1 00:01:38,958 --> 00:01:41,792 Dear Mr. Mulvahill, 2 00:01:38,958 --> 00:01:41,792 I sincerely hope 3 00:01:41,875 --> 00:01:43,542 that this letter finds you 4 00:01:41,875 --> 00:01:43,542 spiritually, mentally, 5 00:01:43,625 --> 00:01:45,542 and physically well. 6 00:01:45,625 --> 00:01:47,125 You likely won't remember me, 7 00:01:47,208 --> 00:01:50,000 so please allow me 8 00:01:47,208 --> 00:01:50,000 to reintroduce myself. 9 00:01:50,083 --> 00:01:52,333 My name is Jim Herbers. 10 00:01:52,417 --> 00:01:57,000 I attended Franklin Elementary 11 00:01:52,417 --> 00:01:57,000 from 1974 through 1979, 12 00:01:57,083 --> 00:01:59,458 where you coached baseball 13 00:01:57,083 --> 00:01:59,458 and taught music 14 00:01:59,542 --> 00:02:02,208 to kindergarten 15 00:01:59,542 --> 00:02:02,208 through 3rd grade. 16 00:02:02,292 --> 00:02:05,333 I was an ordinary child who, 17 00:02:02,292 --> 00:02:05,333 from an early age, 18 00:02:05,417 --> 00:02:09,042 had ordinary aspirations 19 00:02:05,417 --> 00:02:09,042 to lead an ordinary life. 20 00:02:10,708 --> 00:02:14,125 But all that changed 21 00:02:10,708 --> 00:02:14,125 when I was in 3rd grade-- 22 00:02:14,208 --> 00:02:16,250 when I met you. 23 00:02:16,333 --> 00:02:19,083 I am hoping that you will be 24 00:02:16,333 --> 00:02:19,083 kind enough to meet with me. 25 00:02:19,167 --> 00:02:21,875 I have longed for many years 26 00:02:19,167 --> 00:02:21,875 to meet face-to-face, 27 00:02:21,958 --> 00:02:25,917 and have only recently 28 00:02:21,958 --> 00:02:25,917 gathered the courage to ask. 29 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,667 You will receive 30 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,667 a second letter from me 31 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,667 this afternoon 32 00:02:28,750 --> 00:02:30,500 outlining the specific 33 00:02:28,750 --> 00:02:30,500 time and place 34 00:02:30,583 --> 00:02:32,583 at which I would like 35 00:02:30,583 --> 00:02:32,583 to meet tomorrow. 36 00:02:35,458 --> 00:02:39,542 And while I realize 37 00:02:35,458 --> 00:02:39,542 this may seem an odd 38 00:02:35,458 --> 00:02:39,542 and presumptuous request, 39 00:02:39,625 --> 00:02:41,167 I remind you that 40 00:02:39,625 --> 00:02:41,167 as a former teacher 41 00:02:41,250 --> 00:02:42,875 your primary role in life 42 00:02:42,958 --> 00:02:46,583 was to profoundly impact 43 00:02:42,958 --> 00:02:46,583 the lives of your students. 44 00:02:49,458 --> 00:02:53,375 I can assure you that no one 45 00:02:49,458 --> 00:02:53,375 was more profoundly impacted 46 00:02:53,458 --> 00:02:56,792 by the short time 47 00:02:53,458 --> 00:02:56,792 we spent together than me. 48 00:02:58,542 --> 00:03:01,125 Sincerely, Jim Herbers. 49 00:03:39,500 --> 00:03:40,542 Jim? 50 00:03:40,625 --> 00:03:42,792 Mr. Mulvahill? 51 00:03:42,875 --> 00:03:45,875 Yes. That's me. 52 00:03:47,542 --> 00:03:49,792 I-I'm sorry, I just-- 53 00:03:49,875 --> 00:03:51,250 it's been so long. 54 00:03:53,333 --> 00:03:55,000 It's really you? 55 00:03:55,083 --> 00:03:56,958 Well, I hope I'm him. 56 00:03:57,042 --> 00:03:59,833 I'm wearing his underwear. 57 00:04:01,333 --> 00:04:03,750 Please come in. 58 00:04:03,833 --> 00:04:05,167 I'm sorry, I just-- 59 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:07,833 No, no, it's-- 60 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:07,833 it's quite all right. 61 00:04:12,792 --> 00:04:16,833 Well, I-- I guess 62 00:04:12,792 --> 00:04:16,833 you've grown a few inches 63 00:04:16,917 --> 00:04:19,208 since we last 64 00:04:16,917 --> 00:04:19,208 saw each other. 65 00:04:19,292 --> 00:04:20,750 You remember me? 66 00:04:22,875 --> 00:04:25,750 I carry all my students 67 00:04:22,875 --> 00:04:25,750 with me. 68 00:04:27,083 --> 00:04:29,125 How? 69 00:04:29,208 --> 00:04:31,125 I'm sorry. How? 70 00:04:31,208 --> 00:04:33,333 Yes, how? 71 00:04:33,417 --> 00:04:37,333 It's just a figure of speech. 