All language subtitles for family_ties_s01e05_i_never_killed_for_my_father

I bet we've been together for a million
years And I bet we'll be

together for a million more It's like I
started breathing

on the night we kissed When I can't
remember what I ever did

before What would we do, baby, without
us?

What would we do, baby?

Without us.

And there ain't no nothing we can't love
each other through.

What would we do, baby, without us?

La, la, la, la.

Steven, what do you think your dad would
like with dinner, beer or wine?

Well, definitely beer, Elise. You know
how my father feels about wine.

It's okay for women and interior
decorators.

Uh -oh.

What's the matter?

It's light beer.

Oh, it's okay. It's okay. Don't panic.

Bubba Smith and Dick Butkus drink light
beer, and they're right at his cutoff

level for manliness.

I think we're in the clear.

Good.

What time does the plane get in? About
an hour ago.

He's taking a cab here from the airport.

Well, we could have picked him up,
Stephen. Didn't you offer?

Of course I offered. He insisted on
taking a cab.

He said he didn't want a repeat of what
happened last year when I picked him up.

You mean when you hit the police car?

I didn't hit the police car, Lace.

I grazed it.

All they lost was their door handle and
one headlight.

The dog was fine.

Anyway, it was my father's fault. The
second we got in the car, he started

bugging me about my driving.

He had me so worked up, I didn't even
see the police car coming.

Didn't hear the siren either?

Drop it, okay?

Sorry. This time it's going to be
different, Elise. I'm determined that

visit with him be a peaceful one. You
will not see us fighting.

Going to blindfold me?

Better. I've come up with a list of safe
issues that my father and I can

discuss.

The printing press.

A step forward for mankind.

Crabgrass. Friend or foe?

You think it's silly, don't you? Yeah.

I don't expect to learn anything from
these discussions, but I think the

fighting's got to stop.

For one thing, I don't think it's right
for the kids to see their father and

grandfather locked in combat.

Oh, the kids don't even notice. They are
totally oblivious to any conflict

between you and your dad.

Mommy, when is Grandpa getting here?

I don't want a mission of the yelling.

So, what's the fight going to be this
year? Dad's foreign policy?

Offshore oil drilling?

Oblivious, huh?

Daddy?

You and Grandpa argue all the time.

I mean, you both are grown -ups, right?
Well, the fact that we're grown -ups has

nothing to do with it, Jennifer.

Parents and their children tend to
disagree on things all their lives.

Your father's right.

You know, take, for example, how I'm
always telling you to clean your room

be careful outside.

Yeah? Well, I'll still be telling you
those things when we're both much older.

That's really something to look forward
to.

Hello, Elise.

Hello, Jake.

I'll take the bags upstairs, Grandpa.

Thanks, Alex.

Well, hi, Dad.

Oh, hello, son.

How was your trip? Great.

Except for the taxi.

Cabbie named George.

Long hair. Terrible driver.

Friend of yours?

and the kids, and I'll bring in the
food, okay?

No argument here.

Do you want something to drink?

Thank you. I'd like a light beer.

You got it.

So you like light beer, huh?

I guess you drink it because it's less
filling.

I drink it because it tastes great.

It's less filling, too.

Tastes great.

Dad, have a seat.

Thank you, Steven.

So, how have you been?

Pretty good.

Yourself? Not too bad.

You notice gas stations don't give out
free maps anymore.

I don't need maps. I never get lost.

help you with that, dear?

Need anything else from the kitchen,
Elise?

Anything from the store?

This looks wonderful, Elise.

Thank you, Jack.

Jen, you like those skates I bought you?

They're great, Grandpa.

I hope they're the kind that you wanted.

Actually, I wanted red ones, but that's
my fault. I didn't specify in my letter.

Jennifer, you didn't ask Grandpa to
bring you those skates, did you?

No, Mom, I couldn't do that.

I told him I was saving up so I could
buy them myself.

But I didn't think I could do it without
quitting school and working full time.

Did you go hunting this year, Grandpa?

Sure did. Shot eight beautiful mallards.
Big day.

Not for the mallard.

How's that?

I said... Nice work, Dad. Good shooting.

