Original subtitles

(SIRENS WAILING)

DR. BRENNAN: Kids,

living on the street.

Have you ever talked to one?

Most come from homes

where they're abused,

often by their parents

who were supposed to

protect them, but couldn't.

There's no peace

inside of these children.

Pain is the quickest

path to pleasure,

and they cope by

hurting themselves

just so they can feel

something, anything.

We now have whole generations

who are raised in

and then lose their children

to a very broken

foster care system.

Children who live confused,

betrayed, angry,

yet still yearning for a home,

for a family, for love.

This boy is one of them.

His name is America

and this is his story.

SUSANA: I love you.

I love you so much.

You're my baby.

MRS. HARPER:

I love you.

(MRS. HARPER LAUGHING)

(VOICES ECHOING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

DR. BRENNAN: I work

at a residential treatment

facility

that's the end of the road

for way too many

of these kids.

This is their last stop.

For me, it's where

the love has to start.

Here's the

boys' dorm.

The girls' are

on the other side.

Don't get any ideas.

Girls' dorms are

off-limits.

Only places where everybody

mixes are in the common

areas downstairs,

classes, cafeterias,

rec rooms.

During the day when you're

in school or therapy, all

of these rooms are locked.

No access or

unsupervised entry.

4:00 to 5:00,

you can come up

here for quiet time.

Quiet time is

for homework.

You got dinner at 5:00,

lights out at 10:00.

This is your room.

This is your bed

and your dresser.

Any questions?

No.

Get anything

to eat yet?

Come down to cafeteria,

we'll get you some food.

I'm not hungry.

You got therapy at 10:00

and group at 2:00.

And, America,

meet your new

roommate, Fish.

Hi. I'm Fish.

♪ Yo, now is you ready

for the man stepping in

♪ With the heavy artillery

♪ Both hands cocked

in the back ready

and willingly

♪ And he's spit fire

over tracks

♪ You ain't feeling me

♪ Judging how I look,

not my lyrical abilities

♪ Please, this is

for my people

in the background ♪

America Vega?

(RAP MUSIC PLAYING

ON HEADPHONES)

America? Hi.

Come on in.

Sit right here.

Either seat's all right.

I'm Dr. Maureen Brennan.

You can call me Dr. B.

I will be your counselor

while you're here at Ridgeway.

Just so you understand,

everything that you say

during our sessions

is confidential,

with a couple

of exceptions.

Number one,

if you tell me

someone's hurting you.

Number two,

if you tell me you're

gonna hurt yourself.

Or number three, if you

tell me you're gonna hurt

someone else. Okay?

Do you have any

questions, America?

Did you understand

what I just said?

Yes?

Yeah.

Great. Would you sign

this for me, please?

Just says that I told you

what our sessions are going

to be about,

and what the rules are,

and all that mumbo jumbo

they make you

do nowadays.

Thank you very much.

Whoa!

I cannot believe that I am

almost blind without these

glasses. Did you know that?

I turn 42, totally

went downhill.

(LAUGHS)

I can't read

without them.

So what's on your

mind, America?

Anything?

Anything on your mind

you wanna share,

or something that might

help me get to know you

a little bit better?

I read in your file

that you've done

this a couple of times,

this whole therapy thing,

so I'm sure you remember,

the first session's

always the toughest.

So, why don't we

just end early for today

and start off

tomorrow with a bang,

what do you say?

Is that good

for you?

Fine.

Okay, great. You can go.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Thank you.

Nice to meet you.

Have a good day.

LIZA: Come on, you're

gonna let me go through?

MARSHALL: No.

(LAUGHING) No?

I'll tickle you!

♪ In the mirror

♪ In the mirror

Got a problem, man?

♪ But I can't trust

my own eyes

♪ It's unclear ♪

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

MRS. HARPER:

America! America!

What a sweet baby.

Where's that boy?

Easy. Where's that boy?

Where is my sweet baby?

(LAUGHS)

Where's that boy? America.

Oh. I see you, mister.

I see you.

(EXCLAIMS)

I found you!

I found you!

Oh!

You like that ring?

Mmm-hmm.

I had it when I was

a little girl.

You know what?

One day it'll be yours.

And if you rub it,

it'll bring you

good luck every day.

Good luck every day.

Good luck.

DWAYNE: Yes, we're

trying to work together

as a team.

FISH: You're supposed

to talk to each other.

DWAYNE: That's right,

communicate!

We're gonna get this ball

going as fast as we

can around the room.

Hold up. Heads up,

heads up. Hold up!

Come on, get it

around, get it around.

I like this,

I like what

I'm seeing!

Come on! Good job!

Good job!

Good tossing,

good tossing,

good tossing!

Get it around here.

Right. Come on,

come on, come on.

Team work!

Team work! Come on.

Good job, good job!

