Okay. Okay, bye-bye.
Hey, Nicholas,
what you got in the box?
- A present.
- Oh, yeah. From who?
A creep named Malcom Swift.
He's across from me in school.
Well, if he's such a creep,
how come he gave you a present?
He says he wants
to be my friend.
And you don't
wanna be his friend.
Not if I don't gotta be.
He's always sneezing on me
and looking
at my spelling test paper.
Oh, yeah, now I get it.
Well, you know,
that means you really
should give him back
the present.
Really? Why?
Well, because if you don't,
that means
you'd be keeping it
under false pretenses.
What does that mean?
Well, that, that means that
it comes with strings attached.
My present didn't come
with strings attached.
Nicholas, believe me. It did.
Unh-unh, you just think that
because you're older
and you know everything.
I don't know everything.
Look, that present came
with strings attached, period.
Oh, yeah? See for yourself.
[gasps]
Nicholas, take it away, please.
'Please, take it away.
I hate.. Oh.'
Ever heard of a lizard
with strings attached to it.
[theme music]
(Tom)
'Great-Grandma Bradford's
original recipe.'
Alright?
Now you have your choice
of quiche, canape or pate.
- Who's first?
- Uh, how about you first?
Oh, are you kidding?
It's bad luck for the chef
to taste his own creation.
- Why's that?
- Well, you lose a lot of chefs.
Okay, in that case..
...I will go first.
It's um, okay.
What do you mean?
Just okay? Susan?
- It's alright.
- Alright?
Hey, Tommy, listen,
if you're hungry
there's some hors d'oeuvres
you ought to try.
Hmm. Hey, this is pretty good.
Ah, now there's a compliment
of the highest order.
Oh, don't let it go
to your head.
You haven't even cooked yet.
Dad, can I borrow your tools?
Oh, sure. What for, Nicholas?
Well, I wanna build a coaster
car like Freddy Ryan's.
So then I can race
with the guys.
A coaster car?
Now that's right up my alley.
'What are your plans?'
Well, I don't really
have any plans.
I figured I'd make it up
as I go along.
Oh, no, no, Nicholas,
that's wrong.
I mean, if you wanna do
something properly
you have to make plans.
That would be like me
cooking without a recipe.
- Bad example, dad.
- Here, I-I'll show you.
Look, make-believe,
this is your car, right?
That's the body
and we take these crackers here
and we make that the wheel.
'See that? See the way
I put that in there?'
'It looks just like the wheel.'
'Then you take the other one
over here.'
'So you make this
the other wheel.'
And the toothpicks are the axles
that the wheels go on.
Here's the steering wheel,
right here.
'See that? Look at that.
Isn't that good? '
'And here's, uh, you, Nicholas.'
See how sharp you are?
Somehow, dad,
I don't think Henry Ford
got his start this way.
You don't get it.
[honking]
(David)
'Thanks a lot.'
I'm sorry.
Did I take your place?
- Yes.
- Well, I'm running kinda late.
I'll have to make it up to you.
How?
- Oh, hi, Jo.
- Tommy, hold it.
- Is there something wrong?
- Aah!
Oh, my God.
What's the matter with you?
- What're you? Flipped out?
- That was a test.
A te..
Oh, man, you are flipped out.
- Supposing I didn't catch you?
- I knew you would.
I trust you.
(Nancy)
Absolutely not, I've let you
borrow too many things
which you've neglected
to return.
- 'Never.'
- 'Oh, yeah?'
- What about my sweat socks?
- Oh, yeah.
Wait, you don't want me to
return them unwashed, do you?
Eww. You mean to tell me
you haven't washed them yet?
Well, you know..
Classic. This is classic.
Listen to yourselves.
Th-there's interaction,
but no communication.
Communication has nothing to do
with dirty socks, Joannie.
You listen, but you don't hear.
You touch, but you don't feel.
You talk,
but you don't say anything.
That is exactly
the close-minded attitude
that stops communication.
At my improvisation class,
we're learning
that, that self-awareness
can open up a whole new world.
