Early Edition (1996) s01e07 Episode Script
After Midnight
CHUCK: There are lots of lonely people in a city like this one.
One wrong turn, it's easy to lose your way.
A guy with a map is a guy who's ahead of the game.
Sometimes anyway.
But knowing the future isn't the same as knowing the past.
And having tomorrow's newspaper can only take you so far.
After that, it's what you know and what you feel that make the difference, that lead you on and guide you home.
(theme music playing) Taxi! CHUCK: Taxi.
Taxi! Hoo! Taxi! Taxi.
Taxi.
Yo! Taxi! Listen, I got Out of the way, buddy.
Sorry.
Taxi! Hoo hoo hoo Mine.
Mine.
I touched the door first.
That's the rule.
This is Chicago.
There are no rules.
MAN: Excuse me you two love birds.
Two seconds, and I'm out of here.
MARISSA: I brought you today's paper.
GARY: Well, thank you, but I read this one yesterday.
Oh, well, I didn't.
Would you mind reading me the headlines? At your service.
"City passed tougher anti-smoking law.
" Today? Tomorrow.
Oh.
Wow.
What? Xerox went up three points.
Tomorrow? Today.
Oh.
Postal workers threaten to strike again.
Today? No, tomorrow.
You know, reading the morning paper with you can be very confusing.
Tell me about it.
Whoa.
Oh, that's all right.
Not your fault.
Of course it's not my find.
I'm blind.
What? I didn't say anything.
How do you know? Negative ions.
Read.
It's in the Metro Section.
"Infant left on church doorstep.
" Today? Tomorrow.
"Police are looking for the mother of a ten-week-old "Caucasian baby boy abandoned sometime after midnight.
"The infant appeared to be in good condition.
"A handwritten note attached to the bassinet simply read, "'Please give my baby a good home.
' "A custodian employed by Saint Mary's found the infant" Saint Mary's? That's just a couple blocks away.
Well, what are you waiting for? What do you mean? Somewhere in this city, a mother's about to abandon her child.
Go and find her.
Oh, sure, maybe I'll find Jimmy Hoffa while I'm at it.
Gary, that's not what I mean.
Well, there's not much to go on here, Marissa.
Go with what you have.
Start at Saint Mary's.
Look, the article doesn't say anything about her being a parishioner at the church.
Is there a picture of the bassinet? No, but all bassinets look alike.
Is there a picture of the baby? At ten weeks, all babies look alike.
(dog whimpering) (thunder rumbling) Going somewhere? Yeah, out in the rain to find an unidentified woman carrying a bassinet with a baby boy in it to casually inquire whether or not she plans to abandon him tonight.
Um, Gary don't forget your umbrella.
Excuse me? That's the minimum distance that two urban dwellers need to have between them in order to prevent having their space invaded.
How interesting.
Margo, put me through to Suzanne will you? Fishman.
Chuck Fishman.
Uh, Suzanne, it's Lenore.
Lenore? Beautiful name.
Poe said it, didn't he? "Quoth the raven 'Never more.
'" I called the National Weather Service.
Intermittent showers today, I hate to cancel the Botanical Gardens, but with 300 people Yeah, I think we have to put a deposit on the hotel, but you know, we'll lose it if we cancel on such short notice Do you mind? No, not at all.
Go right ahead.
Nobody.
Okay, well, listen, I'm going to wait till 7: 00 tonight, and then I'm going to book them both.
We'll just have to take the loss.
They're too big an account.
All right, I'll talk to you later.
Bye-bye.
I, uh, couldn't help overhearing, but the Botanical Gardens happens to be one of my favorite spots.
Let me speak slowly so that you can understand.
Stop talking to me.
Ooh, it's cold in here.
Maybe you didn't get the memo, but feminism is supposed to be dead.
Men and women are supposed to get along not Oh.
So, who do you work for? I have my own business.
Really? Mm-hmm.
I'm a professional caterer and event planner.
Got a card? I don't do pretzels and beer.
(chuckles) You know, if you weren't such a snob, I might consider going out with you.
You might consider going out with me? Pull over.
Lady, you got three blocks before 101 State.
I'll walk.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I got it.
I insist.
Can I call you? You know what? Unless you can predict the weather for tomorrow, I never want to see your face again.
Yeah.
Ma'am.
Oh, sorry.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Are you planning on abandoning your baby? Yeah, it's me.
Well, not so great.
I've been walking around for hours.
It's like Mission Impossible.
Well, Marissa, what do you want me to do? Okay.
Okay.
A couple more hours.
I'll call you later.
Yeah.
Excuse me.
Do you have the time? Yeah.
It's 11:35.
Thank you.
I guess the buses must be running late.
I don't know.
I'm just sitting here to get out of the rain.
My husband's supposed to pick me up, but he's late.
It's a boy.
Jordan.
You're uh, you're brother? Son.
I'm sorry.
It's it's just you look very young Young for my age.
Yeah.
How old is he? Ten weeks.
Paper said it was going to be sunny today.
I guess it depends on which paper you read.
(thunder rumbling) Pretty amazing, huh? Yeah.
I love to watch him when he's asleep.
So peaceful.
Innocent.
Not like the rest of us, huh? (car horn honking) Oh, well, that's my husband, so it's been nice talking to you.
It's nice talking to you, um Samantha.
Samantha.
Gary, Gary Hobson.
Look, um, I know there are lot of weirdoes walking around.
I don't want you to think I'm one of them.
Well, I just want you to know that I want you to know that I hope everything works out for you and and Jordan and that you're very lucky to have such a beautiful baby.
