The Cleaner (2008) s02e09 Episode Script

I don't know much, but I know you're out there.
Somehow, someway, insisting life get lived.
You keep the river flowing no matter what.
But for those of us afraid of change, we follow the path of least resistance.
Parents endure many horrors.
But I'd argue that nothing is more painful, more hard to cope with as confronting your own child's addiction.
We believe that if we're diligent enough, aware enough, we can help our child avoid pain inflicted by others.
Not always, but we can try.
But how is a parent to confront the pain their child inflicts upon themselves? I have walked through the fires of hell with my own dear son and we have come out the other side.
I have worked so hard.
Taylor and I have been through so much.
I can't lose him now.
I am here to give you words of wisdom.
To offer you hope from someone who has been where you are.
Every sinner has a future, every saint has a past.
And I'm here to give you hope.
For me, the path that I was on, I felt like I'd never get hurt, never die, never get lost.
The thing is, after a while taking the easy route, can lead to dangerous places.
End of the day, we're all just trying to find our way to some place that feels like home.
I'm not sure we can get there taking the path of least resistance.
Mr.
Banks.
Glad you came back.
You wanna have a look inside? Yeah, all right.
Sure, okay.
The neighborhood is great.
Close to the beach.
Two bedrooms, two baths.
Which, you know, with kids is a huge plus.
Are they flexible? Even though it's a buyer's market, they've already turned down two offers below asking.
Sarah's way hotter, but she's in I don't know, only so long I can hear about the swell in Ventura before I start to zone out.
Look, at this stage of the game, Ben, it's actually okay that good conversation's not of the top of your priority list.
Yeah, but Jess is cute too, and way more interesting.
If you give me the truck back, I could take them both out.
Yeah, like that's gonna happen.
- Excuse me.
- Hey, Dad.
Ben, give me a minute.
I'll meet you inside.
Yeah? Are you William Banks? I haven't slept in days.
If I'm not driving around looking for him, then I'm lying awake waiting for the phone to ring.
Even at his worst, I would get hang-ups in the middle of the night.
But now, nothing.
Mrs.
Fisher, you said? - Marcia.
- Marcia, please, well, why don't you tell me about your son.
Marcia Fisher.
- I'm sorry.
- I just assumed in your line of work My book about Taylor's addiction is a bestseller.
- Oh, okay.
- The paperback comes out next week.
I'm supposed to go on a book tour with it, but I can't.
I can't, not with Taylor gone.
Well, tell me about your son's addiction history.
What's that all about? That's the whole story.
Hit me with the highlights.
Well, he started sneaking alcohol when he was 8 years old.
Soon, he moved on to harder stuff.
Meth mostly.
What happened recently? Anything set him off that you know of? No.
What about his father? What's his take on this? He's not part of the picture.
- Your picture or Taylor's picture? - He was part of the problem.
He's not part of the picture, any picture.
I have worked so hard.
Taylor and I have been through so much.
I can't lose him now.
Whatever you have to do, whatever it costs, I need you Taylor needs your help.
Page 37.
"Our son was sick and Bob wanted us to accept him and support him as this was all part of some teenage phase.
" Well, I guess the queen of the talk show circuit doesn't have it all in lockdown after all.
- You're surprised? - No.
Did you tell her what you think of the book? What's the point? She asked us to help the kid, so that's we're gonna do.
Let's help.
So you want us to set up a blind canvas? Yeah, it's a good idea.
We don't have much to go on yet.
So go for it.
Who doesn't love a good game of needle in the haystack? "My husband was wrong.
I knew I had to find a way to make him see.
And when he couldn't, I knew I had to find a way to leave him.
" Scintillating prose.
Why do I get the impression that Pa Fisher knows a lot more than Ma Fisher's letting on? Are you trying to get your own chapter in her next book? Why are you here? I was hoping you heard from Taylor.
- I thought you said you knew my ex.
- I only met with her for a few minutes.
Yeah, I'm sure that was plenty of time for her to give her side of things.
I'm a bad influence, part of the problem.
Look, I don't wanna get involved in whatever beef Take money from Marcia? Then you're involved.
If you're working for her, I don't have a damn thing to say Look, it's likely that your son is living on the streets when he's got a home to go to.
