Party of Five s03e06 Episode Script
Going Home
[THUD.]
Was was that? Nothing.
Just a little turbulence, perfectly normal.
[THUD.]
Talk to me.
Talk to me.
Yeah.
Distract me.
Distract you? Yeah.
You know.
Uh Tell me what you're planning to say when we're, like, at, uh, Dartmouth and the admissions officer says, "So, Miss Salinger, what do you think our college has to offer you?" The best damn male-female ratio on the eastern seaboard.
[LAUGHS.]
[GASPS.]
Sarah, come on, we're gonna have fun.
We're gonna meet a lot of cool people, and we're gonna see great campuses and we're gonna ace our interviews.
Look, I'm sorry.
This isn't working.
Do you think by any chance the in-flight movie stars Brad Pitt? God.
God, we have to fly across all that? Wow.
Three thousand miles.
That's-- That's a long way from home, huh? Ha.
I know.
Isn't it great? [LAUGHS.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
Hey.
Hey.
Julia get off okay? I guess.
Um, Charlie-- Is Bay back from the airport with Owen? No, not yet.
Charlie, there's something-- There's a few more bags in the truck.
Would you get them? Yeah, in a sec.
But, first, Charlie, I really-- I did not get you that French shampoo.
That stuff costs like a jillion dollars a bottle.
Look, there's something-- GENE: Anybody open a window? The room is like a morgue.
Gene, what are you--? What's he--? I was trying to tell you that-- It's slim pickings in there.
But I found enough for a fruit salad.
Uh, you're out of milk.
Wait a second.
What's going on here? What are you two--? Oh, you think you're the one owed an explanation? Is that it? Our daughter's ill.
Our daughter's been ill for weeks.
We don't hear squat from you.
ELLIE: You couldn't have picked up the phone and called us? Ellie, why are we surprised? Just thank God she had the good sense to know you were in over your head and call us.
Kirsten called you? No, no.
Your sister.
Julia? CLAUDIA: Uh-uh.
Me.
I did.
I called them.
[THE BODEANS' "CLOSER TO FIVE" PLAYING.]
* Everybody wants to live * * Like they wanna live * * And everybody wants to love * * Like they wanna love * * Everybody wants to be * * Closer to free-ee-ee-ee * * Closer to free * No one does laundry around here anymore.
She wasn't getting any better, Charlie.
I-- I mean, you couldn't make her better.
Are you kidding me? It's just like you said with Jody.
I mean, just what you said.
Can't play around with stuff that's over your head.
Are you-- [SIGHS.]
Did you do this just to get back at me? Did you do this to hurt me? I did this to help Kirsten.
They had a right to know.
Why didn't you talk to me first? Why didn't you tell me before you called them? What the hell did you do that for? I did the right thing.
You can't-- Do you have any idea what a mess of this you've made? Do you? Get out of here.
Go to your room.
Close the door.
I don't care.
I don't want to look at you.
I want you out of my sight.
ELLIE: Honey, you barely nibbled.
When was the last time you ate? Have you eaten anything today? I don't remember.
Honey, how can you not remember? Stop grilling her.
I'm not.
I'm not grilling her.
I'm-- I'm just trying to help.
Honey, are you, uh, on some kind of medication? You know, some kind of pills? No.
Are you seeing somebody? A-A specialist? You have to take care of yourself.
I have a doctor, Mom.
Why didn't you say something? Why didn't you let us know? We could have taken care of you.
CHARLIE: God, I mean-- I mean, talk about stupid.
Like those two ever made a situation better in their entire lives.
She just-- She shouldn't have called them.
You're right.
She shouldn't have.
You should have.
As soon as Kirsten got sick.
They're her parents.
Kirsten asked me not to tell them.
Okay? Like she's thinking real clearly these days? What do you want, huh? You want to give me a hard time? Yeah.
Yeah, I do.
Yeah, well, you know what, Bailey? You're not here.
You're not around.
You drift in to steal toilet paper and do your laundry, and you think you have a right-- I don't need to live here to see that keeping Kirsten's parents in the dark was not the smartest-- I'm telling you, you don't know what's going on here.
You don't know what I'm dealing with and you don't know how I'm dealing with it.
Instead of waltzing in with an opinion about everything, why don't you just do us all a favor, man, and just butt out.
[SLOW ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO.]
[SIGHS.]
Those are my beers.
So I'll replace 'em.
Nice to see you too.
[GRUNTS.]
I am in such a crappy mood.
Yeah? Well, join the club.
A Thousand and One Quips, Epithets, Zingers, and Bon Motts.
What's a bon mott? Bon mot.
I hope it's French for something mildly insulting to say to your father on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
What, you gotta make a toast? Yeah.
It's okay.
It'll actually be the first time we've spoken in about two years.
You wanna help? Why not? I'm in a bash-your-family kind of mood right now.
Too bad it's not Charlie's birthday.
To Charlie, up yours.
That's clever.
We need to be much more drunk for this to work.
Here.
Come on, catch up.
[SIGHS.]
Okay.
To your dad.
To my dad, who put the "F" back in father.
What does that mean? I have no idea.
Dad, what can I say about you that hasn't already been said a thousand times about Richard Nixon? I'm moved.
Thank you.
Let's all raise our glasses to the man I always hoped would be the father I never had.
WOMAN: And there's a Master's tea tomorrow.
Oh, the-- The porcupine labyrinth, that's Thursday.
Very big deal around here.
I'm sorry? The what? Here, it's all in your campus-events bulletin in your admissions package.
So, uh, what happened to your friend? Sarah, was it? Oh, she's using the hall phone.
She wanted to let her family know that she got in okay.
I was gonna use it next.
So-- So you know a lot about this place.
Any advice for my interview? Just dare to be different.
I deliberately used the words "varmint" and "grand pappy" in my interview.
And I only moved to Texas in the 10th grade.
But I swear, that's what got me in.
Ah, Texas, huh? Well, California.
San Francisco, actually.
Cool.
Be prepared to get homesick.
Oh, not me.
Actually, distance is part of the appeal of an eastern school.
Ha.
[SARAH SIGHS.]
Hey.
Hey, are you all right? Yeah.
Yeah.
My mom was showing a house in Pacific Heights, tripped on a doggy toy, and fell down some stairs.
She broke her hip.
She's in the hospital.
WOMAN: What? Is she okay? Well, I gave my dad the payphone number.
He's gonna call me after he talks to the doctor.
Julia, if you have to use the phone, could you do it now, please.
You know what? It's okay.
I'm 3000 miles away.
I don't need to know what's going on with them, right? I want to know why she's not on medication.
Well, she-- She was on medication.
Sh-- We're having a little trouble with the dosage.
She was feeling-- Look, I'm talking to the doctor.
I'm gonna talk to the doctor.
I said I'm taking care of it.
We have a right to be involved in Kirsten's care, Charlie.
I'm not saying you don't.
