A Ring of Endless Light (2002)

[bunniefuu]

[dolphin calling in distance]

[calling continues]

-[gasps]
-[boat horn blasts]

Hey, Vick! Got some great new bugs.
Want to see ’em?

[chuckles]

Maybe later, Rob.

Are we there yet?

Seven Bay Island, right up ahead.

[sighs]

[horn blasts]

Please, God, let him have
a different car this year. Please.

[horn blasts]

[giggles]

Thanks a lot.

Grandfather!

Robbie! [laughs]

Oh, it’s good to see you, darling.

-Vicky, how was the trip?
-Great.

Oh, Suzy, Suzy. Oh, darling.

Wait a minute.
What’s the matter with my telescope?

Sorry, Grandfather. Need more power.

Oh! Oh.

Where’s Mr. Rochester and Ned?

Well, I didn’t think we could get ’em
in the car along with you all.

But they’re waiting for you at home, Rob.

There you are.
Put ’em in, put ’em in, put ’em in.

All right, all right.

All right, everybody aboard.

-[trunk closes]
-Where’s Vicky?

[sighs]

She’s daydreaming again.

Vicky.

We’re ready.

It’s so good to have you here, honey.

Your carriage awaits.

Sorry.

Grandfather, what is this?

That is my spare roof.

Now you better put it up
because we may have some rain.

[Grandfather]
Okay, kids, come on in the house.

All right, everyone, here we go.

[Grandfather laughing]

Grandfather?

Any good bugs in your garden this year?

A veritable smorgasbord.

Has anyone called?

She means, has Zachery Gray called?

Do not.

Ned?

Mr. Rochester?

Hey!

-There you guys are.
-[purring]

Since when did Mr. Rochester and Ned
become such good friends?

Well, they’re getting older, Suzy,

and I think they decided it was silly

wasting all that valuable energy
fighting all the time.

[Vicky] Hi, Mom.

Yeah, the trip was great.
The island is as beautiful as ever.

I haven’t.

Mom, I haven’t had time.

I know.

I know it is.

Mom, I promise.

I will. Okay.

Look, Mom, Rob’s begging to talk.

I love you. Bye.

Rob, your turn.

Hi, Mom.

Yeah! Oh, I had so much fun.

The trip was great. Yeah.

Oh, my gosh. I caught this huge centipede.

It was, like, four inches long.

It was on the boat.

[footsteps approaching]

The storm has passed.
I thought I’d set this up for Suzy.

[Vicky]
The rain threw off Suzy’s schedule.

She has a calendar. No kidding.

And it’s marked off with everything
she wants to accomplish this summer.

Oh, that’s very admirable.

I’m not even sure
what I want to do tomorrow,

let alone the rest of summer.

That’s admirable too.

[scoffs]

"Principles of Physics"?

[chuckles]

A little light reading before bed?

I promised Mom and Dad.

There’s this new exceptional school
at their university.

So, anyway, they tested me.

I aced the English,

but the math and science...

Mm-hmm.

Vicky...

I’ve got a present for you.

Come on.

My poems.

I thought they were too beautiful
to stay in those envelopes you sent me.

Do you like it?

I love it.

It makes me feel like...

Like a poet?

[both chuckle]

Have you shown these to anybody
besides me?

Why not?

Well, I used to show Mom,
and she was, like, "They’re nice."

And so now, I don’t know.

-They’re probably terrible.
-They’re not terrible.

They’re good.

They’re honest and funny.

A little pain along the way.

You know, anybody that thinks
that growing up is easy

obviously doesn’t remember it.

-[Grandfather laughs, grunts]
-I love my present.

[gasps]

-Are you okay?
-Yes, yes. Fine, fine, fine, fine.

Oh, it’s...

It’s my back.

Y-- Your luggage was rather heavy.

Good night, Vicky.

Good night, Grandfather.

And I’m looking forward...

to Volume Two.

[pills rattle]

[labored breaths]

[labored breathing]

"Clear skies and a full moon."

Perfect.

[Rob] Has anybody seen my bugs?

Well... what have we here?

Hello, I’m Adam.

You must be Vicky.

And, uh, you must be Suzy.

And how do you know that?

Well, your grandfather told me
all about you guys.

I’m just here to return his books.

"Lao Tzu"? You’re reading philosophy?

Yeah. Your grandfather has
the best library on the island.

So, I hear you’re quite a scientist.

I’m working on a long-term project

so I can apply for early admission
to MIT in two years.

That’s amazing. What is it?

Astrophysics.

I’m trying to graph the weight of a number
of stars by analyzing their light,

and the way it interacts
with our atmosphere. How about you?

I have an early admission to Harvard
starting this fall.

Hmm. That’s pretty tough.

What’s your field of study?

Marine biology.
I’m actually working at the Marine Center.

We’re doing research
on dolphin communication.

Dolphins? I love dolphins.

Although I’ve never met one personally.

Yeah, I know. They’re amazing.

Uh, we’re studying their differences
in echolocation,

which is the ultrasonic impulse that...

I know what echolocation is.

Oh. Great.

Well, uh, I’m headed there
right now if you’d like to come.

Oh, and you can come too if you want.

Okay, sure. I’ll go ask Grandfather.

Right now,
we have a control group of dolphins,

raised in captivity
for multiple generations,

and another group of wild dolphins.

And we’re studying their sonic patterns,
and what we’re finding out is that...

[car approaching]

-[engine revs]
-Look.

Here comes
Prince Thinks-He’s-Charming.

[rock playing on radio]

Vicky Austin,

the girl from last summer.

Zachery Gray,

the guy who never returns letters.

[groans] You’re not
going to hold a grudge, are you?

Look, besides, my letters
are always boring compared to yours.

You want to go for a ride?

I’ve got an appointment.

With who?

