Party of Five s03e09 Episode Script
Gimme Shelter
CHARLIE: How about this one? "Salinger's: Family-owned, family-run, family-style, family fun.
" Kind of makes it sound like a theme park, huh? Yeah.
We don't want that, do we? No, sir.
No, sir.
Still looking for a slogan? 'Cause I've got one.
"Salinger's, our jerk chicken is served by a real live jerk.
" Hey, any time you wanna put an end to this cold war would be fine with me.
Yeah, and any time you wanna let me go to the conservatory would be fine by me.
Claudia, you know, being a pain in the ass isn't getting you any closer to what you want here.
But if you wanna talk about this-- Why bother? You're not gonna change your mind.
Okay.
"Salinger's, big portions because size matters.
" I think no.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Don't talk to me.
No one talk to me.
I can't talk to anyone about anything for the next four days.
Don't you wanna know why? Yeah, why? I screwed up.
I've got four days to finish my college applications and decide where I'm applying for early admissions.
I thought they said December 1st.
For the next four days, I need complete order in the house.
Complete order and quiet and-- [ELECTRIC SAW BUZZING, MEN SPEAKING, HAMMERING.]
What was that? That's the roof repair guys.
They're up in your room.
Evidently, the-- The roof leaks rotted out most of the wood up there, so No.
Get 'em out.
Tell 'em to come back next week.
Can't.
The roof warranty runs out on Saturday.
God, Charlie, have you even heard of the word "supportive"? Ungh! I'll go to preschool and sleep with Cookie Bear, and you can be the man of the house.
How's that sound? [THE BODEANS' "CLOSER TO FIVE" PLAYING.]
* Everybody wants to live * * Like they wanna live * * And everybodywants to love * * Like they wanna love * * Everybody wants to be * * Closer to free-ee-ee-ee * * Closer to free * [INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
COACH: Listen up, guys, come on, put it together.
Put it together.
I'm talking here.
Come on.
All right, listen up.
The final roster's gonna be posted tomorrow.
If your name is on that list, I want you to check your uniform info in at the cage before practice.
Okay? BOY 1: Yeah.
BOY 2: Yeah, coach.
[INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
Hey, Salinger, how long you been playing hockey? Since I was a kid.
You know, peewees, bantams-- But no high school, huh? No.
Just junior high.
Why? Does that--? Well, your form's good, but, uh, you're rusty.
Oh.
So, what I want you to do is play intramurals this season.
Intramurals? Yeah.
Get your game back.
And then come back out again next year after some of these guys graduate.
Well, what if I get my game back right away? Couldn't you just put me on the team and see how it goes? I've been doing this a long time.
I know how it's gonna go.
I'll see you next year.
[HAMMERING.]
Hello? H-hello! Did you guys move my stuff around? 'Cause I had piles of papers Yeah, it's, uh-- It's over there.
It's all safe.
I had seven stacks of documents labeled and everything.
Would you stop hammering?! What did you do? Did you shuffle these? Listen to me.
I have four days left.
Four days to write, like, 15 essays on the single most defining moment of my life o-or the three historical figures I'd most like to invite for breakfast.
So I don't have time for setbacks like this.
My name's Sam.
[RUSTLING.]
This is my brother Alec.
It's nice to meet you Julia.
This is my room.
It's nice.
When can you guys be outta here? Oh, no more than a week.
I-I'm sorry, a week? You got a lot of damage in the rafters here.
That, plus access to the roof and, uh-- You know what? Just do the work.
[SARAH HUMMING CHEERILY.]
Oh, my God, Bailey, so exciting.
Remember how I told you that I was gonna audition for that backup vocalist stuff for that producer lady? Yeah.
Well, I did.
Today.
I went to her studio, and she put me in this booth with earphones and a mike and all, and I sang a song.
[LAUGHS.]
Really? Cool.
Oh, it gets even cooler.
In addition to the backup singers, they were also looking for the lead voice in a carpet jingle.
And out of all the singers they know, guess who they picked.
* Me, oh, me, oh, me * Ah! Can you believe it? I wasn't even trying out.
Ow! [GIGGLES.]
Ow.
Ungh.
I'm just-- I'm a little sore.
Oh.
Oh, God, right.
Hockey.
Hockey.
How did it go? Do I need to buy new mittens for your games? Not-- Not exactly.
The coach said I wasn't good enough, and he wants me to play intramurals and try out again next year.
Oh.
Well, that'll be fun.
Right? You know, and then when you try out next year-- I'm not gonna try out next year.
Not if it means wasting this year tossing a puck around with a bunch of losers.
Forget it.
Well, I'm sorry.
I know how much you-- Hey, it's no big deal.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
College stuff, huh? Yeah.
Doesn't that, like, fry your brain to think of one thing for so many hours? Don't you have work to do or something? Yeah, I'm taking a break, to, uh, hit on you.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
Go finish your work.
What, is this, like, a thing you have against guys who do manual labor? Yeah.
That's it exactly.
You have me pegged.
Hey, why don't you take a break for a minute? I wanna show you something cool.
Really, y-you can see Marin from up on your scaffolding.
You can't see Marin at all.
No kiddin'.
Huh.
[SIGHS EXASPERATEDLY.]
[SIGHS.]
So college, huh? Mm.
How much does something like that cost? It must be a lot, four years of college.
Your folks springing for it? Scholarship, hopefully.
Yeah? I wonder if I could get one of those.
You graduated high school? Yeah, I graduated high school.
I didn't mean it that way.
Right.
You know, I'm only working 'cause I have to work.
Some of us have to work.
Oh, for God sake-- No.
My folks said to me a couple months ago on my 18th birthday-- They said, "That's it.
"We took care of you for 18 years, Al.
"Now it's up to you.
"Get a job, pay for school, whatever.
It's your life now, and we're done.
" Sonow I'm my brother's problem.
No kidding? Nope.
No kiddin'.
Hm.
Uh you know what? I gotta go.
Heh.
Well, uh, do you have a problem with this? Just don't do it on the job, okay? Hey.
I thought this was going pretty good.
I just have work to do.
[INHALES, SIGHS.]
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
I'd like to know what nimrod came up with the cheeseless pizza.
That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard of in my life.
WAITRESS: How are you-all doing here? Mm.
I'll have another.
You want another soda? No.
Heh.
Makes about as much sense as a-- A breadless sandwich or a bubbleless soda.
What? Nothing.
Nothing.
Are you sure you're okay? 'Cause you seem kinda aggressive, like you're bugged.
What? No.
You're not bugging me at all.
I didn't say I was.
Look, just don't get down on yourself, okay? 'Cause your thing's gonna come along, you know? What are you talking about? So it wasn't hockey.
So what? It'll be something else.
Sarah, I told you I don't care about the hockey thing, not at all.
What makes you think that--? WAITRESS: Here.
Thanks.
* I wanna walk with you In the rain * * Till we both get lost * Oh, is it 'cause I'm drinking? You think I'm drinking because I'm pissed off or something? Well-- I'm celebrating.
That's what we're doing here, Sarah.
We're celebrating.
We're taking a moment to raise our glasses and give thanks for the good things life's brought our way, like your great new jingle job and my-- My great new fake ID.
And the winner is Fanfare, please.
[IMITATES FANFARE.]
"Salinger's, 'cause you gotta eat.
" Simple, but kinda funky.
Yet eerily subversive.
Right.
Anyway, I'm just glad I found one that worked, and this whole thing wasn't the bust I thought it was gonna be.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Jim Seely.
