Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 9, Episode 16 - Song for My Father - full transcript

♪ Yeah, yeah... ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh... ♪

♪ Sometimes I have dreams ♪

♪ And I picture myself ♪

♪ Flyin' ♪

♪ Above the clouds ♪

♪ High in the sky... ♪

♪ Conquering the world ♪

♪ With my magic piano ♪

♪ Never being scared ♪

♪ But then ♪



♪ I realize that ♪

♪ I'm Supergirl and I'm here ♪

♪ To save the world ♪

♪ But I wanna know
who's gonna save me ♪

♪ Hey, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ I'm Supergirl and... ♪

Sarah has a powerful voice.

It's a gift from God.

I like her music.

A little different,
but I like it.

There may be only so
many notes in the scale,

but they can be expressed
more ways than there are stars.

Well, apparently not
everybody appreciates

the way they're being
expressed right now.



♪ Nobody's here ♪

♪ With me ♪

♪ To share in all
that I've been ♪

♪ Given ♪

♪ I need someone ♪

♪ That's strong
enough for me... ♪

Hey, Bob.

Hey, Bob, how's it going?

Oh, not too bad for a Saturday.

Sounds like a new song, huh?

Yeah, I guess so.

Well, we've had some complaints
about the noise again, Richard.

I'm sorry about that.

Well, you want to
do something about it,

or do you want
me to play bad cop?

No, no, I'll take care of it.

Thank you.

♪ Why I feel so alone ♪

♪ Ooh, yes, I'm all alone ♪

♪ Yes... ♪

Sarah!

Hey, Dad.

Concert's over.

But we're rehearsing here.

Not anymore.

The neighbors have had
enough, and so have I.

I can't believe that
you're doing this.

I can't believe I didn't do it

the first five times
you were warned.

And find someplace
else for all this equipment.

I want my garage back.

What do you want to do, Sarah?

Just break it down.

It's hard to say which
of them is wrong.

They're both wrong
and they're both right.

That's part of
what's going to make

this assignment so hard.

Part?

The other part's
going to be a lot harder.

♪ 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. ♪

All right, yeah,
just set it down.

All right, so what are
we gonna do now?

We're gonna find a
new place to rehearse.

How about your garage, Erica?

Your parents are never home.

No, forget it... it's like a
Home Depot exploded in there.

Not to worry, ladies,
I'm working on it.

Yeah, right.

Hey... did I not get
you a gig for Monday?

It's an audition
in the cafeteria.

It's a shot at playing
at the Winter Formal.

You think they're letting
just anybody audition?

- Pretty much.
- You got a problem, Molly?

Yeah, I think Ty ought to
start acting like a manager

instead of a boyfriend.

Get us a real place to rehearse.

Yeah, get us some real gigs.

Hi.

Hi, can I help you?

Yeah, yeah.

I'm looking for Paula Dardenne.

Mom!

What's up?

Hi, Paula, my name is Andrew,

and I just joined your office.

- Oh, well, nice to meet you.
- Thank you.

Also I have a client who's
interested in the house

you just listed
across the street.

How could you
have a client already?

I just put up that
sign an hour ago.

I guess I was in the right
place at the right time.

That's great.

Well, you can tell your client

that it'll be a nice, quiet
neighborhood from now on.

I'm sorry.

♪ Alas, my love ♪

♪ You do me wrong ♪

♪ To cast me off ♪

♪ Discourteously ♪

♪ And I have loved ♪

♪ You so long ♪

♪ Delighting in ♪

♪ Your company... ♪

It's bad enough I got to go

to the school where he teaches,

but he thinks he
can run my life.

I don't want to go to college.

I want to do my music.

How many counselors
do I have to convince?

I'm convinced.

You are?

Yes.

The ability to touch
someone's life with music

is a wonderful gift.

It's as if there's
a... a golden thread

between you and the audience,

and you take in their emotion
and you give back your own.

Yeah.

No one wants to discourage
your dream, Sarah.

We want to help you expand them.

Do you know how many famous
musicians have gone to college

and still made music?

Dexter Holland
from the Offspring...

He has his doctorate.

And Rivers Cuomo from
Weezer... He's going to Harvard.

I can't believe you know
about the Offspring and Weezer.

I know a lot of things
that might surprise you.

