04x03 - Beethoven, Brahms, and Partridge

[bunniefuu]

♪ Hello, world, hear
the song that we're singin'

♪ Come on, get happy

♪ A whole lot of lovin'
is what we'll be bringin'

♪ We'll make you happy

♪ We had a dream
we'd go travelin' together

♪ And spread a little lovin'
then we'd keep movin' on

♪ Somethin' always happens
whenever we're together

♪ We get a happy feelin'
when we're singin' a song

♪ Travelin' along there's
a song that we're singin'

♪ Come on, get happy

♪ A whole lot of lovin'
is what we'll be bringin'

♪ We'll make you happy

♪ We'll make you happy

♪ We'll make you happy ♪

Chris, you wash yet?

Sure.

Mom means today.

I washed this
morning, that's today.

I'll have to remember that one.

Here comes Keith and
he's got someone with him.

That's not someone,
that's a girl.

So what else is new?

A girl girl.

Yeah. I think I'll
go wash my hands.

Rachel, this is the
Partridge family.

We do have other names.

I'm sorry. Mom, this
is Rachel Westing.

This is my mom.
My brother Chris.

My sisters Laurie and
Tracy. My brother Danny.

And that's Ricky,
who lives next door.

Hi. Hi.

Would you believe
she didn't know us?

She does now.

No, I mean she'd
never heard of us.

Gee, that's funny. We're
on all the bubblegum cards.

I'm sorry. I've been out
of the country for a while.

Do you do something special?

Isn't that beautiful? She
has no idea who we are.

Terrific. A few more like her

and I'll be back working
my lemonade stand.

Mom, do you mind if
Rachel stays for dinner?

Of course not. Be
ready in a minute.

If it's okay with you, I'd like
to take her up to my room.

I... I don't know
how to answer that.

It's an educational project.

Biology?

Show and tell.

What did he mean by that?

I was afraid to ask.

Mom, would you make
sure we're not disturbed?

I need three and a
half minutes of privacy.

Exactly three and a half?

Yeah, that's all I need. Isn't she
terrific? She's really got a brain.

Her legs aren't bad, either.

Oh, really? I hadn't noticed.

♪ Do you think you love me?

♪ I think I love you
♪ I think I love you

♪ I think I love you
♪ I think I love you

♪ I think I love you
♪ I think I love you ♪

Okay, now you know who
we are and what we do.

What do you think of our music?

It's very nice.

Nice?

Rachel, that was one
of our biggest records.

Oh, then I guess
someone likes it.

But you don't?

I'm sorry. It's just
not my kind of music.

Why not?

Well, it's pleasant
and innocuous.

But don't you think
it's a little simple?

Simple?

Let me tell you something, it's
not that simple to write hit songs.

Oh, I'm sure it is for someone
as gifted as you, Keith.

I don't get it.

You hate my music, so how
come you think I'm talented?

Intuition. I sense
greatness in you.

I only wish...

Oh, what's the
point of going on?

No, no. Go on. Go on.

Really. You've got my interest.

I only wish you were
willing to stretch yourself,

to try a higher form.

Classical music.

Music is music.

But I'm a popular songwriter.

So was Gershwin.
It's up to you, Keith.

What's more important,
Beethoven's th symphony

or Partridge's I
Think I Love You?

What's that terrible noise?

Did you drop
something on the piano?

Will you two get out of here,
so I can get some work done?

We have a rehearsal.

Hi. Hey, who's that old guy?

That old guy, as you put it,
is Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Did Rachel give it to you?

Yeah, she's very big on osmosis.

Is that catching?

What was that
terrific racket I heard?

If you must know, it's the
opening bars of my new concerto.

As opposed to the old concerto?

What concerto, Keith?

Partridge's first concerto
for cello in D major.

Catchy title.

Why the cello?

It was Rachel's
idea. She's a cellist.

She also senses
greatness in him.

You were listening at my door.

