Original subtitles

[Partridge family theme playing]

♪ Come on now and meet everybody ♪

♪ and hear us singing ♪

♪ there's nothing better than being together ♪

♪ when we're singing ♪

♪ the five of us ♪

♪ and mom working all day ♪

♪ we knew we could help her if our music would pay ♪

♪ Danny got Reuben to sell our song ♪

♪ and it really came together when mom sang along ♪

♪ come on now and meet everybody ♪

♪ and hear us singing ♪

♪ there's nothing better than being together ♪

♪ when we're singing ♪

♪ when we're singing ♪

♪ when we're singing ♪♪

Children.

Well, I double-checked everything.

The bus is loaded and ready to go,

oh, except for the costumes.

Good. I want to get an early start tomorrow,

so I want everyone to make sure

your costumes are pressed tonight, okay?

Chris went through the seat of his pants again.

Why are you the only one that does that?

It's because I'm the drummer.

I didn't know he played the drums

with that part of him.

He doesn't.

It only sounds like it.

I bounce up and down a lot.

I guess I'll have to sew it up.

[Tires screeching] [Horn honking]

[Horn honking]

Keith! Hey, grandpa! Hah-hah!

Hey, grandpa!

Oh, grandpa.

Hi, grandma.

Dear.

Dad! Oh, dad!

Hi, grandma.

What are you doing here?

Why didn't you phone?

Came on an impulse.

Got in my new toy here

and took off.

Didn't even tell Amanda where we were headed.

You think I would've climbed

into this sardine can if you had?

Grandma, are you feeling all right?

Your face looks funny.

Well, your face'd look funny

if you drove 400 miles non-stop

with a maniac at the wheel.

Non-stop?

That fool thinks he's Barney oldfield.

Both: Who?

Don't ask me.

Before my time.

Mom, come on out of there.

You'll feel a lot better

after you have something to eat.

I'm not sure that I can, dear.

Boys, help grandma out of the car.

What happened to your desoto, grandpa?

Put her out to pasture.

Decided I wanted something more fitting my personality.

In that case, you should've bought a scooter.

Why a scooter, grandma?

Your grandfather had a birthday last week, honey.

He became a five-year-old.

[♪♪♪]

Bet you thought I'd be lousy, didn't ya?

Wow, that was a wild sound.

Fred, why Don't you play "bye-bye, blackbird"?

Oh, these kids Don't want to hear that old Chestnut.

We've gotta keep up with the times.

Who do you think you are?

Elvis Preston?

What do you want to play, granddad?

Oh, how about the song you were playing?

You all start, and I'll jump in.

Are you sure you know that one?

I'll fake it.

Okay, let's do it.

All right.

I'll... i'll do my thing.

Is that what you call it?

Right.

Okay, there are the lyrics. Oh.

♪ Isn't it time you tell me am I losing my touch? ♪

♪ The hurt you put on me, girl is more than enough ♪

♪ you were so good to me, girl needed you to go on ♪

♪ we had ourselves a good thing is it over and done ♪

♪ I need some time to think ♪

♪ get myself together again ♪

♪ time to think I got to get on my feet again ♪

♪ the woman I used to love ain't the woman I see today ♪

♪ the woman I see today ♪

♪ ain't the woman who used to stay ♪

♪ baby, I love you oh, baby, I love you ♪

♪ baby, I love love, love, love ♪

♪ I love you ♪

♪ and, baby, I love you ♪

♪ oh, baby, I love you ♪

♪ hey, baby, I love love, love, love ♪

♪ I love you ♪

♪ and, baby, I love you ♪

♪ oh, baby, I love you ♪

♪ baby, I love love, love, love ♪

♪ I love you ♪

♪ and, baby, I love you ♪

♪ oh, baby, I love you ♪

♪ baby, I love love, love, love ♪

♪ I love you ♪

♪ and, baby, I love you ♪

♪ baby, I love you ♪

[Voice cracking] ♪ baby, I love love, love, love ♪

♪ I love you ♪

[Grandfather only] ♪ oh, baby, I love you ♪

Oh, dad!

