Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You (2017) Movie Script
The following
presentation is rated pg.
This presentation deals
with mature subject matter.
Viewer discretion is advised.
[]
That look straight to you?
Kinda.
Well, you can test-drive
it after school today
if your dad says it's okay.
Hey, dad?
Can I help topper after school?
[Dad]: I'm with a customer.
Give me a second,
I'll be right in.
Hey, um...
Can you do me a favor?
Just drop this in a mailbox
for me somewhere, okay?
'Kay.
Uncle top?
Do you think I'll
ever get to meet her?
I hope so.
She'd really like you.
[Door opens, bell jingles]
[Dad]: Okay.
You come right home
and get your homework
done first, you got it?
Yeah.
[Playfully]: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Lunch bag rustles]
Okay. Have a great day, buddy.
All right.
You got two pb and j's in there.
Try and save one for lunch.
Okay. Bye, dad.
You know, you
could ride with him
to school someday.
It's just a couple blocks.
I would if I could.
Someday soon, I hope.
See you later, little brother.
[]
[]
[Siren blares]
[Fire rages]
[Radio]: Code nine!
Evacuation in progress!
[Crying out]: Sandy? Sandy!
[Radio]: All emergency
personnel, evacuate!
[Whimpering]
[]
I'm Oliver...
[Director]: Uh...
Cut!
Uh, h-hold on.
I'm sorry.
- Oliver...
- Uh, I'm sorry.
No. No, you're fabulous. Just...
Don't look up.
Yes.
Okay.
You're doing great, son.
[Shane]: I think
you've really captured
the spirit of the
American letter-writer!
I didn't realize it would
be so complicated.
Okay! One more time, folks!
- Ready, and...
- [Siren wails]
Sorry! Hold it! Let's wait
for the sirens to pass by.
[Resigned]: Waiting
for the sirens.
This is so exciting!
I know. There's
free food over there.
I brought you a cookie.
Aw!
Uh-oh.
Oh.
Excuse me?
Uh, your receptacle
is anachronistic.
My what is what?
Well, um, the mailbox
that you've got, um,
it hasn't been in
use since 1997.
And then that pin
that Oliver is wearing, it
was discontinued in 2014.
And in 1848, the
postal service...
Who are you?
I'm Norman dorman.
I'm a student of
U.S. postal history.
Well, that's very
impressive, Norman,
but we're on a deadline,
and that ship has sailed.
W... during the mongol empire,
kublai Khan used more than
6,000 ships to deliver mail.
Most of it said things like,
"we're coming to kill you."
You know...
We got an opening
for a guy like you in DC.
Public relations is looking
for a communications liaison
in the office of
postal heritage.
Are you interested?
Well, um...
Why don't you think about it
and give me a call?
I'm here till Friday.
Norman dorman.
[]
What was that all about?
I think he just
offered me a job.
- Oh!
- Here we go!
- Okay.
- Ready, Mr. O'Toole?
Mm-hmm.
[Director]: Okay. Ready, and...
Action!
I'm Oliver O'Toole,
and I've worked for the
United States postal service
for 17 years.
And I'm Joseph O'Toole,
and I worked for the
post office for 22 years,
and my father worked
for the post office
for 50 years,
just like my grandfather.
There's been an O'Toole
proudly delivering mail
since 1789.
[Joe]: Through rain and sleet
and snow and dark of night,
no matter how far,
no matter how tough,
if you want it there,
we know how to get it there.
The U.S. postal service...
A grand tradition.
[Director]: And...
Cut!
Great! We got it!
That's a wrap, folks!
Nice job.
- Thank you.
- That's it?
That is it. Great work.
That was fun.
Hmm.
We should do
more stuff together.
Preferably without, uh, make-up.
[Joe chuckles]
You know, I've been doing
a lot of backpacking recently.
I thought maybe I'd hit
eldorado canyon this
weekend. You interested?
Oh, uh, this weekend?
Yeah, I know you're
not a big nature guy,
but, hey,
every couple of decades,
we should do a little
bonding time, huh?
Oh, I did recently
read an article
about father-son
bonding benefits,
but this weekend I have a date.
Shane?
Saturday.
Montaldo's.
Wow!
And you're actually
calling it a date!
Good for you.
Well, some other time, then.
Absolutely.
We had a good day, though, huh?
Dad?
Um, a bunch of us
are going to mailbox
grille for lunch.
Would you like to come?
Sure.
Meet you there.
Mister?
Excuse me?
Hey!
Is it true?
Is what true?
The post office can
deliver anything?
Well, if they can't, nobody can.
Even if you get
peanut butter
and jelly all over it
and you drop it in the
street and a car runs over it,
and it gets ripped
up in your bike chain?
[Laughs] Well, I've seen worse.
Um...
Should you be in school?
Yeah. Thanks.
[Laughing]
There you are.
What's going on?
[Tearfully]: Eleanor
in passports...
She passed.
[Sobbing]
[Stevie wonder's "signed,
sealed, delivered" plays]
Aah!
Oh, yeah, baby
like a fool I went
and stayed too long
now I'm wondering if
your love's still strong
ooh, baby
here I am signed,
sealed, delivered
I'm yours
mm
then that time I went
and said goodbye
now I'm back and
not ashamed to cry
[Rita]: I just can't believe it.
It was so sudden.
Well, Eleanor was
always surprising us.
Yeah. Remember last
year's Halloween party,
when she went as
Charles Lindbergh
delivering the mail to Paris?
And she was a loyal
government servant.
Postal to the end.
[Director]: Norman!
You got a second?
I'm gonna go get us a table.
Okay.
Bobby found this
in that prop mailbox
we were using this morning.
It's definitely not one of ours.
I figured you would
know what to do with it.
Somebody must've
thought it was a real mailbox.
Uh, Las Vegas...
N-e... v?
Rita?
Oh, well, there are only two
Nevada zip codes that end in 01,
and only one in
the Las Vegas area.
You want something memorized,
she's your girl.
Actually, she's my girl.
Oh!
Anyways, um,
this envelope's been reused,
so maybe we can pull
up a latent address,
or trace the manufacturer
of whatever's inside...
Looks like it's an
American-made t-shirt.
I gotta say, norm.
You're being wasted
out here in Denver.
Oh, I don't know.
Yes, you do.
You're good and you know it.
You're just too humble.
You still got my card?
Yes, but...
Call me.
Think big!
Be bold!
Wait. Does that
mean that I'm not bold?
I think I'm bold. Am I bold?
Oh. Bold?
Uh, well...
Oh, look! Shrimp!
Just imagining Denver
branch without Eleanor...
We just never know, do we?
When your mother left us,
I never imagined
that I wouldn't...
That we wouldn't all
see her again someday.
But she got sick, and
then she was gone.
When I got the
news that she'd died,
I went up in the mountains
to watch a sunset...
And then I just sat
there in the dark for hours
until I could find a reason
to believe that the sunrise
was worth waiting for.
What did you find?
I decided that...
If I could just wake
up every morning...
You'd be there.
[Footsteps]
Ahem. Do you mind if I join you?
Please!
We're just having one of those
meaning-of-life conversations.
Seems like the right day for it.
Mm.
Did Oliver ever tell you
his "divine delivery theory"?
Hmm!
I didn't know I had one.
Well, you know,
the "we don't find
the dead letters,
they find us... Just in
time to be delivered."
I call it "Oliver's
divine delivery theory."
You guys believe every
letter that "finds you"
is on some
supernatural schedule?
Yes.
Well, some of us believe, and...
Some of us are open to it.
[Chuckles]
Huh! Well, let's...
Let's test your theory.
You prove to me
that the next dead
letter you come across
actually makes
some kind of miraculous
difference in the world,
and if you can't,
then you have to let
me take you camping
before summer's over.
And if you can prove
some providential
postal theory...
Then I'll pick up your
dinner tab at montaldo's.
Deal?
I'm not really
comfortable wagering
the ability of
the almighty to...
If the almighty is everything
that you say that he is,
then I think he can handle it.
[Sighs tentatively]
Deal!
Gotta run.
And I'm sorry about your friend.
Camping? You?
He invited me to bond
with him this weekend.
I told him I had other plans.
Yes, you do.
And you told him we're
going back to montaldo's?
Well, our first
attempt at dinner
was a rather
challenging evening,
so returning
might allow us to...
To...
Get back up on the horse.
Mm-hmm.
Oliver, for someone
who believes in miracles,
sometimes you can be so...
Practical.
[Proudly]: Ah!
[Laughs]
[Oliver]: All right, Norman.
Would you walk us
through this, please?
Ah. Well...
Envelope damaged
by tire-tread trauma,
peanut butter,
and some sort of grease.
Hmm... [sniffs]
Bicycle chain, I believe.
The zip code suggests
it's from the northeast
corner of Las Vegas.
And a men's stinky t-shirt
and a two-page letter
which we haven't read,
in compliance, of course,
with postal privacy code 10-01p.
"Assume nothing."
Hmm! That's good advice.
What are we assuming?
I don't know about
you guys, but...
This day's been hard enough
without starting an
impossible project too.
Well...
Nothing's impossible.
That's a bold statement, Norman.
Um... yes, and allow
me to be a little bolder.
Something like this
dropping in our laps
on a day like today might
seem like bad timing,
but...
We can't assume anything.
It's a... Sort of a...
Divine delivery, perhaps.
Okay.
But if we're gonna do this,
I say we forget protocol,
forget privacy code 10-01p,
and we read the letter
and let the miracles begin.
Well, unless...
You would rather
go camping instead.
Camping?
Oliver doesn't
like to live outside.
Not on purpose, anyway! [Laughs]
Hmm.
All right.
"Watching the sunset,
sitting in front of the fire,
listening to guitar music..."
Oh, dear.
It's a bucket list.
Wonder if Eleanor
had a bucket list.
Do you?
No. Of course, I do
have a list of buckets.
Well...
Except for the part about
eating Mexican food,
- mmm!
- It's not very creative.
There's nothing
about mount Everest
or about riding in a
balloon over Stockholm.
[Inhales abruptly]
[Self-conscious chuckle]
People make bucket
lists all the time.
Uh, yes. Not for other people.
Unless...
"Hi. It's me again,
and I know you're probably
getting tired of
hearing from me,
but I promise this time
I'm not asking for
anything for myself.
I just want to help Sandy.
I'd do anything to
be with her now.
I truly believe if we
could be together,
I could help her, maybe
even save her life...
But I guess that's
not going to happen."
[Topper]: "So I'm just hoping
that you'll do everything
you can to save her.
And if it's too late,
then I hope you'll
do everything you can
to make her comfortable.
If I could hold
her one more time
and tell her that I
love her, I would,
but I'm still not 100% myself,
so I'm enclosing kind
of a bucket list for Sandy.
A few ideas maybe you could
do that might remind her of me.
And I sent her
my favorite t-shirt.
She was always stealing it.
Funny how the little things
are what we remember.
I know you have to
do what you have to do,
and I don't blame you.
Just... please just promise me
that if she isn't
going to make it,
don't let her be
alone when she..."
The, uh...
The last part is missing.
It's a letter like this
on a day like today
that makes our work seem...
Like a calling.
Say what you will
about magic letters,
Ms. Mcinerney...
Whoever wrote this...
Is trying to say goodbye
before it's too late,
and...
We are their only chance
to make that happen.
Of course.
Of course we are.
We'll get this delivered
as soon as possible.
But we don't have an address
or even a return address.
All we have
is the corner that it
was mailed from...
Well, sort of mailed from.
Maybe we could canvass the area.
Oh, that could take days.
Well, there are
734 small businesses
in the university hills area
that it could've
been mailed from
and Norman and I could
cover it if we did, oh...
185 each for two days.
Good.
Uh, Ms. Mcinerney...
I can hack into the
t-shirt manufacturer
for points of purchase.
