"Angel of God, my Guardlan Dear, , , to whom God's love and trust me here," "Ever this day, be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule and to guide, Amen, I have nowhere to go, I am so hungry," "Dear God," "It's not fair." "Angela got a new bike when she was eleven." "Do you keep a running tally of everything we bought for Angela?" " Well, yeah." " Danielle, we can't afford that" "A Christmas card from the Levettis?" "So?" "I finally took them off the list!" "We haven't seen them since Danielle started solids..." "and now out of nowhere they send this?" "Patty, it's a greeting card, not a dead fish." "Yes, but if I send them a card now, it's going to look like..." "I'm only sending them a card because they sent us a card." " Angela got new boots?" " Danielle, stop keeping score." " Those are nice, they must be warm." " How come we never go to church?" "You know, in the last few years, you girls..." " haven't shown much enthusiasm." " So, do you believe in God?" "Look, just because" "J ust because we don't attend church on a regular basis doesn't mean that" "Exactly, you can believe in God without" "Yeah, because your father was raised Catholic, and I ..." "wasn't so we have certain differences..." "which doesn't mean that we don't" "Do we have to keep talking about religion?" "It's Christmas." "Boy, people really get swept up in this Christmas thing?" "You mean, you don't?" "Yeah, but my mom and I like to wait for stuff to go on sale." " Oh, my God." " Oh, it's okay. I'm fine." "I was running to catch the bus and I slipped on a stupid patch of ice." "All these people had to help me." "It was stupid l was embarrassed." "Well." "So you landed on your face or something?" "I don't know, how am I supposed to know?" "Does anybody have quarters?" "I need to get a candy bar before Soc." "It's cool, I've got change." "Cool." "See you later." "Rayanne, do you think it was true about falling?" "Sure, probably. I don't know." "Look, Angel Food, there is" "See, Rickie has this tendency to get beat up..." "and he doesn't always love talking about it." " Teen Help Line." " Yeah, what about it?" "I don't know, just..." "making depressed people talk to someone like you?" "Couldn't that, I don't know, push them over the edge?" "Over the edge." "That's like your address, right?" "Krakow!" "Hey, here, take some of these." "So we're set, right?" "Christmas Eve, you and I ..." "representing Liberty at the Teen Help Line." " Listen, Cherski" " Krakow, you signed up." "So, unsign me." "You will not believe what Bernice and Bob Krakow did." "I know, but just that once, right?" "To make Brian." " They skipped town." " What?" "Seriously." "They're on some ten-day cruise." "Bernice called me from the boat, would I look in on Brian." "Brian is a level-headed kid." "He probably likes having the place to himself." "For Christmas?" "The Krakows are Jewish, aren't they?" "Didn't Hanukkah already happen, or something?" "Even so." "Girls!" "We're going out..." "to purchase a few lumps of coal." "I love the mall this time of year." "So what do you want for Christmas, shorty?" "I want you to come with us to church on Christmas Eve." " Would you just think about it?" " Church isn't for me." "We should get going before all the junk..." " that nobody needs is snapped up." " Wait." "Look." "I know that it hasn't been a part of our lives..." "and it certainly isn't a part of the girls, but the thing is..." "I want it to be." "Then you should go." "Who is it?" "Who's there?" " Hey, it's okay." " Rickie, what are you doing?" "Sorry, did I scare you?" "No, I just" "Come in." "I was at Brian's so I just thought, you know, I'd stop by." "Today at Rayanne's, Amber's boyfriend Rusty was there." "Boy is he unfriendly." "So you went from Rayanne's to Brian's?" "Yes, I just realized, Amber and Rusty both like earth tones." "Isn't it kind of late at night to like drop by?" "Danielle!" "No, she's right." "I should go, you know?" "God, your house smells amazing." "My dad is teaching this cooking class now, so..." "he's trying lots of recipes." "Are you hungry?" "Thanks. I must have forgotten to eat lunch today." "It must have slipped my mind or something." "Yeah, it happens to me sometimes." "Who tracked all these wet footprints ln the hall?" "Oh, Rickie is here." "Graham, look, Rickie is here." " Clearly." " He was visiting Brian Krakow..." "I guess my shoes are leaky." "I'll wipe it up. I'm sorry." "It's no big deal." "Sweetie, could we see you for a minute?" "I need you to try something on." "Look, it's no big deal, all right?" "J ust tell us what's going on and we'll decide if it's a big deal." " What happened?" "Was he in a fight?" " He says he fell." "Well, in any case, it's awfully late to be having friends over." " l don't think he has anywhere to go." " Did he say that?" "No, I just have this feeling." "Look, sweetie, if he's run away from home..." "or if there's something really wrong" " Maybe we should talk to