01x11 - Courageous Convictions

[bunniefuu]

You don't know
how serious this is.

You can declare bankruptcy.

If I declare bankruptcy,
it could cost me my job.

Twenty thousand?

Which I've gotta
raise by next week.

There's no way. That's
way out of my league.

Five. Five would be a big help.

Richard, these are our
friends. Stay out of it, Laura.

I don't know what
to do now, Papa.

Make him take your help.

All right. Sell the house.

Put your son in some
daycare ghetto all day.

Get a job. Forget the marriage.

Marriage is two people.

Then maybe
forgetting the marriage

is the only way.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

MAN: Twenty.

And I'll... I'll
raise you twenty.

[PLAYERS GASP]

Uh, no.

Too rich for me, Hank. I'm out.

KAREN: You lost me. SID: Me too.

Ah, classic dilemma
for you, Laura.

Who are you rooting for,

your father or your husband?

Papa's visiting. I can't
root against a guest.

Richard, are you in?

Yeah, I'm in. I'm light.

Well, turn them over.

I paid to look.

VALENE: Ooh!

Inside straight in five stud.

Is that good?

Oh, yes.

[ALL LAUGH]

Laura, do you have 8 bucks?

I don't know. Let me check.

Richard, you're light 12.

Twelve.

[PHONE RINGS]

I'll get it, honey.

There you are.

Laura.

Uh, I don't have any cash.

Forget it. Ha, ha.

Pay me when you get home, huh?

Richard, it's for you.

Oh. I, uh, left this number.

One second.

Can I, uh, take it upstairs?

Sure, go ahead.

Ted?

I've got it.

Okay, how bad is it?

VALENE: Sid, do you
want some cheesecake?

SID: Yeah, I'd love some.

What do you think
I bought it for?

LAURA: You make it yourself?

Hi, everybody. Thanks a lot.

Oh, hi, honey.

This is Terry.

Hi, Terry. How
are you? Hi, Terry.

This is the Ewings,

Laura Avery and her father,

and Kenny and Ginger Ward.

ALL: Hi. It's nice to meet you.

Uh, there's cheesecake.

Um, no, thanks. We're
just gonna go upstairs.

To her room?

Sure.

Terry's a nice kid.

Yeah, and very handsome too.

And smart.

You know Terry?

No, but I thought
I'd take a s*ab.

Nice, smart, handsome...

And upstairs with your daughter.

Ooh!

Come on, Kenny.

We spent lots of
time up in my room.

KENNY: Now that
you mention it, we did.

We spent lots
and lots and lots...

Oh! Enough already. You're
upsetting Diana's father.

Right, Sid?

This is very good cheesecake.

[ALL LAUGH]

There's gotta be
some kind of mistake.

Because I saw the
prospectus, that's why.

I don't know.

Look, uh, can I talk
to you tomorrow?

All right. I'll meet
you there at 10.

Right. Good night.

[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Then why did you stop?

You know.

Because we're here.

My parents are right downstairs.

It's okay.

They're busy.

Besides, I just wanna...

Oh, come on, Terry. Please.

Just give me a
little time, okay?

Please.

[DOG BARKS]

[PAPER CRUNCHES]

[LAUGHS]

For me?

Open it.

What is it?

It's for you. It's...
It's... It's a nightshirt.

Nightshirt.

Richard, are you okay?

Fine.

What was that...?

That phone call
tonight at Karen's?

Oh, business.

Important?

Honey, 1:00 in the morning.

I just...

I just wondered.

I think Diana's crazy about
Terry. Have you noticed?

No.

What do you think of him?

I think he's polite, personable,
intelligent, respectful,

and I hate his guts.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Honey. Yeah.

Did you take any
money out of my clip?

No, why?

Well, I cashed a check today.

I had five $100 bills.

There are only four here now.

Richard took that
call up here tonight.

Karen...

Well, I'm not saying...

Karen, please.

