All language subtitles for Eight Is Enough s03e23 The Better Part of Valor

Yeah, I know what you mean, Peggy. It's
like she couldn't care less about him.

Oh, I don't know. I think she really
likes him, though. I mean, he is kind of

cute in a little boyish manner.

You just want to mother him to death,
you know what I mean?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, yeah, Dave's a real fox.

Yeah? How did you know?

Is it really that obvious?

Well, do you think you know who I am? I
smiled at him Thursday in study hall. I

think you smiled back, too.

Of course, I can't be sure, but, oh,
guys, those big baby blue eyes. Have you

ever seen eyes like those before?

Don't they just destroy you?

Oh. Oh, sure.

Okay, I'll let you know. Bye -bye.

Those big baby blue eyes.

Nicholas, you weren't.

I sure was.

Nicholas? And boy, was it boring.

Nicholas!

It's a portrait of the happiness that we

feel and always will.

Oh, it is enough to fill our lives with
love.

Oh, we spend our days like bright and
shiny new dyes.

And she wants me to take her American
literature class for three weeks.

I didn't think that you'd be interested
in a classroom situation. Oh, I think

it'd be fun for a change of pace, you
know, and because my license is current,

and Anne wants someone who'll do
something more than just take attendance

keep them quiet, you know, someone
who'll teach them something.

Oh, high school American literature?
Yes, Moby Dick, to be specific. Well,

you're very excited. Yes, I am very
excited. That's wonderful. I'm happy for

you. Well, we'll celebrate tonight, but
first I want to go over to David's. I'm

going to offer him that dresser that we
don't use anymore. You want to come with

me? Oh, no, I have to reread Moby Dick.

Oh, Abby.

What? The whale did it.

Cute.

Oh. Hi.

Oh, hi. I guess nobody's home.

Oh, well, gee, maybe not.

Can I help you?

Oh, are you the landlord?

No, no, no. The young man who lives here
is my son.

Hey, Tom Bradford. Well, I certainly
wanted to meet you.

Oh, well, gee, thank you. Well, you work
with David? Oh, no, no, no, no.

Actually, the young woman that lives
with your son is my daughter.

I'm George MacArthur.

Oh, well, yeah, how do you do?

Boy, isn't this some coincidence?

I was just saying to Sylvia the other
day, we've got to get together with the

Bradfords. Right, yes, I was just saying
to Abby the same thing.

Oh, sure, you know, it's only natural.

It's not as though we don't have
anything in common, huh?

Oh, yes, absolutely.

Oh, my gosh, look at them. Did you know
what time it is? You'll have to excuse

me. I was just on my way.

I think I'll hang around, see if my
little girl comes home. I don't get much

a chance to see her these days.

Yes, yes, I know how that can be.

Oh, and remember now, you know, I meant
what I said, right? Let's get together,

just the four of us, all right? You bet,
yeah.

Pleasure to meet you.

No kidding, Mrs.

Cavallucci's class? American Lit. Yeah,
what do you think? I think I'll switch

English classes.

It wouldn't do you any good.

Well, why not? You've already
infiltrated the enemy. Now you've got

vital information that could be passed
on to us younger Bradfords.

Yeah, and you can sneak out tests.

Why bother? Just grab the grade book.

Yeah, an arrangement like that could get
me back in school.

Character begins at home.

Tommy, Elizabeth, we could carpool to
school.

In the van?

Mm -mm. I'll pay half the gas. You mean
you'd show up for your first day of

school in Tommy's van?

Why not?

Yeah, Abby, I mean, uh, don't you think,
you know, being a teacher in a high

school, you ought to have a little
dignity?

Joanie you've seen your last ride in my
van

Okay,

we're gonna park it we'll see you later

Um,

hello, uh, my name is Abby Bradford, and
as you know, Ann Cavalluzzi will be out

for three weeks, so I'm filling in for
her.

Um, yeah, well, now for the good news.
Ann tells me that you're expecting this,

uh, little test.

Oh,

see, I knew we'd hit it off.

Here you go.

Just do the best you can.

Take your books off the desk, please.
This is the test.

Excuse me, are you in this class?

You're almost ten minutes late.

I got hung up. Sorry.

This is a test.

That's right, and I suggest you get
right to it.