- I like the old one, thanks.
- But that's the problem.
See, we just have to get
in touch with our feelings
and-and with the wonderful world
around us.
I mean, with this banister,
this chair, the desk--
- What's she carrying on about?
- I don't know.
Oh, good. I'm glad
I'm in your world, not in hers.
- Let's get out of here.
- While there's still time.
Oh, no, you guys,
you don't understand.
Well, I mean,
you wouldn't understand
'cause you're not in touch.
[clears throat]
Uh, excuse me,
these are the plans
for East Main Street
project for Mr. Jenkins.
Will you give them
to Mr. Baker, please?
- Right here?
- Um-hmm.
Mr. Baker,
these are for Mr. Jenkins.
Is lunch with your father
on Monday still on?
(female #)
'Oh, yeah,
but could you move it ahead'
an hour to o'clock,
please, Janie?
Sure. If there's a problem,
I'll call you.
Great, thank you.
- How?
- What'd you say?
How, like in how you're gonna
make it up to me?
The parking space, remember?
Oh, I didn't recognize you
without your van.
Ah, look, I'm terribly sorry
about stealing your space.
I guess it's just
one of my bad habits.
Oh, do you have
other bad habits?
Well, that depends
on whether you include
talking to strange men
as a bad habit.
Hmm, one of the worst.
But I can fix that easily.
My name's David Bradford.
- Andrea Jenkins.
- Hi.
Wait,
you're Mr. Jenkins daughter?
[chuckles]
Guilty as charged.
One of three children
if you're interested.
My father's
a very determined man
and what he wants, he gets.
He wanted a princess and he
didn't stop till he had me.
Well, I admire determination.
Why? Do you always
get what you want?
No, not always,
but it's fun to try.
I still have a couple
of credits to finish up
before I get my degree
but I decided
to take a year off
and try to discover
what I really want.
Do you like what you're doing?
Well, I've tried
a few other things
but nothing else measured up.
Whoa.
You got yourself a ticket.
[sighs]
Justice prevails.
I stole your space
and the law caught up with me.
Let's see what you get.
Hey, wait a minute, you must've
tickets back here.
Oh, yeah?
Hmm, I never counted.
Hey, uh,
how about dinner sometime?
- Fine, hop in.
- What? Now?
Yeah, well, I said
I'll make it up to you.
Now's as good a time as any.
Yeah, I guess it is.
I think I'm done sweeping, dad.
Oh, that's great, Nicholas.
Now one of the first thing
you have to learn
about building is you must
have a clean work area.
I know, dad, you told me.
Yeah, but it can't be
stressed enough, you know.
Isn't there something else
I can do?
- I already swept twice.
- Well, that's good.
I'll tell you what,
when you're through sweeping
why don't you organize the tools
and then I'll know
what we have to
work with, alright?
Boy, there's a lot to do
before you get
to the good stuff.
Anyway, I'd rather be
working outside all day
than cooped up in an office,
that's for sure.
Guess I'm allergic
to the fluorescent sunlight
and forced air wind.
Oh, you sound like my father.
The rugged individualistic type.
I don't know.
From the look of his
surroundings today
it didn't look too rugged.
Oh, well, don't let
the shag carpeting fool you.
When you meet him,
oh, and I'm sure you will
take a good look at his hands.
He's a got his share
of calluses.
I guess he worked pretty hard
to get where he is, huh?
Why don't you drive?
I'd rather watch you
than the road.
Sure.
Don't be afraid
to drive her hard.
She's made for it.
Now, you've gotta reach way down
and get to your
real feelings, okay?
Well, we can't communicate
with each other from a void.
Okay?
Ready to try the exercise?
Okay.
Now, Nicholas.
I want you to tell me exactly
what you feel about me.
You? You're a pain.
I see.
I see. Well, that's good.
That-that's very good.
It's, uh..
It's very honest.
And I can accept that.
Now..
Now for the important question.
How do you feel about you?
- Me?
- 'Yes.'
