[In Rudolf Smuntz' flashback]

My sons...

[whispering]

Ernie. Ernie!

[reading a magazine]

Yeah, just a sec.

I want you...to have...something. My most prized possession. [He holds a string]

[sighs]

Oh, it's a piece of st-string.

Not just any string. The string. I found it my first day in America.

What's with the string?

I've had it in my pocket for 60 years. Here! [He gives the string to Ernie and Lars] I want you two to share it. Maybe it'll bring you closer together. You haven't talked much lately.

Yeah. [He starts to tug on it]

Ach! What are you doing?

I'm breaking it in half.

No!

No?

I want you to share it. Forever.

Sure, Pop, sure. You carry it the first 50 years, I'll take it the next.

Sure.

And turn up the morphine drip a little.

I heard that. [Ernie goes back to reading the magazine] Promise me... that you will never sell... Smuntz String... to one of those big conglomerates. Keep it between you. Brothers. Family. Promise.

I promise, Pop. [back in the present] I promise.