Ghost Whisperer s03e16 Episode Script
Deadbeat Dads
Previously on Ghost Whisperer.
Who are you? What do you want? Why didn't you tell me your wife was dead? Because I don't deal with it very well.
Will you forgive me? It's what she needs to find peace and cross over.
No.
You tell him he doesn't know what pain is! None of you do.
Come on.
But Dean Stokes, in the spirit of publish or perish, out there is a scholarly journal of arcane rituals and And paranormal and, admittedly, some shinola.
- Gosh, are you okay? - Have you seen my glasses? I Where are they? 'Cause without them You're as blind as the proverbial cavefish.
Yeah.
Well, to show off, I was going to say Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus, but how did you know that anyway? Same old Ricky.
Nina.
Oh, my gosh.
Nina, what are you doing here? You know, still just dealing drugs.
Wow, well, that's good.
You're not kidding.
No, no.
I'm a pharmaceutical rep, remember? - Right.
Yes.
- Yeah.
There's a conference here in Grandview.
Anyway, you You teach here? Yeah! Yes, I've I've been teaching here for Well, who needs numbers, right? I heard about your wife.
I was going to call or write.
It just seemed weird.
It's fine.
I'm fine.
It's been three years.
I'm fine.
- Yeah.
Well, it was great to see you.
- Yes.
It It just really I'm going now.
- Nina, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
- What? Yeah.
I mean, you're here.
You're in town.
Since you're in town, we should maybe go get a bite to eat for old time's sake.
- Old time's sake? - Yes.
Yeah, well, that might be a little easier for you after the way things worked out, or didn't.
That was 10 years ago, right? Like you said, who needs numbers? Yeah.
So, then it's a date.
- As long as it's not like a date-date.
- Okay.
Explain to me the emergency dinner.
Okay, her name is Nina and we had a thing, a wild thing, about 10 years ago.
And it was all just chemistry and passion and damp sheets - Without the mind pictures.
- Okay, sorry.
We hit it off, obviously, because we were both academicians and Academicians.
Points for pretentiousness.
Sorry, we were peers.
And everything was going great.
And Nina and I had to break it off because I was marrying Kate.
Look, Nina is always going to be the big "what if" in my life, always will be the road not taken.
And because of an errant basketball throw to my head, I may have a second chance with this thing.
Look, I've only I don't want to get girly here, but I've been in love twice in my life, and only one of them is still around.
And, granted, she's a little Payne-shy right now, so I figure why not just loosen her up with a good old-fashioned foursome? - What? - A foursome? Dinner! A foursome at dinner, you dirty birds.
- Over here.
- Hi, guys.
- Wow! You sure came in handy.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
- Let me help you up.
- Hi.
I'm Nina.
- Hey, Jim.
Good to be handy.
- Melinda, his wife.
- It's nice to meet you.
Hi.
- You okay? - Yeah, just nerves, you know? - Hi, Nina.
Over here.
- Hi, Ricky.
Hi.
- Nasty static electricity.
- Yeah.
- Sorry.
You look nice.
- Thanks.
Whoa! Why'd she even bother putting on a dress? - Is she okay? - Sorry.
Happens all the time.
Wow, you weren't kidding about that Did our foursome just become a fivesome? His wife is here.
Go away.
But a dutiful wife's place is at her husband's side, isn't it? Such typical Rick.
You know, he's only interested in two things, and they're both prominently on display.
Would you excuse us? Me! Me.
- Spilt salt.
That's good luck.
- Unless it's an open wound, right? Where have you been? Still tediously earthbound, thanks to my husband.
- You need to go into the light.
- What? And miss all the fun? You know what? I don't have time to deal with you right now.
So, ignore me.
Yeah.
You're making that kind of difficult.
Not half as difficult as I plan to make things for those two.
- I'm a paramedic.
- I love paramedics.
No, Kate.
What the Can you see us? Hey.
What happened to your hand? Halfway through dinner last night, I realised I was still wearing my wedding ring.
And the silliest thing, I kept trying to yank it off, and it wouldn't come off.
My finger just kept getting more and more swollen.
- So, how was the rest of your date? - Fantastic.
Except for the fact that you forgot to tell me, your friend, "Hey, Professor Payne, guess what? Your super hot ex-girlfriend "has an evil, mischievous ghost attached to her.
" She doesn't.
You do.
It's Kate.
Your wife.
Okay.
I guess I should've seen that one coming.
This is a very strange question.
How is Kate? Not so good.
She's still earthbound because you won't forgive her.
And now that you're obviously interested in Nina Wait a minute.
She's jealous? Is that what you're gonna tell me? She's jealous.
I'm not the one that had an affair when she was alive.
So why can't I go on a date now? Look, if you want things to work out with Nina, you need to let me help you talk to Kate.
No.
Kate knows that this relationship might go somewhere.
- That's why she's getting involved.
- She's stuck here, okay, because you won't help her cross over.
It isn't healthy.
Healthy? She's dead.
What are you talking about, healthy? Look, do me a favour, Melinda.
This time, just stay out of it, okay? She could hurt you or Nina.
More than she already has? You know what? I'll take my chances.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Wow, good morning indeed.
You just missed a fascinating hour on Megalithomania.
That's my favourite.
Actually, could I talk to you for a minute? Well, yeah, for you, I have more than a minute.
Wow, I don't know how to say this except Being with you last night reminded me of how much it hurt when you dumped me.
I I prefer to say "broke up with.
" I can't get my heart broken again, Ricky.
- So, it was fun.
- Nina.
Hey.
You take care of yourself, okay? Nina, come on.
Nina, come on.
Are you happy now, darling? As if that's possible.
- Honey, you want a glass of wine? - No, thanks.
It makes me sleepy.
Melinda, you can't stay awake forever.
And looking at these masks is not doing you any good right now.
I'm just trying to figure out which mask the guy is wearing in one of my dreams or memories, whatever they are.
I know, but maybe you should take a break.
I don't know, maybe help Kate cross over.
- I'm staying away from that one.
- Really? Yeah.
Payne doesn't want my help.
He seems to think this is his chance to get back at her, and she doesn't want to go anywhere near a light, so Yeah.
I get it.
Mel, I'm worried about you.
You hardly get any sleep these days.
And when you do, your nightmares are getting worse.
The only way it's going to stop is if I can figure out who this masked guy is and what he's trying to tell me.
I'm pretty sure it has something to do with my father.
Well, do you think you should talk to a professional? I don't need therapy.
No, I mean, do you think you should talk to a private investigator? Do you remember my cop friend, Carl Neely? That's what he does.
He moonlights.
I mean, he could tell you how your dad died, when, where he's buried even.
Do you want me to call him? - Ricky? - Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi.
What are you doing here? I'm sorry about the hour, but it's just Can I come in? - No.
- No? - No.
- No.
- I'll come out.
- Good.
Look, I don't blame you.
I wouldn't really trust me, either.
But you need to know this.
I had Well, I had my heart broken.
Twice, as a matter of fact.
I mean, once when Kate died, and then another time, after she was already dead, - I found out that she had an affair.
- I'm sorry.
I didn't know I'm much I'm much more sensitive to people's hearts since my heart has been ripped out and kicked around like a hacky sack.
And the fact of the matter is, we really had a good time last night.
Yeah, we did.
I know, but 'Cause if you're in town for a week, we should make a go of this thing.
We can go have lunch.
What's lunch? Nobody ever got hurt by lunch, unless, of course, there was a food-borne illness.
Why are we whispering exactly? You're not alone in there, are you? - No.
