Original subtitles

Dad, come on.

Is that all you got? Come on.

Come on. Let's see.

Let's move some of them varsity moves.

I'm already up 12, too, Dad. Okay. I'll make you a bet.

Hot dogs that you can't drive a lane on me.

One hot dog.

Whoa!

Go, Jessica!

Woo!

Oh, oh!

Attagirl, Erica. You show him who's boss.

Will I make this?

Uh -huh.

You buy the dogs, all right? Oh, whatever.

Come back.

Dad,

are you okay?

Hey, that doesn't count.

Oh, boo!

Cheater!

That's real classy, Dad.

You're in.

I've read all about how James Mason invented basketball, but I don't recall

deception being a part of the game plan.

Unless this is what it's meant by faking to the left?

No, this strategy is all purely from the mind of Alan Lowry.

Seems to work for him.

You're shy.

Alan Lowry is very good at deception, but it is not a good thing.

What are you doing? Come on.

Whoa.

Oh, I'm feeling dizzy.

Come on. You can't kind of kind. Come on.

No, I'm serious.

Oh, I'm not feeling it.

Pick him up.

Hey, hey.

Come on.

Come on, Erica. Quit messing around.

Get up.

Come on.

What happened?

This. Look at this.

What? Oh, my God. Look at these bruises.

Somebody. Call 911.

Honey?

Honey?

Oh, my God.

What happened? She was fine a minute ago.

Oh, no.

I... I don't know yet.

Something is missing in this family.

Not something.

Someone. And finding the right someone is going to make the difference between

life and death.

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 Believe me, I'll walk with you

Hi, I'm Dr. Nathans. Hi, Doctor. I'm Alan Lowry. This is my wife,

Janet, and my daughter, Erica. Hi, Erica. Hi. This is Monica from our organ

donor counseling department.

Hello.

Organ donor?

Erica, you're 17, so I'm going to level with you.

I was called in because I'm an oncologist, and the tests we've been

an anomaly in your blood.

Those bruises on your back are because your bone marrow has stopped working.

You have leukemia.

I know it's a scary word, and I won't mislead you. What we're dealing with is

AML, acute myelocytic leukemia. It's the worst kind to get.

But it's treatable, right?

Yes.

Yes, but it requires starting her on heavy chemotherapy right away.

Now, that'll destroy the defective bone marrow, but I'm afraid it's only half

the battle.

Why? What do you mean?

Erica needs to have a bone marrow transplant to stimulate her system to

its own red blood cells again.

That's really going to be our only hope of beating this.

Well, Monica will explain the process to you while I make arrangements for Erica

to be transferred onto the oncology floor.

Thank you. You're welcome. I'll check in on you later.

I know this must be very difficult for you, but I... I can't believe this is

happening. Hey, we have to stay strong.

Sweetie, you heard the doctor. We can beat this.

In fact, your dad and I can be tested for a bone marrow transplant right away,

right? Yes, I've already arranged it. And Erica has been listed with the

National Bone Marrow Registry.

So much for college.

Hey. Hey.

Don't think that way.

We're going to focus on getting you well, and you will get well.

Right, Alan?

Right? Right,

yes. Yes, absolutely right.

You need to know that it may be difficult to find a perfect match, but

impossible.

And if I don't get a transplant, how long do I have?

Well, every case is different, of course.

On average, you would have a few months.

But let's really focus on finding a donor.

I'll be at extension 1148 if you have any questions.

And you will. Please, don't hesitate to call me.

I'm scared.

I know, Freddie, I know.

I know.

You're going to get better.

There you go. All done.

Okay.

You know, I don't understand why we have to go through all this trouble. We're

her parents. Can't we just give her some of our bone marrow?

I was just reading about that this morning.

Basically, it's just very rare.

For two non -blood -related people to have the same human leukocyte antigens,

HLAs, present in their blood. And since HLAs are the major histocompatibility

antigens for tissue recycling... Uh, Gloria?

Gloria?

I'm an apple -a -day kind of guy. Can you just... Can you explain that in

layman's terms?

Oh, okay.

Um... What if you were an orange and your wife was tangerine? What would that

make Erica?

