Original subtitles

Aren't you finished yet?

Don't be in such a rush.

Okay.

That's 110 over 50.

Is that okay for a 10 -year -old?

Perfect.

Is that it?

Well, your blood pressure, your pulse rate, your reflexes, I'll check out. Why

don't we do the step test one more time so I can double -check your heartbeat?

But I already did that five times!

Nicholas, this was your idea.

Can I get dressed now?

Just a minute.

Yep. You can get dressed now knowing you got a clean bill of health.

Thanks a lot.

Hello, Betsy?

Yeah, it's Nicholas.

Yeah, why don't we forget about playing doctor?

Because I just played it with my sister.

And it's really boring.

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

will.

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

Oh, we spend our days like bright and shiny.

Hello? Yeah, I guess so.

Who's calling?

What can I do for you?

No, as a matter of fact, I'm not doing anything tomorrow.

Well, I don't know.

Oh, I'm sure he is.

But have you tried one of the girls in the typing pool?

Oh, I see.

He's just visiting.

From China?

Oh, it does sound very interesting, and I do know of Sacramento.

Yes, Mr. Foyer. I'm sure it would be a very rewarding experience. And I've

gone out with a communist before.

No, no, no. That's okay, Mr. Foyer. You can count on me. After all, I'm a

company girl all the way.

Okay.

Bye.

Nicholas, what's the matter?

I've got to send out 20 copies of this letter right away.

Let me see that.

Oh, Nicholas, this is just a stupid chain letter.

Yeah, well, I'll read what it says at the bottom.

It says, failure to continue this chain will result in irreversible bad luck and

inevitable doom.

I don't want bad luck, and who needs doom?

Nicholas. This is just a bunch of superstitious nonsense.

Now, don't let it bother you.

Looks good.

Hmm.

I don't taste any difference. Elizabeth, this recipe won the blue ribbon at the

Sacramento Chili Cook -Off. All I taste are beans and peppers.

Peasant. Mary, give me your educated opinion now.

Tell me if you can discern my mullet.

Now, I know it's subtle, but... Joanie, I'm having a hard enough time trying to

discern my notes.

Oh, sorry. I thought med school got easier the second year. Yeah, I thought

were going to rediscover the world outside the lymph glands, remember?

Yeah, well, that was before I almost failed my first neurology exam.

I don't know, somehow I feel a good doctor should be right more than 68 % of

time. Well, it's just one exam, right? I mean, you didn't flunk out.

No, nor do I plan to.

Excuse me.

I've seen it.

Okay, first I go up for this pass, and then this guy lays into me. But he

my flag, so I run 40 yards for a touchdown.

Well, congratulations, Tommy. On what?

On winning the intramural flag football championship.

What smells so good?

Tony's blue ribbon chili.

Oh, excellent. I'm starved.

Oh, no, Tommy, please. Take it easy. There's a whole crowd coming to dinner.

We're having company?

Yeah, David and Janet. Yeah, and Marvin Harris, you know, Nicholas' little

friend? Boy, that's good.

Yeah, but take it easy, okay, Tommy? There's a lot of people.

Take it easy?

What about Merrill and Susan?

They've got other plans.

That's your minimum daily requirement.

But I'm still a growing boy.

And I'm a very busy girl. One more kiss like that and I'll never get this paper

done. You've got the whole weekend to write the paper. Wrong. I've got the

weekend to write a paper, study for a test, and plan a field trip to the

center. Hey, what about me?

Well, Merle, we agreed I'd get my degree and keep my job, remember?

I remember.

It's just that when baseball season ended, I thought we'd live a normal

life. Well, I'm sorry, but my season just started.

And what's so abnormal about our married life anyway?

Nothing.

Let's table this discussion till we get back.

We'll get back from where?

From my weekly softball game. It's Friday.

Did you forget?

Oh, Merle, I really shouldn't go, not with all this work.

Hey, look, I know I always go, and I really like to go. It's just, well, it's

just you and your buddies playing softball for fun, and there's no real

why I should go.

Not when I have so much work to do.

But all the guys bring their wives and girlfriends.

