03x15 - The Yearning Point

[bunniefuu]

Mary, remember when

you promised to help me

win the spelling prize.

When did I do that, Nicholas?

Well, if you don't remember

we could just say

it was yesterday.

If I don't remember,

then maybe it was somebody else

who promised you

or maybe it never happened.

- It happened with Nancy.

- Then ask her.

She wasn't as easy to interrupt.

Now come on,

any word on the list.

Alright, alright, I guess

this is the quickest way

to get rid of you.

But just till you miss

the first word, alright?

- You ready?

- Mm-hmm.

- Formulate.

- Formulate.

F-O-R-M-U-L-A-T-E.

- Not bad.

- Bad, B-A-D.

Alright, wise guy.

Spelling?

Spelling?

That's not on the list.

Yes, it is, right here

at the top of the page.

- Spelling list. You give up?

- Nope.

Spelling, S-P-E-L-I-N-G.

Spelling has two Ls,

Nicholas. Goodbye.

[clear throat]

Mary, how many Rs in cheetah?

[laughs]

[theme song]

♪ There's a magic

in the early morning we found ♪

♪ When the sunrise smiles

on everything around ♪

♪ It's a portrait

of the happiness ♪

♪ That we feel and always will ♪

♪ Oh eight is enough ♪

♪ To fill our lives with love ♪

♪ We spend our days ♪

♪ Like bright

and shiny new dimes ♪

♪ If we're ever puzzled ♪

♪ By the changing times ♪

♪ There's a plate

of homemade wishes ♪

♪ On the kitchen windowsill ♪

♪ And eight is enough ♪

♪ To fill our lives with love ♪♪

- Checkbook.

- Checkbook.

- Pen.

- Pen.

- Bills.

- Bills.

- Tom, I think we are ready.

- Uh, I'm never really ready.

Let's start out

with a nice small one.

Okay, how about,

uh, the dentist?

Dentist? I said a small one.

Do you realize that there

are teeth in this family?

- Car insurance?

- Oh, no.

Ever since Tommy's been driving,

that one gives me hives.

How about the telephone bill?

How about this family

taking a vow of silence?

Tom, we have to start someplace.

Oh.

- Headache?

- Headache.

- Aspirin?

- Aspirin.

At least that's tax deductible.

[cheering]

And then listen,

then the same girl

she's only a sophomore,

did this modern interpretation

of a bluegrass tune

that brought down the house.

- It was great.

- Oh, let's see it.

Okay, wait.

[humming]

Hey, good memory.

[cheering]

I wish you guys could've

seen the whole recital.

Ah, its cheaper this way.

Gee, I'm sorry

I missed it, Elizabeth.

I haven't seen you

this excited about anything

since we had our own phone.

Well, who would have thought

a troop of college dancers

could be so fantastic.

- What college were they from?

- Wellington.

Wellington, no wonder.

I mean, they have the best dance

school in the whole country.

You know, their graduates

go straight into

professional ballet

and, and Broadway musicals.

How come I never

heard of Wellington?

- It's in Vermont.

- Oh, that explains, Nance.

You've never heard of Vermont.

[laughing]

I have, too, heard of it.

It's full of rocks

and it's usually buried

under lots of snow.

- Ooh.

- Sounds like heaven.

Hey, we're in luck,

there's no line.

Yeah, that's because

there are no tickets.

Great. Four people

and three tickets, some date.

Hey, no problem. We'll switch

to Contingency Plan B.

Which is?

The old side door sneak in,

now I'll go in with the ladies

and you wait in the alley

till I can let you in.

No way. I'm tired

of hearing my conscience

through a closed door.

I'll take the ladies inside.

I might be persuaded

the part with the ticket.

- Oh, yeah, how much?

- Twelve dollars.

Twelve dollars?

It only cost six.

Supply and demand, gentlemen.

I know you understand.

I got three.

I've only got five.

We're four short.

We'll pay you back.

Enjoy the show.

Enjoy the profit.

There would be a law

against scalpers.

Yeah, but there isn't.

See you inside.

(Mary)

'Good morning.'

(Elizabeth)

Now this is ridiculous.

Sacramento State only

has two dance courses.

Ballet for weight control

and disco dance aerobic.

Disco dance aerobics.

Oh, you know why that is?

'Cause the fine arts department

won't stoop to politics.

So they lose dance to phys ed.

Wellington offers complete

bachelor of arts

degrees in the dance.

- Are you sure?

- Well.

I'll show you

when I get the catalog

but that's what I was told

by my guidance counsellor.

Guidance, one of my children

is seeking guidance.

