Miracle Run (2004) - full transcript

- [TV narrator] Faster
than a speeding bullet,

more powerful than a locomotive,

able to leap tall buildings
in a single bound,

Superman!

[Dramatic music]

- Superman.

- [Clark] Lois, what are
you doing here?

- [Lois] Oh, just getting a
woman's angle on this story.

[Whistling]

- [Man] The mechanical monster,
look out!

[Dramatic music]



- What have you done
with the jewels?

- What have you done
with the jewels?

- Cold.

Oh, Steven, that's beautiful.

Almost time to go, guys.

- Just on more step and
she's doomed.

- One more step and
she's doomed.

- This new doctor's very nice.

I think you guys'll like her.

[Paper ripping]

[Sirens blaring]

[Philip whimpering]

- [Pa] Doctor Stein to
radiation oncology, please.

Doctor Stein to
radiation oncology.



- Hello, miss Morgan, I'm Dr.
Patrick.

- Hey.
- Hi.

Hi, guys.

Can you tell me what
your name is?

And where do you live?

[Lights buzzing]

You live up there?

[Indistinct hospital
announcements]

Miss Morgan, do they
make any sounds at all?

- Philip can repeat
things verbatim,

but never speaks on his own.

Steven, no.

- No?
- No.

What does that mean?

- Too soon to tell, but it
means they're capable of speech.

At least he is.

It means the equipment
works anyway.

Let's go into my office, okay?

- I've been to see half a
dozen doctors,

they all say the same thing.

Boys develop slower than girls,

twins sometimes develop
their own language,

be glad your boys are
healthy, they'll come around.

- Well, why don't we
bring them on down

and this shouldn't take
more than an hour, okay?

- The equipment works anyway.

- [Laughs] That it does.

[Dramatic music]

Pay attention to how
he lines up the blocks.

See what happens when
you try and take a turn.

This one at least
appears to respond

to verbal cues from the mother

and he's a pretty good mimic.

Full word formation
and intonation.

Miss Morgan?

- Yeah?

- Why don't you join US?

Come on in.

You can have a seat right here.

Well, it is a rather
remarkable find.

- A find?

- Fraternal twins with autism.

- I'm sorry, did you
say autistic?

- They both exhibit
unusual gaze behavior

and odd social affect.

We noted obvious sensory issues,

hyperacusis, for example.

Philip uses immediate echolalia.

He repeats what he hears.

They don't display
stereotypical motor patterns,

but the signs of
cognitive development

that we observed are good
prognostic indicators.

Autism is a brain
disorder that effects

social interaction and
communication skills.

[Car horn honking nearby]

[Sirens blaring nearby]

[Cart rattling]

- No.

No.

No, no!

I said no.

No!

No!

[Twins whining]

- No, no, no, no, this
is unacceptable.

- I'm so sorry.

Shh, no!

[Twins shouting]

Oh, I'm sorry.

Sir, I'm so sorry.

Shh, shh, shh.

I'll clean it up, i'm
cleaning it up.

I'm so...

- You should control
your children.

- Hold this.

[Twins shouting]

Let's go.

Let's go!

[Twins whining]

[Sirens blaring nearby]

[Dog barking nearby]

- Corrine?

Hun?

Hey.

- Oh, you're early.

- Well, your message was
kind of weird.

The boys have a meltdown?

- No, I did.

I took them to see Dr.
Patrick today.

They're autistic.

They have autism.

- God.

- I don't know what to do.

I tried all those doctors.

They'll never get better.

It'll never go away,
they'll never

have normal lives.

- Neither will we.

Not even close.

- [Quietly] I see.

- This isn't fair.

I fell in love with you.

I didn't sign up for this.

Autistic boys and...

- Oh, no, you're right,
you didn't.

It's not fair and you
didn't sign up for it.

After all, you're not
their father, are you?

- I can't do it, corrine.

I just need to be
honest with you.

[Corrine sighs]

I'm sorry.

["Wake up Elvis" by
Alan charing]

♪ Wake up Elvis time to
start the day again ♪

[Toys squeaking]

♪ Begin the process trading
up your heavy hand ♪

♪ all that fruit
sweet nectarine ♪

[Toys squeaking]

♪ Your fingernails are filthy

♪ and you're chugging
gasoline just for ♪

♪ one more day

- [singing] One more day

♪ in the sun

[singing] In the sun

- you're gonna be a pop
star someday.

♪ They got you on the run

♪ Don't lie Elvis what
about regret ♪

♪ you ain't seen nothing
quite like her ♪

♪ at least you haven't yet

[school bell ringing]

Go on, Steven, go on.

♪ The smarter you think you
are the more tired you get ♪

♪ you've been awake for
three straight weeks ♪

♪ how easily you forget

♪ how to count

♪ how to breathe

♪ consider all the
possibilities ♪

- [Woman] Okay, come on,
get inside.

- So you see, when
you're adding e

on to the end of some words,
it will change the vowel sound.

