"What a mess." "Every time I look down there, it gets worse." "Maybe I ought to stop looking down." "Millions of planets, and that one has always been a problem." "Why that one?" "I know why." "People." "I had to put people on it." "Maybe I ought to go down there and look around." "I gotta do something." "Let's see." "Please, not now." "I'm thinking." "Tracy, don't forget to wear your hat." "Bye, Mom." "Mom, who wears hats?" "Young ladies do." "Besides, hats are coming back." "Mother." "Who knows where he's gonna take you?" "He's my father, and you know where he's taking me." "To a movie and a Chinese restaurant." "He always does." "You look terrific." "In fact, you look fantastic." "Have a good time." "Hi, Shingo." "Think fast." "Wanna play?" "I can't." "I'm going with my father." "I like to go to the movies and eat Chinese food." "I wish my parents would split... but Japanese parents would never split." "Why not?" "They just don't." "Pretty good for a girl." "Wanna try again?" "Don't press your luck." "How's my baby?" "Okay." "You look nice." "Thank you." "Can you get the door?" "So, how's school?" "Fine." "Fine." "Listen, you can go all out today:" "get a double order of egg rolls, extra fortune cookie, whatever you want." "Yeah?" "Yeah, I got a new spaghetti account." "Wanna hear the slogan I came up with?" "You ready?" ""The taste of Mama."" "That's it?" "Come on, that's only the slogan." "Now imagine it." "There's a big pot of really rich tomato sauce bubbling." "All of a sudden, out of it... come two really delicious-looking strands of spaghetti, right?" "Then...." "They break into this wild dance to a disco beat." "Dancing spaghetti?" "Mr." "Tenesto likes it." "Then I like it, too." "Look, you're not even gonna ask what I brought you?" "Thanks." "That's it? "Thanks"?" "You're not gonna open it?" "You open it and a big snake jumps out, right?" "Right." "Daddy, you and your tricks." "You're always trying to pull something on me." "So, what do you think, baby?" "What do you wanna see?" "Attack From The Hidden Planet." "No, Tracy." "Not another one of those." "It's supposed to be terrific." "Yeah, some terrific." "You said that about the one last week." "What a thriller that was." "In one second, a plant turns into a person?" "Come on, Tracy." "But they explained it." "Yeah?" "It was because they came from another planet." "I mean, their spirits did." "I didn't see any spirits." "What spirits?" "Daddy, you can't see spirits." "Tracy, just once, can't we go see a normal movie... with Laurence Olivier or Walter Matthau?" "Benji." "I'll even go see a movie about a cute dog." "Just because you can't see spirits doesn't mean they're not there." "It's kind of like believing in God." "Sometimes you just have to believe in things you can't see." "I gotta call Joan." "I'll be right back." "You still going with her?" "Yeah." "She isn't as pretty as Mom." "She has other qualities I find attractive." "Her big boobs?" "Give me a break, will you?" "Mom says she has big boobs." "I wonder what kind of boobs I'll have." "I'll be right back." "I'll have the butterfly shrimp." "That's good." "That's a party of three at 7:00." "Okay, Mr. Jones." "Come in, Tracy." "It's all right." "Come in." "Tracy, I'd like to talk to you." "But where are you?" "I can't see you." "But you can hear me, Tracy." "Dad?" "I've been called "Our Father," but never "Dad."" "Come on, Dad." "Another one of your trick voices?" "You can't fool me." "Where are you?" "Tracy, I'm God." "Yours truly from the fortune cookie." "Okay, so you're God." "What can I do for you?" "Tracy, I really am God." "I'm not your father." "I'd like to get to know you a little better." "That would be nice, but first make up with Mom." "So why don't we meet in front of the store on Monday?" "Yeah, that would be great." "Tracy, if I'm your father, those girls would hear me talking, right?" "Did you just hear that man's voice?" "What voice, honey?" "Where?" "Tracy, they can't hear me." "There it goes again." "Did you hear it?" "No." "But if you were God, why would you bother with me?" "It was something you said that sort of interested me." "That sometimes you just have to believe in things you can't see." "Wow, how'd you know I said that?" "I know, I see, I hear." "This place is too busy." "I'll see you later." "Wait, don't go yet!" "Where later?" "How?" "Hi, Mrs. Manley." "Who were you talking to?" "I don't know." "I'm not sure." "Are you still there?" "He's gone." "You okay?" "Yeah." "You've been awful quiet since we left the restaurant." "I'm fine." "I've just been thinking." "Thinking?" "About what?" "Have you ever felt like you might be dreaming... even though you knew you were awake?" "Would you like to run that by me again?" "Like something happened to you, but it's more like a dream than real." "Daydreaming." "Yeah, sure." "It happens to everybody." "It's okay." "I gotta stop by the office for a minute to pick up something." "Would you wait for me in the car?" "Okay." "All right?" "Tracy, it's me again." "What?" "That wasn't a dream you had." "It was real." "Where are you?" "In the back seat." "Well, disappointed?" "Gosh, no, God, sir." "Why would I be disappointed, sir?" "Are you really God, sir?" "Forget the "sir." Just plain God." "The owner of the store." "Also known as The Man Upstairs." "I don't know, but somehow I thought you'd look holier." "And more fancy, sort of." "I mean, like with a crown, a long beard... and a flowing white robe." "You're thinking of Charlton Heston." "I can't get over it." "It's just that..." "I guess I expected you to look much older." "Thanks, Tracy." "I take care of myself." "How old are you?" "Who knows?" "After the first two million years, I stopped counting." "It's awkward talking like this." "Wow!" "How'd