All language subtitles for family_ties_s04e14_the_disciple

I bet we've been together for a million
years.

And I bet we'll be together for a
million more.

Oh, it's like I started breathing on the
night we hit.

And 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?

Oh,

hey,

Jennifer. What are you doing?

I have to do an oral report for social
studies class.

What about?

How a bill becomes a law.

Oh, all right.

Why don't you read me what you have so
far?

How a bill becomes a law.

I like it a lot. It's peppy, yet
interesting.

It's zippy, yet informative.

Let me hear it again.

Oh, hey, Skippy. How's the report going,
Jen? Oh, she's good, Mr. Keaton.

Go ahead. Read him what you just read
me.

Dad, I need some help. Do you have a
minute? I can't now, Jen. Your mom and I

have to take Andrew to his playgroup.
Maybe later.

Oh, Elise, the Boswells are here.

Oh, Dad.

Oh, Stephen.

Try not to get into an argument with
these people again, okay?

Look, I don't start these arguments.
They do. They're so competitive about

son's accomplishments.

Our Timmy can stand up.

Our Timmy can talk. Our Timmy can read.

I can do most of those things.

You guys ready? We're waiting. Oh, hi,
Ralph. Yeah, we're all set.

You see Timmy there in the car?

Oh, yeah. Isn't he cute?

He drove us here.

Goodbye, honey. Back in a couple of
hours.

Bye, Skip.

Hi, Jen. Hi.

Oh.

Mallory, Alex isn't home right now. Can
you help me with my social studies

project? Oh, I can't, Jen. I'm late as
it is for work. I gotta go upstairs and

change my clothes.

Uh, Mallory?

You need any help?

Okay. Yes, Skippy.

I'd like you to come upstairs and help
me change my clothes.

He'll be back.

Alex, you're home!

Thanks, Jen.

For a second there, I didn't know where
I was.

Alex, I have to do an oral report for
social studies class on Wednesday. I

really, really need your help.

I appeal to you as my brother to act out
of compassion and love to reach out to

your younger sister and help her in her
hour of need.

What's in it for me?

Alex, please, I'm desperate.

Jennifer, I don't get it. I mean, you
get good grades, you're good in school.

How can you be so desperate for my help
all of a sudden?

I saw some projects the other kids were
working on. They were really good.

I want mine to be just as good.

I want mine to be better.

I want mine to be the best.

Well, Jennifer...

Respect your goals of conquest and
domination.

I like to think I inspired them.

But if I help you with this, we're going
to do it my way.

Start to finish every step my way. You
got it?

Got it.

All right, what's your topic?

How a bill becomes a law. And what are
you using for your resource material?

This.

What is this, a seventh grade textbook?

Yes. I'm in seventh grade, and that's my
textbook.

Well, if you want me to be involved with
this, you're going to have to abandon

this childish, simplistic approach to
the subject.

But that's the book we use.

That's the book they use.

And they'll do their little oral
reports, and they'll get their little

and they'll live their little lives.

You want to know something, Keaton?

You're better than they are. And we're
going to the library.

We're going to prove it. You want to
prove it, don't you?

I do. I can't hear you.

I do.

Alex, how much more of the stuff do I
have to read?

Let's see.

You still have Martin Carruthers inside
the U .S. legislature.

Beatrice P.

Duval's Lawmaking in Western Society.

Budson and Shites, jurisprudence and the
common law.

Tonight? You want to know something,
Jim?

I like the way this is shaping up.

You play your cards right. I think you
got a shot at the Thomas Dewey Award

year. Are you crazy, Alex? I don't have
a chance to win that. The Dewey Award

goes out to the best academic
presentation of the year.

They always give it to some pesky, dorky
genius type.

I won it three years in a row.

Jan, are you still up? Honey, it's after
10.

You're working awfully hard, honey.

Hey, Jan, I got some time now. If you
want, I can help you with that thing of

yours.

How will Bill grow up?

Mallory, I'm helping her. For Jennifer
to go from my help to your help would

require a decompression chamber.

Jennifer, it's great that you're
motivated to work this hard.

Oh, well, you know me, Dad. I can't get
enough of this stuff.

You know, Elise, I'm beginning to wonder
if we've been too easy on Andrew.

What do you mean? Well, you know, little
Kimmy Boswell is the same age as

Andrew, and he does seem more advanced.

Did you see him at that playgroup today?

Yeah, I did. If you want my opinion, I
think his parents are pushing him too

hard. He should have been playing with
Andy and the other one -year -olds at

blocks. Well, what was little Timmy
doing? Playing backhand.

He wasn't really playing, Stephen. He
beat me two out of three games.

Good night, sweetheart. Try not to stay
up too late, okay? No, no, don't worry,

Mom. I'll make sure she gets to bed nice
and early. All right.

Okay. Good night. Good night.

And so the Electoral College meets in
December and casts

its 538 votes.

And that's how our president is elected.

Thank you, Brenda. Very nice.

We have time for one more report this
morning.

Jennifer, you ready?

Yes, ma 'am.

