All language subtitles for Eight Is Enoughs04e23 Official Positions

Mine? Elizabeth, it's mine.

It's not. Yes, it is. What are you two
fighting about? My bubble bath. It's my

bubble bath. Elizabeth, yours is spicy
cinnamon. Mine is happy buttercup. Mine

is happy buttercup, Nancy. You're wrong.
Jack gave it to me. Roger gave it to

me. Can I just eat something?

Nicholas, would you go find your own
fight?

Can I just eat something?

Like I figured.

Nancy, how could you? Don't blame me.
She's right. Don't blame her. What? I

it. You used my happy buttercup?

I like bubbles.

What are we going to do with you?

Thank me. I just settled your dumb
argument.

When the sunrise smiles on everything
around.

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

always will.

We wait enough to fill our lives with
love.

And it is enough to fill up.

Nothing. That's good.

And I don't want to talk about it.

Why not?

I'd listen, and I wouldn't tell anyone.

Forget it. You wouldn't understand.

I understand that it's not nothing. It's
nothing!

Okay.

Well, maybe nothing wouldn't bother you
as much if you spent the night at my

house tonight.

Nah.

We're having a great dinner.

Spaghetti.

Spaghetti?

Are you Italian?

No, are you?

Only when it comes to spaghetti.

All right. See there?

Nothing to it.

Just give it a try.

But, Merle, you don't understand. I
flunked gym four semesters in a row.

The only passing grade I ever got was in
hot showers.

Oh, come on, Nance. You can do it. It's
for a good cause.

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

You're good with nothing.

Yeah, yeah!

What happened? You sunk it. I did?

But you shouldn't keep your eyes closed.

Merle, I can't help it. I get
embarrassed when I see myself missed.

actually did it? Yeah, you actually did.

That's fantastic!

Well, maybe I will play ball after all.
Are the uniforms cute?

Hey, Merle, what's going on?

Hi, Nicholas.

Howdy, Jackson.

if you give us 12 points.

Not right now, Nicholas.

I have to coach your sisters.

My sisters?

That's right, Slugger. I'm putting a
team together.

Merle's Marauders. We'll play the prelim
game at the Children's Hospital

benefit. Can me and Nicholas play on
your team?

I'm sorry, Jackson.

It's girls only.

Bradford sisters versus the Cyclone
players' wives.

All you mean is just for laughs.

Are you kidding, buddy?

Watch this. Show me stuff.

Two more points?

No, one lost ball.

Lots of luck, Merle.

Tom,

you're going to have to keep Jackson and
Nicholas from giggling all night.

Oh, well, I'll allow them one pillow
fight, two drinks of water, and then

sleep or get separated.

I really appreciate this.

I'll be back as soon as I can. That's
all right. I have something I can work

But it may be very late.

Oh?

Yeah, Professor Hardgrave wants to talk
to me after class about my thesis notes.

Problem? I hope not.

Are you sure you don't mind if I miss
our usual 10 o 'clock date?

I'll be fine.

You're the most understanding husband in
Sacramento.

Oh, yes, and also in the suburbs.

Roseville, Citrus Heights.

You get this?

Where's that?

Not so loud.

Oh, it's all right. Nicholas and Jackson
are upstairs. Everyone else is gone.

Oh. I didn't know you were so nervous
about it. No, no, no. I'm not nervous.

It's just that I want to keep this
project between the two of us until I

back on course.

Wow, Dad, I'm really flattered.

Well, you understand about these
artistic endeavors.

It's best not to talk about an audition
or get people excited about anything

until it becomes a reality.

Yeah. It does make rejection a lot
easier.

I don't want to put it quite that
bluntly, but you're right.

No, Dad, I have a feeling that this time
you're not going to be rejected.

Keep that feeling and we'll see.

No, no, really, I mean it. The last six
or seven times your novel was

rejected... Four or five times.

Oh, right.

I mean, the last four or five times you
were working under really difficult

circumstances.

Your family was young then. There was so
much confusion in the house. It's no

wonder you didn't do your best work.

But this time everything's going for
you.

Concentrate on your goal and go for it.

All right.

Didn't I give you that same speech about
acting?

Oh, yeah.

It's a good one. You should listen to
it.

I will.

But am I eligible for Merle's Marauders?
You're a girl who looks great in gym

trunks, and you're in the Bradford
family.

