09x14 - Ties That Bind

[bunniefuu]

[Charles] I'd like you to meet Abby Ewing.

Abby, this is my wife.

Is the baby breathing?

Yes, the convulsion stopped about seven minutes ago.

Jackie, exam room 1.

-Are you the father? -No.

We need parental consent for treatment.

How much money do you want?

I've got about $20.

I was thinking you might add a few zeros to that figure.

-Johnny. -I know all your

nasty little secrets.

I can't sign that.

It's the only way we can determine

if the child has meningitis or not.

[Judith] Are you sleeping with Charles?

-What? -Well, of course you are.

[theme music playing]

[strumming guitar]

[♪]

-Inside. -Mommy?

Now.

You said to come out when I finished breakfast.

Julie, inside. There's someone here.

-Who is it? -I don't know.

Just leave it.

[strumming guitar]

[♪]

[door shuts]

Johnny. Hi.

Get lost.

Ah, you'll wound me to the quick.

All right, how much is it that you need?

I've got about $20.

I was thinking you might add a few zeros to that figure.

$20,000 sounds about right.

[laughs] Not to me.

You're a brave lass.

But you're forgetting who met you

in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Who got you your papers

and airline tickets to the States.

-Johnny. -I know all your

nasty little secrets.

And they're a terrible burden.

I'm only asking just compensation for my silence.

Johnny, my mother knows I'm alive.

And she also knows all the details

about the fake suicide.

And your grandparents know, do they?

So do my grandparents.

They know that I'm living here in domestic bliss

with my long-lost father.

There was no insurance paid and there was no reward posted.

-And your father? -And he knows too.

You see, I have no secrets.

So everything that you have to tell them is old news.

You have nothing to blackmail me with.

Blackmail?

Have you lost your sense of humor?

Goodbye, Johnny.

Paige, darling.

I'll take the $20,000.

So, what's your father like?

He's wonderful. He's Irish.

You'd like him. It's too bad you'll never meet him.

Hmm.

How about a ride to the bus station?

Walk.

You're not really going to make me walk, are you?

[instrumental music]

[tires screeching]

[♪]

[tires screeching]

Seven bucks. [groans]

[♪]

[♪]

Apple. See?

Apple.

Your daddy isn't eating this well

in the Big Apple, kiddo.

But why?

Linda's mother wants me to help Linda and Eric

move to their new apartment.

Can you imagine?

Well, look, I would be happy to help

if I thought for one minute that they need--

Well, yes.

Yes.

[Mack] You know what, Meg?

Aunt Karen is about to agree to something

she doesn't want to agree to.

Of course I'll do it.

And I'm really looking forward to meeting you in person, too.

Yes. Bye.

I can't believe that that woman

asked me to do what she asked me to do.

I can't believe I agreed to do it.

Yeah. See, Mack is right.

You'll see. Uncle Mack is always right.

[Karen] Look, um...

I-I don't think I-I really should

leave you alone here with Meg.

Oh, right.

Like you're going to be neglected

if Aunt Karen isn't around here to take care of you.

[Karen] Very funny.

Seriously, Karen, I mean, you're indispensable around here.

How can we get along without you?

I mean, I can't imagine getting along without you for a day.

Or even half a day.

[imitates whining]

[Mack chuckles]

Nose. Here you go.

Say, there's your nose.

Boop, boop.

Boop, boop.

Mack's nose.

Beep, beep.

I'm going to remember this the next time

you're looking for an excuse to get out of something

you don't want to do.

New word. Sore loser.

Sore loser.

We're talking about the high end here, are we?

Price is no measure of artistic value.

[chuckles] Really?

Well, how about finding me something beautiful

that's also cheap?

It's only money, Pops.

It's easier for you to say because it's my money.

Oh, and what are you saving it for?

I'm saving it for something that nobody else has.

Anyone with a Henry Moore

has something that no one else has.

Anyone with a Henry Moore has something

anyone with money can buy.

How about a sculpture that takes more than money to buy?

Something that requires research,

footwork, Pre-Columbian.

You said that you wanted sculpture out there.

Well, I do. Pre-Columbian sculpture.