Wow, let's declare a holiday.

Hire a band.

This moment will go down

in the history.

- Look, everybody, it came.

- What came?

The tools of my new profession.

Oh, you're becoming a

professional scissors sharpener.

No, professional hair stylist.

Congratulation, Nancy.

What beauty college

you are attending?

Oh, I don't have time

for beauty college.

Besides this way,

it doesn't stifle

my creative individual talents.

- This way?

- Yeah, this way.

I send away for this coupon

on the back

of "American Beautician"

and I got in exchange

this beautiful professional

hair styling kit.

What did the coupon say, Nance?

If you can clip out this edge,

you can cut hair?

Style hair, Mar.

There's a world of difference.

Besides, that's what

this instruction manual

is all about

in the first chapter.

- Lots of luck.

- Yeah, I'm gonna need luck.

But what I really need is

actual advertisements

of my work.

And the instruction manual

suggest

using members

of one's own family.

Ah, you wanna style our hair?

Yeah, free of charge,

free of charge.

- To high a price.

- Yeah.

But I'll eventually be charging

up to $ per styling for women.

And, uh, $ per styling

for men, daddy.

Yeah, but this walking

advertisement has got to run.

I'll be open evenings.

Just call for an appointment.

I'll see if I can fit you in.

"Chapter II.

You And Your Scissors."

(Elizabeth)

'And this is the Wellington,

library with the clock tower.'

Did you ever see

a more beautiful campus?

Nope, not even deducting %

from normal

catalog exaggeration.

Plus, they have a student

teacher ratio of to .

Oh, take a look

at the dance program.

Right there.

"An integrated course of study

designed to develop competency

"in performance

and choreography

as well as

critical appreciation."

Pretty spiffy.

What's this place cost?

Uh, it shouldn't be any more

than your med school.

It has to be, Elizabeth.

It's clear across the country.

Well, you don't have

to bark at me.

- Who's barking?

- You are.

If I don't complain about

the cost of your education

then you don't complain

about mine.

Ah, come on, scalping's

an old-fashioned word.

We'd prefer to think of it is,

uh, shrewd investing.

You know, Entertainment

Investments Incorporated

anticipates doubling

its capital assets.

You see, we take advantage

of the fluctuations

in the market value

of Ted Nugent tickets

on the day of the concert.

Fine, I'll put you down for

five shares at a dollar each.

Par value.

Alright, thanks.

Harry, hey, this is Tommy.

Bradford, from history.

Hold on a sec.

Honestly, Susan, I'm available

to style your hair

anytime you say.

Honestly, Nancy, no, thanks.

I'm letting my hair grow down

to the floor and out the window.

It's the latest thing,

the Rapunzel look.

Oh, Susan.

Hey, Harry, hey, here I am.

Hey, how would you

like to get in

on the ground floor

of a potential conglomerate.

Yeah, Entertainment

Investments Incorporated.

We just happen to have

one last vacancy

on the board of directors.

Yeah, you'll be vice president.

Hi, Nicholas,

what have you got there?

Oh, Elizabeth's college catalog.

Oh, really.

Dad, are you gonna buy

Elizabeth a college?

What, buy her a college?

No, no, its not

that kind of a catalog.

You don't buy colleges.

You, uh..

Well, you sort of purchase

unitive knowledge.

- How much is spelling?

- No, no.

But you see, you have

to purchase the courses

in one lump sum, and then

they call it a, a tuition.

Here, let me show you.

Ah, see now.

Here it is.

Uh, the tuition and fees

for this college are..

...$.

[knock on door]

Come in, bring boys.

Hey, you found the catalog,

just like I figured.

Oh.

Like you figured?

Sure, I knew that

once you read it, dad

you'd want me to go

to Wellington.

Oh, yes, it is, uh..

It's very impressive, but--

I never dreamed any university

could be so perfect.

It's like they knew

exactly what I wanted

and built a school just for me.

Yeah, did-did you look at the,

uh, Sacramento State catalog?

Oh, yeah, for as long

as I could stand it.

Well, how-how about

the other California schools

like Berkeley, Davis?

Well, once I learned about

Wellington, I stopped looking.

Maybe you better look again,

I mean, California has some

fine public colleges and..

Uh, you-you've never

lived miles

away from your family

and the snow.

Right, but it's about time

I stop being

a provincial sun freak.

Dad, do you realize

how beautiful New England is?

You're gonna love it

when you come visit me.

I, uh, I don't think that we'll

be visiting you in New England.

Well, then I'll send you

lots of postcards.

Uh, I'm afraid you won't

be seeing it either.

