Spirit of Friendship (2024) Movie Script

1
(film whirring and clicking)
(dramatic music)
(bright gentle music)
(mouse clicks)
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(bright music)
(bright music)
- [Ryan] Dad?
- Hey guys, what's up?
- Well...
(Charlie sighs)
- What's on your minds?
- Pop-Pop.
- Yeah. Okay.
Uh, what about him?
- It's just, I miss
him, Dad. Like a lot.
- It's okay to miss
him. I, I miss him too.
- Me too.
(gentle music)
- It's, uh, it's hard losing
someone that we love, isn't it?
- It's just, I wish we
could still talk to him.
- Just because he isn't here
doesn't mean you can't
talk to him anymore.
- Really?
- Really.
See, uh, you know, when
I was about your age,
I lost my mom.
- You mean Grammy?
- Yes.
It's your Grammy.
It was my mother.
And, uh,
when she passed away, I, uh,
I, really, uh,
I didn't know how to
live my life without her.
- What did you do?
(gentle music continues)
- (sighs) Well, about a, about
a year after she passed away
between the ages of 12 and 13.
- That's how old Charlie is.
- Yes, she is.
Which is why I thought
this story would help.
See, well, it was the fall
and school had just started,
which was always a tough time
of the year for me anyway.
But it was also the year
that I would meet the man who
would change my life forever.
(gentle music)
See, I was sitting out on
my porch one day with my dog
having ourselves a
little pity party,
looking at pictures of my mom.
Oh, I was missing her so much.
I just, I didn't know what to
do without her. I was lost.
I just wished so badly
that I could talk to
her one more time.
Even if it meant there
was just one more time.
(gentle music continues)
(birds chirping)
(bright music)
- What's up, Billy?
- Oh, hey guys. What's up?
- Gonna go hang at
the court. You coming?
- Yeah, sure.
Come on.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
- Got ya!
- Yeah, right.
- Yes. I did.
- You didn't.
- Did.
- Didn't.
- Did!
- Didn't!
- Yes, I did.
- Nope.
- Yes.
- Nope.
- Yes.
- Nope.
- Billy, didn't I get this kid?
- Yeah, sure.
- He wasn't even looking.
- You weren't even
looking. Got him!
- That doesn't even
make any sense.
- Of course, it makes sense.
- Oh.
Um, are you doing all right?
- Yeah, I'm, I'm good.
You totally got 'em.
- [Jake] You mean Mike got me?
- Yeah, sure. Whatever.
- You, you all right, man?
Say something.
- You say something.
- I just said something.
- Say something.
(Jake whispers indistinctly)
- No, you say something now.
- No, you say something.
- I just said something.
- No, you have to say something.
- You say something.
- Guys, I'm good.
Neither you have to say
anything. I just miss her.
- Well, yeah.
- It's just really weird.
And she used to do
everything around here,
and now my dad just sits
around doing nothing,
and it's just really
weird without her here.
- I saw this thing online
about how to talk to spirits.
- Shut up.
(playful music)
- But I did.
- Shut up, man.
That's totally insensitive.
Don't you say that
kind of stuff.
- You really think
I could talk to her?
- Well, it's worth a shot.
- I, I mean, he is right.
It as worth a shot, I guess.
- How's it work?
(playful music continues)
- Well, basically this video
will explain everything.
- [Older Billy] Jake
would spend the next hour
explaining what he
read on the internet
and how it might actually
work if we do it right.
I wasn't sure it would
work. I had questions.
And we were gonna need
to do some more research
before we could be sure.
When I needed to think
through a problem,
I would go home and
play fetch with my dog.
It helped me work
through problems,
just sitting and
tossing a ball to him.
- Greg, come back. Come on.
Come back. Greg.
Come over here. Come back.
Good boy.
(Greg panting)
- Billy, I have to
run to the office.
You gonna be okay
for a little while?
- Sure.
- Okay.
- Dad?
- Yeah.
- Do you think I could
find a way to talk to mom?
(somber music)
- I don't think that's
the way it works, buddy.
- Well, Jake was saying that
you saw us thing online,
and...
- No offense to your friend,
Billy, but I don't think
Jake's known for being the
brains of any operation.
- Dad.
- Look, I know you miss your
mom. I miss her too, trust me.
I wish I could find a
way to talk to her, too.
Unfortunately, that just
isn't the way the world works.
- Why did she have to die?
- We all die, eventually.
(somber music continues)
- Well, it's not fair.
- No, it isn't.
Feed the dog, please.
(somber music continues)
- He's wrong. I'm
gonna prove it.
I remember it like
it was yesterday.
It was pouring out,
but we didn't care.
We had to make a plan.
We just knew that
this would work.
- So that's the plan, huh?
- Yes.
- Well, well, well,
look who's here?
The daycare let out early?
- Yeah, the daycare
let out early?
- Well, must of,
because why else would
you guys be here?
- Oh, you got jokes.
- Yeah, you got jokes.
- Only jokes I see are the
ones standing in front of me.
- That's so funny. I'm
gonna die of laughter.
Is that how your mom died?
Did she die laughing
from of your funny jokes?
(intense music)
It's okay. You can cry.
Go ahead, cry. It's okay.
- Yeah, cry.
- Go eat shit, bitches.
- How about we beat the
shit out of you two?
- Go, go!
(kids panting)
- Nice.
(rain pattering)
(Billy sighs)
- You okay, man?
- Let's go get
those losers, Billy.
Should've punched him
right in his face.
- Okay, but, but the thing is,
he would've punched you
back right in yours,
and you're already
pretty hard to look at.
(playful music)
(footsteps crunching)
The bike I really want
is really expensive.
I think I can swipe
my mom's credit card
without her noticing,
but it's a little risky.
- Ah, that's not smart.
I don't have no money for that-
- Hey, hey, hey.
Hey. Isn't that Emma?
- Oh my God. Whoa.
She's such a pick-me girl.
- I mean, I don't
really think so.
- Yeah, I don't think she is.
- You like her?
- No.
- You legit like her.
- Do not.
- I feel like you do.
- Shut up.
- Hey, Billy.
- Hey, Emma.
- That's it?
- That, that's all
you're gonna say?
- That's what she said.
- You gotta say more than that.
If you really like her, you
gotta say more than just,
"Hi, Emma," you derp.
- Yeah, you dork.
- Emma. Hey, Emma.
- Yeah?
Billy has something to say.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- What's that?
- Well, spit it out, Billy.
We don't have all day.
- Yeah. Come on, Billy.
Spit it out already.
- Can we just go, Emma?
- Just a sec.
Do you actually
like this weirdo?
- No.
- Let's go.
- Oh, well, well, I,
I was, I was like,
I was just like...
- O-M-G. Is this
for real though?
- Literally though.
- I was wondering if, like,
I was wondering
if, if maybe like,
when, when you're, when
you're not busy, like,
I mean, it's fine
if you are busy,
but like, when you're
not busy, like,
I mean, if you are busy,
but then maybe, like,
after you're busy, like maybe-
- Oh my God.
- Abby.
- I'm sorry. You,
you're probably busy.
I'll, just forget it.
- Maybe that's for the best.
- Come on, Em.
- Would you like to come
to the cemetery with us?
(playful music)
- The cemetery?
Are you serious?
You're such a weirdo.
