Empty Nest (1988) s02e23 Episode Script

Did You Ever See a Dream Dying?

Life goes on and so do we just how we do it is no mystery one by one we fill the days we find a thousand different ways Sometimes the answer can be hard to find That's something I will never be I'm always here for anything that you need rain or shine I'll be the one to share it all as life goes on we share it all as life goes on oh, daddy, it says here this flu season is gonna be the worst in ten years.
- Yeah.
- Oh, that's terrible.
Daddy, does this mean we'll be able to afford to build that pool house out back? Carol! Maybe a little one.
Did someone let dreyfuss out? - No.
- I didn't.
Hey, this isn't dreyfuss! Good, Barbara.
Oh, look, he's really cute.
Look at his little face.
Come here.
Wait.
Barbara, Barbara, that's a strange dog.
I don't know if we should be Oh! Aren't you a cutie pie! - His tags are missing.
- Oh.
He's wost.
- Oh! He's wost! - Oh! He's wost! Daddy, we should make signs to put up around the neighborhood.
Oh, don't you worry.
We're gonna take good care of you, Andy.
Oh, Barbara, please.
He looks nothing like an Andy.
He's obviously a Joey.
Why Joey? It's short for Joseph because he looks just like Joseph Stalin.
You see the little mustache? But we don't "bwame" you for the thousands "impriwsoned" in insane "asywums.
" He's got to be hungry.
Yeah, well, dreyfuss didn't finish his oh, hey! Eat all you want, little Joey.
Oh, he's so cute! Oh, look, look, look, when one ear goes down, the other ear goes up.
Oh, yes! Love you, Tracy.
See ya.
Come back to me healthy, please.
Okay, Laverne, any interesting calls? Well, little Corey Bradford called.
He wants to know if you'll speak to his fifth grade class.
Ooh, that's pretty flattering.
I guess they want to know what it's like to be a pediatrician.
No, they's just looking for somebody that was alive during world war ii.
Hey, good-lookin'.
When you're through taking care of them toddlers, I know a full-grown man who could use some nursing.
- Ooh-hoo.
Hi there.
- Ooh! Sorry, Dr.
Weston.
Didn't mean to sweet talk the wife in front of you.
Oh, Nick! You're back from decatur.
How'd the game go last night? We won.
I had a great day.
Got on base twice.
Way to go, Nick! Got hit by two pitched balls.
Took one in the shoulder, one in the leg.
Good eye.
Sure could use some liniment, hon.
I'll run next door to orthopedics, get that kind you like.
Doctor, I don't need that liniment.
I just wanted to talk to you privately.
That is, if you're not in the middle of some breakthrough medical research.
It can wait.
What's on your mind? Well, I was hoping you'd meet me for lunch this afternoon.
Here's the address.
Got something real important to talk to you about.
Is everything all right? Yeah, yeah.
Just do me a favor.
Don't breathe a word about this to Laverne.
Here's your liniment, hon.
What was you two talking about? Nothing.
Okay.
Hoo! You're smooth.
I would never come up with that "nothing" thing.
Hi, doctor.
Welcome to stubby's.
I got here early to get us a table.
Well, great.
That's good.
Gee, this place is packed.
Always is.
Howdy.
Welcome to stubby's.
I'm Marilee.
Here's some chips and our special screamin' chili dip.
- Dig in.
- All right.
- Y'all enjoy now.
- Thank you, dear.
Thank you.
- Mmm! Mmm, it's good.
- Mm-hmm.
Why do they call it screaming Chili? Aah! Really, that's good today, huh? Oh! This place has quite the history, too.
Did you know that stubby's was actually scouted as a possible location for the movie urban cowboy? You're kidding.
Legend has it, the director stood right over yonder, took a look around and said, "nope.
" This place is all wrong.
" Very impressive.
Nick, uh, I know you didn't bring me here just to clear out my sinuses.
Is there something else on your mind? Man, you read me like a book.
Doctor, I've had three dreams in my life.
Dream number one was to play big league baseball, and to that end, I've been playing in the minors for 18 years now.
