08x12 - These Few Years

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

Mother.

Mummy, mummy.

Yeah.

Mother

Alright.

Ah.

Just a minute everybody.

Could you please come into my room house?

Okay, Linda.

-Is he cute? -Yeah.

Now, look.

Mom, where's the rest of my bicycle top?

Oh, look on the workbench in the basement.

But I already did.

Well, look again, Bill, at the back. It's that

little needle thing of a jig. You're looking for.

That's it lets find out.

-Around. -I got to talk to you.

Are you ready to go?

Ahh serious?

Yeah, mine is.

Well, then I have time to talk, David.

Yes, but in just a minute.

-Mom. -Yes, dear coming.

[music]

Mrs president, can you get this thing in?

Ah, ha.

I wish we were poor again.

-Fine thing. -No, I do. I mean it.

If you weren't a vice president, we could stay home with the children.

We could avoid being poisoned by

those deadly martinis of Mr.Haviland

Now, honey, you must remember to call him George.

No, I can't. I just can't.

Like giving God a nickname.

Mother.

In a minute Dear.

I wouldn't say Georgia godly.

Indeed he isn't.

He's just about as powerful, if you can believe everything he claims.

-You got something there. -Mommy.

In a minute sweetheart.

Hey, when better be late.

I'm already.

And listen, where you're playing? Black tie.

Not that monstrosity you brought home from the

office party. I don't care who gave it to you.

-Okay. -Yeah.

Well, that child.

What is it?

Keep yourself.

Oh.

It looks like an angel sleeping on a cloud.

Yeah, well, I wish you'd have more like one.

Mom, before the when I tried to get her to take a nap,

she said she couldn't because she might miss Santa.

Yeah.

Week after Christmas and she's still waiting to see Santa.

-Mother, why don't you tell her? -Oh, honey,

she'll learn soon enough.

Why wouldn't you know? She'd fall asleep

ten minutes before she's due to get up.

Hmm, hmm but we just let her sleep.

But, Mommy, it's five.

Pick your shoes.

If we let her sleep now, she'll never get to dead tonight.

Oh, I can hear her now.

Whatever in the world did you make me take a nap for?

Will you stop crabbing about your

sister and go ahead and finish dressing?

Ah, Linda.

Remember, when your new date gets here,

your father and I'd like to meet him.

You mean look him over?

Mother, must you be so antiquated?

Save my life. I can't see anything antiquated about that.

Oh.

Dear, should we go into your room?

Fine.

I knew you and dad were worried because I didn't belong.

That's why I went out for basketball this year.

It was my own decision, Ma. I didn't do it

because dad was all state when he was in school.

Just the same, your dad was very pleased.

I know.

Honey.

If you've been cut from the team, it's

no disgrace. You're only a sophomore you know.

I haven't been cut mom.

The coach wants me to play on the A squad.

That's wonderful.

Well then what's wrong?

I hate basketball.

-You what? -I know it sounds crazy.

Any other kid would want to make the A

squad. Only I think basketball is dumb.

Maybe it wasn't in Dad's day. I guess then if you

were short but a real good sh*t, you had a chance.



Now it's just who's the tallest goon?

That's the only reason the coach wants me, Mom. I'm the tallest goon.

-Well now honey. - Another thing

I thought athletics we're supposed to teach sportsmanship.

That's a lot of bunk, Ma.

The big thing in basketball is to be rough

on the backboards. Come down with your

elbows flying, gouge the other guy in the

eye a couple of times and he'll respect you.

Get that all k*ller instinct the coach tells me.

I was going ahead and played just to make dad happy.

Only now there's something I really want to do.

But.

What is it?

Well, this is Norman Prescott.

And he's a brain and a real good guy and he's editor of the school paper.

Well, I wrote a story in journalism class, and

Norman read it and thought it was real good.

so he wants me to work on the paper.

And I really like journalism I'd like to be a reporter.

Well then go ahead and do it.

It's not that simple.

Coach and the team and everybody in school and think I'm chicken.

They say I let the school down.

Boy, I'm not popular now, but

if I did that, nobody'd speak to me. Don't you see, mom?

Well.

Would you be letting the school down?

Well, no this is other guy. He's only two inches shorter than me.

