Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 9, Episode 17 - The Good Earth - full transcript

What a beautiful view.

I wish you could've seen it
before the cities came along.

You know, before the
cars and the smokestacks,

before the highways
cut through the wetlands.

I remember when
I first saw Earth,

and it was so
green and beautiful.

You could drop a stone

right in the middle of a lake

and watch it fall all
the way to the bottom.

The water was so clear.

Like it was in the beginning.



Were you there?

In the beginning when
God created Earth?

No.

Tess was, though.

I wish she was here to
tell you all about the time

on the... on the sixth day,
when the sun was setting

and God looked out over
all that He had created, and...

and He saw that it was
excellent in every way.

And then He gave
the Earth to man.

Come in.

Hey, Carl.

Those the new quarterly
earnings reports?

Global warming.

Ozone depletion.



Pollution index.

You're joking.

I hired this new kid in R & D.

She wrote these up.

I want you to read them.

She knows this is
an oil company, right?

You're missing the
big picture here, Bill.

Gotta have vision.

Read them and let me
know what you think.

See you.

You know, more damage
has been done to the Earth

in the last 150 years

than in all the
centuries before.

But that man

has the power to
make a difference.

All the power in the world won't
be enough without inspiration

and the genius to
turn it into reality.

I thought those reports
would inspire him.

Well, we're not
here to inspire Carl.

We're here to make sure
that Carl meets the genius.

Maybe the cupping
device is... No, no.

But if I... if I
reverse the field...

Meet Emmett Rivers.

Oh, my goodness.

Do you know what that is?

Yes, I do.

That could change the world.

Yes, it could make
all the difference.

Problem is, it
doesn't quite work.

Emmett's been working
on this project for 20 years.

But he hasn't quite figured out
the missing piece of the puzzle,

and he's too proud
to ask for help.

So, an invention

that could save
the Earth might not

ever make it out
of this basement?

And that's why we have to
make sure that he meets Carl.

And what about the boy?

♪ 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. ♪

What's he do down there?

My dad says he's
trying to make a car

that runs on chicken crap.

I heard he eats his pets.

Puts mustard on
them and eats them.

I heard he's a cannibal.

That's why he always carries
a Swiss Army knife around:

so he always has a fork handy.

And he keeps dead
bodies in his basement.

- And...
- Shut up!

Shut up!

Who's that?

What are you doing, lady?

Hello.

Mr. Rivers?

My name is Monica.

That's nice. What do you want?

I'm from the IRS.

I'm here for the audit.

What audit?

Uh, we sent you three notices.

Oh, that was you, huh?

What kind of gas mileage
do you get on that dinosaur?

Oh, actually...
Yeah, I know, I know.

It's comfortable,
safe, fun to drive.

Let somebody else worry
about the ozone layer.

You've all received
copies of the projections

for the quarter.

The watchword
here is "fluctuation."

Fluctuation makes
shareholders nervous.

And nervous shareholders
make stocks plummet.

Exactly.

So, what can Palace Energy do

to create stability in
an unstable market?

Come on, don't be shy.

Yes, Gloria?

Everybody, this is Gloria.

She's new in R 8. D.

You have a suggestion?

Well, I was thinking maybe
we could show the shareholders

that we're broadening
our interests.

I knew it.

Hold on, Bill.

Please, go ahead, Gloria.

Well, if-if you'll take a look
at the folders in front of you.

612 alternative energy proposals

have been submitted to
this company since 1964.

They've all been rejected.

Yes, we know.

These are lunatics
who want to spin

straw into gold.

Actually, new
technologies have made

some of those crazy
ideas not so crazy anymore.

There are five
proposals here that I think

Palace Energy should reconsider.

On page two, you
have... Emmett Rivers.

Yes.

In 1982, he proposed a method

of extracting
hydrogen from water

using a specialized
metal alloy catalyst.

Electrolysis, Gloria.

It's been around for years.

