Original subtitles

(phone rings)

Hello.

Is he crazy?

He thinks he's just going to come over here

and drag me back?

What is wrong with him?

I-I'm sorry. Who is this?

What do you mean, who is this?

Ruthie?

Yes. Who'd you think it was?

I just got an e-mail from Dad telling me

that he's coming over here.

He's coming to Scotland.

Has he gone completely insane?

I mean, he can't afford to just come over here,

so he must be coming over here for a reason.

And if that reason is because he thinks

he wants to drag me back, I've got news for him--

I'm not going.

I have a life, I have friends, I have a job.

I love it here.

He can't do this to me.

You can't let him.

He e-mailed you when?

I don't know.

I never read his e-mails when they come in,

because they're always full of stupid stuff like advice.

Well, maybe he really wants to see you.

You were supposed to come home for Thanksgiving,

and then you made it Christmas.

You know, maybe he just couldn't wait that long to see you.

- Why not? - I don't know.

You know, maybe because he misses you?

Yeah, well, I miss all of you, but not enough to leave here.

You have to stop him.

I don't know if I can.

You have to, please!

Ruthie, if-if he really misses you that much,

and he really wants to see you

and he's already on his way over there,

then I really don't know what you want me to do about it.

What kind of sister are you?

You're supposed to be there for me when I need you,

and I need you to stop him.

You know Mom won't.

They have one mind.

Well, did you try to call him or Mom?

I can't get either one of them on the phone.

The home phone or the cell phones.

They're not answering.

(door opens)

- Hello. - Good morning.

Your mom decided to go with your dad to Scotland,

so the boys are going to hang out with us for a few days.

Oh, no, not the two of them.

That means it's not a visit, it's a kidnapping.

Well, they're not bringing me back.

I'm not gonna be here. I'm not.

I'll run away.

♪ 7th Heaven ♪

♪ When I see their happy faces ♪

♪ Smiling back at me ♪

♪ 7th Heaven ♪

♪ I know there's no greater feeling ♪

♪ Than the love of family ♪

♪ Where can you go ♪

♪ When the world don't treat you right? ♪

♪ The answer is home ♪

♪ That's the one place that you'll find ♪

♪ 7th Heaven ♪

♪ Mmm, 7th Heaven ♪

♪ 7th Heaven. ♪

("Loch Lomond" plays on piano)

Go ahead.

You can color it.

Yeah, that looks good.

♪♪

♪♪

Uh, could I see you for just a minute?

Sure.

I-I knew my dad was thinking about going to Scotland to visit

Ruthie, but-but I didn't know that the two of them were going.

And-and today?

When did they decide that?

I-I've been waiting to talk to my dad

for almost a week now.

(phone rings)

Hello?

You have to help me.

I have to get out of this relationship with Daniel.

I don't know what I was thinking.

What was I thinking?

He's so weird!

And so serious and so...

I don't know, but I can't stand him.

And yet I told him I'm in love with him.

Why did I do that?

I'm not in love with him.

I don't want anything to do with him.

I-I want to talk to you, but-but I can't talk to you right now.

I'm going to have to call you back,

but don't rush into any decisions.

You know, maybe you're just having a bad day.

You know, maybe I'm just having a bad day.

I-I'm not sure yet.

I-I'm going to call you back.

Kevin...

Your dad will talk to you, too, when he gets back.

He wants to talk to all of us when he gets back.

"Too"? Wh-What do you mean, "too"?

Luce, I have to tell you something,

and I don't know if this is the best time,

but we need to talk.

From the sound in your voice, I...

I don't know if I want to talk.

I-I don't know if I'm gonna want to ever talk to you again.

If I'm gonna hear something bad

about my dad, I want to hear it from him.

Luce, this is difficult enough.

Please don't make this any more difficult than it already is.

Why do you know something about my dad that I don't know?

Wh-Why did he tell you? Why you? Why not me?

He just can't. He can't tell you.

