as a reward. Skip, having always been a friendly dog, is known by everyone in the town, including black people - significant because Mississippi was still segregated at the time. Skip leads Willie through the best parts of his life; his early days. Thanks to Skip, Willie now has three friends, and a girlfriend, Rivers. Skip is there for him when Dink gets home, shell-shocked and a drunkard since dishonorably discharged from the Army, presumably for desertion. However, when Willie's first ball game comes along, Skip and Willie have their first falling out. Dink agrees to come along, but does not bother because since the war he has found competitions do not interest him anymore. Skip, wanting to cheer Willie up, runs onto the field and sits wagging his tail, refusing to leave. Angry and embarrassed by his poor performance at the game, causing his team to lose, Willie publicly hits Skip across the muzzle and he disappears without a trace. Unbeknownst to Willie, Skip has returned to the crypt, and has been accidentally shut in the grave where moonshine is being stored. As Willie searches in the graveyard, he hears Skip's barks and runs to save him, but Junior knocks the dog unconscious with the spade. Dink arrives and manages to eject the two moonshiners. As Willie and Dink's families gather in solemnity in the vet's waiting room, Skip nearly dies from his injuries in Willie's arms, but the dog awakens, licking Willie's hands and face. Willie explains about his friendship with Skip, that he had been an only child and Skip an only dog. When Willie leaves to go to Oxford University in the 1950's, Skip remains with Jack and Ellen, sleeping in Willie's old room, and then dies on Willie's bed: having succumbed to arthritis, he is then buried under the elm tree by Jack and Ellen with Jack telling Willie of Skip's death via a transatlantic call. Cast Enzo as Skip Moose as old Skip Sweetie as puppy Skip Frankie Muniz as Willie Morris Diane Lane as Ellen Morris Luke Wilson as Dink Jenkins Kevin Bacon as Jack Morris Bradley Coryell as Big Boy Wilkinson Daylan Honeycutt as Henjie Henick Cody Linley as Spit McGee Caitlin Wachs as Rivers Applewhite Harry Connick Jr. as Adult Willie (voice) Peter Crombie as Junior Smalls Clint Howard as Millard Mark Beech as Army Buddy Susan Carol Davis as Mrs.