heart

with excuses molded
from doubt or insecurity.

MINISTER: King,
will you take Peyton
to be your wife?

Will you cherish
her friendship,
trust and honor her?

Be faithful to her
in sickness and in health

as long as you
both shall live?

KING: I will.

MINISTER: Peyton,
will you take King
to be your husband?

Will you cherish
his friendship,
trust and honor him?

Be faithful to him
in sickness and in health

as long as you
both shall live?

I will.

By the power
vested in me,

I now pronounce you
husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride.

PEYTON: Rather, when it
comes your way, grasp love.

Hold onto it
for all you're worth.

Never let fear
keep you from reaching
for life's bouquets.

(ALL CHEERING)
And, finally, never ever fail
to take a chance on love.