There are those among us who you bless with a gift--
the rare genius of an Einstein, a Galileo, a Mozart or Picasso.
And even the mere mortals we see more often--
men and women with a head for math or science,
a talent for painting or poetry.
Or the beautiful gift of music.
When that gift is given to a child
it raises the temperature of any room they're in.
It can inspire those around them,
or it can drive some to a place of fear or resentment.
And it's then, I think, that people
begin to think of that gift as a curse.
It's not the gift itself,
it's... not even the person you've given it to.
It's the rest of us-- the parents,
the children, the friends, the enemies,
the audience.
It's how we deal with that gift
that makes it either a blessing...
or a curse.
I need some money.
-No, don't. -A hundred dollars.
-I'll pay you back. -You said that last time.
Daddy, please? It's really important.
Honey...
I won't ask you again, I promise.
Daddy...
Please?
I owe someone.
I need it for a friend.
This is the last time.
Last time.
You know, baby, I mean it.
Thank you, Daddy.
You don't understand her, you never have.
What makes you so sure that-that you're the one who...
I'm her mother!
I think I know what's best for her.
-And I'm her father. -Then act like it.
Erica, it's hard for me to do anything around here,
except clean up the mess that you continue to make with her.
Well done.
Thanks.
See you later.
I can't find it anywhere, Mom.
Did you check your room?
Try calling it.
It's on silent.
Sucks for you.
Did you do something with it?
I don't know, did l?
Mom, my phone's gone.
Lu, why don't you just call it, and maybe you'll hear it ring.
It's on silent.
Poor Charlie Mintz--
no more secret phone calls from his girlfriend.
Not funny.
What's not funny?
I lost my phone.
Try calling it.
It's on silent.
Well, it looks like I'm gonna save $68 a month.
This is serious.
Since you don't want me using the house phone,
now all I think about is where I lost my cell.
Which means I can't concentrate on
the spelling bee, and we have
the Los Angeles regionals this week.
Which means unless I find my phone,
I'll lose the regionals
and embarrass myself in front of
-the whole city. -Do you want this one?
-All yours, babe. -Look, Lula, you're not gonna
embarrass yourself at the spelling bee, all right?
You're gonna win the city regionals.
Slam dunk.
Then you go on to embarrass yourself
in front of the whole state, maybe even the country.
Thanks, Dad.
We'll get you a new phone.
Really?
lf I knew it was that easy
to work you guys, I would've lost my old phone, too.
-Hey, you got a new truck. -Used.
But you're gonna have to pay for one-third of it
out of your allowance-- I'll take care of the rest.
Thank you, Dad.
-Thanks, Dad. -Got to go.
Hey, what's up with the books?
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
You gonna at least give me a hint?
It involves books. Come on, let's go.
Wise-ass.
I'm ready for another paycheck.
We just closed a case last night, man.
So? Doesn't mean we're not ready
for another one, right, princess?
lnvitation?
lnsult.
Fine line.
Ask and you shall receive, Slick.
You found this in your daughter's room?
-Yes. -First time?
Uh, I don't know.
Don't worry about them-- they're with me.
My-my wife Erica's a very neat person.
Anything out of place gets tossed.
And I don't think she would recognize that anyway.
-I mean, it is for drugs, right? -It's how dealers
wrap their rock cocaine.
Your daughter's definitely using.
So, tell me about Rebecca.
-Um... -Guys, listen up.
Well, she's 1 7...
...and she's still my baby girl.
Well, I get it-- I got a... I got a 13-year-old.
So you know how hard it is to say no to them.
Rebecca's always asking for money.
She always has a reason.
It's always an excuse.
And you want to believe her-- you want to believe
-it's the last time, right? -She's stealing.
From school, from our neighbors.
Which probably means she's fencing it somewhere.
That explains the money.
Do you have any idea? Do you know where she gets her dope?
Uh, I don't know,
but there is a boyfriend-- Tom.
She's very secretive about him.
Tom have a last name?
It's an ltalian name, I think.
Um, De Agazio, D'Agostino, something like that.
-Akani. -I have seen his car.
Couldn't miss it. It's a 'Vette.
Late '50s, I think. Two-tone, hard-top, mint condition.