him." " No, that'll just freak him out worse." "Couldn't he just stay here for one night?" "Honey, it's not our place." "What if his parents are expecting him?" "What if" " Honey, having him stay here is not the answer." "Then what is the answer?" "Oh, no." "Rickie!" "He's gone." "Hey." "You need a ride or something?" "Sure." " So where are we going?" " Let me think." "Look, if you need someplace to crash, I know a place." "Thanks." "My old man used to knock me around, too." "He did?" "Hasn't done it in a couple of years, though." "He's too scared." "Because the last time..." "I threw a chair at him." "I'm going to light a candle for you on Christmas Eve." "Oh, yeah?" "You think that changes anything?" "Were we wrong?" "Down there about Rickie?" "No, we weren't wrong." "I mean, what do we really know about that boy, you know?" " Virtually nothing." " We've never met his family, I mean..." "how on earth are we supposed to know what the situation is?" "I know, you're right." "Except, I think he does make you kind of uncomfortable." "What do you mean?" "Because he wears makeup?" "No, I'm just saying." "What if that was Brian Krakow with that bruise on his face?" "That would be a different story, wouldn't it?" "Graham, you can't compare them. I mean..." "I've known Brian Krakow since he was five years old." "I know." "So have I ." "Now all I'm asking is:" "Should that make a difference?" "Well, maybe not." "But it does." "I know." "Angelica, chill." "Where is he?" "Why isn't he at school?" "Maybe he's coming in late." "Maybe he's at some Sal M ineo film festival." "I should have hidden him in my room." "Stop acting so guilty." "He probably went to his cousins'." "He stays there sometimes." "Angela..." "you can't be responsible for the whole world." "What is this big thing about Christmas?" "Everyone talks about it like it's the Second Coming, or something." "Krakow, this is when people need the help line, okay?" "People get so stressed over this holiday stuff..." "they experience actual symptoms of depression, or whatever." "Like total hopelessness and despair." "Oh, yeah, so what?" "What do I care?" "And like, loss of appetite, or whatever." " Christmas cookie?" " l am not hungry." "But I promised the supervisor, Brian." "You are the only one I can ask." "It's Christmas Eve." "People have plans." "Oh, except me, huh?" "I know." "Get Brian, he never has any plans." "Happy holidays." "Damn Santa Claus pin, the stupid nose broke." "I'm just going to let that one go." "That's too easy." "So Brian Krakow completely screwed me over." "Oh, really." "How non-unusual." "Do you like know him?" "Not real well." "We slept together once." "It's a joke, Cherski." "Bubbles?" "I told the help line two volunteers from Liberty H igh on Christmas Eve." "I mean, how do I get myself into these situations?" "Wild guess." "Stupidity?" "No, no, you're right." "Because I do it over and over again." "I am like so overextended. I mean, besides the help line, I have..." "this whole holiday basket thing I said I'd make for this nursing home..." "plus I have like two million presents to wrap, not to mention..." "the fifty thousand social events l said I'd go to, and..." "I have to say, you're a pretty good listener." "Well, I should be." "Spent my whole life listening to my mom..." "rag about her problems, of which she has many." "Now to top it all off she's got a low-life sex maniac boyfriend..." "staying with us." "You know it's gotten to the point, I just can't handle it." "I may just as well be somewhere else for Christmas." "Like they would notice." "I know where you could be on Christmas." " Oh, sorry." " No, keep going. I mean..." "I was just leaving." "Because of me?" "I'm not even supposed to be in here." "Me neither." "I hang out here sometimes." "It's funny." "Before, I would never go to school..." "and now that I don't go to school, I'm always here." "What was that song?" "That was beautiful." "It's just this song I fool around with." "I'll probably be working on it forever." "I hate to go back out there." "I can never get warm." "It's because of my shoes, see?" "Worn clean through." "I had a decent pair, but somebody swiped them." " Seriously?" " While I was sleeping." "You're Angela, right?" "You're a friend of Rickie's?" "You know Rickie?" "Wait, where is he?" "I've been really-- l know." "You don't have to worry." "I've been looking out for him." "Oh, thank God." "Wait!" "You have to tell me where Rickie is!" "Oh, sorry." "Did you see that girl just now?" " What girl?" " With a guitar?" " What's her name?" " l don't know." "She knows Rickie." " He still crashing at that place?" " What place?" "That old warehouse on Tennessee?" "I brought him there." " You brought him somewhere?" " Yeah, he was like..." "I'm going to light a candle for you and I'm like, don't waste your match." "I shouldn't say stuff like that." "I mean I didn't completely mean it." "What, you miss him?" "Come on, I'll bring you there." "Thanks." "Hello!" "Can