Original subtitles

(bluesy rock music playing over car stereo)

(music stops)

I think that was it.

Well, that can't be it.

There wasn't a church.

That's 13 miles past the turnoff.

I think that's it.

What's it?

Th-This can't be it.

There's no church.

Reverend Kinkirk?

Uh, yeah, that-that's me.

Welcome to Crossroads.

Thank you.

Um, this is my husband, Kevin.

Nice to meet you.

Hi, Kevin. Thomas Khan.

Or some people call me Dr. Khan.

Nice to meet you, too.

Dr. Khan.

Did you need to fill up,

or did you want to see the church?

Oh. Did we pass it?

No.

It's right here.

Crossroads Bar and Motel.

Oh. I see.

Um, where's the church?

In the bar.

The church is in the bar?

Yeah.

And if you ever need a doctor, my office

is here at the gas station.

But I'm only here one week out of the month.

Fortunately, no need for me to be here any more than that.

And who pumps the gas when you're not here?

My dad.

That's how I got through med school.

That's a lot of gas.

Oh, it's a grocery store, too.

Just the basics.

Okay, I-I'm sorry.

Um, back to the church.

The church is at the bar?

Yeah.

Oh, but they don't serve alcohol

during services, other than communion.

Course you can do whatever you want

if you take the job.

Whatever makes you happy.

Okay, well, nice meeting you.

Good luck.

The church is in the bar?

Maybe I would like to move here.

(engine starts)

♪ 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. ♪

Hold it.

Good.

(sighs): Okay.

Let's see.

(chuckles): Oh.

All right, you ready?

Ta-da.

Awesome.

- And... - Cool.

Mm-hmm.

And...

What do you think of that?

- It's cool, isn't it? - Cool!

(chuckles)

- You like it? - Awesome.

(Happy barks)

Ah... (chuckles)

And a flag.

I don't see why the guy who tattooed me

isn't responsible for the tattoo.

Well, I imagine you lied about your age.

Don't you think he knew that I was lying?

Well, maybe, maybe not.

- I don't look 18. - I don't know about that.

- Sometimes you do. - Why can't they just let

the tattoo artist take off the tattoos?

I mean, why does it have to be doctors?

Well, obviously, it's harder

taking them off than putting it on.

Surely you knew that.

Well, it's not like I researched it.

Well, it doesn't take someone researching

to know that a tattoo is permanent.

Well, but it's not.

I mean, the doctor said it would just turn white,

and then eventually it would fade,

and then some day it would become almost unnoticeable.

Then if you can afford to, have the doctor take it off.

Mom, please.

Ruthie, please, please, don't make stupid mistakes

and then think that I can step in and make it all better.

There are some things you can't undo.

Not even I can undo.

And this is one of them.

But you can; you can undo it,

if you'll just give me the money.

But I won't. I won't just give you the money.

This is a mistake that you are going to have to live with.

And in order to be happy in life, you're gonna

have to learn to live with your mistakes.

Now, if you want to get a job and earn the money

and pay for this tattoo to be removed, then you should do it.

How am I ever gonna be able to make that kind of money?

Hmm, let's see, you could get a job that pays minimum wage

and work as many hours a week as you can work

and save everything you make, and then, in a few years,

you can pay to get rid of "T Bone" forever.

Sorry.

I heard that.

Hi, T Bone.

I'll just let the two of you talk.

I looked for you after school today

for about an hour.

Then I just decided to take the bus home.

Sorry, I forgot.

I had a doctor's appointment.

You okay?

Yeah.

Doctor's appointment?

Plastic surgeon.

Tattoo removal.

You're not really gonna have "T Bone" removed forever, are you?

Thought you liked it.

No, I don't.

Oh.

But taking it off is way too expensive,

and my mom thinks that I should pay for it myself.

So...

if your mom and dad would pay for it,

you would have my name removed?

Is there a message in that?

No, I just don't want the tattoo.

Okay.

Oh, Daddy, I'm so glad you're home!

I went to the doctor's today, and they said

that they could remove the tattoo,

but I don't have enough money to pay for it.

So can you help me, Daddy?

Please?

It was stupid.

It was a really, really stupid thing to do.

S-So can you, Daddy?

Can you help me?

Sure I can, Princess.

Really?

I can help you get a job.

Your mother called me.

That is one expensive process, tattoo removal.

Ooh.

You need to work on that crying thing.

