10x06 - Helpful

Episode transcripts for the TV show "7th Heaven". Aired: August 26, 1996 – May 13, 2007.*
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Eric Camden is a reverend, husband and the father of numerous children who faces everyday challenges of raising a family during permissive times.
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10x06 - Helpful

Post by bunniefuu »

Simon! It's Sandy.
It's me!

Help!

Why aren't you
answering your phone?

I didn't hear my phone.

Is Rose here?

No. She didn't
come home last night?

No, she came home, but...

Ow! But she left
early this morning.

Oh, uh, yeah,
she was went to San Francisco.

Are you okay?
I don't know.

I think I need
to go to the hospital.

And I don't want to go by
myself, and your sister is

three hours away, and I don't
have anyone else.

And.. Ow...

Okay, just let me
throw my clothes on.
Ow.

No, I don't think
we have time for that.

I'm really hurting.

I think there's something wrong.

Okay, okay, let's go.

Can I help?

This isn't working quite
the way I thought it would.

I can't quite figure it out,
but you go on.

Do whatever
you want to do today.

My mom will keep Savannah
if I have to go out.

Here, let me take a look.

You're going to help me
with this?

You never volunteer to help me

with any remodeling stuff.
What's going on?

It's not remodeling,
it's putting down some tiles.

It's something
we can do together.

We never get to hang out
together anymore.

Let me help you.

Did it come with instructions?

Yeah, it came
with instructions.

Why do you want to hang
out with me all day?

Why do you want me
out of the house today?

Well, you first.

Aren't you supposed to go

talk to that guy today,
Sandy's dad?

If he ever calls me back,
but he may never call me back.

And if he doesn't, then what?

Then nothing.

I continue to help Sandy become
more self-sufficient because

I don't think her family's
gonna come to her rescue.

What about Martin?

I don't know.

I-I'd like
to keep him at a distance

or give him a little space--
however you want to look at it.

But she can't force him
into a relationship with her

and the baby-- I mean, he's got
to come around on his own.

Why?

Because!

What do you mean "why?"

I mean, having been
in the same situation

when I graduated
from high school,

I did the right thing
and got married,

so I think I should talk to him.

Then you got divorced when you
found out there wasn't a baby.

Still, he needs some help--
from a guy.

Well, I'm helping him.

How?

By helping her.

B-By helping Sandy.

No offense, but I just want
to talk to him man-to-man.

No offense, but he didn't
come to you for help.

And if he's going
to talk to a man,

I think the first man he
should to talk to is his dad.

Yeah, okay.
When's he going to do that?

When the kid goes
to kindergarten?

Hopefully before that.

He better.

People are going to know.

Other than you and my dad
and me, what people?

You don't really think
you can keep

that kind a thing a secret,
do you?

Well,
I don't think I can keep

Sandy's pregnancy a secret,

but I don't know
why anyone else

necessarily needs to know
who the father is.

Luce, your whole family
has figured it out.

And Simon and Rose know.

My whole family?!

Yeah, except for Ruthie.

You told Matt?!

He's the one who told me
Sandy was pregnant.

I didn't even notice it,
and then I just

put two and two together.

And you told him?!

He was going to find out
eventually anyways.

And besides, he lives in New
York-- who's he going to tell?

Well, I don't know.

But... wait a minute--
my whole family?

Wait, my mom knows?

I didn't tell her.

Your dad told her.

He told her that Martin
is the father of Sandy's baby?

I think so.

I can't believe this.

I'll be right back.

What could George
possibly want to see me about

other than Martin
or Martin and Meredith?

He's not going to want Martin
dating Meredith

if he's found out
about Sandy, is he?

Well, I doubt it.

But what if it's some
tiny, little problem

with one of the children--
he has other children.

I mean, there's Meredith's
brother and sisters.

Maybe he wants to talk about
one of them, or even Cecilia.

Maybe he's having
a problem with Cecilia.

Maybe, but I don't think
that would require

a visit to my office
on a Saturday.