Well, I like me
most of the time
except when I have
a stomach ache
then I'm a pain.
I knew you'd handle this thing
like it was made for you.
Well, I didn't mean
to get carried away.
No, I loved it.
There's nothing
like a strong hand
to make a woman feel at ease.
Car's built for speed, but it's
not much in the comfort area.
Well, I guess
I better get goin'.
I'm glad I stole
your parking place.
I'm glad you made it up to me.
What would you say if I told you
I've only just started
making it up to you?
Well, I guess I'd say follow me.
I'll try and keep up.
What would Saturday be like
without the morning paper
a hot cup of coffee
and a good hug?
Like a day without sunshine.
Do you believe
in love at first sight?
No.
How about at second sight?
[sighs]
Getting warmer.
And what's on your agenda
for today?
Nothing special.
I thought I'd play it by you.
Good, then you're coming
with me.
- Where?
- The club, darling.
I have a standing game
every Saturday morning.
Oh, champagne at o'clock?
Beats prune's juice.
- You're late?
- I was held up.
- 'I can tell by whom.'
- Mm.
Kendal Roberts,
meet David Bradford.
- How do you do?
- Hello.
Uh, what time
should I pick you up?
Uh, why don't I have
Kendal drop me off later?
That'd be easier. Okay?
Listen, I better go change
or we're gonna lose our court.
Okay.
- Have a good game.
- Alright.
Hey, I'll be
in my folks' house.
I'll leave you the address.
Well..
Andrea usually keeps
her boyfriends away from me.
I hope I'll be seeing
more of you.
Yeah, me too.
- See you later.
- 'Mm-hmm.'
Oh, boy, Nicholas,
this is really shaping up.
Wait till your buddy
see you pull up on this.
Can I put the wheels on yet?
No, no, no,
I have to finish the body
and secure the axle.
I mean, you have to do
one step at a time.
But when it's completed,
you'll have the satisfaction
of the job well done.
- Hey, Tom.
- Hey!
Hey, Nicholas.
We're working hard.
Well, what're you making,
Tom, besides sawdust?
It's a coaster car, Dr. Max.
Oh, yeah?
I haven't seen
one of these in years.
This is quite a project
you're undertaking, Nicholas.
It's been pretty easy so far.
'What kind of steering
you're going to use?'
- It's gonna be rope steering.
- That's ancient, Tom.
No modern-day self-respecting
coaster car will be
caught dead without a proper
steering mechanism, look.
Center shaft
through here, right?
Secure it through there
and then connect the ropes
bringing them together
at the base.
Oh, thanks, Greg, I never
would've thought of that.
Hey, he saved us,
right, Nicholas?
- Hi.
- Wow! You got a new car?
I wish. It's pretty nifty,
isn't it?
Yeah. Well, don't I
get to sit in it?
Only if your hands are clean.
It's borrowed.
David, can I talk
to you a second?
You know, man to man?
Because you know a lot about
dads and cars and stuff, right?
Okay, what's the problem?
Well, I asked dad for a little
help on a coaster car, see
and he's doing all the work
and I'm doing nothing.
Doctor Max is even doing
more than me.
I see.
You know,
when I was about your age
I got an electric train
for Christmas.
It was loaded. Tracks, engines,
cattle cars, the works.
Once dad got his hands in it,
I couldn't get near it.
Yeah, so what did you do?
Nothing, he finally got tired
of playing with it.
I'm sure the same thing will
happen with your coaster car.
- Thanks, David.
- Yeah.
David, how long did it take?
Before he got tired of it?
I think around summertime.
Summertime?
- Hello.
- Hi.
Is this the Bradford house?
Sure is. What can I do you for?
Oh, I'm suppose to meet
David here.
I'm Andrea Jenkins.
Oh, hi, Andrea Jenkins.
I'm Susan Bradford,
David's sister number three.
Oh. You're practicing
your forehand, huh?
Yeah, not as good as the real
thing, but, man
it's getting so hard to get
a tennis court these days.
Oh, that doesn't
have to stop you.