Are you saying you don't

approve of Wellington?

Oh, no, no, I approve of it all.

Uh, it's just that..

I'm, uh, I'm afraid

I can't let you go there.

Daddy, how can you say

such a thing?

I'd give anything in the world

not to have to say it.

It's just that..

It has nothing to do

with Wellington.

It has nothing to do with you.

- It's all my fault.

- Your fault?

I don't have the money

to send you there.

You don't have the money for me.

Well, then, how come you have

it for everybody else?

Couldn't we get financial aid

from the government?

Well, we may be too poor

to send Elizabeth to Wellington

but we're too rich

to except subsidies.

That's why

they call it middle class.

You get squeezed

from all directions.

Couldn't Elizabeth

get a student loan?

What? Do you know what kind of

a debt would be hanging on her?

About $,.

That's little double digit

exaggeration, isn't it?

No, it isn't. I mean,

its not just tuition.

It's room and board

and-and books

and the student health plan.

Not to mention the flight out,

the flight back.

And all those

cross country phone calls.

Elizabeth could write letters.

Today you trade money this size

for stamps this size.

No, no, she'll just have to go

to a California state college

like her sisters.

She's gonna hate that.

Yeah, well,

that's, that's too bad.

There's nothing else we can do.

I should have started

a savings account for Elizabeth

when she was first born.

Trouble is,

when she was first born

I had nothing to start it with.

She had that old

Bradford family habit.

Needing groceries.

- Did you read this last page?

- No.

I was struck

deaf, blind and dumb

from the prices

on the other page.

- Well, read it. Right here.

- Where?

"The Sarah Wellington

Dance Scholarship."

It's four years full tuition.

And if you could get the

Sarah Wellington Scholarship

well, then that means that

Wellington would have cost

the same amount as we're paying

for Mary, Joannie and Susan.

We could actually

swing it, Elizabeth.

- Do you think I could qualify?

- You've got the grades.

All you have to do is get

s on your college boards

- And that's a piece of cake.

- Mnh-mnh, not when I took 'em.

It was a piece of t*rture.

Nancy, if you really wanna

help out in this conversation

go back to sleep.

[sighs]

We'll get the s.

I'll help you every way I can.

- Oh, you don't have the time.

- I'll make the time.

This scholarship is the only way

that we can make

Wellington work for you.

And that's what

we want, Elizabeth.

We really do.

I know that now, daddy.

- I'm sorry, I yelled.

- Forget it.

I seem to recall

I hold a few house records

for yelling around here myself.

Now that you're friends

again, daddy

you'd be a lot more helpful if

you just kissed her goodnight.

- Alright, it's done, it's done.

- Goodnight, daddy.

- Goodnight, Elizabeth.

- Goodnight.

Okay, coach, where do we start?

How are you on verbal analogies?

Uh, a little shaky.

But I'll be better

when you tell me what they are.

The words that, that relate

to each other in the same way.

Uh, for example,

what's the relationship

between acorn and oak?

Acorns grow into oaks.

Do wheel and car have the same

relationship as acorn and oak?

You can't plant a wheel

and grow a car.

That's good thinking,

so it's not a verbal analogy.

But it sure would solve

the transportation problem.

'Please, no levity.'

The college boards

take their questions

and your future

deadly serious.

'Now the next analogy.'

Nibble is to bite as itch is to?

- Scratch.

- Think about it.

Nibble is to bite,

as itch is to hurt.

I'm hurting, I'm hurting.

(Mary)

Wrong.

Okay, then it's .

Still wrong. .

- You put me on.

- Elizabeth, look.

The differences increase

each time, alright?

So the next number

is plus , .

- If you say so.

- It doesn't matter what I say.

Look, I've already passed

this test. You've gotta know.

Okay, okay, but you know,

math is to Elizabeth

like clear is to mud.

I mean, this is a dance

scholarship, right?

Sure it's a dance scholarship

but I've been so busy

with verbal analogies

and mathematical sequences

that I'm forgetting

which foot is left

and which is right.

Oh, no, Elizabeth, come on,

you're gonna blow it.

I mean, you'll never qualify

for that scholarship

unless you have

a knockout dance audition.

Okay, so I'll start rehearsing.

Yeah, rehearsing what?

I could do that one I did

for the junior class frolics.

No, you won't,

it's amateur night.

Thanks a lot.

You'll thank me more than a lot.

I'm taking you to Gwen Elkhart.

- Gwen Elkhart?

- Yeah.

But she's got

the best professional

dance company in Sacramento.

- Yeah, I know.

- How do you know her?

