Ep 67 - "The House That Jack Built"
OPENING SEQUENCE
("To Each His Own" - The Platters plays.)
Once upon a time...
(The camera pans across a photo of a happy crowd. One man in the photo holds up a newspaper reading "Germany Quits!" in large headlines.)
America's sons came home from a just and noble war.
(Shot of Alfred Eisenstaedt's photo of a sailor kissing a woman in the street.)
Home to their families, and an ideal called...
(Aerial photograph of a housing tract.)
Suburbia.
"To each his own"
"To each his own"
(High shot of a residential block, with a moving van backed in to each driveway. The camera pans down the photo.)
It was a place where peace-of-mind came by the square foot.
(Shot of a couple standing in the front yard of a house. The camera pulls back.)
Where the space between every linoleum floor, and shingled roof...was to be filled with children.
(Shot of a row of women in the street, all pushing baby carriages. The camera pans up the row.)
And dreams.
(Shot of a photo of a man on a roof. The camera pulls back, revealing more houses under construction.)
And where...into every inch of concrete...hard working men...
Cut to
Ext. Day - Driveway
(Close shot of Jack's arms as he trowels cement into a crack in a wall.)
Poured their values.
JACK (V/O): There.
(Wider shot of Jack kneeling on the driveway next to the house, looking over his shoulder.)
JACK: This oughtta take care of it. (Smiles.)
(Jack resumes trowelling cement.)
My father was one of those men. His values were simple. As solid as the walls of the house he took care of.
(Shot past Jack of Kevin stirring cement in a large bucket with a big stick.)
And he trusted the preservation of those four walls to nothing less than his own two hands.
KEVIN: Dad? Could I stop stirring now?
(Shot past Kevin of Jack. Jack looks toward the bucket.)
With maybe a little help from my two hands.
(Jack frowns and shakes his head.)
JACK: Not just yet.
(Shot past Jack of Kevin.)
KEVIN: Think it'll hold?
JACK: Sure.
(Norma steps outside, wiping her hands on a towel and looking at Jack.)
JACK: A little cement, a little paint...
(Shot of Jack looking up and gesturing at Kevin off-screen.)
JACK: Good as new. (Smiles.)
(Shot past Jack of Kevin as Norma approaches, looking at Jack's work.)
Course, his family trusted his capable hands as well.
NORMA: Jack? Are you sure we shouldn't call a repairman?
JACK: We don't need a repairman, Norma.
(Shot of Jack looking up toward Norma off-screen.)
JACK: Just a little crack. (Smiles.)
(Jack looks down.)
NORMA (V/O): Oh, I know honey, but...
(Close shot of Norma looking at Jack off-screen.)
NORMA: I mean...(shrugs)...isn't that pretty serious?
(Close shot of Jack turning slowly to Norma off-screen.)
JACK: I know what I'm doing. (Nods.)
(Jack looks at Kevin off-screen, then tilts his head and smiles slightly.)
(Close shot of Kevin smiling.)
All in all...
(Kevin looks at the cement.)
(Shot of Jack looking at his work.)
The old man had built a pretty solid foundation...
(Shot past Jack of Kevin and Norma.)
For us.
Cut to
Int. Day - Kitchen
(Shot of Karen pulling a stack of plates from the cabinet.)
Whether we liked it or not.
(Karen looks in the cabinet for more dishes.)
NORMA (V/O): Honey?
(Shot of Kevin and Norma looking at Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: Is there something I can help you with?
(Shot of Norma at the stove, and Kevin and Karen in the background.)
KAREN: Huh? Oh - no, no. I just wanted to borrow these. Do you mind?
NORMA: Well, I suppose not.
(Shot Kevin looking at Karen off-screen as Norma looks toward the stove.)
KAREN (V/O): Thanks, Mom.
(Norma looks at Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: Except...why do you need plates?
(Shot past Norma of Karen looking at her.)
KAREN: For my new place.
NORMA (V/O): New place?
(Shot of Kevin and Norma looking at Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: I thought you were living in the dorm this summer. (Frowns.)
KAREN (V/O): I was...
(Shot past Norma of Karen looking at her.)
KAREN: I mean, I was going to, but then I found this house off-campus - so I'm going to be living there instead.
(Shot Kevin looking at Karen off-screen as Norma looks toward the stove.)
KEVIN: You? In a house.
(Shot of Karen looking at Kevin off-screen.)
KAREN: That's what I said.
(Karen gets some more dishes.)
Bear in mind, this from a girl who once swore all she needed in life...
(Shot of Kevin and Norma as Norma hands him a glass of lemonade.)
Was a knapsack and a bowl of brown rice.
(Kevin looks at Karen off-screen as Norma looks toward the stove.)
KEVIN: What do you need a house for? (Frowns.)
(Wide shot of Norma and Kevin, and Karen in the background.)
KAREN: Well, I mean, it's roomier, and it's...closer to work. It's what I'm going to do.
(Karen turns toward them as Jack enters from the living room.)
JACK: What are you goin' to do?
(Jack walks to a cabinet near the camera.)
NORMA (V/O): Jack?
(Close shot of Norma as she turns around and looks at Jack off-screen.)
