Mr. What (2015) - full transcript
Mattiesko Wuopio, though innocent, has spent twenty-two years in prison. Upon apprehension of the real criminal, Mattiesko is released, only to find continued harassment everywhere he turns. He seeks redemption through his ailing father, a stray dog, and an endearing little boy.
- Mr. What, time to go.
Go ahead and
step to the gate.
- I'll see you inside, Jim.
Hey!
Hey!
- How do you do,
Mr. Officer?
- Make that
detective Smith.
What's your name?
- Mr. What.
- Yeah mister,
what's your name?
- That's what I go by.
- What do you mean?
- Well, you go by Mr.
officer sometimes, right?
- Yeah, I get called
that sometimes. So?
- So I go by Mr. What.
- I want your real
name right now.
- You won't understand
it if I say it.
- Try me.
- Okay. Madiasco
kaappoo wuopio.
- What?
- That's right. What
is much easier.
- What nationality
is that?
- Finn.
- Sounds Chinese to me.
- What may be Chinese,
but wuopio is Finnish.
In fact, my middle name
kaappoo translates
god's messenger.
- God's messenger?
I don't see any
wings on you.
I think I'll
just take you in.
- Why?
- Get to the bottom of why
you're being so evasive.
I'll tell you what, I want
you to write down
your name and address.
- Well, I
don't live here.
- Where do you live?
- Jackson.
- What are you
doing in tecumseh?
- I hitch-hike here once
a month from Jackson.
This time around I'm
looking for a place to
stay a little longer.
- You running
from something?
- Not lately.
- Mattisku-kapu-wupu...
- nice try.
Feel free to
call me Mr. What.
- You're a
pretty weird guy.
Well, that doesn't make
you a criminal but...
I know I shouldn't do
this but I got a niece
that acts just as
weird as you do.
She's got a place over on
standish pond for rent.
She could use a renter.
Her name is
derlyze Fisher.
It's a good place for
peace and quiet.
Here's her card.
- Good to know.
Thanks.
- Just so you know,
I'll be keeping a
close eye on you.
- Adios!
- Can I bring you
anything else?
- No, I'm good.
That really hit the spot.
One thing you might
tell me is is water street
somewhere this direction?
- Yes, it is.
If you go down
Evans, take a left,
and you'll find
water street.
- Okay. Thank you very much.
Appreciate it.
- Come back again.
- I will.
- Mommy, Herman won't
leave me alone.
- She's reacting in an overly
emotional manner as usual!
- I'm not motional.
- Both of you
cool your jets.
- But he's scary
with those teeth.
- Chill out Herman!
- Can I help you?
- Are you derlyze Fisher?
- I am.
- Well your uncle gave me
your card and said you've
got a house for rent.
- You know
uncle Jimmy then?
- Sort of.
- Cool.
Well the house is right
next door and I live here.
This is my mom
and dad's place.
They're out of town in new
Mexico for a while helping
out my grandparents.
They're going through
some tough old age stuff.
- I know all
about that stuff.
- Yeah?
Well, the house
is 600 a month.
- Could I rent it
one week at a time?
- Man, I don't
know about that.
- Well, I've got enough
cash for one week right here.
And I could mow the lawn,
clean the place, paint.
I'm a good carpenter.
So I can work every week
to cover that week's rent.
- All right, well
under those terms,
I'll promise
you two weeks.
You can pay for this week,
I'll have some work for
you to do next week,
and then we'll just
see after that.
- It's a deal.
- All right, cool. I'll
show you the place.
Heather, stay
here with Herman.
I'll be right back.
No more spazzing, you two.
You play the guitar?
- Just picked it back
up after many years.
- That's cool.
Hey, by the way, if you
see a big brown dog around
here with a red collar,
keep your distance.
Let me know. It's homeless.
It's mean. The cops
want it caught.
- Okay.
- All right.
- Mommy!
- I hear them over there.
I've gotta go see
what's going on,
so here's the key.
Let yourself in.
Everything else is
self explanatory,
and I'll see you soon.
- Okay. Thanks a lot.
- You're welcome.
- Home sweet home.
Nice.
Oh, yeah!
Huh.
It works.
- Hello?
Hello?
- Hi.
- Hi.
I'm Herman. I know,
it sucks.
- Have a seat.
Sit down there.
- Unfortunately for me,
my mom's favorite
band from the 60's
was Herman's hermits,
and they sang I'm
Henry the eighth I am.
- I remember that.
- Yeah, I wish she
would have liked
Rick Springfield or
Bo diddley maybe.
- Yeah. Rick Fisher would
sound pretty good all right.
- Yeah.
- I like Bo Fisher.
How about if
I call you Bo.
- That would be awesome!
- Okay. Bo it is.
My name's Mr. What.
- Mr. What's
your real name?
- No. My real name
is madiasco.
I know. It sucks.
- Um, there's food in
the bag from our fridge.
My mom just wanted
to get you started.
- That's nice of her.
- Not so much. She was
just making sure
that you weren't
stealing anything.
- Nothing yet.
But you know, who's to
stop me from taking off at
3f00 in the morning with
everything I can carry.
- Beats me. I think she
thought if I left,
Heather would
stop bawling.
She's afraid
of my new look.
- What's the story
behind your new look?
- Well I was playing
baseball with the
neighborhood kids. They
made me be catcher.
It was going good until
Ronnie cubberly was,
he was up to bat and he
missed the pitch and
threw the bat
into my face.
- Huh. How bad was it?
- Um, fractured
my cheek bone.
I lost two teeth.
And I hurt my jaw.
- Wow. That's bad.
- We're at 40,000
and still counting.
- Any insurance?
- No. I don't know what
my mom's gonna do.
We put our house up
for sale last week.
- I saw that.
- Yeah.
- Huh. Where's your father?
- He left and I'm glad.
- Why?
- Because he was mean.
Well, I better get going.
Mom said not to stay.
- Thanks a lot, Bo,
for the groceries.
- Yep. Jerry's
market's close by.
Go out to the light, turn
left across the bridge.
- Got you, Bo.
- Don't steal anything,
okay Mr. What.
- Don't do what?
- Don't steal anything.
- Tell your mother
I'm already gone
and the TV's missing.
- I'll do.
- All right.
- See you.
- Bye.
- Oh, so this is what you're
running from, madiasco.
No wonder you
was so evasive.
I thought so.
- Hi, Naomi.
Is it okay if I
visit with my father?
- Madiasco,
perfect timing!
Come on in.
He's in the living
room in his chair.
Basilius! Madiasco
is here to see you.
- Oh, it's Wilhelm! I've
been waiting for you.
- Father. Good to see you.
- Wilhelm, my brother.
- No, it's madiasco.
- Please have a seat.
Sit down.
- Okay. Thanks Naomi.
- How is things
on the farm?
- Things are good.
- Good crops this year?
- Yes, father. Good crops.
- I love the birds.
They told me
you were coming.
- I love you, father.
- I love the birds.
Don't you?
- They're beautiful.
- Remember the battle
of the bulge, Wilhelm?
We were there.
Um, 1942, was it?
- It was 1944 and 45.
You and your brother.
- I had a son in 1950.
Named him tahvo.
- Madiasco. You named
him madiasco.
- Tahvo was a bad boy.
He brought great
grief to his mother.
She cries every day.
- Mom has passed
away two years ago.
- She's in
there crying now.
Fernanda, come out
and see Wilhelm.
- Listen to me, father.
Listen. I'm madiasco,
and I'm innocent.
They found me innocent.
Understand?
They caught the real
guy, the bad guy,
and it wasn't me.
They let me go a
few months ago,
so dad, you can be
proud of me again.
You can be proud of me.
I'm madiasco
and I'm innocent.
Dad.
- Fernanda cries
all the time.
She's crying now.
Fernanda's crying.
I should go and
look in on her.
- Dad.
- She's been
alone too long.
Fernanda's crying.
She needs me.
Fernanda needs me now!
- It's okay.
- Now!
- Everything's okay.
Naomi, please come.
You're okay.
You're all right.
Everything's fine.
- Did you have
a nice talk?
- Yes, we did.
Thanks for taking
care of him.
- Well, it's the
least I could do.
Your mother was such a
good friend of mine for
40 years, and I do worry
though that the dementia
might be getting worse.
It's really tough, and I
think we're gonna have to
think about a nursing
home very, very soon.
- I love you.
Everything's okay.
Everything's all right.
It's okay.
- You know, madiasco,
it was so nice to see you
again, and I am just so
glad that you're free.
- Thanks for everything.
I'll see you
again soon okay?
- Already looking
forward to it.
- Thank you. God bless.
Adios!
- Help me, Jesus.
- Hello detective Smith.
- Can I come in?
- I guess.
- Madiasco wuopio.
- You worked it out.
- Yeah.
Prisoner 5676713.
Released from cotton
correctional facility in
Jackson three months ago
after serving 22 years.
For aggravated robbery
with a dangerous weapon.
