Thirtysomething (1987) s02e05 Episode Script

1 [theme.]
[Ellyn.]
Put your leg there.
[Steve.]
I can't.
My leg doesn't do those things.
[Ellyn.]
Make it.
[Steve.]
This is so weird.
[Ellyn.]
It's good for you.
Why do people always feel they have to do these kind of things at the beginning of a relationship? I don't know.
To prove how wacky and free-spirited they are before settling into total monotony.
Monotony? - I said monogamy.
- No, you didn't.
- Yes, I did.
- You said monotony.
Oh, I wish that I'd met you freshman year of college.
Mm-mm.
You couldn't have met me.
- Why? - I was locked in my dorm room, listening to John Mayall, reading Hemingway, seeing myself dead in the rain.
I could've been your first.
Well, I was there.
Believe me, you didn't miss anything.
That's for me to say.
I'm glad you didn't meet me back then.
Why? We would've thrown each other away by now.
[phone ringing.]
Hello? Wait.
Wait.
Hello? Daddy! Daddy.
No, I wasn't doing anything.
I was just, um, you know, cleaning up some things around the house.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, no, no.
No, um Oh, oh! Okay.
Sure.
Sure.
When? Um, tomorrow.
That sounds great.
Okay.
Okay.
Bye, Daddy.
That was my father asking me to lunch.
Hey, wait a minute.
Weren't we in the middle of something? That is so weird.
Honey, you're dripping.
God, I think the last time my father asked me to lunch, I was 14.
Oh, you probably had on a training bra and Mary Janes.
Hurt me.
It's just that he doesn't eat lunch.
My father's the type of guy that doesn't wanna be caught with linguini hanging out of his mouth when the stock market takes a plunge.
I can't wait to meet this guy.
Yeah, me, neither.
Is this edible, or is it from before Janey was born? Oh, do I have to date my leftovers now? - I've dated plenty of leftovers.
- "Describe your child.
" Let's see.
She's a sociopath who's into chanting.
Why do I have to send Janey to school for? I can teach her everything she needs to know.
- Ugh! - "What words do you use for poop and pee-pee"? - Poop and pee-pee.
- My God, are they gonna ask about your sex life next? Oh, speaking of which Oh, fine, thank you.
And yours? Oh, fine, thank you.
Good.
Yes, he's very creative.
- Hmm.
- Hope, are you okay? Oh, sure.
You know, it's like having the flu and feeling like you have to throw up all the time, only you never quite get the pleasure of throwing up.
Yeah.
Yeah, I know how you feel.
It's kind of like when your father asks you to lunch for the first time in 19 years.
Oh, it's just your father.
It's not like you haven't been introduced.
Wanna bet? I don't know.
It's like I know him and I don't know him, you know? When was the last time you talked to your father seriously? Well, it's been kind of tough since he died.
- Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I forgot your father died.
- No, it's all right.
I know what you mean.
We had this sort of odd relationship.
He was so emotional about me, like he really cared about me.
He even cried the first time he took me to college.
And he'd go wild if anybody were, like, mean to me or anything like that.
- But, I mean, he never really knew who I was or anything.
- I know what you mean.
- I like my father.
- Yeah.
Her father's nice.
- So what is it with this guy? - Oh, he's really gorgeous.
Yeah.
When I was 16, my dad took me to Wanamaker's to get perfume for my mom, you know, and the saleslady thought that I was his girlfriend.
- Oh, wow.
- Oh, weird.
You know what I remember about your father? I remember he almost ran me over when I was making out with Billy Peterson.
[all shouting.]
That was the best.
My father just leans down and says, "Hello, Hope.
" He doesn't even notice that she's got her underwear around her neck.
- Oh, g-- - [clears throat.]
I, um, actually find the preschools in this area to be lacking scholastically, actually.
- [door opens.]
- [laughter.]
- You know, what I remember most - [door closes.]
is the argument they were having in the car.
Oh, God, yes.
That's when they still cared enough to fight.