Now, dream number two has always been to own my own bar.
Nothing fancy.
Just a place I can call my own.
I don't expect to get rich, doctor, but I would like to put aside enough so as me and Laverne can retire to a little piece of Todd family land back in hickory.
Darn, I got going and spilled right over into dream number three.
Well, Nick, they all sound like very worthwhile aspirations.
I'm glad you see it that way, doctor, because stubby's ready to sell.
Oh! You want to own this bar! Unfortunately, I'm still about this far away from having the money I need to close the deal.
Oh, is that all? Uh, Nick, if you're asking me to lend you the money, I can take care of this.
Oh! Oh, and one more thing.
Can we keep this just between us? Laverne would be real uncomfortable if she knew I came to her boss for financial assistance.
It's okay.
Just between you and me.
Hoo! So it's a deal? Deal.
Whoo! Okay, Joey, do it one more time.
Oh! - He's great, isn't he? - Yeah.
- Oh! - Oh, daddy! You've got to see Joey.
He's so talented.
Yeah, wait till you see what he can do.
- Like what? - Go on, Barbara.
Yay! He is such a sweet dog! Dreyf, did you see that? A dog who can dance.
I think maybe that beats the time you yawned and got your mouth stuck open.
Daddy, can we keep him? No one's claimed him yet.
Yeah, and he's so much fun.
I don't know, girls.
I don't know.
I don't know, I don't know.
Maybe, maybe, maybe.
We'll talk about it.
And little Joey, if you need me, I'll be at Nick's.
It's opening night.
See you later.
Hey, Barbara, let's go take pictures of Joey dancing, okay? Good idea.
Glad you could make it to the grand opening.
Ain't this terrific? Do you believe what he's done to this place? Oh, don't pay attention to them.
Some people just resist change.
Well, what kind of changes have you made? Oh, nothing major.
Anyway, welcome to Laverke's.
"Laverke's"? Oh, I get it, I get it.
It's kind of a combination of Laverne and Nick's.
No.
Just got a heck of a deal on the "k.
" Doctor, my dream is of a kinder, gentler bar.
A family place.
A bar you can bring your two-year-old, providing he's 21 or older.
Well, uh Nick, what happened to the cute little cowgirl waitresses? Case in point.
Now those girls were pretty, but when a man walks into laverke's, the only woman should be on his mind is his wife.
Or his mama.
Which is why I brought in Agnes and Nana feldman.
Such a face! Nick, are you sure you want all these changes right off the bat? I mean, stubby's was a very popular place just the way it was.
Hell, that was stubby's dream.
This here is mine.
Yeah.
Well, yeah, okay.
Boy, this is the happiest night of my life.
My dream is coming true, and I owe it all to my anonymous investor.
If I ever find out who it was lent Nick that money, I'd be forever in his debt.
I'd shower him with endless praise and adulation.
Nick, why don't you just kind of tell her who it was? Ooh, I've been bursting to anyway.
It's Dr.
Weston.
Hey, it's almost 8:00.
Just about time for the entertainment to begin.
If you'll excuse me.
So you're the anonymous investor? Yeah.
That is the stupidest, most idiotic thing you have ever done.
Was that the endless praise or the adulation? How could you set my husband up in business? He's a dreamer, not an entrepreneur.
This place is bound to fail.
Laverne, it's opening night.
I think you're overreacting.
Okay, everybody, you've all filled your bellies.
Now it's time to have some fun.
Okay, this side.
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream row, row, row your boat gently down the stream everybody! Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream life is but a dream And, row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream good morning, Laverne.
Says who? I'm sorry.
I'm just really worried about Nick.
I'm afraid of what's gonna happen when his dream laverke's goes under.
- Not much business, huh? - Uhh! Wow, Laverne.
I really am very sorry.
I didn't know it was that bad.
I mean, I haven't been there since, you know, opening night.
Yeah, you and the rest of Miami.
Oh, doctor, there's just so many things Nick could be good at.
He could be a great coach or even a manager, but he's got this stupid dream in his head about running a bar.
