Second Chances (2013)

[bunniefuu]

- Go ahead.

En route.

- Library books.

- Hop to it, luke.
We got to go.

You got it, elsie, honey?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

Here's the oranges.

You good?
- Yep.

- A few more feet.

All right.
Great.

- Hey, charlie.




- Yeah.
- Let's go.

- It's gonna be
another midnight training.

- You chuckleheads better
hurry up if you want something.

- Just on time.
- What do we got?

- Okay, here we go.
- Come on, houdini.

We're starving.

- Patience.

- Yes, sir.
Please, uh, hold on.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- They're on their way.

Please don't worry.
Everything's gonna be fine.

- 911.
What's your emergency?

- Let's go.
Load it up, guys.

Let's go.




All count.

- You on today, cowboy?

- Roger that, 23.

- You give me a 10-21
when you wrap that call?

- Copy that.
Will do.

Hey, buddy.

Sure do got a nice view
up here,

But what do you say
we get you down?

You see you got your mommy
down there.

She's waiting for you.

What do you say we go down
and say hi?

- Yeah.
- Okay. Ready?

You can let go.
I got you.

Come on.

Ooh, yeah.

See?
You got it?

Good job. Here...

What do you say?
Go see mom.

- Mommy.
- Oh, jimmy.

- There you go.

- Hey, you folks
doing okay?

- Thank you so much.

- Operator 23,
this is cowboy

With your well-being report.

- Don't you ever do anything
like that again.

- Kid's down, safe,
probably gonna be grounded

For a while.

- Roger that, cowboy.

Safe travels.

- Jenny...

I need you for ten.

- Okay, just make sure you don't
put too much or they'll notice.

- This'll get 'em.

But you might have to hide out
at my place tonight.

- But you forget,
I got a blind date tonight.

- Oh, that's right.
Wednesday.

- Yeah.
- Regina.

Yvonne promised
she's a looker.

- Yeah, well, I do trust
your wife's taste.

If there's a problem,
I know where to find you.

It's the hottest sauce
on earth!

- There's--there's no way
to sugarcoat this.

Let me start with a positive.

No jobs are being eliminated.
- But?

- Everybody's getting a cut
in hours,

Mandatory furlough day
once a week,

At least until the end
of this fiscal year.

- And then I'll go back
to full-time?

- As long as the county budget
loosens up.

- I have kids, bill.

- Jenny, I squeezed them
as hard as I could.

- You know in all the time
I've worked here

The four words
I've never heard?

- What?
- "County budget's loosened up."

- We met at pablo's.

I was with yvonne.

- I'm sorry.
I just--i don't remember.

- Well, my hair
was much longer then.

It was, like, to here,
but then I cut it.

Well, I didn't cut it.
Someone cut it for me.

That's what I meant to say.

- Yeah.
It looks nice.

I know what you're thinking.
- You do?

- Yep. That's one thing
you should know about me.

I'm "telepathical."

- You are?

- Mm-hmm.
- What am I thinking?

- Dental hygienist, no.

Web programmer, no.

"Beautician,
five years experience,

Must have ongoing clientele."

Absolutely not.

- Excuse me.

- Come in.

- Evening, chief.

I brought you a doggie bag.

- Oh, yeah?

Well, what was she--

Too tall,

Too blonde, too thin?

- Too "telepathical."

- Is that a word?

- You know, I think I could be
in some trouble.

- What this time?

- A little tabasco
in the oreos.

- Better watch your back.

Payback's coming.

- Yeah, I was afraid
you were gonna say that.

- Yeah.

- Check.

- What?

- What's wrong?

- What makes you think
something's wrong?

- 'Cause you're
just standing there,

Staring off into space.

- I'm just thinking.

- Oh, no.

- Mom, we hate it
when you think.

- Come on, guys.

- We're not little kids.

Just say it.

- Okay.

I'm thinking about renting out
the guest room.

- Why would we do that?

- Well, because my hours
were cut at work,

Which means I'm gonna be making
less money,

And we have to make up
the difference somehow.

- So someone would live
with us?

- That sounds really creepy.

- It wouldn't be like that--

You know,
not like meals or anything.

Just someone
to rent the room,

Someone who wouldn't be here
that often.

- Do we get
to check them out first?

- Yes, of course.

We will totally
check them out...

Together.

- Hey.
- Yo, yo.

- What you got?
- Just prepping.

- This just in from
the "good idea" department--

Placing an incendiary device
in a firefighter's mouth

Is not recommended.

- Oh!

Come on, guys.

Hey!

- Okay, let's list
all the good features.

- Um...

Comes with a bed.

- "Soft bed."

- What about the bathroom?
- "In-suite bath."

- Newly redecorated.

- That's good.
That's very good.

"Recently renovated."

- Mm.

- You know what?

I am gonna send this flyer
around to the county offices.

- Good.

- You know
what I'm talking about.

- Let's do it, gentlemen.

- Attention, engine 54,
respond to report--

Smoke coming from a residence
at 1012 larkin street.

- Let's go.
Load it up, guys.

- Engine 54,
respond to report...

- Dispatch,
engine 54 on scene--

Single-family dwelling,
smoke coming from door.

Guillermo, get the halon.
- Roger that.