He can't tell any of you.

Not yet, anyway.

But-but he can tell you?

Luce, don't you see?

That's because as close as we are,

I'm not as close to him as you are.

Your father...

No. No, uh, if he doesn't want to tell me,

then, um... then I don't want to know.

He wants you to know.

He told you to tell me?

Yeah, Luce. He asked me to tell you.

When? Uh... when were you going to tell me?

He asked me to wait until they got out of town,

and well, they just left just minutes ago,

so I'm telling you if you'll let me.

And my mother agreed to this plan?

She didn't want any added drama.

She's not looking forward to the trip,

but she didn't want him going alone.

Oh. Oh, so, I see.

I-I'm the added drama.

She wasn't talking about you.

She was talking about the two of you, you and your dad.

You know how much he loves you.

He just can't tell you what's going on right now.

So, uh...

does Matt and Mary and Simon know?

No, your dad wants to get Ruthie home

and he wants to get everyone together.

So, actually, you're the first of the children to know.

When you're ready for me to tell you.

Kevin, you can't just start off the day by giving me

bad news that's not even your news to give.

Um, I have to go to work, um...

and-and I can't know whatever it is right now.

It's a terrible time to tell me anything bad.

It's just the worst possible time, and I hate surprises.

- I'm sorry. - I have meetings,

and I have counseling sessions,

and I have people that I have to deal with

and, um, I-I have to feed the dogs

and... and I have a hair appointment after work,

and, um... I have to call Sandy back.

Come on, Luce.

We're going to have to be grown-ups here.

I'm not a grown-up?

You're not a grown-up.

Hiding things from me, just dropping things on me?

Know what? Let's just, let's just forget you said anything.

Yeah, I... I'm just gonna forget that you said anything,

and-and you just forget anything that my dad told you.

Just, just forget it.

I have to get down to the church,

so, uh... have a nice day.

So you're just gonna go to work?

Yep.

You can do that?

I'm fine.

Can we just go outside?

- And I can... - No, don't.

Don't say anything else to me.

Bye, guys.

Bye, Savannah.

Women, huh?

And by that you mean...?

Girls.

Yeah, look, guys, I've heard you say that before,

and I don't know where you got it,

but let me explain something.

That's my daughter.

That's my girl.

That's Savannah and I love her, and I love your sister Lucy.

Girls are wonderful, women are wonderful.

I don't have any problem with girls or women.

They're the best things in life.

(door opens)

Lucy said to talk to you.

Unless you have a problem with us, we thought we'd stay here.

No, he doesn't have any problem with girls or women.

They're the best things in life.

Things? We're things?

We're not things. Where did you get that, that we're things?

Kevin said it, not me.

Stay over here at our house?

They can stay with us in our room.

Yeah, we don't have a problem with girls or women either.

Thanks.

Why would you stay here?

You have the garage apartment.

Yeah, but, you know, the Camdens took off.

No one home.

What difference does that make?

Probably none, if you have a gun

or if you're a former police officer

of if you have a black belt in karate

and have some nunchakus.

Or if you're dead already.

What are you talking about?

It's safe over there.

Wh-What makes you think that?

It's a safe neighborhood.

We covered that.

It's a safe neighborhood if you're you.

We can't stay in the garage of an empty house.

It's like squatting in a vacant building.

The garage apartment is practically in the backyard.

Would you listen to yourself?

Are you going to put us in danger just to prove a point?

Wh-What are you guys drawing? Maps? I love maps.

Great, then let me show you something.

This is the garage apartment.

This is the backyard.

This is my house.

My house, garage apartment.

Yeah, but...

according to this map,

the, um, house is the same distance

from the garage apartment as Scotland

is to California.

Scotland/California, garage apartment/house.

I have to talk to Lucy.

She's not talking to you.

Ooh, why is she not talking to you?

You know, I just think that we all really need

to be with family right now.

♪♪

(sighs)

You could have told me.