Yeah, sure, ma 'am.

She's got to be kidding.

Okay, name the four basic types of
tissue in the human body.

All right.

Number one, epithelial tissue.

Good. You're here.

Two, connective tissue.

Where's my pink cashmere sweater?

Three, nervous tissue.

The one you borrowed from me ages ago?

Four, muscular tissue.

Mary! Frequently used when striking
another person.

Look, you have no right to be angry at
me. You stole my sweater.

Look, Nancy, I didn't steal anything,
okay? I just borrowed it. Yeah, and you

never gave it back.

Look, I had to have it cleaned, didn't
I? I took it to the cleaners.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mary.

Thanks. Bye, next question.

Where's the ticket?

I meant her next question.

Okay, Nancy, look, I lost the little
ticket. I don't have it. You lost the

ticket? Better the ticket than the
sweater.

Just go down to Lawson's Cleaners and
pick it up. See and explain. Everything

will be fine.

People have no sense of humor.

Real soon?

Real soon. Those were his exact words.

And what did you say?

I mumbled. I stood there and I mumbled.
I mean, what do you say to the man whose

little girl is living with your son?

Little girl?

That's what he said. He said, I never
get a chance to see my little girl

anymore. Why don't we just invite them
over to dinner?

Oh, no, please.

What will we talk about?

I mean, I find this whole situation
extremely awkward.

The only thing that we have in common is
a subject that I'd like to avoid.

Oh, well, apparently he doesn't feel the
same way.

I don't know about that.

He's very friendly.

Almost too friendly. Do you know the way
people are when they overcompensate

because they're embarrassed about
something?

Tom, I think you're just projecting.

He probably was just looking for some
conversation going, Mr. MacArthur.

No, George.

George. His name is George.

George and Shirley or something.

Oh, gosh.

Why couldn't David have just eloped like
a normal child?

So you see, our friend Melville really
did have something deeper in mind than

simply depicting life on a 19th century
whaling boat.

Okay, now be sure and read up to chapter
four by tomorrow and read the

digressions. They're really fun.

37 is really not a very gratifying
grade, is it?

Didn't anybody tell you? Tell me what?

Who I am.

I know your name is Henry Dixon, and I
think you have a lot of work to do in

this class.

You really don't know, do you?

Ms. Bradford, I'm the leading scorer on
this school's basketball team.

Well, 37 points on a basketball court is
outstanding, but 37 points in my class

is a fail.

Exactly.

And as long as I'm failing this course,
I'm on academic restriction, which means

I can't play basketball.

And at the moment, we're two games away
from the city finals.

Well, Henry, if you'd like some extra
help, I'll... Look, you're new here.

Talk to the other teachers here about
me. They'll explain.

Are you implying what I think you're
implying?

You got it.

I don't believe this. This is high
school.

Yeah, well, truth is stranger than
fiction.

Ain't it?

I don't like your attitude, Mr. Dixon,
so you better get this straight. You

don't get a free ride in my class.

Do you understand that?

Hi, Dixon.

What's wrong with him?

A difference of opinion. He thought 37
points was a passing grade, and I

You mean you flunked Dick?

I certainly did.

Well, that means he's not going to be
able to play in the city finals.

So I've been told.

Don't look so shocked, Tommy. There are
things more important to life than

basketball.

Of all the guys, she has to pick the
flunk. She's got a flunk, Dixon.

Did you know who he was?

Oh, come on. You just take one look at
the guy and you know he's a jock.

Well, maybe Abby doesn't understand
these things.

Yeah, well, you know who's going to
catch all the guff about this. You and

I don't know. My friends really aren't
into basketball that much. It's more of

social thing with us.

Yeah, well, my friends take it a lot
more seriously.

I just hope they realize she's only my
stepmother.

Oh, Tommy, you didn't really mean that,
did you?

What's the matter? You're really letting
this thing get to you.

Yeah, you're right.

I mean, it's not my problem, right?

Yeah, that's right.

It's the pink cashmere cardigan sweater,
and it costs an arm and a leg, and

maybe even a head.

Mary's... Oh, never mind.

So you'll look for it? Oh, terrific.

I'll pick it up this afternoon.

Thanks a lot. Bye -bye.

