The Chaperone

--the forecast, plenty of sunshine for the state--

A 9-year-old metro girl has a new lease on life--

The Dr. Marjorie Show.

The lines are open. 504-555-0199. Call in now.

All right, next call.

Doctor, I just want you to know how much your support has meant.

Oh, it just takes time.

I know, and I really appreciate it.

You have been a great, great inspiration to our Iisteners, Ray...

...and although you have come a very Iong way...

- ...the journey to healing isn't over yet. - Tell her you Iove her.

Yeah, well, I'm a changed man, doc.

And now that I'm getting out, there's somebody very special...

- ...I'm gonna get back in my life. - Oh, and I'm sure you will.

I'm sure you will, but it does take time and....

Go get them, Ray-Ray.

Hey, Ray, take care now, all right?

You too, bro.

These are for you.

- What am I gonna do with these? - Give them to your kids.

Don't be afraid to read one, maybe you'll Iearn something.

- Dinosaurs? - Helped pass the time.

One in here special for you.

"39 Paths to Self Discovery by Dr. Marjorie."

I've walked down every one of those paths in the Iast seven years, Jimmy.

Let me tell you something, Oprah, all roads Iead right back here.

- Failure is a self-fulfilling prophecy. - Just platitudes, brother.

Easier said than done.

We'll see.

- Good Iuck, Ray-Ray. - Thanks, man.

You know what? It's a whole new world for me.

From now on, it's just Ray.

Just plain Ray.

Let me ask you something, what's a guy fresh out of prison usually do first?

Usually something stupid.

Not this time, my friend.

We'll keep a Iight on for you.

Ray-Ray.

Come Iook at me, Ray.

Look at me, Ray-Ray.

You can't ignore me forever. I'm here to help.

I don't see anybody else around to help you on the day you get out of prison.

Friends forever.

Through thick and thin. Come on, Ray, I'll give you a ride to wherever you want.

Come on, Ray-Ray. I owe you that much at Ieast.

It's Ray. Plain Ray.

What happened to the other Ray?

- I wanna drive. - What?

I wanna drive.

I've been inside for seven years. It's what I do. I wanna drive.

You wanna drive?

If that'll make you happy.

- What are you doing? - You're right, Larue.

You do owe me one.

Give me back my car!

This is no way to continue a friendship!

Damn. I can't believe I fell for that.

See you tomorrow.

I'm the inventor of my future.

I'm the inventor of my future. I'm the inventor of my future.

Hey, Slim.

Ray-Ray.

It's just Ray. Plain Ray.

Nice car.

Thanks. A friend Ioaned it to me.

- You shouldn't have come here, Ray. - I told you I would. I had to.

Okay, then you do me a favor, Ray.

You turn around and you Ieave right now.

Damn it. I didn't want this to happen.

Oh, my God.

Sally?

Are you who I think you are?

Oh, you take my breath away.

Seems funny now, you're being so grown up and all, but here.

I'm sorry, but I don't know what you expected.

Every journey begins with a step.

Hey, over here.

Sally, sorry to surprise you. I told your mom I was coming.

I guess she didn't believe me or something but-- Stop.

Come on.

How about it? Fresh start? Remember the handshake?

You really think a stupid teddy bear...

...and some Iame handshake are going to make things okay?

I'm a different man now, a better man.

Yeah. Then maybe you should try your fresh start in Alaska.

Then I'll do what I've always done, pretend you don't exist.

Which one of you is blowing off fireworks?

He snuck up behind me and he almost busted my eardrums.

"AII warfare is based on deception," buttwipe.

Yeah, and "he will win who knows when to fight and when not to."

- You read The Art of War by Sun Tzu? - Yeah, who hasn't?

Listen. You guys need to find a better way to channel your aggression.

I found macramé to be strangely comforting.

Show's over. Everyone, get to class.

You two, come with me.

- Thank you, sir. - Sure.

Miss Miller?

Yes. Thank you, Mr...?

Ray Bradstone, Sally's dad.

Oh, how do you do?

I'm Miss Miller.

Sally, it's so nice to finally meet your father.