Oh, she taught

a body movement workshop

one time in university theater.

I mean, she probably

won't remember me

but I'll introduce you

to her anyway.

I mean, if you don't dazzle

Wellington with your brains

maybe you'll dazzle 'em

with your feet.

You think so?

(female #)

'Contract, one,

two, over, three'

'four, release right,

six, lift, seven and eight.'

'Contract, one,

two, over, three'

'four, release left,

six and lift the arms.'

And side and center

and side and center.

Side and center

and side and hold.

And relax.

Hello, Joannie Bradford,

entering like a timid chipmunk.

Everybody, get ready

for floor crossings.

Hi, Gwen, I didn't mean

to disturb you.

- How nice to see you, dear.

- Thanks.

Let me guess, you want me once

again to teach grace and poise

to drama students

with what, left feet.

No, not this time, Gwen,

but, uh

you can sell some insurance

to my sister Elizabeth.

Maybe we better move

to my space.

Okay.

Oh.

Scholarship insurance.

Now I understand.

- To what school, Elizabeth?

- Wellington.

Oh, say no more.

I wanted to go there myself.

We'll have

our first class tomorrow.

You mean, you'll take me

as a student?

Oh, you make it sound

so institutional.

We're all students here.

We will explore

the world of dance together.

Sounds perfect to me.

See.

Wellington, here she comes.

[telephone rings]

Hello.

What? Who?

Entertainment Investments

Incorporated.

Oh, no, no, I'm sorry, I think

you have the wrong number.

Yeah, well,

your hot tip is very wrong.

This is a private home,

not a place of business.

No, I don't know their number.

I don't play the stock market.

The only investments I make

are in dentist and education.

Goodbye.

Huh, dad.

- I can barely see you ears.

- I left them at the office.

But, dad,

you got cute little ears.

I think you should

show them off more.

Like if I give you this young,

executive, pompadour look.

Uh, no, I-I tell ya,

I think that you should

work with somebody

with a full head of hair.

I don't have enough hair

for you to even learn on.

But, dad, dad, you're perfect.

I mean, I know

you don't have a lot

but what you have

is very challenging.

Oh. Hi, dad.

You're just the person I need

to talk to if you're not busy.

Oh, no, no. Not at all.

Listen, if you'll excuse us--

I don't mind snipping

while you chat.

Listen, the last Bradford

ever to be scalped

was back in .

I'm going to keep it that way.

But, dad! Dad.

Oh, boy! Thanks.

Do I owe you one?

Could you owe me

about $ a month?

Huh! All my daughters

are trying to clip me!

Uh, what's the $ for?

It's to help me

with the scholarship.

See, Joannie turned me on

to this terrific dance teacher

and I really think

she'll help improve my chances.

That's one investment

I can afford.

Whom do I make

this check out to?

The Elkhart Community

Of The Dance.

Oh, you know, Elizabeth,

I'm very pleased

with the positive approach

you're taking

towards this

scholarship challenge.

Uh, how is your college

board training coming?

Well, Abby says

I'm ready for a trial run.

Terrific.

I'm not so sure

I agree with her.

Stop.

Put your pencil down.

Close your booklet and look up

at me, the examination is over.

I think I am over.

Yeah, think how I'm gonna feel

after two hours

of grading all these.

Be kind, Abby.

Kind is not in

the college board vocabulary.

(male #)

'In the middle

or out on the sides'

'who knows where

the queen of hearts hides?'

Oh, it's the card

with the bent corner

right there in the middle,

that's the queen, right there.

No, no.

You dunce.

Just don't get any bright ideas

about the company's bucks.

That money is to be

invested in tickets.

That money is for a profit

and I'm tired

of waiting in line.

Hey, uh..

Are you playing for quarters

or you playin'

for, uh, real money?

Hmm, why not?

'Follow the cards

and watch my hands'

'and you'll know where

the little lady lands.'

There she is, right there!

What do you got pal, ESP?

The eye is quicker

than the hand.

- How about that?

- Great.

Now the company

can buy another ticket.

The company won't

have to buy any tickets.

I'm gonna double

our investment right now.

Tommy, that's the money

for the tickets.

Hey, be cool.

I know what I'm doing.

Alright.

'Over and under, out and in'

'whoever finds her

is bound to win.'

[Tommy chuckling]

Better luck next time, pal.

When our investors

hear about this

there won't be a next time.

You graded me already?

Yeah, well, you left

a lot of answers

blank at the end

of each section.

Which means, we're gonna

have to work on your speed.

Just give me

the numbers, Abby.

Okay.

You made on math

and on English.

