09x23 - Her Letter

[bunniefuu]

I haven't known Val that long,

but I get the impression that she isn't very realistic.

What if Ben mailed that a month ago

and something happened to him in the last month?

How would you explain why you go to such trouble

for all these other women...

when I'm right here?

She's heading for another broken heart.

[Karen] Don't try to break them up.

Trust me, Olivia will get sick of him.

I want you to be my wife.

I will. I will.

[theme music]

[doorbell rings]

Oh, hi, Michael. Is Karen home?

Uh, she-- she's next door at the Williams'.

-Oh, okay, hon'. Thanks. -Okay.

[Michael chuckles]

[sighs]

-Oh, hi, Frank. -Hi, Val.

I'm sorry to bother you, but I was just--

Listen, I apologized about the g*n thing the other day.

It's unloaded and locked away. It won't happen again.

Oh, well, thank you for that,

but I-- I was just wondering, is Karen here?

-Yeah. -Could I, uh--

-Oh, I'm sorry. Come right in. -Okay, thanks.

We have the most fabulous bakery here.

-Yeah, they make low-cal bagels. -No.

-They do, with lox. -I've never heard of that.

-The best. -Oh, look who's here.

-Hi, there. -Val.

-Hi, come in. -Hi, babe.

-What? -No, it's-- it's--

-What? -Look-- look-- you--

Look what just came in the mail.

"Finally out of danger." From Ben.

"I miss you. I love you. Hug the kids for me. See you soon."

-Ben! All right! -Yeah!

Whoa! Wow! From Ciudad de Guatemala.

Guatemala City, Guatemala.

-Isn't it wonderful? -It's wonderful.

I mean, he told me all along

that he was working in Central America,

he was writing about that colonel

or-- or general or something.

He must have been in hiding all this time.

He probably was in danger when he wrote this.

-He would have written more. -How did he write this?

Oh, I-- I-- I don't know.

You can't really read the date on the postmark.

-There's no postdate on it. -No, you can't read it.

Oh, come here, you!

Isn't it great?

Oh! Oh, my--

-Oh, Frank. -Oh, I'm sorry.

Pat, would you...

I'm sorry. Would you forgive us?

Please don't apologize. Sure.

I'm just so out of my mind with happiness.

Oh, Pat, what happened to your arm?

Oh, nothing. Just a little accident.

-But I'm happy for you. -Oh, thank you.

-Thank you. -Come on.

-[Patricia] I'll see you soon. -Bye.

-[Valene] Yeah. -See you.

She is a happy lady, right there.

-A happy lady. -So, who is Ben?

That's her husband, he's a reporter

on assignment in Central America.

And we haven't heard from him for almost a year.

And we thought something happened to him, you know.

With the kids and all. She was nuts.

But we heard from him.

-Great news! -Yeah.

It's just so hard to believe.

-Finally. -I know.

You know, after all this time...

I've never said this out loud, but...

After all this time, I just thought...

I'd come to accept that he was dead.

I know.

-How soon do you think soon is? -What?

He says, "See you soon." "See you soon."

That's so-- I mean, it's gonna be impossible to wait.

Are you going to tell the kids?

No.

No, not yet. Not yet.

I don't want to tell them that he's coming home

until I know the exact date and time.

And on the other hand, I don't want to suddenly say,

let's go out to the airport and pick up daddy

without giving him time to prepare for it.

[Brian laughing]

Oh, I got you. I got you.

Oh, what have I got here? Oh, no!

Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh!

-See you. -Bye.

-Oh, oh. -Oh, thanks.

See you.

[Abby] Do you know what time it is?

I called. I left a message.

You know what the policy is about having dates on weekdays.

It was not a date.

He just drove me home from school.

From school? Where's your car?

In the garage. He also took me to school.

[groans] Olivia, sit down.

-Mother-- -Sit.

Honey... [sighs]

...I just don't think you're using good judgment here.

-First of all-- -Can I please--

First of all,

you never should have taken that bracelet from him.