72 00:04:33,417 --> 00:04:37,333 I-- 73 00:04:37,417 --> 00:04:38,833 I... 74 00:04:38,917 --> 00:04:42,125 You're all 75 00:04:38,917 --> 00:04:42,125 a part of my life. 76 00:04:42,208 --> 00:04:43,417 I understand. 77 00:04:45,917 --> 00:04:48,333 So, I was pleased 78 00:04:45,917 --> 00:04:48,333 to get your letter. 79 00:04:48,417 --> 00:04:53,292 I have to confess 80 00:04:48,417 --> 00:04:53,292 that I do have an appointment 81 00:04:48,417 --> 00:04:53,292 this afternoon, 82 00:04:53,375 --> 00:04:56,583 but I'm eager to hear 83 00:04:53,375 --> 00:04:56,583 whatever it is 84 00:04:56,667 --> 00:04:58,375 you wanted to discuss with me. 85 00:05:00,792 --> 00:05:02,833 Mr. Mulvahill, I-- 86 00:05:02,917 --> 00:05:05,417 I can't thank you enough 87 00:05:02,917 --> 00:05:05,417 for coming today. 88 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:07,833 You have no idea 89 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:07,833 how much this means to me. 90 00:05:07,917 --> 00:05:11,667 It's no trouble at all. 91 00:05:07,917 --> 00:05:11,667 Really. 92 00:05:11,750 --> 00:05:13,500 Please. Have a seat. 93 00:05:13,583 --> 00:05:15,542 - Oh. Thank you. 94 00:05:13,583 --> 00:05:15,542 - OK. 95 00:05:45,417 --> 00:05:47,000 You remember? 96 00:05:48,833 --> 00:05:51,417 Do you mean 97 00:05:48,833 --> 00:05:51,417 the piece of music? 98 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:55,208 It's the 4th movement 99 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:55,208 of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. 100 00:05:55,292 --> 00:05:58,083 - "The Ode to Joy." 101 00:05:55,292 --> 00:05:58,083 - His final symphony. 102 00:05:58,167 --> 00:06:00,333 That's correct. 103 00:06:02,458 --> 00:06:04,583 The year was 1978, 104 00:06:04,667 --> 00:06:06,708 I was in the 3rd grade, 105 00:06:04,667 --> 00:06:06,708 you were 106 00:06:06,792 --> 00:06:08,333 teaching us all music. 107 00:06:08,417 --> 00:06:10,583 And we were trying to decide 108 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:12,833 what to play 109 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:12,833 for the spring concert. 110 00:06:12,917 --> 00:06:15,042 And all the kids wanted to play 111 00:06:12,917 --> 00:06:15,042 the overture to Star Wars. 112 00:06:15,125 --> 00:06:17,708 The movie had 113 00:06:15,125 --> 00:06:17,708 just been released, and made 114 00:06:17,792 --> 00:06:19,083 quite an impression 115 00:06:17,792 --> 00:06:19,083 on all of us. 116 00:06:19,167 --> 00:06:21,333 I was behind that idea 117 00:06:19,167 --> 00:06:21,333 a hundred percent. 118 00:06:21,417 --> 00:06:23,333 Do you remember? 119 00:06:23,417 --> 00:06:27,583 No? Well, you were having 120 00:06:23,417 --> 00:06:27,583 none of it, Mr. Mulvahill, 121 00:06:23,417 --> 00:06:27,583 let me tell you. 122 00:06:29,333 --> 00:06:32,750 You said, while the music 123 00:06:29,333 --> 00:06:32,750 might be exciting to us, 124 00:06:32,833 --> 00:06:34,250 it was highly derivative 125 00:06:34,333 --> 00:06:36,875 and wasn't worth our attention. 126 00:06:36,958 --> 00:06:38,583 Ha! 127 00:06:38,667 --> 00:06:40,667 Then... 128 00:06:40,750 --> 00:06:42,917 you told us... 129 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,667 about Ludwig van Beethoven. 130 00:06:46,750 --> 00:06:52,125 His dark and fiery 131 00:06:46,750 --> 00:06:52,125 compositions 132 00:06:46,750 --> 00:06:52,125 made him a star, 133 00:06:52,208 --> 00:06:54,750 and yet, his personal life 134 00:06:54,833 --> 00:06:58,583 was filled with pain 135 00:06:54,833 --> 00:06:58,583 and deeply troubled. 136 00:07:00,125 --> 00:07:02,542 Which got even worse 137 00:07:00,125 --> 00:07:02,542 as he lost his hearing. 138 00:07:02,625 --> 00:07:04,667 Can you imagine 139 00:07:02,625 --> 00:07:04,667 the ultimate tragedy? 140 00:07:04,750 --> 00:07:08,833 A composer losing their hearing. 