Maybe we can get a game up
some time at my club.
Uh, you belong
to a private club?
Mm-hmm.
Oh. Should I bring
my own quarters?
Your quarters?
Yeah, you know, you put
the quarters in the machine
and they make the lights work.
Oh, no. No, the quarters
are on me.
Alright.
- I'll show you in.
- Okay.
Jenkins? Um, is that
the same Jenkins
like in the, the Jenkins Fine
Arts building at the university?
- The same.
- Phew! It's quite a building.
Oh, yeah, but between
you and me
I think it was a tax loss.
Oh-ho. That should be
my worst problem.
Don't complain, Tom.
You have eight tax deductions.
Not anymore, I don't.
That big one over there
moved out on me.
Costs me smackers
every April.
- Sorry about that.
- Yeah, you should be.
Abby, I don't think
we should feed him anymore.
Oh, I don't know. I-I don't
think he eats that much.
Hey, uh, that's their way
of inviting us
over to dinner. How about it?
Oh, David, I'd love to
but I went ahead
and made plans for us.
We're meeting Kendall and her
boyfriend at the club tonight.
- Oh.
- Well, look, don't sweat it.
You know, we'll do it again.
Having dinner with this family
is kind of a hard act
to follow anyway.
That would be terrific.
And thanks.
We really should go.
We still have to get dressed.
- It was nice meeting you.
- Nice meeting you.
- Come back any time.
- Thanks, anyway.
- Bring her back.
- Yeah, I will.
See ya.
You didn't tell me
you've made plans.
Oh, well, there's lots of things
I haven't told you.
I'm a woman of mystery.
[knocking on door]
(Elizabeth)
'Nancy!'
Just because you loaned me
your sweater
doesn't mean I gave up
all my rights.
(Nancy)
'Just a minute, Elizabeth.'
'I only have one eye left.'
Uh, is Susan still here?
No, she left for an early
tennis date with Andrea.
Andrea, what's her name?
Nancy, come on!
What?
You know, you have no
consideration for anyone?
Well, anyone who eats all her
meals while talking on the phone
has no right to throw stones.
Oh, well, at least
I have manners.
Well, then why don't you
use them for a while?
You guys are really
incredible, you know.
It's only been a few days
and you've forgotten
completely about really
listening to each other
not just talking
at each other.
We weren't talking to you.
Well, you weren't talking
to each other either.
Come on, why don't you try
another approach?
What do you suggest?
Dueling?
No. Role reversal.
Now, come on,
it's really easy.
You just assume
each other's roles
and that way you get to see
what the other person's
point of view is, first-hand.
- Well, who would wanna be her?
- No, come on. You just try it.
Now, you be Nancy
in the bathroom
and you be Elizabeth
in the hall, okay?
Now you're Elizabeth and you
just tell her how you saw her.
Okay.
Nancy, I just have to use
the bathroom
so I can brush my long,
gorgeous, beautiful hair
before I use the telephone.
No way, Elizabeth.
Absolutely not.
I can hog the bathroom
all I want.
After all, I did loan you
my best sweater, didn't I?
Oh, Nancy, there you are
throwing it up to me again
like you always do.
[laughing]
Yeah, you see?
You see!
Go ahead.
Open it. It's a present.
Andrea, how'd you get in here?
Uh, your manager
liked my smile.
No, actually I told him
I was one of your sisters
and he never
knew the difference.
Andrea.
Tell me I did wrong later.
First, open your present.
Oh, my.
Andrea, I can't accept this.
It's expensive.
Don't sell yourself short,
David Bradford.
Hey, you're worth that.
And more.
Go ahead. Try it on.
Susan helped me pick it out.
Oh, it's beautiful.
It fits.
Come on. Let's give it
a trial run.
What? Where?
Never mind. Just follow
directions. You're driving.
We're almost there.
It's not another
leather jacket, is it?
Now close your eyes.
Close your eyes.
And don't open them.
Eh.
Alright now,
one giant step up.
In.