A dolphin.

All right.

-[dolphin clicking]
-Get it, Una. Come on.

-There you go.
-[Vicky] Wow.

Did you know that according to
the laws of hydrodynamics,

it’s impossible for a dolphin to swim
as fast as it does.

[clicking]

Get it, Nini.

Scientists think it has something to do
with their skin,

which actually ripples
with the movement of the water.

It also sheds a lot faster than ours.

Go ahead, grab a fish. Toss it to ’em.

No way.

But the most fascinating thing
is that dolphins were once land animals,

mammals, like other creatures.

[Suzy] But they’re still mammals?

[Adam] Yes.
Yes, they’re mammals, they’re not fish.

They were actually small whales

who left the land sometime in prehistory
and returned to the sea.

As far as I know, whales and dolphins
are the only creatures to ever do that.

Mermaids.

Mermaids. You know,
half land creature, half sea creature.

Vicky, that’s ridiculous.

Well, actually, I’ve read theories

that ancient mariners mistook
dolphins and porpoises for mermaids.

-That’s probably how the myth came to be.
-It wasn’t a myth to them.

They were at sea for years.
They needed there to be mermaids.

So, uh, where’s your recording equipment?

Oh, it’s over here. Let me show you.

You see, we have a Q-1027 hard drive.

It records
all the dolphin sounds received.

Then we digitally process...

[chirping]

Hey, this one’s not eating.

Oh. Yeah, that’s Ynid.
She’s one of our wild dolphins.

[dolphin calling]

What’s the matter, Vicky?

She’s worried about her calf.

[scoffs]
How did you know she was pregnant?

I... I don’t know.

I guess she just looks pregnant.

All right.

[footsteps approaching]

[sighs]

You’ll never get into
the university school that way.

What a tragedy.

So, what do you think about Adam?

Why?

Just curious.

I’m not crazy about his research.

When you deal with nature,
there’s too many intangibles.

I’ll take numbers, thank you.

[scoffs]

But you study stars.

Don’t you consider them part of,
you know, nature?

[scoffs]

[chattering]

Hello, Ynid. [giggles]

-Are you feeling better?
-[clicking]

[Adam] You can tell them apart already?

Sure.

So, uh, what are you doin’ here?
Where’s your sister?

She’s not here. You want me to go?

No. Actually, I got a lot of work to do.
I could use the help. Come on.

[clicking]

Oh, Vicky, this is Dr. Zand.

Dr. Zand, this is Vicky,
Reverend Eaton’s granddaughter.

-Nice to meet you.
-Hi.

How’s your grandfather doing?

He’s fine, thanks.

All righty. Here you go. This should fit.

Uh, we’re off to the bay
to try out the echo-locator.

-Good luck.
-All righty.

Let’s go.

Dr. Zand has recorded
hundreds of hours of dolphin sounds.

We’re trying to figure out

if they’re speaking some sort of
a language, like ours,

or if their communication is just,
you know, instinctive, like ants.

Ants never seem like
they’re having a lot of fun.

Yeah, you’re right.
Dolphins do seem to have fun.

Almost a sense of humor,
which is a sign of intelligence.

That box puts out
a series of ultrasonic impulses,

kind of like a dolphin’s call.

We’ve trained Basil to come to it
in the pens, but never in open water.

Basil?

-Did you say "Basil"?
-Yeah.

That’s Ynid’s mate.

See, by holding Ynid in the pens,
we can release Basil, and he won’t go far.

Dr. Zand wants to make sure
we can call on him

when it’s time for her
to deliver her calf.

What’s that?

Hey, that’s him. It worked!

[both laughing]

[chirping]

Whoa!

Beautiful. [laughs]

-Hey, Basil.
-Wow!

[Vicky giggles]

[chirping]

Now, be careful with this one, Vicky.

He’s a little wilder than the ones
in the pen. He can be snappish.

Can you blame him?
You’ve got his wife locked up in jail.

Wow.

You’re petting him.

He wants me to.
He’s got an itch under his fin.

-[clicking]
-[Adam] How did you know that?

I don’t know it. He just...

seems like it.

Wow. I...
I’ve never seen him this friendly.

[chirping, clicking]

Wait a second. What’s this?
He’s got a fresh scar.

Hard. Sharp. Seaweed.

-Huh?
-[yelping]

Oh. Uh, nothing.

Look, this is a net gash.
I gotta get back.

Now Basil has the same scar.
That’s the third one in the last week.

Look, it’s the drift nets,

and the Marie Rose is the only one
big enough to use them.

What do you want me to do about it, Adam?

We’ve gotta do something.
I mean, they’re ill*gal.

How are you so sure it’s the Marie Rose?

Look, every captain on this island

is complaining
about the lousy catch this summer,

and every couple of days the Marie Rose
comes back overflowing with fish.

-It’s gotta be them.
-That’s not enough, Adam.

I’m sorry.
I hate drift nets too, believe me.

But we’re a research center,
not the police.

There’s nothing we can do.

Where’s my clear nail polish?

[sighs]

[Rob] See? After they’re dead,

you put this stuff on them,
and it preserves ’em.

He’s from the order Coleoptera.

I’m havin’ a contest with a kid at school.

We’re seeing who can collect
the most by the end of summer.

Why can’t you just collect baseball cards
like everybody else?

[Jet Ski revs]

Oh, man, that guy’s nuts.

[Vicky] He sure is.

You should be more careful.

[laughs] I should be a lot of things.

I wrote you a lot
and didn’t even get a Christmas card.

That kind of hurt, Zachery.

[stammers] Okay, I’m sorry. I was busy...

getting thrown out of various
prestigious private schools.

See, they, uh... They got this whole thing
about, like, passing grades.

[scoffs] It’s really annoying.

That and, uh,

my mother died.