So whatever problem you have with your ex, that's not real high on my priority list.
She came to me because she's worried about your son, man.
Bullshit.
She only cares about her own image.
Again, I'm only focused on one thing here and that's helping Taylor.
So if you've heard from him, or if you have anything for me to go on, then I suggest that you focus on that too.
You've got a broke-down vehicle? I can help you out.
Otherwise, you came to the wrong place.
"I couldn't stand the thought of him with the lowlifes and the freaks.
My boy was too good for that.
" Oh, we should limit the canvas to the downtown area.
Put in a call into Gomez in Vice.
Tell him we're gonna be poking around there.
"Once we checked in at New Day, Taylor had friends who challenged him to be his better self.
His sponsor, Perry, seemed to understand him on a fundamental level.
" Well, maybe I should reach out to this guy at New Day.
See if he can hit me with the specifics.
- Hey, Tonya.
- Perry will be right out.
Yeah, you know what, I was just wondering.
Do you know Taylor Fisher? You asking for you or Marcia? Both.
You know he's missing, right? I don't care about book deals.
I'm I just wanna help.
William? Hey, sorry I'm late, brother.
Come on back.
Hey, he doesn't wanna come back here.
I can tell you that much.
Thanks.
You know, in all transparency, I'm a little concerned about your involvement in this.
Did you mention this concern to Marcia? No.
I haven't yet had the opportunity.
Look, are we really gonna have this back and forth over who got to the sandbox first? This is not a game, okay? Taylor and I have a very strong bond.
There's a history there.
I helped him successfully navigate the last time he fell off Well, this kid you helped successfully navigate.
He's in the wind right now, so You're saying I had something to do with that? I wasn't.
But is there anything you wanna share with me? Anything that happened the night he took off? I don't know how to take that.
All right, look, let's start all over, okay? I don't really have an ego in this thing, honestly.
I mean, if she writes a sequel, it's all you.
I don't care about the credit, you know.
Of course not.
All right.
Look, what do you want? What do you need? Who was Taylor spending his time with? Well, me.
We spent quite a lot of time together.
His mother, of course.
But, really, he kept to himself mostly.
He became almost monk-like throughout the recovery.
Marcia wrote in her book that he used to score downtown.
Oh, yes, an abandoned warehouse down on 7th Street.
He used to squat down there for awhile.
Okay.
It's pretty rough down there.
Yeah.
No, I'll keep that in mind.
He's gonna wanna come here to get back on his feet.
He always does.
- Hey, do you recognize this guy? - No, I don't think so.
Hey, Leo.
I wanna talk to you, man.
What's the matter, Leo? Ain't you happy to see me, huh? I got something for you.
Man, you can just go ahead and put that Andy J away.
Every time you show up, my business dries up, like, for real.
It doesn't look like you're having problem moving your product.
Yeah, but look at where I was at, man.
I had a sweet deal slinging to college kids over on the Westside, then you show up and then: No, man, we done.
Look, in this economy, - I gotta run my shit conservative.
- I really need to find this kid, Leo.
And I really need Salma Hayek on my Don Johnson, but I don't hear no one speaking Puerto Rican.
You wanna die? You wanna die? Get back to work.
- Anything? - No, he's not here.
No one even flinched at the photo.
- Looking good, girl.
- Hey, Leo.
You seen the kid? Let me get another look at that glamour shot.
No, he ain't been up in here.
Are you sure? Gone dot com.
Your slice of the stimulus package.
- Hey.
- Don't.
Don't even.
Hey, get the hell away from my house.
- Sorry, brother.
- Yeah, nice house.
How come we can't find this kid? Someone's not telling us something.
I'll check you guys back at the shop later.
You can so trust me.
- You can't go running to Mom.
- I said I promise.
Like the time I put the crayons in the dryer? Yeah, that was a real mystery.
Dad's looking at houses.
He told you that? I saw one of those info sheets in his truck.
Why would you assume Mom doesn't know? Because it wasn't one of hers.
Why wouldn't you tell her? And give her a reason to be pissed? - What? - You actually thought this out.
Shut up.
- Do you have a plan or something? - Yeah, I invited him to dinner tonight.
Ben, come on.
How many times have I told you you have to let me know if you're gonna invite one of your friends for dinner? - Yeah, I - Set the table for four.
