Where are they?
They're probably just running late. They'll 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 should 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 last year? I have the number.
Say bye to your mom.
- Give me a kiss. - Bye, Mom.
I love you.
Call me. Anytime.
- Bye. - Love you.
Bye, Mom.
Sorry to be so late, ladies.
Financial consultant. Recently 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 tall, lanky 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'll take the harbor tour.
"Dear Catherine:
I'm sorry I haven 't talked to you in so long.
I feel I've been lost...
...no bearings, no compass.
I kept crashing into things, a little crazy, I guess.
I've never been lost before.
You were my true north.
I could always steer for home when you were my home.
Forgive me for being so angry when you left.
I still think some mistake's been made...
...and I'm waiting for God to take it back.
But I'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 I remember from the dream...
...is a feeling of peace.
I woke up with that feeling...
...and tried to keep it alive as long as I could.
I'm writing to tell you that I'm on a journey toward that peace.
And to tell you I'm sorry about so many things.
I'm sorry I 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 tell you what I was feeling.
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 apologize more.
I was too proud.
I'm sorry I didn't bring you more compliments...
...on everything you wore and every way you fixed your hair.
I'm sorry I didn't hold on to you with so much strength...
...that even God couldn't pull you away."
Signed, "All my love, G."
That is so sad.
It's not that. It's just...
...so honest.
This could be hundreds of years old.
It's typed, Alva.
Pretty good.
Meaning you wish you'd written it.
I'd have e-mailed her.
Anyway, I know what you wish.
You wish it had been addressed "Dear Theresa."
Come on now, Charlie...
...any girl would want to be loved like that.
To be somebody's "true north"?
Are you kidding?
Lonely women, particularly?
Is that how you see me?
Did you talk to anybody on your trip? Tell any jokes?
I had a good time.
Really?
Came back a day early.
I happen to like my job.
You're in denial. You should be writing.
You better hope I stick to research.
I don't think you can do your column without me.
Ever notice that most people 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.
Al Giddons, "Lakefront Winter." Harcourt-Brace, 1948.
Thought I made that up.
Hey, Jase! How are you?
Hi, Lina.
No, sorry.
I just was expecting him to call.
No, I'm not worried. I just miss him.
I know.
What?
No, I just got it. Why?
What?
I can't believe he did this.
I can't believe 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 letter!
I know it's not my letter. I found it.
Is this personal? Is that why you're pissed off?
I'm not pissed off! I'm just...
...a little pissed off.
You had your chance at the Christmas party.
Morning, doll.
Look at this.
Letters to the paper about the message in the bottle.
What?
And two more boxes. Take those to research.
I found him in the mailroom. Nice ass.
Charlie wants us to drop everything.
And do what? Answer all of them?
Go through them and count the pros and cons.
Get rid of the nutso letters.
Then we'll do excerpts. The paper wants us to milk it. This is big.
Bigger than the low-fat muffin scandal.
Bigger than the mayor and the teacher.
It's amazing.
"Your column sucks the big one."
- Negative, I think. - Listen.
"If only more men would have the sensitivity...
...to talk about how they feel, instead of...
...hiding behind the Sports Channel..."
"My niece sent it to me.
It might be from the same person.
So I'm enclosing it here."
What?
"Dear Catherine."
No. Are you kidding? Really?
Out loud. Read it out loud.
"Dear Catherine: There isn't an hour without you in it.
I mend the boats, test them...
...and all the while the memories come in like the tide.
I thought today of when we were young...
...and you left our world for a bigger world.
I was a lot more scared than I would admit.
I fought my fear...
...by telling myself 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 100 possibilities.
What did I finally say?
Not much.
My mouth wouldn't work, except to kiss you.
When you said, 'I'm here to stay'...
...that said it all.
Well, 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 while.
I've got something for you.
It's two traces.
A sheet of stationery has an imprint on it.
Also, where do I go for a typewriter trace?
The typewriter you're looking for...
...is an Olympic Herzfogen 980.
German. And old.
Would it have been sold commercially...
...in the last 30 years?
Well, it's been re-keyed.
People who like manuals buy these reconditioned.
This letter was probably typed within the last 5 years.
So he's out there.
And he could be young.
You'll like this.
Remember the report I did? Cork came back.
It's been in the water approximately two years.
That's it? Two years?
Thank you.
Don't look at me.
Aqua glass.