I know that you could focus
all of your energy on your band,

and it's possible that you might
achieve some degree of fame,

but the people who combine
their gifts with education...

They can have
influence, not just fame,

and that's real power.

Well, whatever you said
to her, it must have worked.

I haven't seen her smile
like that in a long time.

Oh, I just encouraged
her to follow her dream.

Monica, you were supposed to
encourage her to go to college.

It is my job to help
your daughter discover

what is best for her,

and What that is might
just surprise the both of you.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I have another student waiting.

Hey.

I rented that house
across the street.

I thought you were quitting.

I'm working on it.

I see.

So, in the meantime, I
get to be the bad guy.

I'm the one who gets
to say to our daughter,

"You shouldn't smoke,

you shouldn't play
your music so loud."

Especially when
you don't like it.

You're right, I don't like it.

I think she's much too
smart, is too talented,

too terrific

to be wasting her
time on a lot of...

Ah, the hell With it.

Where is she anyway,
upstairs studying?

No. Rehearsing.

Rehearsing where?

Across the street.

Stop.

Hello, baby, my name is Tess.

Hey, Dad, check
out our new studio.

Yeah.

It's, um...

it's quiet.

Soundproofing.

Ah.

Because I like somebody's music
doesn't mean everybody does.

You mean you actually like this?

Oh, I like all music.

It's the language of the angels.

Shakespeare?

Buddy Holly.

Oh.

Can I do something for you?

I guess not.

Just wanted to make sure

that Sarah wasn't
giving you any problems.

No problem at all.

You have a good night now.

Thanks.

You, too.

Let's run it again.

The support, the
cool rehearsal space...

This is really
great of you, Tess.

Well, I have my moments.

I know, but you didn't even
flinch when my dad came in here.

I mean, that's really cool.

You have a problem
with your father?

Just the usual dad stuff.

We have nothing in common,

and he basically hates
everything that I do.

You have nothing
in common at all?

Well, we both love music...

just different kinds.

When I was a kid, he used to
call me to come sit on his lap.

Right before I'd go to
bed, he would sing to me.

But I'm just not Daddy's
little girl anymore.

Don't be so anxious to grow up.

The day will come
when you'll be very happy

to be Daddy's little girl.

♪ ...and none but my lady ♪

♪ Greensleeves. ♪

Okay, not bad, not bad at all.

Why don't we try it one more...?

Oh, hi.

Hi.

I just came to hear the choir.

Great.

Welcome.

All right, gang, we
have an audience,

so let's do it again.

Let's take it from the solo.

And...

♪ If you and I are ♪

♪ To disdain ♪

♪ I shall the more ♪

♪ Enrapture me ♪

♪ And even so ♪

♪ I still remain ♪

♪ A lover in ♪

♪ Captivity ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

1 Was all my joy ♪

-♪ It was all... I
-♪ Greensleeves ♪

1 Was my delight ♪

♪ Yes, oh... ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

I Was my heart of gold ♪

-♪ Oh I -♪ And none ♪

-♪ But none I -♪ But my lady ♪

♪ None ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Oh, yeah. ♪

Sarah?

You okay?

Yeah, just a little sore throat.

Come here.

Do you see what
you're doing to yourself?

What are you talking about?

You smoke too much,
you have got to stop.

Dad, don't do this, not here.

All right.

Fine, go see the nurse.

What's she going to tell
me, Dad, switch to menthol?

Well, you're no good to
me here if you can't sing.

Gee, thanks.

Uh, Molly, why don't, why
don't you take the solo?

Sarah...

would you like to talk?

Sarah, the nurse's
station is this way.

This is such a waste.

The choir sounds wonderful.

Oh, thank you.

They're good kids, I'm
really proud of them.

I was in a choir once.

Only once?

I was asked to leave.

Really?

Why is that?

I wasn't any good.

I've been told that I
have two left vocal cords.

Sarah has a beautiful voice.

Yeah.

She's not just a
singer, you know.

She's a gifted pianist.

She composes music.

She's a natural.

But she's wasting
it all on a rock band.

She's doing what
she loves to do.

I guess so.

Who taught her how to
sing and play the piano?

I did.

When you give someone a gift,

is it fair for you to tell them
how they should use it?

Excuse me.

