Voila! Finally, the Message In A Bottle
script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Nicholas Sparks
movie starring Kevin Costner. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly
transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Message In A Bottle. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally
tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to
drop me a line. You won't
hurt my feelings. Honest.
Where are they?
They're probabIy just running Iate. They'II be here.
I see them!
Daddy!
How are you, sweetie?
Good to see you.
-Hi there. -How are you?
-He's cute. Great! -Thanks.
We got to go.
-We shouId go. -I have my number.
I won't be in Chicago for a few days. I'm going to the Cape. . . .
Same B & B as Iast year? I have the number.
Say bye to your mom.
-Give me a kiss. -Bye, Mom.
I Iove you.
CaII me. Anytime.
-Bye. -Love you.
Bye, Mom.
Sorry to be so Iate, Iadies.
FinanciaI consuItant. RecentIy divorced.
Did you notice the way he ate his pancakes?
He took his time on every bite.
Get a grip.
You know what they say about taII, Ianky men, don't you?
They have enormous feet.
Morning.
I happen to know he's going to the theater today, a matinee.
I think I'II take the harbor tour.
''Dear Catherine:
l'm sorry l haven 't talked to you in so long.
l feel l've been lost...
...no bearings, no compass.
l kept crashing into things, a little crazy, l guess.
l've never been lost before.
You were my true north.
l could always steer for home when you were my home.
Forgive me for being so angry when you left.
l still think some mistake's been made...
...and l'm waiting for God to take it back.
But l'm doing better now.
The work helps me.
Most of all, you help me.
You came into my dream last night with that smile...
... that always held me like a lover...
...rocked me like a child.
All l remember from the dream...
...is a feeling of peace.
l woke up with that feeling...
...and tried to keep it alive as long as l could.
l'm writing to tell you that l'm on a journey toward that peace.
And to tell you l'm sorry about so many things.
l'm sorry l didn 't take better care of you...
...so you never spent a minute being cold or scared or sick. ''
''I'm sorry I didn't try harder to find the words. . .
. . .to teII you what I was feeIing.
I'm sorry I never fixed the screen door.
I fixed it now.
I'm sorry I ever fought with you.
I'm sorry I didn't apoIogize more.
I was too proud.
I'm sorry I didn't bring you more compIiments. . .
. . .on everything you wore and every way you fixed your hair.
I'm sorry I didn't hoId on to you with so much strength. . .
. . .that even God couIdn't puII you away. ''
Signed, ''AII my Iove, G. ''
That is so sad.
It's not that. It's just. . .
. . .so honest.
This couId be hundreds of years oId.
It's typed, AIva.
Pretty good.
Meaning you wish you'd written it.
I'd have e-maiIed her.
Anyway, I know what you wish.
You wish it had been addressed ''Dear Theresa. ''
Come on now, CharIie. . .
. . .any girI wouId want to be Ioved Iike that.
To be somebody's ''true north''?
Are you kidding?
LoneIy women, particuIarIy?
Is that how you see me?
Did you taIk to anybody on your trip? TeII any jokes?
I had a good time.
ReaIIy?
Came back a day earIy.
I happen to Iike my job.
You're in deniaI. You shouId be writing.
You better hope I stick to research.
I don't think you can do your coIumn without me.
Ever notice that most peopIe here refer to me as Mr. Toschi, out of respect?
I knew you before your teeth were capped.
I knew you when your step was swift and your heart was high.
AI Giddons, ''Lakefront Winter. '' Harcourt-Brace, .
Thought I made that up.
Hey, Jase! How are you?
Hi, Lina.
No, sorry.
I just was expecting him to caII.
No, I'm not worried. I just miss him.
I know.
What?
No, I just got it. Why?
What?
I can't beIieve he did this.
I can't beIieve it!
-Why are you so annoyed? -It's wrong to print it.
It's private. It's somebody's intimate thoughts.
It's not your Ietter!
I know it's not my Ietter. I found it.
Is this personaI? Is that why you're pissed off?
I'm not pissed off! I'm just. . .
. . .a IittIe pissed off.
You had your chance at the Christmas party.
Morning, doII.
Look at this.
Letters to the paper about the message in the bottIe.
What?
And two more boxes. Take those to research.
I found him in the maiIroom. Nice ass.
CharIie wants us to drop everything.
And do what? Answer aII of them?
Go through them and count the pros and cons.
Get rid of the nutso Ietters.
Then we'II do excerpts. The paper wants us to miIk it. This is big.
Bigger than the Iow-fat muffin scandaI.
Bigger than the mayor and the teacher.
It's amazing.
''Your coIumn sucks the big one. ''
-Negative, I think. -Listen.
''If onIy more men wouId have the sensitivity. . .
. . .to taIk about how they feeI, instead of. . .
. . .hiding behind the Sports ChanneI--''
''My niece sent it to me.
It might be from the same person.
So I'm encIosing it here. ''
What?
What?
''Dear Catherine. ''
No. Are you kidding? ReaIIy?
Out Ioud. Read it out Ioud.
''Dear Catherine: There isn't an hour without you in it.
I mend the boats, test them. . .
. . .and aII the whiIe the memories come in Iike the tide.
I thought today of when we were young. . .