Hot potato, hot potato,

hot potato, two.

One to you!

Get the ball over here.

BOY 1: Right here.

BOY 2: Yo, man, what's up?

Yo, you all right?

DWAYNE: You just

gonna leave?

Just like that?

All right. Well,

don't forget to write.

All right, hot

potato back in!

BOY 3: Come on, guys.

DWAYNE: Let's go!

Let's go! Let's go!

Let's go! Let's go!

♪ I truly despise to

♪ In the mirror

♪ In the mirror

♪ In the mirror ♪

(PEOPLE WHISPERING)

(FISH CRYING)

Shut up!

(CRYING)

(SIGHS)

You know, we've been

here a long time.

You think you're

ever gonna talk to me?

You got my file. Read it.

I read it. It's full

of facts, not feelings.

I'd much rather

talk to you than

read about you.

I'm too tired.

You know, I'm kind

of tired myself.

How about we just end

today a little bit early

and start again

tomorrow morning?

Okay.

Okay.

I'll see you tomorrow.

(DOOR OPENING)

(SIGHS)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(CAR ENGINE STARTING)

Got nowhere to go?

What?

I don't know.

Seem lonely sitting

here by yourself,

so I figured you

had nowhere to go

for the weekend.

Fish is one of

the lucky ones.

He always has places

to go on the weekends.

It's hard at first,

you know, adjusting

and everything,

but trust me,

it'll be fine.

You know, you kind

of look all mixed up,

like you have

a little bit of

everything in you.

Your name fits you, America.

AMERICA: I'm in America,

I'm in America.

I'm in America

and America is me!

MRS. HARPER: And we live

in Michigan, in America.

I'm America.

REGGIE: Hot dog!

Yes, you are.

MRS. HARPER: Yes! America

is a place where we live,

and it's also your name.

I'm in America,

and America is me.

REGGIE: Watch out!

MRS. HARPER: How about that!

I'm in America,

and America is me.

(VOICES ECHOING)

You know, I think

my mom slept with almost

every guy in America.

Now she's started on Mexico.

She's a flake, but...

You want some?

No, thanks.

Food here's pretty good.

It's not that bad.

I mean, there's

like vending machines

everywhere,

and they always refill them

every Friday, so...

Here.

So, America,

I know you don't

want to talk about it,

but three months ago, you

tried to kill yourself. Why?

Why don't you

read my file?

Why don't you

read your file?

So interested

in what it says?

I don't need to

read it. I already

know what's there!

REGGIE: (LAUGHING)

Look at you!

Look at you, boy, look.

You a man now!

You a man now!

Wanna talk about

Mrs. Harper?

No.

You lived with her

and her brother

Reggie, right?

Why you asking me

what you already know?

I don't know everything.

I know you were

taken from your mom

when you were

just a baby...

Nobody took me.

Listen, I know

this is hard stuff,

this is painful

stuff to talk about,

to remember, to feel.

You were taken

from your mom by CPS,

Child Protective Services.

They did it to keep

you safe, America.

You were placed

with a foster family?

They were rich and

my skin was too dark,

so they gave me to

their housekeeper.

Mrs. Harper?

Yeah, Miss Harper.

And she tried

to adopt you, hmm?

You think about

her a lot?

Yeah, I think about her.

I think about a lot of things.

Like what?

Like, you wouldn't

understand.

Well, maybe I would.

So try me.

Well, listen. I saw

good work today. Really.

Nice job. I'm gonna

let you out early.

(GASPING)

America,

are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Should I go...

No! Just leave me alone,

okay? I'm fine!

Are you mad at me?

No, I'm not mad at you,

okay? Just leave me alone,

all right?

I'm fine. Go back to sleep.

I'm fine.

Leave me alone.

MRS. COLE: We've got books,

and there's some good books,

and there's books

here for everyone.

So I want everybody

to come on up and

take your pick.

Come on! Come on up!

Take your pick.

Okay, now, some of

the books were donated,

but some of them are mine.

So, respect, please.

Lemony Snicket's

A Series of

Unfortunate Events.

You should like that,

Marshall. That one's

pretty dark.

Okay, now just remember

that you have to give

a little report on the book

that you choose

to the class.

So choose wisely.

This one's got pictures.

MRS. COLE:

Oh, that's good!

That's a good one for you.

Now here is

a popular book.

It's called

The Catcher in the Rye.

I read it.

MRS. COLE:

Did you like it?

It's a good book.

You should read it.

(GIRLS YELLING)

(GIRLS CHATTERING)

DR. BRENNAN:

So what's going on?

How long do

I have to stay here?

Depends. How long is long?

A week? A month?

A year? What?

Long is whenever

they feel like deciding.

And who is "they"?

Everybody. The state, you.

Long is long.

How long?

Long is long.

1-3-1-3-1-4-6

9-8-5-3.

