Original subtitles

Faster than a speeding bullet,

more powerful than a locomotive,

able to leap tall buildings in a single bound,

Superman!

- Superman.

Lois, what are you doing here?

Oh, just getting a woman's angle on this story.

The mechanical monster, look out!

- What have you done with the jewels?

- What have you done with the jewels?

- Cold.

Oh, Steven, that's beautiful.

Almost time to go, guys.

- Just on more step and she's doomed.

- One more step and she's doomed.

- This new doctor's very nice.

I think you guys'll like her.

Doctor Stein to radiation oncology, please.

Doctor Stein to radiation oncology.

- Hello, miss Morgan, I'm Dr. Patrick.

- Hey. - Hi.

Hi, guys.

Can you tell me what your name is?

And where do you live?

You live up there?

Miss Morgan, do they make any sounds at all?

- Philip can repeat things verbatim,

but never speaks on his own.

Steven, no.

- No? - No.

What does that mean?

- Too soon to tell, but it means they're capable of speech.

At least he is.

It means the equipment works anyway.

Let's go into my office, okay?

- I've been to see half a dozen doctors,

they all say the same thing.

Boys develop slower than girls,

twins sometimes develop their own language,

be glad your boys are healthy, they'll come around.

- Well, why don't we bring them on down

and this shouldn't take more than an hour, okay?

- The equipment works anyway.

That it does.

Pay attention to how he lines up the blocks.

See what happens when you try and take a turn.

This one at least appears to respond

to verbal cues from the mother

and he's a pretty good mimic.

Full word formation and intonation.

Miss Morgan?

- Yeah?

- Why don't you join US?

Come on in.

You can have a seat right here.

Well, it is a rather remarkable find.

- A find?

- Fraternal twins with autism.

- I'm sorry, did you say autistic?

- They both exhibit unusual gaze behavior

and odd social affect.

We noted obvious sensory issues,

hyperacusis, for example.

Philip uses immediate echolalia.

He repeats what he hears.

They don't display stereotypical motor patterns,

but the signs of cognitive development

that we observed are good prognostic indicators.

Autism is a brain disorder that effects

social interaction and communication skills.

- No.

No.

No, no!

I said no.

No!

No!

- No, no, no, no, this is unacceptable.

- I'm so sorry.

Shh, no!

Oh, I'm sorry.

Sir, I'm so sorry.

Shh, shh, shh.

I'll clean it up, i'm cleaning it up.

I'm so...

- You should control your children.

- Hold this.

Let's go.

Let's go!

- Corrine?

Hun?

Hey.

- Oh, you're early.

- Well, your message was kind of weird.

The boys have a meltdown?

- No, I did.

I took them to see Dr. Patrick today.

They're autistic.

They have autism.

- God.

- I don't know what to do.

I tried all those doctors.

They'll never get better.

It'll never go away, they'll never

have normal lives.

- Neither will we.

Not even close.

I see.

- This isn't fair.

I fell in love with you.

I didn't sign up for this.

Autistic boys and...

- Oh, no, you're right, you didn't.

It's not fair and you didn't sign up for it.

After all, you're not their father, are you?

- I can't do it, corrine.

I just need to be honest with you.

I'm sorry.

One more day

In the sun

- you're gonna be a pop star someday.

Go on, Steven, go on.

Okay, come on, get inside.

- So you see, when you're adding e

on to the end of some words, it will change the vowel sound.

It will change from a short vowel,

a short a like in cap, to a long a in cape.

And that's what these little symbols mean.

It's the little curly-q hat on the a

when it's a short a, cap.

And a straight line over the long a, cape.

- Oh, is this your classroom?

- Mm-hmm, I have a hall pass.

I went to the bathroom.

- Oh.

Do you know Philip and Steven?

- Philip and Steven?

They're really weird.

You can do it with people's names.

Sam.

Sam has a short a, put an e on the end and it's same.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- I took a little money out,

just what I had when we met, I'll need it.

- Don't worry about it.

- I've got it.

- You sure this is what you want?

- Don't act like you're not relieved.

- You know that's not fair.

