For the humanitarian message, Eric. I want to get your story out there, Eric, because people have to hear it. Because people need a positive message in their lives, Eric.

They’re tired of the negative stuff. Nobody ever changed the world with negativity, Eric. They know the world is fucked-up—the ozone layer is kaput, there are terrorists around every corner, poor people in every nook and cranny—who the fuck wants to hear all that negative shit? Me, I don’t even watch the news anymore. Sarajevo one year, Bosnia the next, Kosovo the next. Wrap it up already. Move on!

People don’t want negativity, they want to be inspired, they want hope. They need your story. You know why? The audiences today, their lives suck. They’re holding down two jobs, their kids are all on drugs, all they have to look forward to is a slow death by cancer. If it weren’t for the inspiration they get from movies and TV, they’d jump off a cliff like a bunch of lemmings.

And that’s what you gave ’em when they thought everyone on that plane was dead and you came walking out of the wreckage. Tears came to my eyes, I was so moved.

(Looks up suddenly) What? Naomi, bring it in. Don’t just stand there. Bring it in and put it on the table! Did you bring him a napkin? Don’t I always tell you, bring a napkin. Naomi, listen to me, NAP-KIN, N-A-P-K-E-N. Just put it down. It’s OK, it’s OK, get out.

It’s mythic. Like something out of the Greek myths. Like the Phoenix rising out of the ashes. You know what the Phoenix was, Eric? It rose out of the ashes. And that’s you! They thought everyone was dead, and out you came out of the burning wreck … with that stewardess in your arms. And then you gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation right there on the snow in front of fifty million people. That was incredible.

You survived. You saved that stewardess and you fell in love. I hear you’re living together now. Getting married. What a heartwarming story. I mean, I’m very sorry about your divorce, how long were you married? Nineteen years. It happens, it happens. Kids? Yeah, that’s always tough … but you know, they learn from it, Eric. It’s good for them. That’s what we’re here for, to teach our kids. Kids. Mine are all grown. The oldest is just going through her own divorce, the middle one just got out of rehab, the baby’s not even speaking to me.