Nicholas, what are you doing? Why can't
you walk down the stairs one at a time

like a normal human being?

Well, I could see, but if I did that, I
wouldn't be a paratrooper jumping out of

an airplane.

Bradford. Oh.

What do you say, Dix?

I don't know. You got any ideas?

What? You related to that substitute
teacher, right?

Yeah.

Tell me something.

Why is she on my case?

Hey, look, Dix, you got a 37 on that
test.

I know what I got on the test.

Problem is, what are we going to do
about it? We?

Hey, I don't think this is any of my
business.

I think you could make it your business
if you wanted to.

Look, Dix, I really don't think there's
anything I can do.

Hey, Bradford, do you want me to play
basketball for this school?

Yeah, sure, Dix.

Then think of something.

Hello. See, they're keeping you busy.

Yeah, paperwork, mountains of it.

I'm Bud Pollard.

Oh, Abby Bradford.

Coach Pollard, actually.

Oh, don't tell me you coach basketball.

So, uh, you're replacing Ann Cavaluzzi.

Mm -hmm.

Yeah,

Ann's, uh...

Ann's quite a basketball fan.

She loves to come down and root for the
kids.

As opposed to other hard -nosed types of
failure star players.

Yeah.

That's one way of looking at it.

Another way of looking at it is that
someday Henry Dixon has to learn that

there's more to life than basketball.

For you and me, maybe.

Look, ten months out of the year, I try
to do something with these kids.

Basketball is my way of doing something.

It gives them a sense of achievement.

A sense of being able to do something
well.

Yes, but what does it do for them when
they're trying to support a large family

but they don't have a good job because
they don't have a decent education?

Education?

Listen, Mrs. Bradford, Yale isn't
exactly banging down Hank Dixon's door.

The only shot he has at college is a
basketball scholarship.

Then what?

Then...

Maybe the pros.

What happens if he doesn't make the
pros?

What happens when he's an illiterate?
Now, wait, hold it.

He's not illiterate.

Okay, then what happens when he's a
pampered, catered to, unmotivated 21

-old who can't do anything in life but
sink a ball in a basket?

At least he has a shot.

Oh, 500 to one shot.

Look, Mr.

Coach Pollard, you better hope for this
boy's sake that if you fail, I don't.

Hi, Julie.

Oh, hi.

How you doing?

Okay.

Are we still going to the pep rally
tomorrow afternoon, you and me?

I don't think so, Tommy.

Listen, I gotta go. I'm late for my
ride.

Sure thing, Julie.

Oh, I don't remember this being so
heavy. Must have gained weight, sitting

around here for 15 years.

How's your back, Dad?

You'll know in a moment when you hear it
snap.

I hope you don't have any trouble with
the stairs leading to my apartment.

You got it? Yeah.

Nicholas, would you get the keys out of
my right pocket?

There's nothing there but a pack of gum.

The other pocket, Nicholas, quick.

Hurry up, get up here and give me a
hand.

There, I got it.

Well, hello, Mr. Bradford. Hi, Nicholas.

What are you doing here?

I live here, remember?

And I got out of my seminar class early.

Hey, that looks like a terrific dresser.
It will look a little more terrific

inside.

Right. Oh, by the way, guess what?

My parents are here.

So, I think the least we can do is to
keep our thermostat down to 65.

Oh, yeah, that's a very good point.

Oh, my gosh, look at the time.

David, do you mind running us back?
Nicholas and I have to get home.

How come?

It's dinner time. They're all waiting
for us.

Nice seeing you again, George.

Nice meeting you, Sylvia.

Oh, now, we're looking forward to
getting together with you and, uh, Abby.

Oh, yes, yes, we are, too. Real soon.

Real soon.

When?

When?

Well, how about tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night, uh... That'd be great.

Wonderfrog's not on on Wednesday.

Tomorrow night, uh... Do we have
anything on tomorrow night, Sylvia?

night, I just can't... Think of anything
offhand.

Well, then I guess tomorrow night's fine
with us then.

Us too.

Eight o 'clock okay?

Eight o 'clock is fine.

Come on, Nicholas.

I'll be right back. I'll walk you guys
to the car.

How was I supposed to know the kid was
going to say when?

Oh, who knew Nicholas was going to say
when?