But it'll take me a couple minutes to
set up. Very well. We'll take a short

break. Class, you may talk quietly among
yourselves.

It's about time that Brenda finished.

I thought she babbled forever.

She's a good friend of mine, Alex.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll blow her out of
the water.

This is for Joseph. I'd like you to meet
my brother, Alex.

He gave me a ride today. Oh, how nice.

Alex, did you help Jennifer with her
presentation?

Uh, me?

Uh... Uh, no, no.

Uh, no, I don't, I don't know nothing
about this government mumbo -jumbo.

I just, uh, you know, I just carry the
stuff Jennifer tells me to.

Alex, I'm nervous.

Listen, you'll be all right. Just be
clearly and don't rush your

These simpletons are lucky to be here
for it.

Right.

Can you stay and watch, Alex?

Oh, gee, I guess so. I don't have to be
back at the quarry for an hour.

Class, we're ready to begin again.

Jennifer will enlighten us on how a bill
becomes a law.

Jennifer?

Uh, friends, classmates, citizens, lend
me your ears.

bill is approved by both the House and
the Senate, it is sent to the enrolling

clerk to be printed on parchment.

It is this enrolled bill that is signed
by the Speaker of the House and the

President of the Senate.

Then the document is transported up
Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House,

home of the President of the United
States.

The President has ten days. not counting
Sundays, to sign or veto the bill.

If he signs it, the bill becomes the
law. If he vetoes it, it takes a two

-thirds vote of both houses of Congress
to override his veto.

Let me assure you, this rarely happens.

We have reached the end of our long
journey.

Once the president signs our bill,

a shining example of democracy, a beacon
to freedom -loving people everywhere.

Thank you.

And the music built to a crescendo, and
there she was, draped in the stars and

stripes, radiant in the spotlight. I'm
telling you, it was spectacular.

Kids were crying in their lunchboxes.

Alex is exaggerating a little.

Ah, Jen, you're just a chip off the old
block.

You know, you're right. When I was about
12, I had to do this cookie bake

demonstration for the Girl Scouts
Jamboree, and there were about 20 people

there, and I had to make up.

Dear, when I said she was a chip off the
old block, that's not exactly what I

was referring to.

Actually, I was thinking the time when I
was 12, and I gave a speech at the

annual potluck dinner of the Young
Bowlers of America.

Oh, please, go on.

Allow me to say I bowled them over.

That's a wonderful story, dear.

I'll get it.

Jen, that is great that you impressed
Mrs.

Pedroza.

She's tough. I had her in seventh grade.
She didn't like my history presentation

at all.

What was it?

It was a revolutionary war.

They wore red coats.

We dressed casually.

See what happens when people don't come
to me for help.

Well, I knew you could pull it off,
kiddo. You were fabulous.

I'm glad it's over.

I was really scared.

I was up there. saying a bunch of words
i had no idea what they meant no

mallory does that every day of her life

someone here to see you jen mrs pedroza

hello jennifer hi uh you remember my
brother alex of course how are things at

the quarry

We're having a sale.

You want to buy a couple tons of
granite?

Miss Pedroza has something very exciting
to tell you.

Jennifer, I was so impressed with your
presentation that I would like for you

be one of the contestants for the Thomas
Dewey Award this Friday.

Me? And you deserve it. Will you be
there?

Well, my parents don't like me to stay
up late.

We'd be happy to make an exception in
this case.

Twelve. Well, that's wonderful.

It should be quite a night.

Well, please sit down, Mrs. Peterson.
No, no, I've got to run. I just wanted

come by and congratulate Jennifer in
person, give her the news.

Oh, it was nice of you to come.

Did you understand?

and you're up for the Dewey.

It's about time another Keaton's name
was engraved in gold.

We had a long dry spell there during the
Mallory year.

I don't think I can go through with it,
Alex. I'm going to go tell Mrs. Pedroza

that you helped me and I don't deserve
to get this Dewey award.

Hey, hey, hey, that's not a Keaton
talking, Jennifer.

A Keaton never backs down from a
challenge.

Now, I know you're afraid, but don't
worry. I'm going to be by your side

step of the way. That's what I'm afraid
of, Alex.

In 1982, a group of British scientists
fabricated a piece of genetic material

that was 514 paired nucleotides in
length.

Can you believe that guy, Alex? I can't
do that.

Hey, you're never going to win with that
attitude, Jennifer. Alex, you've loaded

me down with so much information, I
don't even know what I'm thinking

All right, look, just relax, okay?

When you get up there, it'll all come
back to you.

Now, immune or gamma interferon
completes this list.

That was excellent, Walter.

Thank you. Our next contestant for this
year's Thomas Dewey Award is Jennifer

Keaton, who will discuss how a bill
becomes a law.

Smile,

honey. Here come the Boswell.

Oh, Ralph?

Ready?

So glad you could make it. Sorry we're
late.

Do you have trouble getting a sitter?

No.

Truth is, sitters flock to our door.
They all love taking care of Timmy.

Who wouldn't?

Tonight.

Timmy sang for the first time.

