08x08 - Heaven's Portal

[bunniefuu]

Have you ever
heard the expression

"keys to the kingdom"?

These are the
keys to my kingdom.

This car right here is my baby.

I know, I know, I know.

What are you guys
doing back there?

You're so quiet.

- We're just sort of...
- Praying.

Oops.

Sorry.

Will you slow down!

Keep your eye on the road!

Watch out!

Tess, you seem so tense.

Here, how about some
music? Help you relax.

♪ Take me to Heaven ♪

♪ Take me there ♪

♪ Take me to Heaven ♪

♪ Take me to God. ♪

♪ God is in Heaven. ♪

Pull over and stop now.

That was fun!

In the first place,

"relax" and "Tess"
don't go together.

And in the second
place, that's not music,

it's noise.

Well, maybe I haven't been
around for thousands of years,

but to an angel born in the
21st century, that is music.

Does she act like
that up in Heaven?

Like what?

Like a teenager that needs
an attitude adjustment.

I'm sorry, but it's a lot easier

being an angel up there
than it is down here.

Looking into God's eyes
is a lot more comforting

than looking into...

anyone el-else's.

Gloria, if Tess is hard on you,
it's only because she loves you.

Tess, I only get to
spend a little bit of time

in Heaven between assignments.

I really want more.

I'm homesick.

I know, baby, but you
got a job to do here.

Do you see that boy over there?

He's homesick, too.

He just wants home to
be the way it used to be.

You have my support,
Tim, but not if you do this.

I have to!

I don't know what else to do!

- Why can't you just...
- Oh, fine, fine!

I'll go get the kids and
you'll tell them yourself!

Nick.

Go get your sisters.

Okay, kids, look,
here's the thing.

I want you to know that
I love you very much.

- We love you very much.
- Right.

But we've decided...
No, you have.

Decided what?

Look, the thing is, uh,
I'm up against the wall

with this bankruptcy
situation right now...

You can't blame
this on our finances.

For God's sake, Jessica,
will you let me finish?!

Are you guys getting a divorce?

No.

I need time to
figure things out,

so I'm gonna move
out for a while.

"Peace, love, unity, respect."

Well, can't argue with that.

It's one thing to stick it
on the back of your car,

but it's another
thing to find it.

When someone like Nick
can't find those things at home,

he'll start looking
somewhere else.

Like where?

Like at a rave.

♪ When you walk ♪

♪ Down the road ♪

♪ Heavy burden ♪

♪ Heavy load ♪

♪ I will rise ♪

♪ And I will walk with you ♪

♪ I'll walk with you ♪

♪ Till the sun
don't even shine ♪

♪ Walk with you ♪

♪ Every time, I tell you ♪

♪ I'll walk with you ♪

♪ Walk with you ♪

♪ Believe me, I'll
walk with you. ♪

Should I let Daddy have Hedwig?

Heather, this is not
the time for Harry Potter.

Sweetheart, you, uh,
you better keep her.

What if you want to send
Harry Potter a secret message?

What if I want to
send one to you?

Well, you just tell Hedwig

I'll be staying over
at my office, okay?

I love you.

Nick, come say good-bye to...

What are you doing?

That's marijuana.

Tm: Lost my keys.

Thanks for letting me in.

So you're new around here, huh?

Yes, I'm Tess.

I'm just keeping
an eye on things

until they get a new tenant.

Yeah?

Well, I'm still
trying to figure out

a way to hang on to my lease.

So I'm not out of here yet.

Oh, here they are.

Oh, what a lovely family.

Are you going to have
a grand Thanksgiving?

We haven't made any plans yet.

Well, you seem to have
a lot to be thankful for.

Did you pack something warm?

It's gonna be cold tonight.

What seems to be the problem?

I guess I should've
seen it coming,

but with Tim moving out,

I was too preoccupied to realize

how hard the
kids were taking it.

Where is Tim?

He really should
be here any minute.

Stop being rude.

Dad's late and you
take it out on me?

This is so lame!

Then why are you here, Nick?

Because I want my car keys back.

You know, it wasn't
like I was doing heroin.

It was just a joint.

"Just a joint"?

This family doesn't
allow any dr*gs.

There is no family anymore!

Hey, g*ng.

Sorry I'm late.

