Runaway Hearts (2015) - full transcript
Two kids on the run from a very scary present come across two adults who can't quite escape their past. They're four people in need of a miracle, and sometimes the miracles in life are the very people whose paths you cross.
[slow paced music]
- Who are you?
Are you my daddy?
[grunting]
[slow paced music]
- Yuck, you can't use this.
- But I'm hungry.
- Chill, I'll make
you some toast.
- Aren't you late for school?
- It's Saturday.
- You kidding me?
Looks like Fat Jack didn't
make it home, again.
- It's just what we need.
One of your customers
crashing on my sofa.
[water rushing]
[slow paced music]
[triumphant music]
- [Narrator] Say Gabe,
you still keep those three
things on your coffee table?
- Only two now.
Bible's back on the bookshelf
with all the other fiction.
I stopped reading it.
- Do you know why?
- Yeah doc, I do.
Do you?
- How 'bout you tell me instead?
- I guess I just
don't see the point.
- It helps you move
on with your life.
- How have I not moved on?
I moved out when my
wife asked me to,
now she's marrying another man.
I mean darn hell,
I've been moved on.
- And how do you
feel about that?
- How would you
feel in my shoes?
- How I would feel
doesn't matter.
- Yeah.
How would the good
doctor feel if he was
one of the unlucky
ones who couldn't
say no to another drink?
And because of that
you lost everything.
Your wife, your job,
you put people in the hospital.
- People whose
injuries have healed.
- People who wouldn't
have been injured
in the first place if
it weren't for you doc.
If you were me.
- About those people who were
injured in the accident--
- People I hurt.
You can say it.
- Do you believe
they've forgiven you?
- Who cares?
- Clearly Gabe, you do.
Have you forgiven yourself?
- When are you gonna
stop asking me that?
- How many times have
you answered yourself?
- Yeah let's see.
90 days in a jail cell,
24 hours in a day,
that's 2,026 hours
times 60 minutes,
that's 126,000 minutes.
- Ah yes, the architect with
the computer for a brain.
- Anyway the answer is zero.
Why ask a question when
you know the answer?
And it's former architect.
- Oh, since when?
- Since I got fired.
That's when I decided
to come back home.
A little town near here.
- Well, I'm glad you decided
to continue your counseling.
- You know it was
court ordered doc.
- By the way, you definitely
have a lot of work to do.
I hope when you came here Gabe
you weren't running away.
- Maybe I was going
back to something.
[slow paced music]
- Sorry.
I'm so sorry.
- Maggie's daddy came home.
- Yeah, so?
- So is our daddy
gonna come home?
- I've told you this
a million times,
your daddy and my
daddy don't live here.
And they're not the same daddy.
- I know that, but they're
supposed to be, right?
- Says who?
- Says the lady
at Sunday school.
- You don't go to Sunday school.
- Maggie goes, she told me.
- Well whoop dee freaking doo.
- But you met my daddy right?
- Yeah, probably.
I just didn't know
which one he was.
Why do you wanna know
about daddy so much?
- 'Cause mama don't care.
- [Brother] About what?
- About nothing.
[solemn music]
- I'll take it from here.
Anywhere you like.
- I wasn't sure if I
should wait and be seated.
- We're not that fancy here.
Coffee?
Menu?
- [Gabe] Sure.
- I'll just give
you a few minutes.
- Emma darling.
- Yes Tate.
- [Tate] That pie being
shipped in from out of state?
- Chief, I think that
shipments just pulling in.
- Thank you.
- Coffee.
- I heard this was
your place now.
I remember when
it was our place.
It's been a long
time, how've you been?
- It's probably not the time.
- Oh.
Right.
Are there any specials?
- Everything on the
menu is special.
- Pecan pie sure is.
- Thanks for the review Tate.
- How's the chicken fried steak?
- Hey Tate, how's that
chicken fried steak?
- Fourth time I've
had it this week.
I'm not dead yet.
- There ya have it.
- Chicken fried steak it is.
Pecan pie for dessert.
- Good call.
[solemn music]
- T, T, wake up.
Will you make me some pancakes?
- Can't mama make 'em?
- She's asleep in the bathroom.
- The bathroom?
- Yeah, she didn't
wanna wake up.
- Get dressed,
put your shoes on.
- How come?
- Just do it now.
I'll check on mama.
Mama?
[ominous music]
Mama.
Mama!
Mama!
- Maze.
Maze you up?
Mazey.
You awake?
Mazey.
Mazey.
Dill!
Dill, get in here!
The old lady's fading on us.
- Yo Mazey, damn it Mazey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- We gotta go now.
- What about mama
and I want pancakes?
- We'll worry about that later.
- Hey kid, come here!
Kid!
[sirens blaring]
- Was that mama
in the ambulance?
[faint ominous music]
[engine revving]
[solemn music]
- [T] Let's go now.
[suspenseful music]
Pack up.
- [Little Girl] For what?
- [T] Pretend we're
going camping.
- [Little Girl] We ain't
never been camping.
- Just get some stuff.
No cone animals.
The pillows too big.
- [Little Girl] I can't
sleep without my pillow.
- Fine, just use mine.
Remember, we ain't got no
bicycle now, we walking.
- Where are we going?
- Don't know yet.
[banging]
- Police department!
Police department, anybody home!
- How come we didn't
answer the door?
- [T] Shh, I'm thinking.
- Hey Hilly.
[solemn music]
- You said we were
gonna go camping.
- I told you, I
forgot something.
- You should've thought of that
before we walked
a thousand miles.
- Give me a break, we barely
got past the Johnson's place.
Wait here.
[slow paced music]
- Hey T, Angel.
Anybody home?
Hey kid that you?
[suspenseful music]
Geeze kid, you scared
the crap out of me!