- No, I mean, well,
I, I probably am,
but we, we saw a thing online
that I, I might be
able to talk to my mom.
- That's so weird.
- It's definitely just
a little different.
- Well, maybe it is
and maybe it isn't,
but he wasn't asking
either of you,
so stop being so extra.
- What evs.
(gentle music)
- So would you?
(playful music continues)
- Phone.
(playful music continues)
Text me.
- Is this your number?
- Just text me.
- Hey, Billy.
Billy, are you there?
- Billy?
- What you got there?
- Emma Porter's number.
- Oh, wow, you got her number?
Didn't hear anything about that.
- Well, Abby is
100% a pick-me girl.
- That, we can agree on.
- Yep.
- I got Emma Porter's number.
Like, the Emma
Porter from school.
- Yeah, you did.
- How do you like them apples?
- Wait, who is Emma?
- Emma Porter?
Oh, well only the
prettiest girl in school.
- What does any of this
have to do with Pop-Pop?
- Everything.
- Doesn't feel like it.
(bright music)
- The next day.
(bright music continues)
Got it.
(rocks clattering)
- Nice.
- From what I was
reading online,
we need something important
to connect to the spirits,
something that is
important to the spirits
for connecting to.
- Like what?
- Um, got it.
- Nice.
- Probably, um, I don't know.
Billy, what were some of
your mom's favorite things?
- Well, she had lots
of favorite things.
- Jewelry?
- She didn't really
wear lots of jewelry.
- Clothing?
- Not that I can think of.
- Food?
Got it.
- Not really.
- Um, weren't you
guys always doing
those qua, cross,
word puzzle things?
- Crosswords?
- That's what it was.
Crosswords.
- May, maybe that's it.
Do you guys have crossword book
that you guys always
worked on together?
- For sure.
- Perfect. Let's start there.
- I'll go grab it.
(bright music)
(rocks rattling)
(bright music continues)
- Got it.
- Perfect. Let's go.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where
are you boys rushing off to?
- We're gonna go
to the cemetery.
- Cemetery? Cemeteries
are not playgrounds.
- Uh, did he say cemetery?
He meant the, the park past
the cemetery. Not the cemetery.
- (sighs) Which park?
- Uh...
- We're just gonna
go take our bikes
and ride past the cemetery
and hang out at the
park for a little bit.
- What's that?
- What?
- In your hand?
- Nothing.
- Other hand.
- This?
(bright music)
- Is that Mom's crossword?
- Yeah.
- Three middle school
boys riding their bikes
to the park to do crosswords.
Yeah, that doesn't
seem fishy at all.
Look, I gotta head out soon.
Behave yourselves.
If you can't behave
yourselves, don't get caught.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
- Wait, wait, wait, wait.
So where's the spot?
- Uh, I'd say probably
near the back?
- Of course, you wanna
go to the scary spot.
- It's not even
that scary, Jake.
- [Billy] Come on!
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
(birds chirping)
(gentle music)
- We need to find some
rocks to make a circle.
- A circle?
- Yeah, a circle,
so we can put the object in
the center of the circle.
- All right. Spread out.
Come back with as many
rocks as you can find.
- Perfect.
Perfect. Now sit.
- [Billy] Now what?
- Now put the book
in the center.
(gentle music)
Perfect. Now just focus.
- Focus on what?
- The energy around us.
- Like a Jedi?
- Sure, Jake, like a Jedi.
- Dope.
- Billy, you have to talk
to the spirit around us.
- How?
- Just say something, anything.
Try to connect to
your mom. Ask them.
- Hello?
- Keep going.
- Hello, spirits.
Uh, it's Billy. Billy Russell.
I, I was wondering if
there's anybody out there.
This is stupid.
- No it's not.
Keep going. You got this.
- It's not gonna work.
- Yes it will. Don't worry.
- Hello, spirit
world. I am Jake.
My friend Billy is very sad.
He misses his mom
and we were hoping
that you could help
us contact her.
(suspenseful music)
- [Visitor] Hey, what
are you boys doing?
- Crap.
- What?
- Run!
- What are you kids doing?
- Go, go!
(energetic music)
- Hey, hey.
- Billy, let's go.
- Where are you going?
- Bill, come on!
- The book!
- Billy, come on!
- Come on, let's go!
- Come on, Billy. Go!
(energetic music continues)
- [Older Billy] We couldn't
get out of there fast enough.
I don't know if I've
ever ridden faster
than I rode that day.
I don't know if we were
doing anything wrong,
but it sure felt like we didn't
want to get caught doing it.
(bright music)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(kids panting)
- That was close.
- Too close.
- Yeah it was. That was crazy.
You said run and I
was out of there.
What kind of freaks hangs
out at a cemetery like that?
- Weren't we hanging
out in a cemetery?
- Not the same.
- Feels like it is so,
because we were at the
cemetery, hanging out.
- No.
- Yes.
- No.
- Yes.
- No.
- Yes, actually
- No, actually
- Billy, what were we doing?
- Wasting time.
- You okay, man?
- I'm fine.
- You know. I'm sorry
it didn't go as planned.
- It doesn't matter.
- We can go back.
- What's the point?
- We must have just missed
a step, that's all, Billy.
Don't worry.
- Maybe.
- We will go back.
- You don't have to.
- But we will.
(crickets chirping)
(bike rattling)
- Great, just what I needed.
(playful music)
- Where are you going, Bobby?
- Billy.
- Lance.
- What?
- Your name is Lance.
He called you Billy.
- Who called me Billy?
- Bobby did.
- Billy.
- See? He did it again.
- Did you call me Billy?
'Cause my name is Lance.
- Yeah, his name is Lance.
- Yeah. my name's Billy.
- Who cares what your name is?
- Yeah, who cares
what your name is?
- I do.
(dramatic music)
- He thinks he's tough.
- Whatever. Just
get outta my way.
- That's not very polite.
You should ask politely
if you want something.
- Yeah, ask nicely.
- You guys are being pretty
mid right now. For real.
- We're being mid?
Is this kid for real?
- Yeah, are you for real?
- Just move.
Please.
- Now he says please.
Too late. You gotta pay tax.
- Tax? I don't think so.
Gimme that back.
Hey, let go of me.
- You want this?
- Gimme that back.
- Just cry. Go ahead, cry.
- Colin, get off him.
- Mind your own business.
- Lance, tell your
troll to back off.
- Or what?
- Or I'll tell everyone
that you still sleep
with your snuggy poodle at
night and suck your thumb.
(playful music)
- There you go.
- What is this, your
boyfriend or something?
- Lance, give the book back.
Everyone. I'll tell everyone.
(playful music continues)
- It's too bad.
My little sister won't be
able to save you every time.
- That Lance kid seems
like a real jerk.
- Yeah, he pretty much was.
- Can we get back to the story?
- Oh right. Uh, yes.
- You good?
- I'm fine.
- Thank you.
- For what?
- The words you were
looking for are thank you.
- Thanks. I had it under
control when those two idiots.
- Yeah, I saw.
- Whatever.
- Just 'cause they
were jerks to you
doesn't give you the
right to be one to me.
- Your brother's a jerk.
- Yeah, I know. He sucks.
I was just trying to help.
I won't anymore. That's my bad.
- I'm sorry. Yeah, for what?
- I'm sorry for being a
jerk. Today just sucked.
It's not just him. I'm
sorry for being a jerk.