(cell phone ringing)

Yeah?

I-I mean, uh, hello.

Lucy?

Oh, Sandy.

Oh, I was just going to call you, I-I just got distracted.

I hate to bother you,

but I can't see Daniel another day.

Only I'm going to have to,

because he's practically in every class that I'm taking.

I'm so stupid.

And he's a total dork.

And I have no idea how to get rid of him.

I have no experience getting rid of guys.

Guys always get rid of me.

Or they did when I was sleeping with them.

But believe me, I am not sleeping with this one.

Ever.

No, of-of course not.

Maybe I should just get it over with

and sleep with Martin again.

I'll probably end up doing that, anyway.

How did you jump to that conclusion?

I don't know, I'm desperate.

Hey, Luce, just thought I'd drop in and see how, uh...

Uh...

Sandy, you're making this more difficult than it has to be.

You know, I'm sure there's a nice way

to tell Daniel that you don't want to see him anymore.

I'm trying, but he just doesn't want to hear it.

I can see you're busy with some important relationship issues.

I can wait.

Well, you know, sometimes you have to say what you want to say

whether the person wants to hear it or not.

I mean, I'm sure that there is a nice way to tell Daniel

that you don't want to see him anymore that he understands.

You...

I'm going to be a while.

Did Kev get a chance to talk to you?

SANDY: I did.

I said, "Daniel, I'm sorry,

but I don't want to see you anymore."

Just like that. Point blank.

And then he kissed me and told me,

"Don't be so afraid to be in love."

(groans)

I really can't stand him.

Well, sometimes people can't hear the truth.

You know, sometimes people just can't deal with it.

So you did talk to Kev this morning after Mom and Dad left?

That's Reverend and Mrs. Camden to me.

SANDY: Are you there?

What do I do?

Make him hear you.

How?

I... I don't know.

I mean, actions speak louder than words.

You know, do something that... that tells him

that you don't want to see him anymore.

Like...?

Uh, like, you know, uh...

I'm sorry, I have someone in my office.

I'm gonna have to let you figure that one out, okay?

Okay.

Thanks, Lucy.

Sandy, huh?

T Bone, what are you doing here?

You're going to be late for school.

Eh, what am I going to learn today?

I mean, how important is it that I be there?

Very important.

I think your counselor mentioned to my dad that you've been

out a lot this year, and the year just started.

And I don't think my dad would be too happy if he found out

the day that he left town, you ditched school.

Isn't real life experience more valuable than school?

I mean, isn't life a school in itself?

A tough school?

A school of hard knocks?

T Bone, just tell me what you want or just go to school.

To be honest, it's a teacher work day.

I just like to imagine myself so bold that I would lie,

ditch school and come to your rescue.

Uh, my rescue?

I just wanted to stop by and see that you were okay.

I know your parents leaving to fetch young Ruthie

was rather spur of the moment, and may have prompted

a difficult conversation with your husband, and...

just thought I could be of some assistance.

You thought wrong.

I can answer the phone,

I could, uh, take messages, I could drive you.

Don't forget, I'm a licensed driver.

With your fake license?

I just don't want to be around anyone today, okay?

So please, just go.

Maybe I could just hang out till lunch.

No.

I'm busy, I'm working.

How can you work?

Unless you and Kevin didn't talk.

I just kind of assumed that you would.

T Bone, whether my husband and I talked

before I went to work today or any other day

is really a personal matter between Kevin and me, okay?

As always, you are absolutely right.

(cell phone ringing)

(sighs)

Ruthie?

Did you get ahold of him?

Did you talk to Dad?

No, I didn't talk to Dad.

I tried to call him, but his cell phone was off,

and Mom's cell phone was off, so they're probably on their way.

No, please. They can't be.

Look, you don't even know why they're coming.

I-I don't even know why they're coming.

They just decided to take off, okay?

And you let them?

I didn't have anything to do with it.

They're our parents, they... they do what they want.

