"Dear James...
Yesterday you told me that we could have the life that we wanted together.
You told me that there is no force
more powerful than what we feel.
You talked to me until I fell asleep.
And I believe every word that you say."
You know, at times, the idea of forgiveness,
the actual act of forgiving seems...
so impossible.
It's not human nature. It's not.
Human nature craves revenge, and...
and, uh, hatred.
And these thoughts are intoxicating.
They take over your spirit and, um...
they poison you.
And I'm sure that all of you,
at one time or another in your lives,
have felt such thoughts.
I know I have.
But the man who is able to forgive...
"To err is human, to forgive, divine."
Be merciful.
Just as your Father is merciful.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Anyone who does what is right...
is a child of God.
Taking five.
- Shit, you scared me. - Sorry.
What do you-- what do you want?
Do you know... about this?
I don't speak Spanish.
Oh, it's, um... It's about...
dishwashing.
Oh, yeah. Um, kitchen?
Carl.
Last guy's wife went off and had another damn baby, so here I am.
You done this before?
Yeah.
Hope you don't like health insurance, 'cause I don't give it.
All yours.
I'm impressed.
Go home.
And come back tomorrow.
If-if-if you hire me...
uh, there's some papers I'm supposed to show you.
You want a lift? I can give you a lift.
You don't have somewhere, do ya?
There's usually a vacancy.
Tell her I sent you.
I really appreciate this, thank you.
It's okay. See you in the morning, 6:00 AM, sharp.
Hi.
Yeah?
- I need to rent a room. - How long?
Week or two. Maybe longer.
It's a hundred a week.
Payment's due under my door, that one,
9:00 AM, Monday.
If not, your stuff's on the street by ten.
Somebody's downstairs for you.
Get yourself an alarm clock and a monthly bus pass.
State Street southbound to Lawrence.
Yeah, I uh, I was just--
I was telling you before you hired me--
No, no, I haven't hired you yet.
Yeah, there's this... there's something you should know about me--
You wanna ruin a perfectly good day before it starts?
I'm Lily, by the way.
- James. - Nice to meet you, James.
Does that actually work?
Absolutely not.
- Hey, Michael. - Hey, Jess.
- How are you? - Good. Uh...
How's it going with the raffle preparations?
Really good.
We're trying to figure out how we're gonna fix
the little spelling mistake,
but other than that it's really good.
Hey, you know the Gateway Diner.
Yeah, the one in the city by Lawrence Street or something.
Yeah. Have you been there lately?
Thirty bucks in tips.
You frickin' kidding me?
I'm leaving.
Do you mind closing on your own?
- No, I got it. - All done.
- Good night. - Good night.
- Sorry. - Nah.
You off Saturday?
What's that? For what?
Um, I don't know,
I-I just thought maybe we could do something.
That's-- yeah, I'm, uh...
I'm-- Yeah, no, it's, uh--
Forget I ever said that, just... delete.
No, no, no, no.
Yeah, I'd like to do something with you.
We can...
If you-if you want, we can-we can...
let's-yeah, let's do it.
- Did you just say "yes"? - Yes.
Okay. Cool.
Your registration fee, Mister...
- is it Mediay? - Midier.
Midier.
- Address. - Bueche Residence Hotel.
- B... - B, uh, U-E-C-H-E.
- That's where? - Uh, 102 37th Avenue.
Phone.
314-555-7248.
Lift your head.
That's it. Thank you.
Oh, my God, will you hurry the hell up?
- Sorry. - I'm kidding.
Go get your ball.
What?
You cheated, it doesn't count.
- Get your ball. - How did I cheat?
You bumped the yellow ball with your cue stick,
so, in the rules of pool,
that means that you forfeit your point
and you have to pull the ball out and start again.
All right, I guess I don't do this often.
Really? I play pool all the time.
Oh, yeah?
This is my-my hang.
- Um, yeah. - Thanks.
No, yeah, yeah.
Um...
This is always awkward.
What's that?
You know, the end of the night thing.
Right.
Well, we should do this again.
Good night. Thanks.
Sure.
- See you at breakfast. - Okay.
You know how to cook?
