All language subtitles for Eight Is Enough s04e15 My Son, The Prom Queen

I found you. Hi, Nicholas.

You're going to be a doctor. Maybe you
can give me the answer.

Well, I can't give you any answers if
you don't ask me any questions.

Well, it's kind of embarrassing.

Go ahead. Just ask.

Why are boys boys and girls girls?

Why are boys boys and girls girls?

She picked a toughie.

You give up?

No, no, no, I don't give up. See, what
it has to do with, basically, is glands.

Glands? Right, and hormones.

Hormones, huh?

How?

Well, it's really complicated, Nicholas.
Nobody really knows all the answers.

Let's just call it one of the great
mysteries of life.

I knew that before I asked.

Mary?

Yes, Nicholas.

I'm glad you decided to become a doctor.

Well, thank you.

I sure wouldn't want you as a teacher.

When the sunrise smiles on everything
around.

It's a portrait of the happiness that we
feel and

always will.

Wait enough to fill our lives with love.

Always spend our days like bright and
shining stars.

And it is enough to build a...

Thank you, fella.

Thank you.

Okay, the next band to audition will be
Gold Rush.

Gold Rush? I've never heard of them.

Me neither.

Probably just some guys who threw
themselves together at the last minute,

figuring the 200 bucks is easy bread.

Don't worry about them. I'm not worried.
I mean, everybody knows we've got the

hottest band in Sacramento. Yeah.

If we don't play at the prom, nobody
will come.

Oh, who wants to dance to a bunch of
nobodies? Yeah.

Ernie, they're not even nobodies.
They're girls.

Can you believe that?

Why don't they give up before they
embarrass themselves?

Hey, we did it, man. We won the
audition.

All right.

Well, Janet, I suppose you're wondering
why I called this meeting.

Something about David?

No, it's not about your husband, and
it's not about my husband.

It's just about the two of us, just you
and just me. What about us? I'd like us

to really get to know each other better.
I thought we could be more than just in

-laws. I felt that we could be friends.

See, the thing is, every time we get
together, we're surrounded by this

family that we both married into.

Abby, you're absolutely right. We
deserve some time to get to know each

There's no reason that every thought and
talk we have has to be about the

Bradfords. What about us, Bradford?

Oh, Joanie, I thought you left for work
already.

No.

I've been dawdling.

Um, dawdling? Yeah.

It's the fun form of procrastination.

I don't know. It's getting harder and
harder to go down to that station and

spend eight hours being stifled. Is it
really that bad?

Oh, bad.

Let me tell you how bad.

Amateur night.

Well, the judges have to be polite.

Great. Thank you, Gold Rush.

Well, as you can see, all the judges
think you're fantastic.

We want you to be the official band for
the winter prom.

Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you.

But that's crazy. I mean, we're four
times better than they are.

Face it, Bradford.

These days with Charlotte as student
body president, it doesn't matter how

you are.

Yeah, it's what sex you belong to.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Great. Thank you. Great. Really.

Tony. No dice? No dice. I thought you
promised you weren't going to bring this

up again for at least another two
months. I know, Mr. Pop, but my

my sister -in -law said that you
secretly want me to keep trying. You're

my persistence.

I'd rather test your capacity to cool
it.

Listen, Bradford, you bummed with that
documentary you tried to get on camera.

After that bad experience, most people
would realize you're not ready.

Well, that bad experience just proves
that I'm not ready for documentaries.

That's all. I would be great at
something that would use my dramatic

I mean, I'll even start reading the
weather. We don't need dramatic weather.

How about a station editorial, even a
rebuttal? How about putting these in the

files and doing the job for which you
were hired?

Look at the Beatles.

Guys.

The Stones, or guys.

Name me one great musical group that
wears dresses and doesn't shave.

Well, except for a few punk bands, I
can't think of any. Right.

Females belong in the audience.

Well, maybe there's room for a few chick
backup singers.

But anything else is pure uppity -ness.
Yeah, don't they realize we already have

enough competition?

Hi, man. Hi.

You don't have to growl at me.

Oh, I'm not growling at you, just your
gender. What did my gender do?

Oh, wait, I get it. You already got the
message from Chrissy Barnes?

No, what message?

That she can't go out with you Friday
night. Why not?

Well, she decided to go out for the
boys' basketball team and try out Star

Friday. You're pulling my leg.