Oh, my God, that's Jim Seely over there.
You know this guy? He's a very important performance artist.
How could you not know his work? Believe it or not, I'm not a huge performance art fan.
He's pretty hot right now.
So if he's famous, this could be kinda big, right? If Jim Seely's eating here, I might actually start telling people where I work.
[LAUGHS.]
CHARLIE: Hi.
Welcome to Salinger's.
I'm Charlie.
Jim Seely.
Yeah, I know.
Um, I'm a-- I'm a big fan of yours.
Anyway, uh-- I loved your slogan.
Well, of course I did or you wouldn't have won, right? I guess not.
Anyway, uh, the award, as you know, is 52 coupons for dinner for two here at Salinger's.
Um Uh the idea was that you could come once a week for a year, but, uh, they're good, um, anytime.
Stuart, could you? Great.
I'll use six now.
I brought some friends.
After you.
* Sing your cutie to the sun * * The home and the moon * * Isn't it a lovely day * * When you look and smile My way? * * Skies are blue Trees so green * * Make it such a lovely day * * You make it Such a lovely day * [SCRAPING, HAMMERING, INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
Claudia! Claudia! [DOOR OPENS.]
What? What the hell is going on in your room? You like? No.
No, I-I don't.
When did you do this? I did it.
This morning.
I asked him to.
What? Where do you get off? It's my room, Julia.
That doesn't matter.
People don't paint their rooms black.
It's disgusting.
You know what? You don't have to live in it, and no one's asking you.
I don't know what you think you're gonna accomplish, but I really wish you would cut it out.
Claudia! [DOOR SLAMS.]
It's just paint.
What? I'd let it go if you were you.
Oh? Oh, you would, huh? Yeah.
Live and let live, you know? That's my philosophy.
That's not a philosophy.
That's a greeting card.
Just paint it back.
Fine.
Pay me, and I'll paint it polka dots if you want.
[HAMMERING CONTINUES.]
Okay, so it goes: * Lester Manning Buy your base for carpeting * * Come to Les For more * Well, that's a jingle all right.
You wanna get some coffee? Mm.
Can't.
I have AP English in half an hour.
D-don't you have Geology? Yes.
I also have a huge headache.
Quite frankly, a cup of coffee is more important to me right now than identifying igneous.
Huh.
What's that? A letter from some Coach Petrocelli guy, wrestling coach, I guess.
Hmm, what's it say? He's got my name from the hockey coach.
He wants me to try out for the team.
[PAPER CRINKLING.]
Yeah, right.
Bailey, what are you doing? You can't just throw this away.
It might be really cool.
Sarah, they're recruiting guys that they've never even met.
That's generally not a good sign of coolness.
Bailey, excuse me.
What's the plan here? I mean, are you just gonna blow off everything for the next four years? Didn't you just say something about AP English? Bailey, it's a great opportunity.
You gotta at least check it out.
Hi, Charlie.
Grace Wilcox.
Oh, right.
Sure.
Harvest Program.
How you doing? Not great, actually.
A man I know told me he was kicked out of here last night 'cause he was homeless.
I said, "That can't be true.
I know the guy who owns the place.
He's one of the good guys.
" I was right, wasn't I? Look, I gave them all a good meal to take with them.
A doggy bag.
Doesn't that seem just a little dehumanizing to you? Look, I serve food here.
Cleanliness is a major issue, and those people hadn't bathed in a long time.
It's a little hard to shower when you don't have a home.
If I could give every one of those people homes, I would.
But I can't, okay? I run a restaurant.
My customers come here to get away from it all and to have a nice meal.
If I can't provide that, I'm out of business.
What if you found out those customers were racist? Would you kick out all the blacks? Would you kick me out? That's not the same.
Yeah, it is, Charlie.
Those people aren't allowed in here because your customers don't wanna look at them.
Unless someone like you takes a stand on their behalf, it's just gonna get worse for them.
Don't talk to me like I'm completely ignorant on the subject, okay? I give your organization a lot of food every week, free.
You might wanna remember that before you start talking to me like I'm the problem here, 'cause I'm not.
Fine.
Fine.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
COACH: What'd you play in high school? Football.
Quarterback.
Didn't wanna do it here? No, uh, it just didn't work out.
Different game, isn't it? College ball? I made it through one practice at UCLA.
Man, were those guys big.
Yeah.
That was before steroids.
You're saying I'm old? Oh, no.
I just meant-- Mm-hm.
Reversals and escapes.
I'm gonna set you up with, uh, Jimmy here.
Okay? You go with your instincts.
You pick up what you can.
Eddie, you come with me.
All right.
Ones down, on the whistle.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING.]
Hey.
Hey.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
COACH: Twos down.
Come on, come on.
Move.
[GRUNTING.]
COACH: Again.
[WHISTLES BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING.]
COACH: Switch.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING.]
[PANTING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[PANTING.]
Sorry.
Too much resistance? [WHISTLE BLOWING.]
Hello.
Oh, hey.
You've got olives.
Nobody keeps olives around anymore.
I love olives.
What are you doing in our fridge? A late lunch.
What? Alec, this is not your house.
You can't come into our kitchen and take whatever you want.
Well, I didn't think you'd mind.
I mean, we're kind of friends now.
Do you think that little red thing grows in the olive or someone shoves it in there after? [LAUGHS.]
What? I want that job.
Olive red thing shover-inner guy.
You're stoned, aren't you? Who, me? [GIGGLES.]
Alec, this is not funny.
Do you wanna get fired? Is that what you want? [SCOFFS.]
It's just weed.
Man-- I don't care.
I told you yesterday you can't smoke pot-- Yeah.
I heard.
I heard.
[MOCKINGLY.]
: Don't get high.
Ugh! [CHATTERING.]
PETROCELLI: See you tomorrow.
Hey.
Well, thanks for looking me up.
I'd say this was a big success.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Considering you had no idea what you were doing, you did okay.
Once we give you a few skills, who knows? Wait a minute.
You're not actually saying you want me back, are you? Why not? You're a good athlete.
You got the right body type.
You give me a month, I'll make a wrestler out of you.
We got a meet tomorrow night.
Be there.
[HAMMERING.]
Where have you been? You mind not talking to me like that? Tell your brother not to smoke pot in the house.
There's kids here.
There's my sister and my brother Owen.
I really doubt he's getting high at work.
Yeah, w-well, I saw him.
We were sitting on the scaffolding last night, and he pulled out a joint.
W-wait.
You're sitting on the scaffolding togetherat night? That is not the point.
Mm-hm.
Look, y-your brother is completely high today.
Talk to him and you'll see.
You know what? He gets his job done.
If he wants to kill brain cells, that's his business.
My advice? You're hanging out together and he offers you a joint and you don't like it, hang out with someone else.
Your brother gets high every day.
And your little sister paints her room black.
And you wanna tell everyone how to live.
I just wanna get this job done in time to start my next one.
There's a very small profit margin in the roof trade.
So if it's not a problem for you, I'm just gonna get this over with.
[SIGHS.]
Hard day, huh? Yeah, actually.
Thanks for asking.
I don't see how you do it.
I mean, put in a 12-hour day and still find the energy to throw starving people onto the street.
I mean, that's stamina.
What? How did you know about--? The evening paper.
"Homeless Ejected from Eatery.
" What? Oh, and my favorite part.
"According to Eric Payne, a 62-year-old transient, Mr.
Salinger forced him bodily out the door.
" The guy sat on the floor and refused to move.
I just helped him up.
That's not what he says.
Oh, don't miss the editorial page.
