"Hey!" "Look, it fits." "It's cute." "How come you have to fill in for Lisa?" "Doesn't she have any other friends?" "Hey, she's on Rose Queen business tomorrow." "Besides, us women of the Royal Court, we stick together." "I'm gonna drive you down there tomorrow morning, okay?" "No, you don't have to do that." "Since we lost our shot at the Rose Bowl last week," "I don't really have anything better to do." "Well, you'll have another chance next year." "You sound like Coach." "Mm." "How about me coming down there and hanging out with you at the store till you're done." "All day?" "No way." "Donna, it's not exactly the safest area." "It's safe enough for Lisa." "Yeah, well, she's..." "local." "What do you mean?" "It's okay for her to work there 'cause she's black?" "No, it..." "I'm just looking out for you." "I know." "And I love you for it, but don't worry about me." "I'll be fine." "Okay." "Okay." "Yeah, right over there." "Thanks." "Well, it looks like everything's come together." "Uh-huh." "That's all you have to say?" "Uh-huh." "Well, how about, "Thank you, Valerie," ""for letting Alpha House use the After Dark for Charity Casino Night"?" "Thank you, Valerie." "You know, that's what I like about you, Kelly." "You're so polite." "Ooh, big spender." "King, ten, seven..." " Blackjack!" " Ah!" "Blackjack!" " I knew it." " Not bad." "I'll stand on 20." "All right, dealer has... 17." "Sanders, why don't you go home and get some sleep?" "Don't you have to work tomorrow?" "Well, it's not like they're paying me." "No, a lot of people would pay them to get an internship at a major talent agency." "Deal." "Actually, I think that's how my father got me this job." "You wouldn't believe the woman they assigned me to work with." "What she lacks in talent and personality, she certainly makes up for in looks." "You want to make a play here, junior?" " Hit me." " Hey, guys." " Hey." " Hey, Susan." "Place looks great." "Looks like a real casino." "Not like I've ever been to a real casino." " You've never been to Vegas?" " No." "But I tell you what." "I cannot wait to get my hands on those dice." "How do you play that game anyway?" "Stick with me, kiddo." "I'm the master." "I'm sure you are." "Oh, be warned." "Hey, Nat, check out that setup next door?" "Yeah." "It looks great, doesn't it?" "Looks like it's gonna be a lot of fun." "So, uh, you're gonna play?" "Of course." "You think that's such a good idea?" "Nat, it's strictly recreational." "Besides, I learned my lesson." "You don't see me laying any bets on football games this year, do you?" "No." "Well, then relax." "Believe me, I don't want to go through that again." "Hey, where's my money?" "I said I'd let you slide one time and one time only." "And I paid you every cent." "That was the last time." "Where's the money you owe me, now?" "I'll-I'll get it." "I just need a few days, Duke." "I like you, I do, but this guy in my car, that's Tony." "And Tony..." "he doesn't like anybody." "Okay, Brandon, you're a big boy now." "I guess you know what you're doing." "I guess I do." "What're you doing?" "Oh, avoiding work." "Good." "We can avoid it together." "Whatcha got there?" "It's a portrait of you." "Let me see this." "What do you think?" "Not bad." "What about the hair?" "Oh, I forgot the hair." "Get the hair." "And the brows." "Don't forget the brows." " Oh..." " Much better." "How much do you think we'd get for it at the charity auction?" "There's a sucker born every minute." "Thank you for your donation." "Anything I can do for the cause." "What is the cause?" "Kid Kare day care centers all over the Southland." "You actually think anyone's gonna bid on a portrait-sitting with me?" "I intend to make sure of that." "ITM." "Tammy Kane's office." "Yes, she's right here." "Please hold." "I told you." "I have scripts to read." "Take a message." "I'm unavailable." "I'm sorry, she's unavailable to come to the phone right now." "Can she call you back?" "Thank you." "Steve, I don't have time to juggle clients and a hard-to-train intern." "I'm sorry." "I just thought you might be interested in taking