Hey, he really sings good.

Hey, you really mean it?

Well, of course he does.

That was really heavy, granddad. "Heavy"?

Is that good?

The best.

My song never sounded better.

That mandolin really adds something.

Hey, maybe granddad should join the act.

Granddad: Oh, let's not get carried away.

Why not?

He's a part of the family.

Sure. How about it, granddad?

Want to come on the road with us?

See your name up in lights?

Yeah. That might be heavy.

I really Don't know what to do with him, Shirley.

Honestly, he's turned quite eccentric.

Eccentric?

Did you know he wanted to throw himself out of an airplane?

Mom, you mean suicide?

Oh, no, he tried to join

a skydiving club.

It was after that

that he grew all that hair on his face,

and bought the sailor pants.

Oh, he'd walk around the neighborhood

gotten up in that bohemian outfit,

saying, "keep the faith, baby,"

with people we'd known for years.

Doing foolish things.

Trying to be young.

He goes around acting as if he's 50.

It's not funny.

You know what he gave me

for our 44th wedding anniversary?

A miniskirt.

Oh, mom.

Did you wear it?

Of course not.

One fruitcake in the family is enough.

Yeah, it must be some life out on the open road,

ready for anything the world has to offer.

Free as a bird.

I've always wanted to be in the show business, you know?

In my blood.

Why didn't you go into it, grandpa?

Landed up in the plumbing business.

Was that in your blood too?

No, son. I never really took to it.

Hey, Danny.

Tell me about the applause.

What is it really like to hear, huh?

It's nice when people show they like your work.

It's like saying thank you for entertaining them.

Yeah.

Heady stuff. Heady stuff.

Didn't anyone ever thank you after you unplugged a pipe?

Oh, sure,

but they never exactly crowded into the bathroom,

stomped up and down with their feet

and yelled for an encore.

Just once, I'd like to experience that.

You certainly have the talent.

You're just not saying that to make me feel good?

No.

In my business, either you got it or you Don't.

You got it, grandpa.

Oh, Danny boy.

[Horn honking]

Dad, what are you doing here?

I came to join the act.

What?

Well, you...

You said that there was a spot open for me.

Well, I've decided to take it.

Where's mom? I've left your mother, Shirley.

Left her?

The marriage just wasn't working out.

Dad, you've been married for 44 years.

Then was then and now is now.

She was trying to make an old man out of me.

But, dad...

I Don't want to talk about it.

From now on, it's a whole new life.

Well, come on.

Let's get the show on the road.

Well, we have to do something.

We can't just hurt his feelings.

We could sabotage his mandolin.

What good would that do?

I Don't know,

but I bet mandolin parts are hard to get around here.

Look, let's not panic. I'm sure...

[telephone rings]

Hello?

Oh, yes. Put her on.

It's grandma.

Mom?

Yes, he's here. Do you want to speak to him?

Of course I Don't.

I just want to find out if he got there

without cracking his fool head in.

Mom, what's this all about?

He wanted me to go to Hawaii with him.

Well, what's so bad about that?

He wanted to go in a 20-foot sailing boat.

We exchanged some cross words,

and at the end, he packed up all of his things,

and said he was running off to join the show business.

Look, mom, I wouldn't worry too much.

We have a long line of one-night stands ahead of us,

and I'm sure after a few days of roughing it on the road,

he'll be glad to come home.

[Partridge family's "together havin' a ball" plays]

♪ Everybody's going places doing things ♪

♪ look at all the smiling faces sing ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ doing a number ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ getting it on ♪

♪ together, together, together having a ball ♪

♪ together we're having a ball having a ball ♪

♪ together we're having a ball ♪

♪ town to town we've found the sound that's happening ♪

♪ and what we've found is what we play and sing, yeah ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ just doing a number ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ just getting it on ♪

♪ together, together, together having a ball ♪

♪ together we're having a ball ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball together ♪♪

You know, I Don't think your plan's working.

Grandpa seems to be having a ball.

