05x11 - Nell's Gifted Child

[bunniefuu]

♪ Gimme a break, now I know what it takes ♪



♪ Gimme a break, now I know what it takes ♪


♪ I'm putting a new face on the old one ♪


♪ Ready for anything


♪ Playing with fate, not a moment too late ♪


♪ I'm showing the whole world nothing can get me down ♪


♪ O-o-o-oh


♪ Gimme a break


♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ gimme a break


♪ 'Cause I sure need one ♪ gimme a break


♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ I finally know where I belong ♪


♪ Gimme a break


♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ gimme a break


♪ 'Cause I sure need one ♪ gimme a break


♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ I finally know where I belong ♪


♪ Gimme a break!


Oh, hi, nell.


Hi, honey. How was school?


Oh, pretty good. Oh, nell, did larry call?


No. How about jack?


No. How about spencer?


Nada. Nobody called you, honey.


Are you sure?


I was positive they were gonna call.


Why?


Because I'm going steady with them.


Three guys? Now, how can you do that?


Nell, this is the 's.


"Oh, this is 's. This is 's."


That's all you kids ever say.


What are you gonna do in the 's?


I can't wait.


You better not do what I did in the 's.


See you later, aunt nell.


Not so fast. Where are you going?


The fourth grade dodgers have a game today.


No, no, no, no, joey. Did you do your homework?


Look, aunt nell, the team's counting on me.


Last game, I got three hits in a row.


I'm gonna try for four hits this week.


That's great. Maybe you'll break pete rose's record.


Maybe I'll even get a call from the president.


Joey, the president doesn't call fourth graders.


Oh, yes, he will, if he gets his face in the news.


Aunt nell, can I go? You promised.


All right, joey. Whoo!


You have to promise me that you're gonna do your homework


As soon as you get home.


I promise. I'm not joking, joey.


Homework is important work, too. I mean, look at me.


I'm doing my night-school homework right now.


And if I didn't do my homework,


I wouldn't get such good grades in college.


Did I show you all my report card?


Yes. Yes. Yes.


I got an "a" in sociology, an "a" in english history,


An "a" minus in psychology.


Well, actually, I should have gotten an "a" in psychology,


But I told professor barrett he had a napoleon complex.


So he stood on his tippytoes, and he said, "'a' minus."


I got to go. I'm leadoff man.


Yeah, nell. I have to get ready for a date.


Joey, I'll give you a ride.


I'm going down to my natural childbirth class.


Thanks, julie.


They're showing a film called "the miracle of life."


You see all the steps of natural childbirth


Up to and including the birth of the baby.


Then they're showing "tootsie."


[ Telephone rings ]


Hello?


Yeah, this is nell harper.


What did he do?


Well, can't you tell me over the phone?


All right, I'll be there first thing tomorrow afternoon.


All right.


That was joey's school counselor.


The boy is flunking.


The counselor said he was flunking?


He wouldn't tell me anything, but it has to be bad news.


Why?


They never call you from school with good news.


I'm going down to that field,


And I'm gonna make him do his homework.


Don't you do that, nell.


You'll just embarrass joey in front of all his friends.


I won't embarrass him.


Oh, yes, you will,


Just the way you did with me when you dragged me away


From the senior citizens' croquet tournament.


Look, you were late for sunday dinner.


It was humiliating.


Two of my teammates d*ed laughing.


They did not.


They were only in intensive care for a couple of hours.


Okay, you're right.


I'll wait till he gets home,


Then I'm gonna lock him in his room


Until he's ready for college.


[ Knock on door ]


Come in.



Hi. I'm nell harper.


Of course. You're here about joey.


Before you say anything,


I just want you to know, it is not his fault.


The boy has lots of problems.


You have got to be a little more understanding and patient.


Did you know that his father was a merchant seaman?


He was lost at sea somewhere between the china coast


And brazil.


That's fascinating.


Yeah.


Oh, but I called you here to tell you


That joey's real problem is that he doesn't belong


In the fourth grade.


I knew it!


