The Story of My Life
Best-selling author Thomas Weaver has come back to his hometown to deliver the eulogy for his childhood friend, Alvin Kelby, but finds himself desperately scrambling for something to say. (Write What You Know). His reality is shattered by the memory of Alvin who takes him deep into Thomas's mind cluttered with a lifetime of stories. Alvin suggests that they excavate the story of their first meeting (Mrs. Remington). Thomas rejects Alvin's help but Alvin persists, offering the story of the last time they saw each other, one week ago, when Thomas was tasked with delivering the eulogy for Alvin’s father. Thomas immediately ends this story. Alvin chooses another recalling an evening spent searching his dad's bookstore for a gift for Thomas (The Greatest Gift). Thomas recognizes that the gift, a copy of Tom Sawyer, planted the seed for his desire to become a writer (1876). Alvin continues selecting stories including a recollection of the time they promised to deliver each other’s eulogy, a promise that locked Thomas into his current dilemma. Alvin chooses a story of Thomas belittling Alvin’s fascination with a flapping butterfly (Normal). Thomas responds by selecting a story telling of the consequences of this behavior. Alvin’s response (People Carry On) gives Thomas a new understanding of his friend. Alvin reintroduces the story of their last time together. Even though Thomas had been asked to write Alvin's father's eulogy, he only offered “a quote from a dead poet.” Again, Thomas shuts this story down. Alvin persists, choosing stories that track the passing years as life infringed on their friendship. There’s the one of Thomas asking for Alvin’s life-altering critique of a story written for his college application (The Butterfly). There’s the one about their awkward goodbye as Thomas left for school (Saying Goodbye Pt. 1). There’s the one about Thomas coming back with a seemingly insurmountable writing assignment (Here's Where It Begins). There’s the one about Alvin's first meeting with Thomas's fiancée (Saying Goodbye Pt, 2). With each story, small connections between them become apparent revealing the effect that Alvin had on Thomas's life. Alvin selects a story about Thomas inviting Alvin to leave his hometown for the first time, an invitation that irreparably altered their friendship (Independence Day). Thomas tries to excuse his behavior (I Like It Here), but Alvin criticizes the questionable choices made by Thomas throughout their friendship (You're Amazing Tom). Thomas attempts to explain the struggles of creativity using a failed "work in progress" as an example but Alvin's rebuttal pushes him to the edge of a nervous breakdown (Nothing There) desperately searching for anything to put this eulogy behind him. Alvin reintroduces the story of their last meeting and Thomas lets it play out. Thomas's failed attempt to write Alvin's father's eulogy leads to a final rift in the friendship and Alvin chooses to deliver his father's eulogy off the cuff. Thomas watches as Alvin's eloquent words let him see his friend as he's never seen him before (I Didn't See Alvin). Thomas begs Alvin to reveal the story of his death but Alvin tells him that this is one story that Thomas will never know (This Is It). Thomas revisits his work in progress (Angels In the Snow) and is finally able to finish. Alvin's presence fades. Thomas steps up to the podium and begins telling the story of his friend’s life.