It's totally inefficient.

Well, no, this is different.

According to his
calculations, Mr. Rivers

should be able to
meet total energy needs

for a typical American
home for one year

with just a single
glass of water.

I read in your file that
you're self-employed.

Yeah, well, I'm an inventor.

And most of my income
comes from patent royalties.

Like what, for example?

Uh... MONICA: Oh,
you invented the screw.

Well, this one, I did, yeah.

It's, uh, threaded backwards
for left-handed people.

Wasn't a big hit.

I'm going to need

to see your receipts
for the last five years.

Well, there they are.

20 years' worth.

Just, uh, knock yourself out.

So, how do you
folks work, anyway?

You just sit around and you...

you draw names out of a hat

until you find
some poor old coot

that you can go
bother for a while?

Is that it?

Actually, we had
some flags come up

on your itemized deductions.

What flags?

Um... $312 for toothpicks?

You got that right.

As a business expense?

I'm sorry, but...

What can you tell me
about the working parts

of a small Hansberg
reverse-modulated

nonconductivity device?

Absolutely nothing.

I rest my case.

Oh, but, uh, there
is something else.

Um, you wrote off $2,500 in hay.

There she is.

You wrote off hay for a horse?

Section eight,

paragraph six...
The United States

tax law handbook states

that anyone using their
vehicle for business purposes

can deduct a portion

of the cost of the
fuel that powers it.

Well, for most
people, of course,

that's gasoline.

I happen to ride a
horse, and it runs on hay.

And it converts
its stuff directly

to horsepower by a
process known to those of us

in the business as digestion.

And the only
emissions is methane

and fertilizer.

Now, if you commuters

can get a tax break for
destroying the environment

and supporting our dependency
on foreign oil and terrorism,

well, don't you think

that I should deserve
the same break?

Well, yes, but... And so do I.

Good day to you, ma'am.

Where are you going?

I'm out of toothpicks.

Turns out your Mr. Rivers
was employed here

for a short time
in the early '80$.

Yes, I know.

Until my father fired him.

I'm not surprised really.

What do you... what do you mean?

Well, I had some
of my scientists

review some of
Mr. Rivers' proposals.

Complete nonsense.

20 years ago, that is.

They tell me that
today it just might work.

I want you to
look in on this guy.

Pay him a friendly visit.

See if you can find out
what he's actually got.

Then call me.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Who are you?

Andrew. And you would be?

Stan.

Where's Mickey?

Early vacation.

You're Stan Lewis, right?

'Cause the boss
was asking about you.

He wanted to know if
Mr. Rivers took a subscription yet.

Old Man River?

You must be kidding.

That guy's a freak.

What do you mean?

He keeps dead
bodies in his basement.

Ah, I'm sure he does.

No, really.

He gets them from the morgue.

They're, like, dead
bank robbers and stuff.

They're for reanimation
experiments.

So, have you, um, actually
seen what's in his basement?

No.

Ah.

I dare you double.

This is so stupid.

Man, the government
ought to be paying me.

I'm doing a lot more than
they are for the environment.

Mayday, mayday!

He's back, and he's
got the woman with him.

I know. I'm right
underneath them.

Whoa!

What the hell was that?

Stan, come in,
Stan. Are you okay?

- How are you feeling?
- Am I dead?

You'll wish you were
when they arrest you

for breaking and entering.

Take it slowly.

That's quite a bump

- on your head.
- What is your name?

Stan.

I'm not a burglar.

I didn't steal anything.

No, you stole my privacy,
you stole my peace of mind

and a good 25 minutes
that I could be using

for something important.

Mr. Rivers, I don't
think that Stan is a thief.

I think he's just a
curious little boy.

I'm just a kid; it
was just a dare.

Oh... well,

that makes it all
right, then, yeah.

You think that I
don't hear you kids?

"I dare you to throw a rock
through the old man's window."

"I dare you to
knock on his door."

