Original subtitles

? What would you do if I sang out of tune? ?

? Would you stand up and walk out on me? ?

? Lend me your ears, and I'll sing you a song ?

? I will try not to sing out of key, yeah ?

? Oh, baby, I get by ? ? By with a little help from my friends ?

? All I need is my buddies ?

? High with a little help from my friends ?

? I'm sayin' I'm gonna get higher ? -? Try with a little help from my friends ?

? Whoa-oa-oa-oa ?

? Oh, oh, oh, oh ?

? Somebody who knows quite sure ?

? Baby ?

? By with a little help from my friends ?

? Said I'm gonna make it with my friends ?

? Try with a little help from my friends ?

? Oh, I'm gonna keep on trying ?

? High with a little help from my friends ?

? I'm gonna keep on trying now, baby ?

? Ooh, ooh, ooh ?

[ Nat king Cole's "at last" plays ]

? At last ?

Before my parents were Mom and Dad,

they were Norma and Jack.

? My love has come along ?

Or so the story goes.

? My lonely days... ?

Back then, they didn't have much,

so they got by on what they had...

each other.

? ...and life is like a song ?

Somewhere along the way, though,

hearts and flowers gave way to other things.

Guess it kind of took 'em by surprise.

? The skies above are blue ?

So, like any couple of their generation,

they did what they had to do.

? My heart is wrapped... ?

They became... Parents...

Providers.

Damn!

What is it, Jack?

I thought we paid this bill last month.

That was the orthodontist.

This is the dentist.

Property tax?

Already?

Corn or carrots, honey?

Whatever.

By 1970, my parents had elevated providing

into something close to an art form.

Guess we dip into the Christmas club again.

Dad was the maestro of payment plans.

Mom was a virtuoso with vegetables.

Broccoli.

You had to hand it to 'em.

They were good at what they did.

And, of course, it was all for a good reason...

Hey!

Their three beautiful children...

Are we gonna eat here, or what?!

With all the rights and privileges thereof.

Not that we took the folks for granted.

It's just, with Thanksgiving coming,

we had certain... Needs.

Daddy?

When I go back from break,

I-I'm gonna need money for a few things.

Okay?

Like what?

Some books, some art supplies,

a yoga mat.

A yoga... Mat?

What the hell do you need a yoga mat for?

Yoga.

And no matter how ridiculous those needs were,

we knew, somehow, they'd come through for us.

We'll work it out, honey!

Thanks!

- I need a new stereo. - I need a new baseball glove.

[ Growls ]

Back of the line, butthead.

- Hey, I asked him first. - What do you mean?

I need a new stereo. I need a new baseball glove.

I've had the same one for two years.

I can't play with it. I haven't even had a new...

For the things that were really important, anyway.

I haven't had a new one for two years!

Oh, my goodness.

The stove's out again.

[ Sighs ]

Eh, she's dead all right.

Deader than a doornail.

[ Sighs ] But, you can fix it?

Well, yeah.

[ Sighs ] Good!

I can fix it if I can find the parts.

I'll tell you, Norma.

I probably shouldn't be saying this

what with you being such a good customer and all,

but, well, let me put it this way...

she's old. She's tired.

It's time to buy a new one.

What do you mean, "buy a new one"?

Hi, Jack.

Why can't you just fix the old one?

Well, your thermostat's shot,

your top burner's not juicing out like she oughta,

and you got one mean short-circuit in your wiring.

And there it was...

the carefully considered opinion of a professional.

Dad had no choice but to take action.

I'll get my toolbox.

Honey, I don't think your toolbox is gonna help this time.

I think we need to buy a new stove.

She's right, Jack...

As much as I hate to say it.

Poor Mom.

All she really wanted was a working stove

so that she could take care of her family.

And poor Dad.

All he really wanted was to be able to provide Mom

with a working stove

so that she could take care of the family.

[ Sighs ]

Olive loaf?

And poor us.

All we wanted was something besides cold cuts for dinner.

Seemed like it was time to explore the alternatives.

Jack, I was checking the paper today,

and Montgomery wards is having a sale on appliances.

How much would a new stove set us back?

Only about $250.

Don't say "only" and "$250"

in the same breath, Norma.

Gee...

How do they get the little, ugly, green olives in there?

And that about covered the alternatives.

All but one.

Maybe I should talk to management tomorrow,

ask for a raise.

It was a bold and unexpected decision.

The company owes me, Norma.

It's been too long.

Good idea, Dad.

You certainly deserve one, honey.

After all, Dad was the great provider...

Whoa! Check it out!

Fully supported by his providees.

Wow.