Out of the mouths of babes. I'm afraid
so.

Anyway, they're coming here tomorrow
night.

Oh, come on. We'll live through it. Oh,
yeah, sure. We'll live through it if we

can stay awake.

Oh, come on. They can't be that bad. You
spent a half hour with them. What did

you talk about?

Thermostats.

Thermostats? Oh, if only this wasn't so
important to David.

I couldn't care less.

I fear the gentleman doth protest too
much.

All right. Let me put it this way.

I think they ought to get together if
they want to, but not on account of us.

Well, your father's already met my
parents.

And it was... Deadly.

It was worse than deadly. It was
disastrous.

Did you ever see three people in a room
that had less to say to one another?

Never. I mean, they didn't even dislike
each other enough to generate any spark.

That was terrible.

I think all thermostats should be set at
65.

I think you have a point there, George.

Quite a slam.

Hello.

I thought you were going to the pep
rally this afternoon.

Oh, really? What gave you that idea?

Well, it's your team, it's your school.

Oh, gosh, I thought maybe you'd
forgotten.

Look, Tommy, I'd like you to understand
that I'm only trying to do what's best

for Hank Dixon.

Oh, oh, I get it. You're going to change
his entire life in three weeks.

Well, I'm going to try to do something.

This is great. This is terrific.

You get to play teacher for three weeks,
and I get to lose all of my friends.

Come on, what's Hank Dixon to you?

Oh, he's a student.

His future is important to me.

Oh, more than your own son's present. Or
should I say stepson?

That was uncalled for. Oh, was it?
You're leaving in three weeks. I'm not.

got to go back there every day for the
next two years.

Look, Tommy, it's my job to try to help
him. Then do it! Go ahead, be a terrific

substitute teacher, because I'll tell
you one thing, you're not much of a

substitute mother.

Dad, are Jada's parents our relatives?

No, just think of them as our guests.

Hopefully the kind that leave early.

Do I have to kiss them when they walk
in? No, no, no. They'd have to be

for that.

You mean Janet's parents aren't married
either?

Yes, of course they're married.

Look, David is very fond of Janet, so
he's having her parents over here so

we can get to know them better. You
understand?

Because Wonderfrog isn't on tonight.

Look, aren't you getting ready for
Janet's parents?

Can I meet them some other time? I had a
heavy day, and I just want to sack out

and do my homework.

Oh, you're not coming down with
anything, are you?

Maybe Abby should take your temperature.

No, she's done enough for me in one day.

Oh, that's not...

Don't let him get to you.

You know Tommy.

I thought I knew Tommy.

Look, by tomorrow morning, he won't
remember he even said it.

He'll remember.

And so will I.

Abby, if you're that hurt, maybe you
ought to tell Dad.

I don't want this to turn into a
disaster.

Tom will think he has to defend me, and
then he'll jump all over Tommy, and then

that'll just prove Tommy's point that
I'm a bad mother and a big troublemaker.

You were just doing your job. One of my
jobs.

Well, are you all ready for the
MacArthur's?

Sure am, Dad.

How about you, Abby?

I'll be ready in about 20 minutes.

You're not smiling.

Neither are you.

Well, I have an excuse. I know how
boring they are. But don't worry.

Cheer up. I have a feeling that this
evening is going to pass by in a mere 10

,000 years.

property. Stolen property? What are you
talking about?

Oh, you know perfectly well what I'm
talking about. My pink cashmere sweater.

Your pink cashmere sweater? I want to
wear it tonight.

And the man at the cleaners told me a
Bradford girl picked it up. A girl with

script under her arm. Oh, boy, that is a
classic. On that one flimsy piece of

evidence, you accuse me of the crime.

Well, I'm innocent, Nan.

Totally innocent.

You mean it wasn't you at the cleaners?
No, no.

was me at the cleaners, I went to pick
it up as a favor.

To Susan.

To Susan?

Oh, wait till I get my hands on her.

Don't you think your hands belong
somewhere else, Nancy?

Huh? If you value your life, Nancy
Bradford, you will turn around and go

those clothes and pick them up and put
them back neatly where they belong.

Don't tell me you're angry. I'm the
injured party. No, about to be injured.

Thank you.

These cookies aren't too impressive,
dear.