Look, i-i know he shouldn't be playing baseball,


And I know that he should be at home doing his homework.


I take full responsibility.


Keep me after school. Why don't you punish me?


Look, look. I'll sharpen your pencils.


I'll clean off your desk. I'll wash your car.


Miss harper. No, no, no.


You don't understand.


We have found that joey is a gifted child.


Gifted?


Yeah.


He's very intelligent.


His intellectual capability


Is far above the fourth-grade level.


So you people have finally found out, huh?


I thought I was the only one who knew.


His sisters still don't know.


Well, now the secret's out.


Oh, this is gonna k*ll addy. [ Chuckles ]


Her and her phi beta kappa kid gonna turn green.


Of course, you do know this is all because of my influence.


Did you hear about my report card?


Let me show it to you.


I got an "a" in sociology, an "a" in english history,


And an "a" minus in psychology.


That's very nice.


Yeah.


But about joey.


We don't have accelerated classes here,


So we'd like to test him further


To determine what school he'd best fit into.


Oh.


Well, in the meantime, is there something special I should do


For a kid with this kind of brain?


A special diet, a special hat?


It's important not to push a gifted child too hard.


Just treat him the same way you always have.


That's very good advice. Thank you.


I'll treat him like I always have,


Like a normal little -year-old.


Thank you.


So they called you from the school


To tell you joey is a gifted child?


Addy, as soon as I found out he was gifted,


I went out and I rented all these instruments.


Then I called mr. Galotta to come tune the piano.


I really can't wait to see


Which one of these he's a genius in.


Nell, I'm going to the library.


I don't want to be around the first time


A gifted -year-old tries to play a trombone.


Poor julie.


She's insanely jealous.


Up until a few minutes ago,


She was the smartest kid in the family.


Nell, don't you think you're getting a bit carried away?


What would you know about this?


I was a gifted child, too.


Oh, please. Addy, addy, addy, addy.


It does not mean you were gifted


Simply because when you were a little girl


Boys gave you presents to go into the garage with them.


Oh, nell.


Look, what I'm trying to say is,


Joey is the same person today as he was yesterday.


I know that.


It's just the people at the school


Just found out how brilliant he is.


His counselor is going to get him transferred


To a school for special classes.


And I am personally going to take care


Of his musical education.


Thank you.


[ Horn blares ]


Nell, I don't think you should be too disappointed


If joey doesn't pick up


One of these instruments right away.


Oh, addy, come on. I saw "amadeus."


Look, mozart started to play when he was years old.


Joey is .


If those people had been on the ball at his school


Five years ago and given him the test,


He would have a movie out about his life.


But mozart was a genius.


You are so negative.



Mozart, joey. It's the same thing.


What's the big difference?


You know what? What?


You make me sick.


Hi, aunt nell! Hi, addy!


Hi, joey.


I did better today than I did yesterday.


I got three doubles, two home runs,


And I stole one base!


Oh, honey, forget that.


Look, I got something to tell you, some good news.


Joey, that's wonderful.


Yeah, I even hung around the pay phone,


But the president didn't call.


[ Laughs ]


Oh, he's even a gifted comedian.


Sit down, baby. I got something to tell you.


Joey, I got a call from your counselor.


Okay. Give me the bad news.


No, honey, there is no bad news.


Aunt nell...


They never call you from school with good news.


Joey, what I have to tell you is gonna make you so happy.


Your counselor says that you, joey donovan,


You are a gifted child.


They heard about my two homers already, eh?


No. No, honey.


You see, being gifted means


That you can do all sort of wonderful things.


Really? Like what?


Well, let's see.


You can help mankind


By discovering the cure for the common cold,


Or you could become a world leader,


Or you could become the greatest trombone player in the world.


Nell. What?


Don't you think you're pushing a little too hard?


Get your own gifted child.


Congratulations on your two homers, joey.


And remember, nell, mozart d*ed at .


To this day, they blame his mama.


Aunt nell? Yeah?


Does being gifted mean I could be


The greatest baseball player ever?


Oh, no, no, honey.


Gifted people don't play baseball.