That’s not funny.

I know.

Oh, my God. You’re serious?

Last October.

I’m sorry.

Yeah. Me too.

So, hey, uh, forget the kiss.
Can I at least have a hug?

I missed you, Vick.

Come on, boy!

Get it!

Come on, boy. Get it, get it!

[sighs]

Dad’ll do anything not to talk about it,
so, uh, instead,

he sent me to a grief counselor.

[scoffs] On the sixth visit,
she came to the brilliant conclusion

that I was deeply sad
because my mother had died.

[scoffs] I said,
"Wow, they pay you for this?"

[chuckles]

But, hey, uh, look,
it’s boring talking about me.

I wanna hear about you.

What have you been doing
with yourself since last summer?

I don’t know.

Last summer’s starting to
seem like a thousand years ago.

Well, I’m glad you’re back.

[panting]

[gasps] No!

[whines]

I’m taking flying lessons, you know,

from this guy with a plane
on the other side of the island.

Really? Flying? That’s incredible.

How about I take you up?

My parents are not gonna let me fly
in a plane with you at the wheel.

You know, Vicky,
that’s the one problem with you.

You don’t dare to do the things
you know you want to.

-What?
-Rob?

Rob!

Rob!

-[Zachery] Rob, where are you?
-Rob!

-[Zachery] Robbie!
-Vicky!

Robbie, where are you?

[Zachery] Rob?

Rob!

Robbie, where are you?

Vicky, where is he?

Rob!

[inhales deeply]

[whines]

[coughs]

Rob! Rob!

Somebody help me.

Rob!

Rob!

[clicking]

[chirping]

[gasps]

[gasps]

Rob!

Are you okay?

Yeah. I just got tired, and the water
was pulling me out, and I sort of...

Vicky?

How’d I get back here?

[dolphin chirps]

[chirps]

Vicky, you’ve been deep in thought
the last couple of days.

Is something on your mind?

I guess.

Vicky! Well, welcome back.

-Hi, Harbormaster.
-Good, good.

Reverend, now it’s good to see you
out and about.

-You doing okay?
-Splendid. Splendid, Dan.

Thank you, thank you.

Any chance that, um...

you care to tell me what it is?

Grandfather, would you think I was crazy
if I told you...

I think I know
what Adam’s dolphins are thinking...

feeling...

Like they’re talking to me.
Only, they’re not.

And I knew Rob was in trouble.

And it wasn’t actual words or anything,

it was just a feeling in my mind,

and in, like... my heart.

Basil wanted to tell me
he was rescuing Rob.

And the other day
at the Marine Research Center,

I knew Ynid was worried about her baby.

[sighs]

-I’m not making this up.
-Oh, I believe you.

[chuckling] Oh, I believe it.

Oh, I...

You know, Vicky... [sighs]

people have so many different ways
of hearing things.

Your grandmother, Cara,
when your mother was a baby,

she heard the baby cry
before the baby cried.

Oh, Cara.

She was sensitive
in so many wonderful ways.

But why me?

Well, you’ve got some of her genes...

and maybe the dolphins trust you.

Maybe it’s because you’re a poet.
Whatever it is...

Darling, take it as a compliment.

Come on. Let’s go.

Grandfather, why is everyone
asking you how you’re feeling?

Darling, when you’re 81,

people are amazed that you’re walking,
talking, and taking nourishment.

Come on. Let’s go.

It’s just so weird. I mean,
every time I get kicked out of a school,

he's-- he’s so furious,
he doesn’t even speak for a week.

Then the next thing you know,
he buys me a car, or a boat.

-Does he ever talk about your mother?
-Not a chance.

I mean, business, golf,
the stock market, no problem.

I think he’s more messed up than I am.

[both laugh]

I forgot how good you are for me, Vick.

How much I like being with you.

Hey, Vicky!

Hi.

Um, Adam Eddington, Zachery Gray.

I didn’t get a chance
to introduce you yesterday.

Thomas Gray’s son?

That’s what it says
on my birth certificate.

But he’s been known to deny it.

Your father’s company is
using drift nets on the Marie Rose

to supply his cannery.

All right, I give up. What’s a drift net?

They’re called "walls of death."
They stretch out for miles underwater

and they catch everything and anything
that comes by.

They end up catching dolphins, even though
the fishermen don’t want them.

So, what’s the problem?
They can just throw ’em back.

They’re dead by then.

Dolphins have to come up to breathe,

but the nets hold them down,
and they drown.

That’s why they’re ill*gal.

Then why are you telling me?
Go to the cops.

Does your father really use these,
Zachery?

Have you become a dolphin hugger, Vick?

Maybe.

Okay, then. Uh, anything for a lady.

We’ll check it out tonight.

All right.

So, uh, who’s Dudley Do-Right?

Just a friend.

Look, uh, guys,

my dad isn’t gonna love me
sneaking aboard his ship

with a couple of Greenpeacers, so, um...

You know, uh, stay here and keep
a lookout, will you, Vick?

Sure.

So, uh, you known Vicky long?

Oh, no. Just a few days.
But she seems great.

This is it. Help me with this.

Who’s out there?

Uh, it’s Zachery Gray, Captain.

[captain]
What you doin’ out here, Zachery?

Oh, I’m just, uh-- just showing
some friends around.

-Hey, Adam.
-Yeah.

-You, uh, ready to go, buddy?
-Yeah.

Well, uh, good night, Captain.

[Adam] Yeah. Thanks, Captain.

Good night, boys.

I saw a float under the tarp.
It’s a drift net, all right.

Well, that wasn’t exactly the way
I’d planned on ending the evening.

And what had you planned?

Come on.
You missed me a little, haven’t you?

Yeah, a little.

Good night.

Good night, Vick.

Dream about me, okay?

