Signed, Sealed, Delivered (2014) s02e04 Episode Script
Impossible Dream
1 Salaam.
she has been in labor 15 hours.
You speak English.
We have a television in our village.
I know who you are.
You brought medicine to our village once.
Hold on tight.
- What's her name? - My daughter is Nilofer.
I am Asad.
And her husband? The father wants a son.
A girl can accomplish great things when she's free to do them.
Freedom Is not impossible But it may take time and you do not have much.
ah-hah! oh, yeah, baby like a fool I went and stayed too long now I'm wondering if your love's still strong ooh, baby here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours ooh then that time I went and said goodbye now I'm back and not ashamed to cry ooh, baby here I am signed, sealed, delivered All rise.
I'm yours This better be good.
Madame chairman, this committee is called into emergency session in light of new and time-sensitive information that may involve military action.
Thank you, senator.
Before we begin, let me reiterate that this is a closed session regarding national security, and all testimony given here today is sealed.
Let's see Mr O'Toole? Yes.
I'm Oliver O'Toole.
These are my colleagues, Ms.
Mclnerney, Ms.
Haywith, Mr.
Dorman.
And I understand you comprise a task force from The D.
L.
O.
? That is correct.
Is this C.
I.
A.
, F.
B.
I.
, or N.
S.
A.
? U.
S.
P.
S.
We work at the post office.
That's right, Bob.
This was the image we saw nearly two years ago, when 12-year-old Phoebe Amidon tied a yellow ribbon around the tree in her grandfather's yard, awaiting news of her mother.
Lieutenant Randilynn Amidon went missing while serving with American troops in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.
But now, 22 months later, with Amidon still missing and the circumstances of her disappearance still sketchy, and no answers in sight, this "welcome back" ribbon is a sad reminder of the reputation lieutenant Amidon may never return home to defend.
I would like to know what bearing four postal employees from Denver have on the status of a missing American soldier in Afghanistan.
: Yes, well.
Several months ago, in the course of performing our duties as postal detectives in the dead letter office, we became acquainted with a Phoebe Amidon, the 14-year-old daughter of lieutenant Randilynn Amidon, as well as her grandfather, Mr.
Harper Ferguson.
We came to believe that lieutenant Amidon did not abandon her duties the night she went missing, and, in fact, she conducted herself heroically and yet, uh, sadly, most likely, was, uh, probably not living.
And to that, of course, we have no comment.
Of course.
However, we now have information to suggest that lieutenant Amidon may well be alive and urgently in need of your assistance.
And that is based on the contents of the letter we have here? Yes.
And you came to this conclusion last night? Yes, and if I may, I need to go back a few days.
Please.
Last Thursday, we were preparing to travel to Washington, D.
C.
, for the national miss special delivery pageant.
Is that a real thing? I was finalizing some paperwork before our trip One of these days my time will come I understand you have something very unique planned for the pageant.
Oh, well, this year's theme is "delivering inspiration.
" And for my talent, I will be doing a dramatic reading from my unpublished historical romance novel Renita Hayweather: Frontier duchess.
A dramatic novelist! Amazing! Brilliant.
No one can compete with that.
We'll all be crossing our fingers for you this Saturday.
Thank you, Ramon.
That was very nice, miss Rita.
Thank you.
Time for us to go on our trip to Washington, D.
C.
, together.
- Oh, yeah, okay.
- Goodbye! As always, miss Rita A pleasure.
Oh, it must be very hard to say goodbye.
Oh, not really.
No, not to me, my friend.
Goodbye to miss Rita.
She will win, of course, and then she's off traveling the world on her triumphant goodwill tour.
Just imagine all the places she will go All the people she will meet Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Just a couple more things to sign, then it's all yours.
I am sorry for your loss.
But at least your father made sure that you'd be well taken care of.
My biological father.
I never knew him.
I have your skinny caramel steamer coming, just the way you like it.
Oh, that's so sweet, Norman.
Who's Oliver talking to? : His lawyer.
He inherited so much money, she comes to see him now.
With all of this money, I suppose you will want to start talking about early retirement.
And quit the post office? Well, why not? You're young, you're single, and you're rich.
Ms.
bullock, the only thing Harvey Schmidtz gave me, besides this inheritance, was a piece of advice.
"You never have enough money if all you have is money.
" What does that mean, anyway? It means It's time to get back to work.
Have you seen your itinerary, Ms.
Mclnerney? I'm sorry.
What? : Well, I made copies for all of us and highlighted the events pertinent to each of us in corresponding colors.
You're yellow.
Yellow! Huh.
We arrive at 3:56.
Check in the hotel at 5:10, arrive at the capitol grill at 6:45 for a quiet dinner before curfew at 10:30.
And tomorrow morning, Rita Right here in pink Registers for the pageant at 9:00, and you and I and Norman leave at 9:30 to take a tour of the library of congress, Ford's theater, and, uh, the national postal museum.
Postal museum? Uh, think you're ready to go back there? It's time.
I'd like to get it over with.
Of course.
And then I can show you around my old stomping grounds.
Oh.
I-is there a museum you'd like to add? Or or would you like to visit old postal friends? Well, Rebecca Starkwell was my only friend at the D.
C.
office, and she's on her honeymoon.
Oh.
Is there an old boyfriend to visit at the post office? I'm not in the habit of calling up old boyfriends.
And even if I were, his work is Well, he's hardly ever in town.
Great! It's settled then.
Taxi should be arriving any minute.
Almost forgot! What? Don't ask.
Can't tell.
It's a surprise.
Ahh! Field kit! Norman! We're going on holiday.
All you need is your suitcase.
Uh-oh.
I know it's a horrible thought, veering off your blue itinerary into my yellow itinerary, but I was wondering if we could make a tiny detour on our way to the hotel? A detour? I wanted to Drive by the house where I grew up, for old time's sake.
Please? : Okay! All set.
Let's do D.
C.
Has anyone seen my crown? Oh! Ah.
Where's your house? It's gone.
Are you sure this is the right street? Of course I'm sure.
That's the tree I used to climb.
The garden where we planted the Those bricks were the fireplace where my mother and I always 18 years And now it's like we were never here.
Did you plant those? : For mother's day.
Every fall, after all the other blooms would die, my mom my mom would take the last one, and put in a vase and say, "look.
It's the last rose of summer.
Still holding on.
" Then, every fall Even after I went away to college, and every September after that, until she moved away, I would get an envelope in the mail with the last rose of summer wrapped in wet paper towels, in a plastic bag.
She was sending you a message.
"Pay attention "to the simple, little things right in front of you Or they could be gone before you know it.
" Forgive me, Mr.
O'Toole, but other than the sad truth that we can't go home again, we've still heard nothing to shed any light on the letter that I hold here, addressed to the secretary of defense of the United States of America.
With respect, madame chairman, uh, it was stopping at the site of Ms.
Mclnerney's former home that put us in the lobby of the Franklin Adams hotel at the exact moment we crossed paths with Phoebe Amidon and her grandfather.
If that letter is what we think it is, then it's compelling us to pay attention to the details, or the chance to bring lieutenant Amidon home again will also be gone before we know it.
So your presence here today, Mr.
O'Toole, is the result of a prior relationship with Phoebe Amidon and her grandfather? Well, that, and the prior relationship of Ms.
Mclnerney with, uh Actually, I'd like to turn this part over to her now.
My name is Shane Mclnerney.
I provide I.
T.
Services for the dead letter office in Denver.
I used to work right here in Washington in direct line operations.
When we arrived at the hotel on Thursday, we were checking in and Rita was registering for the miss special delivery pageant.
Oh, wait.
Ms.
Mclnerney.
Mm? Uh, I was thinking, perhaps this week might present an opportunity for For for an evening out.
We're in Washington, D.
C.
, Oliver.
We're already spending the whole week out.
Yes, but I was thinking, um, you and I might have dinner together, just us, to To talk and Perhaps I can offer some perspective on the recent loss of your childhood home.
You're asking me Out For dinner? Yes.
Yes! I'll put it in the schedule.
Do that.
In yellow.
Of course.
Next Miss Oklahoma! Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Are you okay? Well, they've got me scheduled for my talent rehearsal at the same time I'm supposed to get my nails done, but if I move the nails, then there's no time for some fitting they've got me down for.
Or maybe I shouldn't do my nails.
Maybe I shouldn't rehearse, but if I don't, then oh! This is worse than a stampede on Sunday.
No.
No! This is wonderful.
You're miss Wyoming.
You're miss Wyoming! And look where you are.
Well, that's the problem! There are more people in this hotel than there are in big piney.
Oh, big piney, Wyoming.
Population 576.
How do you know that? Oh, I have a photographic memory.
I remember everything I read.
Well, as long as I remember to remember.
It's hard to remember anything in a place like this.
I'm afraid, when I get up to sing, there'll be so many people in the room, I'll forget the words.
And the notes.
And the song.
Look.
I don't have to rehearse tomorrow.
Why don't you take my time? I don't mind.
- Really? - Yeah! Miss Colorado.
We're practically neighbors, right? Okay, Ms.
Mclnerney, you are on the eighth floor.
Thank you.
Norman, you are on the sixth.
Oh, my goodness.
: Thank you very much.
Oh! It's Phoebe.
Hey! What a surprise.
I can't believe it! - For heaven's sake.
- Hi! Harper.
Oliver O'Toole.
For heaven's sake, what are you guys doing here? - Are you staying here? - Yeah.
Where's Rita? Oh, she's in the pageant.
We came to cheer her on.
And what brings you to the capitol? Oh, we're trying to get some answers about Randilynn.
See if there's any Resolution.
We had an appointment with someone from the state department tomorrow, but it looks like they've had to postpone.
Not again.
: Well, that's a shame.
Well, that's Washington.
We've spent two years, but we always seem to knock on the wrong doors.
Isn't there anyone else that you can meet with? Mm, we've run out of ideas.
I've got a standing appointment with a dialysis machine back home, so we can't extend the trip.
: Of course.
Would you excuse me for just a minute? So, we have you penciled in to join us at 9:30 tomorrow.
Excellent.
Can't have you heading back without having at least some good memories in Washington.
Sounds like a plan! Okay, well, we'll see you guys tomorrow, then.
- Okay, great.
- Bye.
Bye.
Wow.
What a coincidence, huh? I don't really believe in them, Norman.
Is that who I think it is? Yeah! It's Phoebe Amidon.
