TV Channel 50 FoxFamily, Fri, Jan 28, 2000, "Walking the Line."
Written by Matthew Hastings, Directed By Mick MacKay.

Look, don't let them burn down the place while I'm gone. Placement tests are on thursday. Jeff's gonna handle that, and, if you need him, frank will be around. We'll try to struggle through without you. Oh, listen, um, auggie's at two months today. I could sit down with him, if you want, but if you got time if you...


No, I can do it. I'll see you in a few days? Yeah. Knock 'em dead. Stay strong. I will.

Woo-hoo, look at you. Oww! Someone call GQ.

Hey, Augg'. can I talk to you a minute? Have a seat. I just want to let you know that I think you've come a long way in eight weeks. oh, with my attitude and stuff? Yeah Yeah. I'm very proud of you. You know that, right? Except now you've got to get to work on those grades, man. You're not a newbie anymore. No more getting by without doing the work, you got me? Listen, augg', I've seen you out there on the trail. You're doing things you never thought you could do before. Yeah, but that's different. No, we're tested every day, every one of us. Sometimes you just got to dig deep, all right? I'll see you in a few days.

Hopefully I'll be back in a few days with just pockets full of money. You know, this school, peter... has been my life. I know, frank, and I'm giving it my best shot. Well, that's all you can ever do. Yeah. Here, Pete, I want you to have my lucky arrowhead... To remember where you belong. Thanks.

Chloe, where are we going? This isn't the way to the hotel. It's a surprise. I couldn't resist. Listen, I have to get to the hotel. I -- I got to get up in the morning and see dad. I can't -- I need my rest. I can't -- Come on, Peter, this was our place. One quick...Ginger ale. For old times' sake? I can't say I'm a big fan of the old times. I'm talking about the real old times, before everything got poisoned. We had good times. Yes, we did. Silvano still make that tiramisu? Yeah? Um-hmm, like eating a cloud you said. Come on. ( Drum and bass music playing )

They heard you were coming. I couldn't keep them away. Peter, it's great to see you. Hey. How have you been?

The british army had better weapons,


more soldiers, so why did we win the revolution? We were good hunters. We knew how to fight. Good, but that only helped so much. England was the biggest military power in the world. How did we ever break away? Anyone? Auggie? I don't know. Come on. Impress me. Maybe because the french came in and saved our sorry butts, and king george, well, king george was, like whacked and stuff. That's 'cause why. Correct, auggie. ( Bell ringing )

placement tests on thursday, and don't freak out -- you'll all do great. Leave your reports on the table.

I know you said 5 pages but is 13 okay? Yeah, 13 will be great. Auggie, hold on. No paper? No, I didn't do it. Whoa, whoa, whoa, look around. You're not in your old school anymore. I don't want your homeboy attitude, I want your paper. I want 500 words and I want it friday. Look, I know all this stuff, all right? I don't need to do no paper. This isn't up for discussion, Auggie. You'll have time to work on it after placement tests. Yo and I'm not taking no tests. Why not? Just get off me.

Hi, don scarbrow please, it's his son. Do you have any idea when he'll be back? No, no message. I'll -- I'll call him at home. Thanks, bye.

Peter, man. Hey, Reed. Sorry I'm late, dude. Had to lay off a couple thousand employees. Still a softie, huh? Oh, yeah, you know me. So, listen, why don't we head off into my office there and we can get this little party really started. I'll pass. Excuse me, pete scarbrow passing? I got smart. You should give it a try. Oh, oh, okay. Uh, well, listen, pete, I don't care what mountains you've climbed, okay? Just don't come back down here and start trying to preach to me. And why don't you get smart and realize that your way is not the only way? Not everybody's an addict like you. You've got it under control, huh, Reed? Total control. Purely recreational -- weekends only. It's thursday. Yeah, well, when you got as much bread as me, every day's a weekend. And hey... Think fast. On the house.

Hey, stranger. Where have you been? Oh, just saying goodbye to an old friend. I hope it's not me. No, chloe. Listen, I'm grateful for the party and everything, but, uh... But what, peter? I just really miss parts of this and, uh, it scares me. What about me? Did you try to forget about me? No, chloe. You were the only good part. You always were. Well, excuse me, kids. We were just leaving. And, uh, reed, think fast. If you still can.

Come on now, I don't want to get put on restriction again, all right? Don't worry, peter's away. Nobody else notices anything. I don't know

I don't know who she's kidding. She's so wrong for him. It's like temporary insanity. Well, I mean, I think he's crazy. You are much... Smarter than she is. Smart? Yeah, I also have some complimentary thoughts about your body, if you want to hear them. ( Clearing throat ) or not.