Uh, no, not really.
Good enough, come on.
I'm giving you $1.25 raise, effective immediately.
- What happened to the other guy? - Damn INS agent.
Why don't you cook, then?
I'm a waitress.
Lily's a no-show.
Hi, Lily.
Uh, this is James Midier calling,
I'm the dishwasher or, um, actually cook now.
Um, yeah,
got your number from the employee contact list.
Hope that's okay, and I'm calling, or leaving a message.
Um, yeah, just making su--
Hello?
James.
Thanks.
I'm such a klutz.
Hey, let me see.
How'd that happen?
I fell.
I... Um...
Tsk... I...
Um...
Right.
I'm-I'm, uh...
I don't think-- I don't think I--
- I can do this right now. - Okay.
Okay.
How's this? Is this okay?
- Yeah. - Yeah?
- Yeah. - Okay.
Just look at the fruit of their lives, the way they live,
and then look at the Gospel that they supposedly preach.
You can mark them off...
Hey, Dad.
Is-- can I speak with Mom?
Can you get her for me, please?
Yes, Reverend. Yes, he's here now.
I-- is--
She doesn't wanna see you.
What?
What do you mean, Dad? I-I came to see you.
And you've done that.
Dad.
Hang on.
- Hey. - Hi.
I came by earlier, but you weren't here.
Yeah, I was, uh, at my parents'.
Oh, yeah.
Um, how'd it go?
Oh, it's just... been a long time.
Can I come in for a minute, or...?
If you want.
Anyway, I just came over to see if you were okay.
I'm okay.
Okay.
All right, Jessica does bring up
an interesting point about Adam and Eve.
Right, guys?
When you're a kid
and your mom tells you not to touch that hot pot on the stove,
did you really get what she was saying?
I mean, you had to touch it
in order to fully grasp the consequences of it.
She could tell you a thousand times that you're gonna get burned,
but until you actually do...
you don't know what you're doing.
Okay, who's next?
Yeah.
So.
- Hey. - Hey.
- Thought you went home. - I was on my way,
but I came back.
Okay. What's up?
You looked at me today.
James, you look at me a lot.
I look at all of you.
You're sitting right in front of me.
James.
I look at all of you.
Not like that, you don't.
I know how you feel about me, I can see it.
- Listen, Jessica, you're 15. - Yes.
You're 15 years old, it's-it's...
Okay.
It's not gonna happen.
O-okay.
Well, FYI?
I feel it, too.
Okay.
Hey, James.
- No. - James, please.
No.
James, wait!
Wait!
You okay?
Hey!
You hurt?
No, sorry. I just tripped.
- James... No, I-- - You can't do this.
- You can't come looking for me. - I really need to talk to you.
- No. - Please, James.
You have to stay away from me, do you get it?
Do you get that? Stay away from me.
You sure your dad said I should drive you home?
Who else?
Just that he didn't, uh, mention it, is all.
You're driving me anyway.
You asked.
If I were in real trouble, you'd rescue me, wouldn't you?
What kind of trouble?
I don't know, I just mean that, uh,
you're pretty solid, James. I mean, you're always there.
Well, it's, uh, it's my job.
It's what your dad pays me to do.
Yeah.
Plus, you know, I-I...
I care about you, Jessica.
If you needed help with anything,
I mean, I would-I would do
- everything I can to give you that. - Okay.
Can I ask you something?
Sure.
Is it wrong for me to hate him?
Who?
- Oh, Jessica, you-- - Forget it.
You don't hate your father.
It's...
He's so controlling, it's like--
Because if he doesn't tell me what to do
every single second of the day,
it's like he thinks that I'm gonna do everything wrong.
And I won't, because I'm good.
Yeah.
It's like sometimes at home I feel like--
I feel like I can't even breathe, you know?
It's okay. It's okay.
Here. It's okay.
- Just take deep breaths. - Okay.
- Deep breaths, all right? - Okay.
- You're okay, you're okay. - Okay.
I'm right here.
- I'm here. - Yeah, I know.
I know you are, James.
Hey, could you do this one again? She's a vegetarian.
I'm sorry I came over unannounced last night, that wasn't cool.