You know, old clay pots, whatever.

Old clay pots?

Calling Mayan art old clay pots is rather

like referring to, to Kangxi porcelain as dishware.

Now, I would not put either old clay pots

or dishware in the garden.

Well, burn me at the stake for being a philistine.

We'll find some place or we'll build some place

for the stuff when you find it.

When?

How do you expect me to...

If you need a commission,

I'll buy one of these, uh,

high ticket items here to keep you flushed

till you go out and find exactly what I want.

But don't get anything that clashes with the Azares.

[scoffs] Don't do me any favors, pops.

Paige was madly in love with me,

or so I preferred to think at the time,

because I was madly in love with her.

We managed to stay friends, but I haven't seen her

since she left Europe and I just arrived here in the States.

I thought I'd look her up.

Yeah, listen, I just put the baby up for a nap,

so hold it a second, will you?

I just want to make sure she's asleep.

Yeah. All right.

Johnny Rourke, huh? You're Irish.

[chuckles] There's a point to start.

[both chuckling]

Where you from?

-County Mayo. -God save us.

That's right, County Mayo,

God save us. How'd you know that?

Well, it's the poorest county in the Republic.

Ah, Donegal might give you an argument there.

-How'd you know? -I have family there.

-No. -Sure, Sligo.

Go on with you.

-That's where I'm from. -Is it?

[Mack laughing]

Well, Johnny Rourke, listen, Paige isn't here right now.

Come on in here, we'll make a phone call,

we'll call her.

I don't want to be any trouble, Mr. MacKenzie.

Mack. And it's no trouble at all.

Any friend of Paige's a friend of mine. Listen...

-Have you had anything to eat? -No, I'm fine, really.

-How about some coffee? -Don't bother.

-Are you sure? -[Johnny chuckles]

Well, as long as you're having a cup, I'll join you.

Okay, Johnny Rourke.

[♪]

[Olivia] It's like out of a fairy tale.

Or a novel.

You could even make a movie of it.

Of what?

Of your first true love.

Actually showing up out of nowhere.

Oh, it's just like out of a movie.

A badly written movie, to hear you tell it.

What kind of movies have you been seeing lately, anyway?

Hm?

Do you think Charles will stay this time?

If he does stay,

I bet you magazines will buy your story.

Olivia, Charles and I are going out to dinner.

That's all, just dinner. [sighs]

Don't let your imagination make more out of this than it is.

I'm not. [sighs deeply]

I wonder why he didn't come back sooner.

He didn't come back, Olivia.

You know, he's just here on business.

We're just friends.

Oh, all these years.

He must have been miserable without you.

Olivia.

Maybe he didn't come back because he got married.

Did you ask him if he's married?

Have you done your homework yet, honey?

Yes, well, most of it.

Well, why don't you go finish it?

Use your curiosity for better things.

Fine. [Olivia chuckles]

So, you and I are the stuff of novels, eh?

[chuckles]

Hardcover, I hope.

Well, Olivia seems to think

that our relationship is very exciting.

So do I.

I don't know what to say.

I mean, how do those people in romance novels talk?

Darling, I want to eat every meal with you.

I want to make love to you.

I want to be with you all the time.

-I want to- -I want to leave here right now.

[Judith] Charles.

-[Judith chuckles] -Judith.

What timing.

We were just about to order.

Judith, I'd like you to meet Abby Ewing.

Abby?

This is my wife.

[indistinct chatter]

I'm so pleased to meet you.

Charles has spoken highly of you.

Really?

How nice.

I'm not interrupting a business meeting, am I?

Well, no, as a matter of fact, from what Charles tells me,

you're the only business associate he can trust anyway.

Oh, please, not another word about business.

At least not tonight.

Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

I'd have met your plane.

Oh, I didn't want you to bother.

And you've sounded so distracted over the phone lately.

I knew you were busy.

Charles tells me that his proposal

would never have survived without your help, Abby.

Um, you don't mind my calling you Abby, do you?

No, not at all.

And I hope you'll call me Judith.

Of course.

Well, um, what do you recommend?

Well, everything is good, but I'm prejudiced, of course.

