Original subtitles

[ Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends" plays ]

? Baby ?

? High 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, oh, I'm gonna keep on tryin' ?

? Get by with a little help from my friends ?

? I'm gonna keep on tryin', now, babe ?

? Ooh, ooh, ooh ?

Chicago is...

In the spring of 1973,

The Arnold family took to the skies.

Armed with four coach tickets

And enough luggage to sink a battleship,

We were on our way to a weekend of high adventure.

Can I get some more peanuts, please?

- Sure. - Thanks.

That year had seen a lot of change.

I was practically a senior... once I got through exams.

Mom had joined the ranks of working women,

Whether we liked it or not.

Dad's furniture business was thriving,

Although he wasn't at the moment.

Still, all in all, things were pretty much smooth sailing.

[ panting ] did you feel that?

Yep.

Hope it wasn't the engine.

Ooh.

Not that we'd ventured into the friendly skies

Without a reason.

We were on our way home.

Well, mom's home, anyway.

Look, Jack!

Sylvia miller's chairing the reunion committee.

I haven't seen her in 25 years!

You got it... my mother's high-school reunion.

Oh, and look, honey. There's gonna be a picnic on Saturday

And a pie-eating contest!

Norma, please.

[ Rattling ]

Hey... Wasn't that the wing? [ chuckles ]

Yeah, it was gonna be some fun.

It'll be fine.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Yeah.

After all, this was more than just a trip back in time.

We were headed home to family.

Are we there yet?

Mom's family.

For better...

[ doorbell rings ]

Or worse.

Mother!

Welcome home!

Look at the two of you!

How's my little girl?

Oh, look at those fine grandsons of mine!

I almost didn't recognize them!

Hi, grandma.

Oh, Kevin, you've certainly grown

Since I saw you the last time.

Well, you know, it's been a long time, grandma.

Homecoming at the grandparents'.

Oh, Wayne...

We saw them, oh, about once every century.

[ laughter ]

Hi!

How's everybody?

Maybe there was a reason.

Well, why don't we come on inside?

You must be exhausted from your trip.

Come on. Come on.

Maybe it was Dad.

Well, better get that luggage inside

Before some of the local kids make off with it.

Yeah.

Oh, just look at all this!

It's exactly the same!

[ Inhales deeply ] the smell, even.

Your mother's been cooking for days.

Nothing's too good for my little girl.

Oh, mom.

Say this for the oldsters...

They love their only daughter...

[ door slams ]

If not their only son-in-law.

Here we are.

Well, how was the trip?

Uh, it was... Okay.

Except Dad got a little sick.

Well, uh, it's just the flight was a little bumpy, mom.

You're not gonna get sick again, are you?

No, I don't think so.

Because roger gave us this great antacid.

It's good for diarrhea, too.

No, really. I'm just...

Roger's a doctor, you know.

[ laughing ] mother...

Roger's been a doctor for 15 years now.

And a darned good one.

He's just been named chief of staff

At county general!

Isn't that impressive?

And, of course, it was very impressive.

[ sighs ]

Just one little question here.

Who's roger?

[ Gasps ] oh, a long time ago...

Mother...

We don't have to get into this right now, do we?

I suppose not.

Besides, we should probably unpack before dinner.

Don't you think, honey?

Yeah. Sure.

So, Jack, uh...

Been working on your gin game?

Yeah. Sure.

Good.

'Cause I thought, after dinner,

You and I might have a friendly little game.

What do you say?

Fine, Karl. Fine.

Yeah. You had to hand it to Dad.

No matter how cold the shoulder,

He hung in there,

Like a man at the gallows.

[ sighs ] where do I put these?

Why, in Norma's old room, of course.

[ laughs ]

Just wait till you see it!

[ laughs ]

Daddy and I haven't changed it one bit!

This was fun, sort of like visiting a museum.

Look!

The Norma Gustafson memorial shrine.

Mother, I can't believe you kept these!

Oh, Jack, look!

My 6th-grade citizenship ribbon.

I was proud of my little girl...

Still am.

You should hear him brag to the boys in Kiwanis

About that new job.

Always knew she'd end up being something important,

No matter what got in her way.