a call from Jonathan Erwich, the new head of development at Paramount." "Erwich?" "Since when?" "Since this morning." "Front page." "Should I get him back on the phone?" "No, I'll do it myself." "Just do what I asked you to do, and... oh, and when you open my mail, be sure to open them neatly." "I don't like my envelopes shredded." "Got it." "What about your personal mail?" "There's nothing personal." "Stevie!" "Hey, Scott." "Hi." "I am so glad we got you aboard." "Me, too." "Your dad and I walked 18 holes at Bel Air last week, and all he could do was twist my arm about hiring you." "I think he even let me win." "Well, I hope I can live up to the advance billing." " Oh, you'll do fine." " I hope to." "And call my office." "We should have lunch." "I will." "See you later." "Mr. Coveny?" "Yes?" "I was wondering if I could put in to have Steve permanently assigned to me?" "He's... terrific." "Sure." "You can have him for as long as you like." " Thank you." " Mm." "Steve, why don't you get Jonathan Erwich on the phone?" "Right away." "You need to borrow some money again this week?" " There you go." "Thank you." " Thanks." "Um..." "Hi." "Um, how much is this?" "Hmm, you don't strike me as the teddy bear type." "Nah, it's not for me." "It's for my little brother's birthday." "Oh." "Here, let me see." "Oh, here we go." "Uh, $4.99 plus tax." "Not bad." "Pretty cute." "Five bucks?" "Forget it." "Hey, you, stop right there!" "Got you this time, huh?" "Let go of me!" "Leave me alone!" "Let go of me!" "No, no, no." "Okay what is this?" "Hey, Stan, he didn't steal it." "What?" "He just paid me for it." "Yeah, that's right, I paid $4.99 plus tax." "So who's rippin' who off here, chump?" "So, why you hiding it under your shirt, huh?" "So the gangstas down the street won't take it from me, okay?" "He's just a kid, Stan." "He's trouble is what he is." " Hey." " Hey." "You ready to go?" "Yes." "Let's go." "Bye, Stan." "Ah, thanks for coming out to help us today, Donna." "If you ever need a job, give me a call." "I'll remember that." "Thank you." "Okay, take care." "See you later." "Hi." "Hey." "Look, um," "I'm sorry about what happened before." "Thanks for saving my butt." "My name's Isaiah." "I'm Donna." "This is Joe." " Hey." " How you doin'?" "Look, um, I've only got, uh, three dollars." "That's okay." "You keep it." "You know, I never would steal anything... except it's for my little brother's birthday." "I know." "You told me." " Come on, Donna." "We gotta go." " Okay." "Hey, really." "I'm not a thief." "Well, from now on, make sure you can pay for something before you leave the store with it." "Cool." "Thank you." "Last pick up." "Got anything?" "Nope." "You planning to go to that big thing at the After Dark tonight?" "I'm running that big thing at the After Dark tonight." "You a KEG man?" "Yes, I am." "And you?" " Nope." "I'm a Delta." " Ah, Delta." "Well, I won't hold it against you." "Oh..." "Thanks." "See ya." "Hmm, personal and confidential." "Neatly not shredded." "Oh, God, she got canned." "Mail come?" "Yeah, I haven't had time to open it, though." "Come in." "Hi, um, it's 4:30." "I need to head out." "Remember that benefit I needed to leave early for?" "Oh, uh, right." "Kid Kare, right?" "There's no problem." "Anything else I can do before I leave?" "No." "Thanks." "I'll see you on Monday." "Okay." "Joe, haven't we already been by that corner?" "I think we're going in circles." "I'm sorry." "I've never been to this part of town, okay?" "So why don't you ask for directions?" "Why don't guys do that?" "We've got bigger problems." "I knew I should have got gas before I left the Westside." "Joe..." "Hey, I didn't plan on getting lost." "Damn." "We're out of gas?" "Yeah." "Oh, great, what are we going to do now?" "I don't know." "Find a phone or a gas station." "Whichever comes first." "One... plus one... two." "Minus one is one." "Plus one is two." " Hey." " Zero..." "What are you doing?" "Counting cards..." "Clare taught me how." "Isn't that cheating?" "Only if you know what you're doing, which I don't." "Oh, there's a e-mail on