04x06 - Borland Ambition

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Home Improvement". Aired: September 17, 1991 - May 25, 1999.*
Watch/Buy Amazon


Tim the "toolman" and his wife Jill raise 3 children with the wise neighbor Wilson.
Post Reply

04x06 - Borland Ambition

Post by bunniefuu »

(# ''The Victors'"))

Did l get any beer on you?
Sorry, lady. Hey!

lt's autumn. The leaves are changing.
The weather's changing. Brr.

The only thing that's not changing
is Al's personality.

My fan mail, which incidentally
exceeds yours by ten to one,

indicates that people like me
just about the way l am.

(cheering)

Ten to one, Al, huh?
Ten to one.

Your mom must be getting
writer's cramp.

OK, it's autumn.
What else is it time for, Al?

lt's time for Halloween, when you try
to scare me with one of your childish tricks

l don't have time for that. Today,
we're talking about backyard refuse.

So l don't have to worry about
some bloody body part popping out at me?

Not unless it's yours.

Thank you, Tim. Well, mulching is
the quickest and most effective way

to deal with those piles of leaves and twigs
that clutter up your yard.

Not to mention you get to crank up
a noisy machine and grind up stuff.

Depending on your mulcher,

you can throw in just about anything
your yard will grow.

(starts engine)

Leaves.

Twigs.

Or how about Al's paycheck?

Then you get to the bigger stuff.
Patio furniture, canoes, old doors.

Your entire deck can go in here.

That's exactly what you don't want to put
in your mulcher. lt could clog it up.

That's right.
That's why we have this other mulcher

to show you what happens
when you get a clogged-up beater bar.

Now, when you clear out
the beater bar,

you wanna make sure
the whole unit's shut off because...

(both) Safety first.

That's right. Now,
you can just clear away the refuse here,

get down into the beater bar...

Happy Halloween, Al.

- Hey, guys.
- Hey, Al.

- Hey, Harry. How are you feeling?
- Good as new.

My doctor said the best thing to do
is surround yourself with loved ones.

So you left your wife at home
and came down to the hardware store.

- (laughs) You got it.
- Hey, Benny.


You are always here.
l thought you had a new job.

- l decided to leave that position.
- He was fired.

Which made it easy for me to leave.

l got your note.
What's the problem?

Oh, the opportunity of a lifetime.

How would you like to be part owner
of Harry's Hardware?

(grunts)

- Me? Really?
- Yeah.

lt's a dream come true.
Have l d*ed and gone to heaven?

so for $ ,
you could be my silent partner.

Hey. How come you didn't ask me?

What?

How come you didn't ask me?

Benny, you gotta have some money.

Oh, yeah. Money.

What about me?
l have money.

But you gotta be willing
to withdraw it from your mattress, Al.

- lt's not in my mattress.
- Oh, cut it out.

Wait. You're saying you're interested, Al?

Well, yeah.

l mean, $ , ,
that's... that's a lot of money,

but on the other hand,

it's always been a dream of mine
to own a hardware store.

lt's been a dream of yours to walk around
your mom without taking a rest stop.

(Benny and Harry laughing)

l'm just kidding, Al.

Boo!

Did you guys
do something different to your hair?

See? l told you you weren't ugly enough
to scare anybody.

You're totally ugly.
l'm just used to you.

Mom, you think l have a chance
at winning the costume contest?

l don't have enough brains
oozing out of my head.

l didn't know
you had any brains in your head.

What if l made you look
like you're really dead?

Boys, boys, just relax. l think
Mark's gonna win the contest anyway.

Mark? (scos) No way.

Well?

Well, if he's Al,
l guess that makes you Al's mom?

l don't think so, Brad.

- Y'ello! Happy Halloween. Boo.
- (Jill) Hi.


Boy, Al.
You gotta stay outta the dryer.

- Looking good, guys. Looking good.
- Guys, go wash up.

Brad, don't forget to wash
behind your brains.

Well, l got the goodies for the kids
and l got a little something special for you

What?

(gasps) Chocolate-covered
marshmallow pumpkins?


Where did you find them?

Little candy store in Windsor.

You drove to Canada
to get me these?

