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 ?

[ Traffic's "you can all join in" plays ]

In 1972, the "me" decade was dawning,

and people everywhere were doing their own thing...

? Here's a little song you can all join in with ?

? It's very simple ?

Letting it all hang out,

and setting out to find themselves.

? Any old words that you think will do, yeah ?

The world was... Changing.

[ Car backfires ]

And my family was right in the middle of it.

So, what do you think?

[ Car backfires ]

It's... Nice, honey.

Yeah, we got a real deal on it.

Michael's gonna paint it and fix it up.

Aren't you, Michael?

Uh, yeah. Sure.

Well, whatever you do,

don't get rid of the mattress back here.

Face it... the Arnold family was undergoing a radical shift.

[ Gears grinding ] Everybody comfortable?

We were in a period of readjustment,

a state of... Flux.

After all, after 12 months of turmoil,

we were back together again.

There was, of course, a reason.

Ah, the lovely bride- and groom-to-be.

My sister was getting married. At last.

I'm always pleased to bring together a man and wife.

You mean... Man and woman.

Well, of course.

Not that it was gonna be simple.

When it came to my family, nothing ever was.

So, what kind of a ceremony do we have in mind?

Well, we haven't really talked about it, but...

We thought... Something simple but traditional.

We did?

You know, something with flowers and music and hymns.

Not too formal, but... Kind of elegant.

Of course, the whole thing was still in the planning stages.

Uh, Mom?

Uh, Michael and I were actually thinking

of something a little less...

well, that's okay, honey. Whatever you want.

Good. Good, good.

We don't have to have the hymns.

Hmm.

Excellent!

Now, when shall we schedule

our premarital counseling sessions?

[ Laughs ]

[ Ominous organ music plays ]

Premarital counseling. What is this, the stone age?

It was a classic case of apples and oranges.

Well, honey, maybe we can find another church.

Mom, you don't understand.

I don't want my wedding in some musty old chapel.

Well, then how about something... Unitarian?

Trouble was, the oranges seemed to be winning.

I don't believe this.

- But, honey... - Mom!

Mr. Arnold? Do you think you could...

ah, ah, ah. Don't ask me. I just pay the bills.

This is going great so far, don't you think?

Mm. I know what you mean.

You want me to talk to him?

No. It doesn't make sense.

Why can't we just get married and go on with our lives?

Yeah.

But even I knew enough about weddings

to know they weren't about getting married.

[ Bell dings ] They were more about...

I feel like a monkey.

Making total fools of ourselves...

You look like a monkey.

In public.

Just do this... For your sister.

- But we... - It'll make her happy.

[ Bell dings ]

The trouble was, the more we all made Karen happy,

the more miserable she looked.

There.

Done.

It's beautiful, don't you think?

It's gorgeous, Mom. It's also yours.

What do you think, Jack?

Well...

Don't ask him. He just pays the bills.

And there you had it.

Between Dad's wallet and Mom's good intentions...

Now let's try the veil.

Things were getting a tad out of hand.

[ Gasps ] Michael!

You're not supposed to see the bride in her wedding dress.

Mom, he's seen me naked.

[ Grunts ]

So, Michael, how are things going up at the house?

Oh, well, I've just about finished up the carpentry work,

so the owner's gonna try and sell it.

You mean you're gonna move out?

What are you gonna do for a job?

Well, I've been looking around...

For other work.

In fact, we've...

[ Sighs ]

Actually, we've been meaning to -Michael!

Now, it was pretty clear something was up here.

Something big.

Why haven't you told us?

And as usual, Mom nailed it.

Well...

'Cause if you two need a place to stay,

you can stay with us.

Uh-oh.

Jack, maybe you could check for openings at Norcom.

What?!

Um...

And that's when the lid blew off.

Mother, no!

[ Scoffs ] I can't do this!

I-I can't wear this dress,

and I can't have this kind of wedding!

We have to do it our own way.

Can't you understand that?!

And finally the truth had been told.

This... Isn't what you want?

And with that,

the great Arnold prenuptial crisis of 1972...

[ Engine turns over ]

Passed into history.

This must be a relief, huh?

How?

Well, I mean making your own plans,

having the wedding at your house, and all.

Heck, seemed to me the lines of communication

had been firmly reestablished.

Karen! You ready?!

I'll be right there!

In fact, the only one who didn't seem convinced

was the groom-to-be.

Michael... You okay?

Can you keep a secret?

Well... Yeah.

I got a job.

Well [Chuckles] that's great!

And it was.

At least, I thought it was.

There's just one thing.

It's in Alaska.

Alaska?

Okay, Michael, I'm ready.

Bye, Kev.

Yeah.

Ready?

And right about then,

I knew for sure what I should have guessed all along.

Take care!

[ Brakes squeal ]

We weren't gaining an in-law.

[ Horn honks ] - Bye!

We were losing a family.

The next weekend, we set off for the first marriage

in my family's brief history.

You know, Jack, maybe it's better

that Karen's having the kind of wedding she really wants.

I think so.

Little did my parents know

their only daughter was about to be whisked away

to an igloo in the land of the midnight sun.

Do you have the check, honey?

Right here.

Check? What check?

For Karen and Michael. A little wedding gift.

- How much is it? - Never mind.

It's for a down payment when they find a house.

[ Scoffs ]

But as much as I wanted to stay out of this,

I knew somebody had to break the news.

Mom, Dad? Listen.

Yeah?

About... Karen and Michael.

What about 'em?

Great gift.

It just didn't seem like my place to tell them.

And so, we arrived. - [ Sighs ]

Well... This is it.

I just... Hope this whole thing is legal.

Oh, don't worry, honey.

Karen said she found an ordained minister.

Yeah.

Ah. Welcome, welcome.

