Original subtitles

[music playing]

[music playing]

Oh, smell that fresh air.

I mean, there's nothing like it!

Agreed.

Of course, you got to drive a lot further from the city

to find it these days.

Yeah.

The air's bad.

The water's bad.

Well, at least the ocean's hanging in there.

Partly.

You can't eat the fish coming out of the bays around here.

What is the matter with people, anyway?

Why do they mess up their own backyards?

Money.

As long as they get theirs, they don't care

what happens down the line.

You think they'll ever wise up?

Probably.

People generally do.

When it's too late.

Yeah.

Hey, come on, let's change the subject.

Huh? We got a little time off.

Let's enjoy it.

Right?

You got it.

MARK GORDON: Well, the first thing I want to do

is stop off see my old pal Gary Douglas.

JONATHAN SMITH: That surprises me.

I thought the first thing you'd want to do is eat.

Oh, yeah.

You're right.

I am kind of hungry.

So I'll see Gary tomorrow.

I mean, what's another day, huh?

[voices on television]

Now, that is something your daddy would say!

Yeah.

Yeah, Daddy's funny!

Naturally!

He gets his sense of humor from me.

Mommy, do I have a sense of humor?

You?

You crack me up.

Good.

[doorbell rings]

Who can that be at this hour?

No, no.

Sit, I'll get it.

If it's the Girl Scouts, they already got me for two boxes.

STEVIE DOUGLAS: More boxes?

All right!

That'll last about two days around here.

Hank, Tom.

What's the matter?

Hello, Lorraine.

It's-- it's not good.

Gary's been hurt.

It's worse than that.

He was shot tonight.

How bad?

Oh, no!

No, please!

Oh God!

Oh God, no!

Oh!

How are you doing? All right?

Yeah.

33 is too young to die.

It sure is.

Gary was a good guy.

He was a good cop, too.

I'm not saying that just because I trained him.

He just had this way of making everybody feel great,

you know what I mean?

People like that are rare.

Yeah, they sure are.

It's going to be hard on his family.

He's a little boy named Stevie.

I think he's about seven now.

Man, I'm glad we don't have an assignment.

It's been a lot better, having you along.

This is our assignment.

Ten-hut!

Forward, hum!

Right oblique!

Prepare to fire!

[guns cocking]

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

[gunfire]

Aim!

Fire!

[gunfire]

Aim!

Fire!

[gunfire]

Recover!

Left oblique!

Forward, hum.

[bugle sounding]

[music playing]

Gary will be missed very, very much.

Lorraine?

Mark.

Mark, is that you?

How you doing, kiddo?

I've been better.

Joe, my thoughts have been with you.

Mark.

It's good to see you.

Oh, this is my friend, Jonathan Smith.

This is Lorraine and Joe Douglas.

I'm very sorry about your loss.

Well, thank you for coming.

Where's Stevie?

I left him with a neighbor.

I just didn't see any reason to put him through this.

It's hard enough on the boy.

Anyway, will you come back to the house?

We're having just a-- you know, a little gathering of friends

from the force.

I'll follow you.

No, thanks very much, Jerry.

Thank you.

Take care.

Yeah, I'll call you next time.

Thank you.

Thanks very much.

OK.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

Bye, Fred. Thanks.

I'm glad this day is almost over.

Well, they say the day of the funeral is the hardest.

That was quite a tribute they gave to Gary.

Oh, yes.

The police department's real good with tributes.

Yeah, I guess so.

Anyway.

Look at this mess.

Now, look, why don't you do sit down and relax?

Mark and I can clean this up.

No way I'm going to sit down while you clean my house!

Rule number one-- never try to talk Lorraine out of anything.

Rule number two-- never try to talk Lorraine out of anything.

I'll get a plastic bag.

I just feel like I have to stay on top of everything--

especially now.

There's just so much I have to take care of Gary.

Hey, look, I'd be happy to give you a hand with

the pension stuff-- insurance.

I had to go through it, you know,

when I left the department.

Mark, I couldn't ask you to do that.

You didn't.

I offered.

Now, come on, I really want to help.

Well, OK.

But I insist you stay with us, then.

I've got two beds up in the guest room.

[doorbell rings]

Hi, sweetie!

Hey, Mommy!

Thank you, Betty.

Listen, your timing was perfect.

Everybody just left.

Was he a good boy?

He's a doll.

You're going to be a real heartbreaker.

You know that?