Okay? I think you've made enough mess.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? My daughter wouldn't be upstairs, refusing to eat, not caring if she gets out of bed, if it hadn't been for you.
This is a medical condition.
This is not something that I did to her.
You can add up the mistakes that I've made, the problems that we've had, and it doesn't add up to this.
This is something inside of her.
I'm telling you, I've talked to the doctor.
There is some depression in your family, Gene.
Really? Your mother and her sister, well, they both had a problem.
Do you mind? How about that? You don't think you could have mentioned the family history? That's nothing to do with this.
That's not what it sounds like.
You want to point fingers-- You know-- ELLIE: Enough! What good is this doing her? Tell me, is it making her any better? I don't want to hear any more.
[***.]
Hey.
You're up.
And you're dressed.
I forgot I had these shoes.
What you doing just sitting there? Want me to make you some-- Gene, I am not having any luck.
We'll have to ask directions from somebody on the street.
Oh, Charlie, O'Farrell and Fillmore, where's that? Uh, one block east and about 10 blocks south.
Right near Mt.
Zion Hospital.
Why? Where are you--? Is he affiliated? CHARLIE: Who affiliated? He's the head of Psychiatry.
We're lucky he squeezed us in.
Fred Sullivan says that Dr.
Thornstrom is the top man on the West Coast, Kirs.
I told you she already has a doctor-- Dr.
Leto.
We just thought that a second opinion would be in order.
Charlie keeps the maps in the glove compartment.
It's okay, sweetheart.
We know where we're going.
We don't want to be late, baby.
Come on.
Look, just give me five minutes to jump in the shower-- They're expecting only the three of us.
Isn't that right, Ellie? Yes.
Uh, we, uh-- We thought it would be best if it was just family.
Where they going with her? What? No laundry? Promised Owen I'd take him to the Exploratorium today.
Hey.
Listen, I thought about some of the stuff I said to you yesterday and-- Whatever.
I don't care.
[CHATTERING.]
Sorry, these things are so stuffy, but you get bonus points for spilling anything on any girl wearing knee socks or a headband.
Are you kidding? This is-- This is great.
I mean, finger sandwiches and-- And chamber music, and all this amazing intellectual conversation.
My dad said that it might be weeks before my mom can even go to the bathroom by herself again.
What? Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I-- I'm really a total basket case.
I'm really sorry.
Don't be.
You've got a lot on your mind.
Yeah.
Sarah, if you're not feeling up to this-- No.
No.
I mean, I-- You know, I-I-I'm here.
I might as well make the best of it.
And you said the point was to mingle, so Hey, i-isn't that Gerald Hoskin? The English professor, yeah.
Why? You know him? Professor Hoskin? Hi.
I-I'm Julia Salinger.
I'm applying for admission next year.
So, Sarah, why don't you go dazzle Garvin over there? You know, rumor has it she's in line for a Nobel.
Or how about Hill d'Ville? He's not tenured, poor guy, but cute as hell.
Well? Do you think they'd let me call San Francisco if I put it on my credit card? * Run with me * So I go over there to make peace, right? Even though he's the one that owes me an apology.
But I figure, okay, why not just be big about the whole thing.
And it's like, he doesn't even want to hear it.
He could care less.
Well, screw it.
I'm through.
Interesting headwear you've got working there.
Took my kid brother to the Exploratorium.
Oh.
What came express mail? You want a laugh? You gotta read this.
My dad, right, in addition to sending me-- Three hundred dollars? Yeah.
For my ticket home.
Like he just assumes that I wouldn't go to his birthday thing unless he pays for it.
And as if that's not enough, sends me an outline of suggested material for me to include in his birthday toast.
Can you believe that? Wow.
The nerve, huh? He actually Heimliched someone on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange? You know, the thing is I was actually working on a toast when the mail came today.
You know, I mean, it wasn't anything hilarious or eloquent, but-- I don't know.
I mean, it was pretty heartfelt.
You know, it's like he never expected me to come up with anything nice to say about him on my own.
Like whatever I do, I'm gonna disappoint him.
[SIGHS.]
You know what? What's the point? You know, I mean, why even bother making the effort, huh? Hey, it beats me.
[SCOFFS.]
Hi.
How did it go? He had a really big fish tank in his office.
Well? It, uh, was productive.
What did he say? Well, he said that-- Ellie.
We have it under control, Charlie.
You've got what under control? I'm just-- I'm gonna-- ELLIE: Sweetheart, I'll gonna come with you.
Did he-- Did he talk about her medication? Did he recommended a different kind of therapy? What did he say? Gene-- Gene, don't do this to me, please.
I'm begging you.
I love her.
Like you loved her on her wedding day? Or like you loved her all those months her mom and I took care of her, the first time this happened, and you were nowhere.
You love her? Fine.
Look what good that's done her.
That was the stupidest, boringest, worst movie I've ever seen.
[LAUGHS.]
No kidding.
You know, I just figure any world in which someone can get paid $10 million to be in that piece of crap is a world in which good things can actually happen to me too, you know? I'm starving.
What do you say? Uh, I can't.
It's not in the budget.
Oh, come on, please? I'm paying.
Okay? I've got $300 burning a hole in my pocket.
Hey, why buy a plane ticket home when you can get a really great snack for the same money, huh? A $300 snack? If you disapprove, I don't want to hear it.
Okay? Because I'm not going home.
So just don't-- No, I'm not-- I'm not gonna make you feel guilty.
This is what college is about, right? We move out.
And we finally have the right to look back and say, "Hey, you know what? That's your life.
"That's your birthday.
That's your problem, not mine.
" I mean, I can't worry about the same four people my whole life.
I mean, enough is enough.
It's not like it makes me feel good.
So like Charlie says, I'm butting out.
How'd it go? Lots of questions, I bet, huh? Yeah, a lot of questions.
Did he say he wants to change anything? Does he want to change how you're being treated? I don't know.
What about the medication? I don't know.
Kirsten-- I don't know.
Okay? I don't-- I don't remember.
Okay.
Okay.
I just I know you don't want to talk right now.
But I just need Did he say that I wasn't taking care of you in the right way? Did he ever say that? Charlie-- Kirsten, please, I am trying here.
I know.
I know you're trying.
And everyone's trying.
Everyone wants me to be okay.
I just-- Stop pulling on me! I want everyone to stop pulling on me! Okay.
Shh.
Okay.
This is bad.
I know.
This is making it worse.
[***.]
I'm gonna take care of it.
I'm gonna take care of you.
Please.
I promise.
I promise.
[PHONE DIALING.]
Hoskin said I should bring my best stuff to the interview tomorrow.
That's a good idea.
Yeah, I know.
I'm sure my brother will-- Claudia, hey, listen, there's some stuff I need you guys to do for me.
I need Charlie to fax some of my short stories.
Yeah.
Wait, listen, Jule.
No, no.
I can't get Charlie right now.
GENE: Hell we are-- Something's going on here.
