09x05 - There are Smiles

[bunniefuu]

[Karen] What about Paige?

I think she had something to do with the m*rder.

What are you gonna do, Mack?

I don't know, Karen.

I will see you rot in hell

before I let you get away with this.

And do you have official business here, Ms. Bennett?

You know, I don't know how you fool people.

-You're so obvious to me. -You won't drop the charges?

I have matching fibers from Olivia's sweater.

I have a confession from you. What do you expect me to do?

-My mother didn't k*ll him. -When's Ben coming back?

We don't know. We're not sure.

-Bet the kids miss him, huh? -[Valene] Gary, don't.

I am perfectly able to take care of your kids.

[theme music playing]

I don't believe this is happening.

You're gonna have to answer these questions, Paige.

Well, why don't you have someone ask me who is not my father?

Someone who's not your father might want a conviction.

I just want the truth.

Okay.

I talked to Peter the day he was k*lled.

A lot of people did. That doesn't make me a m*rder*r.

You didn't tell the police that.

-Big deal. -It is a big deal.

Everything's a big deal when somebody's k*lled.

I want to know what happened.

-I didn't m*rder anyone. -Stop saying m*rder*d.

Not everyone who's k*lled is m*rder*d.

Now, what happened the last time you saw Peter Hollister?

I talked to him.

-We argued. -Where?

-In the club. -Abby set us up.

Abby!

I told her you were interested in marrying me

and she took advantage of us.

The truth is, Paige, I never had any intention

of marrying you or anybody.

Yeah, because of that letter!

Because of that damn stupid letter!

The family matter that I wasn't supposed to know

-about Uncle Peter. -Uncle?

You knew all along, didn't you?

-Knew what? -About my father! Your brother.

That's why you didn't marry me, right?

Because you knew, you knew, and you didn't care.

What are you talking about?

Greg Sumner is my father.

[Peter laughs]

It's not funny, Peter! Don't you laugh!

I'm sorry. [laughs]

Is that why you're mad? You think I'm your uncle?

-Yes, and you know it! -Oh!

[table clattering]

[Paige] We just had a misunderstanding.

And after he explained everything,

I calmed down and...

we actually had a good laugh about everything.

Why did you leave a message on the phone machine

saying you were sorry you missed them?

Misunderstood, not missed.

That's what I said. Or meant to say.

If you laughed off the misunderstanding,

why did you call and apologize for it?

What?

You said that the both of you

laughed off the misunderstanding at the time of the argument.

Why did you call him and apologize?

God, you sound like a cop.

No, I sound like a prosecutor, which I used to be.

And if you want to avoid going up against one

who's doing his job, you'll answer these questions.

Why did you call Peter Hollister?

Sometimes when you fight with someone,

it leaves a bad taste in your mouth,

even if you do make up.

I called to let him know that I was sorry that we'd fought.

Did he leave the club after the argument?

[sighs] I don't know.

I was working.

I had to drop some papers off at Karen's office.

You left the club first.

Did you think he was going to wait for you in the club?

I didn't think anything. We just had an argument.

It was strained.

Oh, but now I realize that I should have said,

"Oh, Peter, are you going to stay here?

Because after you're dead,

my father's going to want to know."

Paige, I love you.

When you're ready to talk to me and you need help, just call me.

[intense music]

[Abby] I'm retracting my confession because I didn't do it.

[Lt. Garcia] Don't tell me. Let me guess.

Uh, you're under stress, or we've tricked you...

or you're protecting someone, in this case, your daughter.

Detective, my client is--

[Lt. Garcia] Counselor, your client is

like a thousand other clients.

They confess to get the crime off their conscience,

and after they've had a chance to think it over,

-they take it all back. -But she's innocent.

It's not that simple, young lady.

Yes, it is that simple. I didn't do it.

Mrs. Ewing, with all due respect, your original confession

carries at least as much weight as your retraction.

[sighs] But there's no evidence.

Well, we'll let the DA decide that.

My clients aren't answering any more questions.

The clients are the ones that asked for this meeting.