you do that?" "If I could part the Red Sea, I can certainly move to the front of a car." "You know, Tracy... it's refreshing talking to a young lady like you." "Takes my mind off some of my problems." "You have problems?" "Yeah." "I'm not always on cloud nine." "They're still not getting my message." "I'm just not in people's thoughts." "They don't believe in me as much as they should these days." "I sure do, and I'm not saying that just because you're here." "I know that, Tracy." "But there are people who think of me only a couple of times a year." "There are others who don't think of me at all until that very last minute." "And then, boy, do I hear from them." "People have to be reminded that I'm still around." "Then why don't you come up with one of your big miracles?" "I bet that would really shake them up." "People remember the miracle and forget why I did it." "I've got it." "My dad's in that business." "You should advertise:" "television, radio, billboards, newspapers." "Get a slogan." "A slogan?" "Tracy, I'm not a tube of toothpaste." "Slogans really work." "You'll become a household word." "Household word?" "Yeah, that would be nice for a change." "All right, Tracy." "You've got yourself a job." "You think of a slogan." "I'll think of a way to spread it around." "I'll ask my dad." "He'll come up with a great one." "No." "I haven't been doing too well with grown-ups lately." "I'd rather it came from you." "Me?" "I'm the world's worst writer and my spelling is the pits." "I don't take off for spelling." "If it comes from you, it'll be something that your friends can understand." "That way, I'll have the children on my side." "And when they grow up, I'll have their children." "Once you've got the children, that's the ball game." "Then I'll be able to take care of a few things... like all that pollution that you've got down here." "And have you noticed you're running out of eagles?" "And there are a few volcanoes that need cooling off." "What do you say, Tracy?" "Will you come up with a slogan?" "Okay." "I'll sure try." "Good." "I can't believe this is happening to me." "Nobody else will, either." "You're the only one who can see or hear me." "If you tell them about our little visits, they'll think you are...." "Bonkers?" "Definitely." "They gave some of my best people a pretty bad time." "Here comes your father." "Here you go." "Sorry I took so long." "Okay." "Ready for your movie?" "Yep." "Three laser fights, a collision of planets, you don't even watch." "Halfway through the movie, you wanna go home." "You okay?" "Sorry, Daddy." "You don't have to be sorry." "Daddy, let's say you have a big new client... and you need a real super slogan." "Where do you start?" "First you examine the product." "You try to pick out the single most important thing about it... the thing that's really gonna make it sell." "Like, take potato chips for example." "No, something bigger." "More important." "It doesn't really matter." "A product's a product." "The principle is the same." "Let's say you're selling a person." "Okay." "A very important person, like... let's say God." "God?" "I don't think I'd handle that account." "You make a mistake, and you got a lot of trouble there." "Don't try and get out of it, Daddy." "How would you sell God?" "Okay." "God." "First, I'd make a list of his good qualities." "His most salable features." "Then I'd come up with a nice low-key slogan." "Then I'd set up lunch with him at the Polo Lounge and pitch it to him." "And then?" "If he likes it, I'll pick up the tab." "If he doesn't, I'll let him pick it up." "What is all this stuff about God?" "Is it some kind of school project, or...." "Sort of." "It's an assignment I just got." "I see." "Before I drop you off, I wanna pick up Joan." "Is that okay?" "Okay." "There she is." "Yep, there they are." "Would you stop talking about her" "Big boobs?" "Come on." "Would you rather I call them "knockers"?" "Could we just drop them...." "Drop it." "Hi." "How are you?" "You tell me." "Hi, Stacy." "Tracy." "Of course." "What's that?" "It's a present my dad got me." "Open it." "Cute." "Thank you." "Hi, Mom." "Hi." "How was the movie?" "Dumb." "How was the egg roll?" "Good." "And his girlfriend?" "Big." "She called me Stacy again." "Your father's not exactly interested in her brain." "Mom?" "Something's on my mind" "How can he think she's only 28?" "That man is so gullible." "Mom, I'd like to ask you" "Did he mention where he was taking her?" "Mom." "What was she wearing?" "Mom, she's yucky." "She's way over 28 and you're 10 times prettier." "You are a brilliant child." "We know that God has a lot of wonderful qualities... but what would you say are some of his strongest points?" "Tracy, what are you talking about?" "God." "We'll talk about it later." "That's the Gelmans." "I'm showing them a house." "They're taking me out to dinner." "Go to bed when Rosa tells you to." "Don't give her any trouble, okay?" "Can I stay up a little late?" "No school tomorrow." "All right." "Don't watch any horror films, okay?" "Hide, he'll see you." "Rosa, you're missing the best part." "I like it better this way." "Do you believe in God?" "Of course I do." "Do you ever see him?" "No, but I talk to him." "You talk to God?" "All the time." "Did you talk to him today?" "You did?" "This morning when I prayed." "And did God talk to you?" "No, he never talks to me." "Maybe he doesn't understand Spanish so good." "Yes?" "What would you say if I told you... that I saw God today and we talked to each other?" "You better go to bed." "You're getting loca from these crazy movies." "You saw God in your dad's car?" "That's right." "And you talked to him in a Chinese restaurant?" "Right." "Did you get his autograph?" "You're putting me