Original subtitles

[theme music]

ANNE: Matt, breakfast is ready.

MATT: Be there in a minute.

ANNE: Well, hurry up, you'll be late for school.

[music playing]

[knocking]

Hey, grandpa, you want--

it happened again, huh?

Yes.

I didn't have a thing to drink after supper, just

one little sip of my medicine.

I know.

What am I going to do?

Your mom said if it happened again--

Oh, she didn't mean that.

She did.

Oh, she did.

Oh, God.

Oh, grandpa, don't.

I'll help care of it, OK?

No.

I'll wash them at school.

It'll be all right.

[humming]

- Nice and hot. - Morning.

Thank you.

Hi, honey.

Hey, good morning.

Your eggs are cold.

That's all right.

They've got cholesterol in them.

Oh, is that so, doctor?

Well, perhaps you'd like to prescribe

something else for breakfast?

Carbos, carbos like the distance runners.

Donuts.

Oh, the man wants donuts.

Hey, you got practice after school today.

Mm-hmm.

The coach is going to decide today

who runs the mile or the 880.

Good, so what do you think?

I don't know.

I'd rather run the mile.

It's the primo event, you know.

Whatever you run, you're going to do it with clean socks.

The ones you had on yesterday made the dog faint.

What on earth-- what is this doing in your bag?

I asked you a question.

What's this doing in your bag?

He couldn't help it.

He got scared.

I told him I'd washed them up at school.

Look, I don't mind.

It's time to go.

You'll be late.

Mom, come on.

I said go to school.

It's time to face reality.

Anne.

I know he's your father.

I understand how you feel.

But you've got to understand how I feel.

He isn't going to get better.

He's just going to get worse.

If we have problems now, what's it going to be like a year

from now?

He should be someplace where people can--

can take care of him.

Anne, come on, he had an accident.

So he wet his sheets.

Please, Jim, don't start again.

It's not just the sheet and you know it.

We have our own life, our own family.

I'm afraid to even go on vacation for fear of what

will happen when we're gone.

You asked them to stop smoking.

He stopped smoking the pipe.

Yeah, because we're here.

Jim, it's like taking care of a baby.

And I'm not going to do it anymore.

We've seen the place.

It's clean.

The staff is nice.

Jim, I'm going to call them today.

Do you have something with romance in it?

I-- I like romance, you see.

Well, let me take a look.

We should have something here.

Oh, a-- a lot of old ladies up here don't like romance.

Oh, but I do.

I love it.

I just love-- love it.

Hey, here, take a look at this one.

Oh, oh, has it got some real hot stuff in it?

Well, I think so. Look at the cover.

I mean, they're not exactly holding hands here.

Oh! Oh!

Oh, I like you.

You know, you're all right.

Mm-hmm.

Now-- now get out.

Come on, get right out.

I want to read this. Get right out.

I want to read this.

I'll see you later, Ethel.

Go on, go on, go on.

[door closes]

Hey, morning, Harry.

My name is Jonathan.

I'm with the rolling library.

I thought you might like something to read.

No, thank you.

Hey, wait, don't make a decision yet.

Let me read a few titles to you here.

I said no thank you, young man.

All right.

Hey, look, I would like to leave something with you.

I'm new at this.

And I wouldn't want my boss to think I wasn't doing my job.

Hey, here's one, easy reading, "Welcome to Hollywood."

"Welcome to Hollywood."

Yeah.

Quite a place.

You ever been there?

No, never have.

Meant to go a lot of times, me and my wife, never did.

Why not?

I don't know.

Something always came up.

Yeah, I bet with the kids, huh?

Yeah, with the kids.

First they're too small to drive them.

Next thing you know they're in day camp.

Then you're saving the vacation money for college.

And then--

And then?

And one day you wake up and your wife is gone

and you're too old to go anywhere.

Oh, come on.

What are you talking about?

You, too old?

Yes, me.

Why do you think I'm in here?

Because I'm old and too much trouble to take care of.

Yeah, but do you exercise or anything?

Are you kidding?

No, I'm not kidding.

You're never too old to exercise.

What about walking?

You do much walking?

Walking?

I can hardly get out of bed in the morning.

Wait until you get to be my age.

You'll see.

Of course, there was a time when I

kept up with the best of them.

I had a plaque on the wall of the YMCA

in Baldwin, North Dakota.

And I was fast and strong too.

But like I said, you wake up one day, you're too old.

What day was that, Harry?

Hmm?

You said one day you woke up and you were too old.

I just wondered if that was the day your wife died.

Hey, I got to run.

Why don't you take a look at that magazine?

You never know.