Nope, I'm just relaying her phone call.

Boys' basketball?

They're taking over, Bradford.

They won't be happy till they push us
off the planet.

What's the big idea?

What's wrong?

You know you can't do that in this
house. But I have to practice.

Not inside.

Well, where else do you want me to
practice? You know Dad won't let me take

chairs out of the house.

Nicholas, look, you're jarring all the
plaster on the downstairs ceiling.

keeping certain people from studying.
And you could break the chairs and or

neck. Yeah, well, that's what's so
exciting about hurdling.

Look, put the chair back in the kitchen
and go run around the block.

Oh, and what do you want me to hurdle?
The cracks in the sidewalk?

Nicholas. Just do it.

Okay, okay.

Boys will be boys.

And grouches will be grouches.

Can you believe it? Chrissy Barnes and
knee pads.

I was almost in love.

Women don't care about love anymore.

What they want is world domination.

Yeah, they're into everything now. I
mean, they're in our music, in our

rooms. What's left?

Nothing's left for Radford. We wind up
third -class citizens.

Somebody's got to draw the line.

You're right.

Somebody's got to stop the women from
taking over the world.

I think it's too late.

What? But if you need any help, just let
me know.

Tom, what's wrong? Why are you getting
up?

It's all right, Abby. Go back to sleep.

I think I hear Joanie.

Joanie?

Oh, did I wake you, Dad? I'm sorry.

That's all right. I was waiting up for
you.

Well, actually, it wasn't up. It was
horizontal.

But I was listening for your footsteps.

Oh, you were. How sweet.

Thanks.

It was such a hard day at work.

Jeffrey Trout turned me down again for
on -camera work.

I think my whole education's being
wasted there, Dad.

I know. Abby told me she had a talk with
you. That's why I wanted to see you.

Oh, Dad, look.

Abby and Janet gave me one never -say
-die lecture today, and I died.

Oh. I couldn't take another one. It's
not a lecture. It's a message.

It's a... Civic Theater, 2 p .m.,
Rankin...

Rankin Manheim!

That's right.

Director of Western Theater Academy.

They're holding regional auditions right
here, and they want you to try out. Me?

Oh, Dad!

Oh, I don't believe it. I sent in that
application so long ago, I forgot all

about it. Apparently, Mr. Mannheim
didn't.

Congratulations,

Jody. Oh, thank you, Dad.

Do you know the WTA is one of the best
repertory groups in the country? New

directors scout every performance.

Well, it's what you want, and that's
what counts.

Oh, it is perfect.

Oh, I can quit this dead -end job.

I'll be Broadway -bound.

Who needs you, Jeff?

I'm late, Bradford.

What do you mean I'm late? I've still
got about eight minutes before the first

bell. He's not talking about school.

You're late for the planning session.

What planning session?

The one we're almost through with.

The one for the counterattack.

Nobody said anything to me about a
planning session.

We're telling you now.

You'll love it, Bradford.

Not so far.

Just listen.

The chicks are moving into everything,
right?

Student council, music, basketball.

They invade every turf we used to
control.

Yeah, so tell me something new.

So, the only thing for us to do is to
invade their turf.

Yeah? We don't just take it lying down,
Bradford. We counterattack.

We show them how it feels. We go for the
jugular.

Sounds good so far.

Well, it gets better.

Right. Now, listen.

The chicks beat us out as band for the
winter prom.

So, we beat them out by electing a guy
as prom queen.

A guy?

A guy.

You know, that's not such a bad idea.

I like the guy as prom queen. Now,
that's what I call affirmative action.

I told you you'd love it. Well, who's
the lucky guy?

Well, that's obvious, Bradford. We all
took a vote, and we agreed unanimously.

You.

Me?

Prom queen?

We told you you'd love the idea.

How many times do I have to tell you,
Ernie, I'm not running for prom queen?

Who else can we run? You.

Wrong, Bradford. I'm not the prom queen
type.

Are you saying that I am? I'm saying we
could get more votes with you.

You got the number one requirement.

Name recognition.

Year after year, Central High has been
infested with Bradfords. Thanks a lot,

Ernie, but I can't just run on an
infested name.

But you got other pluses. Guys like you.
Chicks like you.

You got the right image, Bradford. Which
I'll totally lose if I run for prom

queen. Run for what?