- Yeah, well, if you did
all the research you saw
that the key witness who
perjured himself against
me finally told the
investigator the truth,
and that led the defense
attorney and the
prosecutors to a
career criminal who,
by the way, confessed.
- That's right. New DNA
corroborated everything,
and the attorneys
petitioned a court on your
behalf, but it still took
them months to let you out.
- Tell me about it.
It was a complete
miscarriage of justice.
I'm innocent.
But they did
all this to me,
and they ruined my life.
- Well, now you're living
in my step brother's house
next to my niece
and her kids.
I'm not sure I like that.
- I'm an innocent man.
- Yeah, of one
particular crime.
But you've been in
prison for 22 years
with dangerous felons.
You're bitter,
you've been wronged.
I think probably prison
may have changed you,
maybe given you
a hard heart.
If you don't have a job,
you don't have a home,
you have no money.
Derlyze told me you don't
have enough money to make
first month's rent.
And now you're tied
in with my relatives.
- You're the one
who connected us.
- Yeah. That was stupid.
I don't know what
I was thinking.
- I haven't done
anything wrong at all
but I'm guilty, right?
- Tell me one thing.
What are you gonna
do for money?
- The only guy who
believed in my innocence
from day one lives in
south bend, Indiana.
I just talked to him on
the kitchen phone
a little bit ago. He's
sending me a check
to this address
for $200 dollars.
That will buy me some
food, buy me some time,
so guess what?
I won't even have to Rob
a bank for the next week.
- Oh, real funny.
We'll see what derlyze
says after the first week.
Have a good
night, Mr. What.
- Mom, he's
out there again.
- What's he doing?
- I'll go check.
- Don't let him see you.
I don't want him to think
we're spying on him.
- Okay.
- Come on out, Bo.
I know you're there.
Are you spying on me?
- My mother made me.
- Uh-huh.
What else you got
planned for today?
- Nothing much, playing
with Heather,
cleaning my room, lunch.
And more spying, I'm sure.
- You got some buddies
in the neighborhood?
- No, you're the
closest thing.
- Me?
- Everyone else around here
either calls me
names or ignores me.
- Herman, I need you home.
- Doing what?
- Just, I need you
home, that's all.
- Okay, you heard her.
Gotta go plan for the
next covert operation.
- I'll get a little
sneakier for a bigger
challenge and make
it more interesting.
- I'd appreciate it.
♪ He don't remember all
the little things...
♪ The best times
of his life...
♪ He can't say how it all
just slipped away...
♪ He don't recall just where
he put his uncle Henry
♪ pocket knife...
♪ He don't know if it's
January, march, or may...
♪ I'm talking about
my father...
♪ I'm talking about
my daddy...
♪ I'm talking about the
one I love the most...
♪ Now I've turned
into a ghost...
♪ He don't know who I am...
♪ He don't know I'm
the lucky man...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand in my hand...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand in my hand...
♪ Holding his memories...
- Step back.
We have to put you in the
holding cell for a little bit.
- Okay.
- Well, what'd they say?
You getting out?
- Next Friday.
- Lucky dog.
- Lucky? I've been in prison for
22 years for a
crime I didn't commit.
I'd say that makes me one of
the unluckiest people
on the planet.
- True, but you are getting
out of this pothole.
What's you got waiting
for you out there?
- My guess is
nothing but trouble.
It's going to be
impossible to get a job.
I've got 22 years with
no work experience.
- Yeah, but you made
license plates,
and a lot of 'em.
- Well, maybe I qualify
to work in an auto
manufacturing plant.
- Well, if you get a job
with Chevy or Ford,
let 'em know about me in
about four years.
- You got it.
- Good dog.
Stray dog.
- Hey, what are
we gonna do today?
- Hey, look,
there's hermie.
Let's go get him.
- Hey, hermie,
what you doing?
- Not so fast,
hermit, he owe me.
- I don't owe you anything.
- You owe me ten
bucks, smiley.
- Says who?
- Says me!
- Pay up, and
we'll let you go.
- Hey! Stop it!
Stop!
Stop it right now!
Come on, come on,
come on, get off!
- You gonna hit
me with that broom?
- Just get out of here!
- I'm going to tell my dad!
- Me, too! He'll beat
you down!
- Are you all right?
- Ahh. They hit
like little girls.
- Well, hold still.
- Just what do you think
you're doing to my son?
- I just tripped
and fell, mom.
He's brushing me off.
- That's weird.
- No, it's not.
I wanted him to.
- All right, well,
thanks, I guess.
Herman, go inside the house.
I know you're doing a lots
around here to impress me,
but let me assure you I
don't impress easily.
And if you do anything at
all to negatively influence
my son, you'll be
gone in a minute.
Hold on.
Hello?
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll ask him.
He's standing right
here in my yard.
Uh-huh.
Yeah, I'll ask him.
I will tell him.
Yep, bye.
That was sondra
Burnett, my neighbor.
Her boy told her that you
were threatening
him with a broom.
Is that true?
It sure looks like it.
- You mean this?
- You look guilty.
- A lot of people
have said that to me.
- She also said that her
boy and Herman got
into a fight. Is that true?
- Not exactly. Ask Herman.
- I'm asking you.
- Not exactly.
- Okay, if you do anything
to cause me to fight with my
neighbors, it's not going
to be all right,
you understand?
- I'll try my
best, Mrs. Fisher.
- Or your minute
will be up.
- So this is what
freedom feels like.
- Awesome!
Southbend, Indiana.
Two hundred bucks,
praise the lord.
High, Bo, how's the
espionage business going?
- It's going to be
a good day, Earl.
It's a good day, dad.
- Feel the breeze?
The feel ...breeze feels good
coming through the trees.
- I wrote you a song.
I wrote a song
about me and you.
I want you to
listen to it, okay?
- Yeah.
- This is for you.
Wrote it all down.
Typed it all out.
Made some notes.
Just listen to this, okay?
This is for you.
♪ He don't remember all
the fun and games...
♪ The best laughs
with his wife...
♪ Can't say how it went
from black and white to gray...
♪ He don't recall just
how to drive a truck...
♪ Or dance to save
his life...
♪ He don't know if he ever
fished out on the bay...
♪ A strange new
world is his...
♪ That takes and
never gives...
♪ It's somewhere
else he lives...
♪ Where nothing's life
it really is...
♪ He don't know who I am...
♪ He don't know I'm
the lucky man...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand and my hand...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand in my hand...
♪ A good man's past
never dies...
♪ His stories last...
♪ Through his loved
ones, they survive...
♪ I'm talking about
the father...
♪ I'm talking my daddy...
♪ I'm talking about the
one I love the most...
♪ Now I've turned
into a ghost...
- Help! Help me!
- What's wrong?
- The breeze is gone!
The breeze is gone,
and I'm gonna die!
- You're not gonna die.
Oh, the breeze
is gone, the breeze is gone.
- Feel the breeze?
Dad, feel the breeze?
- I feel it.
I feel it right down
through the trees.
I feel it.
Oh, I'm gonna
go to sleep now.
I'm going to go
to sleep now.
I'll go to sleep.
- Madiasco, you see
how your father is.
I can't meet his
needs anymore.
I'm just so sorry.
I think we have to put
him in a nursing home.
I'll take care of
all the details.
I'll take very good
care of your father.
- You always do.
You do what you
gotta do, okay?
- Goodbye, madiasco.
- You're an angel. Bye, Naomi.
- Hey, Mr. What,
what are you doing?
- I bought some groceries.
- Can I carry that?
- Sure, thanks a lot. I
appreciate it.
- Yup.
- So what's new with you?
- I know a lot
about horses.
- You do?
- Yeah, all about Mr. What.
- Mr. What?
- 1968 ... no, 1958.
Mr. What was a horse running
in the grand national
steeple chase
run in england.
There were 30 jumps in
more than four miles.
- I didn't know that.
- They call it the ultimate
test for a horse and jockey,
and Mr. What won
by 30 lengths.
- Wow, mighty interesting.
- Yeah, I wish
I was a winner.
- You are!
I think you're a
winner for sure.
- You do?
- Absolutely positively.
I know a winner
when I see one.
- You do?
- Sure.
- Well, how can you tell?
- Well, first I look
straight into
the person's eyes.
- What do you look for?
- Sparkle.
- Do I have a sparkle?
- A big one.
Secondly, I look
deep into the heart.
- The heart?
- Yes, there's
the ultimate test.
- But you can't see
someone's heart, can you?
- Yes, I can.
The condition of your heart
reveals itself through three
things, three attributes.
- What are they?
- Faith, hope, and love.
The great of these is love.
- So those things
make you a winner?
- They sure do, absolutely
no doubt about it.
- Oh. I'm glad I'm a winner.
- Yes, you are a winner.
You sure live in a noisy
neighborhood, man.
Cars, and lawn
mowers, crazy.
- Heather.
- Heather.
- Did you see
that airplane?