Oh, from what I've seen so far,

everything about this place,

your sweet Charles, this club,

everything about Lotus Point is just beautiful.

I don't understand why you're not turning away

customers in droves.

Well, we've had a bit of a public relations problem.

Well, I'm gonna tell everyone I know that it's just great.

-Good. -And we can start spreading

the word tomorrow night

at the ambassador's dinner party.

Charles, you haven't forgotten, have you?

Actually, I have, yes.

Well, you can still make it, can't you?

Oh, sure, of course.

Good. I think they only live about 45 minutes from here.

Would you excuse me?

Yes, of course.

She seems very nice.

Yes, she-she is.

A musician's got to go where the jobs are.

There are a lot more jobs out here.

Hey, hi.

You didn't tell me your friend sang backup

for six different bands.

Oh, what an oversight on my part.

As far as I can figure,

you never even let them know I existed.

Well, that should tell you something.

Johnny's agreed to do a set at the club.

Oh, you're doing me a big favor.

Not such a big favor.

There might not be anybody there to listen to you.

Business is really down at the club.

Ah, well, even if the room is empty,

-I'd love to have a chance. -Well, you got it.

Hey, let's over with some of those songs,

if you're not too tired.

Is there anything you want me to take upstairs for you?

No, I'm all set for the night.

-For the night? -Yeah, Johnny's going to

stay with us until he finds a place.

Your father insisted.

[tense music playing]

His wife.

His wife.

Some fairy tale, Olivia. [sighs]

I bet they could make a movie out of this one.

[exhales sharply]

"I want to be with you all the time, Abby."

"Oh, by the way, this is my wife."

"Oh, do call me Judith."

I'd like to call you Cab.

"Don't forget the ambassador's dinner, Charles."

Oh, everything about this place is beautiful.

Well, I can't take credit for everything, but thank you.

I can see why Charles doesn't want to leave.

Well, he works very hard.

Um, you don't have anything planned

for tomorrow night, do you?

Planned?

Oh, well, you know, a business conference,

something like that with Charles?

No.

Good,

because I wouldn't want to interfere with business.

See, the ambassador's invitation

has been on the schedule for weeks.

Are you sleeping with Charles?

What?

[chuckles softly]

Well, of course you are.

It's not the damned resort that's keeping him here.

Why don't you ask Charles what's keeping him here?

No, I don't think so.

He has to get this out of his system.

I just wanted to thank you

for keeping him faithful to me all these years.

You see, he's felt so guilty about leaving you to marry me

that he's never once cheated on me.

Well, aren't you the lucky one?

Oh, well, I wouldn't take it too seriously.

You see, Charles didn't forget about the ambassador's dinner.

It's in his appointment book.

He just couldn't show up with someone like you.

[somber music playing]

And what's that supposed to mean?

Are you really that naive?

[chuckles sarcastically]

You see, in Charles' circle,

women like you are just for practice.

Well, surely you realize that.

Well, of course you do.

[♪]

[♪]

[mellow music]

[♪]

[Paige grunts]

You've ruined a perfectly good dream.

-Oh, come on. -Johnny, get out of here.

[Paige sighs]

[♪]

[music fades]

[Mack over phone] How's the apartment?

Economical.

That big, huh?

That big.

Sounds like neither of them are there.

No, they went out for a tofu pizza.

I don't know if they're gonna find a place

to put it when they get back.

[laughs] That big, huh?

That big.

It's getting a little crowded here, too.

We had a friend of Paige's come by.

Real nice guy. Irish kid.

Name's Johnny Rourke.

Oh, I see. And that's synonymous, huh?

-What? -Nice and Irish.

Of course. Of course.

So, you having a good time?

Well, they keep telling me what a big help I am,

and then they don't take my advice on anything.

I should have stayed home.

-How's Meg? -Cranky.

She feels a little warm to me, you know?

Her temperature was 99 degrees,

according to that thermometer tape.

Well, babies run a temperature sometimes

when they're teething.

Yeah. Wait a minute.

Hey, Mike, check her...

check to see if she's teething.

H-how?

Make her laugh. Look in her mouth.

