Navigating the Heart (2000) - full transcript

[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]

[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.
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.

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.

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]

[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.