Doesn't anybody have the numbers in front of them? I'm afraid we don't have any choice on this one.
Okay.
Let's be creative.
We got the DCS account which has practically died, no one's touched it in so long.
Naturally, children are low on the list.
Everyone knows Republicans come out as adults at birth.
Hey, Ellyn, you think anybody will notice that an entire account's been liquidated? Okay.
But what if we take the YMCA, a preexisting structure-- - It's been condemned.
- So we uncondemn it.
- If there's any kind of discrepancy-- - That's a very brilliant idea.
- Too bad it's also illegal.
- It's not even unethical.
It's just never been done.
So are you with me or against me? We're talking about a community center, not a youth center.
Yeah, but if we bring the YMCA up to code, we get a swimming pool, basketball court, game room-- And what happens when The Children's Services account goes belly up? - Simple.
- We steal it from Community Services.
I know, I know.
In theory, you're right.
You're damn right I'm right.
I think maybe we need to reevaluate exactly what our needs are.
I have to go.
I have another meeting.
Thank you, everybody.
[Woman.]
John, do you have a minute? Thank you for telling me when I have egg on my face.
Egg salad.
You know, you're really gonna get slammed on this one.
- Oh, yeah? By who? - Not by me.
Why'd you eat? I thought you were having lunch with your father.
Yeah, I am.
But I didn't wanna eat and relate and get indigestion all at the same time.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Daddy.
Hey! How's my girl? - How are you, Daddy? - Oh, I'm great.
Sit down.
I hope you like this restaurant.
It got a marvelous write-up.
We have some specials.
Saddle of venison with leeks, swordfish olivatam and tureen of hare with pistachios.
Um, can I just have, like, a little salad? Hare? Uh, I'll have the swordfish, very well-done.
- So.
- So.
How are things? Still running city hall? Oh, things are crazy, as usual.
There's always some major crisis.
This-- I would think they would have the good sense to promote you one of these days.
They did promote me, Dad.
Remember? I told you.
Yes.
Well, you have to keep moving.
[forced chuckle.]
Right.
Well, I'll tell them you said so.
So, how are you, Dad? How's your bursitis? How's Mom? Oh, I can't complain.
Bursitis is down, business is up.
As far as your mother is concerned, well, you know how she is.
She's involved in some volunteer thing or other.
I can never keep them straight, really.
- You look marvelous, dear.
- Thanks, Daddy.
Your face always looks better with a little extra weight on it.
Of course, when you get to be my age, nothing helps.
- Oh, give me a break.
- How's your young man? Steve? Steve.
He's fine.
Um, we moved in together recently, actually.
Now, does that mean anything these days, or do you have to buy real estate first? [forced chuckle.]
He's thinking about going into politics someday.
Yes.
Well, I'm sure we won't have to ask which side of the fence he's on.
Like, the side of the fence with Lenin and Trotsky? That side? Nah-nah.
No, I have no problem with your politics.
You know that.
As long as we don't talk about them, right? You can talk about anything you like.
Thank you.
Um, excuse me.
What are these? They're zucchini blossoms.
- Is there a problem there? - Zucchini-- No.
- No, no.
It's fine.
- Could you get her a real salad, please, like she asked? No, no.
This is-- This is fine, thank you.
- Are you sure? I want you to be happy.
- Oh, I am happy.
I am.
Um, this was great.
Real spur of the moment.
We should do it more often.
Daddy, I wanted to talk to you about a project that's coming up at work.
It's no big deal.
Just-- Not now.
You know, just sometime, I want your input.
You'll do fine, Lynnie.
You always do.
Lynnie, your mother and I have decided to get a divorce.
When? Now? I'd appreciate if you'd stop by and see her.
That'll be a big help to me.
Oh, sure.
Sure, Daddy.
Anything.
Thank you.
We'll talk more about this.
I'll call you, honey.
Okay.
Great.
We'll tal-- [knocking.]
Yes? I mean, come in.
- You all right? - Why? Yeah.