The school nurse called today.

She's concerned about you.

She's worried you
might have bronchitis.

Well, I set up a doctor's
appointment for you tomorrow.

I don't need to
go to the doctor.

Damn it, Sarah,
you're still my child,

you still live under this roof,

and you're going to
the doctor's if I say

you're going to the doctor's.

End of story.

You shouldn't do that.

Terrible habit.

I know.

I would give anything
to be able to go back

and never start smoking.

But I can't.

Life doesn't work that way.

Now... I have two choices.

I can either keep going
like I've been going...

or...

I can try to make a change.

I think it's time for a change.

Yeah.

But how are we
going to change Dad?

Oh, he loves us so much.

It can't be easy.

Ah... Gloria, is this
really necessary?

When did your throat
start hurting you?

I don't know, off and
on, but it felt okay today.

Yeah, there's a lot of
irritation down there.

I'm gonna do a throat culture
and a few other tests, okay?

It's probably
bronchitis again, right?

Well, I don't know, it's,
uh, hard to say right now.

Hey, maybe it's mono.

Well, that'd be the end
of the boyfriend thing.

You a smoker?

Not really.

Well, kind of.

I'm gonna quit.

Oh, nice.

Wow, thanks.

There's more where this
came from, if you run out, okay?

- Hey!
- Hey.

We were waiting for you.

Sarah, you've been
to see a doctor?

It's no big deal, Tess.

It's just a little leprosy.

Oh.

So, what's up with this
emergency meeting?

Yeah, what's up?

Okay, um, you know

Bumper Dorman, that DJ on WIXB?

Yeah, what about him?

I made MP3s of our songs
and e-mailed them to him.

And what'd he say?

He loved 'em.

And he hooked us up
with a spot on the bill

at the Retro Club this Friday.

What do you think of that?

Oh!

- Right, awesome! Awesome!
- That's so great.

Are you serious?

Yeah.

You got us a real club date?

Yeah, and if he likes our set,
he's gonna give us some airtime.

Some record label hears
us, I mean, we're on our way.

Awesome.

Finally.

♪ I realize that ♪

♪ I'm Supergirl and I'm here ♪

♪ To save the world ♪

♪ But I wanna know
who's gonna save me ♪

♪ Hey, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ I'm Supergirl and I'm here ♪

♪ To save the world... ♪

I put the flyers all over town.

This is incredible, Ty.

Finally a real gig.

Sure beats the cafeteria.

Oh, leave him alone, Molly.

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

1 I'm Supergirl... ♪

I can't believe this
is actually happening.

Well, the new drywall
manufacturing plant

has brought a lot of people

into the community.

Of course, guys who make
drywall don't buy mansions.

Yeah, but sales are up.

Yeah.

Real estate is really the only
thing you can count on nowadays.

- Hey.
- Hey, Mom.

- Hi, Andrew.
- Hi.

So we booked a gig at
the Retro Club tonight.

The Retro Club.

So... you need to come.

Thanks, thanks, I'd love to.

They say that if we
pack the whole place out,

they're gonna pay
us a hundred bucks.

Wow.

I got it.

Don't let her force you
into going to this thing

if you don't want to.

No, I'd, I'd like to go.

Hello.

Wow.

A doctor who makes house calls.

That's... rather unusual.

Yes, I know.

I-I just really wanted to
speak with you right away.

You have the
results of the test?

And there are a few
things that concern us.

- What?
- Well... on one of the tests,

we found some unusual cells,

and there were some
spots on her vocal cords.

You mean, like really
bad strep or something?

No, actually, it-it strongly
indicates throat cancer.

I'm sorry.

Hello.

Richard, this is Gloria.

She is a new
specialist at the clinic.

We have a problem.

Okay.

Sarah may have throat cancer.

Oh, my God.

What...?

How, uh...?

Sarah?

She's only 17.

It happens.

It's more likely to occur
when a smoker is older,

but it's not unheard
of in teenage smokers.

Throat cancer.

What do we do now?

Well, first of all,
you need to know

that throat cancer is treatable,

and if it's caught early
enough, the prognosis

for beating it is very good.

But, right now, there's
a lot about your case

that we don't know, Sarah, so,

I'd like to admit you into
the hospital tomorrow.

