Touched by an Angel

Wow.

This smells incredible, Tess.

Honey, will you wake up and stop smelling the coffee?

Sooner or later, you've got to drink it.

It's like life.

You never really know how good it is

until you taste it.

And all coffee doesn't taste the same.

What's espresso?

I always hear about espresso.

Strong and bitter.

Some people like it like that.

Straight-ahead,

rich, undiluted.

But there's another side to an espresso kind of life:

Heartburn.

Well, that's the price you pay

for all that flavor.

You make it sound so dangerous.

Well, I've had my flings with danger.

But my choice of coffee is a good ol' cup of Joe.

Straight-ahead, honest, no camouflage.

'Cause when you try to hide what's underneath,

you just end up feeling miserable.

Well, what are you doing here?

Monica, you're going to meet a woman now

who doesn't know how to deal with a plain cup of Joe.

So she keeps covering it up

and smoothing away the edges.

I found him.

You found him?

One of them?

But they seem so happy, Tess.

I made it.

Look who's here!

Happy birthday, baby!

Oops.

Oh, Mom!

Any questions?

Great.

Oh, just get out of the way.

How do you get yourself stuck in something like this?

Oh, get out.

Hello.

What?

Are you Elizabeth Jessup?

Who wants to know?

Can I help you?

No, I don't need any help.

What do you want?

My name is Monica.

I understand that you're writing your memoirs

and I've been sent to help you finish them.

Well, Monica.

I have never had a deadline in my entire life

that I didn't make.

Once I turned in a story in Saigon

on the back of my last clean T-shirt. Hmm?

So you can go back and tell those

pathetic publishers that Elizabeth Jessup

has never missed a deadline.

But your manuscript was due two months ago.

Yeah, well, that was their deadline.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm right on schedule.

Before you leave, you see a newspaper around here?

See? Kids, they don't care.

They don't care where they throw the thing.

Up, down, on the porch, through the window.

Most of the time it ends right up here on the roof.

Can I help you?

What is this, your big break or something? Hmm?

You sit at the feet of a legendary journalist

and one day you write your own book

and you call yourself my protégé?

Is that what this is?

You're not that legendary, you know.

I'm "not that legendary, you know."

Oh, brother, this...!

Would you still like me to leave?

Or should I stay?

Hmm.

Well, this is just a trial run 'cause I really don't need you.

But if it gets you a paycheck, I guess you could stick around.

Want a drink?

Oh, I'd love a cup of non-fat, decaf mocha latte

with a little nutmeg on the side.

Or a cup of Joe.

I got iced tea.

Well, I haven't worked up to tea yet.

But how about some water?

Do you take dictation?

Yes, perfectly.

I'm really fast.

Good.

I might send you out a lot to do research.

I'm a stickler for detail.

It's my trademark.

Uh, yes, I know.

Oh, I'll get it.

Uh-uh. No, no, no, no! Don't answer that!

I've been getting a lot of crank calls lately.

I can handle it.

Hello.

This is Monica.

Mrs. Jessup's new assistant.

Yes, it happened just like that.

Uh, certainly. Would you hold on?

It's your daughter and she wants to know

what time you want them to come over.

Come over for what?

Well, it looks like you invited them to dinner.

Oh, yeah.

I forgot about that.

Yesterday was my granddaughter's birthday

and some idiot waiter dropped the cake

and I suggested they might come over tonight

and we could try again, but... uh...

How about 8:00?

Great.

We'll see you then.

Bye-bye.

Gosh, you haven't even met Sydney

and already you're talking like her.

She sounds lovely on the phone.

Mm-hmm, that's because you haven't met her yet.

The child's been contrary since the day she was born.

Which, I might add, was at a most inconvenient time.

The Six-day war.

I go into labor in London,

fly home and have her and don't get back till day seven.

Wouldn't you know it?

But a baby.

That's so much grander than any assignment.

Yes, like I said, you haven't met her yet.

The girl's picture is next to "milquetoast" in the dictionary.

No, seriously.

The only thing we have in common

is we always choose the wrong men.

Hers die on her and...

I just wore mine out.

Monica?

M... Oh... Monica.

Well, this looks beautiful.

And where the hell did you find this china?

I haven't seen it since Kissinger came to dinner in '75.

Man, could he eat.

I found it in the back of your china cabinet.

Hope you don't mind.

Hmm, and what's this?

Our conversation in the car today.

Get out.

"So, there I am

"standing on the Great Wall of China,

freezing my blooming bottom off..."

"My blooming bottom"?

Well, I, uh...

I-I did a wee bit of editing.

Mmm.

They're here.

Coming.

Very nice.

Hi.

Mom. Sydney.

Oh, there she is. My girl.

Oh.

Hi, Grandma.

Hi, sweetie.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

She loves that music box.

Oh, you must be Monica.

Hello, Sydney.

Hi.

Monica's my new assistant.

I've just hired her

and I have begged her to stay for dinner.

Oh. Good.

The house looks so together.

I was inspired.

Anybody want a drink?

Something smells good.

Mom hasn't cooked

a real meal in years.

So, Beth, I hear you had a birthday yesterday.

You know, seven is a very important age.

I know.

I get to learn how to read.

Wow.

Your mother must be very proud of you.

Oh, I am.

She's my very special girl.

Anyone else want some iced tea?

I want some.

Oh, dear, you're too young for iced tea.

But I'm seven now.

I know, that's what I mean.