How long?

Oh, just a couple

of days.

Then you'll be back here

and start kindergarten.

Hey, kindergarten!

You're a big boy.

Can you believe it?

Oh! An unsupervised visit,

that's what I can't believe.

Now, you know how

to call us, right?

1-3-1-3-1-4-6

9-8-5-3.

Only zero

first for collect.

(LAUGHING)

Do I have to go?

Oh, honey, your mama

wants to see you.

You're my mama.

You adopted me, right?

Well, not yet.

I'm trying.

We have to wait

till the judge says so.

I don't wanna go.

Oh, honey, she's your mama,

and she wants to see you.

Just remember the numbers.

You need me or

your Uncle Reggie,

and we'll come for you.

1-3-1-3-1-4-6

9-8-5-3.

All right.

Now, you be bad

and your mama gonna

send you back here quick.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

All right?

(REGGIE LAUGHING)

Do not listen to Reggie.

DR. BRENNAN:

America. America.

America, look at me.

Whatever you don't

deal with now,

you're gonna have to

deal with it later.

I don't care.

Well, you should care.

You're 17 years old.

When you turn 18, you

age out of the system.

You know what

that means?

No.

It means no more

services for you,

the state's done.

They raised you, out!

You're on the street, alone.

You know what

happens to those kids?

Jail or homelessness.

That's not a life for you.

Or you could

get your GED.

If you get your GED,

you know what,

the state will pay for

you to go to college.

It's your choice.

Can I go now?

Yes, you can go.

But you know what?

At some point,

America, it's up to you.

It's up to you.

(DOOR OPENING)

You think about it, okay?

(DOOR CLOSING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

What's that

supposed to be, Liza?

Well...

It's a whale.

Shut up, Shoelaces.

What did you say?

I said,

"Shut up, Shoelaces!"

Shoelaces here,

he tried to hang

hisself with shoelaces.

I mean, how

stupid is that?

I bet you like

arts and crafts...

(GRUNTING)

LIZA: Guys!

(PEOPLE CLAMORING)

Stop! Stop! Stop!

Stop!

Both of you

need to stop!

You're gonna get

in trouble!

You asked for it, Shoelaces.

His name isn't

Shoelaces!

Is that true?

What?

You tried to

kill yourself?

So what if I did?

I don't like people

who are gonna die, okay?

People that try

to kill themselves.

Had nothing to

do with you.

Why are you so mad?

Because.

Because why?

I have my reasons, okay?

Just promise me

that you'll never try

to take your life again!

Promise me!

Okay, okay.

Say it!

Okay, I promise, fine.

TOM: Hey, you two.

Grab a broom.

This place is filthy.

What's up

with the shoelaces?

AMERICA: Nothing.

(LIGHTER CLICKS)

What is that?

Where did you get that?

No lighters allowed,

America. Sorry.

America! America! America!

Somebody help me!

America, no!

Somebody help me!

You got that?

BROOKLYN: Meat or pasta?

America, move up.

Fish, who is that guy?

He's mean, that guy.

Meat or pasta?

LIZA: Pasta.

I've never seen

him here before.

He went but he comes back.

I think his name's Brooklyn.

He's mean, that guy.

Yeah, I know.

You said that.

SUSANA: These are your

brothers. This is Brooklyn,

and that's Lyle.

Look, I'm jacked.

I'm wired,

and I've been up for,

like, two, three days,

I don't even know how long.

No. No, see, I had to

do something really,

really important, okay?

I had to... I had to

make a run, all right?

But I'm done now.

I'll be there in

five minutes, okay?

Wait for me!

No. No, look,

you can wait

for me, okay?

Please. Please, okay?

Please wait for me,

all right? Okay.

LYLE: Mama!

SUSANA: No, let me get in

the door first, okay? Okay.

All right, yeah,

I'll be there

in five minutes. Okay.

All right, now.

Now, America,

these are your brothers.

All right,

this is Brooklyn,

and that's Lyle.

And... And they're gonna

watch you for me. You're

gonna watch him, right?

Okay.

Right, now listen, baby,

I gotta go on an errand.

But I'll be

right back, okay.

Mama!

No, no, no, no! Stay there,

and don't open the door

for nobody. Okay?

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

What you got there?

Candy.

Give them to me!

AMERICA: Mama!

SUSANA: No, no,

no, no! Stay there,

and don't open

the door for nobody. Okay?

Brooklyn, Brooklyn.

BROOKLYN:

Meat or pasta?

Brooklyn...

Which one?

We ain't got all day.

Meat.

♪ If you don't know

why you're here

♪ Join the club

Man, you cover

for me, man?

♪ All humanity

has already signed up

♪ If you cannot sleep at night

♪ For fright of being

this lonely forever

♪ Remember that we are

all in the same boat

♪ The world is smaller

than you think ♪

Hey. Dwayne,

you see America?