And I'm just afraid when that bar goes under, his spirit's gonna die with it.
Well, I'm not gonna sit idly by and let that happen.
I gotta do something.
I know.
You talk to him.
Me? Well, why don't you talk to him? I'm his wife! His best friend in the world, his confidant! I can't talk to him! Laverne, I don't know what to say to him.
Well, I don't care what you say or what you do.
You've just got to convince him to sell that bar before he loses his shirt and his self-respect.
All right.
All right, Laverne.
I will do my very best.
I will stop by right after office hours.
Thank you.
Be sure to wear blue or gray.
It's "come as your favorite civil war general" night.
I told you he's going under.
Howdy, doctor.
Hey, you forgot your civil war duds.
- Eh - Oh, well, don't feel bad.
They forgot theirs too.
Uh, say, Nick, uh, can we have a little talk? Oh, could you hold on a minute? I got a few more things to do around here since Nana feldman up and quit.
She quit? Well, you know, most of her salary is based on tips, and to quote her own words, "you can't live on 15 cent of diddly.
" Business is picking up.
Hey, Harry.
What's with the civvies? - Charley? - At ease, neighbor.
- Charley, you come here? - Oh, yeah.
This place, it's the best bar in town.
Did I miss the sing-along? - Hey! - Hey! Where's Nana feldman? Oh, I'm afraid she quit.
Well, I can't blame her.
She was making diddly here.
- Here you go, general.
- Here.
Thanks.
You know what I love about the civil war? America won.
It was us against us.
We couldn't lose that, baby.
- So you wanted to talk.
- Yeah, yeah.
Uh, yes, I can't help but notice that this bar thing is not working out for you.
- What are you talking about? - Nick, I mean, look.
The place is practically empty.
It's been like that ever since you took over.
So I'm thinking, you know, maybe it's time to cut your losses, get rid of laverke's.
But it's my dream.
Yeah, Nick, I mean, I-i-i know it's your dream, but, you know, maybe you're just not cut out to run a bar.
With all due respect, doctor, I have to take issue with you on that one.
I do know how to run a bar.
Well, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I see table number eight is out of gummy bears.
- Hi, hon.
- Hi, darlin'.
Mmm! So how's it going? Not very well.
I can't seem to get through to him.
Well, the time for pussyfooting around is over.
You have got to convince him to sell this bar.
So where were we? Oh, yeah.
You were stomping on my dream.
O-o-okay, Nick.
That's it.
I mean, friendship aside, I'm also your creditor, and as such, I can demand repayment of the loan in full, immediately.
Now, if that means you have to sell the bar oh, I get it.
You want your money back.
I can see I've got no choice.
Well, I mean, I am sorry you're gonna have to sell the bar.
No choice at all but to give you the only thing I've got of equitable value.
The deed to our piece of family land in hickory.
Here you go, doctor.
I be keeping this deed here from the day I opened laverke's right by the cash register to remind me what I'm working for.
Now it's yours, fair and square.
Nick, I don't want your property.
This is ridiculous.
Now, baby, don't you worry.
I'll buy back that property from the doctor just as soon as laverke's catches on real big.
Nick, come on.
You know, this would be a whole lot easier all around if you would just please fold up your tent.
Call it quits.
Hey, you, get off of my cloud.
All right, who's ever down here, wherever you are, I have a black belt in karate.
No, you don't.
That's right, Barbara.
Let's be completely honest with Mr.
murderer.
Carol, look, the vase just fell over.
What's go what's going on? The vase broke.
How did that happen? Well, there's popcorn on the table.
It must have been dreyfuss.
You know how he loves popcorn.
He must have gone for it and knocked over the vase.
Dreyfuss, bad dog.
- Bad dog.
- Bad dog.
Shame on you.
- Bad.
- Shame.
Hey, Harry, what are you doing here? - I live here.
- Right.
Well, I'm just surprised you're not over at laverke's.
- It's their last night.
- What? Yeah.
Nick's going out of business.
Oh, no.
He finally gave up.
Poor Nick.
Poor Nick? What about me? I already rented my lobster suit for deep sea night.
