Bless the Child Page #3

Oh, she asked me for it.

It makes her feel better.

-I have an extra one if you want it.|-No, thank you.

I'll bring it for you|just in case.

Cody, you ready to go|shopping with your Mim?

What?

- Is that Maria's church?|- Yes. Can we go?

Okay, let's go.

I'm going to say a little prayer,|like Maria does, okay?

Cody?

[ Candles Rattling ]

[Rattling Stops]

She's sad, Mim. So sad.

She's crying for us.

It's okay.|It's okay.

- Nice limo you got there.|- You won the lottery?

- Miss O'Connor?|- Yes.

Honey.

Hello, Mags.

Hi, Cody. Do you have a kiss|for Mommy, hmm? Come here.

I'm Eric Stark, Maggie,

Jenna's husband.

We just got back|from Barbados last week.

Part honeymoon,|part healing process for Jenna.

And no more bad habits--

- except for spending Eric's money.|- Mm-hmm.

He saved my life.

- Are you a doctor?|- He's Eric Stark, Maggie.

The New Dawn,|the foundation, the seminars.

Did you meet Jenna through|your work, Mr. Stark?

Eric, please. Yeah, we met|at one of my outreach centers.

- When was it, only last month?|- [Jenna Giggling]

- Isn't that amazing?|- Crazy.

So this is all happening|very quickly.

Oh, yeah.|I don't waste time anymore.

I wasted half my life on drugs.|That was enough.

No more.|No more presents.

Um.

There's still something|wrong with her, isn't there?

-I was hoped she would outgrow this.|-She's fine.

Just a little different.|And she certainly isn't deaf.

You know, I'm a little bit|in a state of shock here.

You must know, Eric,|that I haven't seen my sister...

since the first week|Cody was born.

Well, I'm here now,|and I'm healthy.

And everything's going to be fine,|isn't it, sweetie?

We'll get you well.

- Do you have a kiss for Mommy, hmm?|- No.

She has to get used to you.|That will take time.

Mm-hmm.

Like round-the-clock time, huh?

- Cody?|- Well, that's why we're here.

You're gonna come live|with Eric and me, Cody.

- We're gonna take you home.|- Darling?

Why don't you have Dahnia|come up from the limo?

- Maybe Cody would like to meet her.|- We have a wonderful nanny.

Cody, go in my room|and watch cartoons, okay, sweetie?

- [Dialing Phone]|- Hi. Could you send Dahnia up now?

Jenna, I don't think|you understand.

- Cody's very special.|- You just said she was fine.

Yes, but she probably|has a form of autism.

-I want the right people to see her.|-She's with the right people.

It's taken a lot of work|to bring her to this point.

A change could|undo everything.

Mags, Eric and I talked about this.|She's my daughter.

And it's sort of like--

It's not really up to you.

Who do you think raised her when you|left her like a piece of luggage?

Who paid for her doctors|and her schools and her test?

That gives me some say|what happens to her.

Of course it does, Maggie.

We're grateful that you took care|of Cody when Jenna wasn't able to,

but now she is.

And I have the money to give her...

the kind of special care|and schooling she needs.

Now that you're here,|I want you both to be in her life.

She's made so much progress,|but what she needs right now...

are rules and stability|and familiar faces.

are rules and stability|and familiar faces.

Then the sooner she gets|familiar with us, the better.

- [Knock On Door]|- Ah, Dahnia.

This is Dahnia, Mags.|She's wonderful with children.

Hello, Miss O'Connor.|May I see the child?

- No, you can't.|- As you wish.

Maggie, really there's|no reason to be so defensive.

We want you to be part of the family|and visit Cody regularly.

This is crazy. It's too soon.|I have to talk to Cody.

- No. There's nothing to talk about.|-Jenna, please.

Well, I think|this visit is over.

Jenna, why don't you|wait in the car?

Maggie, I want you to think|this through carefully.

Jenna and l, we only|want what's best for Cody.

You don't know her yet. She doesn't|know you. This will take time.

I'm afraid you don't|have that luxury.

You're gonna have to decide|right now, today,

how you're going to deal with this.

And I promise you, you do not|want this in some court's hands...

for your own good--|and for Cody's.

Good-bye, Maggie.

- Cody?|- [Cartoon On TV]

Cody?

Cody.

[Hissing, Whispering,|Indistinct]

Cody!

[Tires Screeching]

No!

- He grabbed her out of my bedroom!|- Calm down.

No, I won't calm down. I won't|leave here until somebody helps me.

Excuse me, miss.|How old is your child?

Six years old.

- It's her niece actually.|- Can I take a look at that?

Yeah.

Anyway, the kid's not really|missing. It's a custody dispute.

We should probably|give it to Social Services.

Eric Stark is involved in this?|Have you talked to this guy?

- No.|- I tried. His number is unlisted...

and the foundation|just gave me the runaround.

- Want me to find a number on him?|- Yeah, thanks.

I'd like to talk to Miss O'Connor|for a few minutes.

Please, come this way.

I'll be honest with you,|Miss O'Connor,

Stark's organization has been|under investigation before.

For what?

Harboring runaways.

There were allegations|of tax fraud...

and money laundering,|but nothing that would stick.

Please, sit down.

See, Stark is well|protected politically...

and he keeps a pack of high-priced|lawyers in attack mode year round.

Are you saying|you're scared of him?

All I'm saying|is that he'll bury you...

if you come|after him without grounds.

Are those|the serial murders?

I'm advising a task force here|that's handling that investigation.

But you don't think this|has anything to do with--

No, but I do think...

that what my charmless colleague|told you before is probably true.

Right now the best thing|for you to do...

is try to establish|some form of legal custody.

- You need a lawyer, not a cop.|- So that's it? ''Get a lawyer''?

That's all the help|you have to offer me?

No, you have my word.|I will follow up on Stark.

It'll be my pleasure.|I think his whole outfit stinks.

But I want you to promise me|if you reach him first--

I would just feel better|if you give me a call...

before you even talk to this guy.

That will be my first priority,|Agent, making you feel better.

Miss O'Connor.|Miss O'Connor.

The only thing I can get on Stark|is the number for his lawyer.

- [Door Shuts]|- No, thanks.

I want to follow up|on this one.

- [ Chuckling ] Yeah, right.|- What's that supposed to mean?

Come on. The one lead|you're gonna follow up on...

is attached to a piece of tail|like that?

No wonder this priest|thing didn't work out.

This may be|the best lead we've got.

Take a look, Frank.|December 16, 1993.

The same birthday|as every kid on that board.

May I help you?

I really don't know much|about your program and--

Would you like a tour?

Our main focus has been our national|youth crusade, but our programs...

for adults have been gaining more|and more popularity.

Our self-realization seminars|only require a $400 donation.

What I'm really interested in|is speaking with Eric Stark.

His schedule doesn't allow|for personal interviews,

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