Yeah? Thank you.

(MUSIC PLAYING ON HEADPHONES)

Yo.

Yeah. You missed

your session.

Yeah, okay.

How do you get to

go in the kitchen?

What?

How do you get to

work in the kitchen?

How do you get

to serve food?

Why do you wanna know?

Just tell me.

You earn it.

It's reserved for

the residents in the drug

treatment program.

Why do you

wanna know?

It's not important.

It's important to me.

I'd like to know.

Look, why don't you just

leave me alone, okay?

What do you

bother me for?

Go home, take care

of your own kids.

You think I have kids?

I don't know.

Maybe you don't have kids.

Maybe it's just you.

Maybe that's why you're here.

You know how

to play cards?

Solitaire, gin,

poker, anything?

BROOKLYN: This is

a ace, stupid. Now

we got a war going.

Two of spades

beats everything,

including aces.

Do you know aces?

I don't know.

This is a ace, stupid.

Now we got a war going.

War.

War.

All right.

Cut the deck.

You know the rules?

I don't know

your rules.

Everybody's got

their own rules for war.

Two of spades

beats everything,

including aces.

Got it.

Do you want to

know my rules?

I don't do sessions

in the game room.

You have to show up

to my office,

every day, on time.

We don't have

to stay there.

We could take a walk.

We could go

somewhere else.

But you must

show up, America.

You understand?

Yeah, okay.

Okay?

Okay.

Okay.

War!

I get it.

(CHUCKLES)

I don't know.

Hey, you just fall back.

(ALL SHOUTING)

Look at him,

he's scared.

Shaking like

the lunch Jell-O.

Hey, Fish!

Maybe you'll fall

and hit your head

and blood will just

be gushing everywhere.

DWAYNE: Come on, guys!

Come on, you can do it.

I don't want to get hurt.

Fish, you can do it.

I know you can do it.

DWAYNE: Spotters,

are you ready?

KIDS: Ready!

Fish, you can fall now.

Falling.

KIDS: Fall. Go on.

Yeah!

Yeah, Fish!

DWAYNE: Good job.

FISH: I trusted

you, right?

People shouldn't

hurt each other

or kill each other,

not even ants.

Shut up, Fish!

No, you shut up!

Okay, okay, cool it.

All right, who's next?

Who's next?

BOY 1: I'll go.

BOY 2: Me.

You done?

Yeah.

I was in this

foster home once,

with this other kid,

we ate what the families

left on their plates.

It was gross!

Yeah. I've been

in some pretty

bad places, too.

Of course, when the Earth

runs out of water,

there won't be any food.

We'll just waste away.

You're weird.

So are you.

Look at your hands.

Big as my whole face!

You know what

they say about guys

with big hands, right?

Big gloves!

(BOTH LAUGHING)

I like you.

What?

I said I like you.

Why?

I don't know why.

One of life's mysteries.

(AMERICA GRUNTS)

Son of a bitch!

FISH: America,

what's wrong?

There's glass in my bed.

Glass?

Yeah, glass!

America...

I should get

the nurse.

No, I don't want the nurse.

I'm no snitch.

I wonder who did it.

I know who.

(GRUNTS)

I know who did it.

Marshall, huh?

(GRUNTING)

America, you

mustn't kill him.

You mustn't

never kill nobody.

I know, Fish.

Not even ants.

(GRUNTS)

Not even ants.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come on in.

Hey. You're early.

What's wrong?

I'm sick of this

place, okay?

I want to get

out of here!

Where would you go?

Home.

And where is home?

AMERICA: I'm bad!

So do it! Where is she?

Why do you care?

Is she ever coming back?

Just shut up!

I'm bad!

Reggie said if

I was bad, you'd

send me home!

So do it!

Send me home!

Hey, I know it's not

so great being here,

I totally get it.

Let me help you.

I don't want any help.

I know.

But everybody needs help.

I just want to get out!

Okay! I hear you,

you want to get out.

Let's talk about

how you get out

of here, okay?

Take a breath.

Come, sit.

Come on, sit,

talk to me.

Tell me what's wrong.

(GASPING)

BROOKLYN: Bad dream.

Dreamed

there was a monster.

Did it get you?

No, it got Mama.

(DOOR CREAKING OPEN)

Is she ever

coming back?

You're my baby.

I love you.

I love you so much.

You know that, don't you?

(CRYING)

I can't take

this anymore.

I just can't.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Excuse me! Hello,

chore list is up! Hello!

Chore list up for

the week! Listen up!

(BILLY GROANS)

Uh, Billy,

you are dusting.

Don, you are mopping.

Carla, you are sweeping.

Lyle, you are

doing laundry.

Marshall, you have trash.

Let me see.

Joe, you're washing dishes.