I was honest with you, corrine,

would you have preferred it otherwise?

- I'd prefer it if...

The boys are out there,

do you want to say goodbye or something?

Uh, nevermind.

It might upset them.

Bye.

Okay, come on.

Okay, this is gonna be our new home for a little while.

All right?

- I'm scared, too.

We're gonna be all right, fellas.

- Good afternoon, good afternoon.

Ho-ho, so you're looking for a place to live?

Well, look no further, friend, look no further!

Hoo, I got such a good place for you.

How much?

Just the little place for you and your woman.

Oh, way up there, way up there.

- Well, I know that it's been empty for a while.

Why don't you rent it to me

and I can make some improvements?

Okay, well...

You'll get back to me, then, right?

Thank you.

Oh, Steven!

Ah, dammit, the clock!

No, Steven, this doesn't belong to US!

You got...

It's okay, here.

It's all right, we'll get another one, okay?

It's okay.

It's okay, all right?

It's okay.

Whatever's going on in that beautiful head of yours

sure is remarkable.

Okay.

You understand all the terms of the agreement?

Yes.

- And um, I guess that's it then.

- Thank you.

- Congratulations.

- Thank you.

Ta-da, our new home!

What do you think, huh?

Come in, come on in.

Come on in.

Okay, all right, we'll just wait here until you're ready.

- Until you're ready.

- Do you want to see your new bedroom?

It's super cool.

No?

All right, we'll just wait here.

It's all right, bud.

I think you're gonna like it.

Yeah, I'm calling regarding your ad for um,

babysitting services.

Right, I have uh, a situation.

I have twins and they're autistic.

Right, okay.

Thanks, bye.

Um, I'm wondering do you take special needs kids?

Right.

No, autistic.

Oh, nevermind, okay.

Thanks.

Um, I should be home most nights by seven.

- Mm-mm, has to be earlier.

I belong to a jeopardy club and

I have not missed a night in three years.

- Okay, um...

6:30-ish?

- You want me to make them dinner

after I pick them up from school?

- That'd be great.

- Well, I'll give you a list of stuff

that I like to eat.

- Are you sure you're up for this?

- I told you that I have taken care

of three mentally retarded kids for four years.

- They're not retarded.

- I'm up for it is all I'm saying.

- I guess you're the one.

- Wow.

- So did you remember to bring your share?

- Yeah.

- Good, then I'll be outside at 3:00.

Okay.

- Okay, look for me out front.

- Come on.

All right?

You ready?

Let's go, go on.

Go, go, go, go.

Let's go.

- Hi, boys.

Hi, uh, miss Morgan, hi.

- Hi.

- Um, Steven and Philip can be

a bit of a handful sometimes, you know?

Oh, don't I know it.

- Yeah, and uh...

While there are some things that they do very well,

I'm just a little concerned

that they're not where they should be academically speaking.

- They'll come around, they just need a little time

to get used to it is all.

Yeah, but...

Well, i-- - bye.

I realize you don't have anything now,

but could you hold on to my resume,

just for the future in case something

comes up or anything?

We'd be glad to.

- Okay.

- Miss Morgan?

I was approached by the principal

and I wonder if you might meet with some of US,

say tomorrow afternoon about four?

- Concerning what?

- We would just like to speak with you about the boys.

- Steven hasn't spoken a word

and Philip merely repeats what others say to him.

- They're extremely shy.

- Well, are they like that at home?

- Is there a husband or a boyfriend in the house?

- Why, is that important?

- Well, they have these outbursts,

as if they're angry.

- Why would they be angry?

- How do you discipline the boys?

- What exactly are you getting at?

- You needn't be defensive, miss Morgan.

- If you have something you'd like to ask me

I'd rather you just came out with it.

- We don't want to find ourselves

having to explain why we ignored signs

of possible abuse.

- Are you suggesting I somehow hurt my boys?

- Their behavior suggests some sort of trauma

in the past that's brought on--

- they're autistic!

I took them to a specialist a couple of weeks ago.

I didn't know until then.

- How could you not know?

- We'd seen a dozen doctors, they said nothing was wrong.