If I can lift a partial
print from this,
maybe your friend
at the state division
of investigations
could run it for us.
Yes. Dale might do us a favor.
Do you want me to
find her number for you?
No, thank you. I
actually know it.
[Starts dialing]
I am going to
continue to analyze
the letter for a
connection to Las Vegas.
We should all pray that, uh...
Well, I'm going
to pray for Sandy,
whoever she is,
that she can hang on
until we can reach her.
Hi, this is...
Yes!
Uh, well, I was gonna drop by.
Uh, I needed to
ask a small favor.
Yes. Uh...
There's also some news
I'd like to share in person.
Certainly.
[]
[]
Okay... 220 down,
523 to go.
[]
Okay. See you at
the end of the block.
[Giggles]
So you do make the t-shirts,
but you don't do
any of the printing?
Do you ship to any
specialty stores in Nevada?
Okay.
Good morning!
Can I ask you a question?
Uh... did you send any...
parcels to Las Vegas,
Nevada, recently?
Las Vegas, Nevada, recently?
[]
Oh. Okay.
Thank you.
[]
[Dale]: Sunsets, Mexican food...
Guitar music, long
walks in the mountains.
Tsk.
I feel like I know Sandy.
I wish I could help her.
Well, thank you.
It was worth trying.
Anytime.
You know that.
I do.
Uh... you said there
was something else?
Uh, yes. Uh...
Some sad news.
[]
Ohh... I will never walk again.
Yes, you will,
just maybe not in those shoes.
I'd swear they were
two inches higher.
Well, they were... 10
hours and 300 stores ago.
[Laughs]
No luck yet, huh?
There's always tomorrow.
[Oliver]: Any progress?
No.
Mm.
What happened with Dale?
Uh, not enough to
work with, I'm afraid.
You, uh, you forgot the t-shirt.
Oh. Thank you.
Mm-hmm. Are you okay?
Uh, I've been asked to help
with arrangements
for Eleanor's memorial
on Friday.
She attended my church.
Oh. So Dale knew her?
Well, everyone knew Eleanor.
She was a wonderful lady.
Well... [sighs]
Why don't we start again
bright and early tomorrow?
Shall we?
Okay.
'Night.
[Footsteps receding]
[]
I don't know, Oliver,
but I'm running out of ideas.
I mean, we're coming up empty
on the tire track
and the brand of
Cologne on the t-shirt.
The t-shirt was
manufactured in Ohio,
but it could've been
printed and sold anywhere,
and there are a few
thousand women
in Las Vegas named
Sandy, Sandra, Alexandra,
Alessandra, or Cassandra.
Norman and Rita have
covered a square mile
of small businesses
and are coming up with nothing.
[He exhales]
Maybe...
We finally found a letter
that can't be delivered.
I can't believe
this letter found us
only to turn out
to be unsolvable.
I can't accept that.
[Takes a deep breath]
[Sighs]
Okay.
So we start again tomorrow?
Tomorrow.
[Shane]: It's been
almost a week.
I think we may
be running of time.
Oh, have a little
faith, Ms. Mcinerney.
The answer is there.
We're just not seeing it.
I feel the t-shirt is
still our best clue.
"Assume nothing"?
Assume nothing.
[Dale]: Oliver!
Oh! There you are!
Hi. I'm so sorry I'm late.
I had a last-minute
arrest to process,
and it took forever.
Oh, my goodness.
Well, here you are!
Yeah. Any luck with your letter?
Uh, nothing but dead ends.
That's too bad.
Well, it rarely
happens to us, but...
Trust the timing.
"Trust the timing."
[Chuckles]
Well, I have your choir robe.
Thank goodness I didn't send it
to the cleaners just yet.
Dale happens to be the
robe mistress for our choir.
Oh! Wow. She sings,
she arrests people,
she's mistress of clothing...
[All chuckling]
I know, I know.
I'm not half as
interesting as I sound.
[Chuckling continues]
Um, we should get inside.
We'll see you inside.
Mm-hmm.
I'm here! I'm here!
Rita! Where's Norman?
Oh, he'll be along soon.
He just had a couple
more stores to look at.
Okay.
[]
And then what?
Well, then I looked at
her, she looked at me,
and I knew that we were
meant for each other.
And she really
saved your life once?
Oh, probably a million times.
Is she sick, like you?
Well... [Door bell jingles]
Hi. How can I help you?
[Breath catches]
Come on.
[Exhales tensely]
Um, I'm from the United
States postal service.
Uh, we're attempting
to deliver a parcel
that may have been
mailed from this area.
You know, I'm waiting for
some bike seats from Canada.
W... um, this is the other
way around, actually.
Oh.
Well, uh, do you buy
your stamps online?
Yeah.
Oh! Good!
Well, have you mailed
anything to Nevada
or the 89101 zip code recently?
No.
Oh, hold on.
Hey, top?
[Topper]: Yeah?
You send anything to Nevada?
No.
Hmm.
Sorry.
That's okay, yeah.
Thanks anyways.
Yeah.
[]
[Choir]: though I may roam
through dark of night
or skies above
my father's love
shall lead me home
a...
...men
I wonder if she wears her
gun underneath her robe.
Nah...
It's too hard to sing
when you're packin'.
Good morning,
family and friends.
As unexpected as
Eleanor's departure was...
We can take comfort
remembering her as
a woman of strong faith
that traveled through life
with the blessed assurance
that her passport
was eternally valid,
stamped,
and certified "permanent"
for entrance into
the kingdom of god...
Whenever that day should come.
And friends, I know
she would want us
to take a moment today
to really ask ourselves
"are we ready to
take that journey?"
She always used to say to me,
"death is nothing to
be scared of, honey...
But it is something
to prepare for."
[]
We bid you farewell, Eleanor.
God be with you...
till we meet again.
Beautiful service, wasn't it?
[Rita]: Eleanor
would've loved it.
I'm really gonna
miss her smoothies.
Eleanor had a blender,
and she used to
make me smoothies.
Your song was beautiful.
Oh...
Thank you.
And you harmonize so well.
Well, we've been doing
this for a very long time.
[Rita]: Are you coming
to the reception?
I wish I could,
but I have to get
back to my crime scene.
Oh. Kidnapping? Arson? Murder?
Cyber crime.
Guy's a hacker.
Oh, good thing we
don't know any hackers.
I don't know any hackers.
Do you know any hackers?
- Nope.
- No.
[Forced chuckling]
[Awkward silence]
Good.
That's good.
Uh, I need your robe.
Oh, uh, thank you, very much.
[Whispers]: And,
uh, don't forget
to talk about
the, uh, the thing.
Oh! Yes. The thing.
Of course!
- Okay. Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Okay, bye.
[Polite chuckling]
There's a thing?
Well, uh...
Just so you know.
I intend to hack away
until kingdom come
if that's what it's gonna
take to find Sandy
before it's too late.
Uh, Ms. Mcinerney, the "thing"
Dale wanted me to talk about
was that a memorial fund
has been established
in Eleanor's name.
She thought I should
bring it up with the board
of the O'Toole foundation.
Oh.
I have the checkbook right here,
and there's plenty of
money in the account
to make a donation,
so... all in favor?
[Unanimously]: Aye!
Consider it done!
Thank you.
That was very bold
of you, Norman.
So I will see you
at the reception?
Yeah. I'm... I'll be
right behind you.
I just, uh, need a minute.
Yes.
Ms. Mcinerney, um...
Dale Travers
is, uh...
my friend.
Of course.
[]
[Blender whirring]
Remember how Eleanor's blender
used to always
get stuck on frappe?
Oh, she always handled
it with such grace.
She was gonna give me her recipe
for her bee pollen, ginger,
and kombucha smoothie.
"Come on up to
passports," she'd say.
"Anytime. We'll
do some blending."
I waited too long.
I missed my chance.
I'm sorry.
But I believe there's still
a chance to save Sandy.
I'm going back to the
office to keep working.
Oh, we can come with you!
Oh, no, Rita.
You've done plenty. Go home.
Have a good weekend.
If you're sure?
Yes.
Then we'll see you on Monday.
Bye.
Uh, what time
shall I collect you at your
home tomorrow night?
I can be there by... seven?
There's no rush. Take your time.
All right.
[Footsteps receding]
[]
[Quiet gasp]
[Dialing]
[Exhaling]
"Assume... nothing."
"Assume...
Nothing."
[Door opens]
Ms. Mcinerney! What's all this?
What you said today,
about passports and-and visas
and preparing for the journey...
It was a metaphor
too far, perhaps, yes.
Oliver...
You made us think about
things people don't
like to think about,
and yet, somehow,
you didn't make it scary,
you just made it matter.
Oh, well, thank you.
I'm not a church
person, like you are,
but what I do know is that...
You need to spend
quality time with your dad,
and you can't wait to
lose a bet to do that.
Oh, I don't intend
to lose the bet.
But it doesn't matter,
because even if
you win, you still lose.
I don't get to have that
ginger-kombucha smoothie
with Eleanor now
because I thought I had time.
And your dad's
not that old, but...
You've lost so much
time with him already.
So I... I packed your bags!
You're sending me to camp?
This was my dad's. It's not new.
It's got everything you need.
It's got a bedroll,
sleeping bag,
flashlight, first aid kit...
The whole shebang!
Suitable for bonding.
Ms. Mcinerney, what
about our dinner?
Oliver...
Don't worry.
I'm not gonna go back
to montaldo's without you.
[Quiet chuckle]
Now, I, uh, I called your dad,
and he's gonna wait for you.
I, uh, I can't leave.
I mean, what about Sandy?
You said this letter...
had a destiny.
Now, do you believe that or not?
Well, yes, of course, but...
Oliver...
I promise you...
I will spend the weekend
doing whatever I can
to do whatever you would do.
I promise.
I don't know what to say.
Yes, I do.
What is, uh...
"Koombatcha"?
[Chuckling]
"Kombucha."
And...
Let's just say
it's the complete
opposite of Yoo-hoo.
[]
[Exhales]
I will see you...
On Monday...
[Chuckling]
Shane.
[]
[Chuckling]
There's a lodge about
a mile from the trailhead.
We can spend the night
and get a good
start in the morning.
I feel a little,
um, overdressed.
Bears don't care what you wear.
Should I be worried about bears?
Nah.
Worry about the mountain lions.
[Starts engine]
[]
I'm on my way!
Be down in a sec.
Okay, take your...
Is everything all right?
You seem awfully quiet.
Well, I know we
were going to go back
to tiny town land
to see if they
fixed the tiny train
through tiny tunnel, but...
Well, I've been working
on being bold, you know.
Oh, I know!
[Gasps]
[Hushed]: You took
Sandy's letter home with you?
A gross violation of
regulation 67k, I know.
But I had an idea...
What has Oliver
been saying all week?
"Assume nothing."
And what have we been assuming?
Oh, I don't know.
Maybe the writer is a woman?
Maybe it got mailed from a house
instead of a business?
I mean, there's not
really much left to assume.
All we have is a letter
addressed to Nevada
with business postage.
Okay. Read number
four on the bucket list.
"I remember the first
time I took Sandy out.
We went together to
that Mexican restaurant
at the end of your street,
the one with the hottest
mole sauce in town.
Sandy wouldn't try it,
but she couldn't get
enough of the tamales."
[Sighs] But we already
know this, Norman.
I mean, there's gotta be
over 300 Mexican restaurants
in Las Vegas.
Okay. Look at the
envelope again.
It's addressed to
Las Vegas, n-e...
"v."
We're assuming it's a "v"!
What if it's...
[Gasps] Half of a "w"?
Las Vegas, new Mexico!
Population 13,000.
How many Mexican
restaurants can there be there?
And at the end
of the street is...
Sandy!
Ohh!
You're brilliant, Norman.
Thank you.
But... here's the "bold" part.