It's much too expensive a gift. Besides, it's a family heirloom.

That makes it much too serious a gift.

And now he's-- he's picking you up from school,

having him take you to school without my knowing.

-You're coming home late. -This is not late.

It is late.

Besides, don't you have a trigonometry exam tomorrow?

Yes. But can I please say something?

Okay. Mom, Harold is different.

I never thought that I would ever meet anyone like him.

You know, after you got divorced,

and then I got on drugs,

I never thought that

I would not be depressed.

I was miserable all the time.

I was beginning to think that

I would be miserable for all my life.

I know with Harold...

I won't be.

I am never miserable when I'm with him.

[phone rings]

-Hello? -Hi, Jill. I-- it's Valene.

-Hi. -[Valene] Is Gary there?

No, he's out. He took the kids to a movie.

Is there anything you want me to tell him?

No, that's okay.

Uh, would you just ask him to call me when he gets in?

Sure.

Thanks. Bye-bye.

Well, I sure will, Valene.

It would please me to know and to tell Gary to call you.

To think about you.

To visit you.

Why, to spend his every waking moment

just worrying about your problems,

which we all know are the most important problems

the world has ever known.

[Karen] Isn't it wonderful about Ben?

I hope so.

What do you mean, you hope so?

You know that it takes a month, a month and a half

for a letter to arrive here from Guatemala by surface mail?

How do you know that?

I picked up the phone and called the post office.

Why? You think there's something wrong?

Uh, not necessarily.

What if Ben mailed that a month ago

and something happened to him in the last month?

-[sighs] Mack. -What if he--

what if he wrote that letter, let's say,

several months ago and it got mailed,

I don't know, somehow?

I mean, who knows how long ago he wrote that, right?

L-- let's-- let's just not--

I'm not going to say anything to her.

One letter in one year?

That wouldn't excite me. That would depress me.

If you ever do anything like that...

Now, where would I find a woman more beautiful

than my wife to run away with?

I like that, yes.

That's the right thing to say, honey.

[Patricia chuckles]

You know, I didn't have the heart to say it,

but I thought about it.

"Val, aren't there phones in Guatemala?"

Can't your husband pick up one and call collect?

I almost felt embarrassed for her, but she...

I don't know.

She seemed very unselfconscious about the whole thing.

I haven't known her that long,

but I get the impression that she isn't very...

realistic.

[Patricia] I think-- I don't know.

I think that Valene should get a job outside the house.

She should have more contact with other people.

Something.

So, people without paying jobs are unrealistic?

Now, wait a minute, honey. I didn't say that.

I didn't say that.

You do need a job, but you'll find a job.

I'm not comparing you to Valene.

-Uh-huh. -You're much more beautiful.

-I like that. -I thought so.

That's the right thing to say.

-Yes, it was. -I like that.

[laughs] You silly.

[knocking on door]

-[whispering] Hi. -[whispering] Hi.

-Do you want some help? -No, I got it.

Val wants you to call.

-[groans] Is it urgent? -She didn't say.

I'll call in the morning. Good night.

-Are you going to bed? -Yeah.

Um, I told them we'd camp out.

And if they wake up and I'm not there,

I don't want them to be afraid.

[knocking on door]

Aren't you supposed to be studying?

What for?

Uh, I thought you had a trigonometry exam tomorrow.

[sighs] No, I mean, what-- what for?

What's the point?

What's the point? A good grade. That's the point.

[scoffs] It really doesn't matter.

I'm never going to use trigonometry.

It doesn't matter?

[scoffs] Honey,

how do you expect to graduate if you fail?

I won't fail. It just doesn't matter.

Stop saying that. It does matter.

You can't get into a decent college these days

if you fail even one course.

I'm not going to college.

When did you decide that?

-I don't know. -Why did you decide that?

-Because it makes sense. -What makes sense?

Harold says a woman does not need to go to college.

Harold says?

He thinks a woman should stay home

and take care of the children.

I know it's old-fashioned, but I really like the idea.

[Abby sighs]

[phone rings]

$50 says that's Val.