Eighty-nine...
...Iooks like an "A."
I'm sending you Polaroids.
That sounds great.
You like the baby, then?
You're always so busy.
I never get a chance to talk to you.
- Hang up! - Hang on one second.
Remember the message on the restaurant wall in Virginia?
The stationery, the logo and the typewriter are there.
Hit line five. She's waiting for you.
- I never get to talk to him. - Call him back.
Can she fax it?
Fax it? It's Virginia. Ellie's House of Crabs.
How do I know if she has a fax machine?
Have her fax it.
Fine.
Right. Tell me about Bunker Hill.
"To all the ships at sea and all the ports of call.
To my family and to all 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 final one.
"This is a message and a prayer.
The message is that my travels taught me a great truth.
I already had what everyone is searching for...
...and few ever find:
The one person in the world who I was born to love forever.
A person like me, of the Outer Banks...
...and the blue Atlantic mystery."
Outer Banks. That's North Carolina.
Right. But it's about a dozen towns.
Only four support a boat-building and restoring company.
Then we got him.
We've got stringers there, and a sister paper in Wilmington.
I bet we find this guy before the week's out.
Any bets, girls?
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 column on smokestacks.
You sent her to Texas for 3 days, talking to Marines.
That was different.
Why do you have to do this personally?
What do you mean? I'm intrigued, so what?
Intrigued?
What if he's covered in tattoos...
...and has four serious convictions?
Tell her.
I'm only afraid that...
...your expectations are too high.
I don't have any. This is research.
You're thinking Heathcliff. You're thinking Hamlet.
This guy is probably Captain Ahab.
Are you saying that I can't go?
It's called a risk, Charlie, right?
Something you've been telling me for two years.
"Take a risk."
Remember when you asked me to call...
...all the stationery stores in the Outer Banks area?
- I've got other names for you. - I got it.
What? You got what?
I called one in Morehead City.
They remembered the little sailboat logo.
They said it was designed by the customers.
It's them.
Don't tell Charlie.
He'll try and make you do this over the phone.
You got him, Theresa.
Now go knock on his door.
Ma'am?
Can I help you?
Sorry, I just admire these older homes.
You're in real estate?
No.
Could I take a photograph of the house...
...for a publication?
Jehovah's Witness?
Photograph. Well, I never thought of that.
Can't say yes or no.
And why's that?
That's my son's place.
I live back down...
...thataway.
So you're going to have to ask him.
He'll be kicking around the harbor. Garret Blake.
Never wears a hat.
Great. Thank you.
Is it Playboy?
I always admired your covers.
Never bought the magazine, though.
Well, there's always 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 living?
No, I'm just a weekend warrior.
You got a boat that needs some work done?
Actually...
I got a man here in town. He's got a shop.
He's working on the schooner there.
The 40-footer. Sweet lines on that boat.
You can't beat the old woodies.
Great, thank you.
- You bet. You have a nice day. - You too.
I love the older, the wooden boats.
It must be a 40-footer? A schooner, right?
It's an Alden Schooner.
1922, out of Maine.
Is she yours?
Nope.
Just putting her back in shape.
Sweet lines.
You want to step aboard?
There's some wet spots.
She's a beauty.
Was she in bad shape?
Neglected.
Unappreciated.
I know how she feels.
Doubt it.
You a tourist?
I'm just getting acquainted with the place, the people.
I'm Theresa...
...Osborne.
Garret Blake.
You sound like up north.
Do I?
Chicago.
I'm in research.
On what?
Just about everything. For a newspaper.
Is there anywhere I can do some sailing while I'm here?
You could rent a boat on the other side.
Oh, no, I mean, I'm not experienced...
...at all.
I'd like 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 sail. Round the point and back.
Just about an hour.
Do you want to come along?
That'd be nice.
About seven.
Great!
If you come earlier...
...I'll be in that diner over there.
Earlier than seven?
Great. I'll see you here.
Or at the...
...at the diner.
- Hi, Chet. How you doing? - All righty.
Jesus, Chet! You always have the same people in here every day.
All the tourists go to the Pancake Palace.
Let them!
And what do you got? The same fishermen.
A would-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 belongs to somebody else.
Am I right?
You ain't right if the courts say you ain't right, right?
Loudmouth asshole.
What'd you say?
How'd you know I was talking to you, Johnny?
I'm calling Pete right now.
You two bust up this place again and charges will be pressed...
