Kidding. That was me.
Well, he's right.
You are the best thing about this dinner.
And this day...
...and this year.
I wish it was simpler.
I wish it was easier.
And I'm sorry.
Well, I'm not expecting flowers, but...
...will we call each other?
Well...
...Iook, I was kind of...
...hoping for flowers.
I could live here.
I didn't say that to scare you.
I scared you, didn't I?
So will you come and visit me?
You mean inland?
I don't go inland.
We have a lake.
A big lake.
Okay. I'll just go back to my work and my son and...
...you'll just forget about me, right?
Every day.
I've got your number, sailor.
And you've got mine. So...
Bye.
- And then what happened? - Later, later.
The wanderer returns. How are you?
Yeah? So, solve your mystery?
There was no mystery.
He lost his wife, Catherine.
She was an artist.
And dead but not forgotten.
Right. So that's it, end of story?
Basically, yeah. There's no story.
Kind of like... Was it me that said that?
So!
Toodle-loo, on your way. That's enough.
Any regrets?
Zip.
No? Good.
So, what was she like?
She's beautiful and wispy and...
...a great artist.
And she's everywhere.
She's in his house.
She's in the shop.
The whole town knew her.
Is he still in love with her?
She isn't gone.
That's for you. And that's very interesting.
Research. This is Theresa.
It's me.
Garret.
I know.
Sorry, I've been...
I'm finishing the boat.
My boat.
I just wanted to tell you.
How are you?
It's been a quiet few weeks.
I didn't know...
...what to say.
I still 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 only...
...cared about two women in my whole life.
Catherine and...?
Some city girl.
Big mouth.
Pushy.
Thanks.
You just called to tell me about the boat?
I miss you.
I miss all of it.
Why don't you come see me, Garret?
It's just a visit. It's not a promise.
Is that enough?
Listen, you think I'm betting on us, but I'm not.
I'm just as scared as you are.
And I miss you too.
Okay. When?
When should I come?
Yesterday.
You're not coming by boat, are you?
Jet Ski? Windsurfer?
So behave yourself.
You got your ticket?
Of course I have my ticket.
Got my name on all my clothes.
And I got a quarter for a phone call.
You got a gift for that kid of hers?
Get one at the airplane gift shop.
Don't get into any fights or anything.
There it comes.
Right on time, just like your old man.
Don't throw your back out.
Take your pills.
By my count, there should be 2 beers left in the fridge when I get back.
That's a sorry occupation, counting other people's beers.
If you get Kenny or any tourist kids to score you beer...
...I'll hear about it.
I got two counties covered.
That lady sure got you gut-hooked.
How'd you get to be so mean?
See you in a week.
The hell you say!
Not with your plane ticket on the seat here!
Good dog.
I think he's here, Mom.
You're kind of nervous.
Really?
I look 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 male deal.
Garret, thank you.
She hates chocolates.
It's really weird.
True?
Yes, but it was very sweet of you.
Excuse me.
Thank you. That's what I really wanted.
You got to be beat, no?
I hope this is okay.
This is fine.
I mean, this is perfect.
Tomorrow night, Jason will be at a friend's house. So...
Meaning what?
Shut up.
- I know this isn't very romantic. - What?
This is my life.
No, this is...
...nice.
It's nice.
I just want you to know me.
Just the day-to-day, regular me.
You think you know me?
What?
He's not coming.
But I've come so far.
I don't even know.
I'm glad you're here.
I'm glad I'm here too.
We're almost 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 cool.
Can I use the computer?
Jason wanted to surprise you.
- Hope it's okay. - It's fine.
It's only for a minute, then we'll 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.
Well, now I can picture you on the job.
So that's him. That's Ahab?
That's him. He's no Captain Ahab.
Smile at him. Be friendly.
- Friendly people. - I know.
He's smiling at her. That's sweet.
Oh, behave!
You're so negative, Charlie. Don't you want her to be happy?
She'll smell of haddock for the rest of her life.
I don't know what I was expecting.
I mean, I didn't realize...
...everybody's close.
Theresa, this came as a big surprise to me...
...but apparently it is the poodle that is the number one dog.
- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
- Hi, Lina. - Hi, Jason.
Jason is taking Garret into town sailing now.
Really? So soon?
If he doesn't get lost first.
I know there's a lake around here somewhere.
He senses that.
Sensitive. If you get into any trouble at all...
...certainly give me... the paper... a call.
- 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.
Well, is it what you expected?
It's comforting.
You're making me self-conscious.
What are you looking at?
Theresa in her home.
The regular everyday...
...Theresa.
Wait.
I really...
...wanted to make this right.
I just wanted to straighten up my room and light a candle 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. Finally.
Wait. Just...
You're not going to believe 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 tell you before. - How could you find me?
Because I tracked all of the messages and there were clues...
All of the messages?
They've all been found and people saw it in the column and they wrote.
I swear to God, I was going to tell 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 falling in love with you!
First in the letters and then when I met you!
And I'm sorry! I was afraid!
I was afraid if I told you that I would push you away!
Just like 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 shouldn't matter...
...what brought us together, Garret.
I sent those letters into the sea to her. Not to you!
Not to all your friends at work!
I know.
They all knew about me, didn't they?
All about Catherine?
My life was changed by those three letters.
- I didn't want it printed in the paper. - Two letters.
- You've got to believe me. - I sent two letters to Catherine.
What?
I have all of the letters. I have all three.
Where's the third letter?
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.
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.
A person rich in simple treasures...
...self-made, self-taught.
A harbor where I 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.
If 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 hospital.
She never...
She died three days later.
I keep thinking if she hadn't gone out that day...
Garret, she knew.
She said it.
"Not even a little death can knock down this house. " She knew.
I want to...
...keep this.
