- Annie Camden: Who would leave a baby on our doorstep?
- Ruthie Camden: God.
- Annie Camden: That's sweet, but I think God had a little help on this one.
- Rev. Eric Camden: [to Ruthie] I still can't believe I forgot my birthday!
- Ruthie Camden: You're old. Old people forget stuff.
- Robbie Palmer: What's that pizza lady's baby doing here?
- Annie Camden: You've seen this baby?
- Robbie Palmer: Yeah, at Pete's Pizza.
- Annie Camden: Frankie and Johnny.
- Robbie Palmer: Yeah, that's her name. Frankie. She works at Pete's and brings the baby in with her sometimes.
- Annie Camden: Are you sure this is her?
- Robbie Palmer: No offense because all babies are beautiful, but I'd recognize that head anywhere.
- Lucy Camden: [to Mike] Your mother spoke to me.
- Mike Pierce: What? That's great! She spoke? That's unbelievable!
- Lucy Camden: She told me she wants you to put her in an institution. It's not great!
- Mike Pierce: Why would my mom want that?
- Lucy Camden: I think the reason she hasn't been talking is because she thought that not talking to you would drive you away or make you put her away.
- Mike Pierce: I don't understand.
- Lucy Camden: I think your mom blames herself for your suicide attempt and your father's death.
- Mike Pierce: She said that?
- Lucy Camden: She didn't have to. A couple years ago, a friend of mine died in a car accident. She was on her way to pick me up, and the next thing I knew, she was dead, and her sister was in the hospital. I was convinced that the accident was all my fault. I was so sure that the accident was all my fault, I couldn't even bring myself to go to her funeral. I kept thinking that if she hadn't been on her way to pick me up, she'd still be alive. I felt so guilty. To be honest, even today, I still feel a little guilty.
- Mike Pierce: What are you getting at?
- Lucy Camden: If my friend were alive, the one thing I would want her to hear from her is forgiveness. I would want her to tell me that it was not my fault. Maybe that's selfish, I don't know. And I know that my experience is nothing compared to what you and your mom have been through, but guilt is guilt, and guilt is a very powerful thing.
- Mike Pierce: [to his mother] I need to talk to you and I need for you to really hear me. I'm not putting you in a hospital. Not now, not ever. If you won't talk to me for the rest of my life, I still won't ever do that. I love you unconditionally, forever, and nothing you do will ever change that.
- [long pause]
- Mike Pierce: Mom, Dad did what Dad did. He killed himself. He did it. Not me, not you. He made the decision and just did it. It wasn't your fault. He had problems, and he chose death as a solution. It was a bad solution. Actually, it's no solution. Death solves nothing. It only leaves pain and torment for everyone you leave behind. Dad was selfish and it was wrong. I know this because I was selfish. I was wrong. I tried death myself. I tried it. I tried to end my life. Me, not you. Me. I took the pills. I drank the vodka. I locked the door and I waited to die. I gave up on life. Me. Not you! I failed. I, I, I! Not Dad, not you, not anyone. I thought giving up would be easier than getting over Dad. I was wrong and it was not in your power to stop me. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. I have free will. I just exercised it in the wrong direction. I want to see you embrace life and stop feeling badly. You've done nothing but be a great mom. I'm so lucky to have you in my life.
- Mrs. Pierce: [long pause] So... you forgive me?
- Mike Pierce: There's nothing to forgive. You didn't do anything but love me and Dad!
- Annie Camden: [to Johnny] So basically, this is about your pride. Pride is not a luxury that you can afford if you want to keep your baby. You have to talk to your parents.
- Johnny: I can't. They said they would never forgive me. They won't talk to me.
- Annie Camden: Yes, they will. I spoke with them earlier on the phone. They want to talk with you, they want to help. So now, all you have left to do is swallow your pride, get up off that bench and go and call them. We can go back to Pete's and call them.
- Johnny: It's not going to be easy.
- Annie Camden: Being a parent never is.
- Lucy Camden: [to Eric as he opens up Lucy's acceptance letter to seminary school] Happy birthday, Dad. I know what I want to be. I'm going to study theology and become a minister. Just like you. Well, I hope I'll be as good as you. I'm gonna try. I found out a while ago, but I wanted to save it and give it to you for your birthday. It was either that or a tie.
- Rev. Eric Camden: I love you, Dad.
- Mary Camden: You came all the way from Buffalo just to tell me that? What a great present. Your mom is something else.
- Mary Camden: Coming home was my idea. Mom has something else for you at the house.
- Rev. Eric Camden: Wow. What could top this?
- Rev. Eric Camden: [to Mary] You were doing so well.
- Mary Camden: I still am doing well.
- Rev. Eric Camden: You know... I'm really happy to see you, but you're in a lot of trouble.
- Mary Camden: Trouble?
- Rev. Eric Camden: Running away from the Colonel and Ruth's to sneak off and see Robbie? Yeah, I think I'd qualify that as trouble.
- Mary Camden: What? Dad, I didn't come here to see Robbie. I came here to see you. It was supposed to be a surprise. I mean, Mom thought we could get Robbie here and back to pick me up without you ever noticing.
- Rev. Eric Camden: Wait a minute. Your mother knew about this?
- Mary Camden: Everyone knew.
- Rev. Eric Camden: [to Mary] You can't go. You just got here. You have to come see the family.
- Mary Camden: My flight was supposed to come in last night, but then it got snowed in and delayed and rerouted, and just... I have to get back for my class and work. Now I have commitments, and these days, I'm keeping my commitments.