141 00:07:08,917 --> 00:07:12,917 And that for 142 00:07:08,917 --> 00:07:12,917 the final movement 143 00:07:08,917 --> 00:07:12,917 of his final symphony, 144 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,250 in a stroke of irony, 145 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,250 he composed an ode... 146 00:07:17,333 --> 00:07:20,417 - to joy. 147 00:07:17,333 --> 00:07:20,417 - To joy. 148 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:23,500 He even brought in a chorus 149 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:23,500 to sing along with the music. 150 00:07:23,583 --> 00:07:25,083 Yes, yes. 151 00:07:28,625 --> 00:07:31,292 Well, needless to say, 152 00:07:28,625 --> 00:07:31,292 the children of the class 153 00:07:31,375 --> 00:07:34,500 did not approve 154 00:07:31,375 --> 00:07:34,500 of your choice, 155 00:07:31,375 --> 00:07:34,500 Mr. Mulvahill. 156 00:07:36,042 --> 00:07:38,167 But I just wanted 157 00:07:36,042 --> 00:07:38,167 to thank you 158 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:42,000 for playing "Ode to Joy" 159 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:42,000 for me that day. 160 00:07:42,083 --> 00:07:46,542 For teaching me 161 00:07:42,083 --> 00:07:46,542 that even though a man may live 162 00:07:42,083 --> 00:07:46,542 a deeply troubled life 163 00:07:46,625 --> 00:07:49,667 and come up against... 164 00:07:49,750 --> 00:07:52,375 unbelievable obstacles 165 00:07:52,458 --> 00:07:55,167 over which he has no control, 166 00:07:55,250 --> 00:07:58,875 to which he might be 167 00:07:55,250 --> 00:07:58,875 an innocent victim, 168 00:07:58,958 --> 00:08:01,417 even if he's... 169 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:05,750 drowning 170 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:05,750 in darkness and fear 171 00:08:05,833 --> 00:08:09,542 and despair 172 00:08:05,833 --> 00:08:09,542 and isolation... 173 00:08:09,625 --> 00:08:13,833 that every person 174 00:08:09,625 --> 00:08:13,833 has the opportunity 175 00:08:13,917 --> 00:08:17,750 to... end their life 176 00:08:17,833 --> 00:08:21,167 with an ode to joy. 177 00:08:27,458 --> 00:08:30,292 I desperately want 178 00:08:27,458 --> 00:08:30,292 to believe that. 179 00:08:30,375 --> 00:08:34,667 And, ironically enough, 180 00:08:30,375 --> 00:08:34,667 it's you I have to thank 181 00:08:34,750 --> 00:08:39,083 for this narrow strand of hope 182 00:08:39,167 --> 00:08:42,458 upon which... I now stand. 183 00:08:47,667 --> 00:08:48,958 Do you remember now? 184 00:08:54,292 --> 00:08:56,792 I-- I do. Uh... 185 00:08:56,875 --> 00:08:59,292 I-- I do remember it, Jim. 186 00:08:59,375 --> 00:09:03,417 And, uh, I'm so glad 187 00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:07,958 that... that it stayed with you. 188 00:09:13,750 --> 00:09:16,167 Well, I-- 189 00:09:13,750 --> 00:09:16,167 I should probably-- 190 00:09:16,250 --> 00:09:18,833 Do you also remember 191 00:09:16,250 --> 00:09:18,833 what happened after 192 00:09:16,250 --> 00:09:18,833 all the other kids left? 193 00:09:20,583 --> 00:09:22,583 Uh, I'm sorry? 194 00:09:22,667 --> 00:09:26,250 Well, you remembered 195 00:09:22,667 --> 00:09:26,250 the first portion of the day, 196 00:09:26,333 --> 00:09:30,083 I'm assuming 197 00:09:26,333 --> 00:09:30,083 you remember the portion 198 00:09:26,333 --> 00:09:30,083 that followed after. 199 00:09:30,167 --> 00:09:31,042 Hmm? 200 00:09:33,042 --> 00:09:35,250 I'm not sure, uh, really. 201 00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:37,333 But that's 202 00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:37,333 the most seminal part 203 00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:37,333 of it for me. 204 00:09:37,417 --> 00:09:39,542 That's the part 205 00:09:37,417 --> 00:09:39,542 that affected me the most, 206 00:09:39,625 --> 00:09:42,375 you and me alone together 207 00:09:39,625 --> 00:09:42,375 in the classroom. 208 00:09:44,333 --> 00:09:48,208 That's what... 209 00:09:44,333 --> 00:09:48,208 made me the man I am today. 210 00:09:58,417 --> 00:10:00,042 Do you remember? 