They have such remarkable talents.

They deserve to be in a normal classroom with other kids.

- It's just that it's impossible to teach them in a...

A regular classroom, miss Morgan.

- This school may not be the best place for them.

Do all kids who aren't perfect

get kicked out of your school?

- Uh-oh, looks like somebody pulled an all nighter.

Hmm, looks so official.

You created the legal letterhead and everything?

Wow.

- It's not too shrill?

- No, no, it's great.

You even got the lawyer speak down.

Just vague enough to be intimidating,

with all the whereases and pursuant tos.

- I did some research.

The boys are entitled to more than I thought.

For once I'm glad I pay taxes.

- What's wrong?

- When they were little, I used to lie in bed at night

and think about who they'd be when they grew up and

how proud I'd be of them for succeeding.

Now I just want them to be safe and happy,

I don't have any expectations anymore.

I think that's what hurts so much.

- Well, one day you might be surprised.

- I'd be up for a nice surprise.

- Well, that letter is a great start, corrine.

Now, you go out there and you give 'em hell

and you let them know who they're dealing with.

Now, where's the sugar?

- The mouse heard the lion's loud roar

and went to see what was the matter.

The lion cried and cried with pain.

- Cried and cried with pain.

- And looked at the little mouse

and asked the little mouse if he would

pull the Thorn from his paw.

The little mouse grabbed hold of that Thorn--

- and cried and cried with pain.

- He grabbed hold of the Thorn and pulled it

out of the lion's paw.

- The board's suggestion is that we enroll the boys

in the individual education plan

at middleton mental hospital.

Part of their outpatient day school.

- You're kidding.

- No, ma'am, we sincerely believe

that's what's best for them.

- I suggest you read this very carefully, Dr. Hardwick.

My boys will have a normal education

regardless of you and your asinine policies.

I'll take you all the way to the supreme court if I have to.

Oh, no, was there still skin on that one?

Here, give it back.

I'll peel you another one.

Here you go, honey, here you go.

Oh, oh no, oh no, it's okay, it's okay.

Mommy's here, listen, hey.

Don't worry, mommy's here.

It's okay.

It's okay, it's okay.

See, isn't so much better under here?

It's so much more fun.

Just your crazy mom forgot to pay the electric bill.

- Crazy mom.

- Yeah, your crazy mom better find a job soon.

Can I help you?

- Corrine Morgan?

- Yes.

- Hi, I'm Wayne cosgrove.

The school board sent me.

- Are you an attorney?

- I'm here for the boys, miss Morgan.

- You're not taking my boys, Mr. cosgrove.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way.

I'm a special education teacher.

I'm here to work with your boys

to prepare them for a regular classroom.

- Who sent you?

- I work for the state.

I guess the school district

found your lawyer's letter persuasive.

Look, I'm gonna work with your boys

and depending on their level of functionality,

teach them to speak and eventually read and write.

- To speak?

- I understand they have a great set of lungs.

- Um, when can you start?

- I have my stuff in the car.

Do they understand what you say?

Good, then they get it.

Now all we have to do is teach them to express it.

- How long might that take?

- Oh, it depends on their level of autism.

It's a long, slow process.

But we'll work on it

and I'll show you some things that we can work on together.

Baby steps.

Chalk.

Chalk.

Chalk.

Repetition, lots and lots and lots of repetition.

That's how you teach an autistic child.

Chalk.

- Chalk!

- A mimic?

This is gonna be fun.

See?

Chalk.

You write with it.

All right.

- Two sons?

I've got three, they run me ragged.

- Oh!

- I won't kid you, miss Morgan.

Selling insurance is tough and competitive.

You need to be very aggressive.

- Oh, stop it, Taylor.

That's Taylor's code for single women with no children

seem to have more time to work.

- Motherhood has taught me to manage my time quite well.

- Well, that's good because we don't tolerate

absences from work.

- No problem.

- Great, welcome to the team.

- Thank you.

- Look forward to working with you.

- Great.

Pizza.

Pizza.

Pizza.

Pizza.

- Oh!

Oh, god, you said your first word!

