Original subtitles

We've all seen this equation before. E equals MC squared.

No, I'm not talking about Einstein's theory of relativity.

This is Costello's theory of success.

E for effectiveness. An effective sales force uses marketing multiplied

by charm and being square with your customers.

That's the same groan I got when I tried to explain it to my daughter, Kimmy.

She said to me, Daddy, what's the worst thing that a salesperson can do?

Anybody here know?

Everybody give up?

That is the worst thing that a salesperson can do. Give up!

Now, everything we've covered this morning... His name is Don Cotello. He's

motivational speaker.

He seems very good at it.

It's easy to talk the talk, but walking the walk is hard.

Yes, of course.

I'm sorry, come again?

Don is better at telling other people what to do than doing it himself.

The case file.

This assignment has been around before you were created. We need you to catch

quickly.

Let me tell you something else about my daughter.

Kimmy was born with a learning disability you've probably all heard

called ADD, attention deficit disorder.

We were told...

that she would never do well in school. But Kimmy had her heart set on being a

doctor. She wanted to help people.

So, while her friends went off to be teenagers after school every day, Kimmy

went home and studied. She never gave up.

Now, if a high school girl can overcome an obstacle like that, then why not you?

My time is up.

But before I go, there are evaluation forms in your packet. If you take a

to fill them out before the break, I'd appreciate it. After lunch, you'll have

some other know -it -all in here telling you how to do your job.

Thanks for having me.

How am I doing so far, Monica?

You're quite a dynamic speaker.

Thank you.

So is that all there is to it? No, we still need to sit down and go over the

audience evaluation forms before I hand in my final report.

Oh. Listen,

any chance that we could do that later?

Sure.

Say, three o 'clock. I like to work out of my home as much as possible these

days.

Hey, Monica, this is my wife, Stacy.

Hi. Hello.

Hello. This is Justin.

Monica's doing my performance evaluation this year.

She's going to be coming by the house this afternoon to let me know if I still

have a job.

Well, of course you'll still have a job. You're a wonderful speaker.

Don't let the false modesty fool you, Monica.

It's the best.

That's nice to hear.

I'll see you at three.

Excuse us.

When did you start using Kimmy in your presentation?

What difference does it make? What are you doing here?

Justin was in a fight at school. He's been suspended until he gets counseling.

We have an appointment in half an hour.

Impressive, isn't he?

Yeah, he used to be. Until he became obsessed with talking about his

Well, she is a good example. She was.

His daughter's dead.

It was terrible.

It was a real tragedy.

And now, this family is falling apart.

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.

Believe me, I'll walk with you.

Yes, we need to go. Yeah.

Going? Where?

This is a very unusual assignment, Gloria. There are a lot of different

that need to be pulled together very quickly.

You've only got a few minutes to bring her up to speed.

Up until about a year ago, the Costellos were a very happy group.

They had the same problems that other families do, but they were full of love

and life and so many plans for the future.

Hi, Mom.

Hey, honey. How's your day?

Just perfect.

I remember how wonderful life is when the cutest boy in school likes you.

You? Really?

Well, don't worry. I won't tell Daddy.

I was your daddy.

Oh.

Oh, don't make any plans next Saturday. I signed you up for the SATs.

Mom, I've already taken them in twice.

And you did better on them the second time.

If you want to be a doctor, you need to get into a good college.

Huh?

There goes another Saturday.

Hi, Kimbo. Hi, Dad. Bye, Dad.

And that actually passes as a heart -to -heart talk for us.

Go sit by her at dinner tonight.

I just want to talk about Blake.

What's she feeling, that guy, anyway?

Let's see.

He's handsome, charming, a football star.

I can't imagine what it could be.

Hey, honey.

Hey. Hey, how was school, bud?

Did any of my teachers call?

No. Then it was great.

Watch the hair.

Daddy, can Blake come with us to dinner tonight?

Friday's family night.

Blake's family.

Kind of, sort of.

He's not jumping up and down.

Blake is on the phone.

Hi, Blake.

My mom says hi.

My dad doesn't.

