Last week we took Linda's sister Claire to Savannah. I love the city, and in order for Claire to see as many of the beautiful squares as possible, we took one of the rather overpriced tram tours of the city. As we were approaching Chippewa Square, the driver/narrator stopped. She explained that this was the square where the "box of chocolates" park bench scene was filmed in FORREST GUMP. To our left, she pointed out, was the church where the CG feather came wafting down. We took a slow drive around the lovely square and saw the spot where the bench had been placed for filming. When we were 3/4 of the way around, our narrator said, "Why look who's waiting for our tram." There on the corner was Forrest Gump. Sneakers on and suitcase in hand. Baseball cap atop his head. The tram pulled up and Forrest got on.
The young guy they had found to play Forrest was pretty great. He really looked like Tom Hanks and sounded like Forrest. He began to talk to us in Gump-ese, telling us that he was going to meet Captain Dan. Then he grinned Forrestly, waiting for someone to ask him a question. And the whole tramload froze up. No one said a word. I thought of asking him how Mama or Bubba were but was afraid he'd say, "they're both dead, don't ya know?" After a minute or so of babbling about chocolates and Jenny (who come to think of it, is dead, too), Forrest hopped off the tram and went running down the street at a Forrest "I'm crossin' the country" pace. And I bet he was thinking, "Another bunch of idjits with nothin' to ask me." Heck, I even forgot to take his picture.
THAT is a great story!
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