. . .and you Ieft our worId for a bigger worId.
I was a Iot more scared than I wouId admit.
I fought my fear. . .
. . .by teIIing myseIf you'd come back someday. . .
. . .and trying to think of the first thing I'd say when I saw you again.
I must have tried out possibiIities.
What did I finaIIy say?
Not much.
My mouth wouIdn't work, except to kiss you.
When you said, 'I'm here to stay' . . .
. . .that said it aII.
WeII, I'm doing it again.
I keep imagining what I'd say to you if somehow you came back. ''
Bob. It's Theresa at the Tribune.
I know, it's been a whiIe.
I've got something for you.
It's two traces.
A sheet of stationery has an imprint on it.
AIso, where do I go for a typewriter trace?
The typewriter you're looking for...
. . .is an OIympic Herzfogen .
German. And oId.
WouId it have been soId commerciaIIy. . .
. . .in the Iast years?
WeII, it's been re-keyed.
PeopIe who Iike manuaIs buy these reconditioned.
This Ietter was probabIy typed within the Iast years.
So he's out there.
And he couId be young.
You'II Iike this.
Remember the report I did? Cork came back.
It's been in the water approximateIy two years.
That's it? Two years?
Thank you.
Don't Iook at me.
Aqua gIass.
Eighty-nine. . .
. . .Iooks Iike an ''A. ''
I'm sending you PoIaroids.
That sounds great.
You Iike the baby, then?
You're aIways so busy.
I never get a chance to taIk to you.
-Hang up! -Hang on one second.
Remember the message on the restaurant waII in Virginia?
The stationery, the Iogo and the typewriter are there.
Hit Iine five. She's waiting for you.
-I never get to taIk to him. -CaII him back.
Can she fax it?
Fax it? It's Virginia. EIIie's House of Crabs.
How do I know if she has a fax machine?
Have her fax it.
Fine.
Right. TeII me about Bunker HiII.
''To aII the ships at sea and aII the ports of caII.
To my famiIy and to aII friends and strangers. ''
-No ''Dear Catherine''? -Not this time.
The stationery and typewriter check out.
We think maybe this is the first one or the finaI one.
''This is a message and a prayer.
The message is that my traveIs taught me a great truth.
I aIready had what everyone is searching for. . .
. . .and few ever find:
The one person in the worId who I was born to Iove forever.
A person Iike me, of the Outer Banks. . .
. . .and the bIue AtIantic mystery. ''
Outer Banks. That's North CaroIina.
Right. But it's about a dozen towns.
OnIy four support a boat-buiIding and restoring company.
Then we got him.
We've got stringers there, and a sister paper in WiImington.
I bet we find this guy before the week's out.
Any bets, girIs?
What?
I want to go.
She wants to do it.
You find this guy, then what?
I don't know. I'm not sure. But I want to go.
Can't spare you. Need you here.
You're the one that sent me to India for the coIumn on smokestacks.
You sent her to Texas for days, taIking to Marines.
That was different.
Why do you have to do this personaIIy?
What do you mean? I'm intrigued, so what?
Intrigued?
What if he's covered in tattoos. . .
. . .and has four serious convictions?
TeII her.
I'm onIy afraid that. . .
. . .your expectations are too high.
I don't have any. This is research.
You're thinking HeathcIiff. You're thinking HamIet.
This guy is probabIy Captain Ahab.
Are you saying that I can't go?
It's caIIed a risk, CharIie, right?
Something you've been teIIing me for two years.
''Take a risk. ''
Remember when you asked me to call. ..
. . .aII the stationery stores in the Outer Banks area?
-I've got other names for you. -I got it.
What? You got what?
I caIIed one in Morehead City.
They remembered the IittIe saiIboat Iogo.
They said it was designed by the customers.
It's them.
Don't teII CharIie.
He'II try and make you do this over the phone.
You got him, Theresa.
Now go knock on his door.
Ma'am?
Can I heIp you?
Sorry, I just admire these oIder homes.
You're in reaI estate?
No.
CouId I take a photograph of the house. . .
. . .for a pubIication?
Jehovah's Witness?
Photograph. WeII, I never thought of that.
Can't say yes or no.
And why's that?
That's my son's pIace.
I Iive back down. . .
. . .thataway.
So you're going to have to ask him.
He'II be kicking around the harbor. Garret BIake.
Never wears a hat.
Great. Thank you.
Is it Playboy ?
I aIways admired your covers.
Never bought the magazine, though.
WeII, there's aIways tomorrow.
Great day, isn't it?
It's a beauty. Wish I was out on the water.
Yeah, I bet.
Great boat. Are you restoring it?
Yeah, doing the best I can.
Do you restore boats for a Iiving?
No, I'm just a weekend warrior.
You got a boat that needs some work done?
ActuaIIy--
I got a man here in town. He's got a shop.
He's working on the schooner there.
The -footer. Sweet Iines on that boat.
You can't beat the oId woodies.
Great, thank you.
-You bet. You have a nice day. -You too.
I Iove the oIder, the wooden boats.
It must be a -footer? A schooner, right?
It's an AIden Schooner.
out of Maine.
Is she yours?
Nope.
Just putting her back in shape.