Mr. Smith, I have to ask-- does, uh...
does your wife know you're here?
She needs to know.
But as far as Rebecca's concerned,
no matter what she says, no more money.
Akani! You're gonna need my help
tracking down the boyfriend.
Really?
Yeah, vintage rides are my specialty.
Scumbag boyfriends are mine.
Tight fit.
It's ain't the seats.
Mrs. Smith.
Tried to be polite.
-What the hell! -Mrs. Smith,
I'm William Banks.
Excuse me, but you...
you just interrupted my workout.
And I'm sorry about that, but, uh,
I'm here about Rebecca.
Your husband Gary asked me to come.
My husband should have...
consulted with me before talking to you
-about our child. -Agreed.
But here we are.
But this-this isn't the time.
Well, you're wrong about that--
time is a factor.
From what I understand, the situation's pretty dire.
-What situation? -Your daughter's drug problem.
Cletus!
My man!
Here we go.
Listen, I need you to do me a favor.
I have a public service announcement,
and I need to know if you've see her.
I run a business, Arnie.
I'll take that as a yes.
Take it any way you want.
All right, when?
Couple hours ago.
Yeah, she brought this in.
30 bucks.
30 bucks?!
Cletus, come on, man,
this camera's hotter than Eva Mendez in Training Day,
and that was full-frontal.
30 bucks?
Fine. 20.
20. All right.
Are we finished?
Yeah, we're finished.
Is that a real Rolex?
For $65, it can be as real as you want it to be.
Huh.
Look, I-I told you the last time I'd handle things.
She broke into my house again.
She stole my digital camera.
This is the third time!
All right, sir, please calm down.
I told you, I said
if you can't control her, the cops will.
I-I will take care of things.
-She did nothing wrong. Nothing. -What?!
Are you crazy! Oh, my God!
You and your daughter, you're both nuts!
-Hey, that's it, the party's over. -Let go of me!
Ma'am, you just struck an officer-- you're under arrest.
My God, let me go! This man is...
He makes everything in this neighborhood...
Gary, it's William.
Came to meet your wife at your house.
There's a bit of a problem.
I was in jail.
Do you know how humiliating that was?
I told you I didn't do it.
He's being a creep and blaming me...
Don't play the victim with me!
There's a reason why people blame you.
Erica...
You are throwing your whole life away.
Okay, do you know how few people have a gift like you have?!
You mean people like you?
Oh, be honest, Mom.
You only wish that you could play like me.
All right, stop. Stop.
-I'm her mother! -Stop it!
-Dad.
Baby, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
You are getting no phone privileges,
-no cell... -Enough!
Daddy, I can't stay here.
I need some money. Please.
Daddy, please, you see the way she treats me.
-Honey... -Just $50.
-Don't. -I'm... I'm sorry, Rebecca.
I can't.
Why are you doing this to me?
Don't you love me?
Don't you care about me?
You're supposed to take care of me.
Please, $50.
Of course I care about you, baby.
But I just can't give you any more money.
You have a problem.
Rebecca, you have a very...
Fine!
I need you, I don't care about you.
I don't give a shit about either of you!
And what can fool you is words with "kappa" in the Greek root
are most commonly spelled with a "C"
like cryptic, catastrophe, catabolism.
Cata... what? What is that?
The metabolic breakdown of complex molecules
-into simpler ones. -Oh, yeah, see, no,
I thought you were talking about the other "catabolism."
Got your money?
Let's go buy a phone.
-The lnstinct? -No,
you're not allowed to have a phone better than mine.
-Yes? -Hi.
I believe this belongs to you.
I especially like the one of with your kid
sliding on his butt in the shower.
That's pretty funny, you should put that in a TV show.
Who are you?
Oh, uh...
I'm Alonso Chamberlain. Good Samaritan.
And as for the camera, problem solved, right?
This doesn't get her off the hook.
Property returned, okay?
No harm, no foul.
She's stolen things that can never be replaced.
Okay, well, uh...
consider this a step in the right direction.
Absolutely not.
That girl is a junkie, her mother's a lunatic,
and that father's just a pussy.
This is not over.
You can bank on that.
Not at all.
You're welcome.
Dick.
I don't understand.