Do you wanna go to
new Mexico with me?
[Gasps]
Yes!
[Laughs]
[Birds singing]
Hope you don't mind
if we go off-trail a little.
What?
[Bird singing]
Mountain bluebird.
They can sing like that all day.
You said you didn't
spend much time outside.
I don't.
I used to when I was
little, though, didn't I?
Yeah!
Anyway, you bought
me a record album once.
"Bird songs of the
rocky mountains."
I remember.
You still have that?
I do.
[Laughs]
Any other kid would have
asked for Springsteen.
[Chuckling]
Have I been here before?
Well, actually, you...
Ohh!
Dad!
You okay?
[Groans] Oh...
I'm okay, I'm okay.
I just need to catch my breath.
Ahh! So stupid.
[Grunts]
I just banged a rib.
Or something.
Here.
Ohh...
Let's get this off.
Yeah.
[Chalk scratching board]
[Sighs] What am I
taking for granted?
Where did you buy the Cologne?
Well, um,
it's really not
bleeding that much.
Then it probably isn't too deep.
Thanks.
Do you want to turn around?
Oh, no way!
No, this is all part
of the experience.
"Man against nature."
Yes.
"O'Toole against log."
[Chuckles]
All right.
[Norman]: People think new
Mexico is just a big desert,
but 25% of it is
covered by forest.
Oh! I didn't know that, Norman.
I did.
I know a lot of stuff.
I just don't know
what to do with it.
Have you been thinking about
taking that job in Washington?
I've been thinking about
what that director said
about thinking big.
It's easy to be bold
about the little stuff.
The biggest thing you ever did
was when you didn't
think at all, Norman.
It was the first
time you kissed me.
[Man]: Enjoy your stay
at the prairie dog motel.
There's a rock collector's
convention going on.
I got the last room.
Well, rooms.
Opposite ends
of the prairie dog.
[Laughs]
Norman... [sighs]
You don't mind, right?
That, uh, that we aren't...
Oh! Rita, no.
There is a time and a place
to think big and be bold,
and it is definitely
not in Las Vegas.
Either of them.
I knew you would say that.
Get some rest, okay?
We have a big day tomorrow.
[Sighs]
[]
So, do you have any
idea where we are?
Nope.
I thought I did,
but it just got
too dark too soon.
We'll figure it out
in the morning.
Is that what I think it is?
Gotta have music. You know me.
Or maybe that's
what we're here for.
How do you like retirement?
Well, I got a lot of plans.
Learn Italian, go to Europe...
Gotta take some
scuba diving lessons.
Plant my own vegetable garden,
practice my guitar,
spend time with
my long-lost son.
How is that going?
One out of six ain't bad.
[Both laughing]
Shane tells me
you've got a letter
that isn't looking
very, uh, what is it?
Uh...
"Providential."
[Laughs]
Does this mean
you're admitting defeat?
Absolutely not.
Something tells me
that letter is on
its own timetable.
When something
tells you something,
what does that sound like?
Uh... well...
Sometimes you hear it
as just a still, small
voice in your head,
but usually everything
just goes quiet,
and you realize it's just
sitting there inside me,
like it's always been there.
And what's that voice
telling you about that letter?
Uh, well, nothing
but dead ends so far.
[Chuckling]
Well, I'm a former
expeditor for the competition.
Maybe I can help.
Well, there isn't much to go on.
Believe it or not,
they found it in
that prop mailbox
we were using for the
commercial the other day.
Ripped and mangled envelope,
covered in peanut
butter, bicycle grease...
Been run over by a car?
Yes?
It was a kid!
He asked me if we
could deliver anything,
even if it was totally wrecked.
It had to be him!
Well, the little kid
wouldn't realize
it wasn't a real mailbox.
He rode a bike.
He had on a cap.
It was one of those
team baseball caps.
It said...
"Kennedy...
Celtics."
Well, we could track him
down through the team.
I need to call Shane.
You could use my cell phone,
but I busted it in the fall.
[Sighing]
I don't mean to sound dramatic,
but this actually may be
a matter of life or death.
We'll pack out first
thing in the morning.
[Birds singing]
[Pours out the
last of the coffee]
All right, dad. Time to get up.
You already missed the sunrise.
Dad?
Dad?
Dad?
[Weakly] Yeah...
Time for the sniff test.
Where's the t-shirt?
[]
Oh, man.
[Rita]: Oh, this is
new Mexico, Norman.
We have to adapt.
[Norman]: I just don't
trust a grocery store
with beads for a front door.
Oh...
[]
Hi. We're looking for
the welcome center.
Welcome.
Oh. [Chuckles]
Igneous rock seminars
are in the conference center,
buses for the
petrified forest tours
leave out front
every 30 minutes.
Oh, we're actually looking
for a Mexican restaurant.
Well, you're in new Mexico,
so how hard are you lookin'?
We're looking for the one
with the hottest mole sauce.
You want the hottest...
Yes, please.
"Super-hottest..."
"Hottest in new Mexico,"
"hottest in Las Vegas..."
"Hottest west of
the rio grande,"
"too hot to handle,"
or "hotter than
hell-in-a-handbasket hot"?
What's the difference?
Well, it's the peppers.
Start with your habaneros.
You got your red ones,
your green ones,
your white ones,
you move on up from there
to your Trinidad scorpions,
your Carolina brain-burners,
devil's tongues,
nuclear winters,
to the mother of 'em
all, "instant insanity."
[Ringing cowbell]
[Chuckles] Oh...
I don't suppose they're
all on the same street?
Nope.
Well, I'm hungry now.
This'll be fun!
[]
That wasn't so...
[]
Mm! [Laughs]
[Huffing]
[Rita]: Mm!
Oh...
You're doing great!
Woo!
Ai, yi, yi, yi
oh! [Chuckles]
You're okay.
[Norman shrieking]
[Gasping]
Norman, would you
say, if you could speak,
that the aztec
grim reaper pepper
is the hottest mole in
Las Vegas, new Mexico?
- [Whimpers in consent]
- That's great!
Then consuela's cozy kitchen
is the place we're looking for,
and Sandy'll be at
the end of that road.
Oh, Norman! Isn't
that wonderful?
[He gurgle-burps] Norman?
[Phone line ringing]
Sort of a green-gray?
With a touch of, uh... yellow.
That'd be a good thing, though,
because he was
all green for a while.
Well, does he have a fever?
It's hard to tell
if it's a fever
or just actual heat
coming off of his body.
[Gasps] Oh!
[Gurgle-burp] Oh...
Oh! Oh! Oops!
There he goes again.
Well, you guys obviously aren't
gonna be at work tomorrow.
Oh, I tried to call Oliver,
but there was no answer.
Oh, well, he went
camping with his dad, but...
he'll be back tonight.
What? What happened
about your date?
Oh, don't worry, it's all good.
Ask Norman where the t-shirt is.
- [Norman]: swing low...
- Oh, I gotta go.
Thanks! Bye!
Coming for to carry me home
Oh!
Hello?
[Oliver]: I want to
get you to a doctor
before that
infection gets worse.
[Joe]: Laid low by a
scratch. I feel so stupid.
[Oliver]: Dad, could've been me.
I just...
Want to get you to the
doctor before it gets any worse.
Well, the trailhead
should be right over...
No. Right over there.
Should be on the
road in half an hour.
I just need to sit a second.
Oh, yeah. Sure.
It's a good thing
we're almost there.
Oh, man.
So I need to, uh,
make a confession.
Okay.
Yesterday you asked me
if you'd ever been in
these woods before.
And you have.
When?
You were about seven or eight,
and you kept begging
your mom and me
to take you hiking
in the mountains.
So we did, and you loved it.
You-you loved
the freedom and the-the birds...
Kept running out ahead of
us to protect us from the bears.
Huh!
And then you ran
out so far ahead
that we lost you.
And we started calling out,
and things got scary
and we panicked,
and she blamed
me and I blamed her,
and, well...
We got in a fight.
Not our first one.
But something about
being alone out in the forest
made it seem so much
more raw and bitter
than it had ever been before,
like there was nothing civilized
there to make us hold back,
and we said some awful stuff.
And then we
looked around, and...
And there you were,
standing there, watching us,
absolutely broken-hearted.
I could never get you
to come back to the mountains
after that.
You were so afraid
that your mom and I
would start fighting again.
You were always trying
to protect us from the bears.
You even asked
me if there was a way
for you to go to the forest
without actually
going to the forest,
so, I, well...
[Chuckles]
That's why you got me
"bird songs of the
rocky mountains?"
It was that or an
evergreen air freshener.
[Both chuckling]
[Groaning]
Your mother left us
a few weeks later.
It wasn't my fault,
and it definitely wasn't yours.
But I think...
All these years
that little boy deep
down inside of you
has believed it was...
And you've lost a lot of time
and you've missed a lot of love.
And look how long it took
you to come back to the forest.
Don't wait for the
pain to go away, Ollie.
Just...
Just leave it here
on the mountain.
Okay, son?
And go back and start over.
[]
Ready?
Yes.
Let's go home.
[Groaning]
And the car should be right...
[]
[]
'Morning!
Oliver?
Hello?
[Rita]: Oh, well...
This is it, the end of the road.
And here we go.
And here we go.
Norman?
I was just thinking.
If I call that man
who gave me his card
and-and if he offers me
that dream job in D.C.
And if I say yes...
Well, this could be
the last dead letter
that I ever deliver.
[Sighs]
Well...
Then you should be very proud,
because that letter
is going to make
a real difference
for someone.
And when you look back...
You will always know
that you put your whole
heart and soul into it.
And my lower intestine.
Uh, y-yeah.
[Laughs]
Okay.
[Buzzing]
[Woman]: May I help you?
Oh. Uh... hi.
We're from the, um...
We're from the usps.
Um, we're trying to
deliver a letter to someone
we believe is the care-giver
to a lady named Sandy?
[Door lock clicks open]
Thank you.
I'm not sure if this is
the right place, but...
You're in the right
place. She'll be right out.
Uh, Sandy?
Is she okay?
Hi?
Oh! Hi!
Are you Sandy?
Oh. No.
This is Sandy.
[Laughs] Oh!
[Barking]
[Norman and Rita laugh]
[Norman]: Hey, Sandy!
You got a special delivery.
[Dogs barking]
[Norman]: This letter
made it seem like...
She didn't have much time.
Well, she was in
trouble there for a while.
Topper was right to worry.
I'm confused. Who
does she belong to?
Sandy's a contract working dog.
She does the same
job as a combat dog,
only she's owned by a company
that contracts with the military
to send k9 units into war zones.
The handlers we
train are usually
former army or marines,
like topper.
This is his t-shirt.
So topper wrote the letter?
He's written a few.
So were they partners?
The best k9 team
we ever trained.
They attached
to 16 different
support operations,
and they did incredibly
dangerous work,
searching for explosives
and people who make them.
I read once
that if you had
two million apples,
a dog could smell
out one rotten one.
Well, let's just say
she found a lot of rotten
apples in Afghanistan.
[Chuckling]
Until...
Something happened?
Sandy was getting close
to uncovering something,
and somebody tossed a
grenade in the embassy.
They both survived,
but they both came
back with PTSD.
Why aren't they together now?
It sounds harsh,
but Sandy wasn't topper's pet.
I've never saw a dog and a man
that loved each other so much,
but topper was an
employee of that company,
and Sandy is, well...
Considered equipment.
Ohh. They should be together.
You never forget your
partner, and, well, look...
Sandy's never
forgotten her best friend,
but from that letter,
it sounds like topper
wasn't getting better.
Sandy would be able
to make him better.
Probably.
But...
Well, the only way
he could have her
would be to buy her
from the company.
And topper wanted to,
but he just doesn't
have that kind of money.
[Sandy whimpers]
Good girl.
Yeah.