Fish, you are sweeping.

America, you are doing

laundry.

Bob, you are

washing dishes.

Brooklyn.

What the heck

are you doing here?

You're not supposed

to be in here.

Get out of here!

I need to talk to you.

Need to? Can't you

see I'm busy, man?

Okay, so when are

you not busy?

When can we talk? When?

Look, meet me here

at 11:00 tonight, all right?

Go. Get out of here.

Brooklyn, get

the soup, man!

Yeah, yeah.

(METALLIC CLANGING)

What are you doing here?

Get out!

Let him do it.

I don't wanna

get in trouble.

Do what?

Never mind, Shoelaces.

He want me

to brand him.

You do it.

You scared?

No.

Both shoulders.

You're crazy.

Look who's talking.

You stoned?

Just one little pill.

Make sure you get

it good and hot.

Here?

Yeah.

(SCREAMING)

You ready for

the other one?

I'm keeping

the lighter.

(DISTORTED MUSIC PLAYING)

BROOKLYN: Let's go

hit that car.

LYLE: Come on, Brook!

BROOKLYN: Let's go,

America. Let's beat it.

DR. BRENNAN: So I'll see

you after group. All right?

Nice. It's nice to see

you smile for a change.

Hey.

Hey.

Nice one!

You like basketball?

It's okay. I'm not

very good at it.

Well, two in a row,

better than me on a good day.

(DR. BRENNAN EXCLAIMS)

Brennan has the ball.

It's at the three-point line.

She looks, she shoots!

(EXCLAIMS)

Off the rim! You got

a favorite team?

Pistons.

Detroit Pistons.

Good choice.

I like them.

Watch them on TV?

Went to a game once.

No kidding?

Yeah. Reggie took me.

(DR. BRENNAN EXCLAIMS)

DR. BRENNAN: Yeah!

It's my favorite

thing to do.

Couple friends,

stadium full of

people cheering,

get a hot dog...

Yeah, and a beer.

You had a beer?

DR. BRENNAN: Huh?

Little one on one,

what do you say?

What do you think? Yeah?

Wanna take it up?

Before we start,

I just want you

to see one thing.

Look at that!

Look at that!

Yo, we done? America?

You hiding?

Yeah. I like it down here.

It's nice and quiet.

Want some gum?

No, thanks.

Missing out on a lot.

(SNAPS GUM)

Have you ever seen

that IMAX about

Mount Everest?

No.

It's so high up.

It's all snow and ice.

It's higher than any

place in the whole world.

Sounds beautiful.

It is.

You don't know

where the clouds start

and the snow stops.

Yeah, but you have

to worry about

that frostbite.

Turn your skin all black,

start to fall off.

Next thing you know,

your whole nose is

gone just like that!

(LAUGHS)

(SNAPS GUM)

(CHUCKLES)

Want it?

Give me a fresh piece.

Come on.

Don't be a baby.

(LAUGHS)

You have a sexy mouth.

Give it back.

Uh-uh. No, you're

not getting it back.

Give it!

What's this?

It's cut and stitch.

What?

I used to cut myself

and then stitch it with

a needle and thread.

Wait a minute.

Weren't you the one crying,

begging me to

never hurt myself?

I told you.

I don't do it anymore.

Goes up your whole arm.

My legs too,

my belly.

I liked to feel the pain

on the outside,

not the inside.

That's what

Dr. B says.

When you cut open your skin,

you see life running out.

I've done worse.

What?

I've done something

so bad that I can

never tell anybody.

I'm not anybody. It's me.

Come on, tell me.

I can't...

I can't tell you.

Tell me.

Tell me!

I know you probably

don't want to hear this,

but I'd be better off dead.

Don't say that!

Don't you ever say that!

You're just a jerk!

I hate you!

Wait! Come back!

I don't want to

see you again!

Liza, wait. Come...

(GRUNTS)

♪ Told everyone I knew

to be kind to you

♪ Cause you were

new to this place

♪ But they just

threw me in your face

♪ Told everyone I knew

to be kind to you

♪ Cause you were

new to this place

♪ But they just

threw me in your face

♪ Be

♪ Me ♪

(METALLIC CLANGING)

What do you want?

AMERICA: Where'd you get that?

Why, you want some?

I thought you were

getting clean.

What happened?

What happened to you,

Lyle, Mom?

You got me out here

in the middle of the night

to ask me what happened?

You know.

You were there.

We got separated.

It's over. Done.

Forget it.

Now let's get

this straight.

You and me,

we ain't brothers,

we ain't associates,

we ain't nothing.

You got that?

Why'd you show up then,

if we ain't nothing?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

DR. BRENNAN: Can you

tell me about your brothers?

After the cops came

I never saw them again.

Separated,

different foster home?

Yeah, in and out

for three stupid years.