NORMA: Karen's thinking of moving into a house.
(Norma looks toward Karen off-screen.)
(Shot of Jack closing the cabinet door, holding a glass. He looks at Norma, then Karen off-screen.)
(Shot of Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
JACK: She's not moving into any house.
(Shot of Jack looking at Karen off-screen, then facing Norma.)
(Shot of Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
KAREN: Why not, Daddy?
(Shot of Kevin, Norma and Jack as Norma pours Jack a glass of lemonade.)
Now, obviously, my father had his carefully-considered reasons.
(Jack looks at Karen off-screen.)
JACK: Because you're not moving into any house!
(Shot of Karen looking at Jack off-screen and sighing.)
KAREN: Look, Daddy - I've already made plans. (Gestures.) And the dorms are really crowded...
(Shot of Kevin and Norma looking from Karen to Jack off-screen.)
KAREN (V/O): And...
(Close shot of Jack looking off as he swallows.)
But it was clear nothin' was gonna budge the big guy on this one.
(Jack shakes his head slightly.)
Until...
(Close shot of Karen looking off.)
KAREN: It was gonna be a lot cheaper than the dorm.
(Karen shakes her head slightly, then looks at Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Jack looking off. Sound of a cash register as Jack looks toward Karen off-screen and raises his eyebrows.)
JACK: Cheaper?
(Shot of Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
Karen evoked my father's fourth commandment.
(Close shot of Kevin looking from Karen to Jack off-screen.)
"Thou shalt save money on rent".
(Shot of Norma and Jack. Jack looks off and puckers his lips.)
JACK: Sounds good to me. (Nods.)
(Jack smiles slightly at Karen off-screen, then walks past the camera. Norma frowns and watches Jack walk away.)
And with that...
(Shot of Karen smiling at Norma off-screen.)
The issue was settled.
(Karen raises her eyebrows.)
For Dad, anyway.
(Close shot of Norma looking at Karen off-screen, somewhat disbelieving.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking off, then frowning.)
For the rest of us, there were still some questions.
(He looks at Karen off-screen.)
KEVIN: How can a whole house be cheaper than living in a dorm?
(Close shot of Karen looking at him off-screen.)
KAREN: Simple - I got a roommate.
(Close shot of Norma frowning slightly at Karen off-screen.)
And, that explained it. Kinda.
Cut to
Int. Evening - Dinner Table
(Wide shot of all around the table as Norma approaches and sets a bowl of salad down.)
NORMA: So, have we met this roommate yet, honey?
(Norma sits down as Karen starts to put some salad on her plate.)
For my mother, the issue didn't seem to be quite so open-and-shut.
(Shot past Norma of Karen getting her salad.)
KAREN: No, Mom - I don't think so.
(Karen looks at Norma.)
(Shot past Karen of Norma.)
NORMA: But you two...get along together well?
(Shot past Norma of Karen getting her salad and glancing at Norma.)
KAREN: Oh, yeah. We're fine. (Smiles.)
NORMA (V/O): And this house...
(Shot past Karen of Norma.)
NORMA: What's it like? (Smiles.)
In fact, for some reason...
(Close shot of Kevin frowning slightly and looking from Norma to Karen off-screen.)
Mom had a hold of this house thing...
(Shot of Norma holding a chicken leg, looking at Karen off-screen.)
Like a dog with a bone.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Karen as she eats some salad and looks at Norma off-screen.)
KAREN: I don't know, it's um...(shrugs)...just a big old house...(gestures)...it's roomy, lots of windows...it's a nice place.
(Karen picks up the salad bowl, and passes it toward Jack.)
(Shot of Norma looking at Karen, then Jack off-screen and shrugging.)
NORMA: Well, maybe we should...drive up and see it.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Karen looking at Norma off-screen.)
(Shot of Kevin and Wayne looking toward Norma off-screen.)
WAYNE: All of us? (Frowns.)
KEVIN: Come on, Mom. (Frowns.) We don't need to go up there.
(They look toward Karen off-screen.)
KAREN (V/O): Yeah, Mom. Besides...
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Karen looking at Norma off-screen.)
KAREN: The house still needs a lot of work, and...that's why we're getting such a good deal. Maybe you should wait a few weeks.
(Shot of Norma smiling at Karen off-screen.)
NORMA: Well, if you think so.
(Norma looks at her food.)
(Shot of Kevin and Wayne looking slightly relieved.)
And once again, the issue was settled.
(Shot of Jack as he drops his fork onto his plate, and pauses.)
(Shot of Kevin and Wayne. Kevin looks at Jack off-screen, as Wayne pauses in mid-mouthful.)
(Shot of Jack as he wipes his mouth with a napkin slowly. He puts his napkin in his lap, and looks at Karen off-screen.)
JACK: Needs a little fix-up, hah?
(Shot of Kevin and Wayne, as Kevin looks toward Karen off-screen.)
Oh, no.
(Shot from behind Jack of Karen looking at him.)
KAREN: Daddy...(smiles)...it's being handled.
(Shot from behind Karen of Jack looking at her. He shrugs slightly.)
JACK: Yeah...
(Jack looks off, then at Karen.)
JACK: But someone's gotta make sure it's done right.