[chirping, clicking]

[chirping, clicking continues]

[gasps]

And according to
the Maritime Preservation Act of 1994--

Look, okay, Adam, okay. You convinced me.

When the Marie Rose
gets back in port, I’ll take a look.

-I know, but sometimes...
-Okay.

Happy?

[Suzy] Stop it, Rob. Get it away from me.
It’s disgusting!

No! Ew! It’s ugly, Rob!

[Rob] It’s pretty! It’s so pretty!

No, Rob! Get away!

Gross. Gross!

Come on, Suzy.

Dinner is served.

Grandfather, look at this stick bug.
It’s huge!

That’s wonderful, Rob.

-I think it’s disgusting.
-[chuckles]

Vicky, while you were down at the beach,

a present came for you.

[Vicky] Hey!

"Love, Zachery." How nice.

What did Adam send you, a bucket of fish?

For someone so smart,
why are you so immature sometimes?

I just don’t understand
the whole dating thing.

-I’m not dating Adam.
-You know what I mean.

Going from one guy to the next
till you find the one you really like.

Part of the whole adventure of life, Suzy.

Anything as illogical as dating
is such a waste of time and energy.

When I get older, I’m just gonna find
the one guy I really like,

and, you know, that’ll be it.

How romantic.

I’m never gonna date. Girls are gross.

You’re walking around with a jar
full of dead bugs, and girls are gross?

So, um, this guy you pick out,
what if he doesn’t like you back?

-Don’t be ridiculous.
-[Adam] Hello!

-More books.
-Adam. [chuckles]

Care to join us for dinner?

[Adam] Yeah, sure.

It’s the only decent meal
I ever get anyway.

[Grandfather] Shall we?

[Adam]
Well, I grew up in St. Louis, you know.

So, I never even saw an ocean

until my parents took me to Florida
when I was ten.

Is that where you saw your first dolphin?

Yeah. Yeah, it was.

But, uh, you know, it wasn’t in a tank
or a theme park or anything.

I was actually in the ocean,

and all of a sudden
I see all these fins comin’ at me.

You know? And I thought it was sharks.
So, I panicked, and I stayed very still.

And then, uh, they came closer...
closer, you know...

and all of a sudden,
one of them just leaps out of the water

without any effort, like it had wings.

I didn’t know much at the time,

but, uh, I knew sharks
couldn’t do anything like that.

So I relaxed a little bit
as the whole pod just glided past me.

I remember I-- I reached out
with both my hands, feeling them.

So smooth and-- and graceful.

They formed a ring around me
and just kept circling.

And then, uh, just as quickly,
they were gone.

Anyway, I knew right then
that I wanted to study them.

That must have been so beautiful.

Yeah. Yeah, it was.

But it was kind of a strange experience
to base a life decision on. [chuckles]

Why?

Well, Vicky, I’m not convinced
about anything unless I can prove it.

[scoffs] But you borrow
philosophy books from my grandfather,

-and nobody can prove that stuff either.
-Vicky...

Maybe the dolphins were trying to
communicate with you, touch you.

I’m just saying, if a beautiful thing
happens to you, you don’t have to...

I don’t know,
get out a calculator and figure it out.

Well, I’m a scientist, Vicky, all right?

That’s what scientists do.
We figure things out.

[Dan] Hello?

-Dan.
-Hey.

Am I interrupting anything?

Please do.

Thank you.

I was there when the Marie Rose pulled in.

The captain let me look all around,
which he didn’t have to do.

It’s not like I had
a search warrant or anything.

And?

Adam,
there are no drift nets on that boat.

But we saw them.

Look, he knew we were onto him,
and he hid them.

Look, even if I did find them,
really, there’s nothing I can do.

The law says you have to actually
catch them using a drift net to prosecute.

So you’re not gonna do anything?
Is that what you’re telling me?

You’re just gonna sit by and let dolphins
keep getting slaughtered?

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Adam!

Adam!

[sighs]

Hope I didn’t cause too much trouble.

Dan, you’re just doing your job.

All right, then. Good night.

Good night.

Vicky, you know, I don’t think Adam
has ever met anybody

who challenges him like you do.

[sighing] I can’t figure him out.
He cares so much, but he sees so little.

If I were a dolphin,
we’d get along just fine.

[chuckles]

The stars are beautiful tonight.

Yeah.

[chuckles] Suzy’s got another.

A real beauty too.

Wanna see it?

No, no. I don’t look through telescopes
much anymore, Vicky.

It takes away all the magic.

And I’ll promise you

that Suzy knows the name of that star,
the weight, all the details.

[laughs]

And that’s good. That’s her passion.

But sometimes, I...

sometimes I wish she’d just sit back
and enjoy the beauty of it.

-They are beautiful.
-But you know the amazing thing about it?

That star of Suzy’s could have
burned out thousands of years ago,

but the light still keeps coming.

And so what you think you’re looking at
isn’t necessarily the whole truth.

And that applies to people, you know?
Adam.

No, no, no. It’s possible that
Adam’s real light hasn’t reached you yet.

And that doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Come with me. I wanna...
I wanna show you something.

Henry Vaughan.

Seventeenth century.

-You like that century, don’t you?
-Yes, yes.

That was a good one.

Oh.

Listen.

"I saw eternity the other night...

like a great ring of pure
and endless light...

all calm as it was bright...

and round beneath it, time...

in hours, days, years...

driven by the spheres...

like a vast shadow moved...

in which the world...

and all her train were hurled."

It’s beautiful.

It’s deep.

Yeah, yeah.
The 17th century was very deep.

Sweetie, read on.
I-- I think you’ll enjoy it.

I’m gonna get these--
these old bones to bed. [chuckles]

Good night, darling.

Thanks for letting me know.

That’s right, sir. Thank you. Bye.

I hear you visited the Marie Rose
with some friends the other night.