It will change from a
short vowel,

a short a like in cap,
to a long a in cape.

And that's what these
little symbols mean.

It's the little
curly-q hat on the a

when it's a short a, cap.

And a straight line over
the long a, cape.

- Oh, is this your classroom?

- Mm-hmm, I have a hall pass.

I went to the bathroom.

- Oh.

Do you know Philip and Steven?

- Philip and Steven?

They're really weird.

- [Teacher] You can do
it with people's names.

Sam.

Sam has a short a, put an
e on the end and it's same.

[Car door bangs shut]

- Hey.

- Hey.

- I took a little money out,

just what I had when we met,
I'll need it.

- Don't worry about it.

- I've got it.

- You sure this is
what you want?

- Don't act like you're
not relieved.

- You know that's not fair.

I was honest with you, corrine,

would you have
preferred it otherwise?

- I'd prefer it if...

The boys are out there,

do you want to say
goodbye or something?

Uh, nevermind.

It might upset them.

Bye.

[Birds singing]

[Trunk slams shut]

[Train whistling nearby]

[Dramatic music]

Okay, come on.

Okay, this is gonna be our
new home for a little while.

All right?

[Philip moaning]

- I'm scared, too.

We're gonna be all right,
fellas.

[Door bangs shut]

[Pen clicks]

- Good afternoon,
good afternoon.

Ho-ho, so you're looking
for a place to live?

Well, look no further,
friend, look no further!

Hoo, I got such a good
place for you.

- [Corrine] How much?

- [Cartoon] Just the little
place for you and your woman.

Oh, way up there, way up there.

- Well, I know that it's
been empty for a while.

Why don't you rent it to me

and I can make some
improvements?

Okay, well...

You'll get back to me, then,
right?

Thank you.

Oh, Steven!

Ah, dammit, the clock!

No, Steven, this
doesn't belong to US!

[Steven moaning]

You got...

[Sighs] It's okay, here.

It's all right, we'll
get another one, okay?

It's okay.

It's okay, all right?

It's okay.

[Corrine sighs]

[Rain falling]

[Clock clicks]

[Alarm blaring]

Whatever's going on in that
beautiful head of yours

sure is remarkable.

[Clock clicks]

[Keys jangling]

Okay.

- [Agent] You understand all
the terms of the agreement?

- [Corrine] Yes.

- And um, I guess
that's it then.

- Thank you.

- Congratulations.

- Thank you.

Ta-da, our new home!

What do you think, huh?

Come in, come on in.

Come on in.

Okay, all right, we'll just
wait here until you're ready.

- Until you're ready.

- Do you want to see
your new bedroom?

It's super cool.

No?

All right, we'll just wait here.

It's all right, bud.

I think you're gonna like it.

[Mouse clicks]

[Gentle music]

Yeah, I'm calling
regarding your ad for um,

babysitting services.

Right, I have uh, a situation.

I have twins and
they're autistic.

Right, okay.

Thanks, bye.

[Corrine sighs]

[Phone beeping]

Um, I'm wondering do you
take special needs kids?

Right.

No, autistic.

Oh, nevermind, okay.

Thanks.

[Banging receiver]

[Birds singing]

Um, I should be home most
nights by seven.

- Mm-mm, has to be earlier.

I belong to a jeopardy club and

I have not missed a night
in three years.

- Okay, um...

6:30-ish?

- You want me to
make them dinner

after I pick them up
from school?

- That'd be great.

- Well, I'll give you a
list of stuff

that I like to eat.

- Are you sure you're
up for this?

- I told you that I
have taken care

of three mentally retarded
kids for four years.

- They're not retarded.

- I'm up for it is
all I'm saying.

[Gentle music]

- I guess you're the one.

- Wow.

- So did you remember to
bring your share?

- Yeah.

- Good, then I'll be
outside at 3:00.

- [Kid] Okay.

- Okay, look for me out front.

- Come on.

All right?

You ready?

Let's go, go on.

Go, go, go, go.

Let's go.

- Hi, boys.

[Child shouting nearby]

Hi, uh, miss Morgan, hi.

- Hi.

- Um, Steven and Philip can be

a bit of a handful sometimes,
you know?

- Oh, don't I know it. [Laughs]

- Yeah, and uh...

While there are some things
that they do very well,

I'm just a little concerned

that they're not where they
should be academically speaking.

- They'll come around, they
just need a little time

to get used to it is all.

- Yeah, but...
[School bell ringing]

Well, i--
- bye.

[Telephone ringing]

I realize you don't
have anything now,

but could you hold on
to my resume,

just for the future in
case something

comes up or anything?

- [Man] We'd be glad to.

- Okay.

[School bell rings]

- Miss Morgan?

I was approached by
the principal

and I wonder if you might
meet with some of US,

say tomorrow
afternoon about four?

- Concerning what?

- We would just like to speak
with you about the boys.

- Steven hasn't spoken a word

and Philip merely repeats
what others say to him.

- They're extremely shy.

- Well, are they like
that at home?

