The Wishing Well (2009) - full transcript

- I LIVE
IN SLOW CREEK, ILLINOIS.

AND IF YOU NEED
A WISHING WELL,

WE HAVE ONE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW
ABOUT IT,

NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

THIS WISHING WELL HAS RULES.

FIRST, YOU CAN'T TELL ANYONE
YOUR WISH.

SECOND, YOU HAVE TO WISH
FOR THE RIGHT WISH.

SOMETIMES YOUR WISHES HAVE TO DO
WITH PEOPLE YOU'VE NEVER MET,

PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD
OF MY TOWN

OR OUR WISHING WELL.



- ♪ IF I COULD

♪

♪ YOU KNOW I WOULD

♪ TAKE YOU WITH ME

♪ 'CAUSE I SWEAR

♪ THERE AIN'T NO PLACE
BETTER ♪

- SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR BIG MEETING
AT 10:00?

- MM-HMM.
IT'S FOR A BIG CHARITY EVENT.

DESIGN, CATERING, EVERYTHING.

OF COURSE,
I DON'T WORK FOR CHARITY.

- WELL, I HOPE YOU GET IT.

- I WILL.
I'M IRRESISTIBLE.

DO YOU EVER JUST STOP
AND THINK HOW LUCKY WE ARE?

- LUCKY?
- YEAH.



WE HAVE EXCITING CAREERS.

WE LIVE IN GREAT APARTMENTS,

GO TO GREAT PARTIES,
MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

- YEAH.
- WHAT'S WRONG?

- MAYBE THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANT.

LAST NIGHT, THIS PARTY--
I ENDED UP

GIVING MY EXTRA TICKET
TO MY ASSISTANT.

AND I REALIZE
THERE WAS NOBODY

THAT I REALLY WANTED
TO GO WITH.

[phone beeps]
- OH.

I GOT TO GO.

I'M SORRY.
DRINKS LATER?

I REALLY WANT TO HEAR
ABOUT THIS.

- YES.

YES. GOOD LUCK. GOOD LUCK.

- ♪ WITH MY ATTITUDE
AND MY SAVOIR FAIRE ♪

[elevator dings]

♪ SO EXCUSE ME
IF I COME AROUND ♪

- OH, SHE'S HERE.
HI.

- HI.
- OOH.

THANKS AGAIN
FOR THAT TICKET LAST NIGHT.

- YOU'RE MORE
THAN WELCOME.

MAYBE NEXT TIME I'LL GIVE THEM
BOTH TO YOU.

- REALLY?
- CALLS?

- OH, YEAH, MICK AT SUNDANCE.

KUSHIYAKI, LUKE,
TWO GUYS WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF.

AND ZEIL CALLED
FROM BOSLEY'S OFFICE.

HE WANTS TO SEE YOU.

- ANYONE FROM ANGELA'S TEAM?

- NO, NOT FOR WEEKS.

- ALL RIGHT, TELL ZEIL
I'M ON MY WAY,

AND HOLD EVERYTHING ELSE.
- OKAY.

- AH, THERE SHE IS.

SO, CYNTHIA, DO YOU HAVE
THAT INTERVIEW

WITH ANGELA LINED UP?

- NEARLY.

- WELL, SHE'S WORTH A MILLION
MORE SALES AT THE NEWSSTAND.

- WELL, I'M WORKING EVERY ANGLE.

- JUST WRITE A HEARSAY ARTICLE.
- HEARSAY.

-SOMETHING LIKE, "WE HEAR
ANGELA'S GOING TO INDIA,

AND WE HEAR SHE'S INSURED
HER BREASTS FOR $50 MILLION."

- I DON'T DO THAT.

- REALLY?
WHY NOT?

- BECAUSE IT ISN'T TRUE.

- SO, LATER WE PRINT
A RETRACTION.

IN THE MEANTIME,
WE SELL A TON OF MAGAZINES,

WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

- HOW LONG DO YOU THINK
CELEBRITIES ARE GONNA ALLOW US

TO PROFILE THEM
IF WE'RE LYING ABOUT THEM?

- ERIN, WOULD YOU GIVE US
A MINUTE, PLEASE?

OH, CYNTHIA, CYNTHIA,
CYNTHIA.

I AM GOING
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE
WITH US AT CELEBMAGAZINE, HMM?

- I'LL BE CELEBRATING
MY 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
- IT'S A DIFFERENT GAME NOW.

THE STAKES ARE HIGHER.

WE HAVE TO SELL MORE COPIES,
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

AND I'M JUST NOT SURE
YOU'RE UP TO IT.

- WELL, BE SURE
BECAUSE I AM.

- LAST NIGHT, WHAT DID YOU DO?

- LAST NIGHT?
- MM-HMM.

- I WAS INVITED

TO AN ART GALLERY OPENING
AT THE MECKLER.

- WHAT A-LIST CELEBRITIES
WERE THERE?

- WELL, THERE WAS KIRK
AND ELIZABETH.

- SO NO A-LISTERS.
SEE, THAT'S JUST MY POINT.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING INVITATIONS
TO THE BIG STUFF.

NOW ERIN, ON THE OTHER HAND,
SHE GOT INVITED

TO THE OPENING
OF BRAD'S NEW FILM

AS HIS PERSONAL GUEST.

- I'VE GOTTEN YOU
MORE INTERVIEWS

THAN ANYBODY ON THIS STAFF.

- WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU WROTE A COVER STORY?

- FOUR MONTHS AGO.
GEORGE.

- FOUR MONTHS,
THAT'S A LIFETIME!

ERIN HAD
THIS MONTH'S COVER

AND THE LAST TWO.

LOOK, THE FACT IS

I DON'T WANT TO LET YOU GO.
I REALLY DON'T.

BUT I DO THINK YOU NEED
A BREATHER.

AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE GOING
TO WORK FOR GREAT HOUSEKEEPING.

- [scoffs]
GREAT HOUSEKEEPING?

- IT IS A FINE PUBLICATION,

A MAGAZINE THAT I PUBLISH
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHERS.

OF COURSE,
THERE IS A FAST TRACK

BACK TO THE BIG LEAGUES,
BACK TO CELEB.

GET THE INTERVIEW
WITH ANGELA.

- LOOK, ANDREW, I THINK
I CAN CONVINCE BOSLEY

TO MAKE
A VERY SIZEABLE CONTRIBUTION

TO ANGELA'S FAVORITE CHARITY.

WELL, LET'S JUST SAY HUGE.

BECAUSE WE HERE
AT CELEBMAGAZINE BELIEVE

THAT SAVING THE VAMPIRE FLY

IS AN EXTREMELY WORTHY CAUSE,
AS DOES ANGELA.

PROMISE ME
YOU'LL THINK ABOUT IT.

OKAY, THANKS.
[beep]

- OKAY.
PLANE TICKET TO CHICAGO.

RENTAL CAR RESERVATION.

MAPS TO SLOW CREEK, ILLINOIS.

IT WASN'T INDIANA.

UH, YOU WILL BE STAYING
AT THE SLOW CREEK INN.

AND I PUT EVERYTHING
ONTO YOUR BLACKBERRY.

- RIGHT, IF ANYONE
FROM ANGELA ASHTON'S TEAM CALLS,

AND I MEAN ANYONE--
HER DOG WALKER,

HER HERBALIST, ANYONE--
REACH ME IMMEDIATELY.

IMMEDIATELY, UNDERSTAND?

- I UNDERSTOOD YOU
THE FIRST TIME.

- ♪ CAN'T THINK CLEARLY,
BABY ♪

♪ CAN'T THINK

♪ THESE DAYS

♪ I DON'T HAVE ANSWERS

♪ I DON'T KNOW

♪ THE WAY

♪ CAN'T TALK

♪ CLEARLY, BABY

♪ NO ONE KNOWS

♪ WHAT I MEAN

♪ WORDS WHIRL AROUND,
AROUND ♪

- EXCUSE ME.

- ♪ IN A DREAM

- CAN I HELP YOU?

- DO YOU KNOW
WHERE THE SLOW CREEK INN IS?

- WOW, THE NEW SLT.

NICE.
YOU IN TOWN FOR BUSINESS?

- I'M JUST LOOKING
FOR THE SLOW CREEK INN.

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHERE IT IS?

- SEE THE SIGN RIGHT THERE?

PRETTY MUCH RIGHT IN FRONT
OF YOUR FACE, SO TO SPEAK.

- [sighs]
OH.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.

- SORRY.
THANK YOU.

- NO PROBLEM.

NICE TO MEET ME,
I'M SURE.

- ♪ I CAN'T SEE
CLEARLY, BABY ♪

♪ YOUR LIGHT IS BLINDING ME

♪ MY EYES MAY BE CLOSED

♪ BUT MY HEART ALONE,
IT SEES ♪

♪ I CAN'T FIGURE

♪ OUT THE PLOT

[bell rings]

- OH.
OH, MY GOODNESS.

ARE YOU CHECKING IN?

- YES, I AM.

- OH, MY GOODNESS.
YOU MUST BE...

YOU MUST BE
CYNTHIA TAMERLANE.

- LINE.
- TAMERLINE, YOU'RE RIGHT.

[laughs]
I'M SORRY.

WELL, EVERYBODY CALLS ME
BIG JIM.

I'M THE OWNER,
PROPRIETOR, AND BELLMAN

OF THE SLOW CREEK INN.

WELCOME. WILL YOU BE STAYING
WITH US LONG?

- JUST OVERNIGHT.

- OH, WELL,
THAT'S TOO BAD.

MAYBE NEXT TIME
YOU CAN STAY LONGER.

- RIGHT. SURE.

- WOULD YOU LIKE

TO REGISTER, PLEASE?

- HERE?
- THERE WE GO.

AND I'VE GOT YOU UP
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

THERE WE GO.

NOW IF YOU'LL FOLLOW ME.

[grunts]

HERE WE ARE.

IT'S A NICE LITTLE ROOM.

NOTHING FANCY.
[laughs]

JUST COMFORTABLE,
JUST LIKE THE FOLKS AROUND HERE.

NOW YOU'LL FIND THE BATHROOM
RIGHT THROUGH THERE.

OH, AND YOU GOT A NICE VIEW HERE
OF THE WISHING WELL.

- THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE
TO DO A STORY ON.

- OH, MY GOODNESS.
SO THAT'S WONDERFUL.

- MM.
- YOU KNOW, WE USED TO HAVE

A LOT OF TOURISTS COME
AROUND HERE.

AND THE FIRST THING YOU KNOW,

A FEW PEOPLE DIDN'T GET
THEIR WISH,

SO EVERYBODY STARTED SAYING,

"WELL, THE WISHING WELL
DOESN'T WORK."

BUT AROUND HERE,
PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE.

- WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU EVER WISH
FOR ANYTHING?

- OH, ME, NO,
I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

I JUST GO ALONG.
I'M HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING.

MAYBE YOU'D LIKE
TO MAKE A WISH.

