Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 6, Episode 13 - A House Divided - full transcript

Welcome to Room 320. Hello.

Hello, how are you? Hello.

Hi.

It is so good to see so many
of you come here tonight.

Thank you so much. Kids?

Let's welcome our parents!

That's my dad!

All right, now, the
kids have worked

really, really hard to make sure
you guys have a very fun night.

And one of the things we did
is we came up with a game.

Uh, the first one's kind of
like a... it's like a pop quiz.



But it's-it's totally fine,

because you've had
11 years to study.

Now, all these
drawings behind me,

the children made in
response to the statement,

"How I see me."

So, you assignment is

to go find your child's drawing,

and then place it
on his or her desk.

So let's go.

I'll find it.

Trust you to be
wrong every time.

Me, wrong?

It's a girl's drawing.

It's a house.



Men build houses.
Some men even buy them.

Oh, but not me, right?

Well, save your breath,
basketball's his favorite sport.

- Well, it used to be.
- It still is.

And don't act like you
know my son better than me.

You don't live there.

You don't see how much

he likes living in a
house with a yard.

All that stuff I could
never give him, right?

- Mm.
- Um, you know...

there are no grades here.

This is just a fun kind
of warm-up activity.

Well, you don't see
how much he likes

watching the game with me.

Believe me, I know
what my son likes.

Well, so do I.

You're both wrong.

Here's your picture, Brett.

Heh.

My mother the volcano.

You are the one who
is always exploding.

I think that picture
explains everything.

How so?

Well, the volcano
exploding is, um...

it's like all the
anger that he feels.

And the dinosaur?

The dinosaur's... very lonely.

The world he knew
has become extinct.

Divorce can do that to children.

At least Andrew has
gotten John to a point

where he can make
a drawing like that.

Well, it's one thing
to draw a volcano,

but it's a whole
other thing to be one.

John's parents have divided

their friends, their money,

their furniture, but they...

But they can't figure out
how to divide their own son.

♪ 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. ♪

Hey.

Wow, that's a great dinosaur.

That looks like the guy that
you drew in that volcano picture.

It's a Comp.

It's short for Compsognathus,

one of the smallest
dinosaurs ever.

He lived in Canada
around the Jurassic period.

Oh.

That must've been kind of tough.

Being a little guy with
all those... those big guys

stomping around all the time.

Hi, Mom!

Hi, honey, let's go!

Who's coming to get you?

Um, on Fridays it's my dad,

but... but sometimes,
if he has to work late,

which is okay, 'cause
money doesn't grow on trees,

and you gotta do
what you gotta do,

well, then it could be my mom.

But if she's stuck, she
could send my grandmother.

Or Phil.

And that's your stepdad, right?

Phil? You call him Phil?

I don't know what
else to call him.

Well, I tell you what.

What if I go inside, and
give your Mom a call.

You know, just to let her know
that... that you're not alone.

If you want.

I want.

So, you like your new teacher?

Yeah.

He seems like
he'd be a lot of fun.

Yeah.

You know what I've
been in the mood for?

Ice cream.

How about on Sunday,
when you get home,

- we take a trip to the DQ?
- Ice cream in winter?

Cool!

I guess that's what's so
great about your mom.

She gets to make
up her own rules.

Well... when do I
get to make some up?

When you're a grown-up.

That's the way
of the world, John.

You don't get to
make up new rules

until you understand
the old ones.

Finish your dinner!

It's his turn to wait.

- Hey.
- Hi, Dad!

How you doing, kiddo?

- Sorry I'm late.
- Oh, that's okay.

Uh, hold on, let
me go get my stuff.

So you forgot your
gloves, too, huh?

I didn't forget him.

I had to work late.

I didn't say anything.

Right.

So, that thing's
still running, huh?

Don't worry. It's safe.

Well, you finally got those rims
you were always talking about.

Yeah.

They look good, don't they?

Yeah. Congratulations.

Hey. You got your homework?

- Yeah.
- Mm.

Whoopsie.

There you go.

Go, baby, warm it up.

Ready, buddy?

- Yes!
- Oh, yeah.

I don't know what
your mother told you,

but I got stuck

fixing a fuel mix
situation on a Ford Probe.

