Original subtitles

? What would you do if I sang out of tune? ?

? Would you stand up and walk out on me? ?

? Lend me your ears, and I'll sing you a song ?

? I will try not to sing out of key, yeah ?

? Oh, baby, I get by ? ? By with a little help from my friends ?

? All I need is my buddies ?

? High with a little help from my friends ?

? I'm sayin' I'm gonna get higher ? ?Try with a little help from my friends ?

- ? Whoa-oa-oa-oa, yeah ? - ? Ooh, ooh, ooh ?

When I was a kid, anytime I needed a lift,

there was my grandfather.

The guy was always good for a ride.

Sure, he was as old as the hills,

but to me, Gramps was Hercules in bifocals,

superman in suspenders.

He was ageless... Timeless...

One man in a million.

You could always count on him.

Where is he?

He's late again.

Not that everyone shared my view.

Probably just Friday traffic on the turnpike.

He said 5:00. I come home early.

You're making his lamb chops for him.

The lamb chops will keep, Jack.

I know lamb chops, Norma! They dry out!

And then he'll show up,

and he'll start complaining about dry lamb chops.

It was kind of a ritual around our house.

When Gramps visited, Mom cooked, Dad groused,

and I...

Dad, could I have the keys to the car tonight?

I borrowed the keys to the car.

I got to go out. I'm picking up the guys.

- What guys? - Dad!

Oh, honey, aren't you gonna wait

till your grandfather gets here?

Mom, he'll see me when I come back, okay?

Not that I wasn't anxious to swap boring stories

with the old guy.

It's just...

So, Dad, can I have them?

When you're 16, there are priorities.

Well...

Wait... A minute.

Where'd you say you were going?

Come on, Dad, do I really have to answer that?

It didn't seem fair...

the Spanish inquisition

for two lousy hours in a four-door sedan.

Okay. [ Telephone rings ]

But be careful.

I will, Dad.

After all, I was a responsible driver.

Hello?

Good on turns, fair on parking...

Kevin, wait.

Bad on exits.

It's your father.

Where is he?

The police station.

What the hell is he doing at the police station?

He's had an accident.

[ Siren wailing ]

- Let's get out of here. - Dad, what happened?

Absolutely nothing, John. Now let's go find my car.

One thing was clear, anyway.

Gramps' accident had been something less than fatal.

- What, you hit somebody? - It was nothing like that.

It was a little Fender-bender... couldn't be avoided.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Let me get this straight, now.

Just a minute. The car was parked on the side of the road.

I just nicked it as I went by. That's all.

You hit a parked car?!

John, don't start with me on this!

But, Dad, you...

John, the important thing is, nobody got hurt!

Isn't that right, Kevin?

- Uh... - Good! Now let's go find my car!

Oh, Albert. Are you all right?

Yes, I am, Norma.

And thank you very much for asking.

Now, if we could all stop standing around, gawking,

we might go home and have some dinner.

Just a minute, Mr. Arnold.

Huh?

What do you think you're doing?

This your designated driver?

What?

The man's had three accidents in six months.

Hmm.

Seemed there were one or two things

Gramps had failed to mention to us.

Albert?

Now, listen, Sonny...

Don't you have something better to do

than going around, harassing taxpayers?

You were driving on probation, sir.

Probationary accidents result

in the immediate suspension of driving privileges.

I believe you were informed of that.

Well... Just let me inform you of something.

I have an Oldsmobile to drive here.

I'll drive, Gramps.

After all, no sense letting a golden opportunity

go to waste here.

No, you won't. I'll drive.

You most certainly will not.

Well, fine. I'll drive your car, then.

You ride with your mother.

We've had enough accidents for one day.

- But, Dad, I... - Kevin!

- John! - Folks...

don't forget to buckle up.

And there it was... the final word.

You can't do this, you know!

He can't do this, you know.

Hell hath no fury like a grandfather scorned.

Dad, he can do it.

He did it. It's done.

Come on, Albert.

I made your lamb chops just the way you like them.

That cop wouldn't know a good driver

if he got run over by one.

Honest, Gramps, I mean, did you have the pedal to the metal?

Were you gunning it?

What are you talking about? 25 Miles an hour.

25 Miles an hour, and you... you still hit the guy?

[ Chuckles ]

You had to admit, it didn't really make sense.

Because he wasn't wearing his glasses.

Am I right, Dad?

You weren't wearing your driving glasses, were you?

They don't fit right, is the thing.

There's this cockamamie earpiece that don't work right.

Besides, my eyes are just fine!

Dad, earpiece or not, you're stuck.

You don't have a license, so you can't drive a car,

and that is that.

Do we understand each other?

It was a bitter pill,

but there was nothing more Gramps could say...

Except, of course...

Aren't lamb chops supposed to be juicy?

