05x04 - Welcome to Memorial, Dr. Bradford

[bunniefuu]

Memorial High?

That's the worst school

in the whole city.

'A teacher was

stabbed there last week.'

Oh, certainly

no prep school.

Hmm.

But there are

some rays of hope.

Sometimes, sometimes I think

if you can touch one kid

it makes it all worthwhile.

Yeah.

Steal it.

Are you crazy?

That's against the law.

Big deal.

It's just a little yo-yo.

- But I--

- So take it.

I dare you.

[indistinct chattering]

Look, you're crossin'

this point.

Are you playin' or not?

Is there anything

you'd like to talk about?

Maybe I can help.

Sometimes it makes things

a little better

if you talk about 'em.

There's nothing to say.

Nicholas?

You caught him doing what?

Well, I don't understand it.

I mean, Nicholas

has never stolen anything

before in his life.

Okay! Okay! Okay!

Leave! Just let him go!

- Will you just leave--

- Now, what's it to you, lady?

Why don't you just, uh,

get out of the hall

and stop terrorizing people,

okay?

[theme song]

♪ There's a magic in the early

morning we've found ♪

♪ When the sunrise smiles

on everything around ♪

♪ It's a portrait

of the happiness ♪

♪ That we feel and always will ♪

♪ Oh eight is enough

to fill our lives with love ♪

♪ Oh we spend our days like

bright and shiny new dimes ♪

♪ If we're ever puzzled

by the changing times ♪

♪ There's a plate

of homemade wishes ♪

♪ On the kitchen windowsill ♪

♪ And eight is enough ♪

♪ To fill our lives with love ♪♪

(Nancy)

'Don't keep us in

suspense any longer, Abby.'

(Joannie)

'Come on, Abby, tell us.'

- 'Yeah.'

- 'Alright.'

Well, tell us, Abby.

What is it?

Really, what's the big surprise?

Hey! I want champagne.

No way.

Is it animal,

vegetable or mineral?

Well, it's none of the above.

I got a job.

- Oh! To Professor Bradford.

- Thank you.

What college?

Lincoln or Chapman?

(Abby)

'Well, it's not

exactly a college?'

What do you mean?

It's not exactly teaching?

I'm gonna be

a guidance counselor.

Oh, you--

[cheering]

Thank you.

At Memorial High.

Memorial High?

That's the worst school

in the whole city.

A teacher was

stabbed there last week.

I know, but I need a job.

But you're overqualified.

You're a PhD.

You're trained

to teach in college.

You'll find a job.

Tom, they're

not hiring in colleges.

- They're laying off.

- They'll hire again.

Sure, if another baby boom

gets under way tonight.

They'll be hiring

in about years.

But, Abby..

I take that back.

Make it years.

I'm scared for you.

I don't want you in the middle

of a potentially

violent situation.

- I can handle it.

- 'Are you sure?'

I'm sure.

Well, that makes one of us.

[instrumental music]

Uh, uh. Hold it

right there, mister.

- You can't leave the house.

- Why not?

Well, you don't have

your wallet, do you?

Jeremy had it.

I found it on the floor. Honest.

- We didn't say you--

- Let me see that again.

[indistinct chattering]

I didn't know

I had a funny wallet.

No, dad,

the wallet's just amusing.

It's the picture on the license.

- Oh!

- Dad, it's hysterical.

- Dad, it's expired.

- Yup.

- What?

- Yeah.

It expired

on your last birthday, dad.

That's right. It did.

I'll have to get it renewed.

Aah! But first you're going

to have to take the test.

And you won't be a legal driver

till you pass that.

Which means I get the car.

Oh, come on,

I don't think one more day

of being a fugitive from the law

is gonna make any difference.

Now, come on, dad.

You wouldn't allow one of us

to break the law, would you?

Yeah, you have to set

a good example.

Come on,

I'll drive you to work.

Look at it this way, dad.

You get a chance

at another picture.

Only this time, don't make

a face when they sh**t it.

I didn't make a face

the first time.

Ahem!

[instrumental music]

You're such a grump.

What's buggin' you today?

My dad said

no go on the yo-yo.

Did you tell him

it was a deluxe cosmic spinner?

Yeah, then he said something

about this deluxe

cosmic inflation.

Hey, look, what I found

at my dad's dresser last night.

A fire cr*cker.

It's a leftover

from the fourth of July.