Daddy, I'll love you forever if you say yes.

You won't love me forever anyway?

She's changing the subject.

All right, fine.

Yes. Okay, 5 p .m. tonight at Robin Pino's. Oh, and wear that blue button

shirt. It goes so great with your hair.

Come here.

Here's your... You're a good dad hug.

You need to get going, Gloria.

Yeah?

We were lucky this doctor could see us on such short notice.

This is so stupid.

No. Getting into a fight at school is stupid.

Hi. Thanks for waiting.

You must be the Costellos.

Yes. Hi.

This is Justin.

Hi, Justin. I'm Gloria.

Don't be rude, Justin. The doctor said hello.

Hey.

What do you want us to do, Gloria?

Well... There's a nice little French burger joint around the corner. I think

it's called Chez Mou.

You and your wife could go grab a little lunch and then meet me back here in an

hour.

Justin, you're with me.

I don't have time for lunch. I've got to get ready for my meeting with Monica.

Fine. I have to be somewhere, too.

I'll pick up Justin in an hour.

Good afternoon.

Oh, certainly is.

Beautiful day to be alive.

Glad to hear you say that, Dorothy.

Um... I'm sorry. I'm so bad with names.

My name's Andrew.

I'm an angel.

Oh.

An angel.

As in... As in messenger from God.

Look, we don't usually like to spring this on people all at once, but frankly,

Dorothy, I'm a little short of time.

Your vice principal said the classmate invited you to play football, and you

started punching him.

He had two black eyes.

Not a football fan, huh?

Humor. So, what's the deal, Monica?

I've been doing this for years. I've never once gotten a personal call from

evaluation police.

Yes, it's true. Over the years, your evaluations of the motivator have been

among the highest in the company's history.

People know when you're being straight with them.

Yeah, I believe they do.

Let's see.

Fresno, ten months ago.

No, it's his stuff, but I felt manipulated when he mentioned his little

Can't please everybody.

San Diego, six months ago.

I was with him until he started using his daughter, Kimmy, to make points.

I thought it was a cheap shot.

Okay, but those are old.

This one is from today.

Hated him bringing up his dead daughter in his speech.

I never think you're dead.

With all due respect, Dawn, it wasn't the news.

And perhaps if you say, people do know when you're being straight with them.

Justin, I'm working. Whatever it is, ask your mother.

She never came to get me.

I had to walk home.

We can continue this tomorrow if you'd prefer.

I'd appreciate that.

I'll see myself out.

She never showed up.

Great.

Where is she now?

I remember when I was seven.

My mom used to take me to the park.

I want to stay forever and ever.

Oh, wouldn't that be nice, Kimmy?

Can I go on the slide?

Sure.

I'll wait right here till you get back.

Promise?

Cross my heart and hope to...

Parks

closed out.

So when everyone asks, where's Stacy?

This is where she is.

And she comes here every day? Yes.

And it's getting harder for her to leave.

There's no milk.

They're forecasting snow again.

Ten years of one -page written evaluations, and now they send somebody

person. What's that all about?

Couldn't it be spring by now?

The whole thing is ridiculous.

I don't know, Peter.

It doesn't make any sense.

Justin.

You have things bottled up inside you.

Things that make you sad and angry.

You feel like you can't talk to your parents or your teachers or your friends

anyone about them.

But you can talk to me.

Okay.

I'll be here when you're ready.

No rush.

Now, I know it's a shock, and I know it's hard to understand, but it's true.

am an angel.

Dios mio, no se que hacer. Tengo tanto miedo. Calm down, Rosalita.

A visit from an angel is a good thing.

Well, that's the silliest thing I ever heard of.

Of course girls should play sports and be doctors.

But what if I'm better than all the boys?

That's their problem. In the real world, there aren't men's jobs and women's

jobs. They're just jobs, period.

And they should go to the person who is the best educated and the most

qualified.

And that'll be you, Kimmy.

How come you didn't want a career?

I had one.

But then after you and Justin were born, I...

It was just one career I really cared about.

And that was being your mom.

Woo -hoo! All right, Mom!

Thank you.