But what about me? When do I get to do what I want?

Ruthie, they let you stay in Scotland this semester.

You were supposed to come home at the end of summer.

I think they've been pretty generous

in letting you do what you want.

Generous?

You paid for it, you and Kevin.

That doesn't make any difference.

Yes, it does.

If anyone gets to come over here,

it should be you and Kevin.

I don't care if you and Kevin come over here;

I just don't want Mom and Dad here.

Well, I think maybe you've been over there too long.

You're starting to sound like a brat.

And look here, little sister, when Mom and Dad show up,

you better act as if you're happy to see them.

Why?

Because they're your parents! Because they're

your mom and dad, and you should be grateful

that you even have a mother and father.

Yeah, well, I'm not right now, okay?

They just want to ruin my life.

(sighs)

(grunts)

(glass shattering)

(sighs)

So I was struck leaving the church, and I thought that

rather than return it to Lucy at her office,

I would just drop it off here.

Lucy threw that at you?

Not intentionally.

At least, I don't think she would hit me in the head

with a book intentionally.

Though she did throw it through her office window.

So did you tell her or not?

Or not. She didn't want to hear it.

She said it's not a good time.

Oh. As usual, she's right.

I mean, sort of.

There's never really a good time for bad news.

What are they doing here?

We're staying here while the Camdens are out of town.

And what, I'm staying all by myself in that house alone?

You guys aren't going to be in the garage apartment?

That has yet to be determined.

Either way, I get the dog, right?

I'm not staying in the house without the dog.

You were living in that church by yourself without a dog.

That's different.

That's a church.

This is a house, a big house.

Not bigger than the church.

Lonelier than the church.

A church is a house of God, and God's always home,

whereas the Camdens aren't.

The three of you want to tell me what you're up to,

or rather, who you're expecting?

I'm not buying that you're scared.

Unless suddenly you have a reason to be scared.

What happened to the three of you?

You seemed so independent and obnoxious when we met you,

now suddenly you're scared of your own shadows.

I haven't changed.

You know what I mean. You two were living in a car.

You weren't afraid living in your car.

Because if someone came up to the car

in the middle of the night and tried to break in,

I could just drive away.

That happened.

More than once.

Not buying it.

The problem is actually more... philosophical.

See, with the Camdens gone, we're feeling insecure,

and we're facing...

...the possibility of a loss,

and that's leaving us feeling extremely vulnerable.

You're lying, and you, and you.

So would you like to be interrogated

together or individually?

Oh, thanks a lot.

Who's after you?

No one.

Liar.

Don't even think about it.

Think about it, because you all need a place to stay,

a place close to me, apparently.

So who's after you?

Her husband.

(cell phone ringing)

Unless you're calling to tell me that you changed your mind

about Mom and Dad, then don't even waste my time.

Please, please, you can't let them do this.

You can't let them force me to leave.

Come on, please, Lucy, can't you just say something?

No.

You don't understand.

This is my life we're talking about.

This is not your life, it's mine.

I'm happy here.

I am happy being halfway across the world,

away from the church and Dad

and the school where Matt and Mary

and you and Simon all went to.

I'm not the preacher's kid anymore.

I'm just Ruthie Camden.

Do you know how great it is for me to just be Ruthie Camden

without everybody knowing I'm the preacher's kid?

I love it.

I'm a normal girl here.

I just want to be normal.

Normal is completely overrated.

And quit whining about being a preacher's kid.

What's wrong with being a preacher's kid?

There are a lot worse things to be.

You know, maybe you'd like to be the daughter of a bad person.

I'm running out of minutes on my phone.

Thanks a lot for your help, sis.

Obviously, you don't even know

what being a minister is all about.

Haven't you ever seen Dad?

He's always helping people.

You're supposed to help people, even if they are related to you.

So if you can't even handle that,

why don't you just drop out of the ministry?

(sighs)

(ringtone plays)

Yeah.