(Margaret giggling)

I thought if they liked fake tattoos enough,

they'd never want to get a real one.

(chuckles) That may be true.

Or not. Hi, guys.

Hi, Dad. You like our tattoos?

The Colonel sent them to us in the mail.

Doesn't my dad just always find the most wonderful things

for children to play with?

Well, hmm.

Yeah.

You know, as-as long as you can wash them off, I love them.

Oh, they wash off. I swear.

And I have to get going.

I have to get to the library.

I need to use their computer.

I'm writing something.

You can borrow my computer

for the night, if you want.

- Really? - Sure.

What are you writing?

Oh, it's nothing.

It's just a chapter in a book.

Isn't that usually an assignment

in an upper-level English lit class?

Yeah, it is. I'm just...

I'm helping Mac out a little.

Ah. Maybe you should go to college yourself.

No, really.

I'm not smart enough.

And even if I am, I don't think I am.

Hmm. All right.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

- Let me pay you for babysitting. - No.

Not after everything you've done for me.

I'm happy to help anytime you need me.

And I'll drop this off first thing in the morning.

Okay.

You guys, will you keep an eye on Savannah?

- Okay. - Okay.

Working out some of your frustration with Ruthie?

(sighs)

She faked crying to get me to pay for her tattoo removal.

You know, we paid for the doctor's appointment,

and that's it.

I-I agree.

I completely agree.

Well, she doesn't agree.

I am really tired of talking to her about this.

Me, too. Maybe Lucy can talk to her.

Have we heard from Lucy?

I tried to call her on her cell, but I couldn't hear.

The reception was bad.

I couldn't find Crossroads on a map.

- I couldn't, either. - It's a teeny,

tiny unincorporated area

somewhere between here and Tahoe.

Or at least that's what Lucy said.

It's not going to be anything.

She's not going to leave Glenoak

to go off to the middle of nowhere.

Not that she couldn't.

She doesn't have to stay here for me.

I'm fine.

Yes, you are.

And if Lucy wants to leave, then...

Then she decides to leave.

And we have to let her go, if that's what she wants to do.

Otherwise, she might always regret it.

I know, but shouldn't we have told her

that we really don't want her to go?

I don't think so.

It's her decision.

And I think I-I have to start letting people,

even our people,

live their lives, 'cause I have a life of my own to live.

(quietly): Yeah.

I just have this feeling that things are about to change.

What things?

Last minister we had ran off with the choir director,

and now we don't have a minister or a choir director.

Or a sheriff.

Uh, well, I-I'm not a choir director,

but I could possibly put a music program together.

Well, I think you could do anything, I really do.

You sound like my dad.

No sheriff?

No, we have a highway patrol.

Used to have a sheriff.

I used to be a cop in Buffalo, New York.

But then I met Lucy and moved to Glenoak

to be with her and join the force there.

We heard you almost got shot.

- You missed a bullet, huh? - Yeah.

And our daughter Savannah

was just a couple months old at the time,

so I decided I'd rather stay home safe with her

and let Lucy pursue her career.

Good decision.

Nice if one of the parents is able to stay home.

Doesn't happen often in today's economic climate.

Course everyone in Crossroads works at least one job.

Uh, you know, Kevin, I'm not just one of the deacons

of our little barroom church here,

I'm also kind of the mayor.

Any chance I could get you interested

in law enforcement again?

We'd love to have a sheriff.

Got money in the budget for it.

I don't know, I haven't really thought about it.

Maybe.

Um, and we're planning on having another child.

Just so you know.

I don't want you to hire

either one of us without you knowing that.

You know, some employers like to know those sort of things.

"Maybe"?

Well, congratulations.

I think that's just wonderful.

Good for you, the both of you.

We'd be pleased to have a baby here.

What is your population?

I-I didn't see it posted.

Oh, it changes all the time.

Currently, about 27, I'd say.

Yeah, so, Kevin, how hard could it be to wrangle 27 people, huh?

(chuckles)

But Kevin's been really happy as a stay-at-home dad.

Haven't you, Kevin?

Well...

Most of the 27 are under 18.

And we boast of having

100% college graduates in the area.

If you live in Crossroads, you will complete high school

and you will go to college.

Then I should tell you that I don't have a college degree.

Never too late to get one.

Ever considered going to law school?

Law school? I don't know if I'm cut out for that.

