Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 5, Episode 17 - Family Business - full transcript

It's Anniversary Days

at Mangione Autoworld,

where you're not
just a customer,

you're a member of the family.

So come on in, help
the Mangiones celebrate

35 years of wedded bliss

and blissfully sweet deals
on new and pre-owned cars.

What?

"Blissfully sweet"?
What is that?

That's stupid, it's corny.

What, are you saying
my parents aren't happy?



I'm saying I don't like
the word "blissful," okay?

I mean, it's not me,
it's not who I am.

It's advertising... it's not
supposed to be who you are,

it's who you want
them to think you are.

Yeah, well I don't want nobody
thinking I'm blissful. Here,

you be blissful.

Yes, yes, yes.

Yes, I know.

Mr. Perkins... yeah...

no, I drove it around the
block myself, personally.

Trust me, I-I'm telling you,

you're gonna need
a new transmission.

Mr. Perkins, four-wheel
drive, six years old.

Get him in here.



Mr. Perkins, um, you know what?

My parents are celebrating
their anniversary out here today,

and they are practically giving
away the heavy equipment.

Have you considered a trade-in?

Really?

Good morning.

I don't know anything
about cars, Tess.

She's beautiful, huh?

And such a deal.

Don't say a word,
don't say a word.

Just listen to what I tell
you. Come on in here.

Here we go.

Rule number one, baby:

it's not about cars,
it's about the deal.

Making the deal,
keeping the deal,

closing the deal.

And Ben Mangione is
the king of deal-making.

We are off...

six percent from this
same time last year.

Could be the weather, Sylvia.

Ellen?

Yeah, Dad?

Listen, how many
radio spots did we buy?

Six a day, three days,
right after the sports.

All right, you call
the radio station up.

You tell them we got so many
people trying to make deals

down here, we're running
out of cars to sell them.

Tell them we're gonna stay
open one hour later tonight

just to accommodate the
overflow, and you tell them...

- But, Dad...
- Ellen, your father knows what he's doing.

And, Ellen,

tell that husband of yours
to stop pussyfooting around,

to get the man inside the
car, behind the wheel, okay?

Oh, this could be
a good day, darling.

That, uh, wedding
anniversary party

may have to be an
hour late getting started.

So? I seem to remember the
wedding was three hours late.

Honey, a man walks in,

he orders two powder
blue Mustang convertibles...

With an extended warranty.

For his twin daughters,

and you damn right I'm
gonna be late. Hell, I'd be

Late for my own funeral.

Oh, it's a great
day, sweetheart.

Why, 35 years with
the prettiest girl in town,

in the same location,

surrounded by all
the people I love.

Not all the people
that you love.

All the people that
really matter to me.

Who's missing?

The only one he could never
make a deal with... his son.

Welcome to the family
business, Miss Wings.

♪ 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. ♪

That's right, just
two more hours left

to make a sweetheart
of an anniversary deal.

Ben and Sylvia Mangione
want you to celebrate

this special day with them

by saying "I do" to a
beautiful, blissful future

with a brand-new
car of your dreams.

Here you are.
There's two for you,

- Thank you.
- And... two for you, too.

What's your name?

Monica. It's nice to meet you.

- Did my wife hire you?
- Oh, yeah.

She wanted
something very special.

One kid, one balloon.

Dee Dee, please
pick up line two.

Dee Dee, pick up line two.

It's gonna be
hard, as a stranger,

walking into a family business.

Oh, but you belong to the
ultimate family business,

Angel Girl, and you're
gonna get some help

from someone
from Reconciliation.

They should be here by now.

- Who?
- Phil.

Phil? Oh, dear.

I know.

He's directionally impaired.

An angel without a compass.

He could be anywhere right now.

But he's supposed to be
here now, and he knows that.

But we've got to have faith.

A whole lot of faith.

Let me tell you what we're
talking about here, Gus.

We're not talking about a car.

We're talking about security,

safety, peace of mind.

And I mean financial
peace, not just spiritual.