Oh, you always think
the best of everybody.

Is that a fault?

No.

Are you gonna
turn out the light?

Uh-uh.

I like to see what's goin' on.

It's after 1:00 in the morning.

There is nothing going on.

Wanna bet?

"'Okay.

Can you manage while
I knock on the door?'"

Morning. "'I think so.'"

Morning, Richard.

Morning. Hi, sweetie.

"'May we come in, Tommy?'"

Morning.

How about a "good
morning" for your dad?

Hi, Dad.

Keep reading, Papa.

"'Mind if I have lunch
with you, Larry?'"

Any toast?

I'm making potato pancakes for
Jason and Papa. You want some?

I'm already 20 minutes
late for a meeting at the club.

Business on Saturdays, Richard?

Don't you ever take a holiday?

Can't afford it.

So long, tiger.

Bye, Dad.

[DOOR CLOSES]

As your broker, I could
say, "I told you so."

Okay, Ted, what do I do?

Drill Co. is bankrupt,
Richard. Drained dry.

That prospectus, it... It...

It showed a dozen
active wells. On paper.

They don't even have any dry
holes to back up those claims.

There's 50 million bucks
invested in that company.

What happened to the money?

A lot of people are
waiting for that answer.

My stock?

Worthless.

[GROANS]

Listen, Richard.

You did quite a bit
of shuffling around

to get those stocks.

You put half down on margin.

That means you're


I know.

You got a week.

A week.

I warned you.

Ted.

You don't know
how serious this is.

I know how serious it is.

Look, they don't have
debtor's prison anymore.

You can declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy.

Ted, I am not exactly
the most visible associate

in my law firm.

If I declare bankruptcy,
it could cost me my job.

If it were up to me...

But it's not.

Aren't you playing?

Thanks, I've had
my fill of dry holes.

Ah! What do you think?

Oh, well, it's official.

That's pure California. Yeah.

But it's sort of expensive.

I mean, do you
think Gary will like it?

Oh, he'll love it.

Ladies.

I'll take this.

Here you are. Uh-huh.

KAREN: Laura. Huh?

Come here.

Isn't this perfect?

Oh, yeah. That would be.

Wouldn't this be fantastic

with the dress you wore
to Ginger's the other day?

Card number 2-2-2-3-2-3-4.

To Ginger's... Very sexy.

I see.

Of course.

Mrs. Avery.

Um, I'm gonna take this too.

I'm afraid your account is
over the authorized limit.

What?

Oh, there must be some mistake.

Well, of course.

That's okay, Laura.

You can just put it on my card.

No, Val, that's sweet,

but I'll wait...

and talk to Richard.

I can't squeeze an inch off
your financial profile, Richard.

You've got a second
trust deed on the house,

all of your insurance
policies have been tapped,

and the bank owns
everything else.

Yeah, I know, Norm, but
we're not talking about much.

I mean, there's gotta be 3
or 4000 here somewhere.

Mm-mm. There's not, believe me.

There's not enough there
to pay your accountant.

[LAUGHS]

So, what are my options?

One way to get out
from under all this

is to declare bankruptcy.

I am not declaring bankruptcy.

Well, what are you gonna do?

Beg, borrow or steal, I guess.

Do yourself a favor, Richard.

Beg.

We can't keep
on like this, Diana.

You're driving me nuts.

I feel the same way.

What are we waiting for?

The right time. The right place.

I want everything to be perfect.

We could go to the
quarry tomorrow.

Everybody goes there.

I want our place to be special.

And private.

Will I see you tomorrow?

At 9:30.

Okay.

[KISSES]

You still working?

Are you gonna be, uh...?

Are you gonna be
much longer, honey?

If I keep being interrupted.

Richard, I had a
problem at the store today.

They took our bankcard.

What?

We're way over our limit

and the bill has not
been paid in months.

Yes, it has. I paid it.

It's those cockamamie
computers again.

I called them.