That's amazing!

Pizza.

Pizza.

- Pizza.

- Pizza.

- Say it again?

Pizza.

- Pizza.

That's perfect.

- Now these are blocks.

Blocks.

That's it.

Find the ball.

Find the ball in here, okay?

You got a ball.

Good job.

All right.

Blocks.

Blocks, can you find a block?

- Show me how you brush your hair

Okay, watch this.

Okay, good.

- Look, this is an apple.

An apple is red.

It's round, sort of round.

It's got a stem.

B-o-w-l, bowl.

Apple in a bowl.

Feel this orange,

feel that, huh?

It's all rough.

There's the orange.

- Show me the apple.

Good.

Good boy, good.

Okay.

All right, show me the glass.

Good.

Show me the orange.

It's okay, try it again.

Red, show me red.

Good.

Show me yellow.

Show me orange.

Up and down.

That's good.

Oh, hey, hey.

What's this?

- Box.

- Bag.

It's a bag.

But you were close.

Hi.

- Hey.

- What's up?

- I've been transferred.

I can't work with you guys anymore.

The state's run out of money for my program.

Can I fight it?

- You could.

But your time would be much better spent

continuing to work on the stuff that I showed you.

They are so close, corrine.

They're learning so quickly.

It's up to you now.

You can do this, I know you can.

- I don't know how to thank you.

- You can invite me to their graduation, is what--

Right, I'll call you back.

- This is corrine.

Oh, oh, no they were happy to underwrite that, yeah.

Sure, I can check on the umbrella for you.

Yes, okay.

You're welcome.

Bye.

My guys on the first day of high school.

Okay, good luck.

Go on.

Go, go, go!

Good luck.

- These guys are big.

- Yeah.

- Adrian!

- Guys.

Guys, hello!

I'm going home now.

- This is jeopardy!

- Ha ha ha, very funny.

- I'm going to be a fighter like rocky.

You better put some muscles

on you little skinny thing.

- Skinny thing.

Steven is a skinny thing.

So are you, Philip.

I am?

- Boys, boys.

Time to start winding down, okay?

Okay?

Phil.

Try not to do this, all right?

- Okay.

- What are you doing?

- Rocky drinks raw eggs.

- But you're not rocky, you're Philip.

- But I want to be rocky.

- No, you don't, you want to be like rocky.

You should never want to be anybody else.

Oh.

- I don't like raw eggs.

Philip at raw eggs.

- Oh, for god's sake.

Oh, man.

Morning!

- Good morning.

- I'm going to get one of these.

I'm going to build up my muscles.

- Great.

It's only 500 dollars.

- Oh, what happened to your shoes?

- Oh, I think you have a broken water pipe.

I'm surprised you haven't noticed.

- Oh, god.

- It's your landlord's problem, not yours.

- Right.

- I threw up raw eggs last night all over the floor.

- Congratulations.

- I'm already gonna be late,

would you make sure they get to the bus stop on time?

- Please, yes.

- It's a broken water pipe.

The entire front lawn is flooded.

Well, I'm not paying rent until you fix it!

- That's the third day in a row she smiled at you.

- At US.

- At you!

She smiled at you.

- Maybe she'll be my girlfriend.

- Maybe she'll be my girlfriend.

Dude!

- They refuse to come out, miss Morgan,

they seem very upset.

They're in here.

- Oh, hey, hey, hey.

Hey, guys, guys, what happened?

What happened?

What's wrong, what's wrong?

- Can we just go home?

- Oh, no, remember we don't do that anymore.

We stay, we try to get through it.

We don't quit and go home.

- Do we have to?

- Hey, what would rocky do, huh?

Rocky wouldn't quit.

He'd stay and he'd fight.

He'd stay and fight and he wouldn't let

anybody bring him down.

Hey, listen.

Listen, listen, do you want to go to lunch?

- They'll make fun of US!

- Let 'em!

Let 'em!

Let 'em.

They laughed at rocky, too, remember?

It's okay, it's okay.

- Do you guys know them?

Retards.

- I'll be right back.

Okay, see ya.

- Hi, guys.

