Original subtitles

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.