[Joe cocker's "with a little
help from my friends" plays]
-♪ Baby ♪
-♪ High with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ Said I'm gonna make
it with my friends ♪
-♪ Try with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ Oh, oh, I'm gonna
keep on tryin' ♪
-♪ Get by with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ I'm gonna keep
on tryin', now, babe ♪
-♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
-The power structure's
too long been
A white, middle-aged, male,
middle-class power structure.
-There are now large
numbers of women
Who want to change
their lot in life
And who are looking for
concrete ways in which to do it.
-By the spring of 1973,
The women's liberation
movement was in full force.
Across america, a
revolution was in progress,
Shedding old stereotypes...
Building new roles.
It was a time of
raised consciousness
And high expectations...
A fight for equality
and freedom.
Women everywhere were facing
difficult and complex choices.
-Plain toast or cinnamon raisin?
-Take my mother, for example.
-Cinnamon raisin.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
-Here we are.
- Thanks.
- Thanks.
She was a woman of her time...
A woman of accomplishments...
Mom, you got any more juice?
-Oh, of course, honey.
There you go.
Now, don't eat too fast.
- A woman who was appreciated.
-Good eggs, norma.
-Mmm. Good eggs, mom.
Good eggs.
-Nobody makes eggs
like your mother.
- Mnh-mnh.
- Any more coffee?
-Oh, sure, honey.
-Yep, you might say
in everything she did,
Mom commanded
our utmost respect.
-Oh, let me help
you with that, honey.
-And whether it was pouring
our coffee, buttering our toast,
Or simply washing our socks,
We arnold men supported
her, encouraged her...
Right up until that day when...
-I've decided to get a job.
-A job, norma?
-I think it's time.
-It is?
Of course the way we saw
it, mom already had a job.
Not that any of us were
crass enough to say it.
-You already have a
job... Taking care of us.
-Shut up, butthead.
-Well, I know, but
there's not too much
To take care of
around here anymore.
Karen's gone, you guys
are at the office all day,
And kevin's
practically in college.
Besides, now that
I have my degree,
I just thought maybe I
should be doing something
A little more fulfilling.
- Oh.
- Oh.
It was hard to imagine
anything more fulfilling
Than taking care of us.
-Well, if you really
feel that way,
Maybe I could find
something for you
Down at the factory
one or two days a week.
-Which sounded
reasonable enough.
-Well, actually, jack,
I was thinking of something
a little more full time.
-Well, like what, mom?
-I don't know yet.
Uh, just something
that I could really...
Sink my teeth into.
-Um, trust me, norma.
Working's a lot different
than going to college.
A job's a lot of
aggravation and hard work.
- Mm-hmm.
- Absolutely.
-I know that, jack.
[Chuckles]
But I've decided to get a job.
[ Clang!]
-Aaah-woo-woo-woo-woo!
-To which, given the options,
There was really
only one response.
-On the other hand,
Maybe I can put in a
call to stan woods.
I hear he's expanding.
-Thank you, jack.
I appreciate that.
-[Chuckles]
-Hey, it was the
least we could do.
After all, the
future was arriving,
And men everywhere
Were being forced to deal
with it in record numbers.
[School bell rings]
- 540 verbal and 580 math.
Read it and weep.
-And speaking of numbers...
Oh, they came?
- Yeah.
-The sat scores.
For six weeks, we had been
waiting for the two numbers
Which would determine the
next four years of our lives.
-Didn't you check your mailbox?
-No.
-I did.
-Yeah, what did you get?
-730.
-Verbal or math?
-Combined.
-Yeah, well, I wouldn't
worry about it.
You can always come work for me.
-Yeah, very funny.
-It was social darwinism
at its cruelest.
-So, did you get yours?
-I don't think it's
such a good idea
To talk about them like this.
They're kind of private.
-Oh.
Well, sure. I understand.
"I don't want to talk about it."
It was practically code
For ed's junior college
and auto-body repair.
I mean, besides,
it's no big deal.
I mean, after all, they're
only numbers, right?
-Sure. Easy for you to say.
You haven't got yours yet.
-So what?
When they come, they come.
