Navigating the Heart (2000) Movie Script

[HORNS HONKING][SIREN WAILING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

Miss Iglauer,

how good to see you.

The congressman is

waiting at your table.

Of course he is.

How are you, Henry?

How's your wife?

Fine, thank you

for asking.

WOMAN 1: Edith!

Loved your article.

You tell your client

I want an exclusive.

Oh, you'll get it.

Edith...

Good to see you, Edith.

How are you?

Fine. Fine.

How are you?

Oh, pretty good.

I have to get back

to Washington today, though.

All my stuff

is stuck in committee.

Oh, then let's cut

right to the chase,

shall we?

If I write

the piece on you,

you're that much closer

to leaving obscurity,

but you already know that.

If I don't,

you're still a nobody

stuck in committee.

So please,

don't have your staff

tell me what you will

and won't talk about,

or I'll kill the piece.

End of story... Literally.

I'm sorry.

I'll speak

with my staff.

Could we... Start again?

[ELEVATOR DINGS]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

WOMAN 2: Hey,

you got the cover.

Well, I always

get the cover.

He's here.Already?

He showed up early

to throw everybody off.

[SIGHS]

WILLIAM SANDERS: As your new

managing editor,

it's uh, it's

my pleasure to be part

of the proud tradition

of journalistic excellence

this magazine represents.

But times change,

and we need

to change with them.

Being late's

not my idea of starting

on the right foot.

Well, it would have been nice

if you had notified us

you were starting today

and that there was

a meeting called.

Check your e-mail.

I'm sorry I didn't send out

engraved invitations.

As I was saying,

Manhattan Magazineis famous

for letting terrific writers

tackle whatever topics

they please.

That's gonna change.

Excuse me?

Newsstand sales are down,

subscriptions are down,

which means

ad pages are down...

Which is a bad thing.

[CLEARING THROAT]

We're still making money.

Not enough.

Is it ever enough?

Listen,

we need to change

with the times.

The attention span

of the American public

is zip,

so that means

shorter pieces that

aren't so dense.

EDITH:

With all due respect,

what we like to think

that we do here is

literary journalism.

So you'll forgive me

if I think it's the new

owner's attention span

you're talking about,

not the public's.You may be right,

but we work for him,

so he wins.

By the way,

you're all still here

because I convinced him

you could make the change.

I understand principles.

I had them...

Before I had four kids.

If this is a change

any of you can't make,

I'll understand,

and I will gladly...

[CLEARS THROAT]

Sadly, accept

your resignation.

[MURMURING]

EDITH: I've been here

15 years.

I helped build

this magazine into

what it is today.

I'm not gonna

just roll over.

Edith...

A word?

Uh-oh!

I'm not scared

of that little pissant.

MAN 1: Oh, that's right,

you're the star around here.

He's probably just

gonna kiss your ass.

I wouldn't go that far.

EDITH: You're

kidding, right?

Oh, no.

Fish?

Salmon, to be specific.

As in broiled or poached?

As in, uh, substandard

and too expensive.

You want me to do a sidebar

on the price of fish?

Not me, our new

target audience.

Who are...Younger people.

People with less

leisure time,

less time to read.

Bottom-liners, the ones

who control the economy.

Not the magazine's

old audience,

who are now

sipping chicken soup

in nursing homes.

Maybe you haven't heard,

uh, but my beat is politics,

in-depth exposes,

ones that we win awards for.

[SIGHING]

Don't care about awards.

No money in them,

or haven't you heard?

It's a clip job.

I'll have it to you

by lunch.

Just don't put

my name on it.

You... You're not

following me.

I want you

to tell the story

from the moment the fish

is pulled from the ocean.

Why? Nobody cares.

Oh, but they do!

I care. I'm curious.

I want to know.

That would mean

you have to send me

to a place where

they fish for salmon.

You got it.

I got what?

You'll go to BC.

It's the only place left

with gray salmon.

As in British Columbia,

Canada, BC?

That's right.

I'll pass.Oh, but I insist,

because unless

you're resigning,

it's the story you'll write.

I'll, uh, take that as

"I'm gonna go pack now."

Fish?

Well, you said no, right?

I didn't say anything.

Now, leave me alone.

No, it'll be good.

I'm not sure how,

but if anyone

can get a story

out of a fish,

it's you.

[SIGHING]

Where's the town?

Over the hill.

How do I get there?

Walkin' works.

[CHICKENS CLUCKING]

[DOG BARKING]

Thanks, Mary.

Excuse me,

do you have

a local newspaper

around here?

Yeah.

Do they have

an office?

Right over there,

above the gas station.

You're kidding, right?

Why would I kid you?

Okay, so you're

not kidding.

[SIGHS]

Thanks.

Which one of them

knows the most?

John Daly.

He's the unofficial

spokesman for

the fishermen.

He's the real deal.

Knows more about fish

than anyone here.

Great.

But he won't

talk to you.

Why not?He's a loner.

You're an outsider

and you're a woman.

Do his knuckles

scrape the sidewalk,

when he walks too?

I just wanted

you to know what

you're up against.

It's like a Greek

tragedy, really.

"Paradise destroyed."

But you're not here

to write about

people's livelihoods

being destroyed, are you?

What did you say

your hook was?

The high price of fish.

[CHUCKLING]

What's so funny?

Back in the days

when I was a beat reporter

for the Herald Trib,

my editor used to give me

these asinine assignments,

always missing

the real story.

Drove me nuts.

You just

brought it all back.

Where would I find this,

uh, John Daly?

At the bar.

Everyone's there.

They think that

talking to officials

will somehow change

the course of the future,

but the future

rarely changes.

Yeah, well, I don't

know about all that,

but I appreciate

your help.

Sure.

Oh, is there a place

to stay in this town?

Only one place, Ruth's.

Little B&B, just

behind the bar.

Can't miss it.

Yeah, thanks.

Hey...

Good luck.

MAN 2: The proposed dam will

provide hydroelectric power

for thousands of customers.

It will create jobs.

It will

give this community

economic strength.

It can be built

and operated

with minimum destruction

to the salmon habitat.

[LAUGHTER]

The Fraser River has

the last remaining

wild-salmon run

on the entire

Pacific coast,

and you want

to dam it up?

