04x02 - The Question

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

Attention. Attention, everyone.We're going to play a game.

Oh, no.

Oh, now, it's a perfectlyfascinating one. You'll adore it.

We played it in east last week.

They'll love it, won'tthey? Edit? It's such fun

Now, you don't haveto do a thing, darling.

You just sit there and dive,suggest and answer one question.

Now, the question is written outon the top of each slip of paper.

Give me an easyone, will you, Harry?

Sorry, Philip. It's the samequestion on each paper.

Now, as soon as you readthe question, you just jot down

the very first three answersthat come into your mind.

Now, remember, no cheating. Yourvery first thought, no matter what.

Here you are, dear.Just a simple question.

Oh, Yes.

Oh, Margaret, you'veplayed the game

before and it's nofun the second time.

-Sorry.-Oh, I thought

Oh, I thought this wouldbe something new out here.

Well, never mind,darling. Just jot down the

answers from thefirst time you played it.

Yes.

The first time I playedit, it was hardly a game.

Just a simple question.

Just one simple question, butall what it took to put it together.

One question. Just onesimple thirst question.

That's what I want tobuild my whole thesis on.

I want a question that willreveal the individual's deepest

impression of himself inthe shortest possible time.

A one question psychoanalysis.

A one question psychoanalysis?

yes.

Oh, Margaret.

Well, no, I don't meana complete analysis. But

if I can come up withthe right question.

that will strike at thecore and well, give me an

idea of how the individualfeels about himself.

I'll have a fairlygood tabulation of

this whole townpsychological state.

If I can get to enough people.

That's why the questionhas got to be short.

Very short. Veryshort and to the point.

And it's got to penetrate.

It must have a certainshock value that will make the

person's thoughts go racingto the core of their personality.

It's that first flash I want.

It's a miracle you want.

Ah, Not at all.

It's that doctor's degreeI want. And with the

right question behindmy thesis, I'll have it.

-[telephone ringing]-Excuse me.

Yes.

Yes, she's right here.

Margaret, your housekeeperwants to speak to.

Yes, Millie.

I forgot to check with you thismorning about dinner tonight.

There's a leftoverlamb, and I thought

perhaps I mightdo something with

Millie.

I am right in themiddle of a conference

with ProfessorGreen. I'll call you later.

Alight.

Yeah.

I'll manage somehow.

What time will you be home?

Well, I won't be home for dinner.

That's right. Willyou tell Mr. Channing

I'm sorry and pleasenot to wait for me?

I'll be with Professor Green.And we're going to a lecture.

That's right.

I'm sorrynow.

Where were we?

Margaret.

Are you sure you wantto go back into teaching?

Oh, sure. I'm sure.

Takes up an awful lotof your time, you know.

Professor, you need teachers.

And my childrenare growing up. My

goodness, the firstthing you know, they're

all going to be oftenmarried. And then

what am I going todo with my spare time?

Oh, look, I don't like living.

I do love teaching.

Don't tell myhusband this, will you?

But I've missed it.

Just the thought ofstarting this thesis

makes me feel like I'm living again.

And the very idea ofgetting a doctor's degree,

that makes me absolutelyheavy. I just love it.

You better take it easy.

I can't.

Oh, I've got to get the ceaseswell on his way while the

girls are still in camp andTerry's in summer school.

Well, you don't haveto have that doctor's

degree to go backto teaching you.

I know.

but I want it.

I've always wanted it.

You better not let it get outof proportion. First things first.

[music]

What's ProfessorGreen got that I haven't?

Fell, you should besound asleep by now.

So should you.

I know.

Honey, we weresupposed to go over to the

Hills tonight to look attheir movies of Spain.

Sorry, but well, afterthe lecture Professor

Green and I got talkingabout my thesis.

Well, you know.

Really, Margaret, Idon't see how you could

forget. We talkedabout it just this morning.

I'm sorry, Phil.

You just slipped my mind.

I guess way down deep inside,I really don't like home movies.

Well, way down deepinside, how do you

feel about standingyour husband up?

I feel terrible.

Darling, please bear with mefor a while, will you? I just got

so much work to do, I can't

concentrate onanything else alright?

Don't go back to teaching.

Why don't you make up your mind?

Last month you thoughtit was a wonderful idea.