After all, I wasn't worried.
[Young woman crying]
-Look at these scores!
I'm gonna k*ll myself!
-Not much anyway.
-Hope and despair...
-I mean, worried?
Not me.
[School bell rings]
[Tires squealing]
Just slightly curious.
Heck, if they came, they came.
And if they didn't...
They did.
-Oh, hi, honey.
I have the most wonderful news.
-Later, mom.
[Breathing heavily]
Oh, please, oh, please,
oh, please, oh, please.
It was a private matter.
Very private.
As I stepped into that closet,
I kept telling myself
it meant nothing.
Absolutely nothing at all.
Nothing but a few lousy
numbers in a crummy envelope.
Ya-hoo!
[ Gong sounds]
-I can't get over it. 650.
And what was it? A 580?
-It was a night filled with
egg rolls and triumph.
Well, actually it was a 590.
But, you know, it's no big deal.
They're just numbers.
It's a 1240 combined.
-I'm proud of you, son.
-Yeah, who would have
thought our little butthead
Would turn out to be an egghead?
[Laughs]
- thanks...
I think.
But the truth was,
I had earned the respect
of the arnold men...
-I think it's wonderful, honey.
- And the woman who loved them.
-And your check, sir.
-I'll, uh, take that.
Just send it right over here.
-Norma, what are you doing?
-Paying the check.
I have a little good
news of my own.
I got a job today.
[ Gong sounds]
-A job?
-What kind of job?
-I didn't know you
talked with stan.
-Well, actually I didn't.
I just answered
an ad in the paper
For a job at micro electronics.
-Needless to say, this
was wonderful news.
-Never heard of 'em.
-Well, it's a new
business, jack...
Computer software.
I met with the two partners.
They're in their 20s...
Barely karen's age.
And they hired me on the spot.
-Yep, no question about it.
Definitely cause
for celebration.
-So...
How much are they paying you?
$125? $130?
-$225 A week.
-That's more than I make.
-[Chuckles] not for long.
Nobody can stay in business
paying the secretary $225.
-Well, actually,
I'm not a secretary.
I'm the comptroller.
-It was like finding out
donna reed had been named
Starting quarterback
for the jets.
Well, that's great, mom.
I'm really proud of you.
-Thanks.
-And I was. Kind of.
I mean, give credit
where credit was due.
[ Gong sounds]
After all, intelligence,
talent, and brilliance
Just seemed to
run in our family.
[School bell rings]
-Hey, kevin.
-Not that I was gonna
brag about it or anything.
1240.
-Already? I thought
it was just 11:30.
-No, I didn't mean that.
-What did you mean?
-Nothing.
-Okay.
-Well, since she asked...
Just, uh...
My... Sat scores.
-You mean you got them?
-650 Verbal, 590 math.
-Kevin, that's terrific!
-Well, you know,
they're just numbers.
650, 590.
-They're wonderful.
-They're okay.
-Well, I'm really
proud of you, kevin.
-Thanks.
And why not?
After all, she was my girl.
And I knew she understood
that in some small way,
My achievements
were her achievements.
-Here we are, miss cooper.
Yale... Princeton...
And harvard.
I'll have to look for dartmouth.
-Okay.
-What are those?
-Just some college catalogs.
-Funny.
I never realized
ed's junior college
Had made it into the ivy league.
Winnie...
What exactly did
you get on your sats?
-I don't really want
to talk about it.
-Winnie, come on.
I mean, you obviously
did pretty well.
So why don't you just tell me?
-[Sighs]
725 Verbal. 757 Math.
[ expl*si*n]
-725 Verbal. 757 Math.
Somehow I skipped
"that's wonderful"
And "I'm so proud of you"
And cut right to
the bottom line.
That's a 1481.
-Well, it's just a number.
Besides, it's a 1482.
-I don't believe it.
-Well, aren't you happy for me?
-Are you kidding?
[School bell rings]
Okay, maybe that was dumb.
But it didn't take a
genius to figure out
That instead of
standing by her man...
-See you in class.
- My innocent,
unassuming sweetheart...
My cute, adoring,
supportive girlfriend
Had left me in the dust.