CHARLIE: You are a guest! Something pretty bad.
CHARLIE: Do what I say! GENE: I'm gonna do what I think is best for my daughter! Claudia, who is that yelling? Claud? What's-- What's going on? I don't give a damn.
You're not running around keeping secrets from me.
Sneaking Kirsten out, making doctor's appointments? We're taking care of her finally! No! You're making it worse! This is making it worse.
All this yelling and plotting, this is the problem.
I agree.
Good.
So I want you out now.
Fine.
No problem.
We'll find a hotel, out within the hour.
Fine.
Then we'll make arrangements to take Kirsten back to Chicago with us.
Like hell you will.
You're not married to her.
She's still our daughter.
You've got no right to keep her.
What? Ellie.
We're taking her home.
I'll start packing.
[***.]
It's mostly bad news.
Yeah, well, it's the story of my life.
Can I see her? W-Would you let me in? Gene's probably right down the block with the engine running, waiting to make a quick getaway as soon as you grab her, right? No.
He doesn't even know that I'm here.
Uh He's had a meeting this morning with-- With a lawyer.
A lawyer? [SIGHS.]
God.
So this is where we're at, huh, Ellie? Lawyers? Legal maneuvers? I'm sorry this has turned so ugly.
It's just that Gene feels so strongly that-- What about you, Ellie? Huh? Where are you on all of this? Because I thought after your last visit that-- That-- That you and I I thought we understood each other.
I mean, didn't we? Yes.
Then help me.
Please, tell him to back off.
Tell him that leaving her here with me in this house will get her better a hell of a lot faster.
I can't do that, Charlie.
Why not? Because I have rocked the boat enough lately.
He took me back.
After what I did, he took me back.
So now I have to be on his side, on my husband's side.
In other words, you're willing to sell out your daughter to hold on to your marriage? That was a terrible thing to say, Charlie.
Just let me look in on her, huh? I just want to see her.
Then I'll leave.
It's all I want.
Can you just give me that? JULIA: He said that? Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
And what did her parents say? Are you serious? [PHONE CLICKS.]
Claudia? Claud? Claud? Can I borrow another quarter? No way.
You've been on for half an hour.
I'll give you a dollar for a quarter.
Two dollars? Three? SARAH: What does that mean? Mom? Mom? [SIGHS.]
Put dad on, okay? I love you.
I said I love you.
I said-- She knows.
Okay? Dad? Dad, hi.
Hi.
No, no.
Our interviews aren't for 10 more minutes.
What is mom talking about her-- Her Jell-O has freckles? No, Dad.
She's not making any sense.
Really? Well, what kind of painkillers? Look, is Bay around? Well, maybe you should call him, Claud.
Because it sounds bad, that's why.
I just wish I could be there with her.
I don't know, just to be there.
Maybe if he were there, maybe if one of us was there We need some-- Some kind of order or something.
A restraining order, whatever you call it.
Something that says they can't come to my house-- It's not so simple, Charlie.
No.
It is simple.
It's simple.
Okay.
Look, maybe-- Maybe a restraining order's too much, but my point is obviously they can't just take Kirsten away, right? That's-- That's kidnapping, right? Charlie, the problem is you're not married, and you're not engaged, and they are her parents.
This is nuts.
I mean, she wants to be with me.
There is absolutely no question.
That's your word, Charlie.
Come on, this can't be right.
It can't be just, "Hey, that's just the way it goes.
" That's-- [SIGHS.]
What can I do? Well, you can take her parents to court, start legal proceedings.
What? Like cross-examination with-- With judges and doctors and-- And a million questions? You have to see her now.
She's not-- She can't-- I'd really have to put her through all that? Maybe.
Claudia, slow-- Slow down.
Okay? And stop yelling.
I've got a monster headache.
What is Charlie doing at the lawyer's? I don't know.
But they said that they were gonna take her away.
They were gonna take Kirsten away? Yeah.
Back home, to Chicago and-- [DOORBELL RINGS.]
Someone's here.
Someone's at the door.
Look, you gotta come home, Bay.
You gotta come home right now.
Oh, no.
BAILEY: Claudia? What's going on, Claudia? Claudia? [DIAL TONE.]
You can't come in.
Charlie isn't here, and no one else is here.
So I can't let you in.
Come on, Claudia.
No.
Because you might try to take her away, and I couldn't stop you, so That's not why I'm here.
I don't believe you.
Just-- Just give Charlie this letter.
Okay? It's from a lawyer.
It explains what's gonna happen.
Please, don't do this.
Claudia-- Please.
He loves her and-- And he takes care of her.
And I shouldn't have called you.
Yes, you should have.
You were worried about Kirsten.
You did exactly the right thing.
No, uh-uh.
I-- I was just angry at him.
That's why.
You really shouldn't take her away.
I mean, this is where she belongs.
And if you saw Kirsten and Charlie together, you would know that.
And I just-- You can still change your mind.
Please.
Please.
Just give your brother this letter.
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING.]
[BAND PLAYING MARCHING MUSIC.]
SARAH: Whitmore? Padgett? Rival dorms.
And they do this every year? It's like this big hundred-year-old tradition, supposedly meant to promote all this rah-rah stuff, like good sportsmanship.
MAN: Ladies and Gentlemen, behold the dueling porcupines! [CHEERING.]
You looking for a payphone? No, actually.
Julia.
We were gonna meet up after our interviews.
Julia! Julia, over here.
MAN: And they're off! Go! Go! Go! Hey, hey, hey, so how'd yours go? What? Oh, that.
Fine.
Look, I called-- What? You called who? I called the airline.
They said it's fine.
We could change our flight no problem.
Change our flight? Yeah.
There's one first thing tomorrow.
I know it means missing our interviews.
Look at us, can you focus on anything except what's going on back home? Hey.
Hey.
You haven't seen my other blue sock in the last few days, have you? No.
What are you doing? I gotta head home.
Overnight, probably.
That much laundry, huh? No.
It's this thing with Charlie and Kirsten.
It's getting kind of bad.
So you're going home? What happened to "I moved out and moved on"? What happened to that, huh? What? Are you mad or something? No.
No, I-- I don't know, you know.
I just-- You know, I think it's kind of interesting that-- That you, like, sat there yesterday and you give me this whole thing about cutting the cord and-- And not looking back and all that crap.
Well, what are you so pissed off about? It's not like I'm making you do anything.
Yeah, I know.
I know that.
I just-- I-- I thought that we were like these, um-- These kindred spirits here, you know, you and me.
I mean, I thought that we agreed at some point you just gotta move on.
I mean, isn't that what we said? Yes.
Yeah, so then why are you going home? God, what a hypocrite.
Yeah, I guess so.
So listen-- [SIGHS.]
Go home.
It's your dad's 60th birthday.
And, yeah, he's a jerk.
And, yeah, the letter he sent you was stupid.
And Charlie can be a jerk.