(Jack looks at Norma off-screen.)
JACK: Maybe we should drive up - take a look, huh? (Nods.)
(Shot of Norma smiling slightly at Jack off-screen.)
(Shot of Jack picking up his fork and looking at Kevin off-screen.)
JACK: Right, Kev?
(Shot of Kevin and Wayne looking at Jack off-screen.)
KEVIN: Me?! (Frowns.)
(Wayne looks at Kevin and smiles. Kevin gestures toward him.)
KEVIN: Why can't he help? (Frowns.)
(Wayne leans a little closer.)
WAYNE: Looks like you're Daddy's little helper. (Smiles.)
(Wayne looks at his food and frowns.)
WAYNE: Sucker.
(Close shot of Norma looking around the table.)
NORMA: So, how about next Saturday?
(Close shot of Jack turning toward Karen off-screen.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Karen looking uncomfortably at Norma, then Jack off-screen. She smiles and sighs heavily.)
KAREN: Sure.
(She puts her hands down, and glances down, then at Norma.)
KAREN: Next Saturday's OK.
(Wide shot of all from behind Karen.)
(Some Snuffy guitar plays over to the next scene.)
And at long last, the issue was put to rest for good.
Cut to
Ext. Day - Residential Street
(Shot of the Arnold car approaching and pulling up to the curb. The camera moves over to the sidewalk as the car comes to a stop.)
OK - so we'd chew up a perfectly good Saturday. The way I saw it...
(Kevin and Norma are looking toward the house as the car stops.)
We pound in a few nails...hang a few pictures...and be out of there before noon.
(Kevin starts to open the door.)
(Closer shot of Kevin as he gets out of the car. Snuffy's guitar ends.)
After all...how much work could there be in a house the size of...
(High wide shot of the house as sitar music plays. The camera descends.)
The Taj Mahal?
(The camera stops behind the row of Arnold's looking toward the house. Karen steps out the front door in the distance.)
KAREN: Hi!
(Slightly closer shot of Karen at the top of the steps. She spreads her arms out.)
(Close shot of Kevin and Jack.)
KAREN (V/O): You're early!
(Kevin forces a smile, then frowns slightly. Jack frowns slightly and drums his fingers on the car roof.)
Cut to
Int. Day - The House
(Shot of Karen in profile facing the front door as it opens creakily. Kevin, Norma and Jack enter, and look at the door as Jack closes it. Karen smiles.)
KAREN: I told you it still needs some work, but the landlord's giving us a real deal if we do some of the repairs.
(Norma smiles and nods slightly as she looks around. She takes a small step forward, and Jack holds her sleeve, then walks slowly ahead of her.)
KAREN: You just gotta have a little vision. (Smiles.)
(Shot of a bead curtain as Jack walks across the camera.)
Uh-huh. We had vision, alright.
(Norma walks into the shot looking toward the ceiling, then the floor.)
While Mom was envisioning walls...
(Norma turns toward Karen off-screen smiling uncomfortably.)
Festering with cockroaches and rats...
(Norma glances up.)
(Shot of the ceiling, which has some bare wood showing though.)
NORMA (V/O): It's...nice honey!
(Close shot of Kevin as he turns slightly, frowning.)
I was envisioning sweat...
(Shot of a wall near a door and stairs.)
Splinters...and hard labor.
(Shot of Jack, Norma and Karen standing side-by-side.)
Whereas...Dad saw something we didn't.
(Jack looks off and nods slightly.)
JACK: Lotta work in this place.
(Shot of Kevin turning and frowning.)
Pure opportunity.
(Shot of Jack, Norma and Karen standing side-by-side as Jack bends over and sets his toolbox down. He straightens up.)
JACK: OK.
(Jack claps his hands together.)
JACK: Kev...(gestures)...where do we want to start? (Smiles.)
KAREN: Uh, actually, Daddy...(gestures)...lunch is almost ready.
(Jack shrugs, then smiles.)
JACK: Well, in that case - where's the john?
(Karen gestures, and Jack walks off.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning slightly.)
Well, at least the condemned man was gonna get a final meal.
Cut to
The Kitchen
(Wide shot of Kevin sitting at the table, and Norma at a counter as Karen approaches, holding out a tray of white vegetable.)
KAREN: You guys like hikama?
(Shot past the tray of Kevin looking at it.)
If you could call it that.
(Shot of Norma and Karen.)
NORMA: Let's...(gestures)...try it and see. (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking over his shoulder, then down.)
(Close shot of Norma looking at Karen.)
NORMA: Where did you learn to cook like this, honey? (Smiles.)
(Shot of Karen at the counter.)
KAREN: Oh, I don't know...just something I picked up along the way, I guess.
(She looks at Norma off-screen and smiles.)
Still, you had to hand it to Karen. In her own kitchen...
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Karen off-screen.)
She actually seemed...at home.
(Wider shot of all three as Norma and Karen fix the food.)
So maybe there was more to her new life than we'd been giving her credit for.
MAN (V/O): Hi.
(All three look toward the door.)
(Shot past Kevin of a young man entering, holding two brown shopping bags.)
MAN: Sorry I took so long. (Smiles.)