-And the technology
these people work with
Is absolutely fascinating.
Did I tell you we're introducing
a whole new product line?
-It wasn't long before
my mother began basking
In the excitement of
her newfound career.
-And guess what.
I discovered today that I can
amortize the cost of development
Over our entire fiscal year.
-And as she shared the
joys of her new challenge,
We reacted like men everywhere.
-That way, we'll be able
to expand our base...
- We began to feel shortchanged.
- That's great.
Now, what are the
chances we can get some...
- Here's the bread.
- Bread?
-There you are.
Of course, we're still trying
to keep the prices down,
But, overall...
-And the more we began
to feel shortchanged,
The more we became...
Suspicious.
- So, where the heck is the...
- Anyone need butter?
- Butter?
-Did I tell you I'm working
with pat banks on this?
She's the vice president.
Can you imagine that?
Here are the beans.
-Beans!
- And the potatoes.
- Potatoes.
-Let's see. Um...
Guess we're all set.
-But no matter how mom tried
to ply us with butter and beans,
We weren't fooled.
Not us.
-Wait a minute.
Look.
I got a hole in my sock.
-Yep, no question about it.
The place was going to pot.
-What's wrong?
-Nothing.
And speaking of going to pot...
-Are you just not in the mood?
-Of course I'm in the mood.
I'm always in the mood.
I'm just not a piece
of meat, that's all.
- What are you talking about?
- Nothing.
There was no way
I was giving her
The satisfaction of telling her.
-You're upset about my
sat scores, aren't you?
-What?
[Scoffs] don't be ridiculous.
-I don't know why you should be.
-Yeah, well, I'm not.
I mean, how long
have I known you?
-Almost all my life.
-Right.
And in all that time,
You never felt like
telling me you were smart?
Good thing this
wasn't bothering me.
-Kevin, you knew I was smart.
-In the 4th grade, I knew you
were good at math, okay?
I didn't know you were some
kind of einstein or someone.
I mean, gosh, you think
you know someone.
And then, bam, you find out
they're hiding things from you.
- I didn't hide anything.
- Oh?
How come you didn't tell
me about your test scores?
-I don't know. I just...
I just thought that...
It might hurt your ego.
-Ego?!
Ha!
That just goes to show
how much you know.
I don't even have an ego.
-Kevin, you're acting
so stupid about this.
-Now, see, if I'd had an
ego, a remark like that
Might have really, really, hurt.
Oh.
So now I'm stupid.
-I didn't say you are stupid.
I said you're acting stupid.
-Oh, but I guess if I
were as smart as you,
I would know exactly what
you were talking about, right?
All in all, I think
you could say
I was handling this
rather maturely.
-I have an idea.
Let's go home.
-[Scoffs] hmmph.
I couldn't have put
it better myself.
-I can't sh**t a lady.
-Meanwhile, back at the castle.
Dad?
-Hi.
-What are you
doing on the couch?
-You tell me.
Women.
[Exhales sharply]
-Yeah, tell me about it.
-Know what I mean?
-Yeah. Women.
-Yeah.
-[Scoffs]
It was one of the most in-depth
conversations on the subject
To date.
[Door opens]
- sweetie?
Your socks.
-[Chuckles]
-Good night.
[ Siren wails]
-It's your wife. She's wrecking
the town looking for you.
-Aah!
-No.
Nancy! No.
Nancy, no!
- [Sighs]
- [sighs]
[ g*nshots]
[School bell rings]
- still, by the next morning,
I was feeling pretty shabby
about the way I'd acted.
-Thanks.
-I realized it was time
to accept these inroads
Being made by women.
It was time to accept the
realities of the 20th century.
It was time to act
like a liberated man...
Winnie?
-Oh, hi.
- And crawl like a dog.
Hi.
Listen, I feel really bad
about what happened last night.
-Me too.
-And, uh, well, I thought
we can go out tonight
So I can kind of
make it up to you.
-Okay.
Sure.
That sounds good.
- Great.
I mean, no sense letting a
few numbers come between us.
-Winnie.
-Oh, hi, mr. Glavin.
-Congratulations on those sats.
