[DlSPATCH RADlO CHATTERlNG]
- You made the call to 91 1? - Yes, I found him.
I don't know how long he'd been lying there.
If your father was under the care of a physician we'll need the name.
- I don't know that information. - Dr. Bruce Abrahms.
Um, he treated him for his stroke two years ago. I can get you the number.
I'm sorry for your loss.
It's okay. I'll call information for Dr. Abrahms' number.
Did you hear anything before you came in the room?
I was making fun of the tie he picked out for dinner.
I went to the bathroom to get ready.
I turned on the water for a second but if he'd have called out to me
I definitely would have heard him.
What happens now?
If the physician will sign off on cause of death
you can contact the mortuary.
Dr. Abrahms' service is paging him.
From all indications your father suffered a stroke.
[CRYlNG]
Oh, boy, it's my mom.
Donna, what's happening? What?
Mommy, they think Daddy had a stroke.
How is he?
No! Why is everybody just standing around? Do something.
I wanna see my husband.
[CRYlNG]
- How you doing, Noah? - Okay.
I don't remember smashing the windshield at all.
Look, I know this isn't the best time to tell you guys this
but, uh, Donna's dad died last night. He had a stroke. Gina was there.
- She saw her father die? - Yeah, I guess she did.
- How's Donna? - Well, Janet went to see her.
I came to tell you guys.
All set.
- What did you do? Hit a tree limb? - No.
Caught an angry housewife off at the pass? That happened to me.
No, two thugs dragged me out of my car, handcuffed me,
- stuck a gun in my face for two days. - Noah, come on.
Got any more questions?
Listen, tell Donna something. I'm not gonna be able to make it.
- Don't worry about that. - Don't tell her about Shane and Josie.
- I don't want her to worry. - All right.
Come on. I'll give you a ride home.
See you guys later.
JANET: How's your mom?
In a state of shock, I think.
I told her I'd be back by 1 0
but, um, there's so much to take care of.
I just figured it was better to make the phone calls from here.
So how do you plan a funeral?
Well, why don't we get you straightened out first.
You know, I have to go by the office anyway
so you want me to put a sign up saying you're closed for the week?
No, I talked to Camille. She said she'd take care of the store
- if that's all right with you. - Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks.
It's kind of weird, heh.
Yesterday he was fine
and now he's gone.
Was he supposed to exercise?
Meaning...?
I was just wondering what the physician said, that's all.
They don't know what brought about the stroke.
I'm gonna get some air.
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
I feel like I'm invisible.
Donna's just dealing with a lot of responsibilities right now.
I feel like I'm not even allowed to be sad.
A man died and you were there.
It may be totally irrational but some people are just wondering
if maybe something else could have been done.
A man died, heh.
He was my father.
And the people who are wondering are Felice, and Kelly
and everyone else who thinks that I'm to blame for his death.
No one said they blamed you.
In this group no one has to.
Do you need a licence to be a personal trainer?
- Kelly... - I'm just asking.
- I know what you're asking. - Ahh.
You're not making anything easier for Donna by asking it.
Oh. But Donna made it possible for Gina
to even have a relationship with Dr. Martin.
I mean, she pushed for it.
[SlGHS]
So tell me about this job offer of yours.
It's a potential job. It's a good one.
You said it came through that annoying woman
- you hired to promote the store. - Heh.
Pia is with a big PR agency now.
They have accounts ranging from high tech to public interest.
I'd get an overview of a lot of different industries.
It's good money and then suddenly Pia is charming.
Wait a minute. This is my space.
There are 1 4 minutes left on this meter here.
Oh, no, someone stole your car?
- Little green sports car? - Yeah.
- I tried to stop them. - Stop who? Did you call the cops?
You got hit by the repo man.
The same thing happened to my little brother. Struggling painter.
He's not very talented.
Hey, listen. I am an attorney, pal.
I spent three years and about 1 00 grand in law school
for this.
[SlGHS]
You sure you don't wanna call police and make sure it wasn't stolen?
No. I got a call from a creditor last week.
I thought we talked about finance.
- We agreed to be up-front. - I'm out of work.
Do I have to give you a daily reminder of it? Or maybe this did the trick.
Hey, um, Donna's at her mom's and I just offered to stay here
and, you know, watch the phone in case any of the family calls or anything.