the counter from Jim and Cindy." "They're not coming home for Christmas." "I'm sorry." "I know you were looking forward to that." "Yeah, I miss those guys." "Guess I'll have to drown my sorrows at the blackjack table." "Taking this a little seriously, aren't you?" "Just lowering the house odds a little." "The house is for charity, Brandon." "The idea is to lose." "Which is exactly what I'm gonna be doing if you don't stop distracting me." " Now get out of here." " Well, excuse me for breathing." "Zero..." "Just relax." "Act like you own the place." "Everything's gonna be fine." "I don't own the place, and I am relaxed." "I think you better relax." "Check this out." "Hey, y'all looking for Rodeo Drive?" "No, we're looking for a gas station." "Hop on in." "We'll give you a ride." " No, thanks." " Hey, nobody talking to you." "Hey, now, is that your truck up on the road, there, blondie?" "Well, we'll take care of it for you." "Hey, Donna!" "Joe!" "You guys finally made it." "I've been waitin' on dinner." "Yeah, we ran out of gas." "Joe, what's wrong with you, man?" "Well, um, you can come up to my house, grab a bite to eat and then my mama gonna take you guys to go get some gas." "Thanks, guys." "Too bad we couldn't be of any help." "Good thinking, kid." "Yeah, well, my mama didn't raise no dummy." "You actually ran out of gas?" "Yeah." "Don't say anything about my mama." "Well, here we are." "Tonya, what did I tell you?" " Hi." " I told you to lay off the peanut butter." "You're gonna spoil your dinner." "Look, go put it up." "Phone's over there." "Oh, thanks." "So where's your mom?" "She's at work." "She'll be home later." "Yeah?" "How about your dad?" " Hello, Auto Club?" " I don't have a dad." "I need to go to the bathroom." "I need to go to the bathroom." "Benjamin, go to the bathroom by yourself." "Big boys can always go to the bathroom by themselves." "Tonya!" "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I didn't mean to." "What is wrong with you, girl?" "I'll clean it up." "I'm sorry." "Look, look, just don't move." "You don't have any shoes on." "Where's the broom?" " It's behind the door." " You get her shoes on." "I'll sweep it up." "All right." "I just talked to the Auto Club." "They're going to be here within a half an hour." "Mm, good." "What happened?" "Just kids being kids." "You know, I don't think we should leave them alone." "Where are their parents?" "Hah." "Grab the dustpan." "Is she okay?" "Yeah, she's fine." "Look, I'll do this." "So, what's for dinner?" " What?" " Dinner." "You know, the meal you eat at the end of the day." "You did invite us for dinner, didn't you?" "Hey, I was just doing you guys a favor." "And besides, I don't have enough for you guys." "And I need you out of my house before my mother gets home, because, uh, she'll have my butt for this." "For what?" "Come on now, don't play dumb." "I mean, you see what's going on here, don't you?" "If the child welfare lady ever finds out she leaves us here alone, we'd be outta here." "Well, hey, we're not going to tell anyone." "Are we?" "Of course not." "Besides, we're the ones springing for pizza." " Oh, hey." " Hi." "What's your name?" "I'm Donna." "What's your name?" "My name is Benjamin." " Benjamin, do you like pizza?" " Yes." "Yes, well, that's what we're having for dinner." " Yes!" " Yes!" "Pizza, pizza." "Pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza." "Ten down." "It's hard ten..." "Yes." "Winner." "Whoo, what a rush." "I'm gonna go get some more chips." "Oh, no, you can, uh, you can borrow some of mine." "If you're a really good boy, I won't even charge interest." " I'll be right back." " Okay." "Oh, Lisa, you are on fire." "You gotta try this." "It's a blast." "Yeah, I bet, when you win like this." "Where's Donna?" "That is actually what I was coming to ask you." "We were supposed to meet here after she got off work." "Oh, well, it's only 8:00." "Maybe she's putting in overtime." "No way." "When it comes to time and a half, Stan's too cheap." "Donna will be here real soon." " Wow." " Oh, my!" "I'm gonna let it ride." "Happy