Are you a spiritual man?

Honey, honey, listen,
what kind of a deal

could we make with
Gus here on this car?

Well... Here.

Oh, come on. What...?

Whew! Well, if my wife
says we can go that low...

What's a sale for anyway, Gus?

You know what I'm saying to you?

We found the rattle,
we found the ping.

The rattle we
can fix for nothing.

The ping is gonna cost you.

I'm just telling you
that right up front.

I've had that car ten
years, never had a ping.

- Well.
- No, once.

Eight years ago.

Where's that kid?

That, um... Buddy...
the old man's son.

He fixed the ping.

Rattles, clinks...
He fixed them all.

What happened to him?

Um... I just have to
go get your paperwork.

I-I-I'll bring it
right out to you.

The food is wonderful.

Thank you. It appears the
day was a great success.

Yes. It amazes me
how it always works out

the way Dad says it will.

I'm sure it was a team effort.

You seem like a
very close family.

Yes, well... everything's
ready for tonight?

Mm-hmm. Cocktails
at 7:00, dinner at 8:00,

- and at 9:15, coffee and cake.
- Perfect.

And by the way, don't
feed the musicians.

You hired a band?

A little dance combo...
Phil's Fabulous Four.

It's funny, Phil was
supposed to drop by here

to discuss the music.

- Ellen, pick up line six.
- I wonder where... Excuse me.

Phil's Fabulous Four?

Well, he's really quite good...

when he actually shows up.

Hello. Mangione Autoworld.

Yeah.

Uh, Mrs. Mangione's
busy right now.

I'm the sales manager.
What can I do for you?

Oh, my God.

Buddy?

- Buddy?
- Shh. Shut up, shut up.

Hey, Buddy, where are you?

I thought you lived
in California now.

Yeah, it's tonight.

Yeah, we have a big party
planned and everything.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Aw, gee, Buddy, uh,

I-I don't think that's
such a good idea.

I mean, the old man still spits
every time we mention your name.

'Course we don't mention
your name all that often

because of the spitting, but...

Yeah, well, I mean, if
you're that close, yeah, sure.

Listen, Ellen has
planned a real nice soiree

at the house tonight, and
I just don't want anything

to turn ugly, you know?

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

- What did he say?
- He's coming.

Your crazy nut, weirdo brother
is coming to the party tonight.

He disappears for six years,

and he shows up just
in time to ruin everything.

Buddy's coming?

Yeah, he's at some rest stop.

He's driving from California.

He wants to get here
in time for the party.

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa, yeah ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪♪

♪ Whoa, whoa... ♪

Montana.

Montana.

No.

Can you believe that
bandleader stiffed us?

Thank God you
came through, Monica.

Who are they again?

Tess's Society Trio.

I-I've worked with them before.

Well, you're a lifesaver.

Lovely party, Ellen.

Very elegant, in a...
showy sort of way.

Dee Dee, lay off the booze.

Tonight of all nights.

Oh, that's right.

This could be it, huh?

See, um, if my father
announces his retirement,

then, um, Frankie ascends
to the exalted position

of President and
Chief Executive Officer

of Mangione Autoworld.

And my sister...
becomes Mrs. Autoworld

and joins the Junior League

and gets to wear
even bigger jewelry.

And, um, I, hmm, wonder
what happens to me?

Guess I just keep
running the service desk.

Or maybe I'll just run, period.

You know, like Buddy.

Oh!

Oops!

Shh!

Nobody's supposed to
say "Buddy" around here.

No "Buddy," no more.

Oh! Caviar, love caviar.

Good.

Who's Buddy?

My brother.

The one that got away.

Go, go, Jordan!

Hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey! Slow down.

What is this, the
Kentucky Derby?

Come on, you're
gonna break something.

You know how expensive this is?

Go in the kitchen,
get some lasagna.

That'll slow you down.

When are you gonna tell him?

I'm not.

Frankie, we can't just
let Buddy walk in here

without giving
them some warning.

