Episode 1 - "Pilot"
OPENING SEQUENCE
(Music "Turn, Turn, Turn!" - The Byrds plays. Quick clips...Clip of President Nixon smiling on stage and giving the "victory" sign. Clip of two police officers leading away a smiling man who gives the "peace" sign. Clip of John Carlos and Tommy Smith (two US Olympic medalists) giving the Black Power salute. Clip of some law enforcement officers carrying clubs and approaching the camera. Clip of a large crowd, one member of which holds a sign reading "Octopus car wash". Clip of a platoon of law enforcement officers carrying clubs.)
Nineteen-sixty-eight...
(Clip of a crowd of young people. Clip of a crowd of Vietnamese civilians. Clip of a group of National Guard officers carrying rifles. )
I was twelve years old.
(Clip of marchers carrying banners reading "Bring Our Boys Home Alive" and "End The Slaughter Of The Vietnamese". Clip of marchers carrying a banner reading "We shall overcome". Clip of Martin Luther King, Jr., walking with others.)
A lot happened that year.
(Shot of Robert F. Kennedy giving a speech. Clip of Martin Luther King, Jr., giving a speech.)
Dennis McLain won thirty-one games...
(Clip of Mrs. King in a mourning dress. Clip of a building on fire.)
"The Mod Squad" hit the air...
(Shot of protesters and Veterans in parades.)
And I graduated from Hillcrest Elementary, and entered junior high school.
(Very quick series of clips.)
But we'll get to that.
(Shot of a Saturn rocket blasting off. Clip of an astronaut on a spacewalk. Clip of bombs falling in a jungle and exploding. Black-and-white clip of many US flags being waved. Black-and-white shots of protesters. Clip of the Woodstock (?) crowd. Clip of protesters putting flowers in the barrels of National guardsmen's rifles. Clip of bombed-out buildings.)
There's no pretty way to put this...
(Fade to black-and-white clip of rural houses. Black-and-white shot of a residential intersection as the camera pans across.)
I grew up in the suburbs.
(Long shot of the congested roofs of a neighborhood.)
I guess most people think of the suburb...
(Clip of a family outside their new house and car.)
As a place with all the disadvantages of the city...
(Clip of heavy freeway traffic. Clip of a boy pulling a lawnmower.)
And none of the advantages of the country.
(Clip of a father swinging a boy through a pool.)
And vice versa.
(Clip of some boys playing "Red Rover".)
But, in a way...
(Black-and-white clip of a boy walking his dog, as two other boys jump into a stationwagon from the rear.)
Those really were the wonder years for us there in the suburbs.
(Black-and-white shot from the street of the houses as the camera pans along. One boy carrying a football runs along the sidewalk past some other kids who are watching.)
It was kind of a golden age for kids.
(The boy runs into the street. The scene changes to color as the boy puts the football down. The camera settles on Kevin as he comes to the line of scrimmage. Music fades out.)
There, that's me - Kevin Arnold, 1968. The summer before junior high school.
WAYNE: Hike!
(The ball is snapped to Wayne.)
(Shot from behind Kevin as he runs a pass pattern.)
Wayne (V/O): Here we go...
And I don't mind saying...
(Close shot of Wayne holding the ball as he looks downfield.)
I was a pretty fair little athlete.
(Shot of Kevin cutting across the street. He drops the pass and the other kids laugh. Kevin frowns.)
(Shot of Winnie as she picks up the ball and frowns.)
(Shot of Kevin and Winnie approaching each other in the driveway.)
WINNIE: It was a pretty hard pass.
(Shot past Winnie of Kevin.)
KEVIN: Well, uh...yeah, I...I think it had sort of a reverse-spin on it...
(Shot of Wayne in the street, with his hands on his hips.)
WAYNE: Come on Kevin, stop gabbing with your girlfriend. (Smiles.)
(Shot of Winnie and Kevin looking at Wayne off-screen, then Kevin takes the ball, and walks toward the camera. The camera stays on Winnie as she adjusts her glasses, crosses her arms, and watches Kevin walk away.)
KEVIN: She's not my girlfriend!
(Closer shot of Winnie frowning at Kevin off-screen.)
This was true. Winnie Cooper was not my girlfriend.
(Shot from the huddle of Kevin approaching. Winnie is in the distant background.)
When we were very little...
(Kevin hands the ball to another player.)
We used to go down to Harper's Woods and catch fireflies.
(Kevin joins the huddle next to Paul.)
(Shot of Winnie, and some other girls starting to play skip-rope. Winnie crosses her arms and looks toward Kevin off-screen.)
But we really hadn't hung out at all together since we were about nine.
(Shot of Wayne and Steve as Wayne looks at Kevin off-screen.)
WAYNE: Uh-oh, think girlfriend's mad at you.
(Wayne frowns exaggeratedly.)
WAYNE: Maybe you'd better go give her a big French kiss.
(Wayne looks at Steve and smiles, then at Kevin off-screen and sticks his tongue out, and smiles.)
(Low shot past Wayne of Kevin looking at him.)
KEVIN: Shut up, Wayne! (Frowns.)
(Shot of Wayne and Steve. Wayne looks off.)
WAYNE: Hey girls, come on over here.
(Wayne looks at Kevin off-screen.)
WAYNE: Kevin's gonna show you what a French kiss is! Hah-hah. (Smiles.)
(Shot past Wayne of Kevin and Paul.)
KEVIN: Buttface. (Frowns.)