Please, don't worry about it. They're
not going to be as stale as George

MacArthur's jokes.

Oh, if I were fast on my feet, I would
have come up with an excuse to get out

this ridiculous evening.

Let's see. We could say that there was a
malaria epidemic sweeping the house.

No, no, no. It has to be very subtle.
Something like, uh... I have it. I have

it. I could tell him that I threw my
back out.

Your back?

Dad, you always use that excuse, and it
is so obvious.

It is obvious? Totally.

Oh.

Hello? Oh, hi, Mr. MacArthur.

Oh, are you sure?

But David and Janet aren't even married
yet.

Okay, Uncle George.

Dad, he wants me to go.

What can I do for you, Uncle George?

No, it's me, Tom Bradford.

Right.

Oh, that's all right.

Oh, sure, I understand.

Please, don't worry about it. We'll do
it some other evening, real soon.

No, it's all right.

Please, George, I've had the same
problem with my back.

Right.

Bye -bye now.

His back?

You're right. It is too obvious.

I'm really surprised you're backing off
like this.

I'm not backing off.

Look, Coach, Ann Cavaluzzi tells me that
Hank Dixon is perfectly capable of

doing good work, but he's using his
basketball stardom as an excuse not to.

Now, wait just a minute. If you had a
player who could think 30 -footers and

only settled for layups, what would you
do?

Ann tells me that school procedure
permits me to give him a makeup test, so

that's what I'll do. I'll give him a
makeup test, but Hank has got to stop.

fooling around and live up to his full
potential.

Fair enough.

I tell Dick the good news?

If you both understand one thing, it's
only good news if he passes.

Okay.

I'll make sure he knows that.

Bye,

Coach Pollard.

Nice to see you. Thanks for dropping in.

Hey, Bradford.

Yeah?

Dix would like to talk with you.

In his office.

Hi, Dix. I just want you to know that I
talked to my stepmother about the

situation. Yeah, I know.

Coach just told me. Thanks, Bradford.

Thanks? I really appreciate you talking
to her and giving me a makeup test.

Uh, yeah.

It was my pleasure. At first she didn't
want to, and then I explained the

situation to her, and she understands
totally now. I'm glad I could help.

I'm glad you feel that way.

Because you can do me another favor.

I can?

Yeah. You talked her into the makeup
test, and I appreciate it. The only

is with practice, and I don't have time
to study for it.

Yeah, that, uh, it is a problem. That's
why I'm counting on you to get me a copy

of the test.

Dicks, I couldn't. You live in the same
house?

Well, yeah, but I... You found a way to
talk her into the test, you'll find a

way to get the questions.

I can't.

Yeah, Bradford, you can.

You look awful.

Yeah, I know.

What's the matter? You have a romantic
tiff with Linda Himes?

Who's Linda Himes?

Hey, there really is something wrong.
What is it?

Dix and some of his friends are hassling
me.

Well, hi.

Marcy Collins told Nadine Morris, and
Nadine told me that Abby's letting him

make up the test.

Well, didn't Marcy Collins tell Nadine
Morris that Dix expects me to steal an

advanced copy of the test? Are you
kidding me?

I wouldn't kid you about my two broken
arms.

Oh, Tommy, they are not going to hurt
you. Are you kidding?

They could make my life seem miserable.
I'd have to leave school.

I don't believe that. I just don't
believe it.

Tell me about it when I'm in the
hospital.

So how is George's back?

Who's back?

No, George.

The father of your friend.

Your roommate.

Oh, oh, oh, you mean Janet's father.
Yes, Janet's father has his back.

Was there something wrong with his back?

Remember, you asked. I was too polite.

Dad, what are we talking about?

I am merely talking about the allegedly
unexpected and untimely injury which

unfortunately has caused the delay of
our first meeting, but which I

and sympathize with because I have
suffered from the same injury on similar

occasions.

Oh, you mean the MacArthur's didn't come
to the house last night?

But we are going to remedy the situation
as soon as possible. No, Dad, don't put

yourself out.

I'm not putting myself out. I'm just
doing a decent thing. You know, a little

coffee and cookies and stimulating
conversation.

Do you come here often?

Yes, why? What's wrong with the food?

You call this food?