Dad, you look great!

What happened?

Somebody kick the bucket? [ Chuckles ]

Jack...

Oh. [ Chuckles ]

Oh, Jack, are you sure you want to wear that tie?

What's wrong with this tie?

[ Chuckles ] Jack...

It worked for me once.

Maybe it'll do it again.

Wish me luck?

It was nice seeing my parents like this...

Good luck, honey.

Doing what they had to do for the family.

Bye bye

I guess were all kind of caught up in the moment.

Hands off, scrote.

Okay, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

[ Dog barking in distance ]

[ Car horn honks ]

That afternoon,

I got home a little faster than usual...

and so did Dad...

which could only mean the news wasn't good.

So, Dad, how'd it go?

Rough.

Well...

Maybe next time.

Maybe...

And maybe not.

[ Car door closes ]

[ Clears throat ]

You got the raise.

[ Chuckles ] Not just a raise.

You're looking at the new regional manager of product support services.

Not that any of us had a clue as to what that meant.

- [ Laughs ] - Right on, Dad!

Still, it had an impressive ring to it.

- Honey, that's great! - Pretty good, huh?

Regional manager?

Uhhuh. Regional manager.

'Course, um...

That means some new responsibilities.

Well, you can handle it.

I'll, uh, have to go on the road some,

move around from plant to plant,

troubleshoot in the field,

you know, that sort of thing.

Does that mean you have to travel, a lot?

Well, some.

Maybe just at first. [ Chuckles ]

I've got to fly to Pittsburgh tonight.

So soon?

Well, they said we need somebody out there right away.

Oh.

But it'll just be until next Wednesday.

[ Vase pings ]

And suddenly we were getting a pretty fair idea

of what a regional manager did.

But, hey, it's for the best, right?

[ Chuckles ]

Of course, honey.

And maybe it was.

Mom looked happy.

Hefty raise, Dad?

Not too shabby, there, chief.

And Dad finally had the recognition he deserved.

Now I'm gonna get you!

- Protect your father. - Get out of the way!

All right! [ Laughs ]

That night, we watched as Mom and Dad

shared a tender moment of farewell.

Where the hell's that damn cab?

Calm down, honey. It'll be here.

You didn't pack my handkerchiefs?

- Oh, they're in the carry-on. - Oh.

[ Car horn honks ]

Ah, it's about time.

Okay. That's it, huh?

It was strange.

Everything was happening so fast...

For all of us.

Oh, uh, where's my tickets?

Oh, they're in your breast pocket.

So, uh, that's it, then, huh?

[ Car horn honks ]

O-okay, you kids. You better take care of your mother now, huh?

- Bye, Dad. - Go get 'em, Dad.

Be good, will you?

Oh, yeah...

why don't you go ahead and buy that new stove.

[ Chuckles ]

Take care, huh?

- Bye, Dad. - Bye, Dad. -Bye.

[ Door closes ]

It was as romantic as some old movie on the late show.

Well, as romantic as my parents got, anyway.

But, then, I guess he was in a hurry.

Jack, it is absolutely beautiful!

[ Laughs ]

Well, I splurged a little and got the easy-clean model.

And I went with the white.

By the Monday before Thanksgiving,

things were looking up again.

No, no. We're all fine.

And, uh, we'll see you Wednesday night!

Okay. Bye-bye.

How's Dad, Mom?

Fine. Just fine.

Isn't it beautiful?!

Really nice, Mom.

And it was, as stoves go.

Look!

It has meal minder...

"automatically regulates the oven temperature

so that you're free to entertain your guests."

Oh, that'll sure help with the Turkey this year.

[Sarcastically] Pretty exciting!

[ Scoffs ]

Well, I got to go to school.

Okay, sweetheart.

You have a good day.

Maybe I should have been caught up

in the spirit of things a little more,

but for some reason,

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

So, when's your Dad getting back?

Uh, w-Wednesday.

Wednesday night.

He must be having a blast.

Huh?

You know, catching planes, staying in hotels.

That's got to be fun.

Well... [ scoffs ]

He probably wants to get home.

Oh, sure. No question.

Besides, we're doing pretty much okay without him.

It's kinda... Different,

kind of an adventure.

And it was, as adventures go.

Pot pies!

[ Music plays ]

These took no time at all in the new stove.

And let's not forget to mention that new stove!

Uh, Mom...

Don't you think these are a little...

Underdone in the middle?

Well...

Yeah. Mine's still frozen, too.

[ Tapping ]

Must be that new timer.

I'll have your father take a look at it when he gets back.

[ Telephone rings ]

[ Music stops ]

Hello?