[ Fork clatters ]

Still, you had to hand it to the guy... he had spunk.

He had nerve.

He had the bunk next to mine.

You know when I learned to drive a car, Kevin?

When, Gramps?

1921.

The man that sold it to me taught me how to drive,

and I drove it off the lot.

That was my license... Know-how.

No state, no son to tell me what to do.

You know what I mean?

[ Sighs ] Look, Gramps...

It seemed pretty clear we were gonna be up all night

unless somebody put out this fire.

The law's the law.

So just... Promise you won't drive.

Okay?

It'll make Dad happy.

It'll make Mom happy.

It'll make me happy.

So, what do you say?

And where all the king's horses

and all the king's men had failed before...

Fine.

Let's just get some shut-eye.

There. Easy.

And in that spirit of peace and tranquility...

We all slept a little easier.

[ Rooster crows ]

He's gone again.

I haven't seen anyone so stubborn in all my life.

Now, calm down, honey.

He behaves like a teenager. Where the hell did he go?

[ Door opens ]

Morning, people!

- Albert? - Dad, where have you been?

Oh, just out for a ride.

Dad, what the hell were you doing in the car?!

I was getting fresh-squeezed juice...

And some eggs.

I came down early this morning to make my famous waffles...

couldn't find an egg in the house!

Damn it, Dad. You weren't supposed to drive!

You don't have a license, and your eyesight's shot!

What are you talking about?!

I see like an owl!

Here, let me show you.

Hold that.

Hold it right there.

Now...

"Lula May's great buttermilk flavor

"pancakes and waffle mix,

since 1917."

And on the bottom... "7-cent coupon inside."

It was amazing,

a virtuoso display of visual pyrotechnics.

Now read a box you haven't been buying for 25 years, Dad.

A box is a box, John.

Aw, this is ridiculous.

Albert... It's just that we're worried about you.

Worried?

Well, let me tell you something right now.

You don't have to worry about me.

Come on, Gramps, be reasonable.

You too, huh?

Anybody else?

I felt sorry for the guy.

I wanted to say something, but...

I see.

Well, I can tell I'm on my own here.

Maybe I'll come back when somebody appreciates me...

And my waffles!

Just a minute, Dad. Where are you going?

Home.

Now, we all knew Gramps was bluffing.

Problem was, he was also packing.

You're not driving home, Dad.

John... I am driving home.

You're not driving home!

And there it was again... the final word.

Fine.

Let the boy drive me.

Aw, Gramps, I-I don't want to...

not you...him.

Me?

Kevin?!

He's got his license, doesn't he?

That's what you need in this state to drive, isn't it...

a license?

How about it, son?

You want to drive your doddering old grandpa home?

And, suddenly, I was trapped between a Gramps...

And a hard place.

Sure. I guess I could.

Good. Let's get moving.

And from that point on...

There was nothing left to say but...

Drive carefully, honey.

Okay, Mom, I will.

[ Engine turns over ]

And so it began...

Go easy on the gas. She's got a hell of a punch.

The great overland automobile trip

to grandfather's house of 1972.

Sure, it was further than I'd ever driven,

and I'd have to take the bus back,

but that morning, behind that wheel,

I could feel the call of adventure... Excitement...

The unexpected...

Pull over.

Beg your pardon?

Stop her right here.

For about a block and a half.

Gramps, what's going on?

- Get out. - What?

I'm driving.

But, Gramps, you know what Dad said.

- Your eyes... - Come on! Let's go!

You're riding shotgun! [ Laughs ]

But...

And that's when the true meaning

of what was transpiring hit me.

Move it!

Suddenly, I saw clearly.

I'd been duped by the master...

Hoodwinked... Blindsided.

Here we go!

[ Tires screech ]

I should have known all along that my grandfather was...

Gangway!

Always in the driver's seat.

Beautiful country, huh?

Beautiful stretch of highway.

Yep.

Beautiful.

It's a terrible thing

when your own flesh and blood plays you for a sucker.

What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

Not that I was bitter about it or anything.

You know, I was supposed to drive!

And you promised me last night that you wouldn't...

hey! I didn't know you had so much spunk.

Yeah.

Anyway...

I appreciate your company, Kevin.

Maybe so,

but the guy sure had a funny way of showing it.

[ Tires screech ]

Gramps! Whoa!

Hang on, now! [ Laughs ]

What are you doing?

Pit stop.

Pit stop?

Two pieces of cherry pie, hold the pits.

Anything else?

No. Pie will be just fine.

Turns out our pit stop was about 5 Miles off the highway.

What do you think of this place?

What are we doing here?

You're gonna sample the best pie you ever tasted.

[ Chuckles ]

Margaret and I used to stop here on our way to see you guys

before they put the parkway in.

The thing is, it didn't make sense.

Here we were, reliving old memories,

and I had no idea why.

Millie around today?

Who?