- Is there a husband or
a boyfriend in the house?

- Why, is that important?

- Well, they have
these outbursts,

as if they're angry.

- Why would they be angry?

- How do you
discipline the boys?

- What exactly are
you getting at?

- You needn't be defensive,
miss Morgan.

- If you have something
you'd like to ask me

I'd rather you just
came out with it.

- We don't want to
find ourselves

having to explain why
we ignored signs

of possible abuse.

- Are you suggesting I
somehow hurt my boys?

- Their behavior suggests
some sort of trauma

in the past that's brought on--

- they're autistic!

[School bell rings]

I took them to a specialist
a couple of weeks ago.

I didn't know until then.

- How could you not know?

- We'd seen a dozen doctors,
they said nothing was wrong.

They have such
remarkable talents.

They deserve to be in a normal
classroom with other kids.

- It's just that it's
impossible to teach them in a...

A regular classroom,
miss Morgan.

- This school may not be
the best place for them.

[Corrine sighs]

Do all kids who aren't perfect

get kicked out of your school?

[Gentle music]

[Keyboard clacking]

[Mouse clicks]

[Keyboard clacking]

[Lock clicking]

- Uh-oh, looks like somebody
pulled an all nighter.

Hmm, looks so official.

You created the legal
letterhead and everything?

Wow.

- It's not too shrill?

- No, no, it's great.

You even got the
lawyer speak down.

[Chuckles] Just vague
enough to be intimidating,

with all the whereases
and pursuant tos.

- I did some research.

The boys are entitled
to more than I thought.

For once I'm glad I pay taxes.
[Laughs]

[Corrine sighs]

- What's wrong?

- When they were little, I
used to lie in bed at night

and think about who they'd
be when they grew up and

how proud I'd be of them
for succeeding.

[Sighs] Now I just want
them to be safe and happy,

I don't have any
expectations anymore.

I think that's what
hurts so much.

- Well, one day you
might be surprised.

- I'd be up for a nice surprise.

- Well, that letter is
a great start, corrine.

Now, you go out there
and you give 'em hell

and you let them know
who they're dealing with.

Now, where's the sugar?

- The mouse heard the
lion's loud roar

and went to see what
was the matter.

The lion cried and
cried with pain.

- Cried and cried with pain.

[Students laughing]

- And looked at the little mouse

and asked the little
mouse if he would

pull the Thorn from his paw.

The little mouse grabbed
hold of that Thorn--

- and cried and cried with pain.

[Students laughing]

- He grabbed hold of
the Thorn and pulled it

out of the lion's paw.

- The board's suggestion
is that we enroll the boys

in the individual education plan

at middleton mental hospital.

Part of their
outpatient day school.

- You're kidding.

- No, ma'am, we
sincerely believe

that's what's best for them.

- I suggest you read this
very carefully, Dr. Hardwick.

My boys will have a
normal education

regardless of you and
your asinine policies.

I'll take you all the way to
the supreme court if I have to.

[Hardwick sighs]

Oh, no, was there still
skin on that one?

Here, give it back.

I'll peel you another one.
[Sighs]

Here you go, honey, here you go.

[Twins whining]

Oh, oh no, oh no, it's okay,
it's okay.

Mommy's here, listen, hey.

Don't worry, mommy's here.

It's okay.

It's okay, it's okay.

See, isn't so much
better under here?

It's so much more fun.

Just your crazy mom forgot
to pay the electric bill.

- Crazy mom.

- Yeah, your crazy mom
better find a job soon.

Can I help you?

- Corrine Morgan?

- Yes.

- Hi, I'm Wayne cosgrove.

The school board sent me.

- Are you an attorney?

- I'm here for the boys,
miss Morgan.

- You're not taking my boys, Mr.
cosgrove.

- I'm sorry, I didn't
mean it that way.

I'm a special education teacher.

I'm here to work with your boys

to prepare them for a
regular classroom.

- Who sent you?

- I work for the state.

I guess the school district

found your lawyer's
letter persuasive.

Look, I'm gonna work
with your boys

and depending on their
level of functionality,

teach them to speak and
eventually read and write.

- To speak?

- I understand they have
a great set of lungs.

- Um, when can you start?

- I have my stuff in the car.

[Gentle music]

Do they understand what you say?

Good, then they get it.

Now all we have to do is
teach them to express it.

- How long might that take?

- Oh, it depends on their
level of autism.

It's a long, slow process.

But we'll work on it

and I'll show you some things
that we can work on together.

Baby steps.

[Gentle music]

Chalk.

[Steven moans]

Chalk.

Chalk.

Repetition, lots and lots
and lots of repetition.

That's how you teach an
autistic child.

Chalk.

- Chalk!

- A mimic?

This is gonna be fun.

See?

Chalk.

You write with it.

All right.

[Car horns honking]

- Two sons?

I've got three, they
run me ragged.

- Oh!

- I won't kid you, miss Morgan.

Selling insurance is
tough and competitive.

You need to be very aggressive.