I should get a bunch of 'em.

What are you gonna do with it?

I don't know.

Light it off, maybe.

Okay, Marvin, I dare you.

Now?

No, I-I, I think

I'll save it.

You're too scared?

Well, why don't you do it?

Because I dared you first

and besides,

I won the last dare.

'It's your turn.'

I don't know.

I knew you were too scared.

Plug your ears, Nicholas.

...your books.

- What happened?

- Must have been too old.

Let's get out of here.

Oh, excuse me.

If I were you,

I would start ridin' the bus.

You see, a car like that

shouldn't be parked around here.

Why?

Because they steal the hubcaps?

Oh, lady,

are you from the Dark Ages?

These days they leave hubcaps.

They just steal cars.

Oh. I'm Abby Bradford.

I'm the new guidance counselor.

Hi, I'm Jackie Calhoun.

Senior English.

Nice to meet you. So what do you

do? You take the bus?

- No, dear, I ride my hubcaps.

- Mm-hmm.

Look, I got a few minutes.

Um, I'll show you around.

Okay, thank you.

You know, we don't get

so many PhDs at Memorial.

What did you get

your doctorate in?

- Education.

- Oh.

Well, m*llitary tactics

might come in handy in here.

Come on, Jackie.

Is it really that bad?

Oh, it's certainly

no prep school.

Hmm.

But there are some rays of hope.

Sometimes, sometimes I think

if you can touch one kid

it makes it all worthwhile.

Yeah.

Uh, tell me, what do you do

if there's any trouble?

Um...well,

the second best policy

is to try and maintain a

cool head, and stay in control.

Hmm.

And the first best policy is..

A brown belt in Karate.

No, you're teasing.

Here is your office,

Dr. Bradford.

'I have got to get to class.'

Jackie, what about

the other counsel?

'What happened to her?'

You mean, you don't know?

No. What?

[sighs]

She was...she was stabbed.

[instrumental music]

Well, she's the one--

[bell ringing]

Uh, look,

I've got to get to class.

Abby, good luck.

'Come on, you'll do fine.'

- Thanks.

- Bye-bye.

Okay.

[instrumental music]

(Marvin)

'How long do you think

it'll take you'

'to save up

for a cosmic spinner?'

Forever.

From what I hear about

inflation these days

by the time I save up enough

money, they'll raise the price.

You could go in the store

and cop one.

- Huh?

- Steal it.

Are you crazy?

That's against the law.

Big deal.

It's just a little yo-yo.

You do want one, don't you?

- Yeah, but I--

- So take it.

I dare you.

- You're crazy.

- Oh, yeah?

Well, I did your dare

this mornin'

and it was more dangerous,

so now it's your turn.

Unless, of course,

you're too chicken.

- I'm not chicken.

- Then prove it.

Okay.

(Abby)

Hi, Jackie.

You want me to see someone?

Her name is Michelle Davis

and she's new here.

But she seems terrified, frozen.

She hardly talks at all,

and she just sits there

lost in her own little world.

That's just what you needed

on your first day, huh?

Maybe it's just what I need.

When can I see her?

She's out in the hall.

Trick..

- Okay, send her in.

- Okay.

Michelle, come on in.

Dr. Bradford, this is Michelle.

Hi. Nice to meet you.

Come on in. Sit down.

[Abby clears throat]

Is there anything

you'd like to talk about?

'Maybe I can help.'

Sometimes it makes things

a little better

if you talk about 'em.

'I'm a really good listener.'

There's nothing to say.

Well, I'll listen anyway.

What were you gonna say?

Nothing.

[instrumental music]

Don't take all day, Nicholas.

(male # )

'Something I can help

you with, young man?'

Uh...nothin'.

We, we were, um,

we were, we were just looking.

Yeah, lookin'.

Well, I gotta go.

Uh...ni-ni-nice

talkin' to you.

[clamoring]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Hi, dad.

Oh.

Elizabeth.

Did you get home alright?

Yeah, well, sure, dad.

What's the big deal?

Didn't you forget something?

No, I don't think so.

- Like what?

- Like me.

Oh, dad, I'm sorry.

I totally forgot.

I guess I just got involved

with my errands.

How'd you get home?

Well, I called here

and nobody answered

so I took the bus home.

You came home on the bus?

No, not really

because I got on the wrong bus.

When I realized it,

I got off the wrong bus

and I got on the right bus.