Well, that's because all their wives and girlfriends have nothing better to do.

Look, Merle, I didn't mean that the way it sounded.

I just meant that...

Better get ready to go.

My sister Nancy says it was stupid.

But you'll be cursed with bad luck and doom if you break the chain. Isn't that

what the letter said?

Yeah. You know, your bad luck can rub off on anybody.

It could?

Uh -huh.

You know, my mom broke a chain letter once. You know what happened to me?

I got a baby sister.

If I were you, I'd be very careful, never knowing you're going to get the

whammy.

His name is Liu Chaocheng, and he's from Shanghai.

Well, it sounds like a great opportunity to learn about Chinese culture.

Well, that's what I thought at first, but now I'm not so sure.

Well, what's the problem? Well, for one thing, where do you take a junior member

of a Chinese trade mission in Sacramento?

Nancy, the Chinese are trying to modernize. They want to learn all about

America. He's probably got a list of places to go.

Does he speak English?

He better. I went to a bookstore to find a Chinese dictionary.

And all they had in stock was famous quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong.

Did David and Janet call to say they'd be late? No, I don't know what happened

to them. Oh, she probably got hung up at the office.

They don't know what they're missing. Jonah, you outdid yourself.

Thanks. Hey, Marvin, you want a second?

Oh, no, thank you, but it's very good.

Good.

Hey, Tommy, you're not eating very much.

But you'd like my chili.

All right.

Kind of OD'd on the stuff this afternoon.

Hi. Hi. How are you doing?

David, what happened to you?

The busted water pump. On your new car? Unfortunately, yes. It's been cut from

the bundle.

Isn't it still under warranty?

No, it expired last week.

Boy, talk about bad luck.

I had my back to the plate. I'm running full tilt and I nabbed her right here.

As I recall, it was nothing but a little pop -up.

Which means you owe $4 .75, not including the tip. Will you guys quit

around and pay the check? Come on.

What have you been up to these days?

Oh. The usual.

School and work.

Oh, I don't know how you manage. You know, I have my hands full just looking

after the house and Chuck.

Boy, tell me about it. If I don't have Barry's meal on the table when he gets

home, he throws a fit.

You know, you're lucky we're all such an understanding husband.

Yeah.

Lady, we're ready to move out.

Where to?

McDonald's for a couple of beers.

Oh, good.

Come on, baby.

Merle, I'm kind of tired.

Yeah, I guess all that sulking and moping can be pretty exhausting.

Don't knock the only pleasure I've had all night.

Maybe if you tried to have fun.

Look, Merle, it's pretty tough to be bored stiff and yuck it up at the same

time.

Look, I just don't relate to your baseball buddies and their wives, okay?

they are my friends.

What am I supposed to do, change my life all of a sudden?

Well, isn't that what you expect me to do?

This letter's no joke, Nicholas.

Believe me, your brother's car is just the beginning.

Marvin, I had nothing to do with that.

Yeah, that's what you think.

Better do something before you start spreading bad luck all over the place.

Like what?

By sending out these letters.

You know, this could jinx you for life and your family, too.

I feel pretty bad.

You sick?

Yes, Nicholas, I'm sick. Now, cut the dumb questions and let me suffer in

okay?

Good morning.

Morning. Morning.

Oh, you're off to your challenge match with Max. That's right, and today I feel

so great I've decided to raise the stakes.

Oh, you're not going to lose your shirt again.

Well, in this case, it wouldn't be a total loss.

Now, listen, I'll have you know that the last time I wore this shirt, I shot two

under par.

Yeah, wasn't that miniature golf, Dad? The point is it gives me a psychological

edge. Not to mention the fashion edge.

Oh, it's Max.

Oh, Dad, can you give me a ride to the theater? I thought Tommy was going to

take you. Yeah, but I haven't seen him all morning. Well, he's still in bed.

At this hour?

he was feeling so hot.

Are you ready? Yeah, let's go. Wish me luck. Good luck.

You ready to jog down to the river?

I've got things to take care of.

Come on, we do it every Saturday.