- Going in.
- Right behind you.

- Oh!

- We got a fireman down!

You okay?
Where's it hurt?

- I'm okay. Just go inside
and see if everybody's out.

- Come on, guys,
move it, move it.

Come on.
Move, move, move.

- Operator 23.

- Fireman down, 1012 larkin.

- Cowboy?
- Roger that, 23.

- What's the nature
of his injuries?

- It's me. Door blew.
Took me out.

- I've got
the paramedics rolling.

They'll be there
any minute.

- So it was
a displaced fracture.

We got it realigned nicely.

- Like, realigned
like I'll be able to walk?

Or realigned like I'll be able
to climb a ladder again?

- You'll definitely be able
to walk again.

- That's not good enough.
- You want ladders?

Here's your best chance--
no weight-bearing, none.

And the foot doesn't touch
the floor and no stairs.

- My condo's
on a third-floor walk-up.

- And no stairs--none.

Consider yourself lucky.

- Sure thing.

Do I look lucky
to you, miss?

- Cowboy?

- 23?

- That's me.

- The guys send you
over here?

So this is like a 10-21
unplugged?

- Yeah.
Like that.

How's your leg?

- It's like a whole
space station in there.

- I brought you
apple brown betty.

- Thank you.

911'S getting much better
with their customer service.

I just felt bad--

You know, a rescue worker
injured on the job.

- Hey, you want to stay
for a minute?

You know what?
Why don't we dig in?

I'll get a couple forks
sent up.

- Thank you,
but I can't stay.

I have to go to a thing.

- A thing?
What kind of thing?

- I don't know.
I mean, you know...

Just a thing.

- Okay.

Have fun
at your thing, 23.

- Get better soon, cowboy.

- Uh, plate.

How do I get
your plate back to you?

- Um...

It has my number on it.

- What do you think
our renter will be like?

- It might be an evil genius

Like batman's archenemy,
the joker.

He'll smile at us,

But still be plotting
our demise.

- Why don't we just tell her
she can keep our allowance?

That way, she won't have
to rent the room.

- It's not gonna be enough.

- Then we'll need jobs.

- No one's gonna hire us
for real jobs.

- People with dirty cars will.

- Nah. Where are we gonna get
the money for that--

Detergent, sponges,
buckets?

- We'll wash
something else...

Dogs.

- Oh, yeah,
'cause that'll be easier.

- Why don't you help come up
with ideas

Instead of just criticizing?

- So thank you for stopping by.
We'll be in touch.

- No.

- Mom, she squeezed
my cheeks so hard,

I thought
they'd freeze in a pucker.

- I know.
I know.

- Cowboy.
- Hi, 23.

This is my partner,
guillermo.

And this is your plate.

- Oh, thanks.

- You're 23?
- Do you want to come in?

- Why do they
keep calling you 23?

- You're a cowboy?

- Not a real one.

- Cowboy, have a seat,
please.

- Thank you.

- You guys know each other?

- Look, i-i wanted
to propose an idea.

If you don't like it,
you don't have to say yes.

You can just say no, and you
don't have to tell me why.

- Okay.
- I'd like to rent your room...

Just temporarily.

- Please don't tell me
you're homeless.

No stairs--doctor's orders.

I ve
in a third-story walk-up,

And your front porch
is about the best thing

I can do right now.
- It's just one room.

- No, that's fine.
It's all I need.

I'll be happy to pay cash for
the first month's rent up front.

- Um...

- You have the 3-d version?

That's awesome.
- You play?

- Yeah.
- What level are you on?

- Just got to seven.

- He's got
the whole firehouse playing it.

- You got past the minotaur?

- Yeah.
You got to drop the gold.

That way,
you can jump over the fire trap.

- Drop the gold--
of course.

- Did I mention
adults only?

- Um, well...
- Are you a fireman?

- I sure am.

Hey, you know what?
I got a secret.

Come here.

It's okay.
I'm not gonna bite.

I'm also an amateur magician.

Pooh!

- Whoa.
- What do you think about that?

- Cool.
- Wow.

- Pretty good.

- There have been a couple other
people who've come to look--

- Mom...

He's fine.

- Well, maybe I should just show
you the room, you know,

Before you make
any crazy decisions.

- Yeah, uh, that sounds good.

- Good game.

- It's perfect.

- You'd have your own bathroom.

Uh, I put some towels in it
and stocked it with stuff.

I don't know
if you're supposed

To do that
when you have a renter.

I've never had
a renter before, so...

- 23, What's your name?

It's jenny.

Jenny mcclain.
- Jeff sinclair.

It's a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.

- I have another idea.

Remember when we took
that field trip

To the retirement home
and read to the old people?

I bet they'd pay
for another story.

- We got a renter.
We don't need jobs anymore.

- His leg's gonna heal.
He's gonna go home.

- Why would they pay
for a story?

I mean, they could just listen
to a cd book for free.

- When we were little,
would you rather listen

To a cd story
or have mom read you one?

- You may have a point.

- And what's your name?

Okay,
and where are you located?

What's your address?
I need you to calm down.

What's your address?
Okay.

Yes, someone will be over
immediately.

Just stay calm.
Okay.

So what's up?