- Oh, stop it, Taylor.

That's Taylor's code for
single women with no children

seem to have more time to work.

- Motherhood has taught me
to manage my time quite well.

- Well, that's good
because we don't tolerate

absences from work.

- No problem.

- Great, welcome to the team.

- Thank you.

- Look forward to
working with you.

- Great.

[Crickets chirping]

Pizza.

Pizza.

Pizza.

- [Stammers] Pizza.

- Oh!

Oh, god, you said
your first word!

That's amazing!

Pizza.

Pizza.

- Pizza.

[Corrine laughs]

- Pizza.

- Say it again?

Pizza.

- Pizza.

[Laughs] That's perfect.

- Now these are blocks.

Blocks.

That's it.

Find the ball.

Find the ball in here, okay?

You got a ball.

Good job.

All right.

Blocks.

Blocks, can you find a block?

- Show me how you
brush your hair

Okay, watch this.

Okay, good.

- Look, this is an apple.

An apple is red.

It's round, sort of round.

It's got a stem.

B-o-w-l, bowl.

Apple in a bowl.

Feel this orange,

feel that, huh?

It's all rough.

There's the orange.

- Show me the apple.

Good.

Good boy, good.

Okay.

All right, show me the glass.

Good.

Show me the orange.

[Philip moaning]

It's okay, try it again.

Red, show me red.

Good.

Show me yellow.

Show me orange.

[Quietly] Up and down.

That's good.

Oh, hey, hey.

What's this?

- Box.

- Bag.

It's a bag.

But you were close.

[Doorbell chimes]

Hi.

- Hey.

- What's up?

- I've been transferred.

I can't work with you
guys anymore.

The state's run out of
money for my program.

[Corrine sighs deeply]

- [Corrine] Can I fight it?

- You could.

But your time would be
much better spent

continuing to work on the
stuff that I showed you.

They are so close, corrine.

They're learning so quickly.

It's up to you now.

You can do this, I know you can.

- I don't know how to thank you.

- You can invite me to
their graduation, is what--

[toys clattering]

[Philip moaning]

- Right, I'll call you back.
[Keyboard clacking]

[Telephone rings]

- This is corrine.

Oh, oh, no they were happy
to underwrite that, yeah.

Sure, I can check on the
umbrella for you.

Yes, okay.

You're welcome.

Bye.

[Gentle music]

My guys on the first day
of high school.

Okay, good luck.

Go on.

Go, go, go!

Good luck.

- These guys are big.

- Yeah.

[Corrine sighs]

[Twins humming theme to rocky]

- Adrian!

- Guys.

Guys, hello!

I'm going home now.

- This is jeopardy!

- Ha ha ha, very funny.

- I'm going to be a
fighter like rocky.

- [Laughs] You better
put some muscles

on you little skinny thing.
[Laughs]

- Skinny thing.

Steven is a skinny thing.

- [Steven] So are you, Philip.

- [Philip] I am?

- Boys, boys.

Time to start winding down,
okay?

Okay?

Phil.

Try not to do this, all right?

[Tapping picture]

- Okay.

[Egg cracking]

- What are you doing?

- Rocky drinks raw eggs.

- But you're not rocky,
you're Philip.

- But I want to be rocky.

- No, you don't, you
want to be like rocky.

You should never want to
be anybody else.

Oh.

[Philip gulping]

[Philip spitting]

- I don't like raw eggs.

- [Laughs] Philip at raw eggs.

[Dogs barking nearby]

- Oh, for god's sake.

Oh, man.

Morning!

- Good morning.

- I'm going to get one of these.

I'm going to build
up my muscles.

- Great.

It's only 500 dollars.

- Oh, what happened
to your shoes?

- Oh, I think you have
a broken water pipe.

I'm surprised you
haven't noticed.

- Oh, god.

- It's your landlord's problem,
not yours.

- Right.

- I threw up raw eggs last
night all over the floor.

- Congratulations.

- I'm already gonna be late,

would you make sure they
get to the bus stop on time?

- Please, yes.

- It's a broken water pipe.

The entire front
lawn is flooded.

Well, I'm not paying
rent until you fix it!

[Students chattering]

- That's the third day in
a row she smiled at you.

- At US.

- At you!

She smiled at you.

- Maybe she'll be my girlfriend.

[Philip laughs]

- Maybe she'll be my girlfriend.

Dude!

[Twins moaning]

- They refuse to come out,
miss Morgan,

they seem very upset.

They're in here.

[Twins crying]

- Oh, hey, hey, hey.

Hey, guys, guys, what happened?

What happened?

What's wrong, what's wrong?

- Can we just go home?

- Oh, no, remember we
don't do that anymore.

We stay, we try to
get through it.

We don't quit and go home.

- Do we have to?

- Hey, what would rocky do, huh?

Rocky wouldn't quit.

He'd stay and he'd fight.

He'd stay and fight and
he wouldn't let

anybody bring him down.

[School bell rings]
Hey, listen.

Listen, listen, do you
want to go to lunch?

