Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

You're not gonna feel guilty, are you,

about taking a few days after some rest and recreation?

No.

If he had an assignment for us, he'd send us someplace else.

Yeah you're right, Jonathan.

You're absolutely right.

Even an angel deserves a vacation.

Wait 'til you see this place, you're going to think

you died and went to heaven.

I've already done that.

Oh yeah, right.

Now the fishing there is out of this world.

So is my old pal Wes.

When we were cops together he saved my life one time.

I ever tell you that?

Several times.

You better slow down.

There's the turn off to Windward beach.

Jonathan, you missed the road.

That's the wrong road.

You're going to tell me how to get to Windward Beach?

Wes and I have been there 100 times.

You missed the road, Jonathan.

I'm telling you, that's not the road.

The road you want is four miles up ahead.

Jonathan, this time I know I'm right.

Sorry.

All right.

How about we stop at the next place

we come to for some direction?

You'll see.

Suit yourself.

It's right by of the road.

Knows everything.

[non-english]

Going to be music to my ears to hear you

say you were wrong just once.

I'll be right back.

Hey look at all that food.

What you got in there, pal?

Excuse me.

Excuse me, now isn't that polite.

Isn't that polite, guys?

Politest thing I ever heard.

Let me see.

Hey, come on.

Just looking.

Here.

Whoa.

Fried chicken?

Slaw?

Fries?

We hit the jackpot.

Hey come on, give me that back.

What did you say?

Barry, come on.

Let them have it.

Yeah, Barry.

You better get going before you get an ow wow.

Please Barry, get in the car.

Thanks for the treat, Barry.

Hey, open that trunk.

We'll take these down to the lake and have us a picnic.

Hey, why don't you give the kid back his food?

You talking to me?

Yeah. Come on.

Enough's enough.

Hey.

Why don't you take a hike before you get hurt?

Hey Big John is too scared to move.

Let's get out of here.

Why are you just going to let them get away with that?

Well this time, I think you're wrong.

[suspenseful music]

What the hell is this?

I told you.

Enough's enough.

[sound of a punch]

[sound of a punch]

[sound of a punch]

I saw it, but I don't believe it.

All right.

Before you say I told you so, you were right.

Jon, did you hear me?

You were right.

Got to go.

Thought we didn't have an assignment.

We don't.

I have to go back.

Back?

What do you mean?

Up there?

Yeah.

Why?

What happened?

I broke a rule.

What are you talking about?

It doesn't matter.

I got to go now.

For how long?

It's going to be up to him.

I'll see you, friend.

Well, I'll see you again, won't I?

I hope so.

Good luck.

[music playing]

Mark?

Mark!

Mark!

What do you mean?

You still know me after all this time?

I never forget a beard.

But I am furious with you.

What do you mean staying away so long?

Oh I'm sorry.

It'll never happen again.

I thought you were going to bring a friend with you.

Yeah I was, but he got called away on some business.

Hey flatfoot.

Hi Mark, how are you?

How's life treating you?

Well it turned out better when I was wearing a badge.

Look at you.

You're still skinny.

Because of chasing bad guys.

Life's great.

Wait a minute.

Who are these women?

Hi Uncle Mark.

The last time I saw them they were that tall.

I could bounce them on my knees.

They're not my little girls anymore.

Well they're not too big to give

an old man a hug and a half.

Well I died down behind this dumpster.

This guy unloads his gun on me. Blam!

Blam!

Blam!

By the time I come up, your dad has got this loser spread

eagle against the wall.

Uncle Mark, that was a good one.

Tell us another story.

Oh yeah.

This time we played a trick on your dad.

I think that's enough stories for tonight.

Oh but we never get to hear thiese.

Dad won't tell us.

And for good reason.

He knows that we'd worry.

Besides, you can't lie as well as I do.

Do you two remember the last time you were fishing here?

How could I forget it?

It was the day we were married.

You're kidding me.

You guys went fishing on your wedding day?

To calm my nerves.

Do they know we almost didn't get back in town

in time for the wedding?

And I will never forgive you for that, Mark Gordon.

And you, the best man.

It's unbelievable, isn't it.

I mean, it seems like only yesterday.

What was it? 15 years ago?

Now think again, pal.

16 years.

16.

Couldn't be 16 years ago.

