Army Wives (2007–2013): Season 1, Episode 3 - The Art of Separation - full transcript

Previously on Army Wives...

- They arrived.
- Boys? Girls?

They're dead.

I cannot tell my kids
that those babies died.

I'll do it.

I was thinking maybe I could adopt
them if that was okay with you.

- Yeah!
- Good.

'Cause now all we need is their
biological fathers to sign off on it.'

- T.J.'s dad...
- Hey. You don't worry about him.

I'll take care of it.

The military has a code of honor,
Jeremy, and it's non-negotiable.



You do not hit women.

I'm Major Frank Sherwood
whose son is going to West Point.

West Point is about honor

- and discipline.
- Shut up!

You are getting it
from somewhere else.

I don't know what happened to you
over there, but it's changed you,

and if you let it control you,
it's going to destroy our marriage.

I need to be alone.

I look forward to learning more.

A pro-peace rally
in downtown Columbia

turned ugly today
when two students were arrested.

The rally was organized by the
teen-led Coalition of Thought,

known for their "hate-free" message.

The arrests occurred
when two female students



from the prep school St. Alban's
crossed through police barricades,

violating their permit.

No injuries have been reported.

Back to you, Tom.

Michael, stop looking at me.

- How do you do that?
- Super powers.

Now close your eyes.

You need to learn to breathe.

Actually, I've been breathing
on my own for quite some time now.

Michael, come on. You said you'd try.

Be serious. Focus.

Are you even aware
the Army's using yoga and meditation

to treat soldiers
with post-traumatic stress now?

What I am aware of
is that your breathing...

- The Breath of Fire.
... is causing a great deal of stress

in my body right now.

That's because the Breath of Fire
is charging your nervous system,

causing sexual fluids to release
into the bloodstream,

creating a rather
indescribable feeling of bliss.

I just want to treat my stress right now.

- Come on.
- Michael.

- I asked you to turn your cell phone off.
- That's yours.

Hi, Amanda.

I'm leaving now. I'm on my way.

Our daughter was just arrested.

Major Sherwood's residence.

- Mrs. Sherwood.
Frank.

Hey, baby.

What time is it over there?

It's afternoon for me, morning for you.

- Is something wrong?
- No. Why would you say that?

Because you only play
that piano music

when there's something wrong.

Well, there's nothing wrong.
I'm just taking a bath.

Well, damn, I wish I was
on the webcam then.

Baby, I hate to rush,
but there's a big old line behind me.

So, now, listen.
I spoke to the boy about West Point.

Made it abundantly clear that
he is absolutely going in the fall.

- Did he tell you?
- Yeah. Yeah. He told me.

Good, good. Then we're back on track?

Because you know I rely on you
to keep him straight while I'm gone.

Yeah, we're back on track.

Jeremy just had a moment
but he's fine.

He's graduating next week.

He's excited
about entering West Point.

Well, I am relieved to hear that.

You know, you're doing
a great job, honey,

and I think you are a wonderful mother.

- I miss you with every ounce of me.
- Oh, Frank.

Look, I gotta go, okay?
My time's up, all right?

I love you, Frank. Always.

Always, always, baby.

Yeah.

- Mommy! Mommy! Wake up!
- It's T-Shirt Day!

Come on. Come on.
Put your backpacks on. Come on.

I'll be right there.
Go get your backpacks.

- It's late. Why didn't you wake me up?
- Hey. I was going to

- but I wanted you to sleep.
- Oh, no. It's late. I got stuff to do.

Just a minute. I need to say something.

Thank you, Pamela.

For everything.

Okay.

Kids? Kids!

Here are your white T-shirts for school.
I want you to go to T.J.'s house

and I want you to tell his mommy
that your mommy is out of scones.

Got it.
- Go.

- Oh, no. What? What? What?
- Mommy's out of scones.

Is she, now? Well, that's a shame.
Why don't you guys come inside?

- Scones?
- Yeah, it's code. For "cover me. "

It started with the tea party
that ended up on the pool table,

but so far, I've been pulling scone duty
for Roxy and Trevor,

so now it's our turn.

Ten-hut! All right.

