Thirtysomething (1987) s01e16 Episode Script

1 See, Shelly, it's not a criticism.
No, it's not.
You see, we understand how hard it is to be a temp.
Well, I'm sorry, but I was brought up to believe that if you can't say something nice, then there's no point We agree.
We agree.
It's just that these are dunning letters.
Yeah, what you're sending these people are like "thank you" notes.
Right.
Right, right.
How to put this.
Uh, Shelley, these people owe us money! Exactly.
You see, and putting "Have a nice day" at the bottom, you know? - That isn't such a great idea.
- Right.
Right.
And the smiley faces over the eyes No.
Yeah.
You see, the principle we go on is that when they pay us the money, then we send them a note.
I mean, we could send them a gift, a card - When? Where are you? - Without that money, we can't pay our salaries.
The hospital's on the way.
It's all right.
- You want me to start over.
- Yeah, I think you Get his things.
Yeah, I'll stop and get his things.
You go home.
I know.
No, no.
I'll meet you there.
Okay.
What time? Okay.
She's going to be okay.
I think she's just, you know Aw, Mike.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- It'll be all right.
- I know.
I know.
- Hey.
Hey, hey, hey, you.
- Hey.
- I loved him.
- I know.
Honey, you want to rest? I can put Janey down No, that's okay.
I got a lot of things I gotta do.
- Um, did Brad call? - Not yet.
Okay.
Well, Linda talked to him, I think.
- How is she? - Ugh.
I don't know.
She's tired mostly.
She's gotta go back to Chicago and get things ready for the Funeral.
Right.
Uh, Ellyn knows.
I called her, and I told Nancy.
And I told Gary.
Okay, so there's my mom.
I wanna call her and, um, my brother.
I'll go get her.
Thanks.
Um, do you know where the address book is? I don't know Brad's number.
I'll get it.
I think it's in here.
Honey, there's, like, a million numbers in here for him.
- A Hershey bar? - Yeah.
It's with almonds.
He always carried one with him.
- For energy.
- Yeah.
- I didn't wanna tell you.
- What is that? Don't deal with this now, Michael.
- What is it? - Pipes.
- Pipes? - That's all.
Pipes.
Pipes.
Can we do anything about these pipes? Oh, yeah, we can.
Definitely.
I mean, the plumber was here today.
- Yeah? What'd he say? - I don't wanna tell you.
Honey, what's wrong with the pipes? There's nothing wrong with the pipes.
You know, just, we need a few new ones.
How many? - All of them.
- Oh.
I think I'll make these calls.
Come here, pumpkin.
So is he okay Michael? There's so much to do, I don't think it's even hit him yet.
Well, you know, I could take care of Janey for a day or so, if that would help.
I think Michael really wants to be with her.
Well, I'll just try to come back later.
I just wanted to give Michael a hug.
No, no.
Stay here.
He'll be right back.
He just went to the airport to pick up Brad.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Excuse me.
Hi.
- Hi.
- So I guess you heard.
- Yeah.
Hope told me.
- Yeah, it's too bad.
So how are you? I mean, you sound like you have a cold or something.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, you know, the kids and Yeah.
So Nancy? You look good.
Go ahead.
Eat.
That's what it's there for.
She made these, didn't she? Yeah, she did.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Hey.
- Where's Brad? - Brad who? - Brad, your brother.
- I'm at the airport.
I smile.
I wait.
I hold up a sign with "Steadman" on it.
But no Brad.
Who, of course, didn't call.
- He didn't call? - Michael, come on.
Maybe he missed his plane.
- Ellyn called.
- The guys from Wyan & Scott sent flowers.
- And the hospital.
- The hospital? The hospital called.
The company that's supposed to show up and deal with the You know.
Can we not play 20 questions here? - The body! - They didn't go pick up the body! - So you have to go tomorrow.
- After the dry cleaners.
- God, no! - Beer, anybody? - Oh, if Brad was only here.
- Honey, maybe you should call the airport and have him paged.
Nah, forget him.
You remember Do you remember It was right before I met you.
And And And, uh, Brad shows up.