birthday." "Happy birthday." "Blow out your candles." "One more." "Yay!" "Yay!" "Here." "Did you bake that?" "No, Mom baked it this morning, but I did the icing and the letters." "You like it?" "Yes." "Then what'd you say?" "Thank you, Isaiah." "I want cake." "No cake until you're in your pajamas." "Hustle up." "Come on, let's go." "You really are the man of the house, aren't you?" "Yeah, it's just the way it is." "Mom works in the morning when we're all at school, and then she's got school, too, herself." "She's gonna be a real nurse next year." "Well, I'd like to meet her." "Yeah, well, she'll be home soon, and, boy, am I going to get in trouble." "Why don't you get your brother and sister ready for bed, and Joe and I will clean this up." "And don't worry about your mom." "I'll talk to her." "You sure?" "Yeah, I'm sure." "Okay." "He really is incredible." "Yeah." "He's got it all under control." "We better get going." "Donna, this isn't right, butting into their life." "Well, leaving them here alone isn't right, either." "Maybe their mother can do it, but I can't." "Who are you?" "What are you doing in my house?" "Look, it's all right, Mrs. Holcomb." "Who the hell are you people?" "Your son helped us out." "We ran out of gas." "Oh, I see." "So what are you still doing here?" "The kids were all alone and..." "well, we bought them pizza." "I see." "How much do I owe you for the pizza?" "No, no, no, nothing." "It was our pleasure." "No." "I said, how much do I owe you?" "Let's call it even, for letting us use your phone." "Look, Isaiah's a remarkable boy." "That's right, he is." "He's 11." "He is more than capable." " Yes, I know that." " Look, I wear a beeper." "Isaiah knows all of his neighbors." "Look, I don't have to explain myself to you." "I'm sorry." "But those kids were left here alone all day." "Oh." "So, what are you gonna do?" "Call Social Services, have them come in here and yank these kids away from their mother?" "No, of course not." "You come in here and you judge me." "You don't know me." "You don't know my problems." "Look, I'm asking you, please, leave us be." "We're a family;" "we can take care of ourselves." "Hey, what's up?" "What do you need?" "Hey, man, uh, give me a hundred dollars' worth." "Didn't you mean another hundred?" "Nat, first you play my father, now my accountant." "What's next, my priest?" "If necessary." "Thanks, man." "Look, we've been over this." "I screwed up once, three years ago." "Don't you think the statute of limitations has run out on that by now?" "Can't say I do." "Yo, this number's filled, yo." "Come on, double fours." " You having fun yet?" " This is great." "Absolutely." "Give me some luck on that." "Thank you." "Ten, ten, mark it a ten." "Do you have any idea how to play this game?" "Sure." "I do whatever Brandon does, and bet about a tenth as much." "Okay, give me the hard ten, high low, horn bet, world bet, and one for the boys and the yo." "Hey, Brandon, how much you got out there?" "About a nickel on the inside." "If you were smart, you'd come with me." "Uh, no, sir, I think I'll be playing the field." "Brave." "Nine." "Nine." "Gonna fill it." "Nine." "Thank you!" " No, no, no, let that ride." " What, are you crazy?" "No." "Nat, will you please talk some sense into him?" "I tried that already." "Yeah, you did, and look where I am now." "I am looking, and I don't like what I see." "Then I suggest you turn around." "No, I got a better idea." "Nat, what are you doing?" "Wow." "Big spender." "You're betting against me?" "Everything I got." "Let's go, Brandon." "The point's ten, shooter, let 'em fly." "Seven!" "Out and out." "There was no ten." "Loser!" "Happy now?" "Oh, yeah." "I'm very happy." "Good." "Excuse me, I was told I could find Steve Sanders here." "Yeah, he'll be back in a second." " Why, who's inquiring?" " His boss." "Oh, you're Tammy Kane?" "Yeah." "Oh, there he is." "Excuse me." " Tammy." " Yeah." "What are you doing here?" " Did I mess up?" " No, you did great." "Could we talk?" " Sure." " Someplace quiet?" "Okay." "Why don't we go next door." "Excuse