"Oh, come on." "I know you don't believe it." "Well, I don't." "Here we go with those secret disarmament talks again." " What's wrong with that?" " The secret part." "I mean, we have got satellites flying all over the sky, sending television pictures all over the world." "Why can't these guys set down in front of a camera, so that we all know what they're talking about?" "What the hell, we're all in this together, aren't we?" " You got a point." " You bet I do." "I mean, how do I know what they're really saying to each other?" "They could be sitting in some fancy hotel room, ordering room service." "Come on, I doubt that." " How do we get them to do it?" " I don't know." "Why doesn't the boss make them?" "Same old question, where's God?" "Yeah, where is he?" "Hey, where's the people?" " What do you mean?" " The people." "All the people in the world demand it, it'll happen." "God, I hope so." "So does he." " Where are we going anyway?" " Any place you want." " Got the day off." " Yeah?" "Hey, let's go to the amusement park." "I love scary rides." "You gotta be kidding." "I hated them when I was a kid." "Scared, huh?" "Hey, Mark." "You can open your eyes now, it's over." "Fun ride." "Let's go." "Boy, I hope they got frozen bananas." "Frozen bananas?" "I tell you, terror does a lot for your appetite." "Terror, me?" "I used to ride those things ten times a day when I was a kid." " Well, let's go back on it again." " Sure, when hell freezes over." "All right, that's a deal." "Come on, I'll buy you a frozen banana." "Balloons here, we got balloons, get your balloons." " My sister would like a balloon, please." " A red one, please." "Seventy-five cents." "A red balloon for the little one." "Here we are." " Don't let go." " I won't." "Get your balloons." "Nice, pretty balloons..." " Stevie, my balloon." " Don't cry." "I'll get you another one, okay?" "One green balloon." "Here you are, thank you." " Balloons here..." " Can we have another balloon?" " This one broke." " Seventy-five cents." "That was my whole allowance." " That's life, kid." " Please." "These things don't come with any warranty." "No money, no balloon." "We got balloons here, get your balloons, we got balloons," " helium balloons here." " I'm sorry, Myra." "Balloons here, we got balloons, get your helium balloons." "Take it home for the kiddies." "We got balloons here." "Jonny, let's get her another balloon." "From your mouth to God's ears." "Take one home for the kiddies." "Go ahead, take one home." "How about a balloon for you, mister, with the yellow hat?" "Beautiful balloons only 75 cents, grab your balloon." "Hey, it's for the little girl who just walked away." "Go on." "What luck, I gotta see this." "Look, Myra." "Where'd it come from?" "I don't know." "Let's go tell Mom." "Yeah." "Look at the look on that little girl's face." "Boy, would I like to be an angel someday." "All things are possible." " You mean that?" " For sure." "Of course, it's not up to me." "Yeah, but you could put a word in for me." "You bet I could." "I'll do it right now" "No, wait a minute." "I don't mean right this minute, I said someday." " There's no hurry." " Just let me know." "Hey, you're too pretty to be crying." "I can't find my mommy." "Well, don't cry, everything's gonna be okay." "We'll help you find your mom." "What's your name?" "Sarah." "Sarah, my name's Jonathan, that's my friend, Mark." "We're gonna take you to a place where you can find your mom." "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." "Good girl." "You're a big help, you know that?" " I'll handle this." " You?" "I may be a mere mortal, but I'm also a former cop." " Excuse me." " Be my guest." "Hi." "I'm not going anywhere with you, either." "Go away." "Well, I don't want you to go anywhere." " Promise?" " Cross my heart." "That's a fine-looking lion you got there." "What's his name?" " Leo." " Leo, that's a wonderful name for a lion." "Sarah, what's your mommy's name?" "Mommy." "What does your daddy call your mommy?" "Dear." " Her mother's name" " Jonathan, do you mind?" "What do your mommy's friends call her?" "Nancy." "And what do your friends call your mommy?" "Mrs. Barrett." "Good girl." "Now, listen, Sarah, if you'll stay here with my friend, Jonathan," "I'll go find your mommy." "Okay?" "I'll be right back." "You don't mind babysitting, do you?" "No." "You're the boss." "You're the boss." "Attention please, would Nancy Barrett report to the security office by the main gate." "Your little girl has been located." "Nancy Barrett, report to the security office, please." "Sarah, take a look." "Mommy!" "I don't know how to thank you." "I was getting pretty frantic." "My pleasure, ma'am." "What do you say, young lady?" " Thank you." " You're an angel." "You're mighty lucky, young lady." "If your father was with us today, you'd be in for it." "Are you gonna tell him?" "I don't know yet." " Hear what she called me?" " No, what?" "She called me an angel." "Well, what does she know?" "We gotta go." " We've