I will call them. I will
straighten this out.

Okay. All right.

I am up to my ears
in bank statements,

canceled checks, bills.

Well, I could balance the
statements for you if you want.

Great.

While you're at it,

maybe you can scrape
up an extra 20,000 bucks.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about an
extra 20,000 clams.

Smackers. You know, dollars.

Twenty thousand.

Which I've gotta
raise by next week.

Why?

It's business, Laura.
You wouldn't understand.

But I'd still like to know.

So now you know.

Richard.

Richard, what are we gonna do?

I don't know.

Hi, Mom. Oh, hi.

Good morning. Hi, Dad.

You're up early for
a Sunday morning.

Terry's picking me up.

He just dropped you off.

That was eight
hours ago, Mother.

Your father and I were just...

saying what a nice boy Terry is.

He's probably the sweetest
boy I've ever known.

You've been seeing a
lot of him lately, huh?

Yeah.

Oh. You and Terry going steady?

I'm sorry.

You kids don't go
steady anymore, do you?

Well, some kids do, but Terry
and I feel different than that.

[LOUDLY] How?

[SOFTER] I mean... how?

Terry and I respect and
care for each other so much.

It's a lot deeper than
just going together.

[VEHICLE APPROACHES]

Oh.

[HORN HONKS]

That's Terry. See you later.

Okay. Have a good time.

"Have a good time."

Sid.

Don't you wanna know
how serious they are?

No.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

GIRL: Hi, Diana.

Hiya, Sue.

What's this?

A sailboat.

Where's your car?

Get on. You'll find
out in a minute.

[REVS ENGINE]

LAURA: Still a good
cook, huh, Papa?

HANK: Yeah, very good.

Morning.

Hi, Richard. Hi, honey.

Can you, uh, pick this
stuff up at the market?

What's this for?

Barbecue tonight.

What barbecue tonight?

Well, it's a special occasion.

Hank's here from Pittsburgh.

Steak, all this liquor.

Ah, I can write it off.

Why don't we just have
hamburgers and hot dogs?

No way.

Nothing but the
best for your dad.

You don't have
to do this for me.

I know I don't
have to. I want to.

I gotta run to the office.

Call everybody for around 8.

Ta-ta.

He's a busy man.

It's not always like this, Papa.

[DOOR CLOSES]

What are we doing here?

You'll see in a minute.

Hey, Tony.

TONY: Terry? Yeah.

It's painted!

And dentless.

Hey, thanks for the bike, Tony.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Yeah, okay.

How? When?

Tony did it. He's a
friend of my brother's.

It's a Sunday morning special.

See, the shop's
closed on weekends.

Tony comes in, does the
work, makes some extra bread,

and I get $300's worth of work

for 100 bucks.

Thanks, Tony. Thank you.

Wow.

When did you strike it rich?

Cashed in a savings bond
my grandmother gave me.

[FUNKY MUSIC PLAYING]

[STEAK SIZZLES]

Val, did you bring the rolls?

Yeah, got them
right here. Oh. Okay.

Hi, Karen. When
did you get here?

A few minutes ago. Oh.

And I'm reporting for duty.

What would you like me to do?

Uh, it's all done,
Karen. But... But thanks.

Ladies.

Hi.

Place your orders.
Rare, medium or well.

Medium rare for me.

Yeah, make that two. Two.

[GINGER LAUGHS]

Hi, Sid. Hi.

I'm taking orders for steak.

Cooked well done.

Medium.

Just take the chill off.

Take the chill off. All right.

Mr. Borg, Mr. Nastase, steaks?

Uh, blood rare.

Uh, thanks, I don't eat meat.

Just corn for you.

Sid, you don't have a drink.

Yeah, I noticed that.

Yeah, come on.
Come over to the bar.

I'll give you a beer.

Excuse me, Hank.

Where's your lovely
daughter tonight, Karen?

Home.

With a certain smart,
young, nice-looking kid.