I ought to kick your butt for
sneaking around like that!
Where's your sister?
We need to talk.
Hey Angel!
Angel!
[fast paced music]
Yeah you better run
you little freak!
Hey you're dead kid!
Like your mom!
[solemn music]
- [Doc] You're not
your father Gabe.
- [Gabe] How so?
'Cause the people I
ran into didn't die?
- Well they didn't.
Doesn't that count
for something?
- Blind luck.
- So you consider
yourself a lucky man.
[ominous music]
[slow paced music]
- Why can't we go home?
- Dill wants to
kill me, remember?
- Yeah, so, are we
camping out again?
- Afraid so squirt.
- But I have to go
to the bathroom.
- Why didn't you go when
we were at the store?
I asked you if you had to.
- I didn't have to go then.
- Dang it squirt.
Here's your toilet paper.
- It is not.
- Well it'll work
until we get some.
- Will not.
- Do you have to go or not?
- [Angel] You're a meanie head!
[solemn music]
- Alright.
Remind me, what's the story
with Mr. Hyperventilation?
Come on.
You yesterday when he come in.
- Funny.
- Come on now, what's
the story again?
- He used to live around here.
- Well seems to live here now.
Seeing as how he's always
riding by on his bike peeking.
- He's been back a while.
- Yeah.
So how come he ain't been in
here to eat until yesterday?
- Maybe he eats somewhere else.
- Like where?
Julies?
Come on you can catch something
sitting on a bar stool.
- Gross.
His name name is Gabe Dunham.
He was a couple years
ahead of me in school.
- Mmm, did you guys uh?
- I was 14.
- So?
- JD--
- I'm just kidding,
I'm just kidding.
But this was first love huh?
So what happened?
- He moved away
when his parents died.
- You think he moved
back because of you?
- I think Willard and
Carlene need their check.
- Must be almost time
for Judge Judy huh?
Alright.
[slow paced music]
- What do you think?
- About what?
- Is it ready or not?
I figured you were
checking my work.
- Looks ready.
- Yeah, glad to hear it.
Tires?
They feeling alright,
they got enough air?
- They're good.
- Good.
You wanna take it for a spin?
Just to be sure and all.
- I don't know,
think it needs it?
- Maybe.
I could use another opinion.
- So I just ride it around to--
- [Gabe] Test it, check my work.
- Okay, I guess I could.
If you want.
- Okay then.
[upbeat music]
- Angel, come on,
we gotta go now.
- Whose bike is that?
- It's our bike.
- Is not.
- A guy gave it to us.
- [Angel] What guy?
- Where's your stuff,
we need to go now.
- Are we taking
the bicycle back?
- [T] No, we need it.
- That's stealing.
- It's not stealing
if you need something
more than somebody else does.
That's the golden rule.
- Is not.
- Is too.
- Is not.
- You know, you're a pain
in the ass sometimes.
- [Angel] You're not
supposed to say that word.
- Fine, I'll take the bike back.
- I'll go to.
[slow paced music]
[clears throat]
- [Gabe] Hey,
you're back already.
How'd it ride?
- Rode good.
Need any others checked?
I was just wondering if maybe
you could use some help
with stuff like that?
Checking bikes.
- Sure, I got a
big need for that.
- Well, I could do
other things too.
Fix stuff.
- Oh you mean like
be my assistant?
- Yeah, like that.
- Do I have to pay you?
- Nah, I got lots of money.
You could maybe give me food.
- Yeah?
What kind of food?
- Good food, like not stuff
from the gas station store.
- Not stuff from the
gas station store.
Got it.
I mean what would you
do for this good food?
- I could help you
check stuff, fix bikes.
- You know how to fix bikes?
- I used to have one.
- Did you fix it?
- Yeah all the time.
- Sounds like you'd be
a big help to me then.
What's your name?
- Tevin.
- You got a last name?
As your employer I have
to know these things.
- Day, Tevin Day.
- Well Tevin Day,
Gabriel Dunham.
Call me Gabe, all my friends do.
Well you being a
working man and all,
I'm sure you have a
social security number.
- Yeah of course.
- What is it?
- Why you wanna know?
- I have to have
it for my records.
Don't worry, I'm not
gonna tell anybody.
- Okay, well,
it's 12.
- 12.
Ah, that's a low one.
One of the good ones.
You must be a pretty
important person.
Is your dad famous or something?
- Yeah kind of.
He was
a general in the FBI.
- Ah, well,
that explains it.
Those guys get all
the good numbers.
So when do you wanna
start working for me?
- How 'bout tomorrow morning?
- Don't you have school?
- Oh yeah.
Tomorrow after school.
- So you live around here then?
- Not too far.
- I'm surprised I've
never seen you before.
- We just moved here.
- [Gabe] We?
- My family.
- Oh.
Well,
yeah I just moved
back here myself.
I used to live here
when I was a kid.
My father,
he used to fix my
bike right here.
When I wasn't riding my
bike or shooting hoops
I was just hanging around
the tree outside back.
Me and my brother practically
lived in that thing.
It just sits there
now, nobody uses it.
- Not your brother either?
- No.
Not my brother either.
- Okay well, see
ya tomorrow then.
- Hey, you want some
of that good food now?
- Yeah, sure.
I guess that'll be okay.
- Well if you're gonna
be going to school
and working for
me, you're probably
gonna need some energy.
- That's good thinking.
- Alright then.
Come to the house.
- Where's your car?
- It's in a junkyard in
New York [speaks too fast].
- [Tevin] So you
just ride bikes?
- Yeah I get better
mileage that way.
- [Tevin] You shoot hoops?
- Not in a long long time.
[slow paced music]
You strike me as a guy
with a big appetite.
Think you can handle
two sandwiches?
- Yeah, I'm a big eater.