And we started working as partners when you graduated

from the academy, right?

That was--

Mark.

It was 16 years.

Heather's 15.

Yeah, you're right.

It was 16 years ago.

I mean, I don't know what's going on here.

Time is passing me by.

OK.

Come on girls.

It's been a long day.

Let's get ready for bed.

I think I'll go get some more coffee.

Sorry, man.

I wasn't thinking.

It's OK.

I don't want her to know.

But she's going to find out anyway.

Why?

Why does she ever have to know?

Because too many people know the truth.

You can't keep a secret like this forever.

But we can try.

Carol, I can't go on like, this

having to pick and choose my words,

afraid I might accidentally give away the truth.

Mark almost let it out last night.

But he didn't.

It doesn't mean it won't happen someday.

Heather's got a right to know.

And wouldn't it be better for her to hear from us

than from somebody else?

Sweetheart, we raised her right.

She's a bright, well-adjusted girl.

She can accept the truth.

Well I just can't tell her.

Then let me.

There's something I want to talk to you about.

Nothing bad. I don't mean that.

It's just something that I knew we'd have to talk about,

and, well, now I think it's time.

I think I know.

Oh yeah?

What do you know?

You and mom were married after I was born, weren't you?

How would you know that?

Well last night, Mom said that Mark was best

man at your wedding, right?

Right.

Well see.

Mark always told me that he met you after you

left the police academy.

I've seen the diploma on your wall, Dad.

The day you graduated, I was six months old.

And you always told me that you and mom were married the year

before you went to the academy.

Yeah.

We lied about that.

And you're right.

We were married after you were born.

Dad, it's OK.

You and mom were in love.

I understand things like that can happen

when two people are in love.

Babe.

You don't understand.

That's not what happened.

See, your mom and I--

your mom and I adopted you when you were a baby.

Adopted?

Yeah.

I know you had no idea.

We should have told you before this.

But you see your mom--

your mom just couldn't.

Now you've heard your mom and I talk about how we met.

Well, that's all true.

I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her.

And we were married a month later.

Well, we both loved kids and we knew we wanted to have some.

But your mom had an examination and the doctor

said she probably would never be able to give birth.

And that really hurt.

So your mom went to an adoption agency

and they showed her the most beautiful little girl.

And your mom came and got me, and the minute I saw you,

I knew you were going to be ours.

Adopted?

Shelley too?

No, no, no, no, no.

About a year after we adopted you

your mom got pregnant with Shelley.

It was like a miracle.

We never expected it, so we were thrilled.

Well, that's it.

No more secrets, huh?

Do you love me as much as you love Shelley?

Oh darling, I could never love anyone more.

Then it's OK.

Come on.

Let's go tell your mom and sister.

Come on.

I told my friend Jonathan this place was like heaven.

I guess so.

It looks like you found a good place to do your thinking.

Did they tell you I know?

Yeah, they told me.

I know they love me.

And I love them.

It's just that-- it's just weird.

I don't know.

Just to think that I'm not even related to my own parents.

If they lived in another town, I would have

grown up not even knowing them.

Does it matter?

I mean, now that you know, do you

feel any different from who you were

yesterday or the day before?

No.

But now that I know I just can't help wondering--

wondering where I came from.

I mean, I love my family more than anything

and I would never hurt them, but I just have to find

out who my real mother is now.

I mean, there's so many questions.

You know what I mean?

Yeah. I do.

I really do.

What are you so frightened of?

Of course she wants to know.

Wes, we don't even who the mother is.

Maybe we can find her.

Mark's agreed to come back with us and help.

And then what?

Share our daughter with this woman?

What if she wants her back?

That can't happen.

Heather's ours.

Wes, I don't want you to do this.

I just want things to stay the way they are.

Sweetheart, Heather's never going to turn away from us.

We're a family.

But she's curious, just like anyone else would be.

Look.

There's always going to have this need

to know about herself.

We just have to help her fill that need.

Come on.

You're kidding.

And your parents never told you?

They meant to.

But it was hard for them.

FRIEND: Where did she come from?

Who are her real parents?

HEATHER: No one knows.

But my dad's trying to find out.

Shelley.

Sue and Janet have to leave now.

But Mom, it's early.

I want them to leave right now.

Bye Shelley.

