On the beaten path

Well, what about what we want, Paul? What about what we want? We want one more teaming up with Robert, one more chalk of the cue with Fast Eddie, one more spat with Maggie the Cat, one more verdict with Frank Galvin, one more waltz with Joanne.

Give us one more chance to curse the Academy for robbing you of your Oscars, as surely as they robbed you of the gold man for “Cool Hand Luke,” “Hud,” “Absence of Malice” and “Road to Perdition,” among the other nominations. Give us another chance to cheer another Emmy-winning turn like that in “Empire Falls.”

You claim you’re no longer able to perform to the best of your ability. You’ve got more character on your unlined face at 82 than a dozen actors out there today do at 32. You’re one of “‘People’s’ 50 Most Beautiful People.”

Very few have floated as gracefully from leading man to character or cameo parts as you and yet still command the screen whenever they appear. You made Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks and Ed Harris turn in better performances simply by being in the same room with them. And that’s saying something about Tom Hanks, arguably one of our greatest living actors.

If you can’t give us your baby blues in person, continue to give us your dulcet tones as you did for a whole new generation as Doc Hudson in “Cars.”

Who best to voice the vintage roadster but the vintage racer and enthusiast himself?

You’re worried about losing your memory, losing your confidence, your invention. Hell, the fall will probably kill you so grab the Kid’s hand and jump.
Don’t leave us, Paul. Let’s not say goodbye. Let’s just say au revoir. It’s been a grand ride.