Yeah, we flipped a coin to
see who got to stay with him.

[HANK LAUGHS]

That's rough.

Yeah. I got burnt pretty bad.

Look, I know this isn't
the time or the place,

but I could really
use some help.

I know I already owe
you a couple of bucks.

Couple of thousand.

I wouldn't ask if it
weren't important.

Oh, how much you lookin' for?

Ah, 10 grand would
get me out of the hole.

[LAUGHS]

There's no way. That's
way out of my league.

Five. Five would be a big help.

I'm sorry, Richard. I
just can't swing that.

Ah, that's okay.

I gotta go check on the steaks.

At first I just thought
I was getting older.

Losing touch.

Karen, you're younger
than a lot of our friends.

Then I realized Diana is just
getting older faster than me,

proportionately.

Too old for a
mother-daughter chat,

too young for a
woman-to-woman talk.

Yeah, but...

we need to talk.

I need to talk.

I don't know.

You know, kids her
age don't talk that easily.

Yeah, I know that.

And, uh, Diana's
getting to the age

where she's gonna want
to start experimenting.

Well, if she hasn't already.

Do you think she has?

I don't know. Do you?

It's my aunt and uncle's house.

They left for Europe today.

I'm watering their
plants starting tomorrow.

Well, I have swim practice.

My mother doesn't
expect me home till 5.

I could skip it.

It'd only be for a month, Kenny.

Well, Richard, if I had the
money it wouldn't be a problem,

but I'm sure you've heard

there's been a slump
in the record business.

What slump?

I'm only talking about
a couple of thousand.

I don't have a couple thousand.

Ah. It's okay. I'll
get it somewhere.

Richard.

Richard, what are you doing?

Richard, these are our friends.

Stay out of it, Laura.

Richard, I think maybe I
can scrape up that 5000.

Oh, that'd be great.

But we're gonna make
it strictly business, okay?

I mean, we'll sign
notes and everything.

Anything you say. Thanks, Sid.

Hey, uh, I got the steaks ready.

Big selection too.

Well, weller and... wellest.

[ALL LAUGH]

Brandy?

Okay.

I'm gonna need your
help on this money thing.

Richard, I wanna
help. You know that.

Good.

I... borrowed 5000
from Sid tonight.

You what?

I borrowed 5000.

Well, 5000's not enough.

What about the other 15?

Right.

Where are we gonna go for that?

I want you to ask your
father to lend us the money.

He won't say no to you, Laura.

Richard, all he owns in
the world is his house.

Right.

Which he bought for
a song 30 years ago.

There's plenty of equity there.

You want me to ask my
father to mortgage his house.

Oh, don't get
righteous on me, Laura.

It's the only way
out of this mess.

It is not.

We've got a house
we can't afford.

We've got furniture
that we don't own.

Closets full of
junk we don't need.

We're always stretching.

Striving. For something better.

Richard, you're always
looking for the short cut.

And it's always
getting us in trouble.

Honey, why don't we
put a stop to it now.

We could sell the
house if we have to.

I could get a job.

Sell this house? Are you crazy?

A fresh start.

No, no.

Selling the house, you
working, it's out of the question.

I told you what has to be done.

Look, I love this house

and everything
that we've built here.

And I love you very much.

And I'll do anything,

anything, to help us
straighten out our life.

But I won't go to my father.

So you won't help?

Not that way.

Honey. Huh?

Can you leave me some
money before you go?

Oh, sweetheart, would
you mind going to the bank?

The 400 I have is committed.

And the 100 I lost was supposed
to be our spending money.

Oh.

You lost $100?

Yeah, a $100 bill.

When?

Friday.

Why?

Nothing. Just curious.

Diana.

How come you didn't wait for me?

Oh, I rode my bike to school.

Well, stop, will ya?

How come you didn't tell me?

And where were you all day?

I was studying at the library.

Oh.

Anyway, are we going?

You know, to my uncle's house.