- I'll never break .

- Sure, you will.

This means that we have

to, um, double up

on our cramming sessions

and push harder.

Plie one, two, releve

three, four, extend, side.

Two, three, four,

turn out, five

hold, six, seven, lower, eight.

Now, listen, lighten up.

Try it with looser movements.

More flow and grace.

- Oh, watch Andy.

- Mm.

Good, Andy, thank you.

Um, take over for me, will you?

Come with me, Elizabeth.

I can, I can

feel the tension.

That was plain enough

from the way you were moving.

You are tied up in knots

about something.

I have been

a little distracted lately.

A little bit distracted.

You're totally rigid.

Now what's the matter?

I just took a practice

college board, Gwen.

You know what I got,

middle s when I need is--

What you need is to relax.

Now I'm going

to show you an exercise

that will free

the real Elizabeth.

Your arms are balloons.

As you take a deep breath

from the abdomen, they inflate.

They rise.

As you exhale, they deflate.

Coming to rest again

at your side.

Good, that was good.

Do it again.

Now, Elizabeth,

you cannot allow yourself

to worry about something.

If it makes you so anxious,

you can't function.

- The college--

- Shh, d-don't talk.

Just breathe.

Now you are here to celebrate

the joy of dancing.

Let go, Elizabeth.

'Let go, Elizabeth.'

Daddy, daddy, I can make you

look ten years younger.

No, you can't, every time

you wave those scissors at me

one hair falls down

and another turns grey.

Oh, come on, daddy. I've

gotta have practice, please.

(Abby)

You better find somebody else.

See, your father's hairs are

on the endangered species list.

That means you have

to have an environmental

impact report to cut them.

True. Now do you wanna be the

first hairstylist in history

to be picketed

by the Sierra Club?

- Alright, nobody see me.

- We haven't?

No, and if anyone calls

tell them I'm not home

except for Danny.

Oh, what do we say

when people call?

Tell them

I moved to Packinstein.

Only Nicholas knows

where that is.

Right.

I better see what

that was all about.

Oh, daddy, you're just

tryin' to get away from me.

- I can tell.

- Why do you say that?

When all I wanna do is

get away from you.

Oh, an unidentified

flying Bradford.

Elizabeth, you are late

for the college board session.

Oh, thanks, Abby, but I won't

be needin' any more coaching.

You're just gonna be

satisfied with s?

That's not gonna get you

into Wellington.

Who needs Wellington?

I'm going to become

a professional dancer.

These beads

are really groovy, Elizabeth.

[sighs]

I'm just gonna leave this here

until you're certain

you don't want it.

I'm not only certain,

I'm positive.

- Now take it to the garage.

- Okay.

You know, sometimes

you have to live with a thing

before you're really sure

it's for you.

Only if you don't know

what you really want.

Sometimes you only think

you know what you want.

This time I know.

Goodbye, door.

Hello, garage.

[sighs]

[gasps]

Hey, don't you just

love our new space?

Elizabeth, what have you done?

Where's my bed?

My bureau?

[gasps]

My John Travolta poster.

Nancy, how could we find our

true selves in all that clutter?

Clutter? That wasn't clutter.

That was my life

and I want it back.

Oh, now you hold on. This is

my space as well as yours.

Correction.

That half is your space

and this half is civilization.

Danny suggested that I shouldn't

bet our entire capital assets

but I picked the queen

five times in a row

when the other guy was betting.

Because you happened

to notice that the queen

had a crimp in the corner.

Yeah.

Only this poor, dumb guy

that's betting

he doesn't notice the crimp

and he's always losing.

Why didn't you tell me

you were there?

I was down in Stockton

rigging scaffolding, friend.

Even from there,

I can recognize

'the oldest con game

in the world.'

Me? Conned?

Well, the first guy,

the dumb one, he's the shill.

No, now you tell me.

Didn't it strike you as odd

that you were the only one

in the world that could

see the crimped card?

No, at the time,

it struck me as lucky.

Hey, how come

you know so much?

Did you fall for this

when you're my age?

No way.

I read about three-card monte

in a book.

Here.

Read.

A complete history of con games?

'Now if you'd

had that yesterday'

you might still have

your investors' $.

Yeah, well, it might

as well be a thousand.

Just think of it

as an investment

in your personal education.

Hey, do you mind

if I borrow this for a while?

Eddie Burkstead says that

you owe his big brother $.

He'll get it back.

Alright, now I have

three cards here.

Two aces and a queen.

What you have to do is

tell me where the queen is.

But Eddie said

that his big brother's

gonna twist your head off

when he gets you alone.