The whole faculty's talking.
-Thanks.
-You know, there's a
world of opportunity
For a bright
young lady like you.
-Yeah, I'm really excited.
-I bet you are.
Uh, you will keep me
posted, won't you?
-I will.
-[Clears throat]
Uh, hi, mr. Glavin.
-Hey.
How's it going, kelly?
-Kelly?
It was a girl's name.
-So, where to?
-What?
-Where do you
want to go tonight?
-How about, uh...
And that's when I heard it.
A far-off call.
A primordial cry.
It echoed across the
savannas of ancient kenya.
It thundered in the
drums of ancestral tribes.
And it said to me...
[ Tarzan yell]
"Take the broad bowling."
This was the ticket... Bowling.
It was almost inspired.
Isn't this great?
-Yeah, I guess.
-Heh heh. More than inspired.
It was genius.
The bowling alley, the
last bastion of maledom.
An island of stability
in a changing world.
It was about manly things
Like unmuffled clamor
and uncurbed fashion.
It was about sweat and muscle
and grunting and belching.
A place that drew
real men like flies.
Dad.
-Hey.
-What are you doing here?
-I don't know. I just
felt like bowling.
-Hmm.
It seemed dad must have heard
that same primordial scream.
-Oh, hi, mrs. Arnold.
-Hi. Well, what a surprise.
-So, you two want to join us?
-Sure.
Why not?
What could be better?
A night at the lanes.
Guys doing guy things.
-Winnie, I love your outfit.
-Thanks.
Oh, I really like
your hair like that.
-Chicks talking chick things.
Just the way the big
guy upstairs intended it.
-I heard about your sat scores.
I am really proud of you.
-Wait a minute.
-Thanks. Oh, and I
heard about your job.
That sounds wonderful.
-Are we gonna bowl or what?
-Yeah, let's get started.
Norma, you go first.
-Okay.
-After all, there was no sense
wasting time on idle chitchat.
There was a game
to be played here.
-Come on, mrs. Arnold.
Knock 'em all down.
-I'm not really
very good at this.
- That's okay.
- That's okay.
-Yeah, it was perfect...
[Both laugh]
Until something happened.
Mom's ball began what was to
become the longest single trek
In the history of bowling.
[Dramatic music plays]
Its momentum was relentless...
Its progress inexorable.
There was an inevitability
to the fate of that roll
That carried a message that
resounded across the country.
-Yes! [Laughs]
I don't believe it! Yes!
-Good sh*t.
You got 'em all down.
-I got a strike, jack!
Did you see that?
-And something cracked.
-What the hell?
Let's make it the men
versus the women.
-And the devil
take the hindmost.
Great idea.
-Yeah.
[Beethoven's ninth
symphony plays]
Yeah!
- The next hour saw one
Of the greater bowling displays
of that, or any other, season.
Yeah!
- Yeah!
-Not by the arnold women.
By the arnold men.
-Yes!
-We had it all, dad and i.
And we weren't afraid to use it.
For the next 30 frames,
we took off the gloves.
Yeah!
- Yeah!
-We showed no mercy.
We slaughtered them.
-[Laughs] yeah!
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
-Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
And when it was over,
I think they were
impressed. Yeah!
I know we were.
-♪ And if you love him ♪
-Sorry we b*at you so bad.
-It's okay.
I had a really nice time.
-That night, driving
home, things seemed...
Right again.
-I mean, you
couldn't help but win.
You're just so... Good.
-See, it's all a matter of form.
You want to put your
whole body into the ball
And let the momentum
do the work, then release.
-That's wonderful, honey.
-I guess the natural
order had been restored,
So we could afford
to be magnanimous.
By the way...
Congratulations
on your sat scores.
-Thanks.
-I mean, no sense
being pigheaded.
The way I saw it, the world
was big enough for all of us.
And besides, so what if women
could influence government,
Take over big business,
alter domestic policy,
Dominate education, make
the world a better place?
In one important respect, we
had still a lot to teach them.
Yes!
Yep.
- ♪ Stand by your man ♪
-When it came to being jerks,
they still had a lot to learn.
[ Tarzan yell]