(Shot of Karen and Norma looking over their shoulders at the man off-screen.)
KAREN: Hi!
(Close shot of the man looking at Karen off-screen.)
MAN: Hi...
(Shot of Karen and Norma looking at the man off-screen. Norma turns slightly and smiles.)
NORMA: Hello.
(Shot past Kevin of the man looking at Karen off-screen.)
MAN: I, uh...brought the groceries. (Smiles.)
(Shot of Karen and Norma looking at him off-screen.)
KAREN: Good, good.
(Karen points, and looks worriedly at the man.)
KAREN: You can just put them down here, OK?
(Shot past Kevin of the man as he steps forward.)
MAN: Right. Gotcha.
(He sets the bags down, then looks at Kevin.)
MAN: Hi. (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at the man off-screen and hesitating.)
KEVIN: Hi. (Frowns.)
Hnnn.
(Shot past Kevin of the man.)
Friendly delivery-people in these parts.
(Shot past the man of Karen and Norma.)
KAREN: Well, thanks. (Smiles.)
(Shot past Kevin of the man.)
MAN: Oh, no problem. (Shrugs.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at the man off-screen.)
Now, something wasn't quite right, here. I just couldn't put my finger on it.
(Kevin glances at Norma off-screen.)
(Close shot of Norma.)
NORMA: Karen?
(Close shot of Karen turning over her shoulder toward Norma off-screen.)
KAREN: Hnh...
(Close shot of Norma.)
Maybe Mom couldn't, either.
(Norma looks at the man off-screen and smiles.)
NORMA: Aren't you going to tip him?
(Shot past Norma of Karen looking at her, then turning toward the man off-screen.)
(Shot past Kevin of the man as he smiles and gestures.)
MAN: Nah - this one's on the house. (Nods.)
(Shot past the man of Kevin, Norma and Karen looking at him.)
(Shot past Kevin of the man as he smiles and nods slightly.)
MAN: Well. (Nods.) Bye.
(Shot of Karen and Norma.)
KAREN: Bye...
(Shot past Kevin as the man turns and walks to the door.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking after him.)
So, maybe it was nothing.
(Kevin glances toward Karen and Norma.)
(Shot of Karen and Norma fixing food.)
Or maybe not.
(Norma looks past Karen toward the door.)
Cut to
The Dining Room
(Wide shot through a doorway of Norma and Kevin seated at the table as Jack approaches.)
KAREN (V/O): OK, everybody.
(Karen turns at the edge of the shot, holding a bowl.)
(Close shot of Jack smiling as he sits down. He leans toward the bowl and sniffs. He pauses, and looks toward Karen off-screen.)
JACK: What's that smell?
(Shot of Karen as she stirs another bowl of vegetables.)
KAREN: Stir-fried vegetables, sauteed bean-curd...
(Shot of Kevin looking at Karen as she crosses the camera and sits down.)
KAREN (V/O): And hikama salad on the side.
(Kevin frowns slightly and looks at Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Jack frowning at a large spoon of bean-curd.)
NORMA (V/O): Well...
(Close shot of Norma smiling as she stirs a bowl.)
NORMA: It looks wonderful, honey. Right, Kevin? (Smiles.)
(Shot past Karen of Kevin looking at a white glob on his spoon.)
KEVIN: Uh...
(Kevin looks up quickly and smiles.)
KEVIN: Yeah! (Shrugs.) Wonderful. (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Norma smiling as she looks down.)
Hey, what could be better?
(Shot of Karen smiling as she puts a piece of hikama in her mouth.)
A hearty meal with the family...
(Close shot of Kevin looking from Norma to Jack off-screen.)
A new hearth and home...
(Shot of Jack looking down as he gets a forkful of food.)
Back-breaking projects ahead...
(Jack looks up at Norma off-screen and nods slightly.)
JACK: Lotsa work to do.
(Shot of Norma looking at Jack off-screen.)
NORMA: So it's a good thing we came up, right? (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Jack looking at Norma off-screen.)
JACK: No kidding. Place needs a man's help. (Smiles.)
(Wider shot of Karen as the young man enters the door behind her and pauses.)
MAN: Hi. (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Jack glancing at him off-screen, then looking at him with surprise.)
(Shot of Karen and the man as she turns over her shoulder.)
KAREN: Hi.
MAN: Can I come in? (Gestures.)
KAREN: Sure.
(The man approaches the chair next to Karen.)
(Shot of Kevin looking at the man off-screen, and frowning slightly.)
(Shot of Jack looking at the man as he sits down next to him.)
MAN: Hi. (Nods.)
JACK: Hi.
(Close shot of Norma looking at the man off-screen.)
What...
(Shot past the man of Kevin looking at Norma off-screen, then watching the man serve himself some food.)
Did the guy change his mind about the tip?
(Shot of Jack holding a serving spoon of bean-curd, and frowning at the man off-screen.)
(Shot of Karen and the man as he continues to get some food.)
KAREN: I...
(Karen glances off.)
KAREN: Uh...
(Karen looks at Norma off-screen. The man looks at her.)
Seemed pretty clear...
(Shot of Jack holding a serving spoon of bean-curd, and frowning at the man off-screen.)