(Shot of Paul, Wayne and Steve as Wayne frowns.)
WAYNE: What did you say? (Frowns.)
(Shot past Wayne of Kevin and Paul.)
KEVIN: Nothing.
(Shot of Paul, Wayne and Steve as Wayne frowns heavily and steps forward.)
(Wider shot from behind Kevin as Wayne pushes Kevin over.)
(Shot from above of Kevin on his back as Wayne pounds Kevin's shoulder with his fist.)
This is the way most of my conversations with my brother Wayne ended.
(Close shot past Wayne of Kevin defending himself, unsuccessfully.)
Apparently he just deeply regretted the fact that I had been born, and he wanted me to feel the same way.
(Wider shot of all as Paul reaches for Wayne's arm.)
PAUL: Come on Wayne, let him up!
(Close shot of Paul frowning.)
(High shot of Paul holding Wayne's shoulder. Wayne holds Kevin down while turning to Paul.)
WAYNE: I'm sorry Paul, this is a family matter.
(Wayne resumes pounding Kevin.)
(Shot past Wayne of Paul pulling on Wayne's shoulder.)
That was my best friend, Paul Pfeiffer. Paul was allergic to everything.
(Wider shot of all as Paul pulls on Wayne's shoulder, and Wayne hits Kevin.)
Wayne used to say he was even allergic to his own snot. Wayne was really a funny guy.
BRIAN (V/O, yelling): Hey Wayne! Knock it off...
(Wayne glances over his shoulder.)
BRIAN (V/O): Before I do the same thing to you!
(Long shot of Brian getting up from working under his car.)
(High shot as Wayne gives Kevin a final tap on his shoulder, then stands up.)
(Closer shot of Brian as he puts a cigarette in his mouth and reaches into his pocket.)
Winnie's brother, Brian Cooper.
(Brian opens his cigarette lighter on his pant leg.)
He was nineteen and for us, he defined "cool".
(Brian lights his cigarette, and puts his ligher back in his pocket.)
He had this really great...
(Winnie moves next to him and says something to him.)
'59 El Camino - didn't run of course - but he was always out there workin' on it...
(Winnie shades her eyes with her hand as Brian squeezes her neck.)
Sweaty, grease all over his hands...
(Winnie says something to Brian.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Brian off-screen.)
What a guy.
(Shot of Brian and Winnie as Brian puts his hand on her shoulder and says something to her.)
That June he got drafted and packed off to Vietnam.
(Brian looks over his shoulder as he walks toward his car.)
But his car was still out front, up on blocks...
(Close shot of Brian leaning against his car and smoking a cigarette.)
As kind of a reminder of who really ran things on our street.
Cut to
Int. Day - Arnold House
(Wide shot of the kitchen as Kevin and Paul enter from outside. Paul is limping and coughing as Kevin supports him. Norma is in another room.)
KEVIN (Yelling): Mom, can Paul stay for dinner?!
(Paul sits on the counter as Kevin looks in the refrigerator.)
NORMA (V/O): Sure, if his mom knows.
PAUL: What are you having?
(Kevin looks past the camera.)
KEVIN (Yelling): What are we having?!
NORMA (V/O): Meat loaf.
(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen and shaking his head.)
PAUL: I'm allergic to it.
(Shot of Kevin and Paul as Kevin looks past the camera.)
KEVIN (Yelling): What else?!
NORMA: (V/O): Salad.
(Kevin looks at Paul.)
(Close shot of Paul frowning at Kevin off-screen and shaking his head slowly.)
Cut to
Int. Evening - Arnold Kitchen
(Shot of stack of white bread. Sound of a helicopter on TV.)
TV REPORTER (V/O): ...and more heavy fighting in the Mekong delta today.
(The camera pulls back to show Kevin, Paul and Wayne sitting at the table.)
TV REPORTER (V/O): Marines and South Vietnamese troops...
(Shot of the TV. The reporter is crouched down, and a helicopter is behind him.)
TV REPORTER: Occupied and then destroyed...
(Close shot of Kevin frowning.)
TV REPORTER (V/O): Several guerrilla strongholds. Casualties were heavy on both sides...
(Kevin looks toward Norma off-screen.)
KEVIN: When's Dad coming home?
(Shot of Norma approaching.)
NORMA: Any minute. And between the traffic and his job he's liable...
(Wide shot from the kitchen of Norma setting the table.)
NORMA: To be very tense so let's not make him crazy.
KEVIN: He's always tense.
(Close shot of Norma.)
NORMA: That's true. He's always tense but he's not crazy yet. (Nods.) So let's try to maintain that sense of equilibrium.
(Wide shot from the kitchen as Jack enters through kitchen door, carrying a briefcase, and his jacket over his shoulder. Norma straightens up and rubs her forehead.)
NORMA: Hi hon. How's traffic?
(Jack approaches the camera.)
JACK: Traffic's traffic.
(Jack passes the camera. Norma sighs.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen.)
Dad had a Spartan sense of language.
(Kevin sighs and looks down.)
(Shot of the kitchen door as Karen enters.)
NORMA (V/O): Karen, honey...
(Karen hangs up her leather hat.)
(Shot of Norma at the counter, looking at Karen off-screen, then down.)
NORMA: You said you were gonna come home early and help me with dinner.
(Close shot of Karen looking at Norma off-screen.)
KAREN: Peace Mom, OK? (Gestures.)
(Karen sits down.)
(Shot of Norma at the counter, looking at Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: Peace is fine, but you said you were gonna help me with dinner.