Yeah, what are we gonna do when he wants to perform?

Well, he hasn't mentioned the idea lately.

Maybe he's given it up.

[Knocking]

Come in.

I'm ready.

I realize that I'm a, uh, raw and untested talent,

and I have no desire to stand up and make a horse's...

Uh, make a fool of myself.

So what I need

is a cold, professional opinion.

But what happens if they Don't like you?

Well, I'll...

I'll be disappointed, of course,

but I'll just have to take their word.

I mean... If I'm gonna be an entertainer,

I want to be a good one,

and not someone who you're having to carry

because of, uh, nepotism.

What's nepotism?

Liking me because I am your grandfather.

I like you even if you weren't my grandfather.

Does anyone know someone who could look at my work?

Um, yes, dad.

I think we do.

Oh, good.

I'll audition tomorrow afternoon

and find out if I have a future in this business.

Come on, kids.

Let's go get some ice creams, huh?

Come on. Come on.

I Don't believe it.

We're off the hook. I think so.

Get Reuben on the phone.

[Sings "point me in the direction of Albuquerque"]

♪ Point me in the direction of Albuquerque ♪

♪ I need to get home ♪

♪ need to get home ♪

What's the verdict?

I think it's the best thing I ever heard, Mr. Renfrew.

Absolutely sensational.

That good?

It's beautiful.

It's, uh, so campy.

The audience'll eat it up.

Oh, how can anyone resist the grandfather of the group

trying to split the generation gap?

Pure camp.

Then you think I should open tonight?

Mr. Renfrew, you can't miss.

Are you serious about that?

How could you do something like that?

Wait a minute.

He's gonna go up there and make a fool...

Wait a minute.

Now, you did not tell me to say he was rotten.

We didn't think we had to.

I had no idea you were tone deaf.

Calm down, will you, kids?

I'm trying to get your grandmother

to come out for the opening.

I Don't exactly think

that's gonna be a big treat for anyone.

I have a feeling he's going to need her.

Hello, mom?

I Don't know why you're all so upset.

Look, the act needs some comedy.

Believe me, he'll go over like a house afire.

He'll be hilarious.

I Don't think that's what granddad had in mind.

You're putting paint on your face?

Amanda, what are you doing here?

Oh, well, I heard tell that tonight

you're going to sing and dance your way

into the hearts of america with your electric mandolin.

What's wrong with that?

Oh, nothing, if you're Ruby Keeler.

Amanda, you're not going to talk me out of this.

Oh, is there anything I could say that could?

No.

Look...

I'm sorry for a lot of things

I said the other day,

but the more I thought about it,

the more I realized that all my life,

whenever I wanted to strike out

and do something exciting,

you've talked me out of it.

Including buying tickets on the Titanic?

There you go again.

Living in the past.

What's the Titanic got to do

with me making my debut tonight?

Well, they're both maiden voyages,

and I think the other similarity is obvious.

No good, Amanda.

We're incompatible.

It took you 44 years to realize that?

Okay.

Maybe I was a little blinded

by the, uh, physical thing

we had going.

Oh, now, just because you're in show business,

there is no need for that kind of loose talk.

You know what's wrong with us, Amanda?

No, I Don't.

We've got a generation gap.

Hi, grandma.

When did you get here?

I just got here, darling.

You aren't thinking of joining the act too, are you?

No, dear.

I'm only a spectator.

The story of grandma's life.

What are you doing here in the dressing room, grandpa?

The show's not for three hours.

Yes. Hmm. Yes.

Oh, I'm... i'm... I'm getting in the mood.

Did you see my audition this afternoon?

No. The Dodgers were playing an afternoon game on TV.

Oh, I was a smash, son.

Mr. Kincaid went on and on.

Eh, what's, um, "campy"?

"Campy"?

Yeah.

See, I'm brushing up on all the show business lingo.

What's "campy"?

Well, "campy"...

Oh, that's something so corny

that people laugh at it.

Laugh at it?

Yeah. Sort of a put-on.

Making fun of something.

See ya later, huh?

[Muttering] Yeah, yourself.