No way! You've checked in? Oh, yeah, I've got my room key and my roommate Miss Louisiana.
It sounds like you have some pretty serious competition.
Oh, I don't mind.
There's more to life than winning, right? Right.
Um, speaking of which, I was thinking that, before dinner, um, you and I could : Rita! We're going out for yogurt.
You wanna come? Oh! Um Yeah! Bye, guys! She seems happy.
Yes.
She does.
I suppose it's just the three of us for dinner.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Where is Ms.
Mclnerney? Hi.
It's Shane.
I'm in town at the Franklin Adams and Steve, I-I need to see you.
I'd like another Arnold Palmer.
A little more Arnold than Palmer this time, please.
Why do they put tiny umbrellas in drinks? Why not tiny cars? Or tiny cats? Something on your mind? I just keep thinking about Phoebe coming all the way here to find out if anyone knows what happened to her mother.
Everything else just seems so Trivial compared to that.
The miss special delivery pageant is perhaps not an event of great import to the world at large, Norman, but the world is a terribly complicated place, and so much of it can be ugly.
That's why what is gentle and beautiful and joyful is worth fighting to preserve.
And it's also why we honor those who fight.
Yeah.
So, Norman What's in the envelope? Hmm? Well, it's a surprise f Ms.
Mclnerney.
Hello, beautiful! - Ooh! - Oh Look at you! Whoo.
Look at you I got your call.
Yes, and I thought you were going to call me back.
: I was just right around the corner.
I couldn't wait, so I staked out your hotel, figured you'd show up sooner or later.
Yes, well, good timing.
Uh, Steve Marek, these are my co-workers My boss, actually Oliver O'Toole and Norman Dorman.
Denver D.
L.
O.
, right? Yes.
I heard about you guys.
You do great work.
Oh, thank you.
And what is it you do for the post office? Oliver, Norman, would it be okay if I begged off of dinner tonight? Um Steve and I have Some catching up to do.
I can see that.
But perhaps we could meet later? Later? Tonight? A-after Mr.
Marek? For a nightcap? In the lounge? Yes.
All right.
Norman.
Shall we dine? Yes.
Dining.
Starving.
Mr.
Marek.
So that was Oliver O'Toole? Yes.
Does he know? No.
But after tonight We may have to tell him.
And one, two, three down by the old mill stream where I first Oh! The pizza! Oh! Hi.
Hi.
It's Norman.
: Hi, Norman! He's cute.
Thank you! Uh, Rita, sorry to interrupt.
Oh, you're not! We were just sitting around and stuff.
I-I didn't know that you played that.
Well, my parents were flower children.
Right.
I was born under the Pepsi challenge tent in Sedona, remember? Was there something you needed? Oh.
Uh No.
Aww.
See ya tomorrow.
Okay.
Sleep tight! : Bye, Norman! : Aw, he looks like a Teddy bear! I think that was our song.
We never had a song.
We should have had one.
So why'd you leave D.
C.
? To get away from you.
Mm.
Ouch.
I always know where I stand with you.
But I never knew where I stood with you, Steve.
And then I finally realized that's bad for relationships.
But it's what makes you so good at your job.
Betrayed by my own excellence.
And your humility.
But you came back.
On vacation.
I wasn't going to call you.
But now I guess I need you.
Good.
I'll see what I can do.
Am I early? No.
No, I was just leaving.
How was dinner? Fine, thank you.
Okay.
I'll see you tomorrow? Okay.
Tomorrow? Oliver.
I will just adjust my itinerary to reflect that you will not be joining us for our tour in the morning.
No, I will.
I'm coming.
We just have to adjust our plans for the afternoon.
I couldn't bear to see how disappointed Phoebe and her grandfather were.
She's lost her mother, he's lost a daughter And I guess After seeing Or not seeing my house today I just felt like, at least at least, with them, maybe Maybe there was something that I could do, maybe I could Help them in some way.
Well, that's admirable, but I'm afraid lieutenant Amidon's situation does not fall under the purview of the United States postal system.
I don't see how you or I or your friend, Steve, can hope to make a difference.
Well You or I can't, but Oliver, I haven't been completely honest with you about Steve.
He's not exactly with the post office.
So, Ms.
Mclnerney, it was you who made the initial contact with agent Marek? : Yes.
And it's not something that I did lightly, but now I'm glad that I did.
Sir, can I assume that you are agent Marek? Yes, I am, senator.
And has the testimony you've heard so far been accurate? Yes, ma'am.
All right.
Continue, Ms.
Mclnerney.
: Thank you.
Well, needless to say, this was all news to Mr.
O'Toole.
The clandestine services? One of them.
Yes.
You You dated a spy? An intelligence analyst.
Officer.
Agent.
Kind of a spy, yeah.
You lied to me.
I didn't lie to you.
I like to think that you were on a need-to-know basis, and now you need to know.
And what else do I need to know, hmm? That Steve has agreed to meet with Harper and Phoebe if we take them to the Pentagon tomorrow.
It seems he'd agree to anything if it meant re-igniting the flames of You know, whatever, with you.
First of all, Oliver, my flames are none of your business.
And second, you don't have to like him, but he's a good man, and whatever he may have meant to me in the past, all he means now is a chance to help Phoebe.
Really.
Really.
Mr.
O'Toole, I am due at the senate committee in an hour, can I begin to hope that there is a way or a meaning with this story of yours? Hmm? Oh, absolutely.
- The next day - Hi! We took Phoebe and her grandfather to the national postal museum, where Rita and the other contestants were making an appearance and I was Well, I was on something of a sentimental journey.
You seem Deep in thought.
Three years ago, I, uh, stood on this very spot with my wife Expounding on the early days of the pony express.
I turned around and, uh She wasn't there.
I stood here waiting and waiting until they closed, but, by then, she'd already left me and caught a plane to Paris.
That must have been very painful.
Why did you come back here today? Closure.
You remind me of Randilynn.
When she was Not even two, she could barely talk, but she could walk.
We couldn't keep up with her.
One day, I turned around and she was gone, then I heard this huge bang.
I went running into the bedroom and there she is, on the floor, sobbing.
I said, "honey, what happened?" Well, she was crying so hard, she couldn't tell me, so she she climbed up on the bed and rolled off again just to show me.
That kid She was always going back to the most painful places in her life to make some sense of the pain.
All four verses? Yeah.
And if that didn't work, she'd do every verse of the star- spangled banner, too.
Wow.
That is pretty patriotic.
She was.
Hey! Phoebe! How are you? - I'm good.
- How's lib? - She's getting fat.
- Oh! I made the neighbors promise to walk her twice a day while we were gone.
I love your crown.
Oh, thank you! I have to wear it everywhere.
Photo shoots, interviews, even a lecture on sportsmanship by last year's miss special handling What's that? Oh, it's like miss congeniality, only postal.
: Anyways, I am free as a bird for the rest of the day.
Great, uh, because I have something back at the hotel that : Phoebe! After lunch, I would like to take you and your grandfather to meet a friend of mine.
I can't promise anything, but : Ms.
Mclnerney.
Grandpa! Are you all right? Grandpa? I think he just overdid it a bit, but we'll have him checked out just in case.
Thanks, Norman.
Get some rest, Harper.
Well, I guess it's up to us to keep that appointment.
What appointment? So you attended this meeting yesterday as well, Ms.
Hayworth? Uh, it's "Haywith," with an "I".
Oh.
Yes, I did.
I had a free afternoon off, so I went along.
And I am very glad that I did.
I think.
Am I in trouble? Just give us the facts, Ms.
Haywith.
Oh, okay.
Well, first of all, I had to leave my crown at the door.
Oh I feel so naked without it.
Here he comes.
Oh.
I did some digging.
I got ahold of the file It's an active, working case.
Now, we never give up on our own, no matter how long it takes, but, after reading through this, we might be running out of time.
So you don't believe she was killed in the mission? Look, I can't read you into the file, but I can say that, as of six months ago, I personally believe lieutenant Amidon was alive and being held somewhere near Pakistan.
Likely by the insurgents that attacked her team when she disappeared.
Then you think she was captured? Off the record? Go on, please.
Well, lieutenant Amidon was a medic.
She trained for the cultural support teams, who interface with the Afghans, collected intelligence.
See, the male soldiers couldn't talk to Afghan women, but the female soldiers could.
What seemed like suspicious activity Going off-base, consorting with the locals Had actually been covertly sanctioned by the army.
See, we can't always answer allegations without putting other people in danger, so the whole truth about lieutenant Amidon is, really, yet to be told.
Is she alive, Steve? She went back for two of our own, who were cut down in a firefight.
Now, the insurgents had withdrawn, but they waited, as they do, for the rescue team to come back for the wounded.
And then they ambushed them? Hang in there, Costas! You hear me? We're gonna get you out of here! Evac! Move out! Move out! Randi! Randi! Get up! Randilynn! And then she was wounded? And captured.
But not by any central group, otherwise we would've known more by now.
There was a rescue attempt last year.
After that, it appears that she was moved.
The drones haven't been able to find her.
We followed up on a sighting, but that didn't pan out.
Then there's this letter, which may or may not have been written by lieutenant Amidon, but that's gonna take some time to confirm.
I'm sorry, did you say a letter? A letter.
Yeah.
A point of clarification, please, madam chairman? Ms.
Haywith, have we finally come to the reason for this hearing this morning? You mean the letter? Yes.
Oh, yes.
That's when Mr.
Marek showed us the letter.
Well, he actually didn't show us the letter, that was the problem.
That's when I did the bad thing.
Go on.
This arrived almost two weeks ago from Afghanistan, made its way to us.
It's not in an envelope.
It's all Jerry-rigged together with tape, it's addressed "f-e-e-b.
" "By the American secretary of the military embassy, "Washington, D.
C.
, U.
S.
A.
, from soldier female.
" Now, the handwriting on the outside is different from the inside.
Lieutenant Amidon may have written this, but somebody else mailed it and routed it through kabul.
Kabul has mail? Ah.
You'd be surprised.
They have quite an efficient postal system in Afghanistan.
: Oh.
And with all the cellphones and laptops being hacked so often out there, this may have been a good way to get a message through unmonitored.
I have always maintained that mail is still the gold standard of human communication.
Right.
The problem is, I mean, except for something in here about the fourth of July, it all really just appears to be gibberish.
But that's what we do every day We figure out letters that don't make sense.
Let's see.