To the happiness and joy that was and is to be.

Yes?

[ Indian music plays ]

Ah, yes?

Your aura is one of paternal love.

It is a very strong vibration.

Clearly, we were in new territory here.

Karen's mother.

So like the trembling strings of the lute.

Thank you.

Brotherly love.

Positive supportive vibrations. Very good.

Yeah.

[ Gong sounds ]

Nice to meet you.

Let's put it this way...

And these are my friends rainbow and wind.

My family.

We were kind of like strangers in a strange land.

It's nice to meet you... Wind.

No, no, I'm rainbow. This is wind.

[ Exhales softly ]

Oh, yeah?

And this is butthead. [ Laughs ]

[ Traffic's "you can all join in" plays ]

Still, that afternoon, a funny thing started to happen.

Little by little, we were drawn in to Karen's world.

? Yeah, yeah ?

For the first time in a long time,

Mom and Dad actually smiled.

I mean really smiled.

Maybe there was a reason.

Maybe it had to do with... Family.

- Hey. - Still, by around 4:00...

Hey.

I was beginning to feel time running out.

It's a great party.

Yeah.

Okay, I'd never been real good

with interpersonal dialogue with my sister.

So I figured approach this sensitively.

So, when are you gonna tell 'em?

Mom and Dad.

About Alaska.

Oh.

I mean, what are you gonna do,

s-send 'em a postcard with a polar bear on it?

No, I just... I haven't found the right moment yet.

Besides... You know how they are.

And that was the problem.

Unfortunately, I did.

That night, we joined together

to celebrate the next day's wedding.

Sure, maybe it wasn't exactly the kind of bash

my parents had in mind.

But in its own funky way, it was... Classic.

The food is wonderful, Michael.

Oh, thanks, Mrs. Arnold.

Yep. The grub is great.

You'll have to teach me these recipes, honey.

Sure.

Still, I couldn't help noticing

the bride looked a little... Nervous.

Mom... Listen...

[ Glass clinks ]

Excuse me, but I have something I have to say.

Uh... You know, this has been a heck of a day.

I mean, seeing the way you live,

and meeting your friends.

I guess we never really had the time before,

but I hope that can change now.

You know, I don't know when you grew up, Karen.

[ Chuckles ]

But we're very proud of the way you did.

And, Michael... Norma and I both feel...

Lucky that you're joining our family.

All in all,

it may have been the best speech Dad ever made.

So... We, um...

We have a little something to help you get started.

[ Clears throat ]

- Okay, here it comes. - And that's when it happened.

Okay, come on.

Of course, it all seemed innocent enough.

What's this?

It's homemade.

Oh, Jack, isn't that lovely?

And it was...

a work of art, a creation of joy and celebration.

I think we all saw it at about the same moment.

"Alaska or bust"?

Honey, what's that mean?

Uh...

But Karen's face said it all.

I don't understand.

Still, it was pretty clear she did.

Mom...

[ Sighs ]

Mr. Arnold...

[ Screen door opens, closes ]

- But somehow... - Dad?

It was just too little, too late.

[ Screen door opens, closes ]

[ Clears throat ]

I, uh...

I wasn't quite sure what to say.

Except maybe...

Is there any ice cream in here?

- Shut up, butthead. - Oh.

Listen, if you guys need any help...

I mean with...

The dishes or anything...

But, hell, what did I have to offer?

I couldn't fix this.

Hi.

I didn't mean for you to find out this way.

When were you gonna tell us?

I don't know.

Tonight. Now.

I just...

I didn't want to spoil everything.

Karen, we're your parents.

Don't you think we have a right to know?

Mom, it... It doesn't change anything.

Michael and I have a life. You have to let us go.

In a way, it was a plea...

From a child who'd grown up...

And whose parents could never understand.

Know what I remember?

I moved you a thousand Miles away from home.

[ Sighs ]

Look, honey, if you have to leave,

we're not gonna stop you.

But wherever you are...

We will never, ever let you go.

[ Screen door opens ] - Karen?

They, uh, want us outside.

[ "Wedding song (There is love)" Plays ]

? He is now to be among you ?

? At the calling of your hearts ?

? Rest assured this troubadour is acting on his part ?

Karen and Michael,

it is a joyous journey you begin today.

The next morning, I watched my sister get married...

And welcomed a new brother into my family.

? ...are gathered in his name ?

"Your children are not your children."

They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.

You may house their bodies but not their souls.

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow.

"For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday."

? Well, a man shall leave his mother ?

I watched my mother send her firstborn child

out into the world and felt her sorrow.

And her joy.

And who brought Karen into being

and now presents her to be united with Michael?

Her mother and I.

? ...Is now and till the end ?

? Woman draws her life from man ?

I watched my father give away his only girl...

To a stranger he hardly knew.

I said goodbye myself.

Although they are separate, they will always be together.

We are as one.

One pain, one joy.

One coming together for all our lives.

One dream of tomorrow.

It is more than love.

It is life.

One life.

One being. Together.

? ...that you've never seen before ?

Looking back, maybe it all seems a little silly.

But being there, in those passing moments,

I saw that something real and important was happening,

not just for Michael and Karen...

But for all of us...

In our small and fragile,

almost insignificant suburban family.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

[ Engine turns over ]

After all, those were passionate times...

When children were pioneers...

On the road to find out,

wherever that road might take them...

[ Horn honking ]

[ Crickets chirping ]

When brothers and sisters, looking back,

wished they'd known each other better.

What are you doing out here?

I don't know.

Nice night.

Yeah.

Which way is Alaska, anyway?

That way.

I think.

Sounds like a pretty good place, huh?

Yeah.

And parents, filled with love and despair,

held on to the past...

And kept a quiet vigil for the future.

[ "Wedding song (There is love)" Continues ]

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