05x04 - My Back Pages

[bunniefuu]

♪ I bet we've been together ♪

♪ For a million years ♪

♪ And I bet we'll be together ♪

♪ For a million more ♪

♪ Oh, it's like I
started breathing ♪

♪ On the night we kissed ♪

♪ And I can't remember ♪

♪ What I ever did before ♪

♪ What would we do, baby ♪

♪ Without us? ♪

♪ What would we do, baby ♪

♪ Without us? ♪

♪ And there ain't no nothing ♪

♪ We can't love
each other through ♪

♪ What would we do, baby ♪

♪ Without us ♪

♪ Sha la la la ♪

Is this a permanent addition?

Because if it is,
I'm getting out

My "bombs are people,
too" throw pillows.

The banner is a
surprise for matt.

We had this hanging in
our dorm room at berkeley.

It's a little
outdated, isn't it?

Well, maybe the slogans
are different now,

But not the concept is the same.

No, I meant the concept.

Alex, don't you ever
worry about the fact

That there are enough
bombs in the world

To destroy every living creature

And wipe out life as we know it?

Hey!

I got bigger things on my mind.

Can I use the business
section here, mom? Thanks.

Maybe we can just tell matt
he's one of the neighbor children.

It's just so
predictable, that's all.

Every time one
of these ex-hippies

Comes prancing
in from yesteryear,

We got to get out
the love beads...

Put on the ponchos...

Pretend we care about people.

I'm just a little too
old for that stuff.

Alex, matt's an
old friend of mine,

He's only going to be
here a week. Be nice.

You've got the whole rest of
the year to not care about people.

You'll probably like matt.

He's a prize-winning journalist,

He's a world traveler.

He's even written
books on economics.

No kidding? Which ones?

capitalism... Don't
make me laugh...

And capitalism... Don't
make me laugh, part two.

How long is that
going to be there?

As long as it takes to
raise the consciousness

Of some of the
people in this house.

Yeah, mom.

Is he going to be like this the
whole time his friend's here?

Probably, so if you
have to talk to him,

Try not to say
anything too important.

I can handle that.

I know you can.

I'm gonna take andy to the park.

Hey, hey, hey, don't
get him back too late.

His favorite show's on tonight.

What's his favorite show?

wall street week.

What? I didn't
put him up to that.

He came up with that on his own.

Alex, the only show he's
allowed to watch on television

Is sesame street.

You're right, you're right.

Andy, you go ahead and
play with the other kids.

All right, good-bye, darling.

I'll tape it for you.

[Doorbell rings] steven: oh!

Hey! Steven, my man!

Oh, it's great to see you!

How you doing?!

It's been too long.

You remember this lady?

Of course. Elyse,
you look great.

Welcome, matt!

Welcome to our house, matt.

I don't think you
know alex and mallory.

Good to meet you.

Hi. Oh.

Hi.

So, you notice anything
familiar in the house?

Ban the b*mb!

Wow! Our old banner!

Maybe matt would
like to hang that

In his hotel room.

Oh, no, thanks. I
already have one up.

You have the travel-size banner?

You know, it's funny

That you have this
up tonight, steve,

Because I brought a little
blast from the past, too.

The scavenger!

I can't believe it!

"A magazine for the
discriminating revolutionary."

I don't suppose there are
any good diets in there.

It's a political
magazine, honey.

In fact, matt and your
dad were the editors

When they were in college.

It was an awfully good magazine.

It's a shame it folded.

Oh, it's great to see this.

Alex destroyed all of
our copies when he was .

He found them
politically offensive.

Hey, you have no
proof that was me.

You left your rattle
on the bookcase.

It could have been
some other baby's rattle.

It was your nixon rattle.

I don't think I've ever
eaten a finer meal.

Steven cooked dinner tonight.

We're all going to die.

Don't worry, matt,

I've learned to cook
since we lived together.

Well, I sincerely hope so,

Because the last
time I ate your cooking,

I was moved to
go on a -day fast.

I thought you were fasting
to protest the vietnam w*r.

I didn't want to
hurt your feelings.

Just for the record,

Was there anything you
guys didn't protest in college?

Hmmm...

I thought the peace
corps was nice a nice idea.

The peace corps was good.

That's it?

The music was good.

♪ How many roads
must a man walk down ♪

♪ Before they call him a man ♪

It's starting again.