Millie... she runs the place.

Uh, never heard of her.

"Never heard of her"?

[ Chuckles ] I just saw her! I was just in here!

I was in here, about, uh...

Two years ago.

You don't remember?

Millie?

Gramps, he's never heard of her, okay?

Well, just, uh...

Say hello to her if you see her, anyway.

Sure. Anything you say.

But one thing was clear.

Memory Lane had changed more than a little

since Gramps last strolled down it.

You feel okay, Gramps?

Oh, yeah, fine. Why?

- Nothing. - Oh.

Still, since he'd asked...

Do you want me to drive?

Why?

Well...

It's just that I figured that way, maybe, uh...

You know, we could make better time.

Are you in a hurry?

Yeah, kind of.

Not to be rude or anything.

Still, keep in mind, I had a bus to catch.

Well, okay.

If you're in a hurry, we'd better... Step on it!

Mmm-mmm!

So, we stepped on it, all right.

[ Whistling ]

Trouble was...

It was Gramps who did all the stepping.

[ Benny Goodman's "sing, sing, sing" plays ]

That afternoon, we stopped at every monument and landmark,

every fruit stand and roadside museum known to mankind.

[ Laughs ] Good to see you!

Not to mention a few that weren't.

The worst part was I just couldn't figure out

why Gramps was doing this at all.

It's amazing, isn't it?

It's okay, I guess.

All I knew was the longer it took...

[ Scoffs ]

The more impatient I got.

[ Whistling ]

By 4:00, we'd made more pit stops

than most race cars make in a lifetime.

Did I ever tell you about the time

that me and Nate Molnar took seven weeks

to drive my old jalopy across the country?

Gramps.

We broke three wheels the first week.

Then... then we broke an axle

in the smallest town I've ever seen.

It was about 100 Miles outside of, uh, Sioux falls.

It was crazy.

The guy kept rambling on and on

about every detail of his life,

and I was held there, captive.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Did I say Sioux falls?

No. No, no. It was rapid city.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

It wasn't rapid city. It was a little town, about...

Right west of there, uh...

But I just didn't care anymore...

about Sioux Falls...

About his wandering, windbag stories.

Well, anyway, we... we...

we broke an axle there,

and we thought we were gonna have to stay there seven days!

Gramps?

Huh?

Watch out! [ Horn honks ]

[ Tires screeching ]

[ Horns honking ]

[ Tires screech ]

Ugh!

You all right?

I think so.

But I wasn't. I'd had it. I was fed up.

Geez, Gramps, didn't you see where you were going?!

Well, I...

you could've gotten us killed!

Look, you're looking out the window, telling stories,

not watching the road!

That's how it happened yesterday, wasn't it?

You weren't paying attention, were you, Gramps?

I was paying attention!

Then how'd you hit a parked car?

It was the sun!

What?

The sun.

It was real low.

It was glinting in the rear-view mirror

and catching a whole row of hubcaps

along the side of the street.

You know what it's like

when you suddenly can't see anything

because of the glints and the... Traffic.

And I guess that's when it hit me.

For the first time, this man,

who'd always been Hercules to me,

didn't seem quite the same.

For the first time,

my grandfather seemed... Old.

Gramps, let's just go home.

We didn't talk much the rest of the way.

Something had come between us...

a Gulf of silence...

A Gulf of time.

[ Sighs ] Home.

We sat there...

A 16-year-old who was always in a hurry...

A man whose eyes had grown old before his time.

Kevin...[ Sighs ]

Make me an offer.

What?

For the car.

What are you talking about?

She's got a lot of Miles and...

Got a dented bumper.

How's, uh...

How's $1?

A dollar?

Is it a deal, or you want to haggle with me?

I didn't know what to say.

No!

$1 sounds good.

It was the hardest thing I'd ever seen Gramps do.

How are you gonna get around?

Oh, well, uh... The town's close.

I got, uh, cabs. I got buses.

I got feet.

And I got a fine grandson

who will drive me around when I come to visit.

And maybe that's when I began to understand...

About a lot of things.

Well, come on, pay up.

Your credit's no good with me.

Good.

Tell nobody what you paid.

I don't want anybody to think I'm an easy mark.

No, no, no, no. You don't...

You don't have to come in.

I got the guys coming over to play poker.

'Course, we both knew he was lying.

We both knew why.

We both knew he was letting go of more than just a car.

Remember...

Cold mornings...

Pump the gas three times before you turn the key on.

Three times.

Yeah, I don't want you calling me

to ask me how to turn her over.

I promise.

Now, get out of here.

Drive safe.

I will.

[ Engine turns over ]

Some gifts are simple.

Some come at a price.

Some you buy for a buck...

And last you a lifetime.

I guess everybody remembers their first car.

I know I remember mine...

Not because it was my first car...

But because it was my grandfather's last.

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