He wants to make the ace squad something

awful, and he's got that k*ller instinct.

The coach would only give him a chance. He'd be twice as good as me.

Ah.

What-- do you have to decide right away?

-Yeah. -Oh.

We start practice again right after vacation.

I had a phone the coach tonight.

Well,

it is a difficult decision to make, but it must be yours, David.

Personally, I don't think you'd be chicken.

I think it'd take a great deal of courage to do what you want to do.

Look, why are you talking her with dad?

No,

I know what he thinks.

, come on, now. Give him credit for being fair.

Now, when it comes to basketball, mom.

He's been talking about watching me play since I was in the fifth grade.

Well, you remember he used to measure me every

month. He was so scared I wouldn't be tall.

He'll think I'm chicken, too. Oh, he won't say it. He'll just think it.

Well,

perhaps I should talk to him first. Sort of pair the way.

No, I'm no baby, mom.

I'll phone the coach and then I'll tell dad.

Well.

Are you sure you can take the consequences?

You know how you worry about thing.

Yeah,

but I got to get over that.

[music]

I'm proud of you.

you're prejudiced.

Well, yes, maybe I am, but

But if you know inside that you've done the right thing.

It won't matter what anyone hoping.

Madge, come on, we'll be late.

Gotta go.

Your father be absolutely furious. You'll be late.

David, I'm leaving you in charge, dear. Now, Patty's

in bed taking your nap, and Bill's in the basement.

Are you leaving now?

Oh, yes we are honey.

Well, my date is not here yet.

Oh, I'm so sorry. We just can't keep the Haviland waiting, you know.

Well, Mommy, you can meet him when he brings me home.

Yeah.

Honey.

We suppose we'll be home for dinner, but you know how Mr. Haviland is.

And if he insists that we stay there for dinner, then

there's a casserole all ready to be put into the oven. Okay?

Mummy have a good time.

Yes I will sweetheart.

Well, can't you tell Mr. Havlin you want to come home for dinner?

-Well. -It's New Year's Eve.

I mean, even if Linda is going out. Well,

couldn't the rest of us be together?

You know, like always?

I know just what you mean, David.

We try to get back.

But if we can't remember now.

Now, put the oven up to degrees before you put that casserole in.

-Goodbye sweetheart. -Goodbye Mom.

[door closing]

[car door closing]

About to dispatch a small cavalry trooper.

I'm sorry.

I had to give David babysitting instructions.

I'm so good about it.

I hate imposing on him, though.

You knoe, he has things on his mind.



That kiddie love also was before he's .

Yes, but he's no ordinary boy, you know.

Somehow or other, he was built from a

different mold than the others, I think.

Well it's certainly built a play basketball.

[music]

Did I say something wrong?

No.

[music]

Wish Linda's date had gotten there before we left.

Well, he didn't.

Kids these days have no sense of time.

Hey. [tyre sound]

They are celebrating early.

bviously.

Just for change.

Could there possibly be anyone else there tonight

besides the big brass with the Haviland furniture?

[laugh] That chance.

Maybe you could hide the kids, since Mr. Havillen is juxtapo having them.

I don't know Madge.

Well, you know, darling, I am at a distinct disadvantage.

Whenever we're around the Haviland. Nobody even mentions children.

I don't seem to have anything else to

talk about, so I just sit there like a.

A childless couple like the Haviland It must be very

boring to hear people bragging about their offspring.

I never brag.

I boast.

[laugh]

I just boast a little bit tonight.

No Madge.

Madge. I believe George is a kind that

just can't tolerate being crossed.

So we'll try not to cross him.

Remember all the wonderful things he's made possible for us, honey?

Like a new home,

college for the kids.

Oh, I'll remember and I'll behave.

Look at me. I'm even wearing the uniform.

It's awful special on you, honey.

-Curt. -Hmm?

Let's be home for dinner.

Sure, honey. Unless George his other plans.

All this talk is such nonsense.

Who cares.

Wonder what George is talking about?

Business, of course.

Strange how little anyone knows about George Haviland.

All we know is that he moved to our city.

right after he ended World w*r II.

Purchased a rundown factory and built it into a

fabulously successful business.

Carry on.

Or I hate all this.