-Hello? -Jill?

[Jill] I win.

-What? -I just won $50.

Oh. Uh, is Gary back yet?

I'm so sorry he's gone to bed.

Oh. And the kids, too, probably.

They've all gone to bed.

Hey, do you want me to wake them up?

No, that's all right. As long as he's--

as long as the kids are all right, I'll just, uh...

I'll call in the morning.

I'll bet you will.

-Night. -Bye.

[grunting]

[birds chirping]

Karen!

I'm going to go crazy waiting,

and the mail doesn't come for another 24 hours.

You have got to come shopping with me.

-Shopping? -Yeah.

I need distraction.

-Clean the house. -I did, all last night.

-Come shopping with me. -Clean the garage.

I did. Now, please, come shopping with me.

Sort, date and file your family photos.

Karen, come on. I've got to find something special to wear

for when Ben comes home.

Karen, are you not my best friend, and don't best friends

have certain obligations and responsibilities?

What am I supposed to do with my meeting?

Just one hour. Please.

-One hour. -I'll get my purse.

-What about the kids? -Hi.

They spent the night at Gary's,

and he dropped them off at nursery school.

-How's your arm? -Oh, better, thanks.

But you're not going to work?

Well, I'm not feeling well enough to go back to work yet.

-Where are you going? -Shopping.

-But only an hour! -[Valene] I know!

I know! One hour.

[chuckles] Would you like to join us?

-I thought you'd never ask. -Oh, I'm sorry.

What about your arm? Are you going to be all right?

Karen, I'm too sick to go to work.

I'm never too sick to go shopping.

[indistinct chatter]

These clothes cost more than my rent when I was in college.

-[laughs] -Here's the sales rack.

-Oh, 40% off. -My kind of sale.

Oh, but the tags aren't marked.

Now, I can figure a half or a third off, but 40%?

Mental block.

Well, just take 10% and multiply by four.

-I was only kidding, Pat. -Oh, okay. Sorry.

[both laugh]

-Karen? -Yeah?

Why is Valene's husband gone so long?

-Are they having problems? -Not with their marriage.

No, he was-- he was a very nice guy.

-Was? -Is.

He got involved with some people.

Who?

I'm not sure.

But he finally had to leave the country

because he thought that Val and the kids were in danger.

Did he go into hiding?

-Sort of. -So...

What do you think?

I don't know.

I know. I look too dumpy, don't I?

-Too fat. -Fat?

You don't look fat. I like it.

How about this?

Nah, that's not me.

It's...

Pat, this would look great on you.

-[Patricia] Uh... -Try it on.

No, Karen, I can't try it on.

If I try it on, I'm gonna buy it,

and I can't afford to buy it right now

because Frank's still out of work.

That's rough.

Yeah, well, we're hoping that

he's gonna find a job soon, and keep it.

[Patricia laughs]

Oh-- oh-- oh, look! [laughs]

Okay, okay. Look at this.

This is gonna be perfect for you.

-Yes. -I couldn't wear this.

-Why not? -Because I'm too old.

I mean...

for this.

Well, I can't imagine what's keeping Karen,

but at least this gives me a chance

to get to know you a little better.

-Yes. -Your, uh...

Your nephew, Harold, is quite a charmer.

My daughter Olivia is very taken with him.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe he gets all that charm from his, uh, Uncle Manny.

Oh, hello. I'm so sorry I'm late.

But, uh, something came up.

Oh, please. I hope it was nothing serious.

Oh, no, it-- it...

it wasn't serious.

Um...

I think I'm gonna just-- I'm just gonna sit over here.

It'll be a bit more comfortable.

Well, where are we?

We were, uh, we were just about to, uh,

hear the specifics of Manny's proposal.

-Mmm. -Good.

This proposal is good for both of us, Karen.

You get the revenue that you need...

in exchange for...

the exclusive use of 60%

of your current capacity.

And first refusal on any new slips that you build.

I'll guarantee you three years of rental

on the slips and three years of rentals

on four cabins and six hotel rooms.



