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The Greenes are passing through Denver when a wasted kid (Carl) runs a series of
stop signs causing Russell to swerve to avoid the collision.
The damage to the Greenes' Suburban and Airstream force them to settle down, at least temporarily.
The mechanic (Avery) working on the Suburban hooks Russell up with Howard Banks,
a landlord who owns several properties in
the area.Banks hires Russell to do some
repairs on a house that has been used (and abused) by neighborhood kids as a
party house. Banks allows the Greenes
to move into the house while Russell finishes the repair work.
The Greenes get off to a rocky start with their new neighbors,
seventeen-year-old LT and his sister Shamaya. LT's bad news friend (Marley) wants to run
the Greenes out of the neighborhood so they can resume using the unoccupied
house and settle a score with Banks. LT sets Josh up with a messenger job designed
to push him and his family out of the neighborhood. Josh winds up getting a series
of wrong addresses until he finally connects with the point person -- who turns out to be
Marley.
Marley gives Josh an envelope containing a powdered substance which appears to be
drugs. Russell takes the envelope to the police who find that the substance was baking soda and flour.
Russell confronts LT and his friends at the Ridley Center, a center for troubled youths. Russell tells
them they'll be living in that house for the next few weeks,
maybe longer, and they don't want any trouble. On his way out, Russell meets the director of the center,
Leon Flores, a young hispanic man. Leon tries to interest Russell in volunteering for the center.
Russell agrees to give it some thought. Later, LT is getting a ride home with Carl and Marley when they
nearly hit Hattie crossing the street. LT knows that Carl is the one responsible for the accident which ran the
Greenes off the road. Marley runs after Hattie, planning to steal her purse, and asks if she could loan him a
dollar. LT runs up to Hattie and foils Marley's plan. LT introduces himself
and offers to walk Hattie home. Once Hattie is inside, Marley shows up outside the house and starts beating on
LT. Hattie calls Russell who appears on the scene and attempts to control Marley who is now brandishing a knife. Russell disarms Marley and turns him over to
Leon. Fearing repercussions, LT tries to get Marley off the hook, assuming responsibility for the fight. But Leon tells LT that Marley knew that he
violated the terms of his probation. Leon thanks Russell for helping out. A volatile situation narrowly averted,
the stage is set for a tentative peace in the Greene's new neighborhood.
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