Okay, you can
open your eyes now.
I think I don't get it.
Oh, but you do. We do.
My father's company
holds the lease.
I convinced him
to let us have it.
- Us?
- Yeah, isn't it perfect?
You know it might have been nice
if you had taken the time
to ask me.
I wanted to surprise you.
Oh, that was quite
a surprise, alright.
I mean I don't recall discussing
plans to live together.
That's the type of discussion
you don't usually forget.
I just thought..
Well, since we spend so much
time together anyway.
[sighs]
Andrea.
Andrea, spending time together
and sharing an apartment
are not quite the same thing.
Yeah, I know.
David, I'm sorry. I guess I sort
of jumped the g*n, didn't I?
It's just that,
I don't know, I..
I let my feelings
get the best of me.
That's always been my problem.
I leap before I look.
- David, do you hate me?
- Of course not.
I wouldn't blame you
if you did.
It's just that, I don't know,
we're just so good together.
Andrea, it's okay.
David, I don't wanna lose you.
Hi, Nicholas.
It's shaping up, huh?
Yeah. Hey, dad,
you wanna play a game?
A game? What kind of a game?
Well, Joannie's been doing
this really neat steps
and I'd like to show it to you.
Alright, go ahead, show it.
Okay.
First, I gotta bring this box
from here. See.
And put it down,
and I stand on it
so I can be like your size
and you stand on your knees
to be my size.
- Huh?
- Just do it, dad.
It'll be really easy, okay?
So, you're me and I'm you.
- Alright.
- Okay.
Nicholas, you better sweep up
all those shavings.
Remember, a good workshop
is a clean workshop.
Alright, daddy.
Would you hand me another nail,
please, Nicholas?
Okay, dad.
Say, dad, do you really
like this game?
Yup, think we can
play it tomorrow?
I don't think we have to, dad.
- Huh?
- I read you Loud and clear.
You can still help though, dad.
No, no. You'll get along
just fine without me.
Thanks, dad.
- David.
- Mr. Jenkins.
How are you, son?
Good to see you.
Hi.
- Can I get you a drink?
- No, thank you.
Sit down. Be comfortable.
How's the, uh,
East Main project coming?
- Fine.
- Good, I'm glad to hear it.
You're doing a good job.
As a matter of fact,
an excellent job.
Ah, at the risk of a cliche
I suppose you're wondering why
you're, uh, you're here, huh?
Yeah, frankly, I am.
Well, to tell you the truth,
I heard a lot about you
and I wanted to meet you.
Mr. Jenkins, um, did Andrea
put you up to this?
Oh, come on, David,
you know my daughter
doesn't run my business for me.
'Andrea did tell me a good bit
about you, but, uh..'
Let's face it, we'd have had
this talk sooner or later.
Look, son, I started
at the bottom just like you did.
And I wanna build this company
right from the bottom up.
'I want young, independent,
tough people like yourself.'
'People who aren't afraid'
to get a little sawdust
on their clothes.
Come here, I wanna
show you something.
Come here, look at this.
This is the new downtown
shopping mall.
Projected cost,
million dollars.
It'll take two years to put up.
And, uh, frankly,
I'm going to need
about sub-contractors.
Now, wait a second, I think
Andrea neglected to tell you
I don't have
my contractor's license.
Well, the project doesn't start
for at least six months.
Mr. Jenkins, it's going
to take me
longer than six months
to get my license.
Now that depends, son.
You see, I have some friends
on the review board
and, uh, we might just possibly
speed things up a bit.
Mr. Jenkins, it's very kind
of you, but I don't--
Don't make
any snap judgements.
I don't want you to make
any decisions now.
You go on home
and you think about it
and then you come back
to see me, okay?
- Okay.
- We'll have a nice long chat.
Maybe we'll have lunch
and we'll get to know
each other a lot better.
- Thank you.
- Thank you for coming.
- See you, David.
- Yeah.
[men whistling]
Hey!
- Take a look at that.
- What's happenin', mama?