(Close shot of Karen looking at Norma off-screen.)
KAREN: You have so much bad karma in your life, you know that Mom? (Frowns.) I'd be careful if I were you.
(Closer shot of Norma looking at Karen off-screen as she bends down to the oven.)
NORMA: Thank you, I'll keep an eye out.
(Shot of Kevin and Paul looking at each other.)
NORMA (V/O): In the meantime...
(Shot of Norma approaching with a dish.)
NORMA: When your father gets back...try not to make him crazy.
(Jack approaches from the dining room. Norma turns and hands him a drink. He smiles slightly as he takes it.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul as Jack crosses the camera to his chair.)
(Close shot of Jack as he sits down, takes a sip from his glass, then looks toward Paul off-screen.)
JACK: Hi, Paul.
(Shot of Kevin and Paul as Paul waves his bread.)
Dad always said "hi" to our friends...
(Close shot of Jack looking at Paul off-screen, then taking another sip.)
But it was like he had this understanding with the family...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen, then Paul off-scren.)
He worked hard for us, he provided for us, and he certainly didn't want...
(Close shot of Jack looking toward Paul off-screen.)
To have to talk to us on top of that.
(Close shot of Wayne and the TV.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack and Wayne off-screen.)
My approach was to not make any sudden moves or sounds...
(Close shot of Norma frowning slightly at Jack off-screen.)
Until he'd finished that first vodka tonic, and hoped that nobody else...
(Close shot of Kevin glancing toward Jack off-screen.)
Did anything that might upset him too much before then.
(Close shot of Karen.)
KAREN: I'm gonna get some birth-control pills. I thought you should know.
(Close shot of Kevin's eyes getting large as he turns to Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Jack frowning at Karen off-screen. Sound of a tea-pot whistle starting.)
(Wide shot of the whole group as Jack bangs the table with his fist.)
JACK: I didn't hear what I just heard!
(Kevin and Paul laugh. Wayne gestures at Jack, Norma gestures at Karen, and they start to argue.)
(Joni Mitchell "Both Sides, Now" starts.)
Fade to
(Home movie quality clips, with sprocket sounds, of the Arnold's standing on the sidewalk.)
And that's pretty much the way that summer went.
(The camera pans up from a barbecue to Norma and Jack, who smile for the camera.)
I guess it was really my last summer of pure unadulterated childhood.
(Close shot of Paul smiling at the camera and waving, then running off.)
"I've looked at life..."
(Close shot of Kevin holding a baseball bat, and smiling and waving at the camera.)
"From both sides now"
(Shot of Kevin trying to catch a fly ball. It goes over his head, and he shrugs.)
"Been up and down and still somehow"
(Wayne approaches and grabs Kevin and starts to hit his shoulder.)
"It's life's illusions I recall"
(Another shot of Wayne and Kevin lying on the grass as Wayne hits Kevin's shoulder. They see the camera and pause, then hug. Jack's hand reaches past the camera and waggles at them.)
"I really don't know life..."
(Wide shot of Kevin dropping a football pass near Winnie and another girl. Winnie picks it up, and they smile at each other as Kevin takes the ball from her.)
"At all"
(Kevin walks past the camera as Winnie sits on the curb, then smiles and shakes her head at Kevin off-screen.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul approaching the camera as Kevin talks to Paul. The camera pans with them, then stops on Brian's car. The music ends.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Kevin's Bedroom
(Close up of the cover of the book "Our Bodies, Our Selves" as "Crystal Blue Persuasion" plays on the radio.)
This was it. The last night of summer.
(The camera pulls back to show Kevin and Paul sitting on the bed looking at the book.)
PAUL: Holy cow!
KEVIN: Try not to drool on it, OK? If Karen finds out I have this, she'll kill me. (Gestures.)
Paul and I decided that the best way to prepare for junior high school girls was to look at them naked.
(Sound of a knock on the door.)
(Shot of the door as Norma opens it and looks in.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul looking at Norma off-screen with surprise, as Paul tries to hide the book by sitting on it.)
(Close shot of Norma looking at them off-screen.)
NORMA: Paul, your mother called. She wants you to come home right away.
PAUL (V/O): OK.
(Shot of Paul and Kevin as Paul stands and walks past the camera.)
(Shot of Paul walking through the doorway, then pausing and turning toward Kevin off-screen.)
PAUL: Well, I guess I'll see you at bus-stop.
(Close shot of Kevin nodding at Paul off-screen.)
KEVIN: Yeah...(Smiles.)
(Close shot of Paul turning to leave, then pausing and looking at Kevin off-screen.)
PAUL: Last night I had a dream that...when I got to school I realized I had no clothes on.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)
KEVIN: If you're naked when you get to the bus-stop, I'll tell ya. (Nods.)
(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen.)
PAUL: Thanks.
(Paul turns to leave, then hesitates and looks at Kevin off-screen.)
PAUL: Do you know what you're gonna wear?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)
KEVIN: Paul, I have...
(Kevin rolls his eyes.)
KEVIN: No idea.
(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen, then looking off and shrugging slightly as he exits.)
Actually, I'd been planning...
Cut to
Int. Morning - Arnold Kitchen
(Shot of Jack and Karen sitting at the kitchen table as Norma sets a plate of toast on it.)
My wardrobe for about six weeks.
(They pause and look past the camera.)
(Shot of the kitchen as Kevin crosses to the sink. He is wearing a shirt of green paisley and brown stripes, blue pants and black boots.)