211 00:10:02,042 --> 00:10:04,042 Let me refresh 212 00:10:02,042 --> 00:10:04,042 your memory. 213 00:10:06,417 --> 00:10:09,458 So, the kids 214 00:10:06,417 --> 00:10:09,458 voted for Star Wars. 215 00:10:09,542 --> 00:10:11,833 You were disappointed, 216 00:10:09,542 --> 00:10:11,833 but you handled it well. 217 00:10:11,917 --> 00:10:13,333 And then the bell rang, 218 00:10:13,417 --> 00:10:15,875 and all of 219 00:10:13,417 --> 00:10:15,875 the other children left. 220 00:10:15,958 --> 00:10:20,750 And I came up to you 221 00:10:15,958 --> 00:10:20,750 and I said 222 00:10:20,833 --> 00:10:22,792 that I really loved 223 00:10:20,833 --> 00:10:22,792 "Ode to Joy" 224 00:10:22,875 --> 00:10:24,542 and I wanted to vote for it, 225 00:10:24,625 --> 00:10:26,958 but I was afraid 226 00:10:24,625 --> 00:10:26,958 the other kids 227 00:10:24,625 --> 00:10:26,958 would make fun of me. 228 00:10:27,042 --> 00:10:30,667 So I copped out 229 00:10:27,042 --> 00:10:30,667 and I voted for Star Wars, too. 230 00:10:30,750 --> 00:10:32,917 And you were very sweet 231 00:10:30,750 --> 00:10:32,917 about it, 232 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:38,333 and you forgave me 233 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:38,333 for voting for Star Wars 234 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:38,333 and not for Beethoven. 235 00:10:38,417 --> 00:10:39,792 Then I turned to go, 236 00:10:39,875 --> 00:10:41,625 and then you stopped me 237 00:10:39,875 --> 00:10:41,625 and said 238 00:10:41,708 --> 00:10:44,583 could I stay for a few minutes. 239 00:10:46,125 --> 00:10:48,625 Do you remember that? 240 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,167 I-- I'm sorry, Jim, I-- 241 00:10:52,250 --> 00:10:54,875 - I should be going. 242 00:10:52,250 --> 00:10:54,875 - Just one-- one minute. 243 00:10:54,958 --> 00:10:56,083 Please. 244 00:10:57,583 --> 00:10:59,042 So... 245 00:10:59,125 --> 00:11:02,167 you asked me 246 00:10:59,125 --> 00:11:02,167 to take out my trumpet-- 247 00:10:59,125 --> 00:11:02,167 that trumpet-- 248 00:11:02,250 --> 00:11:05,250 and you handed me 249 00:11:02,250 --> 00:11:05,250 the sheet music 250 00:11:02,250 --> 00:11:05,250 for "Ode to Joy" 251 00:11:05,333 --> 00:11:07,000 and asked me 252 00:11:05,333 --> 00:11:07,000 to play along with you. 253 00:11:07,083 --> 00:11:08,542 I was thrilled. 254 00:11:08,625 --> 00:11:10,583 I never got this kind 255 00:11:08,625 --> 00:11:10,583 of attention at home. 256 00:11:11,958 --> 00:11:14,458 You asked me 257 00:11:11,958 --> 00:11:14,458 to close the door, 258 00:11:14,542 --> 00:11:15,750 and I did, 259 00:11:15,833 --> 00:11:18,333 and then 260 00:11:15,833 --> 00:11:18,333 we started to play, 261 00:11:18,417 --> 00:11:20,000 me on the trumpet, 262 00:11:18,417 --> 00:11:20,000 you on the piano. 263 00:11:20,083 --> 00:11:22,042 I played terribly, 264 00:11:20,083 --> 00:11:22,042 of course, 265 00:11:22,125 --> 00:11:24,708 and you played brilliantly. 266 00:11:24,792 --> 00:11:28,208 And the whole time you... 267 00:11:24,792 --> 00:11:28,208 smiled at me 268 00:11:28,292 --> 00:11:30,708 and nodded in encouragement. 269 00:11:30,792 --> 00:11:34,875 And it made me 270 00:11:30,792 --> 00:11:34,875 feel so good about myself. 271 00:11:34,958 --> 00:11:36,583 Then we finished, 272 00:11:36,667 --> 00:11:38,750 and I put away the trumpet, 273 00:11:38,833 --> 00:11:43,000 and you looked me, 274 00:11:38,833 --> 00:11:43,000 you smiled... 275 00:11:44,583 --> 00:11:46,625 ...then you put your hand 276 00:11:44,583 --> 00:11:46,625 on my knee. 277 00:11:48,875 --> 00:11:51,708 Can you remember 278 00:11:48,875 --> 00:11:51,708 what you said? 279 00:11:55,958 --> 00:11:59,417 I-- I, uh, I don't. I-- 280 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:00,667 This one is important. 281 00:12:02,833 --> 00:12:05,333 This... 282 00:12:05,417 --> 00:12:07,500 is the most important. 