- Yeah, I sure did.
You know what?
When I was walking into town
the other day, I got right
underneath those planes, and
I flew, flew right
in over my head.
- Well, that's
mighty interesting.
- You're a good guy, man.
You're a winner.
- Thanks, don't you ever
forget it, all right?
- I won't.
- Anybody that comes and
helps carry my groceries
like you do, believe me,
they're really a nice guy.
- Herman, come home.
- Okay, mom. Here you
go, Mr. What.
- Hit me a high five first.
Yeah, thanks for
the help, Bo.
- Yep, no problem.
- Nice talking with you.
- Nice talking
with you, too.
- Stop!
I said stop!
Next time, you better
listen to me, you hear me?
- Stop it, Terry!
Get off of him!
Get off of him!
- I'll show you who's
boss, you little jerk!
- I said get off of
him and leave him alone!
- You're nothing,
you hear me, nothing!
Aghhhh!
- You all right?
- Do I look all right?
- I'm not talking to you!
- We're okay.
- Give me a ride
to the hospital.
- Your car's
out front, Terry.
Drive yourself.
- I'm going to kill you!
Who are you?
- One thing I'm not,
I'm not your chauffeur.
- I'm derlyze' husband,
and you're trespassing!
- Get out of here, leave!
- I'm going to kill you!
- You all right?
- Yeah, I told
you he was mean.
- I gave him Herman's
doctor's bills,
he went berserk.
- I'll say, you
gonna call the cops?
- No, he won't be back.
- You could have fooled me.
That's not quite the
impression I got.
- He knows he's
not welcome here.
It's been over a year
since we've seen him.
I'm not worried about
it, he won't be back.
As for you...
Last time I saw you, you
were fighting off bullies
with a broom, and
time a paddle. What's next?
- I don't know, I'd rather
be fighting your
weeds with a hoe.
- I told her
about the bullies.
- Yeah, it's okay.
I guess you earned yourself
another week next door.
- Super, I
guess that helps.
Just so you know, I am
trying to mind my own
business around here.
- That's kind of tough
to do around here.
- I'll say.
♪ Where a world of lost
sinners was slain...
♪ So I'll Cherish the
old rugged cross...
♪ Until my trophies at
last I lay down...
♪ I will bring to the
old rugged cross...
♪ And exchange it
someday for a crown...
- Thank you all for
coming to church today.
It's been my privilege to
worship the lord with you.
Let's close in prayer.
Dear lord, please guide each
of us this coming week.
May we serve you well as
faithful ambassadors.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Thanks for coming in.
- Sorry I was so late.
- Better late than never.
Hi, I'm pastor Ian lamb.
- Mr. What.
- What?
- It's a long story.
- I hope to hear
more about it.
Good morning,
good to see you.
Sir, wait up.
- You always chase down
visitors when they
exit the building.
- Mostly. We don't get many
visitors anymore,
so each one's a pretty
valuable commodity.
- Trying to beef up
the church membership?
- Well, trying to save
the church, period.
As you saw in there, we're
down to just about
50 or 60 folks.
- Not able to
pay the bills?
- Not really, it's tough.
- Well, I'm sorry to say
that I didn't drop a dime in
the church offering plate.
- I guess I might as well
let you go, then, right?
- I would if I were you.
- Forget about the money.
It's your soul I care about.
- You and who else?
- Well, me and the lord.
How's that for starters?
- I'll take it.
Two in my corner is
better than none.
- Well, good.
I've got to run back in
there, but feel free to come
by any time and let me know
how I may be of
service to you.
- Well, thanks, I
just might do that.
- We'll see you.
- Thank you.
♪ A man sat on a sidewalk
strumming his guitar...
♪ His face was old and empty
just like his Mason jar...
♪ No one stopped to listen,
his head was hanging low...
♪ His right hand thumb was
missing, so he picked a
♪ little slow...
♪ Cardboard sign proclaimed
his name was
♪ Willie Albert cass...
♪ I took a dollar from myself
pocket, dropped it
♪ in the glass...
♪ His face lit up like
sunrise, like he'd
♪ risen from the dead...
♪ He formed a toothless grin,
and shocked me
♪ when he said...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
♪ When I look at you, I
look at god above...
♪ Because he blessed you
with compassion,
♪ mercy and grace...
♪ You're an angel sent from
heaven to the
♪ whole human race...
♪ I see the touch of god's
finger on
♪ your beautiful face...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at good...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at lovely...
♪ When I look at you, I see
what we're
♪ supposed to be...
♪ When I look at you...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
Hey, come on in, Bo.
- I could hear
you from our yard.
- Go on and have
a seat, sit down.
- I wish I could sing like
you, but my teeth
are all goofy.
- You'll be
okay pretty soon.
I bet you can do
anything you want.
You're a winner,
you're smart.
You got talent.
So what exactly
do you want to be?
- I want to be like
you, helping people.
- Like me helping people?
- Well, you helped
me with the bullies.
You saved me from my dad.
Heck, you even helped me
clean my grandparents' yard.
I want to be a
big helper, too.
- Well, you already
helped someone, Bo.
- I did?
- Yes, sir.
You made me realize that
I could be a meet a total
stranger, and he'd be the
nicest kid I ever
met in my life.
- I did that?
- I didn't believe it was
possible anymore, but you
helped restore my
faith in mankind.
You did it, and I
want to thank you.
- You're welcome.
Can I take your picture?
- What for?
- I decided to put pictures
of all of my friends on my
wall, my bedroom wall.
- Okay.
How many pictures
you got on your wall?
- This is the first one.
It looks great.
- That's a pretty big
honor to be number one.
- I gotta go download
this on my computer.
- Well, take
care, Bo, adios.
- See ya.
- Okay, bye.
- Bye.
- Number one.
- Here you go,
basilius, how's that?
- Fine, Amy.
- Amy?
- Hi, no, I'm Miranda. He
doesn't remember my name.
- Don't feel bad, I'm his
son, and
he doesn't remember my name.
Hi, father.
- I'm tired.
- I'll be right back.
I gotta get another
resident out here.
Don't go anywhere.
- It's good to see you.
Great to see you.
- I'm hurting.
I'm really hurting.
- You'll be okay.
You look pretty good.
It looks like they're
treating you really
good around here.
- I don't know.
- You always treated
me really good.
I remember when I was a
kid and we'd pick up a
stone and skip stones
and play catch with the
baseball in the backyard.
Took good care of
me when I was a kid.
We did all kinds
of things together.
Remember when I was a kid?
- You're madiasco.
Madiasco is a good
boy, isn't he?
- Madiasco is a good boy.
Madiasco is a good boy.
And you're a good dad.
You're a good father.
- Madiasco, you hear the breeze
coming down the draw?
- Yeah.
- It's beautiful.
Do you feel that, madiasco?
- Yeah.
- It's beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
- Madiasco, it's
just beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
- Madiasco, you're
beautiful, too.
- Dad. Dad, I love you.
- I love you.
- I love you, dad.
I love you.
You're beautiful.
Dad, you're beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
Thank you for
everything, dad.
- We remember basilius
wuopio, a man who loved
nature and the for
rest in particular.
He cherished the
sunshine and the wind.
Bird watching and fishing
were his passions.
He enjoyed gardening with
Fernanda, his wife of
62 years, and the
love of his life.
He deeply loved his
brother Wilhelm and
his son madiasco.
- Thank you so
much for coming.
Thank you.
- Allow me to share a
section of scripture that
I believe is appropriate
for such a man
as basilius wuopio.
The Bible in psalms tell
us this, oh lord, our
lord, how majestic is our
name in all the earth.
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children
and infants you have
ordained praise.
Because of your enemies
to silence a foe
and the avenger.
When I consider your
heavens, the work of your
fingers, the moon and the
stars which you have set
in place, what is man that
you are mindful of him?
The son of man that
you care for him?
You made him a little
lower than heavenly beings
and crowned him with
glory and honor.
You made him ruler or
the works of your hands.
You put everything
under his feet.
All flocks and herds and
the beasts of the field,
the birds of air and the
fish of the sea, all that
swim the paths of the sea.
Lord, our lord, how
majestic is your name in
all the earth.
- It's true that my
father loved much.
And I know he loved me.
In the end, Alzheimer's
stole his memory
but not his heart.
He had a good heart.
And he enjoyed a wonderful
marriage to my mother.
His family members
treasured kindness,
his gentleness and
his generosity.
We have returned his soul
to heaven, and I can't
wait to see him one day
again where there will be
complete understanding and
restoration and the truth.
Rest in peace, my father.
- Hi, Mr. What.
- Hey, Beau.
Good timing.
- What are you doing?
- Oh, I'm just about to
indulge myself in a
young man's fancy.
- So you're going to
throw rocks at fish?
- No. No.
I'm out here to work on
the art of stone skipping,
skipping stones
across the water.
- Hmm. I've never been
stone skipping.
- Well, my father
taught me to do this.