Well, last month I wasn'tspending so much time alone.

I'm sorry.

[music]

-Phil.-Hmm.

What's important to you?

You.

And kids.

No, no, no, I don'tmean that. I mean

well

what's your core? What makesyou what you are to you yourself?

What's that again?

Well, what do you think of you?

What are you I mean I meanwho are you to you?

Who are you?

That's it.

Who are you.

- Who am I?- Yes.

Now your first thoughts quickly.

Who are you?

Philip Reganning.

Yesand.

And.

Philip give me threeanswers if you can.

First you're Philip Reid Channing.

And.

Philip Reid. Channing

I'm married to a brilliant,beautiful creature by the name

of Margaret, who gave methree fine, healthy children.

And your third answer?

I'm a lawyer.

A darn good.

That is just wonderful.

What?

In seconds I canmake a pretty good guess

that you are a very welladjusted human being.

How?

Buy your first answer.

Why?

Well, Phil, what wasyour first answer?

My name, of course.Philip Reid Channing.

I know know.

Not of course at all.

By answeringyour name first, you

indicated that you areacutely conscious of

yourself as a person.And that has a direct

bearing on howwell adjusted you are.

Just basic psychology.

-Basic psychology?-Hmm.

Just the more acutelyconscious you are of

yourself, well, the betteracquainted you are with

your inner urges anddesires and the better

able you are to providethem with expression.

Margaret, if someone walksup to you and ask who you

are, what else you're goingto answer but your name?

I don't know.

That's what I'm going to find out.

Wait a minute. Where are you going?

I just want to see if Millie is still up.

[music]

[door knocking]

Yes?

Millie. It's Mrs. Channing.

Can I ask you something?

Just a movement.

[door opening]

Oh, Millie. I'm sorryto disturb you so late,

but there's a questionI want to ask you.

Now, will you pretend thatI am from the university and

I am conducting a survey fromthe psychology department?

Now, I want to askyou one question,

but I want you to giveme three answers.

Now, your answers may beanything you wish sentences,

words, phrases, anythingat all. Do you understand?

-No.-Well, you will.

The question is who are you?

Who am I?

Yeah.

Who am I?

I'm a widow.

Yeah.

I'm a woman whoworks hard for my money.

I'm Mrs. Warren Beckwith.

Thank you, Millie.

Goodnight.

[door closing]

Hey, mom. What are you doing up?

I was just havinga word with Millie.

You better get backto bed. Go ahead.

I heard you. I thoughtmaybe something was wrong.

No, dear, nothing's wrong.

I'm sorry I woke you up.

Oh, I was awake.

Terry.

Who are you?

Huh?

Who are you?

You have three answers.

Mom, it's awful lateto be playing games.

There is no game. Go on.Answer any way you please.

Seriously?

Seriously.

Well, I'm Terry Channing.

I am a boy.

I'm a boy and I got such a sickschool, I gotta go to summer school.

Is that right?

There isn't any right or wrong.

Whatever you answer isright for you. It's kind of a

one question psychoanalysis.

You mean I don't win anything?

Happy life, I hope.

Mom, sometimesyou're pretty screwing.

-I know, Good night and go to.-Night.

[door closing]

Well.

Your son wasawake, so I asked him.

Is your son all right?

Started out with his name.

I told you. What elsewould you answer?

Millie answered I'm a widow.

Isn't that Millie?

She's a widow in everythingshe says and does.

That's the way she seesherself. That's the way she acts.

That's the way she stands.That's the way she speaks.

Millie just feels sorry for herself.

Exactly.

Now, we know thatbecause we lived

in the same housewith her for years.

But her answer tomy question devolves

the same thing ina matter of seconds.

So?

So say it's infallible.

But I do think it might prove a

a great aid in exploringhuman personalities.

I still say if you asksomeone who they

are, they're goingto answer their name.

Millie didn't.

Milly is different.

So are we all.

And to find out just how different.

ask everyone youknow. Go on. Ask me..

Right now.

[music]

Now it's the parlor game.

Of course, in the survey, thequestion was asked of strangers.

On the street.

At their work.

In their home.

The question turned outto be one that relatively

few people had everasked themselves before.

Now, your answer may be in phrases,sentences, or anything you wish.