I'll see you, Harry.

How did it go?

Ah, not bad.

You like running?

What do you mean?

Get in shape running?

Yeah.

No, the only time I run is when something very large

is chasing me.

All right, in that case, you can just watch.

Let's go.

All right, listen up, clowns.

[moaning]

The milers are going to be Jordan, August, and Haynes.

All right.

The 8 milers, Cardone, Morris, and, uh, Yacoubian.

The rest of you guys over here with me.

Hey, you really had a lot left those last 100 yards.

Yeah, I paced myself pretty good.

My name is Jonathan. This is Mark.

Hi.

I wondered if I could talk to you for a minute.

It's about your granddad.

He's OK, isn't he? JONATHAN SMITH: Oh, yeah.

No, he's fine.

I just wanted to talk to you about him.

Sure, sit down.

Thank you.

I met your granddad today for the first time.

And I got to be honest with you, I

don't think he's going to be with us very long if he

keeps going the way he is.

It's because of that place, isn't it?

No, no, I don't think it's the place.

I think it's because of your grandfather and the way

he was treated at your house.

Hey, wait a minute.

Look, I don't agree with putting him in a home.

But when he was with us, my mom waited on him hand and foot.

It was hard on her.

Look, I know that.

And I'm not saying anything bad about your mom.

What I am saying is I don't think

waiting on him hand and foot is what he needs right now.

What do you think he needs?

I think he needs a good, swift kick in the butt, somebody who

is willing to take the time and effort to get him back

into living, instead of just keeping him

comfortable while he waits to die,

which is what he's doing right now.

Hey, hey!

You're a miler now, not a spectator!

Right, coach.

I have some running to do.

Can we talk as soon as I'm through?

Well, if you don't mind, I'll join you.

I can talk while we're running.

Well, if you think you're up to it.

You'd be surprised.

OK.

Hey, you want to join us?

Yeah, I'll get the car.

Oh, that's cute.

That's real cute.

Running, the only thing that should run

is something that's got a bet on it.

[music playing]

Nice day for running, isn't it?

Not too hot, not too cold.

No, it's perfect.

Running, love it!

So you run a lot?

Oh, every day.

I wouldn't miss it.

Oh, yeah, me too.

You-- you don't mind my running with you, do you?

Oh, not at all.

Oh, good.

I'll keep the pace down.

Oh, that's all right.

I like being pushed.

Very good.

How many laps you figure to do?

Oh, 40.

[knocking]

Come in.

Hey, Granddad.

Matt, what are you doing here?

I told you I was coming.

Oh.

I brought you a present.

Oh, what's this.

Come on, open it.

Hey, it looks pretty good.

You didn't touch it.

I'm not hungry.

Well, maybe what's in the bag will pick up your appetite.

What?

Oh, what am I supposed to do with this?

Walk.

I figure you and I could take some good walks together.

I haven't got the strength to walk.

Oh, come on, you and Grandma used to walk all the time.

That was years ago.

That was a year and a half ago.

Seems like a lifetime.

It's because you stopped everything after Grandma died.

You stopped living.

That's not true.

Oh, it is and you know it.

Is that any way to talk to your grandfather?

I'm talking to you this way because I love you.

If people love me, they wouldn't

have sent me here to die.

That's what this is, you know?

A place where you sit and wait to die.

No, it isn't.

It is.

And you tell your father I won't keep him waiting.

I'm going to die just as soon as I can.

Grandpa, please.

Go on, go on, go on back to your family.

I don't belong there anymore.

Go on.

Go on.

Go on.

[music playing]

[moaning]

Oh, oh, ah, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Feeling better, huh?

Yeah, I'm in agony now.

Nobody to blame but yourself.

It's your fault.

What do you mean?

You're the one who said that running was good for ya.

I said running was good for you,

but you don't start out with a marathon.

What do you want me to do?

Look like a wimp in front of that woman?

How was I to know she ran like Mary Decker?

Look, I gotta go out for a while.

You're going to be all right?

I wanna die.

I'm going to die.

Well, while I'm out, I'll say a prayer for you.

Oh, that's cute, Jonathan.

Cute.

[moaning]

[chuckles]

I don't wanna throw up.

Maybe if I have a Wheat Thin.

Can't sleep, Harry?

What are you doing here this time of night?

I was just on my way home.

I thought I'd stop by and see if you like the book.

It's all right.

You were kind of hard on your grandson today, huh?

What?

I was passing by the room and I couldn't help but overhear.

He's only trying to help because he loves you.

Oh, I know.

But he doesn't understand.

He doesn't know what it's like to get old.

Getting old is like anything else.