I don't call that

"minimum destruction."

You're gonna kill

a whole lot of them,

every last salmon,

and along with it,

our way of life!

And don't even

bring up the fish farms, okay,

'cause you know

they don't work,

and we know

they don't work.

I mean,

these fish are hatched

like calves are caged.

Their systems

are compromised,

so don't pull that one

out of your hat.

I mean, my God, these fish,

they fight their way

800 miles upriver

to get to those

spawning gr...John!

This is not the time...Just wait a minute!

You take away

those spawning grounds,

you will kill

all the salmon!

And once they're gone,

you don't get them back!

There is no

crisis management!

It is over.

Over.

It's just that simple.

MAN 3: That's right![CROWD APPLAUDING]

Uh... Excuse me.

Excuse me.

The, uh, threat

to salmon,

has that been documented

by an independent source?

And you are?

Edith Iglauer.

I'm from

Manhattan Magazine.

I never heard of it.

The city or the magazine?

Oh, is that your

interviewing technique,

insulting people?

I'm doing a story

on fish, salmon,

to be specific.

[SIGHING]

You ever been fishing?

No.

You ever been

on a fishing boat?

No.

So why'd they send you?

You, uh...

Don't have

to be an astronaut

to write about

space travel.

Fish are different.

Do tell.

[SIGHING]

Oh, brother.

Now what am I gonna do?

MARY: If you're

looking for John Daly,

you might as well

fold up your tent,

head on back

to wherever it is

you came from.

I'm here

to write a story...

A story about salmon...

The salmon crisis

you're having?

Rumor has it that

John Daly is the man

I need to talk to.

He is,

but, it doesn't matter,

because he's not

gonna to talk to you.

Yeah, I know.

But from what I heard

in the meeting,

I think I could

help you all.

You think you could

take me to him? Please.

I'm only doing this because

we need national coverage

if the politicians

are gonna listen.

This means

everything to us.

It's our way of life

they're trying to kill,

not just the fish.

I hope even

a city girl like you

can appreciate that.

The simplicity

and the purity

of the way we live

and the way we want

to continue to live.

I love purity

as much as the next guy.

Can I call you Edith?

Sure.

I know everybody

up and down this

coast, Edith.

We all do.

We know everybody's

heartache and their joy,

and we share

in all of it together.

There's a comfort

in that for us.

And I know

the story probably

means nothing to you.

It's just an assignment.

But please don't

dismiss what's

important to us.

At least,

not to our faces.

Go away!

John, listen to me!

The answer is no!

She can help us!

Let her help you!

She doesn't want me!

She wants you!

Her words, not mine.

Ah, jeez, Mary,

I'm on the fish!

I can't be taking some

dilettante from New York

who doesn't know

the first thing

about being on a boat!

You owe me, John!

This is an abuse

of our friendship, Mary,

and I'll never

forgive you for it!

I guess it's a cross

I'll just have to bear!

Don't worry,

uh, we'll just do

a couple of spins

around the harbor.

That is what you call it,

isn't it... A harbor?

And that'll be that.

No big deal.

[WINCING]

What, you can

deal with the fish

when it comes wrapped

in cellophane

as long as you

don't have to consider

how it got that way?

And you call that what,

besides "killing

the poor bastard"?

[GRUNTING]

[RETCHING]

[COUGHING]

Well, there's different

kinds of salmon.

We got chums.

We call them "dogs."

Then there's the pinks.

They're not worth a damn.

Your coho,

your sockeye,

and then,

there's the springs.

Don't forget the canned

and the difference

for those who care.

Well, springs are the best.

We call them "smileys"

'cause they pay the most.

[WATER SPLASHING]

Now, that is simple enough

for you, isn't it?

Mmm-hmm.

Where's the bathroom?

Or you can

hang over the side.

Get me off this boat!

[ENGINE REVVING]

Can you help me?Yep.

Watch your step. Okay.

So, what do you think

of fishing so far?

In the words

of Mark Twain,

"Fishing is a jerk

at one end of the line

"waiting for a jerk

at the other end."

Ah-ah!

Don't forget the coat!

I want another fisherman.

[LAUGHING] Okay.

And I need to throw up

in a proper toilet,

so where is that B&B

somebody told me about?

Oh, you'll hate Ruth.

She's plain irritating.

Um, just stay with me.

You sure?

Yeah, you can come

throw up in my bathroom.

Thank you.

EDITH: He's pompous,

arrogant, rude...

Kind of like you?

Excuse me?

I meant that

in a good way.

You're sure

of yourself.

So is John.

You're probably very good

at what you do.

So is John.

And I'm sure

you don't suffer

fools well.

Neither does John.

Two peas in a pod,

if you ask me.

That's why you hate him.

Thank you for the analysis,

but I didn't ask you.

My grandfather died

trying to save the salmon.

I'm sorry. How?

It happened

up on the Fraser River

where the rapids

are fierce.

When the railroad

came through,

they, uh,

blasted the cliffs,

and the dynamite

caused a huge rockslide

that narrowed the river.

And the rapids ran so fast

that most of the salmon

couldn't make it upstream.

And if they didn't,

they'd die.

He put out a call

to all the tribes,

and they came.

Men, women, children.

And they started

to clear the river

one rock at a time.

On the third day,

he lost his footing,

and he fell into the rapids.

And, uh, he was

swept out to sea.

They never did

find his body.

The river, did they

ever finish clearing it?

It took years.

The salmon run never did

return to its old levels.

Too many fish died

before they could spawn.

So what did you do?

We tried to correct

man's mistakes.

It's all you can do.

Oh, how, how would you

even know where to start?

There's so many of them.

You start with

one at a time.

You can't pollute the air

and foul the water

and clear-cut the forest

and pave the earth

and dam the rivers

and expect to survive.

It may not be

as clear to you, but,

when the noise

and the lack of kindness

gets to you,

maybe you'll

understand then.

Edith! How's it coming?

Getting what you need?

Sort of.

"Sort of,"

what does that mean?

It means it's taking

a little longer

than I thought.

Uh, I got the

wrong fisherman.

I need to talk

to another one.

Well, how long?