(Shot of Norma, Jack and Karen looking at him off-screen.)
NORMA: You're not gonna... wear that to school are you?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Norma off-screen.)
KEVIN: No, Mom, I got a job as a male model.
(Shot of Norma, Jack and Karen as Wayne enters, looks at Kevin off-screen, then holds his stomach and bursts into laughter.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking down at his clothes, then looking past the camera and smiling slightly.)
Cut to
Ext. Day - Bus-Stop
(Shot of Kevin standing at the bus stop, wearing plain brown pants and a plain blue shirt.)
KEVIN: Don't worry about it, you look fine.
(The camera pans to include Paul, who is wearing a bad outfit of brown striped pants, a white shirt with browns decorations, and is carrying a violin case. He reaches into his pants pocket.)
PAUL: Well, let me see our class schedule one more time.
KEVIN: No!
He was gonna have to get a grip on himself. This was the junior high bus stop.
(The camera pulls back to include Wayne measuring Kirk McCray's tongue with a ruler as other boys look on.)
And if we were gonna hold our own with the older kids, we were gonna have to act mature.
(Shot of Paul with his tongue out, trying to get Wayne's attention. Wayne measures Paul, then smacks him on the head. Two older girls walk past the camera.)
We seemed to have something of a height disadvantage, but we did out best to fit in.
(Kevin and Paul turn to look after the girls, with their tongues out.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking off.)
KEVIN (With tongue out): Hooth that?
(Shot of Kevin and Paul looking past the camera.)
(Shot of a girl in the distance, wearing a pink top and yellow skirt, walking toward the bus stop. "Winnie's Theme" plays in the background.)
What an incredible stroke of luck...
(Shot of Kevin and Paul looking toward the girl off-screen.)
A new kid...a helpless waif who would be even more lost...
(Shot from behind the girl of the crowd at the corner. The camera follows her as she approaches.)
Than we were. A helpless waif...
(Kevin and Paul are looking at the girl. Wayne and others now look at her also.)
In fishnet tights, and gogo boots!
(Shot past Paul of Winnie as she stops in front of them.)
WINNIE: Hi Kevin. Hi Paul.
(Shot past Winnie of Paul and Kevin looking at her.)
PAUL: Winnie Cooper?
(Shot past Paul of Winnie looking at them.)
WINNIE: Gwendolyn.
(She shakes her head slightly.)
WINNIE: I don't want to be called Winnie anymore. My real name is Gwendolyn.
Well, there was no question now.
(Shot past Winnie of Paul and Kevin looking at her.)
We were entering uncharted territory. Even the familiar...
(Shot past Paul of Winnie looking at them.)
Was cloaked in the vestments of the devil.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen and smiling excitedly.)
Junior high school...
(Kevin looks at Winnie off-screen.)
Was a whole new ball of wax.
Cut to
Ext. Day - RFK Junior High
(Wide shot past some busses of the front of the school. "Wiinies' Theme" fades into a different Snuffy guitar.)
(Close shot of Kevin and Paul walking along the sidewalk. They look toward the building.)
Like about half the schools in the country that year, my school was being renamed...
(The camera pans with the boys as they pass it. A man is working on the school sign in the background.)
Robert F. Kennedy Junior High. As we approached...
(Shot from the top of the building steps as Kevin, Paul, and Wayne approch in the center of a crowd of students.)
Those doors for the first time...
(Kevin pauses as he looks up. Paul pauses and frowns.)
We felt we were approaching the portals of manhood.
(They hurry past the camera as the bell rings, and the music stops.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Homeroom
(Close shot of Kevin looking forward.)
Homeroom.
(Kevin glances off and frowns slightly.)
I sat between Eric Antonio and Gail Aslanian.
(Wider shot of Kevin sitting at his desk, between two students who are holding hands around him, and staring at one another admiringly.)
They had met on the bus, and had taken a liking to each other.
(Shot past Gail of Kevin and Eric.)
ERIC: I love you.
(Shot past Eric of Kevin and Gail.)
GAIL: I love you, too.
(Shot of the three of them as Eric and Gail move in to kiss. Kevin holds his hand up between them.)
KEVIN: And...I love you both...(Frowns.) But I'm having a little trouble breathing here.
(Gail and Eric resume their positions.)
I was about to have my first sexual experience, and I wasn't even one of the principle players.
(Kevin looks over his shoulder at Gail as Mrs. Ritvo approaches and knocks on Kevin's desk with a ruler.)
(Shot past Eric of Kevin and Gail as everyone straightens up.)
(Shot past Kevin of Mrs. Ritvo looking at him.)
MRS. RITVO: Kevin Arnold.
(She puts her hand on her hip.)
MRS. RITVO: You're Wayne's brother, aren't you? (Frowns.)
(Shot past Mrs. Ritvo of Kevin looking up to her.)
KEVIN: Well...
(He glances off, then looking at her again.)
KEVIN: Well according to my mother, yes. But, my own theory is...
(Shot past Kevin of Mrs. Ritvo looking at him.)
MRS. RITVO: You've got a tough row to hoe, young man...
(She leans slightly closer and frowns.)
MRS. RITVO: A tough row to hoe.
(Shot past Mrs. Ritvo of Kevin looking up to her.)
KEVIN (Quietly): Yes.
Cut to
Int. Day - School Hallway
(Shot down the row of lockers as Kevin is having trouble opening his.)
The first major accessory of adulthood...
(Kevin glances off and frowns.)