283 00:12:10,333 --> 00:12:13,208 Can you remember 284 00:12:10,333 --> 00:12:13,208 what happened next? 285 00:12:18,625 --> 00:12:20,792 I'm gonna need you 286 00:12:18,625 --> 00:12:20,792 to remember. 287 00:12:20,875 --> 00:12:23,292 I'm gonna need you 288 00:12:20,875 --> 00:12:23,292 to try harder. 289 00:12:23,375 --> 00:12:25,000 OK? 290 00:12:28,708 --> 00:12:30,083 No, I-- I-- 291 00:12:30,167 --> 00:12:31,792 I'm gonna need you 292 00:12:30,167 --> 00:12:31,792 to work harder. 293 00:12:31,875 --> 00:12:35,000 Because what happened 294 00:12:31,875 --> 00:12:35,000 over the next four minutes 295 00:12:35,083 --> 00:12:38,042 entirely changed 296 00:12:35,083 --> 00:12:38,042 the course of my life. 297 00:12:38,125 --> 00:12:41,125 So the least you can do 298 00:12:41,208 --> 00:12:43,625 is try and remember. 299 00:12:43,708 --> 00:12:47,708 Or admit-- Please. 300 00:12:47,792 --> 00:12:52,000 Tell me... 301 00:12:47,792 --> 00:12:52,000 what you remember... 302 00:12:52,083 --> 00:12:54,083 about what happened next. 303 00:13:00,750 --> 00:13:01,667 I'm sorry. 304 00:13:01,750 --> 00:13:04,750 I simply don't remember. 305 00:13:16,458 --> 00:13:18,833 OK. 306 00:13:18,917 --> 00:13:21,750 I'm disappointed, 307 00:13:18,917 --> 00:13:21,750 but what can you do? 308 00:13:21,833 --> 00:13:25,375 I mean... you can't remember 309 00:13:21,833 --> 00:13:25,375 what you can't remember. 310 00:13:25,458 --> 00:13:28,583 Thank you so much 311 00:13:25,458 --> 00:13:28,583 for coming. 312 00:13:28,667 --> 00:13:32,167 And I sincerely hope 313 00:13:28,667 --> 00:13:32,167 I haven't made you late 314 00:13:28,667 --> 00:13:32,167 for your next appointment. 315 00:13:32,250 --> 00:13:36,375 Well, nice to see you, Jim, 316 00:13:32,250 --> 00:13:36,375 and I hope everything-- 317 00:13:36,458 --> 00:13:37,792 - Mr. Mulvahill! 318 00:13:36,458 --> 00:13:37,792 - Yes? 319 00:13:49,958 --> 00:13:53,458 If you scream, I'll have to 320 00:13:49,958 --> 00:13:53,458 put a gag in your mouth. 321 00:13:58,167 --> 00:14:00,250 You won't like that. 322 00:14:03,125 --> 00:14:05,417 Plus, I rented 323 00:14:03,125 --> 00:14:05,417 all the nearby rooms, 324 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:07,958 so there's no one to help you. 325 00:14:08,042 --> 00:14:11,708 But I'm confident 326 00:14:08,042 --> 00:14:11,708 that we can resolve this 327 00:14:11,792 --> 00:14:17,167 if we just cooperate together. 328 00:14:11,792 --> 00:14:17,167 OK? 329 00:14:17,250 --> 00:14:19,250 I'm sorry I had 330 00:14:17,250 --> 00:14:19,250 to hit you like that, 331 00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:21,208 but, as you'll soon realize, 332 00:14:21,292 --> 00:14:24,500 I needed to have you immobilized 333 00:14:21,292 --> 00:14:24,500 for about ten minutes 334 00:14:24,583 --> 00:14:26,458 while we work through this. 335 00:14:26,542 --> 00:14:28,792 Now, I'm pretty sure you knew 336 00:14:26,542 --> 00:14:28,792 what happened on that day 337 00:14:28,875 --> 00:14:31,125 and are lying to me right now. 338 00:14:31,208 --> 00:14:34,542 But there is the possibility 339 00:14:31,208 --> 00:14:34,542 that you have forgotten 340 00:14:34,625 --> 00:14:39,625 or, even more likely, 341 00:14:34,625 --> 00:14:39,625 that what was so seminal for me 342 00:14:39,708 --> 00:14:42,542 was merely commonplace for you. 343 00:14:44,125 --> 00:14:49,625 So, where were we? Ah, yes. 344 00:14:49,708 --> 00:14:53,958 Sitting down, 345 00:14:49,708 --> 00:14:53,958 your hand on my knee, 346 00:14:49,708 --> 00:14:53,958 the door was closed. 347 00:14:54,042 --> 00:14:55,750 You remember 348 00:14:54,042 --> 00:14:55,750 what you said to me? 349 00:14:55,833 --> 00:14:58,625 You said, "Jim... 350 00:14:58,708 --> 00:15:01,042 I believe... 351 00:15:01,125 --> 00:15:03,875 that anything is possible 352 00:15:01,125 --> 00:15:03,875 in this world." 