I, I don't know.

What do you care?

You're the one

who wanted this

damn story.

Edith... [SNIFFS]

How long?

A day,

two at the most.

Gotta go!

I hear the fish calling.

[BEEPS]

You brought me back to him?

Are you kidding?

He's the one

you need to talk to.

I'm not getting back

on his boat.

Oh, yes, you are!

Oh, no, I'm not!

He's the one that

knows everything!

Since when do you

need to like the way

you get the information?

That's not the point.

That's exactly the point!

Don't you dare bring her

near my boat, Mary!

How come

you're not fishing?

And don't try

to change the subject.

Did they

close the area?

Yeah. Just when I hit

a big school of springs.

Listen, John,

she'll be no trouble.

She is nothing

but trouble.

Look, what the hell

is your problem?

Well, right now,

you're my problem.

I told you, I'm not

getting back on his boat.

Shut up, Edith.

She's gonna do the story.

The real story.

I want you

to talk to her.

John Daly,

stop with the nonsense

and let her get aboard!

All right,

on one condition.

Name it.

No questions.

She can observe,

and she doesn't

touch anything!

I wouldn't dream of it.

And she does

what she's told.

No talkin'.

Deal.

Edith?

This is a waste of my time.

I can't interview someone

who speaks in grunts.

John, will you promise

to talk to her?

[SIGHS]

I'll do my best.EDITH: Ha, ha.

Which isn't

saying a whole lot.

Edith?

Fine.

Watch your head.Mmm-hmm.

[SIGHS]

Well, I would say

this makes us even.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Are you always

so charming?

Only when I really try.

[SIGHS]

[SPLASH]

No. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.

No questions, remember?

[LAUGHS]

You didn't really think

I meant that.

I'm a reporter,

for God sakes.

Well, I've got

nothin' to say.

I've written about

presidents, royalty,

people who never

give interviews.

I've stalked them

and tracked them

until it's easier for them

to talk to me than not to.

You think I can't

get you to talk?

Oh, brother. [CHUCKLES]

One question.

It won't kill you to answer.

The sooner you talk,

the sooner I'll leave.

[SIGHS]

What do you call that,

what you're doing?

"Dressin' the fish."

Knife goes in here.

Make one clean stroke

up to the gills.

Then you grab the guts,

and you cut away

the last little

bit of entrails...

[SPLASH]Then, you scrape away

all the remaining blood

so the fish won't go bad.

Now...

Your turn.

Oh, like you said,

I'm just an observer.

No, no, no, no, no, no,

we made a deal,

and that involved you

doing what I told you to do

when I told you to do it.

Well, that deal

was made under duress,

which makes it invalid.

What are you gonna do,

make me swim to shore?

Don't tempt me.

Oh, looky here.

Lunch.

[LAUGHS]I'm not eating the seagoing

version of roadkill.

Mmm-mmm-mmm.

You don't know

what you're missing.

Do you treat

all your guests

this well?

You're not a guest.

Mind if I take a look?

"If you're wondering,

when you're standing

in the checkout line

"at Balducci's,

"why the salmon

you are going to poach

"with a beautiful

pouilly fuissé

"is twice as expensive,

"get out your map

and look toward the north."

[LAUGHS]

That's superficial crap.

What did you say?I said,

that's superficial crap!

Oh, and you must be

a Pulitzer judge

disguised as a fisherman.

How silly of me

not to know that.

You know what dry rot is?

No, but I'm sure

you're gonna tell me.

It's caused by a fungus

that worms its way

into the wood of the hull.

On the surface,

everything looks great.

But suddenly, one day...

[SNAPS]

...the hull collapses,

just like that.

It's a good thing I don't...

Write in a boat!

Oh, it's all a game

to you, isn't it?

Who's up? Who's down?

Your world,

your politics,

the media...

You're all full of dry rot!

Is that what you do out here

on your boat all day?

Just sit back and

pass judgment on us

lesser beings?

Well, sometimes you gotta

call 'em like you see 'em.

And you must also have

a degree in psychology

somewhere around here.

Oh, you can't

take it, can you?

Being on the

receiving end

for a change.

What I can't take is you.

Ditto.

Just do me a favor.

When you write that

stupid story of yours

and you and your

friends are back there

laughing at us,

you tell them

that their way of life

is coming to an end

right behind ours!

Fine.

I'm going downstairs.

It's called "down below,"

not "downstairs."

Right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

HOWIE: [ON CB] Storm

might be headin' in.

JOHN: It's pretty

clear here, over.

Get any fish?

Yeah, one or two.

How about you?

Hauled kelp all day.[SIGHS]

There's always tomorrow.

Good night, John.Good night, Howie.

[SIGHS]

Excuse me,

why aren't we moving,

like, back to the dock,

to land?

You see,

we stay here tonight,

we get a jump on the fish

in the morning.

You don't think

I'm gonna sleep on

this boat, do you?

[CHUCKLES]

Not much choice.

I, I'll pay you

any amount of

money you want

to take me back.

[CHUCKLES] This is one place

that your bribes won't work.

This barely qualifies

as a boat.

Where in God's name

would one sleep?

In the fo'c'sle.The what?

It's even got a bunk.

This is your lucky day.

[SIGHS]

They're sleeping pills.

You need them when

you're sleeping on wood.

You know, if you ever did

an honest day's work,

you could throw

those overboard.

You know, some people

view unsolicited advice

as an act of hostility.

Really?

Well, I'll take that

into account next time.

I just wanted to tell you

I was killing the lights.

Thanks.

Not that it'll matter.

Why is there writing

all over the walls?

'Cause I like it.

Who, pray tell,

wrote that? You?

No.

What does it mean?

See, an Eskimo...

He, uh, sold his gun

to a tourist in exchange

for his sports coat.

And then, when winter came,

when the Eskimo and his

family ran out of food,

he said

he wanted to go hunting,

but he had no gun.

So his wife said,

"Shoot 'em with

your sports coat."

Funny.

[SIGHS]

Ow! Ooh! Ow!

Ow.

You're gonna

sleep the day away![SCREAMS]

Oh. Oh, God.

[SIGHS] This is barbaric.

I need coffee!

It's on the stove!