[whistling]
[indistinct chatter]
Where did
you find her, Bradford?
(male #)
'Not so shabby.'
- 'Hey.'
- 'Hey, baby.'
(Andrea)
How did you get up there?
What are you doing here?
It's a beautiful day
for a picnic, don't you think?
Yeah. Lovely.
Did you bother to ask me
if I wanted to have a picnic?
No, but--
No, you just assumed
I'd be thrilled, right?
- Well, aren't you?
- No.
Now, look, I thought
we got this straight.
I don't like having my life
arranged for me.
I was not arranging.
I was just trying to do
something spontaneous.
Do I have to write a memo
every time I get an idea?
Look, why don't we just cool
this for a while, alright?
That's fine with me.
You just let me know
when you can fit me
into your busy schedule.
Hey, Andrea.
What do you want me to do
with your Porsche?
Just hang on to it.
I'll let you know
when I need it.
- Ah, that was a great set.
- Yeah.
Hey, how do you get so much
top spin off your serve?
Hmm?
Andrea, you seem a little
out of it today. You alright?
I'm just tired.
Uh, I might as well
tell you the truth.
- David and I had a fight today.
- Oh, no. What happened?
Oh, nothing happened.
He is just so suspicious.
Every time I do anything nice
he thinks I'm trying
to take over his life.
'I mean, what is it
with him, Susan?'
He's always been like that.
So independent.
If you only knew,
how many women tried to lay
their hooks on him,
you'd know why too.
Yeah.
I guess I've been pushing
a little too hard.
I better lay back
and give him some room.
Listen, Susan, I don't want
this problem with David
to have any effect
on you and me.
- 'Well, why should it?'
- Well, I don't know.
Divided loyalties,
that type of thing.
Look, Andrea,
my friendship with you
has nothing to do with David.
In fact, I'd like you
to come to dinner tonight.
'I'm inviting you, not David.'
Uh, that might be
a little awkward.
Why? David probably
won't even be there
and if he does show up,
well, that's his problem.
Thanks, Susan.
I'd love to come.
- To your top serve.
- Ah.
Mm, the dinner is delicious.
My compliments to the chef.
Well, the chef is sitting
right across the table from you.
Mm, Joannie,
it's delicious.
I'm Mary.
That's Joannie.
- Oh, I'm so sorry.
- Oh, hey, it's cool.
You know, even after all these
years, I still mix them up.
See, I think
we all ought to wear
these little numbers,
just like football players
'and then when our guests
come over'
we could just give them
these little scorecards
and they could look
on the score--
- Tommy.
- I was just making a joke.
[laughter]
(Abby)
'Anyway, you were saying?'
(Andrea)
Oh, well, we were skiing
in Switzerland that summer
and daddy..
How come nobody's talking?
Because, Nicholas..
Because what?
Because this family
is not in touch
with its feeling, that's why.
Come on, you guys.
Come on. Let's be open.
Let's be honest about this.
Let's, let's talk about
what's under this silence, huh?
Come on.
Who wants to talk first?
Is it so hard?
Alright. Okay, I'll talk first.
I think that
this whole situation
is just because of a lack
of communication.
'Right? Huh?'
So let's communicate.
Come on, it's not so hard.
You can.
Come on, Nancy. You look like
you have something to say.
Alright. I'll start.
I don't think Susan
should have gotten involved
in David's private affairs.
- See.
- No, I don't see.
And I didn't do anything
of this sort.
Then why did Andrea
leave here so upset?
Well, that wasn't my fault.
She just happens to be
a friend of mine
and I invited her to dinner.
Oh, come on, Susan.
You just dig that snooty
tennis club of hers.
I just happen to dig
playing tennis, Elizabeth.
Well, if it wasn't for Andrea
you wouldn't be playing
at the private club.
(Susan)
'Just what is it
you're trying to say, Nance?'
Face it, Susan. She used you
to get to David.
Used me? Hey, listen, you guys
my friendship with Andrea
has nothing to do with David.
Susan, I might consider,
uh, asking David that first.