You won't drop the charges?

I have matching fibers from Olivia's sweater.

I have a confession from you. What do you expect me to do?

-She didn't k*ll him. -Let's go.

Come on.

She can't prove it.

It's not up to Abby to prove she's innocent.

It's up to the prosecution to prove she's guilty.

Well, fine, let her lawyer get her off the hook.

Why did you have to be the one to hear her confession?

Because I was there, and I knew she was innocent.

Gary, listen to yourself.

For months, you've been telling me what a witch she is.

Right, Abby and innocence are almost impossible concepts.

-She's using you again. -But she's not a m*rder*r.

[exhales] Jill, please, please, let's stop this.

Believe me, I don't want to be involved, but I am.

You don't want to be involved? Then stop being involved.

I can't stop being involved. I am involved.

I'm not up to this.

I can't handle it.

I quit.

Okay, look.

I know this isn't any consolation,

but everything's going to work out eventually.

-Oh. -Yeah, the police will keep after the case,

and Mack will, and sooner or later, all the questions

about your brother's death will be answered.

Gary, I'm not talking about Peter.

It's us I'm not up to anymore.

It's you I can't handle.

It's your entourage I can't put up with.

Your-- your ex-wives,

and your secret children, and your stepchildren.

-[indistinct]. -I know! You're sorry.

But these are the people in your life.

These are your responsibilities.

Well, you know what, Gary? I think you're not sorry at all.

I think you're exactly where you want to be.

You're right in the middle of a crisis

with everybody depending on you.

-What does that mean? -Exactly what I said.

You like having dependents.

You cultivate them.

You don't know how to commit to people,

so you compensate for it

by making everyone dependent on you.

Not just Val and her kids, but Abby and her kids, too.

They all depend on Gary.

And you're there for them. You stick it out.

Self-righteously living up to your responsibilities.

Well, you know, if they're dependent on you,

Gary, it's because you made them that way.

You just can't walk away.

-And you think I should? -Yes!

Probably. I don't know!

I just know that I've got to get out.

I've got to stop.

Or I'm going to be one of your dependents, too.

Well, I don't think you want to make

that kind of a decision right now.

What should I do?

Should I wait 'til I feel better

so that I can make myself miserable?

Why don't I leave right now just when I feel awful?

I love you.

And you love me.

And I'm committed to that love, Gary.

But you just can't commit to anything.

I'm not even sure that it's something you can help.

But this whole thing is making me angry

and jealous and tense...

and really sad and all the things I hate being.

[somber music playing]

I'm sorry.

[piano music playing]

[lock rattling]

Find the saffron?

Yes. Oh!

And you should have seen the lines.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

Well, you know, uh,

I would never buy this kind of paper.

But I just had so long

to wait at the checkout stand that...

[scoffs]

...I started reading this article.

And-- and I thought you might be interested.

Mama, I'm busy with this. I'll look at it later, okay?

You forgot to enter the check for the pediatrician.

Would you please try to remember to do that?

I know you don't like to read the articles I find for you,

but I wouldn't pass this along

unless I thought it was important.

So you'll-- you'll be hearing not just my opinion,

which isn't worth much.

But you have been so depressed

ever since Ben left, and I worry about you.

Now, this man has done a lot of research.

He says if you force yourself to smile,

even though you're not feeling good, it...

it works certain muscles or something in your face that...

[sighs] that send some kind of...

impulses to your brain

that actually makes you feel better.

-Mama, please! -Well...

It can't hurt to try.

Now, even though you're ignoring my advice,

I feel better already.

[both laugh]

And that, my little sweet pea, is the proof in the pudding.

[melancholy music playing]

[phone ringing]

[Gary sighs]

-Hello. -Hi.

[sighs]

Gary?

-I'm not disturbing you, am I? -Uh, no.

Gary, I wanna thank you for

what you did for Olivia...

and for me.

I would have done it for anyone.

But you didn't do it for just anyone, you did it for us.

Olivia appreciates it.

And so do I, okay?

Okay.

Good night.

Good night.