Never mind. Prom queen.

Shut up, Ernie. I thought that's what
you said.

Prom queen.

Your brother here is going to make
history.

Yeah, for the murder of Ernie Field.

Are you guys pulling some kind of prank
or something? Yeah, some kind of prank.

We've never been more serious in our
lives.

How can you be serious about something
so stupid?

How could you want to be a doctor? What
does that have to do with Tommy running

for prom queen? If Mary can go after a
man's job, why can't Tommy go after a

chick's job?

That is the most chauvinistic thing I've
ever heard you guys say. I don't

believe it. Are you saying that fair
isn't fair? No, I'm saying that doctors

don't have to be male. We're only saying
that prom queens don't have to be

female. That's it, Bradford. Tell her.

What gives you the right to decide the
rules on sexual discrimination?

Because men have been making the rules
for the last 5 ,000 years, and we

had the chance.

Oh, really? Well, take a look around
this house. And at school, you've had

the chances.

Tommy, you flipped.

Well, maybe it's about time women had a
flip -side change.

Terrific, Bradford, terrific.

I never heard a better acceptance
speech.

Yeah, well, somebody's got to carry the
ball before they freeze us out of the

game.

Thanks for talking them into it. It
needed a woman's touch.

Thou know'st the mask of night is on my
face.

Else would a maiden blush but paint my
cheek for that which thou hast heard me

speak tonight.

Fain would I dwell on form. Fain, fain
deny what I have spoke of. Wait a

wait a minute. I think I lost you about
two fains again. Oh, no, Nicholas, don't

interrupt me when I'm remembering my
lines. Just when I'm forgetting them.

you sure you can't get no one else to do
this?

Nicholas, look, this is a great
opportunity for you, you know.

I mean, you're learning the art of
prompting, and you're listening to some

the most beautiful words in the English
language.

This is English. How come I can't
understand it?

Well, see, Shakespeare, um... Nicholas,
can we continue this discussion later,

huh? I mean, my career's at stake. Wait
a minute. You mean somebody actually

hires you to say this stuff?

It is not stuff, Nicholas.

It's Shakespeare.

Maybe to you, but to me it's stuff.

Smile, Bradford. They give up to 15
points for the way each chick... I mean,

queen candidate smiles.

Why did I ever say I'd do this? Because
it's one small step for man and a great

step for mankind.

Okay, fan out and tack up posters.

Don't forget the gym and the student
council bulletin board.

Would you clouds mind tell me what's
going on?

Good morning, Madam President.

You're just the person we wanted to see.

Here.

What's this?

It's Tommy's official application for
the prom queen election.

You've got to be kidding.

Kidding? Us?

Never.

Well, it's not very funny.

Well, actually, I'd be happy if nobody
laughed. We're just trying to make a

point, Charlotte.

What point?

But are you sure all this isn't just
sour grapes because we didn't choose

group to play?

It started out that way, but it's
different now.

Oh, really?

Look, would you do me and the school and
yourselves a big favor?

Would you stop being so ridiculous?

We'll stop when you stop.

Way to go, Bradford. We'd never get her
vote anyway.

To have you back.

I beg your pardon? Well, not really back
here. I mean, back at my customer.

I remember seeing you where I used to
work. He used to come in with David

Bradford. I used to have the biggest
crush on him. Here's a nice table.

Do you go out with him a lot?

Only when he asks me. Oh, well, then you
must know Mary. Do you know Mary?

Mary who?

Mary Bradford, David's sister.

I've only missed her since she started
med school.

You know, I used to think if I could
make her my best friend, I'd get David

interested in me.

Didn't work.

Too bad.

Yeah, well, so then I started palling
around with Susan.

How is Susan these days?

Susan who?

Susan Bradford.

Braddock? No, no, no, Bradford. They're
a great family. The father writes a

column for the register.

I thought everybody in Sacramento knew
the Bradfords.

I never heard of them.

Well, I'll tell you what. I just
finished reading his article. It's all

his family. I'll go bring you a coffee.
No, no, no, please. That's okay. Oh, no,

it's no trouble. No, it'll make you
lunch.

It's hopeless.

I know, Mrs. Braddock.

Bradford, sir. Joan Bradford.

She probably made it up to sound like
Joan Crawford.

Well, let's get on with it.

Miss Joan Bradford, please.