- OH, NO, NO,
I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES TOO.

I HAVE A LIFE THAT MOST WOMEN
WOULD ONLY DREAM ABOUT.

- WELL, NOW YOU ARE LUCKY.

BY GOLLY.

WELL, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

BUH-BYE.

[door shuts]

- HI, I'M CYNTHI--

- OKAY.
I'M DONE NOW.

- WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

- I WAS MAKING A WISH.

- AH, OF COURSE.
WHAT WERE YOU WISHING FOR?

- IT'S A SECRET.

- OH, I SEE.

- I THINK
THE BEST WISHES ARE SECRET.

DON'T YOU?
- I GUESS SO.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT THIS
WISHING WELL IS GONNA WORK?

- I HOPE SO.

I'M TRYING A LOT.

IT HAS RULES.

- WHAT RULES?

- THERE ARE ONLY TWO.

ONE IS YOU HAVE
TO REALLY BELIEVE.

- MM.
- AND THE OTHER IS...

YOU HAVE TO WISH
FOR THE RIGHT WISH.

- AND HOW DO YOU KNOW

WHAT THE RIGHT WISH IS?

- WHEN IT COMES TRUE.

- OH.
- YEAH.

WELL, BYE.
I GOT TO GO.

- HI.

JUST SIT ANYWHERE, HONEY.

[country music plays
in the background]

♪

- NEED A FEW MINUTES?

- I'LL JUST HAVE
A CAFE AU LAIT.

- CAFE AU LAIT.
SURE THING.

- CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

I'M HERE DOING A STORY
ON THE WISHING WELL.

- OH, WELL, THAT'S NICE.

WHAT FOR?

- IT'S FOR CELEBMAGAZINE.

- OH.
- WHAT, YOU DON'T KNOW IT?

- WELL, I'VE SEEN IT.

IT'S JUST THAT THE WISHING WELL
DOESN'T SEEM

LIKE A CELEBKIND OF THING.

- WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY

FOR THE SISTER PUBLICATION

CALLED GREAT HOU--
- GREAT HOUSEKEEPING?

YOU WRITE
FOR GREAT HOUSEKEEPING?

OH, MY.

YOU KNOW, MY COUSIN HAD

A TERRIBLE TIME WITH DEPRESSION.

LIKE HE HAD THIS DARK CLOUD
OVER HIS HEAD ALL THE TIME.

AND THEY TRIED
ALL THOSE PILLS

WITH THE Xs AND THE Zs
IN THEIR NAMES,

BUT NOTHING WORKED.

HE WENT TO THE WISHING WELL
ONE DAY,

THREW IN ABOUT 85 CENTS.

SINCE THEN, HE'S BEEN THE
HAPPIEST PERSON YOU EVER SAW.

- AND YOU THINK
IT WAS THE WISHING WELL.

- WHAT ELSE?

BUH-BYE. THANKS A LOT.

- THANK YOU, DONETTE.

- I MEAN, IT DOESN'T WORK
AUTOMATICALLY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE
THE RIGHT WISH.

FACT IS THE WELL HASN'T WORKED

IN QUITE SOME TIME
THAT I KNOW OF.

- OH?
- BUT IF I WERE YOU,

I'D START OVER
AT THE NEWSPAPER.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING STORIES
ON THE WISHING WELL FOR YEARS.

HERE'S YOUR CAFE.

AND HERE'S YOUR AU LAIT.

- SO I GOT HIM
TO BUY A HALF PAGE

AT THE QUARTER PAGE RATE
FOR ONE MONTH,

AND THEN IT'S GONNA ADJUST.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT,
YOU KNOW,

BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL ME NO.

[laughter]
I THINK IT'S REALLY GONNA BRING

IN SOME REALLY GREAT REVENUE
FOR THE CHRONICLE.

- EXCUSE ME.

- OH, CAN I HELP YOU?

- YES, I'M HERE TO DO A STORY

ON THE WISHING WELL
FOR CELEBMAGAZINE,

AND I WAS WONDERING...

- WHAT DOES CELEBMAGAZINE
WANT TO DO A STORY

ON THE WISHING WELL FOR?

- WELL, IT'S
FOR OUR SISTER PUBLICATION,

GREAT HOUSEKEEPING.

- REALLY?

OH, I LOVE GREAT HOUSEKEEPING.

THAT MAGAZINE IS AMAZING.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO

WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT
OF BAKING SODA?

- ANYHOW, I WAS WONDERING

IF I COULD GET
INTO YOUR ARCHIVES.

- WELL, I'D HAVE TO CLEAR IT
WITH MY BOSS FIRST.

- PERFECT.
COULD YOU DO THAT QUICKLY?

- MARK!

WE GOT A QUESTION
OUT HERE.

- YUP.

- OH, HI.
NICE TO MEET ME AGAIN, I'M SURE.

WHAT'S THE QUESTION?

- I'M DOING A STORY
ON THE WISHING WELL.

- SHE WORKS
FOR GREAT HOUSEKEEPING.

- I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD
LOOK AT YOUR ARCHIVES.

YOU DO HAVE ARCHIVES?

- OF COURSE. FEEL FREE TO LOOK
THROUGH THEM ALL YOU WANT.

PROFESSIONAL COURTESY.
ONE JOURNALIST TO THE OTHER.

- THANK YOU.

- UH, MOST OF THE STORIES
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS

ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE
IN OUR MASTER FILES.

CAN SHE USE THAT DESK, ENID?
- IT'S OKAY WITH ME.

- ANYTHING OLDER THAN THAT'S
PROBABLY GONNA BE

IN THE STACKS
AT THE WAREHOUSE.

- WHERE'S THAT?

- YOU LIKE TO ASK
FOR DIRECTIONS,

DON'T YOU?

UH, IT'S JUST A NICE LITTLE WALK
UP MAIN STREET.

THE KEYS ARE ON THE BACK WALL
OVER HERE.

JUST GO OUT THE FRONT DOOR,
TAKE A RIGHT,

GO UP A COUPLE BLOCKS,
AND YOU CAN'T MISS IT.

- I THINK I'LL START
WITH THE COMPUTER FILES.

- OH, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR
ANGLE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

I COULD PROBABLY SAVE YOU
SOME TIME.

- I'LL KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT.

I'M A WRITER. IT'S JUST KIND
OF THE WAY I WORK.

I SHOULD PROBABLY GET STARTED.

[indie pop music]

♪

- ♪ I CAN GET
A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM YOU ♪

♪ WHEN WE'RE MOVING
IN HARMONY ♪

♪ I'LL TWINKLE MY EYE
AND WALK ON BY ♪

♪ AND YOU'LL STILL BE THERE
FOR ME ♪

♪ LA LA LA LA LA

♪ LA LA LA LA LA

- LET'S GO WITH LEONA JACOBS'
99TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE LEADER.

YEAH.
- EXCUSE ME.

I THINK I NEED
TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE WAREHOUSE.

- YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR ANGLE?

- NOT YET.

- WELL, THE PAPER'S
OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

I'M SURE IF YOU LOOK,
YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE A FAMOUS PERSON
THAT'S COME TO TOWN.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

- OUT THE DOOR,
THEN TO THE RIGHT?

- THE DOOR. TO THE RIGHT.

CAN'T MISS IT.

- SHE'S GOT A REAL CASE
OF THE ME-MEs.

- SHE'S ALL RIGHT.

SHE JUST CAN'T SEE
WHAT'S AS PLAIN AS DAY.

I SAY FAMOUS PERSON,
SHE COMES TO GET A KEY,

AND MISSES A PICTURE
OF THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON

THAT'S EVER COME TO SLOW CREEK
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER FACE.

- ♪ IT'S THE WAY
IT WILL ALWAYS BE ♪

♪ LA LA LA LA

- AFTERNOON.
- HELLO.

- NEW IN TOWN?
- YES, I AM.

I'M JUST IN TOWN DOING A STORY
ON THE WISHING WELL.

- THERE USED TO BE
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE

COME THIS WAY
TO LOOK AT THE WELL

AND MAKE A WISH.

A LOT OF NEWSPAPER REPORTERS
OVER THE YEARS,

BUT IT DOESN'T WORK
FOR EVERYONE.

NOT SO POPULAR ANYMORE.

- DO YOU BELIEVE?
- I CERTAINLY DO.

ANYTHING YOU WANT STARTS
BY BELIEVING IT CAN HAPPEN.

ESPECIALLY A WISH.

AS LONG AS IT'S THE RIGHT ONE.

- [laughs]

WELL, THANK YOU.
GOOD-BYE.

[grunts]

[sighs]

[hits light switch]

[electricity buzzes]

- [caws]

[tapping on phone keys]

- HEY, IT'S ME.
- HOW'S IT GOING?

- I'M IN A HAYSTACK
LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE.

- SOUNDS DIRTY.

- [laughs] IT IS.

[call waiting beeps]

- I HATE TO INTERRUPT
YOUR MISERY, BUT I HAVE TO GO.

- OH, GREAT.
LEAVE ME HERE TO SUFFER.

- [caws]

- UGH.
- [caws]

- PERFECT.

- I SEE YOU MET NAPOLEON.

- [caws]

- YOU OUGHT TO TEACH HIM
SOME MANNERS.

- YEAH, IT'S THE CLOSEST THING

WE COULD AFFORD TO AN ALARM.

- OH, MEANING
YOU CAN TURN HIM OFF.

- JUST BE GLAD
YOU'RE NOT A RAT.

- BELIEVE ME, I COULDN'T BE
HAPPIER ABOUT THAT.

- I THOUGHT
I'D JUST COME OUT HERE

AND SEE IF YOU NEEDED
SOME HELP.

- NO, THANKS, I'M FINE.

- I RARELY MAKE IT OUT HERE
ANYWAY, AS YOU CAN TELL.

- EXCUSE ME.

[groans]

- YOU KNOW, I'M THE FOURTH
GENERATION OF MY FAMILY

TO OWN THE CHRONICLE.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER STARTED IT
IN 1887.

IT'S BEEN THE ONE CONSTANT
IN SLOW CREEK ALL THESE YEARS.

- [caws]

- THIS IS A LITTLE NOTHING TOWN,

BUT WE LIKE IT.

PEOPLE HERE DEPEND
ON THE PAPER.

IT GIVES THIS PLACE
AN IDENTITY,

SOME HISTORY.

ALL THESE STORIES
OVER ALL THESE YEARS.

I'M PROUD OF IT.

WELL, I WILL LEAVE YOU
AND NAPOLEON TO IT.

- THANK YOU.

- [caws]

- ♪ I RECALL A TIME
WHEN THINGS WERE CRAZY ♪

♪ SO MUCH GOING ON
INSIDE MY HEAD ♪

♪ WANTED TO IMPRESS THE ONES
I HELD UP HIGH ♪

♪ THEY COMPROMISED THE TRUTH
IN ME INSTEAD ♪

♪ IT TOOK A LONG TIME
TO SEE HOW WRONG I WAS ♪

♪ AND GET ALL MY PRIORITIES
IN LINE ♪

♪ NOW I GOT A GRIP
ON MY REALITY ♪

♪ I CAN SAY

♪ EVERYTHING I KNOW

♪ I LEARNED THE HARD WAY

♪ AND I'VE BEEN WORKING

♪ SOMETHING'S COMING
- RONALD REAGAN.