Mr. Potato Head.

-[Johnny making funny noise] -Smile.

[Mike] I think I see...

[indistinct] Huh?

Yeah? Yeah?

-That's not working. -That's not working, no.

What if the temperature goes up?

Um, call the pediatrician.

Oh, Mack.

I shouldn't have left you alone.

Not to worry. I have everything under control.

You have a good time.

Say hi to them.

Sure.

-Bye. -[Mack chuckles] Bye.

[Mike] It's not working, huh?

-[Johnny making funny noise] -Meg.

Mrs. Ewing, I have to tell you that this new revision of yours

is going to cost me, uh, at least $200,000.

I'll have to take it on advisement.

Of course.

Well, if that's all, why don't we meet on this

when our attorneys have had a chance to look it over?

Thank you.

Abby, listen.

Listen, I want to tell you that...

Charles. There you are.

I've been looking everywhere for you.

We've got reservations in 20 minutes.

Oh, excuse me. Are you finished here?

Yes, we're-we're finished.

Well, just in time, then.

We don't want to be late, darling.

If you'll excuse us.

Well, she-yeah, I've got to cool down a little bit.

[doorbell chimes]

Hold on a second, huh?

-Hi, you must be Mack. -Yeah.

We're returning Karen's cake plate.

Yeah, well, I've got the pediatrician on the phone.

It's Meg, you know, I thought it was teething,

but I was in the kitchen when she fell asleep.

I come out, she was burning up.

Uh, well...

it's-yeah, it's 104.

-She's convulsing. -She's what?

She's having convulsions.

My God, she's having convulsions.

You better send an ambulance.

I am calm.

Well, what the hell do you think? I got a baby here.

-Just let me. Okay? -Wait a minute.

What hospital are you at?

Is St. Agnes near?

Uh, yeah. Ten minutes. Seven minutes.

Good. Mack, go get your keys.

Julie, go to the kitchen.

Get a wet cloth. Now, Julie.

Call ER stat.

We'll be transporting a 10 to 12-month-old female

who has undergone generalized seizures

throughout all extremities,

also experiencing high fever.

We're on our way.

[grunts] We're out of here.

[tense music playing]

[tires screeching]

[Patricia] Take it easy, Mack.

We want to get her there in one piece,

not in an ambulance carrying all four of us.

Right. Right.

The convulsions have stopped.

Huh? What do the convulsions mean?

I don't know.

[Mack] But that's good that they've stopped, right?

[Patricia] Yes.

-That's good, though, isn't it? -[Patricia] Yes.

I don't know what they mean, but it's good

that they've stopped, huh?

[Patricia] Yes.

[♪]

-[tires screeching] -[car horn honks]

-[Mack] I should have run it. -[Pat] You're doing fine.

No, I should have run it. Everybody runs the yellow.

Everybody.

How's she doing?

[Pat] She's asleep, thank God.

[Mack] Yeah.

Okay. Hey, don't you worry.

Uncle Mack is here.

Mom, you're not supposed to be doing this.

Shh.

Are we almost there?

Why? What's the matter?

She's dehydrating a little.

Dehydrating?

Come on, Meg. Hang in there, baby.

Come on, little Meg.

Everything will be all right. We're almost there, kid.

We're almost there.

[♪]

Is the baby breathing?

Yes, the convulsions stopped about seven minutes ago.

Jackie, exam room 1.

-Are you the father? -No.

We need parental consent for treatment.

Yeah, I've got a release.

Come right with me.

[♪]

I'm here, kiddo.

I'm not leaving you.

Mack's staying right here.

[indistinct announcement over PA]

Mack love you.

Hi.

She's not awake yet.

It's good for her to sleep.

Yeah.

Mack, Julie hasn't had anything to eat yet.

Oh, yeah, sure. Get her something to eat.

Mack, no, no, no.

I mean, we have to go home.

Julie has to go to school in the morning.

-Oh, right. -I have to go to work

-in the morning. -Yeah, okay, sure.

Well, look, here, take my car key.

No, no, no. I called a cab already.

You did? [Mack chuckles]

Think of everything, huh?

Uh...

You know, I'm just so grateful.