The table.
So who is it? Brady? Evan? Oh, God, I hope it's not that kid.
- She's gonna kill you.
- It wouldn't be the first time.
So who knew we raised a mini Machiavelli? - Hey there.
- Hey.
- So earlier today at the shop - Yeah.
When you said to me: "Hey, Mom wants to know if you have any dinner plans.
" Yeah, I don't know if that's what I said exactly.
Oh, that's what you said exactly.
Late at night I'd lie awake watching the shadows cast by the blades of the fan wondering what I'd done wrong.
Wondering how my sweet little boy could be so cruel.
Wondering how he could hate me so, hate himself.
Wondering why.
Why he was in so much pain.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
You know, your book has really saved me.
Oh, I'm so glad.
Good luck.
So no one has seen him.
I didn't just come to you for your discretion.
I was under the impression that you knew your way around.
You knew what rocks to turn over.
Well, I show his picture.
I get nothing.
I talk to people.
Nothing.
I've turned over every lead.
You tell me where to go.
He must have friends, right? I mean, he must have someplace he likes to go hang out, spend time.
All his friends would be at the New Day Center.
If Perry can't help you, I can't Even if you hired a P.
I.
, which you didn't do, I've got nothing to go on.
I mean, you've given me nothing of value.
- I gave you my book.
- And I read it and I get the situation.
I get the walking away from home and wanting to disappear, but most people wanna get found.
I can't get a hold on why your son doesn't wanna get found.
Look, I suggest you file a missing persons report.
I don't really know how else to help your son.
No, please.
William, please don't go.
I don't know.
I wish I could give you more to go on, but I don't know.
Please keep looking.
Please don't stop.
I just want my son to come home.
I'm just saying, okay, I don't think she wants us to find him.
I mean, I think she wants to want us to find him, but in actuality, I don't think she really wants us to find him.
You can't possibly think I followed that.
I'm saying it can't be good for books sales if the kid's on drugs.
Dude, she's his mom.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
She wants to want it.
All right, fine.
Let's take this to its cynical conclusion.
Okay, please.
Wouldn't this then mean that she gets to write a sequel? Yeah, that's a good point.
Did you and my dad used to date? Gosh, you know, Ben, I don't wanna talk about it.
You know, it was a very difficult time in my life and I You know, you give somebody your heart.
Seriously, Akani, it's cool.
I just wanna know.
Hey, Ben, you should talk to your dad.
It's just for the first time in my life, Dad's trying, and I don't want anything to mess that up.
You got a customer.
- It's Ben, right? - Yeah.
Cassidy.
You can keep the change.
Thanks.
So listen, if you ever wanna go get coffee or, I don't know, go grab dinner or whatever you kids do these days.
Go to the mall or go roller skating or whatever, - You know, if you wanna talk about it - Yeah, I think I got it covered.
Sure you do.
Listen, I knew this kid, right? Seven years old, his dad OD's.
Then his mom continues to have string of boyfriends, husbands.
Each one worse than the next.
Sometimes they beat him, sometimes they just ignore him.
But he's still here, you know.
Look, I know it sucks when your parents breakup, okay? It's tough.
But you don't got it so bad.
But if you ever wanna talk about it, I'm here.
- Hey, what's up, Ben? - Are you cool? All right, listen up, guys.
One or both of them is lying, all right? So we're gonna sit on them and see what we can see.
- Akani, I want you on the mom.
- Swenton, you take the dad.
We're gonna rotate seven-hour shifts.
Cool? Go ahead and take off.
- How many is that this week? - Three.
Well, there you go.
Now, let's close up.
I'll give you a lift home.
- You should come inside.
- No, I gotta run.
Mom would be happy to see you.
What, you didn't learn your lesson after last night? She still loves you, you know.
- Ben, stop.
- She does.
Look, she told Lu before dinner last night.
- She said she'll always love you.
- And I'll always love your mom.
- But, listen, you can't just keep - You know, I don't get it.
I don't.
You got better, things got better, and that's when you decide it's too tough? Hey, Ben.
Hey.
Okay.
Yeah? Okay, he there now? No, I'm on my way.
I didn't see anyone, but there was no light on out here.