Must have been horrible.

I kept telling

them the numbers.

Mrs. Harper's

phone number?

Yeah, Mrs. Harper.

MRS. HARPER: You got

lost in the system,

but you're back.

REGGIE: You a man now!

(MRS. HARPER EXCLAIMING)

We've been

looking for you.

(LAUGHING)

You know what they said?

"You got lost in the system."

(LAUGHING)

But you're back!

You're back! Reggie!

REGGIE: Yeah.

MRS. HARPER:

Here he is. He's back.

Yeah, there he is.

Look at you, boy.

Oh, no! You a man now!

DR. BRENNAN: You got

to go back to her, right?

(VOICES ECHOING)

Huh?

You got to go back

to Mrs. Harper's?

Yeah.

And then, when you

were 16, you ran away.

I don't really

understand that

part, America.

All you wanted was to get

back there, and then after

you were there, you left.

Can you tell me why?

Would you like to

see her, America?

She's probably

dead now anyway.

No, she's not dead.

She's in a nursing home

not far from here,

and if you like,

we could go see her.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay.

America.

What happened

just then?

We were talking

about Mrs. Harper,

and you checked out.

You went someplace.

Where did you go?

I didn't go anywhere, okay?

I'm here. I'm right here!

We all go away

in our minds sometimes.

Everyone does it.

It's totally normal.

Really, I mean,

things are too

painful to talk about,

you don't want

to think about it,

you get a little

brain break, you know?

A little vacation

in your mind.

Everything shuts off.

You go someplace safe.

Okay, I'm screwed up,

all right?

I knew that already.

You are not screwed up.

You're human!

That's how we

protect ourselves.

I'm out of here.

Hey, come on!

Have I ever

walked out on you?

Even once? Have I? No.

You gotta stop walking

out on me, all right?

We're past that.

When you go away

in your head, tell me,

where do you go?

Mount Everest.

Mount Everest?

Yeah.

It's cold, so cold

you go numb all over.

And you don't

feel anything there?

It's peaceful, quiet,

and now that I told you,

I don't think

I can go there anymore.

Maybe you won't have to.

What's that word?

"This side up."

You're guessing.

Don't guess.

Sound it out.

You think I'm dumb,

and you don't

like me anymore!

Well, I've always

liked you.

Before, now, forever! America!

AMERICA: That's

a bunch of crap!

Hey, come on.

Come on, America.

You getting all riled up.

Help me with supper.

We gotta take care of her.

We a team,

you and me!

(REGGIE MUMBLING)

Tuck your fingers under,

like I showed you.

Mmm. Mmm-mmm.

Professional,

all right?

So you don't

cut yourself.

Here you go.

You need to relax.

You're too tense.

Here, try this.

Come on,

it'll relax you.

(COUGHING)

What are you?

A little girl?

Come on, man!

Look here.

Now try.

That's better. Yeah.

That better? Yeah. Good.

Mmm.

You be cool, and I'll

teach you how to spell.

I'll help you

with your spelling.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Let's go!

All right. What's that?

"P."

Right. And this one here?

"E."

Now here's

a real difficult one.

"N."

And the easiest

one of all.

"I."

And the snake!

The snake.

"S."

Now put it all together.

"Penis."

What?

"Penis."

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Say it!

"Penis!"

Crazy! Here,

have some more.

I don't think

she'd like this.

She not going to know.

It's gonna be

our little secret.

Mmm.

Now, go ahead,

finish it up.

And now you going to

drink or you going to

cut the celery?

You look very nice.

I ironed my shirt

in the laundry room.

Who taught you to iron?

Reggie.

Oh, yeah? Good guy, huh?

There's nothing

wrong with Reggie.

(ENGINE STARTS)

Are you ready?

Yeah.

You're sure?

Yeah.

All right.

Then go right

through here.

She used to

talk about you.

Her boy, America.

She doesn't

talk much anymore,

but I know she hears.

Mrs. Harper?

Mrs. Harper?

Guess who's here

to see you? America.

Well, you've been

waiting on him.

Here he is.

Hello, Miss Harper.

It's been a long time.

Do you remember

when we used to

play hide and seek?

Do you remember that?

I remember.

And all the angels

you used to paint?

Angels.

I'm sorry for what I did.

I never...

I never meant

to hurt you.

I...

Your ring.

Your magic ring.

(LAUGHS)

MRS. HARPER:

You like that ring?

You like that ring?

You like that ring?

Now if you have good luck,

you gonna give me some?

I remember you used to say

that if I rubbed it,

I would have good luck.

Yes, good luck.

I love you.

I forgive you.

She smelled the same.

Mint and Chap Stick.

The smells of home.

Yeah.

Hey, Dr. B.

Yeah?

I wanna work

in the kitchen.

Why?

My brother works

in the kitchen.

Your brother?