Oh, I-I can't let you look at that.
Oh, for heaven's sake, Steve.
We're all on the same side! It's classified.
I've shown you too much already.
: Well, not to put too fine a point on this, that was not addressed to the secretary, but someone named "f-e-e-b," which I submit is someone's idea of how to spell "Phoebe," and, therefore, still has yet to be delivered to its intended recipient, and, therefore, falls clearly under the jurisdiction of the united states postal service.
Is he kidding? I'm sorry, he's not.
Well, that's just not gonna happen.
There's too much analysis ahead.
There's handwriting, DNA, cryptography.
You think it's a coded message? : I hope so, otherwise, like I said, it just doesn't make any sense.
I know.
I mean I bet! We should go! I have a big tap dance number to learn tonight.
: Steve I think I should tell you that Rita has a photographic memory and there's a pretty good chance that she can remember everything that letter said.
Ah, give or take a few words here and there.
Your thumb was covering some of it.
Sorry.
Well, let's just pretend I didn't hear that.
Fair enough.
If you come up with anything, I'd like to hear about it.
I didn't know the "department of agriculture" was so clandestine.
You'd be surprised.
Don't forget your crown.
Oh, right.
: Wow.
A real spy.
Steve? Analyst.
A minor cog in the wheel.
How is Harper? : Oh, well, I wanted to take him to see a doctor, but he insisted on going back to the hotel with Phoebe.
Harper's a tough guy, but he could use some good news.
Then we need to find him some, hmm? Well, how? We only had one cog.
We are an elite postal task force, Norman.
Wide powers of postal discretion.
I think it's time we used them.
: Okay, there was only six lines.
The first one was, um, "the day will end fast.
" And then "the birthday of liberty," which is the fourth of July clue that Steve was talking about.
Go on.
Then there was this weird thing "Return to the four-poster.
" What? Some kind of army post, maybe? Hmm.
Then there was, let me see, "song 5-9-1-6" and "proverbial 1-8-1-0.
" Anything else? No, just half a word or two.
"Grim feet.
" Grim feet? That's what it said.
That's the part where his thumb was covering it.
Steve's right.
None of this makes any sense.
Everything seems like some sort of clue, so it must mean something to someone.
Mm-hmm.
Well, if it was addressed to Phoebe, shouldn't she know what it means? Someone else wrote that on the envelope, and I would hate to give Phoebe false hope if we don't have to.
We are professionals.
We should be able to break this code.
I hate to say this, but I really do need to learn to tap dance, but I promise you, while my feet are tapping, my mind will be thinking.
Do you wanna come, Norman? Oh, sure! Okay.
Um, what was that last clue again? It was a partial.
"Grim feet.
" We may be in over our heads here, Oliver.
I mean, the only thing that we have is the fourth of July clue.
The fourth has come and gone.
If that day is important, then this could all be too late.
By planes, trains bus, mule, or livery you bet she'll get those letters through so hail miss special delivery and all things coastal from coast to coast'll sing she's the damsel we stamp and cancel the holy grail of first-class mail miss special delivery that's you! Yeah! Okay.
Hold on.
Miss Louisiana, slide you over here So much harder than you'd think! Yeah.
Everybody's out of step but you.
How many people do you think are gonna be there? Oh, like 500.
I can't sing in front of 500 people! Oh, you'll be okay.
In Rita's book, Renita Hayweather: Frontier duchess, Renita has to sing "moon river" while sitting on top of a wurlitzer organ in the last chance saloon while a bunch of cowboys eat pistachios.
But she knows that it'll inspire Mr.
D'Lorman before the big shoot-out, so she does it.
Wow! I wanna read that book.
: Okay, ladies, let's go back to fifth position.
Fifth? My dogs are barkin' so bad, I can't get back to first.
"My dogs are barking.
" Don't you just love her? Yeah.
Five, six, seven, eight She's miss special delivery yes, she's our post office queen "My dogs"? From rocky mountain to field and fountain Dog.
Dogs? Dogs! Liberty! Let's go! You bet she'll get those letters through so hail miss special delivery "Liberty"? Yes, ma'am.
Randilynn wasn't talking about the fourth of July.
She was talking about lib.
Their dog's name is "liberty.
" Are you telling me that this committee convened a special emergency session because of the birthdate of someone's pet? The birthdate of Phoebe Amidon's German Shepherd is of utmost importance, madame chairman.
It turned out to be the code-breaker, the rosetta stone And the key to saving randilynn Amidon's life.
"The day will end fast," "the birthday of liberty," "return to the four-poster," "song 5-9-1-6.
" "Proverbial 1-8-1-0," and "grim feet.
" Grim feet.
Abraham Lincoln slept in this hotel after his election, before he moved into the White House in 1860.
I wonder what they called the Lincoln bedroom before it was the Lincoln bedroom.
Huh.
May I use this? : Guess what! Room 1201, please.
Oliver.
Harper.
Oliver O'Toole.
When you told me that story about your daughter falling off the bed.
Uh, was it a four-poster bed? And ask him when liberty's birthday is! Harper, uh, I believe we need to talk.
Well Somebody's going to sleep tonight.
Well, so : Harper, when randilynn fell out of that four-poster bed, she was two.
Do you think she remembers that? It was a family joke, yes.
And you're sure that Phoebe's puppy was born on July 21st? Yeah, can't forget that.
Do the words "grim feet" mean anything to you? Grim feet? No.
And how about "the day will end fast"? Fast, "in a hurry," or fast as in "not eating"? Hmm! Good point.
Um, "proverbial song"? Proverbial Oh, my goodness.
Rita, we need a Bible.
There's one in the drawer there.
Proverbs and song "Song" is the modern version of the word "psalm.
" Thank you.
Sir, is your daughter a woman of faith? Oh, yes.
She even taught some Bible study at the base.
So she knows her Bible? Oh, chapter and verse.
: Proverbs, chapter 18, verse 10.
Psalms 59:16 They both talk about Oh, wow! Oliver "The day will end fast.
" I think I know what it means.
: Oh! Here we go.
"The name of the lord is a high tower.
The just run to it, and are safe.
" I need to call Steve.
Who's Steve? Well, he's not with the department of agriculture.
Mr.
O'Toole and his team contacted me last night, they suggested the letter was some form of escape plan and they made a rather persuasive case.
But not a conclusive one.
No.
But I felt there was enough information to bring it to your attention, especially considering the deadline.
Well, go ahead, Mr.
O'Toole.
Make your case.
Actually, I'd like to turn that over to my colleague, Mr.
Dorman.
Thank you, Mr.
O'Toole.
Uh, as Ms.
Haywith explained, the second clue, "the birthday of liberty" is in reference to July 21st, which happens to be tomorrow and, not coincidentally, is also the birthdate of the Amidon family dog.
And that date is some sort of "key" to the code, you say? Yes, when paired with the first clue "The day will end fast.
" In Afghanistan, and around the world, the holy month of ramadan is observed, uh, with prayer, acts of charity, and fasting.
This year, those 30 days of fasting ended with a traditional festival of fast-breaking four days ago, and we suggest that that is the day that lieutenant Amidon chose to escape.
: It is time.
If she's actually escaped, it's likely she had help from a local, someone willing to risk their life, most likely a pashtun They have a great respect for their traditions and hospitality and charity.
Even so, it's hard to imagine, because the punishment for helping an American is death.
Assuming she did escape four days ago, where is she going? Well, that's the third clue.
"Return to the four-poster.
" : A reference to an Amidon family joke A four-poster bed where she fell as a child and returned to re-enact her fall.
: Which would suggest the village of darakht, it was the site of the original firefight and the location where lieutenant Amidon was seen last, falling out of a helicopter.
According to Mr.
Marek, Darakht also has a distinctive high tower, and twice in her letter, in clues four and five, randilynn refers to a biblical tower or fortress as a place of safety and refuge.
Wherever she is, we know she wasn't trained in navigation or advanced survival.
How can she possibly make her way back to Darakht? : Lieutenant Amidon is the daughter of an air force captain.
Her husband was killed in action in kabul.
She is an American soldier, but she is also an American mother, and nothing is gonna keep a woman like that from doing whatever it takes to find her way back to her little girl.
We cannot go on.
There is a roadblock ahead.
Come.
It's too dangerous for you to stay in the truck.
I must go on before they find you.
It's okay.
Wait for me there.
I will try and return tomorrow and take you to Darakht.
I am sorry.
I have only a little food to leave with you.
Please, no.
You take it.
You've done so much already.
No.
The fast is over.
We must all celebrate.
Thank you.
If I am not back in two days, please know that I have tried, but I could not, then you must walk the rest of the way.
Always keep the mountains on your right, and at night, the brightest star over that peak.
It is very dangerous But God is good.
Yes.
But people, not always.
I think we are.
You and me.
Hold on tight.
Ah! Oh! The letter written by lieutenant Amidon is, in fact, a roadmap for a rescue mission that began four days ago, and we hope will end tomorrow in a rendezvous with American troops in the very same place where she was first captured The "high tower" in the village of Darakht, as indicated by the clues she gave us.
Five out of six so-called clues, Mr.
O'Toole.
: Yes, well, uh, the last clue was partially obscured when Ms.
Haywith glanced at the letter, but she was able to make out the words "grim feet.
" We respectfully request the opportunity to inspect the actual letter in order to decode the final clue.
Ms.
Haywith is fortunate she hasn't been indicted for reading and disseminating the information she has already seen.
And Mr.
Marek may very well be disciplined for allowing her, or any of you, to even become aware of its existence.
Whatever "grim feet" may mean, that is a matter for our own intelligence service to determine.
But there isn't time! She took a huge chance sending that letter.
And here we are, maybe the only people who could solve that message in time to save her.
Why would a soldier hoping for rescue purposely write something obscure and run the chance that it wouldn't be decoded? To protect anyone coming to help her.
Having spent quite a bit of time in the military, madame chairman, I can attest that lieutenant Amidon would know that should someone intercept a more specific letter, that they could simply allow her to reach her rendezvous point and then wait to ambush the entire rescue party.
It's what happened the night she was captured.
She wouldn't allow it to happen again.
We'll take a five-minute break.
I can't go to prison, Norman.
I think she was just saying that you could, but you won't.
That's what I got out of it, anyways.
I mean, if anyone's in trouble, it's probably that Steve guy.
I had you vetted.
It's what we do around here.
As it turns out, you're what we call "a solid citizen.