How could he have found out?

Who?

How could who
have found out what?

And please tell me you're
not talking about Martin.

Foul play, okay?

Foul play!
I am handling this.

I don't need anyone--
anyone else-- to interfere.

We're not interfering,
we're talking.

About Martin.

How do you even know?

She's your mother.
I told her.

Why?

I, I...

She...

she figured it out.

Why shouldn't I know?

This is not a group project,
this is my work.

I told Sandy that everything
she was sharing with me

was in complete
confidence.

You didn't tell
us about Sandy.

Your father saw her
when he was spying on you.

And why couldn't
you tell me?

It's me, Luce.

I've kept more secrets
over the years

than you'll
probably ever hear,

so don't worry, I wouldn't
say anything to anyone.

And, frankly,
I'm a little bit insulted

that you were so upset
that your father said

something to me.
I mean,

I probably would have figured it
out by myself anyway.

Matt figured it out.

No, he didn't.
Kevin told him.

And you told Kevin?

Well, yeah,
he's my husband.

Well, I'm his wife.

All right, all right.

Everyone knows--
but Ruthie--

so we have
to contain this.

We have to, please.

Don't discuss Martin and Sandy
with anyone else.

I'm begging you.

If Martin knew you knew...

he would be mortified,

even more mortified
than he already is.

Or...
knowing that others know,

he'd tell his father.

And he really...
he should tell his father,

because there may be
other people who know.

Other people like...?

George called...
and he wants to talk to me.

George, as in Meredith's
adoptive father, George.

Yes, yes,
I, I know who he is.

He can't possibly
know about Martin, can he?

If he doesn't know, you're not
going to tell him, right?

No, but Luce... eventually
people are going to know.

Why do we have to assume that
the worst is going to happen?

Just don't say anything to
George if he doesn't know,

and don't say anything else
to anyone else, okay?

Okay.
Okay.

But don't forget that
Simon and Rose know.

You might
want to talk to them.

I know that.

Any time Simon's name
comes up in a conversation,

she just darts
out the door.

Yeah,
I've noticed that, too.

She knows something
about the two of them

that she's not telling us.

Whatever it is,
it'll come out eventually.

We met Ruthie's boyfriend.

I thought we were going
to let me do the talking.

Really, I didn't know
Ruthie had a boyfriend.

I don't.
Yes, you do.

It's not somebody you know.

Oh.

What was the plan?

To get Mom and Dad
to let you go out?

We ran into someone
when we were riding bikes.

A guy from school--
and he's not my boyfriend.

Are you sure?

I think he wants to
be your boyfriend.

Yeah.

You know, why don't you two
just go upstairs

and do something
while I talk to Dad.

I don't know,
I find it pretty interesting

talking to the three of you.

If you ever want to ride bikes
with me again,

you'll go upstairs.

If you were going to thr*aten
them, and by the way,

I don't like for anyone to get
threatened around here,

you maybe should've done it
before they

gave away
all your little secrets.

So who's this boy
from school you ran into?

He's on the baseball team--
the shortstop Brian.

And he was just asking
if maybe he and I

could go out sometime
with Martin and Meredith.

He's 16.

He doesn't have a car.

So we would have to go
with someone else.

You don't think that would be
just a bit awkward?

I know you're friends
with Martin,

and I know you're friends
with Meredith,

but I also know you're kind
of thinking that someday

Martin and Meredith may not
be together and...

Never mind that.

I want you to meet him.

Brian, this is my Dad.

Dad, this is Brian.

It's nice to meet you, sir.

"Honest people tell the truth.

"Other people know that
when they say something is so,

"they can believe it.

"Now that is very handy, because

"if you are honest
and promise to do something,

"others will trust you.

"They will share things
with you,

"tell you secrets,
lend you money.

"Help you do many of the things
that you want to do because

"they know that what you promise
and what you say is true.

"They can count on it.

Only a dope will lie."

Maybe you should
read that to Ruthie.

Not us.
We've read that book a lot.