Good afternoon, Mr. Manheim.

I just wanted to let you know how
honored I feel that you've given me this

opportunity. Mr. Manheim appreciates
that, Miss Bradford.

Would you mind bringing us up to date on
what you've been doing since you sent

in this application?

Um, no.

in an improvisation lab that I helped
organize.

Any professional experience?

Well, no, not exactly.

But I'm working in a related field now
and I'm saving money to go to New York

where I hope to turn professional.

That's why I really appreciate this
audition.

What are you going to do for us?

Juliet's balcony speech from
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Not again.

Somebody in Sacramento must have a
franchise.

Thank you, Miss Bradford. We're ready
when you are.

Romeo,

Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Tis but thy name that is my enemy.

Good afternoon, Tom.

Good afternoon, Elliot.

Well, don't let me interrupt the flow of
genius.

No, you didn't interrupt. It just
stopped when you came in. Oh, good,

Tom, I just had to inquire about Tommy.

Tommy?

What about Tommy?

Tom, don't play innocent with me. I have
access to these things, you know. My

youngest niece is the high school
correspondent.

That's quite some school election that
Tommy's running in.

Tommy has entered an election?

Hasn't he told you, Tom?

Of course, I can't say that I blame him.

Oh, no, it's just that he's a very
modest boy.

But I think it's wonderful that he's
running for a school election.

A little unexpected, but wonderful.

Tom, you must be joking.

No, I've always encouraged my children
to be civic -minded, to participate

responsibly at any level of government.

I just didn't realize that Tommy would
be the one.

But then why not?

I mean, he has a lot going for him. I
think that he could have a terrific

in politics.

Yes, if he lives this one down.

Lives what down?

Tom, I know this must be hard for you.
I'm afraid it's always the parent who's

the last one to suspect these
tendencies.

You mean his political tendencies?

No, Tom, I mean tendencies.

Your son is running for prom queen.

Prom queen.

Good night.

Parting is such sweet sorrow that I
shall say good night till it be morrow.

Well, thank you.

Thank you, Miss Bradford. You'll be
hearing from us.

Thank you.

Miss Bradford.

Yes?

I don't think we should stand on
ceremony, do you?

No, sir, I guess not.

If there's one thing I hate, it's empty
ceremony.

We have this antiquated ritual in
theatre.

You audition, we tell you you'll be
hearing from us.

It's a game, Miss Bradford, played by
cowards.

You see, the truth is, after a
performance like that, you would never

us again.

And that is tragic.

Do you know why it is tragic?

No, sir.

Because no one has the decency or the
courage to tell you the truth.

You're the victim of too much courtesy
and evasion.

You are nowhere near being a
professional, Miss Bradford.

Well, I know that it needs a lot of
work, Mr. Mannheim, but I was very

and if I could just do it again... No,
child.

Listen to me.

You have some rudimentary skill.

I see evidence of some provincial
training.

But you lack conviction.

There's no passion.

No fire.

Why torture yourself?

Stay with that job you have, whatever it
is.

Find a husband.

Have children.

No.

Someday you'll thank me for this honesty
with all your heart.

I tried.

Why can't they listen?

When you were in kindergarten, I bet you
pulled pigtails.

Any way to torment the girls.

Is that it, Bradford?

No, Mr. Gillette, it's a question of
equal rights.

The men on this campus are getting sick
and tired of reverse discrimination.

Please, Charlotte, you may refrain from
further expressing the opinions of the

student council.

Explain yourself, Bradford.

Well, if Charlotte can be student body
president, why can't I be prom queen?

Because Charlotte brought a high sense
of purpose and dedication to her

campaign. She did not try to make a bad
joke out of a cherished high school

tradition. This is no joke, Mr.
Gillette. Isn't it? Every high school in

city is starting to laugh at us.

She's right, Bradford. I'm afraid your
little prank must come to an end.

I am officially pairing up your
application to enter the prom queen

I've checked the school bylaws, and it
officially specifies that all candidates

for prom queen must be girls in
acceptable academic standing in the

class. Did you hear that?

Girls? I heard them, Charlotte.

Okay, Mr. Gillette.

I get the picture.

Thank you, Tommy.

And thank you for coming in.

And let's see if this can be the last
time we have to face each other until I

bid you goodbye and Godspeed at
graduation.

That happy day.

