12x22 - An American Hero

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

You're actually sleeping with that cow.

No. No.

That would have been too on the nose.

Well, what happened, Greg? Did you lose a bet?

Too subtle.

[instrumental music]

[Linda groans]

That might have worked.

I was sure she would say something.

Tongue-tied. Doesn't happen very often.

I can't believe she didn't even knock first.

Yeah. She will in the future.

No, in the future

you will wait until we get back to the bedroom.

I thought you'd take that as a compliment.

She's going to tell everyone.

Can you imagine the pot calling the kettle black?

You really don't need to go through this trouble, Mack.

Well, the closet needed straightening anyhow.

Are you sure you don't want me to store this in the garage?

The great abyss, you'll never see it again.

Well, it's not like this stuff is valuable or anything.

Oh. Beauty.

Now, where would you find a pair of treads like these?

-Pretty bad, huh? -[laughs] Classics.

[sighs] I don't know why I brought any of this stuff here.

What are you doing?

It's falling apart.

I don't know. I don't want one my dad threw away.

I don't want this stuff.

You should do. That's why you brought it here.

No. I thought I wanted it.

Don't throw it away just because your dad did.

I'm sure my dad didn't, you know, mean to get rid of it.

He probably just stored out on the back

and you know, forgot about it.

I mean, why would he throw my glove away?

He's the one that's into baseball.

[murmuring] Yeah.

[Kate] Should I cut my hair?

[Greg] Mnm-mnm.

I think it would look pretty good short.

[Greg] Mnm-mnm.

I'll be a lot easier to take care of short.

Do you ask my opinion?

Mnm-mnm.

[Kate laughs]

I look like I'm 12.

Yeah, but great looking 12.

My mom doesn't think I should cut it either.

Well, in that case... Just kidding.

Just kidding.

It's an old habit.

Extends from the days when she used to steal my baseball cards

and I used to glue her diary shut.

Aren't you a little bit beyond that now?

Way beyond it.

I'll give you a quarter if I could get a pick at her diary.

I'm serious.

Shouldn't I take her calls?

I talk to her when I run into her.

We've come a long way.

Can you come a little further?

Hm?

All the way to our house Sunday night for dinner.

-Who's cooking? -I'm cooking.

I'm cooking. So you won't need a food taster.

It would mean a lot to my mom.

And Tim.

-Do I got to wear a tie? -[laughs]

[instrumental music]

Ah! Hold the elevator.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

Oh...

Good morning to both of you.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Chilly in here.

So did you hear the one about the lawyer

who had to visit his client's farm?

Got out of his BMW

stepped into a pile of cow manure.

Looked down, cried out.

[shouting] "Help me. I'm melting."

[laughing loudly]

Thought you were never taking the elevators again.

What?

Aren't you going to say anything?

-About what? -I bought a tie.

Oh, that's nice.

-That's it? -That's it.

But do you think Mr. Sumner will like it?

Why would he care?

This guy made me buy it.

Greg?

[scoffs] He wears pajamas to work.

Figures.

So what do you want me to do today?

Well, what I don't want you to do is hold me c*ptive

in a dangling elevator and insult me.

All I said was that...

your looks are going to make you miserable.

It wasn't an insult. It was... It was a concern.

Well, that's none of your business.

This is your business.

[Steve] Yes, sir, boss, I'll get right on it.

[school bell ringing]

Hey.

[chuckles] Where have you been?

Visiting the Pope, man. He's really worried about you.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, you heard I had to sit next to you.

Where you been? You've been out a long time.

Well, you know, some of us don't have to go to school every day.

And then there's those who are less fortunate,

like your neighbor.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

Here, this is some of your makeup work.

-Some? -Mm-hm.

See me after school for the rest.

You'll need to get caught up real fast.

"Some of us don't need to come to school every day."

Now for the good news.

Do you remember the essay you wrote in September

as part of the competition for junior year abroad?

Yeah, sort of.

You took first place in the regional finals.

I did?

Your essay put you in a great position

for the scholarship.

You could be going to Sweden next year.

-I could? -Oh, man.

You and the runners up are invited

to a special ceremony.

Here, you'll be reading this at the presentation

"An American Hero."

Heavy.

Do I have to read this in front of everybody?

I mean, is that part of the requirements

to get the scholarship?

Oh, you'll do fine.

Sweden. Do you know what it's like in Sweden?

You're going to be so exhausted

from all the extracurricular activities.