on." "No, you're putting me on." "Shingo, I really did see God." "Okay." "What did God say?" "He said if he could get us kids to help him to spread his message... then there would be time for him to do other things." "Like cool off a volcano and stuff." "You two had some rap session." "He wanted me to come up with a slogan for him." "Slogan?" "Like they have in TV commercials." "What else did he say?" "He said spelling didn't count." "I don't believe a word of what you're saying." "Spelling always counts." "Why do I waste time talking to you?" "Maybe she did see God." "Harold." "Can you give me a set containing... five prime numbers?" "Two, three, five, seven, and eleven." "That's very good, Harold." "Miss Hudson." "Lisa." "Can you tell me the properties of a set?" "It's a series of whole numbers." "That's right." "Thank you." "Miss Hudson." "I know" "Tracy." "Can you tell me the properties of a subset?" "I'd like to see you after class is over." "You've been very inattentive in class... and you haven't turned in your homework all week." "I'm sorry, Miss Hudson." "Is there anything the matter at home, something I should know?" "You sure?" "What have you been doing with your time?" "I just can't explain it." "I'm gonna send a note home to your parents." "Maybe you can explain it to them." "Girls, I bought a lot of underwear for my men... and every year I pick Fruit of the Loom." "Surprise, Emma!" "Hiya, cuties." "I say every man ought to buy Fruit of the Loom briefs." "...but they don't." "So I carry the American Express Card." "I ordered steak." "I don't want a movie." "But I wanted steak." "I don't think he wants the movie." "At PSA, we never lost sight of what an airline should be." "So at PSA we give you more planes and less fancies." "We give you low fares, not fanfares." "You still watching television?" "Yeah, it's Friday night." "You should be in bed." "It's almost 11:30." "I wanna see some of the Johnny Carson show." "All right." "Would you like some cocoa?" "Yeah, great." "But after cocoa, you go to bed." "From Hollywood, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson..." "This is Ed McMahon along with Tommy Newsome... and the NBC orchestra... inviting you to join Johnny and his guests:" "Bob Hope, Angie Dickinson, Melissa Manchester... and Olympics expert Bud Greenspan." "And now, ladies and gentlemen... here's Johnny!" "God?" "On the Johnny Carson show?" "Why not?" "He gets everybody else to replace him." "I can't believe it." "Don't worry, Tracy." "Only you can see me." "Everybody else is watching Johnny Carson." "You really get around." "When you got a territory as big as mine, you can't dog it." "Have you got a slogan for me?" "Yeah, I got a few." "Good." "Let's hear them." "Okay, here we go." ""How do you spell relief?" "G-O-D."" "That's nice." "It's real nice." "But I don't think it's for me." "How about this:" ""God is bullish on humanity."" "That's nice, too." "You got any more?" "Sure." "This one's my favorite:" ""You're in good hands with God."" "That's good." "But then again, Tracy, that's always been good." "I thought you'd go for that one." "How about, "Let God put you--" -"In the driver's seat"?" "Look, I worked hard on these." "I'm sure you did." "But, Tracy, I don't want you to think I'm bragging... but let's face it:" "I'm an original, the one and only." "I made my own mold and threw it away." "You know, this isn't exactly easy." "I didn't say it would be." "I'll give you another week." "Just a week?" "That's long enough." "Look at what I accomplished in a week." "And I did it without computers." "Yeah, but you didn't have a math test coming up." "One week." "I say if you don't set deadlines, nothing happens." "Can I ask my dad for help?" "In math, sure." "What about Shingo?" "Can he help me?" "Your little friend?" "Yeah, Shingo can help." "We'll do the best we can for you." "We'll really try." "But a week?" "I don't see why you have to have it so fast." "Who are you talking to?" "Nothing." "Nobody." "You were just talking to someone." "That?" "I was talking back to the television." "The set isn't even on." "I turned it off." "It was some dumb commercial." "They're always trying to sell you something." "How about, "You can be sure if it's God"?" "No, I told you." "It has to be original." "We've been at it for hours." "Let's go home." "I'm starved." "Wait, I think I'm on to something." "I like it." "Let's go." "I didn't say it yet." "How about, "Buy God"?" "B-U-Y." "Great." "Let's go." "No, it's too commercial." "He wouldn't like that." "I guess you know him better than I do." "How about, "Try God"?" "Great." ""Good God."" "That's even greater." ""Great God."" "Perfect!" "No, it just misses." "How come everything just misses?" "I don't know." "It's just a gut feeling." "That's an advertising expression." "I've got a gut feeling, too." "I'm hungry." "Let's go home." "We'll think God tomorrow." "What did you say?" "I said, we'll think God tomorrow." "That's it!" "What's it?" ""Think God." That's a terrific slogan!" "Shingo, you saved the day." ""Think God." He'll love it!" "I can't believe it." "Who does she think she's talking to?" "There's gotta be something wrong with that kid." "You know, this is the second time I've seen her act like that." "Harriet, look at the way she's carrying on." "Poor Tracy." "Poor Paula." "I wouldn't want to be her mother." ""Think God."" ""Think God." Very interesting." "It's got a message, it's short, and tells it all." "Tracy, I really like it." "Thank God." "I like that one, too." "But let's go with "Think God."" "Shingo came up with that one." "I had a hunch he would." "Now that you like the slogan, how are you gonna spread it around?" "You've done such a good job so far, I'm gonna have you do it." "Me?" "I wouldn't