Original subtitles

Nicholas, what are you doing there?

Sack of potatoes, don't you remember?

Sack of potatoes? No.

Oh, yeah, now I remember.

We never play it anymore.

Well, that's because I figured you're too old for that game now, that's all.

Well, sometimes I kind of miss it.

Nicholas, you're becoming nostalgic in your old age.

Well, can we?

Now?

All right.

Just once, though, for old time's sake.

What the devil is this? Who put this old lumpy sack of potatoes right here in

the middle of the floor?

Do you know what I'm going to have to do now?

I'm going to have to pick up... this old lumpy sack of potatoes flowing out of

here, doing this with my potatoes right here, and I'm going to have to take this

old bag, this old heavy bag of potatoes, and I'm going to have to put... Oh,

boy, oh, boy. I tell you, there's more potatoes in this sack than I remember.

And, oh!

Oh. Oh, no.

What's wrong, Dad?

Nicholas, now I remember why we don't play this game anymore.

I'm too old for it.

Oh, we spend our days like bright and shiny new dimes

If we're ever puzzled by the changing time

There's a plate of homemade wishes

On the kitchen window sill.

And eight is enough to fill our lives with love.

More than enough to fill our lives with love.

Twelve minutes and counting.

Well, what do you want to do now?

Oh, but I've seen every episode of that miniseries. I'm not going to miss the

conclusion. Oh, you are if we can't get Romeo and Juliet out of the living room.

You know, Elizabeth has no consideration sometimes.

Who is that guy, anyway?

Dennis somebody. I don't know. She met him at a rally at school. Oh, a rally.

Must have been a fit -in.

Did you see him staring at her face?

Oh, it's beautiful, Elizabeth.

It is?

What is?

Your forehead.

My forehead?

It's perfectly balanced, one of the best I've ever seen.

Thanks. It indicates great talent and tremendous determination.

Really? Absolutely.

Why, with your forehead together with your incredible jawbone, well... Well

what? Tell me.

Elizabeth, you're going to have a very successful life.

Career, family, health, happiness, everything.

You can tell all of that from my face?

Yeah, it's kind of a hobby of mine. It's called physiognomy.

That's illegal.

Well, actually, it dates back hundreds of years.

See, the ancient Chinese believed that a person's true personality can be

determined by analyzing the facial features.

You don't really believe that, do you? Oh, you'd be surprised how accurate it

can be. Come on.

I'll prove it.

Show me a picture of someone you know. The older the person, the better. The

features are better defined with age.

And you're going to tell me all about him? Uh -huh.

Okay. This I got to see.

We can smoke them out.

Effective, but impractical.

I say we just explain the situation and politely ask them to leave. No, no,

that's practical, but ineffective.

You remember the rule.

Occupation equals possession when in the company of the opposite sex.

You know, that has got to be the most irrational, ill -conceived rule that

family has ever instituted. Yeah, that's what I thought when you dreamt it up.

Give me a break. Look, I mean, I was younger then. I didn't appreciate the

important things in life, like...

Consideration, sharing.

Television. Oh, yeah, right.

Look, we've only got eight minutes.

What should we do? Hey, I don't know. Have you guys seen my skateboard?

No, Nicholas, we haven't. Sorry. Well, it's got to be around here.

I heard Dad trip over it this morning. Look, Nicholas, we're not in any mood,

why don't you look in another room, okay?

Okay. Wait a minute, I think I... Nicholas, it's my foot. Don't get a

attack. It's dark down here.

I'm not going to... See ya.

realize what we're doing? Yeah, we're leaving. Yeah.

You know why we're leaving?

Hey, Nicholas, how'd you like to turn a buck?

All right.

Wrong again.

That's my Annie B, and she's anything but shy and retiring.

She's spontaneous and fun and loves to do crazy things.

You sure?

Dennis, my Annie V has been known to do things like drop by Sacramento just for

lunch. Well, I don't think that's so crazy.

It is when she just had breakfast in Belgium in a rented castle with her

husband.

Maybe she had plastic surgery.

Why don't you just admit that all of this stuff is a lot of nonsense?