Keith, when is it
gonna be played?

We're gonna
premiere it in six weeks

at a concert at the college.

You're gonna play it out loud
where everyone can hear it?

Yeah, that's the general idea.

Keith, you've never written
classical music before.

True, but as Rachel
says, music is music.

Notes are notes.

And crazy is crazy.

Go ahead and laugh if you
want, but I know I can do it.

Keith, don't you
think it's quite a leap

from "I think I love
you" to "Da-da-da dum"?

Honey, do you
realize how late it is?

Yeah, I know.

Time goes fast when
you're having fun, huh?

Fun.

If you think the art of
creation is having fun,

then you've obviously never spent
any time around the great masters.

Keith, I was joking.

Oh.

I think you've been
around Rachel too much.

Don't you like her?

Well, of course, I like her.

I think she's a very nice girl.

I just think she's a little
too serious, that's all.

Mom, if I wanted laughs
I'd date Phyllis Diller.

The reason I like Rachel
is because she is serious.

Oh.

She taught me to
re-evaluate my whole life.

Sense of values. Things
that are really important.

Do you realize that
if I hadn't met her,

I'd still be churning out
those meaningless tunes

that are here today
and gone tomorrow?

Honey, I think it's marvelous

that you want to try
and stretch yourself.

I'm just worried
that you've taken on

more than you can
handle, that's all.

You don't think I
can do it, do you?

Keith, I think you can do
anything that you want to do.

I just wonder if you
have enough preparation

for something as musically
complicated as this.

You're talking
about musical theory.

Rachel knows all about that.

The important thing
is the creative talent.

Okay. I understand.

Will you take one
word of advice?

Sure. What?

Eat. You look pale.

Mom, how can you
think about eating

when I'm having
trouble with my reprise?

Honey, even Mozart had a mother.

Keith! Keith!

You know, I think this
osmosis thing with Beethoven

is really working.

His music is getting better?

No, he's going deaf.

Keith?

You know, I'll be glad when his

"tortured creative
artist" period is over.

I know what you mean.

I think I liked him better
in his Andy Hardy period.

Who?

Never mind.

Hi.

How's Ludwig this morning?

Pass the sugar, please.

When are we gonna hear
this great masterpiece of yours?

You'll hear it when the rest of
the world hears it. Tomorrow night.

Can't you just hum
us the highlights?

My music is not hummable.

Sounds ominous.

Keith, are you sure you
want to go through with this?

I mean, don't you think one
genius in the family is enough?

Who might that be?

Modesty prevents me
from stating the obvious.

Danny.

Well, at least I
know my limitations.

All I want to be is
Howard Hughes.

Then why don't you disappear?

I refuse to get into a battle
of wits with an unarmed man.

That does it.

I don't know.

Somehow, I just can't imagine
Beethoven b*ating up on his kid brother.

Is Reuben coming to the concert?

Yes. He's meeting us there.

I just thought of something.

If we don't like
it, what do we do?

We applaud very loudly.

Why?

Because he's your brother.

Spoken like a true mother.

Have you ever thought you
might be underestimating Keith?

I mean, it's quite possible
he may be very talented.

It's possible, but it sure
would be hard to take.

Just kidding, Mom.

How do I look?

Like a very nervous penguin.

Well, I admit, I'm
a little nervous.

That's perfectly
understandable, honey.

Yeah. What if the audience
starts screaming for more?

I don't have an encore prepared.

I'm sure they'll understand.

I hope so.

Well, anyway, Rachel says you should
always leave an audience wanting more.

How do I look?

Leonard Bernstein would be
proud of you, except for one thing.

What?

The rental tag.

Good luck, honey.

Thanks, Mom.

We kid around a lot, but you
know we'll all be rooting for you.

Thanks, kid.

Well, posterity, here I come.

You know something? I definitely
think he left the audience wanting less.

Maybe it wasn't that bad.