She said she'd leave her cell on outgoing machine
but I just figured, you know, people would really wanna...
I'm sorry about your dad.
- I screwed up. - I don't believe it. Do you?
I don't know. I checked his pulse.
I always tried to make sure he wasn't overexerting himself.
Aw, come on. He was a doctor. If he didn't know
it was gonna happen there is no way that you could have.
Yeah, but I knew he didn't wanna work out.
He just wanted to spend time with me.
Because you walked into his life and said:
"Hey, I'm your daughter. And I forgive you.'
Do you have any idea what that must have meant to him?
Sweetheart, you should eat something. There's some, uh, quiche in the fridge.
Uh, no, thanks. I'm fine.
Did you find his life insurance because the funeral director said
- it usually covers expenses. - No. No, I didn't.
It's okay, I'll look.
Are you sure dad never mentioned what unit of the Army he was in?
That was right out of high school before we met in college.
We need it to get the flag from the VA for his coffin.
His coffin.
I can't even look at his side of the bed.
[SlGHS]
And his date book? People we should call.
I don't know, Donna. I don't know.
I don't know if the mortgage has been paid.
I don't know where his chequebook is. I-- I don't know anything!
Mommy.
[SlGHS]
- It's okay. We can do this. - No, we can't.
We have to.
[DOORBELL RlNGS]
I'll get it.
- Hi. CAMlLLE: Donna, I'm sorry.
Thanks.
Here. The delivery guy just dropped this off.
DONNA: Thanks.
It's from Nat.
He took Joanie on a cruise and he's hovering a flight back.
Everyone's been so nice.
I'm always surprised people think you wanna eat in this situation.
Yeah. The weird thing is you do.
You suffer this huge loss but everything just kind of stays the same.
I sit in traffic, I hear my favourite song on your show.
- Thank you for that. - You're welcome.
[DONNA SlGHS]
- He's gonna be buried in two days. - We'll help you get through this, okay?
[SlGHS]
And then what?
[SlGHS]
You guys have your own lives.
This was my family.
Without my dad I don't know what we are anymore.
You're still a family, Donna. That doesn't change.
Doesn't it?
My mom, she's-- Ahem.
She's freaking out about
day-to-day things that my dad took care of.
But what he took care of best was her.
And I try, I tell her we're gonna be fine.
We're gonna get through this.
But it just feels like such a pathetic lie.
[CRYlNG]
[DAVlD SlGHS]
[CRYlNG]
- I hate talking about money. - I noticed.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Here's the thing.
I want you to trust that I'm in control of my finances.
The hard part is
because of the suspension
I'm basically starting at ground zero with clients.
I have money from my share of the store.
- If you need any-- - No, no, no.
Please do not finish that sentence.
I love you so much
but you have no idea how guys define themselves.
[SlGHS]
- I had a good job at a big firm. - Which you hated.
But maybe that's what we need to feel secure.
- We're getting married. - And starting a life together.
A life you'll wanna live. A job you'll wanna go to.
And the same applies to you.
I don't want you to take this PR job
because you think you need to hold me up.
It hasn't been offered yet but it is interesting.
I believe in you.
We're gonna be fine.
Are you okay?
No.
That's not the answer you were hoping for, is it?
I'm so sorry.
Did you know that when John was in high school
he was, uh, an usher at the Orpheum Theatre downtown?
- No, I didn't know that. - I read it in his obituary.
I guess a reporter had called his brother and he mentioned it.
To find out something about your husband after all these years...
- I thought the article was really nice. - Yeah.
I wish, heh...
Well, it's just that they said he was survived by his wife
and his one daughter.
For heaven's sake, Gina, what difference does it make now?
Well, he was my father.
Well, he was my life.
What, do you wanna destroy his reputation now that he's not here
to explain to everyone what a stupid, thoughtless mistake he made?
He didn't see it that way.
He didn't see me that way.
Well, damn it, Gina, this is not about you!
Don't you see how one careless moment can destroy everything?
I mean, did you check his blood pressure?
[CRYlNG]
- Please don't do this. - Did you think at all? Did you think?
[POP MUSlC PLAYlNG OVER SPEAKERS]
- Hey. STEVE: How's it going, Noah?
- Ah. Where's Madeleine tonight? - She's staying with my mom and dad.
We just came here to unwind.