And that if if things aren't working out and you don't have anyone to turn to, well, you just met me, and I live just a ways down the street at the Blackstone.
Thanks.
GARY: I made a complete fool of myself.
Well, Marissa, she seemed fine.
Her husband picked her up.
Yes, she had a bassinet.
No, the only mistake I made was walking up to some stranger who now thinks I'm some lunatic.
Yeah, I-I gotta go.
I'll call you later.
Yeah.
Where is it? Do you have it on you? Where's what? The paper tomorrow's paper.
No, no, no, no, Chuck, we've been all through this.
No, Gary, wait.
You don't understand.
This is completely different.
Why? Because.
Uh-huh.
I met a girl.
She's amazing.
And you want to place a bet, so you can pick her up in a Porsche tonight.
No, no, no, nothing like that.
No? No, this is a matter of life and death.
No, it's a matter of a date.
Same thing.
Look, to some people what happened this morning might be considered just an ordinary shared $5.
00 cab ride, but, to me, it was fate kismet, a chance meeting that lit a fire that may turn into an eternal flame.
And all I have to do to get her back is to tell her whether or not it's going to rain tomorrow.
Okay, forget it.
Doesn't matter.
Probably never would have worked out anyway.
It's just that all my best friends fell in love and got married.
Of course, most of them are divorced now.
Even though Marcia did stab you in the back, I just thought that this was my one shot at happiness.
She's incredible.
What would make a husband pick his wife and baby up at a bus stop, drive around the block, and then drop them back off, and make them walk through the rain Gare, I'm spilling my guts, here.
That's not her husband.
Gary I-It doesn't rain tomorrow.
It stops just after midnight tonight.
CHUCK: Gary! Gary! What's going on? I blew it.
Come again? The paper said the infant was going to be left on the church doorstep tonight, and I went to find her.
I almost did find her, and then I lost her again.
(baby fussing) Just a minute, baby.
Same thing.
$100 on delivery.
The last time I made that delivery, you said it was going to be an electronics store, but it was really Hey, just make the delivery, honey.
(baby crying) We should go to the shelters.
Now, we know what she looks like, so we can give them a description.
I'll go back to Saint Mary's, see if she spoke to anyone.
Where you going? Well, I finished my moo-sh It was delish.
I got to make an important call.
Why don't you use the phone here? It's kind of personal.
I'll check in with you guys later, all right? MARISSA: I suppose you don't want to go to police.
GARY: We tried that the last time.
Remember, I became a prime suspect.
MARISSA: What about her parents? They have to be looking for her.
Uh, guys I don't even know her last name.
Uh, guys What? Okay, here you go.
One glass of milk.
Thanks.
So, your boyfriend Steve, he was in high school, too? No.
He was older.
Almost 20.
Did he work? Sure.
He had a really good job in the city.
He managed a video store.
I take it your parents didn't approve.
They hated him.
They did everything they could to try and break us up.
So you ran away with him? (sniffling) We were really happy for a while.
I mean, everything was perfect until I got pregnant.
The night after I told him, he split.
Do your parents know about the baby? No, no, I couldn't tell them.
If I did, they'd take Jordan away from me.
I don't know what I'm going to do.
Hey, if I know Gary, he's got some chocolate-chip ice cream in the fridge.
Would you like some? Yeah.
Thanks.
Don't worry.
Everything's going to work out.
Bingo.
It's an emergency.
Uh, hi.
Is Lenore in, please? Oh, she is? Great.
Yeah, Chuck Fishman.
She knows me.
Fishman.
Chuck.
Just tell her we go way, way, way back.
No.
No, she does know me.
Look, I have some very important information give her.
(dial tone) Hello? Hello? (sighs) Uh just one more, okay? Don't worry, I'll take care of you.
Excuse me.
(with Irish brogue): Hi.
This is Mr.
McGinty from McGinty's Bar and Restaurant.
And, uh, we're throwing a party for a hundred of our favorite customers, and Oh, yeah, we have a full kitchen.
But I thought I'd do something a bit different for the fellas, you know, spice it up a bit.
Is there a? Yes, I'll hold.
Thank you very much.
(normal voice): Lenore? It's Chuck Fishman whom you shared a cab with this morning and I have that very important information to give you.
Oh, I know.
I know we got off to a bit of a bad start, but I have wait All right, Lenore, look, just don't hang (dial tone) up.
Gary, where you going? To see her father.
How do you know where he is? While she was in the bathroom, I went through her wallet and found his business card.
Oh.
You're getting pretty good at this you know.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Keep an eye on her, huh? Yeah.
So to speak.
Right.
SAMANTHA: So, how long have you known Gary? A couple years.
Are you guys, uh Oh, no.
We're just friends.
He's really cute.
I hadn't noticed.
I know he's cute.
He sounds cute.
What? Have you always been blind? Meningitis at 16 months.
So I guess you were too young to remember what it was like you know, to see.
Sometimes I think I remember all the colors, but then again it might just be my imagination.
Yeah.
Most people wonder what it's like you, you know.
No, it's not that.
It's just that sometimes I feel like I'm blind, too.
Like I'm just walking around in the dark.
Who are you? Her latest? No, sir.
I just met her.
She's staying with my friend Marissa over at my hotel room.
Is she okay? Well Nice work, Betty.
Well, she's a little lost, I think.
What she want, money? No, sir.
Why didn't she call? Why'd she send you? She didn't send me.
She doesn't know I'm here.
Where's that boyfriend of hers? They broke up.