It's okay, Dad.

Those-those car computers
can be a real headache.

You said it. Hey.

Probably worked on
my last Plymouth today.

Can't believe
they cut those out.

You're telling me.

Man, if I was in charge
of Chrysler, I would...

Hey, what do you
say we go to my place,

catch a shower,
we'll grab a pizza,

check out the
game on big screen?

I already ate.

Oh, yeah, right.

Well, I-I could eat again.

That's a nice jacket.

Is it new?

Yeah.

We just went to get
socks, and Mom saw it...

- and so she just...
- Mom bought it for you,

just right then and
there, didn't she?

Yeah.

What was wrong
with the one I got you?

You want some tokens?

Hey, look, it's my
teacher. Remember?

Oh, yeah.

Looks like he's
got a girlfriend.

Uh, you want to go say hi?

Nah, you know what?

Don't bother him.

Play the games.

Okay.

Hey. Hey, John!

Hi. Don't mind me.

Come here. Come on.

I want you to meet
a friend of mine.

This is Monica.
Monica... this is John.

- Hi.
- Hello.

Andrew's teaching me how
to play, I'm not very good, but...

Would you look at that?

He's a pretty good teacher.

Oh, well... thank you.

Hey, take my turn.

Okay.

So, are you a teacher, too?

Uh, no, but I suppose

I do the sorts of
things that teachers do.

Like what?

Well, I teach people how
to solve their problems.

Like in math?

Well, no. Harder than math.

I mean, in math you either
add or subtract or multiply,

and you still come up
with the same answer.

Life's not that simple.

Sometimes things don't add
up no matter how hard you try.

Yeah. That's when you
know you really got a problem.

That's where I come in.

I help people find new answers.

Like a private eye?

Well, Monica is an advocate.

Oh, so like a lawyer.

Well, yeah, lawyers
are advocates.

So if I had a problem,

you'd be on my side, right?

Right.

Oh, no, I forgot my book.

So much for helping
him with his homework.

- We're eating first.
- You didn't even look

to see if he had his books
when he left the house.

He said he had them.

Great! And if he says
he's finished his homework,

are you just gonna take
him at his word then, too?

He's 11! I can't trust
him to match his socks

much less monitor
his own homework.

Well, I trust my kid.

Well, so do I,
but I still check.

That's not trust. It wasn't
before and it isn't now.

I'll go.

Please do not
make this about us!

- You just made it about us.
- I did not!

Guys, guys, please. Come on.

Can you settle this outside?

Sorry.

I am so sick of this.

Will you be my advocate?

Yes, but do you have a problem?

Yeah, big one.

I don't have much money.

Well, the money's not important.

What do you want me to do?

I want to get a divorce
from my parents.

John, I know that this is has
been really, really hard on you,

but divorce is very, very
serious from anyone.

It should only be
used as a last resort.

It is! They only fight
when they get together,

and the only reason they
get together is 'cause of me.

And if I'm gone, then
they won't fight anymore.

But it's not that simple, John.

You can't just be gone.

I mean, you'll have to go to
court and so will your parents.

You'll have to talk to a judge.

You'll have to make
some very painful choices.

It can't hurt any more
than it already does.

Okay, you know what I think?

I think you need a
break, not a divorce.

So, tell you what.

I'm gonna go
over, talk to you dad

and ask him if it'd be okay

for you and I just to
spend the day together,

just hanging out, just
the two of us, all right?

Then maybe that'll allow
your mom and your dad

a little time to settle
some things, okay?

Okay.

Let's go.

Well?

Well, John wants to ask
his parents for a divorce,

but I think we've managed
to talk him out of it.

I see. Now there are
two more adults telling

that child how he should feel.

Oh, cool.

Do you think it would
be, like, like, too dumb

if I worked with
dinosaurs when I grew up?

No, I don't think
that'd be dumb.

Even though they're extinct?

Just because they're not
roaming up and down the street

doesn't mean that we
can't learn stuff from them.

Hey, and it's not like
I'm learning anything

at basketball practice, so...

John, tell me something.

If you don't like basketball,
why do you play?

My dad says if he'd played
on a team in high school,

he could have gotten a
scholarship and gone to college.