That sounds like a good subject to discuss over target shooting.

Why don't we go over to the quarry

and shoot a few rounds?

Oh, I don't shoot guns.

I'm a little afraid of them, in fact.

Well, you just wait here then, and make yourself at home.

My wife Christine will be here soon to start supper.

Okay, yeah, sure, go guys.

You go play with your guns.

Yeah, I'll just sit here and interview myself.

What are you doing?

I'm just waiting for T Bone to leave for work.

He's late.

Oh. Well, I decided to let him use my car,

you know, instead of taking the bus.

That way he can have a few minutes to do some homework.

Oh, that was nice of you, to help T Bone.

Even if you don't want to help me.

Oh, well, you know, I also thought maybe

you could get a ride in with him to work.

You know, if you felt like

filling in at the Dairy Shack tonight.

If I did what?

I heard that Margaret has

the night off, so I thought they might be

a little shorthanded, so I called the owner, my friend.

He said if you wanted to, you could come down

and work tonight.

And that could lead to your getting a job after school,

and that could lead to your saving up some money

so you can get your-your tattoo removed,

if that's what'll make you happy.

So you just decided

to get me a job, whether I wanted one or not?

No, I'm not going to get you the job.

You're going to get the job yourself.

I just sort of asked for the opportunity

for you to fill in.

Might be nice if the two of us both had a job.

I mean, uh, we could ride in together.

If I wanted to get a job, I would have gotten one.

Are you on her side?

Hey, there are no sides here.

I'm not a side; I'm your mother.

And I'm just trying to help you help yourself.

'Cause your dad and I are not going to help you.

We're not going to spend

our money to get your tattoo removed.

We don't think that is something that we should do.

I don't think you should do that either, Mrs. Camden.

Would you just stay out of this?

I wish I could.

I may not be responsible

for your getting a gigantic tattoo of my name,

but I feel responsible.

So...

I'd like to offer to take financial responsibility.

If you don't feel like getting a job, Ruthie, or you can't

find a job you want,

then I would like to pay to have the tattoo removed.

I can't pay for it right away, but maybe the doctor's office

can set up some sort of payment plan.

Or I can get a microloan from a Third World country.

Something. I don't know.

But I will pay for it.

I should pay for it.

Yeah, I think you should.

You think he should what?

Ruthie?

It was your tattoo, it was your idea.

You alone decided to put his name

in big letters across your back.

So?

So T Bone is saving up his money for college.

He needs every little bit of money that he makes.

He pays for his clothes, his school supplies

and anything else that he needs.

You're really going to take money away from T Bone?

So? You use the money that Dad earns.

It's the same thing.

Oh, your dad and I have been married for 30 years.

We are a married couple.

Something that you and T Bone are not.

And-And we share everything.

He works outside the home, I work inside the home.

He makes the money, I manage the money.

And I manage it with great respect

for the hard work that goes into getting it.

Not that I need to justify

my staying home to you or anybody else.

You don't have to justify it.

It's just that it's a promise ring.

T Bone has promised to marry me.

And we're going to be married

for 30 years, just like you and Dad.

And although I do intend to work outside the home,

we're still going to share our money.

So why can't he share his money with me now?

And who knows,

he may need to borrow money from me at some point.

But we're going to be together forever.

So this can't be the only time

that one of us may need the other's help.

Why do you want the tattoo taken off so badly

if you think you and T Bone are going to be married forever?

I'm asking you that question, too.

Oh.

What do you think, Mom?

We cleaned the bathroom.

I think you did a wonderful job.

You don't have to pay us, 'cause we live here.

And we can wash off our tattoos.

For nothing.

That's good.

Thank you for helping out.

I appreciate it, more than you know.

She's still not happy.

No, she is not.

- I'm happy. - Me, too.

Sorry, I thought I'd try Lucy and Kevin

from a landline instead of a cell phone and...

You know what needs to change around here?

The way I deal with Ruthie.

- What happened? - Nothing.

Nothing, nothing!

I'm fine.

And I-I don't want to kill you,

so just give me some time to calm down.

You're not going to kill me, and we're a team.

I'll help you deal with Ruthie.

How much?

I know it's a lot, but it's really important to me.

And you're important to me.

Well, you're important to me.

Which is why I bought you the promise ring

and promised to marry you.

But you would have gotten me

the promise ring and promised to marry me anyways, right?

Even if I didn't have the tattoo?