An explanation was in order.
JACK: And who are you? (Frowns.)
(Shot of Karen and the man. He turns from Karen to Jack off-screen.)
MAN: I live here.
(Shot of Jack frowning at the man off-screen, and tossing the spoon down.)
(Close shot of Norma looking from the man to Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Karen looking down, then toward Jack off-screen.)
(Shot past the man of Kevin looking at him, slightly surprised.)
KAREN (V/O): Uh...everybody...
(Shot of Karen and the man. Karen looks down as the man looks at Jack off-screen. Karen looks up and smiles.)
KAREN: This is Michael.
(Karen puts her hand on Michael's.)
And, with those polite formalities...
(Michael smiles and waves slightly at Norma off-screen.)
Out of the way...
(Wide shot through a doorway of all at the table.)
We sat down to break bread.
(Close shot of Jack frowning at Michael off-screen.)
JACK: What do you mean you live here?
(Shot of Karen and Michael looking at Jack off-screen. Michael looks at Karen.)
(Close shot of Jack frowning at Karen off-screen.)
JACK: What does he mean...(gestures)...he lives here?
(Close shot of Norma looking at Karen, then Jack off-screen.)
(Shot of Michael and Karen as she looks down and he looks at her.)
MICHAEL: You didn't tell 'em, yet.
KAREN: W-well, I-I didn't quite get around to it yet.
(Close shot of Jack frowning at them off-screen.)
JACK: Tell us what?!
(Close shot of Karen tilting her head and scratching it, then straightening up and gesturing.)
KAREN: Mom...Dad...you know I-I told you that I was gonna be sharing a house with somebody...(Nods.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Michael, then Jack off-screen.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Jack and Michael. Jack frowns at him, unmoving. Michael gestures.)
MICHAEL: Nice to meet you. (Nods.)
(Shot past Michael of Kevin looking at him.)
Somehow I guess I'd envisioned Karen's roommate...
(They both glance at Norma off-screen, then each other.)
A little less...
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Michael smiling and nodding slightly at him.)
Male.
(Michael glances from Jack to Norma off-screen.)
KAREN (V/O): You know, um...Michael's a carpenter...
(Shot from behind Norma of all.)
KAREN: And he's...gonna be renovating the house.
MICHAEL: Yeah. You can probably tell..it needs some pretty serious work. (Laughs.)
(Close shot of Jack holding his fist in front of him, and pursing his lips, looking off.)
KAREN (V/O): Like I said, the landlord's giving us a huge break...on the rent.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen.)
But I had a hunch rent was no longer foremost on Dad's mind.
(Kevin looks down.)
(Shot of Karen and Michael as they look toward Jack off-screen. Michael looks at her as she gestures.)
KAREN: You know, Daddy, maybe...Michael can help help you out. (Shrugs.) Or...(frowns)...you could help him out.
(Michael looks at Jack off-screen.)
MICHAEL: Yeah. Yeah! (Gestures.)
(Michael glances toward Karen and Norma.)
MICHAEL: I got a lot of work to do upstairs. (Gestures.)
(Michael turns toward Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Jack holding his fist in front of him, and pursing his lips, looking off.)
MICHAEL (V/O): And we were thinking of renting out three of the bedrooms.
(Shot past Michael of Kevin smiling at him slightly.)
KEVIN: This place has five bedrooms?
(Shot of Karen and Michael as he looks at her.)
KAREN: Uh, actually...(gestures)...it only has four.
(Close shot of Kevin frowning slightly and glancing down.)
Let's see here. A little quick math...four minus three equals...
(Kevin looks toward Michael off-screen.)
KEVIN: Where do you sleep? (Gestures.)
(Close shot of Michael looking at Kevin off-screen.)
Believe it or not...
(Close shot of Karen looking at Michael off-screen.)
At the time...
(Close shot of Norma looking sideways at Karen off-screen.)
It was an innocent question.
(Close shot of Kevin glancing from Michael to Jack off-screen.)
(Sound of a locomotive as the camera rolls slowly up to Jack, who is frowning.)
(Wider shot of Jack and Michael as Jack bangs the table, scattering silverware onto the floor.)
(Shot of Jack frowning as he stands up.)
We braced ourselves for the inevitable.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack, then Michael off-screen.)
My father was gonna make mince-meat of this guy.
(Shot of Karen and Michael looking at Jack off-screen.)
Tear him limb from limb.
(Shot from behind Norma of all as Jack puts his fork on his plate.)
JACK: I'm gonna take a walk.
(Jack starts to walk off.)
(Shot past Michael of Kevin looking from Jack to Michael as as Jack passes him. Jack holds up his hand toward Norma off-screen.)
Or, he was gonna take a walk.
(Kevin looks toward Norma off-screen.)
(Close shot of Norma looking at Jack off-screen with concern.)
NORMA: Jack...
(Wide shot through the doorway of all as Jack exits.)
KAREN: I knew this was a bad idea.
(Karen rises and exits in the opposite direction. Michael rubs his head, then starts to rise.)
(Close shot of Norma looking at Michael off-screen.)
NORMA: Michael!
(Shot from behind Norma of Kevin and Michael as Norma rises.)