You're right.

Why do we have to wait for Dad?

Brian's waiting for me
to call him.

He said we'd talk about it
when he got home.

Well, when is he going
to get home?

Where'd he go?

What is he doing?

What's more important than this?

Nothing is more important
to us than you

and our relationship
with you as you grow up

and become a young adult.

This is a really great book.

How's Simon?

Oh, he's fine, he's fine.

How's, uh, how's Cecilia?

She's fine.
Yeah?

Besides switching
colleges a few times.

Which is going to mean
she's going to be in school

a year longer than
she was supposed to be,

but at least
she's still in college,

so I guess she'll graduate
when she graduates.

You know that
Meredith's older sister

is still in school
with Simon.

Right, I forgot
she's at Northern California

School of the Arts, too.

Loves it.

She's decided
she's going to teach art

at the high school level.

She thinks art is such
a good thing for kids,

attributes her emotional
health to being able

to express herself
through art.

She is such a good girl.

And I mean, having lived
in social services

and out on the streets
and still...

And she's not having
any problems?

No, goodness, no.

She comes down on weekends
and straightens out her sisters

and her brother if they're even
thinking about of giving us

any problems,
which they're not.

And I don't know if
you know this or not,

but Martin told Meredith
he loves her.

And it's her
first real love,

and she is crazy
about him.

She couldn't quit
talking to Christina

the whole time
she was home.

And I was
just wondering...

you don't think that Martin
would say something like,

"I love you" to Meredith
for the wrong reason, do you?

"The wrong reason"?

Well, maybe I'm paranoid,

but he wouldn't
say something like that

to just to get Meredith to be,
you know, intimate with him?

Why do you think that?

Well, because I've been reading
everything I can get my hands on

about teen sex, and some
expert said that that's

one of the ways that boys talk
girls into doing things

that they wouldn't
ordinarily be doing.

But I know you know
about that stuff,

and that's why I wanted
to talk to you about it.

You know teenage boys.

I mean, you have one;
Simon's what, almost 21?

Next year, yeah.

He's still 20 for now.

Oh, and by the way,
congratulations.

Heard about the engagement
from Christina.

Yeah, yeah, they say
they're getting married.

I mean, it's not
an official engagement,

and there's always a chance
the whole thing could just,

you know, fall apart.

Not that we want
that to happen.

Well, it's a pretty big
engagement ring

for not an official
engagement.

I mean, those things
aren't really returnable.

I mean, it's a what--
a full one-carat ring?

I mean, I knew Simon
was good with money,

but that's a humdinger
of a ring, from what I hear.

Oh, dear Lord.

Tell me you knew about the ring.

We didn't have all the details.

We haven't actually seen it yet.

I should have kept
to the subject,

which is Meredith.

Do you think it's safe
for Meredith and Martin

to be boyfriend and girlfriend,
just going to together?

Do you think it's good that
they're so serious

about each other when
they're both so young?

Could we just put a pin in this

and-and maybe get back
to this conversation,
like, next week?

What?

Well, I, just, I...
you know, I'd like to
do a little research

before I just answer such
an important question.

What? Research?

Yeah, please.
Sure, okay.

Just, uh, get back to me.

Sooner is better than later.

Stop it. It's not funny.

Come on, it's
kind of funny.

I shouldn't have eaten
Mexican for dinner.
Guess not.

I can't believe those were
just gas pains.

I can't imagine what labor pains
are going to be like.

Sit down; I'll get you
something to drink.

Sorry you had to rush
me to the hospital.

That's okay.

I'm glad it wasn't
for something more serious.

Yeah, me, too, I guess.

You guess?

I don't know, it's just...

my life would have been
a lot easier

if this had've
all ended today.

It would have been sad,

but it would've
been over.

And this is never
going to be over.

My life's changed forever.

And Martin's.
Maybe.

Maybe he's never going
to be a part of this.

He's already
a part of this.

I mean, he can't
stay away forever.

I can't believe I'd do
something so stupid.