Fine.
- It's just you've been in here a long time.
- I have? Yeah, 16, 17 minutes.
What? Mmm.
- Oh, do you have to, uh - What? - Do you need to - Oh, no, no.
I just-- Oh, do you? No.
No.
No, no.
Is it all right that I'm in here? - I mean, we never actually discussed-- - Privacy.
- Exactly.
- Right.
I guess that's just one of those things that people who live together have to work out, among other things.
So is this your mousse? Yeah, that's my mousse.
Why? Um, I don't know.
I just never knew you wore mousse, that's all.
How long have you been wearing it? Well, ever since my hair started to, uh What do you care? I don't know.
I just thought that you would be the last person in the world who would ever wear mousse, that's all.
I find it depressing, okay? There's probably a lot of things I don't know about you.
- Will you talk to me? - No.
- Do I have to? - Yes.
I don't know.
I just feel like they're 60 years old.
Why are they doing this? And why do I care? Why shouldn't you care? Come on.
Sit down.
[both chuckle.]
- Uh - I think what I really need to do is just get out of this bathroom, that's all.
Yeah, that's understandable.
I think what I really need is to be alone right now.
Fine.
Come on, Hope.
It's Saturday.
What are you trying to prove? That I can make a deadline with this typewriter that I have had since college.
Michael wants to buy a computer.
For Janey, supposedly.
She's gonna end up saying things like "glitch" and "byte" all the time.
- Would you and Michael like to be my parents? - Aren't we? Guess what.
My father's decided marriage really isn't his thing.
- Lynnie, what are you talking about? - What it sounds like.
Marjorie and Jim are getting a divorce.
I was informed in a parking lot.
Oh, Lynnie, God.
Can I just lay on your couch for the next several hours? - Go, go.
Get lost.
- Ohh! They have been together forever.
40 years.
Gotta give 'em credit.
They must be pretty sure they're not meant for each other.
- Is there another - I don't know if there's another.
I haven't heard the whole story yet.
- What a shock.
- No, not really.
I spent my entire adolescence surveying the emotional landscape of my family.
Every day-- will they fight or will they merely seethe? I just figured that they'd work it all out after I left home, you know? Well, I mean, they still stuck it out for 40 years.
I mean, that's an accomplishment, isn't it? Yeah.
I guess so.
Guess what I get to do.
I get to spend the day today with my mother.
Won't that be fun, huh? An Afternoon of Martyrdom, starring "I'll be fine, don't worry about me"-- Marjorie Anne Warren herself.
Hope, will you come with me? No, Lynnie, you should spend some time alone with your mother.
Oh, no, no, no.
I don't wanna be alone with my mother.
I have never wanted to be alone with my mother.
[groans.]
- How's Hope? We never see her.
- Oh-- - Is she back working at the magazine? - Yeah, yeah.
And the baby takes up a lot of time, too.
Yeah, she's really something.
This place looks so beautiful.
Oh, it's the same.
No, I just meant that, um Well, it just looks more beautiful every time I see it, that's all.
I meant to plant some flowers out there.
I'm selling the house.
Right away? Well, it was always too big for your father and me.
I certainly don't want to rattle around here alone.
Oh, okay.
I can understand that.
But you don't wanna make any snap decisions, do you? Oh, it's amazing how quickly your life can change.
- [soft clattering.]
- Oh, God, this thing.
Ellyn! My good server.
This thing has driven me crazy for 27 years.
Ta-da.
Fine.
Mom, what are you gonna do? There are a lot of things I can do.
No, I mean about the situation.
- I don't even know what the situation is.
- Yes.
Well, there's a lot to do.
I mean, you should see your bedroom.
I'll probably spend the whole weekend up there sorting through your old things.
I'll make a list in case there's anything you want.
Oh, okay.
Well, so, I'll just stop by sometime and pick stuff up.
Yes, well, just let me know when, dear.
Oh, well, Mom, maybe I should help you.
Oh, no.
It's all right.
I know how busy you are.
