All language subtitles for family_ties_s06e19_the_spirit_of_columbus

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?

Sha -la -la -la.

Morning, Andy. Morning, Mom.

So what'll it be for breakfast today,
huh? Granola? Oatmeal?

Wolfer's Delight.

Wolfer's Delight. What's that?

It's dog food, Mom.

He saw the commercial on television, he
fell in love with it, and now he wants

to be a dog.

Buy me some Wolfer's Delight. My
favorite is beef flavor.

Morning, darling.

Morning, sweetie. Morning, everyone.

Morning, Dad.

Stephen, what are you doing?

I don't know.

My boy woofed at me, I woofed back.

If you bought me some woofers for life,
it would show me you really care.

It does make its own gravy.

Keeps your dog... young and frisky.

Ruff, ruff, ruff.

Morning, Mom.

Hey. Ma 'am.

Old yeller.

Hey.

Morning. Morning.

What brings you here so bright and
early?

Well, Mel and I have got to get to the
flea market. The art show starts today

and I'm exhibiting. Oh, hell yeah. What
do you got for the lucky art lovers

today?

No, show them.

What is it, Nick?

Self -portrait?

It's called the Spirit of Columbus.

You see, it symbolizes the classic
beauty of the city. The steel and iron

stand for the river, and the aluminum
here stands for the hope and yearning

hope and yearning.

I don't get it, Nick.

That's what separates us. You know,
that's the difference between us.

Yeah, that and about four truckloads of
functioning brain matter.

Well, I think it's sweet.

Hey, thanks. And, you know, the money I
get from it will help build up our nest

egg.

Nick, Nick, Nick.

What do you need a nest egg for?

You're young. You should be footloose
and fancy free. Visiting foreign ports.

Mexico.

China.

Other planet.

Mr. Keaton, Miss Keaton, Mal and I are
starting to get kind of serious, and,

know, we've even been thinking about
maybe getting... Nick!

Please.

Andy, we love you very much.

But I'm sorry we've decided to raise our
children as human beings.

Now, when you're older, you can make
your own choice.

But right now, you're only six.

In dog years, I'm 42.

In dog years, I'm 287.

And your mother here is 340.

Although she doesn't look a day over
150.

That's something different with every
kid, isn't it?

Ta -da!

You did it.

Where's the sculpture?

I sold it for $200.

The nest egg lives.

So, Nick, that money must be burning
quite a hole in your pocket, huh? Dad,

going to go into the bank, into our
account, the beginning of our nest egg.

Time for his walk.

Hey, hey.

How come you guys are so happy? Cartoon
festival on TV tonight?

No, Alice.

We sold Nick's sculpture.

You what?

Fact is, I could have sold five of them.

Look at this.

200 bucks?

Yeah, and the parts cost me 20. You
know, I think I probably made a profit.

I think you probably did.

Let's see if you borrow one from the
nine.

Nick, Nick, that is a profit margin of
900%. I got a whole new appreciation for

art. Okay.

Wait, wait, wait, wait a minute. Nick,
Nick, did you say you had five other

customers and you didn't take any
orders?

Well, I don't see how I could. There was
only one statue, Alex. What are they

teaching at that college?

Nick, you've got four other people who
are willing to pay you for the Spirit of

Columbus, right?

Yeah. Well, I think your next step is
obvious.

What is that?

You make four other statues and you sell
them to those people. Oh, no, I

wouldn't want to do that. You know, I
don't work that way. You know, I like to

look at each piece as a separate
artistic expression, you know?

Oh, grow up.

Mike, you think Michelangelo is alive
today? Wouldn't be on his back cranking

out Sistine Chapel ceilings by the
dozens?

Well, Alex, I think Nick has a point.
It's a question of artistic conscience.

The spirit of Columbus is a one of a
kind. I know. That's what I love about

It's one of a kind. We can sell millions
of them.

I don't know. Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick,
Nick, Nick.

Listen, you really care about Mel,
right?

Sure. Now, as far as economics goes, Mel
may not know much about supply, but

she's definitely an expert on demand.

Thanks, Alex.

Mallory is the ideal consumer, so you
have to be the ideal provider just to

up with her. Fortunately, I am the ideal
manager.

Oh, wait a minute, Alex. I know what
you're trying to do. You want to take

Nick's artistic gift and commercialize
it.

Yes. It's a big step for me.

Listen, guys, I really want you to get
your nest egg going.

Now, Nick, I only want what's best for
you.

Mel.

I only want what's best for you.

And guys, I only want 25 % for me.

Okay, Nick, there you go.

I think we got everything you need.

We got light.

We got tools.

You're in a garage.

You're as happy as you can get.

Okay, pal, create.

I'll see you at five.

Nick, you're not creative.

What's the problem?

It's not how it works, Alex. You know, I
gotta get the right feeling going. I

gotta be in the right mood.

Nick, you gotta make 35 of those by
tonight.