I just think
it's because...

I wanted you to know
I slept with Martin.

I was angry that you were
dating Rose instead of me.

And I'm a little jealous

that you're marrying Rose
instead of me.

I wish I'd never introduced
the two of you.

And I wish that you had
gotten to know me better,

and I had gotten
to know you better.

And I'm really not

a bad person...
and I know you're not.

And I think that

you're going to make
a great husband.

And someday you're going
to make a great dad.

And frankly...

I don't think Rose deserves you.

Sandy, look...

What, you wanted me to lie?

No.

I just really wish you didn't
say everything you just said.

Fine.

I take it back.

Forget I said any
of what I just told you.

Even through it's the truth.

I don't think you always have
to tell everyone the truth,

the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.

Maybe you should try it.

Are you happy marrying Rose?

You gonna get that?

Hi, this is Simon...

No, I'm just going
to let it pick up.

Simon, call me.

And if you don't call me
by midnight,

expect me to show up
on your doorstep again.

Someone knows about
the engagement ring

and someone's
going to get in trouble.

What's going on?

That Brian guy
asked me out.

No, I meant with your dad.

Why is he meeting
with Meredith's dad?

Oh, I didn't know he was.

Oh, well, what Brian guy?

On your team,
the baseball team.

The shortstop.

What?
David and Sam and I
were riding bikes

and we ran into him.

And he asked me out.

And he came over
and met my dad.

And he doesn't drive,
so I was asking

if we could go out
with you and Meredith.

Oh, that guy, yeah.

Um, no, I'm sorry.

No, you're sorry?

I want to be Meredith alone.

Okay?
If her dad still lets me.

What could they have been
talking about?

Who?

Your dad and George!

I don't know, but I know
my dad likes you.

So I don't think he'd be
telling George

not to let Meredith
go out with you.

And you guys are alone
all the time.

Do you have to be
alone tonight?

Yes, we do.

But Brian doesn't have a car.

Yeah, I know that.
He's been trying to get

a ride from anyone on the team
who will give him a ride.

Look, I don't want
any company tonight.

I need to be
with Meredith alone.

"Need to be"?

Yeah, I need to talk to her.

Yeah, sure.

What does that mean?

It means that you don't
want to help me out.

That's not what
you think it means.

You think it means I want to do
more than talk.

I didn't say that.

All right...

I'm going to ask
you a question,

and I want the two of you
to answer at the same time

without taking a cue
from each other.

How old is this Brian that
you're trying to go out with?

Sixteen.
Eighteen.

Eighteen?

Why would I lie?

I don't lie.

Why would you lie?

'Cause I had to.

Oh, good, you're home.

What happened?

What?

Does he know about
Martin or doesn't he?'

Uh, I'd say he
doesn't know yet,

but he's in the process
of putting it all together.

I'm pretty sure
he's going to know soon.

That's all you found out?

No, that's not all
I found out, no.

No, I found out that Simon gave
Rose an engagement ring.

You know about the ring?

I knew, but I couldn't
really say.

Because...?

Because I said I wouldn't.

Because...?

Because he should
be the one

to tell you.
And yet, he wasn't
the one to tell me.

Well, I can't help that.

Look, it really wasn't
my place to tell you.

All I could do
is tell him to tell you.

Is that the same thing that
you're going to be saying

to Martin's dad when he
comes storming over here

asking why we didn't
tell him that his son

is going to be a father?

I'm handling it, okay?

All by yourself.

You're handling
an unwanted pregnancy

that involves a young man
who, who lived in our home

for two years and now lives
across the street with his dad.

A-A young man who your
younger sister worships.

A young man we all love.

You're handling his problems
all by yourself?

Yes, I am.

He asked me to.

And you're also
handling the problems

of the young woman
who's having his child.

A young woman who's
a friend of your brother's.

A young woman who has no other
friends or family to turn to?

Yes, I am.

And you're in the middle
of your brother's

relationship problems,
not to mention the problems

he's about to have
with your mother and me?