Only it was going

in the wrong direction.

'So I got off

and I got on the right bus'

going in the right direction.

Only it was an express

and I was held prisoner

all the way to the airport,

so I took a cab home.

I'm sorry, dad.

I promise it won't happen again.

Oh, that's right,

it won't happen again

because tomorrow

I'm takin' the driver's exam

and getting

my driver's license back.

And my car.

(Tom)

'Abby.'

Hi.

I know I'm late, but isn't it

a little early for bed?

Oh, Tom, I'm worn out.

It was a long day.

Huh? You're telling me.

- How did it go at school?

- It was, it was okay.

You sure? You alright?

Hmm. I'm just tired.

It was fine.

Oh, I'm glad.

I was worried

about you all day.

No, don't worry about me.

It's just gonna

take time to adjust, that's all.

I don't know.

This little, old lady on the bus

said that she was afraid

to walk by Memorial.

And then the stewardess told me

that she's paying the tuition

for her little brother

to go to a private school

just to keep him out of there.

What were you doin'

talkin' to little, old ladies

and stewardesses?

Well, I mean,

when nobody answered here

and Elizabeth kept me..

Oh, it's such a long story.

Why don't I tell you

all about it over dinner?

I'm not really very hungry,

but you go ahead.

Oh. Okay.

[instrumental music]

[imitating a chicken]

Who's the chicken?

Marvin's the..

I am not.

Well, you're the one

who left me in the toy store

with that man.

Yeah, well, you didn't take

the yo-yo, did you?

So you're the

pak, pak, pak, pak, pak.

Well, you didn't take

the yo-yo, did you?

No, but I almost did.

Well, almost

doesn't count in a dare.

Well, if you're such a big man,

why don't you take it?

Okay, we'll make it a contest.

'You steal the yo-yo

and I'll take somethin' else.'

Well..

It'll be a double dare

to find out who is really the..

[imitating a chicken]

Okay, okay.

[bell ringing]

- Hey, Jackie.

- 'Hey, come on in.'

- You got a minute?

- Sure.

Just getting ready

for my next round.

"Hamlet."

Do you reach the kids

with "Hamlet?"

To try or not to try.

That is the question.

- I figured why not try.

- Hmm.

What happened with Michelle

yesterday, any luck?

No, I didn't get through to her.

Well, thanks for trying.

[sighs]

Maybe you'll get another chance.

Jackie, there was

a fight yesterday.

And rather a large one I heard,

right outside your office.

I didn't do anything.

I just froze.

Abby, I probably would have

done the same thing.

Don't worry about it.

- I felt so helpless.

- I know the feeling.

But sometimes

there is nothing we can do.

You know, my, my education

theory classes in college

were never anything like this.

I..

I don't know if I'm as prepared

as I thought I was.

You'll learn.

What if I don't?

[indistinct muttering]

Three or four?

Three or four vehicles, good.

"Now, driving with only

your parking lights on

is against the law."

Of course.

"Driving with your parking

lights on is advisable

on dark days."

It is advisable. Advisable.

"Driving with only

your parking lights

is a good practice

from sunset to dark."

Good practice?

Good, it is, it's good practice.

No, that's stupid.

I know, it's none of..

It's none of the above.

It's a, it's a trick question.

I give you that.

None of, none of,

none of the above.

They're tryin' to catch you.

Okay, what's this?

Window five for picture.

- Next.

- Hi. Hello.

Sorry.

Hope you don't

grade on neatness.

[sighs]

We should. We really should.

I can hardly read

what you've written.

People these days simply

can't write a decent hand.

I can't make out what you've

wrote here under occupation.

Oh, I-I'm...a writer.

My occupation is a writer.

[sighs]

Well, let's see, Mr. Bradwood.

Bradfood.

Bradford.

I'm sorry, it's not your fault.

It's, it's the way I write.

[whistles]

I'm afraid, you've failed.

Next!

What?

You've failed.

The law allows five mistakes.

- You made seven.

- No, no, that's impossible.

I, I've been driving

for , years.

You've probably been writing

for longer than that

'but you don't do that

too well either.'

(Tom)

'I never failed a test

before in my whole life.'

(Mary)

'It's not

the end of the world, dad.'

'You can always re-take it.'

Only next time, why don't

you study the handbook

just a little bit better?

Better? I never study

the handbook at all.