- I can manage.
- No, Mom.
I'll help you.
I'll come by later in the week.
Oh.
Would you like lunch? Sure.
Lunch.
[sighs.]
Okay, Ellyn, pay attention.
We're gonna do this again.
And remember, you look 'em right in the eye.
"The right to vote has been one of the most sacred privileges"-- Now, come on.
Really sell yourself.
You're trying to get a point across here.
"That we have in this country.
If we abuse it"-- No.
All right.
Now listen to me.
Use your hands.
You always use your hands when you're trying to drive a point across.
Now, come on.
The right to vote has been one of the most sacred privileges that we have in this country.
- Right.
- If we abuse it, we have no one but ourselves to blame for the downfall of the democratic process.
Great! Now, that's it! Huh? Damn.
That was great, honey.
Dinner's ready.
Come along, Ellyn.
[sighs.]
- [Woman.]
I'll tell him you called.
- Hi.
Hi, Ellyn.
Mr.
Warren, your daughter's here.
Sure.
- It's good to see you.
- Oh, yeah.
It's a little hectic around here for your father.
His ulcer is acting up again.
His-- His-- Is it? Oh, yeah.
That's right.
I think-- - Hi, Ellyn.
- Hi, Daddy.
- What a nice surprise.
- Oh, well, I was downtown.
Um, I was looking something up, uh, right near here.
- So I-- - So you need an excuse to see your old man? You have a shareholder's meeting in 20 minutes, and the Broylers Cavender conference call is on line 5.
- Okay.
Come on inside.
- Oh, no.
Look, I think I picked a bad time to come.
Also, I have to go to the Hall of Records before it closes.
- So I just wanted to-- - Oh, Mr.
Warren? - Yes? - The Cavender call.
- I'll call him back.
- Dad, I just wanted to ask, is there anything that you need? I mean, can I do anything for you? I know I know you're gonna have to look for a place to live soon, and - Aren't you? - Well, I can't stay at a hotel much longer.
It's more convenient than the club, but the food's not as good.
I'm really sorry that I haven't called you, but I've really been swamped.
- Oh, no.
Me, too.
- Mr.
Warren? - Bernice, hold all the calls.
- It's Dave Gerber, about the Hoblet merger.
Uh, darling, I really do have to take this call.
Um, listen, tell you what.
You come to my hotel Saturday, 9:00.
Don't have dinner.
We'll eat something.
That way, we can really talk.
- I promise.
- Okay.
Saturday.
Great.
Thanks.
Dave, you old rake.
You don't quit, do you? I'm going to be in New York on Wednesday.
Hold on a minute.
Honey, you need something? - See you Saturday.
- Bye.
I'll take this in my office.
[Michael.]
Hey, you! - Michael? - Need a ride? Yeah! - Hi.
- Hi.
- So what did you not watch? - Father of the Bride.
Uh-huh.
We got Alien the other night.
We fell asleep before the thing came out of its stomach.
[rubbing hands together.]
- You cold? - Mmm.
So how you doing? Hope told me about your parents.
Well, apart from the fact that my entire life is disintegrating and I don't feel like I can count on anyone ever again, I'm doing great.
Uh-huh.
It's never easy, is it? Look, I was 16 when it happened.
You never know how much you count on your parents being together, and then, you know, suddenly they're these two separate people.
And you don't even know who they are anymore.
Well, they're still your parents.
It just gets more complicated.
Yeah, but shouldn't it get better if it was so awful for them being married? I don't know.
Nothing makes any sense anymore.
My mother will probably fall apart.
Of course she will.
She's never done anything.
She never worked, never [sighs.]
How's your dad? Oh, he's unflappable as always.
Like a shark.
Just keeps moving.
Like me.
[sighs.]
I love the snow.
Yeah.
- Do you remember snow days? Huh? - Yeah.
Yeah? Listening to the radio, lying there in the dark to find out if your school's closed.
"Lansdale Catholic, Upper Merion, Lower Merion.