[phone dings]

[instrumental music playing]

-Oh. -Whoa.

Hello.

-What a nice-looking family. -Well, thanks.

[Mack chuckles]

-I miss this, though. -Yeah.

I look at Paige, and I see this wonderful young woman,

and I'm lucky to be her father.

I mean, me, her father.

But I miss this, you know?

Childhood, and...

shaping the kids, teaching them.

Learning from them.

Right. Absolutely.

Paige was shaped before I even knew she existed.

Shaped by people that

knew all about manners, and...

knew nothing about right and wrong.

You think she k*lled him, huh?

Yeah, I see this-- this kid who

I didn't raise...

I didn't shape, but I love.

But I think she had something to do with the m*rder.

-What are you gonna do, Mack? -I don't know.

I don't know, Karen.

Ah, you can take 12 of the high ba*ls

and put the rest in storage.

-We're low on margarita glasses. -They're still in back order.

Looks like we gave a party and nobody came.

Well, we're taking advantage

of the slack in business to restock.

Oh, for the day when all the customers return in droves, huh?

-Uh... -I'm finished.

Well, the publicity will die down soon enough.

And for what it's worth, I never thought you did it.

-You hoped, of course. -Of course.

But m*rder seemed a bit much, even for you.

[scoffs] Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Maybe you can be a character witness at my trial.

Trial? They're dropping the charges, aren't they?

Seems they believed me the first time,

when I said I did it.

What are you gonna do?

Trust in the judicial system.

Abby, I've been looking all over for you.

Well, you know the k*ller always returns

to the scene of the crime.

So does a witness.

-[Abby] A witness? -We have a witness.

-Well, who? -A woman who works for the laundry service.

-She was delivering tablecloths. -[Abby] Well, who is she?

Why didn't she come forward before now?

[Mr. Sobel] She's an ill*gal alien.

She was afraid of being deported.

I haven't spoken to her yet.

She's coming to the office this afternoon.

[Abby] You know, I take it back.

You were worth the outrageous retainer.

[laughs] I'm gonna call Olivia.

[Abby] Honey, why don't we talk about it when I get home?

Okay, bye-bye.

I will see you rot in hell

before I let you get away with this.

Do you have official business here, Ms. Bennett?

You know, I don't know how you fool people.

You're so obvious to me.

I mean, you look so obvious and you act so obvious.

I'm sure my attorney would be happy

to take up any complaints you might have.

But right now, I'm very busy.

I'll bet you spent your whole life

figuring out how to trick men.

Could you come in here, please?

First of all, you take Gary for a ride

and then you blackmail Peter.

But I'm not giving up on this, Abby.

And I won't turn my back on you

so you can dump me in some cement.

Your little friend is here.

-Uh, Jill. -Don't touch me.

[door shuts close]

I'm not coming between you two, am I?

[door shuts close]

Why haven't you set a time for the Maison deposition?

You were tied up on the Hollister k*lling.

-I had to postpone it. -Give me the interrogatories.

Call the attorneys and set up a time.

Okay.

And the new lab reports came in on the Hollister case.

And I think you'll find that they're--

Is that all you think about, huh?

This office is backlogged.

Leave the Hollister investigation to the police.

-Fine. -What do you want?

Nothing. I brought a package.

Nothing, huh?

You know, you make an art of wanting nothing.

Then you take people to the cleaners.

What are you talking about?

I gave you the keys to this office

so you'd have a place to stay.

Then you go ahead and you invite half the city up here.

Who said I need a place to stay?

I have a place to stay.

You want the keys back?

You got them back.

I'm not asking for the keys back.

I know it was 46 degrees out there last night.

I want to know if you know those people.

-By name. -Only by name.

Oh, I'll ask for their resumes next time.

Right, resumes.

I'm asking you to ask next time.

I'm asking.

You're tense lately.

I was just reading a new study on smile therapy.

You know, you've got muscles in your face--

Al, come on, not today.

I'll explain it to you later

when you're in a more receptive frame of mind.

No improvement.

What?