Practically always
eat two of everything.
- Is that right?
[slow paced music]
- Maybe only put
tomatoes on one.
I don't wanna overeat
on a tomato you know?
- That's good thinking.
Are you sure your parents
won't mind you working for me?
Maybe I should give them a call.
What's their number?
- They're never home.
- Never?
- They're at their job a lot.
They work really hard.
- I hope that runs
in the family.
I guess I found myself a
good assistant bicycle fixer.
- You got any toilet paper?
[slow paced music]
- Yes, I'd like the
number for anyone
with the last name of
Day in Ponchatoula.
What about any towns close by?
- This got mixed in with
some of my CMH paperwork.
One of yours.
- Oh yeah, Mazey Day.
Wait a second.
Wait, this was two days ago.
Where are her kids?
- Can't help you there honey.
- Okay well give
Beth a hug for me.
Okay.
[fast paced music]
[faint knocking]
- I'll be with you in
a minute, take a seat.
Well.
Young Mr. Dunham.
- I'm not so young anymore.
- I knew you were in town.
I saw you on your bicycle.
- And at the diner.
Give sage advice on pie.
- I understand you're staying
out at your parents house.
- You know a lot of things.
- Well it is my town.
That house sitting
empty, it was sad.
- Yeah.
- So what brings you back?
- Just seeing if I left
anything behind, maybe.
- Or anyone.
Maybe.
Coffee?
- No.
- Good call, it's awful.
- So listen Chief Tate--
- Oh, just plain
old Tate is fine.
It's what everybody
else calls me.
Except my ex-wife.
- What does she call you?
- Long-distance, preferably.
I'm sorry, what
were you gonna say?
- I have kind of
a funny question.
- Funny ha ha?
Well that's too bad.
Go ahead, shoot.
- I'm just curious
if anybody's called
on any missing kids.
- Missing kids, what,
what missing kids?
- I don't know
that there are any,
I'm just asking.
- Well you're right
about one thing,
that is a funny question.
- I saw a couple of kids
walking outside of town.
Past them on my bike.
Just curious if they were
missing from somewhere
or run away from home,
something like that.
- And why would you think that?
- I didn't recognize them.
- Well why don't you
describe them for me.
What did they look like?
- I only saw them
for a couple seconds,
didn't really get a good look.
- So how is it that you know
you don't recognize them?
- I don't know.
I don't even know
what I'm doing here.
- Maybe you just
stopped by to say hello.
- I guess that's it.
- Well hello.
- And goodbye.
- Gabe.
You don't mind if I
call you Gabe do you?
- Well that's what
everybody else calls me.
Except your ex-wife.
- You know that was
very nearly funny ha ha.
I wonder if you'd do me a favor.
Next time you see those
kids, ask them for me
if they happen to be missing.
Or you can just get a
better look at them.
You see that would help
somebody around here
do their job a whole lot easier.
Be careful out there
on that bicycle.
[loud knocking]
- Hello, what you want?
- I'm looking for
Mazey Day's children.
- And who are you?
- Glynnis Harmon,
County Social Services.
And who might you be?
- What's it to you?
- Well, the rental
agency has Mazey's name
on record at this address.
- Yeah, well I'm the
one paying the rent
for the last couple of months,
and Mazey, well, she
ain't coming back.
- I'm sorry for your loss.
And I need to see
Tevin and Angel Day.
- Well they ain't here.
- Where are they?
- How should I know?
- Do you think we can go inside?
- No.
- I simply need to
verify that the children
are not on the premises.
- I told you, they ain't here.
- Shall I call the police?
- They run away a couple
days ago, alright?
Same day as when Mazey died.
- And you didn't notify anyone
of the children's disappearance?
- I didn't say they
disappeared lady,
I said they run off.
- Okay, so you're
telling me that an
11-year-old boy and
a five-year-old girl
have been missing for two nights
and you didn't even
call the police?
- Hey lady, they ain't my kids.
- Do you have any
photographs of them?
- What for?
- Because that might
help us find them.
You know, you never can tell,
there may be a
reward in it for you.
- Yeah right.
Wait here.
When you find 'em, I
wanna see that boy.
Kid stole money from me.
- [Glynnis] Thanks.
[slow paced music]
- Morning.
- [Emma] It's afternoon.
- Who's tending
to the customers?
- Lunch crowd's gone.
I think my minions can
manage for a while.
- Wow, you got minions?
- Oh yeah, minions, onions,
I've got lots of stuff.
- It's good to see you.
- Is it?
- Yeah.
It is.
- I just realized something.
I've always known
where this place was
but I've never
actually been here.
So no one's been
living here the entire
time you were gone?
It's hard to believe.
It looks really good fixed up.
Lived in.
- Thanks.
Yeah I've had a lot
of time on my hands.
- Is this finished?
- It's a work in progress.
I am getting tired of having to
lock the bikes in the
cellar every night.
- How long you been back?
- Four months maybe.
Five.
I didn't know what to say.
It's been a long time.
- So why'd you come back?
You just disappeared.
- It wasn't my idea.
- I never got a chance to
tell you how sorry I was.
About your parents.
- I heard you got married.
- You heard huh?
- Yeah.
It's in the street.
- Well that didn't take.
[speaks too softly]
Kids?
- Looks like you've
got a customer.
- Ah it's just a friend.
- Maybe I should go.
- You just got here.
- Well that makes one of us.
- Who was that?
- That was an old friend.
Tevin right?
Wasn't sure you were
serious about working.
- What is this, like a
thousand dollar bill?
- It's a million.
- You should keep
this thing in a safe.
- I would if it were real.
- Oh.
- You can have it if you want.
- Yeah?
- What's it say?
- "Here's the million
dollar question.
"What is the worth of your soul
"if you haven't--
- Accepted.