" Oh, well, I take that as a compliment.
I'm coming to suspect that perhaps you are one, as well.
Maybe Shane has good taste.
Hmm.
I must confess, at first, I was, um Suspicious of your motives for helping us.
Look, I know it sounds kind of corny, but I still believe in all that stuff we used to sing when we were kids The grand old flag, Amber waves of grain, "the halls of montezuma.
" : Excuse me, gentlemen.
Hate to interrupt, but they're going back in.
We were just, uh, discussing patriotism.
: Phoebe was telling me yesterday her mom was so patriotic that, instead of lullabies, she'd sing all the verses to "the star-spangled banner" and "America the beautiful" every night.
All the verses? It is the conclusion of this committee, that although you folks have painted a very entertaining story, we are unwilling to see American troops put in harm's way at this time for a rescue mission based on a loose interpretation of five so-called clues in a letter.
Madame chairman If you can't tell us what "grim feet" means, Mr.
O'Toole, it renders the rest of your conjectures useless.
A few dates and a reference to an old outpost with a tower is no indication of intent to escape.
- But we have it! - Mr.
O'Toole If Mr.
Marek would just confirm the complete phrase in that letter The words ending in grim feet We can give you lieutenant Amidon's promise to escape.
You've shared enough already, Mr.
Marek.
Do not respond.
Steve, the clue that Rita couldn't read Was it "pilgrim feet?" The truth, now, please.
Answer that, Mr.
Marek And you may live to regret it.
Only if he's wrong, madame chairman.
Mr.
Marek that last clue Was it "pilgrim feet?" Yes.
Randilynn Amidon Randilynn Amidon sang every verse of "America the beautiful" every night as a lullaby to her little girl.
Every verse, including, "oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet "whose Stern impassioned stress a thoroughfare for freedom beat cross the wilderness.
" Ladies and gentlemen, randilynn Amidon is somewhere in Afghanistan tonight, beating a thoroughfare across the wilderness in search of that tower, in search of everything we stand for, in search in search of the freedom that she was willing to die for.
And somewhere near that same wilderness is a band of her brothers with the courage to die for her, for us, to bring randilynn home If you will just have the courage to send them.
Have you heard anything? : Nothing.
I wish we could tell Harper and Phoebe what was going on.
: You know we're sworn to secrecy, Norman.
How is he? He's fine.
We'll all be on the same flight tomorrow.
We even made plans to get together in Denver.
Think we'll have anything to tell them by then? I don't imagine we'll ever hear what the committee decides to do Unless, uh Unless the news is good.
But for now, however, we must turn to the present.
Very best of luck, Rita.
Oh, thank you.
Yes, and have fun! I will.
I think You might have a friend that needs to be reminded of that.
: Oh! Oh, my goodness.
Okay.
I better get going, guys.
Uh, I'll see you later.
Um Rita? I'll be right back.
Norman? You all right? I have a present for Rita.
I just wanted her to know If she wins, she'll be gone for a whole year, traveling around, giving speeches Shaking hands with people, other people Are you afraid she'll forget Us? There are a lot more things on this earth than being miss special delivery, you know.
I think, after this week, we all know that, Norman.
Oh, Norman, thank goodness! We've missed the bus and Mindy's having a little trouble walking Forward.
Oh! So are they going to charge you with anything? Probably not.
But if I do get arrested, you'll bail me out, right? I heard that Oliver came into a good sum of money.
How do you know that? Oh, never mind.
I don't think all that money's gonna change him, though.
Well, that's too bad.
I was hoping you were going to give me another chance.
Ah.
Well, there's nothing actually official between Between Oliver and me.
But unofficially? Steve, we're friends.
And a solid friendship is a good way to start anything.
You were always so unavailable, for that with all that "agricultural" work that took you away all the time.
I'm back.
I live here now.
: It's not about where you live, Steve.
Home is more than just an address.
It's It's roses that you stick around to watch grow.
It's a porch swing And Taking the time to swing on it.
I can get you a porch swing.
I've already got one.
Mr.
Marek.
Yeah.
Hey, Oliver.
You, uh Heard any news? Well Of course.
You can neither confirm nor deny.
I can neither confirm nor deny that, based on a recommendation from the senate subcommittee for military actions, the president has approved a plan for a special operations mission that commenced at 1600 hours Washington time with the objective of recovering a lieutenant randilynn Amidon.
So it's a go? That's right, Jennifer.
We are here in the nation's capitol as history is being made by Denver's own Rita Haywith, the first Colorado miss special delivery to make it to the final talent competition for the national crown.
: Take a deep breath and trust me, Mindy.
I swear, there are not 500 people out there How many Are there? 473? Oh! It's okay, Mindy! Just think about big piney.
Just pretend you're singing to your friends, and your neighbors, and, uh And your livestock.
We should take our seats.
I can't sit.
I keep thinking about the mission.
What time is it? Eight.
It's happening.
Now, in just a few minutes, she will step out onto that stage and hopefully into the hearts of the judges, and then perhaps, tomorrow, into the headlines.
We'll have those final results for you tonight at 11:00.
And we're back.
And next, in the talent competition, miss Louisiana, Peggy rhodes.
Rita? Norman! I just wanted to say Well, I, um, wanted to give you something before you go on.
Tsk! Oh! Thank you, Norman.
I sent chapter 14 of Renita Hayweather into the postal living quarterly and they printed it! This is a copy of their next edition.
You're a published writer, Rita! See? Um, they wanted a photo, so I sent that picture that I took at last year's safety inspection.
I had to Photoshop it a little.
Oh! And you get a year's subscription and a check for $500! Norman Wh-what have you done? Oh, I just thought, in case you win, I didn't want you to forget that you're a great writer, and a postable.
And you're my, um You're my But I can't win now.
I can't compete without a talent, and y-y-you just got my talent disqualified.
What? "No contestant shall perform "using a talent for which she has received previous compensation.
" But I'm in print! And they've paid me.
I'm not an amateur anymore.
Norman What were you thinking? Norman, this is a disaster.
Can't you see? Are we having our first fight? Miss Wyoming Mindy Maloney! Go on, Mindy! You can do it! Go! : No, no, no, no! Everything is falling apart.
I'm sorry, Rita.
I'm so sorry.
N it's okay, Norman.
Never mind.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Um, uh Ladies and gentlemen heh.
My friend and co-contestant, Mindy, just needs She just needs a moment.
This year's theme is "delivering inspiration" and well, let's face it, sometimes, inspiration takes a little time.
So I thought I would go first.
You know, for my talent, I was going to do a dramatic reading from my unpublished novel, Renita Hayweather: Frontier duchess, but it turns out that I'm Well, I'm published after all Which is really too bad, because I really like the part where a mysterious cattle-bearing Mr.
D'Lorman gives her his trusty steed, Zephyr, to pull her wagon! You know, at first, she doesn't understand why he would give away his favorite horse like that, but then she realizes he did it because, no matter where she went, Zephyr would always find the way home.
Which is really his way of saying that he is in love with her! Oh He's in love with her? Oh! Oh, that's so cool! Oh! You ready? Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen Miss Wyoming is ready to sing now.
And for my new talent, I Well, I guess we're just gonna have to do this together.
Peggy, can I borrow your guitar? Thanks.
: You still have a shot, Mindy.
Take it.
: to dream the impossible dream to fight the unbeatable foe to bear with unbearable sorrow to run where the brave dare not go to right the unrightable wrong to love pure and chaste from afar to try when your arms are too weary to reach the unreachable star this is my quest to follow that star no matter how hopeless no matter how far to fight for the right without question or pause to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause and I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest and the world will be better for this That one soul scorned and covered with scars still strove with her last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star There she is Miss special delivery.
Only because of this lady right here.
Miss special handling! Oh! No.
Thank you, Rita.
Oh, Mindy.
You deserve it! The way you sang Well You'll never know how much some of us needed to hear it tonight.
Well, I guess I'll be seeing you.
You really are "special," Rita.
Oh, thank you.
I'm so sorry for everything.
I really don't know what I was thinking.
Oh Well, I think you were thinking that You love me? Yeah.
I was definitely thinking that! Oh Aww.
- I'll - Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Yeah.
We'll get it.
When you asked me to have dinner with you in Washington, I was hoping for a little more.
You know, chips and potato salad to go with the sandwich.
I owe you one.
You owe me nothing, Oliver.
Whatever happens now, you gave me something today that I'll never forget.
A little hope for this world again.
Believe it or not, I used to know all the verses to that song, too.
Mm.
"Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears.
" Harper told me that Phoebe puts up a good front, but She still cries herself to sleep almost every night.
Oliver, when I think about what's happening over there right now, I just hope we did the right thing.
Oh, I think we did.
I think We were called to be a part of A lot of little miracles that had to happen to get this far.
Well, now we just need one more.
"In the morning, I will sing of your mercy" "For you are my fortress, "my refuge, "my high tower in times of trouble.
" O, beautiful Delta bravo, we have eyes on soul sister.
I repeat.
We have soul sister.
For Amber waves of grain for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain America America God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea Where's our taxi going? Oh, you won't be needing it.
You must be Phoebe.
Yeah.
Hello, sir.
Steven Marek.
Department of defense.
Former air force? - Yeah.
That's right.
- I thought you and Phoebe Would like to see what army rangers are flying around in these days.
Mom! Mommy! Oh, mama! - Hi, daddy! - Oh! Oh We're heading to the airport, with one stop on the way.
What's this? Uh This is the first acquisition by the newly-formed O'Toole foundation.
You bought this lot? I did.
And you're building retirement homes? Oh all sorts of things.
Maybe a school or a library in Afghanistan.
We're starting small.
I assume you can use your computer to track down the original blueprints for your ancestral home? Probably! It was a pretty small house, though.
Oh.
Well, we'll just make it bigger.
There'll be a porch Uh, and a swing, of course.
Roses.
Oh, that reminds me.
Ahem.
What's this? Is it I took a cutting from your rosebush over there.
If you take it home, plant it, next year, you'll have the First rose of summer.
Yes.
Are we all supposed to move here? Not for a long time yet, Norman.
We all have a lot left to do.
Besides It's nice to have something to look forward to, hmm? Wow, Shane! It's so cool Your first house will be your last house.
Ah, the great circle of life.
Can I have a workshop? And a laboratory? Maybe a little Mini-anti-matter cyclotron in the garage? No, Norman.
No cyclotron.
