"There Be Dragons" "Oh, God." "I needed this so much." "I feel so much closer to you." "I can't go very long without doing this." "Oh, God, this is good." "You were holding out on me, I thought you ate like a bird." "Tell me a Jessie story." "Well, yesterday she refused to write her school report..." "on The Diary of Anne Frank." ""Anne said that her diary was for her eyes only..." ""and she'd be humiliated to know..." ""it had been translated into thirty languages."" "She sounds truly adorable." "I wish you two could meet." "You'd really like each other." "You're right." "It's too early." "Or you could just come by." "We're going on this big hike tomorrow." " You could stop by..." " You guys have to get ready." "No, just stop in, you know?" "You could bring me that new Frank Lloyd Wright book." "Which you already own." "I don't know." "Shouldn't we wait, plan this?" "No." "It puts too much on them if we plan it." "Look, you're just..." "you're just a pal." "You're just stopping by." "It's no big deal." " Really, it'll be fine." " Are you sure?" "Yeah, absolutely." " Hi, Daddy." " What are you doing still up?" "It's Friday." "I can stay up till midnight." "It's after midnight, and it's Saturday... which means we're going on our hike today... which means you're going to bed now." " Says who?" " Says me." "Well, why can't I stay up past midnight?" "What's the big deal?" "Because that is when little girls turn into toads!" "But they can stay up till dawn... when the spell is broken." "Oh, only if they can make it through the stinking swamp... of swooning smegaphites, and beyond this" "There be dragons." "I kept wondering... when to officially consider myself middle-aged." "My sister says it's when you go from looking good... to looking good for your age." "Hello?" "Hey, sorry to call so late, Zoe's coughing." "Is that a cold that's coming or one that's going away?" "The same endless cold." "If it keeps up, there's decongestant in her bag." "Got it." "But now I think it's when you spend more time... thinking about all the bad things that have happened... instead of all the good things that might." "Well, I've actually-- I've been meaning to call." " You have?" " Is there a way we could talk... not on the phone?" " I guess." " I mean, we... we haven't--we haven't done that in a while... and there's, you know, some stuff I want to talk about." "Why the mystery, Jake?" "Why can't we just talk now?" "What, is it too much to ask... that we actually sit down together and talk?" "No, of course not." "How about I buy you a drink tomorrow night at Pete's?" "Is Grace willing to sit for Zoe?" "Well, Zoe's sleeping over at Meg's... and Grace is at a basketball game until ten... so, you know, we'll just grab a quick drink." " OK." " OK." " See you then." " Bye." "She drives the lane-- fakes, pump-shoots, and scores." " E, what time is it, man?" " Ten thirty." " Oh, Dad, protein bars." " Yeah, yeah." "I got 'em." "Not the chalky kind." "The kind with chocolate." "Yeah." "I get chocolate bars for that, Jess." "Hey, what about your hiking boots?" "I can't find them." "What do you mean?" "Have you looked in your room?" "Yes, they're not there." "Jessie, you want me to go up to your room and look for you?" " OK, Mr. Grouch-head!" " Yeah." "E, where are those water bottles, man?" "Got 'em." "What time did you say it was?" "Ten thirty one." "Are we in a hurry to go hiking?" "No, no, no, no." "It's just, you know... the sooner we get started, the better." "Dad!" "Can you come here a minute?" "Yeah." "What's up, Bup?" " Daddy?" " Yeah?" "I think I just got my period." "Honey... honey, that's--that's-- that's great, that's wonderful." "Are you OK?" "I'm fine." "Well, do you need... you know, should-- do you want to go-- should we go to a drug store... or do you want to go to Mom's?" "Yeah, I think we should go to Mom's." "OK." "Before the divorce, Saturday was always pancake morning." "It was so great." "We'd let my mom sleep in... and my dad would make these itty-bitty pancakes... and I'd see how high I could stack 'em." "It was this whole thing..." "Now, we... we just don't do that anymore." "Well, big day." " How's it feel?" " Feels OK." "Mom, guess what?" "You got your period!" "Oh, honey, this is wonderful." " Yeah." " Are you OK?" "Yeah." "I just need to change, and I need" "It's in the bathroom in the cabinet... in