- I found a renter.

- And?
- It's cowboy.

- No way.
- Yes way.

He has a third-floor walk-up,
and he can't do the stairs--

Doctor's orders.

- We like this doctor.

- What should we call
ourselves?

Shh. He's in there.

Come on, we need a name.

- I don't know.
Uh...

Book readers inc.

- Hi.
- Good evening, ma'am.

Sorry to bother you,
but is your new tenant in?

- Um...
- He's through there.

- We're just gonna drop
a few things off

And get him tucked in.

- Uh, okay.

Come on in.

- Hey.

- Hi. Good evening.
- Hi.

- Let's see
about our boy, huh?

- We'll be quick.

- Great.

Are you doing your homework?

- Yeah.
- Back to work.

- Oh, look who it is.
What do you know?

Are you hurt?

- Uh, we got something
for you, jeffy jeff.

- Guys, come on.

Come on, guys.

- Be quiet, guys.

- Come on, guys.
No, no, no.

Come on.
Ow.

- So...

- Hey.

- I think we should have
the word "professional" in it,

Like "professional storytellers"

Or "professional readers."

- We can't just call ourselves
professionals

'Cause we feel like it.

- Why not?

- I think we should have

The address
of the retirement home.

It will make us look
more official.

- Guys!

- What's going on?

- Oh, come on.

- Thank you, ma'am.
He's a lot more comfortable now.

- Good evening.

Good night.

Thanks.

- You guys do this a lot?

- What's your definition
of "a lot"?

- I wouldn't worry about it.

You know,
he's responsible.

- Okay.
Okay.

- We'll see you
a little bit later.

- Have fun.

- Hey, kids.

Got anything that has to do
with baseball?

- Uh, we got a lot
of science fiction.

- Baseball--
I like baseball.

- Baseball...

I think we've got something.

Nine innings to glory.

- All right.
Now we're talking.

- Elsie?

Elsie, honey...

How did natalie's birthday
invitation get in the trash?

- I don't know.

- You don't know
how it got there?

You're not going?
- Nah, not this year.

- But she's your best friend.
- I just don't feel like it.

- What are you doing,
luke, honey?

- Working
on the oral presentation thing.

- Did you pick
a famous person?

- Yeah, the president.

- So what's the problem?

- It's not original.

I bet, like, ten other people
are gonna pick the president.

- That's okay.
- He's right. It's not original.

- It's due on thursday.

- Sorry.

- I want to do
something better.

See, right here...

"Originality counts."

Okay, um...

What about mother teresa?

- King arthur?

- Shakespeare?
Both: boring.

- Are we disturbing you?

- Sorry.
- Hang on.

You got any other suggestions?

- As a matter of fact,
I do.

Harry houdini.
- He was a magician.

I don't think
that the school wants--

- He was not just a magician.

He's the greatest magician
and escape artist of all time.

- What's an escape artist?

- It's a magician
whose specialty

Is the impossible escape.

They called houdini

The man who no jail
could hold.

He could do it all.

He could escape from jails,
trunks locked in the ocean,

Straitjackets--
you name it.

His most famous escape

Was called
the chinese water t*rture.

They locked him upside-down
in a glass tank

That was full of water
with his legs wrapped in chains,

His hands
cuffed behind his back.

And he could get out of it...

In a minute.

- Wow.

- Now, that's original.

I bet no one else
is doing houdini.

- Okay. If we can find
enough information.

- I've got two great books
on him.

- Awesome.
Thanks.

- You know what the great part
about doing houdini is?

You don't have to just talk
about him.

You can show them.

Cool.

- Well,
they're not gonna let him

Bring you to school
to show them magic tricks.

- Of course not.

I'm not gonna show 'em
anything.

Luke is.

- And then in front
of thousands of people

Who came from all over the world
to see him,

Houdini would say
these words,

"One, two, three.
I'm free."

- Nurse?

- I'm elsie...

From book readers inc.

Your friend in room 30
said you wanted a story?

- Oh, yes.
Thank you for coming.

I-i can't see, sweetheart,

So you're gonna have
to come and get it.

Make yourself
comfortable, elsie.

I love stories.

But I can't read them myself,

So I'm really glad
that you came.

What have you got?

- I'll read you the name
of the books I have with me.

- Do you have
a favorite, dear?

- Uh, yes.

- Oh, well,
that will be fine, then.

"There are two kids--

"A good girl and her funny
but sometimes annoying brother.

"And they lived alone
with their mom.

"It wasn't always that way,

"But it had been

For as long as that little girl
could remember."

- They're on their way.
You take care now.

Hi, mrs. Burns.

Which is it, academic
or disciplinary this time?

You're kidding.

- Hey, you two monkeys.

Get in here!

I need an after-action report.

How was the presentation?

- Luke was awesome.

- Got a standing ovation.

- Is all that homework?

- We have jobs.

- Jobs?
- You can't tell our mom.

- Whoa, whoa,
what kind of jobs?

- We read to old people.

- You get paid?

Your mom doesn't know?

- We're making money
'cause her hours got cut.

That's why she was renting
the room.

- So, to help your mom out,
you two got jobs.

- Hey, everyone.
Sorry I'm late.

- Hi, mom.