353 00:15:05,958 --> 00:15:09,917 I remember basking 354 00:15:05,958 --> 00:15:09,917 in the warm glow 355 00:15:05,958 --> 00:15:09,917 of your smile, 356 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:11,917 and for a moment I believed 357 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,792 that maybe I could 358 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,792 have a beautiful life, 359 00:15:13,875 --> 00:15:17,250 maybe I could be a composer 360 00:15:13,875 --> 00:15:17,250 one day, 361 00:15:17,333 --> 00:15:19,417 like Beethoven. 362 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:21,458 And then... 363 00:15:21,542 --> 00:15:25,042 just like that... 364 00:15:25,125 --> 00:15:26,708 you took it away. 365 00:15:28,833 --> 00:15:30,500 You erased it. 366 00:15:32,208 --> 00:15:34,000 And do you know why? 367 00:15:39,208 --> 00:15:41,083 You teleported. 368 00:15:46,750 --> 00:15:49,667 From right over here, 369 00:15:46,750 --> 00:15:49,667 to right over there. 370 00:15:49,750 --> 00:15:52,000 Thirty feet. 371 00:15:52,083 --> 00:15:54,792 From the piano 372 00:15:52,083 --> 00:15:54,792 to behind the desk. 373 00:15:54,875 --> 00:15:56,542 Whoosh! 374 00:15:56,625 --> 00:15:58,958 Just like that. 375 00:15:59,042 --> 00:16:01,833 And I-- I was shocked. 376 00:15:59,042 --> 00:16:01,833 I-- I couldn't believe it. 377 00:16:01,917 --> 00:16:04,208 So I quickly asked you 378 00:16:01,917 --> 00:16:04,208 about it, 379 00:16:04,292 --> 00:16:08,500 and, even more strangely, 380 00:16:04,292 --> 00:16:08,500 you denied it. 381 00:16:08,583 --> 00:16:11,625 And I wanted 382 00:16:08,583 --> 00:16:11,625 to find the truth. 383 00:16:11,708 --> 00:16:13,167 So I asked you again. 384 00:16:11,708 --> 00:16:13,167 You denied it again. 385 00:16:13,250 --> 00:16:14,542 Back and forth we went-- 386 00:16:14,625 --> 00:16:17,292 for four minutes 387 00:16:14,625 --> 00:16:17,292 this conversation went on. 388 00:16:17,375 --> 00:16:20,458 Well, finally, I-- I started 389 00:16:17,375 --> 00:16:20,458 doubting myself. 390 00:16:20,542 --> 00:16:23,083 Do you know what that's like? 391 00:16:23,167 --> 00:16:25,792 When part of you 392 00:16:23,167 --> 00:16:25,792 deeply believes 393 00:16:23,167 --> 00:16:25,792 that something is true, 394 00:16:25,875 --> 00:16:31,125 and another part of you 395 00:16:25,875 --> 00:16:31,125 doubts yourself 396 00:16:25,875 --> 00:16:31,125 to your very core? 397 00:16:32,333 --> 00:16:34,542 Until you start to doubt... 398 00:16:34,625 --> 00:16:37,583 any experience you might have. 399 00:16:37,667 --> 00:16:40,042 Oh... 400 00:16:40,125 --> 00:16:42,583 it's-- it's dark. 401 00:16:43,917 --> 00:16:46,333 It's a lot darker than... 402 00:16:46,417 --> 00:16:48,792 the life of 403 00:16:46,417 --> 00:16:48,792 Ludwig van Beethoven, 404 00:16:48,875 --> 00:16:50,292 I'll tell ya that. 405 00:16:52,375 --> 00:16:55,625 Makes it impossible 406 00:16:52,375 --> 00:16:55,625 to get close to anyone. 407 00:16:55,708 --> 00:17:01,292 Because you know something 408 00:16:55,708 --> 00:17:01,292 they can't, 409 00:17:01,375 --> 00:17:04,583 and even if you do 410 00:17:01,375 --> 00:17:04,583 get close enough 411 00:17:04,667 --> 00:17:06,333 to confess it to someone, 412 00:17:06,417 --> 00:17:08,375 like, say, 413 00:17:06,417 --> 00:17:08,375 your college girlfriend, 414 00:17:08,458 --> 00:17:11,958 oh... it doesn't go very well. 415 00:17:13,750 --> 00:17:15,875 So then you keep it a secret. 416 00:17:15,958 --> 00:17:20,333 But that creates a wall 417 00:17:15,958 --> 00:17:20,333 between you and other people. 418 00:17:20,417 --> 00:17:22,958 You talk to therapists, 419 00:17:20,417 --> 00:17:22,958 to psychiatrists, 420 00:17:23,042 --> 00:17:25,375 to hypnotists, 421 00:17:23,042 --> 00:17:25,375 and no one believes you, 422 00:17:25,458 --> 00:17:29,125 and even the medication 423 00:17:25,458 --> 00:17:29,125 stops working the way it should, 424 00:17:29,208 --> 00:17:32,333 which makes you 425 00:17:29,208 --> 00:17:32,333 doubt yourself even more. 426 00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:39,917 So what do you do? 427 00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:39,917 You work a menial job, and... 428 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,333 you just get by. 429 00:17:45,333 --> 00:17:47,708 Until, finally... 