Only take an hour and be a good workout.

Merle, I said I can't.

You're not still mad about last night, are you?

No, I'm not mad.

It's just we have to spend every weekend with the gang. It's so much more fun

just the two of us.

Do you want me to call them and cancel for tonight?

No.

Then you'll be home in time to cook dinner.

Aren't I always?

I'll see you later, honey.

Yeah, bye.

You feeling any better?

Want me to bring you up something to eat?

Oh, Nicholas, please, no food. Just get out of here.

You gonna be all right?

Yeah, I'm gonna be fine.

When?

As soon as you quit bugging me.

Come here.

Yes, Nicholas.

You busy?

I'm studying.

How'd you like to study on the real body?

Just my luck to have a doctor in the house.

Tony, will you be quiet for a second?

Well, your pulse is pretty fast, but other than that, nothing seems to be out

the ordinary.

Hey, maybe it's his appendix.

How could it be? He had it removed when he was 11.

How severe is the pain?

It's nothing compared to the pain you're giving me. Why don't you just leave me

alone? I've got a stomachache, that's all.

You know, he did settle down quite a bit of that chili yesterday after the game.

Tommy, why don't you just stay in bed?

Where else am I supposed to go?

You know, fix you something to settle your stomach.

Is this your secret hiding place?

Oh, yeah.

Come in.

Quite a stack, huh?

Oh, yeah. It's my required reading for methods in education seminar.

Do you want to talk about something?

No.

Okay.

Well, yeah.

It's just I don't know quite how to ask you that.

Well, usually the direct approach is the best.

How's this for direct approach?

Abby, how do I handle a husband who expects a dutiful wife to fulfill his

do the cooking and the cleaning and play hostess to his friends?

I mean, how do I handle? I'm not prepared to give up my life.

I shouldn't have to, right?

Listen, I don't know if Hegel's dialectic has ever been applied to

but it seems certainly that it could be applicable here.

Yeah. Hegel's dialectic? Yeah. See, Hegel was a 19th century philosopher who

reasoned that all understanding comes about by providing a thesis, which is,

that's right here, see? You provide a thesis, which is then attacked by an

antithesis, and from the two you derive a synthesis, which is a combination of

both points of view, see?

No, you lost me back in the 19th century.

Oh.

Well, see, what you have to do is you have to talk, argue, fight, until you

and Merle arrive at an understanding of one another's needs.

It's simple, Susan.

Why'd you make it sound so complicated?

Because I'm studying to be a college professor?

I'm coming.

Nancy?

No, I'm Elizabeth, but I'll get her for you. Come on in.

Nancy.

Oh, um, come in.

Nancy?

No, hold on.

Nancy, your date's here.

Nancy? Oh, Chang.

Nice to meet you.

Where are you going?

Upstairs. See, I don't speak Chinese and he doesn't speak English.

Have fun.

You don't speak English?

Nancy.

I have a feeling this is not going to work out too well.

Chang, can you tell me what you want

to do?

Chang, where do you want to go?

To go?

Clothes? Clothes? You want to buy some clothes?

You want to buy some clothes?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, good, good.

Well,

I can see why.

Let's go, let's go.

Come on.

Thank you.

You know, you spent so much time in a sand trap today.

Maybe you should get yourself a camel instead of a golf cart. Oh, very funny.

Hi, Dr. Max.

Hi, Mary.

Oh, hi. Why are you bringing food into the kitchen?

Oh, I brought up Tom. He's still not here.

Huh. Well, now he hardly ate any of his dinner.

This morning he was still in bed, and now he won't eat coffee or toast?

I think he's got some kind of a bug, probably a 24 -hour virus.

What are the symptoms?

Rapid pulse, abdominal pains.

Is he running a temperature?

No. Is the pain localized?

Yeah, it's mostly on the left side.

Max, maybe you should take a look at him.

Guess when they do that?

Like crazy.

It's not much better.

When did you first start experiencing this pain?

Last night around dinnertime, but it wasn't as bad as it is now.

Tell me, did you do anything yesterday that involved physical contact?

I played football after school.

Were you tackled?