Hey, hey, what's the idea, Bradford?

Gillette blew the whistle.

Yeah, we heard. Charlotte's been
blabbing all over school.

But don't take the poster down.

Ernie, it's over.

Wrong, Bradford. It's just the
beginning.

And look what Gillette just did was
perfect.

Don't you get it? You're a martyr now.

I know. I can feel the bruises. So? So
it doesn't matter what Gillette said

about school bylaws.

He's wrong. And the school constitution
says we can nominate by petition.

Yeah, we'll have a write -in campaign.

It's about time the men in this school
took a stand. Right, guys? Right.

Give me that, Bradford. They can't push
us around. Not the chicks and not

Gillette. Bradford for prom queen.

Bradford for prom queen.

Bradford for prom queen.

Bradford for prom queen.

Bradford for...

You wouldn't lie to me now, would you?

Nope. Ask me anything you want.

Tommy, are you a sissy?

No, Nicholas, I'm not a sissy. And if
anybody says so, I'll slug them with a

daffodil when I'm prom queen.

Well, Kenny P. Lander says you're a
sissy.

He just doesn't understand.

I don't understand.

Well, look, you remember the other day
when you said you'd like to help stop

women from ruining the world?

I did, and I do.

Well, that's what this is all about.

Oh. But how can you being a sissy stop
girls from bossing everything?

Nicholas, I am not a sissy.

This is one of the toughest things I've
ever had to do.

Yeah, well, when Kenny P. Landers kids
me about it, it's tough for me, too. So

why do it?

Because the guys are behind me. They
need somebody to lead the fight.

Besides that, I'm not doing this just
for myself.

I'm doing this to stop the
discrimination against the entire male

Oh, I get it. It's about sex.

I'm not supposed to figure it out.

You, Joanie Bradford, you couldn't
possibly ever work in a bank.

Why not?

I might as well face the truth about
myself.

Oh, I know it's upsetting, but you've
lost auditions before, and you kept

trying, and you wound up with even
better roles.

Oh, that was college, Dad, and local
things.

I mean, it's the real professional
world, and the man who really knows

says that I'm just not good enough.

Joanie, when you get a diagnosis like
that, you ask for a second opinion.

That was a second opinion.

What does that mean?

Mr. Trout turned her down the day before
yesterday for a job on camera.

If I could laugh, this would really be
funny, you know?

I thought I was going to go in and sweep
Rankin Manheim off his feet with my

talent. And then Jeffrey Trout's
turndown wouldn't matter.

Does Mr.

Trout know that you failed the audition?

No, I didn't tell him about it.

Joanie, look, so what?

You got two negative opinions.

Right now, Dad and I are giving you two
positive opinions.

Nope. We might as well admit it.

I've been living in a fantasy world.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to look for
a sensible job in a sensible field

where you don't need any talent.

No. Tomorrow, you're going to pick up
the pieces.

You're going to start rebuilding your
dream. You've had it too long, ever

you were a kid, playing in the
kindergarten pageant when you played the

reindeer. Come on, you can't quit now.

Quit what?

Tommy. What are we talking about, Dad? I
have to talk to you right now. Would

you excuse us a second, girls?

Yeah, I know. In the study.

Dad's right, you know.

Is he?

I mean, how would you feel if your most
respected professor, someone who's

honest to you, had to trust, said you'd
never make a doctor?

I'd feel exactly like you do right now,
Joanie.

But I'd hope that when the pain went
away, I'd realize that Dad's right.

You've got to keep trying.

Dad, I can't just quit.

Well, you certainly can't run for prom
queen. Do you know what people will

think? They're already thinking it.
That's right, so get out, fast.

Get out and quit. I mean, how come
Joanie gets one lecture and I get the

opposite? Because Joanie's situation is
entirely different than yours.

Is it? Yes.

Joanie has been temporarily discouraged
from achieving something that she's

wanted all her life. Something she
places a great value on.

Justice is of great value to me.

Justice? Dad, I don't believe in reverse
discrimination.

Oh, now, wait a minute. Hold it. Are you
saying that this whole prom queen prank

is some kind of a protest?

Exactly. Equality should apply to
everybody. I read that in your column

column was about the women's movement.

But doesn't that apply to the men's
movement, too?

Oh.

So then this isn't about you being prom
queen, per se.

No, it's about fair is fair, per se.