H was stuck with my
loan officer trying to...

We're here to talk about Nick.

We're here to talk about...

Oh, I really apologize,
but it's the bank.

I'm trying to save my company.

What about trying to
save your son, Tim?

When I showed you that joint,

you just shook your
head and said nothing.

That joint was a call for
help, and you ignored it.

Doesn't anyone understand

what I'm trying to
deal with right now?

What a crock.

Nick, I'll give your mom

my pager number
if you want to talk.

I'm not the problem here, okay?

Well, he's clearly
in a lot of pain,

and the dr*gs offer
the illusion of escape

from what he can't
control or understand.

Like running away.

I wonder where he got that idea.

You know exactly
why I moved out.

He says he left because
I'm not understanding enough

about his company
going bankrupt,

but what he means is
he hates that I'm out there

looking for a job to
pay the mortgage!

No, you know what I hate?

We had a deal.

She wanted to stay home
and take care of the kids,

so I took on the
whole financial load.

And that comes with risk.

And the moment
things get a little tight,

she figures I can't handle it.

Jessica, do you have
confidence in him?

Do you think he can handle it?

Why is this suddenly about me?

She doesn't trust me!

Yeah?

What? Yeah.

- Yeah, what?
- Oh... Oh, you've got them?

My family's falling apart,
and the holidays are coming.

Do you think Tim will come

for Thanksgiving next
week if you ask him?

It's important that you keep
the line of communications open,

and the holidays are a
natural time to get together.

Oh, I don't know.

I can't do everything

all by myself and go out

and look for a job
at the same time.

I obviously can't leave Nick

in charge of the
girls right now, so...

Oh, well, I know a
very good babysitter.

You know, I still don't
understand why I can't drive.

I've memorized all
the laws of this state.

That doesn't make you
a good driver, Gloria.

You're a brand-new angel.

You don't know everything.

Well, I don't know how
I'm gonna learn anything

if I can't do anything.

What? What are you laughing at?

You're acting like a teenager.

Nick?

Nick, this is Gloria.

Hello.

I have to go downtown
for a job interview.

I'll be back after I pick up
the turkey at the market.

I'll go.

You're still grounded,

which means he can't
drive his car anywhere

till after Monday.

Babysitter.

I can't believe it.

You brought this on yourself.

It-it is an odd word
though, isn't it?

As if I would sit on a
baby, which I wouldn't.

Dad wouldn't ground me.

You can discuss it with him.

He'll be here
tomorrow for dinner.

He's coming to Thanksgiving?

Yeah.

That's excellent.

I hope so.

We're having turkey with
all the trimmings, Gloria,

plus my famous cranberry sauce.

I've asked Monica to join us,

and if you're free, we'd
love to have you come.

We could use all the happy
faces around here we can get.

I'd love to.

I've heard a lot
about Thanksgiving.

Heaven's Portal?

Where is it?

Oh.

They don't announce the
location until last minute.

You have to check
on the Internet

and get directions
to a map point,

and that's where they
tell you the secret location.

How intriguing.

Yeah.

Well, everyone says
the one tomorrow night

is supposed to be amazing.

But your mom said
you were grounded,

and your dad's coming.

Yeah.

Maybe I will stick around then.

Now we let the turkey cool,
and Tim can do the carving.

He'll be here any minute.

Monica, too.

Yeah.

Oh, Heather, you want
me to help you with that?

- Mm-hmm.
- Oh, Nick,

you're not wearing that
for Thanksgiving, are you?

Well, I'm not gonna
wear some stupid tie.

It wouldn't be the
tie that's stupid.

Why don't you come
over here and say that.

Fine.

Hey, cut it out.

You want Dad to
see all of you fighting?

This is an important day.

We're gonna have a
happy, peaceful visit.

You got it?

Hey, Gloria finished the puzzle!

How'd you do it so fast?

I don't know, I'm
just funny that way.

Hello?

Daddy!

Hey!

Oh, I missed you guys so much.

How you doing, Dad?

Ah, good news and bad news.

Good news is I get to see you.

And the bad news is that, well,
my loan didn't come through.

Oh, well, that's okay,
Daddy, 'cause guess what.

Mommy has a surprise.

- Not now, Heather.
- A surprise?

- Oh, it's nothing.
- Mommy got a job!