The Harvest Program is calling for a boycott.
[SIGHS.]
And you're making decisions in my life? God.
I can't believe this.
I can.
I thought I threw that away.
I bought extra copies for posterity.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Hey, Char.
You know that whole "there's no such thing as bad publicity" thing? Not true.
Okay.
Hold up, everyone.
This stuff, it's garbage, okay? It's not true.
Oh, so they just made it up out of the blue? Yeah, papers are always doing that.
Yes, okay? There was an incident.
It got a little bit out of control, but it wasn't like that.
All right? I didn't-- I handled it just fine.
Yeah.
That much is pretty clear.
Look, I'm gonna straighten this whole thing out.
But until then, I wouldn't mind just a little support here.
[DOOR OPENS.]
SAM: Well, pal, at least they spelled your name right.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING, INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
BOY 1: Come on.
BOY 2: Wrap 'em up.
Wrap 'em up.
Proud of you, Mark.
Come on, wrap 'em up.
Where is everybody? This is it, man.
You mean nobody comes to meets? Yeah.
Funny thing about losing streaks.
BAILEY: What's our record? WRESTLER: Last season, we were 0 and 20.
[GRUNTING.]
You see how he's shooting for the legs? That's good, that's good.
Don't lock up! Damn.
You see how he opened himself up for that? Huh? And that's the star of our team.
[GRUNTING.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
Do you mind? These are my applications.
It's my table too.
Since when do you get F's? Since I stopped doing my work.
Claudia, this is serious.
Look, Claud, it matters.
I don't care.
I cared about music.
I cared about the violin.
I don't care about this.
What do you want? You wanna fail Social Studies? Do you wanna apply to a great school with a great music program with crappy grades? Look, I-I know this is a long way away, but you have to think about stuff like this.
Maybe Charlie should have thought about it first.
Oh.
Oh, so this is all to hurt Charlie.
Is that--? Is that the big plan here? [RETREATING FOOTSTEPS.]
[SIGHS.]
I'm going back to work.
Leave me alone.
I overheard what you said to Sam last night.
Are you trying to get me fired? Is that it? No, Alec.
I'm just trying do my work.
Just so you know, what you did, total waste of time, 'cause Sam doesn't care.
So he isn't gonna do anything.
I mean, you coulda told him anything you wanted about me.
Doesn't matter.
He doesn't care.
So I thought about it, and I don't think that I can in good conscience take your paychecks.
You're quitting? Effective immediately.
Come on, you'll leave me short-handed.
Can't you at least work today? [PHONE RINGS.]
Hang on a second.
Salinger's .
Yes, hello, Mr.
Raft.
Looking forward to seeing you tonight.
Are you sure? Right, I I'm sorry to hear that.
[BEEPS.]
[SIGHS.]
I really feel I have to go with my morals on this one.
Gee, Stuart, it must be nice to have that luxury.
PETROCELLI: Listen up.
Okay, we're still looking at a goose egg which is never any fun.
But I will say this: Most of you-- Most of you showed some real improvement.
Much better on the concentration.
Just keep doing the work.
I guarantee you, it will pay off.
[BOYS MURMUR.]
One of those power of positive thinking types, aren't you? Optimist? Yeah.
So, listen, we gotta get you in shape, huh? So I'm gonna put you on this high-protein diet.
Gotta work on your conditioning.
Now, the team ends every practice with a five-mile run.
East gate, 5 p.
m.
sharp.
Be there, huh? You know what? All this stuff, this whole This whole wrestling thing.
I don't think I'm gonna do it.
What? It's just It's not for me.
Okay.
"Okay"? Yeah.
Okay.
[ELECTRIC SAW BUZZING.]
It's your brother.
Yeah, what? What? No.
No, no, I-I'm in the middle of a job here.
Yeah, you shoulda thought of that.
No.
You-- You work it out.
Work it out.
[BEEPS.]
What's that about? Cops pulled him over for speeding.
Found some beer in the back of the truck.
Now they're thinking of keeping him in overnight.
Well, aren't you gonna do something? Yeah.
I'm gonna finish my work.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
Wow.
Alec's really got you down cold.
He said you wouldn't lift a finger.
Alec can learn to take care of himself.
That's what I did.
Oh.
Oh, I get it.
"No one took care of me, so I'm not gonna take care of anyone else"? Like you're the only one who had it tough growing up.
Like that's some kind of excuse for being a jerk.
Well, let me tell you-- You know what? Go upstairs and pull your power princess routine on your sister.
[SCOFFS.]
You think I'm a princess for caring about what happens to Claudia? Boy, y-you've really got a whole thing going, don't you? The ripped shirt, the kind of quiet voice, the whole laid-back "live and let live" crap.
Like-- Like that's some kind of a cool thing to not care about anything or anyone? Like it's cool to ignore your brother who obviously needs your help.
That-- That is not easygoing or cool.
That is selfish and mean.
I think you've made your point.
I just-- I really don't like you.
Yeah, well, I'm just the roof guy.
You don't have to like me.
Yeah, well, I don't.
[HARD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER STEREO, DOOR CLOSES.]
There you are.
God, I got worried when you didn't come to the studio.
Oh, sorry.
The meet went long.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
So how'd it go? It wa-- It was weird.
It was weird.
There was this guy there, and his whole job was to get me water.
Hee-hee! Wow.
Sorry I missed that.
Oh, it's okay.
You'll get another chance.
They asked me to do another one for this children's furniture store.
Ready? [AS BABY.]
: * Cribs and beds And tables and chairs * * Mom buys them At Baby Bear's * [GIGGLES.]
What's with the voice? Well, they wanted it that way.
I guess I'm supposed to sound like Baby Bear himself or something, I don't know.
Huh.
Why "huh?" You don't like it? No.
I just-- I guess I didn't realize you were gonna be doing more.
Yeah, well, neither did I.
But they asked.
Huh.
Okay.
If that's what you wanna be doing.
Why wouldn't I? Well, it's not exactly making the most of your talent.
I mean, you're not even using your own voice in this next one.
Yeah, but it's-- It's paying.
Hee-hee! Paying pretty well too.
So? There's a lot of things you can get paid to do you shouldn't be doing.
I mean, prostitutes get paid.
Excuse me? Heh.
God, Bailey, are you comparing me to a prostitute? [ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
No.
No, no, no.
That's-- That's not [SIGHS.]
I just think you should give it some more thought before you commit to anything.
'Cause think about it.
What would you rather have people say? "There's Sarah, the musician" or "There's Sarah, the girl who sings about spot remover"? I mean, one's reallyimpressive.
And the other's kind of embarrassing, right? * I'm the choice that you made They don't go away * Let me give you our hot line.
They can tell you where the nearest kitchen is.
Right.
Okay.
Good luck.
[PHONE CLICKS.]
[SIGHS.]
If you're here to argue about what I said, don't bother.
I'm not.
I, uh Look I'm in trouble here.
I need a truce or something.
I need your help here.
You want my help? I'm an advocate for the poor, Charlie.
I don't go out on a limb for people like you.
People like [SCOFFS.]
What's that supposed mean? Salinger's.
It's been there a couple of decades? Who started it? Dad? Yeah, it was my father's.
Why? So how'd it work? You got to be 22.
Daddy called you into the study and said, "Son, I think it's time you take over the business.
" And boom, you're set for life? Sorry, who do you think you are? This may be news, Charlie, but the world is full of people whose lives weren't handed to them on a silver platter.
Most have to struggle for what they have.