Now, you take care.

If you need anything, just pick up the phone and holler.

Thank you.

I will.

Don't tell me this is Stevie!

Stevie, this is Mark and Jonathan.

They want to say hello to you.

I remember you when you were a little baby.

How you doing, Stevie?

Good to see you.

Hi.

Let me tell you something-- he has

been a brave little trooper.

You bet he has.

He's a big boy.

What you got there?

It's a picture of Amazing Man.

See?

Amazing Man?

Hey, that's beautiful!

Well, he looks like a good friend.

He is.

He's the best.

Can I go up to bed now?

Bed?

It's too early, isn't it?

I just want to go to bed.

All right, sweetie.

Go ahead, I'll be up in a few minutes.

Stevie?

Yeah?

You want to sleep in Mommy's room tonight?

No, I want to sleep with me Amazing Man.

Joe, did you give him that doll?

No.

Never saw it before tonight.

Hey!

Look at this.

Amusement World has a new ride--

Spider Wheel.

I bet Stevie'd love that.

He's too young for those rides, Joe.

No!

I think he'd get a kick out of it.

You know, get his mind off stuff.

Not that way.

Mother knows best.

Stevie and I are up for school.

He's going to introduce me to his teacher.

Aren't you?

If you want me to.

Thank you for taking him.

I would've have taken him, Jonathan.

But I had to see the dentist this morning.

Oh, I know how you feel.

Come on, pal. We're on our way.

We'll see you later. MARK GORDON: Hi, partner!

JONATHAN SMITH: Hi, partner!

Bye, partner.

Bye, partner.

We got our schedule worked out for today?

Uh, yeah.

Everything except the pension office.

Funny, isn't it, mark?

I bet you never thought when you were

training Gary that you would be here helping his widow.

Listen, it's going to take some time, but you'll be OK.

Hey, if you--

you don't get going, you're never going

to get your business done.

Huh?

Uh, OK.

Oh! Joe, I forgot.

We have to drop you at the dentist.

JOE DOUGLAS: Don't worry about me.

I'll take the bus.

Oh, no, you don't!

Hey, it's only two miles.

Anyway, I like the bus.

I always meet interesting characters.

OK. We'll see you later?

JOE DOUGLAS: Yeah.

[music playing]

[car ignition turning over]

Really sad--

I saw all the reports on the news.

Well, I'm sure his classmates have seen them, too.

You just may have to deal with that.

Well, if the subject comes up, I'll try and handle it in a way

that's comfortable for him.

Mrs. Douglas will appreciate that.

Well, I'd better be going.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Mrs. Blake?

Yes, Jason?

Was that Stevie's father who got

killed on TV the other night?

Oh.

Yes.

That was Stevie's daddy.

He was a policeman, and he was very brave.

He was a hero.

And we all want Stevie to know that he and his family

are in our prayers.

[heroic music]

[music playing]

Stevie?

Honey, dinner's ready.

He's been up in his room all afternoon.

The lasagna's great.

Remember the time Gary brought it to the station for the guys?

You know, I think that's how he got his promotion.

No, Gary got his promotion because he was gung ho.

There's nothing wrong with being gung ho.

As a matter of fact, gung ho was the slogan of our Marines

during the big war.

It all depends on how you look at it.

There's only one way I want to look at it.

My son was a hero.

We're not going to agree on this, Joe, so

why don't we drop the subject?

Well, Jonathan, how did everything go at the school

today?

Oh, yeah, Mrs. Blake was very understanding.

I still think Stevie's going to have a tough time.

You know how cruel kids can be.

I know.

It's tough.

But he's strong, and he's going to have to deal with it.

Where is he, anyway?

Stevie?

Dinner's ready, honey.

Will you please come down?

What have you been doing?

Nothing.

Did you wash your hands?

Yes.

All right, come sit down.

Stevie, please sit down.

Your dinner's getting cold.

I have to finish setting the table first.

Your place is already set, sweetie.

I have to set a place for my friend.

Oh, yeah?

Who's your friend, Stevie?

Amazing Man.

[heroic music]

Will you look at this?

The tag's on.

He never even wore it.

Well, somebody will get a lot of use out of it.

Well, Mark's taking the first load down to the thrift store.

You got any more boxes for me?

We're coming along.

STEVIE DOUGLAS: Mommy!

I'm home!

Oh, great.

I didn't want him to see this.

Well, you're home early.