He gave me the
fundamentals when I was
just a little
younger than you.
So you've never
done it before?
- Nope.
- Nobody ever taught you?
- No.
- All right.
How about if I have the
privilege to teach you?
I'll take you to the
school of hard rocks, hard
knocks right now.
Wanna learn?
- Yeah.
- All right.
Well, first of all, see, I
went through the yard when
I was cleaning up things
and I found 22 stones.
This one is a little
rough, but you look for
smooth, flat stones that
will sail across the water.
And what my father taught
me is you see a beautiful
placid pond like this,
kind of turn sideways.
Put your shoulder
toward the water.
You want to get low so you
can throw a side arm shot
parallel to the water.
What the scientists
have discovered is that
20 degrees is the
perfect angle.
I also read the world
record holder, he goes all
this motion and he's got
a baseball wind up and a
side arm sling, but
that makes it tougher.
Let's go simple.
Here's my stone.
Nice and smooth.
Get down low, squat
parallel to the water.
Side arm.
We're going to snap the
wrist and give it a toss.
Ready?
I'm doing this in
honor of my father.
- For your father.
- That's right. Here we go.
For him. Ready?
- Ready!
- Good job!
- Thank you.
That was cool.
- Can I try?
- Sure. Pick out a stone.
Make sure it's a good one.
Is that the one you want?
- Yeah.
- Sure?
- Sure. Positive?
- Positive.
- It's a good one?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- All right.
What I want you to do is I
also know that you should
kind a little Nick
and a little bump.
The world record holder
likes it like that.
That not perfectly smooth
because life isn't perfect.
There's bumps and
nicks along the way.
If you grab hold of those
bumps and nicks, sometimes
it helps you learn.
It helps you grow.
It makes you
wiser and stuff.
That's what life does.
So take a stone by that
little Nick.
Curl your index finger
right in that little
Nick and then do it, okay?
Step over there.
- Okay.
- Get low. Squat down.
Parallel to the water and
you're going to throw that
side arm throw.
Snap your wrist
really hard. Okay.
Get a horizontal spin.
Ready?
- Ready. For your father.
- For my father.
Beautiful.
Great try.
- Yeah.
- Let's do one together.
- Okay.
- Take that one.
I'll grab this one.
Get right here.
I'll get right here.
What we're going to do is
throw simultaneously
the best we can.
For my father.
- For your father.
- For basilius wuopio!
- For basilius wuopio!
- Fire!
- I thought only
kids did this.
- You're never too
old to live, Beau.
There's no age
limit to having fun.
Take advantage of every
single moment you can.
- What do you want?
- Pay back!
- Ahh!
Oh!
Ah!
- Enough!
- Aah!
Ah!
My arm!
Don't kill me!
- Aah!
Do what you were told.
Leave and don't come back!
Next time I won't
call off the dog.
- Looks like
nobody's home.
- Well, my niece gave me
a key and permission to go
in so let's do it.
Police.
Anybody home?
- Hello?
- Hmm. Time to get out of dodge.
Too much drama for an
ex con to deal with.
Been summoned to court
anyway so gotta go.
Wish you all the best,
especially Heather and Beau.
Will be in touch.
I promise.
- Mr. What.
- There's no
one back there.
Shouldn't we go after him?
There was definitely a
scuffle in the backyard
with the axe that you
found in the tree.
And the neighbors
heard yelling.
- No. Gary Fisher showed up last
night at the hospital.
Lacerations
from a dog bite.
He's accusing Mr. What
of it being his dog that
attacked him and him
chasing him with an axe.
- That's all the more
reason to track him down,
isn't it?
Especially the dog.
Sounds like he needs
to be put down.
- Trouble is Mr. What
didn't even have a dog.
Terry Fisher is a liar and
a wife beater so whatever
he got last night, as
far as I'm concerned
he deserves it.
If Mr. What had anything
to do with it, I owe him one.
I think we're done here.
No dog.
Nobody here.
No axe.
- Wait. What do you mean no axe?
- Somebody I think probably
threw it in the lake.
- Yeah right, Jim.
I still think we ought to
find that don't, don't you?
It's a menace.
- Well, maybe.
We'll keep an eye out, but
as far as I'm concerned
with Mr. What he deserves
one break in his life, and
I'm giving him
one right now.
Let's go.
- All right then.
♪♪
- How do you tell a man
who spent almost a third
of his life in prison
that you're sorry that a
mistake was made?
I'm ready to render
judgment in this case.
Therefore in the case of
madiasco wuopio versus the
state of Michigan I find
that Mr. Wuopio was
unjustly and improperly
incarcerated for 22 years
and 6 weeks at the g.
Robert cotton correctional
facility in Jackson, Michigan.
And doing the math that
equates to 1150 weeks of
imprisonment. It's my
determination that
restitution in the amount
of $2,000 dollars per week is
a fair settlement which
totals 2.3 million dollars
to be directly remitted
to Mr. Wuopio.
That's all.
- You did it, madiasco.
- I can't believe it.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- It's all over now.
- Thank god.
Thank god.
- Fritzy, got a
package for you.
- Oh. Thanks.
- Here's today's
mail, pastor.
- Oh, thanks, Tammy.
Wish there was a million
bucks in one of these envelops.
- Me, too.
You know, there's not
enough money this month to
pay the church's gas
and electric bill.
- Oh, man.
- I know.
♪♪
- Tammy! Tammy!
Guess what?
- Oh, what's this?
Oh my!
Oh my goodness!
- Wanna snow ball fight?
- Ah!
- Okay. I give up.
My hands are freezing.
Stop! You guys win.
You two win. I give up.
- I'm a winner.
- Yes, you are, Herman.
You both are winners.
- What?
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!
I can't believe it!
- What is it, mom?
- This is unbelievable.
- Hey, Jim.
- Hey.
- Hey, I got a package
addressed to you from
Mr. What.
- What's the
return address?
- Looks like
nowhereville, usa.
- Sweater.
This sweater will keep you
warm when it's cold during
the Michigan
winter nights.
Study up on those cars
because I'll have a job
for you in three and a half
years when you get out.
Count on it. M.W..
- What is it, pastor?
- It's not a million
dollars but it's 200,000!
- 200,000?
- Cashier's check.
And it came from
an offering plate.
- Well, whose it from?!
- It says on the memo
line "here's my dime for
your offering plate.
Better late than never.
Mr. What."
- Mr. What?
- He's a fella I helped
with his father's funeral
last summer.
Thank god!
The church is saved!
- I just can't
believe it!
I just can't believe it!
- It's just unexpected.
God is good.
- You're hands
are shaking!
Oh, my god.
- Father god, thank you.
Thank you for Mr. What.
Amen.
- A quarter of a
million dollars!
Thanks for taking care of
my dad, madiasco.
Madiasco. I can't
believe it. Oh.
- This is unbelievable.
It's a check and it's
from madiasco wuopio.
You know, Mr. What?
- Yeah. How much is it?
- It's for $150,000 dollars.
He says it's for your
operation, and the rest of
it is for college for
you and for Heather.
- I love Mr. What!
- Me, too!
- Oh, I love him, too!
This is so great!
Yes! Everything is
going to be okay.
Woo!
I'm gonna get you.
Oh. Oh wait, Herman.
There's one other
thing in here.
For you.
- Mr. What, grand
national winner 1958.
The original Mr. What.
- Wow.
- Look at him.
- That's cool.
Here. Help me up.
Come on.
- You hear that, frosty.
It's a miracle.
- What a gift.
What a gift.
- This horse was a
winner, and so are you.
Thanks for
being my friend, Mr. What.
I'll never forget you.
- I'll never forget you.
- Not guilty.
Guess that says it all.
- Where you headed?
- I'm not sure.
South or west, I guess.
- I'm going a
good ways that way.
- This truck got a name?
- I call her
old faithful.
- Got a deal for you.
There's $200 bucks.
Can you drive old faithful
50 miles farther
than you intended?
- Huh, does a
blue bird sing?
Go ahead and put your
stuff in the back.
- Okay.
- I take it
that's your dog?
- He seems to think so.
He saved my life, and
now I'm saving him.
- I'm Walter honeycutt.
- Madiasco wuopio.
- What?
- That's right. Mr. What.
And this here is freedom.
♪ Looking out the window,
I can see the rain ...
♪ Running like tears down
the window pane ...
♪ Looking at the heart,
I can see no stain ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
♪ Looking in the woods I
can see the deer ...
♪ Running like fire is
drawing near ...
♪ But looking in my eyes
I can see no fear ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah,
hallelujah ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah,
hallelujah ...
♪ Looking at the future I
can see the gate ...
♪ Coming up for
heaven ...
♪ I don't want to
be late ...
♪ Looking in my soul I
can see no hate ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
♪ I made a change ...
♪ I turned my life
around ...
♪ I'm not the same ...
♪ I found a higher
ground ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah.
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah,
hallelujah ...
♪ Hallelujah ...