[]
[Panting]
[Norman]: And being
the communication liaison
for the office of postal
heritage in Washington D.C...
That would be a bold move.
Well, as the treasurer
of the O'Toole foundation,
you've made a big one
today, don't you think?
Yeah.
Besides, how could
I go to Washington
and leave you behind?
Oh, Norman.
If you ever leave me,
I'm coming with you.
[]
[]
[Calling out]: Hello?
Hello?
Forget it, Oliver.
I just need a little rest,
and then you can help me up,
and we'll try again.
Dad, I don't think you can.
Well, we can't spend
another night here.
What is it? Monday?
Well, someone will
notice we're missing,
and they'll send help.
I didn't tell anyone
where we were going.
Did you?
[]
[Sighing] Oliver? Come on.
Please pick up.
[Ringing]
[Shivering and wincing]
[Gasping]
Bet you wish you were having
that dinner at
montaldo's now, huh?
[Laughs weakly and gasps]
[Groans]
Oh, dad, I am so sorry.
I had no idea
it was more than
just a small cut.
It didn't feel like more
than... More than that, either.
Ohh...
Don't blame yourself.
[Gasps and groans]
Oh, I'm obv...
I'm obviously not
getting any better, so...
I think you're gonna have to
hike out of here in the morning
and get some help.
I'm not gonna leave you here.
Oh. Oh...
[Breath shaking]
What if this goes septic, dad?
[Shivering]
W-We'll be fine, Ollie.
Y-Your mom and I j-just
disagree sometimes.
You just go have... Have fun.
[Shivering]
[Engine shuts off]
Joe? Oliver?
[Lifting objects]
Yes!
[Fits key in door lock
and unlocks the door]
Hello?
Joe?
Yes. Could I have
extension 1414, please?
Hi. It's Shane mcinerney.
Not good.
I'm calling because...
Maybe I'm just over-reacting,
but I'm not sure what to do.
I think I need your help.
[Sirens wail]
Yeah.
[Sighing]
Okay.
Uh, forest service is checking
park entrances for Joe's truck.
But that could be
anywhere. He never said...
Well, I'm hoping to get
a hit on an atm
or a gas purchase
or even Joe's cell phone.
That way, we can
start to narrow it down.
For now, we just have to wait.
Which is the hardest part.
No cream or sugar?
[Chuckles] Nah. In
my line of business,
you learn to keep things simple.
You're worried, too, aren't you?
[Clears her throat]
When a man and his father
go backpacking in
the woods for two days,
and three days
later they're not back,
it's... unusual.
[Chuckles sadly]
Oliver O'Toole
backpacking at all is unusual.
[Laughing]
It is hard to imagine.
[Laughs again]
You've known him a long time?
Almost 16 years.
He was a mailman on my
beat when I was a street cop,
and we had a lot
of things in common,
so we'd go for coffee
once in a while, and...
He was the one who got
me singing in the choir,
and we went to
this prayer group...
Were you two ever... ahem.
You know.
Tsk. Uh...
The timing was
never right back then.
And you gotta trust the timing.
You said that
before, at the church.
It's just something
we say to each other.
You know...
"To everything
there is a season..."
a time to be born
and a time to die.
I... I've heard him say that.
He believes it, too.
The problem is...
If god has everything
all figured out, then...
What's the point of
praying for anything?
W-Well, I guess I don't
pray to change god...
I pray to change me.
[Phone starts ringing]
Travers.
Okay.
Right.
Good. Thank you.
They spent Friday
night at cedardale lodge,
they checked out
Saturday morning,
and they went straight
towards eldorado canyon.
[]
[Police radio crackling
in background]
It what? Say that again.
Rita! I'm in the mountains!
[Rita]: I said...
We delivered the letter,
but we have a surprise!
Whatever it is, don't
worry about it now. Uh...
I think something
terrible has happened.
Oliver and his dad
never came back
from their camping trip.
What?
[Tearfully]: I'm in
east eldorado
canyon with the police
and forest service
and Dale Travers,
and they think
that Joe and Oliver are
lost up there somewhere,
and...
It's just so big
and dark, and...
They can't put a search party
together until the morning.
[Sniffling]
Rita, i'm... I'm scared.
We're... We're a
couple hours away,
but we'll get there as
fast as we can, okay?
So just... Just hang in there.
And pray.
I don't know how.
[]
Are you okay?
I don't...
I don't know if...
If... if I...
Can bear it if anything...
[Sobbing]
Oliver.
[Dale]: I know. I know.
Oh... god.
Hallelujah
Ollie?
Yeah, I'm right here, dad.
I love you, Ollie.
Hallelujah
I love you too.
I just wanted to
be sure I said it.
Shh. Hey...
Hold on, 'Kay? Just hold on.
You just have to make
it till morning, right?
I'm right here.
[]
Hallelujah hallelujah
hallelujah...
Yeah. Got that?
Hallelujah
hallelu
hallelujah
[Deep breath, sighs]
I've been doing
this a long time,
and...
It's times like this
that we find out
who you really are
and what really matters.
[Sad chuckle] Guess we found out
that I can't handle
the pressure.
[Laughs]
No.
It's just the opposite.
[Chuckles weakly]
You followed your instincts,
you made the right call,
and you didn't fall
apart until it felt safe.
Am I?
Am I safe?
Oliver's my friend.
[Chuckles and sighs]
That's funny.
He said the same
thing about you.
[Chuckles]
[Horn honking]
Oh!
Norman!
Rita! Over here!
So? Any news?
Well, they found
Joe's truck over there.
There are six trails,
and they could have
taken any one of them.
They can't do
anything until morning.
How come?
[Dale]: Search and rescue
can't start their foot search
until first light.
It's gonna take
a lot of volunteers
to cover all the trails,
and even then, there's
a storm expected,
so air support's
gonna be limited.
So...
We just have to wait.
Well, if there is
anything that we can do...
Um... Sandy.
You have a minute?
So... look.
I know what it feels like
to think that the world
is full of loud noises
and big surprises that
you don't like getting.
And just... you just
wanna be safe someplace
where you think you
won't get scared again.
But, you know,
sometimes all it takes
is for somebody to tell
you that you're special,
uh, to make you think
that you could be more
than you think you were,
or do more than
you think you could,
and next thing you know,
the world's your oyster.
Wait, uh...
Do dogs like oysters?
Look, my point is,
thinking big and being bold
only seems hard until
you take the first step.
And I don't want
be pushy, but...
[Takes a breath]
Oliver's my best friend,
so when we get out there,
I'm gonna need you
to take the first step.
And if you do that,
then maybe someday
topper will too.
Sunrise isn't until 5:58, so...
[Sandy barking]
That is a beautiful dog!
This isn't just any dog.
This is Sandy.
This is Sandy?
[Laughs] Oh!
And guess what Sandy can do?
Oh!
And I've still got
part of his choir robe.
Here it is.
It should work. He
wears it every Sunday.
What do I do?
Uh, let her smell it,
and see what she does.
[Sniffing]
Is there, like, a secret word?
Like... "Go," or...?
[Sandy barks]
Careful, Norman!
[Barking]
Is this a crazy idea?
Absolutely it is,
but what else do you call it
when a rescue dog shows up
when you really need one?
Oliver's divine delivery theory.
Oh. That's one of
his best theories.
[]
[Barking]
[Dale]: Well, when can
you get the other dogs?
We've only got one here,
and we've got
six trails to cover.
[Sighing]
Joe! Oliver!
Joe!
Joe!
Oliver!
Oliver!
Joe!
[Barking]
[Barking]
Officers!
Park officers! Rangers!
[Barking]
[Barking]
[Distant barking]
[Barking]
Hello?
[Shouting]: Hello!
Over here!
[Barking]
Hello! Over here!
[Barking]
Oliver!
[Barking]
Oliver!
Norman! Oh, my god!
Oh, my god.
Please, over here!
[Radio crackles]
Help to base camp.
- We've located them, ma'am.
- Yes!
They've been found.
Thank you.
Oh, Norman.
[Whimpers]
Clear the way, there, please.
Yes, sir.
[Gasps] Norman!
Oliver!
[Ranger]: Everybody
back, please!
We need some space, folks.
Folks, just step
aside here, please.
[Siren wails]
You see, if the frame
is bent even a little bit,
then the balance
is gonna be off,
even if the wheel
looks straight.
[Bell jingles]
Oh, hey!
Hi. I'm, um...
The guy from the post office.
Right! Yeah.
Turns out we had
the right place after all.
Great.
So you delivered your letter?
Uh, yeah.
And they... They
sent back an answer.
For topper.
She's out there.
[Chuckles]
[]
Hey, topper?
There's someone here to see you.
Hey-hey-hey. Hey.
Go see what's up.
I think you better
come out, top.
[]
[Barks]
[Barking]
Sandy?
[Barks]
[Laughs] Sandy!
Sandy! Come here!
Come here! Come here, girl!
Hi, girl! Hi!
[Laughing] Hi!
Hi! [Giggling deliriously]
That is 14 enchiladas' worth
of happiness over there.
Mm.
And worth every one.
[Laughs]
What are you thinking?
I'm thinking big.
So, you want to go
get some breakfast?
[Laughs] No!
[Laughs]
[]
[Laughing]
[Car doors shutting]
You were about an
hour away from sepsis.
Let me guess.
It just looked like a
small puncture wound,
nothing to worry about,
and you boys
weren't turning back
for a little scratch?
Something like that.
You were very lucky.
I'll see you later.
Thank you.
You see? I'm lucky.
Luck is the
religion of the lazy.
Who said that?
I did.
[Laughs]
So you're sticking
with your providential
perfect-timing theory, huh?
Remember that kid
with the letter
and the ball cap?
That letter led Rita and Norman
to the dog that
found us this morning.
It's easier to call that luck,
I guess, than...
to trust the timing
was something else.
Well...
One way or the other,
it was something
else, all right.
[Chuckling]
So I guess I owe you a dinner.
You don't owe me a thing.
That nurse says
Shane and Dale are waiting.
Shane and Dale, huh?
Good luck with that.
[Laughs]
Something tells me
you'll know what to say.
Dad?
Yeah?
There's been too much
leaving in this family.
Let's not do that anymore.
Got it.
[]
I have never been so happy
to see anyone in my entire life
as I was this morning.
I must look awful.
You look terrible.
[Both laughing]
Thank you.
For everything.
I wish I could take the credit.
Shane made the call.
Where is she?
[]
[]
In every heart
there is a room
a sanctuary safe and strong
to heal the wounds
from lovers past
until a new one comes along
I spoke to you
in cautious tone
Well...
I, uh...
Certainly didn't expect
to find you in here.
[Chuckles]
Neither did I.
I was just so...
grateful.
[Sobs]
[Sniffles]
When I was...
Up on that mountain...
I was so afraid.
I was afraid I was
gonna lose my dad.
Afraid that I might not
get off the mountain.
Afraid that I had
waited too long...
[Sighs]
to start my life over.
[]
Every woman in my life...
Who truly mattered...
Has broken my heart.
So I...
Learned to stop taking chances,
because I never wanted
to feel that way again.
But last night...
When I thought I might
not see the sunrise,
I started to pray.
I prayed for the chance
to live long enough
to be here right now,
to tell you that I hope
our first date isn't our last.
[Sob escapes]
That life is too short
to only drink Yoo-hoo.
[Laughing]
And I'm ready to...
To try a... um...
Bee pollen and ginger
and koombatcha smoothie.
"Kombucha."
Kombucha.
[Laughs]
And I'm also ready
to tell you that...
I know you don't
believe in miracles...
You would be surprised
what I'm starting to believe.
And you're the
only one who knows
and so it goes
and so it goes
and so will you
soon I suppose
[Kiss]
Thank you...
For saving my life.