He dropped out of architecture school.
- He had just broken up with that girl.
- Oh, we were going to Italy.
- Hitchhiking.
- Brad shows up, right? - Oh, yeah! - I'm a really good guy, Melissa.
- I give him my apartment.
- Oh, this is a great story.
I loan him the keys to my car.
Arrivederci, Roma.
- The first day The first day he's out in the MG - Yes.
Wham! Boom! Crash! - No, this isn't true.
- I heard this.
- No, this isn't true.
- You never heard this.
- Wait, wait, wait.
He throws his back out.
- Wait till you hear this.
Now, the other guy is this kid.
He's, like, out for a joyride.
So Brad jumps out of the car, and he has to start chasing him down Brynmar Avenue.
Okay? So he gets back to the car, and, of course, there's a ticket.
Well, we all have bad days.
He decides to go back to my apartment.
He gets back there, my door is open - and my TV and my stereo are gone.
- Gone.
- You got ripped off? - Yes.
- No! - Yes.
Yes.
And the guy is still there, okay? - No.
- Yes! In the apartment! He sees Brad, he freaks.
He tosses a speaker at him No, no.
It was a tape deck.
- It was like one of those - Tape deck.
It was a tape deck? Okay.
And Brad just misses it.
It falls on his foot and it breaks his toe.
So Brad calls the cops, okay? And he waits, and he waits, and he waits, and he waits.
And by now, his foot is really hurting and he figures, forget it and he decides to get high.
He gets high and he passes out.
When the cops get there, they find this guy with a slipped disk, a broken toe, and an ounce of pot in his lap! So what do I say here? These things can happen to anybody? He's here.
- Where What? What? - Brad.
- Oh, no.
- Brad's here? Yeah.
Come on now.
You guys, come on now.
- Hey, Buddy.
- Hey, Mike.
- What? - Nothing.
Just, uh, it's good to see ya.
I'm really sorry about the plane, man, but when they found out about Dad It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
- Hey, Hope.
- Hi, Buddy.
How you doing? - Hey, squirt.
- Man mountain.
How's it going? - Hey, kid! Hi! - Hey! - Good to see ya.
- Yeah, you too.
Do you know Elliot? Elliot, this is Buddy.
- Bradley Steadman.
- Hi, how are ya? - I'm really sorry.
- Yeah.
- What a great house.
- Oh, you've never seen it, have you? No.
This stairway carvings, it's all original stuff.
- It is? - Well, sure, you can tell.
There's a couple of houses in Chicago with just this kind of detail.
Just this kind of plumbing.
Which is also original.
Are you hungry? Want something to eat? I'm starving.
That'd be great.
Come on.
Put your stuff down.
- Those are the freshest - What are you guys talking about? - Grandpa Morrie.
- Yeah, Grandpa Morrie when he came to live with us.
Yeah, he was obsessed with Bonanza.
We couldn't do anything when it was on.
The ponderosa's a lot like Russia.
Nice boys listen to their fathers.
"Mikey, get me a sourball.
Not the lemon.
I hate lemon.
" - To Grandpa Morrie.
- To Grandpa Morrie.
- Mike,adios,man.
- Adios.
Brad, it was nice to meet ya.
Bye, man.
To Linda.
- Linda.
- First time I met Linda Dad said, "Come on, let's go see the Cubs game" Bye, cuz.
Brad.
Bye, schmear cat.
And there she was.
And the whole first three innings, he didn't even introduce her.
And she gives me a present.
I said, "What?" - What was it? - It was the Landmark Book, Life of Robert E.
Lee.
- You remember.
- I wasn't there.
Wait.
Uh right.
No.
Right.
You're right.
You were gone.
- Mom.
- Mmm, Mom.
She always liked you best.
No, she didn't.
- Yeah.
- No, she didn't.
She liked you best.
She always called you by your full name.
Mmm.
"Bradley Joel Steadman", you clean up that room this instant.
" "Bradley Joel Steadman, you call that a report card?" See what I mean? Good night.
Good night, sweetie.
To Dad.