Now, look, do not insult the Jalisco hot
dog pit. I've been coming here for

almost ten years.

In fact, I planned to bring George here
for lunch.

Oh, good. Well, then you'll have
something in common.

Heartburn.

Where's Tommy?

Um, he said he'd meet us at the van.

Oh, I've got some good news. I decided
to give Hank Dixon a makeup test. It's

cool, huh? I know. It's all over the
school. Oh, I wonder... to tell Tommy

myself.

I've got a little making up of my own to
do, you know.

Yeah, I don't think Tommy's in the mood
for making up. Hank Dixon wants him to

steal the test answers from you.

What? Ask Tommy. They've really got him
scared.

He says they're threatening him.

I don't believe that.

I tried to tell him it's only a bluff.

That's good.

That's good.

He didn't buy it. He didn't?

Uh -uh.

I'll talk to him.

Tommy, what's wrong?

Tommy, I, um... Well, Tommy, your van.

Tommy, I'm sorry.

Dad, do I have to buy Uncle George a
Christmas present?

No, Nicholas.

Well, is he going to get me one?

I wouldn't count on it.

Well, what if David and Janet are
married before Christmas?

Then I'll buy you a present.

Thanks, Anne.

I appreciate your advice.

Right, well, I'll let you know what I
decide.

Bye -bye.

What did she say?

Ann says that I could take it to the
principal, but that there's not much he

could do without real proof.

You didn't see a mess up Tommy's van.

Ann also says that if I accuse Hank
Dixon and don't make it stick, then

will be in worse trouble with him.

Then drop it, Abby.

You're a substitute teacher.

You'll be gone in a few weeks.

Look, if Ann Cavaluzzi and the school
administration can't solve the problem,

well, then how do you expect to breeze
in for a few days and set it right?

Somebody should.

And somebody has to think about Tommy.

Well, Daddy didn't say anything to me
about his back going out.

I didn't want to say anything to my
father.

But a back going out is a pretty
standard excuse for getting out of

commitments. I've used it myself.

Are you saying that my father lied?

Lying is a pretty strong word.

I'm just saying that maybe your parents
didn't really want to get to know my

parents as much as they claimed.

Now both my parents are liars. What
about yours?

Oh, no. You see how they do it? I mean,
they don't mean to do it, but they do

it. Do what?

We're arguing about our parents. We're
having in -law problems, and we're not

even married.

Well, that's true.

A week ago, it was just me and thee.

Now it's me, thee, and they.

Yeah.

I know the problem.

We're letting them handle this
themselves.

I was just thinking the same thing.

You know, from all indications, it's
time to intercede and manipulate.

But let's start with your parents.

Why not yours?

Why not both?

to return my sweater. Oh, come on,
Nancy. I told you I didn't know anything

about it. Then I don't know you.

Hey, sure you do. I'm the one who wants
to borrow your new blouse.

Of all the nerve.

First you see to it that my favorite
sweater disappears.

Now you want to crack at my new blouse.
Oh, come on, Nancy. It really brings out

the color of my hair. What do you say?

That blouse is unavailable, Susan.

I bet. I bet it's right over here. I bet
you're lying.

Get out of my closet!

Hey, Nancy, what's this?

It looks a lot like my missing sweater.

Doesn't it? You mean you didn't even
look in your own closet.

Why should I?

None of my things are ever in there.

Well,

I guess this is kind of what you call an
embarrassing situation, huh? All the

people that you yelled at, all the
insulting things that you said. I bet

sure would like to discover where it
really was all this time.

Susan Bradford, are you proposing
blackmail, huh?

Only because I look terrific in black.

So, I will borrow your black skirt, your
black pants, and your black shoes.

How would you like a nice black eye?

Hey, Dad. Hi, Tommy.

How long were you in Korea?

Oh, 11 months.

Oh, please, don't tell me you're reading
about that in ancient history now.

No, I'm just curious.

What was it like in combat?

Oh, well, you know the war movies on
television?

It's nothing like that.

It starts out miserable, and it gets
worse.

And I didn't even carry a rifle. I just
wrote about the men who did.

Were you scared?

Um, constantly.

What did you do about it?

Nothing, just tried to act like I
wasn't. But I wasn't fooling anybody.