...arrests will be made, and I ain't bluffing!
Man who's a thief deserves to be in jail.
I never took a damn thing from you or anybody in this town.
- I say different. - You're a liar, Johnny.
Don't ever call me a liar!
Come on, grab hold of him!
Will you guys get ahold of them?
Will you separate them?
Garret, come here. Now get off him.
Get over here!
Now leave it alone.
Just walk away for once.
He ain't worth it.
Go on.
Didn't you see what he...?
Come on, easy.
- Settle down, John. - Go ahead, Garret.
- He ain't worth it. - Let me go!
It's all over.
Thought you wouldn't come.
I came to say I'm not coming.
I didn't want to not show, because I hate people like that.
I'm sorry you saw that.
Does that happen a lot here?
I mean, instead of bowling or...
Maybe I'll see you around.
I'm still going to run her out for a test.
Just a short sail.
I don't know, you know. What if you got mad at me?
It's a small boat.
I don't like fighting, Theresa.
Bowling, either.
Before you go, would you...
...untie that, toss it in?
Appreciate it.
Thanks.
Where am I not in your way?
I'll get around you.
Should I just jump over?
I'm sorry, I...
...I used to be better with people.
So you used to be charming?
Sorry I missed that.
Who is that man in the diner?
It's an old thing.
I don't want to pry.
How old?
So this is what you do? Research?
No, actually, it's called conversation.
I might be able to help you. I have a degree.
So you stole his girlfriend in the eighth grade?
No.
I married his sister.
So, your turn.
Right?
Still 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 letter.
Still doesn't like you.
No fooling.
Looks a little small for you.
What?
The jacket.
What jack...
- It's hers. - Whose?
Woman from today.
She left it on board.
Well, did you tell her? Did you call her?
No.
I thought maybe you'd drop it off for me in town at the hotel.
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'll be you.
Here's your jacket.
Jackets like that...
...don't come along 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 place.
It's Victorian, 1911.
Made into an inn in 1944.
But...
...you probably knew all that stuff.
I've never been in here.
Oh, well.
Why would you be in here? You're from here.
This is your hometown.
I had a really good time today.
The boat did well.
We didn't have to bail or anything.
Thanks for bringing the jacket.
You're welcome.
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.
Well, that's very interesting. Thanks for telling me.
I'd like to make you one...
...tomorrow night.
You would?
You know, on the boat today...
...I had a good time too.
What time?
Six.
It's 18 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 close.
You walked!
I hope you like red.
I do. I already have one opened.
You need some help?
No.
Just...
...make yourself welcome.
- Can I pour you a glass? - Yeah, please.
What a great house!
The light in here...
I love this boat painting.
It's incredible. You can hear it, almost.
The wind.
Is it a local artist?
It's my wife, Catherine.
She died two years ago.
I'm sorry.
Do you paint also?
My dad died when I was in college.
I remember my mom kept one of his shirts...
...on the back of a chair in my parents' bedroom.
And she probably left it there for...
Maybe it's still there, I don't know.
Look, I was nervous...
...so I drank too much wine.
But listen, there's something that I should tell 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 people that don't do it, we do it pretty well.
Does it feel cold enough for a fire?
I 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 talking about having a second child.
Can you believe that?
Then one day I was just driving along...
...and I saw them.
David and this woman...
...walking into the park.
And it was just a glimpse. 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 half.
You're faced with the impossible...
...and it takes an hour and a half.
It was going on almost a year.
I can't believe I just told you all 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. Claire?
Everything happens in St. Claire...
...eventually.
Tell me about Catherine.
Well...
...we grew up together.
She was kind of...
People were drawn to her by her smile...
...her enthusiasm.
She could brighten up a whole room...
...whole town.
I called her Saint Catherine.
How did she die?
She was ill.
She was fragile.
I'm sorry.
It's all right.
It's okay.
Have you lived here your whole life?
Not yet.
This place...
...used to be all dirt roads and marsh grass.
Really?
My mom hated it here.
She took me away to Virginia when I was ten.
But I came back when I was 16...
...and never left.
I missed it. I missed the smell of it...
...working on the water...
...missed my dad.
The quiet.
The wind.
The wind? You call that wind?
The wind...
...in Chicago in the wintertime...
...you walk with your back to it or it cuts your face.
Takes your breath away.
We got the oldest oak tree...