know where to start." "Why not start with your friends?" "But a whole big advertising campaign?" "How would I do that?" "I'm sure you'll find a way." "I don't think this is fair." "Why don't you pick on somebody who isn't behind in her homework?" "Tracy, I've picked on some pretty good people." "You should be happy to be in their company." "Well, okay." "You know, you're not exactly easy to turn down." "So that's what we've gotta do." "We've gotta write "Think God" all over the place." "On walls, on sidewalks... we've gotta make little signs and stick them on trees... car bumpers, telephone poles, everywhere." "We want it all over: "Think God."" "You know what I think?" "What?" "I think you're a loony." "If I'm gonna write on walls, I'm not writing "Think God."" "Yeah, I know you, Charlie." "The things you write on walls would fog up your glasses." "Come on, you guys." "Let Tracy talk." "Listen." "This is a good idea." "We all take God too much for granted." "Why shouldn't we remind people to think about him?" "If it wasn't for him, none of us would be here." "That will shake up my mother and father." "I think Tracy's got a neat idea." "Let's do something good for a change." "Let's take a vote." "All in favor, raise your hands." "What is this?" "What are we, a bunch of religious freaks?" "Next thing, you'll have us shaving our heads." "I've heard some dumb ideas, I've heard some crazy ideas... but I've gotta tell you, this one takes the cake." "And it should take the cake because it's the greatest idea I ever heard." "Let's all get together behind Tracy and put this thing over." "What made me say that?" "What do you think you're doing?" "Go on." "Get out of here!" "There." "Now that looks better." "Yes?" "Tracy, I wanna talk to you." "Can't it wait?" "I'm awful hungry." "I wanna talk to you right now." "Got the note from Miss Hudson?" "Sit down." "You don't have to worry about a thing." "I'm gonna catch up on my homework." "Tracy, sit down." "When's dinner?" "Park it." "Harriet stopped by the office today... and she told me that she saw you talking to yourself at the Red Dragon." "That you were doing the same thing in McDonalds." "What's going on?" "I wasn't talking to myself." "Then who were you talking to?" "Was it the same person you were talking to the other night?" "You won't believe me." "I will." "God." "What's God got to do with it?" "He's the one I've been talking to." "God." "You mean you've been praying to God, sort of, out loud?" "No, he talks to me and I talk to him." "You mean, you actually heard him?" "Sure, I heard him." "He was right there in the den." "You mean you saw him, too?" "It's impossible." "You're imagining things, honey." "People just do not see and chat with God." "Mom, I saw him, lots of times." "I knew you wouldn't believe me." "Shingo, that's great... but I can't talk about it." "I'm trying to do my homework." "Homework?" "Who's doing homework?" "We're printing, painting, and posting." "I got my cousins doing it at their school." "It's spreading all over." "That's great." "That's just fantastic." "Keep up the good work." "You can take over for me." "Tracy, you started it." "I know I started it, but you can finish it for me." "Goodbye, Shingo." "Wait." "Tracy" "Hi." "Tracy, you can't quit." "I just did." "You're off to such a great start." "You're doing a super job for a great cause." "And getting into super trouble." "Welcome to the club." "There're some heavy hitters in that lineup:" "Socrates, Martin Luther King..." "Mahatma Gandhi, Abe Lincoln." "But I'm just a kid." "I told my mom the whole thing and now she thinks I'm bananas." "It never fails." "She's really uptight about it." ""Bananas." I hate that expression." "I make a beautiful fruit, and people use it for "crazy."" "My teacher's on my back, too." "I've been so busy doing your stuff, I haven't done any homework." "Let me see what you got there." "About a zillion problems to make up, that's all." "Let me see." "Maybe I can help you." "Mathematics." "That was a mistake." "I should have made the whole thing a little easier." "You make mistakes?" "Nobody's perfect." "I blew it with the Dead Sea." "All that salt and no life in it." "And the flamingo, beautiful bird... and I put the kneecaps on backwards." "And I could have found a better way for a skunk to defend himself." "And you sure goofed with the giraffe." "Giraffe?" "Why'd you make the neck so long?" "So he could eat the leaves off the trees." "Why didn't you just make the trees shorter?" "Where were you when I needed you?" "I don't believe it." "This is incredible." "I know, it's awful." "A couple of weeks ago, she was acting a little strangely." "Yes." "She was asking me some questions about God." "How I'd handle an advertising campaign for him." "I didn't think anything about it at the time." "I just don't know how a thing like this happens." "Do you suppose maybe she's making the whole thing up?" "You know, kind of a play for attention" "Come on, Don." "If there's one thing about Tracy, she's truthful." "I don't think that child ever told a lie in her life." "I'm sorry I was so crabby before." "I understand." "Here's your homework." "Wow!" "Thanks." "God... who do you pray to?" "Me?" "Well, sometimes I talk to myself." "It must be real lonesome up there." "Let me put it this way." "When I sneeze, there's no one around to bless me." "Now it's my dad." "I've gotta go." "And bless you, God." "That's for your next sneeze." "Maybe I should have made the trees a little shorter." "Hi, Daddy." "Hi, sweetheart." "How's my baby?" "I'm okay." "So...." "Mom told you?" "Look, sweetheart...." "You know, sometimes people imagine things." "Kids, in particular." "I didn't imagine it." "The thing is, it seems so real." "It really seems like