"Accepted, if you
haven't accepted Jesus
"Christ as your savior."
- So what's soul exactly?
- It's some really good
music from a long time ago.
- Huh?
- Well in this case it's...
Well let me see that.
- Read it out loud.
- "And again I say to you,
"It is easier for a
camel to go through
"the eye of a needle
than it is for a
"rich man to enter
the kingdom of God."
- Oh ha ha, that's crazy.
A camel?
I've seen pictures
of those things.
It's like bigger than a horse.
Something that
big is supposed to
fit through someones eye?
Is that what it says?
So you don't get it either.
- It basically means that
if all you wanna
do is make money
you aren't gonna
get into heaven.
- Oh, right.
Heaven.
They talk about that
at Sunday School.
- You go to Sunday School?
- Nah, it's for
like little kids.
My sister has a friend who goes.
She believes in all that stuff.
- But you don't?
- Of course not, do you?
- I don't know.
I don't know, I used to.
- When you were a little kid?
- And when I was growing
up for a little while too.
- Isn't that like
believing in Santa Claus?
- What, you don't believe
in Santa Claus either?
- Give me a break.
So what's this word again?
- Savior.
- That's like a hero right?
Someone who saves
you from drowning.
- Yeah, sort of.
- Jesus Christ, he's supposed
to be God's kid right?
- Supposed to be.
- And he died a long time ago.
- That's what they say.
- So how is he
supposed to save you?
- I don't know.
Hey, I think that bike's
ready to be tested.
Only it doesn't have a basket.
You know, if you
have a lot of stuff.
- Oh yeah.
- Well, did a little
more work this morning.
On the one you rode yesterday
with the basket.
- [Tevin] I can ride that one.
- Go ahead.
[clears throat]
- Glynnis, Glynnis.
What fair wind of
fortune blows you
into my office today?
- Oh Tate, if it were only
for the food and
the poetic license.
- If only you hadn't
revoked that poetic license.
- Once upon a time.
- Once upon a time.
- So I've got a situation.
- Of course you do.
I'm all ears.
- Hardly.
Thank you.
So one of my cases OD'd
a couple of days ago
and her kids are missing.
Now the guy who
lives in her place
said that they ran off.
- How old are the kids?
- 11 and five.
And no one from your
department called
my office when Medic
one got her in.
- Ouch.
Who responded the call?
No, Nugent.
Yeah, sorry about that.
Is this that woman
out in Roscoe,
what was it, last week, Tuesday?
- Yeah.
And no one in
county has any idea
where these kids are.
So I talked to Trailways,
I checked with Truck Ranch
to see if maybe
they hitched a ride
and no one has seen
any loose kids.
What?
- Oh.
Somebody came into
my office today and
was asking me questions
about missing children.
- Really?
- Really.
Said he'd seen a couple of
kids, he didn't recognize 'em.
- And that's it?
And he came to see you?
- Don't sound so shocked.
You know, some people actually
like to see me Glynnis.
- Okay, well I need
to find out what
this guy knows about these kids.
So do you have a
name and address?
- Yes I do.
- [Glynnis] Go.
- Dunham.
He lives on the east
side off of Rimrod.
Can't miss his house.
Turned the whole front
yard into a bike shop.
- Gabriel Dunham.
- Parents died in a car accident
when he was in high school.
- And he wasn't in
the car with them.
- [Tate] Right.
- But his younger brother was.
- You know the case.
- I do.
I had to place the boys
and it didn't turn out well.
They got split up.
So I guess I will be heading
out to see Mr. Dunham.
- If you shall happen
to find yourself
in need of a police
escort, I'm your man.
- He got it.
Thanks.
[ominous music]
- Dale, you still
looking for that boy?
I think I just seen him.
- Alright, where's he at?
- Don't know, bike's gone.
- You ran over his bike dummy.
Do you remember?
- Oh yeah, that's right.
He scratched my truck.
- How 'bout you just
don't be wasting my time
seeing things.
- Yeah, then who's the
little turd I see over there?
[suspenseful music]
- Well well, will
you look and see
what just crawled out
from underneath a rock.
Why don't you do
me a favor Dilbert,
go play in the streets
of somebody elses town.
- Nobody calls me Dilbert
- Oh, that's right 'cause
that's the comic strip right?
Then how come it is that
you're not making me laugh?
I see your customer
base is getting younger
and younger every day.
Ah, you got a little
something there on your neck.
- That's funny.
You're a funny man.
- Yeah I am aren't I?
I'm a funny man, I'll
be here all week.
Why don't you see to
it that you're not.
- Well well.
- [Glynnis] Been a
long time Gabriel.
- Yeah, not long enough.
- How are you?
Look, there was a lot of things
that happened a long time ago.
I did not come here to start--
- To what?
Open old wounds?
- I'm here about something else.
- What could we possibly
have to talk about?
- I'm looking for
two missing kids.
- Well I don't have them.
And if I did I certainly
wouldn't give them to you.
- I did everything
I could Gabriel.
Look, I was so young.
I was basically an intern.
It was my first case.
We tried to keep
you guys together
it just, it just
didn't work out.
- Not for Jerry they didn't.
- No, not for Jerry.
May I ask how he's doing.
- You can ask all you want.
- Listen, Tate said
that you saw some
kids that you thought
might be runaways.
- I didn't say that.
- Do they look like these?
- I couldn't tell ya.
- Well you know, I really
would like to find them.
They're mother died.
- Is that why they ran away?
- You know, I don't
even think they know.
- How'd she die?
- It was drug related.
It was a really
bad home situation.
I think they left
because of that
the day before yesterday.
- Grandparents?
Aunts?
Uncles?
- No, there's no one.
They have nowhere to go.
- And you're gonna
come to their rescue?