I'm, I'm sorry.
(gentle music)
- You wanna talk about it?
- Not really.
- [Older Billy]
So that afternoon,
Emma walked me all the way home,
and, uh we didn't say
one word to each other
(laughs) the entire
walk to my house.
(gentle music continues)
- You know, didn't
have to walk me home.
- It would be weird if
I had to. I wanted to.
- Really? You want to?
Why?
- Just felt like it, I guess.
- All right then.
- All right.
(bike rattles)
Where are you going?
Well, what kind of
a man would I be
if I let you walk home alone?
- A man that knows her
woman doesn't need a man
to walk her home.
- All right, then I
guess I'll stay home.
(playful music)
- I like the company.
- So are you ready to talk
about what's get getting you
so worked up earlier?
- Well, all right, well,
so we tried to talk to my
mom, and it didn't work.
- What?
So basically, Jake, Mike
and I saw this thing online
and, and it didn't work,
and then this crazy old man
kicked us out of there.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Start over.
Crazy old man in
the cemetery. What?
- It was a whole thing.
So basically what,
what happened was
we started to do research on it,
and we made our way
to the cemetery.
So apparently we were
supposed to do this,
like, circle thing,
and, um, we tried it.
We put the book in the center
and all that
fancy-shmancy stuff.
And well, it didn't work.
- [Emma] So, like a cult?
- [Billy] Well I mean, um,
you could put it that way?
No, no. We were just...
- [Older Billy] On the
way back to her house,
I explained everything.
The, the stuff that Jake
saw on the internet.
The old man, the crosswords.
- You really walked her all
the way back to her own house?
- I sure did.
- So weird.
- [Charlie] So what did she say?
- We have to try again.
- What?
- Come on, let's try
again, with all of us.
I think it'll work.
- All right then.
Go to the basketball
court tomorrow.
We'll go from there.
- All right, bye.
- Right. Bye.
(gentle music continues)
(leaves crunching)
- She's not coming.
- She is.
- She won't.
- She will.
- Won't.
- Will
- Won't.
- Shut up. She's right there.
- Told you.
- You didn't say
Harper was coming.
- I didn't know she was.
- And Abby.
- Shut up. It's cool.
Don't be mid.
- I'm mid, seriously? I'm mid?
- [Billy] You're overdoing it.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- So what are we doing exactly?
Talking to ghosts or whatever?
- Abby.
- Not a ghost. Billy's mom.
- Really?
- So what's the plan here?
- Yes, Abby, really.
- Hey Harper.
Didn't know you were coming.
- So basically,
we're gonna walk
over to Cedar Hill
and see if we can get
it to work this time.
- That's the plan?
- More or less.
- Well, it better be more,
'cause less is not cutting it.
- Shut up.
- Whatever.
(upbeat music)
- [Older Billy] I
honestly didn't know
that she was gonna be
bringing her friends,
but I wasn't mad
that she did either.
It made me feel better when
my friends were around.
They were a great distraction
from what I was feeling.
We all walked from
our neighborhood
to the cemetery together.
We had a plan, and we
were ready to execute it.
Emma was so confident
that this was gonna work
with all of us there,
but I wasn't so sure.
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
- Does anyone else think this
is weird? Or is it just me?
- It's just you.
- Your opinion does not count.
I was talking to the non
weird members of the group.
- I'm not weird.
- You're a little weird.
- I am not.
- Bro, You're kind of weird.
But that's what
we like about you.
- I don't think that's true.
- I'm not weird.
- Too bad. You know,
I kind of like weird.
(upbeat music)
I can be weird.
I'm definitely a little weird.
(upbeat music continues)
(upbeat music continues)
- Now what?
- Now we just all
need to concentrate,
concentrate on something
we remember of Billy's mom.
- What are we gonna do
next? Hold our hands?
- I mean, it's not
the worst idea,
combine our energy as one.
(gentle music)
- I am not holding his hand.
- Abby, just do it. Not
everything is about you.
- Ouch. That had to sting.
- Guys, concentrate
and close your eyes.
Billy?
- Hello Spirits.
It's Billy again, Billy Russell.
I know we were here
before, but we're back.
I really need to talk to my mom.
(gentle music continues)
It'd mean a lot if I
could talk to her again.
Please?
(gentle music continues)
- Well, that didn't work.
- Abby.
- No, she's right.
(gentle music)
(leaves crunching)
- You good?
- Yeah, I'm fine.
- Sorry about Abby.
- It, it's fine.
She's right. This is stupid.
- It's not stupid to wanna
talk to your mom again.
- I feel stupid.
- You shouldn't.
It takes a lot of guts
to go out and do that
in front of your friends.
- Heh, not that it matters,
'cause it obviously didn't work.
Well maybe, but it
was worth a shot.
- You all right man?
- Yeah, I'm good.
You guys can head out. I'm
just gonna sit for a bit.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
- You know, we can stay here
and hang out with you for a bit.
- No, just, I just wanna
be alone for a little bit.
- Okay.
- Text me if you want me
to come back or anything.
(gentle music)
Come on guys. He wants
to be alone right now.
I think he'll get
his crossword book.
(footsteps crunching)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
- After it didn't work, I just,
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
It was so embarrassing.
I was so angry that it, that
it still wasn't working.
- So it didn't work?
- (sighs) As far as I could
tell, nothing was happening.
- And you just sat in
the cemetery all alone?
- Sort of.
(bright music)
- I miss you so much.
- Missing people is hard.
- Where did you come from?
- (laughs) That is a
hard question to answer.
Where do any of us
come from, really?
- Listen, I'm not supposed
to talk to strangers, so.
- That seems reasonable.
Solid advice.
There's a lot of
weirdos out there.
I probably shouldn't talk
to you either. (laughs)
- You're not helping your case.
- Was I making a case?
- I don't know what
you were doing.
- That makes two of us.
- All right.
I'm just gonna go.
- I enjoyed this moment in time,
and I look forward
to more just like it.
- Whatever you say, man.
(twinkling music)
Funny. Real funny.
What a fricking weirdo. (sighs)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
You guys would not believe
what happened at the
cemetery when you left.
Did you conjure up some
ghosts or something?
- Yeah, what happened, Billy?
- No ghosts. But I did
meet this creepy old man.
- Only a creepy old man?
Did he give you a cursed amulet?
- Nah, nothing like that,
but it was just strange.
- Strange how?
- Well, he just kept talking
about missing people,
and I don't know,
like, weird stuff,
like enjoying time together.
Just strange.
- Enjoying time together?
Bro, you don't even
know each other.
- Well, that's what I'm saying.
But get this, the second I
turned around, he was gone.
- That's bizarre.
- Maybe he's a fast walker
or something. You never know.
- No, like literally, like,
one second he was there,
the next, poof, like magic.
- Maybe he has a
teleportation device.
- Teleportation?
Bro, like, come
on, like, really?
- You never know.
- I don't know.
But come on, like,
that's strange, right?
Strange?
- I guess
- I wanna go back.
- What?
- Seriously, Billy? Again?
- Yeah. I'm, I'm gonna
side with Jake here.
I don't think you
should go back.
- Well, I just can't
shake this feeling
that I could connect
with my mom again.
- Billy,
maybe we did it wrong,
maybe we didn't,
but we tried twice
and it didn't work.
Maybe everything on the
internet isn't real.