YEAH, THAT COULD WORK.
- ♪ I WON'T GIVE IT UP

♪ I'M READY

♪ TO GO

♪ AND FIND MY WAY

♪ AND NOW I CAN SAY

♪ I GOT NOTHING
TO LOSE NOW ♪

♪ I FEEL SO GOOD

- EXCUSE ME.

- YEAH, CAN I HELP YOU?

- CAN I USE
YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION?

- WELL, I'D HAVE
TO ASK THE BOSS. MARK!

- YUP.
- SHE WANTS TO USE OUR INTERNET.

- SURE.
HAVING ANY LUCK?

- YEAH.

AND WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME

THAT RONALD REAGAN HAD VISITED
THE WISHING WELL?

I MEAN, YOU COULD HAVE SAVED ME
A LOT OF DIRT, TROUBLE,

COBWEBS, AND, FRANKLY,
BIRD POOP.

- WELL, THE PICTURE OF REAGAN
IS RIGHT THERE BY THE KEYS

IF YOU HAD ACTUALLY LOOKED.

I ASKED IF YOU WANTED HELP,
AND YOU SAID NO,

SO DON'T BLAME ME FOR SEEING

WHAT'S VERY CLEAR
TO ANYONE THAT MEETS YOU.

- WHICH IS?

- YOU CAN'T SEE SOMETHING
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR OWN FACE.

- UH, I DON'T REMEMBER ASKING

FOR A LECTURE ON JOURNALISM
OR ANYTHING ELSE.

- WELL, YOU ASKED ME
WHY I DIDN'T TELL YOU,

AND I GAVE YOU AN ANSWER.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

- DADDY.
- YES, ABBY.

- I'VE GOT FOUR THINGS
THAT HAPPENED IN HISTORY

FOR TOMORROW'S PAPER.

DO I NEED MORE?

- HOW ABOUT ONE MORE GOOD ONE?

- OKAY.
OH, HI.

- HI.

- ARE YOU STAYING?
- NO, I'M NOT.

I'LL BE LEAVING YOUR TOWN
AS SOON AS I SEND MY STORY.

- OH, WELL,
BACK TO THE GRIND.

- HUH?

- WE MET
AT THE WISHING WELL.

- ♪ I GOT NOTHING
TO LOSE NOW ♪

♪ AND I FEEL SO GOOD

♪ GOT NOTHING TO PROVE NOW

♪ AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE

♪ GOT NOTHING TO LOSE NOW

♪ AND I FEEL SO GOOD

- MAKING YOUR WISH AGAIN?

- YEAH.

HAVE TO.

- DIDN'T COME TRUE, HUH?

- NO.

MAYBE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT WISH.

- WELL, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE RULES IS

THAT YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE.

- I DO.

DO YOU THINK IT'S BROKEN?

- I DON'T KNOW.

- GUESS I'LL TRY AGAIN.

- MAYBE YOUR WISH SHOULDN'T BE
A SECRET.

- YOU THINK?

- MAYBE YOU SHOULD TELL
SOMEBODY.

- I COULD TELL YOU.

I GUESS IF YOU'RE LEAVING,

IT'D STILL BE KIND OF A SECRET.

- YEAH.

- I'M WISHING FOR MY DAD
TO BE HAPPY.

- OH.

- I SHOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU.

- NO, NO, NO, I'M GLAD YOU DID.

IT'S JUST YOUR DAD DIDN'T
SEEM UNHAPPY WHEN I SAW HIM.

- I KNOW.

HE DOES THAT FOR ME.

'CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT ME
TO SEE HIM SAD.

BUT I KNOW BECAUSE...

WE DON'T LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT IT.

- WELL, I HAVE AN IDEA.

- I MAKE A WISH,

AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME,
YOU MAKE A WISH,

AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET
THIS OLD WISHING WELL

TO WORK AGAIN.
- OKAY.

BUT YOU HAVE TO USE
YOUR OWN WISH.

- OH, OKAY.

YOU GOT A QUARTER?
- YEAH.

- I WISH
I KNEW HOW TO BE HAPPY.

- ABBY?
- UH-OH.

- WHAT?

- ABBY?

- MY DAD DOESN'T REALLY LIKE ME
HANGING AROUND

MAKING WISHES HERE.

HE SAYS IT'S A WASTE OF TIME.

- UH-OH.

- YOU'RE STILL HERE?

- WELL, I COULDN'T LEAVE TOWN

WITHOUT MAKING A FINAL WISH

IN THE FAMOUS WISHING WELL.

ABBY WAS KIND ENOUGH
TO SHOW ME HOW IT WORKED.

- IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST.

- YEAH, WELL, LET'S LET
MISS TAMERLINE GET GOING.

I'M SURE SHE'S GOT A PLANE
TO CATCH BACK TO NEW YORK.

- COME BACK AND VISIT US,
OKAY?

- OKAY.

- HMM?
- EXCUSE ME, SIR.

- YEAH, NO PROBLEM.

- I WISH
I KNEW HOW TO BE HAPPY.

- ANYTHING YOU WANT STARTS
BY BELIEVING IT CAN HAPPEN.

ESPECIALLY A WISH.

- BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW
IT'S THE RIGHT WISH?

- WHEN IT COMES TRUE.

[knock on door]

- MISS TAMERLINE, IT'S 8 A.M.
HERE AT THE SLOW CREEK INN.

THIS IS YOUR WAKEUP CALL.

WHAT AM I DOING
IN SLOW CREEK?

PETERSBURG, NEBRASKA?

I'M NOT FROM NEBRASKA.

WHAT?

[dialing]

[phone rings]

COME ON, RACH, PICK UP.

- HELLO. NO ONE IS AVAILABLE
TO TAKE YOUR CALL.

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE
AFTER THE TONE.

[tone]
- RACH, IT'S CYNTHIA.

SOMETHING REALLY WEIRD'S
GOING ON.

COULD YOU CALL ME IMMEDIATELY?

[hangs up
and shuts phone off]

THESE AREN'T MY CLOTHES.

MY SIZE, BUT...

WHERE IS MY LAPTOP?

EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME!

- OH, MISS TAMERLINE,
CAN I HELP YOU?

- YES. SOMEONE'S BEEN
IN MY ROOM.

THEY TOOK ALL OF MY THINGS.
EVERYTHING.

AND REPLACED THEM WITH, WELL,
THINGS THAT ARE NOT MINE.

- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU

THAT NO ONE BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN
IN YOUR ROOM SINCE YOU SIGNED

THAT WEEK-TO-WEEK AGREEMENT
YESTERDAY.

- WEEK-TO-WEEK AGREEMENT?

I DIDN'T SIGN
A WEEK-TO-WEEK AGREEMENT.

- OH, JUST A MOMENT.

HERE. THIS.

- NO, NO,
THERE'S BEEN A MISTAKE.

- BUT THAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE,
ISN'T IT?

- LOOK, MR. BIG JIM,
I'M A JOURNALIST.

AND I'M GONNA FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING ON.

BELIEVE ME, I WILL GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

- GOOD MORNING.

- DON'T BE FUNNY.

- I'M LOOKING AT IT
RIGHT NOW.

I'VE GOT A COPY OF IT

RIGHT HERE IN THE FILES.

ABSOLUTELY.

- EXCUSE ME.
- YOU'RE CYNTHIA TAMERLINE.

- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
- SHE'S HERE.

- OH, HEY, WE WONDERED
WHERE YOU WERE.

LOOK, PLEASE, TRY TO BE HERE
BY 7:00, 7:30.

- I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

- UH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO START WORKING HERE TODAY.

WE COME IN AT 7:30.

- ME WORK HERE?

- YES. YOU. HERE. WORK.

- NO, NO, NO,
THERE'S BEEN A MISTAKE.

I'M HERE TO DO A STORY
FOR CELEBMAGAZINE--

I MEAN, GREAT HOUSEKEEPING--
AND...

- OOH, NOW I LOVE
GREAT HOUSEKEEPING.

I LOVE THAT MAGAZINE.

DO YOU KNOW,
IF YOU PUT A RAW EGG IN

WHEN YOU FIRST PLANT A TOMATO,
THEY GROW BETTER.

- UH, NO, MISS TAMERLINE,
I HIRED YOU

TO FILL IN AS A REPORTER.

- NO.
- WE TALKED ON THE PHONE.

YOU'RE FROM NEBRASKA.

- OKAY, THERE'S SOMETHING
REALLY CRAZY GOING ON HERE.

REALLY CRAZY.

- MAYBE
WE SHOULD JUST GET STARTED.

[phone rings]

- CHRONICLE.

YES, HOLD ON ONE MINUTE.

IT'S MR. UPSHAW FROM THE VERNON
NEWSPAPER SYNDICATE AGAIN.

YOU WANT TO TALK TO HIM?

- I DO NOT.

- YES, MR. UPSHAW,
HE'S IN THE BATHROOM.

YES, I'M SURE
HE WILL CALL YOU BACK

AS SOON AS HE'S AVAILABLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE TOOK
A MAGAZINE IN THERE WITH HIM.

YEAH, IT COULD BE...

- HEY, LOOK, HERE'S YOUR FIRST
ASSIGNMENT IF YOU'RE READY.

- NO, I'M NOT READY.

I'M HERE TO DO A STORY
ON THE WISHING WELL.

- WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER STORY
ON THE WISHING WELL.

WE'VE DONE HUNDREDS OF THEM
OVER THE YEARS.

THIS IS A GOOD STORY.

IT'S MARTIN SIXT'S
MEMORIAL SERVICE.

IT'S TOMORROW MORNING.

- OKAY, YOU HIRED HER.

- UH.
UH.

[dialing]

[ringing]

[phone rings]

- TYSON MUNSON'S OFFICE.
- TYSON MUNSON?

- YES,
THIS IS TYSON MUNSON'S OFFICE.

- NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S MY OFFICE.

- WOULD YOU LIKE
TO TALK TO HIM?

- NO, I WOULDN'T LIKE
TO TALK TO HIM.

I MEAN, YES, I WOULD LIKE
TO TALK TO HIM,

BUT, NO, THIS IS NOT HIS OFFICE.

COULD YOU JUST PUT HIM ON NOW?

- AND WHO MAY I SAY IS CALLING?
- WHO'S CALLING?

CYNTHIA TAMERLINE,
THAT'S WHO'S CALLING.

- ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.

CYNTHIA TAMERLINE.

I'M SORRY.
MR. MUNSON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

WHAT THE CALL IS
IN REFERENCE TO.

- WHAT IS WHAT?

IS HE INSANE?

