The Wonder Years s04e21 Episode Script

Once upon a timeAmerica's sons came home from a just and noble war.
Home to their families, and an ideal called Suburbia.
It was a place where peace-of-mind came by the square foot.
Where the space between every linoleum floor, and shingled roofwas to be filled with children.
And dreams.
And whereinto every inch of concretehard working menPoured their values.
This oughtta take care of it.
My father was one of those men.
His values were simple.
As solid as the walls of the house he took care of.
And he trusted the preservation of those four walls to nothing less than his own two hands.
Dad? Could I stop stirring now? With maybe a little help from my two hands.
Not just yet.
- Think it'll hold? - Sure.
A little cement, a little paint Good as new.
Course, his family trusted his capable hands as well.
Jack? Are you sure we shouldn't call a repairman? We don't need a repairman, Norma.
Just a little crack.
Oh, I know honey, but I meanisn't that pretty serious? I know what I'm doing.
All in allThe old man had built a pretty solid foundationFor us.
Whether we liked it or not.
Honey? Is there something I can help you with? Huh? Oh - no, no.
I just wanted to borrow these.
Do you mind? Well, I suppose not.
Thanks, Mom.
Exceptwhy do you need plates? For my new place.
New place? I thought you were living in the dorm this summer.
Well, I was I mean, I was going to, but then I found this house off-campus - so I'm going to be living there instead.
You? In a house.
That's what I said.
Bear in mind, this from a girl who once swore all she needed in lifeWas a knapsack and a bowl of brown rice.
What do you need a house for? Well, I mean, it's roomier, and it'scloser to work.
It's what I'm going to do.
What are you goin' to do? Jack? Why not, Daddy? Now, obviously, my father had his carefully-considered reasons.
Because you're not moving into any house! Look, Daddy - I've already made plans.
And the dorms are really crowdedAnd But it was clear nothin' was gonna budge the big guy on this one.
Until It was gonna be a lot cheaper than the dorm.
Cheaper? Karen evoked my father's fourth commandment.
"Thou shalt save money on rent".
Sounds good to me.
And with thatThe issue was settled.
For that anyway.
For the rest of us, there were still some questions.
How can a whole house be cheaper than living in a dorm? Simple - I got a roommate.
And, that explained it.
Kinda.
So, have we met this roommate yet, honey? For my mother, the issue didn't seem to be quite so open-and-shut.
No, Mom - I don't think so.
But you twoget along together well? Oh, yeah.
We're fine.
And this houseWhat's it like? In fact, for some reasonMom had a hold of this house thingLike a dog with a bone.
I don't know, it's umjust a big old houseit's roomy, lots of windowsit's a nice place.
Well, maybe we shoulddrive up and see it.
All of us? Come on, Mom.
We don't need to go up there.
Yeah, Mom.
Besides The house still needs a lot of work, andthat's why we're getting such a good deal.
Maybe you should wait a few weeks.
Well, if you think so.
And once again, the issue was settled.
Needs a little fix-up, hah? Oh, no.
Daddyit's being handled.
YeahBut someone's gotta make sure it's done right.
Maybe we should drive up - take a look, huh? Right, Kev? Me?! Why can't he help? Looks like you're Daddy's little helper.
Sucker.
So, how about next Saturday? Sure.
Next Saturday's OK.
And at long last, the issue was put to rest for good.
OK - so we chew up a perfectly good Saturday.
The way I saw it We pound in a few nailshang a few picturesand be out of there before noon.
After allhow much work could there be in a house the size of The Taj Mahal? Hi! You're early! I told you it still needs some work, but the landlord's giving us a real deal if we do some of the repairs.
You just gotta have a little vision.
Uh-huh.
We had vision, alright.
While Mom was envisioning walls Festering with cockroaches and rats It'snice honey! I was envisioning sweat Splintersand hard labor.
WhereasDad saw something we didn't.
Lotta work in this place.
Pure opportunity.
OK.
Kevwhere do we want to start? Actually, Daddylunch is almost ready.
Well, in that case - where's the john? Well, at least the condemned man was gonna get a final meal.
Hi.
Sorry I took so long.
- Hi! - Hi - Hello.
- I, uhbrought the groceries.
Good, good.
You can just put them down here, OK? Right.
Gotcha.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Hnnn.
Friendly delivery-people in these parts.
- Well, thanks.
- Oh, no problem.
Now, something wasn't quite right, here.
I just couldn't put my finger on it.
Karen? Maybe Mom couldn't, either.
Aren't you going to tip him? Nah - this one's on the house.
- Well.
Bye.
- Bye So, maybe it was nothing.
Or maybe not.
OK, everybody.
What's that smell? Stir-fried vegetables, sauteed bean-curd And hikama salad on the side.
WellIt looks wonderful, honey.
Right, Kevin? UhYeah! Wonderful.
Hey, what could be better? A hearty meal with the family A new hearth and home Backbreaking projects ahead Lotsa work to do.
So it's a good thing we came up, right? No kidding.
Place needs a man's help.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Can I come in? Sure.
- Hi.
- Hi.
What? Did the guy change his mind about the tip? IUh Seemed pretty clearAn explanation was in order.
And who are you? I live here.
Uheverybody This is Michael.
And, with those polite formalitiesOut of the way We sat down to break bread.
What do you mean you live here? What does he meanhe lives here? - You didn't tell 'em, yet.
- W-well, I didn't quite get around to it yet.
Tell us what?! MomDadyou know I-I told you that I was gonna be sharing a house with somebody Nice to meet you.