It's got its pluses and minuses.

Gotta work on the pluses.

Where did you hear that?

I don't know.

My wife always used to say it.

I got so tired of hearing it.

You have to work on the pluses and work on the pluses.

And did you?

Oh, I sure did, anything to keep her from saying it.

She sounds like quite a woman.

Oh, she was, she really was.

I used to get so mad at her.

I mean, really mad.

Maybe that's why you got mad at Matt today.

Maybe he reminds you a little bit of Clara.

How did you know my wife's name?

You must have mentioned it.

Is he like her?

Yes, he is.

Clara always said so.

That used to make me mad too.

Grandfathers always want to see themselves in their grandsons,

I guess.

Yeah, I suppose.

Of course, you can't blame him for not want to be like you.

What?

Oh, come on, Harry.

You've given up on living.

You blame everybody else for everything.

Who do you think you're talking to, young man?

I'm talking to Harry Haynes, the man who still has

a plaque hanging on the wall of the YMCA

in Baldwin, North Dakota, because he could

keep up with the best of them.

Get off your butt, Harry.

You got people who care about you.

[music playing]

[phone rings]

I'll get it.

Hello?

Hi, Granddad.

Oh, that's OK.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, sure I can.

No, no, I want to.

OK.

Ah-huh.

OK, I'll see you then.

Me too.

Bye.

That was Granddad.

He wants me to come over this afternoon.

He wants to start walking.

That's great.

How did he sound?

Better, a lot better.

See, I told you he'd like that place.

You were all worried.

I'll be home in time for supper.

ANNE: How long are you going to be with Granddad?

I don't know.

Well, make sure you save enough time for your homework.

Don't worry, I will. See you tonight.

Yeah.

Do you want some more coffee?

Uh, yeah, yeah, thanks.

I'm going to give Dad a call.

I'm going to give him a call and I'll stop by on my way to work.

Dad, hi, how are you?

How are you doing?

Uh, look, I-- I thought that I'd stop by on my way to work.

No, I mean, it's not an imposition at all.

I-- why not?

Dad-- Dad, come on.

You are a part of the family.

It's-- all right, all right, if that's the way you feel,

but I--

D-- Dad?

What's wrong?

He doesn't want to see me.

Jim, he's just doing that to hurt you right now.

You heard what Matt said.

He sounded better.

It's going to take time.

We did the right thing.

We?

What do you mean we?

Jim, that's not fair.

It wasn't my idea to send him there.

It was yours.

Well, I'm the one who had to look after him all day long,

or did you forget that?

What else did you have to do?

Not a thing, not a damn thing.

[crash]

Annie, Annie!

Anne!

[door slams]

Boy, you're really limping. Are you all right?

Oh, fine.

Hey, Jonathan, look at that old guy.

Trying to keep the old legs a going.

Yeah, well, good for him.

That's who I should have run with yesterday,

instead of the Bionic Woman.

Yeah, why don't you run with him now?

I've got to hang around and look for Matt and Harry.

You don't want to come with us?

I don't need the exercise, remember?

Right.

Hey, don't overdo.

Oh, will you stop it?

How you doing?

Couldn't be better.

Hey, do you mind if I run with you?

No, I'd love it.

And I promise not to talk your ear off.

The name's Clark.

Oh, I'm Mark.

Mark and Clark, sounds like a team.

You ready?

Oh, yeah, sure, come on.

You set the pace.

Hey, this is a pretty good pace here.

Yeah, I like it brisk.

Yeah.

Do you mind telling me, how old are you?

74.

74?

How long are you going to run today?

Just an hour today.

I got an aerobics class at 6:00.

Oh, boy.

How do those shoes feel?

Good, real good.

Dad was sure happy to hear you're

going to start working out.

Did he come by today?

No.

Oh, I thought he might stop by.

No, he didn't.

JONATHAN SMITH: Hey, Matt!

Hey, Harry, how are you doing?

Great, Granddad's doing great.

Yeah, I'm walking anyway.

Yeah, good for you.

You know, you surprised me yesterday.

You weren't even puffing after that workout.

Now I see why.

You been running long?

Quite a while.

Hey, but not as long as the guy that's running

with my friend over there.

You know, he's 74 years old.

I got a feeling he's going to run Mark right into the ground.

74?

JONATHAN SMITH: Ah-huh.

Of course, he's working on his pluses.

Like the old saying goes, I got to run.

I'll see you later.

MATT: That Jonathan's a nice guy.

Granddad.

Huh?

I said that Jonathan's a nice guy.

Oh, yeah.

You know that old fool is older than me?

Yep.