I mean, a lot of guys
dumber than him did.

Phil did.

Phil played basketball?

Golf. But it was a team.

Whoa!

You've got everything
an artist needs there.

I paid for it all by myself.

That's a big deal.

How do you know?

Well, your dad can't get
mad that your mom bought it,

and you mom can't get
mad that your dad bought it.

Yeah.

♪ 67 bottles of root
beer on the wall ♪

♪ 67 bottles of root
beer on the wall ♪

♪ 67 bottles of root beer ♪

♪ You take one down
and pass it around ♪

♪ 66 bottles of root
beer on the wall ♪

65...

If he'd stay with me longer,
I'd put it up over there!

No, because that's not
our custody agreement!

They always argue when
Dad comes to Phil's house.

I'm sorry, John.

I had a nice day.

Yeah, me, too.

Why don't you call first!

What do you mean,
call? I came with the...

This is my house,
Martin, not yours.

No, no, it's my
son's house, too.

And this is for my son.

Don't tell me about
your son. He is my son.

Hey, kiddo. Hey, check this out.

I'm gonna hang it up over there.

Pretty soon, you'll
be a scoring machine.

That is not staying
here, Martin.

Hey, get her. She thinks

she's the only one
that can buy you stuff.

All right, that's it. I want
you out of here now!

Oh, sweetheart, oh, don't
pay any attention to him.

It's gonna be okay.

- It's not my fault.
- Yes, it's your fault.

Everything would have been
if you hadn't gotten in the way.

You come here, you
bring all your toys...

Shut up! Just shut up!

See?! Forget it, Andrew.

I want to do it.

Just gotta do it.

Do what?

Evening. Are you
Janet Grabowski?

Yes.

There you go.

Phil?

Martin wants custody again?

No, you're not
gonna believe this.

I don't get it.

How does a kid get a
custody hearing for himself?

Well, Martin had
to put him up to this.

He had to. He just
can't stand for me to win.

Win?

Well, I got John in the divorce,

and then I got you.
What has Martin got?

- What's this?
- You got one, too.

Which one of you
put him up to this?

Us. You just won't let us
settle down and be happy.

You put him up to this!

No, no, no, no, no, this
has your prints all over it.

Don't you remember?
Calling in the lawyers

the first time was
your idea, too.

Look, if John did
this on his own,

then it's clearly
a cry for help.

My son would never
do this on his own.

Why would he do this at all?

Why don't we ask him?

♪♪

All rise.

Summit County Family
Court is now in session.

This court is called to order

“m the matter of Ashburn
v. Ashburn and Grabowski.

You may be seated.

Now this is a
case, in my opinion,

that never should have
come to court in the first place.

The young man felt he had
no other choice, Your Honor.

Your Honor, excuse
me, Your Honor.

Uh, we can solve this
whole thing really easy.

All you got to do
is give me custody.

I mean, that's what
should have happened

in the first place.

Did I ask for your opinion, sir?

Um, I'm sorry, but...

she just doesn't pay
him enough attention

ever since she got married.

You can't blame this on me.

Your Honor, this
man has not kept

a single custody
condition since our...

I want quiet and I want it now!

Now, it doesn't take a
lot of legal mumbo jumbo

to show me that
this is a situation

that needs a time-out.

I know a time-out is
usually for children,

but in this case, I
cannot tell the difference

between the adults
and the children.

She can't say that.
Can she say that?

Mr. Ashburn, this is my court.

I can say what I want
to when I want to.

And you get a chance to listen.

Unless you want me to
give you my decision now.

No.

I didn't think so.

Now if there ever was a
situation that needed everybody

to take a step
back and let it settle,

this is it.

And so that's what
we're going to do.

In the meantime, Monica,

who is the advocate
for this minor child,

is going to take
some depositions.

The rest of you are
gonna take a deep breath

and cool yourselves off.

John, if you had to live with
someone other than your parents

for a few days,
where could you live?

I want to live with him.

Uh, you mean at my house?

Uh-huh.

Your Honor, the...

That would be fine.

At my house.

Temporary custody is granted.

And this court will
reconvene in two days.

All rise.