Tomorrow, Brad, you gotta help me.
He's still at the hospital.
- We gotta pick up the - Oh.
Can't we send a taxi? - Please? - You gotta help me.
Right.
- Mmm.
- Hi.
So? Nothing.
- Michael! - Okay.
- My tie.
- What tie? He was wearing it.
A tie I've been looking for for three years, he had it on.
You have plenty of ties.
Right.
I do.
But it's still mine.
I don't hear any pipes.
- Here.
Aspirin.
- Thanks.
I called Elliot and I told him you weren't gonna come in today.
Good.
Um, he said that he would stop by later.
All right.
Ohh.
I guess I should go over to the hospital and get this over with.
Where's Brad? Mommy.
- Hope? - He's not here.
Where is he? He's in New York.
- Michael - New York! He said it was an emergency.
- He said it in a note.
- Oh, you know, this is an emergency.
Oh.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
I'll do it.
- I'll do it.
- What if he comes back? You don't know him.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How was it? - How was it? It was great.
Not only did I get Dad on a supersaver to Chicago but I'm getting the credit for the mileage club.
- Is it bedtime yet? - Michael, I was just asking.
I know, I'm sorry.
It's just Whose Porsche is that in the driveway? Sorry, I don't like to leave it on the street.
Um, this is Frank.
Frank, this is my husband, Michael.
I was just trying to deal with some of the pipe stuff so that you wouldn't have to worry about it.
Can we deal with it? Are we dealing with it? - No problem.
- Please don't lie to us.
Why should he lie, honey? He has a Porsche.
Right.
So I'll call you later with an estimate.
Only I should tell you, if it's gonna happen here, it's gotta happen here in the next two weeks, because I got to Florence for a month.
- It'll happen.
- Great then.
No problem.
Take care.
Porches, Florence.
Hey, I shopped around.
- You're back.
- Yeah, I'm back.
Thanks for your help.
Really, don't worry about it though.
I took care of it.
You don't have to do anything.
- Michael - Have a little lunch, Brad.
Okay? Feel free to check out the icebox.
- Hey, Mike.
- Hey, Brad.
- Where were you, Brad? - New York.
I had to go to New York and Yeah, and I had to pick up Dad's body from the hospital, which you were supposed to help me with.
Mike, I've got things to do, too I'm sure you do.
- That you don't know anything about.
I run Dad's business now, remember? Now, I'm sorry I wasn't here, but I'm here now.
- I'm very, very sorry, Mike.
- Okay.
- But I'm here now.
- Okay.
- Okay, Mike? - Okay.
Okay.
- Okay.
Please.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Ooh! I'm here now.
That's great, 'cause you're just in time.
For what? Is this the fun part? How are we supposed to decide? Look, I think we just gotta do it.
Now, what about this one? I mean, do you think that Dad would like this one? How do I know? We only talked about it briefly.
He said nothing flashy and nothing German.
How do I know what he'd like? Well, this one's nice.
I mean, this is real good.
- This is the - It's really nice.
It's the Shirley MacLaine.
It's made out of balsa wood so you can get out easily when you're reborn.
- You're so silly.
- Look, this is a very nice model.
It's clean, it's practical, it's got a built-in dustbuster so that when your body turns to dust, your soul can clean it up in a jiff.
Ah, the Stiffomatic.
It slices, it dices, it saves you graveyard space.
And this place is getting a little weird, Brad, so let's hurry up and decide and get out of here, okay? - Okay.
- Okay, so do it.
- So? - So? You know what I wish right now? - What? - I wish I'd been Bar Mitzvahed like you had.
- Why didn't you? - Come on.
- You could have.
- Yeah.
Right.
I'm 12 years old.
Dad dumps Mom.
She's sitting there in the dark, listening to Camelot and crying.
I mean, it wasn't like the subject came up on a regular basis.
It was more like, "Oh, Brad", you still live here?" I gotta go call a factory.
I'll be right back.
You did right, Mike, bringing your dad home.
Taking him back to the hospital for the end.
Calling me.
Seeing me, it helped settle his mind.
You know, loose ends.
