Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 6, Episode 1 - Such a Time as This - full transcript

♪♪

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Belladonna.

Belladonna who?

Bell a-donna works,
so I had to knock.

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Mandy.

Mandy who?

Man de lifeboats! We're sinking!



I'll save ya!

Do you know what
show-and-tell is, angel girl?

Show-and-tell?

Little boys and girls like
Thomas find things unusual

and interesting, and
they bring them to school

and show them
to their classmates.

A crimson leaf is a treasure.

And a cocoon is a mystery.

And an empty
eggshell is a tragedy.

Everything is so new to them.

When they find these
little pieces of the world,

they need to share
them with someone

and-and talk about
it... and respond.

Dad, look.



Come here, little kitty.

Are you lost?

Come here.

I guess I know what he'll
be bringing to show-and-tell.

No, he's going to show something

that no child should
ever have to see.

What is it?

It's terrible.

Car's here. I've gotta go.

Anybody want to walk me?

I thought you were
staying all week.

I thought so, too, Thomas.

Something very
important came up.

But you promised.

Thomas, I never
made that promise.

I never break my
promises to you.

You never make any.

Come on. Give your
mom a kiss good-bye.

See ya.

Come on. It's only
gonna be a couple of days.

Maybe I can bring
you back something.

Like what?

Oh, maybe some cat food.

Hey, Mom.

Yeah?

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Celia.

Celia who?

Celia around Thank you, John.

You're welcome, Senator.

Okay, son, back to work.

You might as well open it.

Why are we here?

We should be there.

Why aren't we there?

We will be.

And a little child
shall lead us.

♪ 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. ♪

They will lose their farms,
they will lose their homes,

and perhaps worst of
all, they will lose their faith

in a government that
said let us depend on you

and you can depend on us.

With every slice of buttered
toast we senators eat

at our catered breakfasts,

we're telling the
American farmer

that we expect
another slice tomorrow.

But there are fewer
and fewer farmers

and more and more
people expecting breakfast.

Senate bill 9140 will
only hasten the day

of the forgotten farmer
and the empty table.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I will yield my remaining
time to the senator

from the state of California.

Next time, you can give
my speech for me, okay?

If there is a next time.

Oh, Kate, you're gonna get
reelected again and again.

Did you talk to him?

Wait till after November.

I really belong on
Appropriations, Steven.

I'm not gonna get
into the power circles

talking about toast.

Wait till the day after
the elections. We'll talk.

You think you can ever get

that husband of yours
to register to vote?

When McGovern runs again.

Sumners' office called.

They want a meeting
tomorrow before they commit.

- Ah! Back home?
- Mm-hmm.

I'm sorry, but Senator Cooper's
calendar is completely booked

for the next three weeks.

It's terribly important.

Truly a matter of life and
death. I'm not exaggerating.

What was your name again, sir?

If you go back you can
make the NAACP dinner.

See if you can get me
on the 10:00, will you?

It'll be tight.

Hello.

Hi, honey, it's mom.
Whatcha doing?

Mm, nothing.

Did you know the
Egyptians thought cats were,

like, Gods or something?

How is the cat doing?

Oh, fine.

Do we have any helium?

Why do you...?

Never mind. Where's your dad?

He's next door helping Mrs.
Rosenberg with her toilet.

Knock-knock.

Honey, I'm sorry I
don't have a lot of time.

Can you tell your
dad that I'm gonna try

to fly home tonight really late?

Will you bring me a flag?

A flag?

A little one, but
it has to be real.

Like you put on the moon.

A real little flag. Okay,
I'll see what I can do.

Don't forget to tell
your dad, okay?

Okay.

Bye, honey.

Bye.

I've gotta go. I have to vote.

You're on the 10:00.

You can stop off at the
embassy party on the way.

Be at National by 9:15.

Get that cocktail
dress out of the closet

and tell Sumner lunch tomorrow.

No luck.

Ah. Ah, it's just the bad news.

The good news is I
don't believe in luck.

You're an interesting
guy, Andrew.

What were you doing out
there in the desert that day?