I'm exhausted from listening to you, man.

[knocking on door]

Come in.

Mrs. Richfield wants us to investigate

the possibility of her buying

a chain of department stores in the Midwest.

The chain that she's expressed interest in is Mandel's.

Linda, I want you to head up research

-...and assessment. -Yes, Sir.

We'll need a full financial profile by Tuesday.

You will be the liaison

for Mrs. Richfield and TSG with Mandel's.

Alright.

The two of you are going to have to work together

to pull this off.

If you don't pull it off

Mrs. Richfield's going to be very unhappy.

If she's unhappy, then I'm unhappy.

So let's figure out how to make me happy.

That's it.

Paige.

Mrs. Richfield specifically asked for Linda.

This was out of my hand.

I see.

There's nothing else behind this.

Did I say there was?

No, the way you bolted out of here last night.

[scoffs] Would you prefer a critique?

This is business and I'm a professional.

So if there's nothing else that you want

I'm going to go start making some phone calls.

I hope that what happened last night

won't interfere with our working relationship.

Oh, it won't.

Good. I want you to know I don't hold it against you.

Hold what against me?

The fact that you walked in on Mr. Sumner and me

without the courtesy of a knock on the door.

"Pardon me. Here I come."

Now, I realize you're probably quite used to

walking into his office whenever you feel like it.

But from now on I'd recommend a more professional stance.

Oh, I'll be certain to knock in the future.

I hate to disturb a professional at work.

[instrumental music]

Hi. Is this the SIN connection?

Well, I'd like to place an ad.

"Looking for love in all the wrong places?"

"Well, how about my place?

"If you don't like attractive blue-eyed blondes, don't call.

"Ready, willing...

and able to take on all comers."

Dial...



And all we have to do is provide two waste paper baskets

for each office.

One for paper,

one for trash.

We recycle the paper

which reduces our trash pickup bill

and we get a price break

on all the recycle paper we use at the office.

Mr. Sumner's going to love it.

Mort cares about the environment?

That was Bob's idea.

But Mort said that...

Yeah, I know that's the way Mort is.

Well, you know, I did mention it to him.

You can't let him take the credit.

He is the senior vice president and there is a chain of command.

Hey, you call him a senior VP

I call him a brown-nosing chiseler.

Don't let him get away with this.

Next time you see him, call him on it.

But, you know, real politely like...

"Gee, Mort, I'm glad you're so enthusiastic about my idea."

I hope Mr. Sumner is too

although he hasn't said anything yet.

Why would Mr. Sumner say anything about it?

I didn't tell him about it.

-Mort doesn't know that. -But...

Tell Mort you sent Sumner a copy of your proposal

by electronic mail.

Well, if it's not lunch. What about dinner?

I was thinking of putting a tint on my hair this evening.

Mort.

[whispering] Not now, Bob.

I only wanted to say that I'm really glad

that you were so enthusiastic about my recycling idea.

I hope that Mr. Sumner is too

although he hasn't said anything to me yet.

-To you? -Yes

Mr. Sumner?

I sent him a copy of my proposal by electronic mail.

You did? Well, I'm...

I'm sure he will be enthusiastic.

That is... It's an excellent idea.

You thought of the recycling idea?

Yeah.

[laughs] That is so neat.

You know, I have some ideas of my own

about cutting down waste around the office.

Could we talk about them over lunch?

Sure.

People, this is a business.

We have work to do.

[elevator bell dings]

Hello, Mrs. Whittaker.

Hello. Is my brother in?

Uh, just a moment.

Mr. Sumner, your sister's here to see you.

[Greg] Send her in.

-Thank you. -Mm-hmm.

Hi.

I was in the neighborhood,

I thought maybe you'd be interested in lunch.

What makes you think I'd want to have lunch with you?

[laughs]

Why are you being so rude to me?

Habit.

Well, I'm tired of it.

And I'm tired of you using Kate to soften me up.

What are you talking about?

"What are you talking about?"

What about this dinner on Sunday night?

I don't know anything about a dinner on Sunday night.

Right.

-Boy, if I had it with you. -Is that a promise?

For God's sake, if it weren't for me, you'd be dead.

Why are you trying to be my best friend?

Look, I came here because of Kate.

I stayed because you were dying

and I thought maybe you and I could patch things up

before you kick the bucket.

Well, I'm not kicking the bucket so give it up.

Fine.

Tell Kate you cancelled dinner.

Just leave Kate out of this.