Yeah, they like boats.

You like the way we live,
don’t you, Zachery?

The cars, the houses. Especially this one?

The private schools
you occasionally attend.

You like these things, don’t you?

Well, in order to maintain our lifestyle,

we need to maintain our businesses.

Ten ships and the largest independent
cannery on the East Coast.

The business my father started.

The business I have worked hard
to build up,

and a business I will not see you destroy.

Does our business use drift nets?

Zachery, toughen up.

I am sick of watching you mope around
like some kind of four-year-old.

[Zand] Bring her over, Frank.

Hold her steady.
If she delivers breech, she could die.

[Ynid clicking]

What’s happening?

It’s Ynid.
She’s having a difficult delivery.

Give me the hypodermic.

No! She doesn’t wanna be sedated.
She needs to be alert.

Vicky, get out of here.

Wait.

[dolphin calling]

Basil’s here. She wants him with her.

Over there!

[chirping]

-Oh, man, I forgot to call him.
-It doesn’t matter, he knows. Let him in.

It’s okay. Relax.

Hey, buddy.

[chirping]

[Vicky] Here he comes.

Okay, now back off.
She wants him to help her.

That’s their way.

The baby’s coming now.

Yes!

[baby dolphin chirping]

Vicky, what just happened?

I gotta go.

Vicky.

Vicky, wait! Vicky!

-Vicky, where are you going?
-Home.

You communicated with her, didn’t you?

-I’m going home.
-No, you did.

There was something
the first time when you met Ynid,

and again with Basil in the bay,
but I didn’t think anything about it.

But now I see. You communicated
telepathically, didn’t you?

-Let go of the bike.
-Didn’t you? Didn’t you?

I don’t know,
and I don’t wanna talk about it.

But, Vicky, don’t you see?

This could prove that dolphins don’t only
communicate vocally or instinctively,

but telepathically.

I don’t care.

Why are you so upset?

I mean, there have been cases of children

who have a certain level of sensitivity--

Children?

Yes. We’ve never given it
much credence because--

Is that what you think I am? A child?

Vicky, I didn’t mean that--

I’m not your case, and I am not a child.

Now I’m going home.

Vicky, I’m sorry. I...

[shutter clicking]

Yes.

[clicking continues]

Hi.

Hi.

Uh, Suzy told me I might find you here.

What you writin’?

Nothing. What do you want?

[sighs] Look...

I’m sorry if I made you feel
like a freak yesterday.

And a child. Don’t forget that part.

I know, but you wouldn’t let me finish.

Vicky, there is tons of
scientific data out there that--

Is that all you ever talk about? Data?

Well, I’ve got news for you, Adam.
I don’t know why I can do this.

It’s not like I hear specific words
or anything.

I don’t speak dolphin.

It’s just a feeling,
and it kind of scares me, okay?

If you would just
let us study you, maybe--

I don’t wanna be studied
like one of Rob’s bugs or something.

-And I...
-And what?

And I don’t think I want it explained.

I really think there are things in this
world that we’re not meant to understand.

[sighs]

Forget it.

Vicky, I’m... I’m sorry, all right?

Look, okay, okay, okay. Look...

I didn’t mean to make you feel
uncomfortable yesterday.

All right? I was--

What, Adam? You were what?

Jealous, okay? I was jealous. That’s all.

I mean, I have studied them for years.

I could write my thesis tomorrow
if they would let me,

but I can’t do what you can, Vicky.

And I would give anything...
anything to be able to.

Why, so they could help you
write your thesis?

Well, yeah.

I have a ton of questions for them, but...

All right, now I’m gonna sound
like a freak, and-- and don’t laugh.

At the end of the summer...

I’d really like to say good-bye to them.

You know, just...

just let ’em know
how much I’m gonna miss them.

[laughs]

Oh, come on.
You said you weren’t gonna laugh.

It’s not that, honest.

It’s just you sounded
kind of human just then, and it threw me.

That’s all.

So we’re friends again?

Yeah, sure.

-Friends.
-Cool.

All right, well,
I’ve gotta get back to work.

See ya.

See ya.

Hey, Suzy.

Were you serious about
what you said the other day?

About just finding a guy and,
boom, knowing he’s the one?

Well, I don’t know
if it’ll actually go "boom" or not.

Come on, I’m serious. Help me out here.

I’m the younger sister.
Why are you asking me?

[scoffs] ’Cause you’re the genius.

Not about boys.

Is it Adam?

Zachery?

[Vicky sighs]

-Who do you like being with more?
-I don’t know.

Adam is so... confident,

so sure of
what he’s gonna do with his life.

And Zachery’s like being out in a storm--

exciting and frightening at the same time.

Uh-huh.

Well, uh, let’s weigh
the evidence scientifically.

If you’re going strictly
on physical attributes,

Zach would get my vote.

Adam’s nicer and smarter,

but marine biologists smell like
fish and formaldehyde all the time.

Of course, Adam has a plan for his life.
Zachery doesn’t.

But with all that money, who needs it?

If I were you, I’d make a list.
Pros and cons for both of them

with appropriate plus and minus points
for degrees of importance,

then add ’em up.

Thanks, Suzy.

Glad to be of help.

And here we go.

-Thanks.
-Enjoy.

So, I heard you and Adam
sicced the cops on my old man.

Good for you. [chuckles]

You guys still fighting?

Oh, we never fight, Vick.

You see, uh, in order to fight,
you actually have to talk to each other.

You know, uh, when I was growin’ up,

my parents were always weird
because they never got divorced,

which was mostly because they thought
it would be too inconvenient.

But when I met your parents last summer,

I mean, not only are they not divorced,
but they seem like they loved each other.

-They do.
-That’s wild.

And you and your family
talk about everything.

And you go to church, and you say grace.