Our own lockers.
(A girl approaches her locker.)
I couldn't believe my good fortune.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the girl dialing the combo of her locker.)
Two lockers down from mine was Debbie Ackerman...
(The girl opens her locker and smiles at Kevin off-screen.)
One of the prime knockouts...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Debbie off-screen and smiling slightly.)
Of the seventh grade.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Debbie smiling and glancing down.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Debbie off-screen as he opens his locker and hits his head with the door.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Debbie smiling at him with amusement.)
There was only one problem.
(A student wearing a black leather jacket moves to the locker between them. The camera pans up to him.)
Charles Manson had the locker between us.
(The guy looks at his locker, then frowns at Kevin.)
A seventh-grader with a beard?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at the student off-screen.)
This wasn't junior high school, it was a freak show.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the guy looking him over.)
I hoped none of the girls would have beards.
GUY: What's you locker combination? (Frowns.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at the student off-screen.)
KEVIN: Well, I, uh...I appreciate your asking, but...actually they told us we're not supposed to tell anyone else -
(The guy picks Kevin up and presses him against the lockers. Kevin holds up his locker combo.)
KEVIN: Here ya go.
(The guy takes the paper in his mouth, and sets Kevin down.)
(Close shot of the guy turning toward the lockers and taking the paper from his mouth. He opens the locker, then turns to Kevin off-screen. He holds up a knife in a sheath, then turns toward the locker.)
(Close shot of the open locker as the knife is dropped into it.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning and glancing off.)
(Close shot of the locker as a Baggie of pot is dropped into it.)
(Close shot of the guy closing the locker and looking at Kevin off-screen.)
GUY: If anyone finds out about these...and I know who told 'em...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at the guy off-screen.)
KEVIN: Who?
(Close shot of the guy looking off in thought.)
It was my only shot. I thought maybe I could trick him...
(Shot of the guy frowning in thought.)
GUY: You...You!
(Close shot of Kevin frowning at the guy off-screen.)
GUY (V/O): That's who!
(Kevin glances down, then smiles slightly at the guy off-screen.)
KEVIN: Oh, right.
(Bell rings.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Gym class
(Shot of the basketball court. The camera pans across to a squad of boys in gym clothes.)
In one of those quirks of scheduling my first class was gym. This meant that I had to wake up in the morning, shower, get dressed, go to school, get undressed, run around, shower and get dressed.
(The camera stops on Kevin and Paul who are in the front row.)
All in the space of about forty-five minutes.
(Close shot of Mr. Cutlip as he frowns and paces in front of the boys, looking at them off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP: Well, people. A lot of you probably think...this is gym class, huh?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)
I was overwhelmed by a sudden panic.
(Kevin sighs slightly as he watches Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)
Things hadn't been going that well so far but if this wasn't gym class I was in bigger trouble than I thought.
(Close shot of Mr. Cutlip looking at the boys off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP: Well, it's not. (Frowns.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP (V/O): People...
(Close shot of Mr. Cutlip looking at the boys off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP: It's physical...education class.
(Wide shot from behind Mr. Cutlip of the boys.)
MR. CUTLIP: Through those doors...(points)...they educate your minds. In here...(points)...I educate your bodies.
(Close shot of Mr. Cutlip looking at the boys off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP: I'm an educator, OK?
(He glances right, then left.)
MR. CUTLIP: A body educator.
(He pauses, then starts to pace.)
(Shot of the boys from Mr. Cutlip's perspective as the camera rolls sideways.)
Of course, we didn't realize it at the time, but this guy had the biggest inferiority complex since Napoleon.
(Shot past the boys of Mr. Cutlip frowning as he turns toward them.)
MR. CUTLIP: MR. CUTLIP: People, when you leave this class, you're gonna have smart bodies. Smart...
(He slaps his stomach.)
MR. CUTLIP: Smart bodies.
He went on educating our bodies...
(Mr. Cutlip starts to pace as he speaks in the background.)
For about half an hour. By the time he finished...
(Fade to a close shot of Kevin looking at him off-screen.)
I was ready to let my leg take a math test.
(Close shot of Mr. Cutlip looking at the boys off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP: One more thing, people, before you do your laps. The jock strap - "A", what is it?
(He glances at another boy off-screen.)
MR. CUTLIP: And "B", what can it do for you?
(Mr. Cutlip looks down at his clipboard list of students.)
MR. CUTLIP: Arnold.
(Shot of Kevin and Paul as they glance at each other.)
This was it. I felt like a fighter pilot under heavy enemy fire.
(Kevin holds his arms out slightly, looks down and clears his throat.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)
KEVIN: Well, the jock strap, sir...
(He glances off.)
KEVIN: Is a particular...type of strap...
(Kevin glances at Mr. Cutlip off-screen, then looks off.)
KEVIN: That's constructed of a strap-type material...
(Kevin glances at Mr. Cutlip off-screen, then looks off.)
KEVIN: Which is utilized exclusively...for the purposes...of...jocks.
(Kevin bites his lip slightly.)
(Shot of Mr. Cutlip frowning at Kevin off-screen in thought as the sound of a diving airplane is heard. He glances off, then back to Kevin.)
(Shot of the boys looking at Mr. Cutlip off-screen, and flinching at the sound of the airplane crashing.)
Fade to
Int. Day - Cafeteria
(Shot of Kevin and Paul carrying their trays toward the camera.)
Lunch. At last, something I figured even I couldn't screw up.
