A Family Man Page #4

It's just Halloween, Elise.

How sad can a bunch of dressed-

up kids...

with a bellyful

of candy actually be?

Sad for you, Dane.

You're missing it.

Even when you're here

you're not really here.

You're always thinking about

some deal you've got going,

or some candidate

you're scamming.

One day, you're gonna wish

you had this time back.

I love you and it makes me sad.

For you.

I'm tired, Elise.

What do you say we list my flaws

in the morning?

You know, I work damn hard

for this family.

I bust my ass seventy hours

a week in that boiler room

to make enough money

so that you can stay at home.

And I appreciate...

You think it's easy

working commission sales?

Cold calling? Starting

with a blank slate

the first of every month?

Waking up at 2 AM

with a knot in my gut hoping

to God I can close a deal?

And all so my family

can have a nice life.

And if that means

missing a fringe holiday

and being the bad guy,

then that's a sacrifice

I'm happy to make!

Dane...

Dane...

I'm a goddamned American hero.

You did not just call yourself

an American hero.

I oversold it, didn't I?

I can't even stay mad at you!

You're such an a**hole

sometimes!

Ow! Sometimes? Whoa!

Get over here, American hero!

Mrs. Jensen, your

pediatrician was correct

to act so expeditiously.

Ryan's blood tests show a

platelet level alarmingly low.

We need to conduct

blood tests to determine...

Wait a minute, wait a minute,

wait a minute...

don't you think we might

just be

jumping the gun a bit?

My wife brings him in

because he's probably got

some bug that he picked up

from any one of a hundred kids

and we go straight from that...

to this?

Let's just step back

a second, alright?

I wish I had the luxury

of time to step back,

to be giving you

the warm and furries. I don't.

And, more importantly,

I suspect your son doesn't.

He's probably just...

he's getting fat

because he sits on his ass...

playing Assassin's Creed

all day.

He's not fat, Mr. Jensen.

His spleen is swollen.

What?

My initial examination of Ryan

revealed petechiae

and purpura, which you thought

were bruises.

He complains of

chronic fatigue and...

You did not notice those signs?

"Signs"?

Of what...?

I believe your son has A.L.L.;

acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

"Believe?"

As in "guessing?"

As in "I don't really

know what he's got?"

"Believe" as in

"based on 233 children

I've treated with A.L.L."

You see, the good news is that

it's the most common...

form of childhood cancer

and we have a great deal

of experience treating it.

The realistic news

is that it gets worse

very quickly if left untreated.

You... believe

it's this A.L.L.

but you're not sure,

how could you be?

Right? He could be fine?

Whatever his condition,

Mrs. Jensen,

he is not fine.

Alright, Ryan.

You can hop out now, buddy.

Sorry, hospital policy.

Sure somebody's

not using this room?

Oh, my bad. Those are Billy's;

he's not with us anymore.

He went home Monday!

He got better in no time,

just like

you will, right?

Hey! Look, Rhino,

you got your own TV.

Better than being at home, huh?

Yeah, his own TV,

private bathroom, and oh!

If you push this, you not

only get to control the TV,

but you get your very own

room-service button too, huh.

What?

I think I'm gonna have to catch

a little leukemia myself.

Well, I don't know about that,

Dad, but I'm an aide,

so a nurse will be here any sec.

You guys need anything,

you just holler at me.

My name's Antoine.

- Okay.

- Alright?

See you later, bud.

Thanks.

Hey, Dad?

Yeah?

When's Mom coming back?

She'll be back as soon as she

finishes the insurance paperwork

downstairs.

With the insurance

that we have now,

the cost of my medication

alone...

is as much as a car payment.

Your dad, he's...

He's trying so hard, but...

I'm very worried.

Thank you, sweetheart,

and thank Greg for me,

and please make sure you let him

know it's just a loan.

Okay, kiss the grandkids for me.

- Daddy?

- Yeah?

When will Mommy

and Ryan be home?

Oh...

Mommy and Ryan are staying

at the hospital,

but they'll be home soon

when Ryan feels better.

Hm?

Grandma Inez is gonna come

stay with us, though.

You and Nathan will

like that, won't you? Okay.

Alright.

Goodnight, sweetie.

- Daddy?

- Yeah?

I forgot to brush my teeth.

Let me see 'em.

They're baby teeth. They're all

gonna fall out anyway.

Go to sleep, pumpkin.

Dane Jensen.

Hey, Lou.

It's just that I haven't heard

from you or this Firestone fella

Wife's gettin' tired of me...

hangin' around the house

all the time.

- What can I do for you, Lou?

- Well,

if you come across any entry

level engineer openings,

I'd like to hear about it.

You know, maybe we can both

make some money.

Companies don't pay us

to recruit...

for entry level engineers.

I'm sorry, man. I've been having

some personal problems.

Everything alright?

Yeah, yeah... family issues.

I'll figure it out.

- Wanna talk about it?

- Do I want to talk about it?

Dane, I've got three kids;

two daughters and a son.

Two grandkids. I've been married

29 years, and it hasn't always

been a walk in the park.

Ah, it's okay, Lou.

I'm handling it.

I'll corral Sumner,

and he'll be back in the hunt

first thing in the AM, okay?

You take your time,

do what you gotta do.

Don't worry about me.

It's all good here. But, Dane?

Yeah?

Every family has its issues.

But you only have one family.

Like it, Lou. Like it.

Take care.

You too.

- Ryan, look who's here!

- Hey, Dad.

Rhino, how you doing, buddy?

Fine.

He's almost asleep.

This is when you show up?

Dr. Singh was in earlier.

And?

And I need you here

to help ask the questions.

I don't always know which

questions to ask him.

Alright, alright, calm down.

I'm gonna go get

something to eat.

You'll be here a while?

Yeah. Where else

would I be, Elise?

I'll be right back, baby.

Okay, Mom.

She gone?

Yeah. Yeah, she's gone.

She stares at me all day.

Like one of those vultures

on Animal Planet.

She's scared.

Yes, sweetie, well, I'm doing

the best that I can, okay?

Then tell him, just tell him

I'm gonna be there for lunch.

Yes, Lise, I'm leaving now.

Okay, I'll see you then. Bye.

Yup.

Put him through.

Hey! How's Prague?

- Give me the number, fucknuts.

- Just north of one-fifty.

Halfway through the month?

Christ, Jensen.

Kafka was right. Prague just

won't seem to let me go.

He's much improved.

- Should I be worried?

- No. No, he's...

Put Wilson on. I want to make

sure she mailed Bob a copy...

of his non-compete.

Hey. I got Ed for you.

I checked on your Dr. Singh.

He's a heavy hitter,

one of the best.

Thanks, Lynn.

I got you an early

Christmas present.

In your "throw-down" drawer.

I'm about to shove November

straight up your ass.

Wish I'd done that.

Which one of you meat-eaters

is getting an interview

today!? Come on!

Mr. Jensen.

What's up, doc?

I've heard that before.

You're here late.

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