The Identical Page #6

Back off, Tony.

Hey, I made you, Ryan Wade,

and don't you ever forget it.

You didn't make anything.

It's over, Tony.

I quit.

You quit?

Well, go on and quit.

Ryan, there's only one Elvis.

There's one Drexel and

there's one Beatles,

and you're a pretender, buddy.

You're a nothing!

Nobody's ever going to sign you.

I'm home.

Hi.

It was like starting all over again

and falling in love for the first time.

For just a little while,

we were both living our dream, together.

City lights keep on shining

Reminds me of the love we knew

City lights keep on shining

I see your smilin' eyes a'blue

City lights keep on shining

Reminds me of a love we knew

City lights keep on shining

I see your smilin' eyes a'blue

Country boy, city girl

We were like night and day

I took her to the country

But she just wouldn't stay

Yes, sir.

Yeah, absolutely, I'll be there.

Thank you, sir. Bye.

City of Peace Records wants

to meet with me tomorrow.

Whoo!

We believe City Lights is a smash hit.

Now, Ryan,

I want you to hear me, brother.

I'm prepared to give you $25,000

right now for your song.

Take it in the studio

and cut it on The Dream himself.

Drexel Hemsley.

Now how does that sound to you.

It's a mighty generous offer,

but I just want to record my own music.

It's not about the money.

It never was.

Okay, $50,000!

Some dreams maybe

just aren't meant to be.

But dreams take a backseat

to just plain health.

It all came to a head

one September morning.

Actually, everything came

to a head that day.

I'm here, Dexter. I'm here.

Why you and not me?

I don't get it, man.

Listen, I don't care what they say,

you're still the greatest

singer I ever heard.

Ever.

Ryan!

Ryan!

Two months after

Drexel Hemsley's untimely death,

the investigation of the cause

of the fatal crash continues.

Thousands still gather outside the gates

of his former home, Dreamland.

Letters and cards overrun

the Nashville residence

on a daily basis.

You rain down from heaven above

Now I'm clear to see

what's happened to me

Amen.

Oh, it's so good to have you kids here.

That is the sweetest dress on you.

Why, thank you.

And, honey, you look better.

Thank you, Mama.

Are you back work yet?

Not yet, Mama.

Not yet.

Brother Wade, what's new at church?

Not much, really.

Except the board asked

me to resign on Monday.

Mm-hmm.

Forty years.

Forty years.

Practically built that place

with my own two hands.

He used to go in his short

pants and start the coal fire

at five o'clock in the

morning before worship.

That's right.

Now I can't even change the light bulb

without getting dizzy.

Heh. Jenny, last month

I preached the best sermon

of my whole career.

Oh, it was outstanding.

And Ed Nichols reminds me,

I preached the same one a year ago.

And I said,

"Brother Nichols, what's wrong with that?

You just got blessed twice."

Oh yeah. It's time.

You ready for him to

be home all the time?

Oh, I been waiting many a year.

But I finished the race.

Wasn't always pretty,

sometimes it wasn't much fun.

But I got there.

There isn't a better feeling

this side of heaven.

Congratulations, Daddy.

Really.

I want you to have that

same feeling, son.

It's not too late.

Oh, Daddy!

This isn't the time.

Let's just have a calm

family supper without any...

No, now is the time!

He may be all grown up,

but we're his parents.

What are you going to do, Ryan? Hmm?

You going to sit inside the house

and mourn for the rest of your life?

You know what, y'all?

You will honor your father by listening.

Whether you want to hear this or not.

I have heard it, Daddy.

A hundred times.

Why?

Why do you keep running from this, son?

God set you apart, son.

No, He didn't!

Oh, I know the story, Daddy.

I know it real well.

You dedicated me to God.

I know you have a vision for my life.

Well, you know what?

It's not my vision, Daddy.

The call you heard was for

your life, not mine, not for me.

I'm trying to help you, son.

Please, will you, contain yourself!

I'm trying to help the boy.

Daddy, what's wrong?

Daddy? What is it, honey?

Oh dear!

Oh, Jenny!

Okay, I'm coming.

Daddy, what's wrong?

I think he's having a heart attack.

Mom, you call an ambulance.

Call an ambulance, Mom.

My pills!

I'll get them, Daddy, I'll get them.

It's all right.

Get my pills.

It's all right.

We're gettin' you help, honey.

We'll ride with y'all.

We're right here, honey.

We're right here.

I'll follow, Mama.

I'm right behind you.

In the name of God

Almighty and Jesus Christ,

I command the Holy Spirit...

I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm sorry.

Our dear son.

If you are reading these words

it means your mother and I

have passed from this life.

Time has come for you

to know who you are

and where you come from.

You were born to a mama

and daddy who love you

but can't give you the life we want.

We believe God has put you

here for something special

and we asked a man of God

to raise you up proper like.

You have an identical twin brother

who is reading a letter

just like yours right now.

So forgive us and understand

this is what we had to do.

We love you and will see you in heaven.

Your daddy, your momma,

William and Helen Hemsley.

Hello?

It was a mild heart attack.

He's going to be okay.

Think of coming down?

No. Not right now.

Ryan, your father wants to see you.

Honey?

Tell him I'm glad he's all right.

Tell Mama...

tell her I know now, and I understand.

Understand what?

She'll know.

Now, what can I get for you?

I, ah...

How about a whiskey?

That will cure your ills, my friend.

Ryan? Ryan Wade?

Down here.

I can't believe this.

Darling, darling,

do you know who this is?

No, baby.

I told you I knew people.

Maybe now you'll be nicer to me.

This is none other than The identical.

What are you doing here?

You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Name's Damon.

Ha ha. I saw you once in Atlanta.

Man, I about died. I thought

you was The Dream himself.

How did you get so dang good anyway?

Born to it I guess.

Miss, if you don't mind

I'm going to trade this

in for something else.

A Dr. Pepper or something.

Oh, yeah.

Put it on my tab, darling.

Gave it up, huh?

Man, that's a shame.

How did you get into this?

I was pouring drinks at his hotel once.

He stopped and talked to me.

Treated me like a real human being.

Like he cared what I had to say.

First average size person ever did that.

Changed my life.

I see you've still got your chai though,

just like his.

Yeah, why did he wear one?

He was Jewish.

What?

On his mother's side.

Look it up.

Really?

A Christian and a Jew.

Same guy. Heh.

He used to say he was

covering his bases.

You believe that?

Isn't that great?

Yeah.

You're looking for

something, aren't you?

Maybe.

Let me give you a

little hint, Ryan Wade.

It ain't here, but keep looking.

You'll find it eventually.

Well, I'm up next.

Stick around. You might

learn something, identical.

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