- I'll see you tomorrow. - Bye.

Bye Shelley.

What do you mean telling those girls your sister's adopted?

It's not a secret, is it?

I thought you were going to tell everybody.

We are not telling everybody.

It is a very personal matter, and I'm furious that you

told them anything at all.

I wish we never knew about Heather.

I wish we never knew she was adopted.

Shelley.

Shelley, I'm sorry.

Mom, I didn't mean to do anything wrong.

Baby, I know.

I'm just very much on edge.

It's because of Heather's real mom, isn't it.

I don't know.

You don't want her to find her, do you?

No.

No, I don't.

Then I hope they never find him, Mom.

Not ever.

-- Gonna be back in harness today.

Felt great.

You do nice work.

I'm glad I picked the right man.

Hi.

I'm sorry we're so late.

Well, we couldn't hold dinner any longer.

I would have called, but we were

working pretty fast on this.

Did you find anything out?

Well, I think so.

Mark's got a friend who works for the county.

We were lucky.

He retires next week.

Got him just in time.

We know that Heather was abandoned

a few days after she was born, which gives

us an approximate birth date.

Now Ed gave us a list of the names

of all the women who gave birth to girls in Woodward

around that date.

There were five maybes.

We spent the day checking them out.

Got it narrowed down to one.

You found my mother?

WES: Well, there was one we couldn't trace,

honey, a woman named Joan Matthews.

There seemed to be no record of her anywhere.

But we have an address on the birth certificate in Woodward.

1312 Stockton Avenue.

Mark and I are going to check that out tomorrow

as soon as I'm off duty. - Yeah.

We're hoping that somebody at that address

can lead us to Joan Matthews, and if our luck really holds,

maybe Joan Matthews still lives there.

What if she still does live there?

WES: Then I'll tell her who I am and I'll

tell her all about you.

What if she doesn't want to see me?

Well, I think we have to leave that up to her.

I mean, we don't know why she gave you up.

She has rights, and if she doesn't want to see you,

we have to leave it at that.

It's me again.

You know I ain't much for praying.

This is different, see.

Cause I ain't just asking for me.

I'm asking for all the people down here Jonathan helped.

He did a good job.

I know he made a mistake or something like that.

Nobody's perfect.

You know that better than anybody.

I guess what I'm asking is that you

give Jonathan another chance.

This world really needs him.

They really do.

I'll talk to you later.

All right. I lied.

All right.

I'm asking for me too.

I miss the guy.

Amen.

Heather, come on.

We'll be late.

Heather, come on.

We'll be late.

I'm not going to school today.

What's the matter?

Are you sick?

Touch of the flu, I guess.

Tell Mom, will you?

Mom's gone shopping or someplace.

You want me to stay with you?

No.

That's OK.

I'll be fine 'til she gets back.

Go on. - All right.

Bye.

Hey.

I thought you were sick in bed.

I thought you were in the RV.

I was thinking about maybe taking a walk.

Where are you going?

School.

I'm feeling better.

You're going the wrong way.

All right.

I'm going to Woodward.

I'm going to find John Matthews.

Yeah.

Your dad and I are going there this afternoon.

I know, but I want to go now.

It's all I can think about.

Let's try to understand.

All right.

A bus will take all day.

Car is a lot faster.

Coming or not?

You OK?

I thought you said this was going to be easy.

You'll be all right.

Will you come with me?

Come on.

Yes.

I'm sorry to bother you ma'am.

Would you happen to know anyone named Joan Matthews?

Mom, what are you doing here?

Sweetheart, Joan Matthews is a name that I made up.

I'm your real mother.

I was 17 years old, and I thought I was in love.

I thought he was the most wonderful boy in the world,

and I got pregnant.

God, I was scared.

And I told the boy, and he denied that he was the father.

I never saw him again.

I was living with my aunt then.

You girls never knew her, but she

was a very cold, stern woman.

She was the only family that I had,

and when I told her that I was pregnant, she--

she called me the most awful name.

I felt so worthless and ashamed.

She tried to make me have an abortion, and I said no,

so she sent me away to have my baby.

A friend of hers, Myra--

the woman you met today, Heather--

she took me in.

She was really very beautiful to me.

When the baby was born I used the name Joan Matthews

so that I wouldn't embarrass my aunt.