- No.
But it's not what you think.
Mom? Who you talking to? Just a friend, baby.
You go back to sleep, okay? Mom? I usually detonate that bomb on the third or fourth date, but, yes, I have a son.
His name is Elliot.
And since I would have to bring him to lunch tomorrow, you can flee now.
No, no.
I'm not fleeing.
No.
You You should bring him to lunch with us.
I love kids.
What kind of a guy doesn't like kids? I hate kids.
Maybe "hate" is a strong word, but I have a profound lack of understanding for the need to breed.
Plus, all kids are just filled with snot.
- So, it's a non-starter for you? - I just think single moms are dicey.
- None taken.
- What? I was just hoping you'd throw a "no offence" my way.
But guess I gave you too much credit.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
But your son, Ned, he's different.
He's a He's a teen or a tween, or whatever they're called.
- Teen will do.
- He's a teen.
And look, he's interacting, cyclical conversation.
He's fine.
He's self-sufficient.
Nina's son isn't going to be self-sufficient.
And he's going to be a complete germ-bag, for crying out loud.
Hey! You are a mom.
You can help me.
You can You can watch this kid while I go to lunch.
Sorry.
But I am taking my son on a dicey-single-mom lunch.
Let's go, Ned.
- So, what's the deal with that guy? - You don't wanna know.
- Don't even look at me.
- Hey! Come on in.
Thank you.
Hi, guys.
This is Elliot.
El, Professor Payne.
- Hello, young man.
How are you? - Hello, Professor Payne.
Please.
Call me Actually, call me Professor.
That's good.
Hi, Elliot.
I'm Melinda.
Some people think dust is mostly flakes from human skin.
Elliot.
Actually, dust is a lot of things.
It could be pet dander, pollen, it could be soot Yeah, but its overall makeup depends on where you live.
I think the human skin thing was started to help sell dust spray.
Are you an academician? Spare me.
Nobody but Rick's that pretentious.
As a matter of fact, I am.
- Why would you ask me that? - So is my dad.
You see, his dad is not really in the picture.
He's He's on an extended sabbatical in India.
They can't get text messages there.
- Mind if I take a look at your Victrola? - No.
Go right ahead.
- Elliot? How old are you, exactly? - Almost 10, sir.
That's a decade.
- When's your birthday? - August 27th.
I'm a Virgo.
And we broke up in - This isn't happening.
- Maybe it's not what it seems.
Can I talk to you alone? I just remembered we've got a A thing we're going to be late for.
El? Baby, come on, we got to go.
- Nice to meet you all.
- Bye, guys.
There's no way I'm that kid's father, right? Well, ignoring what she's already told him about his dad, the fact that he seems to have your DNA, the math - You're not helping.
- You asked.
- I know I asked.
- You could always take a paternity test.
And confirm something that I don't want to be true? She hasn't exactly demanded one, and it's my own darn fault for chasing after her.
I didn't want kids when I was married, let alone now.
Neither do I.
Not yet, anyway.
Why don't you want kids? Do you mind me asking? I do mind, actually, but I will answer.
It's your porch.
Kids are a huge responsibility and I'm selfish.
What's your excuse? I'm afraid of juggling, you know, the The feeding and the diapers while dead people harass me.
You win.
I can't be a dad.
Look at me.
I'm not father material.
I'm a miscreant of epic proportions! - Well, that's true.
- All right.
Besides, we don't even know if this is what Nina wants.
- Who knows what Nina wants.
- There's one way to find out.
You know what? I hate talking to you.
- I'll promote to a knight.
- Damn.
I found out I was pregnant after you left, and I was so scared, Ricky.
And I was going to tell you, but you were already with Kate.
Happy.
From the sounds of it, you've all but told him I'm his dad.
No.
I just kind of, you know, dressed it up a little.
That way, if he ever does find out, it won't be such a shock to him.
Doesn't he have a right to know who his father is? It's complicated.
- Check.
- What, again? Nice.
He's mine? He's brilliant.
He didn't get it from me.
- Don't underestimate yourself.
- No.
I I tried to enrol him at Archfield Academy.
That's good.
That's a good school for pint-sized Mensas.
Anyway, it's not going to happen.
Wait a minute.
This kid could get into Yale.
There's no way he didn't get accepted there.
He did.
It's just they They only have two financial aid slots open.
He seems to be doing okay at public school.
Public school? Nina, no, no.
This kid's a genius.
You put him in public school, it's like putting raw meat in a piranha tank.
They'll eat him alive.
You can't do that to him.
I don't sell enough anti-depressants to pay for it.
When Kate died, I got a call from her life insurance company.
Here's my wife of eight years, dies in a freak accident, and now they just want to cut me a cheque.
I felt pretty awkward about it.
I didn't know what to do.
I never invested the money.
I just kept it in my savings account.
Bottom line is, I'd like to use that money to pay for Elliot's school.
No.
Ricky, that's too generous.
You know, I didn't come here to ask you for money.
I didn't come here to ask you for anything.
I know that.
I'm pretty sure that's what Kate would've wanted.
You should move your pawn.
Don't count on it.
I don't need you to teach me how to play chess, kid.
I'm just saying if I were you, I'd sacrifice my pawn.
He really is a chip off the old Payne, isn't he? - Alexander, you mind if I cut in? - This kid's too smart for me.
Well, don't blame it on him.
It's just his DNA, I guess.
Unbelievable.
- Do you mind if I finish his game? - Sure, Professor.
But you'll lose.
How about you and I start from scratch? Honey, I'm home.
Oh, boy.
How many times have I told you about leaving your shoes in the foyer, Kate? You know, Kate, the scientist in me is very intrigued, but the human being in me has hair standing up in places I didn't even know that I had hair.
Wow.
Come on, Kate.
Is that the best you got? All right.
Getting better.
Honey, that is such a textbook haunting.
A screw? Are you trying to tell me something? Okay, fine! You want to have this out? Let's have it out right now, 'cause you cheated on me with one of my colleagues! So what right do you have to be mad at me? You think this is about infidelity? What was that, honey? I didn't quite hear you.
Payne, where are you? Here's something I never thought I'd say.
I'm in here under the piano.
Oh, my God.
Are you okay? Well, not to be Captain Obvious, but not really! There's an 800-pound baby grand on my back.
Can you feel anything? Yes, Jim, I can feel everything.
Thank you.
I'm going to get the car jack.
I am so sorry.
- How's that? - It only hurts when it hurts.
We're gonna have to get this X-rayed and get you to the emergency room.
So, are you going to tell me what happened? Well, I was drunk, I came home, I decided to plough through my own bookcase, swing from the chandelier, and then me and the piano rolled around on the floor and All right, I got in a fight with Kate.
Yeah, she's obviously trying to tell you something.
Great.
It's like ghost charades with props.
You know, she seemed pretty upset the day that you met Elliot.
Is there something you're not telling me? Well, Kate wanted kids.
And so did I, for a brief, brief moment of insanity.
And we tried everything.
All the fertility drugs.
It was killing Kate that nothing was working.
And I told her don't worry about it, I don't even want kids.
But you know the way I have that great talent for saying things the wrong way.
It just It got ugly.
- And now you have one.
A kid.
- And she doesn't.
That hurt? Compared to being under a piano, it's okay.
Do you think that's why she's upset? Because of Elliot? Well, I think it's only going to get worse until she crosses over.
Well, look, I don't speak ghost and I don't do humility very well.
Would you please talk to her? Mediate.
Whatever.