Give me one more chance.

Oh, come on. You've already been way off base with my aunt and my grandmother.

I'm just a little out of practice, that's all. How about your grandfather?

We never even knew him. Good, he's perfect. And we don't have any pictures.

Oh.

Then how about this guy?

He's got a face like a road map.

This is for you, Ted Miller.

The curving eyebrow in conjunction with that high forehead indicates a very

disturbed individual.

Possibly violent.

You're crazy.

My father is the kindest, gentlest human being in the world and he doesn't have

a violent bone in his body.

You know, I've told Tommy once. I've told him a hundred times. This is the

house, not a concert hall.

I've had it. I've really had it.

Ready? Go!

Oh, Dad's going to kill Tommy.

It works.

Nicholas, get out of here. No, I have to find my skateboard.

We'll find it later.

No way. If Dad finds it lying around, he's going to kill me, too.

My God.

Dennis, he's exaggerating. Nicholas, leave.

No, I don't think so, Elizabeth.

His cheekbones indicate total honesty.

I don't believe this. Nicholas.

Elizabeth. Can't you see the kid's terrified?

I mean, at least what we can do is help him find the thing. No, no, no. I've got

a better idea. Let's get out of here. Are you sure? What about... It's for the

best. Tommy!

Tommy!

Dad,

what's the idea? The idea is to regain full hearing in both ears.

Sorry, Mr. Bradford.

We'll turn it down.

You will turn her to the off position. I have a column due in the morning. It's

difficult enough to write this column in silence, much less with loving babies

screaming in the background.

But, Dad, you don't understand. We have to have this thing down by Friday night.

Well, how tough can a song with five words be? My gosh, you could teach

something like that to a parrot with a learning disability.

Hey, that's a good one, Mr. Bradford.

Look, we can't stand disco either, but right now it's the hottest thing around

and people pay to hear it played correctly. People are also expecting a

from Tom Bradford. A column that I might add pays for the electricity in this

house. All right, we'll wrap it up in a minute.

You'll wrap it up now.

But, Dad... Now.

Oh, good. Then we missed the opening.

Hey, great.

Nicholas, come on. Look out. You're in the way.

Where's my dollar?

You'll get it later. Now, come on. Move.

You said if I got him out of the room, then you'd give me a dollar. You didn't

say anything about credit. Nicholas, you can trust me. I'm your sister.

A lot of good that did Elizabeth.

Nicholas.

Cash.

All right, all right. I'll get your dollar. I'll get your dollar.

I don't know what's so great about this dumb show anyway. It's just another

rerun. Yeah, well, we didn't see it the first time, Nicholas. This is the

conclusion, you know, and I've got to find out whether Dr.

Kilpatrick lives or dies.

Oh, he dies.

Donna!

Donna!

Yes, sir?

Do you have... Oh, Donna, do you have any idea how much money, not to mention

time and planning, goes into the intercom system for this office? Why are

reluctant to use it?

It's partly because I feel that intercoms are impersonal. Oh, I see. And

mostly because mine is broken.

What can I do for you, sir?

The column.

Did it get to the princess yet?

Seconds to spare.

And don't worry about a thing, because I crossed out all three love -to -love

-your -babies in the last paragraph.

Yes, well, thank you.

You know, something tells me that, um, Tommy's band is rehearsing again.

Band?

That's a generous way to describe an organization dedicated to the loss of

hearing. Ooh.

Real bugged, huh?

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for extracurricular activity.

It's just that Tommy is spending too much time on this thing. My gosh, he

opened up a book in weeks.

I bet you didn't listen to your father either.

Okay.

So, uh, what's first on the agenda today?

Fix the intercom.

Fix the intercom.

Mr. Bradford?

Uh, yeah. Right this way.

Thomas J. Bradford? Yes, that's me. I'm Bradford. Special delivery.

Abby, I've been calling you all day. The line has been busy. The strangest thing

happened to the office. What, is the whole family here?

Tom, the strangest thing happened today.

Oh, look.

Yes, exactly. We've all got one. There was no note, no message, no nothing. We

couldn't figure it out until just a couple of minutes ago. Oh, well, what

it mean? Then it all started making sense.