You wanna tell them to go to hell sometimes, but I don't know.
When you get that call that says, "I need you," you walk away from that and you're really alone.
[SIGHS.]
[***.]
Charlie? What is it? Nothing.
Shh.
Just go back to sleep.
Go back to sleep.
Okay? [SOBBING.]
[SIGHS.]
What are you doing here? Claudia called me.
I've got more than I can handle right now, Bay.
So if you're here with some free advice or handy criticism-- Charlie-- Don't need it, I don't want it.
And to be honest with you, I really can't handle it.
It's nothing like that.
[SIGHS.]
I'm just here.
Okay.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
BAILEY: Are you up? I heard you moving around.
Check it out.
You know those flowers you planted in the backyard? What do you call these again? Well, anyway, they-- They bloomed, like a lot.
You wanna come see? Well, maybe in the morning.
You look really nice.
Really nice.
Anyway, I was thinking about how it felt when you left before, when the wedding didn't happen.
We never stopped feeling like any second you were just gonna walk through the front door.
It never got to feeling right, you not being here.
And Charlie.
Charlie was never right without you.
And the thing is The thing is [SIGHS.]
The thing is I don't think he can lose you again.
Now, I know you shouldn't have to worry about that, but I do.
I worry about what's gonna happen to him if you go away.
Because, you see, you changed him, Kirsten.
All of a sudden he's like this-- This man.
A-And I think-- I really think that he needs to show you that he's gonna be there.
That whatever happens, he can handle it.
And no one knows that except maybe him and me and you.
I think you know that, don't you, Kirsten? Deep down, don't you? Yeah.
Hey, can your dad meet us at the airport? I'm not going home.
I'm staying.
I changed my ticket back.
So your mom-- She sounded pretty okay.
Yeah.
I mean, there's not really anything I can for her anyway.
Not really.
Going home would sort of be more for me than for them.
You know, I think you should stay too.
Sarah.
No.
I mean, I'm sure if you called Charlie, he'd say the same thing.
Oh, I'm-- I'm sure he would.
No one's telling me to come home.
Well, then stay.
You know what my mom said? She said that I should think of this as my first stay away from home.
"You know, what are you gonna do? "Run back to us, any time anything happens? You'll spend more on plane fare than you will on tuition.
" This is-- This is what it means to go away to school, Julia.
So maybe I shouldn't go so far away.
Really? When your dad says grow up, move away, move on, whatever, I mean, that's-- That's fine.
That's the way it should be.
But Charlie's not my dad, and he's not even just my brother.
He's [CHUCKLES.]
I can't explain it.
Ask Bailey.
It's like something you just feel or we feel.
We don't move on from each other.
We-- We don't have the freedom to do that.
And that's not a bad thing.
It's just the way it is, and that'll probably never change.
So I'll see you.
CHARLIE: You threaten me with your lawyers and your court orders.
Charlie, it could all be avoided.
Oh, give me a break.
Mom.
Dad.
We're right here, sweetheart.
[GAME SHOW PLAYING ON TV.]
GENE: Kirsten, can I turn this off? I'm watching too much TV, right? Um, I should stop watching so much.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Kirsten, we want to take you back to Chicago with us.
We want to take you home.
You do? Kirsten, you have to tell them what you want.
Do you want me to take care of you? Take care of me? Yes.
Do you want to stay here with me? Okay.
Is that enough for you? What more do you want to hear? Sweetheart, do you want your mother and me to take care of you? Of course.
Aren't you? That's not-- You want us to do that? Yes.
Then we'll take care of you.
That's not fair.
Of course she's gonna say that.
Explain to her that it's either-or.
Explain that can't have both.
Charlie, what are you doing? Kirsten, listen.
Kirsten, do you want your mom and me to go home today without you? What? No.
She doesn't understand-- Charlie, stop shouting.
Kirsten, listen, do you want to stay here with me, or do you want to go back to Chicago with them? What? You won't be with me if they take care of you.
We won't be together anymore.
They want to take you away.
Listen to me.
You have to choose.
Kirsten-- I don't-- I don't-- Stop.
[SOBBING.]
Stop.
Okay.
Okay.
Shh.
Hey, shh.
[SIGHS.]
Our flight leaves at 8.
Oh, now, this-- This is pretty, Kirsten.
I've not seen this before.
Is this new? Why don't we put this on? We don't want you catching cold on the airplane.
GENE: I found it.
ELLIE: Oh, good.
I was just telling Kirsten how pretty this sweater is.
That's the exact same color as my baby's baby blues.
All of this? Yes, all of it.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
They still packing? Yeah.
Charlie-- Claudia, leave me alone.
I can't talk to you right now.
I know.
I mean I understand.
And I know that you're gonna be mad at me for a long time.
Maybe forever even.
And I want you to know it's okay.
Claudia-- And if there's something you wanna take away from me, like my violin or something or Whatever you want.
However you wanna punish me because [SOBS.]
I'm so sorry, Charlie.
Claud, okay.
Why is there a cab in the driveway? I thought you were coming home next week.
What happened? I talked to Claudia.
She told me what was going on.
Is Kirsten? That's their cab, isn't it? They're taking her away? Yeah, pretty much.
God.
Look, there's nothing you can do, Jule.
It's over.
So you kind of came all the way home for nothing.
Not for nothing.
GENE: Ellie, you've got the tickets, right? ELLIE: Let me just double-check.
[SIGHS.]
Charlie.
There you are, baby.
All set.
Do you have enough cash for the cab driver? I think.
Charlie.
I hope you don't think we don't intend to keep you informed.
We will.
I'd like a minute with her, please.
Well, the cab is outside.
We'd be cutting it-- Give him a minute, Gene.
We'll be right outside.
[CHUCKLES.]
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
It's okay, really.
Actually, it's probably for the best.
I mean, this way you'll-- All you'll have to concentrate on is getting better.
You won't have the five of us stomping up and down these stairs all day long and Owen screaming and the dog barking.
And Bailey and I yelling at each other all the time.
Hey, don't cry.
Please don't cry.
You're crying.
However long it takes, I'm not gonna go anywhere.
I love you.
You know that, don't you? Don't you? Could you just say it so that I know you really know? You love me.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
Hey, we can't just sit here.
Maybe we should-- [SIGHS.]
She's gone.
I'm sorry, man.
Me too, Charlie.
Yeah, well [CHUCKLES.]
You're back.
JULIA: Yeah.
I came back.
For this? For you.
Oh.
Look, uh, I'm just gonna go on upstairs.
JULIA: No.
Don't do that.
You're just gonna feel alone upstairs, and you're not a-alone.
I mean, you are in a way, but you're also not.
[MARY BETH MAZIARZ'S "LEAN ON MY LOVE" PLAYING.]
Why don't you come sit with us for a while? We won't even talk if you don't want.
Just come sit.
* Gonna be here * * Till the morning * * You can lean on my love * * To get you Through the night * * You can lean on my love * [***.]