Could I persuade you to discuss this over lunch, Karen?

-Oh, I-- -Could I see one of those, too?

Oh, of course.

I'm a little behind on my schedule today.

So I don't think I'd be able to have lunch with you.

I won't be able to either. Sorry.

Well, some other time, perhaps.

Yeah. I'll wait to hear from you ladies

on the, uh, figures.

Ladies?

-Bye. -Bye.

[doorbell rings]

[clears throat]

-Oh. Hi. -Oh, hello.

Uh, is Val here?

Oh, no, she isn't. Is she expecting you?

Uh, no, not really. Uh, the kids left their--

[gasps] Oh, my gosh.

She's going to be so excited to see you.

She went to the dry cleaners to pick up your clothes,

and she had to do a few errands,

and she'll be back about supper time.

-My clothes? -Yes, you're Ben, right?

Wrong. I'm Gary Ewing, her ex-husband.

Oh, oh, gosh.

I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry.

I-- um, I'm Patricia Williams.

I-- we're neighbors.

My daughter, Julie, is upstairs babysitting the twins.

They're all upstairs, as a matter of fact.

Yeah, well, they left their jackets at my house.

Why did you think I was Ben?

Uh, I just presumed. Sorry.

-Is she expecting him? -Well, yes.

I guess.

-When? -Um, I don't know.

She got a letter from him,

and apparently it was quite a surprise.

-A letter? -Yes.

Oh, excuse me. I'd better go check on the children.

Uh, do you mind if I wait for Val?

Uh, look, Gary, you and I have never met before,

so you'll understand when I tell you

that I really can't let you in.

Yeah, right. Uh, the MacKenzie's know me.

You think there's anybody at home?

Well, I don't know. Why don't you go see?

And maybe you could call Val a little later?

-[sighs] Sure. -Thanks.

Sorry. Nice to meet you.

Yeah, um...

Thanks. Bye.

Well...

should we sign?

Well...

I'd like to see if maybe you couldn't get

his dollar figures up just a little.

If I can?

-Karen, he's smitten. -Oh, what?

[laughs] Don't tell me you didn't notice.

Manny was flirting with you.

Oh, come on. He was not.

He was-- he was just...

[both] Flirting.

[Karen laughs]

Yeah, I-- I was really surprised.

So was I.

[sighs] But then his family is full of Don Juans.

I think I can handle it.

I know you can.

But Olivia has been dating his nephew,

and she is head over heels.

-Is he nice? -Well, he's too old for her.

She's too serious about him.

He has old-fashioned ideas

about the way women should behave,

but of course she thinks he hung the moon,

and she is just heading for another broken heart.

And if you forbid her to see him?

Oh, she'll just want to see him all the more.

Yeah, I remember what happened with Diana.

I do, too.

Well, don't make my mistake.

Don't try to break them up.

k*ll him with kindness. Invite him for family outings.

Invite him for dinner. Invite him for breakfast.

Stuff him with cinnamon rolls.

Welcome him to the bosom of your family,

and trust me, Olivia will get sick of him.

-Thank you for that advice. -You're welcome.

Could I give you some advice?

-About what? -About the...

skirt, is it?

Yes. Um, skirt, actually.

Don't be a sl*ve to fashion.

More cheesecake, Harold?

Oh, no, thank you, ma'am. I couldn't eat another bite.

Are you sure?

It's the best cheesecake I've ever tasted, Mrs. Ewing,

but I have to limit myself to three slices.

[all chuckle]

Oh, and you know, I really got to be going, too.

Oh, so soon.

-I've got some work to do. -[Abby] Mmm.

But I want to thank you very much for dinner.

Well, thank you for coming.

I hope you'll always feel welcome here.

You make me feel very welcome, Mrs. Ewing.

Well, good, it's our pleasure.

-Good night. -Good night.

See you, kid.

I kind of like him, mom, don't you?

I mean, compared to some of the other dorks in her class,

he's really neat.