- Luke mcclain,
front and center.

- Oh, god.

Hide the money.

I'll cover.

- Please?

- Okay, but you got to promise
to tell your mom,

Because it's not good
to keep secrets from her.

- Deal.

- Mrs. Burns called.

Congratulations.

- "He sees no black sky

"And raging sea,
feels not the reeling timbers,

"And little hears he
or heeds he

"The far rush
of the mighty whale,

"Which even now

With open mouth is cleaving
the seas after him."

Uh, I'm sorry.
I have to go.

- Oh.

- We could pick up tomorrow
if you'd like.

- Uh, yeah.
Sounds great.

I look forward to it.

- You were a fireman?

- Used to be.

These days I just sit
on the sidelines

And listen in
on the action.

- I like firemen.

- Oh, yeah?
- They're the good guys, right?

- Young lady...

You know,
you're very brilliant.

- Here you go.
- Thanks.

- I was wondering
why you hadn't been in.

How bad is it?
- It's a displaced fracture.

It's healing.

- Eggs and bacon, is it?
- Yeah.

Okay, here it comes.

Yeah, you did it!

All right, let's see
if elsie can run the bases.

Here you go.
Pop fly.

Go, elsie, go!

Here she comes.

Good catch.
Come on, get in here. Go!

Bring it in.
Nice!

She won.
Nice job! Good run!

She did it.

Nice job.

You are fast.

What do you have?
Give it up to your sister.

Good job.

What do you think about that?
Your sister's got speed.

Where's my ball?

Good job.

911.
What is your emergency?

- My emergency is that my tenant
is--is teaching my kids

How to field a ball
and--and get "a"s in school.

- Don't panic.
He's good with kids.

What's your point?
- My point?

My point is that my kids
are confusing my renter with--

With a replacement.

- Might you
be overdramatizing this,

I mean, just a little bit?

- I don't know.

Very confusing.

- I got to go.
I'll call you later.

- There's this lady
named ethel.

So she calls 911,
like, six, seven times a day

In a complete panic.

I mean, she really, truly
believes that there are people

In outer space
who are bombarding her brain

With microwaves
and controlling her ideas.

- So how'd you help her?

- Did you send in a chopper?

- I kept thinking...

"Microwaves."

I told her
it was a diversion shield.

And she said it worked.

She called me back
the next day to thank me.

- Good idea, mom.

- Sure is.

- All right, it's time
for bed, everybody.

Teeth brushing.
- Mom!

- Now!

Say good night to jeff.

Both:
good night, jeff.

- Good night.

You know,
you're good at your job.

Not a lot of people
would take the time

To deal with those oddballs.

- It's the right thing
to do.

I'm gonna put the kids to bed.

And you have something
to do too, right?

Physical therapy.

Sorry.
- Yes, ma'am.

- Don't you forget it, cowboy.

- Good night.

- "The truth was that they loved
each other very much.

"And though they weren't
the richest people in the world,

They were happy
for years to come."

- Thank you.
That was wonderful.

- How are you...

How do you...

- How do I what, sweetheart?

- How do you know
when a piece is finished?

- Why, because I can't see it?

- Yeah.
- Oh.

Well, I know
when it feels right.

- I feel that way
when I finish writing a story.

- Oh.
Do you write stories?

- Mm-hmm.

- Well, I'd like
to hear one sometime.

- Uh...

- What's wrong?

- Well, the truth is,

I've been reading you
the stuff I wrote myself.

- Really?

- Yeah.
- How old are you?

- Um, eight.

- Eight?

Eight years old--
I can't believe it.

- Thank you.

- "Bottom of the ninth.

"Bases loaded.

"And all I could think about

Was just how by..."

"Happensday"?
- Happenstance.

- "How by happenstance

"I was living
someone else's life

Vicar..."

- Oh, um...

Vicariously.

Vicariously.

It's no use.

I'll--i'll give you
your dollar back.

- Oh, hang on.
Don't give up so easily.

The key to reading out loud

Is to slow down.

- But I don't want
to bore people.

- Son, boring is the same
dumb jokes the doctor tells me

Day after day

Because he thinks
I don't remember.

Trust me.
You are not boring.

You're like a breath
of fresh air in this joint.

- Uh, thanks.

- Try it again.

- Again.

One more.
Another.

Good news...

Your lungs sound great.

- Can you put that in "when will
I be back at work" terms?

- Let me tell you
about guys like you.

I say, "looking good"--
you hear, "recovered,"

Which means all systems go.

End result--setback.

- Nah, you got me wrong.

- Maybe, but here's the plan
just in case--

Still no stairs.

In fact,
let me be more specific--

Level surfaces only.

Come back in two weeks.

- Will I get
my "return to duty" slip?

- Level surfaces only.

- Thanks, doc.
- You bet.

- It's gonna be fine.

- Come in.

- Hey, chief.
- Hey.

- I want to introduce you
to someone.

Chief, this is my, uh...

Landlady.

- Landlady?

Is that the best
you can come up with?

Miss, please forgive
my young friend here.

He's a little short
on vocabulary,

But once you get to know him,
he's all right.

- I sure hope so.

I'm jenny.

- I'm the chief.

Oh, but please have a seat.