And, at the same time,

you're trying to fulfill
all the obligations you have

from your commitment
to the church, all while...

bring up a daughter
and remodeling a house,

and you just graduated
from college.

And you have no practical
experience,

because you're just
in your first year of work?

Are you jealous that all these
people came to me for help

instead of talking to you?

Is that the problem?

No, that's not the problem.

So what's the problem.

The problem is...

Oh.

Hello?

Oh, could you hold on
for just one second?

Okay.

I'm sorry, but I have
something I have to do.

But stop worrying.

I... I'll admit
I have a lot going on,

but I've got this
all under control.

No, you don't.

She doesn't.

She... She really doesn't.

I have to go meet
Sandy's dad.

Hold on, I'll follow you.

I got it, okay?

I'm just going down
to the Promenade

to meet him for coffee.

I'll just be nearby
if you need me.

Have you been talking to my dad?

About...?
About my talking on too much.

No, but I'm not surprised
he would think that.

He thinks that maybe you should

give some consideration
what we're both telling you

before someone gets hurt
or you get hurt.

All right, all right,
I hear you.

Consider it considered.

Okay, bye-bye.

Mommy will be right back.

Are you gonna follow me or not?

The guy sounded
a little creepy on the phone.

Want to go for a ride?

Hello.

Ruthie?

Oh, hi.

Is it a bad time?

Kind of. I'm a little angry
with your boyfriend now.

Is that why my dad asked if
we could not go out tonight?

I don't know.

You dad doesn't want you going
out with Martin tonight?

He was nice about it;

he just said he felt like
I was going out a lot lately,

so maybe Martin and I should
take a night off.

I just find it kind of odd,

since he met with your dad
this afternoon.

So you don't know what your dad
could have said to him

to make him think that Martin
and I were going out too often?

No. Are you sure it was
something my dad said

that made him decide that?

No, but I...

I have to call you back.
I'll call you back.

I think we should talk.

I'm sorry.

I won't do it again.

I won't lie about a guy's age

just so I can try
to go out with him.

That's an excellent start.

And I won't ask Sam and David
to lie for me ever again.

That was stupid.

It was wrong.

I meant to say wrong first.

You just seem so determined
to go out with guys

who are older than you.

Is... Is that just
so that you can show Martin

that you're old enough
to date guys his age?

Ruthie...

I know you have
this fantasy in your head

about someday being
Martin Brewer's girlfriend,

but maybe it's
time to let go

of that dream and
get a new dream.

You know, maybe a dream that's
not about a guy, but about you.

About graduating at
the top of your class

and getting into
college, you know,

and studying something
you're passionate about

and pursuing a career

and succeeding at it and
traveling around the world.

Why?

Why?

Yeah, why?

I'm not trying to ruin
Martin's relationship

with Meredith or anything.

I just know that it's
not going to last forever,

and it may be that he'll have
another relationship after that

and another one after that
and another one after that

and another after that

before he even sees me
as more than a friend.

But, someday,
that could happen.

I want that to happen.

Sounds as if you're
willing to do

whatever it takes
to make that happen.

Well, if it did happen--

if he did want
to go out with me--

would you let me
go out with him?

Dad?

I'd have to think about that.

What?!

Why would you have
to think about it?

You know what a nice guy he is.

This is more about you
than about Martin.

You just lied to us about Brian,

so let's just focus on
how you're going to win back

out trust so that, eventually,
we can let you date again.

It's just-- it's so hard
to tell you the truth

when I know you're not going
to like what I'm telling you.

It's this simple--

don't do things
you know are wrong

and then you won't
have to lie about them.

Say that we didn't know that you
lied to us about Brian's age,

and you went out with him.

Would you have
enjoyed the date?

I mean, could you have just
put it out of your head

that you lied to us
and then had a good time?

Or would you have been
worried the whole night

that we were going to find out

and you were gonna
get in trouble?

You're right.
I know you're right.

