Touched by an Angel

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Episode 404: “Children Of The Night”

Episode 404: “Children Of The Night”
Original Air Date: October 12, 1997
Written by: Suzonne Stirling
Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Produced by:

Martha Williamson
Jon Andersen
R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:
Rafael Alexis Cruz
Doc Chris Masterson
Ally Madeline Zima
China Azura Skye
Lightning Rashaan Nall

While Tess and Monica work at an inner-city coffee shop, they see their next assignment, a group of homeless teenagers who have given up their real names to avoid being returned to the families that they no longer trust. “Doc,” “Lightning,” “China,” and the missing “Fish” have formed a family and soon take in a young girl who is new to the street, changing her real name from Alexandra to “Ally.” Losing their current shelter and trusting no one, the kids go to a junkyard where the angel, Rafael, offers to let them build a shelter in exchange for watching over the place. When all the collective money of the group is gone, China takes to the streets to earn money as a prostitute. As she gets into a car, the missing “Fish” is dying in the care of Andrew.

Afterward, Monica and Andrew begin to lose heart while Tess and Rafael urge them to be patient and “not push so hard.” China continues to dream of being a poet, writing in her treasured journal while Doc’s cough worsens. Ally burns her remaining pictures from home and begins to panhandle as Lightning begins to develop a drug problem. After China loses her journal, Monica finds it and returns it to her on the street, convincing her to meet her at the coffee shop. Monica waits for China but she never arrives. The following day, Doc collapses in Tess’ coffee shop. China is then found by Andrew, dying from a beating by one of her customers. Monica blames herself for not being a better angel, holding China’s journal. Rafael reveals himself to Doc, asking him to trust in God.

No longer succeeding with her panhandling, Ally puts on makeup and attempts to follow in China’s footsteps. Monica tells her that China is dead and shows her the first entry of China’s journal in which she said she could never prostitute herself and explains to her that “it’s never too late to apologize,” but rather “just in time.” As Ally prepares to leave on her bus ride home, Doc stops by for a brief “goodbye” as he and Rafael leave for the hospital. Lightning is dumbfounded that Ally is leaving but she prepares him for the revelation he is about to have in the presence of the Tess, Monica, and Andrew. “Do you believe in God, Lightning? You will.”

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