Adam the First (2024)

[bunniefuu]

(cicadas buzzing)

(birds chirping)

- I said I want to

take you out here

to tell you something

important, right?

So here it is.

I'm not your father.

Well, that, that

don't mean that I,

I ain't gonna be

here for you or,

or I'm not gonna care

for you like I was.

It's just, it ain't

anything like that.

I just feel better with

you knowing that, that,

that I'm not your father,

but I'm gonna care for you

like I was,

promise you that.

- So who are you?

- I'm still me.

Just not your father.

- And mama?

- Same as me.

- Who is my real father?

- I don't really

know that, Adam.

Now, all I know of him is,

is right here.

This was, this was on you

when, when I found you.

I guessing he wanted

you to have it.

- Where'd he go?

- [James] I don't know, Adam.

- Is he bad? He does bad things.

- Maybe.

Something like that.

But you, you're different.

You, you're smart,

you're curious,

you're always asking questions.

You know, you're good.

And you can, you can

swim, you can fish.

Pretty soon, I'm gonna teach

you how to ride a horse,

how to sh**t a p*stol.

Gonna teach you how to

survive in this world.

(emotional music begins)

(cicadas buzzing)

(birds chirping)

- Hey.

(crickets chirping)

(twigs snapping)

You lost?

- Are you...

- You need something?

What are you looking for?

- Are they...

Are you okay, kid?

- What?

- You live with 'em and

they treat you good?

- I ain't in any trouble.

I'm gonna ask you once, what

are you doing around here?

Sir, you best be getting

on out of this forest.

- Okay.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

(cicadas buzzing)

(Adam whistles)

- What you got, kid?

- Rabbits.

- That'd be fine.

Mary's got a stool cooking.

Tell me, not 10 minutes ago,

she had a craving for chicken.

(trailer door slams)

Rabbits will do just fine.

- You want me to go back?

- No, it's late. You did good.

Besides, you wanna

borrow a chicken

from one of these

farms around here,

best wait till after midnight.

You get into any trouble

when you was out there?

- No, sir.

- You talk to anyone?

- I just stayed

here in the forest.

- It's better that way.

Some of these locals

will drive you nuts,

you know, shut down their first

question or two just right.

Where you going? Where you from?

They want the whole story.

- Just mind my own business

when I'm out there.

- You got your head on straight.

How you doing for a*mo? I

just got a delivery from Rex.

- Well, I think I'm-

- James?

- [Mary] Is Adam here yet?

- He's coming, Mary,

but he got rabbits.

I told him to get rabbits.

- [Mary] Rabbits

will do just fine.

- Go on inside.

Help your mother.

Gonna wash up.

(trailer door slams)

- Okay, but hurry up.

- Should I butcher these now?

- Oh, love, you can

just leave them out.

We'll skin 'em after supper.

- Hey, Mary, what,

was that hot water

when, when you took a shower?

- Yes,

there was for a minute,

but then I forgot to

tell you that it stopped.

- Just lemme know next time.

- I will.

- Oh, James?

- Yeah.

- I got a fire on the stove,

so how's that supposed

to make sense?

- I don't know.

- Is it connected?

- Mary, you're asking

questions I don't understand.

I'm just a man, you

know? Just a man.

- How was it today, Adam?

- Same as usual, I guess.

- Same as usual.

Well, the last time

you had that tone,

you walked in this

house with a black eye.

Now you can "same as

usual" me all you want,

but I know my Adam.

- Telling him how it

was, all my traps work.

- Well, that's good.

Father taught you good then?

- Yeah.

What's your reason

for coming in here

without a proper hello?

That's better.

- Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't

get you a chicken tonight.

- Don't be sorry about

something like that, Adam.

Rabbits will do just fine.

- I think the McKibben's

might have seen me last time.

- Did you tell your father?

- No.

- Okay.

- Well, don't mention it to him.

And if he asks you

to go there again,

you just tell him that you will.

I'll tell you where

another farm is.