Nice touch with the cantaloupe.
You wanna do something later?
Yeah. I-I do.
She didn't call you?
Oh, thank you, dear.
Everything looks great, Mrs. Coleman, thank you.
- You're welcome. - Yes, it does.
What time do you have?
- Hi. - Hi, Mom.
- Where have you been? - What?
Don't you answer your phone?
I didn't hear my phone.
It was on silent.
I was a little worried.
That's my wife, right there.
Yes.
I'm sorry, can you just-- can you turn around?
Just for-- just a minute.
- Yeah. - Okay.
Sure, of course.
Sorry, I'm just...
Sometimes I feel like I want you,
and I can't tell if you want me,
and I'm just-- God...
I just feel like I'm below you.
- Can I turn around now? - Yeah.
Look at me.
I'm below you.
Hello?
Am I speaking with Mr. James Midier?
Yeah, this is he.
My name is Miranda Lither
and I'm calling from the Missouri Sex Offender Registry.
Yeah, yeah, I, uh, I've already registered.
I haven't--
We're just calling to verify
the telephone number listed on your registration.
Okay.
An officer from the St. Louis downtown precinct
will be visiting you to verify your address.
Yeah, okay.
- Hey. - Hey.
Did you find the cream?
Well, I didn't know which one to get.
What do you mean?
There's, like, half and half,
and full, skim, there's one-one percent.
There's one...
- A thousand options. - Yeah.
Well, maybe just get one of each, that way we're covered.
- One of each? - Yeah.
- I need some help here. - Come on.
- This is your mom, right? - Yeah.
So what can I do?
How about you just sit down and entertain me?
- Do you want a beer? - Sure, sounds good.
I don't know about you, but my mom drives me fucking crazy.
I understand.
Whole thing where we trade places
and they become the kid and you become the parent
really sucks.
Yeah, I agree.
So? Entertain me.
- What do you mean? - Do you know how to tap dance?
- No, I don't. - Do you know any show tunes?
What are you talking about? You've had girlfriends before.
I had one.
- One girlfriend? - Yeah.
Like, that's it, just one.
One.
Wow.
So this one girlfriend, she break your heart?
Um, yeah.
Oh. Sorry.
Must have liked her a lot, huh?
Yeah, I did.
What about you? When was the first time you fell in love?
Well...
I fell in love with my stuffed animal when I was four.
Yeah?
That's pretty young.
What are you thinking about?
Just thinking.
It was really nice.
- Really? - Yeah, really.
That makes me happy.
Hey, Jess.
You okay?
Yeah.
Hey, baby. I'm sorry, they're overcooked.
Just flip 'em over, they'll never know.
He's a cop.
All right.
James.
- James. - No, no, no.
James, let me speak.
No, I asked you.
Please.
You...
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry for everything.
I know I can never make it up to you,
but I just thought that if I came...
- What? - Just forgive me.
I need you to do that.
Forgive you?
What are you talking about? I just...
I should be the one...
This is not your fault.
None of this. I-I... ruined your life.
That's not true.
I didn't know anything. I was too young.
I was too young to be making the decisions that I was making
and I lied,
and my father lied,
and...
And you went to jail.
I'm not a victim,
and I am definitely not your victim.
I-I am just so sorry that I ever pretended to be.
Okay, that's-that's why you came to see me?
I think so.
I'm glad you did.
What can I get you guys today?
You wanna take a ride?
Who's this nice young man?
My boyfriend.
Wow.
You can speak for yourself, right?
She tell you about me?
The good things, I hope.
Well, she would say bad things.
But then, lots of kids do.
I wasn't around much when she was young,
I was busy.
I was in Detroit,
working at GM as an engineer.
One of the first women engineers.
Really? I didn't know that.
Oh, I came up with a lot of stuff.
Assembly line processing, and wind tunnel techniques and ergonomics.
But you know what I was proudest of?
Mentoring a lot of those young women.
Why don't you tell us about the wind tunnels?
Anyway, this is where the money's been going.
Place the government wanted to put her in was fucking scary,
so, I didn't wanna do that to her.
She didn't have savings? GM pension or something?