- No, I'm gonna
try to help them.
- Like you helped
me and my brother?
- I only wanna help Gabriel.
That is the truth.
Whether you believe it or not.
Look, if you see
them, please call me.
Thank you.
- There you are.
I thought you left
town or something.
- Who was that lady?
- Nobody.
Just a customer.
- Yeah, so we have
a bike to fix?
- No, she didn't.
She'll be back.
- When?
- Does it matter?
- She was here about a bike?
- [Gabe] Yeah.
- I quit.
- Is that right?
Any particular reason?
- I ain't working for no liar.
- What are you talking about?
- I've seen that lady before.
She ain't got no bike.
- No she doesn't.
It's just somebody
I used to know.
- Sure got a lot of old friends.
- She isn't my friend.
And it was from a long time ago,
back from when I was maybe,
a few years older than you.
After my parents died.
- So you consider
yourself a lucky man?
- Luckier than my brother.
- That's the first
time you've mentioned
Jerry in a while.
Have you heard from him?
- No.
- Where is he living now?
- It doesn't matter.
It's a bad place wherever he is.
My father saw to that.
And then the foster parents
were worse than he was.
And...
- Don't stop there.
And what?
You were saying.
Foster parents as bad
as your father was?
- Worse, way worse.
- [Doc] And?
- And I wasn't
there to help him.
- That wasn't your fault.
You were placed in
different homes.
- This shouldn't of happened.
- You can't change
what was Gabe.
You can only change
what will be.
- Parents died when
you were a kid?
That sucks.
- Yes.
It surely does.
- Got any brothers or sisters?
- Brother.
What about you?
- Sister.
Listen, you mind if I come back
and help you with the
bikes a little bit later?
I got some stuff
I gotta get home.
- Oh sure, no problem.
Well hey, you want
some of that food now?
- I guess.
Will it fit?
- It's not a four course meal.
Just some sandwiches
I made earlier,
some mac and cheese.
It's really good cold.
- [Tevin] Okay sure, thanks.
- Hey, you think
maybe your family
would like to come over
for dinner sometime?
- [Tevin] I don't know.
- Well maybe just
you and your sister
could come over to dinner.
When your parents
are working late.
- [Tevin] Like when?
- How 'bout tonight?
- [Tevin] Okay I guess.
- Come on.
- Here ya go.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Somebody's becoming a regular.
- I hear the pecan
pie's really good here.
- So they tell me.
- I'd like one.
- You want a piece of pie?
- No, the pie.
- You want a whole pie?
- Was that weird?
- You can get it
cheaper at the bakery.
We sell it by the slice here,
it's more expensive that way.
- Not so.
It's homemade right?
- Made it myself.
- Well there ya go.
I'm having company for dinner.
- There's a piece
missing, is that okay?
- No problem.
- It don't look good, a
host pulling out a pie
with a piece missing.
- Trust me, these
guys won't mind.
Hey, would you like to,
forget it, you're working.
- What?
- Just a crazy idea.
- [Emma] What?
- Wondering maybe you
might wanna join us.
But of course you're working.
- Nah, she's off tonight.
Come on, you never
take a night off.
Get out of here.
Peg and I got it handled.
Right Peg?
- Alright then.
See ya tonight?
- See ya tonight.
Really?
[slow paced music]
So much for being
fashionably late.
Never wanted to be the
first at a dinner party.
- I don't think this is the type
of dinner party you're used to.
Can I offer you
something to drink?
- What are my choices?
- Sparkling cider.
- Okay.
Something smells delicious.
- Enchiladas.
I didn't see 'em
on your menu, so.
- On my menu?
- I don't wanna
make you something
that you make every day.
Better then I do.
- Thank you.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
So what kind of
dinner party is this?
[loud banging]
- I think you're
about to find out.
- [Tevin] Who's car is that?
- It's hers.
She's a friend of mine.
- Hi.
- You saw her this
afternoon, remember?
Em, Emma this is Tevin.
- [Tevin] She's just
a friend, that's it?
Ain't nothing else?
- Nothing else I can think of.
Your parents aren't
coming after all?
Emma made pie.
- And I brought ice cream.
- [Tevin] Well I
guess it's okay then.
Wait just a second.
- [Gabe] Apparently,
it's okay though.
- Well hi, I'm Emma.
And who might you be?
- This is my sister Angel.
- Hi Angel.
What a perfect name for you.
I hope you'll sit next to me.
So, you know Gabriel?
- Not until now.
Hey there Angel.
- Gabriel's the same
name as the angel.
- That's right.
- But there's only
room for one angel here
and that's you.
You can call me Gabe.
- This is the guy
I told you about.
He's my boss.
- Oh your boss.
- Yeah, I'm his, like his--
- Apprentice, bicycle tester.
- Wow, that sounds
like a pretty big job.
So your parents aren't coming?
- No, why?
- They work late a lot.
- So you live close to here?
- Why are you asking
so many questions?
- They just moved near here.
Right buddy?
- We didn't just move here.
- Yes we did remember?
- Who wants to eat?
- Can we say grace?
Maggie's mom always
says it at their house.
- Thank you lord
for these blessings
we're about to receive.
Thank you for the
food on our plates.
[upbeat music]
So who wants some pecan pie?
- With ice cream
that you know who brought.
I got it.
- Why aren't your kids here?
- Angel honey, I don't
have any children.
- [Angel] How come?
- You don't like kids?
- I love kids.
- Then how come
you don't have any?
- Well, sometimes things don't
happen the way you want them to.
- How come?
- Angel, shut up.
- Hey, don't talk to your
sister that way, she's family.
- They're not married.
- Oh.
- You guys want hot
pie with cold ice cream
or cold pie with hot ice cream?
- [Tevin] There's no such
thing as hot ice cream.