got an assignment?" " That's right." " Something I can handle?" " Hey, I'm the angel here, you know." "Can't stand it when I take a little initiative?" "One good deed, and the man's ready for sainthood." "Hey, redneck, get off the road." "Hey, you need to drink beer on these types of road." "Get that piece of junk over, you turkey neck, move." " Did you see that idiot?" " Yeah, I saw him." "He's drunk." "Boy, they make me mad." "Drunk drivers are the scum of the earth." "You know what I'd do with them if I were God?" "No, what?" "I'm sure he's always open to suggestions." "Probably wouldn't like it." "He's probably too merciful." "I don't know, it all depends on how upset he gets." "I would lock them up and throw away the key." "They don't deserve a second chance." "Amen to that." "I don't believe those guys." "All of them." "Hey, Jonathan, look at that." "Let's keep going, there's nothing we can do here." " What?" " Come on, let's go." " You're supposed to help people." " Will you listen to me?" "Listen, I don't care what you do, I'm going to see if I can help." "I couldn't help it." "This guy pulled out in front of me." " I tried to swerve." " A guy in a jeep?" "Yeah, he never even stopped." "Just try to be still, ma'am." "We've got paramedics on the way." "Sarah?" "Where's my Sarah?" "My baby." "I want my baby!" " My baby." "My baby." " Please ma'am, take it easy." "My baby, my baby." "My baby." "My baby." "My baby." "She could have had a chance if she'd had her seat belt on." "Damn shame, damn shame." "My baby, my..." "Do you want me to drive for a while?" " Look, buddy, I know how you feel" " No, you don't." "I killed that little girl." "What are you talking about?" "If I hadn't butted in, she'd be alive now." "Her mother would have found her eventually, they'd have left the park later." "They'd be home now." "Mark, there's no way you could've known what was gonna happen." "You can't see into the future." "Never would have happened if I let you handle it." " That's not true, you don't know that." " Yes, I do." "I do know it." "Mr. Know-It-All was gonna show an angel how it's done." "Well, it's done all right." "Get out, will you?" "What for?" "End of the road for you and me." "Mark, don't do this to yourself." "You had no way of knowing what was gonna happen to that girl, neither did I." "Look, spare me, will you?" "I know what I'm doing." "Jonathan, you'll be better off without me." "Please get out." " Mark, you're making a mistake." " No." "Oh, no." "I made that this afternoon." "Now, please get out." "Goodbye." "Bye." "Goodbye." "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." " What do you say, young lady?" " Thank you." "You're an angel." " What do you say, young lady?" " Thank you." "You're an angel." "You're an angel." "You're an angel." "My baby." "I want my baby, my baby." "My baby." "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." " What do you say, young lady?" " Thank you." "You're an angel." "I want my baby!" "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." " What do you say, young lady?" " Thank you." "I want my baby!" "I want my baby!" "No, I'm not supposed to go with strangers." "My baby." "My baby." "Oh, great." "Little town, you can't get nothing." "In other news, charges of felony drunk driving have been filed, following yesterday's fatal accident on Highway 421." " What can I get you?" " The only gas station in town?" "Sure is, Bob Miles' place." "But today's Wednesday." "Bob always takes Wednesday off." "There another gas station I could walk to?" "Jim Copley, over in Spiffy Corners, about five miles west." " Thanks." " But he's closed on Wednesdays." "They're fishing partners." "Doesn't anybody wanna make a living here?" "Well, since the turnpike went in, we don't get much trade during the week." "All the traffic just sort of passes us by." " Whose brilliant idea was that?" " Oh, it's not so bad." "I kind of like it quiet." "Yeah, but it doesn't help me get any gas." "We got some nice roast chickens, if you're hungry." "No, I never eat on Wednesdays." "That'll be 5.25." "A place around here I can get a room?" "Ward's, down a block, other side of the street." " Thank you." " You bet." "Residents of the area held a town meeting last night to formerly protest the proposed plan, they feel..." "Oh, hi." "Can I help you?" "Yeah, I need a room." "Could you get me the proprietor?" "You're looking at her." "No luggage?" " I'll only be here a day." " Who is it, Wendy Ann?" "Grandma, it's okay." "We got a boarder." "I'm Wendy Ann Ward." " Mark Gordon." " Welcome to our home, Mr. Gordon." "Come on." "We've got only three rules, no loud music, no pets and $25 a day." "But that includes dinner." "We eat kind of late because my ma works until 8." " Our best room." " It's fine." "You're sure you don't wanna stay longer than a day?" "I'm a great cook." "No, I have to be somewhere." "Oh, where you heading?" "I'm not sure." "Oh, well, excuse me." "My brother is calling." "Sarah." "He brought