- Okay, sir.

- Okay. James?

- Coming.

- Oh, can't you wear

a shirt to the table?

Next time.

- Best there is.

- Hmm, thanks, love.

- How's yours then?

- Perfect.

- Too hot?

- Nope.

- [James] What'd

you use to catch it?

- You know, just a carrot

trail in the boxes.

- Full bag of carrots?

- Oh no, just a few of 'em

cut up across the path.

I think the mother

rabbit was there

when I came for

the cage this time.

- [James] Oh yeah.

She was waiting.

- Yeah. Yeah.

Sort of staring through to

the kid and then she just ran.

But I let that one go

free, you know, I felt bad.

- She'll have plenty

more of that bunny.

Don't feel bad next

time, you gotta eat.

- Mom?

- Yeah?

- Been thinking about something.

- Hmm, what's that?

- Well, I was wondering...

- You was wondering?

- If, I was wondering if maybe

you could tell me about my dad?

My first dad.

- What exactly you want to know?

- No, there's nothing to know.

- Well, I...

- No, your mother died

and then your father

left you in these woods.

- Just wanna know why.

- He left an infant in a basket.

Is that a father? Is that

a man you wanna meet?

- I'm sorry.

- This is your father.

This is the man that raised you.

We'll have rabbits tomorrow.

(g*n firing on TV)

(tense music playing on TV)

- [Man on TV] Go

around the other side.

Try to sneak up behind

him. I'll cover you.

(g*n firing on TV)

(tense music playing on TV)

(orchestral music playing on TV)

(g*n firing on TV)

(cicadas buzzing)

(owl hooting)

- What you doing?

- Just making your favorites.

You're being all sweet.

- I'm always sweet.

- Mm, hmm.

(owl hooting in the distance)

(trailer door slams)

- Flashlights!

- Get in there, now. Now!

- This is private property!

Y'all are trespassing!

- [The Bounty Hunter] You're

wanted for violent crimes

across three states.

We got a warrant and we

know you got a boy in there.

So let's not do

nothing stupid, James.

(g*n fires)

Here's a warning shot.

- Mary, no!

(g*n fires)

(g*ns firing)

- Dad.

(g*ns firing)

Dad.

(g*ns firing)

(g*n fires)

(g*ns firing)

(g*n fires)

- [The Bounty Hunter] Damn.

Go ahead.

(cicadas buzzing)

Let's see, is this

the kid's room?

He's gone. Must have ran away.

All right, that's it, boys,

he said dead or alive.

Let's take what we can.

Get the car and the a*mo.

Promised Rex's g*ns back.

(cicadas buzzing)

All right, come on, let's get.

Get them bodies outta here.

Yeah.

(cicadas buzzing)

(emotional music begins)

(birds chirping)

(leaves rustling)

(easy mood guitar music begins)

(train horn blaring)

(easy mood guitar

music continues)

(bell chiming)

- [Rex] How can I help you, kid?

- I need a p*stol.

- [Rex] A p*stol?

- [Adam] The Ruger Blackhawk.

- You got cash for

a p*stol like that?

- [Adam] Can I see

that Schofield?

- Got a good eye, kid.

- Now it's loaded.

Empty the register, Rex.

Now where's the car?

(dog barking in the distance)

(train horn blaring

in the distance)

(dogs barking)

(rock music begins)

(car door slams)

(dogs barking)

(rock music continues)

(car door slams)

(disco music playing)

- [Adam] Hey, is

there a manager here?

- Who are you? And what

are you doing in here?

- [Adam] I'm, I'm

looking for someone.

- Who are you looking for?

- [Adam] Jacob Waterson.

- What about him?

- Does he own this place?

- [Bartender] What

is this about?

- It's private.

- Private?

- He doesn't like

people coming here

asking questions

about what happened.

- Listen, I don't think I know

what you're talking about.

I'm, I'm here for

something different.

- You're not here to

help some journalists?

- No, no, no, no, no, no

way, I'm not, I promise, I,

I just need to talk with him.