- They'll make fun of US!

- Let 'em!

Let 'em!

Let 'em.

They laughed at rocky, too,
remember?

[Steven crying]

It's okay, it's okay.

- Do you guys know them?

- [Boy] Retards.

- I'll be right back.

- [Girl] Okay, see ya.

- Hi, guys.

I'm Jennifer.

Can I sit with you?

So what's your name?

- I'm Philip.

- My name is Steven.

- That's 519 dollars.

[Keyboard clacking]

- Corrine.

Do you recall my
mentioning our audit today?

I told you I needed
your paperwork by noon.

- I'm sorry, I had a
family emergency.

- Again?

- Taylor, I promise--

- corrine, this
isn't gonna work.

I have to let you go.

- Come on, Taylor, I've sold
a lot of insurance for you--

- I can give you a
month's sentence.

- Please don't do this!
- That's the best I can do.

[Telephone ringing]

Yes?

No, that won't do, I need
it by tomorrow.

That's right.

[Dramatic music]

[Trunk bangs shut]

- No, I'm afraid, yeah...

- [Pa] May I have your
attention please?

If you are here for
your scheduled interview

with a ui representative, please
have all of your documents

ready when your name is called,
thank you.

- Check.

Check.

- [Kid] Wow.

- Checkmate again.

[Pawns clattering]

That was checkmate.

- Next.

[Dog barking nearby]

- Hello.

Hey, um, who are you?

- I'm Doug, how you do?

- What are you doing in my
driveway, Doug?

- Your landlord, Mr. Merrick,
said you got

a busted water pipe, right?

He sent me over to fix it.

He said you were a ball-buster.

- Did he?

- Yes, ma'am, he did.

Oh, you want me to move this?

[Car door bangs shut]

- Thanks.

[Motor revving]

[Van doors bang shut]

- His eyes are swollen shut.

- And Mickey says,

"can you see what he's
doing to you, kid?"

- And rocky says, "i
can't see nothin'."

- So he yells, "open my eyes,"

which means they have to cut
them to let the pressure out.

- Cut his eyes?

- He makes them do it.

He doesn't care about the pain.

He just wants to win and--

- hey, Jennifer.

Are you the meat in a
retard sandwich?

- I am and you can bite me.

- What are they doing?

- That's the cross country team.

They're running.

Like rocky.

[Dramatic music]

[Crickets chirping]

- We need 50 dollars for
the chess club.

- The chess club?

- We joined.

You always tell US we
can do anything.

- But I didn't know
you liked chess.

- We learned it last week.

- You learned chess last week?

- Philip beat this
kid named ward.

He's supposed to be the best.

- That's amazing.

Why didn't you tell me?

- We don't tell you
everything we do.

- Like astronomy club and
geography club,

which we also joined, but
they were free.

- Well, it's probably time
for you to do your homework.

- I don't like homework.

- But it's very important
that you do it.

- Why?

- So you can get good grades
and learn things and--

- go to college.

- Yeah.

You wanna go to college?

- Yep, I wanna join
the cross country team.

I wanna run like rocky.

- Fine.

First you have to do
your homework.

["Had to cry today"
by blind faith]

♪ It's already written
that today will be ♪

♪ one to remember

[Doug laughing]

[Upbeat acoustic music]

- What is this music?

- Uh, this is uh, hippie music.

- Are you a hippie?

[Doug laughs]

- How old are your boys?

- 14.

They're twins.

- Cool.

So you're the crazy
lady on the hill

with the crazy kids, huh?

♪ Somebody holds the key

oh, that's uh...

That's just what your
neighbor said,

your lovely neighbor when
I asked which...

I didn't mean anything by it!

We're all crazy.

Hell, I'm crazier than most!

[Door slams]

[Quietly] Nice going, dipstick.

- Hi, mom.

- Hey, sweetheart.

- Can you please not
call me that?

I'm a teenager, you know.

- Where's your brother?

- Out front with Doug.

[Corrine clears throat]

[Playing acoustic guitar]

- I don't believe you.

He says he's never played
guitar before?

Watch this.

Ready?

[Strums guitar]

[Strums same melody]

[Doug laughs]

I mean, that's amazing.

Is he a whiz or what?

- Can I have a guitar?

- No, you can't have a guitar.

- I tell you what, kiddo,
you can keep this guitar,

'cause you're gonna be
better than me in a week.

- You can't give him
your guitar!

- Excuse me?

What do you mean I can't
give him my guitar?

Whose guitar is it to give away

if he wants to give it away?

Is it yours?

Is it mine?

I believe it's mine.

Keep it, kiddo.

You're gonna be better
than me in a week.

- Come on inside.

- That's amazing.

[Clears throat] Uh, thank you,
Doug.

- Oh!

Thank you.

- Oh, no, that's all
right I was...

- Thanks.

I know.

- Yeah.

- Steven!

[Engine purring]

Steven!

Come get in this car right now.

- No.

- Are you upset because
Philip got the guitar?

- No.