So I will share
this room with you
and you can have
this heart to break
[]
presentation is rated pg.
This presentation deals
with mature subject matter.
Viewer discretion is advised.
[]
That look straight to you?
Kinda.
Well, you can test-drive
it after school today
if your dad says it's okay.
Hey, dad?
Can I help topper after school?
[Dad]: I'm with a customer.
Give me a second,
I'll be right in.
Hey, um...
Can you do me a favor?
Just drop this in a mailbox
for me somewhere, okay?
'Kay.
Uncle top?
Do you think I'll
ever get to meet her?
I hope so.
She'd really like you.
[Door opens, bell jingles]
[Dad]: Okay.
You come right home
and get your homework
done first, you got it?
Yeah.
[Playfully]: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Lunch bag rustles]
Okay. Have a great day, buddy.
All right.
You got two pb and j's in there.
Try and save one for lunch.
Okay. Bye, dad.
You know, you
could ride with him
to school someday.
It's just a couple blocks.
I would if I could.
Someday soon, I hope.
See you later, little brother.
[]
[]
[Siren blares]
[Fire rages]
[Radio]: Code nine!
Evacuation in progress!
[Crying out]: Sandy? Sandy!
[Radio]: All emergency
personnel, evacuate!
[Whimpering]
[]
I'm Oliver...
[Director]: Uh...
Cut!
Uh, h-hold on.
I'm sorry.
- Oliver...
- Uh, I'm sorry.
No. No, you're fabulous. Just...
Don't look up.
Yes.
Okay.
You're doing great, son.
[Shane]: I think
you've really captured
the spirit of the
American letter-writer!
I didn't realize it would
be so complicated.
Okay! One more time, folks!
- Ready, and...
- [Siren wails]
Sorry! Hold it! Let's wait
for the sirens to pass by.
[Resigned]: Waiting
for the sirens.
This is so exciting!
I know. There's
free food over there.
I brought you a cookie.
Aw!
Uh-oh.
Oh.
Excuse me?
Uh, your receptacle
is anachronistic.
My what is what?
Well, um, the mailbox
that you've got, um,
it hasn't been in
use since 1997.
And then that pin
that Oliver is wearing, it
was discontinued in 2014.
And in 1848, the
postal service...
Who are you?
I'm Norman dorman.
I'm a student of
U.S. postal history.
Well, that's very
impressive, Norman,
but we're on a deadline,
and that ship has sailed.
W... during the mongol empire,
kublai Khan used more than
6,000 ships to deliver mail.
Most of it said things like,
"we're coming to kill you."
You know...
We got an opening
for a guy like you in DC.
Public relations is looking
for a communications liaison
in the office of
postal heritage.
Are you interested?
Well, um...
Why don't you think about it
and give me a call?
I'm here till Friday.
Norman dorman.
[]
What was that all about?
I think he just
offered me a job.
- Oh!
- Here we go!
- Okay.
- Ready, Mr. O'Toole?
Mm-hmm.
[Director]: Okay. Ready, and...
Action!
I'm Oliver O'Toole,
and I've worked for the
United States postal service
for 17 years.
And I'm Joseph O'Toole,
and I worked for the
post office for 22 years,
and my father worked
for the post office
for 50 years,
just like my grandfather.
There's been an O'Toole
proudly delivering mail
since 1789.
[Joe]: Through rain and sleet
and snow and dark of night,
no matter how far,
no matter how tough,
if you want it there,
we know how to get it there.
The U.S. postal service...
A grand tradition.
[Director]: And...
Cut!
Great! We got it!
That's a wrap, folks!
Nice job.
- Thank you.
- That's it?
That is it. Great work.
That was fun.
Hmm.
We should do
more stuff together.
Preferably without, uh, make-up.
[Joe chuckles]
You know, I've been doing
a lot of backpacking recently.
I thought maybe I'd hit
eldorado canyon this
weekend. You interested?
Oh, uh, this weekend?
Yeah, I know you're
not a big nature guy,
but, hey,
every couple of decades,
we should do a little
bonding time, huh?
Oh, I did recently
read an article
about father-son
bonding benefits,
but this weekend I have a date.
Shane?
Saturday.
Montaldo's.
Wow!
And you're actually
calling it a date!
Good for you.
Well, some other time, then.
Absolutely.
We had a good day, though, huh?
Dad?
Um, a bunch of us
are going to mailbox
grille for lunch.
Would you like to come?
Sure.
Meet you there.
Mister?
Excuse me?
Hey!
Is it true?
Is what true?
The post office can
deliver anything?
Well, if they can't, nobody can.
Even if you get
peanut butter
and jelly all over it
and you drop it in the
street and a car runs over it,
and it gets ripped
up in your bike chain?
[Laughs] Well, I've seen worse.
Um...
Should you be in school?
Yeah. Thanks.
[Laughing]
There you are.
What's going on?
[Tearfully]: Eleanor
in passports...
She passed.
[Sobbing]
[Stevie wonder's "signed,
sealed, delivered" plays]
Aah!
Oh, yeah, baby
like a fool I went
and stayed too long
now I'm wondering if
your love's still strong
ooh, baby
here I am signed,
sealed, delivered
I'm yours
mm
then that time I went
and said goodbye
now I'm back and
not ashamed to cry
[Rita]: I just can't believe it.
It was so sudden.
Well, Eleanor was
always surprising us.
Yeah. Remember last
year's Halloween party,
when she went as
Charles Lindbergh
delivering the mail to Paris?
And she was a loyal
government servant.
Postal to the end.
[Director]: Norman!
You got a second?
I'm gonna go get us a table.
Okay.
Bobby found this
in that prop mailbox
we were using this morning.
It's definitely not one of ours.
I figured you would
know what to do with it.
Somebody must've
thought it was a real mailbox.
Uh, Las Vegas...
N-e... v?
Rita?
Oh, well, there are only two
Nevada zip codes that end in 01,
and only one in
the Las Vegas area.
You want something memorized,
she's your girl.
Actually, she's my girl.
Oh!
Anyways, um,
this envelope's been reused,
so maybe we can pull
up a latent address,
or trace the manufacturer
of whatever's inside...
Looks like it's an
American-made t-shirt.
I gotta say, norm.
You're being wasted
out here in Denver.
Oh, I don't know.
Yes, you do.
You're good and you know it.
You're just too humble.
You still got my card?
Yes, but...
Call me.
Think big!
Be bold!
Wait. Does that
mean that I'm not bold?
I think I'm bold. Am I bold?
Oh. Bold?
Uh, well...
Oh, look! Shrimp!
Just imagining Denver
branch without Eleanor...
We just never know, do we?
When your mother left us,
I never imagined
that I wouldn't...
That we wouldn't all
see her again someday.
But she got sick, and
then she was gone.
When I got the
news that she'd died,
I went up in the mountains
to watch a sunset...
And then I just sat
there in the dark for hours
until I could find a reason
to believe that the sunrise
was worth waiting for.
What did you find?
I decided that...
If I could just wake
up every morning...
You'd be there.
[Footsteps]
Ahem. Do you mind if I join you?
Please!
We're just having one of those
meaning-of-life conversations.
Seems like the right day for it.
Mm.
Did Oliver ever tell you
his "divine delivery theory"?
Hmm!
I didn't know I had one.
Well, you know,
the "we don't find
the dead letters,
they find us... Just in
time to be delivered."
I call it "Oliver's
divine delivery theory."
You guys believe every
letter that "finds you"
is on some
supernatural schedule?
Yes.
Well, some of us believe, and...
Some of us are open to it.
[Chuckles]
Huh! Well, let's...
Let's test your theory.
You prove to me
that the next dead
letter you come across
actually makes
some kind of miraculous
difference in the world,
and if you can't,
then you have to let
me take you camping
before summer's over.
And if you can prove
some providential
postal theory...
Then I'll pick up your
dinner tab at montaldo's.
Deal?
I'm not really
comfortable wagering
the ability of
the almighty to...
If the almighty is everything
that you say that he is,
then I think he can handle it.
[Sighs tentatively]
Deal!
Gotta run.
And I'm sorry about your friend.
Camping? You?
He invited me to bond
with him this weekend.
I told him I had other plans.
Yes, you do.
And you told him we're
going back to montaldo's?
Well, our first
attempt at dinner
was a rather
challenging evening,
so returning
might allow us to...
To...
Get back up on the horse.
Mm-hmm.
Oliver, for someone
who believes in miracles,
sometimes you can be so...
Practical.
[Proudly]: Ah!
[Laughs]
[Oliver]: All right, Norman.
Would you walk us
through this, please?
Ah. Well...
Envelope damaged
by tire-tread trauma,
peanut butter,
and some sort of grease.
Hmm... [sniffs]
Bicycle chain, I believe.
The zip code suggests
it's from the northeast
corner of Las Vegas.
And a men's stinky t-shirt
and a two-page letter
which we haven't read,
in compliance, of course,
with postal privacy code 10-01p.
"Assume nothing."
Hmm! That's good advice.
What are we assuming?
I don't know about
you guys, but...
This day's been hard enough
without starting an
impossible project too.
Well...
Nothing's impossible.
That's a bold statement, Norman.
Um... yes, and allow
me to be a little bolder.
Something like this
dropping in our laps
on a day like today might
seem like bad timing,
but...
We can't assume anything.
It's a... Sort of a...
Divine delivery, perhaps.
Okay.
But if we're gonna do this,
I say we forget protocol,
forget privacy code 10-01p,
and we read the letter
and let the miracles begin.
Well, unless...
You would rather
go camping instead.
Camping?
Oliver doesn't
like to live outside.
Not on purpose, anyway! [Laughs]
Hmm.
All right.
"Watching the sunset,
sitting in front of the fire,
listening to guitar music..."
Oh, dear.
It's a bucket list.
Wonder if Eleanor
had a bucket list.
Do you?
No. Of course, I do
have a list of buckets.
Well...
Except for the part about
eating Mexican food,
- mmm!
- It's not very creative.
There's nothing
about mount Everest
or about riding in a
balloon over Stockholm.
[Inhales abruptly]
[Self-conscious chuckle]
People make bucket
lists all the time.
Uh, yes. Not for other people.
Unless...
"Hi. It's me again,
and I know you're probably
getting tired of
hearing from me,
but I promise this time
I'm not asking for
anything for myself.
I just want to help Sandy.
I'd do anything to
be with her now.
I truly believe if we
could be together,
I could help her, maybe
even save her life...
But I guess that's
not going to happen."
[Topper]: "So I'm just hoping
that you'll do everything
you can to save her.
And if it's too late,
then I hope you'll
do everything you can
to make her comfortable.
If I could hold
her one more time
and tell her that I
love her, I would,
but I'm still not 100% myself,
so I'm enclosing kind
of a bucket list for Sandy.
A few ideas maybe you could
do that might remind her of me.
And I sent her
my favorite t-shirt.
She was always stealing it.
Funny how the little things
are what we remember.
I know you have to
do what you have to do,
and I don't blame you.
Just... please just promise me
that if she isn't
going to make it,
don't let her be
alone when she..."
The, uh...
The last part is missing.
It's a letter like this
on a day like today
that makes our work seem...
Like a calling.
Say what you will
about magic letters,
Ms. Mcinerney...
Whoever wrote this...
Is trying to say goodbye
before it's too late,
and...
We are their only chance
to make that happen.
Of course.
Of course we are.
We'll get this delivered
as soon as possible.
But we don't have an address
or even a return address.
All we have
is the corner that it
was mailed from...
Well, sort of mailed from.
Maybe we could canvass the area.
Oh, that could take days.
Well, there are
734 small businesses
in the university hills area
that it could've
been mailed from
and Norman and I could
cover it if we did, oh...
185 each for two days.
Good.
Uh, Ms. Mcinerney...
I can hack into the
t-shirt manufacturer
for points of purchase.