Is there anything else missing besides your wallet? Oh, it just looks like some jewelry, nothing fancy.
How much money was actually in the wallet? Oh, I'm a mother of an addict.
Only 30 or $40.
All right, look, just try to get some sleep.
Oh, I don't know how I can.
I don't blame you, but the good news is he's alive, which means we have a chance.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
- Good night.
- Good night.
All right, take this hair and get it tested.
See what this kid is on.
You know, you should write a book on the art of the stakeout.
I could hear you from two blocks away, man.
Sorry, boss.
It's not a lot of options really.
I mean, it's seeing as how Red Bull is kind of a gateway drug, you know.
- All right, anything? - Nothing, nada.
I followed him back from a tow around 8:00.
I haven't seen him since.
You know what? You guys should discuss decorating tips, with that whole living in the office thing.
Go home and get some sleep.
I'll call you when I need a break.
Yeah.
Roger.
- Hello? - Dad.
Taylor? It hurts so bad.
It hurts.
What hurts? Where are you? I don't know.
You gotta help me, please.
Taylor.
Taylor.
What do you got, Akani? Oh, a whole lot of nothing.
- The test was clean for drugs? - Clean, all right.
The hair's 100 percent synthetic.
It's a wig.
Well, that explains why no one recognizes him.
It's why we got nothing on this kid.
Hey, Taylor.
Hey.
Are you Taylor? Is that you? I just wanna talk to you.
Hey.
Don't run.
Don't run.
Taylor.
Hey, I'm not trying to hurt you.
- Come here.
- Let go of me.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
I'm here to help you.
Let me go.
You're hurting me.
Stop.
Police.
- Hands on the wall.
- Don't run, don't run.
Now.
Hands on the wall.
- I said hands against the wall.
- Let's see them up.
Just take it easy.
Take it easy.
Spread your legs.
You're a real clean-cut dude to be picking up ass down here.
Listen, it's not what you think.
My name is William Banks.
Yeah, shut it.
Look what we got here.
Solicitation and possession.
- You have the right to remain silent.
- No, stop.
- Anything you say can and will be - Take it easy, man.
You gotta get off.
Get it off.
I'm just trying to get this kid off the street, all right? You're gonna send her to trade school.
She's gonna learn.
Listen, listen, listen, do me a favor.
Frank Gomez, he runs your Vice Squad, right? I'm gonna reach into my pocket and get my ID.
You give Frank a call.
He can vouch for me.
William Banks.
Go ahead, call him.
Keep an eye on him.
You know, you're a real tough one to find, Taylor.
Your mom is worried about you.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Why do you think I'm here? I don't know.
I thought she was done with me this time.
Why would you think that? Uncuff him.
Thank you.
Tell Frank I owe him.
Good luck with this one.
- What's hurting you, kid? - My arm.
It feels like it's on fire.
Let me take a look.
You using clean needles? You using spit instead of water when you fixed? - Yeah.
- I gotta get you to a hospital.
Hey.
You know you're lucky, kid.
Gangrene like that, you could have easily lost that arm.
Your mom's on her way down.
You want me to call your dad? No way they can be in the same room together.
Did you tell her? - How you found me? - No.
Do you ever talk about it with her? You come clean, you have more options, you know that.
She didn't tell you about our fight? No.
What fight? Oh, thank God.
Thank God you're all right.
Hey, Mom.
Hey, T-man, how you feeling? Baby, I know I said some things, some harsh things, and I'm sorry about that.
But you're okay now and we can start over.
Listen, I know you're probably pretty mad at me too, buddy.
But your mom and I thought you needed tough love.
- Guys, maybe it's better if we hold off.
- William.
- Please.
- We're gonna get you well.
Perry, he's found this place where they deal with people with problems like yours.
- No, Mom.
- And intensive therapy.
Mom, I'm not sick.
It's not a problem.
- Honey - I'm not sick.
Wait, everybody stop.
Like I told you, there is a history here.
So if you'll just back off What were you thinking? Those hormone pills that I found.
You didn't even get those from a doctor, did you? Probably got them from that friend of yours, Tonya.
I went down there to die, and I wish you would have let me.
- You don't mean that.
- Everybody out.
Outside, right now.
I wanna talk to you.