And to see if you wanted to come over for dinner sometime.
Yeah. How about tomorrow night?
I appreciate what you're doing, but you don't have to worry. You know?
What happened was pretty weird but, um...
- But what? NOAH: Look at it.
You know, I mean, this former child star abducts me at gunpoint, right?
I was thinking about it, I mean, could I actually die like this?
After all was said and done, I mean, yeah,
I could have died like that.
That's a pretty good way to go, right?
Tell me something. You get a rush out of testing yourself?
Or is it just a test for your friends to keep us on our toes.
Yeah, that's right. Because it's all about you.
I'd like to know what it is.
Risking everything so you can feel something?
For the record, I didn't volunteer to go out playing Russian roulette, okay?
I was watching the tip-off of the Laker game
- when Noah got kidnapped. - What?
So I laid down a lot of cash and, uh, incidentally risked my life
to try to get him back and you know what, it wasn't fun.
It wasn't sexy. I wouldn't try it at home, kids.
- Dylan, I had no idea. - Well, that's okay.
The, uh, real bright spot was as my life flashed before my eyes
your lectures went by a lot quicker.
- I'm sorry I called you so late. - Mm. I'm not.
How much sleep did you get last night?
- Two-, three hours? - Heh.
So did you try a hot bath?
A hot bath, chamomile tea, nothing.
So I just finally got up.
- Hmm, set up camp, huh? - Yeah.
[DAVlD SlGHS]
DAVlD: Hmm. - Ah.
You know, when I was a kid
I would climb into my parents' bed
with my favourite book, Charlotte's Web.
And my dad, he would...
He would turn the pages, but I swear he knew every word by heart.
[DAVlD CHUCKLES]
Well, that's unconditional love. Your mom hates spiders.
Yeah.
[DAVlD SlGHS]
And he kept reading
and she never complained.
Then I'd lean against him.
She'd stroke my hair till I fell asleep.
[KNOCKlNG ON DOOR]
- Hey, what's up? - Nothing new.
How about you?
[SlGHS]
Well,
- I saw Felice tonight. - Hmm.
She blames me for her husband's death.
Your father, you mean.
Gina, the man was still your father.
Felice is just a little out of her head right now.
Yeah, well, even in her weakest hour that woman can make me hate myself.
Ah. Don't buy into it.
I don't know what it is about this town, you know?
It doesn't matter how hard you try.
Eventually you just are what people say you are.
I got a taste of that myself this evening and, uh, I didn't like it much.
It got me to thinking we should, uh, go somewhere else.
Where would you like to live?
- You mean for good? - That's the plan.
Count me in.
PlA: That's it for salary.
We'll review medical and pension when you start.
- So it's official? - And long overdue.
- Welcome to the world of PR. - Thank you.
Wow, that happened so quickly.
Well, you're creative and talented.
And I've seen the energy you put behind things you're committed to.
I'm glad to hear you say that because
believing in what I'm working on is very important to me.
Not that I'm worried or anything. I've seen your company's client list.
I know that you guys are great
but, um, still I'm curious what my first assignment's going to be.
- Helping to pass a ballot initiative. - A ballot initiative?
So that's something that people in California
are gonna be voting on in the next election?
We've been hired as campaign consultants.
Oh, interesting. What's the issue?
Gay student clubs in public high schools.
It's an issue of funding and personal rights,
morality versus freedom. You get the drill.
- How do you feel about that? - I feel very passionately about it.
That's a perfect place to start.
Oh, gotta run. I'll messenger you the campaign details, then we'll talk.
- Okay. Great. - Okay.
- Bye. - Bye-bye.
It's my new boss.
She just hired me to work at her PR firm.
Hmm, PR firm.
I knew you were looking for something. I hope this is it.
Yeah.
Listen, uh, about last night, I said you were reckless.
If I had known what had happened, I would have never said that.
Whatever. I just wanted to, uh, let you know
that after the funeral, I'm gonna be leaving.
I'm trying to say I'm sorry.
Did you hear what I said? After the funeral, I'm gonna leave.
- I've been looking for something too. - And you don't think it's here?
Not anymore.
DONNA: Thanks for coming back this morning.
The funeral home's on Third and Montana.
- You sure you don't mind doing this? - Of course not.
Thanks.
I hope you know
how much I appreciate you being here for me.
DAVlD: It's perfect timing.