Please forgive me
for being so rude.

What would you like to drink?
- Nothing. I'm fine.

- Don't be silly.

They're making iced mochas
in the cafeteria.

And I know for a fact
that women go crazy

For chocolate.

- You're right about that.

- Uh...

- Okay, I'll get it.
Yeah.

I got it.
- Oh, that's big of you.

- Iced mochas.
- Yeah.

- This is a nice way of talking
about me behind my back.

- Oh, we brought books.

You like to read?

- As well as I can.

The cataracts
are getting worse.

But they started
a new thing here

With, uh,
kids reading to you.

A buck'll get you
a reader.

- Is that you?

- Who?

- Wow.
You were handsome.

- Huh?
- I mean, you still are...

But, you know, the uniform.

- Oh, yeah.
- Wow.

- Well, flattery gets you
everywhere.

Does the guy next to me
look like jeff?

- He does.
- Mm. It's his old man.

- Where is he?
- Oh, fire got him.

He went in,
and the roof collapsed.

He didn't make it out.

- How old was jeff?
- Ten years old.

Now, i-i've been here
seven years.

How many guys do you know
would keep coming back to visit

An old smoke eater like me?

How many?

- Not many.

- All right, you two,
we're back.

- Oh, we were just getting
to know each other.

Thank you.
- You're welcome, chief.

- His time's almost up.

- He won't leave.
And mom doesn't want him to.

They like each other.

- You don't know that.

- Do too.

They whisper.

You don't whisper
to someone you don't like.

- If they really liked
each other,

They'd go on a date.

- Maybe they will.

- You can't date a renter.

- There's no rule on that.

- Well, there's a rule
on broken bones.

You can't take someone out
to dinner if you can't drive.

- I have an idea.

- Hey, guys.
How was school?

- You got to stay in here.

- Mom's having a meeting
tonight.

- It's serious.
- You got to stay right here.

- With the door closed.

What did you break?

Both:
nothing.

- Someone's coming over.

- Can you put on
something nicer?

- Who's coming over?

- School counselor.
Mrs. Burns wants to see you.

- Luke, what did you do?
- You're in your 911 clothes.

Can you change
into something un-weird?

- I have to be un-weird
for mrs. Burns?

- Hey, what makes you think
it has to do with me

And not elsie?
- Well, that's fair.

Does it?

- Dinner's ready.

- The meeting's over already?

- Mom, she's here!
I stuck her in the kitchen.

- Uh...

- Mom, we'll be doing homework
upstairs.

- I'm so sorry.

- Don't--don't be.

Oh.

- So far so good.

So what did the doctor say?

- I got
the "too soon to know" spiel.

- Then if you're like me,
you're on the what-if bus.

- Yeah, like,
what if I rent my room

To my tenant,
who's charming,

Even debonair,

And then your kids,
they fix you up,

And instead of dancing
underneath the stars,

You're eating breakfast
for dinner in your own kitchen.

- Like that...

Except for the debonair part.

- Well, nobody's perfect...

- Not even firemen.

- How do you think
they're doing?

- Leave 'em alone.

They need more time
to get to know each other.

- Okay, okay.
I will start.

Worst date ever.

Uh, okay,
there was this girl.

It's our first date.

She asked me to go
on a sunday drive to carmel

After she bought
a brand-new car.

- That sounds nice.

- Till she picked me up.

I jumped
into the driver's seat.

As we're pulling away
from the curb, I turn around.

Her parents
are in the backseat.

- What?
What did you do?

- Oh, I told a lot
of burning-building stories,

And I watched that odometer
count all 300 miles.

All right.

Your turn.

- Same--
it was the first date.

He took me to the movies.

And right off the bat,
he starts laughing,

I mean, at full volume,

Seat-shaking belly laugh.

- What was the matter?

- The movie
hadn't even started yet.

- What'd you do?

- I married him.

- How'd that work out?
- Obviously, not great.

He left.

And I don't mean,
like, left,

Like moved down the street.

He, um...
He disappeared.

We never heard
from him again.

- How old were the kids?

- Three and five.

Buddy told me that you lost
your dad when you were a kid.

- Yeah.

He died in a fire...

Alone.

His two-in was on the porch.

- Two-in?

- Firefighters--

It's what we do.

Two in, two out.

Two go in,
two come out...

Or don't come out at all.

- Why was the two-in outside?

- He was a boot--
a rookie.

He said he saw signs
of a flashover--

Dark smoke,

I.e., Fire on the ceiling
that couldn't be vented.

You know what?

They never should have gone in,
but my dad heard kids

And went anyway.

- I'm sorry.

Um, would you be willing
to do me a favor?

- Of course.

- Would you talk to luke
about your dad?

- Yeah.

Sure.

W-why?

- I just think it'd be nice

For him to know
he's not the only boy

Growing up
without a father.

Hey.
- Hey.

- This renter thing
has its upsides.

I think it's really good
for the kids.

- Just for the kids?

- Okay, so he said
I need a break,

And he's taking me out tonight.

911.
What's your emergency?

I don't know
where we're going.

I don't know what to wear.

I don't know what to say.

- That's the beauty
of all of this--

The jitters,
the butterflies.

If you didn't feel that way,

It wouldn't even be worth
going on the date.