Aw, shucks. l'd drive to Europe
if it would put a little smile on your face.

What do you want?

lt's like this. You know how me buying that
put a little smile on your face?

There's something l'd like to buy
that would put a smile on my face.

- What would that be?
- A hardware store.

Take the candy back to Canada.

And while you're in Canada
you can file for citizenship.

This is a surefire investment.

You said that when you invested
all our money in the hot rod.

Wait a minute. That hot rod
has gained value every single day.

Great. Then sell the hot rod
and buy a hardware store.

- l am not selling the hot rod. (grunts)
- (doorbell rings)


- After this is over, we're talking about th
- No way!

- Al and llene, hi!
- l hope we're not intruding.

We were on our way to the Sunday
early bird special at Corky's Coffee Shop.

We've done it every Sunday since we met.
We get the same table, Al gets meat loaf,

l get the chicken cutlet
and halfway through the meal we switch.

God, and they say romance is dead.

- You guys want a drink?
- We get unlimited coffee with the special.

- What's up?
- l stopped by to find out,

are you going to invest
in Harry's Hardware?

- lt's a possibility.
- Out of the question.

- We're discussing it.
- Over my dead body.

She's on the fence.

Because if you don't invest, l will.

The last time you parted with money you
jumped in the wishing well to get it back.

l'll have you know that l once owned and
operated a successful business venture.

Did you really?
l had no idea.

- Neither did l.
- Little Al's Lemonade Stand.

My slogan was:

''When it comes to lemons,
l'm your main squeeze.''

Al.

Even as a little boy
you were so clever.

Well, we're just clevered out with you, Al,
we really are, but...

Jill and l still need a little time to talk
about putting money into this hardware.

Time's up.

Congratulations, Al.
You got yourself a hardware store.

- Hey, Al.
- Good morning, Benny.

- Harry. Oh, hi, Tim.
- Hello, Al.

Oh, there he is.
How's my new silent partner?

Well, Harry, l'm filled with a renewed sense
of who Al Borland is

and who he has the potential
to blossom into.

Sorry l asked.

So, the old lemonade tycoon. What are you
doing? Checking up on your investment?

Nah. No, no, no. Harry doesn't need me
to help him run this place.

Just, uh, pretend like l'm not here.

Comes naturally to me, Al.

What's that?

l thought l'd keep the freeloaders from
coming in here and drinking all our coffee.

Good idea.

Benny, l believe the freeloaders
he's talking about is you.

Get outta here.

l'm just saying that to be fair, everybody
should pay cents for their coffee.

Al,

lighten up.

Hey, l'm no freeloader.

l'll buy my own coffee.

- Harry, can l bum cents?
- Sure thing.

- Here you go, Benny.
- Here you go, Al.

- Here you go, Harry.
- Thanks, Al.

Well, financial moves like that,
you'll be bankrupt in a week.

But you could throw yourself
a benefit concert - ''Lemon Aid.''

Yes. lf you're just getting leaves out of yo
gutters, all you need is these extensions.

l recommend these T - series.

l'll take two of them.
What's it gonna cost?

Oh, for you?
You're my best customer. l'll tell you what.

Give me a couple of tickets to Tool Time
and l'll give 'em to you at cost.


l'll give you two on the aisle.

Uh, Harry, can, um...

- Can we have a little business meeting?
- Sure. Step into my office.

OK, what is it?

Well, l'm just thinking that, um, if we sell
everything at cost, we won't make a profit.

Well, l'm just saying that if we give Tim
a discount, where does it stop?

Your relatives?
My relatives?

Benny?

You don't have to worry about me.
l never buy anything.

Al, um... Excuse me, Al, but...

l spend more here in a month
than most people do in a year.

- Well, Tim, business is business.
- Maybe l'll take my business elsewhere.

Al, you trying to give me another
heart att*ck? Let's give him the discount.

Harry, l didn't make a k*lling at Little Al'
Lemonade Stand by slashing my prices.

and Tim gets a discount.

Thank you, Big Harry.
Sorry, Little Al.

- Does everybody know what time it is?
- Tool Time !


That's right. Here is the star of the show,
Tim ''The Tool Man'' Taylor! Whoo-hoo!