the bottom shelf." "I'll be right there." "Oh, I'm so happy for you." " So..." " Yeah." "Oh, God, she's so..." "I know." "You know, maybe--maybe she should stay here a while." "We've got this hike planned." " And you have to go right now?" " I still haven't packed lunch." "It's just that I'd always planned this day for her." "Hey, Jess, I want to be able to celebrate this somehow with you." "OK, a smoothie from Miller's when I get back tomorrow." "OK." "Wait, wait, wait, wait." "Sorry, this is my prerogative." " I love you, Mommy." " I love you." " Bye." " Bye." "All right, let's get to it." "I will start the sandwiches!" "OK." "Oh, I left my backpack in the car." "Well, go get it." " Oh, hi." " Hi." " I'm" " You're Lily." " Right, right." " Hey, Lily." "Lily, this is Jessie." "Jessie." "Lily." "Yeah, we just met." "It's a book." "I wanted to return it." "So, here I am, returning it." "That's wonderful." "I really need this book." "Well" "Come on in, you." "So, every October..." "Jessie and I go on this really cool hike, and" "You know what?" "I took my pack out of the car this morning." "Lily, sit down." " Do you know where it is?" " Maybe the closet, honey." " You know, I can't stay." " Dad, I need some money." " Oh, hi." " Hi." "Eli, you know Lily, right?" "Grace's mom." "Hi, Eli." "Good to see you." "I can't hike without my backpack." "Sorry." "Yeah, well, maybe I'll have to go hiking without you." "That is so disgusting." "What is that?" "Oh, it was a turkey sandwich." " How old are you?" " Forty." " How old are you?" " Twelve." " Dad, Brian and I are going out." " Where are you going?" " I don't know." " I'd better go." "No, no, no, we'll talk about this in a second." "Jess, I can never remember whether you like tomatoes..." " or you don't like tomatoes." " I just want an apple." "No, honey, you have to eat more than that." "We're going on this really big hike." " Really?" " Yeah." "It's a family tradition." "We hike up to this really beautiful creek... and we watch the leaves change" "Yeah, Dad's really into this outward-bound stuff." "Oh, really?" "Yeah, he'd like it better if we were helicoptered in... just left in the middle of nowhere... with three matches and a knife." "Very funny." "Up." "Lily, do you hike?" "Up, because sometime we could go all hiking" "Daddy!" " It's OK, it's OK." " Oh, I saw this on 911." "You have to find the rest of your finger." "No, it's all right." "I didn't chop it off, honey." "It's right here." "I just need a..." "You have to put it on ice so that the finger doesn't die." " Jess, you're hysterical." " I am not hysterical!" " What can I do?" " Guys, it's OK." "It's just a--it's a cut." "Just to be safe, I think we should have that looked at." "I'll get the car." "Can we go through the red lights?" "Yeah." "A..." "Pharmacy, please call the page." "Pharmacy, please call the page operator." "My mother always carried these mints." "They tasted like great perfume... and she would hand me one at the strangest moments... like at a funeral." "Not that this is like a funeral." "Just anytime there was a lull." " Want one?" " Sure." "I hope Dad's OK." "He's a little squeamish about blood." "I noticed." "One time we ran over a rabbit... and my dad couldn't pick it up, so I had to... and we took it to the vet, but it died." "Do you think that God has a good personality?" "Well, I guess I don't think he really controls death... if that's what you mean." "I think it's more about cycles." "You know, like nature?" " A..." " Lewis, extension 3425." "Lewis, extension 3425." "Yeah, so I guess I never really liked school." "I was just waiting for it to be over... so I could get on with my life." "My dad says if you're popular in high school... look out, it's practically guaranteed... that the rest of your life will be a mess." "If that's true, I'm in great shape." "This only gets, like, one channel." " Dad." " Dad." "Dad, how's your finger?" " Peachy, pumpkin." " Good as new." "Now, remember to keep this elevated." " Will do." " OK?" "All right, everybody all set?" " Yes." " Yes, very." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "Make sure he gets some rest." "We had to put in a few stitches... and he almost passed out." "Now, here's an ice pack for later, OK?" "In four hours, he can have some more pain medicine." " OK." " You have some cute kids." "They said to keep it raised." "That's probably Brian." " Are you OK, Dad?" " I'm fine." "Is it time for another pain pill?" "Let me put this in the freezer." "Here's the fresh one." "I like that she's not all flustery." "I do, too." "You know, scout, we're still on for this hike." "Dad, your body's just been through a trauma." "You need to rest." "I'm gonna make him some tea." "That's a great idea." "You're right." "She's just incredible." "I knew it." "I'm so happy you're here." "That's the medication talking." "If I hadn't been here... this whole thing wouldn't have happened." "Well, I'm--I'm glad that everything happened." "You probably won't remember any of this in the morning." " I better go." " OK." " Are you OK?" " I'm OK." "You're in really good hands." "It was so nice meeting you, Jessica." " Jessie." " Jessie, I'm sorry." " Bye." " Bye." "Sweetie, I mean it about the hike." "Don't worry about it." "This is probably the only thing... about being twelve years old that you will ever remember." ""Oh, yeah, that's the year that my dad and I..." ""didn't get to go on our hike."" "I don't think so." ""My dad managed to miss the one game that I hit a grand slam."" "Was it awful, waiting at the hospital all that time?" "I hate hospitals... just hate 'em." "They're just-- just not very... hospitable." "I'm goin' over to Brian's." "You OK?" " I'm fine." " If you say so." "This is what "fine" looks like?" "So, what do you think of Dad's new girlfriend?" "She's OK." "How do you know?" "What?" "That she's his girlfriend." "Well, how many of them have you ever met?" " Oh, hi." " Hello, hi." "Here, we can..." " Here?" " Sure." "What can I get you two?" "I'd like a glass of red wine, please." "No, actually, make that white." "Bourbon and water." "Well, thanks for coming." "Feels weird to actually see you alone." "Things have been hectic lately." "You all right?" "How am I?" "I'm fine, you?" "First time I saw Jake, he was wearing... this beautiful blue shirt." "Well... you look good." "For an old broad?" "And I remember thinking, "He wears this on purpose..." ""because of how striking the color makes his eyes look."" "You look better than any mother I know." "Why aren't I thrilled by that compliment?" "Well, because you've never been good at taking them." " Jake." " No, OK." "You know..." "Look, I've been doing some thinking." "And you won't believe this, but..." "I've even thought about some therapy." " You?" " No." "Actually, I was talking about us." "And right away, I knew he was trouble." "I mean, he wasn't at all... like the guys I always went out with." "You're not gonna make this easy, are you?" "I'm sorry, I know I don't get to say that." " Aren't you seeing someone?" " Aren't you?" "I'm not the one who wanted to talk." " Well, you've gotten feistier." " No, I've gotten smarter." "You're right, Jake, you don't get to do this." "No, no." "Lily, come on." "Lily, wait." "I--I miss you." "I miss us." "What is this, Jake?" ""How are you, how are the kids, I miss you"?" "You broke up our home." "The kids are just starting to come up for air, and you" "You know what?" "We're just fine." "Thank you very much." "I have to go." "I'm sorry." "We slept together exactly twelve hours after we met." "I have to go." "Every summer when I was a kid... we used to go to my grandparents' cabin... by the lake." "It's not like we did all these great things there." "We played cards and did puzzles." "You know, stupid stuff." "Hello?" " Hi, sweetie." " Hi, Mom." " How are you feeling?" " OK." " No cramps?" " I don't know." " Well, how was the hike?" " We didn't go on the hike." "Dad had a little accident with his finger." "What kind of accident?" "Oh, he cut it with a knife when he was slicing the tomatoes... so we had to go to the emergency room." "The emergency room?" "Well, why didn't you call me?" "I could've come on over." "Everything worked out OK, Lily drove us." "Wait, Lily?" "Well, you know, she was here when it happened, so she just" "Oh, OK, so she was there?" "Yeah, when it happened." "She had just stopped by for a minute." "OK." "Honey, you know if you need me you can always call." "Everything's fine." "Dad's OK now." "OK, so..." "I guess I'll see you tomorrow... and don't forget your science stuff." "OK." " Mom?" " Yeah." "I'll see you tomorrow." "Honey, are you OK?" "You know you can talk to me about anything... even on