Hurt

Don't be scared, Jefferson.

I'm right here.

Let's go.

I can't believe it's been-- #

How many years since I was last out there for a visit?

Nineteen and a half.

How far away from the city is this place?

Well, freeway'll get you in fast enough, but the dirt road it's a bit of a haul.

So where is the nearest life-form?

Wolf pack moved in a couple of months ago,

and there's a gas station about 12 miles down to the road.

Uh, "wolf pack"? Like-- Like real wolves?

Yeah. Can't get rid of 'em. I've tried everything.

I even sang 'em an aria, but I don't think they're music lovers,

'cause they're still there.

Place hasn't changed.

Lenore, give it a break.

I love this place. It's where I met your father.

- It's a cool junkyard. - It's an auto recycling unit.

It's a dump.

No, no, no. Please, don't-- It's-- Don't touch that. It's brand-new.

I've got some other stuff over there you--

That you can knock around with.

Well, maybe your Uncle Darryl can find some space...

for your own studio in one of these sheds.

Cool.

Sorry. Animal has to stay outside.

He's two weeks old. He'll die of heat exhaustion.

Jefferson's a barnyard animal. He'll do fine, Lenore.

This is your mom and dad's. Yep. Spent their wedding night here,

and didn't leave for 50 years.

I changed the sheets.

Oh!

You've been so brave.

I'm sorry.

So how long, Mom? It's--

It's temporary. The settlement should come in any day now.

The accident was not your father's fault.

I'm sorry.

Mom?

Mom, here's your coffee.

Morning. Morning.

Breakfast is on the table.

Thanks.

I'm not hungry.

There's nothin' wrong with it.

Hello.

Helen?

Helen, wake up. There's a man on the phone. Says he needs to talk to you.

Uh, I'll be right there.

Oh, I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

It's okay.

Uh, thank you for coming in. It was important that we-- we talk in person.

Um, do you remember a girl named Sarah Parsons?

Yeah, your-your husband-- He-He came to me to, uh--

um, to seek legal guardianship for the girl.

I remember. Right before he died.

Yes. Uh, I'm-- I'm sorry for your loss.

This girl is in a-- a bad situation.

Her mother was killed in a car crash,

and her father is, um, also deceased,

leaving Sarah with no family.

And as trustee to her estate, I was forced to place her in a group home.

Th-This is her-- her case worker's report.

And you want me to take her in?

Well, you've been a foster parent in the past.

I thought--

Since Robert died,

my circumstances--

- Well, they've changed. - Uh, of course. Um--

Sarah does have a monthly stipend.

It's not much, but it-it could help you financially, Mrs. Coltrane.

Well, would you do me one favor?

I'm just gonna be over here.

Okay. I'll meet her and that's all.

No promises. Of course. That's understood.

- Quit it! - Let her down. Now!

Stop it.

You know, I lived in group homes for five years myself.

One time there was this group of girls.

They peed all over my stuff. They thought it was really funny.

So I went and I told my supervisor, and she made them wash it all up.

Then later that night, after the lights were out,

I woke up, and there was this terrible smell.

They had set my hair on fire.

Here. You can look.

Did you make them pay for what they had done?

I didn't say a word. My hair just grew back.

So Robert was your husband?

My husband's name was Robert, yes.

He told me about you. Really?

He did?

He said your smile was bigger than the sky and brighter than the sun.

That sounds like him.

Do you like it?

Blue is my favorite color. Reminds me of sea foam.

I was thinking of the ocean when I made it.

I've never been to the ocean. Neither have I.

How'd you make it?

Um, it's-- Here. Help me.

It's really not that complicated.

You pick a stone, and you put it in the tumbler to be polished.

Kate-- I've been trying to get in touch with you for, like, a week.

Yeah. I have no service here.

Still at my uncle's ranch.

I know. Seems like it's been forever.

No, I've been getting things done. I've been working on my campaign slogan.

For what? For student council president.

It's July. Yes, I know it's July. I just-- I don't know.

I want to be ahead of the game.

No, I-- I'm totally relaxing.

Yeah, I'm by the pool right now, getting a tan.

My uncle has, like, two Porches, and a convertible.

Yeah, it's kinda like a desert hideaway.

You're still gonna pick me up next week, right?

For what? For the S.A.T. class.

Hey. Careful where you put that thing.

You could hurt somebody. Hey.

What's up, mountain man?

So, Did-- Did you find it okay?

This place is... charming.

You've really landed. It's just temporary.

We'll be out of here in a few months.

There's one thing I do like about it-- It has privacy.

I didn't see your mother when I came in.

And I dressed up. Well, don't worry about her.

She's-- She's been having trouble getting out of bed.

So what's it going to be?

What does it look like?

Uh--

A shoe?

It's an octopus. Ew.

Aren't they all gross and slimy?

No. They-They're beautiful and resilient.

I-If you cut off a tentacle, it can grow back.

And they have three hearts.

More to break.

Take it easy, cowboy. I just got here.

Let's give you the junkyard tour. All right.

Okay.

Now, on your left you'll see a giant metal whale.

On your right you'll see where Uncle Darryl hides the bodies.

"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow."

Darryl, this is Sarah.

Sarah Parsons.

Go ahead. Put your suitcases in the back of the truck.

You sure you're okay with this?

Yeah. One more won't make any difference.

Who was that? Some local girl.

Looks like the lost kingdom of cars.

I'll be in the workshop.

Hey, I want you to meet Sarah. She's gonna be staying with us for a while.

Right, Sarah?

There's some more groceries in the back of the truck.

Could you please get them, Lenore?

Where should I put my stuff?

My room's a closet. She'd have to sleep on the floor.

She can have my room. I'll sleep on the couch.

Thank you, Conrad.

Um, where's the bathroom?

Oh, it's to the right, and down the hall.

Your father met Sarah when he was working on a house in Scottsdale.

He said the mother was unstable.

She was abusing the girl.

I don't know the details.

But he wanted to get her out of there and thought our family could help.

Well, there's no other relatives? What about the rest of her family?

There's no one. She has nowhere else to go.

You know, every time you get depressed, some abused orphan shows up on our doorstep.

That's not true.

Mm-hmm. And then you drape her in all my favorite jewelry.

She needs our help, Lenore.

Our help, or your help?

Your father asked me to do this,

and I'm honoring his wishes.

I'm sorry, honey.

Lenore doesn't deal very well with change, but she'll come around.

You remember Robert, don't you?

You look happy.

We were.

Go put your stuff away. Connie will help you.

I need to make dinner.

You always give in. Remember that last kid, Bobby-- When he wrecked your gamer?

Mom gave you major shit for it. You never said anything.

Just... shut up, Lenore.

Don't tell me to shut up. You know I'm right.

You're always right.

Hi, Uncle Darryl.

So, you gonna finish that overhaul today?

- What's he doin'? - He gave Sarah his room.

- He offered to sleep on the couch.

No, no, no. Not there. It blocks my view of the TV.

You know what? I'll do it. I just--

Oh, my God.

Ugh! Lenore!

I knew this was gonna happen.

Jefferson.

Ohh, that's disgusting.

Shh.

It's gonna be okay.