It's just why do you have
to put me in a situation

where I have to lie to you?

Why can't you just trust me
to make my own decisions?

Well, for one thing,
you lied to me.

Well, is there another thing?

Well, yes, there is,
as a matter of fact.

I don't want you to end
up being a young woman

who will do whatever it takes
to get a guy that she wants.

Whenever you find yourself
in that frame of mind,

obsessed with getting a guy,

the feeling that you
just have to have him--

you'll do whatever
it takes to get him--

I just...
I want you to question

whether getting him is really
worth losing who you are.

Hey, it's not like I'm Rose.

Yeah.

If what you mean is

you don't want me to have sex
just to get a guy,


I want you to know
that I would never do that.

Thanks.

I'm going
to hold you to that.

Until the day you're married.

To Martin?

Oh...

Is it because he told me
that he loved me?

No... yes... maybe.

I, I just don't want you to get
into any trouble with Martin.

I'm just saying, let's
slow it down a little.

Look, I went through years
at social services

without having sex,

which is more than I can say
of most girls in my situation,

so please don't think that I'm
gonna get talked into anything

just 'cause a guy's
in love with me.

I didn't know that about you.

I'm very happy to know that
about you and I trust you.

Your mother and I trust you.

So you don't trust
Martin.

Why?

I don't know.

I guess because he's a guy
who's in love with you.

But I apologize.

I have no reason
not to trust you.

And I'm sure you're going to do
the right thing for yourself.

So, if you don't feel

that you and Martin are getting
too serious too fast,

and if you don't think
you're headed

toward a relationship that
wouldn't be good for you,

then you go out with him,
tonight, or any other night.

As long as you're
doing well in school,

I'll let you make
your own decisions.

And, after all, you've been
making your own decisions--

and good ones--
for a long time.

Thanks.

But you know what?

I will take the night off
and do something else,

just to show you
that my whole life

is not centered around Martin.

I love being in this family.

I love you.

Really, was it me telling you

that Martin told me
that he loved me

that made you feel
that you couldn't trust us

or did something else happen?

Well, I've never had more than
one child in this house.

Cecilia was the only one--
no siblings--

and I just think
it's wonderful

how you and your sisters
and your brother,

you care for each other
and you look out for each other.

My sister told you

that Martin had sex
with Simon's friend Sandy.

Well...

Why would she tell you that?

I told her not to tell anyone.

Regardless of that...

I trust you, Meredith,

and I meant what I said.

You make your own decisions
regarding this relationship.

And, that being said, I hope
you make the right one.

And if you want my help,
or your mother's help,

we're here for you to talk to.

Lucy Kinkirk?

Oh, yes-- hi.

I'm Lucy Kinkirk.

I'm Sandy's friend

and the Associate Pastor
at Glenoak Church.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Edward Jameson.

I'm Sandy's dad and, I'm...

Are you okay?

You seem a little...

Drunk?

When was the last time
you spoke to Sandy's mom?

I know all about the baby, if
that's what you want to know.

And?

And... I'm a drunk.

What do you want me to do?

Well, have you ever thought
about, say, getting sober?

Not recently.

I've been drinking
my whole life.

I like to drink,

so I'm gonna keep drinking.

So why did you even meet me?

So if you get any crazy ideas

about my being able
to help my daughter,

you'll forget 'em.

Don't you want to help her?

Does she need money?

Well, yes, of course
she needs money.

Well, so do I.

It's really difficult
holding down a job

when employers are so prejudiced
against functional alcoholics.

And yet, I have managed
to always pay child support.

One job at a time, most often,
one day at a time.

I don't think Sandy is aware
of your paying child support.

Well, I'm not surprised her
mother never told her; I...

Of course,
I've never told her

because I'm not allowed
to have contact with her.

Because...?

Judges are also prejudiced
against functional alcoholics.

You keep saying
"functional alcoholic."

I mean, I drink
and yet I function.

It's pretty tough to do,
if I do say so myself.

She's 21.