(They slow up and glance around the cafeteria.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the crowded cafeteria.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul.)
PAUL: Where do you want to sit?
(Kevin looks off.)
KEVIN: Anywhere. (Shrugs.) Let's just sit here.
(The camera pans with them as they walk to a nearby table.)
A suburban junior high school cafeteria is like a microcosm of the world.
(Close shot of Kevin as he sits down.)
The goal is to protect yourself, and safety comes in groups.
(Kevin looks off.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of a group of kids at another table.)
You have your cool kids...
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of another group of kids, all wearing glasses.)
You have your smart kids...
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of another group of kids, most wearing dark clothes.)
You have your greasers...
(Close shot of Kevin looking off.)
And in those days, of course...
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of another group of kids, mostly wearing paisley, headbands, and dark glasses.)
You had your hippies.
(Close shot of Kevin looking off, frowning slightly.)
And, in fact, in junior high school...
(Kevin glances down at his tray.)
Who you are is defined less by who you are...
(Kevin looks off.)
Than by who's the person sitting next to you.
(Kevin looks at Paul off-screen.)
(Close shot of Paul sucking spaghetti.)
A sobering thought.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)
KEVIN: Try to look like you're having fun. (Frowns.)
(Close shot of Paul frowning at Kevin off-screen.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking down and frowning slightly.)
(Shot of Winnie in the distance, holding her tray, looking for a place to sit. Some "Winnie's Theme" plays as she approaches the camera.)
WINNIE: Hi! Do you guys mind if I sit with you?
(Shot of Kevin and Paul. Paul looks at Kevin and they both smile at Winnie off-screen.)
KEVIN: Sure, Winnie.
(Close shot of Winnie looking at Kevin as she sits down.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Winnie off-screen.)
We were on our way.
(Kevin glances toward Paul off-screen.)
Our group was forming.
(Close shot of Winnie looking toward her tray.)
And Winnie - I mean, Gwendolyn...
(Winnie looks at Kevin off-screen and smiles slightly.)
Was not chopped liver.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Winnie off-screen.)
Who knows...
(Close shot of Winnie smiling slightly at Kevin off-screen.)
Maybe we even had an outside chance to become...
(Winnie looks down.)
The cool seventh-grade group...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)
If we could just remain inconspicuous...
(Close shot of Paul looking over his shoulder, first one way then the other.)
Until we picked up a few more members.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Wayne and his friend, Steve, standing near another table, then approaching. "Winnie's Theme" ends.)
WAYNE: Hey Steve...
(Close shot of Kevin sighing, looking down, and putting his hand on the bridge of his nose.)
WAYNE (V/O): It looks like my baby brother...
(Closer shot of Wayne and Steve approaching and pausing just behind Winnie.)
WAYNE: And his girlfriend have found each other. (Laughs.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Wayne off-screen.)
KEVIN: She's not my girlfriend. (Frowns.)
(Wayne looks at Kevin off-screen but talks to Winnie.)
WAYNE: He thinks you are so...cute!
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Wayne off-screen as he tries to control his anger.)
KEVIN: I don't think she's cute. (Frowns.)
(Shot of Wayne, Steve and Winnie. Wayne leans slightly toward Winnie, who looks down.)
WAYNE: He wants to give you a big...
(Wayne looks at Kevin off-screen.)
WAYNE: Wet...
(Close shot of Winnie looking down.)
WAYNE (V/O): Kiss.
(Winnie looks at Kevin off-screen as Wayne makes sucking noises.)
(Shot of Wayne, Steve and Winnie. Wayne is looking at Kevin off-screen with his mouth open. Winnie is looking down. Wayne smiles.)
WAYNE: Hah-hah.
(Wayne looks at Winnie.)
WAYNE: He told me.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Wayne off-screen.)
KEVIN: You liar! (Frowns.) I never said that!
(Close shot of Winnie looking at Kevin off-screen.)
KEVIN (V/O): I don't want to kiss her!
(Winnie looks down.)
(Shot of Kevin and Paul. Kevin stands and picks up his apple.)
KEVIN: I don't even like her! (Frowns.)
(Kevin turns away.)
(Wide shot through the cafeteria door of Kevin approaching the camera. Paul, Wayne and Winnie are in the background - Steve has disappeared. Mr. Diperna puts his hand on Kevin's chest, stopping him near the doorway.)
MR. DIPERNA: Young man!
(Kevin backs up a few steps. Mr. Diperna crosses to the other side of the doorway and knocks on the window.)
(Close shot of a sign reading "POSITIVELY NO FOOD OUTSIDE THE CAFETERIA".)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at the sign off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA (V/O): What does that sign say?
(Close shot of Mr. Diperna looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Hmm?
(Shot past Mr. Diperna of Kevin as Mr. Diperna holds his arm.)
MR. DIPERNA: You take that apple...
(Close shot of Mr. Diperna looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Through that door and you're asking for detention.
(Shot past Mr. Diperna of Kevin looking around the cafeteria, then at Mr. Diperna. Kevin frowns and shakes free of Mr. Diperna's grasp.)
(Shot through the doorway of Kevin and Mr. Diperna as Kevin turns and walks out the door. Other students groan as the camera pans with Kevin. Mr. Diperna frowns and hurries through the cafeteria to the next door and steps out.)
MR. DIPERNA: Young man!
(Mr. Diperna grabs Kevin's shoulder. They face each other as Mr. Diperna spreads his jacket and hitches up his pants.)
MR. DIPERNA: I think we have a problem.