YOU TELL HIM THAT THIS CALL IS
IN REFERENCE

TO THE FACT
THAT HE IS FIRED.

- I DON'T THINK
I UNDERSTOOD YOU.

- FIRED. OKAY?

TYSON--FIRED, JUST AS SOON
AS I GET BACK.

NO, NO, NO, ACTUALLY, WAIT,

I'M FIRING HIM NOW.

THIS MINUTE.

OKAY?

- MR. BOSLEY'S OFFICE.
- ZEIL, IT'S CYNTHIA.

IS BOSLEY AVAILABLE?
- WHO'S CALLING?

- IT'S CYNTHIA.
- CYNTHIA WHO?

- TAMERLINE.

CAN YOU JUST PUT HIM ON?

- I'M SORRY, MISS TAMERLINE.

ARE YOU WITH AN AGENCY?

HELLO?
MISS TAMERLINE, ARE YOU THERE?

- LOOK, I'LL CALL HIM BACK
WHEN HE'S IN A BETTER MOOD.

[beep]

- HI.

JUST SIT ANYWHERE, HONEY.

- COFFEE?

- A BIG CUP.

- I'LL JUST LEAVE
THE CARAFE.

MILK?

- UM, DO YOU KNOW ME?
- SURE DO.

WE MET YESTERDAY
WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO TOWN.

- RIGHT, OF COURSE.

DID I TELL YOU
WHERE I WAS FROM?

- DON'T THINK SO.

BUT YOU DID SAY YOU WERE GONNA
WORK FOR THE CHRONICLE

FOR MARK.
- I SAID THAT? YESTERDAY?

- YES, YOU SAID
YOU WERE STAYING AT THE INN

FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

AND THEN YOU START WORKING
TODAY.

ARE YOU OKAY, HONEY?

- OF COURSE.
I'M FINE.

- WELL, OKAY,
BUT IF YOU EVER NEED TO TALK,

I'M HERE PRETTY MUCH
ALL THE TIME.

WOULD YOU LIKE
TO START A TAB?

- A WHAT?
- START A TAB.

SEE, MOST PEOPLE,

THEY PAY
AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

IT SAVES TIME
AND ALL THOSE PESKY...

- I-I-I DON'T KNOW.

- WELL, I GOT THE BEST FOOD
IN TOWN.

- I'M SURE THAT'S TRUE,

BUT I DON'T PLAN
ON STAYING VERY LONG.

I'LL JUST PAY AS I GO.

- WELL, THAT'S FINE TOO.

- IN FACT
JUST THE COFFEE IS GOOD.

- WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

THERE YOU GO, HONEY.
- THANK YOU.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.

STEVE, MARLA, CAN I GET YOU GUYS
SOME COFFEE?

- UH, DONETTE?
- YES, HONEY.

- I THINK I'LL START THAT TAB.

- WELL, THAT'S FINE TOO.

- HEY, DON.
- BIG.

- MISS TAMERLINE.

- YES?
- YOU GOT A MINUTE?

I CALLED OVER
AT THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE,

AND YOU WEREN'T THERE, SO I KIND
OF FIGURED YOU'D BE HERE.

- OKAY, SO YOU FOUND ME.

- OH, WELL, I THOUGHT
YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW

THAT THE CHECK YOU GAVE ME
YESTERDAY,

THE BANK JUST CALLED AND SAID
IT WAS INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.

- WHAT--WHAT CHECK?

- THE CHECK FOR THE FIRST WEEK'S
RENT ON THE ROOM.

- I DIDN'T WRITE A CHECK.

AND IF I HAD WRITTEN A CHECK,
IT WOULDN'T HAVE BOUNCED.

DO YOU--DO YOU KNOW
HOW MUCH MONEY I MAKE?

I WORK FOR CELEBMAGAZINE.

I DON'T HAVE MONEY PROBLEMS,
OKAY?

- AH, JEEZ, I DON'T MEAN
TO UPSET YOU.

I'M SURE
IT MUST BE A MISUNDERSTANDING.

IT MUST BE.

BUT, LISTEN, I CAN FLOAT YOU
FOR A WHILE.

- FLOAT ME?

- WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
BRAND-NEW HERE IN TOWN.

AND MARK DID VOUCH FOR YOU.

- OH, MARK VOUCHED FOR ME.

- UH-HUH. YES.

SAID YOU WERE GOING
TO WORK FOR HIM TODAY.

THAT'S GOOD, HUH?
THERE YOU GO.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

DONNY.

- I'LL PICK UP
SOME OF THE SLACK.

IT'S MY FAULT
THAT WE'RE SHORTHANDED.

THE SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTMENT
PIECE IS READY.

WHERE ARE WE
WITH THE METEOR SHOWER STORY?

- IT'LL BE READY TOMORROW.

- GREAT. WE'LL PENCIL IT IN

FOR THE LEADER ON FRIDAY.

- IT'S GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL.

- I GUESS
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION.

CAN I SEE YOU
FOR A MOMENT?

- YOU'RE SEEING ME NOW.

- IN YOUR OFFICE.

- TO BE CONTINUED...

YOU READY TO WORK

BECAUSE CONFUSION
IS NOT ON THE CALENDAR,

AND WE COULD REALLY USE
SOME HELP AROUND HERE.

- YES, BUT I WAS WONDERING

IF YOU MIGHT REITERATE
MY SALARY CONSIDERATIONS.

- NEW REPORTER STANDARD.

- IT--

- IT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
ON THE PHONE.

- YEAH, BUT IT'S SO...

- YOU COME INTO MY OFFICE
THIS MORNING,

YOU TALKED A BUNCH OF GIBBERISH,
AND THEN YOU LEAVE.

AND THEN YOU COME BACK.

AND IN THE MEANTIME,
BIG JIM COMES HERE,

AND HE ASKS
IF YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE PAPER,

AND I TELL HIM YOU ARE,

WHICH I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY I DID,

BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS.

YOU WANT THE JOB OR NOT?

- DO YOU REMEMBER MEETING ME
YESTERDAY?

- 'CAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN
DEPEND ON THIS PAPER,

AND WHAT WE NEED
ARE DEPENDABLE PEOPLE

TO WORK FOR IT.

- I ASKED YOU FOR DIRECTIONS.

- AND AROUND HERE,
WE ALL DO EVERYTHING.

WE ANSWER THE PHONE,

WE DO THE REPORTING,

WE COMPOSE THE LAYOUTS,

WE ALSO SELL AD SPACE.

- I USED THE ARCHIVES.

- WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO,

AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY TIME TO WASTE.

- I WENT TO THE WAREHOUSE.

- GOING ONCE,
GOING TWICE...

- YES.
YES, I WANT THE JOB.

- GOOD.

I THINK.

LIKE I SAID,
YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT

IS MARTIN SIXT'S FUNERAL.

IT'S TOMORROW MORNING.

- DO YOU EVER JUST STOP
AND THINK HOW LUCKY WE ARE?

- LUCKY?

OH, I'M HOME.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
I'M HOME.

IT WAS A DREAM.

UGH, A NIGHTMARE.

BAD AIRLINE FOOD
AND LACK OF SLEEP.

AND RACHEL'S HERE.
OF COURSE I'M HOME.

THANK GOODNESS.

THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

NO SENSE AT ALL.
TYSON WORKS FOR ME.

HE'S MY...FRIEND.

WAIT, IS HE?

IS HE REALLY MY FRIEND?

ARE ANY OF THEM
REALLY MY FRIENDS?

I MEAN, DO THEY LOOK OUT
FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR ME?

IS THIS REALLY MY HOME?
WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS NOT ME.

THIS IS NOT MY LIFE.

[screams]

[gasps]

[puts the gear
in park]

- THOUGH MR. SIXT WAS A MAN
OF FEW FRIENDS,

OF THOSE FEW WHO KNEW HIM,

PERHAPS MARY WILLIAMS KNEW HIM
THE BEST.

SHE WOULD LIKE TO SAY
A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE CONVEY

MR. MARTIN SIXT
TO HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE.

MARY.

- THANK YOU.

MY FATHER FIRST MET MARTIN SIXT

A FEW YEARS
AFTER THE KOREAN WAR.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT
AT THE TIME,

BUT BOTH HAD BEEN WOUNDED

AT THE BATTLE
OF PORK CHOP HILL.

IN FACT,
THEY BOTH ALMOST DIED THERE.

DAD SAID THAT WHEN HE AND MARTIN
FINALLY DID MEET,

MARTIN TOLD HIM HE HAD NO FAMILY
AND NO MONEY

AND NO PLACE TO LIVE.

AND ALL MARTIN WANTED
WAS TO BE ABLE

TO STAY IN OUR SHED OUT BACK.

JUST FOR A WHILE
TILL HE GOT BACK ON HIS FEET.

AND DAD SAID HE COULD,

BUT THERE WASN'T MUCH OUT THERE.

NO HOT WATER,
JUST A HOSE BIB,

AND A BARE BULB HANGING DOWN.

AND MARTIN SAID,
"THAT'S OKAY.

'CAUSE I DON'T NEED
VERY MUCH."

SO THEY MADE A DEAL.

AND THEY SHOOK ON IT.

MARTIN WOULD PAY $12 A MONTH

FOR AS LONG AS HE WANTED
TO STAY THERE.

GROWING UP, I REMEMBER WE DIDN'T
SEE VERY MUCH OF MARTIN.

HE KEPT TO HIMSELF MOSTLY.

THEN LATER, OF COURSE,
I GOT MARRIED AND MOVED OUT

AND STARTED A FAMILY
OF MY OWN.

THEN AFTER DAD DIED IN '93
AND MOM FOLLOWED IN '98,

RENTED OUT THE MAIN HOUSE.

BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

MARTIN SIXT WAS STILL LIVING
IN THE SHED OUT BACK,

STILL PAYING $12
ON THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH.

HE NEVER MISSED.
NOT ONCE.

HE AND MY FATHER HAD MADE
A DEAL

AND HAD BOTH LIVED UP TO IT.

WELL, NATURALLY, I FELT
THAT IT WAS MY JOB

TO CONTINUE TO HONOR
THAT DEAL.

SO NOW MARTIN IS GONE.

AND THE SAD THING IS...

I DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT HIM
THAN WHAT I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU.

IN FACT, MOST OF THE TOWN
HARDLY EVEN KNEW HE EXISTED.

I DO KNOW THAT HE DID
SOME WOODWORKING FOR PEOPLE,

AND THEY WERE HAPPY
WITH THAT.

AND HE PAID HIS RENT ON TIME
LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD

BECAUSE MARTIN SIXT WAS A MAN
OF HIS WORD.

AND THAT COUNTS
FOR SOMETHING.

I FELT THE LEAST I COULD DO
WAS GIVE HIM A DECENT BURIAL.

RIGHT, DAD?

HE'S SMILING.

THERE YOU HAVE IT.

THAT WAS MARTIN SIXT.

- WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE THE CASKET OUT NOW.

[whispers]

THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME.
- YES.