it happened." "I talked to him." "He talked to me." "Your imagination just runs right away from you." "Daddy, I know it's hard to believe." "It's hard for me to believe, but it happened." "It happened?" "Let me get this straight." "You're saying you actually saw God?" "I mean, as a real person?" "Lots of times." "When was the last time you saw him?" "He just helped me with my math." "Oh, my God." "God was upstairs helping you with your homework?" "Yeah, here it is." "His multiplication is very good... but, sweetheart, these are your numbers." "That's your writing." "That was easy for him to do." "Yeah, I suppose it would be." "Right." "Okay." "We'll talk about this later, all right?" "Why don't you go back upstairs and finish... your studying, okay?" "But you both think I'm bananas." "I shouldn't have said that." "He hates that expression." "What the hell has been going on around here since I left?" "What the hell does that mean?" "If you spent less time peddling those overpriced houses... this probably wouldn't have happened." "I have never neglected that child, and you know it." "Damn it, I am not the one who moved out." "You are." "Let's not get into that right now." "That's not the problem." "Why don't I take her to a child psychiatrist?" "No way." "Never." "Paula, she needs help." "Look." "You take care of Boobs, and I will take care of Tracy." "We're not here to argue." "She's in trouble." "What about a minister?" "He could at least" "Look." "Why do we have to take her to anybody?" "I mean, maybe it's not all that bad, you know?" "She's ours." "Can't we just work it out ourselves?" "Okay, give it a couple of days." "Maybe she'll just snap out of it." "I'll call you." "God helped her with her homework." "Terrific." "Just terrific." "What the hell is going on around here?" "Everywhere I look, "Think God."" "Who's responsible for this?" "It's Tracy Richards." "Who's Tracy Richards?" "What grade is she in?" "She's in Miss Hudson's class." "Get her in here and Miss Hudson, too." "I'll get to the bottom of this." "What are we running here, a school or a monastery?" "Now, Mr. and Mrs. Richards, since this is a behavior problem..." "I've asked Dr. Young, our school psychologist, to sit in." "She's a little behind in her homework, but" "It's way beyond that, Mrs. Richards." "Have you seen all those "Think God" signs around?" "Tracy is responsible for the whole thing." "She held a meeting and got kids worked up." "Now they're all running around writing, tacking up signs." "What exactly is so awful about writing "Think God"?" "I mean" "If kids are gonna write things on walls anyhow... they might as well write something nice." "I agree, but the point is... religion in the schools is a very sensitive area." "It is not allowed." "She's got the whole place in an uproar." "She's disrupted the entire school." "She's never been a troublemaker." "She's certainly making up for it this time." "I had a talk with her." "I told her to cut all this out." "But she said she couldn't." "She couldn't?" "That's why you're here." "Would you bring in Tracy, please?" "If you can't get her to cooperate..." "I'll simply have to suspend her from school." "I'm sorry." "Tracy, would you sit down, please?" "Your parents would like to talk to you." "You really have to cooperate." "I mean, Mr. Benson is right." "You've disrupted the entire school." "Unless this thing stops... they're gonna suspend you." "You don't want that to happen, do you?" "Okay, Mom." "I guess you're right." "I'll tell the kids to call the whole thing off." "Now, that's all we ask!" "All right, Tracy, you can go back to class now." "Thank you, Mr. Benson." "Bye, Mommy." "Goodbye, sweetheart." "See you Saturday, Daddy." "Bye, baby." "But before I tell the kids to stop, I have to ask him." "Ask who?" "Ask who, Tracy?" "God." "Oh, God." "He's the one who told you to do this?" "Yeah." "It was part his idea and part mine." "When you talked to him, did he talk to you, too?" "Yes." "In fact, he talked to me first." "I see." "We talked quite a few times." "When was the first time?" "You mean the first time I talked to him or the first time I saw him?" "You saw him?" "Sure." "What did he look like?" "He wears glasses, and he's got gray hair... and he's a very nice-looking man." "I'm sure." "How did you first meet him?" "In a Chinese restaurant." "He sent me a message in a fortune cookie." "Tracy, would you wait out in the hall, please?" "Your child needs help." "She is out of touch with reality." "Now, wait a minute." "I have my responsibility." "I'm sorry to tell you this, Mr. and Mrs. Richards... but as of now, Tracy is suspended from school." "For how long?" "Until she's well." "How do you like that, suspending Tracy?" "It's not fair." "She didn't do anything wrong." "If they're throwing her out, why don't they throw us out?" "We've all been writing "Think God."" "What are we gonna do?" "We're not gonna take it lying down." "We'll fight back." "Come on." "And another thing, everybody is trying to help me." "I don't need any help." "I feel fine." "I'm perfectly normal." "In fact, you ought to be proud of me." "Not everybody gets picked by God." "I'm in a pretty good club, too:" "Socrates, Abe Lincoln, and people like that." "Mr. and Mrs. Richards, the doctor would like to see you first." "We'll be back in a minute, baby." "Hiya, Tracy." "Hello." "I was wondering when you were gonna show up." "Expelled from school, and now you're a little upset about this?" "No, I'm fine." "I thought you might be a little upset." "I know you've got a lot of things to do... but you wouldn't get so busy that you'd forget about me, would you?" "You are a little worried, aren't you?" "I guess I am." "Let me tell you a little story." "There was this tiger in the