I believe George is a kind and just can't tolerate being crossed.

So we got to try not to cross him.

Can't you just tell Mr. Haviland you want to come home for dinner?

It's new year's Eve mom.

I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Haviland, but I'm

afraid Curt and I have to be leaving.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Haviland, for asking you, and good night.

Madge.

What's the matter?

Wait a minute.

You can't get away as easily as this.

just occurred to me that a merry old

crowd like ours ought to go out to dinner.

I'll take you to Pasta Vanish, March,

buy one of those fabulous cocktails.

It sounds delightful, but really, we must get home.

Aren't you feeling well, my dear?

He's giving me an out.

All I have to do is say yes.

I feel ill.

What was it I said to David this very evening?

If you know inside you've done the right thing.

Won't matter what anyone else things.

Okay, David, here goes.

No I feel very well.

But it's new years.

And I want to be with our children.

We have so few years with our children.

Well, holidays are so important to a family that

I.

[music]

[door closing]

I'll get you wrap, my dear.

Don't let this throw your Curt, you're a good engineer.

This isn't the only company in the world, you know.

Oh yes thank you.

-Goodnight. -Goodnight Madge.

Good night

[music]

You didn't say anything that would upset a normal person.

Oh, Curt.

George must be off his rocker to get so angry in such a thing.

He won't fire you, will he?

Maybe he'll have forgotten the whole thing by tomorrow.

[door opening]



[music]

[door closing]

What?

What that?

[music]

Daddy.

For heaven sake.

Are you all right?

Oh.

She's alright, but another minute and

these curtains would have caught fire.

Oh, Patty.

Whatever in the world made you do such a thing?

So Santa could find my room.

Oh, honey, Santa has already been here and you

know it. He brought you all your lovely toys.

I didn't see him I wanted to see him.

Oh, sweetie.

How did you get the candles, Patty?

I stood up until I reached them in your bedroom.

And these?

Matches? I got them out of Daddy's pocket.

Patty, I've told you times not to play with matches.

Daddy, whatever in the world made you

lost the candid. They were so pretty.

Alright Madge, I'll handle this

[music]

What's the matter, mom? why are you running?

Hi, honey. Well, Patty got some candles out of

our room and she put them on the windowsill.

[door closing]

And lighted them right under the curtain.

We checked in a room a few minutes ago, Mon. She was still asleep.

I know.

Well, is she alright?

Ouch.

I'm sorry daddy. She will be.

I will never do it again.

Sorry mom.

[music]

Alright honey.

Oh.

-Hello. -Hello.

Who are you?

Norman Prescott.

My mother oh how do you do? Norman?

I feel awful about Patty, Mrs. Lindsay.

We were in the kitchen working on the next issue with a school paper?

Yeah, but we were listening for any sound.

Well, there's no harm done, fortunately, Norman.

I'll bet Patty thinks different.

Poor kid.

My fault.

No, David, it is not your fault.

-Now, would you play bridge? -No.

-I wish I did. -Good. Then you stay for dinner.

Bridge lessons will start immediately thereafter.

Thanks I will.

Hmm.

Too bad Linda isn't here, because she could begin to learn, too.

No, I'm here mother.

Oh, honey.

what happened to your date?

He didn't come.

Oh.

Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.

Don't be so upset, Mother.

I didn't want to date that anyway.

I guess I was just flattered when he asked me.

He always dates such

Sophisticated girls.

Well, personally, I'm glad you're home.

Now, how about you and Norman coming on in the kitchen with me?

David wants to talk to his father.

I think I'll wait till tomorrow.

Now you listen to me.

Tonight I thought of how brave you were to do what you wanted.

And that gave me courage to tell Mr. Havillin I wanted to come home.

It probably cost your father his job.

Oh, no you shouldn't have done that.

Oh, yes, I should have.

Now, you march right upstairs and tell your father.

Tell me what?

I'll be in the kitchen.

Then don't go, honey. Tell me what?

Well.

I quit the team.

This is quite a surprise.

I want to work on the school paper dad.

Well, I want to be a reporter, and I wouldn't have time to do both.

I mean work on the paper and practice basketball.

Did I say a surprise? I meant a shock.

This brings up the possibility that you might just have a brain, David.