...in both Carolinas.
You try and top that.
I just want to be close.
Watch the dust.
She took a look at my plans...
...and never said a word.
A week later she had it on canvas.
This was going to be the first.
Designing and building my own boats...
...that was the plan.
This was going to be my signature boat...
...the one we'd never sell.
And when will you finish it?
I haven't touched it in two years.
Someday.
Right.
Someday.
And you'll take me out on that boat?
Around the point, where the wind will scare me to death?
There will be no wind tonight.
And you know that?
I'm the son of a fisherman.
You watch the Weather Channel.
Will you sail 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...
Well, that's a mistake...
...letting her taste your coffee.
Well, she liked it last night.
She was just being polite.
Nobody likes it, take my word.
Be good.
Oh, Lord.
Now what?
Go easy.
Hold it right there.
You stay out of our way!
You're not welcome 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 settled.
No, we just want the paintings.
They were part of our life here, Marta.
The only one who sees them is you.
People should see them.
Please, Garret.
It's all you left us of her.
That's the first time you called me her killer, Hank...
...at least to my face.
Nobody killed her.
He left her alone when she was sick and weak.
- She wanted to come home to us! - This was her home!
Now he's killing her mother.
I hear her heart break every goddamn day.
I gave you everything of hers.
The paintings! You got yourself another woman.
- What the hell 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 last to touch them! That's how it'll stay!
This is what you want, isn't it?
If I cut it up you can all have a piece.
You can all 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, pull apart? Look at you.
All three of you have blood in your eyes.
Is that for Catherine?
Or is that so you can walk around and beat your chest like a bunch of apes?
Goddamn it, you're outside of this.
Well, I loved her too.
And I want something to remember her by.
Piece of this will do.
She'd hate this!
She'd hate it, Hank.
Dodge is right. She'd hate this...
...worse than dying!
Crazy people.
They're only half the war.
You saw them. You heard what they said.
But you carry your half around pretty good too.
Are you okay with this?
Until you...
...I didn't even think about being close to anybody else.
Sometimes...
...I still feel her. She's...
...here.
And I don't want to cheat you, Theresa.
You're going to eat that whole bag?
Why do you have two bags of marshmallows?
Ammo.
Wait.
It's so great here.
It was so nice outside.
I decided to set the table 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 angel food cake, so I hope your dad likes 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 really...
Let me get it.
Let me clean it up, okay?
- I'll get a rag. I can do it. - I'll get it.
I said, I'll get it!
Just give me a minute.
So you're the jacket.
Yeah, that's me.
You were looking around here a couple days ago.
Find what you wanted?
I don't know.
I'm Theresa.
Dodge.
Like the pickup.
He said you were pretty. He should've said beautiful.
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 place.
Don't pay that any mind.
He's still not right about it.
It's like a truck hit him. Swear to God.
Clams, better here than anywhere. Come on inside.
It's pretty crowded in there.
You want to take a walk?
He won't tell you much.
The man talks about as much as a fish.
Anyway...
...wasn't good right from the beginning.
Her family thought that she would be the one...
...to bust out of here and just shake the world.
Garret was too much like them.
They thought, anyway, that he would be...
...an anchor around her, keep her life small.
How did she die?
Pregnancy just took the stuffing right out of her.
Keeled over at her parents' house and they kept her there.
So Garret went over and kicked the door down.
Carried her out.
She was glad too.
He took care of her the best he could...
...for about a month, I guess. And then...
Well, she just...
...gave out.
Now you know why Garret don't talk much.
Because his old man never shuts up.
Can we eat now?
You ought to knock down some walls.
It's getting too crowded in there.
Can't afford it.
Do the work ourselves.
Just end up looking like a boat.
Add a deck.
A couple of rooms.
Why? You thinking about moving in?
Not in a million years. You'd like that though, wouldn't you?
Keep your eye on me.
He's afraid I'm going to go back to my old habit.
Anybody want any cake?
I used to drink like a fish.
It ruined my health. It's no deep, dark secret.
Well, it's no citizen award either.
Two beers a day, that's my limit.
Change the subject?
The subject is change. People change.
Even you. That is the subject.
Good dinner.
You were the best thing about it.
If I was about 150 years younger, you'd be in trouble, young lady.
Where you going?
Taking my dessert on the beach.
Thanks.
He likes me.
Well, he's a...
...good man.
He said you were a pain in the ass.