The GPS chip in the phone is a tracker,
so if you lose your phone it'll be easier to find.
I understand how it works.
I just don't understand why you want me to have it.
No, I'm just saying if you lose your phone,
it'll be easier to find.
Dad...
All right, sweetheart, look.
There's this old proverb, okay?
Chinese, I think.
"A parent can give his child only two things--
roots and wings."
So that phone right there, that's your wings.
And?
And me knowing where you are, the tracking device,
that's the roots. That's, uh...
that's me keeping you close.
Do you think I'd run away like Ben?
No chance.
Are you afraid something bad might happen to me?
No.
No, I'm not.
Let's go set your wings up, all right?
Okay.
No problem. Any time.
Akani.
We got Corvette Klassics with a "K."
Now if our boy takes his ride serious,
my guy says these people will know him.
That's what you said about the last three shops.
Classic cars is big business, girl.
You got a cherry ride, your pride and joy,
you don't take it just anywhere.
What? It's a lead.
Your enthusiasm.
I got a thing for cars since I was a kid.
I mean, you got your thing, right?
No, not really.
Come on, nothing?
Don't they say everybody got to have their something?
Mm, no, nothing.
How about someone?
Someone who buried themselves in your soul.
-Someone... -Someone like Jeannie?
Someone like her.
Three...
All right.
Watch your back there, Arnold.
Okay, big step coming down.
There you go.
Set it down.
Wow.
Archeological dig, Dad.
Oh, check this out.
A couple of your Dragonball cards.
Remember these?
I never got that whole HP thing.
"H," uh... what is it, uh,
hit... hit points? Hip points?
I don't know.
You used to love these things.
You'd spend hours in the truck playing with them.
Well, look, they're a little banged up, but, uh...
No, thanks.
Oh, you're too old, huh?
What?
You bought me those cards to keep me busy in the truck.
Keep me busy while you went and shot up.
I'm sorry, Ben.
I know.
Mr. Banks.
Hey, you want a ride home?
No, I got my board.
See you at home, Dad.
I'm sorry to bother you.
No bother.
So what's up?
You were right.
Rebecca asked for money.
And?
I said no. Good.
She ran.
She hasn't come home, hasn't called.
I don't know where she is.
Well, with no money,
my guess is that she'll go someplace she knows.
Probably a boyfriend's house.
You know who that is yet?
Not yet.
Please.
So how's, uh... how's your wife?
Jail did not improve her disposition any.
Look, Gary, uh...
she's not making our job any easier.
No, Erica's...
control, structure, order, routine.
That's how she lives her life.
No exceptions.
It was different.
I mean, we used to be happy.
Or happier.
Yeah? What changed?
Music.
Erica's talented.
She's an excellent pianist.
But Rebecca?
She's gifted.
Truly.
When she was five, she could play better than her mother.
-A prodigy, huh? -Uh-huh.
And Erica...
turned that gift into a punishment.
She pushed Rebecca...
recitals, lessons...
hours of practice.
You know, it sounds to me like somewhere along the way,
your little girl wasn't allowed to be a little girl.
Look, Gary, the road to recovery for your daughter
goes through your wife.
lf you find Rebecca...
When we find Rebecca.
When you find her...
What can I do?
Help me help your wife
so I can help your daughter.
I don't know about this, Tom.
I don't know if I want to... do this anymore.
Oh, come on, Beck.
Every time you needed something from me,
I was there for you.
Right?
-Yeah. -Yeah.
I care about you, Rebecca.
You're very special to me.
Do you love me?
Since the day we met.
So what do you say?
Okay.
That's my girl.
Oh, you are so beautiful.
Show me more.
No, no, no, no, don't be shy.
Come on.
I'm all alone over here.
Don't you...
want to be with me?
I am with you.
Always.
Don't you want to touch me?
And hold me?
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
Just keep going, Becca.
That's all you get.
You have to use your imagination for the rest.
Are you sure?
You love me, though, right?
And you want to hold me?
Keep going.
Erica.
You've been running for two hours?
What do you want?
We have to talk about Rebecca.
Now?
We're losing her...
Who's to blame for that?
We both are.
You know we both...
Erica...
Get off the machine.