Abby, belly button.

Annie V arrived.

Oh, no.

There he is.

Oh, you look wonderful.

Looked wonderful. See, I cannot believe it. I mean, I thought that you were in

Paris with Horst. I was, but it got very tedious, all that pinching. Well, you

should have complained to Horst. I did, but he wouldn't stop.

The man's a maniac on black and blue.

That's very unfortunate.

But now, come on, let's have it. Why are you here? And what the devil are these

things? Tommy,

why must you always be so suspicious about your only sister?

I mean, who's to say they're not just little gifts?

I'm waiting, Vivian.

Oh, all right. But I'm surprised at you.

Don't you recognize King Kamalulu, the ancient god?

Oh, yes. I remember the face, but I couldn't place the name.

Well, he just happens to be the god of safe journeys.

Of course. Well, that was so obvious.

Now we've cleared that up. Are we going on one?

Why else would you need King Kamalulu?

That was a stupid question.

As a matter of fact, we are all going to Hawaii.

All of us?

It's actually very simple.

Since I was in Switzerland when Janet and David and Susan and Merle got

I decided to wait and give you your wedding present in person.

And that's our wedding present? A trip to Hawaii?

I couldn't find a salad bowl I liked.

Besides, you never did have a real honeymoon.

Can you think of a better place to spend it?

Why the whole family?

Chaperones, of course.

I hardly think that... Oh, this family deserves a vacation.

I have the money, and it's something I really want to do. Case closed.

V, it's not as simple as that. Of course it is. Everything's arranged.

Hotel, airline reservations, everything.

Dad, it's a great idea.

And we haven't had a vacation in years. Yeah, think of the possibilities.

Think of the girls. The guys.

The beach. The food.

Think of the knowledge to be gained from travel.

Stick to the girls, Tom. He was a little more believable.

You see, everyone is excited about it. I see that everyone is losing touch with

reality. Do you know what you're saying? You're talking about a whole family

just picking up and taking off for Hawaii in three days.

So we'll leave earlier.

Tommy, whatever happened to that carefree brother of mine who challenged

Potts to a motorcycle race?

He broke his leg.

And we haven't even discussed this with the honeymoon couples. I don't even know

if they want to go.

Well... Of course they want to go. Who wouldn't?

V, I don't want to hear another negative word about it. This family is going to

Hawaii, and that's all there is to it. I want to talk to you alone.

Tommy.

V, I know that your intentions are good. And believe me, I appreciate your flair

for the dramatic. But you can't expect a complete family to just pack up on a

moment's notice and take off for Hawaii.

Why not?

Well, because there are responsibilities, commitments,

Fools rush in.

And get the best seats.

Tommy Bellybutton, you are getting to be an old stick in the mud.

Anything can be worked out if you want it badly enough. But I don't want it.

You're the one that says I want it. Only because I know you do.

Oh, there you go again.

And even if you didn't, which you do, you wouldn't deprive a family that does.

And don't say they don't because you heard them say they do, didn't you?

Well, what?

Start packing, Tom.

What the devil did she say?

More dill weed, Mary? Check.

Hold off on the rolls, Elizabeth.

You know, it is a constant source of amazement to me how you ever get dinner

this table when I'm not here.

Well, at least we won't have to worry about cooking when we're in Hawaii.

At least you won't have to worry about it. I have labs all next week. So you

make them up.

Oh, you don't know my instructor.

The only excuse he accepts is death and family, and that's conditional.

Conditional? Yeah, it has to be your own. Oh.

You think you've got problems.

And, Evie, how am I going to get a week off from the newsroom when the other

researcher's already on vacation?

Yeah, and what about my job at the stock brokerage? Girls, where there's a will,

there's a way.

Or in Mary's case, at least a dead body.

I will work things out.

You know, I hate to pop everyone's balloon, but even if we solve our own

problems, we're forgetting about the biggest problem of all.

Dad. There's no way he's going to okay this trip. No way.

We're going.

Hey,

you're living dangerously, sport.