I know, this is bad.

Usually the dylan
songs don't come out

Till the second day.

Alex, come quick.

Gold closed at . .

Thank you for having him.

Well, I think we're all
done with the dishes here.

Is there anything else
you need us to clean up?

Oh, no, no, everything
looks great.

Listen, since matt is here,
it's a very special night,

So I'm going to bring out the
old berkeley slides to show...

As a treat.

It's so good to see
the scavenger here.

I remember passing
this out around campus.

Steve, do you ever, uh,

Do you ever miss
working on the magazine?

Do I miss being an overworked,
underpaid social outcast?

Who wouldn't?

You know, I think it was

The single most important
journalist experience of my career.

That's really surprising
coming from someone

Who's written for
the new york times

And the village voice,
the washington post.

Yeah, but the
scavenger was different,

It was ours, it was
mine and steven's.

It was so... Pure.

Those were special times,
weren't they? Very special.

You remember how
we used to dream

That somehow we'd
get the money together

To start the scavenger up again?

Yeah, what a fantasy that was.

Welcome to fantasyland, guys.

It's a check for $ , .

You remember howie wardell?

Trust fund wardell? Sure!

His uncle finally d*ed and
he's come into his money.

Now, he was a big a
fan of the scavenger,

And he wants us
to start it up again.

You're kidding!

It's just the beginning, steve.

We can do it right this time,

That's $ , to
make the magazine

The dream we always
knew it could be.

I... Ooh.

Um...

All of the zeros just fell off.

What kind of a magazine
could we make for $ . ?

So what do you say?
Come on, man. Are you in?

[Sighs]

Well, I don't know.
It's a big decision.

The scavenger!

How long has it been, years?

♪ Hey, mr. Tambourine man ♪

♪ Play a song for me ♪

Well, there it is.

What do you think?

It's beautiful, elyse...

And so are you.

Will you go out with
me on saturday night?

Dating is so
reactionary, steven.

Sunday night?

I apologize for
my co-editor, elyse.

He's an old-fashioned romantic.

Oh, that's ok.

He's kind of cute.

See?

I knew it!

She likes me.

Elyse donnelly likes me.

I'm the happiest
guy in the world.

Steven, when are you
going to learn how to type?

I assume you're writing a
paper about martin luther king,

Not martin luther kong.

Forget the typos.

What did you think
of the article?

I thought it was brilliant.

I think it's the best
thing you've written yet.

Thank you, matt.

You know, steven, if we can
keep this level of writing up,

The scavenger will be a
major force in this country.

When I think about what
we're trying to do here,

It's just so overwhelming.

We trying to stop w*r,
poverty, injustice, oppression.

We're trying to
change the world,

And I ask myself,

How is one little magazine
gonna do all of that?

Then I realize

If I tell myself
I can't, I won't.

But if I tell myself I'll try,

Then maybe...

Well, just maybe I will.

That's a wonderful way
to look at things, steven.

And that's why I'm
going to ask you again...

Will you go out with me, elyse?

Let's change the world first,

Then we'll talk.

But it has to be
steven's decision.

Honey?

I promised you I'd
change the world, elyse.

I'm going to do it.

"And so the little rabbit said,

"how come you're so
big and I'm so small?

"And the cow said,

it's because you're a
rabbit, and I'm a cow."

Is it safe?

What do you mean, is it safe?

I mean, are dad and matt here?

No. Then it's safe.

It is not that bad.

Oh, mom, come on. Ever since he
started working with that magazine,

He's become harder
and harder to live with.

He's just a little more
immersed in politics

Now than he used to be.

Well, why can't he be like
other fathers and take up golf?

Andy, why are you wrapping
your bread up in your napkin?

'Cause daddy says
americans eat too much.

You're not going to
believe where I found these.

Where?

The garbage.

We're a recycling family!

No aluminum cans in the garbage.

Who's responsible for this?

Uh-oh.

I'll talk to him later.

Who's...

Who's having the
english muffins?

Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

Well, I thought we've
been through this.

No english muffins

While the british are
occupying northern ireland.

We're hungry now, dad.

When are they leaving?

I know this may seem extreme,

But you must understand

That all your
actions, even eating,

Have political repercussions.

Just wanted to
have breakfast, dad.

We didn't want to hurt anybody.