And a lot of times in order to make it, they need people taking care of them.
And you can tell just by looking at me that I don't know anything about taking care of people? Yeah, I can.
What, you gonna tell me I'm wrong? God, no.
No.
You're never wrong.
Did you--? Did you honestly say this? Beats me.
What does it say I said? "Claudia Salinger disavowed her brother's action.
'If my father were alive, I doubt he would have handled it this way.
'" [WHISPERS.]
Wow.
Heh.
That sounds really Well, I mean, I guess I said something like that, but not-- What is going on here? You think this is constructive? Does this make you feel better about not going to the conservatory? Since when do you care about how I feel? Oh, give me a break.
You know I care.
But you know what? Pulling stuff like this, stupid stuff like this, really does not make me more sympathetic.
If anything, it only makes me more sure I made the right call.
So grow up already.
Okay? [POP MUSIC PLAYING OVER PA.]
Hey.
There you are.
I left a message with your mom earlier.
I wanted to catch a movie or something.
I have that recording session.
Wait, you're doing that? I thought we talked about it.
No, you talked about it and tried to talk me out of it, which is really weird.
Wait a second.
I was just giving you a point of view.
You know, this is a really great opportunity, Bailey.
Which is why I can't understand why you wouldn't wanna be supportive, unless-- I don't know.
You're-- You're jealous or something? Jealous? Heh.
Please.
It's nothing to be embarrassed about.
Really.
I mean, if the situation were reversed and-- And you were the one with something exciting going on, you know, I'd be as jealous as all hell.
But I don't think I'd deal with it by trashing what you were excited about.
I hope I'd deal with it by-- By working really hard at making something exciting happen for myself.
But I guess you don't do that anymore, huh? Work? Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean? You know, maybe it's Callie rubbing off on you.
Because ever since you moved in, you've sort of adopted her whole life philosophy.
It's sort of this immediate gratification thing.
You know, "If it's not fun right now, blow it off.
Bag it.
" Callie has nothing to do with anything.
Well, you didn't used to be this way.
You used to work for stuff you wanted.
We both did.
SAM: Hey, where have you been? ALEC: Big night.
Heh.
SAM: I did not bail you out so that you could go out and party.
I did it so that you could work.
I slept late, Sammy.
Give me a break.
You're fired.
Right.
I'm serious, Alec.
I'm not gonna let you keep doing this.
It's not doing you any good.
So, yeah, you're fired.
If you wanna get your act together, cut out the drugs, the drinking and all the other crap, then you can have a place back with me.
But if you can't, forget it.
No job.
So how am I supposed to pay rent and stuff? You work it out! [***.]
I don't need you to work your shift tonight.
No, I'm just cutting back on staff this weekend.
Hopefully, we'll be back up to full speed by next week.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Right.
Thanks a lot.
[BEEPS.]
I feel really stupid.
First thing I read when I was pouring my coffee this morning: "Mr.
Salinger took over management of the restaurant after his parents Nick and Diana Salinger were killed in a car accident in March of 1994.
" You coulda told me I was wrong.
Yeah, you're easy to interrupt.
I'm sorry, I just-- I jumped to conclusions.
So, four little sisters and brothers, my God.
Yeah, as much as I'd love to milk your sympathy, Grace, I have to lay off a few employees, so You're laying people off? Why? Because with half my customers boycotting, I can't afford to pay a full staff right now.
[PHONE DIALING.]
Listen, you don't need to do that.
I think I know a way we can smooth this thing over.
Oh, okay.
I get it.
Now that my parents are dead, now that I'm tragic as opposed to privileged, it's okay for you to care? Heh-heh! Well, forget it.
I don't want your help.
I don't wanna talk to you.
I don't wanna give any more food to your organization either.
I'm sick of this.
Oh, that's definitely the way to deal with this: Take food away from people who need it because you're mad at me.
[SIGHS.]
Man, Grace, you make it really hard to do the right thing.
You know that? I know.
I know.
Listen, is this place always this quiet between meals? Yeah.
Why? How about if, instead of handing out doggy bags to the homeless, you serve 'em a meal here, once a week between shifts? Couldn't hurt your image.
I can't afford to pay the staff to do that.
I have a file full of volunteers.
[SIGHS.]
You couldn't have thought of this the day before yesterday? [GRUNTING.]
[SIGHS.]
Did you know that black is just a miserable color for a room? I mean, even with all the lights on, it's still really depressing.
Professional painter shoulda mentioned that, don't you think? Definitely.
[***.]
You, uh--? You want some help? I mean, I could go change.
Yeah.
Some help would be nice.
Okay.
[INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
Hi, fellas.
The thing about wrestling is it's not really what I want.
Yeah.
Yeah, so you said.
No, I mean, it's not my first choice.
It'd be maybe my fourth or fifth.
Only the first three or four things, they don't want me.
So? So I was wondering, is it worth being on a team when you think that? When you'd rather be somewhere else? Hey, Bailey, half the guys in any sport feel the same way.
How do you think I felt when they offered me this job? This is the worst team in the school.
Then why'd you take it? I took it 'cause I needed the money.
That's inspiring.
I stayed because I realized I liked it.
Yeah, but if the University of Iowa calls-- Uh-uh.
I kinda make it a philosophy not to wait for phone calls that aren't gonna come.
So you gonna run with us or not? Put on some sweats.
I'll wait.
[CHATTERING.]
MAN: Looks real good, don't it? No dessert? Allergic to strawberries.
My throat closes up, and I can't breathe.
Man, if I'd only known that a couple of days ago, I'd have slipped you a couple, put an end to this whole mess.
Is there any more fruit salad? Um, yes, sure.
Oh.
CHARLIE: Is that enough? So it looks like we're gonna be done pretty early.
Yeah.
Another hour or so.
The, uh, theater down the street's showing The Wild Bunch.
I was thinking of going.
You like Westerns? Oh, sure.
Good versus evil and all that.
Wow, I gotta say, that's-- That's not what I woulda guessed.
You, uh wanna go? To the movie with you? Yeah, to the movie with me.
Umyeah.
Sure, why not? Definitely the weirdest version of dinner and a movie I've ever experienced.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
* And I know That things can change * [CHUCKLES.]
What did you do? Steal my job? Yup.
We got some on the walls too.
Ha-ha-ha! So, um that was good today.
Didn't feel good.
I don't I'm not good at that sort of thing.
You were good today.
Yeah, I got this, um, sick-feeling thing going on, you know? That's just 'cause you love him.
It's okay to struggle with it, you know.
Remind me to tell you about my brother Charlie, 'cause you kind of remind me of him.
Is that a good thing? [CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
Yeah, that's a good thing.
'Cause I gotta tell you, in the two years that I've been doing this job, I've had my fair share of complaints.
Um, delays, noise, but never the kind of violent, negative response that I've gotten on this job.
What, most people don't tell their roofers they hate them? [LAUGHS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
Then again, I haven't had many heart-to-hearts either.
This is a weird job.
* Wading in the depths * I'm not aprincess, you know? If you knew anything about me, you w-would know I'm not a princess.
* When it all gives way * * I know there is more * * More I wanna say * So can you see Marin from my roof? On a clear night, yeah.
* I will stand up * Can you take me up there? * I will not fear * Take you up on the roof? Yeah.
Come on, I wanna see what you see.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY.]
I don't know.
It's, um dangerous.
It's awful high.
What if you fall? Well, um, then you'll catch me.
* When it comes around * * Here it comes There it goes * * Only life,I suppose * * Hearts get torn Love is born * * Gatherin' storms We're rollin' home * [***.]