I'm Jennifer.

Can I sit with you?

So what's your name?

- I'm Philip.

- My name is Steven.

- That's 519 dollars.

- Corrine.

Do you recall my mentioning our audit today?

I told you I needed your paperwork by noon.

- I'm sorry, I had a family emergency.

- Again?

- Taylor, I promise--

- corrine, this isn't gonna work.

I have to let you go.

- Come on, Taylor, I've sold a lot of insurance for you--

- I can give you a month's sentence.

- Please don't do this! - That's the best I can do.

Yes?

No, that won't do, I need it by tomorrow.

That's right.

- No, I'm afraid, yeah...

May I have your attention please?

If you are here for your scheduled interview

with a ui representative, please have all of your documents

ready when your name is called, thank you.

- Check.

Check.

Wow.

- Checkmate again.

That was checkmate.

- Next.

- Hello.

Hey, um, who are you?

- I'm Doug, how you do?

- What are you doing in my driveway, Doug?

- Your landlord, Mr. Merrick, said you got

a busted water pipe, right?

He sent me over to fix it.

He said you were a ball-buster.

- Did he?

- Yes, ma'am, he did.

Oh, you want me to move this?

- Thanks.

- His eyes are swollen shut.

- And Mickey says,

"can you see what he's doing to you, kid?"

- And rocky says, "i can't see nothin'."

- So he yells, "open my eyes,"

which means they have to cut them to let the pressure out.

- Cut his eyes?

- He makes them do it.

He doesn't care about the pain.

He just wants to win and--

- hey, Jennifer.

Are you the meat in a retard sandwich?

- I am and you can bite me.

- What are they doing?

- That's the cross country team.

They're running.

Like rocky.

- We need 50 dollars for the chess club.

- The chess club?

- We joined.

You always tell US we can do anything.

- But I didn't know you liked chess.

- We learned it last week.

- You learned chess last week?

- Philip beat this kid named ward.

He's supposed to be the best.

- That's amazing.

Why didn't you tell me?

- We don't tell you everything we do.

- Like astronomy club and geography club,

which we also joined, but they were free.

- Well, it's probably time for you to do your homework.

- I don't like homework.

- But it's very important that you do it.

- Why?

- So you can get good grades and learn things and--

- go to college.

- Yeah.

You wanna go to college?

- Yep, I wanna join the cross country team.

I wanna run like rocky.

- Fine.

First you have to do your homework.

- What is this music?

- Uh, this is uh, hippie music.

- Are you a hippie?

- How old are your boys?

- 14.

They're twins.

- Cool.

So you're the crazy lady on the hill

with the crazy kids, huh?

oh, that's uh...

That's just what your neighbor said,

your lovely neighbor when I asked which...

I didn't mean anything by it!

We're all crazy.

Hell, I'm crazier than most!

Nice going, dipstick.

- Hi, mom.

- Hey, sweetheart.

- Can you please not call me that?

I'm a teenager, you know.

- Where's your brother?

- Out front with Doug.

- I don't believe you.

He says he's never played guitar before?

Watch this.

Ready?

I mean, that's amazing.

Is he a whiz or what?

- Can I have a guitar?

- No, you can't have a guitar.

- I tell you what, kiddo, you can keep this guitar,

'cause you're gonna be better than me in a week.

- You can't give him your guitar!

- Excuse me?

What do you mean I can't give him my guitar?

Whose guitar is it to give away

if he wants to give it away?

Is it yours?

Is it mine?

I believe it's mine.

Keep it, kiddo.

You're gonna be better than me in a week.

- Come on inside.

- That's amazing.

Uh, thank you, Doug.

- Oh!

Thank you.

- Oh, no, that's all right I was...

- Thanks.

I know.

- Yeah.

- Steven!

Steven!

Come get in this car right now.

- No.

- Are you upset because Philip got the guitar?

- No.

I just want to run.

- Come get in this car right now.

Come back with me, I have a surprise for you.

- I don't want a guitar.

- It's not a guitar.

- What is it?

- Come back with me, I'll show you.

I was gonna wait till your birthday.