"I dare you to
break in to crazy old

"Mr. Rivers' house and find
out what he's doing in there."

What do you do in here?

Mr. Rivers is an inventor.

Everybody knows that.

- But I mean...
- Where are the cadavers?

Huh?

Where are the body parts
that he secretly converts

into subatomic particles

to blow up the
planet Dolaab, eh?

That's what you're
thinking, right?

That's kind of what
the other guys think.

But I think you're
inventing something really...

Really what?

What did you see down there?

I don't know what I saw.

It looks like... I
can't explain it.

I've seen it before.

Or imagined it, maybe.

Ha, it's impossible.

The kid is delusional.

He needs to see a doctor
about that head of his.

Hey. Hey.

Get out of here.

Come on, get out of here.

You're making me crazy.

Get out!

I'm sorry, really.

Bye!

Mind your own business!

"I believe that water will
one day be employed as fuel.

"That hydrogen and oxygen

"which constitute it,
used singly or together,

"will furnish an inexhaustible
source of heat and light.

Water will be the
coal of the future."

"The coal of the future."

Oh, we're knocking
on doors now, huh?

Breaking new ground, are we?

You did it, didn't you?

You converted water into energy.

That's ridiculous.

Go away.

Hmm.

I hope you don't mind.

I thought you might like a
nice cup of peppermint tea.

It'll soothe your tummy.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

And what do you know
about my tummy, huh?

I-I saw your medical deductions.

Ah.

The government.

They ought to be paying
more attention to topsoil erosion,

industrial pollution,
global warming.

I mean, these...
these things are real.

Ocean levels are rising.

Coral reefs are disappearing.

Oh, it's happening.

And we know it.

Nobody seems to care.

You care.

Yeah, well... Are you
cooking gingerbread?

Mm-hmm, and it's ready.

I told you to... Mr. Rivers?

- No solicitors.
- Oh, no!

I'm not a solicitor.
My-my name's Gloria.

I'm with the Palace
Energy Corporation.

I'm here to talk to you
about your proposal.

- From January 8...
- Would you excuse me?

That was 1982.

Palace Energy is-is interested
in... in my proposal now?

Mm-hmm.

Huh.

Well, it's about time.

- I was hoping we could discuss your...
- Oh...

what timing you people have.

Nobody was interested 20
years ago when all that I had

was... was a theory.

They said that I was crazy,

that I was on a
wild-goose chase.

Yes, I-I know.

But Mr. Carl Northum,
the chief executive officer...

Carl Northum?

The old man's son?

Yes, yes, Mr. Northum
runs the company now.

And he's very interested.

Now he's interested, yes.

That spineless
father of his fired me,

and now the son
wants me back, huh?

Sure, of course.

Let old Emmett spend
20 years of his own money

working it all out.

Let old Emmett make sure

that the prototype
is up and running,

and then they swoop
in and want to steal it.

No, no, nobody's
swooping, Mr. Rivers.

You have a working prototype?

I mean, it's actually working?

Ha-ha! Wouldn't
you like to know?

Well, yes, yes, I would.

And so would Mr. Northum.

We're willing to offer you a
substantial amount of money.

Oh, I'll just bet that you are.

Well, you go back and tell
your boss that he's too late.

You people had your
chance, and you blew it.

And if you think
that I am going to

cut you in on a piece
of the action now,

- you're crazy!
- But, uh...

Now, you tell him that
Emmett Rivers is not interested.

No sale!

Thank you for your time!

All 20 years of it.

Ta-da.

Who was at the door earlier?

Oh, scavengers, vultures, spies.

Where's the... the
powdered sugar

and the little sprinkles?

If you don't like my baking,

you could always file
a report with the IRS.

You know, I'm almost
finished working.

And if you'd like,

later, I could teach Stan
how to make gingerbread.

I got the distinct impression

that he is very close
to a working prototype.

Well, they're always close.

That's the problem.