You're telling me I can wipe out. Yeah, well, if Dad catches you skateboarding

in the house, he's going to wipe you out.

Skateboarding? I'm surfing.

Oh, Tommy, I'm clearly right into you. I have something on my mind I want to

talk to you about. Oh, Dad, I can't. I've got to get to band practice. No,

this won't take long.

But tonight's crucial.

We've got to get in as much practice as possible before we leave for Hawaii.

But... We'll keep it down, I promise.

That's not the point.

Oh, I know you're concerned, Dad, but you shouldn't be. I shouldn't? No, I'm

going to spend the rest of my life playing disco.

Oh, well, I'm glad to hear that. I must admit, I was a little worried. I mean,

you're getting so wrapped up in all that. Ah, disco's just a phase. You wait

see. Music's going to turn to a more progressive rock.

Oh, yeah, well, we have something to look forward to. Yeah, and we're going

be ready for it when it does. That's why tonight's so important. We're playing

my songs.

But wait, what about school?

Tommy!

Oh, these kids don't deserve to go to Hawaii. They don't stand still long

to even... Nicholas!

Hey, I had no idea. Are you sure?

I'm positive.

Does anyone else know? No, you are the only one that knows.

This is so sudden.

Well, I only found out myself a couple of weeks ago.

You can understand my position now, how important this trip is.

Absolutely, Tom must go to Hawaii, no matter what.

The whole family, too. I want the whole family to be there. I understand.

And I can count on your help. I'll do everything I can to help you. My lips

sealed, I promise.

Oh, thanks, Abby.

Why don't you come to bed?

I can't sleep.

You haven't tried.

It wouldn't do any good.

I'd probably have a nightmare that King Kamalulu was chasing me all around the

house or something.

Sounds very Freudian.

Abby, I just can't buy this whole Hawaiian idea.

I mean, it's one thing for Vivian to go flitting around the world. That's her

business. But this family has responsibilities.

You didn't raise a group of delinquents.

I mean, they're responsible individuals, and they're perfectly capable of

working out their own schedules.

What about Tommy?

What about him? Oh, you've seen him?

He's out with his band every night. Every night.

So? So. He must be behind in his schoolwork. He never does any studying.

What you mean to say is that you never see him doing any studying?

Whose side are you on, anyway?

It's not a matter of sides, Tom. I'm just saying that you don't know for sure

that Tommy's schoolwork is suffering.

Maybe you're right. I don't know. It's just that he's at such an impressionable

age and priorities are so easily misplaced.

Why don't you talk to him? Oh, if you'd listen. He doesn't have time. He doesn't

even have his college applications yet.

Well, there's still time for that.

Tom, I've been thinking.

Maybe this Hawaii trip isn't such a bad idea after all. Oh, no. Not you too now.

Well, admittedly, it'd give you and Tommy a chance to be together and talk

things out. If you'd listen.

He'll listen, and a week off from school isn't that much, really.

I don't know.

Tom, there's one more thing to consider.

It might be the last time for a long time that this whole family gets to take

trip together.

I've thought about that.

I mean, what with two kids married and already out of the house, well... Yeah.

They grow up fast, don't they?

They sure do.

Good morning, little family.

Good morning, Dad.

Well, well, well.

Let's see what new crisis has befallen the world today.

Now, what have we here?

Oh, no. Did you see this?

57 degrees and overcast in Houston.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, no.

40 % chance of scattered showers on Wednesday.

Well, all I can say is it's a good thing that we're going to be in Hawaii and

not there.

Where did you say we're going to be?

Hawaii. It's a chain of islands in the Pacific. They've made all the geography

books. You mean we really are going?

Yeah, I guess so.

I thought it over and I guess it's not a bad idea.

I think.

Don't do your obligations. You're not going.

What's with you? Why aren't you running off with the rest of them?

I want to hear more about Houston.

I knew it was going to be tough to get you to take no for an answer, but I

didn't expect you over here this fast with reinforcements yet.

David, it's just that it's such a wonderful opportunity.

We would hate for you to miss out. Abby, believe me. It's just like I told V on

the phone. It's not that we don't want to go. It's just that right now we

Janet has a brief due next week, and I've got a ton of work.