- Yes.
- Hey, please! - Okay! Just stop baiting her.
- Thank you.
I will not bait her any more.
- What's that look? - No look.
- Hey.
- How is he? Lucky.
His foot's pretty banged up.
But hairline fracture of the tibia, and he broke his little toe.
He'll be fine.
Look, I heard you two talking about how much Payne's wife wanted a kid.
And I hate to bring this up again, but I'm so sorry.
Could you just hold that thought? I always do.
You could have killed him.
I lost my temper.
He has that effect on me.
And anyway, I thought he could stand to suffer a little.
Hasn't he done that already? I mean, it's been three years, Kate.
It's time for you to let him move on.
The way he's let me move on? He told me you wanted a baby.
I know what he told you.
I'm a ghost, darling.
I can go places, hear things.
It's the only upside to an otherwise lousy state.
- I'm sorry.
I really need your help.
- I was here first! Sorry.
That happens all the time.
Look, obviously you're upset that he has a child, okay? It doesn't seem fair, and I get that.
Do you? She shows up here with this boy and plays her sad little violin about needing money to get him into some special school, and he's all too ready to just write her a cheque from my life insurance money no less.
No.
Seems a bit sketchy to me.
So you think she's playing him? You're a clever girl.
Figure it out.
Hey, you.
- What happened? - Broke my vestigial appendage.
- I'm fine, though.
Can I talk to you? - Yeah.
- Yeah, but just let me go first, okay? - Okay.
All right.
I thought about your offer to pay for Elliot's school and I accept.
And And I swear we'll go back to the city, and you'll never hear from us again.
I've been thinking a lot about it, too, and I don't want to be a chequebook dad, Nina.
So the offer's no good any more? No, the The offer still stands.
I just want to sweeten the pot.
I I've thought a lot about it, and that is if I'm Okay.
If I'm going to be Elliot's dad, then I want to be Elliot's dad.
How would that work exactly? Well, we could take it slow.
You don't have to tell him right away.
You guys can move in with me.
Ricky, wait, slow down.
No, it's not, you know I have lots of space, lots of space.
And you and I, we don't have to be this instant couple right away.
We don't have to be a couple at all even, you know.
But there's a great satellite school that the college offers for gifted children.
We can enrol Elliot there and I just I don't know.
I think I'm ready.
I'm really ready to be a dad.
At least I'm ready to give it a try.
So, how is this all going over at home? Well, you can tell that Jim wants to talk about it.
I keep sidestepping.
I mean, what's the big rush, right? There's got to be some huge compromise somewhere between forever and right now.
Yeah, except for men pretty much have forever and women don't.
I'm still young-ish.
Okay? There's plenty of time.
Besides, I have to cross Kate over, and I can't do that until I find out if Nina's telling the truth, which means you should stop changing the subject.
You know, you could always get that P.
I.
You hired to help you out.
And distract him from getting me more information on my dad? I don't think so.
You know what I really need to do is just yank a hair right out of Payne's head and then do my own paternity test.
You know, as much fun as that sounds, I have a simpler idea.
Ready? - May I help you? - Hello, yes.
Is Principal Stickley available for Dean Julia Marlow from the Archfield Academy? It's regarding Elliot Haley.
I'll hold.
- This sleuthing stuff is kind of fun.
- You're oddly good at it.
Principal Stickley.
Yes, one moment, please, for Dean Marlow.
- Hello, Principal Stickley.
- Did you receive the application? Yes, we did receive Elliot's application.
But the birth certificate, though, it was a fax of a fax, and so you know how that goes.
We really need to get the father's name.
Let me get the original copy.
Pen.
- I have it right here.
- Yes.
Thank you so much for your trouble.
Damn.
I think you're just beating yourself up over an accident.
Your time here, earthbound, it's about your redemption.
You did that.
You made that sacrifice.
- But is it that simple? - It is if you can see the light.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's It's on the other side of that car.
- What do I do? - Go into it.
Sort things out on the other side.
- Another one? - Yep, just a random ghost.
Sometimes I wish they'd just leave me alone.
Yeah, you and me both.
So, what am I going to do? I mean, am I going to talk to Rick, am I going to confront Nina, or am I going to just move to Canada? - You'll figure it out.
You always do.
- Well, that was really helpful.
Thanks.
You want my real opinion? I feel like you should tell Rick first.
Why? Because you guys have so much in common.
I think he'll be relieved that the kid is not his.
So that's why you're being distant.
We've talked about this.
Yeah, I know we've talked and we've talked.
Melinda, I've gotta say, sometimes I feel like you use your gift as an excuse, and that you care more about the dead than That is not fair, okay? I'm just not ready to have a baby.
I'm beginning to wonder if you ever will.
I mean, we've been married three years.
- Yeah, and we're still young.
- Yeah.
So were Payne and Kate, and look what happened to them.
- I got to go to work.
- Yep.
Let me know how it goes with Carl.
I have to tell you upfront, Melinda, your father left a pretty cold trail.
Since 1989? '91.
Two years after you said he left you and your mother for good.
Drained his bank account, cashed out his IRA, went back to the woman in Colorado he had a son with.
- Gabriel.
My half brother.
- And other than that, the only record I have of him is working as a short-order cook at a Debby's in Arizona.
What? My dad was a lawyer.
That doesn't make any sense.
It does if he was on the run from something.
The run from what? Melinda, when you first asked me to look into this, you told me your father was dead.
You're pretty certain of that? Yeah, I guess I've been telling myself that for so long that I started to believe it.
There's no record of his death? Not that I can find.
No burial.
No cremation.
And the list of John Does in this country's huge.
And without dental records or DNA, it's a needle in a haystack.
Look, I have some other leads, but I'm starting to feel guilty taking your money.
You found out more than I ever could.
- Well, it's your call.
- Just don't give up.
Please.
I really need to know.
So, I guess the final question is just do I make the cheque out to Archfield Academy? Or, I mean, I could make the cheque out to the school that's here in Grandview.
- I'm not trying to force a decision.
- Yeah, I know.
I'm just going to need to take some time to think about it, so Maybe if you just make the cheque out to me, I can put it into Elliot's school fund.
That way, I can prove I can afford whichever school he applies to.
- What are these, Professor? - Those are my fetishes.
Ricky? He's 10.
I know he's 10.
That's actually what they're called.
They're called fetishes.
They're carvings from an ancient Zuni tribe from New Mexico.
They carve each animal, and they think that there's a spirit inside them giving each one a very specific power.
Why don't you pick one up and give it a try? The wily fox.
He keeps his owner safe.
What you do is you put his nostrils in your mouth and you inhale.
- Go ahead.
Give it a try.
- No, thanks.
It's still flu season.
Hi, everyone.
- Hey.
- Actually, I'm here to see Nina.
- You are? - Yeah.
- Who's Brian Dobbs? - Who? He was on the birth certificate as the father.
- How did you - I made a phone call.
And I can make some more.
Do I need to? - It's not what you think.
- It's exactly what I think.
But the question is, are you going to tell Payne or am I? - Hey, sorry I'm late.
- No, you're right on time.
Technically, I should have them stored in cornmeal.
That's what they eat, and the more they eat, the better they are, and the more power they have.
Nina said that it was okay for Delia to take Elliot for some ice cream.
Okay.
What's going on? Come on.
We'll be in the cafeteria.
Brian Dobbs? The guy that used to hang out in the laundry room of our building, Brian Dobbs? Anyway, he was nice to me after you started hanging out with Kate and I saw the writing on the wall.