Oh, I just might consider
talking to him too
if he would stop acting
like such a child.
- Oh, you're the child, Susan.
- Oh, says who?
Oh, hey, hey!
Come on. Calm down.
No, no. Go on. Get it out.
Flow with it. That's good.
[phone ringing]
Yeah, I'll get it out.
I'll flow with it.
Now you want to say something,
just go ahead and say it, Nance.
Good, Susan. Go on. Emote.
Oh, no, no. Please don't emote.
Do not emote in my living room.
- Susan.
- Oh, what?
David wants to speak to you
in the telephone.
Well, that's just fine
'cause I'd love to talk to him.
Is that what you call
communicating?
No, Nicholas. That's called,
um, yelling and screaming.
You wanted to talk?
- Yeah.
- Talk.
What was Andrea doing
at the house?
Eating dinner.
- You invited her?
- Correct.
Do you have any idea
how awkward it was for me
to walk in there
and see her there?
David, I'm sorry
it was awkward for you.
I wasn't expecting you
to show up.
Susan, I'm trying
to cool things with Andrea
and you asking her to the house
is not helping.
She happens to be my friend.
Oh, I see.
She has pulled one of her
little numbers on you too.
David, did it ever occur to you
that Andrea might
actually like me?
Oh, come on, Susan.
I know Andrea.
She's a poor, little rich girl
who usually gets what she wants
and what she wants right now
is me.
I'm gonna let you in
on a little secret.
'The whole world does not
revolve around David Bradford.'
There are people who are not
rearranging their lives for you.
I am sorry
if I ruined your day.
Well, that's great, Maggie.
That's great.
W-well, when did he
ask you out?
Elizabeth, get off the phone.
I'm expecting a phone call
from Rick.
Nancy, if you would stop
interrupting me
every two seconds,
I could finish, okay?
I'm sorry, Maggie.
Now tell me, what did he say?
Joannie, will you get her
off the phone?
- She won't listen to me.
- That's nice.
Well, did you really tell her?
What do you mean
did I really tell her?
From deep down inside you.
From the gut.
Elizabeth, get off the phone!
Would you stop shouting?
No, shout back at her,
Elizabeth.
Give it to her.
From the gut.
- Nancy, get off my back.
- You're a telephone!
- You're a gnat!
- Oh, you're a brat!
You're a drat.
Oh, listen, now.
I'm gonna k*ll somebody.
Now do you understand
what I'm saying?
Oh, dad, they were
finally communicating.
Oh, please, I've had it up
to here with that communication.
I mean, it's destroying
my mind and my ear drums.
'From now on, we're just
going to revert'
'to being hypocritical,
closemouthed'
honest, real people.
We'll just grunt at each other
inarticulately.
Mmm.
[laughing]
[knock on door]
Just a second.
- Good morning.
- Morning.
- Business or pleasure?
- Wanna have breakfast?
Sure, come on in.
I can't offer you
anything fancy.
All I have
are coffee and donuts.
Oh, listen, that's fine.
It sure beats
emoting and communications
which is what
I've been getting lately.
- Sorry about last night.
- Yeah, you ought to be.
Hey, now, wait a second, if
you've come here to dump on me
I can do without it.
I got quite an earful
from Susan last night.
So I gather.
Look, it's not my problem
anymore. It's Susan's.
She invited Andrea to dinner
last night, not me.
It's become the entire
family's problem.
What's the story
with this girl, anyway?
Simple. She's manipulative
and possessive
and she's trying to put
a chokehold on my life.
Oh, yeah, but you've gotten
out of chokeholds before.
Why is this girl different?
I don't know.
I'll tell you what I think.
I think you like this girl more
than you're willing to admit.
I also think that
you like the fringe benefits.
- What? Fringe benefits?
- That's right.
The car, the leather jacket,
the tennis club,
all that goes with the package,
doesn't it?
Yeah, that's the problem.
David, you started this thing.
Somehow it's all wound up
in our laps.
Now, come on,
you're old enough to, uh
clean up your own mess, right?