I see.

Well, all right then, but, I mean,
heaven forbid, suppose you should win.

not going to wear a dress, are you?

No. Actually, I thought I'd be making a
stronger political statement if I grew a

beard. But unfortunately, my whiskers
don't feel that strongly about politics.

You know, this puts the whole thing in a
different perspective.

Then you approve?

Oh, well, yes. I mean, what else can I
say except, uh, go to it, son.

I guess.

Hi, David. This is Abby. Is Janet there?

Thanks.

Hi. Listen, I think I've got it.

Jogging.

Well, see, there'll be no family, no old
friends. We'll just be moving targets.

We can talk about anything we want.

This is a terrific idea to be alone.

Well, it's just too bad it didn't work
now, isn't it? Yeah, but David says the

four of us just never get together by
ourselves.

Gracia. Okay.

It was on the 11 o 'clock news.

Please, don't tell me. They shot this
poster. Tommy Bradford for prom queen.

Then they interviewed the student body
president who compared Tommy unfavorably

with bigamists and white slavers.

Wonderful. You know, it was on Joanie's
station. Couldn't she have told the news

department to treat it with a little
dignity?

Joanie has her own problems down there.

Say, Bradford.

You're early.

This couldn't wait, Mr. Trout.

If I don't do it now while I've talked
myself into it, I never will. Hold it.

I know exactly what you're going to say.

The research department is going to have
to get along without your services,

right? What? That's a typical pattern.

Ambitious kid sweeps in here, bright,
talented, attractive.

Finds out she can't take over the
newsroom in three or four days, so she

How much notice do I get? A week? A day?
No, Mr. Trout, I'm not leaving this

job.

You're not?

No.

If I left it now, I'd have to resign
from my family.

Good.

I'd miss you, Bradford.

No, you make lousy coffee.

So what is this?

Well, I thought I would ask you one more
time.

Is there anything that I can do that
would let me use my professional

on camera?

I think I will tell you one more time.

No.

I should have known.

Bradford.

Yes?

Ask me again sometime.

I've been known to weep.

Now, as you know, we've had nine
students nominated for prom queen,

one by the unprecedented procedure of
petition.

Please, save your applause until all the
nominees have been introduced.

To continue.

Now, in order to help you make the most
intelligent decision in your voting,

Your student council has chosen to
conduct a preliminary test of each

candidate's required skills.

You think she's up to something?

In this fashion, you can select as your
prom queen that candidate who best

displays the queenly attributes of
poise, grace, and beauty.

And here to first execute the required
test of those attributes is Mary Louise

Sorensen. She's up to something.

Madam President, point of order. I think
those requirements are totally sexist.

On the contrary. We are merely giving
each candidate equal opportunity.

And to prove that, here is prom queen
candidate number two, Tommy Bradford.

All right.

Why don't you just put that stuff away
and ask me once again if there's any

you could do on camera.

Okay.

Mr. Trout, is there anything I can do on
camera?

As a matter of fact, Bradford, there
just might be.

Right.

Well, it's nice of you to let me keep
practicing.

Bradford, you're not listening.

How would you like to handle my
afternoon movie break interview

The governor's asked me to go on a press
junket. I can't think of anybody else

around here willing to work so hard on
such short notice.

Are you really saying what you're
saying?

Jeffrey, to on -camera colleagues, I'm
Jeffrey. You do mean it.

Oh, thank you, Mr.

Jeffrey.

Oh, I'm so excited. I can't think. You
don't have to think. It's right up your

alley. That's another reason why I
decided to give you your big break.

All you have to do is have a friendly
conversation with a visiting fireman

your favorite subject.

His name is Mannheim.

Do you realize how embarrassing it was
for us when you were waltzing with Mick

Moscori? Tell me about it.

You know, Bradford, I'm beginning to
think you're running for prom queen was

exactly the world's greatest idea.

I'm kind of sorry you even thought of
it.

You thought of it?

Me? Yeah, you.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

But you have to remember why.

It was a matter of defending our
manhood, right?

Yeah, I guess.

And now I'm wondering if you're man
enough to face what I have to do.

You? What do you have to do?

Well, me and the guys are going to have
to support Mary Louise Sorensen.

You're kidding.

We have to, Bradford.

You saw how everybody laughed at you.

Well, what chance do you have?