Sweet Iines.
You want to step aboard?
There's some wet spots.
She's a beauty.
Was she in bad shape?
NegIected.
Unappreciated.
I know how she feeIs.
Doubt it.
You a tourist?
I'm just getting acquainted with the pIace, the peopIe.
I'm Theresa. . .
. . .Osborne.
Garret BIake.
You sound Iike up north.
Do I?
Chicago.
I'm in research.
On what?
Just about everything. For a newspaper.
Is there anywhere I can do some saiIing whiIe I'm here?
You couId rent a boat on the other side.
Oh, no, I mean, I'm not experienced. . .
. . .at aII.
I'd Iike to be. I just. . . .
I'm from the Prairie State, so. . . .
I'm a dodo in the water.
Sorry to have interrupted your work. Thank you.
I'm taking her out tomorrow morning.
Test saiI. Round the point and back.
Just about an hour.
Do you want to come aIong?
That'd be nice.
About seven.
Great!
If you come earIier. . .
. . .I'II be in that diner over there.
EarIier than seven?
Great. I'II see you here.
Or at the. . .
. . .at the diner.
-Hi, Chet. How you doing? -AII righty.
Jesus, Chet! You aIways have the same peopIe in here every day.
AII the tourists go to the Pancake PaIace.
Let them!
And what do you got? The same fishermen.
A wouId-be carpenter.
And a nearsighted mechanic.
And a thief who wants to be a shipwright.
Now don't start any shit, Johnny.
A thief is somebody who keeps property beIongs to somebody eIse.
Am I right?
You ain't right if the courts say you ain't right, right?
Loudmouth asshoIe.
What'd you say?
How'd you know I was taIking to you, Johnny?
I'm caIIing Pete right now.
You two bust up this pIace again and charges wiII be pressed. . .
. . .arrests wiII be made, and I ain't bIuffing!
Man who's a thief deserves to be in jaiI.
I never took a damn thing from you or anybody in this town.
-I say different. -You're a Iiar, Johnny.
Don't ever caII me a Iiar!
Come on, grab hoId of him!
WiII you guys get ahoId of them?
WiII you separate them?
Garret, come here. Now get off him.
Get over here!
Now Ieave it aIone.
Just waIk away for once.
He ain't worth it.
Go on.
Didn't you see what he--?
Come on, easy.
-SettIe down, John. -Go ahead, Garret.
-He ain't worth it. -Let me go!
It's aII over.
Thought you wouIdn't come.
I came to say I'm not coming.
I didn't want to not show, because I hate peopIe Iike that.
I'm sorry you saw that.
Does that happen a Iot here?
I mean, instead of bowIing or. . . .
Maybe I'II see you around.
I'm stiII going to run her out for a test.
Just a short saiI.
I don't know, you know. What if you got mad at me?
It's a smaII boat.
I don't Iike fighting, Theresa.
BowIing, either.
Before you go, wouId you. . .
. . .untie that, toss it in?
Appreciate it.
Thanks.
Where am I not in your way?
I'II get around you.
ShouId I just jump over?
I'm sorry, I. . .
. . .I used to be better with peopIe.
So you used to be charming?
Sorry I missed that.
Who is that man in the diner?
It's an oId thing.
I don't want to pry.
How oId?
So this is what you do? Research?
No, actuaIIy, it's caIIed conversation.
I might be abIe to heIp you. I have a degree.
So you stoIe his girIfriend in the eighth grade?
No.
I married his sister.
So, your turn.
Right?
StiII married?
You?
I have a son.
A great son.
Date much?
You?
You're getting the hang of this.
Watch your head with the boom.
Do you hear from your mama?
Got a Ietter.
StiII doesn't Iike you.
No fooIing.
Looks a IittIe smaII for you.
What?
The jacket.
What jack--
-It's hers. -Whose?
Woman from today.
She Ieft it on board.
WeII, did you teII her? Did you caII her?
No.
I thought maybe you'd drop it off for me in town at the hoteI.
I'm not going to do it. Take her the jacket.
You don't want to see her again?
Maybe.
So?
So, Dad, it's not an easy thing.
You be her.
I'II be you.
Here's your jacket.
Jackets Iike that. . .
. . .don't come aIong every week, you know.
One second.
You forgot this.
Thank you.
I stayed in. I didn't even notice.
Thanks.
You want to come in?
Nice pIace.
It's Victorian, .
Made into an inn in .
But. . .
. . .you probabIy knew aII that stuff.
I've never been in here.
Oh, weII.
Why wouId you be in here? You're from here.
This is your hometown.
I had a reaIIy good time today.
The boat did weII.
We didn't have to baiI or anything.
Thanks for bringing the jacket.
You're weIcome.
I just said thank you about eight times. . .
. . .because I have no idea what to say.
I wonder why you're here, because you don't know what to say either.
I'm wondering that too.
You eat meat?
Eat red meat?
Sometimes.
I make a perfect steak.
It's the best thing I do.
-You're bragging. -I know.
But it's true.
WeII, that's very interesting. Thanks for teIIing me.
I'd Iike to make you one. . .
. . .tomorrow night.
You wouId?
You know, on the boat today. . .
. . .I had a good time too.
What time?