Big surprise.
Mr.
Butler, I think Samantha needs you.
A hundred people on the payroll.
We started with six.
Sam's mother and I worked day, night, weekends.
For what? For her.
Look, I think she wants to come home, but I don't think she will unless you make the first move.
She doesn't feel welcome.
She's not.
Look, I know this is none of my business That's right, it isn't.
Do you have any idea what we've been through? She was going to go to college.
She was a beautiful, intelligent girl.
She still is.
We gave her everything.
Look, she's only We gave her a choice, but she chose him.
A high school dropout, for God's sake.
He smiled at me when they left together.
I'll never forget that smile.
Look, I know this is upsetting.
I I just thought maybe I could help.
Can you find your way out? If you change your mind We won't.
In case you do, here's my number at the hotel.
Will you tell her something? Tell her her mother misses her.
Marissa? When's Gary coming back? I'm not sure.
He went to run some errands.
You okay? Um, yeah.
I'm fine.
I guess that guy wasn't too thrilled when you found his daughter, huh? Not quite.
Hey, by the way, uh, did you have any luck with that weather report? Didn't even get to first base.
Didn't even get inside the ballpark.
Were you really in love with Marcia? Marcia.
Did you really love her? Yeah.
How'd you know? I don't know.
I guess, uh she was beautiful.
Smart.
She was in love with me.
She used make me blueberry pancakes every Sunday morning.
Melted butter.
She melted the butter? Insisted on picking me up at the airport, too.
I don't even pick my mother up at the airport when she comes to visit.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Are you telling me that you think you're in love with a woman who you shared a five-dollar cab ride with? No.
I just wanted the opportunity, that's all.
You know what I think? What? Opportunity doesn't knock.
It presents itself when you beat down the door.
MARISSA: Gary? Gary? Yeah, over here.
What's wrong? I'm sorry.
I lost her.
Let me help you with that.
Uh Oh, yeah.
Cute.
Yeah.
Just like his mommy.
Paul, I am really sorry about Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the dog ate your homework, you couldn't fine a cab.
You forgot to make the delivery.
Paul, I can't.
Oh, I think you can.
Oh, yeah.
Real cute kid.
You know, there are people in this city who sell babies.
What a world? Don't look so worried.
The fact is, I'm a forgiving kind of guy.
The last delivery was penny-ante stuff, so you can make it up to me tonight.
Ooh.
Yeah, baby.
Paul, please, I Oh, and don't worry about the kid while you're gone.
Just think of me as your trusted neighborhood baby-sitter.
Hi.
(gasps) What are you, out of your mind? You know, there's a law against stalking in Chicago.
I'm not a stalker, I'm giving you a ride, and if you haven't noticed, it's pouring rain out and I've been in this stinking cab for over 30 minutes, and the fare is 50 bucks, which I don't have, and all because I just want to give you the damn weather report.
Are you sure you're not a stalker? Do I look like a stalker? I don't know what a stalker looks like.
Well, I'm not.
CABBY: Okay, Lady, where will it be? between State and Wabash.
You got it.
Thank you.
So, go ahead.
What's the weather report? It's gonna stop raining tonight after midnight.
And you know this because? I know this because of a certain part of my anatomy.
Cabby! My big toe on my right foot, to be specific, is very climate- sensitive.
If it rains, I'm in agony.
If it's sunny, no pain.
Yesterday, I was in agony.
Today? Much better.
It runs in the family, this toe thing my grandmother had it, and my great-great-grandmother, great-great-great And you went to all this trouble to tell me because? What? You think I have an ulterior motive? Well I am insulted.
Cabby! As a matter of fact, I'd like a date.
Define "date.
" A date is when you rush home from work, take a quick shower, redo your hair and makeup, put on something black that cost you an arm-and-a-leg, even though there's very little material, and I show up wearing an Armani suit with flowers and take you to my favorite restaurant on Taylor Street.
And? And then I walk you home.
We go into your apartment, and I give you a kiss good-night.
On the cheek.
And then I leave.
Okay.
If it stops raining after midnight, give me a call in the morning.
If not you've just been taken on one hell of a cab ride.
Bye.
Hey, guys, how you doing? Oh what do we have here? Pepperoni with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pineapple, extra cheese.
Help yourself.
Extra cheese? I take it you didn't find her, huh? Oh, she could be anywhere by now.
You know, maybe I'm missing something here, but, uh what's the big deal anyway? You know she's gonna leave the kid on the church doorstep in the next couple of hours.
Why don't you just hide in the bushes until she shows up? No.
We have to find her before she abandons that baby.
Why? Because when a mother gives away her child, there's nothing left after that.
Whatever causes her to abandon that baby, putting that bassinet down and walking away, there'll be no reason for her to go on.
No.
(thunder rumbling) (steady rain falling) MELISSA: Gary? CHUCK: What is it? I think she's going to kill herself tonight.
Mr.
Butler? I told you She's in trouble.
I think she's gonna try to kill herself.
She'd never do something like that.
Look, she's been through a lot in the last year.
She's desperate.
She left! She's the one who should be No! She's your daughter.
She's 17.
She made a mistake, a big one, but not as big as the one you're making right now.
Don't you care? Don't you care at all that? I think you should go.
Get out! Jordan? Jordan? (cries out) Jordan?! Jordan?! Hey! Hey, is this your baby? Jordan.
Jordan? I said, is this is your baby? Yes.
Jordan.
(baby squalls) Shh.
What kind of person are you? Are, are you on crack or something? No! You must be on crack or something.