- Anybody seen Crystal?

- I hear my name.

- Hey, Crystal.

- Tell me love, what's up?

- Who's the kid?

- [Bartender] This is, um...

- I'm Adam.

- Hello, Adam.

- [Crystal] What are you doing

in a stripper dressing room?

- [Bartender] He's

looking for Jake.

- Hell's he want with Jake?

- I don't, he's saying-

- [Crystal] You know, he

don't want no riff-raff

coming around here.

- He's my father.

- [Adam] Just need

to talk to him.

- He's in prison.

- What'd he do?

- Head down there.

And you ask him whatever

you need to ask him.

And give him this.

Give him a drink.

- [Adam] Thank you.

(car engine roaring)

- Don't touch the glass.

- I was, was wondering if

maybe you could help me.

- I'm wondering that too.

You're on the visitors list?

- Probably not.

I'm looking for my, my father.

I think he might be

staying here, this prison.

- You think your father may

be staying here. Like a hotel?

Okay, what's your father's name?

- Jacob Waterson.

- Jacob Waterson?

Jacob Waterson. Jacob Waterson.

Wakowski, Watson,

Jacob Waterson.

Hey, Charles?

- Yes, dear?

This kid wants to talk

to Jacob Waterson.

- Who you here to see again?

- Jacob Waterson. Didn't

that lady just tell you?

- Just wondering if you

was a relative or whatnot.

- I'm not sure.

- Not sure? Okay.

(cell door slams)

(violin music begins)

(cell door slams)

(violin music continues)

- Do I know you?

- Just wanna ask you

a couple questions?

- Questions about what?

- About you?

- Charles, is this for real?

- [Charles] What do

I know, Waterson,

I just bring you

where they tell me.

- Crystal said you'd be here.

- Crystal?

- Yeah, Crystal from the club.

She, she said to

bring you a kiss.

- You messing with me, kid?

- No I'm not.

- Why were you in my club?

- Looking for you?

- [Jacob 1] What do

you want with me?

What the hell did I do?

- Are you married?

- Charles, what is this?

- [Charles] Hey kid, do

you wanna hurry it up?

- [Adam] Come on, just

answer the question.

- I was married, but

I'm not married now.

What about it?

- To Crystal?

- To Crystal. Yeah.

- And did you have children?

- No.

- Why not?

- Look, you're wearing

out my patience here.

Be straight with me.

- I'm looking for my father.

- You serious?

Hey look, I'm not

your guy, kid. Sorry.

Definitely not.

- And how do I know

you're telling the truth?

You didn't sleep with someone

and didn't know what happened.

- How old are you? Twelve?

- [Adam] I'm 14.

- I've been locked

up for 17 years.

Look, I was raised

by a single mother,

I know what it's like.

And if I could find my

father now and meet him,

I'd put a b*llet between

his teeth, believe me.

I'll tell you one thing,

when you find that

prick that left you,

you don't let him off easy.

You let him have it.

Takes a real piece of trash

to leave a kid like that.

I'd come with you to

find him if I could.

- Thanks.

- [Jacob 1] Where's

your mom in all this?

- Dead.

- Oh geez.

So what's the idea? You

got a name and that's it?

- Yep, Jacob Waterson.

- [Jacob 1] How many

more on the list?

- I got two more.

- Well, you gotta

be glad it ain't me.

Not the ideal place

to meet your father.

- I don't know.

What'd you do to go to jail?

- Doesn't matter, kid.

Just go find the guy

you're looking for.

Hey, you make sure

he explains himself.

- You done?

- Yep.

- Hey.

We were supposed to have a kin,

but we lost it.

(somber music playing)

- Come on!

Come-

(car door slams)

Hey!

Open the door!

(pickup door slams)

Drive.

I, I promise I got good reason

coming in here like this, okay?

- What? What is that?

- Immigrants.

- Immigrants?

- Immigrants.

(conversing in Spanish)

- What, what is he saying?