Now, changing the oil is one
of the most important jobs

a tenderfoot can undertake
on a prized automobile.

- Now, are we ready, men?
- Yes, sir!

All right!

Finn, hand me that funnel.

Now, get it right in there.

- There we go. Oh!
- Uh-oh.

Yeah, "uh-oh" is right.

Okay. Finn, you are on girl watch.

- No girls allowed. Do you understand?
- No girls! Yes, sir!

All right. Nice. Now check that dipstick.

- I already wiped it, now check it.
- It's half-full.

Okay.

T.J., it's important that you keep
this car in the best shape

for you and your mom. Okay?

Because I might be going away
for a little while.

- To go kill the bad guys?
- No. To go help the good guys.

- Okay?
- Okay.

- Okay.
- Here comes girls!

Thank you, Finn,
for stating the obvious.

Okay, you boys, we're running
a little bit late, so let's...

All right. Well, thank God for T-shirts
in bargain packs.

Okay, you three go inside and change.

Katie, you go supervise. Go, go, go!
Hurry, hurry. We're late!

Are you done playing with that car?
'Cause I need it now.

Almost.

Did you get those
adoption papers back yet?

Finn's dad sent it right back.

I haven't heard anything
from T.J.'s dad, though.

Well, when was the last time
T.J. Saw his dad?

Never.

Why not?

Well, we were 17, each other's firsts,

and I got pregnant.

We got married, dropped out of school.

While everyone else
was going to prom, we were working.

And then Jesse started drinking

and that first-love dizzy head
went all to hell.

And he came home one night
and punched me in the gut

when I was six months pregnant.

- So, how many times did he hit you?
- Just the once.

And then I packed all my stuff
and left and haven't seen him since.

And T. J?

What does he think happened
to his dad?

I told him he died.
It was just easier that way.

But I tell you, if I'd had a bottle
of whiskey and a shotgun,

it would've been true.

- Morning, Joan.
- Morning.

Your timing is impeccable.

There is chocolate on my plate.

Yes, there is.

When you were in Afghanistan,
you said the two things

you missed most
were shrimp and chocolate.

I didn't say together.

- Where's your breakfast?
- I already ate.

I have to get dressed
and get to the hospital.

I start supervision with
some new psychiatric residents today.

What... What are you going to do
with your day off?

I don't know. Lieutenant colonels
aren't used to getting a day off.

You could start painting again,

set up an art studio,
like we had in Chicago.

Look, I understand the theory
of not making any big decisions

about our marriage
so soon after my return,

but, Roland, you're sleeping
on the couch.

Don't you think we ought to...

Wait. Don't answer it.

Please, Joan. Finish.

Burton.

Of course, sir. I'll... I'll check it out.
Thank you for calling.

That was Michael Holden.

One of my men
is having trouble acclimating.

- I gotta go. I gotta go.
- Joan.

Belgrad.

Sgt. Belgrad. It's Colonel Burton.

Belgrad?

Belgrad? It's Colonel Burton.

Ma'am. Thank God you're here.
I've been waiting for you.

Blankets. The blankets are ready.

I've been collecting
all the medical supplies

just like you asked,
but it's not enough, ma'am.

We need... We need more provisions.

What are you doing, Belgrad?

It's good that you came.
It'll be dark soon.

Do you hear that?

She's crying.

We have...

We have to go now.
We have to help them.

We did help them, but we're home now.
Everything's okay.

But they need the blankets tonight,
ma'am. The little girl, she...

- The little girl will get cold. No.
- She's fine.

She's not fine.

We had a purpose.
See, we... We had a mission.

And then you violated everything
that we stand for.

You did this.

Please just understand.
I have to help her.

No. No. Please.

Don't. She's... Don't. She's a little girl.

Please. Please.

It's okay. It's...

Please.

It's okay. It's okay.

- Thanks for coming with me.
- It'll be nice to get out.

- How far is it to Columbia?
- About 90 minutes.

I can't believe Amanda got arrested.
That must've gone over well.

So well that St. Alban's is considering
suspending her

because she was wearing her school
uniform at the protest.

Which would then be reported to UVA,

which could affect her admissions
to college in the fall.

