Home Alone 2
Lost in New York
Friendship is Found!
There is something to remember from the Home Alone series. It has something more than bumblers--bandits, parents and a hotel staff. Of course, there's Kevin McCallister, the madcap kid who emerges the wise one against the bumblers.
It's that Bird Woman of Central Park. She may be the only adult in the movie as she dialogues with such honesty and openness with Kevin. The dialogue is worth reading and remembering. It also sets up the ending about friendship (or honest, open relationships) which is missing in the other characters.
This is the Bird Lady in Central Park. Her smile radiated deep emotion when Kevin gave her the gift of a turtle dove, and he kept the other to signify enduring friendship.
Bird Lady: The man I loved
fell out of love with me. That broke my heart. When the chance to be loved came
along again, I ran away from it. I stopped trusting people.
Kevin McCallister: No
offense, but that seems like sort of a dumb thing to do.
Bird Lady: I was
afraid of getting my heart broken again. Sometimes you can trust a person, and
then, when things are down, they forget about you.
Kevin McCallister:
Maybe they're just too busy. Maybe they don't forget about you, but they forget
to remember you. People don't mean to forget. My grandfather says if my head
wasn't screwed on, I'd leave it on the school bus.
Bird Lady: I'm just
afraid if I do trust someone, I'll get my heart broken.
Kevin McCallister: I
understand. I had a nice pair of Rollerblades. I was afraid to wreck them, so I
kept them in a box. Do you know what happened? I outgrew them. I never wore
them outside. Only in my room a few times.
Bird Lady: A person's
heart and feelings are very different than skates.
Kevin McCallister:
They're kind of the same thing. If you won't use your heart, who cares if it
gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my
Rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should
take a chance. Got nothing to lose.
Bird Lady: Little
truth in there somewhere.
Kevin McCallister: I
think so. Your heart might still be broken, but it isn't gone. If it was gone,
you wouldn't be so nice.
Bird Lady: Thank you.
Do you know it's been a couple of years since I've talked to anybody?
Kevin McCallister:
That's okay. You're good at it. You're not boring. You don't mumble or spit.
You should do it more often. Just wear an outfit with no pigeon poop on it.
Bird Lady: I have been
working very hard at keeping people away. I always think I'll have a lot of fun
if I'm alone... but when I'm alone, it's not fun.
Kevin McCallister: I
don't care how much people bug me, I'd rather be with someone than alone.
Kevin McCallister:
Tell the birds I said goodbye.
Bird Lady: I will.
Kevin McCallister: If
you need somebody to trust, it can be me. I won't forget to remember you.
Bird Lady: Don't make
promises you can't keep.
Kevin returns Christmas Day and presents her with 2 turtle dove ornaments. Then, he keeps one for himself and says that he anytime she is alone, just look at the dove and know you are remembered.
And Still Kept!
There is a wonderful link with this dialogue and what Jesus says at the end of Matthew's Gospel--
"Fear not for I am with you
unto the end of the ages."
