All Things Fall Apart Page #4

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and chemotherapy

will shrink

the tumor.

What I think we have to do is we

gotta take a wait and see approach.

We gotta start chemotherapy

though immediately.

And then within

the next four months

we'll see

where we're at.

Okay? I'll

give you some time.

Excuse me for a second.

We'll work through this.

It'll be alright.

Hey, Doc.

Excuse me for a minute,

Doc, Doc, hold it.

Do you know who

that is in there?

No, he...

That boy has a future.

He has a gift.

The N FL draft is

not until June.

Are you saying we can

expect a full recovery

by April or May?

We'll know more once we see how his body

reacts to

the treatment.

Chemo and radiation?

Hold on,

that's six months.

You said it would

just take four.

It's always best to remain

optimistic, don't you think?

Now look, Doc, I know

how the game's played.

We're just a

little worried.

Eric, please don't...

We are. But all this stuff

is just between the family.

I need to know it's

not leaving this room.

The hospital maintains the strictest

confidentiality. He'll be okay, okay?

Thank you, Doctor.

Uh-huh.

Alright, we gotta keep a

lid on this bullshit, okay?

So we're gonna tell

them you got pneumonia.

No one has to know

the truth but us.

It does not

leave this room.

No, no, I don't agree

with that, I mean,

we might as well tell them

anyway because they will find out.

Bernie, I can deal with Coach

Harper and the university.

What about Miami?

What about the Dolphins?

It's not a

physical limitation.

Worst case scenario, you're gonna be

dropped down to 9th or 10th or 11th pick.

But you'll still

be first rate.

You'll be okay.

Listen, I know the

championships are in two weeks,

but you know what?

What those people saw

you do the other night,

they will not forget

you. I promise you that.

I promise you that.

That's right.

the summer of love.

So I've been told.

America is the first country

to land a man on the moon,

and at that same time, we're

number one in education.

Now, we're

number 18.

And as more and

more jobs require

a college education,

fewer and fewer of us

are actually

graduating from college.

In the year 2040,

ladies and gentlemen,

China will be the big player,

the big dog, America not.

So where are all these

new jobs going to be

when you graduate

in the spring?

I would like you all to

come to Thursday's class

prepared to

discuss that. Okay?

Thank you, ladies and

gentlemen. See you Thursday.

Be prepared.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey, stranger.

Hey, Sharon.

Hey.

Look, this is kinda

awkward but...

I've been trying to call your

brother for the past couple of days

but I haven't

heard back from him.

Everybody's saying

he's got pneumonia.

Is he alright?

Yeah.

You don't like talking about

your brother much, do you?

I think he can talk

better for himself.

Fair enough.

So, what's

up with you?

I'm on my way

to the crew lab,

working on my resume.

Oh, well,

show it to me.

Why?

'Cause I got

some resume skills.

No, for real.

I look at a lot.

Alright, look...

Let's see

what you got.

Don't clown 'cause

it's not finished yet.

What?

You interned for a

designer in New York City?

Yeah. I've always

wanted to be in fashion,

so I took a chance

and went to New York.

Okay, well, I'd move

it up on your resume.

Alright, you might know a

little something about resumes.

Yeah, I think I do.

Can't you give me pills or

something instead of that?

He needs

to relax.

I told you he

doesn't like needles.

Come on, Deon, you gotta do this now.

You remember when

you was six years old,

and we had

that big thunderstorm,

scared you so much

you hid under the bed

you thought it was

the wrath of God?

That was

a long time ago.

I know, baby,

I know, but listen.

Do you remember

what I told you then?

I told you there was

nothing to be afraid of,

that it wasn't

God punishing you,

that he was trying to

give you something.

All that lightning

and thunder,

light so bright you

could see inside your eye?

What'd I tell you?

It was God giving

you superpowers.

I remember.

Yeah. So now, I want you to lay back.

Lay back.

Come on.

That's right.

Just relax.

Close your eyes.

And let God bathe you in His light.

Absorb the power.

Okay. Okay, just lay down. That's right.

Close your eyes now.

Take something scary and

turn it into a strength.

And the next day, oh, I can

still see your little face.

You marched out onto that football

field with those super powers

like you could fly over anybody

and land in the end zone.

Like you could run

like the wind

and never get caught.

And I was

just screaming.

Come on, D,

come on.

Use your super powers.

Use your super powers.

I am disappointed in you!

You are not my son!

Excuse me.

Excuse me, I told you on the phone,

we can't continue

like this.

We are following the treatment

plan that you signed off on.

No, these costs

are out of control.

We are going to need an updated

credit card on file for you.

For what?

Any ancillary

charges that...

Oh, ancillary charges

like...

a mucus recovery system?

Fees like that

are often charged.

It's a damn

box of Kleenex.

Now I am not giving

you another credit card

and I'm not signing

any of your papers

until somebody

in this administration

explains to me why I

have to take out a loan

to cover the costs of buying

Band-Aids and gauze pads!

I'll provide my own.

I will provide

my own.

Excuse me, Doc, Doc, do you

know where Dr. Brintall is?

I'm covering

for him but...

Oh, you cover

for me, listen, listen.

Deon Barnes. We brought

him in four months ago.

He's a football player.

We did the chemotherapy,

radiation, all that, and it

cost us a great deal of money.

Oh, I don't get

into billing issues.

Wait, hold

on, then.

When we brought him in,

he was 214 pounds.

Now he little

and skinny.

We trying to get this boy

ready for the N FL draft.

All he does

is sleep all day.

Well, in aggressive cases

like his that's not uncommon.

It's a side effect

of his radiation.

What you need to do

is get him out of bed,

get him active

and see how he feels.

That's the best

thing right now.

Oh, but he...

Home sweet home, baby doll.

Now you stay

right there.

I'll come around

and get you.

Okay. Okay,

take your time.

There we go.

Alright.

Here we go.

Oh, look! It's Deon.

They're so happy

to see you.

He's gonna play

with you later.

Okay?

Okay, come here.

I'll get this.

There.

I'll take your

shoes off.

Okay.

Oh, I...

I talked to Sean.

He called.

Wait, I'll help you.

Alright.

I'll get you

in there.

Alright.

There you go.

You want some of that

ginger ale with crushed ice

like you had

in the hospital?

Hm.

It's good for your

stomach, right?

I'll be right back.

The interviewer

made me so nervous.

How did

the interview go?

They had me meet

with the supervisor

and her direct manager, and I was there

for over

three hours.

Oh, well, that's good. Yeah! Real good.

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