Maybe Roxy's right.
We need to kick some ass.

- Did you just say "kick some ass"?
- I did.

And I'm learning how to.
Roxy is teaching me to box.

She's a real survivor, that girl.
I can't lift my arms, but it was fun.

Why are you learning how to box?

Jeremy lost his temper again.

He hurt you?

Even after Michael warned him?

- Yeah.
- Wow.

Roxy walked in and, well,
she kicked him in the groin.

I don't know what to say

except I'm here for whatever you need.

I know.

- Let's go get Amanda.
- Okay.

So how are things going,
Dr. Miller?

Around the clock.
My insomniac had a bad week,

so he calls me
in the middle of the night to talk.

He might be having
some transference issues.

Just be firm with him. No calls at home
unless it's an emergency.

You need your sleep
just as much as he does.

Dr. Burton?

- I'll leave you now.
- Something wrong, Dr. Carter?

I was just assigned a patient
who pulled a gun on himself

in front of his C.O. This morning.

- What's his story?
- 32-year-old Caucasian male.

Admitted presenting depression,
disorganized thinking.

His wife left him last week.
Then this morning, he just cracked.

- Where's the soldier now?
- Sedated. MPs just brought him in.

When we got him a bed,
he resisted treatment.

He wanted us to save our
medical supplies for the little girl.

- What little girl?
- Exactly.

Okay. Keep me in the loop.

- You're on the news, Amanda.
- What?

Michael. It's all right.
I spoke to the headmaster.

- He's going to let her take her finals.
- This isn't about her finals.

Amanda, you're a colonel's daughter
holding up a sign that says,

"Honk if you're against the war!"

Now my secretary's been
fielding phone calls all day

asking me for a quote.

- "For peace. "
- What?

"Honk for peace. "

That's what the sign said.

Look, Dad.
All I did was step off the curb.

But I believe in what I was doing.
We need to bring our troops home.

It was a peaceful demonstration,
Michael.

- Emmalin, come down here!
Coming!

You need to hear this, too, because
I'm only going to say this once.

Ladies, you cannot forget who you are.

Everything you do affects
not only this family,

but thousands of other soldiers
and their families on post.

Think about it, girls.

How can I look a young wife or mother
in the eye and tell her to be strong

when my own daughter's
out there protesting

against everything I stand for?

Go upstairs.

Nice going.

I care about Amanda's education
just as much as you,

but you cannot forget
the big picture here.

I know. You're right.

- Hey. I didn't know you'd be here.
- I thought I'd better.

You never know when you'll get
another long day of scones.

- Well, thank you.
- Sure.

- Mommy, look what I did!
- Hey.

- Here, your shirt!
- Nice!

"I'm the big sister"?

And I'm the big brother!

What the hell?

Chase said that he would tell them
that the babies died.

He went into the room to tell them.
I saw him.

Pamela. God. Don't they know?

Know what, Mommy?
- Apparently not, Marilyn.

Look, I know we've had our problems
in the past,

but is there anything I can do?

Where do they think the babies are?

- Their cubegators.
- In incubators.

Okay, kids. Go to the car.
All of you. Yeah.

- I'll go back!
- Be there in a minute.

Ladies, I appreciate your concern,
but not everybody is on your schedule.

Rest assured, I will handle it.

- I was trying to be nice.
- I know.

What was that about?

I don't know.
What's that skirt about?

Oh please tell me that's Kama Sutra
and not some more paperwork.

It's my will.

You should probably keep this
in a safe place.

Okay.

- Well, aren't you going to read it?
- No.

I'm sure it's all right.

Hey. I know this is tough for you.

But I'm coming home.

How can you know that?

- How can anyone know that?
- I just know. I do.

Look, I get it, okay?

I hit the jackpot here.
I mean, most men put on their skates

when they hear I got kids.
But you married me.

And here we are, a blink later,
and you want to adopt my boys

and you want me to read your will
and it's not "just in case,"

it's because you could die.

Trevor, I mean,
it's because you could die.

I got to go.

Roxy.

I was adopted.

But not till I was seven.
Until then, it was just foster care.

I don't want to adopt your boys
because I'm afraid I'm going to die.