So, he took advantage of you.
After you left, I found out I was three months pregnant.
And when I told Brian, he demanded I take a paternity test, which kind of backfired on him.
He hung around for about a year, then he split.
Then what happened? Bastard stole my Social Security number.
All of a sudden, I've got all these credit card bills piling up.
I find out he's drained my savings account, and I haven't heard from him since.
He left me with a one-year-old and buried under a mountain of debt.
And I've been killing myself trying to pay it off for years, and now it's going to cost my son his school.
I've never done anything like this before.
Why me? Why'd you start with me? I just thought the Rick Payne I remembered would give me money to make the problem go away.
I never in a million years thought you'd want to be in Elliot's life.
So, I'm sorry for what I did.
Mostly, I'm sorry I underestimated you.
Well, you're not half as sorry as I am.
I think you should go.
Yeah, I think you should go.
Kate? Are you here? 'Cause he really wants to talk to you.
Spooky.
Is that it? I bet you feel really stupid now that it turns out the kid isn't even mine, don't you, honey? Ask him how he thinks it makes me feel to watch him, a man who told me flat out he didn't want to have children with me, become completely and utterly destroyed over some kid who wasn't even his to begin with.
She's a little angry at how upset you were when you found out that Elliot wasn't yours.
What's that got to do with us? I'll tell you exactly what that's got to do with us, you miserable little I will not repeat that.
And you, calm down.
Why? What happened? What did she say? She's angry because she thinks you didn't want to have a baby with her.
Wow, she thinks I didn't want to have kids with her? - Kate, I That's not what I said at all.
- Yes, you did! Repeatedly! I never once made this about you or about me.
- And you want to think that I'm selfish.
- "One more year.
"We have so much time.
" And look what that got us.
So don't you dare call me selfish.
You wanna think that you're suffering all the time.
You have no idea how much you've made me suffer! You don't even know the damn truth! - All right, enough! - She started it.
I didn't get any of that, nor did I want to, but I did hear you say something about him not knowing the truth.
When we were trying to When I thought he wanted children as much as I did, we were doing in vitro.
Fertility injections and - Were you going to tell me, Rick? - I need a little more here.
The dean called.
Your grant's been approved.
Two years in Peru, and we're trying to get pregnant, and you didn't tell me.
Move over.
Come on.
Look, I am nowhere near ready to have a child now, okay? But we're very young.
We have lots of time.
We have all the time in the world, so it's okay.
Professor Payne.
Sure.
It's the fertility clinic.
I know all this.
They called.
They said her eggs were not viable, and then she accused me of being relieved.
We fought.
Blah, blah, blah.
I lied.
The doctor said we were good to go.
It was my one chance to get pregnant, but because I knew he didn't want it, I lied.
A few weeks later, I was dead.
- What is it? - She lied.
She lied to you because she thought you didn't want children.
The doctor said it was a good time.
She thought it was her only chance.
I didn't know.
Well, if she lied, why is she mad at me? I'm angry because you knew I wanted children, and you said you wanted that, too.
Then every time I brought it up, you just pushed me away.
But that didn't make it stop.
Even now.
I know it's not possible.
So why does the ache only get worse? It hurts so much.
- How can you make that go away? - I can't.
But you have to move on now.
I mean, you know that.
You know I can't.
Kate, please don't go.
- Oh, my God.
- What is it? Well, Kate told me about her death, but listen to this old article.
"A construction crane plummeted eight storeys "at a Brookside office complex late yesterday morning, "crushing to death a motorist who was making a U-turn.
"The victim, later identified as Katherine Payne.
"Payne died moments before her body was freed.
" That is awful.
How random.
Just making a U-turn.
Wow.
Hi.
I'm sorry just to show up like this.
- No, no.
- No.
What's going on? Go on.
I took this from Professor Payne.
My mom wants you to give it back to him for me, and tell him I'm sorry.
Look, I may not be the world's best role model, but I'm trying to raise an honest kid here.
No, you know what? Maybe you should do this yourself.
In person.
Pretty sure Ricky never wants to see me again.
I think you might be surprised.
Are you crazy? I told you I never want to see her again! That's why I put you in a moving car before I told you.
Why don't you just waterboard me instead? Wait a minute.
This is where Kate died.
I hate this place.
Why would you bring me here? I'm trying to kill two birds with one ghost.
Come on.
Well, thanks.
What is it? The fox fetish is in there.
I took good care of him, just like you said.
- You took it from me without asking? - Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I just thought it'd keep my mom and me safe.
Okay.
I thought you'd be here.
Seems like I'm always here.
There's this constant pull.
It's because this is where your time was cut short.
I don't usually reward thievery, young man, but I'm going to make an exception.
I want you to do me a favour, Elliot.
I want you to take this box, and I want you to keep it.
Because that way, you'll always know that somebody's looking out for you and your mommy, okay? - Damn him.
- All right.
Okay, listen.
Go Why don't you go wait in the car or something? I have to talk to your mom, okay? Thank you, Professor.
Well, if I felt stupid before, I really feel stupid now.
He really got accepted to Archfield Academy? - Yeah.
Yeah, that much is true.
- That's good.
That's good.
I'm proud of him.
And I'm still paying for it.
- You don't have to do that, Ricky.
- I know.
That's why I'm doing it.
And for the record, after that first night, I wasn't gonna go through with it, but then you just surprised me.
And I started wishing it was true.
My grandma used to say, "Wish again, "because you got bad luck on that last one.
" There's another reason why you keep getting drawn here.
I think it's what you're really mad about.
You wanted more time.
And you were mad at him because he always promised that there would be more.
It's not his fault.
Well, I don't have to guess who you're talking to, do I? Hello, Kate.
- Hi.
- She says, "Hi.
" I don't want you to be mad at me, but I I can't stand the thought of that little boy not getting what he needs, whether he's my son or not.
She doesn't seem angry.
I'm sorry the guy I was didn't want to have kids.
It was because I was selfish.
I just wanted you all for myself.
I think I needed to believe that Elliot was my son because I don't have you any more.
I'm sorry I didn't forgive you.
I forgive you.
But I couldn't before because I wasn't ready to let you go.
Crap.
- You see it, don't you? - Yeah.
It's magnificent.
Tell him I said I still love him.
And I think he'll make a wonderful father someday.
I promise.
Goodbye, Rick.
Tell him he should put his ring in the sock drawer.
That way when he opens it, he'll think of me every now and again.
Hey, Mel, I'm home.
Wow.
You've got the wedding china out.
What's - What's the occasion? - Just celebrating life.
That's all.
Look, I'm sorry about today.
I'm not mad, if this is what this is about.
No.
It's not.
Not at all.
I was just thinking about what you said, and you're right.
I mean, we never know what's going to happen.
Wait a minute.
Are you saying what I think you're saying? Let's have a baby.
- Look, don't do this just for me.
Don't - No, it's for us.
Life is too short.
You know, what the hell are we waiting for? - God, I love you.
- I love you.
- Don't answer it.
- Oh, no.
It's Carl.
I told him to come by.
He wanted to - Okay.
All right.
- I'm All right.
Look, I'm going to go in the shower.
Hold this whole - Hey.
- Hi.
Look, I'm sorry.
This is it, everything I could find on your father, which isn't much.
Sorry I couldn't find more.
You okay? Sorry.
It's chilly tonight.
Here.
- What are these numbers? - I don't know.
I must have pulled an old file folder.
It's not my handwriting.
Carl, I just saw you write them down.