Just a few shots in the ribs, but nothing too intense.

Well, I'm not too sure about that.

Nicholas, would you go down to my car and get my black bag? It's in the trunk.

What do you think, Dr. Max?

I just want to check his blood pressure.

Is Tommy going to be okay?

Nick, let's go get the bag.

Max, is it serious?

Possibly. I think he may have suffered internal damage.

No. My guess is that his spleen has been ruptured.

What does that mean?

It means you better call an ambulance.

We've got to get him to a hospital.

Right, and the patient's name is Tommy Bradford.

Now, I'll need a liver spleen scan, and you better reserve an OR just in case.

Right.

Well, we're leaving now, so we should be there in a few minutes.

Thank you.

Don't worry, Tommy.

All right, now we're going to take him to Sacramento General. I'm going to ride

along in the ambulance. Why don't you follow along in my car? I'll be right

behind you.

Well, don't forget the insurance papers, okay?

Oh.

Mary! Mary! Is Tommy going to be okay?

You're asking the wrong person.

Dad.

These must be the forms. I guess. I don't know, though.

Dad, I'm really sorry.

I know. We're all sorry. But right now, the important thing is to get Tommy the

proper care.

Just don't understand how I misread the symptoms.

Mary, I can't talk about that right now. I have to get to the hospital.

Please hurry, Dad. We're all waiting for you. I'm coming. I'm coming.

Dad? Oh, Mary, will you stay here and look after Nicholas? Okay, but will you

call? I will as soon as I get a report.

Now that's what I call all -American.

You don't like it?

Oh, oh, I get it. Is the sleeve too tight?

The quantum?

Oh,

Ching.

I wish I knew what you were saying.

Oh, you want to go dancing? Is that it? You want to dance?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

All right, now we're getting someplace.

Okay, I'll tell you what we're going to do.

We'll pay for this, and then we'll go disco.

Why do I get the feeling I'm talking to myself?

Here, you address these envelopes while I write the letters.

Uh -uh, I can't do that.

Why not?

Because maybe if I help you, I might get bad luck, too.

I don't want anybody in my family going to the hospital. That's especially me.

I have to send these letters.

Tommy is sick because I didn't send these letters before.

Well, I told you to send them out before, didn't I?

All right, well, then help me send them now.

No way. I don't want to get involved.

to x -ray.

Tom, he's in good hands.

Oh, I know, I know.

Dad, can I get you some coffee?

No, thanks.

Max, how is he?

Well, the liver spleen scan confirmed my diagnosis.

It's a rupture?

Well, what happens next?

Well, they put him in intensive care so they can monitor the hemorrhaging.

If it stops, he's okay.

Suppose it doesn't stop.

Then they'll stop it for him.

I'll keep you informed.

Susan. I don't get it.

She knew you were coming.

Well, maybe she's just running late.

Yeah, probably just lost track of time.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're probably right.

I'm sure she'll be home any second now.

Hello? Joanie, where have you been?

At the theater.

What's wrong?

Tommy's in the hospital.

What?

I blew it, Joanie.

I misdiagnosed Tommy's illness.

I thought he had a virus. He really had a ruptured spleen.

A ruptured spleen?

How is he now? I mean, what's going on?

I don't know. I'm waiting for Dad to call.

What?

Tony, it was my fault.

My mistake could have killed him.

Oh, come on, Mary.

I'm sure you did the best you could.

Doctors can't afford to make mistakes like that.

It cost a lot.

Oh, Mary, no.

Hey, come on, don't be so hard on yourself.

You're not a doctor yet, you know, you're just learning.

I guess I haven't learned very much, have I?

Come on, Chang.

Feel the rhythm.

Come on.

It's all in the hips.

The hips.

Chang.

Chang. Where are you going?

Where are you going?

What's the matter, Chang? Don't you like it here?

Well, I wish you could just tell me what it is you want to do.

So that's what you want to do?

Yeah, yeah.

Look, I don't know what they told you about American girls in China, but it's

not true.

Nancy.

Stay away from me.