I want to adopt them because
I want them to know what it feels like

to have someone really want them.

It's like I said, I'm coming home.

I am loving it that you guys
are here at the Hump.

Especially a colonel's wife.

It is rather conduct unbecoming
of me, I know.

But I have
a special attachment to this place.

- Yeah, me, too.
- Oh, I don't know.

This lost some of its charm now that
I'm not grunting on the pool table

giving birth and all.

Do you know yet
when Trevor's being deployed?

Next Friday.

- Next Friday?
- Yeah.

Hey, lay off.
Come on, guys.

- Back to the cookie farm.
Get off me!

Hey, boys! Hey!

Break it up! Enough! Enough!
Thanks for your help.

Jesse?
What the hell are you doing here?

I got your letter.

You know,
you could've just mailed the papers.

I could've. But I wouldn't
have gotten to see you.

Well, you've seen me,
so can I just have them?

- When's your break?
- Not for another half-hour.

- Look, I got to get back to work.
- Roxanne.

You look even prettier than I remember.

Do you have the adoption papers?

- Right here.
- Okay. Well, give them to me.

See, that's why I'm here.
I'm a changed man. I've got a job.

And I've got a son out there
who needs me.

Jesse. What are you saying?

I want you back, Roxy.

What a beautiful night.

Did you ever see us
in a place called "The Hump Bar"?

- Not in a million years.
- No.

But there's a certain freedom
there I like.

Thank you for driving.

Denise.

I can't imagine how hard this situation
with Jeremy has been for you,

but I've known you a long time.

You are one of the strongest women
I know.

I'm sorry I don't tell you that more often.

Thank you.

Okay.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Jeremy.

I want you to know
how much I love you.

But if you ever hurt me again,
I will have you arrested

and I will change the locks
and you will never be welcome

in my home again.

Chase?

- Where are the kids?
- In the bedroom.

Why didn't you tell them?

I was going to, Pamela. I just couldn't.

- Well, then you should have told me.
- I know.

Instead, I had to find out
at their school today.

- In front of everyone.
- I was going to tell you this morning,

but it had been so long

- since we'd been together...
- I'll do it.

- It's okay. I'll do it.
- Pamela. I'm sorry.

I know I said I would do it,
but if you could have seen their faces.

I didn't know how.

You're just better
at these things than I am.

Okay.

Okay. Hey. Come here, you guys.

Come on over here.

I want to talk to you guys
about the babies.

Are they coming home?

No, sweetheart. They're not.

You see, a while ago I met
this nice lady named Mrs. Harper,

but her stomach was broken, so
she couldn't have any kids of her own.

So I helped her.

I put the babies in my tummy,
so that they could grow big and strong.

But when they were born,

I had to give them back.

And she was so happy

because she finally got to be
a mommy.

So I'm not the big brother?

- No, sweetheart.
- Why did you lie?

I don't know, Katie.

But it was a mistake.
Mommy made a mistake.

We both did.

And we're very sorry.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- Did you get my calls today?
- Yeah.

Sorry I didn't call you back.
I had to file some paperwork.

It's not a problem.

I was just hoping you could
stop by the hospital for some lunch.

- I was at the hospital today.
- Yeah? What for?

I had a soldier admitted
for a psych evaluation.

The soldier you went to see
this morning? What happened?

He's having a hard time.
His wife left him. Sort of lost it.

Lost it?

Were you in any danger?

Nope.

Is there anything I can do?

No.

Thanks.

- I should get to bed. Good night.
- Good night.

First, I want to thank you all
for coming here and giving your time.

As you know, Fort Marshall is
gearing up for another big deployment.

These care packages will accompany
the planes when they depart

for the Middle East.

I know how hard this is getting
for all of you.

None of this is easy, but we have to
remain strong for our troops.

They count on us.
Thanks for all your help.

I think you should consider
finishing the hours for your RN degree

at the post hospital.

Are you sure about that?
Things have changed so much

since I went to nursing school.

Things change, but they stay the same.
I've seen you in action.

You're a good nurse. You'll be fine.
Let me know if I can help.

- Thanks.
- Sure.

For anyone who doesn't know,
this is my daughter, Amanda.