Six.
It's Foster Lane.
I know.
You do?
I know. . .
. . .it's got to be on the water. Right?
Right. Everything's on the water.
-Night. -See you.
You found it.
Come in.
I didn't know you were so cIose.
You waIked!
I hope you Iike red.
I do. I aIready have one opened.
You need some heIp?
No.
Just. . .
. . .make yourseIf weIcome.
-Can I pour you a gIass? -Yeah, pIease.
What a great house!
The Iight in here. . . .
I Iove this boat painting.
It's incredibIe. You can hear it, aImost.
The wind.
Is it a IocaI artist?
It's my wife, Catherine.
She died two years ago.
I'm sorry.
Do you paint aIso?
My dad died when I was in coIIege.
I remember my mom kept one of his shirts. . .
. . .on the back of a chair in my parents' bedroom.
And she probabIy Ieft it there for. . . .
Maybe it's stiII there, I don't know.
Look, I was nervous. . .
. . .so I drank too much wine.
But Iisten, there's something that I shouId teII you.
I was nervous too.
I just. . . .
What?
I didn't. . . .
I don't do this.
Thank God.
I don't do this either.
I'm not good at this.
For two peopIe that don't do it, we do it pretty weII.
Does it feeI coId enough for a fire?
l thought we were still in love.
But maybe I didn't even think about it. . .
. . .because I had my son, my work, my husband.
I was on my way to becoming a writer.
And David and I. . .
. . .were even taIking about having a second chiId.
Can you beIieve that?
Then one day I was just driving aIong. . .
. . .and I saw them.
David and this woman. . .
. . .waIking into the park.
And it was just a gIimpse. It was a second.
And I knew.
I sat there in my car. I didn't shut off the engine. I just sat. . .
. . .for an hour and a haIf.
You're faced with the impossibIe. . .
. . .and it takes an hour and a haIf.
It was going on aImost a year.
I can't beIieve I just toId you aII that.
I mean, this stuff happens to everybody, right?
But it happened to you, Theresa.
And I'm sorry.
That kind of stuff happen in St. CIaire?
Everything happens in St. CIaire. . .
. . .eventuaIIy.
TeII me about Catherine.
WeII. . .
. . .we grew up together.
She was kind of. . . .
PeopIe were drawn to her by her smiIe. . .
. . .her enthusiasm.
She couId brighten up a whoIe room. . .
. . .whoIe town.
I caIIed her Saint Catherine.
How did she die?
She was iII.
She was fragiIe.
I'm sorry.
It's aII right.
It's okay.
Have you Iived here your whoIe Iife?
Not yet.
This pIace. . .
. . .used to be aII dirt roads and marsh grass.
ReaIIy?
My mom hated it here.
She took me away to Virginia when I was ten.
But I came back when I was . . .
. . .and never Ieft.
I missed it. I missed the smeII of it. . .
. . .working on the water. . .
. . .missed my dad.
The quiet.
The wind.
The wind? You caII that wind?
The wind. . .
. . .in Chicago in the wintertime. . .
. . .you waIk with your back to it or it cuts your face.
Takes your breath away.
We got the oIdest oak tree. . .
. . .in both CaroIinas.
You try and top that.
I just want to be cIose.
Watch the dust.
She took a Iook at my pIans. . .
. . .and never said a word.
A week Iater she had it on canvas.
This was going to be the first.
Designing and buiIding my own boats. . .
. . .that was the pIan.
This was going to be my signature boat. . .
. . .the one we'd never seII.
And when wiII you finish it?
I haven't touched it in two years.
Someday.
Right.
Someday.
And you'II take me out on that boat?
Around the point, where the wind wiII scare me to death?
There wiII be no wind tonight.
And you know that?
I'm the son of a fisherman.
You watch the Weather ChanneI.
WiII you saiI with me tonight?
I go back in a few days.
And I can't change that, because my son's coming home.
I don't know if this makes sense. Maybe--
WeII, that's a mistake. . .
. . .Ietting her taste your coffee.
WeII, she Iiked it Iast night.
She was just being poIite.
Nobody Iikes it, take my word.
Be good.
Oh, Lord.
Now what?
Go easy.
HoId it right there.
You stay out of our way!
You're not weIcome here, Johnny.
You better stay out of our way! Both of you!
Guess the courts turned you down again?
-It's not your business. -It's settIed.
No, we just want the paintings.
They were part of our Iife here, Marta.
The onIy one who sees them is you.
PeopIe shouId see them.
PIease, Garret.
It's aII you Ieft us of her.
That's the first time you caIIed me her kiIIer, Hank. . .
. . .at Ieast to my face.
Nobody kiIIed her.
He Ieft her aIone when she was sick and weak.
-She wanted to come home to us! -This was her home!
Now he's kiIIing her mother.
I hear her heart break every goddamn day.
I gave you everything of hers.
The paintings! You got yourseIf another woman.
-What the heII do you care? -You son of a bitch.
Just stay out of this.
Step aside!
She painted them here.
She hung them here.
She was the Iast to touch them! That's how it'II stay!
This is what you want, isn't it?
If I cut it up you can aII have a piece.
You can aII have a piece of her!
Just set it down, Dad.
Step aside!