me here." "All right, Jonathan." "Jonathan, I know you're here." "Show yourself." "I meant what I said last night, I'm on my own from now on." "You hear me?" "Jonathan?" "Jonathan." "Mr. Gordon?" "You all right?" "Oh, yeah, I..." "I was just talking to myself." "Stupid habit." "It's okay, I do it all the time." "See you at dinner." " Your daughter keeps a neat house." " I know." "Besides taking care of her baby brother and keeping an eye on Mom." "I don't know what we'd do without her." "We wouldn't make it." "If you don't mind, she seems kind of young for such heavy responsibilities." " I wish it didn't have to be that way." " We just don't have any choice." "She comes home right after school so I can get to the mill by 2, and then Tom goes to graduate school over at Trinity." "Trinity." "That's 40 miles away." "Yes, I know every bump in the road." " What are you studying?" " Theology." "I'm going to be a minister." "Mom, can I call Sarah?" "Do you have homework?" "Yes, ma'am, but I'll only talk for a few minutes." "I tried to call yesterday, but there was no answer." " All right, but don't talk too long." " I won't." "That friend wouldn't be Sarah Barrett by any chance?" "Yes, they're best friends." "Do you know the Barretts?" "I met them once." "Dad, they want to talk to you." "Wasn't Sarah home, honey?" "Well, I don't know." "They acted real funny when I asked for her." " Maybe she's sick or something." " Oh, I hope it isn't anything catching." "Oh, Mr. Gordon here knows the Barretts." "No, not really." "Michelle, we have to go to the Barrett's, now." " What's wrong?" " I'll explain on the way." " Matthew can come with us." " All right." "Come on, baby, let's go for a ride." " Can I go?" " No, you can't." "Wait in the car, now." "I'm sorry, Wendy, this is a grownup thing." " Sarah isn't there, anyway." " Where is she?" "She's away." "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow." "Now, I want you to be a good girl and go to bed early tonight." "Wish I could've gone." "Sarah went to the amusement park yesterday." "She said she'd tell me all about the roller coaster and stuff." "Have you ever been to the park?" "Yeah, I was there." "Did you ride the roller coaster?" "Was it scary?" "Excuse me." " Did I say something wrong?" " I don't think so, dear." "Mr. Gordon?" "Yeah?" "Do you need anything before I go to bed tonight?" "No, nothing." "Our furnace is broken, so this heater will have to do." "It's fine." "I'm sorry it's so noisy." "I said it's fine." "Well, good night, then." "Oh, my God." "Oh, my God." " There's three people in there." " Dick, Charlie, we got three inside." "Mark." "Wendy Ann, Margaret, they're with you?" " There's Mom." " My daughter." " Where's the other fireman?" " Give him time." "It's no use." "It's an inferno in there." "No." "My little girl." " No!" " It's no use." "It's too late." "It's too late." "Not again." "You, get back here!" "Wendy!" "Wendy Ann!" "Wendy!" "Oh, God, let me die." "Let me die." "Hey, I've been waiting for you." "Jonathan." "What's going on?" "Where am I?" "I'm dead, aren't I?" "No, you're not dead." "What about the fire?" "Wendy Ann, what happened to her?" "Nothing yet." "Jonathan, what are you talking about?" "What's going on?" "I'm not sure yet." "It's the boss's idea." "You see, he's decided to let you play God for a while." "Play God?" "All the times you've said, "Oh, if I were God, I'd do such and such?"" "Well, now's your chance." "I don't believe it." "Go on, test it out." "What would you like to change?" "If I were God, I'd put flowers where those rocks are." "So be it." "I'll be darned." "You mean, all I gotta say is what I want and it's done?" "That's right." "Okay." "I want all my mistakes erased, like they never happened." "Pre-emptive redemption." "The what?" "That's a technical term." "Anything else?" "Every time that I said God should do something or "God, I wish it was like this," I want all that done." "It's done." "That all?" "Yeah, that's it." "Well, if you follow me, your very own world awaits." "Come on." "I can't believe it." "I mean, look at this traffic." "I mean, this town was dead." "There's no turnpike." "You didn't want it, remember?" "That's right." "I remember that." "Jonathan, look at that." "Open 24 hours." "Now, only God could know I wished for that." "And it's done." "One, two, three, four and four." "Not taking off to go fishing anymore, huh?" "You talking to me?" "Aren't you the guy that always went fishing on Wednesday?" "No, you must be talking about Bob Miles." "Oh, Bob, Bob, yeah, that's his name." "Yeah, he died a while back." "Tried to do too much, too many hours." "Doctor told him to slow down, but he had to keep this place going 24 hours a day." "Finally, it killed him." "Come on, let's take a look at the rest of your world." "That little girl, Sarah, the one that was in the accident, I want to see her." " All right." " She's here, then." " Yeah, she's here." " Thank God." "We'll just stop off here at the Ward place