He told me he's got every single Spider-Man comic book

since the very beginning.

-Really? -You know what that's worth?

-No. -Oh, mama.

I am so glad you like Harold as much as I do.

Isn't he the sweetest? Oh, he's the best.

Don't you just love him?

Oh, well, he's really--

Oh, I know, I know.

[chuckles] I know.

[knocking on door]

-Hi. -[Gary] Hi.

-You heard, right? -Yeah, I heard.

-Your neighbor, uh-- -Pat.

Pat told me.

-I think it's wonderful. -Oh. [laughs]

So do I.

[chuckles]

You think there'd be any problem with my seeing the kids?

-I mean, if Ben comes back? -[Jill] If?

Well, the letter doesn't exactly say when.

-It's an odd letter. -Oh, what's odd about it?

It doesn't say anything.

There's no way of knowing how long ago he wrote it,

if he's still safe, even if he's alive.

-That's morbid. -It's not morbid.

Till the letter came,

we all thought we'd never hear from him again.

Wishful thinking?

Sorry. It's just sometimes I think

you don't remember that Val's still married.

-To an invisible man. -Ah, according to the letter...

he could materialize at any time.

And what will the invisible man think if he comes back

and finds you spending so much time with his wife?

Spending so much time with his kids.

-His kids. -That's what I meant.

He should be grateful.

They needed an uncle, I became an uncle.

I'm not going to be defensive about that.

Good.

Well, I hope that Ben sees it that way.

Hmm.

Funniest thing happened today. Well, not the funniest.

It's just that it hasn't happened in a while.

You know the guy we're doing business with?

Mack. You remember I told you about Manny Vasquez?

-No. -Yes-- yes, you do.

The Latin American with the vacation cruises?

He wants to rent most of the Marina a three-year lease?

-Nope. -Yes, you do.

Okay, I remember.

Well...

He was...

flirting with me today.

[laughs]

I said he was flirting with me.

-How did he flirt? -He invited me to lunch.

Oh, that's heavy-duty flirting.

I mean, first lunch, then diamonds.

I mean, what's next?

I guess I'll challenge him to a duel.

No, I'll just sh**t him.

You don't think anyone could be attracted to me

because you're not attracted to me anymore?

What?

Anymore, the way you used to be.

Oh, yeah, right, like I married an unattractive woman.

Boy, are you ugly.

It wasn't just that he invited me to lunch.

It was his attitude.

[Mack] Oh.

His attitude toward you, or was it that

come-hither that little dress you had on?

Skirt, not dress,

which shows you exactly how much attention you pay to things,

and it has nothing to do with it

because he didn't even look at my legs.

Yeah, I mean, guys like him feel it's an obligation to flirt.

It's a cultural thing with them, you know what I mean?

Cultural?

-You don't even know the man. -I know his type.

I don't think it's meant to be taken seriously.

You know, he probably wanted a five-year lease

instead of three. [laughs]

Now, this is what you should take seriously.

I don't.

Good night, Mack.

I want to make certain that you understand

the conditions of your plea bargain.

The DA has agreed to no jail term

in exchange for your guilty plea.

Now, the sentence will include five years probation,

a $10,000 fine,



and 100 hours as consultant

to the DA's Fraud and Forgery Division.

Don't you think they should pay a person

of my experience and background to be a consultant?

The district attorney feels that you shouldn't profit any more

than you already have from your 42 felony counts of forgery.

Yes, my client understands

and accepts the terms of the deal.

Well, what choice does a poor old woman like me have?

-Peggy. -Hmm?

I'm going to surprise my wife and take her to lunch.

Mm-hmm. That sweater has a hole in the armpit.

Yeah. Yeah, I wasn't gonna wear the sweater.

Good.

[woman] Well, Howard, I'm glad we could work that out.

[Howard] So am I.

-Mack. -Get out of here, Howard.

Did you see her wink at me, huh?

She was flirting with me, right?

Well, maybe it was that tie...

or those great socks.

-Nobody sees the socks. -I did.