You guys are really a bunch of rats.

Face it, Bradford.

You're a sinking ship.

Why did it have to be Rankin Manheim?

I'm probably going to freeze up or start
to cry when he walks in the room.

No, you're too professional for that.

Not according to Mr. Manheim.

Every time I look at him, I'm going to
be thinking about what he said.

Give up. Get married.

You don't have what it takes.

You just tell yourself that he's wrong.

After all, Jeffrey Trout has enough
confidence in you to give you this

I didn't tell him about the audition.

What Mr. Manheim thinks of me.

He'll find out, though.

The cameras on the whole of Sacramento
will find out.

Oh, look.

You'll do just fine.

And I'll be sitting in my living room,
watching my TV set, and being very proud

of you.

Dad, you're not going to watch it, are
you? Of course.

Oh, Dad, please don't.

Why be a masochist?

Who's the masochist?

You asked for it, Tommy. Yeah, but I
didn't expect total disaster.

I mean, the way I see it, I can count on
one vote, mine, and even that's getting

pretty shaky. I never did trust Ernie
Field. He never looks you in the eye.

Yeah, he's too busy checking out the
rest of you.

Well, it's not just Ernie. I mean...

The rest of the guys deserted me, too.

Oh, well, that's so typical of male
persons.

Yeah, Tommy, what'd you expect from a
bunch of chauvinists? Well, I didn't

expect to be pushed out on a limb and
then have it cut out from underneath me.

Men are fickle, Tommy. Yeah, and they're
so emotional.

I mean, why can't they see the logic of
all this? Yeah, Tommy, the truth is,

you're doing the cause for women's
liberation a great service.

It's about time someone pointed out that
a prom queen is a totally antiquated

female sex symbol. We want to be more
than prom queens. We want to be

and athletes.

President of the New York Stock
Exchange.

Yeah, Tommy, your finky male friends
can't stop you from helping us. No?

How do you intend to stop them?

Just watch.

Elizabeth, what's going on?

Revolution, Tommy, revolution.

Okay, everybody, now you all remember
Elizabeth.

Well, she's skipping one of her most
important college classes to come back

this special meeting, so I want you all
to listen to her.

Thanks, Bly.

Now, last year this club put on a
terrific recital and raised nearly $300

support the campaign for the Equal
Rights Amendment.

So I know how strongly you all feel
about sexual discrimination, right?

Now, as you all know, my brother Tommy
is running for prom queen.

Don't apologize, Elizabeth. We all have
little brothers. We wish we didn't.

Well, I'm not apologizing for Tommy. In
fact...

I think what he's doing is probably the
most important thing that's happened to

the women's movement since Gloria
Steinem.

What are you measuring in at college?

Insanity?

Would you listen?

Now, just because men are blind sector,
do we have to play their game?

Yeah, if we can get away with it.

Well, then we're no better than they
are. You guys think about it.

If we don't show that a man can compete
for a traditionally female position,

well... Then how can we expect women
will be allowed to compete for the

traditional male position?

But, Tom, you've been qualified to be
prom queen.

Well, then maybe it's time we changed
the prom queen image.

Just like Margaret Thatcher changed the
image of a prime minister.

You're absolutely right, Elizabeth.

I move that the Central High Dance Club
support Tommy Bradford for prom queen.

I second the motion.

You're putting me on.

No, Tommy.

You mean I'd have at least four votes?

More. The club has 19 members.

If you like, we can have lunch together
and I'll give you all my names.

But we're not just going to vote, Tommy.
We're going to campaign for you.

You mean you'd really do that for me?

No, to show the men in this school that
we are more mature than they are.

Ann, show Tommy the campaign post you
made in our club.

Hey.

I don't understand it. I mean, the guys
were so flaky.

You girls are great.

You can thank me personally at lunch.

Cindy, there is no time for that. We
have to go stamp out injustice.

Macho. Settle down, Joy. You're going to
have to get in there right now.

Oh, boy, are we glad you made it, sir.

We're on the air in ten seconds. Please,
Mr. Manheim, would you take a seat over

there? You should have been more
explicit about the time you wanted me

This would never have happened in New
York.

Put the mic on.

No, no. Abby, Janet, it was really nice
of you to have this party. Oh, well, we

got lonely.

It didn't seem right to watch Joanie
stupid just by herself.

Quiet, everybody.