This is a surprise, Stephen. You always
used to say you thought hunting was

cruel and barbaric. Well, Dad, I've
modified my opinion somewhat. I've...

to realize that killing does have its
merits.

What did I just say, Alicia?

My thing sounds exciting, Grandpa. I'd
love to go with you next year.

Can I go too, Grandpa?

Curls those cute ducks, Mallory. Men
shoot them. Dogs retrieve them. Women

them. That's the food chain.

Why can't I go if Alex is going? Alex
isn't going.

Why not, Dad?

Because the duck killings, a hunting
season, doesn't coincide with your

vacation.

So, any of you kids studying anything at
school you want to tell your grandpa

Jake about?

Yeah, we just finished reading a book
about Richard Nixon in history class.

Nixon.

Fine man.

One of the greatest.

Uh, uh, so how's daylight savings time
treating you?

Same as usual.

It's a clever idea, really. You know,
they just seem to get that extra hour of

daylight out of nowhere.

It's amazing when you think about it.

Nixon was framed, you know.

We can't get along.

That's all there is to it. I might as
well just accept it. Look, you just got

off on the wrong foot, that's all.

These cards weren't any help at all.

Well, how are you supposed to know he
has such strong feelings about felt -tip

pens?

He's wrong, Elise. They were not
invented in Russia.

Just relax. Here.

Let me rub your neck.

Would that help get your mind off your
dad?

Oh.

Can't you two remember to close the
door?

Close it, Mallory.

Jennifer's wearing her skates to bed,
and she keeps rolling into my room.

Coming to bed, honey?

I'd rather not if it's all the same to
you.

Dad.

I didn't mean to wake you, Stephen. You
didn't. I just got into bed a second.

Oh, good, good.

Look, Dad, I think we got off on the
wrong foot tonight.

So do I. That's why I came in to talk to
you. I appreciate that.

Well, don't bother.

It's no bother. You made a nice gesture,
and I wanted to acknowledge it.

That doesn't call for an
acknowledgement.

It was nothing. It wasn't nothing. Yes,
it was.

Night. Day.

I think we've got some things to work
out, Dad.

I guess so.

Listen.

Since I'm only going to be here for a
week, I'd like to spend some time with

Alex. Great idea. Alex loves you. He
loves spending time with you. Well, I

decided to take him out of school on
Thursday.

Well, Thursday's a school day. He can't
go.

Oh, just miss one day. What's the big
deal?

Look at all the schooling you had. A lot
of good it did you. I apologize for

getting my master's degree.

I was way out of line. You could have
been working, that's all.

You know what I always say. I know.

I know.

Less learning, more earning, right? You
bet.

Well, we, uh...

tried to get Alex into construction work
as early as we could, but his

kindergarten teacher was against it.

I don't like your attitude, Stephen.

Well, I'm not so crazy about yours,
either. I mean, you're here in my home.

think you should respect my wishes.

I'm your father, and I think you should
respect my wishes. The answer is no,

Dad.

That's just fine, Stephen.

Just fine.

I come here to visit you for the last
time. I don't even get to spend a day

my grandson.

I didn't say you could... Wait a minute.
What do you mean, the last time?

Oh, forget it. What do you mean?

Nothing. What do you think, Dad? That
you won't come and visit again unless I

let you take Alex out of school? Because
if that's what you're saying, then I

say fine.

Oh, that's not what I'm saying, damn it.

Stephen.

This is gonna be my last visit here
because... I'm very sick.

What do you mean?

God, when I think of all the petty
little arguments we've had, I feel so

I should have just been glad to have him
alive.

You can't conduct every moment of a
relationship on the premise that the

person's going to be dead at some point.
Life just isn't like that. Even so,

we've had some pretty avoidable
arguments over the years, Elise.

We didn't speak for two months after the
Cuban Missile Crisis.

Well, that was a very emotional issue.

Khrushchev and Kennedy made up quicker
than we did.

Come on, your dad isn't thinking about
Cuba anymore.

He mentioned it at dinner.

Oh, hiya, kids.

What are you doing up so late?

Hi, Jake. Hi, Dad.