[Jill] So I guess you're looking forward to Ben coming back.

Looking forward, but not holding my breath.

Well, Gary said that Ben said he was coming right back.

"See you soon," is what he wrote.

Hmm. How's Val taking it?

[Mack] Well, she lives for the mail deliveries.

[Jill] That's understandable.

[Mack] Yeah, it's understandable,

but here she was just getting used to living without Ben.

If anything's happened to him since he wrote that letter,

it'd be better off if the letter had never come.

Why, thank you, Sandy.

-Boo. Hi. -Boo. Hi.

-How are you? -Oh, great. How are you?

Good. Good to see you.

-Karen's still in a meeting? -Still in a meeting.

-I'll tell her you're here. -No, no, no.

I'm going to surprise her.

-Oh, have fun. -Okay.

-Manny Vasquez. -Manny Vasquez.

Message, sir.

Thank you.

Hi, Peg. Mack. Yeah.

Oh, Manny. I'm so sorry I'm late.

-Did you get my message? -Just now.

-Oh, good. -The wait was worth it.

-You look lovely. -[Karen] Thank you.

[Manny] I have reservations at Clairvaux's.

Oh. Well, that's, uh, a little extravagant.

For other women, maybe.

[Johnny] Come away to paradise with me.

Okay, okay.

Mexico isn't exactly paradise, but it's my treat.

-No, thank you. -Ah, come on.

You know you'll have a great time.

Don't you want to get away from all this?

I'd love to, but I can't.

Maybe another time.

Saving yourself for your boss, are you?

[Paige groans]

Well, let me tell you something.

He's not saving himself for you.

And if you don't believe me, why don't you just ask him?

Say, "Hey, Greggy boy,

I'd do anything to jump in the sack with you."

Come on, you little bugger, it's bath time.

Let me take her out and get it started before I go.

-Oh, you're late already. -Oh, no.

Both the kids have after-school projects.

Wait a minute, Barbara.

Look, I can't wear this kind of thing anymore.

You know, I was just thinking that maybe you'd like it.

Oh, no, thank you.

Nobody can wear that kind of thing gracefully.

Oh, goodness, it's so expensive. What about you, huh?

-Meg. -Meg, huh?

Hey. Hi. Well, look at you.

-That looks great on you. -You look terrific.

-Hi, Barbara. -She likes how it feels. Hi.

-It's bath time. -Oh, okay.

I'm gonna take her up to the tub.

-Bye-bye. -Bye-bye.

So, what's for dinner?

Michael's out, and, uh, I'm not hungry.

I'll fix you something.

Big lunch?

Rich lunch at Clairvaux's.

Ooh, romantic.

-Caloric. -Expensive.

-Free. -Manny?

Mr. Vasquez. Are you hungry?

Yeah, I'll handle that.

So, you like that kind of guy, huh?

-What kind of guy? -Mr. Vasquez.

I thought you hadn't met him.

Yeah, actually, I was right about his type.

Well, what kind of type is that?

Ladies' man.

-That's not my type. -What is your type?

Oh, come on. You know what my type is.

It's just nice to be reassured, you know?

My type...

is-- Wait.

Have you ever seen that photograph of Sean Connery

in a bathing suit when he was a contestant for Mr. Universe?

I think he was about...



That's my type.

"You ain't my type."

What did your girlfriend think of the, uh,

painting you gave her?

-The one you bought? -Uh-huh.

She thought it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen.

But her daughter loved it. She's got it hanging in her bedroom.

Well, there's no accounting for taste.

Right.

I suppose that's as true of companions as it is of art.

Right again.

Otherwise...

how would you explain why...

you go to such trouble for all these other women...

when I'm right here?

-When you're what? -I'm right here.

-Are you joking? -What do you think?

I think you're very young.

I think you gotta be joking.

I know you're Mack's daughter.

[Paige scoffs]

All right, I was joking.

But I wouldn't mind going to see a concert every now and then.

Well, I'll see if I can get you some tickets.

[phone ringing]

-Yeah. Johnny Rourke. -When do we leave?