Bye, T Bone. Take the car.

We'll see you when you get home.

What?

Dad, your heart.

Eh, forget my heart.

You are sometimes just incredibly selfish

and irresponsible and disrespectful, and I'm...

I'm not going to allow that.

Is that understood?

No, you know,

I don't think it is, so I'm going to explain it.

I am not going to allow you

to be disrespectful of your mother, no matter how much

you don't like living

with that tattoo, because you know what,

that's exactly what you're going to have to do,

is live with that tattoo until you, and only you,

pay to have it removed.

I'm not letting you take any money from T Bone.

And you know what else?

You're getting a job, whether you want one or not.

So start looking.

All right, I will.

I promise.

May I be excused?

Yes, you may be excused to go and apologize to your mother.

Where do you get off implying that your mother

takes the money that I earn?

There isn't enough money in the world

to pay your mother for what she does, for all of us.

And don't say, "In Scotland..."

because I am tired of "In Scotland."

It isn't any different in Scotland

or anywhere else in the world.

There is no culture that allows children

to be disrespectful to their parents.

You got it?

Yeah, I got it.

Really. I mean it.

I guess I just needed a reminder.

I'll go apologize right now.

And tomorrow,

I'll go out and look for a job, and if the best that I can find

is at The Dairy Shack, then I'll work there.

I promise.

Now, you're not just saying that because you think...?

No.

No, I forgot about that, honest.

It's not like I don't listen to you.

It's just that you haven't been saying anything to me.

You didn't even yell at me when I got my tattoo.

So I guess now you're yelling at me, you really are fine.

Ruthie, tell me the truth.

Do you want to get rid of the tattoo

because you don't want the tattoo

or because you don't want T Bone?

Hey, we're going to be late for work.

Where have you been?

Babysitting for the Camdens.

And I needed a disk for the computer.

Oh, well, grab your Shack shirt and let's go.

I'm off tonight.

That-That's why I borrowed the computer and got the disk

and everything I just told you.

- You can't be off tonight. - Yes, I can.

I asked off tonight.

I have a paper due.

What do you mean you have a paper due? What paper?

I... told Mac I'd help him with his paper.

Why would you do that?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

- What? - Mac?!

You don't "like him" like him, do you?

No. (chuckles)

You do.

You like him.

What are you talking about?

- (chuckles) - Okay, Margaret,

answer this very carefully.

Do you think that he likes you,

or do you think that he's just taking advantage

of your friendship by asking you to write his paper?

I don't care if he "likes me" likes me.

I just want to write the paper.

Because you "like him" like him.

You don't like him, do you?

No, I don't like him.

What makes you think I like him?

Well, why are you so dressed up

to go to work at The Dairy Shack?

I'm not dressed up.

Yes, you are.

You have makeup on, and your hair's different.

You're wearing perfume.

(gasps) Oh, no.

You're not seeing Martin?

So what if I am? You're not my mother.

And you're not my mother.

What does that mean?

That means we don't have mothers.

And so we can do anything we want.

And I want to write Mac's paper,

and that's what I'm going to do.

Hi.

No boyfriend today?

No. He's working.

Seems like a nice guy.

Yeah, he is.

So what, did you quit school?

You're down here all the time.

No, I'm down here to get credit at school

for working with Lucy and Reverend Camden.

And I taught Lucy's class today by myself.

Lucy and Kevin took the day off together.

Yeah, I know all about the job offer--everybody does.

So what do you chicks talk about in that class, anyway?

Chick stuff.

I thought so.

Then you thought right.

So I thought, if you were gonna get off work soon,

we could go grab a bite to eat

or get a cup of coffee or just take a walk.

I wanted to talk to you.

And not about chick stuff, about guy stuff.

Well, not guy stuff, but my guy.

I just want us to be friends,

and I don't want another awkward situation

like when you met Jonathan.

I don't know.

Martin might not like that.

You should probably grab a burger with Martin

and ask him if we can be friends--

you, me and your boyfriend.

But Martin has nothing to do with this.

And Martin's not around to talk today; he has a game.

A baseball game?

Yeah, he was supposed to babysit,

but he forgot he had a game, so I had

- to take Aaron with me. - He didn't have a game today.

Why did I say that?

I don't know. Why did you say that?

I don't know. It just came out.

I don't even know his schedule or anything.

Honest. I swear.

Okay.