I don't know.

Diana.

I don't know, I said.

Hey.

It's okay to be scared.

I'm a little scared too.

But I just feel like
we should, you know,

stop stalling.

I'm not stalling.

Good.

Then I can just put
your bike in the car.

I have to ask you a question.

What?

And I want you to
answer me honestly.

Sure. What is it?

Because I think that if
we're gonna be lovers, then...

Then we should be
honest with each other.

Diana, just ask the question.

Where'd you get that $100?

I told you. My
dad gave it to me.

You told me that your
grandmother gave it to you.

Well, you see, my
grandmother gave me the check,

but my dad cashed it for me.

Did you take that money
from my father's room?

No.

How could you think
something like that?

I didn't.

I swear I didn't.

I... I... I wouldn't do
something like that.

You did, didn't you?

No. I...

Diana!

[CHILDREN LAUGHING AND YELLING]

He's a terrific kid.

The best.

Yeah.

And I want the best for him.

Well, I'm sure you do.

The best of everything.

He's gonna have it too.

Sometimes it's tough, though.

Just making ends meet is tough.

You make ends meet
by making ends meet.

That was easy to
say 30 years ago.

Try it today.

I do. Every day.

You don't support a family.

I did.

And I never owed one
penny all that while.

I still don't.

Hank, I gotta level with you.

I won't bother you
with the complexities.

I gotta come up with some money.

A bundle.

I was hoping...

That I'd help you out.

Yeah.

You should be asking your banker

or a rich lawyer friend.

Not me.

You're family. I thought
you'd understand.

I do.

And I have, more than once.

I haven't forgotten.

You haven't?

You've never
mentioned the loans,

let alone trying
to pay them back.

As soon as I get
back on my feet.

You are on your feet.

You're young. You're healthy.

And me, I'm retired.

What little I
have, I worked for.

My house, pension, little money.

Hank, this is serious.
It's not just the money.

I could lose my job.

Richard, I've got a couple
of thousand in the bank.

Now, are you asking me for that?

Your house, you
could mortgage it.

That's all I have.

It's paid for.

As far as I'm concerned,

the house, for
whatever it's worth,

belongs to the grandchildren:

to Jason, to Brian and to Erin.

This is for Jason and Laura.

Can't you see that?

Baloney. It's for you.

I'm... I'm sorry, Richard.

Diana.

I brought your bike back.

Thanks.

Listen, we've gotta talk. Talk.

Look, I'm sorry I
took the money.

I don't know why I took it.

It was just there,
and I took it.

That's a terrific explanation.

It had nothing to do with us.

Nothing to do with us?

It didn't.

I don't want us to break up.

Sure. You had a
good thing going.

Ready cash and ready me.

Come on, Diana. I love you.

Hi, sweetie. What's, uh, wrong?

How was the park?

It was a park.

Nobody talked on the way home.

Don't look at me like that.

Like what?

I just wanna know what happened.

Your dad and I had a discussion.

You asked him for money.

He said no.

Like daughter, like father.

That's because it
is not his problem.

It is our problem.

It's my problem.

Which I'm going solve.

I went looking for a job today.

Forget it.

I also talked to Mel Grogan.

And he says this
is an ideal time

to... To put the
house on the market.

I said forget it.

I'm not selling this house

and you're not selling ladies
lingerie in Knots Landing,

and that is final.
Richard, it is not final.

My getting a job and selling
this house are the first steps

to solving some problems
that we've created.

All right. Sell the house.

Put your son in some
daycare ghetto all day.

Get a job. Forget the marriage.

A marriage is two people.

Now I'm pitching in.

Then maybe forgetting
the marriage is the only way.

Want some more coffee?

No, thanks.

Excuse me.

Can I watch The Muppet Show?

Sure.

I'm sorry about this, honey.

Papa, it is not your fault.

I don't like to interfere.

I try to stay out of things
between husbands and wives.

Usually things are good
between Richard and me.