♪ Looking at my heart, I
can see no stain ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
Go ahead and
step to the gate.
- I'll see you inside, Jim.
Hey!
Hey!
- How do you do,
Mr. Officer?
- Make that
detective Smith.
What's your name?
- Mr. What.
- Yeah mister,
what's your name?
- That's what I go by.
- What do you mean?
- Well, you go by Mr.
officer sometimes, right?
- Yeah, I get called
that sometimes. So?
- So I go by Mr. What.
- I want your real
name right now.
- You won't understand
it if I say it.
- Try me.
- Okay. Madiasco
kaappoo wuopio.
- What?
- That's right. What
is much easier.
- What nationality
is that?
- Finn.
- Sounds Chinese to me.
- What may be Chinese,
but wuopio is Finnish.
In fact, my middle name
kaappoo translates
god's messenger.
- God's messenger?
I don't see any
wings on you.
I think I'll
just take you in.
- Why?
- Get to the bottom of why
you're being so evasive.
I'll tell you what, I want
you to write down
your name and address.
- Well, I
don't live here.
- Where do you live?
- Jackson.
- What are you
doing in tecumseh?
- I hitch-hike here once
a month from Jackson.
This time around I'm
looking for a place to
stay a little longer.
- You running
from something?
- Not lately.
- Mattisku-kapu-wupu...
- nice try.
Feel free to
call me Mr. What.
- You're a
pretty weird guy.
Well, that doesn't make
you a criminal but...
I know I shouldn't do
this but I got a niece
that acts just as
weird as you do.
She's got a place over on
standish pond for rent.
She could use a renter.
Her name is
derlyze Fisher.
It's a good place for
peace and quiet.
Here's her card.
- Good to know.
Thanks.
- Just so you know,
I'll be keeping a
close eye on you.
- Adios!
- Can I bring you
anything else?
- No, I'm good.
That really hit the spot.
One thing you might
tell me is is water street
somewhere this direction?
- Yes, it is.
If you go down
Evans, take a left,
and you'll find
water street.
- Okay. Thank you very much.
Appreciate it.
- Come back again.
- I will.
- Mommy, Herman won't
leave me alone.
- She's reacting in an overly
emotional manner as usual!
- I'm not motional.
- Both of you
cool your jets.
- But he's scary
with those teeth.
- Chill out Herman!
- Can I help you?
- Are you derlyze Fisher?
- I am.
- Well your uncle gave me
your card and said you've
got a house for rent.
- You know
uncle Jimmy then?
- Sort of.
- Cool.
Well the house is right
next door and I live here.
This is my mom
and dad's place.
They're out of town in new
Mexico for a while helping
out my grandparents.
They're going through
some tough old age stuff.
- I know all
about that stuff.
- Yeah?
Well, the house
is 600 a month.
- Could I rent it
one week at a time?
- Man, I don't
know about that.
- Well, I've got enough
cash for one week right here.
And I could mow the lawn,
clean the place, paint.
I'm a good carpenter.
So I can work every week
to cover that week's rent.
- All right, well
under those terms,
I'll promise
you two weeks.
You can pay for this week,
I'll have some work for
you to do next week,
and then we'll just
see after that.
- It's a deal.
- All right, cool. I'll
show you the place.
Heather, stay
here with Herman.
I'll be right back.
No more spazzing, you two.
You play the guitar?
- Just picked it back
up after many years.
- That's cool.
Hey, by the way, if you
see a big brown dog around
here with a red collar,
keep your distance.
Let me know. It's homeless.
It's mean. The cops
want it caught.
- Okay.
- All right.
- Mommy!
- I hear them over there.
I've gotta go see
what's going on,
so here's the key.
Let yourself in.
Everything else is
self explanatory,
and I'll see you soon.
- Okay. Thanks a lot.
- You're welcome.
- Home sweet home.
Nice.
Oh, yeah!
Huh.
It works.
- Hello?
Hello?
- Hi.
- Hi.
I'm Herman. I know,
it sucks.
- Have a seat.
Sit down there.
- Unfortunately for me,
my mom's favorite
band from the 60's
was Herman's hermits,
and they sang I'm
Henry the eighth I am.
- I remember that.
- Yeah, I wish she
would have liked
Rick Springfield or
Bo diddley maybe.
- Yeah. Rick Fisher would
sound pretty good all right.
- Yeah.
- I like Bo Fisher.
How about if
I call you Bo.
- That would be awesome!
- Okay. Bo it is.
My name's Mr. What.
- Mr. What's
your real name?
- No. My real name
is madiasco.
I know. It sucks.
- Um, there's food in
the bag from our fridge.
My mom just wanted
to get you started.
- That's nice of her.
- Not so much. She was
just making sure
that you weren't
stealing anything.
- Nothing yet.
But you know, who's to
stop me from taking off at
3f00 in the morning with
everything I can carry.
- Beats me. I think she
thought if I left,
Heather would
stop bawling.
She's afraid
of my new look.
- What's the story
behind your new look?
- Well I was playing
baseball with the
neighborhood kids. They
made me be catcher.
It was going good until
Ronnie cubberly was,
he was up to bat and he
missed the pitch and
threw the bat
into my face.
- Huh. How bad was it?
- Um, fractured
my cheek bone.
I lost two teeth.
And I hurt my jaw.
- Wow. That's bad.
- We're at 40,000
and still counting.
- Any insurance?
- No. I don't know what
my mom's gonna do.
We put our house up
for sale last week.
- I saw that.
- Yeah.
- Huh. Where's your father?
- He left and I'm glad.
- Why?
- Because he was mean.
Well, I better get going.
Mom said not to stay.
- Thanks a lot, Bo,
for the groceries.
- Yep. Jerry's
market's close by.
Go out to the light, turn
left across the bridge.
- Got you, Bo.
- Don't steal anything,
okay Mr. What.
- Don't do what?
- Don't steal anything.
- Tell your mother
I'm already gone
and the TV's missing.
- I'll do.
- All right.
- See you.
- Bye.
- Oh, so this is what you're
running from, madiasco.
No wonder you
was so evasive.
I thought so.
- Hi, Naomi.
Is it okay if I
visit with my father?
- Madiasco,
perfect timing!
Come on in.
He's in the living
room in his chair.
Basilius! Madiasco
is here to see you.
- Oh, it's Wilhelm! I've
been waiting for you.
- Father. Good to see you.
- Wilhelm, my brother.
- No, it's madiasco.
- Please have a seat.
Sit down.
- Okay. Thanks Naomi.
- How is things
on the farm?
- Things are good.
- Good crops this year?
- Yes, father. Good crops.
- I love the birds.
They told me
you were coming.
- I love you, father.
- I love the birds.
Don't you?
- They're beautiful.
- Remember the battle
of the bulge, Wilhelm?
We were there.
Um, 1942, was it?
- It was 1944 and 45.
You and your brother.
- I had a son in 1950.
Named him tahvo.
- Madiasco. You named
him madiasco.
- Tahvo was a bad boy.
He brought great
grief to his mother.
She cries every day.
- Mom has passed
away two years ago.
- She's in
there crying now.
Fernanda, come out
and see Wilhelm.
- Listen to me, father.
Listen. I'm madiasco,
and I'm innocent.
They found me innocent.
Understand?
They caught the real
guy, the bad guy,
and it wasn't me.
They let me go a
few months ago,
so dad, you can be
proud of me again.
You can be proud of me.
I'm madiasco
and I'm innocent.
Dad.
- Fernanda cries
all the time.
She's crying now.
Fernanda's crying.
I should go and
look in on her.
- Dad.
- She's been
alone too long.
Fernanda's crying.
She needs me.
Fernanda needs me now!
- It's okay.
- Now!
- Everything's okay.
Naomi, please come.
You're okay.
You're all right.
Everything's fine.
- Did you have
a nice talk?
- Yes, we did.
Thanks for taking
care of him.
- Well, it's the
least I could do.
Your mother was such a
good friend of mine for
40 years, and I do worry
though that the dementia
might be getting worse.
It's really tough, and I
think we're gonna have to
think about a nursing
home very, very soon.
- I love you.
Everything's okay.
Everything's all right.
It's okay.
- You know, madiasco,
it was so nice to see you
again, and I am just so
glad that you're free.
- Thanks for everything.
I'll see you
again soon okay?
- Already looking
forward to it.
- Thank you. God bless.
Adios!
- Help me, Jesus.
- Hello detective Smith.
- Can I come in?
- I guess.
- Madiasco wuopio.
- You worked it out.
- Yeah.
Prisoner 5676713.
Released from cotton
correctional facility in
Jackson three months ago
after serving 22 years.
For aggravated robbery
with a dangerous weapon.
- Yeah, well, if you did
all the research you saw
that the key witness who
perjured himself against
me finally told the
investigator the truth,
and that led the defense
attorney and the
prosecutors to a
career criminal who,
by the way, confessed.