Aida.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Citizens, lend me your ears.

My subject tonight, how a bill grows up.

I mean, how a bill becomes a law.

I guess I'm just a little nervous right
now.

Anyway, it's a very interesting process.

And I wish I could tell you about it,
but I can't. I've got to go right now.

Thank you. You've been a great audience.
Bye.

Hey, what are you doing?

What are you doing? Get back there. I
can't, Alex. I don't know what I'm

Show them the Capitol building. I worked
for 18 hours painting that thing.

Excuse me. Ladies and gentlemen, before
I go, I thought you'd like to see the

Capitol building.

Pass it around.

But please, no smoking inside of it.

Jennifer, that's not what we planned for
you today.

I don't know what I'm supposed to say.

Have him ask you some questions. You can
handle that.

Questions. Are there any questions on
how a bill becomes a law? Any questions

all? Miss Keaton. Yes, sir.

Ralph Boswell, attorney at law.

to ask a two -part question concerning
the Supreme Court ruling in Marbury v.

Madison in 1803.

Objection. Overruled. Did you agree with
Chief Justice Marshall's assertion of

judicial review over acts of Congress?

And secondly, do you think this ruling
had a chilling effect on the legislative

process during the Jeffersonian era?

Uh... I, um... I don't... I'd like to
feel that question.

if I might.

I think at that point in U .S. history,
it was important for the high court to

assert its parity with the other
branches of government, vis -a -vis the

of judicial review.

Or at least, I think that's what I
thought. I heard Jennifer saying around

house the other day.

Excuse me, but you didn't really answer
my husband's question about Marbury

versus Madison.

Will you sit down?

Jennifer, are you okay?

No, I'm not okay. I don't know what I'm
doing here.

I'm sorry, Alex. I let you down.

What were you thinking about, Alex? How
did you expect Jennifer to learn all

this? I just wanted a presentation to be
the best that it could be. What could

possibly be wrong with that?

Alex, this... isn't material for a 13
-year -old. It's something only an adult

could understand.

What does this mean?

Naturally, I'm assuming a working
knowledge of Latin.

Jennifer, why did you let him do so
much? I mean, you're awfully good in

studies.

You guys are always helping Jennifer
with her homework.

I thought this was the same thing.

It's not the same thing. We're not that
much help.

Look, Jennifer, next time you need help,
just come to me.

I won't make you read any books.

We'll just go to a movie.

Look, Jen.

Alex, I don't want to talk to you ever
again.

Can I talk to Jennifer alone for a
second? I mean, yeah.

I just need ten minutes, and I think we
can straighten this thing out.

No, Matt, that sounds reasonable.

Okay. Ten minutes to work it all out,
but no...

Hitting.

I'd never do that, Mom.

I was talking to Jennifer.

Look, I'm sorry, Jen. I didn't mean to
push you as hard as I did.

But you knew what you were getting into
when you came to me for help.

You know that I can only do things one
way.

Out of control.

I just don't understand why you didn't
try and stop me. I mean, if you were so

uncomfortable, why did you let me do it?

Because it was just so easy to let you
point the way, Alex.

You had so much energy, it was like you
were glowing.

I was.

I get really fired up when it comes to
you, Jennifer.

You're my sister. I want you to do well.
I want you to excel. I want you to be

all you can be, to go the extra mile.

Alex, you're starting to glow again. Get
away from me.

I have to admit, there is part of me
that liked it.

The attention, the applause, being the
best.

You and I had a lot alike.

You know that, Jennifer.

Alex, please, I'm depressed enough.

What you have is special.

What I have is special.

What Mallory has is scary.

Alex, I'm not like you.

Yeah, you are. I mean, don't try and
deny it.

I'll never forget the first time that I
noticed it.

You know, you were about four years old.

And you were playing in the sandbox with
little Brucey Dugan.

And you were trying to see who could
build the biggest sandcastle.

And Brucey built one that was six feet
high and five feet wide. And yours

like a servant's quarters to his castle.

You knew you were beat.

And you got this look in your face.

And you walked up to Brucey.

And you said, hey, Brucey, look, the ice
cream man.

Brucey turned around and you crushed his
castle into the dust.

And I remember thinking to myself,

she's good.

She is real good.

Alex, I apologize to Brucey later.

All right, so you weren't perfect.

Look, Jennifer, we are different than
other people.

You know,

it's not easy for us living with Mom and
Dad.

You know, there's this blanket of
niceness and decency that

hangs over this house like a black
cloud.

And it's up to us to stick together and
rise above it.

Alex, I'm really not like that. And you
want to know something? You're not like

that either.

What do you mean?

I saw you go back later and buy Brucey
some ice cream.

Small cone.

Don't try to kid me, Alex.

Underneath that huffing and puffing,
you've got a big heart and you know it.

Jennifer. Will you keep quiet? I don't
want that stuff getting out.

Look, all I'm asking...

You never sell yourself short.

You have the potential to be anything
you want to be.

Promise me you'll try.

I promise.

Come on.

I'll buy you an ice cream.

Sit, Ubu, sit.

Good dog.