I can't stay out of it.

Because I see what I see.

He's under a lot of pressure.

The way he talks to you.

It makes him on edge.
The way he treats you.

But usually
everything's all right.

Laura!

I don't know what to do.

I have just tried so hard.

I know. I know.

I do love him.

But, you know, he
makes mistakes,

and then he gets scared,

and he just pushes me
further and further away, and...

Like this money thing.

I know I could
help him. I... I can.

But he won't let me.

Well, there's a lot of men
who won't admit they need help.

He needs help. He just
won't take it from me.

Laura.

Laura, make him take your help.

How?

Oh, I don't know. The...
The way you made me take it.

When Mama d*ed, you
were only 12 years old.

Your brother was on his own,

and your two sisters
were already married.

I was the only one left.

And I was miserable
and crotchety.

Well, you were lonely.

I remember how hard you
worked to keep the house clean,

cook my meals,
iron my work clothes

and sit beside me
night after night,

quiet, and not say a word.

I tried to take Mama's
place, but I couldn't do that.

But you made me
feel I wasn't alone.

I needed that.

I was hard on you, Laura.

But you knew what to do.

You were there, and you did it.

But I don't know
what to do now, Papa.

You want to stick
it out with Richard?

I love him.

You tell me what
to do, I'll do it.

We'll see. We'll see.

I've trusted him as much
as I've ever trusted any boy.

It's not worth it, Daddy.

Does that mean

you're never gonna
trust anybody again?

Just men.

Boys.

If only I could
understand why he took it.

Did he tell you why?

He said it was there,
and so he took it.

No reason.

And that even made me madder.

I'm never gonna speak
to him as long as I live.

That's gonna be kind of tough

since you see each
other every day at school.

I'll apply myself.

I don't talk to...

crooks.

Is that why you're so angry,

because he committed a crime?

Yes!

No.

It's that he came
into our house,

and he took advantage
of our going together,

and then he robbed us.

And you feel betrayed.

Yes.

So because of that,

you're never gonna forgive him.

You're not gonna tell
me that's wrong, are you?

No. No, not at
all. It's not wrong.

Betrayal is a terrible thing.

But I wanna tell you something,

and I hate to say
this, but it's true.

Betrayal's not all that rare.

What do you mean?

Well, I mean that it
happens to everybody.

And sometimes even people
that love each other very much.

Husbands and wives
are unfaithful sometimes.

Businessmen cheat their partners

and friends betray secrets.

When you find
out it always hurts,

but that doesn't always mean

it's the end of a marriage
or the end of a partnership

or the end of a friendship.

Sometimes people forgive.

I don't feel like forgiving.

Okay. Okay, then don't.

But I'm wanna
tell you something.

If you're gonna be that rigid,

then you'd just better be sure

that you are absolutely
above reproach yourself

in all your relationships,
all your friendships,

all the time.

What am I gonna
say to him, Daddy?

Why don't you just let him know

that although
you're deeply hurt,

you're not gonna
turn your back on him.

Maybe if he's as bright and
as sensitive as he seems to be,

he'll realize that
stealing hurts the thief

as well as the victim.

And maybe he'll wipe
his slate clean some way.

At least you'll be giving
him the chance to try.

Yeah, just a minute.

Laura, will you
please come here?

Mr. Flannery from the
Merchants Bank in Pittsburgh.

He wants a bank and
a bank account number.

What for?

He's gonna wire you some money.

I'm sorry this happened.

Diana, I'm the one that
should be apologizing.

I'm not apologizing.

Our relationship
meant a lot to me,

and I'm gonna be
very sad without it.

Look, I don't hate you.

I thought I would, but
then I found I couldn't.

It's silly to even try.

Well, do you think, if I...?

I'm sorry.

We could... No.

There's a part of me

that's always gonna
be closed off to you.

And that's what I'm sorry about.

Maybe sometime later.

Maybe.

We can still be friends.