What? I've got to play baseball!


No, honey, no.


You might get hit in the head by a pitched ball.


You got to protect that wonderful brain of yours.


And your hands -- you could hurt one of your fingers.


Then you would never be able to play violin again.


I can't play now.


But you will, honey.


You'll see. You'll be the next isaac stern.


I'd rather be pedro guerrero.


Now, hold on, joey.


I'm not gonna let you play in some latin band.


Aunt nell.


Why don't you run upstairs and do your homework,


And then we'll start on your musical education tomorrow.


But I have batting practice!


Joey, come here.


It's not everyone


Who's blessed with your intelligence, okay?


Now, come on.


You have a responsibility to your brain.


Now, run along and think. Go ahead.


Ohh!


One, two, three!


[ Horn blares ]


Here, baby.


Aunt nell, I don't have time for this now.


I'm late for batting practice.


The man in the music store put rosin on the bow.


Now, remember, always put rosin on the bow.


Pitchers put rosin on their fingers.


It helps them throw a better curve ball.


You know, honey, last night, I had this dream


Where we were giving a command performance


For the queen of england.


You were on stage, and I was in the royal box.


Anyway, the queen turned to me, and she said, "girl...


Where did you get that dress from?"


And then she said,


"Your little boy is going to be the next itzhak perlman."


Who's he?


Oh, honey, he's just the greatest violinist in the world.


Here. Come on. I want you to hold still.


Come on. Hold still. Okay?


Aunt nell, why didn't you ever


Take a picture of me in my baseball uniform?


Oh, come on, joey. This is important.


I'm going to send this picture


Along with your application to juilliard.


Oh, honey, I just know they're gonna melt when they see it.


Come on, honey. Play for me. Go ahead. Play.


Aunt nell.


Come on! Just try it. Come on.


[ Violin screeches ]



Baby, baby, why don't you go over to the piano,


'Cause I know the piano's your instrument.


Go on over there.


Go ahead.


[ "Heart and soul" plays ]


This is a miracle!


The boy has never played piano before,


And he sits down and plays the queen's favorite song.


This is obviously a sign, right?


Nell, nell, I taught joey that song.


S-- please.


Samantha, please leave him alone.


Samantha! He can play it by himself.


Nell, he can't. I haven't taught him the melody yet.


He only knows the bottom part.


Besides, give him a chance.


Remember, rome was not built in a day.


It would have been


If the architect had been a gifted child like joey.


Joey, next year I'll have you remodel the house.


Baby, don't play.


Honey.


Joey.


Stop, please.


I want you to go upstairs and get your sweater


So you can go take your placement test, okay?


Aunt nell, I don't want to take that test!


Joey, if you don't take the test,


How -- how are they gonna know which grade to put you in?


What's wrong with fourth grade? All my friends are there.


All of your friends have -year-old brains!


Aunt nell, if you put me in a different school,


I won't be able to play baseball with my team anymore!


Joey, look, at the new school,


There are lots of teams you can be on.


You can be on the chess team.


You can be on the algebra team.


You could be on the spelling team.


Aunt nell, I already know how to spell.


Joey, we're not talking c-a-t here, okay?


We're talking four syllables


Where the grand prize is a $, scholarship!


I heard that pedro guerrero just signed a -year contract


For $ million a year, no trades for five years,


And an injury clause.


Oh, yeah?


And just where will mr. Guerrero be in years, huh?


Wherever he is, he'll have a lot of money with him.


Look, don't get smart on me, okay?


Now, get out of here and go get your sweater.


Come on. Go.


Ready? Don't be late for batting practice.


I told you he is not going. Go get your sweater, boy.


All right, all right! I'll get my dumb sweater!


[ Chuckling ]


Temperamental genius.


You're not still insisting joey take that placement test?


I most certainly am.


With a brilliant mind like his,


There's no telling which grade they'll put him in.


Oh, I imagine he'll go straight from fourth grade into yale.


No. I was thinking more like harvard.


Well, you know there will be a lot of high-paying jobs


Waiting for a -year-old college graduate.