I mean, after

years of driving

why should I study a handbook?

To pass the test.

Now look, until you do,

you're just gonna

have to remain a passenger.

So...just sit back and, uh,

leave the driving to us.

[indistinct]

- 'Wait up, Tony.'

- Come on, let's go.

(female # )

I got it.

[indistinct chattering]

- Over, Barbara.

- Come on.

Look, you're

crossing this point.

Are you playing or not?

[whistle blows]

(female # )

'Break it up, girls.

Class is over.'

'Everyone get in

and get dressed.'

We'll wait till next time.

Looser.

It's a tricky catch.

I know what it's like

to be scared, Michelle.

Sure you do.

[instrumental music]

Get lost, Eddie.

Says who?

(male # )

'Says all of us.'

Maybe you didn't hear.

We just bought this hall

and now it's ours.

You're gonna have to find

yourself another way, Eddie boy.

Okay, okay, okay,

leave him alone. Let him go.

What's it to you, lady?

Dr. Bradford.

Oh...Dr. Bradford.

I don't see no white coat.

It's cute.

Why don't you just

get out of the hall

and stop terrorizing people,

okay?

Okay.

We made our point.

- Didn't we, Eddie?

- Spread the word, man.

[sighs]

You go too. Okay, Eddie?

[instrumental music]

And remember, now you got

to steal something too.

I thought of the plan, didn't I?

Now, come on.

[instrumental music]

- 'Did you get it?'

- Yeah.

- What did you get?

- Um, I got something.

Well, I don't believe you.

Let me see what you got.

I got this.

Marvin, you already had that.

I did not.

I saw it yesterday.

You did not. Come on,

we got to get out of here.

[sighs]

[music continues]

Why did they change

the speed law near a school

from miles an hour

to miles an hour?

That doesn't make sense.

Well, dad,

maybe children are better

at dodging cars these days.

Aren't you going

a little too fast?

I'm going the speed limit.

Oh, but, no, no,

the-the-the basic law

specifically says,

"You must never drive faster

that is safe depending

on road conditions."

The road conditions

are perfect, dad.

They could change.

Oh, wait a minute.

Now, didn't you

want to turn there?

If I wanted to turn back there,

I would have turned back there.

No, but that way is much faster.

Yes...but this way

is so peaceful.

[instrumental music]

Oh, Eddie.

[sighs]

[clears throat]

Did you want something?

You shouldn't have

stepped in on that today.

I was just trying to help.

I don't need your help.

I got my own way

of dealing with those punks.

Sure.

[chuckles]

And I wanna make sure

you understand

the rules around here.

It's very simple, doctor.

[sobbing]

Don't get...involved.

Okay.

[sobbing]

(Tom)

'You mean to say that

you didn't even report it?'

I was too frightened, Tom.

I just wanted to come home.

But that boy should be arrested

and thrown in jail.

He just wanted to warn me.

- 'Warn you about what?'

- Not to meddle.

Well, it won't happen again

because you're not

going back to that school.

- I can't just quit.

- 'Yes, you can.'

You can't be exposed

to the dangers there.

Please, Abby, now, for me.

And admit I was wrong for ever

going there in the first place?

At least admit that

you can't solve

all those problems at Memorial.

That you don't belong there.

I won't.

I have to do this, Tom.

Abby..

...you don't have to

prove anything.

There must be

a thief around here.

Thief?

Somebody keeps stealing

my guitar picks.

- I didn't do it.

- It's just a figure of speech.

There's got to be

one around here somewhere.

Tommy, what does

prosecuted mean?

Arrested and tried in court.

- Why?

- Uh, just wondering.

- Under the bed.

- What?

There's always one

under the bed.

No, I-I don't think so.

I just cleaned under there.

Oh, yeah?

Well, you didn't do it too well.

Look what I found.

I'm late for rehearsals.

I'll see ya.

Yeah.

[door closes]

[sighs]

(Susan)

'Well, I think Abby

is a lot more scared'

'than she is letting on to be.'

- Yeah.

- I think you're right.

Yeah, it must be

pretty rough on her.

If I were her,

I wouldn't go back there.

Me neither.

[sighs]

- Hi.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- Ice cream.

Just what I need

to soothe my nerves.

Oh, where have you been?

Oh, driving with dad

to the drugstore.

(all)

Oh.

That'll do it.

Oh, man, what are we

gonna do about him, guys?