Merle says that's all it takes. Come on,
Janet. If they can talk me into it,

they certainly can talk you into it.
Okay, why not? It might be fun.

Good. But what about Susan?

Well, Merle says she's ineligible. She's
actually won in sixth night's play.

No, but Susan loves basketball, so my
sitting on the sidelines will be really

hard for her. But a lot easier on her
obstetrician.

I think it's appropriate that we make
Susan our team mother.

Hey, you guys have... Fantastic.
Counting Joanie, we have a complete

a minute. Counting Susan and her sixth
night, we also have a complete rooting

section.

Susan had a good checkup, Tom.

Very good checkup. Oh, really? I'm glad
to hear that, Greg.

How's Mary?

Fine. Fine.

Joanie?

Fine. And so are Tommy and Nicholas and
David and Elizabeth and Nancy. They're

all doing just great.

Come on, Greg, why don't you admit it?
Now, why did you come around here for

first time in three months to find out
how healthy the Bradford clan was?

What's on your mind?

Nothing.

Can't I make a simple house call?

No, not without losing your medical
license. What's bugging you?

Well, if you insist on prying it out of
me, I'll tell you.

It's Daisy.

Oh, what about Daisy?

She's getting her real estate license.

Really? Good for her.

Well, that's easy for you to say. You're
not her husband.

Come on, that's a normal human
development. After all, her children are

her grandchildren are out of state.
She's bored with club work, so she gets

real estate license.

Without any consideration for my
predicament.

What predicament?

She'll be working a lot of evenings.

What'll I do?

You mean besides feeling sorry for
yourself?

Right. You know, Greg, I had that same
sense of desertion when Abby went out

her Ph .D. full time.

But this is a new world we live in. We
can't hold our women back.

Why can't we?

Because it's not fair.

And because they wouldn't let us even if
we tried.

We have to change with the times.

We have to give our women their freedom.

At the expense of our happiness?

I felt the same way you did until I
cured myself.

You cured yourself.

Now I'm really depressed.

Couldn't you spend a couple of thousand
on psychiatry? Well, I mean, it took a

little time.

But I finally figured that I had to use
that time that Abby was busy to realize

my fondest dream.

So I began to write that novel that I
had started in Korea.

Oh, I remember.

You were going to be another Hemingway.

Yes, and I may still be another
Hemingway because now that I've started,

resent the time that Abby is away. And
you should do the same thing with Daisy.

Just throw yourself into something.

How about the river?

It's very easy, Greg.

Just let Daisy find her thing and you
find yours.

It's so simple.

You're going to blow it for me. What?

Going to bed 20 minutes early without
being told.

It's what I feel like doing.

But we hardly played any games.

I don't want to get too used to all your
games.

What? A guy can't get hooked on that
stuff.

He can want to play them all the time.

You can.

Come over whenever you want.

No. This is the last time I'm going to
be here.

Was it something I said?

No.

Then how come you're not going to come
to my house anymore?

I'll be too busy after school.

Doing what?

Looking for work. What kind of work can
you get?

I don't know, but it'll have to be
something.

My mom lost her job.

Don't disturb him right now, okay? Why
not?

Well, I can't tell you. Well, then I'll
have to disturb him. No, not unless it's

really important, okay?

Well, it's not crucial, Joanie, but it's
important enough to interrupt his call.

Well, it's not his call, I'm saying.
Well, then I can interrupt. No.

Look, it would be a lot easier on Dad if
you understood, but please don't let on

that you do, okay?

Dad's writing his novel again.

What are we whispering about?

He doesn't want anybody to... Oh.

He doesn't want anybody to know about it
until it's solved.

That's great.

Reed, it is fantastic, Nancy. He's so
excited. He's writing again.

And this time, we're all self
-sufficient adults. We can take care of

stay out of his way, and let him achieve
his dream.

Hello. Hello, hello.

Isn't it a wonderful night?

Boy, you're in a happy mood.

Oh, happy. I'm daddy.

You're not going to believe this. Do you
know my professor, Dr. Hargrave? He's

got this very close friend who's in
publishing.

Abby, that's terrific.

Dad ought to meet him.

Oh, he will, because he'll be in
Sacramento all week.

That's wonderful.

Yeah, well, listen to this. Dr.

Hargrave showed him some of my research
material and my thesis outline.

Your material?

Yes.

And he thinks it's going to make a
wonderful book.