The interrogatories aren't in the file.

You took them home weeks ago.

Great.

Hi, Mack.

It was an accident.

Peter slipped and fell.

I was there, but I didn't k*ll him.

He fell. It was-- it was an accident.

It's just an accident?

Why didn't you report it?

I was going to.

I was, but I was afraid of what people would think.

Oh, Mack.

What can they do to me?

[intense music]

You're telling the truth this time.

Yes.

[Paige sobs]

I'm coming forward on my own.

Doesn't that count for something?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'll make it count.

[Paige sobs]

-Remember to smile. -[Valene groans]

Smile!

Mama, my jaws are starting to hurt.

Now, you be sweet, you two.

-Be good to Mama. -[engine revving]

Bye-bye!

[car engine revving]

[brake squealing]

[car door clicks open]

[Lilimae] Can I help you?

No.

-[doorbell rings] -Well, there's no one home.

Except the Doberman.

I'll wait.

I looked for a fast food chain on the way over here,

but I couldn't find one.

Burger Scout usually has the best restrooms.

I was wondering, could I use your bathroom?

I should say not.

Come on, Betsy. Bobby, wait.

Betsy, sweetie. Good boy.

Come on, sweetie, we're going to go see Sesame Street.

Wait. What do you want, a balloon?

Come on, hon.

We're going to go with your brother.

We'll have a balloon.

Hi there, tiger.

Hi, you want a balloon?

Yeah, I wondered if we might have

a couple balloons for the kids.

Ah, that's what they're for.

Here you go. How about a green one?

Say thank you.

Say thank you to the nice man.

Bobby, where are you going?

Here, honey. How would you like one?

-You want one? -You want this one?

These cars are really made for kids.

Here, let me show you.

Why, the Green Bay Packers couldn't tear up this carpeting.

I think the balloons are enough for today, thanks.

-Hey, you got your... -Bob--

...durable upholstery here for safety as well as looks.

Car drives like a dream.

And can you imagine grocery shopping with all this space?

Why, you could get a whole sculpture back here.

It's a real family car.

[instrumental music playing]

[tires screeching]

Mack, I'm sure it won't be a problem

once a witness gives a corroboration.

[Mack] Abby.

I guess you're off the hook now.

[scoffs] I can't believe I covered up for you.

I never asked you to.

Let's go, come on.

-How could you m*rder him? -It was an accident.

[scoffs] Why should anyone believe you?

No one has to. There's a witness.

-Ask your mother. -[Abby] Witness?

What witness?

Come on, Paige, come on. Stop.

[tranquil music playing]

-Ooh. -Oh, hi.

-Ooh, Maxwell. -Hello.

[laughs] Hello.

Hi, she's so pretty. She's gorgeous.

-[laughs] Hello. -[Greg] Yeah.

Hi, pretty. Oh, look at her.

-That's a dimple. -Oh, yeah.

A real-life dimple.

Thank God she looks just like you.

[Greg chuckles]

Gosh.

I never got the chance to see Paige at this age.

Well, now you can make up for lost time, right?

Carol, why don't you take her upstairs and start her bath, okay?

-I'll be up in a second. -Sure.

-Come on, sweetie. -Up, up, and away.

Legs on, huh?

So pretty.

Paige is really a good kid.

Yeah.

What was so important that, uh,

you couldn't tell me over the phone?

Really a good kid.

You could have told me that over the phone.

She was there when Peter died.

They had a fight, and he slipped and fell.

You mean Abby didn't do it?

No.

Your daughter?

Yeah, she was there.

[sighs]

I just thought you should know.

Baby's beautiful.

Can she prove it was an accident?

No.

I cannot stand the fact that things happen,

and-- and you have no control over them.

What are you talking about?

You never liked Peter to begin with.

Well, that's not what I'm talking about.

I didn't want Peter to die.

Thinking about Meg and the boys,

and this kind of world they're growing up in.

I mean, what if we get involved in another w*r,

and they have to fight?

I think your maternal instincts are working overtime.

Our only problem is figuring out

how to get Meg to sleep all night.