I don't know,

but I am gonna go bananas

if I have to drive him again.

I mean, he is like

a little old lady.

It's just till he

gets his license back, gee!

Oh, yeah,

but who knows when that will be.

He intends to memorize the

entire handbook word for word.

Why don't we just

hire him a chauffeur?

(Nancy)

Wait a minute.

Who needs a chauffeur

when you have Tommy.

- What?

- He hasn't had his turn yet.

That's right, you guys.

He's got the time and the car.

So we just make sure

that tomorrow he gets

stuck with the job.

- Oh, no, but that's mean.

- But it's good.

[laughs]

(man on TV)

'A brilliant piece

of detective work, Holmes.'

'How did you manage to

anticipate the rascal's moves?'

(Holmes on TV)

'Elementary, Lestrade.'

'Even the most careful thief

makes one crucial mistake'

'that leads to his capture.'

Stopping distance

at miles an hour, . feet.

Stopping distance

at miles an hour..

...a hundred and five feet.

Stopping distance

at miles an hour..

Oh, shucks, what is..

[instrumental music]

Parking on a hill

wheels away from the curb.

Parking on a curb

wheels away from the hill.

Oh, that's not right.

Wheels away from the hill,

what the heck is this?

Oh, listen, can one of

you girls drive me to work?

I have an early meeting.

Oh, gee, dad,

I'm already late for work

and, well, your office

is sort of out of the way.

- Elizabeth?

- Dad, a friend's picking me up.

Well, who has my car?

Mary took it, she had to get

to the hospital early

and then Joannie's

getting it from her

and she's picking me up, and..

And the cheese stands alone.

'How am I going to get

to the office?'

Well, dad,

there's still one person

with a car who's not busy.

That's right. Tommy.

(Elizabeth)

'Dad, I think

he's still in bed.'

- It worked.

- I know.

Poor Tommy.

Jeremy, can I talk

to you a second?

- Sure. Talk.

- Well, I think I made a--

Nice talking to you, Nicholas.

Gotta run.

We'll have to do it again

some time.

Tommy, wake up!

I gotta talk to you!

- Nicholas..

- Tommy, wake up.

I gotta talk to you about

something important.

Nicholas, I was rehearsing

until : a.m. this morning.

- It can wait.

- No, Tommy, it can't wait.

I think I mad a crucial mistake.

Tommy, wake up. I need you.

Dad, I was rehearsing

until : a.m.

I need a ride to work.

You're it.

[sighs]

How can I give you a ride

to work if I can't even think?

Five minutes, Tommy.

I'm late enough as it is.

I don't have time to argue.

Nicholas, shouldn't you be

leaving for school?

I guess so.

- Are you alright?

- 'Yeah.'

Well, what are you

still fretting about?

Wanting that yo-yo?

What did you call it,

a speed roller?

Deluxe cosmic spinner.

And now I don't want one.

I wish I'd never even

heard of one.

Good, thinking that

material possessions

is the most important thing

in life is a big mistake.

'Tommy, hurry up!'

(Tommy)

'I'm coming! I'm coming!'

One crucial mistake.

[sighs]

[knock on door]

Come in.

(Joannie)

'Hi, Abby.'

- Hi.

- 'Morning.'

- You look pretty.

- Thanks.

How do you feel?

I feel...good. Good as new.

- Good.

- Mmm, slightly used.

- You sure you wanna go back?

- Yeah.

No.

I'm not sure I wanna go.

Well?

But I've got to.

Why? Because of dad?

No, because I wanted to work.

Well, Abby, you know,

lots of times

when people are att*cked,

they get, um..

Well, they feel like it's their

fault, you know, for some reason

and-and then

they overcompensate and..

I guess I just came in here

to say that nobody..

...is gonna blame you

if you decide not to go.

Got to go.

What's the matter?

I don't know.

I just gave it a tune up.

- That might explain it.

- Sounds sick.

Well, can you cure it?

It might take a while.

I've got to get to work.

[car engine revving]

[instrumental music]

And I'm the one

without the license.

[music continues]

Abby.

Where are you?

(Abby)

'I'm in here, Tom.'

Abby, are you alright?

What's the matter?

I'm fine.

Why are you home from school?

I've been sitting here

all day long.

This morning I went to school.

You know,

the kid with the Kn*fe?

He was up on the stairs.