I don't know how to thank you.

Thank you.

How'd you know what to do? Were you a nurse or something?

No, my daughter went through the same thing.

She did.

She came through it all right. She's fine.

Yes, she is.

And so will Meg be.

Oh, yeah.

I'll see you.

-Yeah. -Bye.

Thank you.

I'm here.

Mack's here.

Evening. [Charles clears throat]

Charles.

[sighs] You look very handsome in your tuxedo.

Don't you have any homework to do?

Oh, no. I did it all after school.

Well, isn't your favorite television show on?

Oh, yeah, sure.

There's a great documentary on salamanders I wanted to see.

Thanks for reminding me.

Hi, Brian.

[Charles clears throat]

Your wife knows we've had an affair.

Had?

Had?

Listen, I don't have to go out to dinner tonight.

Oh, I know that.

You didn't have to marry Judith either, did you?

I could make an excuse.

You do whatever you want.

It's only one meal. [grunts]

Also, also, it's protocol.

[scoffs] The ambassador's an old friend of mine.

Of course. I understand protocol.

When your wife is in town,

you don't go to dinner with your lover.

I didn't think you'd want to go. Really, I didn't.

I'm sorry.

Really.

Stop saying really.

[chuckles] You sound like a valley girl.

Yeah. Right.

No, no, no. I'll call you if I need you.

But don't hold your breath.

Everything here is...

beautiful.

You're still here.

Can I help it if your family likes me?

Ah, what's the point of all this antagonism?

You didn't used to hate me.

I don't hate you, Johnny.

I've outgrown you.

And it's just a matter of time

until everybody else does as well.

Have you got a boyfriend?

Boys don't interest me.

You've probably just forgotten.

No, I haven't forgotten.

You're very good in bed.

It's just out of bed you don't interest me.

We could skip the out of bed part.

[phone ringing]

We could skip everything.

Ah.

-Hello? -Paige,

I'm at the hospital with Meg.

What? Why?

She had convulsions and a high temperature.

She's asleep now. They got the fever down.

But they don't know what caused it.

-Now, I need your help. -What can I do?

I have no way of getting hold of Greg Sumner in New York.

Have you tried leaving a message at the ranch?

His ranch number's on the list and I don't have it with me.

It's there on the desk somewhere.

I'll call him. I'll call the ranch.

Fine. I'm at St. Agnes Hospital.

All right.

[exhales sharply]

[suspenseful music playing]

Sumner residence.

Yes, this is Paige Matheson. I'd like to speak to Mr. Sumner.

He's not here. Would you care to leave a message?

-I know he's there. -I'm sorry.

Let me talk to Carlos.

Carlos says they're night off.

-But did he leave a number? -No.

Look, this is an emergency. I know Mr. Sumner is there.

He's not here at the moment.

Your boyfriend won't talk to you.

Is that the gist of it?

It's a bad sign.

Maybe he's out with another woman.

But on the other hand, you know where to find me.

[♪]

[indistinct, distant chatter]

[pleasant piano music]

[quiet chatter]

Good evening. Sorry we're late.

I think you all know Abby Ewing.

I owe you one.

[♪]

[quiet chatter and laughter]

[tense music playing]

I need your signature to proceed with a lumbar puncture.

What?

The spinal canal is punctured to remove cerebrospinal fluid.

-Then we take the-- -Spinal tap.

Is that what you're telling me? Spinal tap.

On the little baby girl?

No way. I can't sign that.

It's the only way we can determine

whether the child has meningitis or not.

Meningitis?

Her symptoms indicate that's a possibility.

Look, I don't want to take a chance.

And neither do you.

And we need to do that LP immediately.

[indistinct announcement over PA]

Will it hurt her?

She'll have a local anesthetic.

[♪]

[fire crackling]

It boggles the mind to think

how you're going to pay me back for tonight.

-[Abby chuckles] -[Paige] Where is he?

Why in the hell haven't you returned my phone calls?

What are you, my mother? Sit down. Have a drink.

It's Meg. She's in the hospital.

-What hospital? -St. Agnes.

What's wrong?

They don't know.