" Yay! [laughs.]
Yeah.
What? Nothing.
What? Nothing.
It's just Why couldn't I ever fall for a guy like you? Like me? Like me? Like, what is that? Likenice.
Like incredibly, wonderfully nice.
You're a good person, Michael.
That bad, huh? Nice.
Nice.
Kiss of death, babe.
[Ellyn.]
Exactly! See? That's what they do.
They fall in love with us, and then they systematically destroy us with dinners and dry cleaning and returning rented videotapes.
Last night, instead of making love, you know what we did? We put his name on my answering machine.
Woo-hoo.
How can they expect passion when they domesticate everything to death? Nancy and Elliot were definitely in love.
At one point.
I know that.
Oh, yeah.
1972.
Nixon was bombing Cambodia.
Emotions ran high.
Look, all I'm s-- Ah.
All I'm saying is that you were right to wait.
I mean, you know who you are now.
I mean, your relationships are more stable and mature and committed Ellyn? Ellyn.
- What? - You're still looking.
Of course I'm still looking.
I'm not dead.
Anyway, what does it matter? My parents-- Everybody reaches the same conclusion eventually.
Only swans mate for life.
Oh, you're right.
I mean, the world's a terrible place.
Dolphins are being killed off by toxic waste, and there's no apple in baby apple juice.
- [flirtatious chuckle.]
- What do you want me to say? [scoffs.]
All I mean is, what was so bad? Was it really so bad? He was successful.
She gave dinner parties.
Couldn't they have just hung in there? How could they do this to me? Lynnie, whatever they're doing, I think they're doing it to themselves.
Yeah, yeah.
Are you still coming tonight? Are you still coming to my mother's? - Ellyn! - Okay.
What do you want? I'll give you anything.
I'll take your child on a trip abroad when she's 16.
- Okay, I'm gonna help you root through your past-- - Thank you.
and I'll find something for Janey.
Yeah-- guilt, recriminations, lust, innocence, shattered dreams.
[humming.]
- I'll help you.
- Oh, no, no, no.
- I got it.
Thanks.
- Yeah? You're beautiful.
I'm not.
I'm smart.
You're beautiful.
Shut up.
I believe the customary response in this country is "thank you.
" I'm just-- I'm not Hope is beautiful.
Okay, you wanna play that game? Okay.
Hope's beautiful, but her face just kind of lays there, you know? It doesn't do anything.
Your face, on the other hand, has these adorable little parenthesis hereand around this incredible mouth.
And you have kind of a light from within that changes the shape of your face all the time.
- Hi, guys.
- Hi.
You ever wonder why you can't take a compliment? 'Cause the last time a guy yelled at me on the street-- it was a year ago, and all he said was "Jesus saves," so I don't really think that counts.
Well, this may come as an incredible surprise to you, but not every man who sees a beautiful woman on the street screams at her.
- Oh, really? Well - If I think you're beautiful, that's all that matters.
It's great, 'cause no one else does.
I didn't say that.
This is the most ridiculous conversation I've ever had.
Fine.
You think I wanna be having this conversation? Okay.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
I don't believe this.
I am actually apologizing.
I forgive you.
You forgive me? Oh, looks like there's a boy buried in here somewhere.
Yeah.
Remember, my dad made me take shop in high school.
That's why I always wanna spackle with your husband.
Oh, my God.
Did she look like that when we were 10? That accounts for 3 million cases of anorexia a year.
Wow.
I mean, real women don't look like this.
Why didn't we rebel against this? - Well, some women did.
They got implants.
- Oh.
Janey, I don't think that it's a good idea for you to-- - No.
- We don't want you to compare yourself to some plastic idealization of the female form.
Oh, look, Janey.
This is Chatty Cathy.
[crackling.]
See? Our doll said-- [imitating crackling.]
Your dolls just tell you to say no to strangers.
Oh, it's my Sting-Ray! It's a little rusty.
Hope.
- Hi, Mrs.
Warren! - Oh, you look wonderful! Thanks.