I mean, I don’t know anyone else
who does that kind of stuff.

And even though you do all of that,

you’re still...

real.

-Thank you?
-Gray party? Right here.

Oh, uh, I forgot to tell you,
I have a surprise guest.

-Hi.
-It’s okay. I invited him this time.

Okay, I’m here. What’s this all about?

So, this is how he avoided
the harbormaster the other day.

About a mile out,
this little boat gives them the nets.

And, uh, since you two are playing
the Hardy Boys,

I thought, well, with my compliments.

Look, I’m sorry, you guys.
These aren’t enough, all right?

We have to actually catch them
using the drift nets to do anything.

Well, uh, maybe that can be arranged.

Okay, well, look, this is boring.
Let’s go dancing.

Dancing? Where?

We’ll take my boat.
We’ll zip over to the mainland.

I know this club that’s totally insane.

Okay, but, uh, I can’t be back too late.

Adam, come on.

Yeah, Adam, come on.

No, I-- I don’t dance.

-Sure you do. Everybody dances.
-Well, not me.

Come on. We can’t wait all night.

Come on. I’ll teach you.

No. No, you go.

You have fun.

Okay.

[Adam whispers] Vicky.

Hey, Vicky.

Vicky!

What are you doin’?

Writing. What are you doing?

So, is your offer still good?

-What offer?
-You know, teach me how to dance.

[giggles]

[soft pop music playing]

That’s it. Don’t think so much.
Just go with the music.

♪ Do it now
If you're gonna do it ♪

♪ Won’t hurt much if you get to it... ♪

You, uh...

You write a lot, don’t you?

I guess.

So, what is it you write about
all the time?

Just stuff. You know.

Your, uh...
Your grandfather says you write poetry.

Oh?

Maybe.

-[song fades]
-[slow R&B song playing]

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Yeah... ♪

Come on.

[man vocalizing]

So...

you talk with Grandfather a lot?

Yeah.
Yeah, I did before you guys got here.

Mostly about the books I borrow.

He’s, uh...

He’s a great guy.

-And he’s a pretty good cook too.
-[both chuckle]

He had to learn when he was a missionary.

I didn’t know he was a missionary.

Yeah, well, he used to have
a huge church in Boston.

They used to broadcast his sermons
on the radio and everything.

-Wow.
-Yeah, I know. Pretty amazing.

He traveled all over the world.

And then he found this island.

[song continues]

Okay, now it’s your turn to lead.

Just do whatever you want,
and I’ll follow.

♪ I wanna be where you are ♪

♪ Feel like I’ll lose my mind
If I can’t be with you... ♪

[Adam chuckles]

[Vicky] There. That’s not so bad, is it?

Yeah. Yeah, it’s not so bad.

♪ I wanna be where you are ♪

♪ Feel like I’ll lose my mind
If I can’t be with you ♪

♪ You got me talkin’ in my ♪

♪ Girl, you’ve been walkin’ in my ♪

♪ I wanna be where you are ♪

♪ You got me talkin’ in my ♪

♪ Girl, you’ve been walkin’ in my ♪

♪ I wanna be where you are ♪

♪ You got me talkin’ in my sleep ♪

♪ Girl, you’ve been
Haunting all my dreams... ♪

I better get back.

Yeah. Me too.

♪ I’m gonna lose my mind
If I can’t be with you ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ I’m gonna lose my mind... ♪

Look, I really do need your help
on my dolphin research.

You’re the breakthrough
I’ve been waiting for, Vicky.

Will you help me tomorrow?

Sure. I’ll help you if I can.

You can.

Well, uh... thanks.

Good night.

Good night.

[sighs]

Wow.

[all chirping]

There they go, free.

Now what?

Now is where you come in.

-Now, what I want you to do is call them.
-I can’t.

No, I think you can.

You see, the same way that your mind
is open to receive what they say,

I think you can reach out and call them.

-But what if they don’t come?
-If they don’t come, they don’t come.

You don’t have to succeed.
You just have to try.

Okay.

Did you do it?

Yeah. I think so.

All right.

Why do you think they did it?

Who?

The dolphins.
Why do you think they returned to the sea?

I don’t know. And you know,
the part that gets me the most

is that if you look at their flippers,
they’re really paws.

Fingers made over with skin.

Guess when they returned to the sea,
they had to give up their hands.

Wow.

With no hands, there’d be no writing.

Yeah. No writing, no music, no art.

Do you think
when they went back to the sea,

they had to choose to give up their hands?

That there was something so worth it
they were willing to?

I don’t know.

Maybe.

Hey, look!

[chirping, clicking]

[Vicky giggling]

[Adam] Here.
Tell them to do something with your mind.

Go on, tell ’em.

[clicking]

-That was amazing. What’d you tell ’em?
-I told ’em to do a flip.

Well, do it again.

[both laugh]

That’s amazing. Do it again.

No, he’s bored with that.
He wants you to play with him.

[clicking]

[laughing]

Yeah!

Whoo-hoo! Whoa!

[Adam yelps]

Here, talk to ’em, Vicky.

Ask them a question.

Like what?

Ask them about
what we talked about before.

Why they returned to the sea.

Okay.

Vicky?

Vicky?

[chirping]

Vicky! Vicky!

[shouts]

[Adam] Vicky. Vicky, are you all right?

-What happened?
-I don’t know. You...

You shouted and then just calmly
walked back to shore and sat down.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah.

Where’d Ynid and Basil go?

They left back to the ocean.
What happened?

They tried to answer my question...

but I don’t think I could understand it.

It was like a light.

Stars swirling around each other.

I don’t know, Adam,

but the dolphins are absolutely
connected with everything.

Their thoughts are totally
open to each other.

They have no secrets.

That seems kind of scary, don’t you think?

