Touched by an Angel

Never early, never late.

A regular Swiss watch, this guy.

Gimme a break.

He didn't leave me enough for a burger.

Eleven...

to the left.

Come on, honey.

When are you gonna stop counting bricks all night, huh?

Oh, that looks... Is that new?

You know, people are gonna start talking.

Uh-huh.

Come on, listen to your old pal.

Sixteen candles.

Oh, baby, I gotta get 13.

Was it to the right?

Was it...? Could it be to the right?

Or up. Could be up.

She looks sick, Tess.

She is, and she needs help real bad and real soon.

All of those ladies look like they need help.

Well, one at a time, Miss Wings.

Tonight, it's the brick counter's turn.

Her name is Julia.

She doesn't look like she's ready to listen to reason.

She's not.

That's why God sends angels

instead of those little "get well" cards.

But you better hurry, baby.

She's got a long way to go, and it starts tonight.

Well, it doesn't seem

like we'd have a lot in common.

Oh, but you will, baby.

Trust me.

Hey!

National Geographic girl.

Yeah, you,

Miss Out-Of-Town-Suburb Chick.

This street is spoken for.

Oh.

Excuse me. I didn't know.

Would it be all right with you if I stood over there?

Look, wild thing. The zoo is three blocks over.

Ah, give it a rest, Frannie.

Are you hurt?

Go, Mr. Smokey.

Here. Let me help you.

Do I look like I need help?

You won't do much with her in this condition.

She's got to get straight first... and fast.

He's a nice one.

Hey, good-looking.

Don't experience count for nothin' these days?

Great.

Here we go.

Come on.

Let's get you up. There you are.

All right. Friday night roundup.

Come on, ladies. You know the drill.

Let's go.

Come on, girls.

Hey, you too.

What about her?

Working girls only.

But she'll freeze if she spends the night out here.

The police are sworn to serve and protect.

Out of all the women here,

this woman needs your protection

most of all. All right, all right.

Come on, sweetie.

( women conversing indistinctly )

( Della Reese & The Verity All-Stars' "Walk With You" playing )

Where's my lawyer?

Whoo-hoo!

Look at the red river valley, Julia.

The billowin' clouds

blowin' in the blue sky,

floating over the rollin' green hills.

Hey!

We've done our 24 in here!

Let's go!

Stow it, ladies! Smell the air,

the sweet scent of sage.

Yeah.

I was wondering what that smell was.

Is there anybody out there? Come on.

You know, it's a good thing you got the cops to take her.

She wouldn't have lasted out there.

Whoo-hoo!

She's been my friend a long time.

Sometimes friends are the hardest to help,

especially when you have difficulties of your own.

Hey, I'm not having any difficulties, wild thing.

I'm doing fine.

You're in a jail cell.

How well could you be doing?

That's right, baby.

That's what I said.

Fanatic alert.

I am not.

And I'll say it again:

I love you, God loves you,

and it's breaking his heart

to see you in this low-rent motel.

You're one of his children.

You should be living in a mansion.

Don't worry, ladies.

Nothing to purchase.

Just a good, old-fashioned helping hand.

My name is Tess,

and I represent the New Spring Halfway House.

We're located on 12th Street.

Warm beds, warm hearts

and a chance for you ladies

to get that new life you've been promising yourselves.

Yeah, right, lady. Gimme a break.

She must be selling somethin'...

or smokin' it.

I like the valley.

It was peaceful there.

I'm glad you're feeling better.

It's like you were praying for me.

I was.

Praying doesn't work.

I tried it.

Well, maybe this is your answer.

Now, you won't be sorry.

I'm not gonna lie to you.

You're gonna have to do your part. Cooking, cleaning

and taking your turn

in our little cooperative thrift store.

But you'll be safe.

The food is good,

and the roof doesn't leak.

WOMAN ( laughing ): Yeah! A halfway...

If you go, I will.

I've been to halfway houses.

It's the same as jail.

Ah, come on.

Hot food and a warm bed.

Yeah, a lot of fake smiles

and talk about how you're gonna start your life

all over and everything.

Just makes me sick.

I can do it.

Hey.

You look terrible.

Yeah. Trust me. I can look worse.

Are you coming too?

Like I told you before, I'm doing fine.

Go take advantage of a hot shower.

Please. You need it.

Fill my belly, then I'm out of there.

( Women conversing indistinctly )

I'll catch up to you.

You take care of yourself.

Always do, honey.

Later. See you guys.

All right.

Now, there will be no smoking,

no drinking, no phone calls in or out,

and no leaving the premises without permission,

and no drugs.

And you will be tested

to determine your special talents

and your occupational gifts.

And we have group therapy sessions three times a week.

Like if we feel like it?

Oh, you will feel like it, darling.

It's mandatory.

I told you

this was worse than jail.

We call this a halfway house

because that's where you ladies are right now:

Halfway to having a future

and halfway to better lives for yourself.

And you're also only halfway out of your old life, so far.

Getting off the streets

and getting off drugs is one thing.

Staying off is another thing altogether.

Yeah, and it's gonna take hard work

and discipline and commitment, right?

Yes.

But I'm willing to do it.

What do we have to do?

Just let yourselves be loved, baby.

Now, it's time to talk about the work detail.

The new ladies work the kitchen,

the laundry, general cleaning,