Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 3, Episode 28 - An Angel by Any Other Name - full transcript

MONICA: I just love the spring.

I think it's my favourite
time of year.

It just seems to make people
be really friendly.

Even the mail gets happier.

Wedding invitations, tax
refunds, and look at this.

Carolyn Sellers may have
already won $10 million.

Well, happy mail aside, there is
a lot to like about springtime.

Look at this.

Oh, it's beautiful.

I hope so. I made it myself.

But I thought only God
could make a rose.



Well, technically that's
true, but a good gardener

can put together different
roses and make a new one.

It's called a hybrid.

You wanna know
what I named my hybrid?

What?

I call it the "Monica."

(SIGHING) It's a special
blend of peace and truth

and a whole lot of sunshine.

Oh, Tess, thank you.
It's just lovely.

Just like you.

(CHUCKLES)

Flowers are a lot
like people, angel girl.

Some of them
blossom beautifully,

and then some of them
don't bloom at all,



and then some of them
are not gonna bloom

without a lot of patience and
loving care, like Carolyn.

If you expect
a beautiful blossom,

you need more than
sunshine and rain.

You need someone who cares
to watch for the little bugs

and the root rot
and warning signs.

Funny thing about warning signs.

Sometimes you get so busy
lookin' for the little bug

that you don't see
the storm clouds gathering

that could wipe out
the whole garden.

♫ When you walk down the road

♫ Heavy burden, heavy load

♫ I will rise
and I will walk with you

♫ I'll walk with you
till the sun don't even shine

♫ Walk with you, every time

♫ I tell you I'll walk with you

♫ Walk with you

♫ Believe me
I'll walk with you ♫

(SIGHS)

Everything is so peaceful here.

I haven't met anyone
who seems to need an angel.

Well, you just keep
your eyes and ears open

and be ready to deliver more than
the mail to this neighbourhood.

The whole neighbourhood?
The problem is that big?

That's right, baby. That's why
God's sending us reinforcements.

Hello, Carolyn.

Your yard's come a long way
in only three weeks.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, aren't you the early bird,
Tess, today.

Old Ernie Jacobson never moved so
fast that he got here before noon.

Well, he moved fast enough
when I suggested a vacation.

Hello, Carolyn. I'm...

Monica. I know.

I've been watching you all week,

and I think I know
what your problem is.

My problem?

Flaws are her specialty, baby.

She says I'm moody,
if you can imagine that.

At the IRS, I can detect a liar

30 seconds after
I've begun an audit.

Now, on the other hand, Monica,

you, you're honest and friendly.

In fact, you are too friendly.

Well, how could someone
be too friendly?

Time. Time's important.

Schedules, Monica,
keep things going efficiently.

Even Bessie has
her scheduled maintenance.

(CHUCKLES)

Bessie? Oh, I have a couple
of letters here for a Bessie.

Ah!

The letters are for Bessie Senior.
She was my grandmother.

Bessie Junior is the car.

I took care of Bessie Senior
till the day she died,

and now I'm taking care
of her car.

Seems like I've always been
taking care of a Bessie,

but that's more
than you need to know.

Are you sure there's nothing from
the Rose Association in there?

Uh, no, no, there's nothing.

Were you expecting
something special?

Well, they're supposed to come look
at my Bessie Sellers Rose Hybrid.

It's taken me almost 10 years
to get those petals just right.

Those new neighbours could
sure use your green thumb.

Well, oh, I shudder to think
what's moving in there.

It's been one disastrous
project right after another

ever since the city repossessed
that place because of back taxes.

Maybe we should go over
and introduce ourselves.

Well, then take these.

Maybe it'll bring us luck
this time.

I don't have too much
faith in luck.

Well, I don't have
much luck with faith, so...

(CHUCKLING) Bye.

Okay, now you ride straight
home after school, huh?

Mom! Go.

Okay, there you go, baby.

Mmm-hmm.

(SCREAMS)

How did this get so red?

Oh.

Get out of my yard, and you stay out
of my yard, and I mean it, too!

You little... Oh.

Oh.

(SIGHING)

You hear me?

Okay, let's make a deal,
all right?

Now, before we do anything,
think about it,

and think about it again, then if it
seems to be the right thing to do,

go ahead and do it, but if
you're not sure, ask me.

Can we make a garden
like that one?

Yeah.
I think that's a great idea.

And now that
I think about it again,

I think
it's an even better idea.

Okay, what else
do we need to do?

We have to cut the grass.

We have to wash the dishes.

Mmm-hmm, and remember to always
bring out the garbage cans

to the curb
every Thursday morning.