Yeah, my brother Brooklyn,

he works in the kitchen.

I'll see what I can do.

Brooklyn.

What the heck

are you doing here?

Working.

I got a job here.

I've had experience

working in the kitchen.

Look, I'm not trying

to bother you,

but since we're both here,

there's a lot of stuff

we could talk about.

I don't think so.

Why not?

I told you before,

I don't remember nothing.

Nothing at all.

Look, it wasn't

right, okay?

They should've

kept us all together.

We're brothers.

Get back to

the pots and pans, man.

I been looking for you...

Enough!

Give it up.

Just give it up.

Forget it.

♪ Ooh, baby,

I like your size

♪ Sweet and petite

Your hips and thighs

♪ Jump in my car

And let's go for a ride

♪ We gonna slide

to the other side

♪ And work

Girl's worth something

Girl's worth something

♪ Don't hurt nothing

Work

♪ Girl, go get it

Come back with it ♪

Liza is hot.

Fish, do you

know what hot is?

I didn't think so.

Hey, Fish,

wanna dance?

No, I don't wanna.

I'm guessing you

don't dance, right?

No.

Figured.

Come on, girl.

Come on.

♪ Ooh, baby, I like your size

♪ Sweet and petite

Your hips and thighs

♪ Jump in my car

And let's go for a ride ♪

America! America!

Dance isn't over

until 10:00.

It's over for me.

Your boyfriend's

looking for you.

He's not my boyfriend.

He's a jerk.

Yeah, whatever.

I've missed you.

Missed talking to you.

You haven't

missed anything, okay?

Just leave me alone.

Can you stop?

Look, would you

just leave me alone?

My scars.

It's okay.

You're beautiful.

More beautiful than

anything I've ever seen.

No, wait. Stop!

It's okay.

I can't. Just...

What's wrong?

I don't want to

anymore, okay?

I don't want to.

Why?

You're...

You're all scarred up, okay.

You're just... You're ugly!

I know you,

and this isn't you.

Just leave me alone, okay?

Stay away from me!

You're an ugly skank!

What's with you?

Just leave me alone, okay?

Just leave me alone.

Rice up!

Enchiladas.

Come on, man.

So what happened?

What do you think

happened?

Liza wanted it bad.

She was begging for it.

JOEY: Oh, yeah?

Come on, Shoelaces,

don't be so stingy.

I mean,

Liza wasn't last night.

She was all over me.

Yo, man.

(ALL CLAMORING)

ALL: Fight! Fight!

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

MAN: Lose the knife!

Let go!

I'll kill him.

Chill, man!

Just chill,

all right?

I'm gonna let you go.

Look, somebody

clean this up!

Okay, dude,

you're out of jail.

Get back to your room.

Don't get into

any more trouble.

Fine.

America. America,

guess what?

They're sending

Marshall away.

Good.

He's been transferred

to Fairfield.

(LAUGHING)

Fairfield, that's bad!

And Liza's going home.

Liza?

Yeah. Reunification,

I heard it.

She's a skank, huh?

No, Fish.

That's not true.

She's not a skank.

America,

what's a skank?

(KNOCKING)

Liza! Liza!

What do you want?

You weren't gonna tell me

you were leaving?

Why would you care?

I didn't mean

any of that stuff

I said the other night.

I know.

It was your first time, huh?

Kind of.

Come in.

You and Marshall, you...

I was mad at you.

My mom's coming

to pick me up

this morning.

She's nuts, you know.

When I was eight years old,

my dad pretty much

shot his head off

with a deer rifle.

I don't want to

end up like them.

You won't.

It's up to you.

One more.

Aren't you

gonna say anything?

What do you want me to say?

Tell me you love me.

What?

Even if you don't mean it.

Just say it.

I love you.

Feels good

to say it, right?

Yeah.

Feels good to hear it, too.

I should go.

People are probably

waking up.

Stay, stay. Don't go.

I'll write to you, America,

but you have to write back.

Liza...

I love you, too.

DR. BRENNAN:

Hey, Dwayne. Morning, Carol.

CAROL: Good morning, Dr. B.

How are you?

What you got there?

Two messages.

Okay, I'll do them

after lunch.

Okay.

Hey. What are you doing here?

Come on in.

Come on in.

Why are you up so early?

AMERICA: I couldn't...

I couldn't sleep.

You know why?

Liza's gone.

Yeah, but she's

gonna be okay.

Did you really tell her

that cutting yourself

lets all the pain

you have inside out?

Yes, I did.

But you don't

have to cut yourself

to let all the pain out.

What else can you do?

DR. BRENNAN:

You talk to someone,

someone you trust,

and that's why I'm here.

I'm sorry.

Wait, don't.

No. I'm sorry.

No. No.

I'm not gonna

touch you again.

Don't...

Don't touch me.