I don't know.

A tangelo.

Her tissue type is part you and part your wife. And that combines to make a

truly unique fruit, or person in this case.

If it's so unique, how are we going to find a match?

Well, the best case would be if you could find another tangelo with the same

tissue combination.

Like a brother or a sister.

Yeah, right.

One in four odds, as opposed to one in 20 ,000.

She's a beautiful young lady.

Oh.

Monica, she's everything to me.

She's my baby.

Do you have any children of your own?

No.

When you do, you'll understand.

The more that you know, the less frightening this will all be.

That's why I'm here.

And the first thing that you need to know is that Erica is really counting on

you to be strong.

I know.

We'll try.

Believe me, we'll try.

But courage under fire isn't exactly Alan's strong suit.

When the going gets tough, he tends to lock himself in his workshop for days on

end. He doesn't talk to me. He doesn't talk to anybody.

What kind of work does he do? He works for a real estate developer, but he's

always had this dream of developing his own project.

He's working on this little model of a utopian city.

Which you'd like to build someday.

I got the tissue types back.

Neither one of us is a match. What are we going to do?

Come on, we knew the odds.

I think Gloria told us that the parents are a one in 20 ,000 chance.

Or how about that family?

That family that had another child.

You know that thing that Gloria said about a sibling having a much better

of being a match? We could have another child.

I'm going to go home and see if I can get some work done.

Oh, please, not tonight. She needs us here.

What Erica needs is a miracle.

And I still need to earn a paycheck, especially now.

So?

In the morning.

What's on the piece of paper test the truth angel girl the whole truth

Hi

Can

I help you or something I Was just looking for

Debbie Stone Lake she's not here enough

Well, when she gets back, you just tell her that Alan came by.

Thanks.

Alan?

Are you Alan Lowry?

You know who I am?

Yeah, you're my father.

Yes.

Can I talk to you?

Wow. Looks like you and mom are doing pretty good.

Yeah. She just made partner with her law firm.

No kidding.

It's good.

She was always a very smart woman.

So? What do you like to be called?

Robbie.

Robbie. Just so we're straight, me letting you in here doesn't make us like

friends or anything.

Oh, I understand.

So your mom told you all about me, huh?

Yeah. I grew up hearing your name.

She said it kind of like she was swearing.

I think it motivated her to get through law school.

It's good for something.

So what do you want?

Well, actually, I'm kind of ashamed to say why I'm here, Robbie.

I'm here because I need your help.

Oh, my God.

Robbie, go for a drive.

Go now.

No, no, no, look, it's not his fault. Don't take it out on him. It's my fault

for coming.

I want you out of this house.

Look, Debbie, I don't blame you for wanting me a million miles away, but

out first, okay? Why should I?

Because I have a daughter.

She has leukemia, and she's dying.

She's at the Memorial Hospital. She was just diagnosed.

They're giving her six months to live.

Her name's Erica.

She needs a bone marrow transplant, and there's a very good chance that Robbie

could be a match.

How dare you?

Debbie. No.

What right do you have to come into my home and ask one damn thing of me or my

son? Debbie, I don't have any choice. I have a daughter who's dying.

Alan, you have had choices your entire life.

You just didn't like them.

Debbie, I was married.

Oh, right.

So happily married that you were having an affair with me.

Janice got pregnant.

So did I, Alan.

I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I know I screwed up. You got that right. You

there's a part of me that just always knew you would show up one day.

I guess that's why I kept these.

Stupid money orders.

75 bucks a month, Alan. Did that make you feel better? Did that make

all right?

No, I just thought it might help.

Well, it did.

I never cashed one.

But every month that I got one of these, it reminded me to never let someone

like you be a part of my life again.

Now get out of my house.

And don't ever come back.

You shouldn't have had to. Mom, I have a sister.

She's not your sister.

She's his daughter.

You have the same father. You can't change that.

Mom, if it was me in that hospital, wouldn't you have gone to him?

Robbie, it's not the same thing.

I never abandoned his daughter.

Hey, Dad.

Hey, Rookie.

I thought you were going to be here earlier.