jungle, and he got a thorn in his paw." "It was very painful." "There was a little cat there who saw this." "She pulled the thorn out of the tiger's paw." "This made the tiger very happy." "The little cat says, "Now that I've done you a favor, you can do me a favor."" "The tiger says, "Anything."" "The cat says, "Whenever I'm in the jungle, I'm scared of all the other animals."" "The tiger says, "No problem." ""When you walk through the jungle, just hold your head up." ""Shake your head, wag your tail, and they'll all think you're a tiger."" "The little cat tried it, and got away with it for three years." "Until one day she ran into the same tiger." "There she was, shaking her head, wagging her tail." "The tiger says, "Kid, you don't have to shake your head and wag your tail at me." ""I know you're a cat."" "That's it?" "That's it." "What's that have to do with me?" "Nothing, but it's such a cute story I thought it might cheer you up." "That's better." "You've been separated for seven months, right?" "Yes." "I see." "From what you've told me, Tracy's contacts with God... usually take place in eating areas:" "the Chinese restaurant, McDonald's, an ice cream cart." "And they have all taken place since you, Mr. Richards... left the house following your separation." "So obviously..." "Tracy has created a fantasy father figure as a substitute... to give her the emotional nurturing she craves from her missing father." "Are you sure?" "One is never completely sure... but there is something else you said that's very intriguing." "Tracy's fantasy father, God... like her real father, is interested in advertising... or spreading a message, so to speak." "That's true." "These are only theories." "I'll have to give Tracy a series of tests in order to verify them." "Bring back Tracy!" "What's your first memory involving a person?" "I can remember my dad peeling an apple." "Now today, I want you to tell me... if these are real people or imaginary characters." "Robert Redford." "He's real." "George Washington." "Was he real?" "Of course." "Bugs Bunny." "Real or imaginary?" "Come on, Doctor." "Would you mind looking at these slides and tell me what you see?" "Egg foo yung." "Okay, what about this?" "Shrimp in lobster sauce." "And this?" "Spaghetti. "The taste of Mama."" "You seem to associate everything with food." "That seems very significant." "It could also be I'm starved." "There is no evidence of any organic disturbance in Tracy." "That's good." "However, the evaluation in the behavioral area... is not encouraging." "Tracy is still steadfastly insisting... that she's actually seen and spoken with God... a delusion that indicates a real psychosis." "Psychosis?" "I'm afraid so." "What Tracy needs is observation and treatment." "Now, we have a fine place in Santa Barbara... where she'll get expert care and before" "Wait a minute." "You're not actually suggesting... that she be put in an institution, are you?" "Mr. Richards, don't let that word bother you." "A bank is an institution." "A school, a supermarket, everything is an institution." "The fact of the matter is, this is a nice, pleasant... controlled environment with a trained staff." "She'll be much better off there." "And she has to be there." "It's a kind of ranch up in Santa Barbara, sweetheart... only you won't have to go for at least a couple of days." "And you'll be back before you know it." "Don't be so uptight." "I'm not worried at all." "That's a good attitude, honey." "You're a very bright young lady." "God would never let them put me into an institution." "I'm starved." "Let's go for lunch." "Bring back Tracy!" "God?" "Where are you?" "I need you." "It's been days." "Tomorrow they're putting me into an institution." "I've been to three churches and a synagogue." "I've been looking all over for you." "From Hollywood, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson." "This is Ed McMahon along with Doc Severinsen... and the NBC orchestra... inviting you to join Johnny and his guests:" "Buddy Hackett, Steve Lawrence, and Dizzy Gillespie." "And now, ladies and gentlemen... here's Johnny!" "Tracy, what's wrong?" "I came to say goodbye." "I'm running away." "They're not gonna lock me up." "Where are you going?" "I don't know." "Someplace." "I'll be right down." "Meet me in my garage." "I know the perfect place for you to hide." ""Dear Mom and Dad, I'm not going to any funny farm." ""Don't worry, I'll be okay." "I love you both." ""Remember to feed my goldfish."" "Paula, it's all right." "We'll find her." "Rosa, are you okay?" "Fine." "Is there any coffee in the kitchen?" "Yes, of course." "Would you bring some?" "Come on." "Don, that poor little kid." "What could've happened to her?" "Where could she be?" "It'll be all right." "First thing I think we should do is call the police." "It'll be all over the papers." "It already is." "Shingo, where have you been?" "I've been looking all over town for you." "I've been out tacking up signs." "Where's Tracy?" "Why?" "Is she missing?" "Shingo, where's Tracy?" "I don't know." "I haven't seen her all day." "Look, pal." "You and Tracy are very close." "She tells you everything." "Now you listen to me, this is very serious." "I wanna know where she is." "Shingo talk you." "Thank you." "Hi, Shingo." "What's up?" "I had to tell your father where you are." "Why?" "He dragged it out of me." "They're on their way to pick you up." "Thanks, Shingo." "This is the last call for the Southwest Limited..." "Amtrak Train Number 4... departing for Chicago on Track 3." "All aboard!" "Where have you been?" "I've looked all over for you." "Tracy, I'm a very busy man." "My phone never stops ringing." "Running away?" "That's not like you." "I was scared." "I didn't wanna go into that dumb institution." "It