- That's right. New DNA
corroborated everything,
and the attorneys
petitioned a court on your
behalf, but it still took
them months to let you out.
- Tell me about it.
It was a complete
miscarriage of justice.
I'm innocent.
But they did
all this to me,
and they ruined my life.
- Well, now you're living
in my step brother's house
next to my niece
and her kids.
I'm not sure I like that.
- I'm an innocent man.
- Yeah, of one
particular crime.
But you've been in
prison for 22 years
with dangerous felons.
You're bitter,
you've been wronged.
I think probably prison
may have changed you,
maybe given you
a hard heart.
If you don't have a job,
you don't have a home,
you have no money.
Derlyze told me you don't
have enough money to make
first month's rent.
And now you're tied
in with my relatives.
- You're the one
who connected us.
- Yeah. That was stupid.
I don't know what
I was thinking.
- I haven't done
anything wrong at all
but I'm guilty, right?
- Tell me one thing.
What are you gonna
do for money?
- The only guy who
believed in my innocence
from day one lives in
south bend, Indiana.
I just talked to him on
the kitchen phone
a little bit ago. He's
sending me a check
to this address
for $200 dollars.
That will buy me some
food, buy me some time,
so guess what?
I won't even have to Rob
a bank for the next week.
- Oh, real funny.
We'll see what derlyze
says after the first week.
Have a good
night, Mr. What.
- Mom, he's
out there again.
- What's he doing?
- I'll go check.
- Don't let him see you.
I don't want him to think
we're spying on him.
- Okay.
- Come on out, Bo.
I know you're there.
Are you spying on me?
- My mother made me.
- Uh-huh.
What else you got
planned for today?
- Nothing much, playing
with Heather,
cleaning my room, lunch.
And more spying, I'm sure.
- You got some buddies
in the neighborhood?
- No, you're the
closest thing.
- Me?
- Everyone else around here
either calls me
names or ignores me.
- Herman, I need you home.
- Doing what?
- Just, I need you
home, that's all.
- Okay, you heard her.
Gotta go plan for the
next covert operation.
- I'll get a little
sneakier for a bigger
challenge and make
it more interesting.
- I'd appreciate it.
♪ He don't remember all
the little things...
♪ The best times
of his life...
♪ He can't say how it all
just slipped away...
♪ He don't recall just where
he put his uncle Henry
♪ pocket knife...
♪ He don't know if it's
January, march, or may...
♪ I'm talking about
my father...
♪ I'm talking about
my daddy...
♪ I'm talking about the
one I love the most...
♪ Now I've turned
into a ghost...
♪ He don't know who I am...
♪ He don't know I'm
the lucky man...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand in my hand...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand in my hand...
♪ Holding his memories...
- Step back.
We have to put you in the
holding cell for a little bit.
- Okay.
- Well, what'd they say?
You getting out?
- Next Friday.
- Lucky dog.
- Lucky? I've been in prison for
22 years for a
crime I didn't commit.
I'd say that makes me one of
the unluckiest people
on the planet.
- True, but you are getting
out of this pothole.
What's you got waiting
for you out there?
- My guess is
nothing but trouble.
It's going to be
impossible to get a job.
I've got 22 years with
no work experience.
- Yeah, but you made
license plates,
and a lot of 'em.
- Well, maybe I qualify
to work in an auto
manufacturing plant.
- Well, if you get a job
with Chevy or Ford,
let 'em know about me in
about four years.
- You got it.
- Good dog.
Stray dog.
- Hey, what are
we gonna do today?
- Hey, look,
there's hermie.
Let's go get him.
- Hey, hermie,
what you doing?
- Not so fast,
hermit, he owe me.
- I don't owe you anything.
- You owe me ten
bucks, smiley.
- Says who?
- Says me!
- Pay up, and
we'll let you go.
- Hey! Stop it!
Stop!
Stop it right now!
Come on, come on,
come on, get off!
- You gonna hit
me with that broom?
- Just get out of here!
- I'm going to tell my dad!
- Me, too! He'll beat
you down!
- Are you all right?
- Ahh. They hit
like little girls.
- Well, hold still.
- Just what do you think
you're doing to my son?
- I just tripped
and fell, mom.
He's brushing me off.
- That's weird.
- No, it's not.
I wanted him to.
- All right, well,
thanks, I guess.
Herman, go inside the house.
I know you're doing a lots
around here to impress me,
but let me assure you I
don't impress easily.
And if you do anything at
all to negatively influence
my son, you'll be
gone in a minute.
Hold on.
Hello?
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll ask him.
He's standing right
here in my yard.
Uh-huh.
Yeah, I'll ask him.
I will tell him.
Yep, bye.
That was sondra
Burnett, my neighbor.
Her boy told her that you
were threatening
him with a broom.
Is that true?
It sure looks like it.
- You mean this?
- You look guilty.
- A lot of people
have said that to me.
- She also said that her
boy and Herman got
into a fight. Is that true?
- Not exactly. Ask Herman.
- I'm asking you.
- Not exactly.
- Okay, if you do anything
to cause me to fight with my
neighbors, it's not going
to be all right,
you understand?
- I'll try my
best, Mrs. Fisher.
- Or your minute
will be up.
- So this is what
freedom feels like.
- Awesome!
Southbend, Indiana.
Two hundred bucks,
praise the lord.
High, Bo, how's the
espionage business going?
- It's going to be
a good day, Earl.
It's a good day, dad.
- Feel the breeze?
The feel ...breeze feels good
coming through the trees.
- I wrote you a song.
I wrote a song
about me and you.
I want you to
listen to it, okay?
- Yeah.
- This is for you.
Wrote it all down.
Typed it all out.
Made some notes.
Just listen to this, okay?
This is for you.
♪ He don't remember all
the fun and games...
♪ The best laughs
with his wife...
♪ Can't say how it went
from black and white to gray...
♪ He don't recall just
how to drive a truck...
♪ Or dance to save
his life...
♪ He don't know if he ever
fished out on the bay...
♪ A strange new
world is his...
♪ That takes and
never gives...
♪ It's somewhere
else he lives...
♪ Where nothing's life
it really is...
♪ He don't know who I am...
♪ He don't know I'm
the lucky man...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand and my hand...
♪ Holding his memories and
his hand in my hand...
♪ A good man's past
never dies...
♪ His stories last...
♪ Through his loved
ones, they survive...
♪ I'm talking about
the father...
♪ I'm talking my daddy...
♪ I'm talking about the
one I love the most...
♪ Now I've turned
into a ghost...
- Help! Help me!
- What's wrong?
- The breeze is gone!
The breeze is gone,
and I'm gonna die!
- You're not gonna die.
Oh, the breeze
is gone, the breeze is gone.
- Feel the breeze?
Dad, feel the breeze?
- I feel it.
I feel it right down
through the trees.
I feel it.
Oh, I'm gonna
go to sleep now.
I'm going to go
to sleep now.
I'll go to sleep.
- Madiasco, you see
how your father is.
I can't meet his
needs anymore.
I'm just so sorry.
I think we have to put
him in a nursing home.
I'll take care of
all the details.
I'll take very good
care of your father.
- You always do.
You do what you
gotta do, okay?
- Goodbye, madiasco.
- You're an angel. Bye, Naomi.
- Hey, Mr. What,
what are you doing?
- I bought some groceries.
- Can I carry that?
- Sure, thanks a lot. I
appreciate it.
- Yup.
- So what's new with you?
- I know a lot
about horses.
- You do?
- Yeah, all about Mr. What.
- Mr. What?
- 1968 ... no, 1958.
Mr. What was a horse running
in the grand national
steeple chase
run in england.
There were 30 jumps in
more than four miles.
- I didn't know that.
- They call it the ultimate
test for a horse and jockey,
and Mr. What won
by 30 lengths.
- Wow, mighty interesting.
- Yeah, I wish
I was a winner.
- You are!
I think you're a
winner for sure.
- You do?
- Absolutely positively.
I know a winner
when I see one.
- You do?
- Sure.
- Well, how can you tell?
- Well, first I look
straight into
the person's eyes.
- What do you look for?
- Sparkle.
- Do I have a sparkle?
- A big one.
Secondly, I look
deep into the heart.
- The heart?
- Yes, there's
the ultimate test.
- But you can't see
someone's heart, can you?
- Yes, I can.
The condition of your heart
reveals itself through three
things, three attributes.
- What are they?
- Faith, hope, and love.
The great of these is love.
- So those things
make you a winner?
- They sure do, absolutely
no doubt about it.
- Oh. I'm glad I'm a winner.
- Yes, you are a winner.
You sure live in a noisy
neighborhood, man.
Cars, and lawn
mowers, crazy.
- Heather.
- Heather.
- Did you see
that airplane?
- Yeah, I sure did.
You know what?
When I was walking into town
the other day, I got right
underneath those planes, and
I flew, flew right
in over my head.
- Well, that's
mighty interesting.
- You're a good guy, man.
You're a winner.
- Thanks, don't you ever
forget it, all right?