someone get the door?" " Oh, I'm sorry." " Careful." "Now, swing it around." "Sorry, sorry." "Well I didn't really like that, anyway." "Set it down." "Got it?" "Good." " Anything else you need help with?" " l don't think so." "Thanks." "But if I think of anything..." " Oh, jeez." " H i !" "H i." "Where's Angela?" " Hey, you got a smoke?" " Yeah here." "Oh, hi, again." "Rickie?" " What are you doing here?" " Jordan brought me." "Rickie, are you okay?" "What happened?" "Nothing." "They why can't you go back home?" " Okay, come on." " What?" "I mean it, come one." "You're staying at my house." " l'm not sponging off your family." " Shut up!" "It wouldn't be like that." " Your parents don't want me around." " That's not true." "Rickie, please." "Rickie, you can't be here." "You can't." "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve." "You think I'd stay here for Christmas?" "I'm going to my cousin's tomorrow." "You better go home." "They're going to start wondering where you are." "I mean, face it, you don't belong here." " You don't belong here, either." " l can't talk about this with you." "If you want to help me, leave me alone!" "Angela, ls that you?" "Yeah." "The tree looks really great." "H i." " H i." " We saved you the angel." "Thanks." "We waited as long as Danielle could stand it, but..." "I know, I'm sorry." "I lost track of time." " Can I trim my room?" " Why not?" "So will you call next time please if you're going to stay out this late?" "I know, I'm sorry." "Rickie is fine, by the way." "Good." "I'll start dinner." "I'll help." " What was wrong with Rickie?" " Excuse me, but why are you here?" "Excuse me, your dad asked me to help, with the tree." "So..." "seriously, is Rickie okay?" "If I tell you, will you promise not to blab it to everyone?" "Yes." "See, he never spelled lt out, but I thlnk his parents, , , beat him up, or something," "Because for some reason, he's scared to go home," "Oh, my God," "And you will not believe where he's been sleeping." "See, there's this place." "This big abandoned warehouse." "Brian it's so scary and so strange." "All these kids, just live there." "What kids?" "Kids, Brian." "There are kids who have nowhere to live." "Don't you know that?" "You go to one abandoned warehouse..." "and suddenly you're this expert on homeless people?" "Shut up!" "It's just that..." "They're like normal." "They're like us." "Like there's this one girl." "And when you're talking to her, it's like you forget that..." "you know, that there's any difference between you." "is this on Roscoe by the bowling alley?" "No, it's on Tennessee Avenue." "Oh, my God, Graham." " Hey, let's just" " That's where she was." "Do you realize what could happen to her in a place like that?" "Let's not, let's not panic." " Maybe panicking is the answer." " You realize we can't ignore this." "We have to do something, we have to do the right thing." " Who are you, Spike Lee?" " Graham." "Okay, yeah, I know." "We have to do the right thing." "Dinner!" "Doughnut?" "Coffee?" "Moonlit dinner for two?" " We'd like to report a situation." " Be my guest." "See our daughter has a friend who is" "Who is apparently living in an abandoned warehouse with" "With some other kids." "So of course, we're" "Of course." "Where did you say this place was?" "Tennessee Avenue." " Oh, yeah." "Tennessee." " The point is, this is a good kid." " Now we're here because we" " Because we want to, you know, help." "Yeah, and we thank you very much." "Was there something else?" " No." "Would you excuse us?" " Sure." " What are we doing?" " l don't know." "is this right?" "is this the right thing?" "These are the people who supposedly..." "handle these situations." "I don't know." "He seems like a decent man." "He's fine, he's adorable." "It's just that" " What exactly will happen?" " lt depends on the circumstances." "is this kid a runaway or a throwaway?" "A throwaway?" "See, a runaway leaves home of his own volition." "A throwaway, a push out, is pushed out." "Oh, my God." "Look." "First off, every effort is made to restore" "Dear God, please help me, I have nowhere to go," "Oh, God, I feel so lost, Please show me the way," "Please help my daughter, God," "Oh, God, I'm scared, Mama, come and get me," "Patty, we should go." "Thanks for being good citizens." " You got a daughter, you said." " Yes." " You keep her close, okay?" " Okay." "Merry Christmas." "At this festive season of the year, M r, Scrooge, , , this ls more than usually desirable we should make some, , , slight provisions for the poor" "Danielle, I asked you to set the table." "Angela said she'd do it." " , , , of want of common comfort, slr," " Ah, yes, the prison?" "Mom, don't look yet, I'm not finished." "Sweetheart, it's beautiful." "Oh, one thing I forgot to tell you..." "Grandma and Grandpa are in the mountains." "I know." "And Neil and Marla are with her parents in Rockfort, so" "So why" "Mom, I really want to do this, okay." "Please say