Bye, grandma. Grandma: Bye.

You all right, Fred?

Of course I am.

Uh, I've just got a lot of things on my mind,

that's all.

He found out what "campy" meant.

I really feel awful about this.

I thought he understood.

When Fred performed, he expected people to take him seriously,

not to laugh at him.

Well, maybe if you told him you'd understand

if he didn't go on, he'd...

Oh, he won't talk to anybody now.

He won't listen to me especially.

Well, I think I understand how you feel, Mrs. Renfrew.

If it's any consolation, it'll only be for one night.

Reuben, he is my father.

Foolishness and all,

I Don't want to see him humiliate himself,

and I won't let him.

[♪♪♪]

Ladies and gentlemen,

I'd like to introduce the newest,

and perhaps the youngest, member of our group,

my father, Fred renfrew.

Excuse me,

I have a request.

Now?

Would you, uh, would you play "bye-bye, blackbird"?

Oh... oh for Pete's sakes, Amanda!

These folks Don't want to hear that old song.

Oh, well, you never know.

They might like it.

It was a song that, uh, Fred played

when we were courting.

Amanda!

For me, Fred. Please.

[Playing "bye-bye, blackbird"]

♪ Pack up all my cares and woes here I go ♪

♪ singing low ♪

♪ bye-bye, blackbird ♪

♪ where somebody waits for me ♪

[♪♪♪]

♪ Sugar's sweet so is she ♪

♪ bye ♪

♪ bye ♪ ♪ bye ♪

♪ bye ♪

♪ blackbird ♪

♪ no one here can love and understand me ♪

♪ oh, what hard-luck stories they all hand me ♪

♪ make my bed and light the light ♪

♪ I'll arrive late tonight

♪ blackbird, bye-bye ♪

♪ bye-bye ♪

♪ bye-bye ♪

♪ bye-bye ♪

♪ pack up all my cares and woes ♪

♪ here I go ♪

♪ here I go ♪

♪ singing low ♪ ♪ singing low ♪

♪ I'm singing ♪ ♪ bye ♪

♪ bye ♪

♪ bye ♪

♪ bye ♪

♪ blackbird ♪

[♪♪♪]

♪ Where somebody waits for me ♪

♪ sugar's sweet ♪

♪ sugar's sweet ♪

♪ so is she ♪

♪ so is she ♪

♪ I'm saying bye-bye, blackbird ♪

[♪♪♪]

Thank you, Amanda.

Oh, Fred, you were the one who did it.

I just wanted you to see there's a place for the past.

Well, maybe I have been overdoing the, uh, youth kick.

It's not all your fault.

You were acting like you were 25 years old,

and I was acting 95.

It's just too big a gap.

So we'll close it.

We'll build a bridge and meet somewhere near the middle.

Where?

How about, uh, splitting the difference?

Somewhere in our mid-50s?

I think I can manage that.

If you can mature that much.

Of course I'm glad grandpa was such a smash,

but we still have the same problem, you know.

What do you mean?

After last night, there'll be no stopping him.

I Don't think so, Keith.

You're leaving, grandpa?

Show him, Amanda.

Two tickets for around the world.

On a very large ship.

It's a compromise.

What about show business?

Oh, well, maybe if they coax me,

I might do a couple of gigs on the ship's lounge.

I think she means a career, grandpa.

Over.

It was an experience

I wouldn't have missed for the world.

But now it's out of my system.

I know I could've been a star.

Now I've got a lot of other things I want to do.

Both of us want to do.

Right.

Now, say goodbye to the kids.

Goodbye, kids.

Come on.

I mean, really say goodbye to the kids.

Darlings. Goodbye, mom.

Goodbye. Bye-bye.

Hey, play good.

Sing good.

Kids: Goodbye, grandpa.

Goodbye, grandpa.

Goodbye, dad.

Bye.

Shirley: Have a good time.

Keith: Goodbye.

Have a good trip, grandpa.

Bye.

Have a good time. Goodbye.

Let's burn some rubber.

[♪♪♪]