All in all, kind of reminded you of the Waltons.

[ squeaks ]

I hope you two are gonna be comfortable here.

We only have the one bed.

[ Squeaks ]

[ Clears throat ] so, uh...

Where do we sleep, grandma?

Down the hall in the guest room.

Just, uh, right down the hall and to the left.

Great.

After all, no sense hanging around all that hostility.

[ dog growls ]

[ Barks ]

Oh, there she is.

Boys, I'd like you to meet princess.

She's a little shy around new folk.

Aren't you, girl?

[ Growling ]

Nice doggie.

Isn't this cute?

There's nothing so sweet as a boy and his dog.

[ laughs ]

[ Growling, snarling ]

And so, here we were,

One big, happy family...

[ growls ]

Plus beast,

Eagerly catching up on one another's lives.

Furniture, huh?

What?

Oh, I was just telling Daddy

How well your furniture business is doing, honey.

Uh, yeah. We've been pretty successful so far.

I don't hold much truck with this new stuff.

In my day, people knew how to build furniture.

Now, take this table.

[ Banging ]

Solid. Made to last.

Had it since we were married.

It'll be here for you boys when I'm gone.

[ Gulps ]

Whoops.

What was that again?

Oh, Daddy, don't talk like that.

Well, it's true.

You boys will be getting this place one day.

Really?

Y-you mean, this house?

Yeah. And everything in it.

Hell, I got to leave it to someone.

And I'm not gonna be around forever, you know.

[ Cash register dings ]

Thanks, Gramps. You're the best.

Now, now, sweetheart.

You don't have to worry about Daddy,

Not as long as he has roger as his doctor.

He's quite a guy.

He certainly is.

And there it was. Roger again.

Mother, we don't have to hear more about roger.

Do we?

Of course not, dear.

[ Doorbell rings ]

There he is now.

He can tell you himself.

Oh...

Good.

Those were really some great times we had, Norma.

I still remember the look on your face

When I gave you my class ring.

Roger Baldwin, in the flesh.

Do you remember how jealous Jerry Yost was

When he saw you wearing it for the first time?

Jerry Yost?

I haven't thought about him in years!

Oh, here it is.

The prom picture.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Growls ]

That evening was like the tea party from hell.

Kevin, weren't they a striking couple?

Grandma played matchmaker,

Roger played bigshot,

While my brother played...

That's a nice frame, grandma.

What is that... pewter?

Gin! [ Laughs ]

Well, it looks like you're down another 40 points, Jack.

[ laughs ]

As for Dad...

Honey, everybody's gonna be so thrilled

To see you two at the picnic tomorrow.

Jack and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

I meant you and roger, dear.

You know, sometimes I wonder what might have happened

If I hadn't gone away to medical school.

[ Fist thuds, dishes clatter ]

Okay. [ Clears throat ]

It was clear the big guy had had his fill of this malarkey.

[ yawns ]

I'm goin' to bed.

Night, honey. Get some rest.

Good night, Jack.

Yeah.

And there you had it.

What had begun as a simple trip home

Was suddenly turning into...

[ indistinct conversation ]

Nightmare on Gustafson street.

[ both laugh ]

And the worst part was,

I was the only one who seemed to notice.

Uh, butthead, this place is a gold mine.

I mean, you should see the stuff they got stashed in the attic...

Genuine antiques.

We're gonna be rich!

[ laughs ]

Maybe so, maybe not.

You're very sweet, roger.

Great.

All I knew was, standing there,

Watching mom spoon with her high-school sweetheart,

Hearing Dad snore in the next room,

Listening to Wayne count his tax breaks,

Suddenly, one thing was clear.

[ growls ]

I...

[ barks ]

Was gonna sleep on the floor.

And let's give a special welcome to the wildcatter

Who traveled the greatest distance to be with us today...

From 5,500 miles away, Jill Pritchard!

The next day, amid pom-poms and hairspray and old memories,

The class of '48 gathered.

Remember when we just sat there on that float

While the parade went by without us?

[ laughter ]

It was all pretty... Festive.

Now, Norma, weren't you the one that convinced those policeman

To tow us the rest of the way?