She's gonna be a consultant
and make a whole bunch of money!

Well, congratulations.

I guess everything's
gonna be just fine now.

You know, I just... I-I
just came by to say hi.

I'm afraid I
really... I can't stay.

Where are you going?

The turkey's on the table.

You carve it.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Dad, wait!

I can't believe this.

It's Thanksgiving, and-and
you're leaving why?

'Cause Mom got a job
and hurt your feelings?

It's more complicated
than that, Nick.

No, no, I don't
think that it is.

I think it's as
simple as the fact

that you just don't
love us anymore.

That's not true.

I love you very much.

So much that H don't
want you to see me like...

like some...

I'm sorry.

I got to go.

I need the keys to my car.

Have you forgotten that
you're grounded, Nick?

Can't just take off.

Why not? It's a
family tradition.

Nick.

Jessica, if there's
anything that you need...

I have your pager number.

Thanks, Monica.

I'm sorry about all this.

I was hoping...

I know.

Gloria, I could
still use your help,

if you don't mind staying.

Okay.

Thank you.

Do I have to?

Yes.

But this Thanksgiving
isn't very thankful,

and all I want to do... I
just want to go back home.

You still have a job
that you need to do here.

Why me?

Why can't you do it?

Because you and Nick
have so much in common.

♪ Take me there ♪

♪ Take me to Heaven ♪

♪ Take me to God ♪

♪ God is in Heaven. ♪

Nick?

Oh.

That song... I-I
really like that song.

Yeah, me, too.

When I listen to this
music, I just feel connected.

"The House of God."

"The Techno God."

Look, I really want to
go to this rave tonight.

Oh, but you can't.

You know what your mom said.

My mom.

You know what I heard
about these raves?

It's like one big family.

A real family.

No one fights.

Everyone just loves each other.

Can't a family disagree
and still love each other?

Look, nothing personal, Gloria,

but I just kind of feel
like being alone right now.

Oh.

Okay, sure.

I understand.

Where are you going?

Get out of my way.

I can't let you do this.

Well, you can't stop me.

So you can either
back off or get in.

Oh.

Those are the directions.

It's over 40 miles away.

Wow.

Everyone is so happy.

What is that?

An angel.

Angels don't have wings.

My name is Celestine.

You know, like the prophecy.

Can I give you guys a hug?

Oh.

Let me guess.

Is this your first rave?

Yes, it is.

Hey... they're newbies.

Let's make sure they
have a really good time.

Definitely.

I'm Grover.

I'm Nick.

This is Gloria.

You are so beautiful.

So are you.

We all are.

And we should
all love each other.

I mean, that's the
point of Heaven, isn't it?

Yes! Yes, it is!

Oh, everyone is so friendly.

Yes, because they know

the secret of the universe.

Come on, I'll show you.

Peace!

Love!

Unity!

Respect!

That's the ravers' code.

It's what makes us a family.

Because our emotional
state of choice is ecstasy.

Ecstasy?

That's exactly how it feels
to be in Heaven with God.

Oh, I miss that so much.

I can fix that.

What's that?

Ecstasy.

You want to see God?

This is how we do it.

You're kidding.

That's remarkable.

Sort of prayer in pill form.

Yeah.

Come on.

My goodness.

Humans never cease to amaze me.

Now, everybody does this?

Well, you do if you want
the whole experience.

And-and this is...

this is typical
teenage behavior?

Well, it is for us.

Okay.

Here goes.

All right.

I really like your dog.

What?

I said, "I really
like your dog."

Oh, it's not a dog,
it's an elephant.

I've had Pinky since
I was a little girl.

You and Pinky want to get high?

I don't do dr*gs.

I get high on the music.

That's cool.

Tess.

Was that boy
sucking on a pacifier?

Yeah.

Ecstasy makes
you grind your teeth.

Jane over here, she
doesn't even do dr*gs.

She just comes for the fun
of feeling like a child again.

Well, I don't do dr*gs,

and I'm not having any
fun, so why am I here?

We have a problem.

Frankly, I don't feel a thing!

Look at this water bottle.

It's the most beautiful
thing I have ever seen.

Nick, are you okay?

I just wish I felt
like this all the time.

Like what?

Like all around us,
there's nothing but love.