NORMA: Excuse me.
(Norma exits toward Karen off-screen.)
KAREN (V/O): I don't want to talk about this.
(Michael sits down.)
NORMA (V/O): Well, it's not that easy, Karen. We're going to talk about it.
KAREN (V/O): Yeah. Like Dad really wants to...
(Michael looks at Kevin.)
MICHAEL: This isn't going well, is it?
(Shot past Michael of Kevin looking at him.)
NORMA (V/O): Karen, he loves you.
(Kevin glances toward the kitchen.)
KAREN (V/O): Well, he's got a funny way of showing it!
NORMA (V/O): Well, what did you expect?!
(Kevin shakes his head slowly and looks at Michael.)
KEVIN: I don't think so.
(Shot past Kevin of Michael looking at him, and Norma and Karen in the kitchen behind him.)
MICHAEL: Um, maybe we should go outside.
(Norma looks away from Karen.)
(Shot past Michael of Kevin looking at him.)
KEVIN: Uh...sure.
(They stand and exit past the camera.)
Cut to
Ext. Day - The House
(Shot of the steps and front of the house as Kevin exits followed by Michael.)
KAREN (V/O): What's wrong with it?!
NORMA (V/O): I'll tell you. You are not married...
(Kevin goes down the steps and sits near the bottom. Michael looks toward the house, then sits on the top step. They both have their hands together.)
MICHAEL: Seemed like a good idea to get out of there. (Gestures.)
KEVIN: Yeah. (Nods.)
I suppose I felt a little funny...
(Closer shot of Kevin looking off.)
Fraternizing with the enemy.
(Close shot of Michael looking at Kevin off-screen, and hesitating.)
MICHAEL: You ever been on a motorcycle before? (Smiles.)
(Close shot of Kevin pausing.)
KEVIN: Sure...
(Kevin frowns heavily, then looks off and cocks his head slightly.)
(Close shot of Michael looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MICHAEL: Well then, come on.
(Michael stands up and walks down the steps, then looks at Kevin off-screen.)
(Close shot of Kevin frowning at Michael off-screen.)
MICHAEL: I know a place that makes a great bean-curd sandwich.
(Close shot of Michael looking down and smiling.)
MICHAEL: It was a joke. (Gestures.) Come on.
(Wider shot of both as Michael exits. Kevin looks after him.)
Huh - did this joker really think he could win me over that easily?
Cut to
Residential Street
(Close shot of Kevin smiling as he rides behind Michael. Michael looks over his shoulder and smiles.)
OK - so I took the ride.
(Shot of the bike approaching, then passing the camera, which pans with it.)
Didn't mean I had to have fun.
Cut to
Ext. Day - Burger Stand
(Shot from across the street of the front of a burger stand. Kevin and Michael sit at an outdoor table.)
(Close shot of Kevin and Michael as Kevin eats a hamburger.)
MICHAEL: How's your burger.
KEVIN: It's good...(Nods.)
MICHAEL: Yeah, Karen's great, but I've had just about all the sprouts I can handle.
(Michael looks off and snorts, then shakes his head slightly.)
KEVIN: What?
(Michael looks off.)
MICHAEL: Man, your sister's a pistol...probably takes after your old man, huh?
(Shot past Kevin of Michael as they look at each other. Kevin looks down.)
MICHAEL: He's pretty steamed, isn't he?
KEVIN: You could say that. (Gestures.)
MICHAEL: Think he'll get over it?
(Shot of Michael and Kevin, with the order window in the background.)
KEVIN: I don't know.
(Michael looks down and shakes his head slightly.)
MICHAEL: Man, I hope so.
(Close shot of Michael looking at Kevin off-screen.)
MICHAEL: I mean, I was hoping this would go a little better.
(Michael looks forward and laughs slightly, then looks at Kevin off-screen.)
MICHAEL: Family's a pretty important thing.
(Close shot of Kevin looking off, then at Michael off-screen.)
KEVIN: Yeah, well then why are you guys doing this?
(Close shot of Michael looking at Kevin off-screen, then glancing off slightly and hesitating.)
MICHAEL: Well, I'll tell you why I'm doing it, uh...
(Michael looks down, then at Kevin off-screen.)
MICHAEL: Because I love her.
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Michael off-screen, then glancing off.)
The funny thing is...listening to the way he talked about my sister...
(Kevin looks at Michael off-screen.)
(Close shot of Michael smiling slightly at Kevin off-screen.)
I couldn't help but...
(Michael looks down.)
Like the guy.
(Shot of Kevin and Michael. Michael is looking down playing with a French fry. Kevin looks down and smiles slightly.)
And it seemed Dad might like him, too...if he'd just give him a chance...
(Michael looks off, and Kevin looks at him.)
Cut to
Int. Day - Kitchen
(Shot of Norma at the sink as Kevin and Michael enter from the background. Norma looks over her shoulder at them.)
But I guess...
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Norma at the sink.)
When it comes to family...
(Norma rinses a plate and looks at Kevin.)
Things are never that easy.
(Shot of Michael and Kevin looking at Norma off-screen. Kevin looks at Michael.)
MICHAEL: Mr. Arnold isn't back yet?