- I just have this feeling
something's happening,
and I, I just don't
know what or why it is.
(bright music)
But...
- Now you're talking about
some weird old man, right?
- Well, well, then I don't care.
This time, we'll just avoid him.
- Billy, we went there
twice. We failed twice.
There's some old man now.
It doesn't make
sense to go back.
Can we just all
agree not to go back?
- Agreed.
- Billy?
- Sure. Agreed.
(bright music)
- So you never went
back after that?
- Are you going to keep
interrupting the story?
- Yeah, stop
interrupting the story.
Okay, okay. Sorry.
- Yes, and so the next day,
I went back to the graveyard.
- I knew he went back
to the graveyard.
- [Older Billy]
You're very smart.
- I really need to talk to you.
Dad's not doing too well and
(sighs) I just don't know
what to do without-
- Well, well,
if it isn't our young world
weary wanderer hisself,
- I told you I'm not supposed
to talk to strangers.
- You're absolutely right.
Talking with strangers is,
isn't something one should do.
However, we're
all just strangers
in this vast land, aren't we?
- What do you mean?
- I mean, in the grand
tapestry of existence,
we're all just wandering souls,
like travelers in
a foreign land,
and the only
familiarity we can find
is in the connections
we make along the way.
- So we're all strangers?
- Indeed.
And in our shared
strangeness, (laughs)
we can find common ground,
we're all on this
journey together.
Just wandering through life,
trying to make sense of it.
- Maybe you're right.
I mean maybe, maybe being
a stranger isn't so bad.
- (laughs) Every stranger
isn't a villain or a monster.
But you are right to be
aware of the dangers.
- I mean, as long as you
don't try to be a creep
or do anything too
weird, it's okay.
- (laughs) Fair.
You're a wise one, kid.
- Billy.
- Billy. Leonard.
Nice to meet you. (laughs)
- Nice to meet you too, I guess.
(bright music)
(gentle music)
- You know, Billy, this
place holds so many stories,
some long forgotten
and some still fresh
in the memories of those
who visit. (laughs)
- Well, I can see that,
but why are you here?
- Ah, no. Someone very
special, my dear wife Margaret.
We shared a love of
crossword puzzles,
kind of our little tradition.
- Crosswords?
I mean, me and my mom,
me and my mom loved to
do crosswords together.
She thought they
were really fun.
- They are fun. But it was
so much more than that.
It was a connection.
It was a way for us to
challenge each other's minds
and bond over words. (laughs)
Margaret, (laughs) she
had a way with words.
She was quick-witted,
and she had a knack for always
finding just the right ones.
- Well, I'm sorry for
your loss, Leonard.
- Thank you. I, I miss
her every day, you know?
And after she passed,
I was hoping to reconnect
with her somehow,
even in this strange
and unfamiliar realm.
- (sighs) How do you
plan on doing that?
- Well, you know, they say
in the language of symbols
and in the, the memories
of those we cherish,
and in the love we
hold in our hearts,
that can help us find a way to
stay close to those we lost.
- So you're saying even
though we're all strangers,
we can still connect
with the people we love?
- Precisely. (laughs)
We may be all strangers
in this crazy world,
but the bonds we share
with those that we love
are stronger than any distance.
Love transcends all boundaries,
even the boundaries
of life and death.
This life is full
of mysteries, Billy,
and we may not have all
the answers, but you,
you'll realize sometimes
it's in the seeking
that we find solace.
- Well, I, I miss my mom.
She died a while ago, but I
still think of her every day.
I just, I mean,
that's why I'm here.
- I'm sorry to hear
about that, Billy.
Losing someone we
love, it's never easy.
- I just wish I could
talk to her one more time.
- Well, sometimes the most
profound conversations
happen in our hearts.
You know, like, like
silent dialogues
with those that we've lost.
- What if I could find a
way, like you were saying,
to talk to them one more time?
- If you believe in the power
of the connection, Billy,
who's to say what's possible?
You, you keep your heart open,
you just might find
the answers you seek.
- Maybe someday
I'll find the way
to connect with there again.
- Maybe.
- I should probably
head home now.
- All right. You
take care now, Billy.
Don't be a stranger,
to those around you or
to the mysteries of life.
- You're so weird.
(twinkling music)
Why do you keep doing that?
(bright music)
(footsteps crunching)
(bright music continues)
- You know, something kind of
interesting happened today.
- What happened?
- Well, I met this
old guy named Leonard,
and we talked about
a bunch of stuff.
- Leonard who?
- He's the guy was
telling you about,
that's kind of quirky, but cool.
Talks about how we're
all strangers, but,
and we can, through memories,
we can connect with
the people we've lost.
- What does that even mean?
- Even though we're
all different,
and that we can be strangers
to each other sometimes,
we'll find common ground.
And just like when we're,
just like how we make memories
with the people we've lost
and those keep us connected.
It's like even
when they're gone,
they're not really gone,
because you remember them.
- Losing somebody you
love must be really hard.
- Yeah, it really is.
- I'm sorry, you have
to go through that, too.
And he, he was saying
that he was trying
to find a way to
reconnect with her,
like, I am with my mom.
- Do you think he'll find a way?
- Yeah, I'll think
he'll find a way,
just like I think I'll find a
way to talk to my mom again.
- Maybe you and Leonard
can like help each other
keep each others' spirits
alive in your hearts.
- Yeah, um, maybe.
(gentle music)
- Well, I gotta get going.
- I, I have something I
wanna talk to you about.
- Yeah?
- So I just feel really,
like, comfortable around you.
Like it feels-
- Different.
- Yeah, different.
- Different how?
- Well it's, it's like
more than friends,
whatever that means.
- All right, well, we
should probably get going.
- Right.
Well, would you like
to come meet Leonard
at the cemetery?
- Sure.
(gentle music continues)
(twinkling music)
- Hey Dad,
do you think you
can, you can connect
with the people we love
even when they're gone?
- Connect? How do you mean?
- Well, like, talk to them and
keep 'em a part of your life.
- You're talking
about mom again.
- Leonard said we should try
to connect the
people we've lost.
- Leonard?
- He, he's this old guy
I met at the cemetery.
- What are you doing
playing in the cemetery?
- I wasn't playing
in the cemetery.
I was there because I miss mom.
- I know you miss
your mom. We all do.
Going to the cemetery's
not the right way to cope.
- Well, Leonard was saying we
might be able to find a way
to reconnect with mom, like,
even though she's
not there anymore.
(gentle music)
- I understand you're hurting,
but talking to mom like
that, it's not realistic.
She's gone, son, and
she's not coming back.
- Well, you obviously
don't understand.
You don't know what
it's like to lose her.
I'm not just gonna
forget about her.
- I didn't mean it that way.
I just worry about you
spending so much time
fantasizing about something
that isn't going to happen.
- Well, I'm not gonna stop, Dad.
I'm going to find a
way to talk to her,
even if this is the only way.
- You're just being silly.
Look, that isn't the
way reality works.
You're being childish.
- Maybe I'm not the
one being unrealistic.
Ever consider that?
(somber music)
(somber music continues)
- [Older Billy] Emma really
was a pretty big factor
in how many times I
ended up at the cemetery.
It felt like she really
wanted me to be able
to connect with my mom,
and she really wanted to
understand who Leonard was
and why I just kept
talking about him.