You can hang out here with Donna while l, uh, take off.
Actually, if you have a second, I wanna talk to both of you.
What's up?
Well, I've decided to leave L.A.
- Now? - After the funeral, of course.
You've been really great to me the last few months and so was Dad.
And I just wanted to say thank you for that.
I just, heh, wish I could say the same for everyone else.
- You can. - Well, you did say I killed my father.
I said people wondered if everything that could have been done was done.
- It was. - Fine, Gina. End of story.
Not for Felice and maybe not for you either.
- I'm just trying to get through this. - Well, so am l.
It's hard knowing that people could be suspicious of me.
I'm sure it is.
That's not the answer I was looking for.
I'm sorry. But right now, I can't comfort you--
Well, I'm sorry, but he was my father too.
And if you hadn't found that out, maybe he'd still be alive.
So you do think it's my fault.
I don't know whose fault it is and right now, I really don't care.
If you are gonna leave,
then I don't want our bitching and moaning
or the ridiculous amount of pain that we inflict on each other
to obscure the fact that you're one of my best friends.
And I'm gonna miss you.
There, I said it.
- Now, where are you going? - South America.
I hear it's really pretty this time of year.
- We? - Yeah, me and Gina.
[SCOFFS]
- She didn't grieve long. - Hey, don't do that.
What were you saying just a minute ago about, uh, inflicting pain?
I want to be happy for you
if I felt like you were running towards something
instead of running away from something.
Or could it be that me leaving narrows your options?
- By the way, how is Matt? - Go to hell.
Oh, believe me, it's on the itinerary.
[LOUD ROCK MUSlC PLAYlNG ON SPEAKERS]
Noah, what are you doing?
Noah?
[MUSlC STOPS]
[DAVlD SlGHS]
Hey.
[DAVlD SlGHS]
Why don't we just try talking instead?
[CHUCKLES]
This little piggy went to the liquor store.
And this little piggy right here, well, he stayed home.
And this little piggy right here had a Scotch and water.
Let me guess, this little piggy right here had none.
This little piggy right here, let me tell you about him.
See, he got to actually hear his father blow his brains right out.
Well, that little piggy right there it's not the answer.
One shot.
Pow.
Oh, I hope I'm that good when my time comes.
Stop.
All right, Noah, just stop.
Here it is. This, right here, is your turn.
And, yay, Noah, you're killing yourself.
Do you have any idea what you're talking about?
It's like some kind of curse. The whole family's...
I do.
Noah, I know exactly what you're talking about.
You know what, you have a choice.
The problem is you don't find that out until the end.
It's not a curse.
If you wanna do it,
if you wanna jump
or pull the trigger,
[CLEARS THROAT]
well, that responsibility's all on you.
- Hi. - Hey.
Is it true you're leaving?
That's why l, uh, came. I wanted a chance to say goodbye.
I don't think I can deal with that right now.
You know how when you're in one place for a long time
it's kind of hard to notice the change?
But if you go away and you come back, you can see how different things are.
I guess.
Yeah, well, when I left,
you were this
incredibly shy,
sweet, decent kid.
And when I came back,
you'd become this capable, confident,
successful person.
- You're ready for this. - I don't know.
Right before you got here,
I was in a complete panic about what I was gonna say in church.
No, I mean for the responsibilities that will come afterward
you're a lot more prepared than I was when my dad died.
- How'd you deal with it? - I ran from the responsibilities.
I ran from commitment.
I'm still running.
- I don't know why. - No, of course you don't.
And that is why you are gonna do great.
This is my home.
It's where I gather what little strength I have.
- Don't you feel that way? - Yeah, I do.
It's just with me, it's more of a love/hate kind of thing.
Well, I'm not telling you not to go.
But you should stop taking what you have for granted.
Because the more responsibilities we have,
the more help we're gonna need.
- All set? - Yeah.
I took the PR job.
Huh. Well, I'm glad you did.
Because as hard as it is for me to admit, l, uh, need your help.
Okay.
- Does this say what I think it says? - What's this?
Pia said we would be working on a ballot initiative
regarding gay students' rights to form their own clubs in public high schools.
She asked me how I felt about it, and what did I say?
I said I felt passionately about it.
I meant that I felt passionately in favour of kid's rights
to express themselves.
Well, that's a problem.