- Dang!
I really wanted some.
[slow paced music]
- We gotta go.
- Well it's after dark
so I'll just drop you.
- No we can walk.
- That's okay,
they don't go far.
Hey Tevin I got
something for you.
- I really did enjoy
getting to know you Angel.
- [Angel] I wish I
had a mommy like you.
- Here ya go Tev.
You bring it back when
you come back to work.
Bring Angel if you want.
We have coloring books.
- Really?
Okay, bye.
- [Emma] Bye.
- [Gabe] Bye.
- Goodnight.
- [Angel] Goodnight.
[slow paced music]
- We used to dance to this song.
- I know.
We only danced that one time.
♪ The water is wide
- I wish we danced
a longer song.
♪ I cannot get o'er
♪ And neither have
♪ I wings to fly
- [Emma] What was that?
♪ Give me a boat
♪ That can carry two
- That's my old tree house.
♪ And both shall cross
- They ran away from home.
- Well, where are their parents?
- Their mom died.
I don't think their
father's in the picture.
- [Emma] How long
ago did this happen?
- A couple days ago I think.
- They don't act like kids whose
mother just died.
- I'm not sure they know.
- And how do you know?
- Kinda a long story.
- Why are they here?
I mean, they can't just
live in a tree house.
I'm sure people are
looking for them.
They can't just be outside.
- Yes they can.
Until I figure out what to do.
- Come on Gabe, you
know what to do.
- What happens after that?
- They won't be sleeping
in a tree house.
- And probably not
together anyway.
- What does that mean?
- What makes you
think that they'll
be placed together in a home?
- Of course they will,
they're brother and sister.
- So?
- So they'll keep them together.
Or will try to.
They don't just tear families
apart if they can help it.
- Right.
And you know this how?
They're five years apart.
One boy, one girl,
different fathers,
dysfunctional upbringing.
No other relatives.
Are you kidding me?
The chances of them
staying together,
even money at best.
- You don't have much
faith in the system.
- Do you know what happened
after I left Ponchatoula?
- After your parents died?
- The night of the
district tournament finals,
my father was getting
primed for the game.
Something happened,
he hit my mother.
- [Emma] For what?
- He never needed a reason.
But I decided right then,
that was never
gonna happen again
and I told him so.
He knew I meant it too.
- So what happened?
- I went to the game.
What I remember is
my dad in the stands,
my poor mom and
brother with him.
- Was he still drunk?
- Ah, the tournament
was much worse.
Cheering for the other team,
shouting awful things.
He was such a jerk, security
tossed him at half-time.
- I don't remember that.
- Why would you?
You never even met him.
I really didn't think
you had the time to...
I never would of brought
you around there.
Not with him around.
My mom and brother, of
course they left with him.
They never made it home.
Old man ran a red light.
Mom and dad were
killed just like that.
And Jerry, my brother,
his left side was
pretty much crushed.
He was in hospitals and
rehab for over a year.
I was in foster
care, moving around.
Ended up in a place with
a bunch of teenagers.
But Jerry,
he's eight years
younger than me.
It just wasn't good.
Do you realize what these
kids have to look forward to?
- What happened to
you and your brother,
it doesn't mean it's gonna
happen to these kids.
- Of course it does.
- Well one way or another,
they have to be inside.
Have a home.
- I'll figure something out.
- We.
We'll figure something out.
Two heads are better
than one right?
- Listen, my father
wasn't the only
alcoholic in the family.
- I kinda figured
that was the case.
- I've seen a lot of hurt Emma.
'Caused some of it too.
- Where's your brother now?
- California.
- Is he alright?
- Last I heard.
Til one day I get a
call and he won't be.
He tried to kill himself twice.
- How?
If you don't mind me asking.
- Pills.
I told him he
how to use a gun.
- [Emma] Why?
- Well if you're that sad,
hey, finish it right.
- Do you ever get that sad Gabe?
- I have my moments.
- You have a gun?
- Behind that coffee table.
[slow paced music]
- [Tevin] We gotta go.
- Are we going home?
- No.
- Then I wanna stay.
- Those people know we ran away.
- So?
- Good morning Tate.
- Good morning.
- Coffee?
- Yeah but you
better make it to go,
I'm in kind of a hurry.
- Alright, you want
a fritter with that?
- No I better not.
Dispatchers could not
wait until tonight.
- It is a mystery to us all.
Who was that women that you
were in here with yesterday?
- The hot one.
- Oh, Glynnis Harmon,
social services.
Why?
- No reason really,
just curious.
I thought I heard her
mention Gabe Dunham.
- Really?
Well since when have
you been listening
in on official police
business young lady.
- Since it had anything
to do with any Dunham.
- Oh, now I'm starting
to get the picture.
- Kinda hard not
to listen in Tate
seeing as how much official
business you do in my diner.
- Well I'm just a
man of the people.
- Uh huh.
That you are.
- There's a fritter in there.
- Nothing gets by you.
- That's why I'm the chief.
I cannot waste food.
Put it on my tab.
[slow paced music]
- [Doc] Are you still
going to meetings?
- Yeah, I've been
coming to see you doc.
I don't think I can stomach
anymore of the psycho babble.
- Is that what
you consider this?
Psycho babble?
- Nothing personal.
- It's personal for you.
- It's boring for me.
- It's not boring for me.
- Yeah, that's 'cause
you're getting paid.
- Do you resent that?
My being paid?
- That's clever.
The way you phrased that.
- How so?
- Being paid, like the money
just appears in your mailbox.
- Ah, so I am to presume
that you resent paying me?
- I resent having
to pay for this bull
to speed along the
probation process.
- So you don't see any
merit in these sessions?
- I think it's a
waste of my time.
- Then don't make
it a waste of mine!
- You want me to leave?
Fine.