- WE'RE SHORT A PALLBEARER
TODAY.

WE WERE WONDERING
IF YOU COULD OBLIGE US.

- ME? BUT I DIDN'T EVEN...

- THANK YOU.

YOU'RE NOT GOING OUT
TO THE CEMETERY, ARE YOU, MARY?

- NO. NO, I GOT
A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

- WELL, WE ALL HAVE TO MEET
OUR MAKER BY OURSELVES.

I'LL SAY A PRAYER FOR YOU
SUNDAY, MARTIN.

- THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU,
REVEREND.

HE WAS A GOOD MAN.

- HELLO, ENID.
- HELLO.

HELLO. ABBY, RIGHT?
- YES.

HAVE WE MET BEFORE?

- DON'T YOU REMEMBER
THE WISHING...

OH. NO, WE'VE NEVER MET.
YOU'RE RIGHT.

- OH. OKAY.

WELL, I'M ABBY.

MY DAD OWNS THE PAPER.

- IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU,

ABBY MY DAD OWN THE PAPER.

- HE'S ON ASSIGNMENT RIGHT NOW.
- OH.

- I'M WORKING ON
MY "THIS DAY IN HISTORY" COLUMN.

- IT LOOKS GREAT.
- THANKS.

- I AM GONNA GO BACK
TO MY DESK.

- OKAY.

- EVERYTHING OKAY, HONEY?

- VERY GOOD.

AND I'D LIKE A GLASS
OF PINOT NOIR.

- ME TOO, BUT ALL I GOT
IS PLAIN RED.

- WELL, THAT'LL DO.

- WELL, I'LL JUST BRING IT
RIGHT OVER.

ROOM AT THE INN COMFY?

- IT'S FINE.

- BIG JIM IS MY EX.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE SURE
HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB.

- NO COMPLAINTS.

- REALLY?
WELL, I HAD PLENTY.

- [laughs]
- YOU HAVE A PROBLEM,

YOU JUST LET ME KNOW.

'CAUSE HE'D DO ANYTHING
TO SHUT ME UP.

- WILL DO.

- MAY I?
- OF COURSE.

- I WANT TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THE ARTICLE.

- ON MARTIN SIXT'S FUNERAL.

- YES.
- WHAT ABOUT IT?

- SIMPLE TRUTH,
IT'S NOT ALL THERE.

- WHAT?
- LOOK, YOU MISSED THE ESSENCE

OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

- UM, ARE YOU GIVING ME
WRITING TIPS?

DO YOU KNOW THE COVER STORIES
I'VE WRITTEN?

I'M SORRY.

- IT'S NOT
ABOUT YOUR WRITING STYLE.

THAT'S FINE.
IT'S ABOUT SUBSTANCE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.

- OKAY.

- LOOK, MARTIN SIXT'S LIFE

WAS NO LESS VALUABLE
THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S.

SURE, HE WAS PRIVATE
AND HE WAS QUIET,

BUT HE HAD HONOR
AND DIGNITY.

- RIGHT?

- WELL, HE WASN'T FAMOUS,
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING

ABOUT HIS LIFE THAT WAS GOOD
THAT WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM.

HE KEPT HIS WORD.
- I UNDERSTAND.

- GET THE REWRITE DONE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I'M SAVING ROOM
ON PAGE TWO.

TOMORROW'S EDITION.

- OKAY, DEFINITELY.

- LOOK, UM,
I'M NOT NORMALLY SO HARD

ON PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH,
BUT YOU'RE GOOD.

YOU COULD JUST BE BETTER.

THE OFFICE WILL BE OPEN
ALL EVENING.

- MARK, YOUR FOOD'S READY.

- THANK YOU, DONETTE.

- HI.
- HI.

- GOOD NIGHT, DADDY.
- GOOD NIGHT, BABY.

- GOOD NIGHT, CYNTHIA.

- [laughs]
GOOD NIGHT, ABBY.

[phone rings]

HELLO, CHRONICLE.

MR. UPSHAW FROM
THE VERNON NEWSPAPER SYNDICATE?

NO, NO, HE'S NOT HERE
RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE RIGHT. HE DOES STAY
AND WORK LATE SOMETIMES.

HANG ON. LET ME GET A PEN.

OKAY.

YOU WANT ME TO TELL HIM
THAT THE OFFER WON'T BE

ON THE TABLE FOREVER

AND THAT IF HE'S SMART,

HE'LL TAKE IT.

OH, DON'T WRITE THAT.

OH, HE SHOULD JUST KNOW THAT.

OKAY.

I'LL GIVE HIM THE MESSAGE.

THANK YOU.

- SHE'D RATHER BE HERE
WITH ME

THAN WITH A BABYSITTER
ALL THE TIME.

WE LOST HER MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS TWO.

I THINK SHE MISSES
WHAT SHE NEVER HAD.

- I'M SORRY.
- THAT'S OKAY.

WE HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SHE LIKES IT.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE CAMPING OUT,
EXCEPT...

- EXCEPT SHE'S NOT CAMPING
AND SHE'S NOT OUT.

- EXACTLY.
BUT WE'LL GO HOME AS SOON

AS I GET THIS PAPER PUT
TO BED.

- I THINK IT'S NICE.

- I DO TOO.

- OH, MISS TAMERLINE,

THIS IS WHAT I CALL LITERATURE.

[laughs]

[phone rings]

- HEY, MARK.

- HEY, CYNTHIA,
I GOT YOUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT.

- OKAY, MY NEXT ASSIGNMENT.

- YEAH, GO DOWN
TO THE POLICE STATION

AND TALK TO LITTLE JIM.
- GOT IT.

- MA'AM.
- THANK YOU.

- MM-HMM.

- HI. I'M LOOKING
FOR THE POLICE CHIEF.

- I'M THE CHIEF.

BUT PEOPLE CALL ME LITTLE JIM.

I'M BIG JIM'S SON.

- OH, CYNTHIA TAMERLINE

FROM CELEB--THE CHRONICLE.

- AND YOU'RE HERE
FOR THE BLOTTER?

- YEAH.

- WELL, IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF DAYS,

WE'VE BEEN OUT
ON A BARKING DOG,

AND A DOG WHO WAS HOWLING,

AND ANOTHER BARKING DOG

THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SAME
BARKING DOG AS THE FIRST DOG.

THAT'S THREE INCIDENTS.
- THAT IT?

- WE GOT A CALL
FROM MRS. MULLINS

THAT MR. MULLINS WAS STAYING
TOO LONG AT CJ'S BAR

AND SHE WANTED HIM TO COME HOME.

- SO SHE CALLED YOU?
- IT'S MY AUNTY.

AND MY UNCLE WASN'T ANSWERING
HIS CELL PHONE.

- OH.

- BUT I'D RATHER
YOU NOT PRINT THAT.

BIG JIM DOESN'T KNOW.

- IT'S OUR SECRET.

- THANKS.

WELL, SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

- LITTLE JIM.

HEY, LITTLE JIM.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I'M TALKING TO YOU.
LITTLE JIM!

[knocks at door]

LISTEN, THERE'S A PARKING METER
ON THE CORNER

THAT'S OUT OF ORDER.

WELL, IT'S TAKING
PEOPLE'S MONEY,

AND IT'S NOT GIVING THEM
ANY TIME ON THE METER.

THAT'S THEFT!

PEOPLE ARE BEING ROBBED.

AND WHAT ARE THE POLICE DOING
ABOUT IT?

NOTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY HE WOULDN'T GIVE A HOOT

ABOUT THAT.
I JU--OH.

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU'RE CYNTHIA TAMERLINE,
RIGHT?

- YES, LOOK, I'M SORRY
IF I--

- I READ YOUR ARTICLE
THIS MORNING ON MARTIN SIXT.

I'D LIKE TO PAY YOU
A COMPLIMENT.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL

AND SO TRUE.
- MY ARTICLE?

- YOU REALLY CAPTURED HIM.

MARTIN WOULD HAVE BEEN
VERY APPRECIATIVE.

HE LOVED THE CHRONICLE.

HE USED TO READ IT EVERY DAY
FROM COVER TO COVER.

WELL, MOST PEOPLE
IN THIS TOWN DO.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

- THANK--THANK YOU.
[door opens]

- ♪ I'M FEELING GOOD
ABOUT IT ♪

♪ I THINK I'M READY
TO START IT ♪

♪ I KNOW I MADE A FEW MISTAKES

♪ ALONG THE WAY

♪ BUT THAT IS ALL BEHIND ME

♪ THOUGH IT CAN STILL
REMIND ME ♪

♪ OF ALL THE THINGS
I KNOW ♪

♪ I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY

♪ 'CAUSE IN THE END

♪ IT REALLY COMES DOWN
TO YOU ♪

♪ IN THE END,
YOUR LIFE BECOMES ♪

♪ WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO

♪ AND I SEE IT

♪ WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES

♪ AND I KNOW IT

♪ THERE'S NO COMPROMISE

♪ 'CAUSE IT'S MY LIFE

♪ AND NOTHING CAN STOP ME

- HEY, ZEIL, IT'S CYNTHIA.

♪

- ♪ 'CAUSE IN THE END

♪ IT ALL COMES DOWN
TO ME ♪

♪ IN THE END

♪ IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ME

♪

[old-timey piano music]

♪

[dials]

[ringing]

[beep]
- HEY, RACH, IT'S ME.

WHY AREN'T YOU TAKING MY CALLS?

I REALLY NEED TO TALK TO YOU.

CAN YOU PLEASE CALL ME BACK
AS SOON AS YOU CAN?

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT I TALK TO YOU, OKAY?

BYE.

[beep]

MAKING A WISH?

- I KEEP WISHING.

BUT I WONDER
IF IT'S EVER GONNA HAPPEN.

ARE YOU SAD?

- YEAH, I GUESS I AM.

- I UNDERSTAND.

MY DAD IS SAD TOO.

- WHY IS HE SAD?
- BECAUSE MY MOMMY DIED.

- I KNOW. I'M SORRY.

- SOMETIMES AT NIGHT,

I'LL HEAR SOMETHING.

AND I GO SEE WHAT IT IS.

AND IT'S DADDY,
AND HE'S CRYING.

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.

I MEAN, I'LL HELP HIM
AS MUCH AS I CAN AT THE PAPER.

HE WORKS SO HARD.

- I'M SURE HE APPRECIATES
ALL YOUR HELP.

- YEAH, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

I KNOW IT'S NOT.

AND THAT MAKES ME SAD.

- EVERYBODY GETS SAD.

YOU KNOW WHAT I DO
WHEN I GET SAD?

- WHAT?
- I TREAT MYSELF TO A MAKEOVER.

AND I'M THINKING BOTH YOU AND I
DESERVE A MAKEOVER.

- REALLY?
- YES, REALLY. COME ON.

- UH, LIKE I SAID, MARK,
I'D LIKE TO HELP,

BUT THOSE FUNDS ARE COMMITTED
FOR CITY SERVICES.