Was was that? Nothing.
Just a little turbulence, perfectly normal.
[THUD.]
Talk to me.
Talk to me.
Yeah.
Distract me.
Distract you? Yeah.
You know.
Uh Tell me what you're planning to say when we're, like, at, uh, Dartmouth and the admissions officer says, "So, Miss Salinger, what do you think our college has to offer you?" The best damn male-female ratio on the eastern seaboard.
[LAUGHS.]
[GASPS.]
Sarah, come on, we're gonna have fun.
We're gonna meet a lot of cool people, and we're gonna see great campuses and we're gonna ace our interviews.
Look, I'm sorry.
This isn't working.
Do you think by any chance the in-flight movie stars Brad Pitt? God.
God, we have to fly across all that? Wow.
Three thousand miles.
That's-- That's a long way from home, huh? Ha.
I know.
Isn't it great? [LAUGHS.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
Hey.
Hey.
Julia get off okay? I guess.
Um, Charlie-- Is Bay back from the airport with Owen? No, not yet.
Charlie, there's something-- There's a few more bags in the truck.
Would you get them? Yeah, in a sec.
But, first, Charlie, I really-- I did not get you that French shampoo.
That stuff costs like a jillion dollars a bottle.
Look, there's something-- GENE: Anybody open a window? The room is like a morgue.
Gene, what are you--? What's he--? I was trying to tell you that-- It's slim pickings in there.
But I found enough for a fruit salad.
Uh, you're out of milk.
Wait a second.
What's going on here? What are you two--? Oh, you think you're the one owed an explanation? Is that it? Our daughter's ill.
Our daughter's been ill for weeks.
We don't hear squat from you.
ELLIE: You couldn't have picked up the phone and called us? Ellie, why are we surprised? Just thank God she had the good sense to know you were in over your head and call us.
Kirsten called you? No, no.
Your sister.
Julia? CLAUDIA: Uh-uh.
Me.
I did.
I called them.
[THE BODEANS' "CLOSER TO FIVE" PLAYING.]
* Everybody wants to live * * Like they wanna live * * And everybody wants to love * * Like they wanna love * * Everybody wants to be * * Closer to free-ee-ee-ee * * Closer to free * No one does laundry around here anymore.
She wasn't getting any better, Charlie.
I-- I mean, you couldn't make her better.
Are you kidding me? It's just like you said with Jody.
I mean, just what you said.
Can't play around with stuff that's over your head.
Are you-- [SIGHS.]
Did you do this just to get back at me? Did you do this to hurt me? I did this to help Kirsten.
They had a right to know.
Why didn't you talk to me first? Why didn't you tell me before you called them? What the hell did you do that for? I did the right thing.
You can't-- Do you have any idea what a mess of this you've made? Do you? Get out of here.
Go to your room.
Close the door.
I don't care.
I don't want to look at you.
I want you out of my sight.
ELLIE: Honey, you barely nibbled.
When was the last time you ate? Have you eaten anything today? I don't remember.
Honey, how can you not remember? Stop grilling her.
I'm not.
I'm not grilling her.
I'm-- I'm just trying to help.
Honey, are you, uh, on some kind of medication? You know, some kind of pills? No.
Are you seeing somebody? A-A specialist? You have to take care of yourself.
I have a doctor, Mom.
Why didn't you say something? Why didn't you let us know? We could have taken care of you.
CHARLIE: God, I mean-- I mean, talk about stupid.
Like those two ever made a situation better in their entire lives.
She just-- She shouldn't have called them.
You're right.
She shouldn't have.
You should have.
As soon as Kirsten got sick.
They're her parents.
Kirsten asked me not to tell them.
Okay? Like she's thinking real clearly these days? What do you want, huh? You want to give me a hard time? Yeah.
Yeah, I do.
Yeah, well, you know what, Bailey? You're not here.
You're not around.
You drift in to steal toilet paper and do your laundry, and you think you have a right-- I don't need to live here to see that keeping Kirsten's parents in the dark was not the smartest-- I'm telling you, you don't know what's going on here.
You don't know what I'm dealing with and you don't know how I'm dealing with it.
Instead of waltzing in with an opinion about everything, why don't you just do us all a favor, man, and just butt out.
[SLOW ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO.]
[SIGHS.]
Those are my beers.
So I'll replace 'em.
Nice to see you too.
[GRUNTS.]
I am in such a crappy mood.
Yeah? Well, join the club.
A Thousand and One Quips, Epithets, Zingers, and Bon Motts.
What's a bon mott? Bon mot.
I hope it's French for something mildly insulting to say to your father on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
What, you gotta make a toast? Yeah.
It's okay.
It'll actually be the first time we've spoken in about two years.
You wanna help? Why not? I'm in a bash-your-family kind of mood right now.
Too bad it's not Charlie's birthday.
To Charlie, up yours.
That's clever.
We need to be much more drunk for this to work.
Here.
Come on, catch up.
[SIGHS.]
Okay.
To your dad.
To my dad, who put the "F" back in father.
What does that mean? I have no idea.
Dad, what can I say about you that hasn't already been said a thousand times about Richard Nixon? I'm moved.
Thank you.
Let's all raise our glasses to the man I always hoped would be the father I never had.
WOMAN: And there's a Master's tea tomorrow.
Oh, the-- The porcupine labyrinth, that's Thursday.
Very big deal around here.
I'm sorry? The what? Here, it's all in your campus-events bulletin in your admissions package.
So, uh, what happened to your friend? Sarah, was it? Oh, she's using the hall phone.
She wanted to let her family know that she got in okay.
I was gonna use it next.
So-- So you know a lot about this place.
Any advice for my interview? Just dare to be different.
I deliberately used the words "varmint" and "grand pappy" in my interview.
And I only moved to Texas in the 10th grade.
But I swear, that's what got me in.
Ah, Texas, huh? Well, California.
San Francisco, actually.
Cool.
Be prepared to get homesick.
Oh, not me.
Actually, distance is part of the appeal of an eastern school.
Ha.
[SARAH SIGHS.]
Hey.
Hey, are you all right? Yeah.
Yeah.
My mom was showing a house in Pacific Heights, tripped on a doggy toy, and fell down some stairs.
She broke her hip.
She's in the hospital.
WOMAN: What? Is she okay? Well, I gave my dad the payphone number.
He's gonna call me after he talks to the doctor.
Julia, if you have to use the phone, could you do it now, please.
You know what? It's okay.
I'm 3000 miles away.
I don't need to know what's going on with them, right? I want to know why she's not on medication.
Well, she-- She was on medication.
Sh-- We're having a little trouble with the dosage.
She was feeling-- Look, I'm talking to the doctor.
I'm gonna talk to the doctor.
I said I'm taking care of it.
We have a right to be involved in Kirsten's care, Charlie.
I'm not saying you don't.
