(Final lines)
Once upon a time, there was a girl I knew, who lived across the street. Brown hair, brown eyes. When she smiled, I smiled. When she cried, I cried. Every single thing that ever happened to me that mattered, in some way had to do with her. That day, Winnie and I promised each other that no matter what, that we'd always be together. It was a promise full of passion and truth and wisdom. It was the kind of promise that can only come from the hearts of the very young.
(Scene shifts to 4th of July parade, as Kevin and Winnie arrive)
The next day, Winnie and I came home, back to where we'd started. It was the 4th of July in that little suburban town. Somehow though, things were different. Our past was here, but our future was somewhere else. And we both knew, sooner or later, we had to go. It was the last July I ever spent in that town. The next year, after graduation, I was on my way.
(Kevin and Winnie walk over to Paul)
Paul! Hey, Paul.
Hi.
So was Paul. He went to Harvard, of course. Studied law. (Paul sneezes) He's still allergic to everything.
(buys a flag from a salesman) Thanks a lot.
Listen, I'll be right back. Hang on for one second. (walks over to Jack)
As for my father...well.
How are you doing?
Good.
Welcome home.
We patched things up.
Norma! (Norma, Wayne and a pregnant Karen walk over to Jack and Kevin)
Hey, we were family. For better or worse.
Hey, sis.
One for all...and all for one.
(Touches Karen's stomach) Gosh.
(points at Karen's stomach) Little Kevin.
I'm gonna be uncle?
Karen's son was born in that September. I gotta say, I think he looks like me. Poor kid. Mom, she did well: Business woman, board chairman, grandmother...cooker of mashed potatoes. Wayne stayed on in furniture. Wood seemed to suit him. In fact, he took over the factory two years later, when Dad passed away. Winnie left the next summer to study art history in Paris. Still, we never forgot our promise. We wrote to each other once a week for the next eight years. I was there to meet her, when she came home, with my wife and my first son, eight months old. Like I said, things never turn out exactly the way you planned.
(Scene shifts to Kevin and Jack sitting at the table, drinking)
It was good. It was a good Fourth.
Yeah. So you're gonna be a grandpa huh?
Not bad.
Grey hair and everything.
Yeah, soon enough.
Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day, you're in diapers; next day, you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul.
(Scene shifts outside, to the street)
I remember a place...a town...a house...like a lot of other houses; a yard like a lot of other yards; on a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is...after all these years, I still look back...with wonder.
(Fireworks in the background, fade to credits)
Hey Dad, wanna play catch?
I'll be right there.
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