I'm sorry, Mel, I have no idea what you're talking about.
Good night.
Good night.
Who are you? What do you want? Why didn't you tell me your wife was dead? Because I don't deal with it very well.
Will you forgive me? It's what she needs to find peace and cross over.
No.
You tell him he doesn't know what pain is! None of you do.
Come on.
But Dean Stokes, in the spirit of publish or perish, out there is a scholarly journal of arcane rituals and And paranormal and, admittedly, some shinola.
- Gosh, are you okay? - Have you seen my glasses? I Where are they? 'Cause without them You're as blind as the proverbial cavefish.
Yeah.
Well, to show off, I was going to say Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus, but how did you know that anyway? Same old Ricky.
Nina.
Oh, my gosh.
Nina, what are you doing here? You know, still just dealing drugs.
Wow, well, that's good.
You're not kidding.
No, no.
I'm a pharmaceutical rep, remember? - Right.
Yes.
- Yeah.
There's a conference here in Grandview.
Anyway, you You teach here? Yeah! Yes, I've I've been teaching here for Well, who needs numbers, right? I heard about your wife.
I was going to call or write.
It just seemed weird.
It's fine.
I'm fine.
It's been three years.
I'm fine.
- Yeah.
Well, it was great to see you.
- Yes.
It It just really I'm going now.
- Nina, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
- What? Yeah.
I mean, you're here.
You're in town.
Since you're in town, we should maybe go get a bite to eat for old time's sake.
- Old time's sake? - Yes.
Yeah, well, that might be a little easier for you after the way things worked out, or didn't.
That was 10 years ago, right? Like you said, who needs numbers? Yeah.
So, then it's a date.
- As long as it's not like a date-date.
- Okay.
Explain to me the emergency dinner.
Okay, her name is Nina and we had a thing, a wild thing, about 10 years ago.
And it was all just chemistry and passion and damp sheets - Without the mind pictures.
- Okay, sorry.
We hit it off, obviously, because we were both academicians and Academicians.
Points for pretentiousness.
Sorry, we were peers.
And everything was going great.
And Nina and I had to break it off because I was marrying Kate.
Look, Nina is always going to be the big "what if" in my life, always will be the road not taken.
And because of an errant basketball throw to my head, I may have a second chance with this thing.
Look, I've only I don't want to get girly here, but I've been in love twice in my life, and only one of them is still around.
And, granted, she's a little Payne-shy right now, so I figure why not just loosen her up with a good old-fashioned foursome? - What? - A foursome? Dinner! A foursome at dinner, you dirty birds.
- Over here.
- Hi, guys.
- Wow! You sure came in handy.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
- Let me help you up.
- Hi.
I'm Nina.
- Hey, Jim.
Good to be handy.
- Melinda, his wife.
- It's nice to meet you.
Hi.
- You okay? - Yeah, just nerves, you know? - Hi, Nina.
Over here.
- Hi, Ricky.
Hi.
- Nasty static electricity.
- Yeah.
- Sorry.
You look nice.
- Thanks.
Whoa! Why'd she even bother putting on a dress? - Is she okay? - Sorry.
Happens all the time.
Wow, you weren't kidding about that Did our foursome just become a fivesome? His wife is here.
Go away.
But a dutiful wife's place is at her husband's side, isn't it? Such typical Rick.
You know, he's only interested in two things, and they're both prominently on display.
Would you excuse us? Me! Me.
- Spilt salt.
That's good luck.
- Unless it's an open wound, right? Where have you been? Still tediously earthbound, thanks to my husband.
- You need to go into the light.
- What? And miss all the fun? You know what? I don't have time to deal with you right now.
So, ignore me.
Yeah.
You're making that kind of difficult.
Not half as difficult as I plan to make things for those two.
- I'm a paramedic.
- I love paramedics.
No, Kate.
What the Can you see us? Hey.
What happened to your hand? Halfway through dinner last night, I realised I was still wearing my wedding ring.
And the silliest thing, I kept trying to yank it off, and it wouldn't come off.
My finger just kept getting more and more swollen.
- So, how was the rest of your date? - Fantastic.
Except for the fact that you forgot to tell me, your friend, "Hey, Professor Payne, guess what? Your super hot ex-girlfriend "has an evil, mischievous ghost attached to her.
" She doesn't.
You do.
It's Kate.
Your wife.
Okay.
I guess I should've seen that one coming.
This is a very strange question.
How is Kate? Not so good.
She's still earthbound because you won't forgive her.
And now that you're obviously interested in Nina Wait a minute.
She's jealous? Is that what you're gonna tell me? She's jealous.
I'm not the one that had an affair when she was alive.
So why can't I go on a date now? Look, if you want things to work out with Nina, you need to let me help you talk to Kate.
No.
Kate knows that this relationship might go somewhere.
- That's why she's getting involved.
- She's stuck here, okay, because you won't help her cross over.
It isn't healthy.
Healthy? She's dead.
What are you talking about, healthy? Look, do me a favour, Melinda.
This time, just stay out of it, okay? She could hurt you or Nina.
More than she already has? You know what? I'll take my chances.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Wow, good morning indeed.
You just missed a fascinating hour on Megalithomania.
That's my favourite.
Actually, could I talk to you for a minute? Well, yeah, for you, I have more than a minute.
Wow, I don't know how to say this except Being with you last night reminded me of how much it hurt when you dumped me.
I I prefer to say "broke up with.
" I can't get my heart broken again, Ricky.
- So, it was fun.
- Nina.
Hey.
You take care of yourself, okay? Nina, come on.
Nina, come on.
Are you happy now, darling? As if that's possible.
- Honey, you want a glass of wine? - No, thanks.
It makes me sleepy.
Melinda, you can't stay awake forever.
And looking at these masks is not doing you any good right now.
I'm just trying to figure out which mask the guy is wearing in one of my dreams or memories, whatever they are.
I know, but maybe you should take a break.
I don't know, maybe help Kate cross over.
- I'm staying away from that one.
- Really? Yeah.
Payne doesn't want my help.
He seems to think this is his chance to get back at her, and she doesn't want to go anywhere near a light, so Yeah.
I get it.
Mel, I'm worried about you.
You hardly get any sleep these days.
And when you do, your nightmares are getting worse.
The only way it's going to stop is if I can figure out who this masked guy is and what he's trying to tell me.
I'm pretty sure it has something to do with my father.
Well, do you think you should talk to a professional? I don't need therapy.
No, I mean, do you think you should talk to a private investigator? Do you remember my cop friend, Carl Neely? That's what he does.
He moonlights.
I mean, he could tell you how your dad died, when, where he's buried even.
Do you want me to call him? - Ricky? - Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi.
What are you doing here? I'm sorry about the hour, but it's just Can I come in? - No.
- No? - No.
- No.
- I'll come out.
- Good.
Look, I don't blame you.
I wouldn't really trust me, either.
But you need to know this.
I had Well, I had my heart broken.
Twice, as a matter of fact.
I mean, once when Kate died, and then another time, after she was already dead, - I found out that she had an affair.
- I'm sorry.
I didn't know I'm much I'm much more sensitive to people's hearts since my heart has been ripped out and kicked around like a hacky sack.
And the fact of the matter is, we really had a good time last night.
Yeah, we did.
I know, but 'Cause if you're in town for a week, we should make a go of this thing.
We can go have lunch.
What's lunch? Nobody ever got hurt by lunch, unless, of course, there was a food-borne illness.
Why are we whispering exactly? You're not alone in there, are you? - No.
- No.
But it's not what you think.