I just want to run.

[Corrine sighs]

- Come get in this
car right now.

Come back with me, I
have a surprise for you.

- I don't want a guitar.

- It's not a guitar.

- What is it?

- Come back with me,
I'll show you.

I was gonna wait till
your birthday.

- You got me weights.

- Oh! [Laughs]

[Weights clanking]

Yep, it's yours.

[Knocking]

- Rise and shine, campers!
[Claps]

Fish are biting, come on!

Good morning.

- Why are you here?

- What?

- It's six in the morning
on a Saturday.

What are you doing?

- They said you all
wanted to go fishing

and we arranged it.

They didn't tell you?

- Fishing?

- I want to go fishing.

- Let's go fishing.

- Well, you best get
in some clothes

that are a little bit more
appropriate for fishing, guys.

Go on.

And you.

Maybe a little java just might
improve your disposition.

Immeasurably.

[Rooster crowing nearby]

- Well, give US 15 minutes.

Just...

[Dramatic music]

- Uh, let me help you
with that seat.

- I got it.

- [Doug] Okay.

- Wow.

- You're welcome.

- Ah...

They're autistic.

You know.

- Uh, I'm artistic, too.

I'm mostly Irish, but I
got a little bit of scotch

thrown in there, too.

- When do you think
you'll be finished?

- About a week.

Yeah.

'Course, you never know
what kinda complications

you can get.

I've been known to
milk a job before

[corrine laughs]

If there's good reason.

Would you go out with
me on a regular date?

- I think I'll say goodbye.

- Is that yes, a no?

- I can't.

- You can't?

- I can't, there's no
one to watch the boys

and I just, it won't
work is all.

- Well...

- [Corrine] Uh, is--

- how about if I make
you and the boys

a dinner that you'll
never forget?

- Thank you for a wonderful day.

- Hey, have you ever had
scampi provencal?

Huh?

- Shrimp is scampi, right?

- Big shrimp, jumbo shrimp.

Think of what you're missing.

- Oh, fine, then.

- All right.

[Knocking]

Oh.

- Doug's clean.

- He is.

[Doug laughs] Yeah.

Shaved.

I shaved. [Chuckles]

- Come in, come in.

- [Doug] There we go.

- Thank you.

Thanks.

- I'll give you a lot.

Well, just a minute.

Um...

- Um, just one second.

Honey.

Doug has made US a
wonderful dinner.

Won't you please come inside?

- I'm not hungry.

They look like giant bugs.

- The shrimp?

[Silverware clinking]

- Hey, hey, hey, dude,
dude, dude, slow down, man.

Slow down.

- Honey, shrimp is pure protein,

it turns right into muscle.

If you don't eat protein
your muscles won't grow.

Okay.

Rocky ate lots of shrimp.

[Silverware clinking]

- You like it?

- No.

[Doug laughing]

- Oh!

More for you, you love it.

Get yourself some more
rice with that.

I mean, the way he picked
up that guitar,

I mean, that, that's kinda...

- Yeah.
- Spooky.

- He knows three songs already.

- Man, that's amazing.

- Yeah.

It's a mysterious thing,
isn't it?

- They're both doing so well.

- You surprised?

- They're exceeding my
expectations.

They're growing up.

- That's what kids too,
eventually.

- [Corrine] Yeah.

- [Doug] Yeah.

[Romantic music]

[Splashing]

- Will you tell Doug
I was wrong?

- About what?

- I did like the shrimp.

[Light clicks off]

- 'Night.

- Thank you for a
delicious dinner.

- Oh.

[Corrine laughs]

You're welcome.

- Bye.

- Bye.

[Knocks door]

- Where are you going?

- Running.

- Running?

- Like rocky to get in shape.

- You're just going running?

- Oh, don't worry, I'll
stay on crestlou.

- Well, let me get the keys
and I'll come with you.

- You don't have to.

- Oh, okay.

Be safe.

[Corrine sighs]

[Upbeat rhythmic music]

[Calculator keys clicking]

How was your run?

- Great.

- I need 100 dollars
for the carpentry club.

- You already belong to the
music club, the chess club,

astronomy club, how many
clubs are there?

- 13.

[Corrine sighs]

- I know you're a
small office and

you don't need any new agents,

but I have accounting
experience and

I can do uh, your bookkeeping.

- We do need a bookkeeper and

I might be able to throw you
a listing here and there,

but that's the best I can do

for somebody that has to
work from home.

- That's great.

That's great.

- Welcome aboard.

- Thank you, thanks.

They what?

Oh, you're kidding.

I'll be right there.

[Tires screeching]

[Car door bangs shut]

What happened?

- They were going to
hurt Jennifer.

- They pushed her pretty hard.

- Hold a sec, fellas,
let me talk to your mom.

- Rick and Brian were
taunting Steven and Philip

and calling them retards
like they always do.

When I started yelling at
them, they pushed me down.

- And these two bruisers
let 'em have it.

I asked them where they
learned to punch like that.