Annie B., we thought about this a lot, really.

But our minds are made up. The one thing we can't afford to do is jeopardize our

careers.

You do understand, don't you?

Sit down, kid.

Sit down.

I wasn't going to tell this to anybody else.

But under the circumstances, I have no alternative.

What are you talking about? But what I'm about to say, I want you to promise

that it will remain strictly between the four of us, all right? Sure. Of course.

David, you never knew very much about your father's and my childhood, did you?

Not really.

Dad never seemed to want to talk about it much.

I know that he was close to Grandmother Bradford.

We both were. She's quite a lady.

I don't remember her very well.

Except that when she came to visit, she brought rum cake, and all of us kids

would pretend to get crocked.

Well, your grandmother was all Tom and I had.

We never knew our father very well. He left the family when we were pretty

young.

We never knew any of the details.

All we knew for sure was that one day, he just wasn't there.

He never came back?

No.

I... I had this notion that I'd find him someday.

That he was still alive and that we'd all be together again.

It was crazy, but... What exactly are you trying to tell us, Aunty B?

David, I'm trying to tell you that I found your grandfather in Hawaii.

What is all this about? You said it was urgent. Listen,

we have come up with the greatest idea, but we wanted to tell you before we

break it to the family. Well, it sounds exciting. Let's have it.

Well, uh, honeymoons are traditionally spent alone, right? I mean, just the

bride and groom, right? Uh, that is the custom, yes. Well, this is probably

gonna knock the wind right out of the whole darn Bradford family, but we

to be in favor of that custom.

Since the whole family's gonna be in Hawaii, what a better way to be alone

for us not to go to Hawaii.

You mean stay home?

Well, what do you think?

I think it's probably the lamest idea I ever heard. What? Why?

You want to stay here in Sacramento for your honeymoon?

Well, yeah, that was the idea.

And pass up a trip to one of the most romantic spots in the world? A free

I can't believe this. Oh, David, it is their choice, but for myself, I can't

wait.

I mean, the sand and the surf.

Palm trees swaying in warm tropical breezes, moonlit strolls on the beach.

Just the two of us.

Well, what about the family?

Oh, well, Hawaii's a big place, Susan. How tough can it be to lose yourself? I

mean, really. David and I plan on spending every minute alone.

I guess Sacramento is kind of boring for a honeymoon, huh?

Yeah. I wouldn't mind one of those moonlight beach strolls.

It is a big place, honey.

Yeah.

Yeah? Yeah.

Hi, Dad.

Hey, guess what? I have good news. Annie V showed me how to get out of the labs,

and I don't even have to die. Well, congratulations.

Dead is no way to spend a vacation. I agree.

Hey, Dad, have you seen my curling iron? No, I haven't.

Wait a minute. I don't know what it looks like.

Never mind.

Hey, you know what? Annie V talked to Mr. Trout, and I've got the whole week

off. I don't know how she did it. Do yourself a favor.

Don't ask.

Nicholas, now, you're not going to bring all that stuff to Hawaii, are you?

Oh, no, it's for the replacement on my team.

Some guy on TV helped me find it. I hope he can cut it. Don't worry about a

thing. I'm sure it's Willie Mays. Hi, Dad. Oh, hi. Now, what about school?

you made arrangements?

What arrangements?

To make up for whatever you missed.

Oh, that's no sweat. I can worry about that when I get back. It was the band

that was the big hassle. You wouldn't believe what I had to go through with

those kids. I think that we'd better have a talk.

Oh, but Dad, I don't have time. I haven't even started packing. You can

later. First, we're going to talk.

Why do I get the feeling that your idea of a sense of responsibility is not

quite the same as mine?

Maybe because it isn't. Well, in this case it should be.

Oh, you're just sore because of what I said about school.

Now, I said I was going to make it up, and I will. So what's the big deal? I'll

tell you what the big deal is. It's your whole casual attitude about it. I mean,

education should be your first priority. This is the foundation on which you

build your future. My future is in music.

Biology is not going to make me a better guitar player, nor is it going to get

me gigs. Being good will. You missed the point.