Look, he said he had
something important to say

when he got here tonight, right?

- What?
- He didn't say,

but we both know
darn well what it is.

He's coming back to
take over the dealership.

That's ridiculous.

Dad kicked him out because

he didn't want anything
to do with the business.

Yeah, well, maybe six years
of finding himself in California

screwed his head on straight.

I know people, Ellen, okay?

I heard it in his voice.

He wants back in.

Now all he has to do

is come back here
and beg forgiveness

and I'll be working for your
brother for the rest of my life.

Maybe I should just
meet him outside

and tell him nobody
wants to see him.

I wouldn't recommend that.

When did he call?

Mother...

This afternoon.

He used to build me
forts in the backyard.

Taught me everything
I know about cars.

But then, about six years ago,

he and my father
had a big fight.

A huge screaming
thing about his future.

Daddy wanted him to
take over the dealership.

You know, join the
Chamber of Commerce,

maybe even run for mayor.

Buddy just wanted
to see the ocean.

So he walked out.

And Daddy just slammed the door.

And Buddy never came home?

We never even
heard from him again.

Dee Dee, into the kitchen, now.

Okay.

Excuse me.

Dad, Frankie got a call today.

It was from Buddy.

He said he had
something important to say.

There's only one thing
I'm interested in hearing.

By the way, weren't
you gonna say something

to me tonight, Ben?

Or maybe an announcement?

Diane, do you think maybe your
brother has come to his senses?

I bet he wants to
come home, Daddy.

Maybe he's ready to take
over the business now.

Buddy doesn't know the
business, Frank knows the business.

Ben, what are you going to do?

You said you'd never
let him through the door.

This is your house.

Well, my house is your house.

When's his plane
supposed to land?

He's driving.

Why can't Buddy fly,
like a normal person?

'Cause Buddy's driving
is kind of like flying.

My fingers are broken.

I'm gonna put a
hurting on that Phil.

Where's Buddy?

I don't know, but it's hard
to have a reconciliation

when the reconcilee
stands up the reconciler.

What's his big
announcement, Tess?

I don't know...

Diane.

Please. Frankie.

Good evening, sir.

Come on in.

Mr. Mangione?

I'm Mangione.

Do you have a son, sir?

Yes, Ben Junior. Buddy.

That was the license plate.

Is he in some kind of trouble?

Very sorry to inform you,
sir, there's been an accident.

Your son has been killed.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

It happens all the time.

God sets a plan in motion
to make things better,

and some human being
gets behind the wheel of a car

with a bottle of whiskey
and makes everything worse.

I suppose it
doesn't matter, now,

if Phil ever gets here or not.

Oh, absolutely, it matters.

Yesterday, we were
dealing with a family

that didn't know how
to love Buddy alive,

so I don't expect any more
from them now that he's dead.

But either way, they're
gonna need an angel or two.

Which brings us back to Phil.

Phil could not find his halo if it
was wrapped around his neck.

Which is a very tempting
possibility right now.

Phil?

Where are you going?

I have no idea.

Situation's changed.

"Bulls missing Jordan"?

No, it's the other side, Phil.

Oh.

This is unexpected.

How's the family taking it?

Not good.

Phil?

Why don't you come with me?

Do you know where you're going?

Oh, yeah.

Good, 'cause I... I don't
know where... I'm going.

Dee Dee, if anyone asks,

Buddy wasn't drinking.

Something happened
to the brakes.

I've never known
Buddy to drink and drive.

So? In the last six years,

none of us knew Buddy very well.

Well, at least he
went like he lived...

Foot to the floor at a
hundred miles an hour.

When do we get to cry?

Mangiones don't cry.

So you saw the body?

It was terrible.

It was absolutely the most awful
thing I've ever seen in my life.

Ben?

There was an
explosion, you know?

There-There... wasn't much.

Oh, my God.

It's the watch that
you bought him

when he graduated high school.

He still wears it.

What good did it do?

Boy never showed up
anywhere on time in his life.

It's happened.

