Touched by an Angel

When you get back,

please let Dr. Sousa know

I'll be calling in this afternoon.

Well, thank you, gentlemen.

All right.

Cup your fingers across the laces like that.

Okay... Yeah.

Now, when you throw it,

you lead with your elbow, not your whole body.

Like... right, but don't...

No, you don't push it, you just, uh...

You release it.

Just right when it arcs, like...

Okay.

Okay? Mm-hmm.

All right.

Now I'm going to go out for it,

and then...

"Out for it"? Yeah.

I'm going to go out for it.

You just get the ball to me,

and I, uh, go to the... to the goal.

Okay. Okay?

Okay. Okay?

All right. Okay.

Ready? Mm-hmm.

Okay, I got it!

Touchdown.

But the paramedics have left.

You see, I don't understand.

That doesn't matter.

There's definitely going to be a death in the family.

No question about it.

It is Mr. Carpenter's time.

Well, Andrew is here.

Why do you need me?

What's a good receiver without a good passer?

Give me that ball.

Give it to me. Give it to me now.

Now, you've been called here to attend the death of a good man.

His name is Joe Carpenter.

And Andrew will handle his transition.

But there's a secret in this house,

and it's got to be swept out before this man goes.

It's one of those family secrets

that has colored their lives

and they didn't even know it.

You'll find out

more about it later.

But the problem is

that secret better go before that man does,

or the family that he has devoted his life to building

will be shattered to pieces

the moment he leaves this earth.

Here you go.

Thanks.

That's Kimberly,

the youngest daughter.

So this is how

he wanted to go, huh?

Yeah.

At home, with his family around him.

And your job is to see to it

that they don't kill each other first.

Hi.

I thought you were going to call

from the airport.

Well, it just seemed easier to take a cab.

I wish you had called.

You look great, Sis.

Doesn't she look great, Kay?

She looks like she always does.

Oh...

Hey, you're getting skinny, big brother.

I'm trying.

So how was your flight?

I got here.

I took the shuttle bus in.

Where's Mom?

We're trying to track her down.

Mother chose this particular weekend

to visit Aunt Laura in Florida.

I volunteered to stay with Dad.

She needed a break.

Who knew he'd get worse?

Kimberly Ann!

I don't believe it.

Hey, Doc! What are you doing here?

I thought you

were on your way to a conflict

in some distant corner of the world.

Well, I was, but I made a U-turn

soon as I got the page.

I thought we'd see you at the hospital.

How is he?

Well... he's dying, honey.

And he's not at the hospital.

He's here.

Upstairs?

I requested a nurse from the visiting hospice service.

Let me get that.

Hello.

I just want it understood

that we do nothing until Mother arrives.

Well, you better tell Daddy.

He might have other plans.

Perfect timing.

There are some things we all need to get clear...

Better now, all together.

This is Monica, the visiting nurse.

And these are Joe's kids:

Kate, Kim and Chris.

I delivered every one of them.

Measles, chicken pox,

broken arm, broken ankle,

and a few broken hearts.

Well, um...

sorry that I have to be here, but I'll... do the best I can.

I'm not at all sure your services are needed here.

My father should be in a hospital.

That's what we need to discuss.

Monica, why don't you go upstairs

and make yourself comfortable.

It's the first door on the right.

Thank you.

Your dad signed a living will.

I never knew about this.

He asked me to make it up for him

after his first stroke.

He recovered so fast from that one.

"No extraordinary measures.

"No heroic measures.

"No resuscitation.

No intravenous feedings."

What is he saying?

He wants to die?

When he's ready, yes.

Your father's over 80.

He's been stuck in a wheelchair for years.

He can't take care of himself.

Your mother barely can,

and it's been killing him

watching her try.

He wants to die of old age here at home...

with some dignity.

Sorry, Doctor.

I don't know where she keeps the sugar.

Mother never puts anything where it belongs.

Oh, it's okay, really, Kate.

I don't know about this "living will" thing.

It may not be the choice of every 80-year-old...

but it's his.

But, Doctor,

what if he has a chance, though?

For what, Kate? To get better and die another day?

And this is what he wants?

He couldn't have been more clear.

Does Mother know about this?

Yes.

She didn't like it.

She's controlled

every other minute of his life.

Can you imagine her giving up the chance

to choreograph this? Kimberly!

Is it just me,

or does this feel less like a death

and more like a getaway?

Is everything a joke to you?

If I don't laugh, I'll cry.

I've met your father.

We're going to get along just fine.

I think we should take him

to the hospital and wait for instructions from Mother.

Well, the hospital is bound by the living will.

It's a legal document.

They can't do anything more for him there than we can here...

Probably even less.

It'd be easier for everybody:

No visiting hours, no cafeteria food.

And I'll make sure that he's comfortable, Doctor.

You've had experience in this?

Yes.

It's quite a miracle.

I always feel privileged to be present in the last hours.

Well, keep him on the oxygen.

Try to get him to take a little water

when you can.

You're not staying?

I'll be checking in, honey.

Could take a few days, or... a few hours.

Call me when we're close.

Your father's going to die.

He knows it.

You... have an unusual opportunity here

to make it something special.

Most people don't have that chance.

Well, I wish he could have been

more specific.

"Days, hours..."

All right...