Get off the damn machine!
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Our daughter is on drugs!
You want to speak up now and have an opinion, now?
After all this time, Gary?
It's too late. You had your chance.
Don't make this about me.
No, no, like it or not, you don't get a say.
I'm the one who's made the sacrifices...
-Sacrifices? -all her life!
Yes, I have!
You want to talk about sacrifices?
I gave her everything!
I got her on track to Juilliard.
To get into Juilliard, okay?
And now to have everything turn out like this
after everything I planned.
-Everything I wanted for her. -What about what she wanted?
She doesn't want to play the piano anymore.
No, no...
You push her and push her for one reason.
Because you weren't good enough.
Oh, God!
Come on, Erica...
-Listen, listen to me. -You don't know that.
You don't know that.
lf someone had pushed me harder...
if someone had made me practice more, you don't know...
You still would never be as good as she is.
You don't have a gift like that.
Rebecca and me.
She can be world-class.
We can make her that good.
You just have... you have to push someone.
If you don't push someone...
lf someone had pushed me...
If somebody had made me practice harder...
I may never... I may never...
Stop. Stop.
Listen, thank you for offering Erica a room here.
Hospitals are just so public.
It would kill her if word got out that she was...
less than well.
What did Dr. Newell have to say?
Severe dehydration with an extreme electrolyte imbalance.
She said with fluid and nutrients...
Look, dehydration is not her problem, Gary.
Her temper...
She exercises obsessively.
She's probably OCD.
She's going to need psychiatric help.
And you're going to have to make that happen.
Whatever I need to do for Erica...
...I'll do it.
So listen, guys,
I know William would consider it a huge favor
if you could maybe get your boys to look the other way
on this girl.
Uh-uh. Can't help you.
Oh, man.
All right, you want the bad news or the bad news?
Give me the bad.
The neighbor's name is Mark Stanon.
He's legal counsel for PBA.
And I don't even think your boy Officer Herman
would look the other way when this douche bag's talking.
Swenton, I put you on this guy,
and you're only just now finding out his job?
lf this guy's special counsel to LAPD,
there's not a cop in the city who won't do him a solid.
All right, look, if-if he does get them to find Rebecca,
what does he want?
Pushing for a felony. 20 grand in theft.
All right, look, we're going to have to get her off the street
before the cops do.
I got to go.
William, listen, I'm sorry.
l... I should have found out sooner.
Yeah, you should have.
Yep?
Got the boyfriend, man. Tom D'Agostino.
Akani's working the DMV to get an address.
All right, soon as you get it, you pay him a visit.
lf Rebecca's over, you got the green light, grab her.
Got it.
Wait, what do you mean second thoughts?
After studying your ass off for eight weeks?
I'd be giving up a steady job
for-- what do you guys call it?--
a troubled real estate market.
Two black coffees, please.
Make mine a latte, please.
It's okay, us guys call it cyclical, not troubled.
The market is never troubled.
Just less inflated.
There you go.
What's this about, Liss?
Thank you.
I just feel like I'm changing.
Yourself? That's the point.
The rules.
Whatever I promised was my side of the deal
when I let William move back in.
Okay, people change, right?
He just wants you to be happy.
So be happy.
How would I even start a new career?
You do a lunch.
You'll get used to it.
It's very big, doing lunch.
Oh, could you make this with two percent?
Sure.
Don't give me that face.
Oh, man, '58!
Quad headlights, twin trunk spars.
You ask me, girl, this is the flashiest Corvette ever built.
Thought you weren't going to fall in love again, D.
I lied.
I don't know about this, Tom.
I don't know if I want to do this anymore.
Come on, Bec.
Don't you want to touch me?
She's in there.
Hey, what the...?
Tom D'Agostino?
-Who are you? -Where's Rebecca, man?
I don't know.
What are you watching on TV, man?!
-Huh? Answer me! -You're choking me...
-I can't breathe... -Huh?!
-Stop it! -Shut up!
-Help me! Help me! -Quit moving, man! Where is she?
Hey, stop it, man.
Help me!
Sorry.
How'd he get cut, Akani?
She had nothing to do with that.
Next time, open hand.
No visible marks.
Yeah, my bad.