Juliette. After dinner you're on room restriction until last light tonight. you understand?

Yo, man, stop pushing on me, all right? Problem, auggie? Auggie decided he wanted to be on dish-washing duty tonight. All right, go on. 15 minutes for dinner and then hit the suds.

He was doing so well. We finally got rid of the anger. He still isn't doing his work. More authority problems? I don't know -- two months? I'm thinking there's something else. Did you ever go over his public school records? Yeah. last year he was in a class with 46 kids. Poor teacher barely knew his name let alone any possible learning differences. Now! Give me some food.

Truth -- you miss it, don't you? Truth? Uh, sometimes. Thanks. My pleasure.

This just isn't, like... Food. Yeah, the turkey tetrazini here is always problematic. ( Juliette ) it's horrible. What do you care, you're just gonna toss it up anyhow. That just means she's gonna have to taste it twice. I'm telling you, man, this test... Why are they making us take this stupid test? ( Juliette ) it's prep for the sats, for college. I ain't going to no college. Anger management, Augusto. I wasn't talking to you, stick. Why don't you go barf?

Hey, hey, watch where you step there, little man. You want a piece, boy? Come on, let's go outside. Get your butt kicked. Come on. Right, i could step on you. Heads up. Auggie? Mike? Problem? No, no problem at all.

This is one addiction I can commit to. No delicate italian desserts back home? hun-uh.

( jukebox playing ) Hmm-hmm, oh yeah [ singing ] it's been a day since you went away but here I am missing you [end of singing ]

mmm, this is familiar. You look just like you did when i met you. I think that's the gin talking, sweetheart. I cheated -- it's just soda water with lime. I wanted to remember every moment. Did I ever tell you i was sorry for everything I put you through all those years? I never blamed you for leaving. I should have stayed. No, it was tearing you apart. I was the only one that could help myself. And I was scared, young. What did I know about love? I think about love... A lot.

[singing ] You come back home Oh darling, I swear i'll make it up to you....

I'm sorry I didn't call. They threw me this huge "welcome home" party. I felt like don corleone. What, dead in the garden with an orange peel in your mouth? Not exactly. So, uh, how's the hotel? I, uh, i crashed at chloe'S. Did you sleep well?


The couch was very comfortable. Listen, I should get going. I'm playing squash with dad today. Peter, remember, ultimately it's not about the money. I know. Ever feel like you were 14 again and everything you're doing is a mistake? Deep breaths. All right. I'll call you afterward.

Local calls are a buck seventy-five. Hey, good morning. I -- I didn't hear you get up. Mistakes? Oh, no, that was, um, I wasn't talking about you. You know, you could have shared my bed. That was one thing we always did well together. That we did. Squash with dad, just like old times. Should we make plans for tonight? I'll call you. Give dad my love.

Hey, dad. Peter, you're looking well. Did you just get in? No, last night. Chloe sends her love. Beautiful chloe. You've seen her then? Yeah, I'm staying with her. Wonderful, good news. you getting back together? No, Dad, it's not like that. We're uh -- No, no. Who can blame her after what happened? Let's go. Hey, jeff, how you doing?

When was the last time you played? 1987, father-son tournament. Ahh, we could have had that trophy. You never quite developed a backhand.

Mr. Scarbrow... I apologize, mr. Scarbrow, uh, your membership card was rejected. Apparently your membership has lapsed. Try it again. I did -- three times. Accountant must have forgotten to send the renewal. I'll write you a check when we're done, okay?

Guess what time it is. It's payback time. Wrong. It's time for you to apologize... To me. Don't be so brittle, jules. You know you take worse from shelby every day. Shelby's a toad -- you're not. You can't fool me, auggie. I'm the best actress here. Underneath that bad exterior you're really a nice guy. But don't worry, i won't tell. And now's the part where you tell me what's bugging you. No, now's the part where you get out of my face. I'm trying to be a friend here. Don't, all right? Just stay out of my head. You know you're worse than group? Everybody -- "auggie, open up." "You're safe, auggie." "Let it go, auggie." "Take the test, auggie. Take the test." You all can just step off.

Yo, are we playing ball here or what? I came here to kick some tail, starting with you, son. Bring it on.

Point. Five, serving love. So, how much do you need? I don't have a hard number yet. Somewhere around seven figures. What? Just a house of delinquents on a mountaintop? Isn't that what jails are for?

You okay, dad? It's your serve.

Yeah! Yeah, baby. You're starting to tick me off.

