TV FoxFamily, Fri Apr 14, 2000, "Attention Deficit."
Written by Craig Volk, Directed by Brenton Spencer.

Whatever happened to that bigwig you told me about? General Robert "Rocks" Ruxton? Rocks? Yeah. I thought he was coming in today with his son. Must have missed their flight. Bad weather.

Hey, Gracie.

[ Speaking cantonese ] I woke up. Can I play? Gracie...

Come here. What should I do? A straight?

No cheating.

But I need two cards.

Uh-uh-uh... Hey...

You sure? Can I have two cards?

Three, please. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out.

What? I had on my poker face. Would you just... Got to hurt.

[ Knocking ] Sometimes they just can't read the word "closed." Whose deal? Peter, this is -- General Robert Ruxton. I'm sorry I'm late. Oh. Peter Scarbrow. Yeah, we talked on the phone. Yeah. Sophie Becker. I work at Horizon with Peter. Ms. Becker. I'm Sheriff Swann. Call me Curtis. Curtis. And who is this little lady? Gracie. Gracie.

So, where's your son, General? He's collecting his thoughts. He'll be right in.

So, I hear this school is a good one. We'd like to think so. Teenagers-- the seven-year curse that has all parents searching for a cure.

This is my son, David. Hey, David. I want you all to know that I hope this works out... 'Cause I want to learn from you. I do. I really do.

Morning, David. How was your first night here? Morning. We're almost ready. The Cliffhangers are rounding up. That'll be David's group. The General would like to stay for a few days to assess our program.

I hear you run a good operation, it's just, I've managed to carve out a few days from my schedule, and here I am. So David will just observe then, too? No. I want him in the mix. General, we have found that parents present on campus during orientation leads to their children acting out. Let me be honest with you. I've run out of options. I've footed the bill for David in cadet school, prep school, one summer, he even went to a fat farm. Now, we got a handle on the weight problem, but up here... David's still misfiring. He's got some attention deficit whatever... Disorder. A.D.D. Right, but I say he's not alert because he's got nothing to keep him on task, and I want my son alive to the world. Just because he's a quitter doesn't mean I'm gonna quit on him, but first, we've got to turn this around. Frankly, I think he's just afraid of failure.

See if the, uh, Cliffhangers are ready, and send one of them to give the General a tour. I'm here for him, whether he likes it or not.

He's a real piece of work, isn't he? We don't allow that here. Come on, let's go meet your group. Um, I should warn you, I don't group well. Thanks for the warning.

This is us? Auggie and Juliette are on restriction, Ezra's in the infirmary. But we have gathered together to embrace a newbie. Cliffhangers, this is David.

Scott, why don't you show David around campus? Kat, I want you to do the same for his father. He's in Peter's office. What, we're not guide worthy? You two can go to art.

Let's go. This is a classroom. That's Juliette. She's on silent restriction. Punishment consequences. No talking. She can only read and write her journal. That's it.

Must be love stuff, huh? So just what'd you do, bad girl, huh? Come on, just talk. Who's to know? Let's go. Talk! Hey, hands off! I am not in to being touched... Though with you... I might make an exception.

Sorry. [Juliette writes "thanks"] You're welcome.

And what's this for? You came to a conclusion about running. You ran. And, by running, you dug yourself into a hole, and now I want you to continue digging that hole until you come to a new and improved conclusion. And, uh, what happens if I don't find this new and improved conclusion? China's that way.

The dorms are up there, sports field's over there, and you saw the lake, where we kayak and canoe. A regular summer camp. Not exactly. Well, how would you describe it? A school where everything is a lesson. Oh. And what lessons have you learned? That I am not a problem to be fixed, but a work in progress. Ah...

What did he do, run off with the babe? Ah... Bingo. So, what would she see in a barrio boy like you, anyway?

Auggie! Auggie... Auggie, stop. What's up with you, man? You want somebody to mess you up? You can't mess with a mess, man. It's, like, redundant.

All done. Thanks, Katherine. Well, any questions? What's your success rate? It's hard to measure success, sir. You have no statistics? Plenty, but you asked me about success. . Well... The army motto is "this we shall defend." What is it you defend up here? I guess we defend a simple notion... That inside here is the promise of a tree, and inside every one of them is a promise of a human being. They have every right to realize that promise. My little guide was preaching the same gospel. No offense, but I've gone the touchy-feely route with David -- the Harmony Haven. Their motto was "every child is just a song out of tune." Well, David stayed out of tune.