Oh, that's just the
way it is in Heaven.

No, no, not just in Heaven.

Here.

Mm. I need some gum.

You guys feel anything yet?

Nick is, but I'm not.

Why do my teeth feel funny?

Whoa.

What just happened?

Ecstasy heightens your senses.

Makes you feel more connected.

Yeah, but see, the
thing is, I'm an angel.

Oops.

I just blurted
that out, didn't I?

Oh, well, what the heck.

We're all family, right?

- Yeah.
- Right.

And if you're an angel,
then you need wings.

What is...

♪♪

♪ On the first day ♪

♪ God created the
Heavens and the Earth ♪

♪ And He saw it was good ♪

Yes!

Isn't God wonderful?

♪ On the second day ♪

♪ God created man, and
He saw that he was good ♪

Don't you just love the
way His mind works?

♪ On the third day ♪

♪ God created dancing ♪

♪ And He saw that it was good ♪

Such a creative Creator!

♪ On the fourth day ♪

♪ God created the rave ♪

Wait a minute.

God created the rave?

I didn't know that.

♪ And the people
started to dance ♪

Take that out of your mouth.

♪ And God saw the people dance ♪

Tess...

you need to relax.

And what are those silly
things flapping on your back?

These?

They're my wings.

Angels don't wear wings,
and they don't take dr*gs.

Angels don't take dr*gs.

This is a human form of prayer.

Can I give you a hug?

No, you cannot.

God loves you, Tess!

Now you turn that
frown upside down.

You are such a love!

Nick?

My God.

Oh, come on, Tim,
answer the phone!

You've reached
Albright Electronics.

Leave a message.

Monica.

At least his car's here,
so he must be safe, right?

Jessica, why don't
you look over there

and I'll try down here.

Okay.

Andrew, where's Nick?

He's in the chill
room with Gloria,

starting to come down;
the high is wearing off.

That's good.

Not really.

Take a good look around.

You might have to
get used to this place.

Till they throw us out.

Timothy Albright?

What are you doing here?

It's time you gave that
toy back to your daughter

and started acting
like an adult again.

Who do you think you are?

I know who I am.

I'm an angel of God.

Don't be afraid.

It won't hurt.

You're an angel?

Yes, and don't make
me spend too much time

getting you past that,
because we have a lot to cover,

and your family's in trouble.

Please, I'm depressed
enough already.

What if God was depressed?

What if He turned His
back on His children

every time things didn't go
the way He wanted them to?

God doesn't have to
live in the real world,

but I do, and I can't survive
in it if I don't have a job.

I realize this is
a difficult time,

but it doesn't have
to grind you down.

God is right here, right now,

ready to trade your
burden for peace.

Not just a little peace,

but because of
His amazing grace,

complete peace.

If you want your
family to trust you,

you've got to show
them who you trust.

And I wouldn't waste a lot
of time making up my mind,

because your family
needs you right now.

Pinky?

Has anyone seen Pinky?

I have never felt this...

empty.

Me neither.

I think the ecstasy had
a little bit of speed in it.

My girlfriend d*ed from speed.

She, like, leapt off Eagle Rock.

I go there sometimes
to watch the sunrise.

I used to be able to
see God in the sunrise.

Oh, I can't.

Here, take these back.

I don't deserve to
be an angel anymore.

Oh, thank God.

I'm gonna k*ll him.

Wait. Listen.

I-I should've left a note or
something for my parents.

Parents?

Man, why did you have
to bring up that subject?

I have zero good
memories of my family.

We were never happy.

Not for one single day.

We were happy.

Once.

Pinky!

You found him!

- Oh, oh.
- Thank you.

Mom.

What is she doing here?

Monica, no.

I can't, I can't deal
with her right now.

- I just... No.
- Come on, let's get out of here.

- Thank you.
- Where are you going?

Gloria, come back!

Gloria!

Nick!

- Gloria!
- Nick!

Get in.

Where are we going?

I don't know.

Come on.

Oh, oh.

It's getting worse.

Oh, yeah.

I'll get the car.

How much time do we have?

Sunrise.

Tim!

Jess, where are the girls?

- They're with Mrs. Ferguson.
- Was that Nick's car?

Yeah.

How did you know we were here?

I'll tell you later,
when we get home.