35? You know, it takes me a month to do
one.

Well, then you better pick up the pace.

Why do I have to do 35?

Well, because, Nick, we're having a
sale. See?

Nick Moore, renowned local artist,
offers a limited issue of his famous

sculpture, The Spirit of Blank.

Alex, it's not called The Spirit of
Blank. It's called The Spirit of

Well, yeah, sure it is. Sure it is. And
when someone from Columbus wants to buy

it, well, gosh darn it, that's what
we're going to call it.

But if someone from Philadelphia wants
to buy it, we're going to call it The

Spirit of Philadelphia.

Someone from Hong Kong, We'll call it
the spirit of Hong Kong.

Someone from Toledo, the spirit of
Toledo. Stop me when you understand

Keep going.

Wherever there are people with spirit
and $200 in their wallet, we got

for their mantle.

What?

The spirit of blank.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Alex, you know,
I can't work that way.

I can't make them that fast.

All right, we'll slow down. We'll slow
down. Hey, it's the first day.

Take it easy.

Only do 30.

That's not how an artist works.

Nick, have a seat.

Do you think... Do you think Leonardo da
Vinci only did one painting a day?

Oh. On the day he did the Mona Lisa, he
did three other paintings.

Mona Beth.

Mona Cathy.

And my personal favorite, Mona Mona.

Bad news, Alex. We've been to every
junkyard in town, and these are the last

the parts. Oh, it's not going to be a
problem. See, I got a deal in place with

this guy up in Akron. He's just going to
fabricate the parts and ship them down

to us.

Oh, hey, then they won't be the real
thing, you know. I kind of like to work

with the original parts.

Nick, you're already 15 orders behind.

Let's not get caught up in
technicalities. It's not a technicality,

material an artist uses are the very
essence of his craft.

They influence the way he works, the way
he sees the world, and finally the way

his vision fulfills itself.

Well, the man glues together hubcaps.

Hey, excuse me. If you think it's that
easy, Alex, then why don't you do it?

Yeah, all right, Nick. All right, I'll
get you started.

Jim, give me a hand with this, okay?
We're going to do six bottoms.

You mean the base.

Base, bottom, tomato, tomato. It's junk.
Who cares?

No, Alex, Alex, that's not the way it
goes.

All right.

Oh, hi, Nick.

You haven't seen Alex around, have you?

No. Why are you whispering?

He is watching me every minute.

You know, I'm supposed to be working
right now.

I need a rest.

And my next break is not coming up till
February.

You've been working hard, haven't you?

Miss Keaton, you're an artistic type and
everything.

I mean, you design houses, you draw
blueprints, you're an architect.

I know what I do.

I guess what I am getting at here is, in
a lot of ways, you and I are the same.

I mean, I'm a guy, and I got a different
name.

But otherwise, we got a lot of things in
common.

And I mean, in a lot of ways, I think
you're the only one that can really

understand what I'm going through.

I don't even understand what you're
talking about.

I am making all these spirits a blank,
and for some reason, they feel

impersonal.

I am not enjoying it.

Well, why are you sticking with it then?

Nick, Nick, eight more orders came in
today.

Sounds great.

Spirit of New York, Spirit of Miami.

The nest egg's looking awfully good. I'm
so excited.

You're asking me why I'm doing it, and
that's why. You know, it's because of

Mal. It's for the nest eggs.

Hey, Nick, Nick.

What are you doing out of the garage,
Nick?

Is it February already?

Alex, I just wanted to take a little
break.

Nick, how many spirits of blank have you
done today?

Oh, about 15.

15, Nick.

Well, you see, I got a little held up.
There was this little twist. No, Nick,

Nick, when I want a twist... I'll call
Chubby Checker.

What I want from you is art, okay? Over
and over again. Art, art, and more art.

All right? That's what makes a great
artist.

Volume.

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

Okay. All right.

Hey, I'll see you in February.

There you go.

Pretty remarkable, isn't it, sir?

I'll say.

What do you call this one?

Where are you from, sir?

Seattle.

Incredible! I mean, that's what this
piece is called, The Spirit of Seattle.

Well, I'll take it.

Congratulations, sir. Congratulations.

And, uh, sir? Just being you and me?

I think you're getting the pick of the
litter.

Nick, isn't that great? Alex just made
another sale.

Great. That makes almost $800 just from
tonight.

He may be annoying, but he sure can
sell.

Congratulations.

Seems you've got a smash.

Thanks, Mom.

I guess this is really adding to the old
nest.

Nesta.

Nesta egg.

Well, Mom, what do you think? One left.

Spirit of a leaf.

I'll give you that special 1 % family
discount.

I don't think so, Alex.

Okay. Hey, Dad.

Dad.

Picture of Jacques Cousteau on the top.
We'll call it the spirit of PBS.

Hey, partner.

Hey.

What do you think?

I don't know, Alex. You know, the spirit
of Columbus used to mean something

special to me, but now for some reason
it's lost all its beauty somehow.