- [Twins] Rocky III.

- I pity the fool!

- Look, I think what
they did was honorable,

but you understand, of course,
I have to discourage it.

- You punched them?

- Well, they were
hurting Jennifer.

- Thanks.
[School bell rings]

See you guys.

Your guys are my heroes.

- Boys, back to class, please.

Miss Morgan, there's
something else.

Please, have a seat.

Uh, dick Emory, our
music teacher,

said he saw Philip
playing guitar last week

and quite well.

- It's a savant skill,

he's always had a really
incredible ear.

- Oh, well, he suggested
that you enroll him

in a program at a
private music school

for gifted kids.

- Oh, I imagine
those schools are

probably pretty expensive, huh?

- No, there's no tuition.

He just has to
audition for them.

- Do they take kids like...

- Emory feels that
he has a gift.

- Yeah.

[Corrine laughs]

- Can I tell you something?

I haven't felt this uh...

In a long time.

- Philip has an audition
for a music school tomorrow.

I would love it if you
would come with US.

- I'll be there.

Absolutely.

I'd love it.

- Good.

- Hey, what time uh, do
the boys get home?

- The boys don't come home.

They're spending the
night with reva.

- Good.

Oh, my knees!

[Corrine laughs]

- That looks nice on you.

- Thank you, I thought
it suited me.

Oh.

Listen...

Am I your first ditch digger?

- No.

That's good.

[Dog barking nearby]

Wish your brother good
luck at his audition.

- Good luck.

- Mm-mm-mm.

[Students chattering]

- Could you hold the door?

Thanks!

- How you doing there, maestro?

- Just play it like
you do at home.

- Good morning, Philip.

[Doug sighs]

What are you gonna play
for US today?

[Strumming guitar]

[Strumming out of tune]

- Would you like a few
minutes to prepare?

[Guitar case crashing]

- Oh, oh, oh, it's all
right, it's all right.

- Hey, hey, hey, it's all right.

- He's, he just learned,
he can already...

It's all right.

Hey, hey, it's okay.

It's okay.

[Philip crying]

- He's uh, he's autistic.

- Autistic?

- He's a very high
functioning autistic.

Yeah.

He's really, he, brilliant,
I mean, is what he is.

I mean, he's just amazing.

- Oh, we don't doubt that, but.

- Doug, Doug, Doug!

Let's go.

- Well...

- Let's go.

We're gonna go.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

[Car door slams]

- Mom, where is Steven?

He's not home from school.

- Stay here with him.

- You don't want US to
come with you?

- No, stay, stay.

[Motor revving]

[Door bangs shut]

[Tires pealing]

Steven?

Where have you been?

- Mom, I joined the
cross country team.

- You what?

- Uh, miss Morgan.

I'm rich Wheeler, i'm
Steven's coach.

- Hi.

You're his coach?

- Yeah, he's a helluva runner,
this guy.

I was gonna give him
a ride home,

he said it'd be okay with you.

- Oh, that's okay, I
have my car.

Um, thank you.

- Oh, okay.

Well, he's a good kid and
he shows a lotta promise.

- Thank you.

- Are you mad at me?

- [Sighs] No.

- I was going to surprise you.

- [Corrine] Well, you did.

- Mr. Wheeler says
I'm really good.

- I'm sure you are,
but you need to tell me

when you do things like
that, you know I worry.

- I just wanted to do
something on my own.

You always do everything for US.

- You have practice every night?

- Yeah, till six.

- And you're pretty fast, huh?

[Birds chirping]

[Whistling]

- [Runner] Morgan, over here!

- Where is Morgan?

- Uh, I think he got lost again,
coach.

- Sorry.

[Breathing heavily]

- You tried, son.

I mean, I admire your
heart and your talent,

but I just don't think
you're ready to race.

This getting lost all
the time, it's a problem.

- How'd it go?

Everything okay?

- Yeah.

[Dog barking nearby]

[Dramatic music]

[Telephone beeping]

[Telephone ringing]

- That's okay.

Hello?

- This is Philip Morgan.

I auditioned.

Well, I had a bad episode.

- Well, yes, it can be
nerve wracking

having to perform for strangers.

- [Philip] Can I have
another chance?

- Another chance?

Well, I don't see why not.

- So I'm going to play a song.

Will you listen to it?

- Well, sure.

[Playing guitar]

Philip, are you there?

Philip, did you really
just start playing

four weeks ago?

- No, it'll be four
weeks tomorrow.

- Is your mom there?

- Mom!

Mom.

- What?

- This lady wants to
talk to you.

- Hello, who's this?

He what?

Okay.

Sure.

She wants to talk to you again.

- [Philip] Okay.

- My son just
auditioned for the judge

of the McKinley school
over the phone.

She said she's gonna let
him attend on a trial basis.

[Both laugh]

- Wow!

- I know!

- That is so cool.

[Corrine laughs]

- I saw your truck out front.

- Oh, Steven, you
really should knock

before entering a room.

- I was wondering if
Doug wanted to

go for a run with me.