Dad, this is 1979.

You can't hang back until you're 30. The competition's too tough.

Now, a lot of the musicians in the big groups... ever even finished high

At least I'm still there. At the rate you're going, you won't be for long.

You're not even willing to listen. I'll listen when you tell me something worth

listening to.

Oh, that's great. Now, what kind of logic is that? The same kind of logic

you're using about your future. Very shaky.

Yeah, well, it's my logic and I have a right to it. So you do. But you keep

talking this way and you're going to have to use that logic to figure out why

you are sitting back here while the rest of us are in Hawaii.

Now, when I get back from this vacation, you and I are going to sit down very

calmly and talk. about your future.

Yeah, my future the way you see it.

You know, V, Tom made it very clear from the beginning that his father was not a

subject open for discussion.

I'm not surprised.

In fact, I can't even remember more than a casual reference about him from

anyone in this house ever.

It's an unwritten law, strictly taboo. Why? Was there that much bad blood

between them?

Oh, that's the irony. They were inseparable.

Dad adored Tom and Tommy.

Well, he thought Dad was Superman, Roosevelt, and Joe DiMaggio all rolled

one.

Well, then was the problem between your mom and Dad?

Oh, Abby, Dad was a wonderful dreamer with grand illusions about how things

would be someday.

Only someday was always tomorrow, right?

Yes.

You know, Mom believed him for a long time, but...

Well, it was the depression and all, and I guess she just finally gave up on

him.

When she did that, he kind of gave up on himself.

And that's when he left?

Not right away.

No, the war came along.

In a couple of months, he enlisted, wrote a few times, and then nothing.

Tom never forgave him, did he? Oh.

I sometimes wish they hadn't been so close. It would have made it easier for

to give him up.

And you, V, what about you?

I don't know.

No, Abby, I guess I just understand him a little better, that's all.

We're a lot alike in many ways.

Maybe too many ways.

Can I give you a hand?

Oh, thank you. It's my old duffel bag. I haven't seen it in years. Yeah, I

thought it would be great for my shoes. Oh, yeah, it'd be perfect. Your clothes,

too. Oh, no, my clothes are going to go in here.

Three bags?

Oh, yeah, everybody's taking at least three. You never know what you need.

Everybody, three bags. The plane will never get off the ground.

Dad,

don't you think you're exaggerating just a little? Really. What are you doing?

Now hear this.

Now hear this.

One bag per person, no exceptions.

I will repeat that.

One bag per person, no exceptions, and no discussions.

That is all.

Oh, no.

Dad. One bag. I have too many things.

Nicholas, do you realize how lucky we are?

We're two of the few kids in America that get to experience living under a

dictatorship.

Everybody, the plane leaves in one hour. Okay.

Go. Go. Heads up. Come on. Here we come. Here we come.

Dad,

you forgot something. What?

Your suitcase. My suitcase?

Yeah. My suitcase!

Annie V, is it true that King Kamalulu is the god of safe journeys?

Well, he's not exactly a god.

Oh, well, then what exactly is he?

He's a travel agent in Pittsburgh, but he could be a god if he applied himself.

Well, this is it. Like it or not, Hawaii, here we come.

Yeah, Grandpa, here we come. I hope the scheme of these doesn't blow up in our

face. Yeah.

Or Dad.

What's it look like? Well, it looks like a guitar to me.

Guess that's what it is then. But you heard what I said. One bag per person.

Well, this isn't a bag. This is a guitar. We established that, remember?

Don't get sarcastic with me. Now, you know what I mean.

Yeah, but that's not what you're bugged about, is it?

If this thing were full of school books instead of a band instrument, you

wouldn't care at all, would you?

Flight 23, jet service to San Francisco and Los Angeles, now departing from Gate

5. Do you give it to Annie B? I do. Do you like that one? I'm going to give it

to Annie B.

Still doesn't know yet.

It's better that way. Trust me.

Oh, Dad, listen to me for a minute.

Everything is going to work out. I know it.

Now, here's what I want you to do.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. What do you mean, that's all?

That's what the man said, Dad. All the luggage for my flight is here. But it's

not all here. There's still one missing.