Nobody's ever made the leap

to a real working
fuel alternative

that's economically
feasible in the larger market.

But if this old guy
has actually done it,

we're gonna be
the first ones in.

I agree. That's why I think

- a visit from you just might...
- Emily, book me

- two tickets to...
- Kearney, Nebraska.

Kearney, Nebraska.

Yeah.

We're gonna hook this
old guy and pull him in.

Hey, Stan.

Come here.

I got a call yesterday
from Mr. Rivers.

- Oh, really?
- Yeah.

He had all these questions
about, like, how we do business.

You know, whether
we use recycled paper

and how many trucks
are involved in the delivery.

And I told him usually you
guys just used your bikes.

You know, weather permitting.

Anyway, bottom line is,

I think that he's ready
for a subscription,

so maybe if you
delivered one to him,

you know, personally...
I can do that.

Cool.

Oh, man, he's gonna
radiate your brains out.

Mr. Rivers, Stan is here.

I brought you a newspaper.

Since when is it the
business of the IRS

to let nosy kids
into my workshop?

Since he's been knocking
on the door for half an hour

and neither one of us
was getting any work done.

Be nice.

I was right, wasn't I?

You're converting water
into hydrogen and oxygen.

Then you're using the
hydrogen to generate electricity.

Oh, so what? People have
been doing that for years.

No. This is different.

You put something in
the water, like a... catalyst.

And you're barely
using any power.

It's like you're almost
doing it for free.

I know what I'm doing,
and I don't have much time.

Why not?

'Cause I'm dying.

You're dying?

I mean, you're old,

but you're not that old.

Uh, tell it to the cancer.

They can fix it, right?

Um, Mr. Rivers

has decided to
discontinue treatment.

I got better things
to do with my money.

That lady Gloria
said they'd give you

a lot of money
for your invention.

Oh, she did, huh?

How do you know that?

I listened through the window.

Go ahead, arrest me.

Ah.

You could get some
big bucks probably

for this thing that
doesn't even work.

Well, it will work, and
then maybe I'll sell it when...

when it's finished

and my name alone
is on the patent.

But you need the money now.

You're dying.

So what?

When I finish
this, I'll live forever.

He's not as bad as
everyone says he is,

but he's still crazy.

He's not even
trying to get better.

Well, that's a hard
decision to make,

but that doesn't make him crazy.

That's not all.

This lady came to see him
from some big company,

and they want to give him a ton

of money for one
of his inventions.

He said no.

Well, money isn't the
answer to everything.

Yeah, it is.

If you have money, you
can do whatever you want.

You know, there comes
a time in everybody's life

when you have to decide
what's most important.

And it usually isn't money.

I think Emmett just
wants to be famous.

You know, Stan,

I've met a lot of people
at the end of their life.

You know what they want?

They want to know
that their life mattered.

Emmett Rivers.

Well, that depends
on who's asking.

Carl Northum.

My associate, Gloria, came
to see you the other day.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Did she tell you I
wasn't interested?

Yes, she did,

but I wanted to be sure
you heard my best offer.

Oh, how's your old
man these days?

He's doing quite
well, thank you.

Do you mind if I
come in for a minute?

Oh, you might as well.

Come on. Everybody else does.

Mr. Rivers, as Gloria
mentioned to you,

Palace Energy is very interested
in how far your work has come.

Now, I've read your proposal
at least a dozen times.

The science is sound.

I'm just ashamed to say

that we didn't recognize
it 20 years ago.

You were way ahead of your time.

Hey.

Whose limo is that?

Mr. Northum's.

Cool. You're the guy
from the oil company.

Yes, sir, that would be me.

And who are you?

- I'm his agent.
- Well, they're...

they're getting
younger all the time.

So, dazzle me.

Mr. Rivers, do you have
a working prototype?

Well, let's just say
that I'm getting close.

Very close.

I just need a little time.

You don't have time.

Would it be possible
for me to see it?