Oh! Damn.

Where's the cream?

Same place as the bagels

and the cappuccinos,

not here!

It's raining.

Does that mean school's

canceled for the fish, too?

[LAUGHING]

HOWIE: [ON CB] Morekelp,

Morekelp, Morekelp.

Little Hagar 2,

Little Hagar 2.

Come in.

John, it's Howie.

They're closing the area.

[SIGHS] When, Howie?

Now.

Alan's already headed in.

He thinks the storm's

gonna be bigger than the

weather boys are saying.

[SIGHS] Are they ever right?

Almost never.

Heard you got company.

[HOWIE CHUCKLES]Bye, Howie.

Bye, John.

[SIGHS]

Oops. Whoo!

Am I a secret?

Well, there is

a reputation to consider.

And they said

chivalry was dead.

Not yours, mine!

They call closings

every second.

How does anyone

catch anything?

Wow. By George,

I think she's got it.

Did you mean for most

of your scribblings on

the wall to be hostile?

Never thought about it.

Then what's their purpose?

Keep me grounded!

What's that smell?

What is it?

Oh, my God.

Ooh, ooh.

[SCREAMS]

Damn it! I told you

not to touch anything!

I didn't! I didn't!

What happened?

You started a fire in there,

that's what happened!

All I did was get

some of your lousy coffee!

That stove is

a fine piece of machinery.

It's not like some

idiot-proof stove

you got at home.

Well, I... I didn't think...No, you didn't think!

You don't follow directions

very well either, do you?

I'm sorry! I don't know

how to use appliances

from the turn

of the century!

I guess in your world,

you're not used to

your actions having

consequences, are you?

I said I was sorry!

Let's leave it

at that, shall we?

In my world,

sorry doesn't cut it,

so just save your "sorry"

for some other time,

especially when you

don't mean it!

Just keep away from me,

will you?

Fine! Fine.

I'm going downstairs.

It's "down below"!

You haven't learned

anything, have you?

Who cares what

the hell it's called

as long as

I'm away from you!

[SIGHS]

Aft, fo'c'sle, stern,

[DEEP VOICE] Down below.

[NORMAL VOICE]

Blah, blah, blah.

Ah, brother. Hmm.

[SIGHS] Oh, God.

[WIND WHISTLING]

I came up to apologize.

Save it.

You know, I thought

it was fairly obvious

that this boat

is everything to me,

but I guess it wasn't.

I lose the Morekelp,

I lose everything.

But I guess you wouldn't

understand that.

I mean, all you understand

are expense accounts

and long lunches, huh?

Let me set you straight

about who I am...

Look, it doesn't matter,

'cause you won't

have the time.

I'm taking you back.

There is a God.

[SCREAMS]

Would you watch

what you're doing?

[CRASHING AND CRACKING]

What was that?

We hit a log!

That's not good, is it?

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

This is the fishing

vessel Morekelp!

HOWIE: [ON CB] Come in.

Come in, John!

John, where are you?

A mile east of Qualicum!

We're taking on water!

I'm on the other side

of Lee's Bay!

Try and get over

to some shelter!

This is the fishing vessel

Morekelpoff Qualicum,

request assistance!

Repeat. Request assistance!

Damn it!

Maintain our course

straight into the wind!

Who... Who are

you talking to?

You!

Just steer straight

into the wind

like you would your car!

You do have a car,

don't you?

No fast turns!

No hard ones!

Easy ones!Oh.

[CLANGING]

[SCREAMS]

Oh.

Are you all right?

You okay?

Can you hear me?

Yeah. Yeah.

Damn it!

What?The water cooked the radio.

What... What are

we gonna do?

Well, first, I'm gonna

block that window

to keep the water out.

Then what?

I'll get back down below

and try to fix that leak.

What happens if you can't?

Jeez, you ask

a lot of questions!

Well, I'd like to know

how I'm gonna die,

if you don't mind!

Look out.

[HAMMERING]

Ow! Never, never, never,

never trust the media!

The media didn't do this.

Weather did!

Oh, no, no, no.

If you hadn't been here,

this never

would have happened!

You are the media.

Only one other reporter

once did a story on me.

All lies.

He didn't try to burn

the boat down, though.

Oh, God.

[GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

We need to get you warm.

Don't try to be nice now.

I'm not.

I won't say

"I'm sorry" again.

Good.

It's an empty

word for you.

Look...

I'm trying to be civilized

in this moment of crisis,

but forget it,

because you are impossible.

You should have done us

both a big favor and

stayed at home.

For once we agree.

What the hell

was I thinking?

What the hell

were you thinking?

What the hell

was I thinking?

You can't even

steer your own boat.

What did you say?

You heard me.

Oh, I'm being punished.

That's it! That's it!

I'm being punished

for some unknown

misdeeds.

Oh, don't flatter

yourself.

You're not that important.

I mean, aren't you

supposed to not hit logs?

I didn't see the log

because you were

flailing around

all over the floor.

We got to get you

out of those wet clothes,

so take them off!

Ha. Tempting offer,

but I'll pass.

Look, you don't want

to freeze to death, do you?

Take off your clothes!

No!

Don't argue with me!

Look, I'm fine.

I am fine.

Edith, the clothes

are coming off

one way or the other!

Now, you can do it

or I can do it.

What's it gonna be?

[SHIVERING]

You need

to put on some

dry clothes.

I can't.

Everything's already wet

or it's down in the hold.

[BLOWING]

Then you need

to take off

your clothes.

If you freeze,

I freeze.

[SHIVERING]

Take your clothes off.

We can keep each other warm.

Take your clothes off.

Yeah. Yeah.

The Coast Guard

will find us, won't they?

I'm not sure that

they heard our location

through all the static.

Well, uh, but they, uh,

they have radar, right,

to find us?

Radar doesn't

always pick up

wooden hulls.

Oh... Oh... So...

So what you're saying

is that, uh...

Nobody knows where we are?

Yeah.

Do you always

have to tell the truth?

It's a big,

big character flaw.

What about

that little rowboat

I saw out there?

No. That's just a dinghy.

We'd capsize in two seconds.

[SIGHING]

EDITH: I know I screwed up.

JOHN: Hey, we all do.