- They need to...

- What?

- They need to pee.

- Hey man, look, I'm,

I'm sorry about the g*n.

I just, I...

My car broke down and I

need to get where I'm going.

Is it far?

- It's very far.

Don't worry, I take you.

- Do you travel across the

border with these guys?

- No, they come

over by themself.

Then I help on the other side.

- Must be a crazy trip for them.

- You have no idea, my friend.

It's a one-way ticket.

You go in and you have no

idea if you're gonna come out.

When I did it, they told us

we're gonna be walking four,

five hours, six, maximum.

Five days later, we

still in the desert.

You gotta climb up

and down those hills.

It's so hard to be

climbing those hills.

If I could tell people back

home, I would tell 'em,

"Don't even try it,

don't even dare try it."

These people, they

just totally naive.

That's why I'm helping

these guys in the truck.

- Yeah, well, 'cause

you know what it's like.

- 'Cause I know what it's like.

So who are you

visiting in this place?

- Oh, trying to meet my father.

Never met him.

- Oh wow. Not even a picture?

- Nope. Not even a picture.

Sometimes, I think, everyone

I meet could be my mom or dad

if they're old enough.

But I know it's stupid

'cause she's dead.

But even, you know, younger

people could be my brother

or sister.

You never know.

- Here it is.

I hope you find your father.

- Thanks.

- Hey, kid?

- Yeah?

- Listen, here's

what you're gonna do.

You're gonna go in there

and you're gonna

say you're traveling

and you need a place

to stay and some food.

And when you see they

liken you, you say,

"Hey, I think you're my father."

You know what I'm saying?

- Yeah, yeah. That makes sense.

- Yeah, 'cause they're gonna

like you. So it's gonna work.

(chain rattling)

- Oh Lord, goodness.

- I'm sorry, I didn't

mean to frighten you.

- Well, hello, young man. You

certainly did frighten me.

- Hi there, I'm, I'm Adam.

- Rebecca Waterson.

How are you?

Do you need some help?

- Well, yeah, I've

been been traveling

and I was wondering if

maybe I could stay here

for the night.

You know, I haven't had a

good meal in a long time.

I'd be willing to

help out on the farm.

- So you've been

traveling all alone?

Your mother must

be worried sick.

- Yeah, I, I guess so.

- Adam, I think you've

come to the right place.

My daughters are about to

pick some supper any minute.

And you look like you

could use a good bath.

Oh my, you really did

frighten me there.

My heart is still pounding.

Hey children, come on over

here, come and say hello.

This here is Adam.

- Hello, Adam.

- Hello, Adam.

- Hi there. Nice to meet you.

- All right, it's time

to prepare for supper.

Go on.

Come on, Adam, I'll

show you where Jacob is.

You can ask him if you

can stay the night.

- Yeah. Yes, please.

(peaceful music begins)

- There he is.

Well, go on, go

introduce yourself.

I'll be in the kitchen.

- Okay. Thanks

Sir?

- [Jacob 2] Hello

there, young man.

- Jacob Waterson?

- That's me.

- I'm Adam, very nice

to meet you, sir.

- [Jacob 2] Adam, what?

- I'm sorry?

- [Jacob 2] Adam, what?

Do you have a last name?

- Johnson.

- [Jacob 2] Well, what

brings you out here, Adam?

- Well, you see, I, I was

traveling and, and Rebecca,

your wife, Mrs. Waterson,

she, she said it'd be all

right if I stayed the night.

- [Jacob 2] Where

are you headed to?

- My father's house.

- I see.

Well, if it's okay by

Rebecca, it's fine by me.

- Thank you very much, sir.

Were you always a farmer?

- My whole life. Born

and raised on this farm.

- Is your family always here?

- My father was just a

boy when Black Sunday hit

and he watched his daddy

work through a cloud of dust,

cloud of darkness, just

trying to make ends meet.

It was like a plague.

Nothing short of the wrath

of God pushing that dust.

