zach? are you ready? mommy, can't be late again.
come on baby. don't do this to mommy. not today.
zach, do you want mommy to get fired?
if i get fired we won't have the money to go to six flags. zach quickly dresses himself. cut to:
lock your door. i'll be right back. melanie opens her door.
what?
come on.
did you decide?
get one.
make up your mind already.
too bad.
we'll take the soda.
hold on a minute. please?
get your sobe.
i know, but.
but.
but.
but.
you're making a huge mistake.
tell me i'm not responsible.  asshole. i have a kid. he has a goldfish. i have my dignity.
where's zach?
i don't want to talk about it.
highly effective strategies of time management for the single parent?
it was written by a man.  a married man.
nothing.
nothing at all baby.
once upon a time, a very long time ago.
looking for a job.
what's that?
what do you pay?
a day?
you can afford that?
really?
yes, baby?
we do have a normal life.  for us.
i'm melanie.  the baby-sitter.
it's okay. i saw.
so do you.
you'd could make a fortune with a renta- kid business.
i've often thought of renting mine. why pay for a baby-sitter when thousands of people would pay good money to set your kid on the mantle for a few hours?
worked the chain gangs?
mel.
beautiful kids.
ever try cheerios?
for potty training. give him something to aim at. drop a cheerio or two in the toilet and let him pee away.
i'm going to go talk to them for a little bit. i'll let you know.
once upon a time.
the end.
i'm gonna talk to your dad.
we'll read another one in a little bit.
not a knack really. it's just about finding hope in places there should be none.
i'd like that.
no problem.
that was your daddy.
no, he's going to be late. he has a date.
so, i guess you have to deal with me a little while longer.
did you have a good time?
what happened?
you're trying too hard.
quit trying so hard. you're forcing issues that can't be forced. relax. everything happens when and how it's suppose to. it's about spirit and finding the will to love again, for you and the boys.
i'm going to get.
yeah.
positive.
i'll see you tomorrow.
i'll call you back.
what?
what was that for?
what's so important about that piece?
what's wrong, phillip?
what's that?
this is a surprise. leave work to spend the day with us?
rick? rick?
anywhere you're not.
i'm all about second chances, but not when i come in second place.
why was she here? what was that?
mother? i've been more of a mother than she ever was.
who willingly walked out of their lives.
you keep saying that.
what about zach? how noble of you to be the only single parent in the world. how stoic you are.  so concerned with the best interests of your children. too bad. their best interest is walking out the door.
i know you.
rick's ex-wife?
can i ask you a question? what is phillip's favorite color?
blue. his favorite color is blue. how many teeth has kris lost?
four. two on top and two on bottom. he got a quarter for the first one, fifty cents for the next two and he parlayed the last into an even dollar. nicholas cries at night because he thinks the house is filled with ghosts. kiss him once on the forehead, once on the cheek and sing the cradle will rock and he'll sleep the whole night through. kris' favorite subject is math. he loves to read and write, but he doesn't do so well in social studies. he knows how to ride a bike. why? because i taught him. phillip wants to learn but he's always afraid he'll fall. nicky just likes to flintstone his tricycle. phillip's favorite cartoon is tunenami.
i'm more their mom than you'll ever be.
things change.
do what?
i don't think i've ever felt as much pity for anyone as i do for you right now.
not you, it's me.
i'm sorry.
what do you want?
go on.
and?
yes you did.
life's not fair rick.
you're right.
cut the bullshit, rick.
i can't.
i won't.
no, you shouldn't have.
you just don't get it do you?
you're here for you, you selfish prick.
days go by when i lose me. there are nights when i lay in bed and i can hear zach through the walls. he's crying out for me, and i lay there motionless, wishing i was anyone but me, anywhere but here, thinking that somewhere, sometime, there has to be room for me. but that someday never seems to come. you're dangerous. loving you means i lose me. and i will never lose let that happen.
oh shit.
sorry.
what do you want?
i'm working.
so, where are the boys?
what? not going to use them to try to persuade me with guilt?
i have a son of my own. i know when people are using their kids.
i can't believe you came here.
beats chasing around after snot nosed brats all day.
i was talking about you. melanie moves on. rick gives chase. he catches her and spins her around spilling coffee all over the floor.
so, what do the kids need? a babysitter? a surrogate mom?
then what's it about?
about you?
you have 15 seconds.
ten.
go on.
who's counting?
get it yourself.
i don't think i heard you.
that's not what you said.
as brutal as that can be?
i kind of like you too.
i never thought you'd make it.
i never thought you'd find me.
so, how do we do this? the two begin the ascent together.
side by side?
so, this is where it all happened.
a bunch of innocent bystanders?
all the world's a stage.
did you hear that?
nothing.  nothing at all.