I was a little over
the line there, wasn't i?

No, no, if you didn't
say something,

I was going to.

Is this today's mail?

Yeah.

Hey! Hey, look at this.

Our first letter to the editor.

We haven't even started
publishing the scavenger yet,

And we're already
causing a stir.

Well, let's hear it.

[Sighs]

"Dear editors, how
dare you reopen

"With this left-wing,
propagandist drivel,

"Which was out of date and
irrelevant even when first published.

"Why don't you grow
up, get real jobs,

And leave america alone?"

Signed, alex p.
Keaton, columbus, ohio.

The first issue is key.

There's going to be a lot
of attention focused on it,

And we have to make it count.

What do you think of
organizing a demonstration

To coincide with the first
issue of the scavenger?

That's good, that's very good.

With a little luck, if the
demonstration goes smoothly,

We all get arrested.

That's not as good.

Come on, steven.

Don't be a stick in the mud.

You used to love
getting arrested.

Your tastes change
as you get older.

Getting arrested is
way down on my list now,

Right below being shipwrecked.

We've been at this
a long time today.

We're all a little tired.

Let's just take a
little break here, ok?

Great. Good idea.

Listen, uh, steven,

Ahem, have you
had a chance to, uh,

Look over the
article I wrote yet?

Oh, just briefly.

I haven't really given
it a thorough read yet.

Well, let me know when you do.

I'm really excited about it.

Oh, I will. Thanks.

[Knock on door]

Open up! Police!

Ah, just getting
you in the mood, dad.

Cut it out, alex!

Is this a good time
to visit your office?

Oh, of course. Come
in. Come in, welcome.

Dad, I know we weren't
real supportive

About your working
on the magazine,

So we brought you
an office-warming gift

To make up for it.

You didn't have to do that.

Hey, hey, dad,
that's from me, too.

Hope it fits.

A dictionary.

And just my size.

You said you were
getting him a sweater, mal.

Next time, chip in.

Oh, oh, cameron, I'd like
you to meet my family.

That's my wife elyse,

And alex, mallory,
jennifer. Cameron wallace.

Wait a minute, wait a
minute, cameron wallace.

No, no, no, no, no.

Didn't you organize

The washington labor day rallies

In the early seventies?

That's right. Wow,
it's good to know

That kids today are
aware of some of the things

We did for the cause back then.

Wasn't the fbi looking for you?

Ooh, he really knows his stuff.

"You have the right
to remain silent.

"Should you give up that right,

"Anything you say can and
will be held against you.

In a court of law." Alex!

Is he serious?

Alex is kind of a
law and order buff.

Ah, yeah, well, you
don't have to worry, alex.

All of us dangerous fugitives
were pardoned a while back.

We're completely legal.

I'm keeping my eye
on you, wallace.

Don't leave town!

Mom, we have to pick up andy.

Oh, yeah. We're probably

In the way here, anyway.

Thanks for coming,
honey. Bye-bye.

Bye, dad. See ya later, mal.

Thanks. Bye-bye.

See you later.

Well, what are you... What
are you worki" on here?

Oh, nothing, nothing,
just an article matt wrote.

I'm having a few
problems with it.

A few problems?

You crossed out
everything but the title.

anarchy, the sane solution.

Well, what did he think
about your article

About the democrat"
chances in ' ?

He felt it was too long.

Are you two all right?

Oh, I mean, I don't know.

It's just that matt and I were
always of one mind about everything.

Now we can't seem to
agree about anything.

Maybe it's just going
to take you a while

To get back in synch.

Hey, mom, come on. Stop
fraternizing with the radicals.

Bye, honey.

[Door closes] that's...

Hey.

So you found lots of typos

In my article, steve.

Oh, don't look at that, matt.

I haven't had a chance
to really go over it.

What else can you
do to it, set it on fire?

You don't have to
be defensive, matt.

I'm just giving you
constructive criticism.

You annihilated
my article, steven.

You didn't exactly give
mine a ringing endorsement.

Let's just face it, huh?

These two articles have no
place in the same magazine.

Mine belongs in the scavenger.

Yours belongs in
good housekeeping,

Right next to things
to do with pineapple.

Oh...

Hey, guys. Hey.

What's going on?

Oh, we're just talking
about steve's article.

What did you think of it?