Okay, you know what, that was a low blow, but-but I get it.

You need help--

you know, to live your life without any disturbances,

because you don't want to be disturbed.

Well, I hate to tell you, Ruthie,

but I think we're all about to be disturbed in a very big way,

and I think that may be the reason why Mom and Dad

are coming to see you and ask you to come home.

- (clicks) - What?

Lucy?

(sighs)

Hey, we missed you tonight.

I'm having problems, and my parents are showing up

practically unannounced, and I have no idea what they want

unless they want me to come home.

And my sister said something cryptic

about my whole family being disturbed--

not mentally disturbed, which they are--

but disturbed like bothered.

And then this stupid cheap phone died,

and I can't find the charger.

When my parents came to visit me,

they came to tell me they were getting divorced.

My parents would never get a divorce.

That's what we all say.

(keypad beeping)

Hey, Matt, it's me.

Do you know anything about Mom and Dad getting a divorce?

They're coming all the way over here.

They're coming all the way to Scotland.

That's the only thing it could be.

So could you please call me as soon as you get this message?

(keypad beeping)

Hey, Mary, it's Ruthie from Scotland.

I'm still in Scotland,

but I think Mom and Dad are coming to pick me up,

and even worse, I think they might be getting a divorce.

Did they tell you anything about this?

Now, I know Mom was coming over there

but I didn't know it was because they were splitting up.

I thought it was because she was going to see you and the babies.

Just call me as soon as you get this message, please.

Simon, hey, it's Ruthie.

Did you know that Mom and Dad are splitting up?

Please call me. It's urgent.

Where are you?

Don't ignore this call, or I'll be really angry with you.

Okay. Well... that's it.

I'm a long way from home, and I can't get anyone

to tell me anything.

Please call me.

(keypad beeping)

Matt, it's me.

Answer your phone. I'm running out of...

- (beeping) - phone minutes.

Phone card, phone card, phone card.

Why'd you marry him?

Why does anyone marry anyone?

Oh, I don't know, because they're in love

and want to be with the other person

for the rest of their lives?

That's insane.

No one gets married for that anymore.

People don't spend their whole lives together.

Things change.

People change.

I changed.

How long have you been married?

Hmm... About three weeks.

You changed in three weeks?

It happens. I thought I liked him. I don't.

Like?

Okay, I like him,

but I can't be with this guy for the rest of my life.

I married Jack because I had nowhere to go, no money, no job.

You cared nothing at all about him?

Not exactly.

I mean I cared, for a time.

For a short time.

Where does he work? He's not a drug dealer or something, is he?

No.

So what does he do for a living?

He's in the Army.

The Army?

Oh, now I'm getting it.

You married him for the benefits.

A lot of women are doing it.

That doesn't make it right.

I know.

That's why I'm not taking anything, anything at all.

I just, I want out.

So how upset is he?

Mmm, he's pretty upset.

Call him. Tell him to come over.

Let's get this straightened out.

I'm not going to call him.

Yeah, you're calling him.

Look, if I can just hide out for a couple more weeks,

he'll be leaving to go to the Middle East.

You're not going to let this guy go off to serve our country

without resolving this, are you?

He'll forget all about it once he gets there.

Maybe, or maybe that's all he'll think about.

No, you're calling him.

I'm not calling him.

So what made you change your mind?

I don't know, I just did.

Well, that's great.

Is it?

(cell phone rings)

It's Ruthie.

Hello?

Martin, hi, how are you?

Have you seen my parents lately, either of them?

Hi. Are you in Scotland?

Yeah, but I don't know for how long.

So have you seen them, either of them, together?

Have you been over to our house lately?

No, I've been kind of busy with school

and Sandy and Aaron and everything.

I'm at Sandy's right now.

Oh.

Well, maybe she knows. Ask her.

No, they would have told you before they would tell her.

Do you know if my parents are getting a divorce?

My mom and dad?

Uh, a divorce? Your parents?