Because you've been hired to stop them.
That's what I thought.
[ORGAN PLAYlNG SOFT MUSlC]
Uh, isn't the first row for immediate family?
DAVlD: Felice asked me to seat you here.
[SlGHS]
We cannot leave soon enough.
Um...
When I was a little girl,
my friends would all tease me about being a daddy's girl.
But I didn't mind
because I was and I still am.
My Dad would always say
that when I would come to him
and look up at him with my big brown eyes
and bat my eyelashes at him,
that it was hard for him not to smile
or to say no to anything I might ask for at the time.
But it was hard for me
to be with him and not feel unbelievably loved
or seemingly perfect in his eyes no matter what.
He was and always will be
the most important man in my life.
My Dad is my hero.
He gave his heart
and his patience
to everyone that came into his life.
A life which he was completely grateful for.
[DONNA SNlFFLES THEN SlGHS]
[SNlFFLES]
I have been given this incredible gift.
He wrote me this letter two years ago
while he was recovering from a stroke that he had had.
"A resurrection which I cannot be more unworthy to receive.
A chance
to see what truly matters in life.
Faith which can bring you peace,
Iove which can bring joy.
And a family...
[DONNA CRYlNG]
A family which can bring you meaning
and purpose.'
[DONNA CRYlNG]
DONNA: I'm sorry.
A fam--
Do you want me to finish?
"And a family which can bring you meaning and purpose
[CHUCKLES]
and unexpected wonder.
I have been blessed with all three
and will do my best to honour these blessings
every minute of every day that God allows.
All my love, Dad.'
[SNlFFLlNG]
That was beautiful.
Gina,
will you sit with us?
[BOTH CRYlNG]
What you said was so beautiful.
- What you both said. - Thanks.
We were thinking of going to the beach apartment later.
- If it, uh, sounds good to you. - Yeah, I'll, uh, meet you guys there.
I'm gonna take my Mom home and get her settled with her friends.
Tell Donna I'll catch up with her, okay?
- You sure about that? - Yeah. Thanks.
- Hey. - Hi.
- It was nice in there, what happened. - Yeah, it was.
It's the kind of thing that could change somebody's mind about, uh,
running away.
Which somebody would that be?
You're in the front row now. It's where you always wanted to be.
Yeah, I wanted closure.
Now I've got it.
Maybe you don't.
You heard the man.
Life's about love, faith, family.
I don't have any of those.
So we'll find them together.
I wish I believed that.
I gotta stay.
Yeah.
What?
It's just, uh, you've been really great this week and I appreciate it.
Well, you remember what I said about not having to do any of those
incredible cute guy things for a few days?
No.
[CHUCKLES]
- Yeah, vaguely. - Heh.
Wasn't it, uh, something about, uh, turning it on full blast or...?
Yeah. Heh, now would be a good time to start.
I'm sorry, I thought you guys were back at Donna's.
Yeah, we were just going back now.
We thought we'd come by and pick up some stuff.
Good thing you shopped. We raided the place.
Yeah, yeah, it's a good thing.
You know what, why don't we just hang out here?
That'd be fun. We could keep you company.
Have I passed inspection?
- You sure you won't come? - Maybe later, thanks.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[SlGHS]
Hey.
I was just saying goodbye to Felice and she told me you were in here, so...
- I don't even know where you're going. - I'm just gonna
drive cross-country and figure it out on the way.
Well, I think that's very brave of you to do that on your own.
It's nothing new for me to be on my own.
We used to be so fascinated with this room, remember?
Yeah, we would just sneak up to that door
and we'd listen to Dad talk to his patients on the phone, right?
We'd get too loud, he'd start yelling:
"Felice, can't you do something about those kids?"
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Didn't you get stuck under this desktop once?
- Yes, because you locked me in. - Oh, yeah, that's right.
And then when your Mom would pick you up I always wished you could stay.
I still do.
Well...
Well, I'll see you. Ha, ha.
See you.
I'll be right back.
About us being in this really weird place,
- I don't want that. - Neither do l.
You think we can get out of it?
I hope so.
It's one of the reasons I stayed.
Are you
okay?
No, heh.
No.
It's life, huh?
Losing a family member is never easy.
I found that out when my grandfather died.
I remember.
I remember that you were there for me.
I hope you know that we are here for you.
We always will be.