Justin: It's a swing. Birdee: Maybe you could hang it. Justin: Hello Bernice. These are for you. (He hands her a bunch of flowers.) Bernice: Thanks, but I'm allergic. Birdee: I know you have a crush on me. Justin: Birdee, this isn't high school anymore. Birdee: You know what I mean, Bill. Justin: (softly) Justin... Birdee: What? Justin: My name is Justin. It ain't Bill. Justin: You used to be so...audacious, bold. People would stop in the street and watch you walk...You think you've lost it, but I can still see it. Bill can't see that. Birdee: I am my own crown of thorns. Ramona: You think life goes on forever? You think behind every chance there's another chance and another one and another one? It's the worse kind of extravegance the way you spend your chances, Birdee. Bernice: He loves me! He loves me, even if he doesn't love you! Travis: Whooh, whooh, whoaaah! Aunt Birdee? Help? Please? Somebody? I've fallen and I can't get up! Help! Ramona: Mothers love their daughters, even if they show poorly. Ramona: That's what families are for. That's why they're invented - so hopeless doesn't get the last word...My Birdee has a lot more strength than she's known. One day she's going to realize it. Bernice: I love you, Grandma. Ramona: Oh, honey. My cup runneth over. Ramona: You were always Daddy's girl. Birdee: Not just his, momma...Thank you. Ramona: You're most welcome. Bill: People grow. They change. They have to. Birdee: You don't think I know that? I know that I'm not what I once was. I know that. But then again, neither are you. You're sad, you're weak, and you're...shorter, if you really want to know the truth. But I haven't changed so much that I would go and lie to someone that I love. God, I would walk through fire before I would let them feel like they were nothin'. I would never break up anyone's home, because I'm not a quitter. I care about my family. Birdee: You know what...I think I got the best part of you. And she's standing right out there. Bill: Bernice, what do you think you're doing? Bernice: I'm going with you. Bill: Honey, that's impossible. Birdee: (To Bernice) When I was growing up, I thought I was going to be a special person, but I'm not. I'm just an ordinary person, and that's okay. Because you make me special. Bernice: My cup runneth over. Bernice: Mom, are you going to marry Justin Matisse? Birdee: Oh, honey, I don't think I'm going to get married again for a long time. What, you don't like Justin? Bernice: Not, it's not that. It's just... Birdee: What is it? You can tell me. Bernice: I just don't want to be known as Bernice Matisse. Bernice: My dad says that childhood is the happiest time of my life, but...I think he's wrong. I think my mom's right. She says childhood... Birdee: ...is what you spend the REST of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma used to say. She said beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. You need to remember that when you find yourself at the beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up...and it will too.