When he got older,

he bought this place

with all the money he had

and he worked hard to fix it up.

That's how I was taught, if

it's daylight out, we work.

This year's been tough, though.

And I can't help but wonder why

what it is we're doing wrong.

Are we being foolish

in the fields?

If I sin in some way,

made some mistake,

or if I could just understand

it a little bit better,

if I could just understand

what's making God

change his mind.

- You think he's mad at you

for something you

did a long time ago?

- I don't know,

Adam. I wish I knew.

Now cursed is the

ground because of you,

through suffering,

shall you eat it

all the days of your life.

Thorns and thistles

shall it sprout for you

and you shall eat the

herb of the field.

By the sweat of your brow,

shall you eat bread until

you return to the ground

from which you were taken,

or you are dust and to

dust you shall return.

- What's your favorite

Bible verse, Adam?

- I've never read the Bible.

- [Abraham] Then what do

they teach you in school?

- I don't go to school.

- I didn't go to school either.

- Like to learn, though.

- It's never too late.

Do you know who that Bible

passage was about, Adam?

- No.

- [Rebecca] It was about Adam,

the very first

man in this world.

- He didn't have parents?

- No, he didn't.

- He came first.

- Thank you so much

for all of this.

I really appreciate it.

I hope I haven't been

too much of a burden.

You see, I...

- Our pleasure, Adam.

(knocking at the door)

All right, here you go.

If you need anything

else, let me know.

- Perfect. This is straight.

Thanks Dad.

Oh, I'm sorry.

- You're welcome, Adam.

- Mr. Waterson?

- Yes, Adam?

- Did you ever have

any other children?

- [Jacob 2] No. No one else?

- Okay. Yeah.

- Sleep well.

- [Adam] Good night.

- Just curious,

why you asked me that?

- I'm just looking for

someone, that's all.

- Goodnight, Adam.

- Good night.

- [Jacob 2] Good night,

Abraham, say your prayers.

- Good night.

Please, God, help me to

be stronger tomorrow.

Help me to be good in your eyes.

Help me to be useful to

my father on his farm.

And help me more tomorrow

than you did today.

And I'll do my best.

(peaceful music begins)

- Please, God,

thank you so that this Jacob

really is my father.

Make it so that he had a

good reason to leave me.

Wasn't his fault.

Please, I, I won't ever

use my p*stol ever again.

Just, please.

- Good morning, Adam,

this is Sheriff Daniels.

- Nice to meet you.

- Likewise.

Now, Adam, I was wondering if

we could have a word with you

about a few things.

- Okay, sure. You need

me to come with you?

- Think that would be best.

- Okay. Can I at

least grab my things?

- Go ahead. We'll

meet you out front.

- Okay, thanks.

- Sheriff, I'll walk you out.

(birds chirping)

Sheriff, y'all get

calls like this often?

- Yeah, we do, quite often.

- [Jacob 2] Where

does he go from here?

- I don't know, we'll

take him down to county.

(birds chirping)

(upbeat guitar music begins)

- Come on, man, come on!

Stop!

(upbeat guitar music continues)

(cicadas buzzing)

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping)

(gentle guitar music begins)

(easy mood music playing)

(upbeat music begins)

- Oh my.

- You Jacob Waterson?

- Yes, I am. And

who might you be?

- I'm Adam Waterson.

I think I'm your son.

- No.

No, you're not my son.

- I'm not?

I only have three

Jacob, ah, here.

Ah, I already met the other two.

Thank you.

- Oh.

- Come on inside. Let's

get you something to eat.

Oh, you're missing one?

- I am?

- Yep.

His name is...

Jacob Waterson Jr.

I know that,

because he's my son.

That's my compass, you know.

I've been wondering

where the hell it went.

So,

my Jacob left you behind,

is that right?

- Yeah, yeah. Long time ago.

- That's a damn shame.

Foolish thing to do.

And the chickens always

come home to roost.

- Yeah.

- Well, I take it

you've got personality,

coming all the way out here.