Andrew, Tess said to expect some
help, but I didn't expect you.

Well, I volunteer for things
like this whenever I can.

Ah, so you're not here in
your official capacity, then?

Well, I didn't say that, but,
you know, it's a big street.

You never know what can happen.

Well, are you gonna introduce
me to your friends?

Yes, of course. These are guys who
are part of the new group home

that the city's sponsoring.

This is Taylor.
Taylor, this is Monica.

Nice to meet you, Monica.

(BOTH LAUGHING)
Nice to meet you.

This is Jeannie.

Nice to meet you, Monica.
Hello, Jeannie.

And this is David.

Hi. Hi, David.

I don't want my wife
to get jealous.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Nice to see life in that place.

My mechanic is a good friend
of the city manager,

and, oh, is he gonna get
an earful from me.

(SIGHING)
They should've warned us

that people like this
were movin' in.

People like what?

My grandmother
never would've stood by

for retarded people to live
in this neighbourhood.

She wasn't
a very tolerant person.

Oh, really? No.

Well, honey, if you keep thinking of them
as retarded, that's all you're gonna see.

What I see are beautiful,
loving, sensitive people

who just happen to have
an extra chromosome.

It's called Down syndrome, but it doesn't
make them Frankenstein's monster.

Well, look at them.

I mean, how do you know
what they're thinking,

or if they're thinkin' at all?

(CHUCKLES)

They shouldn't be allowed
to live here.

These are people,
not tax deductions,

and you don't get to decide
who's allowed, madam.

Watch out.

Oh, no. Sorry, Tess.

That's all right, baby.
Don't worry about it.

TESS: Sweet boy.

(TESS CHUCKLES)

Ah, ah.

You and your playmates,
you stay off my property

or next time
I'm going to call the police.

I'm not as forgiving as Tess.

Do you understand
what I am saying?

Yes, ma'am. I understand.

David!

(HORN HONKING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

Oh, God!

MAN: Oh, kid, you all right?

You're supposed to look both ways
before you go in the street.

Don't you know that?

I forgot the street
was so close.

Let's go. Come on.

Why did all of this
have to happen at tax time?

I just don't have the strength to
deal with those people right now.

Maybe you could use
some of the energy

that you're spending
on those people

and get to know
these people instead.

I gotta go get some aspirin.

I've had this headache
ever since those people...

Ever since they showed up.

Are you sure they are the cause?

You know,
maybe you need a doctor.

Tess, I don't think a doctor can
fix what's going on around here.

Oh, that woman, that woman.

You're gonna scratch the car.

What are you doing
with my trash can?

It's Thursday.

Oh.

Cool.

Hey, you, keep that boy
away from my flowers.

I've worked too long
and too hard

to get this hybrid
exactly the way I want it,

to have some, uh, unfortunate
creature with a lethal weapon

cut it down.

So I guess,
"Hello, my name's Andrew"

is not the right response
to this, is it?

I'm a taxpayer.
I pay your salary.

You listen to what I say.
You keep those people in line.

Do you understand me?

Yes, ma'am. I think I understand
exactly what you mean.

Good.

(STEVIE IMITATING SPEEDING CAR)

You'd better get out of there.

Carolyn will be very mad.

She won't know
if you don't tell.

She always takes a long time
getting stuff to wash her car.

It's not right to use other people's
things without asking them.

(IMITATING SPEEDING CAR)

Come on, come on, let's go.

(CAR DOOR SLAMMING)

Race you.

STEVIE: I beat you!

CAROLYN: My roses!

Andrew!

Jeannie, look out!

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(PANTING)

Tess? I didn't see you there.

Well, it's a good thing I was.

I guess your car
slipped out of gear.

(SCOFFS)

My car didn't slip
out of anything.

Somebody was playin' in it, and I
know who it was and so do you.

Mom, my bike.

Oh...
Are you all right, Carolyn?

Oh, this is the worst headache
I've ever had in my life.

Well, why don't you go inside and rest?
We can take care of this.

I'm going inside
to call the police.

Somebody's gotta take care
of this neighbourhood.

Her problem is much bigger
than your kids, baby.

Yeah, and I'm starting to get the
idea of why I'm really here.

(CHATTER ON POLICE RADIO)

It was that, that boy there.
I saw him runnin' away.

But I didn't do it.

I'm gonna press charges.

Do you know who did this, son?

Yes.

We're supposed to believe him?

Who did it, Taylor?

You told me to think about it,
and then think about it again.

Mmm-hmm.

I'm still thinking.