Is this the only one?

Well, yeah.

This one took me 20 years.

You see, the problem

is the conductor cells.

They operate at
incredibly tight tolerances.

The conductor cells.

Is that the only thing missing?

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.

That and the patent,
which I will get.

Emmett, why don't
you let us help you?

There's no reason for you

to slave away down here
in the dark for another year.

With all the groundwork
that you've laid, my engineers

could have this done
in a couple of months.

This could be on the
market within a year.

No, I need to finish it myself.

Emmett, I'll be frank with you.

We want this technology.

It's good for us, and it
could be good for you.

I'm willing to offer
you $500,000.

Wow.

Mr. Northum, I don't need
your money or your father's.

You think this is about money?

This is not about money.

This is about the lives
of our grandchildren.

It's about leaving them a planet

where they can
live healthy lives.

It's about creating a
better world for all of us.

And it's about doing
it before it's too late.

That's why I'm here.

I want to help you.

But if you want to just...
have this sit down here

and-and die down
here in the dark

because of an old grudge

you've got against
my father, well...

well, that's your choice.

But, Emmett, I am not my father.

And you, my friend,

have a chance to
be the next Edison.

Um...

Could you wait
upstairs for a minute

while I discuss this
with my advisors?

Of course.

So, what do you think?

I think your invention
could change the world.

Oh, no question.

But I want to be
the one to finish it.

But what if you can't?

You mean, what if I die?

Well, I don't know.

You tell me.

Then it could be the invention
that almost changed the world.

Or you could let
Mr. Northum help you.

Take the money, share the credit

and save the world.

It works for me.

You know, ever since

I read Jules Verne
when I was a kid,

I wanted to... to solve
the energy problem,

and I have.

I think that I have.

Oh.

I can't help it.

I want people to know

that Emmett Rivers was here.

Well, I'm going to miss seeing
her in my basement every day.

Well, pretty soon,
you're gonna be

seeing her all over the place,

and people are gonna
know your name.

You got my check.

Yeah. You got my prototype.

Uh...

maybe I should come up
with you and help you set it up.

No, no.

I've got your number. If we
need any help, I'll give you a call.

This is it, huh?

This is all your documentation?

Yeah, you got everything.

Except what's left up here,

which I can't vouch
for much anymore.

Good, Emm.

You take good care of yourself.

Thank you.

Yep.

|'|| try.

It's a great day, Mr. Northum.

In a couple of years,

this car and-and every other
car on the road could be running

on hydrogen from
plain old water.

Just imagine... blue skies
again everywhere you look.

Who's next on your list?

Oh, wait.

I thought that was
the road to the airport.

We're gonna make
a little pit stop.

No! No! What are you doing?!

They never existed, Gloria.

Good work.

Why are you doing this?

I'm protecting my interest.

That was the only one.

Emmett's the only guy who
knows how the thing works.

Took him 20 years.

So... Emmett is dying.

That's even better.

Forgive me.

No.

I-I can't forgive you, Carl.

That's not my job.

- It's God's.
- God's?

Give me a break.

No.

You messed up.

And here I'm thinking

I'm the one that messed up.

I delivered this amazing
technology to the wrong guy,

but you're not the
wrong guy, Carl.

You're the right guy.

You just don't want to be.

I just saved our shareholders
millions of dollars.

That machine
would've revolutionized

everything overnight.

People would be
making electricity

in their backyards for free.

I can't allow that to happen.

I have responsibility here.

Yes! You do.

You have a
responsibility to think

about the future of this planet!

But you didn't.

You just thought
about the money.

But you didn't
stop anything, Carl,

because you can't stop God.

And you didn't mess up His plan.

You just messed up your
chance to be a part of it.

You're crazy.

I'm not.

I'm just... a little angry.

And you know what?
You will be, too, one day

when you realize
an angel came to you

with a chance to
make a real difference

and you blew it.

Half a million bucks.