At first, but then there’s this
incredible freedom in no secrets.

You can’t help but be who you are.

That’s why it was
worth it to them to return.

No secrets.

[Zachery] Hey, Vick.

-What are you doing here?
-It’s time.

-Time for what?
-To catch the bad guy.

We’ll stay back far enough
so they don’t know we’re following,

but the minute the Marie Rose
starts droppin’ the nets,

we zoom up and get ’em on video.

I’m sure it’ll end up on TV.

What about Adam?

Hey, just because I invited him
to dinner the other night

doesn’t mean
I want him around all the time.

Today’s adventure
is just you and me, Vick.

So, why did you invite him?

To give him the evidence.

[sighs] All right, all right. Curiosity.

About what?

The competition.

Why is everything a competition with guys?

It’s in the genes. We can’t help it.

So, that Adam is pretty serious, huh?

I guess.

[scoffs] You guess?
It’s like hanging out with an old man.

Why are you obsessing about Adam?

I’m not obsessing.
I’m just making an observation.

He’s kind of dull, that’s all.

He’s not dull.

Wanna have some fun?

-What are you doing?
-Didn’t you ever play chicken, Vick?

No! And I don’t want to start now.

[horn blasts]

[man] Look out!

Stop it, Zachery.

Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.

-Make way!
-[horn blows]

Stop it, Zachery, I mean it.

Hey!

[laughing]

I told you.

Take me back.

-What? Vick, I--
-Now!

Vicky, come on. Let me explain.

Explain what?
That you want to k*ll yourself?

Come on. It was just fun.
I was under control.

No, you weren’t!

Look, Zachery, I’m sorry your mother died,

and I’m sorry
you’re having problems with your father.

But you have too much going for you
to do this stupid stuff.

Vicky, all right, I’m sorry. I just...

Look, I don’t know, I was...

I don’t know,
I was showin’ off or somethin’.

Yeah, okay.

I really like you, you know.

Start tryin’ to like yourself.

[clattering]

-Grandfather?
-Oh, Cara.

I-- I fell.

It’s me, Grandfather. Vicky.

Here.

I woke up, and you...
you weren’t there, Cara.

And I tried to get my medicine...

and fell.

I’m not Grandmother, I’m Vicky.

Grandmother’s gone.

Oh. [panting]

Oh, Vicky, you’re right. Yes, Vicky.

Oh, yes, I...

I’m sorry. No, I...

Oh.

[stammering]

I miss her so much.

I know. We should call a doctor.

No, no, no, darling,
just hand me my medicine.

It’s on the floor, you see?

Thank you.

"For pain. Take as needed."

-Yes.
-Grandfather!

I need...

a glass of water.

Would you, please?

[thunder rumbling]

I love--
I love watching a storm grow nearer.

You know, that’s one
of the wonderful things about living here.

You can watch so many things evolve.

-Grandfather?
-Yeah?

I want you to look at me right in the eye
and answer a question.

Oh.

Are you all right? Your health?

Superb.

For 81.

-Please answer my question.
-Oh, darling, darling, darling.

I know this hasn’t been
an easy summer for you.

I know that,
but maybe it’s time to face some facts.

You see, I’m not a young man anymore.

No, I’m an old man, darling,
and I’m enjoying every minute of it.

Grandfather,
what exactly is the matter with you?

Leukemia.

[thunder rumbling]

-Are you sure?
-No doubt.

Do Mom and Dad know?

I’m gonna tell them
as soon as they arrive, dear.

And I wouldn’t have
burdened you with it, darling,

but you... you insisted.

But nothing can happen to you.
I don’t want it to.

No, no, no...

You’re the only person who understands me.

Oh, you’ll meet another, I promise.

Many, many more...

through your poetry.

Vicky, come with me.

I want you to read me something.

Vicky, death is as natural as... [coughs]

as that storm out there.

How can I fear
what God has in store for me?

I trust him completely.

Believe me, it’s very comforting.

Come here, dear.

In fact, you wrote something
that’s very comforting.

Here.

Please.

Read that. Read that to me.

"The universe is part of this one cry...

in this strange land
where all are born to die.

Each tree and leaf and star

show how the universe
is part of this one cry.

[sniffles]

That every life is noted
and is cherished...

and nothing loved
is ever lost or perished."

You understand.

Grandfather?

Grandfather?

How do you want your eggs this morning?

[both laugh]

-[Rob] Kick it!
-[Suzy] Here you go, Rob.

-Come on, kick it.
-[Adam] I, uh...

I tried to write you something last night.
A poem.

-Really?
-Yeah.

Yeah, but it was pretty bad though.
I ended up throwing it away.

[both laugh]

I don't know. Everything I write
comes out like a research paper.

You shouldn’t have thrown it out.

Oh, look who’s talking.
You don’t show anybody your stuff either.

Yeah, well...

What is it?

Vicky?

What is it?

[chirping]

[wailing]

The drift net.

It’s got Ynid.

Look, we have to call the harbormaster.

And say what?

That we know where a dolphin
is trapped in a drift net

because its mate told us so
telepathically?

Okay, so, what do we do?

I know somebody else with a boat.

-[cell phone ringing]
-[men chattering]

Hello? Vicky.

Uh, no. I’m just spending
some quality time with my dad.

He’s got me workin’ on his yacht all day
for his business pals.

Hey, Bill, you look great.

What?

Okay, where’s the stuck fish?

It’s a dolphin,
and it’s trapped in a drift net.

Look, whatever. I’m here to help.

Let’s go.

So, how do we get there?

Follow him.

[chirps]

Zachery, where are you goin’?
Get back up here.

Not today, Dad.

I’ve got something
that’s actually important to do.

It’s not much further.

All right, I give up.
How does she know that?

[chirping]

It’s the Marie Rose.
She’s about a mile out with her nets out.