What is this about a book? Oh, Tom,
you're gonna be so happy for me. I've

book. I'm an author.

He says it's natural. The public is very
interested in how traditional education

determines sex roles.

Well, any book about sex has to do
great.

Oh, no, Nancy, that's just it. See, he
promised that he wouldn't exploit this

material. See, he'll use my research to
show how schools force boys into one

mold and girls into another with no
regard for their real talents and

Sounds fascinating, Abby.

So, you actually do have a contract?

Yeah, he's bringing it tomorrow.

See, apparently what I have to do is
write two sample chapters, and then I

to revise the thesis outline into a book
outline, and then if they like all

that, then they'll give me six months to
write the book.

Oh, boy, you'll be busy.

Yeah, but Dr. Hargrave says I'll be able
to get an extension on my thesis

deadline. See, he thinks it's as
important as I do that this material

widest possible audience, but I'm going
to try to do both.

You will be busy. Do you think we could
get free autographed copies when your

book comes out?

Nancy, I'm counting on this family to
make sure it's a bestseller.

Abby, this is our bedroom.

I wouldn't think of stealing your study.

Oh, I wasn't about to suggest that. I
knew you were, and that's why I'm here.

Well, there's the dining room.

No, I just wouldn't think of A.

clearing my work away every night, or B,
submitting a manuscript in Boston

peanut butter.

Well, and how about the screened porch?

It's too close to the television and the
stereo. I never get anything done.

The garage?

Never.

Well, I mean, suppose you wake up in the
middle of the night and see all this

stuff kind of staring at you.

I won't.

You can spend the whole night there with
all this stuff. Wouldn't you feel

uncomfortable?

I think it's cozy.

Cozy? Oh, yes, very cozy.

You, me.

I'm the typewriter.

Tom.

Don't worry about me.

What kind of work does your mom do,
Jackson?

She's a boss.

How can a boss lose a job?

Well, she was bossing this big office,
and they decided to close it down.

I'm sure she'll find another job soon
enough. She says things are slow right

now. Well... I can loan you 84 cents
until she gets one. We don't take loans.

Don't get mad, Jackson.

I just like it when you come over.

Yeah. Well, maybe I can come over to
your house.

I might not be there.

Once before, my mom lost her job, and we
had to move.

What's wrong?

I'm hurrying too fast.

Well, you know how to fix that. Just
hurry slower. I can't.

I have to type my thesis. I have to
organize my notes. I have to write two

sample chapters, and I have to type two
sample chapters, and I have to do all of

this before my deadline.

I need at least six more hands or one
good secretary.

Well, have you talked to Jackson's
mother?

Is she a secretary?

Well, Jackson said she used to run an
office, and she's looking for work.

That's great. Thanks, Tommy. I'll check
it out.

You pay?

You haven't paid for my lunch since
October 17th, 1965.

Because you haven't given me any good
advice since October 17th, 1965.

Oh!

Not until last night.

You know, it's like I went home and I
thought about what you said. And the

I thought it through, the more sense it
made.

Well, I may have spoken a little
hastily. No, you were right on.

I've got to let Daisy do her thing.

And the way for me to handle it is to
find my thing. It's that simple.

Maybe it's too simple.

No, the trick is in what you said. I
must regard her new career as my

opportunity.

And then it came to me.

Liver.

Liver?

The most underrated organ in the human
body.

I see.

But it won't be after I'm through. I'm
going to know more about the human liver

than any man in this country. I'm going
to read books. I'm going to take

courses. I'm going to do research.

And in a hundred years from now, when
men think of liver, they're going to

of Greg Maxwell.

Well, if that's what you want.

It's exactly what I want. But you see, I
never had the chance to try, and now

that I do, I feel like a kid again.

Can I give you another piece of advice?

Please. Just pray that she doesn't quit
real estate and become a doctor.

We'll start with some layups.

Who's first?

Janet. Mary.

What's a layup? I don't know what a
layup is. Well, I know, but if Merle

me asking, then I won't have to be
first.

I'll go first.

You? Yeah.

Volunteering is the only part in
basketball I'm good at.

Ball, please, Merle.

Uh, you're wearing gloves.

I know.

But you don't play basketball with
gloves on.

Well, Merle, if you think I'm going to
break my fingernails, you can forget it.

It took a long time to grow these
babies.

Okay.

Now, do I dribble?

On the quarter off.