You should never be afraid
to tell the truth, honey.

I'm not afraid.

Did anyone actually
see Taylor in the car?

I did. I saw him in the car.
I saw him running away.

I'm gonna have to take him in
and file a report.

You should probably
come with us.

Go ahead, baby. I'll stay
here with Jeannie and David.

(CHATTER ON POLICE RADIO)

MAN ON RADIO: Roger.

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

(ENGINE STARTING)

You know, somethin' has to be
done about that group home.

What if that car hit Jeannie?

Well, what if it had
hit the bus?

Our children ride that bus.

I heard somebody in my backyard last night.
Where were they?

Look, I believe in giving people
a chance to prove themselves,

but I think we've seen enough.

I mean, it's clear that those people
do not know right from wrong.

They are liars, they are
vandals, they're peeping Toms.

Our neighbourhood isn't safe as
long as that group home is here,

and it's our neighbourhood.
It isn't theirs.

Mmm-hmm. Uh-huh.

All of you, listen to me.
Let me explain this to you.

From your house there was no way

that you could've seen
Taylor in that car.

Well, in the car, out of the
car, what's the difference?

It was his fault.

(SIGHING)

Come on, babies.
Let's go in the house.

MONICA: Hello, Carolyn.

This letter was put in the
wrong bin by mistake.

It's from that Rose Association
you're always talkin' about,

so I thought you'd like to have
it right away. Oh, thank you.

Here. Sign this
while you're at it.

Oh, it's a petition to stop the
funding for that group home.

You know, I mean, it's our
tax money they're using.

We have a right to know
what it's being used for.

Everybody else
has already signed it.

Oh, my God, they're coming.

Oh, four weeks from today?

(SIGHING)

I have a chance to be in the National
Registry and this place is in a mess.

Well, how am I ever
gonna get it ready?

(SIGHS)

They couldn't have picked a
more stressful time. I...

Uh, why don't I take this
petition out of your hands?

You don't have
much time for it anymore.

Oh, on the contrary, Monica.

Above all, those people are
going to be out of here

before that committee
ever arrives.

Learn how to tie
your own shoes yet?

Duh, duh. Hey, stupid.

I told the truth. That's
all I can do right now.

Carolyn's car
is very special to her.

She's just afraid of something
happening to it, that's all.

I never went into her car.

I don't know why God has put
you in this position, Taylor,

but I do know
he always has a plan

and that he'll let us know what
it is when the time is right.

I know that, Monica.

You do? Yeah.

Because I'm an angel.

God made me an angel.

Yes, I know you are, and you're the
sweetest, kindest angel I've ever met.

(THUDDING)

(GASPING)

Listen, young man.

The police just might let you get
away with a slap on the wrist,

but I am not so forgiving,
and I...

(MOANING)

(SPEAKING INCOHERENTLY)

WOMAN: Emergency assistance.

Carolyn's sick.

What is the nature
of your emergency?

Her face is crooked
and can't stand up.

Oh, okay. Don't hang up.

They're gonna send help.
It will be okay.

Is she gonna be okay?

Uh, she's had a stroke, but
fortunately you called 911 right away

and we got here early enough
to really help her.

You saved her life.
Good job, kid.

I just did what you're
supposed to do.

TESS: Don't you worry
about a thing, baby.

I'll see that things here
are taken care of,

and these little new babies will be
waiting for you to welcome you home.

It's gonna be all right.
It's gonna be all right.

Here, here, come on, come on.

(GROANING) No.

The therapist told me that you gave
'em a hard time at the hospital,

but I know it's just because you
were anxious to get back here.

Well, you're here now,

and you might think that
the hard times are over

and you're just gonna sail
down the road to recovery,

and, you know, you might, baby,

because everything
was done right.

Those first three hours
are crucial

and you had somebody to give
you treatment right away,

and the paramedics knew
exactly what they were doing.

(MOANS)

You know, looking back, it's
easy to see the warning signs.

That headache you were always
complaining about,

and the stress,

and, you know,
90% of all strokes

are associated
with high blood pressure,

and you wasn't
takin' care of that, either.

But don't you blame yourself.

That's all behind you now, and we're
gonna deal with what's happening now.

And the good news is,
I got a bunch of folk

that would like nothin' more
than to help you get better.

Hello, Carolyn.
It's good to see you again.

I guess the first thing you wanna
do when you start to talk again

is to thank Taylor
for savin' your life.

No.

You see there? You're beginning to
sound more like your old self already.

This will help you walk better.

Then you do it
on the other side.

Here. I can help you.

Put your fingers together, okay?

All right, there you go, down.