So...

Why do you talk about your daughter in your seminars?

She's a great example of what hard work can do.

Yes, but you only started talking about her after she was killed.

Look, I know that Kimmy's death is understandably still very painful for

you, but... I know you have to evaluate me.

And if you need to write me a bad report, then do what you gotta do, but

my family out of it.

Don, I'm merely suggesting that you might be suppressing a great deal of

I'm not angry.

Of course you're angry.

You're angry because your daughter was killed.

You're angry because you were helpless to do anything about it.

But you have to let that anger out, Don. You've got to let it go if you're going

to heal. I'm not angry.

You're wrong I believe I have what I

need for this evaluation

What are you reading?

Something interesting here in your file.

A family dinner a little over a year ago at a place called Robin Pino.

Well, it wouldn't be Friday night without the Costellos. We'll need an

chair tonight, Rocco. An extra chair?

Long story, don't ask.

Thanks, Rocco.

Amore, huh?

No, no, no amore. Just dinner.

Ew.

Hi, Mrs. Costello.

Hi, Blake.

Mr. Costello, nice to see you again.

Blake.

Hey, Justin.

Oh, hey, Blake. Oh, sit next to me.

You can sit next to both of us.

Kimmy got her driver's license in the mail today.

Mom.

Let's see it.

No, let's not.

I had a bad hair day.

I bet you look great.

You've got that incredible smile.

Really?

So, you still thinking about going out for peewee football this summer?

Totally. We've got to get together. I'll show you some moves.

Sure.

Justin?

Justin, are you okay?

I'm not talking about it.

No, no, don't go. Don't go. Don't, don't, don't, don't.

No, you don't get it. What?

It's my fault that Kimmy's dead.

It's all my fault.

Justin, I'm here to help you.

But I can't unless you let me.

You're hurting, and you want it to stop.

You can trust me, and if you'll just look at me, you'll know I'm telling the

truth.

That day.

The day it happened.

It even started off weird.

Would you hurry up? I'm going to be late.

Chill, Waldo.

I need a favor.

You're not doing your chores again.

Not that.

I think Blake may come over later.

Cool. Not cool.

I don't want to see him anymore.

Well, how come?

He's starting to creep me out.

Like he's two different people or something.

It's getting on my nerve. So just don't tell him I'm going to the library after

school, okay?

Yeah, okay.

Thanks.

You know, as well as those go, you're not so bad.

Watch the hair.

He never did anything bad to me.

I didn't want anything bad to happen to her.

Of course not.

Why did I do it?

What did you do, Justin?

Daisy, how can a person forget their keys every time... Oh, I thought you

were my wife.

I'm here to apologize.

I realize now that I was long on evaluating and short on listening.

But if you'd like to do the talking, I promise I'll listen.

Raise your kids to think for themselves, and then they stop listening to you.

I'm sure that Kimmy appreciated everything you did.

She was going to be valedictorian, you know.

She wrote her own speech for graduation.

And the night before she died, she actually let me read it.

I just...

Couldn't resist making a suggestion.

That's it? Just throw it out and start over?

It sounds like a speech.

It is a speech.

Look, your ideas are smart, but if you want to motivate people, you have to

them feel something.

You have to write from your heart.

Look, just because you do this for a living doesn't mean I stink.

I didn't say that. Look, I'm just trying to help.

I didn't want your help. I just wanted you to...

to be so blunt.

But I'd had a bad day and I was too tired to be whatever it was she

wanted.

I figured I'd make it up to her later.

How many times do we say, I'll do it later.

I'll fix it next week.

I'll say I'm sorry tomorrow.

That's the problem.

It's too late for Kimmy and me.

And it hurts like hell.

I know it does.

You're not the typical performance evaluator from the main office.

That's not what you need.

I think you need a friend.

What are you doing home so early?

Um... Justin has something he needs to share with

you and your wife, Mr. Costello.

I had a dream last night. I was old like you.

I'm sorry, dearie. Can you speak up a little bit?

You know what I mean.

It was amazing.

I lived in this beautiful house, and I had twins named Taylor and Tyler.