all seemed so hopeless." "So you panicked." "All I was doing was causing trouble." "My parents were so worried about me." "Now they're even more worried." "I guess running away isn't the answer." "Never was." "When you know you're right, you hang in there." "I suppose I'm not a member of the club anymore." "No." "The best of them had their weak moments." "They all struck out a few times." "Don't be so hard on yourself." "Tracy, I'm taking you home." "I want you to." "You feel better now?" "Yeah." "Can I ask you a question?" "Go ahead." "Why do you let bad things happen?" "You ask very good questions." "You know, things that you might think are bad are not always bad." "Sometimes there's a purpose you're not aware of." "But what about sickness?" "What about kids my age who get sick and die?" "Those are really bad things, aren't they?" "Those are bad things." "Yes, pain and suffering." "That's a hard one to explain." "I'll bet." "I know this sounds like a cop-out... but there's nothing I can really do about pain and suffering." "It's built into the system." "Which you invented." "Right." "My problem was I never could figure out how to make anything..." "with just one side to it." "One side?" "You ever see a front without a back?" "No." "A top without a bottom?" "No." "An up without a down?" "No." "Okay." "And there can't be good without bad... life without death, pleasure without pain." "That's how it is." "If I take sad away, happy has to go with it." "If anyone knows another way, I wish they'd put it in the suggestion box." "I guess someday I'll understand." "If you do, you'll be the first." "Some things can't be grasped." "What's the end?" "The end of time?" "The end of the universe?" "Even Einstein flunked that one." "You talk to me like I'm grown up." "I like that." "Good." "Let's get going." "In a half hour, you'll be in your own bed." "A half hour?" "But you got to my room from the Carson show in one second." "Tracy, that works for me." "For you, I'll have to do it the hard way." "And there it is." "Wow!" "I'm going to like this." "Come on, let's go." "Have you ever been on one of these?" "No." "Neither have I. Hang on." "Having fun, Tracy?" "This is terrific!" "Here come the police!" "Hold on!" "Did you see what I saw?" "No driver, just a passenger?" "That's right." "No report on this one." "No way." "We must have just missed her." "Paula, it's all right." "The police are gonna find her." "Look, why don't I stay over in case we hear something?" "There's a light in Tracy's room." "Where were you, darling?" "What happened?" "Baby, are you all right?" "How did you get home?" "God brought me home on his motorcycle." "That's just wonderful, sweetheart." "Come on, get some sleep now." "Okay." "Good night, button." "Good night." "Don't worry." "I'm not afraid of that institution anymore." "We'll talk about it in the morning, Tracy." "Good night." "Good morning." "I'm Hugh Downs." "I've been broadcasting now for a little over four decades... and I have never seen a phenomenon like the one that's going on today." "Fourteen days ago... a little schoolgirl from West Los Angeles, California, Tracy Richards... decided to write "Think God" on this sidewalk." "She got some school friends to help her." "And this thing has really spread." "On fences, on bumper stickers." "And look at this." "And this." "And if you think that's something, there is more." "London." "From Buckingham Palace to Piccadilly Square... everywhere Londoners go today... they are reminded by signs to think God." "Paris." "Tokyo." "Cairo." "Now here is noted psychologist, Dr. Joyce Brothers." "I think we should keep an open mind." "If there isn't a God, I'd like to point out... that those children who would easily engage in fantasy... who've had an imaginary playmate or an imaginary companion... actually do better in dealing with the crises of life than those who didn't." "And if there is a God..." "I believe that Tracy Richards saw him and actually spoke to him." "Strangely, children often have a firmer grip on reality than most adults." "And as the Old Testament says:" ""And a little child shall lead them. "" "Now we know the reason." "The churches are full, but the classrooms are empty." "Yes, when Tracy Richards was expelled from school... it set off a citywide student strike." "It also set off bitter confrontation... between Superintendent of Schools, Jeffrey Hodges... and psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Newell, in whose care Tracy has been placed." "The Superintendent wants her back in school... but Dr. Newell says no." "The case is being heard by Judge Thomas Miller today." "Your Honor, we're in a crisis." "As Superintendent of Schools, it's my responsibility... to get the children back into class." "I want a court order to force Dr. Newell to release Tracy Richards from his care." "Superintendent Hodges is wrong, Your Honor." "The girl does not belong in school." "She's suffering from delusions." "She belongs in a place where she can get care and treatment." "Children imagine lots of things." "Our whole school system is paralyzed... because of the personal opinion of one man." "Excuse me, but I don't intend... to rely on the personal opinion of one man, sir." "Now, before I issue a court order, Dr. Newell..." "I'd like you to do something for me." "I'd like you to convene a panel... of top psychiatrists in this city... and have them thoroughly examine this poor little girl, Tracy Richards, is it?" "And then, when they've made their conclusions..." "I'll make my decision." "Yes, I met him in my dad's car, he came through the television set... he gave me an ice cream cone, Cherry Jubilee... we had lunch at McDonald's, and I'll say it again... he brought me home on his