first." "That's right, it didn't burn." " Of course not." " Oh, I get it." "She's here with her best friend, right?" "She's here with Wendy Ann?" "Well, we'll see." "Hey, anybody here?" "Good morning." "Need a room?" "Where's the little girl that runs this place?" "Oh, you must have the wrong address." "Wendy Ann?" "Where's Wendy Ann?" "Oh, you mean Miss Ward." "Loretta!" "I told you I wanted my yellow dress ironed, not my blue one." "I'm sorry." "You're so stupid." "What do you want?" " You don't know me?" " Should I?" "No, I guess not." "You want a room?" " No." " Then we're busy." "Don't just stand there, get in here and iron the dress." "And next time I tell you to do something, listen to me." "I can't believe she's the same girl." "What happened?" "Hey, you're the one who thought it was unfair for her to have to work so hard." "In your world she didn't have to." "Didn't like seeing her take care of that whole house," "I didn't mean to change her like that." "Wendy thrived on helping her family." "You took away her opportunity to feel really needed." "That's the result." "All right, so everything isn't perfect." "But at least she didn't die in a fire, and the other little girl didn't die in a car accident." "Come on, Jon, now I wanna see Sarah." "All right, follow me." "What are we doing here?" "I told you I wanna see Sarah." "And you will." "We're here." "Mistakes were erased." "You told me they were erased." "You lied to me!" " No, I didn't." " All right, then he lied to me!" "You promised me that all my mistakes were erased, but they're not." "They're not!" "I want you to bring this girl back to life." "Bring her back." "Bring her back." "Why did he lie to me?" "He didn't." "Don't you see what happened to Sarah wasn't one of your mistakes?" "It had nothing to do with you, it had to do with a drunken man behind the wheel of a car." "Mark, you weren't responsible for what happened to her." "No matter what you did or didn't do, she'd still be gone." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen." "You had to see for yourself." "Why did he let her die?" "He let it happen." "He didn't." "It happened because people don't listen, or they don't care." "A drunk behind the wheel of a car, a child without a seat belt, you can't call that God's will." "And you can't turn away from him because you feel guilt or sorrow, or because you just don't understand." "You have to fight to make a difference in this world, you can't give up." "Mark, all of us are responsible for the world around us." "But please, don't give up." "I don't wanna give up." "I don't wanna give up." "Then fight, buddy." "Don't give up, don't give up." "Don't give up." "Wendy Ann." "Wendy Ann." "Wendy!" "Come on, let's get these burns taken care of." "No, wait." "The girl..." "She's gonna be okay." "Come on, let's get you to a hospital." " Can we come in?" " Sure." " How you feeling?" " Oh, I'm fine now, just feeling a little itchy." "Said I could get out of here tomorrow." "We don't know how to thank you." "Yeah, well, don't." "I don't deserve it." "It's my fault that fire started in the first place." "Heater was making noise, I lost my temper and kicked it over." "The whole thing is my fault." "Well, just so you know, heater was broken." "It's supposed to shut itself off if it falls." "I knew it was broken and I didn't replace it, so I'm just as guilty." "Well, guess you couldn't call it God's will." "Our insurance guy says we're in good shape though, so don't worry about that." "Just please accept our thanks." "Sure have a wonderful girl here." "I'm so happy you're all right." "By the way, I ran into a friend of yours in town." " You what?" " Yeah, his name's Jonathan." "Jonathan?" "Well, I'll be damned." "Jonathan." "Hey, look, I gotta get out of here." "Tom, can you drive me into town?" "Sure, if they let you out today." "Oh, they'll let me out, don't worry." "Come on." "Hey, stop!" "Don't you ever change, young lady." "It's people like you who make a difference." "What?" "You'll know what I'm talking about someday." "God bless you all." "Goodbye." "Bob, how you doing?" "Well, fine, just fine." " Do I know you?" " Well, you do now, my name's Mark." "Pleased to meet you." " How you doing, buddy?" " Jonathan." "Well, there you go." "You're all filled up." "Twenty dollars even." " There you go." " Thank you." "You know, you're lucky I was open today." "I'm usually closed on Wednesdays." "You haven't quit going fishing, have you?" "You must know me from somewhere." "No, I just couldn't wait." "They been biting so good this week, that I went on Tuesday." "I'm really glad to hear that." "We'll see you again, Bob." "You bet." "Drive careful now." "Thank you." "Didn't think I was gonna see you again." "Where you been?" "To see Sarah." "Sarah Barrett?" "She alive?" "No, but she's doing great." "We'll probably see her along the way." "Let's go." "Are you sure you can drive with those hands?" "You kidding?" "Racing gloves." "Then let's go, we got another assignment."