Matt JamisonThis is the story of a a little boy. I'd say, "Stop me if you've heard this one before," but you have, and I don't really want to be stopped. This boy, he's a good kid; not perfect, but good, and when he's about 10 years old, his mom and dad tell him he's gonna have a baby sister. And the baby sister comes, and of course he loves her very much. But she's getting attention. His attention. So he wishes actually he prays for that attention back and a month later, he's diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia. And the cancer eats away at the boy until there is almost nothing left. But he fights it. He survives and now he has a choice to make. Does he decide that he was punished or that he was rewarded? Will he be angry for having been made to suffer, or will he be grateful for that suffering because it changed him? This is the story of a little girl. She's 8 years old, and just over a week ago, she's playing in the park. She loves to go high on the swings, up to the point where you hang there for a moment, suspended, before the chains clink and gravity pulls you back down. She's been asleep in a coma, for 9 days now. Her brain activity is negligible. Her outcome is undetermined. The girl's name is Emily and so that little boy is asking for attention again now. For Emily, let us pray.
Matt Jamison
My name is Matt Jamison. I didn't know your friend very well. I don't even know if you considered her a friend, but she lived here, with all of you. I tried to give her a blanket once on a cold winter day, but she wouldn't take it. She was committed to her path. I don't understand your faith, but I understand commitment and I respect it. But we are, all of us, no matter what we've suffered, still alive. We still feel pain and sorrow. We still feel loss. We still feel love. This woman was one of you, and now she's gone. I know you cannot speak her name. I know you cannot say good-bye. But I ask you at least to let me.
Matt Jamison
I can't get over it.
Matt Jamison
Well, seeing you here in Texas. What? It's pretty amazing, don't you think?
Not really. I mean, if we were just anywhere, it would be a coincidence, but we're here in Miracle. I think we both came here for the same reason.
Matt Jamison
What reason is that?
Because this place is safe.
Matt Jamison
Now that you've left the Remnant.
Meg Abbott'’': Exactly. It was really hard to get away, you know, because they're everywhere. But I started to think to myself, there must be somewhere that the Guilty Remnant wouldn't work, you know? Wouldn't work? Right, because in order to get someone to join them, that person needs be in pain. And the people on the other side of that bridge, Matt, they were spared. They're just not suffering like the rest of us are.
Matt Jamison
You know, Megan, I don't think you're being entirely honest with me.
You think I'd lie to a priest?
Matt Jamison
Today is the anniversary, isn't it?
Of the Departure? No, I believe that's tomorrow.
Matt Jamison
Not the Departure. Your mother's death. You do remember attacking me in Mapleton? I was outside your house handing out fliers with your mother's photo on them. I know it was cruel. I'm sorry for digging into your life like that, but I was doing everything I could to make you feel again.
Matt Jamison
Well, then I apologize for being your living reminder.
Matt Jamison
Sure.
Matt Jamison
I'm sorry?
You and all these people out here, you're so close. It's right there. Just over the bridge. You want it, but you're not doing anything to get it. So what are you waiting for? You want me to tell you?
Matt Jamison
Yes.
LGLaurie Garvey
So is this the part where you call the DSD and shut this operation down?
[to Matt] Do you remember when we were kids? After Mom and Dad died, when everyone at the church wouldn't take their eyes off us? They'd take us to the movies, and bowling, and putt-putt, just to keep us busy?
Matt Jamison
Of course I do.
And this one time they brought us to a baseball game, and I was too young to get the rules, so I watched these people in another section hitting a beach ball. And the whole stadium was getting into it, and when the ball came over to our seats you stood up and you just whacked it. It was the first time I'd seen you smile in forever... But then the ball went into the aisle and this usher ran down and grabbed it, and he picked it up and he just squeezed the air out of it. And then everyone just started booing- not just the people in our section but the whole stadium, just booing. He just ruined it for all of them. They just wanted to hit the ball... Why would he want to do that job? Why would anyone? [starts crying]
LGLaurie Garvey
[steps forward, wipes Nora's cheek] Because if he doesn't, that ball is gonna' go onto the field. And it'll be fucking chaos.
The Leftovers · 32 quotes