And I was a country doctor, and all the kids called me Dr.

Kimmy.

And then I'd come home at night and feed the twins and put them to bed.

And my husband would take me out dancing, and then we'd come back home

stand there watching our children sleep and be in love.

Oh, the ninth dream.

Well, what if it doesn't come true?

When I was your age, I wanted a dog named Bo and a husband named Rick.

All right, it wasn't a dog name.

Wrecking a husband named Beau.

I can't remember.

What you want at 17 isn't what you wanted when you were 7.

And it may not be what you want when you're 27.

Well, what if I want it all?

The perfect family, the perfect career.

I want to make a difference somehow.

From the minute you were born, I knew you were going to make a difference.

You will.

I know it.

I hope so.

Raise you home.

Wait!

Wait.

What's going on?

you need to tell her.

It's about when Kimmy died.

Um, I... Could we talk about this later?

After dinner?

We have company and I should really get to the store.

No, I think we should deal with this now.

That day, I was in the yard.

I made a promise to Kimmy.

Heads up!

And I broke it.

Hey, Kimmy home?

Nah.

Oh. Where is she?

Um, I don't know.

No?

Not really.

Justin, you have a girlfriend.

Nah.

Let me tell you something about girls.

They'll run away from you, but they really want you to chase after them.

And they say that they don't want to talk to you anymore just to watch you

It's like some little game they play.

You know what I'm talking about?

I guess so.

I knew you would. Hey, go for a pass.

So...

I looked everywhere, but, uh, she's not at school, right?

Nah.

She's at the big library.

Over on Green Street.

Right, right.

Hey, go long.

Don't say I told you, okay?

Hey, our secret.

Shh.

Go deep.

Costello, go in long.

Fix one man, then another. He's in the clear.

He's all...

Lakewood Library.

I told you, Blake. It's over.

Look, I know. I don't deserve you. I messed up. Just let me apologize, and

take you home.

Give me 30 seconds.

20.

8.

I'm sorry. I'll miss you. 5.

Justin has been blaming himself the whole time. He used you, and he would

used anyone to find her, and he would have found her.

The guy was sick, Jen.

That's not your fault.

Oh, look at the time. I've got to get to the park.

Stacy, are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

It's just that it's getting dark outside, and Kimmy's not home yet.

But I know where she is.

I'll go get her.

I wish I was the one who was dead.

That's not the answer.

I know.

Well...

What

are you doing?

This is what I do at times like this.

I'm an angel.

Whoa.

A real angel?

Mm -hmm.

And God sent me to tell you that he knows you would never do anything to

Kimmy.

And Kimmy knows it, too.

Kimmy's with God?

Like, in heaven?

Mm -hmm.

Does she know how much I miss her?

Yes, she does.

And there's something she wants you to know.

But you have to come with me to find out.

Come on.

I knew, subconsciously, that all those disappearing acts you pulled weren't

normal.

Sometimes you'd go out for milk and...

Come home three hours later empty -handed.

I knew.

She was out there somewhere, dealing with it in her own way.

Just as you have dealt with it in your way and Justin in his way.

Three people alone instead of one family together.

I don't think there is a family anymore.

Incredible.

Isn't it?

One day in the life of a teenage girl, she's gone.

One day.

That was the day that your hearts were broken.

Today is the day that they can be healed again.

Don't be afraid, Donald.

I'm an angel.

What?

I am the answer to your prayer. The prayer you made the night that Kimmy was

found.

Took me into that room and I saw the bruise

around my baby's throat.

And I cursed God.

Damn you.

I hate you.

You let this happen.

And I hate you.

And here is his answer.

I love you.

That is the message that he sent me to give you. He loves you, Donald.

And he would rather that you pray to him honestly than not at all.

God hears you when you call to him.

And he knows what no one else does.

He knows that you cry alone at night here in this room.

He knows the agonizing pain that you feel. He knows you feel so helpless as

watch your family disintegrating.

And God says Donald I am strength where you are helpless.

I am peace where there is pain.

Let me wipe away every tear and hold you as I hold your little girl, even now.