the phone." "It's nothing." "See you tomorrow." "OK, sweetie." "I'll see you tomorrow." "Night, Mom." "Hello?" " Hello, Jessie?" "Hi, it's Lily." " Oh, hi." "How's your Dad holding up?" "He's fine." "He's asleep, actually." "Yeah, probably the best thing." "Yeah, he was pretty wiped out." "Well, OK." "Just tell him I called." "I will." "How are you doing?" "Me?" "I'm fine." "OK, well..." " Bye." " Bye." "After my grandpa died... we stopped going to the cabin." "I don't know why, but..." "I've just been thinking about that place a lot." "You're up early." "Chrissy's birthday party, remember?" "Oh, yeah, this afternoon." "Plus, I still got all kinds of science homework to do." "Well, sweetie, let me-- let me cook you breakfast." "I'll make you pancakes." "No, Dad, I really should be going." "Me and Mom still have to get Chrissy's gift." "I forgot about the party." "I was kind of hoping we could go on our hike today." "Dad, I'm late." "Don't worry, the leaves are gonna change... even if we're not the first ones to see them." " Are you sure?" " It's just a hike." "Next year." "Hi, there." "Oh, I have to do my science before Chrissy's party... so can we just get her present on the way?" "OK." "So, how's your finger?" "Oh, it's just a cut-- you know, I was in a hurry." "I heard, I guess I should thank Lily for driving." "Yeah, well, it was just one of those crazy-- you know--everything's fine." "You're sure?" "Yeah." "What do you mean?" "When I talked to Jess last night, she seemed-- you know-- I don't know, distant." "How does she seem to you?" "Why?" "Do you mean with her period and everything?" "She's got a lot going on right now." " Yeah, I know." " But everything's perfect... between the two of you, is that what you're saying?" "She's twelve." "What's perfect when you're twelve?" "OK, listen, I'm in sort of a crunch today." "I can take her to the party... but I need to get this deposition." "This client is only in town for a day." "So..." "So, can you pick her up after the party?" "OK, OK, and you just-- you just found this out?" "I called last night." "Rick, when it's your work, you seem to be" "Fine, fine." "Just next time..." "I could use a little mone" "God, you think that I planned to go downtown on a Sunday?" "We still have to get Chrissy's gift." "I thought you had homework to do." "I don't have as much as I thought." "I can finish it after." "Why don't you just go ahead and do a little bit right now?" "Jess, I'm talking to your father." "Jess." "OK, so, they're going to the mall for lunch... the movie starts at 1:30, so you can pick her up" "Karen, I know how long the movie is, OK?" "I'll be there." "The day that photograph was taken... we were on the lake, and a big storm came in... and it got really cold, so we went back to the cabin... and we lit a fire, and we roasted marshmallows... right in the house." "Ready when you are." "I don't know what I'm wearing." "I thought you were gonna wear this." "This looks so great on you." "Mom, that dress is so ten minutes ago." "And so forty-five dollars ago." "Come on, put something on, please." "I remembered thinking it was almost like a holiday... and everything was so perfect." "I don't even want to go." "Jess, you know when you make a commitment to do something" "Always follow through." "I know, Mom." "But sometimes... you just can't." "Honey, you and I haven't had a second in two days." "How about we stop at Miller's and get... that celebration smoothie on the way to the party?" " OK." " OK." "I fell asleep right in front of the fire... and I remember waking up shivering." "My dad was in the kitchen, drinking coffee... and it wasn't even light out." "Jess, what's wrong?" "My mom." "Mine's going through menopause." "She actually screamed at my cat today." "So, I told her I wanted a Kate Spade bag." "It's, like, a goal." "Getting a Kate Spade bag is not a goal, Chrissy." " I mean, world peace is a goal." " Here you go." "I'm not having a Zen birthday." "Do you mind?" " Have fun." " Thanks, Mom." "I don't want to see this stupid movie." "So, like I do?" "I'm just gonna take a walk or something." "Look, just cover for me, OK?" "I'll be right back." "You all right?" "Yeah, I just want to be alone for a second." "Please?" "We can make believe... that everything makes sense... and there's no need to worry now." "'Cause you're not like all the