#223 A HAND UP IS NEVER A HAND OUT: PART 2  (Original air date:   05/14/98)
 

Written by:	E.F. Wallengren & Claire Whitaker
Directed by:	Victor Lobl
Produced by :	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, William Schwartz & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Joe Greene	Richard Thomas
Erasmus Jones	Ossie Davis
Dr. Rebecca Dixon	Suzzanne Douglas
Mike Fitz	Thomas Earl Hurrington
John Klane	Sterling Brimley
T. J.	Will Jeffries

 

Russell talks (through the nursery intensive care unit window) to his week-old daughter, Grace, expressing how excited they'll be to bring her home. Meanwhile, Nathaniel feels somehow responsible for Grace's condition. Hattie assures him it's perfectly natural to have mixed feelings about additions to the family. Nathaniel wants to buy Grace a gift with some money he's saved, but Josh told him it would be bad luck. Hattie thinks it's a perfectly good idea and a way of showing their faith that everything's going to be okay. Nathaniel eyes a cradle but Hattie feels it's out of their price range, so they decide to pool their resources. Claire returns to the hospital to relieve Russell. She is buoyed by news that Grace had a stable night. Rebecca delivers the painful news that they will be taking Grace off the respirator, that in spite of their efforts, the infection has ravaged Grace's system. Russell and Claire spend their heart-breaking final moments with Grace. Claire is reluctant to hold Grace, afraid she won't be able to let go. Russell reassures Claire that they'll carry Grace with them forever. Russell and Claire return home empty handed, break the news to the family. That night, Nathaniel asks Hattie why their faith couldn't save Grace. Hattie tries to explain that having faith doesn't mean things always work out the way you want them to. Back at the Habitat site, word gets out about Joe's past. One of Joe's co-workers calls him a child killer. T.J. defends Joe, explaining that the philosophy behind the Habitat organization is about turning your life around. Joe walks off the job. The family tries to rally Claire's spirits, but no one seems to be able to reach her. Erasmus talks with Joe, tries to convince him to stay focused, some things he can't change. Erasmus delivers a heartfelt, healing eulogy at Grace's funeral. Russell has a few words with God, not yet able to understand or accept the loss. Dinah identifies with the victims of the Oklahoma bombing, wishes there was a way for her family to find healing. Dinah asks her mother if ringing the bell like they did in Oklahoma might work for them, but Claire's not ready. An awkward tension builds between Claire and Russell until each are able to vent their pain privately. Claire takes the first step toward closure by giving her cradle to the Anita Fitz, the pregnant woman whose family will be moving into the Habitat house. The family begins to cope with the loss -- each in their own way, until finally, they hear the clanging of a bell and come to find Claire standing in the rain outside Erasmus' house. They join her in a moment of profound healing for all.