Kimmy.

Yes.

Kimmy?

Kimmy, where are you?

Kimmy! Oh, I'm looking for my daughter. Have you seen her?

She's the best.

Kimmy's not here, Stacy.

No, I saw her here this afternoon.

Do I know you?

My name's Andrew.

Our paths have crossed.

Oh, she's playing hide -and -seek.

Stacy, God created you to live in the real world.

That's where he wants you to be, not here.

You know Kimmy isn't here.

You know that she's... No!

Leave me alone.

Kimmy?

Kimmy, Mommy is very unhappy with you.

Stop it.

And listen to me.

What?

Your daughter is at peace.

What are you?

Sort of angel or something.

I am.

Oh, you're too late.

Go away.

I can't.

I can't leave you alone any more than I could have left Kimmy alone.

An angel?

Okay.

I was in the car.

I was in the hospital.

And I was with her the moment that she died.

Then why didn't you do something?

Why didn't you do something?

I did.

I took her home.

She was never alone, Stacy.

She was never alone.

It's been so long. Too long.

Private party.

Oh.

Another night, then.

You don't know?

The party's for you.

Mom!

Justin.

What are you doing here?

The angels.

You too?

Yes.

Welcome.

Okay.

Who are all these people?

I have no idea.

Just go on with the flow now, honey.

I'm glad you're here.

She left something behind for you.

Give me that. graduation speech?

She rewrote it after she read it to you.

You need to read it now.

Hello.

I'm not really sure why we're all here tonight.

Why I'm about to read this to you, but this was the graduation speech.

No one ever got to hear.

I always wanted to do this, give the graduation speech.

But now that I am, I'm not really going to give it at all.

My real one, the one I always practiced in my head, said things like, we are the

future, blah, blah, blah.

Then I read it to my dad, and he told me to throw it out.

And start over.

He said I had to speak from the heart.

I was so mad at him.

Until I realized he was right.

My dad isn't perfect.

He works too hard. His jokes aren't that funny.

And he has a terrible taste in music.

But he loves our family more than anything.

And I know that...

Years from now, when I look back on my life, I won't be stressing about how he

made me mad.

I'll be remembering everything he and my mom ever did for me.

Especially telling me the truth when I didn't want to hear it.

That must be so hard for parents.

But they do it anyway.

They believe in us and support us.

And that's why we're here tonight.

And I think we should give all our parents a big round of applause.

And oh yeah, we are the future and it's going to be great.

Blah, blah, blah.

This was a speech my daughter never got to give.

Her name...

With Kimmy.

Kim.

They know, Don.

They know.

They do.

How?

Kimmy had something for you, too.

Wow.

That was a bad hair day.

The amazing part's on the back.

Organ donor card.

I'm Dorothy Fleming, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I had type 1 diabetes for 20 years.

I was on dialysis forever.

I'd given up hope of ever getting a kidney transplant.

And then I did.

From Kimmy.

Rosalita Ortega, Phoenix, Arizona.

When I was pregnant, I began to lose my sight.

Kimmy's corneas let me see my son Hector be born.

I thanked God for my gift, but never thought about who had given it to me.

Now I know I have more than two good eyes.

I have part of a wonderful person.

With a beautiful family.

Her name is Harrison Abbott, and this is my daughter, Sarah.

Norwood, Ohio.

Sarah needed a liver transplant, and we just about lost her three times.

Mr. and Mrs. Costello, I know that your daughter will never graduate from high

school. But thanks to her, mine will.

And when she does, we'll be thinking about you and about Kimmy.

I didn't know about all that.

They asked us.

We were in the hospital.

We said yes, but we were so... numb.

We were so... numb.

Kimmy... helped all these people.

Her dream came true after all.

She did make a difference.

My name's Tommy.

I was sick my whole life.

I was never supposed to live very long.

But they told me now that I could even get old.

Because I got Kimmy's heart.

I'm sorry.

No.

No. No, Tommy, it's okay.

strong heart.

It's a powerful heart.

It's a good heart to have.

I thought you might like this.

what Kimmy looked like.