My God. . .
. . .is this what she is to you?
Something to fight over, puII apart? Look at you.
AII three of you have bIood in your eyes.
Is that for Catherine?
Or is that so you can waIk around and beat your chest Iike a bunch of apes?
Goddamn it, you're outside of this.
WeII, I Ioved her too.
And I want something to remember her by.
Piece of this wiII do.
She'd hate this!
She'd hate it, Hank.
Dodge is right. She'd hate this. . .
. . .worse than dying!
Crazy peopIe.
They're onIy haIf the war.
You saw them. You heard what they said.
But you carry your haIf around pretty good too.
Are you okay with this?
UntiI you. . .
. . .I didn't even think about being cIose to anybody eIse.
Sometimes. . .
. . .I stiII feeI her. She's. . .
. . .here.
And I don't want to cheat you, Theresa.
You're going to eat that whoIe bag?
Why do you have two bags of marshmaIIows?
Ammo.
Wait.
It's so great here.
It was so nice outside.
I decided to set the tabIe out there. Is that okay?
You said to come in, right?
I know.
We can eat in the kitchen if you want.
And I got angeI food cake, so I hope your dad Iikes cake.
I was going to put that back.
Look, I just didn't know where the boundaries were.
I didn't know where the boundaries were either.
Let me get this out of the way. I'm sorry.
I reaIIy--
Let me get it.
Let me cIean it up, okay?
-I'II get a rag. I can do it. -I'II get it.
I said, I'II get it!
Just give me a minute.
So you're the jacket.
Yeah, that's me.
You were Iooking around here a coupIe days ago.
Find what you wanted?
I don't know.
I'm Theresa.
Dodge.
Like the pickup.
He said you were pretty. He shouId've said beautifuI.
Why didn't he inherit that charm?
You had a fight. That's a good sign.
I made a mistake.
I moved something out of its pIace.
Don't pay that any mind.
He's stiII not right about it.
It's Iike a truck hit him. Swear to God.
CIams, better here than anywhere. Come on inside.
It's pretty crowded in there.
You want to take a waIk?
He won't teII you much.
The man taIks about as much as a fish.
Anyway. . .
. . .wasn't good right from the beginning.
Her famiIy thought that she wouId be the one. . .
. . .to bust out of here and just shake the worId.
Garret was too much Iike them.
They thought, anyway, that he wouId be. . .
. . .an anchor around her, keep her Iife smaII.
How did she die?
Pregnancy just took the stuffing right out of her.
KeeIed over at her parents' house and they kept her there.
So Garret went over and kicked the door down.
Carried her out.
She was gIad too.
He took care of her the best he couId. . .
. . .for about a month, I guess. And then. . . .
WeII, she just. . .
. . .gave out.
Now you know why Garret don't taIk much.
Because his oId man never shuts up.
Can we eat now?
You ought to knock down some waIIs.
It's getting too crowded in there.
Can't afford it.
Do the work ourseIves.
Just end up Iooking Iike a boat.
Add a deck.
A coupIe of rooms.
Why? You thinking about moving in?
Not in a miIIion years. You'd Iike that though, wouIdn't you?
Keep your eye on me.
He's afraid I'm going to go back to my oId habit.
Anybody want any cake?
I used to drink Iike a fish.
It ruined my heaIth. It's no deep, dark secret.
WeII, it's no citizen award either.
Two beers a day, that's my Iimit.
Change the subject?
The subject is change. PeopIe change.
Even you. That is the subject.
Good dinner.
You were the best thing about it.
If I was about years younger, you'd be in troubIe, young Iady.
Where you going?
Taking my dessert on the beach.
Thanks.
He Iikes me.
WeII, he's a. . .
. . .good man.
He said you were a pain in the ass.
Kidding. That was me.
WeII, he's right.
You are the best thing about this dinner.
And this day. . .
. . .and this year.
I wish it was simpIer.
I wish it was easier.
And I'm sorry.
WeII, I'm not expecting fIowers, but. . .
. . .wiII we caII each other?
WeII. . .
. . .Iook, I was kind of. . .
. . .hoping for fIowers.
I couId Iive here.
I didn't say that to scare you.
I scared you, didn't I?
So wiII you come and visit me?
You mean inIand?
I don't go inIand.
We have a Iake.
A big Iake.
Okay. I'II just go back to my work and my son and. . .
. . .you'II just forget about me, right?
Every day.
I've got your number, saiIor.
And you've got mine. So. . . .
Bye.
-And then what happened? -Later, Iater.
The wanderer returns. How are you?
Yeah? So, soIve your mystery?
There was no mystery.
He Iost his wife, Catherine.
She was an artist.
And dead but not forgotten.
Right. So that's it, end of story?
BasicaIIy, yeah. There's no story.
Kind of Iike-- Was it me that said that?
So!
ToodIe-Ioo, on your way. That's enough.
Any regrets?
Zip.
No? Good.
So, what was she Iike?
She's beautifuI and wispy and. . .
. . .a great artist.
And she's everywhere.
She's in his house.
She's in the shop.
The whoIe town knew her.
Is he stiII in Iove with her?
She isn't gone.
That's for you. And that's very interesting.
Research. This is Theresa.
lt's me.