- I won't.
- Anybody that comes and
helps carry my groceries
like you do, believe me,
they're really a nice guy.
- Herman, come home.
- Okay, mom. Here you
go, Mr. What.
- Hit me a high five first.
Yeah, thanks for
the help, Bo.
- Yep, no problem.
- Nice talking with you.
- Nice talking
with you, too.
- Stop!
I said stop!
Next time, you better
listen to me, you hear me?
- Stop it, Terry!
Get off of him!
Get off of him!
- I'll show you who's
boss, you little jerk!
- I said get off of
him and leave him alone!
- You're nothing,
you hear me, nothing!
Aghhhh!
- You all right?
- Do I look all right?
- I'm not talking to you!
- We're okay.
- Give me a ride
to the hospital.
- Your car's
out front, Terry.
Drive yourself.
- I'm going to kill you!
Who are you?
- One thing I'm not,
I'm not your chauffeur.
- I'm derlyze' husband,
and you're trespassing!
- Get out of here, leave!
- I'm going to kill you!
- You all right?
- Yeah, I told
you he was mean.
- I gave him Herman's
doctor's bills,
he went berserk.
- I'll say, you
gonna call the cops?
- No, he won't be back.
- You could have fooled me.
That's not quite the
impression I got.
- He knows he's
not welcome here.
It's been over a year
since we've seen him.
I'm not worried about
it, he won't be back.
As for you...
Last time I saw you, you
were fighting off bullies
with a broom, and
time a paddle. What's next?
- I don't know, I'd rather
be fighting your
weeds with a hoe.
- I told her
about the bullies.
- Yeah, it's okay.
I guess you earned yourself
another week next door.
- Super, I
guess that helps.
Just so you know, I am
trying to mind my own
business around here.
- That's kind of tough
to do around here.
- I'll say.
♪ Where a world of lost
sinners was slain...
♪ So I'll Cherish the
old rugged cross...
♪ Until my trophies at
last I lay down...
♪ I will bring to the
old rugged cross...
♪ And exchange it
someday for a crown...
- Thank you all for
coming to church today.
It's been my privilege to
worship the lord with you.
Let's close in prayer.
Dear lord, please guide each
of us this coming week.
May we serve you well as
faithful ambassadors.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Thanks for coming in.
- Sorry I was so late.
- Better late than never.
Hi, I'm pastor Ian lamb.
- Mr. What.
- What?
- It's a long story.
- I hope to hear
more about it.
Good morning,
good to see you.
Sir, wait up.
- You always chase down
visitors when they
exit the building.
- Mostly. We don't get many
visitors anymore,
so each one's a pretty
valuable commodity.
- Trying to beef up
the church membership?
- Well, trying to save
the church, period.
As you saw in there, we're
down to just about
50 or 60 folks.
- Not able to
pay the bills?
- Not really, it's tough.
- Well, I'm sorry to say
that I didn't drop a dime in
the church offering plate.
- I guess I might as well
let you go, then, right?
- I would if I were you.
- Forget about the money.
It's your soul I care about.
- You and who else?
- Well, me and the lord.
How's that for starters?
- I'll take it.
Two in my corner is
better than none.
- Well, good.
I've got to run back in
there, but feel free to come
by any time and let me know
how I may be of
service to you.
- Well, thanks, I
just might do that.
- We'll see you.
- Thank you.
♪ A man sat on a sidewalk
strumming his guitar...
♪ His face was old and empty
just like his Mason jar...
♪ No one stopped to listen,
his head was hanging low...
♪ His right hand thumb was
missing, so he picked a
♪ little slow...
♪ Cardboard sign proclaimed
his name was
♪ Willie Albert cass...
♪ I took a dollar from myself
pocket, dropped it
♪ in the glass...
♪ His face lit up like
sunrise, like he'd
♪ risen from the dead...
♪ He formed a toothless grin,
and shocked me
♪ when he said...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
♪ When I look at you, I
look at god above...
♪ Because he blessed you
with compassion,
♪ mercy and grace...
♪ You're an angel sent from
heaven to the
♪ whole human race...
♪ I see the touch of god's
finger on
♪ your beautiful face...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at good...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at lovely...
♪ When I look at you, I see
what we're
♪ supposed to be...
♪ When I look at you...
♪ When I look at you,
I look at love...
Hey, come on in, Bo.
- I could hear
you from our yard.
- Go on and have
a seat, sit down.
- I wish I could sing like
you, but my teeth
are all goofy.
- You'll be
okay pretty soon.
I bet you can do
anything you want.
You're a winner,
you're smart.
You got talent.
So what exactly
do you want to be?
- I want to be like
you, helping people.
- Like me helping people?
- Well, you helped
me with the bullies.
You saved me from my dad.
Heck, you even helped me
clean my grandparents' yard.
I want to be a
big helper, too.
- Well, you already
helped someone, Bo.
- I did?
- Yes, sir.
You made me realize that
I could be a meet a total
stranger, and he'd be the
nicest kid I ever
met in my life.
- I did that?
- I didn't believe it was
possible anymore, but you
helped restore my
faith in mankind.
You did it, and I
want to thank you.
- You're welcome.
Can I take your picture?
- What for?
- I decided to put pictures
of all of my friends on my
wall, my bedroom wall.
- Okay.
How many pictures
you got on your wall?
- This is the first one.
It looks great.
- That's a pretty big
honor to be number one.
- I gotta go download
this on my computer.
- Well, take
care, Bo, adios.
- See ya.
- Okay, bye.
- Bye.
- Number one.
- Here you go,
basilius, how's that?
- Fine, Amy.
- Amy?
- Hi, no, I'm Miranda. He
doesn't remember my name.
- Don't feel bad, I'm his
son, and
he doesn't remember my name.
Hi, father.
- I'm tired.
- I'll be right back.
I gotta get another
resident out here.
Don't go anywhere.
- It's good to see you.
Great to see you.
- I'm hurting.
I'm really hurting.
- You'll be okay.
You look pretty good.
It looks like they're
treating you really
good around here.
- I don't know.
- You always treated
me really good.
I remember when I was a
kid and we'd pick up a
stone and skip stones
and play catch with the
baseball in the backyard.
Took good care of
me when I was a kid.
We did all kinds
of things together.
Remember when I was a kid?
- You're madiasco.
Madiasco is a good
boy, isn't he?
- Madiasco is a good boy.
Madiasco is a good boy.
And you're a good dad.
You're a good father.
- Madiasco, you hear the breeze
coming down the draw?
- Yeah.
- It's beautiful.
Do you feel that, madiasco?
- Yeah.
- It's beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
- Madiasco, it's
just beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
- Madiasco, you're
beautiful, too.
- Dad. Dad, I love you.
- I love you.
- I love you, dad.
I love you.
You're beautiful.
Dad, you're beautiful.
- You're beautiful.
Thank you for
everything, dad.
- We remember basilius
wuopio, a man who loved
nature and the for
rest in particular.
He cherished the
sunshine and the wind.
Bird watching and fishing
were his passions.
He enjoyed gardening with
Fernanda, his wife of
62 years, and the
love of his life.
He deeply loved his
brother Wilhelm and
his son madiasco.
- Thank you so
much for coming.
Thank you.
- Allow me to share a
section of scripture that
I believe is appropriate
for such a man
as basilius wuopio.
The Bible in psalms tell
us this, oh lord, our
lord, how majestic is our
name in all the earth.
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children
and infants you have
ordained praise.
Because of your enemies
to silence a foe
and the avenger.
When I consider your
heavens, the work of your
fingers, the moon and the
stars which you have set
in place, what is man that
you are mindful of him?
The son of man that
you care for him?
You made him a little
lower than heavenly beings
and crowned him with
glory and honor.
You made him ruler or
the works of your hands.
You put everything
under his feet.
All flocks and herds and
the beasts of the field,
the birds of air and the
fish of the sea, all that
swim the paths of the sea.
Lord, our lord, how
majestic is your name in
all the earth.
- It's true that my
father loved much.
And I know he loved me.
In the end, Alzheimer's
stole his memory
but not his heart.
He had a good heart.
And he enjoyed a wonderful
marriage to my mother.
His family members
treasured kindness,
his gentleness and
his generosity.
We have returned his soul
to heaven, and I can't
wait to see him one day
again where there will be
complete understanding and
restoration and the truth.
Rest in peace, my father.
- Hi, Mr. What.
- Hey, Beau.
Good timing.
- What are you doing?
- Oh, I'm just about to
indulge myself in a
young man's fancy.
- So you're going to
throw rocks at fish?
- No. No.
I'm out here to work on
the art of stone skipping,
skipping stones
across the water.
- Hmm. I've never been
stone skipping.
- Well, my father
taught me to do this.
He gave me the
fundamentals when I was
just a little
younger than you.
So you've never
done it before?
- Nope.
- Nobody ever taught you?
- No.
- All right.
How about if I have the
privilege to teach you?