- You got me weights.

Oh!

Yep, it's yours.

Rise and shine, campers!

Fish are biting, come on!

Good morning.

- Why are you here?

- What?

- It's six in the morning on a Saturday.

What are you doing?

- They said you all wanted to go fishing

and we arranged it.

They didn't tell you?

- Fishing?

- I want to go fishing.

- Let's go fishing.

- Well, you best get in some clothes

that are a little bit more appropriate for fishing, guys.

Go on.

And you.

Maybe a little java just might improve your disposition.

Immeasurably.

- Well, give US 15 minutes.

Just...

- Uh, let me help you with that seat.

- I got it.

Okay.

- Wow.

- You're welcome.

- Ah...

They're autistic.

You know.

- Uh, I'm artistic, too.

I'm mostly Irish, but I got a little bit of scotch

thrown in there, too.

- When do you think you'll be finished?

- About a week.

Yeah.

'Course, you never know what kinda complications

you can get.

I've been known to milk a job before

If there's good reason.

Would you go out with me on a regular date?

- I think I'll say goodbye.

- Is that yes, a no?

- I can't.

- You can't?

- I can't, there's no one to watch the boys

and I just, it won't work is all.

- Well...

Uh, is--

- how about if I make you and the boys

a dinner that you'll never forget?

- Thank you for a wonderful day.

- Hey, have you ever had scampi provencal?

Huh?

- Shrimp is scampi, right?

- Big shrimp, jumbo shrimp.

Think of what you're missing.

- Oh, fine, then.

- All right.

Oh.

- Doug's clean.

- He is.

Yeah.

Shaved.

I shaved.

- Come in, come in.

There we go.

- Thank you.

Thanks.

- I'll give you a lot.

Well, just a minute.

Um...

- Um, just one second.

Honey.

Doug has made US a wonderful dinner.

Won't you please come inside?

- I'm not hungry.

They look like giant bugs.

- The shrimp?

- Hey, hey, hey, dude, dude, dude, slow down, man.

Slow down.

- Honey, shrimp is pure protein,

it turns right into muscle.

If you don't eat protein your muscles won't grow.

Okay.

Rocky ate lots of shrimp.

- You like it?

- No.

- Oh!

More for you, you love it.

Get yourself some more rice with that.

I mean, the way he picked up that guitar,

I mean, that, that's kinda...

- Yeah. - Spooky.

- He knows three songs already.

- Man, that's amazing.

- Yeah.

It's a mysterious thing, isn't it?

- They're both doing so well.

- You surprised?

- They're exceeding my expectations.

They're growing up.

- That's what kids too, eventually.

Yeah.

Yeah.

- Will you tell Doug I was wrong?

- About what?

- I did like the shrimp.

- 'Night.

- Thank you for a delicious dinner.

- Oh.

You're welcome.

- Bye.

- Bye.

- Where are you going?

- Running.

- Running?

- Like rocky to get in shape.

- You're just going running?

- Oh, don't worry, I'll stay on crestlou.

- Well, let me get the keys and I'll come with you.

- You don't have to.

- Oh, okay.

Be safe.

How was your run?

- Great.

- I need 100 dollars for the carpentry club.

- You already belong to the music club, the chess club,

astronomy club, how many clubs are there?

- 13.

- I know you're a small office and

you don't need any new agents,

but I have accounting experience and

I can do uh, your bookkeeping.

- We do need a bookkeeper and

I might be able to throw you a listing here and there,

but that's the best I can do

for somebody that has to work from home.

- That's great.

That's great.

- Welcome aboard.

- Thank you, thanks.

They what?

Oh, you're kidding.

I'll be right there.

What happened?

- They were going to hurt Jennifer.

- They pushed her pretty hard.

- Hold a sec, fellas, let me talk to your mom.

- Rick and Brian were taunting Steven and Philip

and calling them retards like they always do.

When I started yelling at them, they pushed me down.

- And these two bruisers let 'em have it.

I asked them where they learned to punch like that.

Rocky III.

- I pity the fool!

- Look, I think what they did was honorable,

but you understand, of course, I have to discourage it.