(HUMMING)

What do you think you're doing?

Get away from her.

Are you all right?

Is he, uh, hurting you?

It's her exercise.

She doesn't want you here.

Don't you understand?
No one wants you here.

Is there anything
I can do for you, Carolyn?

(SIGHING)

Oh, I know exactly
what I can do.

Finish the last thing you
wanted before your mind...

Well...

I'll make sure
that this petition

gets to the city manager
right away.

Do you see
how upset you've made her?

She's crying because she didn't
understand anything you said.

(SCOFFS)

That's ridiculous.

The best time
for planting bulbs is in...

You should read it.
It's easy. You can do it.

Not tree.

Say again?

Sometimes people have trouble
understanding what I'm saying, too,

so I just say it over and over
until they understand me.

Not reading.

Not reading?

See, I understood you.

Time for a nice
afternoon stroll?

Oh, don't worry about me.
It's my pleasure.

(MOANS)

Now, you've only got one week
before the committee gets here.

Do you want me
to show them around,

or would you like
to be there yourself

when they judge
your Bessie Sellers Rose?

Come on, Carolyn.
A few more steps.

Get out.

Oh! Oh, flowers.

(SOBBING)

I don't have flowers.

Oh, no, no, darling.

Jeannie and David have been
helping you with your flowers

ever since you had your stroke.

(WHINING)

(SPEAKING INCOHERENTLY)

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
They haven't ruined anything.

(WEEPING) It's all right, baby.
It's all right.

It's all right, baby.
It's all right.

(SOBBING) It's all right.

Oh, Carolyn, it's wonderful to
see you gettin' around so well.

Yes.

And everything looks beautiful.

Isn't it great what friends
can do for each other?

They're very pretty,
aren't they?

Hey, it was a stroke,
not a rock concert.

She can hear you quite well.

Well, you just can't tell what she's
thinking, or if she's thinking.

Hold it, baby.
Catch her. Hold her.

Okay, okay. I think that she
understands you very well.

Carolyn seems to be
making great progress.

Oh, yeah. Every day she's
stronger and stronger physically,

but emotionally she's
more shut down than ever.

Doesn't she see all the beauty around her?
The flowers, the people?

Surely she must appreciate
some of that.

Yeah, but maybe...

Maybe she's just a late bloomer.

Thank you. You're welcome.

TAYLOR: Hi, Monica.

You and your friends have
done wonderful work here.

Carolyn isn't getting better.

Taylor, if you want to be an angel,
you have to learn the rules.

Angels are always patient,
and they don't judge.

So try to be patient,

and know that God is very pleased
with what you're doing here.

Taylor, I know that what happened
to the car was not your fault,

but Carolyn's friends
at city hall

are startin' to make trouble
for the program.

Now, I know you don't want that.
Neither do I.

It's time for you to explain
what really happened.

It's like with God, Andrew.
Everything in its time.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

I'm trying to verify
the signatures

on this petition that you filed.

It's hard to talk.

What?

I just need you to sign next to
your signature on the petition

to verify it's yours.

You can write your name,
can't you?

Do you understand me?

Do you understand me?

Well, I suppose
I don't need your signature.

I've already verified enough
to put it to a vote.

Thank you.

It's okay.

I know how it feels when
people don't understand you.

Nothin' like you.

Well, tomorrow is the big day.

The committee'll be here
in the morning about 10:00,

and the weatherman says it should
be nice and sunny by then.

This time tomorrow you'll be a
part of the National Registry,

and you'll have the papers
to prove it.

(MOANING HAPPILY)

A little bit
of horticultural history

right here
in our own neighbourhood.

Sleep warm.
See you in the morning.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Oh, flowers...

(GASPS)

(GRUNTING)

(MOANING)

Help me. Help me.

What about this one?

That committee's coming
and you wanna look real nice.

No reason.

No reason for what?
No reason to get out of bed?

No reason to keep workin'
on your dream?

Or is it no reason to live?

Flowers gone.

But you're not.

Roses live and bloom and die, and
it's the same way with people.

You try to live your life
in beauty, then you move on,

but you can't move forward until
you let go of where you are.

Now you listen to me.
You were a good girl.

You took care of your parents,

you took care
of your grandmother,

and you faithfully tended
your flowers and your car.

But you've never taken care of the
most precious gift God ever gave you.

Yourself.

Too late.

(SIGHING) Doesn't matter.

Oh.

(SIGHING)

Andrew, can you help me?

Of course I can,
if you're ready.

You know, Taylor, I think
you've been holdin' out on us.

It needed to be the right time.