(cheering)

Thank you, everybody.
Thank you, Heidi.

And welcome to Tool Time
l am Tim ''The Tool Man'' Taylor,


and you all know my assistant
Al ''The Living Lemon'' Borland.

Today, we're gonna show you
how to hang a picture on a hollow wall.

''Hollo,'' wall.

You're such a stud. (fake laugh)

Let's say we're Al scampering around our
apartment putting up our favorite picture.

There we go.
Now, when this hap...

The reason that this happened
is because the hollow wall

is not strong enough
to support the weight.

For that you need a wall anchor.
There are many types of wall anchors.

Right. You got your hollow wall anchor,
plastic anchor, sleeve anchor,

and if you're in that easy-listening mood
l'd go with Paul Anka.

Your choice depends on
the weight of your picture.

Available at any local hardware store.

That's right.
l like to buy mine at Harry's Hardware.

Third, near Main and Royal Oak.
Tell them that Al sent you.

We'll be back with more of Al's commercial
after a few words from our show


All right. Now, for this particular anchor
what you wanna do is first drill a hole,

then you want to set your anchor
with your hammer.

All right. Quickly use a screw.
Screw it in like that.

- (driver whines)
- Oh, oh, oh, oh!


Then we're ready to hang
a magnificent piece of art.

Ahh.

lsn't it beautiful?
Mona Borland


Now, you've all heard of Monet. This is
what we call a ''Don't waste your Monet.''

- lt's funny.
- Well, if you wanna save some Monet,

shop at Harry's Hardware.

Our prices are unbeatable
and for our Spanish-speaking customers

se habla espaol

Alberto?

Uno momento

l wanna say that at Harry's Hardware,
Tim ''The Tool Man'' Taylor shops there.

- Tell 'em how you're wild about Harry's.
- Wild. lt's you l'm not that crazy about.

We'll be right back after a few messages
from Binford Tools, our real sponsor.

Are you outta your mind? You can't plug
Harry's Hardware on Tool Time


This isn't your own personal forum, Al.

What? You use this show
as your own personal forum all the time.

Are you telling me when l have
something important l can't use this show?

Bingo.

You know what you are?
You're a mean, selfish son of a g*n.

You're jealous because
l have something you don't.

What?
A beard and extra pounds?

You look just like your father
when l first told him l was pregnant.

Now, now, this is really scary now.
l like the big hair.


Quit picking at my face.

No member of my family's going out
of this house with a loose scab.

lt's the way
all the kids are wearing 'em.

Oh, well!

So, Mom, how do my brains look?

E! Very cerebral.

Mom, Dad, look what Al gave me
to add to my costume.

- He's got my kid advertising for Harry's.
- (car horn)


- That's our ride. Gotta go.
- Have a good time, guys.

And be careful out there.

Well, Tim, for the first time in years
you and l are alone together on Halloween.

All we gotta do is turn the lights down low,
get naked and scare each other to death.

Just tell me you don't have
''Harry's Hardware'' printed on your bra.

(doorbell rings)

After l get rid of these trick-or-treaters
you can find out.

(Tim grunts)

- llene.
- l'm sorry to barge in like this,

but l am really upset with Al.

So you wore that outfit
to get back at him?

This is my costume for the Halloween party
at the Putt-Putt Panorama.

Do you think it's too loud?

Oh, no, no, no.

What was the question?
l couldn't hear it over your outfit.

Al and l were supposed to go miniature
golfing, but at the last minute he canceled.

He's still at that stupid hardware store.

Don't worry. This is all new to Al now,
but he'll calm down in a couple of days.

l don't think so. He's canceled
our date for tomorrow so he can work,

the night after that,
and the night after that.

Tim, l think you should talk to him.

He won't listen to me either.
He called me a selfish SOG.

- What's an SOG?
- ''Son of a g*n.''

When Al gets mad,
he's a real potty mouth.

Please, Tim. Al's looking at the hardware
store the way he used to look at me.

Been there.

Still there.

Going there.

l think you'll be very happy
with the halogen.

What are you gonna be
using it for, Wilson?

Well, Al, a few of my friends
are celebrating the Mexican Halloween,

Da de los Muertos

- ''Day of the Dead''?
- Very good, Al.