No.
What kinda mother leaves her baby alone like that? I didn't! You know something? I'm gonna call I should call the police on you, you know that? You're not fit to have a baby! Leaving that baby alone like that? Don't ever leave your baby alone like that! Don't you know what could happen to that baby? Girl, how could you? Child, what kind of mother are you? You got some kinda Something's wrong with you, girl.
Something's definitely wrong with you, child.
Don't leave a baby alone like that! Not in a place like this! What is wrong with you? MARISSA: What do you mean you can't read it? GARY: The headline's clear, but the small print is smudged.
CHUCK: Looks like coffee.
Well, we had a little accident this morning.
Hey, you said it wasn't my fault.
The name of the bridge It looks like it starts with a "W.
" Oh, that's good.
That narrows it down to only Webster, Wabash, Wrigley, Washington, Well Maybe it's a "K.
" A "K"? Kensey, Kidsey Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Why don't we just call the guy who wrote the article, and ask him what bridge it is? Brilliant idea.
Is there a byline? Guys, he's not writing the article until after midnight tonight.
Yeah.
Bad idea.
Okay, we have to go to the police and tell them that we have a friend who's going to jump off of a bridge at midnight.
All right, listen, I'll get you a cab.
You go back to my hotel in case Samantha shows up.
I'll go to the police station.
You keep walking.
What? All the way across Chicago? No, just three or four blocks around the church, that's all.
Wait, why don't I just hang around the church until she shows up? No, because something's happening or it's going to happen that's going to make her leave that baby.
Now she's in some kind of trouble, and if we can prevent that from happening then Oh, I get it.
In case she gets mugged by a group of knife-wielding psychos, you want me around to save her is that it? Yeah.
Yes.
What a sap.
Walking all across town.
Sure, Gare.
Whatever you want, Gare, Gare.
I'm not the one that gets the paper, you know.
I'm not the one that's responsible.
My feet hurt.
(thunder rumbling) It's almost midnight.
And I'm cold, and I'm alone.
I'm sitting down.
(chuckles) Yeah, that's better.
Where is she? I'm so cold, I'm so lonely Hey, what the? What's going on? Oh, good evening, officers.
Beat it.
No loitering.
Oh, see, I wasn't loitering.
I'm just sitting here resting.
Get a room.
I happen to have a very nice apartment in the Gold Coast Yeah, but you prefer spending the night on a park bench.
Oh, no, no, no.
It's just I'm waiting for somebody and it's very important One more time beat it! And everybody knows that the loitering laws were created just so that the homeless wouldn't sleep in public places, and some of my best friends happen to be homeless, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
(knocking) Samantha? No.
I'm her father.
I'm looking for a Mr.
Gary Hobson? What is it you want us to do? Put on out an APB or send squad cars to the bridges Oh, I see.
You want the Chicago Police Department to send out all available units to some 30-odd bridges to catch a jumper who just may be pulling your leg.
No.
She is going to jump.
I know that for a fact.
If you would Forget it.
I gotta get to the church or the bridge or Not so fast, Hobson.
Not so fast.
Look, I came here as an ordinary citizen to tell you a friend of mine is going to throw herself off a bridge just after midnight.
It's midnight now.
You can either help me, or you let me go.
Look, you got no legitimate reason to hold me here, and if my friend does throw herself off the bridge tonight, I think every Chicago reporter is going to want to have a piece of this story, you know? West Hill unit one Lincoln Adam David Gary, how are ya? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be over at the church.
Got any cash on you? Look, there it is.
Hey.
Is he okay? There's a note.
MARISSA: Gary? Yeah.
Up here.
He came to your hotel room.
What's going on? Where's Sam? We missed her.
How do you know she was here? Whose baby? Careful, Gary.
Mr.
Butler, have you met your grandson? His name is Jordan.
That's my name.
Hey Gare, come on let's go.
Come on, we got to find her.
Do you know where she went? I'll explain in the cab.
Marissa, in the cab.
Come on.
Take a right at Wabash.
We'll try that one next.
No, no.
Wabash is closed.
Make a left.
All right, where to then? This is all my fault.
You said it might be a "K.
" Kensey.
Try Kensey.
It's the next closest bridge we could catch.
Good idea.
And step on it, will you, Mac? Samantha.
Samantha, stop.
Leave me alone! Samantha.
Sam, wait.
Please.
I need you.
We need you.
(Samantha sobbing) Samantha Oh, Samantha.
I'm sorry.
Sorry, Daddy.
Jordan! Jordan.
(sniffling) No, thank you, Detective.
Yes.
Aren't you ever going to learn how to knock? Next time lock and bolt your door.
My phone is sort of out of order, so I thought I'd borrow yours.
Can I have a little privacy, please? Use the other phone.
Good idea.
This better be a local call.
Sure.
Is Zimbabwe local? Do you mind? Hi.
This is Chuck Fishman.
Is Lenore in yet? Oh, she knows me.
We go way, way, way Hello.
Yes, it is a nice, sunny morning, isn't it? Well, I'm glad, too.
And I my big toe is glad.
And my grandmother's big toe is glad.
Okay.
Friday night? Well, I'll see you then.
Bye.
Congratulations.
Thank you, my man.
Dare I ask is there anything interesting in the paper today? Oh, a couple of things.
Caught up to them.
Nice going, Gare.
All in a day's work.
There are lots of bridges in this city.
Bridges that span over the river.
That take you from one place to another.
There are other bridges though.
Ones we need to cross in order to bring us together as a city, as a community.