Well, I'm just a housewife

I'm nobody.

This answer suggeststhat she has given

much of herself to thesecurity of her home.

Now the question is who are you?

Who am I?

I am a member of theMillbrook country club.

I'm president of this firm.

I'm a.

I'm an American citizen.

Excuse me, sir, butyou hesitated just

before you said, I'man American citizen.

Were you going tosay something else?

Yes.

I'm getting a divorce.

When the individual evades orattempts to dodge the question

It indicates that there is somethinghe wishes to hide from himself

as well as others.

Well, I never asked myselfsuch a question before.

-Oh.-Kind of stops me.

guess. I don't know who I am,except that I'm kind of mixed up.

I feel all alone.

By myself.

I feel that many peoplehave got it in for me.

Like I've got to holdon tight to everything

that I've got or somebodywill take it away.

I'm just a small spic on this earth.

Oh, you're writing all thisdown. Well, please don't do that.

It's people like you that makeit difficult for people like me.

This answer indicates that theindividual is overwhelmed by life.

He also feels sorry forhimself. He has no confidence

in his own powers andresources as an individual

And he doesn't feel ableto cope with the world.

-Mom.-Hmm, hmm.

Do you have $?

Ah.

Yeah honey the nearmy bag on the dresser.

Oh honey, honey come back here.

Ah.

What do you want $ for?

For summer school.

Oh, yeah okay go ahead.

Wash your hands.And it's almost ready.

Mrs. Channing.

Millie, please. Whatis this, Grand Central

Station? Can't you seeI'm trying to concentrate?

You did ask me to letyou know when it was .

Yeah, all right,all right, I'm sorry.

If you're going to dress for thatlecture, you better get started.

I know.

I'm sorry I snapped at you, too.

Alright.

Lecture?

Oh, yes, I have to phil?

Yeah, the

The Woman's Leaguewanted someone from the

university to give alecture on child welfare.

I drew the shortstraw. I'll be home early

- Honey.- what?

Well, look, it's notas if I'm going out

to play cards withthe girls or something.

These child welfarelectures are very important.

I understand that.

Yeah.

[music]

Margaret.

Hello, darling.

Did you give Terry $ tonight?

-Yes.-What for?

Well, he asked me for it.He needed it for school.

For school? Why?

I don't know.

Books or something.I don't know.

Don't you think $ is a greatdeal of money to give a twelve year

old boy when you haven't theslightest idea what he needs it for?

Oh, for heaven's sake,Phil. What's this all about?

The money was for beer.

For what?

The older boys werehaving a beer party.

The younger onescould get in for $ ahead.

Terry, along withthe rest of them,

was arrested fordisturbing the peace.

-Is he all right?-Yes.

-Where is he?-Upstairs, sleeping it off.

Oh, thank heaven.

Margaret.

Margaret, don't you thinkit's rather ironic your son was

arrested while you wereout lecturing on child welfare?

Think about it.

[music]

% consider themselvesas a name and almost the

same percentage thoughtof themselves as a job.

% regarded themselvesas a street address.

It's amazing how clearlyit shows the individual's

degree of self awareness,how he thinks of himself.

Imagine thinking ofyourself as a street address

For a job.

-May I use your telephone?-Certainly.

erry should be home fromschool by now. I just want to check.

-Having trouble with Jerry?-No.

Nothing serious, anyway.

Hello, Millie. Is Terry home?

Oh.

That's good.

No, I was just checking.

Yeah, that'll beall right. But don't

let him spoil hisdinner, will you?

Yes, I'll be home. Yeah.

Bye. [putting telephone down]

There is one quote I want toread to you. I know you'll agree

that it's clearly a persecutioncomplex. Now, where is it?

But the forum istonight, aren't you going?

Yeah.

But you told her that youwere going home for dinner.

So I did. I'll call her back later.

Here's what he said.

I'd never asked myselfthat question before.

Hi, dear.

[door closing]

Margaret, what isthe matter with you?

Nothing, why?

No, there must besomething. Millie said you were

coming home for dinner.We waited almost an hour.

Oh, sh*t no.

I am just an idiot.

I don't say you'resorry because you're laughing.

Apologies to spill out of you.

Yet you continue to act withcomplete disregard for your family.

Well, that's not true.