- You know, I was (clears
throat) really hoping
that you'd be able to
meet Leonard today.
I think you'd really like him.
- Well, where is he?
- I dunno. He's usually
around here somewhere.
- Is he playing hide
seek or something?
- No, he is not
playing hide seek.
He's just, it's
just unpredictable.
- What's so special
about this guy, anyway?
It's just the way
he explains things
and about connecting with
people through time and space.
- That's some deep
stuff. (laughs)
- (sighs) Yeah.
I mean, it is just,
he helps me think
of things differently, you know?
And especially about my mom.
- Well, I'm looking
forward to meeting him.
- I'm excited for
you to meet him, too.
(footsteps crunching)
(footsteps crunching)
I dunno, it's just (sighs)
he's always right here.
- Well, should we call
his name or something?
- (sighs) No, but I mean,
probably deaf by now.
I don't know.
(Emma laughs)
No, I mean-
- Well...
- That's not how it
works, um, but I dunno.
It's just really weird.
Normally I see him around here.
- Yeah, well it doesn't
look like he's here.
- I know that, but it's just,
it's just weird that (sighs)
he always up eventually.
- Yeah, well, he's
not really showing up.
Um, what does your dad
think about all this?
- I don't think he'll
ever understand.
(phone buzzing)
- I'm sorry.
It must be really
hard to deal with.
- (sighs) Yeah.
I just wish I could again
understand though, you know?
- Sorry, I really gotta
go. My mom's expecting me.
(gentle music)
Are you sure you can't stay
a little longer?
I really wanted you to
be able to meet Leonard.
- Yeah, me too. But
I really have to go.
- Just, just maybe
a little longer.
- I'm sorry. I gotta go.
(bright music)
- [Older Billy] I
was really excited
for Emma to meet Leonard,
but I knew she
couldn't sit around
waiting all day
for him to show up.
That didn't mean I
wasn't going to wait.
I don't remember
exactly how long
I would sit there waiting
to talk to Leonard,
but time didn't
seem to matter much.
I just knew Leonard
seemed to be the only one
that understood
how I was feeling.
Having someone that
really understood
what I was struggling with made
it seem like there was hope,
hope that I would be able
to talk to my mother again.
So I would wait,
for as long as it took.
(bright music continues)
- Hello there, Billy.
- Leonard.
You would not believe who was
just here, my friend Emma.
I really wanted you to meet
her, but she had to leave.
- Oh, I'm sorry I missed her.
- Would've loved to
have met your friend.
Mind if I join you?
- Go ahead.
- Tell me about her.
- (laughs) Emma's incredible.
She's smart, kind,
pretty, strong.
- She's pretty strong?
- No, she's pretty and strong,
but now I think about it.
She's pretty strong too,
but definitely pretty.
- (laughs) Well she sounds
like a remarkable young lady.
- She has this
great sense of humor
and always knows how
to make me laugh.
She even stands up to
her older brother, Lance,
even when he's
being a real jerk.
- Whoa.
Well, (laughs) she sounds
like really special person.
You're lucky to have
her as a friend.
- I am. She's the legit best.
I mean, Jake and
Mike are awesome,
but Emma's just different.
- Hmm. (laughs)
(bright music)
Oh wow.
You know, even though I
missed seeing her today,
I, I could tell
it's clear she's had
a nice, positive
impact on your life.
And that's what life's
all about, right?
Connecting with others,
just like we talked about.
- I didn't even
think about that.
- Yeah.
Heh, you know, listening
to you talk about Emma
reminds me of someone
I hold very dear.
- Who's that?
- My wife Margaret.
(laughs) She was
quite something,
just like your Emma,
by the sounds of it.
- How?
Margaret was a light of my life,
just like Emma
sounds like to you.
She had this incredible quality
of making everyone
around her feel special
just with a, a smile
or a kind word.
- That's exactly what
Emma is, Leonard.
I mean, when I'm with her,
I feel like the luckiest
man in the world.
- (laughs) Oh, Margaret had
this infectious laughter
that could frighten up
even the darkest days.
She would say
"Life's too short to be
sad all the time, my love."
- My mom used to say that
life is always better
when you're laughing.
I think that's what I
like most about Emma.
- Yeah, my Margaret and I,
we used to do
everything together.
We'd go on long walks, try to
solve those crossword puzzles.
We'd just sit quietly,
feeling each other's presence.
- Me and Emma have been spending
lots more time together.
She even asked me
to text her later.
- Oh, oh. (laughs)
You cherish every moment
you have with Emma, Billy.
Oh, that connection is a gift,
just like I had
with my Margaret.
Friendship like that is rare.
A lot of people go
through their entire lives
without ever finding it.
- Really?
- Yes, really.
- I can't imagine
life without friends.
- (laughs) Me either.
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(leaves rustling)
- (sighs) My dad doesn't
think I should keep trying
to connect with mom.
He thinks I should just move on.
- Well, I, I can
understand why your dad
might feel that way, Billy.
Losing someone you
love is never easy,
and everyone copes differently.
- Well, I just hate
the feeling of my mom
thinking that I've
forgotten about her.
- You know, it's
beautiful that you want
to honor your mom's
memory, Billy.
(gentle music)
Perhaps you can help your dad
understand why it's
important to you.
- (sighs) Well,
how can I do that?
- Well, you can start by having
an honest conversation
with him, hmm?
Share your feelings
and explain to him
that connecting with
your mom is a way
to feel closer to her.
- I've tried, but he
just doesn't listen.
- Oh, well.
Sometimes it takes people time
to see things from
our perspective.
- I just don't know
what else to do.
- You can try to bring back
the laughter and the fun,
like you and your mom
had when she was alive.
- Well, how do I do that?
- Well, hey, think of the things
that made you and
your mom laugh,
the places you visited,
the games you played
and, and, and recreate
those memories
and share 'em with your dad.
(upbeat music)
- I can do that.
I'll find a way to help my dad
remember the fun
times we had with mom.
- Yes.
Friendship and laughter and fun,
they have a great way of
healing and connecting people.
You keep those memories alive,
and your dad may begin to
see things differently.
Hey, did you ever gleek?
- What?
- Oh yeah.
Gleek. Shoot spit outta
your mouth on purpose.
You can hit people, your,
your pets, freak 'em out.
Teachers will go nuts.
- No, I don't, I don't
have that life skill.
(upbeat music continues)
- So, Billy, you've been
talking to Emma a lot recently.
What's up with that?
- We're we're just hanging
out, talking and stuff.
- Come on man. Just
spill the beans already.
- Is it world domination?
Is it a romantic love novel?
Like tell us, we're
dying to know.
No, we're, we're not, no
way in a romance novel,
and definitely not
planning world domination.
Just help me pass time.
- What's going on?
Friends don't make secrets and
secrets don't make friends.
Just tell us already.
- We already know what's
going on. Just say it.
We won't judge.
Well, maybe a little.
(gentle music)
- We talk about everything
and nothing, like friends do,
like just what I do
with you two doofusses.
- (gasps) It takes
one to know one.
- Okay guys, don't, let's
not resort to name calling.
Let's just not push it, okay?
- Appreciate it.
- But you can't just say,
"I'm talking to Emma"
without like, like,
you're just leaving us
on read at this point.
- Jake, let's...
I said leave it, just
not to escalate it.
But does your heart
race when you see her?
- Me and Emma are just, um-
- We already know it.