I guess that makes you the boss.
Call Rebecca.
Tell her to meet you here now.
You bust in my house, you assauIt me, you tie me up.
Now you want me to do you a favor
involving my girlfriend? No way.
Rebecca's not your girlfriend, asshole.
She's 1 7, a minor.
Huh-uh, no, no, no. I thought that...
She told me that she was 23.
I swear.
Call her.
Call her!
She said she was 23.
No answer.
Give me that zip.
How much did you give her?
Four grams.
Look, I didn't know she was a kid.
It's too bad I'm not the one you have to convince.
Copy. Transporting now.
Tom D'Agostino, white male.
Watch your head.
All right, guys, let's get it together.
We got to pull Rebecca off the streets before the cops.
Before Mark Stanon.
And before she ODs.
You found her?
Not yet.
But here's what we do have.
The Corvette belongs to Tom D'Agostino.
He was the supplier.
He was not a boyfriend.
He's gone... for good.
And if Rebecca goes back to his place,
we'll be waiting.
What if she goes home?
She doesn't know we're here.
We're at your house, too.
Don't worry, we're going to find her.
Look, my team is incredible at what they do, okay?
We're going to find her.
Before the police.
And the truth is, that every long walk
begins with a single step, all right?
I know, I'm starting to sound like a bumper sticker.
How do I look?
Hmm, like a million bucks.
Liar.
Ooh, smile.
-He's here. -Nicole.
Hello.
Duncan Collins, this is my sister Melissa Banks.
Nicole speaks very highly of you.
Well, don't believe everything you hear.
Especially from a broker.
Please sit.
So I understand you're looking to broaden your horizons?
I'm just finishing up classes.
But I'm worried.
You're worried about the market?
Me, too.
So's Nicole, though she'd never say it.
Well, I just personally wouldn't phrase it that way.
Bottom line-- the market sucks
if you're anywhere east of the 405.
Well, there are pockets of the Valley.
There's the South Bay.
Good for you.
Look, you don't have the experience or the client base
to work the Westside, so it won't be a cakewalk.
Especially if you need real income from the start,
but if you can ride the waves and survive the troughs,
it can be a fairly nice life.
Good hours, good people, great money.
The California dream.
May I ask...?
I made $743,000 last year.
Really?
I was going to ask where I might get my firs t listing.
A couple of your Dragonball cards.
You know, I never, uh...
I never understood that HP thing.
Hit point, hit points?
Yeah, I don't know.
You used to spend hours with these things.
Just sit in the truck and play with them all day.
You bought me those cards to keep me busy in the truck.
Keep me busy while you went and shot up.
I'm sorry, son. I'm sorry about that.
-I saw Rebecca. -Good.
Not really so good, man.
The cops got to her before I did. She's in jail.
I'm sorry.
l, uh...
What?
Look, I know I screwed up...
all right, with Stanon and Rebecca, the cops.
I'm sorry.
I know I haven't really been on my "A" game.
Yeah, no shit.
Fix it.
What I do,
helping people...
there's no rule book.
Every addict is completely different.
The one constant is that sad, scared, dark place
where every addict eventually ends up.
And it ain't always drugs that gets them there.
Sometimes it's not being loved enough;
sometimes being loved too much, too hard.
But love, even if it's the right kind,
isn't always enough to save them.
There's a need that overwhelms an addict,
a need that replaces love, pushes loved ones aside,
opens a door that almost anyone can walk in,
a need that makes a victim out of almost everyone.
My job is to intervene,
save people from their destructive need.
Help people get back to the people they used to be,
their true selves.
To help people like Rebecca.
She's hurt a lot of people, not just me.
And her parents understand that.
Look, Mr. Stanon, jail is not going to help Rebecca.
We both know that.
Rebecca and her parents...
I don't trust them.
You don't have to.
Look, I'm asking you to trust me.
Okay? Whatever Rebecca stole from you,
I'll make it right-- I give you my word.
Yeah, I asked around about you.
"lf William Banks gives you his word, take it."
That's what they said.
ls that good enough for me to go on?
I guess that depends on who "they" are, right?
I guess it does.
Let me help her, Mr. Stanon.
Please.
Rebecca, my name is William Banks.