Maybe it takes an educated ear.

Oh, I don't know.

I may not know much about
music, but I know what I like.

And I hated that.

Poor Keith.

Poor audience.

It's Keith I'm worried about.

The audience will get over it.

I don't know about that.

I'm not over it yet.

Hi.

If you don't mind, Rachel, I'm
not very good company right now.

I just wanted to
read you a review.

A review already?

Listen.

"It has no melodic ideas
and not a trace of originality,

"just endless repetitions

"and a perpetual
hubbub in the orchestra.

"Never has anything been
written so ill knit, so confused,

"and so revolting to the ear."

Didn't they even like my suit?

It isn't a review of your work.

It's a review of the
opening performance

of Fidelio by Beethoven.

I don't understand.

Listen.

"The music is painful, noisy,
blatant, and imminently repulsive."

This is a review
of Bizet's Carmen.

What's that got to do with
them hating my music?

I'm just trying to show you
that you're in good company.

Look, Keith, everybody
likes hamburger right off,

but it takes an educated
palate to enjoy escargot.

It does?

Of course! The more
mature the musical work,

the longer it takes an audience
to understand and appreciate it.

Well.

Judging by tonight,

my work must be really mature.

Now, remember, this has been
a painful experience for Keith,

and we all have to be very kind.

I think I've got it.
Supposing I just say,

"Boy, that was some concerto."

I think I'll stick with
praising his suit.

Maybe I'll just smile
and give him a hug.

Here he comes.

Smiling?

How do you feel, honey?

Sensational.

Sensational?

Well, sure. Look, Mom,
we'll see you at home later.

Rachel and I have
some plans to discuss.

Plans for what?

My immortality.

See you later.

Well, Keith, I'll have to admit,

when you invite
somebody to lunch,

you really do it up small.

Look, the reason I invited
you both here is because

Rachel and I had a long talk

about my concerto last night.

Keith realizes now that there
were a lot of things wrong.

Well, I think it's good to learn
from valuable experience.

There were two major faults.
The audience and the orchestra.

Now, what we want to do is bring
the piece to a much wider public.

You want more people to hear it?

The right kind of people.

That's why I want to get our
label to record the concerto

with a full symphony orchestra
of professional musicians.

Um, Keith, I don't know
if the company's going to

be willing to take a
chance on a new composer.

I realize that. That's why
I'm willing to take a gamble

and pay for the session myself.

Keith, that will cost a fortune.

Where you gonna get the money?

Well, I thought I could
take it out of my trust fund.

Honey, we're really
gonna have to discuss this.

Sure. Look, why don't you take
a couple of hours and mull it over,

and then we'll talk later, okay?

See you later.

Reuben, what am I going to do?

Is he too old to send to his
room and cut off his allowance?

Are we really sure his
music isn't any good?

We heard it.

I know.

Maybe we should
have an expert opinion.

Shirley, when it's
an obvious disease,

you don't need a second opinion.

Maybe we don't, but they do.

Is there a phone
booth around here?

Why?

I want to call Walter Yost.

The composer? How
do you know him?

Are you kidding? I'm practically
a member of his family.

Really?

Sure, I used to date his maid.

Of course, I've heard of him.

Walter Yost is one of
the most distinguished

composer-conductors in America.

Right. Well, he's appearing here
as a guest conductor next week.

He also happens to record
on the same label as us.

I don't get it. What does
this got to do with my music?

Keith, if he listens
to your music,

would you accept his opinion?

Yeah. Yeah, sure. I
think it's a good idea.

You do?

It'd be like getting the Good
Housekeeping seal of approval.

Well, Mr. Yost?

Well what?

Do I have talent?

Don't you know?

Well, I mean, in the
field of serious music?

If I said you didn't, young
man, what would you do?

Well, I'd quit.

Then I'd quit right now.

Keith...

If my opinion, or anybody
else's opinion, for that matter,

can stop you from working,

well, then obviously you don't
have the dedication necessary.