She's made our soldiers some CDs.

They're mixes of '70s songs. You know,
to keep the soldiers rocking and rolling.

She stayed up all night making them.

- So, I told my kids the truth.
- I'm proud of you. Really.

Well, the worst of it is over.
Nothing can hurt me now.

You might want to tell your husband
about your ex being in town.

It's better if it comes from you.

Hello.

Hi.
- Hey.

I was just encouraging Roxy
to tell Trevor about motorcycle boy

- showing up at the Hump Bar.
- Honey, you have to tell him.

- Lies like that can ruin a marriage.
- Pot and kettle, Denise.

I know.

That was a beautiful speech,
Claudia Joy.

Thanks. I don't know.

Sometimes it feels like
all we're doing is sending a Band-Aid.

There's so much more
that needs to be done.

I think you do a great deal already.

- Claudia Joy.
- Lenore.

I was at my husband's office
all morning soliciting donations.

- These just came in.
- Thank you.

They're very much appreciated,
Lenore. Great.

There was also a bit of drama
while I was there.

It seems your oldest daughter

was all over the local news
protesting the war.

She wasn't protesting the war, Lenore.

She was supporting the belief
that the troops should come home.

Oh, I see.

We call that a semantic argument
where I come from, but...

Maybe they do things differently
at Harvard Law, huh?

There you are.
You really are a beautiful girl.

Very photogenic.

I prayed for you today.

You prayed for me?

I know you think I hate you, but I don't.

I just think you're a little lost right now.

She's right, Pamela.

What you're doing isn't fair. And you
should think about your children.

Everybody knows what happened
but them.

Wow. You two just open your mouths
and insert a shoe store.

Hey. It's me. Pamela Moran.

I just want to let you all know that
I made 50 grand carrying those kids.

That's right. I was a paid surrogate.

So they're not my babies, they're not
in the hospital, they're not dead,

and I lied to everyone. So, have at it.

Come on. Let's go. Double time.
Let's get on that.

I have something to tell you.

And you're not going to like it.

Well, then tell me something
I'm going to like.

Jesse showed up
at the Hump Bar last night.

He doesn't want to sign.

I was expecting that.

You were?

My father was in prison
when they sent him the papers.

Life sentence
and he still didn't want to sign.

I know guys like that.

I'm sorry I brought this into your life.

Look, everybody.

It's Jeremy Sherwood.

- How are you?
- Great.

Wow, Amanda. You look great.

So do you.

So, when did you get home?

About 90 minutes after I got arrested.

Arrested?

I take it
you haven't been watching the news.

I hate that show. It's too depressing.

But aren't you,
like, a straight-A student?

You say that like it's a bad thing.

And you're the one going
to West Point, mister officer, sir.

Yeah, I don't know about that.

Is your father home?

Sir.

I've notified West Point
that I won't be attending.

I see.

And why is that?

I don't deserve to go.

I'm not officer material.

I hit my mother again, sir.

I should wipe this floor with your ass.

I know, sir.

There's something wrong with me.

Sit down.

Jeremy. I respect the courage it took
to come here and tell me the truth,

but frankly, son,
you're still a coward in my book.

Listen to me carefully.

I've led soldiers like you.

Men who join the military thinking
that if they strap on a gun

and kill somebody it's going to release
the anger inside of them,

only to step into battle
and get themselves killed,

not to mention other good soldiers.
You know why that is?

Because they never got
to the root of their own problems.

I respect the hell out of your father,

so I'm not going to let
that happen to you.

I will get you the help you need.

There's something
you got to do for me first.

Anything, sir.

You tell your father what you did.

So, you must be Jesse.

- Who are you?
- Trevor LeBlanc.

I'm Roxy's husband.

Yeah.

So what's it going to take
for you to leave us alone?

Look, I'm sure you're a good guy.

T.J. Is my son.

Okay. I hear you.

You want to be in his life? That's cool.

T.J. Is a great kid.
So is his little brother.

You know he had a little brother?

No, of course not. You're just
showing up late to the party, right?

So why don't you catch up
by paying Roxy the last six years

of child support you owe her?

