The Note Page #4

have a rough time

writing that column

without you.

listen, Mandi,

has Peyton left for St. Louis?

yes, Mr. Harris, she just...

Hey, hey, call me tru, huh?

She just called, tru.

Her appointment was postponed

until tomorrow.

Well, that's great.

It means I have time

to meet her.

We're collaborating

on this note story.

I don't know if you know that?

No, but that's wonderful.

I told her that she should.

You two will make

a terrific team.

You know what?

I think so too.

Listen, I'm sure she'll call,

but in case

we cross connections,

could you remind me

when and where

is that appointment again?

It's tomorrow at 11:00

at the holy fortress

baptist church.

Thank you, Mandi,

I look forward to meeting you.

Okay, bye.

- Here you go.

- Thanks.

Very pretty.

The Sunday-schoolers make 'em

out of recycled cans;

the congregation buys them

to raise money for the poor.

It never ceases to amaze me

how these people who have

so little themselves

give so freely

to those who have even less.

Ms. macgruder,

I assume?

Yes.

Reverend lavery.

most folks just

call me brother Tim

or Tim, if you like.

Have a seat.

Thank you.

First, let me just say that

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

My mom died when I was a kid

and my dad died about

three years ago,

so I know how hard

it can be.

I know where my pop is

and that makes me very happy.

Well, I don't know

what your...

Religious affiliation is,

Peyton,

or if you even have one,

but that's what

I believe

and it gives me

great comfort.

And that makes this visit

so much easier for me.

You told me on the phone

that you might have

something for me.

I subscribe to your paper

on the Internet

to read your column.

I assume that you

brought the...

The note that you found.

Yes, I have a photocopy

for you to look at.

Well...

Someone will be incredibly happy

to receive this.

Someone?

It's not mine, Peyton.

I hope that doesn't

disappointed you,

but there's no way

my pop wrote this.

You're certain?

He would never address me

as "t".

I was always Timothy to him.

And he would never sign

anything as dad.

He was pop,

not just to me,

but to everyone he knew.

Well, would you mind

then if I asked

just a couple more questions

for my column?

Sure.

Okay.

Can you tell me

what your relationship

with your father

was like?

well, you have

to understand this.

My uh... my father

built this church.

He started out preaching

on street corners

and in alleys,

slowly gathering his flock,

some of whom still come here

every Sunday.

I grew up in this church.

I found my faith here.

I married my wife here.

I christened

my little girl here.

And...

When he decided

to retire last year,

I took his place here.

That must have made him

very proud.

Yes.

A few months ago,

the bishop offered me

a new posting:

Up town, big church,

big congregation,

big potential.

What did your father

think of that?

Well, that's why he came

out here.

He told me to go for it,

'cause that's what he thought

i wanted to hear.

But it wasn't.

If I take that job,

this'll be my last Christmas

in this church.

Didn't God once use a star

to help guide people

who were searching

for a new beginning?

Yes, he did.

Maybe what you told me about

these precious little stars

can help guide you.

I do love this scrappy

little congregation.

And this church is...

Ingrained in my soul.

I want to thank you,

Peyton.

For what?

For the visit

and the...

For this.

I don't understand.

I thought you said that-

no, he didn't write it,

but this note helped me

to think about

my last conversation

with pop

and about what I know

he felt in his heart,

regardless of what

he said;

about what's important;

and how I want to spend

the time

that I have been given

on this earth.

And for that...

I'm very grateful.

Here they come.

-Get in close!

Reverend lavery,

I'd like to ask you

about the note.

Was it written

by your father?

I didn't know anything

about this.

I'm sorry.

it's okay.

and who are you?

Truman Harris,

national television

broadcasting.

My viewers are interested

in the note

purportedly written

by a passenger

on pt flight 848.

And I was wondering if you could

shed any light

on that subject?

I could, but I think I'm gonna

leave that to Ms. macgruder.

No comment.

Let's back up

for a wide shot.

Okay, pull back.

Get a whole shot of the church.

Your star.

keep it.

Is this more than

just a column for you?

I don't know

what you mean.

Well, maybe that note

was meant to be your star,

to guide you to whatever

it is you're looking for.

Well, folks, you heard the man.

I guess we're gonna have

to wait

for Peyton macgruder's

next column

to find out whether

the note was meant

for reverend Timothy lavery

or not.

Reporting from st. Louis,

I'm Truman Harris

with national television

broadcasting.

All right, that's it.

Let's wrap it up and go home.

What are you doing?

Earning a living,

just like you.

And how did you know

to come here?

It's a confidential source.

I'm sorry.

This is my story.

It's a free country,

macgruder.

I can report on

anything I want

as long as it's accurate.

Well, without the note,

you've really got nothin'.

No.

I've got you, Peyton,

and your heartwarming quest.

Now, the only thing

that would make that better

is if we work together.

Come on, come on.

We become a team

we can milk this

for a Christmas special.

Don't hold your breath.

I don't think

holding my breath

is gonna be necessary.

Yeah!

Nice greeting.

Turn on the TV.

Why?

You'll see.

I'm on my way with Chinese.

Truman Harris,

national television

broadcasting.

My viewers are interested

in a note

purportedly written by

a passenger on pt flight 848.

Could you shed any light

on that subject?

I could, but I think I'd like

to leave that to Ms. macgruder.

No comment.

Despite reverend

Timothy lavery's

reluctance to answer

our question,

we have learned

from a reliable source

that Tim lavery is not the man

to whom the note was written.

We'll continue to follow

this unfolding story

on tomorrow's show.

Until then,

I'm Truman Harris,

and this is national television

broadcasting.

You stole my story.

+

Grab some chopsticks,

why don't ya?

Lemon chicken'll help

dull the pain.

I don't want to dull the pain.

I want it to fester

so the next time I see Harris

I'll feel good about

running him over with my car.

How come I've never seen this

sensitive streak in you before?

Because nothing like this

has ever happened to me before.

Sit! Eat! Come on.

Before you completely snap

your wrapper.

So what exactly happened

in St. Louis?

Nothing that Harris

hasn't already reported.

What he reported was

lavery isn't your man.

I mean, that's a good thing,

isn't it?

I mean, 'cause if number

one's your guy

then your series is over.

Now you get to bring up

batter number two

and you keep

the inning alive.

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