I knew Leo for 55 years.
He was not a man with a taste for loose ends.
Thank you, Michael, for coming here.
All right, well, if this is really the way to do business Eh, it's a habit.
- A naked man can't hide a knife in his pocket.
- I'll remember that.
I'll have to have more naked meetings in the future.
You look good, kid.
- You grew up nice.
- Thanks.
You look good too, Uncle Manny.
Uh, I'd look better with a prostate.
But for my age You know, I was with him, your dad, all night the night you were born.
The White Sox had beat Whitey Ford 7 to 2 that night.
Minnie Miñoso.
- Left field.
- He tripled and you were born.
So, all right.
- All right.
- Leo named you executor.
I suppose you got some questions.
A lot.
Eh, it's simple.
It's assets, it's debts.
That's all? Debts and assets? And promises.
And then it gets tougher because you've got business and family, which is a very lousy mix.
I mean, you could wind up with an opera, Mike.
Michael, your father's business, what do you know about it? In springtime, you never cut velvet.
Michael, when you go to Chicago, don't rush home.
All right? A man dies, it's a tragedy.
Well, it's also maybe a blessing because you got a moment when the air is clear.
So, use the moment.
Look around.
A man leaves Debts aren't always on paper.
Enough.
I'm drying up.
You are kidding! Michael did not say that.
Yes, he was this very nervous little kid.
And this was during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Michael used to go around muttering, "We are not safe.
We are not safe.
" And Dad said, "Shut up with safe.
" And Michael was still nervous, so Dad had a security system installed.
- A security system? - Yeah.
But he was still worried.
And at night, in our beds, he used to say, "If they felt like it, the Russians could wipe out Winnetka just like that.
" And not only that, but he said he would bet me $2 that he could break into the house.
$2? - $2.
Well, that's a subscription to MAD magazine, - right there.
- That's right.
So the next night, I set up the system and we're about to sit down to dinner only there's no Michael.
When all of a sudden, we hear this little voice crying, "Help me! Help me!" Michael got stuck in the chimney.
We had to get the fire department to get him out.
- Oh, no.
Oh, come on! - It's true! - It's true.
- The worst part is, he still owes me 2 bucks.
Hey, Brad, remember when he looked like a monkey? That's right.
We used to call him Curious George.
- He never told me that.
- Well, that's his darkest secret.
But now you know why Janey likes bananas so much.
Oh, oh, Brad.
Show Melissa the sketches.
Aw, come on, will ya, Hope? Those are just doodles.
Oh, yeah.
Some doodles.
Oh, Brad.
This is great.
Well, go on, tell her like you told me.
You know, the thing is you have to look at your own house and you say I want to get from here to there but what's in my way? Sort of like architectural therapy? That's right.
That's right.
So here here's the flow.
- I mean, here's how Mike and Hope move around - Hi! - Hi.
- Hey.
Hey.
Hi, sweetie.
Hi.
- Hi.
Hi.
- Hi.
- What's for dinner? - What's a matter, George? Curious? What's this? Hup, you better sit down for this, honey.
- Oh.
- This is our house.
Really? Oh, it almost looks like people would be dumb enough to buy it.
Yeah, where were you when we needed you, Brad? Ah, you didn't ask.
Honey, what time's the plane tomorrow? Oh, um, 10.
And I had to put it on two credit cards.
Listen, I'll pick you up.
We can leave my car at the airport.
Nah, that's all right.
You better take your own car.
Why? Why take two cars? I may want to stay a little longer.
You know, just a few days.
We haven't seen Mom for a long time.
There's some stuff, there's some people I want to talk to.
- Oh, what people? - I don't know.
Just people.
You know, there's a lot I don't know about the business.
Oh, well, what do you want to know? I don't know.
Just want to look at the books.
Why do you want to look at the books? Because, Brad, we're in this together now.
Fine.
I'll tell you everything you need to know.
- Really? Can you? - Um-hmm.
That's right.
I'm gonna have to.
Because you don't know anything about running a business like this.
Then I'll learn.
You know, I have a business now.
Yeah, I know you do.