(Close shot past Mr. Diperna of Kevin looking at him.)
He was right - there was a problem.
(Kevin glances down, then up to Mr. Diperna off-screen and smirks.)
KEVIN: Oh, yeah. The apple.
(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Diperna looking at him.)
MR. DIPERNA: That's right. (Nods.) The apple.
(Close shot past Mr. Diperna of Kevin looking toward the cafeteria.)
KEVIN: You wanted it...
(Kevin looks at Mr. Diperna.)
KEVIN: Inside the cafeteria.
MR. DIPERNA (V/O): That's right.
KEVIN: And now it's outside the cafeteria.
(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Diperna looking at him.)
MR. DIPERNA: That's right.
Conversation was getting stale.
(Close shot past Mr. Diperna of Kevin looking toward the cafeteria.)
I asked myself "Now, what would a guy..."
(Kevin looks at Mr. Diperna.)
"Like Brian Cooper do in this situation?"
(Kevin looks down at his apple, then at Mr. Diperna, and throws the apple back into the cafeteria.)
(Wide shot of Kevin and Mr. Diperna, and the cafeteria behind them. Sound of a girl screaming and of silverware spilling. Mr. Diperna looks toward the cafeteria, then frowns at Kevin.)
(Close shot past Kevin of Mr. Diperna giving him a withering look.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking off, timidly. Some Snuffy guitar plays.)
KEVIN: Um, uh...
(Close shot past Kevin of Mr. Diperna frowning at him.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking off.)
KEVIN: If you want, I could...
(Kevin looks toward the cafeteria and nods, then points.)
KEVIN: Get that.
(More Snuffy guitar plays as Kevin looks at Mr. Diperna, who hooks him by the neck, pulling him out of the scene.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Mr. Diperna's Office
(Close shot of Norma frowning heavily.)
NORMA (Sternly): Well, Kevin, perhaps we should start by asking you...
(Wider shot of Norma sitting in front of Mr. Diperna's desk, Mr. Diperna sitting on the edge of his side of the desk, and Kevin in a chair next to it.)
NORMA: To explain what in God's name ...moved you to do what you did.
(Close shot of Kevin glancing off, then looking at Norma off-screen.)
I wanted to tell them that Wayne embarrassed me...
(Kevin looks toward Mr. Diperna off-screen, then glances off.)
That the other kids were laughing, that Mr. Diperna had played power games with me...
(Kevin looks down and sighs slightly.)
That Winnie had seen the whole thing and that she'd been wearing pink fishnets and gogo boots.
(Kevin looks toward Norma off-screen.)
KEVIN: I dunno. (Shrugs.)
(Close shot of Norma looking at Kevin off-screen.)
NORMA: "I dunno"? That's all you have to say? "I dunno"?
(Close shot of Mr. Diperna looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Kevin...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Diperna off-screen.)
(Close shot of Mr. Diperna looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: The question is, what did you hope to achieve by throwing an apple...into a cafeteria?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Diperna off-screen.)
KEVIN (V/O): No butthead, the question is why do you have a brain the size of a baby pea?
NORMA (V/O): Kevin!
(Close shot of Norma frowning.)
NORMA: Mr. Diperna just asked you a question. What did you hope to achieve by throwing that apple into the cafeteria?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Norma off-screen.)
KEVIN (V/O): World peace.
(Close shot of Norma looking at Kevin off-screen.)
NORMA: Kevin! (Frowns.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Norma off-screen.)
KEVIN: Nothing.
(Close shot of Mr. Diperna looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Well, Kevin, that's exactly what you did achieve - nothing.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Diperna off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA (V/O): Now, I'm going to let you go...without any further punishment.
(Wide shot of Norma, Mr. Diperna standing at his desk holding a folder, and Kevin looking at him.)
MR. DIPERNA: But I want you to know...that I'll be keeping my eye on you.
(Close shot of Mr. Diperna leaning closer toward Kevin off-screen.)
MR. DIPERNA: Do you understand that?
(Close shot of Kevin looking away.)
(Close shot of Norma looking at Kevin off-screen.)
NORMA: Kevin! (Frowns.) Do you understand that?
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Norma off-screen.)
KEVIN: Yes.
(Wide shot of Norma, Mr. Diperna, and Kevin.)
JACK (V/O): I'd like to take him home now.
(They look past the camera.)
(Shot of Jack sitting in a chair as he cracks his knuckles. Some "Mrs. Robinson"-like music starts.)
Cut to
Ext. Day - Arnold Car
(Close shot throught the windshield of Kevin sitting in the back seat of the car, frowning.)
In my twelve and a half years, my father had never struck me.
(Close shot throught the windshield of Norma in the front seat, looking off.)
But he'd given Wayne a beating. Twice...
(Norma looks toward Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot throught the windshield of Jack looking forward and frowning.)
And I recognized that glazed look in his eyes.
(Close shot throught the windshield of Kevin looking forward and frowning.)
Besides, maybe I deserved it.
Cut to
Ext. Day - Arnold House
(Shot from the street as the Arnold car approaches. The camera pans with it as it turns into the driveway.)
There really is no good excuse for hurling food around the cafeteria.
(Shot from Norma's side of the car of Norma and Jack, as Jack stops the car.)
He probably figured that if he laid down the law now...
(Jack parks the car.)
I'd stay in line. And he was probably right.
(Jack gets out.)
Anyway, I could take the pain.
(Jack walks around the back of the car as the camera pans with him.)