How many times has this

happened to you before?

Never.[SIGHING]

That wasn't the answer

I was looking for.

God, I wish

you were a liar.

I can't die now.

My obit wouldn't

be long enough.

We're lost at sea,

we're probably gonna sink,

and you are worried

about your obituary?

[CHUCKLING] Yeah.

You were right,

I'm shallow.

Here, let's move around.

Come here.

You know, it's just that

I'd like to think

that my life mattered.

What, do you need

a newspaper

to tell you that?

No. Well, yes.

Maybe. Maybe.

So, what,

the bigger the obit,

the more

your life mattered?

No.

The bigger the obit,

the more

everybody else knows

my life mattered.

[CHUCKLING]

So...

What would it say,

your obituary?

Let's see...

"Intrepid journalist

traveled the world

seeking truth."

Did she find it?

Did I find the truth?Yeah.

Fleetingly.

And you?

If you had to

do it all again,

would you do it

all the same way?

Yeah.

You didn't even pause

for a second.

You're that sure?

Yeah.

And what about you?

Would you change anything?

Well, I...

I guess

the length of my pause

gives you my answer.

[POTS CRASHING]

Hold on. Hold on.

We're just gonna

ride out the storm.

Yeah. Okay.We'll ride it out...

Just ride it out

till it's over.

Are you gonna

answer my question?

What would you change?

Maybe everything.

What the hell

does that mean?

That I've spent my whole life

trying to get at the truth,

but was it

really the truth,

or was it just

what I wanted it to be?

Was it just my truth?

And at the end of the day,

does anyone really care?

Hey, hey, of course.

Somebody cares.

What about all the people

in your life?

I don't have very many

people in my life.

Why?

I guess it's safer

for me that way.

Is it?Mmm-hmm.

I think the world

doesn't amount to very much

without the people

you love in it.

Mmm.

You ever

want to slow down?

I mean,

from your way of life?

When I was younger,

I wanted to write

the great American novel.

Really?Mmm-hmm.

Why didn't you?

Didn't have the money.

Huh. What about now?

Don't have the time.

[LAUGHTER]

[WATER SLOSHING]

What... What are you doing?

I, uh... I need

to get a rope

to tie us together

in case we have

to abandon ship.

But you said we wouldn't last

two seconds out there.

Yeah, well...

Maybe we'll get lucky.

Thanks.

Edith?

Edith, wake up.

I'm sorry.

I can't keep my eyes open.

It's because of the cold.

Now, Edith, wake up.

We have to abandon ship.

I'm... I'm staying here.You're not!

We've got no chance

if we stay here!

She's gonna sink!

We have no chance out there.

You said so yourself.

Edith...

RICKY: [ON BULLHORN]

John! John Daly! You in there?

Ricky?

John!

John Daly!

[LAUGHS]

Who would've thought

you brought me luck?

John Daly!

Ricky.

Whoo-hoo!

I've never been so glad

to see your ugly mug.

Whoo!

♪ My heart still aches

at the memory... ♪

That's lovely.

Didn't you see the deadhead?

Oh, I wasn't

paying attention,

I was looking at

something else.

♪ She told me that

she'd wait for me ♪

Now, don't jump

to conclusions, Alan.

Where's Ricky?

The man of the hour.

Oh, you know him.

He can't stand rubbing

elbows with his fellow man

for too long.

Bravo, bravo.[ALL APPLAUDING]

Sorry about your boat, Johnny,

I know you loved her.

That I did.

Well...If Ricky hadn't expanded

the initial search area...

We'd be dead.

Well, dig in.Yeah.

I hear you, man.

Hey, get them wobbly pops

out of the freezer

before they freeze.

[ALL LAUGHING]

You like that one, eh?

How's your story coming?

Good, I think.

Are we gonna be in it?

Yes, you will, Howie.

Well, I don't know about

anybody else,

but I'm getting

a little tired of beating

my head against the wall

about the government here.

I mean,

all I know is fishing.

And they can talk

all the job re-training

crap they like.

We are what we are.

When's the vote?

Final reading is in

four months.

[DOOR OPENS]

Pumped her out

five times.

Threw a tarp around her.

Toll line broke, twice.

But I managed it.

All right!

[LAUGHS]

Well, the old Morekelp

back in action, eh?

You mad man.

Ooh! Ooh!

Why would Ricky

risk his life?

Well, we live by

different rules up here.

You know,

we depend on each other.

If you're out on the water,

and you ran into trouble,

you know, the other fishermen

are gonna do whatever

they can to help you out.

Well, my world

doesn't work that way.

I don't know how you

can live in that world,

you know.

What do you

put in this stuff?

What aren't we putting

in that stuff?

[PIANO PLAYING]

That's beautiful.

Why, thank you.

Have you read

all these books?

All fishermen

aren't illiterate.

I didn't mean that.

[LAUGHS]

Are you all right?

Yeah.

You know what's funny?

I've always found solace

in being an outsider,

and tonight,

with your friends,

it's the first time

in a long time

I was sorry to be one.

We didn't mean to do that.

No, it's okay.

I'm used to it.

Why?

Well, it allows me

to stay objective.

Oh.

'Cause that's a plus

in your line of work?

So they say.

It's late.

I better, uh, call a cab,

and get over to Mary's.

[LAUGHS]

What? What's so funny?

Well, we don't have a cab,

and she's probably

already asleep.

Why don't you,

why don't you sleep here?

Oh, no, I've been

a big enough

burden already.

Not at all, please.

All right, if you'll get me

a pillow and a blanket,

I'll camp here for the night.

Oh, no, no.

You're my guest,

you can sleep in my bed.

[LAUGHS]

Oh, I'm a guest now?

When did I get upgraded?

When you didn't

quit on me out there.

Thanks.

Couch will be fine.

Couch it is.

[SIGHS]

Now, my mother would row

way out into the Irish sea.

I can still see it,

it was this little rickety

wooden bathtub of a boat,

and she would pull in

hundreds of pounds of

fresh salmon all by herself.

She's the one who taught me

how to read the water,

and set my lines.

Wow. She still alive?

No, she died

when I was eight.

That's when my father

came over here.