If I can lift a partial
print from this,
maybe your friend
at the state division
of investigations
could run it for us.
Yes. Dale might do us a favor.
Do you want me to
find her number for you?
No, thank you. I
actually know it.
[Starts dialing]
I am going to
continue to analyze
the letter for a
connection to Las Vegas.
We should all pray that, uh...
Well, I'm going
to pray for Sandy,
whoever she is,
that she can hang on
until we can reach her.
Hi, this is...
Yes!
Uh, well, I was gonna drop by.
Uh, I needed to
ask a small favor.
Yes. Uh...
There's also some news
I'd like to share in person.
Certainly.
[]
[]
Okay... 220 down,
523 to go.
[]
Okay. See you at
the end of the block.
[Giggles]
So you do make the t-shirts,
but you don't do
any of the printing?
Do you ship to any
specialty stores in Nevada?
Okay.
Good morning!
Can I ask you a question?
Uh... did you send any...
parcels to Las Vegas,
Nevada, recently?
Las Vegas, Nevada, recently?
[]
Oh. Okay.
Thank you.
[]
[Dale]: Sunsets, Mexican food...
Guitar music, long
walks in the mountains.
Tsk.
I feel like I know Sandy.
I wish I could help her.
Well, thank you.
It was worth trying.
Anytime.
You know that.
I do.
Uh... you said there
was something else?
Uh, yes. Uh...
Some sad news.
[]
Ohh... I will never walk again.
Yes, you will,
just maybe not in those shoes.
I'd swear they were
two inches higher.
Well, they were... 10
hours and 300 stores ago.
[Laughs]
No luck yet, huh?
There's always tomorrow.
[Oliver]: Any progress?
No.
Mm.
What happened with Dale?
Uh, not enough to
work with, I'm afraid.
You, uh, you forgot the t-shirt.
Oh. Thank you.
Mm-hmm. Are you okay?
Uh, I've been asked to help
with arrangements
for Eleanor's memorial
on Friday.
She attended my church.
Oh. So Dale knew her?
Well, everyone knew Eleanor.
She was a wonderful lady.
Well... [sighs]
Why don't we start again
bright and early tomorrow?
Shall we?
Okay.
'Night.
[Footsteps receding]
[]
I don't know, Oliver,
but I'm running out of ideas.
I mean, we're coming up empty
on the tire track
and the brand of
Cologne on the t-shirt.
The t-shirt was
manufactured in Ohio,
but it could've been
printed and sold anywhere,
and there are a few
thousand women
in Las Vegas named
Sandy, Sandra, Alexandra,
Alessandra, or Cassandra.
Norman and Rita have
covered a square mile
of small businesses
and are coming up with nothing.
[He exhales]
Maybe...
We finally found a letter
that can't be delivered.
I can't believe
this letter found us
only to turn out
to be unsolvable.
I can't accept that.
[Takes a deep breath]
[Sighs]
Okay.
So we start again tomorrow?
Tomorrow.
[Shane]: It's been
almost a week.
I think we may
be running of time.
Oh, have a little
faith, Ms. Mcinerney.
The answer is there.
We're just not seeing it.
I feel the t-shirt is
still our best clue.
"Assume nothing"?
Assume nothing.
[Dale]: Oliver!
Oh! There you are!
Hi. I'm so sorry I'm late.
I had a last-minute
arrest to process,
and it took forever.
Oh, my goodness.
Well, here you are!
Yeah. Any luck with your letter?
Uh, nothing but dead ends.
That's too bad.
Well, it rarely
happens to us, but...
Trust the timing.
"Trust the timing."
[Chuckles]
Well, I have your choir robe.
Thank goodness I didn't send it
to the cleaners just yet.
Dale happens to be the
robe mistress for our choir.
Oh! Wow. She sings,
she arrests people,
she's mistress of clothing...
[All chuckling]
I know, I know.
I'm not half as
interesting as I sound.
[Chuckling continues]
Um, we should get inside.
We'll see you inside.
Mm-hmm.
I'm here! I'm here!
Rita! Where's Norman?
Oh, he'll be along soon.
He just had a couple
more stores to look at.
Okay.
[]
And then what?
Well, then I looked at
her, she looked at me,
and I knew that we were
meant for each other.
And she really
saved your life once?
Oh, probably a million times.
Is she sick, like you?
Well... [Door bell jingles]
Hi. How can I help you?
[Breath catches]
Come on.
[Exhales tensely]
Um, I'm from the United
States postal service.
Uh, we're attempting
to deliver a parcel
that may have been
mailed from this area.
You know, I'm waiting for
some bike seats from Canada.
W... um, this is the other
way around, actually.
Oh.
Well, uh, do you buy
your stamps online?
Yeah.
Oh! Good!
Well, have you mailed
anything to Nevada
or the 89101 zip code recently?
No.
Oh, hold on.
Hey, top?
[Topper]: Yeah?
You send anything to Nevada?
No.
Hmm.
Sorry.
That's okay, yeah.
Thanks anyways.
Yeah.
[]
[Choir]: though I may roam
through dark of night
or skies above
my father's love
shall lead me home
a...
...men
I wonder if she wears her
gun underneath her robe.
Nah...
It's too hard to sing
when you're packin'.
Good morning,
family and friends.
As unexpected as
Eleanor's departure was...
We can take comfort
remembering her as
a woman of strong faith
that traveled through life
with the blessed assurance
that her passport
was eternally valid,
stamped,
and certified "permanent"
for entrance into
the kingdom of god...
Whenever that day should come.
And friends, I know
she would want us
to take a moment today
to really ask ourselves
"are we ready to
take that journey?"
She always used to say to me,
"death is nothing to
be scared of, honey...
But it is something
to prepare for."
[]
We bid you farewell, Eleanor.
God be with you...
till we meet again.
Beautiful service, wasn't it?
[Rita]: Eleanor
would've loved it.
I'm really gonna
miss her smoothies.
Eleanor had a blender,
and she used to
make me smoothies.
Your song was beautiful.
Oh...
Thank you.
And you harmonize so well.
Well, we've been doing
this for a very long time.
[Rita]: Are you coming
to the reception?
I wish I could,
but I have to get
back to my crime scene.
Oh. Kidnapping? Arson? Murder?
Cyber crime.
Guy's a hacker.
Oh, good thing we
don't know any hackers.
I don't know any hackers.
Do you know any hackers?
- Nope.
- No.
[Forced chuckling]
[Awkward silence]
Good.
That's good.
Uh, I need your robe.
Oh, uh, thank you, very much.
[Whispers]: And,
uh, don't forget
to talk about
the, uh, the thing.
Oh! Yes. The thing.
Of course!
- Okay. Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Okay, bye.
[Polite chuckling]
There's a thing?
Well, uh...
Just so you know.
I intend to hack away
until kingdom come
if that's what it's gonna
take to find Sandy
before it's too late.
Uh, Ms. Mcinerney, the "thing"
Dale wanted me to talk about
was that a memorial fund
has been established
in Eleanor's name.
She thought I should
bring it up with the board
of the O'Toole foundation.
Oh.
I have the checkbook right here,
and there's plenty of
money in the account
to make a donation,
so... all in favor?
[Unanimously]: Aye!
Consider it done!
Thank you.
That was very bold
of you, Norman.
So I will see you
at the reception?
Yeah. I'm... I'll be
right behind you.
I just, uh, need a minute.
Yes.
Ms. Mcinerney, um...
Dale Travers
is, uh...
my friend.
Of course.
[]
[Blender whirring]
Remember how Eleanor's blender
used to always
get stuck on frappe?
Oh, she always handled
it with such grace.
She was gonna give me her recipe
for her bee pollen, ginger,
and kombucha smoothie.
"Come on up to
passports," she'd say.
"Anytime. We'll
do some blending."
I waited too long.
I missed my chance.
I'm sorry.
But I believe there's still
a chance to save Sandy.
I'm going back to the
office to keep working.
Oh, we can come with you!
Oh, no, Rita.
You've done plenty. Go home.
Have a good weekend.
If you're sure?
Yes.
Then we'll see you on Monday.
Bye.
Uh, what time
shall I collect you at your
home tomorrow night?
I can be there by... seven?
There's no rush. Take your time.
All right.
[Footsteps receding]
[]
[Quiet gasp]
[Dialing]
[Exhaling]
"Assume... nothing."
"Assume...
Nothing."
[Door opens]
Ms. Mcinerney! What's all this?
What you said today,
about passports and-and visas
and preparing for the journey...
It was a metaphor
too far, perhaps, yes.
Oliver...
You made us think about
things people don't
like to think about,
and yet, somehow,
you didn't make it scary,
you just made it matter.
Oh, well, thank you.
I'm not a church
person, like you are,
but what I do know is that...
You need to spend
quality time with your dad,
and you can't wait to
lose a bet to do that.
Oh, I don't intend
to lose the bet.
But it doesn't matter,
because even if
you win, you still lose.
I don't get to have that
ginger-kombucha smoothie
with Eleanor now
because I thought I had time.
And your dad's
not that old, but...
You've lost so much
time with him already.
So I... I packed your bags!
You're sending me to camp?
This was my dad's. It's not new.
It's got everything you need.
It's got a bedroll,
sleeping bag,
flashlight, first aid kit...
The whole shebang!
Suitable for bonding.
Ms. Mcinerney, what
about our dinner?
Oliver...
Don't worry.
I'm not gonna go back
to montaldo's without you.
[Quiet chuckle]
Now, I, uh, I called your dad,
and he's gonna wait for you.
I, uh, I can't leave.
I mean, what about Sandy?
You said this letter...
had a destiny.
Now, do you believe that or not?
Well, yes, of course, but...
Oliver...
I promise you...
I will spend the weekend
doing whatever I can
to do whatever you would do.
I promise.
I don't know what to say.
Yes, I do.
What is, uh...
"Koombatcha"?
[Chuckling]
"Kombucha."
And...
Let's just say
it's the complete
opposite of Yoo-hoo.
[]
[Exhales]
I will see you...
On Monday...
[Chuckling]
Shane.
[]
[Chuckling]
There's a lodge about
a mile from the trailhead.
We can spend the night
and get a good
start in the morning.
I feel a little,
um, overdressed.
Bears don't care what you wear.
Should I be worried about bears?
Nah.
Worry about the mountain lions.
[Starts engine]
[]
I'm on my way!
Be down in a sec.
Okay, take your...
Is everything all right?
You seem awfully quiet.
Well, I know we
were going to go back
to tiny town land
to see if they
fixed the tiny train
through tiny tunnel, but...
Well, I've been working
on being bold, you know.
Oh, I know!
[Gasps]
[Hushed]: You took
Sandy's letter home with you?
A gross violation of
regulation 67k, I know.
But I had an idea...
What has Oliver
been saying all week?
"Assume nothing."
And what have we been assuming?
Oh, I don't know.
Maybe the writer is a woman?
Maybe it got mailed from a house
instead of a business?
I mean, there's not
really much left to assume.
All we have is a letter
addressed to Nevada
with business postage.
Okay. Read number
four on the bucket list.
"I remember the first
time I took Sandy out.
We went together to
that Mexican restaurant
at the end of your street,
the one with the hottest
mole sauce in town.
Sandy wouldn't try it,
but she couldn't get
enough of the tamales."
[Sighs] But we already
know this, Norman.
I mean, there's gotta be
over 300 Mexican restaurants
in Las Vegas.
Okay. Look at the
envelope again.
It's addressed to
Las Vegas, n-e...
"v."
We're assuming it's a "v"!
What if it's...
[Gasps] Half of a "w"?
Las Vegas, new Mexico!
Population 13,000.
How many Mexican
restaurants can there be there?
And at the end
of the street is...
Sandy!
Ohh!
You're brilliant, Norman.
Thank you.
But... here's the "bold" part.