Why would you keep this from me? I asked you straight up what happened.
I didn't think it was relevant to the problem I asked you to deal with.
You didn't think it was relevant? His drug use, his gender issues, it's all connected.
How could you expect me to find him when I don't know who I'm looking for? I didn't know, okay? I didn't know.
I didn't know how he was presenting himself.
- You didn't know? - No.
Look, I can't pretend to know how hard this is for you, but you can't separate out this from that.
Your son is in a hell of a lot of pain, and that pain is causing his drug problem.
Really? And what makes you qualified to make that diagnosis? Do you know what, man? Just give it a rest.
This guy, he's gonna tell you exactly what you wanna hear.
But you want your son back, you better find a way to get right with this.
But it's not right.
It's just not.
It's not.
It's not right? William, thank you for finding him, but I can take it from here.
You know what, Marcia? Go ahead and tell your story.
Ain't no shortage of people who are gonna call you a saint, but I know, and somewhere deep down you know, you're killing your son.
- He's all right? - He's alive.
- He's going back into treatment? - Don't know.
What did you do to piss her off? I gotta be real straight with you here.
I've been doing this gig for a long time.
But the truth is, I don't know what my place is on this one.
Usually, it's a bit better defined.
I get a case, find them.
Do what I can to help out, but - Always go that smooth? - No, never that smooth.
But the obstacles are usually I don't know.
I imagine it's all about the obstacles.
Obstacles I can clear.
It's the landmines.
So did you know that he was taking hormones? No, I didn't.
I mean, I suspected, you know.
You know, I didn't I didn't see my son for a long time, William.
Then he found me last year.
It was like It was like no time had passed between us at all, you know.
I mean, I wasn't shocked to see the path that he was on.
I didn't feel completely comfortable with it, you know, but he was clean.
To tell you the truth, I knew from the time he was a little kid that he was That he was what, different? No, he was in pain.
That this little sweet boy who would look at me, like he was screaming inside, like he needed me to do something about it because he couldn't.
And I didn't know what to do.
I didn't know what to do for him.
You and Marcia didn't split up over his drug use, did you? Well, he needs you now.
Oh, shit, William.
I'm 50-cents short of a nickel, man.
I couldn't afford rehab.
Don't worry about the money right now.
No, no, I can't expect you to do that.
Now, look, I just want him to get clean so the decisions he makes are clear.
You know what? You might not think that you did anything to help Taylor, but he found you.
He came to you because he didn't wanna scream anymore.
And you were the only person in his life who was actually listening.
That's real.
- Hey.
- Hi, William.
- Hey.
Hey, brother.
- Is this the hack? That's not necessary.
We're both professionals.
No need to name call.
I got no interest being considered part of your profession, brother.
What room is he in? What the hell are you two doing here? I don't know how much clearer - What room is our son in? - You have no right after everything - I what? What did I do? - You know what you've done.
Keep your voices down, guys.
I sat back and let you lie through your teeth to keep me from my kid, because I felt it was better for him than some long drawn-out battle.
Bob.
Bob, we're here for Taylor.
You have no idea what's good for him.
I know that airing our family business would be about the least helpful.
Oh, you still can't accept that I got out, that I was successful.
- This is not about you, Marcia.
- Really? - Please, lower your voices.
- Bob.
Which room is he in? What room is he in? Second door on the right.
- Where is he? - What do you mean? Oh, my God.
You.
Where's my son? What have you done? If he wants you to know, he'll call you.
Until then, you're just gonna have to trust that he's all right.
I want this person gone.
I really thought he'd be safe at my house.
- I thought he'd stick around.
- Oh, don't beat yourself up.
He's lucky to have you.
You know, someone who understands what he's going through.
- So, what's the plan? - Keep trying.
It may take awhile to sink in, but he needs to know he's not alone in this, you know.
My God.
Hell of a place to call home, ain't it? Hey, man.
I was wondering if you could help me out.
Seen him? Oh, big man's into the freaky-deaky, huh? No, man, I'm just looking for the kid.
Well, he ain't for sale, just rent.
This buy me a conversation? First crapper on the left.
Hey, girl.
Hey.
I could put you to work, you know that? Hey.
No, man, please.
Can't you just leave me alone? - Why can't you leave? - Taylor.