You want a promise of success, I can't give that. You want a promise that we'll give your son guidance and support, that I can promise, sir. Guidance, support? That won't cut it. My son is a true child of scorn.

It's a get-well card for Ezra. I'm sure he'll just bounce right out of his sick bed.

Nice. Nicer. Sorry, you're not my species. Oh, are you two, uh... Oh, how should I put this, uh... Coupled up? How's the tour going, Scott? Have you shown him deadman's jump, or should I? Yeah, so you are. Scotty, Scotty, Scotty... Come on, now, this isn't the red-carpet tour, Scotty. This is you playing show-off for your fellow inmates.

What an annoying little...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

We call it the rebel yell-- sort of a group primal scream. Sometimes they just need to let off steam. All right. Feel better?

For tonight's group, an oldie, but a goodie-- we're going to pass the staff. Keep it short and to the point. One line, when.

When you mocked us, you only made yourself small.

Ah, When you don't look at me, you make me feel invisible.

When you pulled him away... You pulled me closer.

When I listen to my heart, I hear a new me.

When I so much as see you... I want to put you down and out.

When I hear all this, I just... I don't know. Say it, David. Come on. I just get all tingly inside, and I just... I want to go to each and every one of you and give you a great big hug-a-bug, and I think I'll start with my dad.

David... General... General... This is not for us. You know that for sure? No, he doesn't, he just thinks he does. You want to stay here? Is that what you're trying to say? Yeah, maybe I do. Fine. I'll see you tomorrow.

David's gonna be spending the night with you guys. You can crash right over here. I expect you to show him what's what and help him adjust. Good night, gentlemen.

So what is what, bros? How do we operate within our current restrictive structure? You know, you're too whacked to even bother with. So, who gets to tuck me in? Maybe your dad will come back and do it. Yeah, what's that supposed to mean? Sleep on it. He's nothing to me, man, and I'm nothing to him. It's just issue the orders, General, but just see if I come to attention, and you guys... You guys are going to see what I can do. Ooh, we're shaking with fear.

Oh... Hey, Scott! Scott, man, get in here. Come on, hurry up. What the... He's going to die. Hey... What's this on the floor? I don't know, but it feels like --



Aw, it's toothpaste. Hey. Ah! He is so dead.

You're up early. I like a woman with muscle definition. Please tell me you're not flirting. No, I was more like admiring, but now that you mentioned it, considering we're both out of uniform... And one of us is out of line. If I've said something to offend you, I apologize. Boys will be boys. But just so you know, I've promoted more junior female officers than any other general in army history. Just so you know... You're not a boy anymore. Got to run.

He does weird like he invented the word. Could be a chemical imbalance. Could be he's just weird.

Ta-dah!

It's called a life. Get one. But first, he has to clean up. Don't touch me! What are you doing? Get him out of here. Don't touch me! You don't like to be touched? Don't touch me! Don't touch me! You do not want to see what happens.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Guys... Get up. In my office. Now.

Well, at least you showed some fire, but if you're gonna fight, fight to win. Nothing instills fear more than being ferocious. You need to get cleaned up... But first you need to clean up where you get cleaned up. Go. Why can't we just go now? Go!

He trashed our bathroom, and he talks nothing but trash. His actions go begging for a response, Scott, and by you giving him that response, you do exactly what he wants. Aggravation is his addiction. It makes him feel in control, which makes you his enabler. So what do you want me to do, huh? I want you to behave like the leader of the Cliffhangers you've become. This guy follows no lead -- none. The lesson can only be heard if the listener is willing to listen.

All right... Buddy hike back, you and him. Oh, man.

What's your mom like? Okay. What does she do for a living? She used to homeschool me. You know, they said I got A.D.D. Guess I just don't add up, do I? Well, how were you doing with her as your teacher? Fine. Doesn't matter. He put a stop to it. Do you miss her? She's a mom. Meaning you do miss her? I'm not a mama's boy. Didn't say you were. Then what are you saying? That maybe, just maybe, you, like me, sometimes need someone to talk to, to lean on.