I know it's probably

my imagination

but I felt like he was there

waiting for me.

And I couldn't get out

of the car.

I just turned around

and came home.

When I saw your car outside,

I-I had a feeling

that maybe something terrible

happened to you again.

I guess it all just

caught up with me.

I couldn't face it.

I was too frightened.

No, no, no, you were smart.

And I'm glad and relieved.

I feel so foolish.

I feel like such a coward,

you know.

I mean, I have..

I feel like I've failed myself.

I've never run away

from anything in my life.

No, no,

now don't blame yourself.

Memorial is

an impossible challenge.

I mean, the risks are too great

and you just chose

not to take any.

Look, let other people

do the crusading at Memorial.

You've got a beautiful future

ahead of you.

- If it ever gets here.

- Oh, they will.

What brought you home so early?

A taxi.

And believe me, it's the last

ride I ever intend to take.

I rushed home

so that I could study

every single page

of that driver's handbook

so I could salvage some dignity

before it's too late.

Well, anyway..

...at least there's

one less thing to worry about.

(Marvin)

'Nicholas!'

Hey, Nicholas, wait up.

Hey, Nick.

Where are you going?

Toy store.

The toy store?

Yeah, I gotta bring

the yo-yo back.

You must be nuts.

I gotta.

I made one crucial mistake.

'What?'

Taking it in the first place

is driving me crazy.

Why don't you just

bury it or something?

I'd still know that I took it.

You sure are a chicken.

[imitates a chicken]

I don't care if you think

I'm a chicken.

I'm taking it back.

See you around, sucker.

Nicholas?

You caught him doing what?

I'll be right there.

Nicholas?

Oh, hi, dad.

Hey, listen, I found out what

was wrong with the van.

- The fuel line was--

- Give me the keys!

- Clogged.

- Good, good, give me the keys.

But you're

not supposed to drive.

Please! This is an emergency!

Oh, well, yeah, here, sure.

Look, can I help?

I-I'll go with...you.

Excuse me, are you the manager?

Yes. Mr. Gregory.

Oh, you must be

Al Capone's father.

Yeah. Tom Bradford.

I'm sorry that

I have to call you.

That's okay. Where is Nicholas?

He's sitting in my office.

Seems little nervous.

Yeah, well, he should be.

Boy, I don't understand it.

I mean,

Nicholas has never stolen

anything before in his life.

Well, actually,

he wasn't stealing it.

- He was trying to put it back.

- What?

'Well, he evidently had taken

the yo-yo yesterday.'

- The deluxe cosmic spinner?

- Yeah.

Seems his conscience

was getting the better of him

so he decided to return it.

He keeps talking about, uh,

one crucial mistake.

Hey, look,

I'm willing to let matters drop.

I think he has

learnt his lesson.

'He seems like a decent kid.'

Right now, I'm not so sure.

Alright, Nicholas. Let's go.

Am I gonna be prosecuted?

No. Not this time.

You mean we don't

have to go to court?

This time you've just got me

to worry about.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Yes, who's calling?

Uh, just a minute, please.

- Oh, hi, Abby. It's for you.

- Who is it?

I don't know.

Somebody named Michelle.

Hello, Michelle.

[Tom sighs]

(Tom)

'I'm very disappointed

in you, Nicholas.'

I know you wanted that yo-yo

but I thought I had

taught you better

than to do a thing like that.

'Breaking the law

is a very serious thing.'

'It's not something

that you do on a dare.'

I'm glad that you decided

to return it on your own

but that doesn't excuse

the fact that you stole it.

'Just to make sure

that you get the point'

'there's gonna be

a lot of extra things'

for you to do

around the house.

You've gotta learn

to respect the law.

[police siren blaring]

Oh, no!

Hello, officer.

What seems to be the problem?

You didn't make a full stop

back there at that stop sign.

- Stop sign?

- Mm-hmm.

Say, nice passion pitch

you got here.

Oh, oh, yes,

thank you very much.

You look a little old

for it though.

Well, no, it's not mine.

It's my son's.

He looks a little young for it.

Not this son.

No, no, my older son.

He loan it to you, does he?

No, not exactly.

What happened is I lent my car

to my daughter because my li..

Becau.. Uh.. It's, uh..

It's, uh.. It's a long story.

I'm sure you don't

want me to sit here

and bore you with it.

That's right.

I just wanna see your license.

My license?