It's done.

Now, we're... we're gonna
get through this thing,

we're gonna, we're gonna go on.

I'll get it.

Hello.

Oh, hey, come on in.

Lady, who are you?

I'm Monica.

I catered last night.

I brought some leftovers.

I didn't think
you'd want to cook.

Thank you for coming, Monica.

Covered dishes...
Now it's official.

Monica, we thank you very much,

but none of us
feel like eating now.

Uh, actually, Ben, we
paid for it, we'll take it.

Fine, all right. Get your coats.

Let's get this over with.

Dad, I was thinking
we might want to use

the Vanderbilt
Brothers Mortuary.

All the best families
in town go there.

Frankie and I passed a
place just down the street.

It's close; it'll
do fine. Let's go.

Thank you, Monica.

Gang, we're walking
to a real riot here.

Let me do the talking.

Hello.

We're the Mangione family.

Please come in. My name is Tess.

Thank you.

I've seen you before.

You're the bass
player from the party.

That's right.

What are you doing here?

I moonlight.

Come on in, have a seat.

Make yourselves comfortable.

Let me start by saying
how sorry I am for your loss.

And we here at
the Chapel of Peace

are committed to
help you in any...

Tess, let's try to get
off on the right foot here.

What do you say?

What did you have in
mind, Mr. Mangione?

Well, you've got a job to
do, we've got a job to do,

what do you say we
just cut to the chase

and look at some figures.

Get out your calculator, babe.

This is the last thing
we have to decide.

I'm sorry, but lilies in any
form make me allergic.

Lilies, roses, the guy never
smelled a flower in his life.

Oh, we have to have
flowers, and music.

Nobody's talked about music.

Your father doesn't want music.

Buddy loved music.

That wasn't music,
Diane, that was noise.

Tess, I think we can
wrap this thing right up.

You can spare us the details,

I think we all get
the picture here.

What's the sticker
price on this one?

$3,000.

Three... thousand...
Oh, ho, ho...

I'll bet we can do
better than that.

You probably have
a markup to 200%.

I tell you what...
I'll give you $1,500.

That way, we'll both make
a little money on this deal.

And I wouldn't complain

if you threw in some
flowers for my daughter.

What do you say?

I say you ought to go
home, Mr. Mangione,

and let this sink in,

because I don't think
you're even close

to accepting that you're
planning your son's funeral.

I beg your pardon, madam.

You heard what I said.

Stop it, Diane, stop it!

She's right, Daddy.

Buddy's dead and
we're all acting...

You're damn right he's dead.

And as far as I'm concerned,
he has been dead for six years

and, by God, if he had
listened to me in the first place,

he would not be a piece of toast

- in a box today.
- Oh, Benjamin!

Lady... no.

I'm not burying a son,
I'm burying a stranger.

And I'm damned if I waste
one tear, one dime on him today.

So you get me
something with a lid on it

and I'll see you
at 2:00 tomorrow.

Good day.

I'm sorry.

Well, well.

It's strange and sad, Tess.

He won't cry, not
even a little bit.

And he won't let
anyone else cry, either.

Nobody like that ever
cries a little bit, Angel Girl.

And Ben is an all-or-nothing-
at-all kind of man.

And so far it's been nothing.

But somebody's
gonna change that.

Excuse me?

Oh, hello, young lady.

I sent everybody
home today, but...

we're open for business.

Are you Mr. Mangione?

That's me.

I'm old, but the
cars are all new.

You looking for
something special?

Actually, I'm looking for you.

I'm Sharon Mangione.

I'm Buddy's wife.

What do you mean, exactly?

We were married a few weeks ago.

Oh, honey... Buddy's... I know.

We were supposed to
meet here today, and...

Buddy wanted to drive.

I had some business
to finish up in L.A.,

so I flew in this morning.

When he wasn't
at the hotel, I...

I saw the paper on
the counter, and...

I didn't know what else
to do, so I came here.

He was gonna introduce
me to the family.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, it's been
a shock to us all,

and maybe we
should try to find you...