- No way. - Uh, well,

your dad has been acting kind of strange lately.

Strange in what way?

I don't know, he just seems like he has something on his mind.

He doesn't seem like he's listening.

Well, I think they're on their way to come tell me

that they're getting divorced and they want me to come home.

Oh, man, I hope not.

Yeah, I hope not, too.

I love it here.

Well, I know Lucy said she had to go back home

to face something, something to do

with your dad, but I didn't think it was that.

It can't be.

All right, well, maybe one of my brothers

and sisters will give me a call back.

Well, did you talk to Lucy?

No, I'm not talking to her right now.

All right, well, I have to go.

Tell Sandy that I said hello.

And tell her that I have a boyfriend.

Bye.

You don't think the Camdens...

No.

I don't know, I hope not.

I'll call Lucy.

We were going to call her anyway, right?

Well, I don't know if you should do that or not.

I mean, if her parents are getting divorced,

then I don't think she's gonna want to marry us right now.

I was hoping she would.

Me, too.

Uh, Ruthie said to tell you she has a boyfriend.

She's always going to have a crush on you,

but I can live with that.

So when should we...

get married?

I don't know. As soon as possible, I guess.

Well, I'd really like to have, uh, my best friend--

this guy from high school, Mac--

I'd really like to have him there as my best man.

Well, I thought maybe we should invite our dads

to be the witnesses.

I mean, shouldn't we invite our dads?

I don't know. If we invite our dads, then I feel like

we have to invite the Camdens, and it seems like a bad time

to invite them to a wedding, even if they're just

going through some problems or something.

And then who knows, maybe Simon would want to come,

and then you might change your mind,

and well, let's... let's just keep it to us,

and you invite a friend and I'll invite a friend.

Okay.

But not Daniel.

No. Definitely not Daniel.

Okay, so...

tomorrow, after my game.

Okay.

All right.

Oh, God, thank God you're home.

Yeah, I-I had a hair appointment.

Nice.

Thank you.

Well, I think it looks, uh,

more than nice, it looks beautiful.

Thank you. And... and I'm sorry if I was rude to you today.

Oh, no, no, no.

If anything, it was rude of me to stop by your office

without giving you proper notice.

In case you haven't figured it out yet,

they want something.

Can we stay here?

Please.

Tell her.

Tell me what?

Jane's married.

They're hiding from her husband.

You're married?

Can you believe that?

Surprise.

KEVIN: Go away.

I want to talk to my wife.

Don't worry. Take your time.

I'll keep an eye on them.

Savannah fell asleep early, and so did the boys.

They're sleeping on the floor in the nursery,

so Jane and Margaret can camp out in the guest room,

and T Bone can sleep on the couch.

Or we can send them packing and let them go back

to your parents' house in the garage apartment.

Up to you.

I don't think Jane's husband is any real threat.

Who is she married to?

A soldier. Private in the Army.

She married him for the benefits and then she took a look

at the housing situation and decided it's not for her.

Uh, does she know this guy?

She met him at a bar.

Were they drunk when they got married?

Oh, I'm sure some partying was definitely going on.

He just finished basic.

Your hair looks nice.

Thanks.

- I'm sorry about - I'm sorry about

- this morning. - this morning.

- It's not your fault... - It's not your fault...

No, it is my fault.

I was hiding behind Teen Lucy,

afraid to come out and be an adult,

and you were right, you know.

We're going to have to be adults.

We are adults.

I am an adult.

You know, and I have a husband

and a daughter and a family and work.

You know, I-I have real work to do,

and I really don't like when I run away from responsibility.

You're not running away from responsibility;

you're running away from being hurt.

And I know you've been hurt a lot this year,

and I really hate seeing you hurt more.

I'm only beginning to realize what my dad's been

doing all of these years.

I mean like today, we've got three teenagers in our house

who we don't know who all need our help, and at the same time,

I've got my sister Ruthie calling from Scotland

claiming that Mom and Dad are ruining her life and blaming me

because I'm not doing anything about it.