It's time to go.
What a family.
The few The proud The postal.
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea
she has been in labor 15 hours.
You speak English.
We have a television in our village.
I know who you are.
You brought medicine to our village once.
Hold on tight.
- What's her name? - My daughter is Nilofer.
I am Asad.
And her husband? The father wants a son.
A girl can accomplish great things when she's free to do them.
Freedom Is not impossible But it may take time and you do not have much.
ah-hah! oh, yeah, baby like a fool I went and stayed too long now I'm wondering if your love's still strong ooh, baby here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours ooh then that time I went and said goodbye now I'm back and not ashamed to cry ooh, baby here I am signed, sealed, delivered All rise.
I'm yours This better be good.
Madame chairman, this committee is called into emergency session in light of new and time-sensitive information that may involve military action.
Thank you, senator.
Before we begin, let me reiterate that this is a closed session regarding national security, and all testimony given here today is sealed.
Let's see Mr O'Toole? Yes.
I'm Oliver O'Toole.
These are my colleagues, Ms.
Mclnerney, Ms.
Haywith, Mr.
Dorman.
And I understand you comprise a task force from The D.
L.
O.
? That is correct.
Is this C.
I.
A.
, F.
B.
I.
, or N.
S.
A.
? U.
S.
P.
S.
We work at the post office.
That's right, Bob.
This was the image we saw nearly two years ago, when 12-year-old Phoebe Amidon tied a yellow ribbon around the tree in her grandfather's yard, awaiting news of her mother.
Lieutenant Randilynn Amidon went missing while serving with American troops in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.
But now, 22 months later, with Amidon still missing and the circumstances of her disappearance still sketchy, and no answers in sight, this "welcome back" ribbon is a sad reminder of the reputation lieutenant Amidon may never return home to defend.
I would like to know what bearing four postal employees from Denver have on the status of a missing American soldier in Afghanistan.
: Yes, well.
Several months ago, in the course of performing our duties as postal detectives in the dead letter office, we became acquainted with a Phoebe Amidon, the 14-year-old daughter of lieutenant Randilynn Amidon, as well as her grandfather, Mr.
Harper Ferguson.
We came to believe that lieutenant Amidon did not abandon her duties the night she went missing, and, in fact, she conducted herself heroically and yet, uh, sadly, most likely, was, uh, probably not living.
And to that, of course, we have no comment.
Of course.
However, we now have information to suggest that lieutenant Amidon may well be alive and urgently in need of your assistance.
And that is based on the contents of the letter we have here? Yes.
And you came to this conclusion last night? Yes, and if I may, I need to go back a few days.
Please.
Last Thursday, we were preparing to travel to Washington, D.
C.
, for the national miss special delivery pageant.
Is that a real thing? I was finalizing some paperwork before our trip One of these days my time will come I understand you have something very unique planned for the pageant.
Oh, well, this year's theme is "delivering inspiration.
" And for my talent, I will be doing a dramatic reading from my unpublished historical romance novel Renita Hayweather: Frontier duchess.
A dramatic novelist! Amazing! Brilliant.
No one can compete with that.
We'll all be crossing our fingers for you this Saturday.
Thank you, Ramon.
That was very nice, miss Rita.
Thank you.
Time for us to go on our trip to Washington, D.
C.
, together.
- Oh, yeah, okay.
- Goodbye! As always, miss Rita A pleasure.
Oh, it must be very hard to say goodbye.
Oh, not really.
No, not to me, my friend.
Goodbye to miss Rita.
She will win, of course, and then she's off traveling the world on her triumphant goodwill tour.
Just imagine all the places she will go All the people she will meet Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Just a couple more things to sign, then it's all yours.
I am sorry for your loss.
But at least your father made sure that you'd be well taken care of.
My biological father.
I never knew him.
I have your skinny caramel steamer coming, just the way you like it.
Oh, that's so sweet, Norman.
Who's Oliver talking to? : His lawyer.
He inherited so much money, she comes to see him now.
With all of this money, I suppose you will want to start talking about early retirement.
And quit the post office? Well, why not? You're young, you're single, and you're rich.
Ms.
bullock, the only thing Harvey Schmidtz gave me, besides this inheritance, was a piece of advice.
"You never have enough money if all you have is money.
" What does that mean, anyway? It means It's time to get back to work.
Have you seen your itinerary, Ms.
Mclnerney? I'm sorry.
What? : Well, I made copies for all of us and highlighted the events pertinent to each of us in corresponding colors.
You're yellow.
Yellow! Huh.
We arrive at 3:56.
Check in the hotel at 5:10, arrive at the capitol grill at 6:45 for a quiet dinner before curfew at 10:30.
And tomorrow morning, Rita Right here in pink Registers for the pageant at 9:00, and you and I and Norman leave at 9:30 to take a tour of the library of congress, Ford's theater, and, uh, the national postal museum.
Postal museum? Uh, think you're ready to go back there? It's time.
I'd like to get it over with.
Of course.
And then I can show you around my old stomping grounds.
Oh.
I-is there a museum you'd like to add? Or or would you like to visit old postal friends? Well, Rebecca Starkwell was my only friend at the D.
C.
office, and she's on her honeymoon.
Oh.
Is there an old boyfriend to visit at the post office? I'm not in the habit of calling up old boyfriends.
And even if I were, his work is Well, he's hardly ever in town.
Great! It's settled then.
Taxi should be arriving any minute.
Almost forgot! What? Don't ask.
Can't tell.
It's a surprise.
Ahh! Field kit! Norman! We're going on holiday.
All you need is your suitcase.
Uh-oh.
I know it's a horrible thought, veering off your blue itinerary into my yellow itinerary, but I was wondering if we could make a tiny detour on our way to the hotel? A detour? I wanted to Drive by the house where I grew up, for old time's sake.
Please? : Okay! All set.
Let's do D.
C.
Has anyone seen my crown? Oh! Ah.
Where's your house? It's gone.
Are you sure this is the right street? Of course I'm sure.
That's the tree I used to climb.
The garden where we planted the Those bricks were the fireplace where my mother and I always 18 years And now it's like we were never here.
Did you plant those? : For mother's day.
Every fall, after all the other blooms would die, my mom my mom would take the last one, and put in a vase and say, "look.
It's the last rose of summer.
Still holding on.
" Then, every fall Even after I went away to college, and every September after that, until she moved away, I would get an envelope in the mail with the last rose of summer wrapped in wet paper towels, in a plastic bag.
She was sending you a message.
"Pay attention "to the simple, little things right in front of you Or they could be gone before you know it.
" Forgive me, Mr.
O'Toole, but other than the sad truth that we can't go home again, we've still heard nothing to shed any light on the letter that I hold here, addressed to the secretary of defense of the United States of America.
With respect, madame chairman, uh, it was stopping at the site of Ms.
Mclnerney's former home that put us in the lobby of the Franklin Adams hotel at the exact moment we crossed paths with Phoebe Amidon and her grandfather.
If that letter is what we think it is, then it's compelling us to pay attention to the details, or the chance to bring lieutenant Amidon home again will also be gone before we know it.
So your presence here today, Mr.
O'Toole, is the result of a prior relationship with Phoebe Amidon and her grandfather? Well, that, and the prior relationship of Ms.
Mclnerney with, uh Actually, I'd like to turn this part over to her now.
My name is Shane Mclnerney.
I provide I.
T.
Services for the dead letter office in Denver.
I used to work right here in Washington in direct line operations.
When we arrived at the hotel on Thursday, we were checking in and Rita was registering for the miss special delivery pageant.
Oh, wait.
Ms.
Mclnerney.
Mm? Uh, I was thinking, perhaps this week might present an opportunity for For for an evening out.
We're in Washington, D.
C.
, Oliver.
We're already spending the whole week out.
Yes, but I was thinking, um, you and I might have dinner together, just us, to To talk and Perhaps I can offer some perspective on the recent loss of your childhood home.
You're asking me Out For dinner? Yes.
Yes! I'll put it in the schedule.
Do that.
In yellow.
Of course.
Next Miss Oklahoma! Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Are you okay? Well, they've got me scheduled for my talent rehearsal at the same time I'm supposed to get my nails done, but if I move the nails, then there's no time for some fitting they've got me down for.
Or maybe I shouldn't do my nails.
Maybe I shouldn't rehearse, but if I don't, then oh! This is worse than a stampede on Sunday.
No.
No! This is wonderful.
You're miss Wyoming.
You're miss Wyoming! And look where you are.
Well, that's the problem! There are more people in this hotel than there are in big piney.
Oh, big piney, Wyoming.
Population 576.
How do you know that? Oh, I have a photographic memory.
I remember everything I read.
Well, as long as I remember to remember.
It's hard to remember anything in a place like this.
I'm afraid, when I get up to sing, there'll be so many people in the room, I'll forget the words.
And the notes.
And the song.
Look.
I don't have to rehearse tomorrow.
Why don't you take my time? I don't mind.
- Really? - Yeah! Miss Colorado.
We're practically neighbors, right? Okay, Ms.
Mclnerney, you are on the eighth floor.
Thank you.
Norman, you are on the sixth.
Oh, my goodness.
: Thank you very much.
Oh! It's Phoebe.
Hey! What a surprise.
I can't believe it! - For heaven's sake.
- Hi! Harper.
Oliver O'Toole.
For heaven's sake, what are you guys doing here? - Are you staying here? - Yeah.
Where's Rita? Oh, she's in the pageant.
We came to cheer her on.
And what brings you to the capitol? Oh, we're trying to get some answers about Randilynn.
See if there's any Resolution.
We had an appointment with someone from the state department tomorrow, but it looks like they've had to postpone.
Not again.
: Well, that's a shame.
Well, that's Washington.
We've spent two years, but we always seem to knock on the wrong doors.
Isn't there anyone else that you can meet with? Mm, we've run out of ideas.
I've got a standing appointment with a dialysis machine back home, so we can't extend the trip.
: Of course.
Would you excuse me for just a minute? So, we have you penciled in to join us at 9:30 tomorrow.
Excellent.
Can't have you heading back without having at least some good memories in Washington.
Sounds like a plan! Okay, well, we'll see you guys tomorrow, then.
- Okay, great.
- Bye.
Bye.
Wow.
What a coincidence, huh? I don't really believe in them, Norman.
Is that who I think it is? Yeah! It's Phoebe Amidon.
No way! You've checked in? Oh, yeah, I've got my room key and my roommate Miss Louisiana.