- You better not slack off
if you're running with me

'cause I am one finely
tuned machine.

Can you give me 10 minutes?

Can you, uh, tune up my machine?

- If you give me more
than 10 minutes.

- Hey!

Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Slow down!

Slow down for the old man.

Woo!

You with the third lung.

When's your race?

- Friday.

But the coach won't let me run.

- What?

What do you mean he
won't let you run?

Why?

- I keep getting lost
in the course.

- Why don't you just
follow the other runners?

What's your coach's name?

- Coach Wheeler.

[Strumming guitar]

- Hey, there, Superman.

- Watch.

- Wow!

That's pretty impressive.

I want you to know how
proud I am of you.

- For what?

It's only 85 pounds.

- It's a whole lot
more than that.

- Come on.

Come on, don't slow, don't slow!

All right, that's good,
that's fantastic.

You shaved two seconds
off in one week.

Stay focused on your rhythm.

- You're pretty fast, Steve-O.

So you guys got your first
big race Friday, huh?

- Yeah.

Are you going to be there?

- If you promise me to win.

Okay.

- All right, you guys
ran hard today.

Hit the showers.

- All right.

- And get some rest, I
wanna win this weekend.

- Hey, coach.

- Hey, Mr. Thomas.

Steven ran real well today.

- Yeah, he did.

You know, it would mean
the world to him

if he could compete on Friday.

- Yeah, I'd like to see
him do it, too,

but he gets lost.

- Yeah, he told me.

Listen, I got an idea.

[Bright music]

[Stapler clicks]

See?

- You guys are sure late.

- We had a little
business to take care of.

- Coach is gonna let me run

and Jennifer's going to
be there to watch me win.

- You know girls, they
go for athletes.

- I know.

- You know?

What do you mean you know?

- I don't know.

- I'm so scared he's
gonna be disappointed.

- You gotta give him a
little more credit than that.

- He's just a little boy.

- He's a 14 year old teenager,
remember?

Hey, what's up?

[Corrine sighs]

- [Steven] Dear Jennifer...

This is a poem for you

to let you know how much
you mean to me.

[School bell rings]

[Upbeat music]

- I don't see him.

- Oh, he's probably
getting himself psyched up.

- Where is he, where is he,
where is he?

- Anybody see Morgan?

- Sorry, coach.

- All right, stretch it out.

- Where is he?

- All right, ladies
and gentlemen,

if you could take your seats,
please, take your seats.

Runners, 10 minutes
to race time.

10 minutes, runners.

- I'll be right back.

- Where the heck is your boy?

- I don't know, I don't know.

[Shouting] Steven!

Steven!

- [Coach] Runners, five minutes.

Five minutes to race time.

[Crowd chattering]

- Steven.

What's the matter, sweetheart?

Got the jitters?

What you got there?

Can I see it?

That's a beautiful poem.

Were you gonna give
it to Jennifer?

- I saw her with another boy.

- Mm.

Steven, in about two minutes

your chance to show Jennifer and

every other girl in
school what an

amazing runner you are
will be over.

- [Coach] Runners to the
starting line.

- Doug and Philip and
I are all here

to watch you run.

Steven, I believe in you
with all my heart and soul.

I know you can do it,
but it's your decision.

I'll love you just as much
no matter what you do.

- [Coach] Runners,
take your Mark!

[Crowd cheering]

All right, guys, let's go,
let's go!

[Doug sighs]

Set!

[Gun bangs]

[Timer clicks]

[Crowd cheers]

[Upbeat music]

- Hey!

Go, Steven!

Go!

- I don't know what I
got US into,

but if it breaks his heart
it's all on me.

- Where'd you find him?

[Thrilling music]

- He's catching up!

[Crowd cheering]

- 7:40!

7:40!

- Go Steven!

- Come on, guys, kick it!

Just one more lap!

[Thrilling music]

- There he is again.

- Oh god, he's lost!

[Upbeat music]

- Lost, my ass.

No wonder he couldn't just
follow the other runners,

he was always way ahead of them!
[Laughs]

[Upbeat music]

[Crowd cheering]

- [Corrine] Steven!

[Corrine laughs]

- Woo!

- Ladies and gentlemen,
number 22, Steven Morgan,

has just set a new
course record!

[Crowd cheering]

[Corrine laughs]

[Crowd cheering]

- [Woman] Ladies and
gentlemen, Steven Morgan,

who will speak on behalf of
the miracle run foundation

finding a cure for autism,

which was founded by his mother,
corrine.

[Guests applauding]

- My name is Steven.

And my brother, Philip,
and I are autistic.

I am 15 years old and I have
overcome many obstacles.

My mother was told we would
be in a institution for life,

but she refused to accept this.

In the past, I have
had no friends.

I didn't know exactly
how to make any friends.

I was very lonely.

If it wasn't for the
love of my mother,

My brother and I would
not be here tonight.

[Guests applauding]

["Classical gas" by
Mason Williams]

[Dramatic music]