Oh, hey.

I never liked it.

You don't see me bailing out, do you? We
got customers here, Nick.

Excuse me, if you have any questions,
may I direct you to the artist, Mr. Nick

Moore? Oh, Bill, wouldn't this be
wonderful in the living room?

Don't you think it would clash with the
drapes?

Oh, you're right.

Could we get this in blue?

Blue?

Well, you know, I never really thought
of it in blue.

Yeah, see, madam, changing the color
would... Would make it absolutely

beautiful. How many of these would you
like, ma 'am?

What are you doing? You can't change.

This is Nick's art.

It's exactly the way Nick envisioned it.
Mal, the customer is always right.

Okay, especially when the customer is
willing to shell out $250.

I don't know, Alex.

Nick, what are you doing?

It's your work. Either they take it the
way it is or they don't take it at all.

Look, Mal, if we don't sell these
things, we don't get money. And then we

have our nest egg.

Nick, this is your art.

It's more important than a few dollars.
This is not making you happy.

If you're not happy, then I'm not going
to be happy.

Do you have this in a medium?

I suppose we could take it in for you,
sir. No, wait, Alex.

No, that's it.

You know, this is the way it is, period.
The way I made it.

You know, it doesn't come in medium, it
doesn't come in extra large, and it

doesn't come in blue.

Does it come in beige?

Hey, Nick.

It's over, Alex.

Don't say anything.

Nick, how can it be over?

We are making a lot of money here.

The what?

You know, money is not everything, Nick.

You don't know what you're saying now.
You're a little tired, okay? Maybe

been working too hard.

No, no, no. That is not it.

Nick, I'll tell you what. You know that
time off I was promising you in

February? Well, Nick...

Take it now.

It's over, Alex.

It's over.

It's over. It's over.

What are you trying to tell me, Nick?

It's no use. You don't understand a word
I'm saying. I can be understanding,

Nick. I can. I can be understanding. Try
me, okay?

Try me. I will understand.

Okay, it's like this.

All this mass production stuff that you
want to do, that's not art.

Every time I do a new sculpture, I want
to feel like it's something new, like

I'm exploring a new world.

And your way doesn't let me explore.

It doesn't let me be me.

I don't understand, Nick.

I knew it.

I'm trying to. I am. I want to. I mean,
I can see that you mean it.

You're speaking in complete sentences.

Alex, I grew up in a very tough
neighborhood.

Most of the guys I hung out with,
they're still just hanging out.

And the only time you hear about them is
when they've done something bad.

So how come I didn't wind up like them,
huh?

That's a question we've all asked her.

It is because of the art, Alex.

Every time I create a new sculpture, I
get this thrill that I am creating

something that nobody ever thought of
before.

Me, Nick Moore from the bad part of
town.

When you start turning my sculptures out
by the hundreds, you take that away.

When you start changing my sculptures
around to match some lady's drapes, you

take that away. You take away everything
I live for.

If you get one thrill from one spirit of
Columbus, why not turn out 100

identical thrills a week?

They're not identical. They're not the
same. No way.

All right, listen.

Let me try to make this simple for you.

Would you, Nick?

Okay, okay.

It's like, um...

No two fingerprints are the same.

Yeah, and?

Like no two snowflakes are alike.

So no two snowflakes are alike.

So what?

That's what makes them special, that
they're unique.

Alex, it's just like no two dollar bills
are alike.

Ah!

That's right.

See, they got different serial numbers.
They come from a different mint.

The way

you

feel about money, that's the same way I
feel about a new sculpture.

You know, this is amazing.

You and I are a lot alike.

I bet in your mind that's a compliment,
huh?

We both have commitment, you know? We
both have to do what it is that we do

best.

You're not going to believe this, Nick,
but we're both artists.

I mean, you're an artist with your
hands, and I'm an artist with my mind,

both create.

And we're both tremendously passionate.

I mean, you're a passionate guy.

I'm a passionate guy.

Stay where you are, Alex.

You know what I mean. Your palette is
metal and wire and paint.

Mine is dollar signs and decimal points
and deals.

But it's the same thing. We both create
our own kind of magic.

Alex, is this what Phil Donahue would
call a bonding moment?

I don't know, Nick. How do you feel
about that?

Yeah, I guess it is.

I guess it is.

Excuse me, but if I can have that
beautiful statue in beige, I'll take

Uh, ma 'am?

Um, let me, let me, uh, let me tell you
something about art.

Okay. You know how each dollar bill is
unique?

In fact, do you have a couple of bucks?

Don't go away. There's more family ties
coming up in less than 30 seconds. And

tonight at 6, check out San Diego's
favorite comedy lineup. That's right.

Friends, Will and Grace, and everybody
loves Raymond.

Smile.

You're watching San Diego's home for
comedy, KSWB. Watch the Frog.

Sit, boo -boo, sit.

Good dog.