-Well, who's with her? -Mack.

Mack thinks that you're still in New York.

[Paige sighs deeply]

[fire crackling]

Wait a minute.

When do you get the results?

Just a few hours.

What do we do until then?

-Wait. -Wait?

[somber music]

[♪]

She just fell asleep.

[♪]

[♪]

She loves to be sung to at night.

I don't know any lullabies.

I'll tell you, she doesn't care what you sing.

[♪]

♪ In olden days, a glimpse of stocking ♪

♪ Was looked on as something shocking ♪

♪ Now heaven knows, anything goes ♪

♪ Good authors too who once knew better words ♪

♪ Now only use four letter words writing prose ♪

♪ Anything goes ♪

[♪]

Uh, make it a double.

-Long time no see. -Hmm.

On the house.

Are you sure the house can afford it?

Not really.

Is the early evening crowd any better?

Not really.

For those of you joining us late, welcome.

My name is Johnny Rourke.

[scattered applause]

Thanks for joining us here this evening.

[Mike] Paige.

Tell me what you think of this guy.

Sure.

[instrumental music]

♪ We might not stand ♪

♪ [indistinct] a chance ♪

♪ Just an almost romance ♪

♪ Is all that we might have been ♪

♪ But I like what I see ♪

♪ When I look in your eyes ♪

♪ Now something's telling me ♪

♪ That this time it might be right ♪

♪ If it happened once ♪

♪ It can happen again ♪

♪ Any heart can mend ♪

♪ One heart's been broken ♪

♪ And if lightning strikes ♪

♪ Not once but twice ♪

♪ And words like I love you ♪

♪ Can still be spoken ♪

♪ If it happened once ♪

♪ It can happen again ♪

♪ We might just be ♪

♪ A shot in the dark ♪

♪ Just a dying spark ♪

♪ That never does become a flame ♪

♪ But it's part of our game ♪

♪ And there's no guarantee ♪

♪ Girl, here we are ♪

♪ And as far as I can see ♪

[indistinct announcement over PA]

I got here as soon as I could.

-Mack. -She's fine.

Oh.

An ear infection.

Febrile convulsions.

The temperature from an ear infection

caused the convulsions.

You believe that? Earache?

How are you?

[indistinct]

Find out how Greg Sumner's daughter is doing, would you?

I hope you've had a pleasant stay.

You went to a lot of trouble last night.

No, no trouble at all.

Well, in any case, it was a wasted effort.

Because no matter how much fun

you and Charles have together,

he will eventually come back home to me.

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

[indistinct announcement over PA]

Could you guys, uh, spare me for five minutes?

Oh, sure.

Hey, daddy.

Don't be gone for so long next time, huh?

[Greg chuckling]

You know, Karen, I always wanted to be a father.

Play with the kids, you know.

Do all that fun stuff, take them camping.

Go fishing.

Do all that kid stuff, you know.

Stuff I planned on doing.

But this...

this is too painful.

I don't know if I can go through this again.

I have to admit...

I was worried about you and Meg.

I was afraid you'd get too attached to her.

I knew it would happen.

It did.

I just didn't think it would happen to me.

[emotional piano instrumental]

Hey. [chuckles]

Hey, Meg, you awake?

Hey, kid.

Hey, you gave your Uncle Mack a big scare,

you know that, kiddo?

Next time you get an earache, you say,

"Hey, Uncle Mack, I got an earache, huh?"

-[Karen laughs] -Remember me?

You know, remember nose?

-Ear? Mack's nose? -Oh.

Oh, here we go again.

Boop, boop.

Boop, boop.

Attagirl.

-[Meg coos] -Attagirl.

[Meg] Mack.

She said Mack.

Isn't that what she said?

-Yeah. -[Meg chattering]

She said Mack.

-[Karen] I... -[Mack] She heard us.

-[Karen] I- -Karen, she said Mack.

That could be her first word.

Is that her first word, Karen?

Mack.

Meg, did you go Mack? Did you say Mack?

Mack, Mack, Mack, Mack, Mack, Mack.

[♪]

Marry me.

What?

[♪]

I want you to marry me.

[theme music playing]