Oh, hi, honey!

No, everything's fine here... just fine.

Tell him "hi."

Oh?

Well, did he say that was definite?

Well, can't you fly in Thursday night?

Oh. No, I know it's expensive.

No, honey. Of course.

I understand.

Well, when do you think you could come home?

Saturday.

Saturday?!

But that's two days after...

Jack, don't be silly!

We'll be fine.

Really.

Okay. Bye-bye.

[ Receiver clicks ]

"Okay. Bye-bye"?

Seemed to me this called for a little further discussion.

Dad's not coming home for Thanksgiving?

No.

He's got to be in Denver first thing Friday morning.

Can't he just fly in for a day?

No, honey.

It's... it's just too expensive.

- What's he gonna do for Thanksgiving? - Kevin.

I guess that was about as much discussing

as we were gonna do.

Oh, I know what's wrong!

I forgot to preheat the oven before I set the timer.

Well, one thing was clear.

Between Dad's new job and Mom's new stove,

this holiday was going to the dogs.

[ Whimpers ]

That night, I thought a little family reconnaissance

might be in order.

Wayne...

What?

Can I ask you something?

The answer's "no."

No, really.

H-have you noticed anything...

Funny about the way Mom's been acting?

It's kind of like...

Things are weird around here.

You know?

And for a moment, I knew I wasn't alone.

Wayne actually understood.

You know...

you've got a big glob of toothpaste

right there in your nose.

[ Laughs ]

Still, maybe I was over-reacting.

[ Sighs ]

Or maybe not.

[ Sighs deeply ]

And we've got a beautiful crystal-clear autumn day.

That's right, Bob.

Thanksgiving day.

We hauled out all the old traditions...

the pageantry, the celebrations,

a day of family...

And of children.

[ Dishes clattering ]

[ Liquid bubbling ]

And through it all, Mom was a cooking machine...

a whirling dervish of domesticity.

And as much as she had come to love

that new stove of hers,

I had come to hate it.

[ Match strikes ]

[ Beethoven's "9th symphony," 2nd movement plays ]

And so, the time had arrived

to give thanks for our many blessings...

to consume the fruits of our bountiful harvest.

From the depths of Mom's stove

came a tidal wave of holiday fare,

a symphony of corn and carrots,

a blitzkrieg of potatoes and yams.

And to top it all off...

a Turkey the size of a Buick.

Well, that's everything.

It was enough to feed a small army.

Turkey looks great, Mom!

It does, doesn't it?

I followed the directions in the cookbook

that came with the new stove.

And there was nothing left to do

but sit down and dig in.

[ Gasps ]

Oh, my goodness!

I forgot the napkin rings.

Only, for some reason...

Oh, here they are.

Mom wouldn't sit down.

One for you...

and one for you.

You know, this year,

I tried granny apples in the stuffing

instead of golden delicious.

Oh, and instead of putting the marshmallows

on top of the yams,

I melted them down and added a little brown sugar

for flavoring.

Then I put everything together in the blender

and whipped it up,

but it still wasn't right, so, then...

We sat there while Mom kept talking

and folding her napkin.

Threw in a little bit of coconut

just before I baked it.

It was horrible.

Then it got even worse.

[ Clock ticking ]

Her silence was like a cry for help.

She was out there on a limb.

[ Dish clatters ]

So I figured I'd come to the rescue.

Mom?

Who's gonna carve?

I don't know.

[ Utensils clatter ]

Nice going, butthead!

Oh, he hasn't?

Oh, no, no. That's all right.

Could you just leave a message for him when he gets in?

Tell him that Norma called.

Yes.

Thank you.

When you're 14, you know a lot of things...

how to throw a spiral,

how to fix a bike.

But standing there,

I knew I couldn't fix what was wrong.

Come in.

Mom?

Hmm?

I'm sorry.

[ Telephone rings ]

Hello?

Jack!

Well, where are you?

Really?

Of course, honey.

[ Laughs ]

Bye-bye.

Put on your coat.

We're going to the airport.

He's coming home?

No, he's flying in, just for an hour.

But I thought he said it was too expensive.

[ Chuckles ]

Yeah.

It is, isn't it?

Thanksgiving night of 1970,

my father came home to his family...

[ Woman speaking indistinctly ]

The family he cared for...

- Hi! - Hi! -Hi!

Dad, over here!

The family he provided for...

but he came home to someone else, too.

He came home to the girl he loved.

I missed you.

I missed you, too.

Maybe sometimes the simple things in life get forgotten,

the things parents need...

the things children need, too.

But that night, Mom and Dad...

Jack and Norma...

promised to remember.

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