Well, I was, but I, um... What, you were working? Lost track of time?

Yeah. Did something happen that I don't know about?

Well, she got her first dose of chemotherapy.

It would have been nice if you'd been here.

My God, I had no idea that things were going to happen so quickly.

Yeah, well, Dr. Nathan's wanted to get started right away.

Well, hey, I brought your boombox. I got your bathrobe. Here, let me wipe

this down.

How can we have to do that?

Well, the chemo is going to deplete your immune system, and we just don't want

to bring in any germs that don't belong here.

Get to rest.

When's the last time you slept?

I don't remember.

Thanks.

Why don't you go home? I'll stay tonight.

See you in the morning, okay, sweetheart? Love you.

Love you, too.

Hey, I brought you something.

Remember this?

The Little House.

You want me to read it to you? Like when you were little?

Will you do the funny voice?

I don't know how funny they're going to be now.

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton.

Too dorky?

Remember that?

Okay.

Once upon a time, there was a little house way out in the country.

She was a pretty little house.

And she was strong and well built.

The man who built her so well said, this little house.

Alan.

What? Honey, wake up.

Where's Erica?

Andrew took her down for some more death.

Oh. Excuse me. There's somebody I'd like you to meet.

Robbie.

Hello, Mr. Lowry. My name's Robbie.

Robbie Stone Lake.

How do you do?

Robbie tells me that he goes to school with Erica.

I don't think she knows who I am, but I heard what's going on, and I know it's a

long shot, but...

I'd like to be tested to see if I can help out.

Isn't that wonderful?

It's a miracle.

Where do I go for this blood test? It's on the first floor, but since you're a

minor, I'm going to need to have a parent sign this consent form first.

I'm not sure I can get that, but my mom's...

Away on business. It's a very serious procedure that you volunteered for,

Robbie. We can't move forward.

The form's confidential, right?

Yes.

Then I'll sign it.

I'm his father.

I'm his biological father.

This is your copy.

The elevators are over there.

Cool.

Did you ask Robbie to lie for you?

No.

I'm not in the business of keeping secrets, Mr. Lowry.

Well, you are if that form is confidential.

My daughter has leukemia and my wife has fallen apart.

They don't need anything else to deal with right now.

He's deceiving his family, Tess.

But there's a part of me that thinks he's right.

The truth can be painful, but it doesn't cause nearly the damage that a lie

does.

Alan Lowry signed this.

Yeah, um, he's my father.

So you're here to help Erica?

It's a little complicated.

Have a seat.

So, uh, is this gonna hurt?

Just a pinch and a sting. Over before you know it.

Uh, but the bone marrow thing's probably painful, right?

You know, in case I'm a match?

Well, it's uncomfortable.

They extract the bone marrow from your hip bone with a needle and then give it

to Erica in a blood transfusion.

I just thought it'd be a bigger deal than that.

Well, I'm sure it's a very big deal to her.

Roll up your sleeve, please.

What's Erica like?

Well, I only took her blood, but she seemed very nice.

I think you'll like her a lot.

You have the same smile.

No, please, get it away.

Sweetie, please, you have to try to eat a little something.

It's the chemo.

Hey, I'm going to talk to the doctor about increasing your anti -nausea

medication, all right?

I don't want it. I don't want anything.

I just want to die.

Not today.

Not on my watch.

Doctor. Hey, Andrew.

Oh, good. I'm glad everyone is here. We have some news.

We found a donor.

It's a very good tissue match.

Oh, my God.

Eric,

I know it's hard with all this chemo, but if you can just hang in there, we're

going to be able to give you some brand new bone marrow.

So is it Monica was it someone from the registry?

I'm not at liberty to say

You

better get a move on

I'd be late for school one more

No. Aren't you going to work today?

In a little while. I'm waiting for a couple client calls.

Hey, I got a pretty light day today.

How about if we go out to dinner, you and me?

Oh, um... I'm having dinner over at Jamie's tonight.

Really?

Yeah. I told you last night, remember?

No.

Well, I did.

Robbie.

I love you.

Me too, Mom.

Robbie.

Robbie, what are you doing here today?

I skipped school.