Oh, she's growing up so fast.
I envy you having another one.
I always thought I'd have more.
I wanted a red Sting-Ray for Christmas so bad.
This was my first real bike.
And you looked so cute on it all bundled up.
My mother always had to dress me like Heidi.
[Marjorie.]
That Christmas morning, we all went outside, and your father ran along behind the bike, holding you up.
And you were screaming, "Don't let go! Please, don't let go!" And he was yelling, "I won't, I won't! Don't worry!" But, of course, he did.
And you were just pedaling along, lost in space, until you realized he wasn't there.
And you fell a heap in the snow and just cried and cried.
That's how you teach someone to ride a bike, Mother.
That's one way.
I don't recall you suggesting another way.
I don't recall being asked.
Oh, well, I knew this would be fun.
Why don't we just go through the entire house and attach the appropriate humiliating memory to it? Hope, would you like this for Janey? Or do you think it might interfere with her development to know about kitchens? Oh, she'd love it.
She thinks a kitchen is a place where you burn the food to a crisp and then you jump up and down and scream about the cost of meat.
These children have nowhere to go, and the community has nothing to offer them.
There's not one single place they can go and just be without the threat of-- What am I doing? This is too strident.
I can't yell at them.
- They're giving me money.
- They gotta give it to someone.
Might as well give it to you.
Okay.
I gotta do this before Monday, okay? 1, children should remain children as long as-- - Oh, God help me.
- Come here.
No.
No.
Please.
Please.
2-- 2-- I'm sorry.
Look, I'm used to rehearsing alone.
I always did this alone when I lived alone.
Well, this is better.
Now we can talk shop at work and at home.
Oh, is that the problem? I don't become your little girlfriend quick enough when I walk in the door? You want some lightweight that only thinks about you.
Is that it? Well, I have news for you.
I'm not my mother, you know.
Who said you were? Never mind.
And I hate butter.
You're right.
You're not your mother.
And you know something? I'm not your father.
What's the matter with you? I'd like you to give me one good reason why you put up with me.
Can I get back to you on that? [harmonica.]
You look very wow.
- You really think so? - Yeah.
I'm overdressed, though.
I always overdress when I'm nervous.
- Oh, what do you think of these? - They're great.
- Yeah? - They'll look adorable on your Dumbo-like ears.
They do just sort of hang there, don't they? Oh, God, what-- No.
No.
These.
These.
I could do this all night.
I can't keep him waiting.
Am I ever gonna get to meet this guy? - Yeah, of course.
- It's just that we're living together.
Until this divorce thing came up, I always assumed you were spontaneously generated.
- Well, I wasn't.
- I need proof.
Can I come tonight? Oh, no.
Not tonight.
Tonight we really have to be alone, I think, just the two of us.
Um, might go kind of late.
In other words, don't wait up.
- [soft jazz.]
- [chattering.]
My, aren't we grown-up tonight.
Come on in.
Daddy, who are all these people? I'll introduce you.
Ed Whitman, my daughter Ellyn.
I'm sure you've heard me speak of him.
We go way back.
All the way back to law school.
Oh, she's lovely, Jim.
Where have you been hiding her? Oh, we go way back.
[chuckles.]
Thank you.
And it gets so cold that time of year in Minnesota.
Oh, let me tell you.
And then there was the time in Canada that I must tell you about.
I can't get over how much she looks like her mother.
Your father says you're going to play the piano for us.
Everyone's waiting, dear.
Excuse me.
It's nice out here.
Too much hot air in there, huh? Are you okay? Daddy, who are all those people? People you work with? They're clients, friends, business associates.
You've been very charming.
I appreciate that.
Your mother always hated these things.
She could never see the point.
And what is the point exactly? The point is there is no point.
Cocktail parties, glorified bottom-sniffings, deal-making.
I see.
And since Mom was unavailable, I was only too happy to stand in, help smooth things over so you could gracefully explain your divorce to them.
So glad I could help.