rest... leading with only your heart" "A new day arrives... and it's only the start... of something already here." "The skies open up... and it's perfectly clear." "It was so weird... because my dad never let me drink coffee before." "But that morning, he poured me a cup... and we just sat there for the longest time." "All there waiting for you... with the spirit that you bring." "And then Mom came in... and they told me... that they were getting a divorce... and I was, like, "What?"" "A good sign." "Smile for the picture, my dear" "Hi, I'm your husband." "Well, sort of." "What are you doing here?" "You know the tax forms are still in your desk?" "Who's with the kids?" "Grace is watching Zoe for five minutes." "Oh, milk." "Can I steal a carton?" "I ran out." "Please, do not help me." "Jake, what is it that you want?" "What do I want?" "I want you." "Oh, Jake." "This is" "Thanks." "Like, even more boring than the second time I saw it." "Hey, you guys have fun?" "I'm sure they talked through the entire movie." "I don't know why they bother." " Bailey, where's Jess?" " She was here." "I know she'll be back in a second." "She's still in the theater?" "She's not in the theater?" " Bailey." " No." " Bailey, where is she?" " Look, I" "I think she went for a walk." "She went for a walk?" "Excuse me." " Is everything all right?" " I don't know." "When was the last time you saw her?" "Hey, get in the car." "Thank you for humiliating me in front of my friends." "You weren't where you were supposed to be." "I was there!" "You didn't have to scream at me like that... just 'cause I didn't want to see a stupid movie." " Mom's home." " Are you gonna tell her?" "Are you gonna tell me what's going on with you?" "Hey!" "What is wrong with you?" "What's wrong?" "That's all everybody says to me." "Everything is great, OK?" "I love my life." "Do you want to talk about it?" "Look, Jess..." "I know you've been going through some pretty big changes." "God, Dad, this isn't about my period, OK?" "OK, OK, meeting Lily." "I know I haven't really told you all about her, who she is." "I don't care who she is." "All I know is that she wrecked our whole weekend." "If she hadn't come over, none of this would've happened." "Jess?" "Jess?" "He was so upset." "I think he even started to cry a little." "And I remember he hugged me for, like, an hour." "And his shirt smelled like the fire." "Sometimes" "I know that it's crazy, but... what if we-- if we hadn't gone to the lake that day, or... if--if I hadn't screamed at Eli... for hogging the bathroom, or..." "maybe then... just maybe." "Is she all right?" "She's in her room with the door locked." "Would you like to tell me what's going on?" "She walked out of the movie theater." "I had to go looking for her." "She was only not there for a minute, but--but" "Look, I know that you think..." "I'm somehow to blame for all of this." "I introduced her to Lily." "But it's not like the first time I've gone out with somebody." "For God's sake, it's been three years since you and I" "Rick, she's not stupid." "I know that." "Well, she senses something." "Senses what?" "Rick" "No, seriously." "I don't see how meeting Lily... for five minutes can suddenly" "Oh, God, you're so dense." "Anyone with half a brain can see that you're" "I'm what?" "Rick, please... don't make me be the first one to say it." "Oh, hi, Mom." "Mom, is my pink sweater here?" "It's not at Daddy's." "It's here, I just put it away in your drawer." "Thanks." "So, I'll--I'll see you." "Jake, wait." "Jake always wanted me." "Anytime, day or night." "When we were fighting... even when we weren't speaking, he wanted me." "Aren't you the one... who's always on me about hanging around too much?" "You're just gonna act like nothing happened?" "What?" "What happened?" "You kissed me, remember?" "Look, you know what, Jake?" "You don't get to do that." "You can't just kiss people like that... and expect to get away with it." "Lily, from the very first time I saw you..." "I have been attracted to you, and I still am." "I mean, is that-- is that so terrible?" "All right, I'll tell you what." "I apologize... for being so attracted to you." "Is that better?" "You have no right, and you know that." "All I know is what I feel." "But he never really wanted me, the me I really was... because the more that I wanted to talk about things... everything