No judge can keep you
from having contact

with your 21-year-old daughter.

Really. She's 21?

Not that you should contact
her in your present state

of functional alcoholism...

No, possibly not.

But if she is 21...

my financial obligations
have ended.

And that's good news;
that's very good news.

I guess my dear ex-wife
forgot to mention that.

Or maybe you promised to...

to help her until she was
finished with college?

Did I?

Yeah, Sandy said that
her mother told her

that, um, that you were
obligated to help her

until she was finished
with school.

I may have promised
something like that.

Her mother would know.

Her mother
is stone-cold sober,

with an emphasis on stone-cold.

I detested being
married to her.

That's why I started drinking.

And the memory of being with her
is why I keep drinking.

She's probably the reason
Sandy started drinking.

I'm sorry?

Always seemed ironic to me--
drinking while working

to put my daughter through drug
and alcohol treatment programs.

Sandy went through drug and
alcohol treatment programs?

Yes, before she could even
drive a car.

And they worked.

Sh... She quit;
she gave it all up.

Well, I take that back.

She gave up the booze
and the pot

and substituted that for sex,
but...

that's when her mother
and stepfather

threw up their hands
and said that's it.

It's especially
painful for them,

since they can't have children
of their own.

His problem, so I hear.

Your comments, Reverend?

You want to hear my comments?

Okay, here are my comments:

Despite your being
an alcoholic--

Functional alcoholic.

Despite your being
a functional alcoholic,

despite Sandy's mother and
stepfather giving up on her,

despite the fact that she went
into rehab at an early age,

despite the fact
that she came out of rehab

and possibly started using sex

as a substitute for dr*gs
and alcohol and is now pregnant,

despite all of that--
or you know what?

maybe because of all of that-- I
think Sandy is going to overcome

all of the challenges
she's been presented with.

All of them.

And she is gonna be just fine
without you

or her mother stepping in
to help her.

I'm really not surprised
by that.

I mean, after all, you believe
that pie-in-the-sky lie,

don't you, Reverend?

Hey, hold on!

Stop, stop!

Would you let me go?

I don't think so.

Why, thank you, sir.

You stink!

You're not the first person
to tell me that.

Good day.

Interesting to see
how you actually work.

Are you sure you don't want me
to talk to Martin?

No, I... I can handle this.

Luce, it's a lot to handle,
and you're getting in deeper

and deeper and more and more
people are getting involved

whether you
want them involved or not.

You can't handle
this alone; it's too big.

I can. I have to.

You can't.

I say this as someone
who loves you: you can't.

You just pummeled a guy
in broad daylight.

Well?

Mom said you wanted
to talk to me.

Yeah, she and I
were talking.

About my punishment?

Not so much that
as about you.

We were talking about you.

We were thinking that you need

to get more involved in
activities other than dating.

Oh. Great.

Well, you know, just to give
your life more balance

so that you have something
or someone in your world

that you're interested in
other than guys.

Well, I could go back
to riding horses,

but Sarah sold her horse,
so you'd need to buy me one.

Or you could find
a new interest--

some club at school
or some project at school

or down at the church that you
could become involved in.

Something that helps
other people...

some way of making a
contribution to your community.

So my punishment is to inflict

some kind of community service
on myself?

It's not a punishment.

It sounds like a punishment.

Let me finish.

I have to do something more
than community service?

If you volunteer
to get involved with anything

that benefits someone
other than yourself,

we're gonna take that as a sign

that you're growing up
and you're maturing

and we're gonna let you choose
who you go out with,

provided that you
continue to make
good grades,

you know, you stick
to a curfew

and we know where you are
and who you're with

and that your choices are
reasonable and...

Are you kidding me?

I get to go out with any guy
I want?

Even Jack?

Even Brian?

Even Martin, someday?

Find a project.

I love you!

I can't wait for next week
for you to get back to me.

So...?

I know about Martin.

I didn't know when
I came to see you today.

All I knew then was
that Martin was

telling Meredith
he loved her.

