Catch and Release Page #6

This is a mistake.

You know? It has to be, because...

It just has to be and they probably just

took the wrong sample or...

Or maybe I have the same initials, M.M.,

as someone else.

Marlene Morris, or...

Yeah, but they're usually

kind of careful with this stuff.

No. I'm telling you, doctors make mistakes.

I saw an entire documentary.

They amputate the wrong leg all the time,

you have this one dying over here.

You know, it's, like, a zoo at the hospital.

Yeah, I don't know if that's the case.

- Hey, you know what? Just...

- I'm just saying.

Okay, well, I don't know

what you guys are saying,

because all I know is, we

were sexual

and then nine months later I had a kid.

Eight months.

Because Mattie was born

three and a half weeks premature.

Yeah, I know. I mean...

But when I got the ultrasound,

the doctor told me

the exact day

of when we probably conceived.

This would be one of those doctors

that amputates the wrong leg.

Jesus, Dennis, just...

Oh, my God.

You know who the real guy is?

Yeah, his name was Rafael.

He was really nice.

He was, like, Italian or French.

What do you think you're going to do?

I'm not sure.

I guess I'll quit school and go back to work.

Find a daycare for Mattie,

but all the places I can afford

are so kind of depressing.

But it'll be all right.

It will, you know.

It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay.

It always is.

God, I shouldn't have ripped up that check.

Stupid.

Sam, how do I open the big one?

Just don't...

I'm going to... Come on, kid.

It's a knife!

All right, Mattie. Come on, man.

I'm really, really so sorry about all this.

You could've just loved him

and missed him,

and never known.

Him.

Never known him.

You know,

I just remembered something recently.

About a year ago,

he and I spent a day on the river.

He fished and I read.

It was one of those perfect days.

We were on our way home

and he said he had something to tell me.

I said, "Is it going to make me happier,

or less happy?"

He said, "Less happy."

I said...

"Then don't tell me."

Ellen. Hi.

I'd like to talk about the boy.

The one that is definitely not my son's child.

Well, the one he decided to support

without a DNA test.

Grady didn't need that money.

And he knew this kid's life

would be so much better with a little help.

What are you saying?

I'm saying if you don't give this child

what Grady wanted him to have

then I will.

But you don't have money.

No.

But I do have this.

I don't want to sell it, Ellen.

I would so rather give it back to you.

But all I know is that for whatever reason,

Grady wanted this boy to be okay.

Look, the papaya lady!

Hey. You knew him, too?

He was my son.

I should've told you that.

God, that's...

I'm sorry.

How did you know who we were?

It was the hat.

Grady tied those flies himself.

He did?

This is for you.

Am I in trouble?

No.

I figure you're going to pout all day

until I say this,

so I'm just going to put it out there.

You give good garden.

Thanks, buddy.

Hey, there's something I got to tell you.

Yeah, what's that?

I found a new place.

New place for what?

Really?

For me to live in.

What? What? Wait! What?

- You're moving out?

- Yes.

- Oh, my God, dude.

- Yeah, I know. I know.

- It was just a fight, sir.

- Look, it's not about you.

It's just that it feels like time, man.

It's not time.

It was a small fight, sir. A tiny fight.

Like, we'll get over it, sir.

I'm not ready to live alone, Dennis.

Listen to me. Listen to me.

It's a great house

and I'm sure if you want to stay there,

you're not gonna have any trouble

finding another roommate.

Ellen.

It was great what you did for them.

Here.

Oh, no. You keep it.

Just promise me that the next person

who gets it, you'll tell them about him,

everything you can remember.

I promise.

I didn't need the money. I never wanted it.

Or the ring.

I just wanted my boy back.

I didn't know everything about Grady.

Here's some of what I did know.

I told them all the great things

I know about you,

and there were a lot. I was up there a while.

He loved coffee.

I didn't tell them everything, though.

I left out the complicated stuff,

like how it took losing you forever

for me to truly find you.

And how finding you

turned me into someone else entirely.

That's not what they came for.

People want to hear you were great.

Not that you were great,

but also, sometimes, not so great.

They want to know I miss you.

Not that while I've been missing you,

I've fallen for someone else.

It's weird, though.

I feel like the only one

who would understand it is you.

In a way, that makes sense.

He was the one person

you were yourself around.

Of course he'd be that same person for me.

Anyway, I left all that out

and I kept it simple.

I told them I loved you and that's the truth.

- Do I get my own bedroom?

- Yeah.

- Can I use the hockey table?

- Absolutely not.

Wait, which one are we taking?

Take the one upstairs on the left, Mo.

Whoa.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Well, I just figured they should stick around

at least until winter

because the kid has never seen snow.

- What kind of craziness is that?

- Totally.

That's a bold move, Samuel.

Well, as Helen Keller once said,

"Life is either a daring adventure

or nothing."

Which tea?

Come on, sir.

I've been known to pick up a book.

- Which tea?

- Tummy Mint.

Sam, are you bringing the bags?

- I'm...

- You just...

- Yeah, I'm on it.

- All right.

Oh, now, what the hell is this?

You're leaving, too? Come on, man.

You have a very full house here, Sam.

You don't need me. You'll be fine.

Well, can I at least come visit you

at your new place,

maybe paint your walls

an inappropriate shade of blue?

Yes. Absolutely.

I'm just going to go on a quick trip

and then...

Where you going?

Wait a second.

No!

No!

Oh, you little tramp!

- You're really going.

- I really am.

- I'll see you soon.

- Yeah. It's okay.

Hello?

Hello?

Come here. Come here.

You ready? Okay, come on!

I think I should have called.

You're probably busy

or on your way out, or...

God, you could be seeing someone by now.

I hadn't thought of that.

Someone you met in a normal,

you know, uncomplicated...

What took you so long?

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