But the hardest bridge to cross is the one that opens your heart, the one that leads you home.
One wrong turn, it's easy to lose your way.
A guy with a map is a guy who's ahead of the game.
Sometimes anyway.
But knowing the future isn't the same as knowing the past.
And having tomorrow's newspaper can only take you so far.
After that, it's what you know and what you feel that make the difference, that lead you on and guide you home.
(theme music playing) Taxi! CHUCK: Taxi.
Taxi! Hoo! Taxi! Taxi.
Taxi.
Yo! Taxi! Listen, I got Out of the way, buddy.
Sorry.
Taxi! Hoo hoo hoo Mine.
Mine.
I touched the door first.
That's the rule.
This is Chicago.
There are no rules.
MAN: Excuse me you two love birds.
Two seconds, and I'm out of here.
MARISSA: I brought you today's paper.
GARY: Well, thank you, but I read this one yesterday.
Oh, well, I didn't.
Would you mind reading me the headlines? At your service.
"City passed tougher anti-smoking law.
" Today? Tomorrow.
Oh.
Wow.
What? Xerox went up three points.
Tomorrow? Today.
Oh.
Postal workers threaten to strike again.
Today? No, tomorrow.
You know, reading the morning paper with you can be very confusing.
Tell me about it.
Whoa.
Oh, that's all right.
Not your fault.
Of course it's not my find.
I'm blind.
What? I didn't say anything.
How do you know? Negative ions.
Read.
It's in the Metro Section.
"Infant left on church doorstep.
" Today? Tomorrow.
"Police are looking for the mother of a ten-week-old "Caucasian baby boy abandoned sometime after midnight.
"The infant appeared to be in good condition.
"A handwritten note attached to the bassinet simply read, "'Please give my baby a good home.
' "A custodian employed by Saint Mary's found the infant" Saint Mary's? That's just a couple blocks away.
Well, what are you waiting for? What do you mean? Somewhere in this city, a mother's about to abandon her child.
Go and find her.
Oh, sure, maybe I'll find Jimmy Hoffa while I'm at it.
Gary, that's not what I mean.
Well, there's not much to go on here, Marissa.
Go with what you have.
Start at Saint Mary's.
Look, the article doesn't say anything about her being a parishioner at the church.
Is there a picture of the bassinet? No, but all bassinets look alike.
Is there a picture of the baby? At ten weeks, all babies look alike.
(dog whimpering) (thunder rumbling) Going somewhere? Yeah, out in the rain to find an unidentified woman carrying a bassinet with a baby boy in it to casually inquire whether or not she plans to abandon him tonight.
Um, Gary don't forget your umbrella.
Excuse me? That's the minimum distance that two urban dwellers need to have between them in order to prevent having their space invaded.
How interesting.
Margo, put me through to Suzanne will you? Fishman.
Chuck Fishman.
Uh, Suzanne, it's Lenore.
Lenore? Beautiful name.
Poe said it, didn't he? "Quoth the raven 'Never more.
'" I called the National Weather Service.
Intermittent showers today, I hate to cancel the Botanical Gardens, but with 300 people Yeah, I think we have to put a deposit on the hotel, but you know, we'll lose it if we cancel on such short notice Do you mind? No, not at all.
Go right ahead.
Nobody.
Okay, well, listen, I'm going to wait till 7: 00 tonight, and then I'm going to book them both.
We'll just have to take the loss.
They're too big an account.
All right, I'll talk to you later.
Bye-bye.
I, uh, couldn't help overhearing, but the Botanical Gardens happens to be one of my favorite spots.
Let me speak slowly so that you can understand.
Stop talking to me.
Ooh, it's cold in here.
Maybe you didn't get the memo, but feminism is supposed to be dead.
Men and women are supposed to get along not Oh.
So, who do you work for? I have my own business.
Really? Mm-hmm.
I'm a professional caterer and event planner.
Got a card? I don't do pretzels and beer.
(chuckles) You know, if you weren't such a snob, I might consider going out with you.
You might consider going out with me? Pull over.
Lady, you got three blocks before 101 State.
I'll walk.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I got it.
I insist.
Can I call you? You know what? Unless you can predict the weather for tomorrow, I never want to see your face again.
Yeah.
Ma'am.
Oh, sorry.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Are you planning on abandoning your baby? Yeah, it's me.
Well, not so great.
I've been walking around for hours.
It's like Mission Impossible.
Well, Marissa, what do you want me to do? Okay.
Okay.
A couple more hours.
I'll call you later.
Yeah.
Excuse me.
Do you have the time? Yeah.
It's 11:35.
Thank you.
I guess the buses must be running late.
I don't know.
I'm just sitting here to get out of the rain.
My husband's supposed to pick me up, but he's late.
It's a boy.
Jordan.
You're uh, you're brother? Son.
I'm sorry.
It's it's just you look very young Young for my age.
Yeah.
How old is he? Ten weeks.
Paper said it was going to be sunny today.
I guess it depends on which paper you read.
(thunder rumbling) Pretty amazing, huh? Yeah.
I love to watch him when he's asleep.
So peaceful.
Innocent.
Not like the rest of us, huh? (car horn honking) Oh, well, that's my husband, so it's been nice talking to you.
It's nice talking to you, um Samantha.
Samantha.
Gary, Gary Hobson.
Look, um, I know there are lot of weirdoes walking around.
I don't want you to think I'm one of them.
Well, I just want you to know that I want you to know that I hope everything works out for you and and Jordan and that you're very lucky to have such a beautiful baby.