We had an assembly.

How you doing, Stevie?

What are you doing with Daddy's clothes?

We're, uh-- we're giving them away to the poor people.

Oh.

Do you have to?

Yes, sweetie, we do.

I want you to go in and get going on your homework, huh?

Can I stay?

Well, no, sweetie.

Sorry, there's really not-- not enough room in here.

Please!

No way, José!

But I want to stay in here!

No. I'm sorry.

You can't.

All right?

Now, let's go.

You never let me do anything!

All right, now, that's enough!

You go to your room!

STEVIE DOUGLAS: You're mean!

[door slams]

I'll be right back.

Stevie!

Stevie, I'm sorry I snapped at you, honey.

Mommy just has a lot on her mind.

I have a lot to do before I go back to work next week.

Stevie, are you listening to Me Stevie,

put that thing down so I can talk to you!

It's not a thing.

It's Amazing Man.

Stevie, I expect you to look at me when I talk to you.

I don't want to!

Now, just a minute, mister!

Now, this Amazing Man business has gotten all out of hand.

You eat with it.

You sleep with it.

You take it to school with you.

He's my friend!

Well, I want you to put your friend aside,

and I want you to do your homework.

I'll do it later.

You'll do it now!

No!

All right, give me the toy.

No way!

Amazing Man doesn't listen to anybody.

He told me he wants to fly!

Is that right?

Well, let me tell you something.

When I see that you've done your homework,

you can have him back.

Amazing Man's very mad at you!

He'll get over it.

And I don't want you taking it to school with you anymore.

[music playing]

[cape whirring]

Amazing Man!

I knew you'd come!

Boy, it's been a long time since I walked these hallways.

And everybody looks so young!

Listen, this pension stuff shouldn't take too long.

I mean, it's pretty straightforward.

Here.

Do you believe this?

They said they'd be open all day.

Probably having lunch.

Well, maybe they're eating in here.

[knocking] - Hey.

If they're chowing down in there,

they're not going to answer the door.

Boy, the guys with the inside jobs really haven't made,

don't they?

Come on, Lorraine.

Take it easy.

Yeah, sure.

Hey, I tell you what--

why don't we go sit on the bench and take ourselves a break?

Huh? - Oh!

Lorraine, come on.

Mark, why the hell did he have to be a cop?

Why?

He loved being a cop.

You know that.

What I know is that everybody in this place

could always count on Gary.

To take the overtime--

to pull a shift for them.

It's that kind of job, you know?

People here have to look out for each other.

Really?

Is looking out for everybody else but your own family

what it's all about?

Of course not.

We needed him at home, too!

Lorraine, Gary loved you and Stevie and Joe very, very much.

Now, you know that.

A lot of good it does us now.

OK, Amazing Man!

You stand in front of me, and when the bad guys come,

I'll blow them away to little pieces!

Amazing Man, there's too many!

I need your help!

Crush them!

Quick!

What are you doing?

I'm playing.

What are you playing?

I'm playing with Amazing man.

Who's that?

He's an inter-space crime fighter.

Where is he?

He's over there.

Why can't we see him?

Because he only lets me see him.

Oh, yeah?

Then what's he look like?

He's real tall.

He has big muscles, and he can fly.

Oh.

Superman.

No way!

He's much stronger than Superman!

Kryptonite can't hurt him.

Amazing Man can eat kryptonite, and he wouldn't even know it!

No one's stronger than Superman.

That's why he's called Superman.

Superman used to be the strongest,

but that was before Amazing Man.

CHILD: That's dumb!

You're dumb!

There isn't any Amazing Man!

STEVIE DOUGLAS: There is, too!

There is not!

Is, too!

We play together all the time!

He even takes me flying.

We're best friends.

Oh, yeah?

Then he'll probably get mad if I take your hat?

Give me that!

No!

If you want it, have Amazing Man come over here and try

to take it away from me.

Come on!

Come on!

You're all dumb!

You're all dumb!

I got all Stevie's hat!

I got Stevie's hat!

I got Stevie's hat!

[music playing]

I got Stevie's hat!

LORRAINE DOUGLAS: Mrs. Blake?

Oh, Mrs. Douglas.

Thanks for coming.

Well, thank you for waiting for me.

Listen, I have to tell you-- uh, I was a little concerned

when you called.

Oh.

I'm sorry I worried you.

It's just that, uh, Stevie's having some problems,

and I thought we should talk.