He heard there was

work in the canneries

and brought me along.

I never left.

I knew I was home.

Edith, where is home to you?

It can't be New York.

Why not?Well.

I don't know, it's just

hard for me to imagine

all those people

living on top of each other

in those little boxes.

Some of them are big boxes

with a view of Central Park.

How can you hear

yourself think?

Most of us don't want to.

Well, that's a shame.

Don't you ever get

tired of the fight?

I'm supposed to be

asking the questions.

Oh, sorry.

One more.

Depends on the question.Were you ever married?

I was, a long time ago.What happened?

Well, I thought then

it was because

he didn't understand

how important my work

was to me.

And now?Now? I'm not sure.

It's probably true.

My work was more important.Ah.

How about you?

Why aren't you married?Oh, I was.

And?

Well, it turns out that

she just couldn't

live this life of mine,

and I knew I couldn't

live any other way.

No point in trying.

Oh.

Loggers did this.

See, most of the coho

spawn in little creeks

just like this,

but if they're jammed up

with logs,

they can't.

It's pretty simple,

really, it's just like,

somebody trying

to block our way to

where we have to go,

but with the salmon

they can't fix it, so...

So, we have to.

They won't spawn

anywhere else?No.

No, this is home to them.

They always come

right back home.

So, what will happen

to everyone here

if that dam is put in?

Well, first the fish

will die off.

Next will be the people.

All of us.

Simple honest workers,

but we'll become

extinct just like the

wild salmon will be.

I believe you call that

"cause and effect."

It's these fat cats

who make their decisions

from their high-rises,

thousands of miles

away from here.

They don't care

if they destroy the world,

just as long as they win.

Well, to hell with the

diversity of nature

that God gave us.

They know better.

But they don't know better.

I mean, look at this, Edith.

Look at what God gave us.

Can you improve on that?

Can they?

It's everything to you,

isn't it?

Yeah, I guess it is.

Well, are you

just gonna sit there?

Come on.Right behind you.

In another month, you'll be

able to walk across

the backs of the coho

crowding this creek.

Listen, I want you

back here, now.

EDITH: I'm telling you,

the high price of salmon

is the wrong story.

I have the story.

Well, it can't be

the wrong story

because it's a story

I sent you to cover.

Look, just listen.

The story is bigger,

it's the destruction

of the salmon.

Oh, I don't care.

Look, wrap it up

and get back here.

That congressman

you were writing about,

I heard a rumor

he's under investigation

for campaign financing.

You wouldn't want

another reporter

to get that, would you?

Nice try.

[DIAL TONE]

[SNIFFS]

We give thanks

for this food.

And pray that we will

never take any of this,

your creation,

for granted.

Amen.

Now, grilled salmon.

Baby asparagus,

fresh tomatoes

and wild soro,

all from my garden.

It looks delicious.Yeah.

So...

You never wanted to be

anything but a fishermen?

Well, I thought about

being a poet for a while,

but, um, no money in it

and I wasn't very good at it.

Did you always

wanna be a writer?

Yeah, pretty much

from the beginning.

As far as

I can remember.Uh-huh.

What drew you to it?

Well, uh, that I could

organize and make

some sense out of things.

Express the rumblings

in my head,

and maybe let people

know in the process

something that

they didn't know about,

or only heard about,

or only dreamed about.

At least,

that was when I started.

What made that stop?

Cold-hearted business,

commerce, facts,

no heart left in it.

No room for it.

Ooh, sounds pretty brutal.

Mmm, it is.

Tell you what,

after dinner,

I wanna take you somewhere

and show you a little color

for that article of yours.

[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]

Hey, John,

good to see you dry.

[CHUCKLES]

Gods were with you, Johnny.

Oh, that they were, Kate.

Good to see you.

NORMAN: John.

What will you have?

It's on the house.

Oh, that's a first, Norman.

Edith?

Oh, a cosmopolitan.

What's that?

Vodka, cranberry juice?

Never mind.

What do you have?

Beer.

Anything else?

Dark beer.

And dark beer it is.

Two of those.

So, uh,

when's your deadline?

Yesterday.

I bet your editor

is happy with you.

Well, he's new.

He'll get used to

the way I do things.

Oh, I'm sure he will.

[ALL APPLAUDING]

May I have this dance?

[ALL APPLAUDING]

So, you're not staying

with me anymore, eh?

[LAUGHS]

I should make up

the couch.Oh.

Is that what

you wanna to do?

What do you mean?

Well, now, that's a first.

You asking me to explain

something to you.

What do you want?

You really need to ask?

Hmm, no.

It has been

such a long time.

For me too.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[SIGHS]

What are you doing?

Dressing the fish.

The knife goes in here.

One clean stroke

up to the gills.

Ah.

And then,

you grab the guts...

That's my favorite part.

[SPLASH]Not bad, huh?

Well, that was great.

Got yourself a job.[CHUCKLES]

Well, 36 more to go.

[CHUCKLES]

Can I have another look?

No. [CHUCKLES]

Oh, c'mon please.

I guess...

Now that

we've slept together

I have to be a little

nicer to you, don't I?

Yeah. [CHUCKLES]Yeah.

Tsk. Okay.

[SIGHS]

"The boats glide over

the water as though they

were messengers of God.

"No obstacle slows

their majesty down.

"For their mission is

as simple as time,

"to supply sustenance,

to give life in its

simplest form.

"And now the elements

are not the only thing

they must fight,

"they must fight our ignorance

for their very existence.

"Because of us,

because we do

not understand,

"and we do not

want to understand,

"they are our last hope.

"When we lose them,

we lose ourselves.

"It is just that simple."

What? What do you think?

[SIGHS]

It is as beautiful

as a pen to paper

has ever been.

[ALL CHANTING]

Their dances are

prayers to God.

A God who knows no color and

no boundaries, no judgment,

who provides for

everything we need,

not everything we want,

who provides abundance

because there's

always enough.

Even if we

don't think so.

We pray and dance

that we live in faith

and not in fear.

Because in fear,

you'll never win.

There will never be enough.

Wish I'd known that God.

God is free for the taking.

I'm almost finished

and I'm paying for this

outta my own pocket now,

so why are you

still screaming?