And then I've got our friend Sandy calling

to tell me that she's got to get out of this relationship

with this guy, Daniel, because she can't stand him.

And that doesn't seem like a real problem to me,

but it's, you know, a big problem to her

and, you know, I've got to make it important.

This is what my dad's been doing for 30 years.

You know, balancing family and friends and strangers,

all the while, you know, quietly, relentlessly

inspiring people to do the right thing.

And isn't that what I'm supposed to be doing,

moving people toward, toward the good?

Getting people to do the right thing?

Is he dying, Kevin?

He's got an enlarged heart, and it's a dangerous condition

that the doctors can't do anything about.

He can't just live with an enlarged heart?

You can, but it seems that his condition is pretty extreme.

They don't know what really caused it.

Sometimes it just happens.

Sometimes it's when people have had other heart surgeries.

And in this case,

it seems that it just got really dangerous

in a short period of time.

How long do they think he has?

Maybe a year, but they don't know.

Yeah, they don't know.

(cell phone rings)

(sighs)

It's Matt.

Matt?

- (phone rings) - Matt.

(ringing stops)

(cell phone rings)

It's Mary.

(phone rings)

Mary?

Hey, it's your brother Simon.

LUCY: Oh!

Simon, I'm on the other line with Mary.

Are you okay? What?!

Hold on, I don't know where you got that from, but...

KEVIN AND LUCY: They're not getting a divorce.

(phone beeps)

Oh, someone's on the other line. I think it may be Ruthie.

I'll call you right back, and nobody's getting a divorce.

Ruthie?

(chuckling): No, it's, it's me.

How are you?

Dad.

Are you in Scotland?

We're in New York. Our flight doesn't leave for another hour.

(laughing): We just...

We just took the afternoon, went to Central Park,

and had a picnic.

(chuckling): It was great.

I just, I just wanted to call you and talk

and, uh, say good night to the boys.

Oh. It's my dad.

He wants to say good night to the boys.

Dad?

Yeah.

Um...

I know, Dad.

And you know what?

You know, doctors don't know everything.

Yeah, well... that's just what your mother said.

And I'm sorry you're going through this...

but you're not going through this alone.

We love you.

We-we all love you and we're here for you.

You know, I-I'm here for you.

You know, I-I'm a, I'm a grown-up.

I'm an adult, and I'm stronger than you know,

and, and I'll be there for you.

Thanks, Lucy.

Oh, and, uh, speaking of which, uh...

you might want to call Ruthie.

She, she thinks that you and Mom are on your way out there

to give her some bad news,

and the bad news being that you guys are getting a divorce.

She's called everyone in the family.

A divorce? Us?

Yeah, I-I'll try to get ahold of her before you get over there.

Yeah, or... maybe we should just let her think that.

You know, it's the "the cat is on the roof" theory.

Uh, I beg your pardon?

Oh, it's an old joke.

A guy, uh, calls home from vacation

and his brother says to him, "Hey, your cat died,"

and he says, "Wait a second.

"You can't just give me horrible news like that.

"You have to break it to me gently, you know.

"You have to say something like, uh,

"the, the cat was up on the roof and it was chasing a bird,

"and it slipped and fell and you took her to the vet.

"And then the next time I call, you say the vet says,

"'Sorry, it doesn't look so good for the cat.'

"And then the next time I call,

you say the cat died peacefully in its sleep."

And the brother says, "Okay, I'm sorry, I-I get it."

So the brother on vacation says, "So how-how's Grandma?"

and the brother at home says,

"Uh, she's on the roof chasing a bird."

Dad.

Luce, everything is going to be fine, no matter what happens.

I believe that.

Good.

And... you get that I'm not just telling you an old joke.

(sighs) Yeah, I get it.

I'm not going to go blurt out anything to anyone,

and I'll help you tell them

in whatever way you want to tell them.