Mine.

Well, did you look it over carefully? Are you sure? Look, David, I should know

my bag when I see it. And I don't see it.

Gee, tough break, Mr. Bradford.

And it was your only one, too.

Wait a minute. Abby, I cannot find the bag.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

See if they found the bag. Oh, this is awful.

Okay, you guys go help with the luggage. I'll check in.

Aloha.

You must be the Bradford family.

That's right.

How did you know?

Are you kidding? Two limos, 13 people, a lot of luggage.

You do have a lot of luggage, don't you?

Yes, the family does.

Personally, I like to travel light.

He wants to go on a tour. I do. I love tours. Not me. I'm hitting the beach.

Yeah, me too.

Well, what are we waiting for? Come on, let's go.

Don't forget the holy show tonight.

Abby,

I spoke to Dad. Already?

Yes. We called him from the airport.

He's going to meet me on the beach in front of the hotel.

Now, do you think you can arrange to have Tom there around five o 'clock?

All right, V.

I just hope you know what you're doing.

Oh, Abby, I have a feeling that when those two... Hey!

Where is everybody going?

Dear brother, in case you haven't noticed, we are in Hawaii.

Really? And everyone is doing what everyone does in Hawaii.

Their own thing.

I'd love to hear you play. Yeah, that'd be great.

Oh, well, I don't know.

Oh, come on.

Well, okay. Let me give the frisbee back to this little kid and I'll get my

guitar, okay?

Don't run away.

Okay, slugger. Here's where the rubber meets the road.

What? You're taking a hike.

All I did is go dump girl.

Yeah, well, you see the one in the red bikini there?

I think she and I have a major future together.

Yeah. Well, you promised to help me build a sandcastle, remember?

Yeah, I know, but, well, I've been giving it a lot of thought, and I don't

it's such a good idea.

Why?

Red's my favorite color.

No, no, no. It's not a duffel bag.

It's a normal, ordinary, everyday suitcase.

My gosh, I told you all that at the airport.

No, it's not brown with blue stripes. It's blue with brown stripes.

No, it's not Radford. It's Bradford. Oh, my gosh. What kind of an airline is

this anyway?

Yes, I'll hold on. I don't believe this. I don't believe this.

Well, it's just not that important to get all upset about it. I mean, why

we just relax? We'll just take a little walk. No, no, no. I'll relax after they

straighten this out. They promised they would.

Oh, yes, yes, yes. This is Radford.

Bradford. Yes, it's me. What, what?

You did?

Oh, thank goodness. Abby, they found it. They found my little bag.

Oh, dear.

In Puerto Rico.

You know, I cannot believe this. The Hawaiian islands, and here we are in our

hotel room like a couple of hermits. Yeah, I know what you mean.

An hour on the beach did more harm than good.

I want more.

Work, hermit, work.

Oh.

Hey, you two.

Oh, sorry, I was thinking about Grandpa.

I wonder when the big reunion's going to be.

And where.

Most of all, I wonder how Dad's going to take it.

I was almost afraid you weren't going to come at all.

I nearly didn't.

I shouldn't have let you talk me into this.

It's not right.

Why the whole family? Because they have a right to see their grandfather.

Vivian, you don't understand.

The grandfather doesn't have a right to see them. That's nonsense.

Family is family no matter what. No, Vivian, it's the truth.

I gave up that right a long time ago.

Now, when you found me and you were so enthusiastic and forgiving, I got caught

up in your being caught up.

But I've been thinking a lot about it and it's not going to work. I'm sorry.

truly sorry.

Dad!

What's the matter, Nicholas? Is something wrong?

I'll say. Every time I build a sandcastle, well, it just falls down.

was supposed to help, but now the stupid red bikini butted in and... Slow down,

Nicholas. I want you to meet a friend of mine.

This is Matt.

Matt, this is Nicholas.

Nicholas Bradford.

Hi, Matt.

Well, will you?

Well, to tell you the truth, Nicholas, sandcastles really aren't my specialty.

That means no, huh?

But I have it on very good authority that Matt here is the champion sandman

Honolulu.