" Kind of makes it sound like a theme park, huh? Yeah.
We don't want that, do we? No, sir.
No, sir.
Still looking for a slogan? 'Cause I've got one.
"Salinger's, our jerk chicken is served by a real live jerk.
" Hey, any time you wanna put an end to this cold war would be fine with me.
Yeah, and any time you wanna let me go to the conservatory would be fine by me.
Claudia, you know, being a pain in the ass isn't getting you any closer to what you want here.
But if you wanna talk about this-- Why bother? You're not gonna change your mind.
Okay.
"Salinger's, big portions because size matters.
" I think no.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Don't talk to me.
No one talk to me.
I can't talk to anyone about anything for the next four days.
Don't you wanna know why? Yeah, why? I screwed up.
I've got four days to finish my college applications and decide where I'm applying for early admissions.
I thought they said December 1st.
For the next four days, I need complete order in the house.
Complete order and quiet and-- [ELECTRIC SAW BUZZING, MEN SPEAKING, HAMMERING.]
What was that? That's the roof repair guys.
They're up in your room.
Evidently, the-- The roof leaks rotted out most of the wood up there, so No.
Get 'em out.
Tell 'em to come back next week.
Can't.
The roof warranty runs out on Saturday.
God, Charlie, have you even heard of the word "supportive"? Ungh! I'll go to preschool and sleep with Cookie Bear, and you can be the man of the house.
How's that sound? [THE BODEANS' "CLOSER TO FIVE" PLAYING.]
* Everybody wants to live * * Like they wanna live * * And everybodywants to love * * Like they wanna love * * Everybody wants to be * * Closer to free-ee-ee-ee * * Closer to free * [INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
COACH: Listen up, guys, come on, put it together.
Put it together.
I'm talking here.
Come on.
All right, listen up.
The final roster's gonna be posted tomorrow.
If your name is on that list, I want you to check your uniform info in at the cage before practice.
Okay? BOY 1: Yeah.
BOY 2: Yeah, coach.
[INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
Hey, Salinger, how long you been playing hockey? Since I was a kid.
You know, peewees, bantams-- But no high school, huh? No.
Just junior high.
Why? Does that--? Well, your form's good, but, uh, you're rusty.
Oh.
So, what I want you to do is play intramurals this season.
Intramurals? Yeah.
Get your game back.
And then come back out again next year after some of these guys graduate.
Well, what if I get my game back right away? Couldn't you just put me on the team and see how it goes? I've been doing this a long time.
I know how it's gonna go.
I'll see you next year.
[HAMMERING.]
Hello? H-hello! Did you guys move my stuff around? 'Cause I had piles of papers Yeah, it's, uh-- It's over there.
It's all safe.
I had seven stacks of documents labeled and everything.
Would you stop hammering?! What did you do? Did you shuffle these? Listen to me.
I have four days left.
Four days to write, like, 15 essays on the single most defining moment of my life o-or the three historical figures I'd most like to invite for breakfast.
So I don't have time for setbacks like this.
My name's Sam.
[RUSTLING.]
This is my brother Alec.
It's nice to meet you Julia.
This is my room.
It's nice.
When can you guys be outta here? Oh, no more than a week.
I-I'm sorry, a week? You got a lot of damage in the rafters here.
That, plus access to the roof and, uh-- You know what? Just do the work.
[SARAH HUMMING CHEERILY.]
Oh, my God, Bailey, so exciting.
Remember how I told you that I was gonna audition for that backup vocalist stuff for that producer lady? Yeah.
Well, I did.
Today.
I went to her studio, and she put me in this booth with earphones and a mike and all, and I sang a song.
[LAUGHS.]
Really? Cool.
Oh, it gets even cooler.
In addition to the backup singers, they were also looking for the lead voice in a carpet jingle.
And out of all the singers they know, guess who they picked.
* Me, oh, me, oh, me * Ah! Can you believe it? I wasn't even trying out.
Ow! [GIGGLES.]
Ow.
Ungh.
I'm just-- I'm a little sore.
Oh.
Oh, God, right.
Hockey.
Hockey.
How did it go? Do I need to buy new mittens for your games? Not-- Not exactly.
The coach said I wasn't good enough, and he wants me to play intramurals and try out again next year.
Oh.
Well, that'll be fun.
Right? You know, and then when you try out next year-- I'm not gonna try out next year.
Not if it means wasting this year tossing a puck around with a bunch of losers.
Forget it.
Well, I'm sorry.
I know how much you-- Hey, it's no big deal.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
College stuff, huh? Yeah.
Doesn't that, like, fry your brain to think of one thing for so many hours? Don't you have work to do or something? Yeah, I'm taking a break, to, uh, hit on you.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
Go finish your work.
What, is this, like, a thing you have against guys who do manual labor? Yeah.
That's it exactly.
You have me pegged.
Hey, why don't you take a break for a minute? I wanna show you something cool.
Really, y-you can see Marin from up on your scaffolding.
You can't see Marin at all.
No kiddin'.
Huh.
[SIGHS EXASPERATEDLY.]
[SIGHS.]
So college, huh? Mm.
How much does something like that cost? It must be a lot, four years of college.
Your folks springing for it? Scholarship, hopefully.
Yeah? I wonder if I could get one of those.
You graduated high school? Yeah, I graduated high school.
I didn't mean it that way.
Right.
You know, I'm only working 'cause I have to work.
Some of us have to work.
Oh, for God sake-- No.
My folks said to me a couple months ago on my 18th birthday-- They said, "That's it.
"We took care of you for 18 years, Al.
"Now it's up to you.
"Get a job, pay for school, whatever.
It's your life now, and we're done.
" Sonow I'm my brother's problem.
No kidding? Nope.
No kiddin'.
Hm.
Uh you know what? I gotta go.
Heh.
Well, uh, do you have a problem with this? Just don't do it on the job, okay? Hey.
I thought this was going pretty good.
I just have work to do.
[INHALES, SIGHS.]
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
I'd like to know what nimrod came up with the cheeseless pizza.
That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard of in my life.
WAITRESS: How are you-all doing here? Mm.
I'll have another.
You want another soda? No.
Heh.
Makes about as much sense as a-- A breadless sandwich or a bubbleless soda.
What? Nothing.
Nothing.
Are you sure you're okay? 'Cause you seem kinda aggressive, like you're bugged.
What? No.
You're not bugging me at all.
I didn't say I was.
Look, just don't get down on yourself, okay? 'Cause your thing's gonna come along, you know? What are you talking about? So it wasn't hockey.
So what? It'll be something else.
Sarah, I told you I don't care about the hockey thing, not at all.
What makes you think that--? WAITRESS: Here.
Thanks.
* I wanna walk with you In the rain * * Till we both get lost * Oh, is it 'cause I'm drinking? You think I'm drinking because I'm pissed off or something? Well-- I'm celebrating.
That's what we're doing here, Sarah.
We're celebrating.
We're taking a moment to raise our glasses and give thanks for the good things life's brought our way, like your great new jingle job and my-- My great new fake ID.
And the winner is Fanfare, please.
[IMITATES FANFARE.]
"Salinger's, 'cause you gotta eat.
" Simple, but kinda funky.
Yet eerily subversive.
Right.
Anyway, I'm just glad I found one that worked, and this whole thing wasn't the bust I thought it was gonna be.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Jim Seely.
Oh, my God, that's Jim Seely over there.
You know this guy? He's a very important performance artist.
How could you not know his work? Believe it or not, I'm not a huge performance art fan.
