A Gift of Miracles

Dr. Reed, good morning.

Good morning, Darcy. How's it coming?

Finished samples from port orford today.

Perfect.

I want to talk to you about your Grant proposal.

Great.

Once it's submitted,

I want to start applying for positions.

I'm afraid this needs work.

A lot of work.

It does?

I'd advise a complete rewrite.

Dr. Reed, I don't understand.

Darcy, this reads more like your dissertation.

Your proposal

is supposed to show me you can fundraise.

But that's what I was trying to do.

I organized all of my work.

Abstract, methods, results.

That's just it.

This shouldn't be about the details of your study.

It's supposed to inspire.

Get people excited about what you're working on.

Win over investors

so they'll want to fund your research.

Trust me. In this line of work,

it's one of the most important skills to have.

And I want you to be good at it.

So what do you recommend?

I want you to meet with professor Riley

in the English department.

He's an expert at this kind of writing.

I've already forwarded him your proposal,

and he can meet with you this afternoon.

And my degree?

You and I both know that this is a prerequisite

before I can sign off.

I'm sorry.

Professor Riley?

Perfect timing! Come take a look at this.

Do you know who that is?

Not a clue.

Valentine Michael Smith.

From "stranger in a strange land."

You know, raised on Mars, brought to earth?

Never mind.

One of my all-time favorite science-fiction novels

and the inspiration for my creative writing class.

What do you think?

Interesting,

but sorry to say unrealistic,

because humans can't breathe on Mars.

The atmosphere doesn't contain enough oxygen--

not to mention

that there's no proof aliens exist,

so, as it stands, completely implausible.

You must be the microbiologist.

Doctor...

Darcy Miller.

I'm still working on the doctor part.

I've got to say I'm impressed.

I couldn't even dissect my frog in high school.

I wrote mine a eulogy instead.

Okay, then. Should we get started?

Yes. Yes.

I read your proposal.

So we're working on a sales pitch?

It's my Grant proposal.

Ah, yes, the art of financing.

That reminds me of a great Groucho Marx quote.

"Money frees you from doing things you dislike,

"and since I dislike doing nearly everything,

money is handy."

Okay. Um...

Let's have a look here.

Are those your revisions?

That looks like a lot of notes.

Yeah, but don't worry.

Starting at the beginning

is always the best place to start.

So help me out here.

What is this

vibrio fischeri stuff?

It's bioluminescent bacteria.

Oh, they glow! How cool is that!

So, what are you doing with these little guys?

We're using them as indicators in bioassays

to track the toxicity in marine ecosystems.

That's great!

What does that mean?

In a 10-year study,

we're tracking the rate of pollution

along the Oregon coast.

Oh, okay. Go green. I love that!

But, you see,

that is getting hidden

under all these facts and figures.

You know what this is missing?

-What? -Feeling.

I want to hear your passion

for what you're doing!

We need to get rid of all this tech talk,

because it's...

Kind of boring.

Boring?

Not your research.

But for this, it's not really helping your cause.

Know what I mean?

No. No, I don't.

I thought my research was very thorough.

Okay, maybe we need an exercise of some kind.

Something that will help you

write with emotion and bring you out of your shell.

Now I'm in a shell?

Yeah, well...

Only in a manner of speaking!

I don't really think that you're in a shell.

I mean, at least not one I can't get you out of.

I'm sinking fast here, aren't I?

Yes.

I think have very different approaches.

I don't think this is going to work.

Wait. I think we got off on the wrong foot here.

You know what this needs?

Food and drink.

It always helps to relax the mind

and gets the juices flowing.

Yeah, I don't think so.

We could do it over lunch, or coffee?

Thank you for your time!

Iced tea maybe?

No?

Dad?

In here!

Here's one for you, honey.

What happened to the plant in math class?

It grew square roots.

Are you working on a new syllabus?

No. Teaching algebra this term.

Just want to kick it off with a bang.

Only if you get some new material, dad.

How'd your meeting go?

It was awful.

This guy is weird.

And he has no real appreciation for my work.

What'd your mentor say?

I asked if I could work with someone else,

but she wants me to work with him,

and I need her approval, or I don't graduate.

So what am I going to do?

Don't get upset.

That just clouds your judgment.

Put your energy in--

towards finding a solution. I know, dad.

Well, it sounds to me

like you're going to have to

give this instructor another try.

Yeah. Looks like I don't have an option.

You know...

This weather's only supposed to get worse.

Why don't you stay overnight?

I'll cook up

some of my famous grilled cheese

and a little of that vegetable soup you like.

That sounds really nice, dad.

And don't forget

mom's birthday is coming up on the 16th, too.

I haven't.

We should make a dinner reservation.

I always do, dad.

Don't worry.

I wonder what mom's advice about my proposal would be.

Why do you say that?

Just curious.

You know, if you want,

we could stop by the cemetery

before we go out for her birthday.

No, honey, but, you know, you go if you want.

In fact, why don't you pick the restaurant, too?

Just make sure it's one that I like.

You got it, dad.

Good night, mom.

Oh, no.

Careful where you step.

There's glass everywhere.

Dad, water got all the way over here.

This is a mess!

To say the least.

When was the last time you were up here?

I don't remember.

I don't come up here much.

Is that my old baby carriage?

Sure is.

You've kept it all these years?

Well, there's no need to give it away.

What's with all this old sewing stuff?

Is this mom's?

Look, sweetie, you know what,

I can clean up all of this later, okay?

Dad, I know you don't like to get rid of things,