It's called a buddy hike back. You drop two kids off in the woods, and they've got to find their own way back, use a compass, find food, spend a night outside, and they're tied together by a piece of twine. Every time it breaks, they have to retie it. Sounds good. A real survival trek might be just what he needs, but don't put up with his horseplay. Yeah, I know.

Sophie's going to shadow them for safety, and I'm gonna do transport in 10 minutes. I'll ride along. That won't be necessary. Well, for me it is. 10 minutes.

All right, let's get you two twined up. Here you go. I'll do the honors.

What if, uh... We don't find any food? You forage until you do. But if we don't? No cannibalism, if that's what you mean. You can do this, David. I know you can. Then can I go home? All right, guys, let's get going, but remember, after this, you're on your own. Good luck. Okay, this way, guys. Smooth, man, real smooth. Are you going to cry about it or are you going to tie?

This isn't the way we came up. It's a shortcut. I use it all the time. Slow it down. I'm trying. I lost the brakes. The hand brake! It won't hold --

You got a radio? Cellphone? We've got a broken radio.

Anybody else know about your shortcut? Can we hook back upwith the others? No. They're a long way away from us, on a totally different route. Uh-huh. Well, it looks like we're also going to take a long buddy hike back.

Wonderful.

Hooked you, huh? Yep. What'd you do before this? Wall Street. Really? You gave up the pursuit of filthy lucre for the missionary life in the mountains? Best decision of my life. Your dad must be very proud of you. Yeah, he was in tears.

So, tell me about you and David. David was the son I never thought I'd have. His mother was my second wife. She couldn't stand the lifestyle. She wanted her hometown to remain her hometown, not some ever-changing army base, so she went hometown bound about 10 years ago. I tried to help out with David, but she's so overprotective. Look where it got him. And where's that? Listen, I've looked inside the eyes of thousands of young men. I can see what's inside them. And what do you see when you look at David? Failure.

Wait a minute. What? We may have a problem here. What is it? A grizzly back-scratched here, clawed way the hell up there. Means he's a big one. Well, I've never been afraid of anything in the woods in my life and I'm not gonna start now.

Well, they look edible. You want to risk it, go ahead. Oh, yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you? Get me sick. You want to eat it, eat it! What's the matter, Scott, you saying you're not hungry, huh? Saying you're not hungry, Scott? Great! Well, tie us back up, Davey. Hold still, hold still. Ow.

Hey, nice job on the grunge look. I'm really short on the ha-has right now, 'kay? If you find any grubs, I'd like them. Grubs? Insect larvae. I feed them to Harry Hausen, my pet lizard in the woods. Hey, listen, you get a message to Juliette, I'll get you and Harry all the grubs you can eat. ah, sorry. Unless they're mine, I avoid romantic entanglements.

Please, please? No. Come on. Come on, I've got to tell her things. I've got to make sure she knows where I'm at, you know, about her, about us. You know, we went through some things. So now I've got to make sure it sticks together. Tonight... In our dorms. Just be cool. You know, I could kiss you. Not the way you smell.

So you're not gonna give us no help, huh? Nope. All right, well, uh... What if we decide to push on without you? I thought you were supposed to shadow us. I'd catch up... Once I'd eaten. Mm. Is that supposed to be funny or something? I think she likes that, too. Okay, advice in the form of a question -- Why have I gotten my fire going now? Hint -- the sun is going down. Why ah, -- I say we find some food first. Yeah. So where do we find food? Anywhere we can.

Due west is that way, which means so is the school. So that mountain, up and over. No. No? We stick to the ravine. You know how many commands I've led, deserts, jungles, and mountains? Look, there's definitely a grizzly bear in this area. If you Do you want to be headed uphill with him on your scent, you go right ahead, general.

There, there... There she is. There she is. There she is. Ready? Go! Go! It's cold. Oh, geez. Okay. No fishes for us. No, no. I'm kind of cold. I say, we, uh, we start that fire? Yeah. I hope you know how to work a bow drill. Oh, yeah. What's a bow drill? What's a bow drill?

Never could get one of those things to work. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey... All right, blow, blow... Sticks, here. Let's put some sticks on it. Thanks. Not so hard. Not so hard. Not so hard! Hey... Yeah. Ahh. We've still got no food. Oh, you had to bring that up, didn't you?

Ooh, nice fire. Okay, kinnikinik, waxy, mostly seed, but edible and plentiful. You just have to look. Want to stay close? Yeah.