WILLIAM: I am not screaming.

I'm having a heated

discussion. [SNIFFS]

I don't care if you're

paying for this

out of your own pocket.

That is not the issue.

The issue is you're

not doing what you've

been told to do.

And I want you

back here, now.

I don't care about the

political ramifications

of salmon fishing.

I don't care about

their livelihood.

What I care about is the

story I sent you to cover.

And it's a no-brainer.

I'll be back when I'm back.

Edith. [SNIFFS]

I will say this once

and only once.

If you're not back

here in this office

by tomorrow, you don't

work here anymore.

[SNIFFS]

[DIAL TONE]

Coffee, milk, eggs,

lettuce, cherry jam...

Great. They just called

an opening up by

the Queen Charlottes.

It's grand.

We need to get going.

You're not coming

with me, are you?

Mmm-mmm.

No, no, I can't.

I've gotta go back

or I'll get fired.

It's been three weeks.

I've pushed it

as far as I can.

When?

Uh, this afternoon.

I don't want you to go.

I don't wanna go.

Well, then stay.

I can't.

[SIGHS]

Just when I finally

got used to you.

[CHUCKLES]

You're the one who took

some getting used to.

I'll take you

to the airport.

No, I'd rather Mary did,

I'm not, uh,

much for goodbyes.

Big, tough reporter.

Not so tough.

I guess I thought that

we had shared enough,

that we had a chance.

Nah, that's pretty

stupid of me.

No, it's not stupid.

But as wonderful

as this has been,

neither one of us is

prepared to change.

It's probably

what we like most

about each other.

I'll come to New York

to see you.

[CHUCKLES] No.

No, you won't.

It's not for you.

It's too noisy.

I'll call you, then.

Uh, John...

MAN 4: John, come on,

we're gonna miss the fish.

Uh, I...

You're right. I don't

have your number.

Yeah, I'll call you.

You go.

MAN 4: John!Yeah, yeah!

You promise me?

Yeah.

You promise me?

MAN 4: John!Go.

You go, okay?MAN 3: John!

Yeah!

[RECORDER BEEPS] WILLIAM: Edith Iglauer,

I'm sure you're back.

and I'm sure you'll be

back in the office

in the morning.

[RECORDER BEEPS]

CARA: Hi, it's me, you there?

Ugh, I can't stand

not talking to you

80 times a day.

What the hell

were you doing up there?

Call me.

[RECORDER BEEPS]

[SIGHS]

Edith?

Why didn't you call me?

Uh, sorry.

You okay?[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

Yeah.[ELEVATOR DOOR OPENS]

I so don't believe you.

WILLIAM:

All right, 10 minutes.

Ten minutes,

this issue's out the door!

The train is leaving, people.

Printer won't wait.

Oh, you better check this.

Fearless Leader worked

his magic on your copy.

What the hell?

You rewrote my piece.

It needed some,

uh, tweaking.

"When you go to buy fresh

salmon at Fulton market,

"you can blame John Daly

for those high prices?"

You can't say that.Why not?

Because it's not true.

You can't do that to John,

I won't let you.You won't let me?

Since when did this

become a democracy?

You can't put my name

on a piece that doesn't

represent my work.

Oh, Edith,

I gave you the cover.

Aren't you happy?

I don't care.You used to.

Well, I don't anymore.

I want you to run

what I wrote.

I can't.Why?

Because it's a bleeding heart

piece of crap, that's why.

Coming from you,

I'll take that

as a compliment.

Edith, what is

the problem here?

This is business.

The problem is

that when I started writing,

I had principles

and somewhere

along the way,

I lost them.

Well, I found them again.

And this story

is important and big

and we owe it to them to

print it the way I wrote it.

I used to teach you ethics,

so spare me the monologue,

okay.

You know what?

You're impossible.

It's like talking to a tree.

Were you always this stupid,

or did you just dumb down

for business reasons?

Keep it up, Edith.

[CHUCKLES]

Or what, you'll fire me?

I don't care.

Either you print the article

the way I wrote it

or you don't print anything.

Fine. [CLEARS THROAT]

Cara, get in here!

We won't print anything.Yeah.

Congratulations, you just

got your first cover.

Two minutes.

Oh, uh, by the way, Edith,

your next, uh, story is the

mayor's breakup with his wife

and her charges of adultery.

William, you cover it,

and then

shove it up your ass.

Oh, and did I

forget this part?

I quit.

[CHUCKLES]

Minute 45.

Sorry, I haven't had time...Oh, yeah.

Well, I missed you a lot.

Yeah, well,

it's only been a few days.

Well, it seems like

forever.

Magazine's coming apart.

I'm coming apart.

You're always

my anchor, Edith.

I thought that

would never change.

I guess it's stupid to think

things will never change.

No, that's not stupid.

Maybe, uh, just a bit naive.

Hmm, well...

You quit so easily.

You see, that's the part

I don't get.

It's not like you.

You always fought

everything and everyone.

What the hell

happened up there?

I mean to you.

I don't know.

I slowed down.

I started to think about

what kind of writer

I want to be.

Wow, so what're

you gonna do?

[CHUCKLES] I don't know.

I don't know.

The hell with you.

What am I gonna do

without you?

You're gonna be the star,

that's what you're gonna do.

Well, it still isn't fair.

You shouldn't

be the one to leave.

Maybe.

But I did do

one good thing.

I gave my piece

to the Ontario press.

Maybe it will help

John and his friends.

So, what are you,

their spokesperson now?

No, but some things

just jump out at ya.

What the hell is that

supposed to mean?

It's a long story.Well...

Justin, how are you?

I'm better now that

you're a free agent.

Oh, well, news travels fast.

Come work for me.

Write your own ticket,

whatever you wanna do.

You think about it,

and I'll call you

in the morning.

Hi, I'm Cara Lieb.

You must be

Justin Cavanaugh.

[LAUGHS]Well, thank you for

that introduction.

You're gonna take him up

on his offer, aren't you?

I'll think about it.

You'll think about it?Yeah, I'll think about it.

Okay, you need a drink,

big drink. Excuse me, two.

EDITH:

Come on, cheer up.

It's not the end

of the world.

Yes, it is.