Okay? I think you've made enough mess.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? My daughter wouldn't be upstairs, refusing to eat, not caring if she gets out of bed, if it hadn't been for you.
This is a medical condition.
This is not something that I did to her.
You can add up the mistakes that I've made, the problems that we've had, and it doesn't add up to this.
This is something inside of her.
I'm telling you, I've talked to the doctor.
There is some depression in your family, Gene.
Really? Your mother and her sister, well, they both had a problem.
Do you mind? How about that? You don't think you could have mentioned the family history? That's nothing to do with this.
That's not what it sounds like.
You want to point fingers-- You know-- ELLIE: Enough! What good is this doing her? Tell me, is it making her any better? I don't want to hear any more.
[***.]
Hey.
You're up.
And you're dressed.
I forgot I had these shoes.
What you doing just sitting there? Want me to make you some-- Gene, I am not having any luck.
We'll have to ask directions from somebody on the street.
Oh, Charlie, O'Farrell and Fillmore, where's that? Uh, one block east and about 10 blocks south.
Right near Mt.
Zion Hospital.
Why? Where are you--? Is he affiliated? CHARLIE: Who affiliated? He's the head of Psychiatry.
We're lucky he squeezed us in.
Fred Sullivan says that Dr.
Thornstrom is the top man on the West Coast, Kirs.
I told you she already has a doctor-- Dr.
Leto.
We just thought that a second opinion would be in order.
Charlie keeps the maps in the glove compartment.
It's okay, sweetheart.
We know where we're going.
We don't want to be late, baby.
Come on.
Look, just give me five minutes to jump in the shower-- They're expecting only the three of us.
Isn't that right, Ellie? Yes.
Uh, we, uh-- We thought it would be best if it was just family.
Where they going with her? What? No laundry? Promised Owen I'd take him to the Exploratorium today.
Hey.
Listen, I thought about some of the stuff I said to you yesterday and-- Whatever.
I don't care.
[CHATTERING.]
Sorry, these things are so stuffy, but you get bonus points for spilling anything on any girl wearing knee socks or a headband.
Are you kidding? This is-- This is great.
I mean, finger sandwiches and-- And chamber music, and all this amazing intellectual conversation.
My dad said that it might be weeks before my mom can even go to the bathroom by herself again.
What? Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I-- I'm really a total basket case.
I'm really sorry.
Don't be.
You've got a lot on your mind.
Yeah.
Sarah, if you're not feeling up to this-- No.
No.
I mean, I-- You know, I-I-I'm here.
I might as well make the best of it.
And you said the point was to mingle, so Hey, i-isn't that Gerald Hoskin? The English professor, yeah.
Why? You know him? Professor Hoskin? Hi.
I-I'm Julia Salinger.
I'm applying for admission next year.
So, Sarah, why don't you go dazzle Garvin over there? You know, rumor has it she's in line for a Nobel.
Or how about Hill d'Ville? He's not tenured, poor guy, but cute as hell.
Well? Do you think they'd let me call San Francisco if I put it on my credit card? * Run with me * So I go over there to make peace, right? Even though he's the one that owes me an apology.
But I figure, okay, why not just be big about the whole thing.
And it's like, he doesn't even want to hear it.
He could care less.
Well, screw it.
I'm through.
Interesting headwear you've got working there.
Took my kid brother to the Exploratorium.
Oh.
What came express mail? You want a laugh? You gotta read this.
My dad, right, in addition to sending me-- Three hundred dollars? Yeah.
For my ticket home.
Like he just assumes that I wouldn't go to his birthday thing unless he pays for it.
And as if that's not enough, sends me an outline of suggested material for me to include in his birthday toast.
Can you believe that? Wow.
The nerve, huh? He actually Heimliched someone on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange? You know, the thing is I was actually working on a toast when the mail came today.
You know, I mean, it wasn't anything hilarious or eloquent, but-- I don't know.
I mean, it was pretty heartfelt.
You know, it's like he never expected me to come up with anything nice to say about him on my own.
Like whatever I do, I'm gonna disappoint him.
[SIGHS.]
You know what? What's the point? You know, I mean, why even bother making the effort, huh? Hey, it beats me.
[SCOFFS.]
Hi.
How did it go? He had a really big fish tank in his office.
Well? It, uh, was productive.
What did he say? Well, he said that-- Ellie.
We have it under control, Charlie.
You've got what under control? I'm just-- I'm gonna-- ELLIE: Sweetheart, I'll gonna come with you.
Did he-- Did he talk about her medication? Did he recommended a different kind of therapy? What did he say? Gene-- Gene, don't do this to me, please.
I'm begging you.
I love her.
Like you loved her on her wedding day? Or like you loved her all those months her mom and I took care of her, the first time this happened, and you were nowhere.
You love her? Fine.
Look what good that's done her.
That was the stupidest, boringest, worst movie I've ever seen.
[LAUGHS.]
No kidding.
You know, I just figure any world in which someone can get paid $10 million to be in that piece of crap is a world in which good things can actually happen to me too, you know? I'm starving.
What do you say? Uh, I can't.
It's not in the budget.
Oh, come on, please? I'm paying.
Okay? I've got $300 burning a hole in my pocket.
Hey, why buy a plane ticket home when you can get a really great snack for the same money, huh? A $300 snack? If you disapprove, I don't want to hear it.
Okay? Because I'm not going home.
So just don't-- No, I'm not-- I'm not gonna make you feel guilty.
This is what college is about, right? We move out.
And we finally have the right to look back and say, "Hey, you know what? That's your life.
"That's your birthday.
That's your problem, not mine.
" I mean, I can't worry about the same four people my whole life.
I mean, enough is enough.
It's not like it makes me feel good.
So like Charlie says, I'm butting out.
How'd it go? Lots of questions, I bet, huh? Yeah, a lot of questions.
Did he say he wants to change anything? Does he want to change how you're being treated? I don't know.
What about the medication? I don't know.
Kirsten-- I don't know.
Okay? I don't-- I don't remember.
Okay.
Okay.
I just I know you don't want to talk right now.
But I just need Did he say that I wasn't taking care of you in the right way? Did he ever say that? Charlie-- Kirsten, please, I am trying here.
I know.
I know you're trying.
And everyone's trying.
Everyone wants me to be okay.
I just-- Stop pulling on me! I want everyone to stop pulling on me! Okay.
Shh.
Okay.
This is bad.
I know.
This is making it worse.
[***.]
I'm gonna take care of it.
I'm gonna take care of you.
Please.
I promise.
I promise.
[PHONE DIALING.]
Hoskin said I should bring my best stuff to the interview tomorrow.
That's a good idea.
Yeah, I know.
I'm sure my brother will-- Claudia, hey, listen, there's some stuff I need you guys to do for me.
I need Charlie to fax some of my short stories.
Yeah.
Wait, listen, Jule.
No, no.
I can't get Charlie right now.
GENE: Hell we are-- Something's going on here.