- WELL, THE PAPER'S IMPORTANT
TO THE CITY ALSO.

- HEY, NO ARGUMENT THERE,
MY FRIEND.

- HEY, DAD. CYNTHIA'S
GONNA GIVE ME A MAKEOVER

SO WE WON'T BE SAD ANYMORE.

- JUST A LITTLE FUN.

- OKAY.
HAVE A GOOD TIME.

[laughter]
- LET'S GO.

- YOU GOT A CUTIE THERE, BOY.
- SHE'S JUST LIKE HER MOM.

- COME ON, MAKE THAT SHOT.
LET'S SEE IT.

- THAT TICKLES.

- WELL,
WAIT UNTIL YOU GET OLDER

AND YOU HAVE TO START PLUCKING
YOUR EYEBROWS.

THAT IS NOT SO FUN.

- YOU TEAR OUT
YOUR EYEBROW HAIR?

- THAT'S RIGHT.

- DOESN'T IT HURT?

- WELL, SOMETIMES
BEAUTY MEANS SACRIFICE.

- WELL, I'M GONNA LET MINE GROW

AND COMB THEM REALLY NICELY.

[laughter]
- THAT COULD WORK.

YOU COULD EVEN BRAID THEM

AND TURN IT
INTO A FASHION TREND.

- THAT'S SILLY.

- THAT'S SILLY.

- IS THIS WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO HAVE A MOMMY?

- WELL, YEAH.

YEAH, SOMEONE TO HAVE FUN WITH

AND LEARN THINGS FROM

AND GO SHOPPING WITH.

I MEAN, I STILL DO
ALL THOSE THINGS WITH MY MOM.

- THAT SOUNDS NICE.

WOW.
YOU STILL HAVE YOUR MOM.

YOU'RE LUCKY.
[knock at door]

- COME IN.

- WELL,
DON'T YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

- SHE'S A NATURAL BEAUTY.

- YEAH, I'M A NATURAL BEAUTY.
[laughter]

- WELL, MY NATURAL BEAUTY,
WHY DON'T WE GET OUT

OF CYNTHIA'S ROOM
SO SHE CAN GET SOME REST?

- OKAY.
- WHAT DO YOU SAY?

- THANKS, CYNTHIA.

- IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

- THANK YOU.
- MM-HMM.

- SEE YOU TOMORROW?
- YES.

- GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT.

MARK!

I...

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WANTED ME
TO WRITE ANOTHER STORY.

- UH, YEAH, ACTUALLY,
I WAS THINKING

ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ON KEENIE
JAMES' LIGHTER COLLECTION.

- LIGHTER COLLECTION?

- YEAH, HE'S THIS GUY WHO HAS
A BUNCH OF CIGARETTE LIGHTERS.

- RIGHT, RIGHT.
OKAY.

- I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M
REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE WITH US.

YOU'RE DOING A LOT
OF REALLY GREAT WORK.

- YOU THINK?
- ABSOLUTELY.

- THEN WHY
ALL THE BLUE LINE NOTES?

- TO HELP YOU BE AS GREAT
AS I KNOW YOU CAN BE.

AND THEN YOU'LL BE HAPPY.

GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT.

LET'S GO, KIDDO.
- BYE.

SHE'S NICE.

CYNTHIA.

- YEAH, I THINK SO TOO.

- IS SHE LIKE MOM USED TO BE?

- NO.
NOBODY'S LIKE MOMMY USED TO BE.

SHE WAS ONE OF A KIND.

- IS THERE SUCH A THING
AS TWO OF A KIND?

- NO.

- BUT COULD THERE BE ANOTHER
OF A KIND?

- I DON'T KNOW.
YOU'RE ASKING

SOME HARD QUESTIONS HERE.

WHAT, ARE YOU A REPORTER?

- THIS ONE THEY USED
TO GIVE AWAY WITH CIGARETTES

CALLED BLUE DEVILS

TO SOLDIERS GOING INTO THE WAR

IN THE EARLY 1940s.

- THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHAT'S YOUR MOST VALUABLE ONE?

- GUY OFFERED ME $2,000
FOR IT.

- WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE IT?

- WELL, THAT'S JUST MONEY.

I'VE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE

ACCUMULATING THESE.

- OF COURSE.

- SOMETIMES I PLAY
A LITTLE GAME

AND I TRY TO SEE
HOW MANY I CAN LIGHT

IN, LIKE, 30 SECONDS.

- I BET THAT'S FUN.

- 21 WOULD BE A NEW RECORD.

I'M THINKING
ABOUT GOING FOR IT.

THEN I'D BE FAMOUS.

- GOOD NIGHT.

- YOU BACK FROM KEENIE'S?

- YES.
QUITE A COLLECTION.

- YEAH, HE'S A BIT ECCENTRIC.

- WELL, THAT'S PUTTING IT
MILDLY.

- YEAH, YOU WANT TO HEAR
SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT KEENIE?

- THERE'S MORE?

- HE DOESN'T SMOKE.

[laughter]

[phone rings
as siren wails]

- HELLO.
- CYNTHIA, I NEED YOU

TO GET
TO KEENIE JAMES' HOUSE.

- KEENIE JAMES' HOUSE?

- YEAH, I'LL MEET YOU THERE.

- THANKS.

- STRETCH 'EM OUT.

HURRY UP. HURRY UP.

- GO.

LET'S GET SOME PRESSURE
ON HERE.

TURN IT ON.

- KEENIE, ARE YOU OKAY?

- I'M ALL RIGHT.

FELL DOWN
WHEN I GOT OUTSIDE.

I HURT MY ANKLE.

[coughs]
- WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY.

- COULDN'T SEE A THING.

- WHAT HAPPENED?

- I SET THE NEW LIGHTER LIGHTING
RECORD.

HAD 21 OF 'EM GOING AT ONCE.

THEN I NOTICED THE FIRST ONE
HAD GOT TOO NEAR THE CURTAINS.

WENT UP LIKE THAT.

GOT SOME WATER.
OR THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.

THREW IT ON THE CURTAINS.

TURNED OUT IT WAS VODKA.

- I'M AFRAID IT'S A TOTAL LOSS,
KEENIE,

WITH THE SMOKE
AND THE FIRE INSIDE

AND THE WATER WE'RE HAVING
TO POUR ON IT.

- IT'S ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE.

IT WAS MY FAULT.

- HOW'S YOUR INSURANCE?

- HAD IT UP UNTIL LAST YEAR

WHEN I LOST MY JOB
IN SPRINGBORO.

I'M GONNA TAKE YOU TO EMERGENCY.

HAVE 'EM LOOK YOU OVER.

- SORRY. I HAD TO TAKE ABBY
TO DONETTE'S.

WHAT HAPPENED?

- KEENIE PAID HIS PRICE
FOR FAME.

- LOOK, YOU WROTE
A TERRIFIC ARTICLE ON KEENIE.

- YEAH, BUT WE CAN'T RUN IT.

- BUT I CAN HOLD THE PRINTERS

WHILE WE WRITE
AN ADDENDUM TO YOUR ARTICLE.

WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE.
A BREAKING STORY.

- NO, THAT'LL TAKE TOO LONG.

- IT'LL BE TIGHT,
BUT IF WE WORK TOGETHER,

WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

[tapping at keyboard]

GOOD MORNING.
- NICE WORK.

- SHE DID A GOOD JOB, HUH?

- HEY, GREAT ARTICLE.

YOU'RE TURNING OUT
TO BE A FIRST-RATE WRITER.

- WELL, THANKS.

BUT IT WAS MOSTLY MARK.

- RIGHT,
GOT YOUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AT NOON.

- KEENIE.

KEENIE.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

- SURE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR WHAT YOUR WROTE ABOUT ME.

IT WAS SPECIAL.

I DON'T HAVE MY COLLECTION
OR MY HOUSE ANYMORE,

BUT I GOT YOUR ARTICLE.

- THINGS WILL GET BETTER.

- [laughs]
THEY GOT TO.

THEY CAN'T GET MUCH WORSE.

- SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS
THAT WE VOTE

FOR A NEW LEVY
FOR THE RESERVOIR.

DON.
- BIG.

- NOW THIS LEVY WAS BUILT
IN 1927

BY OUR PREDECESSORS,
SO I THINK WE OWE IT

TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS
OF SLOW CREEK

THAT THEY RECEIVE GOOD WATER

AND PLENTY OF IT.

SO I VOTE
THAT WE GET FUNDS FOR IT.

- I SECOND THE MOTION.

- UH-HUH.
SO NOW LET'S CALL THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

all: AYE.

- ALL OPPOSED?

ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION IS PASSED.

ALL RIGHT, NOW DO WE HAVE
ANY NEW BUSINESS?

- MAY I ASK A QUESTION?

- WELL, GO AHEAD.

- KEENIE LOST EVERYTHING
IN THE FIRE--

HIS LIGHTER COLLECTION,
HIS HOUSE--EVERYTHING.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING

IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
WE COULD DO TO HELP HIM.

- KEENIE WAS AN IDIOT.
HE WAS ALWAYS AN IDIOT.

- THAT'S TRUE, NELBERT,
BUT HE'S OUR IDIOT.

AND NOW HE'S LOST EVERYTHING.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU,
NELBERT?

- YOU KNOW THE CONNOLLY HOUSE,
BIG JIM.

THE TOWN OWNS THAT, RIGHT?

- OH, WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND,
LITTLE JIM?

- I SAY WE LEASE IT
TO HIM CHEAP

AND HE FIXES IT UP.

- WELL, NOW, DO I HEAR
A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

- MAY I?

- YOU MAY.

[laughter]

[phone rings]

- CHRONICLE.

[laughs]

YES,
THE METEOR SHOWER IS TONIGHT.

IT'S GONNA BE ON FULL DISPLAY
IN THE SOUTHERN SKY.

- I THOUGHT YOU SAID
THE LOAN WOULD BE APPROVED.

NO, I DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE COLLATERAL.

NO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

LOOK, I NEED YOU
TO UNDERSTAND

THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE

THIS PAPER RUN WITHOUT IT.

HI.
- HI.

- DID THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING?

- YES.
- ANYTHING GOOD?

- UH, THEY VOTED TO LET KEENIE
HAVE THE OLD CONNOLLY PLACE.

- I BET YOUR ARTICLE HELPED.

- MAYBE. I HOPE SO.

- WELL, THANK YOU.

- SO WHAT'S MY NEXT ASSIGNMENT?

- UH, LOOK,
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A BREAK?

GO TO DONETTE'S,
HAVE A COFFEE.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

- OKAY.

[tapping at keyboard]

- YOU GOING TONIGHT?

- WHERE?
- TO THE METEOR SHOWER.

MOST PEOPLE ARE GONNA SEE IT
FROM GROVER'S FIELD

'CAUSE IT'S GOT
THE CLEAREST VIEW OF THE SOUTH.

- WELL, I HADN'T PLANNED
ON IT.