You're a good writer, Cara.

You'll probably end up

being a great writer.

Okay, now you've just

confirmed my suspicions.

You are certifiably insane.

Hey, you got your

first cover, didn't you?

Oh, by default.

It's not the way I wanted it.

I mean, it wouldn't

be so bad if...

But... What?

[GASPS]

It's him, isn't it?

It's... John.

The John.

The Hemingway-without-

the-angst meets the role

of the mother-

doing-the-laundry John.

Yeah.

Well, did you happen

to notice he just

exudes testosterone?

I don't think you can

teach that, I think

you're born that way.

Definitely born that way.

Hi.Hi.

I was in the neighborhood.

[LAUGHS]

What are you doing here?

Well, you said you'd call,

and when you didn't,

I had to come and make

sure you're all right.

Are you? Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Good, I was worried.

[GIGGLES]

How did you find me?

[LAUGHS]

Went to your office

and I told them I was

your long-lost brother.

And they said that

if you weren't at home,

this was the only

other place you'd be.

I brought you a present.

May I help you?He's with me, Henry.

Sorry, Ms. Iglauer,

shall I take your coat, sir?

Yeah.

And your igloo?

Thank you.

Brought you some fish. Coho.

From the stream we cleared?

The very one.

Hi, you must

stay for dinner.

Oh, no, no, no,

I don't mean to intrude.

Oh, but I insist.

WOMAN 3: I simply have

to figure out a way to get

a cameo on Nora's next film.

Mort Zuckerman

played a homeless man

in his last movie.

WOMAN 4: A billionaire

publishing magnet slumming.

Sort of...[LAUGHTER]

Calvin Trillin

played a sheriff.

No.WOMAN 3:

Andy Warhol was right.

Everyone needs their

15 minutes of fame

or you simply haven't lived.

Oh, cheers!

To our 15 minutes!

So, are you going

to the Hamptons

this weekend?

Oh, I don't know.

It's just not the same.

So many renters

and movie people.

So, Madeline tells me

that Barbara bought

herself into the board.

Imagine, had I had known,

I would have written a check.

Long ago. [LAUGHS]You need a drink,

my dear man.

After your admirable trek

to get here. [LAUGHS]

Uh, get the lusty man

of the sea some grog.

We want him to

feel at home, right?[LAUGHTER]

Hayward...It's all right.

Um, do you have

a bottle of Chateau Petrus?

What year, sir?

Um, '75 if you have it,

otherwise,

I'll settle for a '78.

Very good.

I think that should

cover it.

Very good, sir.

[HAYWARD CLEARS THROAT]

Well. [CLEARS THROAT]

Thanks.

How's Mary?Good.

Howie and the guys?Good.

That's all the small talk

I can come up with.

Why'd you come here?

'Cause I missed you.

And I hoped that if you

saw me, you'd admit

that you miss me too.

Then what?

What if I missed you?

What do I do with that?

I don't know.

You could

come back with me.

[SCOFFS]

I, I can't.

Why not?

Because...Because, why?

I'm sorry, I don't know

what else to say.

Say you'll come back

with me.

You shouldn't have come.Edith.

I love you.

Damn it, I just

told you I loved you.

What are you afraid of?

Turns out, everything.

Well, just give us

a chance.

I want to, John,

but I can't.

I... I...

I don't know how.

I have a life

and it's here.

You're so afraid of living,

you wanna spend

the rest of your life

not living, just watching?

You pay a big price

for that, Edith.

It's a price

I'm willing to pay.

Ah.

Well, then, you were right.

You do belong here.

Why are we all here?

I mean, really?

What?Why are we all here?

You mean on this planet?

No, in this gym.

Uh, because we're shallow,

we wanna look it.

Exactly.

And how ridiculous is that?

I mean, we're all

sweaty and smelly

and trying not let anyone

know who we really are.

We're like rats on a wheel

except we're on a StairMaster.

You people

are delirious.

For the first time,

I have total clarity.

No, you wanna have a

metaphysical conversation,

I can barely breathe.

You're insane.

This is insane.

Okay, you are losing it.

You really need

to get off that thing now.

You're right, you're right.

Edith, I was...

I was joking!

Edith... Are we

still on for lunch?

[EXHALES]

Hello, John!

Are you coming

out on the herring

with us today?

Well, what's his face,

Winston, says he brought in

20 ton over the weekend.

That man is a congenital liar.

That's why you can't

believe nothing you read

in that New Testament, eh.

Because most of the witnesses

to the major events

are all fishermen.

[ALL LAUGHING]

John.

John!

John!For God's sake,

I'm not deaf.

Hi.

I was in the neighborhood.

I cooked the salmon

you brought me.

Turn out okay?

Perfect.

You had the politicians

falling all over themselves

to try and do the right thing.

That was the goal.

Thank you.

On the plane, I was thinking.

Wondering, really.

How do you...

How does one fall in love?

How does it actually happen?

And I realized, I don't know.

All I know is that

it happened to me with you.

When I see you, I don't

wanna stop seeing you.

When I look away from you,

all I wanna do is

look back and find you.

Edith...No, wait, don't say anything.

Let me finish.

Your showing up

like that in New York

in the middle of my life,

made me look at my life.

Didn't fit anymore.

I don't know if

it ever really did.

The only thing that made

sense to me was you.

That's why

I quit the magazine.

I don't wanna hide

behind questions anymore.

So, if the offer is

still on the table,

I wanna stay here.

With you.

[ALL APPLAUDING]

As your friend, though,

I'd like to say to you,

I hope that you will

listen to one another.

And listen carefully.

For God has

given us the gift of you.

And given you

the gift of each other.

As you head into

your new life,

be gentle with

one another.

May God work

through you and with you.

John and Edith Daly.

[ALL APPLAUDING]

So, due to local opposition,

and a couple

of misleading articles,

the Government of Ottawa

has rejected the construction

of the Fraser River dam.

[ALL CHEERING]

EDITH: What I know now,

is that we spend our lives

searching for things.

For love, completion, purpose.

And we look so hard for it

that we miss all of it.

It's when we're still

that we find it.

I never knew that

until I met John.

I was finally home.

Navigating the Heart (2000) - full transcript