And that if if things aren't working out and you don't have anyone to turn to, well, you just met me, and I live just a ways down the street at the Blackstone.
Thanks.
GARY: I made a complete fool of myself.
Well, Marissa, she seemed fine.
Her husband picked her up.
Yes, she had a bassinet.
No, the only mistake I made was walking up to some stranger who now thinks I'm some lunatic.
Yeah, I-I gotta go.
I'll call you later.
Yeah.
Where is it? Do you have it on you? Where's what? The paper tomorrow's paper.
No, no, no, no, Chuck, we've been all through this.
No, Gary, wait.
You don't understand.
This is completely different.
Why? Because.
Uh-huh.
I met a girl.
She's amazing.
And you want to place a bet, so you can pick her up in a Porsche tonight.
No, no, no, nothing like that.
No? No, this is a matter of life and death.
No, it's a matter of a date.
Same thing.
Look, to some people what happened this morning might be considered just an ordinary shared $5.
00 cab ride, but, to me, it was fate kismet, a chance meeting that lit a fire that may turn into an eternal flame.
And all I have to do to get her back is to tell her whether or not it's going to rain tomorrow.
Okay, forget it.
Doesn't matter.
Probably never would have worked out anyway.
It's just that all my best friends fell in love and got married.
Of course, most of them are divorced now.
Even though Marcia did stab you in the back, I just thought that this was my one shot at happiness.
She's incredible.
What would make a husband pick his wife and baby up at a bus stop, drive around the block, and then drop them back off, and make them walk through the rain Gare, I'm spilling my guts, here.
That's not her husband.
Gary I-It doesn't rain tomorrow.
It stops just after midnight tonight.
CHUCK: Gary! Gary! What's going on? I blew it.
Come again? The paper said the infant was going to be left on the church doorstep tonight, and I went to find her.
I almost did find her, and then I lost her again.
(baby fussing) Just a minute, baby.
Same thing.
$100 on delivery.
The last time I made that delivery, you said it was going to be an electronics store, but it was really Hey, just make the delivery, honey.
(baby crying) We should go to the shelters.
Now, we know what she looks like, so we can give them a description.
I'll go back to Saint Mary's, see if she spoke to anyone.
Where you going? Well, I finished my moo-sh It was delish.
I got to make an important call.
Why don't you use the phone here? It's kind of personal.
I'll check in with you guys later, all right? MARISSA: I suppose you don't want to go to police.
GARY: We tried that the last time.
Remember, I became a prime suspect.
MARISSA: What about her parents? They have to be looking for her.
Uh, guys I don't even know her last name.
Uh, guys What? Okay, here you go.
One glass of milk.
Thanks.
So, your boyfriend Steve, he was in high school, too? No.
He was older.
Almost 20.
Did he work? Sure.
He had a really good job in the city.
He managed a video store.
I take it your parents didn't approve.
They hated him.
They did everything they could to try and break us up.
So you ran away with him? (sniffling) We were really happy for a while.
I mean, everything was perfect until I got pregnant.
The night after I told him, he split.
Do your parents know about the baby? No, no, I couldn't tell them.
If I did, they'd take Jordan away from me.
I don't know what I'm going to do.
Hey, if I know Gary, he's got some chocolate-chip ice cream in the fridge.
Would you like some? Yeah.
Thanks.
Don't worry.
Everything's going to work out.
Bingo.
It's an emergency.
Uh, hi.
Is Lenore in, please? Oh, she is? Great.
Yeah, Chuck Fishman.
She knows me.
Fishman.
Chuck.
Just tell her we go way, way, way back.
No.
No, she does know me.
Look, I have some very important information give her.
(dial tone) Hello? Hello? (sighs) Uh just one more, okay? Don't worry, I'll take care of you.
Excuse me.
(with Irish brogue): Hi.
This is Mr.
McGinty from McGinty's Bar and Restaurant.
And, uh, we're throwing a party for a hundred of our favorite customers, and Oh, yeah, we have a full kitchen.
But I thought I'd do something a bit different for the fellas, you know, spice it up a bit.
Is there a? Yes, I'll hold.
Thank you very much.
(normal voice): Lenore? It's Chuck Fishman whom you shared a cab with this morning and I have that very important information to give you.
Oh, I know.
I know we got off to a bit of a bad start, but I have wait All right, Lenore, look, just don't hang (dial tone) up.
Gary, where you going? To see her father.
How do you know where he is? While she was in the bathroom, I went through her wallet and found his business card.
Oh.
You're getting pretty good at this you know.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Keep an eye on her, huh? Yeah.
So to speak.
Right.
SAMANTHA: So, how long have you known Gary? A couple years.
Are you guys, uh Oh, no.
We're just friends.
He's really cute.
I hadn't noticed.
I know he's cute.
He sounds cute.
What? Have you always been blind? Meningitis at 16 months.
So I guess you were too young to remember what it was like you know, to see.
Sometimes I think I remember all the colors, but then again it might just be my imagination.
Yeah.
Most people wonder what it's like you, you know.
No, it's not that.
It's just that sometimes I feel like I'm blind, too.
Like I'm just walking around in the dark.
Who are you? Her latest? No, sir.
I just met her.
She's staying with my friend Marissa over at my hotel room.
Is she okay? Well Nice work, Betty.
Well, she's a little lost, I think.
What she want, money? No, sir.
Why didn't she call? Why'd she send you? She didn't send me.
She doesn't know I'm here.
Where's that boyfriend of hers? They broke up.
Big surprise.
Mr.