- Well, I should've told you.
- Yeah.
And you should've rented a piano.
Then I could've really entertained them.
Well, I didn't know it would affect you like this.
Oh, Daddy.
It's just that you said that tonight was for us to You said we were gonna-- All right.
You wanna know why we're getting a divorce? No.
Forget it.
I really don't.
There's a lot about this you don't understand.
Fine.
Then why don't you explain it to your friends in there? Since you seem to care so much about them, since you don't seem to give a damn about Mom or me or The only thing that I can't believe is that I was so stupid as to think that you actually did.
Listen, you don't talk to me that way, young lady.
I'm your father, and I've been there for you every step of the way.
Who do you think taught you how to be strong and fight for what you want and not let anybody get in your way? Who? You, Daddy.
These kids have been pushed aside their whole lives.
If they can find work, it's in liquor stores and takeout chicken stands.
When a community has nothing to offer them, is it any wonder that they're without hope? If we want change, we have to be willing to change ourselves.
Not love of money or of progress or even the future.
It is simply love for all our children that will save us.
I strongly urge you to accept this proposal.
It can make a difference.
[chattering.]
Well, I think they heard me.
They didn't stand a chance.
So, how was dinner with Dad? Just like lunch with Dad.
It was fabulous.
- I'm sorry I asked.
- No, no.
It's just that I just don't wanna talk about it right now, okay? Okay.
Oh, look, this just isn't working out between us, is it? No, it isn't.
I mean, wait a minute.
I don't want to lose you.
Well, you know what? It feels really good to hear you say that.
But if I stay, then you'll run.
Oh, no, no.
I'm so tired of running.
Me, too.
Me, too.
But if that's the only way to keep you interested, then I just think I'm getting a little too old for that game.
What are you saying? I have my memories to consider.
I'll see you later.
[knocking.]
May I come in? Well, you've done a lot with this since your mother and I were here.
Uh, do you want coffee? I'm making tea.
No, uh, I haven't been sleeping very well lately.
Well, I can make decaf.
I thought maybe you could hook me up with a realtor.
I'm going to need one, and you seem to know a lot about the market right now.
Sure.
I mean, the woman who sold me this house was good.
I haven't lived in this city since I was 21.
Your mother and I used to come in for dinner all the time.
She wanted to live out in the-- Daddy, could you please not talk about her? You talk about her as if nothing even happened, like everything's the same.
Don't you feel anything? I feel, yeah.
I'm-- I'm very upset.
Oh.
Okay, fine.
Good.
You're very upset.
Great.
I know this is hard for you.
Yeah, isn't that strange? That it's harder for me than it is for you? No, that's not true.
That's not true.
Daddy, do you realize that my entire life was like, a fiction? That I spent my whole life trying to be like you, and I didn't even know who you were.
We were a family.
Together.
Oh, Daddy.
I felt like we only existed to serve you.
I spent every waking moment trying to get your attention.
"Good, Ellyn.
Nice, Ellyn.
"What was that? I wasn't looking, dear.
Should have gone to law school, Ellyn.
" I-- Maybe you're just one of those people that maybe shouldn't have had children.
Maybe you would have been better offwithout me.
Oh, no, honey.
When you were born and I looked in that tiny, scrunched-up face of yours I'd never felt something so intensely in my whole life.
Till that moment I saw you there in your mother's arms.
And I wanted to just remake the whole world for you.
I wanted to make everything safe and good, so you wouldn't be hurt by anything ever.
Well, the world didn't hurt me, Daddy.
You did.
Well, I don't want you to worry about this.
You know your mother.
This is all going to blow over.
I'm just letting her be for a while.
I don't want to upset her.
You know how upset she gets.
Butshe doesn't mean this.
I know it.
She'll come around.
[teapot whistling.]
Now, go ahead.
[whistling continues.]
I've been finding the most extraordinary things.
Look at this.
It's a piece of lace from your great-grandmother's wedding veil.
Why didn't you tell my mother? - Tell you what? - The truth about you and Daddy.