I'm sorry about that.

What's going on?

Can you...

Can you tell me?

No, I can't.

Just tell me, America.

Just say it!

Everybody leaves, okay?

Everybody like who?

Like Liza?

My mother, Liza, my brothers.

They all... They all go away.

No one ever stays.

Okay.

People who are supposed

to protect me, don't.

People who are

supposed to care, don't.

Reggie, Mrs. Harper,

my brothers,

my mother, everyone.

So confused you

don't know what's right,

what's wrong anymore.

REGGIE: This is gonna be

our special secret.

This is gonna be

our special secret.

This is gonna be

our special secret.

I'm just teaching

you to be a man, huh?

And you know what?

You're a good learner.

You're a good learner.

You're a good learner.

(SHUSHING)

Yes, you did!

I didn't do nothing wrong!

I keep telling you,

I didn't do nothing!

Then why do they

keep calling me,

wanting to have a conference?

Your grades are going down.

They telling me

you're disturbed!

No, something ain't right.

Imagine having

your fingers scraped

like I'm scraping this carrot.

Take the skin of your finger

and peel it right off,

just like that.

Imagine that

as a way to think

about what might happen

if you tell our secret.

What about Mrs. Harper?

What... What was

that about Mrs. Harper?

Nothing. The boy's

just giving me trouble,

that's all.

I don't like carrots, is all.

Since when?

Since when you

don't like carrots?

What's going on here?

Nothing. Everything's fine.

Look, don't worry

about America.

I talked

to the principal

and the teachers,

and they're working it out.

And he's gonna

straighten up, right?

Something's

always with this boy.

Yeah, always!

Yeah, he's just

a little behind,

that's all.

Just a little dumb.

I ain't dumb!

Yes, you are! You're dumb!

I'm not dumb!

No, you're not dumb.

He kept...

He kept saying...

He kept saying

I would like it!

And in the beginning I did,

but then it stopped

feeling good!

You're talking about Reggie?

Is that the way

you going to be?

Well, maybe I go find

your precious Mrs. Harper,

go find that old lady, huh?

Is that what you want?

Is that what you want?

He said he was

gonna hurt her.

He was gonna hurt

Mrs. Harper?

Yes. I...

I... l can't. I...

Yes, you can.

You're so close,

America, you're so close.

What did he do?

Tell me, what did Reggie do?

He took care of me, okay?

He bought me stuff.

He was nice.

Now you know

all the things

I do for you.

Just remember that, huh?

Just remember.

Put that in your head,

and then you

don't have to worry

about that old lady.

She's just

getting in the way.

She's just

getting in the way.

I had to do it!

He said he was

going to kill her, okay?

I had to do something! I...

I just couldn't

take it anymore.

What did you do?

I knew where they

kept some money.

I was gonna pay her back,

I swear.

I would...

I would never hurt her.

I know you wouldn't

hurt her, America.

Look at me. Look at me.

Tell me what happened.

I wet some towels.

I put them under her door.

I put them...

I put them by her door and...

I was drunk and...

I killed him! I killed him!

I killed him! I killed him!

Okay.

I had to do it.

Okay. Okay, okay, okay.

(SHUSHING)

I saw it on TV.

They were pulling his

body out of the house

on a stretcher.

Mrs. Harper told them

he was smoking in bed.

She covered for me.

She loved you.

I didn't hate Reggie.

He was... He was kind.

He wasn't.

What?

Are you going to tell?

No, America.

I'm not going to tell.

Okay.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

You wrote down

everything in there

that you need

to say to Reggie?

Everything?

Yeah.

Okay. Now we bury it.

Now it's done.

I'm proud of you.

You take as long as you need.

I'll meet you inside,

all right?

(INHALING SHARPLY)

(SIGHING)

DR. BRENNAN: You try to

bury the hurt and hope

the future will be better.

Kids go away, released

into the world at 18.

I never know

where they may land.

Most aren't ready.

They go back to a family

that's unable or unwilling

to care for them,

or they end up

in the streets.

It often feels hopeless.

But at the end of the day,

I live for that moment

when I see one kid

heading down the right path.

Foster, it means to support,

to encourage, to sustain,

to cherish.

Its very first meaning

was to feed or nourish.

That seems pretty simple.

All a kid needs

is one person

to hang on to,

one person to see them,

to listen, to care,

to show up consistently.

One person,

that's what I believe.

Another batch,

and I always get

a catch in my throat.

Maybe I'm naive, but I think

in a country like ours,

we can do better, we must.

These kids don't

belong to somebody else.

These kids

belong to all of us.

They are America's children.

They are America.

♪ Something lucid

♪ This is new

♪ And on the other side

♪ All I see is you

♪ You speak my language

I don't speak yours

♪ Now we find ourselves

♪ Inside this perfect storm ♪