Want to keep going?

Damn right I do.

Oh.

Oh.

Where did it go?

[chuckles]

Oh, Dad, you wouldn't have believed him today.

I haven't seen him walk like that in years.

When we got back to the hotel room, he couldn't wait to eat.

He was starving.

JIM: Annie, did you hear that?

Maybe this was just a phase he was going through,

I mean, part of the mourning.

MATT: He didn't look sick today, I'll tell you that.

You know, if he keeps going like this,

I bet he can move back in and take care of himself.

I don't want him here!

I'm sorry, Mom.

I just thought he--

That's all right, Matt.

There's nothing wrong with what you said.

I am telling you, I don't want him here.

He'll move back and things will be exactly

the way they were before.

How do you know that?

Let's just see how he comes along.

I think we owe him that much.

Fine.

But maybe we should ask my mother to move in with us too.

Your mother is quite capable of taking care of herself

and you know it.

And your father isn't.

So let Anne do it.

Well, no more.

He comes back into this house, and I leave.

Mom, don't say that.

I'm sorry, Matt, but I mean it.

Don't threaten me, Anne.

It's not a threat.

It's the truth.

He's my father.

And what's so wrong with him being here?

ANNE: Because I have a life too.

We have a life.

We don't even have an evening together, not one evening

because you don't want your dad to be lonely.

JIM: It is hard on him.

ANNE: Damn it, it's hard on me!

[music playing]

[knocking]

Come in.

Hey, Harry.

Jonathan.

What's the matter?

No work out today?

I guess not.

Matt was coming at 5 o'clock, but he didn't.

I called the house, nobody home.

Oh, maybe he's got a longer training session than usual.

Maybe.

I'm sure he'll call you if he can't make it.

I gave you a double portion, Harry.

After yesterday, I figured you need it.

No, please take it out.

I am not hungry.

It's broiled chicken with noodles.

It's really good.

I'm not hungry.

OK, if you change your mind, just give me a holler.

Look, I got to run, Harry.

You want me to leave you something to read?

Oh, no, thanks.

Well, I'll leave you a few magazines just in case, huh.

I'll see you later.

OK, goodnight.

Hey, you're really pushing it today.

Yeah, I guess I did.

I was just talking to your granddad.

Oh, yeah?

Mm-hmm.

He was kind of expecting you to come over today.

Yeah, well, I was going to, but you know, my workout--

Right.

--lasted longer than I figured.

You know, maybe you ought to just give him a call,

let him know, huh?

Yeah, I will.

There's a payphone over there.

I got some change if you want to borrow.

Hey, I said I'd call, all right?

Hey, I know how you feel.

It's not easy calling a loved one

when you know you're going to lie them.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about yelling at somebody when all he did

was offer you change for the phone.

Damn.

I just-- I don't know what to do.

I love my granddad.

But it's all getting to be such a mess.

Why is that?

Because I thought if my granddad got better,

he could come home.

My mom doesn't want him home.

And my dad-- they had a fight last night.

I don't know what's happening.

The whole family's coming apart and I feel like it's my fault.

Come on, why don't you sit down and relax for a minute?

Come on.

First of all, your family's not falling apart just

because they had an argument.

All families have arguments.

I know.

She said she'd leave if he came back.

I've never heard her say that before.

People tend to get a lot angrier

when they're feeling guilty.

Your mom's feeling guilty because she

doesn't want your grandfather living in the house anymore.

Your dad's feeling guilty because he

let your grandfather be put in there in the first place.

Well, who's right?

There's no right in that.

That's something your folks are going to have to work out.

But I'll tell you one thing, it hasn't

got a thing to do with your relationship

with your grandfather.

You love him, don't you?

Sure, I do.

And you want to keep helping him?

Yeah, but--

Hey, there's no buts about it then.

Look, Matt, you have to do what you think is right,

regardless of what's going on with your parents.

Believe me, nothing bad can come from helping a loved one.

Besides, if you don't, there's going to be

three of you feeling guilty.

Can I borrow that change?

Yeah.

There you go.

[phone rings]

Hello?

Oh, Matt.

Oh, that's OK.

Sure.

Tomorrow?

Sure.

Hey, Matt, I asked the doctor about doing a little jogging.

He said don't overdo, stay off the cement, and it's OK.

Yeah.

Right.

All right, see you tomorrow.

[music playing]

What do you think?

It's up to you.

Oh, it would surprise your mom and dad if we won that thing.

Don't worry about winning.

It's just fun to enter.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Boy, that would be something if we won it.

Well, what do you say?

I say, let's do it.

There you go, Harry.

Try these on.