Nobody comes
in until I'm finished.

Oh, there you are.

We're having a bit of
a dispute over decor.

Ah.

But it's about to be solved.

Entrez.

Whoa!

This is...

am... uh, amazing!

It's my own design.

I wanted you to have
something elegant and classic

and strong, like
an angel should be.

Well, it's-it's
all those things.

I'm very pleased with it.

However, angels

are also peaceful,
comforting and warm,

and I think that your
home should reflect that,

because that's
really who you are.

I am.

You are.

This, th-this is very... um...

very... um...

it's very beautiful, too.

They're both very
beautiful in each...

each in their own
way are very... really...

Which one do you like better?

Well, uh, you know, I...

Come on, which one will it be?

We've got a little boy waiting.

Andrew... which
one is it going to be?

I wasn't sure how long it'd be,

so I didn't know what to pack.

It shouldn't be too long.

Well, I may have to stay
here till I go to college.

College, huh?

Okay, well...

I guess we need to get to
work on those grades, then.

Come on in.

What do you think?

It's, uh... it's interesting.

Where's the TV?

I'm not sure.

See, I had these two
really good friends,

they wanted to help me
decorate the apartment,

so some of these things
are what one of them wanted,

and some of these things
are what the other one wanted.

Well... where's the
stuff you wanted?

I don't know.

I was so busy trying
not to hurt their feelings...

that I forgot to be
honest with them.

Tell you what, though...

This time, the guys
fix the place up.

Excellent.

You made some changes to it

since the parent-teacher night.

Well, seeing the
real thing helped.

You know, the cop might've
made it to the meteor crash,

but he was stomped out
by two bigger dinosaurs.

Like T-Rex or Gigantosaurus,
I'm not sure which.

A lot of people don't
know he was ever here.

That's just a theory, John.

It's like the meteor crash.

You know, the
scientists don't know

what brought the
dinosaurs to extinction,

but two bigger dinosaurs

couldn't make the
little guy just disappear.

Yeah, well, they got their
theories and I got mine.

Right.

Everybody has a right
to their own theory.

For example...

I have a theory that this,
uh, this leopard pillow

should pretty much
be in the trash.

Leopard... Do you
mind if I call you Janet?

I know this must be
very difficult for you.

Do you have any idea why John

decided to pursue
this legal action?

No, I don't.

And that's what's
so upsetting about it.

I mean, John likes
living with us...

With Phil and I, I mean.

It's the first time that
he's seen two adults

who are not at each
other's throats all the time.

And Martin can't stand
that, so he does things

to undermine me all the time.

I've tried to make Sunday
night dinner a special event...

And Martin knows that...

But he still brings him
home late every time.

Do you think that
Martin is a good father?

Martin doesn't act
like a father with him.

He treats their time together

like it's a 48-hour free
pass to Disneyland.

What happens to a boy who
never learns how to handle

the really tough things in life?

Of course I make my time

with John like Disneyland.

I only get him for
two days a week.

I gotta make that time
as pleasant as I can.

If he has homework or
something important to do,

would it kill her to tell me?

I'd get it done.

I may not have a fancy
degree, like Phil, but...

I'm not stupid.

As for getting him
home late, eh...

I don't watch the clock
when I'm with him.

Actually, that's not true.

I do nothing but
watch the clock.

Every minute of every weekend,

I know exactly how much
longer I have with my son.

That's not fair.

So...

if I bring him home
late, once in a while...

sue me.

I-I-I think things
have to change

when you add something
new to the family equation.

And don't get me wrong...
I think John is a great kid.

I even asked him to give me
his mother's hand in marriage.

And, uh, he said he
thought it would be okay,

after he thought
for a long time,

as long as I didn't
ask him to call me Dad,

which I would never do.

But... mm, I mean,
if you want to know

where I think
he'd be better off,

I'd have to say it
would be with Janet.

Although I can see where
Martin's coming from...

it's a difficult position
to be in, you know?

I've read through
the depositions,

and I've had a
chance to see this

through the eyes of the parents.

John, now I'd like to see it

from your particular
point of view.

- Uh, Your Honor...
- This is completely...

Not a word.

You people have had
your chance. Just sit down.

John...