me." "Nice to meet you, too." "I don't know what to do." "What can you do?" "Steve, you don't know how hard I worked to get this job." "I didn't grow up in the business like you did..." "I need this job." "If I get fired from this agency, no one will touch me." "I'm sorry, I don't know what to say, Tammy." "Say you'll help me." "Please." "Look, I know I haven't been that nice to you." "I'm desperate." "You know Scott Coveny, your dad knows him... you could talk to him." "Please, I'm begging." "I'm an intern." "An intern who's tight with the agency president." "Steve I promise you, the further up the ladder I go, the further up you go." "Okay." "First thing Monday morning," "I'll go in and have a talk with him." "No, that-that won't do." "Um, you don't understand." "I don't think I can make it through the weekend." "I don't know where he lives." "Come on, he's probably home with his kids right now." "No, he's not, he's in the office, where he is every night until 11:00 p.m." "Please?" "Okay." "I'll see what I can do." "Great." "Clare, I've got to sneak out of here for about an hour or so." "Oh, really?" "Why?" "Gonna mix business with pleasure?" "There's no pleasure involved, believe me, Clare." "Hmm." "So, where you going?" "Uh... mission of mercy." "Hello?" "May have your attention up here?" "Ladies and gentlemen," "I would like to thank you all for coming out, and especially for opening up your hearts and your wallets for a great cause." "Alpha House..." "Hey, uh, lend me a hundred bucks, would you?" " No." " What, are you afraid I'm not gonna pay you back?" "No, I don't think you should gamble anymore tonight." "Well, thank you very much." "Look at you." "You're sweating." "It's hot in here." "Maybe they'll take a check." "You don't know when to quit." "And you don't know when to lay off." "I know you're all anxious for the auction to begin, but first I would like to thank Valerie Malone for donating the After Dark." "And, um, that's it." "So now we're going to close down the casino action and let everybody get a chance to participate in the auction." "Our auctioneer for this evening is The Peach Pit's very own Nat Bussichio." "Thank you, my sweetheart." "All right, everyone, let's have some fun because I want you to come up with a lot of money 'cause the very first item we have up for bid is really special." "It's going to be a day with California University's Chancellor A. Milton Arnold." "So, let's start with the bidding over here." "What do we got over here?" "Who the heck would want to bid on a day with my father?" "Oh, come on, in a crowd like this, there's got to be at least one brownnoser." "Yeah, too bad Steve left, huh?" "Very smart move... $60." "Come on, now, this is the guy that runs the university. $65." "We got a 70?" "Seventy dollars." "What do you mean I can't get any more chips?" "Listen, there's no play during the auction." "And he was so looking forward to contributing more to charity." "Come on, let's go." "I want a chance to get even." "You're embarrassing me and you're embarrassing yourself." " Brandon, just relax." " I want some more chips." "Will you get Steve out here?" "I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but I don't like it." "I'm leaving." "Going twice." " $300." " We got $300." "Do I hear $350?" "Do I hear $350?" "Oh, come on, folks." "This is an opportunity to sit for a Colin Robbins original portrait that we're auctioning off here." "Looks like you're stuck with me." "Fine by me; there's no one I'd rather paint." "Now, do I hear $350?" "Do I hear $350?" " $400." " $400!" "We've got $400." "Do I hear $450?" "$450?" "Didn't think I'd let you have it without a fight, did you?" "Do I hear $450?" "Do I hear $450?" "We've got $400." "Do I hear $450?" "$425." "$450." " $500." " $600." "$600!" "Do I hear $625?" "Do I hear $625?" "Do I hear $625?" "This is ridiculous." "You don't want to pay that much." "$600 once," "$600 twice." "I'm out." "Sold to Valerie Malone." "Sold for $600!" "It's not worth it." "Well, I'll be the judge of that." "What are you up to?" "Look, I don't have to explain