- OH, YOU HAVE TO.

IT'S GONNA BE SO BEAUTIFUL,

AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE HERE
SINCE 1935.

- OH, I DON'T KNOW.

- WELL, YOU'RE GOING WITH ME,

AND I DON'T TAKE NO
FOR AN ANSWER.

YOU'LL LOVE IT,
AND MARK IS SURE TO BE THERE.

- WHAT DOES THAT HAVE
TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

- OH, NOTHING.
EXCEPT EVERYTHING.

UNLESS I'M WRONG.
WHICH I'M NOT EVER.

- HE'S KIND OF...

[laughs]
HE'S A VERY GOOD PERSON.

- OH, GOOD PERSON.

WELL, I LIKE THAT.
THAT'S FUNNY.

- WHAT?
- SAME THING HE SAID ABOUT YOU.

- IT'S GONNA START
RIGHT UP THERE.

- NO, NO, IT'S THAT WAY.

- RIGHT UP THERE, BUDDY.
RIGHT UP THERE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE COMING.

- NO, NO, THE WEATHER MAN SAID
SOUTH OF TOWN.

- WHAT, SOUTH OF TOWN?
ARE YOU KIDDING?

- NO, NO, HE SAID
SOUTH OF TOWN.

- THIS IS WHERE IT'S GONNA BE,
MY BOY.

RIGHT THERE.

- RUN, RUN.
[laughter]

- IT'S QUITE A TURNOUT.

- WELL, SURE, PEOPLE SEE
A BIG THING LIKE THIS,

IT REMINDS 'EM
OF HOW LARGE THE HEAVENS ARE

AND HOW LITTLE TIME WE HAVE
ON THIS EARTH

TO DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO DO.

- WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

- MAKE THE MOST
OF WHAT WE ARE,

WELCOME LOVE WHEN WE FIND IT,

AND BE HAPPY.

- OH, IS THAT ALL?

- HONEY, THAT'S NOT ONLY ALL,
THAT'S EVERYTHING.

HEY, GUYS, NICE TO SEE YOU.
- YOU'RE LIKE THE MAYOR.

- OH, WELL, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU WERE MARRIED

TO THE MAYOR FOR A WHILE

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
OWE YOU MONEY FOR FOOD.

- HEY, DONETTE.
OH, YOU HAVE CYNTHIA HERE.

- SURE DO.
- HI.

- THIS IS CYNTHIA TAMERLINE.

SHE WROTE THAT ARTICLE ON KEENIE
FOR THE CHRONICLE.

YOU REALLY GOT KEENIE DOWN.

- WELL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

- OH, YOU HAVE A NICE EVENING
NOW.

- YOU TOO, NELBERT.

- HE'S A PHENOMENAL EDITOR.

HE'S ALSO MADE ME
A BETTER WRITER.

- WELL, HE THINKS
YOU'RE NATURALLY TALENTED.

- HUH.
YOU KNOW, THE FUNNY THING IS

IS I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE A GREAT WRITER.

SINCE I STARTED OUT
AT THE MAGAZINE,

I NEVER STOPPED TO SAY,

WHAT AM I WRITING?

WHAT COULD I BE?
WHAT DO I WANT?

- WELL, HONEY, YOU KNOW,
I CAN'T THINK OF A SINGLE PERSON

THAT CAN CHANGE THE PAST.

BUT THE FUTURE,
THAT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR.

- HI, ABBY.
- HI, LITTLE CUTIE PIE.

- CAN SHE SIT WITH US?

- OH, I DON'T KNOW.

- OH, GO AHEAD.

I GOT TO SIT WITH BIG JIM
AND THE FAMILY.

WELL, THEY OWE ME MORE
THAN ANYBODY IN THIS TOWN.

AND THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY
TO COLLECT.

[laughter]

- LET'S FIND MY DAD.
- OKAY.

- I FOUND HER.

- HEY, GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT.

- YOU CAN HAVE MY SEAT.

I'VE GOT THIS ONE.

- HERE, BABY.
- THANKS.

- EVERYBODY'S TALKING
ABOUT THE WHOLE KEENIE THING.

- OH, I'M JUST GLAD EVERYTHING'S
GONNA WORK OUT FOR HIM.

- YEAH, WELL, IT WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU.

- WELL, YOU HAD A LOT TO DO
WITH IT TOO.

- MM, MY POINT IS THAT,

UM, I REALLY WANT YOU
TO REMEMBER THIS.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU'RE A REALLY GOOD WRITER.

YOU'VE HIT YOUR STRIDE.

YOU COULD PRETTY MUCH GO
ANYWHERE YOU WANTED AND DO WELL.

- SOUNDS OMINOUS.

- WELL,
I SHOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THIS

BECAUSE YOU ARE GONNA
BE AFFECTED BY IT.

- WHAT?
- TOMORROW A MAN NAMED

MR. UPSHAW IS COMING TO TOWN
TO BUY THE CHRONICLE.

HE OWNS VERNON NEWSPAPERS.

IT'S A SYNDICATE OF SMALLER
PAPERS THAT HE'S BOUGHT UP,

USUALLY
BECAUSE THEY WERE STRUGGLING.

- THAT'S WHO'S BEEN CALLING?

- HE'S BEEN AFTER ME
FOR A WHILE.

- ARE YOU GONNA SELL?

- I HAVE TO FACE REALITY.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE CHRONICLE'S
A MONEYMAKING OPERATION.

ON A GOOD YEAR, WE BREAK EVEN.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD YEAR
FOR A WHILE.

- THAT'S TOO BAD.

- YOU KNOW,
IT'S STORIES LIKE KEENIE'S

THAT MAKE THIS EVEN WORSE.
- I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

- UPSHAW'S OPERATION,
IT PUTS OUT A GENERIC PAPER.

IT'S ALMOST NO LOCAL NEWS.

THEY BUY NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL STORIES

AND JUST REPACKAGE THEM.

THE STRENGTH OF THE CHRONICLE
AND PAPERS LIKE IT

IS THAT
THEY'RE THE FABRIC OF A TOWN.

AND THEY GIVE A PLACE
LIKE SLOW CREEK AN IDENTITY.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER STARTED IT

IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I FIGURE THAT THEY'LL PROBABLY
JUST MAKE IT

A ONE-PERSON OFFICE.

ENID MOST LIKELY.

SHE'LL BE THERE
TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.

- YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE?

- IT'S NOT THE KIND OF PLACE
I'D WANT TO WORK.

- BUT YOU LOVE THAT PAPER.
- I DO.

BUT NOW I'LL BE ABLE TO PAY OFF
A WHOLE SLEW OF DEBTS,

BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME INSURANCE
FOR HER FUTURE.

YOU KNOW,

WHAT'S FUNNY IS THAT,

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
I HATED THE PAPER.

SO I GOT OUT OF TOWN,

WENT TO CHICAGO,

GOT ON STAFF
AT THE HERALD,

AND I DID PRETTY WELL.

I GOT PROMOTED
TO THE CITY DESK,

I WAS IN LINE
FOR A DEPARTMENT EDITOR.

- REALLY?

- AND THEN I SUDDENLY FOUND
MYSELF AS A SINGLE PARENT.

SO WE CAME BACK HOME,

I TOOK OVER THE PAPER
FOR MY DAD.

AT FIRST IT WAS REALLY HARD.

EVENTUALLY, I STARTED
TO LOVE IT.

- YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.

- LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK, IT'S STARTING!

[exclamations]

- LOOK AT THEM!
LOOK AT THAT!

- HEY, I SEE ONE.

- WOW.
- ABBY.

- OH, THAT'S COOL!

- WAKE UP. IT'S STARTING.

[exclamations]

- IT'S BETTER THAN FIREWORKS.

[exclamations]

- OH, MAN.

- AH.
- LOOK AT THAT.

- THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED
TO SEE.

- AH.

[chatter]

- THAT'S IT, BOYS.

- OH, WOW.

- MM.

- WELL, ALL RIGHT,
SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

- YEAH, THANKS, BIG.
- SEE YOU LATER.

- SEE YOU TOMORROW!

- OH, THERE YOU ARE.

OH, WASN'T IT AMAZING?

- IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

- OH.

WELL. HEY, I HAVE AN IDEA.

WHY DON'T I TAKE ABBY FOR
A LITTLE WHILE TO MY HOUSE

WHERE THERE'S A BLUEBERRY PIE
THAT NEEDS TASTING?

WHAT DO YOU SAY?
- THAT SOUNDS NICE.

- I LIKE BLUEBERRY PIE.

- MAYBE YOU AND I COULD DO
SOMETHING.

- I'D LOVE TO.

- YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB
WITH ABBY.

SHE'S A WONDERFUL GIRL.

- THANKS. WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS,

BUT SHE'S TURNED OUT
PRETTY GOOD.

DONE MOST OF IT ON HER OWN.

LUCKY FOR ME.

- WELL, STILL IT HAD TO BE
REALLY HARD.

- AT TIMES.

I'M REALLY SORRY FOR YOUR JOB
AT THE NEWSPAPER.

- YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.

LIKE YOU SAID, I COULD GET
A JOB ANYWHERE ELSE.

- AM I SELLING OUT?

- I THINK YOU'RE DOING
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

- I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M BETRAYING
MY DAD

AND HIS DAD.

I DON'T KNOW.
IT JUST SEEMS WRONG.

- YOU KNOW, YOU COULD ALWAYS TRY
THE WISHING WELL.

- I WISH
I BELIEVED IN IT.

- WELL, THAT IS ONE
OF THE RULES.

BELIEVING.

- OH, IS THAT SO?
- YEAH.

AND ALSO HAVING THE RIGHT WISH.

- WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT WISH?

- WHEN IT COMES TRUE.

- I BELIEVE ABBY HAS GOTTEN
TO YOU.

- SHE HAS.

AND SO HAVE YOU.

THIS WHOLE PLACE.

HEY, THANKS AGAIN.

- IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

AND BELIEVE ME,
IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME

SINCE I'VE SAID THAT
TO ANYONE.

MAYBE I SHOULD BELIEVE
IN MIRACLES.

'CAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT I'D WANT
TO KISS A WOMAN LIKE THAT AGAIN.

THAT'S FUNNY?

- NO, IT'S JUST, THE THING IS,

A GUY ONCE SAID TO ME

I COULDN'T SEE
WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF MY FACE.

MAYBE NOW I CAN.

[laughs]

- I BETTER...

- [laughs]

- OKAY, WELL, I'M GONNA--

I'M GONNA GO GET ABBY.

- YEAH.
GET ABBY.

- GOOD NIGHT.

- GOOD NIGHT.

[engine starts]

[car pulls away]

- DID YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

- HELLO, I'M MR. UPSHAW.

AND YOU ARE?

- ENID.

- ENID.
HMM.

AND WHO IS THIS?

- THIS IS CYNTHIA.

- CYNTHIA.
MR. JONES, MS. REILLY.

- MARK'S IN HIS OFFICE.

MARK!

THEY'RE HERE.

- HI, MARK JENSEN.

- YES, OF COURSE.

- WELL, SHALL WE GO
TO MY OFFICE?

- YES, THIS SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG.

WE'VE DRAWN UP ALL THE PAPERS.

- I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D SEE THE DAY.

- MARK SAID HE THOUGHT
THEY'D KEEP YOU

TO STAY AND RUN THE OFFICE.

- [scoffs]
FAT CHANCE.

- SHH.
- IF HE GOES, I GO.

LET THEM FIND THEIR OWN IDIOT
TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THEY DO

AND CALL IT A NEWSPAPER.
- ENID.

- WHAT?
- ENID, I NEED TO TALK TO MARK.

- HE'S BUSY.
- HI.

- HI, ABBY.

- WELL, I REALLY NEED TO TALK
TO HIM RIGHT AWAY.

- LOOK, MARY, IF THIS IS SOME
COMPLAINT ABOUT THE NEWSPAPER,

YOU CAN JUST SAVE IT.
- NO, IT'S NOT A COMPLAINT.

- THIS NEWSPAPER IS ABOUT

TO HAVE A NEW OWNER
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

- WELL, THEN HE'S REALLY GONNA
WANT TO TALK TO ME.

- MARY, WHAT'S HAPPENED?

- AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE MADE IT
VERY SIMPLE FOR YOU.

- WELL, YOU'VE MADE IT SIMPLE
FOR YOURSELF, LET'S BE HONEST.

- I'M NOT HERE TO FORCE YOU.

YOU CALLED ME.

REMEMBER?

- MARK.

[knocking]
MARK, WAIT.

- WHAT?
- DID YOU SIGN ANYTHING YET?

- NO.
- OH, DADDY.

- YOU GOT TO HEAR THIS.

- WHAT?
- MARK, COME OVER HERE.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.

- WHAT IS IT?

- THIS IS THE LAST WILL
AND TESTAMENT

OF MARTIN SIXT.
- MARTIN HAD A WILL?

- I KNOW.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT MYSELF.

BUT WE WENT THROUGH HIS SHED
WHERE HE LIVED FOR 60 YEARS

AND PAID $12 A MONTH,
AND THERE IT WAS.

IT'S NOTARIZED
AND EVERYTHING.

LEGAL AND ALL.
- SO?

A MAN HAD A WILL.

WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO
WITH FINISHING THIS SALE?

- WELL, IF YOU'LL BE QUIET,

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
- [laughs]

- BECAUSE MARTIN PAID JUST $12
A MONTH FOR 60 YEARS,

HE MANAGED TO SAVE
VIRTUALLY ALL OF HIS MONEY,

WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE
QUITE A PILE

IF YOU CONSIDER THE INTEREST
AND SUCH.

AND HE'S LEFT IT ALL

TO THE SLOW CREEK CHRONICLE

AS LONG AS OWNERSHIP
OF THE PAPER

REMAINS EXACTLY AS IT IS.

I KNEW HE LOVED THE CHRONICLE.

- I GUESS
SOMEONE'S WISH CAME TRUE.

- WE'RE SAVED.

- WE'RE SAVED!

[laughs]

- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WE'RE BEGINNING
OUR FINAL APPROACH

INTO NEW YORK.

PLEASE PUT YOUR CHAIR BACKS
IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
PLEASE STAY SEATED

UNTIL THE SEAT BELT SIGN
HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.

[phone rings]

- HELLO.

- BACK IN CIVILIZATION?

- RACHEL?

- OH, DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT.

LIKE MY MOTHER SAYS IT.

AS IF I DON'T CALL HER
THREE TIMES A WEEK.

- NO, I-I'M JUST FEELING...

- RELIEVED?

- I DON'T KNOW.

- ALL RIGHT,
COFFEE IN THE MORNING?

- YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO BE
INTO THE OFFICE EARLY.

THAT ANGELA INTERVIEW
CAME THROUGH.

- YOU'RE KIDDING.
CONGRATULATIONS.

- YEAH.

- WELL, MAKE SURE BOSLEY PAYS
FOR SENDING YOU TO THE BOONIES.

- OKAY. WAIT, RACHEL,

WHY HAVEN'T YOU CALLED ME BACK?
- WHEN?

- WHEN I LEFT YOU
ALL THOSE MESSAGES.

- YOU DIDN'T LEAVE ANY MESSAGES.

AND I ALWAYS CALL YOU BACK.

ALL RIGHT, CALL ME
AFTER THE INTERVIEW.

THANK GOSH YOU'RE BACK
FROM INDIANA.

[beep]

- ILLINOIS.

[sirens wail]

TYSON.

- GOOD MORNING.

YOU LOOK GREAT.

FANTASTIC ABOUT THE INTERVIEW.

I'M JUST STRAIGHTENING UP HERE.

SO THE NEW STUFF IS
THERE'S THE MET OPENING

FOR THE IMPRESSIONIST
COLLECTION.

THAT'S THURSDAY.
BOBBY'S SHOW IS FRIDAY.

- TYSON.
- WHAT?

- HAVE I BEEN OKAY?

- OKAY?
NO, YOU'VE BEEN IN ILLINOIS.

OH, BY THE WAY, ANGELA'S PEOPLE
CALLED TWICE TO CONFIRM.

YOU REALLY DID IT.

- RIGHT.

- SO WHO DO YOU WANT FIRST?

- JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE,
OKAY?

- I UNDERSTAND.
IT'S YOUR BIG DAY.

YOU WANT TO GET YOURSELF READY.

TAKE YOUR TIME.
I MEAN, I WOULD.

IF I NEEDED IT.
WHICH I DON'T.

SO I WILL HOLD EVERYTHING,
AND YOU CAN PREP.

- GO AHEAD.

- I'M TELLING YOU,
IT'S GONNA BE HUGE.

OH, HERE'S MY STAR REPORTER NOW.

YEAH, I'LL GET RIGHT BACK
TO YOU.

THERE SHE IS.
OH, YOU LOOK FANTASTIC.

MM.
- THANKS.

- SO YOU READY?

- WHAT HAPPENED TO,

[British accent]
"I THINK YOU'VE LOST YOUR EDGE"?

- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

- YOU SENT ME
TO SLOW CREEK, ILLINOIS.

THE WISHING WELL.

- WELL, OKAY, SO MAYBE

I WAS TRYING TO SHAKE YOU UP

A LITTLE BIT.

SO YOU WROTE AN ARTICLE
FOR GREAT HOUSEKEEPING.

BIG WHOOP.

BY THE WAY, DID I TELL YOU?

I THINK IT WAS
A WORK OF GENIUS.

ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A
"GOTCHA!" KIND OF THING, RIGHT?

NOW, LOOK,
YOU DID THE INDIANA THING.

LET'S JUST FORGET
IT EVER HAPPENED.

- ILLINOIS.

- WELL, ILLINOIS, INDIANA--

WHAT'S THE DIFF?

YOU REALLY OUGHT
TO GET GOING, YOU KNOW.

YOU SHOULD BE ON YOUR WAY
TO THE RITZ

TO MEET ANGELA
FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

I'M PRETTY SURE SHERMAN'LL HAVE
ALREADY SET UP

FOR A COVER SHOT BY NOW.

- WHAT? WHAT?
WHAT IS IT?

YOU TWISTING MY ARM?

HMM? BLACKMAIL?

RIGHT, FINE, NO PROBLEM.
YOU'VE GOT IT.

- WHAT?

- WELL, THE RAISE.

PROMOTION TO EDITOR.
WHATEVER YOU WANT.

LOOK, YOU GOT THE INTERVIEW.

IT HAS TO BE
THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE INTERVIEW

TO GET IN THE WORLD,

SO YOU DESERVE IT.

AND IF I DON'T GIVE IT TO YOU,

SOME OTHER RAG'S GONNA SNEAK IN

AND STEAL YOU AWAY,
SO...

- EDITOR?

- YEAH, WELL,

I AM THE OWNER
AND PUBLISHER,

SO EDITOR IS ABOUT AS FAR
AS I CAN GO.

LOOK, YOU REALLY OUGHT
TO BE GOING.

ANGELA'S NOT ONE TO WAIT,

AND WE REALLY NEED
THOSE MILLION EXTRA SALES.

- EDITOR?
- YES, EDITOR.

LOOK, I'LL DOUBLE YOUR EXPENSE
ACCOUNT, BUT THAT'S IT.

I'VE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING
I CAN EXCEPT MY BLOOD.

NOW, PLEASE, GO.

- HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
TO ILLINOIS?

- NO. BEEN IN MANHATTAN
MY WHOLE LIFE.

WOULDN'T WANT TO GO TO A PLACE
WITH SO MANY TREES.

THEY MAKE ME NERVOUS.

- THEY MAKE ME HAPPY.

- ...SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST.

JOIN US FOR THAT WHOLE STORY
AT 11:00.

AND NOW FROM THE WEATHER DESK,

LAST NIGHT'S MIDWEST
METEOR SHOWER PROVED

TO BE EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR

THAN PREDICTED.

- WAIT.
- WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU ALL RIGHT?
- TAKE ME TO THE AIRPORT.

- WHAT ABOUT THE INTERVIEW?

- I'M GONNA SKIP IT.

JFK, PLEASE.

- ♪ LET'S DROP
WHAT WE'RE DOING ♪

♪ AND GO SOMEWHERE

♪ I DON'T HAVE THE DIRECTIONS

♪ BUT I DON'T CARE

♪ WE COULD LOSE OUR WAY

♪ BUT WE'LL TAKE A CHANCE

♪ IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHERE WE GO ♪

♪ WE'LL MAKE IT LAST

♪ LET'S GO,
THERE'S NO REASON TO STAY ♪

♪ LET'S GO

- LOOK WHO'S BACK.

- HELLO, MARK.
HI, ABBY.

- IT WAS A PLEASURE
TO SEE ME AGAIN,

I'M SURE YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY.

- ACTUALLY, THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY.

IT'S A PLEASURE
TO SEE YOU BOTH.

- DID YOU MAKE A WISH?

- WELL, I WAS GONNA,

BUT I THINK
MY WISH ALREADY CAME TRUE.

- I THINK MAYBE MINE DID TOO.

CAN SHE HAVE LUNCH WITH US,
DADDY?

- UH, SURE, IT'S
JUST A LITTLE CELEBRATION.

IT'S THE STRANGEST THING.
IT'S LIKE A MIRACLE.

A GUY GAVE US THE MONEY
TO KEEP THE CHRONICLEOPEN.

- I'D LOVE TO.

- WHY NOT?
- ♪ LET'S GO

♪ FIGURE OUT THE WAY

♪ LET'S GO

♪ THERE'S NO REASON TO STAY

♪ LET'S GO

♪ FIGURE OUT THE WAY

♪ LET'S GO

♪ IT'S JUST ME AND YOU

♪ WITH NOTHING ELSE
TO LOSE ♪