I'm going to have to
ask you some questions,

and I want you to answer
as honestly as you can, okay?

Okay.

Have either of your
parents ever beaten you

or hurt you
physically in any way?

No.

Have they ever locked
you out in the cold?

No.

Have they ever
made you go hungry

when there was
food in the house?

No.

Okay.

Thank you. You're doing great.

Now... honey, I
need for you to tell me

your side of the story.

I... I don't... I
changed my mind.

I... I don't want a divorce.

I'm fine. It's okay.

John, I know this is hard,

but you asked for our help,

and we can't help you
decide where to live

unless you talk to me.

You're not gonna
make me pick, are you?

Because I can't.

If I have to pick... I
choose not to pick.

In light of this, Your Honor,

I'd like to enter a
motion to dismiss.

As you said, this should never
have come before this court.

Sit down, sir.

I've seen enough to know

that this matter
will not be resolved

by simply dismissing it today.

Now, John, I know you
don't want to hear this,

but you brought
this matter to court,

and we take things
very seriously here,

and we can't just forget it,

even if you changed your mind.

And the truth is, baby...

you don't want to
leave here today

and go back to the
way it was, do you?

It's okay.

I can handle it.

Baby, you shouldn't have to.

We're gonna take a recess.

And when I come
back, some decisions

are gonna be made here.

We'll reconvene in ten minutes,

and I will see the parents
in my chambers now.

All rise.

They're all gonna hate me.

Everybody's gonna hate me.

I'm going to tell you a story.

Two women were
fighting over one child.

It seems they both
claimed to be the mother.

And they couldn't
settle the argument,

so they went to
wise King Solomon

for a judgment.

I know it's an old story,

but it's a good one.

So listen up.

Solomon couldn't tell
just by looking at them

who was the true parent.

And so he called for a sword

to cut the baby in two,

so that each woman
could have a half.

And one of the ladies
said, "Well, good.

That way we'll both lose."

And the other lady said, "Oh,
please, no, don't-don't do that.

I would rather that the child

live with her than be harmed."

And that's how Solomon
knew the real mother

from the pretender.

Because the real mother
did not care about winning.

She just cared about her baby.

Well, with all due
respect, Your Honor,

but that was a case
between one real parent

and one person
pretending to be a parent.

I mean, we're both real parents.

Mm.

But both of you are willing
to let your son get torn apart.

A real parent wouldn't do that.

Your son sees the sword coming.

And he's been
crying out for help.

But you haven't heard him,
because you've been so busy

arguing all the time.

And then... he came to us.

And we listened.

And that's frightening you.

Of course it is.

No one is going to
take my child from me.

Are you going to
hold onto him so tightly

that he tears in half, and
you lose him anyway?

Look, he's just confused,
we're not losing him.

Not yet.

But every time you
fight in front of him,

you pull further away,

and he's more alone and angrier.

And one day, that anger
is going to express itself

in a terribly ugly way.

And the two of you are
going to look at each other.

"What happened?

"How could such a sweet child

turn into such a bitter,
hateful creature?"

And the answer is...

he grew up with two of them.

I don't even know
why I came here.

And I don't want
to talk to anybody,

because nobody's going
to listen to me anyway.

I'm listening.

Monica's listening,
the judge is listening.

And most importantly,
God is listening.

God?

Like up in the sky God?

Well... God isn’t
just up in the sky.

Where is He, then?

God is everywhere.

Well, how do you know?

Maybe He's just a story.

May... maybe He used
to be, but He went extinct.

Like the dinosaurs.

No, John.

God is not extinct.

He is here, right now.

He heard your prayers.

He saw your tears.

And that's why He
sent you some angels

to help you through this.

Whoa... You're angels?

Really?

Oh, yeah.

And God sent us here
to give you a message.

He knows that you were
feeling like that dinosaur

that we saw in the museum.

That you were afraid
of being trampled.

But God wants you to
know that He's there for you.

He will give you the
strength you need

to get through this problem.

He will always give you
the strength you need

to survive, and find your way.

He Will?

He will.

God loves you so much, John.

That's why He send us here,

to help you find
a way to be heard.

And he sent another angel, too,

to talk to your parents.