Oh, gee dad thanks.

Well, I'll let you do talk this whole thing over.

Alright, David.

Sit down let's have all the particulars.

Where is Casserole?

It was on the kitchen right there.



But not now.

[f*ring sound]

You ate our entire dinner.

That baby bit when we were hungry.

You also ate it cold.

Sure, it was good.

Real good. Thanks for the dinner, Mrs. Lindsay.

Don't mention it, Joey.

Where is the champagne we got for Christmas?

Oh.

I stashed it away.

Well, un-stash it, it's New Year's Eve.

I certainly will.

[car horn]

Linda, is that your date, honking out there?

Look at that.

Yes, that is fine.

If you want me to go out and tell him you're not going to go.

Oh, no Norman.

It's the room of the house that dates have to come to the door.

Okay.

Gee, dad.

I think he's been drinking.

What?

Dear?

Curt, he's right.

He has been drinking.

You go right out there and tell him to leave.

I'll know that all time.

Linda wait.

Curt, Curt no, let her handle it.

Fine. But I don't intend for that boy to get

behind the wheel of that car till he sobers up.

Alright, dear.

[Door closing]

[music]

What's the matter, Mom? You look kind of hail.

Alright, honey.

Well, how would you fellas like

scrambled eggs and bacon for dinner, huh?

-Sounds great. -Good, well.

Young buds gone for a nice long walk.

Oh, thank heaven.

I'm certainly glad you were home.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the nerve to tell him off.

I'd probably have gone along.

Linda, a smart girl like you would never

in the world have gone out with that boy.

I don't know, dad.

Well, now, could we possibly eat the before something else happened.

[laugh]

We certainly can. Scrambled eggs coming up. Come on, Linda.

Boy, it's positively dynamic around here. Our house is so calm.

Dad's a professor and mom writes book reviews I'm the only offspring.

About the only thing that ever happens is.

Somebody turned the page.

But the excitement is over now, I can assure you.

Madge.

What?

The Haviland. They just drove into the driveway.

Oh, Curt.

He wouldn't come here to fire you, would he?

Look, I better take a rain check on

that bridge lesson. goodbye everyone.

Yeah, goodbye Norman.

Well.

I'll answer the door.

Hey, what's that yelling about? What's the matter?

Come in.

These are my children, George.

This is Linda.

How do you do?

Linda's a senior in high school.

This is David.

How do you do sir?

David's only a sophomore but already a reporter on the school paper.

And this is Bill.

How do you do sir?

David.

Is a big boy.

My son was reported too.

I didn't know you had a son.

Yes, you wouldn't have heard about him.

I haven't mentioned his name and fifteen years.

During the w*r, he was sent overseas and didn't come back.

I couldn't face the loss of him.

I wouldn't.

So I closed my heart to everything that might remind me of Edward.

Such as Christmas, New Year's

and children.

Until tonight, Madge when you said what you did.

About us having so few years to give to our children.

And how important holidays are in the family.

We had Edward for Christmases.

But there was so few.

And they went so fast.

When you said that you did match all the anger, the bitterness, the

grief, everything just hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to leave.

I'm so sorry.

You needn't be.



You see, I sort of have Edward back again.

In a way.

Well.

You wouldn't have dinner with us, so we've come

over to eat with you. And I hope it's alright.

Well, that's just wonderful. I'm sorry. Billy ate

our entire dinner. I hope you like scrambled eggs.

Let me have your coat Mrs. Haviland.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Hey, david put that away dear.

You have another child, haven't you?

Yes. You'll meet her later.

Won't you? Come up here.

Thank you.

[music]

It's beautiful.

-Happy new year. -Well thank you, but

Why should a pretty young thing like

you want to kiss an old goat like me?

You asked for it George, you're standing right under the mistletoe.

[laugh]

What do you know?

-May I? -Thank you.

-Mommy. Mommy. -Yes, dear.

I had him. He can I had that old fell laughing.

I told him so. I could see him.

Darling. So you did.

Whatever in the world did you do with your whisker?

[laugh]

[music]

Here is Loretta.

Thank you John.

This above all to thine known self be true and it must follow,

as the night the day thou canst not then be false to any man.

Good night, and we'll see you next week.