motorcycle." "Dr. Whitley, there's one question I would like to ask" "I think there have been enough questions." "Mr. and Mrs. Richards, is there anything that you'd like to add?" "What can we say?" "No." "We'd like to do whatever's best for Tracy." "Would the three of you mind stepping into the waiting room, please?" "Carl." "It's very evident what we're dealing with here." "I might add, Dr. Newell, you've done your usual thorough job." "Thank you." "May I bring up a point?" "Before we vote, I'd like to remind you... that there's a great deal of sympathy for that little girl... and many children are out of school." "Our profession will be under tremendous pressure." "We can't give in to that." "No, we can't give in to that." "No, we can't." "If we let her run around with her delusions... what do we do about the patient who thinks he's Napoleon?" "Certainly." "If she's right... then we're all wrong." "No, the girl belongs in an institution." "Are there any objections?" "No?" "Then that's settled." "Carl, would you bring them back in, please?" "They're ready." "We've all decided that you need help... and believe me, it's in your best interest." "And the chances are that you won't be there for long." "If you look at it in a positive way, I'm sure that" "It's him." "It's God." "Sorry I'm late." "I want to apologize to my distinguished colleagues." "I would've been here sooner, but I was stuck in traffic." "Excuse me, sir." "Who are you?" "Dr." "Stevens." "I don't recall your being invited." "If I waited to be invited, I'd miss a lot of important things." "However, in this case, I think you're mistaken." "But your name's not on the list...." "Yes, it is." "Ladies and gentlemen, we're all learned psychiatrists." "What did this little girl do that was so terrible?" "She got a lot of children together." "They all wrote "Think God"... and the whole world is thinking God." "Is that so bad?" "But, sir, as a learned psychiatrist... you ought to know that that's not the point." "This little girl claims that not only did she see God and speak to him... but he spoke to her, as well." "Who are we in this room to say that she didn't?" "Maybe she did." "Maybe she didn't." "Look, sir, we've all voted." "I know that, Dr. Whitley, and you said if she's right then we're all wrong." "How did you know I said that?" "I also read tea leaves." "Look, what is all this?" "We are competent professionals." "We know our business." "We've been over this case backwards and forwards... and we have made our decision." "I wouldn't want this to get around, but if we're all so competent... so right in all our methods and theories... how is it there are so many people still in institutions who never get out?" "But that's a situation that is beyond our control." "There are many people who'll never be able to distinguish... between reality and illusion." "But we have to remember sometimes it's very difficult... to determine what is reality and what is illusion." "For instance, the chandelier." "Now, that's reality." "We all looked up, we all saw it." "We all know it's there." "But is it?" "I can't believe it." "Oh, my God." "It is God." "What's the illusion and what's the reality?" "Did the chandelier disappear or not?" "We're all intelligent people." "Did we see it, or didn't we see it?" "Maybe that little girl did see and talk with God." "Where is it written that Moses had an exclusive?" "Just because we haven't spoken to God doesn't mean that she hasn't." "I don't know what's going on here!" "I don't know who you are." "Maybe you're a magician or a hypnotist... but there are some things that I am sure of." "I know that we're all psychiatrists here." "I know I'm Benjamin Charles Whitley." "I know I have four children." "I know I pay $2,200 a month alimony." "I know this is the UCLA Medical Center... and I know that it is now precisely 11:30 in the morning." "Doctor, are you sure it's morning?" "Doctor, you're right." "It is 11:30 in the morning." "I know we're all anxious to get home, but before we judge Tracy... shouldn't we all be a little more sure of ourselves?" "If we told everybody that we saw day turn into night and night into day... they'd throw us out of school, too." "So maybe Tracy did see God." "Maybe you're seeing him right now." "Maybe you're not." "Think about it." "Give it some thought." "If you'll excuse us, we're gonna take Tracy home now." "We've gotta get her ready for school in the morning." "Come on, baby." "I don't know whether any of us here... understand what really happened here... but I'm inclined to think... that it might be a very good idea... if we keep it to ourselves." "Very well, then." "The case of Tracy Richards is closed." "Thank God." "You're welcome." "To the three of us." "How about a little kiss?" "Thank you." "How about one over here?" "With pleasure." "Reconciliations are more fun than weddings." "Excuse me." "I'll be right back." "Where are you going?" "Just going to the lounge for a second." "Don't be too long, Tracy." "Your egg foo yung will get cold." "Come in, Tracy." "I was waiting for the door to open by itself." "Sorry." "I forgot." "You see, Tracy, everything worked out." "It sure did." "It's real neat the way you got my parents back together again." "No." "They did that by themselves." "Come on, I bet you arranged the whole thing." "Honest to me, I didn't." "Tracy, the reason I called you..." "I want to thank you and all the children for the wonderful job you did." "Will I ever see you again?" "If I ever have a real big problem... you'll be the first one I'll call." "You won't need me." "You're God." "You don't need anybody." "God needs everyone." "I need all the help I can get." "Goodbye, Tracy." "Go ahead, Tracy." "There's nothing worse than cold egg foo yung." "English"