Come on, Nancy. Okay, watch this, guys.
You just watch this.

Well, how'd I do?

Let's just say we got a great chance of
making the other team very

overconfident. We do?

Oh, yeah.

Terrific. Exactly.

Okay, Joan.

Let's see you do something with it.

how much this is going to help me.

Oh, it's perfect for me, too.

I have an application in at Senator
Avery's office, but the position won't

open for several weeks.

Oh, this will work out great for you,
then, because you won't have to worry

about Jackson after school.

Nicholas will love having him here, and
so will we.

That will be awfully nice, Mrs.
Bradford.

Abby.

Thank you, Abby.

And I'm Lillian.

Lillian. So when can you start?

Tomorrow morning.

That's perfect. Great.

Okay.

Come on. Don't throw the ball.

Come on. Come on. Just throw it.

Throw it. Throw it. That's it. That's
it. Harder.

Keep those eyes open.

Look one place. Throw it another.

Don't you? Stay in there. Get the ball.

Hustle!

Merle, what's with the Gestapo bits?
Yeah, come on, Merle. You said this was

supposed to be fun.

Fun is winning.

25 laps.

Everybody.

What?

And Jackson can play here every day and
sleep over sometimes.

That's right, Nicholas.

Thanks, Abby.

No, Tom, it was really his idea.

Don't mention it, sport. I enjoy
sleeping out on the screen porch every

a while. Oh, yeah, because Dad can't
hear what time you come in.

No, because I'm such an altruist. Likes
to hide what time he comes in.

I'd like to change the subject.

I'd like to propose a toast to Abby
Bradford and her new book.

Thanks. Yeah, all right, I'll drink to
that.

Did you have to rub it in like that?

I was rubbing it in.

I think Abby did a wonderful thing.

We should hire a band and throw her a
bash.

Oh, that's great.

That's really what Dad needs.

This has nothing to do with Dad.

This has everything to do with Dad,
Mary.

He has dreamed about selling his book
for 25 years.

He's written a dozen versions of it.
He's gone without sleep, without

I mean, he has struggled for this.

Abby hasn't exactly been lolling around
in a hammock eating bonbons. I know, but

she didn't even try to write a book, and
then she sells one.

I mean, it's just not fair at all.

Who said it was supposed to be?

If you were Dad, wouldn't you feel
cheated?

Is Abby here?

I think she's upstairs, Nicholas. Why?

There's a Mr. Ellis here.

Ellis? That's what it says on the card
he gave me.

Boy, I sure wish I had a card. It makes
you feel cheap when you don't have one

to give back.

This guy's from Abby's Publishing.

I know. I can read. I'll get Abby. No,
no, no, Nicholas.

Listen, I'll get her, okay? I'm going
upstairs anyway. Wait a second, Johnny.

We're not done. Yeah, I'll be right
back.

Well, don't just stand there. Dry
something.

I am dry.

Nicholas, it's fun to help.

No, it isn't.

You'll love it, Mr. Ellis. I know you
will.

Dad is really a genius.

I'm sure he is, Miss Bradford, but I'm
not really interested in any new

at the moment.

Oh, but you can't let this one go by,
Mr. Ellis.

I mean, there are lots of publishers
interested in this.

And, uh, think of the publicity when you
publish Abby's book and Dad's book.

What's it about?

Oh, it is a wonderful novel, Mr. Ellis.
To me, it has a brilliant blend of

Tolstoy and Norman Mailer.

Would take some brilliance.

And the setting?

The Korean War.

I'm sorry, Miss Bradford, but we
couldn't possibly consider it.

How can you possibly say that without
even reading it?

Every definitive novel of the Korean War
was written 20 years ago.

There's just no market for anything so
tired, so out of date.

Why, this is really good.

Perhaps, but it's not something we, or
most likely anyone else, would want to

publish.

Elizabeth, would you bring me a cup of
coffee as long as you're up? Who's up?

I thought you were getting up.

No, no, that was just a muscle spasm.

Well, at least your muscle can still
spasm.

I spent the whole night dreaming I was
running laps.

And each time I'd reach number 25, this
ogre would say, it was only 24.

Did this ogre look like Merle?

No, he had big green tusks.

Blind expression.

As long as you're up there.

Would you get us a cup of coffee?

Coffee? Who's drinking coffee?

You will if you bring it, Doctor.

No way.