Oh Jonathan, these are terrific.

Boy, I don't know how to thank you.

Well, I couldn't have you run in the big race

with those old worn out shoes of yours.

I feel fast in these already.

Yeah, they're good ones.

Hi, Dad, how are you doing?

Oh, fine, never better.

Can we come in?

Sure.

Look, I'll see you later, Harry.

No, Jonathan, don't go.

This is my son, Jim.

Jim, my friend, Jonathan.

Hi.

How are you doing?

Dad, I know you haven't wanted to see me,

but Matt was telling us about the race tomorrow.

And I want to wish you good luck.

Thanks.

I'm real proud of you.

I'll bet I couldn't run the 5K myself.

Probably not.

How's it going here?

They-- they're treating you good?

Sure.

It's not my home, but sometimes strangers

treat you better than family.

Dad, we only put you here because we

thought you needed the care.

Do I look like I need it now?

Do I?

No.

I tell you what.

I'll make you a bet.

If Matt and I win this tomorrow, I get to come home.

Well, you just said that you put me

in here because I needed care.

If I win, that ought to show you and Anne that I don't.

Oh, come on, son, give me a chance.

Why do you think I've been doing all this?

To show you, that's why.

What do you say?

Is it a bet?

Yeah, Dad, it's a bet.

Dad shouldn't have done that.

What did your mom say?

He didn't tell her.

He said, wait till tomorrow.

No reason to say anything until we see what happens.

If we win tomorrow, she'll leave.

I know she will.

Hey, look, maybe you won't win.

It's a combined time, you know.

I know.

It's what I've been sitting here thinking about.

If we run the best race we'll probably win.

It's a pretty big "if" for you, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, it is.

I'm stuck right in the middle.

If we lose it'll break Granddad's heart.

If we win-- what do I do?

You do what you think is right.

Hey, that's all any of us can do in this world.

It's not easy to do the right thing sometimes, is it?

It sure isn't, my friend.

It sure isn't.

Matt, good luck tomorrow.

Thanks.

[music playing]

You ready, partner?

You bet.

Anne.

Good luck, Dad.

You mean that?

Well, of course I do.

I hope you go out there and win.

Well, you sort of surprised me.

I-- I didn't know you wanted me back home again.

ANNOUNCER: All participants to the starting line.

Here we go.

What was he talking about?

Coming home?

What was he talking about?

[music playing]

Going home.

Hey, Harry.

Jonathan, what did you think of the race?

Are you kidding?

It was great.

Matt sure set a pace, didn't he?

You didn't do bad yourself.

Oh, no, I didn't.

Personal best by over a minute.

Did you see Jim after the race?

No, don't know where he went.

I'll call as soon as I get packed.

It will sure be good to be back in my old bed tonight.

Anne didn't know about the bet until you told her.

Oh, sure she did.

She wished me luck today.

No, she didn't, Harry.

Believe me.

She already told Jim she'd leave if you came back home.

Are you sure?

Matt told me.

The boy knew?

Yeah, he knew.

That poor kid.

Poor kid, he ran his heart out today.

Because he loves you, Harry.

Yeah, he really does.

Poor kid.

What a kid.

Jonathan, do me a favor and drive me over to the house,

would you?

Dad.

Where's Anne?

Oh, she's-- she's upstairs with Matt.

Dad, I-- I have something to tell you that--

No, I want to tell you something, you and Anne.

Oh, Anne, uh, Matt, um, couldn't we all sit down a minute?

Please, I just-- I just have to tell you something.

It will only take a minute.

Come on. Come on.

Just sit over there.

Now, you know, I made a bet with my son.

And I won it too, because I had a little help from my grandson.

By golly, I ran a pretty good race.

And while I was running, I got to thinking.

If I can do this, there must be a lot of other things

I can do and see.

So to make a short story long, I decided

to start seeing all the places I never got to see,

beginning with Hollywood.

Well, you know, Jim, I always promised your mother we'd go.

So I'm gonna--

I'm gonna go with it all.

And well, that's it.

I'll miss you, but I'll write.

How long will you be gone?

Oh, well, uh, let's see--

I don't know.

But when I get back, I'm still going

to want my own place, closer to the park so I can keep running.

It kind of gets in your blood, you know.

Oh, look at the time.

Jonathan's going to take me to the airport.

If I see a movie star I'll get you an autograph.

Believe it or not, [german].

I understand.

My son, it wouldn't hurt you to get out and do

a little running yourself.

I will.

When you get back, we're going to run together.

I love you, Granddad.

I know.

I know.

[music playing]

Let's go, Jonathan.

[music playing]

[theme music]