A River Runs Through It

Paul and Norman are joyfully welcomed by their parents. Paul and his mother enjoy a reunion that is particularly poignant. Norman asks their father to go fishing with them the next day. He is thrilled to be asked.

Paul cannot bear to stay at home for even one night; he leaves just as his parents are going to bed to meet up with some friends. While Mrs. Maclean goes to bed, Norman and his father stay up and talk. Rev. Maclean wants to discuss Paul and what Norman knows about Paul’s troubles. Rev. Maclean says that in order to help someone, you must give of yourself to someone who wants help. Norman admits that he doesn’t know if Paul needs help or not. Their consolation is that at least they can all go fishing together.

Paul makes breakfast for them all the next morning, after a night of drinking. Soon they head out to the river. They leave their father in a calm stretch of the river to fish, and Paul asks Norman to fish with him, which is unusual; typically, they separate to fish.

Norman watches the river carefully before starting to fish. He notices that Paul isn’t catching anything yet.