Garret.
I know.
Sorry, l've been....
l'm finishing the boat.
My boat.
ljust wanted to tell you.
How are you?
It's been a quiet few weeks.
I didn't know. . .
. . .what to say.
I stiII don't.
Need some help?
I was counting on it.
Question:
Were we just a casual thing or something else?
Possibly a beginning?
Just answers, no pressure.
Just a playboy? Nail those tourist women.
I've onIy. . .
. . .cared about two women in my whoIe Iife.
Catherine and. . .?
Some city girl.
Big mouth.
Pushy.
Thanks.
You just caIIed to teII me about the boat?
l miss you.
l miss all of it.
Why don't you come see me, Garret?
lt's just a visit. lt's not a promise.
Is that enough?
Listen, you think l'm betting on us, but l'm not.
l'm just as scared as you are.
And l miss you too.
Okay. When?
When shouId I come?
Yesterday.
You're not coming by boat, are you?
Jet Ski? Windsurfer?
So behave yourseIf.
You got your ticket?
Of course I have my ticket.
Got my name on aII my cIothes.
And I got a quarter for a phone caII.
You got a gift for that kid of hers?
Get one at the airpIane gift shop.
Don't get into any fights or anything.
There it comes.
Right on time, just Iike your oId man.
Don't throw your back out.
Take your piIIs.
By my count, there shouId be beers Ieft in the fridge when I get back.
That's a sorry occupation, counting other peopIe's beers.
If you get Kenny or any tourist kids to score you beer. . .
. . .I'II hear about it.
I got two counties covered.
That Iady sure got you gut-hooked.
How'd you get to be so mean?
See you in a week.
The heII you say!
Not with your pIane ticket on the seat here!
Good dog.
I think he's here, Mom.
You're kind of nervous.
ReaIIy?
I Iook great though, right?
Okay, is what I meant.
You made it.
Come in.
I think he's disappointed that you don't have a captain's hat on.
That's what he was expecting. Right?
Come on in.
I don't know if it suits a boy your age, but. . . .
It's great.
Thanks.
Sweet, Garret.
He's into this mayhem thing.
I think it's a maIe deaI.
Garret, thank you.
She hates chocoIates.
It's reaIIy weird.
True?
Yes, but it was very sweet of you.
Excuse me.
Thank you. That's what I reaIIy wanted.
You got to be beat, no?
I hope this is okay.
This is fine.
I mean, this is perfect.
Tomorrow night, Jason wiII be at a friend's house. So. . . .
Meaning what?
Shut up.
-I know this isn't very romantic. -What?
This is my Iife.
No, this is. . .
. . .nice.
It's nice.
I just want you to know me.
Just the day-to-day, reguIar me.
You think you know me?
What?
What?
He's not coming.
But I've come so far.
I don't even know.
I'm gIad you're here.
I'm gIad I'm here too.
We're aImost there.
Wait. Is that him?
That's him.
Oh, my God. Don't say a word.
Hey, buddy!
What are you doing here?
Train's pretty cooI.
Can I use the computer?
Jason wanted to surprise you.
-Hope it's okay. -It's fine.
It's onIy for a minute, then we'II hop back on that train.
He's scared of it, Mom.
I'm not scared of it.
Annie. Garret.
This is where I work.
It was nice meeting you.
WeII, now I can picture you on the job.
So that's him. That's Ahab?
That's him. He's no Captain Ahab.
SmiIe at him. Be friendIy.
-FriendIy peopIe. -I know.
He's smiIing at her. That's sweet.
Oh, behave!
You're so negative, CharIie. Don't you want her to be happy?
She'II smeII of haddock for the rest of her Iife.
I don't know what I was expecting.
I mean, I didn't reaIize. . .
. . .everybody's cIose.
Theresa, this came as a big surprise to me. . .
. . .but apparentIy it is the poodIe that is the number one dog.
-Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.
-Hi, Lina. -Hi, Jason.
Jason is taking Garret into town saiIing now.
ReaIIy? So soon?
If he doesn't get Iost first.
I know there's a Iake around here somewhere.
He senses that.
Sensitive. If you get into any troubIe at aII. . .
. . .certainIy give me-- the paper--a caII.
-You want to steer? -Sure.
You're the captain.
You got to keep us going straight.
Straight ahead.
Here you go.
-How you doing? -Good.
The gang. Hi, Lenny.
-Bye, Mom. -Have fun.
-Say bye to your mom. -See you!
I'm not used to having you here.
It's okay, Garret.
It's nice. . .
. . .being among your things.
WeII, is it what you expected?
It's comforting.
You're making me seIf-conscious.
What are you Iooking at?
Theresa in her home.
The reguIar everyday. . .
. . .Theresa.
Wait.
I reaIIy. . .
. . .wanted to make this right.
I just wanted to straighten up my room and Iight a candIe and. . . .
And I need to take a shower.
Garret, wait.
One, two, three. . .
. . .four, five, six.
-That was a goodie. -So scared.
I'm so scared.
That was big.
I'm going to take a shower. FinaIIy.
Wait. Just. . . .
You're not going to beIieve what--
Oh, God. Garret.
Where did you get this?
I found it.
What do you mean, you found it?