430 00:17:47,792 --> 00:17:50,250 you come to 431 00:17:47,792 --> 00:17:50,250 the terrifying conclusion 432 00:17:50,333 --> 00:17:54,542 that even though 433 00:17:50,333 --> 00:17:54,542 it makes no earthly sense... 434 00:17:54,625 --> 00:17:59,667 that Mr. Mulvahill, 435 00:17:54,625 --> 00:17:59,667 the baseball coach 436 00:17:54,625 --> 00:17:59,667 and music teacher, 437 00:17:59,750 --> 00:18:03,292 harbors the powers 438 00:17:59,750 --> 00:18:03,292 of teleportation, 439 00:18:03,375 --> 00:18:06,167 you know what you saw! 440 00:18:06,250 --> 00:18:08,292 And you believe it-- 441 00:18:08,375 --> 00:18:09,958 no matter what 442 00:18:08,375 --> 00:18:09,958 anyone else says. 443 00:18:10,042 --> 00:18:12,542 Now, I know 444 00:18:10,042 --> 00:18:12,542 what you're thinking. 445 00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:17,375 Why wait 40 years 446 00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:17,375 to confront you about it? 447 00:18:17,458 --> 00:18:19,708 Well, that's 448 00:18:17,458 --> 00:18:19,708 a very good question. 449 00:18:19,792 --> 00:18:23,708 Believe me, I have been 450 00:18:19,792 --> 00:18:23,708 thinking about this every day, 451 00:18:23,792 --> 00:18:27,000 multiple times a day, 452 00:18:23,792 --> 00:18:27,000 for the past 40 years. 453 00:18:27,083 --> 00:18:29,667 Who and what you might be, 454 00:18:29,750 --> 00:18:33,792 and why you did 455 00:18:29,750 --> 00:18:33,792 what you did to me. 456 00:18:33,875 --> 00:18:36,458 Now, ultimately, 457 00:18:36,542 --> 00:18:41,667 I decided that I can live 458 00:18:36,542 --> 00:18:41,667 without knowing why. 459 00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:44,583 But mm-mm. What I can't stand 460 00:18:44,667 --> 00:18:49,583 is the .001 percent chance 461 00:18:44,667 --> 00:18:49,583 that it didn't happen. 462 00:18:50,917 --> 00:18:52,750 What if I'm crazy? 463 00:18:54,750 --> 00:18:58,333 What if I... blinked 464 00:18:58,417 --> 00:19:00,625 or had a blackout, 465 00:19:00,708 --> 00:19:03,083 and there was 466 00:19:00,708 --> 00:19:03,083 no teleportation whatsoever? 467 00:19:05,083 --> 00:19:08,500 That's when I knew 468 00:19:05,083 --> 00:19:08,500 I needed to confront you, 469 00:19:08,583 --> 00:19:11,625 I needed to speak to you, 470 00:19:08,583 --> 00:19:11,625 try and get the truth. 471 00:19:11,708 --> 00:19:15,042 And, well, 472 00:19:11,708 --> 00:19:15,042 we went through that, 473 00:19:15,125 --> 00:19:17,875 and it worked out 474 00:19:15,125 --> 00:19:17,875 just as I thought: fruitless. 475 00:19:17,958 --> 00:19:21,583 So then I thought, well, 476 00:19:17,958 --> 00:19:21,583 why not capture him 477 00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:24,375 and threaten his life 478 00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:24,375 until he tells me the truth? 479 00:19:24,458 --> 00:19:26,375 Well, look, 480 00:19:24,458 --> 00:19:26,375 you and I both know 481 00:19:26,458 --> 00:19:29,083 that if my life were threatened 482 00:19:29,167 --> 00:19:31,583 unless I admitted 483 00:19:29,167 --> 00:19:31,583 to something ridiculous, 484 00:19:31,667 --> 00:19:34,250 like, say, I don't know, 485 00:19:31,667 --> 00:19:34,250 I had 39 testicles, 486 00:19:34,333 --> 00:19:35,625 I would do it. Of course. 487 00:19:35,708 --> 00:19:37,042 I would lie. Wouldn't you? 488 00:19:37,125 --> 00:19:39,000 Of course you would. 489 00:19:39,083 --> 00:19:42,375 And that's why I've never 490 00:19:39,083 --> 00:19:42,375 confronted you before. 491 00:19:42,458 --> 00:19:48,000 I could never 492 00:19:42,458 --> 00:19:48,000 figure out a strategy... 493 00:19:48,083 --> 00:19:50,292 to come up with the truth. 