CHARLIE: You are a guest! Something pretty bad.
CHARLIE: Do what I say! GENE: I'm gonna do what I think is best for my daughter! Claudia, who is that yelling? Claud? What's-- What's going on? I don't give a damn.
You're not running around keeping secrets from me.
Sneaking Kirsten out, making doctor's appointments? We're taking care of her finally! No! You're making it worse! This is making it worse.
All this yelling and plotting, this is the problem.
I agree.
Good.
So I want you out now.
Fine.
No problem.
We'll find a hotel, out within the hour.
Fine.
Then we'll make arrangements to take Kirsten back to Chicago with us.
Like hell you will.
You're not married to her.
She's still our daughter.
You've got no right to keep her.
What? Ellie.
We're taking her home.
I'll start packing.
[***.]
It's mostly bad news.
Yeah, well, it's the story of my life.
Can I see her? W-Would you let me in? Gene's probably right down the block with the engine running, waiting to make a quick getaway as soon as you grab her, right? No.
He doesn't even know that I'm here.
Uh He's had a meeting this morning with-- With a lawyer.
A lawyer? [SIGHS.]
God.
So this is where we're at, huh, Ellie? Lawyers? Legal maneuvers? I'm sorry this has turned so ugly.
It's just that Gene feels so strongly that-- What about you, Ellie? Huh? Where are you on all of this? Because I thought after your last visit that-- That-- That you and I I thought we understood each other.
I mean, didn't we? Yes.
Then help me.
Please, tell him to back off.
Tell him that leaving her here with me in this house will get her better a hell of a lot faster.
I can't do that, Charlie.
Why not? Because I have rocked the boat enough lately.
He took me back.
After what I did, he took me back.
So now I have to be on his side, on my husband's side.
In other words, you're willing to sell out your daughter to hold on to your marriage? That was a terrible thing to say, Charlie.
Just let me look in on her, huh? I just want to see her.
Then I'll leave.
It's all I want.
Can you just give me that? JULIA: He said that? Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
And what did her parents say? Are you serious? [PHONE CLICKS.]
Claudia? Claud? Claud? Can I borrow another quarter? No way.
You've been on for half an hour.
I'll give you a dollar for a quarter.
Two dollars? Three? SARAH: What does that mean? Mom? Mom? [SIGHS.]
Put dad on, okay? I love you.
I said I love you.
I said-- She knows.
Okay? Dad? Dad, hi.
Hi.
No, no.
Our interviews aren't for 10 more minutes.
What is mom talking about her-- Her Jell-O has freckles? No, Dad.
She's not making any sense.
Really? Well, what kind of painkillers? Look, is Bay around? Well, maybe you should call him, Claud.
Because it sounds bad, that's why.
I just wish I could be there with her.
I don't know, just to be there.
Maybe if he were there, maybe if one of us was there We need some-- Some kind of order or something.
A restraining order, whatever you call it.
Something that says they can't come to my house-- It's not so simple, Charlie.
No.
It is simple.
It's simple.
Okay.
Look, maybe-- Maybe a restraining order's too much, but my point is obviously they can't just take Kirsten away, right? That's-- That's kidnapping, right? Charlie, the problem is you're not married, and you're not engaged, and they are her parents.
This is nuts.
I mean, she wants to be with me.
There is absolutely no question.
That's your word, Charlie.
Come on, this can't be right.
It can't be just, "Hey, that's just the way it goes.
" That's-- [SIGHS.]
What can I do? Well, you can take her parents to court, start legal proceedings.
What? Like cross-examination with-- With judges and doctors and-- And a million questions? You have to see her now.
She's not-- She can't-- I'd really have to put her through all that? Maybe.
Claudia, slow-- Slow down.
Okay? And stop yelling.
I've got a monster headache.
What is Charlie doing at the lawyer's? I don't know.
But they said that they were gonna take her away.
They were gonna take Kirsten away? Yeah.
Back home, to Chicago and-- [DOORBELL RINGS.]
Someone's here.
Someone's at the door.
Look, you gotta come home, Bay.
You gotta come home right now.
Oh, no.
BAILEY: Claudia? What's going on, Claudia? Claudia? [DIAL TONE.]
You can't come in.
Charlie isn't here, and no one else is here.
So I can't let you in.
Come on, Claudia.
No.
Because you might try to take her away, and I couldn't stop you, so That's not why I'm here.
I don't believe you.
Just-- Just give Charlie this letter.
Okay? It's from a lawyer.
It explains what's gonna happen.
Please, don't do this.
Claudia-- Please.
He loves her and-- And he takes care of her.
And I shouldn't have called you.
Yes, you should have.
You were worried about Kirsten.
You did exactly the right thing.
No, uh-uh.
I-- I was just angry at him.
That's why.
You really shouldn't take her away.
I mean, this is where she belongs.
And if you saw Kirsten and Charlie together, you would know that.
And I just-- You can still change your mind.
Please.
Please.
Just give your brother this letter.
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING.]
[BAND PLAYING MARCHING MUSIC.]
SARAH: Whitmore? Padgett? Rival dorms.
And they do this every year? It's like this big hundred-year-old tradition, supposedly meant to promote all this rah-rah stuff, like good sportsmanship.
MAN: Ladies and Gentlemen, behold the dueling porcupines! [CHEERING.]
You looking for a payphone? No, actually.
Julia.
We were gonna meet up after our interviews.
Julia! Julia, over here.
MAN: And they're off! Go! Go! Go! Hey, hey, hey, so how'd yours go? What? Oh, that.
Fine.
Look, I called-- What? You called who? I called the airline.
They said it's fine.
We could change our flight no problem.
Change our flight? Yeah.
There's one first thing tomorrow.
I know it means missing our interviews.
Look at us, can you focus on anything except what's going on back home? Hey.
Hey.
You haven't seen my other blue sock in the last few days, have you? No.
What are you doing? I gotta head home.
Overnight, probably.
That much laundry, huh? No.
It's this thing with Charlie and Kirsten.
It's getting kind of bad.
So you're going home? What happened to "I moved out and moved on"? What happened to that, huh? What? Are you mad or something? No.
No, I-- I don't know, you know.
I just-- You know, I think it's kind of interesting that-- That you, like, sat there yesterday and you give me this whole thing about cutting the cord and-- And not looking back and all that crap.
Well, what are you so pissed off about? It's not like I'm making you do anything.
Yeah, I know.
I know that.
I just-- I-- I thought that we were like these, um-- These kindred spirits here, you know, you and me.
I mean, I thought that we agreed at some point you just gotta move on.
I mean, isn't that what we said? Yes.
Yeah, so then why are you going home? God, what a hypocrite.
Yeah, I guess so.
So listen-- [SIGHS.]
Go home.
It's your dad's 60th birthday.
And, yeah, he's a jerk.
And, yeah, the letter he sent you was stupid.
And Charlie can be a jerk.
You wanna tell them to go to hell sometimes, but I don't know.
