The Note Page #6

It took me years

to get clean

and when I finally did

I realized that...

It was all my fault.

I thought about callin',

but I decided that I put 'em

through enough already.

But maybe I was wrong.

Maybe I should've called

a long time ago,

but now,

you know...

Might be time to write a note

of your own.

What do you mean?

Your mother wasn't on

that flight, was she?

No.

No, she wasn't.

What're you doing here?

I figured you'd be too tired

to stop by the office,

so I brought you

the rest of the obituaries.

That a girl.

So, how was Nashville?

Rewarding.

Meaning we have a winner?

No, Taylor quist is not

the person we're looking for,

but I think the note

had an effect on her anyway.

It seems to do that

to everybody.

It's certainly turned

my life upside down.

Which reminds me,

Nora called for you.

Am I fired?

She didn't say one way

or the other.

Good. So let's hold her off

until morning,

'cause I've got a column

to write

before this paper

goes to bed.

And I need a cup of tea.

You want one?

No, I'm okay.

This is a great place.

My husband and I bought it

right after we were married.

Look at the backyard!

It'd be perfect for kids.

Peyton macgruder?

I'm afraid your husband's

been in an accident.

Take it easy, man.

Can't you see

the woman's pregnant?

Peyton?

Hey, Peyton,

are you all right?

yeah...

What have you got for me?

just one.

If it's not him,

we're out of luck.

Him?

Local guy.

His father was a big time

real estate developer.

He owned half the buildings

in downtown middleborough.

Nice work.

You're gonna make a hell

of a newspaperwoman one day.

Thanks.

Are you sure you don't

want a cup of tea?

Can't.

Mandi?

I like your outfit.

Are you kidding me?

This is so not me!

Then why are you wearing it?

Blind date.

Don't want to scare

the guy off.

See ya.

Well...

Looks like it's you and me,

kiddo.

Middle-aged woman

and her cat.

Today, I met with

a well-known songwriter,

a woman who has everything -

celebrity, wealth, beauty,

talent and intellect.

Yet I had to wonder,

is she happy?

The life I observed today

would probably not satisfy

most of us average folks.

You see,

this woman and her family

had a falling out years ago

when she was a teenager.

As adolescents,

we are so self-centered,

so focused on our own desires

that we have trouble seeing

our parents as real people.

We see only their authority,

their rules,

and their expectations;

not their dreams,

not their strengths,

and not their human weaknesses.

This woman carries a burden

of alienation,

but it's by her own choosing

that she shoulders the load.

It has become a shadow

she's accustomed to seeing,

and I fear it will

walk with her

for the rest of her life.

I bear the burden

of my own shadows.

By showing her the note,

i had hoped to offer her

the courage

to step into the light,

and in doing so,

i have found myself

reflected in her.

Perhaps,

as the journey continues,

i will also find the strength

to leave the shadows behind.

I say as the journey continues,

dear readers,

because the woman was certain

the note was not written

to her.

But having read the message,

my sincerest hope

is that it will still move her

to open doors

too long left closed.

Hi.

I was just reading

your column.

I'm proud of you,

Peyton.

Really?

And not just because

your writing's great

or because you've brought up

the numbers,

but because you've made

the column your own.

So much so

that you were willing

to risk getting fired

to protect your

readers' interests.

Listen, I really hope

I didn't leave you

in a bad position

the other day

with Mr. pargrave.

Curtis pargrave's been

a print guy for 30 years.

He loved you standing up

to those new media types

in New York.

My knees were so wobbly

it was a wonder

I could stand up at all.

Keep doing

what you're doing.

We'll watch your back

as best we can,

but don't let

your guard down.

I don't think you've heard

the last of Mr. Harris.

So...

Who's next on your list?

Tanner walton.

His father was

a local developer.

I did a piece

on him a while ago.

He was in business

with his son,

but I thought his name

was Peter.

Maybe a brother?

Anyway, the note was addressed

to "t",

so it's got to be Tanner.

And if it's not him?

Then my Christmas column's

gonna be one heck

of a disappointment.

+

Back to the point.

Takes the shot,

passes to the other point.

One timer, deflection in front,

off the post!

Now out of the zone

to centre ice.

You look busy.

Never too busy

for beer or broads.

And since I am neither...

Sorry!

Hey... sorry.

Too much time

in a locker room.

What can I do for you?

Take me for a drive?

This guy's the son

of a real estate tycoon?

tycoon's a bit

of an overstatement.

Either that

or he was cut out

of the will.

So...

Did you want to go in

or what?

Macgruder?

What?

Wow.

What planet were

you just on?

I'm sorry.

This note thing is just...

Bringing up

a lot of stuff for me.

Is that why you

brought me along?

I don't know.

I guess so.

What kind of stuff?

Peyton...

What kind of stuff

is it bringing up?

I guess I was just...

I feel like I was given

the note for a reason.

I feel like it gives

everyone it touches

a second chance.

To do what?

She's still alive.

Peyton?

A second chance

to do what?

To fix their broken lives.

And what about you?

Me?

This note has obviously

touched you.

It's kind of complicated

for me.

I don't feel like I deserve

a second chance.

Everyone deserves

a second chance.

I should go in.

I couldn't agree with you more,

Mr. Harris.

It could turn out to be

a bit of good luck

for both of us.

I think that's her now,

so I'll see you soon.

Mr. walton,

I'm Peyton macgruder.

Hi...

Come on in.

Yeah.

This was written

by my father.

You're sure?

It's his handwriting.

And the message...

My father and I did not get

along for many years.

My father was a wealthy man.

Real estate, right?

Yeah.

And he wanted me and my brother,

Peter,

to follow him into

the business, but...

I tried, but it-

you know, it wasn't my thing.

To be honest,

Ms. macgruder,

it bored the hell out of me

so I quit,

and my father never got over

the disappointment.

He took it as

a personal affront.

We couldn't speak

without arguing

until it eventually got

to the point

where we didn't speak at all.

Well, I guess in the end

he changed his mind.

Yeah.

I guess...

I guess he did.

That's why this note

is so precious to me.

I would never have known

how he really felt

if you hadn't found that.

So, thank you.

You have no idea

what you've done for me.

So, I guess you're gonna

write all about this

in your column.

Yes, I will.

If that's all right

with you.

Sure. You can use my name

if you like.

Mr. walton,

one more question.

Did your father always

call you "t"?

No, he...

No, he probably...

Didn't have a lot of time

to write the note,

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