I have no intention of leaving Kate out of anything.

She is not your daughter

and I don't want you seeing her anymore.

[slam]

That's wonderful. Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing you, too.

Give my love to Eddie.

Yes, bye-bye.

Hi mom. You are home early.

Who's on the phone?

Mrs. Keller.

Mrs. Keller from back home?

-Yes. -Oh, that's nice.

Are they coming out?

No, she's going to pick me up.

I have to go to Pittsburgh this weekend.

Why?

Katie...

I thought it would be nice to live here

but your uncle is just impossible.

So you want to move back?

Yes.

[scoffs] What about your job?

The winter quarter is over and I...

called the department chairman of my old school

and he said I could start in May.

Well, mom, I don't get this. What about the house?

I contacted a real estate agent to list it again.

Mom.

Honey, come on. Please. Hm?

I really could use some moral support right now.

I booked two tickets.

Now I'm not asking you to move back.

It's just for the weekend.

To help me house hunt, would you?

[sighs]

If you factor in the rentals paid,

the tax write off the actual increase

of value of the building

we get a 19% return on our investment.

[Steve] That's got to be ill*gal.

It's business.

And you can't always tell what you've got at first glance.

Am I interrupting anything?

You must be Steve.

Hi, I'm Linda Fairgate.

Pleased to meet you.

I need some updated sales projections

from Mandel for next quarter.

Who do I need to speak with in finance?

You don't speak to anyone. I speak to them.

You wouldn't know what to ask.

Well, I will when you tell me.

It would be so much easier

if I just spoke with someone directly.

Well, you are the researcher and I am the liaison

and that's the way Mr. Sumner wants it.

I'll just send you a copy of what it is I need.

[Linda sighs]

You don't like her.

Somebody here likes her.

Ask the boss. He's sleeping with her.

They make you take trig.

They let me, you see now, this advanced.

Yeah, but you're good at this stuff.

Except when I'm behind like this.

Do you remember how to do functions?

No, you're on your own, pal.

The only subject that was this advanced name was Civics

and they didn't have advanced Civics back then.

They still don't.

[Mack laughs]

Maybe Karen remembers some of that trig.

She's always making these triangles and the doodles.

Karen.

What do you remember about trig?

Um...

That I avoided it like the plague.

That's okay, I'll get it.

My father could do these problems like that.

He's a mathematical genius.

I wish I could remember how he did these problems.

Well, didn't your teacher show you how to do it?

Sure, but daddy knew shortcuts.

I think you should stick to whatever the teacher taught you.

Just because my father showed me how to do something

doesn't make it bad.

I didn't say it did.

He could do the whole assignment in ten seconds flat.

[laughs] What do you do? Ratio?

-Sometimes yeah. -You're kidding.

He was good at it.

So how did that help you?

He just helped me do it better, that's all.

But now you can't remember how.

Are you sure he wasn't trying to show you

that he could do it better?

-Where are you going? -To Julie's.

You mind?

No.

You know, just because you still got it in for your old man

doesn't mean my dad's like him.

So why don't you quit blaming my dad

for everything your father's ever done to you?

[door slams]

Steve.

Sumner loved my idea.

Great, great. See, a little assertiveness gets you.

-I owe you. -No.

Please.

I know working for Paige can be kind of difficult.

I can get you more interesting assignments.

Yeah?

I was looking at your bio

and I noticed that you spent a lot of time

in logging operations.

My parents helped run a lumber mill.

Oh, the Sumner Group owns a number of logging companies.

Northern Fur Logging and Mining.

Blue Spruce Logging in Northern Way.

-Northern Way? -Yeah.

If you're interested in becoming involved in their management

let me know.

I'm interested.

I'm not blaming Jason's father for what happened to me.

I blame my father for that.

I'm blaming Jason's father for what happened to Jason.

Now he's a smart kid.

Why doesn't he see that?

I'm sure he does.

Yeah, to those fathers God's gift is parenting.

That's just talk.

Oh, it doesn't bother you when he brags about his father.

How long did it take you to criticize your father?

Why does everyone want to discuss my father?

I'm sorry.



Kids should be, you know, they should work faster.

And I have to be more patient.

Jeez.

-I love you. -I love you.

-Frank. -Hey, what's up?

Just checking in.

-How's Jason doing? -Yeah, they're doing fine.

More eating than studying.

Are you sure you can afford to feed this kid?

[laughs]

Well, I may have to take a second mortgage out.