Do you wanna go to
new Mexico with me?
[Gasps]
Yes!
[Laughs]
[Birds singing]
Hope you don't mind
if we go off-trail a little.
What?
[Bird singing]
Mountain bluebird.
They can sing like that all day.
You said you didn't
spend much time outside.
I don't.
I used to when I was
little, though, didn't I?
Yeah!
Anyway, you bought
me a record album once.
"Bird songs of the
rocky mountains."
I remember.
You still have that?
I do.
[Laughs]
Any other kid would have
asked for Springsteen.
[Chuckling]
Have I been here before?
Well, actually, you...
Ohh!
Dad!
You okay?
[Groans] Oh...
I'm okay, I'm okay.
I just need to catch my breath.
Ahh! So stupid.
[Grunts]
I just banged a rib.
Or something.
Here.
Ohh...
Let's get this off.
Yeah.
[Chalk scratching board]
[Sighs] What am I
taking for granted?
Where did you buy the Cologne?
Well, um,
it's really not
bleeding that much.
Then it probably isn't too deep.
Thanks.
Do you want to turn around?
Oh, no way!
No, this is all part
of the experience.
"Man against nature."
Yes.
"O'Toole against log."
[Chuckles]
All right.
[Norman]: People think new
Mexico is just a big desert,
but 25% of it is
covered by forest.
Oh! I didn't know that, Norman.
I did.
I know a lot of stuff.
I just don't know
what to do with it.
Have you been thinking about
taking that job in Washington?
I've been thinking about
what that director said
about thinking big.
It's easy to be bold
about the little stuff.
The biggest thing you ever did
was when you didn't
think at all, Norman.
It was the first
time you kissed me.
[Man]: Enjoy your stay
at the prairie dog motel.
There's a rock collector's
convention going on.
I got the last room.
Well, rooms.
Opposite ends
of the prairie dog.
[Laughs]
Norman... [sighs]
You don't mind, right?
That, uh, that we aren't...
Oh! Rita, no.
There is a time and a place
to think big and be bold,
and it is definitely
not in Las Vegas.
Either of them.
I knew you would say that.
Get some rest, okay?
We have a big day tomorrow.
[Sighs]
[]
So, do you have any
idea where we are?
Nope.
I thought I did,
but it just got
too dark too soon.
We'll figure it out
in the morning.
Is that what I think it is?
Gotta have music. You know me.
Or maybe that's
what we're here for.
How do you like retirement?
Well, I got a lot of plans.
Learn Italian, go to Europe...
Gotta take some
scuba diving lessons.
Plant my own vegetable garden,
practice my guitar,
spend time with
my long-lost son.
How is that going?
One out of six ain't bad.
[Both laughing]
Shane tells me
you've got a letter
that isn't looking
very, uh, what is it?
Uh...
"Providential."
[Laughs]
Does this mean
you're admitting defeat?
Absolutely not.
Something tells me
that letter is on
its own timetable.
When something
tells you something,
what does that sound like?
Uh... well...
Sometimes you hear it
as just a still, small
voice in your head,
but usually everything
just goes quiet,
and you realize it's just
sitting there inside me,
like it's always been there.
And what's that voice
telling you about that letter?
Uh, well, nothing
but dead ends so far.
[Chuckling]
Well, I'm a former
expeditor for the competition.
Maybe I can help.
Well, there isn't much to go on.
Believe it or not,
they found it in
that prop mailbox
we were using for the
commercial the other day.
Ripped and mangled envelope,
covered in peanut
butter, bicycle grease...
Been run over by a car?
Yes?
It was a kid!
He asked me if we
could deliver anything,
even if it was totally wrecked.
It had to be him!
Well, the little kid
wouldn't realize
it wasn't a real mailbox.
He rode a bike.
He had on a cap.
It was one of those
team baseball caps.
It said...
"Kennedy...
Celtics."
Well, we could track him
down through the team.
I need to call Shane.
You could use my cell phone,
but I busted it in the fall.
[Sighing]
I don't mean to sound dramatic,
but this actually may be
a matter of life or death.
We'll pack out first
thing in the morning.
[Birds singing]
[Pours out the
last of the coffee]
All right, dad. Time to get up.
You already missed the sunrise.
Dad?
Dad?
Dad?
[Weakly] Yeah...
Time for the sniff test.
Where's the t-shirt?
[]
Oh, man.
[Rita]: Oh, this is
new Mexico, Norman.
We have to adapt.
[Norman]: I just don't
trust a grocery store
with beads for a front door.
Oh...
[]
Hi. We're looking for
the welcome center.
Welcome.
Oh. [Chuckles]
Igneous rock seminars
are in the conference center,
buses for the
petrified forest tours
leave out front
every 30 minutes.
Oh, we're actually looking
for a Mexican restaurant.
Well, you're in new Mexico,
so how hard are you lookin'?
We're looking for the one
with the hottest mole sauce.
You want the hottest...
Yes, please.
"Super-hottest..."
"Hottest in new Mexico,"
"hottest in Las Vegas..."
"Hottest west of
the rio grande,"
"too hot to handle,"
or "hotter than
hell-in-a-handbasket hot"?
What's the difference?
Well, it's the peppers.
Start with your habaneros.
You got your red ones,
your green ones,
your white ones,
you move on up from there
to your Trinidad scorpions,
your Carolina brain-burners,
devil's tongues,
nuclear winters,
to the mother of 'em
all, "instant insanity."
[Ringing cowbell]
[Chuckles] Oh...
I don't suppose they're
all on the same street?
Nope.
Well, I'm hungry now.
This'll be fun!
[]
That wasn't so...
[]
Mm! [Laughs]
[Huffing]
[Rita]: Mm!
Oh...
You're doing great!
Woo!
Ai, yi, yi, yi
oh! [Chuckles]
You're okay.
[Norman shrieking]
[Gasping]
Norman, would you
say, if you could speak,
that the aztec
grim reaper pepper
is the hottest mole in
Las Vegas, new Mexico?
- [Whimpers in consent]
- That's great!
Then consuela's cozy kitchen
is the place we're looking for,
and Sandy'll be at
the end of that road.
Oh, Norman! Isn't
that wonderful?
[He gurgle-burps] Norman?
[Phone line ringing]
Sort of a green-gray?
With a touch of, uh... yellow.
That'd be a good thing, though,
because he was
all green for a while.
Well, does he have a fever?
It's hard to tell
if it's a fever
or just actual heat
coming off of his body.
[Gasps] Oh!
[Gurgle-burp] Oh...
Oh! Oh! Oops!
There he goes again.
Well, you guys obviously aren't
gonna be at work tomorrow.
Oh, I tried to call Oliver,
but there was no answer.
Oh, well, he went
camping with his dad, but...
he'll be back tonight.
What? What happened
about your date?
Oh, don't worry, it's all good.
Ask Norman where the t-shirt is.
- [Norman]: swing low...
- Oh, I gotta go.
Thanks! Bye!
Coming for to carry me home
Oh!
Hello?
[Oliver]: I want to
get you to a doctor
before that
infection gets worse.
[Joe]: Laid low by a
scratch. I feel so stupid.
[Oliver]: Dad, could've been me.
I just...
Want to get you to the
doctor before it gets any worse.
Well, the trailhead
should be right over...
No. Right over there.
Should be on the
road in half an hour.
I just need to sit a second.
Oh, yeah. Sure.
It's a good thing
we're almost there.
Oh, man.
So I need to, uh,
make a confession.
Okay.
Yesterday you asked me
if you'd ever been in
these woods before.
And you have.
When?
You were about seven or eight,
and you kept begging
your mom and me
to take you hiking
in the mountains.
So we did, and you loved it.
You-you loved
the freedom and the-the birds...
Kept running out ahead of
us to protect us from the bears.
Huh!
And then you ran
out so far ahead
that we lost you.
And we started calling out,
and things got scary
and we panicked,
and she blamed
me and I blamed her,
and, well...
We got in a fight.
Not our first one.
But something about
being alone out in the forest
made it seem so much
more raw and bitter
than it had ever been before,
like there was nothing civilized
there to make us hold back,
and we said some awful stuff.
And then we
looked around, and...
And there you were,
standing there, watching us,
absolutely broken-hearted.
I could never get you
to come back to the mountains
after that.
You were so afraid
that your mom and I
would start fighting again.
You were always trying
to protect us from the bears.
You even asked
me if there was a way
for you to go to the forest
without actually
going to the forest,
so, I, well...
[Chuckles]
That's why you got me
"bird songs of the
rocky mountains?"
It was that or an
evergreen air freshener.
[Both chuckling]
[Groaning]
Your mother left us
a few weeks later.
It wasn't my fault,
and it definitely wasn't yours.
But I think...
All these years
that little boy deep
down inside of you
has believed it was...
And you've lost a lot of time
and you've missed a lot of love.
And look how long it took
you to come back to the forest.
Don't wait for the
pain to go away, Ollie.
Just...
Just leave it here
on the mountain.
Okay, son?
And go back and start over.
[]
Ready?
Yes.
Let's go home.
[Groaning]
And the car should be right...
[]
[]
'Morning!
Oliver?
Hello?
[Rita]: Oh, well...
This is it, the end of the road.
And here we go.
And here we go.
Norman?
I was just thinking.
If I call that man
who gave me his card
and-and if he offers me
that dream job in D.C.
And if I say yes...
Well, this could be
the last dead letter
that I ever deliver.
[Sighs]
Well...
Then you should be very proud,
because that letter
is going to make
a real difference
for someone.
And when you look back...
You will always know
that you put your whole
heart and soul into it.
And my lower intestine.
Uh, y-yeah.
[Laughs]
Okay.
[Buzzing]
[Woman]: May I help you?
Oh. Uh... hi.
We're from the, um...
We're from the usps.
Um, we're trying to
deliver a letter to someone
we believe is the care-giver
to a lady named Sandy?
[Door lock clicks open]
Thank you.
I'm not sure if this is
the right place, but...
You're in the right
place. She'll be right out.
Uh, Sandy?
Is she okay?
Hi?
Oh! Hi!
Are you Sandy?
Oh. No.
This is Sandy.
[Laughs] Oh!
[Barking]
[Norman and Rita laugh]
[Norman]: Hey, Sandy!
You got a special delivery.
[Dogs barking]
[Norman]: This letter
made it seem like...
She didn't have much time.
Well, she was in
trouble there for a while.
Topper was right to worry.
I'm confused. Who
does she belong to?
Sandy's a contract working dog.
She does the same
job as a combat dog,
only she's owned by a company
that contracts with the military
to send k9 units into war zones.
The handlers we
train are usually
former army or marines,
like topper.
This is his t-shirt.
So topper wrote the letter?
He's written a few.
So were they partners?
The best k9 team
we ever trained.
They attached
to 16 different
support operations,
and they did incredibly
dangerous work,
searching for explosives
and people who make them.
I read once
that if you had
two million apples,
a dog could smell
out one rotten one.
Well, let's just say
she found a lot of rotten
apples in Afghanistan.
[Chuckling]
Until...
Something happened?
Sandy was getting close
to uncovering something,
and somebody tossed a
grenade in the embassy.
They both survived,
but they both came
back with PTSD.
Why aren't they together now?
It sounds harsh,
but Sandy wasn't topper's pet.
I've never saw a dog and a man
that loved each other so much,
but topper was an
employee of that company,
and Sandy is, well...
Considered equipment.
Ohh. They should be together.
You never forget your
partner, and, well, look...
Sandy's never
forgotten her best friend,
but from that letter,
it sounds like topper
wasn't getting better.
Sandy would be able
to make him better.
Probably.
But...
Well, the only way
he could have her
would be to buy her
from the company.
And topper wanted to,
but he just doesn't
have that kind of money.
[Sandy whimpers]
Good girl.
Yeah.