She never worked at GM. That's a fantasy, so she doesn't have anything.
The scratches on my face?
That was last time. She just flipped.
I don't know why, you know?
She doesn't know what she's doing,
she's just medicated, you know?
She's, she's...
She's crazy, basically. You know?
Until some cute guy comes along
and then she's all sweet and...
funny and charming.
But that's what she really is, anyway,
so I wanted you to see. That's my mom.
Do you want me to drop you off somewhere?
Yeah?
Oh, sorry, did I wake you?
That's okay.
What is it? What's wrong?
Who was that girl at the diner the other day?
- Answer me. - Come in.
No.
Answer me.
She was an old friend.
Yeah? How old?
Look, whatever this is, we can-we can fix it.
Oh, we can? We can fix it?
We can fix it, really?
Can you fix this?
Fix it!
- Shit. - Yeah, shit. Shit!
I can explain this.
You're a sex offender?
I let you fuck me?
I am not the guy that's on that poster.
You're not?!
You're not a convicted rapist fresh out of jail? That's not true?
They just made that up?
What, you just conveniently forgot to tell me that?
I must be crazier than my batshit mother
to have trusted you for a second!
I don't know what the hell I was thinking!
I knew there was something up with you,
I knew you weren't telling me something. You are disgusting!
- Please, let me--. - No! Get down.
Please what? You make me sick.
- We were in love. - In love?
In love? You went to prison, James!
- They lied. - No, you lied!
She can tell you. All right?
The girl that was at the diner,
she was there, she can tell you.
So you are still seeing her.
No...
The one time, there was one other time, that was it.
Right. So that's why you really came back here,
because you're still in love with her?
No, she came to-to see me,
she was asking for my forgiveness.
Forgive...
- So how old was she? - Let me--
How old was she?
- She was 15. - Fifteen?
How did you meet a 15 year old girl, James?
I was a youth minister.
I worked for her father.
Wow.
You were right. You are below me.
Bless us, oh, Lord,
and these, Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive...
Bless us, oh, Lord, and these, Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty,
through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
- Oh, thank you, Dean. - You're welcome.
I'll take those, thank you.
Oh, you know who dropped by the church today?
- Who? - Mark and Amy Holder.
Aww...
And Amy is pregnant, very pregnant.
- Very pregnant. - Wow.
You know, we're having dinner with your parents
tomorrow evening.
That's-that's nice.
The two of you are welcome to come along.
Um...
- I think you said... - Yeah, there's a...
- ...having dinner with his friends, so... - Yeah, there's a thing.
- Next-next time? - All right.
- Okay. - Another time, then.
Another time.
Something funny happened to me today.
I don't-- I was in the city down by McLean Street,
and I was just walking along,
and I suddenly remembered, and I-I couldn't stop laughing.
I must have looked kind of crazy,
but, uh, I don't know-- I don't wanna actually even--
I don't really know if I'm telling this right
because I don't really remember it, but when I was two or three,
like, really little, though,
my dad was giving a sermon
and somehow I managed to slip out unnoticed.
Yeah.
Out of the church.
I don't know. Finally I wandered into some nice couple's yard
and I started playing on their swing set, you said?
- Yes. - I had no idea.
I felt terrible about that.
- Honey. - Oh, why?
You could have been hurt.
But I-I'm fine
now, Dad.
It's kinda funny, no?
A little? A little, maybe?
A little baby taking a stroll.
Sorry.
What were you doing in the city?
N-nothing. Why?
Excuse me just one second.
What were you doing in the city?
Nothing. Nothing.
Have you seen him?
Dean, what do you want me to say?
- May I say something? - No.
Please, let me say something.
What could you possibly have to say?
I didn't tell you because I knew you'd leave.
Okay? I want you to see the person I am now.
Not who I was.
You disgust me.
I sat in a cell for six years,
thinking the whole time, "I shouldn't be in here."
I was in there with people who had done terrible things.
The guy next to me? He had killed his parents.
He shot them first and then he stabbed them.
They were dead already, but he stabbed them anyway, 18 times.
That guy asked to be moved because he was next to me.
He didn't wanna be next to a rapist.