I mean, you know, say hi,
wave to each other in the hall.

Yeah.

It's gonna be hard.

I know.

Well, thanks for coming by.

Uh, I'll see you later, okay?

Diana.

I brought you this.

My dad really gave
it to me this time.

I told him what happened.

You didn't take
that money from me.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Mr. Fairgate, I
need to talk to you.

Sure.

Step into my office.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Looks like you had a rough day.

Uh, why don't you, uh...

Why don't you come
in here and talk to me.

Where's Jason?

Papa took him to the zoo.

What is it with you?

You look like the cat
that swallowed the canary.

[CHUCKLES]

Drink your martini.

Ahh...

Don't believe it.

How'd you get him
to give us the money?

The check's made out to me.

You, me: What's the difference?

A big one.

I'm loaning you the
money, with strings.

Get to the point, dear.

I'm getting a job,

and every cent I make

is going towards
paying my father back.

At 4.60 an hour,

that's gonna take
you quite some time.

And from now on, I'm keeping
the books and paying all the bills.

And if I don't
agree to all this?

I'll tear up the check.

And I lose my job,
we lose the house.

Is that what you want?

Richard.

Richard, I want us to
work together from now on.

You wanna take over.

This isn't a power struggle.

It's a marriage. You're
blackmailing me.

Because I want you to let
me share the responsibility.

If you have to work to
help support this family,

it means that I can't.

It means that I've failed.

Well, you have failed.

You've put us


And you compounded
it by not telling me.

And borrowing from
our friends and...

And pressuring my father.

But mostly...

Mostly you failed
by refusing to see

that I still love you, anyway,

in spite of the failure.

Maybe a little because of it.

I made a mistake,
and I'm gonna correct it.

And if you love me,

you will trust me not
to repeat that mistake.

So we're back to
square one, huh?

[SIGHS]

Look, maybe it's old-fashioned,

but I was brought up to believe

that a man takes
care of his family

or he's not a man.

Oh, sweetie.

I'm sorry.

That... That's what I think.

I... I can't change that.

Yes, you can.

Take the check, please.

Without strings?

Uh-uh.

I'm sorry, Laura.

[TIRES SQUEAL]

I don't get it.

For the check.

What changed your mind?

A $70,000 car.

A car?

A dream car.

It's not important. Never mind.

I was afraid you
weren't coming back.

Oh, I wasn't.

I knew I'd come back the
moment I walked out the door.

I'm proud, Laura,
but I'm not stupid.

You were right about me, honey.

I'm terrible about money.

If somebody gave me a
check for a million bucks,

I'd find a way to spend
it before the ink was dry.

I need you around just
to keep me in the black.

Richard.

Richard, we'll...

We'll work together more.

That's all I really want.

Hate being ordinary, Laura.

That's why I do it.

Sweetie, you're not ordinary.

Yes, I am.

I'm a half-decent lawyer,
passable husband,

wonderful father, a
lousy poker player

and an average golfer.

Average, ordinary.

Sid, Gary, Kenny,

they're ordinary
too, but they...

They don't seem
to mind it. I do.

Maybe it's the job,

not being able to do
the work I really want,

but whatever it is,

the only thing that
keeps me going,

that makes me
feel extraordinary,

is my dreams.

[LAUGHS]

I looked at that car.

And for a moment
there, I was James Bond,

tearing along the Grand-Corniche
at 140 miles an hour.

If I'd bought the car, the
dream would disappear

and I'd find another
to take its place.

There's always another.

Because for me, there has to be.

[SIGHS]

We're gonna make some
changes around here,

and you're right
to insist on that.

So... get a job

and keep the books,

keep me in line,

but don't take away the dreams.

It's childish, I know.

But I... I need the dreams.

I couldn't do that,
Richard, even if I tried.

Hey. Yeah?

You're wearing the nightshirt.

Well, since I'm not wearing
the pants around here anymore...

[♪♪♪]