It's not on your training diet.

What training diet?

Since you're the medical expert, I'm
putting you in charge, Mary. All you

do is follow the menu. It was developed
by the team doctor for the cyclones.

Well, there are more calories in this
first breakfast than I eat all week.

Calories? You want us to eat calories?

And vitamins.

And minerals.

I want to get all you marauders in the
best possible shape for the big game.

Just hold on. I have worked hard to get
in my present shape, and I'm not going

to ruin it with calories.

Right, Merle. We're not going to eat
like baseball players.

You'll be sorry when you poop out in
practice.

There's another way to prevent that,
medically speaking.

What?

Don't practice.

Are you kidding? That's sacrilege.

I'd expect you all in the gym at 12 .05.

Now, keep writing.

Ah, good morning, Mrs. Andrews. Come in,
come in.

Good morning, Mr. Bradford. Thank you.

Well, this must be the big brother that
Jackson is always bragging about. That's

right. You haven't met.

Mr. Bradford, this is my son, Darren.
Darren, this is Nicholas's father.

Oh, how do you do, Darren?

Just fine, Mr. Bradford. How are you?
Good, real good. Here, let me take that.

Don't forget now.

Jackson and I will be expecting you
right at six. Got it.

Don't stop to shoot baskets and forget
about it. Right, and drive carefully,

son. Now you've got it.

Okay.

You have two fine boys, Mrs. Andrews.
You must be very proud.

Well, thank you, Mr. Bradford. I
consider that a compliment from an

I'm going to enjoy your family.

Oh, we're just so happy that you can be
here with us. I'm just proud I'm able to

help Mrs. Bradford get her book done.

There's nothing greater than a book. A
book can go on, long after our own lives

are totally forgotten.

I know.

How I envy you.

Envy me?

Well, yes.

You're married to an author.

How wonderful you must feel.

You wouldn't believe just how wonderful.

Here I am.

Isn't it great? Now you can come over to
my house every day and play.

Yeah, but don't count on being fun.

Why not?

My mom bosses the place. She really
bosses it. She does?

Yeah. She doesn't let people get away
with anything.

Not your parents, not your sisters, not
Tommy, or anyone.

I didn't know that.

Well, just keep your eyes open.

She's going to show you graphics up.

Working hard, I see.

Oh, morning, Elliot.

Well, aren't you going to tell me, Tom?

Tell you what?

Come on, now.

Don't be so coy. It's wonderful news.

What is?

About Abby, about her writing a book.

Oh, you were going to slip it into the
conversation modestly, right?

So as you could top me whenever I brag
about Randy Three.

Yeah, something like that.

Well, you have forgotten how eager the
book boys can be about publicity.

I received a visit this morning from a
man named Mr.

Ellis. He brought me a press release,
and he's put a great deal of pressure on

us to do a feature story on Sacramento's
newest author.

Oh, really?

We might have to change your byline to
Mr.

Abby Bradford.

Why don't we make it Mr. Dr.

Abby Bradford? She'll be getting her Ph
.D.

That's right. I forgot about that.

Makes us look like pikers, doesn't it?

Like this.

Well, we'll just have to write books
ourselves.

After all, wives do it. Shouldn't be
that hard.

It's hard, Elliot.

I suppose it's harder than writing an
editorial or a column.

Not today. Today, column writing is
impossible.

Don't tell me we're having another one
of your little writer's blocks.

Not little.

May I make a suggestion?

Why don't you write about being married
to a famous author?

I've considered that.

There are no laughs.

Elizabeth, you gotta arc the ball when
you shoot it.

Oh, come on. Please, bend your knees,
Mary. Bend your knees.

You're shooting off the palm of your
hand. Shoot off your fingertips. Hi,

Hi, Nance. Hi, Nance.

You're late.

I'm sorry.

I had to fit my lunch hour around my
bosses.

Well, that's great. We only have the
court for another 40 minutes.

Uh, I can't stay that long, Merle. I
have a lecture.

Yeah, and I have a tennis date with
Jack.

You'd be better off forgetting the
tennis and concentrate on basketball.

Yeah, well, what I'm concentrating on is
Jack.

I don't understand this team.

Now, what's keeping Janet?

What's keeping Joanie? Look, maybe Janet
had an important case. Maybe Joanie's

covering a big story.

Look, Merle, I know that they're not as
important to you as basketball, but

those are their jobs. I just don't want
you making fools of yourselves on game

night.