They'll send a scope
down for a closer look,

find the cancer,
where it's hiding,

and biopsy whatever
looks questionable.

So, the spots on my vocal cords,

does that mean...?

If the cancer is there...

your vocal cords may
have to be removed.

But that's not for sure yet.

Mom... Oh, honey...

Sarah, we'll do
whatever it takes.

We'll beat this, I promise.

For now, the best thing you
can do is not strain your voice.

If there is a tumor
on your vocal cords,

we don't want it to rupture.

That could be very dangerous.

So...

I'll see you tomorrow
morning at 7:00?

I'll meet you in Admitting,

and then, they'll
take you upstairs.

I'll see myself out.

We're gonna get through this.

Sweetheart,

I'll help you pack
for the hospital,

and then, why don't
we rent a movie?

No.

The concert's tonight.

Well, obviously,
you can't go now.

I have to go.

It's important.

Well, I don't care how
important you think it is.

Big surprise.

Honey, Gloria said it
would be very dangerous

to strain your voice like that.

Mom, if they remove
my vocal cords,

I won't have a voice.

You do understand
that, don't you?

I can't sing
without vocal cords.

Oh, honey...

What if this is my last chance?

- It won't be.
- You don't know that.

If you don't let me
go, I'll never know.

I'll never know if I
was good enough.

The band's been waiting,
and Ty worked so hard.

Sarah, if Ty really cares
about you, he'll understand.

There are more
important things right now.

Fine.

I'll call him.

I'll be up in a minute,

sweetheart, to help you pack.

I can do it myself.

We have to leave at
6:30 to get there on time.

There shouldn't be much traffic.

I'll call Andrew and ask him
to cover my closing tomorrow.

It wasn't so long ago

that she was sitting
here on my lap,

and I was singing to her...

and she was so little...

and so...

happy.

How did this happen?

Hi.

Hello. I'm Monica. I'm
from Sarah's school.

Oh. Uh, come in, please.

Thank you. Hello.

Hello.

Uh, Sarah stopped
by my office yesterday.

She wanted some
scholarship applications.

She said that she'd
given it some thought.

Wants to keep her options open.

Really?

Well... she's a smart girl.

That was nice of
you to bring them by.

Well, there's one in particular

I thought would be
very good for her.

It's from the
Indiana Arts Council,

but it needs to be there by
Monday morning, so, I was

hoping that she
could sign it tonight.

Uh, sure, sure.
She's right upstairs.

I'll get her.

Your timing couldn't
be better, Monica.

Sarah...?

Monica's here, honey...

♪ Sometimes I have dreams ♪

♪ And I picture myself flyin' ♪

♪ Above clouds ♪

♪ High in the sky ♪

♪ I-I-I, I-I-I, I ♪

♪ Conquering the world
with my magic piano ♪

♪ Never being scared... ♪

What do you think, Mr. Dorman?

She's good. Really good.

♪ But then I realize ♪

♪ I'm Supergirl ♪

♪ And I'm here to
save the world ♪

♪ But I want to know
who's gonna save me ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

- ♪ Oh, oh-oh-oh ♪
- She looks like she's hurting.

- ♪ ♪ 'M Supergirl ♪
- ♪ I-uh-uh-uh, H ♪

♪ And I'm here ♪

I To save the world ♪

♪ I want to know ♪

♪ Why I feel so alone... ♪

Sarah? Sarah?

- Oh, God.
- Hey, get some help.

Sarah, are you all right?

Sarah, are you all right?

Can someone get
some help, please?

You know, we wouldn't be here

if it weren't for
those damn things.

I know.

I've been telling you for years.

Look, if you're trying
to blame me for this,

believe me, I am
way ahead of you,

but I don't think right now
is the time to talk about it.

No, I want to talk
about it right now.

Sarah started smoking
because of you.

You made it okay.

Now she has cancer.

Stop it, Richard.

I've been trying
to stop it for years,

but you wouldn't listen!

You wouldn't do anything!
You just made excuses!

What's your excuse now, Paula?

Oh, God.

Oh, my God, please help me.

Paula?

How long have you
been standing there?

Long enough.

It's true.

It is my fault.

Because you smoke?

It's a hell of an example
to set for your kid, isn't it?

Paula, Sarah doesn't
need your guilt right now.