You know,

I hated moving to Sacramento.

I hated leaving

all my friends and all.

I'd never been to school's

biggest memorial.

Hmm.

It can be really lonely

when you're

surrounded by strangers.

Yeah.

What about your family?

Uh..

It's just my father.

What does he do?

Oh, he works, uh, he works

in the nights, at the factory.

Hmm.

And you? What do you do?

[chuckles]

Mostly, I, uh..

...I just daydream, I guess.

[both laugh]

I used to dream.

I-I had this dream

that I was, I was gonna

grow up and be somebody else.

Someone really special.

'And you?'

Maybe I..

I don't know, maybe I just

liked to be somebody

like, like you.

What made you call me?

I heard how you charged in there

when those guys

were hassling Eddie.

I said to myself, you know,

I should stop being so scared..

...of every little thing,

you know.

I was scared to death.

Yeah, I know, but,

but you did it anyway.

That's what was so terrific.

I don't know

if it was so terrific.

Maybe really stupid.

[instrumental music]

You're not coming back, are you?

I don't know.

Hi. I see dad

sentenced you to hard labor.

Yeah, two weeks.

Sorry, I didn't let you tell me

about it this morning.

I probably could have

saved you some trouble.

That's okay, I guess, it was

sort of one of those problems

I had to work out for myself.

Yeah, I know.

I stole a candy bar once.

Ate it and was sick

for three days.

- What did dad say?

- The usual.

He got kind of quiet

after the cop stopped him.

I'll bet.

Have you talked to Marvin?

Yeah. I called him up

and gave him another dare.

'What kind of dare?'

I dared him to come over.

[yawns]

"The speed limit when you come

"within a feet

of a railroad crossing

"where you cannot see the tracks

for feet

in both directions.."

Well, how do you know

enough to slow down

if you can't see the tracks?

[knock on door]

- Are you studying hard?

- Oh, with vengeance.

I cannot go into traffic road

until I pass this stupid test!

I know. I heard all about it.

This is one of the most

humiliating things

that's ever happened to me.

Where were you when I got home?

I was out walking with a friend.

This girl named Michelle Davis.

She's one of the students

at school

that I tried to counsel,

but I failed

at least I thought I failed,

and today she counseled me.

Oh. About what?

About...courage.

Standing up for yourself.

Tom, I've decided

I'm gonna go back to Memorial.

I'm gonna give it another try.

Back to Memorial?

But we had that all settled.

Well, it was all settled

until I talked to Michelle

and now I realize

I have a really good reason

for being there.

Tom, I helped her.

I got through to her.

And what about the boy

with the Kn*fe?

Well, I'll report it.

I mean, I have to be careful,

but I'm not gonna run away.

Now listen, I know I can do it.

Abby..

I want your support, Tom.

I need that the most of all.

Just be careful.

You can bet on it.

- 'Hey, you're back.'

- Yeah. Hi.

- I thought we lost you.

- Almost.

What happened,

you find something

you liked about this place?

Yeah. A small ray of hope.

See, it's just like

you said, I mean, uh

helping one, one kid

just seems so important.

Well, Michelle must

have been pretty persuasive.

How did you know we talked?

Who do you think gave her

your phone number?

Welcome back, Dr. Bradford.

Thanks, Jackie.

Um, I got to get going.

[instrumental music]

- 'Woo-hoo!'

- 'Alright!'

Hey, you call that a trick?

- Hey, buddy.

- Hi, dad.

Hey, Tom,

how was your day in court?

Well, since

I had passed the test

the judge decided to be lenient.

He said that my story was too

unbelievable to be unbelievable.

So I am finally a free man.

I'm just waiting now for my

license to come in the mail.

Oh, well, uh, you got

a letter from the DMV today.

- Maybe that's it.

- Where? Where?

Right here, dad.

We just all wanted to be here

when you opened it up.

Oh, no, no. I'm not suffering

any more jokes about my picture.

(Joannie)

'Oh, come on, dad.'

I think he's chicken.

That's right. I am chicken.

Alright, you can open it,

but promise not to laugh.

- It's a promise!

- No, we won't laugh.

- Oh.

- Oh, it's nice.

- Not bad, not bad.

- Great. Let me see.

- Yeah, see. It's okay.

- Oh, yes. It's not bad.

That's better than before.

Sort of cute.

[all laughing]

[theme music]

[music continues]