Sorry.
Well, it's the last night I'll be putting these chairs up.
Nick, I'm sorry.
Why? It ain't your fault.
You didn't do nothing wrong, except for marrying a big old loser.
Now, don't say that, Nick.
The smartest thing I ever did was marry you.
- You are not a loser.
- Am too.
Can't even make one lousy dream come true.
Stop it.
Your dreams aren't lousy, they're wonderful.
It's your judgment that's lousy.
I guess the doctor was right.
Maybe I wasn't cut out to run a bar.
I wasn't cut out to run a bar or play major league ball.
Man, vernie, one of these days, I sure hope to god I find out what I was cut out to do.
Oh, hi.
Uh Oh, hi, doctor.
Sorry for quoting the stones at you the other day.
That's okay.
I guess you heard about laverke's going belly up.
Can't say you didn't warn me.
So go ahead, gloat.
I got it comin'.
Nick, come on.
You know I didn't come here to gloat.
I came here because I care about the two of you and I figured tonight you'd be feeling pretty low.
You always could read me like a book.
Come on, what do you say I give you two guys something to drink? Well, I'd appreciate a beer.
- Hon? - Ditto.
Here we go here.
I got a couple of beers here.
Here we go.
Oh, Nick, you know You know, I realize your dream is dying here tonight.
I know exactly how you feel.
I should have known you would.
Yep.
I've been there myself, you know.
Well, you know, being a pediatrician wasn't my first dream.
- Really? - No.
In fact, if I told you what it was, you'd probably laugh so hard you'd fall right off that stool.
Try us.
I wanted to be a dancer.
It's all It's all right, yeah.
Go ahead, laugh.
No, I know.
No, it's a laughable idea now, but then, even though I had two left feet and no sense of rhythm at all, I wanted to be the next Fred Astaire.
And were ya? Uh, no, Nick.
Oh, right.
I kind of lost the thread of the story there for a while.
Well, you see, the important thing is is that is that dancing was my dream.
But it was one of those dreams that only makes sense as a dream, and once I realized that and faced up to the fact it was never gonna happen, then I was free, you know, to focus my life, my energy on other dreams, more attainable dreams.
So that's when you got your dream about being a doctor? Exactly.
So what you're saying is, me running a successful bar was about as likely as you becoming the next Fred Astaire.
Well, I mean, actually, what I'm saying is that in any one lifetime, there's room for plenty of dreams, and if some of your dreams don't come true, you just go out and you find some more dreams.
Oh, he makes a lot of sense, Nick.
Finally she agrees with me.
Don't get used to it.
Now, Nick, you know your other dream, eh? That retirement property back in old hickory? - Yeah.
- Ah! That's a dream you should never, ever give up.
No, that's your property, doctor.
Nick, come on, you're gonna sell the bar.
When you sell the bar, just give me the money you owe me and we're square.
Thank you, doctor.
And don't worry, I'll pay you back.
Nick, I am not worried.
Man, vernie, what could I have been thinkin'? A baseball player opening a bar filled with colorful people, where everybody knows your name? How likely was that to work out? What now? Dreyfuss, what is wrong with you? Dreyfuss, you broke something else? This isn't like you.
Maybe he's trying to tell us something, like Lassie used to tell Timmy.
I know.
Somebody's trapped in a cave.
No, Barbara, I don't think so.
Dreyfuss, you bad boy.
I saw the signs you posted.
I think you have my wife's dog.
- Oh, he came for Joey.
- Oh! Oh, yeah, that's him.
You don't seem very happy to see your dog.
Well, I guess it's because I hate him.
He breaks everything in the house.
Come on, let's go.
Come on, Satan.
Oh, dreyf.
Oh, dreyf.
How could we have blamed you for breaking all those things? - Dreyf, we're so sorry.
- Dreyf.
Oh, dreyfuss, please don't be mad at us.
All right, dreyf, I tell you what.
We have learned our lesson.
There will never, ever be another animal in this house except you.
Yeah! My puppy! Yeah! Oh, that's it!
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