No.

We're going home, right now.

Going home. Come on.

Come on. Come on, here we go.

So that was Buddy's
big announcement, huh?

No, no, it wasn't.

But now it's up to
her to make it for him.

We got engaged on
an animal rescue trip

in the Alaskan waterways.

We were volunteers
rescuing baby seals

who'd lost their mothers.

He always wanted
to go to Alaska.

That's the one thing

that keeps me
from falling apart,

is that Buddy had dreams
like that, go to Alaska,

go scuba diving,
learn fly-fishing,

go river rafting.

He did them all.

I don't think there was
anything he left undone.

I think I could give you
an argument on that.

What kind of money do
you make saving seals?

He was a volunteer;
he worked for free.

You can't give it away

in the car business,
can you, Ben?

Sharon, it's not gonna
be a very big funeral.

Just family and a few
business associates.

I'm giving the
eulogy, and I invited

the board of directors from
the Chamber of Commerce.

But the burial will
only be for the family.

Sylvia and I bought
some nice plots

at the Oak Lawn
Cemetery back in the '50s,

enough for the whole family.

No!

No, no. Buddy
wanted to be cremated.

Well, to be perfectly accurate,
you're kind of gonna get

the best of both worlds on this
one, if you know what I mean.

No, he wanted to be cremated

and have his ashes
spread over Half Moon Bay.

Wait a minute, you're
married two weeks

and you're talking cremation?

You know, maybe we
ought to see some I.D.

- Leave her alone, Frankie.
- Oh, for Heaven's sake.

What difference does it make?

What difference what?
That he's gonna get cremated

or that she's his wife?

Why would you say
something like that?

This is crazy!

Would you go in the
kitchen and apologize?

Come on, the only seal

he ever saw was on
the top of a liquor bottle.

Hello. I brought some more food.

I thought you might be hungry.

What is it with this
woman and food?

Thank you, Monica.

Big news... Buddy had a wife.

- She wants cremation.
- Somebody should go in there

and talk to her.

What do you know about seals?

Yeah, that's a good idea.

Sharon?

I'm-I'm sorry, I've really had
enough family for one day.

Well, actually, I'm not a
member of the Mangione family.

Buddy used to tell me
stories about his crazy family;

I didn't believe him.

No wonder he left.

He used to say

the family business
was like a prison.

Kept him from experiencing life.

For them, it's like a fortress

that protects them
from experiencing life.

Imagine how
frightening it was for them

to see Buddy actually
getting into one of those cars

and driving out into the world.

And imagine how it felt to love
someone you don't understand,

and then to lose them, never
really knowing them at all.

I don't have anything in
common with these people.

Yes, you do.

You have Buddy.

The Buddy you knew, and the
Buddy they still have to know.

Ben, I would...

I'd like to make
a deal with you.

Well, sure, okay.

What are we talking about here?

Uh, Sharon, of course, his wife,

has certain rights regarding
the funeral arrangements,

and if she can give
the final eulogy,

she won't stand in the
way of any plans for a burial.

You got a deal.

All right.

Father, I know you wanted
your angel Phil here today,

and I know you're
gonna get Phil here.

I just want to thank
you for the miracle

that you're about to perform

that I have absolutely
not a clue about.

Amen.

We're here today

to remember Benjamin Mangione,

my brother-in-law.

Not Benjamin Mangione,
my father-in-law,

who, by the way,
is a terrific guy

and great community leader.

But, uh, back to Buddy.

Well, I missed the party,

and now I'm gonna
miss the funeral,

and there wasn't even supposed
to be a funeral, was there?

- No.
- Okay.

And-and, where is all this
gonna take place, in Boise?

- In Boise.
- Okay, so we're in Boise now?

- We are in Boise now.
- I know where I am. Okay.

Hey.

- Hey. -Hey.
- Got a problem?

Yeah, yeah. Can't figure it out.

Just died.

Well, I know a
little about cars.