Mom? Who you talking to? Just a friend, baby.
You go back to sleep, okay? Mom? I usually detonate that bomb on the third or fourth date, but, yes, I have a son.
His name is Elliot.
And since I would have to bring him to lunch tomorrow, you can flee now.
No, no.
I'm not fleeing.
No.
You You should bring him to lunch with us.
I love kids.
What kind of a guy doesn't like kids? I hate kids.
Maybe "hate" is a strong word, but I have a profound lack of understanding for the need to breed.
Plus, all kids are just filled with snot.
- So, it's a non-starter for you? - I just think single moms are dicey.
- None taken.
- What? I was just hoping you'd throw a "no offence" my way.
But guess I gave you too much credit.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
But your son, Ned, he's different.
He's a He's a teen or a tween, or whatever they're called.
- Teen will do.
- He's a teen.
And look, he's interacting, cyclical conversation.
He's fine.
He's self-sufficient.
Nina's son isn't going to be self-sufficient.
And he's going to be a complete germ-bag, for crying out loud.
Hey! You are a mom.
You can help me.
You can You can watch this kid while I go to lunch.
Sorry.
But I am taking my son on a dicey-single-mom lunch.
Let's go, Ned.
- So, what's the deal with that guy? - You don't wanna know.
- Don't even look at me.
- Hey! Come on in.
Thank you.
Hi, guys.
This is Elliot.
El, Professor Payne.
- Hello, young man.
How are you? - Hello, Professor Payne.
Please.
Call me Actually, call me Professor.
That's good.
Hi, Elliot.
I'm Melinda.
Some people think dust is mostly flakes from human skin.
Elliot.
Actually, dust is a lot of things.
It could be pet dander, pollen, it could be soot Yeah, but its overall makeup depends on where you live.
I think the human skin thing was started to help sell dust spray.
Are you an academician? Spare me.
Nobody but Rick's that pretentious.
As a matter of fact, I am.
- Why would you ask me that? - So is my dad.
You see, his dad is not really in the picture.
He's He's on an extended sabbatical in India.
They can't get text messages there.
- Mind if I take a look at your Victrola? - No.
Go right ahead.
- Elliot? How old are you, exactly? - Almost 10, sir.
That's a decade.
- When's your birthday? - August 27th.
I'm a Virgo.
And we broke up in - This isn't happening.
- Maybe it's not what it seems.
Can I talk to you alone? I just remembered we've got a A thing we're going to be late for.
El? Baby, come on, we got to go.
- Nice to meet you all.
- Bye, guys.
There's no way I'm that kid's father, right? Well, ignoring what she's already told him about his dad, the fact that he seems to have your DNA, the math - You're not helping.
- You asked.
- I know I asked.
- You could always take a paternity test.
And confirm something that I don't want to be true? She hasn't exactly demanded one, and it's my own darn fault for chasing after her.
I didn't want kids when I was married, let alone now.
Neither do I.
Not yet, anyway.
Why don't you want kids? Do you mind me asking? I do mind, actually, but I will answer.
It's your porch.
Kids are a huge responsibility and I'm selfish.
What's your excuse? I'm afraid of juggling, you know, the The feeding and the diapers while dead people harass me.
You win.
I can't be a dad.
Look at me.
I'm not father material.
I'm a miscreant of epic proportions! - Well, that's true.
- All right.
Besides, we don't even know if this is what Nina wants.
- Who knows what Nina wants.
- There's one way to find out.
You know what? I hate talking to you.
- I'll promote to a knight.
- Damn.
I found out I was pregnant after you left, and I was so scared, Ricky.
And I was going to tell you, but you were already with Kate.
Happy.
From the sounds of it, you've all but told him I'm his dad.
No.
I just kind of, you know, dressed it up a little.
That way, if he ever does find out, it won't be such a shock to him.
Doesn't he have a right to know who his father is? It's complicated.
- Check.
- What, again? Nice.
He's mine? He's brilliant.
He didn't get it from me.
- Don't underestimate yourself.
- No.
I I tried to enrol him at Archfield Academy.
That's good.
That's a good school for pint-sized Mensas.
Anyway, it's not going to happen.
Wait a minute.
This kid could get into Yale.
There's no way he didn't get accepted there.
He did.
It's just they They only have two financial aid slots open.
He seems to be doing okay at public school.
Public school? Nina, no, no.
This kid's a genius.
You put him in public school, it's like putting raw meat in a piranha tank.
They'll eat him alive.
You can't do that to him.
I don't sell enough anti-depressants to pay for it.
When Kate died, I got a call from her life insurance company.
Here's my wife of eight years, dies in a freak accident, and now they just want to cut me a cheque.
I felt pretty awkward about it.
I didn't know what to do.
I never invested the money.
I just kept it in my savings account.
Bottom line is, I'd like to use that money to pay for Elliot's school.
No.
Ricky, that's too generous.
You know, I didn't come here to ask you for money.
I didn't come here to ask you for anything.
I know that.
I'm pretty sure that's what Kate would've wanted.
You should move your pawn.
Don't count on it.
I don't need you to teach me how to play chess, kid.
I'm just saying if I were you, I'd sacrifice my pawn.
He really is a chip off the old Payne, isn't he? - Alexander, you mind if I cut in? - This kid's too smart for me.
Well, don't blame it on him.
It's just his DNA, I guess.
Unbelievable.
- Do you mind if I finish his game? - Sure, Professor.
But you'll lose.
How about you and I start from scratch? Honey, I'm home.
Oh, boy.
How many times have I told you about leaving your shoes in the foyer, Kate? You know, Kate, the scientist in me is very intrigued, but the human being in me has hair standing up in places I didn't even know that I had hair.
Wow.
Come on, Kate.
Is that the best you got? All right.
Getting better.
Honey, that is such a textbook haunting.
A screw? Are you trying to tell me something? Okay, fine! You want to have this out? Let's have it out right now, 'cause you cheated on me with one of my colleagues! So what right do you have to be mad at me? You think this is about infidelity? What was that, honey? I didn't quite hear you.
Payne, where are you? Here's something I never thought I'd say.
I'm in here under the piano.
Oh, my God.
Are you okay? Well, not to be Captain Obvious, but not really! There's an 800-pound baby grand on my back.
Can you feel anything? Yes, Jim, I can feel everything.
Thank you.
I'm going to get the car jack.
I am so sorry.
- How's that? - It only hurts when it hurts.
We're gonna have to get this X-rayed and get you to the emergency room.
So, are you going to tell me what happened? Well, I was drunk, I came home, I decided to plough through my own bookcase, swing from the chandelier, and then me and the piano rolled around on the floor and All right, I got in a fight with Kate.
Yeah, she's obviously trying to tell you something.
Great.
It's like ghost charades with props.
You know, she seemed pretty upset the day that you met Elliot.
Is there something you're not telling me? Well, Kate wanted kids.
And so did I, for a brief, brief moment of insanity.
And we tried everything.
All the fertility drugs.
It was killing Kate that nothing was working.
And I told her don't worry about it, I don't even want kids.
But you know the way I have that great talent for saying things the wrong way.
It just It got ugly.
- And now you have one.
A kid.
- And she doesn't.
That hurt? Compared to being under a piano, it's okay.
Do you think that's why she's upset? Because of Elliot? Well, I think it's only going to get worse until she crosses over.
Well, look, I don't speak ghost and I don't do humility very well.
Would you please talk to her? Mediate.
Whatever.
- Yes.
- Hey, please! - Okay! Just stop baiting her.