it's okay?" "Say what's okay?" "I want to bring Rickie and that girl over here for Christmas Eve dinner." "That's right, I didn't even tell you about her." "Mom, this girl has the most amazing voice." "Seriously, wait until" "Angela, listen." "You cannot go back to that place." "How do you know about that place?" " Sweetie, look" " Don't, Mom." "We had to do something." "We couldn't just-- l can't believe this." "What did you do?" "Your father and I overheard you and Brian talking, and" "Oh, my God, you didn't-- Did you call the police or something?" "Angela" "Mom, we have to do something." "We have to warn them." "Angela, listen to me." "You are not going back to that place." "This is a serious matter." "I know that!" "Why do you speak like this to me, like I'm a child?" "This girl, whoever she is, has serious problems!" "You haven't even talked to her!" "I've talked to her." "This girl" " She could be me." " Oh, don't say that!" "She couldn't be you." "How can you say that?" "Because it's true." "Fine. I'll put back the extra plates." " Hey, shorty." " What is this with "shorty"?" " Shoot!" " Need help?" "No. I can do it myself." "God-- l just had the most upsetting fight with Angela." "It was one of those fights where..." "it doesn't even seem real, it seems like the fight is having you." " You'd better go speak to her." " Danielle said she went out for a walk." "What was the fight about?" "Patty?" "Patty?" "Rickie!" "Hey, you there." "Don't be scared." "You're coming with us." "What was I thinking?" "What have I done?" "You were just trying to help." "We both were." "Will somebody tell me what's going on, for once in my life?" " l'll explain in a minute." " Stay here, in case she phones?" "Patty, it's okay, all right?" "She's going to come home." "H i. l was just-- You know" " Had" "Had nothing planned, so I , so" "So what?" "Spit it out!" "I'm sorry." "It's okay." "Go, go." "She's just-- She's in a hurry." "Don't ask me." "I just live here." "Tell me are these the shadows of the things that will be, , , or are they the shadows of the things that may be only?" "Ebenezer Scrooge!" "Am I the man who lay upon the bed?" "No, spirit, no!" "I am not the bitter man I was" "And a Merry Christmas to you, too." "Thanks for calling the help line." "Can I have this one, please, please, please?" "Okay." "But, don't let the supervisor see you." "Hello?" "Help line?" "H i." "My name is Steve." "H i, Steve." "It's Brian Krakow!" "See..." "it's not like I enjoy spending time with my parents or anything, so..." "when they first told me they were going away, they asked me, , , if I wanted to go to Denver, to my sister and her husband's house..." "but I said no because..." "I thought, you know, lt will be great I'll, , , work on my PSA Ts, lt'll be like, , ," "peaceful..." "But, , , I just didn't expect to feel this, like, lonely." "Llke even now, I'm at my neighbors', , , and..." "My God, he's crying." " Get out of town !" " My hand to God !" "Do you want me to get the supervisor?" "No." "No, I'll handle it." "So, Steve, you never asked me my name." "What is your name?" "Jade." "Jade, , ," " do you go to Liberty?" " Negative, Steve." "Thank God." "So, Steve..." "what are you wearing?" "What?" "All right." "My red flannel shirt and my brown corduroys." "Why?" "Would you like to know what I'm wearing, Steve?" "Sure." "I'm wearing a tank top." "It's really low cut." "I'm practically popping out of it." "And these super tight shorty cutoffs," "Oh, they are so tight!" "I better unzip them." "That's so much better." "Are you sure this is the help line?" "It's the help line, all right." "It's getting..." "really warm ln here, I think I should take off my tank top." "I better get off." "I mean, hang up." "I mean, I'm at my neighbors', so" "Think of it this way, Steve." "Do you still feel like crying?" "Excuse me, is this Tennessee Avenue?" "We're late." "Hello?" "is that her?" "Angela?" " Dad?" " Angela." "Dad, I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry." "It's all right." "J ust tell me where you are." "I'm..." "you're not going to believe this, but I'm in the basement of this church." "They brought all the kids from the warehouse here." "J ust give me the address." "Yeah, okay, I know where that's at." "Right." "All right." "You stay there, and we'll come get you." "We're going to church." "Angela." "Oh, never mind." "I'm sorry." "My daughter has boots just like those." "You see, I'm trying to find my daughter and..." "I know." "Because I'm no different from her." "No, no, you don't understand." "Sure I do. I had a mom." "Clean sheets." "All of that." "Another toss of the dice, I could be in her shoes, she could be in mine." "There but for the grace of God..." "Go I ." "Go ahead." "Ask me." "Why did you leave home?" "My mother and I had a fight..." "the kind of fight where it seems like the fight is having you." "So what else do you want to know?" "How did you die?" "I froze." "God." "Please help me."