And I've got Dad's.
Which until, about three minutes ago, you didn't show a hell of a lot of interest in.
Well, I'm showing it now.
Okay? I'm showing it now.
Could you pass the vegetables? The car's packed.
We got all the bags? I counted.
We've got them.
Okay.
And the tickets? And Janey? Chicago, Chicago Oh, come on.
Lighten up.
It's not that far away.
Huh? I'm tagging her so you can check her.
It's much cheaper that way.
Uh, you're doing a very good job.
- Oh, thank you very much.
- She likes me.
Here's the number at my mom's in case the plumber calls with an estimate just Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Okay, have fun, I guess.
- I will.
I intend to.
And remember you can have sex here as long as it's with commitment.
- Funny.
Hey - All right.
Michael, let's go.
And I'll be thinking of you, yeah? Okay, I'll need that.
Really.
- It'll come with you, all right? - Okay.
- Lock the door.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chicago Look, honey, this is the house where Daddy grew up.
You've never been in a house with a finished kitchen, have you? Mom, you took down the tether ball.
Oh, yes.
I took it down last year.
I wasn't playing so much anymore.
Oh, Mom, you remember Mrs.
Beals? Oh, God.
Every night.
Screaming for that damn poodle.
- "Lady!" - "Lady!" "Lady!" She still live there? No, no.
She got divorced.
- Really? - She married Ben Haberman.
David Haberman's father? My Little League coach? Yes.
They'd been having an affair for years.
Oh, you never told me that.
Oh, well, we didn't want to throw your game off.
Oh, my God.
It's Leave It To Beaver.
Oh, no.
Look at these beds.
Did they shrink, or did I get taller? - We can push them together.
- No way.
I can't make love to you in these beds.
I can only fantasize in these beds.
Oh, look, honey.
Look at this.
My dad got this.
It's autographed by every guy in the Chicago White Sox, 1962.
It's pretty great, huh? Yeah.
Now, wait a minute.
I used to keep some magazines stuck back here.
What magazines? The New Republic.
Oh.
Michael, what's this? What's this model? I don't know.
Must be Brad's.
Who has just arrived.
You go down, honey.
I'll be there in a minute.
- This is so strange.
- What is, Mom? Having you both in the kitchen.
"Do I have to be a police woman in this household?" Oh, I never said that.
Did I actually say that? - You did.
Yes, you did.
- You did, Mom.
You know, Hope, when Michael was Janey's age, I used to be in here getting dinner and I used to give him a wooden spoon and a pot and he would just bang away for hours.
Leo used to call him Gene Krupa.
What'd I used to do, Ma? Oh, that's the thing about kids.
You know, they get just as much from a pine cone as they do out of an expensive toy.
I know.
Janey's like that.
- You know, Sidney Lesterman called today, Mom.
- Sidney Lesterman? Yeah, he was one of Dad's biggest buyers, remember? Oh, yes.
Sidney Lesterman.
- He wants to send you a note.
- That's nice, dear.
You know, Hope, I think she looks just like Michael did at that age.
You know, I think she looks like you.
And I bet when your mother's in the room, she looks just like her.
Mom, did this whole house shrink? I mean, is it my imagination or did this table used to be a lot bigger? No, no.
I took a leaf out when it was just Brad and me.
- Yeah, it's in the basement.
- Would you get it, honey? - Oh, this looks great.
- It's Michael's favorite.
No, no.
My favorite My favorite Frozen fish sticks and Jell-O 1, 2, 3.
- Eww! - That was good, though.
Will you make that for me, pretty please? - Please? Please? - Oh.
Tomorrow.
I, uh, I want to say some stuff at the funeral tomorrow.
Did you talk to Linda? Why should I talk to Linda? She's Dad's wife.
I mean, she's the widow.
I'm his son.
Yeah, but she wants it to be certain things.
You should talk to her.
- He's right, dear.
- Why? Why is he right, Ma? Listen, I think we should eat because - you want to get the baby down, right? - Right.
Listen, Brad, Linda asked me if I would say something.
I didn't go to her.
She came to me.