That's one thing

you got from me.

- What's that?

- You're restless until you

find what you're looking for.

You know, this world

isn't settling yet.

I promise you that.

There is no settling down.

I ran away from home years ago,

but I took my home with me.

That's my weakness.

I love my things.

- And this house is beautiful.

- Mm, yeah. I built it with

my bare hands for my wife.

But where we lived,

well, we just didn't fit.

We were different, I suppose.

But this was my home and I said,

"Honey, I'm taking it with me."

And so we spent the rest of

our time together on the move,

looking for a place to settle,

looking for a place to

set down some roots.

- Is she the, the

one in the paintings?

- Yes, she is.

That's your grandmother.

Painted these when I had

steadier hands. She was special.

I had my eye on her a long time.

She was a good looking gal.

Had a hard time

winning her over.

She was, she was tough.

Very popular. Always

10 minutes late.

Oh, I miss her always.

- When did she die?

- She'd been gone 14 years.

But I miss her like

the first day she died.

And after that, I didn't

feel like traveling much.

Just set the house

down right here.

Haven't moved since.

That's when I started

making the paintings.

But memory mostly.

Each one is from another

time I looked at her.

So yeah, I miss her, but

I know where she's at.

I'll probably be there soon.

- Grandpa?

Could you tell me

things about my dad?

- I have a picture.

The story of the world

is in this room, Adam.

This is the only one I have.

- He looks like me.

- He does.

This was right

before he ran away.

- He ran away?

- Yeah, I upset him.

It was my fault.

But he never came back.

I finally found out

where he's been living,

but I haven't had the

courage to show up,

114 East Avenue.

- You should come with me.

- Come with you?

- Yeah, we should go together.

- I don't know.

(upbeat cheerful music begins)

(glass shattering)

I wish I knew more about heaven.

What could come

after all of this?

How could it be any better?

I mean, look at these

paintings. Look at these books.

Listen to this music.

Well, I get to take

it all with me.

(banjo strumming)

I like that note.

You know, on the other side

of this canyon is a stream,

and at the end of that stream,

there's some train tracks,

and those tracks lead to a

nice little neighborhood.

That's where your father

will be, 114 East Avenue.

- You think he'll like me?

- Well, he's a lot like me.

I like you very much.

- Do you have any, do you

have any stories about him?

- I got some.

It hurts my heart a little

too much to think about him.

Maybe once he and I make

things right between us,

then I can tell you a whole lot.

- Just a little

confused, I guess.

- [Jacob 3] What about?

- Everyone has their

own way of, of living,

but no one really knows

anything for sure.

And everyone's struggling

one way or another.

- I should have taken

this trip a long time ago.

In the Big Rock

Candy Mountains

There's a land that's

fair and bright

Oh, the handouts

grow on bushes

And you sleep

out every night

Oh, the boxcars

all are empty

And the sun shines every day

I'm going to go where

the rain, no snow

Where they hung the

jerk who invented work

In the Big Rock

Candy Mountain

Alice, is there music in heaven?

(peaceful music playing)

- Right here in the

middle of nowhere.

I just had an

accident, but I'm okay.

I just want to come home.

- Every man...

- I did a lot, Adam.

- Deserves to know who

he is in this world.

- [Prisoner] It's easy

to think you're king

when you take

things from people.

- [James] Where you come

from, where he's going.

- And then one day you

realize that you're not happy.

- [James] So there it is.

- And do something you regret

for the rest of your life.

- I'm not real your father.

- They cuff your hands.

- [James] Mary's not

your real mother.

- [Prisoner] Then

the party's over.

(cell door slams)

- You shall not taunt

or oppress a stranger.

For you are strangers

in the land of Egypt.

For if he shall cry out to me,

I shall surely hear his outcry.

- Find something beautiful,

Adam, and hold it tight.

(peaceful music playing)

(birds chirping)

- I don't remember

falling asleep.

We should, we should get going.

Hey, grandpa?

