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Tess, Monica,
Andrew and Ruth arrive in the announcer's box of a professional
basketball game overlooking their next assignment, Eric (E.Z.)
Mony, the star point guard for the Salt Lake Saints. Tess tells
the others that Eric is angry and rebellious, with a complete
disregard for rules. As the angels look on, Eric shoves a
referee. Although Ruth is told that her assignment is only to
observe the situation, she is soon moving down in the stands in
order to speak to the referee. Due to her interference, a jersey
thrown into the crowd by Mony goes to a very impressionable 14
year-old named Darnell. Sam, the special affairs angel arrives
to explain that the case has just taken a turn for the worse
because a bond was formed between E.Z. and Darnell. Later at the
Boys Club, Sam coaches Darnell and his friends and introduces
Monica as the new tutor. Meanwhile, as E.Z. is disavowing his
status as a role model, we learn of the disappearance of a
hockey player by the name of Winston El Camio. As E.Z. prepares
to leave the stadium, Andrew introduces himself as the ghost
writer who will be writing his E.Z.'s tell-all book. Ruth,
having recovered from her blunder at the stadium, approaches
Darnell. She tells him that E.Z. is not someone to look up to,
that he cannot read. Darnell then goes to E.Z. and blackmails
him with the information, demanding "a night in the life of
E.Z. Mony" in return for his silence. While on the town,
E.Z. takes Darnell to a casino and quickly loses $100,000. Two
henchmen of the casino then threaten E.Z. with his life if he
doesn't shave points, invoking the name of Winston El Camio as
evidence of their seriousness. The next day, E.Z. learns of the
death of El Camio and has no choice but to try and throw the
game. Convinced that E.Z. will pull off the scam, Darnell takes
bets from his friends. When the game begins, E.Z. is
miraculously unable to miss and the Saints win. Darnell
confronts E.Z. after the game and E.Z. rebukes him, "You're
livin' poor and you're gonna die poor." Darnell slinks out
and the two henchmen enter to kill E.Z. As E.Z. prays to God,
Andrew reveals himself and demands, in the name of God, that the
men leave. As the men exit, Andrew tells E.Z. God wants him to
learn to read. In the pressbox, Monica consoles Ruth, showing
her the marquee which is now flashing "God Loves You."
As E.Z. and Darnell meet on the court, both look up at the
flashing marquee. E.Z. vows to learn to read and Darnell cries
as he realizes that he is truly loved by God.
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