I found it on the shore.
Garret, wait.
It came to me.
You have to trust me.
Trust you?
I just had to meet the person that wrote it. I had to meet you.
-I was going to teII you before. -How couId you find me?
Because I tracked aII of the messages and there were cIues--
AII of the messages?
They've aII been found and peopIe saw it in the coIumn and they wrote.
I swear to God, I was going to teII you, Garret.
Garret, wait.
I got to get out of here.
Garret, wait!
Why did you do this?
Why?!
Were you curious?
-It's goddamn research! -No, I'm faIIing in Iove with you!
First in the Ietters and then when I met you!
And I'm sorry! I was afraid!
I was afraid if I toId you that I wouId push you away!
Just Iike I'm doing now.
Wait!
No matter what you think of me. . .
. . .and no matter what happens now, I want you to know. . .
. . .how much I care for you.
And it shouIdn't matter. . .
. . .what brought us together, Garret.
I sent those Ietters into the sea to her. Not to you!
Not to aII your friends at work!
I know.
They aII knew about me, didn't they?
AII about Catherine?
My Iife was changed by those three Ietters.
-I didn't want it printed in the paper. -Two Ietters.
-You've got to beIieve me. -I sent two Ietters to Catherine.
What?
I have aII of the Ietters. I have aII three.
Where's the third Ietter?
Is it in that drawer?
Catherine?
To all the ships at sea...
...and all the ports of call.
To my family...
...and to all friends and strangers.
This is a message and a prayer.
The message is that my travels taught me a great truth.
l already had what everyone is searching for...
...and few ever find:
The one person in the world...
... who l was born to love forever.
A person like me, of the Outer Banks...
...and the blue Atlantic mystery.
A person rich in simple treasures...
...self-made, self-taught.
A harbor where l am forever home.
And no wind or trouble...
...or even a little death can knock down this house.
The prayer is that everyone in the world can know this kind of love...
...and be healed by it.
lf my prayer is heard, then there will be an erasing of all guilt...
...and all regret...
...and an end to all anger.
Please, God.
Amen.
I never knew what she wrote.
She. . .
. . .never came back from that day.
I dried her. I tried to keep her warm.
Took her to the hospitaI.
She never. . . .
She died three days Iater.
I keep thinking if she hadn't gone out that day--
Garret, she knew.
She said it.
''Not even a IittIe death can knock down this house. '' She knew.
I want to. . .
. . .keep this.
I'm sorry. WouId you rather be aIone?
Has he caIIed?
I Ieft him a message, though.
I said I was sorry.
And I asked him to caII.
WeII, then, he wiII.
Lina, do you remember. . .
. . .what I was aIways compIaining about?
AII those times you Iet me cry on your shouIder about David.
Remember?
Honesty. Trust.
I was so scared.
I don't. . . .
I was faIIing in Iove with Garret and I. . . .
HaIf of my mind was saying, ''TeII him'' . . .
. . .and the other haIf was saying. . .
. . . ''Just wait. He's not going to understand.
Wait tiII the right moment.
Just wait tiII you have the right words. '' You know?
And I bIew it. I just. . .
. . .kiIIed it by being what I hate:
A Iiar.
You're not a Iiar.
But to him I am.
And I don't think he's ever going to be abIe to trust me now.
Don't you understand we aII have our own IittIe Iies. . .
. . .and our IittIe unspoken truths?
And you just have to have a IittIe faith that he'II understand that.
I don't know.
I don't know if he can.
I saw his pain. He was hoIding her Ietter and he was reading it.
And there was just. . .
. . .so much pain and. . . .
He has so much Iove for her, you know?
I don't know.
You said if I was ever thinking about writing a piece for the paper. . . .
No kidding.
Is he in here?
No.
Other stories.
Good stories.
It's about time.
PeopIe get hurt, they shut down.
TiII the pain goes away?
I don't know.
Maybe you just Iearn to take it in Iike everything eIse.
Kind of Iike a few pieces of cork in a great gIass of wine.
You don't want to miss the wine.
Is that in here?
The cork in the wine thing?
No.
Good. I hate it.
lt may be that most of us write our own life story...
...making it up as we go along.
But others seem to have lives that are already shaped and planned...
...inescapable...
...perfect as a circle.
Open it.
SIowIy.
-This is exciting. -It is.
Front page of the section! Great!
Thanks, bud.
Can I cut it out?
Sure.
-Is this okay? -That is great.
That's perfect. Thank you.
Here's your maiI, ma'am.
Thank you.
Sure.
Nice.
I Iove what you've done here.
-Very minimaIist. -Very nice of you to stop by, sir.
Yes, weII, I come bearing a gift for your new phone booth office.
-Can I hang it? -That is so sweet.
I know.
You'II never guess who it is.
You seem happy.
Is anything aII right?
Ahab.
May I?
If you decide to go do something wiId and ridicuIous. . .
. . .it'II onIy prove one thing.
And what's that?
He's one Iucky oId son of the sea.
That's a CharIie Toschi quote.
You know, somebody's going to think you're drying your skivvies up there.
You Iook nice.
Yeah, weII, it hurts.
She's beautifuI, Garret.
Thanks, Marta.
Go get them!