I see.

Now let me ask you a question.

Sure.

Writing songs for
your family here to sing.

Don't you like that?

Sure, but they're
just so frivolous.

Music is music. I find
your songs charming.

You've heard them?

Oh, sure, on the
radio from time to time.

They make me happy.

Yeah, but they're
just not important.

Don't you think making
people happy is important?

What are you doing?

Filing my concerto
away under experience.

Does this mean you're going to
settle for the music you've been writing?

No, it just means I'm going to try
and write some first-rate Partridge

instead of, uh,
tenth-rate Beethoven.

You didn't believe
what he said, did you?

Why shouldn't I?

All that talk about
making people happy.

It just doesn't make sense.

Rachel, we're giving
a concert tonight,

and I'd like you to come.

♪ Woke up this
morning feelin' fine

♪ I've got something
special on my mind

♪ Last night, I met a new
girl in the neighborhood

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

♪ She's the kind of
girl that's not too shy

♪ Not too shy

♪ And I can tell
I'm her kind of guy

♪ She danced close with
me like I hoped she would

♪ Oh, oh, yeah

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

♪ Something tells
me I'm into something

♪ We only danced
for a minute or two

♪ And then she stuck close
to me the whole night through

♪ I must be falling in love

♪ She's everything
I've been dreaming of

♪ She's everything
I've been dreaming of

♪ I walked her home,
and she held my hand

♪ She held on

♪ I knew it couldn't
be just a one night stand

♪ I asked to see her next week

♪ And she told me she would

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

I just don't understand it.

You don't understand
happy, smiling faces?

But the music is so simplistic.

Perhaps, but it accomplishes
what it sets out to do.

Do you think that's enough?

My dear, nothing needs less
justification than making others happy.

♪ She's everything
I've been dreaming of

♪ Woke up this
morning feelin' fine

♪ Feelin' fine

♪ I've got something
special on my mind

♪ Now she's mine

♪ Last night, I met a new
girl in the neighborhood

♪ Oh, oh, yeah ♪
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

♪ Something keeps telling
me, something keeps telling me

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

♪ Something keeps telling
me, something keeps telling me

♪ Something tells me
I'm into something good

♪ Something keeps
telling me something good ♪

Ricky, Rachel's
never heard you sing.

Nope. He accepts bribes.

How about a piece of pie?

Nope.

A comic book?

Nope.

How about a kiss?

Right on.

♪ When I grow
up, I think I'll be

♪ A sailor on the sea

♪ I'll take my boat
out on the waves

♪ No one could follow me

♪ I'd just eat fish
and talk to birds

♪ And tell them all
the news I've heard

♪ When I grow
up, I think I'll be

♪ A sailor on the sea

There's something else you
might be when you grow up.

What's that?

How about a man
who owns a store?

A man who owns a store?

Well, that sounds
like a good idea.

♪ When I grow
up, I think I'll be

♪ A man who owns a store

♪ When people
buy their food from me

♪ I'd always give them more

♪ I sell them
fruits and vitamins

♪ And ask them,
"Please come back again"

♪ When I grow
up, I think I'll be

♪ A man who owns a store

♪ And now I hope you
see that we all can be

♪ Anything we want to be

There's something else you
might be when you grow up.

What's that?

How about a farmer with a cow?

A farmer with a cow?
Can you sing it for us?

Sure.

♪ When I grow up I think I'll be

♪ A farmer with a cow

♪ I milk her in the mornings

♪ I have lots of fields to plow

♪ I just grow wheat
and vegetables

♪ So people have food
on their dinner tables

♪ When I grow
up, I think I'll be

♪ A farmer with a cow

♪ Now I hope you
see that we all can be

♪ Anything we want to be

Now you don't have
to help me this time.

♪ When I grow
up, I think I'll be

♪ I think I'll just be me ♪

Bravo!