Just say it.
- Nothing to say.
- Nothing at all on the
topic of Emma? Nothing?
- Not even undying
love for each other?
- It's not like that.
- Bull.
- Yeah, bull.
- All right. All right.
(gentle music)
I like Emma,
but like more than friends,
whatever that means.
- Knew it.
- So now that we know, you're
gonna tell us everything,
and when are you
gonna ask her out?
- I haven't gotten to that
yet. I haven't figured it out.
- Well what are you thinking?
- Well, I don't know.
What do you even say?
- This is how you do it, Billy.
You gotta rizz up like,
"Hey babe, you and me.
That's what it is now." Mwah.
- There's zero chance
you're doing that.
- How would you do it?
- Here's what you gotta do.
You gotta go up to her-
- Wait, wait, wait.
No, this is how
you really do it.
"You're no longer single.
Let that sink in."
(kiss smacks)
(playful music)
- What are you
even talking about?
- What?
- What you gotta do is
you gotta go up to her-
- You know what? No, no, no.
You gotta be like,
"Whoa, Emma, your hand.
It looks so heavy."
Do you want me to hold it?
Mwah. That's how you do it.
- You're an idiot.
Don't say any of that. None
of that, none of that at all.
- Not going to.
- But you're going to
do something though.
- You know what? This is
how you really should do it.
Feel that? (scoffs)
When she goes to feel it, you
say, "You know what that is?
Boyfriend material."
Boom. Mic drop.
(gentle music)
- You're going to say something
other than that though, right?
- Y-yeah, I, well, maybe.
I know know. Probably not.
- Well, that clears it up.
(gentle music continues)
- What are you guys up to?
- Not much.
- Well, did you see
your friend Leonard?
- Yeah, but he showed up
like right after you left.
- Really? I mean,
well that's great.
- I mean, I guess, but I
really wanted you to meet him.
- Well maybe he's there now.
- (sighs) Maybe.
- What are you
guys talking about?
- Leonard.
- Leonard. Leonard.
Oh, the old guy you
keep on talking about.
- Yeah.
- What about him?
- Well, did you
guys meet him yet?
- No.
- Nope.
- Well maybe he's there now.
- He might be.
- So let's go.
- The cemetery again?
- I mean, I'm down.
- That's what I was saying,
like, the cemetery again.
(upbeat music)
Let's go.
Hey, wait. Harper,
you feel that?
Boyfriend material. Boom.
(train horn blows)
- Could have sworn he
was here last time.
- Are you sure this
Leonard guy is even real?
- Yeah, we've been here for
a while and he's not here.
- Yeah, are you sure
you weren't just, like,
talking to yourself?
- I don't talk to myself.
- Oh, you have an
imaginary friend.
- No, Leonard's real. I've
talked to him here before.
- Guys, let's not
make this a big deal,
and just go back, okay?
- I just still can't
believe we could have been
chasing someone who
might not even be real.
- Yeah, are you sure you weren't
just imagining the whole thing?
- Why would I imagine an old man
and have a whole
conversation with him?
- You might.
- Why would I do that, Abby?
That doesn't even make sense.
- I don't know. You might.
- I wouldn't.
- Guys, Billy said
he saw this guy,
so he saw this guy, okay?
- Come on Mike.
He probably just made
up this whole story
just to get attention.
- What are you trying to say?
- Ever since we encouraged
you to connect with your mom,
you've been looking for
more and more attention.
- Abby.
- Tell me I'm wrong.
(gentle music)
- Well, it's just hard
to believe in something
we've never actually seen.
- Guys, I know it sounds
crazy, but Leonard's real.
He has to be around
here somewhere,
or maybe he just shows up at
different times or something.
Jake, Mike. You know the
first time, remember?
- When you said that the,
the guy who was chasing us?
- He wasn't chasing us.
Well. I thought he was, but-
- But we didn't see him.
- You said he was, so we ran.
- Yeah, we believed you.
We ran.
- Billy, this may sound
harsh or whatever,
but I think this whole
obsession with talking
with your mom, is just
time to let it go.
- You have to move on.
- It's not an obsession.
What else should I do?
Just forget about my mom?
- Billy, no one's saying
you should forget your mom.
My dad is, now Harper,
Jake, and even you?
What about the rest of you?
You think I should just
forget about her, too?
- No one is saying-
- We already heard
what you think, Jake.
(gentle music continues)
Mike? Abby?
Emma?
- That's not what
we're trying to say.
We're just saying maybe
it's time to move on.
- I thought you guys
were my friends.
I thought you understood.
- But Billy.
- Just forget it. Who
needs you anyways?
- Billy, wait.
- Just leave me alone.
(gentle music continues)
(footsteps crunching)
(gentle music continues)
- Your friends weren't
being very good friends.
- I don't know if
that's entirely true.
- They didn't even believe you.
Friends are supposed
to trust each other.
Well, yes, of course
they are, but I mean,
you can't even expect
your closest friends
to believe something
they can't see, right?
- Maybe not.
But if my friend
treated me like that,
I'd be pretty mad at them.
- Huh, and that I was.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music)
(footsteps crunching)
- Billy, you okay?
You look upset.
- Am I okay? No, I'm not okay.
Where have you been?
- I'm here now.
- You always show up when
nobody else is around.
Every time I try to
introduce you to my friends,
you just disappeared.
Now they think I'm crazy.
- I'm sorry if I've embarrassed
you. I didn't mean to.
- Sorry? You're sorry?
Sorry doesn't explain anything.
Why are you only there
when it's just me?
- Billy, that isn't really
the way the universe works.
People can't always be there
when we want them to be.
- I need someone to be there
when it's not just
convenient for them.
- Billy, you sure
this is about me?
- Who else would it be about?
You're the only one
who makes me look crazy
in front of all my friends.
Maybe I am crazy.
- The world is full
of crazy things,
crazy unimaginable things
that we can't possibly
understand or explain.
- I don't need the whole
universe explained me.
I need to know why
nobody is there for me
when I need them to be there.
- Maybe we don't know when
we need people to be there
and when we don't
need them to be there.
Maybe people are just there
when they're supposed to be.
- They're supposed to be
there when you need them.
- Maybe you needed me here now.
- I needed you here when
my friends were here
so they wouldn't
act like I'm crazy.
- What is crazy anyway?
- I'm crazy for thinking
that you were my friend.
- No, uh-uh, no.
That's not crazy.
And I'm delighted you
think we're friends.
- If we were friends, explain
to me why you're only here
when nobody else is around.
- I can't explain what
I don't know myself.
- What does that even mean?
- It means that I can't explain
why something is
happening the way it is
when I don't know why
that thing is happening.
(gentle music continues)
- Yeah, maybe I am crazy.
- And then what?
What if you are?
- What if I what?
- What if you're crazy?
And then what?
- I don't know.
- Well, then the part of
you that thinks you're crazy
and doesn't think and
know that you're amazing,
and you're capable of
wonderful things, is an idiot,
and you should stop
listening to it.
- I should stop to everybody,
because nobody cares anyways.
(gentle music continues)
(footsteps crunching)
(gentle music continues)
You know what?
(twinkling music)
I hate you. I hate
that you do this.
You always just disappear.
Everybody just leaves me.
It was stupid.
It was stupid to think
that you'd even wanna
talk to me again.
Dad was right. There's no point.