Get in.

They're following us.

Oh, it's so bright.

Oh, this is all my fault.

I should've stopped you.

And now it feels like
my brain is attacking me,

and I can't make it stop.

Oh, man, I'm almost on empty.

Do you have any money?

Mm-mm.

Oh, me neither.

And we're out in the
middle of nowhere.

Yes, that's
exactly how it feels.

Where are they going?

Well, the only thing
up there is Eagle Rock.

This road dead-ends
at the lookout point.

They can't go
anywhere from there.

Thank God.

Monica, do you, uh...

do you believe in angels?

I believe in God.

I believe that He sends
angels in times of trouble.

Sometimes you don't
even know they were there.

Sometimes they can
walk into your office

in the middle of the night
and introduce themselves.

What do we do now?

I don't know.

It's gonna be sunrise soon.

I used to love to
watch the sunrise.

It always filled me
with so much love.

Love.

That's what I thought
I was feeling last night.

Now I just want to die.

Nick, I'm scared.

It's the drug.

I mean, last night you told
everyone you were an angel.

I'm not.

Not anymore.

I've lost my connection.

I can't feel Him anymore.

Who?

God.

I've never seen God.

Not even with the ecstasy.

I thought after last night
things would be different,

but they're worse.

They're gonna ground me
forever, they'll take my car away.

And the worst part is I'm
gonna be stuck at home

with a mom who doesn't get it

and a dad who visits on
weekends and holidays, if that.

Father.

Oh, Father, you
seem so far away.

Where are you?

They're still gonna
fight, no matter what.

Father, please let me see you.

Let me serve you again.

Please tell me what to do.

I mean, I just
can't live like that.

They'll be here any minute.

Get out.

What? Why?

Look, please, just-just
do it, Gloria, okay?

Wait, what are you doing?

Look, I can't go
home, all right?

Just get out right now
while there's still time.

I don't understand, Nick.

I'm heading for that sunrise.

Get out while
there's still time!

Fine.

Thank you, Father.

Nick, stop. Stop.

- No. No!
- Nick, stop!

Gloria!

Gloria!

It's all right.

- Stay here. -What?
- Wait, Jessica.

Do what Monica says.

Trust me, please.

Okay.

Monica, Gloria was in the car.

Don't worry about Gloria.

She'll be all right.

Angels can't die.

What?

I am an angel, too.

Oh, my God.

Why are you here?

I have a message
for you from God.

I guess God's pretty
upset with me right now.

God is disappointed

at some of the choices
you made recently.

He's disappointed
that you chose anger

over love and compassion
when times were hard,

that you looked for peace
in a drug instead of Him.

I'm sorry.

He knows.

He wants you to know
that He forgives you,

and that He loves you more
than you could ever imagine.

He wants so much to be a
source of strength for you, Nick,

and He wants you to be a
source of strength for your family,

to be a good example
for your younger sisters,

to be a loving son
for your parents.

And if you open yourself to Him,

then you will know
what real ecstasy is.

Are you all right, Nick?

Yeah.

You really are an angel?

That's what Tim said.

I just... It was
hard to believe.

But you did.

You opened your heart
and you trusted him at a time

when fear and anger could easily
have overwhelmed you instead.

That's what being a
family is all about, Jessica.

Believing in each other
in the best of times...

and in the worst of times,

and knowing that God
will always help you through

if you'll just open
up your hands

and reach out to Him.

I get it.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I know.

Me, too.

I just wanted things to be
the way they used to be.

You know what, honey?

I think they're
gonna be even better.

And you know what else?

We have a big Thanksgiving
dinner waiting to be eaten.

And we have an awful
lot to be thankful for.

♪♪

Andrew.

Gloria.

Come on.

Come on.

- Oh.
- There we go.

I feel terrible, like
I was dead inside.

Angels don't die.

I still feel that way.

Your serotonin's depleted.

Leaves, uh, like, a chemical
vacuum in your brain.

And you probably feel
unhappy, a little fragile,

and you probably don't
want to interact with anybody.

Especially me.

Oh, Tess, I'm so sorry.

I-I want God to know
how much I regret this.

I mean, I-I feel awful.

I know I've made
so many mistakes,

but I can do better.

I know.

And so does the Father.

He has a message for you.

♪♪