Please, come in.

JOE DOUGLAS: Help!

Help!

Somebody help me!

Please!

Hold on, Grandpa Joe!

JOE DOUGLAS: I can't hold on much longer!

Don't let go of the cliff, Grandpa Joe!

Amazing Man's coming to save you!

Oh!

Amazing Man, you are strong!

Well, Grandpa Joe, you're OK now.

Yeah, well, how are we going to get out of this jungle

and back to civilization?

Hmm?

I know.

Amazing Man will fly us back.

Good idea.

Hmm?

OK, Amazing Man, fly us back to our house.

[makes whooshing sound]

JOE DOUGLAS: Amazing Man, you rescued us again.

You are amazing!

Yeah, he's the best.

What are you doing?

Well, we're being rescued by Amazing Man.

That's what.

Right, amigo?

Yeah.

He got us out of big trouble.

You are in even bigger trouble with me, young man.

Let me tell you something--

I just got finished talking to your teacher.

She said that you're spending all

your free time with this-- this Amazing Man of yours.

That you're not doing your schoolwork--

that you're getting into fights.

Is that true?

I don't know.

Well, I do know.

Now, I want you to get upstairs and get

busy doing the work that you're supposed to be doing.

But Mommy!

No but mommy me!

Now go!

And I don't want you talking to Amazing Man!

I want you doing your work!

Joe, I do not want you encouraging him

in this Amazing Man business.

Uh, listen, Lorraine.

I kept my mouth shut while the boy was in the room,

but I got to say something.

I think you're coming down on him too hard.

Well, I think he needs structure, Joe.

I think he needs to deal with the real world.

There'll be plenty of time for that!

Look, he's my responsibility now.

I will make all the rules for him!

I'm sure you will!

But I want to make one point.

Regardless of what you and the teachers say,

kids do have imaginary playmates.

Now, I-- I remember Gary had one when he was a kid.

I thought it was kind of cute.

I'll bet you did.

I'll bet he was a cop!

What do you mean by that?

Joe, weren't you the one that was always

encouraging him to be a cop?

We're getting on that, huh?

Listen, being a cop was Gary's decision.

Now, I'm proud my son was a cop, and there

are a lot of other people who are proud he was, too.

Good.

Why don't you tell them that, Joe?

Why don't you tell your son how proud you are of him!

[music playing]

[door opening and closing]

How you doing, Joe?

Relaxing, huh?

Around here?

You got to be kidding.

What's the matter?

Is something wrong?

Not with me, there isn't.

I can't vouch for her, though.

It's great, isn't it?

My own daughter-in-law blames me for what happened to Gary.

Oh, I'm sure no matter what she said, she didn't mean that.

I'm taking a walk.

[music playing]

[whoosh]

Amazing Man?

Nobody believes that you're real.

Not the kids at school and not even my mommy.

And you are real.

And you're my friend.

[music playing]

OK, here's the last of the envelopes.

OK.

Boy, I can't believe we're almost finished.

You sign these forms--

I'll run them by the post office.

OK.

Hey, how's it going?

Oh, good.

Mark's a real whiz.

Aw, shucks!

Hey, listen, I have a feeling Stevie here

could be talked into going to the park,

and I wouldn't mind taking him.

Well, Jonathan, you don't have to do that.

I mean, I'm sure Joe will take him when he gets

back from the senior center.

Yeah, but I wouldn't get a chance to play.

You want to go, honey?

I guess so.

All right, pal.

Come on, let's go.

Yeah, right there.

OK.

So you want to play some Catch

I don't think so.

Ah, what about monkey bars?

No.

I want to play with Amazing Man.

You really like Amazing Man, don't you, Steve?

Oh, yeah!

How come?

'Cause he comes whenever I call him!

And he never tells me what to do.

He's a lot better than the regular people.

And you know what else?

What?

He never lies.

Oh.

Well, do regular people lie to you?

Yeah.

You're kidding.

Who lies to you, Stevie?

My dad.

He said he would come home after work for dinner, and he didn't!

You know, Stevie, I know your dad wanted to come home to you,

but he just couldn't.

But Amazing Man could. 'Cause when the bad guys shoot at him,

the bullets don't stick!

They just bounce right off.

Oh!

The Amazing Man can never die, huh?

That's right.

He can't ever die.

You really miss your daddy, don't you?

No!

[music playing]

Ah, this is some tree.

Yeah.