She needs your strength.

What strength?

Look at me.

I am the weakest person I know.

You don't have to be.

What does that mean?

I heard you cry
out to God for help,

and you have to decide
if you really meant it.

Because He's
ready to give it to you

if you're ready to receive it.

Why is it taking so long?

I'm sure that they're
being very thorough.

I just can't stand this waiting.

Excuse me for saying
so, Richard, but...

there seems to be a lot of
things that you can't stand.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Well...

you have a problem with
the way that Paula behaves.

I have a problem
with her smoking, yes.

And you don't like the music
that your daughter plays.

It's not music. It's,
uh... bouncy noise.

It's joyful noise,

and it pleases God very much.

God?

Give me a break.

I'll give you more than that.

I'll give you a
message from God.

I'm an angel.

What?

I'm an angel.

God sent me here to help you.

Please don't take her.

Excuse me?

Please don't
take my little girl.

Oh... I didn't come
here for your child.

She's not gonna die?

No, she's going to live.

But she's never
going to sing again.

At least, not with her voice.

But she can with her spirit,
if you help her find a way.

Help her to find a
new voice, Richard.

She needs your
hope, your prayers.

She needs to know that
no matter what happens,

she'll always
be your little girl.

She will always
be my little girl.

Then let her know.

And forgive her
for her weaknesses,

as God forgives you for yours.

God loves you so much, Richard.

He's blessed you
with a wonderful family.

Please, don't push them away.

Gloria... how bad is it?

They need to get her
into surgery immediately.

Can we see her?

Not quite yet.

She's still being prepped.

Hello, baby.

Tess?

What are you doing here?

What if I said I was an angel?

Yeah, right.

What if I told
you I know the joy

of raising your voice in song?

That's all over for me now.

You can still make a
joyful noise unto the Lord.

You can still make music

with whatever
instruments you have,

praising God who
turns those little notes

into the most beautiful sounds

and joyful noises
you can ever think of.

I know this is going to
be hard for you, Sarah,

but God, who gave you music,

God, who made music...

God, who is music,

has a brand-new
song for you, baby.

Really?

And it's more beautiful
than you can even imagine.

Tess?

Mr. Dardenne?

I'm sorry.

I-I didn't know. I never
would've let her sing if...

I know, son.

Is she gonna be okay?

I don't know.

They're prepping
her for surgery.

Oh.

Would you tell her
that Bumper Dorman,

that DJ, thought she was great?

Yeah. Yeah, sure, I'll tell her.

Hey, you mind if I wait around?

No, why don't you, sweetheart?
I'm sure she'd love that.

You've been out
there all this time?

I was finishing my cigarette.

My last one.

Well, that's great.

Paula... I'm sorry.

- I'm sorry, too.
- No.

I shouldn't have
said what I said.

What you said was true.

It was just hard
to hear it, that's all.

I guess the truth often is.

But you shouldn't have
heard it that way from me.

Let's go see our little girl.

Hi.

I need a few more papers signed.

I'll do it.

You go ahead.

I'll-I'll just... I'll be
there in a minute.

Hi, sweetheart.

Hi.

I heard you sing tonight.

You sounded great.

Uh...

Ty, uh... Ty wanted
me to tell you that...

that Bumper Bowman
thought so, too.

Oh.

Well, at least now I know.

It's not over, Sarah.

Well, Gloria said I'm
gonna lose my voice.

Well...

we'|| just have to find you
a different kind of voice.

There are a lot of
ways to make music.

Yeah, that's what I hear.

We're gonna get through this...

by the grace of God.

They're ready for you, honey.

Daddy?

I'm scared.

♪ Hush, little baby,
don't say a word ♪

♪ Daddy's gonna buy
you a mockingbird ♪

♪ And if that
mockingbird don't sing ♪

♪ Daddy's... ♪

♪ Daddy's gonna buy
me a diamond ring ♪

♪ Daddy's gonna buy
you a diamond ring ♪

♪ If that diamond ring ♪

♪ Turns brass ♪

♪ Daddy's gonna buy
you a looking glass ♪

♪ And if that looking
glass gets broke ♪

♪ Daddy's gonna
buy you a billy goat ♪

♪ And if that billy
goat don't pull ♪

♪ Daddy's gonna buy you... ♪