I just hope you're not going to fly around the world

making phone calls from the airport.

And I'm... I'm here for you, Dad.

You know, lean on me.

You know, I'm here for you.

Uh, uh, you-you want to say good night to the boys?

Yes, I would.

Hi, Dad.

(Lucy sighs)

How is he?

He's on the roof,

but he's not going anywhere if I can help it.

So, technically, the semester is over.

You're just hanging out and having a good time?

Well, hey, this exchange program is competitive.

It's like a university.

I've been working really hard.

I deserve a break.

And you sound like you need a break,

so why not take your break here in Glenoak with your family?

You know, you got to come home sometime anyway.

I wanted to travel around for a few weeks, maybe go to Paris.

Paris?

Are you back together with that French guy?

No, we're just friends,

but that doesn't mean I can't go to Paris.

Just wondering...

where would you get the money to go to Paris?

I don't need that much money.

I was going to use my living expenses.

Wait, the money that Mom and Dad send you to live on

while you're at classes at school?

Well, it's not like I'm asking for anything more

than they'd already be sending me.

Ruthie, when Mom and Dad find out

that you didn't tell them that the semester is over,

they're not going to be too happy with you.

Well, they wouldn't have found out

if you had stopped them from coming here.

So if and when they find out you're lying, it's my fault?

No, but it's not my fault.

And you lied, too.

You know why they're coming over here, but you didn't tell me,

which made me jump to the wrong conclusion.

What made them get on a plane and come over here?

I don't know what made them jump on a plane and, and come there.

You know... (sighs)

It surprised me, too.

I mean, I-I do know that Dad hasn't been himself lately

and he hasn't been feeling well.

Seems like he's himself to me.

Ruthie, you know, just, just give the man a break.

What? He's a control freak who can't stand

to have me out of his reach for a few months.

It wouldn't be fair to you

for me to be married to you but not really married to you,

just to get the benefits.

It was a stupid, selfish thing for me to do

and you deserve better.

You deserve a lot better.

Good night, T Bone.

Wouldn't you be more comfortable on the bed?

I'll tell Kevin.

Thanks.

- Here's your ice cream. - Thanks.

You don't have a husband, do you?

- Someday you will. - No, thanks.

I have a feeling that, uh,

when you start talking, a lot's going to come out.

I don't really have that much to say.

Yeah, I bet.

It's always the really quiet ones

who have the really big secrets.

So come on, tell me one big secret, just one.

Okay, but you can't tell anyone.

Okay, who's it a secret about?

- You. - Me?

You know something about me that I don't know?

Yeah.

And I-I wouldn't tell you, but I think it's so unfair.

Unfair? How?

- Jane called your mother. - What?

Yeah, I think she's coming to see you.

(sighs)

So is he sick or what?

I think he just wants to get everyone together

and tell us what's going on.

I... I think that's why he wants you... you home, you know.

So just give the guy a break and be nice to him when you see him.

And Mom.

You know... it's a long way to travel for both of them,

and completely unnecessary since you're technically

not in classes and you should be here anyway.

Yeah, all right, I can be happy to see him,

but if he needs heart surgery or something,

it's not like I can do anything if I'm there.

You can do something.

Just being here, th-that's doing something.

But he doesn't need me there.

I mean, I don't want to just sit around all day

watching him be sick.

He'll be fine. He's had heart surgery before.

That's...

that's incredibly selfish, don't you think?

It's incredibly selfish of him to make me come home.

I think once he comes here and sees how great it is,

he'll agree with me.

Uh, once you see him and, and remember who he is

and what he's done for you,

maybe you'll be a little more inclined to, to come back here

and be with your family where we need you and we miss you.

You know, don't try and make me feel guilty.

It's not going to work.

Who are you?

I told you.

I'm not the preacher's kid anymore.

I'm me.

I'm Ruthie Camden.

- (click, dial tone) - (sighs)

(phone beeps)

(sighs)