Original subtitles

[ Piano playing ]

♪♪

Lulu: Do you want some water?

Joe: I'm okay, thanks.

Joe: It's hard to teach piano to your best friend's wife,

especially when you are afraid of her.

When was the last time you played?

When I was 14.

Before we begin, can I just say sorry

that me and Gene put a bullet in the microwave?

Let's just get started.

Okay.

What's the piece you wanted to play?

Here.

Do you know it?

I think so.

[ Humming ]

Oh, yeah.

I can play it through slowly, but it's pretty rough.

What day is the party again?

Two weeks from Saturday.

You and Sarah RSVP'd.

Right.

Well, can you help me pull it off?

Mm-hmm.

All right.

Well, what does the song mean?

Well, not the song. That's fairly clear.

But what does the song mean to you and Gene,

and why do you want to play it for him

on your 40th wedding anniversary?

Joe.

If you connect to a piece emotionally,

it makes everything --All right, Joe.

From what I've learned teaching middle school,

a concert can be pulled off with enthusiasm alone.

It was one of the more popular songs of 1980.

Okay, if you don't want to tell me, I understand,

but do you know why?

Yes.

Well, good.

I don't like talking about my relationship much, either.

I guess I'll just say that I'm not sure

Sarah will be coming to the party.

Sorry to hear.

Mm-hmm.

It's not a work thing, either.

Well, what, then?

The amount of people.

Can I actually have a glass of water after all?

[ Sighs ]

There'll only be 38 to 40 people,

depending on whether or not the boys make it up from Milwaukee.

I know, and I know you've got a big backyard.

People will probably be spread out --

three or four guys around the grill,

a handful of seniors at the table with the most shade,

and a woman near the back

trying to get a grape on her fork or something like that.

[ Slurps ]

I didn't think Sarah was still afraid of crowds,

but I guess so.

Last weekend, we had plans to go to the blueberry festival,

and she canceled last-minute.

Oh, that's too bad.

I know, and I found myself doing something

I never imagined I'd do.

Well, what's that?

Ate a piece of blueberry pie

while watching a student jam band

and found myself unhappy.

[ Scoffs ]

Joe, it's not all good times in a relationship.

I know.

The Melskys might get a divorce.

Oh, don't look to the Melskys.

I look to all married couples.

Joe, the Melskys are --

All those people want to do

is have intercourse at a hockey stadium,

and don't get me started on their children.

That little one is a smart animal,

but also they're at the middle.

They'll get through it, but that's the toughest place to be.

I wouldn't know.

Well, you're at the beginning.

Enjoy it.

One day, you're going to be trying to get back to that,

learning piano from your husband's friend --

bald-spot Dennis the Menace.

[ Chuckles ] Good roast.

[ Chuckles ]

Do you know what I'd give

to go back to that winter Gene and I met?

$50?

I'd give $100 if I could see him

at that bar in December 40 years ago,

age 25, full head of hair.

He had just finished a season on a ship

and blew a huge sum of money on a brand-new jacket

that he thought was cool.

Was it a stylish jacket?

It's the only stylish thing he's ever bought for himself.

What about the motorcycle?

Oh, I hate that thing.

He was gonna go home to Detroit,

but we really hit it off that night,

and he ended up staying with me through the holidays,

then through April until he shipped out again.

Oh, almost any time you turned on the radio

during those months, this song was on.

He had a few days off in June that same year,

so we decided to get married before he got back on the boat.

Wow.

What would you say your number-one secret

to maintaining a relationship for 40 --

Enough.

If we don't start now, I'll never be ready.

You ready?

Yeah.

You know, you turned out to be

a much better teacher than I thought.

Thank you.

Just imagine Gene in his jacket at the bar.

By the way, I think I learned as much from you

as you learned from me.

Our relationship is like learning to play piano

with one hand each and no sheet music,

but with a shared vision of the future, patience, and practice,

you can achieve the goal of growing together.

Okay, good luck.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Sighs ]

♪♪

♪♪

Happy anniversary, Gene.

Wow, I love your new style.

Joe, this is my brother Glass from Miami.

Electric to meet you, Joe.

Artsy-fartsy.

I used to teach art at your school, actually.

Oh, right, I think we still use

the sets you painted for the school plays.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Were your sons able to make it?

No, they're busy.

They're prepping for the big fashion show in August.

Nana: Oh, Joey.

It was electric to meet you too, Glass.

See you, Gene.

Nice guy.

Mm-hmm.

Want a hot dog?

Mm.

-Hi, Nana. -Hi.

Hi, Sue. Hi, Carole.

Joe, your grandmother was just telling me

what she found under your bed when you were 13.

A chart comparing quilts and blankets?

That's so funny.

It was sweet.

But why'd you hide it?

[ Laughter ]

It's sweet but sad.

I mean -- [ Laughs ]

I mean, naughty.

[ Laughs ]

[ Conversations continue ]

Lulu: Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

I'd like to take a moment to dedicate a song

to my husband of now 40 years.

[ Crowd "aws" ]

What the Jones?

[ Exhales deeply ]

[ Piano playing ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Here we are

♪ In a relationship

♪ Hard to imagine it another way ♪

♪ No, I don't really want to

♪♪

♪ You do things for me

♪ I care about you

♪ That's how these things work

♪ Right

♪ And if you ever need someone

♪ I'll be here

♪ In the dining room

♪ In the dining room

♪ I'm in the dining room

[ Song ends ]

Oh, yeah.

Oh, that was beautiful.Good.

That was beautiful.

Oh, I got something for you.

Honey, pick a card.Oh, no.

Come on. What you pick is what you are.

All right.

Queen of hearts.

That's what you are, queen of my heart.

[ Crowd "aws" ][ Laughs ]

But if you bought 52 decks of cards for that trick,

I'm gonna take you back to the head doctor.

[ Laughter ]

Proud of you, brother.

[ Applause ]

That's my brother.

Aw, thank you.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

You made it, and you didn't even bring your gun.

I'm trying.

Come on.

Let's get you something to eat.

Mnh-mnh.

All right. How about a drink?

Mnh-mnh.

Mm. A piece of watermelon?

Mnh-mnh.

Desserts over there.No, no.

They got chips and dip.

I'm full.

What'd you eat?I ate -- I ate before I came.

What did you eat?

I ate a -- I don't know.

I ate a -- I don't know -- doughnut.

I don't know. I don't care. Oh.

I'm gonna step out for a cigarette.

Oh, you can't smoke in front of my grandmother.I know.