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping)

(peaceful guitar music begins)

(peaceful guitar

music continues)

(knocking at the door)

- Hi.

- Hello. Is this Jacob

Waterson Jr's house?

- Yes it is. I'm

sorry, have we met?

- I don't, I don't

think we have.

- [Linda] What is this about?

- Is Jacob home?

- He's not. Are you sure

you have the right person?

- He's my father.

- I'm sorry, I think

you're mistaken.

Boys, this is....

- Um, I'm Adam.

- Adam, meet Dylan.

And this is baby Adam.

Why don't we go

talk in the kitchen?

- He ever mention me?

- No.

- So this is a surprise

for you too then?

- You could say that.

- I came a very long

way to get here.

- I'm sorry.

I guess he owes me a big

explanation when he gets home.

- Not before I get one.

(peaceful music begins)

(upbeat music begins)

(crowd chattering)

(trumpet playing begins)

- See a lot of new faces in

the room here this evening.

Nothing makes me happier.

Nothing makes me prouder.

In fact, I look forward to

meeting every one of you

during our young professionals

meet experienced entrepreneurs

c*ck mixer later tonight.

Because as I look around

this room here today,

as I look around,

I see nothing but talent.

But what I wonder about is,

how many of you

see the same thing?

How many of you

think of yourselves

when I say there is nothing

but talent in this room?

How many of you are

saying to yourselves,

"No, not me, he

must be mistaken.

This is a room full

of talent, minus one."

Ladies and gentlemen,

as you may know,

I, myself, have been a

victim of discouragement.

I, myself, have been there.

I, myself, have been down,

have been about as

low as a man can get.

Served my country,

lost some good friends,

and was badly injured.

I was told I would

never walk again.

But I wouldn't accept that.

(audience clapping)

You see, there's a reason why

I'm not currently being visited

by several elementary

schoolers in a hospital room.

There's a reason

why I am not pitied.

And that reason is

because I have never

and will never back down.

I will never surrender.

Another day comes and I say,

here I am.

Let's hear it. Here I am!

- Here I am!

(audience clapping and cheering)

- Okay now, now we're gonna play

a little speed networking game,

and then we can talk

about confidence,

about being assertive,

and how to get what

you want out of life,

and how to make the sale no

matter what life throws at you.

Let's get started.

(upbeat music begins)

Okay, guys, now here's

how this is gonna work.

Each of you is a professional.

Each of you has a business

or service to pitch to a

potential client or customer.

You better have your

business pitch ready,

because when the buzzer sounds,

you're gonna have 60 seconds

to introduce yourself

to the person across from you

without mentioning your name,

and explain what it is

you do for a living.

Then when the

buzzer sounds again,

you're gonna scoot your

butts over one seat

and start over to the left.

I'm gonna keep going

this way around the table

until each of you has met

every person in this room.

Does it sound good?

Okay, let's do this.

And 3, 2, 1.

(buzzer beeps)

(upbeat music continues)

- [Adam] I guess you're right.

- Right. Okay, well,

I'm in real estate.

Been doing that for

about six months,

and I'm currently studying

to take my broker's license.

- Nice. So what does that mean?

- Right. Well, I help people

find homes, basically.

Mainly apartments and

emerging markets. But-

- You make a decent

living doing that?

- Yeah. It could definitely

be better though.

My girlfriend's been bugging

me to propose for a while,

and I'm just not ready

to go near that subject

without the right income.

- So you're not married?

You, you don't have kids?

- No. No wife yet.

No kids. But I definitely

want kids one day.

What about you?

Why are you here?

What do you do?

- Oh, I'm actually not

a businessman at all.

I'm just here to find my father.

He abandoned me

when my mother died.

And now I'd like to

have a word with him.

- My goodness.

- Yeah.

- You, you think he's, he's

here at this conference?

- Yeah, he's in here somewhere.

(buzzer beeps)

It's nice to meet you.

- Good luck with that.

- Thank you.

- Well, hello there.

This is fun, isn't it?