I believe you.

I think.

I wish we could have dinner.

And talk.

I like to talk.

Even though I really don't even have anything to tell you

and we're not even really friends.

But I have this paper due tomorrow.

And it's not just any paper, it's a whole chapter in a book.

See, I have to write the first chapter

of this novel for this English class,

and I have to leave the instant

T Bone gets here-- and there he is.

Bye, Sandy.

Bye.

Hi.

You don't look happy.

What's wrong?

You don't look that happy, either.

I'm happy.

I'm very happy.

Most of the time.

So am I, most of the time.

How would I find out if Martin had a baseball game today?

Guess you could call his school.

I think Martin lied to me.

I think he told me he had a game so he didn't have to babysit.

What's wrong with you?

How did I get committed for the rest of my life

before I'm even out of high school?

Do you mean committed to Ruthie?

I don't know what happened.

When did making out lead to getting a tattoo?

It could lead to things that are more life-altering

than getting a tattoo.

It is just a tattoo.

No, it's not.

It's her new reason for not being happy in America.

I'm living with her family.

I can't get out of this.

I mean, not that I want to.

Do you want to?

I don't know.

So instead, I offered to pay to have her tattoo removed.

So I can either pay Ruthie to have her tattoo removed,

or I can go to college.

I'm an idiot.

Yeah.

Jane.

Hide.

From?

Sandy's here with the baby.

She thinks Martin had a game today.

Oh.

Exactly.

Okay, well,

before I hide, or not, um, let me ask you something.

Do you like Margaret?

Of course I like Margaret.

"Like" like her?

Or are you just using her to write your paper?

What are you, my mother?

If she wants to write my paper, she can write my paper.

She volunteered to write my paper.

She wants to be a writer, so I presented her

- with an opportunity. - What?

Was your mother an idiot?

Would she have believed something like that?

Did you call my mother an idiot?

No.

Good.

I-I know that she really didn't want

to get back with my dad, but...

Look, I think that Margaret likes you.

No, she doesn't like me.

She doesn't "like" like me, either.

Mm-mm.

Are you okay?

Oh, I'm... I'm fine.

I'm very much alive and well.

Thank you. How about you?

Did you get an apology?

I did.

Mm.

Was it a sincere apology?

Yes. And a promise from Ruthie

to start looking for a job.

Yeah, that's what she said to me.

It was a pretty heated confrontation.

Yeah... but I'm fine.

- Yeah, I can see that. - Yeah.

It-It did me good to get upset.

Maybe.

I've been trying to enjoy my life and be happy,

and I forgot that what makes me happy is work.

- Oh. -Being a parent is... it's hard work.

It is.

Maybe you should take a little break,

go lie down, take a nap.

I'll start dinner.

Ah, I was thinking just the opposite.

It felt really good to be out of control.

Really good. Like, invigorating.

Well, you know, maybe it's that tea.

Green tea is caffeinated.

Mm. Yeah, I'm going out.

- Out? - Yeah.

You did say earlier that people should

make their own decisions.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

You didn't have a game.

You didn't have a game. You lied to me.

Uh... oh.

I-I did.

Um, but the other team-- they-they forfeited.

Oh.

No, they didn't.

But they should have forfeited yesterday

when you beat them 9-3... yesterday.

Okay, look. Uh...

Hey, Aaron.

Hey.

He's, uh, such a happy baby.

Let's keep him that way by having happy parents.

Look... I'm happy.

You're the one who isn't happy.

Yeah, because you lied to me.

I had things to do today,

and you were supposed to babysit and you...

And why'd you even come down here?

Mac's home. He has a paper to write.

So you didn't come here to hang out with Mac.

He has a paper to write?

After I drove all the way down here to hang out.

That's, uh... What a waste.

Well, now you can hang out with Aaron and me.

Except you're lying.

You came down here to see Jane, didn't you?

Jane?

Really, Martin, you're the worst liar.

The worst.

Why can't you just tell me the truth?

All right.

We didn't have a game today, and I thought it would be safe

to drive down here and see Jane

because you would be driving back home

right after class if you had Aaron with you.

Shouldn't you be on the road by now?

So it's more important to come and see Jane

than to babysit your son?

I babysit all the time.

Okay? And I go to school.

And I'm on a baseball scholarship.

And I work part-time.

So sometimes, yes, it is important to me

to do something fun, like seeing Jane.