He's not gonna find me

until I'm ready.

Now I'm gonna move

these cards around

and I want you to keep

your eye on the queen.

Now watch carefully.

Alright, which one's the queen?

What's the matter?

Weren't you watching?

'Why don't you pick this one?'

I don't like that one.

The corners are bad.

- Yeah.

- Oh, it's all my fault.

Your fault? Come on, Tom.

If I could afford to send

Elizabeth to Wellington

she never would've met

this Gwen person.

Dad, don't blame it on Gwen.

She's right, Tom,

from every thing I hear

about Gwen Elkhart,

I think I like her a lot.

Oh, how can you like a person

who fills your daughter's

head with space?

I'll tell you something,

I am going to forbid her

to go back to that

dipsy dance studio.

I wouldn't do that

if I were you.

I mean, would you rather

have her imitating Gwen

here in our house

or being Gwen someplace else?

No, Elizabeth would

never leave home.

- Oh, wouldn't she?

- Yeah, dad.

That's what you said

about David.

Well, I wish you would

have been more encouraging

about her

college board scores.

I had to tell her the truth.

I couldn't lie to her.

This way,

if she works hard enough

she might make the s

on the real test.

Alright, that's exactly

what I'll tell her.

- No, I'll tell her.

- Why you?

Because I won't tell her.

I'll suggest.

Yeah, dad, it works great.

You ought to try it sometime.

- Oh, really?

- Really.

Is that an order

or a suggestion?

But you put a lot of work

into preparing

for the college boards.

And we were making progress.

It just seems to me

that you owe it to yourself

to-to go back to work and

get ready for the real test.

I think I owe it to myself

to explore

my potential as a dancer.

Fine, but can't you also explore

your very real potential

as a student whether it's at

Wellington or anywhere else?

You know, I, uh, feel tension

in this space, Abby

and I think

it's coming from you.

Here, stand up and

I'll show you something, okay?

Okay.

Elizabeth, tension is a very

real part of life, you know.

I mean, it means

that we're making an effort.

And an effort means

that we're not copping out.

- Don't talk, just breathe.

- Okay, I'm breathing.

Okay, now, close your eyes

and imagine yourself

suspended from the ceiling.

You're arms are balloons

and as you take a deep breath

from your abdomen,

they inflate.

Elizabeth, I'm not

in the market for exercise.

Can't we talk about the boards?

The college boards make me feel

A, rigid, B, uptight,

C, dumb, D, nauseas

and E, all of the above.

[instrumental music]

Hey.

I don't know which hurt worst.

Striking out with Elizabeth

or remembering

how schmuck I was with you?

Um, so now you learned,

being a father

is not as easy as it looks,

not even for a woman.

Do you think she's good enough

to be a professional dancer?

You're asking me, the man who

does the box step on your toes?

Well, it's just

such a terribly hard life.

I'd hate to see her fail at it.

- Because I failed her.

- That's not true.

Look, all the other girls

got to go

to the colleges they wanted to.

Even David and Nancy

got not to attend.

Why can't Elizabeth go

where she wants to?

I'm not gonna let you

take the wrap for this.

You know there is a limit

to what one man

can provide for his family

and you've already exceeded that

quota by at least . children.

I'm not impressed

with that statistic.

And neither is Elizabeth.

Hi, uh..

I-it looks like

a very interesting dance.

- Does it?

- Yeah.

Well, is that something

that Gwen taught you?

- Oh, no. I'm making it up.

- Oh, really?

That's what they call

interpretive dancing.

Well, what is

your creation about?

Oh, well, I'm calling it

Dance of the Imprisoned Spirit.

Wow! That sounds heavy though.

Yeah, Gwen thought

it was a perfect expression

of my existential self.

Oh, you mean that,

uh, Gwen thinks

that you're imprisoned?

Oh, no. She thinks I was,

but now I'm breaking free.

That's what I'm calling

my last movement, Freedom Found.

Now what does Gwen

think about that?

Oh, well, she hasn't seen it yet

but I'm sure she'll love it.

Especially when I burn the book.

What? Wait a minute.

When-when you burn the what?

- College board manual.

- No, no, no.

Bradfords don't burn books.

Any books.

It's a symbolic ritual

of my rebirth.

It's sacrilege.

I should've known

you wouldn't understand.

I understand,

I understand perfectly.

You can't do this to yourself

and you can't do it to me.

And you can't stop me.

Alright, in the middle

or on the sides

who knows where the lady hides?

Over and under, out and in

whoever finds her

has found the woman.

Ah, not again!

I'm wiped out.