You know, trees are really special things.

Just think about it-- they give protection

to squirrels and the birds.

They always seem to be around when you

want something to climb into.

I tell you, this tree has been here a long, long time.

But someday it's not going to be here anymore.

Why not?

Well, I mean, I wish it could be here forever.

It just can't.

See, trees are like all living things.

Someday they're going to die.

That's not fair!

Oh, I know it doesn't seem fair,

especially if it's a person who dies and someone

you love very, very much.

Like your daddy.

I want to go play with Amazing Man.

You know, Joe, if you can't rinse

the dishes any better than this, I would

just as soon do it myself.

Well, that's just fine with me.

You do it.

Oh.

Hi, Jonathan.

Hi.

Did you Stevie have a good time at the park?

Well, let's say we tried, but he's having a hard time at it.

Why?

Did he say anything?

No, it's what he didn't say.

I think Stevie's feeling a lot of pain now,

and he just can't get it out.

And I think he's afraid to get it out.

What do you mean?

Well, I think Stevie's gotten the message that it's

not all right for him to talk about how sad

he feels right now.

Well, we sure haven't stopped him.

No, I'm sorry to say I think you have.

Look, beginning with the funeral--

I mean, not letting him go to his own father's funeral.

That'd make him feel like an outsider

as though he didn't have a right to grieve.

Jonathan, he's just a child.

Yeah, but he's got feelings!

Come on, I mean, since the funeral,

have either one of you sat down and talked with him

about what he's going through?

No.

No, because it would just upset him.

Upset him or you, Lorraine?

See, I think you're not talking to Stevie

because Gary's passing is too hard for you to deal with.

Really, Jonathan, that's ridiculous.

Oh, it is?

Well, I think that's why you two are on each other's case

all the time.

I think it's a lot easier for you

to argue than talk about how much you're hurting inside.

And Stevie's taking his lead from you.

He's hiding from the pain.

Disappearing into his imaginary world with Amazing Man.

Well, we were just trying to protect him.

You can't protect yourself or him from the pain.

Lorraine, you lost Gary.

You have to allow yourself a chance

to grieve so you can heal.

[music playing]

I-- I loved him so much!

Oh, I know that.

Keep his memory alive, then.

Go to your son.

[music playing]

Well, I guess that's just about it.

Mark, thank you.

Thank you for everything.

Listen, the next time you come back,

you won't have to work this hard, either.

I promise.

How's he doing, Joe?

He's all cried out, I think.

Is it all right I go upstairs and say goodbye to him?

Yeah, sure.

I won't be long, Mark.

[music playing]

[whoosh]

AMAZING MAN: Hiya, Stevie.

Amazing Man?

How are you doing tonight?

Did you come to play?

No, not this time.

I thought maybe we could talk a little bit.

What about?

Well, I understand you went someplace special day.

Yeah.

I went to the cemetery to visit my daddy.

You want to tell me about it?

Mommy and Grandpa Joe took me.

Mm-hmm?

I put flowers in Daddy's grave and cried a lot,

'cause I wanted to hold him.

Yeah, I know.

I wanted to talk to Daddy, but I knew he couldn't hear me.

Hey, why do you say that?

Because he's gone.

Oh, no, he's not.

Your daddy's not gone, Stevie.

See, part of your daddy's still inside you and always will be.

And his love can always hear your love.

Does that happen every time?

AMAZING MAN: You bet it does-- every single time.

What did you want to say to your dad?

It's OK.

Well, I wanted to say.

It's all right to tell Amazing Man, you know?

I love you, Daddy.

I love you, and I miss you.

And I'm sorry I got mad at you for not coming home.

Hey, it's OK to cry.

I'm OK now.

You bet you're OK.

And that's why I'm able to go.

See, I've got another assignment.

Where do you have to go?

Oh, it's a long, long way from here.

I got to fly a long ways to help another little boy who's scared

just the way you were until you found out your dad was

still in your heart.

I guess it's all right if someone else really needs you.

There's just one thing I would like, if you could.

Well, you name it.

You mean that?

Anything?

Anything.

[whoosh]

[triumphant music]

You guys don't know how to dribble!

Now watch me-- I can go under my legs.

You know, it spins on my finger--

you know? Hey.

[inaudible]

[whoosh]

What was that?

What was that?

What was that?

[whoosh]

[whoosh]

Amazing Man?

Amazing Man?

It was just a dream.

[music playing]