[Johnny laughs]

I don't know why I should feel so awkward

about Ben coming back.

Do you have any reason to feel awkward?

No. All I ever did was trying to help.

Kids needed an uncle while their father was away,

so I became an uncle. Now he's coming back.

I just wish he'd be back here soon

because the waiting is making Val crazy.

Crazier.

[phone rings]

Five bucks says that's crazy old Val now.

-Hello? -[Abby] Gary.

Abby.

I need to talk to you, do you...

I will leave you alone with one of your many ex-wives.

[Abby continues indistinctly over phone]

I'm worried about Olivia.

She thinks she's in love.

I know I'm in love.

I have never felt this way before about any other guy.

[sighs] Well,

he's not too bad.

He's just too old for her,

and I just don't see what they have in common.

[Abby over phone] His manners are kind of old-fashioned.

But so are his opinions about

what women should and shouldn't do.

That sits well with his date's mother.

It doesn't matter what I think.

I-- I just really don't want Olivia to be hurt.

That's part of growing up.

What do you think I should do?

Nothing. Wait for her to get over him.

We can't.

-What? Why? -It's not right.

-But I love you. -I know.

I love you, too.

But I want... I want to make it beautiful.

I want to make this right.

Harold.

Yeah.

I want you to be my wife. That'll make it right.

What?

I want to wait till after we're married.

-You want me to marry you? -Yeah.

I will. I will.

I love you.

I love you.

Over my dead body you'll marry him.

-Mom! -Not that boy.

Not now. Not until you are 21.

-[sobs] Mom! -No!

[door slams shut]

[Olivia sobbing]

Please don't cry, Olivia.

But she said no.

She said you're not even allowed

to drive me home from school anymore.

She doesn't even want me to talk to you on the phone.

It'll be okay.

Please don't cry. I hate it when you cry.

Did you know he intended to propose?

No, but if it makes you feel reassured,

he's a very responsible young man.

It doesn't make me feel reassured.

I take it you don't favor the engagement?

[scoffs]

If you want your contract signed,

you keep your nephew away from my daughter.

Do you understand?

I'll take care of it.

-Hi, Val. -Hey.

Any news about the job?

Maybe tomorrow. Any news from Ben?

[laughs] Yeah, maybe tomorrow.

-See ya. -Yeah.

[Jill thinking] "Dear Val, I wanted to write.

"I wanted to call.

"I wanted to call you, but...

"every phone that I've been near

"has either been broken

or..."

"And please be patient,

"but don't lose faith.

"Love...

Ben."

This one is longer than the other.

Well, you did such a great job on the other one

that the operation's been considered a success.

And you're going to tell the judge I cooperated?

Yes. I'll tell the judge that you cooperated.

[indistinct chatter on PA]

-I'll take these. -[Johnny muttering]

Now, what's your friend like?

Well, he's more of a business associate than a friend.

-Oh? -Hey, see for yourself.

You didn't tell me that we were traveling

with the entire high school pep squad.

I didn't know.

Hi, Olivia. Uh, this is Paige Matheson.

-We've met. -We've met.

Okay. Paige, this is Harold.

-[Paige] Hi. -Hi. Pleasure to meet you.

Well, it looks like we both had the same idea.

What idea?

To make a vacation out of this business trip.

[Harold laughs]

It's not a vacation for us. We're getting married.

-You what? -We're eloping.

Oh.

Great. Congratulations.

Thank you, my laddie boy.

We better get going. Don't want to miss that plane.

[narrator] Next, on Knots Landing.

I told him to stop seeing her.

You did a swell job of telling him.

They've eloped.

Do you think I have a problem?

[Gary] I don't know. You tell me.

You're the one who's been

sitting around here all day drinking alone.

I don't want to drink alone, Gary.

I'm not going to tell my uncle you found me, are you?

A wedding ring is not going to be very comfortable

if your uncle has all your fingers broke.

We're getting married.

I promise you, next time, it'll be strictly business.

[theme music]