Sorry, stranger.

The queen is over here.

'Anyone else? Today could be

your, uh, lucky day.'

Okay, my friend, you look a lot

brighter than whoever that was.

I admire your confidence.

Follow the cards

and watch my hands.

'Soon you'll find

where the lady lands.'

Congratulations, would you

care to go for five..

Care to come to my office?

It's a contest, right?

'Each succeeding Bradford

has to top'

'the exploits of his

or her senior sibling.'

No, sir.

Please, tell me

you're the last

of the Bradford litter, huh?

No, sir,

I have a younger brother.

Give me strength.

How much younger?

- Nicholas is nine.

- Perfect.

My ulcer would mercifully

have put me in the cemetery

before he reaches high school.

Now tell me why were you turning

our nice Sacramento campus

into Las Vegas?

Uh, what you don't

understand, sir

is we were only doing research.

Oh, yeah, that's it.

Research for a class paper.

What exactly

were you researching?

Uh, the history of con games.

It's really fascinating.

You see the three-card monte,

which we were field testing

is the oldest recorded con

in history.

And the second oldest

is the research paper con.

Tell me.

What class was this paper for?

- We haven't decided yet.

- Good.

Then you can turn it in to me.

Ten thousand words.

- Ten thousand?

- Ten thousand?

With footnotes, on my desk,

Monday morning.

You know, Gwen, you were right.

I am the imprisoned spirit.

[laughs]

Wow, Elizabeth.

When we discussed the theme

of your dance, I said

we all makes ourselves

prisoners in some way.

'I didn't know you had

parent problems.'

Do I?

Then use the energy

of that turmoil

to help choreograph

your workshop number.

Okay, and I'll use

the feeling of freedom

and space that you give me.

Fine, if you think

that will work for you.

It'll be the best part.

Oh, Gwen, I'm so glad

to be here with you

and become part

of your company.

If that's what you want,

I hope it works out.

Works out?

I don't, I don't understand.

I thought you wanted me

to become a dancer?

Oh, I do, and I hope your dance

is a very impressive try-out.

Try-out?

Nobody said it was a try-out.

Because everybody

knows that child.

Next month's workshop

is always the audition

for my professional ensemble.

Yeah, so that's the way

it works, huh?

Oh, now don't look so stricken.

I will be available

anytime you want me.

'And your sister Joannie

will be a big help.'

[scoffs]

As long as I don't tell dad

she's doing it.

One, two, three, four.

- And round and two--

- Stop! It's wrong.

Okay, what?

Now will you please pay

attention to what you're doing?

Elizabeth,

I was paying attention.

No, you weren't, you counted

wrong, it threw me off.

Elizabeth, uh, look,

maybe I'm just having trouble

with this particular part today.

No, this is the crucial

movement in the whole dance.

It's where I break free

and get reborn.

Yeah, I know. Well,

maybe you just can't relate

to those feelings right now.

Look, I don't need

any of your dumb comments.

I just need you to count

right for once, okay?

Yeah.

Well, how much

did you get for my bike?

The best offer so far

is bucks.

It's worth at least

twice that much.

Try telling that to a customer

who has just counted

six missing spokes.

Great.

I sold my bike

for a buck loss

and that still doesn't get

our investors off our cases.

Not to mention

the buck we lost to the guy

we were supposed to be conning.

- We're gonna need jobs.

- Who's got time?

I'm only up to word

on Gillette's paper.

'How about you?'

Two thousand four hundred

and seventy one.

[exhales]

Let's see, it's, uh, .

We'll die from writer's cramp.

Yeah, if our investors

don't k*ll us first.

Seven thousand two hundred

and twenty four.

- What are you doin'?

- I'm trying to relax.

- Can you relax and cut my hair?

- No way.

But you always

used to cut my hair

and if you don't do it now,

Nancy is gonna bald me.

I see the problem,

but I don't have the time.

You don't have time

for anything anymore.

I've gotta get ready

for my dance.

I sure do like

the old Elizabeth better.

- The old Elizabeth?

- Yeah. She was more fun.

No, the old Elizabeth

worried too much.

Not as much as she worries now.

You mean, you're accusing me

of deliberately avoiding

my very own youngest daughter?

Yeah, ask yourself, dad.

When was the very last time

you even spoke to Elizabeth?

Well, let's see,

it was, uh, four days ago.

She ran out of the kitchen

when I yelled at her

and then I kicked

the refrigerator in frustration.

Four days, huh? Well, at least

he's not ignoring the calendar.

No, dad, I don't think

you're avoiding Elizabeth.