If they start pullin’ in the drift nets,
Ynid’s dead.

Zachery, hand me your cell phone.
We gotta call the harbormaster.

I thought you said
he wouldn’t listen to us.

-You said he’d think we were crazy.
-I know someone he’ll believe.

[phone ringing]

-Hello?
-Suzy, it’s Vicky.

-Vicky, where are you? What are you doing?
-Here, I’ll take that, darling.

Hello, Vicky. What is it?

Grandfather? I need a favor.

All right, pull her up.

Okay. Bring her in.

[chirps]

There she is.

-They’re pulling in the net!
-How long do we have?

The drift nets are miles long.
We have a few minutes.

Then we have to save her.

No, Vicky!

-I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.
-Dan. Dan.

I was thinkin’, could I ride along?

-You sure you up for this, Reverend?
-I never felt better.

Okay. Okay, come on.

[Adam] Vicky!

She’s too tangled up. I can’t get her out.

What are you doing?

I’ve got to cut her loose.

She’s tired. She can’t last much longer.

Just talk to her. Tell her to hold on.

Hold on, Ynid. Hold on.

Hold on.

Captain.

A boat. Out at the net.

That’s Mr. Gray’s kid.
What’s he doin’ out here?

Should we stop drawin’ in the net?

No. No, this could be trouble.
You keep it coming.

-[inhales]
-Hold on, Ynid.

[gasps]

-Can you get it?
-[Adam] Not yet.

This is pretty tough stuff. I will though.

[clicking]

[gasping]

[Vicky] You’re getting it.

You’ve almost got it.

I almost got it.

Ynid, it’s okay. Hang on.
We’re almost there.

Come on, Ynid. Please.

[Vicky] It’s coming.

You got it, you got it.

[chuckles]

[both laughing]

-Oh! Whoa!
-Adam!

-Adam?
-Wait, the net.

Adam!

Vicky, give me your hand.

Watch out.

-Are you in?
-Yeah.

Adam! Adam!

[chirping, clicking]

Come on, guys. Come on.

[both gasping]

Man, don’t do that to me.

Hand me the binoculars, will you, Rev?

-What is it?
-We got ’em, Rev.

Caught in the act.

-Hey, look.
-[Adam] Hey, there’s somebody with him.

Get Mr. Gray on the phone.
He is not gonna be happy.

Look!

[laughs]

[Vicky] Grandfather.

Hey, Captain! You’re busted!

[Adam] Yes! [laughs]

[laughing]

They spoke to you, didn’t they?

The dolphins.

Yeah.

Just once.

Just for a second.

They, uh... [chuckles]

They told me to hold on.

That I... I had more to do.

I’m glad.

Vicky!

-What happened?
-Vicky, what happened?

-Are you okay? What’s going on?
-Yeah.

-Grandfather!
-Grandfather! What’s going on?

Children, wait a minute.
Vicky will tell you what happened.

But I-- I’m gonna get a nap.

-I have to take a nap.
-Okay.

Vicky, what’s going on? What happened?

Okay, okay. Calm down, guys.
Wait a second.

[all talking at once]

[dog whimpers]

Grandfather, would you like some tea?

[Grandfather groaning] Victoria?

-[mumbling]
-Grandfather?

Come here.

-I’ll call an ambulance.
-No, darling. Come here.

Come here, come here. It...

It's... It’s my time, dear.

I know.

You never should’ve been out there today.
This is all my fault.

You don’t know what you did for me.

You gave me
one of the greatest days of my life.

-Let me call a doctor.
-No, dear. No, no.

Come here.

Come here, closer. Closer.

I want to tell you something that’s...

that’s important.

You have a light, Vicky, a wonderful gift.

You have a special voice.
Don’t ever hide it.

The world needs
all the beauty it can get, darling.

Share it with everyone. Share it.

Promise me.

I promise.

Don't-- Don’t ever be afraid, dear...

to show the very special...

person that you are.

Don’t ever, ever be...

[sniffles, sobs]

Suzy?

[Dan] The ferry’s in.

Your parents should be here any minute.

Thanks.

Vicky?

Think that there could be a planet
somewhere where nobody has any eyes?

Could be, I guess.

Well, if nobody had any eyes,

they’d get along all right without them,
wouldn’t they?

Sure.

They’d compensate with hearing,
and smell, and touch, I guess.

But they wouldn’t know
what anything looked like.

No. It wouldn’t be possible.

I was thinking...

when the people on the planet
with no eyes die...

they’re sent to planets
where there are eyes.

Maybe.

So, maybe when we die,
we’ll get something new too...

something as important
as being able to see.

But since we don’t know what it is,
nobody could tell us about it now,

any more than we could explain seeing
to the people on the planet with no eyes.

I think you’re right, Rob.

[car approaching]

Vicky, come here.

[chattering]

Okay, kids, here we go.

Yeah, thanks for everything, Dan.

My pleasure. You got great kids.

Okay, guys. Get all of it.

Thanks for lettin’ me read ’em.
They’re great.

Thanks, but, um, you’re prejudiced.

Yeah, maybe.
But, uh, I still think they’re great.

I’ve decided to show them
to the lit magazine at school.

What, the old school or the new school?

I talked to Mom.
I’m not going to the new school.

I don’t belong there.

I have to go.

You’re gonna be a great artist, Vicky.

And you’re gonna be a great scientist.

You know, your grandfather always said
that art and science are really one.

Good-bye.

I’ll write.

Good.

So will I.

[boat horn blaring]

[Grandfather]
"I saw eternity the other night,

like a great ring
of pure and endless light,

all calm as it was bright.

And round beneath it,

time in hours, days, years,

driven by the spheres,
like a vast shadow moved,

in which the world
and all her train were hurled."

[upbeat music playing]