Now, how much is that
going to be after taxes?

Well, it's enough to cover
your medical expenses,

if that's what you want.

Mmm.

Nobody's knocked for 20 years.

All of a sudden,
I'm a popular guy.

Ah, come in.

Over here.

What do you want, my...

my autograph or something?

No, no, I, um...

I-I don't quite know
how to say this.

Mr. Rivers,

Carl Northum didn't
want your invention

to develop it.

He wanted to stop it.

What are you talking about?

He destroyed it in
a trash compactor.

It's gone.

I'm so sorry.

It's gone?

Oh.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

But I told him the
plan hadn't changed.

What plan?

God's plan.

What?

Gloria, there's still
someone you need to talk to.

He's waiting outside.

Emmett...

I should never
have listened to you.

♪♪

I never trusted anyone
as far as I could throw them

until you came along.

You have to trust someone.

Why?

Why should I?

Because you're going to die.

So?

It's all been for nothing.

No.

God still has a plan
for you, Emmett.

Oh.

What... What's happening?

I'm an angel.

Oh, my God.

It's true?

Yes.

Then... Then I'm
going to die now?

It's too late. It's too late.

No, it's not too late.

There is still time

to prepare someone
else to continue your work.

Emmett,

do you remember
the story of Moses?

From the Bible?

Why?

Moses led God's
people for 40 years

before he made it to
the Promised Land.

And then he was told
that he couldn't enter in.

But from high on a mountaintop,

before he died, he looked out,

and he saw the
promise from afar.

And he saw the promise
fulfilled in a young man

that God had chosen
to succeed him.

The young man was named Joshua,

and he would lead the
people into the future,

into a beautiful new land,

and you are seeing
that promise now, too.

Stan?

He's just a kid.

He has a smart
mind and a pure heart,

and he has all the
time in the world.

How much time do I have?

Enough time to teach
Stan what he needs to know

before you die.

Your invention

won't be rebuilt
in your lifetime.

Emmett, you won't
live to see that.

But this is God's
promise to you.

It will happen,

and it will change the world.

You have done a
wonderful thing in your life,

and God is so
pleased with your work.

He is so pleased that
you love the world...

This beautiful Earth
that He has created...

Because He loves it, too,

and, Emmett, He
loves you so much.

And now you have to
open your heart to another,

because there is
still work for you to do.

Can you teach me?

Maybe if we get
to work together,

you can have the time
to go get your medicine,

and not die when I'm
kind of getting to like you.

Yeah, well, we...
We can give it a try.

But without the prototype...

But you know how it
works, though, right?

I mean, you said
it was all up here.

Well, some of it is, but
Carl took everything else.

All the plans.

He didn't take this.

Do you remember when
this first came to you

in a diner on Highway 6?

This is my original idea.

Yes.

It was hidden here
among the receipts.

This is how it started
all those years ago,

and now it's time to
start again, Emmett.

Teach Stan.

I think you'll be surprised at
how much you do remember.

Hey, gingerbread!

What are you doing?

You ever been
just sitting there,

and all of a sudden you realize

you can actually
see your own nose?

No.

All right, let's go
over the specs

on the conductor cells gain.

They're still not right.

Do you ever wish you could
just sort of snap your fingers

and fix it all for them?

Sometimes I do.

It's not our job.

This is not our home, Gloria.

It's theirs.

And God gave the
task of caring for it

to them, not to angels.

"See your own nose."

So, the future of the
world's in your hands.

Ah, quit being so melodramatic.

We'll figure it out.

Yeah.

We can only hope.

It's gonna be
okay now, isn't it?

Yeah.

Oh, I have something I
want to show you guys.

What is it?

It's an electric-assist motor.

You turned Tess's
car into a hybrid?

Well, yeah, sort of.

I think it's great.

Tess may have some
questions about it,

but I think it's really great.

Oh, what a beautiful morning.

Yes, and what a beautiful world.