It sounds like you have some pretty serious competition.
Oh, I don't mind.
There's more to life than winning, right? Right.
Um, speaking of which, I was thinking that, before dinner, um, you and I could : Rita! We're going out for yogurt.
You wanna come? Oh! Um Yeah! Bye, guys! She seems happy.
Yes.
She does.
I suppose it's just the three of us for dinner.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Where is Ms.
Mclnerney? Hi.
It's Shane.
I'm in town at the Franklin Adams and Steve, I-I need to see you.
I'd like another Arnold Palmer.
A little more Arnold than Palmer this time, please.
Why do they put tiny umbrellas in drinks? Why not tiny cars? Or tiny cats? Something on your mind? I just keep thinking about Phoebe coming all the way here to find out if anyone knows what happened to her mother.
Everything else just seems so Trivial compared to that.
The miss special delivery pageant is perhaps not an event of great import to the world at large, Norman, but the world is a terribly complicated place, and so much of it can be ugly.
That's why what is gentle and beautiful and joyful is worth fighting to preserve.
And it's also why we honor those who fight.
Yeah.
So, Norman What's in the envelope? Hmm? Well, it's a surprise f Ms.
Mclnerney.
Hello, beautiful! - Ooh! - Oh Look at you! Whoo.
Look at you I got your call.
Yes, and I thought you were going to call me back.
: I was just right around the corner.
I couldn't wait, so I staked out your hotel, figured you'd show up sooner or later.
Yes, well, good timing.
Uh, Steve Marek, these are my co-workers My boss, actually Oliver O'Toole and Norman Dorman.
Denver D.
L.
O.
, right? Yes.
I heard about you guys.
You do great work.
Oh, thank you.
And what is it you do for the post office? Oliver, Norman, would it be okay if I begged off of dinner tonight? Um Steve and I have Some catching up to do.
I can see that.
But perhaps we could meet later? Later? Tonight? A-after Mr.
Marek? For a nightcap? In the lounge? Yes.
All right.
Norman.
Shall we dine? Yes.
Dining.
Starving.
Mr.
Marek.
So that was Oliver O'Toole? Yes.
Does he know? No.
But after tonight We may have to tell him.
And one, two, three down by the old mill stream where I first Oh! The pizza! Oh! Hi.
Hi.
It's Norman.
: Hi, Norman! He's cute.
Thank you! Uh, Rita, sorry to interrupt.
Oh, you're not! We were just sitting around and stuff.
I-I didn't know that you played that.
Well, my parents were flower children.
Right.
I was born under the Pepsi challenge tent in Sedona, remember? Was there something you needed? Oh.
Uh No.
Aww.
See ya tomorrow.
Okay.
Sleep tight! : Bye, Norman! : Aw, he looks like a Teddy bear! I think that was our song.
We never had a song.
We should have had one.
So why'd you leave D.
C.
? To get away from you.
Mm.
Ouch.
I always know where I stand with you.
But I never knew where I stood with you, Steve.
And then I finally realized that's bad for relationships.
But it's what makes you so good at your job.
Betrayed by my own excellence.
And your humility.
But you came back.
On vacation.
I wasn't going to call you.
But now I guess I need you.
Good.
I'll see what I can do.
Am I early? No.
No, I was just leaving.
How was dinner? Fine, thank you.
Okay.
I'll see you tomorrow? Okay.
Tomorrow? Oliver.
I will just adjust my itinerary to reflect that you will not be joining us for our tour in the morning.
No, I will.
I'm coming.
We just have to adjust our plans for the afternoon.
I couldn't bear to see how disappointed Phoebe and her grandfather were.
She's lost her mother, he's lost a daughter And I guess After seeing Or not seeing my house today I just felt like, at least at least, with them, maybe Maybe there was something that I could do, maybe I could Help them in some way.
Well, that's admirable, but I'm afraid lieutenant Amidon's situation does not fall under the purview of the United States postal system.
I don't see how you or I or your friend, Steve, can hope to make a difference.
Well You or I can't, but Oliver, I haven't been completely honest with you about Steve.
He's not exactly with the post office.
So, Ms.
Mclnerney, it was you who made the initial contact with agent Marek? : Yes.
And it's not something that I did lightly, but now I'm glad that I did.
Sir, can I assume that you are agent Marek? Yes, I am, senator.
And has the testimony you've heard so far been accurate? Yes, ma'am.
All right.
Continue, Ms.
Mclnerney.
: Thank you.
Well, needless to say, this was all news to Mr.
O'Toole.
The clandestine services? One of them.
Yes.
You You dated a spy? An intelligence analyst.
Officer.
Agent.
Kind of a spy, yeah.
You lied to me.
I didn't lie to you.
I like to think that you were on a need-to-know basis, and now you need to know.
And what else do I need to know, hmm? That Steve has agreed to meet with Harper and Phoebe if we take them to the Pentagon tomorrow.
It seems he'd agree to anything if it meant re-igniting the flames of You know, whatever, with you.
First of all, Oliver, my flames are none of your business.
And second, you don't have to like him, but he's a good man, and whatever he may have meant to me in the past, all he means now is a chance to help Phoebe.
Really.
Really.
Mr.
O'Toole, I am due at the senate committee in an hour, can I begin to hope that there is a way or a meaning with this story of yours? Hmm? Oh, absolutely.
- The next day - Hi! We took Phoebe and her grandfather to the national postal museum, where Rita and the other contestants were making an appearance and I was Well, I was on something of a sentimental journey.
You seem Deep in thought.
Three years ago, I, uh, stood on this very spot with my wife Expounding on the early days of the pony express.
I turned around and, uh She wasn't there.
I stood here waiting and waiting until they closed, but, by then, she'd already left me and caught a plane to Paris.
That must have been very painful.
Why did you come back here today? Closure.
You remind me of Randilynn.
When she was Not even two, she could barely talk, but she could walk.
We couldn't keep up with her.
One day, I turned around and she was gone, then I heard this huge bang.
I went running into the bedroom and there she is, on the floor, sobbing.
I said, "honey, what happened?" Well, she was crying so hard, she couldn't tell me, so she she climbed up on the bed and rolled off again just to show me.
That kid She was always going back to the most painful places in her life to make some sense of the pain.
All four verses? Yeah.
And if that didn't work, she'd do every verse of the star- spangled banner, too.
Wow.
That is pretty patriotic.
She was.
Hey! Phoebe! How are you? - I'm good.
- How's lib? - She's getting fat.
- Oh! I made the neighbors promise to walk her twice a day while we were gone.
I love your crown.
Oh, thank you! I have to wear it everywhere.
Photo shoots, interviews, even a lecture on sportsmanship by last year's miss special handling What's that? Oh, it's like miss congeniality, only postal.
: Anyways, I am free as a bird for the rest of the day.
Great, uh, because I have something back at the hotel that : Phoebe! After lunch, I would like to take you and your grandfather to meet a friend of mine.
I can't promise anything, but : Ms.
Mclnerney.
Grandpa! Are you all right? Grandpa? I think he just overdid it a bit, but we'll have him checked out just in case.
Thanks, Norman.
Get some rest, Harper.
Well, I guess it's up to us to keep that appointment.
What appointment? So you attended this meeting yesterday as well, Ms.
Hayworth? Uh, it's "Haywith," with an "I".
Oh.
Yes, I did.
I had a free afternoon off, so I went along.
And I am very glad that I did.
I think.
Am I in trouble? Just give us the facts, Ms.
Haywith.
Oh, okay.
Well, first of all, I had to leave my crown at the door.
Oh I feel so naked without it.
Here he comes.
Oh.
I did some digging.
I got ahold of the file It's an active, working case.
Now, we never give up on our own, no matter how long it takes, but, after reading through this, we might be running out of time.
So you don't believe she was killed in the mission? Look, I can't read you into the file, but I can say that, as of six months ago, I personally believe lieutenant Amidon was alive and being held somewhere near Pakistan.
Likely by the insurgents that attacked her team when she disappeared.
Then you think she was captured? Off the record? Go on, please.
Well, lieutenant Amidon was a medic.
She trained for the cultural support teams, who interface with the Afghans, collected intelligence.
See, the male soldiers couldn't talk to Afghan women, but the female soldiers could.
What seemed like suspicious activity Going off-base, consorting with the locals Had actually been covertly sanctioned by the army.
See, we can't always answer allegations without putting other people in danger, so the whole truth about lieutenant Amidon is, really, yet to be told.
Is she alive, Steve? She went back for two of our own, who were cut down in a firefight.
Now, the insurgents had withdrawn, but they waited, as they do, for the rescue team to come back for the wounded.
And then they ambushed them? Hang in there, Costas! You hear me? We're gonna get you out of here! Evac! Move out! Move out! Randi! Randi! Get up! Randilynn! And then she was wounded? And captured.
But not by any central group, otherwise we would've known more by now.
There was a rescue attempt last year.
After that, it appears that she was moved.
The drones haven't been able to find her.
We followed up on a sighting, but that didn't pan out.
Then there's this letter, which may or may not have been written by lieutenant Amidon, but that's gonna take some time to confirm.
I'm sorry, did you say a letter? A letter.
Yeah.
A point of clarification, please, madam chairman? Ms.
Haywith, have we finally come to the reason for this hearing this morning? You mean the letter? Yes.
Oh, yes.
That's when Mr.
Marek showed us the letter.
Well, he actually didn't show us the letter, that was the problem.
That's when I did the bad thing.
Go on.
This arrived almost two weeks ago from Afghanistan, made its way to us.
It's not in an envelope.
It's all Jerry-rigged together with tape, it's addressed "f-e-e-b.
" "By the American secretary of the military embassy, "Washington, D.
C.
, U.
S.
A.
, from soldier female.
" Now, the handwriting on the outside is different from the inside.
Lieutenant Amidon may have written this, but somebody else mailed it and routed it through kabul.
Kabul has mail? Ah.
You'd be surprised.
They have quite an efficient postal system in Afghanistan.
: Oh.
And with all the cellphones and laptops being hacked so often out there, this may have been a good way to get a message through unmonitored.
I have always maintained that mail is still the gold standard of human communication.
Right.
The problem is, I mean, except for something in here about the fourth of July, it all really just appears to be gibberish.
But that's what we do every day We figure out letters that don't make sense.
Let's see.
Oh, I-I can't let you look at that.
Oh, for heaven's sake, Steve.