They use the same path for years, actually putting their paws in the same tracks, but these are fresh. Great, your driving, and now your ravine have us tromping down a kill trail without a weapon. Even Boy Scouts come better prepared. You know, General, when I listen to you, I hear my father, his rush to judgment, his blame to shame and I bet you that's what David hears.

Tell me about your father. No, let's just save our energy, all right? No, let's not. Tell me. Did you ever cause him pain? Did you ever defame what was good in him by embracing what's bad in yourself, or did you fail to realize that the measure of who your father was is still being measured in you? And how do you measure up?

[grizzly bear growling] Don't move.

We've got to make some noise, let him know we mean business.



One, two, three... [screaming noises] Let's start to back away. When I distract him, you run. [Peter making noises at the bear]

Run.

Where is he? He's back there... And he's gaining.

Come on, General! Come on.

What next? I guess we wait him out, till we're sure he's left the area. That could be a long night. Beats being bear food.

Okay, everybody out but Juliette. Why? Because I have a lovesick puppy named Auggie outside waiting to talk to her. I won't break the rules. Are you forgetting about your recent hankerings for Hank, the rules you broke? I don't know if I want to see him. You owe him that much. Come on. Five minutes. Time frames work well with the lovelorn... Otherwise they start to grovel.

Come on. You're on the clock. Thanks.

Hey... Hey. I missed you. Listen, um... I think there's something happening between us, you know, something that maybe's not so good. Come on, Jules, you -- you've got to give me more than what you're giving me here.

Being with you... It made me stronger. I like that feeling in me. All I can say is... I need time to let it grow. Yeah...That's cool. You know I'm here for you, Jules. You know that, right? I know... And that means so much to me.

I want to thank you for coming back for me. I had to. We need the tuition. No, I'm serious. It says a lot about a man. Thank you. So, tell me, how'd you get the nickname "Rocks"? It's short for rock and roll. Really? Standard military policy is for M-16 rifle to be left in the semi-automatic firing position. In Vietnam, I chose to ignore that policy. My boys were on full automatic-- rock and roll.

The enemy was elusive, and he was terrifying. When I took my boys on patrol in the jungle, we were target practice. When we encountered enemy fire, we returned maximum firepower into their position.

In World War II, the average GI was 26 years old. In Vietnam, he was 18. Sometimes rock and roll was the only thing those boys felt protected by.

What do you think David feels protected by? I wish I knew. Why don't you ask him? Hmm. Do you think he'd give me an honest answer? Can't hurt to ask. You've seen him in action. David's always been a rebel, digging his heels in, baiting people. David is afraid of failure. Yeah. And that fear... That fear fills him full of rage. Sometimes feeling safe is the only chance a kid's got. Right?

One of the things I like up here... Them. Never saw stars like that back home. Probably never looked.

You see those right up there? Those are the Pleiades, and those three in a row over there, that's the Orion's Belt. How'd you know all of that? Well, my mom taught me. She knows lots of stuff. You ever wish that things never happened? All the time, man. All the time.

Back to duty.

Come to any conclusions? Yeah. Sometimes we dig our own grave. Sometimes we've got to fill it back up and just hope for the best. Sounds like progress to me, Aug.

You look like you haven't slept all night. Yeah. Something kept me up. How are our two buddies doing? See for yourself.

Looks like you two are finally in step, huh? Going to get breakfast. Sounds good to me.

How big was this bear? Let's just say it was bigger than us. Glad to see you survived as well. How'd he do out there? He did fine.

So what do you think of this place, David? Nothing. We're back to nothing.

What do you want, David? Answer her. Tell him what you need. He can't. He doesn't have it in him.

I want to go home. I want to go back to my own house, with my own room and my own mother. You know, maybe she can help me through this, but you can't... Because you don't see me. You're always too busy trying to judge me, trying to turn me into your little soldier boy. Well, that's not who I am. I'm never gonna be that. You can't see that. I wish you could. Maybe I do.

Well, I'm glad we're not tied up anymore. You were starting to smell a little funky. Thanks. You're welcome... Scott. Hey, don't touch me.

"A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances." General Patton said that. It worked for his soldiers. I just hope it works for my son.

Give your father a call. I think he'd appreciate it.

[fade to black]

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