First Visit

Mitch is greeted at Morrie's door by his nurse, Connie, who plays a big role in Morrie's day-to-day life. Mitch greets both Connie and Morrie, saying he brought a deli lunch from the grocery store. Morrie brings up the Koppel interview as they begin their discussion. He reminds his pupil that his biggest fear is having someone wipe his behind and that he knows that day is coming. He fears it because it is a sign of dependency. However, he'll try and enjoy the process, that it means he gets to be babied one more time in his life.

Mitch notices a stack of newspapers. He asks Morrie why he continues to read them. Morrie says that just because he is dying it doesn’t mean he doesn't want to know what else is going on in the world. He feels more compassion for people suffering around the world, because he is suffering too. People suffering in Bosnia make him cry. He cries talking about it, saying he cries all the time now about other people. He notices that Mitch isn't ok with men crying and says he's going to loosen him up and make him realize its ok to cry.

Mitch finds it ironic that they're holding this meeting on a Tuesday. He says many of his classes with Morrie were on Tuesdays, back in school. Morrie's office hours were on Tuesdays. Morrie tells Mitch this means they are "Tuesday People." Mitch reverts to Morrie feeling sympathy for those around the world. Morrie gives him the lesson, “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” They end their session with a promise to reunite the following Tuesday.