Hey, Merle, it's no big deal.

Tell that to Bingo's team.

Oh, your old rival Bingo is coaching the
Cyclone Wives?

Yeah. And he's got them practicing four
hours a day.

I think we should do the same.

Impossible.

Ridiculous. Well, come on. If I can give
my time to coach you, you can make the

time to be here.

You're wrong, though.

What?

Look, let's face it.

You're just too much of a gung -ho jock
for the crew of klutzes.

You expect too much, and you take it too
seriously.

Remember, this is for charity.

So don't tell me you're going to quit on
me.

No, Merle, we're not going to quit.

We'll play.

But we're going to coach ourselves.

That's crazy.

It may be crazy, Merle, but at least it
won't be the Marine Corps.

Look, we love you, Merle.

And we don't want to wind up hating each
other.

Right, team?

Right, Merle.

Look, we just want to be friends.

We're firing you as coach, but...

We're hiring you back as brother -in
-law.

Merle, they can't do that to you.

Hold on, honey.

They had a point.

It's my business.

I'm used to tough coaching, but they're
girls. Oh, now, wait a minute. That's no

excuse. When I was on the gymnastics
team, we trained as hard as the football

players did.

Yeah, but you wanted to. Your sisters
don't. Oh, boy, I just wish I could get

out there and suit up. I'd show them
that you're right and they're wrong.

Forget it, honey.

It's not worth splitting a family over.
Any family that fires my husband

deserves to be split.

Take it easy.

You'll upset the baby. Hey, I've got
news for you. This baby's kicking harder

about this than I am.

You hungry?

Yeah. Me too.

We'll ask my mom if we can have
something.

Okay. She might say no.

Really? Yeah, so I'll ask her. Good
idea.

Hi, Nicholas.

How was school?

School was okay.

A little long after lunch.

Yeah. Mom, we're hungry.

What else is new?

Could we have something from the
refrigerator?

Well, what's the rule on that, Nicholas?

Huh?

I should ask Abby about it, but I hate
to disturb her when she's working so

hard. What about it, Nicholas?

What about what?

Is it all right for you to have a snack?

Why are you asking him?

It's his house, Jackson.

But you're the boss of it.

Whatever gave you that idea? I work for
Mrs. Bradford.

No!

It's true, Jackson.

You mean Nicholas' mom can tell you what
to do?

Of course.

Come on, Jackson. Let's go play.

I don't want to play.

I don't even want to stay here.

Hold it, one at a time, please. Right,
me first.

No, Dad, we've got to find Jackson
first.

You and Dad can look for Jackson while
the rest of this family is apologizing

Merle. Susan, we did that when we fired
him. Yeah, so we're even.

Please,

Karen, to hold it. Now, what is this
about Jackson? Where is Mrs.

Andrews? She's out looking for him, Dad.
We've got to help.

I don't understand any of this. I mean,
what is going on? Where is Abby?

She's upstairs, Dad. But you can't
disturb her.

Who says?

Abby even has a secretary now, so why do
I get stuck when things fall apart?

Abby? What is it, Tom?

There's no one minding the store.

Tom, I don't have time for riddles.

All I ask is that you help out a little.

Please just wait. I'm right in the
middle of a thought.

Well, this family is in the middle of
chaos.

Abby, it's not working.

What is not working? This book
disrupting our lives.

Yours, maybe, but not mine.

All right, mine.

It's disrupting mine.

Tom, I'm sorry you can't handle it, but
would you just leave me alone? Because I

have a deadline.

I never thought that Abby and I would
get involved in a triangle.

Is it really a triangle, Dad?

Sure it is.

I'm competing with that book.

Isn't there another angle in the
geometry?

What about your book?

What book?

Come on, Dad.

By the time Joanie had sworn us all to
secrecy, everybody knew about it except

for Abby.

Oh, wonderful.

The novel is over.

Obviously, I was just fooling myself.

I don't think it is over. Oh, yeah.

It's out of the bottom drawer and back
down in the basement.

I think you resent the fact that Abby
made it instead of you.

No, I don't resent it.

I mean, look, how would you feel if all
of a sudden Janet became the biggest

contractor in Sacramento and you were
going bankrupt?

No, thanks.

We have enough trouble handling our
careers as it is. That's exactly what

saying. Wasn't easy for me to let Abby
leave the house and go back to school.