Yeah, me too.

I've only met your Iovely wife.

I guess you've been busy working?

Funny, I just spent the Iast seven years in federal--

Government.

Yeah, he does a Iot of work for the federal government.

Oh, I see. Mr. Bradstone...

- ...do you know about our school trip? - School trip?

Sally, I can't believe you haven't told your dad. How come?

You know, he's been working a Iot Iately. And it just--

Well, we have a bit of a problem that I think you might be able to help with.

The school trip is scheduled for next weekend...

- ...and we're short a chaperone. - No, no, no.

The New Orleans Museum of Art. The dinosaur exhibit is there.

Dinosaurs? I Iove dinosaurs.

Well, fantastic. It's settled then.

Yeah, I guess it is.

- Excuse me. - Of course.

Hey. If this is gonna work between us...

...we gotta confront it, tell the truth and Iet it go.

No, this isn't going to work between us.

What did you expect me to say to her, "Meet my dad, the criminal"?

- I appreciate you not selling me out, but-- - I didn't do that for you. I did it for me.

- I don't even know you. - That's why I'm here. To change that.

Oh, really?

Yeah, what was the Iast thing you said, the "Iet it go" part?

You might wanna try that, Iike, now.

Because if you go on that field trip, I'm not.

Your husband hurt you very much, and no one's denying that.

But you have to let it go and move on.

Remember the three essentials?

- Confront it. Be truthful. Let it go. - Confront it. Be truthful. Let it go.

Now, sounds like it's time, don't you think?

I've already forgotten the car incident and I'm willing to try again.

- What do you want? - I want a minute.

- I don't have a minute. - This can't be where you're staying.

This can't be the digs of the best driver and getaway man in the business.

I know how it is when you get out. You need help? I'm here to help.

Take this. It's my pleasure.

You need to walk away.

I respect that you're upset. You got a right to be, my friend.

I was just trying to help.

You knew the silent alarm was tripped, you walked out the back door.

Ray, the cops was on you already.

You Ieft me sitting in that car. I still didn't rat you out.

That's exactly why I'm here, bro. To try to make things right between us.

Honest to God, I am haunted by it.

I mean it when I say I owe you one.

I know that. I know I owe you.

I'm putting the crew back together. It's a bank.

So ripe, it's a crime how easy it is.

Make you whole again, get you out of this toilet.

And all you gotta do is what you do best.

Drive.

Seven years. Seven years.

I Iost my wife, I Iost my kid!

You'll change your mind, Ray-Ray. You're one of us.

Since we were Iittle kids.

Let it go.

I'm gonna make things right.

Got it?

- Dr. Etman, we have your new TV. - Outstanding.

Family room, in the back to the right. Thank you.

- AII right. - Thank you.

Honey, I'll see you Iater--

I'm sorry.

No, I'm sorry.

- I'm.... - Putting in the HD? Come on in.

No. I'm Lynne's ex.

Wow, okay.

Marvin Etman. Doctor.

Marvin.

Lynne and I are....

- Marvin, could we have a minute, please? - Okay, then.

Did you think you could just pretend everything was the same?

Come on, Lynne, I've changed. I really have, okay?

- I need your help with her, that's all. - I forgot I was Ieaving.

I'm holding a staff meeting at 9.

- Did I mention I was a doctor? - Yup.

AII right.

Okay.

- You want me to stay? - No, no, no, I'm fine, Marvin.

- Thank you. - Okay. AII right.

Marvin?

Marvin is a wonderful man and Sally adores him.

And I'm Sally's father, okay?

I'm sorry, Ray, but we have built a really good Iife without you here.

I'm a nurse now.

I struggled through school as a single mom without you.

We did it and that's the way it's gonna stay.

That is not fair.

I at Ieast deserve a second chance to know my own daughter.

Your daughter is not the same Iittle girl you remember.

What happened hurt her more deeply than you could understand.

I understand how you feel. I really do.

Just tell me what I gotta do, you know?

I'll earn a second chance, but tell me what I have to do.

What do you want me to say, Ray? There's no magic bullet here.