494 00:19:50,375 --> 00:19:53,292 Then, one day, 495 00:19:50,375 --> 00:19:53,292 when I was eating Corn Pops 496 00:19:53,375 --> 00:19:55,417 and listening to 497 00:19:53,375 --> 00:19:55,417 This American Life, 498 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:57,917 it hit me like 499 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:57,917 a bolt of lightning. 500 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,917 Ha ha! Of course! 501 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,917 If I tell him 502 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,917 that he's only got 503 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,917 60 seconds 504 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,125 before I put this baseball bat 505 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,125 through his skull, 506 00:20:08,208 --> 00:20:11,125 well, that should 507 00:20:08,208 --> 00:20:11,125 give him enough time, right? 508 00:20:11,208 --> 00:20:13,083 If he can teleport, he will. 509 00:20:13,167 --> 00:20:16,000 Because if not... 510 00:20:13,167 --> 00:20:16,000 he's dead. 511 00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:21,958 - Fifty seconds. 512 00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:21,958 - Please wait. 513 00:20:22,042 --> 00:20:23,292 Please! Please-- 514 00:20:23,375 --> 00:20:25,208 D-Don't do this. 515 00:20:25,292 --> 00:20:26,542 I'll do anything you want. 516 00:20:26,625 --> 00:20:28,000 We're past that, 517 00:20:26,625 --> 00:20:28,000 Mr. Mulvahill. 518 00:20:28,083 --> 00:20:29,417 Look into your heart. 519 00:20:29,500 --> 00:20:31,167 You know this is not 520 00:20:29,500 --> 00:20:31,167 the right thing to do. 521 00:20:31,250 --> 00:20:32,750 But I need to do it. 522 00:20:32,833 --> 00:20:34,833 But you know you have doubts. 523 00:20:34,917 --> 00:20:36,667 Just the tiniest 524 00:20:34,917 --> 00:20:36,667 of doubts. 525 00:20:36,750 --> 00:20:39,292 But what you are claiming 526 00:20:36,750 --> 00:20:39,292 is impossible. 527 00:20:39,375 --> 00:20:41,750 Man cannot teleport himself! 528 00:20:41,833 --> 00:20:43,625 Religion is impossible, 529 00:20:41,833 --> 00:20:43,625 but man believes it... 530 00:20:43,708 --> 00:20:45,542 But I know you are 531 00:20:43,708 --> 00:20:45,542 a man of reason! 532 00:20:45,625 --> 00:20:47,583 Ah, you don't 533 00:20:45,625 --> 00:20:47,583 really know me. 534 00:20:45,625 --> 00:20:47,583 Thirty seconds. 535 00:20:49,375 --> 00:20:51,333 In 30 seconds 536 00:20:49,375 --> 00:20:51,333 you'll commit murder. 537 00:20:51,417 --> 00:20:53,000 I don't believe that's true. 538 00:20:53,083 --> 00:20:54,167 But you're not sure. 539 00:20:54,250 --> 00:20:55,625 And if you're not sure, 540 00:20:55,708 --> 00:20:58,333 - then-- 541 00:20:55,708 --> 00:20:58,333 - I need to find out! 542 00:20:58,417 --> 00:21:00,833 If your life is dark now, 543 00:21:00,917 --> 00:21:04,458 there'll be no hope for you 544 00:21:00,917 --> 00:21:04,458 after you've killed 545 00:21:00,917 --> 00:21:04,458 an innocent man. 546 00:21:04,542 --> 00:21:06,042 I don't believe 547 00:21:04,542 --> 00:21:06,042 you're innocent! 548 00:21:06,125 --> 00:21:08,375 But you'll never know! 549 00:21:08,458 --> 00:21:10,208 Because I'll be dead! 550 00:21:11,583 --> 00:21:13,000 Please don't do this. 551 00:21:13,083 --> 00:21:15,000 Don't do this to me! 552 00:21:15,083 --> 00:21:17,708 - To yourself! 553 00:21:15,083 --> 00:21:17,708 - Ten seconds. 554 00:21:19,958 --> 00:21:22,292 Oh, dear God, help me! 555 00:21:22,375 --> 00:21:26,583 - Please! Please help me! 556 00:21:22,375 --> 00:21:26,583 - Help! No one can hear you. 557 00:21:26,667 --> 00:21:28,958 - Six seconds. 558 00:21:26,667 --> 00:21:28,958 - Oh, God! 559 00:21:29,042 --> 00:21:30,833 Oh, God! Oh, God, please! 560 00:21:30,917 --> 00:21:32,333 No, no! No! 561 00:21:32,417 --> 00:21:34,375 - Three... 562 00:21:32,417 --> 00:21:34,375 - Oh, God! No, no! 563 00:21:34,458 --> 00:21:36,917 - two... 564 00:21:34,458 --> 00:21:36,917 - No! 565 00:22:04,625 --> 00:22:05,875 Oh!