Okay. Well, I work and I go to school,

and I volunteer my time at the teen mothers' home,

and I'm a mother, and I have Aaron 24 hours a day,

and it's important for me to have fun, too, you know.

Well, you've been having plenty of fun lately, haven't you?

Yeah, I have.

Then you'd think you'd be happy.

Are you happy?

- Hi. - Hi.

I thought you were driving home after class.

Yeah, I was, and then I decided to stop

and get dinner.

And I had a feeling that Martin would show up here,

because I knew he lied to me about having a game today,

and I also had a feeling that he's been calling Jane

and the two of them are dating or something.

I see.

How's the rest of your life going?

Rest of my life?

Well, I didn't get a chance to ask you

when you came by the office for your class,

but, you know, how's school?

How are you liking the change in your classes?

You still want to be a minister?

I don't know.

Well, maybe you'd like to just go up to one person at a time

and tell them what you think of them,

- on an informal basis, - (laughs)

kind of a hobby.

I don't know why I did that.

I don't know why I waited around

just so Martin would know that I knew

that he was lying to me about babysitting.

Because not being the eternal victim

requires a lot of conscious thought.

A lot of work.

Every day, you have to decide who you are.

You're right.

And yet I still fall back on who I used to be.

You know, it's easy to be

angry and think Martin ruined my life,

instead of thinking that I'm happy being who I am.

You know, my life is really nice.

I'm very lucky.

Uh, I'll have a burger.

Did you want a kiss with that?

Come on. I know you didn't drive

all the way from school for a burger.

Well, not from this place, anyway.

It was just pointed out to me that I'm not a very good liar.

Uh, so I'll admit that, yes, I was hoping to kiss you.

Now?

You're late.

I had my break already.

I don't get another one.

So it's now or never.

I'm sorry. Did you want fries with that?

Really, Christine, can't I help you with something?

Oh, you can help with plenty, but not with dinner.

Go sit down.

Get out of my way.

Oh, I called Don.

They're still giving Kevin the tour, but he'll be back.

Well, if I can't help, then...

You can't help.

Okay.

Hi.

(sighs)

- Oh, hi! - Okay.

I'm taking off to the airport. Want a ride?

Oh, no, thank you, Doctor.

Hey, good sign.

Oh, I'm just waiting for Kevin.

We'll be going to the airport together.

(sighs)

So?

- What do you think? - About?

The church, the bar, the school.

You use this as a school, too?

Oh.

Well, uh, it's certainly an interesting place,

this Crossroads.

Um, how many people do you say come on Sundays?

I'd say 75, a hundred maybe.

Maybe more on Christmas and Easter.

75 or a hundred people... in here?

Yeah.

Four different counties worship here.

What?

Yeah, there used to be

quite a few churches in the general area,

but one by one they've all fallen off,

and everyone just comes here.

There are Baptists,

Methodists, Presbyterians, atheists, agnostics.

You name it, we got it.

My parents were Buddhists--

are Buddhists-- and they come occasionally,

depending on who's speaking about what.

There's a Hindu gardener

who has a nursery a couple hours from here.

He's been known to show up on occasion, too.

- And a retired rabbi. - But it seems...

There's not many people here, mostly just teenagers.

Oh, they're just getting off work.

Dinner's at 8:00.

D-Didn't the guys tell you?

If you live in Crossroads, you have to work.

They didn't mention it.

Work where?

Anywhere.

And you have to go to school.

Or be in the process of learning something--

anything.

Uh, so if I came here...

You'd work as the minister

and you could explore any new field you want.

Or advance your studies in theology,

take up a new hobby, learn to two-step, sing a song.

Million different options.

So when you say that everyone has

to work and go to school, by "has to," you mean...?

Town ordinance. You have to work

and be involved in some learning process,

or you can't live here.

The usual, Doc, to go?

Yes, thank you.

So I guess that's why

there's so few people that live here.

They just don't want to work and go to school.

Well, it's a growing community.

Uh, why do I get the feeling that I'm missing

a big piece of information?

I don't know.

Did anyone tell you that this is a town

where all the children are foster children

and all the parents are foster parents?

Uh... no.

Yeah.

And their parents are...?

In prison.

Ah.

Well, of course it's romantic.

What's wrong with that?

I-I don't know.

I-I just didn't picture myself writing a romantic novel.

Are you kidding?

You're totally romantic.

I am?