I'll take you to the
school of hard rocks, hard
knocks right now.
Wanna learn?
- Yeah.
- All right.
Well, first of all, see, I
went through the yard when
I was cleaning up things
and I found 22 stones.
This one is a little
rough, but you look for
smooth, flat stones that
will sail across the water.
And what my father taught
me is you see a beautiful
placid pond like this,
kind of turn sideways.
Put your shoulder
toward the water.
You want to get low so you
can throw a side arm shot
parallel to the water.
What the scientists
have discovered is that
20 degrees is the
perfect angle.
I also read the world
record holder, he goes all
this motion and he's got
a baseball wind up and a
side arm sling, but
that makes it tougher.
Let's go simple.
Here's my stone.
Nice and smooth.
Get down low, squat
parallel to the water.
Side arm.
We're going to snap the
wrist and give it a toss.
Ready?
I'm doing this in
honor of my father.
- For your father.
- That's right. Here we go.
For him. Ready?
- Ready!
- Good job!
- Thank you.
That was cool.
- Can I try?
- Sure. Pick out a stone.
Make sure it's a good one.
Is that the one you want?
- Yeah.
- Sure?
- Sure. Positive?
- Positive.
- It's a good one?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- All right.
What I want you to do is I
also know that you should
kind a little Nick
and a little bump.
The world record holder
likes it like that.
That not perfectly smooth
because life isn't perfect.
There's bumps and
nicks along the way.
If you grab hold of those
bumps and nicks, sometimes
it helps you learn.
It helps you grow.
It makes you
wiser and stuff.
That's what life does.
So take a stone by that
little Nick.
Curl your index finger
right in that little
Nick and then do it, okay?
Step over there.
- Okay.
- Get low. Squat down.
Parallel to the water and
you're going to throw that
side arm throw.
Snap your wrist
really hard. Okay.
Get a horizontal spin.
Ready?
- Ready. For your father.
- For my father.
Beautiful.
Great try.
- Yeah.
- Let's do one together.
- Okay.
- Take that one.
I'll grab this one.
Get right here.
I'll get right here.
What we're going to do is
throw simultaneously
the best we can.
For my father.
- For your father.
- For basilius wuopio!
- For basilius wuopio!
- Fire!
- I thought only
kids did this.
- You're never too
old to live, Beau.
There's no age
limit to having fun.
Take advantage of every
single moment you can.
- What do you want?
- Pay back!
- Ahh!
Oh!
Ah!
- Enough!
- Aah!
Ah!
My arm!
Don't kill me!
- Aah!
Do what you were told.
Leave and don't come back!
Next time I won't
call off the dog.
- Looks like
nobody's home.
- Well, my niece gave me
a key and permission to go
in so let's do it.
Police.
Anybody home?
- Hello?
- Hmm. Time to get out of dodge.
Too much drama for an
ex con to deal with.
Been summoned to court
anyway so gotta go.
Wish you all the best,
especially Heather and Beau.
Will be in touch.
I promise.
- Mr. What.
- There's no
one back there.
Shouldn't we go after him?
There was definitely a
scuffle in the backyard
with the axe that you
found in the tree.
And the neighbors
heard yelling.
- No. Gary Fisher showed up last
night at the hospital.
Lacerations
from a dog bite.
He's accusing Mr. What
of it being his dog that
attacked him and him
chasing him with an axe.
- That's all the more
reason to track him down,
isn't it?
Especially the dog.
Sounds like he needs
to be put down.
- Trouble is Mr. What
didn't even have a dog.
Terry Fisher is a liar and
a wife beater so whatever
he got last night, as
far as I'm concerned
he deserves it.
If Mr. What had anything
to do with it, I owe him one.
I think we're done here.
No dog.
Nobody here.
No axe.
- Wait. What do you mean no axe?
- Somebody I think probably
threw it in the lake.
- Yeah right, Jim.
I still think we ought to
find that don't, don't you?
It's a menace.
- Well, maybe.
We'll keep an eye out, but
as far as I'm concerned
with Mr. What he deserves
one break in his life, and
I'm giving him
one right now.
Let's go.
- All right then.
♪♪
- How do you tell a man
who spent almost a third
of his life in prison
that you're sorry that a
mistake was made?
I'm ready to render
judgment in this case.
Therefore in the case of
madiasco wuopio versus the
state of Michigan I find
that Mr. Wuopio was
unjustly and improperly
incarcerated for 22 years
and 6 weeks at the g.
Robert cotton correctional
facility in Jackson, Michigan.
And doing the math that
equates to 1150 weeks of
imprisonment. It's my
determination that
restitution in the amount
of $2,000 dollars per week is
a fair settlement which
totals 2.3 million dollars
to be directly remitted
to Mr. Wuopio.
That's all.
- You did it, madiasco.
- I can't believe it.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- It's all over now.
- Thank god.
Thank god.
- Fritzy, got a
package for you.
- Oh. Thanks.
- Here's today's
mail, pastor.
- Oh, thanks, Tammy.
Wish there was a million
bucks in one of these envelops.
- Me, too.
You know, there's not
enough money this month to
pay the church's gas
and electric bill.
- Oh, man.
- I know.
♪♪
- Tammy! Tammy!
Guess what?
- Oh, what's this?
Oh my!
Oh my goodness!
- Wanna snow ball fight?
- Ah!
- Okay. I give up.
My hands are freezing.
Stop! You guys win.
You two win. I give up.
- I'm a winner.
- Yes, you are, Herman.
You both are winners.
- What?
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!
I can't believe it!
- What is it, mom?
- This is unbelievable.
- Hey, Jim.
- Hey.
- Hey, I got a package
addressed to you from
Mr. What.
- What's the
return address?
- Looks like
nowhereville, usa.
- Sweater.
This sweater will keep you
warm when it's cold during
the Michigan
winter nights.
Study up on those cars
because I'll have a job
for you in three and a half
years when you get out.
Count on it. M.W..
- What is it, pastor?
- It's not a million
dollars but it's 200,000!
- 200,000?
- Cashier's check.
And it came from
an offering plate.
- Well, whose it from?!
- It says on the memo
line "here's my dime for
your offering plate.
Better late than never.
Mr. What."
- Mr. What?
- He's a fella I helped
with his father's funeral
last summer.
Thank god!
The church is saved!
- I just can't
believe it!
I just can't believe it!
- It's just unexpected.
God is good.
- You're hands
are shaking!
Oh, my god.
- Father god, thank you.
Thank you for Mr. What.
Amen.
- A quarter of a
million dollars!
Thanks for taking care of
my dad, madiasco.
Madiasco. I can't
believe it. Oh.
- This is unbelievable.
It's a check and it's
from madiasco wuopio.
You know, Mr. What?
- Yeah. How much is it?
- It's for $150,000 dollars.
He says it's for your
operation, and the rest of
it is for college for
you and for Heather.
- I love Mr. What!
- Me, too!
- Oh, I love him, too!
This is so great!
Yes! Everything is
going to be okay.
Woo!
I'm gonna get you.
Oh. Oh wait, Herman.
There's one other
thing in here.
For you.
- Mr. What, grand
national winner 1958.
The original Mr. What.
- Wow.
- Look at him.
- That's cool.
Here. Help me up.
Come on.
- You hear that, frosty.
It's a miracle.
- What a gift.
What a gift.
- This horse was a
winner, and so are you.
Thanks for
being my friend, Mr. What.
I'll never forget you.
- I'll never forget you.
- Not guilty.
Guess that says it all.
- Where you headed?
- I'm not sure.
South or west, I guess.
- I'm going a
good ways that way.
- This truck got a name?
- I call her
old faithful.
- Got a deal for you.
There's $200 bucks.
Can you drive old faithful
50 miles farther
than you intended?
- Huh, does a
blue bird sing?
Go ahead and put your
stuff in the back.
- Okay.
- I take it
that's your dog?
- He seems to think so.
He saved my life, and
now I'm saving him.
- I'm Walter honeycutt.
- Madiasco wuopio.
- What?
- That's right. Mr. What.
And this here is freedom.
♪ Looking out the window,
I can see the rain ...
♪ Running like tears down
the window pane ...
♪ Looking at the heart,
I can see no stain ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
♪ Looking in the woods I
can see the deer ...
♪ Running like fire is
drawing near ...
♪ But looking in my eyes
I can see no fear ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah,
hallelujah ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah,
hallelujah ...
♪ Looking at the future I
can see the gate ...
♪ Coming up for
heaven ...
♪ I don't want to
be late ...
♪ Looking in my soul I
can see no hate ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...
♪ I made a change ...
♪ I turned my life
around ...
♪ I'm not the same ...
♪ I found a higher
ground ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah.
♪ Hallelujah, hallelu ...
♪ Hallelujah,
hallelujah ...
♪ Hallelujah ...
♪ Looking at my heart, I
can see no stain ...
♪ It's gone, gone,
gone ...
♪ Washed away by a
beautiful song ...