So if you want to talk to her, then we should go.
- We'll talk together, okay? - What are you gonna say? Uh, Hope did you find those clean towels I left for you? No, what are you gonna say, Mike? Nothing, Brad.
He was a fine man.
He was a good man.
He always kept his shoes shined.
How would you know? You didn't even know him.
Oh, come on, Brad.
Come on! Back off it! - Hey, you come on.
- Everyone! Let's not start this! - All right? - Fine.
- I'll go get the leaf.
- Wait a second.
Brad.
- Brad? - What? If you wanna do it, then just do it, okay? - You do it.
Do it.
- No, no, no.
No.
It's okay.
You should.
You're the oldest.
- Stop! I'm telling! - Who's the king? - Stop! - Who's the king? Who's the king? Come on.
You are! You are! Michael? Hey, Birdie.
How are you? How should I be? 40 years with your father.
I deserve a medal.
This room.
I should really do something with it.
Oh.
Could take in spinster schoolteachers.
I can't believe this.
- It's the Robie House.
- I know.
Frank Lloyd Wright.
- It's beautiful.
- Yeah.
Brad used to come up here all the time when there was just the two of us.
Leo was gone and Michael was in school.
He'd stay in here for hours.
Not a word.
I thought he was smoking pot, of course.
It's gonna be hard for Brad.
Well, Michael adored his father, you know.
He's gonna miss him, too, but knew who Leo was.
Leo was here for him all those years.
When a boy gets to know that Look at this.
It's the Wrigley Building.
It's terrific, isn't it? All the detail.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
You're saying the entire cash flow is based on this one loan? Oh, Birdie.
Did my father know that? Birdie, they're bringing in lunch.
Bagel with a schmear and a cream soda.
Michael, you want anything? Same.
Same's great.
Hey, Michael, I thought you might like to have this.
Look at him.
Leo Steadman was the handsomest man in all Midwestern knitwear.
- Birdie? - Hmm? Birdie, there's a balloon payment due in 90 days.
Did he know that? He was a very sick man, Michael.
He knew enough.
The rest, he didn't ask.
And there were other things in his life.
- The woman - Linda.
And maybe I could have told him more but what was the point? The point is, what do we do now? Sell.
Sell everything.
You'll go home maybe with a little more than you came in with.
And what What about Michael, the books don't lie.
A business A business has a lifespan.
I mean, the world has changed.
Piece goods, now they come pre-cut from the Philippines.
Or they job 'em out to Taiwan.
And your brother No matter how hard he's been killing himself, the books don't lie.
Gary called.
The plumber gave us an estimate.
Yeah? Thousand.
Where is that gonna come from? Your mom and I went to the Robie House today.
This one.
Did you ever go there? I mean, were you ever interested in this stuff or was it just Brad? I can't believe this.
How did this happen? I should have gotten into this years ago.
Years ago? There was no reason.
Hope, this was my father.
This business put me through school.
It started me.
Yeah, and then you didn't need anything from it.
I took from it.
I took what I needed.
And made your own life.
Yeah, well, I owe something for that.
Michael, do you think your father felt that? Yeah, I know he did.
Why did he make me executor? He trusted you.
He knew he could count on you.
Well, look at this.
Look at this.
There's a balloon payment due.
We can't make it.
We can't refinance because we have no assets because we have no revenue.
It's over.
- What did Brad say? - It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter.
It's too late.
Don't let it be.
He's your brother.
Don't let it be too late.
- Hey.
- Hey.
If you're hungry, there's some pot roast in the oven.
- It's good.
- Nah, I'm not hungry.
- It's good.
- I just called everybody on Dad's Rolodex so it should be a big crowd tomorrow.
- Oh, that's good.
- So I'm real tired Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
I waited up.
I wanted us to talk.
Can we talk tomorrow? No, I think it should happen now.
Okay, well, big brother.
Okay.
Come on, Brad.
You know, I know you talked to Birdie today.
- Yeah.
- I know what you talked about and I know what you think.
Yeah? What do you know? You think I screwed up Dad's business and drove it into the ground.