- You punched them?

- Well, they were hurting Jennifer.

Thanks.

See you guys.

Your guys are my heroes.

- Boys, back to class, please.

Miss Morgan, there's something else.

Please, have a seat.

Uh, dick Emory, our music teacher,

said he saw Philip playing guitar last week

and quite well.

- It's a savant skill,

he's always had a really incredible ear.

- Oh, well, he suggested that you enroll him

in a program at a private music school

for gifted kids.

- Oh, I imagine those schools are

probably pretty expensive, huh?

- No, there's no tuition.

He just has to audition for them.

- Do they take kids like...

- Emory feels that he has a gift.

- Yeah.

- Can I tell you something?

I haven't felt this uh...

In a long time.

- Philip has an audition for a music school tomorrow.

I would love it if you would come with US.

- I'll be there.

Absolutely.

I'd love it.

- Good.

- Hey, what time uh, do the boys get home?

- The boys don't come home.

They're spending the night with reva.

- Good.

Oh, my knees!

- That looks nice on you.

- Thank you, I thought it suited me.

Oh.

Listen...

Am I your first ditch digger?

- No.

That's good.

Wish your brother good luck at his audition.

- Good luck.

- Mm-mm-mm.

- Could you hold the door?

Thanks!

- How you doing there, maestro?

- Just play it like you do at home.

- Good morning, Philip.

What are you gonna play for US today?

- Would you like a few minutes to prepare?

- Oh, oh, oh, it's all right, it's all right.

- Hey, hey, hey, it's all right.

- He's, he just learned, he can already...

It's all right.

Hey, hey, it's okay.

It's okay.

- He's uh, he's autistic.

- Autistic?

- He's a very high functioning autistic.

Yeah.

He's really, he, brilliant, I mean, is what he is.

I mean, he's just amazing.

- Oh, we don't doubt that, but.

- Doug, Doug, Doug!

Let's go.

- Well...

- Let's go.

We're gonna go.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

- Mom, where is Steven?

He's not home from school.

- Stay here with him.

- You don't want US to come with you?

- No, stay, stay.

Steven?

Where have you been?

- Mom, I joined the cross country team.

- You what?

- Uh, miss Morgan.

I'm rich Wheeler, i'm Steven's coach.

- Hi.

You're his coach?

- Yeah, he's a helluva runner, this guy.

I was gonna give him a ride home,

he said it'd be okay with you.

- Oh, that's okay, I have my car.

Um, thank you.

- Oh, okay.

Well, he's a good kid and he shows a lotta promise.

- Thank you.

- Are you mad at me?

No.

- I was going to surprise you.

Well, you did.

- Mr. Wheeler says I'm really good.

- I'm sure you are, but you need to tell me

when you do things like that, you know I worry.

- I just wanted to do something on my own.

You always do everything for US.

- You have practice every night?

- Yeah, till six.

- And you're pretty fast, huh?

Morgan, over here!

- Where is Morgan?

- Uh, I think he got lost again, coach.

- Sorry.

- You tried, son.

I mean, I admire your heart and your talent,

but I just don't think you're ready to race.

This getting lost all the time, it's a problem.

- How'd it go?

Everything okay?

- Yeah.

- That's okay.

Hello?

- This is Philip Morgan.

I auditioned.

Well, I had a bad episode.

- Well, yes, it can be nerve wracking

having to perform for strangers.

Can I have another chance?

- Another chance?

Well, I don't see why not.

- So I'm going to play a song.

Will you listen to it?

- Well, sure.

Philip, are you there?

Philip, did you really just start playing

four weeks ago?

- No, it'll be four weeks tomorrow.

- Is your mom there?

- Mom!

Mom.

- What?

- This lady wants to talk to you.

- Hello, who's this?

He what?

Okay.

Sure.

She wants to talk to you again.

Okay.

- My son just auditioned for the judge

of the McKinley school over the phone.

She said she's gonna let him attend on a trial basis.

- Wow!

- I know!

- That is so cool.

- I saw your truck out front.

- Oh, Steven, you really should knock

before entering a room.