I am not that person.
All that I ask is for you to look at me
and see me, who I am now.
You know, at times, the idea of forgiveness,
the actual act of forgiving seems...
so impossible.
It's not human nature.
It's not. Human nature craves...
revenge and...
and, uh... hatred.
And...
and these thoughts are intoxicating.
They take over your spirit and, um...
they poison you.
And I'm sure that all of you,
at one time or another in your lives,
have felt such thoughts.
I know I have.
But the man who is able to forgive...
"To err is human,
to forgive, divine."
Be merciful.
Just as your Father is merciful.
Forgive...
and you will be forgiven.
Carl wants to see you.
Sit down.
We're waiting for one more.
You wanted to see me?
My question to you, Lily, is when did you know?
When did I know what?
That James was stealing from the tip pool.
I don't know anything about that.
Do not lie for him, Lily.
I didn't see anything.
You know, I gave you a chance.
Few people get second chances.
No one gets thirds.
I did it. I'm sorry. It was me.
No, wait a second, this isn't right.
A hundred dollars a week, usually more.
Why are you doing this?
Because I did it.
Lily, you don't owe him anything.
You're right. I don't owe him shit.
Your services are no longer required.
Jess? It's Dad.
Jessica?
If I were in real trouble,
you'd rescue me, wouldn't you?
What kind of trouble?
I don't know, I just mean that, uh...
you're pretty solid, James.
I mean, you're always there.
Let me in.
Well, it's-- it's my job.
It's what your dad pays me to do.
Yeah.
Plus, you know, I-I care about you, Jessica.
- I'm here. - Yeah, I know.
I know you are, James.
Come on, Jess.
Come on, let me in. Jessica!
So James gets out of prison
and what does he do?
Comes right back here to town.
Then he gets in touch with you.
And what do you do?
You see him?
James can't let you go.
So he destroys your marriage
and he puts these delusional thoughts in your head.
- He didn't. - What?
He didn't destroy my marriage.
I did that.
Oh, you're sick, honey. You need help.
I am not the sick one.
You call Dean and you make this thing right.
Call your husband and make it right!
Jessica.
Listen to your father.
I'm here to see James Midier.
James.
I want you to know that I come here
with the love of Jesus in my heart.
I appreciate that.
I heard from some of the congregation
that, uh, you were back.
And I was wondering what your plans were.
Work and see my family.
Well, I spoke with your family.
I've spoken with them many times while you were gone.
Look, my daughter's happy.
She's happy.
And I will not allow anything to interfere with that happiness.
I will pray for you, James.
And I for you.
I don't need your prayers.
Yes, you do.
Just like I need yours.
You need to believe that I've learned from what happened.
Right? That I can become good?
I'm a patient man, but I'm a father.
You stay away from my daughter.
I've never sought out your daughter, you can ask Jessica.
I want you to leave. Leave St. Louis, leave--
What does your God say?
Huh? What does He tell you to do? To pray?
Jessica and I, we prayed.
We looked to Him for guidance and we heard Him.
We thought that was His plan.
We believed, Paul.
We had so much faith.
Shit.
Let me help you.
No leave-- Leave me be!
Get away from me.
Hi.
Whoa.
It's like a... monk's quarters in here.
- Look, Jessica-- - You don't-- It's okay.
You don't have to say anything.
I just came to tell you that I was leaving.
Do you know where?
No.
And neither do I.
Is it because of me?
No.
None of this is your fault. You need to know that.
I can't believe you kept these.
Yeah.
"Dear James...
Yesterday you told me
that we could have the life that we wanted together.
You told me that there is no force
more powerful than what we feel.
You talked to me until I fell asleep.
And I believe...
And I believe every word that you say."
I would have done anything to be with you.
Anything.
Me, too.
Do you think that now there's some way?
I mean, there...
there must be s--
There must be some way.
Please...
I should...
I should let you go.
Let go.
Goodbye, James.
Jess.
You can have the life you want.
You can have it.
Next.
Um, one way to Chicago, please.
Thirteen dollars.
Do you even know where we're going?
Nope.
You got a map?
No.
Does that make you nervous?
No.