So he's in a good mood?

Yeah, Julie told me

about his scholarship.

What's scholarship?

What do you have for number ten?

Ten? I'm still on number six.

Well, my answer is probably wrong anyway.

No, actually yours are right. One of mine is wrong.

Thought I was supposed to be the one who was helping you.

Well, you are.

I mean, you know how boring this is to do alone.

You know, it's really not fair

that you got kicked off the soccer team.

Well, you know, I didn't make my grades.

Yeah, but I mean, what's a few C's?

You know, you've been out.

Plus, your classes are really advanced.

Like Horace, he gets all A's

but his classes are a lot easier.

It's not fair.

That's okay. I'll get caught up.

Yeah.

Horace gets A's?

Mm-hm.

[exhales]

I always thought he was a jock.

Well, he's a jock who gets straight A's.

You don't think I'd date someone who wasn't smart, do you?

I don't know, would you?

No.

[soft music]

Unless he's really cute, then yeah.

[laughs]

So who are you dating?

No one.

Why not?

Um...

Well, I'm really interested in this one person, but...

She's been seeing someone else.

Who is she?

Someone.

[doorbell rings]

Hi.

-Hello. -May I come in?

I am rather busy right now.

Well, this won't take long.

-[Claudia] What do you want? -To work together.

Oh, work together.

[laughs]

You know, pull our resources.

We have so much in common.

We have nothing in common.

Well... we both need money.

It's a sad fact of life, but it's true.

Anne, I am not in the mood for this today.

Sure you are.

Why on earth would I want to work with you?

Because I know who Steve's father is

and I understand why you don't want anyone else to know.

[instrumental music]

I don't know Steve's number. I'm sure it's an information.

The last name is Brewer.

I am not bluffing, Claudia.

Neither am I, Anne.

It doesn't matter what you know.

You can't blackmail someone who doesn't care and I don't care.

I'm leaving town.

You're leaving?

Mm-hmm.

[music crescendos]

You don't need one.

This is dinner?

You can never be too rich or too thin.

Yeah, well, rich and thin is one thing,

Poor and thin is another.

[shouting] I want a meal.

Fruit, protein,

green, dinner.

I hate apple butter.

It was on sale.

Spread the cottage cheese on top of it and you won't taste it.

Uh-uh-uh. Not so much.

Save some for breakfast.

I got Claudia chokes on a chicken bone.

[trumpet music]

[Nick] Anne, did you pay the electric bill?

[Anne] No.

[instrumental music]

Hi.

Hi.

What are you doing in this neck of the woods?

I came because I have to cancel our dinner Sunday night.

The old lady's still angry with me, yeah?

My mom's moving back to Pittsburg.

Breaks my heart.

I'm going with her, so--

Why? What are you going to go with her for?

Just help her find a place.

She's a big girl. She could find her own place.

You should stay here and practice.

Just going for a few days.

[Greg] Yeah, just for a few days.

She'll get you down there.

She'll find an excuse to keep you there.

Don't be silly. I'll we'll be back and I'll see you.

I'll see you.

-[Kate] Bye. -Bye.

[suspenseful music]

Steve.

Steve.

[ominous music]

Steve.

-Hi. -[Kate] Hi.

I called for you about three times.

-Didn't you hear me? -I was thinking.

Are-are you okay?

-Not really. -There's something wrong?

Remember when I told you it was no big deal

that I went to prison

-Yeah. -I lied.

[Steve] I beat up a guy pretty badly.

Why?

He represented the company

that bought my parents in lumber mill.

My parents were forced out and they lost their pensions.

Dad had to go back to logging, but he was too old for the work.

I mean, he went on the job for three weeks. He was k*lled.

I'm sorry.

Then my mom died six months later.

I was in a bar drinking, the guy walked in.

[doleful music]

And I lost it.

The thing is, he wasn't even responsible.

He wasn't the one who gave the order.

How do you know that?

Because I just found out that Gregory Sumner did.

[dramatic music]

Hey Jason. Karen, Jason's back.

[Karen] Sh, you'll wake Meg.

Jason, oh.

Well, I wasn't that angry when I left.

I mean, you guys didn't think I really left left, did you?

-No. -No, no.

-We're just excited because... -Congratulations.

Yeah. Why didn't you tell us, man.

-What? -[both] The scholarship?

Well... it's really not any big deal.

Alright, the school decides you,

and you won.

Jason, that's a big deal.