Oh, come on, you guys. Lighten up. It's
like a morgue in here.

Jake.

Sorry, Elise.

It's just a figure of fate. Dad, do you
have a minute?

I hope more than that.

Dad, sit down for a minute, okay?

Come on, let's talk about that.

What's there to talk about?

You don't discuss it, you do it.

Actually... You stop doing it.

Jake, are you absolutely sure you're
going?

Oh, yes, yes, I'm sure.

Have you tried everything?

No, I never tried whitewater rafting.

I'm going next month.

Have you checked all possible
treatments?

Yeah, I've been through all that.

Coco? No, they tried that.

Look. Look, Dad, this happens to be very
serious to us.

Well, how do you think I feel?

Jake,

we want to help you. Is there anything
that you need from us?

Well, I really appreciate it if you
wouldn't tell the kids about it.

This is probably my last visit here, and
I want it to be a happy one.

Whatever you say, Dad, if that's what
you want.

Where are you going?

Up, I hope.

I appreciate your concern, kids.

Good night.

Good night.

Hold it, Dad.

What is it, Stephen?

Dad, we're going to have to talk about
this eventually, so I might as well

it up now.

About the arrangements.

I mean, what kind of funeral do you
want?

Big?

Small?

I don't know.

Surprise me.

I've been chopping wood since 6 .15.

Dad! Yeah?

Nothing like an early morning. It makes
you feel so alive.

Don't you think you should be taking it
easy? Maybe you should lie down.

Plenty of time for that. Soon enough.

Can I make you some pancakes, Jake? You
bet.

Grandpa, we're having show and tell at
school.

And put me in that stuffed porcupine you
gave me.

Now, Jennifer, I don't know if that's a
good... I mean...

I think the other kids will really get a
kick out of that.

Nothing cheers up a room full of kids
like a dead animal.

Always worked at my school.

Here.

Dad? Oh, thank you, Steven.

Jake, can I get you something to drink?
Maybe some hot tea?

Tea? Do I look like Princess Margaret?

Bring me a man's drink. Coffee. Black.

Make that two.

Atta boy.

You two men want your coffee in cups.
You want to drink it right out of the

Bearing in mind, Alex, this is your
first cup of coffee ever.

Cups, Mom.

And a lot of milk, please.

Wow. Did you get your homework done last
night?

Well, you know. Yeah, I bet you got your
girlfriend to do it for you, don't you?

I doubt it. She can't read.

As long as she's cute and can cook,
that's all that matters.

Darn right, Dad.

It's not the only thing that matters,
but cooking and cuteness are an integral

part of a woman's life.

And reading isn't.

All I'm saying is that the time people
spend reading might better be spent

working. You know what I would say? Less
learning, more earning.

Daddy, you never say that.

Jennifer, I say it at least once a day.

She's never in the room when I say it.

Probably too busy reading.

So, Dad, what do you have planned for
today?

Oh, I was hoping that Alex and I could
spend some time together.

Today, I got school.

Well, so skip it.

How often do you get to spend a day with
your grandfather?

Wait a minute. Did I hear you right?
You're telling me to skip school?

I would take advantage of it, Alex.

Before he regains his senses.

I can't today. I've got midterms. So you
missed a midterm or two.

What's the worst thing that could
happen?

I have to repeat 12th grade.

You'll just be that much ahead next
year.

We'll do it some other time. Forget it,
Steven.

Midterms are over at noon, Grandpa. If
you want, you can pick me up then.

I thought maybe you and I could do some
fishing.

How does that grab you?

Okay. It should be fun.

Yeah. After I take you downtown, I'll
get you tattooed.

Tattoo? I don't know. Alec?

Do what your grandfather did.

A tattoo is a living, breathing
monument.

You'd look great with one, Alex.

I was just kidding about the tattoo.

Me too.

They called from the lake an hour ago.
They should be here any minute.

Well, I'm starving.

I say we give them 15 minutes and order
pizza.

Hang in there, guys. Your grandfather's
really excited about catching dinner for

us. Oh, it's going to be great. You'll
see. It will be fresh fish. We'll clean

it, and then we'll scale it, and we'll
cut out the bones, and then cut off the

head. Maybe we should just order the
pizza now.