- I was wondering if Doug wanted to

go for a run with me.

- You better not slack off if you're running with me

'cause I am one finely tuned machine.

Can you give me 10 minutes?

Can you, uh, tune up my machine?

- If you give me more than 10 minutes.

- Hey!

Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Slow down!

Slow down for the old man.

Woo!

You with the third lung.

When's your race?

- Friday.

But the coach won't let me run.

- What?

What do you mean he won't let you run?

Why?

- I keep getting lost in the course.

- Why don't you just follow the other runners?

What's your coach's name?

- Coach Wheeler.

- Hey, there, Superman.

- Watch.

- Wow!

That's pretty impressive.

I want you to know how proud I am of you.

- For what?

It's only 85 pounds.

- It's a whole lot more than that.

- Come on.

Come on, don't slow, don't slow!

All right, that's good, that's fantastic.

You shaved two seconds off in one week.

Stay focused on your rhythm.

- You're pretty fast, Steve-O.

So you guys got your first big race Friday, huh?

- Yeah.

Are you going to be there?

- If you promise me to win.

Okay.

- All right, you guys ran hard today.

Hit the showers.

- All right.

- And get some rest, I wanna win this weekend.

- Hey, coach.

- Hey, Mr. Thomas.

Steven ran real well today.

- Yeah, he did.

You know, it would mean the world to him

if he could compete on Friday.

- Yeah, I'd like to see him do it, too,

but he gets lost.

- Yeah, he told me.

Listen, I got an idea.

See?

- You guys are sure late.

- We had a little business to take care of.

- Coach is gonna let me run

and Jennifer's going to be there to watch me win.

- You know girls, they go for athletes.

- I know.

- You know?

What do you mean you know?

- I don't know.

- I'm so scared he's gonna be disappointed.

- You gotta give him a little more credit than that.

- He's just a little boy.

- He's a 14 year old teenager, remember?

Hey, what's up?

Dear Jennifer...

This is a poem for you

to let you know how much you mean to me.

- I don't see him.

- Oh, he's probably getting himself psyched up.

- Where is he, where is he, where is he?

- Anybody see Morgan?

- Sorry, coach.

- All right, stretch it out.

- Where is he?

- All right, ladies and gentlemen,

if you could take your seats, please, take your seats.

Runners, 10 minutes to race time.

10 minutes, runners.

- I'll be right back.

- Where the heck is your boy?

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

Steven!

Steven!

Runners, five minutes.

Five minutes to race time.

- Steven.

What's the matter, sweetheart?

Got the jitters?

What you got there?

Can I see it?

That's a beautiful poem.

Were you gonna give it to Jennifer?

- I saw her with another boy.

- Mm.

Steven, in about two minutes

your chance to show Jennifer and

every other girl in school what an

amazing runner you are will be over.

Runners to the starting line.

- Doug and Philip and I are all here

to watch you run.

Steven, I believe in you with all my heart and soul.

I know you can do it, but it's your decision.

I'll love you just as much no matter what you do.

Runners, take your Mark!

All right, guys, let's go, let's go!

Set!

- Hey!

Go, Steven!

Go!

- I don't know what I got US into,

but if it breaks his heart it's all on me.

- Where'd you find him?

- He's catching up!

7:40!

7:40!

- Go Steven!

- Come on, guys, kick it!

Just one more lap!

- There he is again.

- Oh god, he's lost!

- Lost, my ass.

No wonder he couldn't just follow the other runners,

he was always way ahead of them!

Steven!

- Woo!

- Ladies and gentlemen, number 22, Steven Morgan,

has just set a new course record!

Ladies and gentlemen, Steven Morgan,

who will speak on behalf of the miracle run foundation

finding a cure for autism,

which was founded by his mother, corrine.

- My name is Steven.

And my brother, Philip, and I are autistic.

I am 15 years old and I have overcome many obstacles.

My mother was told we would be in a institution for life,

but she refused to accept this.

In the past, I have had no friends.

I didn't know exactly how to make any friends.

I was very lonely.

If it wasn't for the love of my mother,

My brother and I would not be here tonight.