Don't you ever think about car accidents,

or kids falling into swimming pools,

or-- or people taking them away somewhere?

You're just feeling guilty because you dumped your boys

on that bozo of an ex-husband of yours.

When are they coming home?

He wants them to stay an extra week.

I said it was okay.

Why are you doing this?

Because I think it's important that they get to know their father better.

-They have to make choices. -What choices?

They're living here with their mother.

Right.

And their mother's real tired. Okay?

So I'm going upstairs to help with Meg's bath.

Come on.

Cheer up. It's just hormones.

-Hormones. -Yeah.

Yeah, with women, it's always hormones.

What is it with men?

It's nothing with men. Men are perfect.

[door clicks open]

Mack. Oh.

What are you doing out here?

You got the package I dropped off?

Yeah, I got the package. Oh, you dropped it off?

I didn't know who. It was just, uh, resumes.

-Resumes? -Yeah.

Well, look, I'm not going to take advantage of you.

And-- and those people aren't either.

You got a deal.

[chuckles] Great car.

Yeah, well, I outfitted them myself.

Got all the amenities, except the bedroom.

Yeah.

-Have you used the bathroom? -No, that's okay.

-Come inside. -No, I went already twice.

Twice?

Oh. Good.

[chuckles] Great car.

-It's great. -Yeah.

Morning.

Good morning.

I got to go.

-Uh, great car. -Yeah, me too.

[paper rustling]

[engine revving]

Oh, Lord.

Is that my paper?

I-- I think people should be encouraged

to share newspapers to save trees.

And I think people should be encouraged

to have good manners.

[whimsical music playing]

Smile therapy could do wonders for you.

[door shuts closed]

If it was an accident,

why didn't Paige call somebody after it happened?

Lay off of Paige and let the DA's office handle this.

What about Abby Ewing?

She admits she buried him.

She's at least an accessory after the fact.

Can't have an accessory after the fact

without a m*rder, and there wasn't a m*rder.

-And I still don't buy that. -Who was this guy to you?

You've lost all perspective on this case.

[Granz] Jill, I can guarantee you

there's nothing to go after Abby Ewing with.

She filed a false police report. That's a 148.

I know it's a misdemeanor.

But she buried the man in cement.

Am I the only one

who finds it outrageous that a man was k*lled,

then dragged to a construction site,

and left to rot?

Well, maybe the next of kin can recover damages

against her in a civil suit.

But the guy's only relative is Greg Sumner,

and he is disinclined to pursue the matter.

Disinclined?

And are you disinclined to make a case against Mack's daughter?

Right.

[door shuts closed]

[Karen sighs]

Karen, here.

Oh, your hair.

-Do you like it? -Look at you.

You look wonderful.

Oh, it's going to get better. I mean, it's all Mama's fault.

She told me to smile,

and, you know, one thing led to another, and--

Oh, it really looks good. I love it.

-Yeah? -Yes.

What have you heard from Mack?

[sighs] Nothing.

He's meeting with the DA now.

-Thank you. -Oh, one more, please.

And if you don't mind,

I'd like to stop by Mack's office after lunch.

-Oh, no, no problem. -Good.

-Oh, boy, does it look great. -[Valene chuckles]

You know, ever since Ben's been away,

I've been putting up this big front,

trying to act happy for the kid's sake,

and because I knew Mama was worried about me.

But you know, all of a sudden,

I actually started to-- to feel better.

I mean, I really do feel better.

-Good, I'm glad. -Yeah.

The only trouble is, is feeling better

is ending up costing me a fortune.

[Karen chuckles]

Well, you deserve to do something for yourself.

-We all do. -Yeah.

You know, I love Ben, and I...

I miss him terribly, but...

I looked in the mirror the other day,

and I realized

I can make it on my own.

I'm not saying that I want to, but I just-- I know that I can.

-I'll drink to that. -Good.

[glass clinking]

[sighs]

The way people are acting,

you'd think that Peter stabbed himself,

walked to the park, and jumped in the cement.