Here's Joanie.

Dad, why is she just sitting there?

Do I get introduced?

Oh, yes.

I'm sorry.

This is Mr.

Rankin Manheim.

Please, let me tell them.

I'm director of Western Theatre Academy.

And what is your name?

My name?

Your wonderful audience has the
advantage over me.

They know who you are, and I don't.

No, actually, Mr. Mannheim, we have met.
I'm Joni... Joan Bradford.

Oh, of course.

Excuse me. I do so many of these
interviews.

Tell me, when was the last time I did
your show?

No, you don't understand.

I auditioned for you this past Monday.

Monday.

Of course.

How could I forget?

This young lady is a very promising
actress.

This wonderful community can be proud of
the abundance of young talent which I

have encountered on my visit. Abby, did
you hear that pompous fake? Just calm

down, Tom.

Mr. Mannheim... Joanie, I know exactly
what you're going to say.

It is a tragedy that talent like yours
should not be further encouraged.

I know your audience understands this
and would like to support the work we're

doing at the Academy.

Fortunately... We have developed a
program which allows tax -free

That money -grubbing phony. Now, hold
on. Why are you lying about me?

Lying about you?

What sort of nonsense is that?

Give it to him, Joanie!

Excuse me, Mr. Mannheim, but when I
auditioned for you on Monday, you told

that I ought to get out of acting.

And now, because it suits your
commercial purposes, you're telling

that I'm a promising talent.

Well, which is it?

You're putting me in a very awkward
position.

I auditioned so many people.

Did I actually do that to you? You did.

Now, I'm sorry about the awkward
position, Mr. Mannheim, but you put me

I believed you.

I respected you as the greatest
authority I'd ever met. I was going to

the acting profession.

Because of what I said?

Yes.

Now tell me, what gives you the right to
destroy a person's dreams?

Dear child, listen to me.

I'm not against dreams.

The fact that you're here putting me
through this inquisition obviously means

that you have more fire than I could
see.

It's your very forgettable audition.

Are you trying to hedge on me?

No.

I'm just telling you that...

Other people can't destroy our dreams.
Only we can.

When we stop having them.

You sound like my father.

Then listen to your father.

You have a wonderful opportunity right
here, Joanie.

Make the most of it.

Keep on studying.

And keep in touch.

Thank you, Mr. Mannheim.

back to our exciting afternoon movie,
Stage Door Canteen.

Well, what'd you think?

Well, not because I'm Joanie's father,
but I think she was magnificent.

I'll vote for magnificent. How about
you, Janet? It was definitely

I was told it wasn't too personal.

Personal? Well, I hate to say this, but
you just don't see things like that on

interview shows. I wonder if they'll let
her do another one.

Johnny, don't worry. I won't tell
anybody you're my sister. Tommy was

Well, tell us. How does it feel to have
just been elected fourth runner -up?

Third runner -up. Oh, excuse me.

Third runner -up, Central High School
winter prom queen.

Oh, I think I can live with it.

Well, tell us, do you think this is a
step forward or backward for equal

Oh, it's a little too early to tell. Of
course, I'll have to spend all the time

I can with our queen here and her
princesses. You know, we'll have to go

everywhere together and do everything
together.

But by the time it's over, I think we
will have established a new level of

communication between us.

If you'll excuse us now, our royal fans
await.

Bradford, Channel 8 News, returning you
to our studios.

Boy, that's what I want to be when I
grow up. A newscaster like your sister?

Nope, a prom queen like my brother.

Oh, it's royal, very royal.

Uh -oh, looks like the prince has cut
himself shaving.

Oh, yeah, I guess it was all the
excitement.

Do you realize tonight I get to spend
the entire evening with Mary Louise

Sorensen, Nancy Matlin, and Sally
Pachetti? I mean, it's going to be the

prom I ever went to.

Just don't stay out too late, princess.

Yeah, or you'll turn into a fraud.

Oh, will one of you peons get that? It's
probably my limo.

Hi, everybody.

Hi, Ernie. Hi, Tommy.

Oh, Ernie, what's up?

I just dropped by to see if I could
help.

This is a great thing you've done,
Bradford, and I'd be proud to serve as

royal escort this evening.

You mean you'd be proud to ride on my
royal coattails?

Don't worry, Ernie.

Someday your prince will come.

Bye.