You're gone and that's that.
(leaves rustle)
(gentle music continues)
- [Older Billy] That was it.
I was finished with
trying to talk to her.
She obviously didn't
want to talk to me.
I had never felt so angry in
my entire life as I did then.
And as much as I
wanted to go somewhere,
there was nowhere for me to go.
I couldn't go home
and be around my dad.
I couldn't go to the court
and risk seeing my friends,
so I just sat there stewing.
(footsteps crunching)
- Billy.
- What are you doing here?
- I was worried about you.
Thought you'd want
someone to talk to?
- Talk? You never
wanna talk about mom.
"Billy, just forget
about her and moving on."
Yeah, I was just
trying to help you.
- I don't want you
dwelling on something
that can't be changed.
- But I miss her, Dad.
I thought talking to her
would make me feel
closer to her again.
- I just want
what's best for you.
- I feel alone, like
nobody understands.
- You're not alone.
I'm here for you.
- Then explain to me why you
don't care about mom anymore.
- It's not that I don't
care about your mom.
I miss her too, but
what you are doing,
trying to talk to
her, it's illogical.
It's not gonna bring her back!
- Well then what?
Should I just forget about
her like she never existed?
Is that what you want?
- No, of course not.
But I'm worried that
holding onto the past
is making it hard
for you to move on,
to live your life.
- Live my life?
Mom was our life.
(gentle music)
She was the one
that made me laugh.
She was the one that
made me feel safe.
- I know that.
I want you to find some
happiness in the present.
Your mom wouldn't want
you stuck in the past.
- You dunno what mom would want.
You don't care about
anything anymore.
- Billy.
- Leave me alone.
(gentle music continues)
(Dad sighs)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(footsteps crunching)
(gentle music continues)
(pages rustling)
(footsteps crunching)
(gentle music continues)
(leaves rustling)
(footsteps tapping)
- Hey Bobby. It's funny
running into you here.
- Just leave me alone, Lance.
(dramatic music)
- You feeling tough?
- I'm not in the mood.
- Did you hear that, Colin?
He's not in the mood.
- [Colin] I heard.
- I'm in the mood.
- Yeah, he's in the mood.
- Get your breath outta
my face and go away.
- It's too bad my
baby sister's not here
to save you this time.
- Go away, Lance.
- Or what?
(dramatic music continues)
- Get off of him! Bobby, stop.
Wait, stop.
(Billy growls)
Bobby, stop, get off of him.
Bobby, stop.
(punches thumping)
- My name's Billy.
Assholes.
(gentle music)
- [Charlie] You
actually did that?
- Well, I didn't say
I was proud of it,
but that is what happened.
- He deserved it.
- [Older Billy] Yeah, maybe.
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
- (laughs) I see you
found a treasure there.
- You know about this book, too?
- (laughs) Well, not
that one specifically,
but those puzzles
bring back memories
of my own wife, Margaret.
She'd sit there and wrestle
with those crossword
puzzles for hours.
- Margaret, you say?
- Yeah. I'm Leonard.
- Charles. She must
have been quite a woman.
- Oh, she was the
love of my life.
She had a knack for
those crossword puzzles,
even the tough ones.
Made me laugh every time she
got an answer wrong. (laughs)
- What is it about wives
that make us love them
in a way that we wanna laugh?
- (laughs) You know,
life's full of mysteries.
Sometimes the answers
are right in front of us,
hidden in little moments.
- I loved hearing my wife laugh,
even when she got frustrated
with her crosswords.
She did crosswords
just like your wife.
Her laughter was infectious.
- Margaret had the
most contagious laugh.
I'd sit there and just
listen to her chuckle
while she tried to figure
out those silly puzzles.
- It's funny how something as
simple as a crossword puzzle
can bring so much
joy and frustration.
- (sighs) I admired
Margaret's determination.
She never gave up, no matter
how tricky the puzzle was.
- Sarah was just the same,
stubborn in the best way.
- (laughs) We were lucky to
have such incredible women
in our lives.
- Yes we were.
- You know, Billy's
determination
to figure out how to talk to
his mother reminds me a lot
of how you're describing
your wife's determination
to finish those
crossword puzzles.
(gentle music continues)
- Billy,
he's just like his mother
in all the best ways.
- Sarah must be so proud of
the young man Billy's become.
- I hope so, Leonard.
I miss her every day.
(gentle music continues)
I'm sure she's watching over
both of you with a smile.
(twinkling music)
I don't think she'd be smiling
if she could see how
I've been acting.
- Well, you're doing what
you believe is best for him.
As long as you're doing
that through love,
I'm sure she's smiling.
- That's just it.
I think I've been
doing it outta fear.
- Mm, fear and love.
Powerful and
dangerous combination.
- I have to go, Leonard.
(twinkling music)
Thanks for...
Strange, man.
Nice, but strange.
- So what happened?
- To what?
- To you?
- Oh right.
Uh, well honestly, at
that point I kind of felt
like it was me
against the world.
You know, I mean, my
friends had left me,
Leonard made me look
crazy, and Pop-Pop,
he didn't understand the thing
I was trying to tell him,
so honestly,
it's probably the
loneliest I've ever felt.
(footsteps tapping)
- Hey, I am sorry for
making you feel crazy.
I shouldn't have doubted you.
- It's not just that.
It's about everything.
Ever since my mom, I
miss her every day,
and now I feel like
I'm losing my dad, too.
He doesn't understand why I
wanna connect with her again.
- I'm sorry. I can't
imagine how that must feel.
- Yeah, now I feel like
I'm losing my friends, too.
You guys think I'm
crazy and that hurts.
Now it feels like
everything's falling apart.
- I'm sorry. Is there
any way I can help?
- I don't think you
can help about my mom,
but it means a lot that
you're trying to understand.
If you wanna go back
and talk to our friends,
we can tell them
how you're feeling,
or at least try to explain.
- I mean, I guess
that could help if,
(gentle music)
if they understood
what was happening.
- And if you wanna go back
to the cemetery, I'll go.
We can figure out
this Leonard guy,
or try to talk to
your mom again.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
- You doing all right Billy?
- I'm okay, I guess
- You know where
your boys, right?
- We're like a family.
We got your back.
- It's just lately it feels
like everything's
falling apart around me,
and ever since my mom
died, it felt really lost.
- That's gotta be really hard.
- Yeah, that's
gotta be super hard,
not feeling noticed by anyone.
I mean obviously I
don't have that problem,
'cause like everyone sees me,
but like I don't think
you are feeling noticed
because like you're having this
whole conversation with us.
Maybe you are feeling noticed,
and maybe I'm just
not seeing it,
but you're probably not gonna
wanna tell us that because-
- Abby, like, I think
you're missing the point.
- Really?
- Yeah, really.
- You get what I'm
trying to say, right?
- Sure. Abby. Totally.
- Hmm.
- I don't know what I
would do if I lost my mom.
- I appreciate it.
But it's not just about
my mom. It's my dad too.
Ever since my mom died,
he's been really distant.
It's been really hard.
- Well maybe we can try
to find a way for you
and your dad to connect better.
- Yeah, like you two
could like play a game
you both enjoy or do
something you both like.
Maybe you could do
that crossword puzzle
you were talking about earlier.
- Oh shoot. I think
I really messed up.
- What happened?
- I threw the crossword book
in the cemetery earlier.