I'm sorry. Would you rather be alone?
Has he called?
I left him a message, though.
I said I was sorry.
And I asked him to call.
Well, then, he will.
Lina, do you remember...
...what I was always complaining about?
All those times you let me cry on your shoulder about David.
Remember?
Honesty. Trust.
I was so scared.
I don't...
I was falling in love with Garret and I...
Half of my mind was saying, "Tell him"...
...and the other half was saying...
..."Just wait. He's not going to understand.
Wait till the right moment.
Just wait till you have the right words. " You know?
And I blew it. I just...
...killed it by being what I hate:
A liar.
You're not a liar.
But to him I am.
And I don't think he's ever going to be able to trust me now.
Don't you understand we all have our own little lies...
...and our little unspoken truths?
And you just have to have a little faith that he'll understand that.
I don't know.
I don't know if he can.
I saw his pain. He was holding her letter and he was reading it.
And there was just...
...so much pain and...
He has so much love 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.
People get hurt, they shut down.
Till the pain goes away?
I don't know.
Maybe you just learn to take it in like everything else.
Kind of like a few pieces of cork in a great glass 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.
It 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.
Slowly.
- 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 mail, ma'am.
Thank you.
Sure.
Nice.
I love what you've done here.
- Very minimalist. - Very nice of you to stop by, sir.
Yes, well, I come bearing a gift for your new phone booth office.
- Can I hang it? - That is so sweet.
I know.
You'll never guess who it is.
You seem happy.
Is anything all right?
Ahab.
May I?
If you decide to go do something wild and ridiculous...
...it'll only prove one thing.
And what's that?
He's one lucky old son of the sea.
That's a Charlie Toschi quote.
You know, somebody's going to think you're drying your skivvies up there.
You look nice.
Yeah, well, it hurts.
She's beautiful, Garret.
Thanks, Marta.
Go get them!
Nice job, Garret.
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.
- Glad you came. - Me too.
I saw the boat. It's beautiful.
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 couldn't tell me.
Or maybe what I couldn't hear.
And I understand now.
I think it's so beautiful the way you love 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 long as you want.
I thought about it. I thought about a lot of things sitting out here.
And I can't stay.
Why?
Because if you can, you'll come to me...
...when it's right. And if it's not right, it's okay.
Because I wouldn't...
...regret one minute.
Not one.
Bye.
I don't want to lose you.
Then don't.
Why do you always sit in the same place?
What the hell you care where I sit?
I'm curious. You started sitting here 10, 11 years ago.
For chrissake!
You used to sit over there.
Get the boy a cup of coffee.
You look like hell.
I'm okay.
Catch up to her?
You let her go.
I don't want to talk about it.
- Listen, I was... - Go away.
She made up her mind.
- The hell 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 last chance.
Of course she walked away.
She ain't stupid.
Think she wants to try to come between you and...
- I don't have it all figured out. - Who the hell does?
Think it's easy for me to see another woman in your house?
Well, it ain't easy.
I'll tell you one thing...
...I'd give a million bucks to see you grab her...
...and figure it out as you go along.
Just drop it!
- Drop it? - Yeah. Drop it!
Just...
...forget about it.
I can't!
I can't forget about it.
Why the hell not?
Because you're my boy.
- It's not your business. - What?
I said it's not your business!
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 hell else have I got...
...that's close to me?
Who else 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 could've gone with her...
...and here I was, sick, drunk, flat on my ass...
...bringing you down.
Maybe the two of you, it could've been different somehow.
I didn't stay for you.
This is who I am.
This place. This is where I belong.
She came back because she found out she belonged here too.
She chose for herself.
God, I loved her for that.
So did I.
Now you choose. Choose...
...between yesterday and tomorrow. Pick one.
Stick with it.
And I will shut up...
...and leave you alone.
"So you'll always know where you are...
...and where home is.
Love, Theresa."
You heading for blue water?
Yes, sir.
Well, you know what you're doing.
Got it all figured out.
Hey, bud.
Time to get up.
Another day.
They call him the Mayor of 43rd.
He's so sweet. He knows everyone. Helps people.
The point is, it's his 70th birthday.
Theresa, there's a phone call for you.
Can you take a message?
It's urgent.
Excuse me.
You better take it in my office.
Is it Jase?
Hey, girl.
I better...
...get this said while I 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...
It's bad. He went down.
What do you mean?
He went in after them.
He got two of them. But he went down, Theresa.
I am so sorry.
That's all I got now.
Bye.
Oh, my God.
Hard times.
Come on in.
I found it on the boat.
It was in his slicker.
Dear Catherine:
My life began when I found you...
...and I thought it had ended when I failed to save you.
I thought that hanging on to your memory was keeping us both alive.
But I was wrong.
A woman named Theresa showed me that...
...if I was brave enough to open my heart...
...I could love again, no matter how terrible my grief.
She made me realize I was only half-alive.
It scared me and it hurt.
I didn 't know how much I needed her till the night she flew away.
When that airplane took off, I felt something inside me tear away.
And I knew.
I should have stopped her.
I should've followed her home.
And now tomorrow, I'm going to sail to the windy point...
...and I'm going to say goodbye to you.
Then I'm going to go to this woman...
...and see if I can win her heart.
If I can, I know you'll bless me.
And bless us all.
If I can 't...
...then I'm still blessed because I've had the privilege of loving...
...twice in my life.
She gave me that.
And if I tell you I love her as much as I loved you...
...then you'll know the whole story.
Rest in peace, my love.
Garret.
If some lives form a perfect circle...
...others take shape in ways we cannot predict or always understand.
Loss has been a part of my journey.
But it has also shown me what is precious.
So has a love for which I can only be grateful.
English Subtitles adjusted by Mantian Feiyu