- It's not a date.
- Yeah, it is.

- No, it's not.
- Yes, it is.

Look, it doesn't matter
who asks who or where you go.

If two single people
set a time

And they anxiously look
forward to it

And that time happens
to be after dark,

Trust me, it's a date.

Do something
with your hair.

- "I cared not to drive a nail
or chop a stick of wood now

"For fear the noise
I should make should be heard.

"Much less would I fire a g*n
for the same reason.

"And above all,
I was intolerably uneasy

"At making any fire,

"Lest the smoke,
which is visible

"At a great distance
in the day,

"Should betray me.

"And for this reason,
I have removed

"That part of my business
which required fire,

"Such as burning of pots
and pipes, et cetera,

In a minute apartment
in the woods."

- Attaboy, luke.
Way to go.

That was fantastic.

- Yeah, I mean, I know
they didn't have a fight.

Look, I'm gonna ask her
one more time,

And I will call you back, okay?

Okay, thanks.

Elsie, that was natalie's mom.

I know
something is bothering you,

And you don't have
to tell me what it is.

But I want to warn you
about something.

Natalie's your best friend.

And this is her special day.

And if you miss it, I think it
would really hurt her feelings.

- It's because of her brother.

He has a snake.

Everyone says it's huge.

And I'm afraid he's gonna take
it out during the party.

- Okay, sweetheart,
you don't have to go.

All right?

- Jeff, what?
- Um...

- It's okay.

If you have something to say,
just say it.

- Why don't we try this?

Why do you think
her brother would do that?

- Because he knows
we'll scream.

- And which girls
is he gonna ignore?

- The ones who aren't afraid.

- That's right.

If he doesn't know
you're scared,

He's gonna leave you alone.

That's the first part
of our plan.

- So I just pretend
not to be scared?

- Mm-hmm.

- What's the second part?

- You text your mom
a secret code.

We'll come to the house.

We'll have an excuse
and bring you home,

And nobody will ever know
you were scared.

- What's the secret code?

- Hmm.

2N?
What does that mean?

- 2N.
That's firefighters' code.

That's how we work.

Someone is always looking out
for you.

- Am I overdressed?

- Perfect.

- I thought you were gonna get
a babysitter.

- You both got cells?

- That doesn't work.
They can't be alone.

- Jen, they're
not gonna be alone.

Just let it play out
for a minute.

- Yeah, mom,
just let it play out.

- Hear that?
"Jen."

- Where are we going?

Wow.

Oh, my...

- You think they're okay
in there?

- Yes. As long as they stay
out of sight.

The worst of it was...

Watching them wait and wait,

Every day asking,
"did daddy call?"

- How long?

- 18 Months, 26 days

Before they
finally stopped asking.

- I still count.
- Count what?

- How many days it's been
since the fire...

My dad.
- What happened?

- How many 911 calls
have you taken?

- Um, I don't know.
Thousands, I guess.

- You ever have a call

Where only one person

Said he heard children inside?

Not anyone else--
just one--

Like my dad's fire?

No one mentioned
children inside,

Not on the radio,

Not by a witness or...

Anyone reporting...

Just the rookie partner.

- You think the rookie...
- Was covering a bad decision.

- Oh, jeff.

- You know, my dad,
he didn't even have to go in.

I don't think
he should have gone in.

I don't think
he heard anyone.

I think it was a mistake.

- You think this rookie
lied about the kids

'Cause he was covering
for your dad?

- Yeah.

As of a minute ago...

I think you know more about me
than anyone else.

- Told ya.

- All right, people,
pay up.

A bet is a bet.

Come on, give it up.

Thank you.

I really thank you
for your money.

- You two the bookworms?

Well, I'm the director
of this facility,

And I need to speak
to you both

In private.

- We're in so much trouble.

- Our reading jobs are over.
- We got caught.

- We don't have the proper
papers, and we're dodging taxes,

And we're swindling the
government out of their money.

- We were stealing money from
people who are incompatible.

- You mean incompetent?

- That too.
- Is that my boot?

- It's our tip jar.

We borrowed it.
- We need you to call

That administrator lady.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold on. Time-out.

- She said our parents
have to call.

- But she didn't know
we only have one.

- And she's the one
who has to make that call.

Look, why don't you just tell
your mom about your jobs?

- She'd make us
return the money.

- And wouldn't let us go back.

- Well, that's her decision
to make.

- Well, you're not the one who's
reading to an old blind lady

Who's waiting to figure out
what happens next.

- And buddy really wants to hear
the end of moby d*ck.

He's never read it.
- Buddy?

You read to a man
named buddy?

Is that
the sunbriar retirement home?

Shh.

Yes.

Yes, is she the one
in charge?

Then you can put me on hold.
Thank you.

They're gonna go get her
right now.

Would you put that
in my room, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah, I'm calling in regards
to luke and elsie.

I know.

But shouldn't they
at least get to finish

The stories
that they started?

They've made commitments.

Well, they've been taught

That they shouldn't make
commitments that can't be kept.

Look, why don't
I just come down in person

And we can talk about this?

Perfect.

Thank you very much.

Okay.
Bye-bye.

- Thanks, jeff.