Butler, I think Samantha needs you.
A hundred people on the payroll.
We started with six.
Sam's mother and I worked day, night, weekends.
For what? For her.
Look, I think she wants to come home, but I don't think she will unless you make the first move.
She doesn't feel welcome.
She's not.
Look, I know this is none of my business That's right, it isn't.
Do you have any idea what we've been through? She was going to go to college.
She was a beautiful, intelligent girl.
She still is.
We gave her everything.
Look, she's only We gave her a choice, but she chose him.
A high school dropout, for God's sake.
He smiled at me when they left together.
I'll never forget that smile.
Look, I know this is upsetting.
I I just thought maybe I could help.
Can you find your way out? If you change your mind We won't.
In case you do, here's my number at the hotel.
Will you tell her something? Tell her her mother misses her.
Marissa? When's Gary coming back? I'm not sure.
He went to run some errands.
You okay? Um, yeah.
I'm fine.
I guess that guy wasn't too thrilled when you found his daughter, huh? Not quite.
Hey, by the way, uh, did you have any luck with that weather report? Didn't even get to first base.
Didn't even get inside the ballpark.
Were you really in love with Marcia? Marcia.
Did you really love her? Yeah.
How'd you know? I don't know.
I guess, uh she was beautiful.
Smart.
She was in love with me.
She used make me blueberry pancakes every Sunday morning.
Melted butter.
She melted the butter? Insisted on picking me up at the airport, too.
I don't even pick my mother up at the airport when she comes to visit.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Are you telling me that you think you're in love with a woman who you shared a five-dollar cab ride with? No.
I just wanted the opportunity, that's all.
You know what I think? What? Opportunity doesn't knock.
It presents itself when you beat down the door.
MARISSA: Gary? Gary? Yeah, over here.
What's wrong? I'm sorry.
I lost her.
Let me help you with that.
Uh Oh, yeah.
Cute.
Yeah.
Just like his mommy.
Paul, I am really sorry about Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the dog ate your homework, you couldn't fine a cab.
You forgot to make the delivery.
Paul, I can't.
Oh, I think you can.
Oh, yeah.
Real cute kid.
You know, there are people in this city who sell babies.
What a world? Don't look so worried.
The fact is, I'm a forgiving kind of guy.
The last delivery was penny-ante stuff, so you can make it up to me tonight.
Ooh.
Yeah, baby.
Paul, please, I Oh, and don't worry about the kid while you're gone.
Just think of me as your trusted neighborhood baby-sitter.
Hi.
(gasps) What are you, out of your mind? You know, there's a law against stalking in Chicago.
I'm not a stalker, I'm giving you a ride, and if you haven't noticed, it's pouring rain out and I've been in this stinking cab for over 30 minutes, and the fare is 50 bucks, which I don't have, and all because I just want to give you the damn weather report.
Are you sure you're not a stalker? Do I look like a stalker? I don't know what a stalker looks like.
Well, I'm not.
CABBY: Okay, Lady, where will it be? between State and Wabash.
You got it.
Thank you.
So, go ahead.
What's the weather report? It's gonna stop raining tonight after midnight.
And you know this because? I know this because of a certain part of my anatomy.
Cabby! My big toe on my right foot, to be specific, is very climate- sensitive.
If it rains, I'm in agony.
If it's sunny, no pain.
Yesterday, I was in agony.
Today? Much better.
It runs in the family, this toe thing my grandmother had it, and my great-great-grandmother, great-great-great And you went to all this trouble to tell me because? What? You think I have an ulterior motive? Well I am insulted.
Cabby! As a matter of fact, I'd like a date.
Define "date.
" A date is when you rush home from work, take a quick shower, redo your hair and makeup, put on something black that cost you an arm-and-a-leg, even though there's very little material, and I show up wearing an Armani suit with flowers and take you to my favorite restaurant on Taylor Street.
And? And then I walk you home.
We go into your apartment, and I give you a kiss good-night.
On the cheek.
And then I leave.
Okay.
If it stops raining after midnight, give me a call in the morning.
If not you've just been taken on one hell of a cab ride.
Bye.
Hey, guys, how you doing? Oh what do we have here? Pepperoni with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pineapple, extra cheese.
Help yourself.
Extra cheese? I take it you didn't find her, huh? Oh, she could be anywhere by now.
You know, maybe I'm missing something here, but, uh what's the big deal anyway? You know she's gonna leave the kid on the church doorstep in the next couple of hours.
Why don't you just hide in the bushes until she shows up? No.
We have to find her before she abandons that baby.
Why? Because when a mother gives away her child, there's nothing left after that.
Whatever causes her to abandon that baby, putting that bassinet down and walking away, there'll be no reason for her to go on.
No.
(thunder rumbling) (steady rain falling) MELISSA: Gary? CHUCK: What is it? I think she's going to kill herself tonight.
Mr.
Butler? I told you She's in trouble.
I think she's gonna try to kill herself.
She'd never do something like that.
Look, she's been through a lot in the last year.
She's desperate.
She left! She's the one who should be No! She's your daughter.
She's 17.
She made a mistake, a big one, but not as big as the one you're making right now.
Don't you care? Don't you care at all that? I think you should go.
Get out! Jordan? Jordan? (cries out) Jordan?! Jordan?! Hey! Hey, is this your baby? Jordan.
Jordan? I said, is this is your baby? Yes.
Jordan.
(baby squalls) Shh.
What kind of person are you? Are, are you on crack or something? No! You must be on crack or something.
No.