At Harry's Hardware
se habla espaol


Well, in that case, cmo van las cosas
con su nuevo negocio?


Se habla espaol not so good-o.

l asked how are you enjoying
being a new businessman?

Oh, muy bien
And this is just the beginning.


Once l learn the ropes,
l will break free from Harry's

and open my own chain
of hardware stores.

ln fact, l stayed up all night thinking up
a name for it. What do you think of this?

Al's Hardware.

That's very evocative.

lf all goes according to plan
l'll double my money in five years.

That's an admirable goal, Al, but l remind
you that the humorist Kin Hubbard said:

''to safely double your money,
fold it over once and put it in your pocket.

Well, speaking of double,
it's double value days here at Harry's.

You buy another flashlight,
l'll throw in the batteries for free.

l don't think so, Al.

All right.
Well, then, that's $ . with tax.

There you go.

- Thank you. And there you go.
- All right. And good luck, Al.

Speaking of luck, next week is
lucky dollar day right here at Harry's.

Mm-hm.

Nice bag o' bones, buddy.

Why, thank you, neighbor Tim.

Wilson?

What are you doing here, Tim?

Well, Al, l'm trying
to save a relationship.

l'm moved that you want to apologize.
But l'm not gonna give you a discount.

- l'm talking about you and llene.
- Well, l can't give her a discount either.

Al...

She's sitting in our house. She's really
upset that you canceled this date.

Well, she's... She's just gonna have
to understand that l own a business now.

l have a whole new set
of responsibilities.

But Harry doesn't see the big picture.

l'm breaking in a whole new market -
the after-hours hardware crowd.

Al, l am the after-hours hardware crowd.

And that's why l'm working so hard.

This is the first time l've taken a chance
and l wanna succeed.

You break it, you bought it.

Up until now it's just been one big routine.
l get up in the morning at the same time.

l have the same thing for breakfast.
l go to the bathroom at the same time.

Don't knock that.

My father never took a risk in his life.

He worked at the same factory,
the same job, for years.

l know they offered him better jobs
but he was afraid to take them

because he didn't want to take the chance
of losing what he had.

Come on, Al. You're not like your dad.
You take risks every day.

- Oh, yeah? Like what?
- You work with me.

- Well, that's true.
- What l'm saying, Al, is that risk worked

and this one can too.

- You're gonna make Harry a great partner.
- You think so?

l just wish you wouldn't drive
everybody crazy.

l know my behavior's been
a bit overzealous.

Hey, why don't l close up early tonight?

That's a good idea.
You can meet llene.

She looks pretty terrific
in those little knickers she's wearing.

ln a few hours
the Putt-Putt will be shut-shut.

You're such a nut-nut.

Why don't l get my coat
and we'll lock up?

Hey, wait a minute. Go on.
You go on. l'll lock up for you.

You want me to leave you alone
in my hardware store?

Yes, l do.

l don't think so, Tim.

All right.

- Come on. Let me stay here, please.
- No. No, come on.

Let me just do it, just this...

- (Tim) Whoa! What's this?
- (metal crashes)


(Al) l don't know,
but you just bought it.


Hi, guys.

l can't believe Mark won the contest.
And we didn't even get anything.

l knew you'd win.

lf you ask me,
the whole thing was fixed.

Yeah, you should've seen the judges.
lt was an all-flannel panel.

Guys, l won fair and square.

l can't help it
if Al's mom was the head judge.

(sighs)

Well, kids home?

You'll be happy to know that
Al left the hardware store, he met llene,

- and they are now miniature golfing.
- You're a good friend.

Yep. She's got the red ball, he's got the
green ball and after nine holes they switch.

How about you?
Are you and Al OK?

Yep. We're all right.
He gave me the key to the hardware store.

He gave you the key
to the hardware store?

He just doesn't know it yet.

He gave me the key
to the hardware store.

He gave you the key
to the hardware store?

He just doesn't know it yet.

Hey, Tim.
How do you like my new location?

- lt's good. You got any doughnuts?
- Sure.

- What did you do with the garage?
- lt's still on Wednesday nights.

Ah.
Post Reply