- Thank you.
I will not bait her any more.
- What's that look? - No look.
- Hey.
- How is he? Lucky.
His foot's pretty banged up.
But hairline fracture of the tibia, and he broke his little toe.
He'll be fine.
Look, I heard you two talking about how much Payne's wife wanted a kid.
And I hate to bring this up again, but I'm so sorry.
Could you just hold that thought? I always do.
You could have killed him.
I lost my temper.
He has that effect on me.
And anyway, I thought he could stand to suffer a little.
Hasn't he done that already? I mean, it's been three years, Kate.
It's time for you to let him move on.
The way he's let me move on? He told me you wanted a baby.
I know what he told you.
I'm a ghost, darling.
I can go places, hear things.
It's the only upside to an otherwise lousy state.
- I'm sorry.
I really need your help.
- I was here first! Sorry.
That happens all the time.
Look, obviously you're upset that he has a child, okay? It doesn't seem fair, and I get that.
Do you? She shows up here with this boy and plays her sad little violin about needing money to get him into some special school, and he's all too ready to just write her a cheque from my life insurance money no less.
No.
Seems a bit sketchy to me.
So you think she's playing him? You're a clever girl.
Figure it out.
Hey, you.
- What happened? - Broke my vestigial appendage.
- I'm fine, though.
Can I talk to you? - Yeah.
- Yeah, but just let me go first, okay? - Okay.
All right.
I thought about your offer to pay for Elliot's school and I accept.
And And I swear we'll go back to the city, and you'll never hear from us again.
I've been thinking a lot about it, too, and I don't want to be a chequebook dad, Nina.
So the offer's no good any more? No, the The offer still stands.
I just want to sweeten the pot.
I I've thought a lot about it, and that is if I'm Okay.
If I'm going to be Elliot's dad, then I want to be Elliot's dad.
How would that work exactly? Well, we could take it slow.
You don't have to tell him right away.
You guys can move in with me.
Ricky, wait, slow down.
No, it's not, you know I have lots of space, lots of space.
And you and I, we don't have to be this instant couple right away.
We don't have to be a couple at all even, you know.
But there's a great satellite school that the college offers for gifted children.
We can enrol Elliot there and I just I don't know.
I think I'm ready.
I'm really ready to be a dad.
At least I'm ready to give it a try.
So, how is this all going over at home? Well, you can tell that Jim wants to talk about it.
I keep sidestepping.
I mean, what's the big rush, right? There's got to be some huge compromise somewhere between forever and right now.
Yeah, except for men pretty much have forever and women don't.
I'm still young-ish.
Okay? There's plenty of time.
Besides, I have to cross Kate over, and I can't do that until I find out if Nina's telling the truth, which means you should stop changing the subject.
You know, you could always get that P.
I.
You hired to help you out.
And distract him from getting me more information on my dad? I don't think so.
You know what I really need to do is just yank a hair right out of Payne's head and then do my own paternity test.
You know, as much fun as that sounds, I have a simpler idea.
Ready? - May I help you? - Hello, yes.
Is Principal Stickley available for Dean Julia Marlow from the Archfield Academy? It's regarding Elliot Haley.
I'll hold.
- This sleuthing stuff is kind of fun.
- You're oddly good at it.
Principal Stickley.
Yes, one moment, please, for Dean Marlow.
- Hello, Principal Stickley.
- Did you receive the application? Yes, we did receive Elliot's application.
But the birth certificate, though, it was a fax of a fax, and so you know how that goes.
We really need to get the father's name.
Let me get the original copy.
Pen.
- I have it right here.
- Yes.
Thank you so much for your trouble.
Damn.
I think you're just beating yourself up over an accident.
Your time here, earthbound, it's about your redemption.
You did that.
You made that sacrifice.
- But is it that simple? - It is if you can see the light.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's It's on the other side of that car.
- What do I do? - Go into it.
Sort things out on the other side.
- Another one? - Yep, just a random ghost.
Sometimes I wish they'd just leave me alone.
Yeah, you and me both.
So, what am I going to do? I mean, am I going to talk to Rick, am I going to confront Nina, or am I going to just move to Canada? - You'll figure it out.
You always do.
- Well, that was really helpful.
Thanks.
You want my real opinion? I feel like you should tell Rick first.
Why? Because you guys have so much in common.
I think he'll be relieved that the kid is not his.
So that's why you're being distant.
We've talked about this.
Yeah, I know we've talked and we've talked.
Melinda, I've gotta say, sometimes I feel like you use your gift as an excuse, and that you care more about the dead than That is not fair, okay? I'm just not ready to have a baby.
I'm beginning to wonder if you ever will.
I mean, we've been married three years.
- Yeah, and we're still young.
- Yeah.
So were Payne and Kate, and look what happened to them.
- I got to go to work.
- Yep.
Let me know how it goes with Carl.
I have to tell you upfront, Melinda, your father left a pretty cold trail.
Since 1989? '91.
Two years after you said he left you and your mother for good.
Drained his bank account, cashed out his IRA, went back to the woman in Colorado he had a son with.
- Gabriel.
My half brother.
- And other than that, the only record I have of him is working as a short-order cook at a Debby's in Arizona.
What? My dad was a lawyer.
That doesn't make any sense.
It does if he was on the run from something.
The run from what? Melinda, when you first asked me to look into this, you told me your father was dead.
You're pretty certain of that? Yeah, I guess I've been telling myself that for so long that I started to believe it.
There's no record of his death? Not that I can find.
No burial.
No cremation.
And the list of John Does in this country's huge.
And without dental records or DNA, it's a needle in a haystack.
Look, I have some other leads, but I'm starting to feel guilty taking your money.
You found out more than I ever could.
- Well, it's your call.
- Just don't give up.
Please.
I really need to know.
So, I guess the final question is just do I make the cheque out to Archfield Academy? Or, I mean, I could make the cheque out to the school that's here in Grandview.
- I'm not trying to force a decision.
- Yeah, I know.
I'm just going to need to take some time to think about it, so Maybe if you just make the cheque out to me, I can put it into Elliot's school fund.
That way, I can prove I can afford whichever school he applies to.
- What are these, Professor? - Those are my fetishes.
Ricky? He's 10.
I know he's 10.
That's actually what they're called.
They're called fetishes.
They're carvings from an ancient Zuni tribe from New Mexico.
They carve each animal, and they think that there's a spirit inside them giving each one a very specific power.
Why don't you pick one up and give it a try? The wily fox.
He keeps his owner safe.
What you do is you put his nostrils in your mouth and you inhale.
- Go ahead.
Give it a try.
- No, thanks.
It's still flu season.
Hi, everyone.
- Hey.
- Actually, I'm here to see Nina.
- You are? - Yeah.
- Who's Brian Dobbs? - Who? He was on the birth certificate as the father.
- How did you - I made a phone call.
And I can make some more.
Do I need to? - It's not what you think.
- It's exactly what I think.
But the question is, are you going to tell Payne or am I? - Hey, sorry I'm late.
- No, you're right on time.
Technically, I should have them stored in cornmeal.
That's what they eat, and the more they eat, the better they are, and the more power they have.
Nina said that it was okay for Delia to take Elliot for some ice cream.
Okay.
What's going on? Come on.
We'll be in the cafeteria.
Brian Dobbs? The guy that used to hang out in the laundry room of our building, Brian Dobbs? Anyway, he was nice to me after you started hanging out with Kate and I saw the writing on the wall.
So, he took advantage of you.
After you left, I found out I was three months pregnant.