- I don't want you to see me here.
- It's okay.
I don't mind.
I mind.
We're not gonna give up on you.
We're not gonna leave you here to die.
Why not? Because you're not alone, do you hear me? You have people in your family who love you.
- People all around who love you.
- No.
Your father came to get you, all right? I told him everything and he still wanted to.
No, as soon as he saw me like this, he'd be gone.
Just like her, because they hate me.
They don't hate you, kid.
They love you.
You hear me? You are loved.
I love you, Taylor.
You're my friend and I love you.
But you can't make it stop.
The noise, the voices I'm wrong, I'm sick, I'm broken.
I don't wanna hear it anymore.
If I could have had another life, if I could have chosen something different, don't they know that I would have done it? The only promise we can make you is that we're not gonna be one of those voices, all right? You have our help.
You have our support if you want it.
Your mom, your dad We'll get there.
Get out of here.
You know where you can find us.
Get out of here.
Leave me the hell alone.
Congratulations on selling that big house in Bel Air.
I know that's a big deal for you.
Yeah, thanks.
You should You should take a vacation.
Celebrate.
Yeah, the word is vaguely familiar.
I can't remember what it means.
No, serious.
I'll watch the kids.
Take a week.
Hell, take two.
Okay, maybe not two.
So, what did you wanna talk to me about? Right.
Well I wanted to talk about Ben.
Yeah, he's been on a bit of a tear lately.
Yes, he has.
Anyway, I've been thinking about it for awhile and this is hard enough.
I don't think it's a good idea for him to see me living in that crap-hole apartment back there.
Yeah, look, I know I wasn't thrilled with him working at the shop.
No, no, slow down.
Actually, I love having him here.
I think the job is good for him.
- I think he's good with the job.
- Good.
I just think him seeing me here gives him the idea that this is temporary.
At any rate, I've been looking around for awhile and I found a house.
- To rent.
- To buy, actually.
But you didn't I - No, I know.
- I'm a real estate agent.
I could have We could have split the commission.
You know what? I did think about that, but Look, it's not like you haven't had secrets before and I wasn't even sure at first that I wanted to do it so I thought calling you might be awkward and You're right.
I'm sorry.
You're right.
And, you know, it's small.
It's a two-bedroom.
So Ben will have to sleep in the living room on the sofa, but it is close to the school, and I think I'm getting a deal.
Great.
It sounds great.
Okay, Lu, let's go.
Time to get our nails did.
Okay, we're definitely not listening to hip-hop in the car anymore.
I love you.
Don't break too many hearts today, huh? You guys have fun.
Hey, Melissa, thanks.
You're welcome.
Your mom looks good.
I saw that thing in your car.
- About another house.
- Right.
You really gonna do that? Yes, Ben, I am.
- You already have a house, Dad.
- Ben, you're killing me, all right? Look, I made lots of mistakes, all right? And that's what brought us here.
And try as I might, I can't change that.
A house, apartment, shop.
Doesn't matter where I live.
I'm not going anywhere, huh? You trying to get rid of me? Ain't gonna happen.
Ain't gonna happen, pal.
Hey, guys.
Thanks for coming.
I picked up Taylor about three days ago downtown.
He reached out to me for help.
He's been here detoxing since.
He's ready to get clean.
But he wants to say a few things to you two before he does.
So just listen, please? Hi.
Thanks for coming, I mean.
So here we are.
Okay.
I've never felt right in my own skin.
My whole life, I thought this was wrong.
This body was wrong.
I never felt like a man.
Never even wanted to.
I wanted you to see me.
And I tried really hard to be what you wanted.
But I can't hate myself anymore.
This is who I am.
And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make the outside fit how I feel in the inside.
And I hope that you stick around.
Because no matter what I look like, I love you both.
So much.
And I want I want you to love me too.
I'm learning.
Sometimes you gotta head straight on into the pain to come out the other side.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here today to tell you that you are not alone.
I too am fighting the fires of hell with my son.
I can tell you that Taylor has been sober three weeks now.
Proud to say.
And every day we spend together.
Every day is a gift.
And I Before I go on, there's someone that I would like you to meet.
Someone who Someone that This is my My This is my Taylor.
See, because sometimes the path of least resistance just makes the road longer.