- Why don't you let me take a look?
- Great.

Okay.

Well, it looks like
you're overheating.

You guys have something that

maybe I could use
to open this with?

- A rag or something?
- Got this paper.

Hey, that'll work. Thanks.

Let's see.

Oh, my God.

D-Do you guys think you could,

- uh, give me a lift into town?
- Yeah.

- I guess not.
- No, no.

No, no, everything's
gonna be fine.

Good as new! Get in the car.

Watch.

- Good job, Phil.
- That's right!

♪ Till my trophies ♪

♪ At last ♪

♪ I lay down ♪

♪ I will cling ♪

♪ To the old ♪

♪ Rugged cross ♪

♪ And exchange it ♪

♪ Someday ♪

♪ For a crown. ♪

The day I met Buddy
was a beautiful,

warm day on a
beach in California.

A whale had washed
up onto the shore,

and there was a crowd
gathered around it.

And everybody knew that
the whale was dying, but...

nobody knew what to do.

Except Buddy.

He organized
everyone, carrying...

buckets, cups, and hats of water

from the ocean to the beach

to pour over the animal.

I was one of those people.

I remember how he
kept his hand on the side

of this... remarkable creature,

and he was whispering to it.

And I knew that this was a man

that understood
life and death...

and freedom.

And I knew that I wanted
to understand this man.

Later that day, I-I asked Buddy

what he had whispered
to the trapped whale...

And he said... Don't
be afraid, my friend.

Buddy?

I know just how it feels.

Buddy!

Buddy!

Buddy, is that you?

Yes, sir.

Well, well, well.

Buddy, I thought I lost you.

Buddy!

- It's good to see you.
- Hey.

Mom... are you okay?

I can't believe it.

It's a miracle!

It really is a miracle!

Well, if you're alive,
and you clearly are,

then who the Sam Hill
is that in the casket?

Well, I'm guessing it's, uh,
the guy who stole my car.

What?

I stopped at a rest
area on the way.

Some guy pulled a knife
on me in the men's room.

Oh, my God.

He took my watch,
my wallet, and the car,

and left me stranded in Oregon.

Well, that's when I called
you, Frankie, remember?

I-I told you I had car
problems, that I might be

running a little late.

You didn't tell us
he had car problems!

Hey, every time I
pick up the phone,

somebody's got car problems.

But he could have said, "My
car got stolen. Come and get me."

But, no, he's got to do it his
own way, like he always does.

You were never
one to ask for help.

Why didn't you call?

I called the hotel, but they
said you never checked in.

I started to and
then I saw the paper,

so I went straight
to your parents.

You-you spent the
night with my parents?

Oh, yeah.: You owe me big.

Buddy, I missed you.

Well, if this doesn't beat all.

I am not paying for
that man's funeral!

Let's step out in the lobby
and discuss this calmly.

So even though you were late

and going completely
the wrong direction,

you were right where
you were supposed to be.

You don't get
many days like that

in the angel business, do you?

It's a first one, actually.

So, um, what happens now?

Well, there's still
the matter of the guy

who was actually in the car.

I'll handle that.

That was very sad.

Yeah.

He had a chance to
change his life, didn't take it.

Well, now, somebody else
will get a chance. You ready?

- Yes.
- Okay.

The Lord moves
in mysterious ways.

He's moving too fast for me.

Everyone, everyone,

there's going to be a
reception back at our house.

- We'll meet you there.
- What?

We're gonna celebrate.

What are you talking about?

If there's not
gonna be a funeral,

we got to get back
to the showroom.

We got work to do.

Have you lost your mind?

Now you see why I left.

Buddy!

You turned your
back on your family

and your responsibilities.

That's why you left.

I want to know
why you came back.

Ben, it doesn't matter now.

It does matter,
nothing's changed.

I told you, don't come back

until you get some
sense in your head.

Now, I don't care if your car
was stolen and you hitchhiked

or you rode home in a balloon.

I want to know, are you ready
to run your family's business?

No, Dad, I'm not.