But then when I sat down
and I talked to her about

why I was so worried,

she confessed to me
that she's never had sex

and didn't think
she was going to until

she was much older and in
a committed relationship.

Now, I'd prefer marriage, but
she said committed relationship.

Anyway, after we talked, she
said that Martin had had sex,

but only once and with
a much older girl, Sandy,

one of Simon's friends,
and Meredith said

that she still felt
she could trust him

because he felt it was
such a big mistake,

and therefore
I could trust him, too.

But that's when I remembered
that Christina--

the one who'd told me
about the engagement ring--

mentioned that Simon's friend
Sandy is pregnant.

And I just feel like crying...

for Sandy and for Martin
and for my little Meredith.

I'm sorry.
I couldn't tell you.

Martin's dad doesn't know yet.

Martin doesn't even know I know.

People are gonna to find out.

I found out.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't know
you had company.

Hi, George.

Lucy.

He knows.

I didn't tell him,
but he knows.

You know?

Oh.

Yeah, well,
I'll let you two talk.

Um, call me.
Let's stay in touch, please.

Night, Reverends.

Long story.

You know,
bits of information

from different sources,
and he... he figured it out.

Meredith doesn't know.

Does Ruthie?

Nope, but...

when she finds out and she
finds out that we all knew

and didn't tell her,
she's gonna be very angry

for a very long time, and hurt,

and she's gonna feel that
we all lied to her.

What are we gonna do?

We?

I'm sorry, you gave me that tip

last week about relying

on a higher power for my
strength and well, I...

I guess I got kind of high
thinking of my possibilities

without realizing
my limitations.

I really need your help.

We're all gonna need each other

to get through this one, Luce.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry
about how I've behaved.

I know the right thing
to do, but I...

But that puts you ahead
of most people.

Take this home, start reading it
to Savannah now.

Okay.

We'll talk?

You bet.

Hello?

Hi.

Simon.

Dad.

I was hoping
you'd call.

You threatened me.

Oh, yeah, well, about
that, I... I apologize.

I was very angry with you

when I found out about
that engagement ring.

And now?

I'm still angry, plus
your mother's angry.

So Lucy told you.

I figured she would.

No, she didn't tell me.

Meredith's sister
saw the ring

and she mentioned
it to her dad

and he mentioned it to me.

Oh.
Yeah.

I hear it's a
full one-carat.

Yep, it's the one she wanted.

I had to get it.

Because...

Because you made her move out
of my apartment.

You can't blame that on me.

You wanted her to move out
of your apartment,

and she never should have moved
into your apartment

in the first place.

But still,
I didn't want to lose her.

So you bought a ring
you can't afford.

H-How are you gonna
pay for it?

I don't know.

I'll pick up extra hours
at the radio station

or I'll pick up a second job.

You know... when you charge
something like that,

you just pay for it
over and over.

I know that.

Why'd you buy something

you can't pay for?

Because after the way
she got kicked out...

I had to let her know I was
really gonna marry her, Dad.

And, Dad, I am really
gonna marry her.

A year from next May; after you
both graduate from college.

That's the plan.

No, the plan was

to get engaged this May,

so no more surprises, okay?
Stick to the plan.

I will.

Promise.

Promise.

Hi!

Hey.

Oh, my dad's on the phone.

They found about the ring.

Is Rose there?

Yeah, Rose just walked in.

She went to San Francisco today
to see some designer.

I don't know, something
for school, I guess.

Okay, well, I... guess
I better let you go.

Okay.

Thanks, Dad.

Good night, Simon.

Want to see my dress?

What kind of dress did you buy?

The kind that goes
with my ring.

You bought a wedding dress?

Yes! Want to see?

We're not getting married
until a year from next May!

I know, but I found
the perfect one.

It still needs some alterations,
but let me show it to you.

That's okay, I... I think
it's bad luck if I see it.

Well, we don't want
any bad luck, do we?

Nope.

So, how was your day?

Interesting.

Very interesting.
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