(Shot from Kevin's perspective as Norma shakes her head.)
(Shot past Norma of Michael and Kevin, as Michael walks off past the camera. Norma turns and looks after him off-screen. Kevin takes a step forward as Norma turns to the sink.)
KEVIN: You want some help, Mom? (Gestures.)
(Shot past Kevin of Norma looking at him.)
NORMA: Oh, I don't think so, honey. Thanks.
(Norma smiles slightly.)
(Some Snuffy guitar plays.)
(Shot past Norma as Kevin walks past her and the camera. Norma looks after him off-screen, then down.)
(Shot of the front screen door as Kevin approaches and looks out.)
KAREN (V/O): I missed you.
MICHAEL (V/O): I missed you, too. How's your Dad?
That afternoon I realized something.
(Shot past Kevin of Karen and Michael holding each other on the porch.)
KAREN: I knew he'd act this way.
(Shot of Kevin looking at then off-screen. The camera moves in slowly.)
MICHAEL (V/O): It's OK, Karen.
About my sister.
MICHAEL (V/O): We'll get through it.
About being young.
(Shot past Kevin of Karen and Michael as he kisses her forehead. They wrap their arms around each other and hold each other closely.)
About being in love.
(The camera moves forward past Kevin slightly.)
(Shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen. The camera moves in slowly.)
About things that should be simple, and somehow never are.
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Karen and Michael holding each other as Jack approaches in the background. Jack pauses with his hands in his pockets. Michael pulls back slightly, and Karen looks over her shoulder.)
(Closer shot of Karen and Michael turning toward Jack off-screen. The camera pans with Michael as he takes a few steps forward, to include Jack in the background.)
MICHAEL: Look, Mr. Arnold, I know we -
(Jack gestures.)
(Shot of Michael as Karen joins him.)
(Shot past Michael of Jack looking down, then at them off-screen.)
JACK: I, uh...took a walk - did some thinking.
(Shot of Michael and Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
(Closer shot of Jack looking off.)
JACK: I asked myself if, uh...
(Jack sighs, then looks at them off-screen.)
JACK: Maybe I'm the one who's wrong, here.
(Jack shakes his head slightly.)
JACK: But I just keep coming back to the same answer.
(Shot of Michael and Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
(Shot of Kevin looking through the screen door as Norma approaches behind him.)
(Close shot of Jack looking at Karen off-screen.)
JACK: I can't allow this, Karen.
(Shot of Michael and Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
KAREN: What do you want me to say to that, Daddy? You want me to move back into the dorm?
(Shot past Michael of Jack as he nods.)
JACK: As a matter of fact, I do.
(Shot of Kevin and Norma through the screen door.)
(Shot of Michael and Karen as she looks at Michael, then down, then at Jack off-screen.)
KAREN: No.
(Close shot of Jack looking at Karen off-screen, then glancing toward Norma off-screen.)
(Shot of Kevin and Norma through the screen door. Norma takes a step forward and holds Kevin, squeezing his arm. Kevin looks at her.)
JACK (V/O): Your mother, and I...
(Close shot of Jack looking at Karen off-screen.)
JACK: Didn't raise you to live this way!
(Shot of Michael and Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
KAREN: What? (Frowns.) You mean you didn't raise me to fall in love? You mean you didn't raise me...
(Karen looks at Michael.)
KAREN: To want to share my life...(gestures)...with a loving man?
(She frowns at Jack off-screen.)
(Close shot of Jack looking at Karen off-screen.)
JACK: You know damn well what I mean! (Frowns.)
KAREN (V/O): Daddy!
(Close shot of Karen looking at Jack off-screen.)
KAREN: These aren't the Dark Ages. Times have changed...things have changed.
(Close shot of Jack looking at Karen off-screen, and violently making a fist.)
JACK: I haven't changed!!
(Shot of Kevin and Norma through the screen door. Norma steps outside.)
(Close shot of Jack frowning at Karen, then Norma off-screen.)
(Close shot of Karen looking down uncomfortably.)
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Norma, Michael and Karen, and Jack.)
KAREN: You never listen, Daddy.
(Karen walks out of the shot.)
JACK: I'm not listening to this.
(Close shot of Kevin through the screen door.)
(Close shot of Jack looking from Norma to Karen off-screen.)
JACK: You're moving out of here.
(Shot past Jack of Karen and Michael.)
MICHAEL: Look, maybe you're being a little hard on her. (Gestures.)
(Close shot of Jack as he comes up the steps.)
JACK: This is between my daughter and me. (Frowns.)
(Jack pauses on the porch.)
(Close shot of Michael looking at Jack off-screen.)
MICHAEL: May be, sir, but...it's also between your daughter and me.
(Close shot of Jack looking at Michael off-screen.)
(Close shot through the screen door of Kevin.)
(Close shot of Jack looking at Michael off-screen.)
JACK: We're going. Kevin...(gestures)...get my toolbox.
(Shot of Karen and Michael as she stands next to him and looks at Jack off-screen.)
KAREN: Daddy...
(Close shot of Jack looking at Michael off-screen as he raises his hand.)
JACK: I'm not staying here.
(Jack turns to leave.)
(Shot from the sidewalk as Jack walks forward down the walkway. Karen hurries down the steps after him.)
KAREN: You were the ones who wanted to come see how I'm living!
(Norma follows.)
(Shot from the bottom of the steps of Jack and Karen near the car, as Norma passes the camera.)
KAREN: Well, this is how I'm living!
(Jack hurries toward the front of the car. Karen follows.)
JACK: I don't have to take that!
(Shot through the screen door as Kevin pushes it open and walks out slowly.)
KAREN (V/O): Fine, Daddy, dont take it - but this is how it is!
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Karen standing on the driver's side of the car, and Norma looking in the passenger side of the car, as Jack slams the door.)
JACK (V/O): I raised you with values. I raised you have better values than this!
(Shot of Michael and Kevin on the walkway. Kevin takes a few slow steps as they both watch the argument off-screen.)
KAREN (V/O): I don't need your values!
(Shot from Kevin's perspective as Karen walks around the front of the car. The camera pans with her as she starts up the walkway. Kevin walks past the camera. They pause as they near each other.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Karen off-screen, then down.)
(Close shot of Karen looking at Kevin off-screen, then passing the camera.)
(Shot of Michael in the walkway as Karen passes the camera and joins him. She turns and stands in front of him as he holds her arms.)
(Close shot of Kevin getting in the car and looking toward Karen off-screen. Kevin looks out the back window as the car pulls a U-turn.)
(Shot up the walkway of Karen and Michael as they slowly turn and walk toward the house. The camera pulls up and back very slowly.)
("The Times They Are A-Changin'" - Bob Dylan starts and plays throughout in the foreground.)
"Come gather 'round people"
"Where ever you roam"
(Sound of thunder.)
"And admit that the waters around you have grown"
Fade to
Evening - The Road
(Shot through the rain-splattered windshield of Kevin looking forward.)
"And accept it that soon"
(Close shot of Norma looking forward.)
"You'll be drenched to the bone"
(Shot of Jack looking forward.)
"If your time to you is worth savin'"
(Wider shot through the windshield of all.)
"Then you better start swimmin'"
Fade to
Int - Arnold Kitchen
(Shot of Wayne at the table watching TV and drinking from a glass as Kevin hurries in. Thunder sounds.)
"Or you'll sink like a stone"
(Kevin brushes some rain water off his head with his hand.)
WAYNE: Welcome back.
"For the times they are a-changin'"
(Norma and Jack enter, and brush some water off themselves.)
WAYNE: Hey, Dad - you better check the basement.
(Jack pauses and turns slightly over his shoulder.)
JACK: What?
"Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pens"
WAYNE: The floor's a little wet.
(Jack looks at Norma, then walks across the kitchen.)
"And keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again"
(Norma and Kevin look after Jack off-screen.)
"And don't speak too soon, for the wheel's still in spin"
(Norma gets her purse and walks past the camera slowly.)
Fade to
Int. Night - Living Room
(Shot of Kevin on the couch, watching TV. The camera moves in very slowly.)
"And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'"
In 1971, generations were clashing.
(Lightning goes off.)
"Oh the loser will be later to win"
Maybe then, more than ever...
"For the times they are a changin'"
Values and ideals were at war.
(Kevin looks down slightly.)
And somehow, we couldn't help but get swept up in it, I guess.
(Lightning goes off as Kevin looks toward the TV.)
"Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call"
(Kevin presses the remote and stands up. He exits the shot.)
"Don't stand in the doorway"
Cut to
Night - The Basement
(Shot of the basement stairway.)
"Don't block up the hall"
(Kevin opens the door and takes a few steps down.)
(Shot of Jack and Norma in the corner of the basement, looking at the wall. Kevin passes the camera.)
"For he that gets hurt will be he that has stalled"
"The battle outside ragin'"
(Lightning and thunder goes off, and Jack and Norma look out the window.)
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack and Norma off-screen.)
"Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls"
(Closer shot of Jack and Norma as Jack runs his hand over the wall, then turns toward Norma.)
"For the times they are a-changin'"
JACK (V/O): Guess I didn't fix it very well. (Gestures.)
(Jack looks at the wall. Norma sets her hand on his shoulder. Jack turns to her and gestures, then looks at the wall.)
NORMA: You did your best, honey. I know that.
(Jack looks at Norma.)
JACK: Yeah.
(Jack looks at the wall again, then turns to walk past Norma. Norma put her hands up on Jack's shoulders.)
"Come mothers and fathers throughout the land"
(They hold each other closely as the camera moves in slowly.)
"And don't criticize what you can't understand"
"Your sons and your daughters"
(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack and Norma off-screen. The camera moves in slowly.)
"Are beyond your command"
"Your old road is rapidly agin'"
(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Jack and Norma as they continue to hug. Thunder sounds in the background.)
"Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand"
"For the times they are a-changin'"
Fade to
CLOSING CREDITS
Supporting Cast
Michael - David Schwimmer
Music
"To Each His Own" - The Platters
"The Times They Are A-Changin'" - Bob Dylan
Next Episode
Titles/Transcripts
Episode Info
Wonder Years Menu
2/27/05 15:45