Pay It Forward Page #6

I feel Like I've got to

give him a chance.

A chance? A chance for what?

To change.

To try to make up for Lost time.

To take Trevor to ball games?

Do "daddy" things with him?

Yeah, he promised to try.

-What should I do?

-Be smart.

He's his father.

He impregnated you, Arlene.

In what other way has he

been a father?

Unless knocking somebody around

is a new family value.

What do you mean?

He never touched Trevor.

Oh, that's right, only you.

He only took it out on you.

That's so much better.

What did Trevor tell you?

Enough.

Secrets Like that shouldn't be kept.

What good does it do Trevor?

Ricky never meant to hit me.

We were drunk!

Christ!

What is it with women Like you?

Is that something you tell yourself?

"It's okay he beat me. "

"Trevor's okay. "

Trevor Locked himself in a bathroom

and he can't breathe...

...and he's praying that it will stop!

-Trevor never went through that!

-You know what Trevor went through?

How do you know?

How do you know the next time after

you, he doesn't come for Trevor?

I know what I'm talking about, Arlene.

My father got on his knees

and begged my mother...

...and my mother, she always

took him back.

I never understood it.

She'd cover the bruises and the cuts

and she'd take him back...

... because he begged and he cried.

Ask me what happened after

he came back.

You wanted to know what happened to me!

Now ask me!

-I don't Like this.

-" Did he hurt you? " Ask!

Did he hurt you?

Not for Long.

By 1 3 I was gone. I ran away.

But I missed her, so I had to go back

and see her.

So one night I did.

Ask what happened. "What happened that

night you came back, Eugene? "

What happened?

He was there, drunk as usual.

Only this time, I wasn't the same.

I was 1 6 years old and I was no Longer

afraid of him.

And when I Looked him in the eye...

...and told him if he ever touched her

again, I would kill him, he knew.

He knew that he would never exist

for me again.

And I'm standing in front of the house.

I'm screaming for her to come out.

I'm telling her she doesn't have

to take it anymore.

She doesn't.

She can come with me now.

I don't see it coming.

He hits my head with a two-by-four

and I' m bleeding from my ear.

He's dragging me behind the house into

the garage. Then he's gone.

A minute, five minutes, I don't know.

Then he's back and wetting me down.

And I don't understand.

I don't understand why water

should smell so bad.

I don't understand. And then I see it.

I see...

...this...

...this gas can.

This red gas can from his truck.

And he Looks at me one Last time...

...and he Lights a match.

And the Last thing I remember...

...and I'll never forget it...

...were his eyes.

His eyes, because they were

filled with this...

...immense...

...satisfaction.

I' m so sorry.

Don't tell me how sorry you

are for me!

Tell me how you'll stop it

happening to Trevor.

Ricky would never do that.

Oh, Jesus, Arlene. He doesn't have to.

All he has to do is not Love him.

What's going on?

What's going on?

I'll tell you what's going on.

-What are you doing?

-What's it Look Like?

You can't do this.

What are you putting in my room?

We had an agreement.

My son won't talk to me.

He won't Look at me!

You turn him against me?

I told you I wasn't gonna make him

talk to you.

You could get a job.

-What am I supposed to use for a car?

-Take the bus.

That'll be the day.

-You can't stay in this room.

-This is our room.

This is our house, our bed.

-You've been drinking.

-Kiss me.

Stop it! Stop it!

I want you out of this house.

-What's your problem?

-I want you out.

Turn that down!

I'll come and pound your ass!

-Don't talk to him Like that!

-Don't tell me how to talk!

Don't tell me how to talk to anybody.

I've had enough.

-Are you getting mad?

-What are you gonna do about it?

I Liked you better when you had

a few drinks in you.

You want me out of the house, I'm out!

Sorry.

I think I made a mistake.

Everybody makes mistakes.

All right, bring them up.

Thank you. Carefully.

Thank you.

Careful. Did you get rid

of your hiccups?

Told you holding your breath

would work.

Thank you. Careful. Thank you.

Very nice.

Give me that one. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Trevor, what is it?

Are you still gonna pay it forward?

You could say you don't have to...

... because it didn't work out.

But I thought you still might.

Trevor, I would Like more than

anything to do that for you.

-When I find something worthy--

-I know somebody who needs something.

-You have to Let me find this--

-You know who it is.

Look...

...you don't understand everything.

All right?

So you do not know what you' re asking.

Give her another chance.

I will pay it forward.

I promise you that.

But I cannot do that.

But that's why this is the one.

Because it's supposed to be

something hard.

If you help my mom, even if you're

still mad, in a way nobody could--

-Did she ask you to talk to me?

-No, she thinks you won't forgive her.

But I still think you could.

If you wanted to do something huge...

...for someone...

...for my project.

For me.

She made her choice.

She said she made a mistake.

Well, that's the beauty of hindsight.

You don't care.

Yes, I do.

I will always care about you, always.

Yeah.

You' re my teacher.

They pay you to.

-You got it?

-Yeah.

I ain't saying a thing till I

get one more.

You know, I thought you might

feel that way.

No, no. Later.

I got my places.

Places where nobody cares where

you park overnight.

Places where I live.

Anybody who knows me...

...knows where to find me.

Hi, Mom.

-What are you doing here?

-I wanted to see you.

-After three years, why now?

-I can't watch you do this.

I drive by your house.

I know.

-He's big.

-Yeah.

What are you doing here?

Are you gonna try to put me

somewhere?

No.

Then what do you want?

I want to try to do something.

All the things...

...when I was a kid.

The booze...

...and the men.

What happened to me when you

weren't Looking.

I know we' re all weak.

-No, not you.

-No, I've been weak.

Here's the thing.

I forgive you.

-I don't Like your hair.

-I know. I' m not putting it back.

So I'd Like to see you sometimes.

Is that okay?

Yes.

You can't Live with me.

Who would want to?

Can I see him?

Not drunk.

You've got to be sober if just

for two hours.

Yeah, I can do that.

Okay.

Then I'll come and find you.

Okay?

Yeah.

Okay.

Why'd you do this, Arley?

She told me why.

She told me I had to do

something big...

...for three other people.

Happy birthday dear Trevor

Happy birthday to you

And many more

What'd you wish for?

He can't tell you or it

won't come true.

Can I have some napkins?

Here you go.

I'll get it.

Mom?

I' m Chris Chandler. I' m a reporter.

Could I have a moment of your time?

Why? I don't have anything to

say about anything.

Please. I've already spoken to your

mother, which naturally led me to you.

-My mother?

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