You shouldn't do that.

Don't get all parental on me.

No, I'm glad you're here.

I've got good news that you were a match. I mean, a very good match.

I can't tell you, Robbie, what it means to me for you to come forward like this.

I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for Erica.

I understand.

I want to meet her.

What?

She's my sister.

I want to meet her.

Not a good idea. Not right now.

She's too sick.

Look, I won't tell her who I am.

Or is my mom right?

The only thing you care about is my bone marrow.

Wait.

Hi.

Erica, I want you to meet somebody.

This is Robbie Stone Lake.

He's the one that's going to be giving you his bone marrow.

Thank you. I can't thank you enough.

I can't.

It's no problem.

Well, we'll be out in the hall.

Hi. Hi.

And thank you for doing this for me.

It really means a lot.

I was getting scared.

Yeah.

It's kind of weird to think about it, you know?

After this, we're going to be related in some way, kind of.

Yeah, that is weird.

So, do you have any brothers or real sisters?

One.

A sister, actually.

I'm sorry, I've been a little tense.

Me too.

I'm glad you're here.

We both need you.

I know.

I know.

Alan, where is my son?

Mom. Robbie, we are leaving right now. No, wait. Leave. Leave. Don't do that.

there a problem?

It's a big problem.

Since Alan doesn't have the guts to tell you, I will.

Tell me what?

Alan, what is she talking about?

It's nothing. She's just upset because I didn't tell her about it. Robbie, don't

do that.

Don't lie for him.

No.

Robbie, your mother's right.

Janice, Robbie... Robbie is

my son.

He's my son.

You had an affair with that woman?

Janice, it was a long time ago.

My God.

Who are you?

You had the secret, the son, all this time, and I had no idea.

I just, I can't.

Janice, we can just talk.

Mom, what happened? Where's Robbie?

It's okay, honey. Everything's fine.

Come on, I didn't mean anything.

It was a mistake.

I'm sorry.

You have to believe me when I tell you that I'm sorry. Sorry you got caught?

No. When was this exactly?

Here, in town?

Do you love her? No.

No, no, okay? It was very early on in our marriage, and I was scared, I guess,

and I ended it.

I didn't even know Robbie until a few days ago.

I wouldn't have even gone looking for him if Erica hadn't...

That's good to know, Alan.

Janice. Go home. Janice. Lock yourself in your workshop.

I have to go take care of my daughter.

What are you doing here? How'd you get in?

What are you doing? What are you following me around?

Everything follows you.

Your joy and pain.

Your triumphs and transgressions. Your choices.

When the past catches up with you, angels follow too.

Angels? I am an angel.

And God has a message for you.

What are you telling me? You're an angel?

You're an angel like from heaven.

Yes.

Look at me.

Feel this room.

Listen to the still, small voice in your spirit telling you that it is true.

I don't have a spirit to listen with anymore.

Yes, you do.

It's just bruised and been broken down by guilt and fear and lies.

But it's there.

And it cried out of the death to its maker.

God, help me, please.

Help me.

This is a beautiful model of utopia that you made, Alan.

It's a very commendable dream.

But a perfect world requires perfect people, and they don't exist on this

And I'm one of those people that's a little less than perfect.

Right?

God didn't send me here to condemn you.

Why not?

I mean, come on.

My daughter's dying. My marriage is breaking up.

He would never use your daughter's illness to punish you.

And if you are feeling guilt and pain, it is coming from your own heart, not

from his.

You know, I'm not sorry.

that I lied about Robbie.

You know, I think there's such a thing as a good lie. I think sometimes you

to lie to protect people.

I truly believe that you thought you were doing the right thing to save your

family and yourself.

But how many good lies did you have to tell in order to protect that first

terrible lie?

He wants...

To make a miracle in your heart.

You have been carrying this secret for so many years.

But at what cost to yourself?

To your family?

Isn't it time to hand this burden over to God?

He will take it from you if you will just ask him for his healing, for his

mercy. And he will give you and those that you love a peace greater than you

would ever know.

Why? Why would God help me?

Why does a father love a child?

Why does a father do anything, anything to save his child's life?

To save his soul?