- Sure is.

- So do you want to pitch first?

- Oh, no, no, go ahead.

- Well, I've been hired

as a representative

for a bridge lending platform.

Now what that means is

I work for a company

that lends people money

and then charges

interest on that amount.

People that, say, want to

buy a house or a property

but can't get a

loan from the bank

because they've got bad

credit or that sort of thing.

- Right, well, I'm

definitely not in the market

to buy a house,

but I'd, I'd love to hear

more about you personally.

- Sure. What would

you like to know?

- Well, what's your name?

- I, I, I thought we're

not supposed to...

- Oh, yeah.

(buzzer beeps)

- Well, it was nice to meet you.

- Thank you, nice

to meet you too.

- Good luck with that.

- Thank you.

- Hey there, kid.

- So, tell me about yourself.

- Well, I am

independent sales rep,

which means I travel the

country selling products

on behalf of all

kinds of companies.

- Sounds like a great

way to support a family.

- I do my best to pay the bills.

- So what are you hoping to

get out of this conference?

- Oh, that is a good question.

I suppose like network

and potentially meet

new business partners.

You know, you never know

who you're gonna meet

at one of these things, right?

- Right.

- Couldn't agree more.

So, do you have children?

- I do.

And, and what are their names?

- Oh, well, Dylan, she's four.

And then there's, then

there's my little one, Adam.

- Hmm, that's it. There's,

there's no one else.

- I'm sorry, I don't understand.

- I've been looking for

you for a very long time.

(crowd chattering

in the background)

- Adam?

- Why did you leave me?

- What?

- Why did you leave me?

- I didn't leave you.

You were taken from us.

- What do you mean?

- Adam, you were taken

from us, the hospital.

There was a note.

I remember every word.

"There's no forgiving

what I've done,

but I did it so that my

wife could be a mother.

I promise you this,

I will raise your

boy to be strong,

so that one day

he'll do whatever it

takes to find you.

I'll forever be in pain

so long as your

son is in my house.

But I will sleep at

night knowing that

one day

he will be home again.

And when that day comes,

tell him that I love him,

and that I will miss him

all the days of my life.

But a man can't know

where he's going

until he knows

where he is from."

Adam,

I've been carrying that

around for 14 years.

- What am I supposed to do?

Who am I supposed to be?

- I don't know. I don't know.

Your mother and I,

we did our best to

survive what happened,

but we could never look

each other in the eyes,

pretend to smile after that.

We didn't want it to be.

But after that, things

were just different.

Your mother wanted to

be on Broadway once,

but not anymore.

It just wasn't the same,

and seemed like the best thing

was to go our separate ways.

Try to start over.

I moved to another town, took

whatever job I could find.

She got a job at

an amusement park.

She works long days,

and on weekends,

she's a waitress,

karaoke restaurant.

And every night at the

start of her shift,

she sings the same song.

And she's never late.

I don't iron his shirts

I don't sew on his buttons

I don't know all

the jokes he tells

Or the songs he knows

Oh, I may hold him

All through the night

He may not be here

When the morning comes

I don't pick out his ties

Or expect his tomorrows

But I feel he's in my arms

He's where he wants to be

We have enough memories

Bitter sweet with time

And I doubt if he spends

New Years Eve with me

I don't share his name

I don't wear his ring

There's no piece of paper

Saying that he's mine

But he says he loves me

And I believe it's true

Doesn't that make someone

Belong to you

So I don't share his name

So I don't wear his ring

So there's no piece of paper

Saying that he's mine

So we don't have

the memories

I have enough memories

I've washed enough mornings

I've dried enough evenings

I've had enough birthdays

to know what I want

Life is anyone's guess

It's a constant surprise

Though you don't

plan to fall in love

When you falling far

I'd rather have

fifty percent of him

Or any percent of him

Than all of anybody else

At all

(patrons clapping)

- All right, what

are you looking for?

(peaceful music playing)

(peaceful music continues)

(easy mood guitar music playing)