[Gary sighs]

You know, you don't have to go through this thing alone.

-Oh, don't I? -No.

I'll bet you could stand a little fun right now.

How do I do that?

Well, you concentrate...

you smile, think about things you like.

I'm thinking about something I like right now.

[chuckles]

Gary.

What do you say we go back to your hotel room,

get your stuff,

hang around the hotel room while I get your money's worth?

What about all the things I said?

Ah, I think some of them were true,

I just never really thought about them.

-Some of them? -I am conceding a lot here.

Are you willing to admit you overreacted

because of your brother's death?

Maybe, but I think that--

Now, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Are we making up here?

Or are we starting this fight all over again?

Making up.

Truth?

Truth.

-Let's get out of here. -Got it.

Oh, any word?

Meg's not back yet.

-Oh, well. -Hi.

-Hi. -Oh, hi. Hi.

[chuckles] Your hair.

Yeah.

Does that mean that you like it or you don't?

-It means-- -No, I like it, I like it.

-Me too. -Thanks.

So, how are Ben and the kids?

Ben's not back yet, but the kids are fine.

Gee, he's been gone a long time. What kind of assignments he got?

Well, he's just interviewing a colonel

or a general or something, I don't know.

-Karen, I've got to use the phone to call-- -Yes.

-I can use Mack's? -Yeah.

I-- I've got to get back to Lotus Point and--

Well, I'll see you later. Bye-bye.

Uh, excuse me.

-[Karen] Peggy? -Mm-hmm?

Tell Mack to call me when he gets back.

Sure.

-You okay? -Of course I'm okay.

Um, I've been meaning to call you.

I was thinking, since, uh-- since Ben's been out of town,

maybe I could come by and see the kids.

Why?

Well, I don't know.

I thought they might need a little roughhousing

every now and then.

Well, they don't.

They don't need anything from anyone but me right now.

Okay.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.

I'm not upset.

When's Ben coming back?

-We don't know. We're not sure. -Is he okay?

Of course he's okay.

-Bet the kids miss him, huh? -Gary, stop.

The kids are fine.

Don't worry.

I'm perfectly able to take care of your kids.

[suspenseful music playing]

[door shuts closed]

[suspenseful music playing]

I thought they were going to lock you up

and throw the key away.

Come on, you know no jury would ever convict me.

They would if I paid them.

Well, it's a good thing you didn't have to.

You're going to need that money to pay me.

Pay you? What for?

My share of Peter's estate.

I think you're losing it up here, Blondie.

You can't blackmail a dead man.

[laughs] Look, I could go after what Peter owed me,

and you could try to stop me,

and we'd see each other in court,

and then the whole world would know

that Peter wasn't your brother.

If people found out that you were taken by a con man,

you'd look small and foolish.

So why don't you just think of it

as a public relations expense?

And my attorney will contact your attorney.

Oh, hi, Laura. I can't stay.

I'd love to, but thanks anyway.

[engine revving]

Ta-ta.

You worry about your sons being in a motorcycle accident

or being kidnapped or something like that,

how would you like it if one of those boys

brought home a woman like that?

[laughs] Give me a break.

Unbelievable.

Come on, put your pants on. Let's play.

[somber music playing]

They're not going to prosecute.

Oh, that's great.

I didn't think they would.

I mean, it wasn't axed enough, you know.

It's not over yet.

What do you mean?

You're acting like this is a parking ticket.

I want you to go to each and every one of these people that you hurt,

and I want you to apologies.

-Okay. -It's not just okay.

You think none of this matters?

You think you're so far above everyone else

that you don't have to play by the rules?

I didn't do it on purpose.

The hell's wrong with you? What's gotten into you?

Look what you've done to these people.

Sumner had to look for his brother for months.

Abby was accused of k*lling the man.

Abby was the one who buried the man.

I didn't have anything to do with that,

and I don't see why I should have to apologize to her.

I don't want you to just apologize.

I want you to feel sorry.

[somber music playing]

[sighs]

That's the first time she ever said they were my kids.