Somehow I'd envisioned Karen's roommate A little less Male.
You know, umMichael's a carpenter And he'sgonna be renovating the house.
Yeah.
You can probably tell.
.
it needs some pretty serious work.
Like I said, the landlord's giving us a huge breakon the rent.
But I had a hunch rent was no longer foremost on Dad's mind.
You know, Daddy, maybeMichael can help you out.
Oryou could help him out.
Yeah.
Yeah! I got a lot of work to do upstairs.
And we were thinking of renting out three of the bedrooms.
This place has five bedrooms? Uh, actuallyit only has four.
Let's see here.
A little quick mathfour minus three equals Where do you sleep? Believe it or notAt the time It was an innocent question.
We braced ourselves for the inevitable.
My father was gonna make mince-meat of this guy.
Tear him limb from limb.
I'm gonna take a walk.
Or, he was gonna take a walk.
Jack I knew this was a bad idea.
Michael! Excuse me.
I don't want to talk about this.
Well, it's not that easy, Karen.
We're going to talk about it.
- Yeah.
Like Dad really wants to - This isn't going well, is it? - Karen, he loves you.
- Well, he's got a funny way of showing it! - Well, what did you expect?! - I don't think so.
Um, maybe we should go outside.
Uhsure.
Seemed like a good idea to get out of there.
Yeah.
I suppose I felt a little funny Fraternizing with the enemy.
You ever been on a motorcycle before? Sure Well then, come on.
I know a place that makes a great bean-curd sandwich.
It was a joke.
Come on.
Huh - did this joker really think he could win me over that easily? OK - so I took the ride.
Didn't mean I had to have fun.
- How's your burger.
- It's good Yeah, Karen's great, but I've had just about all the sprouts I can handle.
What? Man, your sister's a pistolprobably takes after your old man, huh? He's pretty steamed, isn't he? You could say that.
Think he'll get over it? I don't know.
Man, I hope so.
I mean, I was hoping this would go a little better.
Family's a pretty important thing.
Yeah, well then why are you guys doing this? Well, I'll tell you why I'm doing it, uh Because I love her.
The funny thing islistening to the way he talked about my sister I couldn't help butLike the guy.
And it seemed Dad might like him, tooif he'd just give him a chance But I guessWhen it comes to family Things are never that easy.
Mr.
Arnold isn't back yet? You want some help, Mom? Oh, I don't think so, honey.
Thanks.
I missed you.
I missed you, too.
How's your Dad? That afternoon I realized something.
- I knew he'd act this way.
- It's OK, Karen.
About my sister.
We'll get through it.
About being young.
About being in love.
About things that should be simple.
And somehow never are.
I, uhtook a walk - did some thinking.
I asked myself if, uh Maybe I'm the one who's wrong, here.
But I just keep coming back to the same answer.
I can't allow this, Karen.
What do you want me to say to that, Daddy? You want me to move back into the dorm? As a matter of fact, I do.
No.
Your mother, and I Didn't raise you to live this way! What? You mean you didn't raise me to fall in love? You mean you didn't raise meTo want to share my lifewith a loving man? - You know damn well what I mean! - Daddy! These aren't the Dark Ages.
Times have changedthings have changed.
I haven't changed!! You never listen, Daddy.
I'm not listening to this.
You're moving out of here.
Look, maybe you're being a little hard on her.
This is between my daughter and me.
May be, sir, butit's also between your daughter and me.
We're going.
Kevinget my toolbox.
Daddy I can't stay here.
You were the ones who wanted to come see how I'm living! Well, this is how I'm living! I don't have to take that! Fine, Daddy, dont take it - but this is how it is! I raised you with values.
I raised you have better values than this! I don't need your values! The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan ¢ÜCome gather 'round people Where ever you roam¢Ü ¢ÜAnd admit that the waters around you have grown¢Ü ¢ÜAnd accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone¢Ü ¢ÜIf your time to you is worth savin'¢Ü ¢ÜThen you better start swimmin Or you'll sink like a stone¢Ü ¢ÜFor the times they are a-changin'¢Ü - Welcome back.
Hey, Dad - you better check the basement.
- What? ¢ÜCome writers and critics who prophesize with your pens¢Ü The floor's a little wet.
¢ÜAnd keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again¢Ü ¢ÜAnd don't speak too soon, for the wheel's still in spin¢Ü ¢ÜAnd there's no tellin' who that it's namin'¢Ü In 1971, generations were clashing.
¢ÜOh the loser will be later to win¢Ü Maybe then, more than ever ¢ÜFor the times they are a changin'¢Ü Values and ideals were at war.
¢ÜFor the times they are a changin'¢Ü And somehow, we couldn't help but get swept up in it, I guess.
¢ÜCome senators, congressmen, please heed the call¢Ü ¢ÜDon't stand in the doorway Don't block up the hall¢Ü ¢ÜFor he that gets hurt will be he that has stalled¢Ü ¢ÜThe battle outside ragin Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls¢Ü - Guess I didn't fix it very well.
- You did your best, honey.
I know that.
¢ÜFor the times they are a-changin'¢Ü Yeah.
¢ÜCome mothers and fathers throughout the land¢Ü ¢ÜAnd don't criticize what you can't understand¢Ü ¢ÜYour sons and your daughters¢Ü ¢ÜAre beyond your command¢Ü ¢ÜYour old road is rapidly agin'¢Ü ¢ÜPlease get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand¢Ü ¢ÜFor the times they are a-changin'¢Ü °¨»çÇÕ´Ï´Ù.
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