I just found out. How is he? Well, he's still in intensive care. You didn't all

have to come over here. It's going to be a while, maybe, before we find out

anything. We wanted to be here.

Dad,

Mary's pretty upset.

Oh, well, we all are.

No, I mean, I think she feels responsible for what happened.

I know. I tried to tell her that, but she won't listen to me.

Really, I think you better give her a call.

Yeah, I will, as soon as I get an update on Tommy's condition.

Where's Nicholas?

Nicholas?

I don't want to talk about it.

Nancy, look.

What? What is it now, Chang?

I don't want to see your little book.

We can't communicate.

I guess it'll just be for four.

Yes, I'll hold.

I just don't believe this.

Should have been home hours ago.

You do?

Oh, great. Yeah, we'll be there in 15 minutes.

Hey, I finally got us a reservation.

Great. I'm sorry.

I'm real sorry this evening had to turn out like this.

Hey, don't worry about it. These things happen, huh?

Yeah. You'll work it out. Don't worry.

Busy. I'll have to call back later. He's probably worried about you. He knows I

can take care of myself.

Besides, I can't leave till we find out about Tommy.

Dr. Max.

How is Tommy?

His red cell count is way down. We're going to have to perform emergency

surgery.

It's a very delicate operation, but one these surgeons have performed hundreds

of times.

Well, he's going to be okay, isn't he, Max?

What can I say, Tom?

There are no absolute guarantees.

Tommy's young and strong, and he should pull through.

Should pull through?

Well, I guess it's just a matter of more waiting, right?

Yeah. Well, fortunately, you don't have to wait alone.

If it's of any comfort at all, I'll be in the operating room the entire time.

Oh, yeah, well, thanks, Max.

Um, maybe you should just go and call Mary and tell her about the surgery,

Yeah, I'll have to do that right now.

No,

I think he's going to be okay, given the circumstances.

Emergency surgery?

I'm afraid it's worse than we thought.

Oh, no.

Are you all right?

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

Joanie said that you were upset.

Um, well, that was before. It's over now. I'm fine, really.

Oh, well, that's good.

How's Nicholas?

Oh, he's keeping himself busy.

Oh, good.

Well,

Mary, I better get back to the others.

And don't worry now. I'll keep you posted. Please do. Okay.

You sure you're all right?

Yeah, Daddy, I'm fine.

I'll talk to you later.

Bye -bye.

Nicholas' dad called, and Tommy has to have surgery.

Didn't you hear what I said?

I said Tommy has to be operated on.

Nicholas, please, I know you're only ten years old, but you've got to

understand.

I need to talk to somebody.

Nicholas, I could have killed Tommy today.

Nicholas, listen to me.

I'll talk to you. Where is Nicholas?

He's downstairs in the lobby. Look, they won't let him up because he's too

young.

You've got to get him up here.

Hi, son.

Hi, Dad.

Mind if I sit down?

Go ahead.

I understand that you feel that...

You're to blame for what's happened to Tommy.

Me and that chain letter.

Well, chain letters can't cause bad luck.

Only fear.

That's what everybody said, except Mary.

Well, what did Mary say?

Well, she didn't say anything.

She just helped me finish up the letters, and then she put the stamps on

envelopes, and then she brought them down to the mailbox for me.

She did?

Why?

To make me feel better. And to make Tommy okay.

He is okay now, isn't he?

Well, we don't know yet. I mean, we'll... We have to wait till he gets

surgery.

Oh.

Come on home.

I'll take you upstairs.

Oh, it sure is quiet around here.

Are you hungry?

Oh, my

gosh.

Ah! God!

Boom, was it?

Nancy, have you seen Susan?

She's at Sacramento General. I just got the note.

The hospital?

Look, Merle, I can't talk right now. I'm on my way over there. Nancy!

I gotta go.

Nancy! Nancy!

Hello!

You forget you're looking at an experienced waiting room sitter.

And again, it's a lot easier when all you're waiting to hear is it's a boy or

it's a girl.

Where's Susan Stockwell? My wife, Susan Stockwell.

This is a hospital. I'm sorry. I'm just so worried about my wife, Susan

Stockwell. Merle?