- You threw it in the cemetery?
- Yeah, I was
really upset earlier
and nobody was listening to
me and I was really angry,
so I just threw it.
- Then let's go get it.
(bright music)
(bright music continues)
(gentle music)
- I don't know
where else to look.
- Don't worry. We'll find it.
- Billy.
- Oh my god, you
found it. Thank you.
- Jake, Mike, girls,
how y'all doing?
- You know what it is, Mr. R.
- No, I don't believe I do.
- You do though.
- Hey Mr. R.
- What's up, Mike?
Billy, I met Leonard.
- You did?
- Yeah. Interesting man.
- I know, right?
- Odd, but interesting.
We got to talking
and he was chatting
about his wife, Margaret,
and how she loved
crossword puzzles.
- Crosswords like the ones
that your mom used to do?
- Yeah, the very same.
Margaret loved to do crosswords,
just like Sarah loved
to do crosswords,
and we were talking about
the joy they both found
in doing the puzzles.
- Wait, Margaret did
crossword puzzles
here in a cemetery alone?
(mysterious music)
- I don't know. Maybe.
- Why would someone
do puzzles here?
- What do you mean?
- Why would someone
come to a cemetery
just to do crossword
puzzles alone?
- I suppose to spend time with
someone they loved and lost.
- Exactly.
- Wait Billy, are you
thinking that like, that like-
- That's exactly
what I'm thinking.
- Wait, what are we thinking?
- If Leonard's wife
did puzzles here,
maybe Leonard didn't
lose his wife.
- Maybe his wife lost him.
- Exactly.
That's why when we did the
ritual from the internet,
we connected with Leonard,
'cause of the crosswords.
My mind is officially blown.
- For real.
- So you are saying Leonard-
- Is a ghost, yes.
That's why it only shows up
on specific times and places.
So if he's looking for
her and can't find her-
- Then his wife is looking
for him on the other side.
We need to go find Leonard.
- Wait, Billy, don't you think
that we should stay behind?
Every time we tried to find
him, he never showed up for us.
- Good idea. I'll be right back.
Dad.
- What? I already met him.
He'll come out if I'm there.
- Mike?
- Yeah, that checks out.
- All right.
- Leonard is a ghost?
- Like an actual ghost?
- Are you gonna let
me finish the story?
- Holy crap.
Does that mean the
ritual actually works,
so we can actually
talk to Pop-Pop?
- (sighs) So Pop-Pop and I
went off to find Leonard,
and we knew he had to be close,
because Pop-Pop had
literally just with him
not that long ago.
- [Charlie] I can't
believe it actually works.
- Leonard, we've gotta
tell you something.
- Yeah, there's no
easy way to say this,
so I'm just gonna say it.
- Okay. Let's have it.
- Okay, well the thing is-
- You're a ghost.
Like an actual ghost.
- Yeah.
(bright music)
- I see. Hmm.
I prefer spirit, I think.
- What?
- Yeah, spirit.
You know, assuming I am in
fact from the other side,
I prefer spirit to ghost.
- Really? Why?
- Yeah, ghost, it's more
like haunting and scary,
and spirit means like, you
know, mystical and maybe wise.
- That's kind of presumptuous
to think you're
wise and magical.
- Dad, stop.
- I'm just saying.
- So you, you're a spirit.
- Huh.
You know, I always suspected
something was
different about me.
However, that's not
exactly what it is.
- And n-no, you are though.
All right, like, like
me and my friends
did this ritual
from the internet,
'cause I really miss my mom,
so I tried to connect with her,
but instead of connecting with
her, we connected with you
because you and Margaret's
love for crosswords.
- Ah, (laughs) I see. Yeah.
And as exciting as it would be
for that to be what
is happening here.
Eh, it just isn't buddy.
- But every time we see you,
you just appear and vanish.
- Yeah, explain that. It
happened when we spoke.
- Well, I never enter through
the front of the cemetery,
'cause my house is over
there through that trail.
And I walk through that
trail a couple times a day
to visit Margaret's grave.
Not the same time every day.
Just when the mood strikes me.
- Actually that makes sense.
- Well, how come every time
we talk, you just vanish?
- I don't just vanish.
- Really?
- Really.
Did either of you two come
back and look around for me
when I vanished?
- [Billy] Well, no.
- [Charles] Actually,
now that you mention it.
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
- Holy shit, he's real.
- (laughs) I'm very happy to
see both of you here together
believing in magic
and connecting with those
that you lost and loved.
- I guess it just took a
little believing in magic
to get me outta my own way.
- Yes.
Figuring out how to get outta
one's own way is important.
I myself have struggled
with that from time to time
over the years.
- Wait, if you're not a ghost-
- Spirit.
- Right, sorry.
If you're not a spirit,
then does that mean
I can't connect with
my mom and talk to her?
- No, that's not what
that means at all.
It, it means you're always
talking with your mom,
no matter what you're doing,
no matter who you're with,
or where you go,
as long as you remember
always to follow your heart,
that's your mom with
you, everywhere you go.
- Really?
- Yes, really.
Every time you remember the
things she said or what you did,
or things she taught you
and you do those things,
that's your mom living
on, here, in you.
- Really?
- Yes, really.
And you, don't forget
to believe in magic,
and don't forget to laugh.
And most important,
don't forget that the most
important parts of Sarah
are right here in your boy.
- Yeah, they are.
- Thanks, Leonard.
- Now, who is all this
riffraff lingering over there?
- Oh yeah, those are my friends.
Come on. I really
want you to meet him.
- All right, sounds good, kid.
Hey, (whistles) which ones Emma?
- The, the cute one.
- Oh, okay, of course.
You dog.
(bright music continues)
- He's not dead.
- No, bud. Leonard
wasn't a ghost.
But he was my friend,
and he helped me to understand
that just because
my mom wasn't there
doesn't mean that
she's not here.
- And just because
Pop-Pop is gone
doesn't mean he
isn't here with us.
- Exactly, Charlie.
See, Leonard helped
me live my life
in a way that helped
me remember my mom
in everything that I do.
- Is that why you always
do crossword puzzles?
To feel like she's
closer to you?
- It is.
And if you do the things that
you used to do with Pop-Pop,
you will feel like he's
right here with you, too.
- Thanks Dad.
- Hey, where you going?
- Outside.
- Okay.
Hey.
- Yeah?
- I love you guys.
- I love you too, Dad.
- Hey.
- What?
- You two behave yourselves.
And if you can't
behave yourselves.
- [All] Don't get caught.
(door clicks)
(Billy sighs)
(uplifting music)
(uplifting music continues)
(uplifting music continues)
(uplifting music continues)
There was a time in my
life not so long ago
When I lost my way
And I recall many
times this fear
That I'd never be the same
I had a friend sit me down
and he told me straight
This too shall pass
You get to be where you are
Right here, right now
This feeling won't last
I couldn't see the
forest for the trees
All the melody in my song
If I could've seen
beyond the clouds
I'd see the gray
skies were gone
Gray skies were gone
(uplifting music continues)
There've been the
times I wonder why
I had to go through that
Why I got so low
To someone else
who's in that place
I can see you're not alone
And though you can't see
The forest for the trees
All the melody in the song
If you could just
see beyond the clouds
You'd see the gray
skies are gone
The gray skies are gone
(uplifting music continues)
(no audio)