He's pretty hot right now.
So if he's famous, this could be kinda big, right? If Jim Seely's eating here, I might actually start telling people where I work.
[LAUGHS.]
CHARLIE: Hi.
Welcome to Salinger's.
I'm Charlie.
Jim Seely.
Yeah, I know.
Um, I'm a-- I'm a big fan of yours.
Anyway, uh-- I loved your slogan.
Well, of course I did or you wouldn't have won, right? I guess not.
Anyway, uh, the award, as you know, is 52 coupons for dinner for two here at Salinger's.
Um Uh the idea was that you could come once a week for a year, but, uh, they're good, um, anytime.
Stuart, could you? Great.
I'll use six now.
I brought some friends.
After you.
* Sing your cutie to the sun * * The home and the moon * * Isn't it a lovely day * * When you look and smile My way? * * Skies are blue Trees so green * * Make it such a lovely day * * You make it Such a lovely day * [SCRAPING, HAMMERING, INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
Claudia! Claudia! [DOOR OPENS.]
What? What the hell is going on in your room? You like? No.
No, I-I don't.
When did you do this? I did it.
This morning.
I asked him to.
What? Where do you get off? It's my room, Julia.
That doesn't matter.
People don't paint their rooms black.
It's disgusting.
You know what? You don't have to live in it, and no one's asking you.
I don't know what you think you're gonna accomplish, but I really wish you would cut it out.
Claudia! [DOOR SLAMS.]
It's just paint.
What? I'd let it go if you were you.
Oh? Oh, you would, huh? Yeah.
Live and let live, you know? That's my philosophy.
That's not a philosophy.
That's a greeting card.
Just paint it back.
Fine.
Pay me, and I'll paint it polka dots if you want.
[HAMMERING CONTINUES.]
Okay, so it goes: * Lester Manning Buy your base for carpeting * * Come to Les For more * Well, that's a jingle all right.
You wanna get some coffee? Mm.
Can't.
I have AP English in half an hour.
D-don't you have Geology? Yes.
I also have a huge headache.
Quite frankly, a cup of coffee is more important to me right now than identifying igneous.
Huh.
What's that? A letter from some Coach Petrocelli guy, wrestling coach, I guess.
Hmm, what's it say? He's got my name from the hockey coach.
He wants me to try out for the team.
[PAPER CRINKLING.]
Yeah, right.
Bailey, what are you doing? You can't just throw this away.
It might be really cool.
Sarah, they're recruiting guys that they've never even met.
That's generally not a good sign of coolness.
Bailey, excuse me.
What's the plan here? I mean, are you just gonna blow off everything for the next four years? Didn't you just say something about AP English? Bailey, it's a great opportunity.
You gotta at least check it out.
Hi, Charlie.
Grace Wilcox.
Oh, right.
Sure.
Harvest Program.
How you doing? Not great, actually.
A man I know told me he was kicked out of here last night 'cause he was homeless.
I said, "That can't be true.
I know the guy who owns the place.
He's one of the good guys.
" I was right, wasn't I? Look, I gave them all a good meal to take with them.
A doggy bag.
Doesn't that seem just a little dehumanizing to you? Look, I serve food here.
Cleanliness is a major issue, and those people hadn't bathed in a long time.
It's a little hard to shower when you don't have a home.
If I could give every one of those people homes, I would.
But I can't, okay? I run a restaurant.
My customers come here to get away from it all and to have a nice meal.
If I can't provide that, I'm out of business.
What if you found out those customers were racist? Would you kick out all the blacks? Would you kick me out? That's not the same.
Yeah, it is, Charlie.
Those people aren't allowed in here because your customers don't wanna look at them.
Unless someone like you takes a stand on their behalf, it's just gonna get worse for them.
Don't talk to me like I'm completely ignorant on the subject, okay? I give your organization a lot of food every week, free.
You might wanna remember that before you start talking to me like I'm the problem here, 'cause I'm not.
Fine.
Fine.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
COACH: What'd you play in high school? Football.
Quarterback.
Didn't wanna do it here? No, uh, it just didn't work out.
Different game, isn't it? College ball? I made it through one practice at UCLA.
Man, were those guys big.
Yeah.
That was before steroids.
You're saying I'm old? Oh, no.
I just meant-- Mm-hm.
Reversals and escapes.
I'm gonna set you up with, uh, Jimmy here.
Okay? You go with your instincts.
You pick up what you can.
Eddie, you come with me.
All right.
Ones down, on the whistle.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING.]
Hey.
Hey.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
COACH: Twos down.
Come on, come on.
Move.
[GRUNTING.]
COACH: Again.
[WHISTLES BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING.]
COACH: Switch.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING.]
[PANTING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[PANTING.]
Sorry.
Too much resistance? [WHISTLE BLOWING.]
Hello.
Oh, hey.
You've got olives.
Nobody keeps olives around anymore.
I love olives.
What are you doing in our fridge? A late lunch.
What? Alec, this is not your house.
You can't come into our kitchen and take whatever you want.
Well, I didn't think you'd mind.
I mean, we're kind of friends now.
Do you think that little red thing grows in the olive or someone shoves it in there after? [LAUGHS.]
What? I want that job.
Olive red thing shover-inner guy.
You're stoned, aren't you? Who, me? [GIGGLES.]
Alec, this is not funny.
Do you wanna get fired? Is that what you want? [SCOFFS.]
It's just weed.
Man-- I don't care.
I told you yesterday you can't smoke pot-- Yeah.
I heard.
I heard.
[MOCKINGLY.]
: Don't get high.
Ugh! [CHATTERING.]
PETROCELLI: See you tomorrow.
Hey.
Well, thanks for looking me up.
I'd say this was a big success.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Considering you had no idea what you were doing, you did okay.
Once we give you a few skills, who knows? Wait a minute.
You're not actually saying you want me back, are you? Why not? You're a good athlete.
You got the right body type.
You give me a month, I'll make a wrestler out of you.
We got a meet tomorrow night.
Be there.
[HAMMERING.]
Where have you been? You mind not talking to me like that? Tell your brother not to smoke pot in the house.
There's kids here.
There's my sister and my brother Owen.
I really doubt he's getting high at work.
Yeah, w-well, I saw him.
We were sitting on the scaffolding last night, and he pulled out a joint.
W-wait.
You're sitting on the scaffolding togetherat night? That is not the point.
Mm-hm.
Look, y-your brother is completely high today.
Talk to him and you'll see.
You know what? He gets his job done.
If he wants to kill brain cells, that's his business.
My advice? You're hanging out together and he offers you a joint and you don't like it, hang out with someone else.
Your brother gets high every day.
And your little sister paints her room black.
And you wanna tell everyone how to live.
I just wanna get this job done in time to start my next one.
There's a very small profit margin in the roof trade.
So if it's not a problem for you, I'm just gonna get this over with.
[SIGHS.]
Hard day, huh? Yeah, actually.
Thanks for asking.
I don't see how you do it.
I mean, put in a 12-hour day and still find the energy to throw starving people onto the street.
I mean, that's stamina.
What? How did you know about--? The evening paper.
"Homeless Ejected from Eatery.
" What? Oh, and my favorite part.
"According to Eric Payne, a 62-year-old transient, Mr.
Salinger forced him bodily out the door.
" The guy sat on the floor and refused to move.
I just helped him up.
That's not what he says.
Oh, don't miss the editorial page.
The Harvest Program is calling for a boycott.
[SIGHS.]
And you're making decisions in my life? God.