[]
[Panting]
[Norman]: And being
the communication liaison
for the office of postal
heritage in Washington D.C...
That would be a bold move.
Well, as the treasurer
of the O'Toole foundation,
you've made a big one
today, don't you think?
Yeah.
Besides, how could
I go to Washington
and leave you behind?
Oh, Norman.
If you ever leave me,
I'm coming with you.
[]
[]
[Calling out]: Hello?
Hello?
Forget it, Oliver.
I just need a little rest,
and then you can help me up,
and we'll try again.
Dad, I don't think you can.
Well, we can't spend
another night here.
What is it? Monday?
Well, someone will
notice we're missing,
and they'll send help.
I didn't tell anyone
where we were going.
Did you?
[]
[Sighing] Oliver? Come on.
Please pick up.
[Ringing]
[Shivering and wincing]
[Gasping]
Bet you wish you were having
that dinner at
montaldo's now, huh?
[Laughs weakly and gasps]
[Groans]
Oh, dad, I am so sorry.
I had no idea
it was more than
just a small cut.
It didn't feel like more
than... More than that, either.
Ohh...
Don't blame yourself.
[Gasps and groans]
Oh, I'm obv...
I'm obviously not
getting any better, so...
I think you're gonna have to
hike out of here in the morning
and get some help.
I'm not gonna leave you here.
Oh. Oh...
[Breath shaking]
What if this goes septic, dad?
[Shivering]
W-We'll be fine, Ollie.
Y-Your mom and I j-just
disagree sometimes.
You just go have... Have fun.
[Shivering]
[Engine shuts off]
Joe? Oliver?
[Lifting objects]
Yes!
[Fits key in door lock
and unlocks the door]
Hello?
Joe?
Yes. Could I have
extension 1414, please?
Hi. It's Shane mcinerney.
Not good.
I'm calling because...
Maybe I'm just over-reacting,
but I'm not sure what to do.
I think I need your help.
[Sirens wail]
Yeah.
[Sighing]
Okay.
Uh, forest service is checking
park entrances for Joe's truck.
But that could be
anywhere. He never said...
Well, I'm hoping to get
a hit on an atm
or a gas purchase
or even Joe's cell phone.
That way, we can
start to narrow it down.
For now, we just have to wait.
Which is the hardest part.
No cream or sugar?
[Chuckles] Nah. In
my line of business,
you learn to keep things simple.
You're worried, too, aren't you?
[Clears her throat]
When a man and his father
go backpacking in
the woods for two days,
and three days
later they're not back,
it's... unusual.
[Chuckles sadly]
Oliver O'Toole
backpacking at all is unusual.
[Laughing]
It is hard to imagine.
[Laughs again]
You've known him a long time?
Almost 16 years.
He was a mailman on my
beat when I was a street cop,
and we had a lot
of things in common,
so we'd go for coffee
once in a while, and...
He was the one who got
me singing in the choir,
and we went to
this prayer group...
Were you two ever... ahem.
You know.
Tsk. Uh...
The timing was
never right back then.
And you gotta trust the timing.
You said that
before, at the church.
It's just something
we say to each other.
You know...
"To everything
there is a season..."
a time to be born
and a time to die.
I... I've heard him say that.
He believes it, too.
The problem is...
If god has everything
all figured out, then...
What's the point of
praying for anything?
W-Well, I guess I don't
pray to change god...
I pray to change me.
[Phone starts ringing]
Travers.
Okay.
Right.
Good. Thank you.
They spent Friday
night at cedardale lodge,
they checked out
Saturday morning,
and they went straight
towards eldorado canyon.
[]
[Police radio crackling
in background]
It what? Say that again.
Rita! I'm in the mountains!
[Rita]: I said...
We delivered the letter,
but we have a surprise!
Whatever it is, don't
worry about it now. Uh...
I think something
terrible has happened.
Oliver and his dad
never came back
from their camping trip.
What?
[Tearfully]: I'm in
east eldorado
canyon with the police
and forest service
and Dale Travers,
and they think
that Joe and Oliver are
lost up there somewhere,
and...
It's just so big
and dark, and...
They can't put a search party
together until the morning.
[Sniffling]
Rita, i'm... I'm scared.
We're... We're a
couple hours away,
but we'll get there as
fast as we can, okay?
So just... Just hang in there.
And pray.
I don't know how.
[]
Are you okay?
I don't...
I don't know if...
If... if I...
Can bear it if anything...
[Sobbing]
Oliver.
[Dale]: I know. I know.
Oh... god.
Hallelujah
Ollie?
Yeah, I'm right here, dad.
I love you, Ollie.
Hallelujah
I love you too.
I just wanted to
be sure I said it.
Shh. Hey...
Hold on, 'Kay? Just hold on.
You just have to make
it till morning, right?
I'm right here.
[]
Hallelujah hallelujah
hallelujah...
Yeah. Got that?
Hallelujah
hallelu
hallelujah
[Deep breath, sighs]
I've been doing
this a long time,
and...
It's times like this
that we find out
who you really are
and what really matters.
[Sad chuckle] Guess we found out
that I can't handle
the pressure.
[Laughs]
No.
It's just the opposite.
[Chuckles weakly]
You followed your instincts,
you made the right call,
and you didn't fall
apart until it felt safe.
Am I?
Am I safe?
Oliver's my friend.
[Chuckles and sighs]
That's funny.
He said the same
thing about you.
[Chuckles]
[Horn honking]
Oh!
Norman!
Rita! Over here!
So? Any news?
Well, they found
Joe's truck over there.
There are six trails,
and they could have
taken any one of them.
They can't do
anything until morning.
How come?
[Dale]: Search and rescue
can't start their foot search
until first light.
It's gonna take
a lot of volunteers
to cover all the trails,
and even then, there's
a storm expected,
so air support's
gonna be limited.
So...
We just have to wait.
Well, if there is
anything that we can do...
Um... Sandy.
You have a minute?
So... look.
I know what it feels like
to think that the world
is full of loud noises
and big surprises that
you don't like getting.
And just... you just
wanna be safe someplace
where you think you
won't get scared again.
But, you know,
sometimes all it takes
is for somebody to tell
you that you're special,
uh, to make you think
that you could be more
than you think you were,
or do more than
you think you could,
and next thing you know,
the world's your oyster.
Wait, uh...
Do dogs like oysters?
Look, my point is,
thinking big and being bold
only seems hard until
you take the first step.
And I don't want
be pushy, but...
[Takes a breath]
Oliver's my best friend,
so when we get out there,
I'm gonna need you
to take the first step.
And if you do that,
then maybe someday
topper will too.
Sunrise isn't until 5:58, so...
[Sandy barking]
That is a beautiful dog!
This isn't just any dog.
This is Sandy.
This is Sandy?
[Laughs] Oh!
And guess what Sandy can do?
Oh!
And I've still got
part of his choir robe.
Here it is.
It should work. He
wears it every Sunday.
What do I do?
Uh, let her smell it,
and see what she does.
[Sniffing]
Is there, like, a secret word?
Like... "Go," or...?
[Sandy barks]
Careful, Norman!
[Barking]
Is this a crazy idea?
Absolutely it is,
but what else do you call it
when a rescue dog shows up
when you really need one?
Oliver's divine delivery theory.
Oh. That's one of
his best theories.
[]
[Barking]
[Dale]: Well, when can
you get the other dogs?
We've only got one here,
and we've got
six trails to cover.
[Sighing]
Joe! Oliver!
Joe!
Joe!
Oliver!
Oliver!
Joe!
[Barking]
[Barking]
Officers!
Park officers! Rangers!
[Barking]
[Barking]
[Distant barking]
[Barking]
Hello?
[Shouting]: Hello!
Over here!
[Barking]
Hello! Over here!
[Barking]
Oliver!
[Barking]
Oliver!
Norman! Oh, my god!
Oh, my god.
Please, over here!
[Radio crackles]
Help to base camp.
- We've located them, ma'am.
- Yes!
They've been found.
Thank you.
Oh, Norman.
[Whimpers]
Clear the way, there, please.
Yes, sir.
[Gasps] Norman!
Oliver!
[Ranger]: Everybody
back, please!
We need some space, folks.
Folks, just step
aside here, please.
[Siren wails]
You see, if the frame
is bent even a little bit,
then the balance
is gonna be off,
even if the wheel
looks straight.
[Bell jingles]
Oh, hey!
Hi. I'm, um...
The guy from the post office.
Right! Yeah.
Turns out we had
the right place after all.
Great.
So you delivered your letter?
Uh, yeah.
And they... They
sent back an answer.
For topper.
She's out there.
[Chuckles]
[]
Hey, topper?
There's someone here to see you.
Hey-hey-hey. Hey.
Go see what's up.
I think you better
come out, top.
[]
[Barks]
[Barking]
Sandy?
[Barks]
[Laughs] Sandy!
Sandy! Come here!
Come here! Come here, girl!
Hi, girl! Hi!
[Laughing] Hi!
Hi! [Giggling deliriously]
That is 14 enchiladas' worth
of happiness over there.
Mm.
And worth every one.
[Laughs]
What are you thinking?
I'm thinking big.
So, you want to go
get some breakfast?
[Laughs] No!
[Laughs]
[]
[Laughing]
[Car doors shutting]
You were about an
hour away from sepsis.
Let me guess.
It just looked like a
small puncture wound,
nothing to worry about,
and you boys
weren't turning back
for a little scratch?
Something like that.
You were very lucky.
I'll see you later.
Thank you.
You see? I'm lucky.
Luck is the
religion of the lazy.
Who said that?
I did.
[Laughs]
So you're sticking
with your providential
perfect-timing theory, huh?
Remember that kid
with the letter
and the ball cap?
That letter led Rita and Norman
to the dog that
found us this morning.
It's easier to call that luck,
I guess, than...
to trust the timing
was something else.
Well...
One way or the other,
it was something
else, all right.
[Chuckling]
So I guess I owe you a dinner.
You don't owe me a thing.
That nurse says
Shane and Dale are waiting.
Shane and Dale, huh?
Good luck with that.
[Laughs]
Something tells me
you'll know what to say.
Dad?
Yeah?
There's been too much
leaving in this family.
Let's not do that anymore.
Got it.
[]
I have never been so happy
to see anyone in my entire life
as I was this morning.
I must look awful.
You look terrible.
[Both laughing]
Thank you.
For everything.
I wish I could take the credit.
Shane made the call.
Where is she?
[]
[]
In every heart
there is a room
a sanctuary safe and strong
to heal the wounds
from lovers past
until a new one comes along
I spoke to you
in cautious tone
Well...
I, uh...
Certainly didn't expect
to find you in here.
[Chuckles]
Neither did I.
I was just so...
grateful.
[Sobs]
[Sniffles]
When I was...
Up on that mountain...
I was so afraid.
I was afraid I was
gonna lose my dad.
Afraid that I might not
get off the mountain.
Afraid that I had
waited too long...
[Sighs]
to start my life over.
[]
Every woman in my life...
Who truly mattered...
Has broken my heart.
So I...
Learned to stop taking chances,
because I never wanted
to feel that way again.
But last night...
When I thought I might
not see the sunrise,
I started to pray.
I prayed for the chance
to live long enough
to be here right now,
to tell you that I hope
our first date isn't our last.
[Sob escapes]
That life is too short
to only drink Yoo-hoo.
[Laughing]
And I'm ready to...
To try a... um...
Bee pollen and ginger
and koombatcha smoothie.
"Kombucha."
Kombucha.
[Laughs]
And I'm also ready
to tell you that...
I know you don't
believe in miracles...
You would be surprised
what I'm starting to believe.
And you're the
only one who knows
and so it goes
and so it goes
and so will you
soon I suppose
[Kiss]
Thank you...
For saving my life.
So I will share
this room with you
and you can have
this heart to break
[]