anything to you." "You could've outbid me if it was important to you." "Apparently it wasn't." "Ah, burning the midnight oil?" "Actually, I was just on my way to your office to speak to you." " Oh yeah?" " What's up?" "Tammy Kane." "She's..." " She's..." " She sent you, didn't she?" "No." "Not really." "Are you sleeping with her, Stevie?" "No, of course not." "Well, neither am I." "Though maybe if I was, it could have saved her job." "You see, she's a lousy agent." "She's bright, she's artistically bent, but she has no commercial sense and she's costing us clients." "Oh." "Oh, boy." "Rules number one and two:" "never get emotional." "It's not personal, it's business." "Yeah, but what should I tell her?" "Well, if you've got any future in this town, you'll know what to say." "BMW." "Porsche." "Cadillac." "Where I'm from, you hardly ever see cars like this." "A Rolls Royce cruising down Main Street?" "I don't think so." "We've got it pretty good, don't we?" "You bet we do." "I guess tonight was just sort of a reminder." "Yeah, but... you can't feel guilty for what you have in life." "I know." "I love my life... my life and you." "Good." "You tell yourself you deserve it." "I know I deserve it." "But does Isaiah deserve to lose his childhood?" "Who's to say that Isaiah's childhood experiences won't turn him into a great leader someday?" "Yeah." "Well, who's to say that it won't break him?" "I just feel for him, that's all." "I know." "There you are." "Where have you guys been?" " Car trouble." " Baby-sitting." "Uh, can I get you ladies a drink?" "Yeah." "I'll take something." " Anything, please." " All right." "You remember that kid Isaiah?" "Yeah, the one Stan rousted for shoplifting?" "Yeah, did you know he was a latchkey kid?" "Did you know that he's at home playing dad while his mom's at work?" "How do you know that?" "Well, Joe's car ran out of gas, and he saved us." "Look, this kid is doing all he can to keep it together for his family." "I just feel like I need to do something." "In case you didn't know, this is not Adopt a Black Family Month." "So what does that mean?" "It's not politically correct to try to help them?" "No, what I'm saying is I don't think it's right for you to butt in on someone else's business." "Lisa, these kids were left home alone, unsupervised." "But they're not your kids, Donna." "I know that." "And you can't save everybody." "I don't want to save everybody." "I want to help them." "And if I can't, if I don't, then I sure as hell don't belong on this Rose Court." "I mean, what's the theme that we've been talking about since day one?" ""Kids, Laughter and Dreams."" "Is that real or all just a bunch of bull?" " No, I..." " And what's this supposed to be about tonight?" "Supporting Kid Kare?" "And all the child relief agencies?" "I mean, somewhere... somewhere between the two of them there's got to be a way to help this family." "Saint Donna." "Hey, what are you doing?" "Hey, I was looking all over for you." "Did you see the bidding?" "Wasn't it exciting?" "Yeah, it gave me the chills." "So, what do you think, three-quarters or profile?" "Why don't you ask Colin?" "He's the artist." "Why are you in such a bad mood?" "I'm the one who's writing this incredibly large check." "Yeah, well, just think of all the time it'll buy you with Colin." "Is that what you think?" "I did this to get close to Colin?" "Well, you outbid Kel, you way overpaid." "What else am I supposed to think, Val?" "So, how did it go?" "He thinks the world of you." "He does?" "Yeah." "Big time." "He really appreciates how smart you are, he admires your artistic bent." "I knew it had to be a mistake." "Actually, he thinks it's his mistake." "He thinks he's doing you a disservice at the agency." "How so?" "Well, how'd he put it?" "He feels that your potential is being stifled in the corporate environment." "He thinks ITM is the wrong place for your talents." "He doesn't want to hold you back another day." "I'm dead, aren't I?" "Totally." "I'm sorry, Tammy." "Don't be." "You're going to do great in this business, Steve." "You sell a