I can't believe this.
I can.
I thought I threw that away.
I bought extra copies for posterity.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Hey, Char.
You know that whole "there's no such thing as bad publicity" thing? Not true.
Okay.
Hold up, everyone.
This stuff, it's garbage, okay? It's not true.
Oh, so they just made it up out of the blue? Yeah, papers are always doing that.
Yes, okay? There was an incident.
It got a little bit out of control, but it wasn't like that.
All right? I didn't-- I handled it just fine.
Yeah.
That much is pretty clear.
Look, I'm gonna straighten this whole thing out.
But until then, I wouldn't mind just a little support here.
[DOOR OPENS.]
SAM: Well, pal, at least they spelled your name right.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
[GRUNTING, INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
BOY 1: Come on.
BOY 2: Wrap 'em up.
Wrap 'em up.
Proud of you, Mark.
Come on, wrap 'em up.
Where is everybody? This is it, man.
You mean nobody comes to meets? Yeah.
Funny thing about losing streaks.
BAILEY: What's our record? WRESTLER: Last season, we were 0 and 20.
[GRUNTING.]
You see how he's shooting for the legs? That's good, that's good.
Don't lock up! Damn.
You see how he opened himself up for that? Huh? And that's the star of our team.
[GRUNTING.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
Do you mind? These are my applications.
It's my table too.
Since when do you get F's? Since I stopped doing my work.
Claudia, this is serious.
Look, Claud, it matters.
I don't care.
I cared about music.
I cared about the violin.
I don't care about this.
What do you want? You wanna fail Social Studies? Do you wanna apply to a great school with a great music program with crappy grades? Look, I-I know this is a long way away, but you have to think about stuff like this.
Maybe Charlie should have thought about it first.
Oh.
Oh, so this is all to hurt Charlie.
Is that--? Is that the big plan here? [RETREATING FOOTSTEPS.]
[SIGHS.]
I'm going back to work.
Leave me alone.
I overheard what you said to Sam last night.
Are you trying to get me fired? Is that it? No, Alec.
I'm just trying do my work.
Just so you know, what you did, total waste of time, 'cause Sam doesn't care.
So he isn't gonna do anything.
I mean, you coulda told him anything you wanted about me.
Doesn't matter.
He doesn't care.
So I thought about it, and I don't think that I can in good conscience take your paychecks.
You're quitting? Effective immediately.
Come on, you'll leave me short-handed.
Can't you at least work today? [PHONE RINGS.]
Hang on a second.
Salinger's .
Yes, hello, Mr.
Raft.
Looking forward to seeing you tonight.
Are you sure? Right, I I'm sorry to hear that.
[BEEPS.]
[SIGHS.]
I really feel I have to go with my morals on this one.
Gee, Stuart, it must be nice to have that luxury.
PETROCELLI: Listen up.
Okay, we're still looking at a goose egg which is never any fun.
But I will say this: Most of you-- Most of you showed some real improvement.
Much better on the concentration.
Just keep doing the work.
I guarantee you, it will pay off.
[BOYS MURMUR.]
One of those power of positive thinking types, aren't you? Optimist? Yeah.
So, listen, we gotta get you in shape, huh? So I'm gonna put you on this high-protein diet.
Gotta work on your conditioning.
Now, the team ends every practice with a five-mile run.
East gate, 5 p.
m.
sharp.
Be there, huh? You know what? All this stuff, this whole This whole wrestling thing.
I don't think I'm gonna do it.
What? It's just It's not for me.
Okay.
"Okay"? Yeah.
Okay.
[ELECTRIC SAW BUZZING.]
It's your brother.
Yeah, what? What? No.
No, no, I-I'm in the middle of a job here.
Yeah, you shoulda thought of that.
No.
You-- You work it out.
Work it out.
[BEEPS.]
What's that about? Cops pulled him over for speeding.
Found some beer in the back of the truck.
Now they're thinking of keeping him in overnight.
Well, aren't you gonna do something? Yeah.
I'm gonna finish my work.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
Wow.
Alec's really got you down cold.
He said you wouldn't lift a finger.
Alec can learn to take care of himself.
That's what I did.
Oh.
Oh, I get it.
"No one took care of me, so I'm not gonna take care of anyone else"? Like you're the only one who had it tough growing up.
Like that's some kind of excuse for being a jerk.
Well, let me tell you-- You know what? Go upstairs and pull your power princess routine on your sister.
[SCOFFS.]
You think I'm a princess for caring about what happens to Claudia? Boy, y-you've really got a whole thing going, don't you? The ripped shirt, the kind of quiet voice, the whole laid-back "live and let live" crap.
Like-- Like that's some kind of a cool thing to not care about anything or anyone? Like it's cool to ignore your brother who obviously needs your help.
That-- That is not easygoing or cool.
That is selfish and mean.
I think you've made your point.
I just-- I really don't like you.
Yeah, well, I'm just the roof guy.
You don't have to like me.
Yeah, well, I don't.
[HARD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER STEREO, DOOR CLOSES.]
There you are.
God, I got worried when you didn't come to the studio.
Oh, sorry.
The meet went long.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
So how'd it go? It wa-- It was weird.
It was weird.
There was this guy there, and his whole job was to get me water.
Hee-hee! Wow.
Sorry I missed that.
Oh, it's okay.
You'll get another chance.
They asked me to do another one for this children's furniture store.
Ready? [AS BABY.]
: * Cribs and beds And tables and chairs * * Mom buys them At Baby Bear's * [GIGGLES.]
What's with the voice? Well, they wanted it that way.
I guess I'm supposed to sound like Baby Bear himself or something, I don't know.
Huh.
Why "huh?" You don't like it? No.
I just-- I guess I didn't realize you were gonna be doing more.
Yeah, well, neither did I.
But they asked.
Huh.
Okay.
If that's what you wanna be doing.
Why wouldn't I? Well, it's not exactly making the most of your talent.
I mean, you're not even using your own voice in this next one.
Yeah, but it's-- It's paying.
Hee-hee! Paying pretty well too.
So? There's a lot of things you can get paid to do you shouldn't be doing.
I mean, prostitutes get paid.
Excuse me? Heh.
God, Bailey, are you comparing me to a prostitute? [ROCK MUSIC PLAYING.]
No.
No, no, no.
That's-- That's not [SIGHS.]
I just think you should give it some more thought before you commit to anything.
'Cause think about it.
What would you rather have people say? "There's Sarah, the musician" or "There's Sarah, the girl who sings about spot remover"? I mean, one's reallyimpressive.
And the other's kind of embarrassing, right? * I'm the choice that you made They don't go away * Let me give you our hot line.
They can tell you where the nearest kitchen is.
Right.
Okay.
Good luck.
[PHONE CLICKS.]
[SIGHS.]
If you're here to argue about what I said, don't bother.
I'm not.
I, uh Look I'm in trouble here.
I need a truce or something.
I need your help here.
You want my help? I'm an advocate for the poor, Charlie.
I don't go out on a limb for people like you.
People like [SCOFFS.]
What's that supposed mean? Salinger's.
It's been there a couple of decades? Who started it? Dad? Yeah, it was my father's.
Why? So how'd it work? You got to be 22.
Daddy called you into the study and said, "Son, I think it's time you take over the business.
" And boom, you're set for life? Sorry, who do you think you are? This may be news, Charlie, but the world is full of people whose lives weren't handed to them on a silver platter.
Most have to struggle for what they have.
And a lot of times in order to make it, they need people taking care of them.