There's a lot I haven't said,

but it's time to say it now.

STEVIE: Coming.

(DOOR OPENS)

Hey, Stevie. Good mornin'.

Hi.

Come on.
Taylor has somethin' for you.

I used all my money, and Jeannie
and David gave me theirs, too.

And I'm sorry
your bike got smashed.

How come you bought me
this bike?

We probably have to move soon.

I know how much
you liked your bike.

How come you have to move?

Because nobody else
told the truth.

The truth can change
a lot of things, Stevie.

You know somethin', Stevie?

You may not know it yet,
but Taylor's your friend,

and friends are a very,
very important part of life.

And if you wanna be his friend,

you'd better do something about
it before it's too late.

You have got to get up.

That committee
is coming to meet you.

It doesn't matter that you don't
have any flowers to show 'em now.

It doesn't mean you won't
have 'em next year.

No.

Father, tell me what to do now.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

(CLICKS TONGUE) Thank you. I'll get it.
I think I know who this is.

It's Monica and she's got
a special delivery for you.

Hello.

(DOOR CLOSES)

MONICA: Oh, please don't
turn away, Carolyn.

I am an angel sent by God to help you find
your way through this difficult time.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR) Hold
that thought, angel girl.

I think it's another
special delivery.

Sorry I'm late, Monica.

Sometimes I'm a little slow.

I... You're welcome to
stay and listen, Taylor,

but I have something... I think
I'm s-s-supposed to do this.

Don't give up, Carolyn.

I don't give up.

God created an angel
with a disability

to help people understand that
they should never give up.

People, and sometimes,
even angels,

look at me and see
only what I don't have,

but what I don't have in
body, I have in spirit.

I have truth.
There is power in truth.

You have the same power.

Ask God to help you
find the truth

and who you are.

I am so sorry, Taylor. I did
only see what was missing.

Why wasn't I told about this?

Because you shouldn't
have needed to be.

We are all hybrids,

made up of the best parts
of each other.

Like a flower, we have to
grow where we are planted.

I was mean, and you stayed.

The Lord works in mysterious
and wonderful ways.

All he asks is that you accept
his gift of love

and use it to learn and to grow,

and he offers you the opportunity
to do better the next time.

God loves you, Carolyn...

(MOANS)

and he wants you to know that you
don't have to be afraid anymore.

Afraid no more.

It's time for you to be part
of the world again, Carolyn.

And it's time for you
to get up out of that bed.

Yeah.

Okay!

(LAUGHING)

Did you know about this,
Angel Boy?

Taylor told me
a few minutes ago.

How'd it go?

He was wonderful.

Carolyn, we've got good news.

The city is granting
our request.

They're gonna close
the group home.

But our work is around... It's
around the corner. Right, Andrew?

Mmm-hmm.

Carolyn will be all alone.
We can't go.

I don't want 'em to go.

What'd you say, Stevie?

I'm sorry, Taylor. Here you go.

What... What are you doing?

(SIGHING) Taylor, Jeannie
and David,

they, they bought me this bike

because my old one got squashed,

but they didn't do anything.
It was my fault.

I was the one who was
playing in your car.

Taylor told me to get out,

but we ran when the door
made too much noise.

I didn't know
it was gonna roll away.

I didn't think that
if I told you

you would let me
have a new bike.

I'm really sorry you got
in trouble, Taylor.

Thank you for telling the truth.

Please don't make them
move away.

Tess, help me.

(GIGGLING)

(PAPER RIPPING) Oh, no.

I no be what...

What Carolyn
is trying to say is,

if these babies move,

you will lose the most beautiful
flowers in this neighbourhood.

Please

stay.

Yes.

Hello.

I'm sorry it's taken so long
for us to get out here.

I have heard such wonderful
things about your roses.

There was a storm

and everything is gone.

No, no. It's okay.

Oh! Oh.

It's beautiful, Carolyn.

The shape of the petals,
the colour is remarkable.

It's just... I've never seen
anything like it.

Thank you.

But...

I'm afraid the rose must be attached to
the bush to qualify for our registry.

Just the flower
isn't good enough.

Hmm.

It's good enough

for me.

David.

Maybe next year

with my friends' help.

Then we'll see you next year.

Hmm.

See?

God can take something destroyed

and make it beautiful again.

Yes, he can, and he uses all kinds
of angels to help him do it.

Taylor, thank you
for reminding us.

Sometimes we get so busy looking
for the message that...

Sometimes we, we forget
to look for the messenger.

That's okay.
Sometimes I forget, too.

(ALL LAUGHING)