The judge.

Maybe they'll listen to her.

They don't listen to me anymore.

Oh, I promise you,
they'll listen to her.

And do you know what
she's going to tell them?

She's going to tell
them to listen to you.

John... that means
that you have to talk.

Now, I know you're afraid.

But you've got to tell
them how you feel.

Because, sometimes, parents
teach their children things.

And sometimes, children have
to teach their parents things.

Like what?

Like who you are.

What you feel.

What you want.

Now, God wants you to
obey your parents, John.

But He also wants them
to know how you feel.

You've been teaching
your parents all your life.

From the moment
every child is born,

their parents see the world
all over again, brand-new.

And through their child's eyes,

they see that colors
are more vibrant,

flowers are more fragrant,

and music fills their soul

in a way they could
never even imagine.

And when the
child learns to walk,

it reminds their parents that

when you fall down,

you should just get
right back up again.

And when a child
stands and says,

"I know who I am, and I
know that God loves me,"

it reminds their parents

that every child
deserves to be respected.

You can teach your
parents that lesson.

God will help you.

We have a difficult
matter before this court

that requires not
simply a fair decision,

but more importantly,

a decision in the best
interest of this child.

Unfortunately, but
understandably,

John has found it hard

to tell me how he
feels about this,

so I will have to make a
decision without his input.

Excuse me.

Yes, baby?

- I think...
- Uh, John...

don't, uh, don't
interrupt the judge.

Did I call you "baby?"

You hush.

Go ahead, baby.

I think... I think I'm
ready to talk now.

Excellent!

Come up here by me.

I-I think this witness box
kind of scares you a little bit.

Yes, I am... and yes, He is.

And He's listening right now.

Have you figured out what
you want everybody to hear?

Yeah.

But...

they're always
yelling at each other.

When they're not doing that,

they're yelling at
me about each other.

I can't talk to them.

I just want to talk to them.

What is it you want to say?

I-I want to say
that... Say it to them.

Tell them, baby.

I want to be able to wear

whatever coat I
feel like wearing,

and not have someone mad at me

because I'm not wearing theirs.

I want to be able to
say, "I'm going home,"

not "Mom's house," or
"Dad's house," just home.

I don't want to have to eat

twice in one night,

just to make both
of you feel good.

That's not my job.

I'm not supposed
to take care of you,

you're supposed
to take care of me.

I'm the kid!

I just want to be the kid again.

I don't want to feel

that if I don't do
everything right,

all the time, you'll
stop loving me.

What?

You stopped loving each other.

Maybe you could
stop loving me, too.

Oh John,

we'd never do that
to you, we love you!

Oh, that would never happen.

Never happen. We
love you so much.

Both of us.

Oh...

that would never
happen, my sweetheart.

- Yeah.
- Never.

We were both just so... busy,

thinking about how hurt we were,

that we just didn't see...

We didn't see how
much we hurt you.

I know, that's no excuse.

Good.

'Cause we don't need
any more excuses.

And we sure don't
need any more blame.

We need change.

This child needs parents

that love him, and
will listen to him.

No matter how they
feel about each other.

That's all he's asking,

and it doesn't take
somebody like Solomon

to see the wisdom in that.

So I'm not calling
for a sword today.

I'm waiting to hear two
parents say... "Enough."

Can you say that?

Enough.

Enough.

What do you think, John?

Do you believe them?

They yell... but I
don't think they lie.

Well, then, what
happens next is left to you.

Do I make my decision,

or do I say, "Case dismissed?"

Case dismissed.

I like the sound of that.

They handed in their
new pictures today.

He really has a lot
of talent, doesn't he?

Yeah, and a brand
new jacket, too.

That's the best part.

Thank you, sir.

I had no idea you knew
so much about dinosaurs.

You are so smart.

And a pretty good teacher, too.

Well, there's your
dad. He's right on time.

Come here.

Give me a big kiss.

Bye, Mom.

- Bye, Phil!
- See you.

Oof! Ah... Oh, hi, Dad!

Hey, buddy.

Ah, did you have a good time?

Oh, we had a great time.

- Are you hungry?
- Starving.

Can, uh, can we get some pizza?

Whatever you want.