Just that I'm terriblybusy right now.

I'm aware of that.

But I think I've beenmore than patient

with your preoccupationwith your work.

-Phil, it's very important work.-Let's not argue that.

Margaret.

Margaret. I thought theepisode with Terry and the money

would have its effect, butobviously you've forgotten it.

Look, I am very tired, and Ithink this scene is uncalled for.

As I'm sure you do.That's the pity of it.

Margaret.

Yes.

Have I lost you?

Don't see things like that.

I love you verymuch. You know that.

But not enough, is that it?

Darling.

I'm afraid this is going tosound awfully pompous.

But I don't know any otherway to express the way I feel.

This

project that I'm working on

well, I believe is going tobenefit all mankind. All mankind?

All mankind?

Yes, yes.

Don't you thinkit might be wise if

you started withthe family unit first?

You just won't understand me.

I'm trying to. I'm trying veryhard to understand you, Margaret.

Tell me, what did you answer?

-Answer?-To the question. Who are you?

Well, I conduct thesurvey. I asked the question.

I see. Well, don't you think it'sabout time you ask it of yourself?

Alright.

All right, Phil. I'm a teacher.

I'm a persondevoted to improving

myself and all theconditions around me.

I'm Margaret Channing. Iam a wife and I'm a mother.

I see.

You're hurt.

Look I.

I know that you'd likeme to be a wife first.

Tarry, no doubt, wouldlike me to be a mother first.

And according tosome psychologists.

if I am well adjusted, I shouldthink of myself as a name first.

Now maybe I'm wrong butto me my work comes first

No you're wrong.

no phil.

No, I don't know I'm wrong.

I know this.

It's pulling us apart. I knowthat. I know that's wrong.

I know that it's making usunhappy too, and that's wrong.

Honestly, I justdon't know how to

alter my thinking.I just don't know.

What have you ever do.

Let me know.

Where are you going?

Out of here.

I'm leaving you,Margaret. Not that you'll

notice. Five minutesafter I'm gone.

Phil.

But, I love you.

You've an odd way of showing.

I'll call you tomorrow.We'll talk about the children.

Wait a minute. Whatabout the children?

I want them withme. They come first.

Well am I wrong?

My work might proveto be beneficial to

millions. You told methat. Is that wrong?

Should my family comefirst? I don't know. It's not

as though they wereneglected. You know they're not.

I love them.

I love them very much but

But you want to feel you'reinvolved in more important work.

Then you do think I'm wrong?

my family should come first?

No.

Well, what then?

I've gone over all the answersyou received to your question.

-Who are you.-Yes.

it's amazing to mehow few people came

forth with, who amI? I'm a child of God.

Our first duty is tohim, our second to

our family, and ourthird to our work.

Is his plan.

We follow cake mixes, roadmaps,dress patterns, all to the letter.

But not his guaranteedplan for happiness.

First things first Margaret.

Not doctors agrees they'reimportant, but not foremost.

If we put him first, everythingelse falls into its proper place.

Oh, that's so mucheasier said than done.

-I'll tell you a secret, Margaret.-What?

Every morning, I askmyself, Where are you going?

-Yeah.-But thanks to you I now as.

who are you? Andwhere are you going?

Lots of mornings myanswers make me feel

like jumping backright under the covers.

[laugh]

But at least.

I'm tempting to knowmyself as I really am.

[music]

Alright.

Who am I?

Where am I going?

Where am I going?

[music]

Alright, now for the fun.

This is the time that wereally get to know one another.

Thank you, dear. Now,let's see the first one.

George Hill. I'm an accountant. Imarried to Mary for seven years.

George, what madeyou underline the seven?

I don't know

[laugh]

Well, let's see the second one.

I'm a child of God. I'm Margaret

Channing wife andmother. I'm a teacher.

My Margaret that'sa beautiful answer.

Thank you, Millie.

I'm afraid it wasn'toriginal with me.

And that was not my first answer.

Oh no?No, no.

Now, you see, the amazingthing about this question

is what you can learnabout yourself from it.

That is, if youreally want to learn.

Who you are?

Well, now let's see whereyours is. Edward. I'm dying to

find out whether you've learnedanything from the first time.

What?

Nothing.

I love you.

Nothing.

[music]