Oh, thank you, Joannie.

I think you're conducting

a cold, calculating campaign

of disapproving silence.

Hm, that sounds interesting.

I might try that if my present

tactics don't work.

Oh, come on, dad, how can you

be using tactics on Elizabeth

if you don't even do

anything about her?

Yeah, dad, this can't go on.

Try having your bedroom

spaced out.

Actually, I think

this whole matter

is the fault of her horoscope.

So you know what I'm doing,

I'm keeping a very close eye

on Jupiter and Venus rising.

Tom, the girls deserve

a straight answer.

Alright, the girls are right.

I am avoiding her

until my throat gets better

then I can really yell at her.

I don't know what to do with

her. She's got me stymied.

When I figure something out,

I'll let you know.

What about you, Abby?

Well, lately, I've been asking

myself one simple question.

Yeah?

What could be the worst thing

that could happen to Elizabeth

if she becomes

a professional dancer?

Besides starvation?

[instrumental music]

Well, did you like it?

Oh, well, I can see

how hard you've been working.

The concepts show

genuine emotion.

And, uh, there were some

wonderful fluid movement.

Thank you.

However, I'm afraid

your timing was off.

My timing?

And the cloak, it doesn't work.

It's really much too cumbersome.

Uh, but the cloak

is my old self.

Not having it would force you

to be more inventive

in portraying your rebirth.

Okay, well,

if that's what you think

will it be okay then?

Well, the number needs

a lot of work, Elizabeth.

But of course, in the long run

the more you put in,

the better your chances are.

What about in the short run?

Well, you must realize there

will be others at the tryout

who have had a lot

more experience than you.

So in other words,

it's not a .

No, not yet.

But you have made progress.

And I think you owe it

to yourself to go back to work

and get ready

for the real competition.

I never expected you

to use that awful word.

Then maybe you haven't

been listening.

One student out of

makes it into my dance company.

One company out of a

keeps its head above water.

If this were

a non-competitive world

do you think

I would be struggling

to survive in Sacramento?

What about celebrating

the joy of dance?

The joy of everything,

Elizabeth, is working at it.

I'll see you tomorrow.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I didn't make it.

Yeah, she said it needed work.

Lots of work.

I'm sorry.

- I'm not.

- You're not?

Abby, I left the studio angry.

You know, and real hurt.

Then walking home,

I realized that Gwen was right.

I mean, I expected

to, to walk in there

and dazzle her

after only three weeks' work.

I expected to set the dance

world on fire or something.

You have talent, Elizabeth.

Maybe, but talent isn't enough.

It takes work.

Lots of work.

Abby.

I may have blown my audition

but I hope I haven't

blown it with you.

No such luck, kiddo.

You mean, you'll still

help me with my boards?

Oh, try and stop me.

Thanks.

So back to the books?

Two dollars for a haircut?

Yeah, that's my final offer.

People don't pay

to give haircuts.

They pay to get them.

Trust me, Nicholas, trust me.

- Come on sit on the bed.

- No. No.

Stop. It's the only hair I got.

Nicholas.

I'll cut your hair, Nicholas.

Alright.

You'll do

no such thing, Elizabeth.

Save me!

Nancy, it's Nicholas' hair

and he wants me to cut it.

Do I muscle in on your dancing?

No, but I wouldn't care

if you did.

What do you mean

you wouldn't care?

These days if I did anything

or said anything

about your dancing,

you'd divide me in half.

Actually, I've decided

the only dancing

I'm good at right now

is the side step.

- The side step?

- Kind of a detour boogie.

I guess I thought

that I could just dance away

from all my problems,

but it doesn't work like that.

Oh, Elizabeth, I can't believe

you're saying this.

And I can't even believe

my arms didn't stretch.

- But I love it.

- Yeah.

- Good to have you back.

- Thanks.

(Nancy)

'Okay.'

Personally, I think it would

be great for your apartment.

In other words,

you can't stand them either.

Oh, how about

Nicholas' playhouse?

Uh, I tried that.

He said he'd rather throw up.

[laughs]

- Well.

- Oh, what's this?

- Elizabeth is back with us.

- How far back?

Well, I just repainted her room

and I'm about to move

her furniture back.

And tomorrow, we start

more cramming sessions

for the college boards

and she'll fit

her dancing around that.

See, my strategy, it worked.

Oh, what a liar.

What strategy?

How do I know?

I haven't figured one out yet.

That's what I thought.

You know, somebody up there

really likes you, Tom.

[Tommy screams]

Oh!

Obviously, you're not referring

to our second floor?

Obviously.

[theme music]