Your mother never would have done that.

No, her family definitely came first.

And her husband.

That's true, her husband.

Well, face it, Dad, Abby has her own way
of going, and you've encouraged it.

Yeah, sure I have, but I didn't think it
would lead to this.

You make it sound like you and Abby are
competing in some kind of contest, and

you think you lost.

That's right.

That is how I feel.

Mrs. Andrews, boy, am I glad to see you.
Did you find Jackson?

Yes, Nicholas. Darren found him. Great.

He's okay.

As good as can be better.

Well, is he coming over?

I don't think so, Nicholas.

Why? Doesn't he like us?

It's not you, Nicholas.

We'll talk about it. I'd like to see
Abby. She and Joanie are upstairs, but

said not to disturb them.

How about your father?

He went out.

Well, in that case, I'll just keep
myself busy till Abby's free.

Can I ask you a question?

Of course.

Well, are you the boss, or do you just
work here?

Abby and I have a business arrangement,
Nicholas.

It helps me, and I do my best to help
her.

Do you understand?

Sort of.

Well, sort of is a lot better than
Jackson understands it.

Oh.

And Channing rejected Tom's manuscript?

I know I shouldn't have shown it to him,
Abby, but I believed in it so much. I

thought it was going to make everything
perfect for you and Dad.

And Tom knows?

Mm -hmm.

Well, I can see why he's so upset.

Oh, I knew he'd understand.

There's nothing I can do about it.

Abby, Tom's book is Tom's book.

My book is my book, and they don't have
anything to do with each other. No, no,

they have everything to do with each
other, as long as it's driving you two

apart. Tom's ego is driving us apart.

Well, then do something about it. What?

Give up the contract? Give up my chance
to help change the educational system

just so Tom won't feel threatened?

No, I'm not suggesting that.

Just... just consider Dad's feelings,
that's all.

I have considered his feelings, and I
think they're destructive.

Joanie, are women always supposed to
hold back so that the proud male can

center stage?

Abby, you know that I don't want that
either.

Well, then be patient.

Your father adjusted to my going back to
school, and he'll adjust to this.

This is totally different. How is it
different?

Well, how would you feel if Dad was
suddenly granted a Ph .D. in education

yours was turned down?

I think she's got as much ego involved
in this as Dad.

Why not?

Nobody's medically proven that the ego
is exclusively male.

I know, but is that what equality's all
about?

Equal egos?

Well, maybe David can help your father.

David? That's right. He's planning to
spend the whole day with your father.

David? That's like sending Muhammad Ali
to explain humility to Howard Cosell.

I really hate to lose you, Lillian.

And I'd hate to have Jackson lose
Nicholas as a friend.

I guess it's my fault.

Your fault? Why?

I wanted both my sons to be proud, Abby.

I always told them that we are strong
people, that they weren't meant to

that they were meant to lead.

From what I've seen of Jackson, that's
true.

It's not true yet.

I guess I wanted so much to spare him
from the harder parts of living that I

taught him too much pride.

It's any consolation there's a lot of
that going around these days.

You know, you're a great sounding board,
David.

Thanks. No, really, you have no idea how
gratifying it is to have somebody to

talk to like this.

You did the same for me for a lot of
years.

You were there when I needed you. You
listened.

Yeah, but right now I need more than
listening.

What do you mean?

Uh, I need advice.

You want advice from me? You're gonna
get thrown out of the father's union.

Oh, no, I know it's a drastic reversal
of form in our relationship, but...

you have the experience, and I haven't.
With what?

With all this fuzziness.

Fuzziness? Yeah.

In my day, when men were men and women
were women, you knew exactly where you

stood.

Wasn't that boring?

No. On the contrary, it was rather
reassuring.

There's no competition between the
sexes.

If you saw somebody in jeans, you felt
safe swearing. Or if you saw somebody

with long hair, you felt safe saying, Ma
'am, dinner was at 6 o 'clock sharp.

And they did the dishes.

Dad, let's forget about golf and go find
a time machine, huh?

No, no, I'm serious, son.

I mean, how do you and Janet do it? I
know you almost lost each other once

your two careers, but now you seem very
happy with each other. We are.

Well, how do you do it?

Well, I guess it started happening when
I...

remembered what questions to ask.

About what?

About everything.

If there's a problem with Janet's work
or something goes wrong with the

apartment, I ask myself, now, what's
more important, me or us?