Really?

I hardly qualify for the championship category, but... Well, that's okay. As

long as you're experienced and you have a good attitude.

Looks like you've been hired.

Well, it's been some time since I've been in this line of work, but...

The trick is the foundation.

You've got to start with a lot of wet sand.

Gee, man.

Oh, Annie V, will you tell Tommy to take a hike on the rubber road?

But I want Tommy to meet Matt, too.

All right, well, just keep him out of our hair, all right?

Okay, okay.

But, Tommy, it seems like there would be a lot of nice shirts in the men's store

at the hotel.

That would be such a waste of money. Besides, the airline said that they

have it on the next flight out.

Well, whatever you say, it just seems like a silly thing to ruin your vacation

on. Just the same. I wish I had just told that man and given him a piece of

mind.

If only he hadn't hung up on me first.

Maybe you could just go over there and give V a piece of your mind instead.

I'm just going to go back to the room at the hotel.

Why? I'm just tired.

She's right over there.

I'll talk to you later.

Well, looks like Nicholas is having a good time. Yes.

Seems he's found a friend.

Oh, he's found more than a friend.

He doesn't know it yet, but he's found his... his grandfather.

What? He lives here.

Who lives here?

Our father.

I found him.

How? Never mind how. I just did.

Oh, no.

That's why we're all here.

Oh, V, how could you?

Tommy, Tommy, listen to me.

He's an old man.

The time has come.

He is our father.

No, no, V.

He's just a name on your birth certificate. And for him to come here

to... It was my idea. He didn't want to come.

He didn't want to stay home, either.

Have you forgotten what it was like? What mother went through? How hard it

Of course I haven't.

Leave this alone, V.

We needed him once.

We needed him badly.

But I don't need him now.

And I never will again.

I wouldn't write Peter Frampton off that easily.

He might just surprise everyone again.

Well, maybe, but it's going to be pretty hard to top that live album of his.

I'm really glad that Annie V introduced us.

Thank you, Tommy.

The sentiment is mutual.

Known her a long time?

I knew her a long time ago.

I thought she was putting me on at first. You know, about you and me having

much in common.

Frampton, whoa, that's... Hard to believe that a senior citizen could

someone your age, right?

Yeah, I guess.

I mean...

My dad doesn't understand me, and he's a lot younger than you are.

Well, maybe you just think he doesn't.

Yeah, well.

So why do you live here?

Well, for one thing, there are a lot of red bikinis.

Yeah, Nicholas has a big mouth sometimes.

Look at that, Tommy.

It's as beautiful now as it was when I first set eyes on it, over 50 years ago.

Of course, things look different when you're 17 and in the Merchant Marine.

I had more important things on my mind than scenery.

Too bad there weren't bikinis then.

Maybe I wouldn't have gone back home, gotten married.

Man, you were 17 when you were in the Merchant Marines.

I mean, that's how old I am.

Don't be so impressed.

You can't measure a dream in terms of birthdays, Tommy, only in your

determination to make it come true.

Yeah, I have a dream.

Kind of figured you might.

I want to tour with a band. You know, maybe even play Hawaii.

Now, I'll tell you what.

When you play Hawaii, I'll book you into my club.

You have a nightclub? You never mentioned that.

Yeah, up at Fisherman's Wharf.

One of those dreams.

I named it after myself, the vagabond.

To think that Vivian would get the whole family here under false pretenses.

Abby, I tell you, it's beyond me.

Tom, I'm sorry.

And to think that you knew about it all along and went along with it. Abby, why?

Tom, V was very convincing.

It seemed very important to her.

Well, the way she talked about it... She said that when the two of you saw each

other that you'd just... I'm sorry, Tom. It was hard to know what to do.

You should have seen him out there.

Playing with Nicholas like... like... A father?

A father?

He wouldn't know how.

A father doesn't take off on his family when the going gets rough.

A father doesn't let his ten -year -old son cry himself to sleep every night. He

doesn't let his wife suffer the humiliation of being pitied by

No, no, Abby.

He doesn't know the first thing about being a father.

The only thing he knows about is running away.