Nice job, Garret.
To Catherine.
To Catherine.
Wish to God. . . .
Wish to God she was here today.
Every day.
My dad said you were there.
Wish I'd have known.
A surprise. Dumb idea.
No, it's. . . .
It's great to see you.
-GIad you came. -Me too.
I saw the boat. It's beautifuI.
It's great.
I'm happy for you.
You want to come inside?
I'm sorry.
What I said must've hurt you.
I just heard what you couIdn't teII me.
Or maybe what I couIdn't hear.
And I understand now.
I think it's so beautifuI the way you Iove her.
No, you don't have to say anything.
It's what made me want to find you.
Then stay with me.
Come inside.
Just stay as Iong as you want.
I thought about it. I thought about a Iot of things sitting out here.
And I can't stay.
Why?
Because if you can, you'II come to me. . .
. . .when it's right. And if it's not right, it's okay.
Because I wouIdn't. . .
. . .regret one minute.
Not one.
Bye.
I don't want to Iose you.
Then don't.
Why do you aIways sit in the same pIace?
What the heII you care where I sit?
I'm curious. You started sitting here years ago.
For chrissake!
You used to sit over there.
Get the boy a cup of coffee.
You Iook Iike heII.
I'm okay.
Catch up to her?
You Iet her go.
I don't want to taIk about it.
-Listen, I was-- -Go away.
She made up her mind.
-The heII you want? -Persistence.
Get crazy. Go nuts. A fight, for chrissake.
You spent one afternoon with her.
You don't even know who she is.
What's. . .?
Chicago.
Three minutes. Get on the phone.
It's your Iast chance.
Of course she waIked away.
She ain't stupid.
Think she wants to try to come between you and--
-I don't have it aII figured out. -Who the heII does?
Think it's easy for me to see another woman in your house?
WeII, it ain't easy.
I'II teII you one thing. . .
. . .I'd give a miIIion bucks to see you grab her. . .
. . .and figure it out as you go aIong.
Just drop it!
-Drop it? -Yeah. Drop it!
Just. . .
. . .forget about it.
I can't!
I can't forget about it.
Why the heII not?
Because you're my boy.
-It's not your business. -What?
I said it's not your business!
Turn around.
Turn around.
Make a fist.
Make it!
Now you hit me!
Hit me in the face, you son of a bitch.
Not my business?
My son is not my business?
What the heII eIse have I got. . .
. . .that's cIose to me?
Who eIse ever. . .
. . .stuck up for me?
Think I don't know your pain? I do.
Some of it I put there. Think I can forget that?
When she went to New York, you couId've gone with her. . .
. . .and here I was, sick, drunk, fIat on my ass. . .
. . .bringing you down.
Maybe the two of you, it couId've been different somehow.
I didn't stay for you.
This is who I am.
This pIace. This is where I beIong.
She came back because she found out she beIonged here too.
She chose for herseIf.
God, I Ioved her for that.
So did I.
Now you choose. Choose. . .
. . .between yesterday and tomorrow. Pick one.
Stick with it.
And I wiII shut up. . .
. . .and Ieave you aIone.
''So you'II aIways know where you are. . .
. . .and where home is.
Love, Theresa. ''
You heading for bIue water?
Yes, sir.
WeII, you know what you're doing.
Got it aII figured out.
Hey, bud.
Time to get up.
Another day.
They caII him the Mayor of rd.
He's so sweet. He knows everyone. HeIps peopIe.
The point is, it's his th birthday.
Theresa, there's a phone caII for you.
Can you take a message?
It's urgent.
Excuse me.
You better take it in my office.
Is it Jase?
Hey, girl.
l better...
...get this said while l can still talk.
There was a boat, Theresa, offshore in trouble.
A family, there was three of them.
Garret tried....
Well, he tried to help, and....
lt's bad. He went down.
What do you mean?
He went in after them.
He got two of them. But he went down, Theresa.
l am so sorry.
That's all l got now.
Bye.
Oh, my God.
Hard times.
Come on in.
I found it on the boat.
It was in his sIicker.
Dear Catherine:
My life began when l found you...
...and l thought it had ended when l failed to save you.
l thought that hanging on to your memory was keeping us both alive.
But l was wrong.
A woman named Theresa showed me that...
...if l was brave enough to open my heart...
...l could love again, no matter how terrible my grief.
She made me realize l was only half-alive.
lt scared me and it hurt.
l didn 't know how much l needed her till the night she flew away.
When that airplane took off, l felt something inside me tear away.
And l knew.
l should have stopped her.
l should've follo wed her home.
And now tomorrow, l'm going to sail to the windy point...
...and l'm going to say goodbye to you.
Then l'm going to go to this woman...
...and see if l can win her heart.
lf l can, l know you'll bless me.
And bless us all.
lf l can 't...
... then l'm still blessed because l've had the privilege of loving...
... twice in my life.
She gave me that.
And if l tell you l love her as much as l loved you...
... then you'll know the whole story.
Rest in peace, my love.
Garret.
lf some lives form a perfect circle...
...others take shape in ways we cannot predict or always understand.
Loss has been a part of myjourney.
But it has also shown me what is precious.
So has a love for which l can only be grateful.