You were so beautiful, baby.

And I wanted you so much.

My aunt said no.

That I should give you up, that you'd be better off.

I didn't have a job or any money and I knew

that my aunt would not help me.

So I agreed.

It was my aunt who brought you to the adoption agency.

She didn't want my name on any of the files or the records,

and I hated her for that.

Really, I hated myself for letting it happen.

Keep going.

I think this is where I come in.

A few months later I met your father, and we fell in love.

After your father and I were married,

I went back to the adoption agency

and I told the woman there that we wanted to adopt.

Sweetheart you don't know how thrilled I was to find you

still in the nursery, and I brought your father

to see you right away.

I think he loved you, Heather, as much

as I did from the very start.

You liar.

You've lied to me from the very beginning.

You lost your baby and you used me to get her back.

Wes, I never used you.

Then why didn't you tell me you had a child?

I was afraid.

Really?

Were you too afraid to lie and scheme?

And what about the tests, Carol?

The examination that discovered that you

couldn't have children?

That was a lie too, wasn't it?

Wasn't it?

Yes.

You just said that to me so that I would agree to adopt.

I wanted my baby back.

So you used me.

Wes, I loved you.

I never lied about that.

Who's the father? Who's the father?

Carol, who's the father?

What difference does it make?

He was just a boy.

Yeah.

What difference does it make?

[weeping]

[dramatic music]

Wes, where you going?

Dad'll be back, Mom, I know it.

SHELLEY: No he won't.

Shelley!

Why should he?

Why should he come back?

I don't believe you, Mom.

I always thought you were so strict and such a prude.

We're too young to date.

We're not allowed to be out past nine.

You pick and choose our friends because you're afraid someone

may have a bad influence on us.

And I thought you were so perfect.

Well, I'm not.

Can I get you anything else?

No, he's had enough, thanks.

We're not partners anymore, Mark.

I'm not your responsibility.

You're my friend, Wes.

That makes me responsible.

Come on, you're drunk.

Let's go home.

What's this, a sermon from you?

Aren't you the fellow I watched drink himself off the force?

Right.

That's me.

But I'm also the guy whose life you saved.

I owe you one.

She played me for a fool.

Our whole life together has been one big lie.

Oh come on, Wes.

You know that's not true.

Oh it isn't true, is it?

Some jerk gets Carol pregnant and then runs like a scared

rat, so she cons the first chump who

comes along into marrying her so she can get her kid back.

So what are you going to do about it, Wes?

Just throw it all away?

You're going to turn your back on your family

because you found out that some 17-year-old girl

made a mistake 16 years ago?

Get out of here, Mark.

Leave me alone.

Hey sweetheart, over here.

You got a big ego eating on you, Wes.

You found out that Carol was with another man.

That means you weren't first and you can't stand it.

[jazz music]

Another one of these.

And you, sir?

Give me a cup of coffee.

Honey, why don't you go to bed now.

Come on honey, it's awfully late.

Not till daddy gets home.

[a knock at the door]

Where is he?

I checked him into a motel.

He wouldn't come home.

Said he'd be by tomorrow to pick up some of his stuff.

He's moving out.

I don't believe this is happening.

It's impossible.

Heather, why don't you help your mother?

And we could all use some sleep.

Jonathan, where are you, man?

I need help, man.

I need it bad.

[dramatic music]

All right.

Thank you.

Wow.

Nice, cozy little scene.

Little tea and sympathy, Carol?

What?

I'm not gone 24 hours and you're entertaining men

in the middle of the afternoon.

You're out of line, Wes.

You stay out of this.

I can't.

Not when my friend's destroying his marriage

for no good reason.

No good reason?

It's been one big lie.

You tell me you can't have children,

then you talk me into adopting a baby.

Your baby.

And then all of a sudden you're pregnant with Shelley,

and we call it a miracle.

Know what a miracle Carol?

You must have a real big laugh about that one.

Wes, please, don't.

Why didn't you tell me the truth?

Because I was afraid of losing you.

Was she wrong?

I mean, now that you know, you're walking out on her.

Because it's been a lie.

What if you had known the truth?

What then?

If all those years ago, Carol would

have told you she had a baby, would you have married her?

Daddy, I knew you'd come back.

Well, I'm not staying.

You said things wouldn't change.