And you can sell that bike of yours,
because you're going to need a car

if you want to drive them to school,
especially when you're hauling around

an exploding volcano that you spent
all night making for the science fair.

And you can forget about
getting laid on Saturday nights

because weekends are for your kids.

You know, come to think of it,
that's weekdays, too.

Listen.

I love Roxy.

And I love T.J.

You can't say that.

It's for your signature.

I respectfully disagree.

I respectfully disagree.

Drug dealer to chaplain-seducer
to lying whore

beats ex-husband showing up
with a woody, Roxanne.

All right. All right. You win.

And anyone who can silence
that crowd deserves, I don't know,

a whole weekend of scones.

And a wine tasting
at Claudia Joy's tonight. You going?

Absolutely.

So, did your ex
sign the papers anyway?

He signed them.

And they showed up
on my kitchen table

which is just a little bit of fairy dust,
considering that Jesse had no idea

- where I lived.
- So some white knight

- is missing his horse.
- Yes.

Good. I'm happy for you.

- Except I haven't mailed them yet.
- Yeah, and why not?

I don't know.

I mean, you tell me. Why is it okay
for me to marry Trevor,

move our whole lives to another state,

practically join the Army myself,
and yet I can't let him adopt my kids?

I don't understand that.

- Because they're your kids.
- You could elaborate.

You think it's because you don't
love your husband enough, right?

- Yeah.
- That's not it.

It's about how much you love your kids.

You gave birth to them,
so they're always going to come first.

And marriages don't always work out.
So once you sign those papers,

you've committed your boys to him
for life. It's a big deal.

You know, I read this quote once.
"Once you become a mother,

"you stop being the picture
and you start being the frame. "

And that's why you're hesitating.
That's why I told my kids the truth.

Here's the file you requested,
Dr. Burton.

- Thank you.
- Good night.

This beauty, with its robust flavor
and lingering finish,

seems the ideal complement
to Pamela's "have at it" speech.

Hear, hear.

And then there's Amanda.

Without her, what else would
Lenore Baker have to talk about

- all day?
Oh, God.

- Where is Amanda, anyway?
- At the movies with Emmalin.

Less chance of bloodshed
when she's out of the house.

I envy Amanda going to UVA
in the fall.

My entire world-view changed
when I went to college.

And then there's
all that experimentation.

Wait. What do you mean
by experimentation?

Let's just say I lived.

- I didn't experiment in college.
- Okay. Somehow I knew that.

Well, I didn't go to college,
but I certainly experimented.

I'm just not sure if I experimented
the way she experimented.

I was a virgin until my wedding night.

Okay, Denise,
not how you play this game.

You're supposed to reveal something
that no one would guess about you.

Like have you named your lady parts?

I'm just keeping the crazy pot
stirring here, people.

Yeah. "China. "

China?

As in, "Only the best dine
on my fine China. "

Okay, well, mine used to be
"A Day at the Beach,"

but during the pregnancy,
it become, "A Trek in the Jungle. "

- What about you, Roxy?
- She's had so many names.

Let's see. "My pink sea. "
"Mound of Venus. "

"Shirley. " But now,
I'm going with "R-Can. "

- R-Can?
- Rattlesnake Canyon.

And Denise?

- Don't tell me you don't have one.
- I want to have one. I do.

Okay. New game.

- Let's all name Denise's vagina.
- No!

Let's not do that!
Thank you very much.

You know her best. You go first.
- Ladies.

We'll come up with...

Claudia Joy, may I speak to you
for a moment, please?

Sure. Excuse me.

Turn on the TV.
Let's see what's on.

There's been an accident.

A Black Hawk went down in Iraq.

Of the nine soldiers on board,

five were killed on impact
and four are now missing.

All nine soldiers were members
of the 23 Airborne Division

at Fort Marshall in South Carolina.

This has been a special report
from WWN.

Thank you, Brian,
for that special report.

- No. I just talked to him.
- Denise.

I'm sorry to tell you Frank was aboard
the chopper that went down.

But he's all right.

Based on the condition of the bodies
that have been found,

we're not able to make an identification
at this time.

What does that mean?

It means they don't know yet

if Frank is one of the missing

or one of the dead.