[instrumental music playing]

[sighs]

[instrumental music playing]

[dog barking]

[horse neighing]

[sighs]

[instrumental music playing]

-I didn't mean to interrupt you. -You're not.

-I came to apologize. -What did Mack do?

Did he drag you over here so he could say that?

I know what I did was wrong, and I'm sorry.

Hey, come back here.

I've heard enough lectures.

You know, you're working a little too hard

to show us how tough you are.

The fear comes out when you walk,

especially when you walk away.

You saw a man die, and it didn't affect you, did it?

Like hell it didn't.

Pretending you don't care is what little kids do.

You're lucky Mack's your old man.

If I were your father,

I'd hang a little snot like you out to dry in the wind.

I accept your apologies.

Dad, I'm sorry.

[sobbing] Sorry.

[somber music playing]

[Paige sobbing]

Well, the Kelly family reunion just canceled.

Oh, well, you gotta hand it to them.

They held out longer than any other group before canceling.

I'm sorry.

Don't worry, business will pick up.

Hmm, can't go down any further.

You don't really need me around here right now, do you?

Why? You want to take some time off?

Permanently.

I have to resign.

You can't resign.

I signed all my shares over to you.

Laura.

I talked to the lawyer this morning.

[sighs] Laura, look.

Look, if you-- if you want to spend more time with Meg,

you know, well, you just do it.

As a matter of fact, if you wanna bring her to work, well, it's fine...

You just-- well, you can't quit.

Well, you're trying to make it easy for me to stay,

only makes it harder for me to quit.

That's the idea.

Well, I have to quit.

Laura.

-Hi. -[Laura] Hi, Mack.

-[Mack sighs] -How's-- how's it going?

Well, it's rough, you know, but she'll be all right.

Saying you're sorry can be very--

It sure can.

Your severance pay is in the business office.

I've been thinking about Peter's death,

and I'm so sorry that you ever got off the hook.

[scoffs] For your crime.

-It was all your fault. -My fault?

If you hadn't made Peter break up with me,

none of this ever would have happened.

I didn't make Peter do anything.

He couldn't have cared less about you.

[scoffs] Yeah, well, you were afraid of losing him to a younger woman.

You couldn't stand the competition.

What I can't stand

is that you put my daughter and me

through a lot of trouble over this.

And sooner or later, I'm gonna make you pay for it.

Oh, well, thanks for the warning.

I'll have someone taste my food.

Just don't sleep too soundly.

[dramatic music playing]

[Greg] Bye.

Is there something going on between you and Richard that I should know about?

No.

[Greg sighs]

God knows I'm a patient man.

I hate guessing games.

But my affection for you is being sorely tested...

with your recent inability to communicate.

Is that clear?

Well, you know how it is sometimes

when you try to imagine

what you would do or how you would act

if you found out you only had a short time to live?

You know, how it would change your perspective on things?

Like if you were up against some really lousy driver on the freeway

or someone shortchanged you in a store...

and you got real upset.

And then you realize, you know, God, life is just too short.

It's not worth getting all upset about stuff like that.

Lousy drivers don't make me reflective.

Well, I've been altering my perspective

about a lot of things lately, and that includes Richard.

I just think the boys should spend more time

with their father, get to know him better.

Okay, well, uh,

you know how I love pizza, and I avoid it

because I don't want to gain weight and get fat.

Well, what if it really didn't matter anymore?

What if I really didn't have enough time left to get fat?

[chuckles] Then I could eat...

all the pepperoni pizza with double cheese that I want.

I was thinking of maybe ordering a pizza tonight.

What do you think?

[somber music playing]

[narrator] Next on Knots Landing.

Greg, I am going to die.

I wanna give you some more time.

Well, it's too late. Don't get upset.

I mean, if you get upset, I'm going to get upset.

Please, I really need your help.

How are the twins?

They're fine.

Got a birthday coming up.

And look after daddy.

Because he really needs you now.

I want to be alone. It's my choice.

Will you quit saying that? Your choice, your choice.

What the hell am I, nothing?

[theme music playing]