All right, all right. The men are back.

Well, the fish weren't biting out there
today, but look what we caught in the

supermarket.

Hamburgers. Yeah, they put up quite a
fight, too.

Hey, you want to tell us about the one
that got away?

Well, there was a dink about this big.

How big?

About this big.

How big?

About this big. How big?

Seven. Got to hand it to you, Stephen.

Oh, you raised a fine boy there.

Listen, I made some calls this morning.

I even talked to the Mayo Clinic. Now,
you're probably not aware of this, but

there's a chance they could extend your
life for a while.

Well, I'm aware of that.

You are? Yes, and I'm not interested.
I'm planning to die on my feet.

Of course, eventually I'll fall over.

Come on, Dad, don't pull this macho
stuff with me now. I'm talking about

life here. So am I.

Do you think I want to spend the days I
have left?

Lying in a hospital bed with tubes in
me, getting shots and treatments every

day, depending on some overworked nurse
to tell me if I'm awake or asleep.

Not in your life. Dad, a lot can happen
in the time they keep you alive. They

could find a cure.

I hope they do.

But I'm not going to risk wasting my
last days in the hospital. I got a lot

things to do before I go.

Oh, sir.

I'm going to die the way I live.

You'll die the way you've lived, all
right. Pig -headed and stubborn.

Don't talk to me that way, Steven. It
happens to be true.

I'm trying to save your life, Dad, and
you won't listen to a word I have to

and you never have either.

You've never given me one ounce of
credit, not for the past 20 years.

Credit?

You want a credit?

What for?

For letting your hair grow long and
refusing to hold down a decent job?

For maligning the leaders of the
country?

For spitting on every value I ever held?

For purposely trying to antagonize me?
Is that what you think?

It just so happened, Dad, that I
believed in what I was doing and what I

for. Well, I suppose you wanted me to
agree with what you did. No!

I wanted you to respect the fact that I
could have my own ideas.

I wanted you to keep on treating me like
a son, even though I was different from

you. I wanted to... Well, maybe just
once, I wanted you to put everything

and spend the day with me like the one
you just spent with Alex.

Stephen, I... I suppose it's always
difficult for me to show any

emotion to you.

I don't know the way our relationship
was.

I saw affection as a sign of weakness. I
hope you didn't take it personally.

You know what really bothered me?

When you took Jeffrey Garrett to the
father -son picnic.

Can I explain that to you, Stephen?

I thought he was you.

I was in a hurry.

He was about your size.

Once he was in the car, it was too late.
What was I going to do?

I didn't want to hurt his feelings.

I thought inviting him again the next
year was too much.

We had to go back.

We were the defending champs in the
father -son ping -pong tournament.

You know, Jeffrey still writes to me.

I'd write to you, too, if you'd taken me
to one of the picnics.

Stephen, I... I guess I never gave you
much reason to like me.

Like you?

Damn it.

Dad, I love you.

I never said I didn't love you.

You never said you did.

Well, it was implied.

It's not enough.

Of course it's enough.

Unless I specifically say I don't love
you, you have to assume that I do.

I love you, Stephen.

I always have.

Dad. I always thought I made a lot of
mistakes with you, Stephen.

The biggest mistake I ever made was
maybe not telling you that I loved you

it was too late.

Dad, it's never too late.

Dad, are you scared?

Am I scared?

Is Jake Keaton scared?

Yes.

Not so much of dying.

Yeah, but I'm scared of not living
anymore.

Well, I'm here.

Got some time off tomorrow?

I'll make time.

Good. You want to go hunting?

I'm just kidding.

We'll find something we can do together.
Come on.

Dad. Yes?

There was a song used to sing to me when
I was a kid, and I was having trouble

sleeping. I've been trying to remember
what it was, but I can't.

I remember.

Would you sing it to me? Oh, sure.

From the halls of Montezuma... The
Marine fight

song?

You used to sing me the Marine fight
song? As a lullaby?

It worked like a charm.

We will fight our countries back.

on the land and on the sea.

Sit, Ubu, sit.

Good dog.