We're all on the same side! It's classified.
I've shown you too much already.
: Well, not to put too fine a point on this, that was not addressed to the secretary, but someone named "f-e-e-b," which I submit is someone's idea of how to spell "Phoebe," and, therefore, still has yet to be delivered to its intended recipient, and, therefore, falls clearly under the jurisdiction of the united states postal service.
Is he kidding? I'm sorry, he's not.
Well, that's just not gonna happen.
There's too much analysis ahead.
There's handwriting, DNA, cryptography.
You think it's a coded message? : I hope so, otherwise, like I said, it just doesn't make any sense.
I know.
I mean I bet! We should go! I have a big tap dance number to learn tonight.
: Steve I think I should tell you that Rita has a photographic memory and there's a pretty good chance that she can remember everything that letter said.
Ah, give or take a few words here and there.
Your thumb was covering some of it.
Sorry.
Well, let's just pretend I didn't hear that.
Fair enough.
If you come up with anything, I'd like to hear about it.
I didn't know the "department of agriculture" was so clandestine.
You'd be surprised.
Don't forget your crown.
Oh, right.
: Wow.
A real spy.
Steve? Analyst.
A minor cog in the wheel.
How is Harper? : Oh, well, I wanted to take him to see a doctor, but he insisted on going back to the hotel with Phoebe.
Harper's a tough guy, but he could use some good news.
Then we need to find him some, hmm? Well, how? We only had one cog.
We are an elite postal task force, Norman.
Wide powers of postal discretion.
I think it's time we used them.
: Okay, there was only six lines.
The first one was, um, "the day will end fast.
" And then "the birthday of liberty," which is the fourth of July clue that Steve was talking about.
Go on.
Then there was this weird thing "Return to the four-poster.
" What? Some kind of army post, maybe? Hmm.
Then there was, let me see, "song 5-9-1-6" and "proverbial 1-8-1-0.
" Anything else? No, just half a word or two.
"Grim feet.
" Grim feet? That's what it said.
That's the part where his thumb was covering it.
Steve's right.
None of this makes any sense.
Everything seems like some sort of clue, so it must mean something to someone.
Mm-hmm.
Well, if it was addressed to Phoebe, shouldn't she know what it means? Someone else wrote that on the envelope, and I would hate to give Phoebe false hope if we don't have to.
We are professionals.
We should be able to break this code.
I hate to say this, but I really do need to learn to tap dance, but I promise you, while my feet are tapping, my mind will be thinking.
Do you wanna come, Norman? Oh, sure! Okay.
Um, what was that last clue again? It was a partial.
"Grim feet.
" We may be in over our heads here, Oliver.
I mean, the only thing that we have is the fourth of July clue.
The fourth has come and gone.
If that day is important, then this could all be too late.
By planes, trains bus, mule, or livery you bet she'll get those letters through so hail miss special delivery and all things coastal from coast to coast'll sing she's the damsel we stamp and cancel the holy grail of first-class mail miss special delivery that's you! Yeah! Okay.
Hold on.
Miss Louisiana, slide you over here So much harder than you'd think! Yeah.
Everybody's out of step but you.
How many people do you think are gonna be there? Oh, like 500.
I can't sing in front of 500 people! Oh, you'll be okay.
In Rita's book, Renita Hayweather: Frontier duchess, Renita has to sing "moon river" while sitting on top of a wurlitzer organ in the last chance saloon while a bunch of cowboys eat pistachios.
But she knows that it'll inspire Mr.
D'Lorman before the big shoot-out, so she does it.
Wow! I wanna read that book.
: Okay, ladies, let's go back to fifth position.
Fifth? My dogs are barkin' so bad, I can't get back to first.
"My dogs are barking.
" Don't you just love her? Yeah.
Five, six, seven, eight She's miss special delivery yes, she's our post office queen "My dogs"? From rocky mountain to field and fountain Dog.
Dogs? Dogs! Liberty! Let's go! You bet she'll get those letters through so hail miss special delivery "Liberty"? Yes, ma'am.
Randilynn wasn't talking about the fourth of July.
She was talking about lib.
Their dog's name is "liberty.
" Are you telling me that this committee convened a special emergency session because of the birthdate of someone's pet? The birthdate of Phoebe Amidon's German Shepherd is of utmost importance, madame chairman.
It turned out to be the code-breaker, the rosetta stone And the key to saving randilynn Amidon's life.
"The day will end fast," "the birthday of liberty," "return to the four-poster," "song 5-9-1-6.
" "Proverbial 1-8-1-0," and "grim feet.
" Grim feet.
Abraham Lincoln slept in this hotel after his election, before he moved into the White House in 1860.
I wonder what they called the Lincoln bedroom before it was the Lincoln bedroom.
Huh.
May I use this? : Guess what! Room 1201, please.
Oliver.
Harper.
Oliver O'Toole.
When you told me that story about your daughter falling off the bed.
Uh, was it a four-poster bed? And ask him when liberty's birthday is! Harper, uh, I believe we need to talk.
Well Somebody's going to sleep tonight.
Well, so : Harper, when randilynn fell out of that four-poster bed, she was two.
Do you think she remembers that? It was a family joke, yes.
And you're sure that Phoebe's puppy was born on July 21st? Yeah, can't forget that.
Do the words "grim feet" mean anything to you? Grim feet? No.
And how about "the day will end fast"? Fast, "in a hurry," or fast as in "not eating"? Hmm! Good point.
Um, "proverbial song"? Proverbial Oh, my goodness.
Rita, we need a Bible.
There's one in the drawer there.
Proverbs and song "Song" is the modern version of the word "psalm.
" Thank you.
Sir, is your daughter a woman of faith? Oh, yes.
She even taught some Bible study at the base.
So she knows her Bible? Oh, chapter and verse.
: Proverbs, chapter 18, verse 10.
Psalms 59:16 They both talk about Oh, wow! Oliver "The day will end fast.
" I think I know what it means.
: Oh! Here we go.
"The name of the lord is a high tower.
The just run to it, and are safe.
" I need to call Steve.
Who's Steve? Well, he's not with the department of agriculture.
Mr.
O'Toole and his team contacted me last night, they suggested the letter was some form of escape plan and they made a rather persuasive case.
But not a conclusive one.
No.
But I felt there was enough information to bring it to your attention, especially considering the deadline.
Well, go ahead, Mr.
O'Toole.
Make your case.
Actually, I'd like to turn that over to my colleague, Mr.
Dorman.
Thank you, Mr.
O'Toole.
Uh, as Ms.
Haywith explained, the second clue, "the birthday of liberty" is in reference to July 21st, which happens to be tomorrow and, not coincidentally, is also the birthdate of the Amidon family dog.
And that date is some sort of "key" to the code, you say? Yes, when paired with the first clue "The day will end fast.
" In Afghanistan, and around the world, the holy month of ramadan is observed, uh, with prayer, acts of charity, and fasting.
This year, those 30 days of fasting ended with a traditional festival of fast-breaking four days ago, and we suggest that that is the day that lieutenant Amidon chose to escape.
: It is time.
If she's actually escaped, it's likely she had help from a local, someone willing to risk their life, most likely a pashtun They have a great respect for their traditions and hospitality and charity.
Even so, it's hard to imagine, because the punishment for helping an American is death.
Assuming she did escape four days ago, where is she going? Well, that's the third clue.
"Return to the four-poster.
" : A reference to an Amidon family joke A four-poster bed where she fell as a child and returned to re-enact her fall.
: Which would suggest the village of darakht, it was the site of the original firefight and the location where lieutenant Amidon was seen last, falling out of a helicopter.
According to Mr.
Marek, Darakht also has a distinctive high tower, and twice in her letter, in clues four and five, randilynn refers to a biblical tower or fortress as a place of safety and refuge.
Wherever she is, we know she wasn't trained in navigation or advanced survival.
How can she possibly make her way back to Darakht? : Lieutenant Amidon is the daughter of an air force captain.
Her husband was killed in action in kabul.
She is an American soldier, but she is also an American mother, and nothing is gonna keep a woman like that from doing whatever it takes to find her way back to her little girl.
We cannot go on.
There is a roadblock ahead.
Come.
It's too dangerous for you to stay in the truck.
I must go on before they find you.
It's okay.
Wait for me there.
I will try and return tomorrow and take you to Darakht.
I am sorry.
I have only a little food to leave with you.
Please, no.
You take it.
You've done so much already.
No.
The fast is over.
We must all celebrate.
Thank you.
If I am not back in two days, please know that I have tried, but I could not, then you must walk the rest of the way.
Always keep the mountains on your right, and at night, the brightest star over that peak.
It is very dangerous But God is good.
Yes.
But people, not always.
I think we are.
You and me.
Hold on tight.
Ah! Oh! The letter written by lieutenant Amidon is, in fact, a roadmap for a rescue mission that began four days ago, and we hope will end tomorrow in a rendezvous with American troops in the very same place where she was first captured The "high tower" in the village of Darakht, as indicated by the clues she gave us.
Five out of six so-called clues, Mr.
O'Toole.
: Yes, well, uh, the last clue was partially obscured when Ms.
Haywith glanced at the letter, but she was able to make out the words "grim feet.
" We respectfully request the opportunity to inspect the actual letter in order to decode the final clue.
Ms.
Haywith is fortunate she hasn't been indicted for reading and disseminating the information she has already seen.
And Mr.
Marek may very well be disciplined for allowing her, or any of you, to even become aware of its existence.
Whatever "grim feet" may mean, that is a matter for our own intelligence service to determine.
But there isn't time! She took a huge chance sending that letter.
And here we are, maybe the only people who could solve that message in time to save her.
Why would a soldier hoping for rescue purposely write something obscure and run the chance that it wouldn't be decoded? To protect anyone coming to help her.
Having spent quite a bit of time in the military, madame chairman, I can attest that lieutenant Amidon would know that should someone intercept a more specific letter, that they could simply allow her to reach her rendezvous point and then wait to ambush the entire rescue party.
It's what happened the night she was captured.
She wouldn't allow it to happen again.
We'll take a five-minute break.
I can't go to prison, Norman.
I think she was just saying that you could, but you won't.
That's what I got out of it, anyways.
I mean, if anyone's in trouble, it's probably that Steve guy.
I had you vetted.
It's what we do around here.
As it turns out, you're what we call "a solid citizen.
" Oh, well, I take that as a compliment.