You don't think it was luck
running into a photographer

just when I needed one?

No. I think God had
something to do with that.

Ah, yes, God. I remember
him before he left the Sudan.

Dr. Joe, don't give up.

There's something
better out there than luck.

And there's someone
I want you to meet.

It's a great party.
Thank you so much.

Andrew.

Monica, this is Dr. Akat.

Ah, the famous Dr. Joe.
It's an honor to meet you.

Thank you. So kind
of you to help us.

So, how did you manage this?

The Ambassador was
recently visited by an angel.

I'm on the A-List now. Come on.

That's true, but no matter
what legislation is passed,

it will get vetoed unless

it has significant educational
support for the inner city.

It shouldn't be on the
bill in the first place.

Well... It's worthy,
it's overdue.

But I think we'll
put it into it.

Kate, excuse me, don't
you have a plane to catch?

Oh, my gosh, I've gotta go.

Hey, say hi to the
hippy for me, will ya?

- And Thomas?
- Right.

Thomas... Oh, no, his flag.

Senator Cooper, isn't it?

Yes, I was wondering if...

We were hoping we
would run into you here.

This is Dr. Joseph Akat.

- How do you do?
- Hello.

Dr. Akat is doing
wonderful work in the Sudan,

and we were hoping that you...

I'm late for a plane. I'm sorry.

That's okay. We'll
walk with you.

I'm Monica and this is Andrew.

- He's organizing the trip.
- What trip?

We want you to take
a trip to the Sudan.

Senator, there's still
slavery in the world today,

where a human being can
be bought and sold for $50

in the Sudan,
the price of a goat.

I've heard about that.

The Sudanese
government denies it.

Senator, it's
true. I've seen it.

But if we had someone
like you as senator

who would make a difference,

you'd come and see
and then document...

I'm sorry, but to be honest,

the Sudan is not
a priority right now.

Why don't you call my office

and set up a meeting
with one of my staff?

Senator, you know how many
children will be dead by then?

Please just, just look at this.

I'll throw in the
flag from Argentina.

Okay.

Let's get to the airport.

Shh-shh-shh-shh.

Back to sleep.

Did you permit my flag?

Yes, it's in my briefcase.

You'll get it in the morning.

Night, baby.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

“Dear Senator Cooper,

“I write to you today on
behalf of innocent people

“who cannot speak
for themselves:

“the slaves of the Sudan,

“the civilians whose southern
villages have been raided

“and destroyed by
northern militias and soldiers,

“whose men are murdered
and whose women and children

“ are taken into slavery, as
the spoils of a so-called holy war

"against those who refuse
to convert to their religion.

“Once captured, the
slaves are beaten,

“raped, even
branded like cattle.

“They're used as currency,
traded for trucks or guns,

“bought and sold like livestock.

“I enclose the testimonies
of several redeemed slaves.

“Please come to the Sudan.

“ Before we can
fight this terrible thing,

we must first
prove that it exists.“

Yes.

It's true, Thomas.

There's a whole world
out there, oceans away,

where little children like
you can't play or go to school

or even say their prayers.

They don't dream
about going to the moon.

They just dream
about going home.

What on earth?

Thomas... what are you doing?

I was looking for my flag.

You are never to get into my
briefcase; do you understand?

Hey, Mom, what does
"sexual chattel" mean?

There's a war going
on in this country.

Terrible things happen
when people fight wars.

But I thought
soldiers fought wars.

They do.

But little kids aren't soldiers.

I know.

But you don't
play fair in a war.

I think his name is Sam.

Like my brother.

You think about
him a lot, don't you?

Sometimes.

It's kind of weird to think
that he lived his whole life

before I was even born.

That's right.

That wasn't fair, either.

No, it wasn't.

Can I see it?

So are we going?

Where?

To the Sudan.

No, I don't think so.

It takes more people
to change the world.

But if you went, you
could get them free.

You could get Sam.

You could bring
him home with us,

and he can live with us
and go to school and stuff.

Maybe he has a mommy
who would miss him.

Maybe they killed her already.

Thomas.

You get ready for school and
you stop worrying about this.

All it takes is one person
to make a difference.

That's what Dad says.

Uh-oh.

What does Dad always say?

Get to school, Thomas.

Okay.

You busy for lunch today?

I'm having lunch with Sumner.

That's why I came back.

Oh.

You think you might
register to vote this time?

And ruin a perfect record?

Could be a tough election.

Every vote could count.

You gonna be here next week?

That parents thing...
Back-to-school day?

Yeah, we've got that covered.

Kerry set up a press
conference on the playground.

I asked because
your son will be there.

This is a silver dollar.

My daddy gave it
to me as a present

when my little sister
was born last week.

She was born the same day
as Miss Campbell's babies.

Oh, teacher, teacher!

I heard Miss Campbell
had triplets... three of them.

And I know how, too.

Thank you so much, Thomas.

I'm sure when Mrs.
Campbell returns,

she'll know exactly how
many babies she had

and how many she
wants to tell you about.

So, now, anybody else have
something to show and t...?

Thomas.

I have something to tell you.

Remember when we
learned about slavery

and how they abolished it a
couple of hundred years ago?

Well, it's not true.

Quiet.

Quiet, please.

What are you saying, Thomas?

This is Sam.

He costs $50.

"I'm a 12-year-old girl.

"I was a slave for three years.

"My master was a cattle farmer.

"My master's wife threw
boiling water into my eyes

”cause she... she was
mad because my master

"used me as a con...

"concubine all the time.

"Then he sold me
to another master,

"who beat me and
not give me food

"unless I changed my religion.

"I was very sad,
and I cried all the time

"because I missed my mother

"and my father
and my little brother.

"I am very grateful
to Mr. Joseph Acott

"for helping me to be
free, and I pray to God

"that he will find my
mother and my little brother

and bring them home."

I don't know if this
is her little brother,

but he's somebody's brother.

I had a brother once.

I never really knew
him, but I miss him.

And I don't know this
kid, but it's hard to explain,

but I miss him, too.

♪♪

So, bare bones,
no frills, bottom line.

We're talking radio,
television and print ads

for the last three
weeks of the election.

930,000.

That's not impossible.

I'd like to see your
figures, though.

Absolutely.

Kate, you are doing a great
job for the people of this state.

Thank you, Bob.

Then you're in?

Well, as you know,
um, as a corporation,

Sumner Caddies can't
legally fund your campaign.

However, I'm sure our PAC
would like to fund your campaign

right up to the
last legal penny.

And as for the rest,

well, we'll just have
to twist a few arms

and, uh, make sure we get

the right people
to the fund-raisers.

I can't tell you
what this means.

Kate, you just keep
up the good work.

I've got a lot of
plans for next term.

Tax credits, health
reform, of course,

and recently, I've been looking
into what's going on in Sudan.

I think we could
seriously... Forget Sudan.

Right, forget the Sudan.

Waste of time. Not
going anywhere.

It's a complicated issue
that no one understands.

Trust me.

You just worry about
the good old U.S. of A.

That's what we're investing in.

Ah, by the way, we've
just come out with...

cherry truffles.

Now, you can't share those
back there in that committee.

Children of parents

who participate
in school activities

perform better on tests,

they have higher
attendance records,

and they tend to have
higher self-esteem.

Where is your son?

I don't know.

Um, he left this
morning all excited

to set up his class project.

He was going to surprise us.

There he is. Thomas!

Hey, sweetheart.

Come on, you guys.

You got to see.

Hey, Mom, remember when you said

that it takes lots of
people to change things?

Um, not exactly. I...

Well, I found those people,
and we're going to help you.

Senator, was this your idea?

Do you support the
Sudanese rebels?

Senator, did you ask your son

to raise money to buy
slaves out of Sudan?

Thomas, What do you mean,

you're going to
help your mother?

MALE REPORT ER
112: Senator Cooper.

MALE REPORTER
#3: Senator? Senator!

I've seen some people pay
my dad $50 to fix a chair.

Did you know your son
was going to do this?

Why can't they pay
that to save a person?

Nope. Complete surprise.

And I'm very proud of him.

Senator, are you
going to the Sudan?

No, I have no plans
to go to the Sudan.

This is a very
complicated issue.

I am not prepared to
discuss it at this time.

I understand that,
but, Senator...

That's all. Thank
you. Thank you.

Did you put him up to this?

What are you talking about?

Where is Mrs. Campbell?

Mrs. Campbell is
on maternity leave,

and I am substituting.

I feel somehow that you
are responsible for this.

I want to know who you are.

I volunteer to help Dr. Akat.

No pictures. No.

Please understand, I
did not seek out your son.

The students in his
class contacted me.

Uh, I'll admit it seems like
an incredible coincidence,

but, Senator, I will go
anywhere to tell this story,

even if it's to children.

Perhaps especially to children.

They seem to sense
what is really at stake.

Look around.

You're making a
difference already.

Oh, you have no idea.

Uh, Senator Cooper.

It was the children's
idea to raise money.

And yes, the idea of paying
money for a human being,

even if it is for their
freedom, is abhorrent...

It won't solve the problem...

But the children's
hearts are pure.

Don't lecture me about my son.

Don't do that.

The reporters are watching.

Good work.

Thanks.

Got to get back to the house.

Thomas, you got a customer here.

I'm going back to DC.

Of course, you are.

Where's Thomas?

He's still at the school.

You sure he's safe with
all those radical types?

What were you trying
to do back there?

Support my son, do a good thing.

And humiliate me.

It's always about you, isn't it?

You can take slaves in Africa
and make them about you.

If it threatens my campaign,

yes, it absolutely
has to do with me.

I know that doesn't mean
much to you, but it matters to me.

And to a lot of
other people, too.

Oh, that's right... I forgot...
You have to get reelected

so you can vote
for some farm bill

that'll get vetoed or something.

The system works, James,
whether or not you respect it.

You don't do this because
you believe in the system, Katie.

You run for office so you
can run away from home.

You're not embracing
democracy; you're rejecting me.

That is the most
ridiculous thing I ever heard.

Why do you still wear this?

To honor Sam.

No, you wear this to accuse me.

See, you don't have
to look at it every day,

but you know that I do.

It's your little daily dig.

"Remember, James?

"Remember how
we did it your way?

"We did... we did
the hippie thing.

"We had peace and love
and no health insurance,

"and now our...

now our baby's dead,
and it's all your fault."

That's what you're saying.

I don't blame you, James.

You don't forgive me, either.

Why don't you go to the Sudan?

Because the Sudan
has nothing to do

with education or farming
or any of the issues

that are pertinent
to my constituents.

And blah, blah, blah, Katie.

You've turned into one of them.

Used to want to
change the world.

Now you can't even
give me a straight answer.

I help to change
the world every day.

You don't change the world.

Not by kissing the behinds
of people like Sumner.

Change the world by
being a good neighbor.

One person at a time.

Like Mrs. Rosenberg
and the toilet.

Like Mrs. Rosenberg.

Or the Sudan...
What's the difference?

Katie, when your
neighbor's in the sewer, you...

you roll up your sleeves,
you grab a shovel,

you go over there,
and you clean up.

Because someday it could be you.

But you don't want
to get your hands dirty,

and that's why you
won't go to Africa.

And that's why you're
going to leave me here

to explain all this to our son.

Go on, fly away.

Night 23 to San Francisco

now ready for
boarding at gate 388.

Flight 23 to San Francisco

now ready for
boarding at gate 388.

Why are you doing this?

Do you remember
when you were a child

and you imagined what
the world would be like

when the millennium came?

Remember all the things

that seemed like
science fiction then?

Nuclear medicine and...

the space shuttle, the
Internet, cell phones.

Tell me, Kate,

when you imagined
the 21st century,

did you ever imagine slavery?

You don't know
anything about me.

Or what it's like to do my job.

When I started, I
wanted to change things

for the better in this world.

Sometimes all I can do is
keep them from getting worse.

I'm not saying that
what you care about

isn't important, but
I have to prioritize

based on the realities
of what I can actually do.

And when I make those choices,

something always
gets sacrificed.

And I've made so
many sacrifices already.

Including the senator's own son,

- Oh, no.
- Nine-year-old Thomas,

who got the idea to
raise money, he says,

from reading
intelligence reports

in his mother's briefcase.

All you have to do is
send it to me, then my mom

and Dr. Joe will
take it to Africa

and buy some people back.

Just remember
that girls cost more,

but I don't know why.

The senator would not comment

on a possible fact-finding
trip to the Sudan.

Why won't you give this up?

Because you're the one, Kate.

Ladies and gentlemen,

flight 1652 to
Washington National

is now boarding at gate 528.

Basically, any
reporter who calls,

we tell them that your son
was acting independently.

That you admire his initiative,
but the issues are complex,

at Estate, at Eaten.

Kate, you better
make a statement,

get yourself out
of this business.

If you don't, you're going to

marginalize yourself
with the other senators

and I can't help you.

- Senator, I'm sorry...
- Senator! Excuse me.

Senator, what kind of
stunt are you pulling here?

I thought we had
an understanding.

I know. I... I had
nothing to do with this.

You had nothing to do with it?

Your kid's on the news
all week raising money

for you to go over there.

Bob, you've got
this all confused.

I'm not going.

And even if I were, the
money is not for the trip.

He wants to use it to
redeem some of the slaves.

There is no slavery
in the Sudan!

And trust me on this.

The government says it
doesn't exist, and I believe them.

You believe them?

Because they told you so?

Look, it... it's really simple.

The Sudan exports a
product called gum arabic.

It is in everything:
food, soft drinks...

And candy.

Yeah.

Katie. Katie, Katie.

I... I don't know what's
going on over there,

and the truth is, is that
I don't want to know.

I just want what they sell

at the same rate that
I paid for it last year.

Then I can keep my prices
down, pay my employees

and keep your
constituents working.

It's really, really easy.

You...

you've got to wash your
hands of this whole thing.

Tell your son and-and-and
the rest of the world

that you are not
interested in the Sudan.

Or?

Or you'll lose me.

And then you'll
lose the election,

and you won't be
able to help anybody.

Yes?

Irene, will you try
to get my husband

on the line again, please?

He's here with your son.

What?

Hi.

You are really gonna
be surprised, Mom.

I am already.

I would have sent
the car for you,

if I'd known you were coming.

I arranged for their tickets,

since time was getting short.

What are you talking about?

Okay, ready?

Surprise!

Oh... $3,236.76.

That's 64 people, Mom.

You didn't tell him?

I guess I still hoped
you'd change your mind.

Tell me what?

Come here, sweetie. Sit down.

I think what you've
done is wonderful.

You are a sweet, loving,
compassionate person,

and I am so proud of you.

But I can't take this money.

Why?

I'm not going to the Sudan.

There are many
reasons why I can't,

but the truth is, well,

there are people who
don't want me to go,

and if I don't listen to them,

they won't let me
be senator anymore.

And then all the good things
I try to do won't happen.

What if you just
do one good thing?

It's complicated, sweetheart.

But... What about Sam?

Thomas, I can't.

Please, Mommy, please.

There's got to be
enough money here.

Tell her, Daddy.

Tell her, please.

Come here.

Come on.

Where are you going?

I'm gonna go register to vote.

I've got Cunningham on line.

If you think you're
going to change my mind,

you are terribly mistaken.

I love my family, Monica.

I care for my son
and his future.

And the only that keeps
me from dying inside

every time I have to
make a choice like this,

between my child
and this office,

is that I believe,
I truly believe,

that there is a bigger picture

and I am making
a difference in it.

My family have paid a price

for years because of this job.

And if I don't follow
through on it now,

all the way, what
has it all been for?

I understand.

No, I don't think you do.

See, I had dreams, too, Monica.

Things that I cared
about, just like you.

I wanted to improve healthcare,

and the environment,
and education,

and lower taxes all at once.

And then I learned the truth.

It's not about dreams.

It's about compromise.

Compromise?

As in truth?

That's reality.

Well, I don't see
the difference.

God is truth.

He doesn't compromise.

What does God have
to do with anything?

God wants you to
go to the Sudan, Kate.

Okay, that's it.

Thank you very much.

Get out of here.

No, I won't.

There isn't much time left.

Plane leaves in a few hours.

There's room for five.

Dr. Joe, three angels, and you.

You're telling me
you're an angel?

Yes.

That's not possible.

Why would God
send an angel to me?

Because you're the one, Kate.

You're the one who
has to see the horror

of what happens when helpless
people can't defend themselves.

You're the one who
has to pay the money

to redeem a human being
from the closest thing to hell

there is on earth.

You're the one who has
to come back and say,

"Yes, I proved it.

People are in bondage
over there, right now, today."

You're the one to tell them,

the ones who take
their freedom for granted.

You're the one who
can shape the policy

for an entire nation,
maybe even the world.

You are the one, Kate.

The world may not know it,

the slaves of the
Sudan may not know it,

but I know, and I can't
walk through that door

until you know it, too.

You're asking
me to give it all up.

Everything that I've worked for.

You could lose everything, yes.

You could lose the election.

You could even be killed

tomorrow in the Sudanese desert.

It is not always easy

to do the thing
that God asks of us.

Right now?

I am... I am so afraid.

I know.

Do you remember
the story of Esther?

Esther was queen of Persia,

but she had a secret.

She was Jewish.

And she kept her secret

until one day, she discovered
the entire Jewish nation

was about to be wiped out.

She had the power to prevent it,

but she was afraid
to come forward.

Afraid she would
lose her throne,

perhaps even her life.

And then someone
said to her, "Who knows?

"Maybe this is
what it's all for.

"Perhaps you were
brought to the kingdom

for just such a time as this."

You are the one, Kate.

And I'll let into a little
secret from heaven.

Sooner or later,
everyone is the one.

They just have to say yes

when the time comes.

♪ Now:

♪ All I have is now ♪

♪ To be faithful ♪

♪ To be holy ♪

♪ And to shine ♪

♪ Lighting up the darkness ♪

♪ Right now ♪

♪ I really have no choice ♪

♪ But to voice the
truth to the nations ♪

♪ A generation looking for God ♪

♪ For such a time as this ♪

♪ I was placed upon the earth ♪

♪ To hear the voice of God ♪

♪ And do His will ♪

♪ Whatever it is ♪

♪ For such a time as this ♪

♪ For now and all
the days He gives ♪

♪ I am here, I am here ♪

♪ And I am His ♪

♪ For such a time as this... ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ Do you ever wonder why ♪

♪ Seems like the grass
is always greener ♪

♪ Under everybody else's sky ♪

♪ Right here ♪

♪ Right here for
this time and place ♪

♪ Oh, you can live a
mirror of His mercy ♪

♪ A forgiven image
of His grace ♪

♪ For such a time as this ♪

♪ I was placed upon the earth ♪

♪ To hear the voice of God ♪

♪ And do His will,
whatever it is ♪

♪ For such a time as this ♪

♪ For now and all
the days He gives ♪

♪ I am here:

♪ I am here and I am His ♪

♪ For such a time as this... ♪

♪ We can't change
what's happened till now ♪

♪ But we can change
what will be, yeah ♪

♪ By living in holiness ♪

♪ And the truth
will bring freedom ♪

♪ For such a time as this ♪

♪ Oh, I was placed
upon the earth ♪

♪ To hear the voice of my God ♪

♪ And do His will,
whatever it is ♪

♪ For such a time as this ♪

♪ For now and all the
days that He gives ♪

♪ I am here:

♪ I am here and I am His... ♪

God bless you and be with
you as you return to your homes.

And search for your families.

You're now free.

And the footage
from Cooper's mission

left little doubt that the
sale of human beings

was taking place.

And the heightened awareness

of this travesty will
hopefully bring new optimism

to the region.

♪ I am here:

♪ I am here and I am His ♪

♪ For such a time as this. ♪