The Paper Boy

WOMAN (ON TV): Ah, well, everything's

going well here in Boston.

I hope Ohio's good.

It's not as cold as it is here, I'm sure.

Anyway, I'm going to present you with a little surprise,

so, um, hold on one second.

I would like to now introduce to you Ms. Cammie Thorpe.

CAMMIE (ON TV): Hi, Grandma.

I thank you very much for the dress you gave me.

And I really like it.

I also have something--

And I miss you very much.

I want you to come visit.

WOMAN (ON TV): Hi, Mom.

How are you?

I'm sorry I can't be there in person, but I miss you

and I love you and--

Now she'll have to come back for sure.

Thanks for the cookie, Mrs. Thorpe.

Morning, Johnny. -Morning.

Don't go.

-I've got to go. -Come back.

See you tonight. Bye.

Bad breeding.

All right, who else would like to share

their plans for the summer with the rest of us?

-Me. -Please, please.

Yuri?

This summer, I will behave and I

will teach my parents to speak the English, like you help me,

Ms. Thorpes.

Thank you, Yuri.

Hold it.

Hold it, hold it.

Congratulations, you guys are now officially eighth graders.

-Thank you very much. -Now get out of here.

Summer's already started.

Have a good summer, OK?

Sweetheart, be careful.

Melissa, you really know how to work the kids.

You know, I thought a lot of the wouldn't make it through.

Oh, my kids are going to make it.

I don't want to go to summer camp.

Oh, honey, we've been through all this already.

I know you're going to like it.

How do you know I'll like it?

Because I'm your mommy.

Oh, Cammie, sweetie, will you get that for me?

Come on, Renee Marie.

Hello?

Yeah, just wait a second.

Mom, it's Diana, long distance. -Oh.

Thank you, sweetie.

Hi, Diana, it's great to hear from you.

How's everything back home?

What?

Oh, no.

Diana, I just spoke to her last weekend and she sounded fine.

She was really excited about coming

to see us in Boston next month.

Come on, Tiffany.

Honey, stay in the yard.

The doctor said she had a weak heart.

Oh, Diana, I wish I'd been here.

I know, honey.

If only I'd known when I was here last summer

that it would be the last, I--

Diana. -Oh.

Where should I put these?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm Johnny McFarley.

I live right next door to you.

Hello.

Your mother told me all about you.

I feel like I know you already.

Well, it was very nice of you to bring

the luggage in, Johnny.

Ah, no problem.

Well, bye. -Bye.

Why didn't your dad come?

Well, him and my mom are divorced.

He lives in Italy.

Where's that?

On a map.

You guys having a party?

Oh, wow, hot chocolate.

I bet you made this especially for me, didn't you, Cammie?

Mm, that's the best hot chocolate I ever tasted.

Marshmallows.

Oh, marshmallows.

Yeah.

Well, the eagle scout has landed.

He seems like a nice boy.

I wonder where the pictures from last summer are.

Mom said she made an album, but I can't find it.

I'm sure it'll turn up.

Why do we need Granny's clothes at the funeral home?

So that she'll look pretty when we say goodbye, honey.

Mommy, do you think Renee

Marie flew back to Boston?

Oh, I don't know where your doll is, honey.

The airline hasn't called us back yet.

Have you seen my brush?

Nope.

Hm.

Maybe it's with Renee Marie.

Look, there's Johnny.

Hi, Johnny.

See you guys at the funeral home.

Oh, Johnny, you don't have to come.

She was my friend.

If I had died, she'd come to my funeral.

Well, it's a long way away, you know.

Well, that's OK.

I know where it is.

I ride lots farther for my route.

Can he come in the limo with us, Mommy, please?

OK.

Are you sure your parents know that you're here?

Oh, yeah, it's fine.

My father's out of town.

He's a sales rep selling golf stuff.

I was in a car like this last year.

It was for my mother's funeral.

I'm sorry.

And you're on your own.

Well, I can take care of myself.

Oh, is your mother going to be wearing her pearls?

She said they're her favorites because you have them to her.

Granny looks like she's sleeping.

Come on, Cammie.

Come on.

Where are we going?

I have to show you something.

-Hi, Melissa. -Brian.

Hi.

I'm sorry about your mother. She was a good lady.

I don't like this.

It's creepy.

When my mother died, I snuck back in so I could see her one

last time.

That's when I discovered this place.

See, these coffins are made just for kids.

Johnny, I'm scared.

Well, why don't you lie down one?

They're really soft.

The day of my mother's funeral, I fell asleep in one of these.

I had a really weird dream.

I dreamed that I'd get a new mother, one just like yours.

I'm going to find my mommy.

Hey, wait, Cammie.

Wait a minute, Cammie.

Cammie?

I didn't mean to scare you like that.

OK?

I promise.

I want to go.

OK, but, you have to keep this a secret, OK?

Grown ups don't understand these sorts of things.

Come on.

Flesh to flesh.

Come on, say it.

Flesh to flesh.

Skin to skin.

Tell the secret.

Die for your sin.

See?

Come on, let's go.

Thank you for coming, Mrs. Rosemont.

It's a sin for a soul to be taken before their time.

Just a sin.

Thank you.

Oh, thank you so much for coming.

Bye-bye, thanks for coming.

Are you sure you don't want me to help you clean up?

I-- -Oh, no, I'm sure.

OK.

Thanks, you guys, for everything.

Johnny.

Did you do all this?

Well, thank you.

I did it just for you.

Johnny?

Would you like hot dogs?

Yes, ma'am.

Do you know how to run a barbecue?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, how would you like to come

over tomorrow night for dinner?

OK.

Let's stay around 5:30.

Yeah, that-- that'd be good.

I'll be there.

OK.

Johnny?

Maybe your father would like to come.

No, he wouldn't.

Mommy?

Mommy, where are you?

Did you have a bad dream?