- No, I want you to
stop being gutless.
- Watch yourself doc.
- No, I'm watching you.
I'm watching you
avoid every question.
You know, run away
from all of your issues
because you're too
gutless to deal with it.
- What happened, happened.
Talking about it
won't make it better.
- No, but until
you talk about it,
until you deal with it,
you don't need a gun.
You're already dead.
Now it takes courage to live.
Anybody can just go
through the motions,
anybody can breathe,
anybody can just eat a gun.
But it takes courage to live.
So what about it Gabe?
You have what it takes?
[ringing]
- Last End Diner.
No she's out, who's this?
No I don't, you
wanna leave a number?
What?
I'm sorry, you're breaking up.
- Tell Emma the
tree house is empty.
No, the tree house!
Forget it.
- Look man, I'm not here to
negotiate with you alright.
You knew the price coming in.
Don't mess with me.
- Hey Dill.
- [Dill] Awe son of a bitch.
- I can't help these kids
if you won't tell
me where they are.
- Not before I get some answers.
- Okay, you're not
exactly in a position
to be making demands.
- Neither are you.
- You're not a family member.
- And as I understand it,
neither is anybody else.
- Oh Roman, you got a second?
Emma, this is Roman Sewell.
Roman you remember Mazey Day?
We spoke about her.
- Did you find the kids?
- Emma here knows
where they are.
- Oh that's good news.
- But she's not telling.
- And why not?
- That's a really good question.
[ringing]
- What's up JD?
The tree house?
It's empty?
Okay.
[suspenseful music]
- Hi, this is Gabe Dunham.
I'm on Mapes Road
just south of 22.
I've just been shot.
Too late, cops are coming,
they'll be here in a hurry.
- Who are you, the lone ranger?
Why don't you have a seat?
- I know him.
That's that bicycle geek.
- Yeah?
Hey bicycle geek this ain't
none of your business.
[grunting]
- I know those kids.
- Yeah you think
so, well so do I.
I got business with this one.
Come on!
Where is it!
- Leave him alone!
- Ain't this cute?
- Leave him alone.
- You open your
mouth one more time
and I kick your teeth
down your throat
one at a time.
Where is it?
Where is it!
Where is it!
Give it me!
Where's my money, huh?
Where is it?
Where!
- I have it!
- Where?
- I hid it.
- Yeah?
[grunting]
You believe this?
[faint sirens]
- I know I believe that.
- We'll be seeing you soon.
Visit that secret
hiding place of yours.
Let's roll.
- We're out of here.
Nice gun shot wound.
- Thanks Vinny.
I owe you one.
- [Vinny] You got that right.
- Yeah.
Hey kid, I'm not
gonna tell you again,
don't move.
Stay right there.
Alright look, you don't wanna
press charges that's fine.
Just means less
paperwork for me.
- And what about these kids?
They obviously can't go home.
- County's got
people taking care of
situations like
this all the time.
- Yeah.
Been there.
Look, these kids have
been staying with me,
why not--
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
They've been staying with you.
- Well yeah, sort of.
They needed a place to stay.
- Sir.
You can't just
keep run away kids.
- What, I should
of sent them home?
What's left for them there?
- Hey kid.
Were you home when the ambulance
came to get your mother?
- Yes.
- No.
- [Nugent] She was
real sick and she,
she was just too sick.
- Mama died squirt.
- So now we need to
find some other family
members that can help
take care of you until--
- I'm her family.
- Man I can take care of them.
Until you figure things out.
- I don't know.
- Look, I got a
three bedroom house.
Most of it's not
even being used.
And you can call Glynnis Harmon
and make sure everything's okay.
- She's already on her way.
- Great.
- Hilly.
Yeah, hey do me
a favor will you?
- What's going on?
Are you alright?
- [Gabe] Why wouldn't I be?
- Somebody said you got shot.
- No, no shot, no shot.
Just knocked around
a little bit.
I'm fine.
- Mama died.
- [Emma] I know honey,
and I am so sorry.
- Phil, why didn't you
bring the kids downtown?
- Sounds like you
want them arrested.
- You wanted them, you got 'em.
- Why did you bring her here?
- Hey, I brought her
because she wanted to come.
And you lied to me.
- Me, lie?
Now there's the switch.
- No, no, no, you
don't turn this around.
Those kids were staying here.
- Not here.
- On your property.
And you said you didn't see 'em.
- Sue me.
You guys coming in,
or do you wanna stay
with Cruella de Vil?
- Gabriel they
aren't your children.
- Well they're not yours either.
Oh, that's right,
you're the only one
that knows what's best for kids.
- Tevin, wait.
Hey.
Hey, look I'm Glynnis.
Do you remember me?
I was friends with your mom.
- My mom's dead.
- No I know, and
that's why I'm here.
To make sure that there are
people that you can stay with.
- I can take care
of us just fine.
And Gabe can help.
- I know sweetie,
but Gabe lives alone
and he has a job and it
might be hard for him.
- She can help.
- Yes I can Angel,
but Glynnis is right.
And she knows a lot of things.
- Come on Angel,
let's go inside.
[solemn music]
- Where's your coloring books?
- Oh, yeah Angel, I'm sorry,
I didn't make it
to the store today.
Angel, I keep that
drawer closed.
- And not locked I see.
- I live alone.
- Yeah, my point exactly.
You know what kids,
it's time to go now.
Let's go.
- [Tevin] We're not
going anywhere with you.
- Tevin, I am
responsible for you.
Do you know what that means?
It means that it's my job
to see that you're safe.
And that is a very
important job.
- Yeah well I've
got a job to do too.
- What's that job Tevin?
- [Tevin] I work for him.
- Okay, will you kids just wait
here for one minute?
Okay, I need to speak
to Gabriel, please.