No.
No.
I think there are some things that we have to talk about.
The loan? It was the only way to keep the business going, Michael.
Fine.
Okay.
What are we gonna do now? What did you expect me to do? Dad's in the hospital two weeks out of every month.
The man wanted to keep on working.
Brad! This is not about Dad.
- It is, Mike.
It is about Dad.
- No, it's not Brad.
Don't you think I've had this argument with Birdie every single day? I'm not gonna kill this business and neither are you, Michael.
I've seen the numbers, Brad.
Look at the numbers.
We have got to face it.
Hey, Mike, please.
I can I can make it work.
- I can make this business - What business, Brad? What business, huh? There's nothing there.
I can make it be there.
- I got some plans, Mike.
- Oh, Brad.
What plans? Well, for one thing, we can sub out to other people until we get the cash flow going again.
Have you done anything about that? No, but I got the time now and I'll get right on it, Mike.
Brad, I talked to Manny Pressman today.
We're gonna have to call it quits and liquidate.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I think Dad would have thought this was the best way.
Oh, how the hell would you know, Michael? He was my father too, Brad.
Who you talked to once a month for five minutes.
"Hi.
I'm great.
Good-bye.
" And I'm there for three years every single day, but that's only me.
Because when it hits the fan, we're supposed to call Mike.
I'm there and you weren't.
And in the end, what am I, Mike? What am I, Mike? - Call it quits, Brad.
- I'm nothing.
And now it's over and there's nothing left for me? - This is mine, Mike! - I cannot do this with you right now! I made this mine and you don't know anything about that because everything comes to you and you just take.
You're right, Brad.
You're right.
- I just take.
- Well, I want what's mine! It's worthless, Brad.
It's worthless.
Oh, you go ahead.
You spit on him.
Face it, he blew it.
Dad blew it! - Face it, Dad blew it! - Boys? He failed! He screwed up! Get yourself out! - You don't say that - He's dead, Brad! He's dead, Brad.
- Don't you say that! - He's dead.
He's dead, Brad.
And you've got nothing.
He walked out on you! He walked out on her! And nothing you do is ever gonna change that! You don't say that about my father.
- Michael - Oh, God.
- Morning.
- Morning.
- Is there any coffee? - Yeah, I just made some.
Oh, great.
I didn't sleep much last night.
- I really need it.
- You want something to eat? You should have some breakfast, too.
Oh, I don't know.
Linda will probably have stuff for after, but then she probably cooked it, so I should fill up now.
Could I have French toast? Oh, well, yes, you may.
And since you make it so well, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
- No, I don't.
- Yes, you do.
Oh, please, Mom? Please? Oh, all right.
Sit down.
I'll do it.
- Hey, Mom? - What? About last night, I don't know what happened and I'm sorry.
Yeah, I'm sorry, too.
You know how he is sometimes.
- How he gets.
It's just - Don't put me in the middle of this, Michael.
Okay.
I won't.
I'm just sorry that you had to see that.
This is not about me.
I should probably talk to him.
Do you know where he is? I He didn't come home last night.
I called his apartment but nobody answered.
- Was he at work? - I called but they haven't seen him.
Damn it.
You know this I have to go in there today and he should be with me.
This is so typical.
Don't judge him.
I have tried with him, Mom.
And you saw what happened.
Now, what does he want from me? You don't know? He hates me.
I saw that last night.
He hates you? He worships you.
You don't know it.
You don't know him.
Oh, I know Brad, Mom.
No, you know that little kid you locked out of your room and you've never really opened the door for him.
Not really.
By the time he grew up, you were gone.
- I tried.
- Oh, yeah, have you? Yeah.
When he dropped out of architecture school, I lent him my apartment for three months.
When he needed it, I lent him money.
I never asked for it back.
When he wrecked my car, I paid for it.
I've tried.
Yes, well, you were always there for him when he fails.
Mom, Mom, what do you want me to do? You want me to keep the business going so Brad has a place to go in the morning? I want you not to close the door on him again.
Michael? They're fighting again.
Just put the record on, Buddy.