I wasn't even fooling myself.

Why, you're not considering a military
career, are you?

No way, I'm a coward.

Why do you say that?

No reason.

Come on, something must make you say a
thing like that. What is it?

All right, there's some guys at school
that are hassling me.

I saw your van.

Is there anything I can do?

No, there's nothing anyone can do.

I know what you mean.

I had a similar experience when I was in
high school.

And I solved it by getting the mumps.

The mumps?

Well, not the real mumps. It was my
father's suggestion.

I just went around and told everybody
that I had them, and it kept me out of

school on the day that I was supposed to
fight the biggest kid on the football

team. You mean you chickened out?

Well, I prefer to think of it as mumping
out.

It was a lousy thing to do, though.

I tell you, I've been thinking about
that kid every day since I was 17 years

old. Every day, I wish that I had just
stood up to him.

That's easy to say now.

No, it's very difficult, because now I
realize that the worst thing that he

could have done to me was to make me
hurt for a week.

Now that kid's been on my back every day
for 30 years.

He has?

Yes.

And every day for 30 years, I've had to
ask myself a very painful question.

What if that big guy was just as scared
as I was?

Was he?

Everybody's scared, Tommy.

But if we can overcome our own fear,
then our enemy's fear conquers him for

Tom? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake
you.

It's okay. I wasn't sleeping.

Were you working?

No, no. I was father confessing.

Tommy? That's right. How did you guess?

I've never seen him this upset about
anything.

Did he tell you it was my fault?

How could it be your fault?

Didn't he tell you? No, your name was
never even mentioned. Abby, why didn't

tell me?

Because I thought it would just
complicate things and because I thought

handle it myself.

Well, I wish I'd never taken this
teaching job.

Well, that's very important to you.

Yeah, but Tommy's more important.

What advice did you give him?

I told him to stand his ground.

Tommy didn't. Have you seen Hank Dixon?
He and his buddies outweigh Tommy by I

don't even know how much. Then what do
you suggest?

Um, Elizabeth, could you excuse me for a
minute? I have to talk to Tommy and

Mom. What's up? Elizabeth, please.

Now, what'd you do that for?

This is just between us, Tommy.

You know, I don't think there's anything
between us anymore.

I know you feel that way, but I feel
differently.

What's this?

Hank Dixon's advanced copy of the makeup
test.

Just like that?

But isn't this going to get you into
trouble?

Isn't it going to get you out?

I'm worried that you might be late.

I just hope for your sake, Bradford,
that you came through.

You guys

got him?

Wait here.

Dix is waiting for you Bradford.

Hi Dix.

Come on Bradford.

I don't have all day.

Bradford.

Did you get it?

Yeah, I got it.

You got more brains than I figured.

Hand it over.

No.

What?

I can't.

You're not listening, Bradford.

I want that test.

Then you've got it.

That's it, man. You blew it.

Go ahead, Dix.

Break me up. Is it gonna help?

Why, Bradford?

Why did you do that to me?

Don't you get it?

No. Don't you know what you're doing to
me?

Look, Dix, you gotta understand. I'm
doing this for me.

I could still waste you.

Yeah, you could.

Are you kidding?

Candy from a baby.

So I said, listen, bartender, if you
don't teach that man to tango, I will.

It just goes to show you, Tom, I had no
idea

this evening was going to go so well.

Yes, it certainly is going unbelievably
well.

But look how great everything's turned
out.

Just four people having a...

good time together good time

it

was

really a wonderful of david and janet to
set this whole thing up wasn't it

Oh, speaking of Janet and David,
shouldn't they be here by now?

Yeah, yeah, where are they, David and
Janet?

George, dear, why don't you tell them
that terrific story about the dill

peddler who was always late for his
appointment? Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.

Oh, that terrific... Oh, you're going to
love this one. The terrific story.

You'll really love it. Tell it, tell it.
Hurry up. Wait, let me just answer the

telephone first, all right? Oh, you go
right ahead, Tom.

I'll tell it to Abby.

No, that's all right, really. I can
wait.

Oh, Nicholas, please. I'm trying to
answer the telephone.

Oh, I already did.

Oh. It was David.

Oh, what did he say? Are they coming?

Nope, he can't. He hurt his back.

Back?

His back?