They can't stay here Gabriel.
That's a crock.
- No, you're putting them
with a bunch of strangers
who don't even know them?
That's a crock.
- Okay, how do you
expect this to work?
I mean you barely
even know these kids.
- I know them enough.
- How do you propose
to take care of them?
I mean you don't have a car.
Oh, or a job.
- I'm self-employed.
- Right, right, you're
a self-employed loner
with a DUI on his
background check.
I mean what, you don't
think I've done my homework?
Oh and you have a
bottle of whiskey
in the coffee table
next to a pistol.
- Which has never been opened.
- Yeah, right, that makes all
the difference in the world.
- It does to me.
- What happens to them?
- It's an unusual situation.
- What happens to
them today, right now,
if they go with you?
- They're gonna
be with somebody.
- Somebody they don't know.
So how about they stay here,
just for this afternoon,
until you figure it out?
- Okay, you don't have
to go back to work?
- [Emma] I'm the boss.
- I don't know.
I don't know.
I mean, I,
I don't know if I trust Gabriel.
- I do.
- Nice.
- Angel you wanna try one?
Here ya go.
- I wonder what's
taking Tevin so long?
- I'm sure it's been
while since he's
got to use a real toilet.
- That's our
bathroom over there.
- Not anymore it's not.
- Good, it's gross.
- Angel, you don't
wanna live in this
thing anymore do you?
- No.
I want my bed and
I wanna go home.
- I don't think you
can go home honey.
- How come?
- With your mommy
gone, it's not a good
place for you right now.
- Can we stay here?
You got lots of doors,
I saw them on the
way when I used his potty.
- I wish it was
that simple kiddo.
- [Tevin] Why ain't it?
I can pay you, I got money.
- Yeah.
How is it that you have money?
- Well you know,
traveling money.
- Where'd you get money Tevin?
- Was it from that guy?
What'd you call him, Dill?
- What guy?
- Tevin does the
money belong to him?
How much?
- I don't know.
A lot I guess, I
never counted it.
- Where is it?
Well that's a lot Tevin.
How much of this is Dill's?
All of it?
I can see why he wants it back.
[faint engine running]
Y'all stay put.
- Ain't y'all sweet.
Where is it?
- Where's your buddy?
- Getting his nails
done, what's it to you?
Or maybe he just
ain't got the taste
for what needs doing.
- I have what you came for.
- It's a joke?
You a comedian?
- What?
- This was about 3,000 short.
Pretty much makes
you a dead man.
Hey let's get y'all
out here okay.
- There's no need for that.
Come on.
Let's go inside shall we?
Alright.
Alright, what's it
gonna be Mr. Comedian?
You gonna give me my money
or you gonna tell
me another joke?
- That's all I have.
- That's too bad.
You know, my patience is
really wearing thin with you.
[fast paced music]
- Leave him alone, please.
- Feisty huh?
You wanna save her huh?
- No!
- Okay!
Okay.
I have it.
[slow paced music]
- Stop.
[chuckling]
Funny guy.
Disappointed in you.
Look at this.
Well that's seen better days.
You know, I'm actually more
of a revolver guy myself.
Taught the kid how to
load and unload one.
Didn't I kid?
[grunting]
[suspenseful music]
Where's my money funny man?
Or you die right now.
- I know where it is.
- Move funny man.
This kid might just
save your life.
Come here kid.
- No, Tevin stay there!
- Oh, is that right?
How about his little
sister here huh?
Hey Angel come here.
- No!
- Oh she yours now?
- That's right.
- So is Tevin.
- Sure you can afford 'em?
It's about to get real costly.
Last chance funny man.
- I'm not letting
you hurt these kids!
- Fine.
Just for you then.
Shit!
[screaming]
[clicking]
[ominous music]
[ominous music]
- When he was herding
us into the house,
I prayed
that he wouldn't hurt you.
I can't remember the
last time I prayed.
- When he pulled that trigger,
thank God that
gun wasn't loaded.
- But it was loaded.
- What do you mean?
- I keep it loaded.
Always.
[slow paced music]
Maybe miracles do happen.
- I seen the Bible.
Figured you'd get around
to opening it one day
and you'd find it.
- Why?
- To pay for the bike we took.
I didn't know how much it cost
so, I just left you
half of what we had.
Snuck in this morning
before you got up.
I didn't want you to be sad.
- Thank you Tevin.
But I don't know how sad I would
of been about the bike.
- I didn't want you to be sad.
[slow paced music]
[uplifting music]
- So, you kids like it here huh?
- We wanna stay with Gabe.
- It's not that simple sweetie.
- Why not?
- Yeah, Gabe's our friend.
- The kids don't need
a friend Gabriel,
they need parents.
So what do you think?
- Hard to say.
Courts aren't big on
unmarried adoptive parents.
- Well, what if?
- Yeah, what if?
Like they'd ever
let that happen.
Even if they could
get it approved.
- Look, all I want is
what's best for the kids.
And did I mention I have
a lawyer in the family?
- I don't understand.
- Well I would like for you
all to meet Beth Sewell.
I bet you didn't know
I was a godmother.
- What's a godmother?
- A godmother is somebody
who loves you very much.
- That's right Angel.
And Beth is going
to be an attorney.
And she's a court
appointed special advocate.
- Oh yeah, I've read
about this program.
They help keep kids from
getting lost in the system.
- Where were they 20 years ago?
- We didn't have then
what we have now Gabriel.
And I'm very sorry for that.
- What if?
- What if?
- You still have a lot of
hoops to jump through Gabriel.
- Well call me Gabe.
All my friends do.
- Glynnis.
Everything gonna
be alright here?
- Yeah, it's gonna
be fine here Tate.
It's gonna be just fine.
Let's go.
See ya.
[inspiring music]