It's only regionals and I haven't actually won the scholarship yet, so.

He's number one contender.

I can't believe you didn't tell us.

You should broadcast it.

Hey, I'll broadcast it. I'll put it on my show.

No.

I'm not really sure I want it.

It's a year in Europe.

I really don't think I deserve it.

Come on. Jason, that's ridiculous.

Let's see the essay.

-No, it's not very good. -Come on, let me see it.

-No, I don't want you to-- -[Mack] Let me read it.

Come on.

[suspenseful music]

We can see it tomorrow or the next day.

-Or whenever. -We'll see it in another time.

Goodnight.

[doleful music]

Since when is the scholarship an embarrassment?

-Do you have a sister? -[Carlos] No.

You're lucky, pal, because I got a beauty.

She's totally obsessed with my money.

She spends all of her time

thinking about how she's going to get it.

Or how she's going to make me feel bad.

[trumpet music]

Doesn't want me to talk to Kate.

She blames me for what happened to Mary Frances.

She can't comprehend the deal with Meg.

How she's a lot better off with Mack and Karen.

Who does my sister thinks she is telling me about life?

Well, I believe she has

your best interest at heart, sir.

I don't know what the problem is with families.

I know where the weak spots are.

[Bobby] Are you getting better?

[Val] Yeah, I feel better.

When are you coming home?

I don't know. As soon as I can.

Tomorrow?

No, I don't think it'll be tomorrow.

I don't like the way Gary makes spaghetti.

Yeah, he doesn't put any stuff in it.

Well, then that'll be the first thing that I'll cook for you

when I get home.

I hope it's soon.

[Val] Yeah, me too.

[Gary] A virus?

A rare type.

That's one of the reasons we had such a tough time diagnosing it.

Was there anything you can do about it?

Yes, now that we know what we're dealing with.

The success rate for this condition is very high.

High but not absolute.

[woman 1] Yes.

Okay, I'll talk to you later.

[Paige] Oh, my goodness.

Do you like it?

I like.

So clothes do make the man.

Well, it's a good place to start.

I-I still can't believe people dress this way for work

but I'm willing to try anything once.

Hmm. A thrill seeker.

It occurred to me that I could do more for you faster.

If I knew the computer system better.

Would you want another session with the trainer?

I want a session with somebody who knows the system inside out.

Then Michael Fairgate is your man.

-He's good. -He's the best.

Thanks.

Hm?

Katie.

[knocking on door]

Just a minute.

[sighs]

I was expecting the airport shuttle.

And it's just me.

Here.

-What's this? -Open it.

Mr. Pavarotti.

Yeah, you used to be keen on him, didn't you?

The front row seats.

Yeah.

I'm close personal friend of the owner of the theater.

[sighs] They are for tomorrow night.

Yeah, that's when he's singing.

This is so typical of you.

I mean, I thought it would be good for you and the kid.

If you don't want us to leave, why can't you just say it?

Don't you want the tickets?

If you can't say it

in simple English,

no jokes, no patter.

If you just can't say it

there's no point in staying, is there?

We got to get going. We'll be late.

Bye, Greg.

May I be excused?

Bring your plate to the kitchen.

[Mack] Big day tomorrow, huh?

What time should we get there?

-Be where? -The reading.

I told you I'm not going to do that.

I thought you'd be over that, Jason.

No, it's not worth it.

First I had to take a bunch of tests.

Then I had an interview for six teachers

and then I had to write this stupid essay

on the Great American Hero.

And now they want me to read this essay

in front of the university? Forget it.

-You'll be wonderful. -No, I won't.

Because I'm not doing it.

Jason, we'll help you with it.

-No. -[Mack] Get the essay.

-No. -[Mack] Come on, get it.

Mack.

-No. -Are you kidding?

You're going to give up a chance to spend a year in Sweden

just because you don't want to read an essay in public.

Yeah, that's what I mean.

-Well, that's... -[shouting] Stupid?

-Mack, just-- -Why pass up the chance?

You know, what's the big deal about reading an essay?

I'll read my essay.

[Mack] Jason, Jason. Look, look.

If you don't want us to read, we don't,

we don't have to read it.

Read it.

A plus.

I, Jason... "An American Hero by Jason Lochner."

"I Jason Lochner I'm the luckiest kid on Earth.

"I don't just read about American heroes.

"I live with one.

"If a hero is defined by his feats of courage

"and his willingness to sacrifice.

"then the greatest American hero of all...

is my father."