I swear I still don't believe it. Just threw it all away. Up your nose, in your veins. Down your throat. You're right, dad, I fell hard. All the privileges you had in life, all your gifts. I think I've been using them pretty well, lately. I've been sober for seven years, dad -- seven years. What do they say? "Day at a time." What about tomorrow, peter?

I guess I got a backhand after all, huh? Serve it.

What you got? What you got? What is up with you, man? Just playing to win, man. Yeah, that may be how they play in the barrio, but up here we play by the rules. I'd show you that rulebook if you could read english. Do it, Auggie.

Do you know what it's like having a drug addict for a son? A recovering drug addict, dad. What people think? You swore you'd kicked it a thousand times. what's one more time? You sound like you want it to happen to me! I know i'm going to get that call, the phone ringing in the middle of the night, the hospital telling me you're dead. I -- I can't -- I just wish I had a son i could be proud of.

Get off me, Scott. Calm down, man. No, we can do this! We can do this. Okay, settle down, settle down. Break it up. All right. Room restriction, two days, starting now. Whatever. Did you hear me? Room restriction... Two days. I could use a rest. Go, now.

He got just what he wanted. How so? Two-day restriction -- placement test is this afternoon. You're not going to let him off. No, I don't want to single him out from the others. And I gotta get this kid to put pencil to paper if I'm going to confirm what's happening here.

Hannah, you have a call. Can you take a message?

So, um, I assume we're looking at dyslexia. Almost certainly. He's just scared and unsure right now. I don't want to aggravate it with any specific testing.

Hi, hannah, it's peter. she's in the middle of something, peter. Ca I tell her you called? Oh, um...That's fine. Listen -- I'll let her know right away. All right, thanks. Bye.

And I guess that's why they say it isn't going to be easy, but surely it's worth it. I see some new faces. Welcome to AA If anybody wants to introduce themselves, we're a friendly group. I'm peter and I'm an alcoholic. Hi, peter. I've been sober for seven years now and four months now. I was in a bar today. Rather than have a cocktail i decided to find myself a meeting. Glad you did.

Auggie, you in here? What are you writing? Nothing. Uh, I'm on restriction. That means i don't have to talk to you. It's time for class. We have the tests. Just -- just take off. You got to take it, auggie. Why? It's just another way for them to tell me how stupid I am. I always thought you were the smart one. You know everything in class. Auggie... That's different. It's different writing it down. I mean I failed every -- every test they ever made me take.


You just have to concentrate and try harder. Shh...Shush, all right? You don't... You don't get it. What don't I get? Tell me, what don't I get?

I can't even read the test. Everything I read, it's all mixed up. It's backwards. The words, they, uh, they don't make sense. You know, all they ever told me was "try harder." "You're not trying hard enough." You've got a problem. Everyone here's got some problem. Me, for instance. It's called bulimia. Yeah, my problem's got a name too. It's called "stupid." Here, sign your name. Nah. Come on. Is this your name or your tag? My tag is my name. It's beautiful. Beautiful? Mm-hmm.

( Peter ) Thanks for taking time to meet me. Of course. Dad, I...I -- Yeah, your game's improved quite a bit. Didn't know they had squash courts on that mountain of yours. They don't. Well, then I must have slowed down. I suppose we all get older. Dad -- don't. Dad, you're right to be angry with me. I disappointed you and I disappointed myself. But every day i try to get stronger. I'm sorry for all the pain that I've caused you. That's all. I -- I should get going. Do you have time to go to morty's for a steak later? Yeah, I'd like that. Hey, it's all right. And I'm going to look into that loan of yours. Thanks, thanks very much. It's a mere bag of shells, my boy.

Auggie. Auggie, where are you going?

Hey, how about a little game of one-on-one without your little friends around to fight for you, huh? Grrrrrrrrr......

This isn't over, Pee-Wee. I want you where there aren't any counselors to save your butt. Bring it on. All right, knock it off. Scrub... Or i'll take those away from you and give you toothbrushes.

( Chloe ) How was morty's? Delicious -- I had a steak the size of Louisiana. I'm proud of you, peter. It took guts. I know, red meat's a killer. It was good, actually. We talked. What a concept. As for my end, I talked to vanessa, john, and chip and they think screwed-up kids is a growth industry. They want to put together a financial package. Chlo' You could stay at your school, run things. Lord knows we all trust you. Then, who knows, maybe we could launch a new school in the next year. Listen, I don't-- I want to do this. It's a chance for us to work together... And maybe see what else happens. What we felt the other night at the club wasn't history. It felt like a future. Chloe, I think it'd be better for everyone if i take my father's offer. He's going to put together a loan for me, and i just-- peter, you don't know? Black thursday, september '98. I don't know what? Your father's derivatives were a black hole. he lost everything. Everything down the drain overnight. He took a massive risk and fell. I'm sure he was just embarrassed to tell you. Oh, whyy don't I learn, huh? Maybe he still has connections. I'm sure his heart was in it. His heart. He knows why I came here. He just wanted to make me feel small again, you know? Peter running to daddy for money because peter's broke again. Peter, I have seen the two of you go through this a thousand times. Things are different this time. I'm different, you know? Oh, please. You are both exactly the same. So proud and self-centered you can't even see each other. His son came to him for help that he can't give. When are you two going to learn to give each other a break?

I think Auggie's right, the guy's a jerk. Yeah, but what's up with auggie anyways? Jules, what'd he say to you? Juliette? Nothing, he's just... He's just thinking about some things. Hey, what's up with you, huh? Nothing. Later at the lake. It's all set. What's all set? They're calling each other out. But hannah's on duty. We could get into trouble. "We could get into trouble." Look, she's got the whole campus to cover. I don't care about you guys. I'm gonna be there.

Oh, my god, he really can't write.

You went through my stuff? No, it was found by a student. Yeah, and her name's juliette. Auggie, look, I've been through your records, talked to your parents, talked to every teacher i could. I think we've pulled this together. Pulled what together? Hey, what's up with this? We believe you have a learning difference called dyslexia. Yeah, so what? And it's very common, auggie. Very common. Your brain just works a little differently than others, turns things around, backwards. Sound right? So i'm stupid. I don't see things like everyone else. No, you don't. As it happens, most dyslexics are smart, really smart -- way above normal, often excelling in visual arts. But when it comes to reading and writing that's where they have the trouble.

This is our fault, auggie, for not catching it sooner. Problems like this can slip by for years in school. But we've seen it before. We should have noticed sooner. I apologize, auggie. I do. Things are going to start getting better, augg'. We know how to deal with it. I promise.

Oh, back off, twig. I was trying to help. You needed it. I don't need anything from you, all right? I am so sick of you. You're not a little kid anymore. You've got some problems, and if you don't deal with them you think they're going to get any better? These people want to help. They're here to help. Don't be so stupid. Shut up. Yeah, you're stupid. If you can't see when people really care about you, you really are stupid.

Thanks, dad, for meeting me here on such short notice. So is this about the loan? Yeah, dad, it's about the loan. Because, believe me, it's not a problem. In fact, it's... Well, you go ahead. Well, the point is that chloe told me -- Chloe told me that she's pulled together a group of investors, mostly old friends. It would just be awkward at this point to refuse after all of her hard work. You understand? Well, then, I -- I don't want to hurt her feelings. Dear chloe. You're sure, son? I'm positive I could arrange a guarantee. I mean it's really not a problem. Don't sweat it, dad. We're covered. You know, I'm here if you need me. I know, dad. And I love you. Well... Perhaps you can come back sometime soon, we can work on the squash game. I'd like that very much.

Where are they?

You ready, Pee-Wee? I'm sorry. Say again? I was dealing my own house, man. I was a jerk... And I'm sorry. You think that's good enough? hey, it's all I got. You got to give me something. One shot. I got that coming. Mmmm I'm going to kill him.

All right. That's your shot. Ahh! Ha-ha-ha-ha.

What, it didn't even go one round? Yeah. That looks like fun. Shelby. Come on in! You in?

Frank, what are you doing? Ah, summer in the mountains. Nothing like it, huh? Makes you feel young. Frank, this is crazy. We can't-- no, no, give them a minute. I mean, even our kids need to be kids sometimes. And of course tomorrow, they'll chop enough wood to build an ark.

That's bad. You coming? No, I look like a cow when i'm wet. Ah, you look fine, twig. You look perfect, jules. Yeah, I guess we all got our problems, huh? Sorry about your notebook. It was wrong. Nah, you did the right thing. you know, I got a... I got a disorder. I can't remember the name but, uh, it's for real. I owe you. You don't have to.

You need this money, peter. I'm happy to make it happen. I just don't know. For old times' sake? Can I have some time to think about it? You let me know. I've learned some things in the past seven years. Patience, for one. The good things are worth waiting for.

Hey, five minutes. You've got pots to clean. Yeah, yeah.

Hey, you on kitchen? Yeah, until, like, the second coming. You? Woodshed. You want to see the calluses? Um, jeff got some books for you. Said, like, like a place to start. He said maybe I could help, if you wanted. Ah, I'm not much on books, you know? He said these would be good for you. Here, read it to me. Go away. Come on, you got to start somewhere. It's just me, right?

[reading] "I... "I went... To the woods..." Deliberately. "Deliberately...And see...."

[fade to black]

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