Thanks for the coffee.
Donut's a little stale.
- Call me.
- Yeah.
I have to do it myself
at my own speed
and on my own terms.
David, there are a lot
of people in this world
who'd like to have
what you just turned down.
And frankly, I'm not used to
having my job offers refused.
But I do admire honesty
and your convictions.
Tell you what, when you get
your contractor's license
come see me.
Thank you.
I'll keep that in mind.
Sure.
And, David.
There's someone else
we both know
who doesn't like to be refused.
I hope you'll be as straight
with her as you've been with me.
I will.
Hey, uh, lady,
you're leaning on my car.
- It's a nice car.
- Thanks.
- You wanna drive it?
- Okay.
Where to?
There's a quiet, little place
I know.
I'll give you directions.
David, I don't understand.
What went wrong?
Nothing went wrong.
I don't know,
it all just happened too fast.
It went from first to fourth
without passing through
the middle gears.
It was my fault.
No, it's nobody's fault.
Oh, you're just
trying to be nice.
I pushed too hard, didn't I?
Well, it's taken me a while
to realize this
but you can't be pushed
unless you wanna be pushed?
Yeah, but I was
trying to buy you.
With cars, clothes, jobs.
'And I took it and I liked it.'
I didn't want to admit
I liked it.
It doesn't go with the image
I've set for myself.
A part of me really dug it.
You see, I thought
I had it all together.
My life was a nice, little
self-contained system
with no room in it
for contradictions.
You were a contradiction.
You made me realize I still
have some growing up to do.
I'm grateful to you
for that, Andrea.
Thank you, David.
Thank you for being honest.
Thank you for helping me
do some growing up too.
It's gonna be hard
giving you up.
You too.
Well..
Do you think maybe..
...someday?
Yeah, maybe someday.
Well, I better be going.
Oh, uh, here.
Uh, I'd like you to keep that.
No strings attached.
Thank you.
(man on TV)
'Got entries
from states.'
'Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong
even Florence, Italy.'
'Some were written on napkins.
One arrived as a telegram.'
'All entries from Hemingway--'
Oh, hi, David, how's it goin'?
Hi.
Come on, come on.
- Come on.
- What are you doing?
- Come on, David.
- Come on, just slam it..
Come on, come on, come on.
Okay, okay,
I'm coming, I'm coming.
- David.
- 'Bye.'
- Wow, David, what are you--
- Come on.
- Well.
- W-what's going on?
Oh, I don't know.
David just kidnapped Susan.
Oh, well, find out
what his demands are
and tell him
I'm willing to negotiate.
No more than cents.
- David.
- In you go.
Alright, David,
what's goin' on?
- Tennis now?
- Well, it depends.
- 'Depends on what?'
- If you've got any quarters.
- What for?
- The lights.
'Friends?'
Yeah.
Until we get to the courts.
- All good. Good.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Abby.
- Yeah.
- One more.
- Let's go.
- Let's go.
- Alright.
Everyone here?
All present and accounted for.
Come on, Nicky, we're ready
for the big surprise.
Wait a minute, don't you
think we should have
a bit of a fanfare?
Oh, yeah.
[imitates bugle]
(all)
Ta-da ta-da tada!
Alright!
- Look at that thing.
- Hey.
Look at that little stovepipe.
Okay, Nicholas, let's go.
No, I want you to be the first
to test drive it, dad.
Me! Oh, boy!
That's a great honor.
Thanks, Nicholas.
Okay, wish me luck.
- Good luck.
- Ow!
- You ready?
- Hey, nice knowing you, dad.
Don't be nervous.
Have faith in dear ol' dad.
- Ready?
- On your mark, get set, go!
[crowd cheering]
Nicholas, where are the brakes?
The brakes! Eh, Nicholas!
Oh, no, I knew
I forgot something.
[all laughing]
- Bye!
- Bye!
[theme music]
02x25 - Poor Little Rich Girl
Watch/Buy Amazon
The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book by the same title.
The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book by the same title.