 |
|
Ricky
Hauk has just received the news that he's being laid off from his
dead-end job as a mechanic at Al's Gas Station. Ricky vents his
frustration by writing poetry on the bathroom wall, quickly erasing it
before it can be preserved for posterity. Monica is hired to take
inventory at the station, and she encourages Ricky to pursue his
writing. When Shelley, a local college student, arrives with her snobby
boyfriend Marshall, Ricky is immediately smitten. When Marshall notices
Ricky's college hat, he accuses him of being a poseur, and the boys
exchange words. As Marshall and Shelley leave, Ricky discovers Shelley
dropped her school I.D. Later, Ricky agrees to help his little brother
Joey win the Invention Convention at the College. When Shelley returns
to the station in search of her I.D., Ricky claims to be a student at
the college. Shelley suggests he enroll in her writing class. Ricky
agrees to check it out. Ricky's mother Ellen is frustrated to find out
about Ricky's plans to take the class -- they need his income to make
ends meet. The next day, Ricky is resigned to apply for work at Taco
Town. Instead he goes to Shelley's class, taught by Andrew, where he
sees Tess, another student. Andrew's teaching is inspiring, but Ricky is
scared off by Marshall. Back at the station, Ricky again writes a poem
on the wall. Monica offers him a blank notebook to write in, but when
Ricky tries it, he has a flashback to his childhood: his father abuses
him for writing on his racing form. The next time Ricky tries to attend
class, Andrew catches him. Andrew agrees to let him sit in for one week,
but then he must officially enroll. During class, Andrew invites
Marshall to read a poem. Ricky is shocked to hear Marshall read his poem
-- copied from the bathroom wall. Defeated, Ricky swipes the rearview
mirror from Marshall's car. Meanwhile, Monica helps Joey finish his
invention -- a forgetting machine. Ricky complains to Monica about
Marshall's plagiarism. Monica tells Ricky to use it as an encouraging
sign that his writing is good. Still frustrated, Ricky throws the
rearview mirror in the garbage. That night, Pearson and Smitty, friends
of Ricky's, drive up in Marshall's stolen car. Ricky sends them away.
The next day, Joey finds the last part for his invention -- Marshall's
discarded rearview mirror. Ricky tells Ellen that he has been hired at
Taco Town. At the convention, Joey unveils his invention. Marshall, one
of the judges, recognizes the mirror and accuses Ricky of stealing his
car. The men fight and when Andrew breaks it up, Ricky admits to
stealing the mirror, but not his car. He also accuses Marshall of
stealing his poem. Tess comes to Ricky's defense, saying she knows who
really stole the car. In an empty classroom, Monica reveals to Ricky
that she is an angel, telling him he's put up a wall to block out the
past, but this wall has also blocked out his dreams. God wants him to
tear down this wall and write his words down so he can be free. Later,
Andrew asks Marshall to recite the poem. Marshall can't. Ricky, however,
recites it on the spot. Ellen is moved by the poem about Ricky's father
and asks Ricky for forgiveness for remaining in an abusive situation.
Ellen asks Ricky to write the poem down for her. He says he will. The
angels watch as the newly restored family leaves arm in arm.
|