I'm coming to suspect that perhaps you are one, as well.
Maybe Shane has good taste.
Hmm.
I must confess, at first, I was, um Suspicious of your motives for helping us.
Look, I know it sounds kind of corny, but I still believe in all that stuff we used to sing when we were kids The grand old flag, Amber waves of grain, "the halls of montezuma.
" : Excuse me, gentlemen.
Hate to interrupt, but they're going back in.
We were just, uh, discussing patriotism.
: Phoebe was telling me yesterday her mom was so patriotic that, instead of lullabies, she'd sing all the verses to "the star-spangled banner" and "America the beautiful" every night.
All the verses? It is the conclusion of this committee, that although you folks have painted a very entertaining story, we are unwilling to see American troops put in harm's way at this time for a rescue mission based on a loose interpretation of five so-called clues in a letter.
Madame chairman If you can't tell us what "grim feet" means, Mr.
O'Toole, it renders the rest of your conjectures useless.
A few dates and a reference to an old outpost with a tower is no indication of intent to escape.
- But we have it! - Mr.
O'Toole If Mr.
Marek would just confirm the complete phrase in that letter The words ending in grim feet We can give you lieutenant Amidon's promise to escape.
You've shared enough already, Mr.
Marek.
Do not respond.
Steve, the clue that Rita couldn't read Was it "pilgrim feet?" The truth, now, please.
Answer that, Mr.
Marek And you may live to regret it.
Only if he's wrong, madame chairman.
Mr.
Marek that last clue Was it "pilgrim feet?" Yes.
Randilynn Amidon Randilynn Amidon sang every verse of "America the beautiful" every night as a lullaby to her little girl.
Every verse, including, "oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet "whose Stern impassioned stress a thoroughfare for freedom beat cross the wilderness.
" Ladies and gentlemen, randilynn Amidon is somewhere in Afghanistan tonight, beating a thoroughfare across the wilderness in search of that tower, in search of everything we stand for, in search in search of the freedom that she was willing to die for.
And somewhere near that same wilderness is a band of her brothers with the courage to die for her, for us, to bring randilynn home If you will just have the courage to send them.
Have you heard anything? : Nothing.
I wish we could tell Harper and Phoebe what was going on.
: You know we're sworn to secrecy, Norman.
How is he? He's fine.
We'll all be on the same flight tomorrow.
We even made plans to get together in Denver.
Think we'll have anything to tell them by then? I don't imagine we'll ever hear what the committee decides to do Unless, uh Unless the news is good.
But for now, however, we must turn to the present.
Very best of luck, Rita.
Oh, thank you.
Yes, and have fun! I will.
I think You might have a friend that needs to be reminded of that.
: Oh! Oh, my goodness.
Okay.
I better get going, guys.
Uh, I'll see you later.
Um Rita? I'll be right back.
Norman? You all right? I have a present for Rita.
I just wanted her to know If she wins, she'll be gone for a whole year, traveling around, giving speeches Shaking hands with people, other people Are you afraid she'll forget Us? There are a lot more things on this earth than being miss special delivery, you know.
I think, after this week, we all know that, Norman.
Oh, Norman, thank goodness! We've missed the bus and Mindy's having a little trouble walking Forward.
Oh! So are they going to charge you with anything? Probably not.
But if I do get arrested, you'll bail me out, right? I heard that Oliver came into a good sum of money.
How do you know that? Oh, never mind.
I don't think all that money's gonna change him, though.
Well, that's too bad.
I was hoping you were going to give me another chance.
Ah.
Well, there's nothing actually official between Between Oliver and me.
But unofficially? Steve, we're friends.
And a solid friendship is a good way to start anything.
You were always so unavailable, for that with all that "agricultural" work that took you away all the time.
I'm back.
I live here now.
: It's not about where you live, Steve.
Home is more than just an address.
It's It's roses that you stick around to watch grow.
It's a porch swing And Taking the time to swing on it.
I can get you a porch swing.
I've already got one.
Mr.
Marek.
Yeah.
Hey, Oliver.
You, uh Heard any news? Well Of course.
You can neither confirm nor deny.
I can neither confirm nor deny that, based on a recommendation from the senate subcommittee for military actions, the president has approved a plan for a special operations mission that commenced at 1600 hours Washington time with the objective of recovering a lieutenant randilynn Amidon.
So it's a go? That's right, Jennifer.
We are here in the nation's capitol as history is being made by Denver's own Rita Haywith, the first Colorado miss special delivery to make it to the final talent competition for the national crown.
: Take a deep breath and trust me, Mindy.
I swear, there are not 500 people out there How many Are there? 473? Oh! It's okay, Mindy! Just think about big piney.
Just pretend you're singing to your friends, and your neighbors, and, uh And your livestock.
We should take our seats.
I can't sit.
I keep thinking about the mission.
What time is it? Eight.
It's happening.
Now, in just a few minutes, she will step out onto that stage and hopefully into the hearts of the judges, and then perhaps, tomorrow, into the headlines.
We'll have those final results for you tonight at 11:00.
And we're back.
And next, in the talent competition, miss Louisiana, Peggy rhodes.
Rita? Norman! I just wanted to say Well, I, um, wanted to give you something before you go on.
Tsk! Oh! Thank you, Norman.
I sent chapter 14 of Renita Hayweather into the postal living quarterly and they printed it! This is a copy of their next edition.
You're a published writer, Rita! See? Um, they wanted a photo, so I sent that picture that I took at last year's safety inspection.
I had to Photoshop it a little.
Oh! And you get a year's subscription and a check for $500! Norman Wh-what have you done? Oh, I just thought, in case you win, I didn't want you to forget that you're a great writer, and a postable.
And you're my, um You're my But I can't win now.
I can't compete without a talent, and y-y-you just got my talent disqualified.
What? "No contestant shall perform "using a talent for which she has received previous compensation.
" But I'm in print! And they've paid me.
I'm not an amateur anymore.
Norman What were you thinking? Norman, this is a disaster.
Can't you see? Are we having our first fight? Miss Wyoming Mindy Maloney! Go on, Mindy! You can do it! Go! : No, no, no, no! Everything is falling apart.
I'm sorry, Rita.
I'm so sorry.
N it's okay, Norman.
Never mind.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Um, uh Ladies and gentlemen heh.
My friend and co-contestant, Mindy, just needs She just needs a moment.
This year's theme is "delivering inspiration" and well, let's face it, sometimes, inspiration takes a little time.
So I thought I would go first.
You know, for my talent, I was going to do a dramatic reading from my unpublished novel, Renita Hayweather: Frontier duchess, but it turns out that I'm Well, I'm published after all Which is really too bad, because I really like the part where a mysterious cattle-bearing Mr.
D'Lorman gives her his trusty steed, Zephyr, to pull her wagon! You know, at first, she doesn't understand why he would give away his favorite horse like that, but then she realizes he did it because, no matter where she went, Zephyr would always find the way home.
Which is really his way of saying that he is in love with her! Oh He's in love with her? Oh! Oh, that's so cool! Oh! You ready? Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen Miss Wyoming is ready to sing now.
And for my new talent, I Well, I guess we're just gonna have to do this together.
Peggy, can I borrow your guitar? Thanks.
: You still have a shot, Mindy.
Take it.
: to dream the impossible dream to fight the unbeatable foe to bear with unbearable sorrow to run where the brave dare not go to right the unrightable wrong to love pure and chaste from afar to try when your arms are too weary to reach the unreachable star this is my quest to follow that star no matter how hopeless no matter how far to fight for the right without question or pause to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause and I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest and the world will be better for this That one soul scorned and covered with scars still strove with her last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star There she is Miss special delivery.
Only because of this lady right here.
Miss special handling! Oh! No.
Thank you, Rita.
Oh, Mindy.
You deserve it! The way you sang Well You'll never know how much some of us needed to hear it tonight.
Well, I guess I'll be seeing you.
You really are "special," Rita.
Oh, thank you.
I'm so sorry for everything.
I really don't know what I was thinking.
Oh Well, I think you were thinking that You love me? Yeah.
I was definitely thinking that! Oh Aww.
- I'll - Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Yeah.
We'll get it.
When you asked me to have dinner with you in Washington, I was hoping for a little more.
You know, chips and potato salad to go with the sandwich.
I owe you one.
You owe me nothing, Oliver.
Whatever happens now, you gave me something today that I'll never forget.
A little hope for this world again.
Believe it or not, I used to know all the verses to that song, too.
Mm.
"Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears.
" Harper told me that Phoebe puts up a good front, but She still cries herself to sleep almost every night.
Oliver, when I think about what's happening over there right now, I just hope we did the right thing.
Oh, I think we did.
I think We were called to be a part of A lot of little miracles that had to happen to get this far.
Well, now we just need one more.
"In the morning, I will sing of your mercy" "For you are my fortress, "my refuge, "my high tower in times of trouble.
" O, beautiful Delta bravo, we have eyes on soul sister.
I repeat.
We have soul sister.
For Amber waves of grain for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain America America God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea Where's our taxi going? Oh, you won't be needing it.
You must be Phoebe.
Yeah.
Hello, sir.
Steven Marek.
Department of defense.
Former air force? - Yeah.
That's right.
- I thought you and Phoebe Would like to see what army rangers are flying around in these days.
Mom! Mommy! Oh, mama! - Hi, daddy! - Oh! Oh We're heading to the airport, with one stop on the way.
What's this? Uh This is the first acquisition by the newly-formed O'Toole foundation.
You bought this lot? I did.
And you're building retirement homes? Oh all sorts of things.
Maybe a school or a library in Afghanistan.
We're starting small.
I assume you can use your computer to track down the original blueprints for your ancestral home? Probably! It was a pretty small house, though.
Oh.
Well, we'll just make it bigger.
There'll be a porch Uh, and a swing, of course.
Roses.
Oh, that reminds me.
Ahem.
What's this? Is it I took a cutting from your rosebush over there.
If you take it home, plant it, next year, you'll have the First rose of summer.
Yes.
Are we all supposed to move here? Not for a long time yet, Norman.
We all have a lot left to do.
Besides It's nice to have something to look forward to, hmm? Wow, Shane! It's so cool Your first house will be your last house.
Ah, the great circle of life.
Can I have a workshop? And a laboratory? Maybe a little Mini-anti-matter cyclotron in the garage? No, Norman.
No cyclotron.
It's time to go.
What a family.
The few The proud The postal.
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea