Touched by an Angel

I just love the spring.

I think it's my favourite time of year.

It just seems to make people be really friendly.

Even the mail gets happier.

Wedding invitations, tax refunds, and look at this.

Carolyn Sellers may have already won $10 million.

Well, happy mail aside, there is a lot to like about springtime.

Look at this.

Oh, it's beautiful.

I hope so. I made it myself.

But I thought only God could make a rose.

Well, technically that's true, but a good gardener

can put together different roses and make a new one.

It's called a hybrid.

You wanna know what I named my hybrid?

What?

I call it the "Monica."

It's a special blend of peace and truth

and a whole lot of sunshine.

Oh, Tess, thank you. It's just lovely.

Just like you.

Flowers are a lot like people, angel girl.

Some of them blossom beautifully,

and then some of them don't bloom at all,

and then some of them are not gonna bloom

without a lot of patience and loving care, like Carolyn.

If you expect a beautiful blossom,

you need more than sunshine and rain.

You need someone who cares to watch for the little bugs

and the root rot and warning signs.

Funny thing about warning signs.

Sometimes you get so busy lookin' for the little bug

that you don't see the storm clouds gathering

that could wipe out the whole garden.

Everything is so peaceful here.

I haven't met anyone who seems to need an angel.

Well, you just keep your eyes and ears open

and be ready to deliver more than the mail to this neighbourhood.

The whole neighbourhood? The problem is that big?

That's right, baby. That's why God's sending us reinforcements.

Hello, Carolyn.

Your yard's come a long way in only three weeks.

Oh, aren't you the early bird, Tess, today.

Old Ernie Jacobson never moved so fast that he got here before noon.

Well, he moved fast enough when I suggested a vacation.

Hello, Carolyn. I'm...

Monica. I know.

I've been watching you all week,

and I think I know what your problem is.

My problem?

Flaws are her specialty, baby.

She says I'm moody, if you can imagine that.

At the IRS, I can detect a liar

30 seconds after I've begun an audit.

Now, on the other hand, Monica,

you, you're honest and friendly.

In fact, you are too friendly.

Well, how could someone be too friendly?

Time. Time's important.

Schedules, Monica, keep things going efficiently.

Even Bessie has her scheduled maintenance.

Bessie? Oh, I have a couple of letters here for a Bessie.

Ah!

The letters are for Bessie Senior. She was my grandmother.

Bessie Junior is the car.

I took care of Bessie Senior till the day she died,

and now I'm taking care of her car.

Seems like I've always been taking care of a Bessie,

but that's more than you need to know.

Are you sure there's nothing from the Rose Association in there?

Uh, no, no, there's nothing.

Were you expecting something special?

Well, they're supposed to come look at my Bessie Sellers Rose Hybrid.

It's taken me almost 10 years to get those petals just right.

Those new neighbours could sure use your green thumb.

Well, oh, I shudder to think what's moving in there.

It's been one disastrous project right after another

ever since the city repossessed that place because of back taxes.

Maybe we should go over and introduce ourselves.

Well, then take these.

Maybe it'll bring us luck this time.

I don't have too much faith in luck.

Well, I don't have much luck with faith, so...

Bye.

Okay, now you ride straight home after school, huh?

Mom! Go.

Okay, there you go, baby.

Mmm-hmm.

How did this get so red?

Oh.

Get out of my yard, and you stay out of my yard, and I mean it, too!

You little... Oh.

Oh.

You hear me?

Okay, let's make a deal, all right?

Now, before we do anything, think about it,

and think about it again, then if it seems to be the right thing to do,

go ahead and do it, but if you're not sure, ask me.

Can we make a garden like that one?

Yeah. I think that's a great idea.

And now that I think about it again,

I think it's an even better idea.

Okay, what else do we need to do?

We have to cut the grass.

We have to wash the dishes.

Mmm-hmm, and remember to always bring out the garbage cans

to the curb every Thursday morning.

Andrew, Tess said to expect some help, but I didn't expect you.

Well, I volunteer for things like this whenever I can.

Ah, so you're not here in your official capacity, then?

Well, I didn't say that, but, you know, it's a big street.

You never know what can happen.

Well, are you gonna introduce me to your friends?

Yes, of course. These are guys who are part of the new group home

that the city's sponsoring.

This is Taylor. Taylor, this is Monica.

Nice to meet you, Monica.

Nice to meet you.

This is Jeannie.

Nice to meet you, Monica. Hello, Jeannie.

And this is David.

Hi. Hi, David.

I don't want my wife to get jealous.

Nice to see life in that place.

My mechanic is a good friend of the city manager,

and, oh, is he gonna get an earful from me.

They should've warned us

that people like this were movin' in.

People like what?

My grandmother never would've stood by

for retarded people to live in this neighbourhood.

She wasn't a very tolerant person.

Oh, really? No.

Well, honey, if you keep thinking of them as retarded, that's all you're gonna see.

What I see are beautiful, loving, sensitive people

who just happen to have an extra chromosome.

It's called Down syndrome, but it doesn't make them Frankenstein's monster.

Well, look at them.

I mean, how do you know what they're thinking,

or if they're thinkin' at all?

They shouldn't be allowed to live here.

These are people, not tax deductions,

and you don't get to decide who's allowed, madam.

Watch out.

Oh, no. Sorry, Tess.

That's all right, baby. Don't worry about it.

Sweet boy.

Ah, ah.

You and your playmates, you stay off my property

or next time I'm going to call the police.

I'm not as forgiving as Tess.

Do you understand what I am saying?

Yes, ma'am. I understand.

David!

Oh, God!

Oh, kid, you all right?

You're supposed to look both ways before you go in the street.

Don't you know that?

I forgot the street was so close.

Let's go. Come on.

Why did all of this have to happen at tax time?

I just don't have the strength to deal with those people right now.

Maybe you could use some of the energy

that you're spending on those people

and get to know these people instead.

I gotta go get some aspirin.

I've had this headache ever since those people...

Ever since they showed up.

Are you sure they are the cause?

You know, maybe you need a doctor.

Tess, I don't think a doctor can fix what's going on around here.

Oh, that woman, that woman.

You're gonna scratch the car.

What are you doing with my trash can?

It's Thursday.

Oh.

Cool.

Hey, you, keep that boy away from my flowers.

I've worked too long and too hard

to get this hybrid exactly the way I want it,

to have some, uh, unfortunate creature with a lethal weapon

cut it down.

So I guess, "Hello, my name's Andrew"

is not the right response to this, is it?

I'm a taxpayer. I pay your salary.

You listen to what I say. You keep those people in line.

Do you understand me?

Yes, ma'am. I think I understand exactly what you mean.

Good.

You'd better get out of there.

Carolyn will be very mad.

She won't know if you don't tell.

She always takes a long time getting stuff to wash her car.

It's not right to use other people's things without asking them.