And when the answer's me, there's no us.

So the answer can't be me.

Thanks, son.

Don't mention it, Dad. That's what I'm
here for.

Okay, Elizabeth, you throw to Janet,
then she'll throw to me, and I'll shoot.

No, you'll miss. I'll throw to you, and
you throw to Janet.

Janet, this time don't dribble double,
okay?

It's double dribble. Well, whatever.
Just don't do it. Hold it.

This is a basketball team, not a
debating society.

It's not a basketball team. We have five
coaches who can't decide on anything.

You guys, maybe we should ask Merle to
come back.

That would be crawling.

Well, maybe we should just forfeit the
game. That'd be chicken.

Look, if we don't shape her pretty
quick, we're going to look awfully

ridiculous. Girl.

Oh, hi, Lily. What's up?

Mind if I make a little suggestion?

Abby!

Dad, she went out.

Oh, shucks. I should have called from
the club. Did she say where she was

Something about a meeting.

Did she say where?

Nope. Did she leave a number?

Uh -uh. Boy, you really want to see her.
I sure do.

Will she be back soon?

Why wouldn't she?

Good point here.

Thank you.

But I'm afraid it isn't expressed very
clearly.

I'm sorry.

You know, I hate to say this, but you
seem to bury your most exciting ideas

beneath the jargon of academia.

Really? It almost seems as if this were
your thesis.

I didn't intend that.

Well, it's easy to get conditioned to
impressing your fellow professors.

Frankly, we'd rather impress the book
-buying public.

So what happens now?

Don't get depressed.

It's for occasions like this they
invented rewrites.

Speaking of words, that one sounds
pretty terrifying.

Abby, please, this is not rejection.

Well, compared to the cheers I was
expecting, it's pretty close.

Johnny!

Oh, shucks.

You're getting the hang of it. Thanks.

But I don't think we'll be taking on the
Lakers for a week or so.

The Lakers? Now, there's a basketball
team. Yeah, and so are we. Yeah, right.

But you'll be a lot closer to one once I
show you how you should line up for

your free throws.

Yeah, I'll line up for anybody. Let's do
it.

Darren may need some help. Yeah,

and if you help him, can I help you?

Yeah, if Darren says it's okay.

Well, he's a coach.

Right. Your sisters are kind of looking
for him.

Well, I guess.

If you want to put it that way.

Well, that's how it is.

Is it that big a deal?

Not really.

I'm glad you came back.

Me too.

Come down the middle. I want you two to
be on the outside.

Tom. Ab.

I've been looking for you.

I've been looking for you.

I wanted to apologize.

No, I want to apologize.

I guess I was pretty insufferable. Well,
I know that I was very childish.

I didn't know you were writing your book
again.

What difference does it make?

One famous author in the family is
enough.

I'm not a famous author.

But you will be.

And I can accept that.

No, I have a problem.

I can't write.

Who says that?

Channing Ellis.

What does he know? He rejected my novel.

No, Tom, it's true. He says I don't know
how to write for the public.

And I have to admit, he seems pretty
convincing.

So? So I was thinking while I was
driving home.

You could help me.

Me?

You're the professional writer.

We could do the book together, my
material and your words.

Oh, but you saw the way I acted around
here. What do I know about modern sex

roles?

I think you're becoming an expert.

Tom, I really need you.

Of course, it means that we'd have to
spend a lot more time together.

Going through my research, discussing,
editing.

Now, wait a minute. Let me get this
straight.

Are you suggesting collaboration?

On anything you have in mind.

Do I get a byline?

And fringe benefits.

Oh, Joanie, you were great.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to do that. But
you were great. Really, I was proud.

Nicholas, take good care of her. She did
a wonderful job. Here's the nurse. Oh,

Mary.

You were fine. Just fine.

Yes, yeah.

Oh, Janet, I was proud.

Sure. Yes, of course. Right over there.

Elizabeth, you gave it all you had.

I know, but will I ever get it back?
Yes, yes, yes. You'll recover.

Here she is, Nancy.

That was some basketball. It was great.

It wasn't way past you. It was unreal.

It was like this. We were 40 feet down
the court, okay? Three seconds

left in the game. Two seconds.

It didn't go quite that far, Jackson,
but it was a terrific shot.

Classic.

Unforgettable.

Too bad it was the only basket we made.