Yeah. I think I was.

But while mom was having the time of her teenage life,

The Arnold men were getting old... Fast.

This is a lot of fun.

[ Scoffs ]

Can I borrow the car? What? Why?

Well, I think I should spend more time with grandpa.

He won't be around forever, you know.

He said so himself.

What are you gonna do... count the silverware?

[ laughs ] I'm on to the china.

I want you back in two hours.

No problem. Yes!

Which pretty much narrowed it down to the two of us.

Hey, fellas.

Roger.

Hi.

Great turnout.

Yeah.

That contest should be starting soon.

You game?

- I think I'll pass. - Right.

Can't say as I blame you.

If I didn't work out like a madman,

I wouldn't dare enter myself.

No comment.

So, this, um, furniture business of yours.

I understand it's handcrafted work.

Yeah.

We use, uh, hardwood frames,

Dowels in all the joints.

So, what'd you have to do for that...

Go to, um, furniture school?

[ laughs ]

[ laughs sarcastically ]

Ha ha ha.

I'm getting a beer.

Great.

He gets a cold brew.

I get to schmooze with Dr.. Wonderful.

[ laughs ]

That is one exceptional lady, your mother.

You got to wonder what might have been.

Who knows?

A few different turns in the road,

And you might have been my son.

Kind of made you want to reconsider

The whole science of genetics.

[ bell dinging ] Ladies and gentlemen,

Uh, please take your positions for the start of the sack race.

And speaking of potatoes...

Come on, Dad!

Go, Jack!

[ Sighs ]

It seemed the old man hadn't completely abandoned the field.

Need a bigger sack there, Jack?

After all, when push came to shove...

This'll do fine.

Dad was never one to turn down a challenge,

No matter how stupid.

[ crowd cheering ]

[ Boing! Boing! Boing! ]

- Go, Jack! - Come on, Dad!

And so began the great burlap grudge match

Of 1973.

Be careful, Jack!

It was a battle for honor, reputation, glory,

A fight to the finish.

It was the stuff of legends.

Yeah! Go, Dad! Come on!

And in the end, it all hinged on one thing...

Ooh!

[ Groans ]

My father's bad back.

- Does that hurt? - Aah!

[ Groans ]

Thought it might.

A little doctor humor.

Yeah, thanks.

Well, I'm afraid this means no dancing tonight.

Ohh. That's too bad.

Anyway, I'll call you tomorrow, see how he's feeling.

- Thanks, roger. - Sure.

And there you had it...

An inglorious end to an even more inglorious weekend.

Bye!

Not that I was particularly sorry

To see this whole charade over with.

Isn't this always the way?

What do you mean, mother?

Well, you travel all the way out here.

And just when the good times begin,

Somebody ruins it.

Our poor little girl's gonna miss her big evening.

[ Chuckles ]

It's a shame, all right.

[ Scoffs ]

Geez. Talk about compassion.

Look, it's just a dance, right?

I mean, if he can't go, he can't go.

Right, Dad?

Norma, I think you should go.

[ Chuckling ] Jack, you can't even move.

Your mother's right. It's your big night.

You came all this way.

[ Sighs ]

You shouldn't miss it because of me.

You should go.

Absolutely not.

[ Sighs ]

Maybe roger could take you.

What?!

That's a good idea!

And with that, the wheels came off.

? A white sport coat ?

The date was made.

[ horn honks ]

Okay, there he is.

Well, I guess it's time for me to go.

That evening, while the rest of us stayed home...

Now, honey, you're sure that this is okay?

Absolutely.

All right, then. Bye.

[ Smooches ]

Don't be too late.

[ Chuckles ]

I watched my mother waltz out the door

For the night of her life.

[ laughs ] gin! Gin!

[ Sighs ]

And for all that, Dad's only response was...

[ chuckles ]

Your deal or mine?

Face it. Nothing made sense.

Suddenly, everything seemed... Up for grabs.

Hey, scrote, is pewter worth anything?

I don't know.

Hey, can you stop the inventory for a minute?

What's your problem?

But it wasn't gonna be easy to put into words.

You think mom's happy she married Dad?

Yeah. Of... of course. [ scoffs ]

Really?