I see you both have
the abridged version.

It's just that it's a
little reactionary.

I mean, you're suggesting that
people actually go out and vote

For one of the two
prevailing parties.

Now come on, man.

The only vote that counts
is a vote against the system.

I disagree. I think voting
makes a real difference.

It's part of our
civic responsibility.

Come on, steve, you're beginning

To sound like a
member of the pta.

I am a member of the pta.

You know, it's hard to believe

You were the guy that
wrote the landmark article,

the two-party system...

tweedledum and tweedledee.

That was years ago.
Things have changed.

Just what is it we're
trying to do here?

Put out a thoughtful,
intelligent magazine

Or get up on a soapbox
and preach stale rhetoric?

Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa! Stale rhetoric?

Is that what these issues
seem like to you now?

Some of them, yes.

They just don't ring
true to me anymore.

Things aren't as black and
white as they used to be!

I don't understand
your attitude, steven.

No, I don't think you do.

I don't think you understand
anyone's attitude but your own.

At least I have an attitude!

At least I am prepared to
speak up for what I think is right.

No, matt, what
you're prepared to do

Is shout down anybody
who disagrees with you.

I'm going to tell you one thing,

And I'm not shouting
out here, steven.

If you don't believe we
should print my article,

You have no business
working on this magazine.

Maybe I don't.

You've changed, man.

You have really changed.

You know, somewhere
along the line,

Steven keaton disappeared,

And some stranger
took his place.

But I'm gonna tell
you something, man.

It's a damn shame

Because steven keaton
was one of the great ones.

It took fairy tales

And a stock market
lecture from alex

To get andy to go
to sleep tonight.

I'm sorry you argued with matt.

Elyse, have I changed?

Am I the same person I
was when you first met me?

I don't know, I think your social
conscience has held up pretty well.

Right. And the tax credit

From amnesty
international proves it.

Well, actually, we
didn't give this year.

We needed the money
for andy's preschool.

This wasn't a good
time to tell me that.

I'm sorry.

You still respect me, elyse?

Steven! Humor me, elyse.

I'm going through a
personal crisis here.

Ok, I'll say one thing
on that subject.

I shouldn't even
need to say that.

You do make a statement, steven.

You make a statement by
the way you live your life,

By the way you
raise your children,

By choosing a job

That doesn't compromise
your principles.

Those are political acts,

As strong as anything that
you ever did back at berkeley.

Honey, you're just one
of the most committed

And caring men I know.

And you have a wonderful wife.

I already know that.

Hey. Hey, alex.

Listen, I heard what happened,

And, uh, I know how tough
that must have been for you.

Well, thanks, alex.

I know we differ
on these issues,

But I appreciate your support.

Listen, dad,

Over the years,

You and I have searched

For some common
political ground.

We searched...

And searched. And searched.

Searched. Searched.

And even though

We haven't agreed
on anything yet...

I really respect your ideals.

You know?

And the fact that
you respect mine.

You set a good example.

I mean, who knows?

Maybe years from now,

I'll look back on the
things that I believed in

When I was , and
I'll think that I was...

Nah!

You never know, alex.

You may feel different
when you hit .

Oh, trust me, dad.

I know what it's like to be .

♪ To everything, turn, turn... ♪

Aren't you guys finished yet?

I practically had to promise
the printer my first-born son.

I'm not sure how
I feel about that.

I said my first-born son,
not our first-born son.

You never give up, do you?

Nope.

I have our future planned

Down to the smallest detail.

I even know what our
son's name is going to be.

You want to hear what it is?

No.

♪ A time to k*ll... ♪

What is it?

Freedom.

Freedom p. Keaton.

I like that.

We'd have wonderful children.

They'd pick up the struggle
for peace and social justice

Where we leave off.

We'll all live in the country

On a commune with
all of our friends

And their children
and lots of animals,

And their children.

We'll grow our own food

And we'll make our own clothes.

Live off the land.

Uh, before we start this family,

We have a magazine
to get out, keaton.

♪ A time to gain ♪

♪ A time to lose ♪

♪ A time to mend ♪

♪ A time to sew ♪

Boy, it's gonna be tough getting
work done around this office.

♪ A time for peace ♪

♪ I swear it's not too late ♪

[Song continues]

Man: sit, ubu, sit. Good dog.

[Dog barks]