You could have written this.

Y-You think?

Sure.

I don't know.

I don't even know how to cook.

Oh, you should learn.

Women find that very romantic when guys cook for them.

They do?

Of course.

I don't know.

You eat a big, heavy meal,

and you try to seduce someone with food between your teeth,

and you're all full.

I-I think it should just be

the other way around, you know?

You have dinner after you do whatever it is

that you're gonna do,

and then you can just relax and enjoy the food.

Yeah.

You may have a point.

Should we change it?

Change?

The chapter we wrote.

I don't know. Maybe.

Maybe we could... see which way is best.

You mean, write from experience, as opposed to imagination?

That's what I mean, yeah.

(knocking)

ERIC: Hey, anybody home?

It's me.

Eric.

Eric Camden.

No one's here!

(door opens)

Talk to them, will you?

I can't do anything with them.

How's that English assignment going?

Margaret's been a big help.

Did you come over here just to keep anything from happening

between the two of us?

We're-We're just writing.

I came by because I wanted to tell you

that I really think that you should try to go to college.

I think you can do anything you set your mind to, Margaret.

Do you?

Yeah, I do.

And you drove all the way over here to tell me that?

And to remind you that it's difficult for men and women

to share an apartment without being tempted

to get involved with each other.

Right.

Let's never speak of this again.

See ya.

Wait, uh... what were you saying

in regards to the writing assignment?

I'm saying that, uh,

you have ten hours to write a chapter in a book.

You know, I-I have parents.

I know, but Margaret doesn't.

Good night.

Reverend Camden thinks I could go to college.

I think you could, too.

And you know what else I think?

I think I "like" like you.

I think you just "like" like my writing.

I love this place.

Kevin, it's really just a group home

spread over the entire town.

Not that there is much of a town.

I know. I love it.

We would have to work and go to school

and be parents to all the teenagers who live here.

I know. I love it.

Well, I mean, it's an interesting place, I'll admit,

and it is a little tempting,

but I think it's too big of a challenge for us.

We've got to raise Savannah, we want to have more children.

And I know that these children didn't do anything wrong,

but it's not, it's not an ordinary community.

That's why I love it.

You'd really be willing to move here?

I would.

But you'd want to think about it

for a while, uh, a long while?

I don't have to think about it at all.

I'm ready to go. You just say the word.

I can't just say the word.

I mean, this is a-a life-altering decision.

And it's really so much more than I was ever expecting.

Your dad's fine.

(sighs)

I know.

(door closes)

He's a great shot.

And a solid citizen.

And they both appear to be very healthy.

And I think they'd make good group parents.

I don't know.

She seems slightly unstable.

In a good way.

Oh, hi.

I thought you'd all be in bed by now.

It's so hard to sleep

when a teenager has the keys to your wife's car.

I was, uh, looking for a gas station.

Didn't want to bring the car back without any gas in it.

I see.

Uh, thought maybe you might not want to come back at all.

What?

Can't be easy promising a young woman

that you'll marry her when you're only 17.

You got your whole life in front of you.

Only now, you have a girlfriend with a tattoo of your name

on her back and a diamond ring on her finger

and a promise that you'll marry her

and be with her for the rest of your life.

There are times when, uh, it's not easy.

This being one of those times?

I was, uh,

riding around thinking about Ruthie and me.

Yeah, I kind of figured.

I love her.

I mean, I do.

But?

But I can't seem to make her happy.

I mean, I seem to be the source of her unhappiness.

Old habit, I imagine.

You were told for most of your life

that you were the source of your mother's unhappiness.

By my mother.

Your mother is the source of her own unhappiness.

And the same thing goes for Ruthie.

Yeah, but Ruthie is nothing like my mother.

Ruthie is the same as any person

who blames everyone else when she's unhappy.

Is there a cure for that, other than breaking up?

I believe there is.

It's called a job.

You didn't do anything wrong, son.

Ruthie wanted a tattoo.

Now she doesn't want a tattoo.

You're under no obligation to

remain in this relationship if you don't want to.

You can change your mind at any time.

You can take that ring back.

You can let Ruthie

worry about the tattoo, because you're not

responsible for another person's happiness.

You're only responsible for yourself.

But she's your daughter.

And you took me in off the streets.

Do you...

really want to be with Ruthie for the rest of your life?

Look, no matter what you decide,

everything's gonna be fine... eventually.