And you can tell just by looking at me that I don't know anything about taking care of people? Yeah, I can.
What, you gonna tell me I'm wrong? God, no.
No.
You're never wrong.
Did you--? Did you honestly say this? Beats me.
What does it say I said? "Claudia Salinger disavowed her brother's action.
'If my father were alive, I doubt he would have handled it this way.
'" [WHISPERS.]
Wow.
Heh.
That sounds really Well, I mean, I guess I said something like that, but not-- What is going on here? You think this is constructive? Does this make you feel better about not going to the conservatory? Since when do you care about how I feel? Oh, give me a break.
You know I care.
But you know what? Pulling stuff like this, stupid stuff like this, really does not make me more sympathetic.
If anything, it only makes me more sure I made the right call.
So grow up already.
Okay? [POP MUSIC PLAYING OVER PA.]
Hey.
There you are.
I left a message with your mom earlier.
I wanted to catch a movie or something.
I have that recording session.
Wait, you're doing that? I thought we talked about it.
No, you talked about it and tried to talk me out of it, which is really weird.
Wait a second.
I was just giving you a point of view.
You know, this is a really great opportunity, Bailey.
Which is why I can't understand why you wouldn't wanna be supportive, unless-- I don't know.
You're-- You're jealous or something? Jealous? Heh.
Please.
It's nothing to be embarrassed about.
Really.
I mean, if the situation were reversed and-- And you were the one with something exciting going on, you know, I'd be as jealous as all hell.
But I don't think I'd deal with it by trashing what you were excited about.
I hope I'd deal with it by-- By working really hard at making something exciting happen for myself.
But I guess you don't do that anymore, huh? Work? Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean? You know, maybe it's Callie rubbing off on you.
Because ever since you moved in, you've sort of adopted her whole life philosophy.
It's sort of this immediate gratification thing.
You know, "If it's not fun right now, blow it off.
Bag it.
" Callie has nothing to do with anything.
Well, you didn't used to be this way.
You used to work for stuff you wanted.
We both did.
SAM: Hey, where have you been? ALEC: Big night.
Heh.
SAM: I did not bail you out so that you could go out and party.
I did it so that you could work.
I slept late, Sammy.
Give me a break.
You're fired.
Right.
I'm serious, Alec.
I'm not gonna let you keep doing this.
It's not doing you any good.
So, yeah, you're fired.
If you wanna get your act together, cut out the drugs, the drinking and all the other crap, then you can have a place back with me.
But if you can't, forget it.
No job.
So how am I supposed to pay rent and stuff? You work it out! [***.]
I don't need you to work your shift tonight.
No, I'm just cutting back on staff this weekend.
Hopefully, we'll be back up to full speed by next week.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Right.
Thanks a lot.
[BEEPS.]
I feel really stupid.
First thing I read when I was pouring my coffee this morning: "Mr.
Salinger took over management of the restaurant after his parents Nick and Diana Salinger were killed in a car accident in March of 1994.
" You coulda told me I was wrong.
Yeah, you're easy to interrupt.
I'm sorry, I just-- I jumped to conclusions.
So, four little sisters and brothers, my God.
Yeah, as much as I'd love to milk your sympathy, Grace, I have to lay off a few employees, so You're laying people off? Why? Because with half my customers boycotting, I can't afford to pay a full staff right now.
[PHONE DIALING.]
Listen, you don't need to do that.
I think I know a way we can smooth this thing over.
Oh, okay.
I get it.
Now that my parents are dead, now that I'm tragic as opposed to privileged, it's okay for you to care? Heh-heh! Well, forget it.
I don't want your help.
I don't wanna talk to you.
I don't wanna give any more food to your organization either.
I'm sick of this.
Oh, that's definitely the way to deal with this: Take food away from people who need it because you're mad at me.
[SIGHS.]
Man, Grace, you make it really hard to do the right thing.
You know that? I know.
I know.
Listen, is this place always this quiet between meals? Yeah.
Why? How about if, instead of handing out doggy bags to the homeless, you serve 'em a meal here, once a week between shifts? Couldn't hurt your image.
I can't afford to pay the staff to do that.
I have a file full of volunteers.
[SIGHS.]
You couldn't have thought of this the day before yesterday? [GRUNTING.]
[SIGHS.]
Did you know that black is just a miserable color for a room? I mean, even with all the lights on, it's still really depressing.
Professional painter shoulda mentioned that, don't you think? Definitely.
[***.]
You, uh--? You want some help? I mean, I could go change.
Yeah.
Some help would be nice.
Okay.
[INDISTINCT SPEECH.]
Hi, fellas.
The thing about wrestling is it's not really what I want.
Yeah.
Yeah, so you said.
No, I mean, it's not my first choice.
It'd be maybe my fourth or fifth.
Only the first three or four things, they don't want me.
So? So I was wondering, is it worth being on a team when you think that? When you'd rather be somewhere else? Hey, Bailey, half the guys in any sport feel the same way.
How do you think I felt when they offered me this job? This is the worst team in the school.
Then why'd you take it? I took it 'cause I needed the money.
That's inspiring.
I stayed because I realized I liked it.
Yeah, but if the University of Iowa calls-- Uh-uh.
I kinda make it a philosophy not to wait for phone calls that aren't gonna come.
So you gonna run with us or not? Put on some sweats.
I'll wait.
[CHATTERING.]
MAN: Looks real good, don't it? No dessert? Allergic to strawberries.
My throat closes up, and I can't breathe.
Man, if I'd only known that a couple of days ago, I'd have slipped you a couple, put an end to this whole mess.
Is there any more fruit salad? Um, yes, sure.
Oh.
CHARLIE: Is that enough? So it looks like we're gonna be done pretty early.
Yeah.
Another hour or so.
The, uh, theater down the street's showing The Wild Bunch.
I was thinking of going.
You like Westerns? Oh, sure.
Good versus evil and all that.
Wow, I gotta say, that's-- That's not what I woulda guessed.
You, uh wanna go? To the movie with you? Yeah, to the movie with me.
Umyeah.
Sure, why not? Definitely the weirdest version of dinner and a movie I've ever experienced.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
* And I know That things can change * [CHUCKLES.]
What did you do? Steal my job? Yup.
We got some on the walls too.
Ha-ha-ha! So, um that was good today.
Didn't feel good.
I don't I'm not good at that sort of thing.
You were good today.
Yeah, I got this, um, sick-feeling thing going on, you know? That's just 'cause you love him.
It's okay to struggle with it, you know.
Remind me to tell you about my brother Charlie, 'cause you kind of remind me of him.
Is that a good thing? [CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
Yeah, that's a good thing.
'Cause I gotta tell you, in the two years that I've been doing this job, I've had my fair share of complaints.
Um, delays, noise, but never the kind of violent, negative response that I've gotten on this job.
What, most people don't tell their roofers they hate them? [LAUGHS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
Then again, I haven't had many heart-to-hearts either.
This is a weird job.
* Wading in the depths * I'm not aprincess, you know? If you knew anything about me, you w-would know I'm not a princess.
* When it all gives way * * I know there is more * * More I wanna say * So can you see Marin from my roof? On a clear night, yeah.
* I will stand up * Can you take me up there? * I will not fear * Take you up on the roof? Yeah.
Come on, I wanna see what you see.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY.]
I don't know.
It's, um dangerous.
It's awful high.
What if you fall? Well, um, then you'll catch me.
* When it comes around * * Here it comes There it goes * * Only life,I suppose * * Hearts get torn Love is born * * Gatherin' storms We're rollin' home * [***.]