I decided I'd just shut my eyes, and imagine it was Wayne.
(Jack holds the rear door open as Kevin looks at him. Music ends.)
JACK: Come on. (Gestures.) Inside.
(Kevin slides out. Jack shuts the door and holds Kevin's arm as they walk past Norma, who is getting out. She looks after them off-screen.)
(Wider shot of Jack and Kevin approaching the camera, and turning onto the walkway.)
And then it happened...
(Kevin and Jack slow up and look past the camera.)
I think we were about halfway to the front porch.
(Shot of the porch and open front door as Karen and Wayne step out onto porch. They appear on verge of tears, as Karen looks off.)
(Close shot of Karen looking off, then toward Jack and Norma off-screen.)
KAREN: Brian Cooper was killed.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning at Karen off-screen, and Norma and Jack behind him. Some Snuffy guitar plays throughout.)
(Close shot past Kevin of Norma looking at Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: Oh, my God...
(Norma glances at Jack off-screen, then Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: When did they find out?
(Close shot of Karen looking at Norma off-screen, then looking down, frowning, and shrugging.)
(Close shot past Kevin of Norma glancing at Jack off-screen, then passing Kevin and the camera.)
NORMA: I'm gonna go call Evelyn, see if there's anything...
(Shot of Karen and Wayne as Norma passes the camera.)
NORMA (V/O): I can do.
(Wayne steps aside as Karen touches Norma's arm and looks toward Jack off-screen.)
NORMA: Oh my God, poor Evelyn...
(Karen follows Norma inside.)
NORMA (V/O): Poor Jim.
(Wayne looks toward Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Jack frowning at Wayne off-screen, then sighing and looking at Kevin off-screen.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Wayne off-screen, then looking at Jack as Jack squeezes his shoulder.)
Cut to
Ext. Evening - Residential Street
(Wide shot of the empty the sidewalk and street as Kevin walks past the camera. Snuffy's guitar plays throughout.)
That night I decided to go for a walk. The days were still long and back then...
(Fade to telephoto shot of Kevin approaching the camera up a sidewalk.)
Kids could still go for walks at dusk without the fear of ending up on a milk carton.
(Fade to another shot of Kevin walking across a dirt road.)
I went down to the big climbing tree in Harper's Woods.
(Kevin steps off the road, and into a field.)
I didn't admit it to myself until years later...
(Shot of Kevin climbing up the side of a small rise, approaching the camera.)
But in my mind was the shadow of a thought that Winnie might be there.
(Kevin gets to the top, then slows up and looks past the camera.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Winnie sitting on a large rock next to a big tree.)
She was sort of hugging herself, and rocking slowly back and forth. There was a bit of a chill in the air and she didn't have a sweater.
(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Winnie off-screen.)
For a minute I was scared to approach her.
(Close shot of Winnie looking toward Kevin off-screen.)
(Close shot of Kevin hesitating, then approaching the camera.)
(Close shot of Winnie looking at Kevin as he passes the camera and approaches her.)
I didn't know what to say.
(Winnie looks forward.)
I had the strangest feeling.
(Kevin sits next to her and hangs his head.)
It was impossible for me to believe - Brian was dead.
(Kevin looks up and sighs, then turns to Winnie. Music ends.)
KEVIN: I'm sorry.
(Winnie looks at him.)
KEVIN: About Brian.
(Winnie looks forward as Kevin looks down.)
KEVIN: And I'm sorry...about what I said today.
(Winnie puts her legs down and looks at Kevin. Kevin looks at her and shakes his head.)
KEVIN: It wasn't true.
WINNIE: I know.
(She looks off, hunches up and sighs as Kevin looks down for a moment. He looks at Winnie as she puts a knee up again. Sound of a bird chirping as he looks at her a few seconds, then looks away as she turns toward him. Winnie looks off again. Kevin removes his jacket and places it around Winnie's shoulders. She holds the jacket as he puts his arm around her shoulder. Music Percy Sledge "When a Man Loves A Woman" starts.)
(They sit a few seconds looking off, then at each other. They move in slowly and kiss.)
"When a man loves a woman"
"He can't keep his mind on nothin' else"
"He'd change the world"
It was the first kiss for both of us.
"For the good thing he's found"
(The camera starts to move up and back slowly.)
We never really talked about it afterward.
(They separate slightly and look at each other.)
But I think about the events of that day again and again...
(Kevin and Winnie hug.)
And somehow I know that Winnie does too, whenever some blowhard starts talking about the anonymity of the suburbs, or the mindlessness of the TV-generation. Because we know that inside each one of those identical boxes...
(The camera continues to pull back. Kevin smoothes Winnie's hair.)
With its Dodge parked out front, and its white bread on the table, and its TV set glowing blue in the falling dusk...
(The image freezes and fades to sepia tones.)
There were people with stories, there were families bound together in the pain and the struggle of love. There were moments that made us cry with laughter, and there were moments, like that one, of sorrow and wonder.
Fade to
CLOSING CREDITS
Music
"Turn! Turn! Turn!" - The Byrds
"Both Sides, Now" - Joni Mitchell
"Crystal Blue Persuasion" - Tommy James & The Shondell's
"When a Man Loves a Woman" - Percy Sledge
Supporting Cast
Brian Cooper - Bentley Mitchum
Mr. Cutlip - Robert Picardo
Mr. Diperna - Raye Birk
Next Episode
Episode Titles/Transcripts
Episode Info
Wonder Years Menu
12/24/04 18:37