Making Contact (Joey)

...and the lord, who has given us our grief...

With knowledge our ignorance of your mysterious ways...

We realize that we cannot always understand the need to remove a faithful husband...

From the bosom of a loving wife,

or a devoted father from the side of his only son.

Yet, let us not cling to the souls of the departed,

but rather embrace our fond memories of them.

And lord, we ask that you Grant us the wisdom...

To accept your goodness,

and the strength to allow

our loved ones to pass,

with peace, into your glorious kingdom.

Further, we ask that you guide mother and son...

Through the difficult times ahead.

Let the draw upon each other's strength,

as they follow the path you have chosen for them.

And protect them from the evils of the world...

Around us all.

Now' unto our God and father be the glory forever and ever,

Amen.Amen.

I want you to know we're prayin' for you. Thank you.

Joey? We're prayin' for you.

Laura, my thoughts are with you. Thank you.

I'm so sorry, honey.

Chin up, my boy.

Thank you.

You don't remember us, do you? Uncle Brad and aunt Margaret.

Be strong.

You know we're family.

Daddy' I don't know what else to do.

You promised it'd get better.

But it hasn't.

I'm really trying to think about what you said'

honest.

I keep trying real hard to believe that...

You are here' but it just makes me even sadder.

Dad, I miss you so much.

Stop! Please stop!

Huh?

Ah! Ah!

I must be dreaming.

Oh' no.

Dad!

Do it!

Everyone said that I'd have to get along without you.

But I knew you'd be back.

It was really crazy. All my toys started going mad!

And Charley started making these funny sounds.

It was kinda scary at first.

I had no idea it was you

Yeah' she's okay. She misses you too.

Well' Daddy,

there isn't much of anything more to tell.

Aunt Margaret left today. I thought she'd never leave.

I start school again next week. Too bad.

But maybe I'll make the basketball team this year.

Daddy, don't you be dead. Promise?

I really missed you. Oh, God!

You're never to do that again. Never!

Okay? Promise?

Yeah. All right.

I love you too, Daddy.

We were discussing Mr. Rooster yesterday.

And we have seen that he doesn't lay eggs.

Today, we're gonna discuss the ordinary chicken egg.

Which should answer any questions about which came first.

The chicken or the egg?

I hope you all brought your own.

Bernie. Bernie! Hey' check him out.

But in truth, it's quite hard. It can't be broken lengthwise.

Bobby, you just had lunch.

All right. Let me see it.

I don't think this is particularly amusing.

What if your father had died?

But he's not dead.

He talks to him on the telephone.

That's not funny.

That's what he told us. - Now, I want everyone to listen, carefully.

Joey loved his father. I'm sure he thinks about him a lot.

Maybe he doesn't want to believe that he'll never see him again.

That's why I don't think it's very nice of you all making fun of him.

Joey' where's your egg?

Did somebody take it?

- William. - Hmm?

Did you take it? Me? I didn't take it.

Bernie? Heck, no.

Michael? I didn't take it.

Sam? It wasn't me.

I want an answer.

who has Joey's egg?

I'm waiting.

Okay. If that's how you want it.

You are all staying after school.

Aww!

Quiet back there!

Hey! How's dad? - We want to get your dad's telephone number.

Pretty cruel joke.

The kids in his class have something against him.

He can't seem to make friends.

I've tried to talk to him' but with no success. I don't understand that.

I thought he'd got hold of himself, otherwise I wouldn't send him back to school.

He misses his father' that's what's troubling him.

Yes' I know. There's something else.

The other kids make fun of him for claiming to talk to his father on the phone.

Is that what they say? That's what Joey says.

So how was school today, Joey? Okay.

I guess some of the other kids were giving you a hard time.

They're a bunch of jerks.

You told them you could talk to Daddy on the phone.

I heard you myself the other night.

I can. Joey.

I know you miss him a lot.

I do too.

But maybe you shouldn't tell your friends about it.

They're in concert this weekend.

Hey, Virginia beach. If you had a little trouble...

Ringin' up your main squeeze last night, you weren't alone.

The whole phone system was flaked out for about a half...

The Virginia beach phone system experienced an unexplained breakdown last night...

Between the hours of 8:30 and 9:00 P.M.

Authorities have not yet been able to determine the cause of the problem.

Virginia beach weather for tomorrow, partly cloudy with little chance of precipitation...

Joey!

Charley! Come back here!

Scooter, where are you going?

Come on! We're not supposed to be up here

Scooter, did Charley go in there?

Come on, guys! We gotta get goin'!

Hurry!

Charley? Scooter?

Where are you?

What's that?

Joey?

Charley' be quiet.

Better than some old junk pile' isn't it?

Scooter?

Joey! Dinner's ready!

Woo-ooh!

Your dinner's probably moldy by now.

Ugh.

Don't make a face like that.

Hey, I was watching that.

First you eat your dinner' and then you go to bed.

Drink your milk.

- Do that again! - What?

What you just did!

Give it to me.

Now, do it again.

Oh' my God!

Who showed you that? Who taught you that trick? It's not a trick.

Of course it's a trick. Don't lie to me. Come on.

Do it again! No' not again.

Oh' please. I want to figure it out. You do it under the table, right?

Come on. I want you to do it.

It's really not a trick? Nope.

- How do you do it, then? - I just wish it.

You just... wish it?

And Daddy helps me.

Daddy?

You don't have to be afraid.

...I don't? I'll get it.

What's the matter? Come on, scooter.

All right. Stay.

Just a minute.

So you think that's your father on the telephone?

Well, it ain't. You're lying.

Watch.

Hey, what's goin' on?

Jonathan Fletcher was a famous ventriloquist of the 1920s,

whose act often involved the use of magic.

He was a stunning early success until the tragic death of his only son.

Returning to the stage... hey' what's going on? What do you want?

...he developed a new act, Fletcher and Fletcher.

But the frighteningly lifelike dolls scared most audiences.

It was rumored the doll was a black magic incarnation...

This is who you've been talking to, not your father.

What does he want from me? Tell me!

Disappeared from... -he wants to control you like he controlled me!

...leaving all questions unanswered.

I don't believe in you! Got it?

You don't want to listen to me?

Watch this.

Mommy!

Leave my mother alone!

Ha-ha-ha.

You have to leave her alone.

I hate you! Mommy!

Stop that!

What's the matter?

Joey lock you out?

What are you trying to do? Scare me to death?

Hey. What's the matter with you?

Why isn't the light on?

Huh? You're trembling.

There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm not afraid.

Of course not.

Were you on the phone again?

Joey, is something the matter?

Why was the phone in the hall?

Won't you tell me? I can't.