Grandpapa, don't you want joey to live up to his potential?


Oh, I suppose I do, nell.


But I think it's always more important to the mother


Than to the kid.


I guess I'm ready, aunt nell.


Hey, wait. Just -- just wait.


You're not doing this for me. I'm doing it for you, okay?


If it was up to me,


You could stay in the fourth grade for the rest of your life.


I really don't care.


Great! Then I won't take the test!


No, wait. What I am trying --


I'm trying to tell you, honey,


Is that I'm doing this for your sake.


This is for your sake.


You are changing schools for your sake.


You are taking this test for your sake.


You are giving up baseball for your sake.


What happens if I don't take the test?


Then I'll k*ll you for your sake!


Joey, please, go down to the school, take the test,


And don't be late, okay?


Nell. Oh, keep quiet!


I got two "a"s and an "a" minus! I know what I'm doing!


He didn't take the test. They haven't seen him.


Excuse me, kid, have you seen joey donovan?


Joey donovan. I don't know who he is.


He's a gifted child.


If you were gifted, you would have known that.


Nell, you pushed the boy too far.


You have only yourself to blame.


Oh, please, addy.


I take it back.


I've known you long enough to know


You can always find somebody else to blame.


Why don't we just call the house again?



Oh, don't bother. I already did that.


He's not there, either.


Addy, what am I gonna do?


Why don't we just go to the police?


That's a good idea.


Told you I was gifted.


Gee, nell, what makes you think joey's missing?


Look, he was supposed to take some test down at the school.


He never did show up. No one ever saw him.


You do know he's a gifted child, right?


He is?


Oh, yes. All my influence, too.


Show him your report card.


You showed it to me, nell.


Murphy, I got a job for you.


I want you to find joey donovan. You know who he is?


Sure, I know him.


Donovan, joey -- '" tall, years old, blond.


And gifted.


Got it.


You know, my mother thought I was a gifted child.


That's interesting, simpson.


Shouldn't you be calling the fbi?


She was determined that I should tickle the ivories,


So she brought me in a piano teacher.


I didn't know you played the piano.


I don't.


After six lessons, my teacher said,


"What a shame all them elephants had to lay down their lives."


Simpson, please.


Of course, my mother didn't listen to the piano teacher.


She didn't listen to nobody.


She made me practice every afternoon.


All I wanted to do was play basketball.


Basketball was my game.


See, I was about a foot taller


Than all them little shrimps in my class.


Simpson!


Don't worry, nell.


Officer murphy is an expert on runaways.


Who said anything about joey being a runaway?


I ran away.


They found me in the gym, crying.


I didn't make the basketball team.


All them little shrimps were so fast.


I think I know where joey is.


[ Dog barking ]


Why didn't you take that test?


I tried, aunt nell. I really did.


Joey donovan, I don't want to hear it.


Just tell me why you didn't take that test.


Because they're gonna move me up in the fifth grade.


I'll be going to classes all the time,


And I'll never be able to play with my home team again.


That's why.


You know what?


You don't always know what's best for you.


Aunt nell, if you move me up,


I'll be with a bunch of big guys in the fifth grade.


I'm not a fifth grader, aunt nell.


Look at me! I'm a fourth grader.


Joey, look, when you grow up,


I would hate for you to look back at this time


And hate me because I didn't make you take the test.


You got two a's and an "a" minus,


And I didn't force you to change schools.


Hey, look, I'm not gifted.


That's why I only got an "a" minus.


But it won't be any fun going to that other school.


What is the big deal, kid?


You can always have fun when you're grown.


I want to have fun now.


Joey, you're gifted.


But I'm only years old, aunt nell.


.


I remember .


That's a good year for having fun.


I guess you could use some practice on your batting.


You mean I don't have to take the test?


Yeah. No, you don't have to take the test.


But, of course, that means that when you get home,


You're gonna have to take a piano lesson from me.


Aunt nell.


Look, I didn't say violin or trombone, did i?


Come on, kid.


♪ Gimme a break


♪ Gimme a break


♪ Gimme a break