would just start to fall apart... and pretty soon I figured out that the more I talked... the less he wanted me." "No, you don't." "You don't know what you feel... until the second you feel it, and you know what?" "You have never once stopped to consider... who those feelings are liable to hurt." "You're gonna throw it in my face the rest of my life, aren't you?" "You bet." "We're not done yet, Lily." "You know it, and I know it." "Bye, Grace!" "Bye, Zoe!" "I love you!" " Bye, Dad!" " Bye!" "I can't believe you drive me to school in your pajamas." " These are sweatpants." " Whatever." "Bye." " Have a nice day." " Yeah." " Hi." " Nice pajamas." "Oh, these are not pajamas." "I was hoping to go for a run before work." " Hi." " Hi." "What is it about kissing in carpool?" "Sorry." "Thanks for your help on Saturday." "It's amazing how much can happen in a weekend." "Oh, it was too soon." "I knew it." "Well, maybe, but, you know... when would've been the right time?" "You know, Jess has had me all to herself... the past three years." "She's been doing great-- grades, sports, everything." "You know, she just seemed to take it all in stride." "There must've been this tiny part of her... that thought that somehow, someday..." "Karen and I would still" "Well, meeting you blew it right out of the water." " Oh, God." " What?" "Jake's going through exactly the same thing... after meeting you." "But he's not twelve." "Oh, really?" "He wants you to get back together?" "For the moment." "Of course, Jake only lives in the moment." "You know, he has no idea that what he does has consequences." "I--I didn't mean to" "Oh, it's OK." "It's all right." "I know what it's like." "Were you and Karen able to just break it off?" "No." "I'm sorry." "Don't be." "So, what'd you tell Jessie?" "Well, according to Karen... she is not really interested in talking to me." "Oh, yes, she is." "Trust me." "Girls always want to talk about it." "Can I come in?" "Sure." "Science." "Yeah." "I loved astronomy." "It's just about memorizing things." "Not necessarily." "Supernovas, black holes... newborn galaxies." "It's all pretty thrilling stuff." "They're even pretty well-convinced... that there may actually be life out there." "If there's anybody listening..." "I wish they would identify themselves immediately." "Sometimes it's a good thing, not knowing." "It's exciting." "Dad?" "Are we never gonna be a family again?" "No, sweetheart, not in the same way, we aren't." "I just hate that everything is so different now." "It's not so different." "You are." "I am?" "How?" "It's, like..." "you're always excited... or you're singing or whistling... when you're getting ready to go out." "I mean, I'm--I'm glad that you're so happy and everything." "It's just that" "It's just what?" "When you were so unhappy..." "I felt like I could really help you." "This is stupid... but when I was six... all I wanted to do in the world was to ride my bike... without training wheels." "I was obsessed." "Do I--do I really sing?" "Well, you know, Jess, you've changed an awful lot, too." "I know, I got my period." "I'm a woman." "No." "You're staying up late... you're running around the mall alone." "Pretty soon all these guys are gonna be calling you." "Daddy." "And everyday my dad and I would go out and practice... and he would run alongside of me... hanging onto me while I pedalled away." "The thing is, sweetheart, I'm not sure... that either of us really wants things to stay... exactly as they've always been." "I guess." "You know, when I was a kid..." "I didn't want things to change, either." "I knew every single constellation... and where to find them." "It felt good, knowing where everything was." "Part of me was scaned to death... but the other part was really, really excited." "But then you grow up... and you realize that everything is constantly changing... like when you were born." "It's like..." "Suddenly, there was this beautiful new star in the sky." "You changed my whole universe, Jess." "I wanted to do it so bad... and then one day, I was going so fast, I couldn't believe it." "And maybe that's what love does to you, you know?" "If you're lucky, it keeps opening you up, and-- and changing you, and... the funny thing is... you end up finding that... there is always more." "And I looked over... and he wasn't holding onto me anymore... and I was free."