Huh, the truth.
What's the truth? Well, the fact that it was your idea to get the divorce, not his.
I think you might have told me that.
Well, you're surprised.
I was, too.
Maybe I didn't think you'd believe me.
Maybe I didn't think you'd-- Well, your father and I-- Maybe it all comes down to whether my life is over or whether I could make a decision.
But why now? [sniffles.]
I wore this the first time I danced with your father.
At Sunnybrook.
Tommy Dorsey played.
I looked-- [chuckles.]
Take it.
I remember-- What? He always liked you in blue.
Yes, he did.
Why did you marry him? Oh, it was what you did.
You got married, had children, and you took care of your husband.
And you left a large part of yourself buried.
I didn't know that then.
Nobody did.
It never starts out like that.
Your father was sobeautiful.
Riding with him in his white convertible with the wind in my hair, I felt as if I was flying.
You see, there are two kinds of boys in high school.
They're the good-looking ones, the ones on every team, the ones everyone wants.
They're the greatest dancers, too.
And then there are the others.
[breathing unevenly.]
The boys who look as though they'd always rather be somewhere else, reading a book-- or are shy and awkward.
I think you'd call them nerds now.
Those are the boys to marry, Ellen.
Those are the boys who tell you secrets, who hold you when you cry in the middle of the night, who want to grow old with you.
How do you know about this, Mom? Well, because I married a great dancer.
[sobbing.]
[blues on stereo.]
Hello? What are you doing? I'm making a casserole.
[turns down volume.]
What? You're out of butter.
I'm out of butter.
[clears throat.]
Uh, we had a whole thing of butter.
Yeah, I know.
I used it.
And you're low on milk.
Okay.
The oven's preheated, you just bake it for 40 minutes, and at least I know you won't starve tonight.
Oh, I don't get it.
What are you doing tonight? I don't know.
I'll think of something.
Wait a minute.
Don't you want to at least stay, and see how it turns out? I know how it turns out.
I'm sorry.
I know.
Me too.
Sorry.
Sorry.
It's just that Do you smell something? No.
Yes.
Fire! Fire.
Ba-ba-- Extinguisher.
Get the fire extinguisher.
It's in here! So God help me! I don't know how this works.
How does this work? I don't know.
Tell me-- Just tell me how this works! I don't know! Tell me how it works! [screams.]
Jeez, look what you made me do! What I made you do? You didn't even aim it! I'm sorry.
I never used a fire extinguisher before.
Oh, like I'm a fire? You couldn't aim the damn-- [shouting.]
Look at this.
You had a pizza box in the oven forwhat? Two weeks? I'm sorry.
I've had a lot on my mind.
When haven't you had a lot on your mind? Well, if you would stop cooking so much.
I've gained five pounds! Oh, well, yeah.
You're really fat, Ellyn.
I've been meaning to talk to you about that.
Yeah? And you're a wimp.
You think I'm a wimp? Because I know what I want? Because I want you! You know, you're really screwed up, Ellyn! I am not! Well, what are you, then? I-- I'm-- Just shut up! I am not screwed up! Ow! My God! Stay away.
[exasperated sighing.]
Ah, this is ger-- Uh, Ellyn, you know-- Do you know what you are? You're so busy trying to dazzle me, trying to impress me so I won't get bored.
Don't you get it? You don't have to do anything.
You don't have to be anything.
I just love you.
And if you can't deal with that, then I-- You really are screwed up.
Stay over there.
Don't come near me.
Here? Yeah.
Away from sharp kitchen utensils.
Okay.
Okay.
I can't think.
You think too much.
Just thank me for coming to your rescue.
You didn't rescue me.
Oh, well, that's the trouble with women nowadays.
They don't need rescuing.
I don't know what I need.
But when I figure it out, I'm going to need it from you.
You probably only like me now because I yelled at you.
Closed-Captioned By J.
R.
Media Services, Inc.
Burbank, CA And dance by the light of the moon