I was wrong.

You said you loved me no matter what.

Has that changed too?

I came to get my things.

Daddy, wait.

Wes.

Wes, where are you taking her?

Shelley's my daughter.

She's coming with me.

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

CAROL: Hello.

I just want you to know that Shelley's fine.

She wants so stay with me.

CAROL: We've got to talk, Wes.

There's nothing to talk about.

What's done is done.

CAROL: We have children to talk about, no matter

what you feel about us.

I only have Shelley to think about.

I'm filing for temporary custody.

Wes, I will fight you for Shelley.

Shelley.

Wait.

You know you're really hurting Mom when you don't call

and you don't come to see her.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what to say to her.

Say anything.

Tell her you love her.

That would help, you know.

I'll call her.

Shelley, why are you doing this?

Dad needs me.

He doesn't have anybody.

At least mom has you.

Oh what are you doing?

Choosing sides?

You're really hurting Mom, you know.

Well, whose fault is that?

You're the one who had to know all about her real mother.

If it wasn't for you, I'd still have a mother and a father.

[suspenseful music]

[phone rings]

I'll get it.

Hello.

Dad, dinner's ready.

Uh-huh.

Dad, dinner's--

I'm sorry, honey.

That was the captain.

I've got to go to work.

Don't you have time to eat anything?

You went to a lot of trouble.

I know.

I'm sorry.

It's OK.

I understand.

Hey.

I'll tell you what.

Tomorrow night I'll make it up to you.

I'll take you someplace really special.

But I'm trying to make this place really special.

You do, sweetheart.

I got to run.

Listen.

Make sure you lock the door behind me.

OK?

Where are you going?

Jonathan.

Thank God you're back.

I can see through you.

I'm not really back.

I'm out on bail.

Roland comes down tomorrow.

What do you think?

I don't know.

Gonna be some day tomorrow.

I know.

You know what's been happening here?

Yeah, I do.

You know how I loused everything up?

My best friends are splitting up because of my big mouth.

Come on, it's not your fault. You can't hide the truth.

What did the truth do?

I mean, their marriage is over.

It's not over.

You got to keep trying.

Jonathan, I tried.

I tried.

I'm not an angel.

I guess that makes two of us.

Be at the corner of 8th and Martin tonight at 11 o'clock.

What are you talking about?

Just be there.

I've got to go.

Good luck, buddy.

Good luck to you, pal.

Hey there what have you got?

A bunch of right to lifers broke in.

Anybody hurt?

No, they're peaceful enough, but they sure

tore that place apart inside.

All right.

We'll get some names and take them downtown.

I'm going to check inside.

Hey, flatfoot.

What are you doing here?

Stopped for a walk.

A walk?

All the way over to this side of town?

Hey.

I walk all over.

What have you got here?

A break in.

Anti-abortion group.

Yeah.

A lot of that going on, isn't there.

Yeah.

I can't say I blame them.

I just don't agree with their methods.

Really?

I'm surprised you're against abortion.

Now why would that surprise you?

Well, if Carol would have had one

you wouldn't be splitting up right now.

Your little girl just wouldn't exist.

I'll see you at the courthouse tomorrow.

Hi Daddy.

Hi.

Mr. Fowler.

Yes.

Is everybody in your party here?

Yes.

We're all here.

The judge is ready for you.

No, wait.

Could we just have one more minute, please?

All right.

Carol, I've been doing a lot of thinking.

As a matter of fact, since last night, I've done nothing

but think.

And what it comes down to is this.

If-- if what happened years ago hadn't happened,

we wouldn't have Heather, and maybe I wouldn't have you.

And I love you both so very, very much.

Please.

[rising music]

I love you so.

Let's go home.

[dramatic music]

I know you're going to think I'm out of line.

I'm going to tell you something.

I think you're making a mistake.

You got angels walking all over the place, but none of them

ever tried any harder than Jonathan.

I'm going to tell you something else, too.

I wouldn't want to work for a boss who couldn't understand

what a guy makes a mistake.

All right.

So you're mad.

I was just being honest.

Jonathan.

What happened?

I got another chance, thanks to you.

You're kidding.

You mean you're back for good?

That's right.

Hot damn.

Mark.

Sorry.

[laughter]

[dramatic music]

[theme music]