What kinda mother leaves her baby alone like that? I didn't! You know something? I'm gonna call I should call the police on you, you know that? You're not fit to have a baby! Leaving that baby alone like that? Don't ever leave your baby alone like that! Don't you know what could happen to that baby? Girl, how could you? Child, what kind of mother are you? You got some kinda Something's wrong with you, girl.
Something's definitely wrong with you, child.
Don't leave a baby alone like that! Not in a place like this! What is wrong with you? MARISSA: What do you mean you can't read it? GARY: The headline's clear, but the small print is smudged.
CHUCK: Looks like coffee.
Well, we had a little accident this morning.
Hey, you said it wasn't my fault.
The name of the bridge It looks like it starts with a "W.
" Oh, that's good.
That narrows it down to only Webster, Wabash, Wrigley, Washington, Well Maybe it's a "K.
" A "K"? Kensey, Kidsey Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Why don't we just call the guy who wrote the article, and ask him what bridge it is? Brilliant idea.
Is there a byline? Guys, he's not writing the article until after midnight tonight.
Yeah.
Bad idea.
Okay, we have to go to the police and tell them that we have a friend who's going to jump off of a bridge at midnight.
All right, listen, I'll get you a cab.
You go back to my hotel in case Samantha shows up.
I'll go to the police station.
You keep walking.
What? All the way across Chicago? No, just three or four blocks around the church, that's all.
Wait, why don't I just hang around the church until she shows up? No, because something's happening or it's going to happen that's going to make her leave that baby.
Now she's in some kind of trouble, and if we can prevent that from happening then Oh, I get it.
In case she gets mugged by a group of knife-wielding psychos, you want me around to save her is that it? Yeah.
Yes.
What a sap.
Walking all across town.
Sure, Gare.
Whatever you want, Gare, Gare.
I'm not the one that gets the paper, you know.
I'm not the one that's responsible.
My feet hurt.
(thunder rumbling) It's almost midnight.
And I'm cold, and I'm alone.
I'm sitting down.
(chuckles) Yeah, that's better.
Where is she? I'm so cold, I'm so lonely Hey, what the? What's going on? Oh, good evening, officers.
Beat it.
No loitering.
Oh, see, I wasn't loitering.
I'm just sitting here resting.
Get a room.
I happen to have a very nice apartment in the Gold Coast Yeah, but you prefer spending the night on a park bench.
Oh, no, no, no.
It's just I'm waiting for somebody and it's very important One more time beat it! And everybody knows that the loitering laws were created just so that the homeless wouldn't sleep in public places, and some of my best friends happen to be homeless, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
(knocking) Samantha? No.
I'm her father.
I'm looking for a Mr.
Gary Hobson? What is it you want us to do? Put on out an APB or send squad cars to the bridges Oh, I see.
You want the Chicago Police Department to send out all available units to some 30-odd bridges to catch a jumper who just may be pulling your leg.
No.
She is going to jump.
I know that for a fact.
If you would Forget it.
I gotta get to the church or the bridge or Not so fast, Hobson.
Not so fast.
Look, I came here as an ordinary citizen to tell you a friend of mine is going to throw herself off a bridge just after midnight.
It's midnight now.
You can either help me, or you let me go.
Look, you got no legitimate reason to hold me here, and if my friend does throw herself off the bridge tonight, I think every Chicago reporter is going to want to have a piece of this story, you know? West Hill unit one Lincoln Adam David Gary, how are ya? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be over at the church.
Got any cash on you? Look, there it is.
Hey.
Is he okay? There's a note.
MARISSA: Gary? Yeah.
Up here.
He came to your hotel room.
What's going on? Where's Sam? We missed her.
How do you know she was here? Whose baby? Careful, Gary.
Mr.
Butler, have you met your grandson? His name is Jordan.
That's my name.
Hey Gare, come on let's go.
Come on, we got to find her.
Do you know where she went? I'll explain in the cab.
Marissa, in the cab.
Come on.
Take a right at Wabash.
We'll try that one next.
No, no.
Wabash is closed.
Make a left.
All right, where to then? This is all my fault.
You said it might be a "K.
" Kensey.
Try Kensey.
It's the next closest bridge we could catch.
Good idea.
And step on it, will you, Mac? Samantha.
Samantha, stop.
Leave me alone! Samantha.
Sam, wait.
Please.
I need you.
We need you.
(Samantha sobbing) Samantha Oh, Samantha.
I'm sorry.
Sorry, Daddy.
Jordan! Jordan.
(sniffling) No, thank you, Detective.
Yes.
Aren't you ever going to learn how to knock? Next time lock and bolt your door.
My phone is sort of out of order, so I thought I'd borrow yours.
Can I have a little privacy, please? Use the other phone.
Good idea.
This better be a local call.
Sure.
Is Zimbabwe local? Do you mind? Hi.
This is Chuck Fishman.
Is Lenore in yet? Oh, she knows me.
We go way, way, way Hello.
Yes, it is a nice, sunny morning, isn't it? Well, I'm glad, too.
And I my big toe is glad.
And my grandmother's big toe is glad.
Okay.
Friday night? Well, I'll see you then.
Bye.
Congratulations.
Thank you, my man.
Dare I ask is there anything interesting in the paper today? Oh, a couple of things.
Caught up to them.
Nice going, Gare.
All in a day's work.
There are lots of bridges in this city.
Bridges that span over the river.
That take you from one place to another.
There are other bridges though.
Ones we need to cross in order to bring us together as a city, as a community.
But the hardest bridge to cross is the one that opens your heart, the one that leads you home.