- Don't thank me yet.

- Well, at least
thanks for trying.

- Well, it's
the right thing to do.

- I don't know how
he figured out the snake thing.

It's not what
I would have told her to do.

I guess it's just something
a guy would think of.

- No, honey, not all guys--

Just keepers.

And I know a lot
about boys and reptiles.

I can't believe
you didn't call me.

- Well, I can't believe
I didn't have to.

You have to see this.

- Oh, my gosh,
that is so cute.

Where are they?

- Elsie's at a playdate,
and jeff took luke

To a firefighters'
competition--

A boys' thing.

- Go, go, go, go.

- Come on, luke.

- Yeah.
- Come on, kyle.

- One, two, three...

- 911.
What's your emergency?

- This is 1-tom-lincoln-9.

Relay is down
on police dispatch channel,

So I'm routing through you.

I am in pursuit
of a white cadillac suv

License
2-bravo-romeo-india-5-6-4,

Southbound on main,
approaching third.

- All units,
all frequencies, stand by.

1-Tom-lincoln-9
is in pursuit,

Southbound main at third.

1-Tom-lincoln-9
is in pursuit

Of a white cadillac escalade,

License
2-bravo-romeo-india-5-6-4.

It has been reported
as stolen.

- This is 1-tom-lincoln-9er.
Highway to speed.

I am still headed southbound
on main

Approaching sixth.

- This is 1-adam-10, secondary
unit for 1-tom-lincoln-9.

- Roger, 1-adam-10.

1-Tom-lincoln-9,
what is your location?

1-Tom-lincoln-9,
what's your 20?

1-Tom-lincoln-9,
how do you read dispatch?

Code 3.

- This is 1-adam-10.

1-Tom-lincoln-9 is t.c.'D
at eighth and main

With bridge abutment.

Officer needs assistance.

Requesting fire and ambulance,
code 3.

- Officer needs assistance
at main and eighth.

1-Tom-lincoln-9 is t.c.'D
at the bridge pylon.

- Fire department en route.

Paramedics responding.

- Supervisor 3.

Thank you.

- How many people
are involved?

- 911.
What is your emergency?

- Can you give me
the cross street?

- Sir, we're sending someone
right away.

Let me verify
your location, please.

- 911.
What's your emergency?

- These are all the firefighters
who died in the line of duty.

And this is my dad.

- Your dad died?

- Yeah...

In a fire
when I was ten.

- I always wondered

What it would have been like
to have a dad...

You know, to strike out
in a ball game

And have a dad there.

But then on the way home,

He'd point out
something I did good...

Make me feel better.

That's what
other kids' dads do.

- Yeah.

I always imagined it
like this.

We both know
you didn't play well,

But when you and your dad
drive home,

He'd tell you it was a bad call
by the ump,

Then do something nice...

Stop for a milkshake.

You know what I found out?

That there were other guys
who would take me

For that milkshake.

- Hey.

Bad call at work?

I'm sorry.

- I shouldn't have asked you
to talk to luke about your dad.

He's never really had
someone like you

To look up to...

Ever.

And--and elsie...

She worships you,
and i--

And here's the deal, okay?

This isn't
the what-if bus anymore.

This is what is.

- Okay.

- The bad call I had at work

Was an officer...

In a felony high-speed pursuit.

And now someone is knocking
on his door

To let his wife and kids know
that he is never coming back.

- I was that kid once.

- So you understand.

You understand the danger
of a kid having a father

Or a father figure whose life
is always on the line.

- I understand why you
don't want to put your kids

Or yourself through that.

What I don't understand is...

Why you're letting the what-if
get in the way of the what-is.

- Jeff, come on.

They already lost
a father once.

And I just don't know
how they--

How we could go
through that again.

- I love you.

I love your kids.

- I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

- Come on,
we're gonna be late.

Mom...

What's wrong?

- Why would you think
something's wrong?

- You're just standing there
all still.

- I think we should talk.

- Where are you going?

- To the doctor.

Keep your fingers crossed.

He may release me
to go back to work.

- But that means
you could go home.

- Well, yeah.
That's where he lives--

At his home.
- Would you still come eat here?

- If he can go to work,
he'll eat at the station.

- Are you guys
gonna stay friends?

But you guys whispered.

- Whispered?

- You don't whisper to someone
you don't like.

- It means nothing.

It doesn't work
that way!

- Luke, come on--

- Can I still use
our secret code--

2N?

- This is
what I was talking about.

- 911 Emergency.

- I have an idea.

Do you guys want
to go to the movies

Tonight instead of thursday?

Not really.

- Yeah.
Not really.

- I miss him too.

- How much pain medicine?

- None.

- Okay,
let's do a final check,

See if you're getting
your hearing back.

- My hearing?

- I find most firemen
who were injured

End up with hearing loss.

- Really?

- Let's check those ears.

When I say "light duty,"

What do you hear?

- Light duty.

- Oh. Good.

So you don't hear anything

That sounds like,
"okay to climb a ladder"?

I'm serious.

Some of my firemen patients
think those two things

Sound the same.

- Understood.

- You take care of yourself.

- Guys?

- Yo, yo.
Welcome back, gimpy.

Good to have you back, brother.
- There he is.

