Higher Power Page #2

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- Got you.

(indistinct chatter)

Psychologist:
And how is

the job-hunt going?

- Any luck?

- I landed a front desk gig

at this

government funded facility.

It's... I don't know

I didn't even apply.

They uh, I don't know, they got

my name, They contacted me and...

Thought it was

kind of weird but...

you know, whatever.

It's good pay and benefits so...

A year sober, a new job,

a new man.

It's all good stuff.

Man:
Well, everyone,

this is a special evening.

Joe, come on up here

and get your one-year chip.

(applause)

I guess I should thank my

higher power. Um...

I don't really know who

or whatever that is yet.

I remember when my wife was sick

and uh...

After she died

I prayed all the time.

There was no voice

coming back to me.

There were no answers,

There were no nothing.

And I ended up stranding my kids

out to sea.

I don't blame them

for hating me.

I mean, I'd hate me too.

Uh...

But I got to believe

that in their hearts

they still want their dad.

I don't know.

I can do better.

I can be better.

(ambient music playing)

- Buddy! Hello!

- (Heather giggling)

Heather:
Oh,

where are my kisses?

- Good boy! Oh, hello!

- Hi.

Welcome home, Dad!

- Joe:
You got a little taller.

- Rhea:
Little bit, little bit.

Where's your sister?

- Heather:
Oh, she's uh, she's up there.

- Rhea:
Oh Dad, you stink.

- What's with this?

- It's for a school project.

You wanna know what it's about

now?

No, no.

Come here and give me a hug.

- Zoe:
No, you smell.

- (Rhea laughing)

- Look.

- Zoe:
No. (squealing) No!

- Here.

- Zoe:
Stop it. (laughing)

Heather:
Don't chase your child.

Joe:
All right, so what is this

report on?

Zoe:
Uh, it's on professions

and I chose yours.

- Can I ask you a few questions?

- Rhea:
No, wait, wait!

- Rhea:
Wait. Here it is.

- Joe:
Abso...

- Zoe:
Wait Rhea I was gonna... Just one second.

- Heather:
She baked a cake.

Be right with you.

Zoe:
Say your name

and your profession.

- You need to say it into the camera.

- Joe:
Hi.

My name is Joseph Steadman.

I am a deck hand

on a commercial fishing boat.

Zoe:
What do you do in your off-time

when you're... When you're not working?

Uh...

Mostly I think about this.

Being here.

Being home.

(clears throat)

You know, you guys.

Michael:
So I'm just wondering,

like,

at one point you're gonna have

to take, like, a bedpan test?

- Like, do you guys have...

- Do you...

do you really think

that's a real thing?

You need to be pretty

experienced at that.

- I mean, it's a very delicate situation...

- What do you think nursing is?

Michael:
...just dumping them

out there for ya.

Just saying, things that will

make you a better nurse

- at the end of the day.

- Yeah, that's abs...

- Zoe:
Oh, sh*t.

- Michael:
What?

- Hey, Zoe.

- Zoe:
That's my dad.

I got a year sober today.

I uh, thought maybe

we could uh...

go to dinner, maybe talk.

I got you something.

Am I embarrassing you?

Dad, why don't you go try

this with Rhea?

She needs it. You think coming

here with presents is gonna help?

Okay, no, no, no, listen,

listen, listen. I...

I'm trying. And you know, I...

I can't get through to Rhea.

Not by myself.

Maybe we could, uh,

do it together.

Maybe the three of us

like a family.

Can we just leave? Can we go?

Alright, well I just want you

to have this.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Look, why don't

you just give her some space?

She's obviously just not into it

right now.

- Alright, listen. I just...

- Hey, you are.

- I am what?

- You are embarrassing her.

- (groans) Get your f***ing hands off me!

- Zoe:
Dad!

- Dad, just stop!

- What's your problem? Christ!

- Stop! Stop!

- What the f*** is wrong with you?

- Jesus Christ!

- I'm sorry!

No, it wasn't him, it's you!

It's always you!

It's the same sh*t!

You're never gonna change.

Zoe. Zoe!

I...

(birds chirping)

(intense music playing)

(phone ringing)

Zoe:
Come on, Rhea. Pick up.

I got you that phone

so you would use it.

Okay, please? Sis, I'm here.

Just... Don't forget, okay?

I don't understand.

She was doing so well.

We talked every Sunday for the last

three months. She's using again.

Look, just give her some time, all right?

I know she's gonna call.

You know?

You don't know anything

about me, Michael.

I mean, why are you

even still here?

My dad just punched you

in the face.

No, look. Hey, it's okay.

I'm here because I love you,

all right?

God, you don't wanna get sucked into this.

I'm like a f***ing black hole.

No.

You are not a black hole, Zoe.

Your dad is.

And unlike him

I'm not going anywhere.

All right?

It's okay.

It's gonna be okay.

(eerie music playing)

Joe:
Rhea. Rhea, it's me.

Uh...

Uh, I f***ed up.

Can you call me?

I, uh...

I wanna fix this. Just call me.

(music rising to crescendo)

Heather:

I'm not scared anymore, baby.

I've accepted it.

And I need you to do the same.

You just have to believe

like I do.

Believe you're the man

that I see.

I need you to be strong

for our girls.

And you keep our family

together when I'm gone.

Joe:
Don't say that.

You're not going anywhere.

Joe...

Please.

Promise me.

Joe:
I promise.

I'm sorry, baby.

I messed everything up.

I lost 'em.

(tense music playing)

(Joe muffled yelling)

(groans)

(eerie music playing)

Control:
Gentlemen.

- We are at zero hour.

- (music rising to crescendo)

(beeping)

(ominous music playing)

(beeping)

(high-pitched buzzing)

- (ears ringing)

- (groans)

Open your eyes, Joseph Steadman.

But everybody calls you Joe,

don't they?

(groaning)

What...

When your wife died

you reached out for a God.

But no one answered. (echoes)

You wanted someone

to tell you what to do.

(echoes) To tell you what to do.

Joe:
(recording) I remember

when my wife was sick

- And uh... She died.

- (groaning)

I prayed all the time. And uh, there

was no voice coming back to me.

I did not know what to do.

I did not know what to do.

I did not know what to do.

I did not know what to do.

(screaming in agony)

Control:
We're transmitting

a data burst

through a device

we placed on your optic nerve.

It allows us to see

what you see.

And you to see

what we want you to.

In this case your drug addict

daughter, Rhea.

Now you see the consequences

of your actions, Joe.

Look at how you influenced her.

She's about to score

her next hit.

I've been watching your family

for some time now, Joe.

(Joe screams in pain)

Control:
Why did you give up

so easily?

- Joe:
No!

- Control:
You're not fixing anything!

- It's broken, all of it.

- Joe:
Stop!

Lost because you weren't strong

enough to hold it together.

- Joe:
Get out of my head!

- Control:
Broken promises, Joe.

Broken family, smashed down

by your unstable hands.

Zoe:
It's got magic powers

to keep you strong.

Control:
And I can help you

find your strength to put those

- pieces back together.

- Joe:
I always wanted magic powers.

Control:
But first,

you have to answer me, Joe.

Do you believe in me?

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