Michael? What do I do? What do I do? So we'll do everything we can to take care of you all.
But I just wanted to give you some notice.
So I guess today's a day of endings.
I just wanted to thank you for my father and for my brother.
And for me.
Uh, sign here and here.
And initial there.
And that's it? That's entertainment.
40 years, just like that.
Ah, I remember this one when he was still a pisher.
Now he signs his name and So, kid, it's done.
And you done the right thing.
I should get to the temple.
Need a lift? Nah, I'm gonna stay here for a couple minutes.
Michael? Your father would understand what you did here today.
Why didn't he tell me, Manny? Why'd I have to find out like this? Man works his whole life.
He builds up a business.
And then it lies in pieces around him.
And he's ashamed.
Let me tell ya, your father Look at you.
Your father was a successful man.
So, kid.
The next time you're in Chicago, golf.
We'll meet at the steam room.
I sent over some things for your little girl.
From when we had the baby wear line.
Thanks, Birdie.
Which I always warned Leo about.
"Leo," I said, "don't diversify," I said.
But he had his own mind, your father.
That's for sure.
God rest his soul.
Listen, Michael I may never see you again.
- Don't say that, Birdie.
- Whatever.
Whenever.
You've done it, huh? The hard part.
Now, if you will walk me to my car, we can talk about your brother.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Are you ready? We'll take the other car.
Why don't we go together? Go upstairs, Michael.
We'll meet you there, honey.
Go upstairs.
Let Grandma put your coat on.
There you go.
Give me your other arm.
I know.
I thought maybe I'd take this mitt home.
Start teaching Janey.
You know, make a man out of her.
Can I tell you something, Brad? 'Cause I don't think I ever told you this before.
When I went off to school that year when I was 15, Dad came to see me.
In Vermont, I mean.
I mean, one day he just showed up.
I was playing soccer.
And there he was, just watching me.
He had on that big coat You know, the one with the hood.
And, uh, I remembered thinking, "Oh, God.
Grandpa Morrie's dead.
" Or I don't know.
I don't know what I thought.
Anyway, I went over to him and he acted like it was not weird that he had taken two planes, four buses and a taxi to come see me.
And could he take me to dinner that night.
And so we did.
And, um, it was not until dessert that he told me he and Mom were getting divorced.
And I remembered thinking, right there, "I will never be so stupid again.
"I don't have a family.
I never did.
And I never can from now on.
" So, I never told you that, huh? No, you never told me that.
I talked to Birdie and Manny today.
I couldn't go.
I just couldn't face 'em.
That's okay.
So, is it over? Yeah.
So, when are you going home? Hope and Janey are going back tomorrow.
I thought maybe I'd stay for a little longer.
- Why? - Hang out with you.
You may not survive it, but You should go home.
Buddy Buddy, Birdie told me some things.
- Yeah, I bet she did.
- That you did a good job.
- Come on, Mike.
- That you did a great job.
All those nights, those weekends.
And I kept thinking I kept thinking "Brad? My brother? The flake? Come on.
He's not like that.
" And then I said to myself, "I may not know him, but I know he's not interested in the rag business.
" Michael, you don't have to do this.
Birdie said Birdie said that That you kept Dad going.
You kept him interested even after he was sick.
That's great.
Then how come I feel so bad? I don't know.
All I know is that you probably kept Dad alive.
Thank you, Brad.
Now we gotta talk about the money.
Yeah, I thought that would come up.
I have a pretty good idea of what there is now.
You know, after taxes and Listen, I don't really think I can hear this now.
If we split it, there isn't much.
- But if you took it all - Michael.
If you took it all, you'd have enough money to go back to architecture school.
What about you? Well, you'll owe me.
And if you don't pay me, you'll If you don't pay me, I'll personally break your fingers.
- Why would you do this? - What, break your fingers? You just proved that you're the dumbest person I ever met in my whole life.
- Why? - You're my brother.
Mikey.
I miss him so much.
I know.
Me, too.
We better get down there.
Yeah.
Wait.
Your tie's a mess.
Mike Is that better? Yeah.
There you go.