One Mile: Chapter One

Are you sure we haven't passed the turnoff?

Yeah, I think so.

She said the turn should be coming up here pretty quick.

Oh, wait, wait, wait!

I... think you just passed it.

Lily, there's no way that leads to a campground.

Please.

Okay.

You are the boss.

This is so nice. I think I see a lake.

Oh, yeah. Look at that.

Oh, my gosh!

It's beautiful.

Let's go.

Whoo-hoo!

Oh, it's perfect.

Wow, yeah.

And just like that woman said, there's no one even here.

Come on.

Where do you wanna set up?

I don't actually wanna set up yet.

What do you mean? This place is fucking great.

I know...

I didn't mean I didn't wanna stay here.

I just meant that I don't wanna set up yet.

Hmm.

What'd you have in mind?

Hmm...

I don't know...

Oh! Oh, my god.

What? What is it?

I guess people are here.

Shit.

Hello.

What the fuck? Hold on. Why is he... why is he coming?

Hey, uh...

...can I help you with something?

Brandon... Brandon. Just... just ignore them.

It's fine, we can set up and get back to that later.

No, this is... this is messed up. Hey!

How about a little privacy here, huh?

Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the fuck, man?

No! Brandon!

No!

No! Lily!

Brandon!

Yes! Nice pass, Alex.

That was so cool!

Always the hero.

Glad you could make it, Danny.

You seem surprised.

No, I'm just glad some mission didn't come up

that prevented you from being here.

What could be more important than taking my daughter

to visit a few colleges?

I really do appreciate you agreeing to take her

on such short notice.

I'm happy to do it.

Just kinda surprised you don't wanna take her.

I do. But...

The hospital changed my schedule

and I can't afford to take that many days off.

And given that she and I have been butting heads

about things lately,

I honestly thought it'd be better if you took her.

You've been away a lot these past couple years.

Hmm.

You don't have a lot of time to reconnect with her

before she goes to college.

How does she feel about it?

Yeah...

Nice shot, Alex!

That's why I'm glad you reached out.

I'm just surprised you have this much time off.

Actually... I retired.

What?

I thought you were gonna do 30 years.

So did I.

Then they tried to put me on a desk, and...

it's just not me.

That's the whole reason?

Yeah.

I mean, the ride lasted longer than it probably should've.

I missed out on a lot.

What are you gonna do now?

Long term? I have no idea.

But right now, I'm just focused on these college visits

and trying not to make things worse with her.

Hmm.

- Hey. - Hey.

- Alex! - Coming.

There's our soccer star.

Hey, Daniel.

Hi.

All right, I think

I should get a picture of you two before you go.

I got it.

Alex, let's just get a... a shot.

Mom. No, come on. It'll be quick.

Just get closer.

Oh, come on, closer than that. Come on. Smile!

Not bad. Okay. Uh... Yeah.

Just call me every day. Yes.

I love you. I love you too. Bye.

Okay. Please make sure she calls every day.

I will pick up, even if I'm on shift.

Of course.

She may not act like it now, but one day...

she will appreciate this.

- Better get moving. - Yeah. Okay. Um...

Have a good time, you two. Be safe. Danny.

Take care of her. I will.

Okay. Bye. Love you. Bye. Love you.

So, we're doing this.

It's exciting. Yeah. Totally.

- Yo. - Huh?

Wanna use the bathroom?

Oh, no. I'm good.

What are you watching over there?

Nothing. Just stupid stuff.

Like what? Like cats ice skating or something?

Cats ice skating? Is that a thing?

On there, everything's a thing, isn't it?

When I was overseas, if we had Internet,

I'd spend hours watching that junk.

Oh, you had Internet. Hmm.

Must've been some other reason

why I barely heard from you then.

Let me guess. Operational security.

Yeah, we take that kinda thing... Yeah.

...seriously in a combat zone.

Good. Good.

No, 'cause I was just starting to think you didn't care, but...

Alex, come on, you know I didn't have a choice.

Technically, it is a choice to join the army.

So... yeah, you kinda did.

Alex, I was a soldier. Yeah, I know.

And it's not just what I did, it's who I was.

It's what I felt like I was called to do.

And I am sorry that it took me away from you and your mom.

But you loved it, and you'd do it again, right?

Wouldn't you?

Yeah. Okay.

You know what? I am gonna use the bathroom.

You're carrying. Right? Of course I am.

Right. Well, put it away.

What? Lock it up.

Alex, I am a highly-trained soldier, I was--

God forbid someone actually sees you with that thing

and thinks I'm a redneck or something.

You shouldn't care about what people think.

Look, if you can't even do this one thing for me, it's...

it's okay. Mom can pick me up.

It's really not that far.

Close your door.

There.

We good?

Thank you, Daniel.

You know, if you're not going to call me Dad,

you could at least...

You could at least call me Danny.

My mom called me Daniel.

- Thank you. - Thanks.

It seems like there's a dress code. If you're too embarrassed

to be seen, you can just wait in the truck, you know?

No, I wanna go to the parents thing.

See what this place is all about.

Okay.

Just so you know, all you have to do is

bring back any forms they give you

and say that this is my top choice.

Is it?

I just need you to say it is.

Okay.

Thanks. I'll see you after. Okay?

Copy.

Hello, everyone.

Thank you so much for joining us this afternoon.

As we go around, please let us know

what your child's favorite subject is,

what major they intend to pursue,

and any activities or hobbies they're into.

Um, we'll start with you, sir. In the flannel shirt.

Uh, yeah.

My daughter is Alex Beckett.

Mm-hmm. She plays soccer.

Hmm.

And I think she's...

pretty good at math and reading...

science, you know, all the subjects, really.

Do you know if she has a particular major in mind?

Uh...

She's into a lot of things.

But I do know that this university

is her first choice.

I see, um, just to be clear,

this is a college, not a university.

There's a difference.

And what about you, ma'am?

- So, how'd it go? - It was fine.