Yeah.

Otherwise, she couldn't have had me.

[ laughs ]

[ Sighs ] forget it.

Hey, do me a favor? See what's in the garage.

Yeah. I'll do that.

As luck would have it,

It was a beautiful spring evening...

And I couldn't help but wonder

If romance wasn't in the air.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Ladies and gentlemen,

The king and queen of the sweetheart ball...

Roger and Norma.

[ spectators "aww" ]

[ Dog growling ]

Okay. This was the last straw.

You know, I've had just about enough of you.

I mean you're all bark and no bite.

You're a fake.

You don't scare anyone. You know that?

[ Whimpers ]

That's better.

[ Sighs ]

At least I had one victory on this lousy trip.

[ growling ]

[ Barks ]

Whoa, girl.

[ Barking, snarling ]

[ Clatter ]

[ Barking ]

Help!

6 picket fences, 14 garbage cans,

And 32 backyards later, it was official.

This trip was a bust.

Hey, butthead!

What happened to you?

The dog and I took a three-hour tour of the neighborhood.

[ laughs ] gin! That's three straight hands!

[ laughs ]

Yeah, you got me again, Karl.

My mother was AWOL,

My father had turned into a punching bag...

Well, I better turn in.

I haven't been feeling quite up to par lately.

[ Grunts ]

And my brother...

Gee, Gramps. I hope it's nothing serious.

Had become a ghoul.

Oh, I wouldn't worry, Wayne.

Us Gustafsons are made of strong stuff.

[ Grunts ]

Hadn't been a one of us didn't live to at least 95.

What?

Yep.

You might as well put that calculator away.

[ laughs ]

Night, all. [ Laughing ]

95.

Really? So, how old are you now?

[ Scoffs ]

Perfect.

This is perfect.

What's wrong with you?

And that just about did it.

Me?!

What's wrong with me?!

It was time to tell him exactly how I felt,

About him, about mom,

About the stupid gin games

And the dumb boyfriends and the idiotic dog.

I hate this place!

Yeah. That was it... In a nutshell.

[ chuckles ]

What's so funny?

You're starting to sound just like your mother.

What?!

You heard me.

Yeah, but mom loves this place.

Yeah, for a day or two, maybe.

Trust me.

21 years ago, she couldn't wait to get out.

You're kidding.

Nah.

Your mother wanted a lot more from life

Than a small town like this had to offer.

So why didn't she tell grandma and grandpa about it?

She never says a word.

She used to.

They couldn't hear her.

Parents are like that sometimes.

And I guess right about then,

A few things started to fall into place.

[ door opens ]

Hi!

You're home early.

Yeah.

I know.

How was it?

Uh, I-it was... Fine.

But when the invitation comes for my 30th reunion...

Yeah?

Let's tear it up.

[ Both laugh ]

Maybe a lot of things.

How was roger?

Roger...

Roger's the same old jerk he always was.

[ Both laugh ]

Ow.

[ laughing ] ooh, honey, sorry!

So, how was the dance?

Actually...

It was a little boring.

But you had a good time.

Yeah. I did.

After all, maybe there are some things in life

That just can't be changed...

A child's hopes, a parent's dreams.

Well, good night, everyone.

Night.

So... Did you let Dad beat you?

Just enough to make him happy.

[ Chuckles ] - thanks.

And, maybe, when it comes to families,

That's all for the best.

Why don't we take a little walk?

Oh, oh, Jack. What about your back?

Well, I'm down, but I'm not out.

[ Groans ]

No, I'll bet you're not.

[ Both chuckle ]

? It's very clear ?

Night, son.

[ Groans ]

? Our love is here to stay ?

Like they say...

Growing up isn't easy,

No matter how old you are.

It's all a matter of time and luck.

And if you're very lucky...

[ both laughing ]

Maybe love.

? In time, the Rockies may crumble ?

All I knew was, that night in that old house,

I felt part of something lasting...

[ whimpers ]

Family...

? but our love is here ?

For better or worse.

? To stay ?

Good night.

[ Sighs ]

[ Whimpers ]

You're not gonna snore, are you?

[ Barking, snarling ]

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