I'm here to help you.
I knew what I was doing was wrong,
I just...
I just couldn't stop, and then...
and I didn't want to.
Is that what they call bottoming out?
People call it many things.
I call it purgatory.
Hey, let's go for a walk.
Are you religious, Mr. Banks?
Um, let's just say my relationship with God
is kind of a one-way thing-- I talk and..
hopefully, he listens.
As for getting clean and staying clean...
You believe in the 12 steps?
Sure. 12, 15.
You know, whatever it takes.
But the thing is, Rebecca, that, uh,
you have a lot of people that care about you.
Right. My mom's crazy and shits all over me,
and my dad's invisible.
Maybe.
Or maybe the drugs made it so you couldn't tell.
For now, only two things matter.
One, smoking rock ain't gonna do it for you.
And two?
Becca.
That's two.
Mom?
Are you a patient here?
Sort of.
But now I'm going, um, somewhere to...
get some help...
with my, uh...
with learning how to give up control, so...
You mean OCD, right?
The point is, I'm...
I'm gonna try.
I promise.
'Kay.
Uh, do you...
-want to sit? -Okay.
So, how-how are you feeling?
I don't know.
Me, neither.
Oh, thanks.
You-you want some tea?
Okay.
Thank you.
Where's Dad?
Oh, well, he-he wanted us to have a minute.
Oh.
This came for you the other day.
It's from Juilliard, and...
-I'm pretty sure that it... -Mom.
-Mom, no. l... -It...
But, Rebecca, it's a tremendous opportunity.
-I'm not interested. Mom, no... -Seven percent
of the people that apply get in.
I don't...
Do you ha...
Do you know how many people would just jump
at the opportunity?
Then give it to them.
Give it to someone else.
Mom, I don't want it.
I really, really don't want it.
Okay.
We-we can talk about this when you're feeling better.
Right?
Sometimes beating the physical addiction is the easy part.
The real fight'll come later.
What if you're tired of fighting?
Then you decide what's most important to you,
and you go get it.
But, Gary, you do have to fight.
Six houses on the market in this neighborhood.
All identical square footage.
All listed at the same price, except this one.
You're asking $15,000 over the others.
And I'll get it.
Why?
Right now, it's all about interiors.
Hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances,
granite countertops, open floor plans.
This one's got them all.
It should sell itself, shouldn't it?
Well, just in case, I'm here.
California dream, right?
Tell you what.
You show me you can sell this house,
and you'll be on your way to that first listing.
All you had to do was to keep the girl
from getting in trouble with the cops.
Great job on that one, by the way.
Come on, William knows-- he's not stupid.
He knows you're blasting-- he knows.
He knows you're a junkie.
Everyone knows that you're just a useless junkie!
Everyone knows
-you're a junkie. -You're a junkie.
Everyone knows you're a junkie!
Why bother keeping secrets?
I mean, they're bad for everybody.
Shut up. All right?
-Shut up! -Shut up.
Shut up!
I don't care!
I don't care.
"I don't care. I don't care."
Yes, you do.
No, I don't.
Go get high...
you useless junkie.
Come on! Go ahead!
Can you repeat the word, please?
Amylolysis.
A-M-Y...
L-O...
L...
...l...
S-I-S?
I'm sorry, that's incorrect.
Amylolysis is spelled A-M-Y-L-O-L-Y-S-I-S.
Thank you. And congratulations for getting this far.
Lula Banks, please step to the microphone.
You're our final contestant.
Lula, your word is "cacophony."
Excuse me.
Sorry I'm late.
-What did I miss? -Almost everything.
What is the definition?
"Harsh or discordant sound.
Specifically, the harshness in the sound of words or phrases."
All right, I'll make a deal with you.
Yeah?
Are there any alternate pronunciations?
I show only "cacophony."
ls that a hard one?
Not for Lu.
Do we have a deal?
Cacophony.
What is the language of origin?
Greek.
Kappa.
-What? -Kappa. She does know the word.
Cacophony.
C-A-
C-O-
P-H-O-N-Y.
Cacophony.
Correct.
Congratulations.
The winner of the Los Angeles Regional Spelling Bee
is Miss Lula Banks.
Lula will represent our region
in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.