Got the idea?

[doleful music]

This son of a b*tch.

He was my hero.

I would have done anything for him.

I would have done anything for him.

He had no right to treat me the way he did.

He had no right to treat me like dirt.

He sure as hell had no right to not love me.

You know, he was my hero.

He was my hero.

But he was wrong.

He was wrong.

[dramatic music]

All I did was love him.

[tense music]

Wait-wait a minute.

You want me to what?

I want you to head up the Sumner Group Foundation.

Isn't somebody already in charge?

Yeah, me, but it's boring. I have to be nice to people.

You know how I hate that.

I'm hardly qualified for the position.

Well, that's a point in your favor.

I thought you didn't trust me.

I don't trust anybody.

Consider it a repayment for the liver.

Thank you. Honey, you know, your uncle wants me to stay

and head up the Sumner Foundation.

-Just like that? -Just like that.

You already made plans.

[Greg] Cancel them.

What about the people waiting for you at the university?

You can call them from the phone or in the car, whatever.

Opportunities like this don't come along very often.

Where's your car parked?

[indistinct PA announcements]

[phone ringing]

Hello.

[man 2] Is this "ready, willing and able"?

[sensual music]

I'd love to look for love at your place.

Mort?

Who'd have thought?

Okay, so first you hit menu and then you hit Alt, Shift, W.

And that gets me into the special directory.

Right.

How do I get the instructional squares to display?

Well, that's Alt, shift, mode and then mode again.

Great.

-Alright? -Thanks for the help.

-You got it. Take care. -You too.

[instrumental music]

I'm just trying to learn everything I can

about this company without...

you know, so I don't like complete fool of myself.

And I know there's always one person in every office

that has it completely wired.

That would be Linda.

Thanks.

[suspenseful music]

Who's Dan Berman?

The chief financial officer at Mendel's.

Does Paige know you gave me this?

No.

She's going to be angry that you gave this to me.

Then don't tell her.

Why are you doing this?

Paige was wrong.

Makes more sense for you to talk to him directly.

What's in it for you?

I'm a low man on the totem pole.

I need all the friends I can get.

[suspenseful music]

Welcome to the Sumner Group.

Ciao.

It's almost noon. I thought you were going to sleep all day long.

Nowhere to go, nothing to do.

[sighs]

Maybe I will sleep all day.

[Nick] Even sleeping you burn calories.

You need to eat.

No.

I can't face another breakfast of Melba toast and apple butter.

Unh-unh.

Eggs, goldenrod.

steamed asparagus, melon and muffin.

Juice?

Fresh squeezed.

We can't afford that.

Don't be so sure.

Look.

[Anne laughs]

[Nick laughs]

[Bob] Sorry about the inconvenience.

Your office won't be ready till next week.

[Mort] Coffee's down the hall. Leaded and unleaded.

[Bob] Supplies are in the cabinet down the hall.

And here's the telephone.

Just dial nine to get out.

If there's anything else you need...

I'll let you know.

[both] It's going to be a pleasure working with you.

[Bob] Do you believe this?

[Mort] First his girlfriend and his nephew,

now his sister?

Too bad the old man doesn't believe in nepotism.

Anne.

I'm so glad you decided to stay.

It would have been a shame

to let an opportunity like this pass us by.

-Pass us? -Well, you know.

[suspenseful music]

And just who do you think Steve's father is?

[music crescendos]

Maybe we should work together.

-[Mack] All set? -[Jason] Yeah.

Don't even think about your father

-when you read the essay. -I won't.

Jason, it doesn't matter who he is or what he did.

Just remember, you don't have to be like him.

When you become a father, you can do better.

Don't get upset. I invited a few people.

There you go.

-Hi. -Hi.

Good luck. Are you nervous?

Yeah.

-That would be good seats. -Few people.

Hey, this is exciting.

And so it is with great pride that I introduced.

our school's regional finalist

for next year's Junior Year Abroad Scholarship

Jason Lochner.

He will now read his winning essay.

[applause]

"An American Hero."

"I Jason Lochner, I'm the luckiest kid on Earth.

"I don't just read about American heroes

"I see them in film clips.

"I live with one.

"If a hero is defined by his feats of courage

"and his willingness to sacrifice

"and the greatest American hero of all is my foster father.

[doleful music]

"Someone to find the obvious is what rarely is said

"and so I'll state the obvious.

The hardest job a person has is being a parent."

[emotional music]

[theme music]