And when I told Brian, he demanded I take a paternity test, which kind of backfired on him.
He hung around for about a year, then he split.
Then what happened? Bastard stole my Social Security number.
All of a sudden, I've got all these credit card bills piling up.
I find out he's drained my savings account, and I haven't heard from him since.
He left me with a one-year-old and buried under a mountain of debt.
And I've been killing myself trying to pay it off for years, and now it's going to cost my son his school.
I've never done anything like this before.
Why me? Why'd you start with me? I just thought the Rick Payne I remembered would give me money to make the problem go away.
I never in a million years thought you'd want to be in Elliot's life.
So, I'm sorry for what I did.
Mostly, I'm sorry I underestimated you.
Well, you're not half as sorry as I am.
I think you should go.
Yeah, I think you should go.
Kate? Are you here? 'Cause he really wants to talk to you.
Spooky.
Is that it? I bet you feel really stupid now that it turns out the kid isn't even mine, don't you, honey? Ask him how he thinks it makes me feel to watch him, a man who told me flat out he didn't want to have children with me, become completely and utterly destroyed over some kid who wasn't even his to begin with.
She's a little angry at how upset you were when you found out that Elliot wasn't yours.
What's that got to do with us? I'll tell you exactly what that's got to do with us, you miserable little I will not repeat that.
And you, calm down.
Why? What happened? What did she say? She's angry because she thinks you didn't want to have a baby with her.
Wow, she thinks I didn't want to have kids with her? - Kate, I That's not what I said at all.
- Yes, you did! Repeatedly! I never once made this about you or about me.
- And you want to think that I'm selfish.
- "One more year.
"We have so much time.
" And look what that got us.
So don't you dare call me selfish.
You wanna think that you're suffering all the time.
You have no idea how much you've made me suffer! You don't even know the damn truth! - All right, enough! - She started it.
I didn't get any of that, nor did I want to, but I did hear you say something about him not knowing the truth.
When we were trying to When I thought he wanted children as much as I did, we were doing in vitro.
Fertility injections and - Were you going to tell me, Rick? - I need a little more here.
The dean called.
Your grant's been approved.
Two years in Peru, and we're trying to get pregnant, and you didn't tell me.
Move over.
Come on.
Look, I am nowhere near ready to have a child now, okay? But we're very young.
We have lots of time.
We have all the time in the world, so it's okay.
Professor Payne.
Sure.
It's the fertility clinic.
I know all this.
They called.
They said her eggs were not viable, and then she accused me of being relieved.
We fought.
Blah, blah, blah.
I lied.
The doctor said we were good to go.
It was my one chance to get pregnant, but because I knew he didn't want it, I lied.
A few weeks later, I was dead.
- What is it? - She lied.
She lied to you because she thought you didn't want children.
The doctor said it was a good time.
She thought it was her only chance.
I didn't know.
Well, if she lied, why is she mad at me? I'm angry because you knew I wanted children, and you said you wanted that, too.
Then every time I brought it up, you just pushed me away.
But that didn't make it stop.
Even now.
I know it's not possible.
So why does the ache only get worse? It hurts so much.
- How can you make that go away? - I can't.
But you have to move on now.
I mean, you know that.
You know I can't.
Kate, please don't go.
- Oh, my God.
- What is it? Well, Kate told me about her death, but listen to this old article.
"A construction crane plummeted eight storeys "at a Brookside office complex late yesterday morning, "crushing to death a motorist who was making a U-turn.
"The victim, later identified as Katherine Payne.
"Payne died moments before her body was freed.
" That is awful.
How random.
Just making a U-turn.
Wow.
Hi.
I'm sorry just to show up like this.
- No, no.
- No.
What's going on? Go on.
I took this from Professor Payne.
My mom wants you to give it back to him for me, and tell him I'm sorry.
Look, I may not be the world's best role model, but I'm trying to raise an honest kid here.
No, you know what? Maybe you should do this yourself.
In person.
Pretty sure Ricky never wants to see me again.
I think you might be surprised.
Are you crazy? I told you I never want to see her again! That's why I put you in a moving car before I told you.
Why don't you just waterboard me instead? Wait a minute.
This is where Kate died.
I hate this place.
Why would you bring me here? I'm trying to kill two birds with one ghost.
Come on.
Well, thanks.
What is it? The fox fetish is in there.
I took good care of him, just like you said.
- You took it from me without asking? - Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I just thought it'd keep my mom and me safe.
Okay.
I thought you'd be here.
Seems like I'm always here.
There's this constant pull.
It's because this is where your time was cut short.
I don't usually reward thievery, young man, but I'm going to make an exception.
I want you to do me a favour, Elliot.
I want you to take this box, and I want you to keep it.
Because that way, you'll always know that somebody's looking out for you and your mommy, okay? - Damn him.
- All right.
Okay, listen.
Go Why don't you go wait in the car or something? I have to talk to your mom, okay? Thank you, Professor.
Well, if I felt stupid before, I really feel stupid now.
He really got accepted to Archfield Academy? - Yeah.
Yeah, that much is true.
- That's good.
That's good.
I'm proud of him.
And I'm still paying for it.
- You don't have to do that, Ricky.
- I know.
That's why I'm doing it.
And for the record, after that first night, I wasn't gonna go through with it, but then you just surprised me.
And I started wishing it was true.
My grandma used to say, "Wish again, "because you got bad luck on that last one.
" There's another reason why you keep getting drawn here.
I think it's what you're really mad about.
You wanted more time.
And you were mad at him because he always promised that there would be more.
It's not his fault.
Well, I don't have to guess who you're talking to, do I? Hello, Kate.
- Hi.
- She says, "Hi.
" I don't want you to be mad at me, but I I can't stand the thought of that little boy not getting what he needs, whether he's my son or not.
She doesn't seem angry.
I'm sorry the guy I was didn't want to have kids.
It was because I was selfish.
I just wanted you all for myself.
I think I needed to believe that Elliot was my son because I don't have you any more.
I'm sorry I didn't forgive you.
I forgive you.
But I couldn't before because I wasn't ready to let you go.
Crap.
- You see it, don't you? - Yeah.
It's magnificent.
Tell him I said I still love him.
And I think he'll make a wonderful father someday.
I promise.
Goodbye, Rick.
Tell him he should put his ring in the sock drawer.
That way when he opens it, he'll think of me every now and again.
Hey, Mel, I'm home.
Wow.
You've got the wedding china out.
What's - What's the occasion? - Just celebrating life.
That's all.
Look, I'm sorry about today.
I'm not mad, if this is what this is about.
No.
It's not.
Not at all.
I was just thinking about what you said, and you're right.
I mean, we never know what's going to happen.
Wait a minute.
Are you saying what I think you're saying? Let's have a baby.
- Look, don't do this just for me.
Don't - No, it's for us.
Life is too short.
You know, what the hell are we waiting for? - God, I love you.
- I love you.
- Don't answer it.
- Oh, no.
It's Carl.
I told him to come by.
He wanted to - Okay.
All right.
- I'm All right.
Look, I'm going to go in the shower.
Hold this whole - Hey.
- Hi.
Look, I'm sorry.
This is it, everything I could find on your father, which isn't much.
Sorry I couldn't find more.
You okay? Sorry.
It's chilly tonight.
Here.
- What are these numbers? - I don't know.
I must have pulled an old file folder.
It's not my handwriting.
Carl, I just saw you write them down.
I'm sorry, Mel, I have no idea what you're talking about.
Good night.
Good night.