That's not what I
came back to say.

Then to hell with you, boy.

- Let's go.
- No.

I lost him six years ago,

I lost him two days ago.
I'm not gonna lose him again.

Yeah.

It's okay, Mom.

Mr. Mangione?

I appreciate your
persistence, dear,

but I'm not very
hungry right now.

I didn't bring you a
casserole this time.

What can I do for you?

I want you to come back.

The funeral isn't finished.

Yes, it is finished.

We don't need a funeral now.

Buddy's alive.

I think that's the
trouble with funerals;

we don't bother to
celebrate someone's life

until they're dead.

Monica...

there isn't very
much to celebrate.

The boy wasted his life.

No, sir, he didn't.

But I think you might be
afraid that you wasted your life,

and every time you see
Buddy, he reminds you of that.

I think you'd better go now.

I am going. I'm going
back to the funeral,

and I'm taking you with me.

Wha...?

Who are you?

I'm an angel.

What?

Don't be afraid.

I'm afraid.

I don't believe this.

But, Ben, how many nights did
you stay awake and silently pray

that your son would come home?

And how many days have
you stared out of these windows

and prayed to God that He
would heal what you destroyed?

Don't be so surprised
that He heard you.

Perhaps you may not show
many people the pain and regret

behind that stubborn
pride of yours,

but God saw it.

And you may not
know how to let it go,

but God knows.

He does?

Yes.

It may not be easy,

but it'll be the best deal
you've ever made, Ben.

Hey.

Mr. Mangione.

Hello.

Are you...?

I'm an angel, and I'm going

to do the talking, and
you're going to listen

because today was
certainly a strange

and certainly eventful day

that will be thought
of as a milestone.

So let's just get with it.

Get with what?

God wants you to cut it out.

I'm talking about the way
that you hold the family,

the way... You're
gonna crunch them,

or they're gonna slip
through your fingers.

Which brings me to
the subject of Buddy.

So Monica told you that the
funeral was never finished.

It's because Buddy never died.

Sharon did not finish her speech

because there was no
funeral to finish the speech at.

But I want you to
hear the speech.

"I think back sometimes
to that day on the beach

"when Buddy worked so hard
to keep the stranded whale alive.

"I realize now what
he meant when he said

"he knew how the whale felt.

"Buddy was a free sprit

"and the world was his home
and everyone he met was a friend.

"He saw beauty everywhere,

"God in everything,
hope in everyone.

"He went to life, he could
never wait for life to come to him.

"That's why he could never
spend his life inside a showroom.

"It would have killed him;

"like taking a whale
out of the ocean.

"But Buddy missed
his family very much.

"He died on his way here.

"He was coming to
tell you something.

"He was coming back
to tell you he was dying.

"Buddy had a rare cancer.

"He would not have
lived much longer.

"I think that he
always had a sense

"that he wouldn't
live very long.

"So he left six years ago

"to put a lifetime
into a few years.

And he was coming back to
share his last year with you."

He is going to die, then?

Yes, he is.

When?

I don't know.

Soon, but not today.

Mr. Mangione, do you know
how many fathers have sat

at their son's funeral...

praying for just one more day...

one more hour...

so that he could say,
what he should have said?

How many fathers
have saved up...

kisses, hugs...

apologies, only
to find themselves

in a room with no son...

nothing but a feeling of regret?

The very thing you
hated in your son was

God's gift to Buddy.

God gave him the
need to live and love

as hard as he could
for as long as he could

because God knew that
he didn't have that long at all.

God loves Buddy,
and God loves you, too.

And by his astounding
mercy, your son is not dead.

He's alive.

We don't know for how long...

but even if it's
for just a minute,

you know what to say.

Dad?

What are you doing here?

Buddy?

Everybody's worried about you.

You weren't in the showroom.

I don't know what made
me come look for you here.

I know.

You know, son,

whatever you came
back home to say,

I'm ready to hear it.

Your old man is a fool, son.

But he loves you, boy.

He loves you.