Thank you, God.

It's 103.

But it means the chemo is doing its job.

Is it?

Seems to me like she's thicker than ever.

It's just the way it works.

All the old bone marrow has to be destroyed before the new bone marrow can

and grow.

You know, healing only begins once you clear away everything that's diseased

damaged.

Sounds like life.

Yes, it does.

I don't want to talk right now, Alan.

Well, then let me.

Let me talk.

Please.

Jana, 16 years ago, I broke our marriage vows, and you were right.

I was more sorry that I got caught.

But now I'm glad that I got caught.

I needed to get caught.

Because the cover -up was killing our marriage. It was hurting you.

It was worse than the lie itself.

You have a son.

Ellen, I'm not going to be able to forget that.

I'm not asking you to forget that.

Do you think that you could ever forgive me for this?

Give me a chance to be a good husband.

The husband that you deserve. Give me a chance to be the father that she

deserves.

Please, Jeff.

That's all I'm asking.

I can't do that without you.

I can't do that without your forgiveness.

Please forgive me.

Yes, Erica.

Many years ago, I made a mistake.

I already heard what you said.

I don't get why you did it.

But I do know one thing. I know that Robbie is not a mistake.

Hi, baby. My name is Tess. I'm not interested. Thanks. Oh, just give me two

minutes of your time, and I promise it'll change your life.

Two minutes.

You don't strike me as the kind of lady that likes to sit in the house by the

fireplace when it's cold outside.

True. But when you go outside and your lips get chapped and dry, who do you

blame?

Well, usually the weather.

But you didn't know it was going to be cold out there.

Is this going somewhere, Tess?

Yes. When you know you're getting into something, you have to be prepared for

the consequences of your choice.

And if the consequences are painful, you have to be ready to start the healing.

Now, this little miracle is called everyday

forgiveness.

And this is called sweet, amazing grace.

Kind of strange names for lipstick.

What company do you work for?

Oh, I don't work for a company. I'm more like a door -to -door angel.

Angel.

Right.

Well, at least you're listening.

Keep listening, baby.

You might hear some very surprising things.

Where did that lady go?

Where lady?

I must be losing my mind.

I didn't see anybody.

What are you doing here?

I just came by to talk to you.

Just to talk.

I just want you to listen.

Just listen.

Robbie, I... No, no, let him stay. What I have to say, I have to say to both of

you.

First of all, I'd be lying if I told you that the... Well, that the most

important thing on my mind right now wasn't my daughter Erica. It is, but...

know, whether you choose to have anything more to do with me or her,

still something I need to say.

Okay.

I know that I hurt you very, very deeply when I just... I just left and...

I went back to my wife.

But, I don't know, I thought, at the time at least, that that was the right

thing for me to do.

I know that it was pathetic for me to send those money orders in the mail

month.

But I just wanted you to know that those were the money orders of a father who

thought about you every day.

I mean, there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't wonder what you looked

like or what you were good at.

And I wouldn't have loved to go out in the backyard and toss the ball around

with you, sit in the stands and watch you play one of your games.

And I'll tell you, I'd have given anything if there was one night I could

tucked you into bed, just one night.

But I didn't.

And you know, somehow, there's something that I'm still grateful for, Robbie.

You want to know what it is?

It's simple.

It's that God puts you on this earth.

This is good news. All the chemo you've had has wiped out the AML cells in your

blood, which has, however, left you with none of your own bone marrow. So we're

going to have to do something about that. Are you ready to take the next

I'm here.

I'm ready.

Good. We'll do the procedure first thing tomorrow morning.

Cool.

Well, Robbie, let's get you checked in and prepped.

Hey, I'm...

Still gonna beat your butt in hoops when I get out of here.

Yeah, right, whatever.

Dad.

It's okay, you can go.

I understand.

Mind if I come in?

No.

You didn't have to, though. I'm just in here for one night.

I know.

Where's your mom?

She went to fill out all the paperwork.

Good.

So I guess this is like tucking me in.

Yeah, I guess it is.

Okay, so... I'll go and let you get some sleep.

Yeah.

Thanks for coming, Dad.

You bet, son.