When you get that call that says, "I need you," you walk away from that and you're really alone.
[SIGHS.]
[***.]
Charlie? What is it? Nothing.
Shh.
Just go back to sleep.
Go back to sleep.
Okay? [SOBBING.]
[SIGHS.]
What are you doing here? Claudia called me.
I've got more than I can handle right now, Bay.
So if you're here with some free advice or handy criticism-- Charlie-- Don't need it, I don't want it.
And to be honest with you, I really can't handle it.
It's nothing like that.
[SIGHS.]
I'm just here.
Okay.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
BAILEY: Are you up? I heard you moving around.
Check it out.
You know those flowers you planted in the backyard? What do you call these again? Well, anyway, they-- They bloomed, like a lot.
You wanna come see? Well, maybe in the morning.
You look really nice.
Really nice.
Anyway, I was thinking about how it felt when you left before, when the wedding didn't happen.
We never stopped feeling like any second you were just gonna walk through the front door.
It never got to feeling right, you not being here.
And Charlie.
Charlie was never right without you.
And the thing is The thing is [SIGHS.]
The thing is I don't think he can lose you again.
Now, I know you shouldn't have to worry about that, but I do.
I worry about what's gonna happen to him if you go away.
Because, you see, you changed him, Kirsten.
All of a sudden he's like this-- This man.
A-And I think-- I really think that he needs to show you that he's gonna be there.
That whatever happens, he can handle it.
And no one knows that except maybe him and me and you.
I think you know that, don't you, Kirsten? Deep down, don't you? Yeah.
Hey, can your dad meet us at the airport? I'm not going home.
I'm staying.
I changed my ticket back.
So your mom-- She sounded pretty okay.
Yeah.
I mean, there's not really anything I can for her anyway.
Not really.
Going home would sort of be more for me than for them.
You know, I think you should stay too.
Sarah.
No.
I mean, I'm sure if you called Charlie, he'd say the same thing.
Oh, I'm-- I'm sure he would.
No one's telling me to come home.
Well, then stay.
You know what my mom said? She said that I should think of this as my first stay away from home.
"You know, what are you gonna do? "Run back to us, any time anything happens? You'll spend more on plane fare than you will on tuition.
" This is-- This is what it means to go away to school, Julia.
So maybe I shouldn't go so far away.
Really? When your dad says grow up, move away, move on, whatever, I mean, that's-- That's fine.
That's the way it should be.
But Charlie's not my dad, and he's not even just my brother.
He's [CHUCKLES.]
I can't explain it.
Ask Bailey.
It's like something you just feel or we feel.
We don't move on from each other.
We-- We don't have the freedom to do that.
And that's not a bad thing.
It's just the way it is, and that'll probably never change.
So I'll see you.
CHARLIE: You threaten me with your lawyers and your court orders.
Charlie, it could all be avoided.
Oh, give me a break.
Mom.
Dad.
We're right here, sweetheart.
[GAME SHOW PLAYING ON TV.]
GENE: Kirsten, can I turn this off? I'm watching too much TV, right? Um, I should stop watching so much.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
Kirsten, we want to take you back to Chicago with us.
We want to take you home.
You do? Kirsten, you have to tell them what you want.
Do you want me to take care of you? Take care of me? Yes.
Do you want to stay here with me? Okay.
Is that enough for you? What more do you want to hear? Sweetheart, do you want your mother and me to take care of you? Of course.
Aren't you? That's not-- You want us to do that? Yes.
Then we'll take care of you.
That's not fair.
Of course she's gonna say that.
Explain to her that it's either-or.
Explain that can't have both.
Charlie, what are you doing? Kirsten, listen.
Kirsten, do you want your mom and me to go home today without you? What? No.
She doesn't understand-- Charlie, stop shouting.
Kirsten, listen, do you want to stay here with me, or do you want to go back to Chicago with them? What? You won't be with me if they take care of you.
We won't be together anymore.
They want to take you away.
Listen to me.
You have to choose.
Kirsten-- I don't-- I don't-- Stop.
[SOBBING.]
Stop.
Okay.
Okay.
Shh.
Hey, shh.
[SIGHS.]
Our flight leaves at 8.
Oh, now, this-- This is pretty, Kirsten.
I've not seen this before.
Is this new? Why don't we put this on? We don't want you catching cold on the airplane.
GENE: I found it.
ELLIE: Oh, good.
I was just telling Kirsten how pretty this sweater is.
That's the exact same color as my baby's baby blues.
All of this? Yes, all of it.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
They still packing? Yeah.
Charlie-- Claudia, leave me alone.
I can't talk to you right now.
I know.
I mean I understand.
And I know that you're gonna be mad at me for a long time.
Maybe forever even.
And I want you to know it's okay.
Claudia-- And if there's something you wanna take away from me, like my violin or something or Whatever you want.
However you wanna punish me because [SOBS.]
I'm so sorry, Charlie.
Claud, okay.
Why is there a cab in the driveway? I thought you were coming home next week.
What happened? I talked to Claudia.
She told me what was going on.
Is Kirsten? That's their cab, isn't it? They're taking her away? Yeah, pretty much.
God.
Look, there's nothing you can do, Jule.
It's over.
So you kind of came all the way home for nothing.
Not for nothing.
GENE: Ellie, you've got the tickets, right? ELLIE: Let me just double-check.
[SIGHS.]
Charlie.
There you are, baby.
All set.
Do you have enough cash for the cab driver? I think.
Charlie.
I hope you don't think we don't intend to keep you informed.
We will.
I'd like a minute with her, please.
Well, the cab is outside.
We'd be cutting it-- Give him a minute, Gene.
We'll be right outside.
[CHUCKLES.]
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
It's okay, really.
Actually, it's probably for the best.
I mean, this way you'll-- All you'll have to concentrate on is getting better.
You won't have the five of us stomping up and down these stairs all day long and Owen screaming and the dog barking.
And Bailey and I yelling at each other all the time.
Hey, don't cry.
Please don't cry.
You're crying.
However long it takes, I'm not gonna go anywhere.
I love you.
You know that, don't you? Don't you? Could you just say it so that I know you really know? You love me.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
Hey, we can't just sit here.
Maybe we should-- [SIGHS.]
She's gone.
I'm sorry, man.
Me too, Charlie.
Yeah, well [CHUCKLES.]
You're back.
JULIA: Yeah.
I came back.
For this? For you.
Oh.
Look, uh, I'm just gonna go on upstairs.
JULIA: No.
Don't do that.
You're just gonna feel alone upstairs, and you're not a-alone.
I mean, you are in a way, but you're also not.
[MARY BETH MAZIARZ'S "LEAN ON MY LOVE" PLAYING.]
Why don't you come sit with us for a while? We won't even talk if you don't want.
Just come sit.
* Gonna be here * * Till the morning * * You can lean on my love * * To get you Through the night * * You can lean on my love * [***.]