hell of a line." "I know it was all a lie anyway, but it made me feel better." "What are you going to do?" "I could write a tell-all book." "My father told me a very interesting saying about this business." "What's that?" "Be nice to people on your way up." "You'll be seeing them on your way up again." "You got it." "I'll see you on the way up." "No doubt." "Thanks." "Good luck." "You win tonight?" "You don't want to know." "Mmm." "Nat?" "You were right." "I was out of line, and I'm sorry." "You got a problem." "You better start taking it seriously or you're going to lose something important to you." "I think I may have already done that." "Yeah." " Hi." " Hi." "Here you go." "Wow, boy, you really broke the bank." "Just give me a minute to count this." "No, that's okay, I don't want any prizes." "No prizes?" "What's wrong with you, Clare?" "Steve, I didn't do this for prizes." "You know, I just did it to see if I could." "So, how's your boss?" "I had to fire her." "Hmm, tough business, huh?" "Clare, you don't know the half of it." "Come here." "Uh, if you're looking for Clare or Donna, they've both gone to bed." "Actually, I was looking for you." "We got the totals tonight." "After expenses, we made $11,000." "Well, that's good news... that you could've given me over the phone." "Well, I couldn't have apologized to you in person then." "And what exactly would you be apologizing for, Valerie?" "I'm not exactly sure." "David got so mad at me that I had to spoil the surprise and tell him that the portrait was his Christmas present." "His Christmas present?" "Well, then, I guess I owe you an apology." "Forget it." "The only thing you have to apologize for is bidding up the price." "You cost me a small fortune." "Good." " Hi, Val." " Hi." "We made over $11,000 tonight." "Wow, that's gonna help a lot of families." "Then, why do you look so unhappy?" "Because there's one family" "I don't think wants to be helped." "I hope there's a good reason for why you're here, because after the way you behaved last night," "I'm not sure I even know you." "In some ways, you don't." "Come on in." "A couple of years ago, I, uh got into some trouble with a bookie betting on football games." "Did, uh... did it get as out of control as it did last night?" "Worse." "I lost a lot of money." "I would have lost more than that if a good friend of mine hadn't bailed me out." "Nat?" "Yeah." "Even after that, though, I'd sit down at a poker game and take any bet that came along." "I didn't even think twice about it." "You saying you have a gambling problem?" "Look what happened last night." "Guess you can't be a little addicted." "No, you can't." "You know, I knew I had a problem." "I thought I had it under control." "But I don't." "I'd like to help you." "If you'll let me." " Watch out for him." " All right." "Mrs. Holcomb." "Look, I'm really sorry for intruding into your home and into your life." "I had no business." "Believe me, I wouldn't have come down here to meet you at all if Isaiah hadn't twisted my arm." "Been on this day care list for over two years now." "I'd given up hope." "Well, see, that's where I can help." "My sorority raises a lot of money for this place." "I know the people here." "I can get the kids in." "Of course, I would never do that without your permission." "Well, that's very charitable of you, but I don't want your handouts." "Look, I'm not a do-gooder, Mrs. Holcomb." "And it's not charity." "Anything I can do for you..." "I'm offering out of friendship." "Mama, Mama, come watch me!" "I'll be right there, honey." "I guess we all need a little help sometimes in life." "And I'm not too proud to take it." "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "You're welcome." "Come on." "Isaiah." " Hey." " Hi." "Look, I..." "I just want to tell you how glad I am that I met you." "Me, too." "Thanks for everything." "Um, I owe you a lot more than five dollars now, and I don't know how I can ever repay you." "I'll tell you how." "When you grow up, do the same thing for someone else someday." "I will." "I promise." "I won't forget." "Okay."