- Hey.

What's up, bro?

- Welcome back.

- Nice, huh?

- I still don't understand
why you didn't call me.

- Well, I spoke
to their father.

- Their father?

Did he actually say
that he was their father?

- Uh, no...

Not specifically.

But he was a man,

And he came here
to talk to me about,

As he said, the pickle
that the mcclain kids were in,

So I just assumed that--
- he actually came here?

- Yes.

- Pickle.

I guess my kids
didn't want me to know,

So they conned my friend

Into, uh, coming.

What did he say?

- Well, he said
that they had figured out a way

To make money,

And it was for you,
because your hours were cut.

The man, um, said
that they had been raised

To show up
for their commitments,

And they still had obligations
to two of our residents.

He asked that they be able
to finish out their stories

Under the condition
that the readings would be free.

You know, our residents
just about started a mutiny

When I said the kids
couldn't come anymore.

Okay, so here
are their last two clients

And where to find them.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

- "The last rays of the sun
disappeared much too quickly.

"I could barely make my hand out
in front of my face.

"And when I did, it seemed
like someone else's hand

"With a sinister life force
of its own.

"For what seemed
like an eternity,

"My rocky prison was dark
as blackest night,

And my thoughts
were filled with terror."

- I've been like that...

Lonely and scared.

- Me too.

- When were you
lonely and scared, kid?

- When my dad left,
I guess...

And now too.

I'm lonely for sure, sad.

- Why's that--

'Cause they told you
you couldn't read to us anymore?

- Yeah.

But also 'cause of jeff.

He was our renter.

We thought he was gonna be
my mom's boyfriend.

But it didn't turn out
like we figured.

- Why not?

- He said he healed.

He was ready to go back
to his own place.

But I think
she made him leave.

- Why would she do a thing
like that?

- I think she was scared.

I miss jeff.

He was like...

Like my dad should have been.

- After your dad died,

People tried
to console you.

They'd come up and say...

How tragic it was...

He died before his time.

You remember what I told you?

- Yeah.

That they were all wrong.

- Exactly.

They were the ones
that were confused.

How could they know
it was before his time, huh?

How could you know that?

Maybe, uh, everyone has...

Their time.

And however long you live,

Maybe that's their time.

Your dad's time was--

- 38 Years and 7 months.

You know,
that's all fine, buddy.

I mean...

I don't know--
I get it.

But how is that supposed
to help me now?

- You're not
a kid anymore, jeff.

You don't know
what your time is.

You're not gonna know.

I knew your dad
better than anybody.

And this I know for the truth.

See that chair?

If he was sitting right there,
right now,

And you'd ask him,
"dad, do I turn my back

On love
because I'm afraid?"...

Even though he was torn away
from you,

Your dad would say,
"son, don't run."

He would never want
his death,

No matter how terrible,

To stop you from living.

- "Of course
the little girl was sad,

"For herself

"And for her brother.

"They'd worked very hard
to keep the fireman with them

"So they could have
a family again.

"But she felt the saddest of all
for her mom,

"Who had finally found
happiness

"And then suddenly
thrown it away.

"Would she ever be happy again?

"The girl hoped so.

Her mom deserved it."

- Oh, dear.

- Even if they won't let us
work here,

Can I still come visit you?

- Of course, sweetheart.

Of course.

- That's true.

It's very well done.

Nice people.

- You both broke
so many rules.

You lied. You violated,
like, a dozen laws.

You took money
from old people.

I am so...

So proud of both of you.

- How's the leg?

- Almost there.

- Back to full duty?

- Close.

- Go ahead.

Ask me.

- You know who I am?

- Well, you've been coming here
for over a year.

You're the spitting image
of your dad...

The last time I saw him.

- What happened?

- I froze.

- That's what
the after-action report says.

What really happened?

- I froze.

- No.
No, you didn't.

You read the signs, right?

The thick, dark smoke,

High heat,

Angel fingers, free burn.

If you had gone in,
you would have burned too.

- We heard kids...

The screaming.

He went in,
but I didn't.

- No, there were no kids.

My dad made a mistake,
and you covered for him.

- We heard kids.

- He made a mistake.

- Listen to me, jeff.

I made the mistake.

- A flashover
is more than 1,000 degrees...

1,000.

We both know
you got two seconds to get out.

- But in those two seconds,
I may have saved your dad.

- About zero chance.

- But it wasn't zero.

- But at least
one of you lived.

- Survived.

One of us survived...

But never lived.

I left my partner
to fight alone.

He died inside.

I died outside.

- Thank you.

- For what?

- For letting me blame you
instead of my dad.

- Come on, guys,
it's still a school night.

We got to go now,
or it will be too late.

- Coming.

- Open up, ma'am.
We got an emergency.

We got a fireman down.

He's really down.

- You wanted a what-if.

Well, what if we
don't do this?

We could miss an opportunity
to make our lives--

All our lives--
- better?

- More than better...

The best.

- What if everything
that happened to me and the kids

Happened for a reason?

That reason being
that I would be standing here...

At this exact moment.

- You remember
what two-in means?

- Go in together,

You stay together,

And you come out together.

- And I want to have that time
with you.

- I want that too, cowboy.

That's what I'm talking about.