Merle! Susan!

Hi. Oh, thank goodness you're all right.

Well, why wouldn't I be?

Well, when you didn't come home for dinner, I called your folks, and Nancy

you were at the hospital.

Heck, I thought you had an accident.

Oh, Mel, I'm sorry. It's just I was so worried about Tommy, I forgot all about

dinner. Tommy?

He has a ruptured spleen.

Oh, no.

Poor Tommy.

I feel really bad.

And dumb.

I'd been thinking you didn't come home on purpose to... to get back at me.

Merle, I love you.

I'd never do that.

It's just that where I come from, a wife is a wife. You know, like it used to be

in the old days.

You're just going to have to give me time to adjust to a modern woman.

As long as you give me time to adjust to a husband who loves and wants to take

care of me.

Tommy. Oh, he's still in surgery as far as we know.

Oh, no.

Why don't you come in with the rest of them?

Nancy.

Hi.

Oh,

Nancy, your friend.

Oh, um, this is Chang.

Chang, I'm David.

Chang, this is my family.

Mary, my wife, Janet.

I think we could use another round of chairs. I'll give you a hand.

Thank you.

I'd be doing a lot better if I knew Tommy was okay.

Thank you.

Mary. Dr. Max, that's Tommy. I've got good news for you. He's in the recovery

room. The anesthesia's beginning to wear off and all his vital signs are

returning to normal. Oh, Dr. Max.

It looks like he's out of danger. That's wonderful.

You know, it's times like this that make me glad I finished medical school.

Me too.

Come on.

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you this afternoon. I mean, about

what happened.

That's okay. Okay.

It didn't make you lose confidence in your ability, did it?

Well... Now, look, you shouldn't. If anything, you should have gotten a very

important lesson out of this.

doctors should never treat members of their own family.

You see, we get so used to listening to their little aches and pains that we

just take them for granted.

And then when a real symptom begins to occur, the last thing we want to find is

something seriously wrong.

You know something, Dr. Max?

You're right, but I couldn't help but question my ability to practice

Mary, look, in all my years in this profession, I have never seen anyone

more natural ability.

I love you, Dr. Max.

Come on. Help me spread the good news. Okay.

Tommy's gonna be just fine.

Tommy's gonna be okay!

Yes, he's gonna be fine, Nicholas.

Max, can we go to see him?

Well, you can all go down and take a glimpse of him through the door, but

they'll only let one or two into the room.

I think that it's very important that there be three.

When you get a stomachache, you don't mess around.

Tommy.

Nicholas thinks it's you.

Come here, slugger.

What's the

matter?

Sorry about your bad luck.

Now can I have bad luck when I got you for a brother?

Boy, sure glad he read those letters.

Uh, Nicholas.

I never mailed him.

What?

Look, Tommy got well without sending those letters out.

They're dumb, Nicholas.

They only do harm to the people who worry about them.

Now, you can still mail them out, but all they're going to do is bring the

needless worry to 20 other people.

Get up, boy, slugger.

That's for sure.

I didn't know about you guys, but I'm starving.

Guess I better put him to bed. Yeah, he's out cold.

It's a very case of writer's crap for a little guy.

No, no more. Thanks to you.

You handled his problem very skillfully.

You didn't question his beliefs or his fears when he was upset.

You just gave him comfort.

And you gave him a very valuable lesson.

One that'll spare him a lot of pain in the future.

I'm very impressed.

I guess I did learn something in medical school.

Oh, no, that takes more than medical school.

That takes understanding and sensitivity.

Good night, Mary.

Good night, Abby.

Is Nancy back from taking Chang? Oh, no. And I don't expect her for quite a

while. Chang is drawing her a picture of where he lives.

What a night.

Oh, you know what? I forgot. With everything that's going on, I forgot to

through the mail.

Oh, no.

What is it?

A chain letter. Oh, no. Another one?

Oh, throw it away.

I don't know.

Hon!

It's just a silly superstition. But wait a minute, I'm playing poker tomorrow

night. Mm -hmm, mm -hmm. I...